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.com or use our newsroom email pbcnews@adgnewsroom.com to make additions or changes.

Thursday, May 15 Election panel to meet

The Jefferson County Board of Election Commissioners will hold a special called meeting at 6 p.m. Thursday at the Election Office, 123 S. Main St., according to Chairman Mike Adam. The agenda includes new business: Certify the results of the 2025 school election and the disposition of Complaint SBEC-2024-083.

Mayors to address retired teachers

The Jefferson County Retired Teachers Association will meet at 11:30 a.m. May 15 in the Donald W. Reynolds Community Services Center, 211 W. Third Ave. Pine Bluff Mayor Vivian Flowers and White Hall Mayor Noel Foster will give updates on the “state of their respective cities,” according to a news release. Member reservations are required for the luncheon to be provided by Ms. Dee’s Diner at $12 per person. Members are asked to bring pull-tab cans of fruit to be donated to Neighbor to Neighbor to assist families in need. For details on JCRTA and to make luncheon reservations, call Lura Campbell at (870) 543-0127.

Pine Bluff AI Summit set

ReMix IDEAS and the Pine Bluff Black Chamber of Commerce will host an AI Summit from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. May 15 at the Arts & Science Center for Southeast Arkansas, 701 S. Main St. “Discover how artificial intelligence (AI) can help grow your business,” according to Stuff in The Bluff.com. “The Pine Bluff AI Summit is a must-attend event for entrepreneurs and business owners looking to enhance marketing strategies, streamline operations, and unlock new levels of efficiency and scalability.” Speakers include: David Hailey – CEO and founder, Countifi Inc.; Don Ward – CEO amd founder, Laundris Corp.; Chris Thompson – CEO, Sober Sidekick; Jakob Michaelis – founder, Auxigen; Karen Kilroy – founder, NYX NoCode; Oginga Carr – CEO, Epiphany Consulting; and Audrey Willis – chief innovation and program officer, CodeCrew. For details or to reserve a seat, visit pbtechsummit.com.

Christian Women’s luncheon set

The Christian Women’s Connection will host its monthly luncheon from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. May 15 at the Pine Bluff Country Club. Everyone is invited to attend. The speaker will be Marsha Inman of Fort Worth, Texas. Her topic will be “The Perfect Gift.” Inman will discuss her struggle with perfectionism and how a car accident made her re-evaluate her priorities, according to a news release. The luncheon costs $20, which includes the meal, drink, dessert, tax, and gratuity. For reservations or cancellations, call Jennifer Keahey at (870) 540-9302. All reservations must be made three days in advance. You will be charged for reservations not kept.

Westerman offices open

Fourth District U.S. Rep. Bruce Westerman, R-Ark., announced casework-specific office hours will be held in May to assist people with addressing Veterans’ Affairs, Social Security, Medicare, Internal Revenue Service, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), and passports, according to a news release. For casework specifically related to Veterans’ Affairs, the following dates and locations are available: In Pine Bluff, the event will be held at 211 W. Third Ave. Suite 245, Donald W. Reynolds Community Services Center, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. May 15.

Through Thursday, May 15 Vote for UAPB’s M4 band

The University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff’s Marching Musical Machine of the Mid-South (M4) needs the community to vote for it to perform at the 2025 HBCU Labor Day Classic Battle of the Bands in Jackson, Miss., on Aug. 31. The UAPB AM&N National Alumni Association urges the community to vote for the band daily at https://surveymars. com/q/3LE295k0n . Voting ends May 15. M4 needs everyone’s support to make it happen, according to a news release. “Help M4 secure their spot. Cast your vote and represent for the Golden Lions with pride,” according to the release.