April 15, 2020 by The Pulse

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April 15, 2020 Stay Connected!

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Your DAILY News Sources: KENA 104.1 FM & MyPulseNews.com Polk County/Mena Rotary Club donates to Mena Regional Health System to purchase PPE...

The Polk County/Mena Rotary Club recently donated $500 to assist with purchasing Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for Mena Regional Health System. As the COVID-19 pandemic spreads uncertainty and hardship around the world, Rotarians are innovating and caring for those affected, and showing that even at a distance, there are ways to help. Although the Polk County/Mena Rotary Club has cancelled the weekly in-person meetings, the members are actively engaged in ways to keep up their fellowship and reimagine their service efforts. Crystal Liles, Polk County/Mena Club President is shown presenting the contribution to Jay Quebedeaux, CEO of Mena Regional Health System. Submitted photo.

Easter Sunday Storm Caused Minor Damage in Polk County, Knocked Out Power to Area SWEPCO Customers At 10:30 a.m. Monday, approximately 45,300 customers remain without power after three waves of severe storms with high winds and lightning swept across SWEPCO’s service territory on Easter Sunday. The outages include 31,200 in Texas, 12,300 in Louisiana and 1,800 in Arkansas. The first line of storms left 22,000 customers without power Sunday morning, mostly in Texas and Louisiana. Power had been restored to 14,000 customers by the afternoon. However, more storms struck Texas, Louisiana and Arkansas during the late afternoon and evening, leaving a total of 64,000 customers without power by 9 p.m. Sunday. The storms heavily damaged SWEPCO’s electric system with multiple broken poles and wires down. For example, in several locations, more than 10 poles were down on a single circuit. Crews continue to assess damage and restore power as safely and quickly as power. Crews from SWEPCO’s sister companies – AEP Texas and Public Service Company of Oklahoma – are joining the

restoration effort, along with outside contract crews. Estimated times of restoration will be provided as assessment progresses. Overall storm restoration will be a multiple-day effort. SAFETY: DOWNED POWER LINES: Never touch a downed utility wire, no matter how harmless it looks. It can be difficult to distinguish between a power line and a cable or telephone line. All downed lines should be considered energized and dangerous. And don't touch anything in contact with the line, such as trees, fences or puddles of water, since they can conduct electricity. Keep children and pets away from this potential hazard. Call SWEPCO to report any downed lines or equipment. PORTABLE GENERATORS: If you use a portable or RV generator, do not plug the generator into your circuit box. Portable generators "backfeed" electricity up the line and risk the lives of repair workers and the public. Follow the manufacturers' instrucSTORM CONTINUED ON PAGE 15

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April 15, 2020

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The 2020 Fiscal Session is now underway. As we did in the recent special session, the House met at the Jack Stephens Arena at UALR to provide enough space for social Representative distancing. We John Maddox will continue to meet at that venue next week. On the opening day of the session, the Governor told the General Assembly our state’s economy is not slowing down, but rather is on pause out of necessity. The Governor is asking the General Assembly to cut $205 million from the previous balanced budget proposal presented before the pandemic. We intend to accomplish this while still fulfilling our obligations to education, public safety, and Medicaid. While the legislature works on the state budget, we recognize many of you are struggling with your personal budget. More than 132,000 unemployment claims have been processed in Arkansas. Arkansans who filed unemployment claims before March 28 should have received compensation by now. Those who filed before April 4 should receive payment this Monday. Regular unemployment benefits now include an additional $600 weekly benefit payment for any workers eligible for state or federal unemployment insurance. There is no need to apply for this, these

payments will automatically be issued, along with your regular UI benefit. However, we know many other Arkansans are experiencing difficulty in processing claims and getting through the hotline. On Friday, the Joint Budget Committee passed an amendment for additional funding for extra help and overtime for the agency overseeing the unemployment hotline. If you are experiencing delays in filing your claim online or by phone, please understand that your claim will be processed and backdated. If eligible, you will receive your benefits based on your date of separation from your employment. To assist the local Department of Workforce offices around the state with the massive volume of claims and questions, the Department of Commerce is utilizing almost 80 staff from the DWS central office and other Commerce staff and volunteers to answer the hotline calls and to file claims. They will continue to train available state employees. They are also evaluating the availability of an external call center. The external call center could provide a way for hours to be extended. The website, www.ezarc.adws.arkansas.gov is available to process applications Sunday-Saturday from 6 am to 6 pm. The hotline numbers 1-844-908-2178 or 501-534-6304 accept calls Monday – Friday, 8 am-3:30 pm. We have posted a link to frequently asked questions about unemployment on our website. The House will convene again on Wednesday at 11 am. Schedules and live stream information can also be found on our website.

Pre-K Packets Available for Mena School District Those that have completed packets for Pre K, can drop them in the tub outside the front doors at Louise Durham Elementary. New applications will also be in the tub or they can be emailed to you. Call 479-243-3813 to have an application

emailed to you. Please have packets in an envelope or a large ziplock bag and marked with the student name. The Tub will be available on Monday-Thursday 8:00 am until 3:00 pm, April 13-16, and again April 27- May 1.

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history

April 15, 2020

Reflections from History and Faith

“Houston, we’ve had a problem here.”

By Jeff Olson America's space program has been a mixture of successes and failures over the past 60 years, but such is the nature of any scientific endeavor in which progress is made. This week we highlight an event which is considered both a failure and a success. Each aspect proved beneficial to America's future in space and combined to be one of NASA's finest hours. Space missions involve many more people than just the astronauts. Engineers, technicians and specialists of various disciplines, medical personnel and even those who actually manufacture the components of the spacecrafts all have integral roles in the outcome of a project and mission. To my knowledge, no better example of this exists than Apollo 13. Many of us still remember how much this event captured the attention of the world. Afterward though, as time went on for the next 25 years, most Americans probably gave it little thought anymore. However, that changed 25 years ago with the release of the motion picture Apollo 13. This film not only shed light on the events of this mission and featured what some consider to be the greatest real-time engineering feat in history, but it also reminded us of many of the people that it took to bring James Lovell, Fred Haise and Jack Swigert back home alive. On August 6, 1969, NASA formally announced the crews for Apollo 13 and 14, the third and fourth Moon landing missions. At the time of the announcement, Apollo 13 was planned to launch in March 1970 and to land at the Fra Mauro region in the lunar highlands. The plan was for Lovell and Haise, after landing, to conduct geologic surveys and set up scientific experiments during two space walks while Mattingly remained in lunar orbit conducting photographic surveys of the Moon. Days before the mission, backup lunar module pilot, Charles Duke, inadvertently exposed the crew to German measles. Command Module Pilot Ken Mattingly had no immunity to measles and was replaced by backup com-

mand module pilot, John Swigert. Fifty years ago this week, 2:13 pm. EST. April 11, 1970, Apollo 13 launched from the Kennedy Space Center. Although there were some minor issues during the first two days of flight, things generally went pretty smooth. At 46 hours, 43 minutes Joe Kerwin, the capsule communicator on duty, said, "The spacecraft is in real good shape as far as we are concerned. We're bored to tears down here." Well, they wouldn't be bored for long. At nearly 56 hours into the flight on April 13, Mission Control asked Apollo 13 to run through some standard checks, one of which was to stir up the cyro tanks. The purpose of this was to give more accurate readings of how much oxygen and hydrogen gas was left. Right after the stir, oxygen tank No. 2 blew up, causing the No. 1 tank to also fail. The command module's normal supply of electricity, light and water was gone. At 9:08 pm, Swigert responded to a warning light that accompanied the explosion. "Houston, we've had a problem here." The warning light indicated the loss of two of three fuel cells, which were the spacecraft's prime source of electricity. One oxygen tank appeared to be completely empty and there were indications that the oxygen in the second tank was rapidly depleting. Thirteen minutes after the explosion, Lovell noticed the final evidence pointing toward potential catastrophe. "We are venting something out into the... into space," he reported to Houston. It was oxygen gas escaping at a high rate from the second and last oxygen tank. At this point the crew started preparing to move their operations to the Lunar Module (LM) which would become a lifeboat. For the next four days, the ground controllers in Houston faced a formidable task. Many new procedures had to be written and tested in the simulator before being conveyed to the crew. The list of problems to solve far exceeded what can be addressed here but, when it was all said and done, it came down to American ingenuity

and, I believe, thousands of prayers from all over the world. After an intensive investigation, the Apollo 13 Accident Review Board identified the cause of the explosion. In 1965, the Command Module had undergone many improvements that included raising the permissible voltage to the heaters in the oxygen tanks from 28 to 65 volts DC. Unfortunately, the thermostatic switches on these heaters weren't modified to suit the change. During one final test on the launch pad, the heaters were on for a long period of time. This subjected the wiring in the vicinity of the heaters to very high temperatures (1000 F), which have been subsequently shown to severely degrade Teflon insulation. The thermostatic switches started to open while powered by 65 volts DC and were probably welded shut. Other warning signs during testing went unheeded and the tank, damaged from eight hours

of overheating, was a potential bomb the next time it was filled with oxygen. That bomb exploded on April 13, 1970. The Apollo 13 Mission was considered “A Successful Failure” for two reasons: While the original mission failed to be realized, the rescue of the crew was successful and perhaps a much a more consequential success than completion of the mission would have been. Also, the knowledge and experience gained in rescuing the crew would improve equipment design and quality and refine troubleshooting and quality control procedures. These would contribute towards better safety and more success in future missions. The day after the splashdown, President Richard Nixon awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom to the crew and the Apollo 13 Mission Operations Team for their unyielding efforts during the mission.

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816 S. Mena St. Mena, AR 71953 Office: (479) 394-5000 www.FarrellCole.com www.MenaRealEstate.com

Mena Regional Health System April 3, 2020 to April 10, 2020

Shelby Hoyle of Mena, Arkansas is the proud parent of a baby boy born April 4th Kristin & Chris Henry of Mena, Arkansas are the proud parents of a baby girl born April 7th Nicole Yandell & Brandon Moore of Oden, Arkansas are the proud parents of a baby boy born April 8th Summer Cummings & Dwight Depriest of Mena, Arkansas are the proud parents of a baby girl born April 9th

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Misty & Raymond Surber Jr. of Mena Arkansas are the proud parents of a baby girl born April 9th

police

April 15, 2020

The following information was received from Polk County law enforcement agencies. The charges against those arrested are allegations and the cases are still pending in the courts. Individuals charged and whose names appear in this column may submit documentation to us at a later date that the charges have been dismissed, or that they have been found innocent, and we will include that information in this space in a timely manner.

POLK COUNTY SHERIFF’S REPORT April 6, 2020 No reports were filed. April 7, 2020 Report from complainant on Polk 93 near Rocky of a domestic disturbance. Deputy responded. Complainant refused to press charges. April 8, 2020 Report from complainant on Polk 31 near Cove of harrassment. Deputy responded. Report from complainant on Takarite Lane near Ink of an unattended death. Deputies responded. Report from complainant on Hwy 88E near Cherry Hill of a domestic disturbance led to the arrest of Tommy Smith, 67, of Mena on Charges of Domestic Battery 3rd Degree. Arrested was Charles L. Houser, 63, of Grannis on a Charge for Failure to Comply with a Court Order. April 9, 2020 Report from complainant on Hwy 71S near Vandervoort of a missing family member. Investigation continues. Report from complainant on Polk 70 near Cherry Hill of a break-in. Investigation continues. April 10, 2020 No reports were filed. April 11, 2020 Report from complainant at Hatton Lane near Wickes of a disturbance led to the arrest of Waylon A. Broach, 20, of Cove on Charges of Disorderly Conduct and Criminal Mischief, and to the arrest of Anthony Hinkle, 21, of Cove on a Charge of Disorderly Conduct. Report from complainant on Hwy 246W near Hatfield of a theft of items valued at $200.00. Investigation continues. Report from complainant on Polk 31 near Hatfield of an unknown injured individual on their property. Deputy responded. Report from complainant on Polk 57 near Board Camp of a stolen vehicle valued at $2500.00. Vehicle was recovered. Investigation continues. Report from complainant at Hwy 71S near Hatfield of a disturbance causing

damage to a window in the amount of $100.00. Investigation continues. April 12, 2020 Report from complainant on Polk 227 near Vandervoort of items missing from a residence valued at $345.00. Investigation continues. Report from complainant on Polk 46 near Shady Grove of interference with visitation. Deputy responded. Polk County Sheriff’s Ofﬁce worked no vehicle accidents this week. Polk County Detention Center Jail Population: 11 Incarcerated Inmates , with 10 Inmates currently on the Waiting List for a State Facility.

MENA POLICE REPORT Mena Police Department Reports for the Week of April 5, 2020 through April 11, 2020 follow: April 5, 2020 A theft report was taken from a department store. April 6, 2020 A loud noise complaint was taken at a residence. Gary smith, 42, was arrested for Theft of Property (Shoplifting) after a complaint from a convenience store. Cord Olson, 34, was arrested for Domestic Battery 3rd Degree after ofﬁcers responded to a disturbance call at a residence. April 7, 2020 A report of criminal mischief was taken at a coffee shop. April 8, 2020 No reports taken. April 9, 2020 A report of forgery was taken from a walk-in complainant at the police department. Jordan Garcia, 25, was arrested on two warrants after he turned himself in at the police department. April 10, 2020 No reports taken. April 11, 2020 No reports taken. (All subjects should be considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law)

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COVID-19: A Census Call to Action Virus reaffirms need for accurate and representative count in Arkansas... By Kara Wilkins In the last few weeks, Americans have experienced unprecedented change in their daily lives. For some of us, this rapid shift in routine and lack of contact with our family, friends and colleagues has left us feeling discombobulated and, in certain cases, helpless. Many of us have expressed a desire to help those in need—even if it’s a small act from the comfort of our homes. During this time of anxiety for our state, and our nation, there is one thing we can all do to support our neighbors: complete the 2020 U.S. Census. Right now, we are seeing our state grapple with the rapid spread of COVID-19. Under the strong leadership of Governor Asa Hutchinson and other elected officials, Arkansas has implemented extraordinary measures to help residents, companies, nonprofits and other organizations weather this national emergency. The state has expedited unemployment benefits, freed up working capital to provide small businesses with bridge loans and suspended SNAP work requirements to get food into the hands of the hungry. These actions, among the many others Arkansas has taken, will help many survive in a time of uncertainty. But they will require significant, and sustained, financial resources. COVID-19 or not, Arkansas depends on funding from the federal government to succeed. That’s why participation in the U.S. Census is of upmost importance. The information gathered in the census determines the amount of funding we receive

for education, healthcare, infrastructure and other essential services. Without these federal dollars, our state would not have the resources it needs to operate efﬁciently, in the height of crises or during times of normalcy. Even a one percent undercount of our state’s population, or approximately 30,000 people, could result in a loss of nearly $1 billion in funding. To date, 140 million American households have received their ﬁrst invitations in the mail to participate in the 2020 U.S. Census. While we are all at home over the next few weeks, we should visit My2020Census.Gov to complete these forms. Once we’re done, I challenge all of us to tell 20 friends, family members and fellow Arkansans to do it, too. With only 10 questions, it is simple and quick. And, in a time when we’re all practicing social distancing, it requires no human-to-human interaction. In fact, as the U.S. Census Bureau recently noted, “It has never been easier to respond on your own, whether online, over the phone or by mail—all without having to meet a census taker.” COVID-19 may have temporarily limited our abilities to go about our daily lives. But we cannot allow it to stunt our state’s participation in the 2020 U.S. Census. Now more than ever, this virus reminds us of how important it is to ensure an accurate and representative count. By answering a few simple questions, we can help Arkansas receive the federal funding it needs to thrive, now and in the future.

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April 15, 2020

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Information Concerning COVID-19 for Polk County Residents COVID-19’S IMPACT ON ARKANSAS’ ECONOMY... Arkansas agriculture and the state’s rural areas may face the potential for significant disruption in supply chain, labor and government services due to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a multi-sector economic impact released by the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture. The 15-page report, released Friday, provides an overview of potential impacts to agriculture’s protein sector, including beef, pork and chicken; its row and field crops sector; the specialty crop sector, including fruits and food sold across local foods networks; as well as stresses being faced by county and municipal governments and the tourism industry. The full report is available at https://www.uaex.edu/ COVID-Ark-Economy. “Arkansas is highly reliant on agriculture – a functional food supply chain in these times is critical and agriculture is very important to the state’s economy with about a sixth of its economy depending on this sector,” said Mark Cochran, vice president-agriculture for the University of Arkansas System. “We needed to quickly assess the potential impacts all around as the state grapples with this pandemic. “It’s important to note that this is a first installment,” he said. “We will continue to analyze the situation and provide timely reports from this highly experienced team.” The report was prepared by the Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness faculty of the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture: John Anderson, department head; Assistant Professor Alvaro Durand-Morat; Wayne Miller, professor and extension economist; Jennie Popp, associate dean of the Honors College for the University of Arkansas; Daniel Rainey, associate professor; Ron Rainey, professor; Scott Stiles, extension economist; and Brad Watkins, professor. The report noted that even at this early stage, the effects are apparent. The situation has created tremendous uncertainty and has greatly increased the risks from price volatility, uncertain labor, availability of inputs and the threat of a serious recession, Anderson said. GOVERNMENT County, municipal A COVID-caused decline in consumer

spending due to unemployment will mean losses in county, municipal and some state sales tax revenue. Those losses in turn will “will impact those counties that rely heavily on them to pay for the services they provide to residents and businesses,” said Miller. The report said the specific effects will depend on the county’s dependence on local sales tax revenues. Miller said two mitigating factors could reduce the effects of a COVID-19-led recession on local government revenue. One would be the ability to collect sales tax revenue from remote sellers. The other would be portions of $2 trillion Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security, or CARES Act, which provides some funding for families, unemployed workers, and state and local governments. “While these factors are expected to slow and limit the extent of the recession, they are not expected to provide enough assistance to help local governments avoid making budget cuts in 2020,” he said. AGRICULTURE Protein sector Beef purchases are closely linked to both consumer confidence and disposable income. “Recent panic buying has affected the entire sector; wholesale prices for beef and pork have spiked,” Anderson said. “However, these gains are expected to be shortlived. Widespread unemployment and general economic uncertainty are expected to cause consumers to reduce future expenditures, favoring cheaper protein cuts. “Chicken seems best positioned given its relatively low domestic price point and its diverse portfolio of export customers,” he said. Any shutdown of processing plants due to labor issues would disrupt supply chains both back to the farms and to the end consumers. The ability of transportation systems to adjust to any changes in labor or the flow of products and inputs will also be very critical to maintaining functionality, according to the report. Crops sector The picture for crops is mixed, according to Stiles, Watkins and Durand-Morat. • RICE — Global rice prices were strong as key importing and exporting countries stockpile the grain. “U.S. retail rice sales in early March jumped 50 percent relative to previous years, suggesting growth in short-

run domestic demand,” the three economists wrote. • CORN — Corn futures slumped 14 percent as pandemic induced lockdowns reduce demand for fuel, coupled with lower prices for fossil fuels. • SOYBEANS — Soybean futures have seen a modest recovery “likely due to strong feed demand and better than expected export numbers. The derived demand for meal is expected to increase as a result of increased demand for animal protein and adjustments in livestock rations to include more meal over dry distiller grains.” • COTTON — “Operational shutdowns in Asia suggests a looming reduction in U.S. cotton exports and lower mill use. Expected increases in unemployment globally will reduce short-term demand for cotton-based products,” the report said. Lower fuel prices and interest rates were the one bright spot for farmers. “Steep declines in energy prices and easing access to capital can benefit energy and capital intensive crops such as rice and cotton. Many producers have found opportunities to refinance term debt and thus improve liquidity,” the report said. Specialty crops COVID-19, weather and financial conditions are squeezing specialty crops as the season gets started. “COVID-19 and a one- to three-week predicted early season start has created confusion regarding farmworker availability, including domestic and H2A labor, likely resulting in a lower supply of skilled

workers for both planting and harvest,” Ron Rainey said. “Further, action plans are still lacking regarding what to do if a worker contracts the virus. Such labor disruptions will lead to crop losses.” There is additional pressure with the closing of schools and restaurants, which have “eliminated many existing direct markets for farmers and ranchers,” Rainey said. TOURISM In 2018, Arkansas’ Accommodation and Food Service sector and the Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation sectors represented roughly 7 percent and 1.4 percent of the state’s total direct employment, respectively. With travel restrictions and the closure of dine-in opportunities at restaurants, “some estimates put lay-offs in these sectors between 80-90 percent for April and May,” Daniel Rainey said. “Many fast food chains with drive-through windows have seen an increase in activity over the past few weeks as dine-in services have been curtailed. However, if more people fill the unemployment lines, these increases are not likely to last for long.” The report suggests the sector could see improvements “if the economy gets back to full strength.” For information and resources on COVID-19 for families, businesses and others, visit https://uaex.edu/covid-19. To learn about extension programs in Arkansas, contact your local Cooperative Extension Service agent or visit www.uaex. edu. Follow us on Twitter at @UAEX_edu.

IRS announces first stimulus payments made The Internal Revenue Service announced on Twitter today, April 11, that the first Economic Impact Payments (EIP), commonly known as COVID-19 stimulus checks, have been direct deposited into bank accounts. The official IRS Twitter account posted #IRS deposited the first Economic Impact Payments into taxpayers’ bank accounts today. We know many people are anxious to get their payments; we’ll continue issuing them as fast as we can. For #COVIDreliefIRS updates see: http://www. irs.gov/coronavirus The EIP is part of the CARES Act passed by Congress earlier this year that aims to bolster the U.S. Economy in the midst of

the COVID-19 pandemic. Americans will receive a stimulus check based on income with the maximum payment being $1,200 per qualified person. Anyone making less than $75,000 in 2019 will receive the full payment of $1,200. Couples who filed jointly and made less than $150,000 will get $2,400. An individual who filed as “head of household” and earned $112,500 or less will also receive $1,200. Persons will also receive $500 per dependent child and/dependent in the household. The coronavirus payment is based on federal tax returns for 2019 or 2018. Persons who do not normally file taxes to an EIP CHECKS CONTINUED ON PAGE 15

obituaries

Mrs. Melva Verna Hestand Kincaid

Mrs. Melva Verna Hestand Kincaid, age 83, of Mena passed away Friday, April 10, 2020 at her home surrounded by her loved ones. Melva was born November 29, 1936 in O’Donnell, Texas to the late Kelly Hestand and Effie Anders Hestand. Mrs. Kincaid was married to the love of her life Charles Robert Kincaid for 64 years until his passing in February 2015. Melva was a devoted member of Church of Christ and loved to oil paint. She was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, greatgrandmother, sister and friend to all that knew her. She will be dearly missed by all. She is survived by; Sons Robert Kincaid, David Kincaid, Mark Kincaid, Randy Kincaid, and John Kincaid; Daughters Brenda Rush and Cindy Adame; Brother Ray Hestand; Sisters Eloise and Linda; 22 Grandchildren, 21 Great- Grandchildren, and 4 Great- great- grandchildren. Melva was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Charles Robert Kincaid, and numerous brothers and sisters. Her service will be a graveside Thursday, April 16, 2020 at 10 A.M. at Gann Cemetery in Potter, Arkansas. Services are under the direction of Beasley Wood Funeral Home of Mena. Online obituary at www.beaselywoodfuneralhome.com

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April 15, 2020 Alice Lou Rena Bates Keener Alice Lou Rena Bates Keener She was born March 20, 1937, to be a caregiver, a nurse, a servant. Her parents named her Alice, which means noble and kind. Raised in humble conditions along the Caddo River, she was the middle child of 6 girls and 1 boy. When she was a young girl, her father died suddenly. Her older siblings had left home so her mother depended on her to help carry the load for her family. Alice graduated Norman High School in 1954, and went on to attend nursing school in Little Rock where she earned her RN license. Her first job was with Polk County Hospital then on to be an RN for many area doctors including Hefiner, Rogers, Austin, Stephens, Sessler and Mr. Ulmer. On February 22, 1958 she married J.W. “Jay” Keener. The couple lived and raised their three children, Terry, Beth and BIlly in Potter, AR. Jay and Alice were well known on the dance floor as they loved to attend the Western Swing Events held in various counties each Saturday night. If you knew Alice, most likely you have something that she made as she kept her hands busy crocheting and knitting. Many hangers, house shoes, baby blankets, potholders and dish rags were made and she loved to share them with everyone.

Alice was a charter member of the Potter Volunteer Fire Department. She was a very dedicated worker, secretary for many years and responsible for organizing the annual Easter Bake Sale that was a huge success as well as the main fund raiser. She was an active member and church secretary of Bethel Baptist Church in Potter. Alice is preceded in death by her husband, Jay, her parents, Walter Bates and Cora Bates Standrige, her siblings, Ruby Edwards, Lake Bates, Georgia Holman, and Shelba McMellon. Her brothers Alton Keener, Rush Keener and sister Daphane Heisch. She is survived by her children, Terry and Rita Keener, Beth and Dewayne Scott and Billy and JoAnn Keener. Grand Children, Maggie and John Hendrix, Lacie and Justin Thomas, Christopher and Krista Womack, Michael and Gabby Clark and 12 great grandchildren. Sisters, Edna King, Connie Bates, Sharon Wiles and Cordellia Keener. A host of nieces and nephews who each loved her dearly. Graveside service will be Wednesday, April 15, 2020 at 2:00 p.m. at the Rocky Cemetery with Brother Keith Rose officiating. Services are under the direction of the Beasley-Wood Funeral Home. Visitation is general. Pallbearers are Richard Walters, Tim McMellon, Steve McMellon, Victor Rowell, Christopher Womack and Michael Clark. Honorary pallbearers will be John Hendrix, Justin Thomas, John Wiles and Glen McLellan. In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to the Polk County Senior Center.

NIDEC Motor Corporation Back Open After a Brief Precautionary Shutdown NIDEC Motor Corporation in Mena resumed normal operations on all shifts Monday after a brief precautionary shutdown. NIDEC plant management was notified on April 8th than an employee in the Mena plant tested positive for COVID-19. The employee was last in the plant on March 31st. As a precautionary measure, all NIDEC employees were sent home on April 8th and the plant was closed for cleaning. The sanitizing process was repeated on Easter Sunday. NIDEC plant manager Jim Stroope has been in contact with local health officials and the Mena plant is following published

guidelines from the Arkansas Department of Health and the C.D.C. In a news release to Pulse Multimedia, Stroope said: "The health and well-being of our employees and the community is our top priority. The plant continues to follow the C.D.C.'s interim guidance for implementing safety practices for critical infrastructure workers who may have had exposure to a person with suspected or confirmed COVID-19." The NIDEC Mena plant manufactures electrical motors, which have been designated as critical and essential infrastructure by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

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43rd Annual Lum & Abner Festival Postponed

After careful consideration regarding the health and safety of our community, our sponsors, vendors, volunteers, and attendees, we have made the difficult decision to postpone the 43rd Annual Lum & Abner Festival scheduled for June 5-6, 2020. As a result of the increased and overwhelming concerns about the COVID-19 pandemic and its economic impact, we feel this is the best way to proceed. We are very disappointed that we are unable to hold the festival as normally scheduled, but believe it is the right decision based on the information available to us at this time. The Lum & Abner Festival Committee and Mena Advertising & Promotion Commission are communicating regularly. Plans are being discussed for an event as restrictions on gatherings ease. Additionally, plans are underway to make the 2021 festival better than ever! For additional information about the Lum & Abner, go to visitmena.com or call the Mena Advertising & Promotion Commission at 479.394.8355.

Polk County the Cooperative Ext. Service is still on the job

By Becky Sterner U of A System Division of Agriculture Cooperative Extension Service Fast Facts: • Agents with the Cooperative Extension Service continue to serve Arkansans during pandemic • Agents available through phone, email and Internet communication platforms • Many resources available online for farms, families and communities at www. uaex.edu and www.uaex.edu/covid19 Mena, Ark. — The Cooperative Extension Service has been serving the people of Arkansas, from agricultural communities in rural areas to school children in the cities, for more than 100 years, through good times and bad. Our current era, in which we all face serious health risks from the COVID-19 virus, is no different. Minimizing the effects of this virus, which is unusually contagious and particEXTENSION CONTINUED ON PAGE 15

7 news COVID-19 pauses signature gathering for proposed ballot issues mypulsenews.com

Canvassers who rely on spring festivals and events to collect voter signatures needed to put constitutional amendments and state laws on the ballot are seeing these opportunities disappear during the COVID-19 pandemic. Arkansas is one of 15 states in which citizens can propose constitutional amendments and state laws through the ballot initiative process. “Citizen-initiated measures are up in the air, as the Arkansas Constitution mandates petitions with voter signatures be submitted by July 3,” Kristin Higgins, program associate with the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture’s Public Policy Center, said. “The state legislature and governor cannot alter the date set by the constitution. Nor does the constitution or state law allow voter signatures to be gathered digitally. “The signatures must be collected on paper and those petitions must be notarized,” she said. “Both of these matters are more difficult as people are staying home.” One group, Arcade Arkansas, start-

April 15, 2020

ed collecting signatures in September for its gaming proposal. A spokesperson told the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette that the spread of COVID-19 has complicated the signature-gathering effort. Other groups are updating their volunteers through Facebook, urging alternatives for collecting voter signatures. Organizers with Arkansas True Grass, an organization that advocates for the legalization of cannabis and hemp, have told Facebook group members to request a petition to be mailed to them, hoping people will get them signed and notarized before sending them back. They’re also asking for donations to help cover the cost of the unexpected printing and postage. “I wished we could somehow get legislators to provide a way for people to sign a petition electronically,” Mary Lou Berry with Arkansas True Grass, said. “It would be much safer and would help the voices of those shut in that don’t go out, who do vote by absentee ballots. Why not provide the people a way to sign electronically?”

Berry helped write another proposed constitutional amendment, The Arkansas Digital Petition Signing Option Act, which would allow voters to sign petitions electronically. However, they haven’t started collecting any signatures for the ballot measure yet. Another group seeking to legalize marijuana for personal use and to address past criminal convictions related to marijuana has also urged people on Facebook to take caution and to take measures to keep themselves healthy and not spread the virus. “Your lives and your family’s life is much more important than signatures,” Melissa Fults posted on the Drug Policy Education Group-Arkansas page. In an email, Fults told the Public Policy Center that signature gathering has drastically slowed due to the precautions for the coronavirus. “We are at 15,000 [signatures] right now, but if it breaks by May 1 we should [b]e able to gather the required number of

signatures,” Fults said. Thirteen proposed constitutional amendments and state laws have been filed with the Secretary of State’s Office for the November ballot. Additionally, Arkansas legislators have referred three amendments to voters and a group collected enough signatures for a referendum on a 2019 state law. Ballot issue groups have until July 3 to submit the required 89,151 voter signatures for amendments and 71,321 voter signatures for state laws. Those signatures must come from at least 15 different counties. The Public Policy Center has published statewide voter guides on Arkansas ballot issues since 2004, providing Arkansans a neutral source of research-based information on proposed constitutional amendments and state laws. Sign up for the center’s monthly ballot issue newsletter at https://uaex.edu/ballot. For information and resources on COVID-19 for families, businesses and others, visit https://uaex.edu/covid-19.

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April 15, 2020

Healthy Connections in Mena Awarded $738,380 from US Department of Health and Human Services

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WASHINGTON—U.S. Senators John Boozman and Tom Cotton—along with Congressmen Rick Crawford, French Hill, Steve Womack and Bruce Westerman— applauded the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) for awarding federal funds to health centers across Arkansas to help facilitate the coronavirus response in our communities. The grants—totaling $10,559,850— were awarded by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) to 12 health care centers in Arkansas. The funding comes from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, which recently became law with the

support of the Arkansas delegation. It will be used to support health centers' coronavirus detection, prevention, diagnostic and treatment efforts. The awards will also help maintain or increase capacity and staff. “These health centers will be vital to our efforts to successfully respond to the coronavirus outbreak, particularly in our rural communities. We appreciate how swiftly Secretary Alex Azar acted to award these grants so that we can immediately get these much-needed resources to our frontline defenders,” the delegation said. Here in Polk County, Healthy Connections Inc. received $738,380.

ARVAC, Inc. will issue commodities on April 28th ARVAC, Inc. will issue commodities at Polk County Fair Grounds on Polk Road 43 Mena, AR on Tuesday April 28th , 2020 from 10:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. Due to Covid-19 Concerns this will be a drive through only distribution. Listed are the income guidelines, family size and monthly income below: FAMILY SIZE MONTHLY 1 $1,354 2 1,832 3 2,311 4 2,790 5 3,269 6 3,748 7 4,227 8 4,705 Add $468.00 for each additional family member. You cannot pick up commodities for more than two households. Rules for acceptance and participation in the program are the same for everyone without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, age, sex, or handicap. In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its Agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, sex, disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g. Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.), should contact the Agency (State or local) where they applied for benefits. Individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing or have speech disabilities may contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339. Additionally, program information may be made available in languages other than English. To file a program complaint of discrimination, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, (AD-3027) found online at: http://www.ascr.usda.gov/complaint_filing_cust.html, and at any USDA office, or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of the information requested in the form. To request a copy of the complaint form, call (866) 632-9992.

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April 15, 2020

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• TUNE UP YOUR MOWER. Change the oil, air ﬁlter and spark plug. Clean the top and underneath. Remove dirt and grass clippings. Be sure to detach the spark plug wire before working around the blade. • REPAIR BARE SPOTS. Seed bare patches. Water newly seeded areas daily. Begin to mow when the new grass reaches the same height as the rest of the lawn.

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• KILL WEEDS AND FIRE ANTS! Find a product that will take care of weeds, and if you have a Fire Ant problem there are products that do both! • WIPE OUT DANDELIONS. They’re pretty, but a weed that needs taking care of. • FEED THE GRASS. Protect your lawn against heat and drought with a lawn fertilizer. • WATER YOUR LAWN. The best time to water your lawn is when it needs it. If you walk across the lawn and the blades of grass do not spring back in your footsteps, it’s time to water. • DON’T BAG IT. Grass clippings are a great source of nutrients for the lawn. It’s free fertilizer! Instead of bagging clippings, let your mower do the job of chopping and recycling them back into the soil. • CHECK YOUR HOSES. It’s important to start the new gardening season with the right tools, and a sturdy hose is important.

• EDGE BEDS. Use a sharp garden spade or half-moon edger, cut a 2- to 3-inch deep, V-shaped trench along beds to keep grass out.

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April 15, 2020

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Lake Ouachita State Park Reopened to the Public Last Friday Lake Ouachita State Park reopened its day-use areas, including trails and boat ramps, to the public on Friday, one week after they were closed due to campers testing positive for COVID-19. The park closed April 4 after three campers tested positive for the coronavirus. Melissa Whitfield, communications director for Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage, and Tourism, said the campers' last day in the park was March 27, and it was a week later before the park found out about the positive tests. As a result, the entire staff of the park went into self-isolation. Whitfield said the self-isolations ended on Thursday. Whitfield said none of the 23 employees at the park are showing signs of the coronavirus. She added that the department is happy to see this result, "and I know they're happy to be back at work." "Everybody is well, so they are opening back up for business," Whitfield said. Superintendent Lee Howard said he is glad to see the park reopen. "I think that

we are like most people who have been cooped up," Lee said, adding that he is ready to "get out and enjoy this beautiful weather." Howard said after the park learned of the positive cases, "all our staff were quarantined." "I'm happy to report that we're all doing well," he said. The park, Howard said, is safe and clean. "It's been two weeks. If there was any sort of virus, it's long since died. We're confident that the park is clean at this time," he said. Like all other state parks in Arkansas, the park is now day-use only. Howard confirmed the boat ramps and the trails are now open again. The state has said it will close trails that prove to be too popular, where social distancing can't be maintained. Howard said that is unlikely to happen at Lake Ouachita. "Don't anticipate any closures," he said. Howard told The Sentinel-Record that he doesn't anticipate the reopening to at-

tract a large crowd. "This weekend, I expect that will change," he said. As far as self-isolating for a week, Howard said "each person deals with quarantine in their own way. I spent a lot of time working." He said he spent "a great deal of time" answering emails during the week and he and his wife spent a lot of time working in their garden. Now that he can leave his house, Howard said he "looks forward to getting a couple gallons of milk" from the store. The park is open from 8 a.m. until dark. Whitfield said visitors still need to keep a social distance. "Keep 6 feet apart," she said. With Lake Ouachita State Park reopened, there are once again two local state parks for locals to visit. While Lake Catherine State Park has not had to close due to COVID-19, the park has also felt the

effects of the pandemic over the past few weeks. Lake Catherine State Park hosted more than 3,200 visitors over spring break, but attendance has since dropped to a safer, more manageable number as the result of public safety measures and poor weather. While the marina and beach are closed at Lake Catherine, picnics are still allowed in the park and the boat ramp remains open. Like the other state parks, Lake Catherine is closed to overnight camping and is also now enforcing a limit on how many cars can be at the trailheads for three of the park's trails. Whitfield said the state doesn't know what the visitation will be like at Lake Ouachita now that it has reopened. "Just have to keep a watch on it," Whitfield said.

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April 15, 2020

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Ozark-St. Francis National Forests officials shutdown Whitaker Point and Glory Hole trails Effective immediately, Ozark-St. Francis National Forests officials announce the temporary shutdown of access to Whitaker

Point, also known as Hawksbill Crag, and Glory Hole Trails located in Newton County, Ark., in an effort to slow the spread of

Ouachita National Forest Shuts Down Wolf Pen Gap

"Ouachita National Forest officials announced Monday, April 13th that, effective immediately, the Wolf Pen Gap Trail Complex located in Mena, Ark., is temporarily shut down until further notice. These actions are consistent with federal and state health and safety direction to help reduce the impact on emergency responders and limit the spread of COVID-19. Use of the OHV trails strains emergency resources, especially search

and rescue crews, at a time when the resources are already limited within the local communities. As officials work through this unpredictable and rapidly changing situation, health and safety remain the number one priority. ONF officials say they are committed to supporting communities and fulfilling the mission as we all work together to minimize the impacts and spread of COVID-19."

All Spring sports (Baseball, Softball, And Soccer) and events at Tapley Park will be Cancelled The Spring 2020 Baseball and Softball season has been cancelled per the guidelines set forth by the State of Arkansas as

a precautionary measure for the safety of the citizens during the COVID 19 crisis. A printable form will be available to request a refund of registration fees for baseball and softball on the tapleysports.com website.

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COVID-19. The temporary shutdown also includes the trailhead parking areas. “The top priority of the USDA Forest Service is the health and safety of visitors, nearby communities and employees,” said Big Piney District Ranger Tim Jones. “I am thankful for this cooperative effort between the Newton County Judge, the Newton County Sheriff and the Buffalo National River to reduce the spread of COVID-19.” The Whitaker Point and Glory Hole trails are high traffic areas experiencing public use inconsistent with social distancing

guidance provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which can be found at www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/about/prevention.html. For a list of closures, more information and updates, visit the websites of the Ozark-St. Francis National Forests at www. fs.usda.gov/osfnf/ or the Ouachita National Forest at www.fs.usda.gov/ouachita. Updates can also be found at the Ozark-St. Francis National Forest at www.facebook. com/ozarkstfrancis/ and Ouachita National Forest Facebook site at www.facebook. com/ouachitanf.

Tapley Park Springs Sports Cancelled

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April 15, 2020

04.15.20

ANSWERS FROM PUZZLES ON 04.08.20

Humane Society of the Ouachitas PET OF THE WEEK

Simon is a special needs kitty at HSO. He has cataracts in his eyes so life at the shelter is a bit scary for him. He dreams of finding a home where he could relax and feel comfortable. Simon likes children and other cats. He has a beautiful black and white fur coat and green eyes. And he's a big boy too at 16 pounds. Celebrate his birthday in February (02/03/2007). Simon says "Can you give me a loving home?" ALL ANIMALS AT HSO ARE SPAYED/NEUTERED AND ARE CURRENT ON THEIR VACCINATIONS PRIOR TO ADOPTION.

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CANCELLATIONS AND CLOSINGS The Spring Sports season at Tapley Park is cancelled. This includes Soccer, Baseball and Softball or any event that consists of more than ten people. For more go to Tapley Sports Facebook page or website. To protect public health and safety and align with federal, state and local guidance, Ouachita and Ozark-St. Francis National Forests officials are announcing the temporary shutdown of recreational areas and campgrounds for the safety of visitors and staff. Dispersed camping is still available in both forests. At theOuachita National Forest, all restrooms are shut down. For a list of closures, more information and updates, visit websites of the Ouachita National Forest at www.fs.usda.gov/ ouachita or the Ozark-St. Francis National Forests at www.fs.usda.gov/osfnf/. Updates can also be found at the Ouachita National Forest Facebook site at www.facebook.com/ouachitanf and OzarkSt. Francis National Forest at www.facebook.com/ozarkstfrancis/. Lake Ouachita State Park has re-opened after being closed for about a week due to campers in late March testing positive for COVID19. Fresh Start Pregnancy Resource Center Classes are canceled for the week, but we are still meeting essential needs by appointment. Mena Elks Lodge 781 closed at least through April 20th. The Cove branch of the Polk County Library is closed. They will reopen April 20th unless conditions dictate otherwise. Updated on PCDC's closings: Adult Services, Kids Store, Resale Store, Donation, and Recycling will be closed until April 17 in effort to help stop the spread of Corona Virus. We appreciate your understanding in this. The Mena Art Gallery is closed until further notice. Hatfield Town Hall is closing the Lobby. All payments can be put in the Dropbox or pay at Hatfield Union Bank. Attach your Bill that is mailed out to you with your payment. The office personnel can be reached at 870-389-6611. Also during the Covid-19

Closings

April 15, 2020 social distancing time no Reservations can be taken for Use of the building. Rich Mountain Electric Cooperative office lobbies are closed to protect health of members and employees. We will operate business as usual through the drive through. Members may report outages by call toll-free 1-877-828-4074 or call the Mena office at 479-394-4140. Payments can be made at the Drive Thru, Night Deposit or website www.rmec.com. Even though Polk County Housing Authority has closed the lobby due to COVID-19, we are still accepting applications for public housing and Section 8. You may request an application by calling the office at 479-394-1569 or go to our website polkarhousing.com and print an application. Completed applications with required documentation should be mailed to Polk County Housing Authority at 509 South Morrow Street, Mena, AR 71953. Rent payments can be made at any Union Bank location or mailed to the housing office. Our staff can be reached at 479-394-1569 with questions or concerns. The Mena ARVAC office will be closed to the public until Monday April 20th. We are still able to help individuals with utility assistance. Also, ARVAC, Inc. will issue commodities at Polk County Fair Grounds on Polk Road 43 Mena, AR on Tuesday April 28th , 2020 from 10:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. Due to Covid-19 Concerns this will be drive through only distribution. For more information call 394-4707. Acorn Rural Water office is closed to the public until further notice. You can drop your payment into the drop box, mail it or pay it at the Union Bank of Mena. For more information call 479-394-1025. Freedom Water office is closed until further notice. You may drop your payment in the drop box at the office, mail it or pay at First Financial Bank. If you need to know your balance or have any questions you may call the office 479-394-7500 during business hours, 8:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. All activities at Queen Wilhimena State Park & Cossatot River State Park cancelled until May 13th. All OLT shows and activities cancelled or postponed due to Covid-19 Pandemic. The OLT office will also be closed until further notice.

American Legion Bingo Saturday and Monday Cancelled TFN. FROM THE EXTENSION SERVICE OFFICE We are having to suspend all 4-H, EHC, Master Gardener, & educational activities for the time being due to COVID-19. The Union Bank lobby, First Financial Bank lobby and other Congregate meals at Cossatot Senior Center will be closed until further notice. Will do drive up/pick up from 10am-11am. Also will continue home delivered meals as normal. Contact 479-234-3503 to be included or for more details. The Mena Polk County Senior Center NOT open for daily activities through April 17th. If you are senior citizen 60 years of age or older and would like to be pick up a meal to go at the center, call for more information at 479-394-5459. If you are currently a participant and would still like a meal, you may call the senior center between 9 and 11:00 to place an order to be picked up. We will continue serving meals to go every day form 11:30am thru 12 Noon. The Grab & Go meals are still the suggested donation price of $3.00 each. Any extra monetary donations are greatly appreciated!! The number to call is 479394-5459 to order a meal. No meals after 12 noon. Stay tuned to facebook page and alocal radio stations for further info. Prescribed Fire activity temporarily suspended by USDA Forest Service in southern states. This includes the Ouachita National Ozark-St Francis National Forests. CHURCH NEWS Trinity Lutheran Church in Mena is closed until April 19th. They do have a recorded video service on their website: https://trinitylutheranmena.weebly.com Wednesday Warriors For Christ youth service and Sunday evening service is cancelled at The Southside Church of God cancelled until further notice. Church is at 101 Dallas Avenue. Sunday morning services are not cancelled. Sunday Morning service begins at 10:30 and is a drive up service outside. Mena 1st United Methodist Church suspended all church activities. All services at Hatfield Methodist Church

cancelled TFN.

Dallas Avenue Baptist Church will be live streaming Sunday service at 10:30am. All services cancelled on campus. Bible Believers Baptist Church has no in the church building events. They will be having drive-in church Sunday mornings at 11am in the church parking lot. There will be no Sunday School. Christ's Church at Mountain Fork will not be holding services at the church until further notice. However, We invite you to visit our Facebook page: Christ's Church at Mountain Fork where you can view Bible Study lessons each week, and you may also visit You Tube sermons by typing in Mark Berrier you will have a selection of sermons to listen to. Grace Bible Church has cancelled services until further notice. There will be a video posted on social media. To contact the church dial (479) 394-4092. First Baptist Church of Mena will not have in person Sunday worship service until further notice. Sunday School lesson will be available on the Mena FBC Facebook page. Also Childrens Chat recording will be on Mena FBC Facebook page. Sunday sermon will be streamed on FBC Facebook page and recording played on KAWX radio. Also there will be a Bible Study each Wednesday at 6pm on the Mena FBC Facebook page. First Presbyterian church services are being filmed and put online. No in person service until further notice.

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UARM Announces Online Summer Sessions, Grading, Parking Lot WiFi & Cancellation of Summer Camps UARM Chancellor Dr. Phillip Wilson remains in constant communication with students since the coronavirus outbreak when campus was forced to close and transition to online courses or remote instruction methods. He provides weekly updates and encouragement to finish strong. The largest news to report to last week included a virtual meeting of the UA System Board of Trustees. Members voted for all UA System schools’ summer sessions to be taught exclusively online or remote instruction method. They also voted that all summer camps at all campuses are cancelled. For UARM, this will include the very popular Kids/Teen College led by Ms. Penny Lunsford will not be held for 2020. Last week’s announcement also included the faculty chamber approving a new grading scheme for the spring semester, recognizing the unexpected hardships they have endured. Students who earn an A, B, or C can opt to change their grade to a P, which will not calculate into the GPA but indicates passing the course. Students who earn a D can opt to change their grade to a CR (credit), which will not calculate into the GPA but indicates passing the course with a D (may not meet prerequisites for certain courses). Students who earn an F can opt to

change the grade to an NC, which will not calculate into the GPA but indicates no credit for the course. Wilson also announced that a new webpage had been created to help address the students’ and community’s questions during this new “normal”. The page is: https://www.uarichmountain.edu/coronavirus-faq. Internet is also critical to students who all have been catapulted into online learning. The Mena campus currently has WiFi parking lot access and now the Mt. Ida campus in Montgomery County also has access. “In both locations, we ask that you respect social distancing guidelines and remain in your cars,” said Wilson. Network name for Mt. Ida access is students Wifi and password is MntIda2011. Wilson congratulated students who are planning for brighter days ahead and have already completed their registration for the Fall semester. “I’m extremely grateful to our dedicated admissions and financial aid staff as well as our advisers who created a new method to assist students who couldn’t physically walk into their offices to complete this process. They are completely focused on assisting students during this historic time and doing all they can to minimize the disruption to their educational goals.”

thal to members of our community who are elderly or immunosuppressed, depends largely on “social distancing” and otherwise limiting close contact. But that doesn’t mean we, as cooperative extension agents, aren’t still here to support our communities in all the ways we always have been. Whether your needs are agricultural, financial, dietary or educational, our agents are still here to offer the best in unbiased, research-based knowledge. We are still fundamentally engaged in supporting community and economic development, helping farmers make the best choices for their crops and helping families make the best use of their resources. Our agents are as available and ready to work as they’ve always been. While public health recommendations may limit in-person contact, we are increasingly available

EXTENSION CONTINUED FROM PAGE 6 through online venues, including webinars and internet-based teleconferencing. And of course, we’re still ready to answer questions and make recommendations by phone. If you haven’t visited our website in a while, we recommend you take a look. Whether you need to locate your local agent, download one of our invaluable publications, or read the latest in agricultural reporting, www.uaex.edu is a vast resource for Arkansans. We also have a wealth of resources related to coping with COVID-19 at www.uaex.edu/covid19. The bottom line is, we’re still on the job. And we want to help you be, too. To learn about extension programs in Arkansas, contact your local Cooperative Extension Service agent or visit www.uaex. edu. Follow us on Twitter at @UAEX_edu.

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EIP CHECKS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 5 online tool to make sure they are included. The IRS reported that persons who receive Social Security payments and railroad retirees are excluded from using the online tool. Persons receiving more than $75,000, will have their payments reduced by $5 for every $100 of income that exceeds the limits. The payment decreases to zero for an individual making $99,000 or more or a couple making $198,000 or more. Persons owing back taxes or other debt to the government are not disqualified from being eligible for the payments. Howev-

er, Americans who are overdue on child support could see their cash payments reduced or eliminated. The IRS has announced that they are launching an online tool to help persons keep track of the status of their payment. The online tool will also include information as to when a specific stimulus payment will be deposited or mailed. The online tool is expected to launch sometime in the middle of April. For more information regarding EIP please visit www.irs.gov/eip STORM CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

tions carefully, and plug essential appliances directly into the generator. OUTAGE INFO: SWEPCO Mobile App – Report outages, check outage status, and more. Download at App store or Google Play.

SWEPCO Alerts – Get an email or text message with the latest info for your home or business. See SWEPCO.com/Alerts. SWEPCO.com – outage map, report outages, safety information.

April 15, 2020

COMMENCEMENT OR NOT

OUR SENIORS ROCK! THE CLASS OF 2020 KENA GRADUATION CELEBRATION on

Today's Best Country 104.1 KENA! It's simple! We want to give a shout out to your graduating high school senior! Submit their name, school, extracurricular activities or honors, and their plans for the future. We'll announce your senior salute live on air weekdays on

The Morning Ride with J.P. J.

mypulsenews.com

Todayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Best Country - KENA-FM 104.1

Graduate Salute

Date:_________________ Name of Graduate: ________________________________________ School: _________________________________________________ Special Honors: ___________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ Extracurricular Activities (Clubs, Athletics, Hobbies):____________ ________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________

at 7:50 starting on April 20th

Future Plans: _____________________________________________

Send us the info today on your senior via:

________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________

NEWS@MYPULSENEWS.COM

Let's hear it for the Class of 2020 from Mena, Mount Ida, Acorn, Cossatot River, Oden.... Tune in for the KENA GRADUATION CELEBRATION as we salute ou our seniors on Today's Best Country 104.1 KENA

________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ Call (479) 243-9600 (or) Email NEWS@MYPULSENEWS.COM