“We care about your safety, so our most important message to you is to respect electricity at all times,” said Robert Williams, a senior safety specialist for line crews at Entergy Arkansas, Inc. “If you’re putting up outdoor lights, stay away from overhead power lines and the line that brings service to your home. Use a fiberglass or wooden ladder that doesn’t conduct electricity. If you have a live tree inside, make sure it stays fresh and green – the needles should be hard to pull off. And always inspect your lights before you use them – if the cords are worn or frayed, throw them away.”

Statistics from the National Fire Protection Association show an estimated 260 structure fires annually are caused by Christmas trees, and another 170 are caused by faulty holiday lighting. Together they caused 21 deaths in 2009.

“Following safety guidelines can make sure you and your family stay safe, and that you get to enjoy this time with those you care about,” said Oscar Washington, director of customer service for Entergy Arkansas, Inc, adding that energy-efficient lighting also can save customers money on their electricity costs, which goes a long way this time of year.

“Finances get tight this time of year for most of us,” Washington said. “We care about helping you keep your electricity costs as low as possible, and using lights that use less power can help. Light-emitting diode – or LED – bulbs have become a popular choice for holiday decorating and save electricity. In fact, LED bulbs use up to 90 percent less energy than an incandescent or traditional bulb to produce the same amount of light.”

For example, the amount of electricity just one seven-watt incandescent bulb consumes could power 140 LED bulbs – enough to light two 24-foot strings. Many ENERGY STAR-qualified decorative lights feature LED technology. For more information, visit energystar.gov.

So from our families to yours – be safe, save energy and have a happy holiday season! Click here for an illustrated version of the Holiday Lighting Safety Tips, which are also listed below:

Inside lighting:

• If using a live tree, make sure it is fresh and green, with needles that are hard to pull from the branches.

• Place the tree in a stand with water, well away from heaters or the fireplace. Check water daily.

• Examine all lights before putting them on the tree or using them in other home decorations. Do not use lights with frayed wiring or loose sockets and make sure they have been tested for safety by an independent testing laboratory.

• For greater efficiency and safety, use smaller, cool-burning LED lights.

• Make sure all light sockets have bulbs in them. Children are fascinated by lights and could put their fingers in empty sockets.

• Keep bulbs from touching tree branches. Never burn candles on or near the tree and never use flammable decorations.

• Never use lights on a metallic tree. If the lights become faulty, the entire tree could be electrified.

• Be careful not to overload extension cords, outlets or even whole circuits in the house.

• Turn off decorative lighting when you leave the room.

• Place wires where they can not trip anyone. Do not run them under rugs.

Outside lighting:

• Make sure the lights used are designated for outdoor use.

• Use a nonconducting fiberglass or wooden ladder when working with strings of lights. Also, stay clear of all overhead wires.

• Do not replace bulbs when the electricity is on.

• Never let light bulbs touch flammable materials such as plastic or dry grass and leaves.

• For outside use, work only with three-wire grounded extension cords.

• Use rubber gaskets in light sockets or hang sockets downward to keep water out.

• Keep connections and lights off the ground by hanging them over wooden stakes.

• Turn outside holiday lights off when away from home or asleep.

Entergy Arkansas, Inc. provides electricity to 698,000 customers in 63 counties. Entergy Corporation is an integrated energy company engaged primarily in electric power production and retail distribution operations. Entergy owns and operates power plants with approximately 30,000 megawatts of electric generating capacity, and it is the second-largest nuclear generator in the United States. Entergy delivers electricity to 2.7 million utility customers in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas.

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), which issued the grant, said the planned improvements will remedy poor track conditions caused by inadequate drainage and heavy freight loads that have contributed to washouts, broken rails, derailments and the imposition of slow orders by the FRA, reducing train speeds.

“Rail continues to be an important part of the economy throughout Arkansas, particularly in the Delta,” said Ross. “Rail is critical to almost every industry in our state, from manufacturing to agriculture and timber. By improving these rail lines, we not only make transportation safer, but also more efficient. This investment will help businesses throughout southeastern Arkansas strengthen and grow their operations, boosting our economy and creating more jobs.”

“Strong transportation infrastructure is critical to economic development and job growth in our local communities,” Pryor said. “This funding will help the Arkansas Midland Railroad make important infrastructure upgrades to improve efficiency and expand business opportunities in southeast Arkansas.”

“Improving our railroad infrastructure is a sound investment that will provide jobs to construct the line while in the long-term creating a lasting economic opportunities in eastern Arkansas,” Boozman said.

Due to very sporadic and extremely low sales figures for nearly twenty-four straight months, SeaArk Marine announced that it would attempt to “ride out” the effects of the current market until substantial improvements in the government and industrial marine sector appears apparent.

Conversely, SeaArk Boats has enjoyed solid sales for the past twelve months and has just finished a recordyear. S eaArk Boats wants its dealers and customers not to be confused between the two companies.

SeaArk Boats and SeaArk Marine, Inc. are two entirely different companies and operated by two separate management teams in different locations. They build completely different products and while SeaArk Marine sells direct to their end user, SeaArk Boats distributes recreational products to consumers through an authorized dealer network across the United States.

“The confusion can happen because of the shared ‘SeaArk’ part of the name of our two companies and also because of the same family owning both companies,” stated Robin McClendon, President of SeaArk Boats and sister to John McClendon, President of SeaArk Marine. “We want to reassure our dealers and customers that SeaArk Boats continues to enjoy solid sales and profits and has no plans to cease operations or change the way we are currently doing business. We have new models and options planned for introduction at our upcoming Dealer Meeting and In-Water Show in mid-September,” McClendon continued.

SeaArk Boats was established in 1992 to produce all-welded aluminum pleasure boats. Since its conception in 1992, the company has grown and currently has a dealer base of over one hundred across the U.S.

Arkansas Game & Fish Commission, Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality, and Arkansas Department of Health have collected, sampled, and analyzed largemouth bass fish samples from Lake Monticello.

The Arkansas Department of Health has determined that largemouth bass fish from Lake Monticello no longer contain mercury at concentrations above levels of public health concern. Consumption of largemouth bass caught in Lake Monticello is considered safe.

Not only an outstanding student but she is involved in her community. Throughout the year, she is involved in countless hours of Community Service, such as Special Olympics.

It takes determination, hard work and community support to help her reach her goal. She need your help to give her this opportunity, as she is preparing to compete at the National Competition in Chicago, July 23-30.

As the Executive Director of the State Competition; it has been a great pleasure working with her. I hope with your support we will be able to cover her financial obligations. 

Please take this time to consider the sponsorship. All tax-deductible contributions may be sent to Crown Image Productions, P.O. Box 94603, North Little Rock, AR 72190 by June 1, 2011.

We feel very fortunate to have Toni representing Monticello and Arkansas at the National Pageant. Help her to bring the National title home to Arkansas!

Bernee Thurow
Executive Director
www.arkansaspageants.com

The maps may be obtained, at no charge, at any of the Highway Department’s District Headquarters and at all Arkansas Welcome Centers. They are also available at the AHTD Central Office at 10324 Interstate 30 in Little Rock, by phone at 501-569-2444 or online at www.arkansashighways.com. To request one by mail, the address is AHTD, Map Sales Section, P.O. Box 2261, Little Rock, AR 72203.

The cover of the 2011 highway map features Highway 27 in Pope County. The map also includes messages from Governor Mike Beebe and the Arkansas State Highway Commission welcoming visitors to the state. The map incorporates 23 insets of Arkansas cities, a chart showing mileage between cities and a directory of Public Recreation Areas featuring State Parks and Historic Memorials, National Park Sites, National Forest Recreation Areas and Corps of Engineers Parks. It also includes information on the *55 program of the Arkansas State Police and the 24-hour litter hotline.

More than one million maps are expected to be distributed free of charge to the public.

All owners of livestock pastured on the levee right-of-way should have a plan to transfer their livestock, if required.

Sheriff departments in Lincoln, Desha, and Chicot counties will be patrolling the levee districts.  Violators will be prosecuted

The County Judge met with the Eudora Mayor William Stanton and Lake Village Mayor JoAnne Bush in his office Monday afternoon to brief the Mayors of rising waters from the Mississippi River. Also in attendance was Mike Morgan, Chicot County Emergency Management, the Tony Booker, Chicot County Sheriff’s office, David Gillison of the Southeast Arkansas Levee Board and Sammy Angel with the Lake Village Fire Department.

Judge Ball issued a flood disaster request to the Arkansas Department of Emergency Management on April 27, 2011 in order to obtain necessary supplies to prevent a breach in the Mississippi River Levee System. Barricades have been placed at all entrances to the levee system and driving on the levee is strictly prohibited and will be enforced. Sandbags are being filled by prisoners at the Delta Regional Detention Center in Dermott to be used at two sand boil sites in Chicot County. Authorities are constantly monitoring these two particular sites, but citizens are encourage to contact the Judge’s Office with any information concerning other suspected boils.

The U.S. Army Corp of Engineers has personnel in place to monitor the levee system and all known historical sand boils in Chicot County. Also, the Southeast Arkansas Levee Board is constantly monitoring for sand boils and river seepage caused by the high water.

As of May 2, 2011, no vehicles will be permitted to travel on the levee. The Chicot County Sheriff’s Department, Arkansas Game and Fish, Arkansas Department of Emergency Management and the National Guard will be authorized to issue tickets accordingly. This “zero tolerance” policy is in place to protect both the citizens and property in Chicot County. It is each resident’s responsibility to follow the laws and instructions from the Southeast Arkansas Levee Board, Arkansas Department of Emergency Management, National Guard, U.S. Corp of Engineers, Chicot County Sheriff’s Office and the Chicot County Judge’s office.

All major decisions by the Corp of Engineers or any other state or federal agency will be reported to the Arkansas Department of Emergency Management and the Chicot County Judge. The County Judge will notify the Mayors of each city in Chicot County. The steps will then be in place to inform you as citizens.

If a breach of the levee does occur, officials have developed a system of getting the word to you as a citizen by utilizing fire departments, law enforcement and the Arkansas National Guard. The authorities are simply asking for you to use all precautions and report any unusual developments.

In the event conditions warrant an evacuation all available personnel will notify the citizens of Chicot County. It is at this point that, EVACUATION WILL BE MANDANTORY and your cooperation will be necessary in order to protect both life and property in Chicot County.

At this time only precautionary measures have been issued from each of these entities. Please know that all authorities are working together for your protection. All state and national agencies are on alert for any additional changes in the present conditions of the Mississippi River.

Robert Carter, Jr., 23, of Lake Village, has been taken into custody pending the filing of formal charges.

Carter is accused of driving a vehicle into the yard of a Dermott residence located at 321 West Iowa Street where Latasha Figures, 24, Carter’s former girlfriend and the couple’s two children resided.

As Carter drove into the yard he struck and killed Amoni Elasia Carter, 18 months old and critically injured Nekole Carter, age 4, who later died at a Little Rock hospital. Figures was also injured and remains hospitalized.

As Carter exited the vehicle a Figures family member shot Carter in the knee. Carter was taken into custody a short time later and remains under guard at a Little Rock hospital.

There is, however, the matter of the jury’s verdict against Dr. Shrum for a misdemeanor and for billing Medicaid for Mirena IUD contraceptives manufactured in Finland by Bayer (a German corporation) by way of a Canadian pharmacy instead of from Bayer’s designated U.S. sales representative. Since this issue first arose well over a year ago, Drew Memorial’s Administration, Board and Medical Staff took the position that the issue was in the nature of a technical business dispute (being about the price charged for the Mirena IUD) and had no bearing on the quality of medical care provided by Dr. Shrum to his patients, and that position was confirmed by the State Medical Board taking no action against Dr. Shrum regarding the matter.

Drew Memorial’s administration has been advised by Dr. Shrum’s attorneys that appeals are in the process of being made regarding the misdemeanor and other jury verdict, and that they are confident in the merit of the appeals. Drew Memorial’s Administration, Board and Medical Staff will continue to closely monitor the situation and new developments as they occur. Drew County Memorial Hospital has confidence in Dr. Shrum and the high quality of obstetric and other specialized medical care he has made available on a full time basis to the people of Southeast Arkansas