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. 28. To reserve a time slot, veterans should call (501) 370-3829 before 4 p.m. Aug. 27, according to a news release.
Veterans may speak one-on-one to staff of the Little Rock VA Regional Office regarding their claims for VA benefits. Staff will answer questions about existing VA benefits claims and assist with filing new claims. Details: http://benefits.va.gov/benefits/ or call 800-827-1000.
3rd Ward group to meet Aug. 19
The Third Ward Community Watch Meeting will be held at 6 p.m. Aug. 19 at Destiny Worship Center, 4700 W. 28th Ave. The speaker will be a representative of ArchWell Health. The entire community is invited to attend, according to a news release. Evelyn Bass is the president of the group.
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
First Trinity plans health fair
First Trinity Church of God in Christ, 800 S. Catalpa St., will conduct its first Men’s Health Fair in partnership with Jefferson Regional Medical Center from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Aug. 16 in the fellowship hall of the church.
All men ages 18 and older are welcome to this free event, which will provide health screenings and information. Jefferson Regional urologist, Dr. Nick Scherzer, will be available to answer questions, according to a news release. Details: (870) 534-2873.
Area Agency plans menu
Area Agency on Aging of Southeast Arkansas offers lunch from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. weekdays at the senior centers. Next week’s menu includes:
Aug. 11 — Country fried steak and gravy, mashed potatoes, vegetable blend, sherbet, and milk.
Aug. 12 — Stuffed peppers casserole, tossed salad, bread stick, fruit, and milk.
Aug. 13 — Submarine sandwich, lettuce, tomato, onion, macaroni salad, peaches, and milk.
Aug. 14 — Chicken strips, Montreal potatoes, California blend, fruit, and milk.
Aug. 15 — Pinto beans with ham, turnip greens, mixed fruit, and milk.
State employees give scholarships
The Arkansas State Employees Association awarded #60,000 in scholarships for 2025 to students, including those in southeast Arkansas.
Sixty recipients received awards of $1,000 each through ASEA’s flagship program, which supports the educational advancement of ASEA members and their dependents, according to a news release.
The 2025 ASEA scholarship recipients from southeast Arkansas include:
Betty Cockran, McGehee;
Ashlyn Crawford, Warren;
Madison Leopard, Star City;
Morgan Leopard, Star City;
Monique Parker, Warren;
Jasmin Preston, Pine Bluff;
Terence Roberson Jr., Warren;
Toniesha Sargent, Pine Bluff;
Ashley Scogins, Monticello.
Since the implementation of the program in 2020, the association has awarded $192,000 in scholarships. ASEA will begin accepting applications for 2026 scholarships in January. Details: www.aseaar.org.
Harvesting Hope sets event
The community is invited to attend the Drew County Harvesting Hope Town Hall from 6-8 p.m. Aug. 19 at 311 S. Pine St. in Monticello.
Harvesting Hope is a statewide initiative led by Arkansas Community Action Agencies Association (ACAAA), working to combat food and nutrition insecurity across Arkansas. This town hall will offer an opportunity to hear from community leaders, engage in dialogue, and learn how to create healthier and more resilient communities, according to a news release.
At the core of Harvesting Hope are three pillars:
Capacity Building – Strengthening the ability of local congregations to meet immediate food needs while building sustainable solutions.
Food Systems Innovation – Promoting mobile markets and local agriculture partnerships to improve access and availability.
Health Equity & Chronic Illness Prevention – Connecting rural community access to fresh fruits and vegetables with a focus on health outcomes and equipping these communities to fight chronic diseases impacted by nutrition. To register, visit https://www.zeffy.com/ticketing/harvesting-hope-town-hall.
Waterfowler events set
The Arkansas Waterfowler Hall of Fame (AWHOF) announced updates recently.
“We are proud to announce these updates to the Arkansas Waterfowl Hall of Fame, honoring the rich legacy of conservation as we celebrate individuals whose life-long dedication have left a lasting mark on the sport and the traditions we hold dear. We are grateful to all who continue to support and preserve our state’s waterfowling heritage,” Jim Ronquest, AWHOF committee chairman, said in a news release.
Upcoming dates:
Nominations Open: AWHOF began Aug. 1 seeking nominations for honorees. Share the nominations at https://www.waterfowlerhof.com/nominate
Honoree Announcement Reception Nov. 20: This event will reveal the next class of inductees and details of the 2026 dinner. The reception will be hosted at the Museum of the Arkansas Grand Prairie in Stuttgart.
Hall of Fame Dinner May 2026: An inductee ceremony and event details will be announced soon. For updates, see AWHOF on social media.
All event proceeds benefit the Museum of the Arkansas Grand Prairie in Stuttgart which houses the Arkansas Waterfowler Hall of Fame. Sponsorships are available on the website. The event is organized by committee members Chairman Jim Ronquest, Brent Birch, Greg Churan, Anne Marie Doramus, George Dunklin, Lee Ann Blackwell-Hoskyn, and Gar Lile. Details: waterfowlerhof.com.