Housing board to meet
The Housing Authority of the city of Pine Bluff will hold its board of commissioners meeting on July 23 at noon at Leon’s Catfish and Steaks, 3801 Chapel Village, #18, according to a news release. Details: Housing Authority, (870) 541-0706.
Old Saint James sets health fair
Old St. James Missionary Baptist Church, 4512 S. Ohio St., will conduct its second health fair and hygiene product drive for local schools from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Aug. 16.
Admission to the health fair is free and the event is open to the general public, according to Stuff in The Bluff.com.
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
The health fair will include free blood pressure, glucose, cholesterol and prostate screenings. Experts representing social services and healthcare will be on hand to assist with insurance needs and answer questions. Law enforcement, fire safety and ambulance demonstrations will be featured on site as well.
Participants can learn about oral health with special guest Dr. Rontae Graham of Taylor & Carter Family Dentistry, shop with local businesses, have snacks, snowcones and more, according to the news release.
The focus of this year’s health fair has shifted to the startup of the “OSJ Hope of the Delta Period Project,” according to Yolanda E. Monk, a registered nurse.
She said the purpose is to raise awareness about “period poverty” and provide menstrual products to local school districts in Pine Bluff, according to Stuff in The Bluff.com.
“Research has shown that one in four girls is absent from school due to a lack of access to menstrual products, sanitary facilities and menstrual hygiene education,” said Monk, a member of OSJ and a community care provider liaison for the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. “This is often referred to as ‘period poverty.’ We were made aware of the challenges many schools face in providing these important products to students in need. Our goal for this school year is to stock the local junior and high schools within the Pine Bluff community with menstrual hygiene products.”
Participants are encouraged to donate menstrual supply and hygiene products, which will be given to schools.
Health fair partners include Jefferson Regional Medical Center, Delta Dental, Arkansas Foundation, Archwell Health, Southeast Arkansas Behavioral Healthcare System, Abundant Healthcare LLC, Healthwise Wellness, Supreme Team Logistics, Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, Q’s Cool Cups, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Gwen’s Juice Joint, Hope Credit Union, Arkansas Prostate Cancer Foundation, Emergency Ambulance Services Inc., Arkansas Hunger Relief Alliance and Pine Bluff Fire and Emergency Services.
Follow Old St. James Missionary Baptist Church on Facebook. The pastor is the Rev. James M. Smith.
UALR names spring graduates
The University of Arkansas at Little Rock announced its list of graduating students for the Spring 2025 semester. More than 1,040 degrees were awarded May 17 at the UA Little Rock Jack Stephens Center, according to a news release.
Local graduates include:
PINE BLUFF
Cameron Johnson graduated with a BS in Cybersecurity, Certificate of Proficiency in Cybersecurity Fundamentals, Certificate of Proficiency in Cybersecurity Governance, Certificate of Proficiency in Data Security, Certificate of Proficiency in Digital Forensics, and Technical Certificate in Advanced Cybersecurity.
Madison Brown graduated with an AAS in Nursing.
Tinaya Brown graduated with a BSE in Elementary Education K-6.
Ariel Cobb graduated with a BA in Criminal Justice.
Tailor Collins graduated with an AAS in Nursing.
Brittney Laws graduated with a MS in Criminal Justice.
Shemika Green graduated with a BA in Interdisciplinary Studies.
REDFIELD
Lance Beckman graduated with a BA in English and BA in Theatre Arts.
Trula Bell graduated with a BSE in Elementary Education K-6.
Krystal Hartsfield graduated with a BSN in Nursing.
Kimberly Lambert graduated with a MA in Counseling.
Elizabeth Powell graduated with a BSN in Nursing.
WHITE HALL
Sophia Howell graduated with a BSW in Social Work.
Michelle Johnson graduated with a BSN in Nursing.
Sara Mohammed graduated with a BS in Biology.
JEFFERSON
Avery Norwood graduated with a BA in Anthropology.
SHERIDAN
Skylar Bartlett graduated with an AA in General Studies.
Zainab Imran graduated with a BA in Psychology.
David King graduated with a BA in Psychology.
RISON
Ashley Baxter graduated with a BA in Criminal Justice.
Stephani Zornek graduated with a BSW in Social Work.
STUTTGART
Candace Burdett graduated with a MSW in Social Work.
Krista Harrison graduated with a BBA in Accounting.
Sydney Mayfield graduated with a MS in Criminal Justice.
GRADY
Kila-Tamika Chambers graduated with a BBA in Management.
Shana Robinson graduated with an AAS in Nursing.
TILLAR
Madalyn Day graduated with a BSN in Nursing.
GRAPEVINE
Alicia Dorn graduated with a MA in Mass Communications.
MONTICELLO
William McCoy graduated with a MSW in Social Work.
Alejandro Mestre graduated with a BSN in Nursing.
Breanna Montgomery graduated with a MSW in Social Work.
STAR CITY
Jacelyn Simmons graduated with an AAS in Nursing.
MCGEHEE
Torrie Sirmon graduated with a BSN in Nursing.