The Links plans financial literacy event
The Pine Bluff Chapter of The Links Inc. invites the community to the Zoom seminar at 7 p.m. today on “Financial Literacy: Getting Our Finances In Order.” It’s part of The Links’ series on “Preparing Our Community for Success,” according to a news release.
The presenter will be Lester Matlock, chief executive officer and owner of Natural State Private Wealth Group, a private wealth advisory practice of Ameriprise Financial Services LLC. He has more than 25 years of experience helping clients reach their personal financial goals and planning for retirement.
“Are you adequately planning for retirement? Do you have six months of expenses saved? This financial literacy session will provide information on getting our finances in order, saving for an emergency and tips on planning for and through retirement,” according to the release.
To participate, the Zoom link is https://zoom.us/j/94423877911?pwd=Q0ExQ2N5WTRDeHNLTlFkWDh6OW9GUT09 with Meeting ID: 944 2387 7911 and passcode: 692876 or dial-in: (646) 558-8656.
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
The final session will be Jan. 27 — Preparing for the Business World.
VA hospital making changes due to covid
The Central Arkansas Veterans Healthcare System is closing the south entrance to John L. McClellan Memorial Veterans Hospital today, ahead of the planned construction closure in March due to the current surge in covid-19 positive and pending cases. The entrance will remain open to emergency egress until construction begins in March, according to a news release.
CAVHS recently took proactive measures to protect veterans and staff by returning to its elevated status visitation policy. Entry to facilities is limited to veterans with scheduled appointments, procedures or other essential business. Masks must be worn at VA sites.
House of Bread to hold open food pantry
House of Bread Deliverance Church, 500 S. Main St., will open its food pantry Jan. 17 from 1-2 p.m. or until all food boxes are gone. Only one box per household will be given out on a first come, first served basis. Everyone is required to wear a mask, according to a news release.
All clients must fill out new intake forms for 2022. Everyone must bring proof of address (utility bills and driver’s license.) People won’t receive food boxes if they don’t have the information required, according to the release.
St. John church giving away food boxes
St. John AME Church, 1117 W. Pullen St., will give away food boxes to those in need from 9-11 a.m. Jan. 15. Pickup will be done in a drive-through setting in front of the church on Cherry Street.
For safety reasons, recipients are asked to stay in their vehicles and open their trunks. State ID’s are required to receive one box per family, according to a news release.
The church’s Soul Food for the Mind, Body, and Spirit Feeding Ministry is the sponsor. To support this effort, people may mail financial contributions to St. John AME Church-Feeding Ministry, 1117 W Pullen St., Pine Bluff, Ark., 71601, or electronically through Givelify St John AME Pine Bluff.
To volunteer, people may contact Pearl Matlock at pearl1948@sbcglobal.net. The Rev. Cecil L. Williams, Jr. is the pastor.
$ 2.5M in grants awarded to schools
The Arkansas Department of Education announced that 72 applications were selected to receive approximately $2.5 million in Career and Technical Education (CTE) State Start-up Grants to assist with the development of new CTE programs of study. The grant recipients include programs in Southeast Arkansas.
Of the $2.5 million, the ADE Office of Computer Science Education is providing $144,000 to CTE to fund five additional applications that have a computer science focus, according to a news release.
Local award recipients include these schools, programs of study and amounts: Monticello High School, CS:Programming, $26,877.
Star City High School, Business Finance, $24,225.
Star City High School, CS:Cybersecurity, $29,500.
Watson Chapel High School, Pre-Educator, $33,203.14.
White Hall High School, Animal Systems, $30,307.77.
White Hall High School, CS:Programming, $26,877.
The start-up grants cover 85 percent of the costs associated with a new program, with the school district committing to cover the remaining 15 percent.
To see the entire list of approved applications, go to https://bit.ly/3ERtWWw. To see previous recipients, go to https://bit.ly/3JItSMo.