Adona, Arkansas – a rural community of 200 an hour’s drive from Little Rock – faces increasing threats from climate change and aging infrastructure. The town’s two bridges over Cypress Creek are prone to flooding and in need of repair. “The creek completely goes over them when it rains,” says Carolyn McCallister, the town’s treasurer and secretary. “People living nearby are unable to get in or out of their houses.” As heavy rainfall becomes more frequent, the need for safer, more reliable infrastructure has grown critical. “The county is not going to fix it because it’s within our city limits and we don’t have that money.” Yet in the face of these growing challenges, Adona remains connected through strong traditions and a town council dedicated to protecting and preserving their home. Once a bustling railroad and timber town, Adona was incorporated in 1903. Today, City Hall doubles as a community center, hosting weddings, reunions, yard sales, and an annual Christmas celebration that brings the whole town together.
Adona’s Cypress Creek Park draws visitors for its natural beauty and frequent festivals, particularly blue-grass and folk music gatherings. Photo Source: Cypress Creek Park Facebook page
The town council, composed of the mayor, the fire chief, and four council members, is led by people with deep roots in Adona. “Our council members include a dental hygienist, a handyman, a retired paper mill worker, and a teacher – it’s really a cross section of the town,” says McCallister, a former teacher who once taught the mayor and several other members of the council. In times of crisis, residents can rely on the city for shelter. City Hall, located in a former school building, is equipped with a generator. “If the lights go out, if there’s a catastrophe, we can house people here,” McCallister says. “But the building could definitely use some updates.” Two years ago, Adona installed an automatic tornado siren that connects with the county-wide system, replacing the old manual system that depended on a volunteer to activate it. And with summer temperatures often soaring into the triple digits, McCallister says the city is prepared to assist vulnerable residents. “We just try to help where we can.”