Opinion

ARDOT Urges Drivers to Slow Down During National Work Zone Awareness Week April 11-15

LITTLE ROCK - National Work Zone Awareness Week (WZAW) is April 11-15 and the Arkansas Department of Transportation (ARDOT) is pleading for drivers to slow down in work zones. This national safety campaign is observed each spring, the traditional start of construction season, to encourage safe driving through highway work zones.
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Col. Wild Turkey

I never thought I would see wild turkey flocks in the Ozarks drop to the level I have witnessed this past winter. It is a serious situa- tion and state conservation departments from Oklaho- ma to Alabama and Georgia are placing restrictions on wild turkey hunting, changing things for the first time in decades, because they are concerned about what is happening to the wild turkey. Arkansas has done nothing and neither has Missouri. I don’t know whether Missouri’s Game Department is just too inept to know what to do or whether or not it is just a matter of trying to keep from losing money through lost revenue in turkey tag sales. I suspect the both.
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Value of Cover Crops

Cover crops more effective than insecticides for managing pests, study suggests. Did that catch your attention? Promoting early season plant cover, primarily using cover crops, can be more effective at reducing pest density and crop damage than insecticide applications, according to a Penn State-led team of researchers.
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Cooking with Mumzy!

Hello friends and readers of the Mountaineer Echo, I hope this week finds you all healthy and in happy spirits. Mumzy’s Taco Dip: 1 pound ground beef 16 ounce can refried beans 2 (1.25 ounce) packages mild taco seasoning mix divided 1 (16 ounce) container sour cream 1 (16 ounce) container sour cream 1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened 1 (8 ounce) package shredded cheddar cheese, divided 1 (16 ounce) package shredded lettuce 1 (8 ounce) jar salsa, or to taste Directions: Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat.
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Voting in Arkansas

An important deadline is approaching if you plan on voting in the May 24 Preferential Primary Election and Nonpartisan General Election. If you have not already registered to vote, you have until April 25 to file your voter registration application with your county clerk.
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Teachers Salaries in Arkansas

Little Rock – Average teacher salaries in Arkansas ranked 47th in the nation in 2020, down from 46th in 2019 and 44th in 2018. Legislators on the Senate and House Education Committees heard a lengthy salary comparison last week, written by legislative staff.
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Building a Better Arkansas Through Service

Arkansans are unfortunately familiar with the devastating impacts of tornadoes. I’ve seen the damage left in their powerful wake and talked with homeowners, businesses and local leaders about the challenges they face in getting things back to normal. In the face of these trials, I have also seen the resolve of citizens determined to rebuild and the care of those who offer hope through words and deeds to friends and neighbors experiencing some of the greatest hardships of their lives.
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Combatting Violent Crime

Today, I would like to talk about the national increase in violent crime, and what we are doing to combat that here in Arkansas. Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, the world felt like it came to a halt while we dealt with the issues of public health.
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