Grimes Unit Supporting Students in Area School Districts
The Arkansas Department of Correction’s Grimes Unit is showing support to the community by helping area students kick off the 2018-2019 school year on the right foot.
The service project got underway on July 28, 2018 when the Grimes Unit Greyhounds softball team hosted a co-ed softball tournament. The softball event raised more than $1000, which was used to purchase school supplies and equipment for Jackson County students.
Before the new school year started, representatives of the Grimes team visited Newport High School and met with Principal Terri Kane and her staff to donate supplies for their computer lab, as well as backpacks and school supplies for students in need. Additionally, team members paid a visit to Tuckerman High School and met with Principal Michael Holland to donate school supplies there as well!
The unit’s involvement isn’t ending with donations of school supplies. Plans are underway for staff members to regularly meet with troubled youth in the Jackson County School District throughout the year to implement a program called “Breaking the Cycle,” which is designed to help get them back on the right track.
The recipients are very grateful for the generosity demonstrated by the Grimes Unit towards the Newport and Jackson County School Districts.
A big thank you goes to the Grimes Unit Greyhounds softball team for raising the funds to get the ball rolling on such a worthwhile cause!
The Grimes Unit Greyhounds raised money to purchase school supplies and equipment for area students by hosting their first-ever co-ed softball tournament!
School supplies of all types were donated to the Jackson County and Newport school districts by the Grimes Unit.
Principal Michael Holland of Tuckerman High School visited with Grimes Unit Deputy Warden Steven Ricketts (left photo)
and Warden DeAngelo Earl when they dropped off a donation of school supplies.
East Arkansas Regional Unit Participates in Community Back-to-School Event
On August 2, 2018, East Arkansas Regional Unit (EARU) Deputy Warden Emmer Branch was one of the guest speakers at the “Making Ways for the Future” banquet. The banquet was sponsored by the Lee County Men of Action and the Lee County Sheriff’s Department.
During her speech, Deputy Warden Branch encouraged the youth in attendance to be respectful, obedient, to do their best in school and to always dream big. At the conclusion of the event, she gave away two backpacks filled with school supplies! The recipients – an elementary student and a Jr. High student – were selected in a random drawing.
Thanks for positively representing the EARU unit and making a difference in your community, Deputy Warden Branch!
Warden Earl Receives State Employee of the Year Nomination
DeAngelo Earl, Warden of the Grimes Unit in Newport, was selected as a finalist to receive the 2018 Outstanding State Employee of the Year Award!
Presented annually by the Arkansas State Employees Association (ASEA), the award recognizes state employees who demonstrate outstanding performance in their work as well as distinguished service to their community. Warden Earl has been invited to attend a banquet honoring all award nominees on August 10th at the Arlington Hotel Resort and Spa in Hot Springs. ASEA will announce the winner for this year at that time.
Warden Earl has demonstrated a drive for excellence since he began his career in corrections on May 5th, 2003 as a Correctional Officer at the Cummins Unit. He promoted to Sergeant in 2006 at the unit and then Lieutenant two years later. In September 2010, he promoted to Captain at the Maximum Security Unit and then to Major at the East Arkansas Regional Unit (EARU) the following year. In September 2013, he promoted to Deputy Warden at EARU, and transferred into the same role at the Grimes Unit two years later. It was there that he promoted to the position of Warden in October 2017. The Grimes Unit, under Warden Earl’s direction, works every day to build and strengthen community relations within the Jackson County area. Assisting with clean-up efforts in the region and organizing softball tournament fundraisers to assist with providing school supplies and backpacks to community children are just a couple of the activities that the Grimes Unit has taken part in recently.
Congratulations on this outstanding honor, Warden Earl!
Dedication of Vietnam Veterans Memorial Held in White Hall
On Thursday, July 12th at 10:00 a.m., representatives of the Arkansas Department of Correction (ADC), the city of White Hall, and the Disabled American Veterans & Combat Veterans Motorcycle Association of Jefferson County held a dedication ceremony of a Vietnam Veterans Memorial sign.
The sign, located on the northbound side of Interstate 530 just off Exit 34, was designed and fabricated by ADC inmates under the direction of the Arkansas Correctional Industries (ACI). All branches of the military are represented on the sign, which was constructed to serve as a lasting memorial.
One of the offenders who worked on the project served in the Vietnam War, and two were directly related to someone who served. The project provided all who worked on it a wonderful opportunity of giving back to the community and show appreciation for the area’s veterans.
The event was well attended by members of the community, including a large showing by representatives of the local Combat Veterans Motorcycle Association.
Speakers at the event included:
• Rick Cooper, Administrator, Arkansas Correctional Industries
• Chaplain Tom Bradshaw, ADC Grimes Unit, Newport, Arkansas
• Mayor Noel Foster, White Hall, Arkansas
• Wendy Kelley, ADC Director
• Darryl Shumaker, Disabled American Veteran & Combat Veterans Motorcycle Association
Equipped with giant ceremonial scissors, Mr. Shumaker, Mayor Foster, Director Kelley and Mr. Cooper concluded the event with an official ribbon cutting to dedicate the sign to the community as a reminder of all who have served our country in the armed forces.
The new sign is located at Mile Marker 34 on the northbound side of Interstate 530 (left photo).
The ceremony was attended by many local veterans who proudly showed their support (right photo).
Chaplain Tom Bradshaw of the Grimes Unit, who is a Vietnam Veteran,
opened the dedication ceremony with a prayer (left photo) before
Rick Cooper, Administrator of Arkansas Correctional Industries, led
the assembled group in the Pledge of Allegiance (right photo).
White Hall Mayor Noel Foster attested to the workmanship of items produced by ACI
as well as what an asset the new sign is to the community (left photo).
ADC Director Wendy Kelley took the opportunity to personally thank
the veterans for their service to our country (right photo).
Darryl Shumaker, a local citizen and disabled American Veteran, played a major
role throughout the development and completion of the sign (left photo).
The dedication ceremony was well attended in spite
of the toasty summer temperature (right photo)!
Maximum Security Unit Team Visits Little Rock Job Corps Center
Job Corps is a no-cost education and career technical training program administered by the U.S. Department of Labor that teaches eligible young people the skills they need to become employable and independent and place them in meaningful jobs or further their education. Instructors with the Job Corps also offer assistance in placing students into their prospective fields.
In addition to the areas of information technology and hospitality, the Little Rock Job Corps Center provides training in the field of Security and Protective Services. On June 22nd, a team from the Maximum Security Unit visited the center in Little Rock where they talked to students about the benefits of working at the unit. Even students studying other trades who attended the presentation expressed interest in the information that was shared. The visiting Maximum Security Unit staff members ended the day having assisted more than 11 students in completing online job applications!
We’re looking forward to a continued partnership with the Job Corps Center in filling our job vacancies with qualified individuals who are dedicated to carrying out the mission of the ADC.
Little Rock Job Corps Center employee Sgt. Thelma Dixon assisted applicants with the online process (above).
Maximum Security Unit employees Lt. Brandon Davis (above left) and
Sgt. Latoris Willis (above right) shared with Little Rock Job Corps Center students about their experiences.
Delilah Ingram of the Maximum Security Unit Human Resources office (above left) and Deputy Warden Richard Ball (above right) spoke about the benefits of a career with the ADC.
