Stories from Tuesday, February 26, 2013

LITTLE ROCK -- If you have a chicken coop or are just contemplating raising chickens in your own backyard, the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture, P. Allen Smith, Purina and the Heritage Poultry Conservancy will show you how. Join Smith and Mikelle Roeder, Dustin Clark and Keith Bramwell for the Backyard Poultry Workshop from 10 a.m. ...

NASHVILLE, Ark. -- An old fruit farm is teaching new tricks. Although the National Agricultural Statistics Service valued the state's 2012 blueberry, watermelon, peach and grape production at $13.2 million, turning a profit can be challenge in the face of drought, new pests, and fluctuating demand...

The Eureka Springs Hospital Guild recently installed officers for 2013, including, from left, Treasurer Norma Rix, Secretary Grace Wilson, President Nancy Werbitzky, and Vice President Mary Dolce. At its January meeting, Guild members discussed goals for the year, with the most important goal being to increase the number of active volunteers who work in the Purple House hospital thrift shop. ...

EUREKA SPRINGS -- The Krewe of Blarney Kaptains Klub is proud to announce their choice of Grand Marshal for the 2013 St. Paddy 20th Annual Parade, Circuit Judge Kent Crow of the 19th Judicial District (East). Crow was born in Berryville. He graduated from San Francisco State University with a bachelor's in political science and completed law school at the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville...

Bobby D. Reavis, a resident of Oak Grove, AR, was born Mar. 6, 1941 in Erbie, AR, a son of Wilson and Nellie (Blackston) Reavis. He departed this life Monday, Feb. 18, 2013 in Springfield, MO, at the age of 71 years. On Mar. 2, 1963 he was united in marriage with Sadie M. ...

Travis and Katye Wyatt, of Berryville, will celebrate their 75th wedding anniversary this week. The couple, ages 96 and 95, respectively, were married in Winnsboro, La., on Feb. 27, 1938. Travis, a clerk for the Missouri-Pacific Railroad, met Katye while making a deposit at the local bank, where she worked as a teller. ...

Curtis Lynn Stewart, age 62, died Jan. 9, 2013. Graveside services will be held Mar. 1, 2013 at the Stewart home place. Lynn is survived by his wife, Cathe and daughter Sylvia of California City, CA. He is also survived by his mother, Helen Robinson and husband Lee of Berryville, AR; one brother, David and wife Bea of Lancaster, CA; one sister, Diana Mauldin and husband Wayne of Tehachapi, CA...

BERRYVILLE -- The Berryville Community Center has made significant upgrades to the classes offered to its members. The Cardio Circuit classes are designed to achieve or maintain a healthy weight. The classes build self-confidence, improve cardiovascular and muscular endurance, and let participants work at their own pace...

Leasa Kaye Eagle Minney, a resident of Berryville, AR, was born Feb. 23, 1968 in Fayetteville, AR, a daughter of J.C. Eagle and Margie (Sims) Eagle. She departed this life Tuesday, Feb. 19, 2013 in Fayetteville, AR, at the age of 44 years. On Sept. 13, 1996 she was united in marriage with Tony Minney who survives her of the home. ...

When the 2012 Bobcat Football season came to a close there were 12 young men that began making their way every day to the old gym after off-season workouts. They usually get there before the coaches and began setting up for practice. They carried and rolled out about 10 mats weighing 120-700 pounds, then clean and mop them without delay. ...

"Granny" Maxine Larimer, of Harrison, AR, of Green Forest, AR, born Dec. 12, 1923 in Lyman, WA, daughter of Emmett and Nellie (Wise) Ramsey. She passed away Saturday, Feb. 16, 2013 in Harrison, AR, age 89 years. Maxine attended Harvest Assembly in Oak Grove, AR. ...

Patrick "Hippy Pat" Boven, a resident of Alpena, AR, was born Oct. 12, 1944 in Chula Vista, CA, a son of Henry and Bobbie (Wise) Boven. He departed this life Wednesday, Feb. 13, 2013 in Alpena, AR, at the age of 68 years. Pat's life was a great affection for animals and relishment of the outdoors Pat enjoyed fishing and hunting; and once the harvest was in Pat knew how to cook and serve on a plate. ...

HOLIDAY ISLAND -- District Manager Gerald Hartley had some bad news for commissioners at the Feb. 13 regular board meeting: the leak-detection equipment the district owns is not working and is out-of-date, and its replacement could be costly. "We don't have any equipment we can use," he said. "We have to re-price the entire program."...

The following people were booked in to the Carroll County Detention Center from Feb. 15 to Feb. 25 and charged with the following crimes, for which they have not yet been tried: Feb. 15 Andrew Philip Field, 23, Green Forest, for possessing a controlled substance, and drinking on a public highway...

HOLIDAY ISLAND -- In a letter dated Feb. 6, the Arkansas Legislative Joint Auditing Committee asked Holiday Island for a response to deficiencies found on the audit the district submitted for 2010 and 2011 and recommended several changes to its accounting practices...

DIXON, Ill. -- The long arm of the law reached into Carroll County last Tuesday and knocked on the door of Steven Andrew Watts' home in Osage. When it swung open, Watts found a Lee County, Ill., detective, holding a warrant for his arrest. Watts, 56, was whisked away to Lee County, where he was charged Thursday with first-degree murder in the slaying of Gary Dawson...

CARROLL COUNTY -- Justices of the Peace will welcome a new member to their ranks at the March meeting of the Carroll County Quorum Court. Gov. Mike Beebe has appointed Gaylon Riggs to represent voters in District 9. Riggs, a Green Forest police officer, was sworn in at the Carroll County Courthouse last Tuesday...

HOLIDAY ISLAND -- Calling the two assessment of benefits lawsuits against Holiday Island "a lawyer's dream and a property owner's nightmare," developer Tom Dees got up at the end of the HISID meeting Monday to comment on the situation. He said he is planning to call a town hall meeting and will need three hours to lay everything out about the problems Holiday Island is facing...

HOLIDAY ISLAND -- On a split vote of 3-2, the Holiday Island Board of Commissioners passed Reg. 42 Monday, which adds membership classifications for non-property owner golf. It also opens up access to the campground. (Ed. note: The foregoing sentence is a correction of our Feb. ...