Inclement weather threatened viewers across a path 115 miles wide stretching from Texas to Canada to dampen the Great American Total Solar Eclipse on Monday, April 8, but for the most part did not materialize, allowing tens of millions of people a near-perfect celestial show. Sports editor Phillip Brents managed to observe the event from Atkins, Arkansas. The appearance of the diamond ring (entering and exiting totality) as well as the extended solar corona during totality brought cheers that could be heard for miles around the rural community.