A White Christmas is cancelled
Maumelle Planning Commission meets tonight; Holiday events abound plus headlines and sports
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MEETINGS: The North Little Rock School Board will meet at 5:30 p.m. tonight. The Maumelle Planning Commission will meet at 6:30 p.m. tonight at City Hall and the North Little Rock City Council will meet next Monday night at City Hall.
EVENTS: Christmas is next Wednesday and various government offices will be closed that day with some offices having limited hours on Tuesday, Christmas Eve, and then on the following Thursday and Friday. Trash and recycling will run one-day delayed after the holiday.
Maumelle Planning Commission to meet
The Maumelle Planning Commission will meet at 6:30 p.m. tonight at City Hall.
The meeting is moved up for its customary fourth Thursday to avoid conflict with the Christmas holiday on Wednesday.
The agenda is a light one with just items of business. One is on a proposed change to a drainage ordinance with the other being an amendment to a preliminary development plan for 223 Country Club Parkway or the Physical Therapy Institute of Maumelle.
To view the agenda, click here.
The most notable aspect of the meeting is that it is the first for newly appointed Planning Commissioner Lauren Rose.
The meeting is open and will be livestreamed on the city’s YouTube channel.
A White Christmas is cancelled
Christmas is cancelled this year.
No, wait, that’s not right. A White Christmas is cancelled as the chances of snow on Christmas Day are, meteorologically speaking, not going to happen.
It will be, however, wet. As the rain is expected to fall, according to the meteorologists at the National Weather Service in North Little Rock, with the wet, but not cold, stuff starting to fall on Monday and continuing through Wednesday, or Christmas Day, morning.
Eye on the Sky
Monday (Christmas Eve eve): A chance of afternoon showers with a high near 52 and a low around 46.
Tuesday (Christmas Eve): Showers likely with a high near 57 and a low around 45. Chance of precipitation is 70 percent.
Christmas Day: A 20 percent chance of rain, then partly sunny with a high near 58 and a low around 46.
In other words, this is a mostly normal forecast for Arkansas at Christmas as 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.
Holiday season
Frosting with Frosty this Saturday
“Frosting with Frosty” will be held at the North Heights Community Center, 4801 Allen St., in North Little Rock, starting at 1 p.m. and continuing until 3 p.m. The event will include cookie decorating, crafts, hot chocolate and a movie. It is free to attend.
Friday and Saturday
War Memorial Stadium, fresh off some high school football championship games, will be hosting the North Pole Nights holiday movie event on Friday and Saturday evening.
Elf will be shown on Friday and Polar Express will be screened on Saturday.
Gates open at 6 p.m. with the movies to start at 7 p.m. both nights.
Admission is free for those 12 and under but $7 for 13 and up.
The stadium will also be having a Stuff the Bus food drive for the Arkansas Hunger Relief Alliance and attendees are asked to bring nonperishables to fill the bus.
Monday, Thursday and Friday then Dec. 30-31 and Jan. 2-3
North Little Rock Parks & Rec will be having a Winter Break camp for students from Kindergarten through 5th grade.
Cost is $15 for either session and $25 to attend both.
Stock the Pantries
There’s nine pantries in Maumelle that are participating in the city’s annual food drive that began earlier this month.
The little pantries are collecting non-perishable food items, along with pet food.
The little pantries are located at:
Maumelle Philanthropists, 404 Edgewood Drive
Calvary Chapel Parking Area, Lake Point Place (across from tennis courts)
First United Methodist Church, 1201 Edgewood Drive
First Baptist Church, 100 Valencia Drive
Maumelle Library Food Pantry, 10 Lake Pointe Drive (inside)
St. Nicholas’ Episcopal Church Food Pantry, 2001 Club Manor Drive (parking lot)
Maumelle Police & Fire Station, 2002 Murphy Drive
Klipps Blvd Barbershop, 301 Millwood Circle (inside)
Maumelle Little PET Pantry, #2 Jackie Johnson Cove
Willastein Whimsical Trail
The Whimsical Trail is now open at Maumelle’s Lake Willastein and will be open starting at 5 p.m. until 10 p.m. nightly until Jan. 5.
The lighted trail’s entrance is between the boat ramp and playground at Lake Willastein Park. Admission to the walking trail is free.
Baklava for Christmas? Hear the Good News indeed!
In super important Christmas treat news, do you love baklava?
Do you wish that the terrific baklava you get at the Greek Food Festival in Little Rock was available at other times of the year?
If the answer was yes to either, then good news! The Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church is selling baklava this year, along with cookbooks and bottles of Pete’s Famous Greek Salad Dressing.
The sale begins today at 3 p.m. and lasts until 6 p.m. with another day to buy on Friday at the same times as today.
The church is located at 1100 Napa Valley Drive in Little Rock and supplies are limited.
For more, check out the photo below for pricing and the crumbles make a most excellent topping for ice cream in case you want a Sundae in Athens.
Now through the leaves get sucked up
North Little Rock leaf collection, as promised, has begun.
Christmas Story the Musical now in North Little Rock
The Argenta Contemporary Theater will be having performances of its up-coming production of the holiday favorite A Christmas Story the Musical. This classic tale with book by Joseph Robinette and music and lyrics by Benji Pasek and Justin Paul is based on the movie classic that runs round-the-clock on TV every Christmas.
Performances are underway and run through Sunday, Dec. 22. Evening performances begin at 7 p.m. and the Sunday matinees begin at 2 p.m. Ticket prices range from $10-$88 and are available at argentacontemporarytheatre.org.
A Christmas Story the Musical is sponsored by Karla and Will Feland, The City of North Little Rock, The Tenenbaum Foundation, Legacy Termite & Pest Control, The Arkansas Arts Council, North Little Rock Tourism and The Insalaco Family. The VIP Balcony is sponsored by Gwatney Chevrolet and Colonial Wine & Spirits.
Sports
SEC bowl games
Union Home Mortgage Gasparilla Bowl | Friday / 2:30 p.m., Florida (7-5, 4-4 SEC) vs. Tulane (9-4) | ESPN2; SiriusXM: [ESPN Radio - 139/204]
College Football Playoff First Round | Saturday
3 p.m.: #16 Clemson (10-3) at #3 Texas (11-2, 7-1 SEC) | TNT/MAX; SiriusXM: 84 [ESPN Radio - 80]
7 p.m.: #7 Tennessee (10-2, 6-2) at #6 Ohio State (10-2)| ABC/ESPN[ SiriusXM: 82 [ESPN Radio - 80]
Bowl games continued
Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl | Dec. 27/ 11 a.m.: Oklahoma (6-6, 2-6 SEC) vs. Navy (9-3)| ESPN; SiriusXM: 374 [ESPN Radio - 84]
Birmingham Bowl | Dec. 27 / 2:30 p.m.: Vanderbilt (6-6, 3-5 SEC) vs. Georgia Tech (7-5) | ESPN; SiriusXM: 374 [ESPN Radio - 84]
AutoZone Liberty Bowl | Dec. 27/ 6 p.m.: Arkansas (6-6, 3-5 SEC) vs. Texas Tech (8-4) | ESPN; SiriusXM: 374 [ESPN Radio - 80] | Preview: https://www.secsports.com/scores/football?start_date=2023-08-25&end_date=2024-01-08
SRS Distribution Las Vegas Bowl | Dec. 27 / 9:30 p.m.: Texas A&M (8-4, 5-3 SEC) vs. Southern Cal (6-6) | ESPN; SiriusXM: 374 [ESPN Radio - 80]
TransPerfect Music City Bowl | Dec. 30 / 1:30 p.m.: #19 Missouri (9-3, 5-3 SEC) vs Iowa (8-4) | ESPN; SiriusXM: 374 [ESPN Radio - 80]
Health news
The unwanted inheritance
You may have seen the billboards around town from one of the lawyer types talking about the “unwanted inheritance.”
Basically, it is a reminder that when it comes to the older folks in your life, you need to have a plan. Not a semblance of a plan. Not an “if this happens, then this might happen” kind of plan where you just sort of hope for the best.
You need a real plan, one where you get help from a lawyer. Where other names are on the different bank accounts. Where there are clear lines on the property and the various insurances are paid up.
Then, once you get all that done, your family needs to know where everything is.
Not “it's in the house, somewhere,” but in a bank safety deposit box or the gun safe or the fire box that’s kept in a closet at your house.
The last thing you want, if you’re that older person, is for your children and grandchildren to spend days at your home trying to find all the things they, we, need to get everything straight.
I saw we, not in the royal sense, but in the actual sense, as my mother, Bernie, died unexpectedly last week in Ozark at 86. I’ve already made two trips up, with more on the way, and they’ve been long and tiring going through box after box and drawer after drawer, trying to find the title for this or the pension paperwork for that.
Twice widowed, she was living on her own, and driving, at least when the sun was out. She spent her last years volunteering, fostering kittens (If you’d like one, let me know!) and going to the doctor.
So, in some ways her passing wasn’t totally unexpected. Mom got Covid-19 back at the end of 2021 and never really got over it. Every health issue that comes with being 86, 87 next March, was made worse by her case of what the doctors call “long Covid.”
The coroner called the cause of death natural causes, because that’s what they do, but it was the Covid that killed her.
She got to see one great grandchild but will miss the one due next month.
The end came quickly, at least for her. But for us, it’s been a lot of work, since there were no clear directions provided. I suppose, in these modern times, getting asked if you want to be looped in on a Zoom call to help pick the urn for the ashes is just part of life in the 21st century.
The obituary is below.
Bernice Ann Peppas Hubler
Bernice Ann Peppas Hubler passed away Thursday, Dec. 12, 2024, in her home in Ozark. She was 86. Bernie was born in Champaign, Illinois, on March 31, 1938, to Albert and Clara (Smith) Brown of Metcalf, Illinois. She was a 1955 graduate of Young America High School in Metcalf and a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. She was twice widowed.
Bernie was a retired EMT from Franklin County EMS, and she had also worked at Turner Memorial Hospital as a Respiratory Therapist. She was an active volunteer at the Ozark Food Bank and the Ozark Christmas Spirit Baskets, a member of the Rolling River Red Hat Society, volunteered for over 20 years for Foothills Little Theatre, and fostered rescued animals. She loved to knit, crochet and play trivia games. She enjoyed spring gardening, growing flowers, and seeing her grandchildren.
Bernie is survived by her children, Dr. Timothy J. (Mary) Brown of Reno, Nevada; Jayson (Jenni) Peppas of Alma; Jeremy (Gwen) Peppas of Little Rock; Penni (Jeremie) Burns of Ozark; Josh (Kelli) Peppas of Mulberry; and Lanie (Charles Ray) Schubarth of Ozark. She is also survived by her grandchildren, Madison and Grace Peppas of Alma; Nick (Kylee) Peppas of Mulberry; Felicia Opperman (Danielle) of Henderson, Nevada; Khloe Heinrich of Alma; Elder Brant Peppas of Washington, D.C.; Brayden, Brenden, Brancen, and Berkely Peppas of Mulberry; Bryant Burns (Mary Rose) of San Antonio; Briley Burns of Ozark; Eli Peña (Keanna) of Las Vegas; and Liam and Zoey Schubarth of Ozark. She is survived by one great grandson, Adonis Peña, of Las Vegas, Nevada.
Bernie was preceded in death by her parents, husband Sam Peppas, husband Frank Hubler, and four siblings.
Visitation, followed by a celebration of life, will be held Saturday, Jan. 18, 2025, at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, 240 Country Club Lane, Clarksville. Cremation arrangements were made under the direction of Shaffer Funeral Home.
A graveside service at a family plot in Illinois will be held next spring.
Memorials may be made in Bernie’s name to the Ozark Food Pantry, P.O. Box 338, Ozark, AR 72949, the Ozark Athletic Booster Club at 3001 Mistie Lane, Ozark, AR 72949, or the Alma High School DECA at PO Box 2359, Alma, AR 72921.
To leave an online memorial visit click here,
Pandemic deaths back to 0
The state Department of Health updated the state’s dashboard this week, and showed no new new deaths and 481 deaths for the year. The virus has now killed 14,125 Arkansans since the pandemic began more than four years ago. 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