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 to make additions or changes.
Underway
Covid-19 testing sites
available
Details for getting the covid-19 test are available at the Jefferson County Health Department — 870-535-2142; and Arkansas Department of Health’s website — https://www.healthy.arkansas.gov/programs-services/topics/covid-19-guidance-for-getting-tested . Scroll down until you see the map and enlarge the map. Click on each star to see where each testing site is located.
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
Beginning Thursday, Dec. 31
Agencies announce holiday closures
Several local agencies will be closed in observance of Christmas: Jefferson County Courthouse: Closed today through Jan. 4. Pine Bluff City Hall: Closed today and Friday. White Hall City Hall: Closed Friday. Altheimer City Hall: Closed Friday. Liberty Utilities: Closed Friday. Waste Management: Closed Friday. Friday’s garbage will be picked up Saturday. Area Agency on Aging of Southeast Arkansas will be closed Friday. Southeast Arkansas Transportation will pick up clients with dialysis appointments and those that are being treated for cancer. The state Capitol offices and all state buildings will be closed Friday.
Through Thursday, Dec. 31
Enchanted Land of Lights and Legends display open
The Enchanted Land of Lights and Legends ends tonight. It will be open from 6-9 p.m. at Pine Bluff’s Regional Park. The drive-through exhibit features more than 260 individual lighting displays, each one sponsored by an area business, family or individual.
Thursday, Dec. 31
New Community Church sets Watch Meeting
New Community Church, 321 N. Birch St., will conduct Watch Meeting service Thursday, Dec. 31, beginning with prayer at 6 p.m. Worship service will be held at 7 p.m. The pastor/apostle, Patrick Lockett, will lead the service. New Community follows health guidelines and practices social distancing. Hand sanitizer stations are located at the entrances and masks are available for people who don’t have them.
Friday, Jan. 1, 2021
Inauguration, Swearing-In ceremony set
An inauguration and swearing-in ceremony will be held for elected city officials at 10 a.m. Friday, Jan. 1, in the lobby of the Pine Bluff Convention Center, according to a news release from Janice Roberts, city clerk-elect. Officials to be sworn in include Roberts; Mayor Shirley M. Washington; City Treasurer Greg Gustek; Council Members Lloyd A. Holcomb Jr. and Bruce Lockett; and new Council Members Glen Brown Sr. and Steven Shaner. This is a public event. All interested parties are welcome to attend. Guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are enforced and all must wear a face mask.
NAACP plans virtual Emancipation Proclamation Program
The Pine Bluff Branch of the NAACP will host its annual Emancipation Proclamation Program virtually at noon Friday, Jan. 1. Due to the coronavirus, this event will take place by Zoom video conferencing, according to a news release. The theme will be “We Are Done Dying: Unified to Stand Strong.” Judge Waymond Brown will be the guest speaker. The Zoom link for the Emancipation Proclamation program is: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83951308086?pwd=OTAyVkhUZjR6eWZwWXB4THYybFpoZz09. Use Meeting ID: 839 5130 8086 and Passcode: 767503.
Saturday, Jan. 2
Charity basketball game set
YBL Basketball League and I Am Girls Empowerment Inc. will host the second annual Basketball Alumni Charity Game at 6 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 2, at the Pine Bluff Convention Center. Admission is $10 for adults and $5 for children. All proceeds from the game will support college scholarships for local high school youth. Individuals who have made a positive impact in the Pine Bluff community will be honored. Honorees include fallen Detective Kevin Collins, Ronnie Reynolds, Virgil Young and Tyrone Williams, according to a news release. The event will also include special live performances. The hosts will be Keith Glason of Power 92 radio and the cost-host will be Danniesha Murphy, chief executive officer and founder of I Am Girls. Details: iam.inc@yahoo.com.
Through Saturday, Jan. 2
ASC hosts ‘Brothers by One’ display
The Arts & Science Center for Southeast Arkansas, 701 S. Main St., will display “Brothers by One: The Black Athlete and Social Justice” through Saturday, Jan. 2, 2021. An exhibit by Rex DeLoney, it is sponsored by Simmons Bank. This exhibition highlights the many ways that Black athletes used their celebrity status and media coverage to give attention to social justice issues; from boxer Muhammad Ali and his stance against the Vietnam War to San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick kneeling during the national anthem as a statement against police brutality.
Wednesday, Jan. 6
Pine Bluff Commercial sets church news deadline
Church news is printed in The Commercial on Friday. The deadine to submit church announcements is noon Wednesday. Articles may be submitted by email to shope@adgnewsroom.com. Pastors, ministers or other writers interested in writing a religion column may submit articles for consideration by email. Please include your phone number, the name and location of your ministry or city where you reside, and your photo. Photos may also accompany church news by email.
Thursday, Jan. 7
ASC reschedules Arkansas Political Cartoonist discussion
The Arts and Science Center for Southeast Arkansas rescheduled the “Meet the Curator: Livestream Discussion of Arkansas Political Cartoonist George Fisher.” The event will be held Thursday, Jan. 7, at 5 p.m. on Instagram and Facebook. Adam D. Heien, processing archivist of the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville’s Special Collections, and ASC Curator Chaney Jewell plan to discuss the importance of Fisher’s political cartoons.