Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders announced that she will appoint Caleb Osborne to serve as Division of Environmental Quality (DEQ) Director and Chief Administrator of Environment.
“From the free-flowing waters of the Buffalo River to the rolling hills of the Ozark Mountains, Arkansas is proud to be the Natural State and enjoy clean air, land, and water,” Sanders said. “We must continue to responsibly protect these precious resources – which is why I am proud to be appointing Caleb Osborne to serve as DEQ Director and Chief Administrator of Environment. Together, with Secretary of Energy and Environment Shane Khoury, we will keep our state beautiful for generations of Arkansans to enjoy.”
“The Division of Environmental Quality plays a crucial role in maintaining the beautiful natural environment and precious resources that make Arkansas the Natural State,” Osborne said. “I am grateful to Governor Sanders for giving me the opportunity to join with Secretary Khoury and the talented team at E&E in the vital work of protecting and enhancing our environment in a manner that promotes a vibrant economy and provides an exceptional quality of life for all Arkansans.”
“Having known Caleb for several years, I am excited to work closely with him in his new role as the DEQ Director and Chief Administrator of Environment,” said Shane Khoury, Secretary of Energy and Environment. “With his tremendous experience and breadth of knowledge, I am confident that he will be an invaluable asset to the Department of Energy and Environment and play an integral role in protecting our environment for the well-being of all Arkansans while promoting economic and resource development.”
Caleb Osborne biography:
Prior to returning to the Division of Environmental Quality, Caleb J. Osborne served as the Chief of Staff for the Department of Parks, Heritage, and Tourism. Caleb previously served within DEQ as the Associate Director for the Office of Water Quality. He also has worked on energy and environmental policy and regulatory issues in the energy sector at both the federal and state level.
A native Arkansan, Caleb graduated from the University of Arkansas with a degree in political science. He also has a J.D. from The George Washington University in Washington D.C. and an MPA from the George Bush School of Government and Public Service at Texas A&M University. He and his wife Stephanie live in Little Rock and have three sons.
Denver Bronco’s Defensive Tackle D.J. Jones Highlights UAMS Myeloma Center in My Cause, My Cleats Campaign
By Marty Trieschmann
As part of the National Football League’s (NFL) annual My Cause, My Cleats campaign, Denver Broncos defensive tackle D.J. Jones donated a pair of custom cleats to the Myeloma Center at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute.
Since 2016, participating NFL teams and players customize footwear with designs that represent causes and charities they support.
“I am honored to have this opportunity to highlight the lifesaving work of the UAMS Myeloma Center,” said Jones. “My mother-in-law, Angela Fannin, was diagnosed with multiple myeloma in 2007 and underwent a successful bone marrow transplant at UAMS.”
Fannin, 60, now living in Atlanta, is a 15-year survivor of the rare blood cancer that affects approximately 34,000 people each year.
Healthgrades Ranks UAMS in Top 5% of Nation for Brain Surgery; Praises Stroke Program
By Linda Satter
LITTLE ROCK — Healthgrades ranks the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) among the top 5% of hospitals nationwide for cranial neurosurgery in 2023.
The designation by Healthgrades, the leading marketplace connecting doctors and patients, reflects UAMS’ outstanding trial outcomes for cranial neurosurgery and distinguishes UAMS as one of the nation’s leading hospitals for cranial neurosurgery, or brain surgery.
It is a step up from last year, when Healthgrades ranked UAMS in the top 10% of hospitals for cranial neurosurgery.
Judge voids Pope County casino license granted to Cherokee Nation
by Talk Business and Politics (staff@talkbusiness.net)
The contentious path to building a casino in Pope County took yet another turn Thursday (Jan. 12) when Pulaski County Circuit Court Judge Tim Fox ruled that Arkansas officials “unconstitutionally” granted a casino license to Cherokee Nation Businesses.
Gulfside Casino Partnership had appealed a November 2021 decision by the Arkansas Racing Commission to grant the Pope County license to Cherokee Nation Businesses and its Legends Resort and Casino company.
The Cherokee Nation proposal was approved in a narrow 3-2 Racing Commission vote after the Arkansas Supreme Court ruled ineligible the Gulfside Casino Partnership proposal in late October 2021. The state’s high court ruled that Gulfside did not have an official letter from an elected official during the active part of the application process, while Cherokee Nation did.
https://talkbusiness.net/2023/01/judge-voids-pope-county-casino-license-granted-to-cherokee-nation/
Division of Agriculture faculty patents recognized at awards ceremony
By Mary Hightower
U of A System Division of Agriculture
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — The inventiveness of University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture land grant faculty was recognized Friday through the patents issued for their creations, which included fruit and grain varieties and an irrigation system.
The recognitions were part of the annual Agriculture Awards presented by the Division of Agriculture and the Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences.
Retired rice breeder Karen Moldenhauer was among the faculty recognized for their patents. (UofA System Division of Agriculture photo by Mary Hightower)
The patent recognitions were presented by Lisa Childs, assistant vice president for technology commercialization for the Division of Agriculture.
“The patents issued this year reflect the wide spectrum of research the Division of Agriculture has going on to support our land grant mission,” Childs said. “These issued patents show that the Division of Agriculture is improving the plants our farmers grow, whether they’re row crops or fruit, improving irrigation techniques, and improving the ways we manage plant diseases. It’s exciting to be able to use patenting strategies to support people using these solutions to real-world problems.”
The patents:
Blackberry named A-2524T — John Clark, department of horticulture
Blackberry named APF-238T — John Clark, department of horticulture
Blackberry named A-2538T, “Ponca” — John Clark, department of horticulture
Peach tree named A-858P — John Clark, department of horticulture
Irrigation System — Christopher Henry, department of biological and agricultural engineering
Method of Improving Tolerance of Plants to Herbicides Using Seed Insecticide Treatments — Jarrod Hardke and Jason Norsworthy, department of crop, soil, and environmental sciences; Gus Lorenz, department of entomology and plant pathology; and Robert Scott, Cooperative Extension Service
Method, Vectors, Cells, Seeds and Kits for Stacking Genes into a Single Genomic Site — Vibha Srivastava, department of crop, soil and environmental sciences
Rice cultivar CLL15 — Xueyan Sha, department of crop, soil and environmental sciences
Rice cultivar CLM04 — Xueyan Sha, department of crop, soil and environmental sciences
Rice cultivar CLL16 — Karen Moldenhauer, department of crop, soil and environmental sciences
Trichoderma Compositions and Methods of Using the Same — Yeshi Wamishe, department of entomology and plant pathology
Wheat - Delta Grow 1800 — Richard Mason, department of crop, soil and environmental sciences.
The ceremony was held at Waldrip Hall at the Milo J. Shult Agricultural Research and Extension Center.
To learn about extension programs in Arkansas, contact your local Cooperative Extension Service agent or visit www.uaex.uada.edu. Follow us on Twitter and Instagram at @AR_Extension. To learn more about Division of Agriculture research, visit the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station website: https://aaes.uada.edu. Follow on Twitter at @ArkAgResearch. To learn more about the Division of Agriculture, visit https://uada.edu/. Follow us on Twitter at @AgInArk.
Division of Ag, Bumpers College recognize extension, research, teaching excellence at ag awards
By Mary Hightower
U of A System Division of Agriculture
The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture and the Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food, and Life Sciences on Friday recognized excellence in the three land grant disciplines of extension, research and teaching at their annual Agriculture Awards ceremony.
The recognitions were presented by Deacue Fields, vice president-agriculture for the U of A System and head of the Division of Agriculture; Jean-Francois Meullenet, director of the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station and interim dean of the Bumpers College; and Bob Scott, director of the Cooperative Extension Service.
The John W. White Outstanding Team Award - Winning Soil and Water Conservation Virtual Field Trip team. (U of A System Division of Agriculture photo by Mary Hightower)
“These recognitions are a way to showcase excellence in what we do,” Fields said. “We have great people out there doing great things and this is a chance to make sure we recognize them among their peers.”
Meullenet said “it’s a pleasure every year to recognize top performers within the Division of Agriculture, and this year, I get to recognize the best also within the Bumpers College.
“Our researchers continue to produce cutting-edge technology for Arkansas and the world, and our Bumpers faculty do an outstanding job preparing the next generation of ag industry professionals,” he said.
Scott said he believes “it is important for our organization to recognize individuals and teams for their outstanding efforts. I love to see the Cooperative Extension Service represented at the division level and to be a part of this awards ceremony.
“I applaud those who take the time to nominate their colleagues for these awards and always encourage them to do so whether for internal or external honors. It is important for the overall health of our organization,” Scott said.
Each year, the Division of Agriculture recognizes its best with awards named in honor of John W. White, the organization’s first leader.
John W. White Outstanding Research Award — Sami Dridi, department of poultry science.
John W. White Outstanding Teaching Award — Christopher Estepp, department of agricultural education, communications and technology.
John W. White Outstanding Extension State Faculty Award — Yi Liang, department of biological and agricultural engineering.
John W. White Outstanding County Educator Award — Mike Andrews, Randolph County Extension Office
John W. White Outstanding Team Award — Soil and Water Conservation Virtual Field Trip team: Mike Daniels, professor and extension soil and water conservation scientist; Lee Riley, environmental science and crop management program associate; Rita Watson, virtual education program associate for the Division of Agriculture; Mike Hamilton, irrigation educator; Julie Robinson, associate professor of leadership for the Division of Agriculture, Bill Robertson, retired extension cotton agronomist; Kerry Rodtnick, extension videography specialist; Samantha Barker, interactive communication coordinator; and Diedre Young, program manager.
Support personnel within the Division of Agriculture was also recognized:
Division of Agriculture Non-Classified Support Personnel Award — Ryan Doherty, department of crop, soil and environmental sciences; and Daniela Kidd, department of crop, soil and environmental sciences.
Division of Agriculture Classified Support Personnel Award — Dianna Watson, department of environmental sciences; Sandy Puckett, department of crop, soil and environmental sciences.
Bumpers College recognized three for their teaching, mentoring and advising excellence:
Outstanding Honors Thesis Mentor Award — Aubree Hawley, school of human environmental sciences
Bumpers College Alumni Society Outstanding Advising Award — Leigh Southward, school of human environmental sciences
Jack G. Justus Award for Teaching Excellence — Adnan Alubraye, department of poultry science.
Also recognized at the ceremony in Waldrip Hall at the Milo J. Shult Agricultural Research and Extension Center, were patents awarded to faculty during the previous year.
To learn about extension programs in Arkansas, contact your local Cooperative Extension Service agent or visit www.uaex.uada.edu. Follow us on Twitter and Instagram at @AR_Extension. To learn more about Division of Agriculture research, visit the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station website: https://aaes.uada.edu. Follow on Twitter at @ArkAgResearch. To learn more about the Division of Agriculture, visit https://uada.edu/. Follow us on Twitter at @AgInArk.
NSF awards $750,000 to UA Institute for Integrative and Innovative Research
by George Jared (gjared@talkbusiness.net)
The National Science Foundation has awarded a nearly $750,000 grant to the University of Arkansas’ Institute for Integrative and Innovative Research. The institute, referred to as I³R, is a cross-disciplinary team of consultants, startup companies and university researchers, including those with the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture.
The National Science Foundation Convergence Accelerator grant will fund a project designed to connect regional farmers with institutional buyers and ultimately expand access to healthy and nutritious food.
The project, “Data-driven Agriculture to Bridge Small Farms to Regional Food Supply Chains,” brings Division of Agriculture researchers together with colleagues from the University of Arkansas, University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff and University of Florida. The team also includes two startups, Cureate and Junction AI Inc., as well as several consultants. The project’s stated goal is to tackle challenges such as food insecurity while offering novel business solutions.
Electric Coops CEO wrestles with ever-evolving factors to maintain reliability, affordability
by Talk Business & Politics staff (staff2@talkbusiness.net)
With energy prices affected by everything from oil and gas supplies to the transportation limitations to the Ukranian conflict and weather, it’s not easy to keep the lights on.
Buddy Hasten, president and CEO of the Electric Cooperatives of Arkansas, said Sunday (Jan. 15) on Talk Business & Politics that the U.S. needs an “all of the above” strategy for electricity generation and more investment in the infrastructure to deliver it.
“Every area in the world we talk about today, diversity is a good thing,” Hasten said, noting that coal plants are closing, nuclear plants are on hold, and the most rapidly developing sector of replacement fuel is gas and renewables. “If you go look at what’s being built today, primarily it’s wind and solar and those are great resources. I mean, they’re great because they don’t have a fuel cost, but they have their technical limitations. Meaning you or I don’t control where the wind blows… And then there’s just a natural, the sun rises and the sunsets.”
Medicaid’s future looms with health care, budget ramifications for legislators, new governor
by Talk Business & Politics staff (staff2@talkbusiness.net)
Big factors affecting Arkansas’ Medicaid program loom in the near future and this legislative session will require clear health care and fiscal policy direction from Gov. Sarah Sanders and the new GOP supermajority at the state capitol.
Sen. Missy Irvin, R-Mountain View, the chair of the Senate Public Health Committee, discussed those ramifications in an appearance on this week’s Capitol View program.
For starters, the state’s health care system is fragile right now. Many hospitals, particularly in rural parts of the state, are in critical condition as pandemic funds are drying up, but personnel and supply costs remain extraordinarily costly. Federal Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement rates have remained unchanged for years, to the point that hospital administrators contend Congress has to approve higher rates in order to keep up with inflation and decades of increased costs or else they will have no choice but to close.
Rules package approved by Arkansas House of Representatives
KUAR | By Josie Lenora
The Arkansas House of Representatives passed a rules package on Thursday. Speaker Matthew Shepherd told reporters afterward, that the early days of the 94th General Assembly have been “fun and enjoyable.”
The 41-minute meeting consisted mostly of preliminary matters. The main item on the agenda was the passage of a rule bill drafted by House Speaker Mathew Shepherd, R-El Dorado. Shepherd said he worked closely with the parliamentarian in drafting the package, which contained a few small changes from the one used in the 93rd General Assembly.
Perhaps the most substantial change governs how bills are scheduled in committee. During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, lawmakers were required to ask a chair to schedule their bills in committee. Now, the legislature is reverting to the original system where proposed bills are put straight on a committee’s agenda without the chair first having to schedule it.
Josie Lenora/KUAR News
House Speaker Matthew Shepherd, R-El Dorado, talks about the recently passed rule package with reporters Thursday.
C.A. Vines Arkansas 4-H Center scores in 5 ‘Best of Biz’ categories
By Mary Hightower
U of A System Division of Agriculture
Winning a title five times in a row is no easy feat, but the C.A. Vines Arkansas 4-H Center has managed to win five Best of Biz titles for five consecutive years.
EVENT-WORTHY — The C.A. Vines Arkansas 4-H Center is was named winner in five Best of Biz categories in the annual honors bestowed by Arkansas Business
The awards are given annually by Arkansas Business, and winners are selected based on votes from the public. The awards were announced in December.
The Vines Center has won these categories each year since 2018.
Best Place for a Special Event
Best Place for a Business Conference/Meeting
Best Team Building Center
Best Place for a Company Retreat
Best Place for an Employee Outing
“We are honored to be voted the ‘Best of Biz’ in five categories by our clients for the fifth year in a row,” said J.J. Pitman, director of the center. “It is a great feeling to have more than 75 percent of our clients as return customers.
“One of the best things about this is that when people work with the Vines 4-H Center, they make opportunities possible for youth to learn and grow,” he said.
TEAMWORK — Corporate team going through a teamwork competition in this file photo. (U of A System Division of Agriculture photo by Ryan McGeeney).
The center was opened in 1980 as a hub for statewide activities for Arkansas 4-H, a program for youth development managed by the Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service, part of the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture. The center is owned and operated by the Arkansas 4-H Foundation and its program staff members are extension employees. The center is located in Ferndale in the Ouachita Mountains, just a few miles west of Little Rock.
Rural, not rustic
So how does a facility built with youth in mind score so highly all around?
“While our location is rural, our facilities aren’t rustic,” said Tony Baker, operations manager. “Our center has three motel-style units with private baths and state-of-the-art audio-visual equipment for on-site and hybrid meetings. We have a well-equipped auditorium for large meetings and classrooms for smaller sessions or breakouts. There is also an on-site kitchen that can serve up a variety of hot entrees, sandwiches, and of course, the guest-favorite cinnamon rolls.”
John Thomas, managing director of the Arkansas 4-H Foundation said the recognition is still as exciting now as it was the first time.
“It means so much to our team of professionals at the Vines Center who work very hard to deliver a great experience for every group,” he said. “Thank you to everyone who voted for us, and we can’t wait to see you in 2023!”
Visit the Vines Center online and see some of its amenities.
To learn about extension programs in Arkansas, contact your local Cooperative Extension Service agent or visit www.uaex.uada.edu. Follow us on Twitter and Instagram at @AR_Extension. To learn more about Division of Agriculture research, visit the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station website: https://aaes.uada.edu. Follow on Twitter at @ArkAgResearch. To learn more about the Division of Agriculture, visit https://uada.edu/. Follow us on Twitter at @AgInArk.
Farm Foundation names Malone 2023 Agricultural Economics Fellow
By John Lovett
University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture
Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Trey Malone, an agricultural economist with the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station, has been named Farm Foundation’s 2023 Agricultural Economics Fellow.
FARM FOUNDATION FELLOW — Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station economist Trey Malone attends the Farm Foundation Roundation in Savannah, Georgia, on Jan. 11, 2023. (U of A System Division of Ag photo)
“The Farm Foundation Fellows program is a well-known and highly respected program that brings together some of the brightest minds in our profession to work and learn together on timely and important agricultural policy topics,” said John Anderson, head of the agricultural economics and agribusiness department. “With his broad interests and exceptional knowledge of policy issues and tools, Dr. Malone will be an outstanding addition to the Farm Foundation program. It will be great to have an Arkansas and Mid-South perspective on issues so well represented among this elite group of policy influencers.”
Farm Foundation’s Agricultural Economics Fellow program is a yearlong program for a faculty agricultural economist. Founded in 1933, Farm Foundation is a nonprofit, nonpartisan group that works to find solutions to issues in agriculture, from farmer health and market development to sustainability and implementing new technologies in agriculture. The agricultural economics fellows program started in 2021.
The 2023 fellowship is focused on sustainable food systems and will provide an opportunity to work with diverse stakeholders on integrated systems approaches to building more sustainable food systems, with a special focus on agricultural production approaches.
As a Farm Foundation Agricultural Economics Fellow, Malone will work with diverse stakeholders to build more sustainable food systems. For example, he will meet with staff in the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Office of the Chief Economist and participate in the Farm Foundation and USDA Economics Research Service Ag Scholars program on a recurring basis. He will also meet with other participants in Farm Foundation’s suite of next generation programs as time allows.
Malone’s research for the experiment station, the research arm of the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture, focuses on agribusiness entrepreneurship and resiliency in agri-food supply chains.
“We are excited to welcome Dr. Malone to our Agricultural Economics Fellowship program,” said Martha King, vice president of programs and projects at Farm Foundation. “His perspectives on agribusiness and consumer behavior will be an invaluable resource and will serve as a unique springboard for collaboration.”
In addition to being mentored by staff in the USDA’s Office of the Chief Economist, Malone in turn will mentor participants in the Farm Foundation and USDA Economic Research Service Agricultural Scholars program, among other engagements.
Malone joined the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station in 2022. In November he was awarded the 2022 Presidential Award for Excellence in Research Communication from the Food Distribution Research Society.
In addition to teaching courses through the Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences at the University of Arkansas, Malone serves as co-editor of the Agricultural & Resource Economics Review and managing editor of the International Food & Agribusiness Review.
He holds master’s and doctorate degrees in agricultural economics from Oklahoma State University and a bachelor’s degree from Rockhurst University.
To learn more about Division of Agriculture research, visit the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station website: https://aaes.uada.edu. Follow on Twitter at @ArkAgResearch. To learn more about the Division of Agriculture, visit https://uada.edu/. Follow us on Twitter at @AgInArk. To learn about extension programs in Arkansas, contact your local Cooperative Extension Service agent or visit www.uaex.uada.edu.
Arkansas Democrats speak out against new governor's policies
KUAR | By Josie Lenora
The Democratic Party of Arkansas held a press conference Wednesday to respond to Republican policy proposals espoused by the governor and legislature. House Minority Leader Tippi McCullough, D-Little Rock, was joined by Senate Minority Leader Greg Leding, D-Fayetteville, in the former Supreme Court chamber in the Arkansas State Capitol.
Both railed against policies supported by Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders, in particular those pertaining to education. Sanders has said she wants to be thought of as the “education governor,” and supports school choice policies and voucher programs as well as raising minimum teacher pay.
McCullough and Leding say they support teachers and raising their salaries, but not other more conservative education policies supported by Sanders. McCullough said the governor contradicted herself in the two different speeches she gave at her inauguration Tuesday.
Josie Lenora/KUAR News
Senate Minority Leader Greg Leding, D-Fayetteville, hosts a press conference alongside House Minority Leader Tippi McCullough, D-Little Rock, at the Arkansas State Capitol Wednesday.
Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders signs executive orders on first day of term
KUAR | By Josie Lenora
Shortly after her inauguration Tuesday, Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders signed seven executive orders into law. The orders further conservative social causes and seek to limit government regulations.
The first one she signed institutes a promotion and hiring freeze for all state government workers. Another executive order will prevent government agencies from implementing new regulations without her approval.
“We are going to continue to limit the scope of government and empower Arkansans,” Sanders said.
Will Newton/AP
Incoming Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders signed seven new executive orders into law Tuesday.
Broadband in Arkansas Survey
The State Broadband Office needs your help getting as many people in Arkansas as possible to check the FCC’s new broadband map and challenge any inaccuracies. They are only accepting these challenges through Friday (1/13).
UAMS Mourns Loss of Susan Smyth, M.D., Ph.D.
Susan Smyth, M.D., Ph.D., died Dec. 31, 2022, after a battle with cancer. Image by Evan Lewis
By Yavonda Chase
Susan Smyth, M.D., discusses cardiology cases with clinical team members. (From left) Divya Nayar, M.D., neurology resident; Abdallah Malkawi, M.D., cardiovascular medicine fellow; and Tushar Tarun, M.D., assistant professor, cardiovascular medicine.Bryan Clifton
LITTLE ROCK — The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) is sad to announce that Susan Smyth, M.D., Ph.D. executive vice chancellor and dean of the College of Medicine, died on Dec. 31, 2022, after a battle with cancer.
“Susan was a remarkable leader, colleague, and friend who will be deeply missed by many across our state, especially those of us fortunate enough to work with her,” wrote Chancellor Cam Patterson, M.D., MBA, in an announcement to UAMS employees and students. “Her death is a great loss for UAMS, our state, and all who knew her.”
She is survived by her husband, Andrew Morris, Ph.D., professor in the UAMS Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, and their sons, Edward and William.
https://news.uams.edu/2023/01/03/uams-mourns-loss-of-susan-smyth-m-d-ph-d/
Governor Hutchinson Appoints Forrest Marks as ASP Colonel
LITTLE ROCK – Governor Asa Hutchinson today announced his appointment of Lt. Col. Forrest Marks as Colonel of the Arkansas State Police (ASP). Lt. Col. Marks is succeeding Col. Bill Bryant, who will retire on December 31, 2022.
Lt. Col. Marks has served in the Arkansas State Police since he began as a Trooper in 1994. Throughout his time at ASP, Lt. Col. Marks has served as Post Sergeant, Highway Patrol Assistant Troop Commander, Troop Commander, and Division Commander. He currently serves as Acting Lieutenant Colonel for Field Operations.
"I'm grateful for Lt. Col. Marks's nearly 30 years in law enforcement and his dedication to the Arkansas State Police," Governor Hutchinson said. "I appreciate his willingness to serve as Colonel, and I am confident he will lead our State Police with integrity and honesty."
Prior to joining the Arkansas State Police in 1995, Lt. Col. Marks served as a patrolman for the Hot Springs Police Department and as a military police officer for the United States Army.
Lt. Col. Marks's appointment will remain in effect until Governor-Elect Sanders's Colonel Designate, Captain Mike Hagar, assumes the position.
Cooperative Extension Service to co-host Arkansas Business Navigator informational session
BRINKLEY, Ark. — Do you need help growing or expanding your business? Is your business looking for financial assistance, but you don’t know what your options are? Is your inner entrepreneur in need of some guidance? An upcoming event, co-hosted by the Arkansas Procurement Technical Assistance Center, likely has the answers you’re looking for.
FINDING THE WAY — Arkansas Business Navigator is the newest program from the Arkansas Small Business Technology and Development Center, a function of the federal Small Business Administration that works through land grant universities and other institutions. (Division of Agriculture graphic.)
Arkansas Business Navigator is the newest program from the Arkansas Small Business Technology and Development Center, a function of the federal Small Business Administration that works through land grant universities and other institutions.
The informational session will be held Jan. 26 at the Brinkley Chamber of Commerce, located at 217 W. Cypress St. in Brinkley. Doors open at 5:30 p.m., and the program will begin at 6 p.m. There is no cost to attend.
The program is focused on supporting small business owners and entrepreneurs across Arkansas with an emphasis on support for rural, women-owned, veteran-owned and minority-owned businesses. It’s a joint project of the Cooperative Extension Service’s APTAC, the Monroe and Phillips County extension offices, the Brinkley Chamber of Commerce and East Arkansas Enterprise Community.
Kamelle Gomez, economic development program associate for the Division of Agriculture, said the Cooperative Extension Service — the outreach arm of the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture — is one of six partners supporting the program.
“We’re helping to provide no cost, one-on-one business consulting, business planning, market research, access to capital and industry-specific training,” Gomez said. “We want you to come learn how the Arkansas Business Navigator can help your business launch, grow, and plan for success.”
Interested individuals may contact Gomez at 501-671-2158 or kgomez@uada.edu.
To learn about extension programs in Arkansas, contact your local Cooperative Extension Service agent or visit www.uaex.uada.edu. Follow us on Twitter and Instagram at @AR_Extension. To learn more about Division of Agriculture research, visit the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station website: https://aaes.uada.edu/. Follow on Twitter at @ArkAgResearch. To learn more about the Division of Agriculture, visit https://uada.edu/. Follow us on Twitter at @AgInArk.
Follow important safety guidelines to enjoy outdoor activities
By Rebekah Hall
U of A System Division of Agriculture
LITTLE ROCK — During the cooler months in Arkansas, there are many opportunities for outdoor fun, such as hunting, camping and riding all-terrain vehicles. While enjoying these activities in the Natural State, it’s important to follow safety guidelines to avoid accidents and injuries.
ATV AND SHOOTING SAFETY — Jesse Bocksnick, extension 4-h outdoor skills coordinator for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture, said it's important to ensure youth are of the correct age and size to operate ATVs or firearms. (Division of Agriculture photo.)
Jesse Bocksnick, extension 4-H outdoor skills coordinator for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture, said safely operating guns and ATVs can minimize the risk of accidents.
“Accidents happen — we can’t be 100 percent safe all the time,” Bocksnick said. “But the main thing is to practice good, safe operation of ATVs and safe gun handling so that when an accident does happen, we can minimize it and it’s just a scare – not a tragic story that we talk about years later as a teaching tool.”
Proper firearm handling
When it comes to safe gun handling, Bocksnick said three elements are key: muzzle control, action open and trigger control.
The muzzle is the part of the firearm where the bullet exits the gun. Keeping the muzzle pointed in a safe direction at all times can help prevent accidents or minimize the damage of an accident.
“Every year it seems like somebody gets hurt with an ‘empty gun,’ and that’s because they think it’s unloaded, and it’s not,” Bocksnick said.
The action on a gun is the part where the ammunition enters the chamber and is then extracted when the gun is fired. By keeping the action open, the user indicates to others that the gun is unloaded until it is time to shoot.
“When that action is closed, nobody knows if there’s a bullet in the chamber,” Bocksnick said. “You just assume that it’s loaded. We assume that all guns are loaded all the time – it just keeps things safer that way.”
Trigger control means “you keep your finger off the trigger until your sight is on the target,” Bocksnick said.
“A lot of folks, especially young folks, when you hand them a firearm, the first thing they do is wrap their hand around the grip and they’ve got a finger on the trigger,” Bocksnick said. “We don’t want to do that.”
For adults who are excited to introduce hunting and shooting sports to the young people in their lives, Bocksnick said it’s important to brush up on safety skills, as many adults develop poor safety habits over time.
“People are usually excited about training young folks and getting them out there,” he said. “It’s a family pastime, and they want to pass that tradition along to their family members, but sometimes they have unsafe habits, or they don’t realize how unsafe they actually are with a firearm. When they’re talking to kids and teaching them the basics of hunting, sometimes they may skip over or take for granted some of those basic firearm controls.”
When training youth on proper firearm handling, Bocksnick said another issue is handing off firearms to young people too soon.
“If they can’t physically work the action, hold the gun up, or handle the recoil, they’re too small,” he said. “You need to wait until the next year, or maybe the year after that. I see a lot of parents push kids too fast. They want them to be that hunting buddy so badly that they give them a little too much responsibility for their age.”
ATV and UTV safety
Riding ATVs and UTVs, or all-terrain and utility task vehicles, can be a fun way to explore the outdoors. But these vehicles can be very dangerous for riders if not handled safely.
Bocksnick said that for ATVs and UTVs, the “number one thing to remember is to wear a helmet.”
“It is the single most important piece of safety equipment that a person – adult or youth – can wear,” he said. “It must be a Department of Transportation-approved helmet.”
It is also critical to follow the age recommendations of the vehicle’s manufacturer, Bocksnick said.
“Most ATVs and UTVs are 16 years old and up,” Bocksnick said. “Just because a youth can steer a machine or push the throttle doesn't mean they are capable of driving that machine. ATVs are ‘rider active’ machines that require the operator to use their body weight and active movement to properly ride the machine and make it handle properly. With UTVs, if a youth cannot sit in the seat properly with their back against the seat, buckled in, and reach all the controls, they are too young.”
Bocksnick said a common misconception about UTVs is that they are safe for children because they have a roll bar or rollover protective structures. But youth must be buckled in and using the seatbelts or harness systems for these protective measures to work.
“Unfortunately, ATV and UTV accidents are a major cause of head trauma, death and major injuries in the state among youth,” Bocksnick said. “Youth riding machines they are not old enough for, not wearing helmets, or carrying passengers on ATVs increases this problem exponentially.”
Hunting and campfire safety
During hunting season, many people get injured from their deer stands. Becky McPeake, extension professor and wildlife specialist for the Division of Agriculture, said scouting for the proper deer stand location before the hunt is important.
“Find a tree which is strong enough to support your weight,” McPeake said. “Sometimes the tree nearest an opening is smaller in diameter, and it is tempting to use that tree, but don’t. Be safe.”
McPeake said being in good shape is also key to successfully navigating a deer stand, as it takes physical strength to get in and out.
“If there are physical limitations, ground-hunt to be safe,” she said. “You can build your own blind using natural features or purchase a tent blind.”
Wearing a harness is also an “essential safety feature” for those using deer stands, McPeake said.
“Use a climbing rope, climb a little higher than your stand, and slip into the stand,” she said. “Then, use a rope to lift or lower your supplies and your unloaded firearm, and clip yourself in the tree once in place.”
Be sure to get plenty of rest and stay awake while in a deer stand, and let others know when heading out for a hunt.
“Tell your family or friends when you go hunting and when you expect to return,” McPeake said. “Leave them a map of where you will be hunting, since cell service sometimes doesn’t work in remote locations.”
While hunting, camping or simply spending time in the backyard, campfire safety guidelines should also be followed to avoid injury or an out-of-control blaze. Creenna Bocksnick, extension 4-H camping coordinator for the Division of Agriculture, said the first step to a safe campfire is checking the fire regulations in one’s area.
“Some locations don’t allow for open flames, and seasonal burn bans also need to be considered,” Bocksnick said. “Campers also need to remember general fire safety concerns: burns, keeping flammable liquids and materials away from the fire, and not leaning or stepping over the fire.”
Bocksnick said people should also pay close attention to their surroundings for other potential fire hazards, including “dead trees above their fire that can fall, tinder on the ground near their fire that can catch on fire, and tree roots under their fire that can also catch on fire without them knowing.”
People camping in a wilderness setting should also aim to “leave no trace” of their presence at the campsite after leaving.
“Campers should build, douse and cover remnants of their fires so that the next person doesn't know they were there,” Bocksnick said. “They should also not put items in the fire that will not completely burn and turn to ash during their stay.”
For more information about the 4-H shooting sports program and Arkansas 4-H ATV safety, visit the Arkansas 4-H Outdoor Skills website or contact Jesse Bocksnick at jbocksnick@uada.edu.
To learn about extension programs in Arkansas, contact your local Cooperative Extension Service agent or visit www.uaex.uada.edu. Follow us on Twitter and Instagram at @AR_Extension. To learn more about Division of Agriculture research, visit the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station website: https://aaes.uada.edu. Follow on Twitter at @ArkAgResearch. To learn more about the Division of Agriculture, visit https://uada.edu/. Follow us on Twitter at @AgInArk.
Economists predict ‘mild recession’ as Arkansas gears up for 2023 legislative session
KUAR | By Wesley Brown / Arkansas Advocate
A mild recession and a holiday spending hangover. That’s what economic forecasters predict for 2023 as lawmakers head to the state Capitol in January.
Rising interest rates and persistent inflation will push the economy into a downturn, experts say, and those economic clouds could also cause the 94th General Assembly to consider any robust spending programs in light of a possible nationwide slowdown.
As Gov. Asa Hutchinson winds down his administration, he recently reported to lawmakers that Arkansas’ budget coffers are overflowing with $2.78 billion of reserve funding.
Photo Courtesy Gov. Asa Hutchinson/Arkansasadvocate.Com
Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson (left) and Sen. Jonathan Dismang (R-Beebe) talk before Hutchinson presents his fiscal year 2024 state budget at the Nov. 10, 2022, meeting of the Legislature’s Joint Budget Committee. The budget projects a surplus despite forecasts of a mild recession in 2023.