Around the District
It's great to be home, and I am taking full advantage of the district work period. Read more below about some of my recent stops around our great community!
Elkins Primary School
Our kids are our future, and I am proud to say Arkansas teachers and educators are doing a great job in preparing the next generation. I was pleased to meet up with Elkins Superintendent Jeremy Mangrum and Principal Nicky Anderson and visit various classrooms. I first met with 1st grade students, who asked about some tips for success before we did a bit of reading. My advice to these young Arkansans was to do a lot of reading, study hard, make their beds in the morning, and brush their teeth. Those last two bits were also to help out their parents! We then did some story time and read Marlon Bundo's Day in the Nation's Capital! Thanks to Librarian Angie Keller for helping make a good book pick. You could tell it was a crowd favorite!
Elkins High School
I then headed over to Elkins High School and was welcomed by Principal Angie Kichline, Assistant Principal and Athletic Director Steven Fein, and School Resource Officer Hunter Carnahan. It was great visiting with 11th and 12th grade students during their robotics class. They are doing really interesting STEM work and learning skills that will set them apart as they enter the workforce or pursue skilled certifications or higher education. They asked me questions about technology and my support of career and technical education. Workforce development curriculums are vital to preparing students for the jobs of the 21st century, and I was pleased to also visit the shop class to see another example of the programs being offered to equip Arkansans with the firsthand experience and training they need to succeed. District Curriculum and Professional Development Coordinator Paula Wheeler shared information about the various career paths students are exposed to at Elkins!
Elkins Mayor
As a former mayor, I know our cities are core pieces of our economy, communities, and state. I also know the importance of the development and planning work our city governments are responsible for implementing. I appreciated meeting with Elkins Mayor Bruce Ledford and catching up on infrastructure and growth in the city.
Mill Branch Park Ribbon Cutting
I joined Goshen Mayor Max Poye at the ribbon cutting ceremony for the Mill Branch Park. I commend the city and the volunteers involved in this project. The creation of this park is a once in a lifetime opportunity. It involved visionary leadership from Mayor Poye and the community for seeing the opportunity for what it is and the value of creating it.
I'm also proud to continue to support this project by advocating for a future community funding request of $880,000 to be used to expand the park.
Garver Engineering
I visited Garver in Rogers to hear about their engineering and architectural firm. Their main focus right now is centered on projects related to roads, bridges, and water infrastructure. They also support aviation development, including airport and runway work. CEO Brock Hoskins and their team shared that the biggest challenge limiting their growth is finding employees to match their needs. Continuing to strengthen our workforce pipeline is critical. We also talked about the Fort Smith FMS mission, appropriations, and my policy work.
TheatreSquared
The National Guard Armory in Fayetteville once served our military, but the space is now being repurposed to benefit our community in a different way. TheatreSquared is working with Third District stakeholders to restore the unused space for arts and theatre production. I appreciated hearing more about their plans, which include developing a production workshop. This would leverage workforce skills like welding and carpentry, as the space would be dedicated to building scenes and props. Their vision is focused on reinvestment in our region.
Fayetteville Police Headquarters
I then met with Fayetteville Deputy Chief Jamie Fields to visit the new Fayetteville Police Department complex, which is under development and is expected to open later this year. The campus design includes training spaces, including a shooting range and fitness center, and is centered around ensuring the safety of officers. Once they move into this facility, it will house all their equipment, staff, and resources under one roof—instead of spread out across multiple locations. We also proudly remember Fayetteville Officer Stephen Carr proudly, who was targeted simply because of the uniform he wore. We will never forget his sacrifice or commitment to keeping the people of the Third District safe. The I-49 exit to the new headquarters is named in his memory.
Arkansas Crime Lab
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The mission of the Arkansas State Crime Laboratory is to provide the highest quality scientific services to the criminal justice community and Arkansans. The lab in Lowell, which was built to help add capacity and address heavy workloads across the state, performs drug analysis and serves as a drop-off location for law enforcement officers in the area. I visited with Assistant Director Cindy Moran, as well as evidence technicians, who talked about their roles and the strict policies and rules they follow to ensure the chain of evidence is proper. Supervisory Terra Lucas also talked about the testing process and explained the importance of safety equipment, like vent hoods. During the drug testing process, they can deal with deadly drugs like fentanyl, which is pouring in from our open southern border and killing Americans indiscriminately. Fentanyl is the leading cause of death of U.S. adults between 18-45 years old. I am a cosponsor of the HALT Fentanyl Act, which aims to curb overdose deaths and strengthen laws against drug traffickers. I thank the Arkansas State Crime Lab and all the work they do to support law enforcement, justice, and keeping Arkansans safe.
Walton Family Foundation
District regional and economic growth has been supported by a whole-community approach. I appreciated meeting Robert Burns, Director of Home Region Programs – Walton Family Foundation, and Graham Cobb of Walton Enterprises about philanthropic work and local priorities, including transportation, infrastructure, housing, and workforce development. Continually building our competitive advantage is vital to the future of our cities. We must address the needs of today, while always also keeping an eye on where we are going.
Siloam Springs Rotary Club
There is no place like home, where I get to go to some of my favorite places, including our local Rotary Clubs. I was privileged to head over to Siloam Springs and update Rotarians on the latest from Congress. I shared my insights on budget and appropriations challenges, legislative priorities, committee work, and more. The Rotary "4-Way Test” is something I use in my work and evaluation of proposals. We also talked about the issues on the minds of Arkansans at the meeting. From inflation and taxes to election security and more, there was a range of topics noted. Thank you, Siloam Springs Rotary, for your time and for all the work you do to make a difference each day!
Arkansas and Missouri Railroad
All aboard! I had a great time visiting A&M Railroad in Springdale and saying hello to President and Chairman Caren Kraska. She took me on a tour of the shop and yard area and briefed me on their work to maintain their engines, hiring challenges, and overall operations. Chief Mechanical Officer Casey Shepherd also gave a breakdown on the specifications of all the engines and train cars. I also saw the “Traveler,” a railcar built more than 100 years ago. The Third District has so much history to offer!
Eureka Springs Hospital
Strong medical care is fundamental to the health and well-being of Arkansans. Hospitals are a vital piece of that mission. I visited with Eureka Springs Mayor Butch Berry to hear more about plans to expand and renovate Eureka Springs Hospital. Bringing more services and beds and updating spaces are priorities for the facility—which is the 2nd largest employer in Eureka Springs. Modernization efforts will both expand the campus to increase resources locally for residents and help recruit more providers to the area. I will continue working with Mayor Berry and community leaders on investment plans.
Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge
As an original cosponsor of the Big Cat Public Safety Act, I was proud to have the legislation recently pass the House with my support. The bill prohibits the private ownership of dangerous big cats like lions and tigers, works to prevent inhumane treatment, and curbs the exploitative industry of cub-petting. The bipartisan legislation is supported by the Third District’s Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge and other animal sanctuaries. Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge rescues, rehabilitates, and cares for animals in the Third District each day. I was pleased to get another firsthand look at their work, which focuses on conservation and animal safety. The refuge is home to 98 animals, which range from bears and bobcats to tigers and lions. Thank you to Assistant Curator Laurie Vanderwal and the talented group of interns who took time to give me updates on the facility. Keep up the great work!
Carroll Electric Cooperative
Increased prices of utilities and natural gas due to Biden’s failed energy policies are hurting families across the nation. I sat down with Rob Boaz of Carroll Electric Co-Op and talked more about the heavy burden rising costs are putting on Arkansans. We must implement policies that support U.S. energy production and innovation instead of stifling it. In Washington, I’m supporting policies to reverse the White House’s attack on American energy production. These initiatives include ending the freeze on new oil and gas leases, fast-tracking LNG permits, expediting pipeline approvals, and reversing the regulatory assault on U.S. production.
Nighthawk Custom
Made in Arkansas! Nighthawk Custom is a prime example of economic opportunity in the Third District. Founded in Berryville in 2004, Nighthawk Custom has grown from a company of 4 employees to the home of the world’s finest 1911 pistols. Every gun is made by a single gunsmith and stamped with the craftsman’s initials. All parts are machined from bar stock steel and hand filed and assembled. The skill and talent seen on the shop floor was extremely impressive. Thanks to CEO Mark Stone for the tour. Can't wait to see what Nighthawk does next!
Alma Middle School
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Academic excellence is seen throughout Arkansas. I headed out to Alma Middle School to meet with Superintendent Bryan Duffie, Principal Bob Wolfe, students, and teachers. I visited Ms. Townsend’s 7th grade class as they learned social studies. They were engaged and listening intently about the importance of history and learning how to classify historic artifacts into the correct time periods. I toured the school recording studio, where students have the opportunity to learn how to operate cameras, record and direct their own programs, and report stories to their fellow Airedales during their daily student-run broadcasts! Alma Middle School provides students with innovative ways to explore new trades. A great example is Mrs. Dooley’s green architecture class where students study how to design energy-efficient homes. It’s great to see classes that are challenging students in new and different ways. I also got to see the 6th grade girl’s choir class, which was led by Mrs. Reeves. The talent of these singers was undeniable! The future is bright in Alma. Go Airedales!
Arts On Main
The Third District is full of creative and talented artists. I appreciated the opportunity to tour the new Arts On Main facility in Van Buren with Joseph Hurst and Executive Director Jane Owen. From art classes to exhibitions, Arts On Main is a place for the community to come together and express their creativity. A special thank you to Stephanie Payton, Arts On Main Team Coordinator, for teaching me some pottery skills.
Coleman Pharmacy
Coleman Pharmacy is one of the many independent pharmacies in AR-3 that provides vital medication and medical supplies to our communities. I stopped by to see Dr. Justin Boyd, the Coleman Pharmacy team, and CEO of the Arkansas Pharmacist Association John Vinson. I appreciate all they do to ensure the health of Arkansans.
Wishing you a great weekend ahead, and I look forward to seeing you around Arkansas next week! You can keep an eye on my website or check out my Twitter and Instagram pages to stay up-to-date with the latest news from my office. |