Stories from Tuesday, January 31, 2017

Kim Ann Whitlock Altstatt, of Englewood, passed away following a long illness Sunday night, January 29. She was 53 years old. Kim was born on July 16, 1963 in Sweetwater and long time resident of McMinn County. She was preceded in death by her brother Greg Whitlock, maternal grandparents Pete and Arvena Jackson, paternal grandparents Hobart and Versie Whitlock and Tom Martin, and best friend Joni Craig Welch...

Students at Opera in the Ozarks will no longer have to sing where they eat. Board member Dr. Alice Martinson said the campus is adding a 40-foot by 80-foot building that will serve as a rehearsal space for the students. The building will be divided into two 30-foot by 40-foot rehearsal areas, which will be separated by a 20-foot wide tech space. The tech space will also feature new restrooms, she said, including a handicap accessible restroom...

Carroll County residents will soon have a new option for healthcare. Dr. Alice Martinson confirmed Monday that a Berryville building she co-owns with Dr. Joseph Ricciardi has been leased to North Arkansas Regional Medical Center of Harrison, which she said plans to use the building for a family practice clinic with one physician...

Anstaff Bank, headquartered in Green Forest, is making a $250,000 commitment to support the construction of Arkansas Children’s Northwest.  “Anstaff Bank is thrilled to partner with Arkansas Children’s to transform health for the kids in our communities,” said Steve Stafford, Anstaff Bank’s chairman and chief executive officer. ...

After working somewhere for 10 years, the place begins to feel like a second home. Craig Hicks said he feels that way about his time serving as the school resource officer (SRO) for the Berryville School District. “I’m very thankful for my time with the Berryville School District,” he said. “I had the chance to make lots of friends and lifelong memories.”...

The time has come. After a year of planning, Gideon and I are going on our honeymoon. We’re leaving on Saturday, and it couldn’t come at a better time. This past year has been stressful. I had to plan our wedding, vote for a new president and adjust to a new work schedule. Putting it lightly, I need a break...

Super Bowl Sunday is always a bittersweet day for me. Yes, it’s the most important day of the professional football season, but it’s also the last one. Pro football is my favorite sport, and as soon as one season ends I’ll start counting the days until another begins...

The Elks Lodge 1042 Holiday Island Americanism Committee has announced the winners of the “Why it is Important to Vote” 300-word essay contest. In Division I, grades 5-6, the first-place winner was Matthew Vasquez. Juan Fernandez won second place and Zander Payne won third place. All three are students at Green Forest Middle School. Their teacher is Sherri Glassell...

The following seventh-grade and eighth-grade students were recognized as Renaissance or Honor Roll students by Berryville Middle School: Seventh Grade Gold: Samuel Ball, Alyssa Lee, Ross Nance, Lauren Spurlock and Eden Wilson Silver: Madison Beck, Emily Blodgett, Tristin Harrington, Brody Perkins, Sarah Pruente, Maria Berrios-Morales, Zach Bredeson, Nathan Edwards, Andrew Engel, Kirah Law, Evelyn Pensamiento Corado, Isaac Weston, Kirklyn Powell and Asha Tharakan...

Dispatchers with the Carroll County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) have been recognized for outstanding efforts to aid citizens in need using Smart911, the county’s enhanced 911 service. On Wednesday, Jan. 25, Sheriff Randy Mayfield, Chief Deputy Maj. George Frye and County Judge Sam Barr presented several members of Carroll County Central Dispatch with the Rave SmartSave Award, designed to honor call-takers and emergency responders for their quick thinking and ability to utilize Smart911 to improve the outcome of emergency situations.. ...

The 3rd Annual One Billion Rising event will take place from 1:30 p.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 12, at Main Stage Creative Community Center at 67 North Main St. in Eureka Springs. The event is a worldwide movement to bring awareness to the fact that one in three women across the planet will be beaten or raped during her lifetime. ...

Carroll County Music Group’s annual We’ve Got Talent concert will take place on Sunday, March 5, at the Eureka Springs City Auditorium. The show helps provide funds for local youth to attend music camps and other music enrichment opportunities. The two-hour, fast-paced program is supported by area businesses and individual donations and through ticket sales. The show will feature local and area talent ranging from solo singers, ensembles, choirs, dance groups, band and instrumentalists...

During Kindness Week at Berryville Elementary School, students learned not only how to be kind to each other but also how to be kind to the planet. Bryan Launius of Carroll County Solid Waste Authority (CCSWA) set up an educational trailer at the school, teaching class after class about recycling. ...

EUREKA SPRINGS -- Defense has led the charge all year for the Eureka Springs Highlanders. That is what won the game for the Highlanders once again in Friday night's 60-56 home victory over Alpena. "They got ahead by as much as 13 in the third quarter," Eureka Springs coach Brian Rambo said. "I called a timeout and we finished the game on a 31-14 run. We outscored them 24-14 in the fourth quarter. We just did a great job defensively once again. That was the difference in the game."...

Berryville hosted Valley Springs earlier this year and the two teams played a triple overtime thriller that Berryville finally won, 85-82. For those expecting the same drama in Valley Springs on Friday, they were sorely disappointed, as the Tigers came out on top, 80-62...

Offense hasn't been a strong suit for the Green Forest Lady Tigers this year. That continued Friday evening, in a 55-42 home loss to Yellville-Summit. "We played really well for three quarters, it's just that one quarter that puts a kink in things for us," Green Forest coach Kyle Farrar said...