Pantry to give lunch to first responders
The First Ward Living Grace Pantry, 1201 Commerce Road, will give a free hot lunch to first responders from 12:30-2:30 p.m. Oct. 31.
“In honor of their dedication and service during the 2025 UAPB Homecoming, we are recognizing our local first responders — including the Pine Bluff police and fire departments, Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, White Hall and Sheridan police departments, Arkansas State Troopers, ambulance services, and the Arkansas Department of Corrections (ADC),” according to the news release.
All first responders are invited to join the pantry for lunch.
“This is our way of saying thank you to the everyday heroes who protect and serve our city and surrounding areas,” said Executive Director Debra Strickland Allen of the First Ward Living Grace Pantry. “Their commitment to safety, courage, and community deserves recognition and gratitude.”
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
EHC Holiday Foods Show set
The annual Jefferson County Extension Homemakers Holiday Foods Show will be held at 10 a.m. Nov. 7 at St. Joseph Catholic Church, 412 W. Sixth Ave. The doors will open at 9 a.m.
Tickets are $25 and are available by texting (870) 718-1846 or contacting any Jefferson County Extension Homemaker for assistance in getting tickets, according to a news release.
Entergy raises $378K to aid disabled
Employees, community partners and vendors recently teed off for a cause at the annual Entergy Arkansas The Power to Care Charity Golf Classic raising a record-breaking $189,000 to help elderly and disabled customers keep their power on during times of financial hardship. With dollar-for-dollar matching contributions from corporate shareholders, the total impact will reach $378,000, the largest amount ever raised in the tournament’s 21-year history, according to a news release.
“The Power to Care is one of the most meaningful ways we live out our mission to serve our customers,” said Laura Landreaux, president and CEO of Entergy Arkansas. “It provides relief to those on fixed incomes who are often the most affected by extreme temperatures and increased energy usage. This record-setting achievement reflects the generosity and commitment of our employees, partners, and volunteers who continue to make a difference in our communities.”
The Power to Care fund provides emergency assistance to elderly and disabled customers who are struggling to pay their electric bills. The program is supported year-round through employee contributions, vendor sponsorships, and individual donations from customers and community members. Funds are distributed through local nonprofit agencies to help qualified customers in need across the state.
This year’s event, held at the Country Club of Arkansas in Maumelle, drew more than 50 teams of employees, vendors and supporters.
“So far this year, Power to Care has already helped more than 1,200 Arkansas families,” said Jason Rees, commercial operations director and tournament chairperson. Details: entergy.com/care.
Homesteading conferences set
As more Arkansans seek resources for small and large-scale homesteading efforts, the Cooperative Extension Service will host two conferences offering expert information on best practices in food preservation, soil health, poultry management and more.
The Boone, Carroll, Madison, Marion and Newton county extension offices are collaborating to host the Sow, Grow & Know Homesteading Expo on Nov. 7 at the Northwest Arkansas District Fairgrounds in Harrison. The cost to attend is $15.
Extension staff will offer information sessions on poultry processing and management, livestock for small-scale living, farm soil health, food preservation and more, according to the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture.
The Independence County Extension Office will host its Homesteading with Independence conference on Nov. 21 at the University of Arkansas Community College at Batesville. The cost to attend is $20, and the deadline to register is Nov. 14.
Topics will include basic berry production, high tunnels, seed starting and more.
Torrie Smith, Caroll County extension staff chair, said this is the first time that Boone, Carroll, Madison, Marion and Newton counties have collaborated for an extension expo on homesteading topics. The effort is in response to an influx of first-time property owners, who have moved to the region in the years following the covid-19 pandemic.
“They’ve moved in from California or Texas, where property costs were astronomical and they couldn’t have a few acres,” Smith said. “Now they’ve moved into Arkansas, where the land cost was cheaper, and they’ve bought a few acres and want to know what to do with it. That’s when more interest started popping up.”
Smith said it is important for the Cooperative Extension Service to answer this call for guidance, because “we want to give you the best research-based information that we can.”
“We want them to know that there are right ways to do things, and we’re just trying to teach people these best practices,” Smith said. “Our agents are experts in many different areas, and when we team up together, we can provide more and better information, and we all get to talk about what we’re passionate about.”
Both conferences are designed to benefit new and established homesteaders.
Registration is available online for both conferences. Details: https://uada.formstack.com/forms/homesteading_expo or https://uada.formstack.com/forms/homesteading_independence.