University Planning Committee approves budget plan
Yesterday's meeting of the University Planning Committee resulted in a vote to approve the university's temporary budget reduction plan. As of now, no department budgets will be cut for the remainder of this fiscal year, which ends on June 30. Every open position is reviewed by will go before the Executive Council before it can be filled. ASU will see a total reduction of $2,510,748 in state appropriation reductions for Fiscal Year 2010, according to Ed Kremers, vice chancellor for Finance and Administration. Because of careful fiscal management and growth in key areas such as international program enrollment, graduate enrollment, and distance learning enrollment, the university is maintaining $750,000 in current tuition revenue above budget and has pledged $900,000 in temporary salary savings, $528,354 in classified pay plan reserves, and $356,188 in permanent salary savings to offset the reduction. This amount, plus task force implementation funds of $52,400, yield a total of $2,586,942. When that total is subtracted from the total reduction figure ($2,510,748), the total reduction is covered, with excess funds of $76,194 remaining.

Gov. Beebe names Dan Pierce to ASU Board of Trustees
Dan Pierce, a Jonesboro businessman, has been appointed to serve on the Board of Trustees for Arkansas State University, Arkansas Governor Mike Beebe announced Monday, Jan. 18, in Little Rock. Pierce joins current members Florine Tousant Milligan (chair) of Forrest City, Howard Slinkard of Rogers, Ron Rhodes of Cherokee Village, and Mike Gibson of Osceola. Pierce, 61, is the chief operations officer at NAI Halsey commercial real estate services, worldwide, headquartered in Jonesboro, and has over 40 years of experience in real estate, banking, property management and outdoor advertising. He is a former candidate for mayor of Jonesboro. While a student at ASU, Pierce was president of the Student Government Association,graduating in 1972. He later became president of the ASU Alumni Association. In 1983, Governor Bill Clinton appointed Pierce to the State Board of Higher Education, where he served for 11 years. A longtime real-estate businessman in Jonesboro, Pierce also earned the rank of Lieutenant in the U.S. Army Reserves. For details, and remarks from Gov. Beebe, see the NewsPage release.

KASU's Bluegrass Monday presents the Martins Jan. 25
The Martins will perform a concert of bluegrass music on Monday, January 25, at 7 p.m. at Atkins Celebration Hall, 101 South Pruett Street, in downtown Paragould. The performance is part of the Bluegrass Monday concert series presented by KASU 91.9 FM. KASU will literally "pass the hat" to collect money to pay the group.  The suggested donation is $5 per person. From Jefferson City, Mo., the Martins are a father and his four oldest children who are in their early 20s. These self-taught musicians are known for their outstanding musicianship and tight family harmonies. In 2002, the band won the Youth in Bluegrass contest at Silver Dollar City in Branson, Mo. In 2007, the Martins won the prestigious International Bluegrass Band Championship hosted by the Society for the Preservation of Bluegrass Music in America (SPBGMA). For the past seven years, the band has also been named Instrumental Group of the Year in the Midwest region by SPBGMA. At the 2010 SPBGMA awards, Dale Martin was named Midwest Guitar Performer of the Year, the second time he received that honor. Janice Martin was named Midwest Banjo Performer of the Year, the fourth time she has received that honor. The band and its members were also nominated for five other awards this year, including Vocal Group of the Year. The Martins have recorded eight CDs and been nominated for numerous other awards. Listen to the Martins at ReverbNation. For details, contact KASU program director Marty Scarbrough, ext. 2367.

Delta Awards for Tourism Achievement banquet is Jan. 29
The tenth annual Delta Awards recognizing tourism achievement in eastern Arkansas will be presented during festivities Friday evening, Jan. 29, at Southland Park Gaming and Racing, 1550 N. Ingram Boulevard, West Memphis.The evening will begin with a 5:30 p.m. silent auction, followed by the dinner and the presentation of awards at 7 p.m. The event is sponsored by Arkansas Delta Byways, with support from the West Memphis Advertising and Promotion Commission, the West Memphis Chamber of Commerce, and the West Memphis Main Street Association. The annual awards event is open to the public. Tickets are $25 per person, and tickets for a table of eight will be $175. For information on ticket availability, contact Arkansas Delta Byways by calling ext. 2803. Finalists for awards include Marjorie Hunter of Marion, a Heritage Studies PhD student at ASU. Hunter is a finalist for the Arkansas Delta Byways Cultural Heritage Award for her exhibition “Hope and Despair: FSA Photography in Arkansas during the Great Depression.” ASU alumna Dr. Sherry Laymon s a finalist for the Arkansas Delta Byways Media Support Award, for her book "Pfeiffer Country." ASU alumnae Jill and Keith Forrester of Whitton Farms, Whitton, are finalists for the Arkansas Delta Byways Entrepreneur Award. For details, and a complete listing of awards and finalists, see the NewsPage release.
  
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