Stories by Sandra Hope

Community Briefs 5A basketball tourney starts todayThe 5A State Basketball Tournament will be held at the Pine Bluff Convention Center today through Saturday. Admission is $7 for adults and students. There's no ch... February 28, 2023

Calendar Editor's Note: At press time, the following events and meetings were known to be still scheduled. Organizers or appropriate officials are encouraged to contact Sandra Hope at shope@pbcommercial.co... January 4, 2023

Santa Fire Truck is ready to go Pine Bluff Fire & Emergency Services will run its annual Santa Fire Truck, spreading holiday cheer throughout the city of Pine Bluff from Nov. 28 through Dec. 24.There will be a preview from 4-6 p... November 22, 2022

Community Briefs Scammers pretend to be deputy, policeThe Jefferson County Sheriff's Office warns people not to fall for scammers saying they are calling from law enforcement agencies and demanding money."If ... November 8, 2022

Calendar for May 22, 2022 Editor's Note: At press time, the following events and meetings were known to be still scheduled. Organizers or appropriate officials are encouraged to contact Sandra Hope at shope@pbcommercial.co... May 22, 2022

Arkansas Business honors SEAR Tech owner Jones Kedrick Jones, owner and tech consultant of SEAR Tech Services, has been named to the Arkansas Business 40 under 40. "The Chamber would like to congratulate Kedrick Jones on being included in the 2021... April 29, 2021

Approaching cold front brings worries of freeze A cold front bringing freezing temperatures to much of Arkansas is expected to arrive late tonight, the National Weather Service warned on Monday. The possible freeze event may pose a threat to both ... April 20, 2021

Calendar 4-12-21 Editor's Note: At press time, the following events and meetings were known to be still scheduled. Organizers or appropriate officials are encouraged to contact Sandra Hope at shope@pbcommercial.com to... April 12, 2021

Dental art winners announced Gandy Elementary School in White Hall recently announced the winners of the fourth annual Dental Health Art Contest sponsored by the dental office of Dr. Donna Massey, according to a news release. Kin... March 31, 2021

Community Briefs Community center open house reset Because of weather forecasts, the ribbon-cutting and open house of the newly renovated Pine Bluff Community Center has been rescheduled for Sunday from 3-6 p.m. The ... March 26, 2021

Expert: Check bulls' fertility Cattle breeding experts with the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture are urging cattle producers to test the fertility of their bulls before spring breeding season. Charles Looney, p... March 25, 2021

Jefferson County Marriages and Divorces for the week of March 21, 2021 Marriages Marriage licenses recorded, according to the Jefferson County Clerk's office: Joshua Adam Thompson, 32, and Ashlea Nicole Monk, 22, both of Pine Bluff, recorded March 15. Sean Edward Harm... March 21, 2021

Calendar for March 21, 2021 Editor's Note: At press time, the following events and meetings were known to be still scheduled. Organizers or appropriate officials are encouraged to contact Sandra Hope at shope@pbcommercial.com to... March 21, 2021

Women's group observes their last 2 anniversaries The National Association of University Women is celebrating its 75th and 76th anniversaries Sunday, according to a news release. Pine Bluff Mayor Shirley Washington proclaimed March 21 as "National As... March 18, 2021

Community Briefs PB school district sets spring break The Pine Bluff School District will be closed March 22-26 for spring break. Classes will resume March 29, according to a news release. New Life Church cancels fo... March 16, 2021

UAPB grad in meat-industry leadership program A University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff graduate is among six Perdue Farms associates to participate in the International Production & Processing Expo's virtual "Linked In With Tomorrow's Leaders" ... March 14, 2021

Library board trustees to meet today Library board trustees to meet today The Pine Bluff/Jefferson County Library System will host a library board of trustees meeting at the new library at 5:15 p.m. today, according to a news release. ... March 9, 2021

Calendar 3-8-21 Editor's Note: At press time, the following events and meetings were known to be still scheduled. Organizers or appropriate officials are encouraged to contact Sandra Hope at shope@pbcommercial.com to... March 8, 2021

Burned but lucky, man says It was Friday -- the 13th. Work was slow that November in 2009, so Jason Rogers decided to go home to do some much-needed bush hogging. Once at his Watson Chapel home, he climbed up onto his 1958 Mas... March 3, 2021

Jefferson County Marriages and Divorces for the week of 2-21-21 Marriages Marriage licenses recorded, according to the Jefferson County Clerk's office: Dennis Jerome Wright Jr., 39, and Yolanda Chimere Jeffery, 40, both of Pine Bluff, recorded Feb. 9. Marquette... February 21, 2021

Timber outlook ticks up for 2021 For building suppliers, the economic outlook for 2021 is looking better than expected after the covid-19 pandemic. For those who operate a family-owned tree farm and want to harvest stumpage, 2021 is ... February 7, 2021

Jefferson County Marriages and Divorces for the week of 1-24-21 Marriages Marriage licenses recorded according to the Jefferson County Clerk's office: Marcus Cleophus Dorn, 39, and Latoshia Sharnelus Compton, 30, both of Pine Bluff, recorded Jan. 15. Andrew Bra... January 24, 2021

Community Briefs Church plans drive-thru food event House of Bread Deliverance Church, 500 S. Main St., will open its drive-thru food pantry Monday from 1-4:30 p.m. or until the 250 boxes of food run out. The church... January 12, 2021

Omega Men honor achievements Omega Men recently held a virtual Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Inc. Founders Day/Achievement Week Celebration by Zoom. The celebration provided an opportunity to recognize achievements of Omega Men, citi... January 6, 2021

Doss player of week for conference The University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff men's basketball player Shaun Doss Jr. was named as the Southwestern Athletic Conference Player of the Week. Doss (6-5, 185; R-Jr.; agribusiness major; Marion... January 6, 2021

White Hall in no hurry to replace councilman killed in roadway crash It will be weeks or longer before the White Hall City Council is ready to replace Alderman Andrew M. "Andy" Lunsford, who was killed in an automobile crash Thursday. Lunsford, who was reelected as Wa... January 6, 2021

Grief support group to meet Sunday The Grief and Comfort Support Group will hold its first class at 5 p.m. Sunday at the First Baptist Church White Hall, 8708 Dollarway Road. The group members' intention is to support one another in t... January 6, 2021

Jefferson County Marriages and Divorces for the week of 1-3-21 Marriages Several marriage licenses were issued last week, however no new licenses were recorded in the Jefferson County Clerk's office by press time. Divorces Divorces granted according to the Jef... January 3, 2021

Butcher shop's owner recounts choppy road to entrepreneurship HAMPTON -- Odie "Snap" Strong is known around his hometown of Hampton as the type of fellow who'll try to help anyone in need and supports his community wholeheartedly. After running two successful re... December 30, 2020

Community Briefs 2 students graduate from college Keagan Baker of Warren and Tamatha Whitaker of Eudora graduated in December from Hinds Community College at Raymond, Miss. They were among more than 1,300 to graduate... December 21, 2020

Jefferson County Food Safety for the week of 12-20-20 The Arkansas Department of Health regulates the sale of food at establishments that include restaurants, bars, day cares, schools, grocery stores, convenience stores, bed and breakfast facilities, hot... December 20, 2020

Golden Lions take on N. Texas The University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff men's basketball team will return to action tonight at the University of North Texas at Denton, Texas. The UAPB Sports Network radio broadcast begins at 6:45 ... December 15, 2020

Community briefs SEARK Board of Trustees to meet The Southeast Arkansas College Board of Trustees will hold a special meeting at 10 a.m. Wednesday to vote on approval of the fall graduates. This meeting will be a Zoo... December 9, 2020

Simmons Bank gives foundation $75,000 The Simmons Bank Open for the Snedeker Foundation announced Tuesday that the bank is donating $75,000 to the foundation through Simmons' Drive. Putt. Do Good. initiative. The bank's donation will bene... December 9, 2020

UAPB off to Chicago on opener road trip Stop four of the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff men's basketball team's season-opening road trip takes the Golden Lions to the Chicago area as UAPB will face Northwestern today at 8 p.m. The ga... December 2, 2020

2 groups distribute free food Two local groups distributed 450 boxes of nonperishable breakfast food items on Dec. 26. First Sisters Outreach Inc., a 501(c)(3) agency -- in partnership with Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc., Delta O... December 1, 2020

Calendar 11-24-20 Editor's Note: At press time, the following events and meetings were known to be still scheduled. Organizers or appropriate officials are encouraged to contact Sandra Hope at shope@pbcommercial.com to... November 24, 2020

Calendar 11-18-20 Editor's Note: At press time, the following events and meetings were known to be still scheduled. Organizers or appropriate officials are encouraged to contact Sandra Hope at shope@pbcommercial.com to... November 18, 2020

Calendar 11-17-20 Editor's Note: At press time, the following events and meetings were known to be still scheduled. Organizers or appropriate officials are encouraged to contact Sandra Hope at shope@pbcommercial.com to... November 17, 2020

Schools in Pine Bluff, region awarded state literacy funds The Arkansas Department of Education announced that $5.5 million literacy subgrants are being awarded to 128 schools and districts, including several in Pine Bluff and Southeast Arkansas. The complet... November 17, 2020

Covid worsens social isolation For many older Americans, loneliness and isolation were already a problem. The covid-19 pandemic and its associated lockdowns have often increased that sense of isolation, especially at holiday time w... November 17, 2020

UA scholarship created by couple A Little Rock couple has established the Cathy and Kevin Crass Advance Arkansas Endowed Scholarship with a $50,000 gift directed toward students from Pulaski and Jefferson counties, according to a new... November 17, 2020

Donations given to Pine Bluff schools Covid-19 disrupted the educational system and left many families with reduced incomes and greater needs. However, the Pine Bluff School District School counselors, social workers, nurses, teachers a... November 17, 2020

Calendar 11-16-20 Editor’s Note: At press time, the following events and meetings were known to be still scheduled. Organizers or appropriate officials are encouraged to contact Sandra Hope at shope@pbcommercial.com to... November 16, 2020

CALENDAR: Covid-19 testing sites available | Neighbor to Neighbor taking fried pie orders | Veterans Legal Clinic open Editor's Note: At press time, the following events and meetings were known to be still scheduled. Organizers or appropriate officials are encouraged to contact Sandra Hope at shope@pbcommercial.com to... November 12, 2020

CALENDAR: Covid-19 testing sites available | Fried pie orders underway for fundraiser | SEARK Board of Trustees to meet Editor's Note: At press time, the following events and meetings were known to be still scheduled. Organizers or appropriate officials are encouraged to contact Sandra Hope at shope@pbcommercial.com to... November 11, 2020

OPINION | KEN THORNTON: Veterans' stories go untold I was raised in Warren County, Mississippi, just a short distance from the Vicksburg National Military Park. As a young teenager, I rode my bike and trekked through portions of the park too many times... November 11, 2020

2 centers join state rural health care group Arkansas Rural Health Partnership, or ARHP, announced the addition of two new members to the organization, whose agencies serve parts of southeast Arkansas. Mainline Health Systems Inc. and Mid-Delta... November 10, 2020

Homemakers club donates items to food pantry Willing Workers of White Hall's Extension Homemakers Club presented donations for the White Hall Food Pantry when the group met Oct. 27 at the White Hall Museum. As members arrived, they placed donat... November 9, 2020