GRAVETTE — As we come to the end of the topsy-turvy year of 2012, it’s time to pause and look back on some of the stories that made headlines in your Westside Eagle Observer.
As you read, you’ll probably remember many of the events, but you may also recall others that were not included in this brief recap.
January 4: Confusion reigned because of the possibility Bella Vista wanted to annex Hiwasse. The location of a sidewalk near Veteran’s Park at Decatur sparked Council concern. The Decatur Council made cuts for a new fire station because bids were too high. Sophia McKirch of Gentry was announced as a finalist for the title Miss Rodeo USA. Decatur bank fell under federal oversight. New Common Core Standards for schools were explained. Nabholz was picked as construction manager for school projects in Gravette.
January 11: Gentry City Council upheld a decision of the city’s planning commission to leave property along Hwy. 59 as residential/office. Decatur received a new pumper truck from the County Fire Association. A new convenience “S” store opened in Gravette by owner Jesse Thandi. Shelby Frey and Monica White were named to the All-State volleyball team. Sulphur Springs received a $219,000 grant for sewer improvement. Hiwasse General Store closed.
January 18: Gentry School Board received their first meeting packet in digital format. Wind was blamed for a tractor-trailer trailer wreck in Decatur. The Gravette hospital announced new growth while downsizing. Hiwasse residents petitioned Gravette for annexation. Gentry police made two drug arrests. A private club application for Decatur was discussed by the council.
January 24: Decatur School Board okayed a safe room plan for Northside Elementary. Gravette High School hosted opening ACE match. Gentry considered forming an Emergency Management Group. Gentry High School wrestlers won dual tournament. Bridge at Springtown neared completion. Gravette School Board took bond issue to voters. Hiwasse residents officially filed petition to join Gravette.
February 1: Backdoor Club and Grill was given permit in Decatur. Gentry police acquired two Humvees for police department. Gravette Council adopted new planning area map. Ribbon cutting was held for Pioneer Patchworks, new Gentry business. Work on new walking trail in Gravette was to begin, funded by a $72,000 grant. Decatur FBLA won district competition. Gentry Council proposed new trash cart system.
February 8: SWEPCO gave Gentry $185,000 gift to pay off fire station. Andrea Kelly resigned as superintendent of Gravette Schools. Gentry library was participating in “Track and Save” program. Speaker from University of Arkansas addressed Decatur students on improving ACT scores. Hiwasse annexation project was being filmed by GHS students.
February 15: A Decatur man eluded police but was arrested in Twin Oaks, Okla. Rebecca’s Beat coffee house opened in Gentry. Dylan Stewart, Gravette student at U of A, was active in Ron Paul presidential bid. SWEPCO requested review of retrofit plan for Gentry power plant required by EPA. Decatur Schools rated high performance for student achievement. Gentry agreed with Siloam Springs for ambulance service.
February 22: Gravette voters approved new school projects:baseball and softball fields and middle school construction. Gentry paid off fire station debt, discussed need for animal shelter. Gravette school received AdvanceED accreditation. Lions won district basketball championship. Decatur Council changed payment plan for firemen; opening of swimming pool in doubt.
February 29: Decatur students competed in interscholastic equestrian team events hosted in Decatur. County Judge okayed annexation of Hiwasse into Gravette. Springtown opened new bridge after years of waiting. New voting wards were announced for Springtown. Decatur board adopted new school zones. Gentry grapplers Kolby Rankin and Stevan Thao took first and second in their weight classes at state wrestling tournament. Gravette defeated Dardanelle in first round of state basketball tournament. Kaitlin Sixkiller won the 4A/5A state bowling tournament held in Camden.
March 7: Decatur School Board refinanced bonds for $172,542 savings. Alan Penn, Kiwanis Club National President, visited the Gravette Kiwanis Club meeting. The Gentry Chamber honored Kevin and Lorie Johnson as Citizens of the Year. Cargill was Business of the Year at the annual banquet. Rick Parker was featured speaker. Gentry sports complex was named in honor of Merrill Reynolds. Decatur announced James Wesley as Barbecue entertainer. New technology was planned for Decatur school. Gentry Legion Hall was demolished. Gravette’s Lady Lions got to state for first time since 2004. Lost in opener to Dollarway.
March 14: Gentry Council adopted the polycart trash collection system. Bella Vista backed off annexation plan. A Gravette man got probation for operating a still in a case that began in 2007. A makeover plan was announced for the Highway 59/72 intersection in Gravette. Decatur soccer boys and girls teams defeated Bergman. Fourth graders at Decatur began a recycling project at school.
March 21: Decatur principal Larry King submitted his resignation. Officials at Gentry said rumors involving school threat were unfounded. Gravette Girl Scouts observed the 100th anniversary of Scouting. Darrick Strezelecki signed letter of intent with William Jewel College in Missouri. Fate of Decatur pool was still in question. GHS sophomore Terence Pierce earned media Basketball Newcomer of the Year award. Gravette coach Dustin Peters was named Basketball Coach of the Year.
March 28: Liability forced closing Decatur City Hall as a storm shelter. Legend of Old Spanish Treasure Cave was featured in a story. Gentry was awarded grant for FlintCreek Nature Area. Petition was started to keep open murder case of Dana Stidham, a Hiwasse girl, which occurred in 1989. Gravette’s Farmers Market planned opening in Old Town Park. Decatur JBQ team from Assembly of God Church headed to state finals.
April 4: Gravette City Council approved voluntary annexation of Hiwasse area which County Judge Bob Clinard officially approved in February. Decatur Council considered costs of new complex. A Garfield man was arrested in connection with the theft of 13 cattle from Decatur Sale Barn. Sulphur Springs group announced plans for several special events. School choice remained a non-option for Decatur students. Gravette High culinary teams were to represent Arkansas in national competition after a win at state event. James “Jay” Chalk was hired as new Gravette High School principal, effective at end of school year.
April 11: Leslie Sharp tendered her resignation as Decatur elementary principal. A large unoccupied house near Gentry owned by the Joseph Stewarts was destroyed by fire. Gravette walking trail expansion work was underway. A settlement was reached in the lawsuit against Gentry school filed by former teacher Eleanor McCrary. A pickup stolen March 18 in Decatur was recovered in Cherokee County, Okla.; man was arrested. Kyle Scogin was new director of the Boys and Girls Club in Gravette. Gentry Council nixed Cruise Night burnouts. Human bones were found under a bluff near Cherokee City; their age was being determined by experts. Decatur swimming pool was to stay open after a grant was received from the state. Gravette HOSA repeated as state winners, earned trip to nationals in Florida.
April 18: L&L Farms announced Decatur General Store would be closing. Spring show for Tired Iron in Gentry was scheduled, their 20th annual event. Three were arrested in Gentry involving illegal sexual abuse of a child. New Benton County Road Department complex opened in Decatur. Gentry school board decided staff should receive bonuses. A “tire-less” car led deputies on chase, stopped west of Decatur. Deborah Cooper was new Decatur principal. Richard Page was hired as new Gravette superintendent. Pioneers won Lion relays.
April 25: Opening datewas announced for Gravette wildlife nature trail. Special Gentry Council meeting approved fire truck repair. Decatur library announced summer reading program. Gravette Middle School received a $15,271 Child Wellness grant through the efforts of Jeff Gravette. Gravette DECA/FBLA took second place in business competition at Missouri Southern. Benefit dinner raised $12,000 for Gentry library. Tired Iron had successful 20th spring show. Pioneer Junior track team was Conference champ. Annual Community Guide was issued by the Eagle Observer.
May 2: Gravette Council refined police, fire emergency plan for newly annexed Hiwasse area, included two new officers. Gentry’s fire truck was repaired and back in service. Bill Niven was hired as new Decatur girls basketball coach. Warrant was issued in recent Decatur truck theft case. Springtown was seeking more grant money for bridge project. “Kony 2012” Cover the Night posters covered downtown Gravette. Gentry boys rule 4A-1 field events. Gravette Lady Lions softball team took 4A-1 title. Decatur did well in district tournament. Decatur livestock team qualified for state. Big day was held at Gravette trail opening.
May 9: Gentry police rode trains to catch violators. $13.5 bid was let for second section of Bella Vista bypass to connect first stage north to Benton County 34. Decatur Chamber honored achieving students. Gentry Council okayed money for street, alley project. Gentry Odyssey of the Mind team took fourth place. Gravette Boys and Girls Club benefit golf tournament was set. Gravette FBLA students took state honors. Decatur JBQ teams headed for nationals. Lady Lions were statebound.
May 16: Special graduation supplement highlighted Gentry’s 75 graduates and Decatur’s 26 graduates and their ceremonies held Friday, May 11, and Gravette’s 123 seniors who would graduate May 26. Gentry Chamber was working on several projects, including a nature trail and multi-city yard sale. Sayer Smith took a role as “Strike” at Naturals games. Athletic Boosters held their annual banquet and awards event at Gravette High. Mt. Pleasant Cemetery Association planned its 100th meeting. Ozarks Community Hospital offered a grief, loss seminar. Jeff Gravette wasnew Decatur principal. Gravette’s 140 fifth graders had a “Be A Winner” graduation. Alex Hunter, Jennifer Smith and Maureen Broglan were accepted for the Governor’s summer school program.
May 23: Multi-purpose athletic facility in Gentry got a boost. Gravette post office collected food for the hungry. Fairmount Cemetery Association planned a dinner to observe their 150th anniversary. A Gentry woman was arrested for allegedly stabbing her boyfriend. Free lunches during the summer were available in Gravette and Sulphur Springs through a grant program. Gravette’s Culinary Arts Team attended nationals in Baltimore, Md. Stefan Smith signed a letter of intent to play baseball at Evangel University. Annual “Ozark Family Camp Meeting” was set by Gentry’s Seventh-day Adventists. Grads in area schools received more than $3 million in scholarships. A group of Gravette students visited Kennedy Space Center. Buddy Day was fun at Glenn Duffy Elementary.
May 30: Decatur 4-H members placed crosses on veterans’ graves. Gravette City Council okayed fireworks sale in the city. Pool opening in Gravette was delayed for additional repairs. Sandy Hainline-Williams was named Northwest Arkansas “Nurse of the Year.” Decatur teachers trained to use new technology. Area’s small post offices were facing possible closing or having hours cut. Gravette received a $40,000 grant for sewer line extension. A recycling program was being promoted for Gravette. Decatur’s annual kids fishing derby was scheduled. Veterans Day remembrances were held in Gravette and Decatur. Marine Capt. David Shields spoke at Hillcrest Cemetery.
June 6: Divers recovered the body of a man who drowned in Crystal Lake at Decatur. Old Settler’s Day was held in Colcord (Okla.) with featured entertainment at Talbot Library/Museum. Springtown and FEMA were in a dispute over bridge fund expenditure. Gravette pool opened after repairs were made. Gravette City Council approved a tractor purchase. Renaissance Faire, sponsored by Gravette Public Library, was planned for Old Town Park. Jo Ellen Hastings was honored upon retirement after 27 years. She became principal in 1994. Decatur teachers receivedsigning bonuses. Legends Equestrian Center in Decatur held a horse show. Georgia Poultry Equipment opened for business in Decatur. A crowd attended the Beaty Community Reunion.
June 13: Care and Share in Gravette opened a new store. Taylor’s Orchard near Gentry opened with a good peach crop. Benton County’s Smart 911 system became operational. Lots of kids caught lots of fish and earned prizes at Crystal Lake Derby. Pony-Dotz organization offered horse education programs for kids. Gravette softball players earned recognition; Shyanne Nichols will play for Crowder College in Neosho (Mo.), Lindsee LaBreque was named NWA Newcomer of the Year. School choice law was tossed out by a federal judge. Spencer Heald and Caleb Velez, Gravette Middle School students, took top state engineering awards, the third state top award for Heald. Springtown held a town barbecue.
June 20: Keith and George Harper of Gentry were named Farm Family of the Year for the county. Demolition of the old Gravette High School began, making room for a new Middle School addition. Gentry City Council placed a lien on unkept property. Freedom Festival plans were announced for Gentry. Logan Community held a homecoming. Decatur Barbecue plans were announced with Leonard Truitt as grand marshal. Tatiana Polydore, Gravette High School student, earned an award in regional Chinese language competition held in Houston. Decatur FFA students received awards at state convention. Farmers faced more chicken litter restrictions.
June 26: Holiness Bible School held their annual camp meeting, a tradition begun almost a century earlier. EagleMed helicopter service visited Ozarks Community Hospital in Gravette for EMS inspection. Gentry School Board vote okayed sports complex. Nathan Tapp, 2006 Gravette grad, earned national recognition at Food Protection Symposium held in Poland. Simmons “Chicken Store” opened to the public in Decatur. Work progressed on Bella Vista bypass around Hiwasse. Jessica Crawley, 15, of Maysville, was named Arkansas’ first State Dairy Ambassador.
To be continued in next week’s issue of the Eagle Observer.
News, Pages 1 on 12/26/2012