Area agencies awaiting ‘guidance’ for possible government shutdown

Multiple federal agencies contacted by The Sentinel-Record said they are in a “holding pattern” when it comes to plans for how they will weather a probable government shutdown.

The National Park Service is expected to release its guidelines for the shutdown early today.

Christi Kilroy, the public affairs chief for the Vicksburg District of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, which manages both Lake Ouachita and DeGray Lake, said Thursday the organization had “not received guidance” and it could “be the weekend or Monday before we have clarity.”

While Ouachita National Forest Supervisor Dan Olsen was not available Thursday, Bill Jackson, the acting district ranger for the Caddo-Womble Ranger District of the Ouachita National Forest, said the Forest Service is “waiting on further guidance” regarding the possible shutdown.

Jackson said the district rangers had been on a conference call where they were told to “be (at work) Monday morning, business as usual,” and further guidance would likely be provided at that point.

Hot Springs Public Information Director Courtney Kizer said Hot Springs Memorial Field should not be affected by the shutdown. Airport Director Donald Rowlett told Kizer “the last shutdown did not affect the airport.”

Clerk of Court for the Western District of Arkansas Ronald Dowling said the courts in the Federal Building will continue as originally scheduled, unless the involved parties are instructed otherwise.

“Anyone that has business before the court should report to the court exactly as they’re calendared to do,” he said Thursday afternoon. “(If)

they’ve gotten some previous notice telling them about a hearing or jury duty or any number of reasons why they’re coming to the court. That would stay the same unless they’re notified differently, and so the court would send that notification out in the same way that they got their original notification.”

Dowling said he could not speak to how a shutdown might affect any other tenants of the Federal Building.

The Sentinel-Record/James Leigh ■ The National Park Service, which governs Hot Springs National Park and 422 other national park sites, is expected to release guidance for the possible federal government shutdown that could take effect Saturday.