Stories by Tia Lyons

Police investigating second anti-Semitic vandalization incident The El Dorado Police Department is investigating a pair of recent incidents in which property was defaced with anti-Semitic graffiti.Vandalism was reported earlier this week at St. Mary's Episcopa... March 23, 2023

Water meter replacement efforts continue The El Dorado Water Utilities is continuing the process of converting to a former automated water meter-reading system.Last December, the El Dorado City Council/El Dorado Water and Public Works Board ... March 21, 2023

3 suspected in aggravated robbery El Dorado police are investigating an incident in which three males reported that they were robbed at gunpoint while attempting to purchase a pair of jeans at a local residence over the weekend. The i... March 21, 2023

Public Works Board approves new city dog pound The El Dorado Water and Public Works Board has authorized the Department of Public Works to proceed with plans to build a new city dog pound -- a project that has been ongoing for five years. During a... March 20, 2023

Water Watch March 10 - 16 Total daily pumpage by the El Dorado Water Utilities in gallons. March 10...........................................................................................2,741,000 March 11..................... March 20, 2023

Soul Fest set for May 5 By the fall of 2022, Michael Jackson, of Mr. Mike's Productions, was already in the midst of planning Soul Fest 2023. In fact, one of the acts he had booked by then prompted a change in the schedule f... March 19, 2023

City officials warn of paving scam The Department of Public Works and El Dorado city officials are advising local residents to be wary of an asphalt paving contractor who has reportedly been going door to door to solicit work in El Dor... March 18, 2023

Rec Complex needs concessions workers, umpires In January, the El Dorado-Union County Recreation Complex Commission cited the need to fill multiple positions, including concessions, umpires and part-time maintenance, in preparation for the busy se... March 14, 2023

Water Watch March 3 - 9 Total daily pumpage by the El Dorado Water Utilities in gallons. March 3............................................................................................3,078,000 March 4...................... March 13, 2023

City council takes action on Warner Brown resolution The El Dorado City Council has passed a resolution to help clear the way for a new 911 dispatch center to be used for El Dorado and Union County emergency services. Council members approved the resolu... March 13, 2023

EPD safety course, citizen academy open for registration Local residents still have time to register for two upcoming events that will be hosted wholly or in part by the El Dorado Police Department to raise awareness about Internet safety and to offer civil... March 12, 2023

Ward cleanup program revived Keep El Dorado Beautiful and members of the El Dorado City Council have agreed to revive their ward cleanup program. On March 9, KEB invited city officials to an informal meeting to discuss the matter... March 12, 2023

Fire, police departments looking to hire The El Dorado police and fire departments are gearing up for spring civil service exams, and the fire department is kicking things off today with the first of two scheduled physical agility tests (PAT... March 11, 2023

State denies request for funding for local African-American history study The El Dorado Historic District Commission will have to wait a little longer before it can advance with the next phase of the process to implement the city's historic preservation plan. On Thursday, E... March 10, 2023

Choate to deliver 'State of the City' address tonight Mayor Paul Choate is expected to deliver his State of the City address when the El Dorado City Council meets at 5 p.m. today in the Council Chamber of City Hall. The opening prayer and Pledge of Alleg... March 9, 2023

Main Street receives $5K donation from Airstreamers Main Street El Dorado is preparing for its first event of the year Saturday with the annual St. Patrick's Day celebration. Shamrockin' on the Square is set for 11 a.m. until 4 p.m. in downtown El Dora... March 8, 2023

Group aiming to save lives with defibrillators at sports complex A Louisiana nonprofit group is working ensure that life-saving medical equipment is available to young athletes at sports facilities and parks throughout Union County. Grayson's Army Foundation, found... March 7, 2023

Water Watch Feb. 24 - March 2 Total daily pumpage by the El Dorado Water Utilities in gallons. Feb. 24............................................................................................2,661,000 Feb. 25...................... March 6, 2023

Airport terminal renovation talks continue Weeks before the end of 2022, Mickey Murfee, chairman of the El Dorado Airport Commission, encouraged the commission's fundraising committee to start the new year with a "big push" to ra... March 6, 2023

FUMC reviving Acoustic Café Musicians in El Dorado and surrounding areas now have the opportunity to perform in front of an open mic and an audience with the return of a downtown, live-music event. First United Methodist Church ... March 4, 2023

Political, advertising signage becoming litter, KEB president says The 2022 General Election was held last November and members of Keep El Dorado Beautiful said they still see campaign signs posted in some areas around town. The group said there is also an ongoing pr... March 4, 2023

Author, PBS correspondant to speak at Dirt Friends Festival Nationally known author, horticulturist and TV correspondent Brie Arthur will be the keynote speaker for the 2023 Dirt Friends Festival, which is set for 8:30 a.m., March 11, in the College Avenue Chu... March 3, 2023

City officials advance education at municipal conference Several El Dorado city officials have been recognized for completing the Arkansas Municipal League's Voluntary Certified Continuing Education Program Mayor Paul Choate, El Dorado City Council Member D... March 3, 2023

Keep El Dorado Beautiful continuing work as Great American Cleanup begins Now that the Arkansas Governor's Conference on Tourism is over, Keep El Dorado Beautiful is setting its sights on other projects. For the past several months, KEB, along with community leaders and oth... March 2, 2023

Shamrockin' on the Square set for March 11 Main Street El Dorado is kicking off its 2023 events season this month with its annual St. Patrick's Day celebration. Shamrockin' on the Square is set from 11 a.m. until 4 p.m. March 11 in downtown El... March 1, 2023

Governor’s Conference on Tourism starts today The city of El Dorado has pulled out all the stops as the first-time host of the Arkansas Governor’s Conference on Tourism.The annual conference starts today and continues through Tuesday and th... February 26, 2023

Still grinding: D-N-B Entertainment offers outlet for rappers-turned-businessmen Derek Gray and James Moody have shared a bond through music since they were children growing up together in Haygood-Neal Garden Apartments. Moody, 36, who is four years Gray's junior, remembers Gray a... February 26, 2023

Literacy event shining spotlight on Black authors In honor of Black History Month, the NAACP - El Dorado chapter is inviting the community to celebrate Black authors with a book signing at 5:30 p.m. today in the South Arkansas Community College Libra... February 23, 2023

3 Phantoms production by Symphony Orchestra kicking off Governor's Conference The 49th annual Arkansas Governor's Conference on Tourism kicks off Sunday in El Dorado and as a part of the opening reception, the South Arkansas Symphony Orchestra will present 3 Phantoms in Concert... February 22, 2023

Mayor: County to condemn Griffith Street The city of El Dorado has opted out of joining an effort by Union County to condemn a private drive within city limits.The section of Griffith that runs alongside Mellor Park Mall between North West a... February 21, 2023

City council looking to fill vacant commission seats Over the past several weeks, the El Dorado City Council has been busy making appointments and reappointments to various city boards and commissions that help tend to city business. However, there are ... February 20, 2023

Water Watch Feb. 10 - 16 Total daily pumpage by the El Dorado Water Utilities in gallons. Feb. 10..............................................................................................2,638,000 Feb. 11.................... February 20, 2023

City to raise bulk trash removal fees The city of El Dorado will soon charge more to haul off trash in bulk. El Dorado City Council/Water and Public Works Board members have approved a request from the Department of Public Works to raise ... February 19, 2023

Council members hear updates on new dog pound, storage at Lions Club The El Dorado Water and Public Works Board heard updates this week on two long-running city projects. Robert Edmonds, director of public works, reported Feb. 15 that bids for a new city dog pound are ... February 18, 2023

Main Street El Dorado agrees to only meet every other month Main Street El Dorado is revising its regular meeting schedule to take a more hands-on approach toward economic vitality and to prepare for upcoming changes with the national, Main Street America prog... February 17, 2023

Meet Me at the Court preparing for spring giving Meet Me at the Court is rolling full steam ahead with its 2023 events, and has announced plans for upcoming activities to continue serving the community. The youth arm of MMC completed its monthly mis... February 16, 2023

Council members organize community meeting for Ward 3 residents A community meeting will be held in Ward 3 at 5:30 p.m. on Feb. 23 in the St. James Village Outreach Center, 1308 E. Hillsboro. Ward 3 council members Willie McGhee, Position 1, and George Calloway Jr... February 14, 2023

Former city attorney recognized for service Former City Attorney Henry Kinslow was recognized last week for 40 years of service with the city. On Feb. 9, Mayor Paul Choate kicked off an El Dorado City Council meeting with the presentation of a ... February 13, 2023

Water Watch Feb. 3 - 9 Total daily pumpage by the El Dorado Water Utilities in gallons. Feb. 3..............................................................................................3,026,000 Feb. 4...................... February 13, 2023

City preparing for Governor's Conference on Tourism It is crunch time and the city of El Dorado is kicking into overdrive with preparations for the 49th annual Arkansas Governor's Conference on Tourism, which will be held Feb. 26 - 28. As a first-time ... February 12, 2023

Public Wi-Fi, parking lot improvements approved by Council Local residents will soon see an improvement to the parking lot of the El Dorado Municipal Auditorium and have access to wi-fi in some city parks, thanks to a package of funding requests that was appr... February 11, 2023

Main Street hoping to liven up downtown properties An observation by a Main Street Arkansas official about the appearance of the city's historic downtown led to a discussion Thursday about the Certificate of Appropriateness process for the El Dorado H... February 10, 2023

Expanded Insider Guide published ahead of tourism conference The El Dorado Advertising and Promotion Commission has released the newest edition of the El Dorado Insider, a quarterly city magazine that highlights local people, places and points of interest to he... February 9, 2023

Public wi-fi, auditorium parking improvement funding on Council's agenda El Dorado City Council members will consider three funding requests, one for a long overdue project, when they convene for a regular meeting at 5 p.m. today in the Council Chamber of City Hall.The ope... February 9, 2023

Spring scheduling begins at Complex An adult softball tournament that is set for Feb. 18 at the El Dorado-Union County Recreation Complex (EUCRC) will kick off the busy season in a string of tournaments and other sports events that have... February 8, 2023

Anti-Semitic graffiti removed from Mellor Park equipment Members of the El Dorado Parks and Playgrounds Commission are continuing to advance efforts to improve city parks by keeping close tabs on ongoing projects and in the meantime, the EPPC and city crews... February 7, 2023

A&P Commission sets budget, reviews funding proposals The El Dorado Advertising and Promotion Commission doled out more than $356,400 in funding requests to help promote local events in the city this year. Commissioners met last month to set their 2023 b... February 6, 2023

Water Watch Jan. 27 - Feb. 2 Total daily pumpage by the El Dorado Water Utilities in gallons. Jan. 27..............................................................................................2,700,000 Jan. 28.................... February 6, 2023

Recreation Complex Board funds kiosk related plumbing work The El Dorado-Union County Recreation Complex board heard some updates and got some questions answered Friday about ongoing issues at the complex. Some answers were not quite what board members expect... February 4, 2023

Literacy Coalition searching for program participants CAMDEN - The Literacy Coalition-South Central Arkansas in Camden is putting out a call for participants and volunteers who are needed for two programs that are designed to improve literacy and help en... February 3, 2023

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