Christa Neal, executive director of the Percy and Donna Malone Child Safety Center recently visited the Arkadelphia Rotary Club to share more information about the center's mission and needs. In addition to monetary donations, Neal said the following material items are currently on the safety center's wish list if community members would like to contribute:

The Arkadelphia Rotary Club will meet at the municipal Water Treatment Plant, 1208 North 10th Street, for for its regular meeting on January 22.  Utilities Manager Brenda Gills will provide an informational program and tour for Rotarians. 

Gills is a product of the Arkadelphia Public School system, having graduated with honors from Arkadelphia High School and Henderson State University.  She began working for Arkadelphia Water & Sewer Utilities in 1976 as a part-time clerk while still in school at Henderson. She has progressed through all phases of the department and was named Manager in July 2011. Gills will celebrate 40 years with the Utility in February 2016.  She holds a Class 4 Water Treatment Operator License and a Class 4 Water Distribution License from the Arkansas Department of Health as well as a Class 3 Wastewater License from Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality.  She is actively involved in many professional organizations including the Arkansas Water Works & Water Environment Association and the Arkansas Water & Wastewater Manager’s Association serving on numerous committees and boards with those associations.  
Gills has been a member of Arkadelphia-Sunrise Rotary Club for five years.

The Arkadelphia Water Treatment Plant was built in the early 1960’s.  Major improvements in the form 
of additional filters were added in 2005.  This plant  provides water for the entire population of the City 
of Arkadelphia as well as four wholesale customers – the communities of Caddo Valley, River Valley, Country Water Association, and Gum Springs. Major improvements currently in the design phase will 
allow the system to produce an increased amount of water even more effectively.
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Gills will be joined by Dale Box, Treatment Superintendent, and David Long, Treatment Operator, to assist as facility tour guides.