Howard News

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Best Care Classes Being Offered

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The University of Arkansas, Cooperative Extension Service, in partnership with the Division of Child Care and Early Childhood Education (DCCECE) offers up to 50 hours of professional development training for educators or caregivers of young children. If you provide care to children birth to 5 years of age, we offer three programs to meet your needs.

The Best Care 2020 professional development training has been scheduled for Saturday, February 29, from 8:00 am to 6:00 pm in the Howard County Extension Homemakers Educational Center at 425 Second Street (behind the courthouse) in Nashville. This is an all-day event, participants are asked to bring their own lunch, and your PDR number is required. Light snacks will be provided during the day.

The ten hours of face-to-face lessons include, The Importance of Oral Care, Self-Care, Stress & Anxiety in Young Children, Dramatic Play Areas, Fostering Self-Esteem: Tools to Build Up children in the Classroom, Math Skills and Manipulatives, Family Engagement, Weather in the Classroom: Rain, Snow, or Shine!, Movement and Literacy, and Bullying: Identifying Behaviors and Risks Factors.

We also offer Best Care Connected, which is five hours of online training, and Guiding Children Successfully is 30 hours of self-guided study and available online. If you prefer to use the self-guided hard copy of the Guiding Children Successfully, it is available at your local county Extension office.

All training opportunities are offered free of charge and are verified training through the Professional Development Registry (PDR), formerly known as the Traveling Arkansas’ Professional Pathways (TAPP) and support the Better Beginnings quality rating system.

The deadline to register is February 21. For more information about The Best Care classes for early childhood professionals, contact Howard County FCS Agent, Jean Ince, at (870) 845-7517 or email at jince@uaex.edu.

The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture is an equal opportunity/equal access/affirmative action institution. If you require a reasonable accommodation to participate or need materials in another format, please contact the Howard County Extension Office as soon as possible. Dial 711 for Arkansas Relay.

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Tri-County Regional Library System Board of Trustees Quarterly Meeting Tuesday

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The quarterly meeting of the Tri-County Regional Library System Board of Trustees will be held on Tuesday, February 11th, at 5 p.m. at the Sevier County Library-De Queen Branch. Business to be discussed include: financial issues, board of officer elections and dates for meetings in the state.

Marilyn B. Archer, MLS
Director
Tri-County Regional Library System
Serving 11 Public Libraries in Howard, Little River and Sevier counties in Southwest Arkansas

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County 4-H Clubs Reorganizing

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The Sevier County 4-H clubs are reorganizing and seeking new members and leaders. The purpose of these clubs is to give youth ages 5-19 an opportunity to participate in the youth development educational program of the University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service. Youth in 4-H clubs will learn life skills, enhance leadership skills, and increase self-esteem while serving in a number of community service projects. Youth in 4-H clubs have an opportunity to compete in a number of competitive activities, attend camps, and earn scholarships for education.
The following is a list of the Sevier County 4-H clubs: Chapel Hill 4-H Club, Happy Face 4-H Club, Lakeside 4-H Club, Infinity∞ 4-H Club, Froglevel Hoppers 4-H Club, Shooting Sports 4-H Club, Teen Leaders 4-H Club, Goin’ Showin’ 4-H Club, Legacy 4-H After School Club and Community Changers 4-H Club.
The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture offers all its Extension and Research programs to all eligible persons regardless of race, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, religion, age, disability, marital or veteran status, genetic information, or any other legally protected status, and is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer.
For more information about meetings, 4-H club membership or program benefits, contact Sevier County Cooperative Extension Service located in the Adams Building on the UA Cossatot Campus in De Queen or call (870) 584-3013.

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The 2020 Top 60 Online Community Colleges List Includes UA Cossatot

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Intelligent.com is a trusted resource for online degree rankings and higher education planning. They recently announced their national community college list for 2020 listing the top 60 online community colleges in the United States. UA Cossatot was included on this list and was also named the “Most Affordable Online Community College” in the nation.
After comprehensive research, UA Cossatot was included in this list. Of the top 60 community colleges, UA Cossatot was ranked at number 15.
The 2020 rankings are calculated through a unique scoring system, which includes student engagement, potential return on investment, and leading third-party evaluations. Intelligent.com analyzed 286 schools, on a scale of 0 to 100, with only 60 making it to the final list.
Students who choose any one of these online schools are expected to gain employment at a faster rate. Intelligent.com provides unbiased research to help students make informed decisions about higher education programs.
Dr. Steve Cole, Chancellor of UA Cossatot said, on the rankings, “It is certainly an honor to be on any list that shows we are creating tremendous value for our students. We feel that when students choose us, they made a thoughtful decision based on many things, including affordability and employment once they are finished. We help students check both of those boxes at UA Cossatot”.
UA Cossatot was the first Arkansas institution of higher education to offer a degree completely online and continues to lead the way in the number of courses and programs offered online. UA Cossatot also rewards online students by offering most online courses free of textbook costs. To learn more about these opportunities, please visit www.cccua.edu

New Home Page - Intelligent

College Life When it comes time to study, there are many common study methods that can help enhance your exam prep. By Kristen Scatton STUDENT FINANCES By Nam Phan College Life By Kristen Scatton Featured The things that concern students the most about college.

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Beekeeping Program for Youths Starts This Month

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Southwest Arkansas Beekeepers Association is continuing a youth beekeeping program started last year. The two-year program provides beekeeping education and guidance to youths through age nineteen and teaches them the skills to continue the hobby into later life. Successful completion of the two-year program earns the youth a hive of bees and certification. At least one parent or legal adult guardian MUST accompany Junior Beekeepers during workshops, meetings and other activities of the program. Any youths who are allergic to bee stings may not participate in this program.

Applications are available at Monday night's meeting of Southwest Arkansas Beekeepers at 6pm, Room 101, UA Cossatot in Nashville. For more information, contact Sheila Kreul at (870) 845-8524 or Jack Threat at (870) 557-4837. Applications must be received by February 1.

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UA Cossatot’s Textbook/OER Program Helps Therapy Students Save Money

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The University of Arkansas Cossatot Textbook Rental/Open Educational Resource (OER) Program continues to help students overcome financial barriers by including two primary medical programs.

The college’s Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA) and Occupational Therapy Assistant (OTA) programs transitioned from requiring students to buy textbooks to renting, which will save students over $18,000 per year.

UA Cossatot Director of Educational Resources and OER Specialist Relinda Ruth proposed a three-payment plan for each program that allows students to rent all the required textbooks for a minimal fee.

“Textbooks are expensive and create another financial hardship for students,” said Ruth. “Our sole purpose has always been removing barriers to education for students and we are pleased that the college’s PTA and OTA programs are joining the program to help achieve that goal.”

UA Cossatot has saved students over $1.5 million since becoming the first two-year college in Arkansas to implement an internal textbook rental and OER program in early 2015. Including medical programs will greatly increase student savings.

“We are excited to be able to offer this textbook rental program to our students,” said UA Cossatot PTA Program Director Jennifer Sanderson. “Renting, rather than buying, textbooks saves our students hundreds of dollars.”

Over half of the courses at UA Cossatot do not require a textbook and instead use OER materials to supplement instruction.

For more information about textbook rentals, OER, or student services the Educational Resource Center (ERC) offers, please contact Relinda Ruth at 870-584-1181

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Nashville Chamber of Commerce Banquet is February 24th

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The Nashville Chamber of Commerce banquet will be Monday, February 24th held at the "Occasions" building, formerly Brookshire's, with the doors opening at 5:30 p.m. The ticket cost is $20.00. Chamber board members will have the tickets for sale soon. There will be seating at tables of 8 and 10. This year "PATAcakes" catering service will provide the meal of sliced pork, baked beans, twice baked potatoes, salad, dessert, and water, coffee, or tea. The theme this year is: "Bloom Where You Are Planted".

There will be numerous awards given to those who have served our town far above and beyond. Tickets will be on sale soon, so make plans for your industry, business, relatives, fellow workers, or your family. This is the time when your Nashville Chamber of Commerce shines the spotlight on our citizens.....make plans to purchase your ticket now.

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Congratulations to Howard Memorial Hospital

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Arkansas Business Health Care Heroes Awards

Arkansas Business is thrilled to recognize thirty-seven individuals, companies and organizations that are making a significant impact on the quality of health care in Arkansas. Their acts of heroism represent a display of dedication to excellence in the area of expertise beyond the scope of their
jobs. Through their commitment to their profession and their community, these individuals will be recognized at a luncheon awards ceremony. The Lifetime Achievement Award winner and a finalist in each category were selected by an outside panel of judges and will be celebrated at an awards ceremony, presented by CompleteCare, Inc., April 2, 2020 at the Embassy, Little Rock; 11:30-1:00 p.m. Tickets can be purchased online at ArkansasBusiness.com/HealthCare.

Lifetime Achievement Award
Mary Salassi-Scotter, Arkansas Children's

The Finalists in each category are:
Health Care Administrator
Adam Head, CARTI
Ann Kruger, Arkansas Children's
John Montgomery, The Green House Cottages of Poplar Grove
Brian Thomas, Jefferson Regional Medical Center

Large Hospital of the Year (100 beds or more)
CHI St. Vincent Hot Springs
Jefferson Regional
St. Bernards Medical Center
University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences

Small Rural Hospitals (Less than 100 beds)
Arkansas Children's Northwest
Howard Memorial Hospital
Ouachita County Medical Center

Arkansas Business

Presented by: Arkansas Business presents Health Care Heroes awards program to honor individuals, companies and organizations that are making a significant impact on the quality of health care in Arkansas. Their acts of heroism represent a display of dedication to excellence in the area of expertise beyond the scope of their jobs.