Johnson was Maumelle’s first ‘First Lady’
Johnson was Maumelle’s first ‘First Lady’
North Little Rock's Will Jones in Prosecuting Attorney race, Here be Dragons, plus news and sports headlines
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The Maumelle City Council had a light agenda this week, but there was a great deal of time spent discussing the city’s finances. — Chad Gardner Read more by clicking Maumelle: City Council Report
Neal Moore wants to know Who Makes Your Favorite Pizza Pie?
Seven Pulaski County Special School District schools distributed a total of 4,550 meals with 2,275 being breakfast and the other half being lunch to children in the county on Monday. — Jeremy Peppas Read more by clicking Free summer meals for children continue
Arkansas Tech Dean's List students from Maumelle and Dean's, Chancellor's List students from North Little Rock
North Little Rock: Jennings resigns as high school principal
Sports headlines
Soccer: Maumelle, Central Arkansas Christian, Maumelle Charter have players named all-state
Swimming: Maumelle Marlins beat Conway and Lakewood hosts Cabot, Lonoke
BASEBALL ON BROADWAYis the new weekly newsletter that spotlights the Arkansas Travelers. It is published on Monday and click the link to give it a read.
Memorial service set for Johnson, Maumelle’s first ‘First Lady’
Jeanne "Jackie" Lott Johnson of Maumelle died on June 2 at 83.
A memorial has been set for 4 p.m. on Saturday, June 19 at the Maumelle Center on the Lake, where she was a long-time volunteer.
Johnson was married to Maumelle’s first-elected mayor, Burch Johnson, and became known as Maumelle’s first “First Lady.”
Her obituary, along with details on the memorial service and where to make memorial contributions follow.
Jeanne "Jackie" Lott Johnson
Nov. 3, 1937 - June 2, 2021
Memorial Service: Maumelle Center On The Lake, 4 p.m., Saturday, June 19
Memorial Contributions: Maumelle Friends of the Animals and click here to donate
Jeanne "Jackie" Lott Johnson, 83, of Maumelle died June 2, 2021, in her home in Maumelle with her family by her side.
Jackie was born Nov. 3, 1937, in Houston, Texas, to Mary Elizabeth Lowry and John Wendall Wasson
Family was the center of her life. She loved her grandkids. There was not a single thing that she wouldn't do for them. She rarely missed a school function or sporting event. Jackie or Burch were at every single event. She loved her grandkids and loved when they would just walk over to see her. She loved the multiple night sleepovers and making them chocolate milkshakes. She made the best! Her grandkids loved her and were extremely close to both her and Burch. They always told her how much they loved her and that she was the best grandmother ever. She will truly be missed by each one.
She loved to travel with her husband, Burch, and they traveled all over the world. Her favorite place she ever visited was Italy, which she visited on several occasions. She volunteered often and was a great public servant. She volunteered many hours at the Maumelle Center on the Lake and within the community helping others.
There is absolutely no way to put into words what Jackie meant to her friends. Jackie valued her many friends and her friends knew they could always count on her. She was a joy to be around even though she was a serious taskmaster when it came to getting things done correctly and on time. She worked tirelessly on special projects and was a strong advocate for schools, teachers and students. When it came to City politics, her favorite mayor was Mayor Burch Johnson. Mayor Johnson was the first citizen-elected Mayor of the City of Maumelle. Her friends thought of Jackie as Maumelle's First Lady. Although she objected, they were proud to introduce her as First Lady Jackie Johnson. That's the way she will always be remembered.
Jackie is survived by her husband of 65 years, Clifford "Burch" Johnson Sr.; her brother, Mike Jarrell (Donald Taylor); son, Clifford Johnson Jr. (Julie); daughter, Kemberly Ray (Allan Miller), and grandsons, Dylan Ray, Tanner Ray, Logan Ray, Luke Johnson, and Brantley Johnson. Preceding her in death are her father, mother, and her brother, Charles Jarrell.
A Memorial Service is planned for 4 p.m. on Saturday, June 19 at the Maumelle Center on the Lake. Burial will take place at Memphis Memory Gardens in Memphis at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Maumelle Friends of the Animals, https://maumellefoa.org/donate/
Jones declares run for Prosecuting Attorney
Long-time North Little Rock attorney and veteran prosecutor Will Jones recently announced he would be running to be Prosecuting Attorney for the 6th Judicial District.
That district covers all of Pulaski and Perry counties and Larry Jegley announced he would not be seeking another term, leaving the seat open in next year’s election.
His goal, if elected, Jones said, is “create a safer place for the citizens” of those counties.
Jones is currently the Chief Deputy Prosecuting Attorney for the 11th West Judicial District, which serves Pine Bluff. There his work has a focus on major crimes like homicides.
Before that, he was a state Deputy Attorney General for seven years and ran the Cyber Crimes Unit and also was a special assistant United States Attorney.
He began his legal career working for Jegley and was a deputy Prosecuting Attorney for 11 years.
Jones has degrees from Henderson State University and the University of Arkansas Law School at Fayetteville. He’s married to North Little Rock District Judge Paula Juels Jones and the couple live in Lakewood with their two children.
When not prosecuting, Jones teaches Sunday School classes at Lakewood United Methodist Church and is currently President of Pulaski County CASA Board of Directors and also serves on the Board of Directors for Rock Region Metro.
Here be Dragons: Festival at Lake Willastein this weekend
The annual River Cities Dragon Boat Festival will be this Friday and Saturday at Lake Willastein in Maumelle.
The event wasn’t held last year due to the ongoing pandemic.
There’s a total of 25 teams listed as competitors in the boat races on Saturday, while festivities begin at 5 p.m. on Friday with TK Cowboy and David Rasico performing at 7 p.m.
The teams competing are:
10 Fitness: Motor Boaters
Arkansas Chinese American Association: ACAA Flying Dragon
Arkansas Community Foundation: Arkansas Community Foundation
Arkansas Department of Human Services/Division of Children and Family Services: Winging This!
Arkansas Electric Cooperative Corporation: Coop Spirit
Arkansas Heart Hospital: Arkansas Heart Hospital
Arkansas State Police/CACD: Knot on Duty
Baldwin & Shell Construction No. 1: Hard Hat Legion No. 1
Baldwin & Shell Construction No. 2: Hard Hat Legion No. 2
BKD, LLP: Assets Afloat
Briggs Equipment: Briggs Brigade
Centers for Youth and Families: Clinical InOARvention
Cornerstone Specialty Hospital of Little Rock: Cornerstone Conquistadors
DataMax: Toner Pirates
First Security Bank: First Security Bank
Garver: Garver
Heart Hospital: Lettuce Turnip the Beet
Hospice Home Care: New Kids on the Dock
Kimberly Clark Corporation: Pandemic Pirates
Med Evolve: Oar We There Yet
Pinnacle Pointe Hospital: Pinnacle Pirates
US Bank Team No. 1: Ka Ching No. 1
US Bank Team No. 2: Ka Ching No. 2
And community teams: Boats & Rows and Row-A-Rita-Ville
Admission is free and proceeds from the team entry fees will benefit the Children’s Protection Center.
Food trucks and yard games will be available on Friday and Saturday, with a fireworks show to close out the festival at 9:10 p.m. on Friday night. Races will start at 11:30 a.m. on Saturday.
For more information, click here for the festival’s website.
Schedule of events
Friday
Noon: Athlete’s Village team set up begins
4:45 p.m. Athlete’s Village closes to all vehicles
5 p.m. Team check-in begins, Team practices on the water, food trucks and yard games open
6 p.m. Children’s Area Opens
7 p.m. Music, fun from the stage
8:30 p.m. Practices finish
9:10 p.m. Fireworks Show
Saturday
7:30 a.m.: Athlete’s Village opens, all paddlers arrive, sign waivers and receive wristbands
9 a.m.: Opening Ceremony & Drummer’s Parade
9:15 a.m.: Marshalling & Races Begin
11:30 a.m.: Dragon Cup Race
1 p.m.: Championship Round
2:45 p.m. Awards Ceremony
Moore on Maumelle: My Take
Neal Moore is taking the week off but he still wants to know Who Makes Your Favorite Pizza Pie?