Weekly Update from State Representative DeAnn Vaught

This week marked the 8th consecutive year of a heartwarming Christmas celebration at the Capitol. Legislators, Capitol staff, state agencies, and lobbyists gathered to spread holiday cheer by bringing gifts for children in foster care.

Year after year, this event is eagerly anticipated by participants as it brings much-needed joy and smiles to the faces of children in foster care. Moreover, it serves as a poignant reminder of the pressing need for loving homes to provide care.

As of now, Arkansas has over 3,800 children in foster care, each with their unique backgrounds, cultures, and families. These children, spanning various age groups from infants to teenagers, possess distinct personalities, abilities, interests, and potential.

Typically, children spend approximately 12 months in foster care. The duration of their stay is often tied to their biological parent's engagement in services aimed at ensuring the safety of their children. The primary objective of foster care is reunification, wherein a foster parent cares for a child until they can be returned home or until an alternative permanency decision is made. Placement durations vary, ranging from a few weeks to several months.

For those interested in making a lasting impact by becoming a foster parent, we encourage you to explore everychildarkansas.org. Every Child Arkansas is a collaborative initiative designed to connect Arkansans and address the needs of the state's most vulnerable children. In partnership with the Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS), Every Child Arkansas strives to offer love, care, and support to vulnerable children and families. It serves as a valuable resource to connect individuals with the right people in their community to initiate the foster parent certification process.

Sevier County Library December Snippets

The ladies at the De Queen Branch Library hope you have a Holly Jolly Christmas and remember the reason for the season. Beginning December 1st through December 15th area children can come in, receive a paper and envelope, write their letter to Santa, drop in our special mailbox and raise the flag. There is a trick to this so read carefully, your child’s name and address needs to be on the envelope in order to receive a reply from the north pole(wink).

Our 10th Annual Cocoa with Mrs. Claus will be December 18th at 11:00 am. There will be a story time, make a Christmas character, and paint by sticker for the first 30 children. There might even be some Christmas carols and or a special visitor.

Thanks to Tri-County Regional Library System for allowing our patrons the opportunity of E-books, via the Libbyapp by Overdrive. You can follow the instructions to download the libbyapp from our Facebook.com/seviercountylibrary or simply go to your play store on your device. Remember you must search “Arkansas Digital Library Consortium” and hold a valid library card to browse our selection. For more information, you can call 584-4364

Merry Christmas Everyone from the Horatio Library. Where has the time gone? We hope everyone has all their shopping done. We will be having our Christmas program on December the 4th at 10 a.m. We will also have a booth set up outside the library with information about early literacy, you will be able to get a library card and there will be information about our new app Libby. We will be set up outside until 12 for your convenience. We will have bookmarks, books and a door prize you can enter to win. This will be in conjunction with Christmas on Main and the Elf Parade. Horatio will also be having their Christmas Parade that day. There will be lots of fun things going on so make plans to stop by and see us. Every Thursday morning, we have a hot pot of coffee and a domino game going. Come by and join in on the fun. We hope to see you soon.

The Lockesburg Library has two events planned in December. On December 4th a “Come and Go Open House Tea Party” at 10:00. Stop by and bring your most Christmas-y teacup to show off. On December 11th at 10: 00 a children’s program, “A Pirate’s Night Before Christmas”. The program will include a story time with pirate-themed games and activities. For more information, call Mz. Wendy at 870-289-2233. For your convenience our book collection can be accessed at; https://evolveopac.infovisionsoftware.com/lockesburg

Merry Christmas from the Gillham Library! We want to thank all our Patrons for their support this year. There will be a virtual story time with Kelsie on our Facebook page December 17th. She will read “Who Will Pull Santa’s Sleigh”. We will be handing out treat bags starting December 17th, so come by and pick one up. We have several new Holiday themed books for the kids; “How to Catch a Gingerbread Man”, “How to Catch an Elf”, and “How to Catch a Snowman”. We have some great books for Adults too! Janet Evanovich’s “Game On”, Danielle Steel’s “Flying Angels”, and Louise Penny and Hillary Clinton’s “State of Terror”. We are now offering a new service, Notary only on Tuesdays. We can make copies or send faxes for you also. Tuesday 9-1, Friday 1-5, and Saturday 10-2. Merry Christmas and Happy New year from Rhonda, Kelsie and Mr. Bob.

De Queen Middle School Student Council Raises Money for Shop with a Cop

The De Queen Middle School Student Council recently sold t-shirts for their community service project. The students raised $599 and donated the funds to the local Shop with a Cop program. The local Shop with a Cop program is held each year during the holiday season by the De Queen Police Department and the Sevier County Sheriff's Department.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the year 2020 has been a trying year for just about everyone including the Shop with a Cop program. Donations have been minimal, and the funds donated by the DMS Student Council were a welcome gift. If you would like to donate to Shop with a Cop, please contact Beth Hughes with the De Queen Police Department at 870-642-2210 or Chad Dowdle with the Sevier County Sheriff’s Department at 870-642-2125.

Pictured: Bottom Row (left to right) - Kyleigh Faulkenberry, Gabriela Aguilar, Katie Williamson, Teralee Stewart, Jeremiah Coto, Elaine Tovar, Marlene Tellez

Second Row (left to right) - Tristan Marrufo, Beau McCullough, Mario Gonzalez, Captain Sonny Kimmel

Back Row (left to right) - PFC Michael Barnes, Mallory Tonihka, Officer Bobby Bagley, Lt. Chad Bradshaw, Officer Chris Turner, Officer Beth Hughes, Aubreye Gillmore

Christmas and Candlelight at Historic Washington State Park

CHRISTMAS AND CANDLELIGHT

December 5th and 12th, 2020

5 p.m. - 8 p.m.

We are gearing up for another Christmas and Candlelight. This year's event will be slightly different than years past.

The illuminated streets and beautiful 19th-century decorations will still be on display, but in-house tours will not be available due to health restrictions. Tours throughout the park will be free, and you will still be able to see fantastic programs given by Historic Washington staff at our selected historic sites. The 1874 Courthouse Visitor Center and Gift Shop will be open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Masks will be required to enter the building with limited capacity.

While touring the grounds at Historic Washington, guests are reminded to follow the recommended Arkansas Department of Health and CDC guidelines in keeping a good separation, at least 6 feet, from others while attending the event. Moreover, if you cannot maintain a proper distance, a face-covering is required.

Williams' Tavern will be open. Seating inside is limited, but outside seating will be available. You must wear a face-covering until you are served. Please click the button below for more information, and we hope to see you at Historic Washington for our Christmas and Candlelight event.