UARS RE-ENTRY UPDATE: NASA's UARS satellite is making its last orbits around Earth. Orbital elements just published by US Strategic Command suggest that re-entry could occur a little later than previously expected. "For now, it looks like 00:00 - 04:00 UTC on Sept. 24," says satellite tracking expert Ted Molczan, "but it could well happen even later. UARS will pass over North America and Europe several times during this period, but it will spend most of its time over oceans and sparsely populated land." Stay tuned for updates and meanwhile keep an eye out for the doomed satellite.

The disintegration of UARS is expected to produce a fireball that could be visible even in broad daylight. Not all of the spacecraft will burn up in the atmosphere, however; according to a NASA risk assessment, as many as 26 potentially hazardous pieces of debris could be scattered along a ground track some 500 miles long. The same report puts the odds of a human casualty at 1 in 3200.

THE CITY OF JOHNSON WILL SOON HAVE A NEW MAYOR. LONNIE BARRON,FORMELY OF MENA-- WHO HAS BEEN MAYOR FOR THE LAST FIVE YEARS OF THE CITY OF JOHNSON  HANDED IN HIS RESIGNATION. AND SOON THE CITY COUNCIL WILL DECIDE WHO WILL TAKE HIS SPOT. LONNIE BARRON SAYS HE WORKED HARD EVERY DAY AS MAYOR OF JOHNSON. BUT HE SAYS LATELY, HE COULDN'T SERVE LIKE HE WANTED TO. HEALTH ISSUES FORCED BARRON TO WORK FROM HOME . NOW BARRON SAYS HE'S FOCUSING ON HIS HEALTH. MONDAY THE CITY COUNCIL HELD A SPECIAL MEETING. THEY DECIDED TO ELECT SOMEONE TO COMPLETE THE THREE REMAINING YEARS OF BARRON'S TERM AT THEIR NEXT MEETING. THE DECISION COMES JUST DAYS AFTER GETTING BARRON'S LETTER OF RESIGNATION. LONNIE BARRON IS ORIGINALLY FROM MENA. HE SPENT 35 YEARS IN THE SCHOOL SYSTEM, WORKING AS A TEACHER ,A  PRINCIPAL -- A BEARCAT COACH AND 7 YEARS AS A MENA SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT. BARRON  ALSO SERVED AS CHAIRMAN OF THE MENA WATER COMMISSION AND CONTRIBUTED A LOT TO THE CITY OF MENA

KINDERGARTEN---MISTEN ROAN AND SEAN RIOS
1ST GRADE---FAITH TIPTON—RILEY JENNINGS AND BROOKE GOSS
2ND GRADE—KIERSTEN LARUCCI AND FAITH BRANDON
3RD GRADE---EMMY GOSS AND MADISON PHILPOT
4TH GRADE---MERCEDES MOWDY AND JASON WATTS
5TH GRADE ---MEKINZIE KYLE AND RACHEL MURR
6TH GRADE ---JOSEY WEBB AND ELIZABETH HACHTEL
 
THESE STUDENTS HAVE DISPLAYED  EXCELLENT CITIZENSHIP,  EXCEPTIONAL ACADEMIC EFFORT OR IMPROVEMENT AND GOOD ATTENDANCE,  SPECIAL , SIMPLE SIMONS AND GOSS WILL PROVIDE LUNCH AND GAMES TO THESE STUDENTS

September 30, 2011

LITTLE ROCK – Arkansas two-year colleges have received a federal grant of $14.7 million to help students complete degree programs in fields in which they are more likely to find good jobs.

The grant will help pay for several changes at Arkansas colleges.  The change that is most noticeable to students is that colleges will realign class schedules so students with jobs have more opportunities to attend classes at night and on weekends. 

Another change that will help students is a re-working of requirements to complete remedial courses.  This will particularly help older students whose education stopped after getting a high school diploma or a GED. 

When they sign up for college, they must score a 19 or better on standardized tests in reading, math and English and if they don't, they must take remedial classes to get up to the college level.  The majority of first-time students who enroll in a two-year college must take at least one remedial class.

The federal grant will pay for a redesign of course work in remedial classes to better fit the needs of students.  If tests show that a student needs help in a specific area, that student will be tutored in the particular area and not have to take an entire remedial course.  The student will be able to fulfill their remedial requirements in a couple of days rather than in an entire semester.

The grant will help colleges make changes in curriculum and degree programs so that course work more closely fits the needs of nearby industries. 

With input from local businesses, colleges will create career pathways.  Students who take courses in career pathways are more likely to be qualified for jobs in local industries.

Nationwide, college attendance is tending to increase because of the poor economy.  People who are laid off go back to college to learn new job skills.  More and more high school graduates realize the benefits of a college degree in getting a good job. 

The increase in attendance has meant an increase in the number of students who are not prepared for college course work.  Their lack of  academic preparation hinders them from getting into growth areas like health care and information technology.

The federal grant, from the U.S. Department of Labor, is one of a series of national grants to help colleges meet the needs of students.  In all, the department awarded $500 million in career training grants to colleges across the country.

There are 22 two-year colleges in Arkansas with 60 locations. More than 61,000 students are enrolled in classes for credit and another 50,000 people are taking classes through a local business in order to upgrade their job skills. 

Almost half of the college students in Arkansas are the first person in their family to attend college.  Almost half are 25 or older and 43 percent attend college on a part time basis.

Students earn associate degrees and technical certificates.  The most popular degrees are in nursing and health professions, but colleges offer hundreds of degree options in computer science, manufacturing , aerospace and energy technology, mechanics, law enforcement, education and electronics.

On average, the cost to attend a two-year college in Arkansas is $2,654 a year, or $1,327 per semester.  That amount represents tuition and mandatory fees.

Certain core courses earned at two-year colleges can be transferred for credit at four-year universities.

 
THE BI-ANNUAL BENSON AWARDS GALA AT THE OUACHITA LITTLE THEATRE (OLT)
IS THIS SATURDAY NIGHT AT 7:00 PM. IT RECOGNIZES EXCELLENCE IN
PERFORMANCES AND SERVICE TO THE OLT. HOSTED BY CMA’S JENNIFER AND
JEROD MCPHERSON OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCES IN 8 SHOWS PRODUCED AT
THE OLT IN 2009 AND 2010. TICKETS ARE $8.00 AT THE DOOR OR $5.00 IN ADVANCE
AT ARVEST BANK.  THE PUBLIC IS WELCOME.

 

  THE WICKES FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH IS HOSTING A BIKER OUTREACH ON SATURDAY FOR ALL BIKERS IN THE AREA—THERE WILL BE A HOME COOKED MEAL AT 8AM AND WILL GIVE OUT DOOR PRIZE TICKETS,  AFTER THE BREAKFAST THERE WILL BE A BEAD RUN FROM WICKES TO VANDERVOORT THEN BACK TO THE CHURCH COLLECTING BEADS AT VARIOUS STOPS ALONG THE WAY –UPON RETURNING TO THE CHURCH THERE WILL BE A SPECIAL MESSAGE USING THE BEADS COLLECTED—TO END THE EVENT THE CHURCH WILL DRAW TICKETS AND GIVE AWAY THE DOOR PRIZES—FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CALL BROTHER SCOTT OR PHYLLIS RAY AT 870-385-7008 OR EMAIL SPRAY1@WINDSTREAM.NET

THE BOARD CAMP BAPTIST CHURCH, IN CONJUNCTION WITH ARKANSAS AND OUACHITA BAPTIST ASSOCIATIONS, WILL BE HOSTING A "BLOCK PARTY ON SATURDAY FROM 10:0 A.M. UNTILL 3:00 P.M. AT THE FAMILY LIFE CENTER, LOCATED ON THE CORNER OF POLK 63 AND HIGHWAY 8 EAST. A YOUTH BASKETBALL CLINIC, GAMES FOR ALL AGES, AND PLENTY OF HOT DOGS WITH ALL THE TRIMMINGS, WILL BE AVAILABLE. EVERYONE FROM THE BOARD CAMP AND SURROUNDING AREAS ARE INVITED TO ATTEND

 
THE MENA  SCHOOL BANDS WILL BE HAVING A CARWASH THIS
SATURDAY FROM 830AM TO 230PM AT THE 1ST NATIONAL BANK MAIN BRANCH AND SPLASH CARWASH—DONATIONS WILL BE GRATEFULLY  ACCEPTED---ALL MONEY RAISED WILL WILL GO TOWARDS NEW UNIFORMS AND BAND SUPPLIES

 THE OUACHITA BAPTIST ASSOCIATION IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE ARKANSAS BAPTIST ASSOC. AND SOUTHERN BAPTIST CHURCHES IN THE AREA ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO PARTICIPATE IN THE ACTIVITIES AND TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE SERVICES BEING OFFERED TOMORROW
IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR NEED MORE INFO CALL479-394-3534

PAPAS MEXICAN CAFÉ IS CELEBRATING THERE 11TH  ANNIVERSARY  THIS SATURDAY IN MENA WITH-- –FIESTA TIME—THERE WILL BE A CAR --–BIKE AND TRUCK SHOW FROM 5PM TO 7PM—REGISTRATION IS FREE—AWARDS WILL BE GIVEN TO 1ST THROUGH 3RD PLACE AND MAYOR GEORGE MCKEE AND FIRE CHIEF JOHN PUCKETT WILL BE THE JUDGES---DOOR PRIZES WILL BE GIVEN  THROUGHOUT THE CAR SHOW ---LIVE MUSIC WILL BE BY THE DALLAS TEXAS,  TECATITLAN   MARIACHI BAND FROM 5PM TO 9PM,THERE WILL ALSO BE A  BIG BOUNCY HOUSE FOR THE KIDS  AND FREE PAPAS MERCHANDISE 

September 23, 2011

LITTLE ROCK –Legislative leaders have asked for an audit of questionable unemployment checks being sent from the state Workforce Services Department.

According to a federal report issued by the U.S. Labor Department, the state agency has mistakenly paid out more than $161 million in unemployment insurance since July of 2008.

 The problem of overpayments took center stage at the most recent meeting of the Arkansas Legislative Council, when state lawmakers called for tighter controls within the Workforce Services Department to ensure that the problem gets fixed as soon as possible.  Some lawmakers said they would introduce legislation to increase penalties for fraudulently filing an unemployment claim.

About 40,000 Arkansans are now receiving unemployment benefits.  The federal report was based on a sample of fewer than a thousand cases in each of the past three years, randomly selected out of all claims paid in Arkansas.  A spokesman for the U.S. Labor Department defended the validity of the report, saying its quality control methods had been proven over time.

However, the state Workforces Services Department disputed the numbers and said that last year the amount overpaid was $11 million, much less than the $50 million in overpayments reported by the federal agency for last year.

Whatever the amount in overpayments, legislative leaders called the federal report "disturbing" in a letter requesting a detailed audit of unemployment benefits paid in Arkansas.

 It is especially frustrating for legislators because they passed difficult bills during the past two sessions to restore the financial health of the state Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund.

Act 861 of 2011 froze benefits for unemployed workers and Act 802 of 2009 raised the basic wage on which employers pay unemployment taxes, from $10,000 to $12,000.  Those measures have reduced the deficit of the state Unemployment Trust Fund and will restore it to a a positive balance by 2015, according to recent estimates. 

The news about overpayments is also particularly frustrating to the business community, which pays taxes to maintain the Unemployment Trust Fund.

The federal Labor Department lists reasons for the improper unemployment payments.  The largest category of improper payments, 63 percent, were to people who had found work again but continued to claim unemployment benefits. 

The second most common reason for improper payments was "separation issues," which means that new information came to light that would have disqualified the recipient had it been reported in a timely manner.  The fault could be on the part of the employer or the employee, or the information may not have become available until a ruling is made on appeal. 

Separation issues were the cause for 17 percent of the improper payments, according to the Labor Department report.

Being unable or unavailable to work accounted for seven percent of improper payments.  that happens when the recipient turns out to be disqualified from receiving benefits because they were in the hospital or in prison, for example.  Another three percent of improper payments were made to recipients who failed to look for work, as required in order to be eligible for benefits.

The improper payments represent 9.88 percent of all unemployment amounts paid in Arkansas in the three year period from July 2007 through June 2010.

In August the unemployment rate in Arkansas was 8.3 percent in August.

  THE MENA REGIONAL HEALTH SYSTEM AUXILIARY IS SELLING TICKETS FOR AN
ARKANSAS RAZORBACK TAILGATE PACKAGE AND FELIX JONES AUTOGRAPHED
FOOTBALL--- -THERE WILL BE TWO DRAWINGS ONE FOR THE TAILGATE PACK
AND ONE FOR THE FELIX JONES AUTOGRAPHED FOOTBALL TO BE HELD ON
SEPTEMBER 30TH---THE TICKETS ARE 1.00 DOLLAR EACH OR 6 FOR 5.00 DOLLARS
OR 12 FOR 10.00 DOLLARS  AVAILABLE FROM ANY AUXILIARY MEMBER AND AT
THE MRHS GIFT SHOP (PICTURED TO LEFT IS EWANTA TURNER)

  THE RICH MOUNTAIN COMMUNITY COLLEGE HUMANITIES DEPARTMENT AND ACTORS GUILD WILL BE HOSTING  A COFFEE HOUSE AND OPEN MIC ON TUESDAY SEPT 27TH AT 7PM IN THE RMCC STUDENT CENTER ON THE MENA CAMPUS.   THE EVENT WILL BE AN EVENING OF ENTERTAINMENT TO INCLUDE,  SINGING,  POETRY,  STAND UP COMEDY,  INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC AND STORYTELLING.  ADMISSION IS 2.00 DOLLARS FOR NON PERFORMERS.  CONTACT ROBBY BURT AT 479-394-7622 EXT 1338 FOR MORE INFORMATION

September 16, 2011

LITTLE ROCK –  University officials reported to a legislative committee that it's a common practice for institutions of higher education in Arkansas to award long-term contracts to vendors without seeking competitive bids.

It's also common for the vendors to provide gifts to colleges and universities, such as renovations to existing buildings or donations to scholarship funds.  One university president described renewing of contracts in exchange for gifts as a business arrangement in which both parties expect a benefit.  Another president said that changing food vendors frequently was disruptive and expensive.

Some legislators were not convinced that the system is a good way to budget and account for the expenditure of public money at state-supported colleges and universities.  If the amounts of the gifts and significant details are clearly presented in contracts, university officials can make informed judgments when comparing various offers from vendors in order to get the best deal.

Another university president, after questioning by a senator, admitted that when a food vendor awarded gifts  to a university in exchange for contract renewal, the cost of the gift would be included in the price of meals in the dining hall.

The contracts are routinely for as long as seven years and can be for millions of dollars.  They give private companies exclusive rights to operate book stores and dining halls, or they award "pouring rights" to one  particular soft drink company to stock soda machines on campus.

Universities and colleges operate under different laws than those governing state agencies,  which must seek competitive bids when they purchase goods and services in order to get the lowest price. 

Higher education has a degree of constitutional autonomy that buffers universities from political interference by the legislature and the governor.  However, the extent of their constitutional independence is not clear because litigation has never reached the state Supreme Court.  There are legislators who believe higher education should be protected from political meddling but who at the same time believe university administrators should be more accountable to the public because they receive and spend tax dollars.

The issue has real consequences for students and Arkansas families because of the spiraling costs of  a college degree.  In the past five years the Consumer Price Index has gone up 11.6 percent while tuition and fees at Arkansas state colleges and universities has risen twice as fast and on some campuses three times as fast as inflation. 

Higher education officials attribute the need for increased tuition and fees to the fact that state funding has not kept up with factors that drive up costs, such as growing enrollment, the need to add courses and degree programs, utility bills, new facilities and the acquisition of  technology and equipment.

Highway Bond Election

On November 8 Arkansas voters will decide whether to authorize the Highway Commission to issue additional bonds that would be backed with revenue from four cents per gallon of the state motor fuels tax on diesel. According to the Highway Commission, the four cents generates a total of $23.8 million a year.  Of that total the Highway Department  gets $16.1 million, cities and counties each get $3.46 million and other state agencies $785,000.00.

THERE IS GOING TO BE A BOOK SIGNING AT THE POLK COUNTY LIBRARY IN MENA ON SATURDAY FROM 11AM TO 1PM  FEATURING COLONEL(RET) BILLY R. WOOD WHO IS THE AUTHOR OF  THE NEW BOOK---LORDS OF DARKNESS--- THIS BOOK HAS NEARLY 200 PICTURES AND FOLLOWS  A FAILED ATTEMPT TO RESCUE AMERICAN HOSTAGES HELD IN TEHRAN, IRAN FROM 1979 TO 1981—THE OPERATION CALLED EAGLE CLAW BROKE DOWN IN DISASTER AT A PLACE CALLED DESSERT ONE AND LED TO THE CONCEPTION AND CREATION  OF A HIGHLY CLASSIFIED ARMY NATIONAL GUARD COUNTER TERRORISM HELICOPTER AVIATION BATTALION---IF YOU CANT ATTEND THE BOOK SIGNING AND WOULD LIKE AN AUTOGRAPHED COPY CONTACT BILLY OR CAROLYN WOOD AT WOOD.BRW.44@GMAIL.COM ANY QUESTIONS CALL 479-234-1503

   THE MAN SUSPECTED OF KILLING A 19-YEAR-OLD CONVENIENCE STORE CLERK IS BEING HELD ON $1 MILLION BOND.

THE TEXARKANA GAZETTE REPORTS THAT CODY SHANE GRIFFIN WAS GIVEN A COURT-APPOINTED ATTORNEY AND HELD ON BOND.

PROSECUTOR BRYAN CHESSHIR SAYS HE'S WAITING TO TALK TO THE FAMILY OF THE VICTIM, WENDY ZAPATA  HERNANDEZ OF DE QUEEN, BEFORE DECIDING TO SEEK A CAPITAL MURDER CHARGE OR FIRST-DEGREE MURDER.

IF HE'S CONVICTED OF CAPITAL MURDER, GRIFFIN COULD BE SENTENCED TO DEATH.

AUTHORITIES SAY HERNANDEZ WENT MISSING FROM THE STORE WHERE SHE WORKED LAST THURSDAY. SHERIFF'S DEPUTIES SPOTTED GRIFFIN SOON AFTER. HE ALLEGEDLY TOLD INVESTIGATORS THEY COULD FIND HERNANDEZ'S CAR NEARBY WITH HER BODY IN THE TRUNK.

GRIFFIN HAD NOT POSTED BOND FRIDAY MORNING. HIS ATTORNEY DID NOT RETURN A MESSAGE SEEKING COMMENT.

 

September 9, 2011

LITTLE ROCK –  Last year 481 juveniles were committed to state custody in a secure detention facility.  That is down from the previous year, when 531 youths were committed to a detention facility and significantly lower than the year before, when 636 youths were committed. 

The youths who were committed to a juvenile lockup stayed fewer days before being released.  In Fiscal Year 2011, which ended on June 30, the average stay for a juvenile sent to detention facilities averaged 132 days.  In Fiscal Year 2010 the average stay was 171 days.

The Division of Youth Services operates facilities for serious juvenile offenders at Colt in St. Francis County, Harrisburg in Poinsett County, Mansfield in Sebastian County, Dermott in Chicot County, Lewisville in Lafayette County and Alexander in Saline County.  The total population being housed in those facilities ranged from 711 in April to 764 in February.

The director of the Youth Services Division told legislators that a reason for the decline in commitments to secure detention facilities was that more youths were being sent to community programs.  Arkansas has 13 non-profit organizations that work with at risk juveniles and delinquents.  Some but not all of the programs are residential.  They accept youths referred from the 28 judicial districts in Arkansas.

The director said that community organizations were able to accept more youths because of funding from the federal stimulus package and from state funds.  They were able to hire an adequate number of staff to treat or monitor about 9,000 juveniles in community programs close to their homes, he said.

The juveniles committed to a detention facility are overwhelmingly male and from 15 to 17 years old. 

Last year 16 percent of the youths committed were female and 53 percent were African-American.  The offenses for which they were committed were felonies in 64 percent of the cases.  If they were committed for misdemeanors it was likely because of repeat offenses.

Institute on Aging Receives Grant

The Institute on Aging at the state's medical school in Little Rock, the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, has received a grant of $5.5 million to improve standards of care of the elderly.  UAMS will collaborate with its counterparts at the Department of Geriatrics and the Center on Aging at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, which is in Oklahoma City.

Among other things, the grant will be used for research into the reasons for declining muscle and skeletal functions in the elderly, and to determine how better nutrition can counteract those declines. Also, the research will explore innovative ways to prevent heart and skeletal muscle weakness.

The Institute on Aging was established with a $28.8 million gift from the Donald W. Reynolds Foundation.  Another gift of $33.4 million in 2009 allowed the institute to expand.

Bids for  Highway Projects Opened

The Arkansas Highway Commission opened bids for 19 projects totaling $120.7 million. They include work on about 10 miles of Interstate 40 near the White River that flooded earlier this year, forcing motorists to take detours of more than a hundred miles.

The projects also include building an 8.5 mile bypass around Monticello, which is significant because it represents the first construction project in Arkansas on what eventually will be Interstate 69 across the southeast corner of the state.  The chairman of the Highway Commission called the contract a "monumental" development.

September 2, 2011

LITTLE ROCK – The governor has set November 8 as the date of a special election on whether to renew $575 million in bonds to repair about 300 miles of interstate highways.

Voters approved the original interstate bond program in 1999 by an overwhelming majority. Those bond issues have paid for repairs to about 350 miles of interstates. Arkansas has a total of about 650 miles of interstate. The last of those bonds are scheduled to be paid off in August of 2014.

The state Highway and Transportation Department has pledged its share of federal funding to pay off the bonds. Also, it uses revenue from a portion of the state's diesel tax - four cents a gallon - to pay off the bonds.

If voters approve on November 8, the Highway Commission will have authority to renew the bonds for additional repairs to Arkansas interstates. If the proposal is turned down by voters, the four cents per gallon in diesel taxes will still be collected and the state will continue to receive federal funding.

The four cents per gallon in diesel fuel taxes generates about $13.5 million a year in revenue for the state. It generates about $3 million for cities and $3 million for counties to spend on local road improvements.

The 1999 special election to authorize bonds for highway repairs was a milestone in the history of the Arkansas highway department, because it represented a departure from our traditional "pay as you go" method of paying for highway construction. The 1999 interstate program was the first time in 50 years Arkansas had paid for highway repairs with bonds.

The governor said that he set the election for this year, rather than next year, because the 2012 elections will include so many races for elected office and several separate ballot issues. He said he wanted the highway bonds to be the only issue for voters to focus on. When several issues appear on the same ballot, as often happens in general elections, it is easier for voters to get confused.

Electronic Bids

The Highway Department is now set up to accept bids electronically. Its bidding service is called "Bid Express" and it allows contractors to access information about projects and submit bids over the Internet. The Department uses encryption technology to provide the highest level of security possible, so bids remain confidential until they are opened.

Contractors appear to like the new electronic process. The first time it was available, a total of 31 bids were submitted and 17 were submitted electronically. Contractors no longer have to travel to Little Rock to submit a bid.

GED Testing Fees

An international corporation called PearsonVUE administers testing for numerous state agencies. It grades GED tests for the state Career Education Department.  Beginning in 2014 Pearson VUE will require that all tests in Arkansas be submitted on computer and graded on computer, resulting in costs of about $100 per test.

Arkansas residents take from 8,000 to 9,000 GED tests a year. We are one of only a handful of states that does not charge students to take a test for a GED. The Career Education Department is working on new rules that would allow for charges for taking the tests, as well as for duplicate copies of GED diplomas. The department receives from 50 to 70 requests a day for a duplicate diploma.

  ONE OF THE BEST METEOR SHOWERS OF THE YEAR, THE PERSEID METEOR SHOWER, PEAKS TONIGHT (FRIDAY)

• Perseid meteor shower: Tips for watching the biggest shower of the year
• Perseid meteor shower: Best times to see the 'shooting stars'
• Perseid meteor shower puts on a spectacular show

WHILE LIGHT FROM A NEARLY FULL MOON WILL LIKELY REDUCE THE NUMBER OF "SHOOTING STARS" YOU MIGHT SEE, HEAD OUT AFTER MIDNIGHT TO WATCH ANYWAY.

AND BRING ALONG YOUR FM RADIO. WHAT YOU CAN'T SEE, YOU JUST MIGHT BE ABLE TO HEAR, AS BEYOND-THE-HORIZON FM RADIO SIGNALS BOUNCE OFF THE STREAKS OF HOT, IONIZED GAS THE METEORS LEAVE IN THEIR WAKES. SOME OF THOSE SIGNALS COME AS A SINGLE PING. OTHERS LAST LONG ENOUGH TO PICK OUT A SNIPPET OF A SONG OR A STATION ID.

THE PERSEID SHOWER IS ONE OF THE MOST WIDELY VIEWED METEOR SHOWERS OF THE YEAR. THE METEORS ARE BITS OF DEBRIS THAT COMET 109P/SWIFT-TUTTLE CASTS OFF WHEN IT APPROACHES THE SUN, WARMS, AND BEGINS SHEDDING ITS DUST AND GAS. THE SHOWER GETS ITS NAME FROM THE CONSTELLATION PERSEUS, WHICH APPEARS TO BE THE POINT IN THE SKY FROM WHICH THE SHOWER ORIGINATES.

After more than a month of slowly converging, the planets Mars, Saturn, and Venus, will create their most impressive formation yet: a tight upside-down triangle in the evening sky. Adding to the spectacle, Mercury and the asteroid Vesta should be visible near the planet triangle.

THE MENA REGIONAL SUPPORT FOUNDATION ANNUAL EMPLOYEE
APPRECIATION COOKOUT WILL BE HELD FRIDAY FROM 11AM TO 1PM ON FRIDAY IN THE MENA REGIONAL HEALTH SYSTEM  PARKING LOT --- BOXED LUNCHES ARE AVAILABLE TO GO AND PRE-ORDERS ARE WELCOMED AND ENCOURAGED, LUNCH WILL BE A GRILLED HAMBURGER WITH ALL THE FIXINGS, A DRINK, CHIPS AND A COOKIE FOR 5.00 DOLLARS ---TO RESERVE YOUR BOX LUNCH YOU MAY CALL KATHY AT 394-3538---REGINA AT 394-1289—DONNA AT 394-4979 OR ANY BOARD MEMBER, ALL PROCEEDS GO TO THE MENA REGIONAL SUPPORT FOUNDATION

  THE POLK COUNTY REPUBLICAN PARTY IS HAVING A LINCOLN DAY DINNER  IN THE HISTORIC OLD ARMORY  LOCATED AT 601 DEQUEEN STREET IN MENA SATURDAY  AT 5PM  ENJOY TYSON BBQ CHICKEN---GREAT MUSIC---EXCELLENT SPEAKERS AND FELLOWSHIP---THE KEYNOTE SPEAKER WILL BE  SALINE COUNTY SHERIFF BRUCE PENNINGTON---ALSO SPEAKING WILL BE  LINDA COLLINS –SMITH AND A 4TH DISTRICT CANDIDATES--- MARCUS RICHMOND-----BETH ANN RANKIN AND TOM COTTON---TICKETS ARE AVAILABLE FOR THE DINNER AND PROGRAM FOR 25 DOLLARS EACH ---MUSIC WILL BE PROVIDED  BY THE SPOTLIGHT SINGERS---FOLLOWED BY A SOLO BY HANNAH BELL AND JIM MCCOOL WILL DO HIS RENDITION OF GOD BLESS AMERICA FOR TICKETS CONTACT  BERNIE OR ERMA MIZE AT 394-4168 OR BEN AT 394-5440 OR RON AND SHELLY AT 394-5665

THE 23RD ANNUAL MOUNTAIN-FEST ARTS AND CRAFTS SHOW WILL BE IN THE 4000 SQ FOOT FACILITY AT IRON MOUNTAIN ON FRIDAY  AND SATURDAY , THE ARTS AND CRAFTS BOOTHS OPENS AT 9AM EACH MORNING TILL 6PM ---ON FRIDAY  THERE WILL BE LIVE MUSIC BY DON THOMPSON AND TALIMENA DRIVE
AT 2PM --–SPIRIT LEAD WILL PLAY SATURDAY   AT 2PM ---FOLLOWED BY THE HAPPY NOTES  AT 415PM—AT VARIOUS TIMES THROUGHOUT BOTH DAYS THEY WILL HAVE FREE CRAFT BINGO---MANY OF THE CRAFTSMEN WILL DONATE THEIR WARES  FOR  PRIZES IN BINGO---SHARON LONEWOLF WILL BE PAINTING NAMES ON RICE AND DOING OTHER DEMONSTRATIONS IN HER BOOTH THERE WILL BE A GREAT VARIETY OF ARTISANS---WOODWORKERS—A FLUTE MAKER---POTTERS---JEWELERS AND FOOD VENDORS---NATIVE AMERICAN FLUTIST CARLOS VEGAS WILL ALSO BE PLAYING ALL WEEKEND ---THERE WILL BE A DRAWING  AT 4PM ON SATURDAY FOR A VERY SPECIAL MADE MOUNTAIN FEST QUILT –THE WINNER DOES NOT NEED TO BE PRESENT TO WIN

A series of coronal mass ejections (CMEs) propelled toward Earth by the recent eruptions of sunspot 1283 will deliver glancing blows to Earth's magnetic field on Sept. 9th - 11th. High-latitude sky watchers should be alert for auroras
  In the nights ahead.
A solar wind stream flowing from the indicated coronal hole should reach Earth on Sept. 11-12.The magnetic canopy of sunspot 1283 has an unstable "beta-gamma-delta" configuration that harbors energy for more powerful eruptions. NOAA forecasters estimate a 75% chance of M-flares and a 25% chance of X-flares during the next 24 hours.

  THE PUBLIC IS INVITED TO ATTEND THE RICH MOUNTAIN COMMUNITY

 COLLEGE BOARD OF TRUSTEES—STAFF AND FACULTY AS THEY HOST A

  RECEPTION TO WELCOME THE NEW PRESIDENT MR PHILLIP WILSON TUESDAY SEPT.13TH

  FROM 9AM TO 11AM IN THE ST. JOHN LIBRARY ON THE RMCC MENA CAMPUS

  THE  TRINITY LUTHERAN CHURCH AT THE CORNER OF OAK AND DEQUEEN  WILL  HAVE A SEMINAR ON DEALING WITH DEATH ON  SEPT 13TH AT 7PM -- THE SPEAKERS AT THE EVENT WILL INCLUDE  REV. RANDOLPH SCHNACK---DENIE WESTPHAL---LINDA WARNER---LECIA DAVIS AND RICHARD MYHAND AFTER THERE  PRESENTATIONS , THE SPEAKERS WILL ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS  IN A PANEL DISCUSSION FORMAT.  THEY WILL ALSO BE ABLE TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS ONE ON ONE DURING A DESSERT  RECEPTION FOLLOWING  THE EVENT  FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT PASOR RANDOLPH SCHNACK AT 479-394-1290

  A FREE CONCERT WILL BE OFFERED THIS SATURDAY AT QUEEN WILHELMINA STATE PARK.  THE EXCELLENT LOCAL BLUEGRASS GROUP, BOB DOWDY AND THE MOUNTAIN BLUEGRASS BOYS WILL PERFORM AT THE PARK AMPHITHEATER.  BOB AND HIS BAND ARE BLUEGRASS FAVORITES AT QUEEN WILHELMINA BECAUSE OF THE HIGH ENERGY AND CLOSE HARMONY OF THEIR MUSIC.  THE CONCERT WILL START AT 7:00 P.M. AND IS FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC.  FOR MORE INFORMATION, CALL THE PARK AT 479-394-2863.

TODAY (FRI)AT THE POLK COUNTY FAIR ALL EXHIBITS WILL BE ON DISPLAY FROM 10AM TO 10PM THE COMMERCIAL BUILDING WILL BE OPEN FROM 2PM TO 10PM THE LIVESTOCK AWARDS WILL BE AT 630PM AND THE JUNIOR LIVESTOCK PREMIUM SALE STARTS AT 7PM---WRIST BANDS ARE AVAILABLE AT AREA BUSINESSES FOR 12 DOLLARS IN ADVANCE OR 15 DOLLARS AT THE GATE