The City of Jonesboro is as ready as it can be for the upcoming solar eclipse. So says the chair of the city’s eclipse committee, Cari White. “We have no idea exactly how many people to expect,” White said. “Our city is lucky to have leaders who are poised to respond to whatever crowd comes.”
The Eclipse Oversight Committee has met regularly since May 2023 to provide guidance for the city’s planning for the April 8 event. They held their final meeting Wednesday, March 27.
Jonesboro is on the Eastern edge of the path of totality for the April 8 eclipse. The city will experience about 2 minutes and 18 seconds of totality. Areas to the west of Jonesboro will experience slightly longer lengths. Hardy, for example, will experience about 4 minutes and 12 seconds of totality.
Businesses who depend on police protection should prepare for longer than normal responses on April 8. “We’re recommending banks not open their lobbies on April 8,” Jonesboro Police Chief Rick Elliott said. “Due to the expected traffic congestion, we may not be able to respond as quickly.” Elliott said JPD is setting up an eclipse Command Center at the police department headquarters on Caraway Road. Elliott said the center will include the department’s Real Time Crime Center.
The committee discussed getting the message out to local residents to do as many of their weekly errands prior to eclipse weekend. “We’re recommending citizens visit banks, grocers, and do other errands at least 4 days out,” Elliott said. He and Public Information Specialist Sally Smith discussed various media coverage options with committee member Craig Rickert, executive director of the Jonesboro Advertising and Promotion Commission.
City Water and Light is also taking steps to ensure the department’s systems are protected. Engineering Services Director Susan Merideth said CWL employees will be placed strategically throughout the city to monitor important equipment.
Many of the 70,000 eclipse safety glasses have been distributed. “We have distributed glasses to schools and businesses. We have a few thousand left,” White said. Glasses are available while supplies last at the Jonesboro Chamber of Commerce office at 1709 E. Nettleton.
Hotels are booking up for the days leading up to the eclipse. Kandi Baker with the Embassy Suites Hotel and Red Wolf Convention Center said, as of today, the hotel has 17- rooms left available for Sunday night, April 7 at a $450 rate. She says she expects their restaurant, breakfast and bars to be extremely busy. “The thing we really don’t know is how many people our hotel guests plan to get into [their] rooms to spend the night,” Baker said.
One of the activities happening in Jonesboro over the weekend leading up to the eclipse is the Oasis Arts and Eats Festival. The event will be held from Noon til 4pm on Sunday afternoon, April 7 in Downtown Jonesboro. Sarah Doss, director of the Downtown Jonesboro Alliance, says interest in the festival has been significant. “We even have the Memphis Visitors Bureau coming for the festival as part of their new initiative to reach out to cities neighboring the city of Memphis,” Doss said.
The eclipse committee was appointed by Jonesboro Mayor Harold Copenhaver in May 2023 to help guide the city’s planning for the April 8 event. To find out more about activities planned for the eclipse visit www.jonesboroeclipse.com.