Being informed recently of the death of Rosemary Bowlin, I was reminded of her exemplary life. Coming to Pocahontas in the 1940s, soon after World War II, she and her husband Paul Bowlin entered the furniture business here and remained in that business for over a half century, during which time Paul Bowlin almost single-handedly realized funds to assist him in saving the then-century old Randolph County Courthouse, which was badly deteriorating at the time (1972).
The Senate has approved a package of bills with tougher regulations for the signature- gathering process by which citizens can place issues on statewide ballots.
At the recent funeral of Mary Nell Spikes King, her family celebrated her long life, which ended at the age of 97. She was only about three years older than I, and I considered her a friend—always a kind and gracious lady.
At exactly 2am, I sat straight up in bed after hearing someone or something say “Jana”. I’m going to assume it was the peanut butter balls in the fridge calling my name and just eat the problem...
The weather around here has been unpredictable lately— one day, temperatures dip below freezing with snowflakes in the air, and the next, the sun is shining, and we’re basking in the upper 60s. It’s enough to confuse anyone.
During this legislative session, over 130 bills have been signed into law. This week, two significant bills aimed at supporting Arkansas students were signed by the Governor. Act 123 ensures that every student in Arkansas public schools receives one free breakfast every school day, regardless of their eligibility for federal meal programs. Act 122, also known as the Bell to Bell, No Cell Act, prohibits students from using cell phones and personal electronic devices during school hours, with a few exceptions.
The Senate approved legislation to transfer the powers of the state Library Board to the Education Department.
As we move through the 2025 legislative session, the Arkansas House of Representatives has passed several important bills that will impact our communities, focusing on education, healthcare, and food security. Here’s a summary of the key measures approved during the fifth week of the session: SB59: An Act to Provide Each Public School Student with Breakfast at No Cost This bill ensures that every student in Arkansas public schools will be entitled to one free breakfast per school day, regardless of their eligibility for federally funded meals. Funded through medical marijuana tax revenue, the bill was passed with the goal of addressing food insecurity among students. Arkansas ranked as the hungriest state in the nation in 2023 with 18.9% of households experiencing food insecurity.
with Jana Caldwell Funny coincidence… I’ve got a listing coming up. The day in January I went was the day it snowed so no outside pics. We decided February 18th for pics thinking it would maybe be warmer and green up a little. We just rescheduled for tomorrow afternoon. Moral of the story, if you want snow, let me schedule your listing!