Rabbit, rabbit
New month, and more backyard critters; North Little Rock Electric, Today’s Power to develop project; Commentary: Making sausage and the North Little Rock School District 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 at “0”
The state Department of Health, on its Covid dashboard, showed that in the past week, there were no new deaths reported. The numbers were updated Tuesday, Aug. 1.
The total number of reported dead Arkansans remains at 13,205 or the state’s 31st largest city.
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The Headlines
Meetings: The Maumelle City Council will meet next Monday night at City Hall. The North Little Rock School Board will have a workshop and special call meeting at 5:30 p.m. tonight. To view the agenda, click here. For more on the district, keep scrolling.
Events: The city of North Little Rock will have an event at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 9, for the opening of the new Dollar General Distribution Center. The event will be held at 200 E. Markham in Little Rock. The distribution center, all 1.2 million square feet, will be on Hwy. 70 on the city’s eastern side. Construction is ongoing and should be complete sometime next year.
The new Dollar General Distribution Center under construction in North Little Rock. The heat stays on: Going to be a miserable few days with forecast highs over 100 though Sunday in central Arkansas. There’s supposed to be a break on Monday but then back into the 100s for much of next week.
ICYMI: Remembering Mark Lowery
Rabbit, rabbit: New month, and more backyard critters
If you have noticed more rabbits in your neighborhood, or, for that matter, in your yard, you’re probably right.
The rabbit population in the state, primarily the Eastern Cottontail, is up for a variety of reasons, said Dr. Becky McPeake, a professor and wildlife extension specialist with the University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service.
One reason is the oppressive heat the state has been seeing this summer.
“It is so hot outside, you are seeing more rabbits because they are active in the ‘cooler’ parts of the day, such as early mornings, when we humans are also more active outdoors in order to avoid the heat,” she said in a lengthy email. “The extreme temperatures are funneling us to certain times of the day when we are more likely to encounter other living creatures.”
It isn’t just the heat though.
“There could be local situations where there are more rabbits because there are fewer predators,” she said. “This year I have heard very few coyotes and seen very few hawks, and we have seen more rabbits and squirrels in the neighborhood this year. Two or three years ago, we had many hawks and coyotes. I would hear hawks calling daily and they had a nest nearby, and coyotes howling every few nights. Guess what? During that time, our squirrel population declined a bunch, as did rabbit sightings. However, these observations likely don’t translate to statewide population shifts.”
McPeake continued, “in ecology, there is a classic “predator-prey relationship” which describes why rabbit populations might fluctuate in simple terms. Most ecologists say this relationship is over-simplified and is more complex in reality, but this framework helps with understanding the volatility of rabbit and predator populations, the classic example being coyotes and cottontails. In general, the population size of predators adjusts depending on the population size of prey species, and vice versa. For example, when prey are abundant, coyotes are healthier and have more young. When predators reach ‘carrying capacity,’ they are consuming a lot of rabbits, which causes the rabbit population to decline and rabbits have fewer young. With less to eat, the coyote population declines. With fewer predators, the rabbit population increases. It is a cyclic dance which takes a few years for one to adjust to the other.”
In sum, “so in theory, if you are seeing more rabbits this year, then we would predict in a year or two, you would likely see fewer rabbits as predators start to locate and hone in on the abundant prey available. Again this explanation is a simplification. Since coyotes also eat squirrels and rodents and birds and even berries, it might not be quite as dramatic.”
So, you’re seeing more rabbits because they’re active when you are and predators are less active.
Anything else?
Yes, McPeake said and explained it isn’t just the heat.
“Drought conditions can affect plant growth and water availability and therefore become a ‘limiting factor’ to populations,” she said. “...Current weather conditions could have an impact if they continue and cause habitat loss and decreased survivability. But many of our native species are adapted to weather conditions, so it depends on the severity of the drought and likely a number of other factors.”
Wild rabbits can also live two to three years, if they aren’t being, and they also breed, well, like rabbits said the Arkansas Game & Fish Commission as they said rabbits “reproduce rapidly” and a mature female can “have up to five litters of three to eight young in a single season.”
Blake Sasse, with the wildly impressive title of Nongame Mammal/Furbearer Program Leader with Game & Fish said all those rabbits mean that they’re making nests somewhere and if you spot one in your yard, don’t be concerned.
They’re “pretty harmless,” he said.
The nests “typically do not carry diseases which harm people,” McPeake added.
Which is good news for the nest, seen below, that was spotted in the backyard while mowing.
“Rabbits are entertaining and unless they are consuming your garden or vegetable crops, most people enjoy having them around,” McPeake added.
And that’s also true, Bandit and Chili, as I’ve come to name the mating pair in the yard, are much funnier than watching the blue jays fight and the squirrels run along the fence.
They’ve also made a Bluey and Bingo, at least, which caused me to quit mowing that evening. I’ve since left the nest intact and mow around it.
All those rabbits mean hunters should be happy, once the season opens Sept. 1.
Which McPeake made a note of.
“There is a disease called tularemia or ‘rabbit fever’ which can be harmful,” she said. “Therefore, rabbit hunting season occurs in the fall to reduce the risk from this disease.” And while Eastern Cottontails are the most familiar species, there’s also Swamp Rabbits as well as the occasional Jackrabbit but not the Lonoke variety.
North Little Rock Electric, Today’s Power to develop project
Coming sooner rather than later is a 5 megawatt solar power project to the city of North Little Rock.
The plant, with more than 20,000 solar panels, will be located on “Industry Drive, off of Faulkner Lake Road,” said Today’s Power Taylor Baker, who is Marketing & Public Relations Coordinator for the company that was founded by the Arkansas Electric Cooperatives in 2014.
The project is being done in conjunction with the North Little Rock Electric Department and was approved by the City Council on July 24.
North Little Rock Mayor Terry Hartwick said the partnership would be beneficial to both as well as the people of North Little Rock.
“The North Little Rock Electric Department as one of the leading municipal owned utilities in the state,” Hartwick said and noted that the department “boasts a renewable energy portfolio that includes hydropower, solar power and methane gas. We are committed to embracing renewable energy at affordable rates for our city.”
Baker said that the North Little Rock plant would add to the company’s growing portfolio as Today’s Power has, “developed, engineered, procured, constructed, commissioned, owns and operates 49.84 MW in Arkansas, and 22.875 MW distributed across Kansas, 5 MW in Nebraska, 72 MW in Utah, 7.5 MW in Oklahoma, and 675 kw in Tennessee.”
Baker added that Today’s Power, “ is excited about the opportunity to work with our home city following the winning of the competitive request for proposal process, and successfully negotiating a power purchase agreement with North Little Rock Electric Department.”
Construction should start next month and be complete sometime next year.
Back-to-School: Maumelle Charter students return
The schools in the Academics Plus system – Maumelle Charter and Scott Charter – return to classes today.
Pulaski County Special and North Little Rock school districts return to class on Monday, Aug. 14 while Central Arkansas Christian’s first day of school will be Wednesday, Aug. 16.
Maumelle Charter parents won’t be able to take advantage of the state’s now-annual Sales Tax Holiday that starts this Saturday, Aug. 5 and ends Sunday, Aug. 6. The holiday allows shoppers to buy “certain Electronic Devices, School Supplies, School Art Supplies, School Instructional Materials, and Clothing free of state and local sales or use tax.”
Maumelle Charter
First Day of School: Today
PCSSD
First Day of School: Monday, Aug. 14
School supplies list: Crystal Hill Elementary
School supplies list: Oak Grove Elementary
School supplies list:Pine Forest Elementary
CAC
First Day of School: Wednesday, Aug. 16
School supplies list: North Little Rock Elementary
School supplies list: Pleasant Valley Elementary
School supplies list: Mustang Mountain Elementary | Call 501-758-3160 ext. 224 as Kindergarten enrollment is ongoing.
NLRSD
First Day of School: Monday, Aug. 14
School supplies list: Amboy Elementary
School supplies list: Boone Park Elementary
School supplies list: Crestwood Elementary
School supplies list: Glenview Elementary
School supplies list: Indian Hills Elementary
School supplies list: Lakewood Elementary
School supplies list: Meadow Park Elementary
School supplies list: School supplies list: North Little Rock Academy
School supplies list: NLRMS - Sixth Grade Campus
School supplies list: NLRMS - Seventh & Eighth Grade Campus
School supplies list: Ridge Road Elementary
School supplies list: Seventh Street Elementary
Back-to-School: Shop smart during state’s sales tax holiday this weekend
By Mary Hightower / U of A System Division of Agriculture
The annual Arkansas Sales Tax Holiday can be a help to families sending children back to school, but a little planning can help shoppers save more and prevent unwelcome surprises at checkout, said extension family and consumer science experts
This year’s sales tax holiday begins this Saturday, Aug. 5, at 12:01 a.m. and continues through Sunday, Aug. 6, at 11:59 p.m. State and local sales taxes will not be collected on the purchase of certain products. All retailers are required to participate.
“The sales tax holiday covers clothing, footwear, school supplies, art supplies and instructional materials,” said Laura Hendrix, associate professor and extension personal finance expert for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture. “It also includes electronics such as computers, printers, tablets, monitors and cell phones.”
The state Department of Finance and Administration has a list of eligible items online.
Before you go
Before heading out for back-to-school shopping, Hendrix recommends:
Take inventory of what you need or want to purchase.
Examine your budget and determine how much to spend.
Have a plan for how you will pay. “Credit card fees and interest can offset any savings you might have from not paying sales tax,” Hendrix said. “If using credit cards, have a plan to pay them off as soon as possible.”
Make a shopping list.
Set a spending limit.
Find practical financial information at the uaexMoney blog.
Tax free — what’s the big deal?
Kris Boulton, Saline County extension staff chair and family and consumer sciences agent for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture, says shoppers need to look at the possible savings.
Arkansas has a 6.5 percent sales tax and depending on where you live, county and city sales taxes will also get tacked on to the bill.
“For ease of calculating let’s round up to 10 percent,” Boulton said. “If you are spending $200 on items for back to school that qualify for the tax-free holiday you would save close to $20. Now what if you are spending $500 your savings is now $50.
“What would you do with an extra $20-$50 in your wallet?” she said. “I can think of some good uses.”
Boulton said that while the Arkansas Sales Tax Holiday is a great resource to use while shopping for Back-to-School supplies, “let’s make sure we all know the items that qualify and the exemptions before we check out and have a rude surprise.
“Although it may be tax-free, it’s still not a bargain if it’s not something that will not be used,” she said.
For more Back-to-School coverage click, How to prepare for back-to-school routines and starting at a new school
Commentary: Making sausage and the North Little Rock School District
Generally speaking, people aren’t much interested in knowing the details in how the news gets gathered.
The newsroom lingo describing that process is called “making sausage,” which is just a way of saying that different chunks go through the grinder, then come out encased in a package for consumption
Occasionally though, some public-facing movements need explaining, and one such example was this week with the North Little Rock School District.
A rather fiery, and really ill-conceived, release from the district this week complained about news coverage, specifically, this article by Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reporter Paige Eickhorn. The piece lays out complaints about the district’s operations, all of which were aired at a school board meeting during public comment.
I don’t know nor have I met Eickhorn, but the district’s communication was a remarkable broadside against her personally as well as newsgathering in general. The release mentioned lots of “disinformation” this and “misinformation” that and came across as vaguely Trumpian even though it was missing the “fake news” catchphrase.
Then there’s this quote. Make of it what you will.
“What we will not tolerate is biased reporting. It is the ultimate form of disrespect.”
If you want to read the entire piece, click here. Be warned, it is petty and begins with what I will tell you is a bold-faced lie.
“The North Little Rock School District has enjoyed a cordial, working relationship with all members of the media,” it starts.
That’s not true. ArkansasNewsroom.com does not have a cordial, working relationship with the district. Nor did the now closed North Little Rock Times. Things worked fine enough when Ken Kirspel was superintendent and Shara Booth Brazear handled media relations. The relationship disintegrated at a rapid pace and completely imploded when the district fired then head football coach Brad Bolding. Then it, somehow, got worse.
When ArkansasNewsroom.com was launched nearly three years ago, I wanted education to be a focus and attempted to work with the North Little Rock and Pulaski County Special school districts, as well as the local charter and private schools. Everyone but North Little Rock came along for the ride.
Getting basic information from the district is only possible when a Freedom of Information Act request is filed. That comes with a legal clock; just asking doesn’t. People can be busy, and there’s not much expectation for even prompt responses here. Such is the rhythm of writing on a weekly news cycle.
Case in point, district spokesman Dustin Barnes sent out the release about the D-G’s reporting. He has still not responded to an email on who actually wrote it. Which is, ironically, funny.
All this, I suppose, is petty on my part. But it is a real shame that the hardworking teachers and coaches and staff at North Little Rock schools are so poorly served by the district’s leadership.
Which brings us to the special called school board meeting tonight.
On the agenda, the superintendent, Gregory Pilewski, is asking for $75,000 to be spent on a “District Communication Support Plan.” The payment would go to Woodberry Associates, a Washington, D.C.-based public affairs firm.
The agenda item describes Woodberry as “skilled in providing strategic communication strategy … while battling episodes of misinformation and disinformation at a time of bold change and transformation.”
There’s misinformation and disinformation again.
Read the proposal here if you like.
The details are as such:
The length of the contract would be for six months at $12,500 a month beginning on Aug. 1 and ending Jan. 31, 2024.
The contract would also involve real-time social media monitoring, which seems like a lot of money to be reading Facebook posts.
All this because, “The North Little Rock School District is undertaking bold changes,” the Woodberry proposal said. “But change can be a challenge to communicate. The district must proactively convey its commitment to academic excellence while also countering disinformation. Clear, concise and timely communication is essential. So too is a compelling core message.”
Sports
Golf: Mitchell Ford wins Men’s Match Play Championship at Burns Park
The annual Men’s Match Play Championship was held this past weekend at Burns Park in North Little Rock.
The golf tournament was put on by the Arkansas State Golf Association.
The winner was Mitchell Ford.
Other winners, and divisions, were:
Thomas Coleman (Legends)
Bobby Baker (Super Senior)
Chris Jenkins (Senior)
Brent Cook (Mid Am)
To view photos from the championship, click here.
Baseball at Dickey-Stephens this week
Home stand against San Antonio
Mad Mallards Week
In homage of the state's fondness for the outdoors and waterfowl hunting, the Travs will become the Mad Mallards!
Today, 6:35 p.m.
$3 Thursday: Enjoy $3 Beer Garden Tickets and Concessions deals, including Hot Dogs, Soft Drinks, Red Bull, Cotton Candy, and a Select Canned Beer & Seltzer! | Presented By Red Bull
Friday, 7:05 p.m.
Fireworks: Presented By Farm Bureau Insurance
Dizzy Bobblehead Giveaway: Presented By Farm Bureau Insurance | First 1,000 Fans (one item per person)
Saturday, 7:05 p.m.
Kids Run the Bases: Presented By Museum of Discovery
Sunday, 1:35 p.m.
Pre-Game Brunch Buffet: Get a special Brunch ticket that comes with a Field Reserved seat! Buffet will include select breakfast foods, juice, coffee, and soft drinks. (Alcohol will be available for purchase separately.) Food will be served from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. | Presented By Picnic Brunch
Kids Run the Bases: Presented By Museum of Discovery
Operation: Military Appreciation: Service Members get $3 off General Admission and Field Reserved tickets by presenting a Military ID (only available at DSP Box Office) | Presented By Mid-South Ford Dealers
Family Sunday: Get $2 General Admission tickets by presenting a physical or digital church bulletin and only available at the Box Office.
Two-week road-trip
At Midland, Aug. 8 - 13
At Amarillo. Aug. 15 - 20