Magnolia, Gurdon set to scrimmage Friday
The 2020 Magnolia football season will get started Friday night with an Arkansas Activities Association sanctioned scrimmage at Gurdon. Action is set to begin at 7 p.m.
According to the Magnolia School District, fans planning on attending the scrimmage will need to go by Athletic Director Dyun Long’s office in the annex building at the high school to pick up a voucher. The voucher will allow that person to buy a ticket at the game. No one can buy a ticket without a voucher according to Gurdon School District rules.
Magnolia has 200 vouchers and will be given on a first-come basis. The Panthers’ season-opener is scheduled for Aug. 28 in Little Rock against the Harrison Goblins.
Commodities distribution in Waldo today, Friday
The Central Arkansas Development Council (CADC), along with USDA, will be distributing food commodities at the Waldo C.W. Easter Center (902 East McKissack) today and Friday.
Distributions will begin at 9 a.m. Food items may include dry split peas, oat circle cereal, fruit nut mix, can pork, raisins, tomato soup and beef chili. All participants must show identification.
For more information, contact Renecee Ellis at 234-6444.
COVID-19 drive-up testing today at MRMC
A drive-up COVID 19 testing will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. today at the Magnolia Regional Medical Center. The first 200 community members will be tested and there will be no out-of-pocket costs for testing.
Those seeking tests do not have to be a UAMS patient in order to be seen and testing is for everyone who feels that they need to be tested. Test results will be returned either through an online patient portal, letter or phone call.
COVID 19 testing will be conducted by the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) in cooperation with UAMS South Regional Campus, Southern Arkansas University, Magnolia Regional Medical Center and the Blue and You Foundation.
Emerson receives $133,574 grant
The city of Emerson was one of 23 Arkansas counties and communities to receive a Community Development Block Grant from the Arkansas Economic Development Commission (AEDC).
The grants were awarded under the General Assistance set-aside, which is designed to provide communities the opportunity to apply for a variety of non-housing public facility and public infrastructure projects. These funds originate from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) through the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) State Program for Small Cities.
Census takers visiting county households
Census takers in Columbia County continue to follow up with households that have not yet responded to the 2020 Census. The current self-response rate in Columbia County is 50.8%. The Census Bureau will need to visit the remaining addresses to collect responses in person.
Census takers can be easily identified by a valid government ID badge with their photograph, a U.S. Department of Commerce watermark, and an expiration date on the badge. To confirm a census taker’s identity, the public may contact their regional census center to speak with a Census Bureau representative.
Households can still respond now by completing and mailing back the paper questionnaire they received, by responding online at 2020census.gov, or by phone at 844-330-2020. Households can also respond online or by phone in one of 13 languages and find assistance in many more. Those that respond will not need to be visited to obtain their census response.
Magnolia Arts cancels rest of 2020 events
Magnolia Arts Executive Director Janet Rider-Babbitt has announced that, inn light of Covid-19 public health emergency and to adhere to the direction of Governor Asa Hutchinson, the Magnolia Arts Board of Directors had to make the decision to cancel the rest of 2019 – 2020-year events; including an Artist reception for SAU Students, Music Night, Jazz Coffee House, Movie Night, Play Auditions, Open Studio Painting, the 70th Annual Art Show, Magic Show, Steak Dinner, and the Summer Musical.
On behalf of the Magnolia Arts Board of Directors, Rider-Babbit thanked supporters for helping accomplish the organization’s mission of “Bringing art to the people and out of the people of Columbia County”.
“As we guide through the uncharted waters of social distancing, we are uncertain what we will be able to provide in the months to come. We are working to come up with new events like drive-in movies, small plays streamed online, online art challenges, one-day outdoor art shows and other outdoor events,” she said. We are reaching out to invite you to please continue your support for Magnolia Arts this year by renewing or becoming a member for the first time, or by just making a donation. Your membership not only provides a strong financial foundation for the organization, but it also includes special privileges like ticket discounts, your name in all our programs, and reserved seats at events.”
She noted that lives are impacted and the arts can continue to thrive right here in Columbia County through community theatre, music, art, poetry, painting, comedy, and design.
For questions, contact Rider-Babbitt by phone (870) 901-3600 or email [email protected].