Sevier County Dairy Foods Contest at UA Cossatot - De Queen Campus

The Sevier County Extension Office will hold the Sevier County Dairy Foods Contest on February 27, 2020 in the Adam’s Building on the UA Cossatot Campus. Dishes may be dropped off between 1:00 and 5:30 pm. Judging will begin at 5:45 pm. Contestants will not be allowed in the room during judging however, there will be a room available to wait in.
The contest is divided into two categories: Main Dish and Party Ideas. Use of pasteurized milk and dairy foods are required (eggs, margarine, nondairy creamers, and nondairy whipped toppings are NOT dairy foods). Look for the “Real” seal on dairy packages. The “Real” seal is your assurance of a real dairy food. Each county may enter one recipe in each of the two categories for state competition. Students enrolled in 4-H aged 9-19 or in the 4th through 12th grades as of January 1, 2020, and living in Arkansas may enter. Home-schooled students may also enter. Entries must be approved by the county Extension agent.
Each contestant must agree to participate in the state cook-off if his or her recipe is selected for the semi-finals. The 63rd Annual Arkansas Dairy Foods Contest will be held in Little Rock in June. This annual event is sponsored during June Dairy Month by Arkansas Farm Bureau and the Arkansas Dairy Cooperative Association.
If you have any questions, please call the Sevier County Extension Office at 870-584-3013. For a full list of rules, please visit https://www.arfb.com.

Arkansas Farm Bureau

This week, we talk to Harrison Pittman, director of the National Agricultural Law Center at the University of Arkansas about legal issues in agriculture and we learn about the importance of agricultural activism from speaker and logging industry veteran Bruce Vincent. We also hear from Ed Swaim, Executive Director of the Bayou-Meto Water Management District.

Nashville Gardening and Farmers Market Happenings

De Queen Bee Story of Sheriff Investigator Brian Hankins

Brian Hankins

By Marty Bachman editor@dequeenbee.com

Brian Hankins, 33, an investigator with the Sevier County Sheriff’s Department, got an early start in law enforcement, joining the department fresh out of high school at age 18, handling dispatcher and jailer duties. 

Born and raised in De Queen, Hankins first joined the department in October 2004. In 2017, Sheriff Robert Gentry offered Hankins a position as an investigator. He jumped at the opportunity.

For the entire story, see: dequeenbee.com

De Queen Canine Officer Jarrin Platt Story from De Queen Bee

Jarrin Platt and Raptor

By Marty Bachman editor@dequeenbee.com

All of his young life, two things defined Jarrin Platt; his love of dogs and a great desire to help people. At age 28, Platt is living his dream, having assumed the duties of canine officer for the De Queen Police Department. 

An anti-drug warrior, Platt joined the force as a patrol officer in March 2018. In May 2019, when canine officer J.J. Lopez left the department, Platt inherited the organization’s canine, Kilo, a Belgian Malinois that came to De Queen via the Howard County Sheriff’s Department in 2018. 

At the time Kilo was being retired, the De Queen Police Department made the decision to obtain another canine for the department, and with a $4,500 donation from Arvest Bank, they were able to acquire Raptor, a 2-year-old Belgian Malinois, last August. Platt met the new member of the De Queen Police Department at the academy in Little Rock, where the two had to endure eighty hours of training in two weeks, which was easy compared to their having to share a hotel room together the 14 days. 

Platt, who hails from Horatio, said he enjoys being a member of the De Queen Police Department and that he hopes to spend his entire career there. He and his wife are raising four kids, three girls and a boy, in the local area. 

For the entire story, see: dequeenbee.com

Nashville WRA 5K Training Clinic Orientation on February 18th

Canines for Christ Presentation at De Queen Rotary

Fred Wetzel and his partner, Dusty, were guest speakers at De Queen Rotary Club last Monday. Wetzel and Dusty are involved in Canines for Christ, which is an international Christian-based, animal-assisted therapy ministry that shares God’s message of hope, love, and kindness. This ministry was founded by Chaplain Larry Randolph in July 2007. Volunteers and their dogs visit cancer centers, hospitals, schools, nursing homes, special needs facilities, crisis centers and veteran hospitals. For more info, visit www.k9forChrist.org or contact Wetzel 208-830-3002.
Ed 88 thanks the De Queen Bee for sharing this story.

Matthew Patterson Selected as De Queen Rotary’s Student of the Month

Matthew Patterson was selected as Rotary’s February Student of the Month. Among his many activities, Patterson is a member of Interact Club and the quiz bowl team. After graduation, he plans to attend University of Arkansas at Fayetteville and major in education. Due to the influence of his high school teachers, he chose to pursue this career path. Presenting the award is Past Club President Dustin Roberts. Thank you to the De Queen Bee for sharing this story.

Gary Golden appointed to SAU Board of Trustees

MAGNOLIA – Gov. Asa Hutchinson announced the appointment of Gary L. Golden of De Queen to the Board of Trustees of Southern Arkansas University.

Golden replaces David Nelson on the board. Golden is vice chair and chief executive officer of First State Bank of De Queen. Golden attended SAU from 1968 to 1970. He is a member of the Board of Governors of the SAU Foundation.

The complete story can be found online at https://www.dequeenbee.com

Gary L. Golden, CEO of First State Bank of De Queen, was sworn in as a new member of the Board of Trustees of Southern Arkansas University on Jan. 29, by District Judge Manya Woods.

Bee photo/Cindy Evans

Sevier County Sheriff Department Report for 2019

By Marty Bachman editor@dequeenbee.com

Feb 9, 2020 Updated Feb 9, 2020

The Sevier County Sheriff’s Department December 2019 report. There were 83 total bookings into the jail. The school resource officer worked six complaints at the high school three at the elementary school, and a total of nine juveniles being charged in juvenile court. 

In De Queen deputies put in 794 hours, answered 65 complaints and responded to seven accidents. They made 50 traffic stops, issued 10 citations, 43 warnings and made 11 arrests. There were 13 civil process services and 16 building checks made. 

Sheriff personnel spent 49 hours out of the county, 52 hours in court and 46 hours doing paperwork. They drove a total of 21,358 miles, spent 2,201.5 total hours on duty and used 1,424.18 gallons of gas.

We thank De Queen Bee. For more details, check out dequeenbee.com

Truck Driving Training Program Offered This Spring at UA Cossatot

UA Cossatot is offering a Truck Driving Training Program this spring at its Nashville Campus for individuals seeking a career as a professional truck driver. The training program is provided through the college’s Continuing Education department and is available in March, April, and May.

The UA Cossatot Truck Driver Training Program is an intensive one hundred and sixty-hour training program with a proven record of providing quality, in-depth truck driver training that will have students on the road in four fast-paced weeks.

The training program includes a combination of up-to-date classroom, field, and on the road training. The total cost to sign up for the course is $3,695, which includes books needed for the training. Financial assistance may be available for students interested in being in the program.

Classes will take place Monday through Thursday on March 2-26, April 6-30, and May 4-28. The instructor, Phillip Jones, will teach the course from 6:00 A.M. to 4:30 P.M. each day.

The Truck Driving Training Program at UA Cossatot will be offered three times this spring semester. The deadline days to register for one of the three options is February 24, March 30, and April 27.

Truck drivers, on average, make $39,070 a year in Arkansas. In only four weeks, students in this program at UA Cossatot can expect to be prepared to enter a career where there is a bright job outlook.

The college is also offering a Truck Driver Refresher Program designed to reacquaint individuals who haven’t worked in the trucking industry for a long period of time with the opportunity to get refreshed. In this

program, the student will learn skills to obtain his/her CDL license and re-enter the trucking industry as a professional commercial truck driver.

The course is also available to those who would like to improve on their existing skills, such as backing, shifting, or driving. The course is customizable to each student’s needs and may include classroom, range, and road time.

Persons entering this course must have his/her permit or a valid CDL. The program includes forty hours of training and costs $900, which includes the CDL Skills Test.

To learn more about the Truck Driving Training Program, the Truck Driver Refresher Program, or to enroll in either program, please call UA Cossatot’s Continuing Education department at 870-584-1178

National Weather Service Potential Rainfall for Arkansas for Early Week

The National Weather Service predicts a wet start to the week!

Census 2020 Helps Build Arkansas

Want more money for Roads, Libraries, Schools, Employment, Healthcare, etc? Make sure to #BECOUNTED You can fill out the 10 minute questionnaire by phone, mail, or internet.
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¿Quiere más dinero para carreteras, bibliotecas, escuelas, empleo, atención médica, etc.? Asegúrese de ser contado #BECOUNTED. Puede llenar el cuestionario de 10 minutos por teléfono, correo o por internet.

The 2020 Census is coming! March 12-April 30, 2020. Get involved and help make sure we count EVERYONE living in Sevier County. The 10 minute questionnaire will impact the next 10 years! The 2020 Census is IMPORTANT, SAFE and Easy!
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¡Se acerca el Censo 2020! Del 12 de marzo al 30 de abril de 2020. Participe y ayude a asegurarse de contar a TODOS los que viven en el Condado de Sevier. ¡El cuestionario de 10 minutos tendrá un impacto en los próximos 10 años! ¡El Censo 2020 es IMPORTANTE, SEGURO y Fácil!

Favorite Spots in Sevier County Welcomed on Tourism Facebook Page

What are your favorite local spots to play and have fun? Where/How would you spend this weekend if it were the perfect weather? Maybe there are fun things to do at different times of the year, include those ideas as well. We do not want to miss telling a story about where to have fun in Sevier County! Tag the spot and share your favorite story, include a picture if you would like!

HealthCARE Express Offers Molecular Flu Tests

Weekly Update from State Representative DeAnn Vaught

Heart disease is the leading cause of death for both men and women in the United States, and 1 in 4 deaths are caused by heart disease each year. In 2017 in Arkansas, a total of 8,270 people died of heart disease.

February is American Heart Month. Its purpose is to promote the importance of heart health and increase awareness of the risk factors of heart disease.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, half of all Americans have at least one of the top three risk factors for heart disease-high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and smoking. Other conditions and behaviors that affect your risk for heart disease include obesity, diabetes, physical inactivity, and unhealthy eating patterns.

Smoking, the leading cause of preventable death in the United States, is also one of the greatest risk factors for developing heart disease. Smoking damages the heart and blood vessels very quickly, but the damage is repaired quickly for most smokers who quit

In 2019, the General Assembly passed Act 580, which would have phased in an increase in the age a person must be to buy tobacco products like cigarettes, electronic cigarettes, and vaping products that contain nicotine. However, a new federal law signed by President Trump supersedes the 2019 state law, and as of December 27, 2019, the nationwide minimum age to buy tobacco products has been raised to 21. With this law now in place at the federal level, we expect to see fewer teens begin smoking or vaping in the first place.

You can choose healthy habits to help prevent heart disease. Arkansans are encouraged to make healthy changes to lower their risk of developing heart disease such as controlling their cholesterol and blood pressure, living an active lifestyle, and eating healthy. If you don’t smoke, don’t start. If you smoke, know that quitting will lower your risk for heart disease. For free help to quit smoking, call 1-800-QUIT-NOW or go to smokefree.gov or cdc.gov/tips.

Home | Smokefree

Preparation is the first step to being smokefree. Boost your chances of success by making a quit plan.

Create Bridges Wants to Hear From You

The CREATE BRIDGES pilot project wants to hear about the experiences of retail, accommodations, tourism or entertainment employees in your community! Retail and hospitality sectors provide jobs and business opportunities that often drive rural economies. University Arkansas System Division of Agriculture is piloting CREATE BRIDGES, a program designed to strengthen these industries in Arkansas. As part of the pilot, CREATE BRIDGES is collecting the opinions and comments of retail, accommodations, tourism, and entertainment employees related to their preparation, training, and benefits in the industry. The following Arkansas counties are included: Howard, Little River, and Sevier. This anonymous survey takes less than 15 minutes: http://bit.ly/CBEmployeeSurvey. Please help us get the word out about this opportunity, as these employees’ feedback will be invaluable to identifying training and policy opportunities to promote the flourishing of these industries. If your business or community is having an event at which we can survey or you are interested in more information, please contact Julianne Dunn at 501-671-2158 or jbdunn@uaex.edu.

Mayor Jeff Brown Delivers State of the City Address

• By Marty Bachman editor@dequeenbee.com

• Feb 6, 2020 Updated Feb 6, 2020

Ed 88 thanks our media partners at the De Queen Bee for sharing these stories with our followers.
Mayor Jeff Brown Delivers State of the City Address

https://www.dequeenbee.com/…/article_24882b22-48f9-11ea-ba4…

De Queen City Council Approves Police Request to Pursue Grant Opportunity

https://www.dequeenbee.com/…/article_71a2abce-4932-11ea-86e…

Motown Valentine's Show February 13th at Occasions in Nashville

Tickets are at Southern Belle Inn for $30.00 each.

WIN TWO Free Tickets! 💕
To see the BEST of Motown. ONE incredible night full of music & dancing!
Thursday FEB 13 @ 7pm!

Or go ahead and get your tickets before they sell out. (Just message us!) It’s going to be INCREDIBLE! 💃🏽🕺🏽... See More

 — with Sandra Jones, Craig Jones and Holly Elizabeth.

Little River Chamber Banquet Award Winners Announced

Award winners at Little River Chamber of Commerce Banquet include:
Steve Pearce Person of the Year Award: Joe Mack Bennett
Clayton Castleman Public Service Award: Rhonda Fleming Pounds
Ashdown Teacher of the Year: Jennifer Simmons
Foreman Teacher of the Year: Samantha Lace Smith
UA Cossatot Educator of the Year: Lynze Greathouse
Panther Ambassador: Cole Smith
Gator Ambassador: Kenzie Cowan
New Construction Award: Davis Feed Co
Renovation Award: Tres Agaves
Large Business: Southern Precision Fabrication
Small Business: Noah's Ark Daycare
School / Community / Non Profit: Methodist Church - Jim Cross

Little River County Introduces the Little River Post

It was announced at last night's Little River Chamber of Commerce awards banquet that the county will soon be home to a newspaper once again! Attendees were each given a copy of the new publication and the publisher, David Lide, and editor Camille Johnson were introduced. Subscription and advertising info is available by calling 1-800-517-6347. Ed 88 welcomes the Little River Post!