ARSENAL, PB 20/20 INITIATIVE GIVE UPDATES THIS WEEK

By The Commercial Staff

This week, officials will offer an update on the destruction of stockpiled chemical weapons as the VX landmine disposal campaign ends at the Pine Bluff Arsenal.

In February, arsenal officials announced that the last VX nerve-agent filled rocket was destroyed and the facility was preparing to destroy VX landmines.

Today at 10 a.m., arsenal officials will meet at the Outreach Office for Chemical Disposal located in Woodlands East Plaza, 7197 Sheridan Road, Suite 110, at White Hall.

During the news conference, officials with the Pine Bluff Chemical Agent Disposal Facility, Pine Bluff Chemical Activity and Pine Bluff Arsenal representatives will discuss the completion of VX chemical weapons disposal operations at the arsenal. The completion brings the facility a step closer to finishing the incineration at the arsenal, which had 12 percent of the nation’s stockpiled chemical weapons before incineration began.

Also this week, Pine Bluff 20/20 Initiative members R.J. Lightsey and Judi Norton will provide an update during the noon meetings of the Pine Bluff Rotary Club on Tuesday and the West Pine Bluff Rotary Club on Thursday. Both gatherings will be held at the Pine Bluff Country Club.

The Pine Bluff 20/20 Initiative is a visioning process the city launched in early 2007. More than 700 people participated in the brainstorming sessions followed by a vote on the top issues residents would like to see addressed. Their top idea was to give incentives to employers who would bring jobs to Pine Bluff or those here who would expand their workforce.

Other activities this week include:

< The Pine Bluff School Board will meet at 6 p.m. today at the district administrative center. The meeting will begin with an executive session followed by an open session.

< The Metropolitan Emergency Communications Association (MECA) Board will meet at 1 p.m. Wednesday at the Office of Emergency Management at the Jefferson County Courthouse.

< The Southern Good Faith Fund will sponsor a home lending fair starting at 10 a.m. Saturday at the agency, 2304 W. 29th Ave. The event is part of the celebration of National Homeownership Month. Interested homebuyers will receive a variety of information from financial institutions, the city of Pine Bluff and the Arkansas Development Finance Authority. Participants will hear about homebuyer assistance programs, U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development and the Southern Good Faith Fund’s Individual Development Account program. Details: Contact Enrique Castro at 535-6233, ext. 16.

< People interested in becoming foster or adoptive parents are invited to a meeting from 6-7 p.m. Thursday at the Jefferson County Department of Human Services, 1222 W. Sixth Ave. The Division of Children and Family Services representatives and others will discuss the need for foster care in Jefferson, Cleveland and Lincoln counties and will address questions about foster care or adoption. Details: Contact Joyce Boykins, resource worker, foster parent recruiter at 534-4200.