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State of the Cities

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State of the Cities

Caleb Norris to deliver annual report at luncheon next Thursday; CAC, Maumelle win state tournament openers and both teams play tonight, A busy week in the Arts ahead plus headlines and sports

Jeremy Peppas
Mar 2, 2023
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Death toll stays steady

The total number of dead Arkansans this past week was 23.

Last week, it was 21, and the week before that it was 32.

The total number of dead Arkansans is now at 12,980.

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

  • Upcoming meetings:  The North Little Rock School Board will hold a workshop and special meeting at 5:30 p.m. today and click here for the agenda. The Maumelle City Council will meet next Monday night at City Hall.

  • Upcoming events:The Maumelle State of the City luncheon is next Thursday. Also that day a memorial will be held for the late Al Canelli. It starts at 4 p.m. at Lake Willastein and past the suspension bridge. That will be followed by a reception at Cheer’s in Maumelle. Please RSVP with the Maumelle Area Chamber of Commerce so they can have a count for the reception. For details or to register, click the flyer below. The Small Business Startup Summit will also be held that day at the  Arkansas Federal Credit Union Headquarters in west Little Rock. It starts at 10 a.m. The summit is free to attend but pre-registration is required. To register, click here.

  • Sports: Both CAC and Maumelle have state tournament games tonight at 8:30 p.m. The Mustangs are at Lamar while the Hornets are at the Pine Bluff Convention Center.

  • ICYMI: Arkansas LEARNS coming, take shelter

  • ICYMI: Commercial Real Estate Awards handed out

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State of the Cities

The Maumelle Area Chamber of Commerce is having a luncheon next Thursday at the Jess Odom Community Center where Mayor Caleb Norris will issue the annual State of the City report. The luncheon will start at 11:30 a.m. with the presentation to follow at noon. Tickets are $15 and can be purchased at the door. For more details, click the flyer below.

North Little Rock Mayor Terry Hartwick issued the annual State of the City report and it can be read by clicking here. The city also put together a video report and it can be viewed below. 

Art notes

Insalaco to be honored Wednesday

North Little Rock’s Vince Insalaco will receive the Charlotte Gadberry Award from ACANSA next Wednesday, March 8, at a ceremony at the Argenta Community Theater.

The sold-out event will start at 6 p.m. and donations are still being accepted here. 

The Charlotte Gadberry Award honors an individual who has made extraordinary contributions to the artistic community in central Arkansas. Insalaco has been the Producing Artistic Director of the Argenta Community Theater since its start in 2010 when he co-founded the organization with Judy Kohn Tenenbaum

Photo by Rett Peek

Insalaco, above, has been a producer, director or actor in productions for more than 40 years.

“Vince has been a partner with the ACANSA Festival since the very beginning,” said John Gaudin, President of ACANSA’s Board of Directors. “We want to celebrate his commitment to showcasing the talent pool we have in Central Arkansas and his determination to offer superb educational opportunities to local students. Vince’s dedication to the arts is beyond deserving of this recognition.”

Proceeds from the event support ACANSA’s Free Spring Break Art Camps, which offer arts education opportunities to local students across the spectrum of artistic disciplines.

For more information, call Gaudin at 501-225-5600 or email info@acansa.org.

Chicago in Little Rock on March 17

Chicago makes a two-day, three-show stop at Robinson Center in Little Rock this month.

The shows are Friday, March 17 and Saturday, March 18.

Jeff Daniels photo

The Friday show starts at 7:30 p.m. while the Saturday shows are a 2 p.m. matinee and then an evening show at 7:30 p.m.

To buy tickets online, click here.

They can also be purchased by calling 501-244-8800 or going to box office at 426 W. Markham.

The Producers closes this week at Argenta Community Theater in downtown North Little Rock. The play started Wednesday and tickets are limited as several performances are already sold out. The show’s run ends on Saturday, March 4.

Tickets range from $25 to $35 and can be purchased by clicking here. 

The Producers

Starring in The Producers as Max Bialystock is Jay Clark, who is also the senior pastor at Pulaski Heights United Methodist Church in Little Rock. Michael Klucher is Leo Bloom and Klucher is a teacher at North Little Rock High School and also serves as the scene designer for the school’s very good drama department. The pair are seen below.

Matthew Sewell Photography

It should be noted the show contains adult humor and references and is not recommended for younger audiences. Tickets for remaining three days of shows are limited and for more information, click here.

Spamalot

Spamalot starts this week at the Wildwood Center for the arts in rural west Little Rock

Opening night is this Friday, March 3 and will close on Sunday, March 12.

Evening shows start at 8 p.m. and Sunday matinees are at 3 p.m. Tickets are $35 and can be purchased by clicking here. 

Clue

This month, North Little Rock High School is staging Clue: On Stage (High School Edition). First show is March 15 and it concludes on March 17.

Buy tickets in advance by clicking here. 

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Education news and notes

Dean's List at Arkansas’s Fulbright College named

North of the River students were named to the Fall 2022 Dean's List in the Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences at the University of Arkansas.

To qualify for the Dean's List, the following local students achieved at least a 3.75 grade-point average for the semester while completing at least 12 credit hours.

  • Olivia Allen of Sherwood

  • Laura-Jane Bentley of Maumelle

  • Rebecca Besier of Sherwood

  • Anna Bolding of North Little Rock

  • Reece Couch of Maumelle

  • Christian Cummings of Maumelle

  • Allyssa DeZaldivar of Sherwood

  • Marshall Donn of North Little Rock

  • Jaslynn Dorsey of Maumelle

  • Lindsey Eagan of North Little Rock

  • Lillian Hamlin of Maumelle

  • Aidan Harvell of Maumelle

  • Jackson Hastings of Sherwood

  • Harper Haynes of Maumelle

  • Adrienne Henry of North Little Rock

  • Willow Holt of North Little Rock

  • Morgan Ison of North Little Rock

  • Ellen Johnson of North Little Rock

  • Hannah Johnson of Maumelle

  • Gweneth Keith-Powell of North Little Rock

  • Benjamin Kindall of Maumelle

  • Camille Kita of North Little Rock

  • Grace Maddox of Maumelle

  • Luke McClanahan of Maumelle

  • Jacob McKinney of Maumelle

  • Devan Mishra of Maumelle

  • Hannah Mosley of North Little Rock

  • Danny Nguyen of Maumelle

  • Katelynn Nicholas of North Little Rock

  • Madison Nichols of Sherwood

  • Olivia Phillips of North Little Rock

  • Laine Rainbolt of North Little Rock

  • Grant Smith of North Little Rock

  • Nada Tolba of North Little Rock

  • Alexis Trezza of North Little Rock

  • Emma Turner of Sherwood

  • Matthew Whittle of North Little Rock

  • Kylie Williams of Maumelle

  • Ashley Williford of Sherwood

  • Eli Young of Maumelle

  • Josie Zakrzewski of North Little Rock

"These students are the very best of Fulbright College," said Kathryn Sloan, interim dean. "This achievement demonstrates their academic excellence and commitment to our mission of peace through education. It's an honor to recognize these outstanding students who made the Dean's List and who make Fulbright College, the University of Arkansas, and their hometowns incredibly proud."

Ole Miss names Fall 2022 Chancellor's Honor Roll

Ole Miss announced the following North of the River students were named to the Fall 2022 Honor Roll lists, including Chancellor's Honor Roll:

  • Peyton Price, of North Little Rock

  • Jenna Villiger, of Sherwood

  • Brick Gore, of Maumelle

  • Abby Vest, of North Little Rock

  • Alexander Bromley, of Sherwood

  • Clarence Matthews, of Maumelle

The Chancellor's Honor Roll is reserved for students who earn a semester GPA of 3.75-4.00.

"The remarkable students achieving Chancellor's Honor Roll are among the best and brightest at the University of Mississippi," said Chancellor Glenn Boyce. "I commend them for their hard work and dedication resulting in their outstanding academic achievements and this well-deserved recognition."

In order to be eligible for honor roll designation, a student must have completed at least 12 graded hours for the semester and may not be on academic probation during the semester.

Stephens named to Dean's Honor Roll: Avery Stephens, of North Little Rock was named to the University of Mississippi's Fall 2022 Honor Roll lists. Stephens was named to the Dean's Honor Roll, which is reserved for students who earn a semester GPA of 3.50-3.74. In order to be eligible for honor roll designation, a student must have completed at least 12 graded hours for the semester and may not be on academic probation during the semester.

UMGC students named to Dean's List

More than 9,800 University of Maryland Global Campus (UMGC) students were named to the Dean's List for the fall semester. To be eligible for the honor, a student must complete at least six credits during the term, earned a grade point average of at least 3.5 for the term, and maintained a cumulative GPA of 3.5 at UMGC.

North of the River students honored include: 

  • Mario Borgelin of North Little Rock

  • Heaven Woodward-Merkerson of Sherwood

UMGC was established in 1947 to serve adults in the workforce. Today, the university enrolls some 90,000 students annually, offering bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degree programs, as well as certificates in more than 125 fully online, hybrid and face-to-face programs and specializations.

Middle Tennessee State names Fall 2022 Dean’s List

Natalie Grummer of Maumelle is among more than 5,920 Middle Tennessee State University students recognized on the latest dean's list for their academic achievements for the fall 2022 semester

To qualify for this distinction, an undergraduate student must maintain a current semester grade-point average of 3.5 or above and earn at least 12 semester hours.

Grummer is currently majoring in Recording Industry at the Murfreesboro university.

Sports

Basketball: Maumelle, CAC win state tournament opener

It was a great, but not perfect, opening round of high school basketball state tournaments for North of the River teams.

Maumelle and Central Arkansas Christian both won their first round games, but North Little Rock boys lost its opener.

As a result, both CAC and Maumelle play this evening, weather permitting, in their respective classifications.

  • A note about the weather: The forecast is for some extreme weather across the state with significant chances of tornadoes, hail and thunderstorms. While basketball games are played inside, action could be delayed, or even postponed, when there’s tornado warnings issued for the tournament site.

First up was Maumelle, as the Hornets beat Sheridan., 60-51, on Tuesday afternoon in the Class 5A State Tournament in Pine Bluff.

Maumelle is now 19-11 on the season and will face Greene County Tech at 8:30 p.m. tonight.

The Eagles of GCT are 23-8 overall and defeated Siloam Springs, 57-45, in the first round. Tonight’s game is the first between the two schools this season.

The winner advances to the semifinals at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, March 4 and would face the winner of Pine Bluff/Nettleton.

To view the bracket, click here.

CAC defeated Newport, 57-45, and will face No. 1 seed Dumas at 8:30 p.m. this evening in all purple and gold matchup.

Dumas is 28-7 overall and the Bobcats are riding a 19-game winning streak. They’ve also managed to win 27 of their last 28 games.

The Mustangs are now 24-7) and the winner would advance to the semifinals at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, March 4. The would face the winner of Charleston and Manila.

For the bracket, click here.

In Class 6A, North Little Rock lost to Fayetteville, 59-50, on Wednesday. North Little Rock’s season is over at 17-10, while Fayetteville is now 21-9 and will face Bentonville West at 5:30 p.m. on Friday, March 3.

The semifinal is at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, March 4 and the bracket is here.

North Little Rock enters the 6A girls state tournament 24-5 and will have a first-round bye. Daryl Fimple's squad gets Springdale Har-Ber at 7 p.m. on Friday, March 3.

Har-Ber is 20-8 overall. North Little Rock is 24-5 and beat Harber, 68-55, on Dec. 9

The semifinals are at 6 p.m. on Saturday, March 4 and the winner would face the winner of Bentonville/Cabot.

To view the bracket, click here.

CAC boys

Record so far: 24-7

Upcoming games

  • Class 3A State Tournament at Lamar … Today … Dumas … 8:30 p.m.

For the roster, click here.

The week that was: See above

Maumelle boys

Record so far: (19-11)

Upcoming games

  • Class 5A State Tournament at Pine Bluff … Today … Greene County Tech … 8:30 p.m.

For the roster, click here.

The week that was: See above

North Little Rock girls

Record so far: 24-5

Upcoming games

  • Class 6A State Tournament at Rogers … Friday … Springdale Har-Ber … 7 p.m.

For the roster, click here.

The week that was: North Little Rock lost a thriller to Cabot, 51-50, last Friday night.

North Little Rock boys

Record so far: (17-10)

Upcoming games

  • Season complete.

The week that was: See above.

Maumelle girls

Final record: 11-19 and season is complete.

The week that was: Maumelle ended its regular on a high not and beat Beebe, 31-29, last Friday.

CAC girls

Final record: 9-16 and season is complete

Maumelle Charter boys

Final record: 9-20 and season is complete.

Maumelle Charter girls

Final record: 6-28 and season is complete


Sports: State basketball finals schedule set

Hot Springs will again host this year’s state high school basketball championships.

Title games begin Thursday, March 9 and will conclude Saturday, March 11.

Tickets will not be sold at the door and will need to purchase tickets from the participating schools.

State tournaments began on Tuesday with semifinal games at locations around Arkansas scheduled for Saturday.

The finals schedule is below:

Thursday, March 9

  • Unified Game , 10:30 a.m. 

  • Game 1: 4A Girls, Noon 

  • Game 2: 4A Boys, 1:45 p.m. 

  • Game 3: 5A Girls, 6 p.m.

  • Game 4: 5A Boys, 7:45 p.m.

  • Session 1 doors open 10 a.m. and Session 2 doors open 5 p.m. 

Friday, March 10

  • Unified Game , 10:30 a.m. 

  • Game 1: 6A Girls, Noon 

  • Game 2: 6A Boys, 1:45 p.m. 

  • Game 3: 1A Girls, 6 p.m.

  • Game 4: 1A Boys, 7:45 p.m.

  • Session 1 doors open 10 a.m. and Session 2 doors open 5 p.m. 

Saturday, March 11

  • Game 9: 2A Girls, 11:30 a.m.

  • Game 10: 2A Boys, 1:15 p.m. 

  • Game 11: 3A Girls, 6 p.m.

  • Game 12: 3A Boys, 7:45 p.m.

  • Session 1 doors open 10:30 a.m. and Session 2 doors open 5 p.m.

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Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center gets reaccredited

The Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center network has received full accreditation with no conditions, after a review by its national association.

Jody Keenan, chair of the America’s Small Business Development Centers Accreditation Committee, announced the accomplishment in a Feb. 20 letter.

America’s Small Business Development Centers, the national accrediting body for SBDC programs, reviews each state or regional network every five years. Mandated by Congress, the accreditation review process assures that SBDC programs operate efficiently and effectively. Accreditation is also a requirement to receive federal funding.

The review included general and technology accreditation standards developed and deployed in cooperation with SBDC federal funding partner, the U.S. Small Business Administration.

“Accreditation is important for each SBDC network and is essential for the national SBDC program to be recognized as a provider of high-quality business advising and education that results in credible economic impact,” said Keenan, who is state director of the Virginia SBDC.

Keenan and fellow committee member Mike Daniel of California’s Orange County/Inland Empire SBDC visited Arkansas Nov. 7-11 for the on-site portion of the review. Feb. 5, the committee voted to award full accreditation without conditions and cited multiple best practices in its final report.

“Reaccreditation is a significant achievement, and I commend our leadership team and network staff for their commitment to helping small businesses start, grow and thrive,” said Laura Fine, ASBTDC state director. “We are extremely proud of never having any conditions with any of our accreditation reviews, spanning back decades.”

In Arkansas, the lead center is part of the University of Arkansas at Little Rock College of Business, Health, and Human Services. Nine institutions host regional offices: Arkansas State University, ASU Mid-South, ASU-Mountain Home, Arkansas Tech University, Southern Arkansas University, and University of Arkansas campuses at Fayetteville, Fort Smith, Monticello and Pine Bluff. The service areas are seen below.

The ASBTDC network assisted Arkansas small businesses with obtaining more than three-quarters of a billion dollars in capital investment ($804,624,250) over the last decade, including an all-time best $102 million in 2022. Over the last 10 years, the ASBTDC network helped clients create 18,132 jobs.

The latest America's SBDC Annual Report showcases a sampling of Arkansas entrepreneurs and business owners assisted by the center:

  • Jason and Vanessa Ellingburg – The Ellingburg Farm, Charleston

  • Lawrence Teasley and Brandon Mack – Retro City Sneaker Boutique, El Dorado

  • Brittany Scott – SMART Repro, Jonesboro

  • Collin Whittington – Morii, Fayetteville

  • Mark McManis, Dale McManis, and Fred Perkins – NeuroMedPro, Little Rock

  • Jason Piazza – Hugo’s, Fayetteville

  • Isaac Traylor – 3-I Pressure Washing and Detail, North Little Rock

  • Scott Tavegia – Little T's Mini Golf & More, Mountain Home

  • Cody McPherson – Crumbl Cookies, Jonesboro

  • Sally Mengel – Loblolly Creamery, Little Rock

ASBTDC serves emerging, existing and expanding small businesses. Learn more at asbtdc.org.

  • Publisher’s note: ArkansasNewsroom.com is a client of the ASBTDC.

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