Editor's Note: At press time, the following events and meetings were known to be still scheduled. Organizers or appropriate officials are encouraged to contact Sandra Hope at [email protected] or use our newsroom email [email protected] to make additions or changes.
Tuesday, April 16
WHHS to present art showcase
The White Hall School District Art Department will display its students' artwork in the 2024 WHSD Art Showcase, "Total Eclipse of the Art." The showcase will be from 5-6:30 p.m. April 16 at the White Hall Community Center, according to the center's Facebook page. Selected works of art created by White Hall students will be featured at the event. "Our students have been working hard and we are very proud of them," a spokesman said.
Wednesday, April 17
SEARK to conduct career fair
A career fair will be held from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. April 17 in the McGeorge Hall Seminar Room at Southeast Arkansas College, according to a flier. Details: Student Success Center at the Student Services Building, Room 160, or (870) 850-3075 or [email protected].
Pine Bluff Commercial sets church news deadline
Church news is printed in The Commercial on Friday. The deadline to submit church announcements is noon Wednesday. Pastors, ministers or others interested in writing for the Devotional Page may also submit columns for consideration. Column writers should have connections to Southeast Arkansas. Articles should be submitted by email to Sandra Hope at [email protected] or [email protected]. Details: (870) 534-3400, ext. 5.
Thursday, April 18
Retired teachers group meets
The Jefferson County Retired Teachers Association will meet at 11:30 a.m. April 18 in the Donald W. Reynolds Community Services Center, 211 W. Third Ave. The guest speakers will be Pine Bluff Mayor Shirley Washington and White Hall Mayor Noel Foster who will present updates regarding their cities and plans for the future, according to a news release. Member reservations are required for the luncheon to be provided by Rice First Class Catering at $12 per person. Members are asked to bring a can of green beans to be donated to the Salvation Army to assist families in need. For more information on JCRTA and to make luncheon reservations, call (870) 543-0127.
Women's Connection sets luncheon
The Christian Women's Connection will host its monthly luncheon from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.April 18 at the Pine Bluff Country Club. The speaker will be Ute Stalford of Norman, Okla. Her topic will be "Walking in Freedom and Forgiveness." Presenting also will be Pat Tate, jewelry design of Pine Bluff. The luncheon cost is $21 (which includes meal, drink, dessert, tax, and gratuity.) Everyone is invited to attend, according to a news release. For reservations or cancellations, call Jennifer Keahey at (870) 540-9302. All reservations must be made three days in advance. Participants will be charged for reservations not kept.
Through Friday, April 19
Small museum grants available
Arkansas Heritage, a division of the Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage and Tourism, is accepting grant applications for the Small Museum Grants Program. Applications are accepted at ArkansasHeritage.com. The program funds projects of up to $2,500 for Arkansas history museums, historical societies, military museums and historic houses and sites. The spring deadline for applications is April 19, according to a news release. Eligible organizations must have an annual operating budget of $250,000 or less; must have a staff of at least one person, either paid or volunteer; and must be open to the public at least 90 days per year. Details: Debra Fithen, grants manager for Arkansas Heritage, at [email protected].
Saturday, April 20
Extension offers child care training
Free Best Care Child Care provider in-service training is set for 8 a.m. April 20 at St. Joseph Catholic Church Parish Hall, 412 W. Sixth Ave. Registration will begin at 7:30 a.m. Participants are asked to bring their own lunch. Healthy snacks will be provided, according to a news release. This training session will be provided free by the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture Jefferson, Cleveland, and Dallas County Extension Family and Consumer Sciences Agents. They are Mary Ann Kizer, Danielle Watson, Ronda Best, along with Arkansas Best Care Coordinator Rebecca Simon. A total of 10 credit hours can be earned for attending. The pre-registration deadline is April 17. Call Mary Ann Kizer at (870) 534-1033 or email [email protected] to preregister.
Home & Garden Show set at WH
The Jefferson County Master Gardeners will present Delta Bloooms & Bees, the 2024 Home & Garden Show, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. April 20 at the White Hall Community Center, 9801 Dollarway Road. Admission is free, according to a flier. Speakers and topics will include Janet Carson, Gardening in the Natural State; Obadiah Njue, Comparison Planting; and Yong Park, Native Pollinators & Beekeeping. The event will feature family oriented activities, a plant sale, Kids Zone, Ask the Plant Doctor (with a free diagnosis of plant problems), raffles, and vendors. Details: Jefferson County Cooperative Extension Service, (870) 534-1033 or Master Gardeners.
Suicide prevention event set for churches
The D'andre Seals Suicide Prevention Outreach Project will host Soul Shop™ for Black Churches from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. April 20 at the main Pine Bluff Library, 600 S. Main St. Participants can learn how to talk about suicide from a faith perspective. Soul Shop™ for Black Churches is specifically designed for pastors, church staff, faith-based clinicians and other lay leaders in Black and African American churches. Admission is free. Workshop materials and lunch will be provided. Topics will include: The role of societal discrimination in suicide rates among black and brown young people; the prominent role of the church in African American communities and how that can be leveraged towards public health; statistics trends and rates of suicide among people of color; and challenges of and ideas for engaging issues of mental health and suicide in black churches. To register for this workshop, visit https://ssbcpinebluff.attendease.com/ For details, email Kymara Seals, DSOP founder and chair of the board, at [email protected].
Wednesday, April 24
Hospice sets volunteer training in Pine Bluff
Arkansas Hospice will host a volunteer training session in Pine Bluff from noon to 2 p.m. April 24 in the Arkansas Hospice office, 1301 Ridgway Road, Suite 2A. Lunch will be provided. The event is for anyone wanting to learn about the organization and its volunteer opportunities, according to a news release. All Arkansas Hospice volunteers must be trained and certified. Individuals must pass a background check and driving record check and provide evidence of a current driver's license and automobile insurance. A flu shot is also required if volunteering involves direct contact with patients. Linda Bateman is the volunteer coordinator. To register for the volunteer training, email [email protected] or call (870) 850-6195, or toll-free at 800-596-6195, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays through Fridays. Details: www.ArkansasHospice.org/volunteer.
Thursday, April 25
VA sets date for virtual claims clinic
The Little Rock VA Regional Office will hold a virtual claims clinic for Arkansas veterans from 4-6 p.m. April 25. To reserve a timeslot, veterans should call (501) 370-3829 before 4 p.m. April 24, according to a news release. Veterans may speak one-on-one to staff of the Little Rock VA Regional Office regarding their claims for VA benefits. VA disability compensation offers a monthly tax-free payment to veterans who got sick or injured while serving in the military and to veterans whose service made an existing condition worse, according to the release. The staff will be available to answer questions about existing VA benefits claims and how to file a new one. The main office of the Little Rock VA Regional Office is located at 2200 Fort Roots Drive in North Little Rock and open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. The Veteran Assist Phone Line, (501) 370-3829, is staffed Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more details, visit http://benefits.va.gov/benefits/ or call 800-827-1000.
Saturday, April 27
Delta Sigma Theta plans youth session
The Pine Bluff Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc. will present Dialoguing with Delta at 10 a.m. April 27 at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff Business Support Building, 615 S. Main St. Dialoguing with Delta is an annual educational activity for students from ages eight to 18. Featured presenters include Erika Evans, Torey Foote, Carla Martin, Jade Wilson and Leslie Woods, according to a news release. This year's theme is "Elevate Your Preparation For Life Through Literacy, Friendships, and Finances." Registration is available for individuals and groups. To register, visit https://tinyurl.com/pbadwd24.
Through Tuesday, April 30
UAMS academy open to high school seniors
The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences is accepting applications for the inaugural summer academy of the Arkansas Delta Health Careers Opportunity Program Academy, an initiative that supports students in the Delta and South Arkansas as they pursue careers in health care. The deadline to submit applications is April 30. The academy focuses on expanding the workforce in a variety of health care disciplines. The program will begin with a residential summer academy from June 17 to July 26 at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff. Open to rising high school seniors, HCOP Academy will equip students with the skills they need to gain admission to and succeed in health professional programs, according to a news release. Applicants must be enrolled at a school in these counties: Arkansas, Ashley, Bradley, Calhoun, Chicot, Cleveland, Columbia, Crittenden, Dallas, Desha, Drew, Jefferson, Lee, Lincoln, Monroe, Ouachita, Phillips, Sevier, St. Francis and Union. To sign up for a session or to apply for the academy, visit https://uams.info/HCOP.
UAPB LIONS open to freshman
The University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff is inviting incoming freshmen to apply for its Learning Institute and Opportunities for New Students (LIONS) Program. The LIONS Program prepares incoming freshmen for collegiate life through classes, workshops, and on-campus living. The residential program will be held July 8 through Aug. 9. The deadline to apply is April 30. For details, contact Carolyn Mills at (870) 575-8362 or [email protected] or visit www.uapb.edu/lionsprogram or www.uapb.edu and click on the LIONS Program tab. For information about financial assistance, call (870) 575-8302 or email [email protected].
Thursday, May 2
Chamber sets Business Expo
The Pine Bluff Regional Chamber of Commerce will hold its Business Expo 2024 at the Pine Bluff Convention Center on May 2. The Business Expo Breakfast begins at 7:30 a.m. and the program starts at 8 a.m. The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission Director Austin Booth will be the Business Expo Breakfast keynote speaker. Booth will discuss outdoor recreation and its impact on Arkansas' economy. Breakfast tickets are $25 each and a table for eight is $300 each, according to a news release. Simmons Bank is the breakfast sponsor. The Business Expo trade show at the convention center will open with a VIP Hour from 9-10 a.m. and opens to public from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The booth fee is $250 for members and $360 non-members. "This year's theme, 'We're Wild About Pine Bluff,' celebrates the beautiful landscape of the delta region from the piney timbers to the winding water of Bayou Bartholomew, the world's longest bayou," according to the release. Details: Chamber Director Jennifer Kline at [email protected] or (870) 535-0110.
Friday, May 3
Foundation sets golf tournament
Jefferson Regional Foundation will host its fourth annual golf tournament May 3 at the Pine Bluff Country Club. To register or for sponsorship information, contact Laura Beth Shaner at (870) 541-7210 or [email protected].
Beginning Friday, May 3
PB to host Junior Olympics Boxing Tournament
The 2024 Arkansas State Junior Olympics Boxing Tournament will take place in Pine Bluff on May 3-4 at the Pine Bluff Convention Center. Participants, ranging in age from 8 to 16, will contend for a chance to advance to the National Tournament in Wichita, Kan., in June. The host is Pine Bluff Gloves Not Gloves boxing club. The club is a non-profit organization founded in 2004 by Coach Albert Brewer. The event is anticipated to draw hundreds of spectators. The bouts are scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. May 3 and at 3 p.m. May 4. Admission for adults will be $10, $5 for ages 8-17, and children 7 and younger can attend free. Two-day passes will be available at a reduced rate. All proceeds from the tournament will go towards supporting the Gloves Not Guns programming. The tournament is also sponsored by the Pine Bluff Advertising and Promotion Commission.
Saturday, May 4
VFW to honor veterans
Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 4455, 1518 E. Harding Ave., and VFW Auxiliary will observe the VFW's National Day of Service from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. May 4. Veterans are urged to register and be present to win a Quilt of Honor donated by the Pine Bluff Quilters Guild. The drawing for the quilt will be held at 1 p.m., according to a news release. Various agency representatives will attend including the Central Arkansas Veterans Healthcare System, DAV Mobile Van, Arkansas Prostate Cancer Foundation, Pine Bluff Arsenal, Watson Chapel JROTC, and United Way. There will also be free hair cuts for veterans, food trucks and various other vendors. Details: Odessa Lawson, (870) 550-0578 or Matthew Yarnell, (509) 675-3420.
Beginning Saturday, May 4
Blues concert series set
The Port City Blues Society will host the third "Blues By Budweiser" concert series at RJ's Grill & Bar, 128 S. Main Street. The doors open at 7 p.m. and music begins at 8 p.m. Port City members are admitted free. There is a $5 cover charge for non-members. MK Distributors is the sponsor, according to a news release. Concerts for 2024-2025 include: May 4, Tina Cossey Band; June 1, Kent Burnside Band; July 6, Ghost Town Blues Band; Aug. 3, Amanda Fish; Sept. 7, Garry Burnside Band; Oct. 5, Dirty Red and the Soul Shakers; Nov. 2, Jerry McCoy and the Groove Diggers; Dec. 7, Fonky Donkey; Jan. 4, 2025, Trey Johnson and Jason Willmon; and Feb. 1, 2025, Charlotte Taylor and Gypsy Rain.
Through Friday, May 10
Registration open for college Ag Leaders
Registration for the 2024 Arkansas Future Ag Leaders Tour is now open for college juniors and seniors. This year's tour, from May 13-17, will give participants an overview of the agriculture industry in Arkansas, plus an opportunity to make key connections with future employers or collaborators, according to a news release. Juniors and seniors enrolled in colleges of agriculture or pursuing agriculture-related majors in Arkansas can register for one of 50 spots. There is no cost to participate. The registration deadline is May 10. Participants can register at https://uada.formstack.com/forms/aragleaders.
Saturday, May 13
WH Sports Hall of Fame event set
The 11th annual White Hall Sports Hall of Fame program will be held at 6:30 p.m. May 13 at the White Hall Community Center. Tickets are $25 and can be purchased at White Hall High School front office, according to a flier on the White Hall Community Center Facebook page.
Through Friday, May 31
Transportation, trails forms available
Applications for the Arkansas Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) and the Arkansas Recreational Trails Program (RTP) are available, according to the Arkansas Highway Commission. Virtual seminars will occur on March 14 and April 2 to inform potential eligible applicants of TAP and RTP requirements and responsibilities. Project applications and registration are available at ardot.gov/TAP or ardot.gov/RTP. Applications must be submitted by 4 p.m. May 31. Also, applications may be submitted year-round for Motorized RTP projects. Details: ardot.gov/RTP.
Century Farm applications available
The Arkansas Department of Agriculture is accepting applications for the 2024 Arkansas Century Farm Program until May 31. This program recognizes Arkansas families who have owned and farmed the same land for at least 100 years. The program is voluntary and there is no cost to apply, according to a news release. Online and printable applications are available at agriculture.arkansas.gov/arkansas-department-of-agriculture-services/arkansas-century-farm-program/. Applications must be received via email at [email protected] or postmarked by May 31 to be eligible for designation as a 2024 inductee. Details: Beth Moore, (501) 539-4027.
Underway
Covid-19 vaccines, testing available
The Arkansas Department of Health, various pharmacies and healthcare providers offer the covid-19 vaccine, tests and other information about coronavirus. Details: Call the Arkansas Department of Health at (800) 985-6030, visit the website at healthy.arkansas.gov/programs-services/topics/covid-19-vaccination-plan or contact area medical professionals, according to spokesmen.
Tuesdays
Unity Christian offers free financial classes
Unity Christian Fellowship Church (UCFC), 2712 S. Bay St., invites the community to its free Small Business and Personal Financial Education classes at 7 p.m. Tuesdays. Recent subjects included "The Importance of Having a Financial Plan" and "Financial Literacy," according to Stuff in the Bluff website. "You cannot afford to miss out on these life-changing classes. We are practicing social distancing and will have hand sanitizer wipes available," according to the site. Anthony Armstrong is the senior pastor. Details: [email protected] or (870) 329-1182.