EL DORADO, Ark. — Dangerous heat will continue across South Arkansas on Wednesday as a Heat Advisory remains in effect until 8 p.m., with heat index values expected to reach 105 to 109 degrees during the afternoon and early evening.

The National Weather Service in Shreveport says afternoon high temperatures will climb into the upper 90s to near 100 degrees, while high humidity will make it feel significantly hotter.

The advisory includes all of South Arkansas, including Union, Columbia, Ouachita, Calhoun, Bradley, Ashley, and surrounding counties.

Forecasters warn that prolonged exposure to the heat can quickly lead to heat-related illnesses, especially for those working or exercising outdoors. Older adults, young children, and people with chronic health conditions are especially vulnerable.

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Residents are encouraged to:

• Drink plenty of water throughout the day.
• Limit strenuous outdoor activities during the hottest part of the afternoon.
• Stay in air-conditioned buildings whenever possible, as fans alone may not provide enough cooling during extreme heat.
• Wear lightweight, light-colored clothing.
• Never leave children or pets unattended in vehicles.

With the advisory remaining in effect through the evening commute, anyone spending time outdoors should take frequent breaks in the shade or air conditioning and watch for signs of heat exhaustion or heat stroke.

The National Weather Service says dangerous heat conditions are expected to ease after sunset, but temperatures will remain hot through the remainder of the week.

EL DORADO, Ark. — Community members interested in volunteering with the El Dorado School District during the 2026–2027 school year will need to attend one of the district’s upcoming volunteer training sessions before serving on campus.

The district has announced three training opportunities designed to prepare volunteers for working with students and staff throughout the school year. All district volunteers are required to attend at least one session.

The scheduled training dates are:

• Friday, Aug. 14 at 1 p.m.
• Tuesday, Aug. 18 at 6 p.m.
• Friday, Jan. 22 at 1 p.m.

All three sessions will be held at the South Arkansas Arts Center, located at 110 E. Fifth St. in El Dorado.

District officials encourage anyone planning to volunteer in classrooms, at school events, or with extracurricular activities during the upcoming school year to attend one of the sessions.

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The training is intended to ensure volunteers understand district expectations and procedures while helping create a safe and supportive environment for students.

Those interested in volunteering should plan to attend one of the three scheduled sessions before participating in school activities during the 2026–2027 academic year.

EL DORADO, AR – The Murphy Arts District is excited to welcome Grammy Award winning country music group Diamond Rio with special guest Abbey Cone to the First Financial Music Hall on Friday, October 16th. Doors open at 6:30pm with the concert starting at 7:30pm. Tickets go on sale to the public Friday, July 31st at 10am. Tickets can be purchased at eldomad.com and at the MAD box office at 101 East Locust Street. Ticket prices range from $25- $90 plus additional service fees. “We love giving people another reason to visit El Dorado, and Diamond Rio is the perfect addition to an exciting fall weekend,” said Pam Griffin, MAD President and CEO. “We invite fans from across the region to make a weekend of it in El Dorado and enjoy live music, great local restaurants, shopping, and the Southern hospitality that makes our community such a special destination.”

Originating as The Tennessee River Boys in the 80s, the band evolved into Diamond Rio in 1989. The following year, they signed with Arista Nashville, and in 1991, with the release of “Meet in The Middle,” became the first country music group in history to reach No. 1 with a debut single. The band is also known for their multi-week chart-topper “How Your Love Makes Me Feel,” crossover hit “One More Day,” as well as timeless hits “Beautiful Mess,” “Unbelievable,” “I Believe,” and many more. Selling more than 6.8 million albums and surpassing over 1.05 billion global streams, Diamond Rio has charted 20 Top 10 singles, 15 Top 5 singles, and seven No. 1 singles. Known for playing every note on every album throughout their career, the band’s unwavering commitment to their craft is evident in their instrumental tracks “Big,” “Appalachian Dream,” and “Poultry Promenade,” all of which received Grammy nominations for Best Country Instrumental Performance. Following their Arista Nashville deal, the band released two albums with Word Records – their Christmas album, The Star Still Shines, and their Dove and Grammy-winning Christian Country album, The Reason.

Amassing numerous accolades throughout the years, the band is a member of the Grand Ole Opry, won six Vocal Group of the Year Awards (four CMA and two ACM), received fourteen Grammy nominations, and won a Grammy Award for their album, The Reason. Known for their charitable commitments, including long-time spokespersons for Big Brothers Big Sisters, the band has raised more than $1 million for non-profits and received the Minnie Pearl Humanitarian Award.

The MAD box office is open Monday – Friday from 9:30am – 5:00pm and is located at 101 East Locust Street in El Dorado. Tickets may be purchased by web, on location, or by phone at 870-444-3007. Please visit eldomad.com for additional information.

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EL DORADO, Ark. — Tractor Supply announced it will close 75 of its 209 Petsense locations nationwide as part of an effort to focus on its strongest-performing stores.

During the company’s latest earnings call, executives said the closures are tied to underperforming locations. Six of Arkansas’ nine Petsense stores are expected to close, including locations in Searcy, Beebe, Jacksonville, Pine Bluff, Fayetteville, and El Dorado.

Despite the closures, company officials emphasized that Petsense remains a key part of Tractor Supply’s long-term strategy to serve pet owners and rural communities. Executives pointed to the company’s recent acquisitions of Allivet, an online animal pharmacy, and VIP Petcare, a mobile veterinary care provider, as evidence of its continued investment in pet care, livestock wellness, and rural living services.

Petsense was founded in 2005 with a focus on serving smaller, rural communities. Tractor Supply acquired the company in 2016, later rebranding the chain as Petsense by Tractor Supply.

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KENTUCKY LAKE, TN – The first day of the Bassmaster Junior National Championship is in the books, and South Arkansas anglers Ben Langley and Preston Phillips have put themselves in position to make a run at a national title.

The Arkansas duo brought three bass, the tournament limit, to the scales Friday, posting a total weight of 6 pounds, 10 ounces. At the time of this writing, that performance places the team inside the Top 40 among more than 150 of the nation’s best young anglers.

Perhaps even more impressive is the fact that more than 60 teams failed to weigh a single fish on a day that proved to be every bit as challenging as tournament officials and professional anglers predicted.

After several days of difficult practice, Ben and Preston said they had located a handful of productive areas and planned to rely on those spots once competition began.

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That strategy paid off.

On a lake where every bite has been hard-earned, simply finding three keeper bass proved to be an accomplishment. Their opening-day catch keeps them well within striking distance heading into the tournament’s final day.

The boys’ success comes as no surprise to those who have followed their journey.

Just six weeks ago, Ben and Preston punched their ticket to the national championship with an impressive performance at Millwood Lake near Ashdown, Arkansas. Their five-fish limit weighing 20.75 pounds secured a second-place finish and earned them the opportunity to represent Arkansas on one of youth bass fishing’s biggest stages.

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Now, with one day remaining, the dream is still very much alive.

If they can build on Friday’s momentum and capitalize on the productive areas they discovered during practice, Ben and Preston could climb even higher in the standings before the final fish is weighed.

No matter where they finish, the two young anglers have already represented Arkansas with determination, composure, and the kind of grit that championship fishing demands.

Saturday will decide the final standings, but after surviving one of the toughest opening days of the tournament, Ben Langley and Preston Phillips have earned the chance to keep chasing a national championship.

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