Ward 1 shakeup in Maumelle
Fireworks primer; Fireworks watch party; 4th Fest is Thursday plus sports and headlines
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Meetings: The North Little Rock City Council will meet next Monday night at City Hall.
Events: This Thursday is the July 4th holiday. All the government offices normally open, will be closed. Some offices will also be closed, or have limited hours, on Friday as well. So call before you go.Also, the holiday is why this is coming out Tuesday night. Trash and recycling will run one-day delayed this week due to the holiday.
Fireworks primer
Fireworks are illegal in Maumelle, with the exception of this Thursday, from the hours of 4:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. when they are legally allowed to be discharged inside the city limits, said the police department on Tuesday.
Discharging fireworks inside the city limits of North Little Rock is very illegal.
If you live in the county, good luck, it is the wild west out there.
Will the cops do anything if you call to complain? No. No, they will not, as I’ve learned from personal experience.
So if you have pets, keep them close because the fireworks can trigger some real anxiety in your animals. Thunder shirts can be helpful in times like Thursday as well as just keeping them inside. Less chance of running off that way.
The best choice, if you want to see fireworks on the holiday, is to let the professionals handle it and go to a show. There’s several to choose from and also lets you avoid the chance of getting a finger or two blown off.
Fireworks watch party
The Arkansas Inland Maritime Museum will be hosting its annual Pops on the River fireworks fundraiser watch party this Thursday, July 4.
Gates open at 7 p.m. and the fireworks will begin around 9:30 p.m.
Tickets are $15 per person and parking passes are $10 (per vehicle - to park inside the sea wall). Tickets can be purchased online at https://tinyurl.com/3c8kzw86.
The museum is located at 120 Riverfront Park Drive in North Little Rock. There’s limited seating on the deck of USS Razorback and there will also be concessions for sale and alcohol available from the donation bar.
Please email info@aimmuseum.org or call 501-371-8320 with questions.
4th Fest is Thursday
Maumelle's 4th Fest Celebration is this Thursday, July 4th, with the parade starting at 4:30 p.m. and the route will be along Millwood Circle and Club Manor Drive.
Parade awards will be handed out at 6:15 p.m. Music by R@NDOM starts at 7:50 p.m. with fireworks starting at 9:30 p.m.
All those activities will be at Lake Willastein. It will also feature an assortment of food trucks, games and something dubbed the "space walk inflatables."
Admission is free.
If you want to enter the parade, click here.
The best overall entry will receive $200.
There’s also a fireworks show at Dickey-Stephens Park after tonight’s Travs game.
Ward 1 shakeup in Maumelle
Steve Mosley, Maumelle’s longest-serving City Council member, said Tuesday, he wasn’t going to seek another term.
Mosley, was first elected in 2012 when he defeated Kevin Corbell, and is wrapping up his third term in office.
If Mosley had run again, he would have had opposition as LaJarlyn “LJ” Wesley, announced a run for the seat last week.
Mosley release follows
I wanted to let you know that I will be retiring from my Ward 1 Position 1 Council position when my term concludes this coming December of 2024. I will have concluded 3 terms with a total of 12 years. That will be as long as any Council Member has previously served. I am not necessarily retiring from public service completely but do think 12 years has been about right for that of a Council Member.
My efforts on the Council have included keeping taxes low, preventing any new apartments and other high density housing, pursuing traffic studies and actions to keep Maumelle Boulevard traffic flowing, successfully pushing to get Maumelle on CAW's clean, secure, water supply, successfully passing legislation for a tree ordinance to preserve Maumelle's undeveloped tree canopy, investigating and exposing City accounting oddities and irregularities, pushing for the establishment of an audit committee to strengthen accounting controls, pursuing the goal of honesty, integrity, and fair play in City government, trying to keep dangerous dogs out of Maumelle, doing all that is possible to keep Maumelle the safest community in central Arkansas, and striving to make Maumelle residents the top priority of City government over special interest groups.
I have found my time on the Council to be an enjoyable and rewarding experience and would recommend running for City Council to anyone who is interested in making a difference in our community. Someone once said that democracy starts at the local level, but we have to have good, honest, decent people to run for office to make that work. It's important to have 2 or more running for each position at each election cycle so that issues can be discussed and residents can vote for the candidate that best represents their respective vision. The filing deadline for this year's election cycle is the first week of August and will feature 1 Council position for each of our 4 wards. I am happy to help guide anyone through the process that is interested.
As always, it's been an honor and privilege to represent you as one of your two Ward 1 Council Members!!
Candidate filings to begin this month
Wednesday, July 31 is the first day candidates for local office can make it official by filing with the Pulaski County Clerk.
The filing period begins at noon and will conclude at noon on Wednesday, Aug. 7.
Running for office? Let us know by replying back or emailing jeremyarkansasnews@gmail.com.
Wesley announcement follows
LJ Wesley proudly announces her candidacy for the Maumelle City Council, representing Ward 1. With a strong commitment to community service and a vision for an inclusive and forward-thinking Maumelle, LJ Wesley is eager to bring her leadership and dedication to the City Council.
LJ Wesley, a longtime resident of Maumelle, has been an active member of the community, working tirelessly to improve the lives of her fellow citizens. She brings a wealth of experience in local issues, a deep understanding of the needs and concerns of Ward 1 residents, and a passion for making a positive impact.
"As a member of this community, I have witnessed firsthand the challenges and opportunities that Maumelle faces. I am running for City Council to ensure that our city continues to thrive and that every resident has a voice in its future," said Wesley. "I am committed to promoting transparency, enhancing public safety, supporting local businesses, and ensuring sustainable growth for Maumelle, while remaining fiscally responsible."
Wesley’s campaign will focus on several key priorities:
1. Community Engagement: Encouraging active participation from residents in decision-making processes and fostering a strong sense of community.
2. Public Safety: Working closely with law enforcement and first responders to ensure a safe and secure environment for all citizens.
3. Economic Development: Supporting local businesses and attracting new enterprises to create jobs and boost the local economy.
4. Sustainable Growth: Promoting responsible development practices that preserve the natural beauty of Maumelle while accommodating growth.
5. Transparency and Accountability: Ensuring that city government operates with openness and integrity, making information readily accessible to all residents.
LJ Wesley is committed to listening to the voices of Ward 1 residents and representing their interests on the City Council. She invites all community members to join her in this journey towards a brighter future for Maumelle.
For more information about LJ Wesley’s campaign, please visit her website at www.LJ4Maumelle.com or follow her on social media at @LJ4Maumelle.
Sports
Upcoming Travs games
Opponent – Frisco
Tonight, 6:05 p.m.
Fireworks - Patriotic: Presented By Baldwin & Shell Construction
All-You-Can-Eat Family Picnic: Purchase a special "AYCE" ticket that includes a seat in Section 216! Buffet will feature hot dogs, burgers, beans, chips, popcorn, soft drinks, water, plus cookies & brownies. (Alcohol will be available for purchase separately.) Two-hour buffet will begin at 6:05 p.m. Game tickets with the meal are $30 and can be purchased by clicking here.
At Frisco this Thursday, Friday and Saturday
At Midland, July 9 - July 14
Pandemic deaths unknown
The state Department of Health again didn’t have a Covid report available for this week. The last report made available to the public was in April. We have continued efforts to get updated numbers but they’ve proven to be fruitless, which, I suppose, is the point. The virus has killed 13,920 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