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Arkansas National Guard to provide support in DC

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LITTLE ROCK — Gov.

Asa Hutchinson has approved a mission for 500 Soldiers and Airmen in the Arkansas National Guard to support the 59th Presidential Inauguration.

The Arkansas National Guard will mobilize and deploy approximately 500 Soldiers primarily from the 142nd Field Artillery Brigade based in Northwest Arkansas and Airmen from the 189th Airlift Wing.

Hutchinson said the deployment will start on Sunday, Jan. 17, with the guard returning before the end of January in Washington, D.C.

“The 59th Presidential Inauguration, like all presidential inaugurations, is considered a National Special Security Event,” said Lt. Col. Brian L.

Mason, State Public Affairs Officer for the Arkansas National Guard. “The U.S.

Secret Service as the lead federal agency responsible for coordinating, planning, exercising and implementing security for National Special Security Events has requested support from the National Guard. The preparation for a NSSE is a cooperative effort among federal, state and district agencies. Arkansas Guardsmen will work alongside several other states’ National Guard units, the D.C. Metro Police, the U.S. Park Police, the U.S. Capitol Police and the Secret Service.”

Mason said the requested missions include assistance with traffic control and access control points, traffic management, Metro Station security, crowd management, patrol/watch stander on outside fencing, facility security at City Hall/the National Mall, and the Lincoln Memorial among others.

“Being in the Guard is about service. Service to one’s State and their Nation. We’re sending some of our very best to support Inauguration Day activities,” said Maj. Gen.

Kendall Penn, Arkansas National Guard’s Adjutant General. “Priority No. 1 is to protect people and property, and our Guardsmen are trained very well to do just that.”

The Arkansas Air National Guard’s 189th Airlift Wing based at Little Rock Air Force Base will provide C130H aircraft to transport the Guardsmen to Washington, D.C.

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Martin Luther King Jr.

Day Celebration in Jonesboro Set for Monday, Jan. 18

JONESBORO – Activities associated with the 2021 Northeast Arkansas Dr.

Martin L. King Jr. Day celebration, “Truth, Love and Justice,” have been announced by the Northeast Arkansas Dr.

Martin Luther King Jr.

planning committee, according to Dr. Lonnie Williams, vice chancellor for diversity and community engagement at Arkansas State University.

Due to COVID-19 concerns, this year’s schedule of events has been curtailed. In previous years, a youth program and march were included as part of the celebration. Out of concern for participants’ safety, the NEA Martin Luther King Jr. committee will be hosting a virtual program on Monday, Jan. 18, at noon.

Former Arkansas legislator Tracy Steele is the program speaker and will be featured via the following sources:

• Craighead MLK Jr.

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