The Batesville Area Chamber of Commerce held a groundbreaking ceremony for Myers-Davis.

Myers-Davis is pleased to announce that construction will begin on their future main office in Southside. Myers-Davis is dedicated to empowering individuals and organizations to reach their fullest potential, offering services designed to fill the gap and support development at every stage. No matter what they do, they are always “life coaching” in a sense. They encourage all different types of people to achieve their goals, regardless of what the goals may be or the size of the goals. Myers-Davis offers various disability services, including the CES Waiver program, Employment Services program, Ticket-To-Work program, Skills Training Center program, and the Pre-Employment Transitions Services program. They also offer group life coaching and business consulting, including leadership training and workshops centered around positive culture.

Angela Davis, CEO and President, began by reflecting on the beginnings of Myers-Davis, “Dustin Taylor, the chiropractor, offered us a closet to start doing life coaching in, and that's where we started. It is pretty exciting to see this dream come to fruition. What’s more exciting is the skills training center, starting today at the Main Street location. We hope to have the work simulations and skills training center going full force within a year at this location.”

Dr. (Doc) Edward Myers spoke about the project collaboration and expressed his gratitude to many supporters. “Thank you for all of your support. We couldn’t do what we do without you. It is exciting. With that, let’s get started!” 

The new office will be located at 1839 Batesville Blvd in Southside.

Ambassadors in attendance include Aaron Herndon (Citizens Bank), Alexandra McClain (Myers-Davis Life Coaching ), Amy Finster (FARCO), Andrea Bruner (Network of Community Options), Brenda Rivera (First Community Bank), Ashley Engles (Citizens Bank), Cassidy Mitchell (Lyon College), Caitlyn Guzman (First Community Bank), Cori Perkey (Southern Bank), Lindy Hopper (First Community Bank), Lori Tacker (Batesville Eye Care Center), Sarah Ring (Southern Bank), Becky Warren (UACCB) and Jesse Cargill (UAMS). 

The Batesville Area Chamber of Commerce held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new Batesville Montessori Elementary. 

Batesville Montessori has expanded and is celebrating the grand opening of its elementary campus on Main Street, Batesville, in the Historic Adler Building. The Batesville Montessori Elementary program cultivates the growth of exceptional, intelligent, and empathetic individuals. Children between the ages of 5 and 9 use the skills acquired during their Primary years to actively engage with the world around them and gain meaningful experiences.

Executive Director Monica St. John remarked, “I remember several years ago being a mom on the board, and this school is something we have dreamed about. It has come full circle to have been part of the dream team and now be a part of the team to execute.” She continued by thanking the board for their participation in the expansion. 

“We are so excited to start the new school year. We have doubled our student roster this year and hope to continue to grow,” added Kayla Moss, Elementary Director. 

Ambassadors in attendance include Amy Crouch-Howard (Weichert, Realtors - The Property Shoppe), Ashley Engles (Citizens Bank), Christina Watts (LaCroix Precision Optics), Eva Henriksen (Merchants & Planters Bank), Justin Keister (Synergy, HR LLC), Kristi Morgan (FNBC), Lori Campbell (Batesville School District), Mary Duvall (Bad Boy, Inc), Peter Rouiler (First Community Bank), Silje Antonsen (Venture Realty Group), Sydney Wood (Main Street Batesville), Tammy Jeffrey (First Community Bank) and Tiffany Traw (UACCB).

The Batesville Area Chamber of Commerce held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for Tharp’s Automotive and Sales.

Tharp's Automotive and Sales is a full-service auto repair center and pre-owned auto sales lot. Their mission is to provide quality services at an affordable price. Tharp’s Automotive and Sales is a small, family-owned business with customer satisfaction at its core. One of the things they are most excited to offer is complimentary pick-up and delivery services to anyone needing a full-service oil change. In addition to the service center, they also have a pre-owned auto lot. Financing is available to anyone, regardless of credit issues, through a finance company they have partnered with. In addition, they offer in-house financing as a secondary option. Customers can access the link to the credit app on the Tharp’s Automotive and Sales Facebook page and view their vehicle inventory.

“We started our business 15 years ago, working on cars, and now have 2 car lots and a trucking company,” said Jeremy Tharp, Owner of Tharp’s Automotive and Sales. “We are full-service. We do tires, brakes, oil changes, air conditioner work, front-end alignments, exhaust, and more. We also offer car sales with several different lenders and options for in-house financing,” 

“Another thing we offer is free pick-up and delivery,” continued Tharp. “If you need an oil change, brakes, or tires, we will come to get it, do the work, and bring it back while you are working. You don’t miss time with your family after work. That is a big deal for us, and it’s really starting to pick up. 

In addition to providing automotive services, Tharp’s builds race cars and sells fuel and tires. 

“We meet new faces daily, and being here is a privilege. We see what’s going on in the Batesville and Southside area; it's growing daily, and we want to be a part of that. We are returning to our roots and where we’re from,” concluded Tharp.

Ambassadors in attendance Adam Curtwright (Centennial Bank), Alexandra McClain (Myers-Davis Life Coaching ), Andrea Bruner (Network of Community Options), Brenda Rivera (First Community Bank), Christina Watts (LaCroix Precision Optics), Kristi Morgan (FNBC), Kristi Morgan (FNBC), Lori Tacker (Batesville Eye Care Center), Michael Kelley (Peco Foods), Rickie Westbrook (Centennial Bank). Roxanne Rananudo (United Way of North Central AR). Silje Antonsen (Venture Realty Group), Tammy Jeffrey (First Community Bank), and Julie Hinkle (Bank of Cave City). 

The Batesville Area Chamber of Commerce will host a topping ceremony for the Batesville School District. The ceremony will be held on September 11, at 10 a.m. at 1 Pioneer Drive in Batesville.

The Batesville School District is celebrating a milestone in its cafeteria and fine arts facility construction project led by Nabholz Construction. During the topping ceremony, attendees are invited to "leave their mark" by signing the main support beam of the structure.

All community supporters, chamber members, ambassadors, board members, and staff are invited to attend.

The Batesville Area Chamber of Commerce will host a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Lyon College Garner Student Recreation Center on Friday, October 11, at 12 p.m. at Becknell Gymnasium 2300 Highland Road in Batesville.

Lyon College is a selective undergraduate liberal arts college located in Batesville. Founded in 1872, it is one of the oldest colleges in Arkansas. Lyon College will celebrate the renovation of the former pool room in Becknell Gymnasium into the Garner Student Recreation Center. This center will be used for athletic competitions, practices, and events. 

All community supporters, chamber members, ambassadors, board members, and staff are invited to attend.

The Batesville Area Arts Council is pleased to present Shared Spaces, an exhibition by Daniella Napolitano, at the BAAC Gallery on Main (226 E Main St) through September 28, 2024. This exhibition is sponsored by the Future Fuel Chemical Company.

Daniella Napolitano is a printmaker, designer, and art educator living and working in Phoenix, AZ. Drawing inspiration from nature and ecology, her art explores the diverse and complex relationships between animals, humans, and the environment. Her current body of work focuses on animals commonly seen throughout the Sonoran Desert Region specifically animals that live near humans.

Through a collection of recent print works, Napolitano delves into the intricate narratives of animals navigating and adapting to the ever-evolving urban space. Step into a world where hawks hunt between parking decks, coyotes stealthily traverse highways, and grackles ingeniously scavenge amidst backyard barbecues. Each piece in this exhibition captures the resilience, resourcefulness, and sometimes even the whimsical interactions of these urban dwellers.

Please join us for a reception on Friday, September 27, from 5 - 7 p.m. with a brief artist talk at 6 p.m. The reception is free and open to the public. Gallery hours are Tuesday – Friday 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. and Saturday 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Visit our website, batesvilleareaartscouncil.org, to read Daniella’s full biography and artist statement.

Reception: Friday, September 27, 5 -7 p.m.

Members Only Happy Hour: 4 - 5 p.m

Gallery 246 welcomes Trisha Gooch as the guest artist for September & October. Trisha was born in California raised in Florida. She and her husband left Hawaii in 2021 and began a new life journey in Jonesboro, Arkansas. Watercolor is her medium of choice. Her love of bright colors and tropical vibes are reflected in her paintings. Her art can be viewed at the gallery or on her web site Tag Art Works.

Gallery 246 is welcoming artists to the seventh annual “Plein on Main” open air art competition taking place Wednesday, October 9, through Saturday, October 12.

Artists are invited to create artworks in their mediums of choice in historic Batesville during this three day event in Arkansas' oldest town. Visitors to the state's oldest town as well as Batesville community members will be able to watch and chat with the artists working in the open air, while participating in a new contest to collect the most names of the plein air artist/contestants.

With the support of local businesses and professionals, Gallery 246 offers more than $1,500 in cash awards, including a generous Purchase Prize and a People's Choice Award. Each entrant will receive a T-shirt and dinner at a local restaurant in addition to other gifts.

In preparation for the competition, Dana Johnston of Yellville will present a plein air workshop Wednesday, Oct. 9. Actual competition begins Thursday through submission for judging by noon Saturday. There will be a separate Quick Draw contest on Saturday.

Gallery 246 invites all to vote on the People's Choice and visit the gallery to view the winners which will be on display until October 26. Past artworks have featured local historic homes and commercial buildings, street scenes and parks. This year the area where artists can paint includes the city of Batesville as well as the beautifully revitalised Main Street Batesville.

This event concludes during the Batesville Area Arts Council's Artoberfest, making for a fantastic arts Saturday.

Gallery 246, located at 243 East Main Street, Batesville, AR, is a non-profit artist co-operative featuring Arkansas artists and craftspeople working in all mediums.

The Batesville Area Arts Council is excited to announce renovations for our workshop expansion are officially underway. Thanks to the generosity of our community, we have raised 88% of the funds needed to bring this project to life.

BAAC is witnessing an extraordinary level of interest and participation in arts programming in Batesville; as a result, our current workshop space has reached its capacity, limiting the number of participants we can accommodate and diversity of programming we can offer. The expanded workshop will address these needs and will allow more opportunities for adult arts programs, new art education programming, and enhance the experience of our art camp students. Additionally, this space will create a Community Gallery, generously sponsored by First Community Bank.

This new gallery will showcase a rotating array of local and regional artists throughout the year, in addition to our main gallery space, where we display artwork from both local and national artists. This project would not be possible without the support of our Corporate Sponsors: First Community Bank, Future Fuel Chemical Company, White River Health, and Bad Boy Mowers, and our Community Investors: Ray & Diane LaCroix; Abby and Zach Perrine; Racheal and Alex Roofe; and Bob Carius. Their contributions have been instrumental in reaching this milestone.

As construction begins, we are still actively fundraising to cover the remaining costs and ensure the project’s success. We invite those who believe in the transformative power of the arts to contribute to this project: Together, we can create a space where art truly has the ability to change lives.

To learn more about the expansion and how you can help us reach our goal, please visit https://www.batesvilleareaartscouncil.org/help-the-arts-grow.

Stanley Wood Chevrolet is proud to recognize and reward the exceptional educators in our community.

Fifteen dedicated teachers from the Batesville, Cave City, Midland, Concord, Cedar Ridge, and Southside School Districts were honored with $500 awards. These educators applied and were selected by a panel of representatives from their respective districts.

The award ceremony took place on Wednesday, September 4th at 4:00 PM at the Stanley Wood Chevrolet dealership located at 1674 Batesville Blvd.

During the reception, Mr. Scott Wood and Mr. Phil Brissey presented the awards, acknowledging the educators’ outstanding teaching skills, commitment to students, and positive impact on the community.

Congratulations to the following educators for their exceptional contributions:

• Chloe Martin (Concord School District)
• Amy Baker (Concord School District)
• Kerri Grace (Southside School District)
• Jessica Marks (Southside School District)
• Abby Barker (Southside School District)
• Matthew West (Midland School District)
• Kali Payne (Midland School District)
• Jalisa Milligan (Cave City School District)
• Tara Ball (Cave City School District)
• Dason Lee (Cedar Ridge School District)
• Lynnette McKinney (Cedar Ridge School District)
• Charlie Bridgeman (Batesville School District)
• Gloria Brown (Batesville School District)
• Ian Kerley (Batesville School District)
• Jamie McMinn & Kristen Luetschwager (Batesville School District)

First Community Bank is pleased to announce the promotion of Brian Zeliff to the position of assistant vice president, lender of the financial institution’s dealer direct program.

Zeliff, who joined First Community Bank in January of 2022, has demonstrated exceptional dedication and expertise, previously serving as senior loan support and funding for nearly two years.

“I am extremely excited for my new role and opportunity,” said Zeliff. “As soon as I started with First Community, I could tell this is the place that I wanted to be. It is great to be recognized and take this next step on my career path.”

With nearly six years of experience in the banking industry and a degree in business management, Zeliff has proven to be a valuable asset to the dealer direct team. His dedication to his work and commitment to providing excellent service to our clients have not gone unnoticed.

“Brian’s promotion is a testament to his hard work and dedication,” said his supervisor, Steve Wilcoxon, president of the dealer direct program. “We are confident that in his new role, he will continue to excel and contribute to the growth and success of First Community Bank.”

Outside of work, Zeliff enjoys spending time with his family, including his wife and two children, an 8-year-old daughter and a 1-year-old son.

Availability from Campbell Leasing! 

• 570 23rd St.
• Duplex 520 and 530 23rd St.
• Studio 2090 B Neeley St.
• 2090 Neeley St.
• Duplex: 760 & 780 30th Street
• 4-plex townhouse 1965, 1975, 1985, and 1995 Neeley Street  

Call Billy Campbell at 870-613-2276 or 870-613-5240.

Duplex for Rent! Denison Heights Duplex. 2 Bedroom, 1 Bath. Will be available August 1st. Deposit up front of $950. Monthly rent of $950. Must sign 1 year lease. ABSOLUTELY NO PETS!! Contact us at 870-251-2468 for more details and to begin application process.

Strategic Committee for Maternal Health sends report detailing recommendations to Gov. Sanders

The Strategic Committee for Maternal Health has delivered a report to Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders outlining recommended new policies, programs, and approaches aimed at improving health outcomes for pregnant women, new moms, and babies, the Arkansas Department of Health (ADH) and the Arkansas Department of Human Services (DHS) announced today.

Gov. Sanders established the Committee and initiated a six-month timeline to consider potential reforms when she signed the Executive Order to Support Moms, Protect Babies, and Improve Maternal Health on March 6, 2024. Since then, more than 100 stakeholders representing dozens of organizations across the state have met to develop the recommendations contained in the report.

“We are incredibly grateful that so many partners came together to consider obstacles to maternal and postpartum care that exist in our state today, and to align around this set of meaningful solutions which promise to make a real and positive difference in our state,” said DHS Secretary Kristi Putnam. “We will act on these changes as quickly as possible because we know they have the potential to improve the health of countless women and babies, and to save lives.”

“We are proud to present these strategies and recommendations today,” said Renee Mallory, Arkansas Secretary of Health. “This report is the result of many meetings and listening sessions with stakeholders across the state. While we’ve already begun this important work, we look forward to continuing to enact solutions to improve the health and well-being of moms and babies in Arkansas.”

The Committee divided into four subgroups, each of which provided recommendations within their respective focus areas: Data, Reporting, and Technology; Education and Outreach; Clinical and Practice Improvements; and Health Care Access and Medicaid.

“Medicaid pays for more than half of the pregnancies in our state, so it’s critical that we optimize the system so that care is available and encouraged every step of the way before, during, and after birth,” said Janet Mann, DHS Deputy Secretary of Programs and State Medicaid Director. “These recommendations put in place significant changes that will remove barriers, improve care, and lead to better health outcomes.”

Dr. Sam Greenfield, ADH Medical Director for Family Health, serves on the Strategic Committee for Maternal Health, and said the recommendations are a positive step toward improving maternal health across the state.

“I am encouraged to see so many people from different sectors come together to address this issue,” he said. “As Chair of the Arkansas Maternal Mortality Review Committee, I can attest that the challenges surrounding maternal health are complex. This is a significant step that addresses specific findings and needs in Arkansas. I am supportive of these recommendations and look forward to the role enactment will play in improving health outcomes for mothers in our state.”

Recommendations in the report include developing a dashboard reporting key maternal health indicators; evaluating Medicaid reimbursement rates; implementing presumptive eligibility for Medicaid-eligible pregnant women; creating a pathway for Medicaid provider types and reimbursements for both Doulas and Community Health Workers; expanding the number of obstetrics and gynecology residencies in Arkansas; and developing a maternal health education and advertising campaign.

“As someone who has spent her career taking care of Arkansas women, I am inspired by the many conversations this committee started and the actions we will take as a result,” said Dr. Kay Chandler, Arkansas Surgeon General. “It will take efforts from many different groups across the state to move the needle, and I believe we’ve put together a road map to make that happen.”

The report also details a number of activities that have already been completed or are underway, including holding stakeholder meetings in five pilot counties that had high rates of women receiving no prenatal care, developing a Transforming Maternal Health (TMaH) Model grant application, and reviewing several key Medicaid processes tied to maternal care.

The full report is available by clicking here.

There is Hope. Call or text 988 or chat 988lifeline.org to connect with compassionate care and support for mental health-related distress. If you or someone you know is having thoughts of suicide or experiencing a mental health or substance use crisis, 988 provides a 24/7 connection to confidential support.

Students in the Class of 2027 and beyond are now required to complete community service to earn a high school diploma (Act 237 of 2023, pages 38-39). The law specifies students will earn 15 hours of community service in ninth grade and 20 hours of community service in each subsequent year of high school for 75 total hours.

We believe that parents should lead, guide, and direct service. We know it is a very personal, family lesson for life. We will be approving service vetted by parents for safety and all other protocols. Our training includes safety protocols and suggestions. See our website for the most up to date information and a recorded webinar or call us for more information.

The University of Arkansas Community College at Batesville (UACCB) and Reach University are creating pathways where practical job experience leads directly to a degree. This initiative is part of a national movement to increase apprenticeship programs to meet industry demand. Led by the National Center for the Apprenticeship Degree (NCAD), these programs will integrate work and learning, focusing on high-demand fields.

On September 6, 2024, members of UACCB and Reach University met with UACCB faculty and staff and regional industry partners to explain the new apprenticeship degree programs. This model blends on-the-job experience with academic learning, enabling employees to earn a degree while advancing in their careers. The goal is to create a sustainable system enabling local industries to partner with UACCB to leverage apprenticeship degree opportunities to cultivate a skilled workforce while providing employees with meaningful educational advancements. We encourage community and industry partners to join the conversation on how to transform the workplace into a powerful learning environment.

“The partnership between UACCB and Reach University, facilitated by NCAD, represents a significant step forward in addressing the workforce needs of our region,” said Dr. Holly Smith, vice chancellor for academic affairs at UACCB. “By aligning on-the-job training with academic achievement, we are not only providing individuals with a debt-free pathway to a degree but also meeting the pressing talent demands of our local industries.”

This innovative approach is not just about filling jobs but about creating sustainable career paths. Apprenticeship degrees offered through Reach University emphasize job-embedded learning, where students gain valuable experience in their field while simultaneously completing their academic studies. This method ensures that graduates are fully equipped with the knowledge and skills needed to excel in their professions.

“We believe that by making the workplace a learning place, we can revolutionize how education and industry work together to develop talent,” said Dr. Brian Shonk, chancellor of UACCB.

“This partnership is about more than just earning a degree; it's about creating opportunities for individuals to thrive in their careers and for businesses to grow with a highly skilled workforce.”

For more information, please visit www.reach.edu/apprenticeship-degree.

The Batesville Area Chamber of Commerce is the leading voice of business in Independence County, providing chamber members advocacy, promotion, and resources. The Chamber works to set the standard for service, collaboration, growth, and high quality of life in the Batesville area. We are unwavering in our commitment to strengthening our business community.