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Friends,
As we approach Veterans Day on Saturday, we pause in recognition and appreciation of the all the veterans who heeded the call to military service and fought to protect our freedoms and liberties. I'm especially proud of the dozens of veterans who honorably continued their public service careers here with the City of Little Rock.
In honor of Veterans Day and the veterans that work for you, the residents of this City, I asked a few of our hometown heroes to discuss their experiences and servant leadership.
Scott Hotchkiss, one of our code enforcement officers, is a combat veteran of Operation Desert Storm. A Marine combat engineer attached to the A company, Third Battalion, Scott was among the ground forces that liberated Kuwait in 1991. He was a third-generation member of the armed forces, and he said it was the family tradition of service that led him to enlist in 1989.
Scott, a Vilonia native, joined the City of Little Rock's Department of Housing and Neighborhood Programs in 2014. He said being a Marine taught him how to reshape his priorities to focus on what's important, because "every day is a gift." He said that lesson helps him during his work for the residents of Little Rock.
While he understands the importance of Veterans Day, he is modest when it comes to people who share their gratefulness for his service.
"I never really know what to say when people tell me 'Thank you,'" he said. "I did what a lot of people either didn't want to do, or couldn't do, and I was happy to do it."
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Major Cassandra Davis of the Little Rock Police Department was an Army reservist for 13 years, ultimately achieving the rank of Sergeant First Class. She said she was driven to join both the Army Reserve and LRPD because both offered excitement and adventure. However, most compelling for both jobs was the call to serve others.
"For me, it was the heart for service," she said. "Even today, serving as a police officer, it's all about service. I'm part of a sorority (Alpha Kappa Alpha) and we're all about service. It wasn't necessarily a need to be hardcore or anything like that."
Major Davis said her Army basic training prepared her for what awaited at LRPD's training academy, which she attended in 1996 at the start of her exceptional 27-year police career. She is a native of North Little Rock, and she has been a patrol officer, detective public affairs officer and lieutenant in the Special Assignments Unit. She currently oversees the 21st Century Policing Unit.
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Darryl Marbley is another long-term City employee whose military service and municipal service coincided for more than two decades. Marbley, the Parks and Recreation Department's adult program coordinator, served in the Air National Guard for 21 years.
He went through six deployments during that time, including to Kuwait, the United Kingdom and the Gulf Coast right after Hurricane Katrina.
"Even to this day, I miss it," said Marbley, who retired from military service in 2012. "I've always wanted to serve. That's just who I am. It's about putting people first, and that's just what I've always done."
Marbley, a Little Rock Parkview graduate, was in the ROTC program at Parkview. He played basketball at Henderson State University. He was good friends with the late City Manager Bruce T. Moore, who attended Henderson at the same time and was a fraternity brother.
Bruce was also a decorated veteran, having served in the Army Reserve during Operation Desert Storm.
Please take a moment this week to honor and salute him, Daryl, Scott, Major Davis and all other veterans. We show gratitude for your service and sacrifice.
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Boyd Metals Expansion
Boyd Metals this week announced a 40,500-square-foot expansion to its operation at the Port of Little Rock, bringing 20 new jobs to the City.
In just the last three years, eight different companies have either established a presence or expanded at the Port, the City's industrial park. I was glad to join Boyd Metals officials, the Little Rock Regional Chamber, the Arkansas Economic Development Corporation and others for the announcement last Wednesday. It's a testament to our workforce and to the strength of our City when a company chooses to expand.
At the intersection of road, river, rail and runway, the Port is vital to our overall economic development. This expansion clearly demonstrates Little Rock is an ideal location to grow a business.
Boyd Metals' Little Rock location first opened in 2006.
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Highlights of the Boyd Metals Expansion Announcement (Courtesy of the Little Rock Regional Chamber)
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The Week Ahead
- The Little Rock Board of Directors will meet Tuesday, Nov. 7, at 6 p.m. at The Centre at University Park, 6401 W. 12th St. All board meetings are livestreamed on the City of Little Rock Facebook and YouTube pages.
- City of Little Rock offices will be closed Friday, Nov. 10, in observance of Veterans Day. Regularly scheduled sanitation and recycling pickup that day will be pushed back to Saturday.
- The Little Rock Parks and Recreation Commission meets at noon Wednesday, Nov. 8, at The Centre at University Park.
- On Thursday, Nov. 9, at 4 p.m., the Little Rock Planning Commission meets at The Centre at University Park. The Planning Commission considers rezoning requests and hears other matters related to planning, development and zoning.
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As always, stay up to date with what's happening in the City on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram via @citylittlerock. You can also email me at mayorscott@littlerock.gov or call my office at 501.371.4744.
I appreciate you!
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