EL DORADO, AR – Community members are invited to lace up their running shoes and support a meaningful cause during the #TeamLance Fun Run, taking place Saturday, June 20, in downtown El Dorado.

Hosted by the Team Lance Yarbrough Foundation, the event will begin at the Murphy Arts District (MAD) and bring together participants for a morning of fitness, fellowship, and fundraising.

Check-in and on-site registration will begin at 7 a.m. near the 101 Restaurant and MAD Ticket Office. Opening remarks and announcements are scheduled for 7:45 a.m., with the fun run officially getting underway at 8:07 a.m.

Organizers say the route will cover approximately 1.6 miles and is expected to take participants about an hour to complete. Two hydration stations will be available along the course, sponsored by Murphy USA and Main Street Pizza.

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Following the run, participants can enjoy beverages and snacks at the finish line. The event will also feature vendors, giveaways, and opportunities for community fellowship at the MAD Pavilion and Amphitheater.

Additional amenities include free parking throughout the Murphy Arts District area and public restroom access at the MAD Playscape.

The event is expected to conclude around noon.

The Team Lance Yarbrough Foundation works to support education and healthcare-related initiatives, and organizers hope the event will bring the community together while raising awareness for the foundation’s mission.

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Residents of all ages and fitness levels are encouraged to participate and show their support.

For those interested in taking part, registration will be available on-site Saturday morning prior to the start of the event.

Union County officials say congratulations are in order for the women working behind the scenes at the Union County 911 Call Center.

The Union County Quorum Court has officially passed an ordinance recognizing 911 dispatchers as first responders, according to Union County Judge Mike Loftin.

Loftin told South Arkansas Now that dispatchers serve as a vital connection between people facing an emergency and the police officers, firefighters and medical personnel sent to help them.

“911 dispatchers act as a lifeline in critical situations between those in distress and the emergency services personnel,” Loftin said.

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Dispatchers are often the first people to speak with someone during a medical emergency, fire, automobile accident or dangerous situation. They must quickly gather information, determine what kind of emergency is taking place and send the correct responders to the scene.

Loftin said a dispatcher’s ability to remain calm and understand the situation can make an important difference when every second matters.

“Being able to assess the situation is crucial,” Loftin stated in a release provided to South Arkansas Now. “The person on the other end of the line needs someone who can understand the kind of help that is needed, and these dispatchers ensure that the help they need promptly arrives.”

Because dispatchers are the first people to answer calls for help, Loftin said they deserve to be recognized as the “first of the first responders.”

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While the work can be rewarding, dispatchers told South Arkansas Now that it can also be emotionally difficult. They regularly communicate with people who are frightened, injured or experiencing one of the most difficult moments of their lives.

Some calls involve tragic or frightening circumstances. Even while hearing those situations unfold, dispatchers must remain composed, collect accurate information and guide callers until emergency personnel arrive.

The emotional effects of those calls do not always disappear at the end of a shift. Dispatchers may carry the memories of difficult conversations home with them, making mental strength and support from their coworkers especially important.

Matthews said she also plans to send members of her team to career fairs and other community events to raise awareness about the work performed inside the call center.

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The outreach will give dispatchers an opportunity to explain how the center serves Union County and keeps communication moving among law enforcement officers, fire departments, emergency medical personnel and other first responders.

Matthews said the call center currently has two full-time positions available. One opening is for a full-time dispatcher. The other is for a full-time floater who would provide coverage when another employee is sick, on vacation or otherwise unable to work.

Those interested in applying may call the Union County 911 Call Center at 870-864-1990. An application will then be sent to the prospective applicant by email.

The ordinance recognizes that dispatchers do far more than answer telephones. They make quick decisions, provide reassurance and help coordinate emergency responses throughout Union County.

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For Loftin and other county officials, formally naming 911 dispatchers as first responders acknowledges the important role they play in protecting the public and helping emergency personnel reach those who need them.

“Because our 911 dispatchers are the first to answer the call, they should be considered the first of the first responders,” Loftin said.

COLUMBIA COUNTY, AR – Less than 24 hours after an auto accident claimed the life of a Magnolia man, another accident has happened on the same highway. Approximately five miles east of Magnolia, an empty truck and trailer left the highway and came to rest in the woods. Magnolia Fire Chief Jacob Talley says the cause of the accident is unknown but did make note of scattered thunderstorms in the area. Emergency crews are on the scene and their caution level is high because of utilities in the immediate vicinity, some of which include the highly flammable Hydrogen Sulfide. Talley said there was no immediate threat to the community or the workers but caution was being exercised all the same. Reports at the scene say the truck was Eastbound on 82 when it left the roadway. The truck is deemed non-hazardous and is empty of material but is rated for Level 9 Hazardous Materials, namely Hot Asphalt. Also reports at the scene say the driver, who was the lone occupant, suffered only minor injuries. The accident is currently being investigated by Arkansas State Police.

EL DORADO – A Magnolia man was killed Thursday evening in a head-on collision on U.S. Highway 82 in rural Union County.

According to the Arkansas State Police, 41-year-old Adam Henderson of Magnolia was driving a 2017 Ford westbound on Highway 82 near Primm Road at approximately 6:45 p.m. when his vehicle crossed the center line and collided head-on with an eastbound 2023 International truck.

Henderson was pronounced dead at the scene. He was the sole fatality reported in the crash, and no injuries were listed among the occupants of the other vehicle.

Troopers said weather conditions were clear and the roadway was dry at the time of the crash.

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The Arkansas State Police reported that Henderson’s body was transported to the Union County Coroner’s Office. Next of kin have been notified.

The crash remains under investigation by Trooper Angel J. Ramos of the Arkansas State Police.

Washington, DC — Senator Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) and Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nevada) today introduced bipartisan legislation to cut bureaucratic red tape that is often used to unnecessarily delay energy projects. The Fighting for Reliable Energy and Ending Doubt for Open Markets (FREEDOM) Act would eliminate excessive litigation against fully permitted energy projects. “Endless lawsuits delay vital energy projects, resulting in higher energy prices for Arkansans. My bill will eliminate bureaucratic red tape to streamline energy projects,” said Senator Cotton. “For far too long, energy projects across the country have been slowed by bureaucracy. The bipartisan FREEDOM Act is a critical first step in slashing this unnecessary red tape so we can meet the energy needs of the future and unlock America’s full potential,” said Senator Cortez Masto.

Text of the bill can be found here.