Local outbreak-related closings, changes announced
Perot Theatre
Texarkana Regional Arts and Humanities Council has announced closures in response to COVID-19. The Perot Theatre will be closed to the general public until at least April 19. The Regional Arts Center will be closed to the general public until at least March 31. Both staff will continue with daily responsibilities through the end of March. Associated art camps have all been canceled until further notice. During this time, a link can be found at TRAHC.org for “Lunch Doodles.” This is a daily arts activity with Mo Williams, the Kennedy Center Education Artist-inResidence at home.
Library
The interior of the Texarkana Public Library will be closed until further notice because of coronavirus concerns. So will the meeting room. It will remain closed to the public “until health officials indicate it is safe to reopen,” a news release states. Many library services, however, will remain available.
The library’s drive-through window will be available for checking out books and sending faxes from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. Staff will be available to answer the phone and email for book renewals and information requests. Cardholders can call to request books. Services accessed through the library’s website — including e-books, downloadable audio books, databases and book requests — will remain available.
Museums System
On Tuesday morning, the Texarkana Museums System announced via its Facebook page that it will close all properties effective immediately because of the need for social distancing. Officials said it will remain closed to the general public until at least March 27. During this time, individual appointments may be made, at the discretion of staff, for access to the Wilbur Smith Research Library. After this period, officials will evaluate whether to remained closed or reopen.
The Museums System operates four downtown museums: Museum of Regional History, Ace of Clubs House, Discovery Place Interactive Museum and the P.J. Ahern Home.
People with questions can all the TMS at 903-793-4831.
Movies
Cinemark Texarkana 14 played its last feature for awhile Tuesday night. Officials said the theater will close today and remain closed for 3 or 4 weeks.
Macedonia-Eylau
Beginning Wednesday, MacedoniaEylau Municipal Utility District is no longer taking in-person payments until further notice, in response to COVID-19 concerns. Payments can be accepted over the phone, online, by mail, or in the night deposit. Customers should be advised to call ahead for any requests to start new services. Office staff will be available at 903-832-1691 to answer any questions.
Social Security Office
In Texarkana and across the nation, these offices are now only doing business by phone, in response to COVID-19. Local offices closed to the public Tuesday for in-person service. Online services remain available at socialsecurity.gov. Local offices will also continue to provide critical services over the phone.
If you already have an in-office appointment scheduled, a Social Security official will call you to handle your appointment over the phone instead. If you have a hearing scheduled, Social Security will call you to discuss alternatives for continuing with your hearing, including offering a telephonic hearing. This call may come from a PRIVATE number and not from a U.S. government phone. Please remember that our employees will not threaten you or ask for any form of payment.
If you cannot complete your Social Security business online, please call the national 800 number at 1-800772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778). This national 800 number has many automated service options you can use without waiting to speak with a telephone representative. A list of automated telephone services is available online at socialsecurity. gov/agency/contact/phone.html.
First, please use the secure and convenient online services available at www.socialsecurity.gov/ onlineservices. You can apply for retirement, disability, and Medicare benefits online, check the status of an application or appeal, request a replacement Social Security card (in most areas), print a benefit verification letter and much more – from anywhere and from any device. The agency also has a wealth of information to answer most Social Security questions online, or visit Frequently Asked Questions online at socialsecurity.gov/ask.
Arkansas driver license testing
Arkansas State Police have implemented a temporary and limited adjustment in Class D (conventional motor vehicle) driver license testing effective at 8 p.m. today. This change does not apply to commercial driver license applicants.
The state police will continue to offer the testing services, but the knowledge testing will be limited to Arkansas State Police Troop Headquarters. In Southwest Arkansas, that is located at 2501 N. Hazel in Hope, Arkansas (870-7774641). As a result of an anticipated increase in the number of knowledge testing applicants inside troop headquarters, testing agents will limit the total number of applicants to five at any given time. This change in operations will continue through March 27, at which time state police commanders will reassess the changes.
In response to COVID-19, state police testing agents will be using sterilizing wipes to clean the computer keyboards at the testing sites after every test is completed.
This means Texarkanians temporarily will not be able to do this testing at 305 E. 6th St., as they have in the past.
Additionally, no skills testing will occur for Class D license applicants.
Texarkana Water
A boil order has been lifted for Texarkana Water Utility customers. The boil order had been in effect since Sunday, after a major water leak on the 30-inch water main on North State Line Avenue was discovered. The leak drained all the elevated tanks and a lot of the distribution system. Water pressure was restored at about 9 a.m. Sunday.