John Worthen/Between Editions
In Saturday’s News-Times I’ll have a feature about Strong resident Jerry Swart, who built this bike. You may remember seeing it in the El Dorado Christmas Parade last December.
Archive for the ‘News’ Category
A really big bike
Friday, March 12th, 2010Camden Daffodil Festival blooms Saturday
Friday, March 12th, 2010
The 17th Annual Daffodil Festival is underway in Camden today through Saturday. There are plenty of beautiful yellow blooms to gaze at, and a steak cook-off and other events are planned.
Click here for complete details.
Storm damage in northern Arkansas
Thursday, March 11th, 2010
Photo courtesy of Arkansas Online. Click here for more.
Severe storms and several tornados were reported across the state Wednesday evening. The above photo, taken in White County, shows the result of powerful winds. This horse seems unphased by the destruction around it.
Gas gouge
Thursday, March 11th, 2010The Murphy USA store in Camden, according to arkansasgasprices.com, a site the tracks fuel prices by asking users to submit information from their communities, has one of the lowest prices in the state for a gallon of regular: $2.54.
At least five other stations in Camden are also featured on the low-end scale, with none charging more than $2.60 per gallon.
Here, we’re paying an average of $2.79 per gallon.
*Grumble.*
• • •
Severe storms — one confirmed dead in state
Thursday, March 11th, 2010The Associated Press is reporting today that one Arkansan died Wednesday night after a round of strong storms passed through the state.
“I can confirm that we have one fatality,” Cleburne County Sheriff Marty Moss told the AP, but he declined to identify the victim or provide more details.
Arkansas Department of Emergency Management spokeswoman Renee Preslar had said four people were injured during the storms, including three who were in a home that was destroyed near Pearson in Cleburne County.
Moss would not say whether the victim was among those three.
The storms, which forecasters had been warning about since the weekend, missed much of the state’s populated areas.
About 1,600 customers remained without power Thursday morning, with Entergy Arkansas reporting on its Web site nearly 1,500 outages from southwestern to northeastern Arkansas. First Electric Cooperative reported 83 outages, most of those in Saline County just southwest of Little Rock.
There were no reports of significant damage in Union County, though there have been reports that a small tornado was spotted near Mount Holly.
••UPDATE••
U.S. Sen. Blanche Lincoln has issued the following statement about Wednesday night’s storms:
“My heart goes out to the families affected by the severe weather that hit our state last evening. I pray for the family and loved ones of the Cleburne County resident who lost his life. I also pray for the quick recovery of those injured in this devastating storm.
“As Arkansans, we have experienced our share of severe weather. Through it all, our citizens remain strong and resilient and neighbors reach out to help neighbors. I am especially thankful for the courageous and skilled emergency responders in our state.
“My office has been in close contact with officials in the areas affected by these storms. Arkansans should know that their federal government will be there for them in their time of need. That’s why I will continue to stay in close contact with local, state, and federal officials, and I will work hand-in-hand with the affected communities to provide any support needed from the federal level.”
SARA Manager Retires
Thursday, February 25th, 2010
Michael Orrell
Saying Good By
A retirement reception was held for South Arkansas Regional Airport Manager Gary Harrell on Tuesday at the SARA-Goodwin Field. Harrell, who will officially retire this Friday, has been apart of SARA for 25 years and became the Manager of SARA in 1990. Top left photo, Harrell reflects on the 25 years of memories from the control tower at SARA. Bottom left photo, Harrell shares stories with friends. Photo above right, Harrell shows the crowd the gold watch that was presented to him by the Mayor of El Dorado, Mike Dumas, for his service at SARA.
Seeing Pink
Tuesday, February 23rd, 2010
Between Editions/Michael Orrell
Pink Cats — El Dorado High School’s girls varsity basketball team show their support for Breast Cancer by wearing pink ‘LCB’ support t-shirts during warm-up practice before Friday’s game.
Quorum Court appoints new county treasurer
Thursday, February 18th, 2010The Union County Quorum Court on Thursday appointed Shelly Kuhn to fill the vacancy in the Union County Treasurer’s Office. Linda Morgan, who had for decades filled that office, died earlier this month.
Kuhn retired as the Union County Tax Assessor in 2000.
Kuhn’s term will expire on Dec. 31 of this year, and she is not eligible to run for the position.
SouthArk closed today
Friday, February 12th, 2010South Arkansas Community College will be closed today (Friday) due to winter weather, according to the school’s Facebook page.
Back
Tuesday, January 26th, 2010I have been out sick and trying to play catchup.
Big news today from the El Dorado Police Department: The bones found in an area off of East Main Street near U.S. 167 have been positively identified as belonging to Paul Morgan, an El Dorado man who was reported missing in that area last year.
Look for more in Wednesday’s News-Times.
El Dorado youth wins national NFL contest
Monday, January 18th, 2010
Alexandra Greer poses with a football she won at the New Orleans competition. (Lemon/News-Times.)
Greer, 13, won the NFL’s Punt Pass and Kick national competition (13 and 14-year-old category) Sunday in San Diego. She earned the right to compete in the finals after placing third at the regional event held late last year in New Orleans.
Greer and her mother are currently on their way back home to El Dorado, and I’ll have an interview with them as soon as I can. Look for more in the News-Times in coming days.
City/county offices will be closed Monday
Thursday, January 14th, 2010In observance of the Marting Luther King Jr. holiday.
How you can help
Thursday, January 14th, 2010
Sandy Matheney, executive director of the South Arkansas Chapter of the American Red Cross, said that anyone who wishes to donate to earthquake vicitims in Haiti can bring checks or cash by the El Dorado headquarters, 2710 N. West Ave.
No other donated items will be accepted.
“There is just no way for us to send anything there right now other than cash,” Matheney said. “Clothes and other items are impossible for us to distribute at this time. The only thing that will help right now is cash donations.”
If you are writing a check, make it out to the American Red Cross and be sure to write “Haiti” in the memo line.
Matheney said that as donations are brought in, the money will be forwarded to the ARC international fund designated to help Haitians.
Barton Library will not reopen this week
Wednesday, January 13th, 2010Barton Library will be closed several more days as cleanup crews continue to tidy the facility after a weekend pipe burst caused water damage.
Library Director Nancy Arn said that although patrons can’t check out books or use the computers, they can pick up tax forms from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
EPD investigating remains
Wednesday, January 13th, 2010
El Dorado Police Chief Ricky Roberts said that bones found Tuesday at a location off of East Main will be sent to the state crime lab for identification. An EPD investigation team spent the day Wednesday at the site collecting evidence.
Along with bones, Roberts said a shirt was also found.
The exact location of the remains is being withheld due to the ongoing investigation.
Police said a man and his grandson made the grisly discovery and called 911. Look for more in Thursday’s News-Times.
