March 3 looms
North Little Rock special election results; City Council has been busy; Community Meeting today 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. tonight. The meeting will be held at the district administration building. The North Little Rock City Council will meet next Monday night at City Hall. Both meetings are open to the public and will be livestreamed on YouTube.
EVENTS: The Travs seasonal job fair will be held Thursday, Jan. 15 and then again on Saturday, Jan. 17. The first session will be from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. while the Saturday morning session will be from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. Both will be held at Dickey-Stephens Park and interviews will be conducted on site. There’s 69 home games, not including potential post-season games, with Arkansas Razorback baseball and the upcoming debut of Banana Ball. Day games are set for April 8, April 21 and May 6 with the Razorback game on April 14 and two nights of Banana Ball on March 14 and March 15.
March 3 looms
It isn’t quite the Ides of March in historical importance but for Maumelle, March 3 will be an important date in the city’s 40-history.
That’s when a special election has been called for a ⅓ cent sales tax extension to fund six proposed bond projects.
March 3 is also party primary day for legislative candidates and turnout should be lively in Pulaski County and across the state.
Typically, special elections are low-turnout affairs but that won’t be the case, especially in Maumelle as state Rep. Brandon Achor is in the Republican primary for the State Senate seat district 13.
Achor will face Mischa Martin in the primary, while on Democratic side it will be Allison Sweatman and Jason Williams. The respective winners will face off in November to replace state Sen. Jane English.
District 13, pictured below, swings from Maumelle and across North Little Rock into Sherwood including all of rural north Pulaski County.
As for the bond issue in Maumelle, the proposals are:
Citywide Road Improvements A multi-year initiative to repair, resurface, and improve roads across all areas of Maumelle, addressing long-term maintenance needs and enhancing transportation safety.
Center on the Lake Indoor Therapy Pool & Parking Expansion - Addition of an indoor therapy pool and expanded parking at the Center on the Lake to improve senior programming, member community access, and year-round aquatic opportunities at Maumelle Center on the Lake.
Police & Fire Department Training Facility Construction of a joint, modern training center to better prepare Maumelle’s first responders and improve emergency readiness.
Fire Station #3 Construction of a new fire station to support Maumelle’s growing population and improve emergency response times citywide.
Lake Valencia Improvements Enhancements to Lake Valencia, including shoreline stabilization, lighting, accessibility improvements, and public-use amenities.
AstroTurf at Sports Fields Installation of synthetic turf at heavily used city sports fields to improve safety, reduce weather related closures, and increase year-round playability.
The obvious headliner there is the indoor pool at the Center on the Lake and a rendering of what has been proposed is shown below.
An indoor pool is, perhaps, among the three most contentious issues in recent city history but, alas, there’s no bond issue for backyard chickens.
The ½ cent sales tax is already in place and the vote would be to keep it going to pay for the projects and the tax will raise a little more than $3 million.
Courtney Dunn, the city’s Community Engagement Director, said that, “leading up to the election day, Maumelle will host a series of public meetings, civic presentations and community discussions,” she said on what’s been proposed.
The city is also operating MaumelleBond.com that covers the bond issue along with key dates.
Early voting will start Feb. 17 across Pulaski County at various polling locations. That information has not yet been set by the Pulaski County Election Commission but a commission meeting is scheduled for today, so those details could be finalized then.
Before then, the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reported that coffee talk sessions will be held on Jan. 29 and then again on Feb. 12. Neither are included on the timeline, and also not included on the city’s calendar at maumelle.org.
The Maumelle Area Chamber of Commerce lists a Coffee Talk event on Feb. 12 on its calendar, but no information about the bond projects is noted.
In other election news, the special election for State Rep. Distinct. 70 was held on Tuesday with Alex Holladay handily defeating Cordelia Smith-Johnson, 641 to 164. Holladay will also advance to the election on March 3 but that won’t be the primary but instead a special election to fill the seat that was vacated when Carlton Wing resigned to take over Arkansas PBS as executive director. Wing has since ended the station’s PBS affiliation and has rebranded as Arkansas TV. Mission accomplished as some say.
Holladay will face Republican Bo Renshaw.
District 70 covers portions of North Little Rock and Sherwood.
Maumelle City Council’s been busy
The Maumelle City Council has met twice in the past two weeks with a special call meeting on Dec. 29 to approve the city budget, and then a regular meeting on Monday, for the first of the year.
The 2026 budget was approved on Dec. 29, then on Monday,
The most notable action at Monday’s meeting were ordinances related to the Country Club of Arkansas Phase 15.
Both were on first reads and a public meeting is scheduled for today on what has been proposed.
Community Meeting Notice: From the Developers of CCA-15:
A community meeting will be held at Maumelle City Hall, 550 Edgewood Drive, Maumelle, at 4:30 p.m. today.
The purpose of this meeting is to discuss a Preliminary Development Plan for 9.422 acres of property located at the east end of Maumelle Boulevard and south of Orleans Drive, in Maumelle, Pulaski County, Arkansas.
The property is known as CCA Phase 15, Lot 700R, and includes lands lying in:
the east 1/2 of the southwest 1/4, and
the southeast 1/4 of the northwest 1/4,
lying east of the Maumelle Boulevard east right-of-way line and south of the south right-of-way line of Orleans Drive, all in Section 4, Township 2 North, Range 13 West.
The public is invited to attend.
NOTICE: 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 2 for a four year term ending Jan. 31, 2030. Resumes should be submitted to Tina Timmons, City Clerk/Treasurer, 550 Edgewood Drive, Maumelle, Arkansas 72113 no later than 4 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2026. Resumes can be emailed to cityclerk@maumelle.org. All applicants will be interviewed by the City Council at the next scheduled Council meeting, Tuesday, January 20, 2026 at 6 p.m. The City Council will appoint immediately following the interviews. For additional information call 501-851-2500.
Recycle that Christmas tree
If you want to get all Christmas-y about it, you’re supposed to keep your tree up through the first week of January.
The whole 12 days of Christmas, Epiphany and all that but not everyone does that and now might be the time you’re trying to figure out what to do with that beautiful tree you bought at Junior Deputy.
There’s an environmentally friendly, good for nature option that the Arkansas Game & Fish Commission offers annually in dropping off that tree to be used as a fish habitat in one of the state’s many bodies of water.
This offer only applies to live Christmas trees, the fake ones need not apply..
There’s other options, of course. You could put your Christmas tree out on the curb ““on your yard waste day” if you live in Maumelle or North Little Rock and for more information in Maumelle, call 501-851-2888, while those in North Little Rock can call 371-8430.
You should, under no circumstances, burn the tree in your fireplace as it is a really good way to set your house on fire.
But, if so inclined, you can sink the tree yourself. Any Arkansas stream or river or lake will do.
Game and Fish said, “the small spaces and dense cover offered by fresh Christmas trees make excellent nursery habitat for small fish as well as great places to fish.”
If sinking it yourself, weigh it down with either cinder blocks or sandbags, so the tree will stay sunk and then remember where you put it.
What’s also really great is while Game and Fish will take care of the trees come February, you can also take trees from the pile for yourself to sink.
They note, “trees are relatively short-term habitat because they don’t have much thick woody material, but they can be gathered in clusters easily and sunk in large groups” and “the main stems will last longer than the wispy branches and continue to draw fish throughout the year.”
Trees can be dropped off at any of the following locations until the end of January:
Trees can be dropped off at any of the following central Arkansas locations until the end of January:
Arkansas River – Riverview Park Access in North Little Rock
Lake Barnett – Reed Access
Harris Brake Lake – Chittman Hill Access
Lake Pickthorne – Holland Bottoms Access
Lake Overcup – Lake Overcup Landing
Cox Creek Lake – Cox Creek Lake Public Access
Lake Hamilton – Andrew Hulsey State Fish Hatchery Access
For more locations around the state, click here.
Sports
Upcoming playoffs games
Thursday
No. 6 Ole Miss (13-1, 7-1 SEC) vs. No. 10 Miami (12-2), today, 6:30 p.m. | ESPN/SiriusXM: 84/81 [ESPN Radio - 80] Live Statistics/Matchup/Preview: https://www.secsports.com/scores/football?end_date=2024-01-08&start_date=2023-08-25
Friday
No. 1 Indiana (14-0) vs. No. 5 Oregon (13-1), 6:30 p.m., Friday, Jan. 9 | ESPN/SiriusXM: 84/81 [ESPN Radio - 80]
Basketball schedules
Maumelle Charter
Boys
Friday, Jan. 9 ... at ... Lisa Academy North ... 8 p.m.
Tuesday, Jan. 13 ... at ... Rose Bud ... 7 p.m.
Friday, Jan. 16 ... vs ... Riverview ... 8 p.m.
Tuesday, Jan. 20 ... vs ... Bald Knob ... 5 p.m.
Friday, Jan. 23 ... at ... Pangburn ... 8 p.m.
Tuesday, Jan. 27 ... at ... Harding Academy ... 8 p.m.
Friday, Jan. 30 ... vs ... Episcopal ... 8 p.m.
Tuesday, Feb. 3 ... vs ... Lisa Academy North ... 8 p.m.
Friday, Feb. 6 ... vs ... Rose Bud ... 7 p.m.
Tuesday, Feb. 10 ... vs ... St. Joseph ... 7 p.m.
Girls
Tuesday, Jan. 13 ... at ... Rose Bud ... 7 p.m.
Friday, Jan. 16 ... vs ... Riverview ... 7 p.m.
Tuesday, Jan. 20 ... vs ... Bald Knob ... 7 p.m.
Friday, Jan. 23 ... at ... Pangburn ... 7 p.m.
Tuesday, Jan. 27 ... at ... Harding Academy ... 7 p.m.
Friday, Jan. 30 ... vs ... Episcopal ... 7 p.m.
Friday, Feb. 6 ... vs ... Rose Bud ... 7 p.m.
Tuesday, Feb. 10 ... vs ... St. Joseph ... 7 p.m.
Maumelle
Boys
Tuesday, Jan. 13 ... at ... Sylvan Hills ... 7 p.m.
Friday, Jan. 16 ... at ... Greenbrier ... 7 p.m.
Tuesday, Jan. 20 ... vs ... Little Rock Christian Academy ... 7 p.m.
Friday, Jan. 23 ... at ... Vilonia ... 7 p.m.
Tuesday, Jan. 27 ... at ... Catholic ... 7 p.m.
Friday, Jan. 30 ... at ... Beebe ... 7 p.m.
Tuesday, Feb. 3 ... at ... Parkview ... 7 p.m.
Friday, Feb. 6 ... at ... Jacksonville ... 7 p.m.
Friday, Feb. 13 ... vs ... Sylvan Hills ... 7 p.m.
Tuesday, Feb. 17 ... vs ... Greenbrier ... 7 p.m.
Friday, Feb. 20 ... at ... Little Rock Christian Academy ... 7 p.m.
Tuesday, Feb. 24 ... vs ... Vilonia ... 7 p.m.
Friday, Feb. 27 ... vs ... Catholic ... 7 p.m.
Girls
Tuesday, Jan. 13 ... at ... Sylvan Hills ... 6 p.m.
Friday, Jan. 16 ... at ... Greenbrier ... 6 p.m.
Tuesday, Jan. 20 ... vs ... Little Rock Christian Academy ... 7 p.m.
Friday, Jan. 23 ... at ... Vilonia ... 6 p.m.
Tuesday, Jan. 27 ... at ... Mount St. Mary Academy ... 6 p.m.
Friday, Jan. 30 ... vs ... Beebe ... 6 p.m.
Tuesday, Feb. 3 ... at ... Parkview ... 6 p.m.
Friday, Feb. 6 ... at ... Jacksonville ... 6 p.m.
Friday, Feb. 13 ... vs ... Sylvan Hills ... 6 p.m.
Tuesday, Feb. 17 ... vs ... Greenbrier ... 6 p.m.
Friday, Feb. 20 ... at ... Little Rock Christian Academy ... 6 p.m.
Tuesday, Feb. 24 ... vs ... Vilonia ... 6 p.m.
Friday, Feb. 27 ... vs ... Mount St. Mary Academy ... 6 p.m.
CAC
Boys
Friday, Jan. 16 ... vs ... Morrilton ... 7 p.m.
Tuesday, Jan. 20 ... vs ... Robinson ... 7 p.m.
Tuesday, Jan. 27 ... at ... Heber Springs ... 7 p.m.
Friday, Jan. 30 ... at ... Lisa Academy West ... 6 p.m.
Tuesday, Feb. 10 ... at ... Morrilton ... 7 p.m.
Friday, Feb. 13 ... at ... Robinson ... 7 p.m.
Friday, Feb. 20 ... vs ... Heber Springs ... 7 p.m.
Girls
Thursday, Jan. 8 ... vs ... South Side ... 7 p.m.
Monday, Jan. 12 ... at ... Faulkner County HomeSchool ... 7 p.m.
Thursday, Jan. 15 ... vs ... St. Joseph ... 6 p.m.
Friday, Jan. 16 ... at ... Morrilton ... 6 p.m.
Tuesday, Jan. 20 ... vs ... Robinson ... 5 p.m.
Friday, Jan. 23 ... at ... White County Central ... 6 p.m.
Tuesday, Jan. 27 ... at ... Quitman ... 7 p.m.
Thursday, Jan. 29 ... at ... South Side ... 7 p.m.
Monday, Feb. 2 ... vs ... Mt. Vernon-Enola ... 6 p.m.
Friday, Feb. 6 ... vs ... Bigelow ... 6 p.m.
Tuesday, Feb. 10 ... vs ... Conway Christian ... 5 p.m.
Friday, Feb. 13 ... vs ... Robinson ... 5 p.m.
North Little Rock
Boys
Friday, Jan. 9 ... vs ... Conway ... 7 p.m.
Tuesday, Jan. 13 ... at ... Little Rock Southwest ... 7 p.m.
Friday, Jan. 16 ... vs ... Jonesboro ... 7:30 p.m.
Tuesday, Jan. 27 ... at ... Bryant ... 7 p.m.
Friday, Jan. 30 ... at ... Cabot ... 7 p.m.
Tuesday, Feb. 3 ... at ... Central ... 7 p.m.
Friday, Feb. 6 ... at ... Conway ... 7 p.m.
Tuesday, Feb. 10 ... vs ... Little Rock Southwest ... 7 p.m.
Friday, Feb. 13 ... at ... Jonesboro ... 7:30 p.m.
Tuesday, Feb. 24 ... vs ... Bryant ... 7 p.m.
Thursday, Feb. 26 ... vs ... Cabot ... 7 p.m.
Girls
Friday, Jan. 9 ... vs ... Conway ... 6 p.m.
Tuesday, Jan. 13 ... at ... Little Rock Southwest ... 6 p.m.
Friday, Jan. 16 ... vs ... Jonesboro ... 6 p.m.
Tuesday, Jan. 27 ... at ... Bryant ... 6 p.m.
Friday, Jan. 30 ... at ... Cabot ... 6 p.m.
Tuesday, Feb. 3 ... at ... Central ... 6 p.m.
Friday, Feb. 6 ... at ... Conway ... 6 p.m.
Tuesday, Feb. 10 ... vs ... Little Rock Southwest ... 6 p.m.
Friday, Feb. 13 ... at ... Jonesboro ... 6 p.m.
Tuesday, Feb. 24 ... vs ... Bryant ... 6 p.m.
Thursday, Feb. 26 ... vs ... Cabot ... 6 p.m.
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