LIHEAP Heating assistance will be available IHEAP through PBJCEOC in five counties. FUNDING See Page 2B
(USPS 088-820) Vol. 131, Number 2 DeWitt, AR 72042 • 12 Pages • 2 Sections • 75 cents
Serving Arkansas County, Arkansas Since 1882 Thursday, January 10, 2013
BUSINESS IS BOOMING IN DEWITT AROUND THE COUNTY
ALCO COLORING CONTEST WINNER
ALCO Hosted a coloring contest for children up to age 10. The winner was Harley Edwards.
DE WITT ERA ENTERPRISE P.O. BOX CHANGE We would like to inform everyone that the DeWitt Era Enterprise has a new P.O. Box. All press releases, public service announcements, classified ads, etc. should be sent to DeWitt Era Enterprise, P.O. Box 678, DeWitt, AR 72042. Thank you and we look forward to working with you.
DEWITT TRANSFER STATION CLOSED The DeWitt Transfer Station will be closed January 24, 2012. Solid Waste training.
BIRTHDAY PARTY FOR EUNICE MERRITT There will be a birthday party for Eunice Merritt, Saturday, the 12th from 2p.m. to 4p.m. at Mike and Diana Merritt’s 815 Bill Street. Everyone’s invited. No gifts please.
DeWitt has been on the receiving end of a recent business boom. New businesses are opening while others are expanding. The people of DeWitt are still chattering about the recent opening of the new restaurant Kelly’s on the Square, and just around the corner, Funcessories Too boasts its new sign to go along with their expansion. Pierce & Company recently opened their new branch in town, an expansion from the one in Stuttgart. Everyone is looking forward to the opening of the new building expansion for Carter’s Building Supply, as well as the new larger building for Dollar General. Along with the expansions in DeWitt, St. Charles’ White Ink has four new gas pumps and Gillett’s Flash Market is reopening. It already looks like 2013 will be a prosperous year for DeWitt and the surrounding areas.
Best of DeWitt- Educator of the Year Jeanne McCullars, Phillips Community College
BY VALENYA FRANKS EDITOR dewit00@centurytel.net
Jeanne McCullars, the PN Nursing Coordinator/ Instructor at PCCUA has been with the De Witt campus of PCCUA since 2000. Before she came to PCCUA she was a RN in Little Rock where she helped deliver babies and she also worked at Crestpark in DeWitt. “We were thrilled when she came.” Carolyn Turner, DeWitt Campus Vice Chancellor at PCCUA states. When she came to PCCUA, the PN program was in a transition. Under her leadership, along with Al-
lied Health Dean, Amy Hudson and with the help of Shannon McKewen and Renee Moss, the practical nursing program has been transformed. The curriculum has been updated, a Boot Camp for nursing students is held as they enter the three semester programs, instructors tutor students after class and a simulation lab has been added with a computerized patient who can have a baby, a heart attack, etc. The program completion rates and the pass rates with the State Board of Nursing are amazing. Jeanne is very organized. She also coordinates the PN
program in Helena. There are currently 12 to 15 PN students at the DeWitt campus and a few more than that at the Helena campus. She is very committed to the students and wants every student to be successful. Along with the PN program, Jeanne participates in the annual career fair. “She always has neat, hands on activities that captures the students attentions.” Carolyn Turner informs. She also participates in the Dumas recruits. Jeanne’s most recent project includes a display that has the history of Ricebelt and PCCUA PN programs that she presented to the
McCULLARS state board of nursing. It is currently on display in Little Rock. A UCA graduate, Jeanne is originally from DeWitt where she graduated from DeWitt High School.