Soul Food benefit set in McGehee
Oxtails & Mocktails Soul Food benefit will be held from 2-6 p.m. Sept. 29 at the McGehee Depot and Gazebo in downtown McGehee.
Musical guest will be Fred T. Proceeds will benefit the Friends of John H. Johnson Museum, according to a flyer. Tickets are $25 in advance at eventbrite.com.
Drawbridge closing for crew work
The Rob Roy Railroad Drawbridge in Jefferson County will be closed to navigation from 6 a.m. through 1 p.m. on Sept. 17. The closure is to allow crews to perform signal cutovers, according to a news release. For questions or additional information contact the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Little Rock District Office at (501) 324-5096 or email CESWL-OP-OM@usace.army.mil.
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
UA Trustees to meet at UAPB
The board of trustees of the University of Arkansas will hold its regularly scheduled board meetings in person and via videoconference Wednesday and Thursday at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff.
The meetings will be held at the STEM Building and Conference Center, 1350 L.A. “Prexy” Davis Drive, according to a news release.
The Wednesday meetings will begin with an executive session at 12:30 p.m. with the videoconference of the regular session expected to begin streaming at 1:30 p.m. or immediately following the conclusion of the executive session. Any decision reached by vote in executive session will be publicly announced as the regular session begins.
To register to view the meetings and receive a Zoom link and to see the full agenda, visit https://uasys.edu/leadership/board-of-trustees/meetings/.
Area Agency plans menu
Area Agency on Aging of Southeast Arkansas is serving lunches from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. weekdays at the senior centers. Next week’s menu includes:
Sept. 16 — Country fried steak and gravy, mashed potatoes, vegetable blend, sherbet, and milk.
Sept. 17 — Stuffed peppers casserole, tossed salad, bread stick, fruit, and milk.
Sept. 18 — Submarine sandwich, lettuce, tomato, onion, macaroni salad, peaches, and milk.
Sept. 19 — Chicken strips, Montreal potatoes, California blend, jade salad, and milk.
Sept. 20 — Pinto beans with sliced ham, turnip greens, cornbread, pears, and milk.
Details: Strachota Senior Center, (870) 543-6323.
Free health, wellness expo set
The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette Health and Wellness Expo, sponsored by University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, is Sept. 21 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Statehouse Convention Center in Little Rock.
This event will be free to the public and will feature vendor exhibits, educational seminars and keynote speaker and former Razorback track athlete Frank O’Mara, according to a news release.
“We are so excited to bring Arkansans this free, community event in Little Rock,” said Amanda Copley, marketing and events director at the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. “We have a great lineup of businesses that will offer products and services to attendees and a full schedule of activities ranging from health education and wellness to a political panel featuring state and local politicians.”
Health screenings (no appointment needed) will be provided by the experts at UAMS. In addition, Arkansas Travelers bingo, a car show, prizes and more will also be available.
Attendees can receive nutrition, orthopedic and weight loss information tailored to their specific needs from UAMS. Prize giveaways will be every hour.
Great Arkansas Cleanup underway
Keep Arkansas Beautiful is calling on Arkansans to help beautify The Natural State during the 2024 Great Arkansas Cleanup through Oct. 31. It began Sept. 7.
The GAC is an annual statewide initiative led by Keep Arkansas Beautiful, a certified affiliate of Keep America Beautiful. In collaboration with Arkansas’ 13 certified Keep America Beautiful affiliates, this event brings together thousands of volunteers each year to lead local cleanups and beautification efforts during September and October.
“The Great Arkansas Cleanup isn’t just about removing litter — it’s about fostering a sense of pride and responsibility, working together to restore and enhance our communities,” said McKenzie McMath Coronel, Keep Arkansas Beautiful executive director.
In 2023, Keep Arkansas Beautiful mobilized 22,520 volunteers who contributed 147,230 hours to collect 636 tons of litter. These efforts spanned 2,132 miles of roadways, 327 miles of waterways, and 772,051 acres of parks and public spaces. With cleanups registered in every county, the dedication of these volunteers returned an estimated $5.4 million in economic value to local communities, according to the release.
Registration is open for the 2024 GAC. Keep Arkansas Beautiful provides T-shirts as well as supplies to aid cleanup efforts on a “first come, first serve” basis. Requests must be made at least 14 days before the cleanup event date.
Volunteers can register a cleanup event, sign up to participate in a scheduled event, or obtain more details at KeepArkansasBeautiful.com.