Stories from Friday, December 19, 2014

The Berryville City Council approved the city's 2015 budget at its meeting Tuesday. The budget projects total revenues of $10.1 million and total expenses of $9.8 million in 2015. Mayor Tim McKinney said there are no significant changes in the proposed 2015 budget. The council voted unanimously to approve it...

Two people were hospitalized with gunshot wounds after an apparent domestic incident Wednesday night on Carroll County Road 228 north of Holiday Island. Carroll County Sheriff Bob Grudek said Thursday morning that his office is investigating the incident, which he said "appears to be a domestic."...

The city of Green Forest will give merit-based raises to city employees in 2015. Mayor Charles Reece discussed this wage increase at the city's annual budget meeting Dec. 16. The raises, he said, will be based on performance reviews. Reece said the raises will vary in percentage based on employee performance...

A Berryville police officer shot and killed a pit bull Monday afternoon when the dog attacked the officer, police said. Although an official report on the incident wasn't complete by Thursday afternoon, Berryville Police Lt. Robert Bartos gave a brief account of the incident...

With 42 percent of the school year complete, the Berryville School District has expended only 39 percent of its budget. The district currently has 2,055 students, up 2.5 percent from last year. Superintendent Phil Clark presented this information to the Berryville School Board Dec. 15, saying the school district is "still in good shape" financially...

Santa Claus visited Autumn Hill in Berryville on Dec. 10, bringing along plenty of toys and holiday cheer for the residents. The toys were donated by the Mercy Auxiliary.

On Nov. 24, the Berryville Future Farmers of America Chapter participated in the FFA annual philanthropy event called "Feeding America." The Berryville students provided Thanksgiving meals to local families in need, and area businesses helped by donating money. ...

Eureka Springs firefighters were dispatched to the Quality Inn Hotel at 196 E. Van Buren for a reported dryer fire about 7 p.m. Wednesday night. According to a news release from Eureka Springs Fire and EMS, the evening shift clerk, Justin Stoppel said he noticed the door between the desk area and the laundry room was moving and rattling as if someone were in the laundry room. ...

Some years ago I read about Charles Brown, a World War II pilot on his first mission, just before Christmas, 1943. His B-17 had been shot to pieces by German fighters and anti-aircraft guns. Half his crew was wounded, his tail gunner was dead, and he was flying alone over Germany, barely able to keep the plane aloft...

I have heard the term "Speak now or forever hold your peace" at weddings, but am realizing now that this also applies to the Butler Hollow Project involving 18,000-plus acres of Mark Twain National Forest. The notification letter (http://www.fs.usda.gov/goto/mtnf/projects) states that only those who submit timely specific written comments during this 30-day period (which ends MONDAY DECEMBER 22) will be eligible to file an objection in the future. The official notice...

Dec. 12 Christopher Eugene Abbott, 33, Berryville, was booked on failure to pay. Kelly Joe Davis, 28, Harrison, was booked on failure to pay. Jermeson Mwea, 22, Springdale, was booked on driving on a suspended license. Trans Eddie Sam, 28, Springdale, was booked on theft by receiving...

EUREKA SPRINGS -- Traditionally, high school and college sports teams try to schedule a homecoming opponent they can handle fairly easily. Mission accomplished for the Eureka Springs Highlanders. Trevor Lemme scored 26 points to lead four Eureka Springs players in double figures as the Highlanders routed Oark 96-36 Friday night at Highlander Arena...

GREEN FOREST -- The Eureka Springs Highlanders grabbed the momentum early in Saturday's game against the Green Forest Tigers, and they never let it go. Trevor Lemme scored 26 points and Eureka Springs defeated Green Forest 65-61 in the fifth-place game of the Green Forest Holiday Tournament at the Fred Grim Gym...

In the midst of the Eureka Springs boys and girls basketball teams sweeping Oark on Homecoming Friday night, Trevor Lemme and Hayden Mayfield were named Mr. and Miss Basketball. Lemme and Mayfield are both seniors and were voted by their teammates to receive the award...

GREEN FOREST -- Solid defense helped the Berryville Bobcats put themselves in position to win against the Greenland Pirates. Good free-throw shooting helped the Bobcats seal the deal. Seth Hemlinger scored 18 points and the Bobcats made four free throws in the final two minutes to clinch a 41-36 victory in the third-place game of the Green Forest Holiday Tournament...