Mark Lowery dead at 66
Maumelle Planning Commission meets tonight; Back-to-School: Maumelle Charter starts up next week; North Little Rock: Bilon is new 'AD' plus sports and headlines
Note to subscribers: An annual or monthly subscription is billed to your debit or credit card as ARKANSAS.SUBSTACK.COM and if you have questions, please email arkansas@substack.com. Thanks for reading and subscribing!Pandemic deaths back to “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, July 25.
The total number of reported dead Arkansans remains at 13,205 or the state’s 31st 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 Planning Commission meets tonight.
Events: North Little Rock High School will host, at 1 p.m. today, an event that will announce a new partnership between Baptist Health, the high school, and the school's Center of Excellence as part of the Academies of Central Arkansas. The Academies of Central Arkansas is a coalition of the four county public school districts and is a work and education program.
The heat is back on: Going to be a miserable few days with forecast highs over 100 though next Friday in central Arkansas. To that the city of North Little Rock has opened a cooling shelter. Details below.
Maumelle: Planning Commission meets tonight
The Maumelle Planning Commission will have its regular monthly meeting at 6:30 p.m. tonight at City Hall.
The agenda, which can be viewed here, is a bit of a catch-up as last month’s meeting was cancelled. There’s four items of new and old business with the most notable being an appeal of a denied commercial building permit for the First Service Bank location that was proposed for 8901 White Oak Crossing.
The meeting is open to the public.
Mark Lowery dead at 66
Arkansas Treasurer Mark Lowery of Maumelle died Wednesday at 66.
Lowery, who was elected to the Treasurer’s office last November, has suffered two strokes this year, with the most recent being in June.
Funeral arrangements have not yet been set.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with his family during this difficult time,” the Treasurer’s office said in a statement. “We wish to honor him and continue doing the work he entrusted us with.”
Lowery, above, was born March 28, 1957 in Little Rock and was a graduate of Sylvan Hills High School, as well as the University of Arkansas. He worked for a time in newspapers and also went on to teach at the University of Central Arkansas.
Between then, he was the Chief of Staff to then-Lt. Gov. Mike Huckabee in the 1990s and also worked as a lobbyist, in addition to teaching. He was first elected to serve Maumelle in the state’s House of Representatives in 2012 and served from 2013 to 2023, before being elected Treasurer.
His office, on Tuesday, had announced that Lowery was going to retire in September of this year due to his health.
His replacement will be appointed by Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders, who will serve through the end of 2024. Next November, on the ballot will be the Treasurer’s position and whomever is elected will serve the remainder of Lowery’s term.
The Treasurer’s office will be managed by Chief of Staff Stephen Bright and Deputy Treasurer Eric Munson, who have been executing the duties while Lowery was hospitalized.
“We are devastated,” Bright said in a statement. “Losing Mark represents a huge loss for the entire staff. Mark was an incredible leader and a humble public servant and this was unexpected. It’s definitely going to take us time to process this..”
Back-to-School: Maumelle Charter starts up next week
The schools in the Academics Plus system – Maumelle Charter and Scott Charter – return to school next week.
The first day of classes will be Thursday, Aug. 3.
Pulaski County Special and North Little Rock school districts return to class on Monday, Aug. 14 while Central Arkansas Christian’s first day of school will be Wednesday, Aug. 16.
Maumelle Charter parents won’t be able to take advantage of the state’s now-annual Sales Tax Holiday that starts on Saturday, Aug. 5 and ends Sunday, Aug. 6. The holiday allows shoppers to buy “certain Electronic Devices, School Supplies, School Art Supplies, School Instructional Materials, and Clothing free of state and local sales or use tax.”
All retailers are required to participate.
Maumelle Charter
First Day of School: Thursday, Aug. 3
PCSSD
First Day of School: Monday, Aug. 14
School supplies list: Crystal Hill Elementary
School supplies list: Oak Grove Elementary
School supplies list:Pine Forest Elementary
CAC
First Day of School: Wednesday, Aug. 16
School supplies list: North Little Rock Elementary
School supplies list: Pleasant Valley Elementary
School supplies list: Mustang Mountain Elementary | Call 501-758-3160 ext. 224 as Kindergarten enrollment is ongoing.
NLRSD
First Day of School: Monday, Aug. 14
School supplies list: Amboy Elementary
School supplies list: Boone Park Elementary
School supplies list: Crestwood Elementary
School supplies list: Glenview Elementary
School supplies list: Indian Hills Elementary
School supplies list: Lakewood Elementary
School supplies list: Meadow Park Elementary
School supplies list: School supplies list: North Little Rock Academy
School supplies list: NLRMS - Sixth Grade Campus
School supplies list: NLRMS - Seventh & Eighth Grade Campus
School supplies list: Ridge Road Elementary
School supplies list: Seventh Street Elementary
North Little Rock: Bilon is new “AD”
In the end, North Little Rock School District stayed at home in its search for a new athletics director and football coach.
Wes Bilon, currently an assistant principal at the high school, was named the school’s new “Director of Student-Athlete Development and Academic Engagement” or what could more conventionally called athletics director.
Before being promoted to assistant principal last school year, he was the junior high basketball coach and was also an assistant on the high school teams to then head coach Johnny Rice when the school won six state championships in 10 years.
The School Board made its decision at its meeting last week as Bilon is considered a transfer into the position since he was already employed by the district.
This move comes on the heels of Clint Reed being named the school’s head football coach and dean of students last month. Reed was also previously the dean of students and an assistant on the team. He was a finalist the last time the job came open, two years ago, when Randy Sandefur was promoted. Sandefur left after 40 years at the high school, his alma mater, and he’s now the Parks & Recreation Director for the city of North Little Rock.
Bilon, above, takes over for Gary Davis, who retired after 43 years at the district in a variety of roles.
While most of the news was good, some was bad as assistant football coach Silas Nellums has left the district to take a position with the Little Rock School District. Nellums, who previously coached at Maumelle, was the team’s defensive coordinator and considered one of the best young coaches in the state.
The Board also approved a contract with Rock Region Metro that will give students transit passes for the next two years. The total cost of the program will be $12,000.
Sports
Baseball at Dickey-Stephens this week
Homestand against Northwest Arkansas
Today, 6:35 p.m.
$3 Thursday: Enjoy $3 Beer Garden Tickets and Concessions deals, including Hot Dogs, Soft Drinks, Red Bull, Cotton Candy, and a Select Canned Beer & Seltzer! | Presented By Red Bull
Noche de Diamantes: Your Travs will take the field as the Diamantes de Arkansas in salute of Hispanic Heritage! | Presented By Modelo Especial
Friday, 7:05 p.m.
Fireworks
Saturday, 7:05 p.m.
Nickelodeon Blue's Clues & You Night & Jersey Auction
Kids Run the Bases: Presented By Museum of Discovery
Sunday, 1:35 p.m.
Pre-Game Brunch Buffet: Get a special Brunch ticket that comes with a Field Reserved seat! Buffet will include select breakfast foods, juice, coffee, and soft drinks. (Alcohol will be available for purchase separately.) Food will be served from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. | Presented By Picnic Brunch
Kids Run the Bases: Presented By Museum of Discovery
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
Family Sunday: Get $2 General Admission tickets by presenting a physical or digital church bulletin and only available at the Box Office.
Six-game home stand against San Antonio
Mad Mallards Week
In homage of the state's fondness for the outdoors and waterfowl hunting, the Travs will become the Mad Mallards!
Tuesday, Aug. 1, 6:35 p.m.
Two for Tuesdays: Get two General Admission tickets for the price of one and only available at the Box Office.
Mug Club: Membership costs $30 and includes your first beer plus $3 select draft beer every Tuesday night Travs home game
Treasure Hunt Tuesday: Presented By Arkansas Auditor of State
Wednesday, Aug. 2, 6:35 p.m.
Dog Days of Summer: Human fans can get $3 Berm tickets by bringing their dog to the game and only available at the Box Office. NOTE: Dogs are only allowed in the Berm areas | Presented By Moix RV Supercenter
Thursday, Aug. 3, 6:35 p.m.
$3 Thursday: Enjoy $3 Beer Garden Tickets and Concessions deals, including Hot Dogs, Soft Drinks, Red Bull, Cotton Candy, and a Select Canned Beer & Seltzer! | Presented By Red Bull
Friday, Aug. 4, 7:05 p.m.
Fireworks: Presented By Farm Bureau Insurance
Dizzy Bobblehead Giveaway: Presented By Farm Bureau Insurance | First 1,000 Fans (one item per person)
Saturday, Aug. 5, 7:05 p.m.
Kids Run the Bases: Presented By Museum of Discovery
Sunday, Aug. 6, 1:35 p.m.
Pre-Game Brunch Buffet: Get a special Brunch ticket that comes with a Field Reserved seat! Buffet will include select breakfast foods, juice, coffee, and soft drinks. (Alcohol will be available for purchase separately.) Food will be served from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. | Presented By Picnic Brunch
Kids Run the Bases: Presented By Museum of Discovery
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
Family Sunday: Get $2 General Admission tickets by presenting a physical or digital church bulletin and only available at the Box Office.