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Former President Jimmy Carter remembered

PLAINS, GA – Jimmy Carter, the 39th president of the United States and a lifelong advocate for peace, human rights, and public service, died on Sunday, December 29, 2024. He was 100.
The Carter Center announced his death in a statement, saying he passed away peacefully at his home in Plains, Georgia, surrounded by family. Carter had been in hospice care since February after a series of health challenges in recent years.
Carter, a Democrat, served as president from 1977 to 1981, focusing on issues like energy independence, environmental conservation, and international diplomacy. His administration is perhaps best remembered for brokering the historic Camp David Accords between Egypt and Israel. After leaving the White House, Carter dedicated his life to humanitarian efforts, earning the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002 for his work promoting democracy, health, and peace worldwide.
“Hillary and I mourn the passing of President Jimmy Carter and give thanks for his long, good life. Guided by his faith, President Carter lived to serve others—until the very end,” former President Bill Clinton said in a statement. “From his commitment to civil rights as a state senator and governor of Georgia; to his efforts as President to protect our natural resources in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, make energy conservation a national priority, return the Panama Canal to Panama, and secure peace between Egypt and Israel at Camp David; to his post-Presidential efforts at the Carter Center supporting honest elections, advancing peace, combating disease, and promoting democracy; to his and Rosalynn’s devotion and hard work at Habitat for Humanity—he worked tirelessly for a better, fairer world.”
Clinton served for his first term as governor of Arkansas from 1979 to 1981, the last half of Carter’s presidency.
“Hillary and I met President Carter in 1975 and were proud, early supporters of his Presidential campaign. I will always be proud to have presented the Medal of Freedom to him and Rosalynn in 1999, and to have worked with him in the years after he left the White House,” the former president noted. “Our prayers are with Jack, Chip, Jeff, Amy, and their families.”
Politicians on both sides of the aisle are offering their condolences.
“Jimmy Carter devoted his life to his faith, community, and country,” Senator John Boozman (R-Arkansas) noted. “He was a humanitarian at heart and touched the lives of those around him as well as countless others across the world. Service, leadership, compassion, and character will define his extraordinary legacy. My thoughts and prayers are with the Carter family and all those who admired President Carter as our country remembers and honors him.”
“Jimmy Carter will be remembered for his compassion, his servant heart & his long post presidency record,” former Governor Asa Hutchinson said Sunday. “He set an example of public service through Habitat for Humanity & international relief work. He was committed to Middle East peace which resulted with an accord with Egypt.”
Born on October 1, 1924, in Plains, Carter was a naval officer, peanut farmer, and Georgia governor before ascending to the presidency. His time in office faced challenges, including economic struggles and the Iran hostage crisis, but his post-presidential years solidified his reputation as one of America’s most admired statesmen.
In addition to his work through the Carter Center, he was a devoted volunteer with Habitat for Humanity and an author of numerous books. He often spoke of his faith, attributing much of his life’s work to his Christian values.
Carter is survived by his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. A funeral service is expected to take place in Plains, in accordance with his wishes for a simple, modest ceremony.
News
South Arkansas Native Named President Of Central Baptist College

CONWAY — Dr. Jeremy Langley has been appointed as the next president of Central Baptist College, the institution’s Board of Trustees announced last week. Langley assumed the role on May 27, becoming the tenth president in the college’s 73-year history.
Langley brings more than two decades of combined experience in higher education, ministry, and leadership to the position. He has served as CBC’s executive vice president since August 2024. Before arriving in Conway, he spent more than a decade as the associate pastor of Brister Baptist Church in Emerson and seven years in various roles at Southern Arkansas University, including assistant to the president, associate director of athletics, and assistant director of development.
“Speaking for the entire CBC board, we are thrilled to name Dr. Jeremy Langley as the new President of Central Baptist College,” said Kirk Shelton, Board Chairman. “Our search began over a year ago with the announcement of President Kimbrow’s planned retirement this year. We believe that God brought Dr. Langley to us, and as one board member said, ‘he checked all the boxes and exceeded our expectations.’ Dr. Langley hit the ground running working alongside President Kimbrow last fall and has developed a great relationship with administration, faculty, and staff. I believe he is the right man in the right place at the right time.”
Langley holds a Doctor of Ministry degree in Ministry Leadership from Liberty University, a Master of Arts in Pastoral Theology from the Baptist Missionary Association Theological Seminary, a Master of Public Administration from Southern Arkansas University, and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Mass Communications from Ouachita Baptist University. He formerly served as a Justice of the Peace on the Columbia County Quorum Court, where he chaired the Court’s finance committee.
“I am honored to accept the call to serve as president of Central Baptist College,” Langley said. “This institution has a rich legacy of preparing students for lives of service grounded in biblical truth. I look forward to building on that legacy and leading the college into a season of growth and impact. My chief goal is to ensure CBC continues to be a place where Christ is exalted and God is glorified.”
Langley succeeds Terry Kimbrow, who retired May 26 after more than 20 years as president.
Founded in 1952 and affiliated with the Baptist Missionary Association of Arkansas, Central Baptist College is committed to transforming lives through education that integrates Christian faith and academic excellence in a Christ-centered environment.
For more information, visit www.cbc.edu.
News
Victim Identified in Lake Erling Drowning

LEWISVILLE — Authorities have identified the victim of a fatal boating accident Saturday on Lake Erling as Curtis James Hildreth, 62, of Columbia County Road 12 southwest of Magnolia, according to a report from HopePrescott.Com.
The incident occurred at approximately 2:10 p.m. on Saturday, May 31, 2025, when a 12-foot john boat carrying two individuals and a dog capsized while attempting to reach the shore due to increasing winds. The boat overturned in about six feet of water, resulting in Hildreth’s drowning. The second individual and the dog survived after making it safely to the bank. Authorities have not released the name of the survivor.
Emergency crews from the Walker Creek and Lake Erling Volunteer Fire Departments responded to the scene, along with the Lafayette County Sheriff’s Office. The Springhill, Louisiana Fire Department Dive Team was called in and recovered Hildreth’s body at approximately 5:15 p.m. that evening. The incident occurred near Lafayette County Road 69 on the east side of the lake.
Hildreth’s body was released to Henderson’s Mortuary of Magnolia.
Local officials remind boaters to take extra precautions in high winds and to always wear life jackets while on the water.
News
Date Set For Wildcat Football Golf Scramble

EL DORADO — Supporters of El Dorado High School football are invited to hit the links this summer at the 2025 Wildcat Football Golf Scramble, scheduled for Friday, August 22, 2025, at the prestigious Mystic Creek Golf Club.
This annual event helps raise funds for the Wildcat football program and brings together alumni, local businesses, and fans for a fun-filled day of golf and community spirit. The scramble will be held at 191 Clubhouse Drive in El Dorado, one of South Arkansas’ premier golf destinations.
While full details, including team registration, sponsorship opportunities, and tee times, are still to come, organizers encourage supporters to save the date now and prepare to take part in this tradition of athletic support and local pride.
The 2025 Wildcat Football Golf Scramble promises a great opportunity to connect with other supporters, enjoy a beautiful day on the course, and contribute to the continued success of El Dorado’s student-athletes. Stay tuned for more information in the coming weeks.
News
NOAA Weather Radios Offline Through Wednesday

SHREVEPORT — The National Weather Service (NWS) in Shreveport has announced a planned system upgrade that will temporarily interrupt NOAA Weather Radio broadcasts across portions of Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, and Texas.
From Sunday, June 2 through Tuesday, June 4, all NOAA Weather Radio transmitters maintained by NWS Shreveport will be offline as part of a required update to the agency’s weather processing systems.
Communities that will be affected include:
- Shreveport
- Monroe
- Texarkana
- Tyler
- Lufkin
- Gilmer
- Broken Bow
- Natchitoches
- Center
- El Dorado
- Marietta
Residents in these areas are urged to prepare now by ensuring they have alternate ways to receive weather alerts, including:
- Mobile weather apps
- Wireless emergency alerts (WEA) on smartphones
- Local news and radio broadcasts
- Social media updates from trusted emergency sources
Although the NOAA Weather Radio service will be down, the NWS Shreveport office will remain open and fully staffed throughout the duration of the upgrade. Forecasts, warnings, and emergency alerts will continue to be issued through all other available channels.
Officials emphasize the importance of staying weather-aware during this outage and making sure households have multiple methods of receiving potentially life-saving information, especially during severe weather.
For more updates, visit weather.gov/shv or follow @NWSShreveport on social media.
News
FEMA Reps TO Visit Camden This Week

CAMDEN — In response to the recent devastating flooding across South Arkansas, the Ouachita County Sheriff’s Department has announced that FEMA representatives will be on site at the Ouachita County Courthouse to assist residents with disaster relief applications.
The FEMA assistance center will be open Wednesday, June 4 through Saturday, June 7, from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. daily, at the Downtown Courthouse in Camden.
Severe storms throughout late May led to widespread flooding across Ouachita and neighboring counties, prompting road closures, evacuations, and damage to homes, farms, and local infrastructure. Many residents experienced significant property loss due to rising waters, especially in low-lying areas near creeks and rivers that overflowed their banks after multiple days of heavy rain.
Officials are urging anyone affected by the flooding—whether through damage to homes, vehicles, or property—to visit the FEMA site and apply for individual and household assistance. FEMA staff will be on hand to walk residents through the process, answer questions, and ensure proper documentation is submitted.
Residents are encouraged to bring identification, proof of residence, insurance information, and documentation of flood damage if available.
Additional updates will be posted on the Ouachita County Sheriff’s Department social media and the county’s emergency management website.
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