Summer meals programs a success
Summer meals programs a success
Maumelle Planning Commission to meet tonight; Work day set for Saturday; Election news plus headlines and sports
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Meetings: North Little Rock City Council will have a special call meeting at 6:05 p.m. next Monday. The purpose of the meeting is Resolution 24-85 and is for "Accepting the annexation of property to the City of North Little Rock Municipal Property Owners’ Multipurpose Improvement District No. 38 (The Porches at Rockwater Project)." The meeting's sponsor is Mayor Terry Hartwick and a public hearing will also be held. The resolution was introduced after the next week's regular scheduled meeting had been published. The regular council meeting will follow the special call.
Events: The 8th Annual Arkansas Women’s Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony is tonight, Aug. 22, at the Statehouse Convention Center in downtown Little Rock. The VIP reception starts at 5 p.m. with the dinner and awards ceremony to follow at 6:30 p.m. Inductees include in the Contemporary Category: JoAnne Bush, Betty Dickey, Jamileh Kamran, Dr. Jacquelyn Williams McCray and Kathy Webb. In the Historical category, Bernie Babcock and Gussie Haynie while the Committee of One Hundred for the Ozark Folk Center is being honored as an Organization. For more, go to ARWomensHallofFame.com. The event will also be livestreamed on Arkansas PBS, at myarpbs.org/arkansasliveplaylist.
Tickets for sale: Tickets are now for sale for this fall’s Simmons Bank Championship presented by Stephens at Pleasant Valley Country Club in Little Rock. To buy tickets, click here. Daily tickets start at $30. Packages will eventually be available as well but not yet.
Work day set for Saturday
The North Little Rock Parks and Recreation Department is holding a Volunteer Work Day this Saturday, Aug. 24, beginning at 8 a.m. at the Burns Park Equestrian Trail Head located at 4700 Joe Poch Road. This volunteer trail maintenance work day will help continue the recovery effort of the trails from last year’s tornado in converting them to a family friendly experience.. If you come, it is strongly suggested you bring gloves, water, safety glasses, sunscreen, sturdy boots/shoes (not flip flops), and insect protection. Feel free to bring any tools you like to use. For more, check out the flier below.
Upcoming events for the end of summer
The North Little Rock Parks and Recreation Department will host end-of-summer and back-to-school events at the community centers over the coming weeks. These events are free to the public and will have games, activities, school supplies, door prizes, and more.
Maumelle Planning Commission to meet
The Maumelle Planning Commission will meet at 6:30 p.m. tonight in Council chambers at City Hall in a regularly scheduled meeting.
There’s no old business on the agenda and only two items of new business.
The first is a replat at 20710 Hwy. 365 N., which was Tract 3 of Winnetka Acres and would become Lot 1 of the Lake Liquor Subdivision. The other agenda item is a combined preliminary replat of the Harris & Pfeifer Addition of Maumelle and Lot 1B Triavictus Proposed Subdivision.
For the agenda, click here.
The meeting is open to the public and will be streamed on the city’s YouTube channel.
Summer meals programs a success
The summer meals programs held North of the River were both deemed successful by local organizers.
Jessica Duff, a spokeswoman for the Pulaski County Special School District, said its summer program distributed a total of 75,719 meals over the summer months.
The program came to a halt when students returned for classes
“Families were very thankful for the capability to receive food for their children for the five day span,” Duff said and added that the district planned to have the meal program next summer.
The district distributed five-day meal boxes at Mills High School and also Cato Elementary and Duff added, “our goal is to open the two sites back up,” for next year.
Laman Library in North Little Rock also distributed meals this past summer with a total of 2,000 meals, said Jill Wheeler, the Youth Services Manager for the North Little Rock library system.
“Our community is always deeply appreciative of this service,” Wheeler said. “Summer is a busy and stressful time for many families, and we're fortunate to be able to provide both a meal and a fun, educational experience hand in hand for families during these long summer days!”
Wheeler said the library’s intention was to have the program next summer as well but it would continue this school year as the “After School Food Program” that is offered Monday through Thursday from 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Laman Library Children’s Department.
Laman partnered with Bridge 2 Success for the programs and Wheeler said their support was what made “this service possible!”
Election news
Brown makes candidacy official
November’s election is roughly 11 weeks and Maumelle will have one contested race in Ward 1, Pos. 1 to replace retiring Council Member Steve Mosley.
Barry Brown, above, one of the three candidates to file for the seat, passes along a press release announcing his candidacy.
It is reprinted in full but has been lightly edited for style and publication purposes.
Barry Brown Announces Candidacy for Alderman, Ward 1, Position 1 in the Maumelle City Council Election
Barry Brown, a longtime resident and dedicated community volunteer, is proud to announce his candidacy for Alderman, Ward 1, Position 1, in the upcoming Maumelle City Council election scheduled for November 5, 2024.
“As someone who has been deeply involved in our community for decades, I understand the importance of preserving what makes Maumelle special while also embracing the opportunities for future growth,” said Barry Brown.
I’m running to ensure that our city’s leadership is responsive, transparent, and committed to enhancing the quality of life for all Maumelle residents. My campaign focuses on three key points:
Safety First: We need to continue to work together with our first responders (Fire, Police, EMT, and support organizations) to keep them properly outfitted and trained. This ensures our first responders can deliver the highest level of service to our community.
Thoughtful Development: We can grow responsibly, preserving the unique character of our neighborhoods while enhancing the quality of life for all residents. By adopting sensible land use policies and limiting high-density housing, we can ensure that new developments align with our existing infrastructure, benefiting both individuals and the community as a whole.
Fiscal Responsibility, always: A well-managed budget is the foundation of a strong community. Barry will ensure that every dollar is spent wisely, prioritizing essential services and avoiding unnecessary costs to keep taxes low. Transparency and open communication are key, and as your Alderman, Barry will make sure the council remains accessible and that decisions benefit all of us in the long run.
Barry has been active in various volunteer roles serving Maumelle residents, including Assistant Scoutmaster, Soccer Coach, Volunteer for The Nature Conservancy, Fundraiser for the Maumelle Marlins Swim Team, and the “Yes, Yes, Yes” petition and campaign for Baseball Fields, Aquatic Center, and Maumelle Jess Odom Community Center, as well as a contributing member of Maumelle Residents United. He was also active in helping Hurricane Katrina victims with communication, food, and housing assistance. He is currently serving as Board Member and Treasurer for Counting On Each Other, a local non-profit organization that serves the Maumelle senior citizen community. His diverse experience and dedication to service make him a strong advocate for the people of Maumelle.
With over 30 years of first hand experience witnessing Maumelle’s growth, Barry brings a deep understanding of the successes and challenges that have shaped the city that he calls home. His degree in Business Administration with an emphasis in Information Technology, combined with almost 30 years of successful management experience with multiple Fortune 100 companies, including AT&T, NCR, and Alltel/Verizon, distinctively positions him to represent the community’s needs effectively. Through community service, Barry has gained a unique perspective on the needs of residents, whether they are aged 7, 17, or 70 plus.
Because in the end, It’s All About Community.”
For more information about Barry Brown’s campaign, visit VoteBarryBrown.com.
Sports
Upcoming Travs games
Opponent - Northwest Arkansas
Tonight, 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, 7:05 p.m.
Fireworks Friday - Música Latina
Saturday, 6:05 p.m.
Kids Run the Bases: Kids 13 and under are invited to run the same basepaths the Travs run after the game!
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!
At Amarillo, Aug. 27 - Sept. 1
Opponent - Corpus Christi | Last regular season home stand
Tuesday, Sept. 3, 6:35 p.m.
No promotions scheduled
Wednesday, Sept. 4, 6:35 p.m.
No promotions scheduled
Thursday, Sept. 5, 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, Sept. 6, 7:05 p.m.
Fireworks Friday - Fans' Choice
Saturday, Sept. 7, 6:05 p.m.
Cal Raleigh Bobblehead Giveaway: Presented By Hardee's | First 1,000 Fans (one item per person)
Kids Run the Bases: Kids 13 and under are invited to run the same basepaths the Travs run after the game!
Sunday, Sept. 8, 1:35 p.m. | Last regular season home game
Brunch at the Ballpark: Get a special Brunch ticket (**available at a later date**) that comes with a Field Reserved seat! Pre-game 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.
Ticket Offer: 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!
At Northwest Arkansas - Sept. 10 - Sept. 15: End of regular reason
Playoffs
Pandemic deaths unknown
The state Department of Health again didn’t have a Covid report available for this week and numbers for the year haven’t been updated since last week. The state’s dashboard says there’s been 294 Covid-related deaths in 2024. The virus has now killed 13,938 Arkansans since the pandemic began four years ago. That would mean the pandemic death toll has now passed Marion’s 13,635 people, the state’s 29th largest city.
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