Stories from Friday, January 2, 2004

While the recent production of "The Gift of the Magi" by Eureka Theatre Company is considered a success, thanks largely to a couple of last-minute cast replacements. Unknown to the audience, two of the singing actors had come to the cast relatively late in the production schedule. Loretta Crenshaw, who played the female lead of Della, who sacrificed her long hair to buy a Christmas gift for her husband, came on board about three weeks prior to the opening...

We look back on the year 2003 with a sense of relief that it's nearly over. For eastern Carroll County, it was a year of some positive strides muted by serious setbacks. And while crime was the headline-grabber many weeks this year, the major debate in barbershops and over coffee was about money...

BERRYVILLE ---- Families throughout Carroll County lost loved ones in 2003, and the community itself lost several leaders and noted personalities this year as well. As a group, their dedication to the community made them well known, and though everyone's death is important, the loss of the following people affected the entire county...

It may be the holidays, but the Eureka Springs and Berryville senior high basketball teams aren't sitting home idle. Both schools' boys and girls teams are playing this week in the Bancorp South Airedale Classic in Alma, with three games guaranteed Monday through Wednesday this week...

Week of Dec. 19 December 19 8:20 p.m. ---- Police responded to a motor vehicle accident at the intersection of Tenth and Veda streets. 11:22 p.m. ---- Police transported a juvenile from a city location to the police department. 11:40 p.m. ---- Police transported a subject to jail following a traffic stop...

Week of Dec. 22 December 22 10:59 a.m. ---- Funeral escort for Nelsons. 2:35 p.m. ---- Domestic disturbance at Murphy USA determined to be verbal only. 4:10 p.m. ---- Traffic control provided for stalled vehicle on North Springfield. 5:25 p.m. ---- Motorist assist on Hailey Road...

Week of Dec. 22 December 22 8:47 a.m. -- Caller reported subject(s) threw rock at front door of business. 11:25 a.m. -- Subject reported to a felony warrant from CCSO. 10:04 p.m. -- Warrants served on subject and arrest made. December 23 12:39 p.m. -- Accident report taken on minor incident with no injuries...

ARCHER HARRIS REID, a resident of Eureka Springs, was born July 27, 1915, in Eureka Springs, a son of Stephenson William and Juanita Margaret (Kile) Reid. He died Friday, Dec. 26, 2003, in Eureka Springs at the age of 88. Arch graduated from Draughom Business College in Springfield, Mo. ...

LILLIAN NIGHTINGALE, 81, of Elgin, Ill., formerly of Aurora, Ill., died Dec. 14, 2003 at Heritage Manor Nursing Home in Elgin. Lillian was born Nov. 4, 1922, in Aurora, the daughter of Fred and Minnie Adam. She was united in marriage to Ralph F. Nighingale on April 24, 1948, in Aurora...

BERNICE SERWITZ, a resident of Berryville, was born July 28, 1909, in Duluth, Minn., a daughter of Michale and Sophie (Koblia) Bartecki. She died Sunday, Dec. 21, 2003, in Berryville at the age of 94. Mrs. Serwitz was a homemaker. She is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Anita and Ronald Boyd of Berryville; her son and daughter-in-law, Stanton and Shron Serwitz of Chicago; seven grandchildren; and 11 great-grandchildren...

MABEL ELNORA CAMP, a resident of Eureka Springs, was born Oct. 3, 1915, in Beaver, a daughter of Harvey and Myrtle (Beaver) Skelton. She died Thursday, Dec. 25, 2003, in Eureka Springs at the age of 88. Mrs. Camp was a homemaker and of the Assembly of God faith. One of her pastimes was writing about the local history of the Beaver and Eureka Springs areas. She was the great-granddaughter of Wilson A. Beaver, who was the founder of the town of Beaver...

BARBARA PERKINS, a resident of Berryville, was born Dec. 8, 1937, in Cincinatti, Ohio, a daughter of Horace and Rose (Potts) Hunley. She died Friday, Dec. 19, 2003 in Springdale at the age of 66. Mrs. Perkins retired from Tyson Foods after working there for 25 years. She was an active member of the Berryville Baptist Church, where she enjoyed volunteering for church activities. She had a giving, loving spirit and was always there to help. She was blessed with family and many friends...

EDNA CASH, a resident of Berryville, was born Jan. 31, 1914, in Eureka Springs, a daughter of Jake and Eva (Kelley) Dean. She died Tuesday, Dec. 23, 2003, in Berryville at the age of 89. Mrs. Cash was a homemaker. She was a member of the Freeman Heights Baptist Church in Berryville...

LISA MARIE GALDAMEZ, 31, of Fayetteville, died Thursday, Dec. 11, 2003, in Fayetteville. She was born March 18, 1972, in Harvey, Ill., the daughter of Ted James Willman, Sr. and Valerie Donavon Willman. She was a graduate of Eureka Springs High School and Hyles-Anderson College from 1990 to 1993 with a minor in music education...

Dear Editor, Wow! What an unforgettable holiday for a WWII veteran. My Grandfather is a veteran of the big war. He enlisted in the war when he was a Senior at Berryville High School. He never did receive his diploma....until this Christmas. I remember at my sister's graduation a young man had received countless awards for his great grades and I saw how my grandfather was so overcome with emotion. ...

FAYETTEVILLE ---- Some veteran Arkansas fans still haven't forgiven the late Bowden Wyatt for taking the Cadillac they gave him for winning the 1954 Southwest Conference championship and driving it to Knoxville to coach Tennessee. So you'd presume there are still some Missouri fans who haven't forgiven Frank Broyles for saying, "Barnie, what took you so long?"...