Stories from Wednesday, May 27, 2020

The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission voted today to approve many changes to the Commission’s Code of Regulations, including many wildlife regulations that may impact hunters during the 2020-21 hunting seasons. The proposals were presented to the public through an online survey in March and were formally proposed to the Commission during its April 23 meeting...

The Farm Credit Associations of Arkansas announce three scholarships available to assist rural nurses with continuing education and training that supports the unique health needs of Arkansas farmers. Agriculture is a diverse industry and occurs in some of the more remote parts of the country. ...

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) for awarding over $72 million in additional relief funds to skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) in Arkansas to help them combat the devastating effects of COVID-19. The investment—totaling $72,410,000—will be distributed directly to SNFs in Arkansas. ...

Arkansas State University-Newport is working to implement reopening plans as the Fall 2020 semester approaches. In response to COVID-19, ASU-Newport moved to all online instruction in March 2020. Many summer courses will also be online, but phases are being determined to allow for a return to campus...

Saying large gatherings pose a risk for COVID-19 transmission, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention linked Arkansas’s outbreak to a church gathering that left dozens of people sick and four others dead. Of the 92 people who attended the March 6-11 services, according to a CDC report released Tuesday, 35 became infected with COVID-19; three patients died. Dozens more in the community were infected, including one who succumbed to the virus...

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) awarded $78 million to Arkansas to expand its testing capacity for COVID-19. The funding is part of $11 billion from HHS to support nationwide testing for COVID-19 and the reopening of America. The investment will be used to develop, purchase, administer, process and analyze COVID-19 tests as well as contact tracing...

Rural health clinics across Arkansas will share nearly $5.2 million to expand testing for COVID-19. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services through the Health Resources and Services Administration awarded the state $5,193,499 to be distributed among 150 rural health clinics...

Arkansas Attorney General Leslie Rutledge is pleased to work with Deloitte in helping first responders who are working daily to ensure the health and safety of Arkansans during this pandemic. Deloitte donated 10,000 N95 face masks to the Arkansas Ambulance Association who will distribute them to first responders throughout the state. Deloitte has donated over 300,000 face masks nationwide...

A friend of mine who grew up in Yell County was a regular visitor of the creeks that zig-zag through the Ozark and Ouachita mountains. One of his favorite fishing, swimming and paddling spots was Big Piney Creek in Pope County. Big Piney’s Long Pool Recreation Area is popular among folks who canoe and kayak, and this young man knew well the 5-mile run down to Twin Bridges...

Teresa Fay Shinault, 69, of Lepanto, Ark. died May 15, 2020 at St. Bernards Medical Center in Jonesboro, Ark. She was a homemaker and a member of First Assembly of God in Lepanto, Ark. She was born February 12, 1951 in Halabault, Ala. to William Oscar and Ruby Riddle. She was preceded in death by her parents, three brothers Jimmy, Thomas and Morris...

Mr. David Lewis Gowen, departed this life on Tuesday, May 19, 2020 at Flo & Phil Jones Hospice House in Jonesboro, Ark. at the age of 74 years, four months and 15 days. He was born to Ed and Nell Gowen on January 4, 1946. David joined the Navy in 1965 and served aboard the USS Glennon. After leaving the Navy he worked for Dupont and GE. He was a Mason and a proud member of the DAV...

The Arkansas Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Commission approved $12,802,763 for water and wastewater projects serving 71,593 customers in six Arkansas communities on May 20, 2020 as follows. The City of Tyronza in Poinsett County received a $193,000 loan from the Arkansas Drinking Water State Revolving Loan Fund to repair and paint a water tank. The project will serve 400 customers...

After the discovery of nearly 42 grams of meth near two different churches, a senior citizens center and a school administration building, a Marked Tree man facing drug charges, Marked Tree police said Wednesday. Marked Tree Police Department reports via their Facebook page that Steven McCauley, 35, of Marked Tree was arrested May 18. ...

Thanks to a proclamation by Gov. Asa Hutchinson announced today, anyone may fish in Arkansas without a fishing license or trout stamp from noon Friday, June 12, through midnight Sunday night, June 14. The proclamation was read at today’s online commission meeting by Megan Perkins, agriculture and commerce liaison to Hutchinson’s office...

While growing up in Oklahoma, Diane Chambers suffered from asthma. As an adult, she was diagnosed with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) and severe Fibromyalgia. “I’ve had a lot of medical issues that I never thought I’d face. But, this one has been the most difficult," Chambers said...

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates about 35% of people infected with coronavirus are asymptomatic. The CDC says about 0.4% of people who develop COVID-19 will die from it. The numbers are part of new guidance the CDC is providing leaders to help them from planning...

Gov. Asa Hutchinson and Dr. Nate Smith, secretary of the Arkansas Department of Health, updated the public Wednesday afternoon in Jonesboro on the state’s response to the coronavirus, including the latest cases of COVID-19 and deaths. Several state and local leaders including Jonesboro Mayor Harold Perring and Craighead County Judge Marvin Day attended Wednesday’s briefing at the Red Wolf Convention Center...

The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission is encouraging Arkansas rice producers to take advantage of a habitat incentive program that enables them to earn extra money while maintaining rice production on their fields that are within 10 miles of a WMA that has a waterfowl management focus. A webinar will be offered at 6 p.m., Thursday to learn more about this opportunity. Visit www.agfc.com/wrice for details...

U.S. Senator John Boozman (R-AR), a member of the Migratory Bird Conservation Commission, championed federal funding for the conservation of additional waterfowl habitat at the Felsenthal National Wildlife Refuge in Ashley and Union Counties...

If you’re looking for an extra opportunity to put some meat in the freezer this fall, feed needy Arkansans and help control urban deer populations, now is the time to start planning. Registration for the 2020 Arkansas Urban Archery Hunts is open until midnight August 12 at https://www.agfc.com/en/hunting/big-game/deer/urban-archery-hunt...

Tyronza Police Chief E.J. Roach was booked into the Fulton County jail on May 24 for an alleged sexual assault. “The alleged assault took place near the Spring River while Roach and a group of friends were camping and floating the Spring River,” Fulton County Sheriff Al Roork said in a statement. Roach was released the following day...