Stories from Tuesday, January 29, 2013

TULSA -- Students from Elite Dance Studios have reached new heights in competition. The Company Dance Convention and Competition, held Jan. 11-13, attracted more than 700 dances from the region. Elite's students gave 22 performances, including solos, duos, and larger groups, and they received recognition from the judges and from other competitors...

When I first started this column, I promised to tell my story. I share it as a person who, after fighting his way out of quicksand, holds out a branch to say, "Don't give up." My greatest dream was coming true. My first novel, a three-generational saga based on the life of my great-grandfather, was acquired by Donald Hutter at Simon & Schuster...

The Charles B. Reece Parkway became reality late Friday during a hurriedly called special council meeting. The local media received the mandatory two hour notice, but Green Forest citizens received none. Actual construction will not begin in winter months, but the "emergency" clause was invoked and the mayor's admirers on the council passed (the proposal) with a 4-0 vote on all three readings. Can "drinking the Kool-Aid" be far off?...

The brutal death of a young woman (allegedly) by Victor Acuna-Sanchez has pointed to the gaps in the law enforcement and judicial systems here in Carroll County. The judge in the case released this man on his own recognizance without bail, in spite of a series of arrests and no-contact orders for domestic violence immediately preceding his last arrest...

I read with interest the letter by Ms. Villines, Moore and Tanner and totally agree with these ladies. My wife and I tried to call Mayor Reese and could not get an answer, so we went to his office and he was never there. We were told each time that he had just left...

GREEN FOREST -- Sandy Hook casts a long shadow. The December massacre of 20 children and six adults at an elementary school in Newtown, Conn., touched off a national debate on gun legislation and school safety. As politicians in Little Rock and on Capitol Hill continue to hash out solutions, school administrators in Green Forest are quietly considering what they can do to make area schools more secure...

BERRYVILLE -- The Black and White Charity Ball is celebrating its 10th year anniversary this year in Carroll County. The Black and White Charity Ball will be held at the 1886 Crescent Hotel on Saturday, Feb. 23 and will include dinner, auction, live entertainment and a few surprises...

BERRYVILLE -- St. John's Auxiliary-Berryville has announced that scholarship applications are now being accepted for area graduating high school students who plan to go into the field of medicine. The $1,000 scholarship will furnish $500 after proof of freshman college registration. The remaining $500 balance of the scholarship will be paid at the start of the second semester. Only two scholarships will be offered for 2013...

BERRYVILLE -- Spring is just around the corner, and it is time to start planning -- and soon planting -- what you are going to enter into Berryville's 6th Annual Farm, Flower, Garden Show and Sale. The event will coincide with the opening of the Berryville Farmer's Market and will run from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, April 27...

BERRYVILLE -- School board members voted not to extend Superintendent Randy Byrd's contract Monday night, at the end of a very long and, at times, contentious meeting. The decision was a close call, with board members Vonda Bailey, Kristi Howerton, and Lydia King voting in favor of extending the contract for an additional year...

HOLIDAY ISLAND -- More than 200 property owners and residents attended a jam-packed and at times highly emotional meeting at the Clubhouse Monday night to hear the Board of Commissioners discuss and vote on settlement offers made in two lawsuits against the district...

LINCOLN -- Austin Carr had 14 points and 10 rebounds and Josh Morrell added 18 points and 11 boards to lead Berryville to a 57-48 win at Lincoln on Friday. With the win, the Bobcats improved to 13-9 overall and 4-6 in 1-4A Conference, maintaining their fifth-place status in the league. Lincoln dropped to 6-4 in the conference...

BERRYVILLE -- The city prosecutor has declined to press charges against a school board member accused of assaulting Berryville Middle School Principal Shelly Pogue. According to a report filed by Officer Craig Hicks, of the Berryville Police Department, the two were involved in a dispute on Jan. 17 in Pogue's office...

EUREKA SPRINGS -- At Monday night's meeting for Passion Play volunteers and former employees, new Board President Randall Christy announced that Eureka Springs this year will host its first-ever Celebrate Jesus Parade and accompanying all-day Gospel music concerts in Basin Park on Saturday, March 30, the day before Easter...