Beth Reed | Stories

Arkansas Derby boasts 'extraordinary' card Oaklawn Racing Casino Resort has possibly the best racing card it has offered in nearly 50 years of the Arkansas Derby according to Louis Cella, president of Oaklawn Racing Casino Resort, and it's "a ... May 2, 2020

Garland County resident shares experience with COVID-19 One Garland County resident who recently tested positive for COVID-19 wants to share her experience in hopes of spreading awareness. The resident, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said her symptom... March 25, 2020

Column: A mother's first Christmas The children at our church recently put on their annual Christmas program and our 9-month-old son, Charlie, made his stage debut as baby Jesus. The kids did such a great job, and if I may add, so did ... December 22, 2019

Jackson House, Healthy Connections partner to offer free foot screenings In honor of National Health Center Week, Healthy Connections Community Health Network will be providing free podiatry foot screenings at the Eleanor Klugh Jackson House, 705 Malvern Ave., from 11 a.m.... August 3, 2019

2019 HS Fishing Challenge ends with $24,500 caught A total of 24 prize fish worth a total pay out of $24,500 rounded out the 2019 $101,000 Hot Springs Fishing Challenge, which ended at 5 p.m. Wednesday. The $15,000 grand prize fish, "Big Al," eluded a... August 2, 2019

CHI, ARCOM partner on new med residency program CHI St. Vincent Hot Springs and the Arkansas College of Osteopathic Medicine in Fort Smith have partnered on a new medical education residency program. Twenty-one medical students from ARCOM will beco... July 23, 2019

Bostwick joins Spa-Con 4 lineup Guests of Spa-Con IV should come prepared to do the time warp again as Barry Bostwick, star of "The Rocky Horror Picture Show," joins this year's lineup.Bostwick, who portrayed Brad Majors opposite Su... July 21, 2019

Local Navy veteran recalls Apollo 11 recovery The 50th anniversary of the splashdown of Apollo 11 will be commemorated this week and one Hot Springs native had a "ringside seat" for the event.Howard Mooney served as senior quartermaster on the en... July 20, 2019

HS tourism study to be presented to the public A research report documenting the status of Hot Springs' tourism industry from 2016 through 2018 will be presented at 3 p.m. Aug. 19 at the Hot Springs Convention Center. This free presentation, led b... July 18, 2019

Art class offers creative outlet Inmates at the Garland County Detention Center are learning to express themselves creatively in a positive way through art thanks to one of the many programs offered at the jail.With collaboration fro... July 12, 2019

Visitors make long weekend out of holiday Despite Independence Day falling midweek, many visitors turned out and stayed for the weekend, local hospitality leaders said Monday. The holiday festivities kicked off July 3 with Spa Blast at Oakl... July 9, 2019

Construction timeline adjusted for MASM expansion While the timeline for construction has been pushed back from its original plan, the new 5,000-square-foot free-standing exhibit hall at Mid-America Science Museum is on track for completion in early ... July 6, 2019

'For the Love of Live' to shed light on suicide, celebrate life On Saturday, the community will have an opportunity to come together and celebrate life while standing up and speaking out about suicide.Arkansas is ranked ninth in the nation for the highest rate of ... July 3, 2019

Sports wagering begins at Oaklawn Oaklawn Racing Casino Resort began offering sports wagering Monday with the opening of its newly remodeled Race & Sports Book at the north end of the casino. Arkansas is the ninth state in the cou... July 2, 2019

National Park College campus additions taking shape The National Park College campus has undergone a significant transformation since college officials broke ground on a new student commons building in April 2018.In August, the 51,000-square-foot new b... June 30, 2019

APA names Cella 2019 Headliner of the Year The Arkansas Press Association honored Louis Cella, president of Oaklawn Jockey Club, as its 2019 Headliner of the Year Friday during its annual convention, which concludes today in Hot Springs.Cella,... June 29, 2019

Corps stresses boating, water safety for holiday Many Arkansans will be heading to area lakes for Independence Day and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Vicksburg District is stressing water and boating safety while celebrating.Corps of Engineers man... June 29, 2019

Oaklawn Foundation awards grant for NPC gym renovations The Oaklawn Foundation presented the National Park College Board of Trustees $275,000 for renovations to the college's gym complex during the board's regular monthly meeting Wednesday.The gym complex ... June 27, 2019

Ad panel votes to request special election for baseball complex The Hot Springs Advertising and Promotion Commission voted Monday to ask the Hot Springs Board of Directors to call a special election for Sept. 10 on a bond issue to fund the Majestic Park Baseball C... June 25, 2019

Country and bluegrass legend Skaggs excited to perform in Spa City Ricky Skaggs believes there's soon going to be a turning point in country music taking the genre back to its roots.The country and bluegrass legend, who's set to play Magic Springs Theme and Water Par... June 23, 2019

Ad panel to pitch idea for ballfield complex The Hot Springs Advertising and Promotion Commission will vote Monday on whether to request a special election for a bond issue to fund the Majestic Park Baseball Complex just nine months after city v... June 22, 2019

Large turnout expected for Oaklawn's Spa Blast Despite construction, Oaklawn Racing Casino Resort is anticipating a large turnout for Spa Blast July 3.The free event, now in its 28th year, is headlined by country music legend Lee Greenwood and cul... June 21, 2019

Signs depict proposed layout for future baseball complex Signs placed this week by Visit Hot Springs at the former property of the Boys & Girls Club, 109 W. Belding, display the vision for a future baseball complex. Visit Hot Springs CEO Steve Arrison s... June 16, 2019

Oaklawn's multimillion dollar expansion proceeds at rapid pace Oaklawn Racing Casino Resort has made such rapid progress on its more than $100 million expansion since the close of the live race meet May 4 that it even takes long-time employees by surprise, as the... June 15, 2019

Oaklawn approved for sports betting The Arkansas Racing Commission on Thursday gave approval for sports betting to start at Oaklawn Racing Casino Resort on July 1.Jennifer Hoyt, media relations manager for Oaklawn, said sports betting w... June 14, 2019

Park Service in final stages of bicycle use regulations The planning process to allow a bicycle trail across Hot Springs National Park to connect a trailhead on Pullman Avenue with the new Northwoods Trails system is in its final stages, the National Park ... June 12, 2019

HSV named among best master-planned communities HOT SPRINGS VILLAGE -- Hot Springs Village has been recognized as one of the best master-planned communities in the United States by Where to Retire magazine.According to a news release, Where to Reti... June 11, 2019

121st annual Bar Association meeting starts Wednesday The Arkansas Bar Association will mark its 121st annual meeting beginning Wednesday in Hot Springs. Anna Hubbard, publications director, said the Arkansas Bar Association has held its annual meeting e... June 11, 2019

Financing approved for NPC housing The National Park College Board of Trustees approved a resolution this week issuing bonds to finance on-campus housing. The resolution, which was approved at a special called meeting on Thursday, auth... June 9, 2019

Rec areas, attractions see business as usual Representatives of local recreation areas and attractions say they have fielded some concerns about whether flooding along the Arkansas River is impacting Hot Springs, but it apparently has not impact... June 8, 2019

State travel commission works to combat visitors' flood concerns The State Parks, Recreation and Travel Commission is working to combat visitors' concerns that the majority of Arkansas is under water. Jim Shamburger, chairman of the commission and owner of Best W... June 7, 2019

Grammy winner to kick off event center summer lineup A new event center in Hot Springs is kicking off its summer entertainment lineup with a Grammy Award-winning artist on Saturday.The Barrett Center, 2231 E. Grand Ave., located behind the Hot Springs N... June 6, 2019

NPC trustees to vote on financing option for on-campus housing The board of trustees at National Park College will hold a special meeting Thursday to change course on financing its on-campus housing. The board, in November 2018, approved resolutions to enter into... June 5, 2019

NPC auto tech program receives over $12K grant The automotive technology program at National Park College was awarded a $12,989 Education and Training grant from the Arkansas Motor Vehicle Commission in April. According to a news release, this gra... June 2, 2019

Bettors can now challenge tic-tac-toe playing chicken Starting today, guests of Oaklawn Racing Casino Resort can challenge Ginger the chicken to a round or two of Chick-Tac-Toe. On Friday, Oaklawn, along with Red Coat Ambassadors from The Greater Hot Spr... June 1, 2019

Music Festival kicks off Sunday The Hot Springs Music Festival opens Sunday, inviting musicians from across the globe to Hot Springs for two weeks of melodious sounds. The festival will offer daily rehearsals and nightly concerts at... May 31, 2019

Annual tub races start Saturday The tubs roll at 9 a.m. Saturday in downtown Hot Springs. What happens after that is anybody's guess -- but usually, it's a whole lot of fun. The annual Stueart Pennington's World Championship Running... May 31, 2019

Changes in profitability prompts shift to digital subscriptions, publisher says Changes in profitability have prompted a shift in the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette's focus from print to digital subscriptions, its publisher, Walter E. Hussman Jr., told Hot Springs National Park Rotary... May 30, 2019

Simmons Bank donates $10K to support CCMC Golf Classic The Hot Springs branch of Simmons Bank made a $10,000 donation to Cooperative Christian Ministries and Clinic Tuesday. After being named Simmons Bank's 2018 Community Bank of the Year, Simmons associa... May 29, 2019

NPC fees increase; tuition rates remain flat National Park College will increase mandatory fees for the 2019-20 school year.The NPC Board of Trustees approved the annual budget Wednesday which outlined an increase of $10 in mandatory fees per cr... May 25, 2019

Oaklawn promotion challenges guests to Chick-Tac-Toe With the thoroughbreds gone until next year, Oaklawn Racing Casino Resort is bringing in some talented chickens for the summer months. In June and July, Oaklawn will debut the Chick-Tac-Toe Chicken Ch... May 24, 2019

Corps urges water safety for holiday weekend The Lake Ouachita Field Office anticipates increased boating traffic over Memorial Day weekend and is urging visitors to take extra safety precautions.Amy Shultz, natural resource specialist, said all... May 23, 2019

Oaklawn Foundation awards $383,000 in scholarships The Oaklawn Foundation's scholarship program will afford 125 Garland County students the opportunity to pursue their dreams this year. During an awards ceremony on Tuesday in the Frederick Dierks Buil... May 22, 2019

Cooler spring, heartier fish likely factors in successful 2019 Fishing Challenge This year's Hot Springs Fishing Challenge has nearly matched the previous record number of fish caught in a single year of the eight-year-old competition.As of Friday, 15 prize fish had been reeled in... May 19, 2019

Governor shares broadband plan goals On the heels of his announcement to expand access to high-speed broadband internet throughout the state, Gov. Asa Hutchinson expounded on his goals Thursday at the Arkansas Rural Development Conferenc... May 17, 2019

Northwoods Trails phase one now complete Phase One of the Northwoods Trails System, which includes 15.7 miles of world-class mountain bike trails, is now complete, Visit Hot Springs officials said Monday. Traci Berry, trails coordinator for ... May 14, 2019

Musings from a new mom on Mother's Day There was a time when I had no desire whatsoever to have children. Period.Of course, when you find the person with whom you want to spend the rest of your life, those resolute ideas are likely to chan... May 12, 2019

Construction underway at Oaklawn It's a new era at Oaklawn Racing Casino Resort, as the $100 million expansion announced in November 2018 is now well underway.The expansion, which will include 28,000 square feet of additional gaming ... May 11, 2019

Corps of Engineers stresses boating safety in high water With rapidly rising lake levels and large amounts of debris, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is urging boaters take extra precautions on Lake Ouachita.As of 3 p.m. Thursday, Lake Ouachita was at 581.... May 10, 2019

CCMC, city to hold poverty summit Community leaders throughout Hot Springs will come together June 4 and 5 for a Poverty Summit organized by Cooperative Christian Ministries and Clinic.The summit will serve to raise awareness and begi... May 10, 2019

Stories by Beth Reed

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