The (excessive) heat is on
Football kickoffs pushed back; Planning Commission to meet tonight; Maupin has Hornets ready for the season 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 back to “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 Monday, Aug. 21.
The total number of reported dead Arkansans remains at 13,227 or the state’s 31st 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
The Headlines
Meetings: The North Little Rock School Board will meet at 5:30 p.m. tonight in a special call meeting. Personnel issues are on the agenda and for more, click here. As expected the $75,000 plan to bolster the district’s communications efforts was approved at the School Board meeting last week. The plan, as previously detailed, would hire a Washington, D.C.-based consultant to assist and who would then report back to the superintendent. The Maumelle Planning Commission meets tonight at 6:30 p.m. and the North Little Rock City Council also meets next Monday night at City Hall.
Events: Football’s back, as the regular starts this week and Maumelle and North Little Rock both have home games this Friday night. Both are rivalry games as Little Rock Catholic will be at North Little Rock while Sylvan Hills travels to Maumelle. Both games will kickoff at 8 p.m. due to the state-wide Excessive Heat Warning. For more on that, keep scrolling.
Maumelle Planning Commission meets tonight
The Maumelle Planning Commission meets at 6:30 p.m. tonight in its regularly monthly meeting.
To view the agenda, click here.
The meeting is unlikely to be lengthy as there’s just three items of business to be discussed. There is one weighty matter though as “an ordinance has been drafted for code amendment updates concerning public notification requirements.”
The biggest change is how community meetings are held.
The language in the ordinance says, “The City may* also give notice of the community meeting on its web site, but the City’s failure to give notice of the community meeting on its web site shall not affect the validity of any subsequent action by the planning commission or the city council.
* Previously, the language was shall, meaning it was required. Now, it will not be.
Also, of note, the city will have a groundbreaking ceremony for the planned White Oak Crossing roundabout at 10 a.m. next Thursday, Aug. 31 at 8901 White Oak Crossing.
The (excessive) heat is on
All of Arkansas has been blanketed in an Excessive Heat Warning for days but there's an end in sight, maybe.
The current forecast calls for a break on Sunday and the temperatures steadily declining. Of course, when the highs are the forecast 107 for Friday, even the low 90s in a few days, seem like a relief.
Still, though, the ongoing heat has had an impact.
The city of North Little Rock opened up a cooling center that will remain open through Saturday.
School districts across the state are also pushing back high school football kickoffs as the regular season opens Friday.
The home games at Maumelle and North Little Rock have both been pushed back to 8 p.m., as has the Central Arkansas Christian game at Lonoke.
Bobby Swofford, the Assistant Executive Director at the Arkansas Activities Association said delaying start times was up to the individual districts as the AAA's policy was to leave delays for heat-related reasons up to the schools.
That's not the case for practices where coaches use Wet Bulb Globe Temperatures, or WBGT, as guidelines.
They're straightforward.
WBGT UNDER 82.0: Normal activities. Provide separate rest breaks each hour of practice. Breaks should equal 10 minutes per hour.
WBGT 82.0 - 86.9: Use discretion for intense or prolonged exercise; watch at-risk players carefully; Provide at least three separate rest breaks each hour for a minimum of 4 minutes in duration for each.
WBGT 87.0 - 89.9: Maximum length of participation within this range is 2 hours.; Football: players restricted to helmet, shoulder pads, and shorts during practice, protective equipment must be removed for conditioning activities.; All Sports: there must be 20 minutes of rest breaks distributed throughout the hour of participation.
WBGT 90.0 - 92.0: Maximum length of participation with this range is 1 hour.; Football: no protective equipment may be worn. no conditioning activities.; All Sports: there must be 30 minutes of rest breaks distributed throughout the hour of participation.
WBGT OVER 92: No outdoor workouts. Delay practice until a cooler WBGT level is reached.
The difference between the WBGT and the heat index has to do with the humidity, said a forecaster with the National Weather Service in North Little Rock.
"The wet bulb temperature is a heavily weighted component ... and is an indication of how much humidity is present," they said on the NWS site. "[It] means there is a lot of humidity (and a very uncomfortable situation), and it does not have to be hot to make this happen."
indeed, at 9 a.m. this morning, the WBGT in Little Rock was 85, and the heat index was 100. But the numbers aren't a perfect comparison, because they take other local conditions into account. So while the WBGT in West Memphis was also 85, the heat index there was 95.
The NWS office also developed an experimental forecasting tool to predict the WBGT across the state and it isn't hard to see why football is getting a later start.
All of Arkansas is between 82 and 87 WBGT, with most of Pulaski County at 86 or in the high range. For football practice, it would mean helmet, shoulder pads, and shorts during practice.
The coaches are also adjusting to the heat, along with the players.
"The Heat is a scary opponent right now," said North Little Rock coach Clint Reed. "It is the first 'team' we have to line up against. It has changed the way we do things for sure."
Maumelle coach Brian Maupin said he delegated monitoring the heat.
"We have a phenomenal [Physical Therapist] Dylan Thompson," Maupin said. "He makes sure we're taking amazing care of our players, and monitors the wet bulb carefully for us."
Maupin said the weather was just another thing to overcome, but "we´re used to a challenge and excited to rise above adversity."
Football: Maupin back for year two at Maumelle
Brian Maupin’s first-season at Maumelle didn’t quite go as hoped as the Hornets struggled to a 3-7 overall record and didn’t make the playoffs.
Injuries played a part in last season; performance as the Hornets started the year 2-0 before losing five consecutive games and limped to just one more win, an overtime thriller against Watson Chapel.
There’s some talent back from last season and seniors Alan Timmons and Jaden Worsham return. Timmons did double duty last season as wide receiver and was among the conference’s best with five touchdowns and 500 yards on 37 catches. Timmons also excelled in the defensive secondary, while also returning kicks.
Last season he scored touchdowns on offense, defense and special teams.
Worsham filled in at running back as injuries also started depleting numbers, but showed some nifty moves and rushed for 450 yards and five touchdowns on 70 carries.
Those two, as well as others, will be key this season, Maupin said but he also noted that at last week’s scrimmage at Marion, he had some other standouts.
“I was very encouraged and couldn't have been more proud of Sophomore quarterback Andrew Bjork,” Maupin said and added Bjork, in his first start, finished with three touchdowns passing as well as nearly 300 yards in two quarters of action.
“The defense forced a couple turnovers,” Maupin said. “We need to do a much better job of protecting the ball and limiting the big plays but I think it will be a very exciting season for the Hornets!.”
Defense is something of Maupin’s speciality as he was previously the defensive coordinator at Joe T. Robinson, and also played linebacker in his college days at Harding.
“I truly believe my time at Harding molded and shaped me to be the man and coach I am today,” Maupin said and added, “Every coach on our staff played in college and/or coached in college which I think gives our guys a huge advantage!.”
Maupin expects some improvements in his second year as head coach. Not just in the team’s performance, but his own.
“There's so many other things a head coach has to deal with and account for that it's more than just coaching the scheme,” he said. “The biggest adjustment would have to be not being able to focus on the football Xs and Os side of things.”
The regular season starts at 8 p.m. this Friday at home against Sylvan Hills.
Hornets at a glance
Last season: 3-7
Head coach: Brian Maupin; Career record: 3-7, second year
Hootens Arkansas Football preseason pick: Sixth in the 5A-Central, No. 20 in Class 5A.
Base offense? Spread 10/11 personnel
Players to watch on offense? Alan Timmons Sr. WR; Andrew Bjork Soph QB,;Elijah Newell Sr.; ATH Jonathan Frost Jr.; ATH Jaden Worsham Sr. RB Jordan Harris Soph.
Base defense? 4-2-5
Players to watch on defense? Alan Timmons Sr. DB; Elijah Newell Sr. ATH; Jonathan Frost Jr. ATH; Dalen Larry Sr. DL; BJ Beets Jr. DL; Bubba Johnson Soph LB; Jason Barham Sr. CB
Friday night lights
Maumelle Hornets
Friday, Aug. 25 ... Sylvan Hills ... 8 p.m.
Friday, Sept. 1 ... at Batesville ... 7 p.m.
Friday, Sept. 8 ... at White Hall ... 7 p.m.
Friday, Sept. 22 ... at Pine Bluff ... 7 p.m.
Thu, Sep 28 ... Mills ... 7 p.m.
Friday, Oct. 6 ... at Robinson ... 7 p.m.
Friday, Oct. 13 ... Morrilton ... 7 p.m.
Friday, Oct. 20 ... at Watson Chapel ... 7 p.m.
Friday, Oct. 27 ... Vilonia ... 7 p.m.
Friday, Nov. 3 ... Beebe ... 7 p.m.
Friday, Nov. 10 ... First round of playoffs
BOLD indicates home game
For the roster, please click here.
CAC Mustangs
Friday, Aug. 25 ... at Lonoke ...8 p.m.
Friday, Sept. 1 ... Perryville ... 7 p.m.
Friday, Sept. 8 ... Bauxite ... ... 7 p.m.
Friday, Sept. 15 ... at (Benton) Harmony Grove ... 7 p.m.
Friday, Sept. 22 ... Hall ... 7 p.m.
Friday, Sept. 29 ... at Mayflower ... 7 p.m.
Friday, Oct. 6 ... at Pottsville ... 7 p.m.
Friday, Oct. 13 ... Clinton ... 7 p.m.
Friday, Oct. 20 ... at Dover ... 7 p.m.
Friday, Nov. 3 ... at Lamar ... 7 p.m.
Friday, Nov. 10 ... First round of playoffs
BOLD indicates home game
For the roster, please click here.
North Little Rock 'Cats
Friday, Aug. 25 ... Catholic ... 8 p.m.
Friday, Sept. 1 ... Fayetteville ... 7 p.m.
Friday, Sept. 15 ... at Parkview (War Memorial Stadium) ... 7 p.m.
Friday, Sept. 22 ... at Central ... 7 p.m.
Friday, Sept. 29 ... Conway ... 7 p.m.
Friday, Oct. 06 ... at Little Rock Southwest ... 7 p.m.
Friday, Oct. 13 ... Jonesboro ... 7 p.m.
Friday, Oct. 20 ... Fort Smith Northside ... 7 p.m.
Friday, Oct. 27 ... at Bryant ... 7 p.m.
Friday, Nov. 3 ... at Cabot ... 7 p.m.
Friday, Nov. 10 ... First round of playoffs
BOLD indicates home game
For the roster, please click here.
Sports
Baseball at Dickey-Stephens this week
Six-game homestand against Wichita
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.
Pyro in the Park VII: Don't miss the biggest Fireworks Spectacular of the season!
Maumelle Community Night (Click below for more)
Saturday, 7:05 p.m.
Isaiah Campbell Bobblehead Giveaway: Presented By First Arkansas Bank & Trust | First 1,000 Fans (one item per person)
Kids Run the Bases: Presented By Museum of Discovery
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 and only available at the Box Office.
Kids Run the Bases: Presented By Museum of Discovery
Road trip: Aug. 29 - Sept. 3 at Tulsa