Looking back over 2008

By Randy Moll randym@nwanews.com

GENTRY ó Last weekís issue included summaries of events which filled the pages of the Courier-Journal during the first half of 2008. The following paragraphs continue that review through the second half of the year now past. Gentryís July 4th Freedom Festival drew larger crowds than ever. While other cities and communities were cutting back, Gentryís festival grew even bigger, and people from all over northwest Arkansas came out to celebrate the day and watch the evening fireworks display. The city council at its July 7 meeting approved putting a half-cent sales tax measure on the November ballot with the intended purpose of making improvements to the cityís streets and alleys, but come election time in November, the tax measure was missing from the ballot, reportedly being lost in the mail between Gentry and Bentonville. The city council at the same meeting also adopted the International Property Maintenance Code in order to toughen its nuisance codes and help clean up the city. - Wednesday, January 7, 2009

Council approves city's drainage study contract

By Randy Moll randym@nwanews.com

GENTRY ó The city council on Monday approved a contract with Ron Homeyer and Civil Engineering, Inc., of Siloam Springs, to provide a drainage study which encompasses not only the city proper but its planning jurisdiction. - Wednesday, January 7, 2009

Hometown Events

New office location The offices of the Gentry Courier-Journal have moved and are now located at 217 S. - Wednesday, January 7, 2009

Chamber Banquet tickets go on sale

From Staff Reports

GENTRY ó Tickets are available for the annual Main Street Gentry Chamber of Commerce Awards Banquet, but those wishing to attend may need to buy those tickets soon. - Wednesday, January 7, 2009

Reward offered to catch latrine burners

By Randy Moll randym@nwanews.com

GENTRY ó A cash reward is being offered for toilet vandals in the city park. Johnny Roberts, owner of Americaís Portable Toilet Service, is offering a $500 cash reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons who burned two portable toilets in Gentryís city park. The vandalism, according to Roberts, occurred at approximately 10 p.m., Jan. 2. Robertsí company provides the portable toilets to the city. Roberts is hoping anyone with information about the vandalism will call the Gentry Police Department at 736-8400. The portable toilets destroyed by the vandals were valued at $1,150 by Roberts, making the offense a felony. The city began using the portable toilets because of repeated vandalism in the parkís public rest rooms. - Wednesday, January 7, 2009

Two teens sexually assaulted

By Randy Moll randym@nwanews.com

GENTRY — The Gentry Police Department is investigating the sexual assault of two juveniles at a New Yearís Day party at a Gentry residence. Two juvenile females were allegedly assaulted by up to three adults at a New Yearís Day party, according to information released by Gentry Police Chief Keith Smith. The incident was reported to police on Friday and evidence was seized from the home and will be sent to the Arkansas Crime Lab for analysis, according to police. An investigation is in progress, said Gentry police sergeant Dennis Edwards. No arrests had yet been made Monday. - Wednesday, January 7, 2009

Gentry resident seeks help finding lost photo album

From Staff Reports

GENTRY ó A Gentry resident is seeking help to find a lost photo album. Corrine Crain told the Courier-Journal that a photo album containing five generations of her familyís photos was lost over the holidays. She fears it may have accidentally been left on top of a car leaving her Gentry residence and then fell off along a street or highway. If anyone found a photo album which could possibly be Crainís, please call her at 736-2055. - Wednesday, January 7, 2009