The El Dorado City Council met Thursday night and covered a wide range of topics, including police needs, economic development, senior transportation, food truck regulations, board appointments, city equipment and public safety concerns downtown.

Before the meeting, City Attorney Robert Rushing noted to several council members that some city ordinances have not yet been codified for enforcement by the El Dorado Police Department. Rushing later addressed a similar issue during discussion of possible food truck regulations, saying city code would need to be updated before certain rules could be enforced.

Councilman Willie McGhee suggested moving the Finance Committee meeting to City Hall. Mayor Paul Choate agreed with the suggestion and thanked McGhee for his contribution.

El Dorado Police Chief Ricky Roberts also brought a grant form before the council for signatures from the full council and mayor. The grant, totaling $22,379.00, would be split between the city and county and used for Class A uniforms and updated patches for police uniforms.

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The council then approved an updated contract with the El Dorado-Union County Chamber of Commerce, authorizing $400,000 for economic development. Councilman Andre Rucks commended the council for investing in the city’s economic arm, saying the move helps make El Dorado a stronger contender for outside investment and future industry.

The contract was approved unanimously.

Choate also spoke about the future impact of the Expo Center, saying the project will help bring money into the El Dorado community and pay dividends for decades to come.

Another major item was the “Miles for Seniors” program. McGhee said helping seniors get out, stay active and remain connected is important for the health of the community. He also said the program shows how neighbors can come together to solve problems facing local residents.

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Tyler Turner with United Way is coordinating the effort. Turner said volunteers will use an app to help organize rides and support for seniors. He also noted that the grant connected to the program was awarded to only 22 out of 174 applicants across the nation.

Turner closed his comments by saying, “We are stronger together.”

Food truck regulations were also discussed at length. Councilwoman Dianne Hammond said the city needs clear rules for food trucks, especially when it comes to whether they should be allowed on city property.

Council members discussed several options, including banning food trucks from city property, allowing certain exceptions for areas such as the Recreation Complex, and raising the rental price for food trucks using city-owned property. Some members said a higher fee could help support local businesses and food truck courts that already operate in El Dorado.

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Rushing said the city code would need to be updated before the city could enforce new food truck rules.

Council members McAdams and David Hurst both agreed there is a need to look at raising the rental price. Judy Ward suggested that Rucks, Hammond and Hurst research the issue and bring a recommendation back to the council.

Rucks said he wants to make sure the city supports local businesses, including DP’s Food Truck Park.

The council also handled several appointments. Janis Vanhook was unanimously reappointed to the Civil Service Commission. Jeff Fort was also unanimously appointed to the Advertising and Promotion Commission.

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Council members also approved a resolution for the disposal of non-salvageable AV equipment at the El Dorado Conference Center. Officials said any equipment that can be recycled will be recycled, while any reusable equipment will continue to be used. The resolution passed unanimously

Near the end of the meeting, council members discussed ongoing public safety concerns downtown, particularly late at night.

McGhee said Police Chief Ricky Roberts should not be the only person held accountable for the issue. He said families also have a responsibility to help keep young people safe and address behavior before it becomes a larger problem.

Roberts said much of the concern involves young adults, mainly in the 18 to 26 age range, staying out well past midnight and creating dangerous situations downtown. He said the activity has become frequent enough that police are having difficulty keeping it under control.

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Roberts said the city needs “more teeth” to address the problem. He also raised concern about the amount of taxpayer money being used for police resources to respond to fights, shootings and other dangerous incidents.

Roberts said he believes more people in the community need to speak up and say, “This is wrong within our community.”

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — The Arkansas Commission on Law Enforcement Standards and Training concluded two days of scheduled hearing sessions this week at Arkansas State Police Administrative Headquarters in Little Rock, resulting in the decertification of two former West Memphis law enforcement officers.

According to a press release from Arkansas State Police, the hearings were held May 4-5 and included the review of four cases involving former West Memphis officers at the request of the 2nd Judicial District Prosecuting Attorney.

During the meetings, commissioners unanimously voted to decertify Treasure Gaither and Stacey Allen.

The commission also voted to continue the case involving Mose Walker until Aug. 11, 2026.

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A request for the decertification of Blake Forthman was denied by unanimous vote.

In additional business, the commission nominated and unanimously selected Arkansas State Police Major Stacie Rhoads to serve as vice chairman.

The Arkansas Commission on Law Enforcement Standards and Training oversees certification standards and professional requirements for law enforcement officers across the state.

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LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – Arkansas State Police are investigating three separate fatal crashes that claimed the lives of individuals in Little River, Lawrence and Baxter counties earlier this week.

A 40-year-old Ashdown man was killed early Wednesday morning after being struck by a vehicle on State Highway 32 in Little River County.

According to Arkansas State Police, the crash occurred at approximately 2:45 a.m. on May 1 in Ashdown. Investigators said Dustin Roach was in the roadway when he was struck by a vehicle.

Additional details about the vehicle involved were not immediately released. The crash remains under investigation.

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In Lawrence County, a Pocahontas woman died Tuesday evening following a multi-vehicle crash at the intersection of U.S. Highway 63 and State Highway 91 in Walnut Ridge.

Arkansas State Police identified the victim as 58-year-old Sheila Quarterman of Pocahontas. She was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash, which occurred at approximately 5:41 p.m.

According to the preliminary crash report, one vehicle crossed the center line and collided head-on with a second vehicle, which then left the roadway. Investigators said the first vehicle was then forced back across the center line, where it was struck by a third vehicle.

Three vehicles were involved in the crash. Additional details about the other drivers were not included in the initial report.

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In Baxter County, a 67-year-old Gamaliel woman died Monday afternoon after her vehicle left the roadway on State Highway 101 North and struck a tree.

The crash happened at approximately 4:10 p.m. Arkansas State Police identified the victim as Cynthia D. Boland.

According to investigators, the vehicle left the roadway and struck a tree on the driver’s side. No additional information regarding the cause of the crash was immediately available.

All three crashes remain under investigation by Arkansas State Police.

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OSCEOLA, Ark. — The Osceola police chief has resigned less than two weeks after taking office following controversy surrounding an incident involving a man in a wheelchair.

According to NEA Report, Robert “Bobby” Ephlin resigned from his position as chief of the Osceola Police Department effective Wednesday morning, according to reports from regional media outlets.

Ephlin had been sworn in on March 26 after the mayor dismissed the previous police chief. However, public reaction intensified after an April 6 video circulated on social media showing Ephlin slapping a paraplegic man and placing him in what witnesses described as a choke-hold.

In his resignation letter, Ephlin stated he believed stepping down was the best decision for his family.

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“I hereby resign my position as Chief of the Osceola Police Department effective immediately,” Ephlin wrote. “It was an honor to be chosen by you to serve in your administration. However, I feel that at this point, the best thing for me and my family is for me to step away. I am available to assist you in any way that I can to assure a smooth transition. I wish you and your administration continued success with all of the great things going on here in Osceola.”

The man involved in the incident, identified as Danarius Williams, told reporters he was struck and restrained during the encounter.

“He smacked me, he smacked the hell out of me, and then choked me,” Williams said in statements reported by regional outlets.

As of Wednesday, the Arkansas State Police had not commented publicly on whether the agency is investigating the incident.

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LITTLE ROCK – A longtime legislator from Russellville has launched a bid to become President of the Arkansas State Senate. Republican Senator Breanne Davis, who has served the area since 2017, announced this week that she would seek the office in an election that will be held by senators at the end of this week’s fiscal session.

“You know, those races are, they’re always close and very nuanced. And it’s something I hope I have the opportunity to do,” Davis told SouthArkansasNow.Com on Thursday. “There’s a lot of work to do. We not only have to be independent as senators and the districts that we represent, but we also have to work really well with the House chamber and we have to work really well with the executive branch. And so just having somebody in that position of Senate president that is able tolbet us be the Senate and push back when we need to and fight for the things that are important, but also know when to work together and try to make things the best that we can for people across the state.”

Davis has been an influential member of the Senate, especially under the leadership of Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders. In recent sessions, she was the lead sponsor of Sanders’ LEARNS Act, which overhauled the state’s K-12 system by expanding school choice through education funding accounts, increasing teacher pay, and setting new academic and policy standards for schools statewide.

She will be opposed in the race by Senator Ronald Caldwell of Forrest City, who represents several counties in the Arkansas Delta.

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“It’d be a huge honor and it’s a unique position, ” Davis noted. “And I hope that I have the opportunity to do it.