Maumelle Planning Commission to meet tonight
Planning Commission vacancy; Christmas is next week!; Education News plus headlines and sports
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MEETINGS: The North Little Rock School Board will have a regularly scheduled meeting at 5:30 p.m. tonight at the district’s administration building. The meeting is open to the public and will be livestreamed on the district’s YouTube channel. The North Little Rock City Council will meet next Monday night at City Hall. The Maumelle Planning Commission will meet tonight and for more on that, keep scrolling.
EVENTS: You may have noticed all the lights, but, just in case, next week is Christmas. For those also unaware, the following week is New Year’s Day. Big holidays for some. And, as typical, all the various government offices will be closed for the holidays on Dec. 25 and Jan. 1. Most offices will also be closed on Christmas Eve, Dec. 24. But, this is important, trash and recycling will run on Dec. 24 and Dec. 31 but those same routes will run one-day delayed on Dec. 26 and Jan. 2.
Maumelle Planning Commission to meet tonight
The Planning Commission will meet in the last regularly scheduled meeting of the year at 6:30 p.m. tonight in council chambers at City Hall.
The meeting was moved up a week to avoid conflicting with the Christmas holiday.
The agenda, as to be expected, is a lengthy one and can be viewed by clicking here.
There’s a total of eight items of business on the agenda and the meeting could be a lively one, as Planning Commission meetings go, given the sturm and drang of city politics.
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.
I was made to listen to this and, if you dare, so should you. It is weird.
Don’t want to cook this Christmas?
There’s some catering options for sides, desserts and mains this Christmas available from local restaurants.
The ones that sent along press releases include:
The Root Cafe: Sides and desserts are available for reasonable prices. The menu is pictured below.
They don’t have an online ordering option, so you can email catering@therootcafe.com to place an order.
Petit & Keet: The holiday menu is either a Half or full Prime Rib Feast. Costing, respectively, $275 or $425 for six or 12 pounds of food. Sides can also be ordered individually.
Click here to order online.
Order deadline for Cypress Social is Saturday, Dec. 20, while the other two are Sunday, Dec. 21 with Dec. 23 and Christmas Eve pickups, depending on the restaurant.
Cypress Social: The holiday menu is a full meal for $195 and includes a 10 pound (!) pineapple-glazed ham, with 10 pounds of sides and dessert. There’s also eight ounces of pineapple glaze included. Sides can also be ordered individually.
This seems like an especially good deal but I’m also the guy assigned to bring paper products to holiday meals. But if you throw an Allison Roman Christmas Day Ham Party, this might be something for you.
To order online, click here.
Christmas North of the River
The Ice Skating Rink at Lakewood is now open through Jan. 4 at 4500 Lakeshore Drive
A Very Merry Maumelle (Key dates)
Ongoing
The Whimsical Trail opens at Lake Willastein Park and features a lighted trail around the lake starting at dark:30 daily.
The city will also start a holiday stock the pantries drive.
Spreading Christmas Joy
The annual Christmas at Methodist Family Health is underway and for more information click the logo above or here.
The site will give you a child’s wish list, along with the ability to purchase individual items as well as donate to the “Share the Light” Christmas campaign.
Education News
Fulbright College Awards $5.1 Million in Student Scholarships at University of Arkansas
Several North of the River students were awarded scholarships this fall from the Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences at the University of Arkansas.
More than $5.1 million in scholarships was awarded through 3,768 scholarships to students in Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences at the University of Arkansas this year.
Alexander Principe of North Little Rock was awarded the Roy and Christie Sturgis Educational Trust.
Aria Reed of North Little Rock was awarded the The George A. Gearhart Scholarship.
Brooklyn Young of North Little Rock was awarded the Ronnie Brewer Endowed Scholarship.
Tonya Sims of North Little Rock was awarded the Betty Moore Brown Endowed Scholarship, the Charles Thomas and Mary Alice Pearson Educational Foundation, and the Sturgis Grant for Honors Scholars.
“Fulbright College’s mission is to provide a transformational education for our students,” said Brian E. Raines, dean of Fulbright College. “The generosity of our supporters allows us to do just that. By alleviating financial strain on students, we empower them to focus on their studies and thrive in their academic endeavors.”
This fall’s scholarships are made possible with the support of donors, including alumni, faculty, staff and friends of Fulbright College, to aid students across the college’s four academic disciplines: arts, humanities, natural sciences and social sciences.
Each year, Fulbright College awards scholarships to its students to support their academic success, including scholarships for study abroad, honors studies, research fellowships and more. Learn more about scholarships at fulbright.uark.edu/scholarships.
Millikan earns scholarship at Baldwin Wallace University
Geneva Millikan of Maumelle was among 733 students who earned named scholarships at Baldwin Wallace University this fall. Millikan, a graduate of Maumelle, majoring in acting (BFA), earned the George & Fran Boyer Scholarship.
Baldwin Wallace University, founded in 1845, was one of the first colleges to admit students without regard to race or gender. An independent, coeducational university of 3,300 students, BW offers coursework in the liberal arts tradition in more than 60 academic areas. Located in Berea, 12 miles from downtown Cleveland, BW offers students the cultural, educational and business advantages of a major metropolitan area.
Ole Miss freshman Piper-Bliss Chudy named Stamps Scholar
Piper-Bliss Chudy, of North Little Rock majoring in Elementary Education, is one of 17 freshmen at the University of Mississippi who have been recognized as Stamps scholars, a prestigious designation that offers them a scholarship covering full cost of attendance and leadership development opportunities.
The Stamps Scholars program awards scholarships based on academic excellence, leadership experience and exceptional character.
“We are honored to welcome this exceptional group of 17 Stamps scholars to the University of Mississippi,” said Allison Lavender, adviser for the Stamps Scholars program and assistant to the dean for student engagement at the Sally McDonnell Barksdale Honors College. “Representing seven states and one scholar from Brazil, this cohort embodies the academic excellence, leadership and global perspective that define the Stamps scholars community.
“We are eager to support their journeys at Ole Miss and to see the many ways they will contribute to and strengthen our campus and beyond.”
In addition to their cost of attendance, scholars at UM also receive a $12,000 stipend for enrichment activities such as study abroad, academic conferences and leadership training.
Sports
Upcoming SEC bowl games
College Football Playoff First Round
Friday, 7 p.m. #9 Alabama (10-3, 7-1 SEC) at #8 Oklahoma (10-2, 6-2 SEC), ABC/ESPN | SiriusXM 81/84: [ESPN Radio - 80], Live Statistics/Matchup/Preview: https://www.secsports.com/scores/football?date=2025-12-19
Saturday, 11 a.m.: #10 Miami (10-2) at #7 Texas A&M (11-1, 7-1 SEC), ABC/ESPN | SiriusXM: 84 [ESPN Radio - 80] Live Statistics/Matchup/Preview: https://www.secsports.com/scores/football?date=2025-12-20
Saturday, 2:30 p.m. : #20 Tulane (11-2) at #6 Ole Miss (11-1, 7-1 SEC), TNT/HBO MAX | SiriusXM: 84 [ESPN Radio - 80]. Live Statistics/Matchup/Preview: https://www.secsports.com/scores/football?date=2025-12-20
TaxSlayer Gator Bowl
Dec. 27 / 6:30 p.m: Missouri (8-4, 4-4 SEC) vs. #19 Virginia (10-3), ABC | SiriusXM: 381 [ESPN Radio - 81] Live Statistics/Matchup/Preview: https://www.secsports.com/scores/football?date=2025-12-27
Kinder’s Texas Bowl
Dec. 27 / 8:15 p.m.: LSU (7-5, 3-5 SEC) vs. #21 Houston (9-3), ESPN | SiriusXM: 374 [ESPN Radio - 117/201] Live Statistics/Matchup/Preview: https://www.secsports.com/scores/football?date=2025-12-27
Basketball schedules
Maumelle Charter
Boys
Thursday, Dec. 18 ... vs ... Harding Academy ... 8 p.m.
Friday, Dec. 19 ... at ... Wynne ... 2 p.m.
Monday, Dec. 22 ... at ... Ouachita ... 7:30 p.m.
Tuesday, Jan. 6 ... at ... Episcopal ... 8 p.m.
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
Thursday, Dec. 18 ... vs ... Harding Academy ... 7 p.m.
Monday, Dec. 22 ... at ... Ouachita ... 6 p.m.
Tuesday, Jan. 6 ... at ... Episcopal ... 7 p.m.
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
Friday, Dec. 19 ... vs ... Parkview ... 7 p.m.
Saturday, Dec. 20 ... vs ... North Little Rock ... 11 a.m, at Conway
Friday, Jan. 2 ... at ... Morrilton ... 7 p.m.
Tuesday, Jan. 6 ... vs ... Jacksonville ... 7 p.m.
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
Friday, Dec. 19 ... vs ... Parkview ... 6 p.m.
Friday, Jan. 2 ... at ... Morrilton ... 2 p.m.
Tuesday, Jan. 6 ... vs ... Jacksonville ... 6 p.m.
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, Dec. 19 ... at ... Lonoke ... 7 p.m.
Tuesday, Dec. 30 ... vs ... Catholic ... 5:15 p.m.
Tuesday, Jan. 6 ... vs ... Lisa Academy West ... 6 p.m.
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
Friday, Dec. 19 ... at ... Lonoke ... 6:30 p.m.
Monday, Jan. 5 ... at ... Mt. Vernon-Enola ... 6 p.m.
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, Dec. 19 ... vs ... Fayetteville ... 6:30 p.m.
Saturday, Dec. 20 ... vs ... Maumelle ... 11 a.m., at Conway
Tuesday, Jan. 6 ... at ... Conway ... 7 p.m.
Tuesday, Jan. 6 ... vs ... Central ... 7 p.m.
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, Dec. 19 ... vs ... Greenwood ... 6 p.m.
Tuesday, Jan. 6 ... vs ... Central ... 6:45 p.m.
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