LEWISVILLE — Authorities have identified the victim of a fatal boating accident Saturday on Lake Erling as Curtis James Hildreth, 62, of Columbia County Road 12 southwest of Magnolia, according to a report from HopePrescott.Com.

The incident occurred at approximately 2:10 p.m. on Saturday, May 31, 2025, when a 12-foot john boat carrying two individuals and a dog capsized while attempting to reach the shore due to increasing winds. The boat overturned in about six feet of water, resulting in Hildreth’s drowning. The second individual and the dog survived after making it safely to the bank. Authorities have not released the name of the survivor.

Emergency crews from the Walker Creek and Lake Erling Volunteer Fire Departments responded to the scene, along with the Lafayette County Sheriff’s Office. The Springhill, Louisiana Fire Department Dive Team was called in and recovered Hildreth’s body at approximately 5:15 p.m. that evening. The incident occurred near Lafayette County Road 69 on the east side of the lake.

Hildreth’s body was released to Henderson’s Mortuary of Magnolia.

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Local officials remind boaters to take extra precautions in high winds and to always wear life jackets while on the water.

EL DORADO — Supporters of El Dorado High School football are invited to hit the links this summer at the 2025 Wildcat Football Golf Scramble, scheduled for Friday, August 22, 2025, at the prestigious Mystic Creek Golf Club.

This annual event helps raise funds for the Wildcat football program and brings together alumni, local businesses, and fans for a fun-filled day of golf and community spirit. The scramble will be held at 191 Clubhouse Drive in El Dorado, one of South Arkansas’ premier golf destinations.

While full details, including team registration, sponsorship opportunities, and tee times, are still to come, organizers encourage supporters to save the date now and prepare to take part in this tradition of athletic support and local pride.

The 2025 Wildcat Football Golf Scramble promises a great opportunity to connect with other supporters, enjoy a beautiful day on the course, and contribute to the continued success of El Dorado’s student-athletes. Stay tuned for more information in the coming weeks.

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SHREVEPORT — The National Weather Service (NWS) in Shreveport has announced a planned system upgrade that will temporarily interrupt NOAA Weather Radio broadcasts across portions of Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, and Texas.

From Sunday, June 2 through Tuesday, June 4, all NOAA Weather Radio transmitters maintained by NWS Shreveport will be offline as part of a required update to the agency’s weather processing systems.

Communities that will be affected include:

• Shreveport
• Monroe
• Texarkana
• Tyler
• Lufkin
• Gilmer
• Broken Bow
• Natchitoches
• Center
• El Dorado
• Marietta

Residents in these areas are urged to prepare now by ensuring they have alternate ways to receive weather alerts, including:

• Mobile weather apps
• Wireless emergency alerts (WEA) on smartphones
• Local news and radio broadcasts
• Social media updates from trusted emergency sources

Although the NOAA Weather Radio service will be down, the NWS Shreveport office will remain open and fully staffed throughout the duration of the upgrade. Forecasts, warnings, and emergency alerts will continue to be issued through all other available channels.

Officials emphasize the importance of staying weather-aware during this outage and making sure households have multiple methods of receiving potentially life-saving information, especially during severe weather.

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For more updates, visit weather.gov/shv or follow @NWSShreveport on social media.

CAMDEN — In response to the recent devastating flooding across South Arkansas, the Ouachita County Sheriff’s Department has announced that FEMA representatives will be on site at the Ouachita County Courthouse to assist residents with disaster relief applications.

The FEMA assistance center will be open Wednesday, June 4 through Saturday, June 7, from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. daily, at the Downtown Courthouse in Camden.

Severe storms throughout late May led to widespread flooding across Ouachita and neighboring counties, prompting road closures, evacuations, and damage to homes, farms, and local infrastructure. Many residents experienced significant property loss due to rising waters, especially in low-lying areas near creeks and rivers that overflowed their banks after multiple days of heavy rain.

Officials are urging anyone affected by the flooding—whether through damage to homes, vehicles, or property—to visit the FEMA site and apply for individual and household assistance. FEMA staff will be on hand to walk residents through the process, answer questions, and ensure proper documentation is submitted.

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Residents are encouraged to bring identification, proof of residence, insurance information, and documentation of flood damage if available.

Additional updates will be posted on the Ouachita County Sheriff’s Department social media and the county’s emergency management website.

EL DORADO — Get ready to savor the flavors of the region as the El Dorado Tri-State Food Truck Festival rolls into town on Saturday, June 7, 2025, at the Union County Fairgrounds. The festival will run from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and admission is completely free.

Organized by Candley’s Community Corner, the annual event brings together food lovers from across Arkansas, Louisiana, and Texas to enjoy a day full of delicious eats, local shopping, and family-friendly fun.

Dozens of food trucks from throughout the tri-state area will be serving up everything from BBQ and tacos to sweet treats and international cuisine. In addition to the culinary offerings, attendees can browse local vendor booths featuring handcrafted goods, gifts, and more.

“This is a great opportunity for the community to come together, support small businesses, and enjoy some of the best food in the region,” said event organizers.

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The Union County Fairgrounds is located at 1432 E. 19th Street in El Dorado. Families, foodies, and festival-goers alike are encouraged to bring their appetite and join in a day of flavor, fun, and festivities.

For vendor information, contact eldofoodfest@yahoo.com or call 870-312-2215.