Little Rock’s first responders exemplify service above self, and we are grateful for their commitment to excellence. Because of the importance of these team members to our entire community, the Rotary Club of Little Rock annually hosts its Police and Fire Awards Luncheon. This event gives Rotarians and City officials an opportunity to recognize and honor those who have gone above and beyond to help our residents and benefit our City over the past year.

It was our privilege to join Rotary last week for this year’s Police and Fire Awards Luncheon last week. The Club presented police officer and firefighter of the year awards, in addition to numerous other awards for merit and heroism.

William McCullar, an engineer in the Fire Department, was named the Firefighter of the Year.

McCullar was among the team of firefighters and emergency responders who rendered life-saving care to Little Rock resident Katie McClanahan in April 2025. A massive tree fell on Mrs. McClanahan during a severe wind storm. While crews worked to remove the tree, McCullar dug through the tree to provide care to Mrs. McClanahan and help perform a blood transfusion. His actions saved her life.

Rotary also recognized LRPD recruit of the year Officer Jayden Castillo and Civilian of the Year Aysia Edmond. Lieutenant Courtney Bewley was presented the Leadership Award and Debra Pitts was selected for the Community Service Award.

Firefighter Connor Sutton was LRFD Recruit of the Year. Capt. John Fulbright earned the Medal of Merit along with Shannon Ellington of the Pulaski County Office of Emergency Management. A total of 41 Little Rock firefighters were recognized with Life Saving awards, demonstrating the level of professionalism, expertise and dedication they have to protecting our community.

MEMS award recipients included Ellington, Jay Meeks, Sgt. Taylor Ogle, EMT Destiny Sanders, and EMT Brittany Newman.

On behalf of the Board of Directors and the City of Little Rock, we appreciate the men and women of the Little Rock police and fire departments for their heroism and dedication. We are grateful to the Rotary Club of Little Rock for taking the time to honoring these team members who keep Little Rock safe.

Photo by Nelson Chenault, courtesy of the Rotary Club of Little Rock

Affordable Home Ownership Tour to Stop in Little Rock

From the creation of close to 600 new affordable housing units to investment in our first-ever Housing Trust Fund, we are positioning Little Rock residents for home ownership and the opportunity to build generational wealth.

Joining us in our work to expand home ownership is the National Association of Real Estate Brokers (NAREB). That group is bringing its Affordable Home Ownership Bus Tour to Little Rock on Friday, May 1.

This Bus Tour and Community Wealth Expo will focus on real solutions and access for residents seeking pathways to home ownership. The event is from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Philander Smith University. Admission is free, and it will include information and resources in addition to food, music and giveaways.

This tour is stopping in only eight cities across the country, and we are fortunate to have an event which will feature one-on-one visits with lenders, attorneys, real estate experts, and HUD-certified housing counselors. There will be multiple informational sessions, including a town hall on affordable solutions, where we will talk about expanding housing supply, breaking down barriers to credit and capital, local partnership opportunities and more.

Participants are encouraged to learn, connect, and take the next step toward building wealth and creating legacy. Learn more here and register today!

Here’s a quick look at what’s going on this week in the City of Little Rock:

Tuesday, April 28: The Little Rock Board of Directors will set the agenda for its next regular meeting at 4 p.m. in the Board Room at City Hall, 500 W. Markham St. All board meetings are open to the public, and all meetings are livestreamed on the City of Little Rock’s Facebook and YouTube pages.

Friday, May 1: The 24th annual Therapeutic Recreation Arts Festival is from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Arkansas State Fairgrounds Hall of Industry. The event celebrates therapeutic recreation and gives the Little Rock community an opportunity to engage with children with special needs through projects, games, hands-on experiences and more.

Friday, May 1: The MacArthur Park 5K starts at 7 p.m. on the North Lawn of historic MacArthur Park. This annual race is a fundraiser for improvements to the Park. Post-race activities include an awards ceremony and live music.