Mayor Perrin is presented a prestigious Paul B. Harris pin from members of the Rotary Club of Jonesboro, President Lisa Golden, Beverly Parker and David McClain at Tuesday’s City Council meeting. Parker made a presentation showing the progress on the Rotary Centennial Plaza at S. Church Street and Monroe Street. The park’s dedication ceremony is April 26.

The City of Jonesboro E911 is hosting the regional Arkansas State crime training level -2 class for 911 dispatchers this week. The class has 20 students from Northeast Arkansas 911 centers. This is a hands-on computer-based training required for all 911 dispatchers in the state. Arkansas Crime Information Center ACIC is the state agency responsible for providing information technology services to law enforcement and other criminal justice agencies in Arkansas. The purpose of this ACIC is to provide information, support, learning and professional development and to enhance communication between law enforcement, criminal justice agencies, their staff, community members. The National Crime Information Center, or NCIC, has been called the lifeline of law enforcement—an electronic clearinghouse of crime data that can be tapped into by virtually every criminal justice agency nationwide, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. It helps criminal justice professionals apprehend fugitives, locate missing persons, recover stolen property, and identify terrorists. It also assists law enforcement officers in performing their duties more safely and provides information necessary to protect the public.

Mayor Perrin addressed a meeting of Veterans affairs officers and volunteers, as well as representatives of U.S. Sen. John Boozman’s office, at a Veterans Seminar hosted by Beck Pride Center Director Lynda Nash and Arkansas State University

The City of Jonesboro has selected Regina Burkett, an experienced community development director with collaborative connections to regional business executives and governmental agencies, to lead its Community Development and Grants Department. Burkett, most recently director of community and public relations and marketing at Absolute Care Management Corp. in Jonesboro, takes over a department that finds and procures federal, state and private grants for the City. It also promotes community development, including fair housing practices, neighborhood revitalizations, and services to low- and moderate-income residents, minorities, elderly, and disabled populations. “Ms. Burkett comes highly recommended and has the credentials to manage our critical grants procurement and community development needs,” Mayor Harold Perrin said. Burkett has 15 years of experience in grant management and worked at ARcare in Augusta for a decade prior to her position at Absolute Care Management. She was community development director, outreach coordinator and community liaison during that time, working with elected officials, business and Chamber of Commerce leaders in more than 20 communities. “I’m excited because Jonesboro is a growing city, and it’s going to exciting to be a part of that,” said Burkett. “I worked with the mayor and Jonesboro chamber of commerce and others throughout the city, and I’ve loved everyone I’ve worked with.” A native of McCrory, Burkett has worked in and Jonesboro for most of the past 20 years. She has two sons – Ben, an Arkansas State University student, and Brant and his wife Jessica, who are ASU graduates living in Wynne with a 17-month-old daughter, Norah.

Deanna Hornback, who has worked in the City of Jonesboro finance department since October and most recently served as interim director, is now fulltime finance director. Hornback retired from Suddenlink in 2014 after serving 22 years as general manager and three years as director of system operations, where she managed more than 375 employees and 48 system locations. “Deanna has stepped into a role with the City not because she needed to, but because she wanted to, and her work has been invaluable in our finance department,” Mayor Harold Perrin said. “She is widely respected inside and outside city government, and quickly familiarized herself with the complex role of overseeing the city’s finances.” As finance director, Hornback will work closely with directors of all City departments, as well as the fire and police chiefs, and manage a five-person staff that oversees adherence to budgets in all city spending. She also will work with the City Council’s finance committee, which proposes annual budgets and other spending to send to the full council. “It’s an honor to serve the City of Jonesboro and work with Mayor Perrin,” Hornback said. “He wants to stretch every taxpayer dollar as far as it will go, and that mission is very clear. I am proud to play a role in overseeing the best possible management of Jonesboro’s finances.” Hornback is a former board member of the Northeast Arkansas Children’s Advocacy Center and a former member of the Jonesboro Regional Chamber of Commerce’s Green Committee. A native of Oklahoma, Hornback and her husband, Jeff, have two adult daughters and five grandchildren.

Mayor Perrin declared April National Poetry Month in Jonesboro today at Arkansas State University. He also presented ASU Librarian Sherry Eskridge with a challenge coin bearing the City of Jonesboro logo.

Mayor Perrin made a proclamation today declaring April 14-20 as National Public Safety Telecommunications Week. He toured Jonesboro E911 and met dispatchers who give up nights, weekends, and holidays to serve those in need during an emergency.

Mayor Perrin will be at A-state Dean B. Ellis Library to deliver a proclamation in honor of National Poetry Month.

Mayor Perrin meets periodically with members of the Arkansas State University Student Government Association. Here he presents a key to the City to outgoing President Jon Mark Horton

Due to the weather yesterday, there is a felled tree that the Streets and Sanitation departments are working on at Nisbett & W Huntington.

A group of Jonesboro Cub Scouts recently got a tour of E911 and the District Courtroom along with meeting a Police K9 Officer and a few firefighters who taught them about their jobs and how they handle emergency situations.

The beginning of the work by contractors to pave the parking lots at Southside Softball Complex.

Today Mayor Perrin made a proclamation that April is Pinwheels for Prevention and Child Abuse Prevention Month. A ceremony was held at the Craighead County Courthouse by the Northeast Arkansas Children's Advocacy Center (NEACAC) where students listened to First Lady Susan Hutchinson speak about the importance of efforts to prevent child abuse and then planted pinwheels in the ground to show their support.

Food Bank of Northeast Arkansas will be having their annual Letter Carriers Food Drive next month! All support is greatly appreciated!

SCENIC HILLS NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION 6TH ANNUAL CLEAN SWEEP (Scenic Hills boundaries are W Nettleton to W Matthews & Gee St to Strawfloor Dr.) A dumpster will be OUT BACK for any items that cannot be hauled by car or truck. NO hazardous materials such as gasoline, paints, oil, etc. Also NO building materials. Refrigerators & air conditioners must have freon & compressors removed. CURBSIDE PICK UP > Curbside pick up is for bulky items ONLY—such as couches, chairs, tables, grills, appliances, etc. DO NOT PLACE ITEMS OUT BEFORE FRIDAY EVENING, MAY 3RD. All items for pick up must have advance reservation. Call 870-243-5233 BEFORE Saturday, 5/4 to be on list. YARD WASTE > Yard waste (leaves, limbs, bush clippings, etc.) is picked up by the city on a rotating area basis. The schedule can be found on city website, jonesboro.org, by calling Sanitation Dept. @ 870-932-7520 or on Scenic Hills Jonesboro Facebook page. > EVERYONE MAY PARTICIPATE IN THE CLEAN SWEEP! > For more information about Clean Sweep or about the Scenic Hills Neighborhood Association, call 870-243-5233.

FSCIA will be coordinating with the City of Jonesboro to organize a clean-up for the portion of North Jonesboro between Belt Street and Front Street and from 4th Street to Patrick Street. ??

JET Drivers needed!! Position Requirements: -- High School Diploma or equivalent. -- CDL with passenger endorsements. Prior experience is preferred. ( Will Train ) -- Successful background check and drug screen. Part- Time Shift- Days Salary- $12.00 per hour Hours- Part-time driver positions schedules may vary depending on the needs of the department. This part-time position operates a JETS bus safely and defensively to pick-up and discharge passengers on pre-established routes in the City of Jonesboro. Drivers maintain a timely schedule while ensuring the safety of its passengers. Call: (870) 935-5387

Mulch for non-decorative purposes is available from the City of Jonesboro Sanitation Department. Call 870-932-7520 for more information