Boys State elects Dumas resident justice
Billy Reddick of Dumas from Dumas High School was elected as the Associate Justice #3 of the State Supreme Court at Arkansas Boys State 2024, a summer leadership and civic engagement experience sponsored by the American Legion.
Reddick was one of 14 students elected by his peers to state office on Thursday as part of the 83rd annual session of Arkansas Boys State, according to a news release.
On Friday morning, Reddick was scheduled to travel to the capitol in Little Rock to take office, meet with constituents, and learn more about their respective roles alongside their elected counterparts.
During the session, students build a mock government, including the state constitutional offices: governor, lieutenant governor, secretary of state, attorney general, auditor, land commissioner, treasurer, and chief justice and associate justices of the Arkansas Supreme Court.
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
St. John to give away food
St. John AME Church, 1117 W. Pullen St., will give away food boxes to those in need June 8 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.
The event is sponsored by the St. John AME Church’s Soul Food for the Mind, Body, and Spirit Feeding Ministry along with community partners, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity and Pleasant Grove Baptist Church.
To help support this ministry, financial donations may be mailed St. John AME Church-Feeding Ministry, 1117 W. Pullen St., Pine Bluff, Ark., 71601, or electronically through Givelify St John AME Pine Bluff. Contact Pearl Matlock by email at pearl1948@sbcglobal.net to volunteer. The Rev. Chestine Sims Jr. is the pastor.
Audubon group to hold picnic
The Three Rivers Audubon Society will host its annual picnic Tuesday. Attendees will meet at 9 a.m. at the Lake Saracen parking lot at the beginning of the walking trail. They will car pool to Arkansas Post. Particpants should bring their own brown bag lunch, drinks and binoculars, according to a spokesman.
OEM plans preparedness event
The Integrated Preparedness Planning Workshop will be held at 10 a.m. June 5 in the McGeorge Hall Seminar Room of Southeast Arkansas College, according to the Jefferson County Office of Emergency Management.
The purpose of the workshop is to identify and set preparedness priorities and to schedule preparedness activities for the multi-year Integrated Preparedness Plan for Jefferson County, according to the news release.
Organizers will utilize the Local Emergency Preparedness Committee along with guidance provided by senior leaders, to accomplish these tasks using the “Whole Community Approach.”
Participants should have a working knowledge of their jurisdiction’s/organization’s capabilities, threats and hazards, and other priority factors and provide input to the preparedness priorities and development of the plan and schedule.
Attendees should RSVP as lunch will be provided. Details: Karen Blevins, director, Jefferson County Office of Emergency Management/911, (870) 541-5470.