Mayor

Noel Foster

Mayor Noel Foster is currently serving his fourth term as the Mayor of White Hall, Arkansas. Mayor Foster is a lifelong resident of White Hall, where he served as Police Chief from August 2003, until his retirement in December 2010. Foster also serves as Secretary-Treasurer of the Jefferson County Economic Development Corporation, a member of the White Hall Chamber of Commerce, a member of the White Hall Police Officers Association, Chairman of the Jefferson County 911 Committee, and a member of 25 for Now Civic Organization of Jefferson County. Mayor Foster also created the White Hall Military Affairs Advisory Committee to provide focused support to the U.S. Army Pine Bluff Arsenal, which is one of the area’s largest employers. White Hall is located adjacent to Pine Bluff Arsenal and 30 miles southeast of Little Rock. Under Mayor Foster’s leadership, White Hall has become one of the fastest growing and safest communities in Arkansas with a population of 5,526. Mayor Foster’s professional training includes graduation from the Arkansas Law Enforcement Training Academy at East Camden, Arkansas, and the FBI’s National Academy at Quantico, Virginia. He has Senior Law Enforcement certification from the Arkansas Commission on Law Enforcement Standards and Training. He also is a member and past president of the Arkansas Chapter of the FBI National Academy Graduates.

City Clerk

Ellen Welch

Ellen Welch is a lifelong resident of White Hall, having graduated from White Hall High School.  She became the White Hall Court Clerk in 1989.  She held that position until 2003, when she was elected White Hall City Clerk.  Ellen lives in White Hall with her husband Jerry.  They have three children and enjoy six grandchildren.

Deputy City Clerk

Sandra Truman

Sandra Truman is a lifelong resident of White Hall with over 20 years' experience in Public Service Administration. She worked with James "Jitters" Morgan for eight years before his retirement, and with the current Mayor, Noel Foster for twelve years. Sandra is a 2001 graduate of SEARK College with a Paralegal Degree and Associates Degree. She works closely with City Clerk/Treasurer Ellen Welch and Mayor Foster. Sandra is a member of the White Hall Chamber of Commerce, Arkansas Municipal League, Municipal Clerks Institute and the International Institute of Municipal Clerks. Sandra has been married to Robert for thirty-three years. Together, they have 4 children and enjoy eleven grandchildren.

City Attorney

Tom Owens

Tom Owens has been an attorney in White Hall since 1992.  He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Westminster College and a Juris Doctorate from the University of Arkansas.  He has been a member of the Arkansas Children’s Hospital’s Professional Advisory Committee as well as Vice President of the ACCESS, Inc. Board of Directors.  Tom represents many businesses across Southeast Arkansas and has represented White Hall as the City Attorney since 2008.

White Hall City Council

Public Safety

Fire Chief

Sandy Castleberry

Few people in White Hall epitomize the image of public safety better than White Hall Fire Chief Sandy Castleberry.  Although he moved to White Hall in the fifth grade, Chief Castleberry considers himself a White Hall native.  He first joined the White Hall Volunteer Fire Department in 1981 as a junior in high school.  He was awarded Fireman of the Year in 1996. While progressing up the Fire Department ranks, he joined the White Hall Police Department in 2004.  In 2006, he became Fire Chief.  That same year, Chief Castleberry traveled to Colorado as a CSEPP Evaluator to aid other fire departments from across the country in preparing for chemical emergencies.  While balancing his duties as Fire Chief and a White Hall police officer, he was promoted to Sergeant in the White Hall Police Department in 2010.  The White Hall Fire Department has always been very important to Chief Castleberry, perhaps never more apparent than when he married his wife, Lorie, in front of Fire Station No. 1.  They reside in White Hall and between them have four children.

Police Chief

Mickey Buffkin

Mickey Buffkin’s career in law enforcement began in 1998 when he joined the Pine Bluff Police department, where he was trained in techniques dealing with search and seizure, auto theft, hostage situations, domestic violence, SWAT, robbery investigation, interview and interrogation, report writing, deadly force, street gangs, basic Spanish for law enforcement, evidence collection and crimes against persons. In 2006, he joined the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Department, where he expanded his law-enforcement expertise, with advanced training, includingf police photography, firearm crimes, firearm instructor and instructor development, as well as death investigation, case file preparations and Fourth Amendment. In 2016, Buffkin joined the White Hall Police Department, specializing in criminal investigation, as he demonstrated professionalism, dedication and commitment to the City of White Hall and our citizens. Subsequently, he was promoted to lieutenant, then sergeant, then interim chief before being named chief.