Chicken Salad Chick to open on the Boulevard
North of the River students nominated to attend Arkansas Boys State 2024; Postseason arrives for high school sports; Travs in town plus headlines
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Pandemic deaths climb
The state Department of Health, in its April 27 report, showed 14 new Covid deaths. The virus has killed 13,779 Arkansans since the pandemic began four years ago. That would mean the pandemic death toll has now passed Marion’s 13,635 people, the state’s 29th largest city.
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The Headlines
Meetings: The North Little Rock School Board will have a special call meeting and workshop starting at 5:30 p.m. tonight. The Maumelle City Council will meet next Monday night at City Hall.
Events: A neighborhood cleanup will be held this Saturday in North Little Rock’s Baring Cross neighborhood. The organizers are Shelly Speaks and the Young Community Advocates of Baring Cross. Volunteers will meet up at 9:30 a.m. at Vestal Park and should last for around 90 minutes. Volunteers will be provided with gloves and trash bags to collect litter and debris. Bottled water will be provided and after, there will be pizza at North Little Rock’s Irvin Park, near the Old Mill. For more or to RSVP, you can email shellyspeaksrealtalk@gmail.com, ycaofbaringcross@gmail.com or call 501-650-3467
Chicken Salad Chick to open on the Boulevard
The newest central Arkansas Chicken Salad Chick will open next Wednesday, May 8, at 13101 Crystal Hill Road in North Little Rock.
While the shopping center is technically named West Landing, it is better known locally as the Wal-Mart parking lot.
This is the second Chicken Salad Chick in North Little Rock with the other being in the Target parking lot off McCain Boulevard.
There’a a theme with this fast-growing chain that you probably hadn’t heard of a few years ago.
Emily Gray and business partner Hudson Sandefur are behind this newest location and there’s the usual assortment of giveaways with the restaurant’s opening, namely free chicken salad per week for a year to the first person in line. The next 99 people will get free chicken salad per month for the following year.The free menu item is one large Quick Chick.
But, wait, there’s more!
Other giveaways next week:
Thursday, May 9 - The first 100 guests to purchase a Chick Trio receive a free Chicken Salad Chick Cooler with Ice Pack.
Friday, May 10 – In honor of Mother's Day, guests purchasing a large Quick Chick receive another large Quick Chick free all day.
Saturday, May 11 – The first 100 guests to purchase a Chick Trio receive a free Chicken Salad Chick Tumbler.
This will be Hudson’s fourth Chicken Salad Chick in central Arkansas with the other locations in Benton and west Little Rock.
"Hudson and I are really thankful for our guests throughout the Little Rock area who have supported these businesses over the past four years,” Gray said. "Maumelle has so much charm and character; it's a perfect fit for Chicken Salad Chick's focus on enriching lives and serving others. Whether they come into the dining room, pick up in the drive-thru or want us to cater their next function, we're going to take great care of our new neighbors."
This location will be open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Pro tip: The pimento cheese there is delightful and an easy thing to take to a party. Just put it on a platter with some crackers and if anyone asks for the recipe, mumble something about Southern Living and walk away, quickly.
In other restaurant news: Scooter’s Coffee will be offering free coffee to healthcare workers this Friday.
The offer is good for any drink on the menu at the drive-thru coffee shack and to get the free drink, one needs to show their healthcare ID. The first 50 customers who get free drinks will also receive a Healthcare Heroes sticker.
North of the River students nominated to attend Arkansas Boys State 2024
More than 565 of the state's brightest young men will attend Arkansas Boys State, an immersive leadership and civic engagement experience sponsored by the American Legion. This summer's 83rd annual session runs May 26 through May 31 at the University of Central Arkansas in Conway.
The program's 2024 enrollment marks its largest class of young men in seven years.
During their week at Arkansas Boys State, these students, known as "delegates," are assigned a political party, city, and county. Throughout the week, delegates, from the ground up, administer this mock government as if it were real: they run for office, draft and pass legislation, solve municipal challenges, and engage constituents.
North of the Rivers students attending Arkansas Boys State 2024 include:
Grant Moses of Maumelle from Maumelle Charter High School
Drew Burns of Maumelle from Maumelle Charter High School
David Ortiz of Maumelle from Maumelle Charter High School
Lane Hyatt of North Little Rock from Maumelle Charter High School
Cade Verzwyvelt of Maumelle from Catholic High School for Boys
Eric Frank of Maumelle from Maumelle High School
Xzavier Jackson of Maumelle from Maumelle High School
Benjamin Bannerman of North Little Rock from Central High School (Little Rock)
Richard Hall III of Little Rock from Little Rock Christian Academy
Nick Brown of Maumelle from England High School
Trey'von Akins of North Little Rock from North Little Rock High School
Jack Copley of North Little Rock from North Little Rock High School
Ryan Cromer of Sherwood from North Little Rock High School
Tien Dao of North Little Rock from North Little Rock High School
Jonah Pulliam of North Little Rock from North Little Rock High School
Tayshan Roseburrow of North Little Rock from North Little Rock High School
Nicholas Sela of Maumelle from North Little Rock High School
Tyler Donald of Sherwood from Sylvan Hills High School
Kaleb Archibald of North Little Rock from Sylvan Hills High School
Kamorean Matthews of Sherwood from Sylvan Hills High School
Tony Hill of Sherwood from Sylvan Hills High School
Brenton Muhammad of Sherwood from Sylvan Hills High School
Aubrey Messick of Sherwood from Messick Homeschool
"This year's remarkable growth speaks to how this program is playing a life-changing role in the lives of the young men who join us year after year," said Jackson. "We're thrilled that these students are joining us and will experience this once-in-a-lifetime leadership opportunity in just a few weeks."
The week's activities, including keynote speakers, general assemblies, and election speeches, will be streamed live by Arkansas PBS on their Arkansas Citizens Access Network: https://www.myarkansaspbs.org/arcan.
Hill names recipients of the 2024 Education Achievement Award
U.S. Rep. French Hill (2nd-District) recently announced the high school recipients of his 2024 Education Achievement Award. There were 38 honorees throughout central Arkansas this year.
North of the River students honored include:
Christian McGill (Maumelle Charter High School)
Kerrigan Quast (Maumelle Charter High School)
Bailey Mason (Maumelle High School)
No students from Central Arkansas Christian or North Little Rock were honored.
The list of honorees
Katy Beth Jacks (Bauxite High School), Caden Treat (Bauxite High School), Isabel Butler (Benton High School), Kaleb Marshall (Benton High School), Bennett Wilson (Bigelow High School), Maricka Farr (Bryant High School), Cole Giompoletti (Bryant High School), Laiken Cornett (Concord High School), Josey Sutherland (Concord High School), Annalise Montgomery (Conway High School), Avery Ferguson (Conway High School), Matthew Vano (Episcopal Collegiate), Chanley Wood (Greenbrier High School), Kyla Hinton (Greenbrier High School), Lexie Wells (Harmony Grove High School), Tristen Hogan (Harmony Grove High School), Yahya Younus (Little Rock Central High School), Jadon Sanders (Little Rock Central High School), Khushi Patil (Little Rock Central High School), Ally Ballard (Little Rock Christian Academy), Kaiden Fox (Little Rock Christian Academy), Victoria Barksdale (Mayflower High School), Aarya Patel (Morrilton High School), Julie Russell (Morrilton High School), Annabelle Angtuaco (Mount St. Mary Academy), Elizabeth Hunter (Mount St. Mary Academy), Rylee Ramsey (Pangburn High School), Cole Ramsey (Pangburn High School), Macey Chambers (Perryville High School), Zava Payne (Perryville High School), Jack Lowenthal (Pulaski Academy), Brooke Beckemeyer (Pulaski Academy), Reid Brafford (Shirley High School), Abigail Hensley (Shirley High School).
The award is available to one senior and one junior from each high school in the Second Congressional District, nominated by either their counselor or principal. This award is designed to recognize those students who have shown a commitment to high academic achievement, as well as contributions to their schools and communities. Students were selected based on these qualifications:
Academics: Achievement of at least 3.5/4.0 GPA (or the equivalent).
Community Service: Demonstrated commitment to the betterment of one’s community through projects with, for example, Scouting groups, Student Government Association, other volunteer organizations, etc.
Leadership & Teamwork: Demonstrated leadership and teamwork through, for example, extracurricular activities such as athletic teams, school clubs, etc.
Arkansas Women’s Hall of Fame names eighth class of inductees
The Arkansas Women’s Hall of Fame recently released the names of its eighth class of inductees — seven women and one organization 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 Thursday, Aug. 22, at the Statehouse Convention Center-Wally Allen Ballroom in Little Rock, are:
They are:
JoAnne Bush, Betty Dickey, Jamileh Kamran, Dr. Jacquelyn Williams McCray, Kathy Webb, Bernie Babcock, Gussie Haynie and the Committee of One Hundred for the Ozark Folk Center.
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 is guided by a board of directors, who earlier this year empaneled a selection committee to seek nominations from the public and help choose the class.
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.
To biographical sketches of each inductee, click here.
High school: Spring Sports roundup
All upcoming games are weather permitting and records and rosters are from each school’s ScorebookLive.com page.
Maumelle Charter
Baseball
Record: 8-15, final record
Softball
Record: 4-9, final record
Boys soccer
Record: 12-2-2 (7-1-1)
Upcoming matches: The final regular season match is tonight when Episcopal Collegiate comes to town. Then the 3A state tournament is next week at Bergman. For that bracket, click here. The Falcons should be the No. 2 seed regardless of tonight’s outcome and would play at 7 p.m. next Thursday.
Girls soccer
Record: 8-6-1 (5-3)
Upcoming matches: The final regular season match is tonight when Episcopal Collegiate comes to town. Then the 3A state tournament is next week at Bergman. For that bracket, click here. Maumelle Charter has the No. 4 seed locked down and would play at 9 a.m. next Thursday.
CAC
Baseball
Record: 14-4 (8-0)
Upcoming schedule: CAC faces Bald Knob at 10 a.m. today in the 3A=3 regional at Pangburn.
The Mustangs, the district tournament champs, are the No. 1 seed, while Bald Knob is No. 4.
A win today puts CAC into next week's state tournament at Majestic Park in Hot Springs.For that bracket, click here.
The winner of today's game will face the winner of Rose Bud / Mayflower at noon on Friday with the regional finals being at 2:30 p.m. on Saturday.
On the other side of the bracket are Harding Academy/Dover and Perryvile/Pangburn.
The third place game is at noon on Saturday.
Softball
Record: 5-7 (3-3)
Upcoming schedule: Defying expectations, CAC made the 2A regional at South Side Bee Branch and will face No. 1 seed QUitman at 10 a.m. today. Quitman is 23-7 overall and won its district tournament.
You just need to win one game to make next week's state tournament and the winner of today's game would face Bigelow/Izard County at noon on Friday. On the other side of the bracket are Magnet Cove/South Side and Mt. Vernon-Enola/Poyen.
Boys soccer
Record: 11-3-2 (6-0-1)
Upcoming schedule: The Mustang end the regular season at Hermitage before heading off to the state tournament next week. CAC has the No. 1 seed locked down and for next week’s bracket, click here.
Girls soccer
Record: 12-3 (7-1)
Upcoming schedule: The Mustangs keep rolling and will be the No. 1 seed next week in the state tournament. Click here for that bracket.
Maumelle
Baseball
Record: 15-10 (11-2)
Upcoming schedule: Lost a doubleheader to Little Rock Christian as the Hornets should be the No. 2 seed from the 5A-Central in next week’s state tournament. Maumelle would then play the No. 3 seed from the 5A-East at 12:30 p.m. next Thursday at Harrison. For the bracket, click here.
Softball
Record: 21-5-1 12-2)
Upcoming schedule: Maumelle is locked into the No. 2 seed from the 5A-Central for the state tournament at Harrison next week. They would play at 12:30 p.m. next Thursday against the No. 3 seed from the 5A-East.
Boys soccer
Record: 5-10-1 (5-9-1)
Upcoming schedule: Maumelle ends the regular season at home tonight against Parkview. It will be the season finale as well, as the Hornets are solidly in sixth place in the 5A-Central and only the top four teams go to state tournament.
Girls soccer
Record: 11-8 (11-4)
Upcoming schedule: There’s a match against Parkview tonight but regardless of that outcome, Maumelle is the No. 3 from the 5A-Central in next week’s state tournament. Maumelle will play at 10 a.m. next Thursday against the No. 2 from the 5A-East. The tournament will be held at Hot Springs Lakeside and for the bracket, click here.
North Little Rock
Baseball
Record: 6-16 (2-11)
Upcoming schedule: The 'Cats needed some significant help to make the 6A state tournament at Bentonville but that help didn’t come as North Little Rock is out of the running for the state tournament.
Softball
Record: 9-16 (6-6)
Upcoming schedule: North Little Rock is the No. 4 seed from the 6A-Central for the state tournament in Fayetteville next week and will play at 10 a.m. next Thursday against the No. 5 seed from the 6A-West. The winner of that game would play at 10 a.m. on Friday against the No. 1 seed from the West.
Boys soccer
Record: 8-9-1 (3-9-1)
Upcoming schedule: The 'Cats beat Jonesboro last week and North Little Rock will be the No. 6 seed from the 6A-Central with a noon match next Thursday. This year’s state tournament is at Little Rock Southwest. For the bracket, click here.
Girls soccer
Record: 10-10-1 (2-10-1)
Upcoming schedule: North Little Rock has a half-game advantage over Jonesboro and also enjoys the head-to-head, so the ‘Cats will be the No. 6 seed from the 6A-Central for next week’s state tournament at Bryant. North Little Rock face the No. 3 seed from the 6A-West at noon, next Thursday. For the bracket, click here.
Upcoming Travs games
Opponent – San Antonio
Today, 6:35 p.m.
$3 Thursday: Enjoy $3 Beer Garden Tickets and Concessions deals, including Hot Dogs, Soft Drinks, Cotton Candy, and a Select Canned Beer & Seltzer!
Friday, 7:05 p.m.
Fireworks Friday - Music of Arkansas:
501 Night & Jersey Auction | Presented By Little Rock Regional Chamber of Commerce
Saturday, 6:35 p.m.
Kids Run the Bases: Kids 13 and under are invited to run the same basepaths the Travs run after the game!
Sunday, 1:35 p.m.
Operation: Military Appreciation: Service Members get $3 off General Admission and Field Reserved tickets by presenting a Military ID (only available at DSP Box Office) | Presented By Mid-South Ford Dealers
Family Sunday: Get $2 General Admission tickets by presenting a physical or digital church bulletin (only available at the Box Office)
Kids Run the Bases: Kids 13 and under are invited to run the same basepaths the Travs run after the game!
At Wichita, May 7-12
Camp Healing Hearts set for May 17
Methodist Family Health’s Kaleidoscope Grief Center is currently accepting applications to attend its free overnight grief camp, Camp Healing Hearts.
It will be held at Camp Aldersgate in Little Rock and will start at 5 p.m. on Friday, May 17 and conclude the next day.
The camp is available to any Arkansas family who has experienced a death in the last three to six months.
Grief can be a terrible thing and the camp is designed to help those who are grieving the loss of a loved one. It is for children from 5 to 18 and an adult caregiver is also required to attend with the child.
There’s 100 spaces available and to apply for the free camp, go to MethodistFamily.org/Camp-Healing-Hearts and complete the form online.
Application deadline is this Sunday, May 5.
For more information, call Dao Ward at 501-537-3991 or toll-free at 800-756-3709.