Wynne wastewater plant receives funds to aid in tornado recovery

High school to fix long-standing drainage issue

By DON WILBURN

donaldfwilburn@gmail.com

Efforts to rebuild the Wynne wastewater treatment plant, destroyed by an EF3 tornado nearly two years ago, received a significant financial boost last week with a $2.6 million investment from the Delta Regional Authority (DRA). The funding, part of the Economic Development Administration’s (EDA) Public Works and Economic Adjustment Assistance program, aims to restore critical infrastructure to the community.

Wynne was one of three cities in Arkansas, Louisiana, and Missouri to receive funding through the program, which provides grants for infrastructure improvements such as site preparation, construction, and rehabilitation. The DRA and EDA have collectively invested nearly $9.1 million in recovery efforts over the past four years.

Speaking of water, as the city moves forward, the reconstruction of Wynne High School has also gained momentum. One of the initial challenges addressed in the rebuild was a longstanding drainage issue on the school site. Engineers and contractors have worked to improve water flow from the area near the arena to a nearby dealership, where heavy rains previously caused significant pooling. New drainage infrastructure, including a box system, is being installed to prevent future water accumulation.

The delay in receiving the drainage boxes has allowed construction crews to complete the building pad ahead of schedule. Officials are currently preparing to finalize bid packages for the remaining phases of the high school rebuild, with the bid process expected to conclude by mid-March. The project remains on track for an anticipated completion date of April 2027.

The EF3 tornado that struck Wynne on March 31, 2023, left widespread devastation in its wake, with winds of 165 mph. The storm also destroyed Wynne High School, its football field, the First United Methodist Church, and numerous businesses along West Falls Boulevard. Homes and other structures were leveled, leaving the city grappling with a long-term recovery effort. Damage from the storm was even visible from space, captured by NASA’s Landsat 9 satellite.

Wynne High School, which was completely devastated in the 2023 tornados, is set to receive updated draining infrastructure.

File photo