Charity golf tournament announced
The Jefferson County Sports Hall of Fame Charity Golf Tournament will bring together athletes, alumni and supporters for a morning of high-energy golf and heartfelt purpose, according to a news release.
The tournament is scheduled for a shotgun start of 9:30 a.m. Nov. 7 at the Pine Bluff Country Club. Bubba Smart, Wes McNulty and George McKeown are golfers who were inducted into the first Hall of Fame class in April, and the tournament will give participants another chance to honor them, Hall chairman Jeff Gross said.
“Whether you’re a seasoned golfer or just love the game, your swing helps honor local sports legends and fuels youth athletic programs across Jefferson County,” according to the newsletter.
Said Gross: “It’s scheduled to be the last big event of the year, and we can’t wait to tee off on the first Friday in November.”
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
Packages for team registration and mulligans are available, as well as sponsorships. Prize donations will be accepted as well.
To register, visit: https://tinyurl.com/jcshof . For additional information: (870) 718-3512.
Civic panel to meet on Zoom
The Civic Auditorium Complex Commission in person meeting will be via Zoom at noon Sept. 23, according to a Friday news release. The Zoom link is https://zoom.us/j/94588324670?pwd=buceupDn8RKxrc2d0LMHnH5jeSSz0K.1. Use Meeting ID: 945 8832 4670 and Passcode: 644977.
Stuttgart church sets fall fest
A fall fest will be held from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Oct. 31 and Nov. 1 at First Christian Church in Stuttgart. There will be craft vendors, a soup and chili luncheon, bake sale, silent auction and other activities, according to a news release. To rent a table or for more details, call Jeannie Teaney at (870) 267-8450.
UAPB receives NCAA grant
The University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff will be one of 19 institutions nationwide to receive the Accelerating Academic Success Program grant from the NCAA for the 2025-26 season. The grant is designed to help schools improve academic support systems, student-athlete development and graduation rates, according to a news release.
Selected schools may receive up to $100,000 to invest in academic programming, learning technology, staff support, professional development and student-athlete well-being. UAPB athletics posted a department-wide grade point average above 3.0 last year.
Russ Foundation plans festival
The Carnell Russ Foundation will host the 14th Annual Community Unity Festival in Star City Sept. 27-28. The community is invited to attend.
“The festival will showcase cultural diversity, promote harmony in community relationships, and raise awareness of a little known 54-year-old Arkansas historical fact that took place in Star City, Ark.,” the news release said, referring to Carnell Russ, who died in police custody.
Events will include:
Sept. 27
The parade lineup begins at 9 a.m. at 13207 Bradley Ave. followed by the parade at 10 a.m. Festival festivities begin at 11 a..m. when the parade ends at the civic center.
There will be a welcome by Mayor Paul Carter, Arkansas History & Beyond by John Kirk, activities and games for youth, Community Spotlight with former Gould mayor Essie Cableton, health screenings, and law enforcement and communities interactions.
Rachel Will, cancer patient navigating outpatient coordinator at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, will present information on clinical trial participation and mammogram screening, and will also arrange colorectal screening tests.
Sept. 28
The grand finale will feature a Gospel concert Sept. 28 from 4 -6 p.m. Guests will include the Mt. Nebo Baptist Church Youth in Action, St. Ollie Baptist Church and other local talents. Featured artists will be Joe and the Disciples.
Vendors are welcome. For details, visit www.carnellrussfoundation.com or text (501) 541-3732 or (501) 350-1791 or email leatriceglenns@gmail.com.
High tunnel guide available
The Cooperative Extension Service, the outreach and education arm of the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture, has published its first guide to high tunnel production.
Taunya Ernst, high tunnel and urban agriculture instructor for the Division of Agriculture, said the guide is specifically tailored for growers in Arkansas and other Southern states.
“High tunnel production has been around in Arkansas for a while,” Ernst said. “There are some growers who’ve been using these structures successfully for more than 10 years. For these early growers, the lack of resources and information tailored to Arkansas’s climate made adaptation a real challenge, and for some, management frustrations led them to abandon their tunnels after a season or two. There hasn’t been a lot of information about how to succeed with this technology in Arkansas.”
High tunnel production differs from greenhouse production in several ways, not least of which is that crops are typically planted in the soil inside high tunnels, and the structures are opened for climate management. This brings with it its own challenges in pest control, disease management and irrigation.
Ernst said the new guide is designed to take interested producers from the early stages of planning, budgeting, site selection and climate management through the growing and harvest stages.
“Our goal with the guide was to get people to think through the process from the very beginning,” Ernst said. “Can I afford this? Can I manage it? What crops work well?
“From start to finish, we were trying to make it so that people can succeed in high tunnel production,” she said.
Ernst said that she has seen high tunnels set up everywhere from traditional farmland to urban backyard spaces. She said that for those seeking to farm as a business, vegetable crops tend to be the most profitable, although producers may grow a wide range of crops, from strawberries to cut flowers in high tunnel environments.
The guide is free to download online. Ernst said she will also make physical copies available at workshops. The East Arkansas High Tunnel Workshop is scheduled for Oct. 29 in Marianna and online registration for that event is also open. Both events are free to attend.