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PINE BLUFF PONDERING HOLIDAYS, SALES TAX PROPOSAL VOTE
BY THE COMMERCIAL STAFF
Monday, December 1, 2008 10:03 AM CST
Residents will be asked to begin voting early on a proposed Jefferson County sales tax issue and holiday events are planned this week.
Early voting begins Tuesday on the proposed half-cent economic development sales tax for Jefferson County. The special election is Dec. 9, however, early ballots may be cast Tuesday through Dec. 8 at the county courthouse during regular business hours on weekdays.
Promoted by the Committee for Jefferson County’s Future, the proposed sales tax increase is expected to generate $45 million over 10 years and would expire at the end of that period unless renewed by voters in another election.
Meanwhile, several events have been planned to celebrate the Christmas holidays. Residents are invited to get into the holiday spirit with carriage rides, activities for children and holiday music performed by local choirs during the Old Towne Christmas.
Old Towne events will take place from 4 to 6 p.m. Saturday at the Jefferson County Courthouse prior to the annual Pine Bluff Christmas Parade, set to begin at Eighth Avenue and Convention Center Drive at 6:30 p.m.
Also this week:
The First Presbyterian Church Day School will hold its Christmas Blessings Fair/Bake Sale/Silent Auction Fundraiser from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday and from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday at the church, located at 717 W 32nd Ave. The silent auction will end at 11 a.m. Saturday and bidders do not have to be present to win. The fair will include homemade items, including jewelry, artwork, totes and stationary, with other items available from Pampered Chef, Mary Kay Cosmetics and Slipada Design Jewelry. Details: Call Jane Stone at 534-7101.
The Salvation Army Women’s Auxiliary’s annual Christmas Luncheon and Festival of Tables will be held from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday in the Great Hall of First United Methodist Church, 200 W. Sixth Ave. Tickets for the event are $10 each and may be purchased from members of the auxiliary or at the door on the day of the event. Containers will be available for takeout orders. Entertainment will be provided by the Jenkins Choir, who will perform Christmas selections. Details: Call Ebony Anderson at 534-2153.
The weather has cooled and the crappie are biting; therefore to honor this event the Cane Creek State Park at Star City is hosting a crappie tournament Saturday. Registration begins at 6:30 a.m. and the tournament will begin at 7 a.m. and run until noon when the weighing in will begin. To enter the tournament teams of two will pay $20 with a 100 percent payout at the end of the tournament. Prizes will be awarded to first-, second- and third-largest crappie caught. There is a 10-inch slot limit on Cane Creek Lake. Details: Call the park at (870) 628-4714.
Help save lives by taking the AARP Driver Safety Class, scheduled from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday at Lemonwood Baptist Church, 920 Shephard Drive, White Hall. The course is for persons 50 and older. A driver who completes the course will receive a certificate that will enable him or her to receive a discount on automobile insurance if 55 and older. The cost of the course is $10 per person, payable to AARP at the time of the class. Each participant should bring a valid driver’s license and AARP membership card if he or she is a member. Details: Call 247-4898 to register.
An AIDS awareness march will be held today at noon at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff. The event is aimed at increasing the awareness of the HIV/AIDS epidemic and showing support for AIDS victims and survivors. An assembly will also be held in the Kenneth L. Johnson Sr. Health, Physical Education and Recreation Complex. After the walk and the assembly, free HIV/AIDS testing will be available in the student union for students and the public.
Pine Bluff Rotary Club will meet at noon Tuesday at the Pine Bluff Country Club. The program will feature Lisa Duke discussing Jefferson Regional Medical Center’s Weight Loss Program. The West Pine Bluff Rotary Club will meet at the same location at noon Thursday featuring Sgt. Tyrone Pinder, commanding officer of the Salvation Army, as the speaker.
Pine Bluff City Council will meet at 5:30 p.m. today at council chambers of the Pine Bluff Civic Center.
Jefferson County Quorum Court committees will meet at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday in the quorum courtroom at the courthouse.
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