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Governor Hutchinson Delivers Memorial Day Address

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LITTLE ROCK – Governor Asa Hutchinson delivered remarks today at a Memorial Day Wreath Laying Ceremony at the Arkansas State Veterans Cemetery in North Little Rock. 

The following is a transcript of his remarks:

I want to express my thanks to Major General Penn for his leadership; to Colonel Todd and his great work with our veterans administration, and for making sure that we appropriately honor our veterans each year and every day in the way that we serve our veterans; to Commissioner Tommy Land, thank you for being here; the representatives of the Arkansas veteran service organizations for your continued leadership each year; to the Gold Star families that are here, representing a family that has given the sacrifice, we are grateful for you being here, but also for what you mean to our nation; and then to Congressman French Hill, who is here faithfully every year, rain or shine, mask or no mask, he is here to support our veterans.

We are gathering today in a difficult and confusing time in world history. We are gathering, of course, to remember those who fought and died to preserve freedom and to protect our homeland. In many states, you will not see this observance. In many states they have canceled their memorial services. And I am glad that in Arkansas that we have decided to go ahead and to honor those who have given the ultimate sacrifice today, even though it is under unusual circumstances and protocols. It is important that we gather today to honor their sacrifice to our country, because without their sacrifice, our country would be totally different today, and the world would be change and not for the better. The world would be in a darker place, with the light of freedom dimmed in Europe, Asia, and many places around the globe; but throughout our history, American men and women of valor have taken up arms and pushed back against the night. Thousands of those brave warriors lie at rest here at the State Veterans Cemetery. Today, we remember them and honor them for their service and sacrifice.

It is reported that during the dark days of the American Revolution, when literally all was at stake, many had gone back home, had deserted, some had died from illness, and from their war wounds, it was a difficult and dark time in the American Revolution. And it was said that during one night, General George Washington gave the command 'tonight put none but Americans on guard.' And we have thought about, for centuries actually, what did he mean by that phrase, because at that time, many in the service of our newfound country, were not born in America. So, it's not talking about their nationalism. It was talking about their spirit. He wanted those Americans on guard who understood freedom and the depths of their soul, and understood sacrifice that was necessary to preserve and to win that freedom. It was those soldiers that understood that freedom that we remember today that have paid that sacrifice. In other words, those during the American Revolution, and since then, that have given of themselves have reflected the American spirit, and the American character, and the American spirit and character does make a difference for the world.

Today, we face another enemy, it is a deadly virus – cannot be seen. It silently attacks and kills. Almost 100,000 Americans have lost their lives within 100 days as a result of this new enemy. How do we respond? Well, we respond the same as Americans have responded for more than 200 years: with grit by calling upon the strength of the American character, and the resilience of the American spirit.

There's a historic picture that I found over the weekend. It's a historic picture that's circulating in Atlanta, Georgia. It is a picture of Grant Stadium, the football stadium in 1918. Now think about 1918 for a moment. We were right at the conclusion of World War I. We had lost so many Americans during that global war. But we were also hit by a global pandemic that ultimately killed 600,000 Americans. It was a different day in time. But the picture of Grant Stadium, where Georgia Tech plays, they had a picture one of the football arena, then they had a picture of the stands. And in the stands, you saw all of the fans, wearing face coverings and appropriately, socially distancing six feet apart. That was over 100 years ago. They reflected the spirit of our great country, war in Europe and a deadly virus at home, yet life went on with common sense protections. And if they can go to a football game, surely, we can come here today in these unusual circumstances to honor those that have given the ultimate sacrifice.

Let me assure you today that we will win this fight as well. I am more confident than ever because of the ingenuity and hard work of our medical professionals, and because the American spirit, which replaces fear with action, common sense and compassion. So today, let's remember those who gave their lives for our freedom. Let's continue to enjoy our freedom. And let's work to protect those who are neighbors, fellow Americans, and friends. God bless the United States of America.

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Belleville Cemetery Homecoming Cancelled

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The Belleville Cemetery Association regrets that their 75th annual Homecoming Celebration scheduled for Sunday, June 7th has been cancelled due to the safety concerns brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic. Belleville Cemetery Association looks forward to next year when they will plan for their 75th Diamond Anniversary celebration that will take place on the first Sunday in June in 2021.

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Weekly Update from State Representative DeAnn Vaught

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Memorial Day will be different this year. The threat of the coronavirus will limit the large gatherings of people who typically come together at ceremonies.

But the virus cannot stop us from taking a moment of private reflection to honor the sacrifice of our men and women in uniform who died protecting freedom.

Arkansas was and is home to so many brave men and women who deserve our recognition. Our state lost 2,183 Arkansans in World War I.

World War II had a great economic and social impact on the people of Arkansas. During the war, an estimated 194,645 Arkansans served the nation in the various branches of the U.S. armed forces. That was approximately 10% of our state’s population in 1940. As a result of combat, 3,519 Arkansans lost their lives.

Arkansans continued to answer the call to serve. There were 461 Arkansans who lost their lives in the Korean War and 588 during the Vietnam War.

We lost 4 of our own in Desert Storm, 33 in Operation Iraqi Freedom, and 29 in Operation Enduring Freedom.

And today, there are thousands who serve willing to put their lives on the line to protect our freedom still.

In 2017, the Arkansas General Assembly passed Act 281 which instructed the Secretary of State to erect a monument honoring Gold Star Families. The monument is located directly behind the Capitol and was dedicated last fall. The Gold Star Family Memorial Monument honors those families who sacrificed more than most of us, and illustrates that the United States has citizens in every community willing to make such sacrifices. It further illustrates that families suffer and grieve when a dear relative is lost, and without their sacrifices, freedom could not and would not have been preserved.

Monuments and ceremonies are just two of hundreds of ways to honor our men and women in uniform, but the one act of appreciation each of us can do, even in the middle of a pandemic, is to be the kind of American worth fighting for.

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AUDIO: Governor Hutchinson’s Weekly Address | Memorial Day in 2020

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LITTLE ROCK – Monday is Memorial Day, and today I’d like to pay tribute to the Arkansans who have given their lives through military service to ensure that Americans continue to live in freedom.

Memorial Day 2020 will be different than any of us has ever observed. The COVID-19 pandemic has forced us to alter most of our traditions, including Memorial Day. This year, we can’t congregate for memorial services at cemeteries and churches. But we can still honor the memory of those who died on our behalf by remembering them and all those who are still willing to go to the front lines.

Since last Memorial Day, we have dedicated a new monument just outside the west doors of the capitol. It is in memory of those who have died in war and in memory of their survivors, the Gold Star families. This monument acknowledges that these families have had to move on with their lives even as they grieve their loss. Their sacrifice never ends.

The monument also is a promise to them that to the best of our ability, we will continue to fight for freedom at home and around the world. We hope that we will never need to add another name to this roll of honor of those who have died on our behalf. But if a situation requires it, we will take up the fight. We will find inspiration in their courage and valor. We will battle to preserve the liberty they bought with their lives.

Those who fight for us understand that serving others requires us to put the interests of others ahead of what we want. That has never been more evident than during this pandemic. Wearing a mask in public is perhaps uncomfortable and inconvenient, but we wear masks because that protects others.

Right now, every retail shop in Arkansas is open to do business. As we head into summer, we will be able to lift even more limits as we reengage our economy, while at the same time we continue to wash our hands frequently and keep a safe distance from others in public.

Because of Arkansans’ willingness to work together, we have been able to allow greater use of our state parks, with all their lodges, cabins, trails, lakes, and rivers. This is a good weekend to begin to explore our life under new circumstances. It’s also a good time to honor the sacrifice of those who went before us.

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From the Office of the Chancellor

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We are now several months in to the COVID-19 outbreak and UA Cossatot has been working diligently to ensure the safety of our students, staff, and community. Now that we know our summer courses will be offered online, our attention has already shifted to how we will approach the Fall 2020 semester.

While we will keep relying on guidance from the Governor’s office, our state health care professionals and the University of Arkansas System, we will also be developing a local plan so our campuses can safely be open for students this fall.

To aid in our Fall 2020 decisions, I have appointed the UA Cossatot COVID-19 Task Force. This is a task force that is comprised of committees that will oversee developing our campus strategy for a safe Fall 2020 semester. The task force is comprised of the following committees: Contingency Planning, Academics and Student Assistance, Communicable Diseases, Communications, Events, Facilities/Partners/Contractors/Logistics, Finances, Health and Safety/Environmental Safety, Human Resources, Outreach/Alumni, Athletics, Information Technology.

These committees have already started working on contingency plans in all of these areas. They will be taking into account several different scenarios that UA Cossatot could face this fall. The scenarios range from the most likely to the most unlikely and will include how UA Cossatot will respond to each.

We feel that this contingency plan, along with continued input and guidance from the Governor’s office, health care professionals around the state and the University of Arkansas System will allow UA Cossatot to be fully prepared to have a safe and productive fall semester for our students, staff, and the community members we serve each day.

While we do not know what the future holds in regards to the COVID-19 outbreak, we do know we need to be prepared and we feel that the COVID-19 Task Force will create the blueprint that will allow this to happen.

We are seeing many students already enrolling for summer and fall and our registration is certainly still open for both semesters. We have made our entire registration process available online for the safety and convenience of our students. We are also working on virtual tours of our campuses. Our website contains all the information students need to register: https://www.cccua.edu.

These are unprecedented and unexplored times but we will all make it through by working together. You can always find more UA Cossatot information on Facebook (ED88 and UAC) and on our http://www.ed88radio.com and http://www.cccua.edu websites.

Thank You,

Dr. Steve Cole
Chancellor, UA Cossatot

Cossatot Community College

UA Cossatot embraces diversity and is committed to improving the lives of those in our region by providing quality education, outstanding service, and relevant industry training. The University of Arkansas - Cossatot Community College offers degrees and certificates in more than two dozen fields.

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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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