Ticket punched: Maumelle to play for state title
Wye Mountain Daffodil Festival is here; Curry to visit Little Rock; North Little Rock's Cheyenne Smock leads the charge for women in construction plus headlines and sports
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MEETINGS: The Maumelle City Council will meet next Monday night at City Hall. Before then, there will be a special call meeting of the School Board for the North Little Rock School District at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday. As the current presidential administration dissolves the U.S. Department of Education, while also ending the funding used for school lunches, expect many, many more emergency meetings at districts across the state as schools will have to cut personnel to make up for the budget shortfalls that, at least in North Little Rock’s case, are already past $5 million.
EVENTS: The Wye Mountain Daffodil Festival ends this Sunday at Wye Mountain Community Church. For more, keep scrolling.
Ticket punched: Maumelle to play for state title
Is Maumelle the best boy’s basketball team in the state?
The answer is a firm maybe but the Hornets will go a long way to making that claim if they beat Benton in the Class 5A state championship game this Friday night at Bank OZK Arena in Hot Springs.
The game is the last of the night and is scheduled to tip at 7:45 p.m. but will probably start closer to 8:30 p.m.
The game will be broadcast live on Arkansas PBS, as are the other state championship games. Live stats from all the basketball games will be available at aaa.statbroadcast.com.
Maumelle enters the game 27-7 and champs from the 5A-Central, while Benton is 29-3. This is the first time the two teams have played each other this season.
Of Benton’s three losses, only one to was an in-state team in Little Rock Central back in December. The other two losses were in a December tournament in Texas, and the Panthers enter the game riding an 18-game winning streak and still haven’t lost in 2025.
Benton’s best player is Terrion Burgess, a 6-foot-9 wing who has offers from Arkansas, Auburn and Alabama among others. Burgess is the state’s No. 3 player in this year’s senior class.
Maumelle’s Jordan Harris, a 6-7 forward, is the No. 4 prospect in this year’s junior class.
Neither team has won a basketball state championship, so this will be the first title for either.
Benton lost in the state championship game last season, and also played for a title in 2008.
This is Maumelle’s fourth state championship game appearance with losses in 2015, 2016 and 2021, all for coach Michael Shook, the program’s only coach since the high school opened after Oak Grove was closed.
Maumelle will be the visitor on Friday with Benton as the home team. Officials will be: Gene Etheridge, Daniel Brown and Patrick Watson
Rosters
MAUMELLE
0 Nash Page G 6-0 So.
1 Jaylon Walker G 5-10 Fr.
2 Derrick Lewis G 5-10 Sr.
3 Ashton Shelton G 6-1 So.
4 Kamryn Alexander G 6-0 So.
5 Cedric Jones G 6-0 Sr.
10 Malik McGuire C 6-7 Sr.
11 Jordan Harris F 6-7 Jr.
12 Talan Poyner G 5-11 Sr.
14 Kennon Johnson G 6-1 So.
15 Cohen Noble F 5-11 So.
23 Jonathan Williams G 5-10 Jr.
24 Markalon Rochell F 6-5 Sr.
33 Reese Shearon G 6-1 Jr.
35 Jayce Tillman F 6-4 Sr.
Head Coach: Michael Shook
BENTON
0 Chris Johnson G 5-8 Sr.
1 Javarious Russell G 6-1 Jr.
2 AD Gray F 6-5 Sr.
3 Elem Shelby G 6-4 Sr.
4 Anthony Spratt G 6-6 Fr.
5 Caleb Knight G 6-1 Sr.
10 Terrion Burgess G/F 6-9 Sr.
11 Carson Douglas G 6-2 Sr.
13 Robert Smith G 5-8 So.
20 Peyton Bolding G 6-1 So.
21 Pratt Falks G 6-1 So.
22 Jack Hope F 6-3 Jr.
23 Harrison Prickett G 6-2 Sr.
24 Michael Hendrix G 6-0 Fr.
30 Xavier Jones G 5-8 Jr.
Head Coach: Dexter Hendrix
State championship game schedule
2A girls – Barton vs. Izard County – Thursday at noon.
2A boys – Tuckerman vs. East Poinsett County – Thursday at 1:45 p.m.
3A girls – Lamar vs. Dover – Thursday at 6 p.m.
3A boys – Melbourne vs. Osceola – Thursday at 7:45 p.m.
4A girls – De Queen vs. Pulaski Academy – Friday at noon.
4A boys – Morrilton vs. Mills – Friday at 1:45 p.m.
5A girls – Greene County Tech vs. Farmington – Friday at 6 p.m.
5A boys – Benton vs. Maumelle – Friday at 7:45 p.m.
6A girls – Fayetteville vs. Fort Smith Northside – Saturday at noon.
6A boys – Bryant vs. Springdale – Saturday at 1:45 p.m.
1A girls – West Side (Greers Ferry) vs. Earle – Saturday at 6 p.m.
1A boys – Marked Tree vs. Earle – Saturday at 7:45 p.m.
Wye Mountain Daffodil Festival is here
The annual Wye Mountain Daffodil Festival is ongoing and ends this Sunday after being previously extended. There’s also a chance it will be extended again.
Festival hours are from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day and parking and admission is free but donations are accepted.
The daffodils and jonquils that cover the mountain are already starting to bloom and event organizers note that the festival’s length and daily hours could be extended depending on the weather.
Now in its 47th year, the festival is a benefit for Wye Mountain Church, formerly a United Methodist congregation, and before that, it was a United Brethren church, built in 1928.
In addition to the flowers, there’s arts and crafts that will be for sale along with food trucks. In years past, the cinnamon rolls were a must purchase.
There will also be daffodil bulbs for sale at the festival as well.
The address for the church is 22300 Highway 113, Bigelow and for more click here.
The drive to Wye Mountain is worth it. There’s roughly 10 acres of glorious color on display as matching families pose with the Easter best as photographers snap away.
Curry to visit Little Rock
The former Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church, the Rt. Rev. Michael Curry will be in Little Rock for his Annual Lenten Preaching Mission and Revival Thursday through Sunday at Trinity Episcopal Cathedral.
Curry, above, served as the 27th presiding bishop and primate of The Episcopal Church for nine years, retiring in 2024 after more than 40 years of ordained ministry. He gained widespread recognition in 2018 when he officiated the Royal Wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle.
During his visit, Curry will speak at two public events on Thursday and Friday at 7 p.m. He will also officiate the Sunday morning church service at Trinity Episcopal Cathedral at 9 a.m. On Saturday evening, March 15, a special ticketed event will feature Curry as the keynote speaker, along with a seated dinner and book signing.
Throughout his ministry, Curry has been a prophetic leader, particularly in the areas of racial reconciliation, climate change, evangelism, immigration policy, and marriage equality. The animating vision and message of his ministry is Jesus of Nazareth and his way of radical, sacrificial love, and he regularly reminds Episcopalians that they are “the Episcopal branch of the Jesus Movement.”
Curry is also the author of five books and a frequent guest on national and international media outlets. In recognition of his influence, he was named the 2018 Religion Newsmaker of the Year by the Religion News Association.
For more information on all the events and for tickets to the dinner on Saturday evening please visit https://www.episcopalarkansas.org/.
Paving the Way: Cheyenne Smock leads the charge for women in construction
For Cheyenne Smock, construction isn't just a career-it's a calling. The UA Little Rock sophomore and president of the Associated General Contractors (AGC) student chapter will graduate in May with an associate degree in construction science, capping off more than a decade-long journey in the construction industry.
As a nontraditional student, Smock, a native of North Little Rock, spent 10 years working in construction before deciding to return to school. Currently an estimator at Nabholz, she credits her career path to an unexpected opportunity during a difficult time in her life.
"I didn't choose construction, construction chose me," Smock said. "After leaving the Navy, I found myself with nothing. My previous boss saw potential in me and took a chance. That's how I got started, and I've never looked back."
Smock's experience in construction, from highway inspection at an engineering firm to estimating for one of the state's largest contractors, has given her a deep understanding of the industry. Now, as president of the AGC student chapter, she is focused on connecting students with industry professionals and creating career opportunities.
"I spend a lot of time making sure students get the connections they need to start careers, not just internships," she said. "We bring in guest speakers from the industry, partner with professional organizations, and put on networking events. Our students are getting real-world knowledge, not just textbook learning."
Through AGC, Smock has helped organize student events like trivia nights, crawfish boils, and professional meetups, all designed to introduce students to potential employers. In addition to the student chapter, Smock is also a member of Arkansas AGC, Women in Transportation, Women of Asphalt, National Association of Women in Construction, Construction Leadership Committee, and UA Little Rock's Industry Advisory Board.
Beyond building career pathways, Smock is also an outspoken advocate for mental health awareness in the construction industry.
"I'm a massive advocate for suicide prevention," she said. "Mental health struggles are an epidemic in our industry, and we need to start talking about them. One of my biggest goals is to organize a suicide prevention event through AGC. To get people talking is the first step."
As the first person in her family to attend college and one of the few women in her field, Smock understands the challenges female students face in construction.
"This is a male-dominated world, not just industry," she said. "Women in construction have to fight for a seat at the table. It's so important to let girls and women know that their seat is there, and their seat is valid. We've worked hard for it, and we deserve to be here."
After graduation, Smock plans to continue her career in construction while taking some well-earned time to catch up on reading. She already has more than 120 books on her to-read list.
Camp Healing Hearts offers free grief camp
Losing a loved one is difficult for everyone, and grieving a loss is essential to accepting painful feelings and creating an opportunity for growth and a new sense of normal.
Camp Healing Hearts is for Arkansas children ages five to 18 and their families who are grieving the death of a loved one. Part of Kaleidoscope Grief Center, a program of Methodist Family Health, Camp Healing Hearts is a FREE overnight event that will begin at 5 p.m. at Camp Aldersgate in Little Rock on Friday, May 9 and end at 5:30 p.m. Saturday, May 10. Registration deadline is Sunday, April 26.
Utilizing both therapy and recreation, our camp offers children and families an opportunity to discover their own inner strength. An adult caregiver is required to accompany the grieving child or children attending camp. Activities include heart-to-heart time, fishing, crafts, games, campfires, s'mores and much more. It is best for children and families who have experienced a loss of 3-to-6 months or more. Only 100 spaces are available.
You can apply online at https://form.jotform.com/scox/CAMP_HEALING_HEARTS or download the application and mail it to:
Dao Ward
Kaleidoscope Grief Center
1600 Aldersgate Rd., Suite 100B
Little Rock, Arkansas 72205
Application deadline is Sun., Apr. 26, 2025.
Kaleidoscope Grief Center serves grieving children, teens and their families throughout Arkansas. Grief can be an isolating experience for children. The program helps those dealing with loss and bereavement through education, therapeutic and recreational services, grief support programs, counseling and Camp Healing Hearts.
To register for Camp Healing Hearts, learn more about Kaleidoscope Grief Center or find out how Methodist Family Health can assist your family, visit MethodistFamily.org.
Health
The journey
While there’s still technically a week to go, the journey is coming to an end, at least for a little bit as an annual trip plus a birthday is coming and confident that any gains, or losses, will be tossed to the wind in what’s expected to be a busy long weekend in Hot Springs, then that dumb birthday.
So, 11 and half weeks is good enough, maybe and here’s the tally.
Total body weight lost by percentage: 7
Goal: 10 percent was the optimistic hope but 5 to 7 percent was much more realistic.
Thoughts: Hey, not bad as I hit the top end of the realistic goal.
Benchuary, which was supposed to end in February, got extended into the first week of March and it was pretty great.
The goal was something better and that was achieved as in a month increased both my single rep max and total reps at about 10 percent each. Wednesday, literally this morning, as I’m writing this tonight, I did a 315 workout, where my final set was six reps at 315, which made the teeanger s aring why [HUMBLE BRAG] the old guy was so strong. [/end HUMBLE BRAG].
As for the vibe, that’s also pretty good as I’m less achy in the morning, plus I recently bought two new shirts and they’re both 2XL, which while still absurdly large, is smaller then what I previously bought. The “skinny jeans” I thought I had in the garage and were going to try on a test, I guess were sold in a garage sale or made their way to Goodwill.Plus, it might have ruined the good vibes if they hadn’t fit. So, I’m counting that as a win.
With another big trip planned in May, I’ll start a new journey later this month as someone is going to need to be comfortable on that very long international flight.But I think I’ll enjoy the break.
Until then.
Last in an 11-part series.
Pandemic deaths unknown
The state Department of Health didn’t update the state’s dashboard this week, again, and deaths still total 532 for the past year. There’s no tab created for 2025 either despite it being March and nearing the fifth anniversary of the start of the pandemic on March 15, 2020. The virus has now killed 14,162 Arkansans since the pandemic began then. 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