Former Horatio vice principal deemed fit to stand trial

By Patrick Massey

HORATIO – A former Horatio High School administrator charged last year for allegedly maintaining a sexual relationship with a student has been found fit to proceed as a defendant in the case following a mental health evaluation.

Labrada Vann, age 41, was arrested in April of 2022 on a felony count of first-degree sexual assault. During the time of the alleged incident Vann served as the vice-principal for Horatio High School. She has pleaded not guilty to the charge.

According to court records, Vann’s attorneys sought a mental health evaluation to determine if she could stand trial in the sexual assault case. The evaluation was conducted in February and results returned earlier this month state that Vann was deemed fit to continue as a defendant.

The evaluation was performed by a psychologist of the Division of Aging, Adult and Behavioral Health Services.

According to the Sevier County Sheriff’s Office, investigators were contacted by the Arkansas Crimes Against Children Hotline in April of last year in reference to a possible inappropriate relationship between Vann and a student. The sheriff’s office then began an investigation into the allegations. An arrest warrant was then issued for Vann.

Vann posted a $100,000 bond following her arraignment later that month. Vann is currently expected to return to the Sevier County Circuit Court on April 27 for a pre-trial hearing. If she maintains her not-guilty plea, a trial is scheduled for early May.

Upon a conviction, the charge of first-degree sexual assault carries a prison sentence of six to 30 years.

Foresters for the Future Scholarship application period open

LITTLE ROCK, AR – The Arkansas Department of Agriculture’s Forestry Division and the University of Arkansas at Monticello (UAM) are pleased to announce that applications for the Foresters for the Future scholarship are now being accepted. The scholarship will provide $4,000 per semester, for four years, to an incoming freshman pursuing a forestry degree at UAM’s College of Forestry, Agriculture, and Natural Resources.

Applications will be accepted through June 15. Students interested in the scholarship can find more information on the UAM website at uamont.edu/academics/ CFANR/forestersforthefuture.html

“Arkansas has nearly 19 million acres of forests with over 12 billion trees,” said State Forester Joe Fox. “This scholarship is a wonderful opportunity for a future forester to obtain a quality education and move into a dynamic and rewarding career field.”

The scholarship program was established by Act 399 of the 2021 Regular Session of the Arkansas General Assem- bly. UAM and the Forestry Division hope the scholarship will entice students to pursue forestry as a career.

“The forestry industry is a pillar of Arkansas’s economy that impacts every area of our state,” said Dr. Peggy Doss, UAM Chancellor. “The Foresters for the Future Scholarship will support our efforts to attract and to retain a diverse group of future foresters and to prepare them for a career path that offers extensive job opportunities in the wood products industry.

“This scholarship is a tremendous opportunity for our students,” said Dr. Michael Blazier, Dean of the UAM College of Forestry, Agriculture, and Natural Resources and Director of the Arkansas Forest Resources Center. “Not only does it provide substantial financial aid to help them study for a career in forestry, they get a wide range of internship options for on-the-job learning with the Arkansas Department of Agriculture’s Forestry Division.”