Dustin Roberts of the UA Cossatot Foundation reminded folks Friday of the upcoming Colt Bolt GLOW run 5k run on Saturday, June 22 in Lockesburg.
Ashdown High Pom Squad Qualifies for Nationals
Front row (l-r): MaKayla Dixon, Aniya Polite and Vonjoy Thomas
Back row (l-r): Quincya Faulks, Andria Ricks, Samya Williams, and Traniya Ross
Makayla Dixon, Aniya Polite and Vonjoy Thomas
Makayla Dixon and Vonjoy Thomas
On June 9th, the Ashdown High School Pom Squad attended camp at Panama City Beach, Florida and received numerous awards.
They received the Spirit Award, Most Improved Team Camp Award, 12 blue ribbons and 2 red ribbons. MaKayla Dixon and Vonjoy Thomas received All American Awards, while three Pom Squad Seniors will be awarded a trip to Disney World. They are MaKayla Dixon, Aniya Polite, and Vonjoy Thomas.
The squad also received a Superior Trophy which will allow them to attend Nationals in Orlando, Florida in January 2020. Angie Cook is squad sponsor. Cook said, “This was truly our best camp yet. The girls have been working hard to accomplish the Superior Award.”
Arkansas Archeological Society Presentation in Lockesburg
Arkansas Archeological Society presentation in Lockesburg Thursday evening
Diesel Technology Program is Available at UA Cossatot
UA Cossatot has a Diesel Technology program at its De Queen Campus for students who would like to pursue a career as a Diesel Technician or Diesel Mechanic. This program is new to UA Cossatot and will begin this fall.
The Diesel Technology program is a one year (two-semester program) that provides training in diesel engines, brakes, electrical components, and steering and suspension. After completing the 35 credit hour program, students can graduate with a technical certificate in Diesel Technology and receive four certificates of proficiency.
After receiving the technical certificate for Diesel Technology, students can continue their education by choosing to get an associate’s degree in General Technology at UA Cossatot for more opportunities.
Mark Kutak will be the Diesel Technology program, instructor at UA Cossatot. Mr. Kutak brings years of work experience in diesel technology, including both military and civilian. Combined with his years of teaching experience at UA Cossatot, he will be prepared to deliver quality instruction to both high school students enrolled in the Secondary Career Center as well as college, post-secondary, students.
Diesel technician students in Mr. Kutak’s classes can expect quality one-on-one instruction and hands-on training with all new equipment.
The median pay in the United States for a diesel service technician and diesel mechanic is $46, 360 a year. Employment of diesel service technicians and mechanics is projected to increase due to more freight
being shipped across the country and the popularity of diesel engines being used. Starting pay can be as high as $39,000 a year or more with the opportunity to make more money with time and experience.
Scholarships are also available for students specifically in this program. To learn about financial aid opportunities at UA Cossatot, please speak with someone in financial aid at 870-584-1112.
To learn more about UA Cossatot’s Diesel Technology program or to sign up for classes, please contact Student Services in person or by calling 870-584-4471.
To learn how you can take college credit classes in high school for Diesel Technology, please contact High School Programs Director, Julie Rhodes at jrhodes@cccua.edu.
Hospital Update in Thursday's Sevier County Quorum Court Meeting
The Sevier County Quorum Court will meet at 2 pm today to hear from the legal team representing the the group that is leading an effort to establish a new hospital in the county. The meeting is open to the public, but only questions from the JP's to the lawyers will be heard. The meeting will take place in the second floor court room and will be live streamed on the Ed 88 Facebook page and on this ed88radio.com web page.
Annual Adult Awards Banquet at Howard County Children's Center
The Annual Adult Awards Banquet were held Friday, June 7 at the Howard County Children's Center All Purpose Building.
(Not Pictured are Barbara Allen -Work Activity Award and Ronnie Hipp - Work Activity Award)
Melissa Zabecki of the Arkansas Archeological Survey
Special guest on the Thursday Ed-ition of The Morning Show was Melissa Zabecki of the Arkansas Archeological Survey. Mel talked about the AAS digs going on right now in Sevier County and invites everyone to her presentation at the historic Bank of Lockesburg / UA Cossatot gym at 6:30 Thursday night, 06/13.
Upcoming Lifeshare Blood Drives in De Queen June 14-15
Thank you for being a blood donor! The community relies on volunteer donors, like you, to provide this lifesaving resource for everyday medical needs and in times of emergency or disaster.
Plan to donate at one of these blood drives, or another location near you.
Keith Wester
Friday, June 14
Tractor Supply
708A E Collin Raye
De Queen, AR 71832
1pm - 6pm
Walmart - DeQueen Community
Saturday, June 15
926 East Collin Raye Drive
De Queen, AR 71832
2pm - 7pm
Emily White at De Queen Lions Club Meeting on Tuesday
Special guest speaker Tuesday at the De Queen Lions Club Meeting was Emily White who is currently working as the District Court Judge for the 4th Congressional District in Arkansas - Hot Spring and Grant counties. Emily talked about her previous law experience as Deputy Prosecuting Attorney, in the private sector, and as Deputy Executive Director in the Little Rock area.
State of Arkansas District Court Judge Emily White and De Queen Lions Club President Jeff Brown
First Annual Art in the Park Event Saturday, June 15th at Herman Dierks Park in DQ
CALLING ALL LOVERS OF ART, ARTISTS, CRAFTERS, AND MASTERS OF CREATIVITY!
Sevier County Farmers Market is joining with the Cossatot Arts and Crafts Association (CACA) this Saturday, June 15, to host our First Annual Art in the Park event near the Pavilion in Herman Dierks Park from 10-3 pm. It is FREE to both the public and the artists!
We invite everyone to come out and support the arts! Come see artists in action, view their creations, and maybe take a few pieces home with you.
The kids will enjoy seeing creations from our younger artists, Chalk the Walk, and perhaps become a walking work of art with some face painting at the CACA booth.
We invite our local and regional artists and crafters to show off your creativity in a relaxing outdoor venue. Consider your space your personal mini show! Bring your business cards, display your work, work your craft, sell your art, share your passion!
People enjoy seeing the creative process. Watching artists in action is a great way to share our love for the arts and bring a bit of culture to our community!
Artists, bring a table and chair, canopy or big umbrella, and whatever you need to get creative: Your palette, canvases, photos, tools, brushes, pencils, quilts, wood, clay, paper, embroidery...
If your craft is a more involved process such as metal forging or ceramics, bring some representational pieces to show and maybe some to sell. Perhaps a portfolio of your work.
If you would like to become more involved with your artistic community and other artists, consider joining CACA. Visit their booth at our event and their page on Facebook to learn more about this local association and how they develop artistic awareness through direct interaction with local, regional, and state artists and their craft.
You’ll also want to take a stroll through our Fresh Farmers Market under the Pavilion for some amazing snacks, baked goods, home canned preserves you will never find in a grocery store, an assortment of beautiful handmade crafts by our vendors, locally raised eggs and grass fed meat, and, of course, plenty of fresh picked , locally grown vegetables to grace your dinner table.
The Market will forego normal hours this Saturday. We will open at 7 am and vendors will remain through 3 pm or until sold out.
Howard Memorial Reminder
De Queen Leopard Baseball Camps were June 5-7
5th-8th grade campers show off their door prizes provided by RJ Sports
Leopard Sophmore Devin Boyles works with Keegan McCoy on tee drills.
Sixty area baseball players showed up for the 2019 Leopard Baseball Camps which were held June 5th and June 7th at Leopard Field. Campers took part in drills covering all aspects of the game and were instructed by current players and coaches of the Leopard Baseball Program.
Leopard Junior Gage Woods works with John Maturino on tee drills.
Campers cooled off by doing sliding drills on a large slip and slide.
Ashdown High School Students Attend AR Girls State & AR Boys State
Rylee Burden, State Representative DeAnn Vaught, and Aniya Polite
Rylee Burden and Aniya Polite
A.J. Hopkins and Cole Smith
Ashdown High School was well represented at Arkansas Girls State and Arkansas Boys State. Rylee Burden and Aniya Polite attended Girls State on the campus of Harding University in Searcy and A. J. Hopkins and Cole Smith attended Boys State which was held on the University of Central Arkansas Campus in Conway.
The American Legion Auxiliary believes that educating youth about the basic ideas and principals of government will help ensure the survival of our democracy. ALA Arkansas Girls State is a unique and exciting government-in-action learning program in which Auxiliary members guide young women to become knowledgeable stewards of freedom, democracy, and patriotic citizens. The program started in 1937 and is one of the most respected and coveted experiential learning programs presented in the United States, according to their website.
According to Rylee Burden, “Girls State was a whirlwind of a week. We were up before 6 or 7 in the morning and stayed awake until after 11 or 12. It was very busy but was a great time. I learned tons of politics and how our government works. I really enjoyed watching the mock trial with Judge Harrod and learning about how trials work. I also enjoyed meeting tons of new people and learning about them, while also creating friendships."
Aniya Polite said, “Girls State was an extraordinary experience! I want to thank Ashdown High School and the community of Ashdown for selecting me to attend this wonderful event. There were many things that I loved about Girls State one was the atmosphere. It was so POSITIVE and LOVING! I was accepted immediately by people I had never met before. The weather may have not been great, but there was not a time that our spirits weren’t. We all thought that school was out, but it felt like we had started school again. Learning about how the Arkansas government functions and how much they take on to make sure the people of Arkansas are well satisfied is unpredictable. At Girls State, there were songs that we would sing. To hear all the voices singing together as one was an amazing feeling. It was a feeling that would overwhelm a person with joy and love! If I had a chance to experience Girls State again….I would NOT hesitate!!"
According to the Boys State website, it is an immersive program designed for high school juniors. The week-long program has been in existence for over 75 years. Upon arrival, each participant is assigned a mock political party, city, and county. Throughout the week, the delegates administrate this mock government as if it were the real government. Every phase of the program includes practical instruction on the duties and responsibilities both of a citizen and of public officials. Citizens of Boys State are instructed in the duties of the various public offices. After they learn the function of each office, its powers and limitations, they function in that role throughout the remaining week.
By weeks end Boys State has created their own state including their own governor and staff of state officials, name appointive officers, established the state Supreme Court and other courts, and organized the legislature and all other divisions of government.
A.J. Hopkins said, “My favorite things were the bonds I made with brothers in my county and how over just a week we became such close friends. I learned many things about how our state government works and I think many people should participate and be introduced to Boys State!"
“Some of the fun things I did while I was at Boys State included participating in the sports activities, running for county positions, and meeting new people from all over the state. Some of the things I learned were to always be open-minded to other people, and also how the Arkansas government works and what goes on within each position," said Cole Smith. His favorite part of Boys State was being elected for his county Secretary of State, being elected for position #11 for the House of Representatives and getting to sit in and vote on passing bills for the state!
At the end of the week, the delegates went to the Capital in Little Rock and the elected state officers took the offices of the actual Arkansas state positions for the day.
Rylee Burden
Cole Smith
A.J. Hopkins and Cole Smith
Weekly Update from State Representative DeAnn Vaught
CDC Works 24/7
As the nation's health protection agency, CDC saves lives and protects people from health, safety, and security threats.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that 1 in 4 of adults in the United States have some type of disability. In Arkansas, that number climbs to 1 in 3.
In the most recent legislative session, there were a number of acts passed to help better ensure thateverybody has the same opportunities to participate in every aspect of life to the best of their abilities.
Act 59 amends the Achieving a Better Life Experience Program. This program allows Arkansans with disabilities to save up to $15,000 in an account without impacting eligibility for many public benefits. Act 59 ensures that in the event of a death, the money in that savings account cannot be seized by Medicaid but can instead be transferred to a designated beneficiary.
Act 825 allows individuals to deduct up to $5,000 in contributions to the Achieving a Better Life Experience Program.
We also passed legislation addressing mental health for individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing.
Act 644 states a certified mental health professional shall offer culturally affirmative mental health services and linguistically appropriate mental health services to a client in the client’s primary communication method. It also states the Division of Aging, Adult and Behavioral Health Services of DHS shall do the same. The division is also instructed employ a coordinator to ensure linguistically appropriate mental health services are available and accessible statewide.
To protect our most vulnerable students, we passed Act 557. This legislation states that a school district shall not use corporal punishment on a child who is intellectually disabled, non-ambulatory, non-verbal, or autistic.
We also passed laws addressing how we write or speak about people with disabilities. It is important to put the person first. Catch-all phrases such as “the blind”, “the deaf” or “the disabled”, do not reflect the individuality, equality or dignity of people with disabilities.
Act 1035 amends laws regarding treatment for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. This legislation ensures that respectful language is used within the Arkansas code including changing the term mental retardation to intellectual and developmental disabilities.
Act 236 concerns special license plates and certificates for persons with disabilities. It states the special license plate issued by the DFA should contain the international symbol of access and not display the word "disabled".
Together, we can create inclusive communities where people with disabilities can be healthy and lead full, active lives. To find out what your community can do, visit www.cdc.gov.
Howard County 4H Members Attended the International Seaperch Challenge at Maryland University
Pictured L-R: Samantha Kroll - County Extension Agent, Agriculture, Nick Trombley, Anthony Trombley, Alex Trombley and Kris Woodruff.
Howard County 4-H members Nick Trombley, Alex Trombley and Anthony Trombley, along with 4-H leader Kris Woodruff and County Extension Agent-Agriculture Samantha Kroll spent five day May 30 – June 3 in College Park, Maryland competing at the 2019 International SeaPerch Challenge. The three brothers were joined by other youth from Arkansas along with youth from all 50 states, Puerto, the U.S. Virgin Islands and New Zealand. The team placed 62 out of 199 teams.
While in Maryland the boys attended different workshops, listened to other youth present Citizen Science Presentations, visit with other competitors about how to improve their ROV. They also spent a day touring Washington, D.C., getting to see many of the National Monuments, and exploring the Air and Space Smithsonian and the Smithsonian National Zoo. These five days were a really fun and educational experience for the boys.
If you are interested in joining 4-H or for more information about our programs, please contact the Howard County Extension Office at 870-845-7517. The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture is an equal opportunity/equal access/affirmative action institution.
Weekly Update from 4th District US Congressman Bruce Westerman
Greetings!
I spent the first half of the week in Washington, D.C. It was a quick three days, but exciting nonetheless. One of the highlights was leading a tour of the Capitol for the De Queen Quiz Bowl Team. These students travelled to D.C. to compete in the National Quiz Bowl Championship. I could not be more proud of the team and the hard work they put into this competition. I also welcomed three new interns to my D.C. office. These interns will answer phones, lead Capitol tours and assist my staff with legislative correspondence.
While I was in Washington D.C., my heart and mind were back in Arkansas with all of those who have been affected by the record-level flooding. Because legislative business was only scheduled for three days this week, I was able to visit with local officials in impacted communities in the Fourth District. I have been impressed with the coordination between the local communities, state officials, the National Guard and the Governor's office who have utilized an all-hands-on-deck approach to flood relief. I’ve seen communities rallying together in their time of need, and that’s what makes me proud to be an Arkansan. We will emerge from this stronger than ever before.
I know many of you were evacuated, lost your homes and crops, or watched floodwaters devastate your community. I encourage you to call my main district office at (501) 609-9796 to see how I or my staff can help you.
Until next week,
Bruce Westerman
Arkansas' Fourth District
Goodgrid Coming to Sevier County! And is FREE to Everyone
Latest River Flooding Stages
An historic flood event is happening along the Arkansas River. For the latest information regarding river levels and forecast info, visit the NWS webpage weather.gov/lzk.
UA Cossatot Partners with Ashdown High School to Provide Nursing Assistant Training
(Pictured L-R): Zebbie Launius, Sharon Shelton, Holly Jones, Angel Hamilton, Deniyah Hemphill, Ariyonna Trotter, Alicia Hale, Madison Johnson, Taneka Hamilton, and Destinee Robinson, (not pictured: Jasmine Richard)
For the first time during the 2018-2019 academic school year, UA Cossatot offered a nursing assistant training program to Ashdown High School seniors. A pinning ceremony took place at Ashdown High School on Thursday, May 16, 2019, where nine Ashdown students received a training certificate and a pin for completing the training program.
The college's Continuing Education department and Ashdown High School partnered together to offer Ashdown High School seniors the chance to receive nursing assistant training in high school, to prepare for the certified nursing assistant training exam after graduation. After passing this exam, these students can earn a license to work as a Certified Nursing Assistant. Students who participated in the training program received one hundred hours of training, with sixteen hours being in a clinical setting at Pleasant Manor Nursing Home in Ashdown.
The ceremony began at 6:00 PM with a welcome by Ashdown High School Superintendent, Casey Nichols. UA Cossatot's Director of Public Services and Workforce Development, Tammy Coleman gave an overview of the program and also recognized individuals who made this partnership and program possible. The students were then presented with certificates by their instructor Sharon Shelton and then received a pin from UA Cossatot's Continuing Education Coordinator, Zebbie Launius.
The nine students who completed the nursing assistant training program included Alicia Hale, Angel Hamilton, Ta'Neka Hamilton, Deniyah Hemphill, Madison Johnson, Holly Jones, Jasmine Richard, Destinee Robinson, and Ariyonna Trotter.
Ashdown High School is the first high school to partner with UA Cossatot to offer a nursing assistant training program to high school seniors. The college does plan to partner with other area high schools in the future to provide this opportunity to more seniors in high school.
Job prospects for Certified Nursing Assistants are bright. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that the demand for Certified Nursing Assistants will rise at a rate of eleven percent through 2026, which is much faster than the average job growth. As the population ages, demand for round-the-clock nursing services will continue to be needed.
To learn more about nursing assistant training programs through UA Cossatot, please speak with someone in Continuing Education at UA Cossatot at 870-584-4471.
