Nashville Chamber Food Distribution on May 8th

The Nashville Chamber of Commerce and volunteers will be handing out food this Friday May 8th from 10 til 2 p.m. at the Nashville City Park. There will be 50 lbs of food per family. We should have enough prepackaged food for 300 families.

Friday at the park, there will be one station for boxed / canned goods, and then there will be another station for meat items around the baseball pavilion in the lower end of the park. This is designed so that traffic can have an easy flow in and out of the park.

This food distribution is for Howard County residents only. If you know of anyone who may need help with food, tell them about the distribution on Friday at the City Park, and we will help them out as long as the food lasts.

Our thanks to CADC (Central Arkansas Development Council), Tyson Foods, Inc., Regions bank, Sysco, United Healthcare, SMC, Riverside Box Supply, and Everett Buick GMC for making this service available to Howard County. The CADC is helping 19 counties in Arkansas with this program.

From the Nashville Parks and Recreation Department

We have attempted to call every parent who had a child that signed up for baseball twice. I am posting this to allow anyone to contact me that I could not get a hold of. I will be turning the refund list into the accounting department on Monday May 11th. If you have not spoken to the park regarding your baseball refund please call us at 870-845-7405 and let us know you would like a refund if we do not answer leave a message. If I do not speak to you by Friday May 8th then you will automatically receive a credit on your child’s account for the next sport they register for.

Thank you.!

Arkansas Department of Health Directives & Orders

May 11: Directive on Resuming Restaurant Dine-In Operations

May 6: Directive for Barber Shops, Body Art Establishments, Cosmetology Establishments, Massage Therapy Clinics/Spas, and Medical Spas

May 4: Directive for Gym, Fitness Center, Athletic Club and Weight Room Reopening

(Click on above links for information.)

Barbershop and Hair Salon ADH Webinar to Better Understand COVID-19

Food Boxes Provided for Families in Need in Howard County

The Nashville Chamber of Commerce is teaming up with the Central Arkansas Development Council to provide food boxes for 300 families in need in Howard County. Volunteers are needed to help with packaging on Thursday, May 7th and distribution on Friday, May 8th. If you would like to volunteer, please contact Becky Floyd at 870-845-6362.

UA Cossatot’s OTA Students Give Back during the COVID Pandemic

April is Occupational Therapy Month. To commemorate the month, the OTA students typically have a celebration and complete some type of “give back” activity to the community. This year was challenging due to COVID and distancing limitations, but the OTA students and faculty rose to the task. To celebrate this year, the students created a thank you message to the area Occupational Therapy practitioners which they have shared on social media. Occupational Therapy has been deemed an essential health care service and many practitioners are working on the front lines of the pandemic across the country.
The students also created mask extenders which they donated to the emergency room department at Christus St. Michael Hospital in Texarkana. Due to the COVID-19 coronavirus, all healthcare workers are now wearing masks and other protective gear to prevent the spread of the virus while they provide care to their patients. The mask extenders allow medical professionals to work more comfortably while taking safety precautions.
UA Cossatot’s OTA Director, Tamla Heminger said, “We feel it is crucial for our students to learn, but also for them to have opportunities to give back and participate in community service and service-learning projects. In honor of Occupational Therapy Month, the students came up with some excellent ideas that they could do to help others while maintaining social distancing requirements. With the current pandemic situation, these were fun, creative ways to help make a small difference.”
The OTA students and instructors completed their OT Month celebration by having a virtual lunch together via Zoom on April 23, 2020.
To learn more about UA Cossatot’s OTA program, please contact UA Cossatot OTA Director, Tamla Heminger, at 870-584-1496 or theminger@cccua.edu.

Damaging Winds and Possible Tornadoes Move through Arkansas Overnight

Damaging winds caused downed trees and several power outages across the state overnight. Electric crews and county crews have worked through the night and continue working this morning with chainsaws to clear the debris and restore power.

Stress Management Seminar in Nashville May 1st

The Nashville Chamber of Commerce will be hosting a stress management seminar this Friday May 1st, starting at 1:00 p.m. Please respond to this email if you are interested in this free Dale Carnegie seminar. I will need your name, business you represent, phone number, and your email address. The seminar is from 1:00 until 2:00 p.m. this Friday. Please send me your information and in return Scott Dutile , Eddie Beene’s son-in-law who is Vice President of Sales of Dale Carnegie, will email you a pass word for the seminar this Friday.

The one-hour seminar is for Chamber members and will show you effective ways to handle stress and worry since we are in uncharted waters of the COVID-19 Pandemic. Please help us support this free seminar for the good of us all.

Thanks,

Mike Reese,

Chamber Director

COVID-19 Drive-Thru Testing in Nashville Monday, April 27th

COVID-19 drive-thru testing is taking place on the old Brookshires parking lot until 3:00 pm today.

COVID-19 Drive-thru Screenings in Nashville on Monday, April 27th

The Lansdell Family Clinic from DeQueen will be at the old Brookshire’s building parking lot 1405 South 4th St. (now Occasions) this coming Monday April 27, from 9:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m.

This is a drive-thru screening clinic. Patients will be screened and tested if they meet the criteria for symptoms or exposure to Covid-19. A throat swab is all that is needed and you will remain in your car.

The tests takes a minimum of 3 business days to get the results returned. No appointment is necessary. The clinic is asking that you bring an I.D. and an insurance card……..

Don’t forget this Monday the 27th for a drive-thru screening of the Covid-19 virus at the Old Brookshire’s Building parking lot at 1405 S. 4th St. here in Nashville.

Thanks,

Mike Reese

Chamber Director

Severe Thunderstorms Wednesday, but no Tornadoes Reported in Southwest Arkansas

During the afternoon and evening of April 22, 2020, an outbreak of discrete supercell thunderstorms across portions of Oklahoma, Texas, Arkansas, Mississippi and Louisiana led to widespread severe weather, including multiple tornadoes. Three people each were killed by tornadoes near the communities of Madill, Oklahoma and Onalaska, Texas; dozens of others were injured. The event came to fruition as a trough progressed eastward across the United States, interacting with a moist and unstable environment.

Special Weather Statement from the National Weather Service in Shreveport

Hazardous Weather Outlook

Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Shreveport LA
433 AM CDT Wed Apr 22 2020

Sevier-Howard-Little River-Hempstead-Nevada-Miller-McCurtain-
Red River-Bowie-Franklin-Titus-Camp-Morris-Cass-Wood-Upshur-
Marion-Smith-Gregg-
433 AM CDT Wed Apr 22 2020

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of southwest
Arkansas, southeast Oklahoma and northeast Texas.

Today and Tonight...

Strong to severe thunderstorms, some of which could produce large
hail, damaging wind gusts and isolated tornadoes are likely today
before ending later tonight. In addition, heavy downpours will
likely accompany this storm system with one to three inches of
rainfall possible today through tonight.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Activation of emergency management personnel...amateur radio
operators...and storm spotters will be needed today into tonight.
Please relay any information about observed severe weather to the
NWS while following all local, state, and CDC guidelines.

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR NORTHWESTERN SEVIER...
NORTHWESTERN HOWARD AND CENTRAL MCCURTAIN COUNTIES UNTIL 1015 AM
CDT...

At 932 AM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 12
miles west of Broken Bow, or 30 miles north of Clarksville, moving
northeast at 55 mph.

Nickel size hail and winds in excess of 30 mph will be possible with
this storm.

Locations impacted include...
Broken Bow, Grannis, Wright City, Millerton, Garvin, Glover,
Hochatown, Oak Hill and Golden.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

This storm may intensify, so be certain to monitor local radio
stations and available television stations for additional information
and possible warnings from the National Weather Service.

From the Office of the Chancellor

The COVID-19 outbreak continues to be the dominating presence in our daily lives and at UA Cossatot. From day one of this outbreak, we have been focused on the safety of our students, staff, and stakeholders and as we move forward, we will continue to do just that. According to most models that predict the peak of the COVID-19 outbreak for the United States, the peak in Arkansas is expected to occur around May 2nd. With this information, and input from colleagues around the state, it makes good sense for all of us at UA Cossatot to continue what we are presently doing. This means until at least May 1st, our campuses will continue to be closed to students and visitors and our employees will continue to work on campus, or from home if they are set up to do so. Those that do come to campus to work will be under strict guidance to practice social distancing and when at all possible, wear masks to protect each other.

We will continue to serve and provide all the resources our students need to be successful in their online learning environment. We do have a plan in place to take care of our hands-on, technical course students. That will occur after May 1st, providing it is safe to do so and we have the proper permissions from the UA System.

As for the summer and fall semesters, our registration is open for both semesters. We have made our entire registration process available online for the safety and convenience of our students. Our website contains all the information students need to register: https://www.cccua.edu.

Our summer term will feature ONLY online courses, including some new and innovative courses that our faculty have put together to accommodate our students.

We are planning on a full and normal fall 2020 semester.

These are unprecedented and unexplored times but we will all make it through by working together. You can always find more UA Cossatot information on Facebook (ED88 and UAC) and on our ed88radio.com and CCCUA.EDU website.

Cossatot Community College

UA Cossatot embraces diversity and is committed to improving the lives of those in our region by providing quality education, outstanding service, and relevant industry training. The University of Arkansas - Cossatot Community College offers degrees and certificates in more than two dozen fields.

Thank You,

Dr. Steve Cole

Chancellor, UA Cossatot

UA Cossatot Summer and Fall 2020 Registration Now Open

UA Cossatot’s summer and fall registration is now open to everyone with the summer semester set to begin on Monday, June 1, 2020. Students can sign up for classes by contacting a Student Services Advisor online, over the phone, through text message, or through Facebook messenger.

The complete full class schedule for the summer and fall courses can be viewed at UA Cossatot’s website at www.cccua.edu/enroll.

Cossatot Community College

Click the following links to access the PDF version of the current or upcoming semester's full course schedule. Summer 2020 Schedule (3.26.2020) Fall 2020 Schedule (4.16.2020 Find specific courses through Campus Connect Course Search. There's no need to login.

All classes offered this summer will be available online, and several online options are available this fall. The college if offering courses for specific programs as well as general education.

Incoming students or prospective students can take steps to enroll in any UA Cossatot course by contacting any one of the seven Student Services Advisors at UA Cossatot. Advisors include: Addison Hill, Rachel Barfield, Jocelin Galvez, Lizz Garza, Sheila McCandless, Holly Norman, and Suzanne Ward.

Their individual e-mail addresses and phone numbers can be viewed on UA Cossatot’s website under the employee directory by clicking on their name at www.cccua.edu/directory. On Facebook, students can search the advisor’s name at UA Cossatot to locate them and send them a message.

Cossatot Community College

©2020 Cossatot Community College of the University of Arkansas

Due to Covid-19, UA Cossatot’s Campuses are currently closed to the public, but Student Services Advisors are still working from home.

For any questions, please contact UA Cossatot at 870-584-4471.

61% of All Courses at UA Cossatot are Textbook-Free

As summer and fall registration takes place, UA Cossatot is proud to announce that 61% of all courses do not require a textbook. Five years ago, UA Cossatot became the first two-year college in Arkansas to abandon its traditional campus bookstore and create an internal textbook rental and open educational resource (OER) program. UA Cossatot quickly became a state leader in the OER movement with faculty using more open resources than any other two-year college in Arkansas. The college also became the first in the state to join the Open Textbook Network, which elevated its use of OER.

Instead of asking students to purchase an expensive textbook, the college chooses to help students financially by offering courses that do not require a textbook at all and instead use open resources that maintain high academic quality. This move has saved UA Cossatot students over 1.6 million dollars.

UA Cossatot Director of Educational Resources and OER Specialist, Relinda Ruth said, “With the current Covid-19 situation changing the way we traditionally function, many more faculty are choosing open resources to ensure students have access to free high-quality academic resources. In the fall, the business department will be 81 % OER, and the English department will be 100 % OER, which is a major accomplishment for our college and a tremendous benefit to UA Cossatot students!”

As UA Cossatot continues to be a leader in online education, students at UA Cossatot can expect more classes to use OER, which makes higher education more affordable. A chancellor-appointed OER Board reviews all open resources to ensure the college’s high standard for academic quality continues.

For more information about UA Cossatot’s textbook rental/OER program, please contact Relinda Ruth at rruth@cccua.edu.

RAMP Scholarships now Available for Summer and Fall Terms at UA Cossatot

The University of Arkansas Cossatot is pleased to announce another opportunity for students who plan to attend classes in the upcoming summer or fall term.

The Regional Advance Manufacturing Partnership (RAMP) Grant has two $500.00 scholarships available to any student who meets the scholarship requirements and plans to pursue certificates of proficiency or technical certificates in various industrial or diesel trades coursework.

Students pursuing an Associate of Applied Science degree in General Technology in the areas of industrial technology, diesel technology, industrial electricity, welding, or pipe welding can also apply. These scholarships can be used for college expenses such as tuition, fees, books, and/or supplies.

Applications are currently being accepted, and UA Cossatot will continue to take applications up until July 1, 2020, which will then be reviewed and awarded on a first-come, first-serve basis. Chosen recipients will be notified immediately so that proceeds can be applied towards either the summer or fall term.

The RAMP Scholarship Application is on the UA Cossatot website, along with requirements for potential recipients. For more information, please contact Tommi Cobb, RAMP Coordinator at 870-584-1158, or tcobb@cccua.edu.

UA Cossatot’s Criminal Justice Degree Proves to be Affordable

Each year, Online U publishes its “Most Affordable Online College Rankings List,” which represents the most affordable online degrees in the country across a variety of popular subjects. UA Cossatot’s Criminal Justice degree is listed as its twelfth most affordable Criminal Justice online degree in the nation at the associate degree level for 2020.

UA Cossatot’s tuition rate is $74 per credit hour. The estimated cost for tuition and fees for a full-time criminal justice student at UA Cossatot is $1,548 a semester. The college’s Professional Studies department offers an Associate of Science and a Technical Certificate in Criminal Justice.

The Associate of Science in Criminal Justice degree is a transferrable degree that allows students to further their education after graduating. Completion of the associate’s degree can also improve overall employability. The Criminal Justice Technical Certificate prepares students for entry-level positions in the field of criminal justice as a dispatcher or a jailor.

Hector Cortez is a UA Cossatot Campus Police Officer and is also a student in the Criminal Justice program at the college. Hector said, “I have been interested in the criminal justice field since I was in junior high. After graduating from high school, I decided to apply at the Howard County Sheriff’s Department. I was given a job as a jailer and as a dispatcher. I couldn’t become a police officer until I turned 21. I decided to take classes at UA Cossatot while I worked because the college had a degree program for criminal justice, and I could take all of my classes online. Even though the classes were online, my instructors would work with me one-on-one, and they would respond to my questions within minutes!”

Hector added, “Taking classes at UA Cossatot has allowed me to get a great education in criminal justice. Some people want to go further into the criminal justice field, and more departments are now requiring applicants to have degrees or years of experience. Taking classes at UA Cossatot is inexpensive, and it allows people to check off the degree part of the requirement to apply.”

Officer Cortez went on to say, “I am now an employee of the college, and I can honestly say if criminal justice is your career goal, UA Cossatot is the place to help you achieve it.”

UA Cossatot is offering an Introduction to Criminal Justice class this summer, and this fall for anyone interested in this career field.

To view more information on Online U’s website, please visit www.onlineu.org. For any questions about UA Cossatot’s Criminal Justice program, please contact Barbara Lacefield at blacefield@cccua.edu.

OnlineU: Rankings of the Most Affordable Online Colleges

OnlineU provides unbiased rankings based on the factors you care about most - affordability, accessibility, and quality - to help you find the best match. Most Affordable Colleges Each year, we publish our Most Affordable Online College Rankings, which represent the most affordable online degrees in the country across a variety of popular subjects.

COVID-19 Drive-Thru Testing in Nashville April 27th

UA Cossatot Adult Education Honors Spring GED® Graduates

UA Cossatot’s Adult Education students have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic like all public schools. During this time, students are not able to complete their GED® testing requirements to earn their high school equivalency diploma. Some students were only one test away from earning their credential. Nine students, however, did finish all of their test requirements and have earned their diploma.

Students who have passed their GED® tests and earned their diploma this spring semester include: Andrew Shelton, Gillham; Keith Perkins, Murfreesboro; Jeffery Scott Kimmel, Gillham; Dalton Saxour, De Queen; Brittany Kaylor, Murfreesboro; James Sellers, Gillham; Hector Barreto, De Queen; Brandon Gonzalez, Murfreesboro; and Memphis Jackson, Murfreesboro.

Adult Education offers many services other than GED® test preparation. Services offered include literacy, basic skills remediation, English as a Second Language, citizenship, digital literacy, employability skills, financial literacy, Accelerating Opportunities, and college preparation.

“Adult Education is a valuable part of community services,” says Jennifer Black, Director. “We help individuals to make a positive impact on their life. Students often come to adult education to earn their diploma to get a job, earn a job promotion, or go to college. It is so rewarding to be a part of students’ successes. They are often so grateful when they accomplish their goals, and that is what we are here to do, help each one succeed!”

For more information, please call UA Cossatot’s Adult Education department at 870-584-1467 or 870-584-1114.

Cossatot Community College

The Adult Education Department of Cossatot Community College of the University of Arkansas is committed in providing students with an opportunity to reach their educational goals and instilling in each student a dedication of "Learning for Life". If you need a copy of your GED transcript, please click on the the link below: Call 870-584-1114 and ask for Jennifer Black or Cathy Billingsley.

UA Cossatot Alumnus Finds Rewarding Career in Education

Victor Rojas was raised and currently resides in De Queen, Arkansas. After graduating from De Queen High School in 2014, Victor became an education major at UA Cossatot. Today, Victor works for the Texarkana Independent School District as a teacher at Westlawn Elementary and credits UA Cossatot as being a big part of his journey.

In high school, Victor took college credit classes and decided to pursue a degree in education at UA Cossatot.

Victor said, "I chose to attend UA Cossatot because of affordability and location. My experience at UAC was overwhelmingly positive. UA Cossatot gave me, a first-generation college student, a first-rate education for which I am immensely grateful. My instructors were there to help when I needed it, and our Chancellor, Dr. Steve Cole, was – and still is- approachable and resourceful."

For two years, Victor took classes at the UA Cossatot De Queen Campus and online. In 2016, he graduated from UA Cossatot with an Associate of Science in Education K-6 degree.

Shortly after graduating, Victor was accepted into Southern Arkansas University's off-campus teacher education program. This program allowed him to stay in his hometown and work at his former high school as a substitute teacher and as a paraprofessional for the high school's alternative learning environment.

Victor graduated from SAU with a Bachelor of Science in Education degree, graduating magna cum laude, in May of 2018. In addition to being licensed in the area of elementary education, he also received authorization by the state of Arkansas to teach middle school social studies and 4th-12th grade business technology classes.

In the fall of 2018, Victor began teaching Adult Education courses at UA Cossatot. For a full year, Victor taught beginning ESL and Citizenship 101 classes. In 2020, Victor returned to UA Cossatot to teach Citizenship 101, which prepares adult learners for the U.S. Naturalization exam.

Teaching this course is a rewarding experience for Victor. Victor Rojas said, "As the son of naturalized U.S. citizens, teaching this class is a special and meaningful way for me to help others.”

Since August of 2019, Mr. Rojas has worked for Westlawn Elementary in Texarkana, where he teaches 4th-grade math and science. Victor says that he enjoys preparing students for middle school and teaching them certain leadership habits – such as being proactive and synergizing. He also says his favorite part about being a teacher is forming relationships in the classroom.

Victor is currently considering attending the University of Arkansas School of Law this fall. He was recently granted admission, and he has a desire to further his education. He also plans to teach upper-level courses in the future.

Victor enjoys helping others learn, encouraging his students to reach their goals, and is very proud of his sister, America Rojas, who is a UA Cossatot Student Ambassador. He also urges those pursuing higher education to consider UA Cossatot.

"UA Cossatot is a great place to get a top-notch education. It is welcoming, affordable, and you will find support i