Darkness falls upon West Memphis during eclipse

Residents gather at Tilden-Rodgers for ‘solar-bration’

By DON WILBURN

donaldfwilburn@gmail.com

Despite predictions of rain and clouds, the skies couldn’t have been clearer on Monday when residents of West Memphis and Marion came together at Tilden-Rodgers Park to witness the highly anticipated solar eclipse. Hundreds of people gathered in the park, setting up blankets and chairs to enjoy the rare event. The atmosphere was festive, with music playing in the background and food trucks serving up delicious treats to hungry eclipse watchers.

The Mayor, Police Chief, and Fire Chief were all in attendance, mingling with the crowd and making sure everyone was safe and comfortable. They were thrilled to see so many people coming together to experience the eclipse and were proud to be a part of such a special moment in their community.

As the eclipse began, everyone donned their special eclipse glasses to safely view the phenomenon. The sky darkened as the moon passed in front of the sun, creating a breathtaking sight that left many in awe. Some people even used their smartphones to capture photos of the eclipse through their glasses, creating unique and stunning

See ECLIPSE, page A3

A family enjoys the solar eclipse and nachos with solar cheese!

Photos by Don Wilburn

ABOVE: Several city officials including Mayor McClendon as well as police officers and firefighters came out to enjoy the eclipse. RIGHT: Tiffany Paige (left) and KeTambe Lewis (right) enjoy fresh lemonade as they take in the rays of the solar eclipse.

From page A1

images to commemorate the event.

“I couldn’t believe how amazing the eclipse looked through the glasses,” said Sarah Greene, a resident of West Memphis. “It was truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience and I’m so grateful I got to witness it with my friends.”

Not everyone was as impressed with the eclipse, however. Jason Bradford, a Marion resident, admitted that he found the whole event to be overhyped. “I don’t see what all the fuss is about,” he said. “It was cool to see the sun disappear for a few minutes, but I don’t think it was worth all the hype.”

Stephen Grigsby, who was spotted _shing at the park lake when asked if the _sh were acting strangely responded laughing, “As long as they don’t throw the bait back, it’s _ne!”

Despite differing opinions, the overall consensus among the crowd was that the eclipse was a memorable and exciting event. Families and friends came together to witness the beauty of nature in all its glory, creating lasting memories that they would treasure for years to come.

There has been a lot of talk about how the next total solar eclipse visible in the contiguous U.S. won’t happen until August 22, 2044, but it will only be visible over North Dakota and Montana. However, the next total solar eclipse with a path crossing from coast to coast across the Lower 48 states is set to occur on August 12, 2045. The path of totality will stretch over California, Nevada, Utah, Colorado, Kansas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida, while a partial eclipse will be visible in other states.