Weekly Column from the Arkansas House of Representatives 12-2-21

Weekly Column from the Arkansas House of Representatives 12-2-21

The General Assembly is scheduled to convene for an Extraordinary Session on Tuesday, December 7. The Arkansas Constitution says Extraordinary Sessions, often referred to as special sessions, can only be called by the Governor. The Governor announced this week he is calling the session to address tax cuts and several miscellaneous items of legislation. The…

Small businesses are the heartbeat of our neighborhoods and the lifeblood of our local economy

Small businesses are the heartbeat of our neighborhoods and the lifeblood of our local economy

In Arkansas, small businesses make up the majority of the business landscape, at 99.3% of all businesses in the state. This equates to 258,552 businesses. Small businesses can be found in every corner of our state. Small Business Saturday is the day after Black Friday. It is a day to celebrate and support small businesses…

Weekly Column from the Arkansas House of Representatives 11-12-21

Weekly Column from the Arkansas House of Representatives 11-12-21

Right now, there are about 349 children and teens in Arkansas whose parents’ parental rights have been terminated and are currently seeking a forever family. November is National Adoption Month. It is a time to encourage others to learn about adoption and recognize the many children who are still waiting. Recently, the Division of Children…

Kendall Rawls sworn in as new investigator for the Arkansas Department of Agriculture

Kendall Rawls sworn in as new investigator for the Arkansas Department of Agriculture

Local law enforcement officer Kendell Rawls, formerly with the Bradley County Sheriff’s Department, was sworn in recently as a new investigator for the Arkansas Department of Agriculture. Billy Black, Law Enforcement Chief of the Arkansas Department of Agriculture, swore in Rawls. Rawls is a Warren native, a 2005 graduate of Warren High School, and has…

State Senator Jim Hendren addresses SE Political Animals

State Senator Jim Hendren addresses SE Political Animals

At a meeting of the Southeast Arkansas Political Animals Club conducted October 29 in Monticello, State Senator Jim Hendren spoke to those present about Common Ground Arkansas. The organization was founded in January 2021 and aims “to bridge the partisan divide and restore civility and accountability to Arkansas politics.” “The organization is led by pro-business…

Weekly Column from the Arkansas House of Representatives 10-29-21

Weekly Column from the Arkansas House of Representatives 10-29-21

According to the American Diabetes Association, approximately 363,781 people in Arkansas, or 14.8% of the adult population, have diabetes. Diabetes is the seventh leading cause of death in the United States and the number one cause of kidney failure, lower-limb amputations, and adult blindness. In the last 20 years, the number of adults nationwide diagnosed…

What is your knowledge of Anaplasmosis?

What is your knowledge of Anaplasmosis?

The University of Arkansas is currently conducting a survey on cattle producer awareness of anaplasmosis risk and transmission to livestock in Arkansas. Anaplasmosis turns an animal’s immune system against itself, destroying both healthy and infected red blood cells, which can starve the animal of oxygen.  In some cases, anaplasmosis can cause calves to be aborted…

2020 Census numbers show loss in population for most of South Arkansas

2020 Census numbers show loss in population for most of South Arkansas

A recent copy of “City and Town” magazine, a publication of the Arkansas Municipal League has listed the 2020 populations of the 500 municipalities of Arkansas, showing Warren’s recorded population as 5,453. This information is provided by the United States Census Bureau. The numbers show the total population of Arkansas at 3,011,534, with 66.5 percent…

Governor Hutchinson allows vaccine mandate, redistricting bills to become law without his signature

Governor Hutchinson allows vaccine mandate, redistricting bills to become law without his signature

LITTLE ROCK – Governor Asa Hutchinson won’t sign any of the bills that the members of the 93rd General Assembly sent to him last week, he announced today. Senate Bill 739 and House Bill 1977 and Senate Bill 743 and House Bill 1982 will become law without his signature.The vaccine bills “are unnecessary,” Governor Hutchinson…

Free Medicare counseling and information available for Arkansans

Free Medicare counseling and information available for Arkansans

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – With the Medicare Open Enrollment Period fast approaching, the Arkansas Insurance Department (AID) Senior Health Insurance Information Program (AR SHIIP) offers free counseling to assist Arkansans who are eligible for Medicare. AR SHIIP connects Medicare beneficiaries as well as their families and caregivers with certified counselors statewide. The counselors provide guidance…

AGFC begins major hatchery renovation in northeast Arkansas

AGFC begins major hatchery renovation in northeast Arkansas

MAMMOTH SPRING — Arkansas Game and Fish Commissioners yesterday celebrated a successful partnership with trout anglers to begin a major renovation to the Jim Hinkle Spring River Fish Hatchery today in Fulton County. The hatchery is the only state-owned fish hatchery in Arkansas devoted to the production of trout. The hatchery, which was originally built…

Cattle producers’ webinars

Cattle producers’ webinars

Here’s a great opportunity for cattle producers. There will be two upcoming webinars on Dollars and Sense for Cow-Calf Producers; September 28 and October 5. Scheduled topics and speakers for the webinars include: Tues. Sept. 28 — Risk Management for Cow/Calf Producers “Knowing Your Production Costs” — Daniel Rivera, director of Southwest Research and Extension…

National, state champion persimmon tree returns to live another day

National, state champion persimmon tree returns to live another day

MONTICELLO, Ark. — A craftsman’s regret over an unfulfilled promise has given the remains of a one-time state and national champion persimmon tree from Dardanelle a new life at the College of Forestry, Agriculture and Natural Resources on the University of Arkansas at Monticello campus. The native persimmon tree, Diospyros virginiana, usually grows from 30…