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Best Care Classes Being Offered

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The University of Arkansas, Cooperative Extension Service, in partnership with the Division of Child Care and Early Childhood Education (DCCECE) offers up to 50 hours of professional development training for educators or caregivers of young children. If you provide care to children birth to 5 years of age, we offer three programs to meet your needs.

The Best Care 2020 professional development training has been scheduled for Saturday, February 29, from 8:00 am to 6:00 pm in the Howard County Extension Homemakers Educational Center at 425 Second Street (behind the courthouse) in Nashville. This is an all-day event, participants are asked to bring their own lunch, and your PDR number is required. Light snacks will be provided during the day.

The ten hours of face-to-face lessons include, The Importance of Oral Care, Self-Care, Stress & Anxiety in Young Children, Dramatic Play Areas, Fostering Self-Esteem: Tools to Build Up children in the Classroom, Math Skills and Manipulatives, Family Engagement, Weather in the Classroom: Rain, Snow, or Shine!, Movement and Literacy, and Bullying: Identifying Behaviors and Risks Factors.

We also offer Best Care Connected, which is five hours of online training, and Guiding Children Successfully is 30 hours of self-guided study and available online. If you prefer to use the self-guided hard copy of the Guiding Children Successfully, it is available at your local county Extension office.

All training opportunities are offered free of charge and are verified training through the Professional Development Registry (PDR), formerly known as the Traveling Arkansas’ Professional Pathways (TAPP) and support the Better Beginnings quality rating system.

The deadline to register is February 21. For more information about The Best Care classes for early childhood professionals, contact Howard County FCS Agent, Jean Ince, at (870) 845-7517 or email at jince@uaex.edu.

The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture is an equal opportunity/equal access/affirmative action institution. If you require a reasonable accommodation to participate or need materials in another format, please contact the Howard County Extension Office as soon as possible. Dial 711 for Arkansas Relay.

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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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2020 Little River Chamber of Commerce Awards Banquet Thursday

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2020 Little River Chamber of Commerce Awards Banquet will begin at 6:00 p.m. on Thursday, February 6, 2020  at the Barbara Horn Civic Center in Ashdown.  Doors will be open at 5:30 p.m.

Dinner for the evening will include your choice of grilled rib-eye steak or chicken breast, salad, vegetables and dessert. 

You have the opportunity to decorate your own table. We will award a prize for the first place most beautiful and most unique. If you prefer not to decorate, we will decorate it for you. Please let us know in advance that you are planning on decorating your table.

Three levels of sponsorships are available for your selection:

Gold Sponsorship - $1,200 

  • Three tables (24 chairs) with premier seating

  • Recognition during event

  • Recognition in printed program as Gold Sponsor

Silver Sponsorship - $800

  • Two tables (16 chairs) with premier seating

  • Recognition during event 

  • Recognition in printed program as Silver Sponsor

Bronze Sponsorship - $400

  • One table (8 chairs) with premier seating 

  • Recognition during the event 

  • Recognition in the printed program as Bronze Sponsor

Individual tickets may be bought for $30.00 each or two for $50.00, you may pick those up at the Chamber or Red RIver Oil. 

Please contact me at the Chamber office if you are interested in a sponsorship.

We are very thankful to our businesses and people who choose to work and reside in Little River County. Please continue             

to SHOP LITTLE RIVER COUNTY FIRST and we look forward to serving you in 2020!

Sincerely,

Jana Smith 

Executive Director

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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

Human Trafficking a Concern in Arkansas

Millions of men, women, and children are trafficked every year. According to the National Human Trafficking Hotline, reports of trafficking can be found in every state including Arkansas. In fact, 121 calls from Arkansas came into the hotline last year resulting in 41 possible cases identified.

January has been declared National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month.

Human trafficking is modern-day slavery. It involves the use of force, fraud, or coercion to obtain some type of labor or commercial sex act. It can happen in any suburb, rural town, or city.

The National Human Trafficking Hotline reports that of the calls placed from Arkansas last year, 35 relayed information with a high indication that trafficking was taking place. The hotline also reports 33 calls made were from victims or survivors.

In recent years, the Arkansas General Assembly has passed legislation addressing human trafficking. In the 2019 Regular Session, we passed the following:

ACT 937 requires the Department of Education and the Department of Human Services to collaborate on providing awareness and training materials to local school districts on human trafficking that include strategies for the prevention of child trafficking.

ACT 842 includes evidence of a person's prior sexual conduct that was committed when the person was a victim of human trafficking under the state's rape shield law. Rape shield laws forbid certain evidence in a trial that is believed to be prejudicial and harassing.

ACT 536 amends the offenses that disqualify an individual from receiving a first time teaching license or renewal of a teaching license, including adding as disqualifying offenses the trafficking a person or patronizing a victim of human trafficking.

Human trafficking is a crime that hides in plain sight. Often, it simply takes an astute police officer, hotel worker, or bystander to notice and speak up—and save a victim.

To report trafficking call 1-888-373-7888 or text 233733. You can also chat live with an operator at www.humantraffickinghotline.org .

National Human Trafficking Hotline

1-888-373-7888. We'll Listen. We'll Help. If you or someone you know is a victim of human trafficking, call now.