ARRESTED AUGUST 31ST FOR RAPE
THE PENDING RAPE CASE FILE HAS BEEN SEALED BY THE POLK COUNTY JUDGE HEARING THIS RAPE CASE ---NO FURTHER INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE AT THIS TIME.
STACEY LEE EXLEY OF MENA , WAS IN THE MENA COURT ROOM ON THURSDAY 9-8-11 FOR THE CHARGE OF D.U.I. HE WAS FOUND GUILTY AND IT WAS FOUND DURING SENTENCING THAT IT IS HIS 3RD D.U.I. CONVICTION , JUDGE LOONEY THEN SENTENCED EXLEY TO 90 DAYS IN COUNTY JAIL AND A FINE OF 5000.00 DOLLARS.
STACEY LEE EXLEY OF MENA , WAS IN THE MENA COURT ROOM ON THURSDAY 9-8-11 FOR THE CHARGE OF D.U.I. HE WAS FOUND GUILTY AND IT WAS FOUND DURING SENTENCING THAT IT IS HIS 3RD D.U.I. CONVICTION , JUDGE LOONEY THEN SENTENCED EXLEY TO 90 DAYS IN COUNTY JAIL AND A FINE OF 5000.00 DOLLARS.
SHERIFFS LOG 08-15-11 thru 08-21-11
Polk County Sheriff Mike Godfrey has released the Log for August 15th through August 21st. Chris Daniel reports:
MENA POLICE REPORT August 22nd thru 28th
Mena Police Chief Jimmy Doster has released the Log for August 22nd through August 28th. Erik Masters reports:
MENA POLICE REPORT August 15th thru 21st
Mena Police Chief Jimmy Doster has released the Log for the week of August 15th through August 21st. Erik Masters reports:
RECALL OF APPROXIMATELY 36 MILLION POUNDS OF
GROUND TURKEY MEAT !!!!!!!
CARGILL MEAT SOLUTIONS CORPORATION ANNOUNCED WEDNESDAY AN
IMMEDIATE VOLUNTARY RECALL OF APPROXIMATEL
36MILLION POUNDS OF
GROUND TURKEY MEAT BECAUSE IT MAY BE CONTAMINATED WITH
SALMONELLA BACTERIA. IT'S ONE OF THE LARGER RECALLS," SAID JOEL
BRANDENBERGER, PRESIDENT OF THE WASHINGTON-BASED NATIONAL TURKEY
FEDERATION, THAT'S THE WEIGHT OF MORE THAN 36 FULLY-LOADED BOEING
747 COMMERCIAL AIRPLANES. CARGILL'S PLANT IN SPRINGDALE, ARKANSAS,
PROCESSED THE SUSPECT FRESH AND FROZEN GROUND TURKEY PRODUCTS
BETWEEN FEBRUARY 20 AND AUGUST 2, THE COMPANY SAID IN A NEWS RELEASE. FEDERAL HEALTH AUTHORITIES SAID TUESDAY THAT AN OUTBREAK OF MULTI-DRUG-RESISTANT SALMONELLA HEIDELBERG THAT HAS KILLED ONE PERSON AND SICKENED 76 OTHERS IN 26 STATES APPEARS TO HAVE BEEN TRACED TO GROUND TURKEY PRODUCTS. CONSUMERS ARE BEING ENCOURAGED TO RETURN ANY OPENED OR UNOPENED PACKAGES FOR A FULL REFUND.
IMMEDIATE VOLUNTARY RECALL OF APPROXIMATEL
36MILLION POUNDS OF
GROUND TURKEY MEAT BECAUSE IT MAY BE CONTAMINATED WITH
SALMONELLA BACTERIA. IT'S ONE OF THE LARGER RECALLS," SAID JOEL
BRANDENBERGER, PRESIDENT OF THE WASHINGTON-BASED NATIONAL TURKEY
FEDERATION, THAT'S THE WEIGHT OF MORE THAN 36 FULLY-LOADED BOEING
747 COMMERCIAL AIRPLANES. CARGILL'S PLANT IN SPRINGDALE, ARKANSAS,
PROCESSED THE SUSPECT FRESH AND FROZEN GROUND TURKEY PRODUCTS
BETWEEN FEBRUARY 20 AND AUGUST 2, THE COMPANY SAID IN A NEWS RELEASE. FEDERAL HEALTH AUTHORITIES SAID TUESDAY THAT AN OUTBREAK OF MULTI-DRUG-RESISTANT SALMONELLA HEIDELBERG THAT HAS KILLED ONE PERSON AND SICKENED 76 OTHERS IN 26 STATES APPEARS TO HAVE BEEN TRACED TO GROUND TURKEY PRODUCTS. CONSUMERS ARE BEING ENCOURAGED TO RETURN ANY OPENED OR UNOPENED PACKAGES FOR A FULL REFUND.
YOU BETTER NOT EAT ME
PAROLE OFFICERS TO HAVE MORE POWER !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The sentencing law that goes into effect this year will keep some drug offenders and others convicted of certain nonviolent crimes out of prison.But the law also gives probation officers new powers to send repeat offenders to jail for up to a week.Those changes are key to an overhaul that's intended to slow the growth of the state prison system. Arkansas has more than 16,000 inmates, double the number from 10 years ago. The changes are expected to save the state close to $1 billion.
The head of the state correction department says the new approach will hopefully steer lesser offenders away from prison and away from crime. David B. Eberhard says the policies will help offenders learn "how to think differently."
The head of the state correction department says the new approach will hopefully steer lesser offenders away from prison and away from crime. David B. Eberhard says the policies will help offenders learn "how to think differently."
PLEASE AVOID USING EXCESS ELECTRIC !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
SOUTHWESTERN ELECTRIC POWER COMPANY ASKS ITS CUSTOMERS TO AVOID USING UNNECESSARY LIGHTING OR ELECTRIC APPLIANCES AND TO LIMIT USE OF AIR CONDITIONING TODAY. THE REQUEST IS BEING MADE BECAUSE OF HIGH TEMPERATURES THROUGHOUT THE REGION. IF THE SITUATION WORSENS AND DEMAND EXCEEDS THE AVAILABLE SUPPLY OF POWER ON ITS LINES SWEPCO IS PREPARED TO IMPLEMENT ITS EMERGENCY LOAD REDUCTION PLAN. THIS PROCEDURE TEMPORARILY INTERRUPTS POWER TO PARTS OF THE COMPANY’S SERVICE AREA TO AVOID A MAJOR BLACKOUT. SWEPCO WOULD ROTATE AFFECTED AREAS SO CUSTOMERS AREN’T MORE THAN 2 HOURS WITHOUT POWER WHENEVER POSSIBLE .
MENA POLICE REPORT August 8th thru 14th
Mena Police Chief Jimmy Doster has released the Log for the week of August 8th through August 14th. Chris Daniel reports:
US POST OFFICE CLOSURES
THE UNITED STATES POSTAL SERVICE IS ABOUT TO SHRINK AND YOUR LOCAL OFFICE MAY BE ONE THAT’S ON THE HIT LIST. A SMALL NUMBER OF OFFICES HAVE CLOSED ACROSS ARKANSAS WITHIN THE LAST 2 YEARS. NOW 179 MORE FACE THE CHOPPING BLOCK. THE POST OFFICES IN CADDO GAP, VANDERVOORT, NEW HOPE, GRANNIS AND UMPIRE ARE SCHEDULED TO BE CLOSED. AS MORE PEOPLE USE E-MAIL AND THE INTERNET TO COMMUNICATE THE POSTAL SERVICE HAS BEEN LOSING BILLIONS OF DOLLARS. THE OTHER ARKANSAS POST OFFICES THAT ARE BEING STUDIED AND HAVE HAD OR WILL HAVE A COMMUNITY MEETING ARE MT IDA AND BOARD CAMP.
SOME INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT OUR SUN !!!!!
EARTH-DIRECTED BLAST: Sunspot 1261 erupted on August 2nd at 0619 UT, producing a long-duration M1-class solar flare. At the peak of the event, the sunspot's magnetic canopy was beautifully illuminated by extreme ultraviolet radiation, shown here in an image from NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory:The blast hurled a CME almost directly toward Earth. Three spacecraft (SOHO, STEREO-A and STEREO-B) tracked the progress of the expanding cloud. Using data from those three points of view, analysts at the GSFC Space Weather Lab made a 3-dimensional model of the CME. According to their work, the cloud left the sun traveling 900 km/s and should reach Earth on August 5th at 0300 UT plus or minus 7 hours. Polar geomagnetic storms are possible when the CME arrives.To learn more go to this NASA web page http://spaceweather.com/ see what NASA has predicted for 2012 below in video
MENA POLICE REPORT August 1st thru 7th
Mena Police Chief Jimmy Doster has released the Log for the week of August 1st through August 7th. Chris Daniel reports:
SHERIFFS LOG 08-08-11 thru 08-14-11
Polk County Sheriff Mike Godfrey has released the Log for August 8th through August 14th. Chris Daniel reports:
MARRIED COUPLE FLEE
Crystal Larcade, 37, and husband Leslie Bruce Larcade, 46, were arrested and charged with abuse of a corpse, after attempting to evade police in their SUV.
Police in northern Howard County arrested two suspects after stopping a white 2004 Toyota 4runner just after 7:00 p.m. in connection with a body found in Miller County.
Police say a property owner in Miller County Arkansas witnessed two people dumping a body on his property Saturday, which led to the arrest of the two suspects.
Racetrack owner and Clarence Hickey Junior witnessed two people dumping a body near his racetrack in Miller County around 8:30 a.m. Saturday.
Hickey reported to deputies that while he was preparing his racetrack Saturday morning he witnessed two individuals and a white Toyota 4runner near a motionless body. The individuals told him they tried to help the man who they thought was a vagrant, but when Hickey noticed a rope wrapped around the body he backed up and called police.
Miller Country Police believe that the victim died at a different location and was then brought to the track.
Police in northern Howard County arrested two suspects after stopping a white 2004 Toyota 4runner just after 7:00 p.m. in connection with a body found in Miller County.
Police say a property owner in Miller County Arkansas witnessed two people dumping a body on his property Saturday, which led to the arrest of the two suspects.
Racetrack owner and Clarence Hickey Junior witnessed two people dumping a body near his racetrack in Miller County around 8:30 a.m. Saturday.
Hickey reported to deputies that while he was preparing his racetrack Saturday morning he witnessed two individuals and a white Toyota 4runner near a motionless body. The individuals told him they tried to help the man who they thought was a vagrant, but when Hickey noticed a rope wrapped around the body he backed up and called police.
Miller Country Police believe that the victim died at a different location and was then brought to the track.
FORESTRY COMMISSION CREWS BATTLE BLAZE
THE ARKANSAS FORESTRY COMMISSION CREWS HAVE SUPPRESSED 23 WILDFIRES THAT BURNED 271 ACRES BETWEEN 330PM WEDNESDAY AND 330PM THURSDAY. THE SINGLE ENGINE AIR TANKERS HAVE MADE WATER DROPS ON WILDFIRES IN CLARK GARLAND AND HEMPSTEAD COUNTIES . THREE FIREFIGHTERS WORKING TO BATTLE A BLAZE 10 MILES SOUTH OF HOPE WERE TRANSPORTED TO A LOCAL MEDICAL CENTER TO BE TREATED FOR HEAT EXHAUSTION. TWO OF THE FIREFIGHTERS WERE GIVEN FLUIDS AND RELEASED. THE THIRD WAS KEPT OVERNIGHT FOR OBSERVATION. THE WILDFIRE BURNED 171 ACRES –COUNTY JUDGES HAVE ISSUED BURN BANS IN 52 OF THE 75 COUNTIES IN ARKANSAS INCLUDING POLK AND MONTGOMERY AND OUACHITA ,PLEASE BE MINDFUL WHEN SMOKING IN A VEHICLE AND DO NOT THROW OUT CIGARETTES AS IT COULD START A FIRE AND PUT PEOPLES LIVES IN DANGER
HELP CATCH AN ARSONIST !!!!
POLK COUNTY CHIEF DEPUTY SCOTT SAWYER TOLD KENA TUESDAY, AUGUST 2ND HE NEEDS THE PUBLIC'S HELP FINDING AN ARSONIST. ANYONE WITH INFORMATION SHOULD CALL THE SHERIFFS OFFICE. HEAR SCOTT SAWYER'S COMMENTS BELOW:
SENATOR LARRY TEAGUE REPORT
August 26, 2011
LITTLE ROCK – Funding of the 41 drug courts in Arkansas will be near the top of the agenda when the legislature convenes in fiscal session next February.
Judges and staff who operate drug courts are seeking a permanent place in the state's budget, as opposed to the current system under which legislators must find funding from available sources every budget cycle. Legislative supporters of drug courts have been able to find money from a settlement of a lawsuit against tobacco companies.
The state Department of Community Correction is allocated funds for drug courts but without strict instructions as to how much it must spend on the courts. The result has been that the department has had to divert it to other needs, such as supervising inmates on parole. Drug court personnel say that of the $1.5 million the legislature approved for drug courts, only $500,000 will actually be funded.
Supporters of drug courts in the legislature and in the judicial system want the governor to release funds from a discretionary account, because funding for drug treatment will run out perhaps as soon as October. To eliminate the uncertainty and instability that creates annual scrambles for available money, supporters of drug courts also want a permanent funding source in the state budget.
Defendants facing certain drug charges can go through drug court, where they undergo intensive treatment and supervision. They must undergo drug testing and the penalty for failure is severe, but if they successfully complete the program the charges against them are dropped. Placing defendants in drug court costs much less than housing them in a prison.
On average the treatment program lasts 18 months, which is usually less than a prison sentence. Drug court participants perform public service projects, but they don't have to quit their jobs. That means they continue to pay taxes and support their families, which helps hold down costs to the welfare system.
There are more than 16,000 inmates in the state prison system. As of July more than 2,000 people had gone through Arkansas drug courts.
When someone is arrested on drug charges a thorough evaluation is necessary before admitting him or her into a drug court program. Some defendants have lied about being addicted to drugs in order to avoid prison.
The nation's first drug court started in Miami, Florida, in 1988 as a response to a huge backlog in the criminal courts due to drug offenses. The first drug court in Arkansas was a pilot project in Pulaski County that began in 1994 with funding from the state Health Department and the federal Department of Justice.
AA Bond Rating
The Arkansas Development Finance Authority, the main state agency that issues bonds for public housing projects, has a AA rating from Standard and Poor's. That rating was raised earlier this year from AA-.
When the Authority received its first rating from Standard and Poor's in the late 1990s, it received an A and since then has been upgraded three times.
ADFA also issues bonds for economic development projects but Standard and Poor's based its rating mainly on the Authority's bonds for housing.
LITTLE ROCK – Funding of the 41 drug courts in Arkansas will be near the top of the agenda when the legislature convenes in fiscal session next February.
Judges and staff who operate drug courts are seeking a permanent place in the state's budget, as opposed to the current system under which legislators must find funding from available sources every budget cycle. Legislative supporters of drug courts have been able to find money from a settlement of a lawsuit against tobacco companies.
The state Department of Community Correction is allocated funds for drug courts but without strict instructions as to how much it must spend on the courts. The result has been that the department has had to divert it to other needs, such as supervising inmates on parole. Drug court personnel say that of the $1.5 million the legislature approved for drug courts, only $500,000 will actually be funded.
Supporters of drug courts in the legislature and in the judicial system want the governor to release funds from a discretionary account, because funding for drug treatment will run out perhaps as soon as October. To eliminate the uncertainty and instability that creates annual scrambles for available money, supporters of drug courts also want a permanent funding source in the state budget.
Defendants facing certain drug charges can go through drug court, where they undergo intensive treatment and supervision. They must undergo drug testing and the penalty for failure is severe, but if they successfully complete the program the charges against them are dropped. Placing defendants in drug court costs much less than housing them in a prison.
On average the treatment program lasts 18 months, which is usually less than a prison sentence. Drug court participants perform public service projects, but they don't have to quit their jobs. That means they continue to pay taxes and support their families, which helps hold down costs to the welfare system.
There are more than 16,000 inmates in the state prison system. As of July more than 2,000 people had gone through Arkansas drug courts.
When someone is arrested on drug charges a thorough evaluation is necessary before admitting him or her into a drug court program. Some defendants have lied about being addicted to drugs in order to avoid prison.
The nation's first drug court started in Miami, Florida, in 1988 as a response to a huge backlog in the criminal courts due to drug offenses. The first drug court in Arkansas was a pilot project in Pulaski County that began in 1994 with funding from the state Health Department and the federal Department of Justice.
AA Bond Rating
The Arkansas Development Finance Authority, the main state agency that issues bonds for public housing projects, has a AA rating from Standard and Poor's. That rating was raised earlier this year from AA-.
When the Authority received its first rating from Standard and Poor's in the late 1990s, it received an A and since then has been upgraded three times.
ADFA also issues bonds for economic development projects but Standard and Poor's based its rating mainly on the Authority's bonds for housing.
COUNTY SALES TAX REPORT
THE LATEST COUNTY SALES TAX COLLECTIONS HAVE BEEN RELEASED. KENA’S DWIGHT DOUGLAS REPORTS:
WORTH NOTING !!!!
MAJOR FLARE, NOT EARTH-DIRECTED: On August 9th at 0805 UT, sunspot 1263 produced an X7-class solar flare--only the third X-flare of new Solar Cycle 24 and the most powerful so far. NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory captured the explosion's extreme ultraviolet flash:The brunt of the explosion was not Earth directed. Nevertheless, radiation from the flare created waves of ionization in Earth's upper atmosphere, briefly disrupting communications at some VLF and HF radio frequencies. The blast also accelerated a mild torrent of protons toward Earth; they can be seen speckling the images in this SOHO movie of a CME emerging from the blast site. The CME will probably miss Earth. At this time, however, we cannot rule out a glancing blow from the flank of the cloud on August 11th or 12th. Stay tuned for additional analysi
FUNDRAISER FOR THE PCDC EXPANSION PROJECT !!!!!!!!!!!!
Tour Historic Esso & Studebaker Buildings From 8/25/2011 To 8/27/2011 Private collection open for fundraiser...423 Mena Street in Mena, AR
Tour the Historic Esso or Studebaker Buildings (car museums) for a $5donation. Thursday, August 25th 2pm - ?? Friday, August 26th 2pm - ?? Saturday, August 27th 10am - ??
Ride in a Genuine 426 Hemi or a Genuine 409 Chevy - $100 a ride Raffle to win free t-shirts, hats and gas cards...Raffle to win a free set of valve covers...drawing at 7pm Saturday, August 27th.
Tour the Historic Esso or Studebaker Buildings (car museums) for a $5donation. Thursday, August 25th 2pm - ?? Friday, August 26th 2pm - ?? Saturday, August 27th 10am - ??
Ride in a Genuine 426 Hemi or a Genuine 409 Chevy - $100 a ride Raffle to win free t-shirts, hats and gas cards...Raffle to win a free set of valve covers...drawing at 7pm Saturday, August 27th.
JERRI DEE HALE BAND WILL PERFORM LIVE
LOGAN LIND WILL PERFORM LIVE !!!!
36 ANNUAL QUEEN WILHELMENA ROD RUN !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
THIS WEEKEND ON FRIDAY AND SATURDAY THE 36TH ANNUAL QUEEN
WILHELMINA ROD RUN HOSTED BY STREET AND PERFORMANCE WILL BE IN MENA THE CARS WILL BE ON DISPLAY AT THE KCS DEPOT SHOW FRIDAY NIGHT FROM 6PM TO 8PM. --- CLOSE TO 200 STREET RODS AND HOT RODS WILL BE ON DISPLAY AT QUEEN WILHELMINA DURING THE DAY SATURDAY---- THEN FROM 6 PM TO 8 PM THE STREET RODS AND HOT RODS WILL LINE UP ON SOUTH MENA STREET FOR THE SATURDAY NIGHT STREET DANCE AND CONCERT, FEATURING GREAT LIVE MUSIC BY LOGAN LIND, BEGINNING AT 7 PM, FOLLOWED BY JERRI DEE HALE AND HINDSIGHT AT 9 PM. THIS IS A GREAT EVENT FOR ALL AGES. THE 36TH ANNUAL QUEEN WILHELMINA ROD RUN…THIS COMING FRIDAY AND SATURDAY. ALANA BURK HAS DETAILS:
WILHELMINA ROD RUN HOSTED BY STREET AND PERFORMANCE WILL BE IN MENA THE CARS WILL BE ON DISPLAY AT THE KCS DEPOT SHOW FRIDAY NIGHT FROM 6PM TO 8PM. --- CLOSE TO 200 STREET RODS AND HOT RODS WILL BE ON DISPLAY AT QUEEN WILHELMINA DURING THE DAY SATURDAY---- THEN FROM 6 PM TO 8 PM THE STREET RODS AND HOT RODS WILL LINE UP ON SOUTH MENA STREET FOR THE SATURDAY NIGHT STREET DANCE AND CONCERT, FEATURING GREAT LIVE MUSIC BY LOGAN LIND, BEGINNING AT 7 PM, FOLLOWED BY JERRI DEE HALE AND HINDSIGHT AT 9 PM. THIS IS A GREAT EVENT FOR ALL AGES. THE 36TH ANNUAL QUEEN WILHELMINA ROD RUN…THIS COMING FRIDAY AND SATURDAY. ALANA BURK HAS DETAILS:
REGISTRATION FOR THE UPCOMING QUEEN WILHELMINA RODRUN WILL TAKE PLACE FRIDAY AT THE STREET AND PERFORMANCE FROM UNTIL 4PM AND THE KCS DEPOT AND ON SATURDAY AT THE QUEEN WILHELMINA STATE PARK FROM 9AM TO 1PM---THE COST FOR REGISTRATION IS 25.00 DOLLARS---,FOR MORE INFO CALL 394- 5711. MARK CAMPBELL OWNER OF STREET AND PERFORMANCE ORIGINATED THE ROD RUN HERE IN MENA 36 YRS AGO IN 1975. HE TELLS KENA HE'S READY FOR A GREAT TURNOUT OUT TO THE ROD RUN :(LISTEN BELOW)
SENATOR LARRY TEAGUE REPORT
August 19, 2011
LITTLE ROCK – With the beginning of the 2011-2012 school year, Arkansas has begun the transition toward teaching national mathematics and English curricula known as Common Core State Standards.
The first step toward bringing Arkansas schools in line with Common Core is to introduce the national standards in kindergarten through second grade classes, beginning this school year. Next year the curriculum standards will be brought into classes from third to eighth grades. Ninth through twelfth grade classes will work under the Common Core standards beginning in the 2013-2014 school year.
So far schools in 42 states and Washington, D.C. have instituted Common Core. The impetus for Common Core came from governors and educators in individual states who want to ensure that the progress of a child's education will not suffer if his or her family moves to other states. Children who attend schools that teach the Common Core curriculum will be prepared for college and for entering the work force, the Arkansas Education Commissioner said.
The state Board of Education adopted Common Core standards for Arkansas public schools in July, 2010.
Also last week, a program to promote more emphasis on science and technology in Arkansas high schools was announced by the governor and the heads of state agencies in charge of education, job training and economic development. The pilot program is called STEM Works.
STEM is a acronym that has become popular in education circles. It stands for science, technology, engineering and mathematics. There is a growing demand for workers with job skills in STEM related fields due to the changing nature of manufacturing and industry.
The STEM Works program will change how certain high schools teach technology classes to allow students to participate more directly in projects. Cross County High School in Cherry Valley and Lincoln High School in Washington County will be the first schools in Arkansas to follow this new model and become what will be called "New Tech High Schools." The goal is to have 10 "New Tech High Schools" by next year.
STEM Works will also provide resources to state universities so they can graduate more new teachers in scientific and technical subjects.
Another model that STEM Works will promote is based on the successes of the EAST Initiative in numerous Arkansas high schools. That stands for Environmental and Spatial Technology.
Various state agencies have allocated $2.25 million for the STEM Works program and private industries have donated significant amounts.
Duck Season Is Set
The Game and Fish Commission has approved a 60-day season for waterfowl on these dates: November 19-27, December 8-23 and December 26-January 29. The youth hunt is set for February 4-5.
The duck bag limit of six will consist of no more than four mallards (two hens); three wood ducks; two redheads; one black duck; two pintails; one canvasback; one mottled duck, and two scaup. The different seasons for goose can be found at the Commission's web site at www.agfc.com
LITTLE ROCK – With the beginning of the 2011-2012 school year, Arkansas has begun the transition toward teaching national mathematics and English curricula known as Common Core State Standards.
The first step toward bringing Arkansas schools in line with Common Core is to introduce the national standards in kindergarten through second grade classes, beginning this school year. Next year the curriculum standards will be brought into classes from third to eighth grades. Ninth through twelfth grade classes will work under the Common Core standards beginning in the 2013-2014 school year.
So far schools in 42 states and Washington, D.C. have instituted Common Core. The impetus for Common Core came from governors and educators in individual states who want to ensure that the progress of a child's education will not suffer if his or her family moves to other states. Children who attend schools that teach the Common Core curriculum will be prepared for college and for entering the work force, the Arkansas Education Commissioner said.
The state Board of Education adopted Common Core standards for Arkansas public schools in July, 2010.
Also last week, a program to promote more emphasis on science and technology in Arkansas high schools was announced by the governor and the heads of state agencies in charge of education, job training and economic development. The pilot program is called STEM Works.
STEM is a acronym that has become popular in education circles. It stands for science, technology, engineering and mathematics. There is a growing demand for workers with job skills in STEM related fields due to the changing nature of manufacturing and industry.
The STEM Works program will change how certain high schools teach technology classes to allow students to participate more directly in projects. Cross County High School in Cherry Valley and Lincoln High School in Washington County will be the first schools in Arkansas to follow this new model and become what will be called "New Tech High Schools." The goal is to have 10 "New Tech High Schools" by next year.
STEM Works will also provide resources to state universities so they can graduate more new teachers in scientific and technical subjects.
Another model that STEM Works will promote is based on the successes of the EAST Initiative in numerous Arkansas high schools. That stands for Environmental and Spatial Technology.
Various state agencies have allocated $2.25 million for the STEM Works program and private industries have donated significant amounts.
Duck Season Is Set
The Game and Fish Commission has approved a 60-day season for waterfowl on these dates: November 19-27, December 8-23 and December 26-January 29. The youth hunt is set for February 4-5.
The duck bag limit of six will consist of no more than four mallards (two hens); three wood ducks; two redheads; one black duck; two pintails; one canvasback; one mottled duck, and two scaup. The different seasons for goose can be found at the Commission's web site at www.agfc.com
POLK COUNTY RODEO
THE 58TH ANNUAL RODEO IS COMING TO TOWN STARTING AUGUST 11TH. HERE'S WENDY STROTHER WITH MORE:
SENATOR LARRY TEAGUE REPORT
August 12, 2011
LITTLE ROCK – Several members of the state Board of Education suggested newer and tougher standards for determining whether an Arkansas school district should be classified as being in academic distress.
At a recent Board meeting, members debated whether the current legal definition of academic stress is so diluted that it is meaningless. That would explain why some school districts never get placed on the academic distress list even though their students score very poorly on standardized tests.
It is more common for districts to be put in the fiscal distress category. When that happens, state education officials take over the administration of the local school districts until its finances are healthy again. If a school district in fiscal or academic distress cannot improve it may have to merge with a nearby district.
To be categorized as in academic distress, more than 75 percent of a district's students must score below basic on standardized tests. The results are considered district wide, therefore a district with a few high performing schools can also have a school where the majority of students score dismally on standardized tests. Such a district would not be placed in academic distress because the good scores compensate for the bad scores.
It was suggested at the Board of Education meeting that a graduated system of standards and corrective measures replace the current system, in which a school district must perform extremely poorly to be placed on the academic distress list. The state Education Commissioner said he could have some new standards ready for the Board to study at its December meeting.
The new criteria would provide early warning signs that a local school district is on the path toward academic distress, allowing the state to intervene more promptly.
Benchmark exams are standardized tests with four levels of achievement - advanced, proficient, basic and below basic. Students who score at the top two levels are considered to be performing at grade level.
Also during the August meeting the Board approved a Public School Fund budget for the coming school year of almost $2.6 billion. Per pupil funding will increase from $6,023 last year to $6,144 in the 2011-2012 school year. Per pupil foundation funding for next year, 2012-2013, is projected to increase to $6,267.
In addition to basic per pupil funding, school districts get bonus funding for students with special needs and bonus funding for students from poor families and for students who are learning English.
Grants Available for Rural Communities
The Arkansas Rural Services Department has opened a new grant cycle to accept applications for grants for county fairs, fire departments and community development. The deadline for this cycle is November 18.
The department is in the middle of other grant cycles, also for county fairs, fire departments and community improvements. The upcoming deadlines are August 19, December 9 and March 16, 2012.
Information and contact numbers can be found at the department's web site, at www.arkansas.gov/drs The Rural Services Department provides grants to communities with fewer than 3,000 people.
LITTLE ROCK – Several members of the state Board of Education suggested newer and tougher standards for determining whether an Arkansas school district should be classified as being in academic distress.
At a recent Board meeting, members debated whether the current legal definition of academic stress is so diluted that it is meaningless. That would explain why some school districts never get placed on the academic distress list even though their students score very poorly on standardized tests.
It is more common for districts to be put in the fiscal distress category. When that happens, state education officials take over the administration of the local school districts until its finances are healthy again. If a school district in fiscal or academic distress cannot improve it may have to merge with a nearby district.
To be categorized as in academic distress, more than 75 percent of a district's students must score below basic on standardized tests. The results are considered district wide, therefore a district with a few high performing schools can also have a school where the majority of students score dismally on standardized tests. Such a district would not be placed in academic distress because the good scores compensate for the bad scores.
It was suggested at the Board of Education meeting that a graduated system of standards and corrective measures replace the current system, in which a school district must perform extremely poorly to be placed on the academic distress list. The state Education Commissioner said he could have some new standards ready for the Board to study at its December meeting.
The new criteria would provide early warning signs that a local school district is on the path toward academic distress, allowing the state to intervene more promptly.
Benchmark exams are standardized tests with four levels of achievement - advanced, proficient, basic and below basic. Students who score at the top two levels are considered to be performing at grade level.
Also during the August meeting the Board approved a Public School Fund budget for the coming school year of almost $2.6 billion. Per pupil funding will increase from $6,023 last year to $6,144 in the 2011-2012 school year. Per pupil foundation funding for next year, 2012-2013, is projected to increase to $6,267.
In addition to basic per pupil funding, school districts get bonus funding for students with special needs and bonus funding for students from poor families and for students who are learning English.
Grants Available for Rural Communities
The Arkansas Rural Services Department has opened a new grant cycle to accept applications for grants for county fairs, fire departments and community development. The deadline for this cycle is November 18.
The department is in the middle of other grant cycles, also for county fairs, fire departments and community improvements. The upcoming deadlines are August 19, December 9 and March 16, 2012.
Information and contact numbers can be found at the department's web site, at www.arkansas.gov/drs The Rural Services Department provides grants to communities with fewer than 3,000 people.
HOME SCHOOLING
PARENTS WISHING TO HOME SCHOOL THEIR CHILDREN YOU MUST APPLY BY AUGUST 15TH FOR THE FALL SEMESTER. APPLICATIONS ARE AVAILABLE FROM THE MENA SCHOOL SYSTEM ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICE. PARENTS MUST SUBMIT A NEW APPLICATION EACH YEAR.
COLLEGE REGISTRATION
PLANNING TO ATTEND COLLEGE THIS FALL? NOW IS THE TIME TO COMPLETE ADMISSIONS AND FINANCIAL AID. BRING YOUR 2010 TAX RETURN AND MEET WITH ADMISSIONS AND FINANCIAL STAFF AT RICH MOUNTAIN COMMUNITY COLLEGE TO APPLY. FALL CLASSES START MONDAY, AUGUST 22ND, YOU CAN GET AN EARLY START BY PRE-REGISTERING TUESDAY AUGUST 2ND THRU FRIDAY AUGUST 5TH. REGULAR REGISTRATION IS WEDNESDAY AUGUST 17TH THRU FRIDAY AUGUST 19TH. GET STARTED ON A NEW CAREER OR A BETTER CAREER TODAY!
SENATOR LARRY TEAGUE REPORT
August 5, 2011
LITTLE ROCK – The State Hospital has agreed to a far-reaching improvement plan that will keep federal funding of the facility intact for the next year.
The hospital is a psychiatric facility in Little Rock with 236 beds for people with mental illnesses so severe that they need to be placed in an institution. It is operated by the state Department of Human Services, which also operates 13 community mental health centers across the state for thousands of Arkansans who require psychiatric care.
Almost a third of the annual funding of the State Hospital comes from the federal government, which threatened to shut off the flow of revenue unless the facility made improvements in care. The agreement calls for the hospital to pay for third-party consultants to review policies and practices, including how prescription drugs are dispensed to patients and how staff are trained.
In a separate development, an investigation cleared the State Hospital of complaints that it had billed the federal government for services that were not medically necessary. The complaint was filed by an advocacy group that looks out for the interests of patients. A spokesman for the group said that some patients did not have the type of mental illness that made it necessary for them to be in the State Hospital.
Medicaid, a government health care program, was paying for their treatment. An investigator for a Medicaid unit dismissed the complaints. A finding against the hospital would have further jeopardized its federal funding.
The State Hospital's operating budget last fiscal year was about $45 million, of which $13 million came from federal funding. The state provided the rest.
Any potential loss of federal funding is a serious matter for the state Human Services Department. It is very hard to find and pay for treatment of the patients at the State Hospital because of the severity of their medical conditions.
Earlier this year, after federal monitors found problems in how patients were cared for, the state dismissed the Hospital's chief administrator.
Athletic Fees
In the coming school year eight state-supported universities in Arkansas will raise fees that students must pay to support athletic programs, according to a report by the state Higher Education Department.
Athletic fees range from $11.50 per credit hour at Henderson State University in Arkadelphia to $17 a credit hour at the University of Central Arkansas in Conway. The University of Arkansas at Fayetteville does not charge mandatory student fees for athletics. The Razorbacks receive millions in ticket sales, licensing of products and television contracts.
The Razorback athletic program, with a total budget of $69 million, is by far the largest in the state. Arkansas State University at Jonesboro ranks second with an athletic budget of $12 million.
UCA is third with a budget of almost $9 million for athletics and the University of Arkansas at Little Rock is fourth with an athletic budget of $6.7 million. The University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff follows right behind with annual spending on athletics of $6.2 million.
Arkansas Tech at Russellville spends almost $4 million a year on athletics, the University of Arkansas at Fort Smith and Henderson State each spend about $3.4 million, the University of Arkansas at Monticello $2.9 million and the University of Southern Arkansas at Magnolia $2.5 million.
LITTLE ROCK – The State Hospital has agreed to a far-reaching improvement plan that will keep federal funding of the facility intact for the next year.
The hospital is a psychiatric facility in Little Rock with 236 beds for people with mental illnesses so severe that they need to be placed in an institution. It is operated by the state Department of Human Services, which also operates 13 community mental health centers across the state for thousands of Arkansans who require psychiatric care.
Almost a third of the annual funding of the State Hospital comes from the federal government, which threatened to shut off the flow of revenue unless the facility made improvements in care. The agreement calls for the hospital to pay for third-party consultants to review policies and practices, including how prescription drugs are dispensed to patients and how staff are trained.
In a separate development, an investigation cleared the State Hospital of complaints that it had billed the federal government for services that were not medically necessary. The complaint was filed by an advocacy group that looks out for the interests of patients. A spokesman for the group said that some patients did not have the type of mental illness that made it necessary for them to be in the State Hospital.
Medicaid, a government health care program, was paying for their treatment. An investigator for a Medicaid unit dismissed the complaints. A finding against the hospital would have further jeopardized its federal funding.
The State Hospital's operating budget last fiscal year was about $45 million, of which $13 million came from federal funding. The state provided the rest.
Any potential loss of federal funding is a serious matter for the state Human Services Department. It is very hard to find and pay for treatment of the patients at the State Hospital because of the severity of their medical conditions.
Earlier this year, after federal monitors found problems in how patients were cared for, the state dismissed the Hospital's chief administrator.
Athletic Fees
In the coming school year eight state-supported universities in Arkansas will raise fees that students must pay to support athletic programs, according to a report by the state Higher Education Department.
Athletic fees range from $11.50 per credit hour at Henderson State University in Arkadelphia to $17 a credit hour at the University of Central Arkansas in Conway. The University of Arkansas at Fayetteville does not charge mandatory student fees for athletics. The Razorbacks receive millions in ticket sales, licensing of products and television contracts.
The Razorback athletic program, with a total budget of $69 million, is by far the largest in the state. Arkansas State University at Jonesboro ranks second with an athletic budget of $12 million.
UCA is third with a budget of almost $9 million for athletics and the University of Arkansas at Little Rock is fourth with an athletic budget of $6.7 million. The University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff follows right behind with annual spending on athletics of $6.2 million.
Arkansas Tech at Russellville spends almost $4 million a year on athletics, the University of Arkansas at Fort Smith and Henderson State each spend about $3.4 million, the University of Arkansas at Monticello $2.9 million and the University of Southern Arkansas at Magnolia $2.5 million.
MENA FIREMEN RESPONDED TO A STRUCTURE FIRE AT 1907 CHURCH STREET ON THURSDAY, JULY 28TH EVENING. THE GARAGE SUFFERED HEAVY DAMAGE AND THE FIRE SPREAD TO THE ADJOINING HOME. ALL RESIDENTS ESCAPED WITHOUT HARM.
VERY CLOSE CALL WITH LIGHTNING AT THE MENA AIRPORT FOR 2 MEN !!!!!
RICK LANHAM THE AIRPORT MANAGER TELLS KENA NEWS HE WAS VERY PROUD
OF THE PERSONNEL THAT RESPONDED SO QUICKLY WHEN 2 MEN-- NICK BABER
AND MIKE SANNOLLA WERE INJURED THURSDAY BY THE STORM AT THE
AIRPORT , RICK LANHAM HAS MORE BELOW THE LIGHTNING PIC:
OF THE PERSONNEL THAT RESPONDED SO QUICKLY WHEN 2 MEN-- NICK BABER
AND MIKE SANNOLLA WERE INJURED THURSDAY BY THE STORM AT THE
AIRPORT , RICK LANHAM HAS MORE BELOW THE LIGHTNING PIC:
MENA SWIM TEAM NEEDS YOUR HELP !!!!
THE MENA BARRACUDA SWIM TEAM HAVE 5 SWIMMERS THAT QUALIFY TO ATTEND THE JUNIOR OLYMPICS IN NEW ORLEANS, THEY NEED TO RAISE ABOUT $1,000.00 DOLLARS PER SWIMMER. THIS COVERS ENTRY FEES,SUIT,CAP AND TSHIRT, HOTEL,FOOD AND GAS. MILLER GRAPHICS IS DONATING A BANNER AND EPIC TEESHIRTS IS DONATING T-SHIRTS- If you would like to make a donation or know someone who would like to donate to the cause you may do so at Union Bank in Mena under the Mena swim team or contact Coach Traci Gray at 479-234-3114. Swim team member Carrie has more:
MENA PUBLIC SCHOOLS OPEN HOUSE THURSDAY AUGUST 11TH
LOUISE DURHAM ELEMENTARY GRADES K, 1ST AND 2ND GRADE 4PM TO 6PM
HOLLY HARSHMAN ELEMENTARY GRADES 3RD 4TH AND 5TH 5PM TO 7PM
MENA MIDDLE SCHOOL PARENTS AND STUDENTS PICK UP THEIR SCHEDULES 6PM TO 8PM
MENA HIGH SCHOOL GRADES 10TH AND 12TH 3PM TO 5PM SEE NOTE BELOW
MENA HIGH SCHOOL GRADES 9TH AND 11TH 6PM TO 8PM SEE NOTE BELOW
PARENTS AND STUDENTS OF MENA HIGH SCHOOLWILL PICK UP THEIR SCHEDULES AND MEET TEACHERS. FOR ANY SCHEDULE CHANGES, A PARENT MUST BE PRESENT
HOLLY HARSHMAN ELEMENTARY GRADES 3RD 4TH AND 5TH 5PM TO 7PM
MENA MIDDLE SCHOOL PARENTS AND STUDENTS PICK UP THEIR SCHEDULES 6PM TO 8PM
MENA HIGH SCHOOL GRADES 10TH AND 12TH 3PM TO 5PM SEE NOTE BELOW
MENA HIGH SCHOOL GRADES 9TH AND 11TH 6PM TO 8PM SEE NOTE BELOW
PARENTS AND STUDENTS OF MENA HIGH SCHOOLWILL PICK UP THEIR SCHEDULES AND MEET TEACHERS. FOR ANY SCHEDULE CHANGES, A PARENT MUST BE PRESENT