Stories from Thursday, December 4, 2003

Wrangling over use of county tax money has shut down the operation of a new 911 Public Safety Communications Center (PSCC) that was established in an upstairs room at the Carroll County Courthouse. The equipment is in place, including computers, dispatch stations, recording devices, communication towers and a special emergency frequency...

Eureka Springs Highlander basketball coach Josh Hill wanted his team to play tougher competition this season in order to better prepare for play later in the year, so he set a bear of a schedule for the senior boys. Last Saturday at the North Arkansas College (NAC) Wendy's Thanksgiving Classic in Harrison, the Highlanders went a step farther and took on the Class AAAAA Fort Smith Northside Grizzly Bears, a contender for this year's 5-A championship...

Police and Fire Dispatches Week of Nov. 24 November 24 4 p.m. ---- Police were dispatched to a two-vehicle traffic accident at Sonic Drive-In. 6:40 p.m. ---- Police were dispatched to a Debbie Lynn location to investigate a complaint of a suspicious vehicle...

Week of Nov. 24 November 24 11:30 p.m. ---- Welfare concern at Magnolia Village. Person was OK. November 25 9 a.m. ---- Standby for employees working on ATM at Arvest, Carroll Center. November 26 7:44 a.m. ---- Vehicle accident report taken at Worley's Tire...

Police and Fire Dispatches Week of Nov. 24 November 24 9:50 a.m. -- Incident report taken after someone dumped trash into business dumpster. 9:59 p.m. -- Offense report taken on vandalism to car parked in high school parking lot. November 25 9:55 a.m. -- Officer requested to check nursing and rehab center, they were not answering phones. Officer reported transformer had blown and power was out...

NICKIE RAY WARREN, a resident of Fayetteville, was born Jan. 1, 1960, in Berryville, Ark., a son of James C. and Vellamae (Doss) Warren. He departed this life Friday, Nov. 28, 2003, in Fayetteville at the age of 43. A 1978 graduate of Berryville High School, he attended the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville for five years, graduating in 1994. ...

MICHAEL WALTER SWOFFORD, 50, beloved son, husband, father, brother and friend died early Thursday morning, Nov. 27, 2003. He was born Dec. 6, 1952, in Berryville, Ark., to Walter James and Claris Lee (Turner) Swofford. Mr. Swofford was a teacher in the Green Forest Schools. Having a sincere interest in the education of children, he later became a principal in the Eureka Springs and Harrison School systems. The last 15 years to the present, he followed his family heritage of farming...

ROBERT F. DAVIS, a resident of Fayetteville, formerly of Oak Grove, was born Feb. 10, 1963, in Hayward, Calif., a son of Bobbie L. and Bonnie Lee (Filbeck) Davis. He died Tuesday, Nov. 25, 2003, in Fayetteville at the age of 40. He is survived by his father, Bobbie Davis of Fayetteville; three sisters, Diane Johnson of Berryville, Dana Johnson of Seneca, Mo., and Melinda Davis of Berryville; an uncle Carroll Filbeck of Springdale; and three aunts, Anita Filbeck of Springdale, Nettie Walden of Fayetteville, and Betty Thomas of Carthage, Mo.. ...

RUTH IONE BROOKS, a resident of Holiday Island, was born Oct. 6, 1923, in Bakersfield, Calif., a daughter of Floyd J. and Gladys (Baker) Thorton. She died Thursday, Nov. 27, 2003, in her home at the age of 80. Mrs. Brooks was a homemaker. She was a member of the United Methodist Church in Holiday Island. ...

The Hog will be back. For decades, the Razorbacks Hog has earned its place as a Carroll County landmark, sitting beside the highway west of Berryville, crouched over like a wild pig, a red beacon for Arkansas Razorbacks sports fans, and those who admire roadside curiosities...

Computer-related crime is rising in Carroll County, indicating that Internet scams, fraud, identity theft and counterfeiting are becoming regular problems. Fraud and Internet investigations are now under way in Berryville, Eureka Springs and in county jurisdictions, tying up scarce resources. Green Forest Police Chief John Bailey said his department has recently closed several computer-related crimes, including fake computer-generated payroll checks...

GREEN FOREST ---- The search for a new city water superintendent is under way following the resignation of Steve Patton who is leaving to accept a position as facilities manager and sports director at the YMCA in Hollister, Mo. Patton, who lives near Blue Eye, has worked for the city of Green Forest for more than 20 years...

The Green Forest Tiger senior high basketball teams worked off some of their Thanksgiving turkey last Saturday in the first round of the Omaha Border Classic, but didn't get their wish of advancing in the championship bracket. Instead, the Tigers (0-4) fell 57-21 to host Omaha, while the Lady Tigers (0-5) lost to Lead Hill, 62-36. Those losses sent the teams into the consolation bracket, with games played on Monday night...

by Dave McNeal "Who is that guy?" I've heard over and over the past couple of years while attending athletic events. The "guy" (or gal) is usually a loud-mouthed fan who is ripping into the officials in what he/she believes is "The Truth." It's kinda like that television series, the X-Files ---- "The truth shall set you free," except that view of the truth really isn't...