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NEWS
A seven-hour recount of the District 7 J.P. race in Carroll County Monday did not change the one point lead for incumbent Tom Riddle. John Reeve, Riddle’s opponent, behind by only one vote last Friday, had asked for a recount. The recount started at 4pm Monday afternoon and concluded at 11:15pm. The result of the District 7 race did not change. Tom Riddle retains his seat on the Quorum Court by a one vote win. Election Commission chairman Levi Phillips said after the recount that he was very pleased that the manual recount corroborated the Ivotronics master printout of the one point victory for Riddle. The election commission will certify the vote at 4pm today.
The First National Bank of Green Forest made a very generous donation to the city of Green Forest that will benefit all the children in town. They donated enough money, $35,000, to equip the city park with first class playground equipment.
December 6 will be your chance to participate in two Christmas parades in
one day. The annual Green Forest Christmas Parade will start at 2 p.m.
in front of the Old Gym. Best viewing spots are on the Green Forest Main
Square as well as along Phillips Street between the Old Gym and the Square
as well as on Springfield Street south of Main Street. The Green
Forest Chamber of Commerce is inviting all of Carroll County to turn out for
the county's only daylight parade. Lots of candy will be thrown. And Old
Saint Nick will bring up the rear -- then stick around for individual photos
with kids of all ages. If you'd like to be in the parade, just show up
before 1 p.m. on Phillips Street between the Old Gym and the High School.
Who can participate?
Chamber President Jim Smith is hoping for lots of floats. In fact, if you
have put in hours and hours preparing a float for the Berryville parade that
evening, the Green Forest parade will give you a great opportunity to work
out all the bugs and get your float ready for that evening -- not to mention
double the audience! Green Forest's parade will be led as usual by the
Green Forest Boys Scouts color guard. What will follow will include
Miss Merry Christmas pageant contestants from all the Green Forest High
School student clubs. The chamber is hoping for a good turnout of antique
and restored cars as well.
Prizes will be awarded for the best floats and cars sponsored by clubs,
churches and businesses. Prizes will also be awarded for the best marching
band -- and an out-of-town judge has been chosen to ensure impartiality.
Kids can enter on decorated bicycles or just marching with groups such as
their Sunday School class, sports team, or scout group. "We're hoping
for the biggest Green Forest parade ever," said Smith.
Special music will begin at noon in the Main Square's gazebo. Businesses on
the Square and along the parade route will also be hosting open house
festivities with free treats. There's no fee to participate -- and you don't
have to make any advance registration. "Just show up and have a great time!"
said Smith.
In one of the slowest economic periods in recent memory, and at a time when other tourist destinations are experiencing downturns, this Ozarks getaway is doing remarkably well. Mayor Dani Joy’s office reports that receipts for Eureka Springs city sales taxes have increased, year-to-date, 2.36% over last year. Meanwhile, City Advertising and Promotion Commission figures reflect an even larger improvement. Operations Manager Sheila Hulsey said 2008 C.A.P.C. tax collections year-to-date are up 9.6% over the same period in 2007. Mayor Joy believes several factors are responsible for the city’s strong economic showing in the face of national financial turmoil. “First of all, our community has come together this year in a coordinated effort to make the tourist’s stay in Eureka Springs the best it can be. “And, simultaneously, we’ve done a better job of marketing ourselves.” The mayor also cited high gas prices as a factor. “When gas was nearly $4 a gallon, travelers saved money by staying closer to home.” She continued, “Some chose a domestic vacation instead of taking an overseas flight. Many others picked a destination within a few hours drive over one a few days away.” Joy also believes Eureka Springs’ relatively inexpensive lodging and meals have helped the city grow while other tourist destinations have declined. “We’re quite a bargain compared to the larger, glitzier vacations spots,” she said. Finally, the city’s quiet, relaxing feel could be a factor. “When you come here you feel like you’ve stepped back in time,” the mayor stated. “We have Victorian homes, locally owned shops in an historic downtown, and no stop lights or mega-malls. We’re a very refreshing escape from the rat race—and, especially these days, people value that!” Once October figures are received by the city and the C.A.P.C., Chamber of Commerce President Jeff Feldman believes they will show an even larger improvement. “Most of our members say they’re having an excellent month,” he commented. “And several business owners have told me they’ve had their biggest days and weekends in history.”
Preparations are nearing completion for what promises to be the most colorful and event-filled holiday season in the history of this Ozark getaway town. Visitors will be treated to new, longer shopping hours this year, and a massive display of lights and decorations encompassing the entire historic downtown. Longer retail store hours are scheduled for the last two weeks in November and the first two weeks in December. Most merchants will remain open Friday and Saturday nights until 7 p.m.; many stores will stay open even later. For shopping breaks, Eureka Springs has a wide variety of choices this year. Visitors will be treated to holiday lights nearly everywhere they turn, and a number of seasonal music shows and concerts are planned. Other events include the Fall Art Show, 42nd Annual Silver Tea, 26th Annual Tour of Homes, 6th Annual Christmas Ball and Silent Auction, 2nd Annual Sweet Treats Cookie Tour of BnB’s, Santa in the Park and the Annual Eureka Springs Evening Christmas Parade.
It all begins Nov. 9 when the New Great Passion Play turns on its extraordinary lighting display. Each evening at 5 p.m., through Dec. 31, more than 100-lighted figures are illuminated on the mile-long drive-through the grounds. Admission is free.The Passion Play’s Christmas Music Show, at 5 p.m. on weekends from Nov. 21 to Dec. 20, will feature The Texans and B.J. and Elizabeth. Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for children ages six to eighteen. On Nov. 10, the Pine Mountain Theater inserts A Season of Celebration into its music and comedy shows. Segments include Let Us Give Thanks and A Joyous Christmas. Performances are nightly, except Sunday, through Dec. 13. The Ozark Mountain Hoe-Down has holiday fun scheduled as well. P. Nutt, Ponytail, Granny, Girl and the gang will perform their Christmas show nightly from Nov. 16 through Dec. 14.
The holiday schedule begins to heat up during the week of Thanksgiving. Spurred by a city-wide Christmas decorating contest, homes, lodgings and stores will be in their holiday finest starting Monday, Nov. 24. To top it all off, nearly every building in historic downtown will be majestically framed in new holiday lights. The week culminates with an appearance by Santa in Basin Spring Park Nov. 28 at 5 p.m., and with the Eureka Springs Fall Art Show. The creations of local artists will grace the walls of the Inn of the Ozarks Convention Center Nov. 28 and 29. Holiday gifts will be given away to attendees every 15 minutes. The 42nd Annual Silver Tea is Dec. 4 in the Crystal Dining Room of the 1886 Crescent Hotel. The churchwomen of St. James Episcopal Church invite everyone to attend this benefit for the Salvation Army. Visitors will be treated to the Annual Eureka Springs Christmas Parade the evening of Dec. 5. Thousands of lights give a magical presence to the floats, walkers and bands in this enchanting nighttime parade through historic downtown.During the 26th Annual Eureka Springs Christmas Tour of Homes, Dec. 6, visitors will experience the elegance of a bygone era. Holiday spice in the form of choir music, carolers, band music, and refreshments is added to this self-guided tour of Victorian homes. That evening the 6th Annual Christmas Ball and Silent Auction takes place at the 1905 Basin Park Hotel Ballroom. Victorian dress is fun, but optional, at this fund-raiser for the Eureka Springs Historical Museum. Music will be provided by the J M Combo.
Two holiday concerts in the city auditorium highlight the following weekend. Local musicians celebrate the spirit of the season in the Eureka Home for the Holidays Concert Dec. 12. The next evening, the 60-plus voice Ozarks Chorale performs its annual Christmas Concert, featuring everything from Handel's Messiah to Brubeck's Take Five, and from Bach and Brahms to the Beatles.The “icing” is put on the Eureka Springs holiday cake Dec. 13 when the 2nd Annual Sweet Treats Cookie Tour serves up holiday goodies. The Alliance of Better Bed and Breakfasts presents this self-guided tour of 12 B&B's. The lodgings will serve cookies, candies and other treats, each complete with recipe. The event also provides great holiday decorating ideas and a chance to win a $300 gift certificate.
Regular listeners to KTHS will be noticing some changes to our format this week. Effective August 18, 1480 KTHS-AM became an all-sports format, THE HOG SPORTSRADIO. You’ll be hearing Gary Campbell mornings from 7-10am, then Justin Pat and Joe on The Zone from 10-1, and Grant Merrill from sports-central from 4-6pm. The station will feature Arkansas based programming through much of the day. On THE HOG SPORTSRADIO, will be the Northwest Arkansas Naturals baseball and Dallas Cowboys football. All ties on 1480 AM, KTHS. With changes in our AM format, come some changes in our Sunday programming. All religious programs and gospel music that has been airing on KTHS AM, will now be heard on 107.1 FM on Sundays from 6a-1p. Another change will be the Bob Kingsley Top 40 Country Countdown. It can now be heard Sunday afternoon from 1-5pm. KTHS FM will remain a 24 hour station with a wider variety of music to offer our listeners. WE know you will enjoy the changes, and there will likely be some more new additions to our programming as we go along, including the new Classic Country Sunday nights with Jack Holly.
COMMUNITY ANNOUNCEMENTS
The Green Forest School Board meets at 6pm, Nov. 17 in the GF High School Library for the monthly meeting.
The Berryville Board of Education meets November, 17 at 6pm in the 3-5 Intermediate Building for their monthly meeting.
The Berryville Library will host a "Gobble It Up" book and bake sale on Friday, November 21 from 8:30-6pm. Books and baked goods donations are welcome in the theme of "Fruity Friday" such as spices and fruit, cinnamon, pumpkin, cranberry, etc. All proceeds will go to the Library Building Fund.
The public is invited to the 42nd Silver Tea, hosted by the Episcopal Churchwomen of St. James' Church, Eureka Springs, Thursday, Dec. 4 from 2-4pm in the Crystal Dining Room of the Crescent Hotel
St. John's Auxiliary Berryville is hosting a Christmas Bazaar Wednesday, November 19, at Carroll Electric from 10am-3pm. Lunch will be served from 11-2. Proceeds from the Bazaar will be used toward the purchase of Equipment and Services for St. Johns's.
Wildflowers Food Pantry has been dispensing food to the needy every Friday, nonstop for 15 years. This year alone the number of family's receiving food has increased from 65 family's a week in July to close to 100 families in December. They need financial help to continue to meet the demand from people in need. All donations are tax deductible. Send your gift to Wildflowers Christian Chapel Food Pantry, 6789 Hwy. 62W, Eureka Springs, Ar. 72632.
Domestic violence assistance is available for emotional, physical or verbal abuse, M-F, 8:30am - 4:30pm, at St. John's Hospital, Berryville. Confidential and free. 870-423-5194 or toll-free 877-968-2260.
The Carroll County Literacy Council is a nonprofit organization that helps adults in Carroll County, improve their reading skills. It is a a free and confidential program. Office assistants are needed to help at the Berryville office, 118 East Church. The primary purpose of the Volunteer office assistant is to provide customer service and office support to the organization, so that CCLC can achieve its goals. For more info call 253-0029.