Sevier News

UA Cossatot Educates Nurses with Pride

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Globally, the nursing profession is celebrating a milestone in 2020, as the World Health Organization declares it the International Year of the Nurse. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, nurses are making enormous sacrifices in these challenging times. UA Cossatot is proud to celebrate nurses everywhere and is pleased to help educate future nurses into this noble profession.

Like all students, UA Cossatot’s nursing students have been impacted by the coronavirus pandemic. They have been working remotely online and were recently allowed to finish their classes this spring semester on campus in a restricted safety environment.

In the spring of 2020, UA Cossatot had 44 students enrolled in its LPN program and 32 students enrolled in its RN program. Nursing is the college’s most popular program, and it is a profession that has a bright job outlook.

UA Cossatot offers an 11-month LPN day program at De Queen, an 18-month LPN evening program at Nashville, and an 11-month ARNEC RN program in the evening at both the De Queen and Nashville Campuses. The college’s Office of Continuing Education also offers a CNA training program to prepare students for the CNA licensure exam.

UA Cossatot has been awarding nursing degrees to nursing students for years and plans to do so for years to come. To learn more about UA Cossatot’s nursing program, please contact Christina Cooper at ccooper@cccua.edu.

Sevier County District Court Opens Despite COVID-19 Surge

With Sevier County becoming the fourth largest  COVID-19 hotspot in the state of Arkansas (187 cases as of Monday), county officials are cautiously moving to re-open the courthouse and resume district court. 

District Court opens despite covid-19 surge
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District Court opens despite covid-19 surge

With Sevier County becoming the fourth largest covid-19 hotspot in the state of Arkansas (187 cases as of Monday), county officials are cautiously moving to re-open the courthouse and resume district court.

Sevier County Quorum Court meets at De Queen High School

The Sevier County Quorum Court passed a resolution providing authority to execute a $20,000 CARES Act grant with the U. S. Department of Transportation Federal Aviation Administration on behalf of Sevier County at their June 8 meeting.

Quorum Court meets at high school
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Quorum Court meets at high school

The Sevier County Quorum Court passed a resolution providing authority to execute a $20,000 CARES Act grant with the U. S. Department of Transportation Federal Aviation Administration on behalf of Sevier County at their June 8 meeting.

Treasures Found in Historic De Queen Building as Owner Renovates

What began as a renovation has turned into a trip through history for a local business woman.

PHOTO GALLERY: Treasures found in historic De Queen building as owner renovates
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PHOTO GALLERY: Treasures found in historic De Queen building as owner renovates

What began as a renovation has turned into a trip through history for a local business woman. Kyndel Bagley, whose business - Bell's Tax Service - has been located on the southeast corner of the intersection of De Queen Ave. and Third St.

Hospital Construction Timeline Beginning to ‘Crest the Hill’

Dr. Steve Cole, chairman of the Sevier County Hospital Board, gave an update to the county quorum court at their meeting on Monday.

Hospital construction timeline beginning to ‘crest the hill’
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Hospital construction timeline beginning to 'crest the hill'

Dr. Steve Cole, chairman of the Sevier County Hospital Board, gave an update to the county quorum court at their meeting on Monday. Cole said that the board had a very lengthy agenda to work at their June 4 meeting and that they were beginning to "crest the hill" soon to be moving down the hill at a very fast pace.

Medical Certificates Can be Completed at UA Cossatot

Students planning to pursue a career in the medical field or who are questioning the medical field as a career option can receive an affordable medical certificate of proficiency or a technical certificate at UA Cossatot. The college is offering a Certificate of Proficiency in Medical Transcription and Technical Certificates in Health Professions and Medical Assisting.
These certificates offer educational opportunities to help open doors into the broad field of medical professions. They can be completed in a reasonable amount of time and can also help students determine where they want to work in the medical field and in what type of setting. They can also be earned to achieve a satisfactory job position in a medically-related work environment.
Graduates of the Medical Transcription and Assisting program may work in a medical office, hospital, lab, or out of their own homes as a private contractor. The Technical Certificate in Health Professions offers basic medical knowledge for employment in the medical field. It is also a flexible option when transferring to another college.

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The Technical Certificate in Health Professions requires 29 credit hours, the Technical Certificate in Medical Assisting requires 39, and the Medical Transcription Certificate of Proficiency requires 15.
Health care jobs are projected to continue to grow far faster than jobs in the general economy. Employment in the health care industry has been growing for decades and offers many different employment opportunities for individuals interested in helping others.
Students who earn these certificates will also have the opportunity of transitioning into other medical programs at UA Cossatot if they choose to continue their education at the college.
For more information or to enroll in classes for these medical certificates, please contact UA Cossatot Medical Advisor, Christina Cooper, at ccooper@cccua.edu

UA Cossatot Receives Grant from the Arkansas Natural and Cultural Resources Council

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UA Cossatot received a grant of $336,000 from the Arkansas Natural and Cultural Resources Council (ANCRC) at its meeting held on Wednesday, June 3rd. The grant will be used for Phase 1 of restoring the old Lockesburg Middle School on the Lockesburg Campus of UA Cossatot.

The council distributed $27.3 million to 23 projects that will restore and protect state-owned lands and property.

According to UA Cossatot Chancellor Dr. Steve Cole, this will be huge for education and historic preservation, “Since 2017 we have been working diligently with the ANCRC and Arkansas Historic Preservation to rehabilitate and use all of the buildings on the old Lockesburg High School Campus. This most recent grant will allow us to start restoring the middle school. When we finish phase 1, we will have two new classrooms, a large community room, and, most importantly, a museum to house and protect historical items from Lockesburg High School”.

UA Cossatot is also filing an application to Arkansas Historic Preservation to turn the entire old Lockesburg Campus into a historic district according to Cole, “Since we already have the gym on the National Register and have applied for the high school, it just makes more sense to have the entire campus as a historic district with all the buildings, including the old 100 year old jail listed as contributing buildings”.

The planned museum will house all of the old LHS memorabilia UA Cossatot currently possesses plus will always be open to the community members to donate more. “We have this wonderful opportunity to protect over 120 years of memories and will be asking anyone with old LHS memorabilia to contact Barry Reed at breed@cccua.edu”, added Cole.

As with any building owned by UA Cossatot, the UA Cossatot Foundation in the near future will be posting naming opportunities for the museum, community room, and the classrooms, hoping to raise enough funds to furnish the rooms and curate all of the historic pieces.

Cole expects phase 1 to be completed by next July, “We should meet our goal of completing phase 1 by June 30th of 2021, and we fully expect to apply for phase 2 funding next March, which will completely finish the middle school restoration”.

Since 2013, UA Cossatot has invested more than one million dollars in grants, private donations, and college funds on the Lockesburg Campus, with a large portion of funds coming from the ANCRC.

Stacy Hurst, Secretary of the Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage and Tourism, who serves as Secretary of the ANCRC said, “The ANCRC Trust Fund has funded over $400 million in projects since its first grants were made in 1989. Many well-loved buildings and properties have been saved for future generations by the fund, and we are a better state for it.”

ANCRC has funded the restoration and preservation of such iconic properties as the Arkansas State Capitol, Old Main on the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville Campus, Lakeport Plantation in Chicot County, and the Johnny Cash Home in Dyess.

The Arkansas Natural and Cultural Resources Council (ANCRC) was established by Arkansas Act 729 of 1987. Its grants and trust fund are managed for the acquisition, management and stewardship of state-owned lands, or the preservation of state-owned historic sites, buildings, structures or objects which the ANCRC determines to be of value for recreation or conservation purposes. The properties are to be used, preserved, and conserved for the benefit of present and future generations.

Showers and Thunderstorms Expected Monday

Heavy Rains from Cristobal Continue to move Northward

The Weather Channel says thunderstorms are expected to begin around noon time today for southwest Arkansas and could bring heavy rains throughout the afternoon.

The Weather Channel says thunderstorms are expected to begin around noon time today for southwest Arkansas and could bring heavy rains throughout the afternoon.

The Weather Channel expects showers, thunderstorms, heavy rainfall and strong winds today as a result of Cristobal making landfall.

The Weather Channel expects showers, thunderstorms, heavy rainfall and strong winds today as a result of Cristobal making landfall.

The National Weather Service has

The National Weather Service has

...A swath of heavy rain is expected to impact areas just west of
the Mississippi River as Cristobal continues to track far inland
toward the Great Lakes through Tuesday...

...Heavy snow develops in parts of the northern Rockies as severe
thunderstorms become increasingly likely across the northern and
central Plains, ...

...The West cools off substantially but critical to extreme fire
danger continues in the southern Rockies and High Plains...

After making landfall in southeastern Louisiana yesterday,
tropical storm Cristobal has continued to track further inland
into the lower Mississippi Valley.  Cristobal has been weakening
relatively slowly over land, and continues to bring intense rain
bands and tropical storm force wind gusts into Mississippi and
Alabama.  A High Risk for excessive rainfall remains in place for
eastern Louisiana and southern Mississippi along with the ongoing
threat for dangerous coastal flooding along the Central Gulf
Coast.  Cristobal is expected to bring a several inches of heavy
rain just west of the Mississippi River together with gusty winds
and isolated severe weather during the next couple of days.

Meanwhile, an anomalously cold and vigorous upper trough for early
June continues to swing through the western U.S. and into the
northern Plains.  Strong to severe storms will be likely as a cold 
front slowly works its way across the region. 

 
 

Weekly Update from State Representative DeAnn Vaught

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This week, we want to remind you of a rapidly approaching deadline for incoming and returning college students. The deadline to apply for the Arkansas Academic Challenge Scholarship is July 1.

The Academic Challenge Program provides scholarships to Arkansas residents pursuing a higher education. Funded in large part by the Arkansas Scholarship Lottery, the Academic Challenge Scholarship is available to students just graduating from high school, currently enrolled in college, enrolling in college for the first time, or re-enrolling after a period of time out of college.

In the ten years since its inception, the lottery has raised more than $945 million to help provide more than 542,000 scholarships for college students. More than 92 cents of every dollar of lottery revenue goes to prizes, scholarships, retailer commissions, and other expenses in Arkansas.

Eligibility requirements forArkansas high school students include a minimum composite score on nineteen (19) on the ACT or the equivalent score on an ACT equivalent test.

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Eligibility requirements have been modified due to COVID-19. For students who are receiving Arkansas Challenge, if they were on track to have enough hours and earned satisfactory academic progress until March 27, they are automatically eligible for the Fall 2021 Semester.

To apply, visit the Department of Higher Education’s website,scholarships.adhe.edu, and complete the Arkansas YOUniversal Scholarship Application or download the free YOUniversal app for your smart phone. The online YOUniversal application is your one-stop shop for state and lottery funded financial aid.

UA Cossatot Colt La Drakkus Thomas Signs with Crowley's Ridge

Here at UA Cossatot, we are proud to announce that junior forward La Drakkus Thomas has signed a letter of intent to continue his college basketball career at Crowley's Ridge College. LT was a team leader and a fan favorite for the Colts and we know he will make us proud! Congrats LT!

UA Cossatot’s Secondary Career Center Awards 81 Certificates

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The Secondary Career Center at UA Cossatot is a high school program designed to help teenagers earn college credit in technical programs while still in high school. UA Cossatot recently awarded 70 students from the Secondary Career Center with 81 certificates. The college also awarded 1,816 college credit hours to 227 students enrolled in the program for the spring 2020 semester.

High school students can enroll in the Secondary Career Center beginning their junior year of high school. Juniors and seniors can take college credit hours in automotive service technology, diesel service technology, medical professions, welding, and industrial technology. Students attend classes at a UA Cossatot campus during the morning or afternoon and can take up to half of their course requirements in high school to obtain their degree or technical certificate with the potential of Certificates of Proficiency being earned before high school graduation.

The Secondary Career Center at UA Cossatot helps high school students get a head start on college, but it also helps them save money. The classes offered through the Secondary Career Center are available to high school students at no charge.

The Secondary Career Center also provides students the opportunity to learn about technical careers they may be interested in or want to consider.

For more information about UA Cossatot’s Secondary Career Center or to enroll in available courses for the fall 2020 semester, please contact High School Programs Director, Julie Rhodes at 870-584-1343 or jrhodes@cccua.edu

Online Education is Affordable at UA Cossatot

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Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many colleges and universities across the nation are offering the majority of their classes strictly online. With so much uncertainty about on-campus course work, college students are being encouraged to sign up for courses with an online format. UA Cossatot, the first college in Arkansas to offer a fully-accredited degree completely online, has been offering online education since 1997 and continues to offer several classes, certificates, and degrees online for students to take at a friendly price.

UA Cossatot has eight associate degrees, two associate of applied science degrees, five technical certificates, and two certificates of proficiency that can be completed 100% online. The majority of classes in other degrees and certificates at UA Cossatot can be completed online as well.

Students can earn degrees and certificates in general studies, business, agriculture, criminal justice, and psychology, to name a few, without ever stepping on one of UA Cossatot’s campuses.

Tuition at UA Cossatot is $74 per credit hour, meaning full-time in-district resident students taking 12 hours can expect to pay less than $1600 a semester. Additionally, UA Cossatot’s online courses generally require no textbook purchases, saving students over $500 each semester.

UA Cossatot was recently listed as one of the Top 60 Online Community Colleges in the nation. Out of 60 colleges, UA Cossatot was ranked at number 15 and was also listed as the most affordable online community college in the country, according to Intelligent.com, a trusted resource for online degree rankings and higher education planning.

UA Cossatot Student Accounts Officer, Tiana Kelly, said, “Taking classes at a community college is a great option. If students are going to have to pay for coursework online, they might as well take them at UA Cossatot, where they will be far cheaper! We are happy to welcome local, transfer, new, and returning students to our college. UA Cossatot students are given the option to make monthly payments through the mail, online, or over the phone. To set up payment plans, please call the business office at 870-584-1113. We would love to help you and answer any questions!”

For more information about online classes or online programs offered at UA Cossatot, please contact Student Services at studentservices@cccua.edu or 870-584-4471.

 
 

UA Cossatot Releases Three-Phase Plan for Reopening

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The purpose of this three-phase plan is to prepare UA Cossatot’s staff, students, and community for the gradual reopening of all UA Cossatot campuses.

Based on current guidance, UA Cossatot will employ a gradual return to normal for our students and community. Since the advent of COVID-19 in our community, UA Cossatot has shuttered campuses to students and visitors. Employees of UA Cossatot have been allowed to work from home (providing employees can effectively and productively complete their job duties) from the very beginning of the COVID-19 epidemic, while many employees have been coming to work on campus under strict social distancing and other CDC safety guidelines. This plan is designed to guide our college and inform our public through the summer to prepare for a full reopening this fall. UA Cossatot’s COVID-19 Task Force is currently preparing the reopening plan for fall of 2020.

This plan should be considered a fluid response to the COVID-19 epidemic and may be changed based on the prevailing or impending health conditions locally, statewide, and regionally.

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Sevier County 4-H’er Wins 'Best in Show' in State Photography Contest

Monica Rivas won 1st place and Best of Show in the Ross Foundation 4-H Photography Contest at state competition with this non-living black and white photo.

Monica Rivas recently received first place and best in show for the 2020 State Ross Foundation 4-H Photography Contest. The contest provides an opportunity for Arkansas 4-H’ers to demonstrate, compete, and exhibit their photography skills. All 4-H members ages 9-19 are eligible and may enter a unique, original photo into each category. Categories are living color, non-living color, living black and white, and non-living black and white. Every year, hundreds of youth compete to win one of four places in the state competition. To view all winning photos, visit the Arkansas 4-H Photography Facebook Page.

Monica Rivas is the daughter of Jorge and Donna Rivas. She has been a member of 4-H for nine years.

For information about joining a 4-H club, contact Sevier County Extension Service at (870) 584-3013 or email kfrachiseur@uaex.edu.