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The Most Wonderful Time of the Year

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The Most Wonderful Time of the Year

The lights at Garvan Gardens are a delight, What to do with that tree, Very Merry Maumelle winners, UALR basketball at Simmons Bank Arena tonight plus sports and headlines

Jeremy Peppas
Dec 29, 2022
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The Most Wonderful Time of the Year

www.arkansasnewsroom.com
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Death toll drops

The total number of dead Arkansans this past week was 14.

Last week, it was 25, and the week before that it was 43. The lower number this past week may be a reflection of of deaths not being reported during the Christmas holiday and also the severely cold weather.

The total number of dead Arkansans is now at 12,686.

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 Maumelle City Council will meet next Tuesday night due to the holiday. The December Maumelle Planning Commission meeting was postponed and that month’s agenda will be added to the regularly scheduled January meeting.

  • Upcoming events: City offices are Monday due to the New Year’s holiday. The swearing-in ceremony for Maumelle’s elected city officials will be held prior to Tuesday’s night’s City Council meeting, while North Little Rock’s will be held at 10 a.m. on Tuesday at City Hall.

  • ICYMI: Get your flu shot!

A Very Merry Maumelle winners

  • Truly Traditional: Joe and Cathryn Woods, 113 Nantucket Loop

  • Light Up Maumelle: Amanda Galiano, 8 Chicot Cove

  • People's Choice: Nick Wade, 36 Riverwood Cove

  • Mayor's Choice: Alan and Kelley Wray, 213 Seminole Lane


The lights, the lights are calling, you guys

HOT SPRINGS — It has been two long years since the Christmas lights at Garvan Woodland Gardens shined.

The botanical garden in Hot Springs had an annual tradition of displaying Christmas lights that was wildly popular here in Arkansas. For that matter, people came from across the south and Midwest to see the lights.

They were spectacular.

This year though, this year was better. There’s a certain amount of absence makes the heart grow fonder going on but the garden also made the acreage of the display smaller and packed in more lights.

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Jeremy Peppas @jeremypeppas
The musical Christmas tree at Garvan Woodland Gardens in Hot Springs.
4:08 PM ∙ Dec 29, 2022

More than five million lights this year on a little more than 100 acres. Walking the path and seeing most of the lights worked out to be about a 1.9 mile walk, per the Fitbit on the wrist.

Photos by Gwen Green

The changes in the displays along with the redone foot paths made for a nice walk on a brisk night earlier this week.

The lights are really something. The garden’s rolling landscape, in combination with the lights, gives a layered look that defies description that is anything beyond pretty.

If you want to go, there’s still time as the lights are on and up until this Saturday night.

Tickets are $20 and have to be purchased in advance by clicking here, or, pro tip, spring for an annual membership. A dual membership is $75 and gets you into the gardens year around with no admission or waiting in some dumb line.

It also saves you a bit of money if you go back in the spring for the tulips.

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Let your Christmas tree sleep with the fishes

Think of it as the last Christmas present.

But for the fishes.

The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission is again asking people to donate their used, live Christmas trees to the state’s waterways as they make excellent habitats for fish.

What you shouldn’t do, is burn the tree in your fireplace, said Tamara Walkingstick with the University of Arkansas Extension Service. Her advice was, “when it’s ready to come down, recycle it in your yard or pond.”

You can also put out your Christmas tree on the curb ““on your yard waste day” if you live in Maumelle or North Little Rock.

All decorations should be removed and unwanted lights, even those not working, can be taken to any Goodwill, where they will be recycled.

For more information in Maumelle, call 501-851-2888, while those in North Little Rock can call 371-8430.

The best, and certainly the funnest, is sinking that tree to the bottom of an Arkansas stream or river or lake.

Game and Fish said, “the small spaces and dense cover offered by fresh Christmas trees make excellent nursery habitat for small fish as well as great places to fish.”

So you can drop off the tree at the locations listed below or, if you fish, you can make your own spot by sinking a tree yourself with either cinder blocks or sandbags, that will deteriorate underwater but, by then, the tree will be waterlogged and will then stay sunk.

Again, the decorations should be removed before doing either option and this only applies to fresh trees as artificial trees won’t work as a fish habitat.

Trees can be dropped off at any of the following central Arkansas  locations until the end of January:

  • Arkansas River – Riverview Park Access in North Little Rock

  • Lake Barnett – Reed Access

  • Lake Conway – Lawrence Landing Access

  • Greers Ferry Lake – Sandy Beach (Heber Springs), Devils Fork Recreation Area and Choctaw Recreation Area (Choctaw-Clinton)

  • Harris Brake Lake – Chittman Hill Access

  • Lake Pickthorne – Holland Bottoms Access

  • Lake Overcup – Lake Overcup Landing

  • Cox Creek Lake – Cox Creek Lake Public Access

  • Lake Hamilton – Andrew Hulsey State Fish Hatchery Access Area

  • Jack Nolen – Boat Ramp Access at Fire Station

  • Sugar Loaf Lake – Boat Ramp Access

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Auditions for Cinderella in January

The Argenta Community Theater is putting on a production of Cinderella next April and auditions for the show will be held in January.

The shows will open on April 19 and close on April 29. Those dates also include two, daytime productions for students. 

Evening shows will begin at 7:30 p.m. and the matinee time is 2 p.m. Additional shows may be added as well.

The first audition is Saturday, Jan. 21 and will start at 1 p.m. while the second is the following day and will begin at 2 p.m. Both audition periods are set for three hours each.

The auditions will be held at the Argenta Community Theater’s ACT II (Sharon Heflin Performing Arts Education Center, at 315 Main St., in downtown North Little Rock. Rehearsals for Cinderella will begin in March. To schedule an audition, email casting@ArgentaCommunityTheater.org to male an appointment but walk-ins will also be accepted.

Vincent Insalaco will serve as director while Brian Earles will be the choreographer: 

Characters needed for the show, along with an approximate age and vocal range, are:

  • Evil Stepmother (Madame) Female Lead Mature Mezzo-Soprano

  • Ella (Cinderella) Female Lead Young Adult Soprano

  • Portia (Grace) Female Supporting Young Adult Mezzo-Soprano

  • Joy Female Supporting Student Mezzo-Soprano

  • Prince Charming

  • (Topher, Christopher) Male Supporting Young Adult Baritone

  • Fairy Godmother (Marie) Female Supporting Mature Soprano

  • King Maximillian Male Featured Mature Baritone

  • Queen Constantina Female Featured Mature Mezzo-Soprano

  • Town Crier (Lord Pinkelton)* Male Featured Mature Tenor

  • Ensemble* Male/Female Featured All Ages All ranges

  • Ensemble* Male/Female Featured Starting Age 8

Note: Ensemble roles will include Herald, chef, steward, coachman, footman, guards, minister, ball guests, townspeople, horses, mice and children and ensemble actors will play multiple roles.

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Sports

Basketball: Little Rock’s water-logged OVC debut

As debuts go, it is an inauspicious one.

After years in the Sun Belt Conference, Little Rock joined the Ohio Valley Conference this past summer and tonight, the Trojans are set to make their basketball debut in the new league.

The game is still on, it just won’t be on-campus in the Jack Stephens Center as last week’s cold snap froze the pipes and caused a massive water leak that flooded the floor.

So, now, the games against Tennessee-Martin will be played at North Little Rock’s Simmons Bank Arena with the women’s game tipping off at 5 p.m. and the men’s game to follow at 7:30 p.m.

Doors open at 4 p.m. and tickets will only be sold at the box office for $10. The games will not be broadcast on ESPN+ and season tickets will be honored. All seats are general admission.

Parking around the arena will be free. 

Both games should be good ones.

UTM enters the games hot. The women’s team is 4-7 but that includes wins at Arkansas State and Vanderbilt. A game last week was cancelled due to the weather.

There's two Arkansans on the roster with 5-foot-10 guard Josie Storey out of Mountain View while 5-11 guard Kenley McCarn played at Melbourne.

Also back, for a sixth season, is Paige Pipkin, who played at Chester County High School in West Tennessee for her mom, Lee (Nunamaker) Pipkin, a long-time high school coach and former Union University player, who lost to Joe Foley's Arkansas Tech team in the 1993 NAIA National Championship game. 

UTM is led by Kevin McMillan, who played collegiately at Wake Forest, and spent his entire career in West Tennessee as high school and now college coach.

Little Rock is 3-8 but has played a brutal schedule with losses to Arkansas, Alabama, Auburn and Ole Miss, but have beaten Texas A&M.

Little Rock is 4-9 and the last game was a rough, 77-75, loss at Arkansas State. Keep an eye on guard D.J. Smith, a North Little Rock product, who was a pre-season all-conference pick by Lindy's College Basketball.

UTM (8-5) is coached by Ryan Ridder and the player to watch for the Skyhawks is Parker Stewart, the Lindy's pick as preseason Conference Player of the Year.


Basketball: Maumelle, CAC, North Little Rock play this week in tournaments across the state

A handful of teams are in action this week at tournaments around the state.

Centrral Arkansas Christian is in Jessieville this week for the Larry Ray Memorial. The Lady Mustangs face Caddo Hills and other teams in the field are: Jessieville, Mount Ida, Perryville, Cutter Morning Star, Bismarck and Danville.

Winner of the CAC game will face the winner of Jessieville-Mount Ida on Thursday.

Maumelle’s Lady Hornets are in Monticello this week for the Commercial Bank SouthEast Arkansas Holiday tournament. Maumelle faces White Hall on Wednesday and other teams in field are Drew Central, Junction City, Rison, Warren, Magnolia and Hampton.

The last teams in action this week are North Little Rock and the ‘Cats face Destiny Christian on Wednesday in the storied Coke Classic. Other teams in the field include Fort Smith Northside and Southside, Little Rock Hall, Sylvan Hills, Bryant and Springdale Har-Ber.

Daryl Fimple’s girls squad is also in action at a tournament in Texas.

Maumelle Charter boys

Record so far: 4-13

Upcoming games

  • Jan. 3 ... vs. St. Joseph ... 7:30 p.m.

  • Jan. 5 ... at Episcopal ... 7:30 p.m.

  • Jan. 6 ... vs. Perryville ... 7:30 p.m.

  • Jan. 10 ... at Lamar ... 7 p.m.

  • Jan. 13 ... vs. Baptist Prep ... 7:30 p.m.

  • Jan. 17 ... vs. Atkins ... 5:30 p.m.

  • Jan. 20 ... vs. Dover ... 7 p.m.

  • Jan. 23 ... at Sacred Heart ... 7 p.m.

  • Jan. 24 ... at Central Arkansas Christian ... 4:30 p.m.

  • Jan. 27 ... vs. Mayflower ... 7:30 p.m.

  • Jan. 31 ... at Perryville ... 7:30 p.m.

  • Feb. 3 ... vs. Lamar ... 7 p.m.

  • Feb. 7 ... at Baptist Prep ... 7:30 p.m.

  • Feb. 9 ... at Atkins ... 5:30 p.m.

For the roster, click here.

The week that was: The Falcons did not play.

Maumelle Charter girls

Record so far: 6-13

Upcoming games

  • Jan. 3 ... vs. St. Joseph ... 6 p.m.

  • Jan. 6 ... vs. Perryville ... 6 p.m.

  • Jan. 10 ... at Lamar ... 7 p.m.

  • Jan. 13 ... vs. Baptist Prep ... 6 p.m.

  • Jan. 17 ... at ... Atkins ... 5:30 p.m.

  • Jan. 20 ... vs. Dover ... 7 p.m.

  • Jan. 23 ... at Sacred Heart ... 6 p.m.

  • Jan. 24 ... at Central Arkansas Christian ... 7 p.m.

  • Jan. 27 ... vs. Mayflower ... 6 p.m.

  • Jan. 30 ... vs. Carlisle ... 7 p.m.

  • Jan. 31 ... at Perryville ... 6 p.m.

  • Feb. 3 ... vs. Lamar ... 7 p.m.

  • Feb. 7 ... at Baptist Prep ... 6 p.m.

  • Feb. 9 ... vs. Atkins ... 7 p.m.

For the roster, click here.

The week that was: Maumelle Charter did not play.

CAC boys

Record so far:9-6

Upcoming games

  • Jan. 6 ... vs. Mayflower ... 7:30 p.m.

  • Jan. 10 ... at Perryville ... 7:30 p.m.

  • Jan. 13 ... vs. Lamar ... 4:30 p.m.

  • Jan. 17 ... at Baptist Prep ... 7:30 p.m.

  • Jan. 20 ... at Atkins ... 5:30 p.m.

  • Jan. 24 ... vs. Maumelle Charter ... 4:30 p.m.

  • Jan. 27 ... at Dover ... 6 p.m.

  • Jan. 31 ... at Mayflower ... 7:30 p.m.

  • Feb. 3 ... vs. Perryville ... 7:30 p.m.

  • Feb. 7 ... at Lamar ... 5 p.m.

  • Feb. 9 ... vs. Baptist Prep ... 7:30 p.m.

For the roster, click here.

The week that was: The Mustangs did not play.

CAC girls

Record so far: (2-7)

Upcoming games

  • Wednesday ... Tournament at Jessieville against Caddo Hills

  • Thursday … Tournament at Jessieville against TBD

  • Friday … Tournament at Jessieville against TBD

  • Saturday … Tournament at Jessieville against TBD

  • Jan. 6 ... vs. Mayflower ... 5 p.m. 

  • Jan. 10 ... at Perryville ... 6 p.m.

  • Jan. 13 ... vs. Lamar ... 6 p.m.

  • Jan. 17 ... at Baptist Prep ... 6 p.m.

  • Jan. 20 ... at Atkins ... 5:30 p.m. 

  • Jan. 24 ... vs. Maumelle Charter ... 7 p.m. 

  • Jan. 27 ... at Dover ... 6:30 p.m. 

  • Jan. 31 ... at Mayflower ... 6:15 p.m.

  • Feb. 3 ... vs. Perryville ... 6 p.m.

  • Feb. 7 ... at Lamar ... 7 p.m.

  • Feb. 9 ... vs. Baptist Prep ... 6 p.m.

For the roster, click here.

The week that was: CAC did not play but are in a tournament at Jessieville this week.

Maumelle boys

Record so far: (8-6)

Upcoming games

  • Jan. 3 ... vs. eStem ... 7 p.m. 

  • Jan. 6 ... at Sylvan Hills ... 7 p.m. 

  • Jan. 10 ... vs. Parkview ... 7 p.m. 

  • Jan. 13 ... at Jacksonville ... 7:30 p.m.

  • Jan. 20 ... at Catholic ... 7 p.m. 

  • Jan. 27 ... vs. Vilonia ... 7 p.m. 

  • Jan. 31 ... at eStem ... 7 p.m. 

  • Feb. 3 ... vs. Sylvan Hills ... 7 p.m. 

  • Feb. 7 ... at Parkview ... 7 p.m. 

  • Feb. 10 ... vs. Jacksonville ... 7 p.m. 

  • Feb. 10 ... at Parkview ... 7 p.m. 

  • Feb. 17 ... vs. Catholic ... 7 p.m. 

  • Feb. 24 ... at Beebe ... 7:30 p.m.

For the roster, click here.

The week that was: Maumelle did not play.

Maumelle girls

Record so far: 4-9

Upcoming games

  • Wednesday ... vs. White Hall at the Commercial Bank SouthEast Arkansas Holiday tournament... 3:20 p.m.

  • Thursday … at the Commercial Bank SouthEast Arkansas Holiday tournament... TBD

  • Friday … at the Commercial Bank SouthEast Arkansas Holiday tournament... TBD

  • Jan. 3 ... vs. eStem ... 6 p.m.

  • Jan. 10 ... vs. Parkview ... 6 p.m.

  • Jan. 13 ... at Jacksonville ... 6 p.m.

  • Jan. 20 ... at Mount St. Mary ... 6 p.m.

  • Jan. 24 ... at Little Rock Christian ... 6 p.m.

  • Jan. 27 ... vs. Vilonia ... 6 p.m.

  • Jan. 31 ... at eStem ... 6 p.m.

  • Feb. 2 ... vs. Sylvan Hills ... 6 p.m.

  • Feb. 7 ... at Parkview ... 6 p.m.

  • Feb. 10 ... vs. Jacksonville ... 6 p.m.

  • Feb. 17 ... vs. Mount St. Mary ... 6 p.m.

  • Feb. 21 ... vs. Little Rock Christian ... 6 p.m.

  • Feb. 24 ... at Beebe ... 6 p.m.

For the roster, click here.

The week that was: Maumelle did not play but will be in Monticello this week for a tournament.

Twitter avatar for @MHSLadyHornets
Maumelle Lady Hornets Basketball @MHSLadyHornets
The Lady Hornets travel to Monticello over the holiday break to participate in a strong tournament in South Arkansas!
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2:32 PM ∙ Dec 19, 2022
10Likes5Retweets

North Little Rock boys

Record so far: (9-2)

Upcoming games

  • Wednesday... Destiny Christian at the Coke Classic at Fort Smith … 2:30 p.m.

  • Thursday ... Coke Classic at Fort Smith

  • Friday ... Coke Classic at Fort Smith

  • Jan. 3 ... at Central ... 7 p.m.

  • Jan. 6 ... at Conway ... 7 p.m.

  • Jan. 10 ... vs. Little Rock Southwest ... 7:30 p.m.

  • Jan. 13 ... at Jonesboro ... 7:30 p.m.

  • Jan. 24 ... vs. Bryant ... 7 p.m.

  • Jan. 27 ... vs. Cabot ... 7:30 p.m.

  • Jan. 31 ... vs. Central ... 7:30 p.m.

  • Feb. 3 ... vs. Conway ... 7:30 p.m.

  • Feb. 7 ... at Little Rock Southwest  ... 7:30 p.m.

  • Feb. 10 ... vs. Jonesboro ... 7:30 p.m.

  • Feb. 17 ... at Bryant ... 7:30 p.m.

  • Feb. 24 ... at Cabot ... 7:30 p.m.

For the roster, click here.

The week that was: North Little Rock will be in fort Smith this week for the Coke Classic.

Twitter avatar for @fsps_aa
FSPS Athletics & Activities @fsps_aa
IT'S ALMOST HERE! The infamous Coke Classic will be held on December 28-30th at Northside Arena! These events will be Digital Ticket events and tickets can be purchased at bit.ly/3hpiBqK. See Bracket for game times and tourney teams!
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3:29 PM ∙ Dec 20, 2022
2Likes1Retweet

North Little Rock girls

Record so far: 13-1

Upcoming games

  • Today … Texas tournament … TBD

  • Friday … Texas tournament … TBD

  • Saturday … Texas tournament … TBD

  • Jan. 3 ... at Central ... 6 p.m.

  • Jan. 6 ... at Conway ... 6 p.m.

  • Jan. 10 ... vs. Little Rock Southwest ... 6 p.m.

  • Jan. 13 ... at Jonesboro ... 6 p.m.

  • Jan. 24 ... vs. Bryant ... 6 p.m.

  • Jan. 27 ... vs. Cabot ... 6 p.m.

  • Jan. 31 ... vs. Central ... 6 p.m.

  • Feb. 3 ... vs. Conway ... 6 p.m.

  • Feb. 7 ... at Little Rock Southwest ... 6 p.m.

  • Feb. 10 ... vs. Jonesboro ... 6 p.m.

  • Feb. 17 ... at Bryant ... 6 p.m.

  • Feb. 24 ... at Cabot ... 6 p.m.

For the roster, click here.

The week that was: North Little Rock did not play and are in Texas this week for a tournament. The ‘Cats won two games on Wednesday and play again on Thursday

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The Most Wonderful Time of the Year

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