Fighting New Battles - Arkansas National Guard

The Arkansas MinutemanWhere a row ofdilapidated warehousesonce stood on CampJoseph T. Robinson there will soon be agleaming new building dedicated to the morale,welfare and recreation of the camp’s workers,residents and guests. Work is underway onthe new 44,000 Square foot, $3.4 millioncanteen.A ground breaking ceremonyFeb. 22 kicked off construction on anew facility that will dwarf the currentcanteen complex, which began life asa World War II bath house for the adjacentswimming pool.According to Brig. Gen. Larry Haltom,deputy adjutant general, the new canteen will house a muchlarger store, a restaurant that seats 300, a cleaners, barbershop, a floral and gift shop, and an expanded version of thepopular Rock Lounge.Jack Scarbrough, Camp Robinson’s MWR general manager,said the new facility will better serve the needs of thecamp’s expanding mission. “We serve a lot of diverse groupshere,” said Scarbrough. “In addition to the normal flow ofGuard members who work on Camp Robinson, we see a lot ofpolice who are training here, and an increasing amount of PECstudents,” he explained. Camp Robinson recently hosted theWorld Swat Challenge, and is home to the Wilson Matches.According to Scarbrough, the new canteen store will see amarked increase in the number and diversityof items, including more uniform items, theaddition of a hiking and camping department,outdoor equipment and the saleof firearms. “We’re working onthe ATF application right now,”he said.“We’re really excitedabout the new larger storeroom,”explained Scarbrough,“which will allow usto keep more items on hand andin stock.”According to Haltom, the newfacility was designed by Lewis, Elliot &Studer Architects, and is being funded througha bond issue with the Bank of the Ozarks. “We’renot using any appropriated funds,” said Haltom, “and we’reacting as our own contractor. We’ve hired a very experiencedand knowledgeable builder in Mike Kierre as our contractingconsultant.The current canteen is located at the corner of 6th Streetand Missouri Ave., near the Arkansas National Guard Museumand the Professional Education Center, and did approximately$7 million in gross sales in fiscal year 2005 according toHaltom. The new facility will be located on part of LouisianaAve., just East of 6th and in sight of the old canteen. Thegrand opening of the new building is slated for early January2007, said Haltom.Breaking ground for the new 44,000 Square foot, $3.4 million canteen are (l-r): Janson Thompson and Terry Borreson,Arkansas Federal Credit Union; Sheila Mayden, senior vice president of the trust department and Rex Kyle, president of thetrust department, Bank of the Ozarks; Jim Rank, vice president, Bank of the Ozarks; Brig. Gen. Larry Haltom, deputy adjutantgeneral of the Arkansas National Guard; and Edmund Hurst, Cruz & Associates. (Photo by Buddy Garrett.)Summer 2006 Page 15