Billion dollar storms abound
Eye on the Sky; Arkansas Farm Bureau hires Hopkins; plus sports and headlines
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Pandemic deaths increase
The state Department of Health updated its Covid dashboard, after some delays due to the holiday season. The numbers show that 558 died in 2023 due to the ongoing pandemic and a total of 13, 428 since Covid’s start in March 2020. This may be the last update as this was also posted to the health department’s site for Covid, “‘Notice’ This page is currently under construction. The Arkansas Department of Health is developing a new version of this dashboard to provide the Arkansas public with access to COVID-19 information. Data pertaining to this dashboard is currently not being updated.” As is tradition, the health department doesn’t respond to media inquiries about Covid since the change of governor on Jan. 1, 2023.
There’s a new Covid-19 variant and cases are ticking up. What do you need to know?
By Julie Appleby / KFF
It’s winter, that cozy season that brings crackling fireplaces, indoor gatherings — and a wave of respiratory illness. Nearly four years since the pandemic emerged, people are growing weary of dealing with it, but the virus is not done with us.
Nationally, a sharp uptick in emergency room visits and hospitalizations for covid-19, influenza, and respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV, began in mid-December and appears to be gaining momentum.
To read more, click here…
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
The Headlines
Meetings: The Maumelle City Council meets next Tuesday, one day delayed due to the holiday on Monday. The quarterly meeting of the North Little Rock A&P Commission will be at 3 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 18 and the meeting will convene in the boardroom at 600 Main St. in North Little Rock.
Events: Monday is Martin Luther King Jr. Day and city, county, state and federal offices will all be closed. It also means, with the holiday, trash and recycling will run one-day delayed next week. There’s a fair number of events connected to the holiday and among them, the Amboy Neighborhhod Association will celebrate at the Burns Park Hospitality House at 6:30 p.m. on Monday.
Correction
Last week’s issue misstated the name of Maumelle City Attorney Andrew Thornton. We regret the error.
NOTICE: Planning Commission vacancies
The Maumelle City Council is accepting resumes from residents interested in serving on the Maumelle Planning Commission. The Council will make two appointments to Positions 6 and 7 for four-year terms ending Jan. 31, 2028. Resumes should be submitted to Tina Timmons, City Clerk/Treasurer, 550 Edgewood Drive, Maumelle, no later than 4 p.m., Wednesday January 10. All applicants will be interviewed by the City Council at their regularly scheduled Council meeting, Tuesday Jan. 16, at 6 p.m. The City Council will appoint immediately following the interviews.
Eye on the sky
The snow last Friday was, in fact, forecast as a possibility.
It wasn’t much locally, all of 0.7 inches in Pulaski County, according to the National Weather Service office in North Little Rock.
That wasn’t true around the state though as Cass, hard on the Pig Trail in Franklin County, got 3.0 inches.
Last year, Pulaski County got a “trace” of snow, so this year is off to a promising start for those who like the stuff.
There’s also a chance of some snow, significant amounts even, this weekend and into next week.
Today: A high near 58 with thunderstorms and the chance of precipitation is at 90 percent with at least one inch of rain possibly falling.
Friday: More rain with a high of 35. Chance of precipitation is again at 90 percent but not cold enough for snow. It will feel frigid though with gusts up to 45 miles per hour.
Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 45. Windy and the low is expected at 22.
Sunday: There it is. A chance of snow and sleet early that afternoon, followed by rain, sleet and snow into the evening. The high is expected to be 37 and the low dropping down to a frigid 8 degrees. It will also be windy. Chance of precipitation is at 30 percent.
Monday: Chance of snow in the morning followed by a sunny but cold day with the high forecast at 22 and the low at 5.
Tuesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 26 and a low around 13.
Billion dollar storms abound
If you thought last year was weather-rough, you’d be right.
The country saw 28 “Billion Dollar” storms across the United States and five of those impacted Arkansas. The total economic impact was $92.9 billion nationally and there were 4 92 direct or indirect fatalities.
All the numbers, but deaths, were all-time records and the economic impact could grow substantially as more data is gathered on the December floods that ranged from Florida to Maine.
It is important to note that the “billion dollar” mark is adjusted for inflation and that the individual storm’s economic impact can be spread across several states as weather systems view state lines as just markings on a map they can’t see.
The total number is for the 50 states, five territories and the District of Columbia that make up the United States.
Of the 28 weather events, 19 were severe storms with four floods, two tropical cyclones and one each of a wildfire, winter storm and drought.
The numbers were compiled by the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration, the federal agency tasked with these matters, and the report was released earlier this week.
The report confirmed, “a historic year in the number of costly disasters and [weather] extremes throughout much of the country.”
Arkansas was impacted by the costliest weather event, the drought and heatwave that was estimated at $14.6 billion and NOAA had it starting on April 1 and concluding Sept. 30.
States impacted include Arkansas, Texas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Kansas, Illinois, Missouri, Tennessee and Nebraska, among others.
The drought impacted barge traffic on both the Arkansas and Mississippi rivers, as low water meant farmers couldn’t get crops to market while also allowing salt water from the Gulf of Mexico to make its way into the Mississippi River.
The drought also hit farmers and ranchers hard as well.
It was a double punch as the extreme heat meant crops and livestock were impacted.
It was far from an agricultural disaster as local schools pushed back the start of classes as well as football games because it was simply too hot to play sports or even ride on a school bus.
The third most expensive storm nationally was also the one that North of the River the hardest as the March 31 to April 1 tornado outbreak was estimated at $5.7 billion.
For comparison the Maui wildfire was estimated at $5.6 billion in damage.
The outbreak started on March 31 in Arkansas and resulted in an astonishing 145 tornadoes in the impacted states.
One of the worst was the March 31 EF-3 tornado that touched down in west Little Rock near the Home Depot and carved a path of destruction across Little Rock before skipping across the Arkansas River and touching back down in North Little Rock’s Burns Park, that still has portions closed due to the damage, before heading north into the Amboy and Levy neighborhoods before skipping back up and touching down and hitting Sherwood and Jacksonville.
It was one of the most destructive storms in Arkansas and left one dead in North Little Rock. The rubble is still there and the storm left 54 people injured.
That same day, another EF-3 tornado spun up and hit Wynne, wiping out the high school there and leaving 26 injured. That was followed by another EF-3 tornado in Covington, out in the Memphis suburbs, that left 28 injured and four dead.
Other storms that impacted Arkansas
Central and Southern Severe Weather | April 2023 | $1.4 billion |
Severe Storm, April 15: Several central and southern states including Missouri, Arkansas, Illinois, Texas, Louisiana and the Florida Panhandle were impacted by hail, tornadoes and high winds. These storms caused damage to many homes, vehicles and businesses.
Southern Severe Weather: June 2023 | $4.1 billion |
Severe Storm, June 11-June 14: Numerous southern states including Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, Tennessee, Arkansas, South Carolina and Florida were impacted by hail, tornadoes and high winds. These storms caused damage to many homes, vehicles and businesses across several days of severe storm activity.
Rockies Hail Storms and Central and Eastern Severe Weather | June 2023 | $5 billion |
Severe Storm, June 21 - June 26: Severe hail storms across Colorado damaged many homes, vehicles and injured approximately 100 people at a large outdoor concert. This multi-day outbreak of severe weather also produced more than 60 tornadoes across portions of Wyoming, Colorado, Minnesota, Indiana, Kentucky and Arkansas that caused damage to homes, businesses, vehicles, agriculture and other infrastructure.
Arkansas in 2023, by the numbers
Arkansas saw a total of 30 tornadoes in 2023, according to reports from the National Weather Service office in North Little Rock. That number was down from the 30-year average of 37 tornadoes annually.
Storms are rated on an EF scale that ranges from 1 to 5 being the worst. There’s also a designation of EFU, or unknown, because the storm didn’t leave enough damage to evaluate.
The 30 tornadoes also left five dead, either directly or indirectly, with two more deaths each from wind and flooding.
Month ... … Tornadoes ... Tornado Deaths ... Wind Deaths ... Flood/Flash Flood Deaths ... Lightning Deaths
Jan. ... 6 (EF0: 1, EF1: 4, EF2: 1) ... 0 ... 0 ... 0 ... 0
Feb. ... 3 (EF1: 2, EF2: 1) ... 0 ... 0 ... 0 ... 0
March ... 9 (EF0: 2, EF1: 2, EF2: 2, EF3: 2, EFU: 1) ... 5 ... 0 ... 2 ... 0
April ... 2 (EF0: 1, EFU: 1) ... 0 ... 0 ... 0 ... 0
May ... 2 (EF1: 1, EFU: 1) ... 0 ... 0 ... 0 ... 0
June ... 6 (EF0: 1, EF1: 2, EF2: 2, EFU: 1) ... 0 ... 2 ... 0 ... 0
July ... 2 (EF1: 2) ... 0 ... 0 ... 0 ... 0
Aug. ... 0 ... 0 ... 0 ... 0 ... 0
Sept. ... 0 ... 0 ... 0 ... 0 ... 0
Oct. ... 0 ... 0 ... 0 ... 0 ... 0
Nov. ... 0 ... 0 ... 0 ... 0 ... 0
Dec. ... 0 ... 0 ... 0 ... 0 ... 0
Total ... 30 ... 5 ... 2 ... 2 ... 0
Hot enough for ‘ya?
The all-time record high in North Little Rock was 111 set on Aug. 3, 2011. This past year, the hottest day was Aug. 25 and Aug. 26, as both hit 103 degrees.
The coldest day was 24 degrees and was hit on three different occasions. The coldest day in 2022 was Dec. 23 when it was 1 degree.
A total of 55.02 inches of rain fell in 2023 well below the all-time record in North Little Rock of 79.61 inches in 2009.
Number of days with (A) …
THUNDERSTORM ... 57
MIXED PRECIP. ... 1
HEAVY RAIN ... 30
RAIN ...63
LIGHT RAIN ... 129
FREEZING RAIN ... 3
LIGHT FREEZING RAIN 4
HAIL ... 4
HEAVY SNOW ... 0
SLEET ... 5
FOG ... 41
HAZE ... 0
Recycle that Christmas tree
Christmas 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
Greers Ferry Lake – Sandy Beach (Heber Springs), Devils Fork Recreation Area and Choctaw Recreation Area (Choctaw-Clinton)
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 Area
Arkansas Farm Bureau hires Hopkins
Will Hopkins, formerly of Maumelle, has been hired as director of local affairs and rural development at Arkansas Farm Bureau, where he will serve as a member of the lobbying team for the state’s largest agricultural advocacy organization.
Hopkins, who now lives in Little Rock, most recently worked as a technical sales representative for DataScout and he also previously worked in the Secretary of State’s office as an administrator.
“I’m excited and pleased to have Will advocating for issues important to rural communities across the state,” said Stanley Hill, Arkansas Farm Bureau’s vice president of public affairs and government relations in a press release. “It’s important to our members to have an individual on staff who is focused on broadband infrastructure, county roads, land issues, rural healthcare and many other topics that impact rural communities and farmers in our state.”
Hopkins was among the number of Maumelle students who attended Arkansas Baptist for high school, where he was a baseball star. He then went on to play college baseball at the University of Sioux Falls and then Ouachita Baptist University. He has a degree from OBU as well as another from Arkansas Tech University in Russellville.
He also serves on the alumni board at the now Arkansas Baptist Preparatory School in Little Rock.
Hopkins is the son of Robert and Angie Hopkins. His mother also teaches at Baptist Prep.
Art notes
Auditions for Grease set
The Argenta Community Theater will be having auditions for its summer 2024 production of Grease on Saturday, Jan. 20.
Auditions are set to start at 10 a.m. that day at the theater and callbacks will be held the following day starting at 2 p.m.
Rehearsals will begin in June with the show to debut July 24 and running through Aug. 3.
All persons interested should email casting@ArgentaCommunityTheater.org for an audition appointment; however, walk-ins will be accommodated on a first come first serve basis.
The show will be directed by Vincent Insalaco, Choreographer is Allison Stodola Wilson and Assistant Director is Bridget Davis.
Auditions are open to all genders, races and ethnicities.
Education notes
Earn your high school diploma online for free
Arkansans 21 and older, who do not have a high school diploma, can now finish school online for free through a new program from Graduation Alliance called the Arkansas Adult Diploma Program.
"This program is designed for working adults who need a flexible education option," Ron Klausner, CEO of Graduation Alliance, said in a press release. "Coursework can be completed anytime and anywhere, and learners receive support from teachers, a personal coach, and 24/7 tutors."
Graduation Alliance can offer this program for free through a state-funded initiative administered by the Arkansas Department of Education - Division of Career and Technical Education.
To qualify for the program, applicants must:
Be an Arkansas resident
Be 21 or older
Have access to a computer and the internet
Have completed at least some of 10th grade
Have not completed a GED or another high school equivalency diploma
Interested Arkansans can visit ArkansasDiploma.com or call 501-512-1417 for more information.
High school basketball report
Maumelle
Record so far: 9-9
Last week: Beat Sylvan Hills last Friday and Little Rock Parkview on Tuesday.
The week ahead: The Hornets will host Jacksonville this Friday and host Little Rock Catholic the following Friday.
Schedule
Friday, Jan. 12 ... vs. Jacksonville ... 7 p.m. ... (C)
Friday, Jan. 19 ... vs. Catholic ... 7 p.m. ... (C)
Tuesday, Jan. 23 ... at Cabot ... 7 p.m. ... (NC)
Friday, Jan. 26 ... at Vilonia ... 7 p.m. ... (C)
Tuesday, Jan. 30 ... vs. eStem ... 7 p.m. ... (C)
Friday, Feb. 2 ... at Sylvan Hills ... 7 p.m. ... (C)
Tuesday, Feb. 6 ... vs. Parkview ... 7 p.m. ... (C)
Friday, Feb. 9 ... at Jacksonville ... 7 p.m. ... (C)
Fri, Feb 16 ... at Catholic ... 7 p.m. ... (C)
Fri, Feb 23 ... vs. Beebe ... 7 p.m. ... (C)
Roster
Maumelle Girls
Coach: Grover Garrison
Record so far: 2-12
Last week: Lost to Sylvan Hills and Little Rock Parkview.
The week ahead: Conference play continues with Jacksonville at home this Friday.
Schedule
Friday, Jan. 12 ... vs. Jacksonville ... 6 p.m. ... (C)
Tuesday, Jan. 23 ... vs. Little Rock Christian ... 6 p.m. ... (C)
Friday, Jan. 26 ... at Vilonia ... 6 p.m. ... (C)
Tuesday, Feb. 6 ... vs. Parkview ... 6 p.m. ... (C)
Friday, Feb. 9 ... at Jacksonville ... 6 p.m. ... (C)
Fri, Feb 16 ... at Mount St. Mary ... 7 p.m. ... (C)
Tue, Feb 20 ... at Little Rock Christian ... 6 p.m. ... (C)
Fri, Feb 23 ... vs. Beebe ... 6 p.m. ... (C)
Roster
Maumelle Charter boys
Record so far: 14-8
Last week: Beat Le Academy last week followed by a loss to Lamar on Tuesday.
The week ahead: The Falcons fly to Baptist Prep this Friday, then Atkins next Tuesday.
Maumelle Charter girls
Record so far: 16-9
Last week: Beat Lee Academy but lost to the state-title contending Lamar Lady Warriors (16-2).
The week ahead: See above.
Boys and Girls schedule
Jan. 12.... Friday ... at Baptist Prep … VG / VB ... … 4:30 p.m.
Jan. 16 … Tuesday … Atkins … VG / VB ... 4 p.m.
Jan. 19.... Friday ... at Dover … VG / VB ... … 5:30 p.m.
Jan. 23 … Tuesday … CAC … VG / VB ... 4 p.m.
Jan. 26.... Friday ... at Mayflower … VG / VB ... … 4:30 p.m.
Jan. 30 … Tuesday … Perryville (Senior Night) … VG / VB ... 4 p.m.
Feb. 2.... Friday ... at Lamar … VG / VB ... 4:30 p.m.
Feb. 6 … Tuesday … Baptist Prep … VG / VB ... … 4:30 p.m.
Feb. 8 ... Thursday ... at Atkins … VG / VB ... … 4:30 p.m.
Feb. 12-17 … Sr. High District Tournament … VG, VB
Feb. 21-24 … Regional Tournament
Feb. 27- March 2 … State Tournament
North Little Rock
Coach: Nathan Clayborn
Record so far: 12-4
Last week: Beat Conway last Friday and then took care of business against Little Rock Southwest on Tuesday.
The week ahead: Wes Swift and his 600 career wins and counting Jonesboro Hurricane will be in town on Friday for a potential state title preview game. Might be as good as boys basketball gets in this state, at least in the largest classification.
Schedule
Friday, Jan. 12 ... vs. Jonesboro ... 7 p.m. ... (C)
Tuesday, Jan. 16 ... vs. Central ... 7 p.m. ... (C)
Tuesday, Jan. 23 ... at Bryant ... 7 p.m. ... (C)
Friday, Jan. 26 ... at Cabot ... 7 p.m. ... (C)
Tuesday, Jan. 30 ... at Central ... 7:30 p.m. ... (C)
Friday, Feb. 2 ... at Conway ... 7 p.m. ... (C)
Tuesday, Feb. 6 ... vs. Little Rock Southwest ... 7 p.m. ... (C)
Friday, Feb. 9 ... at Jonesboro ... 7 p.m. ... (C)
Fri, Feb 16 ... vs. Bryant ... 7 p.m. ... (C)
Thursday, Feb. 22 ... vs. Cabot ... 7 p.m. ... (C)
Roster
North Little Rock Girls
Coach: Daryl Fimple
Record so far: 17-2
Last week: Beat Conway, 60-59, in overtime last Friday but the Southwest game on Tuesday was rescheduled to Thursday, Jan. 18
The week ahead: Jonesboro at home is this Friday, followed by two games next week with the first being Central on Tuesday and then Southwest on Thursday.
Schedule
Friday, Jan. 12 ... vs. Jonesboro ... 6 p.m. ... (C)
Tuesday, Jan. 16 ... vs. Central ... 6 p.m. ... (C)
Thursday, Jan. 18 ... at Little Rock Southwest ... 6 p.m. ... (C)
Tuesday, Jan. 23 ... at Bryant ... 6 p.m. ... (C)
Friday, Jan. 26 ... at Cabot ... 6 p.m. ... (C)
Tuesday, Jan. 30 ... at Central ... 6 p.m. ... (C)
Friday, Feb. 2 ... at Conway ... 6 p.m. ... (C)
Tuesday, Feb. 6 ... vs. Little Rock Southwest ... 6 p.m. ... (C)
Friday, Feb. 9 ... at Jonesboro ... 6 p.m. ... (C)
Fri, Feb 16 ... vs. Bryant ... 6 p.m. ... (C)
Thursday, Feb. 22 ... vs. Cabot ... 6 p.m. ... (C)
Roster
Central Arkansas Christian
Coach: Matt Hall
Record so far: 11-3
Last week: CAC won at Mayflower last Friday then defeated Perryville on Tuesday
The week ahead: CAC travels to Lamar on Friday, followed by Baptist Prep on Tuesday.
Schedule
Friday, Jan. 12 ... at Lamar ... 7 p.m. ... (C)
Tuesday, Jan. 16 ... vs. Baptist Prep ... 7:30 p.m. ... (C)
Tuesday, Jan. 23 ... at Maumelle Charter ... 7 p.m. ... (C)
Friday, Jan. 26 ... vs. Dover ... 7 p.m. ... (C)
Tuesday, Jan. 30 ... vs. Mayflower ... 7:15 p.m. ... (C)
Friday, Feb. 2 ... at Perryville ... 7 p.m. ... (C)
Tuesday, Feb. 6 ... vs. Lamar ... 7 p.m. ... (C)
Thursday, Feb. 8 ... at Baptist Prep ... 7:30 p.m. ... (C)
Roster
Central Arkansas Christian Girls
Coach: Steve Quattlebaum
Record so far: 2-14
Last week: Lost conference games to Mayflower and Perryville.
The week ahead: Lamar looms on Tuesday followed by Baptist Prep on Tuesday.
Schedule
Friday, Jan. 12 ... at Lamar ... 6:30 p.m. ... (C)
Tuesday, Jan. 16 ... vs. Baptist Prep ... 6 p.m. ... (C)
Friday, Jan. 19 ... vs. Atkins ... 6 p.m. ... (C)
Tuesday, Jan. 23 ... at Maumelle Charter ... 6:30 p.m. ... (C)
Friday, Jan. 26 ... vs. Dover ... 6:30 p.m. ... (C)
Tuesday, Jan. 30 ... vs. Mayflower ... 6 p.m. ... (C)
Friday, Feb. 2 ... at Perryville ... 6 p.m. ... (C)
Tuesday, Feb. 6 ... vs. Lamar ... 6:30 p.m. ... (C)
Thursday, Feb. 8 ... at Baptist Prep ... 6 p.m. ... (C)