Memorial Day Message from AR 4th District Congressman Bruce Westerman

Harold Eugene Sellers from Jonesboro, AR

Jeremy, Ben, and Beau Wise grew up in El Dorado, AR, and enlisted in the military one after the other. Jeremy retired as a Navy Seal and began working as a defense contractor in Afghanistan in 2009, hoping to spend more time with his family while still serving his country. While the Wise family was celebrating the birth of Ben’s son in Washington, word arrived from the Middle East: Jeremy had beenkilled by a suicide bomber at a CIA base in Afghanistan.

Ben and Beau both went back overseas not long after the funeral. In January, an insurgent shot Ben after he and his comrades rescued women and children in Afghanistan. A medic until his final moments, he attended others’ wounds before he was flown to a hospital in Germany. He died on January 15th, just before his parents arrived to say goodbye.

Fieldon B. Huie Jr. was born in Formosa, AR, and entered the U.S. Army in September 1942. Before his deployment in May 1944, he transferred to the 4th Infantry Division. On June 6, 1944, Mr. Huie led the 4th Infantry Division as the first wave to attack Utah Beach. After landing on D-Day, Mr. Huie continued moving inland with his men, and was killed in action while fighting bravely for his country.

In one of her last letters to her husband, Ruth Huie wrote, “Honey, just come back that’s all I’m asking. Anything else I can take as a soldier’s wife should. I’m depending on you so don’t fail me. I love you so that these next few months will just be wasted months because you are not around. The one consolation is they can be made up. All my love, Ruth.”

Herman Davis was one of Arkansas’s most decorated WWI soldier, and General John Pershing listed him among his “100 Greatest Heroes of the World War.” Although he survived combat, Mr. Davis died shortly after the war ended, due to lingering effects of poisonous gas inhaled on the battlefield. On Memorial Day in 1925, his hometown erected the Herman Davis Memorial in his honor.

This preservation of history is one of the reasons I’m so grateful to be a part of the Veterans History Project, which provides an avenue for veterans to share their stories and remember their fallen comrades. The Library of Congress is recording these personal accounts in an archive. If you or someone you know would like to participate in the Veterans History Project, please call my office at (501) 609-9796. You can learn more about the Veterans History Project here.

Army Chaplain David Witte recording a veteran's account

I’m so grateful for the brave men and women who paid the ultimate sacrifice for our country, and Memorial Day is a time for us to honor their legacies.

As we approach the 75th anniversary of D-Day on June 6th, I’m reminded of Harold “Gene” Sellers, an Arkansan who was one of the first men to die that day. He parachuted behind enemy lines, and his sacrifice allowed other Americans to storm the beaches of Normandy. Mr. Sellers was awarded the Purple Heart and Bronze Star posthumously.

Mr. Sellers is only one of many brave Arkansans who gave their lives in service to their country. You can read about several other Arkansas heroes below. We owe them and their families a debt of gratitude.

I encourage everyone to take time this Memorial Day to remember our American heroes who gave their lives protecting the freedom we hold so dear. Have a wonderful weekend with friends and family.

Weekly Update from State Representative DeAnn Vaught

It is estimated that less than 15 percent of children who qualify for free or reduced-priced school lunches in Arkansas are getting the same high-quality meals in the summer. Children shouldn’t go hungry just because school is out.

That is why the Department of Human Services and the Arkansas Hunger Relief Alliance partner with schools, churches and community centers across the state to provide meals in the Summer Food Service Program. The program is 100 percent federally funded and covers the cost of up to three nutritious meals and snacks a day for children.

Last summer, Arkansas children enjoyed free meals at more than 500 feeding sites across the state. More than 1 million meals and snacks were served.

Final site approvals for 2019 are expected in the next few weeks, but organizers expect to exceed last year’s numbers.

The meals served follow USDA nutrition guidelines and are paid for by USDA. Many sites offer educational and recreational activities that kids enjoy.

Arkansas children 18 years old and younger can receive USDA-supported free summer meals at school, community and faith-based sites across the state that are approved through the Arkansas Department of Human Service’s Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) or the Arkansas Department of Education’s Seamless Summer Option (SSO) program. Most sites open by June 3 and serve through early August.

Parents do not need to apply to the program to get a free summer meal for their kids, and it does not interfere with other benefits they may be receiving. They can simply bring their child to a summer meals site in their community and their kids can eat a healthy, nutritious meal.

There are USDA authorized Summer Meals Sites in almost every county in Arkansas. When the last day of school is drawing near, parents and care givers can find a summer meals site in their communities by:

Going to www.fns.usda.gov/summerfoodrocks . The site has interactive map that will show meal sites near you.

Calling 1-866-3-HUNGRY

Texting FOOD to 877 877

The site is updated continually as more summer feeding sites are added to the program.

https://www.fns.usda.gov/

Find Summer Meals in Your Community | USDA-FNS

The .gov means it’s official.Federal government websites always use a .gov or .mil domain. Before sharing sensitive information online, make sure you’re on a .gov or .mil site by inspecting your browser’s address…

Memorial Day Weekend Salute

This Memorial Day Weekend, let us not forget the reason behind this holiday. We owe a huge debt to those who gave the ultimate sacrifice in defense of our country. Teach your children so that those sacrifices will not be in vain. Thank you 18 month old Ty Shelton who salutes the flag every time he sees it! (Thank you Edna Carlton for this photo)

Tri Lakes Bass Tournament on De Queen, Dierks and Gillham Lakes

Nice day for the Tri Lakes Big Bass Festival on De Queen, Gillham, and Dierks Lakes. Listen for hourly reports from each lake starting after 7 am and be watching for the awards ceremony live from the Sportsplex Park Pavilion beginning at 2 pm today on the Ed 88 Facebook page.

De Queen Schools End of Year Address

End of Year Address from De Queen School Superintendent Bruce Hill.....and maybe a surprise.....

Sevier County Senior Citizens Appreciation Day on the Sevier Co Courthouse Lawn on Friday

Awards Presentation: Oldest Woman-Inez Taylor Oldest Man-Herman Jackson

Longest Married Couple: Pud and Sterling Daniels-69 years

Howard County Farmers Market Yard Sale in June

Sevier County Farmers' Market at Herman Dierks Park

Medical Records Request Info for De Queen Medical Center

Rachel Matheson of De Queen Medical Center has announced that anyone with a medical records request can call and leave their name and number or text the hospital at (903) 733-1688 or email your request to dqmc.medicalrecords@gmail.com

Colt Bolt 5K Glow Run in Lockesburg June 22nd

Horatio High School College Credit Initiative

Sevier County Senior Citizens Appreciation Day Friday in De Queen

Nashville Rotary Club Meeting on Wednesday 05/22

Special guests of the Nashville Rotary Club today were Erika Buenrrostro, Dustin Roberts, and Jhamilex Hernandez representing the UA Cossatot Rotaract Club.

Arkansas Archeological Survey/Society Summer Training Dig

Have you ever wanted to learn about archeological science? If you’re in high school and can get to UA Cossatot from Monday, June 17 to Friday, June 22, you’re in luck! You can spend the week with archeologists learning about what they do! Lunch is provided! Registration is due May 29 so hurry and email Mel at mzabeck@uark.edu for more details! And listen for our interview with Melissa Zabecki of the Arkansas Archeological Society on the Thursday Ed-ition of the Morning Show with Loren tomorrow at 8:30.

Archeological Science Program, Summer 2019, DeQueen, AR Statement of Educational Goals of the Project We hope to recruit up to 15 local high school students to participate in an Archeological Science Program in conjunction with the Arkansas Archeological Society/Survey Training Program from June 17 to June 21, 2019 in DeQueen, Arkansas. The goals for this project would be to teach the students laboratory methods and get them excited about the different sciences that contribute to archeology, which actually gives us the story of the past, rather than the process of excavation, which merely produces the objects from which the data and stories come. Learning objectives include the following: During this program, students will: 1) recognize that there is more to archeology than excavation. 2) identify different sciences that figure into archeological analysis (anthropology, sociology, biology, chemistry, dendrochronology, paleoethnobotany, etc.) 3) demonstrate ways we learn about the past (experimental archeology) 4) gain an appreciation for the rich, yet everyday history of the original inhabitants of the region of what is now southwest Arkansas. Target Audience Students from De Queen High School, Cossatot River Consolidated Schools, Nashville High School, Ashdown High School, Mena High School, and any other student within driving distance of UA Cossatot are eligible. Students and guardians must fill out the last two pages of this document and return them to Mel Zabecki by June 1 to be accepted to the program. Detailed Explanation of Project Plan On Monday, June 17 through Friday, June 21, 2019, students will report at 8am to our Headquarters at UA Cossatot (building to be determined) and will leave for the day at 3pm. Students will be provided lunch but in the case of extreme dietary needs, students are encouraged to bring their own lunch. In addition to many hands-on demonstrations, the students will create a mini-project to complete over two days in the archeological lab towards the end of the week.

Below is a draft schedule, specific details are subject to change. Monday, June 17, Day 1 -Pre-assessment quiz to see what the students know about archeology at the start. -Lesson on introduction to archeology, what archeologists do, where they work, and what is included in archeological investigation from the field to the lab. -Introduction to the concepts of culture, context, chronology, and seriation. Hands-on and teamwork activities will enforce these concepts. Tuesday, June 18, Day 2 -Exploration of different sciences with introductions to osteology using faunal remains, tempering techniques in pottery to demonstrate chemistry studies, tree-ring date practice for dendrochronology, and seed identification with discussion of paleoethnobotany. Wednesday, June 19, Day 3 -Field trip out to site(s) where field work is occurring (weather permitting) Thursday, June 20, Day 4 -First lab day, students will spend the day learning about lab methods (from cleaning all the way through to curation) and cleaning any artifacts learning to sort and analyze potsherds for thickness and reconstruction, temper, and decoration. Friday, June 21, Day 5 -Second lab day, students will either sort what they washed on day 4 or continue analyzing potsherds. -Completion of mini-project. -Post-assessment quiz. Funding Funding has been secured through a Bill Jordan Public Education Grant from the Arkansas Archeological Society. Students’ 1-year Society membership, program registration, and lunch and snacks will all be covered for up to 15 students.

For additional information or questions, please contact Mel Zabecki mzabeck@uark.edu, 479-236-3938
Arkansas Archeological Survey/Society Summer Training Dig
2019 Archeological Science Program
Please send this information and the NOTARIZED sponsorship agreement form (attached) appointing Melissa Zabecki as the adult sponsor to:
Dr. Mel Zabecki
Arkansas Archeological Survey
2475 North Hatch Ave.
Fayetteville, AR 72704
Name:
School:
Address:
Phone:
Email:
Tshirt size:
Emergency contact person and phone number:
Any food allergies/pertinent medical info:

OTA Program Receives Accreditation for Ten Years

Pictured: OTA Program Director, Tamla Heminger and OTA Fieldwork Coordinator, Sharon Pool

UA Cossatot's Occupational Therapy Assistant Program has been awarded a 10-year reaccreditation from the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE). ACOTE is the accrediting agency for occupational therapy education in the United States. Being accredited by (ACOTE) ensures the quality of UA Cossatot's OTA program and allows OTA students to sit for their required national board exams.
In February of this year, ACOTE completed a 3 day on-site visit on UA Cossatot's Ashdown campus. The council reviewed the report of the on-site evaluation and self-study in April and found the program to be compliant in all educational standards. ACOTE voted to grant a status of accreditation for a period of ten years, which is the highest amount a program can receive. The 10-year award reflects the program’s compliance with all reaccreditation criteria and is a sign that the program has demonstrated exceptional educational quality. UA Cossatot's OTA program will not require a new on-site evaluation until the 2028-2029 academic year.
“We are gratified that the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education felt UA Cossatot’s OTA Program meets their highest standard for educational excellence,” said Tamla Heminger, OTR, MEd, UA Cossatot’s OTA Program Director.” Heminger added, “I think this also says something about the high quality of the college in which the program resides. Many individuals work together to ensure the success of our programs and students.”
UA Cossatot's OTA program began in 2012, with the first OTA class graduating in 2013. Students can apply to join the OTA program starting June 15. Applications are collected until the application deadline
(March 1, 2020). The program is an eighteen-month program and includes pre-requisite courses prior to application to the program. Enrollment in the OTA program is limited to fifteen students each year. Applicants are ranked according to their GPA, pre-entrance exam scores, observation reports, and letters of recommendation.
To learn more about UA Cossatot's OTA program, please e-mail the OTA Program Director, Tamla Heminger at theminger@cccua.edu or OTA Program Fieldwork Coordinator, Sharon Pool at spool@cccua.edu.

DE QUEEN HOSPITAL UPDATE 05/22/19

Sevier County Judge Greg Ray and Sevier County RDA Chair Dr. Steve Cole met last Friday in Little Rock with the county's health care legal team to discuss next steps in building the new hospital in De Queen.

During the meeting, the group focused on completing the feasibility study for the new hospital by June 10th. That is the first step to be completed as this will show all of the county's stakeholders what the costs will look like to build and operate the new hospital. This step will also show the approximate cost of the bond issue that voters will need to approve to move forward with the project.

According to Dr. Cole, "The meeting at the Friday firm was extremely important as it now charts a clear course of action that will be based on sound financial data." Also in the meeting, Judge Ray and Dr. Cole received good news on the possiblity of a more friendly time frame in which to ask for two ballot questions to construct a new hospital for Sevier County. Judge Ray added, "Based on our meeting on Friday we, along with members of the Quorum Court can now see that our path to a new hospital can happen a little sooner than we originally thought, but we and county and RDA officials still have a lot of decisions to make...and we will base those on sound financial data and the advice of our legal team".

In the meantime, local officials are still working with the current receiver of the hospital Rachel Matheson to properly close the old De Queen Medical Center. "When hospitals close there are many protocols that people just never think to do, and we are all involved in making sure these things happen as it will impact the future of the new hospital, so we want to make sure we get that part right", according to Cole. While there are no set dates for any of these processes, there is progress being made each day towards having a new hospital in De Queen. "We know we must have a hospital in Sevier County and we are focused on that each day", added Judge Ray.

OTA Students Celebrate Occupational Therapy Month

(from left to right) Tarnesa Ramarine, Anna Gatliff, John Simmons, Denby Jester, and Loren Gills

April is Occupational Therapy Month, and on April 26, OTA students at the Ashdown campus celebrated the work OTA’s and OT’s do for people of all ages. Students in UA Cossatot’s OTA program made a special lunch to mark the occasion.
Occupational therapy is the only profession that helps people across the lifespan to do the things they want and need to do through the therapeutic use of daily activities. OTA’s and OT’s help people of all ages by promoting health, preventing injuries, and helping people adjust to disabilities and illnesses.
For two hundred years occupational therapy has been an official profession. In early April, UA Cossatot OTA instructors took eight OTA students to New Orleans, Louisiana for the national American Occupational Therapy Conference. At the conference, students were given a chance to attend workshops, seminars, educational sessions, and fun activities related to occupational therapy.
In April, OTA students also participated in a give back activity. The students created non-slip decorated socks. These socks were then given to residents at Pleasant Manor Nursing Home in Ashdown, Arkansas. The students also participated in Sevier County and Little River County health fairs where they presented information on occupational therapy and safety in the home to prevent health risks.
OTA students at UA Cossatot participate in many fundraisers and projects to raise money for educational and community service activities. They also raise money to offset costs for a review course to prepare for their national board exam.
To learn more about UA Cossatot’s OTA program or ways you can support the program, please e-mail OTA Program Director, Tamla Heminger at theminger@cccua.edu.

(from left to right) Tarnesa Ramarine, Anna Gatliff, John Simmons, Denby Jester, and Loren Gills

Howard Memorial Health Fair June 15th

Dr Oge Family Medical Clinic

Ribbon cutting as we welcome Dr. Oge Family Medical Clinic to the Nashville Chamber of Commerce.

Sevier County Coalition To Host Lunch-and-Learn Events

The Sevier County Coalition’s Live Well Sevier County Committee has announced they will be hosting monthly Lunch-and-Learn events in conjunction with University of Arkansas Cossatot. The Coalition is comprised of businesses and local agencies represented by employees who work together to improve the overall quality of life for county residents through the use of local resources.

Co-chair of the Live Well Sevier County Committee, Cheryl Byrd, a Community Health Nurse Specialist with the Arkansas Department of Health, says “The public will be given opportunities to bring their lunch and learn about many aspects of wellness, including but not limited to physical, mental and financial wellness.” Kay Trotta, committee co-chair and LPN Instructor at UA Cossatot added, “The Lunch-and-Learn events are going to be a great resource for both professional development and personal enrichment.”

The first of the events is a free presentation, How Failing Made Us Successful: Tips and Tricks to Cope with the Rising Healthcare Costs, that will be presented on Thursday, June 20th at UA Cossatot’s De Queen Campus. The presentation will begin at 12:00 noon in the Weyerhaeuser room, located in the Skilled Trades Building, and will conclude at 12:40 p.m.

Presenter Jayme Mayo, Physician Assistant, is the in-house medical provider and wellness director at Nabholz Construction, where she has successfully led efforts over the past 12 years. Due to the Nabholz innovation, Jayme was featured in HBO’s documentary on obesity titled “Weight of the Nation” and with the CDC as a National Healthy Worksite Program Case Study and follow up video. Jayme has consulted with the Department of Defense, Former President Bill Clinton’s “Health Initiative” and the Winthrop Rockefeller Institute along with numerous businesses across the country to help implement successful worksite wellness programs. Her most recent was Nabholz being named #25 in the 101 Healthiest Employers in the Country. She speaks regularly at regional, national and international conferences sharing the many successes of her program. Jayme is an 8-time triathlon and ultra-marathon finisher.

Mayo says, “As companies look for new and innovative ways to control the rising cost of healthcare, implementing a worksite wellness program is considered one strategy. In recent times, however, wellness programs have garnered a reputation of being both costly and ineffective. That theory has been put to rest. I look forward to sharing strategies to help employers, employees and their families cope with the rapidly increasing costs of medical care and health insurance.”

“I am excited that we can share this opportunity here in Sevier County, says Sarah Powell, committee co-chair and Rural Health Specialist with the Arkansas Department of Health. I’ve seen Mrs. Mayo speak.

She’s entertaining, inspirational and committed to helping people transform their lives through awareness, education, and motivation. This event is going to be relevant to both businesses wanting to develop or enhance their workplace wellness program and individuals seeking a healthier lifestyle,” says Powell.

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.