Culinary Arts Students Give Back

Melbourne –  Everyone in North Central Arkansas has been affected in one way or another by the recent ice storms.  One of the most powerful affects was the lack of electricity due to fallen limbs and downed power lines and poles.  The electric companies have worked tirelessly for weeks to restore power to thousands of customers.

The North Arkansas Electrical Cooperative, based in Salem, with an office in Ash Flat, is the cooperative electric company which serves Baxter, Izard, Sharp, and Fulton Counties.  The men and women who work for NAEC, as well as other electric cooperatives from around Arkansas and other states have put in many long hours during this disaster, some working well into the night under unpleasant conditions.  These workers have to eat and get rest at some point, but with so many reporting in each night, it has been quite an undertaking to provide meals.

NAEC contacted Ozarka to inquire if the Culinary Department would be available to help out with meals.  Vice President of Academic Affairs, Dr. Michael DeLong states, “When we were contacted about the culinary students cooking and serving food to these workers, there was no doubt that they would want to step up and volunteer their time.  Upon discussing the idea with instructors, Linda Taylor and Mimi Newsome, they wanted to take this on as a service learning project for their department.”

For three consecutive days, the students and instructors prepared and served food to over 200 workers per night.  Instructor, Linda Taylor says, “It was quite a responsibility for us to do this in addition to our other activities and classroom work, but it has been a great learning experience for the students.”

This was treated as a learning project and the students actually planned the menu, cooked the food and set up to serve each day’s meal.  Every culinary student worked at least one night, loading and carrying the food to the Ash Flat office of NAEC.  Taylor and Newsome were there every night to supervise the activities.

Taylor adds, “We are glad to have had the opportunity to give back to the NAEC and other co-op workers.  This was rewarding for all of us and we are very proud to have served those giving their time and energy to help restore our area’s electricity.”

Electric Cooperatives of Arkansas Ice Storm Restoration Update

Little Rock, Ark. – Feb. 16, 2009 – 8 a.m. – Approximately 7,350 electric
cooperative members remain without electric service. This is down from a
peak of more than 210,300 after the devasting Jan. 26 ice storm.

The number of cooperatives with outages is at four, down from 12. The
largest concentration of outages is northeast Arkansas.

More than 4,300 line workers are working to rebuild electric distribution
infrastructure and reestablish electric service for cooperative members.

The Electric Cooperatives of Arkansas urges cooperative members to use
caution both within and outside their homes. Candles, lanterns and temporary
heating devices can pose a fire hazard. Home generators should be properly
vented to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning, and they should be connected to
home wiring through appropriate protective devices to prevent power from
feeding back onto the utility’s wires.
The cooperatives with outages are: Clay County Electric Cooperative,
Corning; Craighead Electric Cooperative, Jonesboro; Mississippi County
Electric Cooperative, Blytheville; and Petit Jean Electric Cooperative,
Clinton. (A chart is attached for outages by cooperative)

The public is cautioned to avoid any downed power lines and to report them
immediately to local authorities.

The Electric Cooperatives of Arkansas comprise 17 electric distribution
cooperatives; Arkansas Electric Cooperatives Inc. (AECI), a Little
Rock-based cooperative that provides various services to the distribution
cooperatives; and Arkansas Electric Cooperative Corp. (AECC), a generation
and transmission cooperative. The distribution cooperatives provide
electricity to approximately 490,000 members, or customers, in Arkansas and
surrounding states.

The Mission Committee of Fairfield Bay United Methodist Church will again host their Meals for Missions on the 6 Mondays of Lent at the church at 765 Dave Creek Pkwy.

This year the menu will be Soup, Condiments, Homemade Dessert and Drink for $5.00. Each Monday there will be a choice of one soup with meat and one without meat. The Menu is— March 2nd: Southwestern Chicken Soup (a combo of chicken, veggies, rice and beans with just a touch of Southwest flavor and Calico Bean Chowder (a thick robust blend of 13 legumes)  March 9th:  Meatball Goulash (if you are a goulash fan you’ll love this one) and Mediterranean Minestrone (lots of veggies, beans and pasta with a touch of Italy.  March 16th:  Louisiana Chicken and Sausage Gumbo (You’ll think you’re in New Orleans with this one) and Cream of Broccoli Cheese (Chunks of broccoli in a rich cheesy base)  March 23rd:  Beef and Veggie Rotini (Fresh veggies and veggie rotini join the beef for a hearty meal) and Chunky Baked Potato (A delightful change from plain old potato soup)  March 30th:  Old Fashioned Chicken and Egg Noodle (Always a favorite and always good) and Potato Corn Chowder (Good alone but better together, a wedding of two favorite flavors)  April 6th:  Veggie Beef Barley (the winner of the Octoberfest soup cook-off) and Veggie Cheese Chowder (If you like cheese sauce on your veggies you’ll love this).

Meals will be served from 11:30 to 1:00 pm each Monday

Severe Weather Planning for Arkansans

North Little Rock – With the threat of severe weather this week it pays for Arkansans to know what to do in advance.
Basic preparedness plans should be in place at home, at work and at school and each family member or employee should understand the plan.  When a severe storm or tornado strikes, there may be only a few seconds to react and find shelter.
The first step in preparedness is to ensure you have a reliable method of receiving weather information including TV, radio and NOAA weather radio, plus a back-up system if one goes out.  Battery powered equipment and extra batteries should be a part of the plan.
Shelter areas should be designated at home, work and school; whether they are in basements below ground level, ground level windowless rooms, or interior hallways on the lowest floor.  Protect yourself from flying debris with blankets, sleeping bags or mattresses.
If you are in a vehicle, mobile home or portable classroom, move quickly to a strong building for shelter.  If there is no shelter, lie flat in the nearest ditch or depression.  Do not take shelter in a structure with a high, wide roof such as an auditorium, gym or shopping mall.
Choose a person to telephone outside your city to let others know you are safe and choose a place for family members to meet if your neighborhood and home are damaged or destroyed.
Create a disaster supply kit and keep it in your shelter area.  Kits should be created for home, work, school and a mobile kit should be kept in your vehicle.

The Arkansas Department of Emergency Management (ADEM) is the state’s homeland security and preparedness agency. The agency works to identify and lessen the effects of emergencies, disasters and threats to Arkansas by developing effective prevention, preparedness, mitigation, response and recovery actions for all disasters and emergencies.  For additional information, contact ADEM at (501) 683-6700 or visit the website at www.adem.arkansas.gov.

The 2009 Season Passes for the Ozark Folk Center State Park in Mountain View are now available.  The passes may be purchased at the park or by calling (870) 269-3851.  The cost of a season pass is $65 for adults and $30 for children 6 through 12 years.  Children under 6 admitted to the park free of charge.

A season pass entitles its holder to visit the craft Village and attend regular nighttime music concerts throughout the season for this one-time cost.  Regular nighttime concerts include any concert during the season that is not specified as a Celebrity Concert.  The Folk Center season runs from April 17 through October 31, 2009. The park Village will be open from 10 am until 5 pm, Wednesday through Saturday, from April 17 through September 30, with the exception of Memorial Day and Labor Day weekend.  On those two weekends, the park will be open Sunday and Monday also.  From October 1 through October 31, the Village will be open Tuesday through Sunday.

This year the Music concerts will begin at 7:00 pm Wednesday through Saturday from April 18 through September 27, and Tuesday through Saturday in October.  For a detailed schedule, please visit the Ozark Folk Center website at www.ozarkfolkcenter.com.  You can also request a calendar of events by calling (870) 269-3851 or coming by the park administration building or any park facility.

The Ozark Folk Center is an Arkansas State Park whose mission is to perpetuate the traditions, culture and music of the Ozark Mountain region.  The Crafts Village offers more than twenty artisans demonstrating the skills used by inhabitants of the region in the 19th and early 20th centuries.  There are story telling sessions based on crafts and music during this period, as well as short musical performances of traditional Southern Mountain music throughout the day. An authentic Ozark cabin, known as the Shannon Cabin, was moved from its original location and reconstructed at the Park.  The cabin is used for children’s activities.  In addition, there is a Children’s Garden, with a Native American Osage style lodge and other special features just for kids.

Workshops are available throughout the year in many traditional crafts.  Check for a list of available craft workshops online, or call the park for additional information.

The beautiful Heritage Herb Garden meanders throughout the Park, offering a large variety of herbs and flowering plants as well as a wonderful water garden.  Throughout the year, various gardening workshops are held at the Folk Center.  There is a knowledgeable staff gardener and herbalist available throughout the season.

During the regular season, music concerts begin in the Folk Center Theater at 7:00 PM.  These concerts include traditional folk music played on acoustic instruments, including banjo, fiddle and mandolin.   Folk dances such as old-time square dancing, jig dancing and waltzing are featured at each performance and audience participation is encouraged.  Special concerts range from tributes to some of the “greats” of the old-time music genre, like Jimmie Rodgers and Merle Travis, to the Celebrity Concert series featuring guest celebrities. Tickets for these Celebrity Concerts may be purchased in advance either online at www.ozarkfolkcenter.com or by calling (870) 269-3851.   Many musical events include workshops and classes in traditional musical instruments.  Check the web site often for updates on music events.

The regular fee for the Crafts Village, or to attend concerts at the Folk Center Theater is $10 for adults and $6 for children 6-12.  Three-day and combination tickets are available for purchase, as well as new family passes.

In addition to the Crafts Village and Music Theater, the Folk Center offers a full service restaurant, open during the season, from 7 AM until 8 PM daily, and comfortable, secluded lodging, which is open year around. The Park has convention and banquet facilities available.   For reservations, call 1-800-264-3655.

NEW DATE SET FOR TEMPORARY CLOSING OF BRIDGE ACROSS GREERS FERRY DAM
HEBER SPRINGS, Ark., Feb. 9 – A new date has been set for the temporary closing of the Highway 25 Bridge across Greers Ferry Dam.  The work is now scheduled to occur on Saturday, March 7.  The bridge will remain open on the previously announced dates of Feb. 14 and Feb. 28.
The one-day bridge closure, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., is scheduled because upcoming maintenance work on the dam requires a large crane to work from the bridge.  If inclement weather prevents crews from working on the 7th, an alternate date for the work will be March 14.
The alternative traffic route remains Highways 16 and 92 around the west side of the lake.
The closure has been coordinated with local emergency and law enforcement agencies.  Officials from the Army Corps of Engineers Greers Ferry Project Office said they regret any inconvenience this may cause.  They ask motorists to drive slowly on the alternate routes because some drivers may not be familiar with the roads.  Also, they urge motorists to plan around the closings and allow extra time to reach their destinations.
For more information, please contact the Greers Ferry Project Office at 501-362-2416, or stop by the office located near the dam on Highway 25, three miles north of Heber Springs.

The Arkansas Craft School has elected five new Directors to its Governing Board.  Those elected are Corky Baker, President of the Stone County Iron Works who will serve as chair of marketing; Leo Sutterfield, President of First Service Bank of Mountain View who will serve as chair of finance; Richard Hempel, Registered Nurse with the White River Health Systems who will serve as chair of fund development; Roberta Katz-Messenger, owner of the Katz-Messenger Stained Glass Co. in Clinton, AR.; and Jeanette Larson, Craft Director at the Ozark Folk Center in Mountain View, AR.   These new directors join Joe Doster of the Technology Faculty at North Arkansas College in Harrison, AR who is the 2009 president; Helen Phillips, retired Professor of Art at the University of Central Arkansas in Conway, AR; Pat Cash, Vice President of Citizens Bank in Mountain View, AR; Gin Brown, Campus Manager of Ozarka College in Mountain View, AR who is chair of program and curriculum; Michael DeLong, Academic Vice President at Ozarka College in Melbourne, AR; Cheri McKee-McSwain, Instructor, Arts and Humanities at Ozarka College who is chair of personnel; Mike Luster, Director Arkansas Folklife Program; and Grady Spann, General Manager of Ozark Folk Center in Mountain View, AR.

The responsibilities of the Board of Directors include general oversight of the School, financial management, fund development, policy determination, and strategic planning. Wright Pillow is the Executive Director and Chief Administrative Officer of the School.

The Mission of the Arkansas Craft School is to educate aspiring and practicing craft artisans for success in the creative economy.  Though crafters of all skill levels are served by the Craft School, the primary focus of the School includes practicing artisans and student artisans who are considering a craft-based vocation.  The artistic focus of the school is primarily two and three dimensional contemporary craft forms informed by the rich history of traditional craft.  The School offers courses in marketing of craft; business management of the small craft business; skill and technical studies in the five basic craft media including glass, metal, fiber, wood, and clay/ceramics; and ancillary and foundation skills including drawing, painting, design, and maintenance of artistic quality.

The Arkansas Craft School is a partnership including the Arkansas Craft Guild, Ozarka College, and Ozark Folk Center.  It is a 501.c.3 educational not-for-profit corporation.

The Junior Achievement Program is looking for volunteers!

Junior Achievement uses hands-on experiences to help young people
understand the economics of life. In partnership with business and
educators, Junior Achievement brings the real world to students, opening
their minds to their potential. After all, kids are our future.

Equipped with Junior Achievement-prepared materials, classroom
volunteers quickly lose any fear of being at the front of the class and
become energized and inspired by their students’ youthful enthusiasm.
All agree on one undeniable benefit: their partnership with Junior
Achievement will create a stronger, smarter pool of future employees who
will enhance America’s ability to compete within the global market.

Please join us as we present JA Careers with a Purpose to 10th grade
students at Heber Springs High School,through the history department,
beginning later this month. In order to provide volunteers with a team
teaching experience, approximately 14 volunteers are needed to reach all
students this semester.  The time commitment is one class period each
week for seven weeks. Training and materials provided.

To sign up or find out more, please contact Cheli Stafford, Director of
Education, Junior Achievement of Arkansas by email: cstafford@jaark.org
or by phone: 501.280.9118.

EMERGENCY GENERATORS HELP ARKANSANS IN TIME OF NEED

NORTH LITTLE ROCK, Ark.–Across the northern half of Arkansas, the storm
that struck the last week of January weighed down electrical lines with a
thick coat of ice. The damage left more than 315,000 electrical customers
without power; thanks to the feverish work of repair crews, that number has
now declined to fewer than 13,500.

The power loss affected not just individuals but also the critical
facilities that are vital to a community’s well-being. Bad as things were,
they would have been much worse without the commercial generators that were
brought in by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and delivered
by the Arkansas Department of Emergency Management (ADEM), the National
Guard and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) to keep essential
services operating.

Thanks to the generators, freezing people could escape to warming and
feeding stations and overnight shelters where the lights and the heat were
working and they could get a cup of coffee and warm food.  If the shelter
had running water and working plumbing, those, too, were due in some places
to generators that were running pumping stations and water treatment and
sewage plants. At the height of the power outages, 155 emergency generators
were installed.

Several hospitals would have had to close entirely if not for the emergency
generators.  Piggott Community Hospital continues to run generator power.
Other facilities where these generators helped assure the provision of vital
emergency services include Jonesboro National Guard Armory, Salvation Army
in Fayetteville, Green Forrest Police and Fire Departments, and the fire
departments in Whitehouse and Alicia.

During disasters, the USACE is assigned to manage FEMA’s emergency
generators. Working with the USACE Power Planning & Response Teams, the
USACE 249th Engineer Battalion assess facilities’ critical power needs.
Where feasible, the USACE contracts with local and regional electrical
contractors to install and, as power is restored, de-install the generators.

FEMA began providing generators to Arkansas as the result of a presidential
emergency disaster declaration for 48 counties that was issued on Jan. 29.
The declaration makes direct federal assistance available on a cost-sharing
basis to save lives and to protect property and public health and safety, or
to lessen or avert the threat of a catastrophe in the designated areas. This
assistance is available only to state and eligible local governments and
certain private nonprofit organizations. The declaration does not make
assistance available to individuals.

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FEMA leads and supports the nation in a risk-based, comprehensive emergency
management system of preparedness, protection, response, recovery, and
mitigation, to reduce the loss of life and property and protect the nation
from all hazards including natural disasters, acts of terrorism, and other
man-made disasters.

Ice Storm Recovery from Petit Jean Electric, Clinton Arkansas:

The majority of work crews are being sent to Searcy County to continue work on ice storm damage.

Fresh crews are expected to move into the areas of Ben Hur, Moore and Pelser in western Pope and south eastern Newton counties today.

Construction crews in the Witts Spring area are continuing their work on the main lines feeding that area.

Line and right-of-way crews are still working on damaged lines in the Oxley area east of Leslie.

There are several line and right-of-way crews working in Harriet, Big Flat, and Cozahome today.

The main feeder between South Mountain and the Chimes fire station was energized yesterday. Crews will begin work on taps off main lines in the Chimes and Tilly areas.
Service crews in Searcy County will be working on individual outages across the county.

Service crews will continue restoring power to the few remaining outages scattered across Van Buren, Conway, and Faulkner Counties that were caused by high winds early Wednesday morning.

Trucks are having problems moving across saturated ground due to melting ice and heavy rains. Heavy equipment  such as bulldozers, log skidders, and large tractors are being used to get trucks in and out of areas they could normally go unassisted. A few special “tracked machines” are being used to get in and out of the most difficult locations.

Approximately 1,200 to 1,300 members in rural parts of Searcy, Van Buren, Pope and Newton counties are without power this morning due to the ice storm.
A few isolated outages remain in Van Buren, Conway, and Faulkner counties caused by high winds