Howard News

COVID-19 Update for SW Arkansas from the Arkansas Department of Health

Active Cases Data for Sevier County
Total Active Cases: 49

Active Cases Data for Howard County
Total Active Cases: 37

Active Cases Data for Little River County
Total Active Cases: 29

Active Cases Data for Polk County
Total Active Cases: 6

Active Cases Data for Pike County
Total Active Cases: 20

Active COVID-19 Cases in SW Arkansas

Active Cases Data for Sevier County
Total Active Cases: 64

Active Cases Data for Howard County
Total Active Cases: 42

Active Cases Data for Little River County
Total Active Cases: 50

Active Cases Data for Polk County
Total Active Cases: 10

Active Cases Data for Pike County
Total Active Cases: 12

Active COVID-19 Cases in SW Arkansas

Active Cases Data for Sevier County
Total Active Cases: 86

Active Cases Data for Howard County
Total Active Cases: 23

Active Cases Data for Little River County
Total Active Cases: 55

Active Cases Data for Polk County
Total Active Cases: 9

Active Cases Data for Pike County
Total Active Cases: 12

UA Cossatot’s OER Program Has Saved Students Nearly 2.5 Million Since 2015

PRESS RELEASE
183 College Drive, De Queen, AR 71832
870-584-1172
www.cccua.edu

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 25 October 2021
CONTACT: Dustin Roberts, Director of Development

UA Cossatot’s OER Program Saves Students Nearly 2.5 Million Since 2015

UA Cossatot’s Open Educational Resource (OER) program has saved students of the college nearly 2.5 million in textbook rental fees. Since 2015, the program has saved students $2,238,961.07.

“We began our innovative internal textbook rental and OER program with a primary goal of removing the financial barrier expensive textbooks posed to our students and it’s clear that we’ve accomplished that goal. In six short years, we’ve saved our students millions of dollars in textbook expenses and we continue to lead Arkansas in OER usage among two-year colleges,” said OER Specialist and Director of Educational Resources Relinda Ruth.

UA Cossatot students have saved $433,793.85 for the three semesters of 2020-21. In addition, UA Cossatot’s OER adoption has grown significantly. At the end of the 2015-16 academic year, UA Cossatot was 35% OER. Currently, the college is at 65%.

Chancellor Dr. Steve Cole said, “In 2015, we decided that college did not have to cost as much as it does and we knew that if we developed a way students could save money, it would help students reach their goals. Eliminating most, if not all, of the costs associated with textbooks was something that we knew would help students clear a major hurdle in their educational pursuits. Six years later, our faculty have converted 65% of all UA Cossatot courses to Open Educational Resources (OER), meaning zero textbook cost for their courses. We will always keep looking for creative ways to make college more affordable to our students.”

Director Ruth will present at Open Florida, speaking on “Zero to Sixty in Five Years: University of Arkansas-Cossatot Pathway to 60% Participation.” In addition, Ruth will travel to Atlanta next year and present at the SREB conference, speaking on “Developmental Education and College Readiness.”

For more information on UA Cossatot’s OER program, contact Relinda Ruth at 870-584-1181 or rruth@cccua.edu.

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The University of Arkansas Cossatot is a community college in Southwest Arkansas accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. Offering technical certification and Associate degrees, UAC also collaborates with other colleges and universities to offer bachelor's degrees on its three campuses. UAC is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Institution in compliance with the Higher Education Act of 1965 and other Civil Rights laws and offers equal opportunity for admission and employment. Employment preference is given to applicants possessing a Career Readiness Certificate (CRC) with all other qualifications being equal. Programs and activities of UAC are provided to all students without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, age, disability, Vietnam era veteran or special disabled veteran status, or sex. Questions or concerns regarding affirmative action can be directed to the Compliance Officer, c/o UA Cossatot, 183 College Drive, De Queen, AR 71832. For Arkansas RELAY Voiced Services call 711 or 800-285-1121. Visit www.cccua.edu for more information.

Severe Weather Briefing for Arkansas

The potential for severe weather remains for Sunday night into the early morning hours on Monday. All severe hazards will be possible, including damaging winds, large hail, and some tornadic activity. Please refer to the attached briefing for the latest information.

Active Cases of COVID-19 in SW Arkansas

  • Active Cases Data for Sevier County
    Total Active Cases: 67

  • Active Cases Data for Howard County
    Total Active Cases: 43

  • Active Cases Data for Little River County
    Total Active Cases: 29

  • Active Cases Data for Polk County
    Total Active Cases: 23

  • Active Cases Data for Pike County
    Total Active Cases: 22

Department of Health Urges Arkansans to Get Flu Shot

By DANIEL CARUTH & KYLE KELLAMS

The Arkansas Department of Health is encouraging people to get vaccinated for the flu this fall to avoid an outbreak and potential strain on the state's hospitals. After a mild flu season in 2020, ADH officials say immunity to new strains of influenza could be worse if more people aren't vaccinated. Health units across the state are offering the flu shot to anyone at no cost.

https://www.kuaf.com/post/department-health-urges-arkansans-get-flu-shot

Free flu shots are available through mass clinics and at local health units across the state this fall.

COURTESY / ARKANSAS DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH

Severe Weather Briefing from the National Weather Service/Little Rock

A slow moving cold front will continue to move toward Arkansas today, eventually passing through the state on Friday. Isolated to scattered showers and thunderstorms are expected to develop along and ahead of the front. An isolated strong to severe thunderstorm cannot be ruled out.

West and northwest Arkansas remain most at risk for the strongest storms today. Also, this is where the heaviest rain occurred the last twenty four hours, and the area is susceptible to flash flooding.

Thunderstorms will exit the west/northwest this afternoon, with the flash flood concern diminishing.



The Day Crew

National Weather Service

Little Rock, Arkansas

UA Cossatot Collecting Food Items for Thanksgiving Holiday Food Boxes

The UA Cossatot chapter of Rotaract is partnering with the Center for Student Success to provide Thanksgiving meal boxes to our students. We ask anyone who would like to help gather the attached food items and drop them off at any of our ERCs. Our goal is to serve a total of 150 students. We plan to provide this service to students on all campuses.

Rotaract is partnering with the Center for Student Success to complete this service project. Rotaract is the college level of Rotary, and we focus on service, professional development, Leadership, and networking.

Please help us spread the word.

VIDEO: 2024 Total Solar Eclipse Coming with Longest Viewing Duration in SW AR; Preparations Being Made

Julianne Dunne, Hazelle Whited, Brook Kaufman, and Suzanne Babb came to our De Queen studios this morning to talk about advance planning for the 2024 eclipse.

A total solar eclipse will take place at the Moon's ascending node on Monday, April 8, 2024, visible across North America and dubbed the Great North American Eclipse by some of the media.

COVID-19 Active Cases in SW Arkansas

Active Cases Data for Sevier County
Total Active Cases: 77

Active Cases Data for Howard County
Total Active Cases: 44

Active Cases Data for Little River County
Total Active Cases: 38

Active Cases Data for Polk County
Total Active Cases: 67

Active Cases Data for Pike County
Total Active Cases: 20

COVID-19 Active Cases in SW Arkansas

Active Cases Data for Sevier County
Total Active Cases: 80

Active Cases Data for Howard County
Total Active Cases: 47

Active Cases Data for Little River County
Total Active Cases: 52

Active Cases Data for Polk County
Total Active Cases: 33

Active Cases Data for Pike County
Total Active Cases: 22

4-H Food Challenge Team Places 5th at National Contest

Howard County 4-H members Adelene Westfall, Alex Trombley and Sarah Lamb placed 5th in the National 4-H Food Challenge Competition held early this week at the Texas State Fair. Fourteen teams representing nine states competed in the day long challenge. Like the popular tv show, “Chopped”, teams were given a secret ingredient to create a dish utilizing pantry items. Teams were assigned a section of MyPlate and were given a spending allowance to purchase additional items at the pantry. According to Jean Ince, County Extension Agent-Staff Chair, “The group had no prior knowledge of the category or “secret” ingredient they would be preparing until the time of the contest.”

In round one, the Howard County team, who called themselves “Seniors with Spatulas” was given whole grain pasta and $4.00 to spend. The group worked as a team to create a vegetable pasta dish within the 40-minute time limit. The group also had to develop a 5-minute presentation stating what they made, the nutritional value of the dish, how many people it served, food safety procedures taken and what substitutions they would make to increase the overall healthiness of the dish. Only six teams advanced to the final round.

The Arkansas team (Howard County) advanced to the final round where the secret ingredient was sirloin steak. “In this round they given $5.00 to spend at the pantry. The group prepared a pepper steak stir fry. Again, they had 40 minutes to develop the recipe and prepare their presentation” according to Ince.

This was the first year Arkansas has participated in the National 4-H Food Challenge and the first year to have a statewide contest. Howard County team won the state contest in August

and the opportunity to represent Arkansas. Ince stated, “This group has worked very hard practicing for both contests. I am super proud of them.” Locally, the program was funded by a Healthy Habits grant from the Wal-Mart Foundation.

Arkansas Planning and Development Districts Resident Survey

SW_Arkansas development district.png

The Arkansas Economic Development Institute (AEDI) & the ASU Delta Center are asking for our help with the historic Covid-19 study and survey to help all Arkansas Community Leaders, Business Organizations, and Citizens with Resiliency & Recovery. Southwest has received 2 survey links, one for Organization, and the other for all Southwest Region Residents.

All 8 Arkansas Planning & Development Districts (PDD) are working together to get feedback from their Region on how the pandemic has influenced health and economic well-being at this moment in time for each of the 8 Arkansas Regions. We are asking our Southwest Residents to please take a few minutes and fill out this important, and anonymous, Survey. Each PDD will use the information received from the Surveys to create their Region’s Strategic Plan for any future disasters/pandemics. When completed this coming Spring, all 8 Regional Plans will help all of Arkansas be better prepared and more resilient in the face of future disasters. We sincerely thank you for helping us with this enormously important project.

Link: http://astate.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_cIkTI1MfodIbo5U 

Public Schools and Colleges in SW Arkansas COVID-19 Active Case Numbers

The ADH has released their most recent report on the number of active cases of COVID-19 in the state's public schools and colleges, and the numbers for most area schools continue to trend downward. Some area schools of note include:

UA Cossatot, Mineral Springs, Kirby: less than 5 ( ADH does not release info for schools with fewer than 5 active cases to protect student privacy)

Mena 8

De Queen 5

Ashdown 5

Centerpoint 5

Nashville 8

South Pike County 13

Horatio 9

Texarkana, AR 8

Cossatot River 7

Dierks 5

Foreman 6

For the complete report, please visit:

https://www.healthy.arkansas.gov/images/uploads/pdf/School_Report_09272021.pdf

Active COVID-19 Cases in SW Arkansas

Active Cases Data for Sevier County
Total Active Cases: 86

Active Cases Data for Howard County
Total Active Cases: 40

Active Cases Data for Little River County
Total Active Cases: 71

Active Cases Data for Polk County
Total Active Cases: 51

Active Cases Data for Pike County
Total Active Cases: 42

COVID-19 Active Cases Numbers in SW Arkansas

Active Cases Data for Sevier County

Total Active Cases: 99

Active Cases Data for Howard County

Total Active Cases: 55

Active Cases Data for Little River County

Total Active Cases: 89

Active Cases Data for Polk County

Total Active Cases: 102

Active Cases Data for Pike County

Total Active Cases: 58

Active COVID-19 Cases in SW Arkansas

Active Cases Data for Sevier County

Total Active Cases: 128

Active Cases Data for Howard County

Total Active Cases: 74

Active Cases Data for Little River County

Total Active Cases: 102

Active Cases Data for Polk County

Total Active Cases: 140

Active Cases Data for Pike County

Total Active Cases: 97