Gleamers 4-H Holds Banquet

Wednesday, November 25, 2009

— On Monday, November 9, the Gravette Gleamers 4-H Club had their annual awards banquet and monthly meeting at the Gravette Upper Elementary.

They started with the pledges to the American and 4-H flags and then Tim McPherson opened with a prayer before enjoyingthe delicious meal with a Thanksgiving theme.

They had the installation of new officers. The retired officers swore in the new officers and presented them with a list of requirements for the job.

Senior shadow boxes were given to graduating seniors Danielle McKnightand Mykaeila Pembleton of Gravette Gleamers 4-H Club. The shadow boxes contained past memories of 4-H accomplishments and ribbons from livestock shows.

Also journal awards were given for completing and turningina4-Hjournaltocloverbuds, juniors and seniors.

The McPherson familywas presented with the 4-H family of the year award. While they enjoyed the meal and fellowship Dakota Wellborn presented a slide show with pictures of the 4-H club at events such as 4-H community services and the Benton County Fair. 82 people attended.

Brooke Belts, ReporterFarm Bureau Convention Starts Tuesday

Arkansas Farm Bureau’s past and future will be on display at its 75th Annual Convention, scheduled for Dec. 2-4 at the Peabody Hotel and Statehouse Convention Center in Little Rock.

Gov. Mike Beebe, Arkansas Farm Bureau President Randy Veach and Lowell Catlett, an agricultural futurist and dean of the College of Agriculture at New Mexico State University, headline the speakers for the convention, expected to draw more than 1,000.

“This diamond anniversary convention is all about looking back, and looking forward,” said Veach, a cotton, rice and soybean farmer from Manila (Mississippi County), who is completing his first year as president of the organization. “With this being the 75th annual convention, is it an appropriate timeto look back at some of the great leaders who have navigated this organization through times of great change.”

A video tribute, featuring the five living past presidents of the organization, will provide attendees with some historical perspective on Farm Bureau’s mission to advocate the interestsof agriculture. A reception will honor all past board members of the organization and their families.

“After two failed attempts, in 1921 and 1931, J. F. Tompkins and a group of farmers in Mississippi County came together in 1934 to organize the first county Farm Bureau in Arkansas,” Veach said. “A few months later, in 1935, Tompkins and a dozen or so agricultural producers from across the state met in Little Rock to officially form the 39th state Farm Bureau in America.”

“This organization has grown from 65 members in 1934 to more than 220,000 member-families today,” Veach said. “That is a clear indication that we have succeeded in the mission those founding members staked out as important for this organization and forArkansas agriculture.”

The convention will feature tributes, honors and spotlights of recognition as well as special conferences covering topics of importance to the agricultural community. Numerous achievement awards will be presented and a 1.4 carat Arkansas diamond will be awarded to a lucky convention attendee.

Early Voting To Begin In Upcoming Bella Vista Sales Tax Election

Voters in Bella Vista will go to the polls Tuesday, December 8, to vote on a proposed city-wide sales tax. All qualified voters inside the city will be eligible to cast ballots.

Early voting will beginDecember 1 and end Monday, December 7, at the County Clerk offices in Bentonville or Rogers. Absentee ballots can be secured by contacting the clerk’s office at 271-1015.

Click It Or Ticket Enforcement To Be Stressed Through Sunday, Nov. 29

Arkansas state and local law enforcement officers are hopeful for a fatality free Thanksgiving holiday weekend. Once again the officers will participate in the Click It or Ticket enforcement initiative to remind drivers and motor vehicle passengers to buckle up whether it’s a trip to the grocery store of going across state to visit family.

This year motorists are reminded that violation of the Arkansas seat belt law is a primary offense. The state law was amended by the General Assembly to allow officers to stop vehiclesbased on an officer’s observations of non-compliant drivers or passengers.

The law requires all front seat passengers and those less than 15 years of age to be properly restrained. All occupants must be properly belted or restrained when the driver is under the age of 18 and has a restricted driver license.

The Click It or Ticket enforcement operation will begin November 23 and continue through November 29.

During the 2008 Thanksgiving holiday period 12 people lost their lives in Arkansas traffic crashes.

Berryville Is Facing “Moving” Expense

The City of Berryville is facing a $300,000 expense for pay for moving utilities for the highway project at the west end of the city, making almost a million dollars spent when added to the cost to move utilities east of the Carroll County City.

The city’s coffers are depleted, the Mayor said, and water and sewer rates will be going up, to do required sewer system

News, Pages 4 on 11/25/2009