Press Releases & Media Relations

The City of Osceola recently received a Mississippi County Community Foundation Grant award in the amount of $500.00. These funds will be used in continuing the construction of a new dog-themed park located within Osceolas existing Florida Park.

The City of Osceola wishes to extend a special word of "Thanks" to Shantelle Raper for the many long hours of volunteer work that she has contributed to this grant process. Her visison, leadership and dedication towards creating the municipal Bark Park is deeply appreciated.

Pictured from left to right are Nickie Bell, Executive Director of the Mississippi County Community Foundation, Jane Stanford, Human Resource Manager for the City of Osceola, Mr. Rogers Ford, Mississippi County Community Foundation Board Member, Shantelle Raper, Osceola School District, and Michael Ephlin, Osceola Parks and Recreation Department Supervisor.

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Category: Press Releases & Media Relations

Last week, Mayor Wilson represented The City of Osceola at the Arkansas Rural Development Conference in Hot Springs.  On Thursday, Governor Hutchinson spoke to the attendees regarding his plan to deploy high-speed broadband internet access to towns across Arkansas, see his press release below.  In his speech, the Governor specified that Mississippi County Electric Cooperative, along with other coops, have signed on as partners.  Afterwards, Mayor Wilson discussed the details of this plan with Brad Harrison of MCEC. Harrison said that they (MCEC) hope to provide broadband to all their customers and could include Osceola Municipal Light & Power customers. Wilson informed Harrison that Osceola could be interested.  He said that his office is working on an application for a feasibility study.  If all goes as planned, MCEC will have the study completed by the end of the third quarter 2019.  

It is hoped that we might be able to get as much as 100 megabits for as little as $55 per month.  It goes without saying that this would be very beneficial for Osceola residents and other OML&P customers. Osceola would also benefit by using this value-added service as an incentive for attracting new and retaining our existing small retail businesses.  I will keep you posted as the months progress. 
Sally Wilson

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For Immediate Release
From the Office of Governor Asa Hutchinson

Governor Hutchinson Releases Arkansas State Broadband Plan, Goal for Rural Connectivity in Four Years

25 Mbps/3 Mbps broadband to all population centers over 500 by 2022

LITTLE ROCK – Governor Asa Hutchinson today released the Arkansas State Broadband Plan, which sets a goal to deploy high-speed broadband to all Arkansas communities with more than 500 residents by 2022. The high-speed broadband would have a rate of 25 megabits per second for download and 3 megabits per second for upload. 

This plan details the Governor’s goal, how close Arkansas is to achieving that goal, and outlines the means by which that goal can be achieved. You can view the plan in its entirety below.

Governor Hutchinson issued the following statement:

“Arkansas has already established itself as a national leader in providing high-speed, broadband connectivity to our schools. Today, as a result, our students are developing 21st century skills in the classroom to succeed in tomorrow’s workforce. Our focus now extends beyond our schools and into our rural communities. Equal access to high-speed broadband in rural Arkansas is a critical component to the success and longevity of our state’s economy, and I believe this plan will help us accomplish that goal within the next four years.”

In March 2019, Governor Hutchinson charged the Arkansas Development Finance Authority Economic Policy Division, led by Nathan Smith, Ph.D., to develop a State Broadband Plan. Stakeholders from the private and public sectors assisted in preparing the plan and provided key feedback during the process. Stakeholders include: 

Arkansas Department of Information Systems; the University of Arkansas Agricultural Extension Service; the Arkansas Department of Health; AT&T; Cox; CenturyLink; Windstream; the University of Arkansas System and the ARE-ON Network; Larry Frazier of Rural Arkansas Telecommunication Systems; Arkansas Electric Cooperatives; the Rural Electric Cooperative Association; technology expert Brent Skorup of the Mercatus Center; Elizabeth Bowles of Aristotle and the FCC’s Broadband Deployment Advisory Committee; Ted Thomas, Chairman of the Arkansas Public Service Commission; the Arkansas Department of Transportation; and Cynthia Edwards, Deputy Secretary of the Arkansas Department of Agriculture.

With the Governor’s release of a state broadband plan, telecommunications companies, rural electric cooperatives, utilities and internet service providers will be able to cite the plan when applying for federal grants to expand broadband infrastructure and connectivity in rural Arkansas.

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Category: Press Releases & Media Relations

05.13.2019  |  For immediate release

At the invitation of the Arkansas Municipal League's Whitnee Bullerwell and the National League of Cities, Osceola Mayor, Sally Wilson attended the Strong Southern Communities Initiative network seminar at the ARML's headquarters on May 2nd and 3rd along with 14 other Arkansas mayors and council members. 

What is the Strong Southern Communities Initiative (SSCI)?

SSCI is designed to provide practical help and advice to municipal leaders in Mississippi, Arkansas and Louisiana. It brings together local elected officials from across the region who want to improve outcomes for children and families, enabling them to share ideas and discuss the challenges facing their communities.

Additionally, SSCI helps participating mayors and city councilmembers develop local action plans based on their unique circumstances and needs, and then connects city leaders to national experts and regional partners who can help them implement those plans.

What are the benefits?

By joining the SSCI, local elected office will become part of a peer learning network within the region that helps them improve the lives of children and families in their communities.

What are the expectations?

As part of their commitment to join SSCI, city leaders will identify a specific “result” in their community that they seek to improve. YEF Institute staff will then help local elected officials assess their existing barriers, opportunities and assets, and through that process support their efforts to develop a local action plan.

Pictured are those attending: Batesville Mayor Rick Elumbaugh, Bay Mayor Darrell Kirby, Bryant Mayor Allen Scott, Dermott Mayor Walter Donald, Fairfield Bay Mayor Paul Wellenberger, Jonesboro Mayor Harold Perrin, Lake Village Mayor Joe Dan Yee, Lake Village Alderman Sam Angel II, Lake Village Alderman Sharron Walker,  North Little Rock Mayor Joe Smith, Pea Ridge Mayor Jackie Crabtree, Pine Bluff Mayor Shirley Washington, Smackover Mayor Bobby Neal, and Stephens Mayor Harry Brown.

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Category: Press Releases & Media Relations

Due to the Memorial Day Holiday,

NO household garbage will be picked up on

Monday, May 27th, 2019.

The entire City of Osceola will have all household garbage picked up on

Tuesday, May 28th, 2019.

Then returning to the normal schedule on

Thursday, May 30th, 2019.

 

Steve Choals, Superintendent
Osceola Dept. of Streets & Sanitation

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Category: Press Releases & Media Relations