JULY 2
When Jeff Gravette was promoted to superintendent of the Decatur school system, it left an opening for a new principal at Northside Elementary. Cary Stamps assumed his position as the principal of Northside Elementary beginning July 1, the official start to the 2014-15 school year.
JULY 9
Fireworks lit up the sky over a crowded Gentry park on the evening of July 4. The fireworks display was the conclusion to the Freedom Festival held in the park on Independence Day. Fireworks could also be seen in Gravette and other nearby cities.
JULY 16
Recipients of the 2014 Benton County Farm Family of the Year Award were Cody and Carrie Hays and their children -- Ty, 9; Emily, 11; and Garrett, 13. The Award was presented at the Hays family farm, south of Springtown.
The Sulphur Springs Library reopened Monday, July 7, after being closed for several months. The library, located in the old red brick Sulphur Springs school building at 512 S. Black Street, reopened three afternoons each week.
JULY 23
The Eagle Observer once again received numerous awards at the Arkansas Press Association's annual convention. The Eagle Observer earned 15 awards, including second place in the General Excellence category for small weeklies, during the annual Arkansas newspaper association's Better Newspaper Contest. The awards, for things published during calendar year 2013, were announced July 12 during the APA's annual convention, held last year in Hot Springs. Winners were determined by journalists who are members of another state's press association.
JULY 30
Northwest Arkansas residents were caught completely off guard when a violent windstorm plowed through Benton and Washington counties July 23. The storm was part of a front that moved south, bringing winds gusting to more than 75 miles per hour in Benton County. The line of storms started in southwest Missouri. As it entered Northwest Arkansas, it formed what the National Weather Service calls a bow echo, or backwards C, prompting a significant weather warning for the area. At Smith Field in Siloam Springs, a single-engine Cessna was flipped over and destroyed when winds pounded the airport. A single-vehicle accident on Arkansas Highway 102, about five miles east of Decatur, ended in a rollover down a steep embankment. Debris in the road and high winds at the time may have been the cause of the accident.
AUGUST 6
Megan McAfee, from Gravette, was crowned Miss Decatur Barbecue by 2013 Miss Decatur Barbecue Suzanna Sikes during the 61st annual Decatur Barbecue at Veterans Park on Aug. 2.
The Northwest Arkansas Regional Planning Commission, with the support of communities and advocates throughout the Northwest Arkansas Region, was at work in preparing of a Regional Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan which includes cities on the west side of Benton County. Public input was sought on a draft plan to link existing communities and bike and walking trails across the Northwest Arkansas Region. Preliminary plans were developed which include Gentry, Decatur, Gravette, Siloam Springs and surrounding communities, but additional public input was desired before finalizing plans and seeking financing for the development and linking of trails.
AUGUST 13
Gravette celebrated its 121st birthday in style Friday and Saturday when crowds of people from all over the area gathered in town for a weekend of festivities. Events were held at Kindley Park, Old Town Park, Pop Allum Park, the Kindley House Museum and Gravette Schools. Though many were drenched by the rains, the brief thunderstorm early Saturday afternoon did little to discourage the celebration.
A vision for a walking and cycling trail in Springtown led to controversy but the mayor was hopeful that, once all the facts are known, the town's residents would unite behind the plan. A special town meeting was held Thursday to share information with town residents and town neighbors about the plan. The proposed trail was to run along the old highway bed, starting just east of the Arkansas Highway 12 bridge over Flint Creek, and follow the old highway bed to Main Street in Springtown, continue east on a proposed sidewalk along Main, cross the new Aubrey Long Road bridge and follow the creek back to the west and then north along the north branch of Flint Creek. Total length of the trail was 1.24 miles, according to Lemke. The plan was later revised to include only the west portion of the trail.
AUGUST 20
Students arrived for their first day of classes Monday in Gentry, as well as in Gravette and Decatur. Though bus numbers are usually low on the first days, many students still arrived by school bus.
AUGUST 27
In what Randy Barrett, superintendent of Gentry Public Schools, called "the bummer of the summer," he told board members on Aug. 18 that the school district's application for partnership funding to build a new high school had been turned down. But that decision is now being appealed. The plan was to build a new high school facility, including a competition gym, at a price tag of approximately $20 million, and then move the middle school into the existing high school facility and the intermediate school into the existing middle school facility. The funding denial is being appealed by the board, with a decision on the appeal expected in January.
An incident involving the theft of a puppy resulted in the arrest of an official with the Decatur Housing Authority. The incident took place at 800 E. Second Street in Decatur on Aug. 7 when Deborah Weston, executive director of the DHA, drove by the apartment of Lindsey Wilcox and noticed a chiweenie puppy loose outside the residence. Weston grabbed the dog and put it into her pickup truck. Weston then texted Wilcox stating she had her dog and Wilcox would never get it back, according to police. Wilcox realized the puppy was gone and that her 3-year old daughter had let the dog outside by mistake.
The Gravette Community Gardens were a real success story last summer. Plantings in the garden thrived and provided a bountiful harvest for individual gardeners and for sharing with several local charities, with an estimated 400-500 pounds of produce given to Share the Harvest food pantry, Care and Share and the Billy V. Hall Senior Activity Center.
SEPTEMBER 3
More concerns were raised regarding the Decatur Housing Authority when a portion of an Aug. 28 meeting was conducted behind locked doors.
SEPTEMBER 10
Once again the put, put, put of old hit-and-miss engines could be heard, huge belts turned the gears of an old threshing machine, a mule provided the needed power for a rusty hay baler to bind straw into small bales, saws buzzed as logs were reduced to timbers and planed to finished lumber, and the clanking of hammers on red-hot iron turned shapeless metal into works of art and useful tools. The show, held at the club's own showgrounds on the southwest edge of Gentry on the weekend after Labor Day, was the 23rd such annual fall show.
SEPTEMBER 17
An excavator took the first bites out of the old Decatur General store on Main Street. Within a day, one quarter section at the south end of the building was torn down and removed from the site. The demolition of the store was to make way for a new 15,000-square-foot Neighborhood Market, scheduled to open this week. Lloyd Peterson originally built the store to entice his friend, Sam Walton, to use it for a Walmart store. He used similar floor plans to that of the original Walmart stores that were in Northwest Arkansas at the time. But the idea never materialized. With the growth of Decatur over the past few years, Walmart decided to use the location for its new concept Neighborhood Market. However, the building was outdated, and Walmart decided to remove it and build a new store in its replace.
SEPTEMBER 24
A tax increase in the Gravette School District was overwhelmingly defeated in the Sept. 16 school board election, with almost 87 percent of voters saying no to the measure. The millage increase was defeated, 2,367 to 359. The district sought a 3.6-mill tax increase to build an elementary school in Bella Vista and add several classrooms to the high school. The combined cost of the projects would have been $14.7 million. The issue faced significant opposition from a group called Concerned Citizens of Gravette School District. Hope Duke, the group's leader, said the district's recent growth rate doesn't justify the cost of the construction. She also argued the new elementary would open with numerous empty classrooms.
Mycah Turtle of Gentry was crowned homecoming queen at Gentry High School at ceremonies on Sept. 19.
OCTOBER 1
DHA director Debbie Weston sent three letters to board members to explain why housing authority money was paid to individuals who did private work for her at her home, why an attorney was retained for her criminal case using housing authority funds without housing authority board approval and documenting minutes she says she sent to the city of Decatur with board appointments. Weston later resigned her post amid allegations of mismanagement of the facility and public funds.
OCTOBER 8
Decatur High School homecoming king Hector Aguilar pinned a cape on queen Sarah Harris during the coronation ceremonies prior to the game Oct. 3. Both Harris and Aguilar are seniors.
OCTOBER 15
Springtown's council approved a resolution to seek grant funding to build a portion of a proposed walking trail -- from near the Arkansas Highway 12 bridge over Flint Creek to the Aubrey Long Road Bridge -- and to enter in an agreement with Cassie Elliott of Visionary Milestones to prepare the grant application and administer the grant if it is awarded.
Gravette homecoming queen Lindsee LaBrecque was kissed by her escorts, seniors Derek Pruitt and Kyler Bunch, during crowning ceremonies in Lion Stadium on Oct. 10.
OCTOBER 22
If all goes as hoped, the Highfill Police Department could be adding a K-9 to the force at minimal expense to the city. Council members on Oct. 14 voiced approval to a plan to obtain a police service dog through donations from the community. Cost to the city if that happens would be approximately $1,000 per year, according to Highfill Police Chief Blake Webb, for dog food and veterinary care.
OCTOBER 29
In keeping with the 500-year-old tradition of sidewalk art, local artist Mike Kelly used a chalk drawing of Bullwinkle J. Moose to tell voters to get out and cast their ballots on Nov. 4. In the 16th century, sidewalk art was often used as social commentary to spread the word.
The Decatur School District broke ground Oct. 16 on the long-awaited safe room at Northside Elementary School. The students looked on as several area dignitaries, including Decatur Mayor Charles Linam, Decatur School board members Amy Brooks and president Ike Owens, superintendent Jeff Gravette and principal Cary Stamps, took part in the ceremony.
A partial solar eclipse was seen in the area on Oct. 23 and photos of the somewhat rare event filled a page on the 29th.
NOVEMBER 5
A popular spot in Hiwasse is back in business and area residents once again have a convenient place to stop and take a break. John and Julie Holloway returned to operating the shop they left a decade ago and reopened the Hiwasse Store on Oct. 17.
The city of Gentry was ranked fifth in the state of Arkansas in a listing of safe cities within the state. The study, prepared and published by SafeWise, lists the 30 safest cities to live in Arkansas. According to the SafeWise Report published on the SafeWise website, the rating was done based on crime data reported to the Federal Bureau of Investigation by city police departments.
The second annual Gravette Library Gala was held Oct. 16 at the Cedaridge Event Center on Highway 72 near Centerton and more than $1,000 was raised for the library's building fund. One hundred and nineteen guests attended the event and were treated with a variety of festive activities.
NOVEMBER 12
In the Nov. 4 general election, Decatur, Gravette and Springtown elected new mayors. In Decatur, Bob Tharp narrowly defeated incumbent mayor Charles Linam, 133 to 103 or with 56 percent of the vote. In a very close Gravette mayor's race -- only a 13 vote difference -- Kurt Maddox received 50.85 percent of the vote or 387 votes compared to 374 votes for incumbent mayor Byron Warren (49.15 percent). Stacy Digby will retain his post as mayor in Highfill, defeating councilman, former mayor and challenger Chris Holland, 108 to 85. Preston Barrett received 60.61 percent of Springtown's vote, defeating incumbent mayor Paul Lemke, 20 to 13. Greg Barber and Kevin Johnston ran unopposed in Sulphur Springs and Gentry and will retain their seats.
She did it again, Gravette senior Megan McAfee was crowned Miss Gravette High School on Nov. 8 by 2013 Miss GHS Ashton Yarbrough. McAfee was also crowned Miss Decatur Barbecue, Miss Gravette and Miss Benton County.
NOVEMBER 19
A series of text messages led to the arrest of a Gentry man and three juveniles for burglarizing Spirit Trucking in Gentry. Police arrived while the burglary was in progress and text messages were used to identify those involved.
Julene Keller held an open house at her candy shop in Gravette on Nov. 15 to celebrate her opening for retail sales. The business has been open for about a year at 121 Main Street, S.E., but Keller has been concentrating on wholesale customers.
NOVEMBER 26
It's not uncommon to see bright orange pumpkins decorating homes, businesses and schools this time of year. But seeing a purple pumpkin is just a bit unusual. Thanks to Jaymey Boston, counselor at Gravette Upper Elementary School, however, purple pumpkins have also been spotted all over town. November is National Epilepsy Awareness Month and Boston and the parent involvement committee at GUE sponsored the Purple Pumpkin Project to raise awareness about the disorder.
DECEMBER 3
Christmas parades and related festivities were held in Gravette, Decatur and Gentry to kick off the holiday shopping season.
DECEMBER 10
Dynamic Rhythm, a dance studio, held an open house in Gravette, with classes planned for the new year.
The Gravette Lions basketball team took first place in the Decatur basketball tournament held earlier in the month.
DECEMBER 17
Gravette police executed a search warrant and discovered what they initially thought might be bombs.
Gentry police arrested a pair at a local hair salon in connection to a felon being in possession of a firearm and a woman being in possession of narcotic drugs.
DECEMBER 24
Brian Little resigned as Gentry's head football coach. His resignation was only for his coaching duties and he continues to serve as the high school's dead of students and athletic director.
DECEMBER 31
Gravette's fire chief, David Smith, retired after 20 years of service.
Gentry held its annual Pioneer Classic wrestling tournament at the high school.
General News on 01/07/2015