The Corning Chamber of Commerce met for the November luncheon on Monday, Nov. 13 at the Parkview Restaurant. The guest speaker was Whitney McClung with Top Water Transit, LLC, a family owned and operated business that provides ground transportation to rural communities and services Randolph County and surrounding areas. They can transport within a 150mile radius of Pocahontas and across state lines.
Each year the Corning High School and Middle School present a Veterans Day program for area veterans. It’s a tribute to their valor and sacrifices for our country. This year’s program was Friday, Nov. 10 at 9 a.m. in the high school auditorium. As veterans entered the auditorium and walked down the center aisle to the front row, students stood and applauded them. This response was particularly poignant to Vietnam veterans, many of whom felt unwelcome when they returned home from serving their country in the Vietnam War.
The Clay County Clerk’s office reported final filings following Tuesday, November 14, 2023 and the end of the Party Filing Period and Nonpartisan Filing Period for the Preferential Primary Election, Nonpartisan General Election and annual School Election (if held in March). These elections will be held on March 5, 2024.
The Corning School Board met on Monday, November 13, 2023 at 5:00 p.m. with all members present. The minutes and financial report were approved. The Board approved $1,000 bonus for contracted certified and classified staff and $500 bonus for contracted bus drivers. Next, the board selected Brackett Krennerich Architectural Firm for upcoming facilities projects. A technology equipment purchase for the Agribusiness CTE program was approved in the amount of $30, 742.32 followed by the approval of ASBA accidental death coverage renewal for employees and Cybersecurity Insurance renewal for campus technology. The final item on the agenda involved Superintendent Woolard providing the board with updates concerning plans for various facilities projects at CMS and CHS and ESSER projects at Park Elementary. There being no further business, President Scobey adjourned the meeting.
The Corning School Board met on November 2, 2023 at 5:00 p.m. in the board room with all members present. The board approved the employment of Dessie Utley, Amber Elliott, and Samantha Green as cafeteria workers effective Nov. 6, 2023, and as well as Brooklynn Puckett as custodian also effective Nov. 6, 2023. The motion carried 5-0. Next, the board reviewed RFQs (Request for Quotes) from architectural firms that submitted the necessary paperwork and tasked Superintendent Woolard to set up interviews for two firms.
Time has flown by for me since my last Welcome Center update. Over this past month I have been out and about working at mobile Welcome Centers from the AAA Great Vacations Travel Expo in Columbus, Ohio to the Arkansas State Fair in Little Rock to right here in Corning during the Harvest Festival.
LITTLE ROCK – The Arkansas legislature has tried to apply lessons learned by other states when it enacted school safety laws over the past several years. The legislature also applied the best practices recommended by the School Safety Commission in 2018 and 2022.
The Corning Bobcats hosted Buffalo Island Central on Thursday, Nov. 9 in their season opener losing to the Mustangs with a score of 40-26. Jakob Cox #10 was the lead scorer for the Bobcats scoring 8 points with two 2-pointers, a 3-point shot and going 1-2 at the free throw line. Luke Blanchard #4 and teammate Seth Green #14 each scored 6 points. Blanchard shot three 3-pointers while Green made three 2-pointers. Haydon Cox #33 added 4 points with a 3-pointer and free throw shot and Roman Davis made 2 points at the charity stripe.
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The Jr. Bobcats played BIC at home on Nov. 9 in their first outing of the season. The Mustangs pulled off the win; 30-20. Jake Vannada #24 was lead scorer for the Jr. Bobcats with 14 points in the form of seven 2-point shots. Brady Russom #2 scored a 3-pointer, Rex Shroud #4 was 2-2 at the charity stripe and Caden Sweaney #21 added a point for the Jr. Bobcats.