I don’t want to jinx anything, but it’s actually starting to feel like autumn is nestling in. About time. I’m still not used to September’s morphing from the first month of fall into the last month of summer. Happened right under our nose, that one.
Little Rock events are happening soon. In my own neck of the woods, we’re getting ready for Halloween, Harvest Fest, Porchfest, and the Pumpkin Roll. Wham wham wham. See you out there?
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Reid
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THREE STORIES YOU SHOULD KNOW
Mayor’s race gets personal. Mayor Frank Scott Jr., running for a third term, faces Vice Mayor and Ward 7 Director B.J. Wyrick in November. Wyrick, on the board since 1994, says the mayor brushes off her ideas on potholes, crime, police staffing, and transparency, and points to the city manager job sitting empty for almost two years; Scott says crime is down, shelters are going up, and Wyrick rarely works with him on legislation. Little Rock Public Radio.
Ex-senator has a stake in land next to the Wrightsville data center site. Former state Sen. Jonathan Dismang has a stake in land bordering the planned AVAIO data center site near Wrightsville; he is a minority partner in a group that owns 46.4 acres there, and says the purchase had nothing to do with the data center and he knew nothing about it in advance. Dismang, who steered the 2025 law that speeds up power plant approvals for projects like data centers, resigned in September for a job with Arkansas Electric Cooperatives, and the special election for his Senate District 18 seat, which includes part of Faulkner County, has now been moved up. LRPR Daily Newscast, Oct. 2, 2026.
Board of directors votes to fund construction of city employees’ health clinic. The Board of Directors on Monday approved $659,000 for Bradford Morris Construction to build an on-site employee clinic at the Little Rock Police Department's 12th Street Station, 3999 W. 12th St., with up to $131,800 more available from a contingency fund. Arkansas Democrat-Gazette (paywall).
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ONE STORY YOU DIDN’T KNOW: THE PIGEONEERS OF CAMP PIKE
Let’s start by noting how much newspaper standards and practices have changed since this was written in 1918.
Firstly, the pigeons must’ve had a crack PR team, because “war birds” is a big brand for carrier pigeons in wartime. “Prepare to train young war birds” has major “hot singles in your area” energy in a way I can’t fully explain, but only feel acutely.
But let’s not neglect that subtitle. Nice and boring. Bland. Straight to the point. Like the birthday banner from The Office: “It is your birthday.”
Anyway, the story: By the time the U.S. entered WW1 in 1917, European armies had already been relying on carrier pigeons for communications when typical comms systems failed. The U.S. Army, not one to be outdone, scrambled and founded 110 carrier pigeon-training battalions across the country, one of them at Camp Pike with the 312th Field Signal Battalion.
There was a catch, though. They were short on men to train the pigeons. So in 1918, the Arkansas Gazette put out the call, seeking “patriotic and footloose” men to train the pigeons. It seems to me one could feasibly train a pigeon without being either of those things, but I wasn’t in the Army. 15 men answered the call to build a great pigeon army.
By March of 1918, Camp Pike had 74 mated pigeons, and when the babies turned 8 weeks old, they began driving them a few miles from Camp Pike to release them. Over time, they increased the distance to 30 miles, and the fastest pigeons could cover roughly a mile per minute.
Their efforts were not rewarded. Across the South, pigeons in training were shot and killed by hunters. President Woodrow Wilson signed a federal ban on the shooting of carrier pigeons. Sadly, the war ended before any pigeons at Camp Pike made it overseas to serve their country. They were auctioned off to locals in 1919.
Thank you for your service, young war birds.
WHAT’S NEXT?: FALL EVENTS
10/17 — HarvestFest in Hillcrest. Now in its 32nd year, this neighborhood festival draws thousands from across Arkansas for a full day of live music on the main stage, the beloved Dog Show, a local beer garden, and a kids' zone. RatBoys is playing this year, so get acquainted. Watch their NPR Tiny Desk.
10/17 — Central Arkansas PRIDEFest & Parade. Head downtown for the 14th annual festival and parade, which starts at 11 a.m., with a pageant Thursday, events Friday, and a brunch Sunday. It runs throughout the West Capitol District.
10/16-25 — Arkansas State Fair. A lively carnival, nightly concerts, a rodeo, commercial exhibits, and free shows ranging from exotic animals to acrobats and magicians.
10/24 — Chili Fight in the Heights. This year's Chili Fight in the Heights by the Hat Club is on October 24, 2026, benefiting the Arkansas Foodbank. Bring yer appetite!
11/1 — Hillcrest Pumpkin Roll. Bring your old jack-o'-lantern to the top of Midland St! The infamous event happens the first Sunday after Halloween at 2 p.m. and raises funds for hunger relief. Last year a few hundred people, including Mayor Frank Scott Jr., gathered at Midland and Kavanaugh for the 21st annual roll.
11/7 — Hillcrest Porchfest. Arkansas’ first-ever Porchfest, a completely free, grassroots event where local artists perform on Hillcrest residents’ porches all day. Schedule, map, and artists are available on the website. Sets start at 10 a.m. and go until 8:30, with Adam Faucett closing the night out. Porchfest Instagram.
11/7 — Arkansas Cornbread Festival. Local chefs and home cooks will line S. Main St. and showcase their cornbread recipes, from traditional Southern styles to more creative variations, and this year's festival benefits the Arkansas Foodbank.
Until next week,
Reid
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