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UA Cossatot Receives Grant from the Arkansas Natural and Cultural Resources Council

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UA Cossatot received a grant of $336,000 from the Arkansas Natural and Cultural Resources Council (ANCRC) at its meeting held on Wednesday, June 3rd. The grant will be used for Phase 1 of restoring the old Lockesburg Middle School on the Lockesburg Campus of UA Cossatot.

The council distributed $27.3 million to 23 projects that will restore and protect state-owned lands and property.

According to UA Cossatot Chancellor Dr. Steve Cole, this will be huge for education and historic preservation, “Since 2017 we have been working diligently with the ANCRC and Arkansas Historic Preservation to rehabilitate and use all of the buildings on the old Lockesburg High School Campus. This most recent grant will allow us to start restoring the middle school. When we finish phase 1, we will have two new classrooms, a large community room, and, most importantly, a museum to house and protect historical items from Lockesburg High School”.

UA Cossatot is also filing an application to Arkansas Historic Preservation to turn the entire old Lockesburg Campus into a historic district according to Cole, “Since we already have the gym on the National Register and have applied for the high school, it just makes more sense to have the entire campus as a historic district with all the buildings, including the old 100 year old jail listed as contributing buildings”.

The planned museum will house all of the old LHS memorabilia UA Cossatot currently possesses plus will always be open to the community members to donate more. “We have this wonderful opportunity to protect over 120 years of memories and will be asking anyone with old LHS memorabilia to contact Barry Reed at breed@cccua.edu”, added Cole.

As with any building owned by UA Cossatot, the UA Cossatot Foundation in the near future will be posting naming opportunities for the museum, community room, and the classrooms, hoping to raise enough funds to furnish the rooms and curate all of the historic pieces.

Cole expects phase 1 to be completed by next July, “We should meet our goal of completing phase 1 by June 30th of 2021, and we fully expect to apply for phase 2 funding next March, which will completely finish the middle school restoration”.

Since 2013, UA Cossatot has invested more than one million dollars in grants, private donations, and college funds on the Lockesburg Campus, with a large portion of funds coming from the ANCRC.

Stacy Hurst, Secretary of the Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage and Tourism, who serves as Secretary of the ANCRC said, “The ANCRC Trust Fund has funded over $400 million in projects since its first grants were made in 1989. Many well-loved buildings and properties have been saved for future generations by the fund, and we are a better state for it.”

ANCRC has funded the restoration and preservation of such iconic properties as the Arkansas State Capitol, Old Main on the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville Campus, Lakeport Plantation in Chicot County, and the Johnny Cash Home in Dyess.

The Arkansas Natural and Cultural Resources Council (ANCRC) was established by Arkansas Act 729 of 1987. Its grants and trust fund are managed for the acquisition, management and stewardship of state-owned lands, or the preservation of state-owned historic sites, buildings, structures or objects which the ANCRC determines to be of value for recreation or conservation purposes. The properties are to be used, preserved, and conserved for the benefit of present and future generations.

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Howard County Farmers Market Monday, June 8th, from 3 - 7pm

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Monday, June 8th, will be our first Monday afternoon to have a scheduled Monday market day. A couple of our vendors are able to bring their produce and other goods this time, and hopefully, as the weather is more cooperative in the next few weeks, we can get even more produce harvested for sale at the market!

We will have:

- Wenta Farm
Blueberries and squash

- Aunt Fern's Fried Pies
Various flavors

- Owensburg Farm
Duck eggs (can be used just like chicken eggs and just as delicious!)
Bread rolls
Cookies
Banana tree plants

- Carolyn's Kitchen
Baked goods
House Plants

We are hoping that these Mondays will be of the most benefit for customers who can't make the Friday morning sessions. And, we at the market are very dependent on the vendors having their produce and goods available for Monday market day so we can schedule the day as going on or not. It's been tough having so much rain the past couple of months, but vendors are telling us that they plan on harvesting their normal crops later than usual this season. So hopefully many more selections to come on both farmers' market days!

So if you have a chance after work on Monday, stop by and see what's available and tell your friends about our market now being open on Monday afternoons! We'd be glad to have you help us spread the word! 🍊😀🦆🥚❤️🍞

P.S. If you know of someone who might want to sell their items at our market, please have them call Julio Fuentes @ 870-200-3883 to register. It only costs $5.00 each time they'd like to sell. The more vendors the better the selection. A win-win for all of us!

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Showers and Thunderstorms Expected Monday

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Heavy Rains from Cristobal Continue to move Northward

The Weather Channel says thunderstorms are expected to begin around noon time today for southwest Arkansas and could bring heavy rains throughout the afternoon.

The Weather Channel says thunderstorms are expected to begin around noon time today for southwest Arkansas and could bring heavy rains throughout the afternoon.

The Weather Channel expects showers, thunderstorms, heavy rainfall and strong winds today as a result of Cristobal making landfall.

The Weather Channel expects showers, thunderstorms, heavy rainfall and strong winds today as a result of Cristobal making landfall.

The National Weather Service has

The National Weather Service has

...A swath of heavy rain is expected to impact areas just west of
the Mississippi River as Cristobal continues to track far inland
toward the Great Lakes through Tuesday...

...Heavy snow develops in parts of the northern Rockies as severe
thunderstorms become increasingly likely across the northern and
central Plains, ...

...The West cools off substantially but critical to extreme fire
danger continues in the southern Rockies and High Plains...

After making landfall in southeastern Louisiana yesterday,
tropical storm Cristobal has continued to track further inland
into the lower Mississippi Valley.  Cristobal has been weakening
relatively slowly over land, and continues to bring intense rain
bands and tropical storm force wind gusts into Mississippi and
Alabama.  A High Risk for excessive rainfall remains in place for
eastern Louisiana and southern Mississippi along with the ongoing
threat for dangerous coastal flooding along the Central Gulf
Coast.  Cristobal is expected to bring a several inches of heavy
rain just west of the Mississippi River together with gusty winds
and isolated severe weather during the next couple of days.

Meanwhile, an anomalously cold and vigorous upper trough for early
June continues to swing through the western U.S. and into the
northern Plains.  Strong to severe storms will be likely as a cold 
front slowly works its way across the region.
 
 
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Weekly Update from State Representative DeAnn Vaught

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This week, we want to remind you of a rapidly approaching deadline for incoming and returning college students. The deadline to apply for the Arkansas Academic Challenge Scholarship is July 1.

The Academic Challenge Program provides scholarships to Arkansas residents pursuing a higher education. Funded in large part by the Arkansas Scholarship Lottery, the Academic Challenge Scholarship is available to students just graduating from high school, currently enrolled in college, enrolling in college for the first time, or re-enrolling after a period of time out of college.

In the ten years since its inception, the lottery has raised more than $945 million to help provide more than 542,000 scholarships for college students. More than 92 cents of every dollar of lottery revenue goes to prizes, scholarships, retailer commissions, and other expenses in Arkansas.

Eligibility requirements forArkansas high school students include a minimum composite score on nineteen (19) on the ACT or the equivalent score on an ACT equivalent test.

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Eligibility requirements have been modified due to COVID-19. For students who are receiving Arkansas Challenge, if they were on track to have enough hours and earned satisfactory academic progress until March 27, they are automatically eligible for the Fall 2021 Semester.

To apply, visit the Department of Higher Education’s website,scholarships.adhe.edu, and complete the Arkansas YOUniversal Scholarship Application or download the free YOUniversal app for your smart phone. The online YOUniversal application is your one-stop shop for state and lottery funded financial aid.

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UA Cossatot Colt La Drakkus Thomas Signs with Crowley's Ridge

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Here at UA Cossatot, we are proud to announce that junior forward La Drakkus Thomas has signed a letter of intent to continue his college basketball career at Crowley's Ridge College. LT was a team leader and a fan favorite for the Colts and we know he will make us proud! Congrats LT!

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Governor Hutchinson’s Weekly Address | For the Protection and Safety of Peaceful Protests

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LITTLE ROCK – We saw peaceful protests, and unfortunately, some violence and criminal behavior across Arkansas this week. Today, I’d like to talk about our duty to protect free expression and the proper response of law enforcement when there is violence or destruction of property.

The death of George Floyd at the hands of a Minneapolis police officer is a travesty and a crime. The image of him lying face down on the street as an officer pinned him there with a knee on his neck is deeply disturbing.

His cries of “I can’t breathe. I can’t breathe.” will rightly haunt our collective conscience for a long time.

I understand the anger that compelled people to take up posters and march to the state capitol and in various cities in Arkansas.  We share in their sorrow and acknowledge their anger and their demand for justice.

I’ve listened to members of the community. I hear their cries for change. We will continue to talk and seek solutions. As governor, I will protect your right to march and express yourself in whatever peaceful and lawful way you choose. 

Ninety-five percent of the protesters in Little Rock this week marched peacefully. The police officers who were standing by were there to make sure the protesters were safe. When they blocked the interstate and put themselves and others in harm’s way, officers encouraged them to move.

Each night, as the hour grew later, a few in the crowd did things that put others at risk. They poured flammable liquids on the road and set them afire. They threw fireworks. They threw rocks and bottles at police. They broke windows, beat a journalist, and destroyed property. That’s when the police responded.

On Saturday, I activated the National Guard. On Tuesday, I declared a state of emergency, which directed the State Police to form a Unified Command structure so that all levels of law enforcement could work together. The Unified Command respects the chain of command from the city police departments to the state police to the National Guard. It simply created and defined a chain of command for a specific need in a troubled time in our state.

Three nights in a row, police had to disperse the crowd. Many protesters ignored the curfew that Mayor Frank Scott, Jr. had put in place. Even then, officers showed restraint. But as some in the crowd grew more aggressive and began to set fires and throw rocks through store windows, police had to act. They had to stop the lawbreakers and protect the peaceful protesters.

When I saw the violence increase on Monday night, I knew we couldn’t let that happen again. The rule of law is important to us all. Tuesday night, nine agencies from all levels of government participated in the patrol, and officers quickly contained the elements of the crowd who were there only to coordinate and motivate destructive behavior. They were there to confront police and destroy property. They didn’t care that their violence might overshadow the message of the peaceful marchers.

When protesters march in Arkansas to express their grief and anger, we must protect them and their right to peacefully speak their mind.

When the protest turns into violence and vandalism, we must protect everyone else. That’s what we did this week.

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AFMC Initiates Substance Misuse Coalition in Hempstead and Howard Counties

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LITTLE ROCK, ARK – June 4, 2020 – Families in Hempstead and Howard counties have a new opportunity to get help for their younger family members. AFMC, with funding from the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), is recruiting and leading a consortium of organizations that are serving people in the southwest region of Arkansas. Called the “Substance Abuse Resource Assistance Coalition” (SARAC), the coalition will coordinate services for young victims of opioid and substance misuse crime, and help families find resources and services.

Hempstead and Howard counties were chosen for the DOJ grant because, despite the federal government’s significant investments in Arkansas to combat substance abuse, these counties have not benefited through direct initiatives.

Residents of Hempstead and Howard counties live in a medically underserved area. Coupled with a scarcity of medical and social services, they also face a higher than average opioid prescription-drug rate and high levels of illicit drug misuse. The stigma about mental health treatment makes opioid use disorder (OUD) treatment and recovery particularly challenging.

Children and youth who are neglected by addicted parents or victimized in their communities are the most vulnerable population impacted by the opioid crisis. Children are caught in the middle without the health care and social service resources they need to build resilience against these upheavals.

These children can accumulate adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) at a high rate. ACEs can include abuse, neglect or household dysfunction that lead to an increased risk of physical and mental chronic disease, early death, and alcohol or drug misuse later in life. More than 15% of adults in Hempstead and Howard counties have experienced four or more ACEs.

Families can encounter the child welfare system while they are coping with their own or a family member’s substance use disorder (SUD). Because SUD treatment services do not coordinate with child welfare services, it can create complex problems for families seeking behavioral health, substance abuse and family violence services.

“Dealing with the threat of going to foster care plus trying to cope with family incarceration, overdoses, drug violence and other traumatic events are things no child should have to face alone. They need help and SARAC is poised to deliver it,” Ray Hanley, president and CEO of AFMC, said.

The SARAC coalition will provide families in crisis with comprehensive family-centered treatment services for both the child welfare and substance abuse treatment systems. AFMC will manage the SARAC call center that will respond to referrals initiated by community partners such as health care providers, law enforcement agencies, courts and schools. The call center can be reached at 866-253-1164 and is scheduled to be open July 1, 2020.

When children are identified by a care-delivery partner, the partner will submit a referral to the SARAC call center. SARAC staff will conduct an assessment to identify family needs and local resources. An individualized service coordination plan will be developed to ensure continued access to needed services to maximize healing, recovery, and resilience for these children and their families. Call center staff will assist families of youth ages 0 to 18 years by identifying and coordinating resources, finding medical providers, getting employment help, and applying for health insurance, nutrition programs and utilities assistance.

On a parallel path, AFMC will raise community awareness about ACEs and building resilience, specifically among medical and behavioral health providers. AFMC-certified trainers will work with SARAC’s frontline partners to provide trauma-informed care training and screening tools. A trauma-informed approach provides a framework that involves understanding, recognizing, and responding to trauma’s effect and building a sense of control and empowerment. SARAC will also offer comprehensive assistance to parents to address behaviors that predispose them to child maltreatment. While individual resilience is important, a community-wide focus on resilience and trauma-informed care will lead to healing.

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UA Cossatot’s Secondary Career Center Awards 81 Certificates

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The Secondary Career Center at UA Cossatot is a high school program designed to help teenagers earn college credit in technical programs while still in high school. UA Cossatot recently awarded 70 students from the Secondary Career Center with 81 certificates. The college also awarded 1,816 college credit hours to 227 students enrolled in the program for the spring 2020 semester.

High school students can enroll in the Secondary Career Center beginning their junior year of high school. Juniors and seniors can take college credit hours in automotive service technology, diesel service technology, medical professions, welding, and industrial technology. Students attend classes at a UA Cossatot campus during the morning or afternoon and can take up to half of their course requirements in high school to obtain their degree or technical certificate with the potential of Certificates of Proficiency being earned before high school graduation.

The Secondary Career Center at UA Cossatot helps high school students get a head start on college, but it also helps them save money. The classes offered through the Secondary Career Center are available to high school students at no charge.

The Secondary Career Center also provides students the opportunity to learn about technical careers they may be interested in or want to consider.

For more information about UA Cossatot’s Secondary Career Center or to enroll in available courses for the fall 2020 semester, please contact High School Programs Director, Julie Rhodes at 870-584-1343 or jrhodes@cccua.edu

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Online Education is Affordable at UA Cossatot

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Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many colleges and universities across the nation are offering the majority of their classes strictly online. With so much uncertainty about on-campus course work, college students are being encouraged to sign up for courses with an online format. UA Cossatot, the first college in Arkansas to offer a fully-accredited degree completely online, has been offering online education since 1997 and continues to offer several classes, certificates, and degrees online for students to take at a friendly price.

UA Cossatot has eight associate degrees, two associate of applied science degrees, five technical certificates, and two certificates of proficiency that can be completed 100% online. The majority of classes in other degrees and certificates at UA Cossatot can be completed online as well.

Students can earn degrees and certificates in general studies, business, agriculture, criminal justice, and psychology, to name a few, without ever stepping on one of UA Cossatot’s campuses.

Tuition at UA Cossatot is $74 per credit hour, meaning full-time in-district resident students taking 12 hours can expect to pay less than $1600 a semester. Additionally, UA Cossatot’s online courses generally require no textbook purchases, saving students over $500 each semester.

UA Cossatot was recently listed as one of the Top 60 Online Community Colleges in the nation. Out of 60 colleges, UA Cossatot was ranked at number 15 and was also listed as the most affordable online community college in the country, according to Intelligent.com, a trusted resource for online degree rankings and higher education planning.

UA Cossatot Student Accounts Officer, Tiana Kelly, said, “Taking classes at a community college is a great option. If students are going to have to pay for coursework online, they might as well take them at UA Cossatot, where they will be far cheaper! We are happy to welcome local, transfer, new, and returning students to our college. UA Cossatot students are given the option to make monthly payments through the mail, online, or over the phone. To set up payment plans, please call the business office at 870-584-1113. We would love to help you and answer any questions!”

For more information about online classes or online programs offered at UA Cossatot, please contact Student Services at studentservices@cccua.edu or 870-584-4471.

 
 
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UA Cossatot Releases Three-Phase Plan for Reopening

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The purpose of this three-phase plan is to prepare UA Cossatot’s staff, students, and community for the gradual reopening of all UA Cossatot campuses.

Based on current guidance, UA Cossatot will employ a gradual return to normal for our students and community. Since the advent of COVID-19 in our community, UA Cossatot has shuttered campuses to students and visitors. Employees of UA Cossatot have been allowed to work from home (providing employees can effectively and productively complete their job duties) from the very beginning of the COVID-19 epidemic, while many employees have been coming to work on campus under strict social distancing and other CDC safety guidelines. This plan is designed to guide our college and inform our public through the summer to prepare for a full reopening this fall. UA Cossatot’s COVID-19 Task Force is currently preparing the reopening plan for fall of 2020.

This plan should be considered a fluid response to the COVID-19 epidemic and may be changed based on the prevailing or impending health conditions locally, statewide, and regionally.

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