By Joel Phelps
The Arkadelphian

Arkadelphia City Manager Gary Brinkley had good news to share with the City Board of Directors during its Tuesday meeting.

First, he thanked the sponsors, staff and volunteers who made the Arkadelphia Festival of the Arts an “excellent event.” Brinkley said his administration was “pleased with the first year’s turnout and had so many people ask to be included next year” so he wants to keep the festival an annual event. “We will have our followup meeting next week and are looking forward to an excellent 2022 event,” he told directors.

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Second, he noted this week is Chamber of Commerce Week. In celebrating its milestone centennial anniversary, the Arkadelphia Area Chamber of Commerce will hold a Business After Hours event Thursday, Oct. 21, from 3-5:30 p.m. at the Chamber office, located at 26th and Pine streets.

The chamber is also planning its annual Halloween Trick or Treat event Sunday, Oct. 31, in downtown Arkadelphia, Brinkley announced. “It went so well on Main Street last year it will be there again,” he said, noting cars will enter Main Street at 12th and travel east to 7th Street. The event is slated for 5:30-7 p.m. “We’d like to thank the chamber, area businesses, social clubs and our staff for their support of this event,” Brinkley said.

Brinkley’s staff participated in Brookshire’s Oct. 6 grand re-opening to celebrate the grocery store’s newly remodeled building. “Mr. [Brad] Brookshire himself flew in, spoke and then gave out a scholarship for a business student at OBU,” Brinkley said.

Other ribbon cuttings coming up include Heartland Pharmacy at 10 a.m. Friday, Oct. 22, and Salt & Grain at 2 p.m. the same day.

Finally, Brinkley said he will be in Little Rock for the rest of the week to host the Arkansas City Manager’s Association meetings. Brinkley was tapped as president of the organization this year.