2013 in Review (Part Two)

Wednesday, January 8, 2014

JULY: Thousands turn out at parade to honor Marine Lance Cpl. Benjamin Tuttle, 19, who gave his life during Operation Enduring Freedom in the near east. He died July 14 after being flown to Landstuhl Regional Medical Center. Gravette Girl Scout Rachel Jones installs an owl nesting box at the Gravette Wildlife Observation Trail. Decatur FFA Chapter members receive numerous awards at the 86th annual State FFA Convention, where it was named a superior chapter.

Two male suspects face graffiti charges after the newly opened skate park is vandalized with spray paint. Three sections of the long-awaited Bella Vista bypass will benefit from a sales tax measure approved last November. The projects, totaling $100 million, will become a part of the Interstate 49 system. Nelson Feeds opens a new feed store in Gentry. Ribbon cutting ceremony is held.

Shane McNair utilizes a new aerial quadcopter to film the Freedom Festival in Gentry. John Rambadt, of Gravette, invents new device which can warn parents they are leaving a child alone in a vehicle. Gravette school board moves forward with plans for a school in Bella Vista, location donated by Cooper Communities. Gravette FFA Chapter named superior at state convention.

Centerton and Decatur approve contract for Centerton to send its sewage for treatment at Decatur's state-of-the-art plant. Dan Fagala honored for 50 years in the ministry, more than 40 years at Gravette Beacon Missionary Baptist Church. Gentry, Decatur and Gravette all host impressive Fourth of July fireworks displays. A car show is held at Decatur and Gentry sponsors its annual Freedom Festival. Gravette hires Andrew Bower as new police chief and James Rusterholz as sergeant. Bower replaces retired Trent Morrison as chief and Rusterholz replaces Speed Estep who recently resigned.

AUGUST: Gravette receives delivery of new $165,000 ambulance, staffed by paramedics. Decatur summer school sessions termed success by superintendent Larry Ben. Gentry school board votes to add a concession stand to the Pioneer Activities Complex. Decatur school enrollment up slightly on opening day. Twenty-seven Gravette High students attend the national HOSA conference in Nashville, several are top winners, record matching results since 2005.

Dozens of Gentry, Decatur and Gravette 4-H and FFA members take honors at Benton County Fair. The Gravette school named semi-finalist in the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve Freedom Award, the highest recognition the Dept. of Defense awards employers. The Gravette school was in the top 30 nominees in the nation. A Bentonville man, Gary Hoggatt, is charged with arson involving several vacant houses, one of which burned, east of Gravette. Highfill Council passes animal control law.

Several pioneer era physician items are donated to the Gravette museum. Skyler Pierce is crowned Miss Gravette 2013 at the city's annual celebration, which included a first-ever Dutch oven cookoff. No grand marshal was named this year. The celebration dates to 1893. Repairs at the Gentry High School apparently cause leaks in the building. Suzy Sikes is crowned Miss Decatur Barbecue at the town's 60th annual celebration. Pat and Lester Austin are grand marshals of the parade. Gravette fire department receives new pumper/tanker from the county. Cost of the vehicle was $225,000.

SEPTEMBER: Decatur school gets great news on improved ACT scores. School board appointed committee visits schools in Kansas City area for ideas on elementary school in Bella Vista. Shelby Helser, Gravette junior all-state choir member, is to sing in National Association for Music Education choir in Nashville. Sulphur Springs mayor resigns, then resigns again.

Hiwasse Fall Festival is big hit with several hundred people. Brittany Frost and Matt Lee are crowned Decatur homecoming queen and king. Gravette firefighters burn vacant house for training session. Gravette museum sponsors quilt show. Fallen Confederate soldiers honored at ceremony at Georgia Flat Cemetery. Gentry announces police tip line and city code now available on city website, zoning restriction loosened.

Maysville Bible Church holds homecoming event. Tired Iron's 22nd annual fall show attracts crowd at three-day event. Jack Ballard, Gravette native, donates several military books he authored to the Gravette Public Library. Suit filed in Decatur 2012 elevator accident in which Larry Bingham was injured at Simmons feed mill. Quorum Court sets $85 annual ambulance fee for rural residents and authorizes election which can be challenged by petition.

OCTOBER: New park in Decatur named to honor Royce Johnson. Ribbon cutting held at Gentry Pioneer Activities Complex. Nacoma Dunlap is Gentry football homecoming queen. Amy Rambadt named member of Gravette City Council. Jury awards $87,539 to Wild Wilderness Safari for land condemned by SWEPCO. Gravette school holds multicultural program.

Watch belonging to WWI air ace Field Kindley donated to Gravette museum. Decatur train station library opens on Saturdays. Meagan Ward is Gravette football homecoming queen. Gentry firemen receive Haz-mat training. Decatur dedicates E.N. "Bud" McCollum Memorial Park, honoring late Decatur physician. Gravette Public Library gala raises funds to kick off new library building project.

Justin Hazard, Gentry student, member of 2013 AIC National Honors Band, performs at Nashville. Gentry Fall Festival draws large crowd. Feed My Sheep, food pantry at Gravette, moves to Harvest Baptist Church, renamed "Share the Harvest." Full-time school resource officer approved for Gentry school. Ashton Yarbrough and Carson Alsup crowned Miss and Mister Gravette High School.

Walmart donates funds for Decatur soccer fields. Pioneers defeat Lions, 21-19, first time in 10 years. Circuit Judge Xollie Duncan receives Congressional honor at Washington, D.C. Circuit Judge Tom Smith announces for re-election. Gentry fire department purchases military tanker.

NOVEMBER: Decatur students draft bill doubling DUI penalties, may be considered by state legislature. Community Thanksgiving dinner attended by 450 in Gravette. Seven vehicles involved in accident at Gentry; Shook used car lot building damaged. Gentry school full-time staff to receive $1,000 one-time bonus.

Gravette council dissolves City Court. Terry King named City Council alderman. Greg Barber is new Sulphur mayor. New council members are Shane Weber, Nancy Reich and Bill Middleton. Gravette school board splits vote on new elementary school. Pond work completed at Flint Creek nature trail. Area veterans are honored at Gravette school assembly.

Decatur students learn bus safety through art projects. Star City takes win from Gentry football team; Valley View beats Gravette Lions in district tournament play. Fun for all at Decatur Fall Festival. Jacy Alsup, of Gravette, was named Senior of Significance at Oklahoma State University. Ryan Shaffer and Jeffeta Puga, Decatur students, named to ASBOA all-region junior jazz band.

James Denver resigns from Gravette City Council. Gentry council approves water-sewer rate increase. Revenue office and county assessor and collector offices move to min-mall from Gravette Main.

DECEMBER: Gentry school board votes to proceed with plans for a new high school. Smoke detectors save lives of rural Gravette family. Heavy early December 7-inch snow forces Decatur, Gentry and Gravette schools to close. Twenty-seventh annual progressive dinner held at Sulphur Springs. Gravette players sign: Cody Robinson, senior, football with Lyon College; Wyatt Gibbons, senior, baseball, Lyon College; Aaron Means, senior, baseball, Ecclesia College.

Budget discussions take several meetings to work on all three town budgets. Decatur and Gentry Christmas parades held. Joshua Lockhart, Gravette senior, serves as emcee at opening session of National 4-H Congress in Atlanta. Petition drive forces vote on proposed ambulance tax for rural residents. Gentry police to get dash cameras for police cars.

General News on 01/08/2014