A Very Merry Maumelle is back
Planning Commission meets tonight, Arts Report plus headlines and sports
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!Death toll takes big drop
The total number of dead Arkansans this past week was 5.
Last week, it was 17 and the week before that it was 54.
The total number of dead Arkansans is now at 12,528
Covid toolkit
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Avoid crowdsThe Headlines
Upcoming meetings: The Maumelle City Council will meet next Monday and the North Little Rock School Board will meet tonight. Also meeting Friday night is the Pulaski County Election Commission where they will certify the results from earlier this month. The meeting will be on YouTube and click here around 5:15 p.m., the scheduled start time. The Maumelle Planning Commission meets tonight and for more details, keep scrolling.
Upcoming events: 3rd Friday Art is this Friday and for more details, keep scrolling.
North Little Rock Sanitation experiencing equipment malfunction: The North Little Rock Sanitation Department is experiencing an increase in equipment malfunction than could delay garbage pickup in your area this week, the city reported Thursday morning. Residents are asked to be patient.
Maumelle Civil Service Commission vacancy
The Maumelle City Council is accepting resumes from residents interested in service on the Maumelle Civil Service Commission. An appointment will be made to fill the remainder a six year term ending May, 2023.
An applicant must be a good citizen and a resident of Maumelle for more than three years, not holding or being a candidate for political office or 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., Nov. 16. Applicants will be interviewed by the City Council at the regular City Council meeting Nov. 21 at 6 p.m. at City Hall. An appointment will be made following the interviews.
For more information, contact City Clerk/Treasurer Tina Timmons at 851-2500.
Public meeting notice
A public meeting has been scheduled for 6 p.m on Monday and before the start of the City Council meeting regarding the petition to form a Multi-purpose Improvement District for Devoe Bend.
Maumelle: Planning Commission to meet
It won’t be a long night at Maumelle City Hall tonight as the Planning Commission is scheduled to meet at 6:30 p.m. with just one item on the agenda.
It is new business and related to the KRASH Events Enterprises Event Center going in at the Maumelle Country Club on the space that was once occupied by Central Arkansas Water and before that served as the sewer treatment facility for the city.
It was, also, the oldest residence in the city, as the building housed an apartment as the facility required round the clock tending.
The address is 99 Club Manor Drive and Roy Andrews with Holloway Engineering is the applicant representative.
The agenda item will cover:
A Proposed Conditional Use Permit
A Proposed Preliminary Development Plan
A Proposed Preliminary Plat
A Proposed Landscape Plan
A Proposed Commercial Building Design
A rendering of the building can be seen above.
In an October 28 letter, Brad Frederiksen, President of Maumelle Country Club wrote, “As KrAsh Enterprises has continued its plans for the development of this property, they have engaged the Club at every level to be transparent in the spirit of cooperation”
And added, “we are aware that their proposed development of this property would require the use of our upper parking lot. We do not have a written agreement in place yet but have agreed in principle to the terms of said use.”
Frederiksen emphasized that “t the new development to be of benefit to the Club as well and has shared that vision with us on several occasions. We believe there is a synergy that can be realized for both parties through their plans.”
The meeting is open to the public and was moved to this week to accommodate next week’s Thanksgiving holiday.
A Very Merry Maumelle is back
Now in its fourth year, A Very Merry Maumelle holiday decorating competition has returned for this holiday season.
First, you have to get everything out of the attic and unboxed. Then you have to decorate. Perhaps with 25 inflatable Christmas decorations.
Once those steps are complete, the home has to be nominated before noon on Dec. 14, with judging and awards to follow on the evening of Dec. 16.
Winning homes will receive a sign.
Categories include:
Light up Maumelle
Truly Traditional
Mayor's Choice
People’s Choice
For more information, or to nominate a home, click here.
Single Parent Scholarship Fund benefits nearly 400
The Arkansas Single Parent Scholarship Fund recently awarded nearly 400 students for Fall 2022.
The scholarships total nearly $480,000 and benefit students from Arkansas and Bowie County, Texas. The Texas side of Texarkana.
Awards ceremonies were held around the state as recipients were from central Arkansas to every corner.
The flexible scholarships are for up to $1,200 and for single parents. It also comes with counseling, mentoring and career coaching, among other things.
Just this year, more than $1 million has been awarded to over 1,000 single parents in 68 counties.
For more, click here.
Arts report: “Positive Visitation” in downtown North Little Rock this Friday
Pinnacle Fine Arts of North Little Rock is proud to present “Positive Visitation,” an art exhibit showcasing the art of Brande Wilkerson.
The exhibit will be this Friday and part of the 3rd Friday Art Walk that runs from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. It will be held at ACT II - The Sharon Heflin Performing Arts Education Center, 315 Main Street Suite B.
Wilkerson has over 20 years of experience in fashion styling and costume design. She is recognized for her edgy, geometric designs and her work has been published in over 75 worldwide publications and magazine covers. Her love for artistic design and expression naturally evolved into a vast skill set that spans several different genres. She is self-taught in multidisciplinary mediums of construction sculpture technique, assemblage, painting, multi-sensory, and installation art.
“The purpose of my work is to invoke a vision of the timeline of life,” she said. “To assess the space we occupy now and will in the future. We determine the paths of our future by the decisions we make today. I call my work a study of time travel, emphasis on a better future. I am a futurist and seek to explore the boundaries laid for us and beyond. I like to compose in clean lines, linear elements and geometric perimeters. When the viewer encounters my work, I want them to see my inspirations of industrial architecture, digital technology, mid-century elements of design tempered with a futuristic vision.”
Arts education classes
The new ACT II Education Program will start in January and registration for students in grades kindergarten through 12 and adults are now officially open.
For more information or to register click here.
The new first-of-its-kind education center and diverse class offerings are possible thanks to the generosity of Will and TIffany Feland and through a partnership with the city of North Little Rock, Pulaski County and the Arkansas Arts Council.
Will Feland is the son of the late Armstead Feland III, a founding member of the Arkansas 4-H Foundation and Feland Hall at C.A. Vines Arkansas 4-H Center in Ferndale is named in his honor.
“ACT II is a dream we’ve had for years and we are certain it will be a magical place for young artists,” said ACT Board Director of Education Christen Pitts. “The investment Will and TIffany Feland have made in our community and the impact they will have on children here will be extraordinary. Making these classes accessible to ALL students regardless of their ability to pay tuition is a priority and full scholarships are available.”
Classes will be under the direction of Associate Director of Education Bridget Davis. Faculty for the program include professional teaching artists with varying backgrounds and specialized degrees.
Education program announced
The Argenta Community Theater will have a new collaborative performer training program for 8th - 12th grade students, said Executive Director Sydney Wolfe and Arkansas Repertory Theater Executive Artistic Director Will Trice.
The program is funded by Will and Tiffany Feland and Jim and Mary Wohlleb.
The audition-only based program will feature the top high school-age singers, dancers, and actors in the area. Throughout the duration of the program, students will explore challenging musical theater solo/ensemble repertoire, advanced scene work, the business of the
industry, audition & college prep, TV/Film Acting, and host special masterclasses featuring guest artists from New York and Los Angeles.
Pre-pro company members will be cast in the Argenta Community Theater’s mainstage season production of Bring It On: The Musical, running in September 2023.
Auditions will be held by appointment on Saturday, Dec. 10 at ACT II.
To reserve an audition appointment, and to obtain a list of audition requirements please email bdavis@argentacommunitytheater.org.
Click here for more.
White Christmas
It is certainly cold enough for a white Christmas, that’s not quite the point of White Christmas, which will be staged at Argenta Community Theater next month.
A schedule of shows is below and performances already sold are noted.
Wednesday, Dec. 7
Thursday, Dec. 8
Friday, Dec. 9
Saturday, Dec. 10
Sunday, Dec. 11 matinee - SOLD OUT
Sunday, Dec. 11 evening
Tuesday, Dec. 13
Wednesday, Dec. 14
Thursday, Dec. 15
Friday, Dec. 16
Saturday, Dec. 17 matinee
Saturday, Dec. 17 evening
To buy tickets, click here or the flyer above.
Sports
Hootens names Farm Bureau Insurance Awards Show watch list
Farm Bureau Insurance and Hootens.com recently announced the finalists for the 2022 Farm Bureau Insurance Awards.
The Farm Bureau Insurance Awards honor Arkansas' top offensive player, defensive player, and coach of the year for each classification. The staff at Hooten's Arkansas Football selects finalists from each category on the “Watch List”, and those finalists and their families will be invited to attend the Farm Bureau Insurance Awards on Dec. 12th.
“It is truly my pleasure on behalf of Farm Bureau Insurance to take part in recognizing the incredible achievements of the student-athletes and coaches being honored here," said Mack Wallace, Vice President of Sales for Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance Company of Arkansas, Inc. "They are some of the greatest in the state, and Farm Bureau Insurance wishes them continued success this season.”
North of the River finalists include four from North Little Rock and one from Maumelle.
They are quarterback Malachi Gober in 7A/6A offense and on the defensive side of the ball are Robert Burgess, Diemere Manuel and Quincy Rhodes. All of North Little Rock
Maumelle quarterback Weston Pierce is up for 5A offense.
Read the complete list of nominees by clicking here.
Football: Welcome to the Malachi show
It was nothing but Malachis last week as North Little Rock beat Fort Smith Southside, 28-14, in the opening round of the Class 7A playoffs.
First it was senior quarterback Malachi Gober, who led the team in passing with 137 yards and a touchdown in the win. He also led the team in rushing, for the first time this season, with 87 yards and a touchdown on 11 carries.
The team’s other Malachi, Muhammad, led the team in receiving with two catches for 51 yards.
Pretty solid showing for the Malachis.
It was also a good week for junior defensive lineman Quincy Rhodes Jr., who will play in the U.S. Army Bowl this December.
North Little Rock at Bentonville
Records: North Little Rock (6-5, No. 4 seed from the 7A-Central), Bentonville (9-1, No. 1 seed from the 7A-West)
Streamer: NLRTV
Hootens.com Rankings: North Little Rock stays at No. 8 in Class 7A, while Bentonville is No. 4.
Last week: North Little Rock beat Fort Smith Southside, 28-14, to open the 7A playoffs with the win.
Class 7A Playoff bracket: In terms of common opponents, both teams lost to Conway in the regular season and both teams beat Fort Smith Southside. Bentonville easily beat Fayetteville, while North Little Rock lost to the Purple ‘Dogs. The loss to Conway was the only one for Bentonville during regular season as they cruised through the West and have the No. 1 seed from that conference.
For stats, click here.
Highlights
Season schedule
Aug. 26: Little Rock Catholic 23, North Little Rock 6
Sept. 2: Fayetteville 28, North Little Rock 10
Sept. 16: North Little Rock 28, Little Rock Parkview 27 (2 OT)
Sept. 23: North Little Rock 53, Little Rock Central 8
Sept. 30: At Conway 35, North Little Rock 0
Oct. 7: North Little Rock 50, Little Rock Southwest 8
Oct. 14: North Little Rock 28, Jonesboro 14
Oct. 21: North Little Rock 38, Fort Smith Northside 14
Oct. 28: Bryant 45, North Little Rock 14
Nov. 4 Cabot 35, North Little Rock 7
Nov. 11: First round of the Class 7A playoffs | North Little Rock 28, Fort Smith Southside 14
Friday: Second round of the Class 7A playoffs | North Little Rock at Bentonville … 7 p.m.
For the roster, click here.