First Thursday today
Downtown shop owners will be open until 7 p.m. this evening. This month's First Thursday coincides with the annual Christmas parade.
Christmas parade tonight
The El Dorado Christmas parade will begin tonight at 7 p.m.
The parade will begin on 18th Street before turning left onto North West Avenue and heading south towards downtown El Dorado. The parade will take a left turn on Main Street to go through downtown El Dorado. It will then turn north on Jefferson Avenue and end at the intersection of Jefferson and Peach Street.
Attendees can line up along North West Avenue or on Main Street to watch the floats and other entries go by.
Artists reception tonight
The South Arkansas Arts Center will host an artists reception for Bill Myers and Diane Stevenson's exhibit "One Foot in Reality" tonight from 5 to 6:30 p.m.
For more information about this exhibit, call the SAAC office at 870-862-5474 or visit saac-arts.org.
Drivers license tests must be scheduled
Effective immediately, all those who wish to take their driving test -- written, skills or oral -- must schedule an appointment online. Walk-ins without an appointment will be turned away.
To schedule a test, visit https://telegov.egov.com/aspdlskills/
Tickets for Strong's Championship game available online
The Strong-Huttig School District has partnered with @GoFanHS to provide digital tickets for the inaugural 8-Man Football State Championship game tonight at War Memorial Stadium at 7 p.m. The Strong Bulldogs will play in War Memorial Stadium for the first time since their 2-A State Title Championship win in 2011. The Strong Bulldogs, with a perfect 10-0 record, are the home team in this championship match up against the Mountain Pine Red Devils.
Tickets are available for purchase at the following link: https://get.gofan.co/. Adult tickets are $7, and student tickets are $6. Parking is $5 and War Memorial stadium will enforce a clear bag policy for security measures. Strong High School fans will sit on the west side of the field.
Little Rock VA to hold virtual claims clinic
The Little Rock VA Regional Office will hold a virtual claims clinic for Arkansan veterans on Thursday, Dec. 16, from 4 to 6 p.m. Veterans are invited t speak with staff at the Little Rock VA Regional Office, who can assist with specific questions regarding claims for VA benefits.
Call 501-370-3829 to reserve a time slot to speak one-on-one with a VA benefits representative by 5 p.m. on Dec. 15.