Summer meal programs abound North of the River
Chamber golf tournament is Friday; Academics Plus names new board members; Boys State holds elections plus news and the Travs are in town
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The Headlines
Meetings: The Maumelle City Council will meet next Monday night at City Hall.
Events: The Maumelle Area Chamber of Commerce will be having its annual golf tournament this Friday at Country Club of Arkansas. For details, click here or check out the flyer below.
Academics Plus names new board members
Academics Plus Charter Schools Board of Trustees recently announced the appointment of two new board members and the reappointment of a board member for terms of three years.
Matthew Turner of Maumelle and Pagan Williams of Scott are new appointments to the board and Adria Conklin, sitting chair of the board, was reappointed to an additional three-year term.
Turner is a biomedical medical equipment technician for UAMS and is a defensive driving trainer for Thompson Defensive Driving School. Williams is a project manager for Horne LLP, a professional services and accounting firm and Conklin is a partner with the law firm of DLA Piper.
The board also elected officers for the upcoming year: Adria Conklin, chair; J.D. Lowery, vice chair; Daren Sweat, secretary and Sean Hagen, treasurer.
Academics Plus Charter Schools is comprised of Maumelle Charter High School, Maumelle Charter Middle School, Maumelle Charter Elementary School and Scott Charter School.
Summer meal programs abound North of the River
Students in need will have several options available to them for summer meal programs.
The Pulaski County Special School District will again be offering multi-day meal boxes for students, and their families, in the district.
The program will start next Thursday, June 6 and will continue through Aug. 8.
Pickup locations are:
Mills University Studies High School , 708 E. Dixon Road in Little Rock
Cato Elementary, 9906 Jacksonville-Cato Road in Sherwood
Meal distribution will start at 7 a.m. and continue through 11 a.m. or until supplies run out.
The district isn’t the only one offering summer meals as the Central Arkansas Library System and North Little Rock’s Laman Library will also be having programs.
All the programs are funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and none have income requirements or required registration.
The CALS program is with Be Mighty Little Rock and will be daily meals that will be available at branches in Maumelle, Little Rock, Sherwood and Jacksonville. The program starts next Monday, June 3 and continues through Aug. 14.
List of branches
Maumelle Library, 10 Lake Pointe Road, Maumelle – Monday - Friday, noon - 1 p.m.
Nixon Library, 703 W. Main Street, Jacksonville – Monday - Friday, 11 a.m. - noon
Sanders Library, 10200 Johnson Road, Sherwood – Monday - Friday, 11 a.m. -- noon
Children’s Library, 4800 W. 10th Street, Little Rock – Monday - Friday, 11:30 a.m, - 12:30 p.m.
Dee Brown Library, 6325 Baseline Road, Little Rock – Monday - Friday, 1 p.m. - 2 p.m.
Mini-Main Library, 401 President Clinton Avenue, Little Rock – Monday - Friday, 11:30 a.m, - 12:30 p.m.
McMath Library, 2100 John Barrow Road, Little Rock – Monday - Friday, noon - 1 p.m.
Rooker Library, 11 Otter Creek Court, Little Rock – Monday - Friday, noon - 1 p.m.
Terry Library, 2015 Napa Valley Road, Little Rock – Monday - Friday, 11:30 a.m, - 12:30 p.m.
Williams Library, 1800 S. Chester Street, Little Rock – Monday - Friday, 1 p.m. - 2 p.m.
Those branches will also be offering activities for students such as reading, exercise programs and cooking classes, among others,
The North Little Rock program is dubbed the “Bridge 2 Success Food Program” and will be available at the downtown branch as well as the main library at 2701 Orange St.
Laman has partnered with Bridge 2 Success, a nonprofit youth outreach program that focuses on giving young people in Central Arkansas an opportunity to be successful.
The Laman program will feature grab and go lunches for those 2 to 18 and will be offered Monday through Friday from noon to 1 p.m. at both branches.
The downtown branch will also have a breakfast program from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m., Monday through Friday.
"We are thrilled to introduce the new summer schedule for the Bridge 2 Success food program," said Jill Wheeler, Youth Services Manager at Laman/
For more information about the Bridge 2 Success Food Program and other library programs, please visit the North Little Rock Public Library System's website at NLRlibrary.org or contact the library directly at 501-758-1720.
For more information about the PCSSD meal pick up, please contact Regena English at renglish@pcssd.org. For more Summer Meals Sites around Arkansas, go to: https://www.fns.usda.gov/meals4kids.
PCSSD names Jeanie Wilcoxon as teacher of the year
Pulaski County Special School District recently announced Jeanie Wilcoxon, a fourth grade math teacher at Chenal Elementary, as its teacher of the year.
Wilcoxon, above, has been in education for 24 years and has previously been a coach, a tutor and mentor teacher.
Wilcoxon started at Chenal Elementary in August 2011.
“She has a natural ability to make complex mathematical concepts accessible and engaging to young learners, fostering a love for math that extends far beyond the classroom,” Yolanda Harris, principal of Chenal Elementary, said in her recommendation letter. “One of Ms. Wilcoxon’s greatest strengths is her ability to differentiate instruction to meet the diverse needs of her students. Whether it's through hands-on activities, interactive games, or personalized learning plans, she ensures that every child has the opportunity to succeed and thrive in mathematics. Her classroom is a vibrant and inclusive learning environment where students feel valued, supported, and motivated to excel.”
Wilcoxon was selected out of 27 other PCSSD school-level winners and will now move on to represent the District in the 2025 Arkansas Teacher of the Year Program.
In addition to receiving a plaque, each school winner will receive a check for $100. The District winner will receive an additional check for $500.
Arkansas Boys State holds elections
Students were elected by their peers to various offices this week as part of the 83rd annual session of Arkansas Boys State at the University of Central Arkansas in Conway.
North of the River students elected to these offices include:
Cade Verzwyvelt of Maumelle from Catholic High School for Boys was elected as a City Councilman in Conway City.
Xzavier Jackson of Maumelle from Maumelle High School was elected as a City Councilman in Lovell City.
Benjamin Bannerman of North Little Rock from Little Rock Central High School was elected as a City Councilman in Gordon City.
Ryan Cromer of Sherwood from North Little Rock High School was elected as a City Councilman in Gentry City.
Kaleb Archibald of North Little Rock from Sylvan Hills High School was elected as a City Councilman in Fisher City.
Brenton Muhammad of Sherwood from Sylvan Hills High School was elected as a City Councilman in Schrader City.
Aubrey Messick of Sherwood from Messick Homeschool was elected as a City Councilman in Kelley City.
Jack Copley of North Little Rock from North Little Rock High School was elected as Sheriff for Rooks County.
Richard Hall, III of Little Rock from Little Rock Christian Academy was elected as Justice of the Peace for Rooks County.
Grant Moses of Maumelle from Maumelle Charter High School was elected as Justice of the Peace for Qualls County.
Tayshan Roseburrow of North Little Rock from North Little Rock High School was elected as Justice of the Peace for Qualls County.
Richard Hall, III of Little Rock from Little Rock Christian Academy was elected as a State Senator.
Aubrey Messick of Sherwood from Messick Homeschool was elected as a State Representative.
Brenton Muhammad of Sherwood from Sylvan Hills High School was elected as a State Representative.
Ryan Cromer of Sherwood from North Little Rock High School was elected as a State Senator.
"At Arkansas Boys State, these offices lay the foundation for the rest of the week and give delegates hands-on and practical experience in leadership and public service," said David Saterfield, director of instruction for the program. “Once elected, those officials will be responsible for helping to lead their cities and counties and making decisions that have a real impact on the lives of delegates with whom they share dorms and mealtimes. This is just the first step in the transformative leadership journey that these students embark on this week.”
These students join more than 540 students from 191 schools throughout the state attending Arkansas Boys State at the University of Central Arkansas in Conway. Students are mock citizens in eight different counties, sixteen cities, and two political parties.
"When the week comes to a close for these students, they will have learned what it means to intentionally and thoughtfully share their stories, lead their peers, and advocate for their communities," said Lloyd Jackson, executive director of Arkansas Boys State.
Campaigning for statewide office has begun with those results to be named later.
Learn more at arboysstate.org.
City of North Little Rock to honor volunteers
The City of North Little Rock will hold a Volunteer Service Award Luncheon at 11 a.m. this Friday in the ballroom of the Patrick Henry Hays Senior Citizens Center, 401 West Pershing Boulevard in North Little Rock.
All volunteers in the city with over 10 hours of service were invited to attend the luncheon. Mayor Terry Hartwick along with North Little Rock City Council members and city leaders will attend the luncheon to honor those that have contributed their time to various departments. North Little Rock Police Officer Shelby Hunter with the Police Athletic League), the past recipient of the Program of the Year Award, will speak to the group this year.
North Little Rock volunteers contributed over 61,000 hours to the city during 2023. Volunteering is the glue that holds our community together, said Angela Wirt, Volunteer Manager for the City of North Little Rock.
Volunteer of the Year: Phyllis Killeen, Animal Shelter/Friends of Animals. Killeen has volunteered at the North Little Rock Animal Shelter for over 10 years and is an integral part of the progress.
Volunteer Program of the Year: Lakewood Property Owners Association, that recently planted a community garden that will benefit the entire community.
If you’re interested in volunteering in the City of North Little Rock, contact Angela Wirt, awirt@nlr.ar.gov or call 501-975-4297.
Sports
Upcoming Travs games
Opponent – Amarillo
Today, 6:35 p.m.
$3 Thursday: Enjoy $3 Beer Garden Tickets and Concessions deals, including Hot Dogs, Soft Drinks, Cotton Candy, and a Select Canned Beer & Seltzer!
North Little Rock Night: Presented By North Little Rock Tourism
Friday, 7:05 p.m.
Fireworks Friday - Classical Remix | Presented By Conway Regional Health System
Saturday, 6:05 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) | Presented By Raising Cane's
Kids Run the Bases: Kids 13 and under are invited to run the same basepaths the Travs run after the game!
Collapsible Dog Bowl Giveaway: Presented By Raising Cane's | First 300 Dogs (one item per canine)
Sunday,1:35 p.m.
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 (only available at DSP Box Office)
Kids Run the Bases: Kids 13 and under are invited to run the same basepaths the Travs run after the game!
Opponent - Springfield
Tuesday, June 4, 6:35 p.m.
Dog Day: Human fans can get $3 Berm tickets by bringing their dog to the game (only available at DSP Box Office). NOTE: Dogs are only allowed in the Berm areas | Presented By Rock N Roll Sushi
Wednesday, June 5, 6:35 p.m.
Dog Day: Human fans can get $3 Berm tickets by bringing their dog to the game (only available at DSP Box Office). NOTE: Dogs are only allowed in the Berm areas | Presented By Rock N Roll Sushi
Thursday, June 6, 6:35 p.m.
$3 Thursday: Enjoy $3 Beer Garden Tickets and Concessions deals, including Hot Dogs, Soft Drinks, Cotton Candy, and a Select Canned Beer & Seltzer!
Friday, June 7, 7:05 p.m.
Fireworks Friday - Kids' Movie Soundtracks | Presented By Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield
Saturday, June 8, 6:05 p.m.
Faith & Family Night: The perfect night for a church group outing! Pre-game speaker to be announced at a later date.
Kids Run the Bases: Kids 13 and under are invited to run the same basepaths the Travs run after the game!
Sunday, June 9, 1:35 p.m.
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 (only available at DSP Box Office)
Kids Run the Bases: Kids 13 and under are invited to run the same basepaths the Travs run after the game!
