Happy Birthday!

A Very Merry Maumelle starts this week; A December (to help remember) Calendar; CAC knocked out of the playoffs plus sports and headlines

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Pandemic deaths stay at ‘0’

The state Department of Health, on its Covid dashboard, showed that in the past week, there were no new deaths reported. The numbers were updated Tuesday, Nov. 28. However, some numbers may have been delayed due to last week’s holiday.

The total number of reported dead Arkansans remains at 13,360 or the state’s 30th largest city, passing Harrison’s 13,338.

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 at 6 p.m. next Monday night at City Hall.

• Events: There is so much happening because once December pops, it can’t stop popping. For more, so much more, keep scrolling..

• Something to read: The New York Times and KFF Health News are collaborating on an extensive, lengthy project titled Dying Broke: A new jointly reported series on America’s long-term care crisis. Read the third installment here Dying Broke: Why long-term care insurance falls short for so many; Part 1: Facing financial ruin as costs soar for elder care and Part 2: Extra fees drive assisted living profits

Virtual Event: The Long-Term Care Crisis — Why Few Can Afford to Grow Old in America On Tuesday, Dec. 5 at noon ET, join KFF Health News for a virtual conversation about “Dying Broke,” our joint investigation with The New York Times into America’s long-term care crisis and what can be done to mitigate its growing financial and emotional toll. RSVP

• ICYMI: Cassandra Green files as challenger to Rep. Brandon Achor

Happy Birthday!

If you’re reading this, thank you!

It is because of readers that ArkansasNewsroom.com marks its third birthday today.

Or at least, that’s when the site went live. The planning and all the backend work began months earlier but for these purposes, I don’t count that time.

This is post 1,579 and not really done writing yet, so there’s more to come plus the newsletter that will be in your in-boxes later today.

Counting today’s, there’s been about 200 newsletters published over the last three years and each newsletter checks in, on average, at 6,000 words. So, there’s been about 1.2 million words over the last 36 months or roughly 15 novels.

That’s quite a bit. It is said that every newspaper reporter has a book in them, and for most, that’s where they should stay, but I appreciate all the hard work of the contributors over the last three years and I look forward to more words to come in the future.

Local news isn’t profitable. ArkansasNewsroom.com mostly covers the expense of hosting and email distribution but that’s only because I don’t draw a salary for these efforts. Local news also doesn’t generate a ton of clicks but I’ve eschewed the click bait model as that’s just not good journalism.

Knowing about the bankruptcies, divorces, arrests and the like can be good for the gossip, and it would generate traffic, but it is not good for the gander that is my soul because it is gross.

And, anyway, the traffic and readership exceeds the efforts of the now deceased Maumelle Monitor and Times of North Little Rock newspapers. They, and the Lonoke County papers, have now been gone more than five years now and while I’ll never get over that, this has been good.

So, please, keep reading, Please, keep subscribing and, if you’re able, pay for a subscription because getting a check from this, someday, would be great. But, in the meantime, it is working and please keep reading.

Onto year four.

JEREMY

Public hearing set by PCSSD

Notice is hereby given that the Pulaski County Special School District will conduct a public hearing on their facilities master plan that will be submitted to the Division of Public School Academic Facilities and Transportation as required by state law.

The public hearing will start at 6 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 14 in the Board Room of the Administration Building located at 925 East Dixon Road, Little Rock.

It is scheduled to last one hour.

The District will present information on their facilities master plan. All interested persons attending the public hearing will be given an opportunity to comment on the facilities master plan.

A Very Merry Maumelle starts this week

A Very Merry Maumelle is ambitious and fitting for the season, overloaded with good and free things to do.

The new three weekend event starts this Saturday at Lake Willastein and will continue over the next two Saturdays, concluding on Dec. 16. There’s also a holiday open house this Friday starting at noon along the start of a holiday display competition and a drive to stock the community pantry. More details are below.

In between, there’s a lot. Plus, Santa!

There’s also been some changes as Lake Willastein will serve as host of the Tree Lighting this Saturday and the movie night that concludes A Very Merry Maumelle on Saturday, Dec. 16.

The Mistletoe Market, on Saturday, Dec. 9 will now be held at Center on the Lake.

So no worries about inclement weather there.

Christine Gronwald, who serves on the Maumelle City Council, is the Holiday Committee chair while Ashley Norris with Bella Rustina Modern Vintage Markeis the Co-Chair.

Gronwald answered some questions from ArkansasNewsroom.com and they have been lightly edited, formatted for publication and are below.

>> How did the idea of doing three weekends come together and is it modeled on another city? 

In April of this year, there was an initial gathering of Maumelle residents who were interested in serving on the Holiday Committee. Several months later the committee met to begin brainstorming ideas that would include and delight all Maumelle residents with a festive, holiday event. Following the first full committee meeting in September, it was quickly realized there could not be just one event. The committee then decided to split the activities into the first three Saturdays of December which would give the residents of Maumelle more flexibility to attend any or all of the festivities. The committee pulled inspiration from Jacksonville, Conway and Sherwood specifically, but certainly researched other ideas from cities not only in Arkansas but around the country. 

>> How will the events work in case of inclement weather? In that case, how will you get the word out? 

The committee was able to secure the Center on the Lake for the Mistletoe Market so all activities on the 9th will be indoors. The events [this Saturday] and Dec. 16 will be held at Lake Willastein. In case of inclement weather, depending on its severity, the committee will decide whether to cancel the event. We do not expect that to happen, but if it does, we will let everyone know via The Maumelle Area Chamber of Commerce and The City of Maumelle Facebook pages. 

>> How many vendors are participating in the market and what would an attendee expect? 

The committee is very proud to be hosting 33 vendors for the inaugural year for Maumelle Mistletoe Market. There will be five food trucks with food varieties including hot dogs, tacos, nachos, and more! The first 25 shoppers to arrive at the event on December 9th will receive a special event swag bag. 

>> What’s the movie on the last night? 

Dec. 16 will be the final night of festivities with a showing of Grinch: the cartoon movie: with a list as long as Santa’s full of family friendly activities to enjoy. The Summit Church is the event sponsor and has arranged to have Buddy the Elf and Santa there for photos along with a train ride for tots, popcorn, hot chocolate, face painting.

Saturday: Maumelle Tree Lighting Ceremony 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.

This will be the Tree Lighting event to kick off the holiday festivities. Following the annual Christmas parade, beginning around 6 p.m., Mayor Caleb Norris will announce the award winners of the parade participants. Guests will then enjoy the twinkling lights reflecting near the lake and live entertainment as Maumelle school choirs from Pine Forest Elementary, Maumelle Charter Enrichment Program, Oak Grove Elementary and Maumelle High School Choir. sing Christmas carols. 

There will be a ceremonial lighting of the tree followed by a brief fireworks show. Santa is scheduled to make an appearance and has graciously agreed to pose for photos. Maumelle residents will also be charmed by holiday bell ringers to celebrate the holiday season. 

To close the evening, there will be a community Christmas carol sing-along! 

Saturday, Dec. 9: Maumelle Mistletoe Market 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.

All the beautiful lights and the Maumelle Christmas tree will remain in place throughout the month of December for the merriment of our Maumelle residents. The first 25 shoppers to arrive for the Mistletoe Market will receive a swag bag with fun treasures donated by area businesses including the Maumelle Area Chamber of Commerce. 

Holiday music will play in the background as patrons visit 30 vendor booths that include categories such as; candles and room spray, kitchen gadgets, makeup and skin care products, handmade gifts, home decor, food items, and so much more. Shoppers can also commemorate the evening by taking a photo with our Photo 360 that takes a picture as it moves around its subject. Owner of Bella Rustina Modern Vintage Market, Ashley Norris, is providing her equipment and time to offer this extra special opportunity to event attendees.

As shoppers work up an appetite, they can choose from five food trucks that will provide BBQ, tacos, hot dogs and nachos among other items. Guests will be given a raffle ticket upon entry where they can enter to win door prizes given throughout the evening. While this event is open to anyone in Maumelle, we expect many will enjoy making this a “Girls Night Out” while they check everyone off their Christmas list. 

Saturday, Dec. 16: Holiday Movie in the Park sponsored by The Summit Church 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Maumelle residents will come together to watch the cartoon movie version of The Grinch on a large screen as they enjoy the lake and holiday decorations surrounding them. 

The Summit Church has made arrangements for an array of holiday activities including; a train ride for tots, popcorn station, face painting booth, coffee food truck, hot chocolate, and an inflatable snow globe. Not to mention Buddy the Elf and Santa will be there. Summit Church is among the sponsors of “A Very Merry Maumelle” holiday events. 

Committee Members: 

• Christine Gronwald: Maumelle City Councilperson, Holiday Committee Chair

• Ashley Norris: Bella Rustina Modern Vintage Market, Holiday Committee Co-Chair

• Kellie Wall: Maumelle Area Chamber of Commerce, CEO

• Kendria Parker: Maumelle Area Chamber of Commerce, 

• Lisa Holloway Sugg: Crye-Leike of Maumelle, Realtor

• Courtney Dunn: City of Maumelle, Economic Developer

• Deb Roush: City of Maumelle, Chief of Staff

• Marshall West: The Summit Church of Little Rock

• Cassie Henry-Saorrono: Maumelle resident

• Ashley Henry-Saorrono: Maumelle resident

• Mary Gardner: Benefit Concepts

• Donna Brown: John Wright Construction

• Heather Munson: Maumelle resident

Holiday Sponsors: 

• City of Maumelle

• Maumelle Area Chamber of Commerce

• John Wright Construction

• The Summit Church

• Baptist Health URGENT Care of Maumelle

Mistletoe Sponsors: 

• John Wright Construction

• Majestic Pointe

Tree Sponsors: 

• Lisa Sugg, Crye-Leike Realtor

• Benefit Concepts of Arkansas

• Brock Custom Homes

• Metro Appliances & More

• The Quarters

• The Country Club of Arkansas

• The Menking Family Fund

• Munson Family

• Skintastic Esthetics

• Maumelle Massage Clinic

• John & Marilyn Wright

• Sticky Logistics

• Lions Club of Maumelle

• Bella Rustina Modern Vintage Market

• Austen Michaels Custom Interiors

• Sticky Logistics

In-Kind Sponsors:

• Bella Rustina Modern Vintage Market

• Lisa Sugg, Crye-Leike Realtor

• The Menking Family Fund

• Deaton Fireworks

• Maumelle Florist & Every Blooming Thing

A December (to help remember) Calendar

Next month is going to be a busy one as it seems like there's something to do every weekend until the new year.

The big news is A Very Merry Maumelle, a new three weekend holiday celebration, will kick off that month, but more on that in a bit.

But, there's still November and there's more to do.

• Friday: More high school football as it is state championship weekend for 7A, 6A, 5A and 2A while 4A and 3A are in the semifinals.

• Saturday A Very Merry Maumelle, above, starts at Lake Willastein with a Christmas parade and tree lighting. The parade will start at 5 p.m. and the event will conclude at 9 p.m.

• Sunday: The North Little Rock Christmas Parade will be held at 2 p.m. this Sunday with the route running through downtown. It is sponsored by the North Little Rock Sertoma Club.

• Thursday, Dec. 7: A day that still lives in infamy 82 years later will be marked at the Arkansas Inland Maritime Museum. The Pearl Harbor Remembrance event will begin at 11:58 a.m. North Little Rock Mayor Terry Hartwick will be among the local dignitaries on hand for the ceremony. Free tours of the USS Razorback will happen after.

• Saturday, Dec. 9: A Very Merry Maumelle continues with Mistletoe Market as it will open at 4 p.m.,at Center on the Lake, and will close at 7 p.m.

• Saturday, Dec. 9: The Adult Spelling Bee, below, will be held at the Burns Park Hospitality House. 

• Saturday, Dec. 9: Frosting with Frosty, below, will be held at Laman Plaza at the North Little Rock Community Center at 2700 Willow St.

• Saturday, Dec. 16: Holiday in the Park Movie night concludes a Very Merry Maumelle. The event starts at 6 p.m. and will conclude at 9 p.m. A Very Merry Maumelle is sponsored by the Maumelle Area Chamber of Commerce and the city.

• Saturday, Dec. 16: The Hogs make the annual trip to central Arkansas and will face Lipscomb at Simmons Bank Arena in downtown North Little Rock. The good news? The game will be televised!

• Sunday, Dec. 24: Christmas Eve.

• Monday, Dec. 25: Christmas Day.

• Tuesday, Dec. 26: Happy Boxing Day to those who celebrate. 

• Sunday, Dec. 31: New Year's Eve.

• Monday, Jan. 1: New Year's Day.

Playoff Primer

CAC knocked out of the playoffs

It was fun while it lasted.

Central Arkansas Christian's season came to end last Friday as undefeated Elkins throttled the Mustangs high-powered offense as the Elks won, 53-15.

The 15 points was by far the lowest of the season for CAC (9-3) as the team went into last Friday averaging nearly 50 points a game.

Elkins, however, was averaging more than 50 points a game and they kept it going at a cold night at Mustang Mountain as the team put together more than 500 yards of total offense in the win.

Elkins (13-0) now hosts the state's other Church of Christ school in Harding Academy this Friday as both teams are unbeaten.

Harding Academy is the No. 1 team in 4A and is favored to beat No. 3 Elkins, according to Hootens.com

There's no lines or over/unders in high school football but if there was, and you were the kind of degenerate who'd wager on those games, I'd take the over regardless of where it was set. Last team to score likely wins and both teams should crack the 50s.

In the other 4A semifinal, undefeated Warren travels to Rivercrest because all Bo Hembree knows how to do is win.

Hootens.com has Warren as the favorites as well.

To read more on the 4A semifinals, click here.

In 3A, Glen Rose heads to Booneville in what should be a Beavers trap as the Bearcats just know how to win and again and again and again. Wouldn't know personally, in high school, we won three of four games against them.

In the other game, the traveling Mansfield Tigers hit the road for the third consecutive time as they'll be at Prescott this Friday.

Previous trips include Hoxie and Salem but this might be the end of the road as the Curley Wolves are favored to win.

For more, click here.

State Championship weekend (Part 1)

The games this Friday and Saturday will be televised live on Arkansas PBS via your cable provider, YouTubeTV and on the Arkansas PBS app.

Want to follow along in more detail?

Live in-game and post-game stats for all  championship games can be accessed by any computer, tablet or mobile device by going to aaa.statbroadcast.com.

All state championship games will be played at Little Rock's War Memorial Stadium. If going, arrive early as security can be a hassle and expect to pay to park, so have some extra cash on hand.

2A State Championship game | Noon, Friday | No. 2 EPC vs. No. 1 Bigelow

East Poinsett County makes the trip down from Northeast Arkansas to face Bigelow in the first state championship of the weekend.

Bigelow is undefeated and favored to win by Hootens.com.

To read more, click here.

6A State Championship game | 6:30 p.m., Friday | No. 2 Little Rock Christian vs. No. 1 Greenwood

Greenwood is the favorite in Friday's second game as the Bulldogs faceoff against Little Rock Christian. Greenwood won the regular season matchup, 17-0. By virtue of playing for a title, Little Rock Christian will be a 7A school next season as Fort Smith Northside moves back to the 7A-West, where the belong and Fort Smith Southside drops down to Class 6A, which will make for one interesting River Valley next season. It will also make for a much more compact 7A-Central.

To read more on the state championship game from Hootens.com, click here.

7A State Championship game | Noon, Saturday | No. 2 Bentonville vs. No. 1 Fayetteville 

Hootens.com has the undefeated Purple 'Dogs as the favorite against 7A-West conference rival Bentonville. The teams are No. 1 and No. 2 in the rankings for 7A.

To read more, click here.

5A State Championship game | 6:30 p.m., Saturday | No. 1 Little Rock Parkview vs. No. 2 Shiloh Christian

When he was at North Little Rock, Brad Bolding usually got the 'Cats to the semis but couldn't crack the code in winning a state title.

Now that he's at Little Rock Parkview, he's already won one and going for back-to-back titles this Saturday in the nightcap against Shiloh Christian.

Parkview is undefeated and while they haven't always looked dominant at times this season, they're favored to beat the Saints by Hootens.com.

For more, click here.

Friday night lights

CAC Mustangs (9-3, final record)

• Aug. 25   ...  CAC 52, Lonoke 16

• Sept. 1 ...  CAC 40, Perryville 6

• Sept. 8  ... CAC, 50 Bauxite  45

• Sept. 15  ...  Harmony Grove 43, CAC 42

• Sept. 22   ...  CAC 40, Little Rock Hall 27

• Sept. 29  ... CAC 50, Mayflower 34

• Oct. 6 ...  CAC 44, Pottsville 43

• Oct. 13  ...  Clinton 53, CAC 50

• Oct. 20 ... CAC 60, Dover 12

• Nov. 3 ...  CAC 53, Lamar  0

• Nov. 10  ...  CAC has a bye. First round of playoffs

• Nov. 17 … CAC 59, Nashville 50

• Friday, Nov. 24 … Elkins 53, CAC 15

BOLD indicates home game

• For the roster, please click here.

Sports

Maumelle Charter basketball schedule

• Now through Dec.2 …. at Battle at the Cove … VG,VB

• Dec 2 …. Saturday at Stuttgart (Jamboree) … 7G,7B … TBA

• Dec. 4 … Monday at Dover … 7G, 7B, JHG, JHB … 4:30 p.m. 

• Dec. 5 … Tuesday … Dover … JVG, JVB, VG,VB … 5 p.m. 

• Dec. 8.... Friday ... at CAC … JHG, JHB, VG, VB … 4 p.m. 

• Dec. 11 … Monday at Mayflower … 7G, 7B, JHG, JHB … 4:30 p.m. 

• Dec. 12 … Tuesday … Mayflower … JVG, JVB, VG, VB … 5 p.m. 

• Dec 14 ... Thursday ... CAC … 7G,7B … 4:30 p.m. 

• Dec. 14 ... Thursday ... Malvern … VG,VB … 5:30 p.m. 

• Dec. 15.... Friday ... Abundant Life (Homecoming) … VG, VB … 5:30 p.m.

• Dec 16 … Saturday at Perryville (Jamboree) … 7G,7B … TBA

• Dec. 27-28 at Malvern Classic … VG… TBD

• Dec. 27-29 at Episcopal Christmas Tournament … VB … TBD

• Jan 2. … Tuesday … Danville … JHG,JHB,VG,VB … 4:30 p.m. 

• Jan 4. ... Thursday ... Lee Academy … JHG, VG,VB … 4 p.m. 

• Jan. 5.... Friday ... at Perryville … JHG, JHB, VG, VB … 4 p.m. 

• Jan. 8 … Monday at Lamar … 7G, 7B, JHG, JHB … 4:30 p.m. 

• Jan. 9 … Tuesday Lamar … JVG, JVB, VG, VB … 5 p.m. 

• Jan. 11 ... Thursday ... Baptist Prep … 7G, 7B, JHG, JHB … 4:30 p.m. 

• Jan. 12.... Friday ... at Baptist Prep … JVG, JVB, VG, VB … 4:30 p.m. 

• Jan. 16 … Tuesday … Atkins … JHG, JHB, VG,VB ... 4 p.m. 

• Jan 16 … Tuesday … Lisa West … 7G,7B … 5:30 p.m. 

• Jan. 18 ... Thursday ... Dover … 7G, 7B, JHG, JHB … 4:30 p.m. 

• Jan. 19.... Friday ... at Dover … VG, VB … 5:30 p.m. 

• Jan. 23 … Tuesday … CAC … JHG, JHB, VG, VB ... 4 p.m. 

• Jan. 25 ... Thursday ... Mayflower … 7G, 7B, JHG, JHB … 4:30 p.m. 

• Jan. 26.... Friday ... at Mayflower … JVB, VG, VB … 4:30 p.m. 

• Jan. 30 … Tuesday … Perryville (Senior Night) … JHG, JHB, VG, VB ... 4 p.m. 

• Feb. 1 ... Thursday ... Lamar … 7G, 7B, JHG, JHB … 4:30 p.m. 

• Feb. 2.... Friday ... at Lamar … JVG, JVB, VG, VB 4:30 p.m. 

• Feb. 3-7 … Jr. High District Tournament … JHG, JHB … TBA

• Feb. 6 … Tuesday … Baptist Prep … JVG, JVB, VG, VB … 4:30 p.m. 

• Feb. 8 ... Thursday ... at Atkins … JVG, JVB, 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

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