Independence County Sheriff to Seek Re-Election
Independence County Sheriff Steve Jeffrey recently announced his intention
to seek re-election for a second term subject to the Democratic primary on May 22.
“In the past year, we feel that key department heads have been chosen that can better lead their staff to best serve our citizens,” said Jeffrey in a press release announcing his bid. “Our narcotics officers have been instrumental working with mutual departments
across the state in taking large amounts of illegal drugs off our streets and
out of our communities. We’ve instituted 12-hour schedules for our patrol deputies to give us more deputies on the street every shift and continual training for all of our deputies to keep them abreast of new law techniques in law enforcement procedures. And we’ve opened a metro police sub-station in the west Batesville area to better serve the citizens in that area of town.
“The sheriff’s department has been able to acquire much needed equipment with the help of federal grants for equipment like bulletproof vests, M-16 rifles for every deputy, computers, and software. The support of local businesses and individuals has been outstanding in helping to obtain funding for things like our new dive team, boating supplies, a prescription drug drop box so our citizens can dispose of unwanted medicines that are no longer needed, and the donation of land and work on the departments firing range located behind the jail. We have been able to add two additional street deputies to patrol which shorten the response time to people in the county. A new inmate jail phone was installed last week with the latest in monitoring technology at no cost to the citizens, and a new updated surveillance system has been ordered for the jail to enhance security.”
Taylor Announces Re-Election Bid
Independence County District Judge Chaney Taylor has announced his candidacy for re-election in the upcoming May 22 non-partisan judicial election. Judge Taylor was first elected District Judge in 2004 and is currently serving his second four-year term. During his tenure as District Judge, Taylor was establishing Arkansas’ first DWI Court in 2009. Two more DWI Courts in Sherwood and Hot Springs have since followed, and five more are in various stages of implementation. Independence County District has four divisions: traffic, criminal, small claims and civil. Independence County District Court also presides over final hearings on order of protection cases.
Prior to serving as District Judge, Taylor served six years in the Arkansas House of Representatives, where he served on the House Public Health & Welfare, Judiciary, and Aging, Children and Youth, Legislative and Military Affairs Committees. He also served as chairman of the Arkansas Legislative Council Litigation Reports Oversight Committee.
Taylor is a member of the Arkansas District Judges’ Council and currently serves on the Arkansas Supreme Court Committee on Security and Emergency Preparedness and the Arkansas Administration of Justice Fund Committee. He has also served on the Judicial Branch Education Committee. Taylor was certified in General and Court Security Law Enforcement Standards and Training in 2009. In October 2011, he completed a one-day supplemental training class on courthouse security sponsored by the Arkansas Supreme Court Committee on Security and Emergency Preparedness, conducted by Calibre Press. In September 2011, he attended a two-day conference on domestic violence.
Taylor is an Independence County native. He received his J.D. degree from the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville and was licensed to practice law in 1992. He and his wife, the former Leah Eastin, have four children and are members of the First United Methodist Church in Batesville.
UACCB Circle K International Club
to Host Valentine Event
Students from University of Arkansas Community College at Batesville’s Circle K International (CKI) Club are hosting a Variety Night Show entitled “Bon Appetune” on Tuesday, Feb. 14, from 6:30 to 9 p.m. in UACCB’s Independence Hall.
CKI is a service organization sponsored by the Batesville Kiwanis Club and open to all UACCB students. Students gain more active involvement in their community and campus life through this organization. Money raised through this activity will help fund various club projects throughout the year.
This event will feature fun, food and entertainment for people of all ages. Tickets are available for $18 per person, or $30 per couple. For more information, tickets, or if anyone is interested in participating in the talent show, contact Jeremiah at (870) 805-8321, or stop by the Main Classroom Building (MCB) room 220 on the UACCB campus.
Eagle Mountain Magnet
Receives Wellness Initiatives Funding
$4,000 Awarded by Midwest Dairy Council
for ‘Fuel Up to Play 60’
Eagle Mountain Magnet has been chosen to receive $4,000 to support its “Fuel Up to Play 60” initiatives from among hundreds of schools across the country that applied for funding to help them jumpstart and sustain nutrition and physical activity improvements. This nationwide funding program offers schools up to $4,000 to help them increase awareness of and access to nutrient-rich foods and physical activity opportunities for students. Funding for this competitive program is provided by Midwest Dairy Council on behalf of dairy farmers in 10 midwest states.
“Fuel Up to Play 60” funds provide support for a variety of activities and tools, such as foodservice materials and equipment, nutrition and physical education materials, student and staff incentives, staff development and overall “Fuel Up to Play 60” implementation in an effort to champion school wellness.
Some of the activities planned include: hosting a Hero’s Breakfast for policemen, firemen, and paramedics; offering a Grab-and-Go Breakfast; involving parents/guardians in a Family Fitness Challenge; Salad Bar Try-outs, Milk Mustache Contest, and walking/biking safety programs.
More than 70,000 schools across the United States are participating in “Fuel Up to Play 60.” Launched by National Dairy Council, local dairy councils and the National Football League, in collaboration with the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), the program encourages youth to consume nutrient-rich foods and achieve at least 60 minutes of physical activity every day. Multiple health organizations and several major corporations are also supporting “Fuel Up to Play 60,” now in its third year.
“‘Fuel Up to Play 60’ has really taken off in Batesville,” said Melissa Young, health and
wellness director with Midwest Dairy Council. “Wellness champions and students in nearly 10,000 schools across the Midwest have embraced the program, and these funds will help many of the participating schools to do even more.”
Chamber to Host Trap Tourney
The Batesville Area Chamber of Commerce will host the first Chamber Trap Tournament on Feb. 24 at the Independence County Shooting Sports Complex from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Corporate teams are encouraged to participate. Each team will consist of five shooters shooting 25 targets each. At the end of the round, event officials will tally the scores and divide teams into evenly matched flights. Flights will be assigned similar to a golf tournament.
Amateur shooters are encouraged to participate. Practice will be available the day before and the morning of the tournament. Sponsorship opportunities are available and corporate teams are encouraged to participate.
Modern Woodmen recently donated $1,000 to Eagle Mountain Magnet School. The school's chili supper fundraiser was matched by funds from Modern Woodmen. Cledas Manuel (back row, left) from Modern Woodmen presented the check to Eagle Mountain Principal Pat Rutherford (back row, right) and students. Photo submitted
Lyon to Host Honors Day
Students will have the chance to earn scholarships during the spring semester as Lyon College hosts the first January Honors Day competition Jan. 28 on campus.
The event is open to students accepted at Lyon College and having either a 3.25 GPA or better or an ACT composite score of 23 or better. Honors Day is a four-part competition that gives prospective students a chance to earn scholarship money including full tuition, room, board, fees and books. Participants are guaranteed an academic scholarship of no less than $6,500 per year.
The competition involves four areas: grade point average, ACT score, writing sample, and personal interview with faculty and staff members.
To compete, students must be accepted to Lyon College and submit an Honors DayRSVP online at http://tinyurl.com/HonorsDay.
Students will begin the day with a brief welcome followed by the essay competition and interviews. Students and parents will also get to talk with current Lyon College students and faculty members.
A second spring Honors Day is scheduled for Feb. 25.
For more information about Honors Day, contact Enrollment Services at admissions@lyon.edu or (800) 423-2542.
Batesville Businesses Receive State Honors – Recently accepting the award for Best Public/Private Partnership is (L to R): Citizens Bank Directors Kay Southerland and Paula Terrell, Paula Grimes, Batesville Main Street Director, John Dews, president & CEO of Citizens Bank, Batesville Mayor Rick Elumbaugh, and City Councilman and Citizens Associate, Fred Krug. Presenters are Missy McSwain, Arkansas Historic Preservation Director (far left) and Cathie Mathews (second from right). The award was presented on Jan. 11, at a banquet in Little Rock . Citizens Bank won the award for their new Downtown Batesville Initiative. Citizens Bank has pledged $15,000 annually for the downtown initiative and a pool of $1,000,000 to fund low-interest long term mixed rate loans for the initiative. Photo submitted
WRMC Registered Nurse, Johanna Rea, is the January/February recipient of the Daisy Award for Extraordinary Nurses. Johanna works in the Recuperative Care Unit at WRMC. The Daisy Award is a bi-monthly award that recognizes nurses for excellence. Daisy Award Recipients are first nominated by patients and ultimately chosen by the WRMC Staff Nurse Advisory Council (SNAC). Photo submitted
