Stories from Friday, December 14, 2018

While most people in Carroll County spent last weekend waiting for a snowstorm that never arrived, I was nearly 200 miles south, enjoying a weekend with family that combined an early Christmas celebration with a belated third birthday party for my youngest grandson...

Carroll County Farm Bureau President Rusty Butler (center) received recognition at the 84th Arkansas Farm Bureau annual convention on Nov. 28 in Hot Springs for the county’s work in the previous year. Presenting the award were Randy Veach (right) and Rich Hillman, president and vice president of Arkansas Farm Bureau. Each county Farm Bureau is measured in 10 program areas and awarded Gold Stars for exemplary effort in each. Carroll County earned nine Gold Stars...

This listing includes individuals who are booked into the Carroll County Detention Center. Charges may be reduced or dropped, and individuals are presumed innocent until being found guilty in court. As of Thursday, Dec. 13, a total of 99 inmates were being housed in the detention center...

Christmas traditions are hardly monolithic. The season is celebrated with as much colorful variety as the pretty paper and shiny ribbons encasing the gifts under the tree. And speaking of that tree, history suggests that Reformer Martin Luther decorated the first Christmas tree, a celebration of God sending light into the world. This is impossible to confirm, but Luther’s native Germany was indeed the first to popularize the tradition...

The Eureka Springs City Council is looking to change the way the city handles private property repairs and cleanup. On Monday night, the council considered a proposed ordinance allowing the city to collect money for cleaning up private property areas that need it. The proposed ordinance says the city may file a lien against the property to do the work, requiring a public hearing where the cost of the work would be determined...

The Eureka Springs School Board voted Monday to approve an update to the miscellaneous duties salary schedule. Superintendent Bryan Pruitt said the update will go into effect on Jan. 1, 2019, and will raise the bus driver training rate from $8.50 per hour to $9.25 per hour, the substitute rate from $65 per day to $70 per day and the long-term substitute for certified staff rate from $102 per day to $120 per day...

At the Green Forest City Council meeting Monday, Mayor Charles Reece presented his final “state of the city” address and reflected on his career as mayor. “I’ve had many careers from the Navy to the CIA in Saigon to director of Red Lobster and president and CEO of 1776 in San Antonio,” he said, “and the job as mayor has been the most enjoyable and rewarding.”...

From left to right, Brad and Angela Bettlach and Jeff Crockett sign the paperwork to complete the sale of the space formerly occupied by the Price Cutter grocery store in the Williams Shopping Center in Berryville. The Bettlachs will open a Harter House store in the space once renovations are complete. They hope to be open for business by late spring or early summer of 2019. Pictured from left to right behind the signees are Tim Poyner, Ronnie Whiteley, Jason Tennant and James Myatt...

The class action lawsuit seeking to overturn an $18 charge being assessed to landowners in Carroll County and five other counties in north Arkansas will move forward, according to an order issued Tuesday by Circuit Judge Scott Jackson. Fayetteville attorneys Matt Bishop and Wendy Howerton filed the class-action lawsuit May 16 in Carroll County Circuit Court, on behalf of Paul Summers of Berryville. ...

A Berryville student has been cited for possession of marijuana after drug dogs visited the campus Wednesday, Dec. 12. Superintendent Owen Powell said the University of Arkansas brought a drug dog to the school, saying the dog searched the high school, middle school and parking lots. The dog detected something in one of the vehicles, Powell said, and the vehicle was searched...

Berryville High School junior Christena Matzeder will be competing at the state Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA) competition in Conway this February. Matzeder placed Silver at the FCCLA STAR Events at Arkansas Tech University in Russellville. There are three score rankings for the FCCLA competition: Bronze, Silver and Gold. Scores between one and 69 are Bronze, while scores between 70 and 89 are Silver. Students must receive a score of 90 or above for a Gold ranking...

A Berryville school band instructor is due in court Monday in Fayetteville on charges of driving while intoxicated and careless driving. Donna Vickers, 24, of Berryville was arrested after a traffic stop Nov. 9 in Fayetteville, according to preliminary police reports...

The Eureka Springs Highlanders stumbled a bit last week, losing a conference game Friday at Flippin. But the Highlanders were back at home Tuesday night, and back to themselves. Led by 22 points from senior guard Garrett Cross, the Highlanders defeated Decatur 51-29.

Ryan Sanchez’s mission as the first-year head coach for the Eureka Springs Lady Highlanders is nothing less than completely rebuilding a program. So far, so good.

Green Forest found itself in a big hole early Tuesday night at Bergman, and the Tigers were never able to dig their way out. Bergman jumped out to a 35-12 lead by the end of the first quarter and went on to an 82-49 victory. Senior guard Rhett Powell led Green Forest (0-10, 0-3 3A-1 East) with 25 points, while senior guard Hayden Bailey added nine...

The Berryville wrestling team hosted a dual meet on Tuesday, competing against Gentry, Russellville and Hollister, Mo.

The Berryville Bobcats dropped their sixth consecutive game Tuesday night, falling to Springfield Hillcrest 76-68 at Bobcat Arena.

The Ozark Lady Hillbillies tried taking the air out of the basketball on Monday against visiting Berryville. The strategy was fairly successful for one quarter, but then the Lady Bobcats turned up the pressure and took the air out of Ozark’s balloon.