EL DORADO — Union County Judge Mike Loftin has officially proclaimed May as Extension Homemakers Month, honoring the long-standing impact of the Arkansas Extension Homemakers Council (AEHC) on families and communities across the state.

The proclamation was signed at the Union County Courthouse, where Judge Loftin was joined by Kay Johnston, Judy Couch, and Lauren McGarrh, Union County Family and Consumer Sciences Agent.

Founded in 1912, AEHC has worked for over a century to empower individuals and families through continuing education, leadership development, and community service. The organization celebrates its 113th anniversary this year, continuing its legacy of supporting homemakers and strengthening communities across Arkansas.

Union County residents interested in joining AEHC or learning more about its programs are encouraged to contact the local extension office at 870-864-1916.

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EL DORADO — AARP Arkansas and South Arkansas College are teaming up to offer Tech Tuesdays, a free technology training series throughout the month of June designed to help participants sharpen their computer skills.

Hosted at the Mahony Family Library on the SouthArk campus (300 Summit Ave.), these hands-on classes are open to the public and will take place every Tuesday in June. Attendees can choose from two available time slots each week: 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. or 3:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Participants are encouraged to bring their own laptops. Those needing access to a computer can reserve one by calling the library at 870-864-7115.

Here’s the full lineup of classes and registration links:

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• June 3: Computer Component Basics
  Register here
• June 10: Navigating the Operating System – Part 1
  Register here
• June 17: Navigating the Operating System – Part 2
  Register here
• June 24: Technology Accessibility
  Register here

These sessions are ideal for beginners or anyone looking to refresh their tech knowledge. AARP and SouthArk hope the initiative will empower attendees with the digital skills needed for everyday tasks and improved access to online resources.

MAGNOLIA – Southern Arkansas University’s Game Development program proudly announces the official release of Blight’s Grasp, an immersive student-developed action game now available on Steam.

Play Blight’s Grasp on Steam: https://store.steampowered.com/app/3470150/Blights_Grasp/

Created as part of SAU’s game development senior project, Blight’s Grasp represents the culmination of a year-long collaborative effort by Chrono Clash, a talented team of multidisciplinary students. The game drops players into a fast-paced, alien world where they must battle corrupted creatures, master elemental abilities, and unravel the mystery behind a planet in decay — all while on a desperate quest to find the protagonist’s missing sister.

With its combination of strategic combat, striking visuals, and engaging narrative, Blight’s Grasp highlights the innovation and talent of SAU’s aspiring game developers.

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Meet the Team Behind Blight’s Grasp

• Liam York – Design Lead, Programmer, Character Movement
• Aiden Thacker – Programming Lead, Enemy AI
• Xander Baumgardner – Art Lead, Animator, Concept Artist
• Christian Wiggins – VFX Developer, Shaders, Collectibles
• Emmanual Robinson – UI Engineer, Audio Programmer
• Xander Adams – Player Combat Programmer, Spell System, Animation Implementation
• P.J. Ferguson – Modeler
• Zyon McGhee – Environment Artist, Modeler
• Lakota Guidinger – Technical Artist, Modeling, Rigging
• Alex Avant – Environmental Modeling, Character Artist, Textures
• Tori Burton – UI Design & Layout, Artist

The team worked under the mentorship of Eric Rogers, instructor of computer science, and Sam Wakefield, instructor of art, who provided guidance and expertise throughout the development process.

SAU invites the community and gaming enthusiasts everywhere to support these rising developers by playing, reviewing, and sharing Blight’s Grasp. Whether you’re drawn to thrilling combat or rich, atmospheric storytelling, this game offers a compelling experience from start to finish.

EL DORADO – In an event that one viewer said looked like a cross between a tent-revival and a concert, the El Dorado Education Foundation (EDEF), in partnership with Murphy USA, proudly recognized educators throughout the El Dorado School District. The celebration, which streamed live here at SouthArkansasNow.com and our Facebook page “was fun, raucous and inspiring.” According to one attendee. Each year, this celebration honors outstanding educators across elementary, middle/junior high, and high school levels. After a competitive selection process involving nominations, semi-finalist evaluations, and campus-level recognition, three educators were named this year’s district-wide Teacher Excellence Award winners.

• Gabrielle Farley – Elementary Teacher of the Year, Hugh Goodwin Elementary

• Alexandria Morrison – Middle/Junior High Teacher of the Year, Washington Middle School

• Kris Borosvskis – High School Teacher of the Year, El Dorado High School

The three Teacher Excellence Award winners also received a trophy, a $1,000 award, and a professional portrait that will be displayed at
their school. The 2025 Teacher Excellence Awards were presented by Carol Felton, El Dorado Education Foundation member; Wayne Gibson, El Dorado School Board member;
Mallory Rogers, Philanthropy & Community Relations Specialist at Murphy USA; and Courtney Kelley, Supervisor of Philanthropy, Community Relations & Events at Murphy
USA.

LITTLE ROCK — In a historic decision, the Arkansas Oil and Gas Commission has approved the state’s first royalty rate for lithium extraction, paving the way for a major new industry in South Arkansas.

The Commission unanimously voted to set a 2.5% royalty rate for the Reynolds Unit, part of Phase I of Smackover Lithium’s South West Arkansas Project. In addition to the royalty, landowners will receive an annual fee of $65.05 per acre, making the total compensation roughly 3% based on current lithium prices.

This decision is a key step in the development of lithium production in the region and sets a precedent for future lithium brine extraction projects in Arkansas.

Smackover Lithium is a joint venture between Standard Lithium and Equinor, and the company plans to produce 22,500 tonnes of battery-quality lithium carbonate each year from the Reynolds Unit. Full commercial operations are expected to begin by 2028.

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The lithium extracted will be used in electric vehicle batteries and other energy storage systems, positioning South Arkansas as a potential hub for the growing clean energy economy.