COVID-19 struggles top AG roundtable discussion
Attorney General Leslie Rutledge spoke with county leaders Wednesday during a roundtable discussion at Arkansas State University Three Rivers.
Spread across the Great Room at ASUTR, members of the group talked about how COVID-19 has affected various areas of the county including education, business and farmers.
“We all have challenges that we have to work through,” Rutledge said. “It’s a very difficult time for everyone.”
“I think personal responsibility is the key to our success in this and recognizing what each business and each family has to do to protect ourselves,” Rutledge said.
Rutledge mentioned that she has been hosting roundtable discussion in each county across the state. This meeting were put on hold for a time because of COVID-19, but have resumed with safety pre
cautions in place.
Malvern/Hot Spring County Chamber Director Lance Howell told the group that while some small businesses are struggling during this pandemic, others are doing well.
Restaurants have been most affected by COVID-19, he said.
“I can’t say enough about how resilient they are,” Howell said noting that several business have had be extremely innovative.
Local farmers have also had to think outside of the box, said Rachel Bearden, staff chair for the Hot Spring County Cooperative Extension Service.
When people were panicking about buying meat at the grocery store, local producers began thinking about how to reach those customers.
The owner of Bismarck meat processing business, CR Custom Meat Processing also was recently awarded a
grant to expand the business to be USDA certified center, Bearden added.
“For south central Arkansas that’s huge because the only two options were both in Northwest Arkansas,” she said.
Representatives from ASUTR and the Malvern
School District also spoke about the pandemic.
ASUTR Chancellor Dr. Steve Rook said that the number of students and staff that have had to be in quarantine and isolation have been lower than he anticipated.
In total, one employee and two students have tested positive for COVID-19.
Currently about 11 teachers are currently in quarantine or isolation, he added.
Rook mentioned that students and staff have been do
ing their due diligence to keep people safe and health.
Lillian Harper, assistant superintendent for the Malvern School District, said the district has also put into place various safety precautions.
She also mentioned that the biggest struggle for Malvern students is the lack of internet access in rural areas.
The district began the school year with 626 remote learner. Currently 370 students are learning virtually.