B (USPS156-140) Vol. 133, Number 16 DeWitt, AR 72042 • 16 Pages • 2 Sections • 75 cents
lack Flies, Buffalo Gnats or Turkey Gnats
Serving Arkansas County, County Arkansas Since 1882
Story on Page B5
Thursday, April 16, 2015
Canedo Speaks to DHS History and Economics Classes
AROUND THE COUNTY
REAL ENCOUNTER COMES TO DEWITT
By Terrye Seamon
MOTO & BMX Stunt Teams will perform on the DeWitt Court Square Saturday, April 18th at 6:30 p.m. Admission free. Sponsored by New Life Fellowship, First Baptist Church and Faith Baptist.
DEWITT SENIOR CENTER RAFFLE
The DeWitt Senior Center is raffling tickets for a K2-120 quart ice chest full of fishing items. This raffle will benefit our Meals On Wheels program. Meals on Wheels programs collectively serve a nutritious meal, a warm smile and the safety check that keep over 2.5 million seniors a year healthy and living in their own homes. For more information please contact the Center at 870-946-1196 or come by the DeWitt Senior Citizens Center located at 205 N. Main.
ANNUAL PCCUA DEWITT FFA CRAWFISH BANQUET
The Annual PCCUA DeWitt FFA Crawfish Banquet will be held April 28th at 6:00 p.m. at the Arkansas County Fairgrounds Exhibit Building. Tickets are $20 and may be purchased from an FFA member, PCCUA DeWitt front office, or by calling 946-3506 ext.1600 There will be silent and live auction items and door prizes!
DEWITT FAMILY FITNESS NIGHT
DeWitt Public Schools will once again be holding our Annual Family Fitness & Science Night on Thursday May 7th, 2015 from 5:00 - 7:00 pm We are once again looking for people/organizations to have Exhibit Booths and to run an activity station. We invite you to do one or both! There is no cost to participate and this event is open to ALL families in the DeWitt School District. Please respond ASAP if you would like to participate in our event this year.
Left to right: DHS students Drew Dillion, Jake Rieves and Dayne VanCamp with Denese Canedo and Amy Holbert
Denese Merritt Canedo of Arlington, VA, formerly of DeWitt, spoke to DeWitt High School American history and economics classes April 6 and adult continuing education classes at PCCUA DeWitt Campus April 7. Canedo, a senior congressional advisor and a liaison between the United States Department of State and Congress, spoke about careers with the U.S. State Department as part of the Department’s Hometown Diplomats Program. Ashley Geiger, program officer at the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Public Affairs Office of Public Engagement with Hometown Diplomats Program, said via email, “The mission of this program is to put a hometown face on foreign policy and to explain to America what we do and why it matters.” Geiger explained that the program is made possible by State Department employees volunteering their personal time to speak to schools, organizations, government officials and local media outlets during occasional return visits to their hometown.
Canedo gave students an overview of the U.S. Department of State – what it does and its purpose. “We develop and conduct foreign policy for the United States. The State Department helps build bridges with countries and governments overseas, outside of America. And we do that through people, people like me and people like you,” Canedo told students. Canedo briefed students on the three levels of employment within the State Department: diplomats, civil servants and administrative support. She explained that while the Department of State is involved with foreign policy on an international level, there is a plethora of other things they are involved in on a smaller scale that do not necessarily “make the news” on a daily basis. She stressed to students the importance of courage and perseverance in any career opportunity. “You can make a difference whatever you choose to do,” Canedo said. Exhibiting a talent and an interest in foreign languages in high school,
Canedo is proficient in French and Russian. She studied foreign languages and international relations in college and joined the military. Speaking of her military career, Canedo told students, “It was a great place to learn about myself and about opportunities to help others overseas.” After graduating from college, Canedo started working for the U.S. Department of State and currently has served over two decades in various capacities as a civil servant. Canedo told students as a young child she had no desire to have an international career or to even see the world. “It just goes to show that you don’t have to have your life all figured out when you’re young. You just kind of roll with opportunities as they arise,” she said. Canedo is the daughter of Mike Merritt and the late Martha Ragan Merritt and the granddaughter of Harmon and Nina Mae Ragan and Bill and Eunice Merritt, all of DeWitt. Speaking of her family, Canedo attributes her work ethic and love of reading to them. “I owe a lot to my grandparents,” Canedo said.
Leslie is Page for a Day 12 year old Spencer Leslie paged in the 90th Arkansas General Assembly House of Representatives for Representative Chris Richey March 25th, 2015. Spencer Leslie is the son of Marti and Chris
Leslie of West Helena. He is the grandson of Shirley Parker of St. Charles and Spencer Parker of Crocketts Bluff, and Jamie and Terry Leslie of Helena.
ARKANSAS COUNTY MASTER GARDENERS’
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Spring Garden Seminar PDoor rizes April 18, 2015 • 9:00am - 1:00pm University of Arkansas Rice Research and Extension Center 2900 Hwy 130 E., Stuttgart, AR 72160 (North of Almyra)
Admission: $5.00 at the Door, Kids 12 and under Free Vendors include: Lauren’s Garden Nursery, Plant Haven Nursery, Greenway - John Deere Products, Grand Designs Nursery, The Funny Farm, Petal Pushers Florist, Stedman’s and Tractor Supply