Eclipse Discussions, Preparations Continue

Area agencies are continuing to look ahead to April 8th of 2024 when an eclipse will impact parts of the Ozarks.

A meeting of some of those agencies took place at the Northwest Arkansas Economic Development District Plaza in Harrison earlier this week. 

According to the Harrison Daily Times, officials from many different sectors were in attendance and heard several presentations including one from Kim Williams, the 2024 Eclipse Project Manager with the Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage and Tourism. Others in attendance including local government and emergency service departments as well as officials from Northwest Arkansas Regional Medical Center. 

The discussion included information from areas that have experienced and eclipse and the impact it could have on the economy, infrastructure, and emergency services with a large number of visitors expected. Discussion was also held about the marketing of the event to introduce visitors to the region. 

The eclipse path will take it through parts of southeast and southcentral Missouri through northcentral Arkansas. The southeastern two thirds of Ozark County in Missouri as well as all or most of Marion, Newton, and Searcy Counties in Arkansas will be in the path and could experience up to four minutes of total darkness. The path of the eclipse takes it through the extreme southern sections of Harrison and Boone County. 

For more information on this week's meeting, check out the recap in the Harrison Daily Times.