The UA Cossatot Foundation is excited to highlight Ismael Montero as a 2020-2021 scholarship recipient of the Bill and Nancy Wilson Scholarship. Ismael is a 2020 De Queen High School graduate. This scholarship awards full tuition and general fees for the fall and spring semester. Please help us congratulate Ismael!
COVID-19 Maps and Numbers for Monday
COVID-19 Metrics for Sevier County
Cases
Total Positive: 1,058
Active Positive: 69
Recovered: 978
Deaths: 11
Negatives: 5,110
COVID-19 Metrics for Howard County
Cases
Total Positive: 374
Active Positive: 55
Recovered: 315
Deaths: 4
Negatives: 2,701
COVID-19 Metrics for Little River County
Cases
Total Positive: 218
Active Positive: 37
Recovered: 178
Deaths: 3
Negatives: 1,330
COVID-19 Metrics for Polk County
Cases
Total Positive: 161
Active Positive: 26
Recovered: 134
Deaths: 1
Negatives: 2,715
COVID-19 Metrics for Pike County
Cases
Total Positive: 140
Active Positive: 48
Recovered: 91
Deaths: 1
Negatives: 1,517
Governor Hutchinson Provides COVID-19 Update Monday (08.17.20) 230PM
Governor Asa Hutchinson provides an update to media on Monday, August 17, 2020, live at 2:30 p.m. regarding Arkansas's COVID-19 response. Click play button above.
Sunday's COVID-19 Numbers and Maps
COVID-19 Metrics for Sevier County
Cases
Total Positive: 1,053
Active Positive: 68
Recovered: 974
Deaths: 11
Negatives: 5,096
COVID-19 Metrics for Howard County
Cases
Total Positive: 367
Active Positive: 54
Recovered: 309
Deaths: 4
Negatives: 2,691
COVID-19 Metrics for Little River County
Cases
Total Positive: 215
Active Positive: 40
Recovered: 172
Deaths: 3
Negatives: 1,323
COVID-19 Metrics for Polk County
Cases
Total Positive: 159
Active Positive: 25
Recovered: 133
Deaths: 1
Negatives: 2,681
COVID-19 Metrics for Pike County
Cases
Total Positive: 138
Active Positive: 48
Recovered: 89
Deaths: 1
Negatives: 1,508
Governor Hutchinson’s Weekly Address | Leveling the Broadband Playing Field
LITTLE ROCK – COVID-19 has highlighted some of the shortcomings of our broadband connectivity, but the pandemic also has created opportunities for us to accelerate our expansion of internet service, which I’d like to talk about today.
Earlier this year, I created a steering committee to study our needs and recommend the best use of federal money that is returning to the state through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act, also known as the CARES Act. The members of the committee recognized that many rural communities in our state are in dire need of better access to high-speed internet.
Senate President Jim Hendren and House Speaker Matthew Shepherd of the General Assembly advocated for the expenditure of $100 million for Arkansas Rural Connect, a great program to assist our local communities in expanding internet access.
The coronavirus has limited many of our normal activities, such as attending school and visiting a doctor. The internet has allowed us to adapt to the difficulties. Without effective broadband, many Arkansans would not be able to adapt and access distance learning or keep a telemedicine appointment with a doctor.
The state has made grants to seven companies: $1.6 million to Arkansas Telephone Company to serve parts of Fairfield Bay; $1.9 million to Pinnacle Communications for parts of Ozark; $2 million to CableSouth Media 3 to serve Lonoke and $2 million for Hamburg; $449,000 was granted to Premier Holdings for Nashville; Hillbilly Wireless will receive $497,000 for Cotton Plant and another $804,000 for Cave City. Magazine Telephone Company will receive a little more than a million dollars in non-CARES Act money for Magazine.
In another of our ongoing efforts to expand broadband service, the legislature created the Rural Broadband I.D. Expenses Trust Fund. This money is being awarded as one-time grants to help service providers meet rigorous requirements for due diligence for large federal grant programs with the United States Department of Agriculture and the Federal Communications Commission.
Rural Broadband I.D. is based at UAMS’s Office of Digital Health and Innovation. With Rural Broadband I.D., we are deploying a broader and more detailed strategy for expanding broadband across the most rural parts of our state.
Broadband service must download at a rate of at least 25 megabits per second and upload at 3 megabits per second, which would load a normal song in one second and a two-hour movie in 10 minutes.
Broadband at these speeds will level the playing field as we compete on a global scale. Arkansans in rural communities will have access to the same information and services as people in Fort Smith and Fayetteville.
VIDEO: Governor Hutchinson Provides COVID-19 Update Friday (08.14.20) 130PM
Governor Asa Hutchinson provides an update to media on Friday, August 14, 2020, live at 1:30 p.m. regarding Arkansas's COVID-19 response.
Book Aims to Ease Kids' Fears of Masked Teachers
To help little ones cope with fears that may come with having an instructor with a partially covered face, Arkansas State University Childhood Services and the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences partnered to create an informational book called My Teacher Wears a Mask. The book helps children understand the mask is for safety and contains activities adults can complete with kids to help them feel more comfortable with masks.
https://www.kuaf.com/post/book-aims-ease-kids-fears-masked-teachers
Book Aims to Ease Kids' Fears of Masked Teachers
To help little ones cope with fears that may come with having an instructor with a partially-covered face, Arkansas State University Childhood Services and the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences partnered to create an informational book called My Teacher Wears a Mask .
Friday's COVID-19 Updated Numbers and Maps
COVID-19 Metrics for Sevier County
Cases
Total Positive: 1,017
Active Positive: 48
Recovered: 958
Deaths: 11
Negatives: 4,588
COVID-19 Metrics for Howard County
Cases
Total Positive: 362
Active Positive: 55
Recovered: 303
Deaths: 4
Negatives: 2,593
COVID-19 Metrics for Little River County
Cases
Total Positive: 193
Active Positive: 27
Recovered: 164
Deaths: 2
Negatives: 1,244
COVID-19 Metrics for Polk County
Cases
Total Positive: 157
Active Positive: 22
Recovered: 134
Deaths: 1
Negatives: 2,366
COVID-19 Metrics for Pike County
Cases
Total Positive: 126
Active Positive: 41
Recovered: 84
Deaths: 1
Negatives: 2,953
VIDEO: William Cheatham of the Arkansas DOT
William Cheatham of the Arkansas DOT addressed the De Queen/Sevier County Chamber of Commerce on Thursday concerning road projects in Sevier County.
Healthy School Guide Published for Opening Schools
State officials have published a 20-page “Healthy School Guide” they say will help return hundreds of thousands of students, teachers and staff to more than 1,000 school facilities on Aug. 24 “in the healthiest way possible.”
The new guide includes the latest information from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Arkansas Department of Health and the American Academy of Pediatrics. It was produced in a collaborative effort between the Arkansas Department of Health, Arkansas Department of Education, Arkansas Children’s Hospital and the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS). (Link here for a PDF of the document.)
'Healthy' guide published for opening schools; COVID-19 active cases decline, deaths rise - Talk Business & Politics
State officials have published a 20-page "Healthy School Guide" they say will help return hundreds of thousands of students, teachers and staff to more than 1,000 school facilities on Aug. 24 "in the healthiest way possible." The new guide includes the latest information from the U.S.
Message to Parents of De Queen Students
Attention parents of De Queen Students in grades 6-12 who are enrolled in virtual school this year: We are sending you a packet of information that will give you step by step instructions plus access to video tutorials to help you with all your child's needs for this year's De Queen Virtual School.
Please note this information is for De Queen Virtual Students in grades 6 through 12 only!! Please be looking for this packet in your mailbox. If you are in need of a device, the district will provide one for you.
De Queen’s Healthy Connections Offering One Day Free Physicals
DE QUEEN -- Healthy Connections will be conducting free physicals on Wednesday, August 19th from 8 a.m. -5 p.m. at 1306 West Collin Raye at our location in front of the old hospital. This service will be provided for one day at no charge. This is an effort to assist the community facing challenges and hardships during the Covid 19 pandemic. There will be a back-to-school supply treasure chest full of items so each child who gets a physical will receive school items while supplies last.
Angie Martin, who has worked most of her career in De Queen as a nurse and nurse practitioner, will be conducting the physicals at Healthy Connections’ new De Queen clinic. No appointment is needed, for more information call 870-642-4364
Martin sees patients from ages 0 to 99+ in the family practice clinic. Healthy Connections De Queen is open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. This clinic sees both pediatrics and family medical patients.
As a family nurse practitioner, Martin is a registered nurse with specialized educational and clinical training in family practice. Family Nurse Practitioners are trained to work with both children and adults, most often in the context of a family practice setting. They work with patients on maintaining health and wellness over the long term with a particular focus on preventative care.
Healthy Connections is a Mena-based nonprofit organization serving the needs of children and adults throughout West-Central Arkansas. Since its founding in 1998 as a home-visiting program, Healthy Connections has been able to provide much-needed health, dental and social services to families of every lifestyle.
Healthy Connections accepts Medicaid, including ArKids First, Medicare and most forms of health and dental insurance. However, no person will be turned away for lack of insurance. Qualified families will be charged according to their total family income and total persons living in the household. This sliding scale fee allows many to receive treatment who otherwise would not have been able to afford it.
UA Cossatot Announces ACC Conference Award Winners
UA Cossatot is one of the twenty-two community colleges in Arkansas that is represented by the Arkansas Community College’s (ACC) non-profit association. Every year, the ACC association holds a conference where four award winners are recognized from each college. UA Cossatot has announced its four award winners, which include Crystal Sims, Tommi Cobb, Erika Buenrrostro, and Julie Gomez.
https://www.cccua.edu/news/ua-cossatot-announces-acc-conference-award-winners
UA Cossatot Announces ACC Conference Award Winners
UA Cossatot is one of the twenty-two community colleges in Arkansas that is represented by the Arkansas Community College's (ACC) non-profit association. Every year, the ACC association holds a conference where four award winners are recognized from each college. UA Cossatot has announced its four award winners, which include Crystal Sims, Tommi Cobb, Erika Buenrrostro, and Julie Gomez.
More Arkansas Parents Opting To Keep Kids Out Of Schools During The Pandemic
With Gov. Asa Hutchinson mandating the reopening of brick and mortar public schools in Arkansas for in-person instruction during the week of August 24, some parents are looking at other options, like homeschooling, or one of the state's virtual charter schools.
More Arkansas Parents Opting To Keep Kids Out Of Schools During The Pandemic
With Gov. Asa Hutchinson mandating the reopening of brick and mortar public schools in Arkansas for in-person instruction during the week of August 24, some parents are looking at other options, like homeschooling, or one of the state's virtual charter schools. Jennifer Chosich, who lives outside of Little Rock, has homeschooled her 8th grade daughter for her entire life.
Rapid COVID-19 Antigen Tests Available in Arkansas
Hundreds of rapid antigen test devices and sampling kits to detect acute COVID-19, which yields results within a half hour or less, are being distributed to county public health clinics, to help ease coronavirus testing throughput congestion in Arkansas. The new antigen tests are also available at a growing number pharmacies and medical clinics around the state.
https://www.kuaf.com/post/rapid-covid-19-antigen-tests-available-arkansas
Rapid COVID-19 Antigen Tests Available in Arkansas
Hundreds of rapid antigen test devices and sampling kits to detect acute COVID-19, which yields results within a half hour or less, are being distributed to county public health clinics, to help ease coronavirus testing throughput congestion in Arkansas. The new antigen tests are also available at a growing number pharmacies and medical clinics around the state.
VIDEO: Tri-Lakes Big Bass Festival September 5th
Sevier County Judge Greg Ray And Callie Miller of the Sevier County Chamber of Commerce were in the Ed 88 Studio Thursday to talk about the Tri Lakes Big Bass Festival coming up September 5th.
Thursday's COVID-19 Numbers
COVID-19 Metrics for Sevier County
Cases
Total Positive: 1,009
Active Positive: 50
Recovered: 949
Deaths: 10
Negatives: 4,579
COVID-19 Metrics for Howard County
Cases
Total Positive: 360
Active Positive: 57
Recovered: 299
Deaths: 4
Negatives: 2,586
COVID-19 Metrics for Little River County
Cases
Total Positive: 189
Active Positive: 27
Recovered: 161
Deaths: 1
Negatives: 1,239
COVID-19 Metrics for Polk County
Cases
Total Positive: 154
Active Positive: 21
Recovered: 132
Deaths: 1
Negatives: 2,338
COVID-19 Metrics for Pike County
Cases
Total Positive: 118
Active Positive: 36
Recovered: 81
Deaths: 1
Negatives: 2,933
Southwest Arkansas Rainfall on Wednesday
Rainfall totals in southwest Arkansas as of 4pm Wednesday according to USGS:
Red River at Index, AR 08/12 16:00 CDT 9.29
Rolling Fork near DeQueen, AR 4.31
Little River near Horatio, AR 4.10
Cossatot River near Vandervoort, AR 7.78
Saline River near Dierks, AR 9.56
Significant rainfall in southwest Arkansas leads to rainfall totals near 10 inches
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. - An upper level disturbance that ran into a front as it moved from Oklahoma into west and southwest Arkansas produced a cluster of storms that built up over time, resulting in heavy rainfall across the area Wednesday morning.
Continuing Education Schedule at UA Cossatot
Our UA Cossatot Fall 2020 Continuing Education schedule is out now! Visit the link to learn more!
https://www.cccua.edu/news/ua-cossatot-announces-fall-2020-continuing-education-schedule
UA Cossatot Announces Fall 2020 Continuing Education Schedule
University of Arkansas Cossatot has announced its Continuing Education schedule for the fall 2020 semester. The college's Continuing Education department offers classes and training that are available to train for a new career, gain a new skill, grow a business or personally enrich life.
VIDEO: Governor Hutchinson Provides COVID-19 Update Thursday (08.13.20) 130PM
Governor Asa Hutchinson provides an update to media on Thursday, August 13, 2020, live at 1:30 p.m. regarding Arkansas's COVID-19 response.