News

AGFC monitoring bird flu across the state

Published

6 months ago

December 6, 2024

Staff Reports

LITTLE ROCK — The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission is asking waterfowl hunters and wildlife watchers heading to the field to keep an eye out for any sick or dead birds they find in the wild that may be the result of avian influenza. The risk of humans contracting the disease remains low, but hunters can minimize that risk by following a few simple precautions.

Hunters and wildlife watchers who observe concentrations of sick or dead birds should contact the AGFC’s wildlife health program through www.agfc.com/avianflu with information about the species, number of birds affected and location.

According to Dr. Jenn Ballard, AGFC state wildlife veterinarian, this is the third year since Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza was detected in the U.S. and it’s likely that periodic outbreaks will continue to occur.

“We’re getting reports consistent with cases in previous years and confirmation testing is underway,” Ballard said. “The reports so far this year have been almost exclusively snow geese with most being juveniles.”

According to Ballard, various low pathogenicity strains of influenza always circulate in wild bird populations, but HPAI has much more potential to spread and has caused billions of dollars of damage to domestic poultry production in Asia, Europe and North America.

Waterfowl hunters may remember finding dead and dying snow geese in 2022, particularly at the beginning of the waterfowl season in Arkansas rice fields.

“Mortality in 2022 was primarily found in those snow goose populations, but a few other duck species and raptors were affected as well,” Ballard said. “Eagles and hawks that may have preyed upon sick or dying geese were confirmed with the HPAI pathogen.”

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the risk for humans to contract HPAI is still low, but people who find birds that are obviously sick or bewildered should report them to the AGFC and refrain from handling them. The pathogen has also been found to affect dairy cattle, so anyone who works around any poultry or livestock should use extreme caution and practice good hygiene practices when handling, cleaning and preparing harvested waterfowl.

Safety Guidelines for Hunters

Harvest only waterfowl that act and look healthy. Do not handle or eat sick animals.
Wear disposable gloves when handling and cleaning game and field dress outdoors or in a well-ventilated area. Wash hands thoroughly with soap and water afterward.
Dispose of unwanted parts in a manner that prevents scavenging by domestic animals and wildlife.
Thoroughly cook all game to an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit before eating it.
Do not feed pets or domestic animals uncooked portions of waterfowl.
Avoid contact between poultry and livestock and wild birds or their parts. After handling waterfowl, change or clean clothing, shoes and other equipment before coming into contact with domestic animals and livestock, including commercial production facilities and backyard flocks.

More information on avian influenza is available at USDA APHIS’s website.

News

South Arkansas Native Named President Of Central Baptist College

Published

4 hours ago

June 2, 2025

Staff Reports

CBC President Dr. Jeremy Langley

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

Published

6 hours ago

June 2, 2025

Staff Reports

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

Published

6 hours ago

June 2, 2025

Staff Reports

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

Published

6 hours ago

June 2, 2025

Staff Reports

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

Published

6 hours ago

June 2, 2025

Staff Reports

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.