Part of road closes near Warren
A portion of the Highway 189 Bypass just east of Warren is scheduled to close around the clock through 7 a.m. Sunday to replace a railroad crossing.
The closure began Friday morning, according to a news release from the Arkansas Department of Transportation.
Weather permitting, a portion of the bypass will be closed to allow Arkansas Midland Railroad crews to replace a railroad crossing. The Highway 189 Bypass will remain open to local traffic only on either side of the closure.
Signage will be in place to notify motorists of the closure. There will be a signed detour in place.
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
To reach the west side of the closure, take Highway 189 south to Highway 278 west to Highway 63 north, back to Highway 189.
To reach the east side of the closure, take Highway 189 west to Highway 63 south to Highway 278 east, back to Highway 189.
Additional travel information can be found at IDriveArkansas.com.
Downtown property group to meet
The Pine Bluff Downtown Property Owners Association Group meeting will be held at 8:30 a.m. Dec. 6 at the Hen House, 204 S. Main St. The purpose is to discuss restarting the group and what they would like to accomplish. Coffee, hot chocolate, hot cider, juice and donuts will be served.
“Please come and bring your ideas,” Jan Robinson said in a news release.
911/MECA boards to meet
On Nov. 13 in the Jefferson County Quorum Court Room at the courthouse, there will be a meeting of the 911 Administrative Board at 10 a.m. and a meeting of the Metropolitan Emergency Communications Association (MECA) Board at 10:15 a.m.
The purpose is the review and approval of the 2026 911 funds transfer and the review and approval of the 2026 MECA budget, according to a news release. Details: Jefferson County Office of Emergency Management, MECA, (870) 541-5470.
Go Teach the Nations fundraiser set
United African Christian Heritage Foundation (UACHF) Unlimited Inc. will hold its Go Teach the Nations (Matt. 28:19) fundraiser and the community is invited to participate.
A garage sale will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Nov. 15 at Share-A-Prayer & Word Church, 4019 S. Main St. A drawing for prizes will begin at 3:30 p.m. A variety of prizes will be awarded during the drawing, according to StuffinTheBluff.com.
Joanna P. Edwards is director of UACHF Unlimited Inc.
“For 33 years now, we have been working together with our brothers and sisters in Sierra Leone, West Africa, in support of beneficial work helping in many areas of need,” Edwards said.
“Sierra Leone is on the list of one of the poorest countries in the world. For 12 years, they were in a civil war that decimated the infrastructure of the nation; since then, they have suffered the loss of thousands of souls through an outbreak of Ebola (2014), a horrible mudslide, and the explosion of a fuel truck, injuring hundreds,” Edwards stated in a donor letter.
“Support we have given in the past and that is ongoing is: a rehabilitation center for people who have been drug and alcohol addicted, a worship center with a music conservatory (school) and elementary school, handicapped persons, a Saturday hot lunch program for children (106+), computers, musical equipment, books for a library, bicycles, transportation, and monetary gifts,” she wrote.
“As a 501(c)3 non-profit, we rely on the generosity of valued individuals and businesses leaders like you to continue and to expand this vital work. Among our goals this year is the raising of funds to purchase land and to build a Christian elementary school facility in the city of Bo. Any contribution will make a significant impact on the severe needs of this country,” Edwards said.
The community can help. Contributions may be made by CashApp at $uachfunlimited or Zelle at uachfunlimited@gmail.com. Checks should be payable to UACHF Unlimited Inc.
The mailing address is UACHF Unlimited, Inc., Post Office Box 8252, Pine Bluff, AR 71611. Details: Joanna P. Edwards, (870) 534-3777.
Fellowship open for ag lawyers
The National Agricultural Law Center has partnered with two other national organizations to launch a first-of-its-kind fellowship focused on developing the next generation of attorneys to work in the agriculture industry.
As part of a Memorandum of Understanding signed at the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture annual meeting in September, the National Agricultural Law Center, NASDA and the NASDA Foundation have launched the Scott E. Fancher Agricultural Law Fellowship.
The application period ends Jan. 5, 2026, with the award to be announced by the end of January.
This fellowship honors Scott E. Fancher, who served the agriculture industry and country with distinction as an agricultural lawyer, a farmer, Farm Service Agency county executive director in multiple counties and as a U.S. Marine.
Harrison Pittman, director of the National Agricultural Law Center, said Fancher served as an inspiration for many in the field of agricultural law.
The Fancher Fellowship will be a paid position located at the NASDA headquarters in Arlington, Va., from mid-May to early August.
During the fellowship, the selected law student will conduct supervised legal research, write on key agricultural and food law issues, attend Congressional hearings and policy briefings and more.
Applications are open to second-year law students who have demonstrated strong legal research and writing skills and an eagerness to engage in agricultural law and policy.
A minimum GPA of 3.25 is preferred. Learn more about the Fellowship and application process on the National Agricultural Law Center website. Details: nataglaw@uark.edu or nationalaglawcenter.org.