Page 4 - YearInReview.2017

4 – SUNDAY, JANUARY 14, 2018 – El Dorado NEWS-TIMES
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Retirement: Rhonda Rudder watches as husband, Ken, dis- plays his retirement gift from Lion Oil during a reception. Co- workers, friends and famly gathered to bid Rudder a fond fare- well after working 51 years at Lion Oil. Rudder received wishes from local community leaders such as Union County Judge Mike Loftin and Mayor Frank Hash.
During the discussion, El Dorado Mayor Frank Hash learned details of the proposed closure and heard ques- tions and concerns from business owners in the area about how the closure would affect business. Austin Barrow, president and COO of EFE noted that the closure would not affect access points to Henley Feed and Farm Supply, which is located on Pony.
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February 19
Arts district renamed
El Dorado Festivals and Events evolved and rebranded its name to Murphy Arts District, or MAD for short. The first open house was held and attracted many visitors to see the progress on the arts and entertainment district. At the time, the program had raised $70 million of its $100 million goal.
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February 21
Police: Crossett man victim of homicide
The first homicide in El Dorado was reported on First Street. The victim, Brian A. Smith, was a Crossett native. Police later arrested Curtis E. Lumsey in connection to the murder.
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Self-portrait: John P. Lasater IV, top, shows one of his self-portraits that was on display at the South Arkansas Arts Center in February. Lasater and Jason Sacran, two nationally known and respected oil painters, exhibited their works at the arts center and instructed a landscape work- shop.
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Beautiful: At its annual Joe Hickman Youth of the Year Banquet, the Boys & Girls Club of El Do- rado honored EHS junior Bre’Ona Douglas. Douglas pitched her “unique, influential and creative” brand at the Arkansas Youth of Year competition in Little Rock, where she had the chance to win a $5,000 college scholarship.