Above: Batesville Mayor Rick Elumbaugh (left), Independence County Judge Kevin Jeffery
By Emily Wang, White River Now
Independence County residents gathered earlier this month at The River Steakhouse for the April City-County Connections meeting.
Guest speaker Brandy Huff Tarini, Mrs. Arkansas America 2024, delivered a message focused on one of the most harrowing issues of our time: human trafficking.
Tarini, a Searcy native and University of Central Arkansas graduate, uses her platform to raise awareness about trafficking in Arkansas and across the nation.
“It’s real, it’s brutal, and it’s happening much closer to home than we realize,” Tarini said. She added that she entered the pageant world not for the crown, but to shine a light on the realities of human trafficking.
After working with survivors for more than a decade, her passion for the cause began during a visit to the Dorcas House, a domestic abuse treatment center in Little Rock. There, she encountered the emotional toll borne by victims. Today, she serves as a representative for Partners Against Trafficking Humans (PATH), contributing to its crisis response team and emergency helpline.
“Awareness is one of the greatest weapons we can have in this fight,” Tarini said. “Dispelling myths and shining light into darkness can save lives.”
She shared alarming statistics, including that Pulaski County ranks as the ninth most dangerous county in the country for human trafficking. More than 27% of calls to the PATH crisis helpline are from survivors at risk of suicide. Tarini also emphasized that only 1% of victims are rescued, noting that “survival isn’t just a number—it’s a testimony.”
“It isn’t an easy conversation, but avoiding it doesn’t protect them,” she said. She likened the fight against trafficking to sending soldiers into battle, stressing the importance of equipping children with the tools they need to stay safe.
Tarini addressed several misconceptions, including the belief that human trafficking is less profitable than drug trafficking. “Drugs can be sold once,” she said. “A person can be sold over and over again.”
She said the average age of sex trafficking victims is 12, though she has seen survivors as young as 4. “It’s not about fear, it’s about battle,” Tarini said. “We win by studying the enemy. The more we know, the less power they have. The more we prepare children, the harder they are to target.”
She also warned of the dangers of technology in targeting youth. “Every second counts,” she said, noting that traffickers are skilled at luring children online.
“It only takes 19 seconds for a stranger to become a threat,” Tarini said. “When a child engages, they’ve caught the predator’s attention. When they respond, that’s when the danger escalates.”
Through her platform, Tarini aims to equip parents, caregivers, and children with tools to recognize and avoid trafficking situations—especially online.
“It’s not about fear,” she said. “It’s about being prepared. The more prepared our children are, the harder it is for them to be targeted. The more we can equip the next generation with truth, courage, and the tools to fight back, the more likely we are to win this war.”
Tarini continues to use her platform to raise awareness, spark change, and advocate for survivors.
County and city updates
Despite recent flooding in parts of Independence County, County Judge Kevin Jeffrey said conditions are improving. As floodwaters recede, crews are discovering additional road damage. Emergency response teams remain active, working to assess and repair infrastructure.
The county is moving forward with several paving projects targeting high-traffic roads in each quadrant.
“We’re still getting quite a bit done this year—more than normal,” Jeffrey said. However, he noted that deteriorating work trucks remain a major issue, with most in poor condition.
“When they’re in the shop, they’re not out getting work done,” he said.
In economic development news, a new sand mining company is expected to begin operations in the northern part of the county, bringing approximately 60 new jobs.
In city updates, Batesville Mayor Rick Elumbaugh thanked county partners for their cooperation during the recent floods. He said it was the first time the city had to install all floodgates, a process that took two days, and thanked employees for their extra work hours.
Elumbaugh also shared progress on community projects, including landscaping along the new Greenway Trail on Main Street and continued development of the Riverside Park Project.
“We have secured the all-inclusive playground, and splash pad parts were delivered yesterday,” he said. “Things are going to start coming together really soon.”
Efforts are also underway to improve tornado warning systems, including the addition of a new texting alert service for residents.
The next City-County Connections meeting is scheduled for May 15, with special guest Arkansas point guard Izzy Higginbottom.
