New United sets fall festival
New United Missionary Baptist Church, 5601 Cheatham St., will conduct a fall festival at 2 p.m. Saturday, according to a news release. The Rev. Woodrow Jackson Sr. is the pastor.
Opportunity House sets event
The community is invited to the Re-Grand Opening of Opportunity House, 1305 E. Sixth Ave. (formerly First Ward School), beginning at noon Thursday. This is the new 24-hour residential facility dedicated to providing care, housing, and support services to people experiencing homelessness, according to a flier. Details: (870) 569-3130.
WHHS JROTC dinner, auction set
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
The White Hall High School Junior ROTC Booster Club will host its Fall Dinner and Auction from 6-9 p.m. Nov. 8 at White Hall Community Center. Dinner will be catered by Texas Roadhouse and participants may choose steak or chicken, according to the flier.
“Support our cadets — strengthen our program,” the flier said.
Tickets are $25 each. Tickets won’t be sold at the door. Details: White Hall High School, (870) 247-3255 or see Facebook.
Liberty installs new pipelines
To support the Arkansas Department of Transportation’s (ARDOT) Statewide Transportation Improvement Program, Liberty Utilities will install two miles of new water main pipeline along West Sixth Avenue, from Franklin to South Blake streets.
Work was scheduled to begin Oct. 13 and continue into early 2026.
“While the relocation of our infrastructure is required as part of ARDOT’s street-widening effort, we are taking the opportunity to improve Liberty’s water system by replacing aged pipelines,” said Tony Penna, Liberty president, Central Region Water.
“This upgrade will allow us to continue delivering safe water and reliable service to customers,” Penna said in the newsletter from the Pine Bluff Regional Chamber of Commerce.
Crews will install new piping, which will serve customers for many years to come. Liberty will also install new fire hydrants as part of the work, improving fire protection for homes and neighborhoods in the project area.
While the road will stay open during Liberty’s pipeline replacement work, consider using an alternate, more convenient route away from the construction. For your safety, please stay focused on the road and follow safety signage and traffic flaggers.
Police target distracted driving
The Arkansas State Police Highway Safety Office recently launched the statewide distracted driving campaign, “Put the Phone Away or Pay.” The high-visibility enforcement campaign, running through Saturday, will remind drivers of the deadly dangers and legal consequences of distracted driving.
In 2023, distracted driving crashes killed 3,275 people across the United States, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Of those killed, 611 were pedestrians, cyclists and other non-motorists. Seven percent of drivers ages 15 to 20 who were involved in fatal crashes were reported as distracted. This age group had the largest proportion of drivers who were distracted at the time of the fatal crash, according to the news release.
The Arkansas State Police encourages everyone to drive responsibly and keep their eyes on the road. Distracted driving is dangerous — and illegal.
Details: www.nhtsa.gov/campaign/distracted-driving or call the Arkansas Highway Safety Office at (501) 618-8136.