WH center closed Veterans Day
White Hall Community Center will be closed on Veterans Day, Nov. 11, to honor and remember those who have served the country. “Thank you to all veterans for your dedication and sacrifice. We’ll resume normal hours the following day,” according to https://www.facebook.com/WhiteHallCC/.
WH center plans blood drive
The community is invited to the blood drive from 1:30-6 p.m. Nov. 18 at the White Hall Community Center. Walk-ins are welcome. The event is sponsored by Our Blood Institute. You can schedule an appointment at https://www.yourbloodinstitute.org/…/drive…/650931… or visit obi.org, according to a flier.
GOP panel to meet Nov. 14
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
The Jefferson County Republican Committee’s monthly meeting has been moved up this month to Nov. 14 at 6 p.m. at Larry’s Pizza in White Hall. Also, members should remember their Christmas order is due, according to a spokesman.
USACE issues small craft advisory
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is issuing a small craft advisory for the McClellan-Kerr Arkansas River Navigation System in Arkansas. Heavy rainfall in Eastern Oklahoma and Western Arkansas over the last 48 hours is causing Arkansas River flows to exceed 70,000 cubic feet per second systemwide. Small craft advisories are issued when flows exceed 70,000 c.f.s. Strong currents and large debris can threaten the safety of pleasure craft during high flows, according to a news release. Flows at Trimble Lock and Dam were near 120,000 c.f.s. by mid-day Tuesday. A crest of 200,000 c.f.s. will make its way downstream over the next few days. Additional forecasted rainfall over the next few days may push flows even higher. Daily river information can be obtained at www.swl-wc.usace.army.mil.
Farmers can seek EQIP, CSP funds
Farmers have until Nov. 22 to submit applications for financial assistance in implementing conservation activities through the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) and the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) for the 2025 program year, said Henry English, director of the Small Farm Program at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff.
Applicants can sign up at their local U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Natural Resources Conservation Service field service center, according to a news release.
English said CSP assists producers in maintaining and improving their existing conservation systems and adopting additional conservation activities to address priority resources concerns.
“Participants earn CSP payments for conservation performance — the higher the performance, the higher the payment,” he said. “CSP funding opportunities are available for agricultural land (cropland and pasture), nonindustrial private forest and urban agriculture operations.” EQIP contracts provide financial assistance to help plan and implement conservation practices to improve soil health, water quality, grazing and forest lands and establish or improve wildlife habitat, English said. EQIP can also help Arkansas farmers and landowners meet federal, state and local environmental regulations.
“NRCS accepts applications for these two programs continuously – just keep in mind that to be considered for funding during this signup, applications must be received by Nov. 22, 2024. Applications received after this date will be considered in later funding periods, subject to funding availability,” he said.