Author Archives: Colby Sigears

Raising age limit may prevent adolescent addiction to e-cigarettes

Posted on by

By Colby Sigears

Delta Digital News Service

Watermelon Rancher flavored liquid for electronic cigarettes is pictured here. E-cigarettes come in a variety of flavors.

JONESBORO – If began at an early age, tobacco products may cause harm to individuals in their adolescent years. For some, raising the age limit for the purchase of tobacco products may be the solution to thwarting potential health risks.

Charlina Smith, a store manager at a local Jonesboro tobacco shop said electronic cigarette sales for young adults continue to grow at her store.

“More adults purchase the e-cigarettes for children…we turn parents away for picking up e-cigarette flavors for their children,” Smith said.

Arkansas House Bill 1519, introduced by Rep. Lee Johnson, R-Greenwood, would allow people only 21 and older to purchase tobacco, vapor, alternative nicotine or e-liquid products in Arkansas unless they have a military ID.

“They help with cardiac problems and not as bad as people think,” she said.

Sebastian Hanner, a cashier at Kum & Go said most people did not know of a recall on Juul e-cigarettes before they hit the market in Jonesboro.

“They were a piece of (expletive), originally killing people. They recalled flavors because they contained benzoic acid,” Hanner said.

Although awareness of the potential dangers of e-cigarettes has grown, the state may be unwilling to change its laws seeing as how sales from the product bring in more money to the state.

“Sales would be affected but it is necessary, it’s easy for a minor to purchase them,” Smith said. “We can card all day and they still could get them.”

Candace Cline, an employee at Vape Maven said, vaping helped her quit her smoking addiction.

“I have been vaping for six months and it helped me stop smoking when I got pregnant,” she said.

Two cities in the state have raised the minimum age to 21, Harrison and Helena-West Helena. Surgeon General, Gregory Bledsoe, said the age shift would positively impact collective health for decades to come.

“I did not have to spend as much money, got better sleep and was more relaxed when I switched to vaping,” Cline proclaimed.

 

Homelessness Grows in the Delta

Posted on by

By Colby Sigears
Delta Digital News Service

JONESBORO — Poverty and homelessness impact the Delta area, keeping people under the poverty line.

Hillary Starnes, an employee of the Jonesboro Grant Department, said approximately 1,800 homeless people live within Craighead County.

“We’re getting a homeless task force to help be resources for the people in the community to get them back on their feet,” Starnes said.

A preliminary meeting of the task force in mid-September discussed potential resources for the homeless. Limited resources contribute to homelessness in the area because people do not have jobs; some do not have a driver’s license. Starnes said the task force will help once they get a homeless shelter built; that way it will keep the homeless off the streets.

Todd Stovall, chief of police in Paragould, said the city does not have a lot of homelessness because of the community effort such as churches helping with the homeless with free meals.

“The mission outreach keeps a lot of people off our streets and other people in the community provide resources for the homeless,” Stovall said.

Lack of affordable housing in Arkansas for people with low incomes and secondary causes such as physical illness, substance abuse, lack of incentive to work, poor work ethic and lack of appropriate education also contribute to the homeless problem in the Delta.

Lisa Williard, director at Mississippi County Union Mission in Blytheville photo by Colby Sigears

Lisa Willard, director of the Mississippi County Union Mission, said it’s a broken system. People with mental illness get left behind because people don’t want to deal with them anymore, e.g. women being dependent and leaving their husbands without any resources or even men with children but no jobs.

“We get people their benefits when they check in such as Medicaid benefits, food stamps and driver’s license,” Willard said. “If they stay here, they must have a job and half their checks go to their savings. We provide other side jobs in the community to make extra money.”

MCUM provides a food pantry and clothing for people at the shelter, as well as help with people having trouble with water and light bills. Willard noted MCUM gives out food boxes to Mississippi County residents at 1 p.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. The food box program runs under the income-based guidelines of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

A lot of homelessness occurs in the Jonesboro area because it is the center for most of the Delta. There are 600 known within the city. Places such as The HUB and Salvation Army provide resources in the community. Also, the food bank is the biggest in the area and sends help to places such as Mississippi County Union Mission.

“Volunteering in the community and help from government resources and getting jobs for people will help lower homelessness in the area,” Willard said.

Old Pine Provides Fresh Coffee

Posted on by

by Colby Sigears
Delta Digital News Service

Old Pine provides an Arkansas product to local businesses.

JONESBORO — Old Pine Coffee Roasters provides Jonesboro residents with the freshest coffee possible.

Ann Williams, a local worker at The Edge coffee shop, said Old Pine is a popular product in their store.

“We have been working with Old Pine for little over a year, and it sells very well. Our customers love it,” she said.

Old Pine does not have a storefront, i.e. the majority of its business is online. But it partners with local coffee shops such as The Recovery Room. Clay Crume, a server and bartender at the Recovery Room, said they have been partnered for nearly a year this summer.

“We help get the business out with including it in our store. Our customers like its taste,” Crume said.

Old Pine takes pride in making coffee with love. It provides customers with the best they can offer by their specialties or time and effort.

“Their dark roast is a favorite here at The Edge,” Williams said. “It has a distinct flavor.”

The consistency of the coffee roast makes it a popular pick for most people.

“I like it better than the other coffees I have drunk,” Crume said. “The taste is different, not bitter like the rest; it is smoother.”

Old Pine is gradually growing business in the Jonesboro area and even provides a coffee trailer for local events.