WASHINGTON -- Four Arkansas teens traveled to the nation's capital last week for a crash course in politics that included a day on Capitol Hill and a chance to meet President Barack Obama.
John Gairhan of Cabot and Marco Gargano of Hot Springs represented Arkansas as delegates to Boys Nation, and Ashton Yarbrough of Bentonville and Hannah Burdette of Little Rock were the state's delegates to Girls Nation.
The delegates met with members of Arkansas' delegation Thursday and were scheduled to meet the president Friday.
The two programs are run by the American Legion and the American Legion Auxiliary. Participants hold party conventions, nominate and elect party officers, participate in a mock senate, visit congressional offices and see key Washington leaders and landmarks.
ON THE HILL
Future Farmers of America State President Bryce Rohr of Mountain Home and State Secretary Becca Burrow of Brinkley met with U.S. Rep. Rick Crawford, R-Ark., and U.S. Sen. John Boozman, R-Ark.
Heifer International and the Alliance to End Hunger held an event Wednesday about how smallholder farmers use livestock to reduce hunger, malnutrition and poverty. Boozman, who is co-chairman of the Senate Hunger Caucus, spoke at the event.
On Tuesday, U.S. Rep. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., met with more than a dozen Arkansas members of Christians United for Israel to discuss the ongoing situation in Israel, Iran's nuclear program and sanctions for Hezbollah.
Both U.S. Sen. Mark Pryor, D-Ark., and Cotton met with Arkansas Farm Bureau President Randy Veach on July 18 to discuss agriculture issues.
IN ARKANSAS
Pryor was scheduled to attend the annual Peach Festival in Clarksville on Saturday.
U.S. Rep. Tim Griffin, R-Ark., was scheduled to receive the Heartland District Civitan Citizen of the Year Award on Saturday in Bentonville. The award is for his work for children and people with disabilities, according to Civitan International, a nonprofit volunteer service organization.
Cotton held a news conference Saturday to announce the formation of his campaign's Veterans for Cotton Coalition.
MOBILE OFFICES
Boozman's staff is scheduled to be available in Dallas County on Friday at the Fordyce Senior Center at 608 Moro St. from 10 a.m. to noon.
Pryor's staff will be available this week at the following locations:
On Wednesday, from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m., at the Leslie Carmichael Community Center, 801 S. Elm St. in Searcy;
11 a.m. to noon at the Cleburne County Veterans Office, 2319 Arkansas 110 West, Suite B in Heber Springs; 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. at the Stone County Courthouse, 107 W. Main St. in Mountain View; 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. at the Independence County Courthouse, 192 E. Main St. in Batesville.
On Thursday, from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. at the Sharp County Courthouse, 718 Ash Flat Drive in Ash Flat; 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at the Fulton County Courthouse, 123 S. Main St. in Salem; 1:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. at the Izard County Courthouse, 80 E. Main St. in Melbourne.
Cotton's staff will be available to discuss veterans issues Friday at 9:30 a.m. at the Crossett Area Chamber of Commerce, 101 W. First Ave. in Crossett and at 1 p.m. at the Calhoun County Courthouse, 309 W. Main St. in Hampton.
INTERN OPENINGS
U.S. Rep. Steve Womack, R-Ark., seeks college students interested in political science, government, public policy, business and social work to serve as interns this fall in his Washington, D.C. office, as well as his district offices in Rogers, Fort Smith and Harrison.
Questions can be directed to the intern coordinator at (202) 225-4301 or (479) 464-0446. Applications are available online at http://womack.house.gov/constituentservices/internships.htm.
Planning to visit the nation's capital? Know something happening in Washington, D.C.? Contact us at (202) 662-7690 or swire@arkansasonline.com.
A section on 07/27/2014