Gun Safety

Lawmakers advance school phone ban, reject gun safety bill

KUAR | By Daniel Breen

Arkansas lawmakers are nearing final approval of an effort to ban cell phone use in all public schools in the state.

Members of the House Education Committee approved Senate Bill 142, also called the “Bell to Bell, No Cell Act,” in a meeting Thursday. The bill’s sponsor, Sen. Tyler Dees, R-Siloam Springs, said schools which piloted the program have reported positive results.

“Attendance records are improving, disciplinary issues are going down, drug-related offenses are going down, bullying cases are going down, student engagement is going up,” Dees said.

Lawmakers advance school phone ban, reject gun safety bill

4-H Outdoor County O’Rama in Sevier County

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Sevier County 4-H held their annual Outdoor County 4-H O’Rama. Due to COVID, the Outdoor O’Rama was held over various dates in March. The competitive events included gun safety and BB gun marksmanship, reel into sports fishing, and bicycle. The winners of these events will be eligible to compete at the District 4-H O’Rama that’s held in June. Even though it was a COVID year, 42 4-H’ers competed, which broke the record for the highest number of participants. Winners from each competition are as follows:

Gun Safety and BB Gun – JUNIORS: 1st – Drake Click, 2nd – Jake Seymour, 3rd –Ty Wagner, 4th - Charlie Collins, and 5th – Kaedon Davis. SENIORS: 1st – Hunter Frachiseur, 2nd – Ethan Wolcott, 3rd – Laikyn Morris, 4th - Brayden Frachiseur, and 5th – Kinlee Stivers.

Reel into Sports Fishing – JUNIORS: 1st – Landon Frachiseur, 2nd – Drake Click, 3rd – Pace Frachiseur, 4th – Jake Seymour, and 5th – Keegan McCoy. SENIORS: 1st – Hunter Frachiseur, 2nd - Brayden Frachiseur, 3rd – Ethan Wolcott, 4th – Kinlee Stivers, and 5th – Laikyn Morris

Bicycle – JUNIORS: 1st – Blair Bissell, 2nd – James Bartek, 3rd – Keegan McCoy, 4th- Wade Melton, and 5th - Libbie Bartek. SENIORS: 1st - Dori Bartek.

For more information on 4-H, contact Sevier County Extension Service at (870) 584-3013.

County Agent Rex Herring performing the skills portion of the 4-H Outdoor O’Rama Gun Safety test with Alex McCoy