Top Golf gets closer
Food for Thought Luncheon is today in Maumelle; Mingling at the Marina is today; Quarterly Inspiration in Education Award given by PCSSD; Hot Hornets head to Watson Chapel 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 climb
The state Department of Health, on its Covid dashboard, showed that in the past week, there were 7 new deaths reported. The numbers were updated Tuesday, Oct. 17.
The state also made some significant revisions to previous yearly tallies and added 95 new deaths to 2022 and 2021, but removed two from 2020.
The total number of reported dead Arkansans now stands at 13,343 or the state’s 30th largest city. Passing Harrison’s 13,338.
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 City Council meets next Monday night at City Hall. The North Little Rock School Board will meet at 5:30 p.m. tonight
Events: The Maumelle Area Chamber of Commerce's Food for Thought Luncheon is at 11:30 a.m. today at the Jess Odom Community Center. The lunch is free and for more check out the flyer below or click here. Thunder at the Rock at Little Rock Air Force Base is this Saturday and Sunday. For more, click here.
State Fair continues: The Arkansas State Fair continues through this Sunday, Oct. 22 at the Fairgrounds off Asher in Little Rock. General admission is $8 in advance and $12 the day of. Gates open at 11 a.m. and parking is $10. For more, click here.
Mingling at the Marina is today
Commercial Real Estate Council of Metro Little Rock will host Mingling at the Marina, a networking event for commercial real estate professionals, at 4 p.m. on today, Oct. 19, at Rockwater Marina, 1600 Rockwater Boulevard.
The event offers commercial real estate professionals from all segments of commercial real estate to meet.
Tickets are $15 for members and $25 for guests and are available at crecmlr.org/events.
For sponsorship, ticket, or other information, contact info@crecmlr.org or 501-539-0582.
Howl-O-Ween is Oct. 30
The Maumelle Friends of Animals is having Howl-O-Ween starting at 6 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 30. It will be held at Coldwell Banker parking lot, 105 Country Club Parkway. The event is a Trunk or Treat for dogs and pet costumes are available, for any donation.
Frozen coming to North Little Rock High School
The North Little Rock High School Theatre Arts Department will present Frozen: The Broadway Musical from Nov. 9 to Nov. 12 at the Performing Arts Center.
North Little Rock Rock is the only high school in the state performing the musical this school year,
The schedule of performances is:
Nov 9, 7 p.m.
Nov 10, 7 p.m.
Nov 11, 1 p.m.
Nov 11, 7 p.m.
Nov 12, 3 p.m.
To buy tickets, click here.
Top Golf gets closer
As Christmas presents go, it won’t be the worst one, if you like golf at least.
The Top Golf construction in Little Rock has picked up steam as the company’s logo is now on the building and the facility’s signature netting has been put in place.
A company spokesman said they didn’t have an update on when the building would open but the facility, if the weather cooperates, should be ready mid-December of this year, based on the timelines of previous Top Golfs built across the country.
There’s also the fact that they’re hiring with over a dozen jobs listed here. They range from head of instruction to table bussers. The company said the new facility would have 300 full and part-time employees once it was fully staffed up.
The facility was announced in May 2022 with construction coming that fall just off the Colonel Glenn exit and the address is 5 Topgolf Way
This is the second Top Golf in Arkansas with the first location being in Rogers.
The company has seen a bit of a growth surge as numerous new locations are underway across the region.
Besides the golf, there’s food, drinks and plenty of TVs.
"We are thrilled to be bringing Topgolf to the capital of Arkansas and planning to join this vibrant community," said Topgolf Chief Development Officer Chris Callaway last year. "As we look to expand the Topgolf experience in the state, Little Rock is the perfect place to do it."
Fidelity Communications to open applications for its Charitable Giving Fund
Fidelity Communications will open Fall 2023 applications for the company’s Charitable Giving Fund, which annually awards $250,000 in grants to 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations, from Oct. 1-31.
Grants will be made available across communities served by Fidelity and will concentrate support in the following priority areas:
Education and Digital Literacy
Hunger Relief and Food Insecurity
Community Development
Last year the company awarded grants to nearly 60 nonprofits, including organizations serving the homeless, providing child advocacy, offering senior assistance and supplying food to those in need, to name a few.
“We are committed to helping strengthen the cities and towns where we live and work by giving back to the local nonprofits who do so much to support our communities,” said Julie Laulis, Cable One President and CEO.
For more information about the Fidelity Charitable Giving Fund, visit www.fidelitycommunications.com/charitablegiving.
Education news and notes
Quarterly Inspiration in Education Award given by PCSSD
At its most recent meeting, the Pulaski County Special School District awarded its first Inspiration in Education award for this school year.
It was given to Michael Richardson, security officer at College Station Elementary.
Richardson, above, has worked for the District for almost four years, working at Sylvan Hills Middle and Mills University Studies High prior to coming to College Station Elementary.
Richardson is also an active member of the Air Force. His love for our country is evident in how he works with the students to teach them about respecting our nation’s flag. He even works with students on how to properly fold the American flag.
The quarterly goes to a district employee nominated by their peers and then reviewed by the district to determine the honoree.
The award is given quarterly with the next coming in December to be followed in March and May.
North of the River students awarded scholarships at University of Arkansas
Thirteen North of the River students were awarded scholarships this fall from the Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences at the University of Arkansas.
The awards are part of 960 scholarships totaling $1.6 million given this fall to Fulbright College students across four academic disciplines: arts, humanities, natural sciences and social sciences.
Lillian Hamlin of Maumelle was awarded the Sue Walk Burnett Journalism Scholarship.
Jimmy Nguyen of Maumelle was awarded the Frances Greer and Herman Harrison Hankins Endowed Scholarship.
Sarah Reaves of Maumelle was awarded the Roy and Christine Sturgis Endowed Trust Scholarship.
Miles Spencer of Maumelle was awarded the Davis P. Richardson Endowed Scholarship.
Allie Wood of Maumelle was awarded the School of Art Undergraduate Student Support Scholarship.
Allyssa DeZaldivar of Sherwood was awarded the Nina J. Erickson Memorial Scholarship in Art and School of Art Undergraduate Student Support Scholarship.
Lindsey Eagan of North Little Rock was awarded the Guerdon D. Nichols Scholarship.
Jackson Hastings of Sherwood was awarded the Carrie Hamilton Memorial Scholarship in Playwriting.
Brian Hobby of North Little Rock was awarded the Holly Turner Meek Endowed Scholarship.
Morgan Ison of North Little Rock was awarded the School of Art Undergraduate Student Support Scholarship.
Samantha Montgomery of North Little Rock was awarded the Celebrate Arkansas Magazine Endowed Award.
William Watson of North Little Rock was awarded the School of Art Undergraduate Student Support Scholarship.
Josie Zakrzewski of North Little Rock was awarded the Roy and Christine Sturgis Endowed Trust Scholarship.
This fall's scholarships are made possible from the support of donors, who include alumni, faculty, staff and friends of Fulbright College, and aid students as part of the commitment to student success.
Each year, Fulbright College awards more than $3 million in scholarships to its students to support their academic success, including scholarships for study abroad, honors studies, research fellowships and more. Learn more about scholarships at fulbright.uark.edu/scholarships.
North Little Rock School District sets community forums
The North Little Rock School District School Board n is conducting in-person community forums this month to discuss building plans in the district.
A virtual session will be held in November.
The forums have already started and the remainder of the events are:
Monday, Oct. 23, Glenview Elementary School - Cafeteria, 6 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Tuesday, Oct. 24, Seventh Street Elementary School - Cafeteria, 6 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Monday, Oct. 30,, Ridge Road Elementary School - Cafeteria, 6 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Monday, Nov. 6, 2023, Virtual via Zoom, Zoom link, 6 p.m. to 7 p.m.
High school roundup
Hot Hornets head to Watson Chapel
Maumelle knocked off Morrilton last Friday, 26-14, as the Hornets improved to 4-3 and, more importantly, 2-3 in the 5A-Central.
Against Morrilton, it was the same names for the Hornets who keyed the win.
Senior running back Jaiden Worsham had a career best night as he ran for 232 yards and touchdown on 24 carries. Worsham now has 834 yards rushing on the season.
Sophomore quarterback Abdrew Bjork passed for 189 yards and two touchdowns, while Alan Timmons had three catches for 79 yards and got his first rushing touchdown of the season on a trick play.
Bjork has now passed for 1,179 yards this season.
Elijah Newell had four catches for 60 yards and a touchdown while Cato Hunter had a receiving touchdown as well.
The Hornets, No. 11 in the Class 5A poll from hootens.com, head to winless Watson Chapel and No. 32 in the same poll.
Right now, despite the two-game winning streak, Maumelle needs some help to make the playoffs, as the three losses were to teams ahead of them in the conference standings, but that win against Mills looks large and is key to any playoff hopes.
The three teams remaining on Maumelle's schedule are a combined 4-18, so there's hope.
Elsewhere across North of the River, it was nothing but offense last week for CAC, as the Mustangs lost a thriller to Clinton, 53-50.
The loss drops CAC to 6-2 on the season with just two games remaining. The first is this Friday when they travel to Dover.
CAC enters the game as the No. 14 team in Class 4A according to Hootens.com while the Pirates are No. 41 and 2-5 on the year.
CAC, barring a complete collapse, will be in the Class 4A playoffs starting Nov. 10 but the seeding is still up in the air.
Despite last Friday's 37-7 loss to Jonesboro, North Little Rock is also playoff bound but seeding is still to be determined.
The 'Cats can improve that seed this Friday when they host Fort Smith Northside in a 7A-Central game.
North Little Rock (2-5) is No. 10 in the Class 7A pool from hootens.com while Northside is No. 12 and 1-6 on the year.
A win would mean the 'Cats would likely be the No. 5 seed in November.
Friday night lights
Maumelle Hornets
Aug. 25 ... Maumelle 20, Sylvan Hills 0
Sept. 1 ... Maumelle 41, Batesville 27
Sept. 8 … White Hall 42, Maumelle 21
Sept. 22 ... Pine Bluff 41, Maumelle 25
Sept. 28 ... Maumelle 34, Mills 28
Oct. 6 ... Robinson 48, Maumelle 38
Oct. 13 ... Maumelle 26, Morrilton 14
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
Aug. 25 ... CAC 52, Lonoke 16
Sept. 1 ... CAC 40, Perryville 6
Sept. 8 ... CAC, 50 Bauxite 45
Sept. 15 ... Harmony Grove 43, CAC 42
Sept. 22 ... CAC 40, Little Rock Hall 27
Sept. 29 ... CAC 50, Mayflower 34
Oct. 6 ... CAC 44, Pottsville 43
Oct. 13 ... Clinton 53, CAC 50
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
Aug. 25 ... Catholic 17, North Little Rock 7
Sept. 1 ... Fayetteville 58, North Little Rock 20
Sept. 15 ... Parkview 52, North Little Rock 14
Sept. 22 ... North Little Rock 41, Little Rock Central 6
Sept. 29 ... Conway 36, North Little Rock 7
Oct. 6 ... North Little Rock 44, Little Rock Southwest 13
Oct. 13 ... Jonesboro 37, North Little Rock 7
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
North Little Rock’s Teylen Patterson receives OVC Academic Medal of Honor
Teylen Patterson of North Little Rock is one of more than 20 UA Little Rock student-athletes who have been awarded the 2022-23 Academic Medal of Honor from the Ohio Valley Conference for achieving a 4.0 GPA for the academic year.
Patterson is a track athlete at UALR and played soccer and ran track during her high school at North Little Rock High School.
The OVC Academic Medal of Honor is given annually to the student-athletes who achieve the highest grade point average in a Ohio Valley Conference-sponosored sport. UA Little Rock was represented in 10 sports with four athletes receiving the honor in multiple sports. Soccer had the most student-athlete honorees with seven.
North Little Rock’s Bria Allen was also honored by the OVC and joined Patterson on the Commissioner's Honor Roll.
Allen is also a track athlete and was all-state in track at Maumelle High School.
To be listed, recipients must have achieved at least a 3.25 grade point average, have been eligible and on the team throughout the competitive season in their chosen sport, and used a season of competition.
Shameless plug: Like college basketball? Be sure to check out Lindy’s College Basketball. The annual magazine takes a look at every team in Division I and is now on sale at newsstands locally and across the country. I’ve been writing for them for going on two decades now and it never gets easier, especially with the transfer portal, but it sure is fun.