Stories from Friday, April 14, 2017

It’s no secret that the Berryville football team has been struggling for some time now. Doug Shott, who will officially be announced as Berryville’s new head football coach at Monday’s board meeting, plans on changing the culture of Bobcat football starting this season...

A new face will be delivering the message at the traditional Sunrise Service this Easter Sunday. Pastor Mark Golaway of First Christian Church of Eureka Springs will be the guest speaker at the Sunrise Service, which will be held from 7 a.m. to 8 a.m. on Sunday, April 16, in the statue area of the Great Passion Play Grounds...

Green Forest has taken its first step toward tobacco-free parks. The Green Forest City Council voted at its Tuesday meeting to approve Ordinance 656 on its first reading. The ordinance would prohibit smoking and the use of tobacco in any city parks or recreational areas. The ordinance clarifies that smoking and tobacco use shall include the lighting or possession of any cigarette, cigar or pipe as well as smokeless tobacco products such as dip, chew and electronic cigarettes...

Bobby Thurman of Nelson Funeral Home in Berryville was named the Arkansas Funeral Directors Association’s Funeral Director of the Year at the association’s annual convention March 31 and April 1 in Rogers. Thurman, the great-grandson of Nelson Funeral Home founder Rea L. Nelson, joined the family business in May 1997 as the fourth generation. He is also a licensed funeral director in...

The Eureka Springs School District will be conducting a districtwide upgrade to LED lighting this year. The Eureka Springs School Board voted at its Tuesday meeting to approve a plan with Excel Energy for a comprehensive upgrade to more energy-efficient lighting in the district’s buildings...

Floyd Collins, a legendary spelunker from Kentucky, crawled into a dark, wet, cavern known as Sand Cave on a cold January morning in 1925. As the entrepreneur who had put the Mammoth Cave system on the tourist map, he was after his next commercial conquest...

Eureka Springs residents will have the chance to vote in a special election this summer. On Monday night, the Eureka Springs City Council approved an ordinance establishing a special election to renew the parks department’s 0.125 percent tax. Citizens will vote on whether or not to renew the existing tax, which applies to capital improvements at Lake Leatherwood City Park...

The 8th Annual Carroll County Bible Reading marathon needs help.  More readers are needed to take a 15-minute time slot and read from the Bible. The marathon runs from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday, May 4, through Thursday, May 11. Individuals or groups can contact coordinator Bonnie Roediger at 870-350-0865...

After seven years of service, Eureka Springs High School principal Kathryn Lavender is leaving the school district. The Eureka Springs School Board accepted Lavender’s retirement on Tuesday night. Superintendent Bryan Pruitt said he will miss working with Lavender, saying she’s intelligent and visionary...

April 6 • Dewayne Lynn Fiveash, 36, Yellville, was booked on domestic battery in the third degree. • Lucas Adam Lauritz, 29, Green Forest, was booked on domestic battery in the third degree. • Hared Clayton Magie, 28, Harrison, was booked on aggravated assault on a family or household member...

Alexandria Cisco of Green Forest High School has been accepted into Arkansas Tech University’s Honors Program and was awarded a University Honors Stipend for $4,000 beginning with the fall 2017 semester. In addition to the stipend, Cisco has also received a Board of Trustees Scholarship. ...

Kelly McDonough has been named the new executive director of the Eureka Springs School of the Arts. McDonough comes to ESSA with 15 years of experience in grant administration and non-profit management, as well as a passion for the arts. As an arts volunteer and enthusiast, McDonough has worked with art collectives and museums to support public art events and pop-up shows. ...

The city of Eureka Springs is sponsoring the 2017 Spring Clean-up from Monday, April 17 to Friday, April 21. Non-hazardous bulky items, such as hold furniture and appliances, must be placed curbside by 8 a.m. Monday, April 17. All smaller items must be in manageable bundles of less than 50 pounds...

A benefit for Chris Epley’s family will be held from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday, April 23, at Chelsea’s Corner Cafe & Bar. There will be a barbecue rib smoke-off, a live auction and live music. It will cost $20. All proceeds will go toward setting up a college fund for Epley’s two sons...

It's no secret that the Berryville football team has been struggling for some time now. Doug Shott, who will officially be announced as Berryville’s new head football coach at Monday's board meeting, plans on changing the culture of Bobcat football starting this season...

After winning three games in a week by a combined score of 30-0, the Berryville Bobcat soccer team was making things look easy. The Bobcats were pushed back to reality on Monday night when they hosted the defending Class 6A state champions, Siloam Springs Panther, though. The match ended a 2-2 tie...

The Green Forest Tigers finally broke through and got an 11-6 home win against Marshall on Monday evening. After giving up a run on a fielder's choice in the top of the first, Green Forest coach Tony Coffey told his team to go out and play relaxed. "I told my guys that the last time we were over there we scored one run on them and didn't score afterwards so lets do the same to them," Coffey said. "We came out with a little different attitude and everything went right."...

After allowing five runs in the first inning, things weren't looking so good for the Berryville Bobcat baseball team. Berryville's bats came to life, though, en route to a 16-6 home win over Bergman on Tuesday. With the Bobcats trailing 5-0, Berryville's Kooper Logan scored on a Bergman error. ...

Monday night's game at Subiaco Academy wasn't easy, but coach Josh Bryant will take the 3-2 win. "We played probably one of the worst games we have played all season," Bryant said. "It was sloppy. It looked like we were over-confident heading into the game. It's a teaching moment for sure."...

The Berryville Lady Bobcat softball team made things look easy in Tuesday's 15-0 home win against Bergman. A Maleah Bryant ground ball in the bottom of the first scored Taylor Kelley. Aspen Smith stole home to give the Lady Bobcats a 2-0 lead going into the second inning. ...

The Green Forest Lady Tigers jumped on Marshall early and never let them get going in a 10-0 home win on Monday. Along with good hitting, coach Ryan Whetham is proud of Trinity McMahan and the way she pitched. "She had five strikeouts and really only allowed five base runners," Whetham said. "She pitched all five innings and it was a good performance by her."...