St. Joseph to bless animals
St. Joseph Catholic Church, 412 W. Sixth Ave., will hold the Blessing of Animals 2025 at 11 a.m. Oct. 4 in the church’s Walnut Street parking lot. Noel “Bud” Bryant, a deacon of St. Joseph church, will bless the animals. The event is held in honor of St. Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of animals, according to a news release. Everyone is invited to attend. Owners are asked to have their pets on leashes or in appropriate carriers. This is for the safety of the animals and the individuals who attend.
Refreshments will be provided by Catholic Daughters following the service for the animals and those present.
Trinity Village plans soup event
Trinity Village, 6400 Trinity Drive, will host its fall Soup & Shop from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Oct. 16 at the Great Hall on the campus. The community is invited to attend. Admission to the event is by donation. Donations go toward updating parts of Trinity Village’s medical center, according to a flier.
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
“Taste the soups and shop with our vendors,” a spokesman said. For those interested in setting up a booth, the cost is $25 each and the fee is non-refundable. Details: Trinity Village, (870) 879-3113.
American Legion sets fundraiser
The White Hall American Legion Post at the corner of Huckleberry and Nancy streets will hold a fundraiser Oct. 4 from 8 a.m. until about noon. The rummage sale items will be available indoors. The event includes kitchen items, small appliances, vintage items and children’s toys. Proceeds from the sale support the activities of the White Hall American Legion Post 232, according to a news release.
Area Agency tells menu
Area Agency on Aging of Southeast Arkansas offers lunch from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. weekdays at the senior centers.
Sept. 29 — Grilled chicken salad, melon, crackers, banana nut bread and milk.
Sept. 30 — Black-eyed peas with sliced ham, okra, cornbread, fruit and milk.
Oct. 1 — BBQ chicken, summer squash, potato salad, cobbler and milk.
Oct. 2 — Meatballs with gravy, mashed potatoes, spinach, lemonade pie and milk.
Oct. 3 — Baked fish, oven fries, cole slaw, 2 hushpuppies, spiced applesauce and milk.
Thornton plans BBQ cookoff
The city of Thornton and Thornton Step-By-Step Inc. will sponsor its fall festival and Hot Lips BBQ Cookoff on Oct. 18. Everyone is invited to attend. The fall festival will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the Roy Yarbrough City Park on U.S. 79B in Thornton. The Hot Lips BBQ Cookoff will take place across the street from the city park near the fire substation and extending over onto the Greater St. Mark AME Church.
“In keeping with the vision of the constituents of this consolidated effort, this is an annual event designed to promote the legacy and rich heritage of our city along with capitalizing on future growth and expansion,” according to a news release. Step-By-Step, Inc., working jointly with the city of Thornton, is an organization that focuses on community improvement. “Please come and enjoy yourselves,” a spokesman said.
There is no fee to attend, but people are asked to bring their own lawn chairs. Details: Levenis Penix, (870) 352-8241, or Sharon Scott, (870) 352-7968.
Governor’s School names 2025 class
Arkansas Governor’s School announced the names of students who completed the 46th edition of the program during summer 2025. Arkansas Tech University in Russellville has hosted Governor’s School since 2019, according to a news release.
Area participants listed by the high school include:
DREW CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL (MONTICELLO)
Kori Sade Dickey and Kennedi Nevaeh Lambert.
MONTICELLO HIGH SCHOOL
Maddison Gail Gage.
SHERIDAN HIGH SCHOOL
Gavin Alan-Maddox Goldman, Jackson Cade Lazenby, Carson Brody Lyons and Connor Nash.
STUTTGART HIGH SCHOOL
Sydney Isabelle Fuller, Shiloh Shalom O’Neal, Christiana Lynn Owens, Samuel Theodore Patton, Alex Scaife, Jacob Elijah Warren and Johnny Robert Yaws.
WOODLAWN HIGH SCHOOL (RISON)
Kane Alan Mills.
AGS serves selected students from around the state during the summer before their senior year in high school. The Arkansas Department of Education Gifted and Talented Programs administrator supervises the program with assistance from an advisory council. The 47th Arkansas Governor’s School will take place at ATU during summer 2026. Details: www.atu.edu/ags.