The Sevier County 4-H clubs are reorganizing and seeking new members and leaders. The purpose of these clubs is to give youth ages 5-19 an opportunity to participate in the youth development educational program of the University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service. Youth in 4-H clubs will learn life skills, enhance leadership skills, and increase self-esteem while serving in a number of community service projects. Youth in 4-H clubs have an opportunity to compete in a number of competitive activities, attend camps, and earn scholarships for education.
The following is a list of the Sevier County 4-H clubs: Chapel Hill 4-H Club, Happy Face 4-H Club, Lakeside 4-H Club, Infinity∞ 4-H Club, Froglevel Hoppers 4-H Club, Shooting Sports 4-H Club, Teen Leaders 4-H Club, Goin’ Showin’ 4-H Club, Legacy 4-H After School Club and Community Changers 4-H Club.
The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture offers all its Extension and Research programs to all eligible persons regardless of race, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, religion, age, disability, marital or veteran status, genetic information, or any other legally protected status, and is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer.
For more information about meetings, 4-H club membership or program benefits, contact Sevier County Cooperative Extension Service located in the Adams Building on the UA Cossatot Campus in De Queen or call (870) 584-3013.
Area Schools Cancel Classes Wednesday Because of Winter Weather
Classes have been cancelled today because of weather in De Queen, Horatio, Foreman, Nashville, and Ashdown. Classes at UA Cossatot locations will run as usual with the exception of LPN, OTA, and PTA.
Alma Puga Honored as Student of the Month at De Queen Lions Club Meeting
De Queen Lion President, Bryan Blackwood, presented a certificate today to Alma Puga for Student of the Month. Alma is a senior at De Queen High School, Vice President of the National Honor Society, class president of seniors in the Student Council, member of FBLA and De Queen High tennis team, Interact Club Vice President, Girls State attendee, and Leopard filmer.
The 2020 Top 60 Online Community Colleges List Includes UA Cossatot
Intelligent.com is a trusted resource for online degree rankings and higher education planning. They recently announced their national community college list for 2020 listing the top 60 online community colleges in the United States. UA Cossatot was included on this list and was also named the “Most Affordable Online Community College” in the nation.
After comprehensive research, UA Cossatot was included in this list. Of the top 60 community colleges, UA Cossatot was ranked at number 15.
The 2020 rankings are calculated through a unique scoring system, which includes student engagement, potential return on investment, and leading third-party evaluations. Intelligent.com analyzed 286 schools, on a scale of 0 to 100, with only 60 making it to the final list.
Students who choose any one of these online schools are expected to gain employment at a faster rate. Intelligent.com provides unbiased research to help students make informed decisions about higher education programs.
Dr. Steve Cole, Chancellor of UA Cossatot said, on the rankings, “It is certainly an honor to be on any list that shows we are creating tremendous value for our students. We feel that when students choose us, they made a thoughtful decision based on many things, including affordability and employment once they are finished. We help students check both of those boxes at UA Cossatot”.
UA Cossatot was the first Arkansas institution of higher education to offer a degree completely online and continues to lead the way in the number of courses and programs offered online. UA Cossatot also rewards online students by offering most online courses free of textbook costs. To learn more about these opportunities, please visit www.cccua.edu
New Home Page - Intelligent
College Life When it comes time to study, there are many common study methods that can help enhance your exam prep. By Kristen Scatton STUDENT FINANCES By Nam Phan College Life By Kristen Scatton Featured The things that concern students the most about college.
Beekeeping Program for Youths Starts This Month
Southwest Arkansas Beekeepers Association is continuing a youth beekeeping program started last year. The two-year program provides beekeeping education and guidance to youths through age nineteen and teaches them the skills to continue the hobby into later life. Successful completion of the two-year program earns the youth a hive of bees and certification. At least one parent or legal adult guardian MUST accompany Junior Beekeepers during workshops, meetings and other activities of the program. Any youths who are allergic to bee stings may not participate in this program.
Applications are available at Monday night's meeting of Southwest Arkansas Beekeepers at 6pm, Room 101, UA Cossatot in Nashville. For more information, contact Sheila Kreul at (870) 845-8524 or Jack Threat at (870) 557-4837. Applications must be received by February 1.
UA Cossatot’s Textbook/OER Program Helps Therapy Students Save Money
The University of Arkansas Cossatot Textbook Rental/Open Educational Resource (OER) Program continues to help students overcome financial barriers by including two primary medical programs.
The college’s Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA) and Occupational Therapy Assistant (OTA) programs transitioned from requiring students to buy textbooks to renting, which will save students over $18,000 per year.
UA Cossatot Director of Educational Resources and OER Specialist Relinda Ruth proposed a three-payment plan for each program that allows students to rent all the required textbooks for a minimal fee.
“Textbooks are expensive and create another financial hardship for students,” said Ruth. “Our sole purpose has always been removing barriers to education for students and we are pleased that the college’s PTA and OTA programs are joining the program to help achieve that goal.”
UA Cossatot has saved students over $1.5 million since becoming the first two-year college in Arkansas to implement an internal textbook rental and OER program in early 2015. Including medical programs will greatly increase student savings.
“We are excited to be able to offer this textbook rental program to our students,” said UA Cossatot PTA Program Director Jennifer Sanderson. “Renting, rather than buying, textbooks saves our students hundreds of dollars.”
Over half of the courses at UA Cossatot do not require a textbook and instead use OER materials to supplement instruction.
For more information about textbook rentals, OER, or student services the Educational Resource Center (ERC) offers, please contact Relinda Ruth at 870-584-1181
ServSafe Training
Heavy Rainfall Expected Friday and Friday Night
National Weather Service predicting heavy rain over the next couple of days.
Richard Pearce Guest Speaker at Tuesday's Lions Club in De Queen
Lion Kevin Williamson introduced today’s speaker at De Queen Lions Club noon meeting. Richard Pearce is the Live Operations Manager for Tyson Foods in this area.
National Weather Service Watching A Possible Significant Weather Event For Arkansas Friday and Saturday
An active pattern is expected later this week, especially Friday and Saturday. A storm system will arrive from the southern Plains, and will likely trigger areas of heavy to excessive rain and severe storms.
As of this morning, it appears two to more than five inches of rain could fall across Arkansas. The heaviest rain is expected from west central through central into northeast sections of the state (from Mena through Clinton and Little Rock and on toward Jonesboro and Corning). Severe weather (tornadoes, damaging winds, and hail) is favored over southwest sections of the state.
The storm track will be very important, and will determine where the heaviest rain falls, and how much severe weather materializes. A more northerly track will skew the heaviest rain to the north, with more of the state affected by severe storms. A track to the south will move the heaviest rain to the south, will mean less severe weather, and could result in light wintry precipitation in northern and western Arkansas as colder air arrives Saturday.
It will also be windy surrounding the system. Breezy southerly winds will kick up on Thursday and Friday, and will shift to the northwest and remain gusty on Saturday.
This is looking more and more like a significant event. Now is the time to prepare.
The Midnight Crew
National Weather Service
Little Rock, Arkansas
Legacy Initiatives Announces Trail Building School
In 2018 Legacy Initiatives was one of 3 organizations nationwide to receive the inaugural Trail Accelerator Grant (TAG) through the International Mountain Bicycling Association (IMBA). This was a matching grant made possible by local businesses and private donors. The grant's purpose was to help design and accelerate the process of trail building. The initial phase of the design process has taken place and Legacy is now applying for grants to help fund the trail building, which can be very expensive.
Dr. Jason Lofton, who has been the lead on this project for Legacy Initiatives, has been in talks with IMBA representatives to bring an exciting opportunity for our local residents. "In efforts to speed up the trail building process, we are going to host a mini Trail Building School January 23-25. This will involve a 3-4 hour classroom session with two days in the field at the lake actually breaking ground on the proposed trail. Those involved in the Trail Building School will serve as team leads on the future trail project.” Legacy Initiatives is seeking area residents who are interested in being a part of this exciting opportunity and laying the foundation for a vast variety of outdoor recreation opportunities in our area.
The plan is for there to be multi-use trails designed specifically for mountain biking but which can also be enjoyed by walkers, runners and hikers. The vision is to have trails surrounding the entire lake connecting all the campgrounds. This will create a vast recreation opportunity for local residents as well as a new tourism destination for mountain bikers. The popularity of cycling has grown significantly over the past decade with the cycling industry contributing approximately $6.2 billion to the US economy. There are an estimated 47.5 billion cyclists in the US and that number is growing every year.
Dr Lofton hopes the trails will encourage local residents to get out and enjoy our vast natural resources and that over time we can grow into a cycling community. “I want to see our part of the state get healthier and one way to do this is through cycling”. With our proximity to the Dallas Ft. Worth metroplex and Hochatown, Dr. Lofton believes there is a place for cycling tourism here in Southwest Arkansas. “Arkansas is quickly becoming a cycling tourism state thanks to what the Walton Foundation is doing in Northwest Arkansas. Our vision with Legacy Initiatives is to help improve the lives of the people in Sevier County and Southwest Arkansas. We believe by helping be a catalyst for outdoor recreation through these trails this can help stimulate our local economy, overall health and quality of life in our area”.
If you are interested in being a part of the Trail Building School please contact Jason Lofton at jason.lofton@legacymail.org or call his office at 870-642-4000.
De Queen Rotary Club Boulevard of Flags
Weekly Update from State Representative DeAnn Vaught
One of the new laws which took effect this week may reduce the number of uninsured motorists on Arkansas roads.
Nationwide, it is estimated that 1 in 8 drivers do not have insurance. In Arkansas, the uninsured motorist rate has been higher than the national average in recent years. The latest numbers show close to 16% of drivers on our roads may be uninsured. Arkansas State Police write more than 10,000 citations a year for failing to provide proof of insurance.
Legislators along with law enforcement and insurance companies worked for two years to implement a system to address this problem.
The result is the implementation of a real-time insurance verification program. It was created by Act 1016 of 2017. The fees and dates of implementation were created by Act 869 of 2019. It went into effect on January 1, 2020.
The system allows law enforcement real-time data when they run a license plate. It will tell officers if the car is currently insured or if a policy has lapsed. In addition, it will also result in letters being issued to any Arkansan (with a registered vehicle) if they allow any lapse in insurance coverage. As soon as the system is alerted to the lapse, the owner will be issued a $100 fine for the lapse in coverage along with a letter notifying them of this. If the fine and proof of insurance are not provided within a certain time frame (normally 30 days), the vehicle’s registration will be permanently suspended until the fine is paid and coverage confirmed.
When a similar system was implemented in Alabama, the rates of uninsured motorists on the road dropped from more than 20% to 13%.
This is just one of several laws which took effect this week. You can find a list of other laws on our website www.arkansashouse.org.
Home - Arkansas House of Representatives
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Your Input is Invited for Sevier County Hospital
The Sevier County Hospital Board of Directors wants your input! Since the beginning of our journey together in building a new state-of-the-art hospital for Sevier County, we have promised transparency in the entire process. That is why we are asking for Sevier County residents to comment on our new hospital floor plan! Since 84% of Sevier County voters approved the sales tax to support the hospital, we felt it was our obligation to seek your helpful comments.
Please look at this floor plan and before January 17th, feel free to email any comments that you feel will be helpful in the overall design of the layout of the hospital. We are looking for helpful and thoughtful comments regarding the layout of the hospital.
Please provide comments by emailing: myhospitalcomments@gmail.com
In the subject line, please enter: COMMENTS
Please include your name and address in the body of the email. Only verified comments will be accepted.
Thank you!
Sevier County Hospital Board of Directors
Sevier County Hospital Board Meeting Thursday 01/02/19 at Sevier County Courthouse
UA Cossatot Classes begin January 13th
Everything you need to know about Spring 2020:
Classes begin January 13th.
You can ENROLL IN CLASSES through January 14th.
• First time students need to contact Student Services at 800-844-4471.
• Returning students need to reach out to their advisor as listed on Campus Connect.
• See our SPRING CLASS SCHEDULE here: cccua.edu/apply-enroll/class-schedules
• Still need to APPLY FOR ADMISSION? Go here: cccua.edu/apply-enroll
BOOK RENTALS can be picked up at the ERC on each campus starting on January 7th. See more textbook information here: youseemore.com/cccua/contentpages.asp?loc=49
There are still a few SCHOLARSHIPS available for the semester. More information here: cccua.edu/scholarships
The ARFUTURE GRANT is open for applications until January 1, and it will cover tuition for many degrees. More information here: http://www.cccua.edu/…/scholarshi…/state-scholarships-grants
Apply for PELL GRANTS by completing your FAFSA. More information here: cccua.edu/pay-for-college/financial-aid
You can CHECK YOUR FINANCIAL AID through Campus Connect or contact the Financial Aid office at 870-584-1161.
• Check your email account listed on the FAFSA for lacking document notices and more.
You can also CHECK YOUR BILL on Campus Connect. Information about setting up payment plans can be found here:
cccua.edu/pay-for-college/payments
Campus Connect, Student Email, and Blackboard can be accessed at the top left corner of our website www.cccua.edu
Any other questions? Ask them in the comments below!
De Queen/Sevier County Chamber Drawing on Monday
De Queen - Sevier County Chamber drawing live from the Chamber office in De Queen!
Congrats to Laura Jo Hoover, winner of the gift basket filled with $1500 worth of prizes from the De Queen - Sevier County Chamber of Commerce!
ADHE Provides Scholarships through Arkansas Lottery
On December 13, 2019, UA Cossatot held its winter graduation ceremony at the UA Cossatot Bank of Lockesburg Gymnasium in Lockesburg, Arkansas. The ceremony began at 6:00 P.M. and concluded with 257 students receiving 374 credentials.
During the graduation ceremony, UA Cossatot Chancellor, Dr. Steve Cole, introduced Dr. Maria Markham, Director of the Arkansas Department of Higher Education (ADHE) and Alisha Lewis, Associate Communications Director for ADHE. They were invited to the ceremony to present Dr. Cole and UA Cossatot with a sample check for 1.1 million dollars.
This check was used to represent the total amount of money that has been awarded to UA Cossatot students through the Arkansas Department of Higher Education using funds generated by the Arkansas Scholarship Lottery.
In the ten years since its inception, the lottery has raised more than $908 million to help provide more than 542,000 college scholarships for Arkansas students.
To apply for a lottery scholarship in Arkansas, please visit the Department of Higher Education’s website, scholarships.adhe.edu, to complete the Arkansas YOUniversal Scholarship Application.
UA Cossatot Announces Fall 2019 Graduates
The University of Arkansas Cossatot Office of the Registrar releases names of fall 2019 graduates and names of those graduating with honors.
257 students graduate with a certificate of proficiency, technical certificate, or associate degree. Some students earned multiple certificates and degrees allowing for 374 fall 2019 awards.
24 students graduate with Summa Cum Laude honors, meaning that they graduate with a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.9 to 4.0. 14 students graduate with Magna Cum Laude honors meaning that they graduate with a cumulative GPA of 3.75 to 3.89. 16 students graduate with Cum Laude honors meaning that they graduate with a cumulative GPA of 3.5 to 3.74.
Students Graduating Fall 2019 with Summa Cum Laude Honors:
Victoria Alfaro Zapata of De Queen; Geovany Alvarez Cruz of Wickes; Sanjuana Alvarez Hernandez of De Queen; Eduardo Benitez Jr. of De Queen; Jordan Boyer of Nashville; Rica Burns of Ashdown; Pablo Cardenas of Nashville; Bryan Carrillo of Horatio; Lizeth Chavelo of Nashville; Tessa Ewing of Glenwood; Kaydra Fox of Glenwood; Karen Fuller of Broken Bow; Anna Gatliff of Ashdown; Jill George of Hot Springs; Loren Gills of Nashville; Denby Jester of Ashdown; Gregory Linville of Idabel; Alicia McCord of Texarkana; Kianna McElroy of Nashville; Ethan Mitchell of Amity; Lindsey O’Donnell of Mineral Springs; Jammey Reese of Mineral Springs; Alberto Sandoval of Horatio; and Ali Whisenhunt of De Queen
Students Graduating Fall 2019 with Magna Cum Laude Honors:
Morgan Allen of Dierks; Alexandra Bartholomew of Idabel; Michael Bevill of Nashville; Brent Craver of Grannis; Hannah Davis of Amity; Kayle Helms of Lockesburg; Martha Johnson of Foreman; Colby Markham of Amity; Mary McFadden of Doddridge; Jennifer Neal of Texarkana; Leslie Rios Gonzalez of De Queen; Amanda Saxby of Fouke; Jesus Wences of De Queen; and D.C. Young of Nashville
Students Graduating Fall 2019 with Cum Laude Honors:
Angela Calderon of De Queen; Katelyn Cowling of Foreman; Caleb Deer of Dierks; Brittany Fallecker of Winthrop; Jarrah Furr of De Queen; Alejandro Hernandez of De Queen; Aracely Hernandez of De Queen; Joshua Lingo of Murfreesboro; Perri Lowrey of Dierks; Loretta McClaughlin of Nashville; Sarah Millette of Glenwood; Casey Parker of Nashville; Tarnesa Ramnarine of Ogden; Laura Rivera of Hope; Meshalia Ruth of De Queen; and John Simmons of Texarkana
UA Cossatot Students Graduating Fall 2019 Include (listed with highest degree(s) earned):
Alleene: Tiffany Dossett, Associate of Applied Science: Registered Nursing;
Amity: Hannah Davis, Technical Certificate: General Studies; Jordan Estrada, Certificate of Proficiency: MIG and SMAW Welding; John Hanney, Certificate of Proficiency: Diesel Engines and Diesel Brakes; Brianna Hill, Technical Certificate: General Studies; Colby Markham, Technical Certificate: General Studies; Ethan Mitchell, Technical Certificate: General Studies; and Sean Palavicini, Certificate of Proficiency: SMAW Welding
Ashdown: Austin Bearden, Associate of General Studies; Glena Blagg, Technical Certificate: Health Professions; Ty Buchanan, Certificate of Proficiency: SMAW Welding, Kyle Burnham, Certificate of Proficiency: Fluid Power; Rica Burns, Associate of Science: Psychology; Keely Butler, Associate of Applied Science: Registered Nursing; Hunter Cheyne, Certificate of Proficiency: Fluid Power; Molly Corbell, Associate of Science: Psychology; Christopher Dunn, Certificate of Proficiency: SMAW Welding; Dentin Earnest, Certificate of Proficiency: Diesel Engines; Mason Garner, Certificate of Proficiency: Fluid Power; Anna Gatliff, Associate of Applied Science: Occupational Therapy Assistant; Shawon Gulley, Associate of Science: Criminal Justice; and Psychology; Nathan Gwin, Certificate of Proficiency: Fluid Power; Stephanie Hawthorne, Associate of Applied Science: Registered Nursing; Denby Jester Associate of Applied Science: Occupational Therapy Assistant; Cole Little, Certificate of Proficiency: Fluid Power; Trevor Meyers, Certificate of Proficiency: Industrial Motors and Controllers and Mechanical Devices; Laqulla, Associate of Applied Science: Registered Nursing; Jeb Parker, Certificate of Proficiency: Fluid Power and Industrial Motors and Controllers; Dustin Schmidt, Certificate of Proficiency Fluid Power and Industrial Motors and Controllers; Milton Smith, Certificate of Proficiency: Fluid Power and Industrial Motors and Controllers; Alexandra Staton, Associate of Applied Science: General Technology; James Sullivan, Certificate of Proficiency: Fluid Power; Matthew Swilley, Certificate of Proficiency: Fluid Power and Industrial Motors and Controllers; and Jasmine Thompson, Associate of General Studies
Ben Lomond: Jake Day, Certificate of Proficiency: Fluid Power
Blevins: Kristen Buck, Associate of Applied Science: Registered Nursing
Broken Bow: Karen Fuller, Associate of General Studies; and Tahnee Johnson, Associate of Applied Science: Registered Nursing
Cove: Silas Barrett, Associate of Science: Psychology; and Dayton Ralls, Certificate of Proficiency: Fluid Power
Delight: Amy Campbell, Certificate of Proficiency: Child Development; and Linda Whisenhunt, Certificate of Proficiency: Child Development
De Queen: Victoria Alfaro Zapata, Technical Certificate: General Studies and Health Professions; Sanjuana Alvarez Hernandez, Technical Certificate: Health Professions; Steven Bell Jr, Certificate of Proficiency: Industrial Motors and Controllers; Eduardo Benitez Jr., Technical Certificate: Automotive Service Technology; Katrina Billingsley, Associate of Applied Science: Registered Nursing; Israel Bustamante, Certificate of Proficiency: SMAW Welding; Angela Calderon, Associate of Applied Science: General Technology; Jamilyn Clark, Technical Certificate: General Studies; Aubry Collum, Technical Certificate: Welding; Magali Cornelio, Certificate of Proficiency: MIG Welding and SMAW Welding; Johnny Daley, Certificate of Proficiency: SMAW Welding; Collin Davis, Certificate of Proficiency: SMAW Welding; James Davis, Certificate of Proficiency: Diesel Brakes and Diesel Engines; Ashlee Dunn, Associate of Science: STEM; Rosa Elizondo, Associate of Science: Medical Sciences; Carter Faulkenberry, Certificate of Proficiency: Pipe Welding SMAW and Pipe Welding GMAW/FCAW; Bryan Figueroa, Certificate of Proficiency: Diesel Brakes and Diesel Engines; Jarrah Furr, Associate of Science: Business; Aida Gallardo, Technical Certificate: Cosmetology; Alexis Gallardo, Certificate of Proficiency: Accounting; Joanna Gallardo, Technical Certificate: General Studies; Rosa Gallardo, Certificate of Proficiency: Child Development; Valeria Gomez, Associate of Science: STEM; Ahiezer Gonzalez, Certificate of Proficiency: Diesel Brakes and Diesel Engines; Maria Gonzalez, Associate of Science: Psychology; Cristian Gorosquieta, Technical Certificate: Welding; Erica Gutierrez, Technical Certificate: Health Professions; Alejandro Hernandez, Associate of Science: Medical Sciences; Aracely Hernandez, Technical Certificate: General Studies; Brenda Hernandez, Associate of Applied Science; Registered Nursing; Jose Hernandez, Certificate of Proficiency: SMAW Welding; Miguel Luna- Armenta, Associate of Science: Teaching K-6; Jaqueline Marrufo, Technical Certificate: General Studies and Health Professions; Lisette Marrufo, Technical Certificate : Health Professions; Aaron Martinez, Certificate of Proficiency; SMAW Welding; Cristopher Munoz, Technical Certificate: Welding; Chase Pearce, Certificate of Proficiency: SMAW Welding; Connor Pearce, Certificate of Proficiency: Diesel Engines; Jerardo Perez, Certificate of Proficiency: SMAW Welding; Allan Ramirez, Certificate of Proficiency: Mechanical Devices and Industrial Motors and Controllers; Guillermo Ramirez, Certificate of Proficiency: SMAW Welding; Guadalupe Ramirez-Aguero, Certificate of Proficiency: Brakes, Suspension, and Steering; Leslie Rios Gonzalez, Associate of Applied Science: Occupational Therapy Assistants; Miriam Rodriguez, Technical Certificate: General Studies; Robert Rogers, Certificate of Proficiency: MIG Welding; Jesse Rubio, Associate of Applied Science: Registered Nursing: Rafael Ruelas Magana, Associate of Applied Science: Business Management and General Technology; Meshalia Ruth, Associate of Applied Science: Occupational Therapy Assistant; Giovany Salgado, Certificate of Proficiency: SMAW Welding; Kevin Sims, Associate of Applied Science: General Technology; Jorge Soto Ramirez, Certificate of Proficiency: SMAW Welding; Zachary Tollett, Certificate of Proficiency: Mechanical Devices and MIG Welding; Randy Velazquez, Certificate of Proficiency: SMAW Welding; Jesus Wences, Technical Certificate: Welding; Ali Whisenhunt, Technical Certificate: General Studies; Michelle Whisenhunt, Associate of Applied Science: Registered Nursing; Willie White, Certificate of Proficiency: Fluid Power; and Maria Zuniga, Technical Certificate: General Studies
Dierks: Morgan Allen, Technical Certificate: Health Professions; Chantel Alonso, Certificate of Proficiency: Accounting; Caleb Deer, Associate of Applied Science: General Technology; Heather Franklin, Associate of Arts; Elian Hernandez, Certificate of Proficiency: Fluid Power; Aaron Kesterson, Certificate of Proficiency: MIG Welding and Industrial Motors and Controllers; Perri Lowrey, Technical Certificate: Health Professions; Jacob O’Neal, Certificate of Proficiency: Brakes, Suspension, and Steering; Jacie Sims, Technical Certificate: Cosmetology; Walker Vallee, Certificate of Proficiency: Industrial Motors and Controllers; and Max Vaughn, Associate of Applied Science: General Technology
Doddridge: Mary McFadden, Associate of Applied Science: Occupational Therapy Assistant
Eagletown: Peter Carney, Certificate of Proficiency: Industrial Motors and Controllers; and Emily Hughes, Associate of Science: STEM
Foreman: Jade Akins, Associate of Applied Science: Registered Nursing; Katelyn Carver, Associate of Applied Science: Registered Nursing; Katelyn Cowling, Technical Certificate: General Studies; Latasha Fenton, Technical Certificate: Health Professions; Kenneth Green, Technical Certificate: Industrial Technology; Martha Johnson: Technical Certificate: Medical Assisting; Hunter Lewis, Certificate of Proficiency: Industrial Motors and Controllers; Braiden McKinney, Certificate of Proficiency: Fluid Power; Jace Reich, Certificate of Proficiency: Industrial Motors and Controllers; Kaleb Trim, Certificate of Proficiency: Fluid Power: and Kory Voss, Certificate of Proficiency: Industrial Motors and Controllers and Mechanical Devices
Fouke: Amanda Saxby, Technical Certificate: Medical Assisting; and Debbie Teague, Associate of Applied Science: Registered Nursing
Gillham: Zachary Birmingham: Certificate of Proficiency: Fluid Power and Industrial Motors and Controllers; Casey Hill, Certificate of Proficiency: MIG Welding; Candice Hoagland, Associate of Applied Science: Business Management; Hadley Philamlee, Associate of Science: Agri Business; Jose Rios, Certificate of Proficiency: Industrial Motors and Controllers and Mechanical Devices; and Sydney Sneed, Technical Certificate: Health Professions
Glenwood: Tessa Ewing, Technical Certificate: Cosmetology; Kaydra Fox, Technical Certificate: General Studies, and Sarrah Millette, Technical Certificate: General Studies
Grannis: Joslyn Frachiseur, Associate of General Studies; and Juan Trinidad, technical Certificate: Business Management
Haworth: Kristina Garcia, Associate of Applied Science: Registered Nursing; and Nicole Marable, Associate of Applied Science: Registered Nursing
Hope: Yudid Gallardo: Technical Certificate: Cosmetology; and Laura Rivera, Technical Certificate: Health Professions
Horatio: Bryan Carrillo, Technical Certificate: Welding; James Chandler, Certificate of Proficiency: SMAW Welding; Brandon Delgado, Certificate of Proficiency: SMAW Welding; Eric Dickerson, Certificate of Proficiency: Industrial Motors and Controllers and Mechanical Devices; Lacey Hankins, Associate of Applied Science: Registered Nursing; Edith Luna, Associate of Applied Science: Registered Nursing; john Marshall, Certificate of Proficiency: Fluid Power; Levi Nottingham, Certificate of Proficiency: Fluid Power; Rodolfo Ramirez Jr., Certificate of Proficiency: Industrial Motors and Controllers and Mechanical devices; Omar Ramirez, Certificate of Proficiency: Industrial Motors and Controllers; Alberto Sandoval, Technical Certificate: Welding; Carli Sneed, Technical Certificate: General Studies; Richard Thompson, Associate of Arts; and Jeffery Whisenhunt, Certificate of Proficiency: Industrial Motors and Controllers.
Hot Springs: Jill George, Associate of Applied Science: Occupational Therapy Assistant
Idabel: Alexandra Bartholomew, Associate of Applied Science: Occupational Therapy Assistant; and Gregory Linville, Technical Certificate: General Studies
Kirby: Payden Turner, Technical Certificate: General Studies
Lockesburg: Brittany Bennett, Associate of Applied Science: General Technology; Corazon Balderas, Associate of Applied Science: General Technology; Julie Blackwell, Technical Certificate: General Studies; Matthew Brewer, Certificate of Proficiency: MIG Welding and SMAW Welding; Blayne Buster, Certificate of Proficiency: Fluid Power; Charles Dowdy, Technical Certificate: Welding; Daniel Galeno Sotelo, Certificate of Proficiency: SMAW Welding; Kyler Gammill. Certificate of Proficiency: Industrial Motors and Controllers; Ty Gentry, Certificate of Proficiency: Industrial Motors and Controllers; Cole Hanney, Certificate of Proficiency: Industrial Motors and Controllers and Mechanical Devices; Kayle Helms, Associate of Applied Science: Occupational Therapy Assistant; Jason Huesca, Certificate of Proficiency: SMAW Welding; Tasha King, Associate of Applied Science: Registered Nursing; Juane Maxwell, Certificate of Proficiency: Fluid Power; Tamberlyn Nelson, Certificate of Proficiency: Mechanical Devices and Industrial Motors and Controllers; Braden Smart, Certificate of Proficiency: Mechanical Devices; Kevin Walker, Certificate of Proficiency: Industrial Motors and Controllers and Mechanical devices; and Bine Whisenhunt, Associate of Arts
McCaskill: Darren May, Certificate of Proficiency: SMAW Welding
Mineral Springs: Sally Crawford, Associate of Applied Science: General Technology; Kamryn Forbes, Associate of General Studies, Janey Juniel, Certificate of Proficiency: Child Development; Adrianna McDaniel, Technical Certificate: Business Management; Lindsey O’Donnell, Associate of General Studies; Jammey Reese, Technical Certificate: Automotive Service Technology; Shirley Scoggins, Associate of Science: Psychology; and Matthew Stone, Certificate of Proficiency: Fluid Power
Murfreesboro: Austin Baker, Certificate of Proficiency: SMAW Welding; Richard Branch, Certificate of Proficiency: Emergency Medical Technician; Chad Cox, Certificate of Proficiency: SMAW Welding; and Joshua Lingo, Technical Certificate: Welding
Nashville: Rachel Barfield, Associate of General Studies; Michael Bevill, Associate of Applied Science: General Technology; Jordan Boyer, Associate of Applied Science: General Technology; Ernesto Bustamante, Certificate of Proficiency: Diesel Brakes and Diesel Engines; Pablo Cardenas, Technical Certificate: Welding; Lizeth Chavelo, Associate of Science: Teaching K-6 ; Caleb Clayton, Certificate of Proficiency: SMAW Welding; Kevin Conant, Associate of General Studies; Christian Davis, Technical Certificate: Pipe Welding; Haley Davis, Technical Certificate: General Studies; Armando Fraire, Certificate of Proficiency: MIG Welding; Loren Gills, Associate of Applied Science : Occupational Therapy Assistant; Zorayda Guerrero , Technical Certificate : Business Management; Emily Jamison, Technical Certificate: General Studies; Oscar Luna, Associate of Applied Science: General Technology; Samuel Maroon III, Certificate of Proficiency: Diesel Brakes and Diesel Engines; Kianna McElroy, Technical Certificate: Cosmetology; Loretta McLaughlin: Associate of Science: Teaching K-6; Fabian Mercado, Certificate of Proficiency: SMAW Welding; Juanisha Neal, Associate of Applied Science: General Technology; Casey Parker, Technical Certificate: General Studies; Alec Pettigrew, Certificate of Proficiency: Industrial Motors and Controllers; Laisa Ramirez, Associate of Arts; Jace Reid, Certificate of Proficiency: Fluid Power; Chloe Scoggins, Associate of General Studies; Trey Scott, Associate of Arts and Associate of General Studies; Cynthia Spoo, Associates of Applied Science: Accounting; Patricia Stevens, Associate of Applied Science: Registered Nursing; William Turley, Certificate of Proficiency: SMAW Welding, Brianna Upton, Certificate of Proficiency: SMAW Welding; Hadyn Whisenhunt, Certificate of Proficiency: Industrial Motors and Controllers; Ty Williams, Certificate of Proficiency: Fluid Power; and D.C. Young, Technical Certificate: Pipe Welding
Newhope: Karley Stapp, Certificate of Proficiency: Accounting; Marlee Stapp, Technical Certificate: Health Professions, and Grant Strasner, Certificate of Proficiency: Medical Devices
Ogden: Wesley Grimes, Technical Certificate: Agriculture; Tarnesa Ramnarine, Associate of Applied Science: Occupational Therapy Assistant; and Micah Stafford, Certificate of Proficiency: Fluid Power
Searcy: Micah Heathscott, Technical Certificate: General Studies
Shreveport: Sonya Kelly, Associate of Applied Science: Registered Nursing
Simms: Tiffany Peek, Associate of Applied Science: Registered Nursing
Texarkana: Shelly Forrest, Associate of Applied Science: Registered Nursing; Lori Gathright, Associate of Applied Science: Registered Nursing; Cloris Hopkins, Associate of Applied Science: Registered Nursing; Alicia McCord, Associate of Applied Science Occupational Therapy Assistant; Jennifer Neal, Associate of Applied Science: Occupational Therapy Assistant, Jayci Pettigrew, Technical Certificate: Health Professions; John Simmons, Associate of Applied Science: Occupational Therapy Assistant; and Kelsey Solida, Technical Certificate: Health Professions.
Umpire: Christopher Moore, Certificate of Proficiency: Industrial Motors and Controllers
Wake Village: Marcy Preuss, Associate of Applied Science: Registered Nursing
Washington: Aaron McBride, Certificate of Proficiency, SMAW Welding
Wickes: Goevany Alvarez Cruz, Technical Certificate: Welding; Sebastian Medina, Certificate of Proficiency: SMAW Welding; and Elizabeth Richardson, Technical Certificate: Health Professions
Wilton: DeAnna French, Associate of Applied Science: Registered Nursing
Winthrop: Carson Brackett, Certificate of Proficiency: Fluid Power and Industrial Motors and Controllers; Kaylee Dossett, Technical Certificate: Health Professions; Brittany Fallecker, Associate of Applied Science: Registered Nursing; Cassidy Smiley, Certificate of Proficiency: Fluid Power; and Natalee Voss, Certificate of Proficiency, SMAW Welding.
Weekly Update from State Representative DeAnn Vaught
From delivering the food to the grocery store shelves to stocking up retail stores with must have gifts, the trucking industry touches every aspect of the holidays.
As the trend towards online shopping continues, the trucking industry continues to provide a critical infrastructure for our nation. Arkansas companies play an important role in providing the drivers and logistics.
As a midway point between Mexico City and Montreal, our central location enables Arkansas to have a large and growing distribution and logistics services sector. Arkansas offers access to a market of 100 million people within a 550-mile radius of the state. That represents 40% of the total U.S. population.
More than 55,000 Arkansans are employed at more than 80 distribution centers and 10 major trucking companies in the state.
Arkansas is home to two transportation companies on Fortune magazine's list of the largest 1,000 companies in the United States, based on annual revenue - J.B. Hunt Transport Services, Inc. and ArcBest. And of the 25 largest employers in the state, 20% are in the transportation services sector.
The trucking industry is a growing industry. Nationwide, the number of trucking businesses grew 15.9% between 2012 and 2016, outpacing total growth across all industries. This translates into an increase of 200,000 workers in the trucking industry during that time period.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, at least one in 10 truckers are veterans, double the rate of workers in general.
The Census Bureau also notes the demographic of new truckers is changing. Among younger truckers under age 35, more of them are women and they are more educated than their older counterparts. They’re also more urban. The percentage of young truck drivers coming from rural areas is about half that of older truckers, with fewer than 20% of younger truckers living in rural areas.
Although many truckers work a regular 40-hour workweek, almost half of truckers work longer hours. And many are working extra hours during this season. So if you see or know a trucker, thank them this season for tackling one of our economy’s most demanding and important jobs