News Flash

Fire hydrant flow testing for May 6

The Hot Springs Fire Department will be performing hydrant flow testing beginning between 7 and 8 a.m. until 4 p.m. on Thursday, May 6, weather permitting, in the following areas: 

Central Avenue (3800-4200 block); Elice Circle; Desai Patel Court;...

Street closure: Glendale Street

Glendale Street, between Wildwood Circle and Piper Street, will be closed from 8 a.m. on Wednesday, May 5, through 5 p.m. on Friday, May 7, for utility construction.  

Detour signs and barricades will be in place, and motorists are advised to use ...

Fire hydrant flow testing for May 5

The Hot Springs Fire Department will be performing hydrant flow testing beginning between 7 and 8 a.m. until 4 p.m. on Wednesday, May 5, weather permitting, in the following areas, which were originally scheduled to be tested on May 4: 

Central Av...

HS/GC COVID Task Force: Business leaders encouraged to help in vaccination efforts

Garland County Health Officer Dr. Gene Shelby, citing a concerning trend in the county’s COVID-19 statistics, hopes creative efforts to increase public knowledge of the importance of vaccinations will lead to a greater percentage of the county b...

Water Meter Portal can help save water and money

Water customers in Hot Springs can take advantage of the free Water Meter Customer Portal to keep track of water consumption in order to help conserve water and save money on their monthly bills.

City of Hot Springs Utility Billing Services Director Randy ...

City’s ADA awareness campaign increasing compliance

Multiple City of Hot Springs departments, along with ADA parking advocate Ann Kendrick, have worked improve awareness and compliance of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) parking guidelines. 

Hot Springs Police Chief Chris Chapmond said in ...

Hot Springs National Park Announces Opening of Fordyce Visitor Center

National Park Service 

U.S. Department of the Interior    

Hot Springs National Park

101 Reserve Street

Hot Springs, AR 71901

501-623-2824

www.nps.gov/hosp

News Release

For Immediate Release 

Release Date:   Ap...

‘Second Inning’ of Community-wide Friendly Game of Catch

VISIT HOT SPRINGS

134 Convention Boulevard • Hot Springs National Park, Arkansas   71901

1-800-922-6478 • 501-321-2027 • FAX 501-620-5008

www.hotsprings.org

________________________________________________________...

Hot Springs Transportation Advisory Committee public hearing on May 10

The Hot Springs Transportation Advisory Committee will hold a public hearing at noon on Monday, May 10, in the conference room at the Transportation Depot, 100 Broadway Terrace, to consider the following request:

• Shalawn Goodman, Graceful Rides – applicati...

Compost giveaway concludes with record total

The City of Hot Springs Compost Facility’s April compost free loading giveaway has concluded as the supply of compost has been exhausted. 

Compost Manager Brandy Chewning said they will most likely be out of compost until May, but there ...

Blasting to begin April 22 at Richardson Subdivision

A permit for blasting is being issued to McGeorge Contracting Company by the City of Hot Springs for work in the Richardson Subdivision, between Twin Points and Higdon Ferry roads, with the first blast expected to take place around noon on Thursday, April...

HS/GC COVID Task Force: County’s vaccination efforts have saved lives

At the April 19 meeting of the Hot Springs/Garland County COVID-19 Task Force, Garland County Health Officer Dr. Gene Shelby commended the area’s vaccination efforts and offered encouragement for the public to continue to get inoculated.

&ldq...

Planning Commission Public Hearing on May 13

The Planning Commission will hold a public hearing at 6 p.m. on Thursday, May 13, in the Board Chambers at City Hall, 133 Convention Boulevard, to consider the following:

• Approximately 2150 Higdon Ferry Road – Rezone request to change z...

Lane closure: Malvern Avenue

The eastbound lane of Malvern Avenue, between Church Street and Grand Avenue, will be closed from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m. between Monday, April 19, through Friday, May 14, for utility construction.

Detour signs will be in place, and motorists are advised to us...

Lake Hamilton Memorial Day Fireworks Set Sunday, May 30; Displays Also Planned for Independence Day

VISIT HOT SPRINGS

134 Convention Boulevard • Hot Springs National Park, Arkansas  71901

1-800-922-6478 • 501-321-2027 • FAX 501-620-5008

www.hotsprings.org

_________________________________________________________...

HS/GC COVID Task Force: Waning COVID vaccinations concerning to task force

A lack of information getting to the public about the open eligibility and the wide availability and critical importance of COVID-19 vaccines continues to be a concern for the Hot Springs/Garland County COVID-19 Task Force, which was a primary topic of di...

Libbey Physical Medicine Center Thermal Water Jug Fountain to Close Temporarily

                                              &a...

COVID rent/utility funds available for Hot Springs residents

Hot Springs residents who have experienced financial hardship related to COVID-19 and, as a result, are behind on rent or utility payments can now apply for assistance through the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) CARES Act funded emergency rent an...

HS/GC COVID Task Force: Promoting vaccinations and use of face masks

At the March 29 virtual meeting of the Hot Springs/Garland County COVID-19 Task Force, representatives planned ways to increase the county’s percentage of people who are fully vaccinated from the current 14% of all residents and 39% of the 65-and-older ag...

Intracity Transit giving free rides for vaccination seekers

The City of Hot Springs Intracity Transit public bus system is offering free rides for those seeking COVID-19 vaccinations beginning Thursday, April 1. 

The free rides will be in effect to and from scheduled COVID-19 vaccination appointments, and ...

HS/GC COVID Task Force: COVID task force hopes to increase percentage of vaccinated residents

At the March 29 virtual meeting of the Hot Springs/Garland County COVID-19 Task Force, representatives planned ways to increase the county’s percentage of people who are fully vaccinated from the current 14% of all residents and 39% of the 65-an...

HS/GC COVID Task Force: COVID vaccine hesitancy could slow county’s return to normalcy

Garland County’s COVID-19 numbers continue to be on a great downward trend, according to Garland County Health Officer Dr. Gene Shelby, but residents need to remember that the virus is still here and that the vaccines are key to returning to nor...

HS/GC COVID Task Force: COVID vaccine effectiveness shown locally from Phase 1-A participants

As COVID-19 case numbers continue to decline at the local and state levels, members of the Hot Springs/Garland County COVID-19 Task Force urge continued vigilance in wearing masks, socially distancing and hand washing, as well as seeking out a COVID test ...

HS/GC COVID Task Force: Cases continue decline, but vigilance needed 'to get to zero'

As COVID-19 case numbers continue to decline at the local and state levels, members of the Hot Springs/Garland County COVID-19 Task Force urge continued vigilance in wearing masks, socially distancing and hand washing, as well as seeking out a COVID test ...

HS/GC COVID Task Force: Mitigation efforts, now guidelines, will continue

Gov. Asa Hutchinson changed the statewide COVID-19 directives to guidelines on Feb. 26, yet he and Secretary of Health Dr. Jose Romero said it is essential that individual behaviors regarding wearing masks, socially distancing and washing hands continue. ...

HS/GC COVID Task Force: Low testing numbers due to weather skews statistics

The week of Feb. 14-22 had the lowest total of COVID-19 test results recorded for Garland County since August due to the winter weather, but Garland County Health Officer Dr. Gene Shelby is still pleased by the continued downward trajectory of the county&...

HS/GC COVID Task Force: Weather inhibits COVID testing

Cold temperatures most likely led to a lower number of COVID-19 testing being done the week of Feb. 8-14, and the continued effects of inclement weather will likely skew the pandemic outlook for weeks ahead, according to Garland County Health Officer Dr. ...

HS/GC COVID Task Force: Cases increase, but positivity rate and active cases hold steady

Although the week of Jan. 31 – Feb. 7 saw a 64% increase in the number of new COVID-19 cases reported in Garland County from the previous week, a higher number of test results kept the positivity rate steady and the number of active cases fell b...

HS/GC COVID Task Force: Cases declining; vigilance should remain

Garland County Health Officer Dr. Gene Shelby told the Hot Springs/Garland County COVID-19 Task Force at the meeting on Monday, Feb. 1, that the county has seen across the board improvement this past week. He warned, however, that there is a long road ahe...

On a vaccine waiting list? Be sure to answer your phone

Those in Garland County who have registered to be on a COVID-19 vaccine waiting list are encouraged to answer their phone as vaccination clinics continue to be scheduled. 

Those involved in vaccine distribution are using the waiting lists to conta...

HS/GC COVID Task Force: COVID numbers trending downward as vaccinations continue

Although a significant number of active COVID-19 cases remain in Garland County, the trend of new cases is on a downward slope as vaccinations continue for Phase 1-A groups and the start of Phase 1-B – education workers and those 70 and older.

A...

HS/GC COVID Task Force: High COVID numbers continue, but may be nearing peak

The number of new COVID-19 cases reported in Garland County for the week of Jan. 10-17 of 815 was a record high for the third-straight week, but with the holidays behind us, Garland County Health Officer Dr. Gene Shelby is hopeful that the county is at or...

HS/GC COVID Task Force: Record-setting trend continues to strain hospitals

The drastic upward trend of new COVID-19 cases in Garland County following the Christmas and New Year’s holidays is continuing, putting a strain on local hospitals.

“We have a surging, deadly pandemic that is getting worse here. The cha...

HS/GC COVID Task Force: Cases and hospitalizations continue post-holiday rise

Although the start of the vaccine rollout offers hope, it will still likely be months before doses of the vaccine are available for the general public. In the meantime, record-level COVID-19 statistics for Garland County, including rising hospitalizations...

HS/GC COVID Task Force: Hospitals at highest levels as task force dissuades COVID fatigue

At the virtual meeting of the Hot Springs/Garland County COVID-19 Task Force on Dec. 28, representatives from CHI St. Vincent and National Park Medical Center shared their anxiousness about a likely increase in cases in the weeks following the Christmas h...

HS/GC COVID Task Force: Garland County begins inoculating healthcare providers

As the active cases in Garland County continue to rise, the beginning of the phased distribution of COVID-19 vaccines was a primary topic of discussion at the Dec. 21 virtual meeting of the Hot Springs/Garland County COVID-19 Task Force.

CHI St. Vincent Ho...

HS/GC COVID-19 Task Force: Garland County COVID-19 numbers ‘off the charts’

Several COVID-19 statistics for the week of Dec. 6 – 13 in Garland County far exceeded previous record highs, according to Garland County Health Officer Dr. Gene Shelby at the Dec. 14 virtual meeting of the Hot Springs/Garland County Covid-19 Ta...

HS/GC COVID Task Force: Shorter quarantine guidelines for non-symptomatic close contacts

Representatives on the Hot Springs/Garland County Covid-19 Task Force are bracing for what may be a rise in post-Thanksgiving cases this week while preparing for a change in quarantine guidelines and upcoming vaccine deliveries.

During the Dec. 7 virtual t...

Hospitals in Hot Springs seeing their highest numbers of pandemic

Even though Garland County’s COVID-19 statistics remain on a plateau since the rise in cases ending around Nov. 15, the hospitals in Hot Springs are experiencing what they say are some of their highest numbers of the pandemic as they are treatin...

HS/GC COVID Task Force: Task force urges adherence to recommendations this holiday

Over the past week, Garland County’s COVID-19 statistics plateaued from the previous weeks’ upward trajectory, but health officials continue to urge area residents to be vigilant this Thanksgiving holiday.

Even though case numbers have stabilized, the coun...

HS/GC COVID-19 Task Force: More pandemic records set locally; ‘it’s everywhere’

“The virus has continued to spread throughout our community, our county, with no particular source; it’s everywhere,” said Garland County Health Officer Dr. Gene Shelby at the Nov. 16 virtual meeting of the Hot Springs/Garland County COVID-19 Task Force.

S...

HS/GC COVID Task Force: Past week's new case count total all-time high

As area nursing home COVID-19 cases begin to decline from the spike in recent weeks, community spread is keeping the number of new cases and the active case count at or near record high levels.

At the Nov. 9 meeting of the Hot Springs/Garland County COVID-...

Cases and deaths in area expected in increase due to COVID-19

With the active cases in Garland County at an all-time high for the second straight week and the greatest percentage of cases being in the most vulnerable population, Garland County Health Officer Dr. Gene Shelby fears that COVID-related deaths in the cou...

HS/GC COVID-19 Task Force: Active cases reach all-time high

The number of active COVID-19 cases in Garland County has risen to its highest number since the start of the pandemic at 247, according to Garland County Health Office Dr. Gene Shelby at the Oct. 26 virtual meeting of the Hot Springs/Garland County COVID-...

Garland County’s active cases and COVID-19 deaths rise in past week

Following a downward trend for COVID-19 cases in Garland County, the week of Oct. 11 – 18 saw a higher number of new cases, active cases and deaths, while there was a decrease in the number of tests performed.

“Unfortunately, last week was not a very good ...

HS/GC COVID-19 Task Force: Continued vigilance needed to keep local COVID curve flat

Hot Springs and Garland County continue to flatten the curve of COVID-19 cases, but members of the area COVID-19 task force caution that vigilance is needed to continue to keep down the spread of the virus.

“Our community cannot let our guard down. We have...

State and local health officials dissuade Covid fatigue

Recognizing that many people are experiencing fatigue in respect to the COVID-19 pandemic, Garland County Health Officer Dr. Gene Shelby seeks to remind the community of the deadly and communicable nature of this coronavirus.

At the Sept. 28 virtual meetin...

HS/GC COVID Task Force: No jump in cases following latest holiday weekend

Garland County Health Officer Dr. Gene Shelby is optimistic about where Garland County stands in the pandemic as two weeks have passed since Labor Day, yet the COVID-19 numbers locally have not increased as they did following Memorial Day and Independence...

HS/GC COVID Task Force: Schools seeking prospective substitute teachers/bus drivers

At this point in the pandemic, school superintendents across Garland County are more concerned that the quarantining of teachers and bus drivers could force a change to virtual learning more so than the threat of positive cases within school districts.

At ...

HS/GC COVID Task Force: Superintendents remind families of quarantine guidelines

If a member of a student’s household tests positive for COVID-19, the student is also required to quarantine rather than continuing to attend school in person. This was the primary message from superintendents during the virtual meeting of the Hot Springs...

Task force seeks to clarify state’s quarantine and isolation guidelines

During the Hot Springs/Garland County COVID-19 Task Force virtual meeting on Aug. 31, school superintendents from across Garland County reported a great first week, with hopes that communication from the task force can help clear up misunderstandings in t...

HS/GC COVID-19 Task Force: Garland County COVID cases and testing numbers are down

Garland County Health Officer Dr. Gene Shelby shared at the Aug. 24 meeting of the Hot Springs/Garland County COVID-19 Task Force that he is pleased with the current numbers for Garland County, but he continues to stress the importance of wearing masks an...

HS/GC COVID-19 Task Force: Garland County COVID trend continues in right direction

At the Hot Springs/Garland County COVID-19 Task Force virtual meeting on August 10, Garland County Health Officer Dr. Gene Shelby said that the COVID-19 numbers from the week of August 2-9 look better, and that he is pleased with the trend.

There were 171 ...

Garland County virus cases flatten, but positivity rate increases

COVID-19 numbers from Garland County for the week of July 2 – August 2 do show some “positive aspects compared to the previous two weeks” as new cases seem to be “leveling off,” said Garland County Health Officer Dr. Gene Shelby at the Hot Springs/Garland...

Garland County virus cases continue on ‘major upward trend’

Garland County averaged 30 new COVID-19 cases reported daily from July 19 – 26, with a total of 210 new cases for the week, according to Garland County Health Officer Dr. Gene Shelby at the Hot Springs/Garland County COVID-19 Task Force virtual meeting on...

$8.2 million available to Arkansans for electric utility assistance

The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) has an additional $8.2 million from the CARES Act to assist Arkansas households struggling with their electric bills.

Distribution of the funding will begin on July 27, and will continue through Sept. ...

Garland County virus cases more than double in past week

The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases and those under investigation more than doubled this past week from 90 on July 12 to 188 on July 19, and the number of active cases went from 65 to 150.

“Garland County is certainly in the mix of this pandemic,” said ...

Garland County positivity rate rises to 6.4%

Although the number of new and active cases in Garland County has plateaued, the positive rate of infection among the 732 tests done between July 5-12 rose to 6.4%, up from the previous week’s 2.7%.

Garland County Health Officer Dr. Gene Shelby shared at t...

Garland County positivity rate cut in half from previous week

There were 48 new COVID-19 cases reported in Garland County from June 28 – July 5, but because of a record number of tests performed, the positivity rate decreased from the previous week’s 5.8% to 2.7%.

Also, thanks to the number of recoveries in Garland C...

Garland County has increase of 50 new active COVID-19 cases

Following Hot Springs/Garland County COVID-19 Task Force virtual meeting on June 22, where case numbers had stabilized, data from the past week shared at the June 29 meeting showed an upward trend with 50 new cases.

Garland County Health Officer Dr. Gene S...