IT WAS QUITE A YEAR - 2008: A Last Look

Editor's Note: The last half of last year was just about as eventful as the first as this look-back indicates. Nationally, things were not good, economy, etc., et al, and the election spiced things up. However about all of us made it through without too many complications, but it's good that little Mr. 2009 is here. Below are a few of the headlines in Gravette for the last six months of last year. July brought bad news to Decatur, that their school faced possible annexation. City officials continued to grapple with financial problems. Three new businesses opened in Gravette: Hollywood III restaurant, Crystal Whitten's Salon and Sweetie Pie's, breakfast, lunch and pie shop. Arkansas Western Gas sold to a Colorado firm, SourceGas LLC. Announcement was made that trash hauling rates were going to increase. Delta Trust and Bank announced a golf tournament to benefit the Senior Center. Note was made that building of homes was continuing in spite of a slowdown in home buying. An open house was held at the new studio - Wednesday, January 7, 2009

Off The Cuff

2009. Wow!! We really did make it through 2008. What with all the political brouhaha, the economic meltdown, the unbelievable weather. . . . .and you can add your own personal crises, as if the national/natural upheavals weren't enough. But things are looking up. With a pleasantly warm first day of this new year, we have set the tone for the coming 12 months. What did you do on New Year's Day? I spent a couple of hours cleaning up a mess that started about 40 years ago. Wanna hear about it? I thought so. Read on. There's something free for you later in the column. Shortly after moving to our new home, about 40 years ago, I began the expected landscaping chore. The house was in a new subdivision void of trees; and the lawn. . . . .well, it wasn't. - Wednesday, January 7, 2009

Athletic Boosters Meets Sunday

The Gravette Athletic Boosters will meet Sunday, Jan. 11, at 2 p.m. at the GHS Commons. "We will be making plans for upcoming spring events," said Booster Secretary Sheryl McAfee. "Please make plans to attend to support our athletes." - Wednesday, January 7, 2009

Carson Alsup Winner In Patriot's Pen Contest

Editor's Note: This is Carson Alsup's essay in the recent VFW Auxiliary Patriot's Pen Contest. Carson, a seventh grader at Gravette Middle School, placed third behind two eighth graders from Bentonville school district. The son of Mr. and Mrs. Danny Alsup, he is in Robin Morris' class. He received a $50 savings bond. - Wednesday, January 7, 2009

Dallas Alexander Mouse of Gravette Is First Baby Born In Benton County This Year

By Tom Treweek

Jacob and Jaqueta Mouse weren't trying to have any children. They didn't think they could. "Three different doctors told him he couldn't have kids," Jaqueta said of her husband of nearly two years. Then Dallas came. Dallas Alexander Mouse, born 5 pounds, 11 ounces, 17 inches tall. A New Year's baby. Born at 5:56 a.m. Thursday, he was the New Year's baby in Benton County. The timing of his birth is only part of the reason it seems that Dallas Alexander is destined for the limelight. He already smiles when the cameras come out. "That smiling and stuff for the camera, he gets that from his momma," Jaqueta said. "He ain't shy." Dallas was not supposed to be born on New Year's Day. He was due Jan. 17 and doctors told Jaqueta they wanted to induce labor Jan. 9. The 21-year-old was at Siloam Springs Memorial Hospital by 9 p.m. Dec. 31 to give birth to her first child. "This is our first and last," Jacob said. Jaqueta's pregnancy was labeled high risk, Jacob said. He did not elaborate on the reasons but the threat is - Wednesday, January 7, 2009

Florence Thomas Will Be Honored Saturday For Her 100th Birthday

A reception honoring Mrs. Florence Thomas to celebrate her 100th birthday will be held Saturday, January 10, at the Bradford House, 1202 SE 30th Street in Bentonville. Mrs. Thomas was born in Merkle, Texas, and had lived in Gravette about 65 years until moving to Bentonville several months ago. She has two children, William Thomas of Gravette and Vera Moore of Bentonville, four grandchildren and several great-grandchildren. The family invites all friends to the drop-in reception between the hours of 2 and 4 in the afternoon. They request that gifts be omitted. - Wednesday, January 7, 2009

Contestants Sought For Pageants

Entries are sought for the Miss Dogwood and Miss Heart of the Ozarks Pageants which will be held February 7 at Arend Arts Center in Bentonville. Both will be crowned that evening as well as a Miss Dogwood Outstanding Teen and Miss Heart of the Ozarks Outstanding Teen. There are also four contest divisions: Little Miss (5-8 ), princess (9-12 ), outstanding teen (12-17 year-old high school junior) and miss 17-year-old senior - 24 years). Girls attending U of A must have completed a minimum of 12 hours by Feb. 12. Deadline to enter is Jan. 31. For information call Robyn Ledbetter, 479-409-0161. - Wednesday, January 7, 2009

Births

MOUSE — Jacob and Jaqueta Mouse of Gravette are parents of a 5 pound, 11 ounce son, Dallas Alexander Mouse, born January 1, 2009, at Siloam Springs Memorial Hospital. Grandparents are Pamela Orr of Gravette, Floyd Mouse of Colcord, Sharon Bumstead of Gravette and Robert Castleman of Springdale. Greatgrandparents are Mary Bumstead of Gravette and Imogene Castleman of Springdale. - Wednesday, January 7, 2009

Senior Center Report

By Mary Kay

Thank you to everyone who gave to the Feed a Homebound Senior fundraiser in December. There are still many frail, homebound Seniors who cannot afford to pay for meals because of the price of medications and rise in costs of utilities. Because of this, the Center is still accepting monetary donations for the home delivered meals program. Without fundraisers and monetary donations, the Meals on Wheels program would not exist. All donations are very much appreciated. Jeanne Hubbard was the winner of the quilt donated by Barbara Mortensen during last month's quilt raffle. Thank you to everyone who participated and especially to Barbara for taking the time to make the quilt and donate it. - Wednesday, January 7, 2009

Pea Ridge Discusses Proposal For New City Hall-EMS Building

The city of Pea Ridge is discussing a proposal for a new City Hall - EMS building. The present building was constructed in 1993 but, because of growth, it is not large enough to accommodate needs. During the past 13 years the fire department has gone from voluntary to having two firefighters in the office from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays and the police department has increased from two officers to 10 full-time officers. - Wednesday, January 7, 2009

Hiwasse News

By Peggy Carrier

By January 6 the days have lengthened by one cock's stride. Editor's Note: Where do you get all these sayings? Sympathy is extended to Sharon Lee and her family for their loss. Maxine Holloway has moved back to Hiwasse. She is making her home with her daughter, Mr. and Mrs. Dale Henry. Amy Brooks has been sick and unable to work part of this week. Sympathy is extended to the family of Kymberly Jean Jackson. Those visiting last week with Joy Lee Reynolds McKeehan in the Innisfree Nursing Home in Rogers, helping her celebrate Christmas and an early birthday, included her four sons, Richard from Bentonville, Tim from Knoxville, TN, Kevin from Lee's Summit, MO, and Patrick from Edwardsville, IL, their wives and families, including eight of Joy Lee's nine grandchildren. Also visiting was her sister, Mr. and Mrs. James Peachy from Jonesboro, AR, their son, Rodney Slinkard, from Locust Grove, AR, and grandson Chad Slinkard from Jane, MO, their daughter, Pam Ross and two daughters from Little Rock. Joy Lee's birthday - Wednesday, January 7, 2009

Maysville

By Katherine Tucker

Sunday was a cold, windy day but at least they had taken the rain and snow out of the forecast. That is, for now anyway. Several members of Billy and Violet Lovell's family gathered in their home to watch the new year come in. Sammie Sappington of Fayetteville visited in the home of her grandparents, Jack and Sylvia Tucker, on Saturday. They are always glad to for her to visit them. I visited a while New Year's Day in the home of Clifton and Judy Tucker. Two of their grandchildren, Khloe and Kade Tucker, were spending some days with them before going back to school. They are my great-grandchildren and it's always good to see them. Funeral services were held at the Maysville Baptist Church on Wednesday afternoon for Pauline Pace. Burial was in the Maysville Cemetery. Sympathy is extended to the family. - Wednesday, January 7, 2009

New Hospital For Siloam Springs Is In The Works

The firm that is purchasing the Siloam Springs Memorial Hospital has agreed to pay $43 million to build a new hospital in northeast Siloam Springs. The city had originally planned to build a new hospital and leave it to Community Health Systems, a Tennessee-based hospital company, but funding is not available. - Wednesday, January 7, 2009

Pea Ridge Increases City Rural Fire Dues

Fire dues for Pea Ridge residents inside and outside the city limits will increase to $48 per year after action by that town's city council. The dues will be collected by a $4 monthly charge on each month's water bill. - Wednesday, January 7, 2009

Lunch Menus

Week of January 12 - 16 Breakfast Pre-K - 12th Monday: Egg & bacon breakfast pizza, fruit juice, milk. Tuesday: Pancake on a stick, syrup, fruit juice, milk. Wednesday: Biscuit & gravy, sausage patty, fruit juice, milk. Thursday: Waffles, syrup, juice, milk. Friday: Cereal, toast w/jelly, fruit juice, milk. Graham bears are offered with each meal. Lunch Pre-K - 12th Monday: Chicken sandwich, sandwich cup, French fries, strawberries & bananas, milk. Tuesday: Burrito w/chili, carrots & celery w/dip, emerald pears, apple cinnamon bears, milk. - Wednesday, January 7, 2009

Organizations Set Meetings At Shiloh Museum

Various organizations announce meetings scheduled during January at the Shiloh Museum of Ozark History in Springdale. The meetings are open to persons interested. For information call the museum, 479-750-8165. Boston Mountain Chapter of the National Railway Historical Society, Thursday, January 15, at 7 p.m. N. W. Arkansas Civil War Roundtable, Thursday, January 22, at 7 p.m. N. W. Arkansas Sacred Harp Singers, Sunday, January 11, and Sunday, January 25, at 1:30 p.m. LifeWriters for persons interested in writing stories about their, their families or their friends' lives, Monday, January 19, at 10 a.m. Ozark Wireless Society, Saturday, January 24, at 10 a.m. - Wednesday, January 7, 2009

Franklin Electric Cutting Work Force

Franklin Electric, longtime employer in Siloam Springs, has announced it will cut its workforce by 80% next June, leaving the plant operating with 50 employees. The jobs and plant equipment will be moved to a plant in Linares, Mexico, said John Haines, company vice president, who said "there are no plans to close the Siloam Springs plant." The plant, which began production in 1962, employed as many as 850 in 2001 but has cut the workforce in recent years. - Wednesday, January 7, 2009

Kansas Music Festival Moving To Arkansas At Mulberry Mountain

The nationally known Wakarusa Music Festival, held near Lawrence, Kansas, has chosen Mulberry Mountain resort near Ozark, AR, for its 2009 festival. It will be held June 4-7, and is expected to attract more than 10,000 persons. Mulberry Mountain is a private resort developed by the Dewey Patton family who developed the Applegate events held at Bentonville until it was moved to the Franklin County location. - Wednesday, January 7, 2009

City Planning Commission Meeting Date

Gravette Planing Commission was scheduled to meet Tuesday evening at the City Hall at 6 p.m. The Commission was to elect new officer and among business iems was to begin review and revision of the City's Zoning ordinance. - Wednesday, January 7, 2009