High school completion program available

LITTLE ROCK — Arkansas residents ages 21 and older who do not have a high school diploma can now finish school online for free through a new program from Graduation Alliance called the Arkansas Adult Diploma Program. Graduates earn an accredited high school diploma.

According to a press release, Graduation Alliance can offer this program for free through a state-funded initiative administered by the Arkansas Department of Education Division of Career and Technical Education.

To qualify for the program, applicants must be an Arkansas resident, 21 or older, have access to a computer and the internet, have completed at least some of 10th grade, and have not completed a GED or another high school equivalency diploma For more information, visit arkansasdiploma. com or call 501-512-1417.

***

HOPE — A baking company on Thursday announced a $37 million expansion of its manufacturing facility in southwest Arkansas that will create 266 new jobs over the next two years.

Hope Baking Company said the expanded facility will produce a range of bakery items, including bread, breadsticks and English muffins.

According to a news release, the company is hiring for multiple jobs, including management positions, along with full staffing of all lines as part of the expansion.

“Hope Baking Company is excited to be reinvigorating the operation of the bakery and equipment located in Hope, Arkansas and looks forward to steady expansion of its employment count,” Dan Serra, owner of Hope Baking Company, said in a statement. The company announced the expansion with Republican Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders and local officials. Hope Baking Company is a division of East Baking Company, which was founded in 2003 and acquired Southern Bakeries in March 2023.

The expansion will receive sales tax refunds and rebates based on the payroll for new employees, according to the state Economic Development Commission.

***

National Guard helping state police on Arkansas roadways

LITTLE ROCK — Some parts of the state started experiencing a wintry mix of snow and ice early in the afternoon on Sunday afternoon. Arkansas Department of Emergency Management Director A.J. Gary said his team will stay on top of the situation. “I have joined my team here in the State Emergency Operations Center, and we will remain here for the duration. Our top priority is to be ready if something serious happens,” Gary said.

Additionally, Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders activated the Arkansas National Guard winter weather support teams around the state to support Arkansas State Police across the state.

“It’s missions like these that our allvolunteer force of the Arkansas National Guard is built to support,” said Maj. Gen. Jonathan Stubbs, Arkansas’ adjutant general. “We’re at our best when we get to extend the helping hand to our citizens. We’re always ready, always there, when our state needs us.”

Nine ASP Troops (Troops B, C, E, F, G, H, I, J, and K) were supported by two winter weather truck teams, and three (Troops A, D, and L) were supported by four winter weather truck teams. Each team consists of four truck operators and a supervisor for a total of five personnel per team.

Teams will support Arkansas State Police around the clock with each team working 12-hour shifts until they are no longer needed. The teams are not authorized to recover privately owned or commercial vehicles. However, if the need arises, teams are permitted to recover first responder emergency vehicles and transport stranded motorists to safety.

In total, 168 Guardsmen will be on orders: 120 truck operators, 30 supervisors, eight serving in command and control operations, eight as mission support liaisons, and two in joint staff support. Additionally, 60 Humvees or trucks will be used to support the mission.

By Monday morning , it was reported Guardsmen had assisted over 30 citizens in need and continually patrol their respective routes and assist Arkansas State Police in the tagging and clearing of numerous abandoned vehicles.