Stories from Friday, May 3, 2013

HEBER SPRINGS -- In her first opportunity to perform field events since being cleared by doctors after an elbow injury relegated the Berryville sophomore to running events only, Hannah Noble cleared the competition and the high jump bar to stake claim to the first of her two possible titles this year...

BERRYVILLE -- He's been referred to as a "turn-around specialist." The Berryville football program is hopeful that label will ring true beginning Monday when Lee Atkins takes over the Bobcat program after being hired by the school board in a specially-called meeting this past Monday...

DARDANELLE -- Eureka Springs played well in the cold, rainy conditions that blanketed the area on Thursday, beating Dardanelle 2-0 to improve to 2-4 in 1-4A Conference action. Nathan Wilkerson and Nick Walker netted first-half goals to maintain a 2-2 tie at the half and Oscar Mendez scored twice in the second half to lift the Highlanders to victory...

GREEN FOREST -- Episcopal Collegiate too top boy's honors and Harding Academy won girls in Thursday's Class 3A state track meet hosted by Green Forest. Competitors battled the elements during the affair as the host Tigers placed 15th with 15 points while the Lady Tigers secured a top-ten finish in eighth place with 43 points...

LITTLE ROCK -- Arkansas homeowners now have an additional protection against unscrupulous home-repair contractors who dash to neighborhoods damaged by severe weather. Known as "storm chasers," the scam artists attempt to take advantage of storm victims by going door-to-door to offer repair or debris-removals services, typically offering inexpensive prices or other terms designed to entice homeowners to agree right away. ...

EUREKA SPRINGS -- Valley View Baptist Church of Eureka Springs invites the public to see Trevor Thomas, a.k.a. "Mr. Drama," appearing live on Sunday, May 5 at 6 p.m. Since the fall of 1991, actor and entertainer Trevor Thomas has been touring America. He creates characters that people can laugh at, cry with, and learn from. He is known throughout the country by his nickname, "Mr. Drama."...

In Paulo Coelho's brilliant little book, The Alchemist, the author tells of a young lad sent by his father to a wise man to discover the secret of happiness. The wise man lived in a magnificent, faraway castle complete with sweet music, beautiful artwork, delicious food, and sprawling gardens. It was a wonder of the world...

EUREKA SPRINGS -- Three popular operas, including two comedies and a tragedy, plus a group of extraordinary singers and artistic staff will bring magic on the mountain at Inspiration Point, as Opera in the Ozarks presents its 63rd season beginning on Friday, June 21 and running through July 19...

About this year's operas Following are brief synopses of this year's repertoire: Madama Butterfly by Giacomo Puccini -- A love that knows no boundaries goes horribly wrong in a fateful meeting of East and West. What begins as an idyllic liaison in an enchanting land of cherry blossoms turns into the heartbreaking tragedy of an abandoned bride forced to make an excruciating decision...

EUREKA SPRINGS -- The Lions have two officers that other club don't have. The Lion Tamer is in charge of arranging the meeting place and keeping the club's property, including its banner, bell and gavel. The Tail Twister is in charge of keeping order at meetings and levying fines for such things as not wearing a tie -- or wearing a tie, depending. ...

CARROLL COUNTY -- A special judge has been asked to decide whether Carroll County should hand over as much as a quarter of a million dollars, after workers mining creek gravel three years ago allegedly caused the flooding of property owned by John and Cindy Finch...

EUREKA SPRINGS -- The International Fund for Animal Welfare has continued their support of Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge with a $14,000 matching donation to help meet the sanctuaries goal of raising $145,000 to expand enclosures for more than 20 tigers and cougars rescued from Riverglen Tiger Sanctuary earlier this year...

EUREKA SPRINGS -- Ira Goodman, the Eureka Springs resident who joined a movement of sovereign citizens claiming to have foreclosed on all governments and corporations and freeing everyone from their control (Carroll County News, March 26, 2013), has paid his speeding tickets and done community service...

The Holiday Island Theater Guild is currently in full-time rehearsal mode for its production of the melodrama, "Lily, the Virtuous Seamstress," written by Alice McDonald with music and lyrics by Carol Zadnik and directed by Elise Buchman. A dinner theater is scheduled for Thursday, May 16 (limited tickets available), and non-dinner theater performances are on Friday, May 17 and Saturday, May 18 at 7:30 p.m. ...

CARROLL COUNTY -- There is an app for just about everything these days. Need a virtual whoopie cushion? There's an app for that. Want to propose to the love of your life, but just can't muster the words? No need to panic. There's an app that will display the question for you...

BERRYVILLE -- Attorneys for plaintiffs Dane Schumacher and Gordon Watkins, who had filed a complaint with the Arkansas Public Service Commission against Carroll Electric Cooperative Corp., have dropped their case, Watkins said in a recent email to supporters, citing lack of funds...

EUREKA SPRINGS -- Added to the growing voices of local residents' opposition to the proposed SWEPCO transmission line through Carroll County are recent statements of official opposition by various local governments and organizations. On Tuesday, the Eureka Springs City Council held a short special meeting and voted unanimously to approve Resolution No. 618, opposing the transmission line...

EUREKA SPRINGS -- Former Eureka Springs Mayor Beau Satori on Wednesday, May 1 was charged with Theft of Property, a Class C felony, after his former landlord told police that Satori stripped from his building some antique oak baseboards worth approximately $10,000...