Colby Dellinger Receives RAMP Scholarship from UA Cossatot

Colby Dellinger, a senior from Ashdown High School, has been awarded a $500 RAMP scholarship from the University of Arkansas Cossatot. Colby plans to use this money to help him finish his degree at UA Cossatot, which he started working on while he was in high school.
As a high school junior, Colby began taking concurrent classes at UA Cossatot, where he accumulated 15 college credit hours and achieved a GPA of 3.6. These college credits will be applied to his college transcript as he continues to pursue an Associate of Applied Science: General Technology degree at UA Cossatot after high school graduation.
Colby is currently enrolled in an online summer course at UA Cossatot. He plans to pursue a career in industrial maintenance and will become a full-time student at the college this fall. He will be taking classes at the Lockesburg Industrial Maintenance Institute on the Lockesburg Campus.
UA Cossatot’s Lockesburg Campus also offers a welding program. Other Skilled and Technical programs offered at UA Cossatot‘s other campuses are cosmetology, automotive technology, diesel technology, welding, and pipe welding. These programs are available to students who wish to pursue certificates of proficiency, technical certificates, or an Associate of Applied Science degree in General Technology.
High school students, like Colby, can enroll in concurrent courses at UA Cossatot by contacting their high school career coach or UA Cossatot High School Programs Director, Julie Rhodes, at 870-584-1343. They can also enroll in classes through UA Cossatot’s Secondary Career Center.
The Secondary Career Center offers area high school students the opportunity to attend technical classes at one of UA Cossatot’s campuses and explore technical skills training in automotive technology, diesel technology, welding, medical professions, or industrial technology.
The Regional Advanced Manufacturing Partnership (RAMP) Scholarship was established in 2015 by UA Cossatot after receiving a Workforce Education Grant from the state of Arkansas. This grant has allowed UA Cossatot to develop and implement two programs within the fields of skilled and technical trades as well as provide scholarships for students who are pursuing an education in the Skilled and Technical Sciences.
Other RAMP Scholarships are available on a first-come, first-serve basis and can be used for classes this summer or fall. The deadline to apply is set for July 1, 2020. The RAMP scholarship application can be found on UA Cossatot’s website at www.cccua.edu/scholarships, along with requirements for potential recipients. For more information, please contact Tommi Cobb, RAMP Coordinator at 870-584-1158, or tcobb@cccua.edu.

Cossatot Community College

Scholarships are a type of financial aid award that does not need to be repaid. Scholarships are awarded on various criteria usually reflecting the values and purposes of the donor of the award.

Arkansas Department of Agriculture Issues Important Reminder To Arkansans Acquiring Livestock From Out of State

Little Rock, AR -- The Arkansas Department of Agriculture is reminding Arkansans that they must ensure any livestock they purchase or receive from other states meets the State and Federal import requirements. The Department of Agriculture’s Livestock and Poultry Division can offer assistance to ensure the animals have the proper documentation to allow movement into Arkansas.

“We appreciate the efforts of Arkansans to help alleviate challenges that animal agricultural producers have encountered due to temporary closures of processing facilities in other states,” said Wes Ward, Arkansas Secretary of Agriculture. “Our staff is available to help answer questions about safety protocols and importation requirements that are in place to protect Arkansans and our state’s agriculture industry,” said Ward.

All animals brought into Arkansas must meet the importation requirements set by USDA and the State’s Health Requirements Governing the Entry of Livestock, Poultry, and Exotic Animals. For swine, USDA interstate commerce regulations call for Premises Identification Number Ear Tags for Slaughter Swine, and the state requires that swine that are not from a qualified-validated herd be tested for Brucellosis and Pseudorabies. A Certificate of Veterinarian Inspection is also required to make sure the animal is not showing signs of illness. These rules are in place for public safety and to prevent the spread of disease within the state.

“Brucellosis and Pseudorabies are highly communicable diseases that can spread quickly from animal to animal, and in the case of Brucellosis, to humans,” said State Veterinarian Dr. Randy Chick. “We are aware of individuals planning to purchase live animals, particularly swine, directly from out-of-state producers. These rules are in place to help the Department monitor and prevent diseases that can have devastating impacts on the Arkansas agriculture industry,” said Livestock and Poultry Director Patrick Fisk.

More information about animal importation requirements may be obtained from the Arkansas Department of Agriculture website at https://www.aad.arkansas.gov/…/59372…/Entry_Requirments_.pdf

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If people are not planning to process the animals themselves, they should know that many meat processors in Arkansas are already booked for several months. Individuals planning to purchase an animal for processing should first check with local processing plants or prepare for other options such as arranging for holding the animal until it can be processed.

A list of Arkansas meat processors may be found on an interactive map at: https://www.fsis.usda.gov/…/fsis/t…/inspection/mpi-directory

Meat, Poultry and Egg Product Inspection Directory

The Meat, Poultry and Egg Product Inspection (MPI) Directory is a listing of establishments that produce meat, poultry, and/or egg products regulated by FSIS. The Establishment Demographic Data includes additional establishment information about FSIS regulated establishments, including size, species slaughtered and aggregate categorical production information.

UA Cossatot Announces New Basketball Coach and Athletic Director

On Wednesday, May 6, 2020, UA Cossatot hosted a virtual Zoom press conference to introduce Robert Byrd as the college's newly hired men's and women's basketball coach. It was also announced during the conference that Coach Byrd would also be taking on the role of Athletic Director for UA Cossatot.
UA Cossatot Chancellor, Dr. Steve Cole, kicked off the conference by welcoming everyone and then introducing Coach Byrd. Dr. Cole said, "We are very pleased and excited to have Coach Byrd take on the role of Head Basketball Coach and Athletic Director for the college. We were looking for a talented player's coach, and that is what we found in Coach Byrd."
Byrd recently completed his second year as an Assistant Coach for the University of St. Thomas Men's Basketball team in Houston, Texas. For the 2019-2020 season, the Celts finished 24-2 overall and 16-2 in the SCAC to win the conference regular-season championship. The Celts were ineligible for postseason play due to their transition from NAIA to NCAA. Nevertheless, the Celts won their first-round game in the USCAA D1 National Tournament. After their first game, the tournament was canceled due to COVID-19. The Celts were the #2 seed and were ranked second in the USCAA D1 National Poll.
During the 2018-2019 season, the Celts finished the season 23-11 overall and 11-7 in RRAC play. This earned them the #4 seed in the RRAC tournament. The Celts ultimately won the Red River Athletic Conference Tournament Championship by first knocking off #2 nationally ranked LSUA in the semifinals and beating #15 ranked LSUS in the championship game. They received a #22 ranking in the final NAIA D1 national poll and a #6 seed in the NAIA D1 National Tournament.
Coach Byrd joined the Celts after serving one year as an assistant and six years as Head Men's Basketball Coach at Lone Star College-CyFair. During his time at LSC-CyFair, Robert accumulated over 20 wins in each of his six seasons as Head Coach and guided over 30 players to 4-year universities on athletic and academic scholarships.
Coach Byrd participated in the NBPA Top 100 camp in 2005 as a camper and also worked with the NBPA Top 100 camp from 2009-2016 as a Camp Counselor and Assistant Equipment Manager. After graduating from the University of Houston with a BA in Psychology, Coach Byrd also pursued a Master's degree in Educational Leadership from the University of North Texas.
Coach Byrd stated during the conference, "I want to thank God, my family, and Dr. Cole for this opportunity. I am excited about athletics at UA Cossatot, and I am looking forward to getting started. I am excited about building relationships. It is important to me to help the players at UA Cossatot on and off the court in basketball, in academics, and in life.”
Coach Byrd is set to begin work at UA Cossatot this summer. Colts and Lady Colt's basketball tryouts will be announced at a later date. For more information, Coach Byrd can be contacted at rbyrd@cccua.edu.

Severe Storms Predicted for Late Thursday Night/Early Friday Morning

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City of De Queen | Heart of Tri-Lakes Country

July 1st is opening day for Bi-Annual Mobile Food Vendor Applications. The City of De Queen will accept applications for mobile food vendors for fifteen bi-annual permits. The bi-annual permits are available ($100 for 6 months) for vendors to set up on privately-owned...

National Nurses Week 2020

Nurses have worked heroically and have put in extra hours over the past few weeks and months on the front lines of the COVID-19 response. Thank you nurses for what you do every day! This week is National Nurses Week and May 6th is National Nurses Day. We honor and celebrate those who devote themselves to the care of others.

Picnic and Parade for De Queen High School Seniors May 11th

De Queen Schools will be honoring our seniors on Monday, May 11th with a picnic and parade. We are asking the community to help us honor The Class of 2020 on what was supposed to be their graduation day. We ask you to please share the flyers attached with your audiences and clients to help us spread the word through the community. These seniors have had so many memorable moments taken from them due to social distancing and this is a great opportunity for our community to honor them the best we can. Feel free to call me if you have any questions or concerns at 870-279-4479. Thank you!!

Beau McCastlain

Communications Director for De Queen Public Schools

Arkansas Department of Health Directives & Orders

May 11: Directive on Resuming Restaurant Dine-In Operations

May 6: Directive for Barber Shops, Body Art Establishments, Cosmetology Establishments, Massage Therapy Clinics/Spas, and Medical Spas

May 4: Directive for Gym, Fitness Center, Athletic Club and Weight Room Reopening

(Click on above links for information.)

Barbershop and Hair Salon ADH Webinar to Better Understand COVID-19

Herman Dierks Park and De Queen Sportsplex Reopening

De Queen Mayor Jeff Brown tells Ed 88 that as of Monday morning, 05/04/20, both Herman Dierks Park and the De Queen Sportsplex are now open. The community building at Herman Dierks Park and restrooms at both facilities will remain closed, and park visitors are encouraged to practice CDC COVID-19 social distancing recommendations.

Weekly Update from State Representative DeAnn Vaught

The Arkansas Department of Health lifted several restrictions and issued new directives for restaurants, gyms, and hair salons this week. While Arkansas takes steps to re-open the economy, we recognize the challenges still ahead. This week, we want to update you on the programs available to help Arkansas employees and businesses during this difficult time.

On the federal level, Congress has approved additional funds into the Payroll Protection Plan. For businesses who are were not able to receive funding in the first round of funding, please visit:  www.sba.gov.

The hotline hours to file for unemployment have been expanded to 7 days a week from 6am-4pm. Callers in the queue by 4pm will be assisted. You can also file on line at www.arunemployment.com. The online system closes at 6pm to process claims filed each day.
At that site is also a link for self-employed, independent contractors, and others covered under the CARES Act. There you can submit your name and email address to be notified when a system is built to process these claims which is expected in a matter of days. Even if you start another job, you will still be able to file weekly claims backdated to the date you became unable to work because of a COVID-19 related reason. If requesting this assistance, the Department of Commerce recommends filing your 2019 tax return so you can verify your income. Payment can still be made by the deadline, but it’s helpful to go ahead and file.

While some restrictions are being lifted, we must continue to do our part to limit the spread of the virus. Arkansans should continue to practice social distancing and wear a mask in public places. We will continue to update you on our progress as a state.

Small Business Administration

We support America's small businesses. The SBA connects entrepreneurs with lenders and funding to help them plan, start and grow their business.

UA Cossatot’s OTA Students Give Back during the COVID Pandemic

April is Occupational Therapy Month. To commemorate the month, the OTA students typically have a celebration and complete some type of “give back” activity to the community. This year was challenging due to COVID and distancing limitations, but the OTA students and faculty rose to the task. To celebrate this year, the students created a thank you message to the area Occupational Therapy practitioners which they have shared on social media. Occupational Therapy has been deemed an essential health care service and many practitioners are working on the front lines of the pandemic across the country.
The students also created mask extenders which they donated to the emergency room department at Christus St. Michael Hospital in Texarkana. Due to the COVID-19 coronavirus, all healthcare workers are now wearing masks and other protective gear to prevent the spread of the virus while they provide care to their patients. The mask extenders allow medical professionals to work more comfortably while taking safety precautions.
UA Cossatot’s OTA Director, Tamla Heminger said, “We feel it is crucial for our students to learn, but also for them to have opportunities to give back and participate in community service and service-learning projects. In honor of Occupational Therapy Month, the students came up with some excellent ideas that they could do to help others while maintaining social distancing requirements. With the current pandemic situation, these were fun, creative ways to help make a small difference.”
The OTA students and instructors completed their OT Month celebration by having a virtual lunch together via Zoom on April 23, 2020.
To learn more about UA Cossatot’s OTA program, please contact UA Cossatot OTA Director, Tamla Heminger, at 870-584-1496 or theminger@cccua.edu.

Enterprise Rent-A-Car Makes Donation to UA Cossatot

Enterprise Rent-A-Car Company donated $2,500 to UA Cossatot Foundation to support Arkansas students and education.
UA Cossatot Board Member, Jay Dooley, recommended that UA Cossatot Foundation be considered for the Enterprise community grant. After the recommendation, Enterprise Rent-A-Car in Little Rock chose to make a donation to UA Cossatot Foundation and support its mission.
Cori Cunningham of Rent-A-Car said, “Enterprise Rent-A-Car is a company that is family owned. Our founder, Jack Taylor was passionate about strengthening communities, employees, and customers everywhere. Enterprise Rent-A-Car gives donations to many good causes and we are excited to support UA Cossatot and its students!”
UA Cossatot Board Member, Jay Dooley said, “My family and I love UA Cossatot and think the opportunities the college provides for its students is great! We appreciate this donation from Enterprise and its impact on local college students. I am proud to be a part of UA Cossatot as it proves to be a powerful force in our community.”
To learn more about the UA Cossatot Foundation or ways to support the college’s students, please contact UA Cossatot Foundation Director, Dustin Roberts at 870-584-1172 or droberts@cccua.edu.

Sevier County Judge Greg Ray about Severe Thunderstorm Recovery

Reminder from County Judge Ray:

Sevier County Judge Greg Ray reminds motorists that due to a large number of fences damaged due to the wind storm, be alert for cattle roaming on area roadways.

Damaging Winds and Possible Tornadoes Move through Arkansas Overnight

Damaging winds caused downed trees and several power outages across the state overnight. Electric crews and county crews have worked through the night and continue working this morning with chainsaws to clear the debris and restore power.

De Queen Rotary Club Boulevard of Flags

Weekly Update from State Representative DeAnn Vaught

Child abuse does not stop during a pandemic. But since many of the state’s mandated reporters such as teachers and pastors are not interacting face to face with Arkansas children right now, the number of reports coming into the hotline have decreased by 50%

The director of Children Advocacy Centers of Arkansas, Elizabeth Pulley says that during times of isolation, child abuse happens in secrecy because signs of abuse go undetected. When school starts back, the number of cases is expected to rise.

April is Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention Month, a time to place a special emphasis on increasing awareness and providing education and support to families to help prevent child abuse and neglect.

This week, Arkansas First Lady Susan Hutchinson and DHS Director of the Division of Children and Family Services (DCFS) Mischa Martin asked for the help of Arkansans to report suspected abuse in their communities. Since the health emergency began, there have been 3,148 calls to the hotline. That is nearly half the number of calls that came in this time last year.

DCFS continues to provide services to families in need and they continue to serve and support the 4,400 foster families in Arkansas.

In addition, Children’s Advocacy Centers of Arkansas, with 17 centers located across the state, remain open and are continuing to serve children in person and through telemedicine.

Child abuse and neglect can have a tremendous impact well into adulthood. Exposure to violence in childhood increases the risks of injury, future violence victimization, substance abuse, delayed brain development, lower educational attainment, and limited employment opportunities.

Nationwide, it is estimated that 1 in 7 children have experienced abuse or neglect in the past year.

The number to the hotline is 1-844-SAVE-A-CHILD. Professionals are there to answers calls 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

De Queen Juniors will Receive Rings on May 4th

The De Queen Juniors will receive their senior rings on Monday, May 4th from 12 - 1.

Representatives from Herff Jones will be stationed in the circle drive in front of the junior high. Students are asked to write their first and last name on a paper and place it in the passenger window of their vehicle. Students will remain in the vehicle.

Anyone who has questions about balances may text or call 501-318-4386. If you text please put your first and last name along with De Queen High School.

-- Ramona Hill BSE, MSE

National Board Certified School Counselor

ArSCA Southwest Regional President-Elect

De Queen High School

1803 West Coulter

De Queen, AR 71832

870-642-2426 ext. 227

870-642-4931 fax

City of De Queen Lifts Boil Water Order

04/25/2020

City of De Queen Water

RECISION OF PRECAUTIONARY BOIL WATER ORDER NOTICE

The 04/23/2020 Precautionary boil order notice is hereby rescinded.
Corrective action has been taken to repair the leak and an adequate disinfection level has been established throughout the system. The bacteriological survey shows that the water is safe to drink.

If you have any questions, you may contact City Hall at 870-584-3445.

Darren Higgins
City of De Queen
Water Superintendent

Water Line Repaired in De Queen but Boil Water Issued until Further Notice

Crews worked hard to restore water to the De Queen area after a water main break on Thursday. De Queen Mayor Jeff Brown reported that after the parts arrived, a road was built to the work area so equipment could be delivered to the work site. The pipe is back together and after the water was turned back on, it should take 12 to 14 hours to fill the hospital tank back up. There is a necessary boil water order in effect for De Queen until further notice.

Advisory for Restaurants in De Queen from the Arkansas Department of Health

ADVISORY FROM THE ARKANSAS DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH FOR RESTAURANTS IN DE QUEEN

The Arkansas Department of Health has advised that those De Queen restaurants within the area affected by the water outage to close operations due to lack of water for employee handwashing, washing of dishes, and bathroom use for employees.

Food trucks that filled up water tanks before the outage may safely operate.