Stories from Friday, December 26, 2014

In December of 2001, the Jews of Afghanistan celebrated their first Hanukah free of the Taliban in almost a decade. It was a small celebration, for there were only two Jews left in the entire country -- only two -- and each one celebrated the Festival of Lights alone...

Dec. 19 Jimmy Trent Cox, 46, Green Forest, was booked on domestic battering in the third degree, fleeing by vehicle and endangering the welfare of a minor. Andrea Leotalaree McGehee, 31, Bentonville, was booked on driving on a suspended license, no insurance and expired vehicle license...

According to an article written by Heather Larkin, president and CEO of the Arkansas Community Foundation, twice as many charitable donations are contributed in December as any other month of the year. Janell Robertson, executive director of the Carroll County Foundation, said this is because of the camaraderie the holidays inspire...

Karla Gray wants to clear up a misconception about the Carroll County Learning Center. The center, insisted, does not exclusively serve children with disabilities. "We serve kids from low-income families," said Gray, the center's executive director. "We serve kids whose parents didn't graduate from high school. There are several different ways that a child can come to the center."...

Families were supposed to arrive at the Carroll County Senior Activity and Wellness Center beginning at 4 p.m. Monday to pick up toys, but they began lining up well before 3 p.m. for the first pickup day of the center's toy drive distribution. "We had to say, 'No, you have to wait,'" said Carla Mann, director of the center...