Jessica Ladd

Author Archives: Jessica Ladd

Couple Makes Best of Tough Situation

Posted on June 17, 2019 by Jessica Ladd

By Jessica Ladd
Delta Digital News Service

JONESBORO — In America, 553,000 people experienced homelessness in 2018. Of those, 2,712 lived in Arkansas.

The homelessness issue in America continues to rise due to a lack of housing options for those with a low income. Without housing options, people face eviction, instability and homelessness. Low-income households don’t make enough money to pay for food, clothes or a home.

In recent years, Jonesboro took steps to reduce its homeless population. Mayor Harold Perrin enacted a task force to end homelessness. The HUB, a homeless resource center, opened in 2017 and the city has multiple food pantries available to help those in need. These services help, but people are still falling through the cracks.

Patricia Eggers and Allen Wheelis married 15 years ago. The two fight and argue like most couples, but they love each other more than anything. They own a registered service dog named Prints. A devoted Christian, Eggers carries a Bible with her everywhere. Wheelis enjoys playing the guitar and singing. The pair also suffer from homelessness.

Eggers’ service dog, Prints (photo by Jessica Ladd)

“I don’t wish it on anybody,” Wheelis said. “Once we get back to square one, we get knocked down again.”

The couple came through Jonesboro in the spring and said they’ve been homeless for over a year and a half. Eggers worked at a Save-A-Lot but lost her job. A few months later, Wheelis lost his job, too. They didn’t know what to do. Wheelis’ sister lives in Missouri. She told them they could stay with her. She called them to cancel while they were driving through Louisiana. They didn’t know where to go or what to do.

Their car broke down in Louisiana. The two couldn’t afford to have it towed, so they left it behind. Now, they hitchhike or travel on foot. The pair have been all over Louisiana, Texas, Missouri and Arkansas.

Hurricane Harvey flooded the woods they were sleeping in. They lost most of their stuff. Another time, a levee broke and flooded their campsite. Eggers said she later went back and waded through knee-deep water for her Bible.

Through all the hardships, Eggers kept her faith. She served five months at Phelps County Jail in Missouri. During that time, she was all alone. She said it was the hardest thing she’s ever gone through. She turned to God for support. Eggers said God is watching over them and everything happens for a reason.

They carry all their belongings in a Hobby Lobby shopping cart. The pair came to Jonesboro in April. During the day, they tried to panhandle money. Wheelis said he didn’t want to panhandle, but they need money for food and shelter. He couldn’t find a job. Employers want an address, driver’s license or birth certificate. Neither one of them possesses a valid form of identification.

Eggers said her identification was stolen. She was walking along a road late at night in Lafayette, Louisiana. A man offered her a ride. She accepted. Eggers asked him to stop so she could use the bathroom. Once she got out of the car, he drove off, taking her purse with him. She lost the little money she had, her ID and important family photos she can never replace.

The couple said people treat them differently because they’re homeless. Eggers has been embarrassed more times than she can count.

“I had one guy tell me to go out and sell my body,” she said. “For you to sit there and say that to me— I’d rather sit here holding a sign than sell my body.”

They’ve been kicked out of gas stations, restaurants and even Walmart. One McDonald’s told them they were taking up space and needed to leave. They are constantly refused service. Once, they were arrested for sitting on church property.

Wheelis said most people assume they’re hooked on drugs or alcohol. When people hand him money, they’ll tell him not to spend it on the substances. Eggers said people don’t trust others nowadays. Eggers blames individuals who panhandle and don’t need the extra help. She said it hurts the people who actually need it and makes people less likely to help.

Allen Wheelis, Patricia Eggers and Nick Bennett stand outside the Walmart Super Center on Highland Drive. (photo by Jessica Ladd)

However, good people still exist who will lend a helping hand. Nick Bennett, a Jonesboro resident, saw Eggers and Wheelis sitting outside the Walmart Super Center on Highland Drive. Instead of giving them money, he gave them time and compassion. Bennett stopped and spoke with the couple for about 45 minutes. He said sometimes people just want someone to speak with.

“I’m here because I care. They’ve told me about the harassment they’ve gone through. It’s a disgrace — having water thrown on them. There’s no call for that,” Bennett said.

Bennett returned later with some clothes for Wheelis. He said he knows they’re just down on their luck. He called them genuine, down-to-earth people.

Eggers has a 23-year-old son from a previous marriage. She maintained contact with him but he isn’t financially stable enough to help them. The rest of her family and friends, she said, didn’t bother to check up on her. To her, that’s what hurts the most. Wheelis has a daughter from a previous relationship and they don’t talk much. None of his family offered to help either.

Wheelis said their situation is only temporary. He wants to get both of them valid forms of ID. Then he wants to get a job. Eggers suffers from PTSD and she has very bad anxiety. She said that’s why they could never stay at homeless shelters. The shelters always wanted to split them up. Wheelis agreed. He said he wasn’t going to sleep without his wife. They hope to get Eggers started on disability soon.

Both managed to keep a positive outlook on life. These two endured so much. They still try to smile at people and thank them for the help. Wheelis said he’s had people give him as little as 20 cents. He said it doesn’t matter the contribution, just as long as it from the heart. They said the key is staying humble and not letting pride get in the way.

Society

JET Helps People Get Around

Posted on June 14, 2019 by Jessica Ladd

By Jessica Ladd
Delta Digital News Service

JONESBORO — A Jonesboro transit service changed public transportation, one trip at a time. Jonesboro Economical Transit offers fixed routes and paratransit service.

Fixed routes, the set routes the buses travel every day, now cover the entire incorporated city limits of Jonesboro. The buses operate Monday-Friday 5:30 a.m.-7:30 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. JET buses do not run on Sunday.

“Mr. Dave” drives a bus for JET. He’s been with the company for 12 years. He said JET is a service people need.

“They (JET) take people to work every day. They rely on JET every day. You see the same people every day,” Dave said.

He said JET is an important service and people are grateful for it. Transit Director Michael Black said about 4,000 people ride the fixed routes every week.

Shantara Gilliam and Louis Crawford think highly of JET. The two are repeat users of the service. Gilliam and Crawford said so far they’ve had good service. Both plan to continue riding with the transit organization.

Gilliam does not own a car and said, “I used to use my sister’s car and my mom’s.”

Now she can use public transportation to get where she needs to be. She said JET makes getting around easier. Crawford said he likes JET’s service because it’s cheap. They offer the lowest fare in the city. It cost $1.25 per way or $2.50 per trip. Students and senior citizens can ride at cheaper rates.

A sign posted inside a JET bus explains the bus rates. (photo by Jessica Ladd)

A 10-year transit study conducted by JET shows only 44 percent of citizens drive. Thirty-eight percent ride the bus daily. Twenty-eight percent of riders are going to and from work. Twenty-five percent ride the bus for medical purposes.

The study also found 25 percent of JET users suffer from a disability. JET’s paratransit service makes 70-85 trips a week. Black calls paratransit “a door-to-door service.” Those with a severe disability can arrange to be picked up at their home. The disability can be permanent or temporary.

The application comes in two parts. The first part is to be filled out by the client. The second part will be filled out by a primary caregiver, such as a physician. The application is sent back to JET for review. Once approved, the client must call to set up a pickup time the day before the pickup date. If a client needs to be picked up on Tuesday they must call Monday by 5 p.m. to set up a time for pickup. Black said there are nine individuals who use the service to get to dialysis appointments.

Black started working in transit in 2008. He became transit director in 2016. He said he’s worked hard to extend JET’s fixed routes and hours of operation. He pushed for bus routes on Saturdays and two years ago, he opened the incorporated city limits of Jonesboro up to JET. He continues to work to make JET a better service. Black said he loves his job.

“It’s different every day. We’re helping people,” he said.

Black said in the near future he would like to change the Saturday routes. Currently, three buses run on Saturdays. Black wants to have five buses driving the routes, like Monday-Friday. Saturday hours will remain the same. He also said there are no plans for a Sunday route.

(NOTE: Featured photo shows Michael Black and members of the Advisory Board during a meeting. Photo by Jessica Ladd)

Transportation

International Agreement Concerns A-State Faculty

Posted on May 1, 2019 by Jessica Ladd

By Jessica Ladd
Delta Digital News Service

JONESBORO — A recent dual-program degree agreement between Arkansas State University and the American University of Malta sparked concerns amongst A-State faculty. A gap in communication could be to blame.

Agreement Signing- Photo of A-State and AUM agreement signing in Malta. (from left) A-State Chancellor Kelly Damphousse, AUM President Dr. Walker and Malta’s Education and Employment Minister Evarist Bartolo. (photo from AUM’s Facebook page)

AUM, a private liberal arts college in Cospicua, Malta, signed an agreement with A-State in March 2019. The agreement would allow students from A-State to attend AUM their sophomore and junior years, with their freshman and senior years being on the A-State campus. AUM students can take online classes through A-State for their first six semesters. Their senior year, students can attend classes on A-State’s campus full-time. Students would receive a degree from both universities.

Loretta Neal McGregor teaches psychology at A-State. She also serves as president of the Faculty Senate. McGregor said a breakdown in communication occurred and the issue of the Malta agreement didn’t come before the Senate until after it was signed.

“When the Chancellor came to the Faculty Senate, he said that he had talked to some of the deans from various colleges and department chairs from various colleges. But, the Faculty Senate is the governing body for the entire faculty. So, it was almost like there was a bypassing of the Faculty Senate to include deans and chairs. Then it was stated that since the deans and chairs are part of the faculty, their voice was representative,” McGregor said.

She said A-State considers itself a shared governance. The administration should work with the Senate to help make sure the university has policies that are beneficial to students and faculty members, and to help the university run smoothly.

McGregor said the university struggled with communication over the years. It’s important to have clear lines of communication because the faculty are the ones there day in and day out. She said most of the faculty concerns center around the curriculum and courses students will be engaged in.

When asked why the Malta agreement wasn’t brought before the Faculty Senate beforehand, A-State Chancellor Kelly Damphousse said the Faculty Senate doesn’t have the authority to approve these agreements. The authority resides in the faculty. The administration took the issue to the faculty and they approved it.

The potential communication breakdown occurred as the administration spoke with chairs and deans, who weren’t elected to represent the whole faculty. The communication gap might not have been as big of an issue if AUM didn’t have a questionable history.

AUM– Photo of the American University of Malta. (photo from AUM Facebook page)

AUM, a relatively newer university, opened in September 2017. The central Mediterranean institution managed to gather tons of publicity in its short operation. The Sadeen Group, a Jordanian construction and property development company, owns AUM. The company’s only background in education comes from its for-profit schools in Jordan. Their main developments include travel, tourism and hotels. In Malta, citizens protested the development of the university. The two pieces of land granted to Sadeen for the development were considered valuable public property. Once the college opened, more odd events occurred.

Erik Gilbert, a history professor at A-State, said he was shocked after he conducted a quick Google search regarding AUM. He sent an email with a list of sources to all A-State faculty explaining what he found.

“There seem to be so many red flags there. They got fined for misrepresenting who they were, they seem to have mispresented their relationship with DePaul (university) and had to have that explicated. They fired all their faculty one semester into their operation and then rehired a bunch suggesting that maybe they still needed faculty, but they wanted different faculty, perhaps, cheaper faculty,” Gilbert said.

Seventeen students attended in fall 2017, a lower number than expected. AUM fired 12 of its 13 professors in January 2018 after offering them three-year contracts. Maltese law legally allowed the firings. At the end of their six-month probationary period, the faculty received notification of their termination. AUM claimed the firings were due to the low enrollment. AUM hired six new professors. They currently have seven faculty members including the provost.

Despite the controversy sounding AUM, Damphousse said he still sticks by his decision. He knows there is concern regarding faculty terminations there. He said, unfortunately, that happens when a university faces financial difficulty. It happens in America as well. Damphousse said he doesn’t have any concerns regarding the firings.

A lot of work goes into an agreement like this. Damphousse, Global Engagement and Outreach director Thilla Sivakumaran and Vice Chancellor of Marketing and Communications Bill Smith traveled to Malta to negotiate the agreement. Damphousse said he remains confident in A-State’s short-term study-abroad opportunities in Malta.

Damphousse In Malta– A-State Chancellor at the agreement signing in Malta. (photo from AUM Facebook)

“I went there and visited the place. I met with the faculty who are there. I taught a class while I was there. I met with students who are there. So, I’m very comfortable with our decision to be partnering with AUM,” Damphousse said.

He said A-State is always looking for ways to make itself distinctive. Malta, a country rich in history, brings in students from across the globe. Most of the professors come from America and all classes are taught in English. Damphousse also said Malta can be a great European location for A-State faculty members to plan short-term study abroad and research opportunities. ASU prides itself on being diverse. This agreement would help expand that diversity. ASU has similar agreements with other universities, and they’ve been successful as well as beneficial. He also said A-State did not invest any money into the actual agreement. According to The Sun, travel expenses to and from Malta totaled $7,000.

As for the confusion among faculty regarding the agreement, Damphousse said currently a plan is in motion to keep it from happening again. The provost has been working with A-State’s international program to develop a process to ensure the faculty all have a say in determining when the university gets involved in relationships like the one with Malta. The new policy should be completed shortly.

Education: HigherEd

Proposed Venue Excites NEARK

Posted on April 16, 2019 by Jessica Ladd

By Jessica Ladd
Delta Digital News Service

JONESBORO — More entertainment options are coming to Jonesboro next year.

The Social, a restaurant, lounge and entertainment complex, plans to open its doors by August 2020. The business will be located in Greensborough Village, a 200-acre plot of land under construction along U.S. Highway 49 in Jonesboro at Hilltop. When completed, Greensborough Village will have multiple single-family homes, new stores and a movie theater.

The Social is just one of the businesses to announce an opening in the new development, much to the excitement of Jonesboro residents. Many took to social media, sharing The Social‘s post hundreds of times. Jeffrey Higgins, the owner of The Social, said he hasn’t received any negative feedback.

The Social is expected to open by Aug. 1, 2020 (photo from Facebook)

“It’s been incredible. People are excited,” he said. “It will be unlike any other food or restaurant chain in the region.”

Higgins also owns JTown’s Grill and Munchy’s in Jonesboro. He could see the demand for more adult entertainment. He said he thought of everything Jonesboro needed and put it into one. He drew inspiration from entertainment venues such as the Bass Pro Pyramid in Memphis. He even did research in other markets on similar facilities.

The Social will be over 12,000 square feet. It will have a full-service bar, lounge and top of the line bowling features. Higgins said he’s included all the bells and whistles. The second story will feature ten loft size apartments. There will also be a party deck that can be rented out for meetings or private parties. Higgins also stressed The Social would be a hangout spot or everyone. That includes families. There will be activities to keep children entertained. Higgins said as a father of three, he knows how difficult it can be to find a venue that has something for everyone. According to a Facebook post, Higgins said the main concept revolves around a great family environment, great food, lounge “social” areas and top-notch bowling experience.

President and CEO of Jonesboro Chamber of Commerce Mark Young said Greensborough Village, and its developments, will be a great addition to the city.

“Greensborough Village, when completed, will give Jonesboro residents more local choices for living and entertainment. This development won’t just give people a place to live and play, it will create jobs,” he said.

He also said it is important for people to spend their money locally. This builds Jonesboro’s economy. Young predicts with the completion of this project the Hilltop area will grow and expand as well.

Many A-State students have expressed their desire for more entertainment in Jonesboro. Jonesboro citizens are limited on where they can go to relax and enjoy themselves. The Social will bring another bowling option to the city. Rachel Flippen, a student at Arkansas State, said she may go to The Social once it opens.

“I think it’s a cool idea. People should enjoy it. I don’t see any reason why they wouldn’t,” she said.

The full service bar and lounge at The Social will offer college students a safe place to hang out and have fun.

Construction on The Social will start in May.

Business

DeltaYou: A 30-Year Impact

Posted on April 12, 2019 by Jessica Ladd

by Jessica Ladd
Delta Digital News Service

JONESBORO— An Arkansas State University department chair announced his retirement after 30 years with the institution.

Osabuohien Amienyi became chair of the department of media in 2007. For the first 18 years of his career, he taught classes including TV Production, Communication Research and Theory of Mass Communication. Amienyi also served as head of the Faculty Senate and dean of the Department of Communication.

Family photos on Amienyi’s desk. (Photo by Jessica Ladd)

Born in Nigeria, he produced films and did videography there. After moving to the United States, he earned a bachelor’s degree from Tennessee State University, a master’s degree from Northern Illinois University and a doctorate from Bowling Green State University. His teaching specialties include video production, media management, international communication, communication theory and research. He has worked in radio and TV, while also being a published author.

“He is supportive, patient, kind and he sees every moment as an opportunity to teach. He truly cares about his students, faculty and staff. He is an inspiration and he will be missed,” Kimberly McDaniel said.

McDaniel, the media department’s administrative specialist, works closely with Amienyi and schedules all his appointments. McDaniel began working with him a year ago. She said he is a wonderful boss. She is sad to see him go and wishes him the best of luck in retirement.

More than an academic, Amienyi enjoys helping others and serves on the board of directors for Jonesboro’s Rotary Club. He joined the club in 2007.

Lisa Golden, president of the Jonesboro Rotary Club, met Amienyi when she transferred to Jonesboro in 2014. She said she always looks forward to seeing him every week.

“He is one of the nicest, energetic and most friendly people I’ve ever met. He is quick to laugh and great to work with,” she said.

He takes most of the photos for their meetings. Golden also said he is very active in the organization. He attends meetings and is currently involved in some of their ongoing projects.

Amienyi is passionate about Rotary. He said being a part of the club is fun. The organization undertakes projects to promote peace and fight disease. They help provide clean water, save mothers and children, support education and grow local economies. Their slogan is “service above self.”

Soccer is a big part of Amienyi’s life, as well. He could talk all day about his favorite sport. He learned to play the game at a young age. There weren’t many sports in Nigeria when he was growing up. He said it was something everyone played. Soccer was like a religion to them.

Amienyi (center) coaches during a youth soccer practice. (Photo by Jessica Ladd)

In Nigeria, he lived about three-to-four miles from the soccer stadium. He could hear the cheers from the crowd at his house. He also listened to the games on the radio. This is what sparked his interest in broadcasting.

He coaches in the Jonesboro Youth Soccer Program. Amienyi said there is a joke around the college that soccer is his full-time job and everything else he does is just for fun. He enjoys teaching young children about the game he loves. He has been coaching in the United States since 1990 after his eldest son joined the program.

He called soccer a thinking person’s game, as it’s all about problem-solving. Sometimes a person will have to try three or four different strategies before a move is successful. He is currently working with his youngest son, who hopes to play professionally one day.

Amienyi said it has been a long journey and he is excited about retirement. He’s not sure where he plans on moving yet, but everything else he has figured out. He wants to start his own soccer school where he will take 10-12 kids at a time and teach them the game. He also wants to focus more on research and even hopes to write some children’s books. He plans on spending more time with his family as well.

Assistant coach Welby Young watches practice. (Photo by Jessica Ladd)

Assistant soccer coach Welby Young met Amienyi in 2015. The two have been coaching together since. Young has great respect for Amienyi.

“It’s probably hard to put into words the impact he has had on the community. If you’re 12 or you’re 25, you’ve probably been coached by Osa or been on one of his teams or seen him play,” Young said. “I think this is his passion. It is not work for him.”

Amienyi said his favorite memory of A-State is being able to do the things he loves. He said he is leaving the department better than when he inherited it. He helped obtain more labs for media students. He was a part of creating Red Wolf Radio and Delta Digital News Service. He said he has enjoyed his time at A-State, and he will miss working with the students. He enjoyed seeing them develop themselves.

Earlier in his A-State career. (Photo courtesy of Lillie Fears)

Amienyi’s father use to say, “Always listen to the voice of experience.” This has stuck with him. He said often times people talk too much and don’t take the time to listen. He keeps an open mind and tries not to judge people. These are the keys to his success.

He would often be asked how long he planned to stay at A-State. He said he would give people what he thought to be a philosophical answer. He said there will come a day when he would outgrow the university, or the university would outgrow him.

“I couldn’t have chosen a better place to work,” he said. “I was allowed to do the things I enjoy. I could have gone to different places and not have had as much fun as I’ve had the last 30 years.”

Service Provides Safe Trip Home

Posted on April 12, 2019 by Jessica Ladd

by Jessica Ladd
Delta Digital News Service

Driving service Uber is helping eliminate drunk driving one trip at a time. The app allows users to go out and enjoy themselves without having to worry about getting home safely.

The mobile app is simple to use and fair in price. Some citizens think highly of the service.

“Uber is a hot topic right now,” said Melissa Herman, a customer at Brickhouse Bar and Grill in downtown Jonesboro. She said she is grateful for Uber’s service to the community.

Taylor Cagle, who was with Herman at the bar, also had nothing but positive reviews. She even considered driving for the company. She said her boss swears by Uber.

Downtown Jonesboro businesses also approve of the app. Uber is helping transport their customers safely and it’s helping reduce their employee’s stress.

“It’s great,” said Krysti Breyette, a bartender at Cregeen’s Irish Pub. “A lot of people drink and use Uber. It’s not uncommon to see an Uber or Lyft outside waiting to pick someone up. It has cut down on drinking and driving.”

Breyette said Uber is saving lives by offering its service.

Jordan Wooten enjoys the “calm before the storm” on a slow Saturday afternoon at Brickhouse Bar and Grill. (Photo by Jessica Ladd)

Brickhouse Bar and Grill bartender Jordan Wooten has more than six years of experience working in downtown Jonesboro’s bars.

“Uber absolutely is preventing drunk driving,” he said. “You can see someone get into an Uber and know they’ll make it home safely. It’s an app. Even in your worst state, you can use it.”

Uber breaks down the process of using its app into five steps on its website:

A rider opens the app. The rider can enter their destination and view prices, car sizes and wait times. The rider confirms the pickup location and taps request.
The rider is matched with a driver. A nearby driver accepts the trip request. The rider is notified when the driver is a minute away.
The driver picks up the rider. The driver verifies the driver’s name along with the destination.
The driver takes the rider to destination.
The driver and rider leave ratings for each other. Riders can also leave reviews for the driver as well as tips.

Wendell Vovo started driving for Uber in August 2017. He also claimed Uber is cutting down on drunk driving. He said the community appreciates Uber’s service.

“A lot of people are so thankful for it because they have gotten tickets in the past,” he said. “You go and spend $60 on a drink and wind up paying over $2,500.”

In the United States, two out of three people will be involved in a drunk-driving incident within their lifetime. Partnering with Mothers Against Drunk Driving and creating the hashtag #DesignatedRider, Uber is encouraging people to make safer choices.

Transportation

A-State Grants Target Bike and Pedestrian Pathway

Posted on February 25, 2019 by Jessica Ladd

By Jessica Ladd
Delta Digital News Service

JONESBORO— A new bike and pedestrian pathway will be built on Arkansas State University’s campus. The pathway will improve safety and connectivity across campus.

This new pathway comes as a breath of fresh air to some university students.

A-State student Christina Huynh said, “It is a good thing since we did have that accident recently here. I think anything we do to help make things safer, will make things safer.”

She also said she won’t feel completely safe on campus until drivers start obeying the university’s traffic laws.

The latest pathway project consists of two phases. According to Bill Smith, the associate vice chancellor for marketing and communication at A-State, the university received a $450,000 grant from the Arkansas Department of Transportation for the first phase. ARDOT will provide an additional $370,000, possibly $390,000, for the second phase of the project.

Bill Smith, the associate vice chancellor for marketing and communication (photo by Jessica Ladd)

Phase one will create a multi-use path for pedestrians and bicycle riders along Aggie Road on the western side of campus. The path will also continue under Marion Berry Parkway along University Loop West. Construction on phase one began in February 2018 and finished in July 2018.

Phase two will extend the path from behind the library and continue east. It will then turn north to circle back to Aggie Road. Once completed, students will be able to make a loop around campus. The second phase is approaching the design and bid. The university hopes to start on phase two in the late spring and summer of this year. However, bid results and weather could cause delays.

Smith said these pathways are part of a master plan to link campus together. It will be easier for pedestrians and cyclist to get around. Eventually, the university wants to add more trails to connect the east side of campus to the farming area located on the other side of Red Wolf Boulevard. Smith said he hopes Jonesboro will connect its pedestrian pathways with A-State’s in the future. This will multiply the pathways for the city.

These grants come from the Transportation Alternatives Program. The money goes directly into the project and is used for engineering, materials and construction. These grants work as matching 80/20 grants: ARDOT will provide 80 percent of the funds and ASU will cover the other 20 percent. On the $450,000 dollar grant, ASU paid $120,000. The same arrangement will be applied to the grant for the second phase.

Aggie Road Bridge — An Arkansas State University student uses the new portion of the pathway along Aggie Road. (photo by Jessica Ladd)

Aaron Vowell, a resident engineer for ARDOT, said his job is to oversee construction, bids to contractors and the building plans in Jonesboro. Every couple of weeks, he receives a payment request from the University. He then reviews it to ensure the work listed has been completed. Once he has inspected the request, he sends it on to the corporate office in Little Rock, where the grant process is handled.

Although the pathway isn’t completed, many students still enjoy it.

A-State student Latoya Taylor said, “I think it is a good project because you don’t want to be in the road so close to traffic,” she said.

The University is installing lights on the dark western side of campus along the completed portion of the path. Smith predicted the path will have more foot traffic then, especially at night. Smith said he knows what it is like to maneuver around campus without with pathway.

“I’ve lived west of campus and I ride to work almost every day,” he said. “Having that new path has allowed me to step off of the road and have fewer incidents with traffic.”

He said in the past, drivers have not been willing to give him 3 feet of the road. Smith said safety must be a top priority. Drivers must stop at crosswalks. Drivers should also pay attention to the speed limit. He urged pedestrians to make sure the driver sees them before crossing at a crosswalk; they should never assume a driver will see them and stop. Smith said the new pathway will be designed to give pedestrians the right of way with the streets it intersects.