Stories from Friday, December 14, 2012

According to the Pew Research Center's recently released report, a full one-fifth of Americans are now unattached to religion, and the Protestant majority is no longer that; Protestant Christians now make up less than 50% of the population. News agencies reported this news as statistical facts with maybe a raised eyebrow of curiosity while some agnostics celebrated the dawn of a new secularism. ...

For their annual Christmas Cantata, First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) will perform "A Celtic Christmas Celebration - Season of Joy" on Sunday, Dec. 16 for their morning worship service beginning at 11 a.m. The program will be narrated by Dave Buttgen and will feature the voices of the FCC Choir and special music by Charlisa French, Candy Scheller and others. ...

The Holiday Island Presbyterian Church would like to invite the public to hear the Tapestry of Light -- A Celtic Christmas Celebration by Joseph M. Martin. The choir will be singing this cantata on Sunday, Dec. 16 at 9 a.m. at the Holiday Island Presbyterian Church at Stateline and Walnut. The performance will be directed by Harry Hoffman with Diana Brown on the piano. Several choir members will be featured soloists. The public is invited to attend...

LITTLE ROCK -- The abundant generosity of Arkansans is never more apparent than it is during the holidays, when our State's residents open their hearts and their wallets to worthy charities. Arkansas consistently rates among the top states for spending on philanthropic causes. On average, Natural State households donate 6.3 percent of their discretionary income to charity, according to the Chronicle of Philanthropy. That ranks Arkansas as the seventh most-giving state in the nation...

The following governmental bodies will meet next week in Carroll County: Board members will convene for their regular monthly meeting at 5 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 17 in the Green Forest Alumni Center. For more information, call 870-438-5201. Board members will convene for their regular monthly meeting at 6 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 17 in the Intermediate School Cafetorium. For more information, call 870-480-4669...

CARROLL COUNTY -- Carroll County Justice of the Peace John Howerton has been elected to a three-year term, beginning in January, on the local Farm Service Agency County Committee. The election was held by mail, with votes counted on Dec. 10. Howerton and his wife, Sheila, raise poultry and cattle for beef and dairy on their diversified farm in the Southeast portion of the county...

CARROLL COUNTY -- The highly popular History Channel antiques show "American Pickers" is going into its third season, and show stars Mike Wolfe and Frank Fritz will be coming to Arkansas in a couple months. It will be their first trip to this state...

The following people were booked into the Carroll County Detention Center between Dec. 6 and Dec. 12 and charged with the following crimes for which they have not yet been tried: Dec. 6 William Corbett Alsip, 38, Green Forest, was booked in for probation violation...

CARROLL COUNTY -- Holiday party-goers, beware. To help save lives this holiday season, the Carroll County Sheriff's Office is launching a special "Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over" crackdown to stop impaired drivers and save lives. The Carroll County Sheriff's Office said deputies would be out in force through the new year, setting up sobriety checkpoints and looking for offending drivers...

GREEN FOREST -- A trial date has been set for Green Forest drive-by shooting suspect Trevor Elder, 26. At a discovery hearing in Eureka Springs on Tuesday, the state requested DNA from Elder to be sent to the state crime lab for testing. In July, Elder was arrested and charged after he allegedly fired three shots at his estranged wife, police said. This was an escalation of a string of threats he made against her, police reports show...

BERRYVILLE -- Does Santa belong on Broadway? Come and find out at Berryville Intermediate School's Christmas musical. On Tuesday, Dec. 18, Berryville Intermediate School fourth-graders will present their musical, "Broadway Santa." The show, directed by music teacher Desiree Atchley, will take place at the Intermediate school cafeteria...

GREEN FOREST -- The City of Green Forest plans to ask residents to shell out more cash next year. City Council members are expected to consider increasing water rates, sewer rates, and the city sales tax at their January meeting. Mayor Charles Reece said Thursday he planned to recommend increasing the rates by 3 percent and raising the sales tax from 1 to 2.25 percent...