January 2023

Winter and Wildlife

During very cold and vicious winter weather, wild creatures need much more food than they need during the mild stretches that we love to see. The acorns that were as thick as I have seen them in a long time, become scarce in February and March, so we are coming upon the lean time of the year, the bottleneck that wildlife species must pass through before the arrival of spring, when there is replenishment and abundance once again.

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MC Meeting announced

Marion County Judge, Jason Stumph and the committees have announce dates and times of the upcoming committee meetings. Please note that the meeting time has been changed to 5:00 p.m. in the annex for these meeting.

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Molenda USMC

Robert (Bob) Molenda is a United States Marine, because once you are a Marine you are always a marine. Bob grew up in Illinois and joined the United States Marine Corps (USMC) in late 1962 where he trained in San Diego and became one of America's finest, an Infantry Marine in the 3rd Marine Division.

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Arvest Launches New Subsidiary

FAYETTEVILLE – Arvest Bank is pleased to announce the Arvest Opportunity Fund, a wholly owned non-bank subsidiary currently providing loans and lines of credit to small businesses that fall just below bank loan policy requirements. As part of the Arvest Opportunity Fund program, loan recipients agree to receive financial education coaching for 12 months after funding. The financial education program, delivered by professional educators and community partners, is designed to improve the financial standing of recipients to the point where they can eventually meet traditional bank lending standards. “We are committed to bringing opportunity through access to lending and financial education to all groups in the markets we serve,” Arvest Bank president and CEO Kevin Sabin said. “That includes the underbanked. In addition to being the right way to do business, we believe the efforts of the Arvest Opportunity Fund are crucial to the economic health, stability and security of the communities we serve.” Arvest Opportunity Fund candidates are determined when a loan application is submitted to Arvest Bank online or in person and the applicant opts in for consideration from the Arvest Opportunity Fund. If the applicant’s credit file does not meet Arvest Bank loan policy requirements, the application is automatically reviewed by the Arvest Opportunity Fund for consideration. After beta market testing in mid-2022, the Arvest Opportunity Fund was launched across Arvest’s four-state footprint in August. As of Jan. 6, the Arvest Opportunity Fund has delivered more than $1.2 million in small business loans. The Arvest Opportunity Fund is led by executive director Hillis Schild, who is based in Little Rock and has more than 30 years of industry experience, including 17 in community development banking. In her role as executive director, Schild provides strategic leadership for the Arvest Opportunity Fund. Schild serves on the board of directors or advisory committees for

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Lead Hill School District Menu

January 17 – January 20: TUESDAY, Breakfast: Pancake on Stick, or Choice of Cereal, Fruit Juice, Milk Lunch: Chicken Quesadilla, Green Leafy Salad, Cooked Vegetables, Graham Crackers, Fruit, Milk WEDNESDAY, Breakfast: Sausage, Egg Biscuit, or Choice of Cereal Fruit Juice, Milk Lunch: Old Fashioned Beans and Ham, Oven Fried Tators, Cooked Carrots, Cornbread, Fruit, Milk THURSDAY, Breakfast: Breakfast Burrito, or Choice of Cereal, Fruit Juice, Milk Lunch: Orange Chicken, Oriental Fried Rice, Oriental Vegetables Egg Roll (712), Fortune Cookie, Fruit, Milk FRIDAY, Breakfast: Biscuit & Gravy, or Choice of Cereal, Fruit Juice, Milk Lunch: Cheeseburger, Sandwich Fixins, Oven Fries, Ice Cream, Fruit, Milk .

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