State police probe Dermott death
The Arkansas State Police Criminal Investigation Division is investigating after a Dermott man was found dead the evening of Nov. 8.
Fredrick Woods, 61, was found dead at the intersection of North Norwood and West Willow streets in Dermott, where evidence indicates he was hit by a car that left the scene.
The Dermott Police Department requested assistance from state police. Woods will be transported to the Arkansas State Crime Laboratory, where the manner and cause of death will be determined. The investigation is ongoing, according to a news release.
Veterans Day closings set
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
Several agencies will be closed Tuesday for Veterans Day:
Pine Bluff City Hall and related offices.
Jefferson County Courthouse and related offices.
State Capitol offices and state buildings will be closed. However, the Capitol building will be open to the public from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m.
At Area Agency on Aging of Southeast Arkansas, the senior center will be closed, the main office is open and Southeast Arkansas Transportation (SEAT) will only be taking dialysis and cancer patients for treatment.
House of Bread to give away food
House of Bread Deliverance Church, 1501 W. Second Ave., will hold its monthly food giveaway Nov. 15 from 11 a.m. until all the food is gone. Participants must provide proof of address, which must be at least a driver’s license, identification or utility bills, according to a news release. All new clients will fill out a new client intake form on site.
Details: House of Bread pastor, Saint Mary Harris, (870) 872-2196.
New Community to open pantry
New Community Church, 321 N. Birch St., will give away food Nov. 22 from 8-9:30 a.m. The community is invited to participate.
Honor society elects local
Kamesha Breedlove of Pine Bluff was recently elected to membership into the Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi at the University of Maryland Global Campus. Phi Kappa Phi is the nation’s oldest and most selective all-discipline collegiate honor society, according to a news release.
Breedlove is among approximately 20,000 students, faculty, professional staff and alumni to be initiated into Phi Kappa Phi each year. Membership is by invitation only. Only the top 10% of seniors and 7.5% of juniors are eligible for membership.
Bird flu precautions announced
The Arkansas Department of Agriculture is reminding poultry growers and industry partners to remain alert for signs of highly pathogenic avian influenza and to follow biosecurity measures to protect flocks as detections continue across the United States.
Last month, the department confirmed the first case of avian influenza in a backyard flock in Mississippi County. While this is currently the only confirmed detection, cases in neighboring states highlight the ongoing importance of prevention and monitoring, according to a news release.
Avian influenza is a highly contagious virus that affects both domestic and wild birds. It can cause sudden death or severe illness in poultry and lead to major economic losses for the state’s poultry industry, which provided $6.7 billion in direct agricultural cash receipts in 2024. The virus spreads easily through contact with infected birds, contaminated equipment, or materials, and even a single detection can disrupt trade and local food supply chains.
The department reminds poultry growers to:
Wash hands and footwear before and after contact with birds;
Restrict visitors to poultry areas;
Limit exposure to wild birds;
Quarantine new birds for at least two weeks before introducing them to existing flocks; and
Report sick or dead birds immediately to the department by calling the sick bird hotline: (501) 823-1746.
Under Arkansas rules, any suspected or confirmed case of avian influenza should be reported immediately to the department. The department may quarantine infected premises, restrict poultry movement within designated control zones, and require depopulation and disinfection when necessary to prevent further spread.
Details: https://agriculture.arkansas.gov/animals/poultry/avian-influenza/.