Our Town

North Little Rock notebook

Children's health focus of academy

North Little Rock officials will participate in a leadership academy aimed at expanding access to the outdoors for children to improve their health and lower childhood obesity rates, according to a city Fit 2 Live news release.

The program is sponsored by the National League of Cities and the Children & Nature Network. The groups chose North Little Rock and seven other cities to participate in the two-day Connecting Children to Nature Leadership Academy this month in Salt Lake City.

North Little Rock Parks and Recreation staff members Jeff Caplinger and Ian Hope and Alderman Charlie Hight will attend the seminar, which will focus on "practices and strategies for connecting children to nature," according to the news release. The sessions will include workshops, field visits and meetings with staff members from other cities.

Benefits for improving children's access to nature include improved health, stronger academic skills, and increased opportunities for social and emotional learning, according to the news release.

The National League of Cities is identified as a resource and advocate for 19,000 cities, towns and villages for building better communities.

Convenience store project gets permit

A convenience store with gasoline pumps and a drive-thru restaurant is planned to replace the Valero gas station at 601 W. Broadway.

The City Council approved a conditional-use permit to allow the project during its meeting Monday. Aldermen voted 6-0 for the permit. Aldermen Bruce Foutch and Murry Witcher were absent.

Architect Andrew Hicks told the City Council that the project also includes the property behind the current station, and structures on both properties will be removed to build anew. There will be four parking lot entrances, including two from Broadway and two from Fourth Street, Hicks said.

Community blood drive set Thursday

An Arkansas Red Cross community blood drive is set for 8 a.m.-2 p.m. Thursday at the Sammie Gail Sanders Resource Center, 1802 Franklin St.

The blood drive is being hosted by the Arkansas Enterprises for the Developmentally Disabled Sammie Gail Sanders Children's Learning Center preschool, 1300 W. 18th St., across the street from the resource center.

A photo identification is required when checking in at the blood donation area. Donors must be at least 17 years old, weigh a minimum of 110 pounds and must not have donated blood within the previous 56 days.

Arkansas Enterprises for the Developmentally Disabled Inc. is a private nonprofit that provides services to children and adults with developmental disabilities and preschool-aged children with developmental disabilities or delays, according to a news release about the blood drive. The organization is a United Way agency.

Metro on 10/04/2015

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