Vol. 1
No. 10
March 25, 2021
Insurance Dept. takes control Westermanpensletter for msa rule change of Indy Health Insurance
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (March 19, 2021) – Arkansas Medicare Part D pharmacy benefits insurer Indy Health Insurance Company, Inc. (IHIC) has been placed under an order of rehabilitation by a circuit court in Pulaski County, Arkansas effective March 18. IHIC is an Arkansas domiciled company that provides Medicare Part D plans in Arkansas, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Illinois, and Georgia. An order was issued after Arkansas Insurance Commissioner Alan McClain filed a petition for the appointment of a receiver for rehabilitation on Tuesday, March 16. After experiencing significant unfavorable claims development during the first quarter of 2021, IHIC was unable to provide regulators with a viable plan to address the unexpected losses.
After review and consideration of all available options, IHIC’s board of directors adopted a resolution voluntarily consenting to the entry of an order of rehabilitation. The immediate focus for regulators has now shifted to ensuring IHIC’s Medicare Part D beneficiaries obtain a new plan and that all outstanding claims are settled. Plan members in the impacted states will receive notification from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) in the coming days with information on the process for signing up for another Part D plan in their area. “As Insurance Commissioner, my first priority is to protect consumers,” said Arkansas Insurance Commissioner Alan McClain. “And to do this, I must ensure all insurance com-
panies are adhering to the law, operating with financial integrity, and delivering on their promises to consumers.” As the appointed Receiver of the Company, McClain and his appointed Deputy Receiver, Steve Uhrynowycz, will be working with Company management, CMS, and the Court to determine the most efficient means for continuing Plan D Medicare services to the enrollees under the Company’s plan. The Arkansas Insurance Department (AID) will work with the Deputy Receiver, as well as the Company’s management and CMS, under the direction of the Court, to provide the most comfortable and expedient transition to a new prescription drug plan regulated by CMS. The Liquidation Division at AID administers the re-
habilitation or liquidation of insolvent insurance companies. In certain circumstances, when an insurance company is in financial trouble and there is the possibility that claims will not be paid because the assets may not be sufficient to meet policyholder obligations, the Insurance Department will step in to rehabilitate the company and return it to financial health, or if rehabilitation is not possible, liquidate an insolvent company for the benefit of policyholder, creditors, and taxpayers. Part D members with questions and/or concerns should call 1-800-799-0927 (TTY line: 711) or email customercare@ indyhealthinc.com. Consumers may also contact the AID Consumer Services Division at 1-800-852-5494.
opportunity for the students to showcase what they have been working on in their vocal lessons. “It forces students to be ready. It gives them something to work toward,” Secrest said. “It’s easy to fall into a pattern of not working very hard. NATS motivates them to have more continuity in growth.” Unlike previous years, this spring’s NATS competition was held virtually out of continued caution due to COVID-19, with Arkansas Tech University in Russellville, Ark., hosting the workshop. And instead of the audition process spanning the course of a few days, this year students were required to prerecord their performances. “The competition being held virtually was definitely a unique experience,” said Stuart Sowerbutts, a senior music industry major from Hot Springs, Ark. “I miss the energy of in-person competition, but submitting videos online allowed us to still participate while keeping everyone safe.” The following are finalists from Ouachita, listed in order of hometown: Benton, Ark. – Veronica West, a freshman choral music education major and student of Dr. Maggie Garrett, earned third place in the freshman treble division. West also was a semifinalist in the freshman treble division. Bryant, Ark. – Meredith Medford, a freshman music industry and communications & media double major and student of Dr. Jon Secrest, earned
third place in the lower college music theatre treble division. Medford also was a semifinalist in the lower college music theater treble division. Cleveland, Texas – Hannah Gothard, a senior musical theatre major and student of Dr. Jon Secrest, received first place in the upper college music theatre treble division. Gothard also was a semifinalist in the upper college music theater treble division. Hot Springs, Ark. – Stuart Sowerbutts, a senior musical industry major and student of John Alec Briggs, placed third in the upper college music theatre TBB division. Sowerbutts also was a semifinalist in the upper college music theater TBB (tenor, baritone, bass) division. Other Ouachita students named semifinalists, in order of hometown, include: Alexander, Ark. – Matthew Mayfield, a sophomore vocal performance major and student of Dr. Jon Secrest, was a semifinalist in the sophomore TBB division. Benton, Ark. – Brennon Humphry, a freshman worship arts major and student of John Alec Briggs, was a semifinalist in the lower college music theater TBB division. Caraway, Ark. – Karlee Sanders, a senior choral music education major and student of John Alec Briggs, was a semifinalist in the junior treble division. Grand Cane, La. – Sarah Franklin, a sophomore musical theatre major and student
of Dr. Maggie Garrett, was a semifinalist in the lower college music theater treble division. Plano, Texas – Paige Price, a senior musical theatre major and student of Dr. Jon Secrest, was a semifinalist in the upper college music theater treble division. Prattsville, Ark. – Anna Holiman, a sophomore choral music education major and student of Dr. Jon Secrest, was a semifinalist in the lower college music theater treble division. Sheridan, Ark. – Madeline Martin, a senior musical theatre major and communications & media/strategic communications double major and student of Dr. Jon Secrest, was a semifinalist in the upper college music theater treble division. Texarkana, Ark. – Makenna Schaeffer, a junior musical theatre major and student of Dr. Maggie Garrett, was a semifinalist in the upper college music theater treble division. Wylie, Texas – Kinsey Potts, a junior music theatre major and student of Dr. Jon Secrest, was a semifinalist in the upper college music theater treble division. Mavric Herrera, a freshman worship arts major and student of Dr. Jon Secrest, was a semifinalist in the lower college music theater TBB division. Ouachita’s collaborative pianists for the competition included Kristen La Madrid, Susan Monroe and Phyllis Walker.
Thirteen semifinalist honors in virtual state NATS competition Claire Phillips OBU Media Four Ouachita Baptist University music students were recognized with finalist honors at the 2021 National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS) auditions for the state of Arkansas. Over 130 Arkansas college students competed to reach the final round of the competition, which was conducted virtually this year, and 14 Ouachita students earned semifinalist and finalist recognitions. The annual competition not only includes the student auditions – with over 20 competition categories – but also includes workshops, professional presentations by NATS members, live performances and master classes. During auditions, each student is evaluated based on their skill, interpretation and artistry in the performance of their piece. They receive immediate feedback from the judges, who provide critique and direction. Students also have the opportunity to advance and earn cash prizes. “The competition is all designed to make them better performers in the end,” said Dr. Jon Secrest, Addie Mae Maddox Professor of Music at Ouachita. “It’s promoting singing as an artistic endeavor; it’s promoting singing as an art form and helping our students to grow to become the very best artists possible.” Held near the mid-semester mark, NATS also provides an
Deadline extended to May 17 for filing state income taxes Asa Hutchinson AR Governor Governor Asa Hutchinson, after consultation with the legislative leadership, has extended the deadline for filing state individual income tax until May 17, 2021, to coincide with the extended federal deadline. “Pushing back the due date
for state income tax is a simple
ment rate continue to improve,
17, 2021.
way to help Arkansans in light
we will do all we can to help
Governor Hutchinson is-
of the extension of the fed-
Arkansans to recover during
sued a proclamation today to
eral tax deadline. “ Governor
the public health crisis.”
announce that he had signed
Hutchinson said. “The number
On Wednesday, the United
Executive Order 21-06, which
of our COVID-19 cases, hospi-
States Treasury Department
grants the extension for filing
talizations, and deaths contin-
and the Internal Revenue Ser-
an Arkansas tax return or pay-
ues to decline, and Arkansas
vice announced the deadline
ment until May 17, 2021. The
is quickly rebounding. As the
for filing federal income tax
proclamation can be viewed
economy and our unemploy-
was being extended to May
HERE.
WASHINGTON – This week, U.S. Rep. Bruce Westerman (R-AR) and Rep. Susan Wild (D-PA) sent a letter to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) along with 51 colleagues requesting a reversal of the proposed rule to reduce the population threshold for a Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA). “I am proud to come together with 51 of my colleagues to strongly oppose the proposed OMB rule change that would strip 144 communities in 45 states and Puerto Rico of their status as a Metropolitan Statistical Area,” said Rep. Westerman. “OMB provided no reasonable justification for changing 70 years of precedent in a manner that could detrimentally hinder the economic development of many communities across America. I am glad to work with my friends across the aisle to voice our opposition against this unacceptable rule change.” “The classification of our smaller cities is hugely important in funding streams, especially as we look towards our recovery from the pandemic,” said Rep. Wild. “I urge Acting Director Fairweather to keep in mind the needs of our communities at this critical juncture and rethink any move to reclassify cities from around the country, including those in my district.” Stakeholder Support: “In economic development and site selection for job creating projects, the
conversation begins with MSAs,” said Gary Troutman, CEO and President, Greater Hot Springs Chamber of Commerce. “If Hot Springs and Garland County were no longer an MSA, we would no longer even be considered for the many economic development projects that originate in this way. That would be devastating for our community. For the state of Arkansas to lose four of its seven MSAs would greatly reduce the state’s ability to attract economic development projects.” Background: On January 19, 2021, the Office of Management and Budget published a proposal in the Federal Register to change the population threshold for a Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA). The current population threshold, which has been unchanged since 1950, is 50,000 or more persons. The proposed new threshold will be 100,000 or more persons. This change will cause 144 of the 392 MSAs to lose their designation. Declassified cities will either lose access to some federal programs or see greatly diminished federal funding from those using the MSA designation as a qualifying factor. Some programs, like the Community Development Block Grant, Federal Transit Administration grants, and Medicare’s prospective payment system for acute care hospital inpatients could be inaccessible to these communities.
Policy changes for recreation passes VICKSBURG, Miss. – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Vicksburg District has announced changes to its purchase policies for annual USACE and America the Beautiful recreation passes. Due to COVID-19 precautions, purchase protocol has been updated to limit contact between visitors and USACE personnel across recreation sites in Mississippi, Arkansas and Louisiana. Rangers and park attendants will not sell passes in the field at any location. America the Beautiful passes can still be purchased online at https:// store.usgs.gov/pass. Purchase policies for the Mississippi lakes include: Arkabutla Lake: Passes can be purchased at the Arkabutla Lake Field Office by appointment only. Visitors can call 662-5626261 or 662-292-1992 to make their appointment. Face masks are required. Sardis Lake: Passes can be purchased at the Sardis Lake Field Office by appointment only. Visitors can call 662-5634531 to make their appointment and are required to meet a ranger outside the field office to complete purchase. Face masks are required. Enid Lake: Passes can be purchased at the Enid Lake Field Office by appointment only, Monday through Friday, from 6 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Visitors must call the field office at 662-563-4571 to schedule an appointment and arrive with the required documentation and correct cash or check for payment. Credit and debit cards are not accepted. USACE personnel will meet visitors outside the office. A doorbell and instruction sheet have also been placed on the front door of the field office if visitors need assistance during office hours. Face masks are required. Grenada Lake: Passes can be purchased by calling the Grenada Lake Visitor Center at 662-226-
5911 and scheduling an appointment. An attendant will meet visitors outside to complete the purchase. Face masks are required. Policies for the Arkansas lakes include: Lake Ouachita: Passes can only be purchased at the Lake Ouachita Field Office front desk from 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and appointments are not required. Cash or card payments only are accepted. Face masks are required. For more information, contact the field office at 501767-2101. DeGray Lake: Passes can be purchased by calling the DeGray Lake Visitor Center at 870-2465501. Transactions can be completed over the phone or by mailing a $40 check to 729 Channel Road, Arkadelphia, Arkansas, postal code 71923. No in-person payment will be accepted. Passes will be mailed to customers upon transaction completion. Lake Greeson: Passes can be purchased at the Lake Greeson Field Office by appointment only. Visitors can call 870-2853700 to schedule an appointment. Face masks are required. Passes for Louisiana projects can only be purchased at the Louisiana Field Office in Monroe, Louisiana. Visitors must call the field office at 318-324-5482 to schedule an appointment, and face masks are required. For more information or question about purchasing a pass, contact Aaron Posner at 601-631-5287. Annual USACE recreation passes cost $40 and grant visitors access to all day use areas. The passes are valid for one calendar year from the month of sale. Customers will receive a plastic hang tag for their vehicles as proof of purchase. For more information about specific pass policies, visit https://www.mvk.usace.army.mil/Missions/ Recreation/Passes.aspx.
2 News
Thursday, March 25, 2021
Corps sites offer access to Upcoming dozens of outdoor activities
Oracle: CE
Events Upcoming Events Disaster Response Training for National Park College students & 2020 graduates is free and available for sign up now. Go to EventBrite. com for more details. >>> <<< Showing at the Arkadelphia Arts Center, “Springtime! Window Exhibit”, a collection of Spring-themed art by several members of the Caddo River Art Guild. Contact information for each of the artists is listed on
Photo courtesy of the Arkansas Tourism Department.
Lake Dardanelle State Park is one of the locations that offers new and exciting outdoor activities that the entire family can enjoy. Zoie Clift Travel Writer
This year marks an interesting milestone: the 50-year anniversary of the McClellan-Kerr Arkansas River Navigation System, MKARNS. At the time of its opening half a century ago, the endeavor stood out as the largest civil works project that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, USACE, had ever undertaken. Arkansans benefit from the MKARNS in a number of ways. “We see 10-11 million tons of cargo on the river each year, and that cargo represents commerce to the tune of $4.5 billion,” said Tomas Rofkahr, who is a part of the USACE public affairs team in the Little Rock District. “There are businesses and ports all along the MKARNS that use the river to move goods worldwide.” Recreation has also been positively impacted as the USACE parks along the system’s rivers and lakes see more than 18 million visitors a year, thus contributing various economic benefits to nearby communities. “Recreation has benefited immensely from the MKARNS,” said Rofkahr. “One of the byproducts of building a dam is often the creation of a reservoir. Lake Dardanelle and Winthrop Rockefeller Lake are two great examples. Together they offer nearly 40,000 acres of water that fishermen, boaters and outdoor loving folks from all over Arkansas can take advantage of. The lakes themselves are ringed by picnic and camping areas that reach from Yell County to Franklin County. If you love the water, you have good reason to love the MKARNS.” Rofkahr said the Little Rock District of USACE is one of the most visited Corps districts in the nation. They operate 146 public parks and access areas in Arkansas and Southern Missouri and provide around 500,000 acres of public land and water for recreation. Because the river links so many communities throughout Arkansas, there is the benefit of not only the USACE parks and recreation, but also easy access to a lot more. “The Arkansas River cuts through the Arkansas River Valley, which is one of the most scenic and beautiful parts of the state,” said Rofkahr. “More than just
being a marine highway that brings commerce to distant ports, the river connects five of our largest cities from Fort Smith to Russellville, to Conway, Little Rock and Pine Bluff. Each of these places are rich in history and are experiencing an incredible growth of recreation opportunities. From the new Monument Trail Mountain Bike trails at Mount Nebo and Pinnacle Mountain State Parks to the Wine Country Tours in Franklin County. Don’t forget Petit Jean State Park either, an amazing park with close access to the river. And where there’s river, there’s sure to be a USACE campground nearby.” According to Rofkahr, one of their most popular destinations is Toad Suck Park due to both its easy access and proximity to Little Rock and Conway. Camping is the most popular activity supported along the MKARNS and their popular campgrounds often fill up months in advance. There are more than 1,000 campsites available along the length of the MKARNS in Arkansas. Some of those are directly on the river while others are in nearby areas, or around the reservoirs. This can be everything from first-come, first-serve tent sites to sites capable of providing 50amp power and water for modern RVs. Little Rock stands out for having popular attractions right on the river. “Our day use area, Cook’s Landing, is right across the Big Dam Bridge and offers easy access to Burns Park, the River Trail, the River Market, the Clinton Presidential Library, and the Big Dam Bridge,” he said. “There’s so much amazing green space there right on the river and right in the middle of this very urban area. It’s not hard to see why it’s so popular.” Russellville and Dardanelle are other river cities that have popular outdoor options in and around them. “The USACE park in the area that is most wellknown is Old Post Road Park and Campground,” said Rofkahr. “It’s an extremely popular locale in the River Valley and super popular with students at nearby Arkansas Tech University. Old Post has tennis courts, basketball courts, baseball and soccer fields, an 18-hole professional disc golf course, hiking trails, and one of the oldest handbuilt mountain bike trails
in Arkansas. Better yet, if you’re a hiker, mountain biker, or wildlife lover there are the world-class Monument Trails at nearby Mount Nebo State Park.” The MKARNS is also part of an interesting piece of Arkansas history. Currently there are 18 locks and dams along the MKARNS, a monumental project and feat that took the cooperation and collaboration of many to accomplish. “As far back as the 1920s, there were folks in Arkansas and Oklahoma that wanted to develop the Arkansas River,” said Rofkahr. “The problem of course was that the river wasn’t navigable in many areas, which limited its commercial use. It was also prone to dangerous flooding, which could impact homeowners and businesses miles away from the main channel of the river.” Between the work of the Flood Control Act of 1936, which created the Southwestern Division of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and the 1946 Rivers and Harbors Act, which authorized the building of the MKARNS, it was “determined that fixing one problem, flooding, and creating a navigable Arkansas River, could go together.” The funding and ultimate completion of this large scale project came care of Senator John L. McClellan of Arkansas and Senator Robert S. Kerr of Oklahoma, and the system has since been named in their honor. This system that Congress approved created a series of reservoirs, locks and dams along the river that are used to raise the level of it enough to create a consistent 9” foot channel that can be safely navigated by commercial river traffic, a thorough 24-hours a day 365 days a year. Of note, since the historic 2019 floods in Arkansas, USACE has been working to repair damage to various campgrounds and parks up and down the MKARNS. If you are planning a visit, it is always best to call ahead or to check recreation.gov to see if a park is open or if its season has changed. Water levels and release schedules of the MKARNS locks and dams can be found at swl. usace.army.mil/Missions/ Water-Management.
It’s spring time. Let’s do some spring cleaning. The City of Gurdon will have a curbside pickup of household junk during the month of April. No need to call us, just place your items by the road and we will come and pick them up. Yard waste, limbs up to four feet long, old furniture and other junk. Look around your shed, porch, yard or closet and find what you don’t need any more and we’ll take care of the rest, no garbage or bagged items. Spring time means have your emergency plan of ac-
tion ready in case of dangerous weather. We checked the storm sirens on Tuesday this week because of the threat of bad weather on Wednesday. Everything is working well but those sirens are for people who are outside. If you are inside, you should have another way to receive warnings such as a weather radio or a warning on your telephone or television. Be ready to move quickly to your safe place. Thank you to one of our readers. After last week’s article regarding the community prayer at the Gurdon Community Pantry they sent a generous donation to help purchase food. They
For more information about the Caddo River Art Guild and the Arkadelphia Arts Center go to Facebook, or visit CaddoRiverArtGuild.com or CCAHC.org.
Ongoing >>> <<< Alcoholics Anonymous hosts two meetings a week in Arkadelphia. The meetings are open to anyone interested in AA’s program of recovery. The Arkadelphia Group meets at 7 p.m. every Tues. in the Sturgis Building at North 9 and Caddo Streets. For more information on the Arkadelphia Group Meetings, call 870-403-3001. The U-Turn Group meets at 7 p.m. every Thurs. on the front, upper level of Park Hill Baptist Church, 3163 Hollywood Road. For information on that group’s meetings, call 870-230-2975 or 870-260-9277. >>> <<< H& R Block has a new location at 2749 Pine St in Arkadelphia, AR! Visit their new office today to put their expertise to work on your refund. >>> <<< The Arkadelphia Arts Center directors are looking forward to the day when we can open the doors to the public. Meanwhile, enjoy our rotating exhibits that may be seen through the window and glass door. Contact information is listed on identification cards near each piece. For more information about the Arkadelphia Arts Center and the Caddo River Art Guild find their pages on Facebook or visit CaddoRiverArtGuild.com or CCAHC.org. >>> <<< With Late ‘til 8, local businesses stay open to 8:00 pm so that customers can shop and also win door prizes! this is a monthly event that happens every first Thursday of every month. >>> <<< Pediatrics Plus is excited to announce that our brand new facility is now open. Our new facility is located at 702 Hickory Street. The new facility offers includes a Developmental Preschool and Therapy Services that include: ABA, Occupational, Physical, and Speech Therapy. In addition, our brand new, state-of-the-art facilities include a House Next Door suite which offers a homey feel for children learning daily living activities like cooking, feeding therapy, making the bed, getting
Happenings in Gurdon by Mayor Sherry Kelley Sherry Kelley Gurdon Mayor
ID cards on the art.
also included some nice words of encouragement. Thank you so much. A little birdy tells me that the new Gurdon Drug Store with long time druggist Larry Thomerson will be open very soon. Many of us will be very glad to do our prescription business back in town. I will keep you posted. The Clark County Humane Society had another successful spay and neuter clinic. We appreciate all that Janie Allen and the others do for the county dogs and cats. I will be sure to let you know before the next clinic comes up.
dressed, and more! Other features of the new facility include a new playground, gross motor gym, high stimulation and low stimulation gyms, and a library! Enroll Now to get a spot in our new location! >>> <<< Al-Anon meetings, designed to help family and friends affected by alcohol, are held three days a week in the Arkadelphia area:
- Tues. at 7 p.m., Sturgis Building, corner of 9 and Caddo.
870-403-2019; Thurs. at 6:30 p.m., Park Hill Baptist Church.
870-403-2019; Fri. at noon, Clark County Library, 609 Caddo St.,
side door. 512-750-2292.
Oracle:CE
Thursday, March 25, 2021
Page 3
Defrauded Investors Encouraged Wolfe Street To File Claims By April 30, 2021 gala fundraiser Little Rock, Ark. (March 22, 2021) – The Arkansas Securities Department urges Arkansas investors victimized in an alleged $185 million precious metals investment scheme targeting over 1600 investors to immediately file a claim with the court-appointed receiver. On March 22, 2021, the Arkansas Securities Commissioner entered a final Cease and Desist Order against Metals.com a/k/a TMTE Inc. a/k/a Chase Metals, Inc. a/k/a Chase Metals, LLC directing the respondents to stop violating securities laws in Arkansas. The Cease and Desist Order found the respondents provided unregistered investment advice and committed investment adviser fraud in selling precious metals to
Arkansans. A copy of the Order may be found on the Department’s website at www.securities.arkansas. gov. State securities regulators and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission filed a joint civil enforcement action against Metals. com, Tower Equity, Chase Metals, Barrick Capital, and other associated parties last September. The complaint accused the defendants of deceiving customers into purchasing precious metals bullion at grossly inflated prices, while falsely claiming they were rare and carried a premium far above the base melt value. The United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas entered an injunction and a restraining order freezing the assets of the de-
fendants. It also appointed Kelly Crawford as Receiver – an official responsible for taking control of the assets of the defendants and distributing funds back to defrauded investors. The Receiver will begin administering the claims process and returning money to defrauded investors. As part of the process, the defrauded investors must complete and return their investor confirmation forms to the Receiver to participate in the claims process and request a return of money. The deadline to return the Investor Confirmation Form is April 30, 2021. Defrauded investors should direct questions about the claims process to the Receiver. They can contact the Receiver by electronic mail at kelly.craw-
ford@solidcounsel.com or by telephone at (214) 706-4213. The Receiver also maintains a website that provides information about the claims process at https://www.metalsandbarrickcapitalreceivership. com/. “The Arkansas Securities Department is committed to holding bad actors accountable and pursuing relief for Arkansans who have been defrauded by illegal scams,” said Arkansas Securities Commissioner Eric P. Munson. “We encourage all investors defrauded by this scam to promptly contact the Receiver to request a return of funds. My office stands ready to assist defrauded investors as they navigate the claims process and request a return of money.”
Westerman on Keystone Pipeline Bruce Westerman AR Representative
This week, I had the honor of hosting a group of Keystone XL Pipeline, agriculture, steel, energy, and construction workers to discuss the true cost of President Biden’s energy policies. Recently, President Biden cancelled the Keystone XL Pipeline permit and oil and gas leasing on federal lands, which put thousands of people instantly out of work and deprived our economy of a major investment-- all with the stroke of a pen. These
men and women shared their stories on how the cancellation has affected them and their families personally, and their industries financially. I encourage anyone hesitant about the Keystone XL Pipeline to listen to these workers’ experiences and understand that such a short-sighted policy change is unproductive and unsustainable. The need for oil and natural gas did not disappear overnight after President Biden signed away the pipeline. Oil will still be
brought into the country, but through more environmentally destructive methods and from foreign countries with subpar environmental standards. By shutting down supply from a trusted friend and neighbor – Canada -- we will be forced to take our energy demand overseas to countries, where we have no control over environmental standards. In the middle of a pandemic, President Biden destroyed 10,000 union construction jobs and wages that would have exceeded
$2.2 billion. It saddens me when politicians fail to realize that decisions made at a desk in Washington, D.C. have life-changing impacts on people across the nation. I am grateful to the men and women who continue to speak truth to power on how poor political decisions have lasting consequences for our families, friends, and neighbors. I will continue to fight in Congress for the needs of workers and push back against punitive, unsustainable energy policies.
Arkansas Department of Health COVID-19 Update
Arkansas Department of Health
According to the Arkansas Department of Health Administration in its COVID-19 update, there are a total of 70,443 probable cases in the state as of March 25. In reference to
ADH’s graph, there are a
graph weekly according to
precautions, however, as
total of cases with 320,790
what is available from the
games are being cancelled
recovered.
Department of Health and
left and right to coincide
state officials.
with regulations.
The counties are colored by light to dark in terms of
Vaccines are now avail-
With Joe Biden as the
able for a limited amount
new President of the United
The Dispatch will post
of people. Baptist Health in
States and vaccines being
an updated version of this
Arkadelphia has been sup-
given to those that meet
plying shots for weeks for
the needed qualifications,
selected employees across
things are changing week
town.
by week.
density of cases.
Crites & Tackett Tree Service
Tree removal, trimming, topping and stump removal. Free estimates, worker’s comp, and liability insurance. 501-337-1565 or 501-337-9094
Golf, softball, women’s
People are encouraged to
volleyball, and basketball
continue social distancing
are in full swing, so sports
and staying at least six feet
teams are keeping an eye
away from others. Testing
on COVID guidelines. That’s
is widely available in most
not to say that there aren’t
cities.
Photo courtesy of Wolf Street.
The 2021 Red Carpet Gala will take place April 29 at 7 p.m. CST. Sandy Yawn, renowned captain in the yachting industry, will be the keynote speaker. Wolfe Creek Media Department
Wolfe Street Foundation announced it will transition its annual Red Carpet Gala to a virtual fundraising event, in response to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic. In its 22nd year, the 2021 Red Carpet Gala will take place Thursday, April 29th at 7 p.m. CST. Admission is free, however virtual tickets can be purchased for a $100 donation. A virtual ticket includes a charcuterie board for two courtesy of Heritage Catering and a “swag bag.” This year’s Red Carpet Gala keynote speaker is Captain Sandy Yawn, a worldrenowned captain in the yachting industry and currently the captain on Bravo TV’s reality hit Below Deck Mediterranean. Captain Sandy recently celebrated 32 years of sobriety and is thrilled to share her story of recovery at this year’s gala. In addition to a keynote speaker, the gala will include an online auction. Featured items include a fabulous getaway to a gorgeous Montana lodge donated by Buck and Angela Thompson and a stunning piece of jewelry courtesy of Sissy’s Log Cabin. There will be musical guests including Townsend, Jared Blake from NBC’s The Voice and Arkansas native
and runner-up on the most recent season of NBC’s The Voice, Jim Ranger. Wolfe Street Foundation is prepared to rise to the challenge of the ever-changing environment of what is required to help individuals in recovery. Wolfe Street’s mission is to provide up-todate recovery resources to those affected by alcoholism and addiction. Through the hard work and the continued support of its patrons Wolfe Street is expanding its peer-to-peer programs and providing solutions at no cost to visitors at the Wolfe Street Center. Wolfe Street’s doors are open 365 days a year, 16 hours a day, averaging over 100,000 visits per year. The Wolfe Street Foundation is a non-profit, tax-exempt, charitable corporation, 100% privately funded by donations, corporate sponsors, meeting groups, and special events such as the Red Carpet Gala. For more information on the event or sponsorship, contact Laura or Shannon at RedCarpet@WolfeStreet. org. To learn more visit www. wolfestreet.org.
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4 Sports
Thursday, March 25, 2021
Oracle: CE
OBU falls flat in eight innings Tigers take to SWOSU in third of series series in Okla.
Photo courtesy of OBU Tigers. Pictured: Sophomore Cooper Timmons. The OBU Tigers were not in good shape after they fell 10-8 in eight innings against SWOSU.
THE RUNDOWN Ouachita Baptist baseball fell 10-0 in eight innings to Southwestern Oklahoma State on Saturday in the finale of a three-game series in Weatherford, Oklahoma. The Tigers collected four hits in the contest. The Bulldogs jumped
out to a 6-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning. Two runs in the sixth and two more in the eighth invoked the mercy rule, ending the game. Michael Soisson took the loss, allowing six runs in 0.2 innings pitched. THREE THINGS TO
KNOW - SWOSU completed a sweep of the three-game series Saturday - Tyler Riebock and Cole Kelly were the only Tigers to reach base more than once - Cooper Timmons threw 5.0 innings in relief, allowing just two runs on four hits
BY THE NUMBERS 3 - Tiger batters were hit by a season high-tying three pitches 17 - Riebock drew his GAC-leading 17th walk of the year Below is the schedule for the Tigers for the remainder of the week.
THE RUNDOWN It took nine innings, but Ouachita Baptist softball defeated Southwestern Oklahoma State in the rubber match of a three-game series at Sully Anderson Field. Pinch runner Tori Herbert scampered home with the winning run on a two-out throwing error to give her team a 3-2 win. Nikki Schneider earned the win in the circle to improve to 3-1. The Bulldogs scored the first run of the game in the third inning before Ouachita took the lead with two runs in the fourth. Jillian Jones tripled to right field, plating Hope Waid with two outs. Jones then scored on Lauren Lester’s RBI single. A mammoth home run gave SWOSU the tying run in the sixth.The Tigers had runners reach in the seventh and eighth innings but could not advance anyone past second. Jones led off the ninth with an infield single. Lauren Lester reached on a fielder’s choice and advanced to second on Callie Jourdan’s single, where Herbert replaced her. The next batter, Madison Miller, flied out to center field. Herbert tagged and took third base, beating the center fielder’s throw.
Jourdan advanced to second on the throw, and the Bulldog third baseman’s attempt to throw her out sailed into right field, allowing Herbert to cross the plate. THREE THINGS TO KNOW - After SWOSU tied the game with a home run in the sixth, Schneider retired the next 12 Bulldog batters in a row - Schneider limited SWOSU to two runs on four hits with four strikeouts across nine innings in the game. - The win was Ouachita’s second walk-off of the season BY THE NUMBERS 1.93 - Schneider lowered her season earned run average to 1.93 2 - Jones’ two hits were a team-high 16 - Schneider pitched 16.0 innings in two starts during the series, earning both wins and allowing just one earned run UP NEXT The Tigers hit the road for a three-game series at Northwestern Oklahoma State next weekend.
Reddies Men’s Baseball takes care of NWOSU in two games in their first GAC series win ARKADELPHIA, Ark. – Henderson State saw its best day on the diamond so far in the 2021 season as it defeated Northwestern Oklahoma St. in both games of the doubleheader, 4-2 and 4-1, respectively. With the two wins, HSU clinched its first Great American Conference series win of the season. Mallory Brewer was the story for game one, as she rattled off a season-high nine strikeouts in the victory, going all seven innings
for the Reddies. On the bats, Czoey White saw four hits through the two games as the Reddies registered 12 hits on the day. Ashlyn Taylor, Addie Jordan, and Taylor Sledd each saw two RBIs on the day. Leann Beasley claimed the win in the circle in game two. GAME ONE The Rangers came right off the gates with two runs in their first at-bat as HSU saw the quick 2-0 deficit extend through the bottom of the
first inning. With startingpitcher Mallory Brewer able to keep NWOSU at two runs through the top of the second frame, the Reddies seized their opportunity in the bottom of the second. After what looked like the beginning of a quick at bat with only one hit from Czoey White while having two outs pinned against them, Ashlyn Taylor extended the inning for at least one more batter as she homered over the left field wall, scoring White for a two-run
Red Wave finishes eighteenth at nationals BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Led by Stephen Jones and Lamar Taylor, who each earned All-American honors, Henderson State finished 18th as a team at the 2021 NCAA DII Swimming National Championships. The 18th-place finish for Henderson is the program’s best result at the NCAA DII Championships since 2010 when the Red Wave took 15th at the national finals. HSU scored 30 total points, all of which came from Jones and Taylor. Jones, who competed in four different events at the four-day NCAA finals, had his best result in the 200-yard individual medley. Seeded fourth coming into the event, Jones swam 1:47.38 in the prelims to secure his spot in the eightman championship heat on
Thursday morning, where he finished eighth overall (1:49.15). The Top-8 swim garnered Jones 2021 AllAmerican honors in the event and the Red Wave 11 points in the meet. Taylor, a freshman, swam in three events at the national championships and earned his All-American recognition in the 100-yard backstroke. Seeded 28th overall — the lowest seed of any swimmer in the prelims — Taylor broke the school record and bested his seed time by two seconds with a mark of 47.50 to nab a spot in the championship heat. In the finals, Taylor broke the HSU record time once again (47.29) to place seventh in the event and earn another 12 points for the Red Wave. In addition to their AllAmerican efforts, both Jones
and Taylor turned in strong finishes in the consolation finals of other events. Jones added another six points for HSU in the 100-yard butterfly, where he finished 11th in a time of 47.59, while Taylor was 16th for the Red Wave and earned one point in the 100-yard freestyle (44.78). The senior Jones, from Ocean Springs, Mississippi, was 21st in the 100yard backstroke (48.77) and 24th in the 100-yard freestyle (44.72). Taylor, of Freeport Bahamas, finished 21st in the 50-yard freestyle (20.08). Jase Pinckney, the third and final member of the Red Wave to compete at the NCAA Championships, took 21st in the 100-yard butterfly in a time of 48.19.
blast, knotting the ballgame at two runs apiece. With another quick inning from Brewer in the circle in the top of the third, giving up only one hit while registering the final out in the form of a strikeout, HSU was not quite done raking in the runs. Henderson culminated its scoring outing with two more runs in the bottom of the third. Abbie Moore and Monica Monreal both crossed the plate for runs three and four off a fielding error from the Rangers and
a sacrifice bunt from Bre Jones, respectively. The Reddies six-game losing streak was put to rest with the 4-2 win while extending Northwestern’s losing streak to nine games. The chance to go 2-0 on the day began in 30 minutes with game two up next. GAME TWO In the same NWOSU started off game one, the Rangers got on the board first, this time in their second at-bat, taking the early
1-0 lead before the Reddies quickly erased the deficit with two runs to close the second inning. A Sledd double to left center brought home White and Kailey Reese to give Henderson the 2-1 advantage. Beasley never allowed more than one hit in a Northwestern at-bat the rest of the way, as single-run innings in the bottom of the fourth from Reese and in the bottom of the sixth from White was all HSU needed to win game two, 4-1.