Crittenden County’s got talent? Time to show your stuff…

Talent show, sports leagues offer locals chance to perform

By Ralph Hardin

ralphhardin@gmail.com

There is no doubt that Crittenden County has produced quite a number of talented individuals over the years.

From athletes like Ray Brown, Sonja Tate, Sonny Weems and Gerry Bohanon to TV personalities like T.J.

Holmes and WWF superstar Sid Vicious to singers and musicians like Wayne Jackson, Johnnie Taylor and Barrett Baber, there have been some greats over the years who have had an opportunity to show their skills on a naitonal and even international stage. There’s a saying, coined by Will Rogers: “We can’t all be heroes because somebody has to sit on the curb and clap as they go by.”

Well, we can’t all be superstars, but we can find places here and there to do what we’re good at and have fun doing it, and if that comes with a little local notariety, well, that’s cool too.

With that in mind, there are a couple of upcoming opportunities for the up-and-comers and the never-quite-got-theres of Crittenden County to get a little time in the spotlight, relive their glory days or just have a little fun.

The L.R. Jackson Activity Center, located at 405 S. 25th St., in West Memphis will play host to a special community Talent Show on Friday, Dec. 15, beginning at 6 p.m.

Do you have a special talent in the field of singing, dancing, stand-up comedy or some other skill? Then show it off at the talent show and share in $500 in prize money for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place.

The show is presented by Dynamic Dolls and everyone is invited to attend or take part.

For more information, contact Meke Meka at (901) 4568076.

If your “field” of talent is better suited to a playing field, well there’s something for you as well.

The West Memphis Parks & Recreation Commission is holding an organizational meeting for a pair of adult coed community sports leagues with plans to play later this year.

News Parks Director Russell Jones is hosting the meeting on Tuesday, Nov. 14. at 5:30 p.m., at the new home of the West Memphis Parks & Recreation Department, 213 N. Avalon, in West Memphis, former sitr of the West Memphis Public Library.

The department is planning on kicking things off for the new leagues with flag football and kickball. The leagues will be open to anyone 18 and older. For more information, contact the Parks Department at (870) 702-5178.

Yebba’s New Record

Speaking of local talent, Grammy-winning West Memphis native Abbey Smith, better known professionally as Yebba, has a new single out now. “Waterfall (I Adore You)” was released on Oct.

30. The ballad is streamable on most major streaming platform with a video on YouTube.

The moody R& B ballad is Yebba’s first solo release since 2021 after focusing in recent years on collaborations. In 2022, she won the Pop Awards’ Emerging Artist of the Year and was nominated for Best Traditional R& B Performance at the 2022 Grammy Awards for “How Much Can a Heart Take,” a duet with Lucky Daye, a New Orleans-based singer-songwriter.

JONES

YEBBA