NLR airport green-lighted

$3.6 million project takes off with three grants worth $600,000 from state commerce department.

After at least two years of being on-again and off-again, it seems the North Little Rock Municipal Airport’s $3.6 million upgrade is going to happen with the help of three grants totaling $600,000 from the Arkansas Department of Commerce-Division of Aeronautics. “It’s been a long process,” said Clay Rogers, the airport director. “If all goes according to plan, we hope […]

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Chambers help businesses last

Mom-and-pop stores receive help from several groups in fight for survival.

While big-box giants like Walmart and Home Depot have remained open and even thrived during the COVID-19 shutdown, come central Arkansas small mom-and-pop businesses were forced to shut their doors and layoff employees. These businesses took a hard hit. With this in mind, many government agencies and organizations reached out, helping wherever possible. Six Counties Leigh Ann Pool, director of […]

Complete census at Jacksonville’s drive-through

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A drive-through census event will be held from 10:30 a.m. till 1:30 p.m. Saturday in the parking lot of the Jacksonville Boys and Girls Club, 1 Boys Club Drive off Graham Road. “I am doing this because of the COVID-19 situation and since we can’t have the community census cookouts that we planned for the summer. This has come about […]

Guitar shop has new owner

Jacksonville institution renamed H22 Music Store as Jeremiah Clark buys business from Steve Evans.

After 45 years in business Jacksonville Guitar is now H22 Music Store. It remains an independent and locally-owned store, with an expanded line of musical instruments. Jacksonville Guitar owner Steve Evans retired this year after 45 years in business. Evans opened the store in 1975, when he was 18 years old. It was first located on Dupree Drive and later […]

Masks now required in public places

Jacksonville leads with highest percentage in the area, followed by Little Rock and North Little Rock.

Gov. Asa Hutchinson on Thursday pivoted from merely encouraging mask-wearing in most public situations to requiring masks. Non-com-pliance is a misdemeanor punishable by fines ranging from $100 to $500. The order takes effect Monday. Hutchinson signed the executive order Thursday as North Little Rock, Lonoke, Ward and Sherwood passed their own mask ordinances this week. “The numbers of COVID-19 cases, […]

Sherwood requires masks

All but one city council member votes to support requiring face coverings.

The Sherwood City Council on Wednesday during a special-called meeting approved an ordinance requiring anyone in public to wear a mask if socially distancing isn’t possible. Then on Thursday, the governor issued an executive order requiring everyone in the state to wear them inside public places. April Broderick, Ward 1/Position 1 City Council Member, was the only no vote, with […]

Obituaries – July 18, 2020

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William Engel Master Sgt. William “Bill” Edward Engel, 89, of Jack-sonville passed away on July 15. He was born in Greenwood (Sebastian County) to parents William and Pauline Engel on Feb. 15, 1931. Service information and an online guestbook is available at www.MooresJacksonville FuneralHome.com. Darleen Leftridge Darleen Jennie Leftridge, 88, passed away on July 9 in Cabot. She was born Sept. […]

Lonoke advises masks be worn

City council declined to require people cover up as pandemic builds here.

The Lonoke City Council on Monday voted to recommend – not require – masks be worn in public. Then on Thursday, the governor issued an executive order that requires everyone in the state to wear them inside public places. The council approved the resolution during its regular virtual meeting. The resolution, modeled after one from the Arkansas Municipal League, also […]

Arkansas put in red zone

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Dr. Nate Smith stepped down as director of the state Health Department on Friday for a new job at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta, where experts face the daunting challenge of defeating the coronavirus that now infects more than 70,000 Americans a day. Dr. Anthony Fauci, a top adviser with the White House coronavirus task force, […]