Stories from Wednesday, December 19, 2001

by David McNeal The atmosphere during two basketball games this year has been incredible, one at Eureka Springs, and the other at Green Forest. Both were due to students gathering together in one section of the bleachers to root for their team, and root in a sportsmanlike manner against the bad guys, the other team...

The Highlander senior high basketball teams traveled to the Lions' Den at Gravette last Friday for two conference basketball games. Coach Josh Hill's senior boys earned a 65-47 victory to push their season record to 10-4, 2-0 in 1AAA play. Coach Aaron Hall's senior girls took another loss, 55-38, but hung with the Lady Lions for a half. Gravette also won a JV girls 'game, 42-31...

The Berryville Lady Bobcats had to win two nail-biters the last two nights of the 45th Green Forest Holiday Tournament to repeat as champions for the second straight year. They battled to overtime with the Flippin Lady Bobcats (13-4) Friday night, and held on for a 37-33 victory. That sent them to the finals Saturday night against Huntsville (8-4), where they survived by one, 34-33, giving them a 9-2 season record...

The Green Forest Tigers and Berryville Lady Bobcats are the champions of the 45th Annual Green Forest Holiday Tournament. It was a three-peat for the Tiger senior boys, who beat Huntsville, 48-33, Saturday night to take their third final in a row. They had to tackle Berryville on Friday in the semifinals and roared to a 71-41win in order to meet Huntsville...

Margaret Griffin, 77, of Berryville, died Friday, Dec. 14, 2001, in Berryville. She was born July 10, 1924, in Atlanta, Ga., daughter of Arthur Jefferson and Lillie Hettie (Henderson) Dickey. Mrs. Griffin was a member of the Valley View Baptist Church near Eureka Springs. She was a homemaker...

Virginia (Brooks) Rathbun, 96, of Bellvue, Colo., died Wednesday, Dec. 12, 2001, at her home. She was born July 17, 1905, in Grandview, a daughter of James T. and Matilda (Bigerstaff) Wright. Mrs. Rathbun was a homemaker. She was preceded in death by her parents; her first husband, of 30 years, Garland Brooks; her second husband, also of 30 years, Leonard Rathbun; two brothers, Floyd L. Wright and James B. Wright; a sister, Mamie Wright; and a nephew, Jerry Wright...

Cora Ann Hudspeth, 88, of White Oak, died Wednesday, Dec. 12, 2001, at the Eureka Springs Hospital. She was born March 27, 1913, at White Oak, the daughter of Arnold and Molly Hawkins Smith. Mrs. Hudspeth was a homemaker and a member of the White Oak Free Will Baptist Church...

Effie Ellen (Morgan) Edmons, 89, died Tuesday, Dec. 4, 2001, at Washington Regional Medical Center in Fayetteville. She was born May 28, 1912, at Collinsville, Okla., a daughter of Harvey and Elizabeth Morgan. She attended the First United Pentecostal Church of Eureka Springs. She was preceded in death by her daughter and son-in-law, Ruby and Charlie Applegate of Muskogee, Okla...

Orval L. Carter, 81, of Roseburg, Ore., died Sunday, Dec. 9, 2001, in Roseburg. He was born July 25, 1920, in Eureka Springs, son of Crawford and Rose (Davis) Carter. He was raised and educated in Arkansas. Mr. Carter was a veteran, having served his country in the U.S. Army during World War II. After the war, he made his home in Oregon...

Robert Buchanan, 34, of Berryville, died Thursday, Dec. 13, 2001, in Berryville. He was born Aug. 12, 1967, in Fort Worth, Texas, a son of Robert Lewis and Barbara Ann (Kraft) Buchanan. Mr. Buchanan was a farmer. He was affiliated with O.A.R.S., and he attended church at the Airway Chapel...

Paul Bellia, 84, of Holiday Island, died Saturday, Dec. 15, 2001, in Eureka Springs. He was born Nov. 19, 1917, in Omaha, Neb., a son of Cross and Rose (Cuva) Bellia. Mr. Bellia was a maintenance supervisor with the civil service. He was an avid golfer...