Stories from Tuesday, October 18, 2011

GREEN FOREST -- A one-vehicle traffic accident north of Green Forest early Monday morning claimed the life of 27 year-old Joshua Brightwell of Berryville. Shelly Tapia, 37, of Green Forest, was injured. She was a passenger in the vehicle Brightwell was driving...

The Arkansas Hospitality Association (AHA), the official voice of the restaurant, lodging and tourism industry in the state, announced today that the association has awarded a $4,000 scholarship for the 2011-12 academic year to a Eureka Springs student planning a career in the hospitality industry...

A select group of Green Forest Elementary School students were named September Kids with Character when the word of the month was respect. Two groups of students are pictured here.

A weather station has been established in Green Forest -- in the school's EAST technology room. It was installed after EAST weather team members researched and assisted in writing grants to secure the equipment. The Davis Vue weather station monitor and outdoor equipment came from an Arkansas Game and Fish Commission grant. Software for the system was donated through Donor Choose.com STEM grant funded by the Disney Planet Challenge program...

The Green Forest EAST program received the Green Forest Chamber of Commerce "2011 Hero of the Year" award on Sept. 24 during the chamber's annual banquet. Chamber President Cassie Smith presented the award recognizing the broad range of EAST community service projects that have benefited the community. ...

BERRYVILLE -- A ceremonial "groundbreaking" celebration was held Thursday at Mercy Hospital Berryville where renovation of 16 patient rooms begins this week, one room at a time. Nearly $250,000 was contributed to the effort, thanks to "Redesigning Health Care," the St. John's Foundation-Berryville capital campaign...

The Berryville High School Band won the War Eagle Classic Marching Band Competition in Rogers on Saturday, edging out 14 bands from northwest Arkansas. Holding the trophy for the Class B 1st place finish in the Preliminary Field round and Outstanding Auxillary Caption Award are Color Guard members Leah Erskine and Edith Figueroa. ...

BERRYVILLE -- An open house was held at the Carroll County Learning Center last Thursday to celebrate the completion of a remodeling and expansion project. The year-long effort combined and expanded two buildings into one. The 6,000 square-foot facility is now the Early Childhood Education Center where preschool services are provided. ...

Green Forest Homecoming Queen Kaleigh Evans stands at midfield on Friday night with her father, Dave, and brother Billy.

Eureka Springs Boy Scout Troop 67 attended the Backpacking Fall Camporee at Rockin Z Ranch last weekend. They won a total of seven ribbons, for first aid, fire-building, knot-tying, leaf identification, backpack inspection and one for best campsite.

HOLIDAY ISLAND -- In its monthly work session Monday, the Holiday Island Board of Commissioners looked at possible new revenue sources in its first-pass 2012 budget. Although District Manager Kevin Crosson is proposing a 2012 budget shortfall of only $21,235, to be made up from undesignated reserves, he was quick to point out that it is a "bare bones" budget. It continues a wage freeze from 2008, current department staffing reductions and department budgets that do not exceed 2011 allocations...

The Fall Foliage Fly-in on Oct. 22, will benefit Carroll County Kids and will be hosted by the Rotary Clubs of Carroll County. It will be a day of fun with planes arriving at the Carroll County Airport from across the country. Admission to the event is free and breakfast will be served from 7:30-10:30 a.m. for $3 for adults 13 and older and kids 12 and under free, although donations are appreciated. Lunch will be served from 11:30 a.m. -- 2 p.m. for $5 for adults and kids eat free...