Stories from Thursday, July 27, 2006

Strong storms packing high winds and heavy rains swept through portions of the county late last week toppling trees, snapping power poles and sending tree limbs flying. A storm moved through Eureka Springs Thursday evening and another packed a punch as it moved from Berryville to Green Forest Friday afternoon...

Little Rock -- Governor Mike Huckabee on Friday ushered in the state's Clean Indoor Air Act, which places virtually all Arkansas government offices and private businesses -- including restaurants and bars -- off-limits to smokers. The new law (Act 8), also requires business owners with three or more employees and businesses, regardless how many people they employ, that are open to the public, to ban smoking in all indoor, enclosed areas. ...

WEEK OF JULY 17 July17 1:11 a.m. -- A loud music complaint sent police to a location near the intersection of Smalley and College streets where the subjects turned the music off upon request. 10:19 a.m. -- A tenant upsetting others at the Ozark Meadows apartments agreed to cease after police were called to the scene...

WEEK OF JULY 24 July 24 12:08 a.m.-- Engine #1151 responded to a grass fire at Spring and Main. July 17 5:25 p.m. -- Police were dispatched to take a report of a runaway juvenile. 7:00 p.m. -- Police were dispatched to loose dogs in the Green Forest Estates area...

WEEK OF JULY 17 July 17 12:03 p.m.-- Officers responded to a disturbance between male and female. 12:40 p.m.-- Incident report taken after vehicle struck post. 3:01 p.m.-- Accident report taken on minor incident. 3:27 p.m.-- Caller reported a dog running loose outside of hotel...

FENTON OWEN WHITELEY, a resident of Fayetteville, was born April 25, 1909, in Grandview, a son of Monroe and Nora (Pritchard) Whiteley. He died Tuesday, July 18, 2006, in Fayetteville at the age of 97. Mr. Whiteley worked as a repairman for the railroad, fixing railcars. He was a rock collector. Mr. Whiteley was a veteran, having served with the United States Army during World War II...

REGINA "GINA" B. WEEMS, 25, of Hobart, Ind., formerly of Portage, Ind., died Thursday, July 20. She is survived by her mother, Barbara Koteles, of Hobart; father Arlan Howard Weems, of Eureka Springs; two sisters, Michele Jenkins, of Missouri, and Gemma Weems, of the home; brother James Koteles, of the home; maternal grandmother Mary Ackley, of Orland Park, Ill.; and paternal grandparents Lola and McKinley Weems, of Eureka Springs. She was preceded in death by grandfather Robert W. Ackley...

CARL C. STANDLEE, a resident of Berryville, was born Feb. 18, 1913, in Grandview, a son of Bessie Agusta (Russell) and Johnny Sammuel Standlee. He died Friday, July 21, 2006, in Berryville at the age of 93. Carl was a carpenter for more than 25 years. ...

ELDEN LEROY SHEPPA, 82, of Green Forest, died Thursday, July 20, at Carroll County Nursing and Rehabilitation of Berryville. He was born June 1, 1924, in Tulare, Calif., to the late Paul and Stella Berry Sheppa. He was a World War II veteran, having served his country in the U.S. Navy. He was proud of of his service to his country during a time of great need. He was owner of a concrete mixing plant before retiring in southern Missouri and then moving to the Green Forest area...

HARRY McGRATH, a resident of Harrison, Ark., was born Nov. 18, 1906, in Holton, Kan., a son of Mathew and Margaret (McAsey) McGrath. He departed this life Thursday, July 20, 2006 in Harrison, Ark., at the age of 99. Mr. McGrath was a veteran, having served with the U.S. Army during World War II. He was a member of the Mary Mother of God Catholic Church. He was a mechanic and a heavy equipment operator...

JAMES E. FOSTER, 95, of Little Rock, died Sunday evening, July 16, at his home. He was born in Poinsett County on Aug. 23, 1910, to the late William Clinton Foster and Francis Ann Raines. Mr. Foster was a long-time member of First Gospel Church and built his life around God's work. He was retired from Timex Corporation where he served as president of union Local 925 for several years...

Trevor Coons, 16, of Cassville passed away on Tuesday, July 11, 2006, at St. John's Regional Media Center in Springfield as the result of an auto accident on June 15. Trevor was born on March 5, 1990, in Kansas City, Kan. He was an honor student at Southwest High School in Washburn, Mo., where he would have been a junior this fall. He was a member of Emmanual Baptist Church in Cassville...

Concerns over the rising cost of electricity due to soaring fuel prices had the Carroll-Boone Water District (CBWD) Board reevaluating its program of annual rebate to the cities and its cost of water Thursday at its quarterly meeting. During a review of the financial report for a nine-month period, Office Manager Jim Allison noted that although the cost of electricity, at $309,442.51, came in under budget ($322,500) it still was a great deal higher than last year during this same period, when it was $195,468.18.. ...

TIGER FOOTBALL BEGINS -- Head football coach Bill Gotto has announced that practices will begin on Tuesday, Aug. 1, with the senior high going from 8 to 11 a.m., and the junior high from 4 to 6 p.m. that first week. Players must have a physical on file with coaches to begin practices...