Tuesday COVID-19 Update

COVID-19 Metrics for Sevier County
Total Cumulative Cases: 1,183
Confirmed Cases: 1,182
Probable Cases: 1
Total Active Cases: 17
Active Confirmed Cases: 17
Active Probable Cases: 0
Total Recovered Cases: 1,150
Recovered  Confirmed Cases: 1,149
Recovered Probable Cases: 1
Total Deaths: 16
Confirmed Deaths: 16
Probable Deaths: 0

COVID-19 Metrics for Howard County
Total Cumulative Cases: 448
Confirmed Cases: 446
Probable Cases: 2
Total Active Cases: 14
Active Confirmed Cases: 14
Active Probable Cases: 0
Total Recovered Cases: 426
Recovered  Confirmed Cases: 424
Recovered Probable Cases: 2
Total Deaths: 8
Confirmed Deaths: 8
Probable Deaths: 0

COVID-19 Metrics for Little River County
Total Cumulative Cases: 323
Confirmed Cases: 318
Probable Cases: 5
Total Active Cases: 12
Active Confirmed Cases: 12
Active Probable Cases: 0
Total Recovered Cases: 293
Recovered  Confirmed Cases: 288
Recovered Probable Cases: 5
Total Deaths: 18
Confirmed Deaths: 18
Probable Deaths: 0

COVID-19 Metrics for Polk County
Total Cumulative Cases: 248
Confirmed Cases: 246
Probable Cases: 2
Total Active Cases: 13
Active Confirmed Cases: 12
Active Probable Cases: 1
Total Recovered Cases: 231
Recovered  Confirmed Cases: 230
Recovered Probable Cases: 1
Total Deaths: 4
Confirmed Deaths: 4
Probable Deaths: 0

COVID-19 Metrics for Pike County
Total Cumulative Cases: 212
Confirmed Cases: 211
Probable Cases: 1
Total Active Cases: 22
Active Confirmed Cases: 22
Active Probable Cases: 0
Total Recovered Cases: 188
Recovered  Confirmed Cases: 187
Recovered Probable Cases: 1
Total Deaths: 2
Confirmed Deaths: 2
Probable Deaths: 0

VIDEO: Governor Hutchinson Provides COVID-19 Update Tuesday (09.15.20) 130PM

Governor Asa Hutchinson provides an update to media on Tuesday, September 15, 2020, live at 1:30 p.m. regarding Arkansas's COVID-19 response.

Brush Cleanup Day in Gillham Saturday September 19th

The Gillham Volunteer Fire Department, with the help of volunteers, and the town of Gillham will have a chipping day this coming Saturday September 19 starting around 1:30PM. If you have limbs in your yard, over grown hedges next to your house we can help you get rid of them. You can pull to the edge of the road or if your not able call me or text me your name and the address same goes if you have limbs and brush next to your house that needs trimmed back my cell is (870) 584-9434 if you would like to help us call me or show up at the fire station at 1:30. This is a community project we hope you will take advantage of it. Please share and tell your neighbors. This will be our project for our Firewise program.

The Fire Department was able to purchase a chipper and a Husqvarna chainsaw with a 24 inch bar from the Firewise grant which only certain preventative tools could be approved for purchase and no firefighting equipment. We have found over the past few years that on the annual project the hardest thing to do is dispose of brush. The Firewise program we entered it in 2017 to help inform the community on fire prevention measures. It is less costly to prevent fires than to fight one.

Thank you for your time.

Marc Rosson

Chief GVFD

Weekly Update from State Representative DeAnn Vaught

Every year thousands of Americans die by suicide, leaving behind friends and family to navigate the tragedy of loss. In 2019, more than 500 Arkansans died by suicide.

September is National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month. This is a time to share resources and stories in an effort to shed light on this stigmatized topic.

In 2017, the legislature passed Act 811 which mandated that calls made from Arkansas to the National Suicide Prevention be operated by the Arkansas Department of Health.  This has allowed callers in crises to be able to speak to someone who has a strong understanding of resources available nearby. There are an average of over 1,000 calls made to the lifeline each month.

In the 2019 Regular Session, the legislature passed Act 551 which requires the House Committee on Aging, Children and Youth, Legislative and Military Affairs and the Senate Committee on State Agencies and Governmental Affairs to examine veteran issues within Arkansas, including the occurrence of suicide among the veteran population in Arkansas. The committees will file a written report with their findings and recommendations to Legislative Council by December 1.

This General Assembly also passed Act 962 which creates the offense of encouraging the suicide of another person and makes the offense a Class D felony.

No one organization or piece of legislation can tackle suicide prevention alone.  To save lives, multiple systems must work in a coordinated way to reach those in suicidal crisis where they are.

If you are in crisis now, please call 1-800-273-TALK (8255). Veterans can access the Veteran Crises line by calling the number and pressing 1. Anyone can also text the crisis line by sending TALK to 741741, or chat online at www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org/chat/.

Lifeline Chat

Lifeline Chat is a service of the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, connecting individuals with counselors for emotional support and other services via web chat. All chat centers in the Lifeline network are accredited by CONTACT USA. Lifeline Chat is available 24/7 across the U.S.

Monday COVID-19 Case Numbers and Maps

COVID-19 Metrics for Sevier County

Total Cumulative Cases: 1,182
Confirmed Cases: 1,181
Probable Cases: 1

Total Active Cases: 17
Active Confirmed Cases: 17
Active Probable Cases: 0

Total Recovered Cases: 1,149
Recovered  Confirmed Cases: 1,148
Recovered Probable Cases: 1

Total Deaths: 16
Confirmed Deaths: 16
Probable Deaths: 0

COVID-19 Metrics for Howard County

Total Cumulative Cases: 448
Confirmed Cases: 446
Probable Cases: 2

Total Active Cases: 15
Active Confirmed Cases: 15
Active Probable Cases: 0

Total Recovered Cases: 425
Recovered  Confirmed Cases: 423
Recovered Probable Cases: 2

Total Deaths: 8
Confirmed Deaths: 8
Probable Deaths: 0

COVID-19 Metrics for Little River County

Total Cumulative Cases: 323
Confirmed Cases: 318
Probable Cases: 5

Total Active Cases: 12
Active Confirmed Cases: 12
Active Probable Cases: 0

Total Recovered Cases: 293
Recovered  Confirmed Cases: 288
Recovered Probable Cases: 5

Total Deaths: 18
Confirmed Deaths: 18
Probable Deaths: 0

COVID-19 Metrics for Polk County

Total Cumulative Cases: 247
Confirmed Cases: 245
Probable Cases: 2

Total Active Cases: 12
Active Confirmed Cases: 11
Active Probable Cases: 1

Total Recovered Cases: 231
Recovered  Confirmed Cases: 230
Recovered Probable Cases: 1

Total Deaths: 4
Confirmed Deaths: 4
Probable Deaths: 0

COVID-19 Metrics for Pike County

Total Cumulative Cases: 212
Confirmed Cases: 211
Probable Cases: 1

Total Active Cases: 25
Active Confirmed Cases: 25
Active Probable Cases: 0

Total Recovered Cases: 185
Recovered  Confirmed Cases: 184
Recovered Probable Cases: 1

Total Deaths: 2
Confirmed Deaths: 2
Probable Deaths: 0

AUDIO: Governor Hutchinson’s Weekly Address | Cynergy Cargo: Southeast Arkansas’s Newest Success Story

LITTLE ROCK – Today I’d like to share a story about the business success of a family that also is an economic development success for southeast Arkansas.

The story begins with a fifteen-year-old Guatemalan who immigrated to the United States in 1999. For six months, Vigler Mazariegos harvested fruit and vegetables in South Florida, supporting himself and sending money home to his parents in Guatemala.

In 2000, he moved to Georgia to work for a poultry processing company, where he met Delmis. They have been married for nearly twenty years and have a son and four daughters.

After four years at the poultry plant, Vigler left to help Delmis’s father start a used-car dealership. A year after that, he took a job driving a forklift for a company that manufactured cargo trailers. This is where Vigler dreamed of starting his own company, and in the years since, he has built a business that has changed his life and improved life for dozens of his employees.

In 2004, he and a partner founded a company to build cargo trailers. Then in 2012, he and Delmis started their own company. Vigler designed the sheet-metal trailers, and he and two employees built them. Delmis finished them out, from silicone to sanding to final inspection.

They named the company Cynergy Cargo, and they employ about a hundred people. They have built over 37,000 trailers in the eight years since they built their first one.

When they decided to expand their business beyond Georgia at the start of 2020, they contacted Katherine Andrews, a project manager at Arkansas Economic Development Commission. Crossett was one of the cities Katherine suggested they consider.

The rest is Crossett economic development history and future. On September 3, I joined Vigler, Delmis, their plant managers Luis Mejia and his wife, Cynthia Rodriguez, and leaders from Arkansas Economic Development to cut the ribbon at Cynergy Cargo.

This is a community partnership at many levels. Cynergy will be able to hire many well-trained graduates from the University of Arkansas at Monticello’s College of Technology. Cynergy is a family-focused business with values that are a great fit for Crossett and Southeast Arkansas.

Cynergy was the first company to announce plans to expand in Arkansas after the pandemic drifted into the United States. Within two years, the company will employ 70 fulltime employees that will include carpenters, welders, and electricians.

Howard Beaty Jr., president of the Crossett Economic Development Foundation Board, put it well on the day of the grand opening. He said: “In the middle of a global pandemic, Cynergy Cargo lifted the spirits in our community.”

Crossett’s new Mayor Crystal Marshall spoke for many when she said this is a win for Crossett, Ashley County, and all of southeast Arkansas. As the grand-opening ceremony ended, I had the honor of driving the final screw into the first Cynergy trailer to come off the new line in Crossett. In the years ahead, I am certain that many more cargo trailers will roll off the line at Cynergy Cargo. This is a great addition to Crossett and Southeast Arkansas and a wonderful immigrant success story.

LifeShare Blood Drive at UA Cossatot - Ashdown/Lockesburg Campuses Today

LifeShare will have their bus at the Ashdown Campus of UA Cossatot Monday, 09/14, from 10:50-1:30. They will then go to the Lockesburg campus for a donation drive from 4:00-7:30 Monday evening. If you can donate at one of these places, please do; there is a shortage of blood supply at this time.

Sunday's COVID-19 Numbers and Maps

COVID-19 Metrics for Sevier County

Total Cumulative Cases: 1,181
Confirmed Cases: 1,180
Probable Cases: 1

Total Active Cases: 16
Active Confirmed Cases: 16
Active Probable Cases: 0

Total Recovered Cases: 1,149
Recovered  Confirmed Cases: 1,148
Recovered Probable Cases: 1

Total Deaths: 16
Confirmed Deaths: 16
Probable Deaths: 0

COVID-19 Metrics for Howard County

Total Cumulative Cases: 448
Confirmed Cases: 446
Probable Cases: 2

Total Active Cases: 18
Active Confirmed Cases: 18
Active Probable Cases: 0

Total Recovered Cases: 422
Recovered  Confirmed Cases: 420
Recovered Probable Cases: 2

Total Deaths: 8
Confirmed Deaths: 8
Probable Deaths: 0

COVID-19 Metrics for Little River County

Total Cumulative Cases: 323
Confirmed Cases: 318
Probable Cases: 5

Total Active Cases: 16
Active Confirmed Cases: 15
Active Probable Cases: 1

Total Recovered Cases: 289
Recovered  Confirmed Cases: 285
Recovered Probable Cases: 4

Total Deaths: 18
Confirmed Deaths: 18
Probable Deaths: 0

COVID-19 Metrics for Polk County

Total Cumulative Cases: 247
Confirmed Cases: 245
Probable Cases: 2

Total Active Cases: 16
Active Confirmed Cases: 15
Active Probable Cases: 1

Total Recovered Cases: 227
Recovered  Confirmed Cases: 226
Recovered Probable Cases: 1

Total Deaths: 4
Confirmed Deaths: 4
Probable Deaths: 0

COVID-19 Metrics for Pike County

Total Cumulative Cases: 212
Confirmed Cases: 211
Probable Cases: 1

Total Active Cases: 25
Active Confirmed Cases: 25
Active Probable Cases: 0

Total Recovered Cases: 186
Recovered  Confirmed Cases: 185
Recovered Probable Cases: 1

Total Deaths: 1
Confirmed Deaths: 1
Probable Deaths: 0

Multiple High School Football Games in the State Canceled Due to Coronavirus

LITTLE ROCK (KATV) — Multiple high school football games scheduled to be played Friday in Arkansas have been canceled due to the coronavirus.

https://katv.com/news/local/high-school-football-game-canceled-after-positive-virus-tests

Multiple high school football games canceled due to virus

Multiple high school football games scheduled to be played Friday in Arkansas have been canceled due to the coronavirus. Walnut Ridge High School announced that its game Friday against East Poinsett County has been called off. The school plans to resume its season Sept. 25 against Palestine-Wheatley High School.

Download the 2020 Arkansas Ballot Issue Voter Guide

UPDATE - Our 2020 Arkansas Ballot Issue Voter Guide is ready for download!

Go to uaex.edu/ballot to download your copy!

Share the guide with your friends and family.

Let them know it’s a neutral, research-based resource to help them figure out their votes on the proposed constitutional amendments and state laws.

This full-color PDF explores all the ballot issues voters will decide Nov. 3. We have included proposals that are currently in court due to the timing of our publication being printed. This digital version will be updated after court rulings.

What will you find in Extension's ballot voter guide?

A worksheet you can print off and write notes on to help you remember later how you want to vote on the issues.

How the proposal will appear on the ballot

Answers to some basic questions about each issue

Reasons why people may support or oppose the proposal

Did you know? These fact sheets go through a vetting process that includes reviews by law school professors, subject matter experts and issue supporters and opponents.

*Printed versions will be ready in early October at your local County Extension Office.

Angie Walker of De Queen Among New Members Elected to AFMC’s Board of Directors

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. ‒ September 10, 2020 ‒ AFMC is proud to announce the recent election of five new members to its Board of Directors. The new members were voted on by physician membership, which is made up of over 1,000 physicians statewide, at the August Board Meeting. They will serve three-year terms. The new board members include Dr. Josh Dilley, Glen Fenter, EdD, Dr. Chris Hardin, Debby Nye and Angie Walker.

Angie Walker has over 30 years of experience in healthcare including quality improvement, meaningful use and comprehensive primary care. She successfully applied practice transformation processes across providers, staff, technology and patients form the multiple value-based programs her practice is involved in. She is married to Randy Walker, M.D. and is heavily involved in his practice in De Queen.

Dr. Josh Dilley is a board-certified anesthesiologist with Arkansas Anesthesia Associates. He is the Clinical Director of Anesthesiology, Cardiac anesthesiologist with Arkansas Heart Hospital. He earned his MD with Honors in Research from UAMS. Dr. Dilley is a member of the Arkansas Society of Anesthesiology and Society of Cardiovascular Anesthesiologists.

Glen Fenter, EdD is superintendent of the Marion School District in Eastern Arkansas. He has an extensive career in public schools, as past president of the Greater Memphis Alliance for a Competitive Workforce, Mid-South Community College, and principal of West Memphis High School. Fenter earned his EdD in Educational Administration from the University of Arkansas Fayetteville. He was recognized by Southern Business and Development magazine as 2015 co-person of the year along with then South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley.

Dr. Chris Hardin of Fayetteville specializes in internal medicine for adults and teens at Fayetteville Diagnostic Clinic. He is licensed and board-certified and a fellow of the American College of Physicians. He serves as president of the Washington County Medical Society. Dr. Hardin is a graduate of both Vanderbilt and UAMS.

Debby Nye is a Bentonville attorney with Kutak Rock, LLP. Her expertise is in representing healthcare providers. She is licensed to practice in Arkansas and Oklahoma, US Supreme Court, 8th

Circuit Court of Appeals and Arkansas District Court. She is a graduate of the University of Arkansas at Little Rock Law School.

For 48 years, AFMC has worked to improve the health of Arkansans through utilization review, quality improvement projects and public education. AFMC’s mission is: To promote excellence in health and health care through education and evaluation.

Friday COVID-19 Arkansas Health Department Update

COVID-19 Metrics for Sevier County
Cases
  Total Positive: 1,175
  Active Positive: 13
  Recovered: 1,146
  Deaths: 16
  Negatives: 5,842

COVID-19 Metrics for Howard County
Cases
  Total Positive: 439
  Active Positive: 13
  Recovered: 418
  Deaths: 8
  Negatives: 3,304

COVID-19 Metrics for Little River County
Cases
  Total Positive: 313
  Active Positive: 19
  Recovered: 276
  Deaths: 18
  Negatives: 1,501

COVID-19 Metrics for Polk County
Cases
  Total Positive: 241
  Active Positive: 15
  Recovered: 222
  Deaths: 4
  Negatives: 3,313

COVID-19 Metrics for Pike County
Cases
  Total Positive: 204
  Active Positive: 20
  Recovered: 183
  Deaths: 1
  Negatives: 1,847

VIDEO: Governor Hutchinson Provides COVID-19 Update from Mena Friday (09.11.20) 130PM

Governor Asa Hutchinson provides an update to media from Mena on Friday, September 11, 2020, live at 1:30 p.m. regarding Arkansas's COVID-19 response. Hutchinson will be in Mena today for his daily briefing but he announced that starting next week, he will only provide weekly updates with additional briefings as needed. 

Thursday COVID-19 Cases and Maps

COVID-19 Metrics for Sevier County
Cases
  Total Positive: 1,174
  Active Positive: 13
  Recovered: 1,145
  Deaths: 16
  Negatives: 5,825

COVID-19 Metrics for Howard County
Cases
  Total Positive: 437
  Active Positive: 18
  Recovered: 411
  Deaths: 8
  Negatives: 3,296

COVID-19 Metrics for Little River County
Cases
  Total Positive: 311
  Active Positive: 27
  Recovered: 266
  Deaths: 18
  Negatives: 1,500

COVID-19 Metrics for Polk County
Cases
  Total Positive: 240
  Active Positive: 15
  Recovered: 221
  Deaths: 4
  Negatives: 3,290

COVID-19 Metrics for Pike County
Cases
  Total Positive: 191
  Active Positive: 10
  Recovered: 180
  Deaths: 1
  Negatives: 1,834

VIDEO: Governor Hutchinson Provides COVID-19 Update Thursday (09.10.20) 130PM

Governor Asa Hutchinson provides an update to media on Thursday, September 10, 2020, live at 1:30 p.m. regarding Arkansas's COVID-19 response.

Tyson Donation Gives DJHS and DMS Students Comfortable Seating

De Queen Public Schools would like to thank Tyson Foods Inc. for their generous donation of $5,000. The grant money was used to help purchase new picnic tables and benches for the outdoor seating areas at the middle school and junior high. The picnic tables are located underneath the newly constructed pavilion that students use during lunch and the benches are located underneath the awning at the bus unloading zone.

Front Row L to R: Students Donovan Ester, Jeremiah Coto, Denise Hernandez, and Ashlee McCullough
Back Row L to R: DMS Principal Brandon Lindly, Tyson Plant Manager Chris McKinney, Superintendent Jason Sanders, and DJHS Principal Bill Huddleston

Notice from Sevier County Clerk - Debbie Akin

Reminder that October 5 is last day to register to vote and a reminder to request an application for an absentee ballot. We will begin mailing ballots on September 18. Reminder to keep in mind that you need to act soon if you want to vote absentee by mail. We want all votes to count. The earlier you get your ballot mailed the sooner it can be accounted for. Our office will not be offended if voters want to call to verify that their ballot has been received.

WE ARE STILL IN NEED OF POLL WORKERS. WE WILL BE TRAINING WORKERS SEPTEMBER 28 THROUGH OCTOBER 2. Anyone interested should call 870-642-2852 before September 28.

Thanks
Debbie Akin 
Sevier County Clerk
115 N. 3rd St.
Room 102
De Queen, AR 71832
870-642-2852

Wednesday COVID-19 Update

COVID-19 Metrics for Sevier County
Cases
  Total Positive: 1,173
  Active Positive: 14
  Recovered: 1,143
  Deaths: 16
  Negatives: 5,712

COVID-19 Metrics for Howard County
Cases
  Total Positive: 437
  Active Positive: 30
  Recovered: 399
  Deaths: 8
  Negatives: 3,275

COVID-19 Metrics for Little River County
Cases
  Total Positive: 307
  Active Positive: 27
  Recovered: 263
  Deaths: 17
  Negatives: 1,483

COVID-19 Metrics for Polk County
Cases
  Total Positive: 240
  Active Positive: 17
  Recovered: 219
  Deaths: 4
  Negatives: 3,246

COVID-19 Metrics for Pike County
Cases
  Total Positive: 189
  Active Positive: 9
  Recovered: 179
  Deaths: 1
  Negatives: 1,822

VIDEO: Governor Hutchinson Provides COVID-19 Update Wednesday (09.09.20) 130PM

Governor Asa Hutchinson provides an update to media on Wednesday, September 9, 2020, live at 1:30 p.m. regarding Arkansas's COVID-19 response.

Weekly Update from State Representative DeAnn Vaught

With more Arkansans working and learning remotely in an effort to stop the spread of coronavirus, the issue of broadband access has become increasingly relevant. Yet as broadband access becomes more necessary to normal modern life, there is growing concern about a digital divide, whereby some areas are cut off from opportunities for distance learning and economic development by a lack of adequate broadband service. Those with lower incomes and people living in rural areas are particularly likely to face digital obstacles when trying to do schoolwork at home during the Covid-19 outbreak. That is why House and Senate leadership recently made a request to the CARES Act Steering Committee to transfer $100 million of CARES Act funding to the Arkansas Rural Connect

Program (ARC). The committee agreed with the recommendation and the measure was ultimately approved by the Arkansas Legislative Council. The Arkansas Rural Connect program is a grant program designed to expand the broadband footprint in rural Arkansas communities. The ARC program will provide grants to qualifying communities of at least 500 people to assist in the deployment or improvement of high-speed broadband to its residents.

The ARC program builds on the work of the Arkansas General Assembly. In the 2019 Regular Session, we passed Act 198 which gave municipalities and other public entities new options to apply for funding to deploy broadband.

Arkansas currently ranks 41st in broadband access. This relatively low ranking is closely related to the fact that over 20% of Arkansans remain without access to a wired broadband connection capable of 25 Mbps speeds or faster. But with the added funding, we hope to see access improve. To date, the ARC program has awarded 21 projects. Those projects have a total of more than $27 million. There are more projects that have been submitted and are currently

being reviewed.

Communities and providers may still apply. The Department of Commerce will continue to receive applications until all funds are expended or until there is not enough time left to deploy broadband and meet the CARES Act deadline of December 30, 2020.

I have provided a link to the grant application on our website

www.arkansashouse.org

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