The Booster Club will be at the De Queen Church of Christ Family Center on Tuesday, September 3rd from 6:30 pm to 8 pm. We will be handing out passes and shirts for any members that have not picked theirs up yet. You may also stop buy and purchase shirts, jerseys, hats or any other merchandise we have available. Open to anyone, you do not have to be members to purchase merchandise. We will have forms available if you want to sign up to become a member. Fawn Dykes Becky Honea Rogers Barry Reed
Weekly Update from State Representative DeAnn Vaught
During the 2019 Regular Session, the General Assembly passed several pieces of legislation concerning our elections.
One of those pieces of legislation will change the date of our primaries.
Arkansas will join 13 other states holding a March 3, 2020 primary. Only 4 other states will hold their caucus or primary before March 3.
Act 545 provides for a March preferential primary election in the years in which the office of President of the United States is voted on and a May preferential primary election in the years in which the office of Governor is voted on.
The general election for non-partisan races, which includes judges and prosecutors, will also be held on March 3 of next year.
Early voting will begin on February 17, 2020. The deadline to register for the primary is February 3.
Act 545 also makes changes to the timing of fiscal sessions. Fiscal sessions have been held on the second Monday in February on even-numbered years. Act 545 states that on years in which the preferential primary is held in March, the General Assembly will instead meet for a fiscal session on the second Wednesday of April.
Other legislation passed this year concerning elections include:
ACT 199 which allows the election officials at a polling site with fifteen (15) or more ballot styles to post the sample ballots on a public website and in bound volumes.
· ACT 664 which provides ten (10) minutes for a voter to mark his or her ballot.
· ACT 684 which allows digital photographic identification cards to be used as the voter identification required to vote.
· ACT 949 which provides for a modification in the law concerning the number of voting sites in a city of the first class.
· ACT 328 which allows high school students to volunteer as election officials.
For more information about voting dates and deadlines visit www.sos.arkansas.gov.www.sos.arkansas.gov.
Arkansas Secretary of State
Copyright © 2017 Arkansas Secretary of State. All Rights Reserved.
Sevier County 1% Hospital Sales Tax Public Meetings
Have questions about the proposed hospital tax?
Sevier County residents will be asked to vote on the 1% Hospital Sales Tax in the special election to be held October 8, 2019. This is an important decision for Chamber members to consider. There are several opportunities to get this information and have questions answered at scheduled public meetings:
All are open to the public and begin at 6 p.m.
Sept 9, Monday, De Queen School Cafeteria
Sept 10, Tuesday, Horatio Elementary School Cafeteria
Sept 16, Monday, In Spanish, De Queen School Cafeteria
Sept 17, Tuesday, De Queen Mena Coop Conference Room, Gillham
Sept 30, Monday, Lockesburg Senior Citizens Center
Fact Sheets with a ballot example are available at your Chamber of Commerce office, and can also be emailed. Call 870-584-3225 or come by 215 W. Stilwell (downtown De Queen).
Local Brothers Keepers Group in Ed 88 Studios on Friday
Brothers Keepers drawing for a rocket cooker to raise funds for the 911 Memorial Stair Climb.
2019 Fall Officers Are Elected To Serve in Collegiate FFA
Photo L-R: Reporter, Codie Jamison; Treasurer, Cody Chandler; Co-Vice President, Hadley Philamlee; President, Dusty Kesterson; Co-Vice President, Kinley Wright; and Secretary, Raven Revels
UA Cossatot's Collegiate FFA organization announces the fall 2019 FFA officers. These officers will serve for a term of one semester, and be active leaders in UA Cossatot's FFA.
The officers include President, Dusty Kesterson; Co-Vice President, Hadley Philamlee; Co-Vice President, Kinley Wright; Secretary, Raven Revels; Treasurer, Cody Chandler; and Reporter, Codie Jamison.
Being a member of UA Cossatot's FFA provides students scholarship opportunities; leadership, communication, and networking skills; and the chance to build friendships with other FFA members. Students pursuing a technical certificate in agriculture or an associate's degree in agriculture business, agriculture science, agriculture education, or natural resources can join UA Cossatot's Collegiate FFA.
This fall, UA Cossatot's FFA will be taking part in numerous activities, projects, and field trips to enhance students’ in-class experience. UA Cossatot Collegiate FFA sponsor, Kelli Harris, has announced that the FFA members will be taking part in a Gillham Lake clean-up project on September 14. They will also be making preparations for the FFA Gun Raffle and Chili Supper to raise money for scholarships on November 7 at the college.
For additional information about UA Cossatot's Collegiate FFA, please contact Kelli Harris at 870-584-1218 or kharris@cccua.edu
UA Cossatot’s Rotaract Club Attends Conference in Russellville
On Saturday, August 24, 2019, UA Cossatot’s student organization, Rotaract, attended a conference at Arkansas Tech University in Russellville, Arkansas. The theme of the conference was how to connect, network, and get inspired to create projects that benefit people locally and across the globe.
The UA Cossatot Rotaract attendees included Eruby Rodriguez, Belen Hernandez, Joel Guerrero, Kendra Rodriguez, Ashlee Dunn, Karina Lopez, Lissette Hernandez, America Rojas, Gesille Montiel, Jhamilex Hernandez, Astrid Jasso, and Angela Vertiz. Rotaract sponsor Dustin Roberts also attended the conference. Rotaract is the college level of Rotary for individuals 18 to 30 years old. It is designed for young leaders to help develop innovative solutions to the world’s most pressing challenges.
De Queen High School’s Interact club also attended the conference in Russellville. DHS Interact members that were present for the conference included Dalene Velazquez, Blanco Morales, Alma Puga, Abby Ponce, Anthony Sanchez, and Alicia Salazar. De Queen Rotary Secretary, Tammy Huddleston chaperoned the Interact students at the conference. Interact is a high school organization associated with Rotary. It is a club created to bring together young people ages twelve to eighteen to develop leadership skills while discovering the power of service above self.
Rotaract was re-established as a student organization at UA Cossatot last year. UA Cossatot employees Erika Buenrrostro and Dustin Roberts serve as Rotaract sponsors.
“It was great attending the conference where Rotaract and Interact members across the state came together for the purpose of making our communities and world a better place to live,” said Dustin Roberts.
To learn more about UA Cossatot’s Rotaract club, please contact Dustin Roberts at 870-584-1172 or at droberts@cccua.edu.
UA Cossatot FFA Gun Raffle
Ben Lomond Block Party Tuesday Night
And the winner of the Little Debbie's kids division is Thomas Brewer!
Adult Division of the Little Debbie Eating Contest
Sevier County Coalition to Host September Lunch-and-Learn on Blood Sugar Monitoring
On Tuesday, September 17, 2019, the Sevier County Coalition’s Live Well Sevier County Committee, UA Cossatot and the Dr. Randy Walker Family Practice and Allergy Clinic will be co-hosting a Lunch-n-Learn entitled “Taking the Madness Out of Monitoring” at UA Cossatot’s De Queen Campus. The presentation will begin at 12:00 noon in the Weyerhaeuser room, located in the Skilled Trades Building, and will conclude at 12:40 p.m.
Presenter Beth Polo Beckel, will be discussing the benefits of blood sugar monitoring, misconceptions regarding the frequency of testing, common testing errors that affect the accuracy of test results, specific times to check blood sugar, how to use results to change blood sugar management decisions, and the appropriate times to take a holiday from blood sugar testing. Beckel says, “Many diabetics check their blood sugar and are unsure about what to do with the information they get. I want to help individuals know how to use their blood sugar results to achieve greater control over their diabetes and improve their health.”
Beckel is Registered Dietician, Licensed Dietician, Certified Diabetes Educator, owner of Unique Health Solutions and a member of the Dr. Randy Walker Family Practice and Allergy Clinic medical team. She received her Bachelors of Science Degree in Dietetics from Ouachita Baptist University in Arkadelphia, Arkansas and completed her Dietetic Internship at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences/Veterans Administration Medical Center joint program in Little Rock, Arkansas. She has completed requirements for board certification in diabetes education through the National Certification Board for Diabetes Educators.
Currently the owner of Unique Health Solutions, she offers a variety of consulting services and is passionate about assisting individuals in actualizing positive lifestyle change through education and the implementation of processes to support new behaviors. Beckel has worked in a variety of settings as a registered dietitian for 20+ years in the state of Arkansas. Her experiences include acute care, long-term care, research, medical supply, billing, and private practice.
All are invited to bring their lunch and join Ms. Beckel for this free event. For more on Lunch-and-Learn programs, visit the Sevier County Coalition website at www.seviercountycoalition.com or call UA Cossatot’s Continuing Education Services at (870) 584-4471.###
Thomas Sweeten Guest Speaker at Tuesday's Lions Club Meeting in De Queen
Murray “Tuffy” Neeley introduced today’s speaker at the De Queen Lions Club noon meeting. Thomas Sweeten, Biology teacher and Quiz Bowl Instructor for De Queen schools, talked about his quiz bowl beginning and experiences over the last several years. Sweeten bragged on the many kids that came through the program and discussed team trips to regionals, state, and nationals. Sweeten in the last photo shows off the 2019 AR State Championship Ring.
Ben Lomond Block Party Tonight!
Our next upcoming Block Party for Tuesday, August 27, will be held at Ben Lomond Community Building from 6-8 p.m. There will be free food, water, popcorn, snow cones, bounce house for the kids, and the highlight of the night will be the Lil’ Debbie Eating Contest! Ed 88 will be there providing the music. And it's all FREE! Be sure to bring the kids and meet the Sevier County Sheriff's Department and have some fun!
Public Forums About Proposed Sales Tax For New Hospital
Special guests on the Monday Ed-ition of the Morning Show were Suzanne Babb of the De Queen Sevier County Chamber of Commerce and Lisa Taylor, the Economic Development Director for Sevier County, to discuss a number of public forums regarding the proposed sales tax to construct a new hospital in the county.
UA Cossatot Alumni Continues Nursing Career in Plano, Texas
Caleb Burrow is a former Sevier County resident and a former UA Cossatot nursing student who graduated from UA Cossatot’s RN program in 2015. This summer, Caleb started a new chapter in his life when he and his wife moved to Plano, Texas. In this new location, Caleb was hired to work as a Cardiovascular ICU RN nurse at the Baylor Scottand White Heart Hospital in Plano, Texas.
Caleb grew up in De Queen, Arkansas, where he attended a private Christian school. He graduated high school at a Christian Academy in Northwest Arkansas in 2012. He decided to go to college at UA Cossatot because it was close to home and it was a more cost-effective choice.
He also decided to major in nursing because he wanted to help people and make a difference in their lives. In the fall of 2012, Caleb started taking pre-requisite courses to get into UA Cossatot’s LPN program. One year later, he was in the program.
UA Cossatot has a day and evening LPN program, and Caleb was accepted into the eleven month LPN day program at the De Queen Campus.
Caleb Burrow said, “My time in the LPN program was probably the most challenging and most rewarding time in my nursing education and experience. With classes and clinicals, the whole program challenged me to put what I had learned into practice in both long term and acute care settings. The diversity in the healthcare setting experience was definitely a highlight of the program.”
After graduating from the LPN program in 2014, Caleb continued his nursing education at UA Cossatot by enrolling in the college’s RN nursing program. For this program, Caleb attended classes at UA Cossatot’s Nashville Campus.
The RN program at UA Cossatot is an LPN to RN transition program that is also a part of ARNEC. ARNEC stands for Arkansas Rural Nursing Education Consortium. It is a co-operative effort of eight two-year colleges throughout Arkansas, which helps LPN’s get their RN degree.
Caleb said, “In the RN program, we would meet in the evenings in a distance learning setting. Our lectures would be presented from one location to several other campuses. The lectures were engaging and overall, not too different from any normal in-class setting. The teachers would teach the classes via live streaming, and the teachers would also travel to different campuses so students could see the teachers in person.”
Caleb Burrow graduated with an Associate of Applied Science RN nursing degree from UA Cossatot in 2015. After gaining an LPN and an RN degree from UA Cossatot, Caleb transferred to Arkansas Tech University. He was accepted into the school’s Bachelor of Science in Nursing program, where he took classes online.
Caleb said, “I felt that I was very prepared for my coursework at a four-year university because of the training and education I received at UA Cossatot.”
While taking classes at Arkansas Tech University, he also worked full-time in the ICU setting at Christus St. Michael Health System in Texarkana, Texas. In 2017, Caleb graduated from Arkansas Tech University with a BSN degree.
After working three and a half years at Christus St. Michael Health System in Texarkana, Caleb has chosen to take a job in the Cardiovascular ICU at the Baylor Scott and White Heart Hospital in Plano, Texas.
When asked why Caleb wanted to take this job, he said, “I am getting to help patients who have undergone significant cardiovascular surgeries or interventions at our facility. Baylor is also a name that could be said is synonymous with quality nursing care and nursing experience. I am proud to be working at this facility, and I love the ICU! I feel it is where I’m meant to be!”
Caleb also says, “If you know that nursing is something you want to pursue, I would personally recommend UA Cossatot’s LPN to RN transition program.”
The application deadline for the eleven-month LPN day program is March 1 of each year at UA Cossatot. The application deadline for the eighteen-month evening LPN program and the one year RN program at UA Cossatot is August 31 of each year.
To learn how to apply for one of these programs at UA Cossatot, please visit the college’s medical education page at www.cccua.edu to schedule an advising appointment.
Legendary Southwest Arkansas Newsman Jim Williamson Surprise Birthday Party
Surprise birthday party Wednesday for legendary southwest Arkansas newsman Jim Williamson held at the Ashdown School Alumni House! Happy Birthday Jim!
Sevier County Farmer's Market Open Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays
Rumor has it today’s our last day. NOT!!!
Some of our vendors have replanted and are expecting second crops to take us into fall. Take a look at what we have today!
Shop FARMERS MARKET FIRST!
Sevier County Farmers market
Herman Dierks Park Pavilion
604 East Hayes Avenue
De Queen, Arkansas
Wednesdays and Saturdays 7-11
Fridays 3-7
UA Cossatot’s First PTA Class Graduates
Photo: from left to right (first row): Kyle Duncan and Adam Bailey; (second row): Jeanne Spain, Katy Worrell, Kylie Bowens, and Mandy Mote.
On Friday, August 9, 2019, a Pinning Ceremony was held at UA Cossatot Ashdown Campus for the 2019 PTA Class. UA Cossatot launched its Physical Therapist Assistant Program last year, and now, six students have graduated from the program.
The Pinning Ceremony took place in the Barbara Horn Civic Center at 6:00 P.M. The six students who received pins at the ceremony include Adam Bailey of Murfreesboro, Arkansas; Kylie Bowens of De Queen, Arkansas; Kyle Duncan of Ashdown, Arkansas; Mandy Mote of Hensley, Arkansas; Jeanne Spain of Texarkana, Arkansas, and Katy Worrell of Maud, Texas.
UA Cossatot Chancellor Dr. Steve Cole welcomed everyone to the ceremony and discussed the origin of starting the PTA program at the college. PTA Program Director, Jennifer Sanderson introduced the keynote speaker, Dr. Rosalyn Henry.
Dr. Rosalyn Henry is a Doctor of Physical Therapy who works as a Director of Rehabilitation Services in Texarkana, Texas. She also serves on the UA Cossatot PTA Advisory Council. Dr. Henry gave the graduates advice and offered encouraging words.
Jennifer Sanderson congratulated the PTA class of 2019 and expressed how proud she was of them and all of their hard work. The graduates then received their PTA pins.
Two additional awards were given at the ceremony. Jeanne Spain received recognition for having the highest program grade average in the class. Katy Worrell received an academic achievement award for having the second-highest program grade average in the class.
PTA graduate, Jeanne Spain said, "This whole experience has been exciting, and it is an honor to have been able to go through this program. It is also very surreal to be in the first PTA group at UA Cossatot to start and finish this program."
When asked what their favorite thing about the program was, the group of graduates said, "The PTA program has given us so much knowledge, but what we have enjoyed the most is the relationships, friendships, and connections we have made by being in this program."
Now that these students have graduated, new students are entering UA Cossatot PTA Program this month. To learn about pre-requisites for the PTA Program or deadlines to apply, please visit UA Cossatot Medical Education page at www.cccua.eduto schedule an advising appointment.
ARDOT Public Meeting Tuesday
The Arkansas Department of Transportation (ARDOT) held a public involvement meeting in DeQueen to present and discuss the proposed plans to widen 5.43 miles of U.S. Highway 71 to five lanes with a shoulder and replace two structures between the Cossatot River and DeQueen.
Representative DeAnn Vaught To Seek Re-Election
Horatio – At the urging of her family and supporters, State Representative DeAnn Vaught today announced she will seek another term in the Arkansas House of Representatives. Serving since 2015, Vaught has become known as one of the most passionate voices at the Capitol, particularly when it comes to advocating for rural Arkansas.
Her experience and strong voice have been instrumental in lowering the tax burden on every single Arkansan while slowing the out of control growth of state government. “I work hard to fight for our way of life, our right to farm, our 2nd Amendment rights, protecting unborn children, and bringing awareness to mental health issues and child abuse,” said Vaught about her priorities. Vaught represents district 4, which includes parts of Howard, Sevier, and Little River Counties. She has worked hard with local leaders to continue efforts for job growth and economic development. Since her first election, Arkansas is among the leaders in the country in wage growth and is enjoying the highest employment numbers in state history. The agriculture community is close to Vaught’s heart, “District 4 is full of amazing farmers who care for their livestock and the environment, they do not need more red tape keeping them from doing what they love, and we all need them to keep feeding the world!” Due to her time and experience within the legislature, Vaught is a strong leader in the House. She is Vice-Chair of Executive Audit and currently serves on the Education Committee, Insurance & Commerce, House Management, and House Rules. She also serves on Arkansas Legislative Council (ALC) and is the PEER Review Co-Chair.
With a very successful track record of passing bills she sponsors, Vaught has led efforts to improve teacher salaries, protect property rights, and increase speed limits on certain state highways. Says Vaught, “I am very grateful for everyone’s support and hope to continue to serve you as your District 4 State Representative.”
Vaught resides on her family farm outside of Horatio with her husband Jon. They have 3 grown daughters and are members of First Baptist Church, Arkansas Farm Bureau, Arkansas Cattlemen’s Association, and Arkansas Pork Producers.
