SHREVEPORT – The National Weather Service has issued a Flood Watch for much of the ArkLaTex region, including east Texas, northwest Louisiana, and southwest Arkansas, from 7 a.m. Wednesday through 7 p.m. Thursday.

Forecasters are warning of widespread rainfall totals between 1 to 3 inches, with localized areas potentially receiving more than 4 inches. With the ground already saturated from recent rainfall, the additional precipitation could quickly lead to flooding of low-lying areas, rivers, creeks, and roadways.

Communities such as El Dorado, Hope, Texarkana, and De Queen in southwest Arkansas, along with Shreveport, Monroe, and Natchitoches in Louisiana, are included in the watch area. Cities across east Texas such as Tyler, Longview, and Lufkin are also expected to see significant rainfall.

The National Weather Service urges residents to remain alert for changing conditions and to avoid driving through flooded roadways. The message is clear: “Turn around, don’t drown.”

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For the latest updates, visit weather.gov/shv or follow @NWSShreveport on social media.

EL DORADO – The Union County Sheriff’s Department is warning residents to be on high alert following renewed reports of a recurring scam involving fake bond payment requests.

In this scam, victims receive a phone call from someone posing as a member of law enforcement or a corrections officer. The caller falsely claims that a close family member has been arrested for a serious crime and urgently needs money for bond. The scammer then attempts to collect payment over the phone using various methods.

Authorities emphasize that no legitimate law enforcement agency operates in this manner.

“All bonds are established and handled in person through official channels,” the Sheriff’s Department stated. “If you receive a call like this, hang up immediately. If you’re unsure, contact the agency the caller claimed to represent using a verified phone number—but know that this is a scam attempt 100 percent of the time.”

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The department urges residents to remain cautious and spread awareness, especially to older individuals who may be more vulnerable to such schemes.

Anyone who believes they have been targeted by this scam should report the incident to local law enforcement immediately.

EL DORADO – The El Dorado School District has announced updates to student meal pricing and eligibility requirements for the 2025–2026 school year, emphasizing its ongoing commitment to student health and academic success.

Breakfast will continue to be provided at no cost to all students throughout the district. Lunch will also remain free for students who qualify for the Free or Reduced Meals program. However, families must submit a new meal application for the upcoming school year to determine eligibility. The application will be available beginning July 1, 2025, via the district’s website.

Students without a current application on file will be categorized as “paid” meal recipients and charged $3.00 per lunch.

“To help families determine eligibility, an income chart is available online,” said Kim Newman, Child Nutrition Director. “While the cost of paid student meals has increased to $3 this year, we remain committed to offering high-quality, nutritious meals every day. We are so grateful for the opportunity to serve our students and support their health and learning.”

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The district encourages families to streamline payments by preloading funds online at www.MyPaymentsPlus.com. Cash may also be sent to school and applied to a student’s account by cafeteria staff.

For questions regarding meal pricing or payment options, families may contact the ESD Food Services Office at 870-864-5134 or visit eldoradopublicschools.org/page/food-services.

For Sherman Glass, it was only his third time to cook steaks competitively. It turned out to be his best.

Glass and the four other members of the team Muleriders Smoke Show from Southern Arkansas University won the 2025 World Championship Steak Cook-Off at the Magnolia Blossom Festival.

Glass, an instructor of agriculture education at SAU, first began cooking at the Blossom Festival just two years ago when he was teaching agriculture education at Magnolia High School. “We built a grill at Magnolia High School, and that’s kind of how I got into grilling,” said Glass.

In 2023, Glass and his team from MHS placed 32. His team jumped up to 16th place in 2024. “I had a feeling I could make it into the top 10 this year, but I was really surprised when we won first place,” said Glass.

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Dr. Copie Moore, associate professor of agriculture science at SAU, said Glass approached her with the idea of cooking in the Steak Cook-Off back in the fall of 2024.  ” Sherman started having this crazy idea,” laughed Moore. “He said, ‘Copie, we should cook in the festival this year.’ And that’s how we started.

They were joined on the team by Emma Cook, a May 2025 graduate in agriculture education from SAU, Hannay Boyte, a former SAU graduate and the current County Extension Agent for Columbia County, and Copie’s daughter, Sadie Moore, who is taking concurrent credit at SAU as a high school student.

For Moore, it was her first year cooking, and she had to change a previously scheduled family vacation to participate in the competition.  “I had no idea what it was going to entail. I cook steaks for my family, but that’s not a big deal,” said Moore.

Glass said he enjoyed participating in the steak cooking when he taught at MHS and wanted to continue doing so at the event. “I liked the competition. And we’re the Ag Department, so it kind of made sense for us to be cooking in it,” said Glass.

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In the week leading up to the Steak Cook-Off, the steak team had the enviable task of tasting several different recipes to help select the one they would use at the Blossom Festival.  “Sherman bought steaks every day and brought them to the school to cook,” said Moore. “He’s got a recipe that he has perfected.”

Glass said he’s been tinkering with the recipe since the first time he competed in the Cook-Off.

“I mixed my own seasoning,” said Glass. “It’s something I’ve been working on over the last three years. I just change it up a little bit.”

However, Glass said the recipe is just one ingredient to a winning steak. “You’ve got to get the grill marks right; it’s got to look right. And you’ve got to get the doneness right. Those things take some practice.”

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Glass and Moore both agreed it was a memorable and rewarding day for the cooking team from SAU. “It was a good, fun, hot day,” said Glass. “We knew our number,” added Moore, referring to the team’s assigned number for the award ceremony. “When we heard it called, we jumped up—we were both a little surprised but excited.” After a full day of hard work, teamwork, and sizzling competition, the SAU team walked away with the first-place trophy. It was a proud finish to a standout moment—one that may not come often but won’t be forgotten.

EL DORADO — The City of El Dorado is celebrating the recognition of two of its own as among the best in Arkansas firefighting. Captain Joseph Perry and Captain Marlee Thurlkill were each awarded the prestigious State Firefighter of the Year Award during a statewide ceremony held this past weekend in Hot Springs.

The award, presented annually, honors outstanding service, bravery, and dedication to the fire service. Having two recipients from the same department is a rare and notable achievement—one that reflects the strength and professionalism of El Dorado’s fire personnel.

Both captains have demonstrated exceptional leadership and commitment through years of service, training, and action under pressure. Their recognition at the state level shines a spotlight on the caliber of emergency response in El Dorado.