Local youth to recognize community heroes

The stars will shine in El Dorado during the first Community Stars Banquet, which is set for 6 p.m. Saturday at the TAC House, 1101 N. West Ave.

The event will be presented by Trinity Ministries and Young Artist Studio to recognize “community heroes” who have impacted the lives of the young people in El Dorado and Union County.

Stephanie Owens, community coordinator for PRIDE Youth Program, said the idea for the banquet was conceived and developed by local youth.

“They wanted to honor people in the community who have given back to them through services, resources and their time,” Owens explained.

Owens said Trinity church provides meeting space for YAS, an after school tutoring program that focuses on the arts and academics.

She said nominees were selected in several categories, including media, law enforcement, education, athletics, the medical field, entertainment and drug/ alcohol prevention.

Community leader and 2018 El Dorado mayoral candidate Veronica Creer-Smith, will deliver the keynote address for the banquet.

Creer-Smith is the first African American woman to run for mayor of the city. She previously ran for the Ward 2, position seat on the El Dorado City Council.

She is a 1988 graduate of El Dorado High School and she obtained an associates degree from South Arkansas Community College, where she now serves as vice-chairman of the Board of Trustees.

Creer-Smith serves or has previously served on the El Dorado-Union County Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors and as a chamber ambassador; Main Street El Dorado board; Safe Streets of El Dorado; Lion Oil Community Advisory Panel; United Way of Union County; New Creations Life Center; El Dorado Crime Stoppers; Union County Democratic Central Committee; NAACP El Dorado-Union County Branch, advisory board of El Dorado Festivals and Events; and the South Arkansas Children’s Coalition.

She is married to Bobby D. Creer Sr. they own BC Carpet and Floor Cleaning and Vacuum Repair.

The couple has three children, Bobby Jr., Jeremy and VaShaylia and a grandson Jhavon.

Tickets for the banquet are $20 and they may be purchased at the door or in advance at BC Carpet, 414 E. Main; Rester’s Part III Barber College, 337 W. Liberty; Howell’s BBQ, 2011 Junction City Road; or Sweet Mama T’s, 615 E. Hillsboro.

Proceeds from the banquet will go toward Trinity Ministries and the Young Artist Studio.

Tia Lyons may be contacted at 870-862-6611 or tlyons@ eldoradonews.com.

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