WESTSIDE - Mike Eckels has joined the Eagle Observer staff and will cover news and sports in Decatur and also assist with coverage for the rest of the newspaper’s coverage area.

Eckels is a man of many talents and much experience in life.

“I was once called a ‘renaissance man,’”Eckels said.

“I have been a butcher, baker, picture maker, a stage manager, organist, composer, paper boy, security guard and other thingstoo numerous to mention.”

Eckels has an associates degree in graphic design from Northwest Arkansas Community College. He also edited the Queen Sentinel and contributed to the Eagle View (a student newspaper at NWACC). He has published several books relating to aviation history and was a volunteer at the Arkansas Air Museum and the Ozark Military Museum. He also studied music and was an organ performance major for a time in college.

Eckels lives in Springdale with his wife of 27 years, Hannelore, and is a long-time resident of Northwest Arkansas, moving to Fayetteville from Hutchinson, Kan., in 1967.

“My love of northwest Arkansas led me to the decision to stay here when my parents moved to Springfield, Mo., in 1976 - a decision I never regretted,” Eckels said. “The scenic beauty of this piece of Arkansas is a photographer’s paradise, especially for someone with the love of the medium. From an early age, I learned to shape any object captured through the lens as a piece of art, no matter how trivial it may seem. Now I would like to share these ideals with the readers of this newspaper.”

“I am joining the Westside Eagle Observer as a reporter and photographer covering the Decatur area,” Eckels said. “I am proud to be a part of this vital link on the information highway. Serving the people of Decatur as well as Gravette and Gentry is my goal. The rich history and culture of this area is worth preserving for future generations. I offer my talents to the recording of the story of this part of northwest Arkansas, and I look forward to meeting the people that make that history possible.”

News, Pages 1 on 04/24/2013