Stories by Tia Lyons

Recreation Complex Commission planning funding proposal The El Dorado-Union County Recreation Complex Commission is ironing out the details of a funding proposal it plans to present to the El Dorado Works Board for the second phase of a renovation and expa... December 6, 2022

Water Watch Nov. 25 - Dec. 1 Total daily pumpage by the El Dorado Water Utilities in gallons. Nov. 25............................................................................................2,354,000 Nov. 26...................... December 6, 2022

Golf course revenue down from Nov. '21; YTD intake still higher than last year's The Lions Club Municipal Golf Course closed out November with a monthly revenue intake that lagged slightly behind the same month in 2021. While reviewing a financial statement on Nov. 29, members of ... December 5, 2022

Bond set at $3K for former guidance counselor Bond was set at $3,000 during a first appearance hearing Friday for a former school guidance counselor who is facing several misdemeanor charges that resulted from a months-long investigation. Megan B... December 3, 2022

Water main on Main bursts El Dorado Water Utilities crews spent the day Thursday repairing a water main that had ruptured in the area of North West Avenue and Main Street. John Peppers, general manager of the EWU, said the uti... December 2, 2022

Santa is in town: Meet Me at the Court members offer random gifts Attention, area residents.If you are randomly approached by someone while out and about in El Dorado over the next few weeks, do not be alarmed.That person could be your Secret Santa.Meet Me at the Co... December 2, 2022

Former school counselor accused of selling alcohol, tobacco to minors A former guidance counselor in the El Dorado School District is scheduled to appear today in 35th Judicial District Court on several misdemeanor charges that include furnishing alcohol and tobacco to ... December 2, 2022

Deadline to vote on holiday window decorations approaching The holiday season is in full swing in downtown El Dorado and the Downtown Business Association is issuing a reminder that Friday is the last day to participate in one of several seasonal activities. ... December 1, 2022

Works Board to consider funding Mellor Park upgrades The El Dorado Parks and Playgrounds Commission is ready to present another funding request for the next project in an ongoing effort to improve city parks. The EPPC is looking to get back on the El Do... November 30, 2022

Watch Watch October 18 - 24 Total daily pumpage by the El Dorado Water Utilities in gallons. Oct. 18............................................................................................2,871,000 Oct. 19...................... November 29, 2022

Main Street El Dorado expects profitable return from MusicFest The numbers are expected to be finalized this week for MusicFest XXXIV and festival presenter Main Street El Dorado has already forecast a profit from the event. Beth Brumley, executive director of MS... November 29, 2022

Advertising and Promotion request deadline Jan. 17 Any groups who are looking for assistance to help promote local events in 2023 have until Jan. 13 to submit funding requests to the El Dorado Advertising and Promotion Commission. Commissioners set th... November 28, 2022

El Dorado involved in hazard mitigation planning The city of El Dorado is getting help with its part in a county-wide hazard mitigation plan and the drafting process for the plan is nearing conclusion. Katie Hardy, resiliency coordinator for Southwe... November 27, 2022

Historic District Commission continues preservation plan The El Dorado Historic District Commission is continuing efforts to implement the next phase of the citywide historic preservation plan. The EHDC previously agreed to develop an African American conte... November 27, 2022

Police investigating vehicle thefts, ATM robberies The El Dorado Police Department is working with several other law enforcement agencies to investigate a series ATM and vehicle thefts that have been reported in several southern states and the central... November 26, 2022

Rance Olison meat giveaway back on this year Following a nearly three-year hiatus, the Mrs. Carrie Kendrix Buggs and Rance Olison (Sr.) Holiday Meat Giveaway will make its return to El Dorado this year. The event is set for 9 a.m. Dec. 3 at the ... November 25, 2022

One released, another arrested in fatal shooting; EPD investigating another shooting One man has been released from custody and another arrested in connection to a shooting that left an El Dorado man dead earlier this month. Two men were initially arrested for capital murder and other... November 24, 2022

City offices closed Thursday; trash collection schedule shifted All administrative offices of the city of El Dorado, including the police and fire departments, will be closed Thursday and Friday for Thanksgiving. Police and fire services will operate as usual. The... November 23, 2022

Mini-grant project deadline extended through March, construction wait times cited Main Street El Dorado has extended the deadline for downtown businesses to complete improvement projects that will be funded by MSE mini-grants. Earlier this year, MSE was awarded a Downtown Revitaliz... November 22, 2022

Water Watch November 11- 17 Total daily pumpage by the El Dorado Water Utilities in gallons. Nov. 11............................................................................................2,386,000 Nov. 12...................... November 21, 2022

Reed Foundation plans Christmas event In October, the Orlando D. Reed Sr. Foundation made the disappointing decision to cancel the majority of activities for its first ever Fall Festival. The group pulled the plug on the outdoor portion o... November 21, 2022

Meet Me at the Court reports Thanksgiving meal success Four hundred plates were served last week during an annual community Thanksgiving dinner and not only are organizers looking ahead to upcoming community-service projects for Christmas, but also to the... November 19, 2022

South Arkansas Symphony Orchestra holiday show set for Dec. 3 The South Arkansas Symphony Orchestra will present its holiday show, "Rejoice!", at 7 p.m. Dec. 3 at the El Dorado Municipal Auditorium. The symphony is encouraging families to bring their children an... November 18, 2022

First Baptist - Cordell clothing, food giveaways coming up First Baptist Church - Cordell is inviting the community to participate in its annual holiday giveaways -- clothes and Thanksgiving food boxes --, which start Saturday at the church's facilities. The ... November 17, 2022

Holiday events start Thursday Holiday events in El Dorado will officially kick off Thursday with the downtown Holiday Lighting Ceremony and will continue throughout the season with assistance from the El Dorado Advertising and Pro... November 16, 2022

Commercial, residential property reclassification requests on P&Z agenda today Coming off a two-month hiatus, the El Dorado Planning and Zoning Commission will have plenty of business to tend to today when the group convenes for a regular meeting at noon in the Council Chamber o... November 15, 2022

Federal Center security project OK'd by Historic Dist. Commission The El Dorado Historic District Commission has signed off on a project that will enhance security features at the El Dorado Federal Center, 101 N. Jackson. The EHDC approved Certificate of Appropriate... November 14, 2022

Water Watch November 4- 10 Total daily pumpage by the El Dorado Water Utilities in gallons. Nov. 4............................................................................................2,761,000 Nov. 5........................ November 14, 2022

City to replace digital sign The city of El Dorado will soon replace an inoperative digital marquee near the El Dorado Municipal Auditorium. The existing LED sign has been out of commission for a year and a half and on Nov. 10, t... November 13, 2022

Parks Commission reviews aquatic facility plan A long-running project to build a new public aquatic facility/water feature in El Dorado is still in its infant stages and members of the El Dorado Parks and Playgrounds Commission were recently appri... November 13, 2022

Drive/walk-through Thanksgiving dinner starts at noon today The ninth annual Sharion Bailey Whitlock Soul Food Community Dinner: Good Food for the Body and Soul is set for noon today in the rear parking lot of the TAC House, 1101 N. West Ave. The dinner is fre... November 12, 2022

Complaints pour in as customers lose water service for full day without notice Several El Dorado Water Utilities customers were left without water service earlier this week as the EWU worked to repair water leaks on East Main, east of Martin Luther King Boulevard. Some residenti... November 11, 2022

Meet Me at the Court Thanksgiving meal set for Saturday The ninth annual Sharion Bailey Whitlock Soul Food Community Dinner: Good Food for the Body and Soul is set for noon Saturday and organizer Veronica Bailey has issued a familiar call to the community.... November 9, 2022

2 arrested in weekend shooting, including victim's step-brother Two Oklahoma men have been arrested for capital murder and other felony charges in connection to the fatal shooting of an El Dorado man last weekend. The arrests resulted from a collaboration between ... November 9, 2022

Issue with absentee ballots slows counting; voters report long waits Another election has passed, and between early, absentee and Election Day voting, Union County residents showed up in droves to make sure their voices were heard.But, it seems, no election would be co... November 8, 2022

EPD investigating fatal weekend shooting An El Dorado man was fatally shot over the weekend in what appeared to be an execution-style slaying and the investigation into the incident has been going nonstop for more than two days, police said.... November 8, 2022

Recreation Complex expansion project continues As the busy season winds down at the El Dorado-Union County Recreation Complex, the facility's board of directors is putting the pieces in place to proceed with the next phase of an ongoing renovation... November 7, 2022

Water Watch October 28- November 3 Total daily pumpage by the El Dorado Water Utilities in gallons. Oct. 28............................................................................................2,765,000 Oct. 29...................... November 7, 2022

Historic District Commission hears new plans for downtown building As work progresses on a project to repair and improve the outer appearance of a gateway building within the city's commercial historic district, the property owner is preparing to launch another proje... November 6, 2022

Downtown Christmas events kick off this month Now that Main Street El Dorado has wrapped up MusicFest, Airstreams on the Square and Scare on the Square, the group is now gearing up for the "Best Christmas Ever!" with a calendar full of festive ev... November 6, 2022

City to seek funds for new digital billboard from El Dorado Works funds The El Dorado Works Board will consider a funding request to replace one of the city's digital marquees when the group convenes for a regular meeting at 5:15 p.m. today in the Council Chamber of City ... November 1, 2022

Giving back: The Bailey family tradition of community service continues Veronica "Tonni" Bailey has often told the story of how she came up with the idea to create Meet Me at the Court. Nearly 10 years ago, Bailey was invited to speak to the El Dorado City Council about a... October 30, 2022

Airport Commission reviews contract bids During an El Dorado Airport Commission meeting earlier this month, Johnathan Estes, manager of South Arkansas Regional Airport at Goodwin Field, said bids were being accepted for a federal contract to... October 30, 2022

Meet Me at the Court offering transportation to the polls Early voting is underway for the General Election in November and Meet Me at the Court is offering free transportation to the polls as one of two mission projects the group is currently juggling. Vero... October 29, 2022

No candidates pass EPD service exam; 7 successful in EFD exam The El Dorado Fire Department was pleased with the results of civil service exams that were administered earlier this week, with Fire Chief Chad Mosby saying the department expects to begin making job... October 28, 2022

Outdoor fall festival activities cancelled, basketball game still on track Due to the threat of inclement weather for the weekend, outdoor activities have been canceled for the Fall Festival, which will be presented Saturday by the Orlando D. Reed Sr. Foundation. The event w... October 28, 2022

Mayor: Trick-or-treating on Halloween OK Plenty of Halloween and fall festival events are slated for the weekend and with the holiday falling on Monday, Mayor Veronica Smith-Creer said her office has been flooded with inquiries about when th... October 27, 2022

Golf course's revenues exceed 2021 earnings Temperatures have gotten cooler and things have gotten busier at Lions Club Municipal Golf Course, the El Dorado Parks and Playgrounds Commission heard Tuesday. During a financial report, Lions Club m... October 26, 2022

2020 city audit findings extensive During an El Dorado City Council meeting Oct. 13, Mayor Veronica Smith-Creer admitted that she was "in trouble" because she did not initially add the city's 2020 legislative audit report... October 25, 2022

Water Watch October 14 - 20 Total daily pumpage by the El Dorado Water Utilities in gallons. Oct. 14............................................................................................2,726,000 Oct. 15...................... October 24, 2022

Stories by Tia Lyons

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