Annual Sevier County Banquet and Awards Ceremony to be Rescheduled Amid COVID-19

NEWS RELEASE

De Queen/Sevier County Chamber of Commerce   Contact: 870-584-3225

December 17th, 2020                                                               DQchamber@gmail.com 

 
DE QUEEN, AR- Due to COVID-19 safety concerns, The De Queen/Sevier County Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors has announced that the annual awards banquet slated for Spring 2021 is being postponed with a new date to be announced at a later time.

Held in February each year, the chamber banquet typically takes place at De Queen High School with tables reserved for members and guests, a meal served, a silent auction, and an awards presentation for recognized organizations, volunteers and businesses. In years past the ceremony has also included performances by The De Queen High School Jazz Band, a live emcee and serving provided by The De Queen High School cross country team. 

The decision to postpone the banquet came during a specially called Board of Directors meeting held this week on Tuesday, December 15th. With COVID case reports continuing to rise in Sevier County and the surrounding areas, the Chamber Board has agreed to prioritize the safety of the community by postponing the event until large gatherings can be held without concerns of COVID-19 exposure. 

Though the event will be pushed back on the calendar, banquet attendees can still expect a fun theme, table decorating contest, silent auction, meal and awards to be distributed as usual. The 2021 Banquet theme will also be announced as the rescheduled date draws closer.

Questions can be referred to 870-584-3225, DQchamber@gmail.com or message the De Queen/Sevier County Chamber of Commerce Facebook page.

As always, The Chamber board of Directors appreciates the support of all members and community representatives.  More information about the annual membership banquet will be released as details become available.

De Queen/Sevier County 

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

P.O. Box 67 - 315 W. Stilwell Ave. 

De Queen, Arkansas 71832

870-584-3225

National Anthem Auditions for Basketball Games at UA Cossatot

For more information or to sign up for an audition slot time, please contact Kaytlynn Franklin at kfranklin@cccua.edu or 870-584-1344.

Photos L to R: Haylie Melendez, Jare De La Rosa, Tanesha Van Horn

All UA Cossatot Campuses Closed for the Holidays Through January 4th

In observance of the Holiday Season, all campuses of UA Cossatot closed Friday and will remain closed until January 4th. The Spring 2020 semester begins January 11th. From everyone at UAC, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Weekly Update from State Representative DeAnn Vaught

Arkansans may see an increase in the amount of their paychecks next year. The Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration (DFA) announced this week that the income tax withholding tables will change effective January 1, 2021.

DFA says this change is not a tax increase or cut, but with the law change that reduces the top personal income tax rate from 6.6% to 5.9% next month, the withholding change will put that reduction in paychecks beginning January 2021. Without this change, many Arkansans wouldn’t see the bulk of their tax cut until they received it in their tax refund in 2022.

This is the second change DFA has recently implemented to the withholding tables. The first adjustment took place March 1, 2020. The March 2020 adjustment put $15 million each month into the pockets of Arkansans via increased paychecks. The January 2021 adjustment will place an additional $7 million each month into paychecks.

The law that reduced the tax rate was Act 182 passed by the 92nd General Assembly.

We anticipate the 93rd General Assembly will address further tax cut proposals.

Several pieces of legislation addressing future tax cuts have been filed in advance of the 2021 Regular Session.

The latest revenue report shows revenues are 11.4% higher than this time last year. Five months into the fiscal year, revenue is now $283.3 million above forecast.

This week, we also learned that the state’s unemployment rate remained stable at 6.2% between October and November. The national unemployment rate is at 6.7%.

We will continue to monitor the employment rates and revenue reports as we prepare for the next legislative session. The 2021 Regular Session begins on January 11.

Arkansas Job Numbers Decline in November; Jobless Rate Stays at 6.2%

by Talk Business & Politics staff

Similar declines in the state’s available work force and the number of employed kept Arkansas’ November jobless rate at 6.2%, unchanged from October and well below the 3.5% in November 2019.

The number of employed in Arkansas during November was an estimated 1,244,877, down 71,264 jobs, or 5.4% lower, compared with November 2019, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. November employment was down 2,746 jobs compared with October. The year-over-year job losses are up compared to the 67,353 between October 2019 and October 2020.

https://talkbusiness.net/2020/12/arkansas-job-numbers-decline-in-november-but-jobless-rate-stays-at-6-2/

Supreme Court To Hear Arkansas Medicaid Work Requirement Case

By DANIEL BREEN

An upcoming case going before the U.S. Supreme Court could permanently halt Arkansas’ first-in-the-nation work requirement for some Medicaid recipients.

The requirement mandates that people receiving health insurance through the state’s Medicaid expansion program, called Arkansas Works, report 80 hours of work per month to an online portal. By the time the requirement was put on hold in April 2019, roughly 18,000 Arkansans had lost coverage for failing to comply with the requirement.

https://www.ualrpublicradio.org/post/supreme-court-hear-arkansas-medicaid-work-requirement-case

Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson outlines the work requirement for certain Arkansas Works Medicaid recipients at a press conference on March 6, 2017.

CREDIT MICHAEL HIBBLEN / KUAR NEWS

After Record Year, Arkansas State Parks Reduce Operations Due to COVID-19 Surge

By DANIEL CARUTH

Following a record year as more people jumped at the chance to spend time outdoors during the pandemic, Arkansas State Parks is cutting back hours and operations at its visitor centers, museums, restaurants and two marinas in response to a surge in COVID-19 cases.

https://www.kuaf.com/post/after-record-year-arkansas-state-parks-reduce-operations-due-covid-19-surge

Renters, Advocates Demand Action From Governor As Congress Hashes Out New Aid Package

By ZUZANNA SITEK

With the CDC moratorium on eviction set to expire Dec. 31, activists gathered at the governor's mansion in Little Rock and the governor's home in Rogers this week to demand action from the state in the form a state moratorium and financial assistance to renters. At the same time, renters, landlords and advocates wait anxiously for the U.S. Congress to pass another stimulus package that includes rental and utility assistance and a moratorium extension, as well as direct payments to taxpayers.

https://www.kuaf.com/post/renters-advocates-demand-action-governor-congress-hashes-out-new-aid-package

A small group of protesters gathered outside Governor Asa Hutchinson's home in Rogers on Wednesday evening.

COURTESY / CLINT SCHNEKLOTH

Sunday COVID-19 Update from the Arkansas Department of Health

COVID-19 Metrics for Sevier County
Total Cumulative Cases: 1,951
Confirmed Cases: 1,510
Probable Cases: 441
Total Active Cases: 96
Active Confirmed Cases: 48
Active Probable Cases: 48

COVID-19 Metrics for Howard County
Total Cumulative Cases: 1,016
Confirmed Cases: 750
Probable Cases: 266
Total Active Cases: 111
Active Confirmed Cases: 52
Active Probable Cases: 59

COVID-19 Metrics for Little River County
Total Cumulative Cases: 722
Confirmed Cases: 591
Probable Cases: 131
Total Active Cases: 27
Active Confirmed Cases: 19
Active Probable Cases: 8

COVID-19 Metrics for Polk County
Total Cumulative Cases: 1,107
Confirmed Cases: 1,000
Probable Cases: 107
Total Active Cases: 121
Active Confirmed Cases: 106
Active Probable Cases: 15

COVID-19 Metrics for Pike County
Total Cumulative Cases: 554
Confirmed Cases: 471
Probable Cases: 83
Total Active Cases: 83
Active Confirmed Cases: 54
Active Probable Cases: 29

UA Cossatot Virtual Graduation 2020 December 18th

Governor Hutchinson’s Weekly Address | The COVID-19 Vaccine Arrives in Arkansas

LITTLE ROCK – Sherian Kwanisai stepped into Arkansas history this week as the first person in the state to be vaccinated for COVID-19, and today I’d like to talk about the significance of this in our nine-month battle against the coronavirus.

Sherian is a 27-year employee of the Arkansas Department of Health. She is director of nursing for the Center for Local Public Health and works with approximately 400 public health nurses spread throughout all 75 counties. She has been in the trenches since COVID-19 arrived in March. She coordinates testing, and she has swabbed a fair number of patients herself.

The immunization program is rapidly gaining momentum. The FDA authorized the Pfizer vaccine for emergency use last weekend. That is the medicine that arrived in Little Rock on Monday. Now, an FDA advisory council has endorsed a second vaccine, which is made by Moderna. When the FDA authorizes it, we will quickly increase the number of people we can vaccinate, and we expect to have the first Moderna shipments on Tuesday.

Arkansas received about 25,000 doses in its first shipment, and after four days of vaccinations, more than 4,000 Arkansas health care workers received a shot this week in the initial phase.

Pfizer shipped the initial doses to 18 larger hospitals, the Department of Health, and several pharmacies. The larger hospitals vaccinated staff members who are at the highest risk of exposure. Pharmacies vaccinated staff at smaller hospitals that didn’t receive direct shipments. The Department of Health vaccinated staff, such as Sherian, who are at a high risk of exposure.

Sherian believes the vaccine is our light at the end of the pandemic tunnel. She was elated to be the first Arkansan to take the shot. She wanted to lead by example, especially for other African Americans, who historically have been skeptical about new or experimental medicine. Sherian volunteered to take the first shot.  

When Sherian was young, she wanted to be an architect, but her grandmother persuaded her to become a nurse. She studied the prerequisite classes at the University of Arkansas Little Rock and graduated from nursing school at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences. When she was considering a change in her career, a friend suggested public health. The only thing Sherian knew about the field was that public-health nurses gave a lot of shots. Nearly 30 years later, Sherian is one of the most experienced public-health nurses in Arkansas, and she has given out a lot of shots.  In the first week of COVID-19 vaccinations, Sherian has immunized about fifteen patients. We are well on our way to vaccinating thousands of Arkansans, which is the only way we are ever going to beat this virus.

The shot didn’t hurt, and the only aftereffect was a little soreness in her arm. We are fortunate to have state employees such as Sherian on the front lines whose mission in life is to care for people. She has inspired us this week by stepping to the front of the line for a COVID shot and showing us it’s really not so bad. I join Sherian in encouraging everyone to get the vaccination when it comes your turn.

Friday COVID-19 Arkansas Health Department Update

COVID-19 Metrics for Sevier County
Total Cumulative Cases: 1,921
Confirmed Cases: 1,489
Probable Cases: 432
Total Active Cases: 82
Active Confirmed Cases: 39
Active Probable Cases: 43

COVID-19 Metrics for Howard County
Total Cumulative Cases: 977
Confirmed Cases: 735
Probable Cases: 242
Total Active Cases: 88
Active Confirmed Cases: 44
Active Probable Cases: 44

COVID-19 Metrics for Little River County
Total Cumulative Cases: 716
Confirmed Cases: 585
Probable Cases: 131
Total Active Cases: 27
Active Confirmed Cases: 16
Active Probable Cases: 11

COVID-19 Metrics for Polk County
Total Cumulative Cases: 1,085
Confirmed Cases: 981
Probable Cases: 104
Total Active Cases: 127
Active Confirmed Cases: 113
Active Probable Cases: 14

COVID-19 Metrics for Pike County
Total Cumulative Cases: 533
Confirmed Cases: 461
Probable Cases: 72
Total Active Cases: 85
Active Confirmed Cases: 61
Active Probable Cases: 24

LITTLE ROCK – Governor Asa Hutchinson provided today's update on Arkansas's COVID-19 response.

In its Thursday update, the Arkansas Department of Health reported 3,039 new cases; 21,659 active cases; 1,084 hospitalized, which is up 5 from Wednesday; 188 on ventilators, which is up 4 from Wednesday; deaths added today, 38, for a total of 3,112; a total of 194,543 cases; 146,287 recoveries; PCR tests, 14,056; antigen tests, 3,275.

The Health Department reported that the top counties for new cases are Washington, 326; Pulaski, 288; Benton, 226; Craighead, 153; and Saline, 113.

Governor Hutchinson released the following statement on today’s COVID-19 numbers:

“The 3,039 new cases today is a milestone we did not want to reach. With over 17,000 COVID-19 test results over the past 24 hours, we see our testing continues to increase and identify cases. If we isolate and quarantine as needed, then the identifying of cases will help control the spread. We continue to work on vaccine distribution, but we have to focus on distancing and wearing our mask to slow this virus down."

Here are today's COVID-19 statewide numbers:

Governor Hutchinson Receives Law-Enforcement Task Force Report, Highlights Action Items

LITTLE ROCK – Governor Hutchinson received the final report from the Task Force to Advance the State of Law Enforcement in Arkansas today and shared its recommendations that the Governor intends to support during the 93rd General Assembly in January.

“I created the law-enforcement task force in the midst of the civil unrest and violence that arose across the country after the death of George Floyd,” Governor Hutchinson said. “That national crisis led us to assess the state of law enforcement in Arkansas. We want to ensure that we are providing our agencies with the equipment, guidance and training, support, and compensation, that will allow them to perform their jobs at the highest level. The law-enforcement officers, elected officials, and community activists on the task force surveyed a broad base of citizens and produced a report that is filled with substantive proposals.” 

The proposals include 27 recommendation to increase accountability, training, and raise pay to a more competitive level.

Fred Weatherspoon, deputy director of the Arkansas Law Enforcement Training Academy, chaired the committee. The other members of the task force are:

• Secretary Jami Cook, Department of Public Safety (DPS)

• Sheriff Marty Boyd, Craighead County Sheriff’s Office

• Tim Campbell, Citizen Advocate, Little Rock

• Kendrell Collins, Assistant Federal Public Defender

• Emma Davis, Citizen Advocate, Van Buren

• Lt. Col. Shawn Garner, Arkansas State Police

• Gina Gomez, El Centrano Hispano

• Sgt. Allen Hamby, Little Rock Police Department

• Scott Hamilton, Urban League

• Sheriff Tim Helder, Washington County Sheriff’s Offic

• Layla Holloway, Citizen Advocate, Van Buren

• Mike Knoedl, Retired Law Enforcement Officer

• Daniel Martinez, Business Owner, De Queen

• Bob McMahan, Arkansas Officer of Prosecutor Coordinator

• Chief Mike Reynolds, Fayetteville Police Department

• Mayor James Sanders, Blytheville

• Geovanny Sarmiento, Rogers Chamber of Commerce

• Randy Shores, Arkansas Department of Corrections

• Steve Shults, Black River Law Enforcement Training Academy

• Jimmy Warren, Citizen Advocate, Conway

• Mayor Shirley Washington, Pine Bluff

• Chief Percy Wilburn, Lake Village Police Department

• Sgt. Coty Williams, Arkansas State Police

• Tomekia Williamson, Arkansas Community Corrections

The highlights are here.

The full report is here.

De Queen Mayor Jeff Brown at Ed 88 Studios

Mayor Brown discussed the new Splash Pad, purchased with funds from Pilgrims, coming to De Queen next year.

House, Senate Decline to Meet Before Session to Consider Governor’s Emergency Pandemic Order

by Roby Brock (roby@talkbusiness.net)

Less than a week after Gov. Asa Hutchinson suggested the state Legislature meet in a Committee of the Whole to consider supporting his emergency declaration due to COVID-19, leaders of both chambers said Tuesday (Dec. 15) they would wait until the regular session in January 2021.

In a televised prime time speech to the state last Thursday, Gov. Hutchinson asked the legislature to support his current COVID-19 emergency declaration, which began in March and has been most recently extended to Dec. 31, 2020. The declaration has allowed the governor to restrict and expand a number of activities in the interest of public health.

https://talkbusiness.net/2020/12/house-senate-decline-to-meet-before-session-to-consider-governors-emergency-pandemic-order/

Group Names Arkansas Most Pro-Life State In America

Arkansas is the most pro-life state in the nation according to a national anti-abortion advocacy group.

The designation comes from the Washington, D.C.-based Americans United for Life, which ranks each state based on laws and policies aimed at restricting access to the procedure.

https://www.ualrpublicradio.org/post/group-names-arkansas-most-pro-life-state-america

Arkansas Attorney General Leslie Rutledge speaks in a news conference alongside Republican state officials and representatives of local pro-life groups.

CREDIT DANIEL BREEN / KUAR NEWS

Tulsa Airport First in Country to Offer Onsite COVID-19 Testing, Results

By ANTOINETTE GRAJEDA

Alpha Medical Laboratory will administer and process COVID-19 PCR tests on a walk-in or appointment basis at Tulsa International Airport starting Jan. 4, 2021. Testing will be open to all ticketed passengers who are flying or have flown within three days and can show proof of travel.

https://www.kuaf.com/post/tulsa-airport-first-country-offer-onsite-covid-19-testing-results

Thursday COVID-19 Update from the Arkansas Department of Health

LITTLE ROCK – Governor Asa Hutchinson provided today's update on Arkansas's COVID-19 response.

In its Wednesday update, the Arkansas Department of Health reported 2,306 new cases; 20,774 active cases; 1,079 hospitalized, which is up 9 from Tuesday; 184 on ventilators, which is down 6 from Tuesday; deaths added today, 58, for a total of 3,074; a total of 191,504 cases; 144,621 recoveries; PCR tests, 8,885; antigen tests, 4,696.

The Health Department reported that the top counties for new cases are Pulaski, 242; Washington, 159; Benton, 153; Craighead, 110; and Faulkner, 103.

Governor Hutchinson released the following statement on today’s COVID-19 numbers:

“Yesterday was a new record in antigen testing in Arkansas, and new cases are running flat week over week. Regretfully, we also saw another record in new deaths, with 58 deaths reported yesterday. We are distributing the vaccine across the state for our health care workers, and we continue to see high levels of community spread."

Here are today's COVID-19 statewide numbers:

COVID-19 Metrics for Sevier County
Total Active Cases: 81
Active Confirmed Cases: 35
Active Probable Cases: 46

COVID-19 Metrics for Howard County
Total Active Cases: 84
Active Confirmed Cases: 44
Active Probable Cases: 40

COVID-19 Metrics for Little River County
Total Active Cases: 24
Active Confirmed Cases: 16
Active Probable Cases: 8

COVID-19 Metrics for Polk County
Total Active Cases: 126
Active Confirmed Cases: 111
Active Probable Cases: 15

COVID-19 Metrics for Pike County
Total Active Cases: 86
Active Confirmed Cases: 67
Active Probable Cases: 19

LIVE VIDEO: Task Force to Advance the State of Law Enforcement in Arkansas (TASLEA) Submits Report to Governor Thursday 1PM

Free Pizza Through the Holidays at Simple Simon's in De Queen

In an effort to combat food insecurity this Christmas Break, Sevier County Students can come by and get a Free Slice on us!