There are about 3,500 children in the Arkansas State Foster Care System at any given time. These children come into state custody through no fault of their own - it is because of abuse, neglect, or some other safety concern in the home. It's time for the Body of Christ to step up and meet the needs of these children in our own neighborhoods. Most importantly we need families to care for these children, but there are many different ways to help. For example, an elderly lady wanted to help, but didn't know how she could. After consideration of what she was gifted at, she decided her part of helping would be to bake a birthday cake for each foster child in Palaski County on their birthdays. As you can see, there are many ways to help. Every part of the body of Christ has different gifts and resources that The C.A.L.L. could use.

The C.A.L.L.

Who We Are
An exciting Foster Care Church Initiative has rapidly emerged as churches are joining together with an unprecedented level of support from the top levels of leadership of the Arkansas DHHS’ Division of Children and Family Services. The initiative is named The C.A.L.L. -- Children of Arkansas Loved for a Lifetime -- because of God's call on the Church: "Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress..." James 1:27.

Why did we form? There is a desperate need for more foster, adoptive and respite care homes for children in the Arkansas foster care system. We must find more loving homes for these hurting children.

Our Mission:
To educate, equip and encourage the Christian community to provide a future and a hope for the children in foster care.

For more information regarding The C.A.L.L. in Crawford and Sebastian counties, call Traci Tabakian at 479-719-4730.

http://thecallinarkansas.org

A four-story, 83-room Best Western Inn & Suites will be open to guests Friday, Feb. 26 according to a report from The Times Record. The building has been under construction for nearly 11 months and is located at 6500 Rogers Ave. Developer Tim Whitten says, “we’ve been sitting there for seven weeks trying to get the parking lot paved.”

The delay can be attributed to the rain and wintry weather that Fort Smith has been experiencing lately, but finally the parking lot is paved and the hotel is ready for business. Part of a retaining wall on the property collapsed last summer, and it’s rebuilding also pushed back the grand opening, Whitten said.

Lisa Whitten, vice president of Whitten Hospitality in Russellville, said the new hotel includes 21 large suites, each room complete with a microwave, refrigerator, and a 32-inch LCD television with high-definition cable. Also, high-speed wireless Internet will be available, she said. Other amenities at the hotel include a heated, outdoor pool, an exercise room, a conference room, and guest laundry.  A shuttle service to guests to travel two and from the Choctaw Casino in Pocola and the Fort Smith Regional Airport will also be offered by the Fort Smith Inn.

Whitten Hospitality has two additional Best Westerns under construction in Maumelle and Russellville. The company usually builds hotels for sale or operates them only until a buyer is found, but Lisa Whitten said Whitten Hospitality has long-term plans to operate the Fort Smith Inn & Suites.

In competition with the Rogers Ave. restaurant strip, the Fort Smith Inn will serve a hot breakfast to its guests with foods like breakfast burritos, croissants, bagels, bread and biscuits and gravy. Each week night, a “Manager’s Reception” will also take place, Lisa Whitten said.

The project began in the midst of the nation’s worst economic downturn in decades, but the Whitten’s and other developers didn’t wait.

“While the hospitality industry has fallen a bit, it is strong,” Lisa Whitten said. “Overall, it has fallen 10 to 15 percent, but nationally it has fallen 20 to 25 percent. Arkansas is holding.”  

Executive director of the Fort Smith Convention and Visitors Bureau Claude Legris said he doesn’t expect any other hotel or motel openings in the area this year. The hotel market averages about one new property a year (based on recent years) and 2009 openings included Homewood Suites and Candlewood Suites hotels on Phoenix Avenue.

Legris said, “The Best Western will help fill a need. I don’t think it’ll have a negative impact on occupancy and revenue in the city overall or at a particular property. You always have to be careful not to overbuild. I don’t see any other properties on the horizon in the short term, so we should be able to absorb this inventory.”

Whitten Hospitality’s new Best Western Inn & Suites plans to employ around 20 people in full and part-time positions.

With winter weather upon is, it’s important to know how to drive in ice and snow. Of course, the best advice for driving in snow and ice is to not drive at all unless it’s absolutely necessary. Here are some other tips from weather.com for winter driving.

Don’t go out until the sand and salt trucks have had a chance to work on the roads, and always allow yourself extra time to reach your destination.

Make sure your care is prepared and that you know how to handle road conditions. Consider practicing winter driving techniques in a snow-covered, open parking lot to become familiar with your car’s functioning in winter weather. Also, check your owner’s manual for additional vehicle-specific tips.

Driving Safely on Ice

• Slow down and leave yourself plenty of room to brake. Allow at least three times more space than usual between you and cars in front of you.
• Brake gently to avoid skidding. Should your wheels lock up, ease off the brake.
• Keep your lights on to increase visibility for yourself and others.
• Keep your lights and windshield as clean and unobstructed as possible.
• Use low gears to maintain traction, especially when traveling up or down hills.
• Avoid using cruise control or overdrive.
• Be extremely cautious on bridges, overpasses, and infrequently traveled roads since they will freeze first. At temperatures above freezing, keep in mind, that wet conditions could lead to ice in shady areas or on exposed roadways like bridges.
• Never pass snowplows and sanding trucks. The drivers have limited visibility and the roads behind them will be much safer and easier to travel than the roads they haven’t tended to yet.
• Never assume your vehicle can handle all winter weather conditions. Even four-wheel and front-wheel drive cars are susceptible to trouble on winter roads.

For more tips and tricks, visit weather.com. 

With Valentine’s Day rapidly approaching, you men out there might be stressing about what gift to give to the woman in your life. This doesn’t have to be a nerve-wrecking task, just focus on showing your woman that you care. Here are some ideas from 5News on gifts to consider for this Valentine’s Day.

A mixtape: This is a great gift for men who don’t have a big budget for Valentine’s Day gifts. Mixtapes can say a lot about a relationship. Try not to worry about the genre of music you choose, but rather include music that you know she likes. Also, be sure to keep in mind the content of the lyrics; just because it’s a slow song doesn’t mean it’s about love. Look up or listen to the lyrics before you include any tracks.

Flowers: Flowers are another gift that won’t break your budget. Though flowers are a romantic gesture any time, they are especially romantic on Valentine’s Day. You don’t always have to get her roses; lilies are a beautiful and simple alternative. You can always ask her girlfriends or family for advice if you’re unsure what kind of flowers to get, and the gesture will be much more sentimental if you show up, bouquet in hand, to her job rather than just calling the florist.

Dinner and a movie: Spend an entire evening with the woman in your life and make her feel like the center of your world, especially on Valentine’s Day. This option is a little more expensive, but it’ll be well worth it. Consider making reservations in advance in order to avoid long waits on one of the busiest date nights of the year.

Couples Massage: Some women love to be pampered and would love a relaxing massage, especially if it involves her significant other. Most spas offer couples massages during which both of you are in a room together while being catered to by a professional masseuse, and some may even be offering discounted prices for Valentine’s Day. A relaxing spa adventure is an incredibly romantic gesture and is just the right atmosphere for a Valentine’s Day celebration.

Jewelry from Tiffany & Co: This is obviously more expensive than some of the other items on this list, but there’s something that women love about the little blue box from Tiffany’s. You don’t necessarily have to buy the most expensive diamond ring in the store; Tiffany’s offers several pieces for less than $150. Remember to cater to her tastes--don’t buy silver if what she mostly wears is gold and vice versa.

Spend the day volunteering together: If you know the woman in your life is extremely passionate about a certain cause, she’ll be very impressed if you care enough to get involved. Tell her you want to spend the day sharing her passion for volunteering. Activities can be as simple as taking time to walk dogs at the local animal shelter or passing out blankets or food to the homeless. This gesture will show her that you understand her and the causes that she values.

A romantic weekend getaway: If your budget allows, you could take your woman away to a cozy bed and breakfast in the nearby countryside or to an exotic locale with a warm, sandy beach. A weekend getaway offers an amazing opportunity to spend quality time together and relax away from the stresses of everyday life Be sure, however, to give her plenty of notice so she can properly pack and prepare.

Home-cooked dinner for two: This is a very easy way to impress the woman in your life. By showing your prowess in the kitchen, whether you choose to cook a romantic Italian dinner or a luxurious steak or lobster, she’s sure to be impressed if you put a little effort and thought into the meal. Remember to include something special for dessert, and match a quality bottle of wine or champagne to the meal. Most importantly, do the dishes. She will be bragging to her friends for weeks!

Chocolate: The key to this gift is to branch beyond the generic, heart-shaped chocolate box from the grocery store and opt for something more luxurious. Brands such as Vosges and Recchiuti offer gourmet chocolate flavors and contemporary designs that can be purchased online. Be prepared to spend more than $50 on a box of chocolate if you decide to go with this gift, however.

Last Wednesday, Apple CEO Steve Jobs unveiled Apple’s latest creation: the iPad. Jobs called the iPad Apple’s “most advanced technology in a magical and revolutionary device and at an unbelievable price,” according to ABC News.

Many reviews of the iPad are circulating around the web and consumers are anxious to get their hands on the latest and most technologically advanced tablet computer. Before you rush out to buy your iPad, consider these tech specs from infocera.com.

The iPad has a 9.7-inch, LED-backlit IPS display, a precise Multi-Touch screen, and better graphics than the 3.5 inch touch screen on smart phones like the iPhone and also the iPod touch. It weighs only 1.5 pounds and is 0.5 inches thick. Popular games like PopCap’s Bejeweled 2 are much more colorful and sharply displayed on the iPad’s 10 inch screen, so game lovers will prefer the iPad over an iPhone.

Applications – Apple’s new iPad supports over 140,000 downloadable applications (including around 30,000 games), which is equal to both the PlayStation PSP and the Nintendo DS. Though both the PSP and the DS are more portable than the iPad, gamers will still prefer the iPad because of its clarity and huge resolution.

The iPad will boast 10 hours of battery life, and Apple has announced the cost to be between $499 and $830, both figures that are considerably lower than analysts’ predictions of $800 - $1000. The costs, however, depend on the models and their memories. A 16 GB iPad will cost $499, a 32 GB model will cost $599, and a 64 GB model will cost $699.

Jobs announced that the device will ship in 60 days. Wi-Fi models will ship in late March, and 3G models will ship in early April.

According to the Southwest Times Record, Arkansas has been ranked 10^th in education for the second year in a row, according to a report released on Jan. 14 that evaluates public education systems.

The 14^th annual Quality Counts report released by Education Week gave Arkansas a grade of B-minus for overall education quality. The nation as a whole received a C.

State Education Commissioner Tom Kimbrell said in an interview, “We think it’s really important that we continue to build that ranking.” Kimbrell also believes the report “is important because it doesn’t just look at what you’re putting into the system, it looks at what is coming out of the system.”

The grades are assigned to all fifty states based on factors like educational policies, spending, student achievement and students’ chance of success. Arkansas was the only state west of the Mississippi River to get a grade higher than a C+. Massachusetts was the only state in the nation to receive an A, and Connecticut, New Hampshire, and New Jersey all received A-minuses.

Arkansas’ lowest score in any category was a D in K-12 achievement. This grade was also seen on last year’s report. Kimbrell said it is one of his goals to improve in this area over time.

“We’re going to be looking at that and we think our achievement scores will continue to improve and we’ll see that ranking go up,” Kimbrell said.

Arkansas’ highest score was an A in standards, assessments, and accountability. The state has been trying to improve in this category for some time, according to Kimbrell, and this year’s score was an improvement from last year’s received B.

“We have created an accountability system that people understand now. We have an assessment program that is of high standards, and we have a set of standards in Arkansas … that we believe are pretty high,” Kimbrell said. 

After this holiday season and receiving gifts from friends and loved ones, you may be struggling with thank you notes. Often times it is difficult to determine the exact style and nature of thank you notes, but luckily eHow.com has outlined the art of the friendly, personal thank you note.

eHow.com suggests filling even the shortest of notes with appreciation, sincerity, and meaning. All thank you notes should be handwritten; this shows the receiver that you are sincere about your gratitude. Send thank you notes for gifts received, in appreciation of a service or favor, or following a job interview. Always send thank you notes via regular mail, not email. Try to promptly send thank you notes, but “better late than never” is applicable to the notes because recipients will always enjoy reading about your gratitude.

eHow.com offers these steps for writing thank you notes:

1.   Start with a fresh sheet of note paper and a smooth pen. Thank you notes, traditionally written in cursive, should be headed by the date and a salutation: “Dear Aunt Ruth,” don’t forget the comma.
2. Thank the recipient of the note for the gift, favor, or entertainment they gave.
3. Write about the appropriateness of the subject of the note: “Your babysitting for my children has truly been a lifesaver in these difficult times.” If the particular gift didn’t quite suit your taste, describe it as “a conversation piece” or “unique.”  
4. Make a connection between the appropriateness of the gift to the person who gave it to you: “You’ve always understood my taste in clothes.”
5. Tell the recipient how you plan to use the gift (or you can swap this step for step 3): “I have a picture of my parents that will look perfect in your frame.” Or, if you received money, mention how you plan to spend it.
6. Update the giver about your life by including a brief line like, “I have completely recovered from my cold and plan to hit the slopes as soon as I can.”
7. Sign your thank you note: “With thanks, _____________.”

By following these simple steps, those who gave you gifts or provided you with a favor or service will understand and appreciate your gratitude. 

According a report released by the Arkansas Realtors Association last Thursday and the Times Record, home sales in Arkansas improved in October 2009 from the same month in 2008 for only the third time in 45 months. 2,332 homes sold in October 2009 compared to 1,879 last year, a 24.11 percent increase that can be credited to the expiring tax credit. 

Ethan Nobles, association spokesman, said, “This is the result of everybody going out to buy a house in October.” He also noted that the government extended the federal tax credit for first-time homebuyers until April 30, 2010. It was originally slated to expire on Nov. 30. Nobles also expressed hope that the increasing trend in home sales would continue through the first of 2010.

According to the association’s blog, Nobles believes another factor for the improvement seen in October was low interest rates. The average national rate on a 30-year, fixed-interest mortgage is 4.7 percent and rates stayed below 5 percent throughout the entire month of October. Nobles thinks the improvement was a result of homebuyers taking notice of the low rates and purchasing property accordingly.

In Arkansas, the total value of homes sold in October was $324.5 million; an increase of 20.36 percent from $269.9 million in October 2008 but the average sales price fell 3.02 percent to $138,130.

The most home sales in the state in October were in Pulaski County. This area experienced a 30.77 percent increase from 2008. The second-highest number of sales was in Benton County, which showed a 35.77 percent increase from last year. Third was Washington County, where sales increased 25 percent over the past year.

The highest average home prices were in Carroll County. They had increased 9.7 percent since October 2008. Miller County had the second highest, down 16.82 percent, and Boone County was third, up 47.84 percent. 

Beginning on Dec. 1, 2009, Melody Trimble will be the new CEO of Sparks Regional Medical Center. Trimble will oversee more than 2,000 employees according to a memo from a Health Management Associates executive and Fort Smith’s The City Wire Web site. David Rothenberger will also join the medical center as the new chief financial officer.

An agreement to sell Sparks Health Systems to HMA, based in Naples, Fla., was signed on Nov. 4, and the two parties had announced their intent to seek the sale on Aug. 14. Based on this agreement, HMA will assume ownership of the hospital on Nov. 30.  

Britt Reynolds, HMA division vice president over the geographic region including Sparks, issued the management changes via memo last Friday. This memo was distributed to the directors and managers at the medical center. Chip Parks, a spokesman for Sparks Regional Medical Center, said a more formal notice of management changes is expected soon.

Trimble has previously served as CEO of Venice Regional Medical Center since 2005 when HMA bought the Venice, Fla. Hospital. HMA invested more than $30 million in hospital renovations and new equipment at Venice, according to an Aug. 10 story from the HeraldTribune.com that outlines Venice Regional Medical Center’s financial recovery.

Trimble received a bachelor’s degree in nursing from Eastern Kentucky University and earned a master’s in nursing at the University of Kentucky. She joined HMA in 1991, according to the Venice Regional Medical Web site.

“She is a highly regarded leader who possesses strong leadership, excellent relationship building and strategic execution skills,” Reynolds said.

Sparks’ current CEO Ted Woodrell and current CFO Dan Hamman are the only officers not staying as of now. They are exceptions because they are employed by Quorum Health Resources, based in Brentwood, Tenn., which currently has a management contract in place with Sparks. 

It was announced yesterday that the Senate approved a $45 billion plan to expand the tax credit for first-time homebuyers while also extending jobless benefits and providing tax refunds to companies that are losing money. Senators in Washington voted 98-0 for the measure and now it has to pass through the House to become a law. Majority leader Steny Hoyer (Maryland) said in a statement that the bill could receive a vote as early as today. If it passes in the house, it will be forwarded to President Barack Obama for his signature. 

This plan would be the first major extension of provisions brought about by February's economic stimulus package. The $8,000 tax credit is slated to expire this month, but with the extension it will continue until April 30 and be expanded to include people with higher incomes and some who already own homes. It will cost around $10 billion in the fiscal year that began on Oct. 1, said Congress's Joint Committee on Taxation. 

The new bill includes $2.4 billion to extend unemployment perks for as many as 20 weeks, which will aid those who are currently unemployed during the holiday season. It will also create more lenient tax rules for homebuilders and other companies who are currently losing money to let them claim around $33 billion in tax refunds this year, according to the Joint Committee on Taxation. This legislation was delayed for several weeks by Republican demands for votes on amendments to the plan. 

Congressmen are still debating whether to extend other elements of the stimulus package, such as subsidies to help the jobless buy health insurance and increased funds for food stamps. Obama called for sending seniors $250 checks because they will not get a cost-of-living increase next year in their Social Security checks. 

The Senate plan will also allow homebuyers who have lived in their homes for at least five years to receive a $6,500 credit. Couples who earn as much as $225,000 a year and individuals who earn up to $125,000 would qualify. The current limits are $150,000 and $75,000, respectively. The bill would also provide 14 additional weeks of unemployment benefits in every state, plus 6 more weeks in states with the highest unemployment rates. This would be the fourth extension since the recession began. Currently, the unemployment rate for those who have been out of work for six months or more is the highest it has been in half a century, according to information from the Labor Department. 

The bill would also broaden provisions to the stimulus package and allow companies to apply their losses to previous years' income, thus reducing their tax bills and enabling them to claim refunds. Banks and institutions that receive assistance from the TARP program would not be eligible, however. 

For more information, visit Bloomberg.com.