PARIS, TN – One week after two South Arkansas youngsters represented the Natural State at the Bassmaster Junior National Championship, another local duo is making plenty of noise on the national stage.

Kolby Michael, a junior at El Dorado High School, and Nash Taylor, a junior at Lakeside High School, have earned a coveted spot in the final day of the Bassmaster High School National Championship on Kentucky Lake in Paris, Tennessee, after surviving one of the largest and most competitive fields in high school bass fishing.

The pair qualified for the national championship by finishing fifth at the Arkansas Youth Bass Nation High School State Tournament. While only the top three teams typically advance to nationals, two of the teams ahead of them had already secured national berths, allowing Kolby and Nash to receive an invitation.

“You know, there were 64 boats in the state tournament and to come in the top five was great,” Taylor said. “Then getting a berth in the national tournament was even better.”

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Although this is their second trip to the national championship, the team knew they had an opportunity to accomplish something few Arkansas anglers ever have.

“In all the years of this tournament, we are only the third team from Arkansas to ever qualify for fishing the final day,” Kolby said.

Unlike the junior division, where all teams fish multiple days, the high school championship features a dramatic cut after the second day. Of the 216 teams that began the tournament, only the top 25 would earn the right to compete on Championship Saturday.

Leading up to the event, practice had been anything but predictable.

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“It was like nothing, nothing, nothing… and then BAM, we’re catching them,” Nash said. “And then it would just shut off.”

That unpredictable pattern carried into the opening day of competition.

“We didn’t get to our spot until about 7:20 that morning,” Michael explained. “We had a late boat number, like 168 or something, so it took a long time to get there. We didn’t get a bite until about 9:30, and then we got our first keeper in the boat. We caught the rest of our keepers between then and about noon.”

At the Day One weigh-in, the pair brought three largemouth bass, the tournament limit, to the scales for a total of 11 pounds, 4 ounces, placing them inside the tournament’s top 15.

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Still, neither angler felt comfortable. Knowing, in a tournament like this, one or two fish can completely change everything.

Day Two brought more of the same roller coaster.

“Kolby lost a good one… and I mean a real good one this morning around 9:30,” Nash said. “But shortly after that we got our first keeper in the boat, and then we kept catching them until about 12:30. After that, there was nothing.”

As teams gathered for the second weigh-in, the tension was unmistakable. Only 25 teams would survive the cut.

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When Kolby and Nash stepped onto the stage, their three-fish limit weighed 9 pounds, 7 ounces, giving them a two-day total of 20 pounds, 11 ounces.

When the final standings were posted, the team found themselves tied for 15th place, comfortably inside the cut line and officially headed to Championship Saturday.

Beyond the tournament itself, the week has also provided an opportunity to pursue their future goals. Both young men hope to continue their fishing careers at the collegiate level on scholarship.

They said numerous college fishing coaches have attended the national championship throughout the week, and Nash plans to continue showcasing his skills by attending the College Fishing Combine in September.

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Before turning their attention to the tournament’s final day, both anglers made it clear they didn’t reach this stage alone.

They expressed their appreciation to Lakeside Fishing Team sponsor Christy Culbreath and Arkansas Youth Bass Nation State Director, Luci Johnson for their continued support and encouragement.

With a spot in the championship round already secured, Michael and Taylor have already made Arkansas bass fishing history. Now, they’ll spend Saturday chasing something even bigger: a Bassmaster High School National Championship.

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THORNTON, Ark. — A Monticello man was killed Monday evening after the fuel truck he was driving crashed, overturned and caught fire on U.S. Highway 167 near Thornton, according to the Arkansas State Police.

A preliminary crash report identified the victim as James Westerbuhr, 48, of Monticello.

Investigators said Westerbuhr was driving a 2018 Freightliner southbound on U.S. 167 at approximately 6 p.m. when the tractor-trailer left the roadway, struck two embankments, overturned and burst into flames.

Westerbuhr died in the crash.

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The truck was carrying fuel at the time of the wreck, prompting authorities to temporarily shut down the highway and reroute traffic through Thornton while emergency crews responded to the scene.

The crash caused significant disruptions for motorists Monday evening as firefighters worked to extinguish the blaze and officials secured the area.

The Arkansas State Police continue to investigate what caused the truck to leave the roadway. No additional vehicles were reported to have been involved in the crash.

The incident remains under investigation.

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EL DORADO, Ark. — A Heat Advisory remains in effect across South Arkansas through 8 p.m. Friday, with forecasters warning that dangerously hot conditions will continue through the afternoon and early evening.

According to the National Weather Service in Shreveport, afternoon high temperatures are expected to climb into the mid-90s to near 100 degrees, while heat index values could reach 105 to 109 degrees.

The advisory includes much of southwest Arkansas, along with portions of east Texas, southeast Oklahoma and northern Louisiana.

Meteorologists are urging residents to take precautions if spending time outdoors. Heat-related illnesses can develop quickly when temperatures and humidity combine to create dangerous conditions.

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Officials recommend:

• Drink plenty of water and stay hydrated.
• Limit strenuous outdoor activities during the hottest part of the day.
• Spend time in air-conditioned buildings whenever possible, as fans alone may not provide enough relief during extreme heat.
• Wear lightweight, light-colored clothing to help stay cool.

Anyone working or exercising outdoors should take frequent breaks in the shade or air conditioning and watch for signs of heat exhaustion or heat stroke. Older adults, young children and people with chronic medical conditions are especially vulnerable to extreme heat.

The Heat Advisory is scheduled to remain in effect until 8 p.m. Friday.

EL DORADO, Ark. — The El Dorado-Union County Chamber of Commerce is inviting the community to celebrate the continued growth of a local business during a ribbon cutting ceremony for WalkingCanes.com next week.

The event will be held Thursday, Aug. 6, at 1:30 p.m. at 2016 N. College Ave. in El Dorado.

The ceremony will recognize WalkingCanes.com and its continued investment in the El Dorado community. Chamber officials say the event is an opportunity to celebrate the business’s success while welcoming community members, local leaders and fellow Chamber members.

The public is invited to attend, and organizers encourage residents to come out to show their support for the locally based company.

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The El Dorado-Union County Chamber of Commerce regularly hosts ribbon cuttings to recognize new businesses, expansions and milestone achievements that contribute to the local economy and strengthen the business community.

EL DORADO — Members of Leadership Union County’s Class 15 are asking the community to help make cancer treatment a little more comfortable for local patients through a new donation drive benefiting the CARTI Cancer Center in El Dorado.

As part of the class’s community service project, organizers are collecting comfort items that can help ease some of the side effects experienced during cancer treatment. Rather than accepting general donations, the group has created an Amazon Wish List featuring specific products recommended for cancer patients.

Requested items include Squigle Toothpaste, OraCoat XyliGel Dry Mouth Gel, and Ice Chips Candy with Xylitol. The products are designed to help relieve dry mouth, mouth sensitivity and other common treatment-related discomforts.

Community members can support the project by purchasing items directly from the Amazon Wish List using the QR code featured on the campaign flyer. Every item purchased will be delivered to help provide comfort and care for patients receiving treatment at the CARTI Cancer Center in El Dorado.

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The donation drive will continue through October 2.

Leadership Union County says the project is an opportunity for residents to make a meaningful difference for neighbors facing cancer by providing practical items that can offer relief during treatment.

For more information or to access the Amazon Wish List, scan the QR code on the campaign materials or visit SideEffectsSupport.com.

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