Stories from Thursday, June 17, 2004

by Larry Elkins "Click it or ticket." Sure thing Comrade. It would seem that the State once again thinks it knows what's best for its citizens. Their argument is that "seatbelts save lives." I don't think anyone would disagree. Arguments from the other side center around freedom of choice. So where are the abortionists in this debate? They're strangely silent. Isn't their motto something about being able to choose what to do with their own bodies? Well, that's another column...

Young people in Carroll County are known to perform remarkably beautiful "specials" for worship services using sign language and mime with a background tape or CD for music. Sometimes it is so well synchronized, you can't be sure if the performers are doing the singing or if it's the recording...

The Eureka Springs City Council is willing to consider a proposal to expand council terms to four years and to set staggered terms, but members want to wait until after the mid-year budget review to see if there is enough money to raise their salaries $3,600 per year...

The five persons directly involved in the destruction of the trickling filter at the Eureka Springs wastewater treatment plant will be subpoenaed and their stories taken under oath by staff members of the Carroll County Prosecutor's Office late this week...

In what might be the shortest Western Carroll County Ambulance District (WCCAD) meeting to date, the commission voted Friday to put out bids for a new ambulance for First Responders. The meeting lasted 45 minutes. Commissioners Fred Pierson and Bob McVey, absent Chairman Scott Link, cast the vote...

The national headquarters of the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) has terminated the membership of Holiday Island VFW Post Commander Gary Standing Bear. The action became official this week after numerous challenges arose from local, state and national veterans and military associations, alleging that Standing Bear is unqualified for the VFW, which requires combat service in a foreign war...

A Berryville couple will have their day in court ---- the United States Supreme Court, that is. The Supreme Court announced Monday that it will decide whether federal bankruptcy law shields Individual Retirement Accounts from creditors. The case is brought by Richard and Betty Jo Rousey, formerly of California. Richard declined to comment on the case, referring questions to his attorney...

Republican Bob Grudek will face incumbent Democratic Sheriff Chuck Medford in the general election Nov. 2, after a decisive victory over Republican Randy Janes in the sheriff's runoff election Tuesday. Only 909 voters made it to the polls for the Republican runoff, which which was held because none of the three Republican sheriff's candidates won more than 50 percent of the vote in the June 11 primary...

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has created a snapshot of Carroll County farming with the release earlier this month of the 2002 Census of Agriculture -- the most comprehensive source of statistics portraying the nation's agriculture. The summary, which includes data on every county in every state of the nation, is produced every five years...

Appointment of Woody Acord of Eureka Springs to the Carroll County Airport Commission and introduction of a new jail project manager topped the agenda of a relatively light meeting of the Carroll County Quorum Court Thursday evening. Acord, 60, was unanimously recommended by the commission at its May meeting to fill out the term of Bill Johnson, who resigned. The term will expire in 2008...

GREEN FOREST ---- A new mayor for the city of Green Forest will likely be appointed on June 28 after city council members review applicants for the position. At Monday's regular council meeting, city attorney Jay Miner advised council members that state law requires them to either appoint a mayor or schedule a special election at the first regular meeting after the vacancy was created...

How rigid is the rear setback requirement for Holiday Island homes built adjacent to a golf course? It depends. The Holiday Island Planning Commission (HIPC) postponed making a decision Friday when property owner Ed Robertson requested a variance on the back setback to his home at 19 LaQuinta Loop...

BARBARA SOUTHWICK-PYLE, a resident of Holiday Island, was born October 29, 1931, in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, a daughter of Clifford Alden and Florence Palma (Hakala) Schoonover. She died Tuesday, June 2, 2004, in Eureka Springs, at the age of 72. Mrs. Southwick-Pyle was a bookkeeper at the Crescent Hotel and became manager. She was of the Lutheran faith. She loved antiques, flowers, jewelry, her dog Twinkie, and her cats, Elvira, Morris, and Tittles...