Texarkana Razorback Club

Coach Bobby Petrino drew a crowd of over a thousand for tonight's annual club meeting.

Oil & Gas Commission Budget

Sen. Gene Jeffress (D-Louann) has a hold on the budget for the Arkansas Oil & Gas Commission, which is a routine procedure when a member has an issue with the agency. The hold has become an issue merely because today is the last day to pass a bill out of the Joint Budget Committee without suspension of the rules if we are to adjourn the session on Friday.

We are currently in recess of the Joint Budget Committee while Sen. Jeffress tries to resolve his issue with the agency. We will convene to take up the agency's budget momentarily. This is the only outstanding budget bill remaining in the committee.

Update (9:30 a.m.): Hold released. The Oil & Gas Commission budget now comes out of committee.

Trice Trail Ribbon cutting

We cut the ribbon on an extension of the walking trail system in Texarkana today. This section has been named "Trice Trail" after Ed Trice, former Texarkana, Arkansas superintendent.

Little River Cattlemans Association meeting

Ready to sign up?

Weekend on the trail

Update: I spent Sunday afternoon in Foreman supporting the Lady Gators Softball Team at their spaghetti luncheon. They drew a big crowd.

Original post: I hurried back Saturday night from the Cerro Gordo (Little River County) Cake Walk, where I parked in Oklahoma and walked to speak in Arkansas, to be able to introduce Sen. Joyce Elliott to speak at the Twin Cities Black History Month Banquet. Here are a few pictures from the weekend:

Twin Cities Black History Month Banquet

Cerro Gordo Fire Department Cake Walk

Filing Day

I'm in line to file for re-election here at the Capitol. You can track the filings here (Democrat-Gazette) and here (Secretary of State).

DeQueen Chamber of Commerce Banquet

After votes today, I drove down to DeQueen with Sens. Larry Teague and Gene Jeffress and Rep. Nate Bell for the chamber banquet. Here are a few pics, including the picture I took Sunday and entered in the silent auction:

The DeQueen Cross Country team waited (and bussed) tables in an effort to purchase state championship rings.

Weekend events in the district

Lots going on over the weekend...here are a few pictures:

Inspiring scene from Sunday's Run the Line Half Marathon in Texarkana

Pie auction at the Gillham Fire Department (Sevier Co.)

Margaret Daniels Foundation Banquet in Ashdown

River Bend Volunteer Fire Department Fish Fry and Auction in Bradley

Texarkana Area Veterans Chili Cook Off

I'm back in the district after the conclusion of the first week of the fiscal legislative session. I judged the 13th Annual Veterans Chili Cook Off this morning -- ready for a Tums.

Fiscal session begins

I'll post updates here of Day 1 of the fiscal session. The legislature goes in at noon. It's snowing here in Little Rock.

Update (2:20): Joint budget met at 2:00 and passed out the general appropriation. We convene tomorrow morning at 11:00 for other bills referred to the committee.

Primary campaign season is upon us

Thousands of dollars were raised at tonight's pie auction at the Alleene Community Center to support the local volunteer fire department there. The Alleene event is the unofficial kickoff of campaign season in Little River County. In addition to my primary, there are also contested races in the Democratic primary for sheriff, county judge, and JP District 4 in Little River County. Here I am with the Alleene VFD:

Chuck Barrett speaks to Little River Chamber

The Little River Chamber of Commerce hosted its annual awards banquet last night with a record crowd of over 375 guests. Voice of the Razorbacks Chuck Barrett was the guest speaker.