Independence County, Arkansas

amount of fiber going down.” Having reliable home internet throughout the community was essential during the pandemic. It was one less challenge the county had to manage. Judge Griffin adds, “We are in a constant state of movement here, Ritter is intending to also reach some groups of households in underserved areas with fiber and provide media services in addition to the high speed broadband and telecommunications. Our progress is one of perpetual motion.” As for the banks, both institutions closed their lobbies to protect both employees and customers from COVID. “When things started to improve, we opened them, but then had to close again,” says Cole. “We had to be flexible, and most transactions were through the internet and our drive-through facility.” Now the county is coming up with ideas of how flexibility can be better incorporated into future planning. “From our perspective, we recognized this lack, so I purchased a defunct Bank of America mobile facility,” Griffin recalls. “The pandemic drove home the need for drive-through services for tax assessment and tax collection. We didn’t see the need here to use any draconian efforts to close our economy. Everything was done very tactfully, very targeted. We allowed access into the Independence County Courthouse. My office has been open the entire time but monitored. We’re a solution-oriented county; not a reactionary one. We solve problems as we go without trying to make it worse, and that has worked well for us.” www.badboymowers.com 870-698-0090 It’s our legacy. The driving force behind every mower we build. It’s a promise to every owner that we’ll continue to lead the industry in delivering innovation and powerful mowing performance across our entire mower lineup. And we do it all for mowing pros and demanding homeowners — just like you. COMMERCIAL & RESIDENTIAL MOWERS & TRACTORS INDEPENDENCE COUNTY , ARKANSAS Courtesy of Julie Graves Courtesy of Julie Graves