Little River News

UA Cossatot Scholarship Spplication Deadline Extended to May 1st

The 2020-2021 UA Cossatot scholarship application deadline has been extended to May 1. Please share with your students. The online application can be found here: https://cccua.awardspring.com/


Completing this online scholarship application before May 1 is the best time for students to apply for scholarships for the upcoming academic year and gives them access to all the scholarships we have available

To UA Cossatot Students

From the UAC Financial Aid Office:
March 23, 2020

Dear Student,

All correspondence from the Office of Financial Aid will be sent to your UAC email account and the email account you provided on your FAFSA application. If you receive a Document Tracking Letter (DTL) from our office, please read the letter carefully, follow the link provided in the letter to locate the forms you will need to complete.

All forms will be accepted by mail, email or fax at this time. If you are returning documents that list social security numbers, please mark out all numbers but the last four numbers (XXX-XX-1234). If you have received a DTL letter from us for the 2019-2020 academic year, please return requested documents as soon as possible.

We encourage all of you that have applied for the upcoming academic year (20-21) to promptly return requested documents also.

The address is:

UAC
Financial Aid
183 College Drive
De Queen, AR 71832

Fax: 870-642-8766
Email: FinancialAid@cccua.edu

Sincerely,
Denise Hammond
Director of Financial Aid
870-584-1118
Fax: 870-642-8766
dhammond@cccua.edu

Summer and Fall Registration at UA Cossatot

At UA Cossatot, we understand the seriousness of the COVID-19 SITUATION. But we also know that there is an end to this uncertainty. We are planning for the future and you should be too. America needs more healthcare professionals, truck drivers, teachers, and technicians of all kinds. VIP registration for summer and fall classes begins March 30th. And in keeping with social distancing, registration will be available by email, phone, and text. Check out the available classes at: https://www.cccua.edu/apply-enroll/class-schedules

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 (3.23.2020) Fall 2020 Schedule (3.23.2020) Find specific courses through Campus Connect Course Search. There's no need to login.

Weekly Update from State Representative DeAnn Vaught

deann vaught.jpg

If you are a business owner struggling to meet payroll or if you have recently become unemployed due to the response from COVID-19, we want to direct you to state resources that may help.

Earlier this week the Governor announced that Arkansas will tap Community Development Block Grant funds and the state’s Quick Action Closing Fund to support small businesses and nonprofits that are struggling during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The state will allocate $12 million in block grant money and up to $4 million from the quick-action fund to provide bridge loans to help midsize companies and nonprofits remain open during the COVID-19 pandemic. Attorney General Leslie Rutledge also announced the transfer of $3 million of settlement funds from her office to the quick-action loan fund for small businesses.

The Small Business Administration (SBA) Economic Injury Disaster Loan program has been made available to eligible businesses and private non-profits that were impacted.

These working capital loans of up to $2 million can be used to pay fixed debts, payroll, and other bills that can’t be paid because of the disaster’s impact.

Businesses and employers can access information on the grants and loans at www.arkansasedc.com/covid19.

COVID-19 Business and Employee Resources | Arkansas Economic Development Commission

The Arkansas Economic Development Commission is committed to helping businesses and employees combat the effects of COVID-19. On this page, we have compiled a list of programs and resources, and we will continue to update this list as additional resources become available.

The Governor has also directed Division of Workforce Services to waive a number of restrictions for workers who have lost employment to ensure that the Unemployment Insurance Program (UIP) can provide needed assistance in a timely manner.

Unemployed individuals will be able to collect benefits immediately upon application approval rather than the typical week-long waiting period.

In addition, for the next 30 days, unemployed individuals will not be required to meet job search requirements. In person application requirements are also waived.

Arkansans can apply at www.ezarc.adws.arkansas.gov

ADWS EZARC - Welcome to EZARC

Hours of Operation: Monday - Friday: 6:00AM - 6:00PM ADWS does not send text messages, emails or initiate calls to claimants requesting they provide us with their Social Security Numbers and/or personal banking information. Individuals seeking to file unemployment insurance claims should only use ADWS secured websites accessible through dws.arkansas.gov Servicios de Interpretación/Traducción disponibles por medio de su oficina local.

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) will suspend the work requirement through the end of April. DHS also will expedite decisions about SNAP eligibility for those who lose income because of COVID-19 www.access.arkansas.gov.

Voter Registration

If you need assistance, please see the information below: If you do not have access to a printer, please call 1-800-482-8988 (Toll-free Client Assistance Helpline) to have a Voter Registration Application mailed to you.

We will continue to update you daily on new developments concerning the state response to COVID-19 at www.arkansashouse.org.

Home - Arkansas House of Representatives

ARGIRLSLEAD #ARGIRLSLEAD is a movement started by women serving in the Arkansas House. Each of them have a unique story to share about their journey on the road to their current leadership position. Kids In The House Who says civics can't be fun?

Handling Stress of Social Distancing

NEWS ARTICLE
Jean A. Ince
County Extension Agent-Staff Chair

Last week we all thought Covid-19 was going to be on its way out and life would return to normal. However, it looks like it may be around for several weeks and we all need to take precautions to prevent the virus from spreading. Most of us are spending more time at home, avoiding contact with others and basically our lives have turned upside down. Here are some tips to help you manage the stress of being stuck at home, either by yourself or with those you love.
Everyone reacts differently to stressful situations. Some common feelings are anxiety, worry, or fear over you or a loved one catching the disease. Worry about how you will meet your financial obligations or how you will get the things you need such as groceries, personal care items and medicines.
You may be concerned over how you will care for your children. Who is going to watch them, if you are working? You may be asking yourself, “What are we going to do with all this time on our hands?” Boredom and frustration may set in because your normal routine has changed.
Frustrated at how long this will last. Loneliness and feeling like you are cut off from those you love.
So, what can you do to handle the stress of isolation? Here are some ways to help relieve the pressures.
Keep a Healthy Diet – When you are at home it can be tempting to become a “couch potato”. Instead of grabbing that bag of chips or cookies, try snacking on fresh veggies or fruit. Try a cup of yogurt with fruit. Canned or frozen fruits are great alternatives to fresh. They are healthy choices when fresh may not be available.
Prepare Healthy Meals – Again, it is easy to grab prepackaged foods and pop them in the microwave. Many prepackaged foods have extra fat, calories and sodium than foods prepared from scratch. Involve the family in helping you prepare a healthy meal. Check out the website www.choosemyplate.gov to see what makes a healthy plate. On a side note, there are games and activities that teaches eating right for children to do on the website. Check it out!
Enjoy Nature – If possible, get outside and enjoy the fresh air. Take a walk in your neighborhood, keeping distance between those you meet. Find activities to do with your children online that gets them outside. You might print off a scavenger hunt or keep a journal of what you see outside. Then research the insect, plant, bird or animal that you see.
Exercise! – There are many exercises you can do at home. There is plenty of research being done that connects our physical health with our mental health. Yoga, stretching or strength training exercises are great. If you still have a gaming system that involves bowling, tennis, baseball or dance moves, pull it out of storage. There are many exercise videos you can move to online. The idea is to get up and get moving!
Maintain a Sense of Routine – If you find yourself staying in your pajamas all day and you haven’t brushed your hair or teeth, maybe it’s time to evaluate your routine. Children and adults thrive on routines. Go to bed and wake up at regular times. Avoid falling into a cycle of sleeping, watching tv, eating and repeating. A routine gives purpose and wards off feelings of depression.
Make a Plan and Stick to It! – Set up a schedule of what you want to accomplish each day. Being isolated allows you time to do those chores you have been putting off. It also allows you time to start a new project! If you have children at home, set a time to play games, make a new craft, try out a new recipe, learn a new feature on your mobile device; such as, skyping, FaceTime, or new app. Read a book or start a garden by planting seeds that can be transferred to your outside garden later.
Stay Connected – Just because you are stuck at home, doesn’t mean you have to cut yourself off socially. Call someone and visit. Stay connected through email and social media.
Limit News and Media – Constantly hearing about the coronavirus can impact your mental health. Take a break from the news on the TV or on social media. Get information and updates at specific times during the day. Make sure the information you are receiving is from a reliable source.
These are challenging times for everyone. We will get through them and life will return to normal. The University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture Cooperative Extension Service has several resources for financial management, managing stress, eating healthy and exercise. Check out the website www.uaex.edu for more information.
The Howard County Extension Office is open and conducting business as much as possible. However, all meetings have been postponed for now. If we can assist you call our office at 870-845-7517. You can also keep up-to-date with activities through our Facebook pages at HowardCountyExtensionFcs, Howard-County-4-H, or howard co. uaex ag & natural resources. Just search and like the page you are interested in.

University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture Cooperative Extension Service

Protect you and your family during the COVID-19 outbreak by practicing proper hand washing techniques. Wet your hands with clean running water (warm or cold) and apply soap. Rub your hands together to make a lather and scrub them well; be sure to scrub the backs of your hands, between your fingers, and under your nails.

ADEM Urges Families to Sign Up for Smart911

adem.png

Arkansas Division of Emergency Management Urges Families Statewide to Sign Up for Smart911 to Enable Coronavirus Awareness for 9-1-1 and Emergency Responders

“Take Control, Let Us Know” campaign empowers individuals to share critical medical information for more informed emergency response

North Little Rock – As Arkansas responds to the spread of the coronavirus, public health and safety officials ask all Arkansans to sign up for the Smart911 national safety profile registry, a free service that allows individuals and families to provide critical medical information to 9-1-1 and first responders. Arkansas is launching the “Take Control, Let Us Know” campaign to empower the community to take action, and provide valuable and accurate health data that increases the awareness of 9-1-1, first responders, and Emergency Management to an individual’s risk level for coronavirus.

Members of our community are looking for ways to improve the safety of their families, friends and neighbors as the coronavirus spreads. By signing up for Smart911, individuals can help first responders get the key information they need about every person who may need assistance, not only during this outbreak, but during any emergency.

Individuals can create a Smart911 Safety Profile for their household at www.smart911.com or on the Smart911 App that provides critical medical information for those who may be at higher risk of developing a serious COVID-19 illness. As identified by the CDC, the vulnerable population includes older adults, and those with a history of chronic medical conditions like heart disease, diabetes, lung disease, respiratory conditions, and compromised immune systems. When an individual calls 9-1-1, their Smart911 Safety Profile is automatically displayed, allowing our public safety agencies to send emergency response teams to the right location with enhanced medical data.

Individuals can additionally self-identify if they are under quarantine, and whether it is self-imposed or directed by a health professional. The Smart911 App allows quarantined individuals to receive check-in messages on their health status. Smart911 also allows individuals to sign up for alerts from emergency management officials to receive reliable information about the changing coronavirus situation. Individuals who sign up will also receive tailored alerts based on their specific needs and geographic location. With enhanced coronavirus awareness, individuals and first responders have vital information to take proper precautions.

“As the coronavirus continues to be a major public health concern, we are doing everything we can to prepare, respond, and mitigate risk to those in our community who need assistance,” said A.J. Gary, Director of the Division of Emergency Management. “The information provided in a Smart911 Safety Profile enables us to know who is at the greatest risk in our community. We can provide individuals with critical updates based on their location and health history. Ultimately, Smart911 gives our state the chance to be proactive, and lets us know who requires our services. We urge all Arkansans to take action, sign up for Smart911, and help us address the coronavirus outbreak.”

To sign up or update your Safety profile, visit www.smart911.com or download the Smart911 app in the Apple Store or Google Play.

Smart911

This service helps 9-1-1 protect your family by providing more information to first responders. You should sign up too, it is free!


A Note from Wilkerson Funeral Home

During these uncertain times, Wilkerson Funeral Home is monitoring guidelines from the Center for Disease Control, the National Funeral Directors Association, as well as state and local organizations regarding the novel coronavirus (Covid-19) cases and public health. We would like to share some of our thoughts with you.

wilkerson thumbnail.jpg

The Center for Disease Control guidelines are telling us to keep gatherings to 10 or less. We suggest limiting the funeral services to immediate family members and minister, holding the smallest gathering possible. We also recommend doing this at our facility or more preferably at the graveside to reduce risk of spreading the virus and honoring our duty to the general public. At a later date, if you desire, hold a public memorial service at no additional cost. These things at this time are not mandatory, but important for the health of our community.

Also, if you are not comfortable coming to the funeral home to make arrangements, we can come to you or make them over the phone. Another thing to think about is using our online registry to send a condolence or simply calling the funeral home and having us add your name.

We will honor your wishes to the best of our ability to ensure you receive the type of service you wish to have. Again, our family and staff are here to serve each family as we have done for the last 90 years.

Sarah Wilkerson Casteel
Wilkerson Funeral Home

From the Office of the Chancellor

Cole.S.jpg

Effective at 3:00 PM on Thursday, March 19th all UA Cossatot campuses will be closed at least until March 30th.
We take the COVID-19 outbreak very seriously and to protect our students, employees, and our stakeholders, we feel it is in everyone’s best interest to shutter our campuses.
Our students have already been moved to our online learning platforms and we will keep that in place for the foreseeable future.
Our employees will be working from home during this time and we will continue to encourage them (and our students) to practice social distancing and proper hygiene in their personal lives.
We know that we are all in this together and will beat this epidemic together. We all have to make well informed and sensible decisions that may not be popular, but they are for the good of us all.
Even though next week is spring break, we will still be closely monitoring the COVID-19 outbreak. If we must extend the campus closings beyond March 30th, we will make that determination later next week.
In the meantime, we are still teaching and working, we are now just doing it from a distance.
Please be safe and God Bless.
Regards,
Dr. Steve Cole
Chancellor, UA Cossatot

A Message to UA Cossatot Students!

Cole.S.jpg

I wanted to personally let each and every student who attends UA Cossatot know that everything we are doing during this crisis is to make sure you stay safe and still receive the education you expect to get from UA Cossatot. Currently we have moved all of our courses online and we will keep offering them online as long as we need to in order to keep you as safe as we can from COVID-19 exposure.

During this trying time, please reach out to us for ANY help you need. I also wanted to remind students that we can’t beat the COVID-19 outbreak without your help. Please take this virus very seriously and please practice good hand-washing habits and PLEASE refrain from meeting closely in large groups. This virus spreads mainly by close human contact and if we can eliminate that behavior, at least for a while, we can limit the spread of this virus.

What you do and how you respond personally to this epidemic will define your entire generation!

Please be safe, call or email me any time, and GO COLTS!

Chancellor Cole

From the City of Ashdown

Declaration Of Local State Of Emergency

City of Ashdown

250 North Second Street - P.O. Box 135 · Ashdown, Arkansas 71822

Phone (870) 898-2622 · Fax (870) 898-4322

EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 2020-=1

DECLARATION OF LOCAL STATE OF EMERGENCY

WHEREAS, the Center of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is responding to an outbreak of respiratory disease caused by a novel (new) coronavirus that was first detected in China and which has now been detected in 60 locations internationally, including in the United States. The virus has been named "SARS-CoV-2" and the disease it causes has been named "coronavirus disease 2019" (abbreviated "COVID-19"); and

WHEREAS, Governor Asa Hutchinson issued Executive Order 20-03 on March 11, 2020 declaring a state of emergency for the State of Arkansas in response to the COVID-19 outbreak; and

WHEREAS, the safety and welfare of the citizens of the City of Ashdown as well as the employees is of

the utmost importance.

NOW, THEREFORE, by the power vested in me as Mayor of the City of Ashdown, Arkansas, the following protocols are implemented until further notice.

1. All access to Ashdown City Hall is limited to essential personnel.

2. No one will be allowed to enter the city offices without an appointment.

3. Appointments can be made by contacting the office in question

4. Anyone needing to conduct business within city hall will be subject to screenings including

checking of temperature to see that it is below 99.6 degrees, and the individual does not

display any other outward symptoms of the virus.

5. We strongly encourage those needing to conduct business with offices within city hall, water

department, street department, sanitation department or city park to make every effort to

conduct their business via telephone, email, or fax.

6. Other measures may be implemented as needed to provide for the safety and welfare of the

city employees.

IT IS SO ORDERED, this 18th day of March, 2020.

James Sutton

Mayor City of Ashdown

Notice from Little River County

lrcounty.jpg

Closed To Foot Traffic
By Order of the County Judge, the Little River County Courthouse is open by appointment ONLY. Please call the number of the office needed, from the list below, to discuss an appointment and an officer will assist you upon entry. We apologize for the inconvenience, but we appreciate your patience and understanding.

Office Phone Number

Assessor 870-898-7204

County Clerk 870-898-7209

Circuit Clerk 870-898-7212

Treasurer 870-898-7215

Collector 870-898-7217

District Clerk 870-898-7230

Veterans 870-898-7261

County Judge 870-898-7202

Sanitation 870-898-7276

Flood Warning for the Area from the National Weather Service

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN SHREVEPORT HAS ISSUED A * FLOOD WARNING FOR URBAN AREAS AND SMALL STREAMS IN... SOUTHWESTERN LITTLE RIVER COUNTY IN SOUTHWESTERN ARKANSAS... SOUTHEASTERN MCCURTAIN COUNTY IN SOUTHEASTERN OKLAHOMA... NORTHWESTERN BOWIE COUNTY IN NORTHEASTERN TEXAS... SOUTHEASTERN RED RIVER COUNTY IN NORTHEASTERN TEXAS... * UNTIL 1015 AM CDT. * AT 718 AM CDT, DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED THUNDERSTORMS PRODUCING HEAVY RAIN WHICH WILL CAUSE FLOODING. UP TO TWO INCHES OF RAIN HAVE ALREADY FALLEN. * SOME LOCATIONS THAT WILL EXPERIENCE FLOODING INCLUDE... NEW BOSTON, FOREMAN, DE KALB, AVERY, ENGLISH, ALMONT, BEAVERDAMS, LYDIA, GOODLAKE AND WALLACE. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... TURN AROUND, DON'T DROWN WHEN ENCOUNTERING FLOODED ROADS. MOST FLOOD DEATHS OCCUR IN VEHICLES.

nws.png

UA Cossatot Scholarship Application Open through April 1

The UA Cossatot Scholarship Application is open until April 1 of each year. The deadline to complete the application for the 2020-2021 academic year is approaching, and UA Cossatot encourages all current and incoming students to apply.
The UA Cossatot Scholarship Application is one application where students can apply for institutional and foundation scholarships online and is located at www.cccua.awardspring.com.
For more information about the UA Cossatot Scholarship Application, please contact UA Cossatot Foundation Director, Dustin Roberts, at 870-584-1172 or droberts@cccua.edu.

Bowie County has its First Presumptive Case of COVID-19

TEXARKANA, TX- The first presumptive positive case of COVID-19 in Bowie County, TX has been identified. We are awaiting confirmation from the Texas Department of State Health Services. More details will be released as they become available.

Bowie County has its first presumptive case of COVID-19

Texarkana News TEXARKANA, TX- The first presumptive positive case of COVID-19 in Bowie County, TX has been identified. We are awaiting confirmation from the Texas Department of State Health Services. More details will be released as they become available. Mar. 16 2020 @ 6:05pm

The Bowie County/City of Texarkana, TX Emergency Operations Center is now operating Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Call (903) 255-5560.

Canceled Events at UA Cossatot this Month

Due to the COVID-19 coronavirus, UA Cossatot has closed its campuses to students and the public until after spring break. Certain events have been canceled and will be rescheduled.
The college has canceled the lunch-and-learn event set to take place in De Queen on March 19. The second annual Miss UA Cossatot pageant scheduled for March 28 has also been canceled and will be rescheduled for a later date.
UA Cossatot has also temporarily suspended facility rentals and community events held at all UA Cossatot campuses until further notice.
The college apologizes for any inconvenience and wishes to thank the public for their support.

To All UA Cossatot Students

The safety of our students is our number one concern at UA Cossatot, and the coronavirus pandemic has made this more important than ever. We want our students to learn and we want them to have a safe environment in which to learn. That is why effective IMMEDIATELY all UA Cossatot campuses will be closed to students that take on-campus courses. All UA Cossatot campuses will be locked to outside individuals as well. This mirrors today’s announcement by Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson that all K12 schools will be closed at least through spring break.

Students, your education is important to us, that is why we have also created an online component to every in-class course at UA Cossatot. While you are away from campus, your instructors will still be able to work with you to ensure you get the most out of your education during these very trying times. You will be learning even more about that this week.

This campus closure is for ALL campuses and will be reevaluated after spring break. At that time, we will determine whether we need to keep the campuses closed or reopen them at that time. I urge you all to visit our website to learn more about the coronavirus and ways you can protect yourself. Please wash your hands often and practice social distancing if you can.

Thank you for your time. We appreciate you!

Dr. Steve Cole

Chancellor

UAC

From the Office of the Chancellor

In the UA Cossatot update that was sent on March 12th, we indicated that the Coronovirus situation was extremely fluid and could change at a moment’s notice. That moment is now as earlier today Governor Hutchinson and Education Secretary Key announced that all K12 schools will be closed this week. Our institution has a wonderfully close working relationship with all of our K12 districts and we share many of the same students. With that being said, UA Cossatot will follow suit and will close our campuses to students this week. We will continue to be closed to students until after spring break, where, at that time, we will reevaluate the Coronavirus situation. Our campuses will also be locked and closed to visitors and outside entities.

All UA Cossatot employees will be working on Monday. We will assess that situation on a day-to-day basis.

All UA Cossatot courses have been converted to have an online component and faculty will have the ability to teach this week via the Blackboard Learning System. While our maintenance department has already been working overtime to keep our campuses clean, over the next two weeks we will have the opportunity to deep clean our campuses as per CDC guidelines.

Please know that our campus will continue to work closely with the University of Arkansas System Office, UAMS, and other government entities to ensure our pandemic plan regarding COVID-19 continues to protect our students, employees, and other stakeholders.

UA Cossatot will continue to update our status on our cccua.edu website, our ED88 Facebook page, and other media outlets. These are very different times that call for very different measures and we appreciate our community’s understanding of this necessary decision.

Regards,

Dr. Steve Cole
Chancellor, UA Cossatot

Weekly Update from State Representative DeAnn Vaught

While the state response to COVID-19 is one that is rapidly evolving, we do want to update you on the latest developments.

Late Friday afternoon, Governor Asa Hutchinson announced he will amend an executive order to allow expanded use of telemedicine in the state. The Governor also announced he is providing additional resources to the Arkansas Department of Health (ADH) which will create 10 new lab positions and assist with much-needed help at the call center.

Additionally, the state has requested and will receive more personal protective equipment (PPE) for medical personnel and first responders.

As of Friday afternoon, there is a total of 9 presumed positive cases in Arkansas. The patients with presumed positive test results reside in the central Arkansas region. Schools in Pulaski, Grant, Jefferson, and Saline counties are currently closed. Residents in these counties are being asked to limit large gatherings to 200 people or less.

On Monday, the Arkansas Department of Health (ADH) issued a public health directive to long-term care facilities across the state to question visitors about their travel over the past 14 days and to screen visitors and staff for signs of illness and fever.

All Arkansans are being asked to reconsider every trip out of state.

Dr. Jennifer Dillaha, Medical Director for Outbreak Response at ADH, advised that if you are showing symptoms (including coughing, fever, and shortness of breath), you should consult your primary care provider instead of county health units or the hospital.

If you have a medical appointment, call the healthcare provider and tell them that you have or may have COVID-19. This will help the healthcare provider’s office take steps to keep other people from getting infected or exposed.

While ADH is currently limited in the number of tests they can administer, physicians can order tests from commercial labs.

UAMS has set up a coronavirus hotline for people who have questions or feel they may have symptoms. The number is 1-800-632-4502. UAMS HealthNow is also available for free COVID-19 screenings.

To access, go to UAMS HealthNow and click on “Begin Screening.”

This service is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to patients of all ages across the state of Arkansas and is accessible from a smartphone, tablet, laptop or computer with video capabilities.

Arkansas Children’s Hospital announced that any family with children health questions related to COVID-19 can call 1-800-743-3616.

ADH has activated a call center to answer questions from health care providers and the public about the novel coronavirus. During normal business hours (8:00 am – 4:30 pm), urgent and non-urgent calls, please call 1-800-803-7847. After normal business hours, urgent calls needing immediate response, please call 501-661-2136.