Spring 2004

Youth Leadership Team Visits Business World

Steven Sanders Jr., NATCO Plant Manager, shows students how light travels through fiber optic cable.

Sixteen area ninth-graders went to "work" in telecommunications at NATCO one Friday in March. It was "Tech Day" for the members of this year's South Shore - Marion County Youth Leadership Team.

At NATCO, students met managers from six departments, had sessions with NATCO Plant Manager Steven Sanders Jr., and with Internet Services Supervisor Larry May. NATCO Business Manager Steve Smith informed students about scholarships NATCO offers to graduating seniors of the South Shore area schools.

"Tech Day" is one of nine monthly activities for this group of students in leadership training. Leadership team members finished up their year of training with a session at Ranger Boats about careers and job interviews, then a graduation reception at Flippin.

Renee Myers, of the Marion County Cooperative Extension and co-chair of the adult advisory board with Steve Hobbs, said activities are designed to identify and strengthen leadership skills in youth and build their self-confidence as they learn to serve their schools and communities.

A total of 59 students have graduated from the leadership training program for ninth-grade students since it began four years ago. All together, the students have completed more than 10 community service projects, such as beautifying school campuses, donating food to the needy, donating gifts to needy children at Christmas, organizing and conducting a program to encourage diversity, and much more, said Mrs. Myers.

Any eighth-grade student desiring to be on next school year's South-Shore Marion County Youth Leadership Team may obtain an application from their school counselor, the Marion County Extension Office (870) 449-6349, or online at the South Shore Foundation Web site at www.southshore.com/mcyjoin.htm and submit the application by June 15.

Next year's team will be selected by the members of the Marion County Adult Leadership Advisory Committee. South Shore Foundation, the charitable foundation of NATCO, is the major funding sponsor of the youth leadership team. Additional sponsors are Entergy, University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service, local schools and local businesses.

A Video Conference Demo Larry May, Internet Services Supervisor, works with students on the video conference exercise during "Tech Day" at NATCO.		Working Online Mark Principato of the NATCO Internet Services Dept., was on hand to help inform students about telecommunications technology.

Using GPS Doug Smith, outside plant engineer, told students about a NATCO mapping project using a global positioning system.		2004 MCYL Team Members Students attending the NATCO Tech Day were: Karen, Crystal, Brandy, Chelsea, and Tyler, all of Bruno-Pyatt; Katherine, Elizabeth, Steffie, and Kary, all of Flippin; Katie, Savannah, Steven, Thane, Casey, Zack, and Rachelle, all of Yellville-Summit.

South Shore Academic Scholarship Recipients

The South Shore Foundation Academic Scholarship winners for 2004 have been selected. Each $1,000 scholarship can be renewed each year if recipients attend an Arkansas college or university, earn a “B” average, and attend full-time. An application for the scholarship is online at www.southshore.com.

Dustin Bradley Choate is the scholarship winner at Bergman High School. Dustin is the son of Bradley and Teresa Choate of Harrison. He plans to attend either Arkansas Tech University or the University of Central Arkansas to study pre-pharmacy.

Noah Lawrence Chagnon is the Bruno-Pyatt High School scholarship winner. An 18-year-old, Noah plans to attend Arkansas Tech University with a major in general studies. Noah is the valedictorian of his 2004 graduating class. During high school he has played basketball, being named All-Conference, All-Region, and to the area Top 25 Team. Noah is also active in the youth group of the Pyatt Baptist Church. Noah is the son of Alex and Patricia Chagnon of rural St. Joe.

Lynlee Brooke Davis, 18, receives the Flippin High School scholarship. She plans to attend the University of Arkansas and major in animal science. Lynlee is the daughter of Terry and Carma Davis of rural Yellville. During her school years, she has participated in local, state, and national livestock exhibiting and was Future Farmers of America Secretary at the Flippin chapter and FFA Junior Advisor. Last year, Lynlee was in the Chess Club, was Crooked Creek Livestock 4-H Club President, and took part in Race for the Cure and Adopt-A-Highway. Awards and honors include being a delegate to Arkansas Girls' State - 2003, Arkansas Beef Princess Contest second runner-up - 2003, American Simmental Assoc. Silver Merit Award - 2003, Arkansas Purple Circle Club - 2001, and FFA Star Greenhand Award - 2001.

Mary Elizabeth Milligan, 17, is the scholarship winner at Lead Hill. She plans to attend the University of Arkansas and major in mathematics in order to become a secondary school teacher. Mary is the daughter of Jeanette Milligan of Lead Hill. Among her numerous activities are: Quiz Bowl team captain, National Honor Society president, Student Council president, track participant and sports teams manager. She is a honor roll student who was voted Outstanding Band Member, Most Academic, and Most Likely to Succeed. In the community, she has worked on many fund-raising efforts and is member of the local fire department auxiliary.

Kristin Nicole Blevins, 18, is the Omaha High School scholarship winner. She is the daughter of Richard and Gina Blevins of Omaha. Kristin plans to attend Arkansas Tech University to study toward a career in the medical field. During high school, Kristin was in basketball and a member of Future Business Leaders, Family, Career and Community Leaders, Health Occupations Students, and Omaha Teens Against Drugs. Kristin is also active in the youth group of the Faith Assembly of God Church at Harrison.

Isaac Seth Goodwin is the Yellville-Summit High School scholarship winner. The son of Dan and Lorna Goodwin, Isaac is 18. He plans to attend the University of Arkansas and has chosen physics as a major course of study. In high school, Isaac was in basketball, baseball, and football, was National Honor Society president, and a member of the Student Council. He is a member of a church youth group. Isaac has received the Citizenship Award, Panther Pride Award, Hugh O'Brien Leadership Award, and was named to the Rotary Youth Leadership Academy. He also received school honors as Best All-Around Underclassman and Most Likely to Succeed.

NATCO Phone Directory Recycling in September

NATCO customers are reminded that September is the time to recycle your outdated Ozark Regional telephone directories. It’s the 11th annual phone book recycling project.

"Our customers may drop off their old Ozark Regional Directories, or any directory they have, at the traditional recycling locations in the communities of our service area," said Steven Sanders Jr., vice president and plant manager at NATCO. The recycling bins will be in place beginning in late August through September.

Customers are asked to place the old phone directories in the blue bins marked with the "recycle" symbol and NATCO company logo. At some locations, the bins are inside the buildings, and in others they are outside, but sheltered from the weather. "These businesses and offices are doing a fine service for us, and we thank them," Sanders said.

•Bull Shoals: City Hall and Arvest Bank
•Diamond City: Community Center
•Flippin: NATCO building lobby, Flippin City Hall, Arvest Bank
•Lead Hill: Lead Hill Country Market and Arvest Bank
•Mountain Home: Brooks-Jeffrey Marketing and Arvest Bank
•Omaha: Charlie’s Restaurant and Pizza
•Yellville: Arvest Bank

Twin Lakes Community Online Directory Renewed to Serve Two Counties

South Shore Foundation has provided a $2,500 second grant for the online human services directory for Baxter and Marion Counties. The directory of about 200 groups and agencies is online at twinlakescommunity.org. The United Community Resource Council of Baxter County is the grant recipient.

Kathy Weaver, president of the UCRC, said the funding will keep the Web site active and allow updates on listings. The listings are divided into categories, such as child/youth abuse, elderly care, employment and training, food/clothing, handicap/special needs, health, housing/shelter, income support, legal assistance, mental health, spiritual support, substance abuse, and others. Or, a group can be found alphabetically by name.

Mrs. Weaver said, "This Web site brings together, in a single location, information about the various area, regional, state, and national services available to residents of north central Arkansas." She said there is no cost for a listing.

The UCRC directory is currently seeking corporate and individual sponsors to assure that the online directory will be available in the future, she said. The online directory was originally funded in 2001 by the TEA Coalition and the South Shore Foundation.

Human Services Web Site Supported by South Shore Foundation Margaret Hall (seated), a trustee of the South Shore Foundation, is shown with Kathy Weaver, president of the United Community Resource Council (UCRC), displaying the online directory of human service agencies, support groups, and volunteer organizations.

The Web site helps professional counselors, ministers, teachers, and agency employees learn which services other agencies and groups offer. "Sometimes it is difficult to know precisely what resources and programs are available to help people needing assistance," said Jackie Edmonds, Web Committee chairperson for the UCRC.

Current member organizations of the UCRC are Advocates for the Elderly, American Red Cross, ASUMH Adult Education, Arkansas People First, Arkansas Workforce Centers, Baxter County Juvenile Services, Department of Human Services, Embracing Diversity, Mountain Home Food Basket, Open Arms Learning Center/Noah's Ark Pre-School, OUR Kids, Ozark Counseling Services, Serenity, SPARKS, and Twin Lakes Literacy Council.

For more information about the UCRC online directory, call Kathy Weaver, president, at 425-4085. Brooks-Jeffrey Marketing (BJM) designed and built the site in 2001. For more information about sponsorship of the Web site, call BJM at 425-8064.

South Shore Grant Goes to Serenity, Inc. for Public Education

Serenity Receives Funding for Public Education With a grant from South Shore Foundation, Serenity, Inc. will produce its own educational programs about domestic violence prevention. Shown (from left) are Rachel Loggains, executive director of Serenity, Inc., with trustees of the South Shore Foundation Phyllis Speer and Jodie Elizabeth Jeffrey. Serenity received funding of $3,246 to purchase similar equipment.

Serenity, Inc., a shelter for victims of domestic violence and/or adult sexual assault, has received a grant from South Shore Foundation to assist the shelter with public education on the topics of rape and domestic violence prevention.

The grant of $3,246 from South Shore Foundation will help Serenity purchase a laptop computer and Power Point projector, plus software, to make presentations to the public, explaining its work and the issues it deals with. Several trustees of South Shore Foundation commented that they found presentations made by Serenity to be educational and motivating.

According to Rachel Loggains, executive director, it is hoped that through Serenity's community awareness training and education programs, "We can help decrease this cycle of violence that destroys families, lives, and all too often takes the lives of its victims."

Serenity serves residents of a four-county area including Baxter, Marion, Fulton, and Izard, or a population base of about 85,000. The director said most victims are low-income, rural women between ages 18 and 35, married, with children. To contact Serenity, call 870-424-7576.

For more information about South Shore Foundation, the charitable foundation of Northern Arkansas Telephone Company at Flippin, call 1-888-SShore1, or visit www.southshore.com.

Businesses in Marion, Baxter and Boone counties are invited to participate in this region's first online yellow page project sponsored by a telephone company. There are three levels to the program:

1. Free Listing
All businesses listed in the Ozark Regional Telephone Directory (the official telephone directory of NATCO and Yelcot) will receive a free listing that includes: Business name, one mailing address and/or one physical address, and one phone number.

2. Link to Your Site and E-mail Address
In addition to your free listing, you will receive a link to your Web site and a link to one e-mail account. $5 per month* (for Ozark Regional Telephone Directory advertisers) $10 per month* (for businesses who don't advertise in the Ozark Regional Telephone Directory).
*Ads will be billed monthly.

3. In Addition to 1 and 2, Your Online Yellow Page Ad May Also Include up to 25 Words that Describe Your Business and up to 15 Phone Numbers.
$10 per month* (for Ozark Regional Telephone Directory advertisers) $20 per month* (for businesses who don't advertise in the Ozark Regional Telephone Directory). Changes to an ad may be made at anytime during the year for a fee of $10 ($5 for directory advertisers).

Sign up online, over the phone or in person

Visit www.natconet.com 1-800-775-6682 301 East Main Street, Flippin

Spotlight: NATCOMail

School's out. One of the predictable outcomes of that is your telephone line will be busier. Let NATCOMail help so you won't miss important calls.

NATCOMail is an effective way to handle phone messages. A voice mail system that is easy to operate, and fits your budget, NATCOMail really can make your life easier.

Packages to choose from:
• Super Saver - $2.75 per mo.
• Value Package - $3.50 per mo.
• Ultimate Package - $7 per mo.

NATCOMail will automatically take the calls - after four or five rings if you are unable to answer - or immediately if you are already on the phone. Callers will hear your own voice recording about leaving messages. When callers leave you a message, you won't have to play it aloud, as a taped message machine would. Messages are accessed by a password, and you can change your password whenever you wish.

Depending on the package you choose, messages are saved from seven days to a full month. You have the choice of types of message notification - hearing a "stutter tone" when you pick up the phone or callout notification.

NATCOMail works all the time - when you're on the phone or away, when the electricity fails, if ever it does. It also logs your calls in at their exact time and date. It's easy to get from one message to another, to back up or advance a few seconds to review messages.

Parents -
enjoy the summer break,
call NATCO Customer Service
today for NATCOMail

Technology for Ecology at Flippin Elementary

South Shore Grant Provides Technology for Ecology Studies Fred Berry, a foundation director, and Flippin teacher Shannon King with students (from left) Montana and Nick are ready to work with the new technology. First through fifth-grade students will use three new computers and a special microscope to study a wildlife habitat area being developed outside the school. They can view on the computer screen items placed under the microscope - in this case, a worm. With the $6,254 South Shore Foundation grant, Flippin students can also take part in Monarch Watch next year.

Families: Get South Shore Soccer News Online

Boys and girls interested in taking part in soccer can do so in the Flippin area, and families can get all the information they need online at the South Shore Web site's soccer section at southshore.com/sssanews.htm.

From sign-up in August (or February) to the spring soccer season to summer soccer camp, the Web site is a source of information.

This year, adult leaders of the SSSA are: President Roger Leonard, Vice President Gerry Rainbolt, Secretary Shawn Dennis, Treasurer Chris Carter. Additional volunteers are Diane Duckworth - registration, Frank Shrake- referee coordinator, Wes Due - coaching coordinator, and Mary Humphrey - concessions, fund raising.

There are about 100 players in recreational soccer. President Roger Leonard says local interest in soccer got the program started. "We hope to continue to keep younger players interested so that as they become older, they can play for their school." Now, there is a Middle School soccer team and a high school soccer team, as well.

Among the resources for soccer families online is the registration form. This form can be printed out and mailed in at the start of the season, saving time and travel. Coaches can put their schedules online and other information helpful to their teams and families. Coaches work with NATCO every week to put new information online.

More information will be coming soon about this summer's British Soccer Camp, August 2-6. Families that are not Internet users at home can go to the public library and use the public access computers. If you have questions please contact Roger Leonard at: rleonard@claridgeproducts.com or 453-8257 between 7 and 10 p.m.

On the South Shore Youth page
you will find the link for the
South Shore Soccer Association.