Stories by Caitlan Butler

County employee sues claiming discrimination A civil rights lawsuit has been filed against Union County and a jury trial is scheduled for November. Last December, former Union County employee Steven Charles filed suit against the county in the C... July 5, 2022

Call of the wild: Sheriff shares details of trip to Alaska Union County Sheriff Ricky Roberts recently got to take the trip of a lifetime when he visited Alaska for nearly two weeks to see the sights. He'd been waiting for more than two years for the vacation... July 3, 2022

'Reaching Higher': SAAC aims to make arts more accessible with expansion, reno project The South Arkansas Arts Center launched its first capital campaign in more than two decades Thursday evening, when Executive Director Laura Allen, campaign chair Beth Burns, project architect Michael ... July 3, 2022

COVID cases continue to rise as holiday weekend starts COVID-19 cases continue to rise, locally and across Arkansas, with the highest number of new cases reported in a single day recorded Thursday. As Arkansans head into the long holiday weekend -- often... July 2, 2022

County clerk retiring, long-time aid to take interim post Union County Clerk Shannon Phillips will retire today after 14 years in office. Phillips' retirement was announced at a Quorum Court meeting earlier this month, when Union County Judge Mike Loftin pre... June 30, 2022

Sheriff shares thoughts on Uvalde police response to school shooting The police response to the school shooting in Uvalde, Texas that left 19 children and two teachers dead has been criticized in recent weeks as more information has come out about the time that elapsed... June 27, 2022

'Arkansas History': Sculptures given new life at arts complex A work of art takes on its second life when it leaves its creator's studio. Its first life – its actual creation, from concept to execution -- lives in the mind of the artist; but once the work is han... June 26, 2022

SouthArk President's contract extended The South Arkansas Community College Board of Trustees voted to extend the contract of Dr. Bentley Wallace, president, on Thursday. In a specially-called meeting Thursday afternoon, Gary Griffis, vice... June 24, 2022

JP complains about Hillsboro, NW Ave. conditions "Embarrassing," "a slap in the face" and "deplorable" were just some of the words and phrases Mike Dumas, former mayor of El Dorado and Union County Judge and current Justice of the Peace, used to des... June 23, 2022

U.S. Dept. of Commerce announces $1.3 million investment in El Dorado's industrial infrastructure The U.S. Department of Commerce on Tuesday announced a $1.3 million investment in El Dorado's rail infrastructure.According to a press release, the $1.3 million grant from the Dept. of Commerce&#3... June 22, 2022

COVID cases spike as toddlers become eligible for vaccination COVID-19 cases have been spiking locally and throughout the state, with more than 50 cases reported in the last week, compared to 33 the week before and 23 the week before that. Between Tuesday, June ... June 21, 2022

County workers to receive $500 bonuses The Union County Quorum Court on Thursday voted to provide bonuses of $500 to county workers employed through the first half of 2022. The bonuses are premium pay for the potential exposure to COVID-19... June 18, 2022

SAAC camps, exhibits ongoing; 'Mamma Mia!' opens in July The South Arkansas Arts Center is wrapping up the third week of their summer camp series, as young ballerinas finish learning a performance of a ballet based on "The Wizard of Oz." Last week, seventh ... June 17, 2022

Genealogical Society's speaker series offers walk down memory lane The Union County Genealogical Society is hoping to take local residents on a trip down memory lane with the first installment of its new speaker series, "I Remember When." "It's just about growing up,... June 17, 2022

Quorum Court meeting today with light agenda The Union County Quorum Court has a light agenda for their monthly meeting, which is scheduled for this morning. No ordinances or resolutions are set to be evaluated this month. According to the agend... June 16, 2022

Training session for AR Nat. Guard youth program volunteers set for June 28 A volunteer training for the Arkansas National Guard Child and Youth Program has been scheduled for this month to add to the program's bank of qualified volunteers in south Arkansas. The Arkansas Nati... June 15, 2022

Local nonprofits offer cooling centers to beat the heat Today is set to be another hot one, and some local nonprofits are working to help local residents beat the heat. Champagnolle Landing and the Salvation Army are both open as cooling centers this week,... June 14, 2022

Local WWII vet receives highest honor from Congress Merchant Marines were not recognized at the end of World War II for their service, but last month, the branch as a whole received the highest honor the United States Congress can bestow on an individu... June 12, 2022

End to hounding Louisianans over grants can't come soon enough It never made much sense for the state of Louisiana to be suing its own citizens over Road Home grants, more than a decade after the chaotic hurricane recovery program wound down. But the state was do... June 10, 2022

Mobile vendors try First Thursday Stormy weather may have affected turnout at June's First Thursday this week, but it didn't dampen mobile vendors' enthusiasm for the event. Lined up along Washington Avenue, several local small busine... June 4, 2022

ESD to dismiss an hour earlier on Wednesdays; teachers to get more instruction development time El Dorado teachers will get an extra hour during the next school year to develop data-driven plans to ensure every student is learning and retaining the vital knowledge they need to graduate from high... June 2, 2022

JPs vote to keep Survival Flight insurance despite rate increase The Union County Quorum Court agreed last month to maintain employees' Survival Flight insurance despite a rate increase. During the regular May meeting, District 6 Justice of the Peace Cecil Polk, wh... June 1, 2022

Outstanding teachers recognized in year-end celebration School is out for the summer, and El Dorado teachers were able to end the year on a high note Friday afternoon at the El Dorado Education Foundation's Teacher Excellence Awards, where educators we... May 30, 2022

EHS journalism students stack up awards at state convention Journalism students at El Dorado High School attended the Arkansas Scholastic Press Association's state convention last month, some receiving recognition for impressive work they've produced this year... May 29, 2022

Lexie Kelley appointed to fill remainder of Treasurer's term With barely enough Justices of the Peace present to make a quorum, county officials on Thursday approved the appointment of a new treasurer to fill out the remainder of retired treasurer Debbie Ray's ... May 28, 2022

20 bricks added to Community Wall memorializing loved ones New bricks have been added to the LifeTouch Hospice Community Wall that circles the Union County Courthouse, and a group of local residents and SHARE Foundation officials gathered Wednesday to dedicat... May 27, 2022

Ward, Vestal win JP races The Union County Quorum Court will see a shake-up in its make-up next year, according to Tuesday's unofficial primary election results. A total of 4,848 Union County registered voters -- 26,262 total ... May 26, 2022

Former JP appointed to finish term representing District 11 The Union County Quorum Court last Thursday accepted the appointment of former Justice of the Peace Gene Hamaker to fill the vacancy in the District 11 position through the end of the year. The seat o... May 25, 2022

Delek celebrates refinery's 100th anniversary Current and former refinery workers in El Dorado celebrated 100 years of the industry in the city at an centennial party organized by Delek on Saturday at the Murphy Arts District. According to the En... May 23, 2022

Treasurer retires ahead of election After more than a decade in office, Union County Treasurer Debbie Ray retired on Thursday. Ray has served as Treasurer since she was elected in 2010. Before that, she was chief deputy to former Treasu... May 22, 2022

Athlete deals discussed at Razorback Roadshow It was a good year for Arkansas Razorbacks fans, and some had the opportunity to celebrate this week when the ONE Razorback Roadshow hit El Dorado. It was a packed house at Mulekick at MAD on Wednesda... May 21, 2022

This Week in Union County These readers have been paying close attention: Susan Dumas, Daphane Shultz, Alexis Alexander, Dianne Hammond and Buster Norris. How about you? How closely have you been reading the News-Times? Take t... May 20, 2022

JPs support Systems Fab & Machine participation in Tax Back program The Union County Quorum Court on Thursday approved a local business's participation in the state's Tax Back program. Justices of the Peace voted unanimously to support Systems Fab & Machine Inc.'s... May 20, 2022

Quorum Court to review Tax Back resolution today The monthly meeting of the Union County Quorum Court is scheduled for this morning, and only one resolution is set to be up for consideration today. Justices of the Peace will review a resolution that... May 19, 2022

El Dorado man killed in ATV crash An El Dorado man was killed Friday in the second fatal ATV wreck to occur in Union County this month. The Arkansas State Police reported that Christopher A. Harrison, 45, was travelling west on Pleasa... May 18, 2022

She walks out the door By Marc Dion I am not frail. I go to a gym. I lift weights. I walk pretty fast. I carry in the groceries when my wife, Deborah, comes back from the market. We live in a second-floor apartment, so the ... May 16, 2022

New federal regulations burdening UCSO budget Union County Sheriff Ricky Roberts appeared before the Quorum Court last month to inform Justices of the Peace of rising costs his office is facing in light of new federal regulations.“The first... May 15, 2022

More than 200 SouthArk students honored in spring Commencement South Arkansas Community College held its spring commencement ceremonies Thursday evening, honoring more than 200 students who completed their courses of study this semester. Two separate commencement... May 14, 2022

Clerk's office files complaint with state election commission Union County Clerk Shannon Phillips has filed a formal complaint with the Arkansas State Board of Election Commissioners after finding red flags in some absentee ballot applications, she said Thursday... May 13, 2022

Louisiana man killed in Monday morning wreck A Louisiana man was killed Monday in a fatal accident that occured in Union County near the state border. Ladarius Gatson, 42, of Spearsville, died in a single-vehicle crash around 10:15 a.m. Monday, ... May 12, 2022

5th annual Lupus Walk set for Saturday The fifth annual Lupus Walk is set to return this weekend to Old City Park after a two-year hiatus. Set for Saturday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., the Lupus Walk will bring survivors of the auto-immune dise... May 11, 2022

3 re-appointed to county Equalization Board The Union County Quorum Court agreed to the re-appointment of three members of the county's Equalization Board during their most recent meeting, in April. The Equalization Board is responsible for rev... May 10, 2022

Quorum Court approves new 911 dispatch center The Union County Quorum Court agreed last month to approve the construction of a new, centralized 911 dispatch center that has been under consideration for nearly a year. The construction of the new d... May 8, 2022

May declared Foster Care Awareness Month El Dorado Mayor Veronica Smith-Creer and Union County Judge Mike Loftin have proclaimed that May is Foster Care Awareness Month.At a small ceremony outside the county courthouse Wednesday afternoon, t... May 6, 2022

News-Times giving away 2 pairs of Tracy Lawrence and Clay Walker concert tickets Tracy Lawrence, Clay Walker and Tracy Byrd are set to hit the stage at the Murphy Arts District Amphitheater this month for the first concert in the venue since last August, and the News-Times has two... May 5, 2022

Final vaccine incentive bonuses paid out The Union County Quorum Court appropriated the final funds needed to pay out a COVID-19 vaccine incentive for county employees last month, with more than half of county workers having gotten the shot.... May 3, 2022

Actor Lou Ferrigno holds signing event at Gabe's Cave You wouldn't like him when he's angry, but luckily, that wasn't the case when actor Lou Ferrigno paid a visit to El Dorado Friday afternoon. Fans packed Gabe's Cave, with a line stretching out the bac... May 1, 2022

Community invited to celebrate ESD educators during Teacher Appreciation Week Teacher Appreciation Week is set for May 2-6, and the El Dorado School District is inviting parents to help celebrate local educators. "ESD recognizes that the last two years have been trying, and we ... April 27, 2022

Chamber of Commerce meeting focuses on future Local business leaders, nonprofit representatives, public officials and other stakeholders gathered this week at the First Financial Music Hall for the El Dorado-Union County Chamber of Commerce's ann... April 24, 2022

EPD raises money for Special Olympics Officers from the El Dorado Police Department spent Friday collecting donations for the Special Olympics ahead of the 2022 summer games, which will start next month. Detective Gerid Ardwin said office... April 23, 2022

Stories by Caitlan Butler

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