NEDC Wins Settlement Worth $2.5 Million in Medical Marijuana Lawsuits

Submitted by NEDC

The Newport Economic Development Commission won a settlement with a value of $2,518,015.00 yesterday in two separate lawsuits concerning the relocation of a medical marijuana cultivator previously located in Newport, Arkansas. In November of 2020, the Arkansas Medical Marijuana Commission approved a transfer of

Natural State Wellness, LLC’s license to Good Day Farms, LLC. At that same meeting, the Commission also approved a transfer of location, allowing the facility to move from Newport, Arkansas to Pine Bluff, Arkansas. Jon Chadwell, Executive Director of the Newport Economic Development Commission made a formal request to the Arkansas Medical Marijuana Commission to reverse the decision to move the facility. That request was denied.

In April of 2021, Attorney David Couch, a Newport native, filed a lawsuit for plaintiffs the Newport Economic Development Commission; the City of Newport; the Newport Charitable Foundation and the Newport-Jackson County Industrial Development Bond Board against the Arkansas Medical Marijuana Commission; the Arkansas Alcoholic Beverage Control Division; Good Day Farm, LLC; Natural State Wellness, LLC and Harvest Health and Recreation, Inc. in Circuit Court of Jackson County. The suit was to recoup economic damages caused by the relocation of the facility.

That lawsuit was followed by another lawsuit in October of 2021 by Couch for the Newport-Jackson County Industrial Development Bond Board to recapture possession of the property sold to Natural State Wellness with all improvements, including the building constructed on the property by Natural State Wellness. The lawsuit against the property owner BLRS was moved to federal court.

On February 22, 2023, a mediation process was held with Couch and Chadwell representing the plaintiffs and individuals and attorneys representing Harvest Health and Recreation, Inc. and Good Day Farms, LLC. Through the process, the defendants agreed to a settlement which returned the building and land to the Newport-Jackson County Industrial Development Bond Board, awarded $1,000,000 in cash restitution to the community and covered the legal fees and costs. The total value of the settlement is $2,518,015.00 which is being paid through a negotiated agreement between Harvest Health and Recreation, Inc. and Good Day Farms, LLC and a transfer of property from BRLS to the Newport-Jackson County Industrial Development Bond Board.

“We feel vindicated to receive this settlement from Harvest Health and Good Day Farms on behalf of Newport,” stated Jon Chadwell. “We have many exceptional businesses in Newport that are significant partners in growing the community. However, when a business does not live up to its commitments, we feel obligated to take action on behalf of the community.” Newport Mayor Derrick Ratliffe said, “The City of Newport has established a very pro-business environment and we are excited to have this building back under local control so we can use it to recruit another company to our community.” This settlement brings an end to the two-year process of seeking restitution for Newport and Jackson County. N

Lyon College launches new tuition discount program for area students

Carol Langston

Lyon College recently announced the creation of the Backyard Access Plan for area high school graduates that will encourage students to receive a world-class education close to home for much less than it would cost them to attend an out-of-town college or university.

“Lyon College has a rich tradition of serving Independence County and our region for the past 150 years. Lyon alumni are our teachers, principals, business professionals, physicians, dentists, veterinarians, medical professionals, attorneys, and church and community leaders,” said Dean of Admissions Tommy Newton.

"Many of today's students and parents do not realize that one of the nation’s best private colleges is located right in their backyard," Newton said. "With the Backyard Access Plan, we’re hoping to change that perception and to let area students know that a high-quality Lyon College education is within their reach.”

With Lyon College's Backyard Access Plan, area students who wish to lower their higher education costs and commute from home have an option to go straight into a four-year bachelor's program out of high school.

The program will also benefit transfer students at two-year colleges such as the University of Arkansas Community College at Batesville, Ozarka College and Arkansas State University-Newport.

For the amount of a full Pell Grant and the amount of the Arkansas Academic Challenge Scholarship for the current year, students graduating from high schools in 16 area districts can commute to Lyon College for zero out-ofpocket tuition costs.

Commuter students who qualify for a portion of a Pell Grant or no Pell Grant at all are only charged tuition in the amount of a full Pell Grant plus the amount of the Arkansas Academic Challenge Scholarship for the current academic year.

“If you receive a full Pell Grant and the Arkansas Challenge Scholarship, we cover the rest of your tuition,” said Lyon College Executive Director of Financial Aid Tommy Tucker. “But even if you don't receive any or all of those funds, your net tuition will be no more than those amounts combined. In other words, all Backyard Access Plan students will receive the same great Lyon College Scholarship.” continues on page 16

Fees, books and supplies are not included in the cost of tuition.

Participating schools include Batesville High School, Southside High School, Bald Knob High School, Bradford High School, Cave City High School, Cedar Ridge High School, Concord High School, Heber Springs High School, Highland High School, Hillcrest High School, Izard County Consolidated High School, Melbourne High School, Midland High School, Mountain View High School, Newport High School and Tuckerman High School.

"Commuter students enjoy the many benefits of Lyon College, including academic programs in more than 20 disciplines, as well as pre-professional programs leading to careers in education, law, medicine, physical therapy and more. They’ll also have access to all student life activities, the outdoor adventure program, all athletic events, the library, the campus clinic—everything residential students experience at Lyon College,” Tucker said.

“Not only does the Backyard Access Plan cut down on tuition costs, students can take advantage of commuting to Lyon College from their family’s home, right here in beautiful north Arkansas. They’ll be home for family events, home-cooked meals, church services and local job opportunities. Plus, they’ll be able to share their hometowns with their Lyon College friends.”

“Best of all, they will have the benefit of learning from Lyon College’s award-winning faculty in an intimate classroom environment. They won’t have graduate assistants teaching their classes in large lecture halls.”

Area students who would like to live on campus will receive a Backyard Access Plan resident grant of $3,750, which will bring their annual room and board (meal plan) cost to only $7,000.

“This is substantially lower than room and board at many out-of-town colleges and universities,” Tucker said. “We want to give our local students who want to experience residence life an affordable opportunity to participate.”

Lyon College is frequently recognized as one of the top liberal arts colleges in the nation, ranked as a nationwide top college by Forbes.com, a “Best Southeastern College” by the Princeton Review and a “Best Bang for the Buck” college and “Most Socially Beneficial College in Arkansas” by Washington Monthly, which also recognized Lyon for recruiting and graduating the highest percentage of lowincome students of any college in the state.

Last year, 99 percent of Lyon College graduates were employed or continuing their education within six months of graduation.

Area students who are interested in the Backyard Access Plan should submit their free application for admission to Lyon College at lyon.edu/applynow. They also should complete a Free Application for Federal Student Assistance (FAFSA) and/or add Lyon College to their FAFSA application, and visit with a Lyon College admissions representative to discuss their future at Lyon College.

For more information on the Backyard Access Plan, please contact Tommy Tucker at Thomas.Tucker@lyon.edu For more information on Lyon College admissions, please contact Tommy Newton at Thomas.Newton@lyon.edu or call (870) 307-7000 N

UACCB acquires property to expand workforce training in region

Zachary E Perrine

The University of Arkansas Community College at Batesville (UACCB) has acquired the property at 2210 East Main Street. Formerly the 100,000 square foot building housed rubber and pole manufacturing at different points, now UACCB will rehabilitate the space for expanded workforce training.

“We are calling this space the UACCB Gateway Center to honor our history as an institution and to speak to the many opportunities ahead for our community,” said Dr. Brian Shonk, chancellor.

UACCB already has the state-of-the-art Workforce Training Center on campus, featuring college credit and high school programs including advanced manufacturing, welding, robotics, and construction. The new Gateway Center will provide space for many types of short-term and industry-specific training, along with more room for the recently added commercial driving (CDL) program and compact and heavy equipment programs.

“Our goal is to provide a space that can meet our community’s rapidly expanding workforce needs, and potentially benefit our entire region,” Shonk added, “we now have the capacity to expand our short-term training and upskilling opportunities for new and existing employees. If an employer has an idea, we want to partner on it.”

“We are very excited about UACCB’s acquisition of the property on East Main Street, soon to be the Gateway Center,” said Jan Smith, executive director of White River Planning and Development District, “The facility is an important part of the history of Batesville and Independence County and the possibilities for use of the building and surrounding land are limitless. The programs of UACCB will utilize this space in numerous ways providing skilled training for the local workforce and area job opportunities. As this facility evolves into the future potential it has to offer, it will benefit our region of the state tremendously.”

The acquisition was approved by the University of Arkansas Board of Trustees in November 2022. The property nearly doubles the footprint of the campus by adding 100,000 square feet of covered space and an additional 55 acres of land. Initial work will be done to cover a small corner of the building, repair portions of the roof, and clean up the exterior. N