WCSD to give annual report to public
The Watson Chapel School District will deliver its annual report to the public at 5:30 p.m. Monday at the district administration building, 4100 Camden Road. The school board’s monthly meeting will follow, according to a news release.
Mental health wellness event set
Rawle Andrews Jr., executive director of the American Psychiatric Association Foundation, will discuss resources available for mental health wellness from 1-3 p.m. Saturday at First Presbyterian Church, 717 W. 32nd Ave. This event is free and open to the public.
APAF’s mission is to promote the mental health and well-being of people and to create a mentally healthy nation, according to a news release.
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
The hosts are the D’Andre Seals Suicide Prevention Outreach Project and Southeast Arkansas Behavioral Healthcare System.
Ivy Center plans sessions
The Ivy Center for Education will host upcoming events.
Oct. 14 from 6-7 p.m. the Future Aviation Engineers will meet at the Generator, 435 S. Main St. Sederick Rice from the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff is the presenter. Students in 7-12th grades are encouraged to attend. Parents are always welcome to attend, according to a news release. Those who cannot attend in person may attend via Zoom using meeting ID: 856 8296 4187 and Passcode: 351061.
“This workshop will be extremely exciting for our scholars,” Rice said. “They will unbox and build Estes Journey rockets.”
Oct. 22 from 6-7 p.m., the Ivy Center will host a Suicide Prevention Workshop led by Kymara Seals, founder and board chair of the D’Andre Seals Suicide Prevention Outreach Project. The workshop will be held at the Pine Bluff Library, 600 S. Main St.
The outreach project is a non-profit organization working to promote an awareness to educate the public that suicide is preventable and to offer resources for those in crisis. Students in seventh through 12th grades, parents and community stakeholders are encouraged to attend in person or via Zoom with Meeting ID: 856 8296 4187 and Passcode: 351061. The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is available by calling or texting 988 anytime, 24 hours a day. Details: mattie1908@gmail.com
Drug Take Back Day returns
The Arkansas Opioid Recovery Partnership encourages Arkansans to participate in Arkansas Drug Take Back Day on Oct. 26.
Drug Take Back Day provides a safe, convenient and responsible way for people to dispose of unused or unwanted medication. Arkansas is among the top 10 states in the U.S. for the weight of drugs collected during these events, underscoring the state’s dedication to limiting prescription drug misuse, according to a news release.
The ReviveAR app provides up-to-date information about Arkansas Drug Take Back and offers a search function that pinpoints drop boxes by name or zip code. Details: ARTakeBack.org.
Police set Domestic Violence Walk
The Pine Bluff Police Department invites the community to join them in the 2024 Domestic Violence Walk from noon to 2 p.m. Oct. 15. The walk will start and end at the steps facing Eighth Avenue at the Pine Bluff Civic Center.
This event is free and lunch will be provided, according to StuffinTheBluff.com.
“If you or someone you know has been victimized from this crime, please come out and walk with us,” said PBPD Deputy Chief Shirley Warrior. “For anyone who is physically unable to walk this route, but would like to be included, transportation will be available for their convenience.”
Warrior encourages companies, organizations and agencies to invite their “entire staff to come and show support.” She added that all walkers are asked to wear purple in honor of Domestic Violence Awareness.
Details: Deputy Chief Shirley Warrior, (870) 489-9981. Denise Richardson is the Pine Bluff chief of police. Shirley Washington is the mayor.
Divine 9 sets early voting event
The Divine 9 and community partners will host a Soles to the Polls Rally on the first day of early voting, Oct. 21, from noon to 2 p.m. at the Jefferson County Courthouse. The target goal is 4,000 people voting on the first day of early voting, according to a news release on Stuff in The Bluff.com.
This event is open to the general public. Soles to the Polls is a nationwide effort that focuses on registration; expanding the electorate; education; knowing your voting rights; mobilization; encouraging voter participation in elections, and protection; ensuring all votes are counted, according to the release.
Divine 9 and partners are Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc., Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc., Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Inc., Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Inc., Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc., Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity Inc., Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Inc., Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority Inc., National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, National Association of University Women, Pine Bluff Chapter of The Links Inc., BRAVE (Pine Bluff Black Firefighters) and Arkansas Public Policy Panel.
Delta Diamond Chef gala, contest set
The American Culinary Federation Arkansas Delta Chef’s and Central Arkansas Chef’s Associations will present the first Delta Diamond Chef Awards Gala and Competition from 6-10 p.m. Oct. 15 at the Pine Bluff Country Club.
The highlight of the evening will be the live competition where two chef finalists will go head-to-head to earn the title of Delta Diamond Chef.
This sold out event will celebrate culinary achievements by recognizing individuals in five categories: Chef of the Year, Pastry Chef of the Year, Student Chef of the Year, Student Pastry Chef of the Year and Educator of the Year, for each chapter, according to a news release.
Editor to participate in debate
Byron Tate, editor of The Commercial, will be one of three panelists for a Thursday afternoon debate between the two congressional candidates for U.S. District 4.
The debate, sponsored by Arkansas PBS and conducted at the station’s studio in Conway, will be between incumbent Bruce Westerman, a Republican, and Risie Howard, a Democrat.
The one-hour debate will be aired live at 2 p.m. Thursday and will be moderated by Steve Barnes, a veteran television news broadcaster and debate host. The debate will again be broadcast at 7 p.m. on Arkansas PBS.
Also serving as panelists for the debate will be Brandon Evans with 40/29 News, and Josie Lenora with KUAR Little Rock Public Radio.