Commercial Real Estate Council honors Flake, Grooms
Monster trucks, in the news; Education News plus sports and headlines
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MEETINGS: The Maumelle City Council will meet next Tuesday night at City Hall. The meeting is one-day delayed due to the federal holiday of Washington’s Birthday, better known as Presidents’ Day. While the various government offices will be closed, trash and recycling will run on their normal schedule.
EVENTS: This Friday is Valentine’s Day. Plan accordingly. Do you want to impress your sweetie? Of course you do. So, let us suggest taking your very special someone to Northern Tool + Equipment next Thursday, Feb. 20 to see the legendary Monster Jam truck. They will be very surprised, but pleased, with your thoughtfulness. The event is free and will be between 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. For those unfamiliar with Northern Tool + Equipment, it is located at 10010 I-30 in southwest Little Rock. Don’t miss it!
There’s other things you can do for your sweetie on Valentine’s Day of course. There’s a new Marvel movie that features a Hulk, who is also red, one assumes for the holiday. And maybe he reverts back to being green after Valentine’s Day is over?
Scooter’s Coffee is doing a BOGO promotion today in honor of Galentine’s Day, which isn’t a holiday but maybe should be. The offer is only available for in-app orders. Then, on Saturday, Scooter’s Coffee is rolling out something called a Puppy Love Bite Pup Cup, which are many, many words to name a cup of whip cream decorated with a dog treat. Our solemn promise to you is not only will the dog be taken to Scooter’s on Saturday, video will be recorded and posted here next week.
PUBLIC NOTICE: MAUMELLE 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 1 for a four year term ending Jan. 31, 2029. Resumes should be submitted to Tina Timmons, City Clerk/Treasurer, and 550 Edgewood Drive, Maumelle, Arkansas 72113 no later than 4 p.m. today, Feb. 13. Resumes can be emailed to cityclerk@maumelle.org. All applicants will be interviewed by the City Council at the next scheduled Council meeting, Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2025 at 6 p.m. The City Council will appoint immediately following the interviews. For additional information please call Scott Grummer at 501-851-2500.
Commercial Real Estate Council honors Flake, Grooms
The Commercial Real Estate Council of Metro Little Rock recently announced they will honor John Flake and Timothy Grooms with the Legend award for their legacy of commercial real estate accomplishments and inspiring achievements.
The awards will be presented at the 7th Annual Commercial Real Estate Awards on Tuesday, Feb. 25. With the night starting at 5:30 p.m. and the event will be at the Little Rock Junior League Headquarters Building, 401 S Scott St.
Tickets are available at crecmlr.org/events and for more information contact info@crecmlr.org or call 501-291-2210.
John Flake
John Flake, above, is truly a legendary figure in Arkansas’ commercial real estate industry. Flake grew up with real estate as the family business. It included working with his brother, Dickson Flake at Barnes Quinn Flake and Anderson before he founded his firm, Flake & Kelley Commercial, in 1979. In 2020, he joined his daughter's company, Flake & Company as Chief Real Estate Advisor. Flake is highly dedicated to downtown Little Rock and his vision has always been to strengthen the downtown skyline. He developed the 40-story Simmons Bank building, originally developed as Capitol Tower in 1986. Flake has successfully completed dozens and dozens of projects for healthcare institutions, as well as office, retail and multiple energy solutions projects. His client portfolio includes Baptist Health, Walmart, Dillard’s, Verizon, Acxiom, Entergy and the Electric Cooperatives of Arkansas. Flake has been a Certified Commercial Investment Manager (CCIM) for 50 years and is a member of the Commercial Real Estate Council of Metro Little Rock (CREC MLR), Arkansas Real Estate Association, the Little Rock Real Estate Association and the National Association of Realtors. He is also affiliated with the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra, Big Brothers of Pulaski County, the Greater Little Rock Chamber of Commerce, the Downtown Partnership, served the Little Rock National Airport Commission, and many other organizations.
Timothy Grooms
Tim Grooms, above, is a founding member of Quattlebaum, Grooms & Tull PLLC. He represents banks, health care managers, real estate developers, real estate brokers, and other clients in a variety of transactional matters. Grooms has substantial experience in real estate and general commercial lending transactions and has negotiated hundreds of retail, office and commercial space leases on behalf of major national retailers and numerous developers, landlords and tenants throughout Arkansas and the Mid-South. Among completed transactions, Grooms lists numerous retail shopping center developments, mixed-use horizontal property regimes, apartment complexes (including units providing low-income housing), office buildings, educational institutions, hotels, hospitals, related clinics and ancillary facilities, and charitable non-profit developments. As legal counsel to Simmons Bank Arena in North Little Rock, he assisted with property assemblage and condemnation and later handled all other legal aspects for the Arena, including construction, management, and operational matters. He was real estate development counsel for Heifer Project International regarding land acquisition and development of its present World Headquarters and represented the owners of the present site of the William Jefferson Clinton Presidential Park. He was also involved in the redevelopment of the Mann on Main and Arcade Building and served as legal counsel for numerous projects in the River Market. Grooms is a Fellow of the American College of Real Estate Lawyers (ACREL), a Fellow in the American College of Mortgage Attorneys (ACMA), a member and former officer in the state chapter of the ICSC. He serves as counsel to numerous banking and real estate industry groups, including the Arkansas Community Bankers, Arkansas Rural Rental Housing Association, Arkansas REALTORS® Association (including numerous local REALTOR® boards), the state chapter of the Building and Office Management Association (BOMA), and Commercial Real Estate Council of Metro Little Rock (CREC MLR).
Past recipients of this award include Dickson Flake, Jimmy Moses, James Hathaway, Gus Vratsinas, and Rick Ashley.
Education News
UCA names Fall 2024 President's List
The University of Central Arkansas congratulates more than 1,200 students who were named as Presidential Scholars.
The following North of the River students were named.:
Adley Barham of Maumelle
Alex Blair of Maumelle
Lauraine Fosburgh of Maumelle
Franchelsa Francisco of Maumelle
Emma Gastineau of Maumelle
Hana Lovett of Maumelle
Tymera Marsh of Maumelle
Reilly McCann of Maumelle
Jadan Moore of Maumelle
Myron Nix of North Little Rock
Eva Palmer of Maumelle
Karter Pawelczak of Maumelle
Kerrigan Quast of Maumelle
Blakely Rochelle of Maumelle
Elizabeth Roy of Maumelle
Patrick Shultz of Maumelle
Jada Simpson of Maumelle
Hannah Williams of Maumelle
Collin Womack of Maumelle
North Little Rock and Sherwood students are here.
Fall 2024 Dean's List: The University of Central Arkansas congratulates more than 1,500 students who were named to the fall 2024 Dean's List. Eligibility on the Dean's List requires at least a 3.5 GPA with a minimum course load of 12 credit hours.
The following North of the River students were named.:
Eric Nguyen of Maumelle
Kendal Peyton of Maumelle
Lauren Baker of Maumelle
Cade Womack of Maumelle
Carly Joyner of Maumelle
Kaylee Munnerlyn of Maumelle
Camryn Joyner of Maumelle
Malingo Matute of Maumelle
Landon Smith of Maumelle
Kailee Massey of Maumelle
Madison Wills of Maumelle
Benjamin Page of Maumelle
Maggie Green of Maumelle
Owen Starnes of Maumelle
Samyia Googe of Maumelle
Noah Johnson of Maumelle
James Whitley of Maumelle
Anya Willis of Maumelle
Isabella Blair of Maumelle
Hannah Matheny of Maumelle
Chacall Charles of Maumelle
Sarah Reeves of Maumelle
Emma Clenney of Maumelle
Connor Pokorny of Maumelle
Landon Bryant of Maumelle
Hannah Dickinson of Maumelle
Alexis Meeks of Maumelle
Olivia Oury of Maumelle
Kamryn Vardaman of Maumelle
North Little Rock and Sherwood students are here.
Mississippi State University announces fall 2024 President's List
Mississippi State University congratulates 4,569 students who were named to the fall 2024 President's List. These students achieved a 3.80 or better grade-point average, based on a 4.0 scale, while completing at least 12 semester hours of coursework with no incomplete grades or grades lower than a C.
Rachel Kerley of Maumelle
Claire Green of North Little Rock
Paris Henderson of North Little Rock
Mississippi State University's fall 2024 Deans' List: Kierston Butler, of Sherwood was named to the Mississippi State University fall 2024 Deans' List.
Butler is among 2,661 students who attained this honor.
To be named to the Deans' List, a student must have achieved a grade-point average between 3.5 and 3.79, based on a 4.0 scale, while completing at least 12 semester hours of coursework with no incomplete grades or grades lower than a C.
Local Students named to ACU Dean's Honor Roll in Fall 2024
Abilene Christian University announced Dean's Honor Roll students for the Fall 2024 semester. Students earn Dean's Honor Roll recognition by achieving a 3.6 or higher GPA while enrolled in at least 12 credit hours.
North of the River students honored were
Lydia Copeland, a senior Bible and Ministry major from Maumelle.
Kiley Frost, a junior Biochemistry major from North Little Rock.
North of the River basketball
Maumelle Charter boys
Conference: 3A-6
Record so far: 9-25 and 2-12 in league play
Last week: Lost a pair of games as the regular season wrapped up.
What’s ahead: The district tournament is next but the brackets aren’t set.
For the roster, click here.
Date ... Opponent
Post-season play … TBD
Maumelle Charter girls
Conference: 3A-6
Record so far: 11-20 and 1-11 in league play
Last week: Ends the year on a loss.
What’s ahead: Maumelle Charter only won two games in 2025 as the district tournament is next.
For the roster, click here.
Date ... Opponent
Post-season play … TBD
Maumelle boys
Conference: 5A-Central
Record so far: 20-6 and 10-1 in conference play
Last week: The Hornets beat Jacksonville this past Friday.
What’s ahead: The Hornets head to Sylvan Hills this Friday. Maumelle is currently in second place in the 5A-Central and a home matchup against league leader Little Rock Christian is Friday, Feb. 21. Winner of that game will be the conference champ and the No. 1 seed from the 5A-Central in the state tournament.
For the roster, click here.
Date ... Opponent
Friday, Feb. 14: At Sylvan Hills ... 7 p.m.
Tuesday, Feb. 18: At Greenbrier ... 7 p.m.
Friday, Feb. 21: Vs. Little Rock Christian ... 7:30 p.m.
Tuesday, Feb. 25: At Vilonia ... 7 p.m.
Friday, Feb. 28: At Catholic ... 7 p.m.
Maumelle girls
Conference: 5A-Central
Record so far: 7-17 and 2-7 in conference play
Last week: The Hornets lost to Jacksonville last Friday.
What’s ahead: Sylvan Hills is This Friday with Greenbrier to follow next Tuesday.
For the roster, click here.
Date ... Opponent
Friday, Feb. 14: At Sylvan Hills ... 6 p.m.
Tuesday, Feb. 18: At Greenbrier... 6 p.m.
Friday, Feb. 21: At Little Rock Christian ... 6 p.m.
Tuesday, Feb. 25: At Vilonia ... 6 p.m.
Friday, Feb. 28: At Mount St. Mary ... 7 p.m.
Central Arkansas Christian boys
Conference: 4A-5
Record so far: 5-15 and 2-7 in league
Last week: CAC lost a pair of conference games in the especially brutal 4A-5.
What’s ahead: This Friday Robinson is at Mustang Mountain, while a trip to Clinton is next Tuesday.
For the roster, click here.
Date ... Opponent
Friday, Feb. 14: Vs. Robinson ... 7 p.m.
Tuesday, Feb. 18: At Clinton ... 7 p.m.
Friday, Feb. 21: At Heber Springs ... 7 p.m.
Central Arkansas Christian girls
Conference: 2A-5
Record so far: 1-26 and 0-14 in conference action.
Last week: CAC is on a 23-game losing streak and last won in November.
What’s ahead: CAC has Robinson at home this Friday in the regular-season finale, while post-season play begins Saturday with a 4 p.m. game against Conway St. Joseph.
For the roster, click here.
Date ... Opponent
Friday, Feb. 14: Vs. Robinson ... 7 p.m.
Saturday, Feb. 15: Vs. Conway St. Joseph … 4 p.m. (District tournament, first round)
North Little Rock Boys
Conference: 6A-Central
Record so far: 14-7, 6-4 in league play
Last week: North Little Rock lost back-to-back games against Conway and then Little Rock Southwest on Tuesday.
What’s ahead: Jonesboro comes to North Little Rock this Friday. The Hurricane also come into the game on a two-game slide losing to Bryant last Friday with a Tuesday night loss to Memphis powerhouse Whitehaven. After that, there’s only two regular season games remaining before the state tournament.
For the roster, click here.
Date ... Opponent
Friday, Feb. 14: Vs. Jonesboro ... 7:30 p.m.
Tuesday, Feb. 25: At Bryant ... 7 p.m.
Thursday, Feb. 27: At Cabot ... 7:30 p.m.
North Little Rock girls
Conference: 6A-Central
Record so far: 17-9, 6-3 in league
Last week: North Little Rock split the last two, losing to Conway, then beating Southwest on Tuesday.
What’s ahead: Jonesboro is here this Friday in an important game that will help determine seeding in the state tournament.
For the roster, click here.
Date ... Opponent
Friday, Feb. 14: Vs. Jonesboro... 6 p.m.
Tuesday, Feb. 25: At Bryant ... 5
Thursday, Feb. 27: At Cabot... 6 p.m.
Health
The journey
Benchuary has now been going in earnest for going on three weeks and I’ve been both appropriately sore, but pleased so far.
For those unfamiliar, Benchuary is the brainchild of Bill Gillespie is a strength and conditioning coach who has spent time in both the NFL and college.
He's also ridiculously, freaking strong as he has bench pressed more than half a ton, with his personal best being 1,129.8 pounds, which is also a world record.
He's also been working with Sorinex, a company that makes gear and weightlifting equipment and has been coming up with themed weightlifting programs months. Benchuary is new, but he also created programs for squats, Squatober, and deadlift, Deadcember.
As part of this 12-week journey, Benchuary seemed to fit into the theme of doing things differently and also pushing myself in other ways.
So I gave it a try.
The biggest difference has been a Monday through Friday, five-workout scheme that has emphasized the bench press, duh, along with triceps and the back.
If you lift weights, the first thing people often ask is, “whatcha bench” as it is the one thing everyone seems to know.
If you’ve spent time lifting weights, you also know that of the three main lifts – deadlift, squat, bench – bench press is the least important and the worst reflection of strength as the shoulder just isn’t designed to handle super heavy weight, especially when compared to your legs.
But, Benchuary knows that and it doesn’t care. The whole idea is to blow up your chest and increase whatever personal best you’re chasing.
The gains have been immediate. As a mid-month test, the workout was designed to see how many repetitions, or reps, you could do at a certain weight. For me, it was 225 pounds and one month shy of turning 55, I managed 24 reps. Which as humble brags go, isn’t bad. Isn’t bad at all.
Part 6 of a 12-part series.
Pandemic deaths unknown
The state Department of Health didn’t update the state’s dashboard this week, and deaths still total 532 for the past year. There’s no tab created for 2025 either. The virus has now killed 14,162 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