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The Headlines

• MEETINGS: The Maumelle City Council will meet next Monday night at City Hall.

• EVENTS: North Little Rock will be having a spring garden party and Earth Day celebration starting at 5 p.m. today at the North Heights Community Center. Things to do there include: Community gardening, learn gardening tips, family-centered activities and celebrate this very fragile planet we all live on. The event is, of course, free and is scheduled to last until 7 p.m. For more details, click the flyer below.

• SOMETHING TO READ: Concerned about the tennis situation at the University of Arkansas? Well, Matt Brown at the Extra Points newsletter did an extremely deep dive into the economics, as well as some very interesting accounting, into the life of the athletics department in Fayetteville. To read it, click here.

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Spring Dance concert is tonight

The North Little Rock High School Theatre Arts Department will present its spring dance concert tonight, April 30 at 6:30 p.m. featuring performances by the school’s Dance Troupe, Theatre Dance I-IV classes, and participants from the Preschool/Elementary Dance Workshop in the new North Little Rock High School Performing Arts Center (201 West 22nd St.).

Tickets are $6 for students/seniors and $8 for adults.

First Farmers Market is Friday in Maumelle

Maumelle’s new Millwood Station will host the first Farmers Market of the year this Friday. It is scheduled to start at 4 p.m. and last until 7 p.m.

The Farmers Market will be held on the first Friday of each month starting in May. Friday, for the calendar adverse, is May 1. The Farmers Markets will continue through October. Additional dates may be added based on the interest of shoppers and vendors.

Splash!

The Burns Park Splash Pad opens this Friday at 10 a.m. and will close at 7 p.m. The city of North Little Rock will have the Splash Pad open Friday through Sunday at the hours above and after May 25, the Splash Pad will be open every day from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Also, choo-choo as the Funland Train at Burns Park will start running this Saturday at 10 a.m. and running through 7 p.m. And will also be open on Sunday on the same schedule. Train rides begin at the top of each hour.

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Notices

CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION VACANCY

The Maumelle City Council is accepting resumes from residents interested in serving on the Maumelle Civil Service Commission. One appointment will be made to fill a six-year term ending May 31, 2032.

Applicants must be a qualified elector and a resident of Maumelle for more than three years. Applicants must not hold or be a candidate for any political office and must not be connected in any official capacity with any political party or organization.

Resumes should be submitted to the City Clerk/Treasurer’s Office, 550 Edgewood Drive, Maumelle, Arkansas 72113, no later than 4 p.m. on May 13, 2026. Email submissions will also be accepted at cityclek@maumelle.org.

Applicants will be interviewed by the City Council at its regular meeting on May 18 at 6 p.m. at City Hall. The appointment will be made following the interviews.

PUBLIC FACILITIES BOARD VACANCY

The Maumelle Public Facilities Board is accepting resumes from residents interested in serving on the Board. One appointment will be made for a five-year term ending May 31, 2031. Applicants must be residents of Maumelle.

Resumes should be submitted to the City Clerk/Treasurer’s Office, 550 Edgewood Drive, Maumelle, AR 72113, no later than 4 p.m. on May 13. Email submissions will also be accepted at cityclerk@maumelle.org.

All resumes will be reviewed by the Public Facilities Board. A recommendation will then be made to the Mayor and City Council for appointment. The appointment will be announced at the regularly scheduled City Council meeting on May 18.

For additional information, please contact Cheryl Schulterman at 501-258-7129.

Contact Maumelle City Clerk Tina Timmons at 501-851- 2500 if you have additional questions

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Balancing Motherhood and Medicine: Kadeshia Cooper reaches nursing milestone

For Kadeshia Cooper, above, the road to becoming a nurse has been anything but easy. From raising a child as a single mom to balancing long clinical hours and coursework, the North Little Rock native relied on determination and perseverance to reach this milestone.

Cooper will earn her Associate of Science in Nursing from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock in May. She earned an associate’s degree in liberal arts and sciences from Pulaski Technical College in May 2024.

Cooper followed a strategic academic path to achieve her nursing degree.

“I did 2+2. I did two years of prerequisites at Pulaski Tech and the two-year nursing program at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock,” she explained. “I plan to complete the Bachelor of Science in Nursing by December 2026.”

Although nursing ultimately became her passion, Cooper said circumstances initially required her to think practically about her future.

“Becoming a mother at 18 motivated me to pursue a stable career, which led me to nursing,” she said. “During my journey, I developed a true passion for the field, and this experience has shaped both my career and who I am today.”

Beyond academics, Cooper managed parenting and household finances.

“Balancing school while raising a child and handling bills on my own made it even more challenging,” she said. “I spent long hours studying, and the library truly became a second home for my son and me. I am very thankful for the support I received along the way.”

She received an Arkansas Single Parent Scholarship and used resources such as the CARE Team, the Academic Challenge Scholarship, and the campus food pantry at UA Little Rock.

Her coursework and clinical experiences allowed her to develop practical nursing skills that strengthened her confidence in patient care. Throughout her college experience, Cooper said family support - especially from her big sister, Shacora Cooper - played a key role.

“She is like a second mother to me without the title, as well as a sister, friend, and my personal therapist,” she said.

During her time in college, Cooper has built community and celebrated personal milestones. She was on the Little Rock Dance Team during her first year of college.

“I enjoyed being at the games, being loud, and cheering on the basketball players,” she said. “My son also enjoyed coming with me to the games, which made the experience even more special.”

Cooper also pushed herself physically outside the classroom.

“I ran my first 10K in February at the Little Rock Marathon,” she said. “That was a big accomplishment for me, and it showed me that I can push myself to do things I did not think I could do.”

Cooper said graduating with her associate’s degree in nursing and later earning her bachelor’s will mark a historic moment.

“I hope I’ve created a cycle of education and financial stability that continues with my son and future generations,” she said.

After graduation, Cooper wants to spend more time with her son and involve him in activities he enjoys. She also plans to celebrate her accomplishment.

“My first plan is to take a vacation and get some rest, maybe even a week-long nap,” she said. “After that, I plan to work as a registered nurse in the operating room while also finishing my remaining bachelor’s coursework.”

Cooper said her university experience helped her prepare for professional success and personal growth.

“While going through nursing school, I was able to build meaningful connections with people and network,” she said. “I also had the opportunity to volunteer and gain valuable hands-on clinical skills. I learned how to be punctual, organized, and how to manage my time wisely.”

Cooper hopes her story encourages others to pursue their dreams despite obstacles.

“Everyone has a story or something in life that can hold them back, but I encourage people to find their purpose and stay determined,” she said. “Don’t make excuses for why you cannot do something, make reasons for why you should.”

With about 9,000 students and 100 programs, UA Little Rock offers learning, research, service, social and career opportunities that can only be found at a metropolitan university located in Arkansas’s capital city.

Single Parent Scholarship Fund makes impact in central Arkansas

The Arkansas Single Parent Scholarship Fund raised $61,000 during its second annual Day of Giving on March 20, showing strong statewide support for single parents working toward a college degree.

This fundraising effort came as the organization awarded $659,600 in Spring 2026 scholarships to 453 single parents, helping student parents across 69 counties stay enrolled in college or trade school while supporting their families.

In Pulaski County, they awarded $124,400 in scholarships to 85 single parents this spring, including Tamira Watts, who is studying for her associate degree in radiography at University of Arkansas–Pulaski Technical College.

“This scholarship helped relieve the financial burden I had been carrying on my own,” Watts said. “It gave me a moment to breathe and the ability to focus more fully on my education instead of constantly worrying about finances. Because of this support, I was able to get ahead rather than just trying to keep up.”

The scholarships can be used for expenses that often stand between a single parent and graduation, including child care, transportation, housing, utilities, and school-related costs. The financial aid is paired with support services to help these nontraditional students successfully balance school, work, and parenting.

“Day of Giving showed how deeply Arkansans believe in the determination of single parents who are working to create a better future for their families,” said Jenn Morehead. “Every gift helps remove barriers that can keep a student parent from finishing school and moving into a career with family-supporting wages.”

This year’s Day of Giving exceeded the nonprofit’s $45,000 goal, and the campaign raised nearly twice as much as last year.

The fundraiser coincides with National Single Parent Day and brought together donors, volunteers, community partners, and local supporters across the state to invest in the success of single parent families.

For many recipients, that support means more than financial help. It means knowing someone believes in their future.

Maumelle City Council Member Christine Gronwald serves as the organization’s Chief Development Officer.

For more information, visit aspsf.org or contact Jen Lawrence at jlawrence@aspsf.org or 501-550-6304.

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Arkansas Women’s Hall of Fame names Tenth Class of Inductees

The Arkansas Women’s Hall of Fame has released the names of its tenth class of inductees — seven women who have made significant contributions to the state and their respective fields and stand as positive examples for women everywhere.

The inductees, who will be honored at a special ceremony on the evening of Thursday, Aug. 27, at the new North Little Rock Event Center, Centennial Bank Ballroom, in North Little Rock, are:

Contemporary:

• Cynthia East – Cynthia East founded Cynthia East Fabrics in 1977, growing it into a well-known and lasting business. She has been deeply involved in community service, with leadership roles in organizations such as the Winthrop Rockefeller Foundation, Camp Aldersgate, and the Junior League of Little Rock, and a strong commitment to Little Rock Public Schools. A breast cancer survivor, she has also supported others facing similar challenges.

• Marsha Martin – Marsha Martin is a creative product designer, entrepreneur, and philanthropist, and the founder of Onyx Brands, Inc., a leader in professional-quality beauty products since 1990. A dedicated philanthropist, she has served in leadership roles with organizations including the American Heart Association and remains active in University of Arkansas initiatives.

• Cynthia Nance – Cynthia E. Nance is Dean and the Nathan G. Gordon Professor of Law at the University of Arkansas School of Law, where she has served on the faculty since 1994 and led as dean in two terms. A dedicated leader and philanthropist, she has been honored with numerous lifetime achievement awards for her service, scholarship, and commitment to expanding access to legal education.

Historical:

• Sharon Allen (1944-2021) – Sharon Allen was a trailblazing leader in Arkansas’s health insurance industry, spending more than four decades with Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield. Beginning as a claims clerk in 1968, she rose through the ranks to become the company’s first female president in 2002.

• Phyllis Brandon (1935-2020) – Phyllis Dillaha Brandon was a pioneering Arkansas journalist who discovered her passion for writing early and earned a journalism degree from the University of Arkansas in 1957. In 1986, she founded the High Profile section of the Arkansas Democrat, where she spent more than two decades highlighting influential Arkansans. Widely honored for her impact, she left a lasting legacy in journalism, public service, and storytelling.

• Dorothy Caldwell (1935-2023) – Dorothy Reddell Caldwell was a pioneering leader in child nutrition, education, and community service whose work transformed school meal programs at every level. Beginning as a teacher and later serving as Director of Food and Nutrition in Lee County, she modernized school meal systems and expanded access to breakfast and healthier options. Widely honored for her impact, her legacy continues through the policies she shaped and the countless children she helped serve.

• Vada Sheid (1916-2008) – Vada Webb Sheid was a pioneering Arkansas legislator and the first woman to serve in both the state House and Senate, with a public career spanning five decades. She began her service as Izard County welfare director and later entered politics, winning election as Baxter County treasurer before serving in the House and Senate.

The nonprofit Arkansas Women’s Hall of Fame began as a partnership between the North Little Rock Chamber of Commerce and Arkansas Business Publishing Group. The North Little Rock Chamber of Commerce currently manages the event.

The hall has inducted new members each year. Nominees are not limited to a certain field or accomplishment and can include pioneers, philanthropists, educators, entrepreneurs, athletes, artists, business leaders, and political figures.

Tables and tickets to the Arkansas Women’s Hall of Fame induction ceremony can be purchased at ARWomensHallofFame.com. Sponsorship and advertising opportunities are also available through the website.

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Lender Quick-Connect is May 13 at UA Little Rock

Arkansas entrepreneurs looking to fund a new business, ongoing operations, expansion or acquisition can fast-track their search at Lender Quick-Connect: Find Your Funder.

The Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center will host the free event on May 13, from 1 to 4 p.m., at the Reynolds Business Center on the campus of the University of Arkansas at Little Rock.

In a single afternoon, aspiring and established business owners can connect with multiple Arkansas lenders in a fast-paced “speed dating” format.

Participants will be matched with lender appointments based on key business details such as their industry, business stage, credit history and project scope.

The event is designed to help entrepreneurs navigate the funding landscape and build relationships with funders who have a proven track record of small business lending.

Attendees can also:

• Confer with credit counseling services to discuss financial readiness

• Engage with ASBTDC business consultants and Small Business Administration representatives

• Get expert tips on crafting a compelling funding pitch

“Outside of personal savings or contributions from friends and family, a loan is the most common way to get capital for launching or growing a business,” said ASBTDC State Director Laura Fine. “Lender Quick-Connect is an excellent opportunity to pitch a project to several potential funding partners in a short period of time and explore financing options available through banks, credit unions, microlenders and Community Development Financial Institutions.”

Participating lending institutions include ACC Capital, Arkansas Federal Credit Union, Arvest Bank, Chase Bank, Communities Unlimited, First Security Bank, FNBC, FORGE Community Loan Fund, Hope Credit Union, Regions Bank, Southern Bancorp Bank, Southern Bancorp Community Partners, Stone Bank and U.S. Bank.

Pre-registration is required. To reserve a spot, go to tinyurl.com/3vthe5hr or contact Laterika Tooks-Staton at 501-804-4530 or lstooks@ualr.edu.

Through its offices around the state, the ASBTDC offers no-cost services and resources for Arkansas entrepreneurs and small businesses. For more information, call 800-862-2040 or visit asbtdc.org.

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Sports

Upcoming Travs games

At Wichita, now through May 3

Six-game homestand against Tulsa

Tuesday, May 5, 6:05 p.m.

• Dog Day: Human fans can get $3 Berm tickets by bringing their dog to the game (only available at a WinChoice Box Office Window). NOTE: Dogs are only allowed in the Berm areas | Presented By Hollywood Feed

• Fiesta de Diamantes: The Travs will take the field as the Diamantes de Arkansas in salute of Hispanic Heritage!

Wednesday, May 6, 11:05 a.m.

• School Day: Putting the “field” in “greatest field trip ever!” | Presented By Summit Community Care

• Senior Day

Thursday, May 7, 6:35 p.m.

• Mad Mallards Weekend: Join us in celebration of Central Arkansas’ obsession with waterfowl hunting! | Presented By Arkansas Ducks Unlimited

• $3 Thursday: Enjoy an amazing value for the whole family and the best patio in Central Arkansas! Get $3 General Admission or Beer Garden tickets at a WinChoice Box Office Window. Plus, feed the whole crew for less with select concession items for $3 each!

Friday, May 8, 7:05 p.m.

• Mad Mallards Weekend: Join us in celebration of Central Arkansas’ obsession with waterfowl hunting! | Presented By Arkansas Ducks Unlimited

• Fireworks Friday

Saturday, May 9, 4:05 p.m.

• Mad Mallards Weekend: Join us in celebration of Central Arkansas’ obsession with waterfowl hunting! | Presented By Arkansas Ducks Unlimited

• Kids Run the Bases: Kids 13 and under are invited to run the same basepaths the Travs run after the game! | Presented By First Community Bank

• Trucker Hat Giveaway: Celebrate the Travs’ 125th Anniversary with some limited edition headwear! | Presented By Snapple | First 1,000 Fans (one item per person)

Sunday, May 10, 1:35 p.m.

• Mad Mallards Weekend: Join us in celebration of Central Arkansas’ obsession with waterfowl hunting! | Presented By Arkansas Ducks Unlimited

• Kids Baseball Clinic: Kids 13 and under are invited to join Travs players on field for a baseball clinic starting at noon! Instruction will last approximately 45 minutes. | Presented By Arkansas Brighter Future 529

• Kids Run the Bases: Kids 13 and under are invited to run the same basepaths the Travs run after the game! | Presented By First Community Bank

• Baseball BINGO: Presented By Arkansas Brighter Future 529

• Operation: Military Appreciation: Service Members get $3 off General Admission and Field Reserved tickets by presenting a Military ID (only available at a WinChoice Box Office Window) | Presented By Mid-South Ford Dealers

• Family Sunday Deal: Get $3 General Admission tickets by presenting a physical or digital church bulletin (only available at a WinChoice Box Office Window)

At Northwest Arkansas, May 12-17

Six-game homestand against Springfield

Tuesday, May 19, 6:35 p.m.

• Dog Day: Human fans can get $3 Berm tickets by bringing their dog to the game (only available at a WinChoice Box Office Window). NOTE: Dogs are only allowed in the Berm areas | Presented By Hollywood Feed

Wednesday, May 20, 6:35 p.m.

• Dog Day: Human fans can get $3 Berm tickets by bringing their dog to the game (only available at a WinChoice Box Office Window). NOTE: Dogs are only allowed in the Berm areas | Presented By Hollywood Feed

Thursday, May 21, 6:35 p.m.

• $3 Thursday: Enjoy an amazing value for the whole family and the best patio in Central Arkansas! Get $3 General Admission or Beer Garden tickets at a WinChoice Box Office Window. Plus, feed the whole crew for less with select concession items for $3 each!

Friday, May 22, 7:05 p.m.

• Fireworks Friday: Presented By Bank OZK

Saturday, May 23, 6:35 p.m.

• Cal Raleigh Bobblecard Giveaway: Presented By Hardee’s | First 1,000 Fans (one item per person)

• Post-Game Fireworks

Sunday, May 24, 6:05 p.m.

• Post-Game Fireworks

• Baseball BINGO: Presented By Arkansas Brighter Future 529

• Operation: Military Appreciation: Service Members get $3 off General Admission and Field Reserved tickets by presenting a Military ID (only available at a WinChoice Box Office Window) | Presented By Mid-South Ford Dealers

Six-game homestand against Frisco

Tuesday, May 26, 6:35 p.m.

• Dog Day: Human fans can get $3 Berm tickets by bringing their dog to the game (only available at a WinChoice Box Office Window). NOTE: Dogs are only allowed in the Berm areas | Presented By Hollywood Feed

Wednesday, May 27, 6:35 p.m.

• Dog Day: Human fans can get $3 Berm tickets by bringing their dog to the game (only available at a WinChoice Box Office Window). NOTE: Dogs are only allowed in the Berm areas | Presented By Hollywood Feed

Thursday, May 28, 6:35 p.m.

• $3 Thursday: Enjoy an amazing value for the whole family and the best patio in Central Arkansas! Get $3 General Admission or Beer Garden tickets at a WinChoice Box Office Window. Plus, feed the whole crew for less with select concession items for $3 each!

• Singles Night: Let the Travs help turn a single into a double! Join us at the ballpark for a pre-game “Singles Mingle” event.

Friday, May 29, 7:05 p.m.

• Fireworks Friday: Presented By Baldwin & Shell Construction

Saturday, May 30, 6:05 p.m.

• Faith & Family Night: The perfect night for a church group outing! | Presented By Hickingbotham Investments

• Kids Run the Bases: Kids 13 and under are invited to run the same basepaths the Travs run after the game! | Presented By First Community Bank

Sunday, May 31, 1:35 p.m.

• Fiesta de Diamantes: The Travs will take the field as the Diamantes de Arkansas in salute of Hispanic Heritage!

• Kids Baseball Clinic: Kids 13 and under are invited to join Travs players on field for a baseball clinic starting at noon! Instruction will last approximately 45 minutes. | Presented By Arkansas Brighter Future 529

• Kids Run the Bases: Kids 13 and under are invited to run the same basepaths the Travs run after the game! | Presented By First Community Bank

• Baseball BINGO: Presented By Arkansas Brighter Future 529

• Operation: Military Appreciation: Service Members get $3 off General Admission and Field Reserved tickets by presenting a Military ID (only available at a WinChoice Box Office Window) | Presented By Mid-South Ford Dealers

• Family Sunday Deal: Get $3 General Admission tickets by presenting a physical or digital church bulletin (only available at a WinChoice Box Office Window).

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Health

Pandemic deaths unknown

The state Department of Health didn’t update the state’s dashboard this week, again, and deaths still total 532 for the past year. There’s no tab created for 2025 either and the virus has now killed 14,162 Arkansans since the pandemic began then. That would mean the pandemic death toll has now passed Marion’s 13,635 people, the state’s 29th largest city.

Covid toolkit

There’s now a one-stop shop to learn about vaccination sites and other Covid related information. Click here to learn more.

If you don’t want to get sick and die, there’s some things you can do:

• Get vaccinated

• Get boosted

• Wear a mask

• Avoid crowds

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Note to subscribers: An annual or monthly subscription is billed to your debit or credit card as ARKANSAS.SUBSTACK.COM and if you have questions, please email arkansas@substack.com. Thanks for reading and subscribing!

The Headlines

• MEETINGS:The North Little Rock School Board will have a special call,meeting at 5:30 p.m. tonight at the district’s administration building. For the agenda, mostly executive sessions to discuss personnel, click here. The Maumelle Planning Commission also meets tonight but at 6:30 p.m. and for more on that, keep scrolling. The North Little Rock City Council will meet next Monday night at City Hall. The quarterly meeting of the North Little Rock Advertising & Promotion Commission will take place at 2:30 p.m. on Tuesday, April 28 and will be in the Board Room at 600 Main St.

• EVENTS: he Little Rock Zoo is hosting Wild Wines, a fundraiser, on Friday and Saturday. Tickets are available by clicking here and both nights, the event starts at 7 p.m. There’s food, and booze, and a good time will be had by all. There’s also quite a bit more happening this weekend, so keep on scrolling.

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Maumelle Planning Commission meets tonight

The Maumelle Planning Commission will have its regular, monthly meeting at 6:30 p.m. tonight at City Hall.

For the agenda, click here.

The agenda is another light one, with only one item of old business expected to be discussed at tonight’s meeting.

Previously deferred, the Planning Commission will hear the County Club of Arkansas Lot 70A development plan.

The plan involves a replat of Lot 700 RR and is part of the phase 15 development.

The area covers 9.422 acres with an average lot size of 1.599 acres for a total of six lots, all for commercial development.

The plan would require a “future road extension off of Paul Eells Drive and the staff recommendation is for approval.

The idea behind the design is to “avoid a strip center commercial look” and create “visual cohesion” and “promote density with interconnectivity and walkability.”

The development guidelines included in the packet, also noted that, “the intent is to maintain flexibility while enforcing quality.”

Hmm,

Renderings of the proposal were not included in the packet, as further development of the per lot submittals, “will require Planning Commission and City Council approval.”

Hmm.

The lot development plan is listed as an item of new business but Lewis Engineering has requested deferral to the May 28 meeting.

Tonight’s meeting is open to the public and will be livestreamed on the city’s YouTube page.

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Academics Plus COO Kyron Jones named Educator of the Year

Kyron Jones, Chief Operating Officer of Academics Plus Charter Schools, was recently named an Alma J. Washington Educator of the Year by the Oscar Washington Jr. Educational Fund.

The Alma J. Washington Educator of the Year Award recognizes current and former Arkansas educators for their contributions to the state’s education system and their impact on students. Honorees are recognized annually at the Oscar Washington Jr. Educational Fund Scholarship Awards Ceremony and receive a $1,000 prize. Jones was one of five educators selected for the award this year.

He was recently named the incoming Chief Executive Officer of Academics Plus Charter Schools, succeeding Rob McGill, who announced his retirement.

“Kyron has consistently demonstrated a deep commitment to students, staff and the mission of public education,” McGill said. “This recognition reflects not only his leadership, but the lasting impact he has on the school community every day. I can’t think of anyone more deserving of this honor.” Jones will assume his new role July 1.

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The Long Road Home Project makes North Little Rock stop

North Little Rock Mayor Terry Hartwick quite literally stepped into the moment on Wednesday and hopped on a horse to present a proclamation to the riders of The Long Road Home Project, an initiative promoting the foster care system.

The riders stopped in North Little Rock enroute to the state capitol as they carried hundreds of letters to deliver to state legislators and other leaders.

The ride covered more than 220 miles across the state.

To see photos, click here.

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Touch Grass

On the wilds of the internet, a common refrain has been “touch grass.”

How people take that meaning varies as some consider it an insult to the keyboard warriors fighting the good fight with their memes and such. While others take it as a call, to get outside, enjoy the sun and the way grass feels on your bare feet on a pleasant spring day.

Truth be told, the meaning could go either way as it depends on the context, but for these purposes we mean the latter and not the former.

The weather, at least for here, has been an April delight with highs in the 70s and sunny skies.

The humidity is coming, that’s for sure, but for now, it is a good time to be outside.

And, Arkansas, generally, is as good as any place in the country to be outside in. There’s parks and creeks and rivers and forests and so much good stuff to enjoy.

It is also “honeysuckle season” and it just smells great outside. Even in the backyard the dog treats it as its toilet.

You don’t even need a ticket in your pocket to feel the southern breezes and the southern wind.

There is, however, a downside to being outside now.

Pollen.

Pollen so thick it feels like it crunches when you walk across the driveway.

It is also going to get worse, as AccuWeather released a report that said pollen has already ramped up and will get worse as spring turns into early summer.

As a matter of fact, the report listed 20 cities where a “pollen tsunami” is expected and Little Rock came in at No. 17.

Joy.

Pass the Kleenex and stock up on Claritan, or your preferred over the counter medication.

Eye on the Sky

• Today: A 20 percent chance of afternoon showers and thunderstorms with a high near 80 and a low around 66.

• Friday: Showers and possibly a thunderstorm. High near 76 with a low around 61. Chance of precipitation is 80 percent.

• Saturday: A slight chance of showers, with afternoon thunderstorms, with a high near 79 and a low around 63. Chance of precipitation is 20 percent.

• Sunday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, with a high near 82 and a low around 67.

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Airmen of Note to make stops in central Arkansas

The U.S. Air Force’s “The Airmen of Note” is making a nine-day run through the south with two stops in Arkansas next week.

The concerts are free and open to the public, though tickets are required. Ticket information for these concerts is available at: https://www.music.af.mil/USAFBand/Events/National-Tours/Airmen-of-Note/

The central Arkansas stops are:

• Tonight, 7 p.m. at the Reynolds Performance Hall on the UCA campus in Conway.

• Friday, at 7 p.m., Little Rock Central High School

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Drug Take Back Day is Saturday

The National Prescription Drug Take Back day will be held this Saturday, April 25.

Among the locations where unused, or out-of-date prescription drugs can be dropped is the South Parking Lot of McCain Mall, where the North Little Rock Police Department will have a drop-off box. Both the Maumelle and North Little Rock police departments have 24-hour, 365 day drop off boxes in their respective lobbies at those cities’ police stations.

PCSSD hosts Showcase and Career Expo is Saturday

The Pulaski County Special School District will host its annual Showcase and Career Expo from 9 a.m. to noon, this Saturday, April 25, The event will be held on the campus of Mills High School at 708 East Dixon Road.

Families who are interested in registering their scholars may also visit the Showcase and Career Expo to begin the process or learn more about PCSSD offerings.

Representatives from the Arkansas Minority Health Commission, Good Groceries Mobile Market, and other food and community vendors will be on hand for the event.

Learn more about openings and apply online: https://www.pcssd.org/page/careers.

Spring Dance concert is April 30

The North Little Rock High School Theatre Arts Department will present its spring dance concert on Thursday, April 30 at 6:30 p.m. featuring performances by the school’s Dance Troupe, Theatre Dance I-IV classes, and participants from the Preschool/Elementary Dance Workshop in the new North Little Rock High School Performing Arts Center (201 West 22nd St.).

Tickets are $6 for students/seniors and $8 for adults.

Lender Quick-Connect is May 13 at UA Little Rock

Arkansas entrepreneurs looking to fund a new business, ongoing operations, expansion or acquisition can fast-track their search at Lender Quick-Connect: Find Your Funder.

The Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center will host the free event on May 13, from 1 to 4 p.m., at the Reynolds Business Center on the campus of the University of Arkansas at Little Rock.

In a single afternoon, aspiring and established business owners can connect with multiple Arkansas lenders in a fast-paced “speed dating” format.

Participants will be matched with lender appointments based on key business details such as their industry, business stage, credit history and project scope.

The event is designed to help entrepreneurs navigate the funding landscape and build relationships with funders who have a proven track record of small business lending.

Attendees can also:

• Confer with credit counseling services to discuss financial readiness

• Engage with ASBTDC business consultants and Small Business Administration representatives

• Get expert tips on crafting a compelling funding pitch

“Outside of personal savings or contributions from friends and family, a loan is the most common way to get capital for launching or growing a business,” said ASBTDC State Director Laura Fine. “Lender Quick-Connect is an excellent opportunity to pitch a project to several potential funding partners in a short period of time and explore financing options available through banks, credit unions, microlenders and Community Development Financial Institutions.”

Participating lending institutions include ACC Capital, Arkansas Federal Credit Union, Arvest Bank, Chase Bank, Communities Unlimited, First Security Bank, FNBC, FORGE Community Loan Fund, Hope Credit Union, Regions Bank, Southern Bancorp Bank, Southern Bancorp Community Partners, Stone Bank and U.S. Bank.

Pre-registration is required. To reserve a spot, go to tinyurl.com/3vthe5hr or contact Laterika Tooks-Staton at 501-804-4530 or lstooks@ualr.edu.

Through its offices around the state, the ASBTDC offers no-cost services and resources for Arkansas entrepreneurs and small businesses. For more information, call 800-862-2040 or visit asbtdc.org.

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Sports

Upcoming Travs games

Six-game homestand against Corpus Christi

Tonight, 6:35 p.m.

• $3 Thursday: Enjoy an amazing value for the whole family and the best patio in Central Arkansas! Get $3 General Admission or Beer Garden tickets at a WinChoice Box Office Window. Plus, feed the whole crew for less with select concession items for $3 each!

• Singles Night: Let the Travs help turn a single into a double! Join us at the ballpark for a pre-game “Singles Mingle” event.

Friday, 7:05 p.m.

• Fireworks Friday: Presented By Metro Disaster Specialists

• 501 Night: Join us in celebrating Central Arkansas! | Presented By Little Rock Regional Chamber of Commerce

Saturday, 4:05 p.m.

• Bluey at the Ballpark: Wackadoo! Bluey is coming back to the Ballpark -- for real life. Information on the meet and greet with your favorite Heeler will be available soon!

• Kids Run the Bases: Kids 13 and under are invited to run the same basepaths the Travs run after the game! | Presented By First Community Bank:

Sunday, 1:35 p.m.

• Bluey at the Ballpark: Wackadoo! Bluey is coming back to the Ballpark -- for real life. Information on the meet and greet with your favorite Heeler will be available soon!

• Kids Run the Bases: Kids 13 and under are invited to run the same basepaths the Travs run after the game! | Presented By First Community Bank:

• Baseball BINGO: Presented By Arkansas Brighter Future 529

• Operation: Military Appreciation: Service Members get $3 off General Admission and Field Reserved tickets by presenting a Military ID (only available at a WinChoice Box Office Window) | Presented By Mid-South Ford Dealers

At Wichita, April 28-May 3

Six-game homestand against Tulsa

Tuesday, May 5, 6:05 p.m.

• Dog Day: Human fans can get $3 Berm tickets by bringing their dog to the game (only available at a WinChoice Box Office Window). NOTE: Dogs are only allowed in the Berm areas | Presented By Hollywood Feed

• Fiesta de Diamantes: The Travs will take the field as the Diamantes de Arkansas in salute of Hispanic Heritage!

Wednesday, May 6, 11:05 a.m.

• School Day: Putting the “field” in “greatest field trip ever!” | Presented By Summit Community Care

• Senior Day

Thursday, May 7, 6:35 p.m.

• Mad Mallards Weekend: Join us in celebration of Central Arkansas’ obsession with waterfowl hunting! | Presented By Arkansas Ducks Unlimited

• $3 Thursday: Enjoy an amazing value for the whole family and the best patio in Central Arkansas! Get $3 General Admission or Beer Garden tickets at a WinChoice Box Office Window. Plus, feed the whole crew for less with select concession items for $3 each!

Friday, May 8, 7:05 p.m.

• Mad Mallards Weekend: Join us in celebration of Central Arkansas’ obsession with waterfowl hunting! | Presented By Arkansas Ducks Unlimited

• Fireworks Friday

Saturday, May 9, 4:05 p.m.

• Mad Mallards Weekend: Join us in celebration of Central Arkansas’ obsession with waterfowl hunting! | Presented By Arkansas Ducks Unlimited

• Kids Run the Bases: Kids 13 and under are invited to run the same basepaths the Travs run after the game! | Presented By First Community Bank

• Trucker Hat Giveaway: Celebrate the Travs’ 125th Anniversary with some limited edition headwear! | Presented By Snapple | First 1,000 Fans (one item per person)

Sunday, May 10, 1:35 p.m.

• Mad Mallards Weekend: Join us in celebration of Central Arkansas’ obsession with waterfowl hunting! | Presented By Arkansas Ducks Unlimited

• Kids Baseball Clinic: Kids 13 and under are invited to join Travs players on field for a baseball clinic starting at noon! Instruction will last approximately 45 minutes. | Presented By Arkansas Brighter Future 529

• Kids Run the Bases: Kids 13 and under are invited to run the same basepaths the Travs run after the game! | Presented By First Community Bank

• Baseball BINGO: Presented By Arkansas Brighter Future 529

• Operation: Military Appreciation: Service Members get $3 off General Admission and Field Reserved tickets by presenting a Military ID (only available at a WinChoice Box Office Window) | Presented By Mid-South Ford Dealers

• Family Sunday Deal: Get $3 General Admission tickets by presenting a physical or digital church bulletin (only available at a WinChoice Box Office Window)

At Northwest Arkansas, May 12-17

Six-game homestand against Springfield

Tuesday, May 19, 6:35 p.m.

• Dog Day: Human fans can get $3 Berm tickets by bringing their dog to the game (only available at a WinChoice Box Office Window). NOTE: Dogs are only allowed in the Berm areas | Presented By Hollywood Feed

Wednesday, May 20, 6:35 p.m.

• Dog Day: Human fans can get $3 Berm tickets by bringing their dog to the game (only available at a WinChoice Box Office Window). NOTE: Dogs are only allowed in the Berm areas | Presented By Hollywood Feed

Thursday, May 21, 6:35 p.m.

• $3 Thursday: Enjoy an amazing value for the whole family and the best patio in Central Arkansas! Get $3 General Admission or Beer Garden tickets at a WinChoice Box Office Window. Plus, feed the whole crew for less with select concession items for $3 each!

Friday, May 22, 7:05 p.m.

• Fireworks Friday: Presented By Bank OZK

Saturday, May 23, 6:35 p.m.

• Cal Raleigh Bobblecard Giveaway: Presented By Hardee’s | First 1,000 Fans (one item per person)

• Post-Game Fireworks

Sunday, May 24, 6:05 p.m.

• Post-Game Fireworks

• Baseball BINGO: Presented By Arkansas Brighter Future 529

• Operation: Military Appreciation: Service Members get $3 off General Admission and Field Reserved tickets by presenting a Military ID (only available at a WinChoice Box Office Window) | Presented By Mid-South Ford Dealers

Six-game homestand against Frisco

Tuesday, May 26, 6:35 p.m.

• Dog Day: Human fans can get $3 Berm tickets by bringing their dog to the game (only available at a WinChoice Box Office Window). NOTE: Dogs are only allowed in the Berm areas | Presented By Hollywood Feed

Wednesday, May 27, 6:35 p.m.

• Dog Day: Human fans can get $3 Berm tickets by bringing their dog to the game (only available at a WinChoice Box Office Window). NOTE: Dogs are only allowed in the Berm areas | Presented By Hollywood Feed

Thursday, May 28, 6:35 p.m.

• $3 Thursday: Enjoy an amazing value for the whole family and the best patio in Central Arkansas! Get $3 General Admission or Beer Garden tickets at a WinChoice Box Office Window. Plus, feed the whole crew for less with select concession items for $3 each!

• Singles Night: Let the Travs help turn a single into a double! Join us at the ballpark for a pre-game “Singles Mingle” event.

Friday, May 29, 7:05 p.m.

• Fireworks Friday: Presented By Baldwin & Shell Construction

Saturday, May 30, 6:05 p.m.

• Faith & Family Night: The perfect night for a church group outing! | Presented By Hickingbotham Investments

• Kids Run the Bases: Kids 13 and under are invited to run the same basepaths the Travs run after the game! | Presented By First Community Bank

Sunday, May 31, 1:35 p.m.

• Fiesta de Diamantes: The Travs will take the field as the Diamantes de Arkansas in salute of Hispanic Heritage!

• Kids Baseball Clinic: Kids 13 and under are invited to join Travs players on field for a baseball clinic starting at noon! Instruction will last approximately 45 minutes. | Presented By Arkansas Brighter Future 529

• Kids Run the Bases: Kids 13 and under are invited to run the same basepaths the Travs run after the game! | Presented By First Community Bank

• Baseball BINGO: Presented By Arkansas Brighter Future 529

• Operation: Military Appreciation: Service Members get $3 off General Admission and Field Reserved tickets by presenting a Military ID (only available at a WinChoice Box Office Window) | Presented By Mid-South Ford Dealers

• Family Sunday Deal: Get $3 General Admission tickets by presenting a physical or digital church bulletin (only available at a WinChoice Box Office Window).

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Health

Pandemic deaths unknown

The state Department of Health didn’t update the state’s dashboard this week, again, and deaths still total 532 for the past year. There’s no tab created for 2025 either and the virus has now killed 14,162 Arkansans since the pandemic began then. That would mean the pandemic death toll has now passed Marion’s 13,635 people, the state’s 29th largest city.

Covid toolkit

There’s now a one-stop shop to learn about vaccination sites and other Covid related information. Click here to learn more.

If you don’t want to get sick and die, there’s some things you can do:

• Get vaccinated

• Get boosted

• Wear a mask

• Avoid crowds

Subscribe if you like, pay if you can

Note to subscribers: An annual or monthly subscription is billed to your debit or credit card as ARKANSAS.SUBSTACK.COM and if you have questions, please email arkansas@substack.com. Thanks for reading and subscribing!

The Headlines

• MEETINGS: The North Little Rock School Board will have its regular, monthly ,meeting at 5:30 p.m. tonight at the district’s administration building. The Maumelle City Council will meet next Monday night at City Hall. The meetings will be livestreamed on the respective YouTube channels and the public is welcome. The quarterly meeting of the North Little Rock Advertising & Promotion Commission will take place at 2:30 p.m. on Tuesday, April 28 and will be in the Board Room at 600 Main St.

• EVENTS: The annual Folk Festival will be in Mountain View this Friday and Saturday. For more on that, keep scrolling. Also worth noting that Mountain View will again be the place to be when the Ozark Folk Center State Park will host the John Prine Folk Festival on June 19 and 20. Prine’s son, Tommy, is the headliner on Friday with Shawn Camp leading the stage on Saturday. We’ll have more details, as the festival gets closer and will have some peaches to calm down.

Airmen of Note to make stops in central Arkansas

The U.S. Air Force’s “The Airmen of Note” is making a nine-day run through the south with two stops in Arkansas next week.

The concerts are free and open to the public, though tickets are required. Ticket information for these concerts is available at: https://www.music.af.mil/USAFBand/Events/National-Tours/Airmen-of-Note/

The central Arkansas stops are:

• Thursday, April 23 at 7 p.m. at the Reynolds Performance Hall on the UCA campus in Conway.

• Friday, April 24 at 7 p.m., Little Rock Central High School

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Mountain View to host folk festival this weekend

The 64th annual Folk Festival will be held in Mountain View on Friday and Saturday and the Artisans Market on the Square will be open for business.

Located on the grass north of the Courthouse next to Mountain View Music, hours are Friday, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Saturday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The market will feature arts and crafts from Arkansas Craft Guild members and guests and among the items on sale will be jewelry and pottery, Ozark woodcrafts, quilts, glass beads, stained glass, whipped candles, and leather bags.

Among the artisans are Dana Finimore, at Rare Birds Studio, who makes functional and art pottery, Metalsmith Cindy Kopack, with Whippoorwill Mountain Jewelry, has a selection of hammered silver, copper and brass earrings, necklaces and bracelets, some combined with precious stones. Master glass artists Tom and Sage Holland, Glass Beadmakers, bring colorful flame-worked bead jewelry and sculptural pieces to share with the public. Michael and Ethan Hicks, ro’ark leather return to the Market with hand-stitched leather bags and wallets.

Also, Oddbowlz Ceramics’ Greg Hall will bring functional pottery bowls, mugs and soup bowls. Mike Mowery, MTM Woodworking, shows his turned wooden kitchenware, cutting boards, and board games. Norma and Martie Matthews, NM Quilts and Embroidery, with Martie’s useful and decorative wooden wares have been at Artisans Market for years. Gynna Sutherland, A Touch O’Glass, brings custom stained glass and hand-cut scrollwork frames.

New to the mix is CJ Huber, with Money Bender, who makes rings, earrings, and necklaces from antique and modern coins, including motorcycle gremlin bells and keychains, plus Epoxy/wood charcuterie boards. Cristina Wilcox, Whipped Candle Co. makes handcrafted whipped candles that combine dessert-inspired artistry with CleanScent fragrance and clean-burning wax, designed to be both beautiful and functional. Author John Sajdak’s Whisker Tales is a series of dual-perspective illustrated storybooks written and art-directed by John in both hard and soft covers.

The Arkansas Craft Guild & Gallery, 104 E. Main, is sponsor of the Artisans Market. Demonstrating wildlife painting on cedarwood in the Gallery during Folk Festival will be Loretta Babak, Herpel Heritage, open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Loretta Babak will be demonstrating painting April 18 inside the Arkansas Craft Guild & Gallery, 104 E Main, Mountain View, where her art can be purchased. T

Her subject matter ranges from wildlife, natural scenery, and seascapes to pet portraits. She paints in oil, acrylic and watercolor on canvas, cedarwood, and on glass in reverse. Locally her best selling pieces are trout and turkeys painted on cedarwood. Reverse glass painting is almost a dying art, yet she continues to enjoy this method, shown here, the “Red Dot Butterfly.’

Loretta has served as Vice President of the Arkansas Craft Guild for three years and is currently on the Board of Directors. She volunteers once a month as hostess of the Gallery, helping customers with their purchases, usually on a Friday or Saturday.

Loretta maintains membership in the Mountain View Art Guild, Mid-Southern Watercolorists, the Palette Art League, American Women Artists, American Impressionist Society, as well as the Arkansas Craft Guild, which gives her the opportunity to participate in functions with like-minded people. She also participates in the Off the Beaten Path Studio Tour on Sept. 25-27/

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Drug Take Back Day is April 25

The National Prescription Drug Take Back day will be held Saturday, April 25.

Among the locations where unused, or out-of-date prescription drugs can be dropped is the South Parking Lot of McCain Mall, where the North Little Rock Police Department will have a drop-off box. Both the Maumelle and North Little Rock police departments have 24-hour, 365 day drop off boxes in their respective lobbies at those cities’ police stations.

Time for local dancers to shine is April 25

The North Little Rock High School Theatre Dance students will host their 23rd annual Preschool/Elementary Dance Workshop on Saturday, April 25th from 9 a.m. to noon in the North Little Rock High School Performing Arts Center.

Sixty local preschool and elementary students have the opportunity to take part in the dance workshop. Each participant is assigned to a high school dance student who remains with their “little friend” throughout the entire workshop. The elementary students are taught a dance that allows them to be featured in the spring dance concert. The Dance Program is a gateway for these young students to become involved in the arts at an early age.

The North Little Rock High School Theatre Arts Department will present its spring dance concert on Thursday, April 30 at 6:30 p.m. featuring performances by the school’s Dance Troupe, Theatre Dance I-IV classes, and participants from the Preschool/Elementary Dance Workshop in the new North Little Rock High School Performing Arts Center (201 West 22nd St.).

Tickets are $6 for students/seniors and $8 for adults.

PCSSD hosts Showcase and Career Expo is April 25

The Pulaski County Special School District will host its annual Showcase and Career Expo from 9 a.m. to noon. On Saturday, April 25, The event will be held on the campus of Mills University Studies High School at 708 East Dixon Road.

A key facet of the event is to recruit employees to work in a variety of educational areas within the schools and district office. The district plans to hire at least 100 teachers from a variety of educational areas to work in the district for the 2026-2027 academic year. The district is also recruiting other employee positions such as paraprofessionals, bus drivers, administrative assistants, bookkeepers, and more. Representatives from each school and several district departments will be on hand to speak to visitors about working with the district and scheduling interviews.

Families who are interested in registering their scholars may also visit the Showcase and Career Expo to begin the process or learn more about PCSSD offerings.

Representatives from the Arkansas Minority Health Commission, Good Groceries Mobile Market, and other food and community vendors will be on hand for the event.

Learn more about openings and apply online: https://www.pcssd.org/page/careers.

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Lender Quick-Connect is May 13 at UA Little Rock

Arkansas entrepreneurs looking to fund a new business, ongoing operations, expansion or acquisition can fast-track their search at Lender Quick-Connect: Find Your Funder.

The Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center will host the free event on May 13, from 1 to 4 p.m., at the Reynolds Business Center on the campus of the University of Arkansas at Little Rock.

In a single afternoon, aspiring and established business owners can connect with multiple Arkansas lenders in a fast-paced “speed dating” format.

Participants will be matched with lender appointments based on key business details such as their industry, business stage, credit history and project scope.

The event is designed to help entrepreneurs navigate the funding landscape and build relationships with funders who have a proven track record of small business lending.

Attendees can also:

• Confer with credit counseling services to discuss financial readiness

• Engage with ASBTDC business consultants and Small Business Administration representatives

• Get expert tips on crafting a compelling funding pitch

“Outside of personal savings or contributions from friends and family, a loan is the most common way to get capital for launching or growing a business,” said ASBTDC State Director Laura Fine. “Lender Quick-Connect is an excellent opportunity to pitch a project to several potential funding partners in a short period of time and explore financing options available through banks, credit unions, microlenders and Community Development Financial Institutions.”

Participating lending institutions include ACC Capital, Arkansas Federal Credit Union, Arvest Bank, Chase Bank, Communities Unlimited, First Security Bank, FNBC, FORGE Community Loan Fund, Hope Credit Union, Regions Bank, Southern Bancorp Bank, Southern Bancorp Community Partners, Stone Bank and U.S. Bank.

Pre-registration is required. To reserve a spot, go to tinyurl.com/3vthe5hr or contact Laterika Tooks-Staton at 501-804-4530 or lstooks@ualr.edu.

Through its offices around the state, the ASBTDC offers no-cost services and resources for Arkansas entrepreneurs and small businesses. For more information, call 800-862-2040 or visit asbtdc.org.

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Sparklight opens Spring 2026 Charitable Giving Fund applications

Sparklight, a leading high-speed internet provider, is now accepting applications for its Spring 2026 Charitable Giving Fund. Nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations in Sparklight’s 24-state service areas are invited to apply for funding now through April 30.

Each year, Sparklight awards $250,000 in grants to nonprofit organizations working to strengthen the communities they serve. Funding supports initiatives in three key areas where the need is significant and the impact is lasting:

• Education and Digital Literacy

• Hunger Relief and Food Insecurity

• Community Development

“Local nonprofits are the backbone of strong communities — meeting pressing needs, creating meaningful opportunities and making a lasting difference every day,” said Jim Holanda, Sparklight CEO. “Through our Charitable Giving Fund, we’re proud to support their work and help extend their impact in the communities we serve.”

Since the Fund’s inception in 2020, Sparklight has awarded more than $1.2 million in grants to more than 275 nonprofits. These investments have supported initiatives in digital literacy, hunger relief, child and senior advocacy, housing and broader community programs.

For additional information about the Sparklight Charitable Giving Fund or to apply for a grant, please visit www.sparklight.com/charitablegiving. To learn more about Sparklight internet and mobile services, visit www.sparklight.com/internet.

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Sports

Upcoming Travs games

At Tulsa, now through April 19

Six-game homestand against Corpus Christi

Tuesday, April 21, 11:05 a.m.

• School Day: Putting the “field” in “greatest field trip ever!” | Presented By Waste Management

• Senior Day

Wednesday. April 22, 6:35 p.m.

• Dog Day: Human fans can get $3 Berm tickets by bringing their dog to the game (only available at a WinChoice Box Office Window). NOTE: Dogs are only allowed in the Berm areas | Presented By Hollywood Feed: Human fans can get $3 Berm tickets by bringing their dog to the game (only available at a WinChoice Box Office Window). NOTE: Dogs are only allowed in the Berm areas | Presented By Hollywood Feed

Thursday. April 23, 6:35 p.m.

• $3 Thursday: Enjoy an amazing value for the whole family and the best patio in Central Arkansas! Get $3 General Admission or Beer Garden tickets at a WinChoice Box Office Window. Plus, feed the whole crew for less with select concession items for $3 each!

• Singles Night: Let the Travs help turn a single into a double! Join us at the ballpark for a pre-game “Singles Mingle” event.

Friday, April 24, 7:05 p.m.

• Fireworks Friday: Presented By Metro Disaster Specialists

• 501 Night: Join us in celebrating Central Arkansas! | Presented By Little Rock Regional Chamber of Commerce

Saturday, April 25, 4:05 p.m.

• Bluey at the Ballpark: Wackadoo! Bluey is coming back to the Ballpark -- for real life. Information on the meet and greet with your favorite Heeler will be available soon!

• Kids Run the Bases: Kids 13 and under are invited to run the same basepaths the Travs run after the game! | Presented By First Community Bank:

Sunday, April 26, 1:35 p.m.

• Bluey at the Ballpark: Wackadoo! Bluey is coming back to the Ballpark -- for real life. Information on the meet and greet with your favorite Heeler will be available soon!

• Kids Run the Bases: Kids 13 and under are invited to run the same basepaths the Travs run after the game! | Presented By First Community Bank:

• Baseball BINGO: Presented By Arkansas Brighter Future 529

• Operation: Military Appreciation: Service Members get $3 off General Admission and Field Reserved tickets by presenting a Military ID (only available at a WinChoice Box Office Window) | Presented By Mid-South Ford Dealers

At Wichita, April 28-May 3

Six-game homestand against Tulsa

Tuesday, May 5, 6:05 p.m.

• Dog Day: Human fans can get $3 Berm tickets by bringing their dog to the game (only available at a WinChoice Box Office Window). NOTE: Dogs are only allowed in the Berm areas | Presented By Hollywood Feed

• Fiesta de Diamantes: The Travs will take the field as the Diamantes de Arkansas in salute of Hispanic Heritage!

Wednesday, May 6, 11:05 a.m.

• School Day: Putting the “field” in “greatest field trip ever!” | Presented By Summit Community Care

• Senior Day

Thursday, May 7, 6:35 p.m.

• Mad Mallards Weekend: Join us in celebration of Central Arkansas’ obsession with waterfowl hunting! | Presented By Arkansas Ducks Unlimited

• $3 Thursday: Enjoy an amazing value for the whole family and the best patio in Central Arkansas! Get $3 General Admission or Beer Garden tickets at a WinChoice Box Office Window. Plus, feed the whole crew for less with select concession items for $3 each!

Friday, May 8, 7:05 p.m.

• Mad Mallards Weekend: Join us in celebration of Central Arkansas’ obsession with waterfowl hunting! | Presented By Arkansas Ducks Unlimited

• Fireworks Friday

Saturday, May 9, 4:05 p.m.

• Mad Mallards Weekend: Join us in celebration of Central Arkansas’ obsession with waterfowl hunting! | Presented By Arkansas Ducks Unlimited

• Kids Run the Bases: Kids 13 and under are invited to run the same basepaths the Travs run after the game! | Presented By First Community Bank

• Trucker Hat Giveaway: Celebrate the Travs’ 125th Anniversary with some limited edition headwear! | Presented By Snapple | First 1,000 Fans (one item per person)

Sunday, May 10, 1:35 p.m.

• Mad Mallards Weekend: Join us in celebration of Central Arkansas’ obsession with waterfowl hunting! | Presented By Arkansas Ducks Unlimited

• Kids Baseball Clinic: Kids 13 and under are invited to join Travs players on field for a baseball clinic starting at noon! Instruction will last approximately 45 minutes. | Presented By Arkansas Brighter Future 529

• Kids Run the Bases: Kids 13 and under are invited to run the same basepaths the Travs run after the game! | Presented By First Community Bank

• Baseball BINGO: Presented By Arkansas Brighter Future 529

• Operation: Military Appreciation: Service Members get $3 off General Admission and Field Reserved tickets by presenting a Military ID (only available at a WinChoice Box Office Window) | Presented By Mid-South Ford Dealers

• Family Sunday Deal: Get $3 General Admission tickets by presenting a physical or digital church bulletin (only available at a WinChoice Box Office Window)

At Northwest Arkansas, May 12-17

Six-game homestand against Springfield

Tuesday, May 19, 6:35 p.m.

• Dog Day: Human fans can get $3 Berm tickets by bringing their dog to the game (only available at a WinChoice Box Office Window). NOTE: Dogs are only allowed in the Berm areas | Presented By Hollywood Feed

Wednesday, May 20, 6:35 p.m.

• Dog Day: Human fans can get $3 Berm tickets by bringing their dog to the game (only available at a WinChoice Box Office Window). NOTE: Dogs are only allowed in the Berm areas | Presented By Hollywood Feed

Thursday, May 21, 6:35 p.m.

• $3 Thursday: Enjoy an amazing value for the whole family and the best patio in Central Arkansas! Get $3 General Admission or Beer Garden tickets at a WinChoice Box Office Window. Plus, feed the whole crew for less with select concession items for $3 each!

Friday, May 22, 7:05 p.m.

• Fireworks Friday: Presented By Bank OZK

Saturday, May 23, 6:35 p.m.

• Cal Raleigh Bobblecard Giveaway: Presented By Hardee’s | First 1,000 Fans (one item per person)

• Post-Game Fireworks

Sunday, May 24, 6:05 p.m.

• Post-Game Fireworks

• Baseball BINGO: Presented By Arkansas Brighter Future 529

• Operation: Military Appreciation: Service Members get $3 off General Admission and Field Reserved tickets by presenting a Military ID (only available at a WinChoice Box Office Window) | Presented By Mid-South Ford Dealers

Six-game homestand against Frisco

Tuesday, May 26, 6:35 p.m.

• Dog Day: Human fans can get $3 Berm tickets by bringing their dog to the game (only available at a WinChoice Box Office Window). NOTE: Dogs are only allowed in the Berm areas | Presented By Hollywood Feed

Wednesday, May 27, 6:35 p.m.

• Dog Day: Human fans can get $3 Berm tickets by bringing their dog to the game (only available at a WinChoice Box Office Window). NOTE: Dogs are only allowed in the Berm areas | Presented By Hollywood Feed

Thursday, May 28, 6:35 p.m.

• $3 Thursday: Enjoy an amazing value for the whole family and the best patio in Central Arkansas! Get $3 General Admission or Beer Garden tickets at a WinChoice Box Office Window. Plus, feed the whole crew for less with select concession items for $3 each!

• Singles Night: Let the Travs help turn a single into a double! Join us at the ballpark for a pre-game “Singles Mingle” event.

Friday, May 29, 7:05 p.m.

• Fireworks Friday: Presented By Baldwin & Shell Construction

Saturday, May 30, 6:05 p.m.

• Faith & Family Night: The perfect night for a church group outing! | Presented By Hickingbotham Investments

• Kids Run the Bases: Kids 13 and under are invited to run the same basepaths the Travs run after the game! | Presented By First Community Bank

Sunday, May 31, 1:35 p.m.

• Fiesta de Diamantes: The Travs will take the field as the Diamantes de Arkansas in salute of Hispanic Heritage!

• Kids Baseball Clinic: Kids 13 and under are invited to join Travs players on field for a baseball clinic starting at noon! Instruction will last approximately 45 minutes. | Presented By Arkansas Brighter Future 529

• Kids Run the Bases: Kids 13 and under are invited to run the same basepaths the Travs run after the game! | Presented By First Community Bank

• Baseball BINGO: Presented By Arkansas Brighter Future 529

• Operation: Military Appreciation: Service Members get $3 off General Admission and Field Reserved tickets by presenting a Military ID (only available at a WinChoice Box Office Window) | Presented By Mid-South Ford Dealers

• Family Sunday Deal: Get $3 General Admission tickets by presenting a physical or digital church bulletin (only available at a WinChoice Box Office Window).

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Health

Pandemic deaths unknown

The state Department of Health didn’t update the state’s dashboard this week, again, and deaths still total 532 for the past year. There’s no tab created for 2025 either and the virus has now killed 14,162 Arkansans since the pandemic began then. That would mean the pandemic death toll has now passed Marion’s 13,635 people, the state’s 29th largest city.

Covid toolkit

There’s now a one-stop shop to learn about vaccination sites and other Covid related information. Click here to learn more.

If you don’t want to get sick and die, there’s some things you can do:

• Get vaccinated

• Get boosted

• Wear a mask

• Avoid crowds

Subscribe if you like, pay if you can

Note to subscribers: An annual or monthly subscription is billed to your debit or credit card as ARKANSAS.SUBSTACK.COM and if you have questions, please email arkansas@substack.com. Thanks for reading and subscribing!

The Headlines

• MEETINGS:The North Little Rock School Board will have a workshop at 5:30 p.m. tonight at the district’s administration building. The North Little Rock City Council will meet next Monday night at City Hall. The meetings will be livestreamed on the respective YouTube channels and the public is welcome.

• EVENTS: There’s still ham in the fridge! And a blessed Pascha to the Orthodox, who will celebrate Saturday night and into Sunday morning for Orthodox Easter. In less blessed news, the deadline to file taxes is next week. So get on it, if you haven’t.. In somewhat better news, the Harlem Globetrotters will be at Simmons Bank Arena in downtown North Little Rock in a rescheduled game from this winter. You may have forgotten, but they were supposed to play the night the snowcrete hit.

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Fire and Ice: Maumelle Area Chamber of Commerce has awards banquet

The Maumelle Area Chamber of Commerce hosted its Annual Awards Banquet last week at Venue 10, bringing together business leaders, community members, and elected officials to celebrate a year of growth, service, and achievement across the Maumelle community.

• For an online photo gallery, click here.

The evening featured a networking reception, a year-in-review presentation, remarks from Maumelle Mayour Caleb Norris, and a keynote address from Arkansas native and renowned commentator Rex Nelson. The highlight of the evening was the presentation of the Chamber’s annual awards, recognizing individuals and organizations that have made a significant impact in Maumelle.

“This event is one of our favorite nights of the year because it allows us to pause and celebrate the people and businesses that make Maumelle such a special place,” said Chamber President & CEO Kellie Wall. “Each of our award winners represents the very best of our community.”

2026 Annual Award Winners

The Chamber proudly recognized the following honorees:

• Business of the Year: Ski Brothers Heating & Air

• Person of the Year: Adam Xaysuda – Maumelle Lions Club

• Veteran of the Year: Fire Chief Beau Buford

• Educator of the Year: Michael Williamson – Maumelle Middle/High School

• Student of the Year: Kendyl Forte – Maumelle High School

• Volunteer of the Year: Sandra Finley – First Service Bank

• Ambassador of the Year: Christie Drake - Dyermark

• Impact Award: Rob McGill – Academics Plus Charter School

In addition, a special Guardian Award was presented to Police Chief Cory Pickard in recognition of his distinguished career and service to the Maumelle community.

The awards program highlighted the extraordinary leadership, service, and dedication demonstrated by this year’s recipients, from business innovation and educational impact to volunteerism and public service.

Recognizing Our Sponsors

The Chamber extends its deepest appreciation to all sponsors who made the evening possible. A special thank you to our top sponsors:

• Venue 10 (Diamond Sponsor)

• First Service Bank (Diamond Sponsor)

• Ski Brothers Heat & Air (Reception Sponsor)

• MidArk Insurance Maumelle – Waylon Biggs Agency (Award Sponsor)

Their continued investment in the Chamber and the Maumelle community plays a vital role in supporting events and initiatives that drive connection and growth.

The Chamber also recognized numerous additional sponsors and partners whose contributions helped bring the event to life.

A Night to Remember

The banquet also included the ceremonial passing of the gavel, welcoming Abbey Redmon as the 2026 Chairwoman of the Board, and recognizing the leadership and service of outgoing Chair Adam Cunningham.

As the Chamber looks ahead, the success of this year’s banquet reflects the strength of the Maumelle community and the shared commitment to building a vibrant future.

For more information about the Maumelle Area Chamber of Commerce and upcoming events, please visit www.maumellechamber.com or contact the Chamber office.

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AVID Awards today at Sylvan Hills High School

The Pulaski County Special School District will host an AVID award ceremony at 10 a.m., today, at the Performing Arts Center at Sylvan Hills High School.

More than 100 graduating seniors from each of the district’s four high schools will be presented with an AVID stole and the total scholarship amounts offered to each will also be announced. The total for all the students is more than $8.8 million.

The 108 graduating AVID seniors are from Joe T. Robinson, Maumelle, Mills and Sylvan Hills high schools

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Mountain View to host folk festival

The 64th annual Folk Festival will be held in Mountain View on April 17 and 18 and the Artisans Market on the Square will be open for business.

Located on the grass north of the Courthouse next to Mountain View Music, hours are Friday, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Saturday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The market will feature arts and crafts from Arkansas Craft Guild members and guests and among the items on sale will be jewelry and pottery, Ozark woodcrafts, quilts, glass beads, stained glass, whipped candles, and leather bags.

Among the artisans are Dana Finimore, at Rare Birds Studio, who makes functional and art pottery, Metalsmith Cindy Kopack, with Whippoorwill Mountain Jewelry, has a selection of hammered silver, copper and brass earrings, necklaces and bracelets, some combined with precious stones. Master glass artists Tom and Sage Holland, Glass Beadmakers, bring colorful flame-worked bead jewelry and sculptural pieces to share with the public. Michael and Ethan Hicks, ro’ark leather return to the Market with hand-stitched leather bags and wallets.

Also, Oddbowlz Ceramics’ Greg Hall will bring functional pottery bowls, mugs and soup bowls. Mike Mowery, MTM Woodworking, shows his turned wooden kitchenware, cutting boards, and board games. Norma and Martie Matthews, NM Quilts and Embroidery, with Martie’s useful and decorative wooden wares have been at Artisans Market for years. Gynna Sutherland, A Touch O’Glass, brings custom stained glass and hand-cut scrollwork frames.

New to the mix is CJ Huber, with Money Bender, who makes rings, earrings, and necklaces from antique and modern coins, including motorcycle gremlin bells and keychains, plus Epoxy/wood charcuterie boards. Cristina Wilcox, Whipped Candle Co. makes handcrafted whipped candles that combine dessert-inspired artistry with CleanScent fragrance and clean-burning wax, designed to be both beautiful and functional. Author John Sajdak’s Whisker Tales is a series of dual-perspective illustrated storybooks written and art-directed by John in both hard and soft covers.

The Arkansas Craft Guild & Gallery, 104 E. Main, is sponsor of the Artisans Market. Demonstrating wildlife painting on cedarwood in the Gallery during Folk Festival will be Loretta Babak, Herpel Heritage, open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Loretta Babak will be demonstrating painting April 18 inside the Arkansas Craft Guild & Gallery, 104 E Main, Mountain View, where her art can be purchased. T

Her subject matter ranges from wildlife, natural scenery, and seascapes to pet portraits. She paints in oil, acrylic and watercolor on canvas, cedarwood, and on glass in reverse. Locally her best selling pieces are trout and turkeys painted on cedarwood. Reverse glass painting is almost a dying art, yet she continues to enjoy this method, shown here, the “Red Dot Butterfly.’

Loretta has served as Vice President of the Arkansas Craft Guild for three years and is currently on the Board of Directors. She volunteers once a month as hostess of the Gallery, helping customers with their purchases, usually on a Friday or Saturday.

Loretta maintains membership in the Mountain View Art Guild, Mid-Southern Watercolorists, the Palette Art League, American Women Artists, American Impressionist Society, as well as the Arkansas Craft Guild, which gives her the opportunity to participate in functions with like-minded people. She also participates in the Off the Beaten Path Studio Tour on Sept. 25-27/

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Sparklight opens Spring 2026 Charitable Giving Fund applications

Sparklight, a leading high-speed internet provider, is now accepting applications for its Spring 2026 Charitable Giving Fund. Nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations in Sparklight’s 24-state service areas are invited to apply for funding now through April 30.

Each year, Sparklight awards $250,000 in grants to nonprofit organizations working to strengthen the communities they serve. Funding supports initiatives in three key areas where the need is significant and the impact is lasting:

• Education and Digital Literacy

• Hunger Relief and Food Insecurity

• Community Development

“Local nonprofits are the backbone of strong communities — meeting pressing needs, creating meaningful opportunities and making a lasting difference every day,” said Jim Holanda, Sparklight CEO. “Through our Charitable Giving Fund, we’re proud to support their work and help extend their impact in the communities we serve.”

Since the Fund’s inception in 2020, Sparklight has awarded more than $1.2 million in grants to more than 275 nonprofits. These investments have supported initiatives in digital literacy, hunger relief, child and senior advocacy, housing and broader community programs.

For additional information about the Sparklight Charitable Giving Fund or to apply for a grant, please visit www.sparklight.com/charitablegiving. To learn more about Sparklight internet and mobile services, visit www.sparklight.com/internet.

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Sports

Upcoming Travs games

Six-game homestand against Wichita

• Today, 6:35 p.m.

• $3 Thursday: Enjoy an amazing value for the whole family and the best patio in Central Arkansas! Get $3 General Admission or Beer Garden tickets at a WinChoice Box Office Window. Plus, feed the whole crew for less with select concession items for $3 each!

• Friday, 7:05 p.m.

• Fireworks Friday: Presented By Baptist Health

• Magnet Schedule Giveaway: Make sure your fridge knows when the Travs play! | Presented By Jacksonville Parks & Recreation | 1,000 Fans (one item per person)

• Saturday, 6:05 p.m.

• Post-Game Wrestling: Time for the Main Event! Stick around after the game for post-game matches featuring the stars of Memphis Wrestling. | Presented By Midtown Billiards

• Replica Jersey Giveaway: Take home a replica of the Travs’ 125th Anniversary jersey! | Presented By Pinnacle Structures | First 1,000 Fans (one item per person) | Select sizes available while supplies last

• Magnet Schedule Giveaway: Make sure your fridge knows when the Travs play! | Presented By Jacksonville Parks & Recreation | 1,000 Fans (one item per person)

• Sunday, 1:35 p.m.

• Kids Baseball Clinic: Kids 13 and under are invited to join Travs players on field for a baseball clinic starting at noon! Instruction will last approximately 45 minutes. | Presented By Arkansas Brighter Future 529

• Kids Run the Bases: Kids 13 and under are invited to run the same basepaths the Travs run after the game! | Presented By First Community Bank:

• Baseball BINGO: Presented By Arkansas Brighter Future 529

• Operation: Military Appreciation: Service Members get $3 off General Admission and Field Reserved tickets by presenting a Military ID (only available at a WinChoice Box Office Window) | Presented By Mid-South Ford Dealers

• Family Sunday Deal: Get $3 General Admission tickets by presenting a physical or digital church bulletin (only available at a WinChoice Box Office Window)

At Tulsa, April 14-19

Six-game homestand against Corpus Christi

• Tuesday, April 21, 11:05 a.m.

• School Day: Putting the “field” in “greatest field trip ever!” | Presented By Waste Management

• Senior Day

• Wednesday. April 22, 6:35 p.m.

• Dog Day: Human fans can get $3 Berm tickets by bringing their dog to the game (only available at a WinChoice Box Office Window). NOTE: Dogs are only allowed in the Berm areas | Presented By Hollywood Feed: Human fans can get $3 Berm tickets by bringing their dog to the game (only available at a WinChoice Box Office Window). NOTE: Dogs are only allowed in the Berm areas | Presented By Hollywood Feed

• Thursday. April 23, 6:35 p.m.

• $3 Thursday: Enjoy an amazing value for the whole family and the best patio in Central Arkansas! Get $3 General Admission or Beer Garden tickets at a WinChoice Box Office Window. Plus, feed the whole crew for less with select concession items for $3 each!

• Singles Night: Let the Travs help turn a single into a double! Join us at the ballpark for a pre-game “Singles Mingle” event.

• Friday, April 24, 7:05 p.m.

• Fireworks Friday: Presented By Metro Disaster Specialists

• 501 Night: Join us in celebrating Central Arkansas! | Presented By Little Rock Regional Chamber of Commerce

• Saturday, April 25, 4:05 p.m.

• Bluey at the Ballpark: Wackadoo! Bluey is coming back to the Ballpark -- for real life. Information on the meet and greet with your favorite Heeler will be available soon!

• Kids Run the Bases: Kids 13 and under are invited to run the same basepaths the Travs run after the game! | Presented By First Community Bank:

• Sunday, April 26, 1:35 p.m.

• Bluey at the Ballpark: Wackadoo! Bluey is coming back to the Ballpark -- for real life. Information on the meet and greet with your favorite Heeler will be available soon!

• Kids Run the Bases: Kids 13 and under are invited to run the same basepaths the Travs run after the game! | Presented By First Community Bank:

• Baseball BINGO: Presented By Arkansas Brighter Future 529

• Operation: Military Appreciation: Service Members get $3 off General Admission and Field Reserved tickets by presenting a Military ID (only available at a WinChoice Box Office Window) | Presented By Mid-South Ford Dealers

At Wichita, April 28-May 3

Six-game homestand against Tulsa

• Tuesday, May 5, 6:05 p.m.

• Dog Day: Human fans can get $3 Berm tickets by bringing their dog to the game (only available at a WinChoice Box Office Window). NOTE: Dogs are only allowed in the Berm areas | Presented By Hollywood Feed

• Fiesta de Diamantes: The Travs will take the field as the Diamantes de Arkansas in salute of Hispanic Heritage!

• Wednesday, May 6, 11:05 a.m.

• School Day: Putting the “field” in “greatest field trip ever!” | Presented By Summit Community Care

• Senior Day

• Thursday, May 7, 6:35 p.m.

• Mad Mallards Weekend: Join us in celebration of Central Arkansas’ obsession with waterfowl hunting! | Presented By Arkansas Ducks Unlimited

• $3 Thursday: Enjoy an amazing value for the whole family and the best patio in Central Arkansas! Get $3 General Admission or Beer Garden tickets at a WinChoice Box Office Window. Plus, feed the whole crew for less with select concession items for $3 each!

• Friday, May 8, 7:05 p.m.

• Mad Mallards Weekend: Join us in celebration of Central Arkansas’ obsession with waterfowl hunting! | Presented By Arkansas Ducks Unlimited

• Fireworks Friday

• Saturday, May 9, 4:05 p.m.

• Mad Mallards Weekend: Join us in celebration of Central Arkansas’ obsession with waterfowl hunting! | Presented By Arkansas Ducks Unlimited

• Kids Run the Bases: Kids 13 and under are invited to run the same basepaths the Travs run after the game! | Presented By First Community Bank

• Trucker Hat Giveaway: Celebrate the Travs’ 125th Anniversary with some limited edition headwear! | Presented By Snapple | First 1,000 Fans (one item per person)

• Sunday, May 10, 1:35 p.m.

• Mad Mallards Weekend: Join us in celebration of Central Arkansas’ obsession with waterfowl hunting! | Presented By Arkansas Ducks Unlimited

• Kids Baseball Clinic: Kids 13 and under are invited to join Travs players on field for a baseball clinic starting at noon! Instruction will last approximately 45 minutes. | Presented By Arkansas Brighter Future 529

• Kids Run the Bases: Kids 13 and under are invited to run the same basepaths the Travs run after the game! | Presented By First Community Bank

• Baseball BINGO: Presented By Arkansas Brighter Future 529

• Operation: Military Appreciation: Service Members get $3 off General Admission and Field Reserved tickets by presenting a Military ID (only available at a WinChoice Box Office Window) | Presented By Mid-South Ford Dealers

• Family Sunday Deal: Get $3 General Admission tickets by presenting a physical or digital church bulletin (only available at a WinChoice Box Office Window)

At Northwest Arkansas, May 12-17

Six-game homestand against Springfield

• Tuesday, May 19, 6:35 p.m.

• Dog Day: Human fans can get $3 Berm tickets by bringing their dog to the game (only available at a WinChoice Box Office Window). NOTE: Dogs are only allowed in the Berm areas | Presented By Hollywood Feed

• Wednesday, May 20, 6:35 p.m.

• Dog Day: Human fans can get $3 Berm tickets by bringing their dog to the game (only available at a WinChoice Box Office Window). NOTE: Dogs are only allowed in the Berm areas | Presented By Hollywood Feed

• Thursday, May 21, 6:35 p.m.

• $3 Thursday: Enjoy an amazing value for the whole family and the best patio in Central Arkansas! Get $3 General Admission or Beer Garden tickets at a WinChoice Box Office Window. Plus, feed the whole crew for less with select concession items for $3 each!

• Friday, May 22, 7:05 p.m.

• Fireworks Friday: Presented By Bank OZK

• Saturday, May 23, 6:35 p.m.

• Cal Raleigh Bobblecard Giveaway: Presented By Hardee’s | First 1,000 Fans (one item per person)

• Post-Game Fireworks

• Sunday, May 24, 6:05 p.m.

• Post-Game Fireworks

• Baseball BINGO: Presented By Arkansas Brighter Future 529

• Operation: Military Appreciation: Service Members get $3 off General Admission and Field Reserved tickets by presenting a Military ID (only available at a WinChoice Box Office Window) | Presented By Mid-South Ford Dealers

Six-game homestand against Frisco

• Tuesday, May 26, 6:35 p.m.

• Dog Day: Human fans can get $3 Berm tickets by bringing their dog to the game (only available at a WinChoice Box Office Window). NOTE: Dogs are only allowed in the Berm areas | Presented By Hollywood Feed

• Wednesday, May 27, 6:35 p.m.

• Dog Day: Human fans can get $3 Berm tickets by bringing their dog to the game (only available at a WinChoice Box Office Window). NOTE: Dogs are only allowed in the Berm areas | Presented By Hollywood Feed

• Thursday, May 28, 6:35 p.m.

• $3 Thursday: Enjoy an amazing value for the whole family and the best patio in Central Arkansas! Get $3 General Admission or Beer Garden tickets at a WinChoice Box Office Window. Plus, feed the whole crew for less with select concession items for $3 each!

• Singles Night: Let the Travs help turn a single into a double! Join us at the ballpark for a pre-game “Singles Mingle” event.

• Friday, May 29, 7:05 p.m.

• Fireworks Friday: Presented By Baldwin & Shell Construction

• Saturday, May 30, 6:05 p.m.

• Faith & Family Night: The perfect night for a church group outing! | Presented By Hickingbotham Investments

• Kids Run the Bases: Kids 13 and under are invited to run the same basepaths the Travs run after the game! | Presented By First Community Bank

• Sunday, May 31, 1:35 p.m.

• Fiesta de Diamantes: The Travs will take the field as the Diamantes de Arkansas in salute of Hispanic Heritage!

• Kids Baseball Clinic: Kids 13 and under are invited to join Travs players on field for a baseball clinic starting at noon! Instruction will last approximately 45 minutes. | Presented By Arkansas Brighter Future 529

• Kids Run the Bases: Kids 13 and under are invited to run the same basepaths the Travs run after the game! | Presented By First Community Bank

• Baseball BINGO: Presented By Arkansas Brighter Future 529

• Operation: Military Appreciation: Service Members get $3 off General Admission and Field Reserved tickets by presenting a Military ID (only available at a WinChoice Box Office Window) | Presented By Mid-South Ford Dealers

• Family Sunday Deal: Get $3 General Admission tickets by presenting a physical or digital church bulletin (only available at a WinChoice Box Office Window).

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Health

Pandemic deaths unknown

The state Department of Health didn’t update the state’s dashboard this week, again, and deaths still total 532 for the past year. There’s no tab created for 2025 either and the virus has now killed 14,162 Arkansans since the pandemic began then. That would mean the pandemic death toll has now passed Marion’s 13,635 people, the state’s 29th largest city.

Covid toolkit

There’s now a one-stop shop to learn about vaccination sites and other Covid related information. Click here to learn more.

If you don’t want to get sick and die, there’s some things you can do:

• Get vaccinated

• Get boosted

• Wear a mask

• Avoid crowds

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Note to subscribers: An annual or monthly subscription is billed to your debit or credit card as ARKANSAS.SUBSTACK.COM and if you have questions, please email arkansas@substack.com. Thanks for reading and subscribing!

The Headlines

• MEETING: The North Little Rock School Board will have a special call meeting and workshop at 5:30 p.m. tonight at the district’s administration building. Among the agenda items is an executive session to discuss personnel. Given Daryl Fimple’s move from winning his sixth state title to taking over the Arkansas Tech women’s basketball program, that, along with a replacement, will very likely be discussed. For more on Fimple’s move, keep scrolling. As for his replacement, Kyra Collier is right there, and already on staff. A guard who won a state title for North Little Rock, and Fimple, then had a decorated four-year career at UALR and has been a college assistant at Grambling, among other stops. She makes sense, so just do it. The Maumelle City Council will meet next Monday night at City Hall. The meeting will be livestreamed on YouTube and the public is welcome.

• EVENTS: Easter is this Sunday! There’s already a ham in the fridge. There’s also a bevy of other things with Holy Week – Maundy Thursday, Good Friday – going on, so just do as your faith tradition demands. Also, a blessed Pascha to the Orthodox, who will celebrate the following Sunday as the schism continues, at least for now. There’s also Easter Egg hunts and for more on that, keep scrolling.

God Speed, Artemis II

This country is a flawed mess that also does great things. One of those things lifted off Wednesday afternoon, the Artemis II and the U.S. is headed back to the moon. Or at least around it before returning to Earth.

Personally, I’d think I’d stay in space and given the comforts of home they have on board, they could sit a spell as the capsule has a toilet.

In news you can use, and win bar trivia with, that makes 10 toilets in space right now.

The breakdown is:

• International Space Station: 4

• Crew Dragon Docked at ISS: 1

• Soyuz Docked at ISS: 1

• Tiangong Space Station: 2

• Shenzhou Docked at TSS: 1

• Artemis II enroute to the Moon: 1

Lots of 1s and 2s in that mix, as is fitting for space toilets.

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Maumelle Chamber to have annual banquet tonight

The Maumelle Area Chamber of Commerce will host its highly anticipated Annual Banquet from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.tonight at Venue 10. The evening will celebrate the Chamber’s accomplishments in 2025 while recognizing the individuals and businesses that have made a lasting impact on the Maumelle community.

The event will begin with a networking reception from 6:00–6:45 p.m., providing attendees an opportunity to connect with local leaders, business owners, and community partners before the awards program begins.

The banquet will highlight the Chamber’s progress over the past year and honor outstanding members of the community through several prestigious awards, including:

• Business of the Year

• Person of the Year

• Veteran of the Year

• Student of the Year

• Educator of the Year

In addition to these recognitions, the Chamber will present special honors celebrating individuals and organizations whose dedication has helped strengthen Maumelle’s business environment and community spirit.

The evening will also feature a special guest presentation from Arkansas author, historian, and public affairs leader Rex Nelson. A widely respected voice on Arkansas history, culture, and economic development, Nelson has spent decades highlighting the stories and people that shape the Natural State. His remarks will provide insight into Arkansas’ heritage, leadership, and the importance of strong local communities like Maumelle.

“This banquet is one of our favorite nights of the year,” said Kellie Wall, President and CEO of the Maumelle Area Chamber of Commerce. “It gives us the opportunity to reflect on the incredible accomplishments of our business community, celebrate the people who make Maumelle such a special place, and look ahead to the opportunities that lie before us.”

Adding excitement to the evening, the Chamber will also host a raffle for a stunning $10,000 flawless diamond, perfectly complementing this year’s “Fire & Ice” theme. Raffle tickets are available now, and participants do not need to be present to win.

Tickets for the banquet are currently on sale. Community members, business leaders, and supporters are encouraged to attend and take part in this special evening celebrating Maumelle’s achievements and those who help drive its success.

For more information or to purchase banquet or raffle tickets, please contact the Maumelle Area Chamber of Commerce at 501-851-9700 or bri@maumellechamber.com.

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North Little Rock to host book signing with Bradford

The Patrick Henry Hays Senior Center, 401 Pershing Blvd. in North Little Rock, will host a special book signing event with Arkansas author and cancer survivor Lonenetta Bradford on Wednesday, April 8, from 10 a.m. until noon.

Bradford will be signing copies of her inspiring new book, Three Years in the Storm, a powerful testimony of faith, resilience, and the fight against lymphoma. Seniors attending the event will receive a special discounted price of $8.

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Easter Egg hunts

North Little Rock community centers and parks are rolling out a full basket of spring fun, and you’re invited to hop in on every moment.

Easter Events happening across North Little Rock

• Glenview City Park – Rose City Community Center Easter Egg Hunt

• Sherman Park – Protho Lodge Annual Easter Egg Hunt

• North Heights Community Center – Easter Egg Hunt with Levy UMC

• Glenview Community Center – Eggstravaganza

• Burns Park Soccer Complex 1 – Burns Park Easter Egg Hunt

For more details, click the flyers below.

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Sparklight opens Spring 2026 Charitable Giving Fund applications

Sparklight, a leading high-speed internet provider, is now accepting applications for its Spring 2026 Charitable Giving Fund. Nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations in Sparklight’s 24-state service areas are invited to apply for funding from April 1‒30.

Each year, Sparklight awards $250,000 in grants to nonprofit organizations working to strengthen the communities they serve. Funding supports initiatives in three key areas where the need is significant and the impact is lasting:

• Education and Digital Literacy

• Hunger Relief and Food Insecurity

• Community Development

“Local nonprofits are the backbone of strong communities — meeting pressing needs, creating meaningful opportunities and making a lasting difference every day,” said Jim Holanda, Sparklight CEO. “Through our Charitable Giving Fund, we’re proud to support their work and help extend their impact in the communities we serve.”

Since the Fund’s inception in 2020, Sparklight has awarded more than $1.2 million in grants to more than 275 nonprofits. These investments have supported initiatives in digital literacy, hunger relief, child and senior advocacy, housing and broader community programs.

For additional information about the Sparklight Charitable Giving Fund or to apply for a grant, please visit www.sparklight.com/charitablegiving. To learn more about Sparklight internet and mobile services, visit www.sparklight.com/internet.

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Sports

Daryl Fimple hired to lead Arkansas Tech’s Golden Suns basketball program

By Sam Strasner/ATU University Relations

It’s a circle that began in 1995 when Joe Foley asked a recently retired Arkansas Tech University men’s basketball player if he had an interest in coaching.

Thirty-one years later, that circle is now complete and one of the winningest programs in NCAA Division II women’s basketball history has its new leader.

Daryl Fimple, Arkansas Tech alumnus and six-time state champion at the highest classification of Arkansas high school girls’ basketball, is the seventh head coach in the half-century history of intercollegiate women’s basketball at Arkansas Tech.

Fimple’s appointment was announced on Monday, March 30, by Abby Davis, ATU director of athletics.

“Daryl has been preparing for this opportunity since he was 10 years old,” said Davis. “From his first exposure to Arkansas Tech through Marty Barnes’ basketball camps to his days as a player for the Wonder Boys and continuing through his service on Joe Foley’s women’s basketball staff as a student assistant, Daryl became encultured in Arkansas Tech basketball from an early age. He took what he learned from Coach Barnes and Coach Foley and became one of the most successful high school basketball coaches in Arkansas history. In Coach Fimple, we have identified an individual who has the knowledge, the relationships and the will necessary to add to the incredible championship tradition of Golden Suns basketball.”

Arkansas Tech will celebrate its 50th season of intercollegiate women’s basketball in 2026-27. The Golden Suns have won two NAIA national championships, earned one NCAA Division II national runner-up finish, made seven national tournament semifinal berths, won four NCAA Division II region championships, claimed 26 regular season conference titles and recorded 35 20-win seasons since the founding of the program in 1977-78.

Under the leadership of head coaches Jim Yeager (1977-82), Jim Dickerson (1982-87), Joe Foley (1987-2003), Carin Pinion-McNabb (2003-05), Todd Schaefer (2005-07) and Dave Wilbers (2007-26), the Golden Suns have earned 1,125 all-time wins, which ranks top 10 in NCAA Division II women’s basketball history.

Fimple won 668 games during a high school girls’ basketball head coaching career that included stints at Lonoke High School (1999-2005) and North Little Rock High School (2005-26).

North Little Rock had never won a state championship in girls’ basketball before Fimple’s arrival. The Lady Charging Wildcats won the title for Arkansas’ largest classification in his first season (2006) and his last (2026), with four more state championships (2010, 2016, 2018 and 2022) in between for a total of six state titles.

Fimple’s North Little Rock teams reached the state semifinals 17 times and the state championship game nine times. He led the Lady Charging Wildcats to 16 conference championships, and 56 of his players signed scholarships to continue their athletic careers at the collegiate level.

“I am deeply honored to accept the head women’s basketball coach position at Arkansas Tech University,” said Fimple. “Returning to the program where my career began as a student coach is a true full‑circle moment — I am committed to honoring the university’s proud tradition, developing champions on and off the court, and building a future our community can be proud of. Thank you for this incredible opportunity!”

Fimple graduated from Alma High School and enrolled at Arkansas Tech in 1993.

A reserve guard with the Arkansas Tech men’s basketball program from 1993-95, Fimple helped the Wonder Boys win two Arkansas Intercollegiate Conference championships and reach the semifinals of the 1995 NAIA National Tournament, matching the best national tournament finish in program history.

Shortly after he decided to stop playing following his sophomore year, Fimple was invited by Foley to become a student assistant with the Arkansas Tech women’s basketball program.

Fimple accepted the life-changing apprenticeship under Foley, who is the all-time leader in basketball coaching victories at Arkansas Tech (456), a two-time NAIA national champion (1992 and 1993) and a member of the Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame.

“Like all of us, Daryl went through the growing process,” said Foley. “He started at Lonoke…he won there, and then he got to North Little Rock and turned it into a perennial powerhouse. He’s grown into a fabulous coach who has a great rapport with his kids. They love playing for him. He knows how to have fun, but he knows how to work hard, too.

“He will bring in good talent, and he knows how to work with it and get the best out of them,” continued Foley. “We recruited some of his kids (at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock), so I know how disciplined they are and how well-prepared they are. He’ll work hard at it. (ATU) has made a great choice. He’ll bring a great amount of enthusiasm to that program, and I think he’ll be great.”

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The Boys are Back: Travs baseball returns to North Little Rock

The Arkansas Travelers open the 2026 season this week with a three-game road swing at Midland, deep in the heart of West Texas.

First game is at 7 p.m. against the Rockhounds, with the series concluding on Sunday.

Monday’s a travel and the Travs are at Dickey-Stephens Park in North Little Rock next Tuesday when they host the Wichita Wind Surge.

This marks the start of the 125th season of Arkansas Travelers baseball, one of the oldest and most storied teams in minor-league baseball history.

Double-A is again going with the six game series model with most weeks alternating between home and away but not always and not always six games, as this week’s three-game series stands as proof.

The Travs are again affiliated with the Seattle Mariners, but there’s been some changes at the top as Rich Thompson takes the helm as manager, Thompson was previously the head coach and athletics director at National Park College in Hot Springs. Joining him on staff are: José Umbria (Bench Coach), Cameron Ming (Pitching Coach) and Jordan Cowan (Hitting Coach).

Also returning to Arkansas are athletic trainer Dan LaBerry returns as athletic trainer, while Kyle Briggs is the strength coach.

Thompson’s background is a little bit different. A native of Australia, he spent parts of six seasons in the show, with 82 games as a relief pitcher. The bulk of which were with the Angels in 2011 with 44 appearances that season.

He also pitched for the Travs in 2006 and 2007, with a total of 63 appearances on the mound and also had a spot on the 2007 MLB All-Star Futures game in 2007. He also spent 12 seasons playing for the Australian National Team and won a Silver Medal in the 2004 Summer Olympics, and also appeared in two World Baseball Classics, and two International Baseball World Cups.

Given his Australian heritage, he’s probably tingly for Bluey Night. I’d wager one million dollarbucks on it.

“I’m excited to be back with the Travelers,” Thompson said in a press release. “I wouldn’t be an Arkansan without the Travs and I’m looking forward to making the jump back into professional baseball. It is great to give back to the game and these players. I am thrilled to be part of the future of the Travs and the Mariners.”

As part of the 125th anniversary celebration, the Travs will have a number of promotions this season. This is also the team’s 60th year in the Texas League, after a brief stint as the AAA affiliate of the Philadelphia Phillies.

On to the games.

Upcoming games

Six-game homestand against Wichita

• Tuesday, April 7, 6:05 p.m.

• Opening Night!

• Welcome the boys back to CHI St. Vincent Field at Dickey-Stephens Park as we kick off the 125th Year of Travelers Baseball! | Presented By Charbroil

• Magnet Schedule Giveaway: Make sure your fridge knows when the Travs play! | Presented By Jacksonville Parks & Recreation | 1,000 Fans (one item per person)

• Wednesday, April 8, 11:05 a.m.

• School Day: Putting the “field” in “greatest field trip ever!” | Presented By Summit Community Care

• Senior Day: Presented By ArchWell Health

• Thursday, April 9, 6:35 p.m.

• $3 Thursday: Enjoy an amazing value for the whole family and the best patio in Central Arkansas! Get $3 General Admission or Beer Garden tickets at a WinChoice Box Office Window. Plus, feed the whole crew for less with select concession items for $3 each!

• Friday, April 10, 7:05 p.m.

• Fireworks Friday: Presented By Baptist Health

• Magnet Schedule Giveaway: Make sure your fridge knows when the Travs play! | Presented By Jacksonville Parks & Recreation | 1,000 Fans (one item per person)

• Saturday, April 11, 6:05 p.m.

• Post-Game Wrestling: Time for the Main Event! Stick around after the game for post-game matches featuring the stars of Memphis Wrestling. | Presented By Midtown Billiards

• Replica Jersey Giveaway: Take home a replica of the Travs’ 125th Anniversary jersey! | Presented By Pinnacle Structures | First 1,000 Fans (one item per person) | Select sizes available while supplies last

• Magnet Schedule Giveaway: Make sure your fridge knows when the Travs play! | Presented By Jacksonville Parks & Recreation | 1,000 Fans (one item per person)

• Sunday, April 12, 1:35 p.m.

• Kids Baseball Clinic: Kids 13 and under are invited to join Travs players on field for a baseball clinic starting at noon! Instruction will last approximately 45 minutes. | Presented By Arkansas Brighter Future 529

• Kids Run the Bases: Kids 13 and under are invited to run the same basepaths the Travs run after the game! | Presented By First Community Bank:

• Baseball BINGO: Presented By Arkansas Brighter Future 529

• Operation: Military Appreciation: Service Members get $3 off General Admission and Field Reserved tickets by presenting a Military ID (only available at a WinChoice Box Office Window) | Presented By Mid-South Ford Dealers

• Family Sunday Deal: Get $3 General Admission tickets by presenting a physical or digital church bulletin (only available at a WinChoice Box Office Window)

At Tulsa, April 14-19

Six-game homestand against Corpus Christi

• Tuesday, April 21, 11:05 a.m.

• School Day: Putting the “field” in “greatest field trip ever!” | Presented By Waste Management

• Senior Day

• Wednesday. April 22, 6:35 p.m.

• Dog Day: Human fans can get $3 Berm tickets by bringing their dog to the game (only available at a WinChoice Box Office Window). NOTE: Dogs are only allowed in the Berm areas | Presented By Hollywood Feed: Human fans can get $3 Berm tickets by bringing their dog to the game (only available at a WinChoice Box Office Window). NOTE: Dogs are only allowed in the Berm areas | Presented By Hollywood Feed

• Thursday. April 23, 6:35 p.m.

• $3 Thursday: Enjoy an amazing value for the whole family and the best patio in Central Arkansas! Get $3 General Admission or Beer Garden tickets at a WinChoice Box Office Window. Plus, feed the whole crew for less with select concession items for $3 each!

• Singles Night: Let the Travs help turn a single into a double! Join us at the ballpark for a pre-game “Singles Mingle” event.

• Friday, April 24, 7:05 p.m.

• Fireworks Friday: Presented By Metro Disaster Specialists

• 501 Night: Join us in celebrating Central Arkansas! | Presented By Little Rock Regional Chamber of Commerce

• Saturday, April 25, 4:05 p.m.

• Bluey at the Ballpark: Wackadoo! Bluey is coming back to the Ballpark -- for real life. Information on the meet and greet with your favorite Heeler will be available soon!

• Kids Run the Bases: Kids 13 and under are invited to run the same basepaths the Travs run after the game! | Presented By First Community Bank:

• Sunday, April 26, 1:35 p.m.

• Bluey at the Ballpark: Wackadoo! Bluey is coming back to the Ballpark -- for real life. Information on the meet and greet with your favorite Heeler will be available soon!

• Kids Run the Bases: Kids 13 and under are invited to run the same basepaths the Travs run after the game! | Presented By First Community Bank:

• Baseball BINGO: Presented By Arkansas Brighter Future 529

• Operation: Military Appreciation: Service Members get $3 off General Admission and Field Reserved tickets by presenting a Military ID (only available at a WinChoice Box Office Window) | Presented By Mid-South Ford Dealers

At Wichita, April 28-May 3

Six-game homestand against Tulsa

• Tuesday, May 5, 6:05 p.m.

• Dog Day: Human fans can get $3 Berm tickets by bringing their dog to the game (only available at a WinChoice Box Office Window). NOTE: Dogs are only allowed in the Berm areas | Presented By Hollywood Feed

• Fiesta de Diamantes: The Travs will take the field as the Diamantes de Arkansas in salute of Hispanic Heritage!

• Wednesday, May 6, 11:05 a.m.

• School Day: Putting the “field” in “greatest field trip ever!” | Presented By Summit Community Care

• Senior Day

• Thursday, May 7, 6:35 p.m.

• Mad Mallards Weekend: Join us in celebration of Central Arkansas’ obsession with waterfowl hunting! | Presented By Arkansas Ducks Unlimited

• $3 Thursday: Enjoy an amazing value for the whole family and the best patio in Central Arkansas! Get $3 General Admission or Beer Garden tickets at a WinChoice Box Office Window. Plus, feed the whole crew for less with select concession items for $3 each!

• Friday, May 8, 7:05 p.m.

• Mad Mallards Weekend: Join us in celebration of Central Arkansas’ obsession with waterfowl hunting! | Presented By Arkansas Ducks Unlimited

• Fireworks Friday

• Saturday, May 9, 4:05 p.m.

• Mad Mallards Weekend: Join us in celebration of Central Arkansas’ obsession with waterfowl hunting! | Presented By Arkansas Ducks Unlimited

• Kids Run the Bases: Kids 13 and under are invited to run the same basepaths the Travs run after the game! | Presented By First Community Bank

• Trucker Hat Giveaway: Celebrate the Travs’ 125th Anniversary with some limited edition headwear! | Presented By Snapple | First 1,000 Fans (one item per person)

• Sunday, May 10, 1:35 p.m.

• Mad Mallards Weekend: Join us in celebration of Central Arkansas’ obsession with waterfowl hunting! | Presented By Arkansas Ducks Unlimited

• Kids Baseball Clinic: Kids 13 and under are invited to join Travs players on field for a baseball clinic starting at noon! Instruction will last approximately 45 minutes. | Presented By Arkansas Brighter Future 529

• Kids Run the Bases: Kids 13 and under are invited to run the same basepaths the Travs run after the game! | Presented By First Community Bank

• Baseball BINGO: Presented By Arkansas Brighter Future 529

• Operation: Military Appreciation: Service Members get $3 off General Admission and Field Reserved tickets by presenting a Military ID (only available at a WinChoice Box Office Window) | Presented By Mid-South Ford Dealers

• Family Sunday Deal: Get $3 General Admission tickets by presenting a physical or digital church bulletin (only available at a WinChoice Box Office Window)

At Northwest Arkansas, May 12-17

Six-game homestand against Springfield

• Tuesday, May 19, 6:35 p.m.

• Dog Day: Human fans can get $3 Berm tickets by bringing their dog to the game (only available at a WinChoice Box Office Window). NOTE: Dogs are only allowed in the Berm areas | Presented By Hollywood Feed

• Wednesday, May 20, 6:35 p.m.

• Dog Day: Human fans can get $3 Berm tickets by bringing their dog to the game (only available at a WinChoice Box Office Window). NOTE: Dogs are only allowed in the Berm areas | Presented By Hollywood Feed

• Thursday, May 21, 6:35 p.m.

• $3 Thursday: Enjoy an amazing value for the whole family and the best patio in Central Arkansas! Get $3 General Admission or Beer Garden tickets at a WinChoice Box Office Window. Plus, feed the whole crew for less with select concession items for $3 each!

• Friday, May 22, 7:05 p.m.

• Fireworks Friday: Presented By Bank OZK

• Saturday, May 23, 6:35 p.m.

• Cal Raleigh Bobblecard Giveaway: Presented By Hardee’s | First 1,000 Fans (one item per person)

• Post-Game Fireworks

• Sunday, May 24, 6:05 p.m.

• Post-Game Fireworks

• Baseball BINGO: Presented By Arkansas Brighter Future 529

• Operation: Military Appreciation: Service Members get $3 off General Admission and Field Reserved tickets by presenting a Military ID (only available at a WinChoice Box Office Window) | Presented By Mid-South Ford Dealers

Six-game homestand against Frisco

• Tuesday, May 26, 6:35 p.m.

• Dog Day: Human fans can get $3 Berm tickets by bringing their dog to the game (only available at a WinChoice Box Office Window). NOTE: Dogs are only allowed in the Berm areas | Presented By Hollywood Feed

• Wednesday, May 27, 6:35 p.m.

• Dog Day: Human fans can get $3 Berm tickets by bringing their dog to the game (only available at a WinChoice Box Office Window). NOTE: Dogs are only allowed in the Berm areas | Presented By Hollywood Feed

• Thursday, May 28, 6:35 p.m.

• $3 Thursday: Enjoy an amazing value for the whole family and the best patio in Central Arkansas! Get $3 General Admission or Beer Garden tickets at a WinChoice Box Office Window. Plus, feed the whole crew for less with select concession items for $3 each!

• Singles Night: Let the Travs help turn a single into a double! Join us at the ballpark for a pre-game “Singles Mingle” event.

• Friday, May 29, 7:05 p.m.

• Fireworks Friday: Presented By Baldwin & Shell Construction

• Saturday, May 30, 6:05 p.m.

• Faith & Family Night: The perfect night for a church group outing! | Presented By Hickingbotham Investments

• Kids Run the Bases: Kids 13 and under are invited to run the same basepaths the Travs run after the game! | Presented By First Community Bank

• Sunday, May 31, 1:35 p.m.

• Fiesta de Diamantes: The Travs will take the field as the Diamantes de Arkansas in salute of Hispanic Heritage!

• Kids Baseball Clinic: Kids 13 and under are invited to join Travs players on field for a baseball clinic starting at noon! Instruction will last approximately 45 minutes. | Presented By Arkansas Brighter Future 529

• Kids Run the Bases: Kids 13 and under are invited to run the same basepaths the Travs run after the game! | Presented By First Community Bank

• Baseball BINGO: Presented By Arkansas Brighter Future 529

• Operation: Military Appreciation: Service Members get $3 off General Admission and Field Reserved tickets by presenting a Military ID (only available at a WinChoice Box Office Window) | Presented By Mid-South Ford Dealers

• Family Sunday Deal: Get $3 General Admission tickets by presenting a physical or digital church bulletin (only available at a WinChoice Box Office Window).

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Health

Pandemic deaths unknown

The state Department of Health didn’t update the state’s dashboard this week, again, and deaths still total 532 for the past year. There’s no tab created for 2025 either and the virus has now killed 14,162 Arkansans since the pandemic began then. That would mean the pandemic death toll has now passed Marion’s 13,635 people, the state’s 29th largest city.

Covid toolkit

There’s now a one-stop shop to learn about vaccination sites and other Covid related information. Click here to learn more.

If you don’t want to get sick and die, there’s some things you can do:

• Get vaccinated

• Get boosted

• Wear a mask

• Avoid crowds

Subscribe if you like, pay if you can

Note to subscribers: An annual or monthly subscription is billed to your debit or credit card as ARKANSAS.SUBSTACK.COM and if you have questions, please email arkansas@substack.com. Thanks for reading and subscribing!

The Headlines

• MEETING: The Maunelle Planning Commission meets at 6:30 p.m. tonight and for more, keep scrolling. Since next Monday is the fifth Monday of the month, there’s no City Council meetings North of the River. Enjoy Spring Break city council members, etc.

• EVENTS: Arkansas plays Arizona at 8:45 p.m. tonight in the Sweet 16. The game will be televised by CBS and the winner plays again Saturday for a trip to the Final Four. This is Arkansas’s fifth trip to the Sweet 16 in the last six years but haven’t been to the Final Four in 31 years with the last time being in 1995. Or also known at the year the Hogs lost in the championship game to UCLA. Read the pregame notes by clicking here. But no spoilers as some of us have tickets to the Jason Isbell show at the Robinson Center tonight.

Thanks Collin!

Collin Scott’s internship at ArkansasNewsroom.com has come to an end and a big thank you to him for doing some fine work covering high school sports. Also thanks to Rob Moritz and Dr. Donna Lampkin Stephens at UCA for including the site in the school’s internship program.

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Maumelle Planning Commission meets tonight

It should be a quick meeting for the Maumelle Planning Commission tonight.

Should be, of course, carries some weight but there’s only two items of business on the agenda and both have requested to be deferred to April 23.

So, there’s really no business but for the agenda, click here.

The meeting is open to the public and is scheduled to start at 6:30 p.m. at City Hall.

The meeting will be livestreamed on the city’s YouTube page and we’ll report back next week on its actual length.

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Maumelle Chamber to have annual banquet April 2

The Maumelle Area Chamber of Commerce will host its highly anticipated Annual Banquet on Wednesday, April 2, from 6:00–8:30 p.m. at Venue 10. The evening will celebrate the Chamber’s accomplishments in 2025 while recognizing the individuals and businesses that have made a lasting impact on the Maumelle community.

The event will begin with a networking reception from 6:00–6:45 p.m., providing attendees an opportunity to connect with local leaders, business owners, and community partners before the awards program begins.

The banquet will highlight the Chamber’s progress over the past year and honor outstanding members of the community through several prestigious awards, including:

• Business of the Year

• Person of the Year

• Veteran of the Year

• Student of the Year

• Educator of the Year

In addition to these recognitions, the Chamber will present special honors celebrating individuals and organizations whose dedication has helped strengthen Maumelle’s business environment and community spirit.

The evening will also feature a special guest presentation from Arkansas author, historian, and public affairs leader Rex Nelson. A widely respected voice on Arkansas history, culture, and economic development, Nelson has spent decades highlighting the stories and people that shape the Natural State. His remarks will provide insight into Arkansas’ heritage, leadership, and the importance of strong local communities like Maumelle.

“This banquet is one of our favorite nights of the year,” said Kellie Wall, President and CEO of the Maumelle Area Chamber of Commerce. “It gives us the opportunity to reflect on the incredible accomplishments of our business community, celebrate the people who make Maumelle such a special place, and look ahead to the opportunities that lie before us.”

Adding excitement to the evening, the Chamber will also host a raffle for a stunning $10,000 flawless diamond, perfectly complementing this year’s “Fire & Ice” theme. Raffle tickets are available now, and participants do not need to be present to win.

Tickets for the banquet are currently on sale. Community members, business leaders, and supporters are encouraged to attend and take part in this special evening celebrating Maumelle’s achievements and those who help drive its success.

For more information or to purchase banquet or raffle tickets, please contact the Maumelle Area Chamber of Commerce at 501-851-9700 or bri@maumellechamber.com.

Maumelle Area Chamber of Commerce launches Build Maumelle

The Maumelle Area Chamber of Commerce has announced the launch of its new Entrepreneurial Support Organization called “Build Maumelle,” an initiative designed to support the growth and success of local entrepreneurs and small businesses through education, connections, and strategic resources.

Build Maumelle will serve as a hub for entrepreneurs at all stages, from startups to established businesses seeking expansion, by connecting them with mentors, capital sources, and practical tools needed to succeed in today’s competitive business environment.

“As Maumelle continues to grow, it’s important that our entrepreneurs and small businesses have the support systems they need to thrive,” said Kellie Wall, President and CEO of the Maumelle Area Chamber of Commerce. “[It] will help bring together the resources, relationships, and expertise that entrepreneurs need to start, grow, and expand their businesses right here in our community.”

The organization will host its first training session on Tuesday, March 31, from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. at Mira at Maumelle. The event will feature a panel discussion focused on sources of capital for businesses, including funding opportunities for startup growth, business expansion, and strategic investment.

Attendees will have the opportunity to hear directly from financial professionals and capital providers, ask questions about funding options, and gain insight into navigating the financing landscape for their businesses.

The event will also include networking opportunities for entrepreneurs, business leaders, and community partners, along with heavy hors d’oeuvres and beer and wine provided for attendees by Mira at Maumelle.

The Chamber hopes the new initiative will strengthen the entrepreneurial ecosystem in Maumelle by fostering collaboration, increasing access to resources, and supporting long-term economic growth.

Entrepreneurs, small business owners, and community partners interested in attending are encouraged to participate in this inaugural session and connect with others working to build and grow businesses in the region.

For more information about the Maumelle Entrepreneurial Support Organization or to attend the event, contact the Maumelle Area Chamber of Commerce at kellie@maumellechamber.com or visit www.maumellechamber.com.

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Health

Pandemic deaths unknown

The state Department of Health didn’t update the state’s dashboard this week, again, and deaths still total 532 for the past year. There’s no tab created for 2025 either and the virus has now killed 14,162 Arkansans since the pandemic began then. That would mean the pandemic death toll has now passed Marion’s 13,635 people, the state’s 29th largest city.

Covid toolkit

There’s now a one-stop shop to learn about vaccination sites and other Covid related information. Click here to learn more.

If you don’t want to get sick and die, there’s some things you can do:

• Get vaccinated

• Get boosted

• Wear a mask

• Avoid crowds

Subscribe if you like, pay if you can

Note to subscribers: An annual or monthly subscription is billed to your debit or credit card as ARKANSAS.SUBSTACK.COM and if you have questions, please email arkansas@substack.com. Thanks for reading and subscribing!

The Headlines

• The North Little Rock School Board will have its regular, monthly meeting at 5:30 p.m. tonight at the district’s administration building. The North Little Rock City Council will meet next Monday night at City Hall. The meeting will be livestreamed on YouTube and the public is welcome.

• EVENTS: The best time of the year is here. And by that, I mean March Madness. Good time to call in sick and just watch basketball all day. The game of local interest is Arkansas, of course. The Hogs play Hawaii at 3:25 today on TBS and in Portland. If they win, they would face the winner of High Point-Wisconsin. The Badgers are the higher seed and the favorite. You know what else goes with basketball? Free food. As part of its opening the new Hideaway Pizza in west Little Rock. Can’t miss it, right in front of Costco. The new restaurant is having friends and family days today and Friday. Click here to reserve your time. Parties up to 4 can be done online. Larger groups require a phone call.

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Pickard announces retirement from Maumelle Police Department

The City of Maumelle last week announced the retirement of Maumelle Police Chief Cory Pickard, above, effective May 1, after more than 27 years of service to the Maumelle Police Department and the community.

Pickard began his career with the Maumelle Police Department on Feb. 8, 1999. Over the course of his career, he served in a variety of roles including K9 Handler, Patrol Shift Supervisor, Background Investigator, and Patrol Commander before being appointed Chief of Police in September 2019.

Maumelle Mayor Caleb Norris said, in a release, Pickard had served the city with professionalism, integrity and a deep commitment. “I want to personally thank him for his leadership and for the example he has set throughout his career,” Norris said.

Norris said he had the opportunity to work closely with Pickard long before becoming mayor.

“I worked with Chief Pickard during my time as the city’s attorney and prosecutor and had the privilege of seeing firsthand his professionalism, judgment and dedication to this community,” Norris said. “That experience gave me full confidence in appointing him as Chief of Police, and I appreciate the leadership he has provided to this department.”

During his time as chief, Pickard led the department through several significant events, including the COVID-19 pandemic and the consolidation of communications operations with the City of North Little Rock. His leadership emphasized professionalism, transparency and maintaining strong relationships between the police department and the citizens in the community.

Earlier in his career, Pickard played an important role in assisting neighboring jurisdictions during the devastating tornado outbreak in 2014 and again in 2023 when severe storms impacted surrounding communities.

Prior to becoming a police officer, Pickard served with the Sherwood Fire Department. In 2003, he deployed with the U.S. Army’s 39th Infantry Brigade as part of the 1st Cavalry Division in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, where he served in Baghdad. During his military service he was awarded the Purple Heart along with several other military honors and commendations.

Pickard is a graduate of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s National Academy in Quantico, Virginia, having completed the prestigious executive leadership program in 2022.

“Serving the citizens of Maumelle alongside the men and women of this department has been the greatest honor of my career,” Pickard said. “I am grateful for the opportunity to work with such dedicated professionals and to serve a community that has always supported its police department.”

Norris said the Maumelle Police Department has developed strong leadership throughout its ranks and that experience will be important as the city begins the process of selecting its next chief.

“The Maumelle Police Department has earned a strong reputation for professionalism, service, and the trust it has built with our community,” Norris said. “My goal is to ensure a smooth transition that continues the culture the department is known for.”

Pickard’s final day with the Maumelle Police Department will be May 1.

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Maumelle Area Chamber of Commerce launches Build Maumelle

The Maumelle Area Chamber of Commerce has announced the launch of its new Entrepreneurial Support Organization called “Build Maumelle,” an initiative designed to support the growth and success of local entrepreneurs and small businesses through education, connections, and strategic resources.

Build Maumelle will serve as a hub for entrepreneurs at all stages, from startups to established businesses seeking expansion, by connecting them with mentors, capital sources, and practical tools needed to succeed in today’s competitive business environment.

“As Maumelle continues to grow, it’s important that our entrepreneurs and small businesses have the support systems they need to thrive,” said Kellie Wall, President and CEO of the Maumelle Area Chamber of Commerce. “[It] will help bring together the resources, relationships, and expertise that entrepreneurs need to start, grow, and expand their businesses right here in our community.”

The organization will host its first training session on Tuesday, March 31, from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. at Mira at Maumelle. The event will feature a panel discussion focused on sources of capital for businesses, including funding opportunities for startup growth, business expansion, and strategic investment.

Attendees will have the opportunity to hear directly from financial professionals and capital providers, ask questions about funding options, and gain insight into navigating the financing landscape for their businesses.

The event will also include networking opportunities for entrepreneurs, business leaders, and community partners, along with heavy hors d’oeuvres and beer and wine provided for attendees by Mira at Maumelle.

The Chamber hopes the new initiative will strengthen the entrepreneurial ecosystem in Maumelle by fostering collaboration, increasing access to resources, and supporting long-term economic growth.

Entrepreneurs, small business owners, and community partners interested in attending are encouraged to participate in this inaugural session and connect with others working to build and grow businesses in the region.

For more information about the Maumelle Entrepreneurial Support Organization or to attend the event, contact the Maumelle Area Chamber of Commerce at kellie@maumellechamber.com or visit www.maumellechamber.com.

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Clark, Shettles‑Tull awarded PCSSD Inspiration in Education awards at board meeting

Larry Clark and Tiffany Shettles‑Tull were both awarded the People Committed to Serving Scholars Daily Inspiration in Education Award for March during the regular meeting of the PCSSD Board of Education.

Clark was the classified awardee, and Shettles‑Tull was the certified awardee. The awards, which included a certificate and monetary prize, were presented by PCSSD Superintendent Jeff Senn.

Clark is the security officer at Oakbrooke Elementary and brings more than seven years of school and community safety experience to his role, including five years with the Arkansas Department of Corrections.

Shettles‑Tull has been an educator for 25 years and began her PCSSD career in 2001 at North Pulaski High School, where she taught English and served in several roles until the school closed in 2016. She later taught at Jacksonville and Maumelle High Schools, also serving as an AVID Site Coordinator and AVID elective teacher. Five years ago, she transitioned to College Station Elementary as the teacher librarian, where she now shares her love of reading with younger learners and builds strong relationships with students and families.

She also supports classroom instruction, manages the school’s social media presence, and organizes monthly themed potlucks to build staff morale. Colleagues describe her as a positive, dedicated leader whose enthusiasm and commitment strengthen the entire school community.

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Commercial Real Estate Awards honor significant achievements

The Commercial Real Estate Council of Metro Little Rock held the eighth annual Commercial Real Estate Awards on Thursday, March 12, to recognize significant achievements and the largest real estate transactions in metro Little Rock made by local brokers in the previous year. Transactions are recognized in the categories chosen when the transaction was submitted. Sales are based on reported dollar amounts and leases are based on reported square footage.

Roby Brock, CEO of Natural State Media, parent company for Talk Business & Politics and The Northwest Arkansas Business Journal emceed the event.

LEASES

• Largest Industrial Lease : 9401 Diamond Drive, North Little Rock – Bill Pendergist, Isaac Smith, and Andrew Wiechern, Colliers Arkansas

• Largest Medical Lease: 10915 N Rodney Parham Road, Little Rock – George Friedmann, Chris Monroe, Chris Moses, and Greyson Skokos, Moses Tucker Partners

• Largest Office Lease: 1001 Technology Drive, Little Rock – Jeff Hathaway and Wes Martin, Hathaway Group and John Martin and Chris Monroe, Moses Tucker Partners

• Largest Retail Lease: 9101 W Markham, Little Rock – Hank Kelley, Eric Varner, and Kindley Wasson, Kelley Commercial Partners

SALES

• Largest Industrial Sale: 4201-4217 S Shackleford Road, Little Rock – Nathan Monan and Drew Holbert, Colliers Arkansas

• Largest Land Sale : Acreage Tracts off Harper Road, Little Rock Port Authority – Hank Kelley, Nick Kelley, and Gary Smith, Kelley Commercial Partners

• Largest Multi-Family Housing Sale: 501 N Magnolia Street, North Little Rock – Richard Cheek and Ted Bailey III, The Multifamily Group

• Largest Office Sale: 1 World Avenue, Little Rock – Hank Kelley, Kelley Commercial Partners and Ed Willis, Willis Cole Partners

• Largest Retail Sale : 9801 I-30, Little Rock – Casi Runnells, Colliers Arkansas

Commercial Real Estate Project of the Year 2025

Pavilion in the Park, conceived as a European hilltop village with an inner street and glass covered courtyard surrounded by five buildings, was constructed in 1985 as an upscale specialty retail center. On March 31, 2023, the iconic mixed-use retail, restaurant, healthcare and commercial office building with 38-active tenants was hit directly by an EF3 tornado that caused substantial damage throughout central Arkansas and beyond. The building was closed immediately, assessed for damage and its structural integrity, and the owners determined they did want to renovate the building. The result was a multi-year, $14M-plus project that replaced all of the damaged glass of the 16,000 SF atrium and much of the other glass and windows; removed, reframed and re-roofed all of the buildings in a sequence that kept the center open for business throughout construction; replaced the HVAC system; upgraded the electrical and lighting systems; created a bridal suite, groom suite and catering kitchen to support event rentals; renovated public restrooms; replaced flooring and many other public finishes; and renovated multiple tenant spaces. The result is a completely renovated and refreshed destination property that welcomes thousands of people per week. The project is a testament to the determination of the Flake & Company ownership to save and enhance the Pavilion, and the architect, engineers, construction manager, subcontractors, and vendors who delivered the renovated facility safely with a focus on value, quality, and schedule with as little disruption to the tenants and public as possible.

• Owner/Developer: Flake and Company

• Architect: Polk Stanley Wilcox

• Contractor: Metro Disaster Services, East Harding

• Bank: Relyance Bank

Person of the Year Award

2025 was an eventful year for Jeff Yates. In 2025, Yates was an integral part of Pavilion in the Park’s grand re-opening and is reinventing the Village at Rahling Road with a new vision. With over thirty-five years of experience, he has shared his integrity and expertise as a sounding board and trusted advisor throughout our state. He has written extensively for the Daily Record and is an expert on the metro Little Rock CRE market. There is a list of 2025 Flake and Company projects that show the fingerprints of Jeff Yates. Separate from his Flake and Company projects is the impact he, personally, has had on CREC of Metro Little Rock. This organization was his brainchild beginning in 2018, and CREC was extremely pleased to honor him as the 2025 CRE Person of the Year.

In Memorium

Last year, the metro Little Rock commercial real estate community lost a long-time member. Stacey Moore served in various capacities at Hathaway Group for 35 years, and at the time of her death on Feb. 2nd, 2025, she was Director of Operations. Jeff Hathaway, Hathaway Group, highlighted some of Stacey Moore’s accomplishments and contributions.

Commercial Real Estate Impact Awards

The Impact awards recognize the positive effects of innovative ventures, support, experiences, or long-term projects that are key to the success of individuals or businesses who help make metro Little Rock a healthy commercial real estate market.

Little Rock Central High School: Some spaces continue to make impacts over their many years. Little Rock Central High School, an iconic building, the only high school in the United States designated as a National Historic Site, completed its first major expansion and renovation in over 50 years in 2025. The $60 million upgrade included:

• 58,000 square-foot, two-story field house with an indoor practice field, cheer and wrestling rooms, and a new weight room

• 67,000 square-foot, three-story science wing that replaced portable buildings and the original laboratory spaces that were built in 1927 with a rooftop patio classroom and 200-seat lecture hall

• new common area that connects the science building to the school

• new parking lot

• new promenade connecting the buildings together called the Tiger Trail

This expansion and renovation will allow Little Rock Central High to continue its impact on the community to continue for generations to come.

Rockwater Village

In the early 2000s, Lisa Ferrell and Jim Jackson believed in a possibility. Their idea was to create a unique, modern take on the traditional neighborhoods of the past on the bank of the Arkansas River. What started as the development of a residential neighborhood has had ripple effects on North Little Rock’s historic Argenta neighborhood and the city of North Little Rock. Besides the original Rockwater Village residential development, the area now boasts the Rockwater Marina, a 64-slip marina offering access to the Arkansas River and The Resort at Rockwater, an upscale multifamily community. TIF and property tax for the area has seen an increase from $58,874.25 in 2007 to $1,062,444 in 2024. Revenue for the NLR School District increased from $44,000 in 2006 to $663,232.28 in 2024. There has been over $300,000,000 in private investment, with more to come. This Impact award honored the vision of Lisa and Jim and Rockwater Village.

Legend Awards

People are called Legends for many reasons. They could have noteworthy accomplishments, outstanding skills, or inspirational gifts that have been shared. CREC’s Legend award recognizes how this type of person makes an outsized contribution to metro Little Rock’s commercial real estate community. Past Legends include John Flake, Timothy Grooms, Rick Ashley, Gus Vratsinas, Jim Hathaway, Jimmy Moses, and Dickson Flake. This year’s recipients are Tom Ferstl and Mark Saviers.

Tom M. Ferstl

Tom M. Ferstl has spent more than six decades shaping the real estate valuation profession in Arkansas. Born April 19, 1939, in Fort Smith, Arkansas, he built his career on education, integrity, and an unwavering commitment to excellence. Mr. Ferstl earned his Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock in 1967, his MBA from Northwestern University in 1968, and his Juris Doctor from UA Little Rock in 1972. His professional career included leadership roles as Vice President and Manager of Republic Mortgage Company and as Chief Appraiser for the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation before founding his own ventures, including Ferstl Enterprises and Affiliated Appraisers of Arkansas.

In 1967, Tom Ferstl founded what would become Ferstl Valuation Services with a simple but powerful goal: to provide reliable, trustworthy, and certified real estate appraisal services. In 2000, his son, J.T. Ferstl joined the company. The father-son partnership established a legacy rooted in loyalty, respect, and pride in their work. Today, the firm stands as one of the oldest and largest full-service appraisal companies in Arkansas, known for tackling complex assignments and serving as trusted advisors across the region. Mr. Ferstl’s distinguished career includes numerous professional honors, reflecting a lifetime dedicated not only to business success, but to strengthening the profession for future generations.

Mark Saviers

Mark Saviers is one of the founders of Tempus Realty Partners. He has served as General Partner of Asset Strategies of Tempus since inception in 2016. Mark has 43 years of experience in developing, leasing, and acquiring office buildings, business parks, data centers, warehouses, and corporate headquarters/campuses. His extensive work in Arkansas, Texas, Louisiana, Tennessee, and Illinois with the Trammell Crow Company Myers and Crow & Saviers, Ltd., included acquiring and managing Westlake Corporate Park in west Little Rock, at that time a campus of six office buildings and about 30 acres of to-be-developed land. On one of those land parcels, Mark led the team to develop a build-to-suit office building for Aegon Transamerica.

Mark is one of three co-founders and a current board member of Cushman & Wakefield/Sage Partners, a commercial real estate firm with offices in Northwest Arkansas and Little Rock. He is the author of the book Flipped, which tells the story of how God helped his brother-in-law and partner of Sage, Tommy Van Zandt, survive and thrive after a tragic accident in 2009, and how faith, family, friends, and community came together to create triumph over tragedy. Mark is married to his high school sweetheart, Vicki, and they are proud parents of two grown sons, Marshall (married to Beth) and John Mark (married to Melissa) and grandparents to four grandchildren. He enjoys fishing, hunting, and traveling with family and friends.

The Commercial Real Estate Council of Metro Little Rock’s mission is to promote and support all aspects of commercial real estate. The group works to facilitate engagement, education, and networking for groups, individuals, and companies representing development, brokerage, property management, finance, construction, law, and other industries with an interest in commercial real estate in the metro Little Rock area.

For more information contact 501-291-2210 or info@crecmlr.org.

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North Little Rock opens new Event Center

Mayor Terry Hartwick’s 20‑year vision has officially come to life; the North Little Rock Event Center is now open and ready to welcome the community. Over 650 City leaders, residents, and guests gathered Tuesday evening for a celebratory ceremony followed by self‑guided tours of the stunning new facility. Guests explored the elegant Centennial Bank Ballroom with its soaring ceilings and dazzling lighting, the flexible Mainstream Boardrooms, the state‑of‑the‑art catering kitchen, and more.

The evening offered a moment to reflect on years of planning and collaboration, and to look ahead to the bright future of North Little Rock. With new hotels and businesses rising around the Event Center, the development is poised to transform the Arena District and downtown, strengthening North Little Rock as a premier place to live, eat, work, play—and now celebrate! The City extends its sincere thanks to everyone who attended and to Central Arkansas Entertainment for helping to create a beautiful opening night experience. We look forward to the many events and memories this new space will host in the years ahead.

If you are interested in reserving space at the North Little Rock Event Center, call Raul Fernandez at 501-975-8866 or email nlreventcenter@nlr.ar.gov

Sports

North Little Rock 46, Har-Ber 40: ‘Cats ring it up, again

By Collin Scott

HOT SPRINGS —- North Little Rock Wildcats entered the state finals with a set goal to finish a strong season with a championship.

The Charging Wildcats did exactly what they set out to do.

North Little Rock defeated Har-Ber in the state championship girls basketball tournament with the final score 46-40 Saturday night, closing out a strong postseason run and making their mark as one of the top teams in the state of Arkansas. The Wildcats left Hot Springs as champions after going through a tough tournament bracket and rising to the occasion in the final matchup.

North Little Rock ended the year at 30-3 and this was the second time the ‘Cats had defeated Har-Ber.

North Little Rock Coach Daryl Fimple’s motto all year was for the team to become legendary at the end of the season.

“Everybody kept asking me, how good of a team is this?... Well, you can’t tell until the end, and I think it’s a pretty good team,” Fimple said.

This title puts a stamp on a dominant season for the Wildcats, which continued to be proven against the top tier competition throughout the playoffs. The Wildcats’ being able to control the pace of the game and completing key plays in big moments helped separate them from the rest of the teams in the tournament.

Spring Dale Har-Ber Coach Kimberly Jenkins believes they started off the game by having a bad first half leading to the loss.

“We’re not used to scoring ten points in a quarter, let alone a first half. That was a hole we kind of dug ourselves that was hard to get out of”.

Har-Ber was able to push through their own obstacles on their path to the finals, setting this finals up as a great matchup between two of the best teams in Arkansas. With the championship, North Little Rock girls basketball closes the season as the top team in Class 6A.

North Little Rock’s Elicia Shepherd was named the game’s MVP with nine points and 11 rebounds. Lauren Brewster led North Little Rock with 14 points while Katie Fimple, the coach’s daughter, had nine points in the win. For the younger Fimple, basketball runs in her family with her dad having won five state titles, while Donnie Smith, her late grandfather, was also a career coach

North Little Rock is now 29-3 and will face Springdale Har-Ber at 6 p.m. this Saturday at Bank OZK Arena in Hot Springs.

The ‘Cats are going for their sixth state title under Fimple, with wins in 2022, 2018, 2016, 2010, 2006 – and ninth state championship game with those three appearances coming this season and in 2023, 2017 and 2009.

North Little Rock defeated Har-Ber, 54-40, in a game played Dec, 31.

This was also North Little Rock’s sixth state title under Fimple, with wins now in 2026, 2022, 2018, 2016, 2010, 2006 – and ninth state championship game with those three appearances coming this season and in 2023, 2017 and 2009.

State finals scoreboard

Thursday

CLASS Score … Attendance … MVP

• 1A GIRLS: Earle 73, West Side 54 2938 Jada Maples

• 1A BOYS: Earle 70: Clarendon 58 3133 Ta’Ron Hurst

• 2A GIRLS: Quitman 66, Sloan-Hendrix 57 2524 Madilyn Varvil

• 2A BOYS: Barton 89, Mt. Vernon-Enola 44 3549 Christian Williams

Friday

• 3A GIRLS: Manila 49, McGehee 42 3522 Lucy Farmer

• 3A BOYS: Osceola 55, Newport 51 4520 Tyler Bell

• 4A GIRLS: Pulaski Academy, 56 Pea Ridge 43 3227 Greenlee Elmore

• 4A BOYS: Little Rock Hall 59, Mills 54 3622 Landen Hill

Saturday

• 5A GIRLS: Farmington 74, Mountain Home 39 3362 Easton McCollough

• 5A BOYS: Parkview 63, Marion 57 4223 Jacob Lanier

• 6A GIRLS: North Little Rock 46, Har-Ber 40 4110 Elicia Shepherd

• 6A BOYS: Bryant 58, LR Central 50 5319 Camarion Bead

TOURNAMENT TOTAL 44,048

TOURNAMENT AVERAGE 3,671

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Health

Pandemic deaths unknown

The state Department of Health didn’t update the state’s dashboard this week, again, and deaths still total 532 for the past year. There’s no tab created for 2025 either and the virus has now killed 14,162 Arkansans since the pandemic began then. That would mean the pandemic death toll has now passed Marion’s 13,635 people, the state’s 29th largest city.

Covid toolkit

There’s now a one-stop shop to learn about vaccination sites and other Covid related information. Click here to learn more.

If you don’t want to get sick and die, there’s some things you can do:

• Get vaccinated

• Get boosted

• Wear a mask

• Avoid crowds

Subscribe if you like, pay if you can

Note to subscribers: An annual or monthly subscription is billed to your debit or credit card as ARKANSAS.SUBSTACK.COM and if you have questions, please email arkansas@substack.com. Thanks for reading and subscribing!

The Headlines

• The North Little Rock School Board will have a special call meeting at 5:30 p.m. tonight at the district’s administration building. The agenda has two items, both related to personnel and will be held in executive session. So you could go, but then they would just make you leave. The Maumelle City Council will meet next Monday night at City Hall. The meeting will be livestreamed on YouTube and the public is welcome.

• EVENTS: Banana Ball is this Saturday, March 14 and Sunday, March 15 at North Little Rock’s Dickey-Stephens Park. There’s still ways to get tickets and for more, click here. Next Tuesday, March 17, is St. Patrick’s Day. Avoid the bars, amateur night, but wear your green. Next Wednesday, March 18, is someone’s birthday and they’re especially happy about another trip around the sun.

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Millwood Station to have grand opening

Maumelle’s new Millwood Station isn’t especially hard to find, given its prominent location on Maumelle Boulevard, but its purpose was lost to a recent visitor, who happened to be walking through while ArkansasNewsroom.com was there taking photos.

“Do you know what this will be,” she asked and seemed pleased given her enthusiastic “yes” when told it was the city’s new park and would have food trucks.

Courtney Dunn, the city’s Community Engagement Director said that Millwood Station would have a total of nine food truck spots and that six food trucks have already signed leases.

She said the six that have signed leases are:

• Tacos Atilano

• Phonzie’s 1 Stop Hog Shop(BBQ)

• Lumpia Hut (Filipino inspired food)

• Wing Krave

• Shakes Frozen Custard

• Travelin Coffee & Crepes

Given that three spaces are still available, Dunn said that, if a vendor was interested they would need “to fill out the Food Truck Interest form located at, https://maumelle.org/707/Millwood-Station.”

Millwood Station also features a covered pavilion as well as walking and biking trails that will connect it to other points in the city, and eventually across central Arkansas. The park features the bicycle and tire inflation stations that have become standard. There’s also bathrooms and water fountains.

Each of the food truck slots features hookups for water, electricity and sewer and should be happening spot after this Friday’s grand opening.

What follows is a lightly edited, and formatted Q&A with Dunn on Millwood Station.

What’s the total seating at the pavilion?

The pavilion is designed to be a flexible space, so seating may vary depending on how the area is being used. At times, picnic tables will be placed under the pavilion for public seating, while during vendor events and farmers markets the space may be left open to accommodate booths and foot traffic.

Currently, the park has 10 large picnic tables and 4 ADA-accessible picnic tables available for visitors to use throughout the park. The city will continue to evaluate seating needs and may add additional tables in the future if demand increases.

What was the cost of construction?

Total Construction cost is approximately $2.4 Million

How does the new park fit into the vision for Maumelle?

The opening of Millwood Station reflects Maumelle’s broader vision of strengthening community connections and creating welcoming spaces for residents of all ages. By bringing together amenities like food truck areas, a farmers market pavilion, and a small stage for events and entertainment, the park encourages people to gather, interact, and enjoy shared experiences.

This new shared space supports Maumelle’s goal of enhancing community engagement by providing a place where families, friends, and neighbors can come together for markets, performances, and local events. It helps foster a sense of community while offering activities and opportunities that appeal to people at every stage of life, making Maumelle an even more vibrant and connected place to live.

The walking trail around the park also ties into the upcoming Club Manor Drive improvements, which will help make this area of the city more walkable and pedestrian-friendly. Together, these features support Maumelle’s vision of creating accessible public spaces that encourage outdoor activity, connectivity, and community interaction.

Anything else you want to add?

Millwood Station is located at 100 Millwood Circle in Maumelle. The park offers on-site parking, including designated handicap-accessible spaces for visitors. Additional overflow parking is available through a shared parking agreement with First Baptist Church, located across the street. For those parking there, a marked crosswalk at the nearby stoplight provides a safe and convenient way to cross to the park.

The name “Millwood Station” reflects the site’s history in the community. The property was previously home to the Maumelle Department of Public Safety, which once housed both the city’s Police Department and Fire Department, making it a location with longstanding importance to Maumelle’s public service and community life.

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Sports

Semifinal Saturday: North Little Rock wins one, loses one

North Little Rock’s quest for another state title in boys basketball came to an end on Saturday when the Cat’s lost to Little Rock Central, 70-63, at 6A state tournament host Bryant.

North Little Rock ends its season at 15-8 overall and had defeated Central once earlier this season, while another conference game was cancelled due to weather and was never rescheduled.

The ‘Cats were the No. 2 seed from the 6A-Central, while Central was the No. 4 seed.

North Little Rock’s Kevon Smith led all scorers with 21 points, while Elijah Bryant had 20 and Davian Withers added 13.

Central moves to face defending state champ Bryant in this Saturday’s 6A state title game

Despite the North Little Rock loss, it was still a helluva good day for central Arkansas basketball on Semifinal Saturday as Little Rock Mills will face Little Rock Hall for the 4A state title, while Little Rock Parkview will face Marion for the 5A state title, then Bryant and Central for the 6A state championship.

On the girls side, North Little Rock beat long-time rivals Fort Smith Northside, 44-39, as Daryl Fimple won the coaches’ duel with Rickey Smith.

Mia Hopkins led North Little Rock with 14 points, while Katie Fimple, the coach’s daughter, had nine points in the win. For the younger Fimple, basketball runs in her family with her dad having won five state titles, while Donnie Smith, her late grandfather, was also a career coach

North Little Rock is now 29-3 and will face Springdale Har-Ber at 6 p.m. this Saturday at Bank OZK Arena in Hot Springs.

The ‘Cats are going for their sixth state title under Fimple, with wins in 2022, 2018, 2016, 2010, 2006 – and ninth state championship game with those three appearances coming this season and in 2023, 2017 and 2009.

North Little Rock defeated Har-Ber, 54-40, in a game played Dec, 31.

TV schedule

Arkansas TV, formerly Arkansas PBS, will broadcast this year’s state championships live from Bank OZK Arena in Hot Springs beginning today

The games will air live:

• 1A girls – West Side Greers Ferry vs. Earle – Thursday, March 12, at noon.  

• 1A boys – Clarendon vs. Earle – Thursday, March 12, at 1:45 p.m.  

• 2A girls – Sloan-Hendrix vs. Quitman – Thursday, March 12, at 6 p.m.  

• 2A boys – Barton vs. Mount Vernon-Enola – Thursday, March 12, at 7:45 p.m.  

• 3A girls – Manila vs. McGehee – Friday, March 13, at noon.  

• 3A boys – Newport vs. Osceola – Friday, March 13, at 1:45 p.m.  

• 4A girls – Pea Ridge vs. Pulaski Academy – Friday, March 13, at 6 p.m.  

• 4A boys – Little Rock Hall vs. Mills University Studies – Friday, March 13, at 7:45 p.m.  

• 5A girls – Farmington vs. Mountain Home – Saturday, March 14, at noon.  

• 5A boys – Marion vs. Little Rock Parkview – Saturday, March 14, at 1:45 p.m.  

• 6A girls – Springdale Har-Ber vs. North Little Rock – Saturday, March 14, at 6 p.m.  

• 6A boys – Little Rock Central vs. Bryant – Saturday, March 14, at 7:45 p.m. 

Stats from the basketball championship games will be available at aaabasketball.gamedaypreps.com/.  

Funding for Arkansas TV Sports is provided by the Electric Cooperatives of Arkansas, the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS), Image One. Arkansas TV also recognizes AAA’s sponsors for the state high school basketball finals, including Centennial Bank, Arkansas Farm Bureau and Everett Buick GMC. 

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Health

Pandemic deaths unknown

The state Department of Health didn’t update the state’s dashboard this week, again, and deaths still total 532 for the past year. There’s no tab created for 2025 either and the virus has now killed 14,162 Arkansans since the pandemic began then. That would mean the pandemic death toll has now passed Marion’s 13,635 people, the state’s 29th largest city.

Covid toolkit

There’s now a one-stop shop to learn about vaccination sites and other Covid related information. Click here to learn more.

If you don’t want to get sick and die, there’s some things you can do:

• Get vaccinated

• Get boosted

• Wear a mask

• Avoid crowds

Subscribe if you like, pay if you can

Note to subscribers: An annual or monthly subscription is billed to your debit or credit card as ARKANSAS.SUBSTACK.COM and if you have questions, please email arkansas@substack.com. Thanks for reading and subscribing!

The Headlines

• MEETINGS: The North Little Rock City Council will meet next Monday night at City Hall. The meeting will be livestreamed on YouTube and the public is welcome.

• EVENTS: Next Tuesday, North Little Rock will have a grand opening and tour of the city’s Event Center at 120 Main St. The building is located at the previous City Services building. The event will start at 4 p.m. and for more, call 501-975-8866 or email nlreventcenter@nlr.ar.gov. Banana Ball is Saturday, March 14 and Sunday, March 15 at North Little Rock’s Dickey-Stephens Park. There’s still ways to get tickets and for more, click here.

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The good and bad of Election Night

Tuesday night was Election Day and it was a mix of good news and bad news,

First up, the good news and in no particular order:

The election is over! No more texts, calls and mailers in the mailbox. That’s cause to celebrate.

It was mostly a good night for Maumelle.

The sales tax extension passed and five of the six projects were approved by voters. The one that failed was Question 7 and it was for field turf for some of the fields operated by Maumelle Parks & Rec.

The net result is the city will be issuing bonds to pay off the previous bonds from the last sales tax increase, and now, instead of $34.26 million in new bonds, it will be $29.16 million in bonds.

The headline is that the long-desired indoor pool was approved by voters at the Center on the Lake.

Proposed bond issue

• Total: $34.26 million

• Question 1: Refunding 2018 bonds - $3.05M

• Question 2: Street improvements - $3.86M

• Question 3: Center on the Lake/Indoor pool - $5.39M

• Question 4: Public Safety Training facility - $5.19M

• Question 5: Fire station improvements - $8.45M

• Question 6: Lake Valencia improvements - $3.22M

• Question 7: Field turf for Parks & Rec - $5.1M

Work on all the approved projects will begin later this year.

It was also a good night for state Rep. Brandon Achor, who won the Republican primary for state Senate, and will now move on to November where he will face Allison Grigsby Sweatman, who won the Democratic primary.

It should be a lively race for state Senate District 13.

It was also a good day for turnout as 63,403 came out with the majority coming with early voting at 33,507 and 29,656 on Tuesday.

The reality was that early voting was decisive, which has been a theme the last several elections.

Now, the bad news, and, again, in no particular order.

Pulaski County Judge Harry Hyde got crushed in the Democratic primary by Wendell Griffen and Prosecuting Attorney Will Jones also lost his bid for a second term.

Griffen won, 62.7 to 37.3, which was somewhat unexpected. Hyde, a former state legislator, seemed to be in trouble, given the number of non-stop texts he was sending out. but losing by more than 10,000 votes is wild.

It was also a day for North Little Rock. Wait, how so?

Hyde and Jones are both long-time North Little Rockers with deep roots in the community. And, for reasons that are complicated, the city has had an over-sized role in county governance for decades. North Little Rock’s Debra Buckner won her re-election bid for county treasurer, but she’s the last North of the River resident in county-wide office.

For election results, click here, the Maumelle sales tax results are below.

Pretty health turnout with 4,112 votes cast.

These results are not yet certified, and final numbers could change slightly. So all the usual caveats.

Question 1

• FOR 2,440 59.34%

• AGAINST 1,672 40.66%

• Total Votes Cast 4,112

Question 2

• FOR 2,861 69.97%

• AGAINST 1,228 30.03%

Question 3

• FOR 2,253 55.00%

• AGAINST 1,843 45.00%

Question 4

• FOR 2,252 55.41%

• AGAINST 1,812 44.59%

Question 5

• FOR 2,473 60.48%

• AGAINST 1,616 39.52%

Question 6

• FOR 2,234 54.86%

• AGAINST 1,838 45.14%

Question 7

• FOR 1,869 45.72%

• AGAINST 2,219 54.28%

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Commercial Real Estate Council honors real estate legends

Commercial Real Estate Council of Metro Little Rock will honor Tom Ferstl and Mark Saviers with the Legend award for their legacy of commercial real estate accomplishments and inspiring achievements in metro Little Rock at the 8th Annual Commercial Real Estate Awards this Thursday, March 12, at 5: p.m. at the Little Rock Junior League Headquarters Building, 401 S Scott Street.

Tom Ferstl

Tom M. Ferstl has spent more than six decades shaping the real estate valuation profession in Arkansas. Born April 19, 1939, in Fort Smith, he built his career on education, integrity, and an unwavering commitment to excellence. Ferstl earned his Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock in 1967, his MBA from Northwestern University in 1968, and his Juris Doctor from UA Little Rock in 1972. His professional career included leadership roles as Vice President and Manager of Republic Mortgage Company and as Chief Appraiser for the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation before founding his own ventures, including Ferstl Enterprises and Affiliated Appraisers of Arkansas.

In 1967, Tom Ferstl founded what would become Ferstl Valuation Services with a simple but powerful goal: to provide reliable, trustworthy, and certified real estate appraisal services. In 2000, his son, J.T. Ferstl joined the company. The father-son partnership established a legacy rooted in loyalty, respect, and pride in their work. Today, the firm stands as one of the oldest and largest full-service appraisal companies in Arkansas, known for tackling complex assignments and serving as trusted advisors across the region. Ferstl’s distinguished career includes numerous professional honors, reflecting a lifetime dedicated not only to business success, but to strengthening the profession for future generations.

Mark Saviers

Mark Saviers is one of the founders of Tempus Realty Partners. He has served as General Partner of Asset Strategies of Tempus since inception in 2016. Mark has 43 years of experience in developing, leasing, and acquiring office buildings, business parks, data centers, warehouses, and corporate headquarters/campuses. His extensive work in Arkansas, Texas, Louisiana, Tennessee, and Illinois with the Trammell Crow Company Myers and Crow & Saviers, Ltd., included acquiring and managing Westlake Corporate Park in west Little Rock, at that time a campus of six office buildings and about 30 acres of to-be-developed land. On one of those land parcels, Saviers led the team to develop a build-to-suit office building for Aegon Transamerica.

Saviers is one of three co-founders and a current board member of Cushman & Wakefield/Sage Partners, a commercial real estate firm with offices in Northwest Arkansas and Little Rock. He is the author of the book Flipped, which tells the story of how God helped his brother-in-law and partner of Sage, Tommy Van Zandt, survive and thrive after a tragic accident in 2009, and how faith, family, friends, and community came together to create triumph over tragedy. Saviers is married to his high school sweetheart, Vicki, and they are proud parents of two grown sons, Marshall (married to Beth) and John Mark (married to Melissa) and grandparents to four grandchildren. He enjoys fishing, hunting, and traveling with family and friends.

Past recipients of this award include Dickson Flake, Jimmy Moses, James Hathaway, Gus Vratsinas, Rick Ashley, John Flake, and Timothy Grooms.

Tickets are available at crecmlr.org/events. For more information contact info@crecmlr.org or 501-291-2210.

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Nominations open for Arkansas Women’s Hall of Fame

The Arkansas Women’s Hall of Fame is seeking nominations for the 2026 Induction Class.

The Hall was created to honor, in perpetuity, women whose contributions have influenced the direction of Arkansas in their community or the state.

Nominees are not limited to a certain field or accomplishment and can include pioneers, philanthropists, educators, entrepreneurs, athletes, artists, business leaders and political figures.

Nominations must be submitted by this Friday, March 6. Criteria and nomination forms can be found on the website at www.ARWomensHallofFame.com. The 2026 Induction Ceremony is scheduled for Thursday, Aug. 27 at the North Little Rock Event Center in the Centennial Bank Ballroom. Visitors to the website will find more information about the event and the hall’s past inductees.

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Sharon Kay Heflin

November 29, 1946 - February 26, 2026

Sharon Kay Windham Heflin, 79, went to be with her Savior on Thursday, February 26th, 2026, following a battle with Alzheimer’s. Born in Little Rock, Sharon was the only child of R.W. ‘’Windy’‘ Windham and Ruth Elizabeth Pillman Windham. After attending Little Rock Central High School and graduating in three years from Ouachita Baptist University, Sharon married her high school sweetheart, Johnny Heflin, in 1967. She joined Johnny in building the family’s Terminix franchise into a successful family business where she filled a variety of positions until her retirement in 2024.

As an active member of Second Baptist Church in downtown Little Rock for over 50 years Sharon served on multiple committees, was an ordained deacon, and an occasional Sunday School teacher. Alongside her faith and spending time with her family, Sharon was passionate about working with not-for-profits throughout central Arkansas. Providing vision and hands on leadership, she served on and/or chaired boards benefiting the Baptist Health Foundation, Alzheimer’s Arkansas, Argenta Community Theater, American Heart Association, Centers for Youth and Families, Thea Foundation, Gaines House, UA-PTC, AR Kids Read and many others. Sharon’s ability to connect with an organizations mission and find ways to accomplish their goals was a precious gift.

Sharon was preceded in death by her husband, Johnny, her parents Ruth and RW ‘’Windy’‘ Windham, her mother and father in law Lynn and Jay Heflin. She is survived by her sons, Jay (Andrea) Heflin and Marc (Billie) Heflin all of Little Rock, her grandchildren, Grace Heflin of West Hollywood, Calif., Ben Heflin, Lynn Heflin, and Anna Heflin all of Little Rock, her brother-in-law Dr. Boo (Mary) Heflin of Hot Springs Village, her nieces and nephew Judy (Mike) Malone of Arlington, Texas, Sherry Heflin of Mesquite, Texas, and David Heflin of Roanoke, Texas, along with several great and great-great nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, and in memory of Sharon’s genuine desire to help others, the family requests that any memorial gifts be made to an organization of your choice that focuses on lifting up others in our community.

Visitation is Second Baptist Church in Little Rock this Friday from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. The memorial service will follow at 2 p.m.

For more, click here.

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Sports

State tournament roundup

Compiled by Collin Scott

The good news for Maumelle is that the Hornets made the Class 5A state tournament at Farmington.

The bad news is that wasn’t a long trip as Benton defeated Maumelle, 76-55, on Tuesday night in the first round.

This was a rematch from last year’s state championship game, which was also won by Benton.

Maumelle ended the year 13-18 and were the No. 4 seed from the 5A-Central, while Benton, 23-5, was the No. 1 seed from the 5A-Couth.

Benton faces the winner of Greene County Tech and Mountain Home at 5:30 p.m. on Friday. The semifinals will be at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday.

Staying on the boys side, North Little Rock (14-10) lost to Bryant in the regular season finale.

Returning starters from last season are Kevon Smith, Dayvian Withers, Javon Dodson, Javen Ashford and Felix Wade with Smith being the best of the bunch.

North Little Rock is the No. 2 seed from the 6A-Central and will face Bentonville West at 8:30 p.m. tonight at Bryant High School.

Bentonville West is the No. 3 seed from the 6A-West and defeated Little Rock Southwest on Tuesday.

The winner of tonight’s game will face the winner of Springdale Har-Ber and Little Rock Central at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday in the semifinals.

On the girls side, North Little Rock (27-4) is the No. 1 seed from the 6A-Central and had a first-round bye as a result. The ‘Cats will face Fayetteville, the No. 4 seed from the 6A-West at 4 p.m. today at Bryant with the winner of that game facing the winner of Fort Smith Northside and Bentonville at 6 p.m. on Saturday in the semifinals.

Northside defeated North Little Rock, 57-53, on Saturday, Dec. 13 in Fort Smith’s Coke Classic, butDaryl Fimple’s bunch hasn’t lost since. North Little Rock’s best player is Katie Fimple, the coach’s daughter, and who has committed to Ouachita Baptist.

The state championship games start next week at Bank OZK Arena in Hot Springs.

For the girls regional and state tournament brackets, click here.

For the boys regional and state tournament brackets, click here.

To buy tickets for any of the above, click here.

State finals schedule set, will be televised

Arkansas TV will present the Class 6A-1A 2026 Centennial Bank High School Basketball State Championships live from Bank OZK Arena in Hot Springs beginning Thursday, March 12, in partnership with the AAA) Games will be broadcast statewide over the air, on cable and on satellite on Arkansas TV.

The Arkansas high school basketball state finals will air live at the following times:

• 1A girls – Thursday, March 12, at noon.

• 1A boys – Thursday, March 12, at 1:45 p.m.

• 2A girls – Thursday, March 12, at 6 p.m.

• 2A boys – Thursday, March 12, at 7:45 p.m.

• 3A girls – Friday, March 13, at noon.

• 3A boys – Friday, March 13, at 1:45 p.m.

• 4A girls – Friday, March 13, at 6 p.m.

• 4A boys – Friday, March 13, at 7:45 p.m.

• 5A girls – Saturday, March 14, at noon.

• 5A boys – Saturday, March 14, at 1:45 p.m.

• 6A girls – Saturday, March 14, at 6 p.m.

• 6A boys – Saturday, March 14, at 7:45 p.m.

Funding for Arkansas TV Sports is provided by the Electric Cooperatives of Arkansas, the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS), Image One. AAA’s sponsors for the state high school basketball finals, including Centennial Bank, Arkansas Farm Bureau and Everett Buick GMC.

Basketball schedules

Maumelle

Boys

• Friday, Feb. 27 ... vs ... Catholic ... 7 p.m.

Girls

• Friday, Feb. 27 ... vs ... Mount St. Mary Academy ... 6 p.m.

North Little Rock

Boys

• Thursday, Feb. 26 ... vs ... Cabot ... 7 p.m.

Girls

• Thursday, Feb. 26 ... vs ... Cabot ... 6 p.m.

Education news

Sparklight to award $30,000 for STEM education

Sparklight®, a leading fiber-fueled internet provider, is launching its 2026 “Dream Bigger” contest, awarding $30,000 to support science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education for K–12 students. Twelve winning schools or organizations will receive $2,500 each.

Through the annual contest, Sparklight aims to help educators bring hands-on STEM experiences into classrooms and learning environments, equipping K–12 students with skills that spark curiosity, problem-solving and new ideas.

Entries for the 2026 contest will be accepted now through March 10 at sparklight.com/contest. Finalists will be selected by Sparklight, and the 12 winners will be chosen through public voting from March 12 through March 18 at sparklight.com/contest.

Smart Driver class set

An AARP Smart Driver Class will be held at Maumelle Center on the Lake on March 10 from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.

It is open to AARP members & non-member, $20 for members, $25 for non-members, cash or check only. Some insurance companies will give a discount with completion of the class – check with your insurance agent. To register, call or text Ellie Wilson 501-247-5935.

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Health

Pandemic deaths unknown

The state Department of Health didn’t update the state’s dashboard this week, again, and deaths still total 532 for the past year. There’s no tab created for 2025 either and the virus has now killed 14,162 Arkansans since the pandemic began then. That would mean the pandemic death toll has now passed Marion’s 13,635 people, the state’s 29th largest city.

Covid toolkit

There’s now a one-stop shop to learn about vaccination sites and other Covid related information. Click here to learn more.

If you don’t want to get sick and die, there’s some things you can do:

• Get vaccinated

• Get boosted

• Wear a mask

• Avoid crowds

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Welcome to ArkansasNewsroom.com’s election night coverage.

8:15: Early vote is in

Early voting was released a little before 8 p.m. and for those results, click here.

There’s still a long way to go, but in races of North of the River interest, Questions 1 through 6 are all up while Question 7, for artificial turf, was down.

It was also the closest margin, about 7 percent, while the others are all up at least 10 percent.

Proposed bond issue

• Total: $34.26 million

• Question 1: Refunding 2018 bonds - $3.05M

• Question 2: Street improvements - $3.86M

• Question 3: Center on the Lake/Indoor pool - $5.39M

• Question 4: Public Safety Training facility - $5.19M

• Question 5: Fire station improvements - $8.45M

• Question 6: Lake Valencia improvements - $3.22M

• Question 7: Field turf for Parks & Rec - $5.1M

Legislative races

State Rep. Brandon Achor is currently leading the Republican primary for State Senate District 13 and in the much watched Special Election for State Representative District 70, Democrat Alex Holladay is beating Republican Bo Renshaw. This seat was made vacant when Carlton Wing resigned to run Arkansas PBS, which is now known as Arkansas TV and will no longer be affiliated with PBS.

County races

Judge Barry Hyde is losing to Wendell Griffen, while all the other incumbents are currently leading.

This will be updated during the night.

9:37: First round of Election Day votes land

Batch 1 of Election Day voting is in and there’s been 5,743 more ballots cast. Click here for those results.

Wendell Griffen has widened his lead in the Pulaski County Judge race but this batch of ballots isn’t from Maumelle and there’s been no change in the other races of interest.

Except the special election for State Representative District 70 as Democrat Alex Holladay widened his lead over Republican Bo Renshaw.

11:02 : Still waiting

Things are moving slow at the Pulaski County Election Commission as no new ballots have been counted for Election Day since that last update at 9:37 p.m.

So, welp, going to bed.. Will update in the morning, assuming more ballots have been counted.

7:28 a.m., Wednesday: As expected

Pulled the plug last night and, according to the time stamp, election results moved 10 minutes later. Click here for those results.

There will be more on Thursday morning, but, for now, Questions 1 through 6 all passed, so the sales tax extension is a go in Maumelle.

Question 7, the one for field turf, failed.

Pretty health turnout with 4,112 votes cast.

These results are not yet certified, and final numbers could change slightly. So all the usual caveats.

Question 1

• FOR 2,440 59.34%

• AGAINST 1,672 40.66%

• Total Votes Cast 4,112

Question 2

• FOR 2,861 69.97%

• AGAINST 1,228 30.03%

Question 3

• FOR 2,253 55.00%

• AGAINST 1,843 45.00%

Question 4

• FOR 2,252 55.41%

• AGAINST 1,812 44.59%

Question 5

• FOR 2,473 60.48%

• AGAINST 1,616 39.52%

Question 6

• FOR 2,234 54.86%

• AGAINST 1,838 45.14%

Question 7

• FOR 1,869 45.72%

• AGAINST 2,219 54.28%

Note to subscribers: An annual or monthly subscription is billed to your debit or credit card as ARKANSAS.SUBSTACK.COM and if you have questions, please email arkansas@substack.com. Thanks for reading and subscribing!

The Headlines

• MEETINGS: A special meeting of the North Little Rock School Board will meet at 5:30 p.m. tonight at the district’s administration building. The Maumelle Planning Commission will meet at 6:30 p.m. tonight and for more on that, keep scrolling. The Maumelle City Council will meet next Monday night at City Hall. All the meetings will be livestreamed on YouTube and the public is welcome at all of the above.

• EVENTS: Do you want to be in the movies? Of course you do. And here’s a chance, courtesy of Christen Pitts, the super fantastic drama and dance teacher at North Little Rock High School, and who is also helping to get the word out on casting for “King Snake” a film by Jeff Nichols, who was the one who brought “Mud” and Matthew McConaughey to Dumas. All right, all right, all right. Anyway, No McConaughey but among the stars will be Michael Shannon, who was the star in “Take Shelter” another of Nichols’s films but might be better known as Zod from the second-to-last Superman movies that starred Henry Cavill, and not the more current version of Superman, that came out last year. There’s some requirements for the first round as they’re looking for boys between the ages of 9 to 15. Apply online for that at www.theagencyinc.com/arkansas-casting/ and there will be other casting calls to come later this year, so stay tuned.

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Planning Commission to hear plans for Siena Ridge

The Maumelle Planning Commission will meet at 6:30 p.m. tonight at City Hall for its monthly meeting.

The agenda can be viewed by clicking here.

There’s only two items of business, both related, for the meeting.The first is a land use map amendment for Siena Ridge, 173 acres of property east of Odom Boulevard and west of Naylor Drive and Millwood Circle.

The second is a rezoning of Siena Ridge from R-1, T-2 and C-1 to PRD and PCD, or planned residential development and planned commercial development.

Siena Ridge is described in the Planning Commission packer as a “mixed-density planned community” and would include 120 apartments, 237 townhomes and 250 single-family lots. Most of the acreage is for residential, while 17 acres has been set aside “for neighborhood style commercial amenities.”

A rendering of the site map can be seen below.

The city’s planning department, in its review of the plans, gave it a “DO PASS Recommendation” when it goes to the City Council.

A public hearing is scheduled on the development before the start of the Planning Commission meeting. For more on that, keep reading.

One item of old business, a development plan for Country Club of Arkansas, has been deferred to the March meeting.

Public Hearing Notice

The Maumelle Planning Commission will hold a public hearing on Thursday, Feb. 26 at 6:30 p.m.. at City Hall to consider the rezoning from C-1, R-1 and R-2 to PRD and PCD, and to consider a land use change from COMM, SFD & MFD to SUC & SUR, for property located at East of Odom Boulevard, West of Naylor Dr. and Millwood Cir, and South of Ridgeview Trail. This hearing will precede the monthly Planning Commission meeting. An agenda for that meeting has not yet been released. For more, call 501-851-2500.

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Election Day is this Tuesday

Early voting has been lively, and will continue through this weekend at all polling places, then again on Monday at the Pulaski County Election Commission building in downtown Little Rock.

Election Day is next Tuesday, March 3 and on the mind of most of Maumelle, or at least those paying attention, which, admittedly, not most of Maumelle, is the ½ cent sales tax extension.

There’s seven questions on the ballot for Maumelle voters to choose from covering six different projects as well as the retirement of the current bond debt.

The city has held a series of town hall meetings, with the most recent being on Tuesday.

It covered Question 1, which is the retirement of the current bond debt and Questions 2 and 3 which were on street improvements and indoor pool at the Center on the Lake.

The meeting was livestreamed and to watch, click the title card below.

Not to get into the prediction business but to get into the prediction business it feels like Question 1 will pass, opening up the other bond issues, with the indoor pool and field turf for youth league ball fields the most likely to then be approved by voters.

These two bond issues have significant constituencies of support and all of whom have been quite vocal in their backing.

Generally speaking, at least with bond votes both in Maumelle and North Little Rock, public safety and fire station improvements are generally well supported. That leaves street improvements and Lake Valencia improvements remaining, and they seem the ones most likely to fail or be very close.

Some caveats, while it has been addressed – repeatedly – there’s still a perception that if , say, you support the indoor pool, then vote against the other bond issues, it would mean more money for the Center on the Lake project.

That is absolutely not the case. The amount of the bond is set to each project’s cost, and not a $34.26 million pot of money that could then be spent on just one project.

Also, before new bonds are issued, voters have to approve Question 1, which retires the previous debt and would then allow for new debt.

If you support one of the new bonds, you have to vote yes for Question 1.

Proposed bond issue

• Total: $34.26 million

• Question 1: Refunding 2018 bonds - $3.05M

• Question 2: Street improvements - $3.86M

• Question 3: Center on the Lake/Indoor pool - $5.39M

• Question 4: Public Safety Training facility - $5.19M

• Question 5: Fire station improvements - $8.45M

• Question 6: Lake Valencia improvements - $3.22M

• Question 7: Field turf for Parks & Rec - $5.1M

How much money?

• The city’s ½ cent sales tax brings in approximately $1.8 million annually and if the all seven questions were to pass, it would take about 20 years to pay off.

Election Calendar

• Early Voting Dates: Now through March 2

• Early Voting Hours: 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday – Friday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturdays and 8 a.m to -5 p.m. on Monday March 2.

• March 3: Preferential Primary Election/Annual School Election/Nonpartisan Judicial General Election

If a runoff is needed in the primary, it will be March 31

Early Voting Locations

• Pulaski County Regional Building, 501 West Markham, Little Rock

• Sue Cowan Williams Library, 1800 S. Chester St.

• Dee Brown Library, 6325 Baseline Road, Little Rock

• Thompson Library, 38 Rahling Circle, Little Rock

• William F Laman Public Library, 2801 Orange St., NorthLittle Rock

• Jacksonville Community Center, 5 Municipal Drive, Jacksonville

• Jess Odom Community Center, 1100 Edgewood Drive, Maumelle

• First Christian Church of Sherwood, 2803 E. Kiehl Ave., Sherwood

• McMath Library, 2100 John Barrow Road, Little Rock

• Hillary Clinton Children’s Library, 4800 W. 10th St., Little Rock

• John Gould Fletcher Library, 823 N. Buchanan St., Little Rock

• Terry Library, 2015 Napa Valley Drive, Little Rock

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Nominations open for Arkansas Women’s Hall of Fame

The Arkansas Women’s Hall of Fame is seeking nominations for the 2026 Induction Class.

The Hall was created to honor, in perpetuity, women whose contributions have influenced the direction of Arkansas in their community or the state.

Nominees are not limited to a certain field or accomplishment and can include pioneers, philanthropists, educators, entrepreneurs, athletes, artists, business leaders and political figures.

Nominations must be submitted by next Friday, March 6. Criteria and nomination forms can be found on the website at www.ARWomensHallofFame.com. The 2026 Induction Ceremony is scheduled for Thursday, Aug. 27 at the North Little Rock Event Center in the Centennial Bank Ballroom. Visitors to the website will find more information about the event and the hall’s past inductees.

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Sports

Basketball post season

For the girls regional and state tournament brackets, click here.

For the boys regional and state tournament brackets, click here.

To buy tickets for any of the above, click here.

State finals schedule set, will be televised

Arkansas TV will present the Class 6A-1A 2026 Centennial Bank High School Basketball State Championships live from Bank OZK Arena in Hot Springs beginning Thursday, March 12, in partnership with the AAA) Games will be broadcast statewide over the air, on cable and on satellite on Arkansas TV.

The Arkansas high school basketball state finals will air live at the following times:

• 1A girls – Thursday, March 12, at noon.

• 1A boys – Thursday, March 12, at 1:45 p.m.

• 2A girls – Thursday, March 12, at 6 p.m.

• 2A boys – Thursday, March 12, at 7:45 p.m.

• 3A girls – Friday, March 13, at noon.

• 3A boys – Friday, March 13, at 1:45 p.m.

• 4A girls – Friday, March 13, at 6 p.m.

• 4A boys – Friday, March 13, at 7:45 p.m.

• 5A girls – Saturday, March 14, at noon.

• 5A boys – Saturday, March 14, at 1:45 p.m.

• 6A girls – Saturday, March 14, at 6 p.m.

• 6A boys – Saturday, March 14, at 7:45 p.m.

Funding for Arkansas TV Sports is provided by the Electric Cooperatives of Arkansas, the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS), Image One. AAA’s sponsors for the state high school basketball finals, including Centennial Bank, Arkansas Farm Bureau and Everett Buick GMC.

Basketball schedules

Maumelle

Boys

• Friday, Feb. 27 ... vs ... Catholic ... 7 p.m.

Girls

• Friday, Feb. 27 ... vs ... Mount St. Mary Academy ... 6 p.m.

North Little Rock

Boys

• Thursday, Feb. 26 ... vs ... Cabot ... 7 p.m.

Girls

• Thursday, Feb. 26 ... vs ... Cabot ... 6 p.m.

Education news

UA Little Rock names Fall 2025 Chancellor’s List

UA Little Rock announces its Fall 2025 Chancellor’s List, recognizing students with superior academic performance in a semester.

To be eligible for the Chancellor’s List, students must earn at least nine credit hours and at least a 3.9 GPA.

North of the River students named include:

• Shantay Ross of Maumelle

• Noah Browning of Maumelle

• David Fong of Maumelle

• Ayan Huda of Maumelle

• Brandon Nichols of Maumelle

• Karen Johnson of Maumelle

• David Pearson of Maumelle

• Dilasa Yaman of Maumelle

• Conner Callaway of Maumelle

• Justin Chadwick of Maumelle

• Emily Schade of Maumelle

• Leila Scroggins of Maumelle

• Joshua Fong of Maumelle

• Morgan Mincer of Maumelle

• Aliyah Smith of Maumelle

• Tayla Twisdale of Maumelle

• CheDaidre Jones of North Little Rock

• Sarah Coile of Sherwood

• Audriana Luckett of North Little Rock

• Kyle Morrison of Sherwood

• Jame’cia Belle of North Little Rock

• Cassie Butler of North Little Rock

• Maitlyn Harrison of Sherwood

• Sydney Davidson of Sherwood

• Jack Seabaugh of North Little Rock

• Sarah Brackenbury of North Little Rock

• Lillian Green of North Little Rock

• Nathan Hughes of North Little Rock

• John Kinder of North Little Rock

• Diego Esquivel of Sherwood

• Karson Jerry of Sherwood

• Leianna King of North Little Rock

• Teecumpsy Wiggins of North Little Rock

• Shamar Evans of North Little Rock

• Mallari Jordan of Sherwood

• Christopher Scott of North Little Rock

• Axton Tackett of North Little Rock

• Bridget Davenport of Sherwood

• Maci Aldrich of North Little Rock

• Megan Berry of Sherwood

• Anna Burr of North Little Rock

• Michael Gruenwald of North Little Rock

• Nyla Harris of North Little Rock

• Jared Holt of North Little Rock

• Maria Lambdin of Sherwood

• Hope Lybrand of Sherwood

• Willard Moore of North Little Rock

• Peyton Perks of North Little Rock

• Sarah Roden of North Little Rock

• Paris Shipman of Sherwood

• Manvinder Singh of North Little Rock

• Emma Thomas of North Little Rock

• Tykirra Warren of Sherwood

• Grace Wilson of North Little Rock

• Kristine Christopher of Sherwood

• Ulonda Evans of North Little Rock

• Shantaya Jones-Bryan of Sherwood

• Loralea Broderick of Sherwood

• Tyra Abston of Sherwood

• Aidan Carrell of Sherwood

• Kendra Degarmo of Sherwood

• Kai Flenders of Sherwood

• Nina Hale of North Little Rock

• Alan Ingram of North Little Rock

• Abigail Moussa of North Little Rock

• Dayna Thomas of North Little Rock

• Desiree Williams of Sherwood

• Cody Snow of Sherwood

• Katrina Beaver of North Little Rock

• Brody Bunting of Sherwood

• Katelynn Burdiek of Sherwood

• Jacob Delashaw of North Little Rock

• Loresa Dion of Sherwood

• Kyo Dong of North Little Rock

• Lindsey Eidt of North Little Rock

• Nehir Eker of North Little Rock

• Brandon Gonzalez of North Little Rock

• Bethanie Gourley of North Little Rock

• Addison Grogan of Sherwood

• Tamara Harris of North Little Rock

• Ethan Herndon of Sherwood

• Nathanael Hicks of North Little Rock

• Isabella Keaton of North Little Rock

• Thanh Le of Sherwood

• Mariane Shiechyll Maniago of Sherwood

• Graham Martin of North Little Rock

• JaLisa Martin of Sherwood

• Allison Mercer of North Little Rock

• Annalyse Miles of North Little Rock

• Paul Piechocki of Sherwood

• Jonathan Satterwhite of North Little Rock

• Abigail Steele of Sherwood

• Ngoc Tuyet T Tran of Sherwood

• Sherika Williams of North Little Rock

• Judyth Woods of North Little Rock

• Cory Wright of North Little Rock

• Ashley Wyatt of Sherwood

UA Little Rock names Fall 2025 Dean’s List: The University of Arkansas at Little Rock has announced the list of students who have been named to the Dean’s List for the Fall 2025 semester.

The Dean’s List recognized over 1,900 students with superior academic performances at the end of the semester.

To be on the Dean’s List, UA Little Rock students must earn at least nine credit hours and maintain at least a 3.5 GPA.

North of the River students who made the Dean’s List include:

• Imani Haynes of Maumelle

• Jeremiah Jackson of Maumelle

• April Sherwin of Maumelle

• Shantay Ross of Maumelle

• Logan Scheiderer of Maumelle

• Noah Browning of Maumelle

• Jacob Zabala of Maumelle

• David Fong of Maumelle

• Zachary Harrison of Maumelle

• Ayan Huda of Maumelle

• KAROLINE PUTNAM of Maumelle

• Jacob Blackburn of Maumelle

• Peyton Johnson of Maumelle

• Brandon Nichols of Maumelle

• Elisha Robinson of Maumelle

• Conner Ralls of Maumelle

• Isaac Fredricks of Maumelle

• Isabella Immel of Maumelle

• Karen Johnson of Maumelle

• David Pearson of Maumelle

• Hayden Phillips of Maumelle

• Lydia Thomas of Maumelle

• Stephona Williams of Maumelle

• Dilasa Yaman of Maumelle

• Conner Callaway of Maumelle

• Mayonna Bizzell of Maumelle

• Justin Chadwick of Maumelle

• Cynthia Diaz of Maumelle

• Ashlynn Maxwell of Maumelle

• Natalie Moore of Maumelle

• Kylie Wall of Maumelle

• Emily Schade of Maumelle

• Leila Scroggins of Maumelle

• Ahmed Ahmed of Maumelle

• Kristi Bryant of Maumelle

• Charles Carlisle of Maumelle

• Katherine Ervin of Maumelle

• Lane Evans of Maumelle

• Joshua Fong of Maumelle

• Michael Gasper of Maumelle

• LaToniah Harton of Maumelle

• Cameron Johnson of Maumelle

• Seneve Lihono of Maumelle

• Morgan Mincer of Maumelle

• Anna Price of Maumelle

• Batoul Saleh of Maumelle

• Anyston Singleton of Maumelle

• Aliyah Smith of Maumelle

• Tracie Stenhouse Wicker of Maumelle

• Tayla Twisdale of Maumelle

• Jasmine Vazkez of Maumelle

• Dal’Asia Whorton of Maumelle

• Virginia Singleton of North Little Rock

• CheDaidre Jones of North Little Rock

• Sarah Coile of Sherwood

• Ashley Beach of Sherwood

• Audriana Luckett of North Little Rock

• Kyle Morrison of Sherwood

• Terrika Smith of North Little Rock

• Jame’cia Belle of North Little Rock

• Cassie Butler of North Little Rock

• Maitlyn Harrison of Sherwood

• Sydney Davidson of Sherwood

• Jack Seabaugh of North Little Rock

• Chloe Brawley of Sherwood

• Anastasia Aldridge of North Little Rock

• Sarah Brackenbury of North Little Rock

• Teaira Evans of North Little Rock

• Lillian Green of North Little Rock

• Nathan Hughes of North Little Rock

• Khaliah Keith of North Little Rock

• John Kinder of North Little Rock

• Alaina Schingler of North Little Rock

• Denzel Saucedo of Sherwood

• Reana Dixon of North Little Rock

• Diego Esquivel of Sherwood

• Karson Jerry of Sherwood

• Diana Johnson of Sherwood

• Arianna Kegler of Sherwood

• Leianna King of North Little Rock

• Dajany Ramos-Cano of North Little Rock

• Sukhbir Singh of Sherwood

• Kiralynn Stigall of Sherwood

• Teecumpsy Wiggins of North Little Rock

• Shamar Evans of North Little Rock

• Mallari Jordan of Sherwood

• Kaleb Hatley of North Little Rock

• Martia Donahue of Sherwood

• Winnie Li of North Little Rock

• Micheal Richter of North Little Rock

• Miya Fillmore of North Little Rock

• Juquray Carter of North Little Rock

• Shane Dreher of Sherwood

• Starlesha Riley of Sherwood

• Christopher Scott of North Little Rock

• Axton Tackett of North Little Rock

• Ana Sofia Villegas of Sherwood

• Bridget Davenport of Sherwood

• Stefan Jacquot of North Little Rock

• Ashley Lopez of North Little Rock

• Johnathan Parks of North Little Rock

• Jamal Hockaday of Sherwood

• Tugba Agdas of North Little Rock

• Maci Aldrich of North Little Rock

• Kylie Belverstone of Sherwood

• Megan Berry of Sherwood

• Chloe Brown of Sherwood

• Ja’nyia Burks of North Little Rock

• Julie Burns of Sherwood

• Anna Burr of North Little Rock

• Carlee Felty of Sherwood

• Michael Gruenwald of North Little Rock

• Nyla Harris of North Little Rock

• Jared Holt of North Little Rock

• Maria Lambdin of Sherwood

• Justin Le of North Little Rock

• Hope Lybrand of Sherwood

• Willard Moore of North Little Rock

• Peyton Perks of North Little Rock

• Sarea Pitts of Sherwood

• Jesse Reed of North Little Rock

• Sarah Roden of North Little Rock

• Paris Shipman of Sherwood

• Manvinder Singh of North Little Rock

• Emma Thomas of North Little Rock

• Tykirra Warren of Sherwood

• Maisen White of North Little Rock

• Grace Wilson of North Little Rock

• Kristine Christopher of Sherwood

• Ulonda Evans of North Little Rock

• Shantaya Jones-Bryan of Sherwood

• Cheryl Thomas of North Little Rock

• Luke Walther of North Little Rock

• Loralea Broderick of Sherwood

• Tyra Abston of Sherwood

• Bayan Aysheh of Sherwood

• Maddux Bowen of Sherwood

• Stephanie Carballido of North Little Rock

• Aidan Carrell of Sherwood

• Lauren Cavnor of North Little Rock

• Kendra Degarmo of Sherwood

• Kai Flenders of Sherwood

• Nina Hale of North Little Rock

• Alan Ingram of North Little Rock

• Prabhjot Kaur of Sherwood

• Melissa Mathis of North Little Rock

• Abigail Moussa of North Little Rock

• Mya Ragland of North Little Rock

• Dayna Thomas of North Little Rock

• Desiree Williams of Sherwood

• Cody Snow of Sherwood

• Keyara Anderson of North Little Rock

• Ayden Bauman of North Little Rock

• Katrina Beaver of North Little Rock

• Lauren Bowser of North Little Rock

• Allen Brown of North Little Rock

• Kyle Brown of North Little Rock

• Brody Bunting of Sherwood

• Katelynn Burdiek of Sherwood

• Tearra Burnett of North Little Rock

• Shatara Conway of Sherwood

• Carter Coven of North Little Rock

• Patricia Cowan of Sherwood

• Dekoda Davis of North Little Rock

• Jacob Delashaw of North Little Rock

• Loresa Dion of Sherwood

• Christian Dominguez of North Little Rock

• Kyo Dong of North Little Rock

• Lindsey Eidt of North Little Rock

• Nehir Eker of North Little Rock

• Annalisa Elrey of North Little Rock

• Emma Emery of North Little Rock

• Hayden Eoff of North Little Rock

• Monica Esquivel of North Little Rock

• Caleb Farmer of North Little Rock

• Brandon Gonzalez of North Little Rock

• Bethanie Gourley of North Little Rock

• Addison Grogan of Sherwood

• Tamara Harris of North Little Rock

• Travis Haskin of North Little Rock

• Sydnee Haynes of North Little Rock

• Cecilia Henderson of North Little Rock

• Ethan Herndon of Sherwood

• Nathanael Hicks of North Little Rock

• Yolanda Holmes of North Little Rock

• Joshua Hunter of North Little Rock

• Isabella Keaton of North Little Rock

• Kassidy Lane of North Little Rock

• Thanh Le of Sherwood

• Grant Lewis of Sherwood

• Huy Luong of North Little Rock

• Mariane Shiechyll Maniago of Sherwood

• Graham Martin of North Little Rock

• JaLisa Martin of Sherwood

• Fernanda Martinez Lopez of North Little Rock

• Allison Mercer of North Little Rock

• Annalyse Miles of North Little Rock

• Austin Miller of Sherwood

• Olivia Molitor of North Little Rock

• Wyatt Niemotka of Sherwood

• Grace Pamudja of Sherwood

• Alex Paramo of North Little Rock

• Paul Piechocki of Sherwood

• Sydney Plaquet of North Little Rock

• Marcus Reams of Sherwood

• Latasha Reyes of Sherwood

• Montoyia Richard of North Little Rock

• Jonathan Satterwhite of North Little Rock

• Cameron Sharp of Sherwood

• Christopher Simpson of North Little Rock

• Gavin Smith of North Little Rock

• Monica Soria of North Little Rock

• Jessica Stahulak of Sherwood

• Abigail Steele of Sherwood

• Victoria Stewart of Sherwood

• Emma Strickland of North Little Rock

• Julio Torrez of North Little Rock

• Ngoc Tuyet T Tran of Sherwood

• Ashlee Walker of North Little Rock

• Umeko Watson of North Little Rock

• Akilah Wedderburn of Sherwood

• Nicole Wells of North Little Rock

• Delvis Williams of North Little Rock

• Sherika Williams of North Little Rock

• Skye Wilson of Sherwood

• Alesha Winter of Sherwood

• Judyth Woods of North Little Rock

• Cory Wright of North Little Rock

• Ashley Wyatt of Sherwood

NOTE: Coming next week, University of Arkansas academic honors and graduates, the following week will be out-of-state college and university honorees and graduates.,

Sparklight to award $30,000 for STEM education

Sparklight®, a leading fiber-fueled internet provider, is launching its 2026 “Dream Bigger” contest, awarding $30,000 to support science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education for K–12 students. Twelve winning schools or organizations will receive $2,500 each.

Through the annual contest, Sparklight aims to help educators bring hands-on STEM experiences into classrooms and learning environments, equipping K–12 students with skills that spark curiosity, problem-solving and new ideas.

Entries for the 2026 contest will be accepted fnowthrough March 10 at sparklight.com/contest. Finalists will be selected by Sparklight, and the 12 winners will be chosen through public voting from March 12 through March 18 at sparklight.com/contest.

Smart Driver class set

An AARP Smart Driver Class will be held at Maumelle Center on the Lake on March 10 from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.

It is open to AARP members & non-member, $20 for members, $25 for non-members, cash or check only. Some insurance companies will give a discount with completion of the class – check with your insurance agent. To register, call or text Ellie Wilson 501-247-5935.

Subscribe if you like, pay if you can

Health

Pandemic deaths unknown

The state Department of Health didn’t update the state’s dashboard this week, again, and deaths still total 532 for the past year. There’s no tab created for 2025 either and the virus has now killed 14,162 Arkansans since the pandemic began then. That would mean the pandemic death toll has now passed Marion’s 13,635 people, the state’s 29th largest city.

Covid toolkit

There’s now a one-stop shop to learn about vaccination sites and other Covid related information. Click here to learn more.

If you don’t want to get sick and die, there’s some things you can do:

• Get vaccinated

• Get boosted

• Wear a mask

• Avoid crowds

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The Headlines

• MEETINGS: A regular meeting of the North Little Rock School Board will meet at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday at the district’s administration building. The North Little Rock City Council will meet next Monday night at City Hall. Both meetings will be livestreamed on YouTube and the public is welcome at both. There’s several upcoming meetings for the sales tax extension in Maumelle and for more, keep scrolling.

• EVENTS: Today is Ash Wednesday and since we’ve got some churching to do tonight, you’re getting a very special early edition. Monday was Presidents Day, so trash and recycling are running one-day delayed this week. There’s much more coming up, so, as always, keep scrolling.

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Vote!

Early voting started on Tuesday, and will continue through March 2. Election Day is Tuesday, March 3.

While there’s some races of interest for North of the River, the thing catching the most buzz is the proposed extension of the 1/2 cent sales tax in Maumelle.

There will be a total of seven questions on the ballot for Maumelle voters to choose from covering six different projects as well as the retirement of the current bond debt.

The next Town Hall is this coming Tuesday at Maumelle Charter Middle School. and it should be a lively meeting as the proposed indoor pool at the Center on the Lake will be discussed.

Proposed bond issue

• Total: $34.26 million

• Question 1: Refunding 2018 bonds - $3.05M

• Question 2: Street improvements - $3.86M

• Question 3: Center on the Lake/Indoor pool - $5.39M

• Question 4: Public Safety Training facility - $5.19M

• Question 5: Fire station improvements - $8.45M

• Question 6: Lake Valencia improvements - $3.22M

• Question 7: Field turf for Parks & Rec - $5.1M

How much money?

• The city’s ½ cent sales tax brings in approximately $1.8 million annually and if the all seven questions were to pass, it would take about 20 years to pay off.

Upcoming meetings

• Tuesday, Feb. 24: 6 p.m. at Maumelle Charter Middle School | Public Meeting to discuss Bond Questions 1, 2 and 3

• Civic Group discussions are also planned for the Maumelle Rotary Club, Maumelle Industrial Roundtable, Maumelle Fraternal Order of Police, Maumelle Fire Fighters Association, Maumelle Community Partners and the Maumelle Area Chamber of Commerce Board

Election Calendar

• Early Voting Dates: Now through March 2

• Early Voting Hours: 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday – Friday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturdays and 8 a.m to -5 p.m. on Monday March 2.

• March 3: Preferential Primary Election/Annual School Election/Nonpartisan Judicial General Election

If a runoff is needed in the primary, it will be March 31

Early Voting Locations

• Pulaski County Regional Building, 501 West Markham, Little Rock

• Sue Cowan Williams Library, 1800 S. Chester St.

• Dee Brown Library, 6325 Baseline Road, Little Rock

• Thompson Library, 38 Rahling Circle, Little Rock

• William F Laman Public Library, 2801 Orange St., NorthLittle Rock

• Jacksonville Community Center, 5 Municipal Drive, Jacksonville

• Jess Odom Community Center, 1100 Edgewood Drive, Maumelle

• First Christian Church of Sherwood, 2803 E. Kiehl Ave., Sherwood

• McMath Library, 2100 John Barrow Road, Little Rock

• Hillary Clinton Children’s Library, 4800 W. 10th St., Little Rock

• John Gould Fletcher Library, 823 N. Buchanan St., Little Rock

• Terry Library, 2015 Napa Valley Drive, Little Rock

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Casino Night is Thursday night

The Maumelle Area Chamber of Commerce’s Casino Night has been rescheduled and will now be thisThursday, Feb. 19, and will start at 6 p.m. It will still be at the Maumelle Event Center and to register click here. Also check out the flyer below for more information.

State of the City

The Maumelle Area Chamber of Commerce and the city of Maumelle will be having an event at the Maumelle Country Club on Monday, Feb. 23 and the State of the City will be delivered by Mayor Caleb Norris.

The event is scheduled to start at 5 p.m. and last until 7 p.m.

Presenting sponsors are: Alessi Keyes Construction, First Service Bank, Holloway Engineering, Surveying & Civil Design, Maumelle Country Club, MidArk Insurance Group- Waylon Biggs Agency and The City of Maumelle.

For more, click the flyer below or here to register.

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Public Hearing Notice

The Maumelle Planning Commission will hold a public hearing on Thursday, Feb. 26 at 6:30 p.m.. at City Hall to consider the rezoning from C-1, R-1 and R-2 to PRD and PCD, and to consider a land use change from COMM, SFD & MFD to SUC & SUR, for property located at East of Odom Boulevard, West of Naylor Dr. and Millwood Cir, and South of Ridgeview Trail. This hearing will precede the monthly Planning Commission meeting. An agenda for that meeting has not yet been released. For more, call 501-851-2500.

Nominations open for Arkansas Women’s Hall of Fame

The Arkansas Women’s Hall of Fame is seeking nominations for the 2026 Induction Class.

The Hall was created to honor, in perpetuity, women whose contributions have influenced the direction of Arkansas in their community or the state.

Nominees are not limited to a certain field or accomplishment and can include pioneers, philanthropists, educators, entrepreneurs, athletes, artists, business leaders and political figures.

Nominations must be submitted by Friday, March 6, 2026. Criteria and nomination forms can be found on the website at www.ARWomensHallofFame.com. The 2026 Induction Ceremony is scheduled for Thursday, Aug. 27 at the North Little Rock Event Center in the Centennial Bank Ballroom. Visitors to the website will find more information about the event and the hall’s past inductees.

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Education news

Maumelle’s Reynolds works for ESPN

Colin Reynolds, who attends the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater and is of Maumelle, was one of more than a dozen students who helped with the Division III school’s game broadcasts on ESPN.

Reynolds, above, who graduated from LISA Academy West in 2022 and also interned with KARK-TV and the Arkansas Travelers last summer, worked the production for ESPN’s halftime show during the D-III football playoffs, seen below.

Wisconsin-Whitewater is a public school and has an enrollment of around 11,000 students. It also operates UWW-TV, which broadcasts around 60 games and other events on campus during the school year. They also assist ESPN when the network broadcasts a game there as part of the ESPN+ streaming service.

For more information on UWW-TV, visit uwwtv.org.

Telcoe Federal Credit Union to have event at Maumelle High School

Telcoe Federal Credit Union, in partnership with Pulaski County Special School District, is hosting a Financial Reality Fair at Maumelle High School this week.

The event will be Friday, Feb. 20, and is scheduled to start at 9 a.m. It will be held in the high school’s auxiliary gym.

The reality fairs provide students with hands-on experience at making real-life financial decisions, equipping them with essential money management skills as they prepare for adulthood.

Another Reality Fair will be held at Robinson High School in March while an event at Sylvan Hills was postponed due to the wintry weather and will now be held in March, with that date still to be determined.

During the fair, students receive an entry-level salary for a career of interest then navigate through a series of interactive booths. Booths will feature realistic pricing options, allowing students to determine how much they were willing to allocate for each expense, reinforcing the importance of budgeting and financial planning.

Participants will face decisions such as choosing between renting an apartment or buying a home, selecting a vehicle, and estimating costs for utilities and insurance. They will also explore options for entertainment, discretionary spending, and investments, encouraging them to think critically about their financial priorities.

Each booth will be staffed by volunteers from various businesses throughout central Arkansas.

Visit www.telcoe.com to learn more.

Charter school space gets a little more crowded

The Arkansas Outdoor Academy recently announced that it will be launching as a tuition-free public charter school in Little Rock and will open this fall, serving grades 6 through 9 with additional grades being added until 2030, when the school will serve the high school class years of Sophomore through Senior,.

The school will be located in Little Rock’s Riverdale neighborhood and is described as a blend of “rigorous, state aligned academics with hands-on instruction designed to engage students through movement, exploration, and real-world application.”

The school said, “core subjects are intentionally taught both indoors and outdoors, with approximately half of instruction planned in real-world environments.”

“Students learn best when learning feels connected and meaningful,” said Christopher Horton, co-founder of Arkansas Outdoor Academy, in a release. “This school was created for students whose strengths are not always visible in traditional classroom settings. When learning is active and grounded in real environments, students gain confidence and engagement increases.”

Other co-founders include Teal Lovelady, and Sharon Bennett. All have extensive experience in education.

Applications are now open for students entering grades 6 through 9 for the Fall 2026 school year. Families can learn more and apply at https://www.arkansasoutdooracademy.org.

UCA names December 2025 graduates

The University of Central Arkansas held December commencement ceremonies on Dec. 11-12, in the Farris Center on campus, conferring approximately 700 undergraduate and graduate degrees and certificates from the College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences; College of Business; College of Education; College of Health and Behavioral Sciences; College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics; and the Graduate School.

North of the River graduates include:

• William McDonald of Maumelle graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Writing/Rhetoric/Information Design.

• Kynia Jackson of Maumelle graduated with a Bachelor of Business Administration in Marketing.

• Frederick Sharkey of Maumelle graduated with a Bachelor of Business Administration in Innovation & Entrepreneurship.

• Kaylee Munnerlyn of Maumelle graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Education in Elementary Education K-6.

• Camryn Joyner of Maumelle graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science.

• Tanner Wenger of Maumelle graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Interior Design.

• Chacall Charles of Maumelle graduated with a Master of Science in Health Promotion.

• Megan Heaton of Maumelle graduated with a Graduate Certificate in Dyslexia.

• Zoe McMillen of Maumelle graduated with a Bachelor of Business Administration in Innovation & Entrepreneurship.

• Ennsleigh Levengood of Maumelle graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology.

• Scott McFarland of Maumelle graduated with a Master of Business Administration in Business Administration.

• Henry Lea of Maumelle graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in History.

• Taylor Sherrill of Sherwood graduated with a Master of Arts in Teaching in Teaching.

• Hayley Turner of North Little Rock graduated with a Master of Science in Library Media/Information Technology.

• Dalonia Jenkins of North Little Rock graduated with a Master of Science in School Leadership Management & Administration.

• Madyson Bowman of Sherwood graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences.

• Emma Rhodes of Sherwood graduated with a Master of Business Administration in Business Administration.

• Elizabeth Colburn of Sherwood graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Art.

• Savannah Crow of Sherwood graduated with a Certificate of Proficiency in Historic Preservation.

• Arriana Teem of North Little Rock graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Linguistics.

• Carlos Campanur of North Little Rock graduated with a Bachelor of Music Education in Music Education.

• Regina Flud of North Little Rock graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Addiction Studies.

• Kennedi Carroll of Sherwood graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology.

• Peyton Davis of North Little Rock graduated with a Bachelor of Business Administration in Insurance & Risk Management.

• Zach Rushin of Sherwood graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism.

• Brooklynn Parker of North Little Rock graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Family and Consumer Science.

• Deneka White of North Little Rock graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Family and Consumer Science.

• Jiya Adams of North Little Rock graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity Management.

• Taylor McFelson of North Little Rock graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Education in Middle Level Education.

• Olivia Cooksey of Sherwood graduated with a Master of Arts in Teaching in Teaching.

• Sarah Crouch of North Little Rock graduated with a Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing.

• Lauren Darr of North Little Rock graduated with a Master of Arts in Teaching in Special Education.

• Paul McCowan of North Little Rock graduated with a Doctor of Philosophy in Change Leadership.

• Abby Moore of North Little Rock graduated with a Master of Science in Mental Health Counseling.

• Diana Pontalti Giordani of North Little Rock graduated with a Master of Business Administration in Business Administration.

• Kathryn Ferguson of Sherwood graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science.

• McKenzie Hubbard of Little Rock graduated with an Associate of Arts in General Studies.

• Jalin Smith of North Little Rock graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Exercise Science.

• Dasha Young of North Little Rock graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry.

University of Central Arkansas Fall 2025 Dean’s List

The University of Central Arkansas congratulates more than 1,600 students who were named to the fall 2025 Dean’s List.

North of the River students include:

• William McDonald of Maumelle.

• James Joyner of Maumelle.

• Kynia Jackson of Maumelle.

• Emma Williams of Maumelle.

• Malingo Matute of Maumelle.

• Reilly McCann of Maumelle.

• Noah Johnson of Maumelle.

• Anya Willis of Maumelle.

• Morgan Harrison of Maumelle.

• Samuel Schimmel of Maumelle.

• Canyon Fosburgh of Maumelle.

• Jadan Moore of Maumelle.

• Hannah Dickinson of Maumelle.

• Elizabeth Roy of Maumelle.

• Neela Vint of Maumelle.

• Andrew Carrington of Maumelle.

• Zoe McMillen of Maumelle.

• Natalie Wood-Carden of Maumelle.

• Mitchell Davis of Maumelle.

• Emery Kelley of Maumelle.

• Jancey Turner of Maumelle.

• Olivia Jackson of Maumelle.

• Cambria Tedrow of Maumelle.

• Ennsleigh Levengood of Maumelle.

• Ayda Lovett of Maumelle.

• Richard Vong of Maumelle.

• Ashton Whittington of North Little Rock.

• Jacob Barham of Sherwood.

• Savannah Crow of Sherwood.

• Grayce Nelson of North Little Rock.

• Julian Strain of North Little Rock.

• Piper Chun of North Little Rock.

• Hailey Richardson of North Little Rock.

• Mary Coleman of Sherwood.

• Madeline Koger of Prescott.

• Abbie Killingsworth of North Little Rock.

• Faith Maynard of Sherwood.

• Emily Phifer of North Little Rock.

• Azriel Woolfolk of Sherwood.

• William Brown of North Little Rock.

• Desean Williams of North Little Rock.

• Eleanor Blakely of Sherwood.

• Cydney Davis of North Little Rock.

• Jayce Horton of Sherwood.

• Hannah Hughes of North Little Rock.

• Madison Hurst of North Little Rock.

• Zaria Montgomery of Sherwood.

• Micah Smith of Sherwood.

• David Hussey of North Little Rock.

• Addison Pettit of Sherwood.

• Lillian Roberts of North Little Rock.

• Brenae Allen of North Little Rock.

• Madison Bailey of Sherwood.

• Courtney Baker of North Little Rock.

• Alana Clark of Sherwood.

• Marlie Dedmon of Sherwood.

• Rylee Ellis of Sherwood.

• Olivia Jones of North Little Rock.

• Brooklynn Parker of North Little Rock.

• Jacob Silva of North Little Rock.

• Braum Smith of Sherwood.

• Caleb Stafford of Sherwood.

• Deneka White of North Little Rock.

• Katelynn Lee of North Little Rock.

• Myron Nix of North Little Rock.

• Jaydon Nobles of North Little Rock.

• Hudson Phillips of Sherwood.

• Traven Spencer of North Little Rock.

• Keziah Stinyard of Sherwood.

• Hanah Whitener of North Little Rock.

• Jace Wooten of North Little Rock.

• Macayla Chandler of Sherwood.

• Briana Chatman of Sherwood.

• Sharlotte Kim Lua of Sherwood.

• Jet Van Cleve of Sherwood.

• Alexis Weeks of Sherwood.

• Brasen Winchell of North Little Rock.

• Mikhyla Hart of North Little Rock.

• Murphy Smith of North Little Rock.

• Vanasia Perry of Sherwood.

• Beatrice Baker of North Little Rock.

• Sara Jones of Sherwood.

• Jack Runsick of North Little Rock.

• Joevon Banister of North Little Rock.

• Emma Eaton of North Little Rock.

• Addelynn Rose of North Little Rock.

• Abby Lee of North Little Rock.

• Graham Melton of North Little Rock.

• Yuvraj Singh of Sherwood.

• Love Quenga of North Little Rock.

• Mary Leonard of Sherwood.

• Julus Norris of North Little Rock.

• Alexa Okpala of Sherwood.

• Kaley Jordan of Sherwood.

• Joanna Price of North Little Rock.

• Kiley Reyes of North Little Rock.

• Elizabeth Hankins of Sherwood.

• Da’Mya Batemon of Sherwood.

• Nia Bell of Sherwood.

• Avery Bilon of Sherwood.

• Landon Carter of Sherwood.

• Braden Traylor of Sherwood.

• Bailey Verdell of Sherwood.

• Faith Young of Sherwood.

• Kohlin Billings of Sherwood.

• Adrianna Rodgers of North Little Rock.

• Grant Baker of North Little Rock.

Eligibility on the Dean’s List requires at least a 3.5 GPA with a minimum course load of 12 credit hours.

President’s List Fall 2025: The University of Central Arkansas congratulates more than 1,200 students who were named as Presidential Scholars.

North of the River students include:

• Asia DeLoach of Maumelle.

• Kaylee Munnerlyn of Maumelle.

• Karter Pawelczak of Maumelle.

• Jewell Callahan of Maumelle.

• Maggie Green of Maumelle.

• Collin Womack of Maumelle.

• Eric Frank of Maumelle.

• Ryan Brekeen of Maumelle.

• Jacob Laney of Maumelle.

• Hannah Matheny of Maumelle.

• Kerrigan Quast of Maumelle.

• Blakely Rochelle of Maumelle.

• Alexis Meeks of Maumelle.

• Olivia Oury of Maumelle.

• Patrick Shultz of Maumelle.

• Marley Page of Maumelle.

• Daniel Franklin of Maumelle.

• Lennon Tusieseina of Maumelle.

• Benjamin Ferguson of Maumelle.

• Camryn Ford of Maumelle.

• Kayla Hill of North Little Rock.

• Peyton Gober of Maumelle.

• Calleigh Kemp of Maumelle.

• Scarlett Cash of Maumelle.

• Zoey Taylor of Maumelle.

• Rachel Blair of Maumelle.

• Hannah Williams of Maumelle.

• Elizabeth Colburn of Sherwood.

• Allison Dennis of Sherwood.

• Collin Joseph of North Little Rock.

• Bevan Sober of North Little Rock.

• Jamie Jewell of North Little Rock.

• Skylar Nelsen of North Little Rock.

• Gabrielle Stokes of North Little Rock.

• Jackson Ray of North Little Rock.

• Carlos Campanur of North Little Rock.

• Kylie Higgins of Sherwood.

• Kailyn Jeffries of North Little Rock.

• Thanh Mai of North Little Rock.

• Arden Schaap of North Little Rock.

• Seth Dawson of North Little Rock.

• Chance Phillips of North Little Rock.

• Olivia Rankin of Sherwood.

• Ryan Cromer of Sherwood.

• Campbell Weeks of Sherwood.

• Kennedy Besancon of North Little Rock.

• Meredith Lipsey of Sherwood.

• Clara Principe of North Little Rock.

• Anneke Cranor of Sherwood.

• Claire Taylor of North Little Rock.

• Caleb Young of Sherwood.

• Erica Gourley of North Little Rock.

• Jackson Houser of North Little Rock.

• Caroline Cullum of North Little Rock.

• Victoria Strawn of North Little Rock.

• Kalinda Loomis of North Little Rock.

• Arianna Dobson of Sherwood.

• Brian Harden of Sherwood.

• Dennissa Harris of Sherwood.

• Brittney Huynh of Sherwood.

• Jonathan Wetherington of North Little Rock.

• Lilly Wittenburg of North Little Rock.

• Samantha White of North Little Rock.

• Sophia Brown of Sherwood.

• Susan LePage of Sherwood.

• Kolten Shook of North Little Rock.

• Amirah Watkins of Sherwood.

• Jamaya Williams of North Little Rock.

• Alexis Jones of North Little Rock.

• Hallie Singleton of North Little Rock.

• Kylie Sartain of North Little Rock.

• Hannah Orillion of Sherwood.

• Ashley Tipton of Sherwood.

• Gavin Melton of North Little Rock.

• Naomi Patillo of North Little Rock.

• Zoe Gronwald of North Little Rock.

Students must achieve a 4.0 GPA with a minimum course load of 12 credit hours to qualify as a Presidential Scholar.

NOTE: More, so much more, education news will be published next week and the week after and probably the week after. There’s a bunch and even infinite space has some constraints.

Sparklight to award $30,000 for STEM education

Sparklight®, a leading fiber-fueled internet provider, is launching its 2026 “Dream Bigger” contest, awarding $30,000 to support science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education for K–12 students. Twelve winning schools or organizations will receive $2,500 each.

Through the annual contest, Sparklight aims to help educators bring hands-on STEM experiences into classrooms and learning environments, equipping K–12 students with skills that spark curiosity, problem-solving and new ideas.

Entries for the 2026 contest will be accepted fnowthrough March 10 at sparklight.com/contest. Finalists will be selected by Sparklight, and the 12 winners will be chosen through public voting from March 12 through March 18 at sparklight.com/contest.

Smart Driver class set

An AARP Smart Driver Class will be held at Maumelle Center on the Lake on March 10 from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.

It is open to AARP members & non-member, $20 for members, $25 for non-members, cash or check only. Some insurance companies will give a discount with completion of the class – check with your insurance agent. To register, call or text Ellie Wilson 501-247-5935.

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Sports

Basketball schedules

Maumelle Charter

Boys

• District tournament

Girls

• District tournament

Maumelle

Boys

• Friday, Feb. 20 ... at ... Little Rock Christian Academy ... 7 p.m.

• Tuesday, Feb. 24 ... vs ... Vilonia ... 7 p.m.

• Friday, Feb. 27 ... vs ... Catholic ... 7 p.m.

Girls

• Friday, Feb. 20 ... at ... Little Rock Christian Academy ... 6 p.m.

• Tuesday, Feb. 24 ... vs ... Vilonia ... 6 p.m.

• Friday, Feb. 27 ... vs ... Mount St. Mary Academy ... 6 p.m.

CAC

Boys

• Friday, Feb. 20 ... vs ... Heber Springs ... 7 p.m.

• District tournament

Girls

• District tournament

North Little Rock

Boys

• Tuesday, Feb. 24 ... vs ... Bryant ... 7 p.m.

• Thursday, Feb. 26 ... vs ... Cabot ... 7 p.m.

Girls

• Tuesday, Feb. 24 ... vs ... Bryant ... 6 p.m.

• Thursday, Feb. 26 ... vs ... Cabot ... 6 p.m.

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Health

Pandemic deaths unknown

The state Department of Health didn’t update the state’s dashboard this week, again, and deaths still total 532 for the past year. There’s no tab created for 2025 either and the virus has now killed 14,162 Arkansans since the pandemic began then. That would mean the pandemic death toll has now passed Marion’s 13,635 people, the state’s 29th largest city.

Covid toolkit

There’s now a one-stop shop to learn about vaccination sites and other Covid related information. Click here to learn more.

If you don’t want to get sick and die, there’s some things you can do:

• Get vaccinated

• Get boosted

• Wear a mask

• Avoid crowds

Subscribe if you like, pay if you can

Note to subscribers: An annual or monthly subscription is billed to your debit or credit card as ARKANSAS.SUBSTACK.COM and if you have questions, please email arkansas@substack.com. Thanks for reading and subscribing!

The Headlines

• MEETINGS: A special call meeting of the North Little Rock School Board will meet at 5:30 p.m. tonight at the district’s administration building. The Maumelle City Council will meet next Tuesday night at City Hall. Pushed back until Tuesday due to the Presidents Day holiday on Monday. Both meetings will be livestreamed on YouTube and the public is welcome at both. There’s several upcoming meetings for the sales tax extension in Maumelle and for more, keep scrolling.

• EVENTS: Valentine’s Day is this Saturday and while you should have already ordered those flowers, there’s still time! probably order those flowers now. There’s no time like the present. As always Frances Flower Shop is our preferred florist at ArkansasNewsrooom.com HQ, mostly because they deliver most anywhere in Pulaski County. That’s also a non-sponsored recommendation. We just like ‘em. Click the graphic below for more. Next Monday is Presidents Day and the various government offices will be closed for the holiday. Trash and recycling will also run-one day delayed next week as well.

  

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States of the City

Or should that be the state of the cities? Anyway, the North Little Rock State of the City can be viewed by clicking the thumbnail below.

The Maumelle Area Chamber of Commerce and the city of Maumelle will be having an event at the Maumelle Country Club on Monday, Feb. 23 and the State of the City will be delivered by Mayor Caleb Norris.

The event is scheduled to start at 5 p.m. and last until 7 p.m.

Presenting sponsors are: Alessi Keyes Construction, First Service Bank, Holloway Engineering, Surveying & Civil Design, Maumelle Country Club, MidArk Insurance Group- Waylon Biggs Agency and The City of Maumelle.

For more, click the flyer below or here to register.

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Maumelle Charter High School earns AP School Honor Roll Platinum designation

Maumelle Charter High School has been named to the College Board’s 2025 Advanced Placement School Honor Roll, earning a Platinum distinction.

The AP School Honor Roll recognizes schools that expand student access to Advanced Placement coursework while maintaining strong performance. Schools qualify annually based on criteria tied to college readiness, participation, and exam results.

According to the College Board, 100% of Maumelle Charter seniors took at least one AP exam during high school. Fifty-nine percent earned a score of 3 or higher on at least one exam, and 22% completed five or more AP exams.

“Our AP pass rate has quadrupled over the past four years,” said MCHS Principal Katie Johnson. “Fifty-nine percent of students in grades 9–12 earned college credit through AP exams. We also had 56 AP Scholars, and eight students earned AP Capstone diplomas. This success reflects the hard work of our students, teachers, and staff.”

Maumelle Charter High School offers 20 AP courses taught by 17 AP-certified teachers, along with 13 Pre-AP courses and AP Capstone Diploma certification.

Maumelle Charter High School is a public charter school serving grades 8–12 as part of the Academics Plus Public Charter Schools system, which includes four campuses serving nearly 2,000 students statewide. The school consistently ranks in the top 30% of Arkansas high schools and maintains a graduation rate above the state average.

The College Board’s Advanced Placement Program allows high school students to take college-level courses and earn college credit or advanced placement based on exam performance.

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Town Hall meetings continue on sales tax extension

On Tuesday night, the second of several town halls and information sessions on the proposed ½ cent sales extension in the city of Maumelle.

This meeting covered Questions 1, 4 and 5.

Question 1 is, of course, the one that will retire the current bond debt that would then allow for new bonds to be issued.

If Question 1 fails, then the current debt of a little more than $3 million would still be on the books and the 1/2 cent sales tax would be collected until it was paid off.

If Question 1 passes, then the current 1/2 cent sales tax would continue and the amount of bond debt that would be financed would depend on how many of the remaining questions pass and if all do, that would be $34.26 million but potentially less if some questions don’t pass.

Questions 4 and 5 are both related to public safety with the first being for a public safety training facility while the second would be for improvements to the city’s fire station.

The facility would be $5.19 million, while the improvements is the single largest bond issue proposed at $8.45 million.

The meeting was livestreamed on the city’s YouTube channel and can be viewed by clicking the link below.

Early voting begins next Tuesday, Feb. 17, and Election Day will be held Tuesday, March 3.

Proposed bond issue

• Total: $34.26 million

• Question 1: Refunding 2018 bonds - $3.05M

• Question 2: Street improvements - $3.86M

• Question 3: Center on the Lake/Indoor pool - $5.39M

• Question 4: Public Safety Training facility - $5.19M

• Question 5: Fire station improvements - $8.45M

• Question 6: Lake Valencia improvements - $3.22M

• Question 7: Field turf for Parks & Rec - $5.1M

How much money?

• The city’s ½ cent sales tax brings in approximately $1.8 million annually and if the all seven questions were to pass, it would take about 20 years to pay off.

Upcoming meetings

• Today, 8:15 a.m. at Cheers in Maumelle, Coffee with the Mayor

• Tuesday, Feb. 10: 6 p.m. at Maumelle Charter Middle School | Public Meeting to discuss Bond Questions 1, 4 and 5

• Thursday, Feb. 12: 8:30 a.m. Coffee Talk with the Maumelle Area Chamber of Commerce. Click here to register for this chamber eventPre-registration is required and click here to do that.

• Tuesday, Feb. 24: 6 p.m. at Maumelle Charter Middle Schooln | Public Meeting to discuss Bond Questions 1, 2 and 3

• Civic Group discussions are also planned for the Maumelle Rotary Club, Maumelle Industrial Roundtable, Maumelle Fraternal Order of Police, Maumelle Fire Fighters Association, Maumelle Community Partners and the Maumelle Area Chamber of Commerce Board

The first coffee will be at 8:15 a.m. on Thursday, Feb. 5 and be at Cheers in Maumelle while the second will be at the Maumelle Area Chamber of Commerce and start at 8:30 a.m. on Feb. 12.

Election Calendar

• Early Voting Dates: Feb. 17 through March 2

• Early Voting Hours: 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday – Friday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturdays and 8 a.m to -5 p.m. on Monday March 2.

• March 3: Preferential Primary Election/Annual School Election/Nonpartisan Judicial General Election

If a runoff is needed in the primary, it will be March 31

Early Voting Locations

• Pulaski County Regional Building, 501 West Markham, Little Rock

• Sue Cowan Williams Library, 1800 S. Chester St.

• Dee Brown Library, 6325 Baseline Road, Little Rock

• Thompson Library, 38 Rahling Circle, Little Rock

• William F Laman Public Library, 2801 Orange St., NorthLittle Rock

• Jacksonville Community Center, 5 Municipal Drive, Jacksonville

• Jess Odom Community Center, 1100 Edgewood Drive, Maumelle

• First Christian Church of Sherwood, 2803 E. Kiehl Ave., Sherwood

• McMath Library, 2100 John Barrow Road, Little Rock

• Hillary Clinton Children’s Library, 4800 W. 10th St., Little Rock

• John Gould Fletcher Library, 823 N. Buchanan St., Little Rock

• Terry Library, 2015 Napa Valley Drive, Little Rock

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Casino Night is Feb. 19

The Maumelle Area Chamber of Commerce’s Casino Night has been rescheduled and will now be next Thursday, Feb. 19, and will start at 6 p.m. It will still be at the Maumelle Event Center and to register click here. Also check out the flyer below for more information.

Sparklight brings multi-gig internet to Maumelle, north Pulaski County

Fiber-fueled internet provider Sparklight is bringing enhanced speeds, capacity and reliability to Maumelle and North Little Rock with the launch of its new Multi-Gig internet service.

As streaming, gaming, remote work and smart home technology place greater demands on home networks, reliable high-capacity internet is essential. Sparklight’s Multi-Gig internet is built to keep entire households connected seamlessly, delivering ultra-fast internet speeds up to 2 Gig along with low latency to enhance real-time applications.

“Sparklight’s Multi-Gig internet is built to support everything today’s households do online,” said Kenny Walker, Sparklight Senior Regional Director, South Central. “As a longstanding part of the Maumelle area, we’re elevating our network’s performance so customers can work, learn, stream and connect without limits.”

Customers can further enhance their in-home experience with Sparklight’s intelligent Wi-Fi powered by eero, a whole-home mesh Wi-Fi solution designed to deliver fast, reliable wireless coverage with fewer dead zones. Easy setup and intuitive controls through the eero app allow customers to manage their network with confidence, including device monitoring, network diagnostics, secure guest access and parental controls.

Sparklight’s ongoing infrastructure investment in the Maumelle area underscores its long-term commitment to strengthening the network residents and businesses rely on every day. Over the past three years, Sparklight has invested more than $1 billion in network upgrades across the communities it serves. These enhancements expand network capacity, add additional redundancy and ensure readiness for the next generation of technology — from immersive entertainment to advanced telehealth and evolving smart home innovations.

For more, visit http://www.sparklight.com/internet/2-gig. and www.sparklight.com/wifi.

Sparklight to award $30,000 for STEM education

Sparklight®, a leading fiber-fueled internet provider, is launching its 2026 “Dream Bigger” contest, awarding $30,000 to support science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education for K–12 students. Twelve winning schools or organizations will receive $2,500 each.

Through the annual contest, Sparklight aims to help educators bring hands-on STEM experiences into classrooms and learning environments, equipping K–12 students with skills that spark curiosity, problem-solving and new ideas.

K–12 schools and organizations located in communities Sparklight serves are eligible to enter. Applicants are asked to submit a photo and a written summary explaining how the award will be used to support a STEM project — such as classroom equipment, robotics or science competitions, curriculum development or other materials — and how the project will benefit students.

Entries for the 2026 contest will be accepted from Feb. 17 through March 10 at sparklight.com/contest. Finalists will be selected by Sparklight, and the 12 winners will be chosen through public voting from March 12 through March 18 at sparklight.com/contest.

Smart Driver class set

An AARP Smart Driver Class will be held at Maumelle Center on the Lake on March 10 from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.

It is open to AARP members & non-member, $20 for members, $25 for non-members, cash or check only. Some insurance companies will give a discount with completion of the class – check with your insurance agent. To register, call or text Ellie Wilson 501-247-5935.

Boozman meets with Special Olympics athletes

In Washington, D.C., U.S. Sen. John Boozman recently met with Special Olympics Arkansas athletes Daniella Davis and Jordan Jackson, both of Forrest City. Their mentor Julie Brown, also of Forrest and Special Olympics Arkansas CEO Terri Weir, of Maumelle. They were joined in Washington by Cassandra Ryan from Special Olympics for Special Olympics Capitol Hill Day.

“I thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity to meet with these athletes, mentors and leaders from Special Olympics Arkansas,” Boozman said. “They embody the important mission to promote athletic achievement, build confidence and create bonds that produce life-long memories. We are incredibly proud of Daniella and Jordan and wish them well in competition and beyond.”

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Sports

Basketball scoreboard

Compiled by Collin Scott

Maumelle Charter

Boys

• Tuesday, Jan. 6: Episcopal 73 Maumelle 50

• Friday, Jan. 9: Maumelle 65 Lisa Academy North 55

• Tuesday, Jan. 13 : Rose Bud 72 Maumelle 39

Girls

• Tuesday, Jan. 6: Episcopal 58 Maumelle 21

• Tuesday, Jan. 13: Rose Bud 56 Maumelle 33

Maumelle

Boys

• Friday, Jan. 2: Maumelle 75 Morrilton 85

• Tuesday, Jan. 6: Maumelle 66 Jacksonville 46

• Tuesday, Jan. 13: Sylvan Hills 66 Maumelle 65

Girls

• Friday, Jan. 2: Maumelle 42 Morrilton 37

• Tuesday, Jan. 6: Maumelle 51 Jacksonville 35

• Tuesday, Jan. 13: Sylvan Hills 42 Maumelle 39

Basketball schedules

Maumelle Charter

Boys

• District tournament

Girls

• District tournament

Maumelle

Boys

• Friday, Feb. 13 ... vs ... Sylvan Hills ... 7 p.m.

• Tuesday, Feb. 17 ... vs ... Greenbrier ... 7 p.m.

• Friday, Feb. 20 ... at ... Little Rock Christian Academy ... 7 p.m.

• Tuesday, Feb. 24 ... vs ... Vilonia ... 7 p.m.

• Friday, Feb. 27 ... vs ... Catholic ... 7 p.m.

Girls

• Friday, Feb. 13 ... vs ... Sylvan Hills ... 6 p.m.

• Tuesday, Feb. 17 ... vs ... Greenbrier ... 6 p.m.

• Friday, Feb. 20 ... at ... Little Rock Christian Academy ... 6 p.m.

• Tuesday, Feb. 24 ... vs ... Vilonia ... 6 p.m.

• Friday, Feb. 27 ... vs ... Mount St. Mary Academy ... 6 p.m.

CAC

Boys

• Tuesday, Feb. 10: Morrilton 60, CAC 47 | The Mustangs fell short to Morrilton with the final score of 60-47, making their record 12-7. There are few things that need to be cleaned up on both defense and offense. They are still set up to finish strong as they look forward to making the playoffs.

• Friday, Feb. 13 ... at ... Robinson ... 7 p.m.

• Friday, Feb. 20 ... vs ... Heber Springs ... 7 p.m.

• District tournament

Girls

• Friday, Feb. 13 ... vs ... Robinson ... 5 p.m.

• District tournament

North Little Rock

Boys

• Friday, Feb. 13 ... at ... Jonesboro ... 7:30 p.m.

• Tuesday, Feb. 24 ... vs ... Bryant ... 7 p.m.

• Thursday, Feb. 26 ... vs ... Cabot ... 7 p.m.

Girls

• Friday, Feb. 13 ... at ... Jonesboro ... 6 p.m.

• Tuesday, Feb. 24 ... vs ... Bryant ... 6 p.m.

• Thursday, Feb. 26 ... vs ... Cabot ... 6 p.m.

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Health

Pandemic deaths unknown

The state Department of Health didn’t update the state’s dashboard this week, again, and deaths still total 532 for the past year. There’s no tab created for 2025 either and the virus has now killed 14,162 Arkansans since the pandemic began then. That would mean the pandemic death toll has now passed Marion’s 13,635 people, the state’s 29th largest city.

Covid toolkit

There’s now a one-stop shop to learn about vaccination sites and other Covid related information. Click here to learn more.

If you don’t want to get sick and die, there’s some things you can do:

• Get vaccinated

• Get boosted

• Wear a mask

• Avoid crowds

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Note to subscribers: An annual or monthly subscription is billed to your debit or credit card as ARKANSAS.SUBSTACK.COM and if you have questions, please email arkansas@substack.com. Thanks for reading and subscribing!

The Headlines

• MEETINGS: A special call meeting of the North Little Rock School Board will meet at 5:30 p.m. tonight at the district’s administration building. It will also include a board workshop. The North Little Rock City Council will meet next Monday night at City Hall. Both meetings will be livestreamed on YouTube and the public is welcome at both. There’s several upcoming meetings for the sales tax extension in Maumelle and for more, keep scrolling.

• EVENTS: Valentine’s Day is next week. Next Saturday to be precise but you should probably order those flowers now. There’s no time like the present. As always Frances Flower Shop is our preferred florist at ArkansasNewsrooom.com HQ, mostly because they deliver most anywhere in Pulaski County. That’s also a non-sponsored recommendation. We just like ‘em. Click the graphic below for more.

  

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Sales tax extension explained

On Tuesday night, roughly 50 people gathered to hear the first of several town halls and information sessions on the proposed ½ cent sales extension in the city of Maumelle.

The meeting was held in the cafeteria at Maumelle Charter Middle School and there’s a Coffee with the Mayor scheduled for 8:15 a.m. today. at Cheers in Maumelle.

Tuesday’s meeting was to discuss Question 1, 6 and 7 and take questions from the public.

The meeting was livestreamed on the city’s YouTube channel and can be viewed by clicking the link below.

If you want to sit through the roughly one hour and 10 minute meeting, keep on reading.

Mayor Caleb Norris led the Tuesday meeting with an explanation of the sales tax extension and how the city approached coming up with the plans for the six proposals.

It is important to note, that a “No” vote on Question 1, means none of the proposals will go forward.

Norris explained, essentially, that the city was limited in how it could finance projects, either through millage or sales tax increases, but since the city already has existing bonds, those would have to be paid off before new ones could be issued.

Since voters approved a ½ cent sales tax in 2018, those bonds would have to paid off first and there’s roughly $3 million remaining.

“We can’t take out a loan,” Norris said and noted that connected entities like the various youth sports associations can’t take out loans for improvements to city-owned properties either.

Norris also said, when asked if the city has a backup plan, “no” and added. “There’s no contingency backup for any of these projects.”

It is also important to note that a “No”vote doesn’t mean the immediate end of the ½ cent sales tax as those remaining, voter approved, bonds would still need to be retired and that would be several years in the making.

Also covered were Questions 6 and 7.

They are: Question 6 is for maintenance and “essential improvements” at Lake Valencia. The costs are budgeted to cost $3.22 million and would replace the boardwalk that extends around a portion of the lake.

Dave Roberts, of Maumelle, and with Crafton and Tull, the firm that helped design the plans for Lake Valencia, said the boardwalk had already been fully replaced twice, along with significant patch work having been done over the decades.

“This is not just cosmetic,” Norris said. “Something needs to be done” and noted he had received reports of at least two being injured by either falling through, or tripping and falling over uneven boards.

The new boardwalk would be pre-fabbed and because of its durability, the city would see some cost savings by not having to constantly check and replace rotted boards.

Question 7 would be for $5.1 million and would install field turf at some of the baseball, softball and soccer fields operated by the city’s Parks & Recreation Department.

It wouldn’t put turf on every field, both Norris and Parks & Rec director Phillip Raborn said, and Norris added that the city was somewhat stingy in its approach to the new bonds as none of the six projects were what he called “Taj Mahals.”

Leaders from the city’s youth baseball, softball and soccer associations all spoke in favor and all noted that field turf would help get more games in, cut down on possible injuries and could, potentially, lead to sports tourism dollars as the city would have the ability to host more tournaments in the three sports meaning teams would need places to stay, places to eat and all the other things go into travel ball.

Early voting begins on Tuesday, Feb. 17 and Election Day will be held Tuesday, March 3. The deadline to register to vote in the March 3 election has already passed.

Proposed bond issue

• Total: $34.26 million

• Question 1: Refunding 2018 bonds - $3.05M

• Question 2: Street improvements - $3.86M

• Question 3: Center on the Lake/Indoor pool - $5.39M

• Question 4: Public Safety Training facility - $5.19M

• Question 5: Fire station improvements - $8.45M

• Question 6: Lake Valencia improvements - $3.22M

• Question 7: Field turf for Parks & Rec - $5.1M

How much money?

• The city’s ½ cent sales tax brings in approximately $1.8 million annually and if the all seven questions were to pass, it would take about 20 years to pay off.

Upcoming meetings

• Today, 8:15 a.m. at Cheers in Maumelle, Coffee with the Mayor

• Tuesday, Feb. 10: 6 p.m. at Maumelle Charter Middle School | Public Meeting to discuss Bond Questions 1, 4 and 5

• Thursday, Feb. 12: 8:30 a.m. Coffee Talk with the Maumelle Area Chamber of Commerce. Click here to register for this chamber eventPre-registration is required and click here to do that.

• Tuesday, Feb. 24: 6 p.m. at Maumelle Charter Middle Schooln | Public Meeting to discuss Bond Questions 1, 2 and 3

• Civic Group discussions are also planned for the Maumelle Rotary Club, Maumelle Industrial Roundtable, Maumelle Fraternal Order of Police, Maumelle Fire Fighters Association, Maumelle Community Partners and the Maumelle Area Chamber of Commerce Board

The first coffee will be at 8:15 a.m. on Thursday, Feb. 5 and be at Cheers in Maumelle while the second will be at the Maumelle Area Chamber of Commerce and start at 8:30 a.m. on Feb. 12.

Election Calendar

• Early Voting Dates: Feb. 17 through March 2

• Early Voting Hours: 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday – Friday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturdays and 8 a.m to -5 p.m. on Monday March 2.

• March 3: Preferential Primary Election/Annual School Election/Nonpartisan Judicial General Election

If a runoff is needed in the primary, it will be March 31

Early Voting Locations

• Pulaski County Regional Building, 501 West Markham, Little Rock

• Sue Cowan Williams Library, 1800 S. Chester St.

• Dee Brown Library, 6325 Baseline Road, Little Rock

• Thompson Library, 38 Rahling Circle, Little Rock

• William F Laman Public Library, 2801 Orange St., NorthLittle Rock

• Jacksonville Community Center, 5 Municipal Drive, Jacksonville

• Jess Odom Community Center, 1100 Edgewood Drive, Maumelle

• First Christian Church of Sherwood, 2803 E. Kiehl Ave., Sherwood

• McMath Library, 2100 John Barrow Road, Little Rock

• Hillary Clinton Children’s Library, 4800 W. 10th St., Little Rock

• John Gould Fletcher Library, 823 N. Buchanan St., Little Rock

• Terry Library, 2015 Napa Valley Drive, Little Rock

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‘Snowcrete’

We admit we weren’t familiar with the term “snowcrete” but after seeing it in action and the damage Jorge did to the driveway hammering if off, we hope to not see the combination of snow, sleet and ice packed down as hard as concrete again, or at least anytime soon.

In the meantime, a familiar sight around town and at least the forecast gets better. Go sun go.

Eye on the Sky

• Today: Sunny, with a high near 54, with a low around 35.

• Friday: Sunny, with a high near 69 and a low around 35.

• Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 54 and a low around 36. (The carwash beckons)

• Sunday: Partly sunny, with a high near 70, with a low around 44.

• Monday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 69,, with a low around 51.

• Tuesday: A 20 percent chance of showers, with a high near 71 and a low around 51.

Casino Night rescheduled

The Maumelle Area Chamber of Commerce’s Casino Night has been rescheduled and will now be Thursday, Feb. 19 and will start at 6 p.m. It will still be at the Maumelle Event Center and to register click here. Also check out the flyer below for more information.

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Sports

Basketball schedules | Not all makeup dates for previously postponed games have been announced.

Maumelle Charter

Boys

• Friday, Feb. 6 ... vs ... Rose Bud ... 7 p.m.

• Tuesday, Feb. 10 ... vs ... St. Joseph ... 7 p.m.

Girls

• Friday, Feb. 6 ... vs ... Rose Bud ... 7 p.m.

• Tuesday, Feb. 10 ... vs ... St. Joseph ... 7 p.m.

Maumelle

Boys

• Friday, Feb. 6 ... at ... Jacksonville ... 7 p.m.

• Friday, Feb. 13 ... vs ... Sylvan Hills ... 7 p.m.

• Tuesday, Feb. 17 ... vs ... Greenbrier ... 7 p.m.

• Friday, Feb. 20 ... at ... Little Rock Christian Academy ... 7 p.m.

• Tuesday, Feb. 24 ... vs ... Vilonia ... 7 p.m.

• Friday, Feb. 27 ... vs ... Catholic ... 7 p.m.

Girls

• Friday, Feb. 6 ... at ... Jacksonville ... 6 p.m.

• Friday, Feb. 13 ... vs ... Sylvan Hills ... 6 p.m.

• Tuesday, Feb. 17 ... vs ... Greenbrier ... 6 p.m.

• Friday, Feb. 20 ... at ... Little Rock Christian Academy ... 6 p.m.

• Tuesday, Feb. 24 ... vs ... Vilonia ... 6 p.m.

• Friday, Feb. 27 ... vs ... Mount St. Mary Academy ... 6 p.m.

CAC

Boys

• Tuesday, Feb. 10 ... at ... Morrilton ... 7 p.m.

• Friday, Feb. 13 ... at ... Robinson ... 7 p.m.

• Friday, Feb. 20 ... vs ... Heber Springs ... 7 p.m.

Girls

• Friday, Feb. 6 ... vs ... Bigelow ... 6 p.m.

• Tuesday, Feb. 10 ... vs ... Conway Christian ... 5 p.m.

• Friday, Feb. 13 ... vs ... Robinson ... 5 p.m.

North Little Rock

Boys

• Friday, Feb. 6 ... at ... Conway ... 7 p.m.

• Tuesday, Feb. 10 ... vs ... Little Rock Southwest ... 7 p.m.

• Friday, Feb. 13 ... at ... Jonesboro ... 7:30 p.m.

• Tuesday, Feb. 24 ... vs ... Bryant ... 7 p.m.

• Thursday, Feb. 26 ... vs ... Cabot ... 7 p.m.

Girls

• Friday, Feb. 6 ... at ... Conway ... 6 p.m.

• Tuesday, Feb. 10 ... vs ... Little Rock Southwest ... 6 p.m.

• Friday, Feb. 13 ... at ... Jonesboro ... 6 p.m.

• Tuesday, Feb. 24 ... vs ... Bryant ... 6 p.m.

• Thursday, Feb. 26 ... vs ... Cabot ... 6 p.m.

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Health

Pandemic deaths unknown

The state Department of Health didn’t update the state’s dashboard this week, again, and deaths still total 532 for the past year. There’s no tab created for 2025 either and the virus has now killed 14,162 Arkansans since the pandemic began then. That would mean the pandemic death toll has now passed Marion’s 13,635 people, the state’s 29th largest city.

Covid toolkit

There’s now a one-stop shop to learn about vaccination sites and other Covid related information. Click here to learn more.

If you don’t want to get sick and die, there’s some things you can do:

• Get vaccinated

• Get boosted

• Wear a mask

• Avoid crowds

Subscribe if you like, pay if you can

Note to subscribers: An annual or monthly subscription is billed to your debit or credit card as ARKANSAS.SUBSTACK.COM and if you have questions, please email arkansas@substack.com. Thanks for reading and subscribing!

The Headlines

• MEETINGS: The Maumelle City Council will meet next Monday night at City Hall. There’s also a number of meetings over next week and the following week to discuss the Maumelle bond issue. For more on that, keep scrolling.

• EVENTS: There’s plenty on the calendar but given the current conditions as well as the roads, as well as the forecast for additional snow and ice this week and into the weekend, none of it seems very likely. Some things have already been rescheduled, such as the Maumelle Area Chamber of Commerce’s Casino Night, which will now be in February. For more on that, keep scrolling.

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Public meetings set

Maumelle’s city website is now showing a number of public meetings and coffees over the next two weeks concerning the March special election for the bond issue.

Typically those meetings would come with a legally required notification that the mayor and members of the city council would be present, but those notifications have yet to arrive. There’s a mandated clock, but those meetings are set far enough out, that it hasn’t started ticking yet. So there’s still time.

The first public meeting is next Tuesday followed by a “Coffee with the Mayor” on Thursday. The following week, the second public meeting is Tuesday, Feb. 10 with the second “Coffee with the Mayor” being a Maumelle Area Chamber of Commerce event on Thursday, Feb. 12.

Both public meetings will start at 6 p.m. and be held at the Maumelle Charter Middle School cafeteria. The first will be on Bond Questions 1, 6 and 7, with the second being on Bond Questions 1, 4 and 5.

The first coffee will be at 8:15 a.m. on Thursday, Feb. 5 and be at Cheers in Maumelle while the second will be at the Maumelle Area Chamber of Commerce and start at 8:30 a.m. on Feb. 12. Pre-registration is required and click here to do that.

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White Out

At least the power stayed on for most. Otherwise this week’s winter storm was about as miserable as expected and still ongoing as school is out for today across North of the River and things aren’t promising for Friday either as more inclement and icy cold weather is expected this week and into the weekend.

Eye on the Sky

• Today: Widespread dense freezing fog. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a high near 44 and a low around 26. Tonight, there’s a chance of rain turning into freezing rain with the chance of precipitation at 20 percent.

• Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 35. Wind chill values as low as 18 with a low around 12. North wind 5 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 15 mph.

• Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 26, with a low around 10.

• Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 35, with a low around 21.

• Monday: Sunny, with a high near 45 and a low around 25.

• Tuesday: A 30 percent chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 45 and a low around 34. The chance of precipitation is 60 percent.

The National Weather Service office in North Little Rock, in its forecast, said on Wednesday that, “hazardous travel conditions are expected to continue over the next several days, especially on secondary and country roads, as dense snow/sleet pack slowly erodes.”

The comes the fun stuff with a “brief bout of very light mixed precipitation is possible Thursday evening into early Friday. Little to no accumulation is expected” and “another round of arctic air is expected by the weekend with a gradually warming trend into early next week.”

As much as seven inches of snow were reported in rural north Pulaski County, which was among the highest totals in the state. That has mostly stuck around as what the forecasters called, “the sleet/snow pack” hasn’t really melted off in the intense sunshine seen on Tuesday and Wednesday and what did turn to liquid froze back up at night.

It made even walking in the yard hazardous, let alone driving in it, But if you did brave it out, you would have noted that what was on the ground was extremely solid and not even leaving shoeprints in the show and ice mix.

That might be ideal for skiers but there’s a certain lack of cross country skis in the south.

Casino Night rescheduled

As expected, the Maumelle Area Chamber of Commerce’s Casino Night has been rescheduled and will now be Thursday, Feb. 19 and will start at 6 p.m. It will still be at the Maumelle Event Center and to register click here. Also check out the flyer below for more information.

Government offices closed: City offices in Maumelle and North Little Rock will be closed or have delayed openings today. As of now, no word on Friday has been announced but things aren’t promising. As always, if you have business, and are lucky enough to get out your front door, call in advance to make sure where you’re going is open that day.

North Little Rock also sends a long word that trash and recycling will not be running this week due to the road conditions but that the city has set up two locations for residents to deposit their trash. They are:

• North Little Rock Fire Station #9 (Indian Hills), 2309 Osage Drive

• Edward’s Cash Saver (across from North Little Rock Fire Station #6 Levy), 3801 Camp Robinson Road

Sanitation Department trucks will be on site at both locations from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. to collect trash.

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Election Calendar

• Feb. 2: Last day to register to vote.

• Early Voting Dates: Feb. 17 through March 2

• Early Voting Hours: 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday – Friday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturdays and 8 a.m to -5 p.m. on Monday March 2.

• March 3: Preferential Primary Election/Annual School Election/Nonpartisan Judicial General Election

If a runoff is needed in the primary, it will be March 31

Early Voting Locations

• Pulaski County Regional Building, 501 West Markham, Little Rock

• Sue Cowan Williams Library, 1800 S. Chester St.

• Dee Brown Library, 6325 Baseline Road, Little Rock

• Thompson Library, 38 Rahling Circle, Little Rock

• William F Laman Public Library, 2801 Orange St., NorthLittle Rock

• Jacksonville Community Center, 5 Municipal Drive, Jacksonville

• Jess Odom Community Center, 1100 Edgewood Drive, Maumelle

• First Christian Church of Sherwood, 2803 E. Kiehl Ave., Sherwood

• McMath Library, 2100 John Barrow Road, Little Rock

• Hillary Clinton Children’s Library, 4800 W. 10th St., Little Rock

• John Gould Fletcher Library, 823 N. Buchanan St., Little Rock

• Terry Library, 2015 Napa Valley Drive, Little Rock

75Strong coming to Maumelle

A local economic development leader from Maumelle is helping bring new growth opportunities to area businesses through participation in a statewide initiative designed to support Arkansas companies ready to scale.

Kellie Wall, CEO of the Maumelle Area Chamber of Commerce, is part of the 75Strong program. Through the program, they are actively recruiting local businesses to participate in the newly launched 75Strong Business Building Program, a 24-week, no-cost program focused on helping companies build strong growth strategies, leadership systems, and operational foundations.

The program is open to businesses in the Maumelle area with annual revenues between $100,000 and $10 million that are growth-oriented and looking to scale sustainably. Applications are open through April 10, 2026, with programming beginning April 29.

“This initiative underscores the Chamber’s commitment to strengthening Maumelle’s business community through strategic investment, meaningful engagement, and long-term economic growth. By expanding opportunities for participation and visibility, we are ensuring our local businesses have the tools, connections, and support needed to succeed.” Wall said in a release.

Participating companies will complete a diagnostic to identify opportunities and challenges, followed by bi-weekly virtual sessions covering seven key growth areas, including financial management, revenue growth, leadership, operations, digital readiness, and innovation. Businesses will also have access to subject matter expert office hours to apply what they’re learning directly to their company.

“Sustainable economic growth starts with strong local businesses,” said Drew Smith, Director of 75Strong. “This program gives Arkansas companies the structure, guidance, and support they need to scale intentionally, while keeping leadership, jobs, and investment rooted in their communities.”

The Business Building Program builds on the foundation of 75Strong to train economic developers and community leaders across Arkansas. This phase moves that work directly into local economies by supporting the businesses those leaders serve.

The program is facilitated by Conductor and provided at no cost to accepted companies thanks to investment from the Arkansas Economic Development Commission. The program is delivered entirely online to ensure accessibility for participating companies.

To learn more and apply, businesses in the Maumelle area can visit https://75strongarkansas.org/business-building-landing-page or contact Wall at the chamber and her email is kellie@maumellechamber.com.

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And finally

I have friends in Minneapolis and you might as well.

A mighty wave of Arkies, refugees from Alltel, which became Windstream, which became Verizon, made the move there for their jobs. They’ve mostly stayed and have learned to love living there.

They aren’t the only ones as there’s all sorts of reasons to make your way, then stay, in the Twin Cities.

It is also quite lovely there, at least when it is warm, and as fine a place to live as one could expect.

That’s why the endless stream of national news coming out has been so heart-rending while the tales of courage in the face of tyranny have been so inspiring. It isn’t clear when it will end, or why it will end, but two Americans have already been gunned down in the streets and that’s two too many.

The whole mess never should have started in the first place but it has to end.

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Sports

Basketball schedules

Maumelle Charter

Boys

• Friday, Jan. 30 ... vs ... Episcopal ... 8 p.m.

• Tuesday, Feb. 3 ... vs ... Lisa Academy North ... 8 p.m.

• Friday, Feb. 6 ... vs ... Rose Bud ... 7 p.m.

• Tuesday, Feb. 10 ... vs ... St. Joseph ... 7 p.m.

Girls

• Friday, Jan. 30 ... vs ... Episcopal ... 7 p.m.

• Friday, Feb. 6 ... vs ... Rose Bud ... 7 p.m.

• Tuesday, Feb. 10 ... vs ... St. Joseph ... 7 p.m.

Maumelle

Boys

• Friday, Jan. 30 ... at ... Beebe ... 7 p.m.

• Tuesday, Feb. 3 ... at ... Parkview ... 7 p.m.

• Friday, Feb. 6 ... at ... Jacksonville ... 7 p.m.

• Friday, Feb. 13 ... vs ... Sylvan Hills ... 7 p.m.

• Tuesday, Feb. 17 ... vs ... Greenbrier ... 7 p.m.

• Friday, Feb. 20 ... at ... Little Rock Christian Academy ... 7 p.m.

• Tuesday, Feb. 24 ... vs ... Vilonia ... 7 p.m.

• Friday, Feb. 27 ... vs ... Catholic ... 7 p.m.

Girls

• Friday, Jan. 30 ... vs ... Beebe ... 6 p.m.

• Tuesday, Feb. 3 ... at ... Parkview ... 6 p.m.

• Friday, Feb. 6 ... at ... Jacksonville ... 6 p.m.

• Friday, Feb. 13 ... vs ... Sylvan Hills ... 6 p.m.

• Tuesday, Feb. 17 ... vs ... Greenbrier ... 6 p.m.

• Friday, Feb. 20 ... at ... Little Rock Christian Academy ... 6 p.m.

• Tuesday, Feb. 24 ... vs ... Vilonia ... 6 p.m.

• Friday, Feb. 27 ... vs ... Mount St. Mary Academy ... 6 p.m.

CAC

Boys

• Friday, Jan. 30 ... at ... Lisa Academy West ... 6 p.m.

• Tuesday, Feb. 10 ... at ... Morrilton ... 7 p.m.

• Friday, Feb. 13 ... at ... Robinson ... 7 p.m.

• Friday, Feb. 20 ... vs ... Heber Springs ... 7 p.m.

Girls

• Monday, Feb. 2 ... vs ... Mt. Vernon-Enola ... 6 p.m.

• Friday, Feb. 6 ... vs ... Bigelow ... 6 p.m.

• Tuesday, Feb. 10 ... vs ... Conway Christian ... 5 p.m.

• Friday, Feb. 13 ... vs ... Robinson ... 5 p.m.

North Little Rock

Boys

• Friday, Jan. 30 ... at ... Cabot ... 7 p.m.

• Tuesday, Feb. 3 ... at ... Central ... 7 p.m.

• Friday, Feb. 6 ... at ... Conway ... 7 p.m.

• Tuesday, Feb. 10 ... vs ... Little Rock Southwest ... 7 p.m.

• Friday, Feb. 13 ... at ... Jonesboro ... 7:30 p.m.

• Tuesday, Feb. 24 ... vs ... Bryant ... 7 p.m.

• Thursday, Feb. 26 ... vs ... Cabot ... 7 p.m.

Girls

• Friday, Jan. 30 ... at ... Cabot ... 6 p.m.

• Tuesday, Feb. 3 ... at ... Central ... 6 p.m.

• Friday, Feb. 6 ... at ... Conway ... 6 p.m.

• Tuesday, Feb. 10 ... vs ... Little Rock Southwest ... 6 p.m.

• Friday, Feb. 13 ... at ... Jonesboro ... 6 p.m.

• Tuesday, Feb. 24 ... vs ... Bryant ... 6 p.m.

• Thursday, Feb. 26 ... vs ... Cabot ... 6 p.m.

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Health

Pandemic deaths unknown

The state Department of Health didn’t update the state’s dashboard this week, again, and deaths still total 532 for the past year. There’s no tab created for 2025 either and the virus has now killed 14,162 Arkansans since the pandemic began then. That would mean the pandemic death toll has now passed Marion’s 13,635 people, the state’s 29th largest city.

Covid toolkit

There’s now a one-stop shop to learn about vaccination sites and other Covid related information. Click here to learn more.

If you don’t want to get sick and die, there’s some things you can do:

• Get vaccinated

• Get boosted

• Wear a mask

• Avoid crowds

Subscribe if you like, pay if you can

Note to subscribers: An annual or monthly subscription is billed to your debit or credit card as ARKANSAS.SUBSTACK.COM and if you have questions, please email arkansas@substack.com. Thanks for reading and subscribing!

The Headlines

• MEETINGS: The Maumelle Planning Commission meets at 5:30 p.m. tonight. For more on that, keep scrolling. The North Little Rock City Council will meet next Monday night at City Hall. Both meetings are open to the public and will be livestreamed on YouTube.

• EVENTS: The Harlem Globetrotters are scheduled to be at North Little Rock’s Simmons Bank Arena this Saturday after hitting Jonesboro on Friday night, The key word there being scheduled as it is extremely likely the North Little Rock stop won’t happen because of the forecasted weather. But, if it does, the hoops will start at 3 p.m. and the Globetrotters are celebrating 100 years of basketball this tour. To buy tickets, click here. Tickets start at $33 and all seats are in the lower bowl. Also, Monday was Martin Luther King Jr. Day, a federal holiday, so garbage and recycling will also run one-day delayed this week.

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Maumelle Planning Commission to meet tonight

The Planning Commission for Maumelle will meet at 6:40 p.m. tonight at City Hall.

The agenda, in items, is a light one, as there’s only two new items of business.

For the agenda, click here.

But those items carry some weight with a side of controversy as one relates to an amendment to re-align Millwood Circle South, to connect with Odom Boulevard at Lake Valley Drive, then have Millwood Circle North “connect at a T. Also, to downgrade a section of Odom from Arterial to Collector.” A rendering of what has been proposed is pictured below.

The other item is a revised preliminary plat for the development plan at COuntry Club of Arkansas-15. The revised play will include “re-alignments of roadways, preliminary development plan and landscape plan for entire development.”

The meeting is open to the public and will also be livestreamed on the city’s YouTube Page.

Upcoming meeting dates

• Today

• Feb. 26

• March 26

• April 23

• May 28

• June 25

• July 23

• Aug. 27

• Sept. 24

• Oct. 22

• Nov. 19

• Dec. 17

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Winter storm watch

The National Weather Service has declared a winter storm watch for most of Arkansas starting on Friday afternoon and continuing into Saturday night.

As for now, there’s still time to clean out the Kroger of all its bread, milk and eggs as you still have today and Friday morning to get some shopping in.

The NWS office in North Little Rock described the watch as, “a high impact winter weather event is expected … with heavy mixed precipitation possible. Total snow accumulations of 4 to 8 inches are expected over the central to northern portions of the state, with local amounts in excess of 8 to 10 inches possible. A mixture of snow and sleet accumulations between 1 to 3 inches is expected across the southern third of the state. Freezing rain accumulations of a quarter inch to half inch are possible over far southern Arkansas.”

But, wait, there’s more.

“In addition to the wintry precipitation, dangerous wind chill values of -5 to -10 degrees below zero are possible across north Arkansas on Saturday night into Sunday morning.”

So, deep arctic freeze conditions with heavy snow.

Just look at the impact map of the forecast, pictured below.

Here in the buckle of the Bible Belt, things could become icy, then dicey, as the NWS said.

“Power outages and tree damage are likely due to the ice,” the forecast said, “Travel could be nearly impossible. The hazardous conditions could impact travel on Friday evening.”

Or, just in time for the commute home.

As for now, the normal precautions are taking place as North Little Rock will have a warming center for those in need at the North Little Rock Community Center, 2700 N. Willow St. The city also put out a call for meals and hygiene products from civic groups and faith-based organizations. Call 501-553-2456 if you can help.

As of now, school is still scheduled but basketball games on Friday night are unlikely.

Eye on the Sky

• Today: Partly sunny, with a high near 49, with a low around 29. A slight chance of rain after midnight, mixing with snow after 3 a.m. and the chance of precipitation is 20 percent.

• Friday: A chance of rain, snow, and sleet before 9 a.m, then a chance of snow and sleet. Cloudy, with a high near 36 and a low around. Gusty. Chance of precipitation is 80 percent.

• Saturday: Snow before noon, then snow, possibly mixed with sleet. The snow could be heavy at times. High near 15 with a low around 11. Gusty, again. The chance of precipitation is 100%.

• Sunday: A 30 percent chance of snow before noon. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 24 and a low around 6.

• Monday: Sunny, with a high near 30, with a low around 6.

• Tuesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 36.

Keep track of the forecast, which will change, by clicking here.

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Election Calendar

• Feb. 2: Last day to register to vote.

• Early Voting Dates: Feb. 17 through March 2

• Early Voting Hours: 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday – Friday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturdays and 8 a.m to -5 p.m. on Monday March 2.

• March 3: Preferential Primary Election/Annual School Election/Nonpartisan Judicial General Election

If a runoff is needed in the primary, it will be March 31

Early Voting Locations

• Pulaski County Regional Building, 501 West Markham, Little Rock

• Sue Cowan Williams Library, 1800 S. Chester St.

• Dee Brown Library, 6325 Baseline Road, Little Rock

• Thompson Library, 38 Rahling Circle, Little Rock

• William F Laman Public Library, 2801 Orange St., NorthLittle Rock

• Jacksonville Community Center, 5 Municipal Drive, Jacksonville

• Jess Odom Community Center, 1100 Edgewood Drive, Maumelle

• First Christian Church of Sherwood, 2803 E. Kiehl Ave., Sherwood

• McMath Library, 2100 John Barrow Road, Little Rock

• Hillary Clinton Children’s Library, 4800 W. 10th St., Little Rock

• John Gould Fletcher Library, 823 N. Buchanan St., Little Rock

• Terry Library, 2015 Napa Valley Drive, Little Rock

AAA sets tournament sites

As expected, the AAA set tournament sites for the rest of 2026 last week at a meeting in North Little Rock.

In addition, the AAA’s Weekend of Champions, better known as the state championship games in the spring sports, have moved from Conway and the University of Central Arkansas to Hot Springs.

Finals will be played at Hot Springs Lakeside High School and the city’s Majestic Park.

This move is good through 2028.

The Weekend of Champions will be held May 21-23.

Basketball

• 6A - Bryant

• 5A - Farmington

• 4A - Morrilton

• 3A - Osceola

• 2A - Poyen

• 1A - Lafayette County

Regionals

• 4A-1 - Prairie Grove

• 4A-2 - Stuttgart

• 4A-3 - Heber Springs

• 4A-4 - Nashville

• 3A-1 - Paris

• 3A-2 - Manila

• 3A-3 - Jessieville

• 3A-4 - Drew Central

• 2A-1 - Mountainburg

• 2A-2 - Sloan-Hendrix

• 2A-3 - White County Central

• 2A-4 - Hampton

• 1A-1 - Lead Hill

• 1A-2 - Hillcrest

• 1A-3 - Bradford

• 1A-4 - Emerson

Baseball

• 6A - Fayetteville

• 5A - Greene County Tech

• 4A - Nashville

• 3A - Bergman

• 2A - Palestine-Wheatley

• 1A - Scranton (University of the Ozarks)

Regionals

• 4A-1 - Gentry

• 4A-2 - Brookland

• 4A-3 - Pulaski Academy

• 4A-4 - Crossett

• 3A-1 - (No Bid)

• 3A-2 - Valley Springs

• 3A-3 - Perryville

• 3A-4 - Bismarck

• 2A-1 - Cotter

• 2A-2 - Riverside

• 2A-3 - Carlisle

• 2A-4 - Murfreesboro

• 1A-1 - Mulberry

• 1A-2 - Marked Tree

• 1A-3 - Midland

• 1A-4 - Columbia Christian

Soccer

• 6A - Hendrix College (girls), Conway (boys)

• 5A - Searcy

• 4A - Green Forest

• 3A - Conway Christian

Softball

• 6A - Springdale

• 5A - Greene County Tech

• 4A - Nashville

• 3A - Bergman

• 2A - Palestine-Wheatley

• 1A - Scranton (University of the Ozarks)

Regionals

• 4A-1 - Gentry

• 4A-2 - Brookland

• 4A-3 - Clinton

• 4A-4 - Crossett

• 3A-1 - (No Bid)

• 3A-2 - Valley Springs

• 3A-3 - Perryville

• 3A-4 - Bismarck

• 2A-1 - Cotter

• 2A-2 - Riverside

• 2A-3 - Carlisle

• 2A-4 - Murfreesboro

• 1A-1 - Mulberry

• 1A-2 - Marked Tree

• 1A-3 - Midland

• 1A-4 - Columbia Christian

Track & Field

• 6A - Jonesboro

• 5A - Van Buren

• 4A - Clarksville

• 3A - Ashdown

• 2A - Quitman

• 1A - Mineral Springs

• Decathlon/Heptathlon - Springdale

• Meet of Champions - Russellville

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Sports

Basketball schedules

Maumelle Charter

Boys

• Friday, Jan. 23 ... at ... Pangburn ... 8 p.m.

• Tuesday, Jan. 27 ... at ... Harding Academy ... 8 p.m.

• Friday, Jan. 30 ... vs ... Episcopal ... 8 p.m.

• Tuesday, Feb. 3 ... vs ... Lisa Academy North ... 8 p.m.

• Friday, Feb. 6 ... vs ... Rose Bud ... 7 p.m.

• Tuesday, Feb. 10 ... vs ... St. Joseph ... 7 p.m.

Girls

• Friday, Jan. 23 ... at ... Pangburn ... 7 p.m.

• Tuesday, Jan. 27 ... at ... Harding Academy ... 7 p.m.

• Friday, Jan. 30 ... vs ... Episcopal ... 7 p.m.

• Friday, Feb. 6 ... vs ... Rose Bud ... 7 p.m.

• Tuesday, Feb. 10 ... vs ... St. Joseph ... 7 p.m.

Maumelle

Boys

• Friday, Jan. 23 ... at ... Vilonia ... 7 p.m.

• Tuesday, Jan. 27 ... at ... Catholic ... 7 p.m.

• Friday, Jan. 30 ... at ... Beebe ... 7 p.m.

• Tuesday, Feb. 3 ... at ... Parkview ... 7 p.m.

• Friday, Feb. 6 ... at ... Jacksonville ... 7 p.m.

• Friday, Feb. 13 ... vs ... Sylvan Hills ... 7 p.m.

• Tuesday, Feb. 17 ... vs ... Greenbrier ... 7 p.m.

• Friday, Feb. 20 ... at ... Little Rock Christian Academy ... 7 p.m.

• Tuesday, Feb. 24 ... vs ... Vilonia ... 7 p.m.

• Friday, Feb. 27 ... vs ... Catholic ... 7 p.m.

Girls

• Friday, Jan. 23 ... at ... Vilonia ... 6 p.m.

• Tuesday, Jan. 27 ... at ... Mount St. Mary Academy ... 6 p.m.

• Friday, Jan. 30 ... vs ... Beebe ... 6 p.m.

• Tuesday, Feb. 3 ... at ... Parkview ... 6 p.m.

• Friday, Feb. 6 ... at ... Jacksonville ... 6 p.m.

• Friday, Feb. 13 ... vs ... Sylvan Hills ... 6 p.m.

• Tuesday, Feb. 17 ... vs ... Greenbrier ... 6 p.m.

• Friday, Feb. 20 ... at ... Little Rock Christian Academy ... 6 p.m.

• Tuesday, Feb. 24 ... vs ... Vilonia ... 6 p.m.

• Friday, Feb. 27 ... vs ... Mount St. Mary Academy ... 6 p.m.

CAC

Boys

• Tuesday, Jan. 27 ... at ... Heber Springs ... 7 p.m.

• Friday, Jan. 30 ... at ... Lisa Academy West ... 6 p.m.

• Tuesday, Feb. 10 ... at ... Morrilton ... 7 p.m.

• Friday, Feb. 13 ... at ... Robinson ... 7 p.m.

• Friday, Feb. 20 ... vs ... Heber Springs ... 7 p.m.

Girls

• Friday, Jan. 23 ... at ... White County Central ... 6 p.m.

• Tuesday, Jan. 27 ... at ... Quitman ... 7 p.m.

• Thursday, Jan. 29 ... at ... South Side ... 7 p.m.

• Monday, Feb. 2 ... vs ... Mt. Vernon-Enola ... 6 p.m.

• Friday, Feb. 6 ... vs ... Bigelow ... 6 p.m.

• Tuesday, Feb. 10 ... vs ... Conway Christian ... 5 p.m.

• Friday, Feb. 13 ... vs ... Robinson ... 5 p.m.

North Little Rock

Boys

• Tuesday, Jan. 27 ... at ... Bryant ... 7 p.m.

• Friday, Jan. 30 ... at ... Cabot ... 7 p.m.

• Tuesday, Feb. 3 ... at ... Central ... 7 p.m.

• Friday, Feb. 6 ... at ... Conway ... 7 p.m.

• Tuesday, Feb. 10 ... vs ... Little Rock Southwest ... 7 p.m.

• Friday, Feb. 13 ... at ... Jonesboro ... 7:30 p.m.

• Tuesday, Feb. 24 ... vs ... Bryant ... 7 p.m.

• Thursday, Feb. 26 ... vs ... Cabot ... 7 p.m.

Girls

• Tuesday, Jan. 27 ... at ... Bryant ... 6 p.m.

• Friday, Jan. 30 ... at ... Cabot ... 6 p.m.

• Tuesday, Feb. 3 ... at ... Central ... 6 p.m.

• Friday, Feb. 6 ... at ... Conway ... 6 p.m.

• Tuesday, Feb. 10 ... vs ... Little Rock Southwest ... 6 p.m.

• Friday, Feb. 13 ... at ... Jonesboro ... 6 p.m.

• Tuesday, Feb. 24 ... vs ... Bryant ... 6 p.m.

• Thursday, Feb. 26 ... vs ... Cabot ... 6 p.m.

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Health

Pandemic deaths unknown

The state Department of Health didn’t update the state’s dashboard this week, again, and deaths still total 532 for the past year. There’s no tab created for 2025 either and the virus has now killed 14,162 Arkansans since the pandemic began then. That would mean the pandemic death toll has now passed Marion’s 13,635 people, the state’s 29th largest city.

Covid toolkit

There’s now a one-stop shop to learn about vaccination sites and other Covid related information. Click here to learn more.

If you don’t want to get sick and die, there’s some things you can do:

• Get vaccinated

• Get boosted

• Wear a mask

• Avoid crowds

Subscribe if you like, pay if you can

Note to subscribers: An annual or monthly subscription is billed to your debit or credit card as ARKANSAS.SUBSTACK.COM and if you have questions, please email arkansas@substack.com. Thanks for reading and subscribing!

The Headlines

• MEETINGS: The North Little Rock School Board will have a special call meeting at 5:30 p,m. tonight. The meeting will be held at the district administration building. The Maumelle City Council will meet next Tuesday night at City Hall. Both meetings are open to the public and will be livestreamed on YouTube.

• EVENTS: The Travs seasonal job fair will be held today and then again on Saturday, Jan. 17. The first session will be from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. while the Saturday morning session will be from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. Both will be held at Dickey-Stephens Park and interviews will be conducted on site. There’s 69 home games, not including potential post-season games, with Arkansas Razorback baseball and the upcoming debut of Banana Ball. Day games are set for April 8, April 21 and May 6 with the Razorback game on April 14 and two nights of Banana Ball on March 14 and March 15. Also, Monday is Martin Luther King Jr. Day, a federal holiday, and as a result, the various government offices will be closed that day. Garbage and recycling will also run one-day delayed next week.

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Jones hired to lead Academics Plus system

The Academics Plus system didn’t look very far in replacing retiring CEO Rob McGill, as Kyron Jones, below, who was the system’s Chief Operating Officer, was tapped as McGill’s replacement.

Jones, 52, has been with the system since 2018 and was previously the School Improvement Grant Site Director for the Arkansas Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.

He, like McGill, started his career in the classroom, as a teacher at Bayou Meto Elementary School in 1996 before heading to Sherwood Elementary as a math specialist, before going into leadership roles at Baker Elementary and eventually rising to principal,

The Academics Plus System is made up of Maumelle Charter and Scott Charter schools with campuses in Maumelle, North Little Rock and Scott.

“It is an honor to serve the students, staff, and community of APCSI,” Jones said in a release. “My passion has always been, and will continue to be, putting students first, ensuring every child feels valued, supported, and prepared for success. I look forward to working alongside our outstanding educators, staff, families, and community partners to build strong schools that serve the whole child and produce high performers.”

Jones is a three-degree graduate of Arkansas State University with his education degree specialist coming in 2014.

The Academics Plus system has nearly 2,000 students across its campuses in Pulaski County.

McGill had been in the CEO role since 2010, and was previously the interim superintendent at Pulaski County Special School District.

For more, go to: www.academicsplus.org

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Aldi coming to Maumelle Boulevard

As part of its national expansion, Aldi, the discount grocer, has set its sites on Maumelle Boulevard.

Requests for comment to Aldi corporate communications weren’t returned by press time, but the grocery store will be at the intersection of Counts Massie Road and Maumelle Boulevard. Details, beyond that sparse, but based on the application for plumbing, it will be new construction.

The plans were submitted by SGA DESIGN GROUP, a contractor who specializes in retail construction that has offices in Bentonville, Tulsa and Oklahoma City.

Requests for comment to them weren’t returned by press time either.

So no timeline is as yet available.

This will be the fourth Aldi going into Pulaski County, with other locations in Little Rock and Sherwood.

SGA DESIGN, on its website, claims to have constructed more than 300 Aldi locations across the country.

This story will eventually get updated. So stay tuned.

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Vaughn hired as Maumelle’s next football coach

The School Board for the Pulaski County Special School District hired Nick Vaughn to be the next head coach at Maumelle High School at the board meeting on Tuesday night.

Vaughn, above, is currently the head football coach and athletics director at Camden Fairview but is familiar with central Arkansas as he was previously the defensive coordinator at Little Rock Parkview for now North Little Rock head coach Brad Bolding.

Vaughn was also an assistant coach at Henderson State University in Arkadelphia and also coached at El Dorado High School and Forrest City.

Fairview was Vaughn’s first head coaching job and the Cardinals went 5-6 this past season with a first round loss to Pulaski Robinson.

Vaughn was at Fairview for four seasons, starting in 2022 and was 31-18 in that span, making the playoffs all four seasons.

Vaughn’s wife, Natalie, is a former PCSSD teacher and left the district when her husband took the job at Fairview.

Vaughn replaces Brian Maupin, who resigned in December, and had served as the Hornets head coach for four seasons.

Maumelle was 6-5 this past season and lost in the first round of the playoffs to Little Rock Parkview.

State tournament basketball site selection to be held today

The AAA is meeting today in North Little Rock to decide the locations of the upcoming state tournaments for the various classifications.

The meeting will be held at 2 p.m. at the Hilton Garden Inn on McCain Boulevard in North Little Rock.

Also to be decided are the regional host sites.

There won’t be much drama involved with the state tournament sites at least in 6A as Bryant will host that classification but the others are very much up for debate.

The complete list of state basketball tournament sites are:

• 6A: Bryant

• 5A: Farmington, Lake Hamilton and Mountain Home

• 4A: Highland, Morrilton, Brookland and Pea Ridge

• 3A: Osceola, Elkins, Lamar and Jessieville

• 2A: Junction City, Quitman, Carlisle, Poyen, Hampton and Marshall/Searcy County at North Arkansas Community College in Harrison

• 1A: Lafayette County, West Side - Greers Ferry, Jasper and Clarendon

Schools who entered a bid to host a postseason tournament will have the opportunity to present their case as to why they should be selected. The sites for basketball, baseball, softball, track and field, soccer and volleyball for the calendar year will also be determined.

The list for all sports can be viewed by clicking here.

The AAA Board of Directors will hold a regularly scheduled meeting at 9 a.m. on Friday, Jan. 16

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Sports

Basketball schedules

Maumelle Charter

Boys

• Friday, Jan. 16 ... vs ... Riverview ... 8 p.m.

• Tuesday, Jan. 20 ... vs ... Bald Knob ... 5 p.m.

• Friday, Jan. 23 ... at ... Pangburn ... 8 p.m.

• Tuesday, Jan. 27 ... at ... Harding Academy ... 8 p.m.

• Friday, Jan. 30 ... vs ... Episcopal ... 8 p.m.

• Tuesday, Feb. 3 ... vs ... Lisa Academy North ... 8 p.m.

• Friday, Feb. 6 ... vs ... Rose Bud ... 7 p.m.

• Tuesday, Feb. 10 ... vs ... St. Joseph ... 7 p.m.

Girls

• Friday, Jan. 16 ... vs ... Riverview ... 7 p.m.

• Tuesday, Jan. 20 ... vs ... Bald Knob ... 7 p.m.

• Friday, Jan. 23 ... at ... Pangburn ... 7 p.m.

• Tuesday, Jan. 27 ... at ... Harding Academy ... 7 p.m.

• Friday, Jan. 30 ... vs ... Episcopal ... 7 p.m.

• Friday, Feb. 6 ... vs ... Rose Bud ... 7 p.m.

• Tuesday, Feb. 10 ... vs ... St. Joseph ... 7 p.m.

Maumelle

Boys

• Friday, Jan. 16 ... at ... Greenbrier ... 7 p.m.

• Tuesday, Jan. 20 ... vs ... Little Rock Christian Academy ... 7 p.m.

• Friday, Jan. 23 ... at ... Vilonia ... 7 p.m.

• Tuesday, Jan. 27 ... at ... Catholic ... 7 p.m.

• Friday, Jan. 30 ... at ... Beebe ... 7 p.m.

• Tuesday, Feb. 3 ... at ... Parkview ... 7 p.m.

• Friday, Feb. 6 ... at ... Jacksonville ... 7 p.m.

• Friday, Feb. 13 ... vs ... Sylvan Hills ... 7 p.m.

• Tuesday, Feb. 17 ... vs ... Greenbrier ... 7 p.m.

• Friday, Feb. 20 ... at ... Little Rock Christian Academy ... 7 p.m.

• Tuesday, Feb. 24 ... vs ... Vilonia ... 7 p.m.

• Friday, Feb. 27 ... vs ... Catholic ... 7 p.m.

Girls

• Friday, Jan. 16 ... at ... Greenbrier ... 6 p.m.

• Tuesday, Jan. 20 ... vs ... Little Rock Christian Academy ... 7 p.m.

• Friday, Jan. 23 ... at ... Vilonia ... 6 p.m.

• Tuesday, Jan. 27 ... at ... Mount St. Mary Academy ... 6 p.m.

• Friday, Jan. 30 ... vs ... Beebe ... 6 p.m.

• Tuesday, Feb. 3 ... at ... Parkview ... 6 p.m.

• Friday, Feb. 6 ... at ... Jacksonville ... 6 p.m.

• Friday, Feb. 13 ... vs ... Sylvan Hills ... 6 p.m.

• Tuesday, Feb. 17 ... vs ... Greenbrier ... 6 p.m.

• Friday, Feb. 20 ... at ... Little Rock Christian Academy ... 6 p.m.

• Tuesday, Feb. 24 ... vs ... Vilonia ... 6 p.m.

• Friday, Feb. 27 ... vs ... Mount St. Mary Academy ... 6 p.m.

CAC

Boys

• Friday, Jan. 16 ... vs ... Morrilton ... 7 p.m.

• Tuesday, Jan. 20 ... vs ... Robinson ... 7 p.m.

• Tuesday, Jan. 27 ... at ... Heber Springs ... 7 p.m.

• Friday, Jan. 30 ... at ... Lisa Academy West ... 6 p.m.

• Tuesday, Feb. 10 ... at ... Morrilton ... 7 p.m.

• Friday, Feb. 13 ... at ... Robinson ... 7 p.m.

• Friday, Feb. 20 ... vs ... Heber Springs ... 7 p.m.

Girls

• Thursday, Jan. 15 ... vs ... St. Joseph ... 6 p.m.

• Friday, Jan. 16 ... at ... Morrilton ... 6 p.m.

• Tuesday, Jan. 20 ... vs ... Robinson ... 5 p.m.

• Friday, Jan. 23 ... at ... White County Central ... 6 p.m.

• Tuesday, Jan. 27 ... at ... Quitman ... 7 p.m.

• Thursday, Jan. 29 ... at ... South Side ... 7 p.m.

• Monday, Feb. 2 ... vs ... Mt. Vernon-Enola ... 6 p.m.

• Friday, Feb. 6 ... vs ... Bigelow ... 6 p.m.

• Tuesday, Feb. 10 ... vs ... Conway Christian ... 5 p.m.

• Friday, Feb. 13 ... vs ... Robinson ... 5 p.m.

North Little Rock

Boys

• Friday, Jan. 16 ... vs ... Jonesboro ... 7:30 p.m.

• Tuesday, Jan. 27 ... at ... Bryant ... 7 p.m.

• Friday, Jan. 30 ... at ... Cabot ... 7 p.m.

• Tuesday, Feb. 3 ... at ... Central ... 7 p.m.

• Friday, Feb. 6 ... at ... Conway ... 7 p.m.

• Tuesday, Feb. 10 ... vs ... Little Rock Southwest ... 7 p.m.

• Friday, Feb. 13 ... at ... Jonesboro ... 7:30 p.m.

• Tuesday, Feb. 24 ... vs ... Bryant ... 7 p.m.

• Thursday, Feb. 26 ... vs ... Cabot ... 7 p.m.

Girls

• Friday, Jan. 16 ... vs ... Jonesboro ... 6 p.m.

• Tuesday, Jan. 27 ... at ... Bryant ... 6 p.m.

• Friday, Jan. 30 ... at ... Cabot ... 6 p.m.

• Tuesday, Feb. 3 ... at ... Central ... 6 p.m.

• Friday, Feb. 6 ... at ... Conway ... 6 p.m.

• Tuesday, Feb. 10 ... vs ... Little Rock Southwest ... 6 p.m.

• Friday, Feb. 13 ... at ... Jonesboro ... 6 p.m.

• Tuesday, Feb. 24 ... vs ... Bryant ... 6 p.m.

• Thursday, Feb. 26 ... vs ... Cabot ... 6 p.m.

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Health

Pandemic deaths unknown

The state Department of Health didn’t update the state’s dashboard this week, again, and deaths still total 532 for the past year. There’s no tab created for 2025 either and the virus has now killed 14,162 Arkansans since the pandemic began then. That would mean the pandemic death toll has now passed Marion’s 13,635 people, the state’s 29th largest city.

Covid toolkit

There’s now a one-stop shop to learn about vaccination sites and other Covid related information. Click here to learn more.

If you don’t want to get sick and die, there’s some things you can do:

• Get vaccinated

• Get boosted

• Wear a mask

• Avoid crowds

Subscribe if you like, pay if you can

Note to subscribers: An annual or monthly subscription is billed to your debit or credit card as ARKANSAS.SUBSTACK.COM and if you have questions, please email arkansas@substack.com. Thanks for reading and subscribing!

The Headlines

• MEETINGS: The North Little Rock School Board will have a special call meeting and workshop at 5:30 p,m. tonight. The meeting will be held at the district administration building. The North Little Rock City Council will meet next Monday night at City Hall. Both meetings are open to the public and will be livestreamed on YouTube.

• EVENTS: The Travs seasonal job fair will be held Thursday, Jan. 15 and then again on Saturday, Jan. 17. The first session will be from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. while the Saturday morning session will be from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. Both will be held at Dickey-Stephens Park and interviews will be conducted on site. There’s 69 home games, not including potential post-season games, with Arkansas Razorback baseball and the upcoming debut of Banana Ball. Day games are set for April 8, April 21 and May 6 with the Razorback game on April 14 and two nights of Banana Ball on March 14 and March 15.

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March 3 looms

It isn’t quite the Ides of March in historical importance but for Maumelle, March 3 will be an important date in the city’s 40-history.

That’s when a special election has been called for a ⅓ cent sales tax extension to fund six proposed bond projects.

March 3 is also party primary day for legislative candidates and turnout should be lively in Pulaski County and across the state.

Typically, special elections are low-turnout affairs but that won’t be the case, especially in Maumelle as state Rep. Brandon Achor is in the Republican primary for the State Senate seat district 13.

Achor will face Mischa Martin in the primary, while on Democratic side it will be Allison Sweatman and Jason Williams. The respective winners will face off in November to replace state Sen. Jane English.

District 13, pictured below, swings from Maumelle and across North Little Rock into Sherwood including all of rural north Pulaski County.

As for the bond issue in Maumelle, the proposals are:

• Citywide Road Improvements A multi-year initiative to repair, resurface, and improve roads across all areas of Maumelle, addressing long-term maintenance needs and enhancing transportation safety.

• Center on the Lake Indoor Therapy Pool & Parking Expansion - Addition of an indoor therapy pool and expanded parking at the Center on the Lake to improve senior programming, member community access, and year-round aquatic opportunities at Maumelle Center on the Lake.

• Police & Fire Department Training Facility Construction of a joint, modern training center to better prepare Maumelle’s first responders and improve emergency readiness.

• Fire Station #3 Construction of a new fire station to support Maumelle’s growing population and improve emergency response times citywide.

• Lake Valencia Improvements Enhancements to Lake Valencia, including shoreline stabilization, lighting, accessibility improvements, and public-use amenities.

• AstroTurf at Sports Fields Installation of synthetic turf at heavily used city sports fields to improve safety, reduce weather related closures, and increase year-round playability.

The obvious headliner there is the indoor pool at the Center on the Lake and a rendering of what has been proposed is shown below.

An indoor pool is, perhaps, among the three most contentious issues in recent city history but, alas, there’s no bond issue for backyard chickens.

The ½ cent sales tax is already in place and the vote would be to keep it going to pay for the projects and the tax will raise a little more than $3 million.

Courtney Dunn, the city’s Community Engagement Director, said that, “leading up to the election day, Maumelle will host a series of public meetings, civic presentations and community discussions,” she said on what’s been proposed.

The city is also operating MaumelleBond.com that covers the bond issue along with key dates.

Early voting will start Feb. 17 across Pulaski County at various polling locations. That information has not yet been set by the Pulaski County Election Commission but a commission meeting is scheduled for today, so those details could be finalized then.

Before then, the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reported that coffee talk sessions will be held on Jan. 29 and then again on Feb. 12. Neither are included on the timeline, and also not included on the city’s calendar at maumelle.org.

The Maumelle Area Chamber of Commerce lists a Coffee Talk event on Feb. 12 on its calendar, but no information about the bond projects is noted.

In other election news, the special election for State Rep. Distinct. 70 was held on Tuesday with Alex Holladay handily defeating Cordelia Smith-Johnson, 641 to 164. Holladay will also advance to the election on March 3 but that won’t be the primary but instead a special election to fill the seat that was vacated when Carlton Wing resigned to take over Arkansas PBS as executive director. Wing has since ended the station’s PBS affiliation and has rebranded as Arkansas TV. Mission accomplished as some say.

Holladay will face Republican Bo Renshaw.

District 70 covers portions of North Little Rock and Sherwood.

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Maumelle City Council’s been busy

The Maumelle City Council has met twice in the past two weeks with a special call meeting on Dec. 29 to approve the city budget, and then a regular meeting on Monday, for the first of the year.

The 2026 budget was approved on Dec. 29, then on Monday,

The most notable action at Monday’s meeting were ordinances related to the Country Club of Arkansas Phase 15.

Both were on first reads and a public meeting is scheduled for today on what has been proposed.

Community Meeting Notice: From the Developers of CCA-15:

A community meeting will be held at Maumelle City Hall, 550 Edgewood Drive, Maumelle, at 4:30 p.m. today.

The purpose of this meeting is to discuss a Preliminary Development Plan for 9.422 acres of property located at the east end of Maumelle Boulevard and south of Orleans Drive, in Maumelle, Pulaski County, Arkansas.

The property is known as CCA Phase 15, Lot 700R, and includes lands lying in:

the east 1/2 of the southwest 1/4, and

the southeast 1/4 of the northwest 1/4,

lying east of the Maumelle Boulevard east right-of-way line and south of the south right-of-way line of Orleans Drive, all in Section 4, Township 2 North, Range 13 West.

The public is invited to attend.

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NOTICE: PLANNING COMMISSION VACANCY

The Maumelle City Council is accepting resumes from residents interested in serving on the Maumelle Planning Commission. The Council will make an appointment to Position 2 for a four year term ending Jan. 31, 2030. Resumes should be submitted to Tina Timmons, City Clerk/Treasurer, 550 Edgewood Drive, Maumelle, Arkansas 72113 no later than 4 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2026. Resumes can be emailed to cityclerk@maumelle.org. All applicants will be interviewed by the City Council at the next scheduled Council meeting, Tuesday, January 20, 2026 at 6 p.m. The City Council will appoint immediately following the interviews. For additional information call 501-851-2500.

Recycle that Christmas tree

If you want to get all Christmas-y about it, you’re supposed to keep your tree up through the first week of January.

The whole 12 days of Christmas, Epiphany and all that but not everyone does that and now might be the time you’re trying to figure out what to do with that beautiful tree you bought at Junior Deputy.

There’s an environmentally friendly, good for nature option that the Arkansas Game & Fish Commission offers annually in dropping off that tree to be used as a fish habitat in one of the state’s many bodies of water.

This offer only applies to live Christmas trees, the fake ones need not apply..

There’s other options, of course. You could put your Christmas tree out on the curb ““on your yard waste day” if you live in Maumelle or North Little Rock and for more information in Maumelle, call 501-851-2888, while those in North Little Rock can call 371-8430.

You should, under no circumstances, burn the tree in your fireplace as it is a really good way to set your house on fire.

But, if so inclined, you can sink the tree yourself. Any Arkansas stream or river or lake will do.

Game and Fish said, “the small spaces and dense cover offered by fresh Christmas trees make excellent nursery habitat for small fish as well as great places to fish.”

If sinking it yourself, weigh it down with either cinder blocks or sandbags, so the tree will stay sunk and then remember where you put it.

What’s also really great is while Game and Fish will take care of the trees come February, you can also take trees from the pile for yourself to sink.

They note, “trees are relatively short-term habitat because they don’t have much thick woody material, but they can be gathered in clusters easily and sunk in large groups” and “the main stems will last longer than the wispy branches and continue to draw fish throughout the year.”

Trees can be dropped off at any of the following locations until the end of January:

Trees can be dropped off at any of the following central Arkansas locations until the end of January:

• Arkansas River – Riverview Park Access in North Little Rock

• Lake Barnett – Reed Access

• Harris Brake Lake – Chittman Hill Access

• Lake Pickthorne – Holland Bottoms Access

• Lake Overcup – Lake Overcup Landing

• Cox Creek Lake – Cox Creek Lake Public Access

• Lake Hamilton – Andrew Hulsey State Fish Hatchery Access

For more locations around the state, click here.

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Sports

Upcoming playoffs games

Thursday

• No. 6 Ole Miss (13-1, 7-1 SEC) vs. No. 10 Miami (12-2), today, 6:30 p.m. | ESPN/SiriusXM: 84/81 [ESPN Radio - 80] Live Statistics/Matchup/Preview: https://www.secsports.com/scores/football?end_date=2024-01-08&start_date=2023-08-25

Friday

• No. 1 Indiana (14-0) vs. No. 5 Oregon (13-1), 6:30 p.m., Friday, Jan. 9 | ESPN/SiriusXM: 84/81 [ESPN Radio - 80]

Basketball schedules

Maumelle Charter

Boys

• Friday, Jan. 9 ... at ... Lisa Academy North ... 8 p.m.

• Tuesday, Jan. 13 ... at ... Rose Bud ... 7 p.m.

• Friday, Jan. 16 ... vs ... Riverview ... 8 p.m.

• Tuesday, Jan. 20 ... vs ... Bald Knob ... 5 p.m.

• Friday, Jan. 23 ... at ... Pangburn ... 8 p.m.

• Tuesday, Jan. 27 ... at ... Harding Academy ... 8 p.m.

• Friday, Jan. 30 ... vs ... Episcopal ... 8 p.m.

• Tuesday, Feb. 3 ... vs ... Lisa Academy North ... 8 p.m.

• Friday, Feb. 6 ... vs ... Rose Bud ... 7 p.m.

• Tuesday, Feb. 10 ... vs ... St. Joseph ... 7 p.m.

Girls

• Tuesday, Jan. 13 ... at ... Rose Bud ... 7 p.m.

• Friday, Jan. 16 ... vs ... Riverview ... 7 p.m.

• Tuesday, Jan. 20 ... vs ... Bald Knob ... 7 p.m.

• Friday, Jan. 23 ... at ... Pangburn ... 7 p.m.

• Tuesday, Jan. 27 ... at ... Harding Academy ... 7 p.m.

• Friday, Jan. 30 ... vs ... Episcopal ... 7 p.m.

• Friday, Feb. 6 ... vs ... Rose Bud ... 7 p.m.

• Tuesday, Feb. 10 ... vs ... St. Joseph ... 7 p.m.

Maumelle

Boys

• Tuesday, Jan. 13 ... at ... Sylvan Hills ... 7 p.m.

• Friday, Jan. 16 ... at ... Greenbrier ... 7 p.m.

• Tuesday, Jan. 20 ... vs ... Little Rock Christian Academy ... 7 p.m.

• Friday, Jan. 23 ... at ... Vilonia ... 7 p.m.

• Tuesday, Jan. 27 ... at ... Catholic ... 7 p.m.

• Friday, Jan. 30 ... at ... Beebe ... 7 p.m.

• Tuesday, Feb. 3 ... at ... Parkview ... 7 p.m.

• Friday, Feb. 6 ... at ... Jacksonville ... 7 p.m.

• Friday, Feb. 13 ... vs ... Sylvan Hills ... 7 p.m.

• Tuesday, Feb. 17 ... vs ... Greenbrier ... 7 p.m.

• Friday, Feb. 20 ... at ... Little Rock Christian Academy ... 7 p.m.

• Tuesday, Feb. 24 ... vs ... Vilonia ... 7 p.m.

• Friday, Feb. 27 ... vs ... Catholic ... 7 p.m.

Girls

• Tuesday, Jan. 13 ... at ... Sylvan Hills ... 6 p.m.

• Friday, Jan. 16 ... at ... Greenbrier ... 6 p.m.

• Tuesday, Jan. 20 ... vs ... Little Rock Christian Academy ... 7 p.m.

• Friday, Jan. 23 ... at ... Vilonia ... 6 p.m.

• Tuesday, Jan. 27 ... at ... Mount St. Mary Academy ... 6 p.m.

• Friday, Jan. 30 ... vs ... Beebe ... 6 p.m.

• Tuesday, Feb. 3 ... at ... Parkview ... 6 p.m.

• Friday, Feb. 6 ... at ... Jacksonville ... 6 p.m.

• Friday, Feb. 13 ... vs ... Sylvan Hills ... 6 p.m.

• Tuesday, Feb. 17 ... vs ... Greenbrier ... 6 p.m.

• Friday, Feb. 20 ... at ... Little Rock Christian Academy ... 6 p.m.

• Tuesday, Feb. 24 ... vs ... Vilonia ... 6 p.m.

• Friday, Feb. 27 ... vs ... Mount St. Mary Academy ... 6 p.m.

CAC

Boys

• Friday, Jan. 16 ... vs ... Morrilton ... 7 p.m.

• Tuesday, Jan. 20 ... vs ... Robinson ... 7 p.m.

• Tuesday, Jan. 27 ... at ... Heber Springs ... 7 p.m.

• Friday, Jan. 30 ... at ... Lisa Academy West ... 6 p.m.

• Tuesday, Feb. 10 ... at ... Morrilton ... 7 p.m.

• Friday, Feb. 13 ... at ... Robinson ... 7 p.m.

• Friday, Feb. 20 ... vs ... Heber Springs ... 7 p.m.

Girls

• Thursday, Jan. 8 ... vs ... South Side ... 7 p.m.

• Monday, Jan. 12 ... at ... Faulkner County HomeSchool ... 7 p.m.

• Thursday, Jan. 15 ... vs ... St. Joseph ... 6 p.m.

• Friday, Jan. 16 ... at ... Morrilton ... 6 p.m.

• Tuesday, Jan. 20 ... vs ... Robinson ... 5 p.m.

• Friday, Jan. 23 ... at ... White County Central ... 6 p.m.

• Tuesday, Jan. 27 ... at ... Quitman ... 7 p.m.

• Thursday, Jan. 29 ... at ... South Side ... 7 p.m.

• Monday, Feb. 2 ... vs ... Mt. Vernon-Enola ... 6 p.m.

• Friday, Feb. 6 ... vs ... Bigelow ... 6 p.m.

• Tuesday, Feb. 10 ... vs ... Conway Christian ... 5 p.m.

• Friday, Feb. 13 ... vs ... Robinson ... 5 p.m.

North Little Rock

Boys

• Friday, Jan. 9 ... vs ... Conway ... 7 p.m.

• Tuesday, Jan. 13 ... at ... Little Rock Southwest ... 7 p.m.

• Friday, Jan. 16 ... vs ... Jonesboro ... 7:30 p.m.

• Tuesday, Jan. 27 ... at ... Bryant ... 7 p.m.

• Friday, Jan. 30 ... at ... Cabot ... 7 p.m.

• Tuesday, Feb. 3 ... at ... Central ... 7 p.m.

• Friday, Feb. 6 ... at ... Conway ... 7 p.m.

• Tuesday, Feb. 10 ... vs ... Little Rock Southwest ... 7 p.m.

• Friday, Feb. 13 ... at ... Jonesboro ... 7:30 p.m.

• Tuesday, Feb. 24 ... vs ... Bryant ... 7 p.m.

• Thursday, Feb. 26 ... vs ... Cabot ... 7 p.m.

Girls

• Friday, Jan. 9 ... vs ... Conway ... 6 p.m.

• Tuesday, Jan. 13 ... at ... Little Rock Southwest ... 6 p.m.

• Friday, Jan. 16 ... vs ... Jonesboro ... 6 p.m.

• Tuesday, Jan. 27 ... at ... Bryant ... 6 p.m.

• Friday, Jan. 30 ... at ... Cabot ... 6 p.m.

• Tuesday, Feb. 3 ... at ... Central ... 6 p.m.

• Friday, Feb. 6 ... at ... Conway ... 6 p.m.

• Tuesday, Feb. 10 ... vs ... Little Rock Southwest ... 6 p.m.

• Friday, Feb. 13 ... at ... Jonesboro ... 6 p.m.

• Tuesday, Feb. 24 ... vs ... Bryant ... 6 p.m.

• Thursday, Feb. 26 ... vs ... Cabot ... 6 p.m.

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Health

Pandemic deaths unknown

The state Department of Health didn’t update the state’s dashboard this week, again, and deaths still total 532 for the past year. There’s no tab created for 2025 either and the virus has now killed 14,162 Arkansans since the pandemic began then. That would mean the pandemic death toll has now passed Marion’s 13,635 people, the state’s 29th largest city.

Covid toolkit

There’s now a one-stop shop to learn about vaccination sites and other Covid related information. Click here to learn more.

If you don’t want to get sick and die, there’s some things you can do:

• Get vaccinated

• Get boosted

• Wear a mask

• Avoid crowds

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Note to subscribers: An annual or monthly subscription is billed to your debit or credit card as ARKANSAS.SUBSTACK.COM and if you have questions, please email arkansas@substack.com. Thanks for reading and subscribing!

The Headlines

• MEETINGS: The Maumelle City Council will meet next Monday night at City Hall. The City Council also met this past Monday and finalized the city’s budget for 2026. More on that next week.

• EVENTS: Today is New Year’s Eve and the last official day of 2025. Thursday is Jan. 1, the first day of 2026. Just in case anyone wasn’t up to speed on the calendar. As usual, the various government offices will be closed on Thursday due to the holiday. Some may also be closed or working limited hours on Friday, so call ahead if you have any business. Trash and recycling will not be picked up on Thursday and run one-day delayed on Friday. If you need something to do tonight, the GloWild at the Little Rock Zoo is big fun and reasonable in cost to attend. Lots of free parking as well. For more details, click here.

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NOTICE: PLANNING COMMISSION VACANCY

The Maumelle City Council is accepting resumes from residents interested in serving on the Maumelle Planning Commission. The Council will make an appointment to Position 2 for a four year term ending Jan. 31, 2030. Resumes should be submitted to Tina Timmons, City Clerk/Treasurer, 550 Edgewood Drive, Maumelle, Arkansas 72113 no later than 4 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2026. Resumes can be emailed to cityclerk@maumelle.org. All applicants will be interviewed by the City Council at the next scheduled Council meeting, Tuesday, January 20, 2026 at 6 p.m. The City Council will appoint immediately following the interviews. For additional information call 501-851-2500.

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First Day Hikes

As the New Year nears, for some that means a reason to get outdoors with a First Day Hike.

It is exactly what it sounds like, on Thursday, you go for a hike. Maybe in the morning. Maybe a little later, after it warms up.

Among those encouraging First Day Hikes is Arkansas State Parks, and they noted that this Thursday is 2026 which means the start of America 250, the semiquincentennial celebration for the United States.

Regardless, America 250 is much easier to write than semiquincentennial.

As part of that effort the state parks system will be distributing stickers to those participating in the hikes. Just check in at the state park to go on a ranger-led hike or you can go on a self-guided hike and log what you did at ArkansasStateParks.com/FirstDayHikes.

Eye on the Sky

• Today: Sunny, with a high near 56 and a low around 35.

• New Year’s Day: Increasing clouds, with a high near 60, with a low around 46.

• Friday: Mostly cloudy, with a high near 60, with a low around 38.

• Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 53, with a low around 34. Calm wind.

• Sunday: Partly sunny, with a high near 57, with a low around 41.

• Monday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 62, with a low around 41.

A list of guided First Day Hikes at Arkansas State Parks, along with tips on planning your hike, accessibility information and details on how to share photos and videos, can be found at ArkansasStateParks.com/FirstDayHikes.

Participants are encouraged to share their experiences on social media using #ARStateParks and #FirstDayHikes.

• Christmas North of the River: The Ice Skating Rink at Lakewood is now open through Jan. 4 at 4500 Lakeshore Drive

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Education news

Maumelle’s Slade earns degree from Central Methodist University

Central Methodist University celebrated its Winter 2025 commencement on Dec. 6 in Puckett Fieldhouse on the Fayette campus in Missouri. Business owner and author Rogers Strickland gave the commencement address as a packed house of family, friends, faculty, staff, and other guests celebrated the graduates.

Students were recognized for earning degrees at the master’s, bachelor’s, and associate’s levels.

Zyon Slade, of Maumelle, above, was among those on the program for the event. Slade graduated with the following degree: Bachelor of Science.

Slade was also a member of the football team there and played in 11 games and finished the season with 422 yards receiving and four touchdowns.

Never Too Late: Nontraditional Student Joyce Young White earns graduate degree

Proving that it’s never too late to pursue a calling, Joyce Young White, below, fulfilled a decades-long dream this December when she received her master’s degree in health education and promotion from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock

.

White, who grew up in Helena and now lives in North Little Rock, returned to college nearly 28 years after putting her education on hold to focus on work and family. She previously earned a bachelor’s degree in health education and promotion from UA Little Rock, along with associate degrees from Phillips County Community College and UA Little Rock.

“I wasn’t able to go to college right after high school, but my desire for knowledge never wavered,” White said. “As soon as I could juggle family, work, and school, I went for it.”

Her path to becoming a UA Little Rock Trojan began in the winter of 1977, when two recruiters visited her community college to speak with students about a summer program. White said she had always believed in her ability to learn but faced limited career options during that era.

“That innate desire to further my education remained a burning desire within me, regardless of the type of employment available that utilized my skills,” she said. “The opportunity to return to school presented itself a few years later, but after several semesters of juggling family and work, I realized I was headed for total burnout.”

She put her education on hold - a pause that lasted nearly 28 years.

“During that time, I witnessed the power of God opening and closing doors and revealing my true passion, which evolved into health care advocacy for the elderly,” she said.

Eventually, White returned to school and completed her bachelor’s degree. Still, she doubted whether graduate school was realistic.

“Graduate school seemed to be an unattainable dream, but God had better plans,” she said. “I found myself surrounded by a support system of encouragement.”

The road was not easy. White faced serious health concerns and other hardships but said her 94-year-old mentor kept her grounded.

“She always said, ‘They can take your car, your house, and just about anything else, but they can never take away your education,’” she said.

While studying full time, White landed what she called her dream job in private health care, working with patients with Alzheimer’s disease.

“I got real-world application concurrent with classroom training and knowledge,” she said. “In addition to learning, I got hands-on training and a critique of my craft.”

Her job came to a heartbreaking end when she and her client contracted COVID-19, and her client died. White continues to experience long-term effects from the illness, but she persisted in her studies.

“Being a nontraditional senior citizen, this journey has been one of the most demanding, difficult, rewarding, and spirit-filled paths I will ever take,” she said.

White struggled in her early graduate courses, at one point walking across campus in the snow, crying as she searched for help with an assignment.

“I wasn’t ready to give up so easily or that early,” she said.

Support from faculty helped her push forward. She remembers a professor commending her performance on a difficult exam, which gave her renewed confidence.

“My self-confidence rose to new heights, and I began to approach all my classes with a positive attitude,” she said. “Those encouragements became my incentive to always give it my best.”

Throughout her coursework, White said she learned to view healing as a holistic concept that encompasses all dimensions of wellness. She also developed skills in qualitative interpretive meta-synthesis, which she successfully applied in defending her thesis.

Qualitative interpretive meta-synthesis combines insights from multiple qualitative studies to build a deeper, more comprehensive understanding of a topic. White’s thesis is titled Prayer for Healing: A Qualitative Interpretative Meta-Synthesis Connecting the Inner Man to the Spirit of God.

White said her mother’s belief in her abilities helped sustain her throughout the journey. Others, including mentors, professors, and friends, served as “voices of reason” who guided her through the challenges.

“It is because of each of them that I endeavored this journey, and because of their faith in my ability that I finished a very long and rocky road,” she said. “All my professors were exceptional, and my committee was phenomenal.”

Now on the verge of earning her master’s degree, White hopes her story inspires others to continue learning at any age.

“I’ve been blessed to do what I wanted to do, and as an older adult, I want to be a role model for those who seek to better themselves through education and training,” she said.

White credits the university with helping her build confidence and chart a new direction.

“UA Little Rock provided me with the formal education to pursue a better life,” she said. “The skills and knowledge I gained gave me a sense of direction that became exciting and very rewarding.”

With about 9,000 students and 100 programs, UA Little Rock offers learning, research, service, social and career opportunities that can only be found at a metropolitan university located in Arkansas’s capital city.

Recycle that Christmas tree

If you want to get all Christmas-y about it, you’re supposed to keep your tree up through the first week of January.

The whole 12 days of Christmas, Epiphany and all that but not everyone does that and now might be the time you’re trying to figure out what to do with that beautiful tree you bought at Junior Deputy.

There’s an environmentally friendly, good for nature option that the Arkansas Game & Fish Commission offers annually in dropping off that tree to be used as a fish habitat in one of the state’s many bodies of water.

This offer only applies to live Christmas trees, the fake ones need not apply..

There’s other options, of course. You could put your Christmas tree out on the curb ““on your yard waste day” if you live in Maumelle or North Little Rock and for more information in Maumelle, call 501-851-2888, while those in North Little Rock can call 371-8430.

You should, under no circumstances, burn the tree in your fireplace as it is a really good way to set your house on fire.

But, if so inclined, you can sink the tree yourself. Any Arkansas stream or river or lake will do.

Game and Fish said, “the small spaces and dense cover offered by fresh Christmas trees make excellent nursery habitat for small fish as well as great places to fish.”

If sinking it yourself, weigh it down with either cinder blocks or sandbags, so the tree will stay sunk and then remember where you put it.

What’s also really great is while Game and Fish will take care of the trees come February, you can also take trees from the pile for yourself to sink.

They note, “trees are relatively short-term habitat because they don’t have much thick woody material, but they can be gathered in clusters easily and sunk in large groups” and “the main stems will last longer than the wispy branches and continue to draw fish throughout the year.”

Trees can be dropped off at any of the following locations until the end of January:

Trees can be dropped off at any of the following central Arkansas locations until the end of January:

• Arkansas River – Riverview Park Access in North Little Rock

• Lake Barnett – Reed Access

• Harris Brake Lake – Chittman Hill Access

• Lake Pickthorne – Holland Bottoms Access

• Lake Overcup – Lake Overcup Landing

• Cox Creek Lake – Cox Creek Lake Public Access

• Lake Hamilton – Andrew Hulsey State Fish Hatchery Access

For more locations around the state, click here.

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Sports

Upcoming SEC bowl games

Today

• ReliaQuest Bowl, 11 a.m.: #14 Vanderbilt (10-2, 6-2) vs. #23 Iowa (8-4) | ESPN/SiriusXM: 211/190 [ESPN Radio - 80]. Live Statistics/Matchup/Preview: 11https://www.secsports.com/scores/football?date=2025-12-31&end_date=2024-01-08&start_date=2023-08-25

• Cheez-It Citrus Bowl, 2 p.m.: #13 Texas (9-3, 6-2) vs. #18 Michigan (9-3) | ABC/SiriusXM: 139/191 [ESPN Radio - 80]. Live Statistics/Matchup/Preview: https://www.secsports.com/scores/football?date=2025-12-31&end_date=2024-01-08&start_date=2023-08-25

Thursday

• Rose Bowl CFP Quarterfinal, 3 p.m.: #9 Alabama (11-3, 7-1 SEC) vs. #1 Indiana (13-0) | ESPN/SiriusXM: 82 [ESPN Radio - 80]. Live Statistics/Matchup/Preview: https://www.secsports.com/scores/football?date=2026-01-01&end_date=2024-01-08&start_date=2023-08-25

• Allstate Sugar Bowl CFP Quarterfinal , 7 p.m.: #3 Georgia (12-1, 7-1 SEC) vs. #6 Ole Miss (12-1, 7-1 SEC) | ESPN/SiriusXM: 84 - 82 [ESPN Radio - 80]. Live Statistics/Matchup/Preview: https://www.secsports.com/scores/football?date=2026-01-01&end_date=2024-01-08&start_date=2023-08-25

Friday

• Duke’s Mayo Bowl, 7 p.m.: Mississippi State (5-7, 1-7 SEC) vs. Wake Forest (8-4) | ESPN/SiriusXM: 84 [ESPN Radio - 80]. Live Statistics/Matchup/Preview: https://www.secsports.com/scores/football?date=2026-01-02&end_date=2024-01-08&start_date=2023-08-25

Basketball previews

By Collin Scott

Maumelle Charter Falcons (Boys Basketball)

• School: Maumelle Charter High School

• Coach: Dalton Diles

• Mascot: Falcons

• Conference: 3A Region 6

• Last year’s record- 8-24

• Record so far- 8-10 overall, 2-1 in conference

• Returning starters: Brecken Poteat, Gabe Reed, Tripp Patton, Cayden Greiman, Nylan Lovette

• Players to watch: Gabe Reed, Nylan Lovette

• Outlook: Despite the 43-59 loss to the Ouachita Warriors, Maumelle Falcons have shown a vast improvement this season, going from a 8-24 record last season to an improved 8-10 record so far this season. The inconsistency during these games is what has cost them various games this season. The Falcons have proven this season that they are now able to compete with and are continuing to finish this season stronger than last year.

• Roster

Basketball schedules

Maumelle Charter

Boys

• Tuesday, Jan. 6 ... at ... Episcopal ... 8 p.m.

• Friday, Jan. 9 ... at ... Lisa Academy North ... 8 p.m.

• Tuesday, Jan. 13 ... at ... Rose Bud ... 7 p.m.

• Friday, Jan. 16 ... vs ... Riverview ... 8 p.m.

• Tuesday, Jan. 20 ... vs ... Bald Knob ... 5 p.m.

• Friday, Jan. 23 ... at ... Pangburn ... 8 p.m.

• Tuesday, Jan. 27 ... at ... Harding Academy ... 8 p.m.

• Friday, Jan. 30 ... vs ... Episcopal ... 8 p.m.

• Tuesday, Feb. 3 ... vs ... Lisa Academy North ... 8 p.m.

• Friday, Feb. 6 ... vs ... Rose Bud ... 7 p.m.

• Tuesday, Feb. 10 ... vs ... St. Joseph ... 7 p.m.

Girls

• Tuesday, Jan. 6 ... at ... Episcopal ... 7 p.m.

• Tuesday, Jan. 13 ... at ... Rose Bud ... 7 p.m.

• Friday, Jan. 16 ... vs ... Riverview ... 7 p.m.

• Tuesday, Jan. 20 ... vs ... Bald Knob ... 7 p.m.

• Friday, Jan. 23 ... at ... Pangburn ... 7 p.m.

• Tuesday, Jan. 27 ... at ... Harding Academy ... 7 p.m.

• Friday, Jan. 30 ... vs ... Episcopal ... 7 p.m.

• Friday, Feb. 6 ... vs ... Rose Bud ... 7 p.m.

• Tuesday, Feb. 10 ... vs ... St. Joseph ... 7 p.m.

Maumelle

Boys

• Friday, Jan. 2 ... at ... Morrilton ... 7 p.m.

• Tuesday, Jan. 6 ... vs ... Jacksonville ... 7 p.m.

• Tuesday, Jan. 13 ... at ... Sylvan Hills ... 7 p.m.

• Friday, Jan. 16 ... at ... Greenbrier ... 7 p.m.

• Tuesday, Jan. 20 ... vs ... Little Rock Christian Academy ... 7 p.m.

• Friday, Jan. 23 ... at ... Vilonia ... 7 p.m.

• Tuesday, Jan. 27 ... at ... Catholic ... 7 p.m.

• Friday, Jan. 30 ... at ... Beebe ... 7 p.m.

• Tuesday, Feb. 3 ... at ... Parkview ... 7 p.m.

• Friday, Feb. 6 ... at ... Jacksonville ... 7 p.m.

• Friday, Feb. 13 ... vs ... Sylvan Hills ... 7 p.m.

• Tuesday, Feb. 17 ... vs ... Greenbrier ... 7 p.m.

• Friday, Feb. 20 ... at ... Little Rock Christian Academy ... 7 p.m.

• Tuesday, Feb. 24 ... vs ... Vilonia ... 7 p.m.

• Friday, Feb. 27 ... vs ... Catholic ... 7 p.m.

Girls

• Friday, Jan. 2 ... at ... Morrilton ... 2 p.m.

• Tuesday, Jan. 6 ... vs ... Jacksonville ... 6 p.m.

• Tuesday, Jan. 13 ... at ... Sylvan Hills ... 6 p.m.

• Friday, Jan. 16 ... at ... Greenbrier ... 6 p.m.

• Tuesday, Jan. 20 ... vs ... Little Rock Christian Academy ... 7 p.m.

• Friday, Jan. 23 ... at ... Vilonia ... 6 p.m.

• Tuesday, Jan. 27 ... at ... Mount St. Mary Academy ... 6 p.m.

• Friday, Jan. 30 ... vs ... Beebe ... 6 p.m.

• Tuesday, Feb. 3 ... at ... Parkview ... 6 p.m.

• Friday, Feb. 6 ... at ... Jacksonville ... 6 p.m.

• Friday, Feb. 13 ... vs ... Sylvan Hills ... 6 p.m.

• Tuesday, Feb. 17 ... vs ... Greenbrier ... 6 p.m.

• Friday, Feb. 20 ... at ... Little Rock Christian Academy ... 6 p.m.

• Tuesday, Feb. 24 ... vs ... Vilonia ... 6 p.m.

• Friday, Feb. 27 ... vs ... Mount St. Mary Academy ... 6 p.m.

CAC

Boys

• Tuesday, Jan. 6 ... vs ... Lisa Academy West ... 6 p.m.

• Friday, Jan. 16 ... vs ... Morrilton ... 7 p.m.

• Tuesday, Jan. 20 ... vs ... Robinson ... 7 p.m.

• Tuesday, Jan. 27 ... at ... Heber Springs ... 7 p.m.

• Friday, Jan. 30 ... at ... Lisa Academy West ... 6 p.m.

• Tuesday, Feb. 10 ... at ... Morrilton ... 7 p.m.

• Friday, Feb. 13 ... at ... Robinson ... 7 p.m.

• Friday, Feb. 20 ... vs ... Heber Springs ... 7 p.m.

Girls

• Monday, Jan. 5 ... at ... Mt. Vernon-Enola ... 6 p.m.

• Thursday, Jan. 8 ... vs ... South Side ... 7 p.m.

• Monday, Jan. 12 ... at ... Faulkner County HomeSchool ... 7 p.m.

• Thursday, Jan. 15 ... vs ... St. Joseph ... 6 p.m.

• Friday, Jan. 16 ... at ... Morrilton ... 6 p.m.

• Tuesday, Jan. 20 ... vs ... Robinson ... 5 p.m.

• Friday, Jan. 23 ... at ... White County Central ... 6 p.m.

• Tuesday, Jan. 27 ... at ... Quitman ... 7 p.m.

• Thursday, Jan. 29 ... at ... South Side ... 7 p.m.

• Monday, Feb. 2 ... vs ... Mt. Vernon-Enola ... 6 p.m.

• Friday, Feb. 6 ... vs ... Bigelow ... 6 p.m.

• Tuesday, Feb. 10 ... vs ... Conway Christian ... 5 p.m.

• Friday, Feb. 13 ... vs ... Robinson ... 5 p.m.

North Little Rock

Boys

• Tuesday, Jan. 6 ... vs ... Central ... 7 p.m.

• Friday, Jan. 9 ... vs ... Conway ... 7 p.m.

• Tuesday, Jan. 13 ... at ... Little Rock Southwest ... 7 p.m.

• Friday, Jan. 16 ... vs ... Jonesboro ... 7:30 p.m.

• Tuesday, Jan. 27 ... at ... Bryant ... 7 p.m.

• Friday, Jan. 30 ... at ... Cabot ... 7 p.m.

• Tuesday, Feb. 3 ... at ... Central ... 7 p.m.

• Friday, Feb. 6 ... at ... Conway ... 7 p.m.

• Tuesday, Feb. 10 ... vs ... Little Rock Southwest ... 7 p.m.

• Friday, Feb. 13 ... at ... Jonesboro ... 7:30 p.m.

• Tuesday, Feb. 24 ... vs ... Bryant ... 7 p.m.

• Thursday, Feb. 26 ... vs ... Cabot ... 7 p.m.

Girls

• Tuesday, Jan. 6 ... vs ... Central ... 6:45 p.m.

• Friday, Jan. 9 ... vs ... Conway ... 6 p.m.

• Tuesday, Jan. 13 ... at ... Little Rock Southwest ... 6 p.m.

• Friday, Jan. 16 ... vs ... Jonesboro ... 6 p.m.

• Tuesday, Jan. 27 ... at ... Bryant ... 6 p.m.

• Friday, Jan. 30 ... at ... Cabot ... 6 p.m.

• Tuesday, Feb. 3 ... at ... Central ... 6 p.m.

• Friday, Feb. 6 ... at ... Conway ... 6 p.m.

• Tuesday, Feb. 10 ... vs ... Little Rock Southwest ... 6 p.m.

• Friday, Feb. 13 ... at ... Jonesboro ... 6 p.m.

• Tuesday, Feb. 24 ... vs ... Bryant ... 6 p.m.

• Thursday, Feb. 26 ... vs ... Cabot ... 6 p.m.

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Health

Pandemic deaths unknown

The state Department of Health didn’t update the state’s dashboard this week, again, and deaths still total 532 for the past year. There’s no tab created for 2025 either and the virus has now killed 14,162 Arkansans since the pandemic began then. That would mean the pandemic death toll has now passed Marion’s 13,635 people, the state’s 29th largest city.

Covid toolkit

There’s now a one-stop shop to learn about vaccination sites and other Covid related information. Click here to learn more.

If you don’t want to get sick and die, there’s some things you can do:

• Get vaccinated

• Get boosted

• Wear a mask

• Avoid crowds

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Note to subscribers: An annual or monthly subscription is billed to your debit or credit card as ARKANSAS.SUBSTACK.COM and if you have questions, please email arkansas@substack.com. Thanks for reading and subscribing!

The Headlines

• MEETINGS: There’s no meetings on the schedule for the coming week. Being the holidays and all. There’s always a chance for an emergency meeting as North Little Rock City Council once met famously on New Year’s Eve. Doesn’t seem like it was really an emergency, more of a budget thing.

• EVENTS: Thursday is Christmas. Next week is New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day. The various government offices will be closed for the holidays and the Friday after. Trash and recycling will run on New Year’s Eve, but one-day delayed because of New Year’s with pickup scheduled for Jan. 2.

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NOTICE: PLANNING COMMISSION VACANCY

The Maumelle City Council is accepting resumes from residents interested in serving on the Maumelle Planning Commission. The Council will make an appointment to Position 2 for a four year term ending Jan. 31, 2030. Resumes should be submitted to Tina Timmons, City Clerk/Treasurer, 550 Edgewood Drive, Maumelle, Arkansas 72113 no later than 4 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2026. Resumes can be emailed to cityclerk@maumelle.org. All applicants will be interviewed by the City Council at the next scheduled Council meeting, Tuesday, January 20, 2026 at 6 p.m. The City Council will appoint immediately following the interviews. For additional information call 501-851-2500.

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Christmas time is here

Today is Christmas Eve, which seems weird since it is somewhere in the 70s and everyone seems to be looking for their dress flipflops.

But, it is Christmas Eve and the day after that is Christmas and the day after that is Boxing Day, which is when Canadians engage in the sweet science, Or maybe it is the day they box up Christmas decorations. Or maybe it is something else.

I’m not Canadian and while I know a few, I think a couple even subscribe, I’ve never bothered to ask the provenance of Boxing Day and its significance in Canadian culture, or if there is any.

As an American, I’m not obligated to care and it hasn’t been covered on Letterkenny, so it will continue to be a mystery.

Anyway, after Boxing Day is the day that, if you traveled to see family, then this is the day you start to head home.

Christmas is tricky, especially for those who have lost loved ones and family members since the previous holiday which gets me to the two elves pictured below.

They were made by my Aunt Pat, at her basement kiln in Metcalf, Illinois. She, I learned much later in life, had gone with some friends to buy a kiln together and they made various pieces of pottery together, I guess to sell, or give to family members as gifts.

They were previously at my late mother’s home and have been part of my life for as long as I can remember and because I am old, very old, that means decades upon decades.

I don’t know if they have names, or were ever named, so I have christened them Sexton and Pervis or “Sexy” and “Perv” for short. That’s not really what I named them. What I actually named them is unprintable in a family publication,

They’ll stay here for now, and, maybe, some niece or nephew will take them or, more likely, they’ll end up in an estate sale where they will be sold for a dollar or two.

At some point today, I’ll get around to the annual tradition of watching the Charlie Brown Christmas special. For all intents and purposes, the only reason I pay for Apple TV.

Enjoy the holidays. Hold the ones you love close, remember those who aren’t with us this year.

Thanks for reading, Jeremy.

Christmas North of the River

• The Ice Skating Rink at Lakewood is now open through Jan. 4 at 4500 Lakeshore Drive

A Very Merry Maumelle

• The Whimsical Trail opens at Lake Willastein Park and features a lighted trail around the lake starting at dark:30 daily.

• The city will also start a holiday stock the pantries drive.

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No snow on Christmas here, there or anywhere

The weather forecast this year is kinda bonkers.

Record highs and no snow at least for Christmas but then taking a turn to chilly starting next week and into the New Year.

Eye on the Sky

• Christmas Day: Patchy morning fog, otherwise, partly sunny, with a high near 76 and a low around 62.

• Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 79, with a low around 59.

• Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 78, with a low around 62.

• Sunday: A 40 percent chance of afternoon showers, with a high near 72, with a low around 31.

• Monday: Partly sunny, with a high near 40, with a low around 24.

In other words, this is an extremely warm forecast for Arkansas at Christmas with record or near-record highs and, generally, snow on the holiday has been exceedingly rare but here and around the state.

That’s unlike 2022 though where parts of northern Arkansas got a light dusting of snow, and temperatures dropped into the single digits with wind chills below that.

The lack of forecast snow means the elusive “White Christmas” remains that way for Arkansas.

The National Weather Service has been keeping records in Arkansas since 1875 and the state saw snowfall in just 12 of those years on Christmas, while in three other years, the state already had snow on the ground, so people at least woke up to a White Christmas.

The most recent “White Christmas” was when a surprise blizzard hit Arkansas in 2012.

A real blizzard, not the kind you get at Dairy Queen, when the Weather Service issued a “blizzard warning” for northeast Arkansas. Making it the state’s first “official blizzard.”

Little Rock, that day, saw a recorded nine inches of snow, while most other parts of the state saw more than 10 inches of snow. There was even more snow in the higher elevations of north-central Arkansas getting 15 to a high of 17.5 inches that day.

The snow kept falling as 1.3 inches of snow were recorded in Little Rock on the following day, with other portions of the state getting more.

The results from the snow were fairly typical, snarled roads, stranded travelers and more than 260,000 homes and businesses lost power that day, with the state taking a week, or more to recover.

That year was just one of two White Christmases, where snow starts that day and accumulates to at least one inch, with the other happening in 1926.

There’s been a total of 16 times with snow in and around Christmas in Arkansas, with measurable snow seen four times, with flurries or trace amounts falling nine times. The other three times were from Christmas Eve, or earlier, snow.

Past White Christmases

• 1876: Two inches of snow was on the ground from snowfall on Christmas Eve.

• 1879: Christmas Eve rain changed to snow, which continued into Christmas morning.

• 1887: Snow fell with no accumulation.

• 1897: One inch of snow fell on Christmas Day morning.

• 1913: Snow started at midnight and continued on Christmas Day. A total of 1.5 inches of snow fell.

• 1914: Snow fell with no accumulation.

• 1918: Snow fell with no accumulation.

• 1926: Sleet turned into snow with a total of 1.7 inches of sleet and 2.5 inches of snow.

• 1935: Snow fell with no accumulation.

• 1939: Snow fell with no accumulation.

• 1962: Christmas Eve snow of 1.5 inches but it melted during the night leaving only patches of snow on the ground Christmas morning.

• 1963: Heavy snow on Dec. 22 left more than four inches still on the ground by Christmas Day.

• 1975: Snow fell with no accumulation.

• 1983: Snow from earlier that week left about an inch of snow and ice still on the ground.

• 1990: 2.4 inches of snow and sleet fell earlier in the week and most of it remained on the ground through Christmas Day.

• 2000: A trace of snow was on the ground on Christmas Day but the worst was still to come as a major long-term ice storm developed that day and continued through Dec. 27. It left three inches of ice in Little Rock and more around the state, completely shutting down Arkansas in one of the worst ice storms in recorded history.

• 2009: Snow fell with no accumulation.

• 2012: Nine inches of snow in Little Rock, with more around Arkansas for the state’s snowiest White Christmas.

• 2022: After seeing some 1 to 2 inches across the state’s northern third and extending south to West Memphis on Dec. 21-22. Hopes were high last year and while some parts of northern Arkansas’s hill country woke up Christmas morning to see a “light dusting” of snow. It missed the authentic White Christmas experience of at least 1 inch of snow. While central Arkansas didn’t even get that, it was, as you might remember extremely cold last year with single digit temperatures and wind chills well below that.

Recycle that Christmas tree

If you want to get all Christmas-y about it, you’re supposed to keep your tree up through the first week of January.

The whole 12 days of Christmas, Epiphany and all that but not everyone does that and now might be the time you’re trying to figure out what to do with that beautiful tree you bought at Junior Deputy.

There’s an environmentally friendly, good for nature option that the Arkansas Game & Fish Commission offers annually in dropping off that tree to be used as a fish habitat in one of the state’s many bodies of water.

This offer only applies to live Christmas trees, the fake ones need not apply..

There’s other options, of course. You could put your Christmas tree out on the curb ““on your yard waste day” if you live in Maumelle or North Little Rock and for more information in Maumelle, call 501-851-2888, while those in North Little Rock can call 371-8430.

You should, under no circumstances, burn the tree in your fireplace as it is a really good way to set your house on fire.

But, if so inclined, you can sink the tree yourself. Any Arkansas stream or river or lake will do.

Game and Fish said, “the small spaces and dense cover offered by fresh Christmas trees make excellent nursery habitat for small fish as well as great places to fish.”

If sinking it yourself, weigh it down with either cinder blocks or sandbags, so the tree will stay sunk and then remember where you put it.

What’s also really great is while Game and Fish will take care of the trees come February, you can also take trees from the pile for yourself to sink.

They note, “trees are relatively short-term habitat because they don’t have much thick woody material, but they can be gathered in clusters easily and sunk in large groups” and “the main stems will last longer than the wispy branches and continue to draw fish throughout the year.”

Trees can be dropped off at any of the following locations until the end of January:

Trees can be dropped off at any of the following central Arkansas locations until the end of January:

• Arkansas River – Riverview Park Access in North Little Rock

• Lake Barnett – Reed Access

• Harris Brake Lake – Chittman Hill Access

• Lake Pickthorne – Holland Bottoms Access

• Lake Overcup – Lake Overcup Landing

• Cox Creek Lake – Cox Creek Lake Public Access

• Lake Hamilton – Andrew Hulsey State Fish Hatchery Access

For more locations around the state, click here.

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Sports

Upcoming SEC bowl games

TaxSlayer Gator Bowl

• Dec. 27 / 6:30 p.m: Missouri (8-4, 4-4 SEC) vs. #19 Virginia (10-3), ABC | SiriusXM: 381 [ESPN Radio - 81] Live Statistics/Matchup/Preview: https://www.secsports.com/scores/football?date=2025-12-27

Kinder’s Texas Bowl

• Dec. 27 / 8:15 p.m.: LSU (7-5, 3-5 SEC) vs. #21 Houston (9-3), ESPN | SiriusXM: 374 [ESPN Radio - 117/201] Live Statistics/Matchup/Preview: https://www.secsports.com/scores/football?date=2025-12-27

Basketball schedules

Maumelle Charter

Boys

• Tuesday, Jan. 6 ... at ... Episcopal ... 8 p.m.

• Friday, Jan. 9 ... at ... Lisa Academy North ... 8 p.m.

• Tuesday, Jan. 13 ... at ... Rose Bud ... 7 p.m.

• Friday, Jan. 16 ... vs ... Riverview ... 8 p.m.

• Tuesday, Jan. 20 ... vs ... Bald Knob ... 5 p.m.

• Friday, Jan. 23 ... at ... Pangburn ... 8 p.m.

• Tuesday, Jan. 27 ... at ... Harding Academy ... 8 p.m.

• Friday, Jan. 30 ... vs ... Episcopal ... 8 p.m.

• Tuesday, Feb. 3 ... vs ... Lisa Academy North ... 8 p.m.

• Friday, Feb. 6 ... vs ... Rose Bud ... 7 p.m.

• Tuesday, Feb. 10 ... vs ... St. Joseph ... 7 p.m.

Girls

• Tuesday, Jan. 6 ... at ... Episcopal ... 7 p.m.

• Tuesday, Jan. 13 ... at ... Rose Bud ... 7 p.m.

• Friday, Jan. 16 ... vs ... Riverview ... 7 p.m.

• Tuesday, Jan. 20 ... vs ... Bald Knob ... 7 p.m.

• Friday, Jan. 23 ... at ... Pangburn ... 7 p.m.

• Tuesday, Jan. 27 ... at ... Harding Academy ... 7 p.m.

• Friday, Jan. 30 ... vs ... Episcopal ... 7 p.m.

• Friday, Feb. 6 ... vs ... Rose Bud ... 7 p.m.

• Tuesday, Feb. 10 ... vs ... St. Joseph ... 7 p.m.