Veterans Day Observed at Cummins

As a gesture of support for the 33 veterans on staff, the Cummins Unit served doughnuts, fruit and juice to all staff members as they entered the building for their shift of November 15, 2019!

 
[LEFT] Flags representing different military branches were displayed outside the unit.
[RIGHT] Deputy Warden Kennie Bolden, Laura Cook and Connie Cook

  
[LEFT] DW Kennie Bolden, Sgt. Sonya Johnson and Lt. R. Lee
[RIGHT] Sgt. Bobby Jones

  
[LEFT] Navy Veteran and Sgt. Mike Moseley
[RIGHT] Administrative Review Officer J.D. Rana

 
[LEFT] Field Sgt. Zack Coleman
[RIGHT] Veteran and Deputy Warden Christopher Budnik

 
[LEFT] Ola Tillman
[RIGHT] Veteran and Corporal Tommy Blevins

Tucker Officer Presents Challenge Coin to Fellow Officer

When Cpl. Tiffany Thompson of the Tucker Unit was presented with an ADC Challenge Coin by the agency director at the beginning of the summer, she was also given a duplicate coin. In following through with the instructions to pass along the coin to someone with whom she felt demonstrated exemplary performance on the job, Cpl. Thompson identified a deserving colleague at the Tucker Unit. We congratulate Cpl. Chandra Crosby for being presented with an ADC Challenge Coin on August 30, 2019!

Cpl. Thompson (left) shared that she selected Cpl. Crosby because she’s a “Tucker Unit team player”
who always demonstrates a willingness to go above and beyond in her job duties at the unit!

ADC Instrumental in Completion of Newport Park

A dedication ceremony for Vision Park, which was created as a community service project by the 16th class of New Vision Newport, was held on August 20, 2019.

New Vision Newport is a community leadership program in Jackson County, Arkansas. The purpose of the program, which is sponsored by the Newport Area Chamber of Commerce, is to equip people in Newport and Jackson County to be effective leaders in the community.

Each year, the New Vision Newport class is responsible for performing a service project. Last year’s class was responsible for placing a gazebo on the park grounds.

This year, with the help of the Grimes Unit Regional Maintenance crew (led by Lt. Hubert Harris), the latest class was able to weatherproof the gazebo, build a sidewalk, add some plants, and provide seating. Inmates from the unit provided the physical labor needed to complete the project, and women from the McPherson Unit Regional Maintenance crew handled all of the mowing, weed trimming and flowerbed work.

Arkansas Correctional Industries (ACI) designed and fabricated a sign for the park, as well as four metal benches, which they donated to the City of Newport.

Deputy Warden Steven Ricketts of the Grimes Unit, who was a participant in the 16th New Vision Newport class, credits the success of the project to a great team which consisted in part to Julie Allen of the Newport Chamber of Commerce, Newport Mayor David Stewart, fellow New Vision Newport class members Katie Adams, Stephanie Due, Dee Dee Jeffery, Harmony Moore, Bruce Simmons, and Danielle Wright, as well as Lela Pennington and Allison Corbitt of ACI.

Arkansas Youth Challenge Group Tours Grimes Unit

A group from Arkansas Youth Challenge toured the Grimes Unit on Friday, August 16, 2019. Arkansas Youth Challenge promotes behavioral change in at-risk youth with the ultimate goal of producing positive, productive citizens.

During their visit, the group was addressed by an inmate panel, which offered them realistic insight into prison life. They were also shown what “home” looks like inside a barracks. However, it was a visit from Cadet Christopher Reeves from the nearby McPherson Unit that likely made the biggest impact on the group.

What made his visit significant is that 12 months prior, Cadet Reeves was sitting in their place! In his address to the group, he credited his involvement with the Arkansas Youth Challenge for helping him make a positive change in the course of his life. He shared with them what he learned in the program and how much he now enjoys working for the ADC. Cadet Reeves serves as a living example of it never being too late to make a positive change in one’s life!

The group received encouragement from Cadet Reeves who
previously participated in the Arkansas Youth Challenge program.

Sgt. Sparks led the group into a cell to see firsthand
how much space a single-celled inmate is allowed.

ORCU Hosts Area Adult Education Advisory Committee Meeting

Superintendent DeAngelo Earl and staff of the Ouachita River Correctional Unit (ORCU) hosted the Adult Education Advisory Committee second quarter meeting on July 30, 2019.

Upcoming training opportunities, changes that are happening at the state level, and budgets were discussed during the meeting. Additionally, Gary Gamble, the ORCU Think Legacy Program Coordinator discussed the reentry program and the Workforce Alliance for Growth in the Economy (WAGE) partnership which has worked great for ORCU. Jan Robertson, the area’s WAGE Coordinator, thanked ORCU for their focus on the program this year, to the point that a waiting list now exists for inmates who wish to participate!

Don Rigney, Program Manager of Riverside Vo-Tech’s Ouachita River campus, discussed the various vocational-technical offerings the school has to offer. He also led visitors on an informative tour of their superb vo-tech area, which is one of the best in the state.

All of the guests, who were from Malvern and the surrounding communities, were impressed by the cleanliness and good order of the facility. They commended staff on their professionalism, positive attitudes and job knowledge. The overall tour was handled by Major Cornelius Christopher, Deputy Warden Anthony Jackson, Deputy Warden Steve Outlaw and Program Specialist Gary Gamble.

Blood Drive Held at Ouachita River Correctional Unit

A total of 30 staff members from the Ouachita River Correctional Unit donated blood during a visit by the Arkansas Blood Institute’s mobile unit on July 29, 2019. Thanks to all staff members who donated blood to help save the lives of those in need!

Sgt. Coy Hasley

ADC Training Supervisor Meets with Criminal Justice Educators

After expressing that their students have taken an interest in the field of corrections, ADC’s Training Supervisor, Delilah Ingram, was invited to speak to a group of criminal justice educators on July 31, 2019, at the Arkansas Department of Career Education in Little Rock. The idea of adding courses in corrections to their educational curriculum is being explored, which would give students an additional career avenue within the law enforcement field to consider. Some of the topics discussed included potential courses that could be offered, correctional facility tours for high school students, pay incentives, retirement/medical benefits, and the many advancement opportunities that ADC has to offer. We’re excited to help open the door to a future generation of correctional employees!