The Bradley County Economic Development Corporation Board heard about Boys and Girls State and about some updates from UAM at their monthly meeting on Monday, July 24.
Warren High School seniors Victoria O’Neil and Landon Milton shared about their experiences at Boys and Girls State they attended.
O’Neil said she ran for senator at Girls State and she learned a lot. She said being at Girls State opened her eyes to politics and she told the BCEDC she would be interested in studying political science.
Milton said it was a phenomenal experience for him at Boys State. He didn’t run for any office, but he learned a lot. He said he’d encourage any student to go to Boys State.
Representative Jeff Wardlaw presented a legislative update to the BCEDC. He said they were working on nursing programs in hospitals. He said about 50 million was set aside to fund the programs. He asked the BCEDC for a letter of support about the nursing programs. The board members agreed to submit a letter of support.
Dr. Peggy Doss, chancellor at the University of Arkansas at Monticello, was another guest speaker at the BCEDC meeting. She provided some updates at UAM.
John Gavin, from the Bradley County Extension Office, reported about the tomato season to the BCEDC board. He said the weather was a predominant factor. Due to the weather, the were not as many tomatoes by the time the annual Pink Tomato Festival arrived and fewer tomatoes this season. Diseases and rain set in June causing problems to the crops. The rain caused farmers to use fungicide three to four times a week on the crops. Gavin said the demand was good.
Warren Mayor Gregg Reep gave the city report. He said there were broadband issues in the city limits. The city held a broadband meeting for residents to address the internet issues.
Mayor Reep said the city was getting support from the community on repairing and remodeling the cultural center.
He also reported the city contacted the owners of the damaged buildings on Myrtle Street downtown. Mayor Reep said the city intends to do a roof inspection of every building downtown.
Mayor Reep told the BCEDC the city was also getting serious about properties in the city limits needing to be cleaned up.
John Lipton gave the intermodal report. He said they were in talks with two prospects. One was poultry related and the other was forestry related.
The next BCEDC meeting will be at 5:30 p.m. on Monday, August 28 at the BCEDC building.
