Latest Flooding Information for the Arkansas River

Significant flooding is expected along the Arkansas River from eastern Oklahoma across the entire state of Arkansas through next week and into next weekend (early June). We have attached a few images to convey the details of this flooding.

Flooding moves down river basins and crests relatively slowly from one location to another as a flood crest or wave moving down river. As of this afternoon (Monday, 5/27) the Arkansas River was beginning to crest in eastern Oklahoma, but is not expected to crest in far western Arkansas until Tuesday. The flood wave is expected to crest near Fort Smith at Van Buren on Tuesday. It is expected to crest at Dardanelle and Morrilton on Friday , at Toad Suck on Sunday (June 2) , at Little Rock on Monday (June 3rd), and at Pine Bluff on June 5th and Pendleton on Friday (6/7).

Major to record flooding is expected at all points along the Arkansas River in Arkansas. This will likely cause flooding of property near the river, especially in low-lying areas. Impacts will be felt well out ahead of the forecast crest, so our best advice is to avoid going near the river, especially for any recreational purposes, during this period of high flow/flooding. A record flood is forecast along the Arkansas River from Toad Suck to points northwest. This flood along the river is expected to be the worst ever recorded flood along the river! Make sure to follow all instructions from local safety officials, and never drive past a barricaded/closed road sign. We want everyone to make it through this flood safely.

We realize that it's not raining in Arkansas, yet this flood is ALREADY in the Arkansas River. It is going to happen, take precautions now to protect your life and property near the Arkansas river before it's too late.

To make matters worse, a round of heavy rainfall is expected to fall over parts of western Arkansas from Tuesday through Wednesday where 3-4 inches of rain is in the forecast. If this doesn't amplify the flooding on the Arkansas River, it will at the very least prolong the flooding carrying significant impacts into the second week of June across the state along the Arkansas River.

Severe weather will also be possible with these additional storms with the primary threats being damaging winds, heavy rainfall and isolated tornadoes. The primary threat for severe storms is Tuesday night and again on Wednesday.

We will update graphics each afternoon, but please see 
https://www.weather.gov/lzk/wxcntl4.htm and
https://water.weather.gov/ahps2/index.php?wfo=LZK 
for the latest river forecast information!

Dennis Cavanaugh
Meteorologist, NWS Little Rock

Music In The Park at Washington State Park

Historic Washington State Park announces the annual summer concert series “Music in the Park” with the theme “Arkansas Roots.” A free concert will be held in June, July, and August and is open to the public.

June 15 – Hartley Family Bluegrass Band
July 20 – Bear Creek Boys
August 17 – Harmony

Arkansas was formed as a territory in 1819. This year is the 200th birthday of the formation of Arkansas as its own territory. The music groups are bands that have their roots in Arkansas and its history.

Hartley Family Bluegrass Band is a family band from Arkadelphia, Arkansas. They started learning to play bluegrass and gospel music in 2003, just wanting to do something together as a family. A year later, to their surprise, they started getting invitations to play at churches, festivals, and other events. By 2007 they were traveling to places as far away as upstate New York, sharing their songs and meeting many kind people. The they continue today with Tom and Deb Hartly and their two youngest children, Abby and Micah. More information at www.hartleyfamilybluegrass.blogspot.com.

Bear Creek Boys is a local band that is made up of members from Hempstead, Howard, and Pike counties. They enjoy play different oldies pieces and Country music from the 1970s. They play for different local events around the southwest Arkansas area.

Harmony hails from Mountain View, a beautiful town nestled in a valley of the Ozark Mountains. They specialize in traditional and contemporary Folk Music, Old-Time String Band music, and good-old three-part harmony Gospel Songs. More information at www.harmonyband.org.

Bring your lawn chairs or blanket to spread on the grounds of the 1874 Courthouse by 7:30 p.m. on concert dates. The gift shop will be open for refreshments and Williams’ Tavern Restaurant will be open from 11 am – 7 pm for dining. For more information, call 870-983-2684.

13th Annual Red River Heritage Symposium: Arkansas Territory: A New Frontier Saturday, July 27th

13th Annual Red River Heritage Symposium: 
Arkansas Territory: A New Frontier

Saturday, July 27, 2019
1914 School: 1 pm –8 pm

The 13th Annual Red River Heritage Symposium will take place on Saturday, July 27, at Historic Washington State Park. The conference topics will focus around the bicentennial of the formation of Arkansas Territory in 1819 and its impact on the Great Bend Region of the Red River. The event will take place at the 1914 Schoolhouse Auditorium of Historic Washington State Park.

Specific topics and speakers include: “Trammel’s Trace” by Gary Pinkerton of Houston, Texas; “The Red River Raft” by Robin Cole-Jett of Denison, Texas; “Old Miller County” by Skipper Steely of Paris, Texas; “Gulf Coastal Plain Landscape” by Dr. Don Bragg of the U.S. Forest Service; and “Plotting and Surveying the New Territory” by Dr. John Dennis of the University of Arkansas at Monticello.

An all day Friday and Saturday morning workshop for teachers on resources related to the theme in the Red River Region will take place. Lunch is included both days. A total of twelve credit hours will be available for teachers to earn by attending both days of the symposium. Cost for attending the workshop will be $40. Workshop presenters will include Historic Washington State Park staff, and staff members from the Arkansas State Archives and Arkansas Historic Preservation who will do sessions on incorporating timber and natural resource history topics into curriculum standards for the classroom.

On Saturday morning beginning at 9am a tour will be provided to early territorial sites in Miller County. For others interested in the tour the cost will be $15 per person, which includes lunch. Seating is limited, so call the Park Visitor Center to reserve your spot on the tour.

Cost for attendance to the symposium is $30 with an evening meal included. The timeframe for the event is 1:00 p.m. to 8:00 pm. A discount price of $60 will be offered to teachers who wish to attend both the workshop and symposium. Teachers attending both the workshop and symposium will be eligible for twelve credit hours. Check in will begin in the morning at 8 a.m. at the 1874 Hempstead County Courthouse Visitor Center. Registration must be made by July 24. Contact 870-983-2684 to register.

Loren Hinton Live at De Queen Sportsplex for Sevier County Chamber's Tri Lakes Big Bass Festival Awards

Awards Ceremony for the 2019 Tri Lakes Big Bass Festival hosted by the De Queen - Sevier County Chamber of Commerce

Tri Lakes Bass Tournament Final Hour Results

Final Overall Big Bass Standings from the Tri Lakes Big Bass Festival.

Top 5 Big Bass of the 2019 Tri Lakes Big Bass Festival!
1. Jim Presson 6.46 lbs De Queen Lake
2. Kevin Brown 5.7 lbs Dierks Lake
3. Austin Rose 5.69 lb De Queen
4. Brandon Tullis 5.52 lbs De Queen
5. Ray French 5.4 lb De Queen

Thanks to all of our sponsors, anglers, and volunteers from the De Queen / Sevier County Chamber of Commerce! The awards ceremony will get underway at 2:00 pm today at the Sportsplex Pavilion and will be broadcast live here on this Facebook page.

Tri Lakes Bass Tournament Hour 6 Results

Tri Lakes Bass Tournament Hour 5 Results

Top 5 after five hours of the Tri Lakes Big Bass Festival!
1. Jim Presson 6.46 lbs De Queen Lake
2. Kevin Brown 5.7 lbs Dierks Lake
3. Brandon Tullis 5.52 lbs De Queen
4. Marcus Green 5.32 lb Dierks
5. Rick Jopling 5.19 lb Gillham Lake

Tri Lakes Bass Tournament Hour 4 Results

De Queen Lions Club Youth Fishing Derby Saturday, June 22

2.0 lb Target Hit at Tri Lakes Bass Tournament

And we have a winner in our 2 pound target weight challenge as Orval Frachiseur caught this fish on Gillham Lake and will receive $200 from the Body Shop at De Queen Auto Group! Congrats Orval and thanks to De Queen Auto Group for their support of the De Queen / Sevier County Chamber of Commerce!

Tri Lakes Bass Tournament Hour 2 Results

Tri Lake Big Bass Festival overall top 5 standings thus far:
1. Kevin Brown 5.7 lb Dierks Lake
2. Brandon Tullis 5.52 De Queen Lake
3. Jason Joplin 5.1 lb Gillham Lake
4. Tom Brown 5.07 lb De Queen
5. Shane Wright 5.02 lb Dierks

Tri Lakes Bass Tournament Hour 1 Results

Memorial Day Message from AR 4th District Congressman Bruce Westerman

Harold Eugene Sellers from Jonesboro, AR

Jeremy, Ben, and Beau Wise grew up in El Dorado, AR, and enlisted in the military one after the other. Jeremy retired as a Navy Seal and began working as a defense contractor in Afghanistan in 2009, hoping to spend more time with his family while still serving his country. While the Wise family was celebrating the birth of Ben’s son in Washington, word arrived from the Middle East: Jeremy had beenkilled by a suicide bomber at a CIA base in Afghanistan.

Ben and Beau both went back overseas not long after the funeral. In January, an insurgent shot Ben after he and his comrades rescued women and children in Afghanistan. A medic until his final moments, he attended others’ wounds before he was flown to a hospital in Germany. He died on January 15th, just before his parents arrived to say goodbye.

Fieldon B. Huie Jr. was born in Formosa, AR, and entered the U.S. Army in September 1942. Before his deployment in May 1944, he transferred to the 4th Infantry Division. On June 6, 1944, Mr. Huie led the 4th Infantry Division as the first wave to attack Utah Beach. After landing on D-Day, Mr. Huie continued moving inland with his men, and was killed in action while fighting bravely for his country.

In one of her last letters to her husband, Ruth Huie wrote, “Honey, just come back that’s all I’m asking. Anything else I can take as a soldier’s wife should. I’m depending on you so don’t fail me. I love you so that these next few months will just be wasted months because you are not around. The one consolation is they can be made up. All my love, Ruth.”

Herman Davis was one of Arkansas’s most decorated WWI soldier, and General John Pershing listed him among his “100 Greatest Heroes of the World War.” Although he survived combat, Mr. Davis died shortly after the war ended, due to lingering effects of poisonous gas inhaled on the battlefield. On Memorial Day in 1925, his hometown erected the Herman Davis Memorial in his honor.

This preservation of history is one of the reasons I’m so grateful to be a part of the Veterans History Project, which provides an avenue for veterans to share their stories and remember their fallen comrades. The Library of Congress is recording these personal accounts in an archive. If you or someone you know would like to participate in the Veterans History Project, please call my office at (501) 609-9796. You can learn more about the Veterans History Project here.

Army Chaplain David Witte recording a veteran's account

I’m so grateful for the brave men and women who paid the ultimate sacrifice for our country, and Memorial Day is a time for us to honor their legacies.

As we approach the 75th anniversary of D-Day on June 6th, I’m reminded of Harold “Gene” Sellers, an Arkansan who was one of the first men to die that day. He parachuted behind enemy lines, and his sacrifice allowed other Americans to storm the beaches of Normandy. Mr. Sellers was awarded the Purple Heart and Bronze Star posthumously.

Mr. Sellers is only one of many brave Arkansans who gave their lives in service to their country. You can read about several other Arkansas heroes below. We owe them and their families a debt of gratitude.

I encourage everyone to take time this Memorial Day to remember our American heroes who gave their lives protecting the freedom we hold so dear. Have a wonderful weekend with friends and family.

Weekly Update from State Representative DeAnn Vaught

It is estimated that less than 15 percent of children who qualify for free or reduced-priced school lunches in Arkansas are getting the same high-quality meals in the summer. Children shouldn’t go hungry just because school is out.

That is why the Department of Human Services and the Arkansas Hunger Relief Alliance partner with schools, churches and community centers across the state to provide meals in the Summer Food Service Program. The program is 100 percent federally funded and covers the cost of up to three nutritious meals and snacks a day for children.

Last summer, Arkansas children enjoyed free meals at more than 500 feeding sites across the state. More than 1 million meals and snacks were served.

Final site approvals for 2019 are expected in the next few weeks, but organizers expect to exceed last year’s numbers.

The meals served follow USDA nutrition guidelines and are paid for by USDA. Many sites offer educational and recreational activities that kids enjoy.

Arkansas children 18 years old and younger can receive USDA-supported free summer meals at school, community and faith-based sites across the state that are approved through the Arkansas Department of Human Service’s Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) or the Arkansas Department of Education’s Seamless Summer Option (SSO) program. Most sites open by June 3 and serve through early August.

Parents do not need to apply to the program to get a free summer meal for their kids, and it does not interfere with other benefits they may be receiving. They can simply bring their child to a summer meals site in their community and their kids can eat a healthy, nutritious meal.

There are USDA authorized Summer Meals Sites in almost every county in Arkansas. When the last day of school is drawing near, parents and care givers can find a summer meals site in their communities by:

Going to www.fns.usda.gov/summerfoodrocks . The site has interactive map that will show meal sites near you.

Calling 1-866-3-HUNGRY

Texting FOOD to 877 877

The site is updated continually as more summer feeding sites are added to the program.

https://www.fns.usda.gov/

Find Summer Meals in Your Community | USDA-FNS

The .gov means it’s official.Federal government websites always use a .gov or .mil domain. Before sharing sensitive information online, make sure you’re on a .gov or .mil site by inspecting your browser’s address…

Memorial Day Weekend Salute

This Memorial Day Weekend, let us not forget the reason behind this holiday. We owe a huge debt to those who gave the ultimate sacrifice in defense of our country. Teach your children so that those sacrifices will not be in vain. Thank you 18 month old Ty Shelton who salutes the flag every time he sees it! (Thank you Edna Carlton for this photo)

Tri Lakes Bass Tournament on De Queen, Dierks and Gillham Lakes

Nice day for the Tri Lakes Big Bass Festival on De Queen, Gillham, and Dierks Lakes. Listen for hourly reports from each lake starting after 7 am and be watching for the awards ceremony live from the Sportsplex Park Pavilion beginning at 2 pm today on the Ed 88 Facebook page.

Colt Bolt 5K Glow Run in Lockesburg June 22nd

Arkansas Archeological Survey/Society Summer Training Dig

Have you ever wanted to learn about archeological science? If you’re in high school and can get to UA Cossatot from Monday, June 17 to Friday, June 22, you’re in luck! You can spend the week with archeologists learning about what they do! Lunch is provided! Registration is due May 29 so hurry and email Mel at mzabeck@uark.edu for more details! And listen for our interview with Melissa Zabecki of the Arkansas Archeological Society on the Thursday Ed-ition of the Morning Show with Loren tomorrow at 8:30.

Archeological Science Program, Summer 2019, DeQueen, AR Statement of Educational Goals of the Project We hope to recruit up to 15 local high school students to participate in an Archeological Science Program in conjunction with the Arkansas Archeological Society/Survey Training Program from June 17 to June 21, 2019 in DeQueen, Arkansas. The goals for this project would be to teach the students laboratory methods and get them excited about the different sciences that contribute to archeology, which actually gives us the story of the past, rather than the process of excavation, which merely produces the objects from which the data and stories come. Learning objectives include the following: During this program, students will: 1) recognize that there is more to archeology than excavation. 2) identify different sciences that figure into archeological analysis (anthropology, sociology, biology, chemistry, dendrochronology, paleoethnobotany, etc.) 3) demonstrate ways we learn about the past (experimental archeology) 4) gain an appreciation for the rich, yet everyday history of the original inhabitants of the region of what is now southwest Arkansas. Target Audience Students from De Queen High School, Cossatot River Consolidated Schools, Nashville High School, Ashdown High School, Mena High School, and any other student within driving distance of UA Cossatot are eligible. Students and guardians must fill out the last two pages of this document and return them to Mel Zabecki by June 1 to be accepted to the program. Detailed Explanation of Project Plan On Monday, June 17 through Friday, June 21, 2019, students will report at 8am to our Headquarters at UA Cossatot (building to be determined) and will leave for the day at 3pm. Students will be provided lunch but in the case of extreme dietary needs, students are encouraged to bring their own lunch. In addition to many hands-on demonstrations, the students will create a mini-project to complete over two days in the archeological lab towards the end of the week.

Below is a draft schedule, specific details are subject to change. Monday, June 17, Day 1 -Pre-assessment quiz to see what the students know about archeology at the start. -Lesson on introduction to archeology, what archeologists do, where they work, and what is included in archeological investigation from the field to the lab. -Introduction to the concepts of culture, context, chronology, and seriation. Hands-on and teamwork activities will enforce these concepts. Tuesday, June 18, Day 2 -Exploration of different sciences with introductions to osteology using faunal remains, tempering techniques in pottery to demonstrate chemistry studies, tree-ring date practice for dendrochronology, and seed identification with discussion of paleoethnobotany. Wednesday, June 19, Day 3 -Field trip out to site(s) where field work is occurring (weather permitting) Thursday, June 20, Day 4 -First lab day, students will spend the day learning about lab methods (from cleaning all the way through to curation) and cleaning any artifacts learning to sort and analyze potsherds for thickness and reconstruction, temper, and decoration. Friday, June 21, Day 5 -Second lab day, students will either sort what they washed on day 4 or continue analyzing potsherds. -Completion of mini-project. -Post-assessment quiz. Funding Funding has been secured through a Bill Jordan Public Education Grant from the Arkansas Archeological Society. Students’ 1-year Society membership, program registration, and lunch and snacks will all be covered for up to 15 students.

For additional information or questions, please contact Mel Zabecki mzabeck@uark.edu, 479-236-3938
Arkansas Archeological Survey/Society Summer Training Dig
2019 Archeological Science Program
Please send this information and the NOTARIZED sponsorship agreement form (attached) appointing Melissa Zabecki as the adult sponsor to:
Dr. Mel Zabecki
Arkansas Archeological Survey
2475 North Hatch Ave.
Fayetteville, AR 72704
Name:
School:
Address:
Phone:
Email:
Tshirt size:
Emergency contact person and phone number:
Any food allergies/pertinent medical info:

OTA Program Receives Accreditation for Ten Years

Pictured: OTA Program Director, Tamla Heminger and OTA Fieldwork Coordinator, Sharon Pool

UA Cossatot's Occupational Therapy Assistant Program has been awarded a 10-year reaccreditation from the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE). ACOTE is the accrediting agency for occupational therapy education in the United States. Being accredited by (ACOTE) ensures the quality of UA Cossatot's OTA program and allows OTA students to sit for their required national board exams.
In February of this year, ACOTE completed a 3 day on-site visit on UA Cossatot's Ashdown campus. The council reviewed the report of the on-site evaluation and self-study in April and found the program to be compliant in all educational standards. ACOTE voted to grant a status of accreditation for a period of ten years, which is the highest amount a program can receive. The 10-year award reflects the program’s compliance with all reaccreditation criteria and is a sign that the program has demonstrated exceptional educational quality. UA Cossatot's OTA program will not require a new on-site evaluation until the 2028-2029 academic year.
“We are gratified that the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education felt UA Cossatot’s OTA Program meets their highest standard for educational excellence,” said Tamla Heminger, OTR, MEd, UA Cossatot’s OTA Program Director.” Heminger added, “I think this also says something about the high quality of the college in which the program resides. Many individuals work together to ensure the success of our programs and students.”
UA Cossatot's OTA program began in 2012, with the first OTA class graduating in 2013. Students can apply to join the OTA program starting June 15. Applications are collected until the application deadline
(March 1, 2020). The program is an eighteen-month program and includes pre-requisite courses prior to application to the program. Enrollment in the OTA program is limited to fifteen students each year. Applicants are ranked according to their GPA, pre-entrance exam scores, observation reports, and letters of recommendation.
To learn more about UA Cossatot's OTA program, please e-mail the OTA Program Director, Tamla Heminger at theminger@cccua.edu or OTA Program Fieldwork Coordinator, Sharon Pool at spool@cccua.edu.

OTA Students Celebrate Occupational Therapy Month

(from left to right) Tarnesa Ramarine, Anna Gatliff, John Simmons, Denby Jester, and Loren Gills

April is Occupational Therapy Month, and on April 26, OTA students at the Ashdown campus celebrated the work OTA’s and OT’s do for people of all ages. Students in UA Cossatot’s OTA program made a special lunch to mark the occasion.
Occupational therapy is the only profession that helps people across the lifespan to do the things they want and need to do through the therapeutic use of daily activities. OTA’s and OT’s help people of all ages by promoting health, preventing injuries, and helping people adjust to disabilities and illnesses.
For two hundred years occupational therapy has been an official profession. In early April, UA Cossatot OTA instructors took eight OTA students to New Orleans, Louisiana for the national American Occupational Therapy Conference. At the conference, students were given a chance to attend workshops, seminars, educational sessions, and fun activities related to occupational therapy.
In April, OTA students also participated in a give back activity. The students created non-slip decorated socks. These socks were then given to residents at Pleasant Manor Nursing Home in Ashdown, Arkansas. The students also participated in Sevier County and Little River County health fairs where they presented information on occupational therapy and safety in the home to prevent health risks.
OTA students at UA Cossatot participate in many fundraisers and projects to raise money for educational and community service activities. They also raise money to offset costs for a review course to prepare for their national board exam.
To learn more about UA Cossatot’s OTA program or ways you can support the program, please e-mail OTA Program Director, Tamla Heminger at theminger@cccua.edu.

(from left to right) Tarnesa Ramarine, Anna Gatliff, John Simmons, Denby Jester, and Loren Gills