Protect Yourself Online

Are you concerned about online scams, suspicious phone calls, or protecting your personal information? If not, you should be! The FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center reports cyber criminals steal an estimated $3 billion from seniors in the U.S. each year, with many older adults being victimized by scams that can seem very real.

Join us for Cyber Smart Seniors, a one-hour, beginner-friendly workshop designed to help older adults stay safe, recognize common threats, and protect themselves from becoming victims of online fraud in today’s digital world.

This class is presented in partnership by the Independence County Library and UACCB as part of their free Digital Skills Series. 

You’ll learn:

• How to spot common scams targeting seniors
• Simple ways to protect your passwords, devices, and identity
• What to do if you think you’ve been targeted
• How scammers are using AI to sound more convincing — and how to stay ahead

This class is presented in plain language with real-world examples!

Whether you use a smartphone, tablet, or desktop computer, you’ll leave better equipped to navigate the online world with confidence.

• Location: Independence County Library
• Date: Thursday, June 26
• Time: 10:00–11:00 AM

Seats are limited to 15 participants. Register today and become cyber smart!

This cybersecurity class is part of an ongoing collaboration between the Independence County Library and the University of Arkansas Community College at Batesville to offer free digital skills workshops. Designed especially for older adults, these classes help community members gain the confidence and knowledge to navigate technology safely and effectively. The initiative directly supports the Independence County Broadband Committee’s vision to bridge the digital divide by ensuring residents are not only connected, but also empowered to use the internet with greater security and independence.

Register HERE for Hunter Education for October 4, 2025

This free class sponsored by the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission (AGFC) is required for anyone born after 1968. To hunt in Arkansas, you must complete a hunter education course and carry a valid hunter education card. Youth under age 16 may hunt without hunter education as long as they are under the direct supervision of an adult who is 21 years of age. There is no specific age requirement to enroll in hunter education but the curriculum is based on a sixth-grade reading level. Registration online at AGFC is required. Call 870-612-2082 for more information. 

Watch the whole online series here >>

Have you ever thought about keeping honey bees, but can't decide if you are ready to make that commitment? Our popular educational series, the Complete Beekeeping Short Course, is now available for you to watch online -- for free!  All lectures are presented by UA Extension apiculture specialist Dr. Jon Zawislak, an entomologist and EAS-certified Master Beekeeper. Learn more here >>

Testimonial: "Since 2013, I have attended five of the in-person Beekeeping training classes that Dr. Jon Zawislak has provided. Each class was a three part/three night presentation over a three week period. For me, beekeeping is such a wildly interesting endeavor. I could go on forever about the amazing honeybee. There was so much information provided in Dr. Zawislak's class that I could not absorb it all with only one round. I have never met anyone as knowledgeable and passionate about a non-religious subject as 'Dr. Z' is with his bee classes." Freddie Mohlke