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New Vision Newport – One Class Ends and Another Begins
Jul 16, 2014
A graduation dinner honoring the 2013-2014 New Vision Newport graduates was held in May at the Newport Country Club. Sponsors, past graduates and the general public were in attendance to congratulate the following class members who committed their time to the nine-month leadership development program:
Lisa Banks, Wal-Mart; DeAnna Bowers, Jackson County Learning Center; Josh Brandt, Merchants & Planters Bank; Chris Clark, Farmers Electric Cooperative; Scott Cooper, George Kell Motors; Jarrod Eddington, Eddington Contruction; Bo Ellis, Jacksonport State Park; Jessie Emery, Harris Ford; Sherrie Hanley, Lindley Health & Rehab; Brittany Johnston, Purdy’s Flowers & Gifts; Ryan Lloyd, Highway Church; Lindsey McClellan, City of Newport; Sara Michael, ASU-Newport; Dallas Neal, Acxiom; Jorge Salinas, Newport Country Club; Sam Smith, Arkansas Steel Associates; Tristan Sweatt, Newport High School (student); Tim Watson, Jr., Watson & Watson; and Jessica Whitten, Harris Hospital.
In addition to the monthly sessions, the class was assigned to one of three community projects in conjunction with a partner organization. With their hard work, the following projects have been completed or will be completed in the coming weeks:
- Preservation of a well found underneath the Wishon building on the corner of Front and Hazel Streets in downtown Newport. The team is in the process of installing a fountain, concrete pad and stone wall around the well using a grant from Sears Hometown Store and funds raised locally. The partner organization was the Downtown Revitalization and Improvement Volunteer Effort.
- Completion of a Merchants in May event to promote local businesses in partnership with the Newport Area Chamber of Commerce. This team had dozens of participating businesses showcasing their products or services at the Village Mall parking lot on May 31. The event included food and activities for children and was free for the businesses.
- Addressing old or damaged signs at businesses in Newport. Partnering with Keep Newport Beautiful, this team secured commitments from many local businesses who will either have their signs removed by the city or will apply for a ReNewport Grant through the Newport Economic Development Commission for a new sign.
We are very proud of these accomplishments by a great group of people!
We are taking applications for the new Class which will start in September. If you are interesting in participating in New Vision Newport or in having one of your employees participate, please contact the Newport Area Chamber of Commerce at 870-523-3618 or director@newportarchamber.org.
New Vision Newport is an adult leadership development program of the Newport Area Chamber of Commerce. It offer class members leadership skills, a greater knowledge of various aspects of our community, on-site visits to local businesses and manufacturers, a trip to Little Rock, team building and relationship building skills. The goal of participants is to gain self-confidence, to achieve personal goals and to be a better and more productive citizen in the workplace and the community.The body content of your post goes here.
Jackson County Community Theatre!
There's No Place Like Local This Holiday!
Newport Christmas Parade The Newport Christmas parade will be held Thursday, December 14, 2023 beginning at 6 p.m. Entries are now being accepted at the Newport Area Chamber of Commerce for business and nonprofit organization floats, walking groups, antique vehicles, beauty queens, horseback riders, school clubs and organizations, etc. Participants will be traveling down Hwy. 69 to Malcolm Avenue then down to Village Mall parking lot. Awards will be given for first, second and third place for both the commercial and non-commercial categories. Entry is free, and participants may choose their own holiday theme. However, Santa Claus will be flying in early from the North Pole as the last entry in the parade, so please do not plan a “fake” Santa on your float. Float judging will begin no later than 5:30 p.m. Please include the name of your business or organization somewhere on your float for faster judging. Line up will be held in the parking lot across from Riceland Foods no sooner than 5 p.m. (McLain and Hwy. 69). Walkers and dance groups should line up on the Riceland side of Hwy. 69. Vehicles that are entered in the parade are to enter the parking lot from McLain Street and face toward Hwy. 69. There will be a line up crew on hand. The line up area will be very crowded. Those who are driving vehicles that will not be in the parade are asked to find parking on the Riceland side of Hwy. 69 and walk across to the line up area. If dropping off a parade participant, please do not enter the parking lot. If you are planning to watch the parade along the route with children, please make sure that they stay by the street curbs and not in the road for safety purposes. Immediately following the parade, there will be a drive-by Christmas display event at the home of Dr. Patti Mullins, 4 Sue Circle. Santa and Mrs. Claus will be there. Enter by clicking the link below. Entry forms are also available at the Chamber office, 201 Hazel Street. Completed forms may be faxed to 523-1055, dropped off at the Chamber at 201 Hazel Street, or emailed to director@newportarchamber.org . In the event of inclement weather, parade participants will be notified of an alternate date. Parade Entry Form
Mary Alice Holden Conner Memorial Park Closed For Maintenance
Public Notice for KOKR Radio
Public Notice for KNBY Radio
25th Annual Depot Days
18th New Vision Newport Leadership class now accepting applications!!
Newport Alumni Hall of Fame Banquet Thursday, August 10, 2023
NEDC Wins Settlement Worth $2.5 Million in Medical Marijuana Lawsuits For Immediate Release Newport Economic Development Commission Newport, Arkansas director@newportaredc.org The Newport Economic Development Commission won a settlement with a value of $2,518,015.00 yesterday in two separate lawsuits concerning the relocation of a medical marijuana cultivator previously located in Newport, Arkansas. In November of 2020, the Arkansas Medical Marijuana Commission approved a transfer of Natural State Wellness, LLC’s license to Good Day Farms, LLC. At that same meeting, the Commission also approved a transfer of location, allowing the facility to move from Newport, Arkansas to Pine Bluff, Arkansas. Jon Chadwell, Executive Director of the Newport Economic Development Commission made a formal request to the Arkansas Medical Marijuana Commission to reverse the decision to move the facility. That request was denied. In April of 2021, Attorney David Couch, a Newport native, filed a lawsuit for plaintiffs the Newport Economic Development Commission; the City of Newport; the Newport Charitable Foundation and the Newport-Jackson County Industrial Development Bond Board against the Arkansas Medical Marijuana Commission; the Arkansas Alcoholic Beverage Control Division; Good Day Farm, LLC; Natural State Wellness, LLC and Harvest Health and Recreation, Inc. in Circuit Court of Jackson County. The suit was to recoup economic damages caused by the relocation of the facility. That lawsuit was followed by another lawsuit in October of 2021 by Couch for the Newport-Jackson County Industrial Development Bond Board to recapture possession of the property sold to Natural State Wellness with all improvements, including the building constructed on the property by Natural State Wellness. The lawsuit against the property owner BLRS was moved to federal court. On February 22, 2023, a mediation process was held with Couch and Chadwell representing the plaintiffs and individuals and attorneys representing Harvest Health and Recreation, Inc. and Good Day Farms, LLC. Through the process, the defendants agreed to a settlement which returned the building and land to the Newport-Jackson County Industrial Development Bond Board, awarded $1,000,000 in cash restitution to the community and covered the legal fees and costs. The total value of the settlement is $2,518,015.00 which is being paid through a negotiated agreement between Harvest Health and Recreation, Inc. and Good Day Farms, LLC and a transfer of property from BRLS to the Newport-Jackson County Industrial Development Bond Board. “We feel vindicated to receive this settlement from Harvest Health and Good Day Farms on behalf of Newport,” stated Jon Chadwell. “We have many exceptional businesses in Newport that are significant partners in growing the community. However, when a business does not live up to its commitments, we feel obligated to take action behalf of the community.” Newport Mayor Derrick Ratliffe said, “The City of Newport has established a very pro-business environment and we are excited to have this building back under local control so we can use it to recruit another company to our community.” This settlement brings an end to the two-year process of seeking restitution for Newport and Jackson County.
