Stories from Wednesday, February 12, 2003

by David McNeal The big, white flakes drifted down in an ever-deepening sheet that was piling up on last week's leftover snow in a hurry. It was thick, it was white, and it was coming down fast. "Perfect time for a walk," I thought early Sunday morning as I loaded another hunk of tree into our woodburning stove. "Hey, Hon," I called to my partner of 34 years. "Get your boots on and let's hit the road."...

It took a dunk by Cash Covington and a layup by Chris Williams in the last 1:30 of the Eureka Springs Highlanders' game against 1AA's top team, the Cedarville Pirates, to earn a 60-58 victory on Homecoming night last Saturday. The Lady Highlanders slipped out of gowns and glitter and put on their fighting gear to defeat the Lady Warriors 48-36 in their game as Homecoming Queen Brittany Wright cheered from the sidelines...

It was a horrible ending to a great ball game last Friday night at Green Forest's Homecoming, when the Gravette Lions escaped with a one-point win on a shot at the buzzer against the Green Forest senior boys. It was point-for-point all night, with the Tigers taking a 50-49 lead with 11 seconds to go. But Gravette got the last shot and sent it straight in as the buzzer went off to defeat the Homecoming boys, 51-50...

The late John Widner, one of the most successful basketball coaches in Arkansas history, will be inducted Feb. 28 into the Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame. Widner grew up on a small farm near Burlington and attended school in Alpena. He had a record of 831 wins and 197 losses during his high school coaching career. ...

Week of Feb. 3 February 3 10 p.m. ---- Police went to a Cherry Street location for a domestic battery investigative follow-up. February 4 7 p.m. ---- Police took a tour of the high school to familiarize themselves with the facility. 11:40 p.m. ---- Police were in pursuit of a fleeing motorist in a Chevy Cavalier...

Week of Feb. 3 February 3 10:33 a.m. ---- Resident on Wall St. reported electric company cutting trees. 1:18 p.m. ---- Resident reported finding a crossbow bolt on a path near Clay. 4:10 p.m. ---- Caller reported a female driver in a maroon van parked at grocery store had been driving erratically on Hwy. 23 North coming into town...

Week of Feb. 3 February 3 7:05 a.m. ---- Officer gathered evidence of illegal trash- dumping on Orchard Street. 11:13 a.m. ---- Officer investigated report of theft of trailer from CMI. Trailer later located. 3:30 p.m. ---- Civil standby accomplished on Kristy...

Odette Piscia, 81, of Green Forest, died Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2003, at her home. She was born Nov. 9, 1921, in Rockwood, Tenn., daughter of Charles Luther and Addie Marie (Troxtel) Montgomery. Mrs. Piscia was a homemaker. She attended the United Methodist Church in Green Forest...

Stephan Horvath, 95, of Holiday Island, died Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2003, in Eureka Springs. He was born Dec. 26, 1907, in Yugoslavia, son of Franz and Eva (Racz) Horvath. Mr. Horvath was a carpenter. He is survived by his son, Frank Horvath and wife Joyce of Lake Zerick, Ill.; grandson, Stephan Horvath; granddaughter, Eva McSaddin; and three great-grandsons...

The Rev. John O. Atchley, 69, of Cassville, Mo., died Sunday, Feb. 2, 2003, at St. John's Regional Health Center in Springfield, Mo. He was born Aug. 1, 1933, in Lead Hill, Ark., son of the Rev. Joseph Frank and the Rev. Della (Lacey) Atchley. He was raised in Lead Hill, where he graduated from high school. He attended Bible College in Oklahoma...

to shoot first? The United States is poised on the brink of war against a regime which our president and his advisors have decided is bad and which may someday do us harm. Will we begin this war without the support of the United Nations Security Council? Probably. Will we launch missles and invade Iraq on land, even though many of our closest allies in the world are telling us it isn't time? Apparently...

GREEN FOREST ---- The railroad depot renovation project is finally under way after nearly a year of talks and discussions. Last Thursday, a deal was struck between the City of Green Forest and resident Robert Smalley, who sold the depot to the town...

BERRYVILLE ---- Mayor Tim McKinney delivered an upbeat state of the city address last week during his annual assessment of the city's health. He also outlined some significant changes that he hopes to introduce this year, such as a noise ordinance, a property maintenance ordinance and the development of the city's 600-acre annexation to the west...

GREEN FOREST ---- Patrolman Shannon Hill and animal control officer Gay Lynn Easter were found innocent of any wrongdoing when dealing with an animal control issue. Both were questioned by city council members in executive session on Monday night after a citizen lodged a complaint...