AR Kids Read seeks volunteers
AR Kids Read is asking for volunteers to help first through third graders improve their reading skills in Pine Bluff and Watson Chapel schools.
Participants are asked to volunteer an hour per week and help elementary students practice literacy skills and build their reading confidence, according to the newsletter of the Pine Bluff Regional Chamber of Commerce.
Training, resources and materials are provided. To register or for details, visit www.arkidsread.org or email info@arkidsread.org.
Chancellor to speak at Chamber
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
The Pine Bluff Regional Chamber of Commerce will host its monthly luncheon from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Oct. 1 at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff Business Support Incubator, 615 S. Main St. The speaker will be UAPB Chancellor Anthony Graham, according to the Chamber newsletter.
Lunch is $15 and will be catered by Grider Field restaurant. Lunch must be paid for in advance. Details: The Chamber, (870) 535-0110.
Chamber fish fry sponsorships open
Sponsorships are available for the 73rd annual Farmers Appreciation Fish Fry presented by the Pine Bluff Regional Chamber of Commerce. The event will take place from 5-7 p.m. Oct. 23 at Hestand Stadium.
Tickets are $20 for members and $25 for non-members. The fish fry will feature King Kat catfish and chicken plates with all the trimmings, according to the Chamber newsletter.
Featured entertainment will be the Port City Blues Players. Beverages are sponsored by MK Distributors. To purchase tickets, become a sponsor, or for details call the Chamber at (870) 535-0110 or email vera@jeffersoncountyalliance.com.
Dog obedience class set
The Southeast Arkansas Kennel Club is sponsoring a dog obedience class for seven weeks starting Oct. 7. The class will be meeting at Hestand Stadium from 7-8 p.m. each Tuesday. The cost is $65 for the seven weeks. Puppies need to be four months or older, according to the news release. Details: (870) 879-3384.
Health, wellness tour set
Hope Empowerment Inc. will present the free Health & Wellness Awareness 2025 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Oct. 4 at 2610 S. Catalpa St. (the Food Wise parking lot on West 28th Avenue), according to the newsletter of the Pine Bluff Regional Chamber of Commerce. The event will focus on building wellness together and fighting health challenges together.
Corps to close lane near Tichnor
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will be closing one lane of the Nady County Road bridge across Lock Number 2 near Tichnor from 8:30 a.m. until 5 p.m. Sept. 24 for a routine bridge inspection.
Flaggers will be present to assist with the flow of traffic, but motorists should plan for additional travel time. Motorists are urged to exercise additional caution when passing through the area for the safety of personnel working, according to a news release.
The closure is being coordinated with emergency services and law enforcement agencies. USACE officials regret any inconvenience this may cause and ask for the public’s cooperation until the work is complete.
For more information contact the Pine Bluff Site Office at (870) 534-0451. Details: www.swl.usace.army.mil or www.facebook.com/littlerockusace.
Tax expert to address new law
Agricultural producers face new tax considerations as the result of recent legislation, and a National Agricultural Law Center webinar will provide critical insight into what those changes mean heading into 2026.
The free webinar, “Reviewing New OBBBA Tax Provisions Impacting Agricultural Producers,” will be held Wednesday from 11 a.m. to noon. Registration is available at https://nationalaglawcenter.org/webinars/obbba-taxes/
Kristine Tidgren, director of Iowa State University’s Center for Agricultural Law and Taxation, or CALT, will lead the one-hour session, which will break down key provisions of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act — OBBBA — that impact farmers, ranchers, and rural landowners.
“Producers are going to see some meaningful tax rule changes that will affect end-of-year decisions and planning for 2026,” Tidgren said. “This webinar is designed to provide the clarity they need to make smart, informed decisions moving forward.”
Tidgren will highlight the tax provisions introduced through OBBBA and how those provisions apply in real-world scenarios. Attendees will come away with practical planning strategies tailored for the unique financial landscape of agricultural operations.
“Kristine is one of the leading experts in agricultural taxation in the country,” said Harrison Pittman, director of the National Agricultural Law Center. “She brings an ability to translate complex legal issues into information that producers and ag professionals can use right away.”
In addition to her leadership at CALT, Tidgren teaches agricultural law at Iowa State University and contributes regularly to national tax education programs and publications. She is a licensed attorney and a sought-after speaker known for her deep understanding of the intersection between law, tax and agriculture.
“This webinar will help producers prepare for the 2026 tax season with confidence,” Tidgren said. “We’ll walk through what’s changed, what it means, and how producers can plan ahead.”
Details: nationalaglawcenter.org.