Stories from Wednesday, March 10, 2004

An amendment to the Eureka Springs Municipal Code expanding the definition of "gift shops" in the ordinance regulating the collection of the city's 2 percent gross receipt tax will be discussed by the city council during its meeting Wednesday evening...

Three grants totaling $23,850 have been made to the City of Eureka Springs, Lane House and the Carrollton Post #300 VFW for historic preservation work. Gov. Mike Huckabee announced the grants from the Department of Arkansas Heritage last week. Approximately $428,000 in historic preservation grants through its County Courthouse Restoration Subgrant, Historic Preservation Restoration Grant, Main Street Downtown Revitalization Grant and Certified Local Government programs was awarded...

FLORENCE KEENER DOTTS CLARK MACEK STEWART was born July 23, 1923 in Diana, West Virginia to James and Lillie Mae (McCallister) Keener. She died on March 2, 2004 at 9:12 P.M. She lived on North "C" Street in Rogers, Ark. for many years and leaves behind family and friends too numerous to mention...

Recently, the nation's telecommunications policy turned eight years old ---- a time span more aptly compared to dog years than those of humans. Signed into law in early 1996, the legislation pre-dated the rise of the cell phone as the 'must have' accessory of every American teenager and the wave of wireless Internet gadgets that have made their way into our pockets and purses. ...

The Berryville High School Band program is thriving with young talent and has lately received a great deal of state-wide recognition. One of the key ingredients to the band's success is junior clarinetist Sandy Nieves. Sandy is the most promising young musician Berryville has seen in recent history -- if not ever, says band director Daniel Hodge. ...

Miracles can happen, at least that's what the family of five-year-old Mary Perez believes. A kindergarten student at Alpena Elementary, Mary has been battling cancer the last two years. Currently in remission, she set off last weekend to embark on an adventure of a lifetime ---- to visit Se Gorve, Spain and witness what many Catholics believe is the image of the Saint in the Cave...

CARROLLTON ---- Nearly $100,000 in grants have been awarded to aid in the restoration of the historic lodge at Carrollton, believed to be the oldest public building in the county. The latest grant award, $19,500, from the Arkansas Historic Preservation Program, will go toward a handicapped ramp, painting of an exterior wall, and installation of a heat and air system...

by Mary Jean Sell It seemed fitting that one singer with two guitars and two bouquets of flowers presented the first concert in the "new" Eureka Springs City Auditorium. Janis Ian did some fancy guitar playing, with the help of some electronics, but her show, in the main, was her singing her own songs, simply and with heartfelt emotion...

With the recent heavy rains on everyone's minds, it was not surprising Friday when the Holiday Island Planning Commission (HIPC) was flooded with questions and requests about drainage. Carolyn Williams of 9C Clover Lane appeared before the commission to request information on creating better drainage on her lot. She said she wants to deepen and widen a drainage culvert because water is going under her house...

Memorial services for the late Hortense R. Weaver, a long-time Eureka Springs resident, will be held at First United Methodist Church of Eureka Springs on March 21 at 3 p.m. She died on Nov. 16, 2003. She was born on March 22, 1914, in Eureka Springs, the daughter of of Lonnie and Bessie Roark...