Repairs continue
Repairs continue
North Little Rock rebuilds after 'catastrophic' tornado; Maumelle Chamber banquet is next week, Easter Egg hunts this Saturday, Travs back at Dickey-Stephens on Tuesday plus 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 death toll back up
The number of Arkansans who died from Covid in the last two weeks was 19.
The total number of dead Arkansans reported to the state is 13,073.
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The Headlines
Upcoming meetings: The North Little Rock City Council meets next Monday night.
Events: Easter is this Sunday for western Christians. There’s egg hunts planned for both Maumelle and North Little Rock this Saturday. More details below.
Senior Fishing Derby is April 14: Maumelle Center on the Lake and the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission's Family and Community Fishing Program invites all seniors to Lake Valencia in Maumelle for the largest senior citizen community fishing event in Arkansas on Friday, April 14.
The event is free; just bring your fishing license and gear. Come out and enjoy music door prizes and free food.
A fishing clinic will also be held at Maumelle Center on the Lake on Thursday, April 13.
Registration is required for each event. Register at Maumelle Center on the Lake by emailing seniorservices@maumelle.org or calling 501-851-4344.
Happy Masters week to all who celebrate.
Fidelity Communications opens spring grants: Fidelity Communications, along with the other Cable One® family of brands, will open spring 2023 applications for the company’s Charitable Giving Fund, which annually awards $250,000 in grants to 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations, from now to Sunday, April 30. For more information about the Fidelity Charitable Giving Fund, visit www.fidelitycommunications.com/charitablegiving.
Maumelle Chamber to donate banquet proceeds to Arkansas Food Bank
The Maumelle Area Chamber of Commerce will host its Annual Community Awards Banquet on Thursday, April 13 at the Venue at Westwind, 7318 Windsong Drive.
The reception will begin at 6 p.m. and the program will be at 6:30 p.m. This is a time of reflection over the past year’s accomplishments but also our kick-off to the coming successes of 2023!
Chamber director Kellie Wall wrote in press release Wednesday that “due to the devastating storms from this past Friday and the struggles our neighboring communities are suffering, the Maumelle Area Chamber Board of Directors feels it is our responsibility to assist these communities by donating all proceeds from next week’s event to a longstanding chamber member, the Arkansas Food Bank, who has been a part of the Central Arkansas community for nearly 40 years.
Wall added, “with so much loss and so many people displaced, the Arkansas Food Bank will be providing support for the recovery efforts to help those neighboring communities rebuild. We are grateful for the opportunity to help and for the partnership with the Foodbank.”
If you would like more information about the banquet, donations or sponsorships, contact Wall at the Maumelle Area Chamber office, 501-851-9700 or email kellie@maumellechamber.com.
After the storm
THIS POST HAS BEEN UPDATED: Maumelle was, fortunately, spared from the March 31 tornado that swept through central Arkansas but the neighbors weren’t as Little Rock, North Little Rock, Sherwood and Jacksonville all saw significant damage and destruction.
The storm started in west Little Rock and stayed on the ground carving a path through Pleasant Valley to the Arkansas River before skipping across into Burns Park and into the Amboy neighborhood before continuing into Sherwood and Jacksonville.
The tornado was on the ground for roughly 30 miles and rated a high end EF3 in a preliminary report from the National Weather Service office in North Little Rock with the strongest winds at 165 miles per hour, or the strongest an EF3 tornado can be.
Little Rock saw the worst damage but no fatalities while one died in North Little Rock’s Amboy neighborhood. It was also the area that saw the most damage as the Amboy United Methodist Church and Amboy Elementary School were both hit. North Little Rock Mayor Terry Hartwick issued a curfew order that was then extended by the City Council and then extended again through Friday. There’s also an option to further extend the curfew through the weekend if needed.
Amboy Elementary has had its electricity restored and the school district plans to have classes in the building on Friday.
North Little Rock’s Emergency Operations Center reported on Wednesday that main roads through the most damaged areas were mostly passable and that “security of damaged areas is ongoing. Establishing the power grid is ongoing. Reestablishment of essential services is still ongoing.”
They also said the city still needed volunteers to help move debris but that effort was partially delayed as another round of storms move through on Wednesday.
Among those impacted by the storm were North Little Rock Police Sgt. Matt Thomas whose home in Indian Hills was damaged.
Burns Park continues to be closed to the public.
By the Numbers
50: Number of people injured
30: Number of people hospitalized
1: Fatality in North Little Rock
2,983: Structures damaged in Little Rock
3,155: Total number of people with power in Pulaski County per PowerOutage.us
1,300: Number of people without power in North Little Rock
When can I expect electricity to return to my home?
Please be patient. North Little Rock's Automated Outage System is 1-888-728-4004. Also, National Thank a Lineman Day is April 18.
How can I volunteer to help?
Check-in between 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at Edwards Cash Savers parking lot, 1300 Pike Avenue. If you have a group interested in volunteering in a specific area, contact Beau Cooper at 501-563-7775.
What items are needed for donation?
Diapers, work gloves, large trash bags, 5-gallon buckets with lids, laundry bags, rakes, sunscreen and shovels. Items can be donated at 1300 Pike Avenue.
What resources are available at 1300 Pike Avenue?
FEMA is there. The Department of Health is providing birth certificates free of charge, on-site and the Salvation Army is providing hot meals. Central Arkansas Development Council will be providing hotel vouchers, food assistance, hygiene products, and diapers. Arkansas Legal Services will be assisting affected residents.
How do I know if a contractor is legitimate?
FEMA does not license or certify contractors. To find out if a potential contractor is licensed to work in Arkansas, contact the Arkansas Contractor Licensing Board at 501-372-4661. Report suspicious activity to the FEMA Disaster Fraud Hotline at 866-720-5721, or the Office of the Attorney General at 501-682-2007.
Where can I take my trash?
North Little Rock Sanitation will run their regular routes this week wherever accessible. You can also take trash to one of the four locations listed below:
Edwards Cash Savers parking lot, 3801 Camp Robinson Road
Fire Station #9 Indian Hills, 2309 Osage Drive
Farm Equipment & Machine, Remount & Perin Roads
The 5600 block of MacArthur Drive.
What should I do with stray animals?
Contact the North Little Rock Animal Shelter: animalservices@nlr.ar.gov
Need a kennel?
Bill’s Fence Company is offering free, temporary kennels for those affected by the storm and need a place to keep pets. Call Chris at 501-985-1773. They can be delivered if needed. Also, if you need a fence, you should give Bill’s a call.
Where are emergency shelters located?
North Little Rock Community Center, 2700 Willow St. Pets are accepted. Food is being provided.
What about my mail?
The Post Office will continue to attempt delivery, if there’s a mailbox still standing. Undeliverable mail is taken back to the post office. Residents can pick up mail in person by providing their name and identification. They will also allow a relative to pick up mail for them, as long as they provide the name and identification for the mail they are retrieving. You can also request that mail be held, or forwarded to a temporary address at usps.com.
Where’s FEMA?
The Federal Emergency Management Agency has set up its North Little Rock intake office at 1300 Pike Avenue and training for city workers has begun. FEMA also has an intake office in Little Rock
.
Tornado relief number for North Little Rock residents, 501-906-5014
PCSSD’s Ha wins Inspiration in Education for third quarter
The Pulaski County Special School District Board of Education awarded the third quarter Inspiration in Education award for the 2022-2023 school year at a special board meeting on March 29.
The third installment of this school year’s Inspiration in Education award was presented to Dung Ha, senior application developer for the District. Ha received two separate nominations out of 26 total nominations for this quarter. Only one other employee received multiple nominations.
Ha has worked for PCSSD for nearly three decades with the technology department working to ensure data across the District is managed properly.
“He has aided in our district's compliance with our data for 29 years,” said Jimmy Hogg, Director of Technology for PCSSD. “Oftentimes, people do not know all the requirements for state compliance. Dung is exceptional in his field and is committed to his work and will assist anyone that needs assistance.”
Ha said he plans to retire at the end of this school year.
The Inspiration in Education award is presented to the winner quarterly in October, December, March and May.
Arts notes
Spring performance schedule set
Our friends Chris King and Suzon Awbrey of Little Rock’s Stickyz Chicken Shack and Revolution Music Room passed along their upcoming performance schedule for April. First off, Dawes! But there’s some pretty good acts coming to town and worth a minute to check out what’s ahead.
FRIDAY: JED HARRELSON / CHARLOTTE LEIGH at Rev 8:30 p.m. $15 18+ TICKETS
SATURDAY: WILLI CARLISLE w/JUDE BROTHERS at Stickyz 8:30 p.m. $15 18+ TICKETS
MONDAY: DAWES at Rev 830 p.m. $35 All Ages TICKETS
THURSDAY, APRIL 13: ELISE TROUW w/ MONSTERBOY LIVES! at Stickyz 8 p.m. $15 All ages TICKETS
FRIDAY, APRIL 14: DJ ICEY at Rev 8 p.m. $20 18+ TICKETS and HUCKLEBERRY JAM w/CHRIS BAKER BAND/CHRIS BAYLES at Stickyz 8 p.m. $10 All Ages TICKETS
SATURDAY, APRIL 15: NORTH MISSISSIPPI ALLSTARS at Rev 9 p.m. $22 advance general admission $25 day of show general admission 18+ TICKETS and BAD HABIT at Stickyz 8 p.m. $8 All ages TICKETS
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 19: THE BROOK & THE BLUFF w/ SAVANNAH CONLEY at Rev 8 p.m. $20 ALL AGES TICKETS
THURSDAY, APRIL 20: PAUL THORN at Rev 8 p.m. $25 All Ages TICKETS
SATURDAY, APRIL 22: LUCERO w/THE SHACKLETONS at Rev 8:30 p.m. $35 18+ TICKETS and JET 420 at Stickyz 8:30 p.m. $10 18+ TICKETS
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 26 : THE RED CLAY STRAYS at Stickyz 8 p.m. $15 advance general admission $20 day of show 18+ TICKETS
THURSDAY, APRIL 27: THE CAMERON SACKY BAND at Stickyz 8 p.m. $15 18+ TICKETS
FRIDAY APRIL 28: The BUTTERFLY and Taurus Bday Bash at Stickyz 8:30 p.m. $10/15 18+ and EYEHATEGOD / GOATWHORE at Rev 7:30 p.m. $25 All ages TICKETS
SATURDAY APRIL 29: GLOWDIAC at Rev 8:30 p.m. $10 Proceeds go to Tornado Relief 18+
Sports
Baseball returns to Dickey-Stephens Park
The Arkansas Travelers start their season on the road today but it won’t be long before they’re back in town.
The home opener is Tuesday as the Travs are set to face Springfield.
Minor League Baseball is keeping the six-game series format for this season and while the three-game series at Corpus Christi this week is a notable exception, most weeks will be six games starting on Tuesday with Monday being for travel or off.
Most weeks alternate with a homestand then road trip. There’s back to back homestands the last week of May and first week of June, then back to back road trips in August.
Former Major Leaguer Mike Freeman will be the Travs manager this season. Freeman, 35, played collegiately at Clemson before heading to the pros and this is his first coaching role.
Also on the staff are Shawn O’Malley, Hitting Coach; Michael Peoples, Pitching Coach and Jose Umbria, the assistant Hitting and Catching Coach.
Brennan Mickelson is the Strength and Conditioning coach and Athletic Trainers are Amanda Lee and Andy Turner. O'Malley was the hitting coach for the Travs last season while Lee will be in her third year as the head athletic trainer.
O’Malley, People and Umbria all played professional baseball while Mickleson was at High-A Everett last season.
As for the team, the roster is stacked with arms.
Of the top prospects in the organization, eight are starting their year with the Travs and of those eight, seven are pitchers.
Prospects to watch, all right handed pitchers, include:
Bryce Miller (No. 2 )
Emerson Hancock (No. 4)
Bryan Woo (No. 6)
Prelander Berroa (No. 14)
Isaiah Campbell (No. 17)
Travis Kuhn (No. 22)
Juan Then (No. 23).
Outfielder Robert Perez is No. 21 amongst the top 30 for the Mariners.
Miller, Hancock, Berroa, Campbell, Kuhn and Then all played for the Travs last season.
Also returning from last season are: Catcher Jake Anchia, Right-handed pitcher Dayeison Arias, Infielder Patrick Frick, Right-handed pitcher Jake Haberer, Infielder Connor Hoover, Outfielder Tanner Kirwer, Right-handed pitcher Collin Kober, Right-handed pitcher Stephen Kolek, Infielder/Catcher Josh Morgan, Left-handed pitcher Ben Onyshko, Catcher Matt Scheffler, Right-handed pitcher Devin Sweet and Infielder Riley Unroe.
There’s a couple notable promotions, in addition to the usual suspects.
On Saturday, May 13 is Faith and Family Night and the guest speaker will be former Mets star Darryl Strawberry and the Travs will become the “Mad Mallards' ' the first week of August. But more on that later.
Starting April 30, Sunday day games will also feature a new, pre-game brunch featuring breakfast foods and the like.
There’s two for one tickets on Tuesdays.
Upcoming games
Road trip, Thursday, Friday and Saturday: At Corpus Christi
Six-game home series with Springfield
Tuesday, April 11, 6 p.m. | Opening Night
Magnet Schedule Giveaway, Presented By Midtown Billiards | First 1,000 Fans (one item per person)
Mug Club: Membership costs $30 and includes your first beer plus $3 select draft beer every Tuesday night Travs home game
Two for Tuesdays: Get two General Admission tickets for the price of 1 and only available at the Box Office.
Treasure Hunt Tuesday. Presented By Arkansas Auditor of State
Wednesday, April 12, 11:05 a.m.
School Day, Presented By Project Prevent
Senior Day
Thursday, April 13, 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
Noche de Diamantes: The Travs will take the field as the Diamantes de Arkansas in salute of Hispanic Heritage! | Presented By Modelo Especial
Magnet Schedule Giveaway, Presented By Midtown Billiards | First 1,000 Fans (one item per person)
Friday, April 14, 7:05 p.m.
Magnet Schedule Giveaway, Presented By Midtown Billiards | First 1,000 Fans (one item per person)
Fireworks, Presented By CHI St. Vincent
Saturday, April 15, 7:05 p.m.
Marvel's Defenders of the Diamond Night & Jersey Auction
Kids Run the Bases, Presented By Museum of Discovery
Sunday, April 16, 1:35 p.m.
Operation: Military Appreciation: Service Members get $3 off General Admission and Field Reserved tickets by presenting a Military ID, and only available at theBox 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.
Kids Run the Bases. Presented By Museum of Discovery
Road Trip, April 18 - 23: At Frisco
Six-game home series with Tulsa
Tuesday, April 25, 11:05 a.m.
School Day. Presented By Mathnasium
Treasure Hunt Tuesday, Presented By Arkansas Auditor of State
Wednesday, April 26, 6:35 p.m.
Dog Days of Summer: Human fans can get $3 Berm tickets by bringing their dog to the game and only available at the Box Office. NOTE: Dogs are only allowed in the Berm areas | Presented By Moix RV Supercenter
Thursday, April 27, 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, April 28, 7:05 p.m.
Fireworks. Presented By Travel Nurse Across America
Saturday, April 29, 7:05 p.m.
Dizzy's Birthday Bash: Join us in celebrating everyone's favorite ballpark pup! (NOTE: Dogs are only allowed in the grass Berm areas)
Kids Run the Bases. Presented By Museum of Discovery
Sunday, April 30, 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 Baseball Clinic: Kids 13 and under are invited to join Travs players on field for a baseball clinic starting at noon! | Presented By Hog Wash
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.