The Fourth Annual Concord Stamp Out Smoking Health Fair will be held in conjunction with parent/teacher conferences on Thursday, April 3, in the Concord Auditorium. The health fair will run from 12:00 to 5:00 PM.There will be free testings, screenings and information in all areas of health. For setting up a booth or other information, please call 870-668-3522.

Governor Mike Beebe has declared Jackson, Baxter, Benton, Boone, Carroll, Clay, Crawford, Franklin, Fulton, Greene, Hot Spring, Independence, Izard, Johnson, Lawrence, Logan, Madison, Marion, Nevada, Newton, Randolph, Scott, Searcy, Sharp, Stone, Washington Counties state disaster areas due to the damage caused by heavy rains and flooding that began on March 18.

The Young Professionals Network (YPN), a committee organized by the Searcy Regional Chamber of Commerce, recently began Searcy Heroes: A Professional Development Series. The group welcomed Larry Crain of Crain Automotive and Crain Media as the first speaker in the series.

“Mr. Crain and several other role models in Searcy have achieved statewide success,” Mat Faulkner, President and Creative Director of Think Advertising, said. “Our Searcy Heroes seminars give us a chance to learn from these fellow citizens about a variety topics: How did you get where you are today? What character traits do you value the most? How do you advance your career in Searcy? What do you look for in your key people?”

The four areas that Crain discussed as being essential for a successful career are faith in God, family relationships, education and experience.

“Don’t measure success by the world’s standards,” Crain said. “Success is achieving something you planned or intended. Success is something that turns out well.”

Crain discussed his early childhood in the community of Crosby, which is outside of Searcy on Highway 36.

“We didn’t own a car. My parents and I would walk to church,” Crain said. “That was the foundation of my faith. That’s what I have the most appreciation for.”

Crain’s father and grandfather both owned small country stores in Searcy.

“My dad had an eighth-grade education, but he could really cipher. He was good with numbers, and he was a good trader,” Crain said. “I got my passion for business from him.”

Crain emphasized that passion is essential.

“Have a passion about what you do. Passion comes with DNA, but it can also be developed,” he said.

He talked about the importance of discipline, persistence and taking risks.

“Get absorbed in what you’re doing, and be willing to do each part of it,” Crain said. “Learn every job there. I don’t feel like I can fully understand what’s happening in a business unless I know what each person is doing.”

Crain discussed that reputation is more important than wealth. He emphasized the importance of making moral choices.

“My goal each day is to do the best I can do,” he said.

As a young entrepreneur, Faulkner said I could relate to everything Crain said about starting a business.

“I enjoyed hearing his story: It is reassuring to know that someone who is so successful went through similar challenges that I’ve faced,” Faulkner said. “In the short five years since I’ve started my business, I’ve experienced the hard work, the emotional ties, the pitfalls that he discussed. I am pleased that Mr. Crain chose to join us.”

The Young Professionals Network (YPN) is a group organized by the Searcy Regional Chamber of Commerce.

The YPN strives to retain and advance the young workforce in Searcy by providing them with professional development, social activities and service opportunities.

“I enjoy being a part of the YPN in Searcy,” Faulkner said. “We are an enthusiastic, powerful and diverse organization that helps young professionals in our area discover new business relations, strengthen existing contacts and ultimately get excited about working in such a great city.”

The YPN currently has 60 members.

“The Young Professionals Network is one of the Chamber’s most exciting committees,” Tara Cathey, Vice President of the Chamber, said. “We feel that the YPN helps our area attract and retain young professionals in our workforce and helps strengthen the community as a whole.”

To become a YPN member, the participant or the business that he or she works for must be a member of the Searcy Regional Chamber of Commerce.

“I am excited to develop an organization that creates an infrastructure for young Searcy professionals,” Faulkner said. “As the YPN continues to evolve, we hope each and every Searcy professional will consider joining both the Searcy Regional Chamber of Commerce and the YPN.”

For more information concerning the Young Professionals Network, contact the Searcy Regional Chamber of Commerce at (501) 268-2458.

By Sara Dacus Special to The Daily Citizen

Louis Jordan will be in concert at the Independence Hall in Batesville March 28, at 7:30 PM. For more information, call 501-251-1189.

About 30 people worked from 2 p.m. until well into the night Thursday to protect half a dozen Faulkner County homes from floodwater.

Residents wade water on Clay Street in downtown Newport Thursday morning as city employees worked to pump water over the levee. As of press time only four homes had been damaged but local authorities are expecting the situation to worsen as the weekend approaches. – Independent photo by Melissa Lore

These photos were taken in Batesville and Mountain View on March 19, 2008 after heavy rains fell and caused a large portion of the city located near the river to flood.

MEET AND GREET THE CANDIDATES PIE AUCTION, SATURDAY, APRIL 5, 6:00 P.M. AT THE NADC SENIOR CENTER ON SCHOOL AVENUE IN MTN. VIEW SPONSORED BY THE STONE COUNTY DEMOCRATIC WOMEN.  EXPECTED GUEST SPEAKERS WILL BE STATE REPRESENTATIVES MONTY DAVENPORT AND EDDIE COOPER.  OTHER DONATED ITEMS FROM LOCAL BUSINESSES WILL BE AUCTIONED IN ADDITION TO SOME EXCELLENT PIES!!   CANDIDATES FOR CITY AND COUNTY OFFICES WILL BE IN ATTENDANCE, AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO ARE INTERESTING IN HEARING AND VISITING WITH THESE CANDIDATES, ARE URGED TO ATTEND.  FOR MORE INFORMATION CALL 870-269-4877.