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 shope@pbcommercial.com to make additions or changes.
Underway
Covid-19 testing sites
available
Details for getting the covid-19 test are available at the Jefferson County Health Department — 870-535-2142; and Arkansas Department of Health’s website — https://www.healthy.arkansas.gov/programs-services/topics/covid-19-guidance-for-getting-tested . Scroll down until you see the map and enlarge the map. Click on each star to see where each testing site is located.
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
Early voting underway
through Nov. 2
Early voting for the Nov. 3 general election is underway at the Jefferson County Courthouse through Oct. 30 (8 a.m. to 6 p.m.); Oct. 31 (10 a.m. to 4 p.m.); and Nov. 2 (8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.)
Candidates on various ballots in Jefferson County include:
• Circuit judge District 11-West Division 3, Subdistrict 11.2, the nonpartisan judicial runoff race — Mac Norton and Therese Free.
• Jefferson County Justice of the Peace District 8 — Incumbent Roy Agee, R, and David Dinwiddie, L.
• Pine Bluff Ward 2 Position 1 City Council — Steven Shaner (D) and Yvonne Denton (I).
• Pine Bluff Ward 3 Position 1 City Council — Glen Brown Sr. (D) and Bill Brumett (I).
• U.S. Senate — Ricky Dale Harrington Jr. (L) and Sen. Tom Cotton (R)
• U.S. Congress District 4 — Rep. Bruce Westerman (R) William H. Hanson, (D) and Frank Gilbert, (L)
• State Senate District 27 — Sen. Trent Garner (R) and Keidra Burrell (D).
• State Representative District 14 — Rep. Roger Dale Lynch (R) Rick Bransford (D) and Christia Jones (I).
• State Representative District 15 — Rep. Ken Bragg, (R) Wayne Willems, (L).
• Altheimer City Council District 1 Position 2 — Joycette Laws Strong, (I) and Jewel Vanderbilt (I)
• Altheimer City Council District 2 Position 2 — Crystal Gridley (I) and Essie Robertson (I).
• Wabbaseka Ward 1 Position 1 City Council — Melony J. Darrough (I) and Edward Spears Sr.(I).
Issues on ballots:
Issue 1 — Making permanent a 0.5% state sales tax that currently funds state, county and city road work; Issue 2 — the Arkansas Term Limits Amendment; and Issue 3 — Changing Arkansas’ Citizen Initiative Process, Votes Required for Legislative Ballot Issue Proposals and Publication Requirements.
Other election-related dates include:
• Oct. 30 — Last day for a voter to transfer into Jefferson County.
• Nov. 3 — Election Day (voters may go to polling sites between 7:30 a.m. and 7:30 p.m.)
Details: Jefferson County Clerk’s Office: jeffersoncountyar.gov/county-clerk or 870-541-5322; University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture ballot guide, www.uaex.edu/ballot or the Secretary of State’s office, www.sos.arkansas.gov/elections/voter-information.
New library offering
curbside service
The Pine Bluff/Jefferson County Library System began offering curbside service Oct. 26 at the new main library, Sixth Avenue and Main Street. The new library will begin checking out materials with curbside service from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. Library staff and patrons will follow social distancing and public health recommendations during pickup. The facilities are still closed to the public as a precaution against Covid-19, according to a news release. Patrons may use their library cards to access the online catalog or call the main library at 870-534-4802 for curbside service. A staff member will contact the patron to arrange a curbside pickup time.
Thursday, Oct. 29
Meeting set to discuss
school consolidation
A community meeting will be held at 6 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 29, at the Pine Bluff Convention Center. The purpose is to discuss the School Consolidation Study regarding Dollarway, Pine Bluff and Watson Chapel school districts, according to a news release. Go Forward Pine Bluff is sponsoring the gathering, a spokesman said.
Urban Renewal sets called board meeting
The Pine Bluff Urban Renewal Agency (PBURA) will hold a called board meeting at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 29, at the Donald W. Reynolds Community Services Building, 211 W. Third Ave. The meeting will be held in training rooms A and B. Masks and social distancing are required. Details: Commission Chairman Jimmy Dill, 870-536-4943, or Executive Director Maurice Taggart, 870-209-0323.
Dollarway gives report
to the public
Dollarway School District will hold its annual report to the public meeting at 6 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 29, on Zoom. The district invites all students, parents, staff, community leaders and patrons to participate as they share important information about Dollarway, according to a news release. The district also thanks the community for its support. To participate in the meeting, the Zoom Link is https://zoom.us/j/91584135403. Details: www.dollarwayschools.org.