LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (KTHV) - Too often we report the negative news, but great things are happening in your community each day.
Here's a look at a few stories that are on The Brighter Side...
Philander Smith College offering new staggered schedule
Philander Smith College is offering a flexible course plan to new students who have yet to complete their college registration process this school year and who want to ease into base level classes. These registrants will be allowed to complete at least nine credit hours by taking one class at a time starting Sept. 13 and ending Dec. 2.
"This semester within a semester will allow new students the opportunity to get plugged into their college courses with ease and flexibility," said President Dr. Johnny Moore. "What's imperative for students to know is that it's not too late to sign up for college. We still have financial aid and scholarships available. We're aiming to meet the needs of those who put off applying for college to the last minute."
This system is designed to appeal to central Arkansas students who do not need campus housing. The flexible schedule allows new students to take sessions on Saturdays and at least four hours during weekday evenings.
The classes are offered one at time, meaning for four weeks, students could take Developmental English, Math or Reading; then, over the next four weeks select another class and complete a third class over a four-week period, ending in early December. The other classes being offered include Composition One, Introduction to Political Science and Introduction to Sociology, Basic Speech, College Math or Algebra. Each class is worth three credit hours.
To obtain information about cost, financial aid assistance and registering, call Cathy Young, in the Philander Smith College Admissions Office, (501)370-5221.
16 restaurants pass alcohol compliance checks
Officers with the Benton Special Investigation Unit recently conducted undercover compliance checks of restaurants that serve alcohol in Benton and Bryant.
There were sixteen restaurants that passed and one that failed the compliance checks during this operation. The fifteen establishments that passed were; Smokey Joe's, Rivera Maya, La Hacienda, Colton's Steakhouse, Denton's, Sakura, Chili's, Mi Ranchito, Ruby Tuesday, Casa Mexicana, Whole Hog Café, Luigi's, US Pizza, Applebee's, Patron's, and Gino's. The restaurant that failed the check was Logan's Roadhouse in Bryant.
These operations were carried out with undercover officers accompanying a minor who goes into the business and attempts to order an alcoholic beverage. If the minor was served alcohol they excused themselves from the business and it was turned over to officers who then issued a citation to the offender. Additionally, a report of the infraction will be forwarded to the Arkansas Alcohol Beverage Commission as well.
These alcohol compliance checks are part of an Enforcing the Underage Drinking Laws (EUDL) Grant that is awarded through the State Finance and Administration office. It provides funding to departments to conduct operations such as this one to ensure that restaurants are complying with the law.
Vivione Bioscience donates lab equipment to UAPB
Vivione Bioscience, a Little Rock based bio-technology company, has donated laboratory vent hoods to the Aquaculture/Fisheries Center of Excellence at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff.
"We will be able to increase our lab work that requires the use of hazardous chemicals because of the donation of these hoods," said Dr. Rebecca Lochmann, a professor of aquaculture/fish nutrition at UAPB. "Many of the lab procedures that we do for nutrition research require the use of corrosive and otherwise hazardous chemicals, and lab safety is critical for our students and staff."
Vivione Bioscience recently established its Applications Development Laboratory at the Pine Bluff Arsenal, near the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's National Center for Toxicology Research. The company collaborated with several Arkansas state agencies and university resources to develop new food safety technology including NCTR, the University of Arkansas Medical Sciences and University of Arkansas Center for Food Safety in Fayetteville.
The UAPB Aquaculture/Fisheries Center of Excellence is recognized as a leader in aquaculture/fisheries teaching, research and Extension programs. Vivione Biosciences' donation to the center augments the company's support of Arkansas research institutions and schools that specialize in food safety, said Vivione Bioscience CEO Kevin Kuykendall.
"We received economic development incentives from the Jefferson County Alliance and the Arkansas Economic Development Commission to buy new equipment, which allowed us to donate our used equipment to UAPB. In effect, Jefferson County and Pine Bluff invested in Vivione, so we invested in the educational system of the community," Kuykendall said.
Vivione Biosciences hopes to collaborate with the UAPB Aquaculture/Fisheries Center to offer internships to students who qualify. For more information about Vivione Biosciences visit www.vivionebiosciences.com. For more information about the UAPB Aquaculture/Fisheries Center of Excellence, visit www.uaex.edu/aqfi or call 870-575-8141.