Stories from Monday, April 14, 2003

GREEN FOREST ---- A family of three lost their home Monday night, after a fire swept through the structure while they were away. The home, located about two miles south of Green Forest on County Road 906, was owned by David and Marilyn Bennett, who occupied the structure along with their 13-year-old son, authorities say...

The state's first major proposed tax increase was passed in the Senate last week, putting one possible remedy for the state's budget woes on tobacco smokers. But the measure is under attack from several quarters, and has a cloudy future ahead of it, House representatives said...

Organizers of the Kings River Watershed Partnership were pleased about the number of farmers at its meeting Monday night in Berryville, but agricultural concerns regarding recent state legislation appeared to stretch the scope of the newly formed environmental group...

An always-tough Siloam Springs Panther soccer team wasn't tough enough on Monday, as the Berryville Bobcats took a 3-1 victory to move their record to 3-2-2 on the season. The Lady Bobcat squad wasn't as fortunate in a 3-1 loss, but showed improved play after Coach Tom Souden shifted players to new positions last week...

The Berryville and Green Forest high school golf teams traveled to Farmington on Monday and tackled the Valley View course on the weeks warmest day. With the sun shining, and temperatures in the 60s, seven teams teed off. Results were: 1- Farmington- 78; 2- Berryville- 86; 3- Gentry- 88; 4- Gravette- 91; 5- Green Forest- 97; 6- Lincoln-98; 7- Prairie Grove- 104...

The Berryville Bobcat baseball team came from behind on a throwing error with two out in the seventh inning to take a 9-5 victory over the Gentry Pioneers on the road Monday. That put the Bobcats at the top of 1AAA play, assures them of a semifinal berth in the district tournament, and gives them a spot in the Class AAA Regional Tournament at Greenland the first weekend in May...

Elizabeth McIntosh Hildmann, 91, of Berryville, died April 8, 2003, in Berryville. She was born May 27, 1911, in Omaha, Neb., daughter of Edward and Della (Chapell) Meisner. Mrs. Hildmann worked for the Glick garment factory. She was a member of the Lone Star Bible Church and the Christian Women's Club...

Evelyn Leigh Grinnell, 76, of Holiday Island, died Sunday, April 6, 2003, in Berryville. She was born July 11, 1926, in Furndale, Mich., daughter of Raymond E. and Laura L. (Cooper) Wilkins. Mrs. Grinnell was a homemaker and a member of the Holiday Island Baptist Chapel...

by Larry Elkins An open letter to the Church: Brothers and Sisters, how are you doing? Stop! That was not a greeting; it was a question. Answer it. The answer is important. How you answer that simple question has more to do with your attitude than your circumstances. ...

A bereaved widower, haunted by nightmares and the day-to-day items used by his wife before she died, is invited by his late wife's best friend to spend a weekend in what is marketed as a haunted house. The weekend includes several members of the church youth group the couple belonged to in their adolescence and young adulthood...

The nation's largest and most popular outdoor drama opens for the 2003 season on April 25. Nearly 7 million people from virtually every country in the world have come to Carroll County and have seen The Great Passion Play. For the first week of this season only, residents in Carroll County are invited to attend The Great Passion Play from April 25 through May 3 at no charge...

Misunderstanding and a lack of background knowledge has created a division of sorts between the Eureka Springs Ministerial Association and city officials. At issue is a request from the association for Mayor Kathy Harrison to sign a proclamation for the National Day of Prayer on May 1...