Moore on Maumelle: Election Edition ‘24
Planning Commission to look at possible church for vacant lot; Simmons Bank Championship starts Friday; Early voting underway; Friday Night Lights plus sports and headlines
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The Headlines
Meetings: The Maumelle Planning Commission meets tonight at 6:30 p.m. The agenda can be viewed by clicking here. For more on that keep, keep scrolling. The North Little Rock City Council will meet next Monday night at City Hall.
Events: The Simmons Bank Championship presented by Stephens will be at Pleasant Valley Country Club in Little Rock with tournament play starting this Friday, Oct. 25. For more, keep scrolling.
Planning Commission to discuss proposed church
The Maumelle Planning Commission meets at 6:30 p.m. tonight and while the agenda is light on items, it is mighty in nature as it features Phases 2 and 3 for the Reserve at the Maumelle Country Club as well as a proposed church at 103 Audubon Drive, currently a vacant lot and owned by Feim & Muho LLC.
The property, near the Kroger, has been one of the most visibly vacant in Maumelle for going on decades.
The country club is an announcement only and the Planning Commission will take no action.
The Church of Maumelle is an item of new business and will cover the development and landscape plans as well as the building design.
The congregants at Church of Maumelle are former members of Maumelle First United Methodist Church, who disaffiliated from the United Methodist church in a disagreement over church doctrine as it relates to LGTBQ issues, as well as other matters of contention.
It is actually quite complicated but the site's staff theologian is traveling, so we'll leave it at that.
While some disaffiliated Methodist churches joined the Global Methodist Church, Maumelle's version has chosen to stay independent. At least for now.
Their plans for the property are a 20,000 square foot structure, which would be a significant upgrade from its current digs, the activities building at First Baptist Church of Maumelle.
The lot is 2.74 acres and the plan design calls for two future additions.
Rob McGill, the CEO of Academics Plus and the former superintendent of PCSSD, is listed as the developer for the church. McGill is also listed as a board member on the church's website. The church's pastor is Aubrietta Lynn Jones, who formerly led Maumelle First United Methodist.
Planning Department staff gave a "do-pass" recommendation and a rendering of what's been proposed can be seen below.
PUBLIC NOTICE: PLANNING COMMISSION VACANCY
The Maumelle City Council is accepting resumes from residents interested in serving on the Maumelle Planning Commission. The City Council will make an appointment to fill the remaining term of Position 4 ending Jan. 31, 2027.
Resumes should be submitted to Tina Timmons, City Clerk/Treasurer, 550 Edgewood Drive, Maumelle, Arkansas 72113 no later than 4 p.m., Wednesday Nov. 13. Email submissions will also be accepted at cityclerk@maumelle.org.
All applicants will be interviewed by the City Council at their regularly scheduled Council meeting, Monday, Nov. 18, at 6 p.m. The City Council will make the appointment immediately following the interviews.
For additional information, please email sgrummer@maumelle.org.
Moore on Maumelle: Election Edition ‘24
Election Day Looms
As you read this, early voting is underway and Election Day is on Tuesday, Nov. 5. I think we all know that the presidential election will go on after the voting regardless of who wins. But I shan’t concern myself with that race. Trump will carry Arkansas, and our votes won’t move the needle toward winning the White House. I’m concerned with voting where my votes actually make a difference.
Let’s start with our City Council race. Those of you who attended the Candidate Forum sponsored by the Maumelle Area Chamber of Commerce and ArkansasNewsroom.com, saw three capable candidates running for the Ward 1, Position 1 post being vacated by incumbent Steve Mosely. Barry Brown, Mike Chastain and LJ Wesley represented themselves well and any of them would be a good choice for city leadership.
The other races represented definitely went along party lines. For the House District 69 race, Republican Rep. David Ray and Democrat Kwami Abdul-Bey were both articulate in their presentations but represented opposite ends of the political spectrum with a main point of contention being the LEARNS Act.
The candidates for House District 71 also were comfortable in their comments, again demonstrating a stark contrast between Republican Rep. Brandon Achor and Democrat Cassandra Green. Green, a school administrator, was ultra-critical of the LEARNS Act and pointed out some of its flaws from her perspective.
A few days after the forum, I was disappointed to see that a hit piece against Green had been mailed to my home. It was produced by the Republican Party promoting Representative Achor’s candidacy but primarily tying Ms. Green to national politics and issues irrelevant to Arkansas issues. I’m sure many of you received it. I asked Representative Achor about the mailer, and he claimed it was not produced by his campaign.
But he did point out that Ms. Green had taken a few shots at him, primarily on social media. Obviously, Achor has more firepower than Ms. Green and he is a popular pharmacist in Maumelle, so he most likely will win the race. I would encourage you to learn more about each candidate.
Decide for yourself! You can still watch the forum online. It is stored at ArkansasNewsroom.com or click on the video thumbnail to watch each race.
House District 69 - Rep. David Ray and Kwami Abdul-Bey.
House District 71 - Rep Brandon Achor and Cassandra Green.
Maumelle City Council, Ward 1, Pos. 1 - Barry Brown Mike Chastain and LJ Wesley.
Who is the Biggest Liar?
I have tried to understand Issue 2, but I, like most Arkansans, am weary with it. According to Ballotpedia: “This measure would repeal from the state Constitution the authorization for a casino license in Pope County. Under the proposed amendment, any future constitutional amendments to authorize a casino license in any county other than Crittenden, Garland, or Jefferson counties, the quorum court of the relevant county would be required to call a special election where a majority of countywide voters would be required to adopt the authorization.”
Both sides of the issue have been funded by Indian tribes: one wanting to build a casino and the other wanting you to keep coming to their casino in Oklahoma. I don’t really care.
We have three casinos and that’s enough. Plus, there are several in contiguous states. Or if you just want to get rid of some money, I’ll give you my PayPal link.
I’m voting “4-2” or For Issue 2 to keep the casino from being built and letting Pope County folks do their own election. Whether Pope County citizens want a casino or not doesn’t matter to me. I don’t frequent casinos, nor will I ever.
Answer: Both sides are lying.
Issue 1 is a Needed Bonus for Arkansas Students
The millions spent between the two tribes fighting over casinos has overshadowed another issue that deserves your consideration. I will definitely vote for Issue 1. A vote “FOR” Issue 1 means you support changing the Arkansas Constitution to allow proceeds from the Arkansas Scholarship Lottery to also fund scholarships for Arkansas students at vocational-technical schools and technical institutes. This is a no-brainer.
The Ever-Changing Food Scene
Maumelle Boulevard is now the home of the only Count Porkula since the Little Rock location closed its doors. They say they need a larger location. Odd. Seems you would continue to operate until you found one. There has to be more to the story.
We have a new restaurant called Southern Heaux, a restaurant specializing in “Southern. Brunch” and open only 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. but closed on Monday and Tuesday. So far, the online comments have been positive with the usual whiney Maumelle dissension and promises to never go back because everything wasn’t perfect. See their menu and info at www. southernheauxar.com.
Get out there and vote. Or as I’ve always said, if you don’t vote, you lose your privilege to gripe about it.
See you on the Boulevard.
Neal Moore is an award-winning columnist who lives in Maumelle. He is also a freelance writer and public relations consultant.
Upcoming community events
Maumelle food truck festival is Nov. 2
Election 2024: Early voting underway
Early voting began on Monday in Pulaski County for the upcoming election on Tuesday, Nov. 5.
More than 30,000 people have already voted early or more than 10 percent of Pulaski County’s 240,061 registered voters in just the first three days of early voting.
There’s two new early voting sites with one at the gym at Shorter College in North Little Rock and the other is the Dunbar Recreation Center in Little Rock.
North of the River sites also include the Jess Odom Community Center in Maumelle, Laman Library in North Little Rock, the gym at Shorter College in downtown North Little Rock, First Christian Church of Sherwood and the Jacksonville Community Center.
Pulaski County residents can vote on any of the early voting sites.
Times, generally, are Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., and on Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Early voting will mostly conclude on Saturday, Nov. 2 with the exception of the Pulaski County Administration Building in downtown Little Rock where one can vote early on Monday, Nov. 4 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
There will be no early voting on Sundays at any location.
Polls open at 7:30 a.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 5 and will close at 7:30 p.m. that night.
North of the River Early Voting Sites
Jess Odom Community Center
Thursday, Oct. 24: 8 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Friday, Oct. 25: 8 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Saturday, Oct. 26: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Monday, Oct. 28: 8 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Tuesday, Oct. 29: 8 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Wednesday, Oct. 30: 8 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Thursday, Oct. 31: 8 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Friday, Nov. 1: 8 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Saturday, Nov. 2: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.
William F. Laman Library
Thursday, Oct. 24: 8 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Friday, Oct. 25: 8 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Saturday, Oct. 26: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Monday, Oct. 28: 8 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Tuesday, Oct. 29: 8 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Wednesday, Oct. 30: 8 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Thursday, Oct. 31: 8 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Friday, Nov. 1: 8 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Saturday, Nov. 2: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Shorter College (Gym)
Shorter College(Gym) North Little Rock
Thursday, Oct. 24: 8 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Friday, Oct. 25: 8 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Saturday, Oct. 26: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Monday, Oct. 28: 8 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Tuesday, Oct. 29: 8 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Wednesday, Oct. 30: 8 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Thursday, Oct. 31: 8 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Friday, Nov. 1: 8 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Saturday, Nov. 2: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.
First Christian Church of Sherwood
Thursday, Oct. 24: 8 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Friday, Oct. 25: 8 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Saturday, Oct. 26: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Monday, Oct. 28: 8 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Tuesday, Oct. 29: 8 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Wednesday, Oct. 30: 8 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Thursday, Oct. 31: 8 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Friday, Nov. 1: 8 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Saturday, Nov. 2: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Jacksonville Community Center
Thursday, Oct. 24: 8 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Friday, Oct. 25: 8 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Saturday, Oct. 26: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Monday, Oct. 28: 8 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Tuesday, Oct. 29: 8 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Wednesday, Oct. 30: 8 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Thursday, Oct. 31: 8 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Friday, Nov. 1: 8 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Saturday, Nov. 2: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.
For South of the River early voting sites, click here.
Simmons Bank Championship starts Friday
The Simmons Bank Championship presented by Stephens will be this week at Pleasant Valley Country Club in Little Rock with the three-day tournament to begin on Friday and concluding on Sunday.
The schedule includes:
Friday
Folds of Honor Friday, PV – 1st Tee
Championship First Round, PV, Tee Times begin at 9:30 a.m.
Saturday
Razorback Foundation Gameday Tailgate, PV
Championship Second Round, PV, Tee Times begin at 9:30 a.m.
Sunday
Championship Final Round, PV, Tee Times begin at 9:30 a.m.
Trophy presentation, 18th green, immediately following the end of play on Sunday,
All three rounds of the tournament will be broadcast live by the Golf Channel.
Notes about parking
Asbury United Methodist Church, at 1700 Napa Valley Drive in Little Rock and a strong-arm's throw from PV, will also have its parking lot available. Spaces will be $10 a day and can be reserved in advance by calling 501-225-9231.
General parking (Lot A) will be located at 11900 Colonel Glenn Road and there will be no parking at Pleasant Valley Country Club or in the surrounding neighborhood during tournament week. A complimentary shuttle will transport people to and fro.
Tickets are now for sale for the Simmons Bank Championship presented by Stephens at Pleasant Valley Country Club in Little Rock. To buy tickets, click here. Daily tickets start at $30.
The tournament will serve as the second round of the PGA TOUR Champions annual Charles Schwab Cup Playoffs. The field will consist of the top 54 players in the standings competing for $2.3 million in prize money and a chance to earn their spot among the top 36 in the final event of the season.
Sports
Friday Night Lights: Maumelle hosts White Hall
Maumelle 17, Jacksonville 0
Last week: The Hornets shined last Thursday night in a 50-12 drubbing of Watson Chapel. Last week: Maumelle picked up its fifth win of the season on the road against Jacksonville. The formerly mighty Red Devils, Titans, have endured some hard years and a new version of Johnny Watson doesn't appear to be on the horizon. Maumelle managed 223 yards of total offense in the win, while the defense held Jacksonville to just 92. Curiously, both teams had 10 first downs each.
This week: Maumelle hosts White Hall in a 5A-Central game. A win by the Hornets would assure Maumelle a playoff berth in November but with seeding still to be determined.
Records: Maumelle: 5-2, 3-1; White Hall: 2-5, 2-2
Maumelle schedule
Aug. 31`: ... Maumelle 36, Sylvan Hills 0
Sept. 6 … Parkview 51, Maumelle 6
Sept. 13 … Maumelle 32, Vilonia 21
Sept. 20 … Bye week
Sept. 27 ... Beebe 22, Maumelle 0
Oct. 4 ...Maumelle 21, Pine Bluff 18
Oct 10 … Maumelle 50, Watson Chapel 12
Oct. 18 ... Maumelle 17, Jacksonville 0
Friday, Oct. 25 … vs. White Hall
Friday, Nov. 1 ... at Searcy
Thursday, Nov. 7 … vs. Robinson
Friday, Nov. 15 … First round of playoffs
For the online roster, click here.
Little Rock Christian 42, North Little Rock 15
Last week: The 'Cats struggled mightily against conference newcomer Little Rock Christian, in a 42-15 loss. The good news, such as it is, North Little Rock scored 15 points, well above their season average of a little more than a score a game.
This week: More good news, such as it is, North Little Rock travels to Little Rock Central for a game that is guaranteed to be the first win of the season as both are 9-7 on the year. This might be hard to believe given the current predicaments but if you ask any old-timer or even medium timers and they'll tell you Central is (was?) the state's premier football program and 20 years ago was playing for state titles. North Little Rock, 10 years ago, was such a consistent playoff contender with multiple deep playoff runs.The good ol' days have never seemed so far away.
Records: North Little Rock: 0-7, 0-4; Little Rock Central: 0-7, 0-4.
North Little Rock schedule
Aug. 31... Rogers 43, North Little Rock 0
Sept. 6 … Bye
Sept. 13 ... Benton 42, North Little Rock 13
Sept. 20 ... Catholic 27, North Little Rock 17
Sept. 27 ... Pulaski Academy 47, North Little Rock 0
Oct. 4 ... Conway 63, North Little Rock 7
Oct. 11 ... Little Rock Southwest 38, North Little Rock 21
Oct. 18 ... Little Rock Christian 42, North Little Rock 15
Friday, Oct. 25 ...at Little Rock Central
Friday, Nov. 1 ... vs. Bryant
Friday, Nov. 8 ... vs. Cabot
Friday, Nov. 15 … First round of playoffs
For the online North Little Rock roster, click here.
Lonoke 39, CAC 0
Last week:CAC couldn't get its offense going last week against Lonoke as the 'Rabbits pitched a 39-0 shutout.
This week: The playoffs are on the line as if CAC can get the win against Bald Knob, the Mustangs would make the postseason. The odds are in CAC's favor as Bald Knob is winless on the season. But traveling up Hwy. 67/167 has been problematic for CAC in years, but mostly because that's the way to Riverview. If you go, eat at the Bulldog, one of the better eating joints around, but shame it isn’t Strawberry Shortcake season.
Records: CAC: 2-5, 2-2; Bald Knob: 0-7, 0-4
CAC schedule
Aug. 31 … DeWitt 31, CAC 7
Sept. 6… Stuttgart 41, CAC 7
Sept. 13 ... vs. Harding Academy 53, CAC 20
Sept. 20 … Bye
Sept. 27 ... Heber Springs 31, CAC 29
Oct. 4 ... CAC 42, Riverview 14
Oct. 11 ... CAC 35, Little Rock Hall 28
Oct. 18 ... Lonoke 39, CAC 0
Friday, Oct. 25 ... at Bald Knob
Friday, Nov. 1 ... vs. Mills
Friday, Nov. 8 ... at Forrest City
Friday, Nov. 15 … First round of playoffs
All games kickoff at 7 p.m. unless noted
Rankings from hootens.com
Football, Volleyball brackets posted
With an eye toward the postseason, the postseason brackets for volleyball and football are now live on High School on SI, formerly SBLive.
This is the first season that regional tournaments will be included in the volleyball postseason. Those nine tournament brackets are also listed and have already begin play with the state tournaments starting on Oct. 29. The volleyball state finals return inside the Hot Springs Convention Center on Nov. 2.
The football playoffs begin on Nov. 15. Below the state finals schedule for both football and volleyball as well as links to both sets of brackets.
Volleyball State Finals Schedule
Nov. 2, 11 a.m. - 5A state championship
Nov. 2, 1 p.m. - 6A state championship
Nov. 2, 3 p.m. - 2A state championship
Nov. 2, 5 p.m. - 3A state championship
Nov. 2, 7 p.m. - 4A state championship
Football State Finals Schedule
Dec. 5, 7 p.m. - 8-man state championship
Dec. 6, noon - 2A state championship
Dec. 6, 6:30 p.m. - 5A state championship
Dec. 7, noon- 6A state championship
Dec. 7, 6:30 p.m. - 7A state championship
Dec. 14, noon - 4A state championship
Dec. 14, 6:30 p.m. - 3A state championship
Volleyball postseason brackets
Saturday's SEC schedule
Oklahoma (4-3, 1-3 SEC) at Ole Miss (5-2, 1-2 SEC): 11 a.m. • ESPN; SiriusXM: 374 - 119/190
Arkansas (4-3, 2-2 SEC) at Mississippi State (1-6, 0-4 SEC): 11:45 a.m. • SEC Network ; SiriusXM: 386 - 158/191
Preview: https://www.secsports.com/scores/football?start_date=2023-08-25&end_date=2024-01-08
Missouri (6-1, 2-1 SEC) at Alabama (5-2, 2-2 SEC): 2:30 p.m. • ABC; SiriusXM: 132/192 - 119/190
Texas (6-1, 2-1 SEC) at Vanderbilt (5-2, 2-1 SEC): 3:15 p.m. • SEC Network; SiriusXM: 158/191 – 374
LSU (6-1, 3-0 SEC) at Texas A&M (6-1, 4-0 SEC): 6:30 p.m. • ABC; SiriusXM: 82 – 84
Auburn (2-5, 0-4 SEC) at Kentucky (3-4, 1-4 SEC): 6:45 p.m. • SEC Network; SiriusXM: 374 - 119/190
Open: Florida (4-3, 2-2 SEC); Georgia (6-1, 4-1 SEC); South Carolina (4-3, 2-3 SEC); Tennessee (6-1, 3-1 SEC).
Pandemic deaths climb
The state Department of Health updated the state’s dashboard this week, and showed 22 deaths since the last update that had 409 for the year. The virus has now killed 14,053 Arkansans since the pandemic began four years ago. 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