Movie at the Park this Saturday
Movie at the Park this Saturday
Maumelle's Timmons among players named All-State; Arkansas basketball plays at Simmons Bank Arena on Saturday. Hogs football schedule released 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 stay up
The state Department of Health, on its Covid dashboard, showed that in the past week, there were 11 new deaths reported. The numbers were updated Tuesday, Dec. 12.
The total number of reported dead Arkansans remains at 13,392 or the state’s 30th largest city, passing Harrison’s 13,338.
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Get vaccinated
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Avoid crowds
The Headlines
Meetings: The Maumelle City Council meets at 6 p.m. next Monday night at City Hall.
Events: Sports. So much sports, plus this is the last weekend for a Very Merry Maumelle. For more, scroll on.
Maumelle High School Choir to sign at Capitol
The Maumelle High School student choir will be signing at 11:20 a.m. today at the Arkansas State Capitol as part of the Sound of the Season performances as choirs from the around are scheduled to sing.
Maumelle Charter Art on display
The Art Enrichment classes at Maumelle Charter Elementary created this Christmas window display for The Capital Hotel in downtown Little Rock. The art is hanging inside the hotel gift shop during the holiday season. Hether Embrey is the art teacher at the school
Public hearing set by PCSSD is today
Notice is hereby given that the Pulaski County Special School District will conduct a public hearing on their facilities master plan that will be submitted to the Division of Public School Academic Facilities and Transportation as required by state law.
The public hearing will start at 6 p.m. today, Dec. 14 in the Board Room of the Administration Building located at 925 East Dixon Road, Little Rock.
It is scheduled to last one hour.
The District will present information on their facilities master plan. All interested persons attending the public hearing will be given an opportunity to comment on the facilities master plan.
Movie at the Park this Saturday as a Very Merry Maumelle concludes
A Very Merry Maumelle concludes this Saturday at Lake Willastein with Holiday Movie in the Park sponsored by The Summit Church.
The event is scheduled to start at 6 p.m. and conclude at 9 p.m.
This is the third and final event in a Very Merry Maumelle and, so far, it has been a hit.
Last Saturday, at the Mistletoe Market, the parking lot at Center on the Lake was already full when the event started at 4 p.m. So attendees headed for street parking, across the way at Kroger and next door at the Little Yellow Church, that's not a church anymore.
Christine Gronwald, who serves on the Maumelle City Council, is the Holiday Committee chair while Ashley Norris with Bella Rustina Modern Vintage Market is the Co-Chair.
A total of 33 vendors, along with a number of food trucks were on hand as those in attendance could purchase everything from pickles to, and with apologies to Dr. Suess, bingle balls, who-floo fluff, goo-hoo guns and bizel blicks with woo boo hoo bricks, pantukas and panpunas in between.
There were also busel buns, bliffer bloofs, wunsel wuns and flunt flan!
Saturday: Holiday Movie in the Park sponsored by The Summit Church 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Maumelle residents will come together to watch the cartoon movie version of The Grinch on a large screen as they enjoy the lake and holiday decorations surrounding them.
The Summit Church has made arrangements for an array of holiday activities including; a train ride for tots, popcorn station, face painting booth, coffee food truck, hot chocolate, and an inflatable snow globe. Not to mention Buddy the Elf and Santa will be there. Summit Church is among the sponsors of “A Very Merry Maumelle” holiday events.
A December (to help remember) Calendar
This month is a busy one as it seems like there's something to do every weekend until the new year.
Saturday: Holiday in the Park Movie night concludes a Very Merry Maumelle. The event starts at 6 p.m. and will conclude at 9 p.m. A Very Merry Maumelle is sponsored by the Maumelle Area Chamber of Commerce and the city.
Saturday: The Hogs make the annual trip to central Arkansas and will face Lipscomb at Simmons Bank Arena in downtown North Little Rock. The good news? The game will be televised!
Sunday, Dec. 24: Christmas Eve.
Monday, Dec. 25: Christmas Day.
Tuesday, Dec. 26: Happy Boxing Day to those who celebrate.
Sunday, Dec. 31: New Year's Eve.
Monday, Jan. 1: New Year's Day.
Sports
All-State football players named
If you paid attention to high school football this past season, the names won’t come as a surprise.
Timmons. Newell. Worsham. Wilson.
There’s more, of course, as a total of seven North of the River football players were recently named All-State by the AAA.
In 5A, Maumelle had four players named from the 5A-Central. They are:
DL … Konner Forte
DB … Elijah Newell
WR … Alan Timmons
RB … Jaiden Worsham
In 7A, North Little Rock had two players named. They are:
LB … Delkarai Davis
WR … Jace White
In 4A, which does All-State differently then the higher classifications, with a limit of eight per conference and, generally, four backs and four linemen, Central Arkansas Christian had one, Quarterback Grayson Wilson as a Back.
To see all the players named All-State, please click here.
Lipscomb to face Arkansas this Saturday
Third time the charm?
That's what Lipscomb University is hoping as the Bison travel to North Little Rock this Saturday to face the University of Arkansas in a game that will be televised on SEC Network+.
The 5 p.m. game at Simmons Bank Arena is a sellout and the crowd should be rocking.
This is the third time the two schools have faced each other. The previous games were Hogs wins and were in 2020 and 2004.
Lipscomb is a 7-5 on the year and a member of the A-SUN Conference, which also includes UCA.
The Bison have two games against the Bears and will be back this direction on Feb. 17 for a game in Conway against UCA.
Arkansas is a confounding 6-4 on the year with wins against Duke and Purdue but losses to North Carolina and North Carolina Greensboro.
What's not a sellout is the 12:30 p.m. game between the Arkansas women's basketball team and Samford.
Tickets are $10 and lower-bowl only. To buy, click here.
Arkansas is 8-3 but coming off a shocking loss to UAPB last Sunday at Fayetteville.
Arkansas football to open season Aug. 31
The Southeastern Conference unveiled its football schedule for the coming season and Arkansas has some, umm, let’s say interesting matchups. But, in truth, about as good a schedule as they could have hoped for.
First off, the season will start Aug. 31 as the Hogs will face Arkansas-Pine Bluff in a game that will be played at Little Rock’s War Memorial Stadium.
So, if you remember just a few months ago when the Western Carolina game was the second to last, and that Arkansas State would be the last game, that’s not really accurate anymore.
As expected Alabama drops off, but Texas returns, this time as a conference game and there’s no Oklahoma game to be found.
Arkansas will instead travel to Oklahoma State on Sept. 7 and this next season, reportedly, is the last season for the Arkansas-Texas A&M game at Jerry World in Arlington. It will be played on Sept. 28.
Tennessee, which had been shaping into a real rivalry game for the Razorbacks before that series was ended, will see the Volunteers at Fayetteville on Oct. 5
Arkansas has a double dip of Mississippi to end October and begin November as the Hogs travel to Mississippi State on Oct. 26 and host Ole Miss on Nov. 2.
The season, for now, is scheduled to end on Saturday, Nov. 30 with a trip to Missouri, but the schedule is extremely likely to be adjusted for television to have the game on Black Friday, Nov. 29.
Arkansas 2024 football schedule
Aug. 31: UAPB vs. Arkansas (Little Rock)
Sept. 7: Arkansas at Oklahoma State
Sept. 14: UAB at Arkansas
Sept. 21: Arkansas at Auburn
Sept. 28: Arkansas vs. Texas A&M (Arlington)
Oct. 5: Tennessee at Arkansas
Oct. 12: Off
Oct. 19: LSU at Arkansas
Oct. 26: Arkansas at Mississippi State
Nov. 2: Ole Miss at Arkansas
Nov. 9: Off
Nov. 16: Texas at Arkansas
Nov. 23: Louisiana Tech at Arkansas
Nov. 30: Arkansas at Missouri
Dec. 7: SEC Football Championship (Atlanta)
Harding to play for DII national title
Harding alumni unite!
Or, watch on TV, either way your alma mater is playing the Colorado School of Mines at noon this Saturday in McKinney, Texas for the Division II football national championship.
The game will be televised on ESPNU but if you want to make the easy drive to the Metroplex, tickets start at $10 and can be purchased by clicking here.
This is Harding’s first swing at a national championship in the school’s history and they got there by blowing out Lenoir-Rhyne, 55-14, last Saturday in the semifinals at Searcy.
There’s one North of the River player on the Harding roster this season, sixth year senior Dennis Carroll, a 5-foot-9, 260-pound offensive lineman.
Carroll, above, played at North Little Rock and was a 2018 graduate. He was a starter and All-State performer on the ‘Cats 2017 state championship team.
The son of LaKeisha and Dennis Carroll Sr. has been a stellar performer in the classroom and has been academic all-conference in 2020, 2021 and 2022. The 2023 team has not yet been named.
Art notes
Work by North Little Rock’s LaToya Hobbs to be featured in Nashville
Heading to Nashville in January?
If you are, The Frist Art Museum will be featuring an exhibition by North Little Rock native LaToya Hobbs starting Jan. 26 and continuing through April 28.
Hobbs, a graduate of North Little Rock High School and UALR, is now a professor at the Maryland Institute College of Art and lives in Baltimore.
As an artist, Hobbs specializes in prints, among other things and exhibitions will feature her work there as well as woodblocks and mixed-media works.
The exhibition is titled, “Carving a New Tradition: The Art of LaToya M. Hobbs and is part of the Frist’s Gordon Contemporary Artists Project Gallery.
"Though I'm presenting the work through the lens of my own experience, “Hobbs said in a release. “I champion the everyday woman while addressing the themes of motherhood, family, and the connection one has to the physical spaces they occupy."
The exhibition’s anchor piece is on loan from the Baltimore Museum of Art and titled, “Carving Out Time.”
The exhibition is sponsored in part by Blevins, Inc., Clay Blevins and the Gordon CAP Gallery Fund and Friends of Contemporary Art.
The Frist, which is a beautiful space, is located at 919 Broadway in downtown Nashville and for more, visit FristArtMuseum.org.
Auditions for Grease set
The Argenta Community Theater will be having auditions for its summer 2024 production of Grease on Saturday, Jan. 20.
Auditions are set to start at 10 a.m. that day at the theater and callbacks will be held the following day starting at 2 p.m.
Rehearsals will begin in June with the show to debut July 24 and running through Aug. 3.
All persons interested should email casting@ArgentaCommunityTheater.org for an audition appointment; however, walk-ins will be accommodated on a first come first serve basis.
The show will be directed by Vincent Insalaco, Choreographer is Allison Stodola Wilson and Assistant Director is Bridget Davis.
Auditions are open to all genders, races and ethnicities.
Education news
North Little Rock’s Chestnut to graduate from UALR
Cedrea Chestnut, a senior from North Little Rock, will be graduating this fall with a bachelor's degree in elementary education K-6.
Chestnut, above, started off her college career majoring in psychology, but wasn't convinced it was the right path for her. Reflecting on her childhood, she realized that it had always been her dream to become a teacher.
"When I was little, I used to set up all my teddy bears like they were in a classroom," recalled Chestnut. "And I would stand up there and act like I was teaching them. When I remembered that, I knew that this was what I wanted to do."
After coming to this realization, Chestnut switched her major and started working to get the prerequisites for the education program out of the way. She emphasized the role that the TRIO Higher Education Access Program played in her success.
"I really beat myself up freshman year," said Chestnut. "I had to take out loans to pay for school, and I felt behind since I was only taking 10 hours. But I got all of the basics out of the way and got into the education program. The TRIO program was a huge help to me. I don't know where I'd be without them. Through that program, I was able to get tutoring and scholarships to put toward my tuition."
The support of her professors has also made a huge impact on Chestnut during her time at UA Little Rock.
"The professors have been like family to me," Chestnut said. "They don't just walk away if you aren't getting it. They never gave up on me. They gave me a reason to keep going. I'd like to shout out to (education professors) Dr. Bruce Smith and Dr. Leslie Sharp. They gave me tips and feedback, and were always there to answer any of my questions. They really guided me to become a better teacher. I'd also like to shout out to Stephanie Bryant, Judy Allen, and Cindy Jackson, for keeping me going. As well as my dad, for being a hard worker. I want to follow in his footsteps."
Chestnut chose to attend UA Little Rock because it offered her the affordability and closeness to home that she wanted, but she is leaving with so much more. She remarked on the great community she's experienced at UA Little Rock as something she will miss when she graduates, as well as the friends she's made through her involvement with the Epsilon Phi chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority.
"I'm so grateful for my sisterhood," Chestnut said. "I've been able to develop special bonds with them, and they've always been here to push me when I've needed it."
After graduation, Chestnut plans to work as a substitute teacher at schools in the Little Rock School District, until next school year, when she can begin her career as a teacher.
"Always lean on the Lord to establish your plans," said Chestnut. "The Lord kept me going. I knew He was going to get me here."
High school basketball report
High School basketball has been underway for a bit but now that the football seasons are over for the North of the River schools, teams are back at full strength, plus conference action starts in December as well.
So, hoops it is.
Maumelle
Record so far: 6-6
Last week: Maumelle lost at Bryant and Little Rock Central but opened conference play with a win at Beebe on Tuesday night.
The week ahead: Maumelle hosts Vilonia on Friday with a trip to Fayetteville. Maumelle won’t play again until next year, when they travel to eStem on Jan. 2.
Schedule
Friday, Dec. 15 ... vs. Vilonia ... 7 p.m. ... (C)
Saturday, Dec. 16 ... at Fayetteville ... 2 p.m.. ... (NC)
Tuesday, Jan. 2 ... at eStem ... 7 p.m. ... (C)
Friday, Jan. 5 ... vs. Sylvan Hills ... 7 p.m. ... (C)
Tuesday, Jan. 9 ... at Parkview ... 7 p.m. ... (C)
Friday, Jan. 12 ... vs. Jacksonville ... 7 p.m. ... (C)
Friday, Jan. 19 ... vs. Catholic ... 7 p.m. ... (C)
Tuesday, Jan. 23 ... at Cabot ... 7 p.m. ... (NC)
Friday, Jan. 26 ... at Vilonia ... 7 p.m. ... (C)
Tuesday, Jan. 30 ... vs. eStem ... 7 p.m. ... (C)
Friday, Feb. 2 ... at Sylvan Hills ... 7 p.m. ... (C)
Tuesday, Feb. 6 ... vs. Parkview ... 7 p.m. ... (C)
Friday, Feb. 9 ... at Jacksonville ... 7 p.m. ... (C)
Fri, Feb 16 ... at Catholic ... 7 p.m. ... (C)
Fri, Feb 23 ... vs. Beebe ... 7 p.m. ... (C)
Roster
Maumelle Girls
Coach: Grover Garrison
Record so far: 1-9
Last week: Last back to back games at Magnolia and Beebe.
The week ahead: Travels to Vilonia this Friday. Then at Pine Bluff the following Tuesday.
Schedule
Friday, Dec. 15 ... vs. Vilonia ... 7 p.m. ... (C)
Tuesday, Dec. 19 ... vs. . Pine Bluff ... 6 p.m. ... (NC)
Thursday, Dec. 28 ... at Harrison ... 6 p.m. ... (NC)
Tuesday, Jan. 9 ... at Parkview ... 6 p.m. ... (C)
Friday, Jan. 12 ... vs. Jacksonville ... 6 p.m. ... (C)
Tuesday, Jan. 23 ... vs. Little Rock Christian ... 6 p.m. ... (C)
Friday, Jan. 26 ... at Vilonia ... 6 p.m. ... (C)
Tuesday, Feb. 6 ... vs. Parkview ... 6 p.m. ... (C)
Friday, Feb. 9 ... at Jacksonville ... 6 p.m. ... (C)
Fri, Feb 16 ... at Mount St. Mary ... 7 p.m. ... (C)
Tue, Feb 20 ... at Little Rock Christian ... 6 p.m. ... (C)
Fri, Feb 23 ... vs. Beebe ... 6 p.m. ... (C)
Roster
Maumelle Charter boys
Record so far: 8-6
Last week: Lost to Central Arkansas Christian last Friday but rallied to beat Mayflower to be 2-1 in the conference.
The week ahead: Malvern is tonight and on Friday, the Falcons host Abundant Life before going on Christmas break. The Friday game is homecoming for the school.
Maumelle Charter girls
Record so far: 12-6
Last week: Beat to Central Arkansas Christian last Friday but lost to Mayflower to fall to 1-2 in the conference.
The week ahead: See above but there’s some post-Christmas basketball as the team is headed to the Malvern Classic starting on Dec. 27.
Boys and Girls schedule
Dec. 14 ... Thursday ... Malvern … VG,VB … 5:30 p.m.
Dec. 15.... Friday ... Abundant Life (Homecoming) … VG / VB ... … 5:30 p.m.
Dec. 27-28 at Malvern Classic … VG… TBD
Dec. 27-29 at Episcopal Christmas Tournament … VB … TBD
Jan 2. … Tuesday … Danville … VG / VB ... … 4:30 p.m.
Jan 4. ... Thursday ... Lee Academy … VG / VB ... 4 p.m.
Jan. 5.... Friday ... at Perryville … VG / VB ... 4 p.m.
Jan. 9 … Tuesday … Lamar … VG / VB ... … 5 p.m.
Jan. 12.... Friday ... at Baptist Prep … VG / VB ... … 4:30 p.m.
Jan. 16 … Tuesday … Atkins … VG / VB ... 4 p.m.
Jan. 19.... Friday ... at Dover … VG / VB ... … 5:30 p.m.
Jan. 23 … Tuesday … CAC … VG / VB ... 4 p.m.
Jan. 26.... Friday ... at Mayflower … VG / VB ... … 4:30 p.m.
Jan. 30 … Tuesday … Perryville (Senior Night) … VG / VB ... 4 p.m.
Feb. 2.... Friday ... at Lamar … VG / VB ... 4:30 p.m.
Feb. 6 … Tuesday … Baptist Prep … VG / VB ... … 4:30 p.m.
Feb. 8 ... Thursday ... at Atkins … VG / VB ... … 4:30 p.m.
Feb. 12-17 … Sr. High District Tournament … VG, VB
Feb. 21-24 … Regional Tournament
Feb. 27- March 2 … State Tournament
North Little Rock
Coach: Nathan Clayborn
Record so far: 7-2
Last week: North Little Rock lost back-to-back games last week in Fayetteville to out-of-state schools in Plane East and Owasso, Okla.
The week ahead: Games against Fayetteville and Little Rock Christian are this Friday and Saturday.
Schedule
Friday, Dec. 15 ... at Fayetteville ... 5:30 p.m. ... Tournament ... Fayetteville
Saturday, Dec. 16 ... vs. Little Rock Christian ... 3:30 p.m. ... (NC) ... John Stanton Conway Classic
Thursday, Dec. 28 ... vs Van Buren ... 2:30 p.m. ... Tournament ... Fort Smith Southside
Friday, Jan. 5 ... vs. Conway ... 7 p.m. ... (C)
Tuesday, Jan. 9 ... at Little Rock Southwest ... 7 p.m. ... (C)
Friday, Jan. 12 ... vs. Jonesboro ... 7 p.m. ... (C)
Tuesday, Jan. 16 ... vs. Central ... 7 p.m. ... (C)
Tuesday, Jan. 23 ... at Bryant ... 7 p.m. ... (C)
Friday, Jan. 26 ... at Cabot ... 7 p.m. ... (C)
Tuesday, Jan. 30 ... at Central ... 7:30 p.m. ... (C)
Friday, Feb. 2 ... at Conway ... 7 p.m. ... (C)
Tuesday, Feb. 6 ... vs. Little Rock Southwest ... 7 p.m. ... (C)
Friday, Feb. 9 ... at Jonesboro ... 7 p.m. ... (C)
Fri, Feb 16 ... vs. Bryant ... 7 p.m. ... (C)
Thursday, Feb. 22 ... vs. Cabot ... 7 p.m. ... (C)
Roster
North Little Rock Girls
Coach: Daryl Fimple
Record so far: 11-0
Last week: The ‘Cats keep winning and winning and winning as they took three games in a northwest Arkansas tournament.
The week ahead: No games this weekend, but next Tuesday, North Little Rock is scheduled to host Nashville.
Schedule
Tuesday, Dec. 19 ... vs. Nashville ... 6 p.m. ... (NC)
Friday, Dec. 22 ... vs. Greenwood ... 6 p.m. ... (NC)
Friday, Jan. 5 ... vs. Conway ... 6 p.m. ... (C)
Tuesday, Jan. 9 ... at Little Rock Southwest ... 6 p.m. ... (C)
Friday, Jan. 12 ... vs. Jonesboro ... 6 p.m. ... (C)
Tuesday, Jan. 16 ... vs. Central ... 6 p.m. ... (C)
Tuesday, Jan. 23 ... at Bryant ... 6 p.m. ... (C)
Friday, Jan. 26 ... at Cabot ... 6 p.m. ... (C)
Tuesday, Jan. 30 ... at Central ... 6 p.m. ... (C)
Friday, Feb. 2 ... at Conway ... 6 p.m. ... (C)
Tuesday, Feb. 6 ... vs. Little Rock Southwest ... 6 p.m. ... (C)
Friday, Feb. 9 ... at Jonesboro ... 6 p.m. ... (C)
Fri, Feb 16 ... vs. Bryant ... 6 p.m. ... (C)
Thursday, Feb. 22 ... vs. Cabot ... 6 p.m. ... (C)
Roster
Central Arkansas Christian
Coach: Matt Hall
Last week: CAC, with the football players back, has yet to lose and picked up conference wins against Maumelle Charter and Dover.
The week ahead: CAC hosts Valley Springs on Thursday Dec. 21 and then that’s it for the year.
Schedule
Thursday, Dec. 21 ... vs. Valley Springs ... 2 p.m. ... (NC)
Friday, Jan. 5 ... at Mayflower ... 7:15 p.m. ... (C)
Tuesday, Jan. 9 ... vs. Perryville ... 7 p.m. ... (C)
Friday, Jan. 12 ... at Lamar ... 7 p.m. ... (C)
Tuesday, Jan. 16 ... vs. Baptist Prep ... 7:30 p.m. ... (C)
Tuesday, Jan. 23 ... at Maumelle Charter ... 7 p.m. ... (C)
Friday, Jan. 26 ... vs. Dover ... 7 p.m. ... (C)
Tuesday, Jan. 30 ... vs. Mayflower ... 7:15 p.m. ... (C)
Friday, Feb. 2 ... at Perryville ... 7 p.m. ... (C)
Tuesday, Feb. 6 ... vs. Lamar ... 7 p.m. ... (C)
Thursday, Feb. 8 ... at Baptist Prep ... 7:30 p.m. ... (C)
Roster
Central Arkansas Christian Girls
Coach: Steve Quattlebaum
Record so far: 1-9
Last week: Lost to Maumelle Charter.
The week ahead: Valley Springs will be at Mustang Mountain for an afternoon game on Thursday, Dec. 21.
Schedule
Thursday, Dec. 21 ... vs. Valley Springs ... 1 p.m. ... (NC)
Friday, Jan. 5 ... at Mayflower ... 6 p.m. ... (C)
Tuesday, Jan. 9 ... vs. Perryville ... 6 p.m. ... (C)
Friday, Jan. 12 ... at Lamar ... 6:30 p.m. ... (C)
Tuesday, Jan. 16 ... vs. Baptist Prep ... 6 p.m. ... (C)
Friday, Jan. 19 ... vs. Atkins ... 6 p.m. ... (C)
Tuesday, Jan. 23 ... at Maumelle Charter ... 6:30 p.m. ... (C)
Friday, Jan. 26 ... vs. Dover ... 6:30 p.m. ... (C)
Tuesday, Jan. 30 ... vs. Mayflower ... 6 p.m. ... (C)
Friday, Feb. 2 ... at Perryville ... 6 p.m. ... (C)
Tuesday, Feb. 6 ... vs. Lamar ... 6:30 p.m. ... (C)
Thursday, Feb. 8 ... at Baptist Prep ... 6 p.m. ... (C)