TWO DE QUEEN MEN ARRESTED FOR RESIDENTIAL BURGLARY   5/12/08

Two De Queen men were arrested Saturday and charged with criminal trespassing, fishing without a license and residential burglary.

According to the Sevier County Sheriff’s office, a call was received Saturday on a report of two suspects trespassing on a private deer lease.  The suspects were identified as 25 year old Jason Brooks and 24 year old Nathan Brooks both of De Queen.  Deputy David Stinson and Arkansas Game and fish officer Keith Philamlee responded to the call and located the suspect’s vehicle near the “Halter Hole” on Cossatot River.  Philamlee’s truck became stuck and Deputy Robert Richardson and Reserve Deputy Brent Helms were called to assist in apprehending the suspects.  Jason and Nathan Brooks admitted to the trespassing allegation and were arrested and transported to the Sevier County Jail.  During an interview by Sgt. John McKee, the brothers admitted to burglarizing a residence in Lockesburg that belong to a relative.

At the time of the burglary, the mobile home belonging to Renee Denson was unoccupiable due to a tree that fell on the home during a thunderstorm on March 18th.  McKee had interviewed another individual about the burglary and information given by the individual led to Jason and Nathan Brooks being suspects.  Charges against a third suspect will be filed in connection with the burglary.  

The Brooks brothers were charged with residential burglary, criminal trespassing, and fishing without a license.  The two are being held in the Sevier County Jail on $25,000 bonds each. 

SEVIER COUNTY PRISONERS MOVED TO THEIR NEW HOME TODAY       5/12/08

Sevier County prisoners were moved to their new home this morning.  According to Sevier County Sheriff John Partain 27 prisoners were being held in the old jail.  Sixteen of which were moved in the first round of transfer this morning.  All prisoners being held in Sevier County were in the new facilities by noon Monday.  Prisoner’s from other counties are expected to be transported by the end of the day.  Sheriff Partain said the transfer is going very smoothly and professionally. 

The “sally-port at the new facility provides a higher level of security once prisoners arrive at the new jail.  The sally port allows the officers to pull into an enclosed area before prisoners are taken out of the patrol car.

STAMP PRICES GO UP MONDAY               5/12/08

When you go to the post office to purchase stamps, you might want to take a little extra money with you.  The cost of mailing a letter will now cost you 42 cents starting today.

A new law regulating the post office makes it easier to raise rates as long as the agency doesn’t exceed the rate of inflation. Rates are expected to be adjusted annually in May.  The post office has introduced a way for people to save money when the price goes up, the forever stamp, which remains valid for first class postage regardless of any increases.  The forever stamps increase in value with each rise of postage. 

If you do not have the forever stamp, if you have the regular 41 cent stamps you will have to put an additional one cent stamp for you letter to be processed.

SALVATION ARMY THRIFT STORE LOOKING FOR VOLUNTEERS    5/12/08

The local Thrift Store of Sevier County Salvation Army located at 310 W. De Queen Avenue needs volunteers to work in the store. If anyone has some spare time, and is interested in volunteering to help the Salvation Army continue to serve the area, please contact store manager Jack McCullough at the store. The store is open four days a week Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday, from 10:00 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. telephone number is 642-3463.

HOME SALES FALL IN MARCH, PRICES APPRECIATE          05/12/08

The housing market in Arkansas continued a recent trend as unit sales fell and home prices increased during March. The latest statistics from the Arkansas Realtors Association show that total units sold in March 2008 tumbled 22.8 percent statewide. Average home prices appreciated 3.2 percent during the month compared to one year ago. The average statewide price for a home equaled $153,812.

STATE PROJECTS $94 MILLION BUDGET SURPLUS            05/12/08

Arkansas finance officials predicted that the state would end its fiscal year on June 30 with a $94.8 million budget surplus. There will also be a carryover of nearly $70 million from leftover, unspent funds in the state's past fiscal year. Still, budget officials anticipate a future drop in income tax and sales tax collections that will eventually lead to a $107 million shortfall in the next fiscal year's forecast. Lawmakers argued that Department of Finance & Administration officials are being too conservative and too pessimistic.

STATE & TRUCKERS PARTNER ON JOBS TRAINING INITIATIVE               05/12/08

Governor Mike Beebe announced a new pilot initiative to train displaced workers and other eligible Arkansans to qualify as truck drivers. The recruits will be trained through programs at ASU-Newport and Mid-South Community College . The program will use approximately $1 million of existing funds to train as many as 300 Arkansans. It will take only four-to-five weeks for qualified applicants to go from enrollment to job placement, say state workforce officials. Starting salaries range from $35,000 to $50,000.

SECURE ARKANSAS INITIATIVE APPROVED BY AG            05/12/08

Apparently, the third time is a charm. After two failed attempts, Attorney General Dustin McDaniel approved the ballot title for the Secure Arkansas initiative. Secure Arkansas is a grassroots group of citizens advocating stricter illegal immigration laws in the state.

The proposed act requires state agencies and political subdivisions to "verify the lawful presence in the U.S. of any person 14 years of age or older" who has applied for a public benefit. There are certain exceptions for medical instances to the proposed law. It also would restrict in-state or resident tuition for illegal immigrants in post-secondary education.

McDaniel said that the newest ballot title - "An act to prevent persons unlawfully present in the United States from receiving certain public benefits" - would be sufficient to inform voters of the nature of the proposed act. The Attorney General's approval of the title now allows supporters of the petition to begin collecting nearly 62,000 valid voter signatures to qualify the act for the November general election ballot.

area education specialists graduate hsu      5/11/08

Four area graduates finished the Educational Specialist degree on May 9 in a special hooding ceremony at the Barkman House in Arkadelphia prior to graduation at HSU at 3 pm.  The post-masters education specialist degree gives the candidates hours to articulate with doctoral programs as well as superintendent certification.

Dr. Gathright was the interim instructor in the leadership program at HSU this spring. 

Pictured are (L to R Front) Shirley Wright, Principal of Nashville Primary School; Judi Jenkins, Principal of De Queen High School; (Center) Dr. Diann Gathright, 2008-09 Superintendent of Mena School District; (L to R Back) Russ Johnson, Federal Program Coordinator at Horatio; and Andy Curry, 2008-09 Superintendent of Van Cove School District. 

Armed Forces Day at Historic Washington    5/10/08

May 17, 2008 has been set aside to remember the many ways in which war has impacted our country since its founding.  There will be exhibits and first person living history attractions related to the Revolutionary War, War of 1812, Texas Revolution, Mexican War, Civil War, Indian Wars, and World Wars I and II.  The interpretations will be linked to certain sectors of the park, from the oldest to the latest. 

The day’s event will begin with an opening flag ceremony in front of the 1874 Hempstead County Courthouse. Added highlights to the day will include such programs as “Twelve Months Volunteer” related to the Mexican War, “The Hempstead Rifles” related to the Civil War and “Soldier of the Revolution” related to the American Revolution. Featured at the blacksmith shop will be “The Trail to the Alamo”. Exhibits will include weapons from Indian Wars, the Spanish American War, World War I and World War II. Added interests include features relating to the “Southwest Proving Grounds” and an assortment of memorabilia from World War II. 

There will be representation from such groups as Texarkana High School ROTC and area Boy Scout groups. The Arkansas National Guard will be present bringing two Humvee trucks.  The Family Readiness Support group for Alpha and Bravo Companies will be on site providing opportunity for anyone to write letters to support these groups who wants to do so. A highlight to the entire event will be a special “thank you” ceremony held at the 1874 courthouse for those families who have members serving in the armed forces at 4:00 in the afternoon. Tour tickets will be available at regular pricing. Williams’ Tavern Restaurant will be open from 11 am to 3 pm.

Historic Washington State Park, a restoration village preserving one of Arkansas’s most prominent 19^th-Century towns, is located on US 278 nine miles north of Hope and can be reached by taking Exit 30 off Interstate 30.  For more information visit www.HistoricWashingtonStatePark.Com or call (870) 983-2684.

CCCUA AND CASA TO HOLD VOLUNTEER ORIENTATION                  5/9/08

The Workforce Development and Continuing Education Department at CCCUA and CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) will hold a Volunteer Orientation session on May 19 at 5:30PM in Room 1 of the Fire Training Center at CCCUA-De Queen. Volunteer training will begin in June. The orientation is for persons who would like to learn more about this volunteer opportunity. The event is free and open to the public.

CASA is seeking volunteers to be advocates for neglected or abused children.

Prospective CASA volunteers should:

Be willing to go through an in-depth 30-hour training course;

Be willing to commit to serving as an advocate for at least a year;

Be able to collect information from interviews and other sources, and make objective recommendations based upon those findings;

Be able to communicate effectively, both orally and in print; and

Pass a background check.

For more information, or to register for the volunteer orientation, call the Workforce Development and Continuing Education Department at (870) 584-4471.

CCCUA RECEIVES GRANT FOR AMPHITHEATER                      5/9/08

At a meeting of the Arkansas Natural and Cultural Resources Council held Wednesday at the headquarters of the Arkansas Municipal League, CCCUA won approval of a grant to build an amphitheater on the eastern edge of the College’s De Queen Campus. The grant was part of $24 million awarded by the Council for fiscal 2009. The Council had $52 million in grant requests.

The $887,491 grant will construct a covered stage with a “green room” and kitchen, men’s and women’s dressing rooms, a ticket/concessions building, and ancillary structures and equipment, including light towers and a sound system.

French Architects of Hot Springs designed the facility, which will use the City’s SportsPlex and the College’s Truck Driving range for parking. The facility will seat between 3,000 and 4,000 people, with a large open area for “green space” seating. Construction will begin sometime after funds are released July 1, and will be completed within a year.

A groundbreaking ceremony has been tentatively scheduled for June 19th, the day before the annual Collin Raye Concert. Grant funds will be augmented with a contribution from the Collin Raye Foundation. A check for $25,000 will be presented at the groundbreaking.

Projected uses for the facility include the Choctaw Nation Powwow, Cinco de Mayo and Dia de los Muertos observances, the Collin Raye concert and Colgate Country Showdown, as well as outdoor graduation ceremonies for the College.

“We were pleased to have our grant funded the first time we applied, particularly since we had only five minutes to make our case,” said Vice Chancellor Steve Cole. Cole made the presentation to the Council. Because funds were limited, several requests from entities which had previously received money from the Council were not funded. The Council’s website is at www.ancrc.org.

WHISTLE STOP FESTIVAL IN ASHDOWN            5/9/08

The Annual Whistle Stop Festival sponsored by the Ashdown Antiques and Merchants Association is being held this weekend in Ashdown. 

There will be music throughout the day Saturday, a street dance from 3 to 7 p.m., a youth art show, antiques and crafts, an antique car show and a large Lionel Train Exhibit.  They will even have a petting zoo for kids of all ages and the Ashdown Fire Department will have a dunking booth. 

The Two Rivers Museum will have special exhibits and displays for all to enjoy and there will be a pancake breakfast sponsored by the Little River Chamber of Commerce from 7 – 9 a.m. Saturday morning at the First United Methodist Church.  For more information on any of these activities call 870-898-2642 or 870-898-9080.

CHALICE CUPBOARD MONTHLY REPORT           5/9/08

Total food added to the Chalice Cupboard during the month of  April, 2008 was 488 pounds. Additions to the food pantry were from four sources. One hundred and five pounds were donated by two churches. An individual gave a gift of 5 pounds. 139 pounds were contributed by a business. And 239 pounds of food were purchased by the Chalice Cupboard staff to augment donated food.

 The Chalice Cupboard distributed 722 pounds of food to 76 people including 44 adults and 32 children. The average weight of food for each recipient was 10 pounds
The Chalice Cupboard ministry welcomes your support through financial contributions, the donation of food items, or both. Canned fruits, canned meats and fish, and peanut butter, are particularly suggested for your consideration.

DE QUEEN – Brenda Morris, Registrar at Cossatot Community College of the University of Arkansas, has released the list of graduates who will receive diplomas and certificates at the College’s Commencement Exercises, held at the De Queen High School Auditorium on Saturday, May 10. Arkansas Lieutenant Governor Bill Halter is the speaker.

One hundred six graduates will receive diplomas Saturday, including 20 members of Phi Theta Kappa (PTK), the national 2-year college honor society. The graduates are:

Cossatot Community College offers both technical certification and Associate’s degrees in a wide range of fields on its campus at De Queen, at extension sites at Nashville and Ashdown, and at cccua.edu. CCCUA collaborates with other colleges and universities to offer bachelor's and master's degrees on its three campuses. It has an enrollment of more than 1,200 students, and is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools.