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Greg Ray and Manya Wood in the Ed 88 Studios Thursday Morning

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Joining Loren on the Ed Morning Show Thursday were Sevier County Judge Greg Ray and District Judge Manya Wood discussing the rules regarding admittance to the courthouse during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Today on Ed 88, Judge Manya Wood discussed the new attendance requirements. For district court in Sevier County. This is a list of those requirements.

DISTRICT COURT GUIDELINES REGARDING COVID-19

Masks will be required of everyone entering the courthouse. Defendant’s, witnesses and attorneys must bring a mask.

Everyone will be screened prior to entering the courthouse per the Arkansas Department of Health and CDC guidelines.

Attorneys will be required to contact their clients and any witnesses they will be using the day of court to ensure compliance with these guidelines.

All parties present in the courthouse and courtroom will be required to maintain the six foot (6’) social distancing requirement.

Public restroom access will be limited.

You will be required to wait in your car until it is time for you to enter courthouse. You will be called when it is your turn, therefore, if you do not have an attorney, you must have a working cell phone.

All people will be required to check in through the main entrance to the courthouse on the east side of the courthouse square;

Only the person that has a court date will be allowed into the courtroom during arraignments, unless that person is a minor, then a parent or guardian will be allowed with the minor. Absolutely no children will be allowed into the courtroom unless they are involved in the case and you have permission to bring them.
District Court Arraignment check in on June 9, 2020, will be as follows:
Last names beginning with letters A – D at 8:30 am;
Last names beginning with letters E – L at 9:30 am;
Last names beginning with letters M – Z at 10:30 am;
District Court Trials on June 9, 2020 are set on an individual time slot basis. Contact District Court at (870) 584-7311 to determine when you should arrive for your trial.

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UA Cossatot Virtual Tour for Fall Registration

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Time to start planning for the future! Fall registration is underway now at UA Cossatot. For a taste of what we have to offer, check out this short video, then visit: www.cccua.edu

We would love to talk about how we can help you achieve your goals. And when you get your Associate's Degree at UAC, you can transfer to UA Fayetteville and pay the same low tuition you enjoyed at Cossatot! A member of our Cossatot family is standing by to answer all your questions and get you started on whatever career path you choose!

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Summer Employment Opportunity!

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Husqvarna, L&G facility, is currently accepting high school and college student applications for employment during the summer months for second shift. Openings include Motor Testers, Material Handlers, and Production workers.

Pay range $13.40- $15.15 per hour. Hourly pay rate includes a $2.00 per hour temporary premium.

Students must meet the minimum age requirement.

Apply at 1 Poulan Drive in Nashville, AR.

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Sevier County REA Customers were Without Power for Several Hours Sunday

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More than 260 customers in Sevier County were without power for over 7 hours Sunday, May 17, beginning at around 9:30 a.m. due to a fire at a substation. Power was restored just after 4:30 Sunday afternoon.

Sunday morning, Southwest Arkansas Electric REA posted on Facebook, “We are currently experiencing equipment issues at our De Queen Substation. We are working on the faulty equipment and hope to have it replaced soon. Thank you for your patience.”

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Tornado Warnings were Issued for the Region Saturday Evening

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Thunderstorms moved across the region Saturday evening and tornado sirens and warnings from Code Red and the National Weather Service came across between 6 and 7 p.m. A Tornado Watch remains in effect through 9:00 Saturday night, 05/16.

Pockets of heavy rainfall came across the area and prompted Flash Flood Watches and Warnings for portions of southwest Arkansas, northwest Louisiana, southeast Oklahoma, and northeast Texas. According to the National Weather Service, skies should clear off Sunday bringing sunny and dry conditions throughout next week.

 

Carmelia Johnson captured this video Saturday evening, May 16, in Central.

 
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Weekly Update from State Representative DeAnn Vaught

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The COVID-19 pandemic could be a source of stress, fear, or anxiety for many Arkansans. May is Mental Health Awareness Month and a good time to remind Arkansans of the resources available to help during this time. 

If you currently visit a provider for mental health services, these services can now be accessed by telephone or tele-video. Arkansas’s Community Mental Health Centers have also temporarily changed their services to utilize tele-video or telephone technology whenever possible.  

The Arkansas Lifeline Call Center can direct you to the center closest to you.

The Arkansas Lifeline Call Center (1-800-273-8255) is available 24/7. This call center housed within theArkansas Department of Health answers calls from Arkansans to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. Call takers can route Arkansans to local resources. 

Fear and anxiety about a disease can be overwhelming in both adults and children. 

Children and teens react, in part, on what they see from the adults around them. When parents and caregivers deal with the COVID-19 calmly and confidently, they can provide the best support for their children. Parents can be more reassuring to others around them, especially children, if they are better prepared.

The CDC recommends the following to cope with stress:

  • Take breaks from watching, reading, or listening to news stories, including social media. Hearing about the pandemic repeatedly can be upsetting.

  • Eat healthy meals and exercise regularly.

  • Make time to unwind. Try to do some other activities you enjoy.

While we may all be social distancing, it’s important to still connect with others. Technology allows us to connect in new ways. As we collectively work to get our state back to normal, don’t underestimate the importance of reaching out to family and friends.

Taking care of yourself can help you cope with stress and in turn, help others. Helping others is what will make communities stronger on the other side of this crisis.

 
 
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Two Minors Caught for Damaging Mailboxes and Stolen Street Signs in Sevier County

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This mailbox was recently damaged on De Queen Lake Road

This mailbox was recently damaged on De Queen Lake Road

Two juveniles, names withheld, were apprehended Thursday by the Sevier County Sheriff’s Office for damaging mailboxes and stealing street signs in Sevier County. After hearing about the incidents, Deputy Sharp made a stop of two suspects in a truck and found a sledge hammer and several stop signs in the pickup bed. The two minors will be paying for all the damages.

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Governor Hutchinson’s Weekly Address | Testing: A Critical Part of Fighting the Virus

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LITTLE ROCK – Today I’d like to talk about our COVID-19 testing and a new partnership with the Arkansas Community Health Centers.

In an effort to flatten the curve and increase testing for COVID-19, I have consistently encouraged individuals with a simple message: “If you think you have symptoms, don’t wait – get tested.”

On April 21st, I created a Testing Advisory Group to expand and increase testing in the state. We have increased testing in high-risk settings, such as long-term care facilities. We have expanded testing to include all people who think they have been exposed to the virus, even if they aren’t showing symptoms.

At the beginning of this month, we set a goal of conducting 60,000 tests during the month of May. If we are able to do 60,000 tests, that’s 2% of our state population and a key part of the White House Coronavirus Task Force recommendations for ramping up states’ testing numbers.

Since we had the first positive case in Arkansas on March 11th, when we first declared the emergency, we started increasing our testing. As of May 14th, we had a little over 29,000 this month. To put that in perspective, since March 11th, (or over the last 65 days) we have done about 81,000 tests. So even though we're not to our goal yet, the nearly 30,000 in the first two weeks in May alone shows we are on the right track, and we are optimistic about meeting our goal.

Earlier this week, I announced a new partnership with the Community Health Centers across Arkansas. When CEO, LaShannon Spencer, called upon her community health centers and asked them what more they can do to support the testing initiative of our state. In response, they committed to provide over 2,000 test collections, per week, in May to add to this objective of reaching our 60,000 goal. Their health centers across the state are offering multiple testing sites, including drive-thru screenings and testing tents, all free of charge.

I was delighted by a conversation that took place in my office between Ms. Spencer and Secretary of Health Nate Smith. When LaShannon said all we need are swabs and we might need some help with that, Dr. Smith responded, “Don't worry, we've got plenty.”

When you are talking about PPE and supply chain and working together for the health and safety of all Arkansans, that’s exactly what you want to hear. I applaud the leadership of the community health centers and our public health officials for working together in this critical partnership.

Another great partnership is with Walmart. They have partnered to provide approximately 130 mobile testing units across the country. Currently, they have three operating in Bentonville, Little Rock, and Fort Smith; and just this week announced additional sites in Jonesboro, Hot Springs, Texarkana, and West Memphis.

During this Phase One period of lifting restrictions, we must expand our economy, but we have to manage the expansion to minimize the virus impact.

If we’re in a war, radar tells us where the enemy is on the horizon. Testing is our radar system; and tracking is our first defense. It gives us an early warning capability for where there's an increased potential of an outbreak so we can get a handle on it. And that is our objective.

We have to learn to live and manage and work through the potential of COVID-19 in the next year until we get a vaccine. And to accomplish that, testing is a critical part having the proper infrastructure in place.

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Sevier County Chamber of Commerce member, Smiles of Arkansas, has re-opened!

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"Although we have taken care of emergent dental needs since closing March 23rd, we are ready to go to work on a full-time basis and have deep cleaned all the offices as well as obtained the necessary PPE to allow us to perform general dentistry in full compliance with guidelines provided from ADH.....

Our patients and employees will be safer now than ever before as we transition back to normal business. Dental hygiene is very important in the overall health of the public and we are anxious to see our wonderful patients and make sure their dental needs are being met."

110 W Dequeen Ave, De Queen, AR 71832

(870) 642-7645

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De Queen High School Honor Graduate Brittany McCullough Awarded the Texas A&M Texarkana Presidential Scholarship

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De Queen High School honor graduate Brittany McCullough has been awarded the Texas A&M Texarkana Presidential Scholarship totaling $34,000. Brittany is the daughter of Dalton and Christy McCullough. She has been accepted into the University's Honors Program and plans to major in Marketing with a minor in Spanish. The Ambassador Program as well as the Study Abroad Program are also a part of her agenda at A&M Texarkana.

Brittany is a member of the Spanish Club, Interact Club and co-creator of local fundraiser, Quiz Bowl Team, Yearbook Editor and 3rd place recipient in Nationals at Chicago for MO, National Honor Society, National Society of High School Scholars, Gifted and Talented, Manager for the Lady Leopards basketball and soccer teams, Leopard Vision, senior maid in homecoming, Chickasaw Nation Representative and scholarship.