Master Bladesmith Logan Pearce on Ed 88 Morning Show

Master Bladesmith Logan Pearce was our guest Monday morning and discussed knife making in Southwest Arkansas and the upcoming Hoo Rah Festival. Logan Pearce is a third generation bladesmith. Logan is the first American knifemaker to do Russian Filigree on knives and is only 1 of 6 knifemakers in the world to do it. His Remnant knives are carried in over 30 countries, with dealers as many, that sell his work. Logan is also the creator of the 'Sharpest Man Contest', a bowie cutting competition, where makers show how well their knives perform. In 2017, Logan became the show promoter for the Arkansas Knife show. 

Pearce Knives

Third Generation Bladesmith, Logan Pearce. Logan Pearce carries on the family tradition of creating knives out of everyday objects. Best know for creating the wrench knife, bolt knife, tiretool knife, horseshoe knife, and many others that have inspired thousands of makers to pursue knifemaking.

Weekly Update from State Representative DeAnn Vaught

By April 1, 2020, each of you will receive an invitation to participate in the 2020 Census. Responding to the census will be easier than ever, as this will be the first time you can respond online.

The Constitution mandates that the country conduct a count of its population once every 10 years. The 2020 Census will mark the 24th time that the country has counted its population since 1790.

The Governor recently announced the formation of the Arkansas Complete Count Committee. The 30 member task force includes two state senators and two state representatives who have agreed to help promote statewide participation in the 2020 Census.

When you respond to the census, you help your community gets its fair share of the more than $675 billion per year in federal funds spent on schools, hospitals, roads, public works and other vital programs.

The census tells us much more than just the population of our state and our communities. It tells us about the makeup of those populations, from ages and races to how many people own their home.

Businesses use census data to decide where to build factories and offices. Developers use the census to build new homes.

Local governments use the census for public safety and emergency preparedness. The data can help inform where your community needs a new fire department, more funding for school lunches, or new roads.

The census helps determine how many representatives each state gets in Congress. The information is also used redraw state senate and house district boundaries. Redistricting counts are sent to the states by March 31, 2021.

The answers you provide are used only to produce statistics. You are kept anonymous. The Census Bureau is not permitted to publicly release your responses in any way that could identify you or anyone else in your home.

For more information visit:  www.2020census.gov

2020 Census | United States Census Bureau

When you respond to the census, your answers are kept anonymous. They are used only to produce statistics. The U.S. Census Bureau is bound by law to protect your answers and keep them strictly confidential. The law ensures that your private information is never published and that your answers cannot be used against you by any government agency or court.

Colts Pep Band Begins at UA Cossatot

As the fall basketball season approaches, UA Cossatot has announced that the college will be starting a Colts Pep Band. Members of the band will provide musical entertainment at the Colts home basketball games. The Colts Pep Band is a social, musical opportunity that is open to the general public, including UA Cossatot students, faculty, and staff.
Fine Arts-Music Instructor, Dr. Laura Riddle, will be the Colts Pep Band leader and director. She has asked for people who can play musical instruments to contact her if they would like to play in the band. She is looking primarily for individuals who can play the flute, clarinet, saxophone, trumpet, French horn, baritone, trombone, drums (set), electric guitar, bass guitar, or keyboards.
Everyone in the pep band needs to be able to provide their own instrument and musical gear. Dr. Riddle does, however, have guitar and bass amps, and a drum set if needed.
When the Colts Pep Band members have been selected Dr. Riddle will schedule an initial meeting for everyone to attend so everyone can plan rehearsal practices.
If anyone is interested in joining the Colts Pep Band or would like to learn more information, please contact Dr. Laura Riddle at 870-584-1137 or lriddle@cccua.edu.

Housing Option for Students is Discussed at Board of Visitors Meeting

On September 9, 2019, UA Cossatot held their bi-monthly Board of Visitors meeting at the college’s Lockesburg Campus. At the meeting, division reports were given, announcements were made, the board passed nine new and edited policies, and UA Cossatot Chancellor, Dr. Steve Cole spoke about the possibility of the college having dorms in the future.
During the July Board of Visitors meeting, the board approved for Dr. Cole to move forward with research regarding student housing. On August 20, Dr. Cole attended a UA Trustees retreat that included a session on explaining the positive benefits of colleges pursuing public/private relationships, or P3s. He shared his research results with the Board of Visitors.
Dr. Cole stated that a P3 arrangement for dormitories would allow UA Cossatot to have better access to capital for major construction projects. It would also allow for turnkey development and management options for student housing and other projects.
At the beginning of September, the college published a student housing survey that went out to over fifteen hundred current and potential UA Cossatot students. Almost three hundred surveys were completed, and the results were shared at the meeting. The three most positive pieces of the housing survey were that 79% of those polled indicated they would definitely live in on-campus housing, they would prefer to live on campus year round, and DeQueen (62%) and Nashville (31%) were the campuses where students would be most interested in living. The feedback will be used in the college’s decision-making process as UA Cossatot moves forward with student housing plans. More research will take place this fall to uncover accounting and legal issues so that the college can possibly make student housing an option for students at UA Cossatot.
UA Cossatot Chancellor, Dr. Steve Cole said, “I think that for UA Cossatot to always remain competitive and growing, we will, at some point in our history, have to develop student housing. This will aid in the growth of not only our in-demand academic programs, but our growing athletic programs as well.
Other information discussed at the Board of Visitors meeting included the college beginning new development on a strategic plan for 2025. The college has selected an employee strategic planning committee, and surveys will be released to stakeholders and shareholders of the college very soon.
Lauren Volarvich was recently hired as an English instructor at UA Cossatot. The first PTA class graduated this summer from UA Cossatot’s PTA program. Also, the enrollment report revealed fall enrollment this semester at UA Cossatot was higher than last year, showing an 8% increase over last fall.
The college also invited UA Cossatot Student Ambassador, Jessica Aguilar and Miss UA Cossatot 2019, Perri Lowrey to attend the Board of Visitors meeting as special guests.
The next UA Cossatot board of visitors meeting is scheduled to take place on November 4, 2019.

Cossatot Community College

Click here to learn how to login to campus email, Blackboard, and Campus Connect! The University of Arkansas - Fayetteville's Chancellor, Dr. Joe Steinmetz has announced that the University of Arkansas - Fayetteville will now charge associate degree graduates from UA Cossatot the same tuition rates those graduates were charged at UA Cossatot.

UA Cossatot’s Diesel Technology program is underway!

UA Cossatot's program will prepare students for enry-level positions in the diesel technician trade in light, medium, and heavy duty applications. Students learn to work on brake systems, drive trains, electric and electronic circuits, hydraulic systems, and diesel engines, all of which are valuable skills for a successful career. The program will consist of stackable credentials beginning with 4 Certificates of Proficiency in each discipline area, a Technical Certificate that includes each of the four discipline areas leading to an AAS degree in General Technology.

Burn Bans Across South Arkansas Counties

Eleven south Arkansas counties are now under a burn ban and that number may increase over the next several days as hot, dry weather continues across the state.

We are proud to present our 2019 UA Cossatot Rotaract Officers

(Left to right) Belen Hernandez-Vice President , Eruby Rodriguez- President and Lissette Hernandez – Secretary

These students will be dedicating their time to finding innovative solutions in their communities, the world's most pressing challenges while developing leadership skills, guiding their fellow peers, and promoting the Rotary motto, Service Above Self.

UA Cossatot Basketball Players Plan to Participate in a Shoot-A-Thon at Lockesburg Gym

UA Cossatot has announced that the college's men's and women's basketball team will be conducting a Shoot-A-Thon on Monday, September 23, 2019, at the UA Cossatot Bank of Lockesburg Gymnasium. This event will be an opportunity for the players to raise funds for the men's and women's basketball programs, travel gear, and bag expenses.

The Shoot-A-Thon allows sponsors the chance to support UA Cossatot's basketball program and student-athletes. Sponsors can give money in two ways. Sponsors can either 1) sponsor a player for an amount per free throws made or 2) provide a flat donation.

Players are planning to shoot 100 free throws. The sponsor's tax-deductible pledge will be the amount the sponsor checks on their form, multiplied by the number of free throws the player makes out of 100 free throws attempted.

If one chooses to sponsor a player per free throw, sponsors can mail the completed Shoot-A-Thon form to Coach Brad Phillips, Colt's Basketball, University of Arkansas Cossatot, 183 College Drive, De Queen, Arkansas 71832. Completed forms can also be scanned and e-mailed to bphillips@cccua.edu. After the Shoot-A-Thon, Coach Phillips will let you know the results of the player and the amount of your pledge.

Sponsors can send money before the event if they choose to give a flat donation. For donations, please make checks payable to the UA Cossatot Foundation.

Sponsor Forms can be picked up at the front desk of any UA Cossatot Campus, or downloaded at www.cccua.edu.

For any questions about the Shoot-A-Thon, please contact Coach Brad Phillips at bphillips@cccua.edu

Cossatot Community College

Click here to learn how to login to campus email, Blackboard, and Campus Connect! The University of Arkansas - Fayetteville's Chancellor, Dr. Joe Steinmetz has announced that the University of Arkansas - Fayetteville will now charge associate degree graduates from UA Cossatot the same tuition rates those graduates were charged at UA Cossatot.

Ashdown High School Financial Aid Meetings

Instructor and Alumni Recommends UA Cossatot

Jimmy Arnold began his college career in the fall of 1999 at UA Cossatot and graduated in the spring of 2002 with an Associate of Arts degree. In 2008, Mr. Arnold was hired to teach history and political science at UA Cossatot, where he continues to work as an instructor committed to improving the lives for those in his region.

Jimmy was born in Fort Worth, Texas, and grew up in a small town called Saginaw. After leaving Saginaw, Texas Jimmy moved to De Queen, Arkansas where he has lived for the past forty-eight years.

Before attending college, Jimmy worked in De Queen at Pilgrim’s Pride for twenty-seven years. In 1999, he decided to make a change and enrolled as a student at UA Cossatot. Arnold chose to attend his local community college because it was close to home. He could also get all of his general education courses out of the way before transferring to a four-year college.

To accomplish this goal, he pursued an Associate of Arts degree, which is designed to transfer to any Arkansas four-year university. After graduating in 2002 from UA Cossatot, Jimmy transferred to Henderson State University where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree with a double major in History and Political Science. After graduating from Henderson State University, he entered the graduate program at Texas A&M – Texarkana where he graduated with a Master’s of Science degree in 2007.

Jimmy Arnold said, “As far back as I can remember, I have loved history, and I have wanted to teach it. To me, history is so exciting! I am also a big Civil War buff!”

Mr. Arnold has taught State and Local Government in the past, and currently teaches U.S. History and American Government. When asked what his favorite class to teach was he said, “Hands down, my favorite is U.S. History To 1876.”

Mr. Arnold has enjoyed his experience at UA Cossatot as a student and continues to enjoy it as a teacher. As an employee, he said, “My favorite thing about working at UA Cossatot is being able to teach and interact with my students.”

He also said, “My time at UA Cossatot as a student was probably one of the most exciting times in my life! I was very much involved in student organizations. I even served as a Regional Vice President for the Oklahoma/Arkansas Region of Phi Theta Kappa.”

Jimmy recommends anyone who is considering getting a college degree to begin at UA Cossatot. “The support I received, not only from my instructors but from the staff as well, was awesome! UA Cossatot is also great because students can get their basic general education courses out of the way. After that, they can solely focus on their major after they transfer,” said Jimmy Arnold.

When reflecting on his community, family and the history of the college, Jimmy said, “I love De Queen and the people. Back in 2012, my wife and I lost our home in a house fire. The support we received from the people of De Queen was very touching. My wife is known, around De Queen, as Mrs. Jen and she has operated the Happy House Pre-School for 39 years. It was her love, prayers, and support that sustained me during my college years.”

Jimmy added, “To watch the college grow and improve over the last two decades is awesome! I am honored and proud to have had a small part at UA Cossatot, and I hope to continue teaching for many years to come!”

To learn more about UA Cossatot’s Associate of Arts degree or other associates degrees offered at the college, please contact Student Services at 870-584-4471

Amy Westfall and Julie Rhodes in the Studios of Ed 88 Thursday (Audio Included)

On the Thursday Ed-ition of the Morning Show, we visited with Nashville High School Career Coach Amy Westfall and UA Cossatot High School Coordinator Julie Rhodes to discuss some of the many educational opportunities at UAC that are available to our high school students.

Weekly Update from State Representative DeAnn Vaught

During the 2019 Regular Session, the General Assembly passed several pieces of legislation concerning our elections.
One of those pieces of legislation will change the date of our primaries.
Arkansas will join 13 other states holding a March 3, 2020 primary. Only 4 other states will hold their caucus or primary before March 3.
Act 545 provides for a March preferential primary election in the years in which the office of President of the United States is voted on and a May preferential primary election in the years in which the office of Governor is voted on.
The general election for non-partisan races, which includes judges and prosecutors, will also be held on March 3 of next year.
Early voting will begin on February 17, 2020. The deadline to register for the primary is February 3.
Act 545 also makes changes to the timing of fiscal sessions. Fiscal sessions have been held on the second Monday in February on even-numbered years. Act 545 states that on years in which the preferential primary is held in March, the General Assembly will instead meet for a fiscal session on the second Wednesday of April. 
Other legislation passed this year concerning elections include:

ACT 199 which allows the election officials at a polling site with fifteen (15) or more ballot styles to post the sample ballots on a public website and in bound volumes.

· ACT 664 which provides ten (10) minutes for a voter to mark his or her ballot.

· ACT 684 which allows digital photographic identification cards to be used as the voter identification required to vote.

· ACT 949 which provides for a modification in the law concerning the number of voting sites in a city of the first class.

· ACT 328 which allows high school students to volunteer as election officials.

For more information about voting dates and deadlines visit www.sos.arkansas.gov.www.sos.arkansas.gov.

Arkansas Secretary of State

Copyright © 2017 Arkansas Secretary of State. All Rights Reserved.

Local Brothers Keepers Group in Ed 88 Studios on Friday

Brothers Keepers drawing for a rocket cooker to raise funds for the 911 Memorial Stair Climb.

Carmen Sansom Named 2019 Ashdown High School Homecoming Grand Marshall

Ashdown Public School's Retiree Carmen Sansom has been named the 2019 Ashdown High School Homecoming Grand Marshall. Mrs. Sansom will lead the parade on Friday, September 13th at 2 p.m.

She is married to Dale Sansom and they have been residents of the Hicks Community in Ashdown for 42 years, where they raise cattle. They have three daughters Jennifer Sansom, Katie Phelps, and Mollye Cobb who all graduated from Ashdown and five grandchildren Bandera, Ty, Bannon, Cayce, and Colt. Bandera, Bannon, and Colt attend school in Ashdown and Cayce and Ty attend school in Simms, TX where Mrs. Sansom graduated.

Mrs. Sansom taught 25 in the Ashdown School District. She was a math teacher at AJHS for 10 years and 15 at AHS. She said, “I thought I would only teach until our daughters graduated from college, but I loved it so much, I just couldn’t stop! I loved not only teaching but getting to know so many young people and watching them grow into amazing adults with children of their own."

Winthrop Labor Day Reunion Sunday, September 1st

The city of Winthrop will be hosting the Labor Day reunion on Sunday, September 1st. It will be at the cafeteria from 11-? The city will provide plates, cups, napkins and silverware. It’s potluck so everyone bring food and enjoy! The museum will be open for people to walk through also. Look forward to seeing everyone!

2019 Fall Officers Are Elected To Serve in Collegiate FFA

Photo L-R: Reporter, Codie Jamison; Treasurer, Cody Chandler; Co-Vice President, Hadley Philamlee; President, Dusty Kesterson; Co-Vice President, Kinley Wright; and Secretary, Raven Revels

UA Cossatot's Collegiate FFA organization announces the fall 2019 FFA officers. These officers will serve for a term of one semester, and be active leaders in UA Cossatot's FFA.

The officers include President, Dusty Kesterson; Co-Vice President, Hadley Philamlee; Co-Vice President, Kinley Wright; Secretary, Raven Revels; Treasurer, Cody Chandler; and Reporter, Codie Jamison.

Being a member of UA Cossatot's FFA provides students scholarship opportunities; leadership, communication, and networking skills; and the chance to build friendships with other FFA members. Students pursuing a technical certificate in agriculture or an associate's degree in agriculture business, agriculture science, agriculture education, or natural resources can join UA Cossatot's Collegiate FFA.

This fall, UA Cossatot's FFA will be taking part in numerous activities, projects, and field trips to enhance students’ in-class experience. UA Cossatot Collegiate FFA sponsor, Kelli Harris, has announced that the FFA members will be taking part in a Gillham Lake clean-up project on September 14. They will also be making preparations for the FFA Gun Raffle and Chili Supper to raise money for scholarships on November 7 at the college.

For additional information about UA Cossatot's Collegiate FFA, please contact Kelli Harris at 870-584-1218 or kharris@cccua.edu

UA Cossatot’s Rotaract Club Attends Conference in Russellville

On Saturday, August 24, 2019, UA Cossatot’s student organization, Rotaract, attended a conference at Arkansas Tech University in Russellville, Arkansas. The theme of the conference was how to connect, network, and get inspired to create projects that benefit people locally and across the globe. 
The UA Cossatot Rotaract attendees included Eruby Rodriguez, Belen Hernandez, Joel Guerrero, Kendra Rodriguez, Ashlee Dunn, Karina Lopez, Lissette Hernandez, America Rojas, Gesille Montiel, Jhamilex Hernandez, Astrid Jasso, and Angela Vertiz. Rotaract sponsor Dustin Roberts also attended the conference. Rotaract is the college level of Rotary for individuals 18 to 30 years old. It is designed for young leaders to help develop innovative solutions to the world’s most pressing challenges.
De Queen High School’s Interact club also attended the conference in Russellville. DHS Interact members that were present for the conference included Dalene Velazquez, Blanco Morales, Alma Puga, Abby Ponce, Anthony Sanchez, and Alicia Salazar. De Queen Rotary Secretary, Tammy Huddleston chaperoned the Interact students at the conference. Interact is a high school organization associated with Rotary. It is a club created to bring together young people ages twelve to eighteen to develop leadership skills while discovering the power of service above self.
Rotaract was re-established as a student organization at UA Cossatot last year. UA Cossatot employees Erika Buenrrostro and Dustin Roberts serve as Rotaract sponsors.
“It was great attending the conference where Rotaract and Interact members across the state came together for the purpose of making our communities and world a better place to live,” said Dustin Roberts. 
To learn more about UA Cossatot’s Rotaract club, please contact Dustin Roberts at 870-584-1172 or at droberts@cccua.edu.

UA Cossatot FFA Gun Raffle

Say Yes to FHS Video

UA Cossatot Alumni Continues Nursing Career in Plano, Texas

Caleb Burrow is a former Sevier County resident and a former UA Cossatot nursing student who graduated from UA Cossatot’s RN program in 2015. This summer, Caleb started a new chapter in his life when he and his wife moved to Plano, Texas. In this new location, Caleb was hired to work as a Cardiovascular ICU RN nurse at the Baylor Scottand White Heart Hospital in Plano, Texas.
Caleb grew up in De Queen, Arkansas, where he attended a private Christian school. He graduated high school at a Christian Academy in Northwest Arkansas in 2012. He decided to go to college at UA Cossatot because it was close to home and it was a more cost-effective choice.
He also decided to major in nursing because he wanted to help people and make a difference in their lives. In the fall of 2012, Caleb started taking pre-requisite courses to get into UA Cossatot’s LPN program. One year later, he was in the program.
UA Cossatot has a day and evening LPN program, and Caleb was accepted into the eleven month LPN day program at the De Queen Campus.
Caleb Burrow said, “My time in the LPN program was probably the most challenging and most rewarding time in my nursing education and experience. With classes and clinicals, the whole program challenged me to put what I had learned into practice in both long term and acute care settings. The diversity in the healthcare setting experience was definitely a highlight of the program.”
After graduating from the LPN program in 2014, Caleb continued his nursing education at UA Cossatot by enrolling in the college’s RN nursing program. For this program, Caleb attended classes at UA Cossatot’s Nashville Campus.
The RN program at UA Cossatot is an LPN to RN transition program that is also a part of ARNEC. ARNEC stands for Arkansas Rural Nursing Education Consortium. It is a co-operative effort of eight two-year colleges throughout Arkansas, which helps LPN’s get their RN degree.
Caleb said, “In the RN program, we would meet in the evenings in a distance learning setting. Our lectures would be presented from one location to several other campuses. The lectures were engaging and overall, not too different from any normal in-class setting. The teachers would teach the classes via live streaming, and the teachers would also travel to different campuses so students could see the teachers in person.”
Caleb Burrow graduated with an Associate of Applied Science RN nursing degree from UA Cossatot in 2015. After gaining an LPN and an RN degree from UA Cossatot, Caleb transferred to Arkansas Tech University. He was accepted into the school’s Bachelor of Science in Nursing program, where he took classes online.
Caleb said, “I felt that I was very prepared for my coursework at a four-year university because of the training and education I received at UA Cossatot.”
While taking classes at Arkansas Tech University, he also worked full-time in the ICU setting at Christus St. Michael Health System in Texarkana, Texas. In 2017, Caleb graduated from Arkansas Tech University with a BSN degree.
After working three and a half years at Christus St. Michael Health System in Texarkana, Caleb has chosen to take a job in the Cardiovascular ICU at the Baylor Scott and White Heart Hospital in Plano, Texas.
When asked why Caleb wanted to take this job, he said, “I am getting to help patients who have undergone significant cardiovascular surgeries or interventions at our facility. Baylor is also a name that could be said is synonymous with quality nursing care and nursing experience. I am proud to be working at this facility, and I love the ICU! I feel it is where I’m meant to be!”
Caleb also says, “If you know that nursing is something you want to pursue, I would personally recommend UA Cossatot’s LPN to RN transition program.”
The application deadline for the eleven-month LPN day program is March 1 of each year at UA Cossatot. The application deadline for the eighteen-month evening LPN program and the one year RN program at UA Cossatot is August 31 of each year.
To learn how to apply for one of these programs at UA Cossatot, please visit the college’s medical education page at www.cccua.edu to schedule an advising appointment.