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.
Sunday, Aug. 21
Barraque Street church hosts celebration
Barraque Street Missionary Baptist Church, 1800 W. Pullen St., is celebrating its 137th anniversary. On Sunday, at 11 a.m., the guest minister will be the Rev. Henry “Hank” Wilkins IV, pastor of Living Grace Fellowship Church of Pine Bluff. Visit www.barraquestmbc.org or follow Barraque Street Missionary Baptist Church on social media.
Monday, Aug. 22
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
McGehee School Board to meet
The McGehee School Board will meet at 5 p.m. Monday at Conner Middle School Library. The agenda includes financial statements, district provided benefits, covid days, and an updae on the heating and air conditioning project at McGehee Elementary School, according to a news release.
Federal retirees to meet
Chapter 287 of NARFE (National Association of Retired Federal Employees) will meet at 11:30 a.m. Monday at the Donald W. Reynolds Community Services Building, 211 W. Third Ave. The guest speaker will be Ella Geisler, the newly elected president of the Arkansas Federation of NARFE. Waymond Meins is the Chapter 287 president.
UAPB to host free covid shots
Free covid-19 vaccinations will be available to anyone 5 or older Aug. 22 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the student union game room at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff. Those between 5-17 years old must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. People needing a second dose or booster shot should bring their vaccine cards. Cards are also available at the local health department, according to a news release. UAPB is in partnership with AFMC (Arkansas Foundation for Medical Care) and the Arkansas Department of Health to provide the shots. Although shots are free, people should bring insurance cards if they have them.
A&P panel to meet
The Pine Bluff Advertising and Promotion Commission finance committee will meet Monday at noon at the A&P Office, 623 S. Main St. Participants should let the staff know if they plan to attend. Details: (870) 534-2121.
Underway
Program seeks storm drain artists
The Jefferson County Cooperative Extension Office and the Southeast Arkansas Stormwater Education Program are seeking artists to paint storm drain murals in Pine Bluff and White Hall. Sept. 23 is the application deadline, according to a news release. The main idea with the murals is that observers will stop to think about where water flows after it enters the storm drain. All painting supplies will be provided to the artist by the stormwater education program. For details or an application packet contact Kevin Harris at the Jefferson County Cooperative Extension Office, (870) 534-1033 or klharris@uada.edu.
Beginning Monday, Aug. 22
Go Forward plans community sessions
Go Forward Pine Bluff will have community input sessions to discuss how citizens’ tax dollars are being used and to provide updates on projects, according to a news release. GFPB representatives will be available to answer questions from residents. Residents are welcome to attend any of the following sessions: Aug. 22 at 5:30 p.m. – New Life Church: 2801 S. Olive St., Ward 1; Aug. 30 at 5:30 p.m. – TOPPS, 1000 Townsend Drive, Ward 4; and Sept. 8 at 5:30 p.m. – Good Faith Carr United Methodist Church: 3703 Ryburn Road, Ward 3. Details: www.goforwardpinebluff.org.
Neighborhood Watch meetings set
Neighborhood Watch meetings have been scheduled and residents are urged to attend, according to the Pine Bluff Police Department. The following will be held: East Harding and Belmont/Broadmoor meets Aug. 22 at 6 p.m. at Mt. Harmony Baptist Church, 812 E. Harding Ave. (subject to change.) University Park meets Aug. 25 at 6 p.m. at Family Community Development Center, 1001 N. Palm St.Details: Alicia Dorn at adorn@pbpd.org.
Tuesday, Aug. 23
Civic panel to hold conference call
The Civic Auditorium Complex Commission will hold a conference call meeting at noon Aug. 23. Those interested in being a part of this conference call should call the Pine Bluff Convention Center, (870) 536-7600, or email tlrash@pinebluff.com, requesting to join the call. The staff will email the details, a spokesman said.
Manufacturing council sets job fair
The Jefferson County Manufacturing Council (JCMC) will host Manufacturing Made Easy Career Fair from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Aug. 23 at the White Hall Community Center, 9301 Dollarway Road. The event will target industrial job seekers throughout the county and surrounding areas. The event is free to people seeking jobs. A $500 fee is for manufacturers that want to have a spot/table at the fair, but are not members of the JCMC. Registration is free to JCMC members. Details: Felicia@jeffersoncountyalliance.com or the the Pine Bluff Regional Chamber of Commerce at (870) 535-0110.
ARTSpace hosts Game on Main
Youth in grades 5-12 are invited to Game on Main, a biweekly program at The ARTSpace on Main, 623 S. Main St. Events continue Tuesday, Aug. 23, from 3:30-6 p.m. “This event will feature strategy and role-playing games as well as classic games like Guess Who, Uno, and chess,” according to the release. This is a free community program and no registration is required. Details: Matthew Howard at mhoward@asc701.org or (870) 536-3375.
Wednesday, Aug. 24
A&P board to meet
The Pine Bluff Advertising and Promotion Commission will meet 4 p.m. Wednesday at the A&P office, 623 S. Main St. Those planning to attend are asked to notify the office before Wednesday. Details: Betty Brown, A&P administrative assistant, (870) 534-2121 or bbrown@explorepinebluff.com.
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 shope@pbcommercial.com. Details: (870) 534-3400, ext. 5.
Through Wednesday, Aug. 24
ASC hosts Small Works
The Arts & Science Center for Southeast Arkansas will host the 35th annual “Small Works on Paper” exhibition through Aug. 24. The 2022 exhibition features artwork from 28 artists from across the state with 39 pieces on display. ASC volunteer Crystal Jennings of Rison and Pine Bluff native and University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff graduate Rashawn Penister are among featured artists, according to a news release.
Thursday, Aug. 25
Jones-Dunklin center plans open house
The Jefferson Regional Jones-Dunklin Cancer Center, 1609 W. 40th Ave., will hold a ribbon cutting and open house. The event will be held at 5 p.m. Aug. 25, according to the newsletter of the Pine Bluff Regional Chamber of Commerce.
VA sets Virtual Claims Clinic
The Little Rock VA Regional Office will hold a virtual claims clinic for Arkansas Veterans from 4-6 p.m. Aug. 25. To reserve a timeslot, veterans should call (501) 370-3829 before 4 p.m. Aug. 24, according to a news release. Veterans may speak one-on-one to staff of the Little Rock VA Regional Office regarding current claims for VA benefits and how to file a new one. These clinics are held monthly. The Little Rock VA Regional Office is open 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday. The offices provide financial and other forms of assistance to veterans and their dependents.
GOP panel to meet
The Jefferson County Republican Committee will meet at 6 p.m. Aug. 25 at Larry’s Pizza, Dollarway Road, at White Hall. The guest speaker will be Secretary of State John Thurston. The agenda includes discussions on proposed fund-raising programs, White Hall Founders Day, reports on campaign efforts, and election plans, according to David L. Singer, chairman.
UAPB offers beekeeping workshop
The University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff (UAPB) will hold a workshop on beekeeping for beginners from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Aug. 25 in the S.J. Parker 1890 Extension Complex auditorium, 2300 L.A. “Prexy” Davis Drive, according to a news release. Yong Park, Ph.D, UAPB associate professor of agriculture and entomologist/beekeeper, will lead the sessions. The course costs $30. Payments can be made in room 112 of the S.J. Parker Agricultural Research Center, 2102 Oliver Road at UAPB. Payments should be made via check or money order only and payable to the “UAPB Small Farm Program.” All monies are non-refundable. Details: UAPB Small Farm Program at (870) 575-7225 or wilkinsha@uapb.edu.