Memorial Day closings set
Monday is Memorial Day and several agencies announced their closing schedules.
Jefferson County and related offices will be closed Friday and Monday.
Pine Bluff City Hall and related offices will be closed Friday and Monday.
Waste Management will be closed Monday. Pickups will run one day behind schedule.
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
Area Agency on Aging of Southeast Arkansas’ main office, senior centers, and Southeast Arkansas Transportation (SEAT) will be closed Monday, however SEAT will still be taking patients to dialysis and cancer appointments.
State offices will be closed Monday. State Capitol offices will be closed for business, however, the Capitol building will be open to the public from 8 a.m. until 3 p.m.
First Ward pantry sets giveaway
First Ward Living Grace Pantry, 1201 Commerce Road, invites the community to the free City-Wide Memorial Day Celebration from noon to 2 p.m. Friday at the pantry.
Participants will receive free barbecue provided by Interim Pine Bluff Fire Chief Randy Compton, along with complimentary food, groceries, and other items.
“This family-friendly event will bring the Pine Bluff community together in remembrance and gratitude for those who have served and sacrificed in the U.S. Armed Forces.
“We invite everyone across the city to join us for this meaningful celebration. It’s our way of honoring our heroes while also giving back to the community,” a First Ward Living Grace Pantry spokesman said. Details: (479) 301-1096 or https://firstwardpantry.wixsite.com/fwlgp.
Sip and Soul Juneteenth event set
SIP & SOUL: A Juneteenth Celebration will be held at Indigo Blue Coffee House, 212 W. Barraque St., June 19 beginning with an art exhibit and auction from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The celebration is free and open the public to attend, however art and refreshments will be for sale.
An open mic show will be held from 4-7 p.m. and is open to anyone from age 13 to 90. Interested participants must register by June 16. A prize of $25 will be awarded to an adult participant and a $25 prize will be awarded to a young person 13-18 years old. Presenters need to focus on the topic of Juneteenth, according to StuffinTheBluff.com.
Food and beverages will be for sale from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. The menu includes pulled pork sandwiches with sides, smoked wings with sides, veggie meals, old fashion lemonades and desserts.
Proceeds from this event will benefit the Pine Bluff NAACP ACT-SO (Afro-Academics, Cultural, Technological and Scientific Olympics) Program. ACT-SO, which supports and highlights student achievement, has been around for nearly 50 years. It is the largest academics program in the country for African American high school students, according to the release.
Those who are unable to attend but still want to make a donation may mail checks or money orders to: Pine Bluff NAACP, P.O. Box 9064, Pine Bluff, AR 71611-9064. In the notation line, please write “ACT-SO Donation.”
If you prefer to donate in person, you may do so by hand delivering your checks or money orders to Indigo Blue Coffeehouse.
Donations may also be made through GoFundMe at https://www.gofundme.com/f/pine-bluff-actso-program and PayPal at https://www.paypal.com/donate?hosted_button_id=8Y2Y82EZ7NHJ8.
Locals earn awards at title agency
Fifty Year Service Awards were presented to locals at the Arkansas Land Title Association’s 117th annual Convention at Big Cedar Lodge in Ridgedale, Mo., May 8-9.
Honorees are Lynn Clemons, Lola Redmond, and Lisa Williams of the Pine Bluff Title Company in Pine Bluff.
Their commitment, leadership, and experience helped shape the profession and inspire generations to come. ARLTA honored their legacy and thanked them for five decades of excellence, according to a news release.
“ARLTA is proud to recognize the remarkable dedication and enduring contributions of professionals who have devoted their careers to the title industry,” according to the release. “This year, we celebrate an extraordinary milestone — three women from the same office marking 50 years of service in the industry.”
Locals graduate in Austin
Two area students graduated from the University of Texas at Austin during the spring 2025 commencement on May 10, according to a news release.
Sushma Dadlani of Pine Bluff graduated with a Bachelor of Science in biology and Miriam Crouse of Lake Village graduated with a Bachelor of Science in petroleum engineering.
The two were among more than 9,000 students to graduate at UT Austin.
Extension sets free pond clinic
Pond owners or anyone who plans to build a recreational pond can learn how to install a pond aerator and build a subsurface herbicide applicator at a free pond clinic May 29 offered by the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture Cooperative Extension Service.
Guest speakers will include Scott Jones, extension small impoundments specialist with the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff extension, and Dustin Cauthon of Aquatic Resource Consulting. Pond owners from any county are welcome to attend.
Clark County Extension will host the clinic at Blanton Farms in Okolona. Dinner will be provided at 5:30 p.m., and the program will follow at 6 p.m.
“There are several benefits to installing a pond aerator, but two of the main reasons they are so important is that they maintain oxygen levels vital to fish survival, and they help reduce excessive algal blooms,” said Clark County Extension Staff Chair Amy Simpson.
Register online or call (870) 246-2281.