The Oil Town Celebration in Smackover, Arkansas started off Thursday with a kids horseshoe contest and a watermelon eating contest along with the bands Arka and Ambush. Enjoy other photos of the Celebration by clicking on “read the rest of the story”.
I was stepping out of the office for an assignment and couldn’t resist….enjoy!
Southern Soul singer Steve Perry entertains at the annual Soul Fest at the Union County Fairgrounds. Despite the hot temperatures, Saturday’s event in El Dorado drew many from the area to hear great soul music. Due to press time, I was unable to see the other acts. The talent from the first three acts that I saw left me wanting to hear and photograph the other acts as well, maybe I can catch all of them next year! Great Job Mr. Mike ! To see more photos of this event, click on ‘read the rest of the story’! Read the rest of this entry »
Mike McGough wins the Democratic primary runoff for Union County sheriff with 4,536 votes. Clark Burton received 3,665 votes. McGough will face Johnnie Mitchell in November.
Luther Lewis beat Clara Jones with 1,639 votes in the Democratic runoff. Jones received 1,526 votes. Lewis will face Republican Frank Hash and Independent Benito Glosson in November.
Today is the last day to vote early. Tuesday, polls are open from 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. I will bring you the results here Tuesday night.
The past few weeks have been hectic, at best. I know you know that my primary job is writing articles for the News-Times print edition. I appreciate your patience. And please know that the blog is on my mind. Fresh content will be forthcoming. Soon. Stay patient. And. Please. Stay tuned.
Marty Stuart rocks.
Monticello is roughly 67 miles from El Dorado, yet a gallon of regular gasoline there is nearly 40 cents cheaper than in El Dorado.
According to Arkansas Gas Prices.com, gasoline is selling for $2.41 per gallon at the Valero station on Meadowview Drive. Here’s, it’s averaging $2.77 per gallon.
Curious, no?
According to a report on Fox News.com today:
“A top Department of Homeland Security official reportedly said his agency will not necessarily process illegal immigrants referred to them by Arizona authorities.
“John Morton, assistant secretary of homeland security for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, made the comment during a meeting on Wednesday with the editorial board of the Chicago Tribune, the newspaper reports.
“‘I don’t think the Arizona law, or laws like it, are the solution,’ Morton told the newspaper.
“The best way to reduce illegal immigration is through a comprehensive federal approach, he said, and not a patchwork of state laws.”
Perhaps the best approach would be a federal solution IF the feds would get off their rumps and actually enforce border security. I can’t believe President Obama has taken such a laissez-faire view on immigration.
I’ve heard several comments from folks who claim that Arizona is treating immigrants like criminals. Well, those who enter illegally ARE criminals, and they should either try to be legalized or leave.
The choice is simple.
Click here for more.
Remember “Satire Wednesday?” Well, now we’re introducing “Sporadic Satire,” a feature where we’ll offer something fun now and again, rather than committing ourselves to a specific day. This logo will appear at the end of each SS piece so you’ll know we’re just funning.
The first one will be ripe very soon. Stay tuned.
Early voting will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday beginning June 1 at the county clerk’s office on the first floor of the Union County Courthouse.
There will be no weekend early voting. On June 7, early voting will resume at 8:30 a.m. and end at 5 p.m.
On June 8, voters must report to their respective polling sites between 7:30 a.m. and 7:30 p.m.
Remember, if you voted in the Republican Primary, you will not be able to vote in the runoff election, since both races are Democratic.
There will be a runoff in the El Dorado mayor’s race between Democrats Clara Jones and Luther Lewis, and in the Union County Sheriff’s race between Democrats Mike McGough and Clark Burton.
Mike Loftin won a majority of the votes and will be the next Union County judge.
Loftin secured 50.8 percent of the vote, edging out Mark Smith, who received 36.1 percent of the vote. Charles Connor placed a distant third with just 13 percent of the vote.
By the numbers, 4,380 voters cast their ballots for Loftin, while 3,109 voted for Smith and 1,121 went for Connor.
In the Union County Sheriff’s race, McGough received 48.73 percent of the vote, or 4,380 votes; Burton received 42.73 percent, or 3,720 votes; and Bryan Baker received 8.54 percent, or 743 votes.
The winner of the runoff race between McGough and Burton will face Republican Johnnie Mitchell this November.
In the El Dorado mayor’s race, Jones received 38.28 percent of the vote, or 1,290 votes; Lewis received 31.63 percent, or 1,066 votes; and Yancey Kyle received 30.09 percent, or 1,014 votes.
The winner of the runoff race between Jones and Lewis will face Independent Benito Glosson and Republican Frank Hash in November.
Click the jump for polling site information.
The Union County Sheriff’s Office made a major drug bust Monday — one of the largest ever in this part of Arkansas — according to Union County Sheriff Sheriff Ken Jones.
Look for more in Tuesday’s (May 18) News-Times.
I’ve heard cheers and jeers about the lineup for MusicFest this year. What say ye, my fellow music lovers?
I feel like the lineup is decent, but there is not a true headliner in the bunch. To me, Marty Stuart is the closest to a major act as it gets this time around. Uncle Kracker has never stirred my senses, and I have to admit I don’t know of Pat Green, Radney Foster or Jonathon Tyler and the Northern Lights.
I hope that all acts perform well, and that lots of folks show up on Oct. 1 and 2 downtown. This is a great event to boost our local economy. And I will continue to support it, even though I think getting one or two major stars would be better than trying to spread the money out for multiple second tier acts.
Also, MusicFest folks, you need to update your Web site, please.
All this begs for a poll. So here we go. Let’s hear from you.
Strange, indeed. Follow this link to a New York Times photo essay depicting strange signs from around the globe.
This one, taken by Robert Stephens, is from the Daintree Rainforest of Queensland, Australia. The picture shows a live cassowary bird and a dead one (after they have been run over). Make your way through all 177 signs, I promise you will chuckly heartily at some.
El Dorado Mayor Mike Dumas, center, along with Relay For Life staff, supporters and team members, released balloons on the east side of the Union County Courthouse at noon on Wednesday to kick off El Dorado’s 2010 American Cancer Society Relay For Life. This year’s walk will take place at Memorial Stadium in El Dorado starting at 6 p.m. Friday, May 14 and will end at 6 a.m. Saturday.
Top news stories Local weather