State offices close Labor Day
Arkansas state offices will observe Labor Day as an official state holiday on Monday, according to the Arkansas Secretary of State’s office.
State Capitol offices and state buildings will be closed. However, the Capitol building will be open to the public from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m.
Corps plans farmers’ workshops
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will host two workshops from 5-7 p.m. Sept. 2-3 to meet with lower White River Basin farmers and discuss this year’s spring and summer flooding and the White River Water Control Plan.
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
The Sept. 2 workshop will take place at the Jacksonport State Park Visitor Center in Newport. The Sept. 3 workshop will be held at the Grand Prairie Center in Stuttgart, according to a news release.
Farmers are encouraged to register at: https://www.swl.usace.army.mil/About/White-River-Management-Farm-Comments/
Participants may arrive anytime during the two-hour window. There will be no formal presentation; Corps personnel will be available at multiple stations for one-on-one discussions. To help reduce crowding, farmers are encouraged to stagger their arrival times.
USACE officials will explain how they applied the White River Water Control Manual to manage runoff from this year’s spring and summer flooding and gradually release water downstream. Stations will also cover USACE’s emergency management operations, levee program, White River management strategies, event impact maps without the dams, and ongoing public outreach efforts.
Recreation information can be found at www.swl.usace.army.mil or www.facebook.com/littlerockusace.
Agri Hall of Fame seeks nominees
The Arkansas Agriculture Hall of Fame is seeking nominations for its next class of inductees. The nomination deadline is Nov. 1.
The Agriculture Hall of Fame recognizes Arkansans who have contributed significantly to the state’s largest industry while spotlighting their contributions to the state’s economic development. Since its first class was selected in 1987, a total of 198 men and women have been inducted, according to a news release.
Debbie Moreland, chair of the Arkansas Agriculture Hall of Fame, says anyone can nominate a person believed worthy of the honor.
“As Arkansas’s largest industry, agriculture fuels our economy and shapes communities in every corner of the state,” said Moreland, who also serves as program administrator for the Arkansas Association of Conservation Districts. “The Arkansas Agriculture Hall of Fame honors the extraordinary people whose leadership and innovation have strengthened our agriculture industry and left a lasting mark on communities across the state. Each inductee represents the very best farmers, ranchers and industry leaders in Arkansas.”
The nomination form is available at https://www.arkansasaghalloffame.org/pages/member-nomination-form/. Forms can also be requested by calling (501) 228-1609.
The induction ceremony for the next class of honorees will be held March 27 at the Statehouse Convention Center in Little Rock.
NAACP plans annual banquet
The Pine Bluff Branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) recently announced plans for the 33rd Annual Dove Freedom Fund Banquet. The event will be held at 6:30 p.m. Oct. 24 at the Prince Hall Grand Lodge, 2906 E. Harding Ave. The doors will open at 5:30 p.m.
The local branch theme this year is “We Were Built For This!” according to a news release.
This event brings together a diverse group of citizens and community leaders. In recent years, because of the generous support of corporations, businesses, civic and community partners, the Pine Bluff Branch NAACP has been successful in making a difference in the Pine Bluff community by:
Focusing on key issues that affect the citizens in the Pine Bluff Community;
Giving scholarships to deserving youth/college students who live in Pine Bluff /Jefferson County;
Sponsoring health and voter education programs;
Advocating to eliminate racial prejudice, and to improve the political, educational, social, and economic status of minority groups.
The Dove Freedom Fund Banquet is the NAACP’s major means of raising revenue to continue vital programs, according to the release.
“The Pine Bluff Branch NAACP is known nationwide for our award-winning programs and our commitment to justice and civil rights for all citizens. We continue to hold the honor of being one of the largest branches in the state of Arkansas. The branch supports a youth council and a college chapter at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff,” according to the release.
Supporters are invited to make contributions to the efforts. Sponsorships are available. All ads for the souvenir booklet must be camera-ready and emailed to 15graydon@gmail.com no later than Oct. 1, which is also the deadline for payment.
Details: Event Coordinator Loretta Whitfield at (870) 489-4736 or Event Co-Chair Yvonne Denton, at (870) 550-4247. Ivan Whitfield is the NAACP branch president.