To speak.
INDEX Events Opinion COVID Update Sports
No. 13
Vol. 2
2 3 3 4
August 05, 2021
Talking a lot about the Taco Lot Fiesta Blanton Matthews Staff Reporter
A short stretch of Main Street was closed Friday, July 30 for the Arkadelphia Taco Lot Fiesta. The festivities were held in and around the parking lot by the mural on the Group Living building that used to be the Honeycomb restaurant, and stretched across to Town Hall. Meals of two street tacos, chips and salsa were available to anyone who purchased tickets in advance, and everyone who did not was encouraged to order food to-go from downtown restaurants and bring it back to the lot. The Friday night event ran from 6:00-9:30 PM. It was a hot summer evening, but that did not stop anyone from having a good time. Once the sun went down of course, it became a lot more comfortable. Live music was performed by Jacob Flores, who sang and played guitar and keyboard. Flores was born in Texas, but mostly
grew up in Hot Springs and attended Henderson. He was particularly familiar with Main Street. “The nastiest bike accident I was ever in was right here,” said Flores to the taco-munching crowd in the lot. “I was in fifth grade.” Other events included a queso dip contest, judged by a panel in two categories: spiciest dip and overall best, both being awarded to Twin Rivers Architecture Group. An audience choice award was also presented by attendees who arrived and ate within the first hour of the event, and the Sexton Law Firm won that award. Across the street at town hall was a cornhole tournament hosted by the A-Town Baggerz cornhole team. The event, which was spearheaded by the Arkadelphia Area Alliance & Chamber of Commerce, was a smashing success at getting the community downtown and enjoying the local businesses, arts and cuisine.
Photo by Blanton Matthews
Hot Springs musician Jacob Flores takes the stage at the first ever Taco Lot Fiesta in downtown Arkadelphia.
Local COVID-19 vaccination clinics Tierra McCraney Staff Reporter
Arkansas has one of the lowest vaccination rates in the United States, at a staggering 37% of the state being fully vaccinated as of August 2 (according to Becker’s Hospital Review). As of August 1, The Arkansas Department of Health has recorded that the total active cases increased by 948 cases, bringing the total up to 19,738 active cases. With the new Delta variant making its way across the country, medical professionals encourage Americans to consider the COVID-19 vaccine. The Arkansas Department of Health maintains a list of COVID-19 Vaccination Sites at www.healthy. arkansas.gov. For more information on COVID-19 and the vaccine, visit cdc.gov.
Below is a list of vaccination clinics that are available to Arkadelphia and surrounding communities: • Walmart Pharmacy in Arkadelphia offers the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines through appointment only. Appointments are made through walmart.com. • Baptist Health Medical Center, located on Twin Rivers Drive in Arkadelphia, has vaccination clinics every Tuesday from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Walk-ins are welcome, or call 1-888-BAPTIST to schedule an appointment. • Clark County Health Unit on 605 South 10th Street in Arkadelphia offers the COVID vaccine through appointment only. Call 870-246-4471 to schedule an appointment. The hours of operation are 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. each weekday. • Walgreens in Arkadelphia accepts walk-ins for the COVID vaccines while supplies last. • CHI St. Vincent in Hot Springs offers the Pfizer vaccine for ages 12 and up at the hospital clinic. To schedule an appointment, call 501-622-6556 or fill out an online form. • The Hot Springs School District is holding a vaccination in coordination with CHI St. Vincent at the Welcome Center (702 Main Street) on August 11 from 2:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Photo courtesy of Arkadelphia Alliance and Area Chamber of Commerce
Baptist Health Medical Center in Arkadelphia unveiled a new helipad Wednesday, July 28. It has already been used to rescue up to three patients in a single day. Courtesy of APSD School Nurse News Info from Weather.com
FRI - Aug 06 partly cloudy
SAT - Aug 07 mostly sunny
SUN - Aug 08 mostly sunny
MON - Aug 09 partly cloudy
TUE - Aug 10 partly cloudy
WED - Aug 11
THU - Aug 12
mostly sunny
mostly sunny
92o 69
94o 72
96o 74
96o 73
96o 72
96o 71
96o 71
Precipitation: 24% Wind: SSW 5 mph Humidity: 68%
Precipitation: 23% Wind: SSW 8 mph Humidity: 71%
Precipitation: 7% Wind: SSW 9 mph Humidity: 67%
Precipitation: 6% Wind: SSW 9 mph Humidity: 65%
Precipitation: 7% Wind: SW 7 mph Humidity: 64%
Precipitation: 7% Wind: SW 7 mph Humidity: 63%
Precipitation: 21% Wind: WSW 7 mph Humidity: 61%
o
o
o
o
o
o