Maumelle’s Charter’s Annika Pecanty named a National Merit semifinalist
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Maumelle’s Charter’s Annika Pecanty named a National Merit semifinalist
Maumelle City Council report; Maumelle’s Sarah Reaves named Sturgis Fellow; National Night Out starts Saturday in North Little Rock plus sports and headlines
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Pandemic deaths stay at 13,247
The state Department of Health, on its Covid dashboard, showed that in the past week, there were no new deaths reported and there were no new new deaths reported the previous week. The numbers were updated Tuesday, Sept. 19.
The total number of reported dead Arkansans remains at 13,247 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 North Little Rock School Board meets tonight. For the agenda, click here. The North Little Rock City Council meets next Monday night at City Hall.
Events: National Night Out starts this Saturday in North Little Rock. For more details, keep scrolling.
Council tables discussion on raising business license fees; Maumelle awarded $1.1 million for Club Manor street and pedestrian improvements
This week’s meeting started off with the financial statement review through the end of August. For the year, the city’s revenue in the General Fund is $11,566,538 which is $870,000 higher than it was at this time last year.
Our expenses through August of 2023 total $10,279,970. This puts the city in a net positive position of approximately $1.3 million for the year. That said, we’ve budgeted for $3.2 million in capital expenditures this year and as of August, we’ve only spent $612,000. As we get towards the end of the year, these capital expenses should be reflected on our monthly financials. The city’s finances continue to be in a solid position with a large reserve amount in the bank.
Moving to old business, the only item the council acted on was the proposal by Council Member Michael Tierney to raise fees that businesses pay for their license to operate in the city. This proposal would have increased the fees by 400% over the current rates. After discussion from the previous council meeting as well as discussion during this meeting, it was clear the majority of the council had no appetite to raise these fees.
Council Member Terry Williams made a motion to table this proposal indefinitely, and this motion passed by a 6-1 vote of those present. By tabling this proposal, it removes it from discussion and would have to be modified in order to bring it up again as a new ordinance or a majority of the council would have to vote to bring this same ordinance back again for debate.
A few notes regarding projects around the city. The construction of the roundabout to join White Oak Crossing, Country Club Parkway, and Counts Massie will begin soon. The contract with Redstone began on Sept. 5 to begin construction so we should see activity in that area in the near future.
The construction of the city’s All-Inclusive Playground is well underway with most of the primary shade and play structures completed. There’s a lot of work left to complete the play surface as well as fencing and landscaping. The playground will be open for fun later in the fall!
Finally, the city received an award of $1.1 million from Metroplan for construction of our Club Manor corridor improvement project. This project will convert Club Manor from the current 4-lane road down to a 2-lane road with a large pedestrian corridor. The Central Arkansas Greenway will run directly through Maumelle so these improvements will allow pedestrians to travel directly through Maumelle’s commercial area. I expect these improvements will spur quite a bit of new commercial activity in our city and along Club Manor.
That’s all for the week, let me know if you have any questions or concerns. Chad. 501-529-1336, chad4maumelle@gmail.com
Maumelle’s Charter’s Annika Pecanty named a National Merit semifinalist
Annika Pecanty, a senior at Maumelle Charter High School, was named a National Merit Semifinalist last week, the school announced.
Annika Pecanty
Also named a Semifinalist was Caleb J. Thomas, a homeschool student, who lives in Maumelle.
The state had 126 students named as Semifinalists this year.
There were roughly 16,000 Semifinalists nation-wide out of 1.3 million students who entered the scholarship program by taking the preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test.
Pecanty is the first National Merit Semifinalist at Maumelle Charter, said principal Katie Johnson, who added that, “to become a finalist, Annika and I are working together to submit a detailed scholarship application.:
Winners will be named next year in the spring and summer, Johnson said.
“Congratulations, Annika,” Johnson said, :We are so proud of you and your hard work! Keep Soaring!”
Sarah Reaves, a freshman at the University of Arkansas from Maumelle, joins four freshmen in the Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences as the class of 2023 Sturgis Fellows.
Reaves graduated from Central Arkansas Christian last spring before enrolling at Arkansas this fall.
About Sarah Reaves
Sarah Reaves is a graduate of CAC, where she was Co-Salutatorian, a National Merit Scholar, and an AP Scholar with Distinction. As a competitive gymnast, she was State Vault Champion, State Bars Champion, and USAG Region 3 Floor Champion. She was also an All-State clarinet player, received the MHS Band Outstanding Woodwind and Rookie of the Year awards, and won levels 7 and 8 at the regional ASMTA piano competition receiving nine consecutive superiors at Federation. Additionally, she performed at nursing homes and volunteered in children's ministry. Reaves plans on majoring in applied mathematics. Her parents are Lance and Jennifer Reaves.
"It's such an honor to welcome the new class of outstanding Sturgis Fellows to campus each year," said Kathryn Sloan, interim dean of Fulbright College. "These students are among the best and brightest in Arkansas and are so impressive. Each has already accomplished so much, and through this fellowship opportunity will hopefully have the tools and support to further their education and reach for their next dream."
"We are honored to welcome Sarah to our Fulbright College family, and can't wait to see what this class of distinguished fellows accomplishes next," she added.
The Sturgis Fellowship is one of Arkansas's oldest, most esteemed fellowship programs. It awards each fellow $80,000 during their four years to cover tuition, room and board, and educational tools such as computer hardware and software, high-quality musical instruments, access to professional journals, and participation at academic conferences.
All Sturgis Fellows are actively pursuing a major within Fulbright College, completing an intensive academic program, and writing an independent thesis. They are also encouraged to study abroad and pursue internship opportunities during their time at Arkansas. All Sturgis Fellows will graduate with honors.
The fellowships and their associated opportunities are made possible by the continued support of the Roy and Christine Sturgis Charitable and Educational Trust.
Meet the other Sturgis Fellows
Trevor Duke is a graduate of Pulaski Academy in Little Rock, where he was a National Merit Scholar, Honor Council co-president, and Student Council vice president. He played football, receiving All-Conference honors, winning four straight state championships, and receiving the Brandon Burlsworth Player of the Game award in the 2022 6A State Championship.
Veronica Ivester is a graduate of Little Rock Christian Academy, where she was a National Hispanic Scholar and an AP Scholar with Distinction. She also served as Drum Major, president of the Tri-M Music Honors Society, and held officer positions in the Art Society and the Thespian Troupe.
Taksh Patel is a graduate of Fayetteville High School, where he served as president of the Science National Honor Society, secretary of the National Honor Society, and Science Bowl captain. As captain of the Science Bowl team, he led FHS to two consecutive state championships and twice qualified the team to compete for the national science bowl both times.
Muskan Taori is a graduate of Bentonville High School, where she graduated with highest honors. She served as treasurer of Bentonville High School HOSA and Arkansas HOSA. She also participated in the health sciences strand of Bentonville's Ignite Program, where she gained certifications, including EMT and phlebotomy, and assisted at clinics around Northwest Arkansas.
National Night Out is Oct. 3; Some events this Saturday
National Night Out will be Tuesday, Oct. 3 in North Little Rock and other cities around the state.
There’s no events scheduled for Maumelle though.
National Night Out is an annual event that is billed as a “ community-building campaign that promotes police-community partnerships and neighborhood camaraderie to help make our neighborhoods safer and improve the quality of life.”
Fourteen neighborhood associations in North Little Rock have committed to putting on events. The first is Saturday with most being on Oct. 3, with the last being Saturday, Oct. 14.
Saturday
WARD 1
Holt Neighborhood Association, Gardner Memorial United Methodist Church, Amboy UMC and the Universal Peace Foundation, 3 p.m. - 7 p.m. at Gardner Memorial UMC, 1723 Schaer St. Activities include: music, games for adults and children, food and speeches. Contact: Rev. Melvin Moss, 501-993-1985.
Tuesday, Oct. 3
WARD 2
Young Community Advocates of Baring Cross, 3 p.m. - 5:30 p.m., 1701 Pike Ave. (Dollar General parking lot). Activities include: A meet and greet beginning at 3 p.m. Refreshments will be served prior to cleanup, 3:30-5:30 p.m.
Dixie Addition CDC, 5 p.m.- 7 p.m. at 914 North “H” Street. Activities include: food, fun & fellowship. Contact: Earnest Franklin, 501-563-5400 or Margie Evans, 501-258-8167.
Rose City Neighborhood Association and NLR Police Athletic League, 5 p.m. - 7 p.m., Rose City Ball Park, 400 Rose Lane. Activities include: live DJ, free food and events for children and residents. Contact: Martha Capps, 501-580-1079.
Stone Links Neighborhood Association, 5:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m., Stone Links Club House, 110 AR 391. Activities include: health screenings, food, bounce house, games, face painting and fun. Contact: Marie Hollowell, 404-259-2957.
WARD 3
Amboy Neighborhood Association, 5:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. at Amboy UMC Parking lot, 311 E. Military Dr. Activities food, fun and fellowship. Contact: Angelica Barnard, 501-297-8720 or Paula Lively, 501-350-7649.
Scenic Hill Neighborhood Association, 5 p.m. - 7:30 p.m., at the corner of East Scenic and Valley View. Activities include: snacks, drinks and meet and greet. Contact: Randy Naylor, 501-350-8775.
WARD 4
Cobblestone Crime Watch Group, 4 p.m - 7 p.m., 913 Cobblestone Circle. Activities include: Burgers, hot dogs, meet and greet first responders and members of crime watch group. Contact: Suni McClelland, 501-920-5330.
Windsor Valley Neighborhood, 6 p.m. - 8 p.m. at the south end of Coleridge at Covington. Activities include: two food trucks, police & fire officials and kids craft table. Contact: Brandi Legate, 501-951-0778.
Saturday, Oct. 14
WARD 2
Melrose Community Outreach, 3 p.m. -5 p.m., 807 Willow St. Activities: drive through block party. Contact: Tammy Small, 501-541-3703.
The Maumelle Hornets (2-1) had last Friday night off and the Hornets travel to Pine Bluff this Friday for a 5A-Central conference game
Elsewhere, North of the River, Central Arkansas Christian lost for the first time this season, 43-42, at Harmony Grove. The Mustangs are now 3-1 on the year and averaging 46 points a game on offense.
North Little Rock also lost to Little Rock Parkview, 52-14, and are 0-3 on the season.
The ‘Cats travel to Little Rock Central this Friday.
As the first-half North Division title winners, the Travs won Game 1, 3-1, and Game 2 will be at Dickey-Stephens Park at 6:35 p.m. tonight against Springfield. A best of three series, the Travs need to win tonight to advance, or Game 3 will be played at 6:35 p.m. on Friday.
The winner of the series moves on to the Texas League Championship and Game 1 would be at 1:35 p.m. on Sunday. The series winner would host Game 1, so maybe more baseball is in store at Dickey-Stephens.
