Stories from Friday, January 23, 2004

by Larry Elkins Ever had to choose between two friends? If they are both true friends it is impossible. You can't say, "I love you more than him or her." Proverbs 17:17 says, "A friend loveth at all times..." Divorce is a horrible thing. It affects everyone. As I write this, my friends have just separated. I pray they allow God to heal their marriage. Of course, they have their problems that probably look insurmountable to them...

"Something to Sing About," will be shown on Friday, Jan. 30, starting at 7 p.m., at Harvest Assembly at Oak Grove. The video, starring Irma P. Hall, Darius McCrary and Tamera Mowry, and introducing Rashaan Nall, was originally made for television...

From St. Peter to contemporary Italian educator Chiara Lubich, the Roman Catholic Church is the most documented of all Christian denominations, and, of course, is the source of all protestant denominations. For all its history, both positive and negative, the Catholic Church has produced great theologians, philosophers, artists, scholars, as well as simple believers, who have shaped Christian thought throughout the centuries...

Arkansas State Trooper Chad Hipps, who has been stationed in Carroll County for the past five years, has a new assignment, and a new partner with some very rare skills. His partner is a highly trained black German shepherd named "Brix," who is two years old and has extensive training in sniffing out marijuana, methamphetamine, cocaine, heroin and other drugs...

Failed and inadequate septic tanks and lateral drain lines are causing pollution problems in the White River watershed, according to David Casaletto, of Table Rock Lake Water Quality. Speaking at the formal first annual meeting of Kings River Watershed Partnership last week in Berryville, Casaletto described many disturbing situations of raw and nearly-raw sewage running across private property before going into Table Rock Lake...

The Green Forest Tiger senior high basketball teams made the long trip to Lincoln on Tuesday and had a longer trip back after losing both games. Coach Mike Hampton's senior boys lost 51-18, leaving them 0-14, 0-6, while Coach Jim Goins' senior girls fell 57-39 for a 3-12, 1-5 mark...

The Shiloh Christian Saints ran into two buzz saws Tuesday night when they took on the Berryville Bobcats and were outplayed in both games. Coach Tracy Jones' senior boys earned a 55-35 victory, good for a 11-7 season mark, 5-2 in 1AAA play. Coach Matt Carter's senior girls also took a big win, 47-31, with Hailey Blanchard hitting 5 of 6 3-point attempts on the way to 17 points. The girls were 7-10, 3-4, after the victory...

The Eureka Springs senior high boys basketball team took a big step toward the top spot in the 1AA conference when they defeated Johnson County Westside on Tuesday at the same time Pea Ridge and Mountainburg were losing. Eureka shot their way to a 71-40 win, giving them an 18-9, 6-1 record and the top spot in the conference via a tie-breaker with Cedarville, who they beat last week...

WILLIAM JOSEPH MARTES was born Dec. 20, 1943, to the late Joseph and Josephine Martes. He was one of three children and is survived by one sister and one brother. He died on Sunday, Jan. 18, 2004, at the age of 60. William, better known as Bill to all his friends, walked his own path in life and his accomplishments were many. ...

EARL RICHARD EOFF, 54, of Kingston, died Jan. 16, 2004, at his home. He was born Sept. 25, 1949, in Kingston, the son of W. Dennis and Mary Ruth Bowen Eoff. He had retired in 2001 as foreman for the Madison County Road and Bridge Department. He was a veteran of the Vietnam war, serving in the United States Army. He was a member of the Lower Campground Church and American Legion Post #230 at Kingston, where he served as adjutant for over 20 years...

J.T. DOCKINS, 82, of Springdale, formerly of Berryville, died Jan. 15, 2004, at Springdale. He was born Jan. 21, 1921, in Izard County to James Thomas and Mary Lovelace Dockins. He was an Army veteran of World War II, a Protestant and a retired Little Rock police officer...

CAROL ANN CONINE, 65, of Berryville, died Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2004, at St. John's Hospital -- Berryville. She was born Oct. 31, 1938, in Wichita, Kan. to the late Carl and Sammie Kathryn Williams Tharp. She was united in marriage Dec. 23, 1958, to the late Ralph Edward (Ed) Conine, who preceded heer in death in 1986...

Bob Valet feels that he has done the job at the Good Shepherd Humane Society Shelter he was hired to do, and it is time to go on to something else. He will be leaving the full-time post of shelter director March 1 and taking a part-time post as the shelter's business manager, being in the office one day a week...