Stories from Tuesday, December 16, 2014

A state review of the Carroll County Circuit Clerk's court records for an 18-month period in 2013 and 2014 revealed several issues related to the collection of fines and costs. In a Dec. 11 letter to State Sen. Bryan King (R-Green Forest), assistant legislative auditor Kim Williams noted that the Division of Legislative Audit reviewed the circuit clerk's court records for the time period from Jan. 1, 2013 through June 30, 2014...

"Life should be fun. Don't take it hard. Enjoy it," Guy Lessenberry says as his employees at Economy Drug interact with customers behind him. Lessenberry's employees aren't just asking customers for insurance information. No, they're discussing holiday travel plans and addressing customers by their first names...

If you're reading this, there's a good chance you may be contemplating a year-end donation to a cause you care about. In fact, 18 percent of 2012 donations to charitable organizations were given during December; twice as much as was contributed in any other month that year...

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- Bass Pro Group on Dec. 11 announced an agreement to acquire Fishing Holdings, LLC, a manufacturer of fishing boats that include Ranger Boats and the Stratos and Triton boat brands from Platinum Equity. The agreement combines popular fishing boat brands that are recognized internationally. ...

The Ozarks Chorale is made up of 52 members from Rogers to Berryville, Clifty to Cassville, Mo., and all points in between. This year's holiday concert, "Holidays in the Hills" was one of the best they have presented to date. The concert included serious pieces, such as the "Antiphonal Gloria" from "Beatus Vir" by Vivaldi and selections from Handel's "Messiah." But to show that the Chorale also has a lighter side they also included PDG Bach's "Good King Kong Looked Out," complete with speaking parts and toy kazoos. ...

Santa and one of his elves arrived at Carroll County Learning Center on Tuesday, Dec. 9, bringing gifts for good girls and boys, courtesy of the Holiday Island Elks Lodge No. 1042 Ladies Auxiliary. Two hundred preschool students and 20 disabled young adults received gifts purchased and wrapped by the Elks...

MARSHALL -- The Green Forest basketball team has been busy, playing seven games in 10 days. The pace caught up with the Tigers on Tuesday as the Marshall Bobcats opened the game with a 24-0 run and defeated Green Forest 62-30. "That was probably as bad as we have looked all year," Green Forest Coach Brandon Stone said of his team's performance. "We had to make some adjustments early and it just didn't go well."...

The Eureka Springs Highlanders opened the conference season with a 62-58 home victory over Johnson County Westside on Tuesday. The Highlanders went into halftime with a 28-18 lead, but Johnson County Westside, a team that many project will compete for a state championship, didn't lie down. Starting the third quarter on a 9-4 run, the Rebels were back within striking distance. The Rebels scored 23 points in the quarter and the lead was cut to 43-41...

The Berryville Bobcats hosted their second dual meet of the season on Tuesday evening with Gentry, Rogers and Heritage. Because of time constraints, the Bobcats wrestled Rogers and Heritage, two of the better teams in the state. They lost to Rogers 66-12, and lost to Heritage, 57-16. Even after those losses, Coach Seth Record said he saw some bright spots from the Bobcats...

GREEN FOREST -- With 12 seconds left in Wednesday night's game against Berryville, the score was tied and the Eureka Springs Highlanders had the ball in the hands of their top offensive player. Five seconds later, Berryville scored the game-winning basket...