Community Corner

🌱 Patch AM: How a gray Little Rock day created Arkansas’s favorite Christmas song

Coming up on the Little Rock Patch calendar: Murphy Gun & Knife Show

Friday December 26th Patch AM
Friday December 26th Patch AM (Patch graphic)

Good morning Little Rock! Your connection to what's happening around town is here. Take a sip of coffee and read on. ☕️️

In today's newsletter:

  • How a gray Little Rock day created Arkansas’s favorite Christmas song
  • Inside the Little Rock home quietly turned into a Christmas giveaway
  • How 1,200 Christmas meals brought hope to Little Rock neighbors

Also on today's calendar: 90s Country New Year - Vol. 4 and 5 more events.

Find out what's happening in Little Rockfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

Today's riddle: What did the clock say when it ran out of batteries? 🤔 (Answer below!)


Weather forecast:

Find out what's happening in Little Rockfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

  • Friday: Breezy in the morning, with a high of 76 and low of 58 degrees.
  • Saturday: Breezy in the morning, temps: high: 76, low: 64.
  • Sunday: Cloudy, a little rain; breezy, with a high of 67 and low of 33 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

1. Arkansas' accidental Christmas anthem: A melody born from a gray day (katv.com) — A Little Rock snowless winter day back in 1987 sparked KATV meteorologist Ned Perme to write “Christmas Time in Arkansas,” which grew into a beloved statewide holiday tradition. Recorded with singer Terry Rose and championed by KATV’s general manager, the song became a seasonal TV staple and concert favorite, raising tens of thousands of dollars for charity and still resonating with Arkansans today.
   

2. Little Rock women transform home into Christmas haven for families in need (thv11.com) — In a Little Rock neighborhood on Happy Valley Drive, two friends turned a home into a free Christmas “shop” packed with donated clothes, toys, and books for families in need. Neighbors filled the racks, volunteers cooked a Christmas Eve meal, and local families were invited to choose what they needed while sharing food and community.
   

3. Little Rock Compassion Center serves about 1,200 Christmas meals (arkansasonline.com) — On Christmas Day, the Little Rock Compassion Center served about 1,200 hot holiday meals and handed out warm clothing and gifts to people experiencing homelessness. Volunteers and recovery program participants spent the day cooking, serving, and offering company so neighbors wouldn’t have to spend the holiday alone, highlighting both the need in Little Rock and the community’s generosity.
   

4. UALR student from Pine Bluff launches app that's all about insects (pbcommercial.com) — A UA Little Rock computer science student has launched Insects AR, an augmented-reality app that brings 3D insect models to life on your phone and plans to start his tech career in Little Rock. Developed through the university’s Emerging Analytics Center, the app lets users explore insect movement, sounds, and habitats using special image targets, giving students hands-on experience with cutting-edge tools.
   

5. Five women make history as largest Arkansas State Police female class since 1998 (thv11.com) — In Little Rock State Police just graduated 49 new troopers, including the largest group of female recruits since 1998. One new special agent will be based out of Little Rock while covering Faulkner, Lonoke, Saline, and Pulaski counties, and the women hope their achievement shows local girls that law enforcement careers are within reach.
   


📸 Around Little Rock

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🗓 Upcoming Events in Little Rock

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📣 Little Rock Shout Outs!

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🗓 Events Nearby

    Friday December 26
  • Snowy Moon River
    Painting with a Twist , 17821 Chenal Pkwy Suite D-111 , Little Rock
    7:00 pm
  • Saturday December 27
  • Ice Princess
    Painting with a Twist , 17821 Chenal Pkwy Suite D-111 , Little Rock
    11:00 am
  • Sunday December 28
  • City of Wishes--Bring Your Book Club Besties!
    Painting with a Twist , 17821 Chenal Pkwy Suite D-111 , Little Rock
    2:00 pm
  • Pastel Forest
    Painting with a Twist , 17821 Chenal Pkwy Suite D-111 , Little Rock
    5:00 pm

Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.


 

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💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

  • After 13 days and some really long nights, Pancake will be going home soon.
    Getting her to safety took a very large village and am thankful for people who shared the posts. Until she gets to go home to Texas. I will be… (Nextdoor Timber Ridge)
  • Please share & repost to help reunite this stray dog!
    FOUND on December 25, 2025 in Little Rock, AR 72212 near hillsborough neighborhood Sharing for a neighbor. For the latest information or to contact… (Nextdoor Gibraltar Heights)
  • US Government Jobs posted a job opening for Recreation Aid in Little Rock. Apply here.
  • Taco Bell posted a job opening for Late Night Team Member in Little Rock. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Little Rock here.

Ok Little Rock! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!

-- The Patch AM Team

P.S. The answer to today's riddle: I guess I’m out of time.
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!


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