Gravette stresses completing census

GRAVETTE — City officials are doing their best to educate residents about the importance of completing the 2020 census.

In the latest effort to encourage people to complete a census form if they have not already done so, Mallory Weaver, administrative assistant to Mayor Kurt Maddox, had a booth set up at the fourway stop in Gravette. Madelyn Obert, Miss Gravette 2019, and Elaina Whiting, Miss Teen Gravette 2019, assisted Weaver in the booth June 25.

They distributed information and census themed merchandise to those who visited.

Weaver said not many people had stopped by the booth but said many motorists were honking and waving as they drove by.

She hopes their efforts were at least making people aware of the need to complete a census form and reminding them to do so. She stressed the need to have accurate census figures since many benefits and services are dependent on the number of people in the area served.

These include key programs that benefit families such as schools, child care, food assistance and health care.

The census, designed to count everyone living in the United States and its territories, is done every 10 years. Completing the form is easy and can be done online, by phone or by mail. There are only a few questions to be answered and the information is kept confidential.

Kiosks are set up at City Hall and at the Gravette Public Library where people may go and complete their census forms. These kiosks will remain up until the census is completed.

Plans are to set up another kiosk at the Gravette’s Fire Station in July. Other local businesses, including R&R Packaging and Ozarks Community Hospital, have cooperated in the census completion effort by hosting a kiosk at their location for a week.

For more information, go to 2020census.gov or call Weaver at City Hall, (479) 787-5757. Weaver said she will be happy to answer any questions anyone has.

Also, any business, church or organization which would be willing to host a kiosk at their location for use by their employees and/or the public should call and she will work with them to set it up.

(NWA Democrat-Gazette/Susan Holland) Madelyn Obert, Miss Gravette 2019, and Elaina Whiting, Miss Teen Gravette 2019, pose for a photo while Mallory Weaver, administrative assistant to the mayor, looks up information for a resident who stopped by their booth. The reigning Gravette royalty assisted in a booth set up at the Gravette four-way stop June 25 to help educate residents about the importance of completing the census and encourage them to fill out a census form.