Weekly Update
I am taking full advantage of another district work period. Read more below about some of my recent stops around our great community!
Southside High School
I was pleased to join some Mavericks to celebrate excellence and academic accomplishment this week!
Go Mavericks! What an incredible time celebrating excellence and academic accomplishment at South Side High School this week! They held an AP Honors Assembly to pay tribute to the hard work of students. I’m so proud of these young adults who’ve demonstrated college-level achievement. In these accelerated classes, they have challenged and empowered themselves. These subjects are not easy feats in themselves, but these scholars not only took on tough course loads, but they also leveraged all they learned to earn high scores in their associated standardized tests. It’s one of the many examples of school systems throughout the Third District that focuses on rigorous, meaningful learning experiences for all students. It’s one piece of creating a learning environment that produces graduates that are college-prepared or ready to enter the workforce. As I said to the crowd, “For a Southside Maverick, mediocrity Is unacceptable.” Congrats to all the honorees. You can watch the assembly here.
Good Samaritan Clinic
Good Samaritan Clinic in Fort Smith is dedicated to serving those in need throughout or region.
Giving back is part of the fabric of the Third District. Good Samaritan Clinic in Fort Smith is dedicated to serving those in need. Their medical team, which offers an array of services and care, is made of volunteers. Their vision centers around a community in which neighbors work together giving their time, talent, and resources to ensure everyone has the opportunity to live a healthy, productive life. I really appreciate hearing more about their work from their staff and receiving a tour from Clinic Executive Director Patti Kimbrough. I also had the opportunity to speak to their board members, including, Stephen Gebhart, Patti Kimbrough, Jennifer Terry, Tim Hearn, Randy Strickland, Victor Martinez, Dawn Watts, and Stephanie Davidson. They have supported the health and wellness of Arkansans for two decades! Their dedication to meeting and exceeding individual patient needs by treating the whole person, which in turn helps our region to grow and prosper, will only continue to strengthen.
The Guidance Center
The Guidance Center serves those suffering from mental health and substance abuse disorders or faced with other obstacles. Felicia Lyons and her team are dedicated to helping people through difficult times.
The Guidance Center serves those suffering from mental health, emotional, behavioral, and substance abuse disorders or faced with other obstacles. Their mission is described by the motto of “We can help. We will help.” They connect people with the treatment they need to change their lives. Felicia Lyons and her team are dedicated to helping people through difficult times by providing access to on-the-ground health experts who deliver patient-centered, integrated care. We talked about these services, as well as programs to help individuals leaving prison reenter society. She expressed her goal to better coordinate efforts from various organizations to help streamline resources. Reintegration is a crucial part of assisting with post-incarceration reentry efforts by facilitating access to safe housing, helping with job placement, and offering other supportive services. Improving the outcomes of the vulnerable and those in need of help strengthens our society. On a personal note, Felicia has been dedicated to supporting Arkansans of the Third District since even before she came to the organization. I remember her time as an intern in both my Fort Smith and D.C. offices well and am so proud of her path forward since then.
Turkey Producers
I was proud to be the keynote speaker of National Turkey Federation convention and receive the "Defender of the Flock" award.
The Natural State has a long and proud history of agriculture production. Our farmers and poultry producers help feed and fuel families and our economy. The Third District is a top 3 turkey producing district in the country. The sector is a critical part of our economy, but also a vital part of the overall food supply chain. I was proud to join the National Turkey Federation (NTF) as the keynote speaker for their convention. I spoke to attendees about the latest from Washington, including the debt ceiling, partisan division, budget and appropriations, and more. After my speech, I was honored to receive the “Defender of the Flock” award for my work supporting our family farmers and producers. A lot of people don’t realize the time and labor that goes into getting food onto grocery store shelves. Thanks to the hard work and dedication of our farmers, Americans have access to fresh, locally-raised turkey and food. I am proud to support Arkansas’s turkey producers who are committed to raising high-quality, nutritious products.
More photos from the week:
The Third District is a top 3 turkey producing district in the country, and I was proud to talk to turkey producers from Arkansas and across the country and the NTF convention.
The University of Arkansas leads important innovative studies. I spoke to some of these researchers at the NTF convention. I was proud to secure funding from the Agricultural Research Service (ARS) in the FY22 Agriculture Appropriations Bill for Histomonas (Blackhead) research. This disease devastates turkey flocks, with mortality rates approaching 80%, and there is currently no treatment available. This problem is the area these researchers are working on.
Third District proud! Great seeing Patrick O’Leary of Fayetteville at the NTF event!
Fort Smith is ripe for continued growth. Great to see Mayor McGill and Fort Smith School District leadership and discuss the bright future ahead. From the FMS mission and Ft. Chaffe redevelopment to centers like PEAK Innovation and technical training programs—the best is yet to come.
Always good to see Southside High School Football Coach Kim Dameron. Go Mavericks!
I told the Southside High School Symphony about how I auditioned for Tevye in Fiddler on the Roof!
I take every opportunity to spend time with students throughout our region. They are the next generation of leaders!
It's important for me to get a firsthand look at the work being done around the Third District. I valued getting a tour of Good Samaritan Clinic and learning more about their support network.
I will be back in D.C. next week for legislative business, but I wish you a great weekend ahead! Be sure to check out my website, Twitter, and Instagram pages in the meantime. |