EL DORADO – A prolonged period of moderate to heavy rainfall is forecasted to impact South Arkansas and surrounding areas from Wednesday, January 29, through Saturday, February 1. The National Weather Service in Shreveport, Louisiana, reports that most of the region could experience 2 to 3 inches of rainfall during this time frame, with localized areas potentially receiving upwards of 5 inches under a worst-case scenario.

The highest probabilities for rainfall accumulation greater than 3 inches are centered over portions of southern Arkansas, including areas near Camden and El Dorado, where probabilities range from 35% to 40%. Residents are urged to monitor local forecasts and prepare for potential impacts, including localized flooding in low-lying and flood-prone areas.

The Weather Service advises caution for those traveling or planning outdoor activities later in the week, as saturated grounds and high rain rates could pose hazards. Stay tuned to updates from the National Weather Service or local emergency management agencies for the latest developments.

For more information, visit weather.gov/shv.

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EL DORADO – Leadership Union County is now accepting applications for ULEAD Class 14, a nine-month program dedicated to identifying and developing future leaders within the community.

The program will kick off on March 29, 2025, and is designed to provide participants with tools and knowledge to make a lasting impact in Union County. Interested applicants are encouraged to apply by the registration deadline on Wednesday, February 19.

Applications can be submitted via email to Kaitlyn Rigdon at kaitlyn@goeldorado.com or delivered in person to the El Dorado-Union County Chamber of Commerce, located at 111 W. Main Street.

For more information, visit the Leadership Union County webpage at goeldorado.com/chamber-of-commerce/about-the-leadership-union-county/.

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The program is sponsored by LANXESS, Murphy USA, and the El Dorado-Union County Chamber of Commerce.

Southern Arkansas University has recognized 650 students for academic excellence during the fall 2024 semester by naming them to the Dean’s List. To qualify, students must achieve a GPA of 3.5 or higher.

Among those honored are numerous students from El Dorado and surrounding areas in South Arkansas:

• El Dorado, AR:
  Anna Aycock, Alice Benton, Baylor Blackburn, Beth Brakeman, Emma Brumley, Branson Bryant, Korbin Chambers, Connor Corley, Jedidiah Cotton, Mackenzie Dawkins, Astraia Douglas, Joshua Dumas, Clayton Evers, Anna Fruge, Sakarri Gill, Alexia Gilmore, Jasmine Glaspie, James Harwell, John Hollis, Becca Hooks, Chance Johnson, Joseph King, John Lee, Jack Lolley, Aubrey Marx, Sara May, Krislyn McAuliffe, Kara McDonald, Christopher Miller, Tamiya Miller, Emily Murphy, Autumn Murray, Brianna Nolden, Lorelai Orr, Rebecca Rainwater, Keyla Ramirez, Lyric Samuel, Mercedes Sanchez, Landry Seat, Trace Shoup, Jenna Smith, Jordan Smith, Breyonna Steward, Cassandra Tew, Elvia Trujillo, Bethany Vaughan, Ashton Vincent, Noah Walker, Madison Waller, and Allison Wood.
• Huttig, AR:
  Evan Smith and Isabella Tucker.
• Junction City, AR:
  Addyson Dunn and Ana Hernandez.
• Mount Holly, AR:
  Tamia Sturges.
• Smackover, AR:
  Laurel Plant and Mackenzie Preston.

These students represent a wide range of majors, including Psychology, Management, Computer Science, Elementary Education, Nursing, and many others, demonstrating the diverse academic opportunities available at Southern Arkansas University.

For the complete list of Dean’s List recipients or more information about SAU’s academic programs, visit the university’s website.

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CAMDEN — The Ouachita Partnership for Economic Development (OPED) Board of Directors will hold its next board meeting on Wednesday, January 29, 2025, at 10 a.m. The meeting will take place in the OPED Training Room, located at 570 Ben Lane in Camden.

The meeting is open to the public, and all community members are encouraged to attend.

For more information, contact OPED via email at oped@att.net.

LITTLE ROCK – Attorney General Tim Griffin today issued the following statement announcing the execution of search warrants at 12 locations across the state as part of Operation Obscured Vision to combat human trafficking, resulting in aid provided to 16 victims, the arrest of four individuals, and the seizure of nearly $70,000 and a luxury vehicle:

“January is National Human Trafficking Prevention Month, and the best way to prevent human trafficking and rescue its victims is to combat it on one of its key fronts: illicit massage parlors.

“Operation Obscured Vision was coordinated by my office’s Special Investigations Division and executed by local law enforcement and victim advocates groups to expose the pervasive issue of illicit massage parlors in Arkansas, rescue the victims of human trafficking, and permanently end the presence of illicit massage parlors in our state.

“Many of the women working in these illicit massage parlors are coerced to do so. One victim we interviewed stated that she is forced to work seven days a week, 13 hours per day.

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“I am proud to announce that local law enforcement, with coordination by my office, executed 12 search warrants at illicit massage parlors in Jonesboro, Russellville, Hot Springs, Rogers, Harrison, and a Little Rock hotel. I congratulate the local police officers, sheriff’s deputies, the Arkansas State Police, and Special Agents in my office for successfully executing this operation.

“I appreciate the efforts of victim’s advocates and the Arkansas Department of Health, who provided language interpreters, nursing services, and other support to help victims receive comprehensive and coordinated assistance to ensure their safety and support their journey toward independence and recovery. Seventeen victims ranging in age from 29-65 were identified in the operation, sixteen accepted services from medical staff and victim’s advocates.

“I am grateful to members of the Arkansas General Assembly and Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders for their support of adding a full-time human trafficking investigator to my office. That Special Agent worked tirelessly to coordinate this operation, and it wouldn’t have happened without the agent’s efforts.

“This operation is just a first step. The intelligence and evidence obtained through Operation Obscured Vision will be used in ongoing investigations and will aid in targeting similar massage parlors elsewhere in the state. The criminals who run these establishments and the men who patronize them are on notice. We are coming for you, and we will put an end to this horrific practice of exploiting women through human trafficking.”

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Four women were arrested as part of Operation Obscured Vision.

• Haiyan Lu, 54, of Harrison, one count of Promoting Prostitution in the Second Degree
• Qing Chen, 53, of Jonesboro, one count of Promoting Prostitution in the Second Degree
• Hongliang Cai, 55, of Jonesboro, one count of Promoting Prostitution in the Second Degree
• Chunli Wang, 50, of Rogers, one count of Sexual Assault in the Second Degree

Law enforcement seized nearly $70,000 during the operation. Additionally, ¥1,870 in Chinese currency was seized in Russellville. A Mercedes-Benz vehicle was seized in Rogers.

Participating law enforcement agencies in Operation Obscured Vision included:

• Arkansas Attorney General’s Office Special Investigations Division
• Arkansas State Police
• Arkansas State Fusion Center
• Jonesboro Police Department
• Harrison Police Department
• Rogers Police Department
• Benton County Sheriff’s Office
• Russellville Police Department
• Little Rock Police Department
• Hot Springs Police Department

Prosecuting Attorneys participating in Operation Obscured Vision include:

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• Sonia Hagood, Second Judicial District Prosecuting Attorney
• Jeff Phillips, Fifth Judicial District Prosecuting Attorney
• Will Jones, Sixth Judicial Prosecuting Attorney
• David Ethredge, Fourteenth Judicial District Prosecuting Attorney
• Michelle Lawrence, Eighteenth-East Judicial District Prosecuting Attorney
• Bryan Sexton, Nineteenth-West Judicial District Prosecuting Attorney

Advocate groups participating in Operation Obscured Vision included:

• Arkansas Human Trafficking Council
• Into the Light
• Freedom Finders
• Hope Found
• NWA Forensic Nursing Team/REACH
• NWA Sexual Assault Center
• We Are Free
• Regional Intervention of Sexual Exploitation (RISE)
• Children’s Protection Center (CPC) Little Rock