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North Little Rock notebook

Mayor waiting a bit to replace fire chief

After the unexpected death of the fire chief, Mayor Joe Smith said last week that he hadn't yet formulated a plan to fill the position.

Fire Chief Jim Murphy died March 18 from complications after heart surgery. He had turned 65 six days before.

Murphy's funeral was Thursday.

"We want to make sure his family is taken care of first," Smith said. "I'll start looking at what I'm going to do and how I'm going to do it, probably in the next week or two."

Smith hired Murphy in July 2014, coaxing him out of retirement in Florida. Murphy had spent 25 years of his career there at the Orange County Fire Rescue Department as a firefighter, paramedic, chief flight medic, company officer and training officer. While retired, he helped create a pair of interactive training software programs for first responders.

"He made a huge mark on our Fire Department in a short period of time," Smith said. "I hope our next leader over there will try to live up to the expectations that Chief Murphy had in all of our firefighters."

Assistant Chief Gerald Tucker is leading the department for the time being.

Training will close libraries for 2 days

Both locations of the William F. Laman Public Library will be closed to the public Monday and Tuesday for an in-house staff conference and training.

The system's main library is at 2801 Orange St., and its Argenta Branch is at 420 Main St.

Both libraries will resume regular hours Wednesday.

Date in April set for student awards

The Chamber of Commerce will sponsor its Arkansas Scholars Awards in April to honor selected high school seniors.

The Arkansas Scholars program is part of the Arkansas Business and Education Alliance, supported by the chamber.

The program is centered on academic achievement for a wide range of students who are required to meet certain criteria to help prepare them for both the workplace and additional education after high school, according to a chamber news release.

The awards ceremony will be April 24 at the University of Arkansas-Pulaski Technical College's Center for Humanities and Arts.

The chamber is asking for business partners and individuals to help sponsor the event. Those interested may contact Carley Dangar at the chamber, (501) 372-5959, for information.

Children ages 1-9 invited to egg hunt

The Parks and Recreation Department will sponsor its annual free Easter egg hunt for children ages 1-9 on April 15 at the Burns Park Softball Complex.

Registration starts at 9 a.m. with the egg hunt to start at 10 a.m.

Snacks and drinks will be provided. The eggs will hold prizes.

More information is available by contacting the Parks Department at (501) 791-8543.

Metro on 03/26/2017

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