Sevier County Arkansas

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Sevier County Achieves Certification as ACT® Work Ready Community

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Sevier County today announced it has met all criteria to become a certified ACT Work Ready Community, demonstrating its commitment to developing a strong workforce pipeline, desirable to employers, economic developers and current and future citizens of the county. The ACT® Work Ready Communities (ACT® WRC) initiative empowers states, regions and counties with data, processes and tools that drive economic growth by identifying skills gaps and quantifying the skill level of their workforce. Participants leverage the ACT® WorkKeys® National Career Readiness Certificate® (ACT® WorkKeys® NCRC®) to measure and close skills gaps and build common frameworks that link, align and match their workforce development efforts.

To begin the certification process, Sevier County leaders attended the ACT Work Ready Communities Boot Camp, an executive leadership and training program designed and led by ACT to initiate, deploy, and drive carefully tailored efforts to improve the county’s work readiness. Leaders met with local employers, policymakers, educators and economic developers to establish goals and build a sustainable WRC model to fit community needs.

“I’ve had the honor to lead our team on this initiative and we have a great group from UA Cossatot, the De Queen/Mena Educational Cooperative, De Queen Public Schools, Horatio Public Schools, and several employers in Sevier County that recognize the NCRC credential. This has been a group effort and we’re so proud of our employers, educators, and workforce for adopting this method and for being the first in our region to complete the metrics required to be certified,” said Tiffany Maurer, Economic Development Director for Sevier County.

“Congratulations to Sevier for becoming an ACT Work Ready Community and joining a growing list of counties dedicated to building a robust workforce,” said ACT Regional Manager of Workforce Initiatives, Tony Garife. “The efforts of the county leadership to achieve WRC certification will provide the community with a tremendous economic development advantage and help it stand out for its workforce development efforts.”

For more information on this initiative, go to www.workreadycommunities.org and view all of ACT’s workforce solutions at www.act.org/workforce

For more information on becoming an employer recognizing the WorkKeys NCRC, contact Sevier County Economic Development Director, Tiffany Maurer, at tmaurer@cccua.edu or 870-584-1184.

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Sevier County 4-H Has A Busy December

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Submitted by: Kim Frachiseur, 4-H Program Assistant

While the year was winding down, your Sevier County 4-Her’s were still just as busy. During the month of December 4-Her’s were busy doing multiple activities. One successful project was the Hospital Fundraiser. The Goin’ Showin’ Club received a grant of $200 from the Arkansas 4-H Foundation and 4-H Alumni to use to better their community. They chose to team up with the Sevier County Medical Board Foundation and set a goal to double their money to donate to the new hospital. By holding a chicken lunch fundraiser, they surpassed their goal and donated $1,585.

The Sevier County 4-Her’s also helped the Brothers Keepers Motorcycle Club, or the BKMC, with a few of their Christmas projects. Not only did they deliver to 58 youth for the Sevier County Toys-4-Tots, but they also helped out with the BKMC’s shopping day. The BKMC took 120 youth shopping to help multiple families. Three 4-Her’s stepped up and went the extra mile. Hunter Frachiseur, Aubrey Seymour, and Ethan Wolcott helped families by providing food boxes (big thanks to the De Queen Church of Christ), take-home crafts, multiple county resources, and even monthly hygiene products. Not only did 4-H assist BKMC, but they also provided the same help at Christmas 911, formerly known as Shop w/a Cop.

Other projects that happened in Sevier County 4-H in the month of December were homemade ornaments with the Froglevel Hoppers, Christmas parade float with the Goin’ Showin’ club, blessing boxes with Infinity Club, and so many more. If you are interested in joining 4-H, please call the Sevier County Extension Office at 870-584-3013.

The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture is an equal opportunity/equal access/affirmative action institution. If you require a reasonable accommodation to participate or need materials in another format, please contact the Sevier County Extension Office as soon as possible. Dial 711 for Arkansas Relay.

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Active COVID-19 Cases in SW Arkansas

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Active Cases Data for Sevier County
Total Active Cases: 112

Active Cases Data for Howard County
Total Active Cases: 105

Active Cases Data for Little River County
Total Active Cases: 94

Active Cases Data for Polk County
Total Active Cases: 157

Active Cases Data for Pike County
Total Active Cases: 75

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“This is Home” -Sixty years of Scissors, Succession and Service in Sevier County, Arkansas

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DE QUEEN, AR— After finishing High School, Gehri Packnett was looking for a job when he discovered an opportunity that ended up lasting him a lifetime. 

In February of 1962, he walked into a Barber shop in De Queen, Arkansas and he hasn’t had any other job since being given a chance that day.

After completing barber college in Little Rock, Gehri began his career at the shop that was then called “George’s,” and after 10 years he bought the business and changed the storefront’s name to his own in 1972. The shop changed ownership again 36 years later in 2008 when Gehri’s stepson, Jeff purchased it and gave the store his name. Now, the duo work side by side together and provide services for a faithful base of clients who have counted on them since the days of their first childhood trims.

 Cutting hair on the Downtown Square in De Queen was the first job Gehri ever got, the only job he has ever had, and the only job he says he ever wants. In February 2022, the Oklahoma native will celebrate 60 years of visiting with customers, sharing stories, preparing locals for special occasions and “making those guys look good.”

For six decades, Gehri has watched the community change and grow as businesses in the Southwest border town have come and gone over the years. Despite receiving offers in Texarkana, Arkadelphia, and Little Rock, Gehri has turned down every business proposition to come his way because he only wants to live and work in De Queen. “This is home,” he says. “I grew up 8 miles from De Queen on the state line near the Rock creek area of Oklahoma. I’ve given a lot of these guys their first haircuts and I still cut their hair to this day.”

Patrons of the shop can build a relationship with guys who know the town’s history and have run a family business in the same location for more than half a century. The Father and Stepson team are currently the shop’s only employees, but in the past, Gehri’s Wife Judy, sister Terri, and his son, Scott have helped out with maintaining the family-owned operation.

When asked the secret of his business and career longevity, Gehri says simply “Sticking with it” is the key. Continuing to “stick with it” is exactly what Gehri Packnett intends to do, as he says he has no plans for retirement, and he intends to cut hair in De Queen Arkansas until his last days.

Jeff’s Barber Shop is located at 308 West De Queen Avenue in Downtown De Queen, Arkansas, and they are open Tuesday-Friday from 7:00am-5:00pm and Saturdays 7:00am-2:00pm.

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Active COVID Cases in SW Arkansas

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Active Cases Data for Sevier County
Total Active Cases: 147

Active Cases Data for Howard County
Total Active Cases: 156

Active Cases Data for Little River County
Total Active Cases: 118

Active Cases Data for Polk County
Total Active Cases: 164

Active Cases Data for Pike County
Total Active Cases: 121