North Little Rock notebook

Panel started for historic cemetery

A historic cemetery in North Little Rock now has an advisory committee to oversee and coordinate maintenance, upkeep, historical research and work toward obtaining grant funding.

The North Little Rock City Council approved, 7-0, the establishment of the seven-member Thomas Cemetery Advisory Council Committee on Sept. 10. Council member Steve Baxter was absent. Committee members are appointed by the mayor and confirmed by the city council. Initial members will have staggered terms of either two, three or four years.

Thomas Cemetery, a 2-acre cemetery off Division Street that dates to 1880, hasn't a known owner, which has made it difficult to preserve and maintain because the cemetery is private property.

The city has initiated action in Pulaski County Circuit Court to acquire the property by eminent domain in order to manage its preservation.

The cemetery, long having the erroneous stigma of being a "pauper's graveyard," contains the graves of hundreds of working-class residents and children, dating to before North Little Rock was even a township.

An amendment to the resolution was added by the city attorney's office, and passed unanimously, to specifically exempt city residency requirements for city commissions. The action was to allow appointing three of the initial board members who live outside of the city, but who have family or other connections to the city or to Thomas Cemetery.

"These are individuals who have stepped up and want to see it maintained," City Attorney Amy Fields said of the exemption.

The city previously allowed non-residents with connections to city government or to the military to serve on a Veterans Advisory Committee that oversaw the creation of a veterans memorial now on the grounds of the William F. Laman Public Library, 2801 Orange St.

Chamber will host networking event

"A Taste for Business," the North Little Rock Chamber of Commerce's annual networking event, will be 5-7:30 p.m. Sept. 27 on the concourse level of Verizon Arena.

The event features local businesses and offers samples of food and drink from more than 30 chamber member restaurants and caterers. Non-food chamber members also will be showcasing their products, services and attractions. The event has previously drawn more than 1,000 attendees.

Tickets are $20 in advance or $25 at the door on the day of the event. Advance tickets are available through the North Little Rock Chamber of Commerce, 372-5959, or can be obtained by visiting nlrchamber.org.

Proceeds from the event support the chamber's educational programs, including Arkansas Scholars and Leadership Renaissance, and local scholarships to the community.

Metro on 09/17/2018

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