News

On Tuesday, May 16, 2023, the Hampton High School Sophomores participated in the “Get Real, Here’s the Deal” activity presented by the University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service in Calhoun County. Get Real is a hands-on experiential simulation that gives youth the opportunity to experience their future in a financial decisionmaking mode. Participants are encouraged to make wise financial lifestyle choices like those that adults face each month based on their family size and affordability. The simulation included preparation day, simulation day and a follow up day.

In October 1854 (the actual date is not recorded in the original minutes of the Session) Rev. A. J. Haynes, a member of good standing in Bartholomew Presbytery of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, and Elders John Bridges and Daniel Williams from the White Spring congregation, met with a group of people, including those from Cane Creek Church who desired to establish a new church near the present city of Hampton. At that meeting Mount Pleasant Cumberland Presbyterian Church was organized under the care of Bartholomew Presbytery. The following people were received as charter members of the new church, Nancy Simpson Newton, Jeremiah (first sheriff of Calhoun County) and Sarah “Sallie” Puckett Hollis, Mary Bridges, Harriett Bridges (daughter of Jeremiah Hollis and daughter-in-law of Mary Bridges), Margaret Rowen, Margaret Riggs, James Harvey “JH” and Mary Bradford Means, Cyrus C. Silliman, and John Silliman (son of Cyrus), “by experience”.

Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library puts books into the hands and hearts of children across the world, partnering with local communities to provide a hand-selected, age-appropriate, highquality book each month to registered children from birth to age five. Recent data shows that our county affiliate of the Arkansas Imagination Library has enrolled 74% of the eligible children in our county, putting us in fifth place statewide! In a recent study published through the University of Central Arkansas, researchers found that Arkansas students enrolled in the program are 24% less likely to repeat kindergarten and 28% less likely to repeat third grade (2021). Calhoun County Imagination Library mails free books to children until they turn five, no matter their family’s income. Having more books at home has a direct, proven positive impact on learning, and this program is available for free to all children in Calhoun County! There are just over 50 eligible children who aren’t registered for the program - if you know one of them, encourage them to sign up for this great program! If you’re interested in helping to sponsor the program, it costs $26 to sponsor one child for one year, or $130 to sponsor a child for all 5 years of eligibility (that’s 60 books!). For more information about how to sign up a child or become a sponsor, visit www.calcolibrary.com/aril/ or contact the library at (870)798-4492.

MAY 22

Hampton 2023 High School Graduation

The Arkansas Department of Transportation and Arkansas Highway Police will be assisting in the transportation of a 300-ton piece of equipment along state highways from Crossett to Gum Springs.

Thirty-eight seniors will participate in graduation exercises at Hampton High School on Friday, May 12, at 7:00 p.m. in the school gymnasium. Amanda Moore, student council president, will give the welcome on behalf of the class. Shelby Pedigo, student council vice president, will give the invocation. Class valedictorian, Amanda Moore, and class salutatorian, Shelby Pedigo, will address the class. Principal Bryan Sanders, will recognize scholarship recipients, followed by the presentation of the class and the awarding of diplomas by Superintendent Doug Worley, of Hampton School District.

Calhoun Farm Family of the Year– Joey Blann; JB Cattle; Hampton

The Board meeting this past Tuesday included the passing of minutes of several special called meetings that included interviewing four potential candidates for Superintendent. The unanimous decision among all teachers, students, administration and board members was to hire Matt Scarbrough, who will be coming to Hampton from Sheridan where he has been the Athletic Director since 2014. Prior to that, he was Junior High Principal and Assistant Junior High Principal for the Riverside School District in Lake City from 2009 to 2013. Matt was a teacher and coach at Hoxie Public Schools from 2000 to 2009, coaching football, softball, track, and baseball. Matt began his career in public education as a teacher and coach at Mississippi County Christian Academy in Dell, AR. In total, he has 24 years of experience in education, with 10 of those at the district leadership level.

APRIL 21