Governor Asa Hutchinson will provide an update to media in Texarkana on Thursday, May 7, 2020, at 1:30 p.m. regarding Arkansas’s (COVID-19) response. (Press play button above.)
National Nurses Week 2020
Nurses have worked heroically and have put in extra hours over the past few weeks and months on the front lines of the COVID-19 response. Thank you nurses for what you do every day! This week is National Nurses Week and May 6th is National Nurses Day. We honor and celebrate those who devote themselves to the care of others.
LIVE VIDEO: Governor Hutchinson Provides COVID-19 Update to Media Wednesday (05.06.20) 1:30PM
Governor Asa Hutchinson will provide an update to media on Wednesday, May 6, at 1:30 p.m. regarding Arkansas’s COVID-19 response. (Press play button above.)
Governor Hutchinson Extends Public Health Emergency In Arkansas
LITTLE ROCK - Governor Asa Hutchinson has extended Arkansas’s COVID-19 public health and disaster emergency for an additional 45 days, he announced at a news conference today.
Governor Hutchinson issued Executive Order 20-25 to renew the public health and disaster emergency he originally declared on March 11, 2020, and amended on March 26.
“Every industry sector in Arkansas has been affected by the outbreak of COVID-19,” Governor Hutchinson said. “The pandemic continues to have a statewide impact on grocery stores, small businesses, pharmacies, hospitals, and restaurants to name a few. It’s important that we continue to adequately support and protect our industries and people until the threat is no longer imminent.”
The Governor has also issued an updated directive for out-of-state travelers, as detailed in Executive Order 20-25.
Under this new directive, all travelers from New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, New Orleans, and all international locations must follow quarantine directives outlined by the Arkansas Department of Health Secretary Dr. Nate Smith. Governor Hutchinson and Secretary Smith have identified these locations based on the high level of COVID-19 cases in each state or region. The Secretary of Health may amend the list of quarantine locations as the situation progresses.
Nashville Chamber Food Distribution on May 8th
The Nashville Chamber of Commerce and volunteers will be handing out food this Friday May 8th from 10 til 2 p.m. at the Nashville City Park. There will be 50 lbs of food per family. We should have enough prepackaged food for 300 families.
Friday at the park, there will be one station for boxed / canned goods, and then there will be another station for meat items around the baseball pavilion in the lower end of the park. This is designed so that traffic can have an easy flow in and out of the park.
This food distribution is for Howard County residents only. If you know of anyone who may need help with food, tell them about the distribution on Friday at the City Park, and we will help them out as long as the food lasts.
Our thanks to CADC (Central Arkansas Development Council), Tyson Foods, Inc., Regions bank, Sysco, United Healthcare, SMC, Riverside Box Supply, and Everett Buick GMC for making this service available to Howard County. The CADC is helping 19 counties in Arkansas with this program.
Picnic and Parade for De Queen High School Seniors May 11th
De Queen Schools will be honoring our seniors on Monday, May 11th with a picnic and parade. We are asking the community to help us honor The Class of 2020 on what was supposed to be their graduation day. We ask you to please share the flyers attached with your audiences and clients to help us spread the word through the community. These seniors have had so many memorable moments taken from them due to social distancing and this is a great opportunity for our community to honor them the best we can. Feel free to call me if you have any questions or concerns at 870-279-4479. Thank you!!
Beau McCastlain
Communications Director for De Queen Public Schools
LIVE VIDEO: Governor Hutchinson Provides COVID-19 Update to Media Tuesday (05.05.20) 1:30PM
Governor Asa Hutchinson will provide an update to media on Tuesday, May 5, at 1:30 p.m. regarding Arkansas’s COVID-19 response. (Press play button above.)
Governor Announces Theaters, Lecture Halls, Other Large Venues Okayed For Limited Reopening
LITTLE ROCK – Indoor venues such as theaters, arenas, stadiums, and auction houses that are designed for large groups may reopen on May 18 on a limited basis, Governor Asa Hutchinson announced at his daily COVID-19 press conference today.
The Arkansas Department of Health issued a directive today that allows the venues to open for audiences of fewer than 50 and that requires strict social distance among performers, contestants, and members of the audience.
“We are attempting to move past the restrictions that have been necessary during this pandemic, but we must do so in a manner that is based on solid data,” Governor Hutchinson said today. “I am confident this measured reopening is the best approach that will allow us to enjoy these entertainment venues again. As we cautiously emerge from this difficult time, we will keep an eye on data for any evidence that we are moving too quickly.”
This directive covers indoor venues for commercial, community, or civic events and activities where an audience, spectators, or a gathering of people are present, such as concerts, plays, movies, lectures, presentations, conferences, conventions, sporting events, races, fundraisers, trade shows, and festivals.
Venues include auditoriums, lecture halls, movie theatres, other theatres, museums, arenas, sports venues, race tracks, stadiums, gymnasiums, auction houses, amusement centers, barns, exhibit halls, conventions centers, and funeral homes. The list of venues also includes recreational facilities such as bowling alleys and trampoline parks.
Gatherings subject to this directive also include, without limitation, community, civic, public, leisure, commercial, or sporting events.
This directive is not intended for gatherings of people in unconfined outdoor spaces, such as parks or athletic fields, where physical distancing of at least six feet can be easily achieved. Those may open today, May 4.
Nor is this directive intended for houses of worship, which are addressed under a separate guidance.
The ADH issued this directive today in regard to reopening large venues:
The performers/players/contestants must be separated from the audience by at least 12 feet and must be limited to 50 or fewer.
The audience is limited to 50 or fewer people.
Lines or queues for entrance, exit, making purchases, or for other reasons must be marked or monitored to maintain six feet between people.
Seating must be arranged to maintain six feet between members of the audience.
Family groups may sit together but maintain six feet between groups.
Every other row of seating should be unoccupied.
Face coverings are required except for children younger than 10.
Performers/players/contestants may be without a face covering if they are 12 feet from each other.
Signs must be posted at all entrances advising members of the public not to enter if:
- They have fever, cough, shortness of breath, sore throat, or a recent loss of taste or smell.
- They have had known exposure to someone with COVID-19 in the past 14 days.Signs must be posted at all entrances advising members of the public that they may wish to refrain from entering if:
- They are 65 years of age or older.
- They have underlying health conditions including high blood pressure, chronic lung disease, diabetes, severe obesity, asthma, or weakened immunity.Hand-sanitizer stations must be available at all entrances and exits.
Refreshments may be served. However, self-service operations, including, but not limited to, salad bars, buffets, and condiment bars shall not be allowed.
The facility, including seating, shall be cleaned and disinfected before and after each use.
Frequently touched surfaces shall be cleaned periodically during the course of the event.
Central Arkansas Development Council to Distribute over 500,000 lbs. of Food in its 19 County Service Area During the Month of May
Central Arkansas Development Council (CADC) whose mission is to alleviate the causes and conditions of poverty, to help vulnerable populations achieve their potential, and to build strong communities in Arkansas through community action will be holding an emergency food distribution in its 19 county service area during the month of May. CADC will be distributing 10,000 food boxes that will contain over 50 pounds of food, including meat, beans, vegetables, and fruit. These boxes will also include essential household items such as toilet paper. Central Arkansas Development Council hopes that by holding this distribution, we can alleviate some of the uncertainties many in the community are currently facing at this time. Customers will be asked to show I.D. and will be limited to one box per family. Families will have to meet income eligibility guidelines to qualify. Distributions will occur during from 10 AM to 2 PM or while supplies last. The locations and dates are as follows: County Location Street Address City Date
Lonoke
Lonoke Old Gym
501 West Academy Street
Lonoke
May 6
Grace Community Church
30 West 2nd Street
Ward
May 6 Lafayette CADC Office 403 N King Lewisville May 7
Little River
Ashdown Methodist Church
145 E Commerce
Ashdown
May 7 Howard City Park 1301 W. Johnson St Nashville May 8
Sevier
Fairgrounds
930 Rockefeller Ave
Dequeen
May 8 Ouachita Camden Fairview Intermediate School Gym 255 Pope Street Camden May 12
Calhoun
Fairgrounds
1st at Hunt Street
Hampton
May 13 Dallas Carthage Old School Cafe 319 West Central Ave Carthage May 13
Columbia
Fairgrounds
200 Columbia Rd 13
Magnolia
May 14 Union East Side Fairgrounds 430 E 19th El Dorado May 14
Montgomery
Ouachita Baptist Church
3586 Hwy 270E
Mt. Ida
May 19
Central Arkansas Development Council
PO Box 580
Benton, AR 72018
501-315-1121
Pike Municipal Building 204 E. Main Murfreesboro May 19
Saline
Saline County Fairgrounds
406 Fairfield
Benton
May 20 Pulaski Barton Coliseum 2600 Howard Little Rock May 21
Clark
The Rec Center
379 N 23rd St
Arkadelphia
May 22 Hot Spring ASU Three Rivers 1 College Circle Malvern May 22
Miller
First United Methodist Church
400 E. 6th. Street
Texarkana
May 27 Hempstead The Coliseum 800 S Mockingbird Hope May 28
Nevada
Fairgrounds
Fairgrounds Road
Prescott
May 29
CADC will also be distributing The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) USDA Commodities the same day in many locations. Customers may qualify for both programs.
CADC would like to invite all news and media outlets to join and share in this event as we intend to bring joy, happiness, and much needed supplies to families across Arkansas during this pandemic. “The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others” Ghandi.
Founded in 1965, Central Arkansas Development Council is a private nonprofit community action agency operating in 19 counties in the state of Arkansas. CADC is a local force in the War on Poverty providing a hand-up, promoting self-help in our neighborhoods and for our families. We are committed to providing opportunities for empowerment for individuals, families and communities. For more information on the distribution, visit our website at www.cadc.com, or contact your local CADC office.
Randy Morris
Chief Executive Officer
rmorris@cadc.com
Central Arkansas Development Council
Central Arkansas Development Council is a private non-profit Community Action Agency. CADC is a local force in the War on Poverty.
From the Arkansas Ready for Business Grant Program
🛑 PLEASE STOP AND READ!!
THEN APPLY ‼️‼️‼️
❌❌ THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT UPDATE on the ARKANSAS READY for BUSINESS GRANT PROGRAM:❌
‼️‼️PLEASE SHARE WITH SMALL
BUSINESSES‼️‼️
❌ Please note that eligible
expenditures include:
📌 Personal Protective Equipment
(PPE)
📍 No-contact thermometers for
employees And customers
📌 No-contact Point of Sale (POS)
payment equipment
📍 Supplies And disinfectants to
initially deep clean premises and
for use on an ongoing basis
📌 Also included are expenses
associated with hiring a third
party to perform periodic deep
cleaning services
📍 Hand sanitizer stations
📌 Restocking of necessary
supplies/raw materials
📍 Expenses associated with
reconfiguring business to meet
recommended health and safety
guidelines, signage, marketing
and other one-time expenses
associated with reopening or
resuming normal operations.
❌ The program will utilize federal
funds provided to the state of
Arkansas through the CARES Act.
🔴 When submitting an application
please have ready:
‼️ Driver’s License of authorized
business representative
‼️ Signed W9
‼️ Certificate of Good Standing
from Secretary of State
(Business License or Sales Tax
Permit for Sole Proprietors)
‼️‼️ AEDC will be accepting
applications Tuesday, May 5th
from 8:00am – 6:00pm and
AND Wednesday, May 6th from
8:00am – 6:00pm.
❌❌ Businesses that have already
successfully submitted an
application DO NOT need to
reapply‼️
"Arkansas, We are in this Together” Video Release
LITTLE ROCK, AR – The Arkansas Department of Agriculture (Department), on behalf of Arkansas agriculture and stakeholders, has created a video message of reassurance to Arkansans during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Department encourages Arkansans to support local, support each other, and support Arkansas agriculture.
“Arkansas agriculture continues to provide the food, fiber, and shelter that we all depend on despite the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Wes Ward, Arkansas Secretary of Agriculture. “We appreciate the efforts and resiliency of our state’s agriculture industry as we all work together to get through this difficult time.”
The video can be found on the Department YouTube page (youtube.com/watch?v=8RPaLnk99ts) and COVID-19 Resource page (agriculture.arkansas.gov/covid-19) of our website: arkansas.agriculture.gov.
The Department has also produced numerous shareable and printable COVID-19 resources. We invite and encourage use of all resources which can be found on our COVID-19 Resource page, including:
Print andShareable Resources
· COVID-19 Farm Safety video:
· ArkansasCOVID-19 Food Access Map
Department COVID-19 resources can also be found on our social media platforms: Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
The Department is dedicated to the development and implementation of policies and programs for Arkansas agriculture and forestry to keep its farmers and ranchers competitive in national and international markets while ensuring safe food, fiber, and forest products for the citizens of the state and nation.
From the Nashville Parks and Recreation Department
We have attempted to call every parent who had a child that signed up for baseball twice. I am posting this to allow anyone to contact me that I could not get a hold of. I will be turning the refund list into the accounting department on Monday May 11th. If you have not spoken to the park regarding your baseball refund please call us at 870-845-7405 and let us know you would like a refund if we do not answer leave a message. If I do not speak to you by Friday May 8th then you will automatically receive a credit on your child’s account for the next sport they register for.
Thank you.!
LIVE VIDEO: Governor Hutchinson Provides COVID-19 Update to Media Monday (05.04.20) 1:30PM
Governor Asa Hutchinson will provide an update to media on Monday, May 4, at 1:30 p.m. regarding Arkansas’s COVID-19 response. (Press play button above.)
Consumer Spending amid COVID-19 Pandemic takes a Steep Drop
By Mary Hightower
U of A System Division of Agriculture
Fast Facts
Consumer spending drops 7.3 percent between Feb and March
Biggest drop since 1959 start of Personal Consumption Expenditures report
Find full analysis at https://bit.ly/AR-Ag-Eco-Impacts2020
(350 words)
(Newsrooms, with graphs at https://flic.kr/p/2iWrMqr)
LITTLE ROCK — In the 61 years since the Personal Consumption Expenditures report has been issued by the Bureau of Economic Analysis, there has never been a drop as precipitous as the 7.3 percent decline between February and March of this year
“That is a shocking month-to-month decline in PCE,” said John Anderson, head of the agricultural economics and agribusiness department of University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture and the Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural Food and Life Sciences.
“As a point of reference, in the 2008-2009 financial crisis, the largest monthly drop in PCE was just under 1 percent in September 2009,” he said. “In fact, the 7.3 percent decline in PCE is the largest monthly decline since the beginning of this data series in 1959.”
The PCE is part of the BEA’s monthly update on personal income and outlays. (See: https://www.bea.gov/…/personal-income-and-outlays-march-2020)
Buying like it’s 1999
However, not every category was down.
“Spending on food was sharply higher in March: up over 19 percent compared to the prior month,” he said. This spending only includes food bought for home consumption such as grocery and convenience store purchases of food.
“The only surge in PCE on food even remotely comparable to the most recent month was in December 1999, which – as readers of a certain age will recall – coincided with a wave of food stockpiling associated with the Y2K scare,” Anderson said. “In that month, PCE on food increased by 4.8 percent, month-to-month.”
He noted significant differences between the current COVID-19 pandemic and Y2K.
“First, the Y2K event was anticipated many months in advance. Consumers had ample opportunity to gradually build up supplies of non-perishable food items over a longer period of time than was possible in the current round of panic buying,” he said.
“Second, and more significantly, food service did not shut down in December 1999,” Anderson said. “In the COVID-19 shutdown, consumers were essentially forced to shift almost the entirety of their food purchases to grocery retail.”
To read more of Anderson’s take on COVID and consumer spending, see this and other economic impact reports at https://bit.ly/AR-Ag-Eco-Impacts2020
To learn more about extension programs in Arkansas, contact your local Cooperative Extension Service agent or visit www.uaex.edu. Follow us on Twitter at @UAEX_edu
University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture Cooperative Extension Service
Protect you and your family during the COVID-19 outbreak by practicing proper hand washing techniques. Wet your hands with clean running water (warm or cold) and apply soap. Rub your hands together to make a lather and scrub them well; be sure to scrub the backs of your hands, between your fingers, and under your nails.
Arkansas Department of Health Directives & Orders
May 11: Directive on Resuming Restaurant Dine-In Operations
May 4: Directive for Gym, Fitness Center, Athletic Club and Weight Room Reopening
(Click on above links for information.)
Barbershop and Hair Salon ADH Webinar to Better Understand COVID-19
Herman Dierks Park and De Queen Sportsplex Reopening
De Queen Mayor Jeff Brown tells Ed 88 that as of Monday morning, 05/04/20, both Herman Dierks Park and the De Queen Sportsplex are now open. The community building at Herman Dierks Park and restrooms at both facilities will remain closed, and park visitors are encouraged to practice CDC COVID-19 social distancing recommendations.
Weekly Update from State Representative DeAnn Vaught
The Arkansas Department of Health lifted several restrictions and issued new directives for restaurants, gyms, and hair salons this week. While Arkansas takes steps to re-open the economy, we recognize the challenges still ahead. This week, we want to update you on the programs available to help Arkansas employees and businesses during this difficult time.
On the federal level, Congress has approved additional funds into the Payroll Protection Plan. For businesses who are were not able to receive funding in the first round of funding, please visit: www.sba.gov.
The hotline hours to file for unemployment have been expanded to 7 days a week from 6am-4pm. Callers in the queue by 4pm will be assisted. You can also file on line at www.arunemployment.com. The online system closes at 6pm to process claims filed each day.
At that site is also a link for self-employed, independent contractors, and others covered under the CARES Act. There you can submit your name and email address to be notified when a system is built to process these claims which is expected in a matter of days. Even if you start another job, you will still be able to file weekly claims backdated to the date you became unable to work because of a COVID-19 related reason. If requesting this assistance, the Department of Commerce recommends filing your 2019 tax return so you can verify your income. Payment can still be made by the deadline, but it’s helpful to go ahead and file.
While some restrictions are being lifted, we must continue to do our part to limit the spread of the virus. Arkansans should continue to practice social distancing and wear a mask in public places. We will continue to update you on our progress as a state.
Small Business Administration
We support America's small businesses. The SBA connects entrepreneurs with lenders and funding to help them plan, start and grow their business.
Food Boxes Provided for Families in Need in Howard County
The Nashville Chamber of Commerce is teaming up with the Central Arkansas Development Council to provide food boxes for 300 families in need in Howard County. Volunteers are needed to help with packaging on Thursday, May 7th and distribution on Friday, May 8th. If you would like to volunteer, please contact Becky Floyd at 870-845-6362.
