From the Top
City Stories of 2023
JANUARY 8:
Choate discusses first days of Mayoral term by Tia Lyons
El Dorado Mayor Paul Choate, only a week into his first term, spoke with the News-Times as City Hall was being touched up and painted. The new mayor detailed his plans for the rest of the year and spoke about things that were already underway as 2023 began.
FEBRUARY 28:
Preparations for Hillsboro project ongoing by Matt Hutcheson
ARDOT district engineer David Archer gave an update on the planned Hillsboro Street widening project in February.
The project calls for a widening of the highway; two roundabouts at College and West avenues; a new viaduct to be built just north of the existing Hillsboro viaduct; a new bridge between Park and Rock Island Right-Of-Way; and landscaped medians.
Once the changes are complete, the city will adopt and maintain the road. The project was estimated in 2020 to cost $80 million, approximately $3.5 million of which was to be paid by the City of El Dorado, according to previous NewsTimes reporting.
Archer said that extensive utility relocation was underway and will probably not be finished until late 2024 and said that Hillsboro Street will stay open when construction begins but will be a work zone, impacting traffic.
MARCH 31:
End of an era: Local residents mourn as Betty’s Old Fashion prepares to close by Tia Lyons and Matt Hutcheson
People crowded in to get one last meal as the historic restaurant Betty’s Old Fashion opened for its (then) last day in March and the News-Times was there to capture it. Betty’s had been in place since 1934 and was a staple for many in El Dorado, particularly those who grew up nearby. Owner Betty Schaub was hired on at the restaurant in 1957 at the age of 19 and bought the business 10 years later. Good news for Betty’s fans, however — plans are currently in place for the dining spot to open at a new location on Hillsboro.
APRIL 4:
New nonprofit org buying MCSA
After a tumultuous year for what was then called the Medical Center of South Arkansas, the news broke in April that ownership of El Dorado’s hospital would change hands. The South Arkansas Regional Hospital (SARH), a nonprofit corporation “created by a consortium of community stakeholders with a deep commitment to El Dorado,” including the SHARE Foundation, Murphy USA Charitable Foundation, Murphy Foundation and AR Health Ventures, a nonprofit entity affiliated with the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS), took over later in 2023. As of 2024, South Arkansas Regional Hospital is up and running.
MAY 9:
Lightning strike sparks fire at Delek refinery by Caitlan Butler
A fire broke out at the Delek: El Dorado Refinery due to a lightning strike in May, causing a dramatic scene. The fire broke out at 6:01 p.m. after lightning struck a slurry tank located in the refinery’s tank farm. Delek’s on-site fire brigade responded immediately, and the El Dorado Fire Department assisted with the response. No injuries were reported from the accident.
JUNE 26:
Weekend events seek to address, curb youth violence by Matt Hutcheson
The weekend after a busy Juneteenth weekend packed with activities, local community organizations banded together for an afternoon focused on curbing and addressing youth violence. Speakers, artists and others took the stage to share their thoughts about the crisis.
A march organized by Parents United Against Youth Violence, a local nonprofit organization, kicked off the day’s events and a rally, organized by Evergreen Baptist Church and its pastor, Marilyn Frazier, took place just outside Memorial Stadium.
JULY 17:
City council discusses downtown ‘rowdiness’ by Tia Lyons
The El Dorado City council dove into a lively discussion on downtown “rowdiness” in their July meeting, involving “disorderly and unruly behavior that has allegedly become a recurring issue on the weekends in the area of West Cedar Street and South Jefferson Avenue.” The city’s entertainment district ordinance became a focal point in the discussion.
AUGUST 6 AND 12:
Alexander leaves mighty legacy in city that claimed her by Caitlan Butler and
Calloway mourned after lifetime of service by Tia Lyons
El Dorado lost two community-minded luminaries in the late summer, as former United Way director Alexis Alexander and pastor and city council member George Calloway passed away. Alexander, whose community involvement stretched beyond her United Way role, passed away unexpectedly in late July. Calloway, 73, passed away in August following an illness. Calloway had completed just over six months of a two-year term when he resigned from the council on July 5 due to ongoing health issues.
SEPTEMBER 30:
EWU: Water bills should decrease as meter project nears completion by Tia Lyons
The El Dorado Water Utilities, nearing the completion of a months-long project to convert the city’s cellularbased meter-reading system back to automated readers in September, found itself in a tough spot as residents across the city saw their water bills go up substantially.
OCTOBER 6:
MusicFest kicks off 35th anniversary today by Tia Lyons
MusicFest XXXV took over downtown El Dorado again in October, bringing music and good vibes to the city center.
NOVEMBER 20:
Vigil held for missing woman Ieshia Jackson by Matt Hutcheson
A vigil was held for Ieshia Jackson, an El Dorado woman missing since 2020, on Nov. 17 in the parking lot of Perry’s Funeral Home in El Dorado. The rally began in the parking lot with speakers, including Jackson’s mother LaQuita Parker, before moving to the sidewalk off N. West Ave. Eventually, some marchers moved to in front of the El Dorado Police Department, chanting for justice and answers in Jackson’s case.
DECEMBER 17:
Local family is headed to Disney through Make-a-Wish Foundation by Matt Hutcheson
4-year-old Chemistry Williams and family headed to Disney World this month thanks to the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Williams, who is diagnosed with Turner Syndrome, is described by her mom as charming and “sharp as a whip.”