CACC to meet Feb. 25
The Civic Auditorium Complex Commission’s in-person meeting has been scheduled for noon Feb. 25, according to a news release. Details: Pine Bluff Convention Center, (870) 536-7600.
WM to delay pickup schedule
The winter weather is expected to affect all Waste Management services in Central Arkansas. WM suspended residential customer service for Tuesday and will provide further updates as road conditions are assessed, according to a news release.
Delays will impact trash services in Pine Bluff and White Hall as well as recycling in Little Rock and Pulaski County.
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
“The safety of our employees and customers remains paramount to Waste Management,” said Jamie Vernon, public sector manager for Waste Management. “We will continue to provide the public updates on our service schedule daily, and we appreciate everyone’s patience and understanding.” Details: www.wm.com.
Blood donations needed
A severe blood shortage is impacting the community, and Our Blood Institute needs blood donations immediately, according to a news release.
“Recent illness outbreaks have removed the ill and their caregivers from the donor pool. Preemptive school closures and corporate and institutional drive cancellations are piling up due to impending severe weather. Work from home precautions have removed donors from their routine habits of giving blood. The net result is thousands of lost blood donation appointments. As a result, OBI’s ability to maintain a stable blood supply is critically strained,” according to the release.
Anyone who is healthy and 16 years old or older can give blood. A donation typically takes only about an hour, and one donation saves up to three lives. To schedule an appointment with OBI, visit https://ourbloodinstitute.org/appeal/or call 877-340-8777.
Hip Hop Farmers film rescheduled
The planned screenings of Hip Hop Farmers at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff have been changed due to winter weather. The first screening will now be Feb. 26 from 4-5 p.m. at the Woodard Hall Auditorium, 1200 N. University Drive. The second screening is set for Feb. 27 from 3-4 p.m. and a location to be announced.
Hip Hop Farmers video series encourages minority youth to consider agricultural careers and highlights the broad services of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Following the screenings, the filmmakers and cast will speak with the public. Snacks will be provided.
The project is the brainchild of James Bunch, a UAPB agriculture alumnus who went on to have a 35-year career with the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), according to a news release.
Free ACT virtual event set
The Ivy Center for Education Inc. will present a free virtual ACT Boot Camp on Thursday, from 6-8 p.m. The presenters are Charity Smith-Allen and team from Fetterman and Associates.
The center encourages students in seventh through 12th grades to join the workshop. High school juniors who are taking the test this month should take advantage of this opportunity, a spokesman said.
The free ACT Boot Camp is made possible through a grant from the Pine Bluff Area Community Foundation.
To attend via Zoom, use Meeting ID: 856 8296 4187 and Passcode: 351061. Details: kencol1@msn.com or mattie1908@gmail.com.
Chamber slates March luncheon
The Pine Bluff Regional Chamber of Commerce will host its monthly luncheon from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. March 5 at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff Business Incubator, 615 S. Main St.
The guest speaker will be Adam Head, president/CEO of CARTI Cancer Center, according to the Chamber newsletter.
Lunch, catered by Chick-fil-A, is $15 and must be paid for in advance. To RSVP, call the Chamber at (870) 535-0110.
Affordable housing seminar set
The Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) will present the Introduction to Affordable Housing for Local Governments and Rural Leaders. The session will be held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. March 4 at The Generator, 435 S. Main St.
This session is designed to equip elected officials, community leaders and organizations with the knowledge and tools to develop and support affordable housing development initiatives, according to a news release.
Participants will explore key concepts such as housing affordability, funding opportunities, zoning and regulatory considerations while learning practical strategies to address housing challenges in their communities.
Seating is limited. To register, visit here. Details: India Turner at iturner@lisc.org.
Sculpting event rescheduled
The ARTx3 Campus’ workshop, Sculpting with Angi Cooper — originally set for Saturday — has been moved to April 19. The free mixed-media workshop will be held from 1-3 p.m. at the Arts & Science Center for Southeast Arkansas.
Participants will learn how to create nature-inspired sculptures from materials such as cardboard. There is no cost to participate and all supplies are provided, according to a news release.
Cooper is the ARTx3 Campus’ teaching artist-in-residence for February. Register here or call (870) 536-3375. Details: Programs Director Shakeelah Rahmaan at srahmaan@artx3.org or (870) 536-3375.
Stuttgart resident on Dean’s List
Jose Armando Rodriguez Sanchez of Stuttgart was named to the Dean’s List for the fall 2024 semester at Tufts University in Medford, Mass. The list requires a semester grade point average of 3.4 or greater. Sanchez is expected to be a member of the Class of 2026, according to a news release.