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“He’s Lucky To Be Alive! God Has A Plan For Him!”

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Jace Meshell with the "Big One" he killed in November of 2023. The deer measured more than 143"

STRONG, AR – On November 7th of 2023, Jace Meshell cried the happiest tears of his life as he called his mom, Brittney, from the woods to tell her he had dropped the biggest deer he had ever seen. “It’s the big one, I got the big one!” Jace said through tears and heaving for breath as his dad, Justin recorded him. 

Fast forward to April of this year and Jace called his mom and dad again, in tears. However, this time he told them had been in an accident on his four wheeler. While riding on family property Jace’s ATV flipped and rolled on top of him. The accident fractured his skull, broke his nose and his arm. Pinned under the ATV, Jace mustered the strength to push it off of him and somehow dig in his pocket for his cell phone. Injured and knowing he needed help, he tried to call his parents. But, as is often the case in the rural parts of Union County, he had no signal. 

With pure determination, strength, grit and possibly even some divine intervention, Jace somehow walked until he was able to get a signal on his phone and made that call. Jace’s parents made it to his location in minutes and called an ambulance. Paramedics arrived and called for a helicopter. 

Life flighted to Arkansas Children’s Hospital in Little Rock, Jace immediately underwent surgery. “They did the surgery as soon as we got there, they said everything went great and he should make a 100% recovery. I have never prayed so much before in my life! God has a plan for him and I told him that. Children’s (Hospital) was amazing, I have never met so many incredible people that work so hard to perfect their job!” Justin said. 

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Jace’s dad, Justin Meshell, is a technician for CARSTAR Laneys Collision Center in El Dorado, where he has worked his way up through the ranks for more than 10 years. The employees of Laneys are holding a benefit car wash to help Justin and Brittney with medical expenses that are a result of Jace’s accident. “It was all them, it was the team.” Lane Griffin, co-owner of Laneys Collision said, talking about the employees of Laneys. “They are the ones who came up with the idea.”

The car wash will be Saturday, April 26th from 10 A.M. until 2 P.M. and donations will be accepted for the service of washing the car. All proceeds from the event will go directly to the family and donations of any size help.

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Severe storms drop large hail in South Arkansas Tuesday

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EL DORADO – A strong line of storms swept across South Arkansas on Tuesday afternoon, bringing large hail and intense wind to parts of Union County, though the area was spared from any tornadic activity.

A Severe Thunderstorm Warning was issued for Union County at approximately 3:15 p.m., as the leading edge of a storm system that had already impacted East Texas and Louisiana moved into the region. In El Dorado, the storm delivered a burst of severe weather, prompting numerous reports of hail to the South Arkansas Now newsroom.

Among the most notable reports, South Arkansas Now’s Sandy Sanford captured video of ping-pong ball-sized hail falling near the El Dorado Racquet Club. Meanwhile, Storm Chaser Jax Sanford observed and reported quarter-sized hail as he tracked the storm through the city.

While Union County remained outside of the tornado warnings issued for the day, the storm system did trigger warnings just to the south in Monroe and Sterlington, Louisiana, as much of northern Louisiana was placed under a tornado watch for the afternoon.

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Following Tuesday’s round of severe weather, the forecast calls for a return to calm conditions. Meteorologists expect sunny skies and pleasant temperatures in the mid-80s as South Arkansas heads into the weekend, with no additional severe weather anticipated.

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El Dorado Orchestras Present Spring Concert Thursday

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EL DORADO – The El Dorado School District (ESD) Orchestras will present their annual Spring Orchestra Concert on Thursday, May 8, 2025, at 6:00 p.m. in the El Dorado High School Auditorium. The event is free and open to the public.

The evening will showcase a wide range of talent from across the district, with performances by:

  • Washington Middle School Beginner Orchestra

  • Washington Middle School Advanced Orchestra

  • Barton Junior High Orchestra

  • El Dorado High School String Orchestra

  • The inaugural El Dorado High School Full Symphony Orchestra

An awards banquet will follow the concert, recognizing outstanding student musicians and celebrating the year’s accomplishments.

Families, friends, and community members are encouraged to attend and support these young performers in what promises to be a memorable night of music and recognition.

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Business Finance Workshop Set For May 13th

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CAMDEN – Small business owners and entrepreneurs looking to get a better handle on their finances are invited to attend a free workshop titled Business Money Management Made Easy on Tuesday, May 13, at noon.

The session will take place in person at 570 Ben Lane in Camden and will also be available online for remote participants. Hosted by business development experts, the event is designed to simplify financial concepts and provide actionable tools for managing money effectively.

The workshop will cover essential financial topics including:

  • Recordkeeping and bookkeeping fundamentals

  • Choosing the right bookkeeping software

  • Understanding financial statements like balance sheets, income statements, and cash flow reports

  • Quick tools to assess the financial health of your business

The event is free to attend, but registration is required. Participants can sign up at https://asbtdc.ecenterdirect.com/events/70372298.

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Whether attending in person or online, this workshop offers a valuable opportunity for business owners to gain clarity and confidence in managing their business finances.

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Parkers Chapel STEM Camp Returns In July

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EL DORADO – Students entering grades 3 through 6 will have the chance to explore the exciting world of science, technology, engineering, and math at the upcoming Parkers Chapel STEM Camp, set for July 22–24, 2025.

Held at Parkers Chapel School, the camp runs daily from 8:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. and is open to students currently in 3rd, 4th, 5th, or 6th grade. The cost is $90 per student, which includes a camp t-shirt and daily snacks. Participants must bring their own lunch.

Space is limited to just 40 students, and registration is on a first-come, first-served basis. Payment is required at the time of registration to secure a spot.

Camp activities include a dynamic mix of hands-on STEM projects and interactive learning sessions. Highlights include:

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  • ESports
  • Robotics
  • Drones
  • T-Shirt Creation

Organizers emphasize the importance of early registration due to high interest in past years. The camp is designed to give students a fun, engaging introduction to emerging technologies and real-world applications of STEM education.

Parents can register their children online using the official sign-up form at https://5il.co/3ffed.

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Early voting underway on El Dorado Wins initiative

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EL DORADO – Early voting is now underway for a special election that will determine the future of a new funding initiative known as El Dorado WINS, a proposal aimed at boosting public services, infrastructure, and community development within the city limits.

The special election is set for Tuesday, May 13, 2025, and only registered voters residing within El Dorado city limits are eligible to vote. The initiative proposes a new revenue stream that would be distributed across six key areas:

  • 25% to Parks & Recreation, aimed at expanding existing parks and creating more spaces for public events and community gatherings.

  • 20% to Public Works, with a focus on improving streets, water systems, and sewer infrastructure.

  • 20% to Public Safety, designated for enhancing police and fire services.

  • 20% for Future Development to support long-term planning and city growth.

  • 10% for Economic Development to attract new businesses and strengthen the local economy.

  • 5% to South Arkansas College for the maintenance and operation of its Conference Center.

In the weeks leading up to early voting, city officials and stakeholders have hosted a series of community meetings to gather input from residents. These meetings have included discussions not only on the El Dorado WINS proposal but also on the broader vision for the city’s park system and recreational offerings.

City leaders have framed the initiative as a strategic investment in El Dorado’s future, emphasizing the importance of diversified funding to meet the evolving needs of the community.

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Voters can cast their ballots early at the Union County Courthouse during regular business hours through the end of the early voting period.

The outcome of the May 13 election will determine whether the proposed allocations become part of El Dorado’s next phase of public investment.

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