It’s been a tough 12 months for White Hall residents and a time of reflection as the state marks the one-year anniversary of the first covid-19 case.
On March 11 last year, the first case was reported in Jefferson County, but it quickly spread to or started showing up in Central Arkansas and by mid-March, Gov. Asa Hutchinson shut down schools and nonessential businesses.
Soon, Mayor Noel Foster said, cases were reported in the town’s nursing home.
City Council Member Sara Lunsford, reflected on that time.
“In learning of the first covid-19 deaths, I remember feeling so much disbelief that this was really happening,” said Lunsford. “It didn’t feel real until it started hitting closer to home, and people close to me were beginning to be affected.”
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
Lunsford lost her husband Andrew “Andy” Lunsford, 49, on New Year’s Eve, and took his position on the City Council.
In March last year, the streets of White Hall were often empty, and the pandemic put off many activities. The community center was closed and the city decided Crenshaw Springs Water Park wouldn’t open for the summer.
Founders Day was canceled and the library’s $270,000 major renovation would remain under wraps until late November.
Most clubs and organizations said they would wait until the pandemic was over to again hold in-person meetings. Zoom and livestreams became the norm.
A CHANGING MOOD
The pandemic started a roller coaster of emotions, that ranged from uncertainty and fear to, more recently, hope.
Foster, city staff members and council members worried about city finances, including tax revenue and outgoing operating costs.
The city tightened the budget.
“We did take a slight decrease in revenues, but they came right back,” Foster now says.
He noticed early on that the fast-food, drive-thrus were doing extremely well.
Now, vaccinations are changing residents’ moods.
Foster said he hopes that it will not be long before the town’s 5,500 residents can enjoy a meal inside a restaurant with friends and relatives.
Already, he said, “The community center is open with some limitations on gatherings based on Health Department guidance and our [limited] staffing abilities.”
He continued, “We are planning to open Crenshaw Springs this season and planning is underway now.”
As well, he added, ” I would love to have Founders Day this year.”
This, too, will be the topic of future discussions between the city and the Founders Day sponsor, the White Hall Chamber of Commerce, he said.
Last year, Joe Spadoni, chamber president, said he was “disappointed,” at the cancellation but was hopeful there would be a celebration in 2021.
“Bigger and better than ever,” he said.
Lunsford said, “We’ve all weathered a terrible storm this past year, but I’m hopeful that very soon we will be seeing signs of recovery and restoration in everything from our health and relationships to our economy and spirit of community.”
PROGRESS ON THE ECONOMIC FRONT
Despite the pandemic, several organizations and businesses carried on.
The Progressive Women’s Association of White Hall raised money for its annual Ann Douthit Memorial Scholarship.
In December, firefighters John Badgley and Bill Beadle, Santa Truck co-creators, spent their evenings driving around White Hall and other towns in southeast Arkansas adding a little festiveness to the year’s bleak Christmas season.
While the food pantry fed hundreds in need, economic activity inside the city boomed.
Residents recently celebrated the grand opening of Brookshire’s Food Store and a new Shell station and The On Break Cafe, along with the Fresh Market.
Owner Joey Coleman opened the Fresh Market just before the shutdown occurred. While many suffered a financial setback, people cooking at home, “It helped our business,” he said.
BIG BANKS AND MORE HOUSING
After about 55 years in Pine Bluff, Relyance Bank announced its intention to move its headquarters to White Hall, with the construction of a $15 million, three-story headquarters west of Interstate 530 on Arkansas 270, across from Smart Auto Group.
Simmons Bank is opening a second branch, 1308 Robin Road, on 2.24 acres at the northeast corner of Robin Road and Sheridan Road.
ReadyOne Industries opened shop in late summer at the Pine Bluff Arsenal and is expected to employ about 120 employees when fully operational.
After the grand opening of Colton’s Steak House in June, owner and restaurateur Umesh “U.E.” Patel turned his attention to the construction of a $10 million TownePlace Suites by Marriott on Sheridan Road.
It will be four stories with 80 rooms with kitchens, and “designed for longer stays,” and Patel said. It should be completed in about 14 months.
There is the development of two subdivisions in White Hall.
One, Cannon Addition, has room for 30 homes, and it’s near Hunter’s Refuge on Harrod Drive. Cannon Construction Co. of Pine Bluff is the subdivision’s developer.
The second, Trussell Estates, is east of Green Oaks, near where White Hall Avenue turns into Robin Road. According to the plat, there are 56 lots. Jan Den enterprises LLC of DeWitt is the Trussell Estates developer.