Articles

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, high-quality 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)7984492.

Tuesday’s night Hampton school board meeting we had a couple of resignations and new hires.

JUNE 12

In Fiscal Year 2023 alone, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) seized over 14,000 pounds of fentanyl coming across the southern border. That’s enough to kill the entire U.S. population ten times (3.1 BILLION people).

M INUTE

Mary Louise Brewer, 72 of Thornton, died Saturday May 27 in Little Rock. She was born February 10, 1951 in Camden to the late Wallace and Mary Broughs Massey. She was also preceded in death by her brother, Woody Massey.

Justin Aaron Thompson, 40 of Hampton, died Thursday, May 25, 2023. He was born August 17th, 1982 in El Dorado to Rusty and Carol Skidmore Thompson. He was preceded in death by his grandparents, Billy James and Betty Jo Thompson and his cousin, Rocky Thompson.

Alan Eugene Goolsby, age 76, is now rejoicing with Jesus, having passed from this world Wednesday, May 24, 2023, at 6:36 pm. Alan died peacefully with his wife, daughter, and pastor at his side. After 11 days in hospice, he simply took one breath and then not the next.

LITTLE ROCK, AR (05/30/2023)-- Toney Porter of Hampton from Hampton High School was elected as Justice of the Peace for Rooks County at Arkansas Boys State 2023, a summer leadership and civic engagement experience sponsored by the American Legion.

EAST CAMDEN, AR (05/25/2023)-- SAU Tech celebrated its graduates with its annual commencement ceremonies on May 6, 2023. The College awarded 384 credentials to students from Arkansas, Louisana, Texas, Mississippi, and other states. Many students earned more than one credential in their field of study. We are honoring all of our graduates from the 2022-2023 Academic Year! The following students earned degrees: Kyleigh Stanchfield from Hampton (71744) earned a/an Certificate of Proficiency in Health Sciences from SAU Tech in the academic year 2022-2023.

JUNE 3

Remembering requires previous knowledge of something to recall. It is easy to forget. It takes effort to remember. Why we remember makes remembering much easier. Remembering the sacrifice of others is the reason for this upcoming holiday we call “Memorial Day.” It isn’t the f irst day of summer, though it marks the beginning as Labor Day marks the end. It is a holiday that brings out the grills, boats and campers. Memorial Day is more like a celebration than a remembrance. Did you know it was originally called “Decoration Day?” It was a day set aside to decorate graves with flowers, wreaths and flags especially of those who served our country. Going to the cemetery can be a solemn occasion to remember and honor those brave souls who sacrificed for the freedom of others. It is a celebration of freedom honoring all those who served, when we remember. Don’t forget to remember. Grill, camp out, go boating, swim, lay out next to the pool, relax on the porch, enjoy the perfect weather offered this year and remember that you can do all that because there were people before you giving their lives for those precious freedoms.