HAMPTON — The Calhoun County Sheriff’s Office has issued an immediate evacuation order for residents in part of the county as emergency crews respond to an ongoing fire.

Authorities are ordering anyone living north of Arkansas Highway 278, from Calhoun Road 10 to Calhoun Road 95, to evacuate their home or other structure immediately.

The Sheriff’s Office is urging residents in the affected area to leave now and avoid the area to allow firefighters and other emergency personnel unrestricted access.

Temporary shelters have been established in Hampton for residents displaced by the fire and evacuation.

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Shelters are available at Victory Baptist Church, 320 S. Second St.; the Hampton High School Library, 419 E. Main St.; and Hampton First Assembly of God Church, 248 Sixth St.

Anyone who has been ordered to evacuate or who does not feel safe remaining at home is encouraged to go to one of the temporary shelter locations.

Residents evacuating the area should take essential medications, identification, important documents, mobile phones and chargers, and necessary supplies for children and pets if they can do so without delaying their departure. Residents should not attempt to enter closed or threatened areas to retrieve belongings.

Drivers are also urged to stay away from the affected area unless they are evacuating. Keeping roads clear will allow fire crews, law enforcement and other emergency responders to move equipment and personnel where they are needed.

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The Calhoun County Sheriff’s Office is asking the public to immediately share the evacuation information so residents who may not have received the initial warning can be notified.

This is a developing situation. South Arkansas Now will provide additional information on the fire, evacuation area and shelter operations as it becomes available.

UNION COUNTY, AR – Sheriff Charlie Phillips, at 10:03 this morning, activated an emergency notice to citizrens of Union County, Arkansas. The notice says, “Please exercise caution when traveling on Oakland Road near the Stateline. There is an overturned 18-wheeler and traffic is down to one lane at this time.”

There is no mention of injuries or hazards beyond the single lane closure. As more information becomes available, South Arkansas Now will pass it along.

EL DORADO — Dangerous heat will continue across South Arkansas as a Heat Advisory remains in effect through 7 p.m. Tuesday, with afternoon heat index values expected to climb as high as 109 degrees.

The National Weather Service in Shreveport says high temperatures across the region will range from the middle 90s to near 100 degrees. When combined with high humidity, conditions could make it feel between 105 and 109 degrees during the hottest portions of the afternoon.

The advisory includes portions of southwest and south-central Arkansas, including the El Dorado area, as well as southeast Oklahoma, East Texas and northern and central Louisiana.

Anyone spending time outdoors is urged to take precautions, particularly during the afternoon. Those working outside should take frequent breaks in shaded or air-conditioned areas and drink plenty of water. Strenuous outdoor activities should be postponed until cooler parts of the day when possible.

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Residents should also wear lightweight, loose-fitting and light-colored clothing and never leave children or pets unattended inside a vehicle. The National Weather Service notes that fans alone may not provide adequate protection during extreme heat, and those with access to air conditioning are encouraged to use it.

People should also know the warning signs of heat-related illness. Heat exhaustion can include heavy sweating, weakness, dizziness, headache, nausea, muscle cramps and cool or clammy skin. Anyone experiencing those symptoms should move to a cooler location, drink water and seek medical attention if symptoms worsen or do not improve.

Heat stroke is a medical emergency. Warning signs can include confusion, loss of consciousness, seizures and extremely high body temperature. If heat stroke is suspected, call 911 immediately and begin cooling the person while waiting for emergency help. Do not give fluids to an unconscious person.

Older adults, young children, people with chronic medical conditions and those who work or exercise outdoors can be especially vulnerable to heat-related illness. Residents are also encouraged to check on relatives, friends and neighbors who may not have reliable air conditioning.

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The Heat Advisory is scheduled to remain in effect through 7 p.m. Tuesday.

EL DORADO — The El Dorado School District Orchestras are turning mattresses into music with a special one-day fundraiser benefiting the district’s orchestra programs.

The El Dorado School District Orchestras will host a Mattress Sale Fundraiser from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 12, in the El Dorado High School cafeteria.

Organizers say the event will feature a selection of mattresses from major brands along with other sleep-related products. Shoppers will also be able to purchase items including pillows and mattress toppers.

A portion of each purchase made during the event will benefit the El Dorado School District Orchestras, providing an opportunity for residents to shop for products they may already need while supporting local student musicians.

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Organizers are encouraging members of the community to spread the word about the fundraiser, particularly to friends and family members who may be planning to purchase a new mattress or other sleep products.

The fundraiser will be held for one day only, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at the El Dorado High School cafeteria. Proceeds from purchases will benefit the El Dorado School District Orchestras.

MAGNOLIA – Astronauts know the strange feeling of returning to Earth after a flight in space.

NASA employee Chris Blanks now knows what it is like to re-enter a world after a long absence.

Blanks, a lead SharePoint developer with NASA in Houston, has returned to Southern Arkansas University to complete his degree more than 20 years after first enrolling.

“It’s a goal that I’ve had,” Blanks said of his return to SAU. “Regardless of the success I’ve had in life, there’s a level of fulfillment in me for finishing college.”

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Blanks began at SAU in the summer of 2004 after being recruited to play defensive end for the Muleriders out of Elsik High School in Houston. Even as a freshman, he knew he wanted to pursue a career in a technical field. However, he had no idea of the twists and turns his life would take.

“Going into college, I always wanted to be an engineer, so I always had my sights set on something technical,” Blanks said. “With the degree options available at SAU, I thought I might end up in the field of information systems.”

Blanks attended SAU and played for the Muleriders through the fall of 2005 before returning home with hopes of continuing his football career.

“I took a step back and returned to the Houston area,” Blanks said. “I wanted to put myself in a position to continue my football career in a different place closer to home.”

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After attending community college for a year, Blanks enrolled at Prairie View A&M University in the spring of 2007 with plans to join the football team. However, issues with his transfer prevented him from joining the team.

During this time, he began working toward a degree in information systems. “That laid the foundation for my career now and my return to SAU,” Blanks said.

Another turning point came in 2007 when Blanks earned an internship with M-I SWACO, a drilling company that provided environmental solutions. As an intern, Blanks built prototypes for drilling solutions, including a method for extracting fluids from oil-saturated cuttings pulled during drilling.

“We did it in a way that was environmentally safe,” Blanks said.

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The company was acquired by Schlumberger in 2010. Blanks went on to work as a control systems engineer and business analyst, spending time in Italy during his final year with the company.

In 2013, Blanks accepted a position as a technical systems analyst with BMC Software in the Houston area, where he worked on a company rebranding project. He then became a senior business systems analyst with Anadarko Petroleum Corp. in the fall of 2014.

Five years later, Blanks joined Occidental Drilling Solutions. When the COVID-19 pandemic began the following spring, he transitioned to remote work as an IT consultant with Sony Corporation of America.

Blanks joined NASA in May of 2025 and still finds it a dream come true.

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“It’s amazing. It’s a dream,” Blanks said. “I spent a lot of time looking up at the stars and wondering what was out there. And to be one step closer is a dream to me.”

Chris Blanks and daughter, Christian

A visit to the SAU campus in 2025 reignited his desire to finish what he had started more than two decades earlier.

Blanks has a 15-year-old daughter, Christian, and hopes his commitment to completing his education will serve as an example to her.

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“I hope that my returning to school can be an example to her,” Blanks said. “When I advocate for education, I don’t want there to be any appearance of being a hypocrite or any doubt in her ability to accomplish any goal that she sets for herself.”

“When she sees me up late, she’s always asking if she can help with my homework,” Blanks added with a laugh.

During his first years at SAU, Blanks became a member of the Kappa Iota chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity. He has remained an active alumnus of the organization.

Blanks returned to the classroom at SAU in spring 2026, taking his first classes at the University in more than 20 years. He was named to the Dean’s List and is set to earn his associate degree in December. He is on track to graduate with a degree in information systems analytics in spring 2028.

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He hopes his story will inspire others who may be considering returning to college after time away.

“I think about how immensely blessed I have been,” Blanks said. “I think about what this means to those around me. It’s a blessing to be able to help others and help my daughter.”

For those who wonder whether they, like Blanks, can return to school after years away, he has an emphatic answer.

“You can do it,” Blanks said. “It’s never too late. There are opportunities. If you really want to do it, you’ll find a way.”

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