The Jacksonville Fire Department will test the city’s fire hydrants Monday through Friday, Dec. 21. The area east of Highway 67/167 and south of Main Street will be affected.
The testing is necessary to maintain and improve current Insurance Service Organization ratings, which determine insurance rates for businesses and homeowners. Hydrant testing also allows the fire department to pre-plan for better fire suppression. This testing could cause the unsettling of sediment that collects in the water mains. The sediment will cause discoloration of the water and can stain clothing in the wash. However unsightly the water may be, it is does not have bacteriological risks.
The Jacksonville Fire Department and Jacksonville Water Works urges citizens to check for discolored water before doing laundry to avoid staining clothing during the testing period. The fire department apologizes for any inconvenience the testing causes but says it is necessary in order to keep insurance rates lower and make Jacksonville a safer city.
Sherwood church observes World Aids Day today
A ceremony to commemorate the annual observance of World AIDS Day will be held at Open Door Community Church at 709 W. Lee Ave. in Sherwood at 6:30 p.m. this evening to remember love ones who have been lost and celebrate those living with HIV and AIDS today.
A reception will immediately follow the ceremony. For more information or to submit the name of someone to be remembered, contact arkansasworldaidsday@sbc.global.net. The event is free to the public. Any donations will benefit the Arkansas AIDS Foundation.
Collections for homeless retired veterans needed
The Jacksonville Museum of Military History and Mt. Tabor Methodist Church present Christmas Care for Veterans, a collection of items the two organizations will be giving to the Little Rock Veterans Retirement Home. People are asked to bring only new sweat suits, slippers, white cotton t-shirts, pajama pants, socks or flannel pajamas of all different sizes (large and X-large, too) no later than Dec. 16.
The items are to be dropped off during regular business hours to
the Jacksonville Museum of Military History, 100 Veterans Circle, Jacksonville or Mt. Tabor Methodist Church, Hwy. 89 S., Cabot.
Please do not purchase any toiletries. For more information, contact the museum at (501) 241-1943 or the church at (501) 843-1084.
Reed’s Bridge Society holds panel dedication
The Reed’s Bridge Society announces the dedication of five new historical panels today. The panel dedication will take place at 11 a.m. at the corner of Trickey Lane and Military Road (Hwy. 294) in Jacksonville.
Re-enactors from the First and Sixth Arkansas Infantry will bivouac at the Reed’s Bridge site over the weekend. The public is invited to visit the Reed’s Bridge site to walk among the reenactors and learn what it was like to be a Confederate soldier during the Civil War. For more information contact Tommy Dupree at (501) 766-1527.
Ward Animal Shelter holds annual chili cook-off
The Ward Animal Shelter will hold its third annual chili cook-off at 5 p.m. today, following the city’s Christmas parade and tree lighting.
Area businesses and citizens will have pots of their secret recipe chili available to be judged by the public. The top three competitors will receive trophies. The cost is $5 for adults and $3 for children 10 and under. Everyone is invited to come out and join the shelter for a night of fun, complete with a cake walk, silent auction, pictures with Santa, coloring contest and Aunt Blueberry the clown.
All proceeds will go to the Ward Animal Shelter for its various needs.
Cabot Parks and Recreation holds public hearing
Cabot Parks and Recreation will hold public hearings Tuesday for the proposed North Lonoke County Regional Park off Willie Ray Drive.
The hearings will be from 4 to 8 p.m. at the Veterans Park Community Center, 508 N. Lincoln, in the meeting room on the second floor. The meeting groups are as follows: from 4 - 4:45 p.m., civic groups, city departments, elected officials, school district officials, Chamber of Commerce members and church officials; from 5 - 5:45 p.m., sport association board members; from 6 - 6:45 p.m., extreme sports participants, skateboarders, bicyclists, campers and scouts; and from 7 to 7:45 p.m., general public input.
For more information, contact Cabot Parks and Recreation at 501-605-1506.
Jacksonville will test fire hydrants on Dec. 21
“Jacksonville’s Golden Christmas,” the city’s 50th annual parade, will be held at 1 p.m. today starting at Sharp and Main, down Main to Second. Brig. Gen. Rowayne Schatz will marshal the event.
Beebe’s annual parade will be held at 6 p.m. today the theme is “Christmas Melodies’, and floats will line up at Beebe Public Schools at 5 p.m.
Sherwood’s parade, “A Child’s Magical Christmas,” will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday on Kiehl Ave. from Lantrip to Oakbrook St.
Cabot’s parade will be held at 3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 9.
