The Sevier County Quorum Court will meet at 2 pm today to hear from the legal team representing the the group that is leading an effort to establish a new hospital in the county. The meeting is open to the public, but only questions from the JP's to the lawyers will be heard. The meeting will take place in the second floor court room and will be live streamed on the Ed 88 Facebook page and on this ed88radio.com web page.
Melissa Zabecki of the Arkansas Archeological Survey
Special guest on the Thursday Ed-ition of The Morning Show was Melissa Zabecki of the Arkansas Archeological Survey. Mel talked about the AAS digs going on right now in Sevier County and invites everyone to her presentation at the historic Bank of Lockesburg / UA Cossatot gym at 6:30 Thursday night, 06/13.
Upcoming Lifeshare Blood Drives in De Queen June 14-15
Thank you for being a blood donor! The community relies on volunteer donors, like you, 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
Friday, June 14
Tractor Supply
708A E Collin Raye
De Queen, AR 71832
1pm - 6pm
Walmart - DeQueen Community
Saturday, June 15
926 East Collin Raye Drive
De Queen, AR 71832
2pm - 7pm
Emily White at De Queen Lions Club Meeting on Tuesday
Special guest speaker Tuesday at the De Queen Lions Club Meeting was Emily White who is currently working as the District Court Judge for the 4th Congressional District in Arkansas - Hot Spring and Grant counties. Emily talked about her previous law experience as Deputy Prosecuting Attorney, in the private sector, and as Deputy Executive Director in the Little Rock area.
State of Arkansas District Court Judge Emily White and De Queen Lions Club President Jeff Brown
First Annual Art in the Park Event Saturday, June 15th at Herman Dierks Park in DQ
CALLING ALL LOVERS OF ART, ARTISTS, CRAFTERS, AND MASTERS OF CREATIVITY!
Sevier County Farmers Market is joining with the Cossatot Arts and Crafts Association (CACA) this Saturday, June 15, to host our First Annual Art in the Park event near the Pavilion in Herman Dierks Park from 10-3 pm. It is FREE to both the public and the artists!
We invite everyone to come out and support the arts! Come see artists in action, view their creations, and maybe take a few pieces home with you.
The kids will enjoy seeing creations from our younger artists, Chalk the Walk, and perhaps become a walking work of art with some face painting at the CACA booth.
We invite our local and regional artists and crafters to show off your creativity in a relaxing outdoor venue. Consider your space your personal mini show! Bring your business cards, display your work, work your craft, sell your art, share your passion!
People enjoy seeing the creative process. Watching artists in action is a great way to share our love for the arts and bring a bit of culture to our community!
Artists, bring a table and chair, canopy or big umbrella, and whatever you need to get creative: Your palette, canvases, photos, tools, brushes, pencils, quilts, wood, clay, paper, embroidery...
If your craft is a more involved process such as metal forging or ceramics, bring some representational pieces to show and maybe some to sell. Perhaps a portfolio of your work.
If you would like to become more involved with your artistic community and other artists, consider joining CACA. Visit their booth at our event and their page on Facebook to learn more about this local association and how they develop artistic awareness through direct interaction with local, regional, and state artists and their craft.
You’ll also want to take a stroll through our Fresh Farmers Market under the Pavilion for some amazing snacks, baked goods, home canned preserves you will never find in a grocery store, an assortment of beautiful handmade crafts by our vendors, locally raised eggs and grass fed meat, and, of course, plenty of fresh picked , locally grown vegetables to grace your dinner table.
The Market will forego normal hours this Saturday. We will open at 7 am and vendors will remain through 3 pm or until sold out.
De Queen Leopard Baseball Camps were June 5-7
5th-8th grade campers show off their door prizes provided by RJ Sports
Leopard Sophmore Devin Boyles works with Keegan McCoy on tee drills.
Sixty area baseball players showed up for the 2019 Leopard Baseball Camps which were held June 5th and June 7th at Leopard Field. Campers took part in drills covering all aspects of the game and were instructed by current players and coaches of the Leopard Baseball Program.
Leopard Junior Gage Woods works with John Maturino on tee drills.
Campers cooled off by doing sliding drills on a large slip and slide.
Weekly Update from 4th District US Congressman Bruce Westerman
Greetings!
I spent the first half of the week in Washington, D.C. It was a quick three days, but exciting nonetheless. One of the highlights was leading a tour of the Capitol for the De Queen Quiz Bowl Team. These students travelled to D.C. to compete in the National Quiz Bowl Championship. I could not be more proud of the team and the hard work they put into this competition. I also welcomed three new interns to my D.C. office. These interns will answer phones, lead Capitol tours and assist my staff with legislative correspondence.
While I was in Washington D.C., my heart and mind were back in Arkansas with all of those who have been affected by the record-level flooding. Because legislative business was only scheduled for three days this week, I was able to visit with local officials in impacted communities in the Fourth District. I have been impressed with the coordination between the local communities, state officials, the National Guard and the Governor's office who have utilized an all-hands-on-deck approach to flood relief. I’ve seen communities rallying together in their time of need, and that’s what makes me proud to be an Arkansan. We will emerge from this stronger than ever before.
I know many of you were evacuated, lost your homes and crops, or watched floodwaters devastate your community. I encourage you to call my main district office at (501) 609-9796 to see how I or my staff can help you.
Until next week,
Bruce Westerman
Arkansas' Fourth District
Goodgrid Coming to Sevier County! And is FREE to Everyone
UA Cossatot Partners with Ashdown High School to Provide Nursing Assistant Training
(Pictured L-R): Zebbie Launius, Sharon Shelton, Holly Jones, Angel Hamilton, Deniyah Hemphill, Ariyonna Trotter, Alicia Hale, Madison Johnson, Taneka Hamilton, and Destinee Robinson, (not pictured: Jasmine Richard)
For the first time during the 2018-2019 academic school year, UA Cossatot offered a nursing assistant training program to Ashdown High School seniors. A pinning ceremony took place at Ashdown High School on Thursday, May 16, 2019, where nine Ashdown students received a training certificate and a pin for completing the training program.
The college's Continuing Education department and Ashdown High School partnered together to offer Ashdown High School seniors the chance to receive nursing assistant training in high school, to prepare for the certified nursing assistant training exam after graduation. After passing this exam, these students can earn a license to work as a Certified Nursing Assistant. Students who participated in the training program received one hundred hours of training, with sixteen hours being in a clinical setting at Pleasant Manor Nursing Home in Ashdown.
The ceremony began at 6:00 PM with a welcome by Ashdown High School Superintendent, Casey Nichols. UA Cossatot's Director of Public Services and Workforce Development, Tammy Coleman gave an overview of the program and also recognized individuals who made this partnership and program possible. The students were then presented with certificates by their instructor Sharon Shelton and then received a pin from UA Cossatot's Continuing Education Coordinator, Zebbie Launius.
The nine students who completed the nursing assistant training program included Alicia Hale, Angel Hamilton, Ta'Neka Hamilton, Deniyah Hemphill, Madison Johnson, Holly Jones, Jasmine Richard, Destinee Robinson, and Ariyonna Trotter.
Ashdown High School is the first high school to partner with UA Cossatot to offer a nursing assistant training program to high school seniors. The college does plan to partner with other area high schools in the future to provide this opportunity to more seniors in high school.
Job prospects for Certified Nursing Assistants are bright. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that the demand for Certified Nursing Assistants will rise at a rate of eleven percent through 2026, which is much faster than the average job growth. As the population ages, demand for round-the-clock nursing services will continue to be needed.
To learn more about nursing assistant training programs through UA Cossatot, please speak with someone in Continuing Education at UA Cossatot at 870-584-4471.
UA Cossatot Annual Kids College June 20th
UA Cossatot Announces Record-Breaking Graduates for Spring 2019
UA Cossatot broke a record at its spring graduation ceremony in Lockesburg on May 11, 2019. The Office of the Registrar at UA Cossatot announces that the college’s spring 2019 semester hit its highest record of graduates and awards in the college’s history.
This spring semester, UA Cossatot had 241 students graduate with 332 awards. These awards include associate degrees, technical certificates, and certificates of proficiency. UA Cossatot’s 2018-2019 school year has also seen more graduates across an academic school year than ever before. The academic school year will end in August and as of June 2019, the total number of credentials awarded to graduates stands at 724.
UA Cossatot’s Chancellor, Dr. Steve Cole said, “We are proud to have the third highest graduation rate in Arkansas, but for us to increase our number of credentials awarded by 58% in just four years, that is just great students coupled with great employees all working towards one goal. In Governor Hutchinson’s Closing the Gap Educational Plan, it mentions wanting to increase credentials by 40% by the year 2020. We certainly wanted to do our part…and we did, and then some. These record numbers also mean that when students come to UA Cossatot, they are more likely to graduate on time, and with one or more certificates or certifications.”
UA Cossatot offers many certificates and degrees to help people achieve their educational goals and find employment. Associate-level degrees offered at UA Cossatot involve two years of study (60-65 credit hours) and are intended to provide graduates the ability to go straight to work in their chosen field or prepare students for junior and senior level courses at a four-year institution. Technical certificates and certificates of proficiency also prepare students for careers. Technical certificates generally take less than two years to complete, and certificates of proficiency take one to two semesters and assist students in acquiring or improving work based skills.
Since August of 2018, 167 students have graduated with an Associate’s degree, 269 students have graduated with a technical certificate, and 288 students have graduated with a certificate of proficiency. The college has also awarded 4,458 certificates and degrees to UA Cossatot students over the past ten years.
Arkansas Tourism Open for Business and Ready to Help Make Memories
Check out the SW AR Tourism Attractions Page here on the Ed 88 Website. Southwest Arkansas has a lot to offer!
LITTLE ROCK, AR (June 5, 2019) – Summertime is fun time in Arkansas, and our state is open for business and waiting to welcome you to The Natural State.
From our majestic mountains to our sparkling blue recreational waters, Arkansas is ready to help families make new vacation memories.
“The flooding in our state has been challenging for those impacted,” said Jim Shamburger, chairman of the State Parks, Recreation and Travel Commission. “However, it is isolated and confined to areas along the Arkansas River. The rest of the state is in great shape and our interstate system, including Interstates 30 and 40, are clear for travel.”
Only Pinnacle Mountain State Park in central Arkansas is currently closed.
Arkansas public and private lodging accommodations, federal recreation areas, and outdoor sporting venues are open and ready for your business.
“No matter the activity – water sports, fishing, biking or road trips – our tourism industry is ready to make this a summer to remember with the outstanding hospitality for which Arkansas is known,” Shamburger said.
Tourism is the second largest industry in Arkansas with an annual economic impact of approximately $7.5 billion and employing more than 116,000 Arkansans.
For more information, go to Arkansas.com andArkansasStateParks.com.
De Queen Lions Club Speaker on Tuesday was Heather Brown of DHS
De Queen Lions Club Member, Heather Brown, was the speaker at Tuesday’s meeting. Heather is the Program Eligibility Specialist in the DCO Division of the Department of Human Services in Sevier County and spoke of DHS services offered in the area.
Sevier County Farmers Market Open at Herman Dierks Park in De Queen
Fresh breads & vegetables, jellies, and hand made crafts at the Sevier County Farmers Market under the Herman Dierks Park Pavilion in DeQueen
Bingo Night at Sevier County Fairgrounds Saturday, June 8th
Bingo Night at Sevier County Fairgrounds Saturday, June 8th
Annual Pie Auction at Old New Hope Church June 8th
Old New Hope Church will hold it’s annual Pie Auction and Supper on Saturday, June 8. A potluck supper will be available by donation so bring your favorite food to go with the meat that will be provided. The proceeds will go towards the upkeep of the church and cemetery.
Music will be provided starting at 6:00 pm. Bring your lawn chairs and enjoy visiting with friends and family.
The church is located on Ladd Bridge Road just off of Greens Chapel Road (about 5 miles north of Hwy 70).
Jeffress/Phillips Music School in De Queen Monday-Friday, June 10-14
The Jeffress/Phillips Music School will be in De Queen Monday-Friday, June 10-14, from 9-11 a.m. and 7-9 p.m. each day at the Old Time Missionary Church at 7th & Fort Towson in DQ. The school will include 3 teachers and is for ages 6 and older. Cost is $10 per person. Each participant will need a writing pad, pen or pencil, and a song book to purchase when you arrive. The public is invited to Friday night's event. For more information, the contact numbers are (870) 584-8991 and (870) 584-9557.
Youth Day Camp at 4C Cowboy Church June 10th & 11th
The youth day camp at 4C Cowboy Church for ages 6 to 12 will be held Monday, June 10 and Tuesday, June 11 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. each day.
The camp is free, and the church is located just west of the Sevier County Airport. Please call 584-8809 by June 6th to preregister your child.
Free Movie Night at Herman Dierks Park in De Queen
Good crowd on hand for free movie night at Herman Dierks Park Sunday evening featuring “The Prince of Egypt.”