Maumelle Charter recognized
Maumelle Charter recognized
Memorial for Pat Hays today; State Fair starts Friday; Lowe's ribbon-cutting next week; Winners of First-Ever Arkansas Latino Business Awards honored 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 climb
The state Department of Health, on its Covid dashboard, showed that in the past week, there were 8 new deaths reported. The numbers were updated Tuesday, Oct. 10.
The total number of reported dead Arkansans remains at 13,255 or the state’s 31st largest city.
Covid toolkit
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If you don’t want to get sick and die, there’s some things you can do:
Get vaccinated
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The Headlines
Meetings: The Maumelle City Council meets next Monday night at City Hall. The quarterly meeting of the North Little Rock A&P Commission will be at 3:30 p.m. next Tuesday, Oct. 17, and will be held at the Downtown Riverside RV Park, 250 S. Locust St., North Little Rock.
Events: The City of North Little Rock Fit2Live Program has teamed up with ARORA and the North Little Rock Parks and Recreation Department to host the 2nd Annual “CITY GIRLS RUN”, 2K Run/Walk at the North Little Rock Riverfront Park at 8 a.m. this Saturday. Registration is free for anyone wanting to participate. Click here to register: FOR MORE EVENTS, KEEP SCROLLING.
Memorial for Pat Hays today
A celebration of life will be held today for former North Little Rock Mayor Patrick Henry Hays.
The public service will be held at the First Pentecostal Church at 1401 Calvary Road in North Little Rock at 3 p.m. today.
The Hays family welcomes all who would like to attend.
Patrick Henry Hays
Jan. 8, 1947 - Oct. 4, 2023
Patrick Henry Hays was born in North Little Rock on Jan. 8, 1947 to Arthur Henry and Linnea Hays. He passed away on Wednesday, Oct. 4, 2023 after a valiant battle with cancer.
Hays served as Mayor for six terms and became the longest serving Mayor in North Little Rock history. He also served as a State Representative and a delegate to the Arkansas Constitutional Convention.
Hays is survived by his wife, Linda Culp Hays of 42 years; daughter, Josie Linnea Hays Staggs and husband, Dr. Brent Staggs; grandchildren, Savannah, Isabella and Harper Staggs; son, Kevin Lester and wife, Darla and daughter, Ainsley; sister, Cindy Scott and brother, Mike Hays; Cousin, Scottie Paige and family and all of the Kansas cousins, sister-in-law, Sheila Culp Calhoun and husband, Dr. Jan Calhoun; along with a host of friends and supporters. The family wishes to extend a special thank you to UAMS Oncologist Dr. Veeraputhiran and Oncology Nurse Tiffany Willis.
Arrangements under the direction of Roller-Owens Funeral Home, 5509 JFK Blvd in North Little Rock.
Memorials may be made to North Little Rock Animal Shelter.
Maumelle Charter recognized
Maumelle Charter High School was recently named to the 2023 AP School Honor Roll, said principal Katie Johnson.
Johnson said the Honor Roll program recognizes schools with AP programs that “are delivering results and broadening access for students.”
Johnson said every senior at the school had taken at least one AP exam during high school with “31 percent of seniors scoring a three or higher on at least one AP exam.”
She added that nine percent of seniors took five or more AP exams.
AP, or advanced placement, gives students college credit for successfully passing the AP test.
“I couldn’t be prouder of our students, teachers, and staff for placing high expectations on themselves and others and encouraging each other to achieve through rigorous, AP Courses,” Johnson said “Our teachers worked hard last year to ensure AP courses aligned with the exam and the achievement of our students is a direct reflection of the growth we have seen as a college preparatory school.”
AP offers courses in 38 subjects.
Fidelity Communications to open applications for its Charitable Giving Fund
Fidelity Communications will open Fall 2023 applications for the company’s Charitable Giving Fund, which annually awards $250,000 in grants to 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations, from Oct. 1-31.
Grants will be made available across communities served by Fidelity and will concentrate support in the following priority areas:
Education and Digital Literacy
Hunger Relief and Food Insecurity
Community Development
Last year the company awarded grants to nearly 60 nonprofits, including organizations serving the homeless, providing child advocacy, offering senior assistance and supplying food to those in need, to name a few.
“We are committed to helping strengthen the cities and towns where we live and work by giving back to the local nonprofits who do so much to support our communities,” said Julie Laulis, Cable One President and CEO.
For more information about the Fidelity Charitable Giving Fund, visit www.fidelitycommunications.com/charitablegiving.
Lowe’s ribbon-cutting set for Wednesday, Oct. 18
The new Lowe's distribution center in North Little Rock will have a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 1 p.m. next Wednesday, Oct. 18 at 13101 U.S. Hwy. 70.
The facility is 1.2 million square feet and the total investment into the project by Lowe’s was $120 million.
The company said 50 semis would be going to and fro from the facility on a daily basis and will employ 185 people, including drivers.
There’s a total of 15 distribution centers scattered across the U.S. and more than 1,700 stores.
Events
State Fair starts Friday
The Arkansas State Fair starts this Friday, Oct. 13, and continues through Sunday, Oct. 22 at the Fairgrounds off Asher in Little Rock.
General admission is $8 in advance and $12 the day of.
Among the musical acts scheduled to perform are Night Ranger and Morris Day and the Time.
Being a fair, expect plenty of fried food along with some especially delicious kettle corn.
Gates open at 11 a.m.
For more, click here.
Outreach Fair this Friday
The City of North Little Rock is sponsoring an Outreach Fair for the unsheltered community this Friday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Riverfront Park, 120 Riverfront Park Drive in North Little Rock. Numerous community organizations and sponsors have stepped up to contribute to the event. Lunch will be provided at the event, free physical/mental health screenings, a mobile shower unit, hygiene items, shave and haircuts, assistance applying for an Arkansas identification card, and the mobile Arkansas Workforce Center will also be on site. Assistance will be available for alcohol and opioid addiction, securing Rock Region Metro Bus passes, signing up for health insurance, and a clothing bus.
Sponsors include: Arkansas Workforce Centers, Arkansas Department of Finance & Administration, Arkansas Prostate Cancer Foundation, Baptist Health Community Outreach, Chick- fil-a, Central Arkansas Library System, Department of Veterans Affairs – HCHV Outreach, First North Little Rock, Ideal Option Arkansas, Jefferson Comprehensive Care Systems, Incorporated, Legendary Institute, Lindsey’s Hospitality House, Maverick Transportation, Mt. Olive Missionary Baptist Church in NLR, Junior League of North Little Rock, North Little Rock School District, Recycle Bikes for Kids, River City Ministry, Seis Puentes Hispanic Outreach, The Innovation Hub, the University of Arkansas at Little Rock eLearning, the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences Psychiatric Research Institute, William F. Laman Public Library System and Woodland International Research Group,.
Argenta Community Theater to have gala on Tuesday
The Judy Kohn Tenenbaum Argenta Community Theater will have its annual Spotlight Celebrity Gala next Tuesday, at the Argenta Plaza in North Little Rock. Tickets are available at www.argentacommunitytheater.org.
Featured this year are a group of celebrities highlighting the 2023 – 2024 season and ACT II educational programming. The Board of Directors is pleased to welcome actor and writer Mara Wilson, Little Rock Nine member and civil rights icon Minnijean Brown-Trickey, author Spirit Trickey-Tawfiq and actor Hisham Tawfiq.
The dinner will be catered by Cypress Social and will also feature a reception among other activities.
The next night, Wednesday, One Ninth will open and is presented in partnership with the National Park Service and Little Rock Central High School. There will also be two student performances. It will be directed by Little Rock’s own Satia Spencer and produced by Vincent Insalaco.
One Ninth Cast:
Tyranni Hubbard as Minnijean Brown
Dra’a Dokes as Melba Pattillo
Monica Bernard as Imogene Brown
Anthony Valley as Bob Brown
Spencer Steward as Phyllis Brown
Joshua Knox as younger brother
Noah Cawich as Peter Hines
Angel Faith as Betty Ann Connor
Jason Scott Morgan as Mr. Bryant
Maddie Robinson as Eckford/ensemble
Jason Jackson as Roberts/ensemble
Willie Johnson as Ernest/ensemble
Bob Powers as adult ensemble
Christopher Fulmer as adult ensemble
Lizz Garbett as adult ensemble
Bella Insalaco as young ensemble
Mackenzie Martin as young ensemble
Annika Deen as young ensemble
Kayla Bettinardi as adult ensemble
Mingling at the Marina
Commercial Real Estate Council of Metro Little Rock will host Mingling at the Marina, a networking event for commercial real estate professionals, at 4p.m. on Thursday, October 19, at Rockwater Marina, 1600 Rockwater Boulevard.
The event offers commercial real estate professionals from all segments of commercial real estate to meet.
Tickets are $15 for members and $25 for guests and are available at crecmlr.org/events.
For sponsorship, ticket, or other information, contact info@crecmlr.org or 501-539-0582.
Education news and notes
Maumelle’s Pulliam gets White Coat at Mississippi College
Maumelle’s Caden Pulliam, a student at Mississippi College in Clinton, was accepted into the Physician Assistant Studies Program and received a “White Coat” as a symbol of that achievement.
Pulliam is one of 35 students in the program.
After receiving their coats, the students raised their right hands and recited the Physician Assistant Oath administered by Justin Goebel, assistant professor and director of clinical education.
North Little Rock’s Austin Appleby graduates from Missouri State University
Missouri State University recently awarded 550 degrees to students during summer 2023.
Among them was Austin Appleby of North Little Rock, who graduated with a Master of Business Administration.
Forrest named to Missouri State University's summer 2023 dean's list: Each semester, students at Missouri State University who attain academic excellence are named to the dean's list. For undergraduate students, criteria include enrollment in at least six credit hours during the summer semester and at least a 3.50 grade point average on a 4.0 scale. Rebecca Forrest from Maumelle made the list. Forrest was among more than 1,100 students named to the summer 2023 dean's list.
Missouri State is in Springfield, Mo.
SNHU Announces Summer 2023 President's List
It is with great pleasure that Southern New Hampshire University recently named several North of the River to the Summer 2023 President's List. The summer terms run from May to August.
Full-time undergraduate students who have earned a minimum grade-point average of 3.700 and above for the reporting term are named to the President's List. Full-time status is achieved by earning 12 credits over each 16-week term or paired 8-week terms grouped in fall, winter/spring, and summer.
Dominique McGrudder of Sherwood
Chelsea Tacker of Maumelle
Wilson Loibner of North Little Rock
Ian Bardo of Maumelle
Jerreace Morman of Sherwood
Miesha Dennis of Sherwood
Winners of First-Ever Arkansas Latino Business Awards honored
The inaugural Arkansas Latino Business Awards were presented Sept. 28, at an awards dinner at the Clinton Presidential Center.
Hosted by the Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center, Arkansas Business Navigator and Conexion de Negocios Latinos, the event recognized outstanding Latino-owned businesses and Latino small business champions across the state. Awards were given in eight categories.
"Here in Hispanic Heritage Month, we are excited to celebrate the contributions of the Latino community to the economic growth and development of Arkansas. We are thrilled with the great response to this new awards program. Congratulations to all the finalists and winners," said Laura Fine, state director of the ASBTDC.
Santiago’s Bakery in Glenwood, owned by Juventino Gonzalez, was named Small Business of the Year.
People’s Choice winners:
Legacy Business of the Year – Mercado San Jose, Little Rock
Emerging Business of the Year – Centerton Food Trucks Park, Centerton
Food Truck of the Year – The Walking Dog, De Queen
Other winners:
Woman-Owned Business of the Year – Pristine by Ali Cleaning Services Residential and Commercial, owned by Ali Alcaraz of Bentonville
Young Entrepreneur of the Year – Natali Carmona of Little Rock, owner of Get Nailed 32, an online business
Community Organization of the Year – Mamas Unidas, based in Little Rock
Community Champion of the Year – Arisbeth Garcia of Alas/Wings, based in Springdale
All businesses in the state of Arkansas that are at least 51% Latino owned or operated were eligible to be nominated. Voting on the Arkansas Latino Business Awards Facebook page determined winners in the three People’s Choice categories. The rest were selected by a panel of distinguished judges.
For more information about the finalists in each category, see the Arkansas Latino Business Awards Facebook page, facebook.com/ARlatinoawards
High school roundup
Hornets look to regroup as they host the Devil Dogs on Friday the 13th
Maumelle left everything on the field last Friday night in a 48-38 loss at Joe T. Robinson in a 5A-Central game.
The loss drops Maumelle to 3-3 overall and 1-2 in the conference as Morrilton comes to town this Friday where the winner is likely to make the playoffs, while the loser would need some help.
Morrilton is 5-2 overall and No. 10 in the Hootens.com Class 5A rankings, while Maumelle is No. 15.
The game against Robinson was more or less a statistical dead heat as the Hornets had 443 yards of total offense in the loss, while Robinson had 425.
The biggest difference was Maumelle missed on five two-point conversions, or 10 points, the margin of loss in the game.
Key to the Maumelle offense was a familiar trio of names in quarterback Andrew Bjork, running back Jaiden Worsham and receiver Alan Timmons.
Bjork passed for 231 yards and three touchdowns in the game and now has 1,090 yards passing on the season in the first six games.
Worsham rushed for 164 yards and two touchdowns on 19 carries. A senior, Worsham has breakaway speed and showed it on an 80-yard touchdown run midway through the third quarter. He's now rushed for 602 yards for the season.
Timmons had four catches for 28 yards and a touchdown, but it was Elijah Newell who led all receivers with eight catches for 136 yards.
Across North of the River, Central Arkansas Christian and North Little Rock both got wins.
CAC beat Pottsville in a thrilling 44-43 4A-4 conference game. The win means the Mustangs are likely headed to the playoffs in November.
CAC is No. 10 in the Hootens.com Class 4A poll and 6-1 on the season, while Clinton is No. 22 in the same poll, and 4-2 on the year.
Both losses are to teams CAC has already beaten this season.
Junior quarterback Grayson Wilson passed for 245 yards and four touchdowns in the win, while the Arkansas commit added two touchdowns and 52 yards rushing.
North Little Rock took care of business and beat Little Rock Southwest, 44-13, as the 'Cats have never lost to the new-ish Gryphons.
The win improved North Little Rock to 2-4 and they're No. 9 in the Hootens.com Class 7A poll.
Regardless of what happens the rest of the regular season, North Little Rock has wrapped up a playoff spot and will be no less than the No. 6 seed in November.
There's more games to play though as Jonesboro will be in town this Friday.
Jonesboro is No. 10 in the same poll and also 2-4 on the year.
Friday night lights
Maumelle Hornets
Aug. 25 ... Maumelle 20, Sylvan Hills 0
Sept. 1 ... Maumelle 41, Batesville 27
Sept. 8 … White Hall 42, Maumelle 21
Sept. 22 ... Pine Bluff 41, Maumelle 25
Sept. 28 ... Maumelle 34, Mills 28
Oct. 6 ... Robinson 48, Maumelle 38
Friday, Oct. 13 ... Morrilton ... 7 p.m.
Friday, Oct. 20 ... at Watson Chapel ... 7 p.m.
Friday, Oct. 27 ... Vilonia ... 7 p.m.
Friday, Nov. 3 ... Beebe ... 7 p.m.
Friday, Nov. 10 ... First round of playoffs
BOLD indicates home game
For the roster, please click here.
CAC Mustangs
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
Friday, Oct. 13 ... Clinton ... 7 p.m.
Friday, Oct. 20 ... at Dover ... 7 p.m.
Friday, Nov. 3 ... at Lamar ... 7 p.m.
Friday, Nov. 10 ... First round of playoffs
BOLD indicates home game
For the roster, please click here.
North Little Rock 'Cats
Aug. 25 ... Catholic 17, North Little Rock 7
Sept. 1 ... Fayetteville 58, North Little Rock 20
Sept. 15 ... Parkview 52, North Little Rock 14
Sept. 22 ... North Little Rock 41, Little Rock Central 6
Sept. 29 ... Conway 36, North Little Rock 7
Oct. 6 ... North Little Rock 44, Little Rock Southwest 13
Friday, Oct. 13 ... Jonesboro ... 7 p.m.
Friday, Oct. 20 ... Fort Smith Northside ... 7 p.m.
Friday, Oct. 27 ... at Bryant ... 7 p.m.
Friday, Nov. 3 ... at Cabot ... 7 p.m.
Friday, Nov. 10 ... First round of playoffs
BOLD indicates home game
For the roster, please click here.
Sports
Humphrey wins Arkansas Open golf championship
Burns Park Golf Course recently sponsored the 50th Annual Arkansas Open Championship. A total of 126 players representing 14 different states competed in seven divisions.
Theodore Humphrey, above, from Houston, Texas defeated Brett White from Dallas in a playoff to capture the Arkansas Open title. Both players finished at nine (9) under par for the 36 hole event.
Humphrey was an All-American golfer at Vanderbilt in 2018 and has been scratching around professionally but has yet to make the cut in a PGA event.