| Arkansas Weekly |
July 1, 2009 |
WRMC participates in drill
to test emergency preparedness
In a four-hour drill the morning of June 24, WRMC joined forces with the Arkansas Department of Health's (ADH) local county health unit and state and local government officials from all over Arkansas to test the state's response readiness. Photo submitted
BATESVILLE -- On Wednesday, June 24, the White River Medical Center (WRMC) participated in a statewide exercise designed to test the state's ability to respond to a large-scale public health crisis. The drill involved emergency preparedness planners from hospitals and state and local agencies statewide who plan to rehearse what they would do in the hours and days following an actual public health emergency, such as a weather disaster or the spread of a deadly communicable disease.
In a four-hour drill that morning, WRMC joined forces with the Arkansas Department of Health's (ADH) local county health unit and state and local government officials from all over Arkansas to test the state's response readiness.
"Preparedness is always a priority, and the complexity of response required in today's world presents challenges for hospitals," said Gary Bebow, administrator and chief executive officer of WRMC. "In every drill, we learn new ways to better respond to these kinds of emergency situations."
The exercise included most hospitals across the state, the ADH and many emergency response agencies and organizations that would be involved in a statewide public health incident. The exercise allowed hospital emergency response planners across the state to evaluate their capacity to interact with other emergency responder groups using proper personnel, communications systems and operational abilities.
"Drills are beneficial to our staff because the response process is very similar to many types of incidents," said Tony Thompson, WRMC associate administrator of facilities. "The opportunity to develop relationships with emergency response agencies before a disaster will make us much more effective."
The exercise will also allow local and state emergency responders to practice their interaction with the federal agencies, especially the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the CSC's Strategic National Stockpile (SNS). The SNS has large quantities of medicine and medical supplies to protect the American public if there is a public health emergency (terrorist attack, flu outbreak, earthquake) severe enough to cause local supplies to run out. Once federal and local authorities agree that the SNS is needed, medicines will be delivered to any state in the United States within 12 hours. Each state has plans to receive and distribute SNS medicine and medical supplies to local communities as quickly as possible.
The exercise included a wide range of public and private partners: 86 acute care hospitals, the ADH Emergency Operations Center, the Arkansas Department of Emergency Management, local law enforcement agencies and other state and local emergency operations centers (EOCs).
WRMC is a 199-bed regional referral center and the flagship facility of the White River Health System (WRHS). WRHS is a not-for-profit health care system serving residents throughout North Central Arkansas.Ê The system includes hospitals, outpatient facilities, rural health clinics, primary care and specialty physician offices, long-term care facilities and a medical equipment company. WRHS is a member of the Premier Alliance, the American Hospital Association and the Arkansas Hospital Association and is licensed by the ADH.
From Press Release
Rodeos to benefit Arkansas Sheriffs' Youth Ranch
Cody takes care of a horse. Several children at the Arkansas Sheriffs' Youth Ranch are participating in rodeos at the Ranch and have become very involved with the equine program. Photo submitted
Every other weekend the Ronnie Welch Memorial Arena at the Arkansas Sheriffs' Youth Ranch in Bethesda will light up as horses and riders participate in a Ranch style rodeo. This is due, in part, to the generous efforts of a group of volunteers that form the White River Rodeo Association. This volunteer group gives its time to conducting the rodeo with 100 percent of the profits going to care for the children of the Arkansas Sheriffs' Youth Ranch.
"Our children have been victims of abuse, abandonment or neglect," said David Ward, Ranch superintendent. "To have the opportunity to experience and participate in rodeo activity is both fun and great for building confidence."
Several children at the Ranch are participating in the rodeos and have become very involved with the equine program in general. Many of the children say they feel better about themselves when riding a horse, and some tell their problems to the horse -- knowing the horse can always keep their secrets. Equine therapy is a part of their healing.
The rodeos are a good fundraiser and are teaching the children good sportsmanship and responsibility. Roger Alpers, a longtime staff member, organized the Ranch children to form a concession stand committee. The children decide on what products to sell and handle all the business aspects of the stand from ordering to payroll.
"We try to use every opportunity to teach the children life skills, as well as giving them a sense of ownership in the functioning of the Ranch," said Ward.
The rodeos will be held on July 11, July 25, Aug. 8, Aug. 22, Sept. 5, Sept. 19, Oct. 3 and Oct. 17 at 7 p.m.
From Press Release
Mountain View and Folk Center to host July 4th events
MOUNTAIN VIEW -- The Mountain View Area Chamber of Commerce is making plans for the July 4th Old Time Gathering on the Square, with a barbecue lunch, kids parade, live music and fireworks.
Following the recent sanctioned barbecue event, the chamber plans to revive the "good ol' boys competition" that began two years ago by holding a Rib Burn for local competitors who enjoy informal rivalry. Check-in for that event will take place at 7 a.m. on Saturday, July 4.
Opening ceremonies will be held at 9:30 a.m. with a "Parade of Kids" taking place at 10 a.m. around the court square. Live music and cloggers will offer entertainment beginning at 11 a.m. with a barbecue lunch offered at noon. Winners of the Rib Burn will be announced at 1 p.m. followed by an auction of meats.
The hottest part of the afternoon will be siesta time. Then activities resume at 5 p.m. with live music, cloggers, cake walks and food concessions at the Stone County Fairgrounds main building. Fireworks will light the sky around 9 p.m.
For more information, contact the Mountain View Area Chamber of Commerce office at (870) 269-8068.
Also, the Ozark Folk Center in Mountain View will host several donkey and mule competitions on July 4. The competitions start at 9 a.m. Handlers can walk the courses beginning at 8 a.m. Any long-eared equine and its human companion may participate.
The morning will start with a mail trail course. Mail trails wind through the Ozarks and were a vital link from one community to another. This competition calls for the handler and saddled equine to carry a bag of objects through an obstacle course and pick up and drop off items along the way. The mule or donkey must complete each obstacle, which may involve going through gates, stepping over logs or walking through water while carrying the bags on its saddle. Each obstacle is worth 10 points, completing the course with the correct items in the pack is worth 10 points, general donkey or mule attitude is worth 10 points, handler attitude is worth 10 points and crossing the finish line without cussing is worth 10 points. Time on the course is limited to 15 minutes.
The second competition is an endurance course. Mules and donkeys are known for their strength and endurance. The animals will start saddled and lined up at the starting line. Donkey or mule headgear will consist of a halter that fits properly and a lead rope of no more than 15 feet. Handlers must have control of their animals. Animals that kick will be disqualified. Each team will walk or run from the starting line in the parking lot at the Ozark Folk Center, around the circle and back to the finish line in front of the General Store. Critter and handler must cross the finish line connected by the lead rope.
The third competition, new this year, is a talent contest.
Bribing the critters, by use of treats, grain or any other reasonable means to acquire cooperation of the critter is not only encouraged, but expected, in order to keep the show moving. This rule also applies to the human handlers.
Preregistration is required for these competitions. There is a $10 entry fee for each long-ear and handler team. The entry deadline is July 1. Animals may compete more than once in any competition, but the handler must be different. A handler can enter more than one donkey or mule in the competition.
Certificates of completion will be given to every team finishing the course or the race. First, second and third place prizes will be awarded in each competition, and great notoriety will go to everyone brave enough to attempt to compete in this event.
There is no fee to watch the Old-Timey Ozark Donkey and Mule Days at the Ozark Folk Center. Parking at the Ozark Folk Center is always free and buses are available to take to the craft village, gift shop and restaurant. Call (870) 269-3851 or visit the website at www.ozarkfolkcenter.com for more information.
The Ozark Folk Center Craft Village is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on the 4th of July. During the day, the Craft Village will feature good old-fashioned music, free watermelon, a seed spitting contest, apple bobbing and sack races. The record for seed spitting last year was 22 feet, 4 inches.
Admission to the Craft Village is $10 for adults, $6 for children, and children 6 and under get in free. The Folk Center will host a special 4th of July concert in the large auditorium at 7 p.m. Combination tickets for the Craft Village and concert are $17.50 for adults and $8.25 for children.
From Press Release
Magness hired in career pathways office at UACCB
BATESVILLE -- Danna Magness has been hired as the new administrative assistant/student adviser for career pathways at the University of Arkansas Community College at Batesville (UACCB).
She graduated from Batesville High School in 2002 and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in business administration-finance track from Lyon College in 2006.
"We are pleased to have Danna on staff with career pathways," said Jason Lawrence, the career pathways director. "Key components of the Career Pathways Initiative include intensive student support and advising as a means to enhance retention, graduation and eventual job attainment. Magness will focus her efforts in the student advising and retention areas by providing individual career planning and academic advising for around 150 UACCB CPI students. This close interaction and monitoring of student achievement has proven to be a tremendous resource for our students."
During her college career, Magness had taken several courses at UACCB.
"I feel that if your faculty and staff are happy and comfortable, it reflects in their teaching, in their overall demeanor and in their attitude towards the institution and students," Magness said. "UACCB is just that place. I am very excited about becoming a part of a growing institution that has such heart and passion for helping the students and our community succeed.
"UACCB has such a friendly, welcoming and accepting atmosphere that I felt right at home on my first day on the job. The faculty and staff are very pro-student. The institution as a whole works to provide whatever they can to make a studentÕs experience at UACCB less of a hardship."
Magness said she strives to become the best that she can be and do the best that she can do each day. It is her belief: "Every person deserves the opportunity to attend an institution of higher education and the opportunity to be exposed to the unlimited opportunities available to them so that they may become the best they can be. There is no time like the present for members of the community to take advantage of the many opportunities this college can provide. Assistance is available. Come on down."
Magness has lived most of her life in Batesville and serves on the board of directors for Big Brothers Big Sisters of North Central Arkansas. She is also an ambassador for the Batesville Area Chamber of Commerce. In her free time, she enjoys scrapbooking and crafts. Her husband, Brandon, is from Newark and works full time for the Batesville Fire Department. The Magnesses are expecting their first child in September.
From Press Release
4-H Champs
The Independence County 4-H shooting sports teams recently competed in the Youth Hunter Education Challenge (YHEC) at the C.A. Vines Center in Ferndale. Senior team members (pictured left to right, top photo) Kyle Cherry, Anthony Foster, Dylan Coles, Kendall Cherry and Jordan Croft won first place in archery. They also won second place in the shotgun competition and in compass and orienteering. Coles also won second place individual in archery, and Croft won second place individual in muzzleloader. Junior team member Jeremiah Turner (bottom photo) won first place in wildlife identification. The sports teams competed against almost 400 children. It was the largest YHEC competition to date. Photos submitted
Dance Workshop
Dancers "strike a pose" at the end of a two-day Dance Intensive Workshop at the Batesville Ballet, Etc. The dancers participated in ballet, tap, jazz, modern/lyrical, turns/leaps and toning/stretching classes taught by guest instructors Pam Stockman, artistic director of the Discovery Dance Group in Houston, and Amy Bramlett, a dance major at Texas Christian University (TCU) in Fort Worth. Photo submitted
