The new owner of The Grand Prairie Herald hopes readers will appreciate what will stay the same and enjoy planned additions to the weekly newspaper.

Roby Brock, who purchased the newspaper from Roxanne Bradow in December, outlined initial plans for producing the paper.

The paper will not change its publication deadlines, which include going to press on Mondays and being delivered on Tuesdays. The deadline to submit materials will remain on Fridays. For current subscribers and advertisers, there will be no changes to subscription prices or advertising rates.

All three staff writers – Mark Buffalo, Debbye Harrison, and Lisa Mills – will continue their combined coverage of local sports, school board and city council meetings in Carlisle, Des Arc, DeValls Bluff, and Hazen as well as coverage of the Prairie County Quorum Court.

“I’ve spoken with all three of these talented writers and we’re excited about the future and how we can continue and improve the news we provide. For starters, we will expand the newspaper to 8 pages and anchor our back page with regional sports coverage,” said Brock.

Other changes will include adding more industry news, including stories related to agriculture, hunting and fishing, health care, and managing finances. There will also be a new opinion columnist, Steve Brawner, who offers insight on state and national politics.

Another planned changed involves adding a weekly feature called “Yesteryear.” The article will focus on looking at the history of the region by searching the archives of past newspapers and reporting what was happening in Prairie County decades ago. This week, “Yesteryear” looks at 1955 when a young lady from Hazen, Rozan Carter, was the Cotton Bowl Queen.

“I think readers will really enjoy these changes and this additional coverage,” said Brock. “I look forward to hearing feedback from everyone and I hope to have even more ideas suggested to me on how we can provide the best weekly newspaper in the state. We have a legacy to live up to.”