HSHS EAST Program named nationwide finalist in technology competition; requests public support for "People's Choice" Award‏

Hot Springs High School EAST (Environmental and Spatial Technologies Lab) recently learned it has advanced to the final round as a finalist in the Samsung “Solve for Tomorrow” competition, which calls for student-created videos that use today’s technology to solve tomorrow’s problems.  Out of 1,600 competing EAST programs nationwide, HSHS is now in the top 15.

As a finalist, the EAST program will be awarded $40,000 in Samsung and Adobe technology products, and is also eligible for one of five $110,000 technology awards, including the “People’s Choice Award.” This award is given to the video garnering the most online votes.   The school is asking local residents’ help in winning the award by voting for them at the following Web site: www.samsung.com/solvefortomorrow .  Individuals can vote daily until March 4.

In December, a “perfect storm” resulted from collaborative efforts between HSHS EAST, the City of Hot Springs and American LiDAR (Light Detection And Ranging).  Hot Springs Parks & Recreation Director Jean Wallace, who was asked by HSHS EAST Program Facilitator Michael Vincent for project ideas for the competition, suggested he contact Stormwater Manager Max Sestili regarding current analysis and data collection for planned improvements to Hot Springs Creek Tunnel.  In the meantime, Ron Harrison, owner of American LiDAR, a Hot Springs-owned laser imaging company, heard of the EAST students’ work with a 3-D printer they had built themselves.  Harrison proposed a partnership involving his super high-resolution 3-D scanner. Discussions resulted in Sestili’s arranging the students’ December visit to the tunnel, where they collected detailed images that will help the city carry out repairs and improvements while providing the students with invaluable hands-on learning experience benefiting their own community.   

National Park Community College will participate in College Goal Sunday, March 10

College Goal Sunday on March 10 is the culmination of Say Go College Week and an opportunity for free assistance in submitting the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. Trained and knowledgeable financial aid counselors will be on hand at National Park Community College from 2 to 4 p.m. to help students and parents with the first step towards receiving grants and loans from the federal government to pay for college.

More than 30 college, university and high school campuses across the state will open their doors on College Goal Sunday to allow trained staff to assist Arkansas families with the process of completing the FAFSA. The program is a partnership between several national and local groups, including the Arkansas Department of Higher Education, which sponsors Say Go College Week with the U.S. Department of Education. It offers a week-long schedule of activities aimed at making college seem less of a mystery and more of a possibility, while highlighting the importance of post-secondary education.

“The quality of life is often dependent upon the ability to make choices,” said ADHE Interim Director Shane Broadway, “and there’s opportunity, knowledge to gain and experiences that you can only find through higher education. The FAFSA is critical in finding resources to make college more affordable for Arkansans.”

The FAFSA requires the most recent tax information, so families are strongly encouraged to bring copies of their W-2 forms. For more information about how to pay for college, visit ADHE.edu, SayGoCollege.com or ArCollegeGoalSunday.org.

Today's street closure in Hot Springs

West St. Louis Street in Hot Springs, from First to Third Street will be closed to through traffic today, Wednesday, February 6 for sewer force main construction.

 

Signs will be posted. Motorists will need to seek an alternate route during street closure.

Wanted by Garland County Sheriff's Department

Jonathon Wayne Gathright
White male, 3-7-94, 5’10", 250 lbs., brown hair and brown eyes
Wanted by Garland County Sheriff’s Department
Residential Burglary
Theft by receiving
Theft by receiving (Firearm)
Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Gathright should contact the Garland County Sheriff’s Department at 622-3690 or the 24-hour tip-line 622-3674.

POA cooperating wit AT&T to get Village-wide coverage

The Hot Springs Village POA is working with AT&T connected communities to provide upgrades and/or new services in areas of the Village with limited or no connectivity to the services listed below.

The POA asks Villagers with limited or no service to wireless (cell service), high speed internet, television and land line telephone service to provide name, Hot Springs Village address and type of service desired in an online form at the following address: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/hsvatt

A link to this form is also available at www.hsvpoa.org <http://www.hsvpoa.org/> in the News & Announcements section. Please respond by March 31.

Once the information has been collected, AT&T will review the information and develop an implementation plan for Hot Springs Village.

CADC meeting cancelled

The Hot Springs community development advisory committee meeting scheduled for Thursday, February 7 in the City Hall board chambers has been cancelled due to a scheduling conflict. This meeting will not be rescheduled for a later date.

Street closures in Hot Springs

The following Hot Springs streets will be closed to through traffic today, Tuesday, February 5:

Indiana Street, from Winona to Laser Street for sewer force main construction;

Third Street, from Pond to Vearl Street for street repair due to sewer force main construction; and

West St. Louis Street, from Sonnet to Third Street for street repair due to sewer force main construction.

Signs will be posted. Motorists will need to seek an alternate route during closures.

Street closing in Hot Springs

Cottrell Street in Hot Springs, from East Grand Avenue to Frazier Street will be closed to through traffic today, Tuesday, February 5 and Wednesday, February 6 for gas line construction.

Garland County seeking missing man - update

Update - Garland County missing person; Hershel Winningham has returned home and is ok on February 6.

At approximately noon yesterday Garland County Sheriff's Department deputies were dispatched to a verbal disagreement involving a father and daughter in the 1700 block of Hwy 290 in Garland County. 

The father, 53 year old Hershel Winningham, allegedly got mad and walked away from the residence and was last seen by his daughter walking into a field and heading north toward the Andrew Hulsey Fish Hatchery. 
Winningham was apparently involved in a car wreck approximately two weeks ago, in which he suffered head injuries, that has left him with diminished capacities. Due to this and the lack of success in locating him in the immediate area, the Garland County Sheriff's Department utilized its mounted patrol to search an approximate 3.5 to 4 square mile wooded and pasture area in the direction that he was last seen walking. The department had no success in locating Winningham. 
It is possible that Winningham got a ride into town and is safe. However, Garland County Sheriff's Department asked if anyone knew the whereabouts of, or had seen, Winningham to call the Garland County Sheriff’s Department at 622-3660.
Winningham is not wanted for any crime and is only being sought for his well-being.
Subsequently, it appeared the missing man checked into a Hot Springs motel early yesterday afternoon, but was not there as of 12:15 this morning when the Garland County Sheriff's Department checked the motel. All indications are that Winningham is fine and is with friends right now and not in any danger. He was last seen wearing blue coveralls, a camo jacket and a cap.