Sevier News

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Weekly Update from State Representative DeAnn Vaught

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Heart disease is the leading cause of death for both men and women in the United States, and 1 in 4 deaths are caused by heart disease each year. In 2017 in Arkansas, a total of 8,270 people died of heart disease.

February is American Heart Month. Its purpose is to promote the importance of heart health and increase awareness of the risk factors of heart disease.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, half of all Americans have at least one of the top three risk factors for heart disease-high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and smoking. Other conditions and behaviors that affect your risk for heart disease include obesity, diabetes, physical inactivity, and unhealthy eating patterns.

Smoking, the leading cause of preventable death in the United States, is also one of the greatest risk factors for developing heart disease. Smoking damages the heart and blood vessels very quickly, but the damage is repaired quickly for most smokers who quit

In 2019, the General Assembly passed Act 580, which would have phased in an increase in the age a person must be to buy tobacco products like cigarettes, electronic cigarettes, and vaping products that contain nicotine. However, a new federal law signed by President Trump supersedes the 2019 state law, and as of December 27, 2019, the nationwide minimum age to buy tobacco products has been raised to 21. With this law now in place at the federal level, we expect to see fewer teens begin smoking or vaping in the first place.

You can choose healthy habits to help prevent heart disease. Arkansans are encouraged to make healthy changes to lower their risk of developing heart disease such as controlling their cholesterol and blood pressure, living an active lifestyle, and eating healthy. If you don’t smoke, don’t start. If you smoke, know that quitting will lower your risk for heart disease. For free help to quit smoking, call 1-800-QUIT-NOW or go to smokefree.gov or cdc.gov/tips.

Home | Smokefree

Preparation is the first step to being smokefree. Boost your chances of success by making a quit plan.

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Create Bridges Wants to Hear From You

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The CREATE BRIDGES pilot project wants to hear about the experiences of retail, accommodations, tourism or entertainment employees in your community! Retail and hospitality sectors provide jobs and business opportunities that often drive rural economies. University Arkansas System Division of Agriculture is piloting CREATE BRIDGES, a program designed to strengthen these industries in Arkansas. As part of the pilot, CREATE BRIDGES is collecting the opinions and comments of retail, accommodations, tourism, and entertainment employees related to their preparation, training, and benefits in the industry. The following Arkansas counties are included: Howard, Little River, and Sevier. This anonymous survey takes less than 15 minutes: http://bit.ly/CBEmployeeSurvey. Please help us get the word out about this opportunity, as these employees’ feedback will be invaluable to identifying training and policy opportunities to promote the flourishing of these industries. If your business or community is having an event at which we can survey or you are interested in more information, please contact Julianne Dunn at 501-671-2158 or jbdunn@uaex.edu.

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Mayor Jeff Brown Delivers State of the City Address

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  • By Marty Bachman editor@dequeenbee.com

  • Feb 6, 2020 Updated Feb 6, 2020

Ed 88 thanks our media partners at the De Queen Bee for sharing these stories with our followers.
Mayor Jeff Brown Delivers State of the City Address

https://www.dequeenbee.com/…/article_24882b22-48f9-11ea-ba4…

De Queen City Council Approves Police Request to Pursue Grant Opportunity

https://www.dequeenbee.com/…/article_71a2abce-4932-11ea-86e…

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Tri-County Regional Library System Board of Trustees Quarterly Meeting Tuesday

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The quarterly meeting of the Tri-County Regional Library System Board of Trustees will be held on Tuesday, February 11th, at 5 p.m. at the Sevier County Library-De Queen Branch. Business to be discussed include: financial issues, board of officer elections and dates for meetings in the state.

Marilyn B. Archer, MLS
Director
Tri-County Regional Library System
Serving 11 Public Libraries in Howard, Little River and Sevier counties in Southwest Arkansas

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Weekly Update from State Representative DeAnn Vaught

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This week, the Department of Finance and Administration announced that effective February 3, 2020, all 134 State Revenue Offices will have the ability to issue a Real ID.

Arkansas is taking part in the federal nationwide initiative to improve the security of state-issued driver’s licenses and identification cards, which will help fight terrorism and reduce identity fraud.

Starting October 1, 2020 anyone who boards a domestic flight or enters a federal building will need a Real ID driver's license, Identification Card or other approved documentation required by the United States Department of Homeland Security.

When we previously reminded constituents of the upcoming deadline, just 25 State Revenue Offices could issue a Real ID. Now, DFA has expanded the capability to all revenue offices to make it more convenient.

The cost to obtain a REAL ID does not differ from the cost to obtain or renew a license or ID. Current Driver Licenses (DL) can upgrade to REAL ID at any time by purchasing a duplicate license. The fee for a duplicate DL is $10.00 and expiration dates remain the same. If within one year of the expiration date, you may renew and convert to the Arkansas Real ID. At regular renewal periods, the REAL ID may be purchased for $40.00 and will not expire for eight (8) years.

Real ID will not replace a U.S. Passport or allow border crossing. A Real ID Driver’s License is optional and only required for individuals who wish to continue using their Driver’s License to board domestic flights or enter federal buildings after October 1, 2020.

Should you have any questions about the Real ID, please contact the Office of Driver Services at 501-682-7059, email questions to driver.services@dfa.arkansas.gov or VISIT www.ar.gov/realid or www.dhs.gov/real-id

REAL ID

The REAL ID Act establishes minimum security standards for license issuance and production and prohibits Federal agencies from accepting for certain purposes driver's licenses and identification cards from states not meeting the Act's minimum standards. The purposes covered by the Act are: accessing Federal facilities, entering nuclear power plants, and, boarding federally regulated commercial aircraft.

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Sevier County Coalition to Host February Lunch-and-Learn on Heart Health

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February is Heart Month, the perfect time to learn lifesaving information about heart health. On Thursday, February 27, 2020, the Sevier County Coalition’s Live Well Sevier County Committee and UA Cossatot will be co-hosting a Lunch-n-Learn entitled “Early Heart Attack Care” 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 12:30 p.m.

Presenter Leah Harper will be teaching participants to recognize the signs and symptoms of heart attack including risk factors, how symptoms can differ for men and women and atypical presentations of a heart attack. Harper says, “Heart disease is the leading cause of death for adults in the United States,” adding “Last year alone, 647,457 people died of heart disease. A number of these deaths could have been prevented.”

Harper is a registered Radiologic Technologist (RT(R), ARRT) and native of Sevier County with a background is in Radiologic Sciences. She has worked at Christus Saint Michael Health System for over 36 years, including 26 years in the Heart Cath Lab. She is currently the supervisor for the Heart Cath, Electrophysiology and Interventional Radiology labs; and active in community outreach. Harper says, “Heart health is something I’m very passionate about. Heart disease doesn’t just happen to older adults. The conditions that lead to it are now being seen in younger adults more often. My goal is to save lives by educating the public on how to be savers instead of enablers.”

All are invited to bring their lunch and join Mrs. Harper 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

Community Organization | Sevier County Coalition | United States

Have a local event you would like to add? Contact us below and we can add it to our community calendar!

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February Sevier County Library Snippets by: Johnye Fisher

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Each Sevier County Library Branch recently received a wonderfully generous gift of 100 new children’s book from The Brownstone Book Fund.
We would all like to say a BIG Thank you to Diane. Without folks like her our libraries could not continue to thrive.

The De Queen Library; The Caplinger family will be donating a bronze plaque in memory of their Beloved mother Thema Caplinger. She instilled upon her children the love of reading and are still avid readers. There will be a ceremony on February 5th at 1:00 pm. Everyone is invited to attend.

We will have a story time and Making Valentine’s with Klondike February 12, 2020 at 4pm. Come on in and make Valentine Cards for the Nursing center folks here in De Queen.

Don’t forget those Domino games going on Wednesdays at 10am.You can contact us by calling 870-584-4364 or visiting our Facebook page www.facebook.com/seviercountylibrary

Happy Valentines Day from the Horatio Library. There are several things going on this month. We will have two children's programs one on the 1st and the other on the 15th. Both will be at 10 a.m. Every Thursday we have a Mexican train domino game at 9:30. We have a trophy for the winner so whoever wins that week gets to take a trophy home. Believe me when I say they like to have fun and laugh but they take the game very serious. We have several new books on the shelf from authors such as Stewart Woods, Suzanne Wood Fisher, Melinda Leigh just to name a few. We also had a 100 new children's books that were donated by The Brownstone Book Fund. We have had several used Christian Fiction books that we are working on getting on the shelf. We are trying to figure out if there is an interest in a Book Club in Horatio. If you would be interested in joining please give us a call at 870-832-6882. Have a Blessed month and we hope to see you at the Horatio Library.

At the Lockesburg Library there will be a book club discussion of February’s selection “Where Somebody Waits”, by Margaret Kaufman at 10:00, Saturday, Feb. 8. March’s book club selection will be available to pick up at this meeting.
Please join us on Saturday, February 22 for a “Come and Go”, “Meet the Author/ Book Talk/Book Signing” with Davida F. Wynn from 10-11:30. Davida F. Wynn is an advanced practice nurse, author, motivational coach, and speaker. She has resided in the Atlanta, Georgia metro area for the past five years. She is a 1999 graduate of Lockesburg High School. Her family continues to live in our area.
Contact Wendy Clay at 870-289-2233 for more information concerning programs, books and activities at the library.

Lockesburg Library’s Summer Reading Programs for children are
continuing in July on Saturdays at 10:00.
July 6: Take Me to Your Reader
July 13: Shoot For the Moon
These programs will be a fun way to include reading and reading-
related activities this summer while helping to maintain and
improve children’s reading skills.
Everyone is invited come in to the library and participate in our
40”x 36”, “Stick Together” poster illustrating the theme “A
Universe Of Stories”.
Visit the Lockesburg Library on Facebook for posts of our
programs, reading contests and projects or call Mz. Wendy at
870-289-2233 for more information.
Lockesburg Library’s Summer Reading Programs for children are
continuing in July on Saturdays at 10:00.
July 6: Take Me to Your Reader
July 13: Shoot For the Moon
These programs will be a fun way to include reading and reading-
related activities this summer while helping to maintain and
improve children’s reading skills.
Everyone is invited come in to the library and participate in our
40”x 36”, “Stick Together” poster illustrating the theme “A
Universe Of Stories”.
Visit the Lockesburg Library on Facebook for posts of our
programs, reading contests and projects or call Mz. Wendy at
870-289-2233 for more information.
On Saturday, Aug. 3rd at 10 AM the “That’s My Story and
I’m Stickin’ to It” Book Club will meet at the Lockesburg
Library to discuss the novel, “The Handmaid’s Tale” by
Margaret Atwood.
Our “Biggest Book Sale of the Year” will be held the first
two weeks in August. Paperbacks books will be available
for .50 and hardback books $1. Don’t miss this opportunity
to purchase some really nice books and support your
library’s fund raiser.
Visit the Lockesburg Library on Facebook for posts of our
programs, activities and projects or call Mz. Wendy at 870-
289-2233 for more information concerning programs and
activities at the library.
On Saturday, Aug. 3rd at 10 AM the “That’s My Story and
I’m Stickin’ to It” Book Club will meet at the Lockesburg
Library to discuss the novel, “The Handmaid’s Tale” by
Margaret Atwood.
Our “Biggest Book Sale of the Year” will be held the first
two weeks in August. Paperbacks books will be available
for .50 and hardback books $1. Don’t miss this opportunity
to purchase some really nice books and support your
library’s fund raiser.
Visit the Lockesburg Library on Facebook for posts of our
programs, activities and projects or call Mz. Wendy at 870-
289-2233 for more information concerning programs and
activities at the library.
Due to recent changes the hours for Gillham Library will be Saturdays 10 am- 2pm until further notice. For more information, you can contact at the Gillham Library at 870-386-5665. We are currently looking for volunteers please call the De Queen Library at 870-584-4364