LITTLE ROCK — Council to talk over street name change
Nevermind all the other items on the North Little Rock City Council agenda for Monday. The night’s lengthiest debate will likely belong to a simple request to rename a two-lane street in Rose City.
Alderman Linda Robinson is sponsoring legislation on a request by Mt. Olive Missionary Baptist Church, 850 Atkinson St., within her Ward 2, to rename Atkinson Street to Mt. Olive Boulevard.
Other aldermen, however, have spoken against the idea, citing the history behind the street’s name. They have also recognized a plea from a descendant of Dr. Shelby Atkinson, for whom the street is named, to preserve its heritage.
The request by members of the Mt. Olive Church was reaffirmed at the last councilmeeting and support for the renaming is expected again Monday. Sandra Taylor-Smith, executive director of the North Little Rock History Commission, has also been summoned by aldermen to be available for the discussion.
Atkinson, who died in 1963, was a prominent physician who helped Rose City residents, Taylor-Smith said. Also, Rhodes Street, that runs alongside the church, is named for Atkinson’s late wife, Annie Rhodes Atkinson, who went by Rhodes.
The name change would recognize the church’s existence since 1927 at that location, Victor Moore, the church’s pastor has said. The congregation organized in the city in 1874.
City funds to help build football field
A “tentative agreement” has been reached with the city for the North Little Rock Police Athletic League to builda youth football field in Vestal Park across from Boone Park Elementary School, 1400 Crutcher St.
Officer Matt Grace, PAL’s director, made the announcement of a pledge of city funds that will be “enough to get it started,” in an e-mail to the group on Friday. About $43,000 is the total estimated cost, Grace has said.
The pledge followed a meeting between Mayor Patrick Hays and PAL representatives last week. Corporate donations will be sought for the remaining cost.
PAL, which provides athletics and other programs for free, has 1,200 participants ages 4-16. Activities are funded by donations, grants and fundraisers. Several North Little Rock police officers began the nonprofit organization program in 1998.
Water commission elects replacement
Carmen Sanders Simpson has been unanimously votedby the Central Arkansas Water board of commissioners to fill a vacancy.
The seven-member commission must consist of four Little Rock residents and three North Little Rock residents, according to Arkansas Code Annotated 25-20-301. The vacancy occurred when a previous North Little Rock member’s term expired.
The appointment must be confirmed by the North Little Rock City Council, expected to come at Monday’s meeting, and by the Little Rock Board of Directors.
Simpson is an attorney for Sports Cards Plus photo archives in North Little Rock. Commissioners serve sevenyear terms.
The commission selected Simpson in a special meeting Wednesday over finalists Carol Langston, vice president for college advancement at Pulaski Technical College, and Sylvester L. Smith III, president of Change Agents Inc. Ten North Little Rock residents applied.
Arkansas, Pages 20 on 07/25/2010