League honors individuals for service
At the Winter Conference, the League presented four outgoing city officials with Honorary Life Memberships for their longtime service on League boards and committees. They are, from top left, former Clarksville City Clerk/Treasurer Barbara Blackard, former Mena Council Member James Earl Turner and former Pine Bluff Mayor Shirley Washington. Not pictured: former Fayetteville Mayor Lioneld Jordan.
Also during the conference’s opening night celebration, League Executive Director Mark Hayes presented a plaque and read a proclamation honoring Debra Dickson for her exceptional leadership and unwavering commitment to the management and protection of water and wastewater services across the state of Arkansas. Dickson serves as the Arkansas Department of Agriculture’s Water Development Section Manager.
Volunteerism for the win
Engage Arkansas honored the 2024 Volunteer Communities of the Year at the League’s 2025 Winter Conference during a January 16 awards luncheon. The annual award recognizes cities and towns that exemplify the spirit of public service through volunteer initiatives. The 2024 recipients are, from top left, Calico Rock, Fayetteville, Keo, Leslie, Maumelle, Piggott and Siloam Springs. For information about promoting civic engagement and to learn more about the award selection process, please visit EngageArkansas.org.
True trendsetters
The Trendsetter City Awards recognize cities and towns that improve the quality of life for their residents through innovative initiatives in categories such as diversity and inclusion, tourism development, infrastructure and water, and creative culture. ABPG presented Searcy with the 2024 Don A. Zimmerman Pinnacle Award for the city’s outstanding efforts in the categories of tourism development/creative culture and education/workforce development. From left, Raymond Reynolds, Betsy Bailey and Christine Harrell of Searcy Public Schools, League Executive Director Mark Hayes and Searcy Mayor Mat Faulkner. The other 2024 winners and honorable mentions are Alma, Arkadelphia, Bella Vista, Bentonville, Booneville, Cabot, Cave Springs, De Queen, Heber Springs, Hope, Hot Springs, Huntsville, Jacksonville, Jonesboro, Keo, Little Rock, Maumelle, Mulberry, Paragould, Russellville, Searcy, Siloam Springs and West Memphis. Learn more about the winning initiatives at arkansasbusiness.com/supplements/trendsetter-city.
