Election commission to meet
The Jefferson County Board of Election Commissioners will hold a called meeting Thursday at 6 p.m. at the Election Office, 123 S. Main St., according to Michael Adam, chairman of the Jefferson County Election Commission.
The agenda includes approving the L&A testing for the March 31 Primary Republican and Democratic Runoff Elections.
DRA to award $4 million in grants
The Delta Regional Authority (DRA) is making $4 million available to support workforce development throughout the lower Mississippi River Delta and Alabama Black Belt regions.
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
Funded through the Delta Workforce Grant Program (DWP), DRA will make targeted investments toward projects and initiatives aimed at bolstering the local and regional workforce of the 255 counties and parishes within the DRA eight-state service region.
Award amounts will range between $50,000 to $300,000. The deadline to apply for the 2026 DWP is May 15.
“Through the Delta Workforce Grant Program, DRA is helping our communities meet critical workforce demands and address job shortages across the region,” said Corey Wiggins, federal co-chairman.
“By expanding pathways to in-demand careers, we are creating opportunities for residents to gain the skills and education they need to secure quality jobs, remain in their communities and thrive.”
In 2025, DRA invested approximately $7 million toward 25 workforce development projects, supporting economic development and prosperity within the DRA region.
The DWP is a funding program designed to nurture local workforce ecosystems and increase economic competitiveness in the Delta. Details: www.dra.gov or workforce@dra.gov.
Museum sets reading retreat
A “Living Lyrics and Forgotten Feasts Reading Retreat” is planned for Lakeport Plantation Museum in Lake Village.
The retreat, which will be held from 10:30 a.m. until 2 p.m. April 25, is part of the 250th anniversary celebration of the establishment of the United States. The event will focus on American music and food, according to a news release.
The two books include “Songs of America: Patriotism, Protest, and the Music That Made a Nation” by Jon Meacham and Tim McGraw and “Twain’s Feast: Searching for America’s Lost Foods in the Footsteps of Samuel Clemens” by Andrew Beahrs.
“In ‘Songs of America,’ Meacham and McGraw explore the musical legacy of the history of the United States from the American Revolution through today,” said Ruth O’Loughlin, director of the Lakeport Plantation Museum.
“Beahrs discovers forgotten American dishes beloved by Mark Twain in ‘Twain’s Feast,'” she said.
O’Loughlin said these books offer a musical and historic foodways view of the U.S. Upon registration, participants will receive copies of both books to read at their convenience.
The Lakeport Plantation Museum is an Arkansas State University Heritage Site. Constructed in 1859, Lakeport is one of Arkansas’s premier historic structures and retains many of its original finishes and architectural details, according to the release.
The cost of the retreat is $60. Registration includes copies of the two books and lunch. To register, visit bit.ly/LPRR26.
Robotics among topics at poultry event
To help meet the rising national and global demand for poultry products, the Center for Scalable and Intelligent Automation in Poultry Processing will hold its first field day April 9 from 12:30-5 p.m. at the Don Tyson Center for Agricultural Sciences in Fayetteville.
This free event will share what researchers have learned so far about developing new robotic technologies, including tools for deboning, detecting foreign materials and pathogens, and using virtual reality to operate equipment remotely, according to news release.
Also known as CSIAPP, the multi-state research group was created in 2023 with a four-year, $5 million grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture.
Partners include food scientists and engineers at the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture, Georgia Institute of Technology, University of Nebraska-Lincoln and Fort Valley State University in Georgia.
Registration for the event is available online, and lunch will be provided. However, the event will not be streamed online or recorded. Details: uada.edu.
Thornton sets Hogskin Holidays Festival
Thornton will kick off the Calhoun County Hogskin Holidays Festival at 3 p.m. April 4 at the Thornton Fire Station/Community Room in Thornton.
The kickoff will begin with live musical entertainment and servings for the barbecue dinner will be from 3-6 p.m.
The event brings in people from across Arkansas. Tickets may be purchased for $12 each. Carryouts will be available for those who do not want to stay and eat.
Door prizes will be awarded throughout the event, according to a news release.
Community support is needed and appreciated. The kickoff for the Calhoun County Hogskin Holidays Festival is sponsored by Thornton Step-By-Step Inc., an organization working in conjunction with the city of Thornton, that focuses on community improvement.
All proceeds generated from the kickoff barbecue will remain with the organization and will be used to help bring about the needed improvements, according to the release.
Tickets may be purchased from the members of Step-By-Step or at city hall. Details: Levenis Penix, (870) 352-8241 or Sharon Scott at (870) 352-7968, or city hall at (870) 352-3576.