Groundbreaking set for Friday
Hall of Fame induction set for Friday; Pitts graduates from Alabama; More Education News and notes; plus sports and headlines
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MEETINGS: The North Little Rock School Board will have a special call meeting and workshop at 5:30 p.m. today at the district administration building. The meeting will be livestreamed on the district’s YouTube page. The North Little Rock City Council will meet next Monday night at City Hall. The North Little Rock A&P Commission will meet at 2:30 p.m. next Wednesday at 600 Main St. in downtown North Little Rock.
EVENTS: A groundbreaking ceremony for the Riverside Senior Living facility will be at 1 p.m. this Friday. For more, keep scrolling.
Groundbreaking set for Friday
O’Reilly Development Company will have a groundbreaking ceremony for the Riverside Senior Living facility at 1 p.m. this Friday.
The address is 11925 Crystal Hill Road in Maumelle and construction prep has been ongoing for months at the site near Maumelle’s Park on the River.
The facility will be 161,930 square feet and feature 162 total units.
A rendering of the facility can be seen below.
Of the 162 total units, 98 will be for independent living, with 46 assisted living units and a total of 18 units designated for memory care.
Breaking it down further, the facility will feature 12 studio apartments, 60 one-bedroom units and 26 two-bedroom units, all for independent living.
In assisted living, there will be 27 studio units, 15 one-bedroom units and four two-bedroom units.
The developer said that the independent living units will be “housed in a lodge-style building consisting of community common areas, offices, commercial kitchen, beauty shop, and exercise and social rooms. All units will have fully equipped kitchens and include washer and dryer units.”
The common area will include a theater, a 24-hour bistro and fitness center, among other amenities.
Assisted living will be those needing more care, and assistance getting to and fro,
Memory care will, the company said, feature, “life stations designed to engage through triggering memories of tasks ingrained throughout their life will also be included such as nursery care and nurturing, wardrobe to promote grooming habits and work station for a sense of purpose and accomplishment.”
Most memory care patients will be those with Alzheimer and Dementia.
The facility is expected to open next year and is managed by Arrow Senior Living Management.
The Maumelle facility is O’Reilly’s second in Arkansas and will join Summit Senior Living at Chenal Valley.
Arrow Senior Living Management also manages that facility as well as The Gardens at Arkanshire in Springdale. O’Reilly is based in Springfield, Mo., and most of its properties are in the Show Me State and scattered across the Midwest.
Click here for more, as well as a nifty time-lapse photo collage of the development.
Hall of Fame induction set for Friday
The Arkansas Activities Association will be having its annual Hall of Fame dinner this year on Friday in Hot Springs.
The event will start at 6 p.m. and be at the Hot Springs Convention Center.
The Associatians for officials, coaches and administrators will present their annual class to the attendees.
Among the officials being inducted into the Hall of Fame is Lawrence Hale II of Maumelle.
In addition to officiating high school sports, Hale also calls Division I soccer. His son, Lawrence Hale III, was head lifeguard at the Jess Odom Community Center.
For more information, click the flyer below.
Education News
Pitts graduates from Alabama
Grace Pitts of North Little Rock, has received the following degree(s) from The University of Alabama: Bachelor of Fine Arts. UA awarded over 6,000 degrees during its spring commencement ceremonies.
A recent economic analysis found that a degree from The University of Alabama has proven to provide an abundant return on investment for graduates, setting the stage for legendary careers while also creating priceless experiences and memories.
Alabama names Deam’s, President’s Lists: A total of 14,289 students enrolled during spring semester 2025 at The University of Alabama were named to the dean's list with an academic record of 3.5 (or above) or the president's list with an academic record of 4.0 (all A's).
North of the River students include:
Angelina Bearden of Maumelle was named to the Dean's List.
Egan Gunter of Maumelle was named to the Dean's List.
Kaitlin Arnold of Maumelle was named to the Dean's List.
Mary Crow of Maumelle was named to the President's List.
Grace Pitts of North Little Rock was named to the Dean's List.
Evelyn Moran of North Little Rock was named to the President's List.
Kimberly Mcclendon of Sherwood was named to the Dean's List.
SAU names President's List for Spring semester
Southern Arkansas University has announced that 458 students earned a 4.0 GPA for the spring 2025 semester and have been named to its President's List.
North of the River students are:
Clayton Allen Collins is a junior Pre-Health Biology major from North Little Rock.
Malachi Nicola Cox is a sophomore Marine Biology major from North Little Rock.
Raylen Elaiye James is a senior Elementary Education (STEM) major from North Little Rock.
Leah Grace Evans is a sophomore Pre-Nursing major from Sherwood.
Ethan Lee Maddox is a senior General Business major with a minor in Finance (Business) from Sherwood.
SAU Dean's List Spring: Southern Arkansas University has announced that 550 students earned a 3.5 GPA or higher for the spring 2025 semester and have been named to its Dean's List.
North of the River students are:
Madison Salle Dolo is a sophomore Interactive Media and Marketing major from North Little Rock.
Mary Angelina Insalaco is a senior Management major from North Little Rock.
Mckenzie Mychelle Landry is a junior Elementary Education (STEM) major from North Little Rock.
Katelyn Renee McKeehan is a senior Agriculture: Pre-Veterinary major from Sherwood.
Bailey Anne McPherson is a sophomore Animal Science major from Sherwood.
Colton Wayne McPherson is a senior Pre-Health Biology major from Sherwood.
A total of 550 students were honored on this semester's Dean's List.
To learn more about SAU, visit www.saumag.edu.
Students named to Missouri State University's spring 2025 dean's list
Each semester, students at Missouri State University who attain academic excellence are named to the dean's list.
For undergraduate students, criteria include enrollment in at least 12 credit hours during the spring semester and at least a 3.50 grade point average (on a 4.00 scale).
More than 4,900 students were named to the spring 2025 dean's list. These North of the River students made the list:
Alyssa Diaz of Maumelle
Rebecca Forrest of Maumelle
Southeast Missouri names Spring Dean's List
Southeast Missouri State University has announced its Dean's List for undergraduate academic achievement during the spring 2025 semester.
Academic Hall in the spring semester.Students named to the Dean's List earned at least a 3.75 grade point average on a 4.0 scale and completed at least 12 hours of standard graded credit. They received no grade below a B and received no failing grades in enrolled, credit/no credit or pass/fail courses.
North of the River students include:
Alex Powell of Sherwood
Jacob Rivera of North Little Rock
Walt Reber from North Little Rock graduates from The Citadel
The South Carolina Corps of Cadets Class of 2025 are now part of the Long Gray Line.
More than 400 members of the South Carolina Corps of Cadets and almost 400 students from The Citadel Graduate College accepted their degrees during the commencement ceremonies on May 3.
Among the graduates was Walt Reber from North Little Rock.
The top academic programs for the Class of 2025 included Intelligence and Security Studies, Mechanical Engineering, Management, Criminal Justice, Political Science, Finance and Marketing and Business Development.
West Alabama names Spring graduates
The University of West Alabama held spring commencement exercises on May 8 and 9, with President Todd G. Fritch conferring degrees to nearly 600 students in the graduating class represent some 19 states across the U.S. and abroad.
Among the graduates were:
Marissa Mitchell of North Little Rock - Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences Comprehensive
Kristal Wilkins of North Little Rock - Bachelor of Science in Psychology
Rodes graduates from Bridgewater College
Hannah Rodes of Sherwood graduated with a bachelor of science in psychology from Bridgewater College during the May 3, 2025, Commencement exercises.
Approximately 302 undergraduate and 25 graduate students from the Class of 2025 received degrees. Dr. David W. Bushman, president of Bridgewater College, conferred the degrees.
Students named to ACU's Spring 2025 Dean's Honor Roll
North of the River students were named to the Dean's Honor Roll for the Spring 2025 semester at Abilene Christian University. Students earn Dean's Honor Roll recognition by achieving a 3.6 or higher GPA while enrolled in at least 12 credit hours.
Sherlena Mass of North Little Rock, a senior majoring in Communication Disorders
Kiley Frost of North Little Rock , a senior majoring in Biochemistry
Thompson Named to the Spring Dean's List at Georgia State University
Kayla Thompson of North Little Rock was named to the Spring 2025 Dean's List at Georgia State University.
To be eligible for the Dean's List, degree-seeking students must have earned a GPA of at least 3.5 for a minimum of nine semester hours of academic credit taken at Georgia State during the fall or spring term with no incompletes for the semester. Eligible students must have a minimum GPA of 2.0 for all classes taken at Georgia State.
Smith named to Troy University Chancellor's List
Mikiya Smith of Sherwood was named to the Chancellor's List at Troy University for the spring semester/Term 4 of the 2024-2025 academic year.
The Chancellor's List honors full-time undergraduate students who are registered for at least 12 semester hours and who earn a grade point average of 4.0.
Custer named to The College of Charleston Spring Dean's List
Sarah Custer, of North Little Rock, was named to the College of Charleston Spring 2025 Dean's List. Custer is majoring in Public Health
To qualify for the Dean's List (Distinguished), students must earn a GPA of 3.500 or higher and complete a minimum of 12 semester hours.
Upcoming Travs games
Six-game homestand with the Tulsa Drillers
Thursday, 6:35 p.m.
Operation: Military Appreciation: $3 Thursday
Enjoy $3 Beer Garden Tickets and select Concessions deals!
Friday, 7:05 p.m.
Fireworks Friday - Música Latina
End your week at DSP with a BANG! | Presented By Arkansas State University
Fiesta de Diamantes: Your Travs will take the field as the Diamantes de Arkansas in salute of Hispanic Heritage! | Presented By Modelo Especial
Saturday, 6:05 p.m.
Post-Game Wrestling: Time for the Main Event! Stick around after the game for post-game matches featuring the stars of Memphis Wrestling.
Fiesta de Diamantes: Your Travs will take the field as the Diamantes de Arkansas in salute of Hispanic Heritage! | Presented By Modelo Especial
Sunday, 1:35 p.m.
Diamantes Sugar Skull Bobblehead Giveaway: Presented By First Arkansas Bank & Trust | First 1,000 Fans (one item per person)
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
Fiesta de Diamantes: Your Travs will take the field as the Diamantes de Arkansas in salute of Hispanic Heritage! | Presented By Modelo Especial
Kids Run the Bases: Kids 13 and under are invited to run the same basepaths the Travs run after the game! | Presented By First Community Bank
All-Star Break, July 14-17
At Midland, July 18-20
Health
Pandemic deaths unknown
The state Department of Health didn’t update the state’s dashboard this week, again, and deaths still total 532 for the past year. There’s no tab created for 2025 either and the virus has now killed 14,162 Arkansans since the pandemic began then. 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