News

Grant Brings Americorps Students To SAU Campus

Published

1 week ago

April 10, 2025

Staff Reports

MAGNOLIA – For the second consecutive year, Southern Arkansas University will receive a visit from a team of AmeriCorps NCCC (National Civilian Community Corps) workers to the campus. The team’s visit is made possible by an SAU grant.

The eight-member team will arrive on the SAU campus on April 19, and their first official day will begin on Monday, April 21. The students will stay for 12 weeks, leaving on July 13. The team will be comprised of students from around the country.

“We’re excited to have a group of students from AmeriCorps visiting our campus again this year,” said Dr. Donna Allen, vice president of student affairs at SAU. “This is a great opportunity for our campus and for our SAU+AmeriCorps VISTA students. I want to thank Kathy Gean for writing the grant and making this visit possible.”

On this visit, the AmeriCorps team will focus on SAU’s plan to improve and develop the SAU Farmstead project: sanding, priming, and painting the Farm Road fence; repairing the sand volleyball courts; repairing the farmstead road structure; repairing the cattle guards; and clearing and creating farmstead nature walk trails.

Kathy Gean, the director of the SAU+AmeriCorps VISTA program on campus, said the student group is very beneficial to SAU and the community.

“You can really see their footprint after they leave,” said Gean, who wrote the grant for the second consecutive year. “They are an impressive group of young people.”

Gean said SAU tries to make the students feel welcome and part of both the SAU and Magnolia community. “Last year, we tried to include them in training programs with our VISTA students. We tried to do a lot of extras to make them feel welcome and happy.”

In the summer of 2024, SAU hosted a 10-member team that totaled 2,086.98 hours spent working on infrastructure improvement and 524.02 hours on urban and rural development. During that visit, the AmeriCorps students repaired 1,269 feet of fencing, painted 13,478 square feet of campus rooms and hallways, and harvested 546 pounds of food from the Community Garden to help feed students through the Mulerider Market.

AmeriCorps NCCC is a federal service program that engages young adults in intensive, team-based national service to support communities across the country. Teams travel to project sites, providing hands-on assistance in areas such as disaster response, environmental conservation, and infrastructure improvement while developing leadership and teamwork skills.

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News

Grand Opening Scheduled For 7Brew Coffee

Published

15 hours ago

April 17, 2025

Grant Merrill

EL DORADO – The El Dorado-Union County Chamber of Commerce will host a ribbon cutting and grand opening ceremony for the city’s newest coffee destination, 7 Brew Drive-Thru Coffee, on Wednesday, May 8, 2025, at 10 a.m. The event will take place at the new location at 2100 N. West Avenue and is open to the public.

Founded in Rogers, Arkansas, in 2017, 7 Brew has quickly become one of the fastest-growing drive-thru coffee chains in the nation. Known for its energetic service and expansive menu of over 20,000 customizable drink combinations, 7 Brew offers a unique coffee experience designed for speed, friendliness, and flavor.

The company was launched with a mission to “cultivate kindness” through both customer service and community involvement. With locations now spread across multiple states, 7 Brew continues to grow through a combination of franchising and corporate stores, all built around its signature double-lane drive-thru model.

The grand opening will feature a formal ribbon cutting, and local officials and community members are encouraged to attend and support the launch. The event will highlight 7 Brew’s arrival as part of El Dorado’s ongoing commercial growth.

For more information on the event, contact the El Dorado-Union County Chamber of Commerce.

News

El Dorado Schools Conducting Needs Assessment Survey

Published

15 hours ago

April 17, 2025

Staff Reports

EL DORADO — The El Dorado School District is asking parents, students, and community members to participate in a Comprehensive Needs Assessment Survey as part of an effort to shape the future of local education.

The survey is designed to gather feedback on the district’s strengths, priorities, and areas for improvement. Responses will help inform decisions on programs, resources, and planning for the upcoming 2025-2026 school year.

District officials say the input collected from the community will be vital in identifying key areas for academic and operational growth. The survey is open now and will remain available through Friday, May 9, 2025.

“We want to ensure every voice is heard,” the district shared in a public message. “Your feedback plays an essential role in helping us improve and build a stronger educational environment for all students.”

The survey is available online and can be accessed by clicking here.

Community members are encouraged to complete the survey as soon as possible to ensure their voices are included in the district’s planning process.

News

Clean Harbors To Accept Hazardous Household Waste

Published

15 hours ago

April 17, 2025

Grant Merrill

EL DORADO – In a continued effort to promote environmental responsibility and community cleanup, Union County Judge Mike Loftin announced that Clean Harbors El Dorado will offer free monthly drop-off services for household hazardous waste beginning this Saturday, April 19.

The service, timed to coincide with Earth Day celebrations, will be available on the third Saturday of each month from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. through September. Residents can bring qualifying hazardous materials to the Clean Harbors facility located at 309 American Circle in El Dorado.

The program is free to the public, courtesy of Clean Harbors El Dorado. Items must be brought in sturdy, disposable containers. Accepted materials include:

Used oil and filters
Batteries
Paints
Antifreeze
Degreasers
Dry cleaning fluids
Herbicides and pesticides
Pool chemicals
Fluorescent bulbs
Over-the-counter medicines
Butane and propane cylinders

Community members with questions can contact Clean Harbors El Dorado at (870) 863-7173 for more information.

Officials encourage residents to take advantage of the service as part of a broader countywide effort to enhance environmental stewardship and keep Union County clean.

News

South Arkansas Companies, Labor Officials To Host Safety Conference Next Week

Published

15 hours ago

April 17, 2025

Staff Reports

EL DORADO – The 2025 El Dorado Safety Conference will be held Thursday, April 24, at South Arkansas Community College’s East Campus, bringing together safety professionals, employees, and business leaders for a full day of training focused on reducing workplace injuries and illnesses.

Organized by the South Arkansas Safety Advisory Group in partnership with the Arkansas Department of Labor and Licensing and the U.S. Department of Labor, the conference aims to enhance workplace hazard recognition and promote a stronger culture of safety across industries.

Registration opens at 7:15 a.m., with the conference officially beginning at 7:45 a.m. Speakers at the opening session will include Canfor representative Kelly Olivier, El Dorado Mayor Paul Choate, and Arkansas Department of Labor and Licensing Secretary Daryl Bassett.

Sessions throughout the day will include presentations on key workplace safety topics, including hazard recognition, effective communication between management and employees, mental health in the workplace, and the challenges of handling workplace fatalities. Presenters include experts from Canfor, J.A. Riggs, KScott Consults, L’Oreal, and the Arkansas Department of Labor and Licensing.

“This event is not only for hourly workers but also for managers and administrators who play a role in safety practices,” organizers noted. “It’s especially relevant for nursing home professionals seeking continuing education.”

The registration fee is $25 for both in-person and Zoom attendees, covering lunch and materials. Exhibitors can register for $30. A $10 late fee will be applied to registrations submitted after April 18. Attendees are encouraged to register early, either by mail or online through the Arkansas Department of Labor’s website.

The conference will conclude at 2:35 p.m. with a prize drawing and adjournment.

For more information, contact Nita Matlock at the Arkansas Department of Labor and Licensing, OSHA Consultation Section, at (501) 682-9092 or by email at nita.matlock@arkansas.gov.

News

UAMS to host parent session on vaping, tobacco use

Published

2 days ago

April 16, 2025

Grant Merrill

EL DORADO — Parents and guardians in South Arkansas are invited to a free educational session aimed at helping families understand the risks and warning signs associated with vapes, e-cigarettes, and tobacco products.

Hosted by the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS), the event will take place on Tuesday, April 30, 2025, at 5:30 p.m. at the Boys & Girls Club of El Dorado, located at 1201 N. West Ave.

The session, titled “Get in the Know about Vapes, E-Cigarettes, & Tobacco Products,” is designed to equip parents with knowledge about:

The different types of vapes, tobacco products, and e-cigarettes
How to recognize signs of tobacco use in teens
The health risks and effects associated with these products

Participants will receive free snacks and a $25 gift card for attending (one per household). Organizers encourage pre-registration, and a QR code is available on the event flyer for easy sign-up.

With youth vaping rates still a growing concern, the UAMS outreach aims to foster proactive conversations between parents and their children while promoting healthier communities.

For more information, contact the Boys & Girls Club of El Dorado or visit the UAMS website.