CAMDEN – Seven suspects accused in a large-scale theft scheme at Mac’s Cash Saver appeared in court on Tuesday, before Judge Ryan Phillips. Each was charged with felony theft of property exceeding $5,000 after allegedly exploiting the store’s discount system to steal more than $12,650 worth of groceries.

The suspects, identified as Kaliyah Burton, La’Kiyah Hopson, a juvenile, Roxie Laster, Emmarie Owens, Brandon Garcia, and Chynethia King, were granted $2,500 signature bonds. Judge Phillips ordered them to comply with conditions of release, including abstaining from drugs, alcohol, and criminal conduct, avoiding firearms, and cooperating with legal proceedings.

According to the Camden Police Department, the theft occurred between January 9 and January 12, 2025. The store’s manager reported inventory discrepancies on January 13, prompting officers to review surveillance footage. Investigators discovered employees manipulated the checkout system by scanning a single yogurt and inflating the quantity to trigger discounts. This tactic allowed them to drastically reduce grocery bills or receive cash back.

Over the four-day period, the store’s records indicated the implausible sale of 22,170 yogurts, far exceeding its inventory.

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Arrests began on January 13 at various locations. Emmarie Owens was taken into custody while counting money in the store’s office, and Lakiyah Hopson was arrested while working behind the counter at KFC. Roman Smith was initially detained but later released after detectives determined he was not involved.

Brandon Garcia, one of the accused, is a former Camden Police officer and a detective with the St. Landry Parish Sheriff’s Office in Louisiana. Sources indicate Garcia had previously applied for the position of Camden Police Chief and was recognized as Crime Stoppers’ 2020 Detective of the Year for his role in major drug cases leading to federal prosecutions.

The Camden Police Department reminds the public that all suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in court. Investigations remain ongoing, and further updates are expected.

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LITTLE ROCK – A significant cold front is expected to sweep across Arkansas late Friday night into Saturday morning, bringing an extended period of cold weather to the state, according to the National Weather Service (NWS) in Little Rock.

The front will move west to east, ushering in temperatures that will drop sharply over the weekend. After Saturday, statewide high temperatures are not anticipated to reach 40 degrees until Wednesday afternoon or Thursday.

The cold snap will be most pronounced early next week, with some areas struggling to climb above freezing during the day. Residents across Arkansas are urged to prepare for the prolonged cold conditions, particularly as subfreezing temperatures may linger for multiple days in some locations.

The NWS highlights the importance of taking precautions, such as protecting outdoor pipes, ensuring pets are brought inside, and staying aware of any additional weather updates.

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For more information and updates, visit weather.gov/lzk.

EL DORADO – The City of El Dorado has announced that all administrative offices will be closed on Monday, January 20, 2025, in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

In addition to the closure, residents are advised that trash pick-up services will run one day behind schedule in each ward throughout the upcoming week.

City officials encourage residents to plan accordingly and appreciate their cooperation during the holiday observance.

For further information, residents can contact the City of El Dorado Administrative Offices.

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EL DORADO – The El Dorado Chamber of Commerce is excited to announce the first-ever Union County Competition for the National Civics Bee, an initiative designed to inspire middle school students to engage with their communities and promote civic responsibility.

The competition is open to 6th, 7th, and 8th-grade students from public, private, charter, and homeschools across Union County. Participants will submit essays addressing key civic questions, with cash prizes awarded to the top three winners.

Essay Details
Students must submit a free-entry essay (up to 750 words) that answers the following questions:
1️⃣ Identify a problem, challenge, or opportunity in your community. What can you do to help improve it?
2️⃣ Who will you work with to implement your solution? (Consider elected officials, business leaders, nonprofits, etc.)
3️⃣ How does your solution incorporate Founding Principles and Civic Virtues?

Competition Timeline

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• Deadline: Essays are due by February 4, 2025.
• Finalists: Selected students will advance to a local competition in March 2025.
• Next Steps: Winners of the Union County competition will progress to the state level, with a chance to represent Arkansas in the national competition in Washington, D.C.

National Prizes
The national champion will receive a $100,000 529 college savings plan, among other prestigious awards.

Students interested in participating can find essay tips and additional details on the National Civics Bee website at https://civics.uschamberfoundation.org/2025-national.

The El Dorado Chamber encourages all eligible students to participate and take advantage of this unique opportunity to create meaningful change in their communities.

EL DORADO – A man and a woman from Mountain Home were sentenced to a combined 308 months in federal prison for methamphetamine trafficking, according to federal prosecutors.

U.S. District Judge Susan O. Hickey handed down the sentences during hearings held in the United States District Court in El Dorado.

Willis Devin Johnson, 36, and Sarah Lavon Paxton, 37, were arrested on August 24, 2023, after authorities found them in a vehicle at a car wash in Bearden. Law enforcement officials, including agents from the El Dorado Police Department, the Criminal Apprehension Division (CAD), and the 13th Judicial District Drug Task Force, had received information that Johnson was attempting to sell several ounces of methamphetamine.

A search of the vehicle revealed three vacuum-sealed bags containing a total of 1,400 grams of methamphetamine. Both Johnson and Paxton were taken into custody.

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Court records show Johnson pleaded guilty on August 22, 2024, to possession of more than 500 grams of methamphetamine with intent to distribute. Paxton pleaded guilty to the same charge on September 11, 2024.

On January 15, 2025, Johnson was sentenced to 188 months in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release. Paxton was sentenced to 120 months in federal prison, also followed by five years of supervised release, on January 14, 2025.

The case was investigated by the El Dorado Police Department, CAD, and the 13th Judicial District Drug Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorney Trent Daniels prosecuted the case.

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