Recent heavy rains and high water have caused the closing of both Story Creek and Pine Ridge areas on De Queen Lake. The Bellah Mine area has yet to reopen after storm damage this spring. That leaves Oak Grove Park as the only open camping area on the lake.
From the Office of the Chancellor
We are now several months in to the COVID-19 outbreak and UA Cossatot has been working diligently to ensure the safety of our students, staff, and community. Now that we know our summer courses will be offered online, our attention has already shifted to how we will approach the Fall 2020 semester.
While we will keep relying on guidance from the Governor’s office, our state health care professionals and the University of Arkansas System, we will also be developing a local plan so our campuses can safely be open for students this fall.
To aid in our Fall 2020 decisions, I have appointed the UA Cossatot COVID-19 Task Force. This is a task force that is comprised of committees that will oversee developing our campus strategy for a safe Fall 2020 semester. The task force is comprised of the following committees: Contingency Planning, Academics and Student Assistance, Communicable Diseases, Communications, Events, Facilities/Partners/Contractors/Logistics, Finances, Health and Safety/Environmental Safety, Human Resources, Outreach/Alumni, Athletics, Information Technology.
These committees have already started working on contingency plans in all of these areas. They will be taking into account several different scenarios that UA Cossatot could face this fall. The scenarios range from the most likely to the most unlikely and will include how UA Cossatot will respond to each.
We feel that this contingency plan, along with continued input and guidance from the Governor’s office, health care professionals around the state and the University of Arkansas System will allow UA Cossatot to be fully prepared to have a safe and productive fall semester for our students, staff, and the community members we serve each day.
While we do not know what the future holds in regards to the COVID-19 outbreak, we do know we need to be prepared and we feel that the COVID-19 Task Force will create the blueprint that will allow this to happen.
We are seeing many students already enrolling for summer and fall and our registration is certainly still open for both semesters. We have made our entire registration process available online for the safety and convenience of our students. We are also working on virtual tours of our campuses. Our website contains all the information students need to register: https://www.cccua.edu.
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 http://www.ed88radio.com and http://www.cccua.edu websites.
Thank You,
Dr. Steve Cole
Chancellor, UA Cossatot
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.
This Week's Fit-4-Life with Dr. Andi Reeves Green at Rehab Specialists
UA Cossatot Virtual Tour for Fall Registration
Time to start planning for the future! Fall registration is underway now at UA Cossatot. For a taste of what we have to offer, check out this short video, then visit: www.cccua.edu
We would love to talk about how we can help you achieve your goals. And when you get your Associate's Degree at UAC, you can transfer to UA Fayetteville and pay the same low tuition you enjoyed at Cossatot! A member of our Cossatot family is standing by to answer all your questions and get you started on whatever career path you choose!
Summer Employment Opportunity!
Husqvarna, L&G facility, is currently accepting high school and college student applications for employment during the summer months for second shift. Openings include Motor Testers, Material Handlers, and Production workers.
Pay range $13.40- $15.15 per hour. Hourly pay rate includes a $2.00 per hour temporary premium.
Students must meet the minimum age requirement.
Apply at 1 Poulan Drive in Nashville, AR.
Tornado Warnings were Issued for the Region Saturday Evening
Thunderstorms moved across the region Saturday evening and tornado sirens and warnings from Code Red and the National Weather Service came across between 6 and 7 p.m. A Tornado Watch remains in effect through 9:00 Saturday night, 05/16.
Pockets of heavy rainfall came across the area and prompted Flash Flood Watches and Warnings for portions of southwest Arkansas, northwest Louisiana, southeast Oklahoma, and northeast Texas. According to the National Weather Service, skies should clear off Sunday bringing sunny and dry conditions throughout next week.
Carmelia Johnson captured this video Saturday evening, May 16, in Central.
Sevier County Investigator finds an Exciting Career by Staying Local
Brian Hankins is a Sevier County and Lockesburg, Arkansas resident who graduated from UA Cossatot. At an early age, Brian envisioned himself working for local law enforcement. Today he works for the Sevier County Sheriff’s Office as an investigator, choosing to help and serve those in his community.
Hankins chose to pursue this career path after graduating from Horatio High School in 2004. Shortly after graduating high school, he began working as a jailer and as a dispatcher. From 2005 to 2008, Brian chose to work as a welder, but eventually discovered that his passion remained in law enforcement.
In 2008, Brian returned to working as a jailer. In hopes of one day moving up in law enforcement, he decided to take college classes. Even though a degree wasn’t a requirement at his agency, he knew that a college education could be beneficial.
In 2011, Hankins started his college career at UA Cossatot. In two years, he graduated from UA Cossatot with an Associate of Arts degree, a degree that is designed to transfer to a four-year university.
Brian Hankins said, “I chose to go to school at UA Cossatot because it was local, and I did not have to move away. I took classes at the De Queen Campus and online. There were several things that I liked about UA Cossatot. It was close to home, the staff were friendly and excellent, and I also really liked the fact that I was able to pursue my basic college classes in a small-town atmosphere.”
After achieving his associate’s degree at UA Cossatot, Brian chose to continue his education online through Arkansas Tech University. In May of 2015, he graduated from Arkansas Tech University with a Bachelor’s of Professional Studies degree concentrated in Criminal Justice.
After getting into law enforcement, Brian began to work small cases and enjoyed the experience. He immediately set a goal to become an investigator. In 2017, his goal became a reality when Sheriff Robert Gentry promoted him to the role of investigator for Sevier County.
Brian says that he enjoys being able to solve cases, and one of the things he likes about his job the most is getting the chance to help return stolen property to a victim.
When asked about his education, Brian said, “I would absolutely recommend UA Cossatot. I think the college can give everyone a great experience, and I highly recommend it.”
In the spring of 2019, Brian worked as an adjunct instructor at UA Cossatot, where he taught criminal justice classes. As more students enroll in the program, he plans to teach again.
Hankins said, “UA Cossatot is a great place to pursue a criminal justice degree. People that are interested in seeking careers in the criminal justice field need education and experience. Plus, the majority of the bigger agencies at the state level and the federal level require both. I would advise all local college students to stay home and take classes at UA Cossatot, at least for the first year or two. It is a great college that offers excellent benefits.”
At the age of 33, Brian enjoys his work and having the opportunity to serve the community that he has always called home. In his downtime, he enjoys hunting, fishing, being in the outdoors, and spending time with his three children: Bentley, Canton, and Emersyn.
To learn more about the criminal justice program or other degrees and certificates offered at UA Cossatot, please contact UA Cossatot’s Student Services department at studentservices@cccua.edu.
UA Cossatot Offering Free, Online Professional Development Courses this Summer
UA Cossatot’s Office of Continuing Education is offering ten free self-paced courses this summer to support the communities it serves during these uncertain times. Anyone wishing to improve their skills and learn new techniques for the workplace or for personal enrichment can benefit from enrolling. Online registration is available through June 30.
A full list of classes and course descriptions can be found at UA Cossatot’s website at www.cccua.edu/ceonline.
UA Cossatot’s Public Services and Workforce Development Director, Tammy Coleman says, “These courses offer excellent opportunities for individuals to learn more about customer service, time management, supervision, organization, marketing, effective communication skills, personal finance, creating webpages, and so much more. Individuals can leverage these free courses to enter the workforce or advance their career. We also invite area employers to use this as a professional development opportunity for their employees.”
Anyone can register and access as many of the courses as they wish for three months from the time enrolled. A certificate of completion will automatically be available to the student for print or download immediately after successfully completing each course.
To sign up for a class, please visit www.cccua.edu/conted to complete an online registration form. For more information about the professional development courses offered at UA Cossatot, please contact UA Cossatot’s Continuing Education department at 870-584-1178 or continuingeducation@cccua.edu
Howard County Farmers Market Opening
The Farmers Market Opening - Friday, 15 May. Hours 7am to 11am.
The Howard County Farmers Market will have its first day of operation on Friday, May 15th starting at 7am. This year the farmers market will operate differently due to the nationwide pandemic.
To comply with guidance from the Arkansas Health Department, the market will be open for Drive-thru customers only to maintain social distancing. Please remain in your vehicle, the produce will be visible from the driveway. Please have your payment is small bills to minimize the need for making change. Vendors who accept WIC will have signs posted and well as those who can accept SNAP.
Friday morning the market vendors will have the following items available for purchase:
• Tomato plants
• Potatoes
• Onions
• Honey
• Eggs
• Salad Mix lettuce
• Aloe Vera plants
• New Potatoes
• Jellies and Jams
• Fried Pies : Apple, Blackberry, Chocolate, Peach
• Lettuce
• Radishes
• Cabbage
• Cherries
Thank you for your patronage of our Nashville Farmers Market!
New Walking Trail in Nashville
This week on Fit-4-Life, we visit with Dr Andi about the new walking area behind Rehab Specialists in Nashville.
Online Classes Announced at UA Cossatot
From the Office of the Chancellor UA Cossatot
UA Cossatot understands that COVID-19 has altered our lives considerably and getting back to some semblance of normal will be a welcome relief, but we also understand that we are involved in a marathon and not a sprint. We are starting to see businesses across Arkansas ramping up their openings, albeit with proper safety guidelines in place. As for UA Cossatot, we are finishing our spring semester by allowing our technical students to safely complete their requirements on campus. We have UA System – approved and extremely strict guidelines for these students as our campuses are still technically closed to visitors and normal student traffic. Currently we are open for business by email, phone or our website as all employees are either on-campus or connected to campus by Virtual Private Networks.
Our spring graduation has been moved and combined with our December Winter graduation. We feel this is the safest and most prudent way to show our appreciation to all of our graduates.
Our summer terms will be completely on-line but we expect our fall semester to be as close to “normal” as possible. This will include proper safety guidelines for all students and staff. We will have a plan “B” just in case another major COVID-19 outbreak occurs during the fall semester.
This week we launched our UA Cossatot CARES Grant ( https://www.cccua.edu/ua-cossatot-cares-grant ), a $500 grant funded by Federal stimulus funds designed to assist students who were enrolled in the spring semester and who were directly impacted by the COVID-19 outbreak. We received $387,000 earmarked for our students, and there will be more funds available for students that demonstrate continuing hardships due to COVID-19.
Our registration continues to be open for the summer and fall 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.
We do not know when we will be operating as normal, but rest assured, we will always be here for our students and the community. We just want to take a measured and sensible approach to fully reopening our campuses. As I have said before, 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 CCCUA.EDU and https://www.ed88radio.com websites.
Thank You,
Dr. Steve Cole
Chancellor, UA Cossatot
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.
UA Cossatot CARES Grant Application Now Open
University of Arkansas Cossatot has announced its application process to distribute Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act funds for Spring 2020 students. These $500 UA Cossatot CARES Grants are intended to help offset expenses students experienced because of the COVID-19 health emergency. The last day to submit applications is May 31, 2020.
Eligible students include those who have a valid 2019-2020 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) on file with the college and who attended at least one in-person class prior to March 13th.
Ineligible students include those who were taking only online courses before March 13th, international students, concurrently enrolled high school students, and students not enrolled in a degree-seeking program. Students who need assistance with their 2019-2020 FAFSA can contact UA Cossatot’s Financial Aid Department.
Students should check their email for the UA Cossatot CARES Grant application link to apply today. For more information on eligibility requirements and a list of Frequently Asked Questions please visit: www.cccua.edu/CARES
Cossatot Community College
The UA Cossatot CARES Grant is a federal grant that was established to help students that were financially impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Please click here to learn more . Students who meet basic eligibility criteria for federal financial aid can be considered for these funds.
Jobs for High School Students this Summer at Pond Creek Wildlife Refuge
Emergency Food Distributions Today in Howard and Sevier Counties
Lake Wind Advisory Through 7 p.m. Friday in Southwest Arkansas
* WHAT...South winds 10 to 20 mph with gusts up to 30 mph
overnight to become northwest around 20 mph this afternoon.
* WHERE...Portions of north central and northwest Louisiana,
southeast Oklahoma, south central and southwest Arkansas and
east and northeast Texas.
* WHEN...Until 7 PM CDT this evening.
* ADDITIONAL DETAILS... Southerly winds will increase to 10 to 20
mph ahead of a frontal boundary through the predawn hours. Winds
will shift to the northwest later today and approach 20 mph with
higher gusts.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Boaters on area lakes should use extra caution since strong winds
and rough waves can overturn small craft.
Colby Dellinger Receives RAMP Scholarship from UA Cossatot
Colby Dellinger, a senior from Ashdown High School, has been awarded a $500 RAMP scholarship from the University of Arkansas Cossatot. Colby plans to use this money to help him finish his degree at UA Cossatot, which he started working on while he was in high school.
As a high school junior, Colby began taking concurrent classes at UA Cossatot, where he accumulated 15 college credit hours and achieved a GPA of 3.6. These college credits will be applied to his college transcript as he continues to pursue an Associate of Applied Science: General Technology degree at UA Cossatot after high school graduation.
Colby is currently enrolled in an online summer course at UA Cossatot. He plans to pursue a career in industrial maintenance and will become a full-time student at the college this fall. He will be taking classes at the Lockesburg Industrial Maintenance Institute on the Lockesburg Campus.
UA Cossatot’s Lockesburg Campus also offers a welding program. Other Skilled and Technical programs offered at UA Cossatot‘s other campuses are cosmetology, automotive technology, diesel technology, welding, and pipe welding. These programs are available to students who wish to pursue certificates of proficiency, technical certificates, or an Associate of Applied Science degree in General Technology.
High school students, like Colby, can enroll in concurrent courses at UA Cossatot by contacting their high school career coach or UA Cossatot High School Programs Director, Julie Rhodes, at 870-584-1343. They can also enroll in classes through UA Cossatot’s Secondary Career Center.
The Secondary Career Center offers area high school students the opportunity to attend technical classes at one of UA Cossatot’s campuses and explore technical skills training in automotive technology, diesel technology, welding, medical professions, or industrial technology.
The Regional Advanced Manufacturing Partnership (RAMP) Scholarship was established in 2015 by UA Cossatot after receiving a Workforce Education Grant from the state of Arkansas. This grant has allowed UA Cossatot to develop and implement two programs within the fields of skilled and technical trades as well as provide scholarships for students who are pursuing an education in the Skilled and Technical Sciences.
Other RAMP Scholarships are available on a first-come, first-serve basis and can be used for classes this summer or fall. The deadline to apply is set for July 1, 2020. The RAMP scholarship application can be found on UA Cossatot’s website at www.cccua.edu/scholarships, along with requirements for potential recipients. For more information, please contact Tommi Cobb, RAMP Coordinator at 870-584-1158, or tcobb@cccua.edu.
Cossatot Community College
Scholarships are a type of financial aid award that does not need to be repaid. Scholarships are awarded on various criteria usually reflecting the values and purposes of the donor of the award.
Arkansas Department of Agriculture Issues Important Reminder To Arkansans Acquiring Livestock From Out of State
Little Rock, AR -- The Arkansas Department of Agriculture is reminding Arkansans that they must ensure any livestock they purchase or receive from other states meets the State and Federal import requirements. The Department of Agriculture’s Livestock and Poultry Division can offer assistance to ensure the animals have the proper documentation to allow movement into Arkansas.
“We appreciate the efforts of Arkansans to help alleviate challenges that animal agricultural producers have encountered due to temporary closures of processing facilities in other states,” said Wes Ward, Arkansas Secretary of Agriculture. “Our staff is available to help answer questions about safety protocols and importation requirements that are in place to protect Arkansans and our state’s agriculture industry,” said Ward.
All animals brought into Arkansas must meet the importation requirements set by USDA and the State’s Health Requirements Governing the Entry of Livestock, Poultry, and Exotic Animals. For swine, USDA interstate commerce regulations call for Premises Identification Number Ear Tags for Slaughter Swine, and the state requires that swine that are not from a qualified-validated herd be tested for Brucellosis and Pseudorabies. A Certificate of Veterinarian Inspection is also required to make sure the animal is not showing signs of illness. These rules are in place for public safety and to prevent the spread of disease within the state.
“Brucellosis and Pseudorabies are highly communicable diseases that can spread quickly from animal to animal, and in the case of Brucellosis, to humans,” said State Veterinarian Dr. Randy Chick. “We are aware of individuals planning to purchase live animals, particularly swine, directly from out-of-state producers. These rules are in place to help the Department monitor and prevent diseases that can have devastating impacts on the Arkansas agriculture industry,” said Livestock and Poultry Director Patrick Fisk.
More information about animal importation requirements may be obtained from the Arkansas Department of Agriculture website at https://www.aad.arkansas.gov/…/59372…/Entry_Requirments_.pdf
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If people are not planning to process the animals themselves, they should know that many meat processors in Arkansas are already booked for several months. Individuals planning to purchase an animal for processing should first check with local processing plants or prepare for other options such as arranging for holding the animal until it can be processed.
A list of Arkansas meat processors may be found on an interactive map at: https://www.fsis.usda.gov/…/fsis/t…/inspection/mpi-directory
Meat, Poultry and Egg Product Inspection Directory
The Meat, Poultry and Egg Product Inspection (MPI) Directory is a listing of establishments that produce meat, poultry, and/or egg products regulated by FSIS. The Establishment Demographic Data includes additional establishment information about FSIS regulated establishments, including size, species slaughtered and aggregate categorical production information.
UA Cossatot Announces New Basketball Coach and Athletic Director
On Wednesday, May 6, 2020, UA Cossatot hosted a virtual Zoom press conference to introduce Robert Byrd as the college's newly hired men's and women's basketball coach. It was also announced during the conference that Coach Byrd would also be taking on the role of Athletic Director for UA Cossatot.
UA Cossatot Chancellor, Dr. Steve Cole, kicked off the conference by welcoming everyone and then introducing Coach Byrd. Dr. Cole said, "We are very pleased and excited to have Coach Byrd take on the role of Head Basketball Coach and Athletic Director for the college. We were looking for a talented player's coach, and that is what we found in Coach Byrd."
Byrd recently completed his second year as an Assistant Coach for the University of St. Thomas Men's Basketball team in Houston, Texas. For the 2019-2020 season, the Celts finished 24-2 overall and 16-2 in the SCAC to win the conference regular-season championship. The Celts were ineligible for postseason play due to their transition from NAIA to NCAA. Nevertheless, the Celts won their first-round game in the USCAA D1 National Tournament. After their first game, the tournament was canceled due to COVID-19. The Celts were the #2 seed and were ranked second in the USCAA D1 National Poll.
During the 2018-2019 season, the Celts finished the season 23-11 overall and 11-7 in RRAC play. This earned them the #4 seed in the RRAC tournament. The Celts ultimately won the Red River Athletic Conference Tournament Championship by first knocking off #2 nationally ranked LSUA in the semifinals and beating #15 ranked LSUS in the championship game. They received a #22 ranking in the final NAIA D1 national poll and a #6 seed in the NAIA D1 National Tournament.
Coach Byrd joined the Celts after serving one year as an assistant and six years as Head Men's Basketball Coach at Lone Star College-CyFair. During his time at LSC-CyFair, Robert accumulated over 20 wins in each of his six seasons as Head Coach and guided over 30 players to 4-year universities on athletic and academic scholarships.
Coach Byrd participated in the NBPA Top 100 camp in 2005 as a camper and also worked with the NBPA Top 100 camp from 2009-2016 as a Camp Counselor and Assistant Equipment Manager. After graduating from the University of Houston with a BA in Psychology, Coach Byrd also pursued a Master's degree in Educational Leadership from the University of North Texas.
Coach Byrd stated during the conference, "I want to thank God, my family, and Dr. Cole for this opportunity. I am excited about athletics at UA Cossatot, and I am looking forward to getting started. I am excited about building relationships. It is important to me to help the players at UA Cossatot on and off the court in basketball, in academics, and in life.”
Coach Byrd is set to begin work at UA Cossatot this summer. Colts and Lady Colt's basketball tryouts will be announced at a later date. For more information, Coach Byrd can be contacted at rbyrd@cccua.edu.
National Nurses Week 2020
Nurses have worked heroically and have put in extra hours over the past few weeks and months on the front lines of the COVID-19 response. Thank you nurses for what you do every day! This week is National Nurses Week and May 6th is National Nurses Day. We honor and celebrate those who devote themselves to the care of others.