Stories from Tuesday, December 14, 2004

GREEN FOREST ---- The 35th meth lab of the year was seized last week, from a brush pile on private property in Green Forest. Police Chief John Bailey said a citizen came to the police department Nov. 26, requesting that authorities look at something he noticed in a brush pile on his property...

Authorities arrested five individuals on felony drug charges in four separate incidents the first two days of December. "In a 48-hour time span, Carroll County patrol deputies made five felony drug arrests from traffic-related incidents," said a Sheriff's Office spokesperson...

David Slaton, an easy-going lawman with a constant smile and twinkling eyes, has surfaced in Iraq after leaving the sheriff's office a few months ago. The bear-like sheriff's captain, known on the streets as "Smiley," is reportedly training Iraqi police forces, a job that he is well-qualified for, after serving with the United Nations in a similar position in Bosnia after the civil war there...

The Lavaca Golden Arrows play sports in the tough 4AA Conference that includes perennial playoff teams from Charleston, and others from Danville, Hackett, and Magazine. The Eureka Springs Highlanders stepped out of the 1AA league they play in and made the trip to the Arkansas River valley on Tuesday to take on Lavaca teams that have been on a roll this season...

It was a night of lopsided games Tuesday when the Berryville Bobcats traveled to Green Forest for three 1AAA Conference games. The junior boys started the action, with the Junior Tigers winning 44-26. Berryville fell to 1-6. The senior girls took the floor next, with Berryville winning this one 54-25 over the Lady Tigers...

Charles "Gary" Bragg, a former Berryville resident residing in Antelope Valley, Calif., lost his struggle with cancer on Nov. 15, 2004, after a year-long battle. He is survived by his wife Earlene of 48 years, his son David, daughter-in-law Michelle, and special grandchildren, Brooke, Michael and Chelsi Bragg, and one sister, Joann Bragg of Berryville...

REX W. HOUSE, a resident of Berryville, Ark., was born July 17, 1926, in Landis, Ark., a son of Pinkney Richard and Arizona Elizabeth (Mitchell) House. He died Monday, Dec. 6, 2004, in Berryville, at the age of 78. Mr. House was a mechanic for La Bolsa Tile. He was a member of the Western Avenue Baptist Church in Brawley, Calif. He was a veteran, having served with the United States Army during World War II. He was an active member of DAV and VFW...

by Larry Elkins Sorry, no column today. I've always said that I just listen to the Holy Spirit and write it down. What I've been hearing recently seems to be a dramatization of the parable of the Good Samaritan and the ensuing events. It's getting pretty long...

The Music and Drama ministry of Freeman Heights Baptist Church of Berryville will present a musical drama, "The Road to Bethlehem," on Saturday, Dec. 18, at 7 p.m., and Sunday, Dec. 19, at 6 p.m. The story is about a family traveling to Bethlehem to pay their taxes as decreed by the Roman government. They travel in a caravan with families joining them along the way. One of the families is from Nazareth...

"Live From Bethlehem: Are Aliens Among Us?" is the title of the Christmas program of Eureka Springs First Assembly of God, to be presented starting at 6 p.m. on Dec. 19. The evening will include a prelude of three Christmas songs as recorded by Harry Connick Jr., as the audience takes their seats...