Q&A with school board candidates

FROM STAFF REPORTS With the school board election looming, The Times submitted questions to the two candidates in the contested race, Mark Woollard and Darin Wright. The questions, and the answers, are below. School elections are Sept. 16; early voting commences Sept. 9. Why are you running for school board? - Wednesday, September 3, 2008

Pea Ridge School District budget presented

FROM STAFF REPORTS The Pea Ridge School District will hold a report to the public and budget planning meeting at 5 p.m. Sept. 8, in the High School Media Center. The regular school board meeting will follow at 6 p.m. During the special meeting, the board will consider the 2008-2009 budget. Also on the agenda is: Arkansas Consolidated School Improvement Plan School District Goals Progress Toward Accomplishing District Program Objectives Adoption and Implementation of the Academic Standards and Expected Outcomes and Programs to Improve Student Achievement. The report to the public and budget planning meeting will be limited to discussion for strategic planning; the Pea Ridge School Board will take no action. The board is scheduled to act on the budget during the meeting that starts at 6 p.m., when it is presented for approval on the consent agenda, according to the Pea Ridge School District Board of Directors meeting agenda. Items on the consent agenda are voted on as a group, generally with little to no discus - Wednesday, September 3, 2008

There’s more to Kalies than meets the eye

BY ANNETTE BEARD Times Editor w annetteb@nwanews.com

She won the first three beauty pageants she entered; now she’s headed to college on academic and athletic scholarships to major in biochemistry. Ashlyn Kalies — Miss Pea Ridge 2007, Miss Oktoberfest 2007 and Miss Arkansas High 2008 — is a new member of the cheerleading squad at the University of Tulsa. The daughter of Marina Herzbert of Pea Ridge and Kevin Kalies of Shawnee, Okla., Kalies graduated this spring from Pea Ridge High School and was offered a scholarship as a member of the all-girl squad at Tulsa. Kalies is the granddaughter of Ruth Ward of Pea Ridge. “I’ve just been in three pageants. Miss Pea Ridge was my first. I’m new to it,” she said. “I entered Miss Pea Ridge because of pride for Pea Ridge. I wanted to be involved in my community. I entered the latest one for the scholarship.” Kalies said she did not expect to win the pageant held in Benton, but only hoped to gain experience. She was pleasantly surprised when she won the cash prize and a valuable wardrobe. - Wednesday, September 3, 2008

Uncle Brewer : On this side of the grass

DWAYNE BREWER

Mankind has one opportunity at this thing called life. In order for God Jehovah to be just He has to be “no respecter of persons.” Every human born has 24/7. We all are exposed either to His Word or His creation. Everyone knows that their grandmother didn’t create what they know and see. It came about by a higher Power and that Power is God Jehovah. So, what we do about Him or for Him, has to be done in this life, “on this side of the grass.” David said, “What profit is there in my blood, when I go down to the pit? Shall the dust praise Thee? Shall it declare Thy truth?” Psalm 30:9. Also, “I will sing unto the Lord as long as I live: I will sing praise to my god while I have my being” Psalm 104:33. Use the time He gives us for His purpose, not ours. Every time I pass a cemetery I wonder how many of them are with Jesus in Heaven. All their questions about eternity or whether Jesus is really the Son of God and the Way to Heaven are settled. Both groups know the an swer to that now. All their records are sealed - Wednesday, September 3, 2008

RECOLLECTIONS

40 Years Ago Pea Ridge Graphic Thursday, Sept. 5, 1968 Sept. 6 is the first day an Independent candidate for municipal office may file for office. Pea Ridge will elect two alderman for each of its two wards which are divided by Highway 94. Arkansas Highway Department crews apply a re-surface job to Highways 94/72 between the intersection south of town and the downtown business section. The project extended on Highway 72 all the way east to the intersection of Highway 62 and the AHD applied its energies on state roads that appeared in greatest danger of suffering during the winter ahead. Walter E. Harring, 69, of Pea Ridge, was killed in a traffic accident on the way home from his wife Freida’s funeral. - Wednesday, September 3, 2008

CHURCH NEWS

presentation is a series of short, powerful skits that are life changing. These skits touch on a wide variety of topics. Free Will Baptist Church The Men's Prayer Breakfast group will meet at 8 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 6 in the fellowship hall. Gentlemen of all ages are welcome to attend the breakfast, devotion and fellowship. After the Sunday evening services, snacks will be served by the youth to raise funds for their trip to the Creation Museum in Ohio. New Life Church The New Life Drama Company will be performing at 6 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 7. Their - Wednesday, September 3, 2008

COMMUNITY EVENTS

Square dance lessons The Ridge Rockers are offering modern western square dance lessons from 7:30 to 9 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 9, in the Pea Ridge Middle School cafeteria. The first two weeks are free. Lessons are fun, easy and affordable for the whole family. Casual dress and partner not required. Ages 8 and up. For information, call Grant and Tammy Roth 619-9245 or Jerry and Sharron Hay at 381-7031. Benton County Children’s Shelter Drive Ms. Pea Ridge Brianna Midrid will be collecting items for the Benton County Children’s Shelter until Wednesday, Sept. 10. Drop boxes are at the following locations; Marvin’s, Community First Bank, Dollar General and Visions Hair Salon. The shelter needs the following items baby body wash, bubble bath, barrettes, baby shampoo, baby lotion, toothpaste, toothbrush, Vaseline, size 3 pull-ups, large size goodnight diapers, girls sizes 2T - 6 panties, girls and boys 3-5 years old socks, girls and boys clothes sizes preemie - teen, teen girls socks, boys and girls tennis shoes, olive - Wednesday, September 3, 2008

Price Coffee land may become golf course

BY ELEANOR EVANS Staff Writer eleanore@nwanews.com

BENTONVILLE — More than 100 acres off Price Coffee Road may become home to the city’s first golf course. Mike Shea, executive director of The First Tee of Northwest Arkansas, went before the Bentonville City Council at its meeting as a Committee of the Whole on Monday night. Shea presented a proposal to build a course for The First Tee, which provides educational programs and character-development programs through golf. The First Tee, an international organization founded in 1997 by the World Golf Foundation, has 254 chapters in the United States and five chapters internationally. Five chapters are in Arkansas, and The First Tee of Northwest Arkansas was founded in 2005. “There are many youth sports that teach valuable lessons,” Shea said, and through The First Tee, “a child cannot participate in our program and not (learn these) life skills,” he said. Although The First Tee has programs throughout Benton and Washington counties, it does not have a course to call home. “In our experience, being without access - Wednesday, September 3, 2008

Award-winning hay grown right in our area

BY ANNETTE BEARD Times Editor annetteb@nwanews.com

The best quality Bermuda hay in the nation is grown right here in Pea Ridge. On a 40-acre farm just northeast of town, Paul Arnold farms the same fields on which he played and worked as a child. He was one of six children born to Jess and Doris Arnold. He worked on the farm all of his life. After high school (he graduated from Pea Ridge High School in 1979), he ran a dairy on the place. He and his wife, Claudia, have two children, Jamie and Emily. Across the road lives Jess Arnold, one of Paul’s brothers. Arnold, Jack Kelly and Larry Miser won top awards at the 2008 American Forage and Grassland Conference held in Lexington, Kentucky, earlier this year. - Wednesday, September 3, 2008