Lovely County Citizen, Jan. 16, 2014

Victorious Highlanders

Let the good times roll

Photos from all four teams’ games last week

Rowdy Beaver Tavern hosts 9th annual Mardi Gras Kickoff

Page 13-16

Page 27

Visit us online: www.lovelycitizen.com

Your Community newspaper

VOLUME 15 NUMBER 3

JANUARY 16, 2014

First Film Fest

Organizers planning an entertaining weekend n Page 3

n Art theft

n Film credit

n Sprenger bonds

Thousands of dollars worth of art, antiques stolen from Mitchell’s Folly

City Council considering offering rebate to film productions in Eureka

Page 4

Page 7

Former firefighter facing rape, child porn charges

out of jail

Page 8

Page 2 – Lovely County Citizen – January 16, 2014

Dispatch Desk The Citizen is published weekly on Thursdays in Eureka Springs, Arkansas

by Rust Publishing MOAR L.L.C. Copyright 2013 This paper is printed with soy ink on recycled paper.

Subscription rate: $57.50/year EDITOR: Kristal Kuykendall EDITORIAL STAFF: Jennifer Jackson, Kathryn Lucariello, Landon Reeves, Catherine Krummey DESIGN DIRECTOR: Melody Rust PHOTOGRAPHERS: Charles Henry Ford II, David Bell ACCOUNT REPRESENTATIVES: Karen ‘Ma Dank’ Horst, Jim Sexton, Diane Newcomb, Margo Elliott CLASSIFIEDS/RECEPTIONIST: Margo Elliott CONTRIBUTORS: Beth Bartlett, Jim Fain, Mary Flood, Alison Taylor-Brown CIRCULATION: Dwayne Richards Office Hours: Monday–Tuesday 8 a.m.–5 p.m.

Wednesday 9 a.m.–1 p.m.

Thursday–Friday 9 a.m.–Noon Closed Saturday & Sunday

Jan. 6 11:55 p.m. - A caller from Main Street reported water coming out of the backside of a building on Spring Street. The caller was advised that Public Works would be coming.

11:57 p.m. – A state policeman advised that a lady was concerned about her husband and requested assistance in locating him. Officers responded to the address and located the husband, but he left before they could give his wife’s message to him.

Maybe he’s got Radar Love, and headed home.

Jan. 7 10:40 a.m. – Complainant went to the Police Department to report that medication had been stolen from his residence.

11:15 a.m. – Caller reported medication was stolen from her car. An officer took a report. Sensing a potential trend!

1:50 p.m. – An officer responded to an accident where a vehicle slid into a gas line. The officer filed a report. Yikes!

Editorial deadline is Tuesday, noon

Email: Citizen.Editor.Eureka@gmail.com Classified deadline is Tuesday, noon

Classifieds: citizendesk@cox-internet.com (479) 253-0070

ELITE VAPORS Electronic Cigarettes and Accessories

Display Advertising: Karen ‘Ma Dank’ Horst ma_dank@ymail.com 620-382-5566 Margo Elliott margo.sales.citizen@gmail.com cell: 816-273-3668 Diane Newcomb ccnads@yahoo.com cell: 479-253-1595

Advertising deadline:

New ads – Thursday, noon Changes to previous ads – Friday, noon

FREE CIRCULATION NEWSPAPER P.O. Box 679 • 3022-H East Van Buren Eureka Springs, AR 72632 (479) 253-0070 • Fax (479) 253-0080

www.lovelycitizen.com

STARTER KITS AS LOW AS $24.99!

Come in and talk to Jimmy or KaSandra to learn all the benefits!

The shop also features Kaydence’s Gifts & More Locals receive a 10% discount on your vapor supplies.

Located in the Gaskin Switch Shopping Center.

2043 E. Van Buren Eureka Springs 918-691-9598 www.facebook.com/EurekaEliteVapors EliteVaporsForLife@hotmail.com

by Margo Elliott

Jan. 8 3:20 a.m. – A woman called to advise that two vehicles were driving recklessly, erratic and squealing tires. She indicated the direction they were headed, but the officers were unable to locate them.

5:26 a.m. – A woman advised of a disagreement between her boyfriend and wanted an officer to respond. He spoke to both individuals and the male left without incident.

11:40 a.m. – A female employee from Dollar General reported a shoplifter leaving and gave a detailed description. Officers responded, but were unable to locate the thief. The officers returned to the store and took a report.

4:37 p.m. – A woman advised of a dog being stuck in a mailbox. Animal Control responded but the dog was gone upon arrival. Efficient Postal Service!

5:53 p.m. – An alarm went off at a local discount store. An officer responded; it See Dispatch, page 21

January 16, 2014 – Lovely County Citizen – Page

3

Film festival scores Loretta Young Award, “The Big Shootout”

By Jennifer Jackson

JJackson.Citizen@gmail.com

The Eureka Springs Indie Film Festival is fast developing into a major production with the announcement of the Loretta Young Women in Film Award and screenings of “The Big Shootout,” a documentary about a legendary 1969 Razorback football game. The film, which also documents the conflict on and off the field during the Vietnam and civil-rights era, will be introduced by director Mike Looney, who will field questions afterwards.

“He may also be bringing along some of the players that were in the game,” said Teresa DeVito, festival director.

At Saturday night’s awards ceremony, Christopher and Linda Lewis will present the Loretta Young Women in Film Award. The couple, who own a television production company, are two of the judges for the festival.

Learning of the Women in Film Award, they wanted to honor Christopher’s mother, Loretta Young, by presenting the award and a $500 prize in her name, DeVito said.

Football and American history fans will be lining up on Friday, Jan. 24, for the 7 p.m. showing of “The Big Shootout,” which presents the December 1969 football game between the Texas Longhorns and the Arkansas Razorbacks. Billed as “The Game of the Century,” it was set up by ABC television moguls, who arranged for President Richard Nixon to fly in on Air Force One along with George W. Bush, Henry Kissinger and political leaders on either side of the Vietnam chasm. Five days earlier, the lottery draft had been instituted. One day earlier, the Mai Lai massacre investigation convened. The evening before the game, a UA student was shot, backlash of a student protest against the playing of “Dixie” after football games. Billy Graham delivered the invocation for the game, the last played in the South by all-white teams.

DeVito is also working with Bill Solleder, director of the Arkansas Shorts Film Festival, who is going through seven years of festival entries and putting together a “Best of the Best” block. Solleder just held the seventh Arkansas Shorts Festival in Hot Springs. AETN, the Arkansas Entertainment Television Network, is also planning to send the festival an hour of films featuring Arkansas artists, DeVito said. A documentary about the Valley of the Vapors Independent Music Festival is also available, she said.

“If we have time, we may show that independent film to let people know about that local music festival,” DeVito

Photo by David Bell

Sandy Martin and Teresa DeVito are two of the organizers of the first Eureka Springs Indie Film Festival, going on Jan. 23 through 25.

said.

On Saturday morning, the Indie Film Festival presents the Young Filmmakers Panel, which is free to ages 18 and under. Festival judges Doug Wynn, Don Blair and Bayou Bennett, who grew up in Eureka and now has a Hollywood production company, will be part of the panel. The event is free to encourage young people interested in filmmaking to attend.

“We want them to come and participate,” DeVito said.

Christopher Crane, director of the Arkansas Film Commission, will speak at the awards ceremony Saturday night on the state of the film industry in Arkansas.

The festival also features presentations on the reality of independent film distribution in 2014 by Ron and Don Blair of VCI Tulsa, and solving the post-production puzzle by Kini Kay of Tulsa, a sound engineer and film editor.

The Loretta Young Women in Film Award will be presented to a woman for outstanding achievement in acting, producing, directing, screenplay, score composition, animation or special effects. Young, who died in 2000 at the age of 87, started her Hollywood career as a child actress, appearing in 98 movies spanning five decades. Baby boomers will remember her as the actress who swept into living rooms via the small screen to introduce television plays on “The Loretta Young Show.”

Young produced the show, which ran for nine years on NBC and won five Emmys, making her a trailblazer for women in Hollywood.

“She was ahead of her time,” DeVito said.

A three-day pass to the festival is $25, and includes all screenings, panel discussions and the awards ceremony.

A one-day pass is $10. Sponsorships also available. A post-awards party will be held at Voulez-Vous Lounge.

For more information, go to esindiefilmfest.com.

Page 4 – Lovely County Citizen – January 16, 2014

Robbery on Spring Street More than 200 items stolen from Mitchell’s Folly

By Catherine Krummey CarrollCountyNews@cox-internet.com

When John Mitchell arrived at his gallery on Saturday morning, he immediately realized something was wrong.

“I noticed the front door’s glass was busted in,” he said.

When he walked into Mitchell’s Folly Antiques and Fine Arts, located at 130 Spring St., he noticed that approximately 200 items – including arrowheads and pre-Columbian pottery – had been stolen.

“I’m looking at empty shelves everywhere,” Mitchell said on Monday afternoon.

“One showcase has been completely wiped out.”

Other items stolen include a stained glass window and antique masks from Africa and Central America. Mitchell estimated thousands of dollars worth of art and artifacts had been stolen.

“It was a collection I’ve been putting together for 30 years,” Mitchell said.

Eureka Springs Police Officer Billy Floyd

was called to Mitchell’s Folly to take a report on the incident on Saturday morning. In his report, Floyd said he was unable to find any fingerprints.

“The backs of the display cases appeared to have been wiped down,” Floyd wrote.

Floyd said Mitchell had last been to the gallery around 9:30 on Friday night, meaning the theft took place some time between then and 7 on Saturday morning.

Mitchell told Floyd that a few days earlier, a tourist had made a remark about how vulnerable his store was. Mitchell did not have a description of said tourist.

The investigation into the theft is ongoing. Anyone with relevant information is encouraged to call the Eureka Springs Police Department at 479-253-8666.

Additionally, Mitchell is offering a $500 reward for information or recovery of items stolen. Anyone who knows anything that might help Mitchell recover the items can call 479-253-7030 or 479-253-5147.

Mail carrier commended by postmaster general

Ken Smith quells Holiday Island gas line fire

Photo by Chip Ford

Postmaster John DeWitt, second from left, poses with Ken and Connie Smith, center, after DeWitt presented Ken Smith with a letter of commendation from the U.S. Postmaster General. Attending the presentation were post office employees Marianne Lester, far left, and, from right of the Smiths, Kelly Dennis, Toby Mock, Carla Beard, Tammy Wolfinbarger and Samantha Stokes.

By Jennifer Jackson

JJackson.Citizen@gmail.com

It was a routine day in the life of Ken Smith, rural mail carrier. Driving his route in Holiday Island, he had just delivered a registered letter to a man who had to sign for it.

At the next stop, he saw the resident standing out in front of the house, holding onto her walker. Obviously rattled, she told him that the gas line into her house was on fire, the result of a lightning strike that ruptured the line and knocked out power. With no phone signal, she had no way to call for help, but knew that Smith was due in a few minutes on his route and was waiting for him to arrive. Going around the back of the house, Smith saw flames more than a foot high shooting out of the gas line near the house. Climbing on top of the propane tank, he shut off the valve.

“It crossed my mind that the propane tank could have blown up when I was climbing up on it,” he said.

On Tuesday morning, Smith came to work at the Eureka Springs Post Office to find co-workers and his spouse gathered

around Postmaster John DeWitt, who presented Smith with a letter from Patrick Donahoe, postmaster general of the United States, commending Smith for selfless display of civic duty.

“This is the first time one of my employees has received a personal letter from the postmaster general,” DeWitt said. “It’s a big deal.”

Smith said he didn’t really do that much, and that in the situation, you don’t think about it, you just do it. After turning off the valve, he told the resident not to go back in the house. Then he went and got the neighbor to stay with her, and drove to a spot where he could get cell phone coverage and called the gas company and emergency services.

Then he continued his route, but afterwards, regretted he hadn’t done more for the woman.

“I felt bad that I didn’t even offer her some water,” he said.

The incident happened about two months ago, DeWitt said. Afterwards, he worked really hard to bring it to the attention of the postmaster general. A few See Carrier, page 21

January 16, 2014 – Lovely County Citizen – Page

Fire destroys Mundell Road home

Moving on up to White Street

Photo by Chip Ford

A fire destroyed a home on Mundell Road last Thursday morning.

By Catherine Krummey

CarrollCountyNews@cox-internet.com

The Grassy Knob Fire Department was called to a house fire on Mundell Road early Thursday, around 6:30 a.m.

The home was deemed a complete loss, according to Dave Davenport of the Grassy Knob Fire Department, who was the incident commander. Due to the extensive damage done to the house, it is not known what caused the fire.

The couple who lived in the house and their dogs were able to evacuate their home unharmed due to properly-working fire alarms.

Photo Submitted

The Inspiration Point Fire Department and Eureka Springs Emergency Medical Services were also called to the scene to assist Grassy Knob.

The icy road conditions made it difficult for emergency crews to get to the scene. Davenport said one of the vehicles slid sideways at one point in route to the fire, but there were no accidents.

“We had a lot of trouble with ice on the roads, but no one was hurt,” he said.

Firefighters were on the scene for about seven hours on Thursday to make sure the fire was properly extinguished.

Fain’s Herbacy in Beautiful Eureka Springs Our Mission

“Helping people live healthier through smart food and supplement choice”

Expert Guidance - Unique Products - Great Prices

IMPROVED CLEARANCE SALE UP TO 80% OFF MANY SELECTED ITEMS

INSTORE OR MAIL ORDER

Jim Fain, PhD • Ginger and Robin 61 North Main Street http://.stores.ebay.com./defyaging

479-253-5687

Designer extraordinaire Mark Hughes lifts a few of the 550-plus bolts of fabric that populate his Spring Street store, Regalia Handmade Clothing. Hughes is making the move up the hill onto White Street, alongside a nest of other artists.

His focus will shift to a more low-key and specialized high-end location to bring his multitudes of cutting edge designs to fruition. He also is ecstatic about being on the frontline of the annual White Street Walk. To learn more about Mark and Regalia visit RegaliaHandmade.com

Holiday Island’s Pendergrass Rose American Legion Post 36 and Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 77 Cordially invite you to attend the

5TH ANNUAL MILITARY BALL ‘Honoring Our Military Heritage’ on Friday, March 7th, 2014 at the Historic 1886 Crescent Hotel and Spa Eureka Springs, AR $37.50 per person Cocktail Hour 5:00 p.m.

Seating at 6:00 p.m.

Dinner Menu: Beef and Salmon

Dance to the Music provided by Don Naas Cash Bar Attire: Mess Dress, Formal, Business

Special Room Rates Available at the Crescent Hotel

www.crescent-hotel.com

For tickets to the Military Ball, contact

Dean Lahm: 253-5912 or Don Naas: 253-7473 Reservations Required by February 15, 2014

5

Page 6 – Lovely County Citizen – January 16, 2014

Your Friendly Hometown Grocery Store!

Locally Owned & Operated Since 1973

Sherry Cochrane JAY'S STUFFED PORK CHOPS

Amount Measure 4 Thick 1 1/2 Cups

ASK ABOUT OUR WHOLESALE PRICES FOR RESTAURANTS

Ingredient Pork Chops Boiling Water Salt &. Pepper

Recipe Date: 5/16/1995

(PORK) MEATS SERVES 4

Amount Measure 3 Cups 1 1/2 T.

Ingredient Stove Top Stuffing Mix Margarine

Cut a slit in the pork chop, starting at the fat edge cutting toward the (DO NOT cut all the way through) other side.

This makes a pocket. Prepare the stuffing mix according to directions on the pac kage. Prepare a 8 x 8 -inch baking dis stick cooking spray. Fill the pocke t of each pork chop with the prepar h with non ed stuffing mix.

Arrange the stuffed pork chops in eac have stuffing left over, put it in the h corner of the prepared baking dish. If you cen pork chop with salt and pepper. Co ter of the baking dish. Sprinkle the top of each ver with foil and bake 350º for 1 1/2 hours.This is a dish Jay taught me to make - no w we have it often. It is something qu and then just let it bake while you ick to prepare do other things.

January 16, 2014 – Lovely County Citizen – Page

7

City Council to consider offering film production rebate The council also brought back the land bank ordinance that failed at the Nov. 25 The City Council discussed providing meeting. tax incentives with the chair of the city art “The whole genesis of this was to idencouncil and an official from the Arkansas tify these different types of lands and come Production Alliance at its meeting on Mon- back to council with description and all day. the possible legal info we could get,” said If Eureka were to provide tax incentives Bruce Levine from the Parks Commission. in the form of a rebate, it would be the first “And then say these are things we would city in Arkansas to do so and it would make like to put up for sale or we can use them. filmmakers and broadcasters look more The proceeds and funds from sales would kindly on the idea of filming in Eureka be used for something like buying other Springs, said Sandy properties or right of Martin, chairperson for ways.” the art council.

The council and of“We are wanting people “The thing that we ficials from the Parks [who are filming in believe is really imCommission discussed Eureka Springs] to hire portant about this inthe problems with hancentive is it is not just locally. You guys in Eureka dling the different clasan an economic impact Springs would benefit from sifications of property, that hits one industry such as the 320 acres this because you are kind of of streets the city owns. or one segment of our population,” Martin the amalgam of all the The council amendsaid. “It covers haired Ordinance 2195 by creative industries here.” dressers to hardware removing section sev– Christopher Crane stores to electricians to en, which dealt with plumbers. It can create the vacating and sellsome jobs and some ing of city streets and revenue, and it can create a lot of buzz for alleys before reading the ordinance. It was Eureka Springs and the state.” read and approved for a second and third The incentive specifically mentioned at time. There will now be a 30-day waiting the meeting was a rebate. The rebate could period before the ordinance takes affect and be administered one of several different becomes municipal code. ways but commonly a production compaThe council did not read Ordinance 2198 ny would provide a proof of purchases and for a second time. This ordinance requires performance, and the Department of Fi- owners of multifamily housing to purchase nance and Administration would then audit a business license and qualify for a certifithe proofs and then issue a rebate. cate of occupancy.

“We are wanting people [who are filmAlderman Dee Purkeypile said he had ing in Eureka Springs] to hire locally,” said met with the city building inspector and Christopher Crane of the Arkansas Produc- code enforcer, Bobby Ray, who had intion Alliance. “You guys in Eureka Springs formed him enforcing this ordinance may would benefit from this because you are not be easy or even possible. kind of the amalgam of all the creative in“I think we need to kind of reconsider dustries here.” this,” Purkeypile said. “I am not sure we The state is already giving 20 percent can legally force owners of apartments or back and what the APA would like is for duplexes to get a certificate of occupanEureka Springs to put five percent on top cy. We need to look into the aspect of beof that, Crane said. The council decided to ing commercial and residential and what keep it on the agenda for the next meeting authority this city has over either one of in February and get feedback from what the those.”

City Advertising and Promotion CommisThe council decided to postponed the sion thinks about offering tax incentives. reading until Ray could address the council

By Landon Reeves

CCNnews@cox-internet.com

on his and Purkeypile’s concerns.

The council did establish a fee for vacating Palo Pinto Street for $0, so that the applicants of the vacation could have a clear title for their property.

Later the council placed a building located at 531 Spring St. under the jurisdiction of Parks. The building was used for a children’s program, but the program was discontinued and now the building is only used for storage because of severe mold problems, said Alderman Mickey Schneider.

“All of this property can only be used for the benefit of children,” she said addressing the previous discoveries of this building. “In view of the mold problem and age of the building I don’t see that this can be cleaned and reconstructed to make it safe for children again.”

She continued to say if Parks is using it, the department could “slide by” this rule because the its work is directly involved with the benefit of many children. The building

was awarded to Parks, so now upkeep, use and utility cost will be covered by the Parks Commission.

In other news, the council scheduled the 2014 budget workshop for Wednesday, Jan. 15, at 10 a.m. in the Eureka Courthouse.

The council also agreed to continue to use the same version of robert’s Rules of Order and the same meeting times and places as 2013.

They also appointed Alderman James Devito as the Pro Tem for 2014; he was acting as chair for Mayor Morris Pate while he recovers from surgery. Devito and Council Terry McClung were also elected by their fellow aldermen back to the position of liaisons for the CAPC and city council.

Lastly, the council decided to schedule another workshop for increased parking rates for special events. The council intends to get input from the CAPC and Chamber of Commerce before it sets a time and date for the workshop.

The City of Eureka Springs Cemetery Commission will be holding their regularly scheduled meeting that was postponed due to inclement weather on January 9th to Friday, January 17th. The Commission will have their regular scheduled meeting at 10:00am with interviews for the groundskeeper/maintenance position immediately following at 12:30pm, at the Carnegie Library annex building in Eureka Springs.

Page 8 – Lovely County Citizen – January 16, 2014

Sprenger bonds out of jail

By Landon Reeves CCNnews@cox-internet.com

Jason L. Sprenger, 44, of Eureka Springs, who is facing rape and child pornography charges, has bonded out of the Carroll County Detention Center.

He bonded out on Nov. 21. His initial bond was $750,000, but his bond was lowered to $150,000 at a pretrial hearing on Nov. 12.

The judge however did keep Jason Sprenger the no-contact order in place, which requires Sprenger to stay away from computers and smart phones. He has been placed under house arrest with an ankle monitor and has to check in with the Carroll County Sheriff’s Office three times a week. He is also not allowed to contact the victim of his alleged crimes.

Sprenger was arrested on June 26 by the Carroll County Sheriff’s Office and charged with five counts of rape, a Class Y felony, and 10 counts of distributing, possessing or viewing of child pornography, a Class C felony.

Sprenger’s jury trial is set for March 24.

He has pleaded not guilty to the charges and his next pretrial status hearing is scheduled for Feb. 10, at 11 a.m. in the Berryville courthouse.

Prosecuting Attorney Jason Barrett said during the most recent pretrial hearing that the process of extracting forensic evidence from Sprenger’s computers is taking longer than expected and was not ready at the hearing. He continued to explain that he was told the process was nearly complete multiple times.

Barrett suggested that if the evidence is not ready soon then the court should consider finding another expert to handle the evidence or subpoena the experts who are working on it, so that they could explain to the court why the process has taken so long.

Sheriff’s Office Investigator Mark Bailey conducted the investigation, during which it was alleged that Sprenger engaged in sexual conduct with a person known to Sprenger to be a minor.

On or about March 14, 2013, the Carroll County Sheriff’s Office, the Eureka Springs Police Department and the Benton County Sheriff’s Department executed search warrants on Sprenger’s home and business and allegedly found digitally-stored child pornography.

The evidence was given to Benton County Sheriff’s Office Cyber Crime Unit on June 25. Detective Craig Renfroe shared his findings in a report, according to police records.

“I have located eight media storage devices that contain child pornography,” stated Renfroe in his report. “Two hard drives and six compact discs at this time have been found to contain two nude images, five sexual content images and three videos for a total of 10 images of child pornography.”

According to a report filed by Belinda Reynolds, the victim was 15. The victim re-

ported being inappropriately photographed and sexually assaulted by Sprenger several times starting when she was approximately 11 years old, authorities said. She also said she feared for her nine-year-old sister, according to police records.

Sprenger, who lives on County Road 105, runs a home-based computer repair business.

He is also the former fire chief of the Inspiration Point Rural Fire Protection District and was the assistant fire chief at the time of his arrest. He also worked as a part-time relief firefighter and EMT for the Eureka Springs Fire Department and was a volunteer firefighter for the city as well.

“This was obviously a very sad and unfortunate situation for everyone,” Inspiration Point Fire Chief Ed Thompson said after Sprenger’s arrest. “However, I am a firm believer in the legal system and the tradition of the presumption of innocence. I will let the system work and have no further comment. Pending the outcome, he is no longer See Sprenger, page 25

Morrisons present architecture awards to school board

By Kathryn Lucariello

CCNhi@cox-internet.com

Laura and Charlie Morrison of Morrison Architecture were on hand at the Eureka Springs School Board meeting Monday to present two awards won last year for design of the new Eureka Springs High School.

In the summer, Morrison Architecture won second place for 2012 Project of the Year for Commercial Walls from ATAS International, Inc., for its use of red and grey metal finishing panels on the outside of the high school. This was a national trades award.

The 2013 Merit Award was given in October by the Arkansas chapter of the American Institute of Architects for “Recognition of Achievement in Architectural Design.” The award was given to the Morrison firm, the school district and the contractor, Kinco Constructors of Springdale.

A jury of architects from Texas selected seven projects out of the 46 submitted for consideration.

“This award was not just for schools,” said Charlie. “Any architectural firm could compete for any building. We were even competing against large firms in Little Rock.”

Speaking of the project, Laura said, “We want to thank the school board for the opportunity we had to work on this project. We loved it and poured ourselves into it. I think it may be obvious by what’s down there, but also because it’s ours – our kids go there. It really meant a lot to us that we were able to work in our own community, and we are very grateful and very blessed.”

In other business, the school board: • Modified the school calendar to have second quarter end Jan. 15 and third quarter begin Jan. 16. Because of snow days, school is now scheduled to end on June 6.

• Voted to hold school on Monday, Jan. 20, Martin Luther King Day, to help make up loss of school from weather events.

• Accepted the resignation of school nurse Rona Adams.

Photo by Kathryn Lucariello

Laura and Charlie Morrison (front) of Morrison Architecture present two awards to the school board won last year for architecture at the new Eureka Springs High School.

School board members present are, from left, Sam Kirk, Candace Spaulding, Jason Morris, Al Larson, Debbie Davis and Chris McClung.

January 16, 2014 – Lovely County Citizen – Page

9

One for the books

Library director closes chapter on career State University in 1978. She was working as a documents librarian for the City Jean Elderwind is used to big cit- of New Orleans when she visited Eureies. She grew up in Chicago and went ka Springs and decided to move. For 30 to college in Cincinnati, then moved to years, she was director of Eureka’s CarNew Orleans. But after visiting Eureka negie Library, which played a big part in Springs, she decided she wanted to try her life – it’s where she met her husband, living in a small Arkansas town, and in a woodcrafter and author.

1981, took the job of city library direc“I was working at the desk and he tor. came up and just looked at me, then “I never intended to stay a long time,” asked, ‘Do you have any books on the she said. chemical effect of urine on sawdust?’”

Elderwind, who moved up to adminis- Elderwind said. “This was in the days trator of the Carroll and Madison Library before computers. I said, ‘Let’s look System in 2000, rein the Mother Earth tired this month after News index’ and he a career that spanned said, ‘I’m writing the “I’m proud to have more than four dearticle on it for Mothcades. Last Friday er Earth News.’ been a part of starting was officially her last “I think the questhat and seeing it to day, but she is still tytion was a vehicle this point. Our library ing up loose ends. for us to get to know “When you’ve system has never been each other.” been doing someThey were married stronger.” thing for a long time, a few months later in – Jean Elderwind it doesn’t always end a garden wedding. crisply,” she said.

Their daughter, Lucy, Elderwind has who just finished been working with her master’s degree, her replacement, Johnice Dominick, for- practically grew up in the library, Elmer Green Forest Library director, who derwind said. Elderwind and the staff started Jan. 6. Elderwind is also putting started story hour on Wednesdays in the the finishing touches on her year-end early 1980s. report, and wrapping up the library sys“I met some of my very best friends tem’s strategic planning report, which there,” Elderwind said. she has been working on for the last year.

The county libraries were at that time Both reports will delivered at the annual part of the North Arkansas Regional Limeeting of the Carroll and Madison Li- brary System. Realizing that residents in brary System on Jan. 30 in Huntsville.

Carroll and Madison counties would be “It will be a chance to say goodbye to better served by their own library system, my board,” Elderwind said. “It’s a nice she helped make the break to establish closure.” the two-county library system and was Elderwind, who grew up in Chicago, hired as its administrator, overseeing the started working in libraries at the Univer- Eureka Springs, Berryville and Green sity of Cincinnatti, where she majored in Forest libraries in Carroll County and the English literature. Moving to New Or- Huntsville, St. Paul and Kingston librarleans, she worked in the University of ies in Madison County. The system has New Orleans library, then decided to go seen a steady increase in circulation, she to graduate school, earning a master’s said – in 2013, a total of 340,000 items degree in library science from Louisiana were checked out.

By Jennifer Jackson

JJackson.Citizen@gmail.com

Photo by Jennifer Jackson

Jean Elderwind, left, received flowers and gifts from staff at a retirement lunch Monday at the Berryville Library. Pictured with her, from left, are Kris Burks, Myrtle Tharp, Berryville Library director Mark Schuster; Mary Ester McNeill and Diana Black, assistant library director. Barbara Rust also attended the luncheon.

“I’m proud to have been a part of starting that and seeing it to this point,” Elderwind said. “Our library system has never been stronger.”

On Monday, Elderwind was presented with gifts, cards and flowers at a luncheon at the Berryville Library by staff from the library and her office, which is in the same building. Mark Schuster, Berryville Library director, said that after working more than 30 years, there is no aspect of the Carroll or Madison County libraries that Elderwind hasn’t impacted in some way. Elderwind said she made the decision last January to retire this month, and notified the board of her plans so that the transition would be a smooth one.

She will continue to serve on the board of the Carroll and Madison Library Foundation, she said, and is co-chairing the 2014 Books in Bloom with Lin Wellford and Jennifer Hudspeth. Books in Bloom is a literary garden party that brings national and regional authors for readings and book signings on the grounds of the Crescent Hotel in May. And she will be visiting the Eureka Springs Library regularly.

“By retiring from a full-time job as a library director, I get to start becoming

a full-time library patron,” Elderwind said.

Among her retirement gifts: home spa items, including a sleep mask, but Elderwind said she hasn’t developed the habit of relaxing – she still wakes up at 6 a.m. and gets dressed for the day. She does like to cook, garden and read, she said, but is going to wait and see what the next chapter of her life brings.

“I’ve been working full-time since 1970, except for only a short time off for graduate school and maternity leave,” Elderwind said. “I’d like to stop and find out what I’m missing.”

Elderwind said she “found a home” when she started working in the college library in 1971, and again when she moved to Eureka Springs in 1981.

Library work has been both her vocation and her avocation, she said, and small town libraries turned out to be just her cup of tea.

“I love the idea that I could buy a book or offer a service that could change someone’s life,” she said, “and I share that thought with everyone who works in a library. That’s what keeps us coming in every day, that we can make a difference in a person’s life.”

Page 10 – Lovely County Citizen – January 16, 2014

Editorial No snow days for emergency crews

W

hile students and adults alike have all been enjoying a staggering number of snow days – 12 – over the last couple of months, some people have been working long hours to ensure public safety.

As many associate snow days with a sort of isolated vacation time, others view it as a time when their expertise is most needed, sometimes working extra weekend hours or overnight. When schools, county offices and some businesses are closed, emergency crews are still on the job, keeping the city and county safe.

Public works, county road department and highway department employees are out on the treacherous streets, using all of their available resources to clear the ice and snow so everyone can get back to work and school.

Police officers, firefighters, emergency medical technicians and other first responders have to get out and brave the elements when fires, car accidents and medical emergencies happen. Plus, dispatch employees have to get to work to make sure emergency crews get all the information they need.

During winter weather, the number of emergency medical calls tend to go up, as folks who would normally be able to drive themselves to the hospital, or have a family member do so, can’t get down the road – or even out of their driveways – when snow and ice hit.

Sometimes emergencies happen before the streets can be cleared, as happened last week when a fire broke out on Mundell Road early Thursday morning, just after a sheet of ice coated the roads on Wednesday night. Inspiration Point firefighters took it easy when hitting the slick pavement but still managed to slide around a bit before arriving on the scene.

Then there are all the postal workers, some of whom have literally lived the U.S. Postal Service’s motto over the past few weeks: “Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night stays these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds.”

In the private sector, snow plow crews get out bright and early to help businesses clear their parking lots, utility crews are on alert in case of widespread power outages, and when the frigid temperatures hit and pipes freeze then burst, plumbers are on call to help repair some of winter’s biggest messes.

These can all be rather daunting jobs in normal weather, made that much more difficult when 10 inches of snow and ice have been dumped in the area.

So the next time you run into any of these hard-working people, be sure to thank them for all they do to keep us safe.

And when you pay your taxes in the next couple of months, you’ll know that at least part of that money goes to the men and women who put in long hours when no one else is able to do so.

Tell us what you think!

Citizen, P.O., Box 679, Eureka Springs, AR 72632, fax to (479) 253-0080

or e-mail to: citizen.editor@yahoo.com

Who do you think should be Citizen of the Week?

Send us your nominations

Citizen, P.O., Box 679, Eureka Springs, AR 72632, fax to (479) 253-0080 or e-mail to: citizen.editor@yahoo.com

Citizen of the Week

Facebook can be a powerful tool in getting information out to people, especially during inclement weather like what we’ve been experiencing over the last few weeks.

Earlier this month, Carly James of Eureka Springs took it upon herself to alert some neighbors about a dog that was left outside during the freezing temperatures. Her post garnered a few dozen responses and suggestions. After she was able to determine that the neighbors were gone, Carly picked up the dog and was able to get him to Diane Fergu-

son of Unconditional Love Pet Rescue, who in turn was able to find a place for the dog stay warm and dry during the winter weather.

Carly used this opportunity to urge all pet owners to bring in their animals for the duration of the snowstorm and frigid temperatures, a message all of us at the Citizen support wholeheartedly.

For her efforts to help keep the canine citizens of Eureka safe and warm this winter, Carly James has been chosen as our Citizen of the Week.

January 16, 2014 – Lovely County Citizen – Page

What do

think

Citizen Opinion by Margo Elliott

What is your favorite way to watch movies?

Send your opinions to Citizen, P.O., Box 679, Eureka Springs, AR 72632, fax to (479) 253-0080 or e-mail to: citizen.editor@yahoo.com

Editorial Policy The opinions on the Editorial page are our opinions. The opinions on the Forum pages are your opinions.

All forum entries must be signed and verifiable. We reserve the right to edit submissions.

No need + real devastation = deny SWEPCO application

Linda Dobson

John Dobson

Gary Hallock

We watch movies on cable at home.

DirecTV at home, we don’t actually have cable.

With LOTS of coffee.

“Eureka Visitor”

“J.P.”

“Night Worker”

Tammi Hallock Debbie Allen

Todd Allen

Going to the theater and buy popcorn.

Going to the theater and getting popcorn with extra butter and salt.

“All about the popcorn!”

“Blackie’s Shop Lady”

I used to love going to the drive-in and take my dogs.

Now I just go to the theater.

“Blackie’s Shop Guy”

Since April 3, 2013, SWEPCO, in collusion with SPP, has lied about why, what and how they want to do things.

No one really understands what is involved in the construction of the ARMO project. However, other 345 kV transmission line projects clearly show what SWEPCO plans to do, and it is not a pretty picture.

Case in point: CapX2020. Even though this is a much larger project, the need for the CapX2020 is under review, as the premise of increased demand is false: Xcel Energy acknowledged that energy sales are down across the nation, and CapX2020 is not needed; same for the ARMO project.

The ongoing construction of the CapX2020 transmission lines shows ARMO would devastate the Ozarks with the following items: 1. Rebar cages for the foundation of 160-foot towers.

2. Semi-trucks loaded with transmission line poles, on U.S. Highway 62? After a few days of snow, this road is full of pot holes; Hwy 62 would be destroyed.

3. Double Circuit Poles, as Brian Johnson said they would 4. Helicopters used to install spacers 5. Implosive devices to splice conductor joints.

The need for the project is only SPP’s story for SWEPCO’s financial benefit. The cost and permanent damage of the ARMO construction are real and unnecessary.

The Precautionary Environmental Principle requires APSC to deny the ARMO project. It is not in the long-term

Citizen Survey What is your favorite way to watch movies? m In the theater, with a tub of popcorn and a giant soda. m On Blu-Ray in my state-of-the-art home theater. m On Netflix marathoning my favorite film series. m On the couch surrounded by friends or family.

Go to www.lovelycitizen.com and weigh in.

11

interest of the people of Arkansas.

Sources: CapX2020 transmission line projects (www. capx2020.com/projects/); “CapX2020 under review by PUC” By Allison Geyer, LaCrosse Tribune; and “Chemical leak fouls tap water in West Virginia,” Arkansas Democrat-Gazette.

– Dr. Luis Contreras Eureka Springs

Citizen of the Year shares thanks It is an honor to be chosen as Citizen of the Year by this unique community where individuality is a given, quality of life is a priority and, when push comes to shove, unity is the highest value. All of these aspects are threatened by SWEPCO’s proposal to build a high-voltage transmission line through the heart of the Ozark Highlands of Arkansas.

It has been my privilege to co-found and direct Save the Ozarks, the all-volunteer group that is defending against this threat. With the community’s unprecedented involvement and generosity, Save the Ozarks aroused a record-setting public outcry against SWEPCO’s proposal and retained a team of lawyers and experts to challenge SWEPCO before the Arkansas Public Service Commission. This week, the Commission’s Administrative Law Judge will announce her decision to recommend approval or denial of SWEPCO’s proposal.

We must hope that justice prevails and the judge recommends denial. If not, we will take this challenge to the See Forum, page 26

LAST WEEK’S QUESTION 25 votes cast Have you ever personally seen a ghost? m Never. Ghosts don’t exist.: 48.0% (12 votes) m Once. But it might just have been my cat.: 16.0% (4 votes) m A few times. I’m worried my house is haunted.: 36.0% (9 votes) m Daily. I get life advice from my uncle Albert.: 0.0% (0 votes) Go to www.lovelycitizen.com and weigh in. Vote by Wednesday 9 a.m.

Page 12 – Lovely County Citizen – January 16, 2014

Budget focus of CAPC meeting

By Jennifer Jackson

JJackson.Citizen@gmail.com

The City Advertising and Promotion Commission will entertain requests for marketing support funding at a workshop on Jan. 22 at 4 p.m. at the CAPC office, after which it will schedule a special meeting to approve the 2014 budget. The CAPC has a line item budget of $30,000 for marketing support requests, of which $9,000 has been allocated so far, according to Rick Bright, treasurer.

At its regular monthly meeting on Jan. 8, Bright reported that the CAPC has a cash balance of $93,738. Giving the end-of-year budget report, Bright said lodging tax collections compared to 2012 were down 1.6 percent overall, a drop of 13.2 percent from motels, 4.9 percent from cabins/cottages and slight decrease from restaurants balanced by a 14.6 percent increase from hotels and slight increase from B&Bs. The CAPC budgeted $1.2 million in tax collections for 2013 and collected $1.22 million, Bright said.

Expenses came in under budget for the year overall, Bright said, although group travel, advertising production and salaries and wages were over budget, the latter due to the director’s midyear raise and some benefits paid out.

Festivals, marketing support and office expenses, excluding website maintenance, were under budget, he said. Total expenses overall were $21,000 under budget for 2013.

“We have some line items that we need to watch more closely, but overall we did much better with our budget than last year,” he said, referring to 2012.

Giving the director’s report, Mike Maloney said he plans to attend the Folk Alliance International Conference in Kansas City in February, explaining that FAI is an organization that brings together festival organizers, folk musicians and fans. The conference offers an opportunity to preview talent for the

Ozark Folk Festival, Maloney said, and to remind people that Eureka Springs has the oldest folk festival in the country.

The CAPC will also be represented at the Governor’s Conference on Tourism, which will be held in Rogers in March this year, he said, giving Eureka Springs a chance to participate in its entirety.

Maloney said the CAPC received excellent press for event news releases in 2013, blanketing almost the entire country, and plans to take advantage of co-op advertising offered by the state tourism department that puts spring and fall inserts in newspapers in major southern and midwest cities.

The CAPC is also looking at advertising for the first time in regional lifestyle magazines, including “Celebrate” and “417,” and the Kansas City and Oklahoma City magazines, he said, and intends to increase television advertising substantially in 2014.

“We expect to have a robust year,” he said.

Bright presented a write-off request for three businesses that folded, owing the CAPC nearly $2,000, adding if the owners leave the state, the debt is usually uncollectible. He also submitted a list of 26 Eureka Springs businesses that were delinquent in payments in November. Of those, 12 owed payments for two months and four businesses received closures notices on Jan. 6 for being three months in arrears and would be served summons, Bright said.

All six commissioners were present for the Jan. 8 meeting, which was chaired by Charles Ragsdale. The CAPC’s next regular meeting is Feb. 12 at 6 p.m. in city council chambers in the Western District Carroll County Courthouse, 44 S. Main, Eureka Springs. The CAPC office is located off the lower parking lot behind The Quarter Shopping Center, 121 East Van Buren, Eureka Springs.

No labels

CAPC debuts new ads

Gayly Mock One: The first new ad that ran the first week in January in “The Gayly” garnered good response from the local business community.

By Jennifer Jackson JJackson.Citizen@gmail.com

A new series of ads promoting Eureka Springs as an open-minded, friendly place is packing a lot of punch with local business owners.

The four ads were commissioned by the City Advertising and Promotion Commission, whose staff worked with artists at RightMind Advertising to translate their ideas into images. The first ad, which ran last week in The Gayly, shows the Basin Park Hotel and the Flat Iron Building, and a pair of rainbow-colored hands forming a heart around the words, “No Labels.”

“The response was that this is a very positive message,” Mike Maloney, CAPC director, said.

The new half-page color ads will run once a month in rotation in The Gayly, a regional newspaper based in Oklahoma City, at a cost of $350 a piece. The second ad, “The Pride and Joy of the Ozarks,” is a photo of costumed parade participants passing Basin Park. “Fab in Eureka” features a fox terrier wearing sunglasses and a rainbow-colored lei, and “Come Out where the action is” shows photographs of food, wine, local scenery and a spa.

Two of the ads note that Eureka Springs has more than 50 gay-owned and friendly businesses, a domestic partner registry, diversity weekends and GLBT events yearround, as well as a vibrant arts community,

energetic nightlife, Victorian architecture, panoramic views and pet-friendly bed and breakfasts. Dates of diversity weekends will be added to the ads during the months they are held, Maloney said.

Maloney said that at any given time, the CAPC has a lot of ads running regionally in markets from Dallas to Kansas City, but because they aren’t seen locally, rarely generate any comments. The fact that local business owners read The Gayly, and that the Gay Business Guild of Eureka Springs formed last fall to promote Eureka Springs resulted in an unusual number of responses, Maloney said, including 15 emails.

People seemed pleased with the CAPC’s new creative effort, he said.

“We really want to do a good job for the GLBT community,” Maloney said.

Maloney said the ads are not a big change in direction for the CAPC, which spends $5,000 a year promoting Eureka to the gay tourist market, but that it was time for a change. The CAPC has been working with RightMind Advertising, a Fort Smith agency, for nearly three years, he said, and has been pleased with the cutting-edge approach and turn-around time. Opening a PDF file of a new ad is like Christmas, he said – the reaction is, “Wow.” The agency will be helping the CAPC with television ads in the future, he said.

“RightMind has really hit some home runs for us,” Maloney said.

January 16, 2014 – Lovely County Citizen – Page

13

Photos by Chip Ford

Eureka Springs High School Boys vs. Union Christian

Jake McClung nets two in heavy cover, totaling 10 pts for the game. The Highlanders won 69-51.

Ryan Sanchez was the games top scorer with an accumulated 21 points – two being 3s.

Mathew McClung goes against a large defender in the paint. The boys are now 14-4 for the season and 4-0 in conference play.

Page 14 – Lovely County Citizen – January 16, 2014 Photos by Chip Ford

Eureka Springs Junior High Boys and Girls vs. Union Christian

Avery Walker quickly moves past a defender for 2. Walker went on to score 7 points.

Garrett Cross muscles through the post for 2. Cross went on to nab 14 points, with four 3s – leading the scoreboard for Eureka.

Shayna Perkins holds onto the rock as she moves through two UC defenders. The junior high girls lost against UC last Friday, 14-26.

Austin Kimbrill would not be stopped in the paint, netting 7 points for the game.

Lindsey Bonds holds onto a rebound against two UC players.

Bella Allee stiff-arms a UC player as she maneuvers around her.

January 16, 2014 – Lovely County Citizen – Page

FCC denies further Busch cell tower environmental assessment

By Kathryn Lucariello

CCNhi@cox-internet.com

EUREKA SPRINGS – The Federal Communications Commission has denied citizen requests for an environmental assessment of AT&T Mobility’s application to erect a cell tower at Busch.

The application is for a 260-foot lattice-type tower with lighting on top at Beaver Lake Storage on U.S. Highway 62, west of Eureka Springs.

Several citizens protested the tower and asked for further environmental review after AT&T published a notice in Carroll County News in November. Among their concerns were cultural, historic, economic, health and safety impacts to the neighborhood. Dr. Luis Contreras, the most vocal of the commenters, took AT&T to task for failure to respond to calls and emails, not including the full project file in its application to the FCC and not giving public notice to newspapers that primarily cover the area where the tower is to be built.

On Tuesday, Aaron Goldschmidt, assistant chief of the Spectrum and Competition Policy Division at the FCC, issued a written statement saying requests for an environmental assessment are denied based on its own rules and those of the National Environmental Policy Act and gave several reasons.

One is that there is already no tower on site, so it is “premature to assert that the RF levels at the site will exceed the applicable maximum permissible exposure limits set forth in the Commission’s rules.”

He said requesters’ concerns about “visual pollution or loss of views do not present a sufficient showing to require an Environmental Assessment” under FCC rules, nor do they show the potential to affect the viewshed of a historic property, namely, the former Busch post office building.

The report by the company hired by AT&T to do a historic and cultural survey shows they are not aware the building is

still standing, across the street from the proposed cell tower site.

Other concerns dismissed by the FCC include the “allegation of a Bald Eagle nest in the area” or impacts to migrating birds, endangered wildlife or endangered bats, calling these concerns “unsupported, nonspecific and speculative.”

Concerns about aviation safety are also speculative, Goldschmidt wrote, and the Federal Aviation Administration issued a “Determination of No Hazard to Air Navigation” concerning the Busch airstrip.

He wrote that other concerns about tower construction on karst terrain, fire safety and “proximity to residential or tourist areas” are under the jurisdiction of local permitting officials, not the FCC. Concerns expressed in relation to a transmission tower project proposed in the area by SWEPCO are not relevant, he added.

The concern about Native American resources are “nonspecific,” Goldschmidt wrote, but will be addressed as part of the FCC’s Section 106 process.

“The application will not be granted until the Tribal participation process is completed,” he wrote.

AT&T sent notification to eight tribes, some of whom, including the Osage, the Quapaw, the Shawnee Tribe and the Eastern Shawnee Tribe of Oklahoma, said they were interested in consulting on the project.

In an email Tuesday responding to Goldschmidt, Contreras expressed disappointment and called AT&T’s corporate image “fragile” for not following its own code of conduct, issued to employees by its CEO. “Our recent experience dealing with Anisa Latif and all the other AT&T executives ... including the chairman and CEO, shows AT&T is an abusive and greedy corporation with no concern for its customers, the environment of our community or even the corporate AT&T public image,” Contreras wrote.

Davis Gaines, vocalist

Enjoy stunning vocals

by The Phantom of the Opera’s Davis Gaines along with dazzling costumes & athletic skating!

Jan. 17-19

This

WEEKEND!

Family Fun Series Sponsor

Media Support

15

Page 16 – Lovely County Citizen – January 16, 2014 Photos by Chip Ford

Eureka Springs High School Girls vs. Union Christian

Above: Sam Mueller runs down a loose ball and ends at the feet of a few shocked girls.

At left: Taylor Little uses her dribbling proficiency to work around the side of a defender.

BELOW: Coach Green makes a few “suggestions” to the girls after a turnover.

Abby Moore plows through a UC defender. The Lady Highlanders lost to UC 27-46.

Homecoming bonfire, pep rally and dinner The high school girls’ team will be serving up hot dogs, chips and drinks for $2, and desserts are 50 cents. Play equipment is provided for a family fun evening. This is all a fundraiser for all basketball programs, youth and up. ESYSA and school teams will be introduced at 6 p.m.

January 16, 2014 – Lovely County Citizen – Page

Strictly Business

T

he term “economies of scale” is generally associated with larger businesses, but small businesses can also reap similar benefits. Defined, achieving economies of scale means to gain a considerable cost savings by increasing output, combining tasks or increasing speed of operations, improving efficiency, or in any way enlarging business activities.

When these methods are pursued appropriately, fixed costs per unit decrease.

This means a lot to small businesses trying to enlarge their profit margin and gain a competitive advantage.

Here are a few ways small businesses may pursue economies of scale (keep in mind, it requires a little thinking outside the box): Combine orders and reduce suppliers to save on shipping and delivery costs. For example, if your business currently uses two or three different suppliers to bring in products or services to your business, consider developing closer partnerships with one or two suppliers. This reduces order time, shipping costs and variability in quality and strengthens your business’ competitive advantage through having tighter business relationships within your supply chain.

Small retailers that only sell one unique, quality brand or family of brands by partnering closely with one or two suppliers fair much better than small retailers trying to offer a wide breadth of different brands to appeal to customers with different tastes.

Leave the “something for everyone” approach to big department stores and big box retailers – small businesses will have a harder time pulling this off. Too much variety leads to higher inventory and holding costs, as well.

As a side, I highly recommend using Amazon’s vendor services for small businesses. When pairing with Amazon for unique requests, hard to find and less popular items, you can save your business expensive inventory and holding costs by allowing those items to be special ordered

17

By Mary R. Flood

Economies of scale

and shipped overnight to your customers or your store location – without actually having to carry the slow moving merchandise on your shelves! It’s amazing!

Simply explain to customers that because it is a unique and less popular item, that it is warehoused with your supplier – but can arrive at their house or the store within a day or two at no additional cost.

Customers love easy.

You can also transform your brick and mortar location by being a “click and mortar” on the side. Many small businesses these days are achieving economies of scale by selling merchandise online through Amazon services. Take the time to research if this may fit your business model.

Consider developing mutually benefitting business agreements with your competitors. Say what? Remember: Think outside the box.

For example, a small clothing store sells Harley Davidson merchandise in a corner section of their store. By partnering with a Harley Davidson retailer within 50 miles to have their small Harley Davidson merchandise order combined with the large one of the exclusive retailer, both stores will save money in unit costs and shipping costs.

Cost per unit will decrease as the order size is increased, and shipping costs will decrease as the shipment size increases – this saves both locations money. The larger retailer may have a more efficient supplier that is able to pass on savings the smaller business could not achieve with their original supplier. And there are several individuals in town that will pick up your orders “in the big city” for a reasonable fee.

Another example is two competing restaurants combining food orders with Ben E. Keith or a local farmer to save both restaurants money. I realize this technique requires some planning and coordination and it may not be feasible every week or with every single order; but if it can be achieved, everyone – including the supplier – will save money.

Large hotels and resorts also use this technique when they have two or more restaurants on location. It is preferred to combine food orders for restaurants and use common suppliers, even though the restaurants are managed separately and may be vastly different in their offerings.

Increase specialization among your staff and managers to help your business achieve economies of scale. When employees are continuously trained and their skills are improved upon, the business saves money. Customer service is upgraded; processes are performed with more accuracy; and employee productivity is augmented significantly.

Talk with your staff members about their personal development goals. You may have some who are happy where they are and do not wish to attend additional training. You may have a few who are longing for an opportunity to grow and shine.

Investing in your people is one of the wisest investments a business can make.

Think long term, and develop a plan for employee retention and personal growth among your best staff members. Make sure they do not get bogged down or “stuck” in everyday operations; but instead, are kept on a forward trajectory of increased specialization. This will bring your business much long-term growth and cost savings.

Courses are offered at the local community colleges in business 101, finance, accounting, business communication, ethics, professional image building, and more. These classes are generally very cost efficient and many are offered online. The University of Arkansas offers a wider breadth of training and is also reasonably priced with online options.

One last, but certainly not least, great idea: Increase your marketing output. Every media market offers package deals, lowered rates for an increase of advertising, or contract rates. For example, signing up to have your business ad run for 12 newspaper issues will save your business incredible money when compared to only

one time runs on special occasions.

In a unique village such as Eureka Springs, the local newspaper is a strong, connecting thread among the community.

We all look forward to print day where we can read the latest stories, see pictures of our town and locals, and find out what news made the press. Your advertising dollars are well spent through the local press.

••• Mary R. Flood writes weekly in the Lovely County Citizen, sharing insights to help Eureka Springs business owners, operators and employees to succeed in their endeavors. She will at times entertain and answer readers seeking advice.

To contact Flood or send your questions in, email citizen.editor@yahoo.com or mail your letter to the Citizen at 3022 E. Van Buren, Suite H, Eureka Springs AR 72632.

Keep your finger on the pulse of Eureka Springs!

Get

breaking news alerts @LovelyCoCitizen

Page 18 – Lovely County Citizen – January 16, 2014

Village View

Alison

By Sandra TaylorSynar Brown

New Project to FEATURE Local Businesses

Feature: a distinctive attribute or aspect of something.

Feature: A newspaper or magazine article or a broadcast program devoted to the treatment of a topic. ow that the holiday stories are finNow what did I say when we moved into ished, we’re hearing many com- our building and equipped it? Anyone, anyments from the writers like: That where, can teach us anything about writing. was great. It was fun to take a break from So we will “beam” Rebecca in on February my booklength novel or memoir to focus on 6 to teach us feature writing. The $20 worksomething/someone else. It was fun to write shop will be from 3-5 pm and is open to a shorter piece and have the satisfaction of anyone interested in learning to write feature seeing it finished. stories.

At the same time these discussions were THE VILLAGE PROJECT going on, I was thinking about the workThen, we need to practice. We had so shops we should offer in 2014 and consid- much fun interacting with the local comering what skills we need to be teaching to munities during the holiday stories that we help our students write better AND build now are going to use our new writing skill to their publishing resume.

FEATURE local businesses. Some cool story Feature stories are everywhere because about the owners, their history, the business they are very popular with readers. itself, the customers, the building—whatevThe news feature, the profile, the review, er lends itself to an interesting story. Hopethe travel story, the evergreen are all types of fully, we can feature some small little niche features. Understanding how to put together shops that don’t get a lot of attention, as well these stories in the most professional and cre- as some of the not-so-glamorous-but-utterative way will give our writers another path ly-necessary businesses that keep our villagto publication beyond the magazines that es functioning. only publish fiction or creative nonfiction of If you are a business owner, a writer may a certain type. be contacting you. If you are interested in THE WORKSHOP having your business FEATURED in an inSince Rebecca Mahoney has published depth story by a Village Writer, let me know. numerous feature articles in the Boston We will not just write these stories but will Globe, the L.A. Times, the Orlando Sentinel, have a goal of sending them out to at least and many other newspapers, as well as Asso- five publication venues. If you want to learn ciated Press online, I wanted her to teach this to write a feature, sign up for the workshop. workshop. But she also teaches at two uniThe stories of local businesses and the versities in the northeast and couldn’t spare writers to write them. It takes a village to the time to come to Eureka Springs. raise a story.

•••

N

Alison Taylor-Brown has an MFA in Fiction and a lifetime of teaching experience from preschool to university levels. She directs The Village Writing School, whose mission is to foster the development of area writers through workshops, writers’ circles, and coaching. Her column, Village View, appears weekly. To talk to Alison about your writing goals and dreams, contact her at alisontaylorbrown@me.com or 479 292-3665.

All Creative Writing Workshops at theVillage Writing School will be

FREE

to High School Students in 2014 Fantasy Stories Welcome!!

Everything You Need to Write a Beautiful Book 2014 Writing Craft Core Curriculum Sound Devices January 18 – The First Page/ The Sentence Character Figurative Language How to Begin Types of Phrases Asking the Right Questions Style What is Voice?

March 1 or April 19 – Subtext, High Narrative Arc Events, Closing Writing Rules to Live By Below the Surface of Story, 13 ways to make Characters REAL Plot, Context Narrative Urgency Implicit Narrative February 1 or 15 – Dialogue and Weaving the Dramatic & the Subtle Setting What to Say Two Mistakes with High Events How to Say it Endings can Culminate or Imply Continuation Setting – More than a Place Setting – Friend or Foe? Ending Literal or From Afar?

March 22, 2014 & May or June TBA The Four Elements to Research How to Research – Self-Editing February 6 - Feature Writing From First Draft to Finished Manuscript in 15 Steps Rebecca Mahoney 3-5 pm $20 Reviewing and Applying all February 22 or March 15 – The Word & the Sentence the Writer’s Tools Diction Unless otherwise noted, all workshops are 9-4 and are $45.

Register online at VillageWritingSchool.com For more information, contact alisontaylorbrown@me.com or 479 292-3665.

Follow Village Writing School on FB.

January 16, 2014 – Lovely County Citizen – Page

The Village Writing School In this poignant story from the heart, Valerie Fondetti explores the most basic human question.

8

The Brown Box

:30 in the evening on a Saturday night. John, my boyfriend of eight years, and I left the Swallows Inn, a popular drinking establishment in San Juan Capistrano, California, for the San Clemente Pier five miles away.

The pier was dimly lit with the overhead lights that lined it on each side down to the end. The night sky was moonless, and a cool breeze of brine and fish wafted across the ocean, chilling the night air. The sound of the waves collapsing on the beach offered comfort and helped settle our nerves. We hoped there wouldn’t be many people there and we could do what we were there to do unnoticed. But several large groups of young people milled around the entrance to the pier, laughing too loudly, smoking, listening to RAP on a boom box. But tonight was the night. There was no backing out. It was March 18th.

“I want to go all the way to the end. I want to do it there.”

“OK,” John responded nervously.

Holding hands, we walked side by side down the length of the pier. With my free hand, I clutched a red and orange floral beach bag to my chest. There were only a few fisherman scattered about. Some leaned against the railing with one leg propped up on the lower rung, fishing poles firmly in hand. Others sat on benches, their eyes riveted to the end of their poles that lay propped against the railing, waiting for the telltale twitch signaling a strike.

At the end of the pier there were three fishermen and two elderly gentlemen sitting on a bench that overlooked the ocean.. Too many people here I thought. But there was no turning back. It was only appropriate that it be done tonight at this very location. It was his birthday and San Clemente was his most favorite place on earth.

Daddy developed his love of the ocean as a young man while living in Los Angeles a few miles away from Santa Monica.

All our family vacations were spent at San Clemente beach, either in a small trailer at

the state park, or a cheap motel on Pacific Coast Highway or, as the years and finances permitted, an upscale hotel located right on the beach next to the pier. He loved to fish off the pier, body surf the waves, and build sand castles with my brother and I. “It’s time, John.”

I reached into the beach bag and pulled out a hammer, four nails, and a thin two- by three-inch metal plaque with the inscription: The Old Man and the Sea. Mathew Fondetti March 18, 1918 – December 18, 1993 “Hammer it here,” I said, pointing to the underside of the pier railing. “Hammer it good. I want it to last forever.”

The hammering sounded ike a jackhammer in an amphitheater. Startled by the racket, the fishermen turned and gave us a look of enormous disapproval.

“Stop it! You’re scaring the fish.”

We both bowed in a display of humility to demonstrate we understood we were being jerks.

“Sorry. Sorry. We’re done. Sorry.”

Mumbling something under their breath, they turned their attention from us back to catching fish.

I hesitated a moment before I reached back into the beach bag to pull out a butter knife and a deceptively heavy, small plain plastic brown box with the catalog number 9542 crudely scratched into one end, as if etched by a hair pin without a plastic tip. I set the box on the rail and pried one end open with the butter knife. Inside was a plastic bag filled with what looked like large grains of sand. My father. An entire life reduced to a small box and a bag filled with his cremated remains.

“Shouldn’t we say something?” John asked.

I agreed with the sentiment but couldn’t think of anything witty or profound to say.

As I tipped the box on its side to dispose of Daddy’s remains in the ocean he loved so much, I said, “Here you go Daddy.” I forgave my dullness by convincing myself he would have liked the brevity.

19

To support our local writers, the Lovely County Citizen is providing space each week to showcase a student of The Village Writing School.

For more information, email alisontaylorbrown@me.com or call (479) 292-3665

This Week’s Writer Valerie Fondetti “Whoa,” we exclaimed at the same time.

“Look at that! Wow. Unbelievable!”

Daddy’s remains, instead of dropping straight down into the ocean, shot out of the box as if propelled by an unseen energy force, rolling out over the sea like a great iridescent fog, lingering for a moment, then slowly disappearing. John and I stood riveted to the pier in complete wonderment, neither one of us able to speak as we took it in.

Tears formed now and spilled down my face. I started to sob. John put his arm around me and pulled me close. The events of the past year flipped through my mind like a slide show. The diagnosis. The surgery. Daddy’s courageous refusal not have chemo and his decision to battle the disease on his own terms, which was to have as much fun as possible with the time he had left. Profound, complete sadness filled me.

“He’s at peace now. He’s where he belongs,” John said referring to the sea, his voice thick with his own emotion. “I liked your Dad.” After a few moments, we turned to leave.

A group of young adults were gathering near the end of the pier across from the bait shop, stopping just short of where we stood.

They looked out of place, like we did. One young man pulled a guitar from its case.

The others pulled sheets of paper from their pockets. Then, without fanfare, the guitar player started to strum. The others began to sing. Softly. Beautifully. Praises to God. The music drifted across the ocean as if accompanying Daddy on his journey.

Goosebumps formed on my arm. The hair on the back of my neck stood up. Daddy was an atheist. He didn’t believe in an afterlife or in the immortality of the soul.

“When you die, you die,” he always answered, when asked what he thought hap-

pens when a person dies. “You rot in the ground and the worms eat you,” he would say, with a certain amount of relish for the ghoulish scene it created in the listener’s mind. Only once did he ever reveal a single doubt. When he was in the hospital and told by his doctor that his condition was terminal and he had only a short time to live, he allowed a Catholic priest to offer a prayer to God on his behalf. Just in case, he told me.

He always liked to hedge his bets.

That at this place and time and occasion, such a seemingly random spiritual event would spontaneously erupt out of nowhere was emotionally jarring.

Was this a message? Or a coincidence?

Daddy would have declared it a coincidence and nothing more.

I don’t know.

Valerie Fondetti grew up in Bakersfield, California and lived in “shake and bake” land most of her life. She recently retired to Eureka Springs after a career in sales, in which most of her writing experience was limited to crafting customer newsletters. But she is learning the skills to write a memoir of her life as a Jehovah Witness with its unintended consequences.

Page 20 – Lovely County Citizen – January 16, 2014

Lively Entertainment

By Kristal Kuykendall

A

OzMoMu details announced

t 6 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 24, if you point your ear in the direction of Eureka Springs’ historic downtown, you will hear a sound as unique as the host city. You will hear OzMoMu. OzMoMu is the abbreviated way of saying Ozark Mountain Music Festival, a brand-new three day event – January 24 through 26 – that will present live bluegrass and indie folk music on multiple stages here in the 1905 Basin Park Hotel.

More than 11 sets of music with as many unique performers will be stretched across the music-filled weekend. Scheduled to share their brand of pure musical enjoyment at OzMoMu are 3 Penny Acre, Wink, Honky Suckle, Hogscalders, Pearl Brick, Tyrannosaurus Chicken, SX Rex, Ben Miller Band, National Park Radio, Ron Landis & Chuck, and Handmade Moments. The first three

will be taking the stages on Friday night.

Jack Moyer, overall event coordinator and general manager of the Basin Park, regaled about one of those groups.

“A group with Ozark roots will be taking our Barefoot Ballroom stage on Friday night at 10,” said Moyer. “These guys are from the Springfield, Mo., neck of the woods and will feature their crowd pleasing four-part harmony. The quartet’s vocals and stellar instrumentation blend together for one rowdy and intense performance.”

Honky Suckle is made up of Dave Smith (upright bass and vocals), Kyle Young (harmonica and vocals), Adam Howell (drums and vocals) and Eric Howell (resonator, banjo, guitar and vocals). Their popular recordings include “Vicksburg to New Orleans.”

“These guys’ rowdiness,” Moyer explained, “can best be explained by how

Honky Suckle is one of the featured bands at the Ozark Mountain Music Festival, Jan. 24 through 26 at the 1905 Basin Park Hotel.

they describe their sound: ‘a blend of rock and punk influences with roots music’s raw power that pumps out consistent on-point arrangements while un-

leashing rhythmic and individual prowess when warranted.’

“And you just might need a warrant, ‘cause these guy will arrest your ears

LARGEST SELECTION OF

VINTAGE WINES

Tickle Me Tuesdays!

Imported & Domestic Beers

10% OFF

Our friendly, knowledgeable staff says, “We’re all here ‘cause (Including Sale Items) we’re not all there.” all wine!

Monday - Thursday 8 a.m. to 11 p.m.

Friday & Saturday 8 a.m. - Midnight Sunday Noon - 6 p.m.

LIQUOR

138 E. Van Buren (Hwy. 62) Eureka Springs, AR

479-253-7102

Care With A Difference Benefit Drag Event for Mike & Chris who’s house burned Felicia Blackheart • Ciara Blackheart Olivia LaRue and more

Saturday, Jan. 18th $5.00 Cover

9:00-Close

Dj & Dancing Friday & Saturday Nights “Walk Of Shame” Bloody Mary Bar 35 N. Main • Eureka Springs

479-253-7020 OPEN: Wed – Fri 5 pm – Close • Sat & Sun 11 am – Close

www.eurekaliveunderground.com

FRI. 17 THE

GEORGE BROTHERS BIRTHADY BASH - 9pm

SAT. 18

OZARK THUNDER ON STAGE - 9pm Sunday Free Texas Holdem - 6pm Tuesday Pool Tournament - 7pm

POOL • DARTS • WiFi 105 E. Van Buren (Hwy. 62) 479-253-2500

January 16, 2014 – Lovely County Citizen – Page

and hold your soul hostage until the last note of their last song.”

OzMoMu’s complete schedule, ticket pricing and packages can be found at OzarkMountainMusicFestival.com.

THURSDAY, JAN. 16 • Chaser’s, 169 E. Van Buren, 479-2535522: Game Challenge night FRIDAY, JAN. 17 • Blarney Stone, 85 S. Main St., 479363-6633: TBD • Cathouse / Pied Piper, 82 Armstrong St., 479-363-9976: Mark Shields, 8 p.m. to midnight • Chaser’s: Terri & Brett, 9 p.m.

• Chelsea’s, 10 Mountain St., 479-2536723: RK Ellis, 9 p.m.

• Eureka Live!, 35 N. Main St., 479253-7020: DJ & Dancing, 9 p.m. to close • Eureka Paradise, 75 S. Main St., 479363-6574: DJ & Dance music, 8 p.m.

• Henri’s Just One More, 19 1/2 Spring St., 479-253-5795: Juke Box, 9 p.m.

• Jack’s Place, 37 Spring St., 479-2532219: Karaoke with DJ Goose & Maverick, 8 p.m. to midnight • Legends Saloon (Lumberyard), 105 E. Van Buren, 479-253-2500: Birthday Bash featuring The George Brothers, 9 p.m. to 1 a.m.

• New Delhi Cafe, 2 N. Main St., 479253-2525: SPiNRaD, 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.

• Rowdy Beaver Den, 45 Spring St., 479-363-6444: Jesse Dean, 7 p.m.

• Rowdy Beaver Tavern, 417 W. Van Buren, 479-253-8544: Karaoke with Jerry, 7 p.m.

• Voulez-Vous Lounge, 63 Spring St., 479-363-6595: Sean Calvin & the Dirty Truth, 9 p.m.

SATURDAY, JAN. 18

• Blarney Stone: Pro Football Playoffs • Cathouse / Pied Piper: Mark Shields, 8 p.m. to midnight • Chaser’s: The Executives, 9 p.m.

• Chelsea’s: Walker & the Texas Dangers with Cutty Rye, 9 p.m.

• Eureka Live!: DJ & Dancing 9 p.m. to close • Eureka Paradise: DJ & Dance music, 8 p.m.

• Henri’s Just One More: Juke Box, 9 p.m.

• Jack’s Place: Karaoke with DJ Goose & Maverick, 8 p.m. to midnight • Legends Saloon (Lumberyard): Ozark Thunder, 9 p.m. to 1 a.m.

• New Delhi Cafe: Belladonna, 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.

• Rowdy Beaver Den: Third Degree, 7 p.m.

• Rowdy Beaver Tavern: Diana & the Heartbeats, 7 p.m.

• Voulez-Vous Lounge: Sean Calvin & the Dirty Truth, 9 p.m.

SUNDAY, JAN. 19 • Blarney Stone: Pro Football Playoffs • Chaser’s: Pro Football Playoffs; Shuffleboard Tournament, 4 p.m.

• Eureka Paradise: Local night • Jack’s Place: Pro Football with Dylan • Rowdy Beaver Den: Open Mic with Jesse Dean, 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.

• Rowdy Beaver Tavern: Pro Football Playoffs with free pool MONDAY, JAN. 20 • Chaser’s: Pool tournament • Chelsea’s: Springbilly, 9 p.m.

TUESDAY, JAN. 21 • Chelsea’s: Open Mic, 9 p.m.

WEDNESDAY, JAN. 22 • Chaser’s: Ladies night • Chelsea’s: Cindy Woolf and Mark Bilyeu, 9 p.m.

Carrier

has been working for the post office for nearly three years and was previously a meter reader for Carroll Electric. He’s handled unexpected situations before, Connie said, but takes things in stride – he didn’t even tell her about the gas line fire until later.

At the presentation, she said she doesn’t consider her husband’s job a hazardous occupation, with one exception.

“Most of all I just worry about the dogs,” she said.

Continued from page 4

days ago, DeWitt got a call, saying the letter was on its way. He did let Smith’s spouse, Connie, know so she could be present, but Ken had no clue until he got to work Tuesday morning.

“What’s going on?” he said when he saw the assembly, “and I know something’s going on because Connie’s here.”

The Smiths live in Golden, Mo. Ken

Dispatch

Continued from page 2

was a false alarm, the building was secure.

6:46 p.m. – A car was reported being parked improperly. An officer made contact and was advised their driveway was blocked and they intended to park correctly when it was cleared. So did they sit there indefinitely?

7:56 p.m. – An officer was requested to stop traffic near the Razorback Gift Shop until U.S. Highway 62 could be cleared of the three semis blocking the traffic. Officer did traffic control until the road was cleared. A bit of inconvenience surely saved lives. Great job officers!

Jan. 9 12:03 a.m. – Complainant advised her cell phone was stolen from a local nightclub. A report was take. Then soon after, she found her phone. Can you hear me now?

10:11 a.m. – A caller reported the parking meter on Spring Street wasn’t working. An officer put in a quarter in and it was working. Oh, that’s tricky, get the officer to pay for your parking?!

12:08 p.m. – A woman requested an officer to report she had been assaulted on New Year’s Eve by her ex-fiancé, at a local hotel. A detective called her back.

12:31 p.m. – A female caller advised she was concerned about her brother. He had been gone two hours and hadn’t made it to his destination. Officers located him as he was leaving the store and he was headed home. All’s well that ends well.

12:34 p.m. – A man advised he needed to file a report for the theft of his wedding ring and watch from his hospital room.

Officer took a report. The first rule of a hospital stay: Do not keep your valuables with you.

1:05 p.m. – A woman went to the ESPD to advise her wedding ring had been stolen from her hotel room. A detective took the report. Sounds like along with the previous call, there’s a couple looking for a cheap wedding.

2:42 p.m. – A caller reported a German Shepherd near the bank. Officers were unable to locate the dog.

3:47 p.m. – An employee from a local hotel reported a guest had left with sheets and pillowcases, leaving a bloody mattress and pillow. An officer responded;

21

the subject stated he would make arrangements to pay back the hotel. Report to be held until he pays debt. What the heck?!

5:16 p.m. – A man called to advise that two cars were parked too close and an ambulance can’t get through. The owners were told to move them or be towed. An officer responded and the vehicles were moved.

8:26 p.m. – A woman called requesting an officer to check on a neighbor, after she heard what she thought was a gunshot.

Officer responded and no one was home.

Better safe than sorry!

10:14 p.m. – A resident at a local apartment complex call to report a couple in the apartment above sounded like a disturbance was getting physical. The officer responding discovered it was only verbal and advised them to keep it down.

Jan. 10 2:27 p.m. – EMS requested to speak to an officer in reference to an older gentleman that had over medicated. An officer made contact and took the report.

7:23 p.m. – CCSO advised of a reckless driver heading to Eureka from Berryville.

The responding officer was unable to locate. Curses, foiled again.

8:34 p.m. – A woman called reporting that she heard noises and was concerned someone was trying to get into her house.

Officers checked the area and spoke to the complainant.

10:15 p.m. – A man called to advise he had concern after seeing a male and female walking behind City Hall. The woman was arrested for public intoxication and the man was arrested for public intoxication and obstruction of governmental operations. That sure turned into an expensive walk!

Jan. 11 7:42 a.m. – A woman call to report a broken window at a local antique store.

An officer responded and a report was taken.

6:10 p.m. – A woman called to say that a car that had been parked by a fire hydrant was now parked in the middle of the road in front of their house. Responding officer advised the owner to move the vehicle. C’mon, don’t you know better?

8:27 p.m. – A caller advised that an erratic driver, but driving below the speed See Dispatch, page 25

Page 22 – Lovely County Citizen – January 16, 2014

Calendar of Events Jan. 16: Amateur Radio Club meeting

The Little Switzerland Amateur Radio Club meeting scheduled for Jan. 9 has been rescheduled for Thursday, Jan. 16 at noon at the Eureka Springs Pizza Hut. Anyone with an interest in amateur radio is welcome at either meeting. For more information, email gmj@bscsystems.com.

Jan. 16: Writers’ Night Out

This Thursday, the Village Writing School welcomes Jonathan Penton, founder of the multimedia print anthology Unlikely Stories and the online literary journal UnlikelyStories.org. He is also managing editor for Fulcrum and founded Acadiana Wordlab, a literary drafting workshop in Lafayette, La. The evening will also feature Darren Cormier, a Boston-based writer and editor with Pearson Press. Darren writes and publishes flash and microfiction. Veggie chili will be available for $3 or bring a snack. The informal evening begins at 5 p.m. at 177 Huntsville Road. (See VillageWritingSchool.com for exact map.) Anyone interested in writing is invited to come discuss poetry, short fiction, and publishing with our guests.

Jan. 16: Poetluck

A special treat is in store for Poetluck attendees Jan. 16 at the Writers’ Colony at Dairy Hollow in Eureka Springs. Quin Withey and Ivan of the Ozarks will entertain us with a few songs, a preview of our Song Circles event on Friday, Jan. 17. The potluck dinner starts at 6:30 p.m., followed by entertainment from musicians, and then writers will share their work for up to four minutes.

Poetluck takes place every third Thursday of the month at 6:30 p.m. at The Writers’ Colony at Dairy Hollow, 515 Spring Street, Eureka Springs, Ark. Everyone is welcome, so bring a dish to share and settle in for a great evening.

Jan. 17: Eureka Springs Cemetery Commission meeting The City of Eureka Springs Cemetery Commission will be holding a meeting on

Friday, Jan. 17. The meeting on Jan. 9 was cancelled due to weather and road conditions. The commission will meet at 10 a.m., with interviews for the groundskeeper/maintenance position immediately following at 12:30 p.m. at the Carnegie Library annex building.

Jan. 17: Bereavement Support Group

The Eureka Springs Bereavement Support Group will meet on Friday, Jan. 17 at 6:30 p.m. at Flora Roja Community Acupuncture Clinic, 119 Wall St. The group is for bereaved parents, and it uses image-making in an art therapy approach to grieving. Workshops are facilitated by Linda Maiella and board-certified art therapist Budhi Whitebear. For more information call 479-253-1229 or 479-790-0400. A donation of $10 to $35 is suggested.

Jan. 17-19: MLK weekend song circles

Celebrate Martin Luther King Day weekend with song circles that are free and open to all. Friday, Jan. 17 at 7 p.m. at the Writer’s Colony at Dairy Hollow, the circle will be led by Nick Rorick, Jim Dudley and Michael Garrett. Saturday, Jan. 18, 7 p.m.: Flora Roja Community Center hosted by Kate Smith and Justin Easter. Sunday, Jan. 19, 6 p.m.: St. James Episcopal Church community supper with Ivan of the Ozarks and Ratliff Dean Thiebaud.

Jan. 18: Elks Hoop Shoot

The annual Elks Hoop Shoot has been postponed to noon on Saturday, Jan. 18, at the Eureka Springs Middle School gymnasium. The Hoop Shoot is a freethrow shooting contest for boys and girls in the following age groups: 8-9, 10-11 and 12-13. The schools participating will be Berryville, Cassville, Eureka Springs, Green Forest and Huntsville. The winners from each school will compete in Eureka Springs to determine a winner in each age division. Trophies will be awarded to each 1st- and 2nd-place shooter. The winners will advance to the state Hoop Shoot to be

held on Feb. 1 in Hot Springs. For more information, call Paul Kiessling at 479253-2584.

Jan. 19: Why Class Matters at EUUF

On Sunday, Jan. 19 at Eureka Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, 17 Elk St., Juan José Bustamante, PhD., assistant professor of sociology and Latin American and Latino studies at the University of Arkansas, will give a talk titled “Why Class Matters: Poverty and Social Mobility.”

Juan José is the author of a forthcoming book entitled “Transnational Struggles: Policy, Gender, and Family Life on the Texas-Mexico Border.” The program is at 11 a.m., followed by refreshments. Childcare is provided.

Jan. 19: Templar meeting

The Hereditary Knights Templars of Britannia will be meeting on Jan. 19 at the Carnegie Library Annex at 2 until 4 pm.

The subject of presentation and discussion is the Merkaba or the Divine Gateway to ascendency. Abbot David Michael, Lord Bishop among the Templars will be presenting. For more information, call 719421-9109 or email info@glentivar.org.

Jan. 20: HI Community Church Ladies Fellowship

The Holiday Island Community Church Ladies Fellowship will have their first of the year meeting on Jan. 20 at 10 a.m.

Fire Chief Jack Deaton will be the speaker. He will inform us on the importance of emergency preparedness and having a plan: What should you do? Do you have an emergency kit ready? Come and listen to our fire chief talk on this very important subject. Refreshments will be served. For more information, contact Linda Bartlett at 479-244-5961 or Eula Jean McKee at 479253-8021.

Jan. 23-25: Eureka Springs Indie Film Fest

The 2014 Eureka Springs Indie Film Fest is scheduled for Jan. 23 through 25,

in the historic City Auditorium located at 36 S. Main St. The ESIFF aspires to promote and encourage independent filmmakers of all ages and celebrates the art of filmmaking in the community and beyond.

Film categories are drama, comedy, documentary, art film and animation. For more information, please visit our website, eurekaspringswinterfilmfest.com, or call Teresa DeVito at 479-363-8185.

Jan. 25: Pancake Benefit for Good Shepherd Humane Society

The First United Methodist Church will host a pancake breakfast on Saturday, Jan. 25 from 7:30 to 11:30 a.m. to help the Good Shepherd Humane Society recoup revenue lost from having to close both Doggie Thrift Shops for a total of nine days during the recent snow storms in December and January. Breakfast will be pancakes (including gluten-free), bacon or sausage and coffee or juice. Tickets are $8 for adults and $3 for kids 12 and under. The church is located at 195 Huntsville Road on Highway 23 South.

Jan. 26: All Souls Youth Choir performance at EUUF

The Youth Choir from All Souls UU Fellowship in Tulsa will share their music with us during the Sunday morning service at Eureka Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, 17 Elk St., on Jan. 26. We’ll also share our Soup Sunday meal (one week earlier than usual) with them before they return to Tulsa. Soup Sunday includes soups, bread, sweets, juice, wine and tea, along with great conversation. Bring something to share if you can! It’s a bargain at $4 per adult, $2 per child and $10 max per family.

Jan. 28: Holiday Island Fire Auxiliary luncheon

The Holiday Island Fire Auxiliary luncheon will be Tuesday, Jan. 28 at noon at the Clubhouse. Reservations are required for the luncheon, and there is a cost. Annual dues are also due. To make a reservation, call Nita Holley at 479-363-9541.

January 16, 2014 – Lovely County Citizen – Page

The Natural Way Wine hangover supplement

N

o sin! No guilt! Get the benefit of drinking wine without the drawback of alJim Fain cohol. To some there are drawbacks to alcohol but to others they enjoy the relaxation of a moderate amount taken daily with food and friends. But this is about a no sin and no hangover way of getting the health benefit of red wine through supplementing with resveratrol and a new supplement pterostilbene.

Resveratrol (designated as trans type) is a unique compound found in red wine. Red wine is made from red grapes but the grape juice doesn’t have any resveratrol at all. It is only found in the skins and seeds.

It protects the grape against fungus. For us and our human system the benefits are enormous. There is little doubt our benefit includes heart protective, cholesterol balancing (raises the good HDL), relaxes the arteries (balances blood pressure), keeps platelets from clumping, blocks clots from sticking, gets rid of cell damaging free radicals and has an anti-inflammatory impact. Closely related is pterostilbene (designated as trans type) which is even better absorbed and is then more impactful. If on the ingredient panel you don’t see the trans designation then you’ve got a marginal supplement that may not be useful.

Our livers benefit when we take resveratrol and eat a fatty or high calorie food as do insulin levels.

Alzheimer’s or dementias may improve, it is known to break down the beta-amyloid plaque found in the brain thought to cause Alzheimer’s. Lab tests prove it stops the sticking of cancer cells which is a requirement for it to spread. It puts the brakes on new cancer growth while helping to kill it, too. I’ve found no downside and I use Pterostilbene with resveratrol daily.

Benjamin Franklin once said, “Wine is constant proof that God loves us and loves to see us happy”.

Can you drink wine and get enough resveratrol? Probably not and still be able to drive a tractor. And, if you don’t mind the sin or guilt of drinking wine… add some Cabernet or Shiraz daily. In fact use it to wash down your supplement.

Who do you think should be Citizen of the Week?

Send us your nominations Citizen, P.O., Box 679, Eureka Springs, AR 72632, fax to (479) 253-0080 or e-mail to: citizen.editor.eureka@gmail.com

Wisecrack Zodiac Aries: People say each day is a new day, but you’re pretty sure you’ve seen Wednesday before.

Look for some scuffing around 5 p.m. and a threadbare noon hour. It may be the same old, same old, but at least you’re recycling.

Taurus: You’re clinging to that New Year’s resolution like it’s the mast of a sinking ship. Even the rats are in a lifeboat and eating pizza again. Keep doing those chin-ups and you’ll swim past them like a champion.

Gemini: Those who do not learn from history are doomed to watch shows about aliens on the History Channel at 2 a.m. Brush up on your past, and you’ll outsmart both your insomnia and the TV. Cancer: Sometimes opportunity knocks, other times it just trips you on the sidewalk for laughs. Sure, it can be a jerk, but you only have to let it in, not invite it over for a Mad Men marathon.

Leo: If you can’t seem to catch a break, use different bait. Chocolate works, especially if you use it under one of those boxes propped up with a branch and tied to a string.

Virgo: You’ve never been the life of the party, so don’t feel insulted when your sudden outbreak of fun worries your friends. You don’t need the doctor, but you could use another margarita.

Libra: On Saturday you arrive ready to moisturize and kick butt, and you’re all out of lotion. Seriously, go get some hand cream first. No one wants their butt kicked by someone with dry, scaly skin.

Scorpio: In your heart may be the roar of the tiger, but only the meow of the kitten comes out of your mouth. Don’t worry, your fierceness will come out with a little practice.

If you don’t scare anyone, at least you’ll be cute on YouTube.

Sagittarius: Find the beauty in everything, and you’ll be happy.

Find the beast, and you’ll probably

© Beth Bartlett, 2013 Want more? Visit Beth at www.wisecrackzodiac.com

end up a horror writer. That works too, especially if you score that Stephen King cash level.

Capricorn: There are winners, losers, and the people who pick up the towels afterward. Watch out on Thursday, because you’re one bad decision away from a permanent spot in the laundry.

Aquarius: Everyone knows you love gerbils, but no one expected you to dress them all up in tiny

Crossword Puzzle

23

Beth Bartlett

suits of armor and storm the DMV with a little furry army. Check that off the bucket list this week.

Pisces: Although you’ve never shined bright like a diamond, you have sparkled awkwardly like a discount cubic zirconia. It’s all good, as long as you’re twinkling and not twerking.

Answers on page 26

Page 24 – Lovely County Citizen – January 16, 2014

Roommate Wanted

FULL-TIME

FRONT OFFICE POSITION Eureka Springs Family Clinic-Washington Regional is seeking a full time office position with benefits. Experience preferred. Apply online at www.wregional.com.

Advertising in the Citizen classifieds is not only a valuable marketing tool offline, it is also a powerful way to reach thousands of potential customers ONLINE.

January 16, 2014 – Lovely County Citizen – Page

25

Keep up with the latest & watch for what’s coming up in the Citizen!

@LovelyCoCitizen

Pet of the Week Rorke is a small, shiny black and white 9-monthold lab mix who is very playful, gets along well with everyone and walks well on a leash. He’s a very loving dog who has been nicknamed “Bones” by the shlter staff. “Bones” is neutered, has had all of his shots and is ready for a forever home all cats and dogs can be adopted for a reduced fee during January. For more information, call the Good Shepherd Humane Society Animal Shelter at 479253-9188 or stop by the shelter on Highway 62 East in Eureka Springs. Shelter hours are noon to 5 p.m. daily except Wednesdays.

Dispatch

Continued from page 21

limit, was headed into city limits from the West. The officer located the vehicle and made a traffic stop. All was okay. Must have had a distraction, texting maybe?

Jan. 12 2:02 a.m. – A domestic disturbance was called in. The wife said her husband was saying she had put marks on him, but she says she didn’t. Arguing was heard in the background. Officers responded.

The man left and the wife said she didn’t want anything done at the time. No signs of abuse. Well, that’s definitely “He said, She said”!

3:21 a.m. – A man reported his neighbor to be shining a laser hypodermic through the window, and he believes it’s making him sick. He also thinks he’d been injected with something. Responding officer wasn’t able to get the neighbor to answer the door. The complainant called again, stating he could hear the neighbors and he was in fear for his life.

Another officer spoke to him and he agreed to go to the hospital to be sure he was okay. EMS transported the individual to the hospital.

1:56 p.m. – An officer arrested a man for a valid ESPD warrant for failure to pay.

5:09 p.m. – Complainant advised while going past the Post Office, she noticed a dog that appeared to be in distress behind the fence. Officer responded and was unable to locate the dog. He must have made a run for it.

5:12 p.m. – Another complainant advised he noticed a dog with a bad leg in the area that happened to be near the Post Office. The officer was still unable to locate the dog. This dog is really something!

5:13 p.m. – A caller reported a car that was driving really slowly and weaving back and forth near the hospital. The responding officer was unable to find the vehicle that fit the description.

9:37 p.m. – A security company reported an alarm sounding at a local saloon.

The officer responded and all was secure.

Photo by David Bell

The beneficiary of the St. James Episcopal Church women’s group’s 47th Silver Tea this year is Clear Spring School, who is celebrating its 40th anniversary.

More than 250 people attended the twice-postponed event, said Lucilla Garrett.

“We’re thrilled,” she added. “It did really well; donations weren’t hampered by the weather.” A check was presented to Clear Spring for $2,352 Monday afternoon. Above, Doug Wynn, Head of School, accepts the donation check from Garrett, surrounded by Clear Spring students, faculty, and other members of the St. James Episcopal Women’s Group.

Sprenger

Continued from page 8

a member of our department.”

Eureka Springs Fire Department staff confirmed Sprenger was no longer in their department either.

If Sprenger is convicted, he could face a minimum of 10 to 40 years or life for the Class Y felony and six to 10 years for the Class C felony.

The Prosecuting Attorney’s Office requested a special prosecutor for the case and Barrett was assigned. “[ Sprenger] has done work for the office before,” explained Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Devon Goodman as to why the office requested a special prosecutor.

“We don’t want it to appear that there is any special treatment. We made sure that it is all by the book and that everything is done correctly to avoid any appearance of impropriety.”

During the pretrial hearing when Sprenger’s bail was lowered, his defense attorney, Chris Flanagin, pinned Sprenger’s freedom to two factors in this case: the amount of child pornography confiscated

by police and the likelihood of any computer technician possessing child pornography or a machine that has accessed it.

“I consulted with experts in the field,” Flanagin said. “It is not unusual at all for a person who is a computer technician to have hard drives and storage devices that may contain downloaded material that can be classified as child pornography or evidence that a machine has accessed sites that have child pornography.”

He continued to explain that experts in the field of computer forensics also told him that in most cases involving less than 10 images of child pornography are not usually investigated by forensic computer experts.

“Just because someone works with a lot of computers that does not mean that they are going to have child porn on them,” said George Holmes, systems administrator for computer science and administration department of the University of Arkansas. “I work on computers personally and for my department and for family members, and I know how to see the signs if there is something that is problematic or distasteful or even illegal on a computer.”

Page 26 – Lovely County Citizen – January 16, 2014

Dining Guide YOUR GUIDE TO THE EATING OUT IN EUREKA SPRINGS AND THE REST OF LOVELY COUNTY

Forum

Continued from page 11

next level, continuing, if necessary, to the Arkansas State Court of Appeals.

– Pat Costner, Director Save the Ozarks

SWEPCO line could affect natural beauty

#1 RECOMMENDED

Restaurant in Eureka Springs

The neosho mucket was just declared endangered a few months ago, and the rabbitsfoot mussel is following suit.

SWEPCO’s use of coal for export out of Arkansas will surely affect the water and land where these creatures and many others are struggling to survive.

I just read a book, called “The Forest Unseen” by David George Haskell, that looks at a patch of forest in the mountains that have been stripped of their former forests and how herbicide use has forever more changed the health of our forests and soil. If you are planning to plunder the forests any more then the 10 million acres that have been desecrated for the benefit of coal alone, then please read this book and tell me that you still believe that these 345 kV transmission wires carving out ever

Great food and efficient service in a pleasant family-friendly, smoke-free environment.

OUR 23rd YEAR Re-Opening Valentines Day for our 24th Season 26 White St. on the Upper Historic Loop

479-253-8806

Transition

BREAKFAST, LUNCH & DINNER Sun. - Thurs. 7 a.m. - 8 p.m.

Fri. & Sat. 7 a.m. - 8:30 p.m.

Hwy. 62 W. • Eureka Springs (479) 253-9768 • www.myrtiemaes.com

CROSSWORD ANSWERS

more areas of forest causing ever more species to become endangered is okay.

We are just at the beginning of the modern age and already have plucked and plundered so much that we are on the verge of becoming a dead planet. There are millions of microorganisms that break down the leaves in the forest and we have not even identified all of them yet and soon the opportunity will be lost. No one ever made money from a dead planet as all of the corporations and government agencies that have their own incentives to scar the forests will learn when their grandkids or great-grandkids or great-great-grandkids are left with all the baggage.

– Susan Pang Garfield

Thanks Santa!

Kudos to the U.S. Post Office and its employees, who delivered a boldly marked “Merry Christmas” package to my door on Christmas morning. Surprise!

“Neither rain, nor sleet, nor snow…”

Thanks Eureka Post Office! You guys are great!

Appreciatively, – Sally Cawthra Eureka Springs

David Lee Bishop

July 3, 1952 – January 12, 2014

David Lee Bishop, a resident of Eureka Springs, Arkansas, was born July 3, 1952 in Des Moines, Iowa, the son of Edwin James and Colleen Marie (Hoffman) Bishop. He departed this life Sunday, January 12, 2014 in Springdale, AR, at the age of 61 years.

David was of the Catholic Faith.

On October 15, 2005 he was united in marriage with Debbie (Maiden Name) Sulffridge who survives him of the home. He is also survived by two sons, Chad & wife Marie Bishop of Harlingen, TX; Christopher & wife Amanda Bishop of Berryville, AR; one daughter, Tina Bishop of Eureka Springs, AR; two brothers, James Bishop and Loren Bishop of Iowa; one sister, Darlene Stark of Iowa, eight

grandchildren; several nieces and nephews and a host of family and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Edwin and Colleen Bishop, one sister, Margaret, father-in-law, Bill Sulffridge.

Visitation will be Wednesday, January 15, 2014 at 5 until 8:00 PM at the Nelson’s Chapel of the Springs. Funeral service will be 2:00 PM, Thursday, January 16, 2014 at the Nelson’s Chapel of the Springs with Pastor Philip Wilson officiating. Interment will follow at the Sulffridge Cemetery in Eureka Springs, AR under the direction of Nelson Funeral Service. Online condolences may be sent to the family at nelsonfuneral. com.

January 16, 2014 – Lovely County Citizen – Page

9th Annual Kings Day Mardi Gras Kick Off

27

Photos by Chip Ford

The Rowdy Beaver Tavern hosted the 9th Annual Kings Day Mardi Gras Kick Off last Saturday evening.

June Owens and June Hegedus share cocktails at the Rowdy Beaver Tavern.

ABOVE: The 2014 Eureka Gras Queen Tanya Smith and George Purvis are unveiled at the Rowdy Beaver.

At Left: Kimberly Owens unshithes the mask hiding her identity.

Above: Dakota Buck and his girlfriend Kerry Sparks are all smiles at the event.

Below: Mark Wetzel and Dan Ellis are arm-in-arm.

Cné Breaux struts her stuff during the 2nd Line. The next Eureka Gras event is the umbrella decorating party at New Delhi on Feb. 5 at 5 p.m.

THE FIRST & LAST AL HOOKS – NAME IN REAL ESTATE! CALL ME IF YOU WANT IT SOLD!!! – 479-363-6419

‘THANKS FOR A GREAT YEAR - AL, Cheryl, Paul’

SOLD

SOLD

SOLD

SOLD

SOLD

SOLD

SOLD

SOLD

D L O S

D L O S

SOLD

SOLD

D L O S

D L O S

D L O S

D L O S

HOOKSREALTY.COM • 877-279-0001 43 ProsPect Ave. • eurekA sPrings • 479.363.6290

Sold or participated in the sale of. All information deemed reliable but not guaranteed.