Newspaper wins 8 awards in statewide contest

The White River Valley News received eight awards at the Arkansas Press Association’s annual awards luncheon held Saturday at the North Little Rock Wyndham Hotel. The newspaper competed against other small weeklies from across the state. Managing editor Pat Harris topped the news features category with a first and second place win for “Finding a Way,” about autism, and “A Long Life,” about a Fayetteville woman who had celebrated her 104th birthday. Harris also took a second place award with in-depth series reporting on the “Growth in Elkins.” She also received a second place award for best front page design. Harris and string reporters Kathy Martine and Tamara Bartlett-Long received second place honors for education coverage. Martine also received an honorable mention in the photo essay category for photos she took at a 2007 Halloween party held at the Elkins Community Center. The awards ceremony concluded with the coveted general excellence awards. The White River Valley News received recognition with an hon - Thursday, July 17, 2008

Takeover spares Greenland from annexation

BY BRETT BENNETT Northwest Arkansas Times

LITTLE ROCK - The Arkansas State Board of Education spared the Greenland School District from annexation and instead opted to place the district under state control for the foreseeable future Monday. Education Commissioner Ken James said he would formally notify the Greenland Board of Education of the decision by letter, which is standard procedure in a takeover. He will give the board reports on district progress with improving its financial situation every three months, he said. He will appoint his own superintendent and dismiss the school board as part of the change, he said. The board voted 5-0 to defer annexation and assume control of the district. Six state board members were present, but under board rules, Chairman Randy Lawson generally does not vote. Greenland board President Bill Groom and district-contracted attorney Kelly Carithers welcomed a takeover instead of the district’s annexation into another system. “We appreciate the second chance,” Groom said. Carithers argued the district was already o - Thursday, July 17, 2008

Roll Off asks for rate hike

BY PAT HARRIS White River Valley News

ELKINS -- The cost of trash pickup could be rising in Elkins if Roll Off Service has its way. Bob Mager with Roll Off went before the Water and Sewer Committee to request the use of a sliding scale method to determine the pick up cost for trash. “We’re at a point where we’re forced to come in, because fuel is a major cost,” Mager told the committee. “We’re experiencing, like everyone else, the major cost of fuel. Our parts cost more too.” Mager presented the committee with a chart of weekly retail on-highway diesel prices based upon the Energy Information Administration. He said Roll Off Service falls into the Gulf Coast category because of location. The average cost of diesel for the week of July 7, 2008, was 4.697 on the chart. - Thursday, July 17, 2008

A man of many skills : Huntsville resident active in community, education

BY TAMARA BARTLETT-LONG White River Valley News

Known affectionately as “Doc” by his former students and fellow educators, Kevin Hatfield, is a man few who meet will ever forget. Born in Kansas, and moving with his family at a time when many families were moving to the area, Kevin along with his parents and siblings, Kenny and Kim, came to Huntsville. Little did they know the impact the family would make on the community, or the lasting effect Kevin would have on the state as a whole. Hatfield attended Wichita State College in Kansas obtaining a degree in chemistry. Hatfield quipped, “I was - Thursday, July 17, 2008

Highest airport in state lights up on Independence Day

BY TAMARA BARTLETT-LONG White River Valley Ne ws

The Huntsville Airport and Mitchusson Park was once again the site of what has been called by many one of the best pyromusicals, or fireworks show set to music, in Northwest Arkansas. - Thursday, July 17, 2008

West Fork could split city clerk, treasurer duties

BY DUSTIN TRACY Northwest Arkansas Times

Now that longtime City Clerk/Treasurer Paula Caudle has retired, the city of West Fork is looking at splitting up her duties. - Thursday, July 17, 2008

Vacancy still on Commission

BY TAMARA BARTLETT-LONG White River Valley News

GOSHEN -- The Goshen city council was expected to approve the appointment of Charles Parsley to the Goshen planning commission but that did not happen at the council’s regular July meeting. It was reported that due to some issues with his home Parsley was not actually a Goshen resident, yet anyway. It is expected that issue will be resolved and Parsley will be named at the August meeting to fill the vacancy left by Mike Spainhowner. In other business, Mayor Benson announced the Marshall’s new car had arrived and was in service. The car with a sticker price of $22,000 plus, had only $17,000 of the cost financed. Benson said payments “were around $700 a month” and would be completed ìbefore my term ends. - Thursday, July 17, 2008

Bake sale a big success

Good morning. This is a Wednesday morning and we are getting a good slow rain. I am thankful for the rain, because it will water what few flower plants I have and I won’t have to remind Kyle to do it for me. He is a good helped, so is John and Dillion and every other friend and family member I have. Thank you all so much. Our bake sale was a huge success thanks to everyone. We want to thank Bob and Margaret Ann Toney for their most generous donation, as well as bill and Irene Dougan, Frankie Strong, Joe Fraley and Calandra Snell Bigson. Thanks to Dan and James for putting up the canopy and helping with the tables. Jack and Rada Carter for furnishing the tables and hauling them for us, and Helen and Mildred fro bringing the chairs. All of you cooks -- without you all our tables would have been bare. - Thursday, July 17, 2008

West Fork VFW Post and Auxiliary 10843

Our new year 2008-2009 has begun and we have lots of projects and programs to start on. Our Department of Arkansas officers were elected in June at the convention in Hot Springs. On Friday night at the Awards banquet, we came home with lots of awards. We won first place plaques to give Pat Burton, our youth volunteer winner who won at state and is in National now; first place plaque for publicity, first place plaque for community service, first place plaque for youth volunteer for our auxiliary, A certificate from National for our work on membership. We have certificates for our work in the following programs publicity,legislative and VFW/PAC, Patriot Art and Voice of Democracy programs, National Home for children, a certificate for other youth programs; runner-up certificates for our work on VFW National Home, Americanism and POW/MIA, a certificate for outstanding performance; runner up on Buddy Poppy. I was lucky enough to win Auxiliary President of the year in Group 1, a very great honor. Commander Watson, - Thursday, July 17, 2008

Being thankful

First I want to apologize for the lack of news the past few weeks. The old bones and muscles just don’t agree with all the things I need or want to do anymore. These nice little rains here in July will help make gardens grow and maybe the hay people will get in an extra cutting in the long run. To those on the sick list we send our get well wishes, Luther Scranton, Rick Jones, Margaret Thornsberry. I am sure there are more but these folks were just brought to my attention. We love and appreciate all those not feeling well. Tuesday, July 15, will be business meeting and potluck. We have a short meeting at 11 a.m. with lunch following. We have a lot to be thankful for this month, our freedom, our chance to go to the church of our choice, our families, our right to vote, the right to a good meal and not just rice and water, a roof over our heads, and medicine when we need it. For all men and women in the military, both now and in years past, we thank you for the chance to have all the freedoms that many laid dow - Thursday, July 17, 2008

Before consolidation, many schools served families

Did you ever wonder why there were so many schools in rural areas of the Ozarks during the 1800s and early 1900s? It’s something to ponder, and so is what happened to so many of them. Especially today with the problems smaller schools are experiencing. Today it’s the economy that rules the lives of our schools. In those days it was more than just economy, it was population and transportation. With the coming of automobiles and better roads and cheap gasoline came the moving about of populations. Up to that time folks had pretty much remained on the old homestead for generations. We might suppose that today, with the high cost of gas, smaller schools to serve those who have chosen not to settle in large cities might be on the comeback. But this doesn’t seem to be so. We who chose to live in the rural areas have become the forgotten ones. - Thursday, July 17, 2008

Meet the Dean brothers: Dizzy and Daffy

Last week we followed one of the best baseball pitchers in history from his birth in Arkansas to the St. Louis Cardinal Spring Training Camp. Dizzy Dean was a rebel to say the least. He pretty much did as he pleased, even though he often upset his managers and coaches. Dizzy still did such things as signing a check in general manager Branch Rickey’s name. That got Dizzy a two week suspension from the team. Dizzy simply went on a fishing trip, even intentionally staying past his two week suspension. He irritated his coaches by volunteering to wrestle at local matches and even tried to hire out in a sky diving exhibition, but was refused. Mr. Rickey ordered Dizzy back to Houston to “grow up.” There he met a girl and they were married within days of knowing one another. They stayed married nearly a half a century. She settled him down a lot, possibly becoming the mother figure in his life, since his mother died when he was only seven years-old. - Thursday, July 17, 2008

Having a happy, cool summer

Happy summer to us all! It’s definitely here - heat index, humidity and mold from the afternoon rainstorms (which I am still thankful for in view of many past summers of drought.) The rains have brought their share of lightning and thunder. Each new occasion gives the puppies and kitties an opportunity to show how alert and responsive they can be. If I’m in bed or sitting down, the cats curl up on either side, as if to guard me from the pouring moisture and rumbling skies. That is, until the first CLAP! of lightning. It’s as if a magic wand had been waved across the household : not a cat to be seen. They are now protecting the underside of the bed, the couch, and the floor vents. Later, they’ll return to cuddle in for the duration of the slow, steady, mesmerizing rainfall. - Thursday, July 17, 2008

Changing our mind

Romans 12:2, says, “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” It is certain by this scripture that God wants our life to be changed by changing our thought life. By my own admission, that has been a great battle in my life, but it can be done. We must understand a couple of things regarding man. First, we are born with carnal mind only thinking of things of the flesh; the only thing it cares for is self and the needs of others is far down the list. But if we are willing to let Christ create a new mind in our life by placing His will over our own then success is always the outcome. A spiritual mind strives for peace; a spiritual mind focuses on Jesus Christ. A spiritual mind constantly strives to grow and change from their old way of thinking and become a new person in Christ. If we are spiritually minded then the Lord can open our minds to his word so that we can begin to understand wh - Thursday, July 17, 2008

Millennium Chiropractic filling need In Huntsville

BY TAMARA BARTLETT-LONG White River Valley News

Situated in a small former realtor’s office, Dr. Eric Walker has quickly become the talk of the town. For a long time his name was mentioned as several people from Huntsville were making the journey to Fayetteville for not only his help but also, Dr. Whitelaw and Dr. Williams. The doctors of Millennium Chiropractic, or hogchiros.com if you are looking for them on the internet, came to Huntsville after the urging of several patients and have been a breath of fresh air in the community. They are members of the Chamber of Commerce and have already welcomed the community into their fold by hosting a community wide hamburger cookout on July 2. The well attended event brought out patients and their families, city officials and community leaders. It was a successful event and seemed to be enjoyed by all who attended. Local musician, Jeff Fox, entertained the crowd as the doctors mingled. Former Arkansas Razorback team members were present to sign autographs, and tell how the doctors had helped them. The practice was - Thursday, July 17, 2008