The Kiwanis Club of Pine Bluff recently heard several presentations, including the proposed library millage from Taylor Eubank of the Pine Bluff/Jefferson County Library System, Sanford Toilletti of Camp Pfeifer in Little Rock, who visited Girl Scout Camp Taloha with club members, and the Pine Bluff Arsenal Commander Col. Kelso C. Horne III.
Library proposal
Eubank, interim director of the library system, discussed the library millage proposal which is on the Nov. 8 general election ballot.
The library system is asking residents to support this proposal. The current downtown main library is housed on two floors of a city building with problems such as a leaking roof and flooding first floor when it rains heavily in Pine Bluff. Both problems have occurred this past year resulting in a $40,000 to $50,000 expense not covered by insurance.
If the millage passes, Eubank said that a new building would be constructed on Main Street between 6th and 12th avenues. The library serves 100,000 patrons per year. Fifty percent of these people come to use the computers.
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
Eubank said they will also have homework “hospitals” for students who need special help, and “clusters” which will provide for group study.
The library system also includes the Redfield, White Hall, Watson Chapel and Altheimer branches. Voter approval in the county will be used to improve county facilities. Approval in the city will be used to improve city facilities.
Camp Taloha
Toilletti, executive director at Camp Pfeifer in Little Rock, a Kiwanis camp, recently spoke to the Kiwanis Club about programs offered at his camp. Toilletti and Kiwanis officials toured Girl Scout Camp Taloha at Pine Bluff, which held an official closing ceremony Sept. 22.
“Camp Taloha was a vibrant camp where hundreds of girls enjoyed camping here in Jefferson County,” a Kiwanis spokesman said in a news release.
The Girl Scouts Council Diamonds of Arkansas, Oklahoma and Texas announced plans to close the facility recently. The Kiwanis Club has been interested in saving the property and wanted to provide a property plan that would incorporate input from Southeast Arkansas residents on how best to serve children with outdoor programs.
Toilletti explained that a key program at Camp Pfeifer is the Comprehensive Alternative Classroom (ACE), which has operated since 1988 for at-risk 3rd, 4th and 5th graders in the Little Rock and Pulaski County school districts.
Toilletti’s research and evaluation of the ACE has gained much attention within the state and nationally. Pfeifer Kiwanis Camp is funded by partnering with other organizations and foundations. From September until May, four 30-day sessions are held. Forty children and the staff are at the camp 24 hours a day, seven days a week, during each session. Counselors are in residence with the campers at all times. There are also mandatory training sessions for parents of the children.
“Jefferson County could certainly benefit from a similar program if one could be founded at the Camp Taloha site,” a spokesman said.
Pine Bluff Arsenal
Horne recently spoke to the Kiwanis Club about current missions and future work at the arsenal. Horne discussed the arsenal’s missions in the areas of ammunition and chemical and biological defense. The colonel also talked about a new project involving the manufacture of chemical protective garments for soldiers.
The arsenal is one of two active duty military bases in Arkansas. The installation draws employees from several counties and two congressional districts in central Arkansas.
“To help ensure that the U.S. government continues to maintain the arsenal here, our community needs to be able to provide good housing, good schools, a safe environment, and community resources attractive to military and civilian families who work at the arsenal,” a spokesman said.