News

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Governor Asa Hutchinson Announces Appointments

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LITTLE ROCK – Governor Asa Hutchinson today announced the following appointments:

Steve Sutton, Marion, to the State Board of Education.  Appointment begins July 1, 2020, and expires June 30, 2027.  Replaces Diane Zook.

Dr. Beatrice Reed, Little Rock, to the State Board of Optometry.  Appointment expires April 26, 2025.  Replaces Dr. Robert Smalling.

Daryl Bassett, Little Rock, to the Board of Trustees of the Arkansas Public Employees’ Retirement System.  Appointment expires March 9, 2026.  Reappointment. 

Dennis Wiederkehr, Altus, to the Arkansas Wine Producers Council.  Appointment expires March 1, 2023.  Reappointment. 

Frank Wilson, Rison, to the Arkansas Forestry Commission.  Appointment expires January 14, 2029.  Reappointment.

Ed Spaeth, Greenbrier, to the Arkansas Manufactured Home Commission.  Appointment expires September 1, 2023.  Replaces Dewight Mack.

Katherine Holmstrom, Little Rock, to the War Memorial Stadium Commission.  Appointment expires January 14, 2026.  Replaces Brenda Scisson.

David Mattingly, Benton, to the War Memorial Stadium Commission.  Appointment expires January 14, 2027.  Replaces Kevin Crass.

Dan York, Foreman, to the Red River Commission.  Appointment expires January 14, 2027.  Reappointment.

Dwayne Raper, Ashdown, to the Red River Commission.  Appointment expires January 14, 2026.  Reappointment.

Robert Liner, Fort Smith, to the Oil and Gas Commission.  Appointment expires February 20, 2025.  Replaces Lee Dawkins.

Frank Morledge, Forrest City, to the Oil and Gas Commission.  Appointment expires February 20, 2026.  Reappointment.

Robert Passwaters, Bryant, to the Governor’s Commission on People with Disabilities.  Appointment expires June 1, 2024.  Reappointment.

Craig Reinhardt, Little Rock, to the Governor’s Commission on People with Disabilities.  Appointment expires June 1, 2024.  Reappointment.

Sheri Rogers, Hot Springs, to the Governor’s Commission on People with Disabilities.  Appointment expires June 1, 2024.  Reappointment.

Anne Canada, Subiaco, to the Arkansas Educational Television Commission.  Appointment expires March 23, 2027.  Replaces Sammie Benjamin.

Ann Clemmer, Benton, to the Arkansas Educational Television Commission.  Appointment expires March 23, 2022.  Replaces Philip Hathcock.

Annette Herrington, Little Rock, to the Arkansas Educational Television Commission.  Appointment expires March 23, 2028.  Reappointment.

Stephen Horton, Maumelle, as a Special County Judge in the County Court of Searcy County, for the case styled Searcy County Court Case No.: CO-19-1.  Replaces Judge Jim Harness, who has disqualified himself from the case.

 
 
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Friday's COVID-19 Maps and Numbers from the Arkansas Department of Health

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COVID-19 Metrics for Sevier County
Cases
  Total Positive: 506
  Active Positive: 157
  Recovered: 344
  Deaths: 5
  Negatives: 2,766

COVID-19 Metrics for Howard County
Cases
  Total Positive: 47
  Active Positive: 13
  Recovered: 34
  Deaths: 0
  Negatives: 894

COVID-19 Metrics for Little River County
Cases
  Total Positive: 34
  Active Positive: 6
  Recovered: 28
  Deaths: 0
  Negatives: 760

COVID-19 Metrics for Polk County
Cases
  Total Positive: 60
  Active Positive: 17
  Recovered: 43
  Deaths: 0
  Negatives: 1,027

COVID-19 Metrics for Pike County
Cases
  Total Positive: 7
  Active Positive: 1
  Recovered: 6
  Deaths: 0
  Negatives: 1,273

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Thursday's Arkansas COVID-19 Maps and Case Numbers from the AR Department of Health

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COVID-19 Metrics for Sevier County
Cases
  Total Positive: 498
  Active Positive: 160
  Recovered: 333
  Deaths: 5
  Negatives: 2,641

COVID-19 Metrics for Howard County
Cases
  Total Positive: 45
  Active Positive: 12
  Recovered: 33
  Deaths: 0
  Negatives: 877

COVID-19 Metrics for Little River County
Cases
  Total Positive: 34
  Active Positive: 6
  Recovered: 28
  Deaths: 0
  Negatives: 747

COVID-19 Metrics for Polk County
Cases
  Total Positive: 60
  Active Positive: 21
  Recovered: 39
  Deaths: 0
  Negatives: 1,006

COVID-19 Metrics for Pike County
Cases
  Total Positive: 7
  Active Positive: 2
  Recovered: 5
  Deaths: 0
  Negatives: 1,255

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UA Cossatot Awarded the Second Youthbuild Program in Arkansas

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DEQUEEN, AR –The U.S. Department of Labor announced earlier this year that they were awarding $85 million to support and expand YouthBuild programs across the country. YouthBuild provides at-risk youth, ages 16-24, with education and occupational skill development to obtain employment in construction and other in-demand industries.

UA Cossatot was one of the awardees, obtaining a Youthbuild grant totaling $844,000 to provide local at-risk youth in Sevier, Howard, Little River, and Pike counties the opportunity to learn industrial maintenance and construction skills that lead to good jobs and better housing for the area.

According to UA Cossatot Chancellor, Dr. Steve Cole, “Being awarded the Youthbuild grant is pretty incredible. This is only the second such program in Arkansas and we think this will be a game-changer for at-risk youth in our area that need to sharpen their skills. The bonus to this program is that the participants of the program develop these skills at no cost to them, and we provide money for supportive services as well. These services can range from anything like child care, to car expenses”.

“Youthbuild focuses on job training and education and while the students are learning, they are also renovating low income housing, which is a win-win for the area”, says Cole.

UA Cossatot has already hired three new staff members to assist students in applying for and training within the Youthbuild program. While the program has not officially started their first courses, they are ramping up operations quickly and should welcome their first cohort of students sometime this fall. For more information about the Youthbuild program at UA Cossatot, please email Jennifer Black at jblack@cccua.edu, or call UA Cossatot at 870-584-4471.

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List of Blood Drives Coming to De Queen

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The community relies on volunteer donors to provide this lifesaving resource for everyday medical needs and in times of emergency or disaster. Plan to donate at one of these blood drives, or another location near you.

Keith Wester

Tractor Supply
Friday, June 19
708A E Collin Raye
De Queen, AR 71832
2pm - 6pm

Pilgrim's Pride
Monday, June 22
401 South 3rd Street
De Queen, AR 71832
1pm - 6pm

DeQueen Cuffs and Hoses
Tuesday, June 23
220 N. 2nd Street
De Queen, AR 71832
2:30pm - 7pm

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Sevier County Edge/Vote For Growth Campaign Needing Signatures

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Vote for Growth of Sevier County is needing signatures to put the sale of wine, beer and liquor in Sevier County on the ballot in November. The group has until August to collect enough signatures to get it on the ballot. Canopies are set up in towns around the county to allow people to drive-through and sign the petiition. Petitions are also available in many area businesses. The group wants the sales of alcohol to generate revenue for Sevier County like it does for surrounding counties. They believe this could be a big step for growth to bring people and revenues to the county.

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The Arkansas Department of Health COVID-19 Case Update and Maps

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COVID-19 Metrics for Sevier County
Cases
  Total Positive: 478
  Active Positive: 154
  Recovered: 319
  Deaths: 5
  Negatives: 2,626

COVID-19 Metrics for Howard County
Cases
  Total Positive: 42
  Active Positive: 10
  Recovered: 32
  Deaths: 0
  Negatives: 855

COVID-19 Metrics for Little River County
Cases
  Total Positive: 34
  Active Positive: 8
  Recovered: 26
  Deaths: 0
  Negatives: 744

COVID-19 Metrics for Polk County
Cases
  Total Positive: 58
  Active Positive: 20
  Recovered: 38
  Deaths: 0
  Negatives: 988

COVID-19 Metrics for Pike County
Cases
  Total Positive: 7
  Active Positive: 2
  Recovered: 5
  Deaths: 0
  Negatives: 1,239

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Governor Hutchinson Issues Executive Orders on Medical Immunity, Business Liability, and Workers Compensation Coverage

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LITTLE ROCK – Governor Asa Hutchinson issued executive orders today that clarify Workers Compensation Law during the public-health emergency, protect health care providers from liability, and exempt businesses from liability related to the spread of COVID-19.

“I want to thank the General Assembly for its leadership in securing support for limited immunity legislation and for requesting action by the executive order versus calling a special session during the pandemic.” Governor Hutchinson said. "I also want to thank Steuart Walton and the Economic Recovery Task Force for their work on these important issues." 

Executive Order 20-33 regarding employers and businesses orders that:

  • All businesses and their employees shall be immune from civil liablity as a result of exposure to COVID-19.

  • Immunity does not apply to willful, reckless or intentional misconduct.

  • A presumption that the actions are not willful or reckless if the business owner substantially complies with public health directives.

  • Immunity does not extend to worker compensation benefits.

  • Immunity is effective from today until the emergency is terminated.

 Executive Order 20-34 regarding immunity for health care providers orders that:

  • Health care workers and providers are authorized to use crisis standards of care to respond to treat COVID-19 patients.

  • The health care providers as emergency workers are immune from civil liability.

  • Immunity does not extend to willful, reckless, or intentional misconduct.

  • Immunity is effective from today until the emergency is terminated.

Executive Order 20-35 regarding workers compensation coverage orders that:

  • Assures workers compensation coverage for employees. 

  • COVID-19 is considered an occupational disease under the law.

  • COVID-19 shall be an exception to prohibition on compensation for ordinary diseases of life.

  • There must be a causal connection between employment and the disease.