Karen Trevino named to the Hall of Fame
Blackout on the Boulevard set; Maumelle’s Charter’s Pecanty named a National Merit finalist; CAC claims 3A boys state title plus sports and headlines
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Pandemic deaths climb
The state Department of Health, in a report issued March 9, it showed that in the past week, 9 Arkansans have died from Covid. The virus has now killed 13,689 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.
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 will meet next Monday night.
Events: Spring Break is here as North Little Rock and Pulaski County Special school districts as well as the Academics Plus system that includes Maumelle Charter will be on break starting this Monday with back to school being the following Monday, March 25.
ICYMI: The question of the day
Karen Trevino named to the Hall of Fame
In February, Karen Trevino was inducted in the Arkansas Tourism Hall of Fame for her long-time contributions to the state through her work with the North Little Rock Convention and Visitors Bureau.
The ceremony was held in Jonesboro and also inducted was Marcel Hanzlik, who has been with Arkansas State Parks for 39 years.
Trevino is a familiar name for North of the River and started with the visitor’s bureau in 1989 and was named director in July 2003.
Below is a transcript of an interview Trevino did with ArkansasNewsroom.com and it has been lightly edited and formatted for publication.
>> How long have you been with NLR CVB? I worked as Assistant Director from 1989 – 1994; then returned as the President & CEO (aka Director at that time) in July 2003.
>> As I recall, you took some time and stepped away, then returned. What made you want to come back? I went part-time as my daughter and I had opened a dance studio. I also was working full-time at Pulaski Tech Culinary Arts & Hospitality Management Institute (CAHMI). We decided to close the dance studio for various reasons. Working in the tourism program at CAHMI was rewarding but I started feeling frustrated as I was teaching what to do when I was still young enough to do what I do. I love NLR Tourism and representing the city. I was very fortunate to return working for the new President Bob Major as the full-time COO until his retirement. I was and am thrilled to have the job back that I totally love!
>> In terms of tourism trends, what has changed the most from the time you started to now? In terms of advertising, it is a really tough time for the print media. Most everyone is going to digital advertising and social media marketing. We have to reevaluate who the target audience is and make sure that we market to that niche. AI is going to play a huge role in marketing once everyone gets comfortable with the opportunities.
>> As the city has changed, and become more dynamic, what role has your org played in that? We have been an active participant in making things happen – growing the city’s tourism product, managing the Argenta Plaza, expanding and managing the Downtown Riverside RV Park, developing a culinary brand that reaches into the community, developing and supporting festivals and special events, and so much more.
>> Beside the more immediate things like the eclipse and what not, what do you see on the immediate horizon that will impact NLR? There are a lot of plans to add more tourism products. The new conference center will provide us with the opportunity to sell larger conventions, meetings, reunions, etc. to bring to North Little Rock. This, in turn, will fill our hotel rooms and our restaurants.
>> How do you see NLR/central Arkansas in the next five or 10 years? We will celebrate our organization’s 50th anniversary next year. The following year is the 250th birthday of our country. There are so many special events to celebrate! We have a dynamic staff who will continue to lead North Little Rock Tourism into the future.
>> Anything else you’d like to add? Thank you for the opportunity to celebrate my team. Hope this makes sense.
It did!
Blackout on the Boulevard set
As the April 8 total solar eclipse, plans are finalizing for area activities and watch parties both North of the River and across the state as most of Arkansas will experience at least a partial eclipse.
Among those is the city of Maumelle and the Maumelle Area Chamber of Commerce joining forces for a four-day dubbed “Blackout on the Boulevard” that will start Friday, April 5 and conclude on Monday, April 8, or shortly after the totality moves past and on to northeast Arkansas.
Times to remember on Monday, April 8
Start of partial eclipse: 12:34 p.m.
Start of total eclipse: 1:51 p.m.
Maximum eclipse: 1:52 p.m.
End of total eclipse: 1:54 p.m.
End of partial eclipse: 3:12 p.m.
All four days will be held at Lake Willastein, not the Maumelle Boulevard despite the name, and will feature live music, other entertainment, and, of course, a total solar eclipse.
Performing will be T.J. Ashley on Friday night and the following night will be Tragikly White, still going strong, decades after being formed.
There will also be carnival rides and food trucks. Hot air balloon rides will also be available and a beer garden for adults.
"We are excited to bring together the community and visitors from afar to celebrate this rare
celestial event in the heart of Maumelle," said Courtney Dunn, the city’s economic development director, who is heading the city’s efforts. "Blackout on the Boulevard is more than just a festival; it's a community celebration that highlights the best of what our city has to offer."
Admission is free but there will be souvenirs and eclipse glasses for sale at the event. You can also get eclipse glasses for free at the library.
For more, go to www.maumellechamber.com.
North Little Rock will have a three-day Moon Block Party at Argenta Plaza starting on Saturday, and there will be viewing parties, with some admission costs, at Burns Park and also on the USS Razorback, the World War II submarine floating in the Arkansas River.
North Little Rock artist Stacey Bowers, at her Bang Up Betty site, is selling some pretty nifty, eclipse-themed jewelry. Check it out by clicking the image below.
Free eclipse glasses at the libraries
North Little Rock’s Laman Library and the Central Arkansas Library System branches will be offering free eclipse sunglasses now until the April 8 eclipse, or at least until supplies run out.
Given that Laman Library has 22,400 pairs of eclipse glasses to distribute, running out anytime soon doesn’t seem likely,
The glasses were provided to CALS and Laman libraries through the Arkansas State Library system as they sent free eclipse glasses to every library in the state.
Distribution of the eclipse glasses has already begun.
It isn’t just glasses either. Laman Library is having two free, family events in April to help prepare for the April 8 eclipse.
The first is dubbed, the “Solar Eclipse Survival Kits: Family Evening” and will start at 4 p.m. on Wednesday, April 3. It will be held at the downtown library branch at 420 Main St. and will cover the proper use of eclipse glasses for children and adults.
The second is the following day and is called, “Eclipse Readiness Night at Laman.” It will start at 5 p.m. on Thursday, April 4 and be at the main library, 2801 Orange St.
It will also cover how to safely use the eclipse glasses as well as trivia and the intriguingly named, Big Eclipse Energy in The Loft.
Maumelle’s Charter’s Pecanty named a National Merit finalist
Annika Pecanty, a senior at Maumelle Charter High School, was named a National Merit finalist this week, the school announced.
Pecanty’s Semifinalist designation was announced last September and she was one of 126 students in the state honored.
Pecanty was previously the first National Merit Semifinalist at Maumelle Charter and is now the school’s first finalist, said principal Katie Johnson.
The first round of awards will be announced on April 24 and will be honored at the school’s Academic Signing Ceremony on April 26. Pecanty is also the school’s Valedictorian.
“Annika has advanced to the top 7,000 in the nation,” Johnson said and added this is a “significant achievement” for her.
Art notes
Hamlet to be performed at North Little Rock High School
March is going to be a big month for Shakespeare enthusiasts as the Theater Arts department at North Little Rock High School is going to be staging a production of Hamlet.
Shows start on Thursday, March 28 and conclude Saturday, March 30, Easter weekend, and will be held at the high school’s Performing Arts Center.
Tickets are $10 for adults and $8 for students and senior citizens.
For more information, call 501- 771-8127 or click here to buy tickets online. Tickets must be purchased on the internet as no cash will be accepted at the door.
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 Sunday, May 5.
For more information, call Dao Ward at 501-537-3991 or toll-free at 800-756-3709.
Sports
CAC claims 3A boys state title
It was a history-making day for Central Arkansas Christian, as the Mustangs won the school's first boys basketball state championship when they defeated Bergman, 57-47 last Thursday at Bank OZK Arena in Hot Springs.
CAC senior guard Sam Maddox, who finished the game with 16 points, was named the game's Most Valuable Player and was also second in rebounds with five.
CAC's Lane Baxter also finished with 16 points as the only other Mustang in double figures.
Coming up huge off the bench was Joseph Beranek, who had seven points in the win.
Jackson Hampton, another reserve, led the Mustangs with eight total rebounds, and also had six points. Joining him with six points was Greyson Wilson, who put a dramatic punctuation mark on the game with a breakaway dunk with just :43 seconds remaining.
It was Baxter who set the final margin with two free throws, then ended the game with a steal to ice the win.
"I'm just glad we hung on,"said CAC head coach Matt Hall in the postgame aired on Arkansas PBS. "But, man, we had some huge plays ... role players who really stepped up."
Maddox said on Arkansas PBS that losing to Lamar and Riverview helped set the stage for the state championship.
"We were battle tested," Maddox said. "We had a couple of losses ... and it really got us ready for these moments. We learned to trust each other and ... especially the seniors that stepped in. Like Joe Beranek, he had some big plays down the stretch."
CAC finishes the year at 27-5 and, more importantly, they'll have a state championship ring to show for it.
AAA names all-state, all-tournament teams
With the basketball season over, North Little Rock, Maumelle and Central Arkansas Christian all had players named to their respective all-state and all-tournament teams.
CAC won the 3A boys state title, while the Maumelle Hornets lost in the 5A quarterfinals. Both North Little Rock teams played in the 6A state semifinals.
Maumelle Charter lost in the regionals, and had no players named all-state
6A all-state
Ja'Kory Withers, North Little Rock
Girls
Jocelyn Tate, North Little Rock
Madison Hatley, North Little Rock
Withers and Tate were also named to their respective all-tournament teams
5A
Jacob Lanier, Maumelle
Markalon Rochelle, Maumelle
Malik McGuire, Maumelle
Rochelle was also named to the all-tournament team.
3A
Sam Maddox, Central Arkansas Christian
Greyson Wilson, Central Arkansas Christian
Maddox was named 3A's Most Valuable Player and Wilson was named to the all-tournament team. Joining him on the team was Kevin Williams.
Click here for the all-state teams for all classifications and here for all-tournament teams.