Voter input sought to move polling site
The Jefferson County Election Commission voted Dec. 2 to seek input from voters in precincts 85, 86 and 89, situated alongside Arkansas 365 near Jefferson, regarding a possible relocation of the polling site for those three precincts.
Currently, voters in that area cast ballots at Jefferson Water on Wishbone Farm Road just off of Arkansas 365.
“That is a high-volume polling site with a significant number of voters there,” said Sven Hipp, a technician for the Election Commission. “We need to increase the number of voting machines at that facility… and there is just no room to do that.”
Hipp also noted that the area where ballots are cast is an unheated engine bay with no heating or cooling capacity.
Two possible alternatives have been identified: Happy Home Church at 3215 Arkansas 365, which is about a mile north of Jefferson Water, and Harvest Time Church at 13601 Dollarway Rd., which is about 3 miles south.
Commissioner Stuart Soffer pointed out that while the majority of the 1,224 voters in Precinct 86 live in the south part of the precinct, closer to Harvest Time Church, almost all of the 315 voters in Precinct 89 live along or near NCTR Road, which is closer to Happy Home Church. Precinct 85 and its 137 voters are situated closer to Harvest Time Church.
“What we need to do before we make a decision on this one, besides the fact that we have to move out, is to survey the voters coming in to vote for the [Jan. 14 White Hall millage] election,” Soffer said.
Soffer said Thursday that Happy Home Church would be the preferable location, but he said the parking lot would need work to bring it up to Americans With Disabilities Act compliance.
Chamber’s dinner set; tickets on sale
The Pine Bluff Regional Chamber of Commerce’s annual dinner is scheduled for Jan. 24 at Pine Bluff Country Club.
The dinner begins at 6 p.m.
Tickets are $60 per person or $600 for a table of eight and are available at the chamber office at 510 Main St. Seating is limited.
Limited sponsorships are available. Inquiries may be made to Lynnette Bloomberg at (870) 535-0110.
Arts Center offers ornament art event
The Arts & Science Center for Southeast Arkansas is sponsoring a Create Your Own Christmas Ornament event from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday.
The event is inspired by the center’s upcoming production of A Christmas Story.
The downtown center, at 701 Main St., offers monthly hands-on arts and science activities in which visitors create art, complete science projects, or perform dance, music or theater.
Activities complement current art or science exhibitions.
Activities are free and led by visiting artists, local art educators and arts center staff.
Junior Leadership
applications open
Applications for the 2020 Junior Leadership Pine Bluff class are available at the Pine Bluff Regional Chamber of Commerce office, 510 Main St.
Initiated by the Leadership Pine Bluff Alumni Association, the program gives high school students an overview of the city and the county that is focused on local government, education, economic development, quality of life and social skills.
The first session is scheduled for Jan. 16 at the Alliance/ Chamber. Deadline to apply is Jan. 2.
More information is available by calling the chamber at (870) 535-0110 or emailing mandy@jeffersoncountyalliance.com.
Police collect toys, name delivery date
The Police Department will deliver toys Dec. 21 at Central Park, MLK Park, St. John Apartments and Southeast Apartments.
Times will be announced.
The department is collecting toys and donations until Dec. 18. Lt. Cassandra Briggs at (870) 413-6756 or Sgt. Lynn Wright at (870) 550-1462 can be called to have the toys picked up.