White Out
Snow remains and more winter weather in the forecast; Public meetings on bond issue set plus sports and headlines.
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MEETINGS: The Maumelle City Council will meet next Monday night at City Hall. There’s also a number of meetings over next week and the following week to discuss the Maumelle bond issue. For more on that, keep scrolling.
EVENTS: There’s plenty on the calendar but given the current conditions as well as the roads, as well as the forecast for additional snow and ice this week and into the weekend, none of it seems very likely. Some things have already been rescheduled, such as the Maumelle Area Chamber of Commerce’s Casino Night, which will now be in February. For more on that, keep scrolling.
Public meetings set
Maumelle’s city website is now showing a number of public meetings and coffees over the next two weeks concerning the March special election for the bond issue.
Typically those meetings would come with a legally required notification that the mayor and members of the city council would be present, but those notifications have yet to arrive. There’s a mandated clock, but those meetings are set far enough out, that it hasn’t started ticking yet. So there’s still time.
The first public meeting is next Tuesday followed by a “Coffee with the Mayor” on Thursday. The following week, the second public meeting is Tuesday, Feb. 10 with the second “Coffee with the Mayor” being a Maumelle Area Chamber of Commerce event on Thursday, Feb. 12.
Both public meetings will start at 6 p.m. and be held at the Maumelle Charter Middle School cafeteria. The first will be on Bond Questions 1, 6 and 7, with the second being on Bond Questions 1, 4 and 5.
The first coffee will be at 8:15 a.m. on Thursday, Feb. 5 and be at Cheers in Maumelle while the second will be at the Maumelle Area Chamber of Commerce and start at 8:30 a.m. on Feb. 12. Pre-registration is required and click here to do that.
White Out
At least the power stayed on for most. Otherwise this week’s winter storm was about as miserable as expected and still ongoing as school is out for today across North of the River and things aren’t promising for Friday either as more inclement and icy cold weather is expected this week and into the weekend.
Eye on the Sky
Today: Widespread dense freezing fog. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a high near 44 and a low around 26. Tonight, there’s a chance of rain turning into freezing rain with the chance of precipitation at 20 percent.
Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 35. Wind chill values as low as 18 with a low around 12. North wind 5 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 15 mph.
Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 26, with a low around 10.
Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 35, with a low around 21.
Monday: Sunny, with a high near 45 and a low around 25.
Tuesday: A 30 percent chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 45 and a low around 34. The chance of precipitation is 60 percent.
The National Weather Service office in North Little Rock, in its forecast, said on Wednesday that, “hazardous travel conditions are expected to continue over the next several days, especially on secondary and country roads, as dense snow/sleet pack slowly erodes.”
The comes the fun stuff with a “brief bout of very light mixed precipitation is possible Thursday evening into early Friday. Little to no accumulation is expected” and “another round of arctic air is expected by the weekend with a gradually warming trend into early next week.”
As much as seven inches of snow were reported in rural north Pulaski County, which was among the highest totals in the state. That has mostly stuck around as what the forecasters called, “the sleet/snow pack” hasn’t really melted off in the intense sunshine seen on Tuesday and Wednesday and what did turn to liquid froze back up at night.
It made even walking in the yard hazardous, let alone driving in it, But if you did brave it out, you would have noted that what was on the ground was extremely solid and not even leaving shoeprints in the show and ice mix.
That might be ideal for skiers but there’s a certain lack of cross country skis in the south.
Casino Night rescheduled
As expected, the Maumelle Area Chamber of Commerce’s Casino Night has been rescheduled and will now be Thursday, Feb. 19 and will start at 6 p.m. It will still be at the Maumelle Event Center and to register click here. Also check out the flyer below for more information.
Government offices closed: City offices in Maumelle and North Little Rock will be closed or have delayed openings today. As of now, no word on Friday has been announced but things aren’t promising. As always, if you have business, and are lucky enough to get out your front door, call in advance to make sure where you’re going is open that day.
North Little Rock also sends a long word that trash and recycling will not be running this week due to the road conditions but that the city has set up two locations for residents to deposit their trash. They are:
North Little Rock Fire Station #9 (Indian Hills), 2309 Osage Drive
Edward’s Cash Saver (across from North Little Rock Fire Station #6 Levy), 3801 Camp Robinson Road
Sanitation Department trucks will be on site at both locations from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. to collect trash.
Election Calendar
Feb. 2: Last day to register to vote.
Early Voting Dates: Feb. 17 through March 2
Early Voting Hours: 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday – Friday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturdays and 8 a.m to -5 p.m. on Monday March 2.
March 3: Preferential Primary Election/Annual School Election/Nonpartisan Judicial General Election
If a runoff is needed in the primary, it will be March 31
Early Voting Locations
Pulaski County Regional Building, 501 West Markham, Little Rock
Sue Cowan Williams Library, 1800 S. Chester St.
Dee Brown Library, 6325 Baseline Road, Little Rock
Thompson Library, 38 Rahling Circle, Little Rock
William F Laman Public Library, 2801 Orange St., NorthLittle Rock
Jacksonville Community Center, 5 Municipal Drive, Jacksonville
Jess Odom Community Center, 1100 Edgewood Drive, Maumelle
First Christian Church of Sherwood, 2803 E. Kiehl Ave., Sherwood
McMath Library, 2100 John Barrow Road, Little Rock
Hillary Clinton Children’s Library, 4800 W. 10th St., Little Rock
John Gould Fletcher Library, 823 N. Buchanan St., Little Rock
Terry Library, 2015 Napa Valley Drive, Little Rock
75Strong coming to Maumelle
A local economic development leader from Maumelle is helping bring new growth opportunities to area businesses through participation in a statewide initiative designed to support Arkansas companies ready to scale.
Kellie Wall, CEO of the Maumelle Area Chamber of Commerce, is part of the 75Strong program. Through the program, they are actively recruiting local businesses to participate in the newly launched 75Strong Business Building Program, a 24-week, no-cost program focused on helping companies build strong growth strategies, leadership systems, and operational foundations.
The program is open to businesses in the Maumelle area with annual revenues between $100,000 and $10 million that are growth-oriented and looking to scale sustainably. Applications are open through April 10, 2026, with programming beginning April 29.
“This initiative underscores the Chamber’s commitment to strengthening Maumelle’s business community through strategic investment, meaningful engagement, and long-term economic growth. By expanding opportunities for participation and visibility, we are ensuring our local businesses have the tools, connections, and support needed to succeed.” Wall said in a release.
Participating companies will complete a diagnostic to identify opportunities and challenges, followed by bi-weekly virtual sessions covering seven key growth areas, including financial management, revenue growth, leadership, operations, digital readiness, and innovation. Businesses will also have access to subject matter expert office hours to apply what they’re learning directly to their company.
“Sustainable economic growth starts with strong local businesses,” said Drew Smith, Director of 75Strong. “This program gives Arkansas companies the structure, guidance, and support they need to scale intentionally, while keeping leadership, jobs, and investment rooted in their communities.”
The Business Building Program builds on the foundation of 75Strong to train economic developers and community leaders across Arkansas. This phase moves that work directly into local economies by supporting the businesses those leaders serve.
The program is facilitated by Conductor and provided at no cost to accepted companies thanks to investment from the Arkansas Economic Development Commission. The program is delivered entirely online to ensure accessibility for participating companies.
To learn more and apply, businesses in the Maumelle area can visit https://75strongarkansas.org/business-building-landing-page or contact Wall at the chamber and her email is kellie@maumellechamber.com.
And finally
I have friends in Minneapolis and you might as well.
A mighty wave of Arkies, refugees from Alltel, which became Windstream, which became Verizon, made the move there for their jobs. They’ve mostly stayed and have learned to love living there.
They aren’t the only ones as there’s all sorts of reasons to make your way, then stay, in the Twin Cities.
It is also quite lovely there, at least when it is warm, and as fine a place to live as one could expect.
That’s why the endless stream of national news coming out has been so heart-rending while the tales of courage in the face of tyranny have been so inspiring. It isn’t clear when it will end, or why it will end, but two Americans have already been gunned down in the streets and that’s two too many.
The whole mess never should have started in the first place but it has to end.
Sports
Basketball schedules
Maumelle Charter
Boys
Friday, Jan. 30 ... vs ... Episcopal ... 8 p.m.
Tuesday, Feb. 3 ... vs ... Lisa Academy North ... 8 p.m.
Friday, Feb. 6 ... vs ... Rose Bud ... 7 p.m.
Tuesday, Feb. 10 ... vs ... St. Joseph ... 7 p.m.
Girls
Friday, Jan. 30 ... vs ... Episcopal ... 7 p.m.
Friday, Feb. 6 ... vs ... Rose Bud ... 7 p.m.
Tuesday, Feb. 10 ... vs ... St. Joseph ... 7 p.m.
Maumelle
Boys
Friday, Jan. 30 ... at ... Beebe ... 7 p.m.
Tuesday, Feb. 3 ... at ... Parkview ... 7 p.m.
Friday, Feb. 6 ... at ... Jacksonville ... 7 p.m.
Friday, Feb. 13 ... vs ... Sylvan Hills ... 7 p.m.
Tuesday, Feb. 17 ... vs ... Greenbrier ... 7 p.m.
Friday, Feb. 20 ... at ... Little Rock Christian Academy ... 7 p.m.
Tuesday, Feb. 24 ... vs ... Vilonia ... 7 p.m.
Friday, Feb. 27 ... vs ... Catholic ... 7 p.m.
Girls
Friday, Jan. 30 ... vs ... Beebe ... 6 p.m.
Tuesday, Feb. 3 ... at ... Parkview ... 6 p.m.
Friday, Feb. 6 ... at ... Jacksonville ... 6 p.m.
Friday, Feb. 13 ... vs ... Sylvan Hills ... 6 p.m.
Tuesday, Feb. 17 ... vs ... Greenbrier ... 6 p.m.
Friday, Feb. 20 ... at ... Little Rock Christian Academy ... 6 p.m.
Tuesday, Feb. 24 ... vs ... Vilonia ... 6 p.m.
Friday, Feb. 27 ... vs ... Mount St. Mary Academy ... 6 p.m.
CAC
Boys
Friday, Jan. 30 ... at ... Lisa Academy West ... 6 p.m.
Tuesday, Feb. 10 ... at ... Morrilton ... 7 p.m.
Friday, Feb. 13 ... at ... Robinson ... 7 p.m.
Friday, Feb. 20 ... vs ... Heber Springs ... 7 p.m.
Girls
Monday, Feb. 2 ... vs ... Mt. Vernon-Enola ... 6 p.m.
Friday, Feb. 6 ... vs ... Bigelow ... 6 p.m.
Tuesday, Feb. 10 ... vs ... Conway Christian ... 5 p.m.
Friday, Feb. 13 ... vs ... Robinson ... 5 p.m.
North Little Rock
Boys
Friday, Jan. 30 ... at ... Cabot ... 7 p.m.
Tuesday, Feb. 3 ... at ... Central ... 7 p.m.
Friday, Feb. 6 ... at ... Conway ... 7 p.m.
Tuesday, Feb. 10 ... vs ... Little Rock Southwest ... 7 p.m.
Friday, Feb. 13 ... at ... Jonesboro ... 7:30 p.m.
Tuesday, Feb. 24 ... vs ... Bryant ... 7 p.m.
Thursday, Feb. 26 ... vs ... Cabot ... 7 p.m.
Girls
Friday, Jan. 30 ... at ... Cabot ... 6 p.m.
Tuesday, Feb. 3 ... at ... Central ... 6 p.m.
Friday, Feb. 6 ... at ... Conway ... 6 p.m.
Tuesday, Feb. 10 ... vs ... Little Rock Southwest ... 6 p.m.
Friday, Feb. 13 ... at ... Jonesboro ... 6 p.m.
Tuesday, Feb. 24 ... vs ... Bryant ... 6 p.m.
Thursday, Feb. 26 ... vs ... Cabot ... 6 p.m.
Health
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 and 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