Stories from Tuesday, June 6, 2017

Mayor Tim McKinney said the city will finish up the design phase for its rural water project this month. He said the project will add approximately 41 miles of water line into the future growth area outside of Berryville. These new water lines, McKinney said, will serve residents who have previously relied on wells or other independent water sources...

The Berryville Community Restoration Project has announced a new mural, and the artists are already picking up steam on the latest piece. Artists Randy Rust and James Abbott began working on the project last week. The new mural will be on a south-facing wall on the Berryville Public Square and will be the largest mural the two have painted so far, Abbott said...

In Eureka Springs, art seems to grow on trees, and the Eureka Springs School of the Arts (ESSA) has a new wood studio to reflect that. ESSA had a grand opening for the new Wood Studio Building, designed by architect Dave McKee, on Sunday, June 4. The event featured live music, a silent auction of works by local artists and woodturning demonstrations...

Paul Miller is eager to begin his new role as the Greater Eureka Springs Chamber of Commerce’s chief operating officer. Miller said he is feeling absolutely wonderful since being hired the position, which he will officially start on July 1. He said he is 100 percent committed to this role and to the community...

North Arkansas College has announced its Dean’s List for the spring 2017 semester. Berryville students who made the full-time Dean’s List are Miranda Dowell, Mykal Elkins, Elizabeth Green, Seth Helmlinger, Stephanie Keck, Colten Ladewig, Joseline Portillo, Judyann Tom and Lucas Tuttle. Amy LeBoeuf, Kevin Maldonado Lopez and Andrea Pineda, also of Berryville, made the part-time Dean’s List...

Several Carroll County students have been named to the Dean’s List for undergraduate students for the the spring 2017 semester at Arkansas Tech University in Russellville. A student must achieve a 3.5 grade point average or higher and complete at least 12 hours of college-level coursework to be named to the Dean’s List. ...

Samuel Baker of Holiday Island was named to the University of Arkansas at Little Rock dean’s list for the spring 2017 semester. Students who have had at least a 3.5 grade point average in a semester are recognized with the dean’s list.

Last week, my boss covered a story about the Eastern Carroll County Ambulance District. He reported the information given to him and continually updated the story as it evolved. He did exactly what a good reporter is supposed to do, and somebody still accused him of reporting fake news...

As a general rule, I don’t write columns about local news stories. The reason is that I might have to cover a story that I’ve written about, or at the very least be involved in supervising coverage of that story. I don’t want anyone to think that our reporting of any particular story is anything less than 100 percent objective...

Relay For Life is setting up its starting line in Eureka Springs this year. The event will take place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, June 24, at the Old Victorian Inn in Eureka Springs. It will feature a barbecue cook-off, Hot Wheel races and turtle races. Those interested in the turtle races are asked to bring their own turtles...

Kodee Powell and Lori Shields, both of Green Forest, graduated from John Brown University in Siloam Springs on May 6. Powell earned a bachelor’s degree in kinesiology. Shields earned a master’s degree in leadership and ethics.

Drew Howerton of Berryville received a bachelor of science degree in exercise science during Harding University’s commencement exercises on May 6 in Searcy. Howerton graduated summa cum laude.

School is out for the summer, but that isn't stopping area basketball teams from staying busy during the off-season. The Berryville Bobcats are hosting their own summer league and they will also be going to camps at North Arkansas College, West Fork, Alpena and Fayetteville throughout the summer...

This years marks the 50th anniversary of the Berryville cross country program. To celebrate this anniversary, the Berryville Lady Bobcats are going to California to compete in the Woodbridge Classic, an invitational cross country meet. "If you are familiar with the Chile Pepper race, (in Fayetteville) it's a lot like that on steroids," Berryville coach Andrew Killingsworth said. ...

Now that school is out, it's time to back at the year that was in Carroll County sports with the top 10 sports stories of the year. 10. After Green Forest basketball coach Brandon Stone was reassigned, the Tigers began searching for a new basketball coach. ...