Editor’s Note: At press time, the following events and meetings were known to be still scheduled. Organizers or appropriate officials are encouraged to contact Sandra Hope at shope@pbcommercial.com or use our newsroom email pbcnews@adgnewsroom.com to make additions or changes.
Monday, Jan. 5
City council to meet
The Pine Bluff City Council is scheduled to meet at 5:30 p.m. Monday at the Detective Kevin Collins Center in the Council Chambers. Details: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1APiVpkM5D-JFENeU6XETiB4iiSXFCThD/view?usp=sharing.
UAM sets spring orientation
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
The University of Arkansas at Monticello will hold orientation Jan. 5 for the spring 2026 semester. Prospective students are encouraged to attend and register for classes during the event. Spring 2026 semester classes will begin Jan. 7. Orientation for prospective UAM students will begin at 9 a.m. in Room 102 of the Student Success Center on the Monticello campus. Prospective students interested in attending the UAM College of Technology–Crossett or the UAM College of Technology–McGehee should attend orientation sessions on those campuses at 1 p.m. Details: UAM Office of Admissions at admissionsoffice@uamont.edu or (870) 460-1026.
Tuesday, Jan. 6
Community blood drive set
A Pine Bluff Community Blood Drive will be held from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Jan. 6 at the Pine Bluff Convention Center. Free gifts of a T-shirt, Museum of Discovery ticket and other items are available while supplies last. Photo IDs are required for blood donations. Walk-ins are welcome, however to make an appointment call 877-340-8777 or visit obi.org, according to a flyer.
Club Scrub Workshop set
The Ivy Center for Education Club Scrub Workshop will meet from 6-7 p.m. Tuesday at UAMS South Central Medical Center, at 1601 W. 40th Ave. There will be a suturing demonstration and discussion on the Life of a Family Physician, according to a news release. The workshop will be presented by UAMS South Central residents Christina Monroe, Mohammad Elsherief, and Ahmed Amin. Students in 7-12th grades are encouraged to attend. (Everyone should enter from the rear of the building.) Those who cannot attend in person may join via Zoom with Zoom ID -856 8296 4187 and Password – 351061. Details: President Mattie Collins at mattie1908@gmail.com.
Wednesday, Jan. 7
Workforce board to meet at SEARK
The Arkansas Workforce Development Board will meet Jan. 7 at Southeast Arkansas College in the Welcome Center, 1900 Hazel St. From 10-11:15 a.m. committee meetings will be held. From 12:30-2:30 p.m. the full board will be in session, according to a news release. These meetings are open to the public. The agendas and meeting materials will be posted at https://dws.arkansas.gov/events/arkansas-workforce-development-board-meeting-january-7/ once available.
Chamber slates luncheon
The Pine Bluff Regional Chamber of Commerce will host its monthly luncheon from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Jan. 7 at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff Business Support Incubator, 615 S. Main St. The speaker will be Pine Bluff Mayor Vivian Flowers, according to the Chamber newsletter. Lunch will be catered by Chick-fil-A. Lunch costs $15 and must be paid in advance by calling the Chamber, (870) 535-0110.
Church news deadline set
Church news is printed in The Commercial on Fridays. The deadline to submit church announcements is noon Wednesdays. Pastors, ministers or others interested in writing for the Devotional Page may also submit columns for consideration. Column writers should have connections to Southeast Arkansas. Articles are accepted by email to Sandra Hope at shope@adgnewsroom.com. Details: (870) 534-3400, ext. 5.
Friday, Jan. 9
Soybean Forum set at Dumas
Experts from Arkansas, Louisiana and Mississippi will share information about issues facing soybean producers in the South at the 69th annual Tri-State Soybean Forum on Jan. 9. The event begins at 8 a.m. at the Dumas Community Center in Dumas. The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture Cooperative Extension Service, Louisiana State University AgCenter and Mississippi State University Extension Service jointly plan the conference, according to the Division of Agriculture news release. Details: www.uaex.uada.edu/soybean-forum or Grant Beckwith, Tri-State Soybean Forum chair, at gbeckwith@uada.edu.
Saturday, Jan. 10
Pilgrim pantry to open Jan. 10
Raven’s Nest Food Pantry at Pilgrim Missionary Baptist Church, 2507 Hill St., will be open Jan. 10 from 8-9:30 a.m. or until all the food has been given away. Food will be handed out on a first come, first-served basis. Participants must bring a picture identification. The pantry is a U.S. Department of Agriculture distribution site and an equal opportunity provider, according to a news release.
St. John to give away food
St. John AME Church, 1117 W. Pullen St., will provide food boxes to those in need Jan. 10 from 9 a.m. until all food has been distributed. State ID’s are required to receive one box per family. Pickup will be in front of the church on Cherry Street. For safety reasons, recipients are asked to stay in their vehicles and open their trunks, according to a news release.
Pre-Coon Supper reception set
The 14th annual Berry Pre-Coon Supper Reception will be held Jan. 10 at the Berry Farm Shop in Gillett. The reception starts at 3:30 p.m. at the farm followed by the 82nd Gillett Coon Supper at the Gillett School Gymnasium at 6:30 p.m., according to a news release. Tickets to the pre-supper reception are $50 each and sponsorships are available. Tickets can be purchased online or at the door. For more information about becoming a reception sponsor, contact Becky Barnes Campbell at (501) 912-7560 or Gabe Holmstrom at (479) 409-3329 or see the Berry Pre-Coon Supper Reception Facebook page. Tickets to the Coon Supper may be purchased by contacting Tyler Place at (870) 830-4422.
Gillett Coon Supper set
The Gillett Farmers and Businessmen’s Club will host the 82nd annual Coon Supper at 6 p.m. Jan. 10 in the Gillett High School Gymnasium, according to a news release. The club uses all proceeds from the coon supper to fund scholarships for Gillett area students. The Gillett Coon Supper will be attended by many national, state and local politicians, and people from all over Arkansas and surrounding states. Coon supper T-shirts and hats will be available this year. For ticket information, contact Tyler Place at (870) 830-4422 or write to P.O. Box 577, Gillett, AR, 72055.
Tuesday, Jan. 13
WH Chamber luncheon set
White Hall Chamber of Commerce will host its monthly luncheon at noon Jan. 13 at the White Hall Community Center. The featured speaker will be White Hall Mayor Noel Foster. The lunch will be catered by Sylvia’s, according to https://www.facebook.com/WhiteHallChamber/
Wednesday, Jan. 14
Town Hall luncheon set
A Pine Bluff Town Hall Luncheon will be held from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Jan. 14 at the Pine Bluff Library, 600 S. Main St. The event is sponsored by United WE, according to a news release. “Join us for an impactful gathering of local leaders and residents in Pine Bluff, Ark., to discuss strengthening women’s workforce participation,” according to a flyer. “United WE is a national, nonprofit, nonpartisan think-and-do tank driving systemic change by focusing on women’s labor force participation to strengthen the overall economy,” according to its website. For details and to register for the event, visit https://www.united-we.org/
Through Wednesday, Jan. 14
UAM displays sculpture exhibit
The Journey, a collaborative sculptural and mixed-media exhibition featuring work by artists Cindy Blair, Heather Gill and Tom Richard, professor of art at the University of Arkansas at Monticello, can be viewed in the Glassblock Gallery in the Fred J. Taylor Library and Technology Center at UAM through Jan. 14. The Journey showcases an assemblage sculpture by Blair, Gill and Richard in the downstairs gallery. The upstairs gallery features Blair’s illuminated polymer clay sculptures, which explore the interplay of light, color and form, as well as Gill’s collage works depicting birds of western North America, created during her residency in Arizona, according to a news release. The exhibition is free and open to the public. The gallery’s hours are Mondays and Wednesdays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Tuesdays and Thursdays from noon to 3 p.m.
Thursday, Jan. 15
Christian Women plan luncheon
The Christian Women’s Connection will conduct its monthly luncheon from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Jan. 15 at the Pine Bluff Country Club. The speaker will be Lynae Jacobs, a retired educator from Amarillo, Texas, who will discuss “Tool Box for a Broken Soul.” Also featured will be Melody Grace of Amarillo, a Christian gospel singer, according to a news release. The luncheon is $20 and everyone is invited to attend. All participants are asked to honor their reservations. For reservations and/or cancellations, contact Jennifer Keahey at (870) 540-9302.
Through Thursday, Jan. 15
KingFest parade applications open
Applications are open for the 42nd PBICVR Original KingFest MLK Marade/Parade, which honors the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Applications can be picked up until Jan. 15 at the PBICVR office in the Donald W. Reynolds Community Services Center, 211 W. Third Ave., Suite 109, or requested via email at pbicvr@aol.com. There is no charge to participate. The marade/parade will take place at 2 p.m. Jan. 19. The lineup begins at 1 p.m. at Third Avenue and Walnut Street. Details: (870) 730-1131.
Monday, Jan. 19
KingFest marade/parade set
The 42nd PBICVR Original KingFest MLK Marade/Parade, which honors the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., will take place at 2 p.m. Jan. 19 in downtown Pine Bluff. The lineup begins at 1 p.m. at Third Avenue and Walnut Street. Participants will go east on Third Avenue to the overpass, south on Convention Center drive to the north steps of the Civic Center complex, according to a news release. The event’s theme is “Remembering Their Names Matters.” Families of homicide victims over the years are encouraged to participate in the marade/parade as special guests, according to a news release. The community is also asked to create a poster that shows how people in Pine Bluff can come together through peace, respect, and nonviolence. Applications are open for the marade/parade can be picked up until Jan. 15 at the PBICVR office in the Donald W. Reynolds Community Services Center, 211 W. Third Ave., Suite 109, or requested via email at pbicvr@aol.com. There is no charge to participate. Details: (870) 730-1131.
Thursday, Jan. 22
Chambers hosts annual dinner
The Pine Bluff Regional Chamber of Commerce Annual Dinner will be held Jan. 22 at the Pine Bluff Country Club. Cocktails will be served at 6 p.m. and dinner begins at 6:30 p.m. This year’s featured speaker is Bill Jones, CEO of Sissy’s Log Cabin and a member of the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, according to the Chamber newsletter. Tickets to the dinner are $60 for members and $65 for non-members. Table sponsorships are $600 for eight people. For tickets or sponsorship information, email jennifer@jeffersoncountyalliance.com or call Jennifer Kline, Chamber director, at (870) 535-0110.
Friday, Feb. 13
Alphas set Scholarship Fundraiser
Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc. will present the 2026 Valentine’s Scholarship Fundraiser Feb. 13 at 7:06 p.m. at the Pine Bluff Convention Center. The gala is being presented by the Delta Sigma Lambda Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha in conjunction with the Southeast Arkansas Jewel Foundation. The theme is “All Black Affair with a Touch of Gold.” General admission is $50 per person. Scholarship sponsorship opportunities are also available, according to Stuff in The Bluff.com. Checks or money orders should be mailed no later than Feb. 6 to: Southeast Arkansas Jewel Foundation, Post Office Box 3159, Pine Bluff, AR 71611. Checks should be made to the foundation, which is a 501(c)3 organization. Donations are tax deductible to the extent allowed by law. For more information about the fundraiser, contact Arzo Knox at (501) 351-7336 or arzo.knox@hotmail.com.
Saturday, Feb. 28
Hospital foundation sets gala
Jefferson Regional Foundation will present the Winter Wonderland Ball 2026 on Feb. 28 at the White Hall Community Center. There will be live entertainment, according to a flier. Tickets are $250. For tickets and sponsorship information, contact Laura Beth Shaner at (870) 541-7210.