INDEX Events Comics COVID Update Sports
No. 5
Vol. 2
2 3 3 4
June 10, 2021
ASU System Board Votes to Unmask The Humane Society’s Cat-alog
Photo by Blanton Matthews
The Arkansas State University System voted unanimously to remove the mask and social distancing mandates systemwide.
Blanton Matthews Staff Reporter The Arkansas State University System Board of Trustees met at Henderson’s Garrison Center on the morning of Thursday, June 3. Among the resolutions presented was one to rescind the requirement for face coverings on ASU System campuses. At the state level, the requirement for masks to be worn on university campuses is set to expire on June 28, any mask rules would have to be made at the university level. The statewide mask mandate and social distancing rules were implemented by an executive order from Governor Asa Hutchinson on July 16, 2020. On August 12, the ASU System Board of Trustees issued a mask mandate for their
campuses with no expiration date, so that it would have to be rescinded by an active vote rather than be allowed to expire. Hutchinson signed Act 1002 into law on April 29, ending all mask requirements for the state as well as all requirements at the local level in the state of Arkansas. The decision to rescind all mask requirements on ASU campuses—including but not limited to local schools Henderson and ASU Three Rivers—was passed by a unanimous voice vote. Now the individual campuses can make their own mask rules or lack thereof. The text of the resolution “authorizes each ASU System campus to adopt policies consistent with state law and applicable public health guidance.”
This is not a negative requirement, that is to say masks are still an option for anyone who chooses to continue wearing one. The only change is to the rules requiring the wearing of masks and the enforcement thereof. “Any member of our university community or our guests who wish to continue to wear a mask is certainly welcome to do so,” Dr. Jim Borsig, interim Chancellor of Henderson said. This comes at a time when less than a third of Arkansans are vaccinated against COVID-19, the fourth lowest rate among US states and territories above only Alabama, Mississippi, and the US Virgin Islands. Current CDC guidance holds that fully vaccinated individuals need not wear masks in public, but there is no way to know someone’s vaccination status for certain, and with such a low number of Arkansans vaccinated it seems likely that many unvaccinated individuals will be going maskless on campus and in the state at large. While mask rules will not be enforced for anyone on campus, it is recommended that anyone who chooses to go maskless be fully vaccinated. Henderson is hosting vaccine clinics throughout the month
of June at the Garrison Center on campus, for anyone over the age of 18 not yet vaccinated. The doses provided are the Johnson and Johnson brand, which requires only a single dose and as such students can be fully vaccinated without having to wait a month and a half before safely removing their masks. “Voluntary vaccination opportunities are being offered as a part of each Heartstart this summer and we will do the same at the beginning of Fall semester 2021,” said Dr. Borsig in an email. Among other resolutions passed at the meeting were a resolution not to increase tuition for any ASU schools except Henderson, which will see a 2.3% increase, and a resolution to change the name of ASU Jonesboro’s Military Science building after Lieutenant Colonel Fredrick C. Turner, Jr., the first Black graduate and first Black professor at Arkansas State University. Those resolutions also passed by unanimous voice vote. Henderson Student Affairs sent an email to all currently enrolled students informing them of the change in policy on Sunday afternoon. According to that email, the policy would go into effect the following day, Monday June 7.
Tierra McCraney Staff Reporter The Humane Society of Clark County, located at 627 Walnut Street in Arkadelphia, is experiencing pet overload. As of May 20, the Humane Society is taking care of 58 dogs and 66 cats. According to staff, this is the most they can take care of both physically and financially. To combat pet overload, the Humane Society is in the process of adopting out some of their animals through PetSmart. Adoptions are also available at
the Humane Society, where dogs are $125, and cats are $95. Dogs adopted through the Humane Society are updated on their shots, spayed or neutered, and tested for heartworms. Cats are also updated on their shots, are spayed or neutered, and are FeLV/FIV tested. The Humane Society of Clark County is open Tuesdays through Fridays from noon to 4 p.m., and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Donations and volunteer work are greatly appreciated.
Photo Courtesy of Humane Society of Clark County
The Humane Society of Clark County is currently experiencing a pet overload.
Rodney Block Rocks the Block Downtown Phoebe Darley Staff Reporter
Photo by Phoebe Darley
The Rodney Block Collective brought the Jane Ross Plaza in Arkadelphia’s downtown to life on Thursday, June 3 with the blues, jazz, hip-hop and other musical stylings.
pliving Center. Downtown erupted in song as Downtown Arkadelphia hosted The Rodney Block Collective led by Rodney Block, a trumpet player, and singer from Dumas, Arkansas. The Rodney Block Collective is a quartet of rotating musicians who play various musical genres such as blues, jazz, and hip-hop. On their June 3rd appearance, the group featured vocalist Bijoux Pighee who provided both a musical flare and a stylistic one. The crowd started small, but soon the music drew a crowd that lined the streets. People who were coming out of the down-
An Arkadelphia summer Thursday night is typically quiet since all of the college students have gone home. But last Thursday, June 3, the energy in Downtown Arkadelphia was an exception to the rule. The afternoon was warm and humid in typical Arkansas summer fashion, yet that didn’t stop a small crowd from forming in the shade of the Jane Ross Plaza. The gathering was there, at 3 p.m., on the corner of Seventh and Main, between the Beehive and The Grou-
town shops, or just were intrigued while driving through the town stopped and listened. For the next hour, The Rodney Block Collective played an eclectic mix of songs starting with 24K Magic by Bruno Mars, followed by What a Wonderful World by Louis Armstrong. They even had the crowd sing happy birthday to an Arkadelphia resident who chose to celebrate their birthday at the show. The show progressed, a brilliant sunset backlit the band and the crowd moved out from the shade, filling the blocked-off street. After their short break, Block and company continued
with Amazing Grace and then closed the show with a second-line version of the Saints Go Marching In to get the crowd involved. As Block played his trumpet and led the crowd marching through the street in true New Orleans fashion, Bijoux Pighee added her soulful vocals. After the second line, Block and Pighee encouraged the crowd to keep dancing, which resulted in one big Electric Slide. The band then closed the show with Living on a Prayer by Bon Jovi, which seemed fitting after all we have survived over the past 18 months.
Baptist Health Family Clinic-Sparkman Opens: Nurse Practitioner Lauren Franks Accepting Patients Baptist Health
SPARKMAN, Ark. – Nurse practitioner Lauren Franks is now accepting patients at Baptist Health Family ClinicSparkman-A Service of Baptist Health Medical Center-Arkadelphia. Baptist Health Family ClinicSparkman, at 104 West Taylor St. in Sparkman, is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to noon and 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Franks, a Sparkman native, received a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Henderson State University in Arkadelphia and a Master of Science in Nursing from Harding University in Searcy. “I always want to have my patient leave their visit, better than when they came – whether they have emotional, physical, mental, or spiritual needs,” Franks said. “As their provider, I hope to make a positive impact on their life, using listening, medication, education and prayer, as I believe that all as-
pects of health are interconnected. Franks and her husband, Richard, have two children. The family is regularly involved in ministries at their church, Sparkman First Baptist Church. In her spare time, Franks enjoys playing the piano, bike riding and sitting on the front porch watching her chickens and ducks. Baptist Health Family ClinicSparkman evaluates and treats patients with a wide variety of acute injuries and illnesses, so they are equipped to manage their health
better and maintain an excellent quality of life. Prevention is a big part of the clinic’s family medicine services and includes physicals, women’s health, immunizations and health assessments for the whole family. For more information about the services that Franks offers at Baptist Health Family ClinicSparkman or to schedule an apPhoto Courtesy of Baptist Health pointment, call (870) 678-4010 or Nurse Practitioner Lauren visit baptist-health.com. Franks is now accepting patients to the new Baptist Health Family Clinic in Sparkman.
From Weather.com
FRI - June 11 partly cloudy
SAT - June 12 partly cloudy
SUN - June 13 mostly sunny
MON - June 14 partly cloudy
TUE - June 15 mostly sunny
WED - June 16 mostly sunny
THU - June 17 mostly sunny
84o 63
91o 72
89o 71
89o 69
90o 67
87o 64
85o 61
Precipitation:9% Wind: SW 9 mph Humidity: 73%
Precipitation: 24% Wind: W 5 mph Humidity: 77%
Precipitation: 24% Wind: NNE 5 mph Humidity: 71%
Precipitation: 13% Wind: NNE 5mph Humidity: 68%
Precipitation: 12% Wind: NNE 6 mph Humidity: 59%
Precipitation: 7% Wind: NE 5 mph Humidity: 59%
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Precipitation: 13% Wind: NE 4 mph Humidity: 63%