Governor Hutchinson appoints Dr. José Romero as Health Secretary

LITTLE ROCK — Governor Asa Hutchinson has appointed Dr. José Romero as Secretary of the Arkansas Department of Health (ADH). Governor Hutchinson announced the appointment today at his COVID-19 briefing.

Dr. Romero, who has been serving as interim secretary of health, replaces Dr. Nate Smith, who has accepted a position at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Dr.

Romero previously served as ADH’s chief medical officer. He currently chairs the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), which is providing guidance nationally on the development and administration of a COVID-19 vaccine.

“This was an easy decision,” Governor Hutchinson said. “Dr.

Romero has a national reputation for his work with infectious diseases. He has been involved in our fight against COVID-19 from the first day. His vast knowledge of viral infections has been integral to our decision making as we have refined our response to the pandemic. His years of work within the state’s medical community will allow a seamless transition as he assumes this important role.” Dr. Romero moved to Arkansas in 2008 as Director of the Section of Pediatric Infectious Diseases at UAMS and Arkansas Children’s Hospital. He served as the Director of Clinical Trials Research at Arkansas Children’s Research Institute from 2008-2019.

“I am honored to be named to this important role and look forward to ensuring that the Department of Health fulfills its mission of protecting and improving the health and wellbeing of all Arkansans,” Dr. Romero said. “I’m excited to work with the governor, the Legislature, our partners at the local, state and federal level, and the people of this state to help Arkansans live healthier lives.” He has been a member of the Arkansas Vaccine Medical Advisory Committee since 2008 and chair of the committee

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since 2015. Since 2012, he has been the ADH Pediatric Tuberculosis Physician.

During his time at the University of Nebraska Medical Center, Dr.

Romero was Director for Latino Health-Related Research Affairs and Director of the Minority Health Education and Research Office.

Dr. Romero lives in Little Rock with his wife of 12 years and their Scottish Terrier.

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LITTLE ROCK — The Rural Fire Protection program, managed by the Arkansas Department of Agriculture’s Forestry Division, distributed 84 Wildfire Suppression Kits to rural volunteer fire departments this year. The Forestry Division received $272,000 from the United States Forest Service's 2019 Volunteer Fire Assistance Grant to purchase and distribute the kits that feature equipment and gear necessary for the safe suppression of wildfires.

Volunteer fire departments are the primary partner to Forestry crews in wildfire response and suppression but often need the specialized equipment and gear necessary for safe wildfire suppression. Since 2014, more than 375 volunteer fire departments in Arkansas have received Wildfire Suppression Kits through the Rural Fire Protection program. Kits distributed this year include lightweight wildfire-resistant coveralls and gloves, hand rakes, back-pack water pumps, and leaf blowers.

Volunteer fire departments interested in participating in the Wildfire Suppression Kit program submit applications that are scored according to specific criteria, including fire district population, the size of the response area, wildfire equipment response needs, and other factors. The application period for next year’s Wildfire Protection Kit program is expected to

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open August 17, 2020.

Fire Departments can expect to receive an application for next year’s program in the mail, or can find one online at www.agriculture.arkansas.g ov/forestry/rural-fire-protection- program/ when the application period opens.

Fire Departments may contact Kathryn Mahan-Hooten at Kathryn.Mahan@agriculture. arkansas.gov or (501) 679-3183 with questions regarding the application.

Fire departments that received the kits in 2020 are listed below by fire department and county: Alpine/ Clark Co.

Amit/ Clark Co.

Bearden/ Ouachita Co.

Boston Mountain/ Washington Co.

Brookland/ Craighead Co.

Cairo/ Union Co.

CS& Z/ Lonoke Co.

Caraway/ Craighead Co.

Cave City/ Sharp Co.

Centerville/ Faulkner Co.

Central/ Sevier Co.

Clarkridge/ Baxter Co.

Clifty/ Madison Co.

Compton/ Newton Co.

Cord/ Independence Co.

Cotton Plant/ Woodruff Co. Crawford Dist. #3/ Crawford Co.

Danville/ Yell Co.

Dardanelle Rural/ Yell Co.

Desha/ Independence Co.

DeValls Bluff/ Prairie Co.

East Pulaski/ Pulaski Co.

El Paso/ White Co.

Erwin/ Jackson Co.

Fairview/ White Co.

Garnett/ Lincoln Co.

Green Forest/ Carrol Co.

Greenbrier/ Faulkner Co.

Gurdon/ Clark Co.

Guy/ Faulkner Co.

Havana/ Yell Co.

Helena-West Helena/ Phillips Co.

Hermitage/ Bradley Co.

Horatio/ Sevier Co.

Hughes/ St. Francis Co.

Jasper/ Newton Co.

Jersey Rural/ Bradley Co.

Jessieville/ Garland Co.

Kingston/ Madison Co.

Lafe/ Greene Co.

Laneburg/ Nevada Co.

Linwood-Moscow/ Jefferson Co.

Lockesburg/ Sevier Co.

Lonoke/ Lonoke Co.

Louann/ Ouachita Co.

Marmaduke/ Greene Co.

Mayflower/ Faulkner Co.

Montrose/ Ashley Co.

Mount Judea/ Newton Co.

Newark/ Independence Co. North White Co.

Northeast Greene Co.Oak Grove/ Carroll Co.

Oden-Pencil Bluff/ Montgomery Co.

Pangburn/ White Co.

PG& S/ Searcy Co.

Piggott/ Clay Co.

River Bend/ Lafayette Co.

Rockport/ Hot Spring Co.

Ross Van Ness/ Chicot Co. Rosston/ Nevada Co.

Salem/ Fulton Co.

Scott/ Pulaski Co.

Sixth District/ Stone Co.

Smyrna/ Madison Co.

South Carroll Co.Stephens/ Ouachita Co.

Tucker/ Jefferson Co.

Frost Prairie/ Ashley Co.

Waldron Rural/ Scott Co.

West Pulaski/ Pulaski Co.

White Bluff- Rye Hill/ Sebastian Co.

Wilson/ Mississippi Co.

The Arkansas Department of Agriculture is dedicated to the development and implementation of policies and programs for Arkansas agriculture and forestry to keep its farmers and ranchers competitive in national and international markets while ensuring safe food, fiber, and forest products for the citizens of the state and nation. Visit agriculture. arkansas.gov.