Stories from Friday, October 31, 2014

A Green Forest man who had been wanted on a rape warrant since May was arrested Monday by investigators from the Carroll County Sheriff's Office and members of the Arkansas Community Corrections Special Response Team. According to a press release issued by Carroll County Sheriff Bob Grudek, Charles Briley was located at the home of a registered sex offender on County Road 8534. ...

LONOKE -- The Berryville Lady Bobcats' volleyball season came to an end Thursday, but not before Berryville won two matches in the state tournament and came within one victory of playing for a state championship. The Lady Bobcats advanced to the state semifinals before suffering a five-set loss to Mena on Thursday. Mena won the match 20-25, 25-15, 12-25, 25-18, 15-9...

HARRISON -- Green Forest reached the second round of the Class 3A state volleyball tournament, but the Lady Tigers couldn't get past Walnut Ridge. Walnut Ridge defeated Green Forest 25-20, 23-25, 25-8, 25-15. In the first set, Green Forest (19-4) got out to an early 8-4 lead, but that didn't last long. ...

The Green Forest Tigers find themselves in an unusual position. The Tigers have lost back-to-back conference games for the first time since the beginning of the 2012 conference season. After those consecutive losses, the Tigers went on a tear -- winning 14 straight conference games. Green Forest Coach Jay Martin hopes the same thing will happen this time. The Tigers have locked up a playoff spot, but after losing two conference games, their first-round opponent won't be easy...

Oliver Perez took home another first-place trophy Monday at the district cross country meet in Shiloh Christian with a time of 17:07. He was part of a boys varsity team that finished first overall, followed by Shiloh Christian, Huntsville, Gentry and Pea Ridge. ...

With the Berryville Bobcats 2-1 entering conference play, optimism surrounded the team. Since then however, the Bobcats have been in a downward spiral, losing five straight. Berryville Coach Lee Atkins said despite this, his team is staying upbeat and positive, but he said he hopes many of his players will be able to get healthy before Friday's game at Prairie Grove...

Carroll County residents will head to the polls Tuesday to vote for their preferred candidates in the 2014 general election. A number of county and municipal races are on the ballot, as well as statewide races and several proposed amendments to the state constitution...

The Carroll County Quorum Court budget committee met Wednesday afternoon to continue work on a proposed budget for the coming year. County Treasurer Cindy Collins said the county's general fund looks good for 2015, even with proposed 50-cent raises for all county employees. Despite her optimism, the committee members have looked at every department's budget for places to cut expenses...

Though the school year is a quarter of the way through, the Berryville School District has spent only 22 percent of its budget. Superintendent Phil Clark presented this and other information in the school district's yearly public report at Tuesday's school board meeting...

GREEN FOREST -- Anstaff Bank has announced that Brad King has been named president of the bank according to Steve Stafford, CEO. Stafford will remain as Chairman/CEO. King, Senior Vice President/Chief Lending Officer, has been with the bank for 22 years and has served on the Anstaff Bank Board of Directors for the past eight years...

Alpena School will be hosting a tribute to veterans on Friday, Nov. 7. The program will start at 9:30 a.m. and conclude with lunch for veterans and their guests at 11 a.m. that is being provided by the Alpena FFA. The school has been hosting this tribute to veterans for the past 10 years. Part of the tradition is to have the assembly on the Friday before Veterans Day...

I have a couple thousand "friends" on Facebook, and a few days ago I cyber-smacked one of them over the head like an ugly son-in-law. He had made what I thought was a very snarky, malicious comment about one of my awe-inspiring, earth-shattering posts. Such an offense I could not abide...

BERRYVILLE -- The gift of time is a precious offering, and those behind such selfless acts have helped Mercy Auxiliary-Berryville shine once again. During its annual convention earlier this month in Little Rock, the Arkansas Hospital Auxiliary Association (AHAA) presented Mercy Auxiliary-Berryville with the 5 Star Award. ...

Terry McCarty and Amanda Beilfuss from the Berryville McDonald's presented the Berryville elementary and intermediate schools with a check in the amount of $639.03. This donation is a percentage of the sales during McTeacher Night on Oct. 7.