Arkansas’ prison board votes to fire corrections secretary

LITTLE ROCK — Arkansas’ Board of Corrections voted 5-2 Wednesday to fire Corrections Secretary Joe Profiri, who has been on suspension for the past four weeks with pay.

The board held a special meeting via teleconference to discuss the status of Profiri’s job, the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reported. The board could have lifted the suspension, extended it, or terminated him.

After a seven-minute discussion, led mostly by board member Lee Watson, the board decided to fire him.

“I think Arkansas deserves better,” Watson said before making the motion to dismiss Profiri.

Chairman Benny Magness, who doesn’t typically vote, voted with the majority Wednesday. He said he would personally call Profiri to deliver the news.

Profiri, who had been appointed to the position by Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders shortly after she took office last year, has been at the center of an ongoing battle between the board and the governor’s office over who controls the department leadership.

Wednesday’s decision comes after two months of wrangling between the board and Profiri, who the board has accused of being insubordinate and uncommunicative.

Profiri is named along with Sanders and the Department of Corrections in a lawsuit filed by the board. The lawsuit seeks to ensure that the board maintains its authority to supervise and manage the corrections secretary, as well as the directors of the Department of Corrections’ Division of Correction and Division of Community Correction.

Sanders criticized the board Wednesday night, accusing it of focusing on “pushing lies, political stunts, and power grabs.” She said Profiri would serve as a senior advisor to her in the governor’s office during the litigation. Pulaski County Circuit Court Judge Patricia James issued a temporary restraining order Dec. 15 barring the enforcement of Act 185 of 2023 and portions of Act 659 of 2023, which the board contends weakens its authority set forth in the Arkansas Constitution.

After a hearing last week, James approved a preliminary injunction in the case, which will stay in place until the

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lawsuit is resolved.

Act 185 would require the secretary of corrections to serve at the pleasure of the governor. Act 659 would, in part, require directors of the Divisions of Correction and Community Correction to serve at the pleasure of the secretary.

Attorney General Tim Griffin, who is representing Profiri and the other defendants in the lawsuit, said he was disappointed by the board’s decision.

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EACC presents Diamond Rio in concert March 2nd

FORREST CITY — East Arkansas Community College will present GRAMMY award winning country group Diamond Rio on Saturday, March 2nd at 7:30 p.m. at the EACC Fine Arts Center. Tickets go on sale to the general public on Tuesday, January 16th at 10 a.m.

The first country music group in history to reach No. 1 with a debut single with their release of Meet in the Middle, award winning Diamond Rio has sold more than 6.8 million albums, surpassed over 1.05 billion global streams, and charted 20 Top 10 singles, 15 Top 5 singles, and seven No.

1 singles.

Known for hits such as “One More Day,” “Beautiful Mess,” “Unbelievable,” “ I Believe,” and many more, Diamond Rio has amassed numerous accolades throughout the years. The band is a member of the Grand Ole Opry, won six Vocal Group of the Year awards, received fourteen GRAMMY nominations, and won a GRAMMY award for their album, The Reason.

Originating as the Tennessee River Boys in the 1980s, the band evolved into Diamond Rio in 1989. The following year, Diamond Rio signed with Arista Nashville, and in 1991 became the first country music group in history to reach No. 1 with the debut single, “Meet in the Middle.” Known for playing every note on every album throughout their career, the band s unwavering commitment to their craft is evident in their instrumental tracks Big, “Appalachian Dream,” and “Poultry Promenade,” all of which received GRAMMY nominations for Best Country Instrumental Performance.

Following their Arista Nashville deal, Diamond Rio released two albums with Word Records, their Christmas album, “The Star Still Shines,” and their Dove and Grammy-winning Christian Country album, “The Reason.”

Famous for making timeless country music for over thirty years, Diamond Rio recently announced new music and band member changes. The highly anticipated track, “The Kick,” showcases the GRAMMY award-winning band s talents, and also signifies a new chapter in their distinguished career with the introduction of two new bandmates. The formation that became known as the six-time Vocal Group of the Year, Diamond Rio, consisted of Marty Roe (lead vocals), Jimmy Olander (guitar/banjo), Dana Williams (bass/vocals), Dan Truman (piano), Brian Prout (drums), and Gene Johnson (mandolin/vocals).

After a remarkable 33-year journey, the band bid farewell to retiring members, Brian Prout and Gene Johnson, and welcomed new bandmates, Carson McKee (fiddle/harmony vocals) and Micah Schweinsberg (drums).

The first song and video, “The Kick,” released under the new band configuration displays the mastery of their respective instruments and delivers a captivating blend of country meets bluegrass. The fast-paced and musically intriguing instrumental features the two new members in the accompanying music video, which was directed by drummer and new member Micah Schweinsberg. The band s long-time guitar player, Jimmy Olander, also developed and wrote the treatment for the video.

Throughout their career, Diamond Rio has been recognized for their charitable commitments. The band has been long-time spokespersons for Big Brothers Big Sisters, has raised more than $1 million for non-profits, and received the Minnie Pearl Humanitarian award.

Tickets for Diamond Rio s performance are $44 and will be available online at EACC.edu, by calling 870-633-4480, ext. 352, or in person at the EACC Fine Arts Center Ticket Office. Pick 3 season subscription packages are available and save 20%.

The EACC Fine Arts Center is located at 1700 Newcastle Road in Forrest City, just off Interstate 40.