El Dorado News-Times

Blippi one of several events set for April 11

Popular children’s character Blippi is returning to El Dorado next month with a live show that will include singing, dancing and interactive fun. The Be Like Blippi Tour! is making a stop at 2 p.m. April 11 in the First Financial Music Hall at MAD...

Residents in South Arkansas gather for No Kings protest

Residents of Columbia, Ouachita and Union counties joined together on Saturday to protest in El Dorado as part of the third No Kings Day. An estimated 60 to 70 people showed up to the El Dorado No Kings protest, with other protests in Arkansas being...

SAAC celebrates milestone collaboration with Rumors and Special Anniversary Event

The South Arkansas Arts Center (SAAC) will present “Rumors” by Neil Simon April 10–12 and April 16–18 in the Callaway Theatre. Generously sponsored by Murphy-Pitard Jewelers and All About Flowers, this fast-paced farce promises an evening, or...

City tracking collaborative projects with SouthArk

El Dorado city officials recently took action on agreements between the city and South Arkansas College for a pair of collaborative projects. Earlier this month, the El Dorado City Council and El Dorado Wins Board approved a funding request of...

First responders meet and greet

Playscape welcomed first responders to its stomping grounds Friday, giving children in the community a chance to interact with them. Local police officers and firefighters greeted children with hugs, handshakes and photos during their meet and greet....

Cotton asks federal officials to let farmers use tax-exempt off-road diesel fuel on roads

WASHINGTON — U.S. Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., wants the federal government to temporarily pause penalties for using off-road diesel for on-road use as fuel prices rise amid the ongoing Iran war. Cotton, of Little Rock, sent a letter Thursday to Treasury...

Lockheed to ramp up output amid new agreement

The Department of War, in partnership with Lockheed Martin, announced a framework agreement to quadruple the production of seekers for the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) interceptor and to accelerate the production of the Precision Strike...

Dirt Friends hosts garden activity at Playscape

Children put their little shovels to work Monday at Playscape during a garden activity with Dirt Friends Garden Group. Dirt Friends, a nonprofit organization in El Dorado that plants flowers across town to create a colorful city, shared their...

United for a purpose to feed

Organizations and local leaders joined forces Monday at the Salvation Army, to make lunches for the annual Spring Feed. Spring Feed is one of the food programs the Salvation Army does for children in the community during Spring Break. Volunteers...

Jester voices support for SAVE America Act as lawmakers in Washington push through debate

WASHINGTON — Arkansas Secretary of State Cole Jester is backing congressional Republicans’ elections measure as the Senate GOP plans to continue their standstill over the proposal for the foreseeable future. President Donald Trump has demanded...

Entergy addresses El Dorado concerns

Complaints and questions regarding streetlight outages, how to report them and response times for repairs have once again reared their heads, prompting the El Dorado City Council to reach out to an Entergy official. DeQuante Moore, customer service...

Federal law enforcement program working to combat Arkansas gun crimes

Violent crime — particularly gun crimes — have been a persistent and growing problem for Arkansas law enforcement. Several Arkansas cities — including Little Rock, North Little Rock, Pine Bluff, Helena-West Helena, West Memphis, to name a few — have...

New construction on the way for The Newton House

The Newton House celebrated a new project on Thursday. The Newton House is an historic museum that was built by Matthew Rainey, El Dorado’s first settler. This building has served as a gathering place for the community, hosting tours, weddings,...

State panel advances contract to provide ‘roadmap’ for Arkansas lithium

While many expect Arkansas to become a major lithium producer in the years to come, exactly what role it will play in the global market has yet to be determined. To help bring some clarity to that question, a panel of state legislators issued a...

Union Parish seeking information on wanted persons

The Union Parish Sheriff’s Office is looking for the public’s help in finding three wanted individuals In Union Parish. UPSO is seeking the whereabouts of: • Landon Bryce Parks, a 22- to 23-year-old white male, known to frequent the Ruston and West...

Contour Airlines takes flight in El Dorado

South Arkansas Regional Airport at Goodwin Field buzzed with activity Monday as Contour Airlines launched operations as the area’s new commercial air service. Workers with the Transportation Security Administration screened passengers as dozens of...

Cotton backs Hammer over Norris in Arkansas secretary of state runoff

U.S. Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., announced he is backing Kim Hammer for secretary of state, joining a long list of the state’s GOP establishment who have endorsed the candidate. Hammer, a state senator from Benton, is facing Bryan Norris, a project...

Junction City aiming to land grant for after-school program

At the end of February, the Junction City School District announced their intent to apply for a grant for the Nita M. Lowey 21st Century Community Learning Centers program with the Arkansas Department of Education. Ellen Lowe, the director of special...

City finances ended 2025 on upswing

Mayor Paul Choate expected to deliver some notso-pleasant news regarding the city’s finances during his State of the City address Thursday. But he was able to share an encouraging note and assuage concerns of city officials after receiving a wrapup of...

UAMS chancellor visits SARH

UAMS Chancellor Dr. C. Lowry Barnes visited South Arkansas Regional Hospital on Thursday in advance of plans to create a Family Practice Residency program at SARH. Dr. Barnes, who grew up in Arkansas, is the first chancellor of the university to not...

Extreme Youth Prevention annual summit held this week in El Dorado

Extreme Youth Prevention held its annual Youth Summit on Tuesday at the El Dorado Conference Center. Students from all over Union County broke off into small groups and attended workshops on drug abuse, mental health, vaping and internet safety....

State poultry industry faced estimated $200M in damages from winter storm

A study from the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture found the state poultry industry sustained an estimated $200 million in poultry house damages after the winter storm in January. The extension’s report, released on March 3, found...

Spring is beginning to show its colors

As Spring time approaches, flowers are beginning to make their grand entrance. On the downtown square there are plenty of colorful flower beds along the sidewalk for locals to admire.

El Dorado Film Festival announces award winners

That’s a wrap on the 10th El Dorado Film Festival (EDFF)! EDFF Executive Director Alexander Jeffery and EDFF Chair Tamra Corley Davis announced the winners of the 2026 lineup in a ceremony at the South Arkansas Arts Center (SAAC) on Sunday, March...

SHARE scholarships support future healthcare professionals

Since its founding 30 years ago, the SHARE Foundation has been awarding scholarships to students who are working toward careers in healthcare. Interested students can submit applications for scholarships for the summer through March 15. There are...

Rain, storms expected through midweek in South Arkansas

Rain is expected to persist through much of the weekend and into midweek across South Arkansas, with periods of showers and thunderstorms and the potential for heavy rainfall, according to the National Weather Service. Jason Hansford, a senior...

South Arkansas eXtreme Prevention Summit feted

Registration is open for the South Arkansas eXtreme Prevention Summit, which will be held from 8 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. May 5 in the El Dorado Conference Center. Presented by the SHARE Foundation eXtreme Prevention program, the regional conference will...

Weekend storms could bring 2 to 4 inches of rain to region

Showers and thunderstorms are expected to return to South Arkansas late Friday, bringing a weekend of slightly cooler temperatures and the potential for heavy rainfall and localized flooding, according to the National Weather Service. The rain could...

City working to address traffic safety issue near school

The El Dorado City Council brought back its public comment period during a regular meeting last week and the first topic that was introduced pertained to a traffic-safety issue near a local school. Only one local resident took advantage of the...

EFD responds to storage shed fire

El Dorado Fire Department responded to a structure fire on Monday afternoon on Hawthorne Ave. The fire was reported to emergency services by neighbors who said it was in a storage building behind the residence and was not connected with...

Iran vows revenge after leader’s death, trades strikes with Israel in widening war

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — Iran vowed revenge Sunday after the killing of its supreme leader and traded strikes with Israel as part of a widening war prompted by a surprise U.S. and Israeli bombardment. The U.S. military said three service members...

Iran’s supreme leader is dead, Trump says

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — A major attack launched by Israel and the United States killed Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, President Donald Trump said Saturday, announcing an assassination that he said gave Iranians their “greatest...

Secretary of War Pete Hegseth visits Camden

Secretary of War Pete Hegseth visited the L3Harris Technologies Camden site on Friday as part of his nationwide “Arsenal of Freedom” tour, highlighting the importance of American manufacturing capacity in strengthening the defense industrial base and...

EHS Drama presents Anastasia

What does it mean to not know who you are? What would you do to find out? Join Troupe 42 and El Dorado High School Drama for their winter musical “Anastasia” and watch as Anya navigates these difficult questions, with performances at 7 p.m. on March 5...

Hugh Goodwin Elementary holds annual History Parade

Students at Hugh Goodwin Elementary School brought history to life on Friday during the school’s annual History Parade, an event that continues to grow in enthusiasm and community spirit each year. Dressed as influential figures from American and world...

U.S.: Huckabee’s comments on Israel taken out of context

TEL AVIV, Israel — An uproar continued Sunday after the U.S. ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee, said Israel has a right to much of the Middle East, as more Arab and Muslim countries objected and the U.S. said his comments were taken out of...

President says he’ll raise tariffs to 15 percent after Supreme Court ruling

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump said Saturday that he wants a global tariff of 15%, up from 10% he had announced a day earlier after the U.S. Supreme Court struck down many of the far-reaching taxes on imports that he had imposed over the last...

Gas leak prompts street closure in downtown El Dorado

A gas leak was reported on North Hill Avenue in downtown El Dorado on Friday morning. The El Dorado Fire Department arrived on scene at 10:49 a.m. at the corner of Main Street and North Hill Avenue for the reported leak and blocked off North Hill...

Mary Jo Crosley’s 100th birthday party

Tuesday was a celebration at Hudson Memorial Nursing Home for Mary Jo Crosley, who turned 100 years old. Once a month, Hudson Memorial hosts birthday parties for all of its residents to recognize their milestones. Mary Jo was born Feb. 19, 1926, in...

Hugh Goodwin Elementary students craft oversized flag

Hugh Goodwin Elementary children are expanding their creativity with local artist Lisa Tarver on what it means to be artistically different for their upcoming project. Tarver is an Arts in Education instructor with the South Arkansas Arts Center,...

Beat the lines

Tuesday was the kick off to early voting in the Union County and will last for the next two weeks leading up to the official primary election day vote. Early voting gives residents a chance to cast their ballots ahead of Election Day, offering more...

City to relocate workshops for public works, water

City workshops that serve street, sanitation and water/ wastewater operations could have a new home come fall. The El Dorado City Council has voted to purchase property just off Industrial Road — 199 Means Drive — to relocate the city shop on Martin...

Early voting starts Tuesday for primary elections

Early voting begins and polls open at 8 a.m. Tuesday for the 2026 Preferential Primary Election in Union County. County election commissioners have said they are working to ensure that vote centers are prepared and the county electorate is armed with...

Nomination process ongoing for First Financial nonprofit award

So far, so good. First Financial Bank is accepting nominations for their annual Nonprofit Excellence Award ceremony that recognizes the work of nonprofits in Union County. Amber Murphy, who is the vice president of marketing for First Financial Bank,...

Visitors at Crater of Diamonds State Park find 6.03-carat yellow diamond

MURFREESBORO, Ark. — A pair of veteran gem-hunters recently made a remarkable find at Crater of Diamonds State Park. Jack Pearadin, 35, of Nashville, Arkansas, and Michael Schumacher, 43, of Soldiers Grove, Wisconsin, have visited the park countless...

Thousands of third-graders could be held back under LEARNS rule

John Crawford is sounding an alarm he fears some parents aren’t heeding: Thousands of third-graders in Arkansas could be forced to repeat the grade next school year. A mixed response “tells me that some of my parents don’t understand the...

Area man arrested after hourslong standoff and overnight manhunt

A Ouachita County man is in custody following an hourslong standoff Tuesday and a manhunt that stretched into the following day. David Davenport was arrested around 11 a.m. Wednesday after being spotted crossing a clearing in Calhoun County, according...

Facility was shuttered in late fall due to a lack of funding

The MAD Playscape is expected to reopen by the end of the month amid ongoing discussions about how the facility will be operated, managed and funded in the future. Mayor Paul Choate announced Tuesday that the city plans to invite area families with...

Arts center celebrates regional photography with Viewfinder exhibition

The South Arkansas Arts Center (SAAC) invites the public to a special artist reception on Thursday, February 12, from 5:30–7:00 PM, celebrating its newest exhibitions presented by the SAAC Visual Arts Committee. The reception is free and open to...

Soul Fest to celebrate 25th anniversary

For a quarter of a century, Michael “Mr. Mike” Jackson has been giving El Dorado the blues. South Arkansas Soul Fest, presented by Mr. Mike’s Productions, will celebrate its 25th anniversary on April 18 at the Union County Fairgrounds. Gates open at...

Soft companion makes a big impact for area foster children

Madison Hannah received a surprise visit from the owners of Xander Community and Lavendar Life Company on Wednesday — a company that donates plush bunnies to children in foster care after every purchase. Owners Vic and Vickie Bennet, began their...

Top Arkansas elected officials report gifts including trips to Israel, elsewhere

Israel was the destination of choice for Arkansas’ top politicians with the governor, senate president pro tempore and speaker of the house all making trips to the country last year. Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders and House Speaker Brian Evans, R-Cabot,...

Krewe of Mary Lou returns for eighth year to support women in recovery

Michael Rice, owner of FayRay’s restaurant, will host the Krewe of Mary Lou Mardi Gras-theme parade Feb. 8 in honor of his late daughter, Mary Lou Rice. Mary Lou lost her life after struggling with heroin addiction, and because of her love for Mardi...

Boozman, Cotton introduce Shepherd to Senate Judiciary Committee

Sens. John Boozman and Tom Cotton of Arkansas introduced circuit judge John Thomas Shepherd to the Senate Judiciary Committee on Wednesday. During the introduction, the two voiced their support for his nomination to the U.S. District Court for the...

House passes bill to end the partial government shutdown

WASHINGTON — The House on Tuesday passed a roughly $1.2 trillion spending package to end the partial government shutdown, sending the measure to President Donald Trump and setting the stage for a debate in Congress over Homeland Security funding. The...

Punxsutawney Phil predicts 6 more weeks of wintry weather

PUNXSUTAWNEY, Pa. (AP) — Punxsutawney Phil predicted six more weeks of wintry weather Monday, a forecast sure to disappoint many after what’s already been a long, cold season across large parts of the United States. His annual prediction and...

Contour expected to begin service in city March 16

Area residents can now begin booking commercial flights out of South Arkansas Regional Airport at Goodwin Fields. Contour Airlines has begun selling tickets in preparation to begin service March 16 as the area’s new Alternative Essential Air Service...

Last week’s winter storm through the eyes of those in Union County

After Winter Storm Fern left Union County blanketed in ice, sleet and a little snow, we asked you to send in your best photos. And you didn’t disappoint. We got to see baby’s first snow, dogs leaping through frozen yards and neighbors bundled up and...

Mad To Me Cafe feeds local students

Mad to Me Cafe fed students in downtown Smackover on Thursday as schools remained closed due to icy roads. Chicken strips, spaghetti and mac and cheese — Mad To Me Cafe served a buffet for students in the Smackover-Norphlet area to ensure they had a...

Revved up for wintry mix

Vintage sewing machines from the 1800s featured in ‘Stitches in Time’ exhibit

Vintage sewing machines, some dating from the mid1800s, will be featured in the “Stitches in Time” exhibit in the Union Museum of History and Art, from February 3 through 27 at 211 N. Main Street, Farmerville. The collection will be on loan from Tara...

Prices ticked up in November as Americans keep spending

WASHINGTON — The Federal Reserve's preferred inflation gauge ticked up in November in the latest sign that prices remain stubbornly elevated, while consumers spent at a healthy pace. Consumer prices rose 2.8% in November from a year earlier, the...

What weather apps sometimes miss about dangerous winter storms

Smartphone weather apps that summarize their forecasts with eyepopping numbers and bright icons may be handy during mild weather, but meteorologists say it's better to listen to human expertise during multifaceted, dangerous winter storms like the one...

Gov. Sanders mobilizes 168 Arkansas National Guard members as winter storm approaches

Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders has mobilized 168 Arkansas National Guardsmen to state active duty, according to a news release Friday morning from Col. Joel Lynch with the Arkansas National Guard. The deployed guard members include 140 who will staff 28...

Keeping pets safe as winter weather approaches

As a wintry mix of rain, snow and ice approaches the area this weekend, local animal advocates at UCAPS are urging all pet owners to keep their furry animals safe. Union County Animal Protection Society (UCAPS) is a non-kill shelter that homes stray...

Trump cancels tariff threat over Greenland

DAVOS, Switzerland — President Donald Trump announced Wednesday that he was canceling his planned tariff on U.S. allies in Europe over US control of Greenland after he and the leader of NATO agreed to a ‘framework of a future deal’ on Arctic...

ARDOT prepares for winter storms

Winter storms have been predicted to hit South Arkansas beginning on Friday, with weather bringing the chance of snow, ice and rain to last through Sunday. According to the National Weather Service, Union County has a 70% chance of rain and sleet...

Power Hour Comedy took over the MAD House 101

The Power Hour Comedy Show hit the stage at the MAD House 101 Restaurant and Bar in El Dorado on Friday, giving people the chance to come out for a laugh to remember. The Power Hour Comedy show is an event hosted by Carter Bryant, a comedian of 10...

Conservative group presses Arkansas to stop executions

A conservative anti-death penalty group is calling on Arkansas to forgo executions, citing concerns about a new form of capital punishment that critics describe as cruel. Known as nitrogen hypoxia, the method entails inhaling nitrogen gas. An Alabama...

Trump says he may punish countries with tariffs if they don’t back U.S. controlling Greenland

COPENHAGEN, Denmark — U.S. President Donald Trump suggested Friday that he may punish countries with tariffs if they don’t back the U.S. controlling Greenland, a message that came as a bipartisan Congressional delegation sought to lower tensions in the...

Self Culture Club plans MLK weekend in El Dorado

Today is the 97th birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., which comes four days ahead of the national holiday that commemorates his life and legacy. Locally, the Self Culture Club, a social and community-service organization, has planned several...