It’s over, folks. The group of local investors have pulled away from the table and are no longer seeking to purchase the idled Pilgrim’s Pride plant in El Dorado.
Look for more in Saturday’s News-Times.
Archive for May, 2009
El Dorado Poultry Company pulls plug
Friday, May 29th, 2009More good press for El Dorado
Thursday, May 28th, 2009
“Main Street News,” a national publication, has featured El Dorado in their latest issue. Click here to download it as a PDF file.
As you may remember, El Dorado received a Great American Main Street Award recently. Selected by a nationwide jury of 10 community development experts, each of the winners has proven that incremental progress — and persistence — is essential to create economic vitality, a unique sense of place, and a greater commitment to community by all of its residents, according to Main Street News.
Kudos to Mark Givens, director of Main Street El Dorado, and his team for their work in promoting our fair city. Congratulations.
Former Murphy CEO appears on Fox Business
Thursday, May 28th, 2009More national exposure for El Dorado. This time on Fox Business, a new arm of the Fox News Channel.
Former Murphy Oil Corporation CEO Claiborne Deming discusses the El Dorado Promise during a segment called “Land of Opporunity.” A producer for Fox Business said he saw the People Magazine article on the El Dorado Promise and decided to invite Deming on the network to talk about the community gift.
I wish they would have chosen a different interviewer, though. The woman not only pronounces El Dorado like the “El Dorado” Cadillac model, but she also embarrassingly blunders Mr. Deming’s first name, calling him “Clare-born.”
But, hey, it’s Fox, after all.
Change of venue granted in Reynolds case
Wednesday, May 27th, 2009
Miller County Circuit Court Judge Ted Capeheart ruled Wednesday in favor of Union County Justice of the Peace Jack Reynold’s request for a change of venue.
Reynolds, 56, of 2315 Ridgewood in El Dorado, was arrested in March, 2008, on seven felony counts of aggravated assault. He was soon released on a $25,000 cash only bond. He was also arrested in February of 2009, on two counts of intimidating a witness.
The trial will be held at 9 a.m. on July 27 at the Cleveland County Courthouse.
Capeheart took over the Reynolds case after the death of former Miller County Circuit Judge Jim Hudson’s death. The case is being handled by an outside judge and prosecution team upon the recommendation of 13th Judicial Prosecuting Attorney Robin J. Carroll, who cited a conflict of interest, since Carroll serves as legal council for the Union County Quorum Court.
The case is being prosecuting by the 8th Judicial District-North Prosecuting Attorney Ashley Parker.
Pilgrim’s rejects El Dorado Poultry offer
Tuesday, May 26th, 2009
Pilgrim’s Pride Corporation on Friday rejected a bid submitted by the El Dorado Poultry Company for the chicken processor’s idled facilities in El Dorado, and a Federal Bankruptcy Court on Tuesday ordered that the two parties go back into mediation, said Don Wales, chairman and CEO of the El Dorado Chamber of Commerce.
The bid was submitted on May 15 to Bankruptcy Court in Ft. Worth, Texas, where Pilgrim’s Pride’s bankruptcy case is being heard.
In related news, Pilgrim’s announced on Friday that it has fully repaid the $450 million “debtor-in-possession” financing that enabled it keep operating after filing for bankruptcy protection in December, according to a Dallas Morning News report.
Also, I’m told that contrary to what I reported earlier, the bankruptcy judge does not have the power to order Pilgrim’s Pride to sell their facilities to El Dorado Poultry. The judge is basically just a mediator and is there to approve any agreements reached by PP and EP.
Look for more in Wednesday’s News-Times.
El Dorado Promise ‘People’ hits stands today
Friday, May 22nd, 2009And they’re going fast. Wal-Mart reportedly has a about 150 copies, and Brookshire’s on South West Avenue also reportedly has copies. The other Brookshire’s won’t be getting theirs until Tuesday.
I have seen the spread and it looks nice, though it’s buried in the back.
As far as I can tell, the story is not available on the People Web site.
The friendly skies
Friday, May 22nd, 2009
This is the SAAB 340, a 34-passenger twin engine aircraft that is part of Mesaba Airlines’ fleet. As I’m sure you read in this morning’s paper, Mesaba has been chosen as the preferred airline to offer service to El Dorado’s South Arkansas Regional Airport.
Let’s hope a deal can be inked soon with the airline, the U.S. Department of Transportation — which is offering a government subsidy to help bring the airline here — and the city.
The plane looks nice, and should be comfortable for the proposed two round-trip flights each day from El Dorado to Memphis. Mesaba is a Delta Connection carrier and has service agreements with Delta and Northwest Airlines, which was purchased by Delta.
Passengers will be able to buy a ticket in El Dorado and link a flight to their final destination in Memphis. A round-trip ticket will set you back $160.
PLANE STATS
• Engines: Two General Electric CT-7 turbine engines
• Interior Height: 6 feet
• Wingspan: 70 feet, 4 inches
• Seating: Coach Class, 34 passengers
• Service Ceiling 25,000 feet
• Cruising speed 300 m.p.h
The plane also features in-flight service and a lavatory.
Vertis Mason to Chamber: Your flowers are dead!
Thursday, May 21st, 2009
On her radio show this morning, which is co-hosted by her husband, Richard, El Dorado Alderman Vertis Mason chastised our local chamber of commerce for their plastic flowers, calling them “dead.”
Richard Mason even offered to donate $50 worth of fresh, living flowers. He also urged the chamber to change out their Christmas light bulbs.
How or why it matters if the flowers in front of the chamber are fresh or faux is beyond me. And how a plastic flower can die also escapes me.
I couldn’t resist snapping a photo of the chamber’s flowers, which don’t really look that bad. For contrast, here are some orange lilies at the First Presbyterian Church.
I think these would look über fancy in front of the chamber building, should they decide to toss out the “dead” plastic ones.
High water continues to hinder Felsenthal
Wednesday, May 20th, 2009
News-Times photographer Larry Singer and I just returned from covering the rising water at Felsenthal. In this photo, taken by Singer, Caleb Smith exits a Jon boat to examine his car, which flooded out on Dollar Junction road late last week.
The good news is that the river is expected to crest at Felsenthal today at just over 84 feet. The flood stage is around 74 feet.
Many roads near the community’s center are now flooded, and at least a couple of homes have water inside them. Many more homes have water up to their front door steps.
But if you’re thinking about sightseeing there, don’t. Felsenthal Mayor Lester Lancaster says that sightseers are only compounding the city’s problems. Driving, boating or riding ATVs through high water creates waves that can cause water to enter homes.
Lancaster said his community is currently “closed” to those who don’t “have business there.”
Bear found at HSU in Arkadelphia
Tuesday, May 19th, 2009
This bear apparently didn’t know that the Henderson State University mascot is a “Reddie” and not a bear. When I went to HSU, I never saw any bears around, but there is a somewhat healthy population of the creatures in Arkansas.
The photos here were provided by the HSU public relations department. Thanks to my alma mater for them.
NOTE: The bear was not harmed, only tranquilized, by the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission. He was released into the wild.
Wildlife officers had apparently been chasing the bear after it was spotted near the Sonic, probably wanting an order of cheese sticks and a foot-long coney.
Click here for more.
Leak stopped at Calion levee
Thursday, May 14th, 2009The leaky pipe at the Calion levee has been sealed, according to Union County Judge Bobby Edmonds. Edmonds said that Union County Jail inmates and other county workers, along with representatives from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, sealed the pipe with concrete at about 3 a.m. this morning.
Look for more in Friday’s News-Times.
High water
Thursday, May 14th, 2009Jane and Jerry Purtle, who live at Moro Bay, made this video about flooding near their home. Water is reportedly up to their doorstep.
In one of the photos you can see one of two barges currently on the Ouachita River in Union County. The barges, along with other river traffic, have caused problems on the river because of wakes created when the vessels pass by waterfront homes.
These wakes are allowing water to lap dangerously close to residences because of extraordinarily high river levels.
As a result, the Union County Sheriff’s Office has ordered all river traffic to “idle” speeds. And barges are no longer allowed to navigate the river at night. The UCSO will have a patrol boat on the river enforcing this rule starting today.
NOTE: This video includes the song “High Water” by Bob Dylan. Proper attribution was not included in the video itself.
Just a friendly reminder
Thursday, May 14th, 2009I’ve seen my posts floating around the Internet without attribution. Just a friendly reminder, all posts on here are ©NEWS-TIMES PUBLISHING COMPANY. You may not reprint or rebroadcast any information without consent or proper attribution.
Pipe at Calion Dam still leaking
Wednesday, May 13th, 2009I’m headed to Calion, where county inmates and representatives from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers are working to fix a leak in a pipe at Calion Dam.
More to come.
This is a very busy news day, so I may not have time for a satire. Sorry, folks.
U.S. 82/167 light now activated
Tuesday, May 12th, 2009
The Arkansas Highway and Transportation Department announced today that the traffic signal at the U.S. 82/167 interchange has been activated. Motorists are asked to be mindful that the light is there and obey all traffic laws, a spokesman for the AHTD said.
