2 from state among 59 school leaders feted in D.C.

WASHINGTON — Two Arkansas principals were among those recognized Friday by U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan at the National Association of Elementary School Principals 2014 awards gala in Washington.

Michelle Owens Hayward, principal of McNair Middle School in Fayetteville, and Dondi Lea Frisinger, principal of Walker Elementary School in Springdale, and 59 other principals were recognized.

Hayward was selected because of her use of technology for students and teachers and her involvement in state and local education committees, according to her biography. She has a bachelor’s in elementary education from Arkansas Tech University, a master’s in educational leadership from the University of Central Arkansas and an educational specialist in leadership degree from Ar- kansas State University.

Frisinger was selected because she has increased student involvement in academics and social issues and has created student fitness and health programs, according to her biography. She has a bachelor’s in elementary education from Missouri Southern State College, a master’s in education administration from the University of Arkansas and a superintendency degree from Harding University.

IN THE DISTRICT

U.S. Rep. Steve Womack attended the Washington County Lincoln Day Dinner on Monday. On Wednesday, he was in Carroll County to meet with constituents over coffee, host a business round table and visit the Carroll County Learning Center and the Writers’ Colony at Dairy Hollow. On Thursday, he had coffee with constituents in Elkins and toured Beaver Water District and JV Man- ufacturing. On Friday he toured Exide Technologies and Goodyear in Fort Smith.

Womack plans to be in Little Rock early this week to visit the J. Thomas May Center for ALS Research at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences and speak at the Arkansas Independent Producers and Royalty Owners annual meeting.

On Monday, U.S. Rep. Tim Griffin had lunch with people at the Bryant Senior Adult Center. Griffin toured Garver in North Little Rock on Thursday.

On Saturday, Griffin was scheduled to meet with Arkansas Walk Now for Autism Speaks chairman Dawn Itzkowitz and cheer on participants in the fifth annual Arkansas Walk Now for Autism Speaks and second annual 5K Race.

U.S. Rep. Rick Crawford spoke at the graduate medical exam meeting at Arkansas State University on Thursday about the osteopathic school that ASU is seeking, the need for physicians across the Delta and also how an osteopathic school would benefit the region.

U.S. Sen. Mark Pryor gave a speech on energy Friday at the Arkansas Advanced Energy Association’s annual meeting.

CAMPAIGNS

Pryor was scheduled to tailgate with Razorbacks fans at War Memorial Stadium in Little Rock on Saturday, his staff said.

On Thursday, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce endorsed U.S. Senate candidate Tom Cotton at Baldwin & Shell Construction in Little Rock. The chamber pointed to the Republican’s work on pro-growth and job creation policies. The chamber endorsed Pryor in 2008.

Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is scheduled to headline a $32,400-per-person fundraiser in Los Angeles on Monday that benefits Grassroots Victory Project 2014, a joint fundraising committee authorized by the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee and the Democratic Party committees of several states, including Arkansas, and several Democratic candidates including Pryor and U.S. Sens. Mary Landrieu of Louisiana and Mark Begich of Alaska, among others.

Former President Bill Clinton is scheduled to campaign in Chicago on Tuesday to support Gov. Pat Quinn’s re-election efforts, the Chicago Sun-Times reported. He is also scheduled to campaign with Democratic Senate candidate Alison Lundergan Grimes in western Kentucky that day, according to The Associated Press.

MOBILE OFFICES

Griffin’s staff is holding several mobile office events across the 2nd District this week.

On Tuesday, staff members will be at Guy City Hall, 405 Arkansas 25 N., from 8 to 9:30 a.m.; at Vilonia City Hall, 18 Bise Drive, from 10:30 a.m. to noon; at Mayflower Public Library, 6 Ashmore Drive, from 1:30 to 3 p.m.; and at Greenbrier City Hall, 11 Wilson Farm Road, from 3:30 to 5 p.m.

On Wednesday, staff members will be at Jacksonville City Hall, 1 Municipal Drive, from 9 to 10:30 a.m. and at Maumelle City Hall, 550 Edgewood Drive, from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m.

On Thursday, staff members will be at Bryant City Hall, 210 SW Third St., from 10 to 11:30 a.m.; at the Benton Chamber of Commerce, 607 N. Market St., from 12:30 to 2 p.m.; and at the Hot Springs Village Ponce de Leon Center’s Ouachita Activities Building, 1101 DeSoto Blvd., from 3 to 5 p.m.