Let’s Consider : Travel brings good times, despite glitches

JAN MULLIKIN

One of the things to be anticipated when people travel away from home, and are gone for more than a few days, is: What travails and/or triumphs will we experience during our travels? Or: What things will be a real test to our patience? Or: How flexible will we be? On the other hand, one might wonder before take-off as to: What wonderful thing(s) will happen to us? Or: What good deeds will be done for us along the way, either by perfect strangers or perfect friends? Or: Which things will turn into laughable memories that will be long talked about around the kitchen table? During our 10-day vacation this summer, we experienced all of the above. One of our glitches happened because I had neglected to bring the GPS recharge cord that plugs into the cigarette lighter cavity in order to stay charged up and at the ready. I was really mad at myself for being so careless. After all, we were traveling a long distance, through some very big cities, and through a lot of new territory for us. But our daughter came to the - Wednesday, August 6, 2008

STAR GAZING : Meteor shower comes again this month

Dr. David Cater

As August begins, four planets will be observable shortly after sunset, low in the west. The four planets, all potentially visible to the dedicated observer, will be Venus, Mercury, Saturn and Mars. I use the word “dedicated” because each of these planets is quite low to the horizon. To see them, one needs a flat, even descending and unobscured western horizon and a good pair of binoculars. Saturn, Mars, and Mercury will soon disappear for a time behind the Sun, from our perspective, but will re-appear some weeks later in the early morning sky. Giant Jupiter is that bright star-like point of light in the southeast, observable when the sky becomes black enough after sunset. These days, in high summer, the night sky really doesn’t become black enough to really see anything faint until after 10 p.m. If you live in a fair-sized city, the problem of seeing faint things in the sky is compounded by the bright lights of the city. I fear that if we humans don’t manage our lights at night in large cities, the deep beau - Wednesday, August 6, 2008

Golf Classic nets more than $11,000 for SSMH

The Siloam Springs Memorial Hospital Foundation raised more than $11,000 for SSMH during the 6th Annual Golf Classic held July 10. More than 100 golfers came to Stonebridge Meadows Golf Club in Fayetteville to participate in the three-man scramble. After a rain delay, golfers took to the course and battled it out for the lowest scores. First place winners in each flight were: First Flight: Arvest Bank — Shane Cowger, Kurt Price and David Ray Second Flight: Signature Bank of Arkansas — Tim McCord, Janette Hayes and Jim Hill Third Flight: MAXSURGE Healthcare Solutions — Paul DeMay, Chris Newton and Steven Craft. “It was great to see everyone come together to make this day a success – the many volunteers, the players and sponsors, and the hospital staff as well as the staff at Stonebridge,” said Karen Kapella, executive director of SSMH Foundation. “I enjoyed meeting everyone and look forward to next year’s event!” Several door prizes and flight prizes were awarded. Winner of a La-Z-Boy leather sofa, valued at $ - Wednesday, August 6, 2008

Ozark music coming to park

For the fourth and final time this summer, Siloam Springs’ Second Saturday Music will host a free-for-all concert at the local Twin Springs Park Gazebo on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. Greenwillis, a musical trio of Mountain Home-based Arkansas natives that specialize in traditional Ozark style and folk music, will perform for attendees this week. “The band used to be called ‘Out of the Blue’ until they changed it,” said event organizer and musician, Bill Lisk. “Greenwillis is the name of an old fiddle tune.” The dynamic musical threesome is made up of high school senior, Rachel Linn, who serves as lead vocalist and plays the mandolin and By Jessica Weekley Staff Writer jessicaw@nwanews.com fiddle, her brother, University of Arkansas in Fayetteville sophomore Derek Linn who also sings and plays guitar and Lukas Pool who recently got accepted to the prestigious Berkley School of Music in Boston. - Wednesday, August 6, 2008

JBU NWA Advance Program recognizes students

John Brown University announced the following students have been named to the JBU president’s list of distinguished students from the Advance Degree Completion Program. President’s list: Courtney Anderson, Delilah Williamson, Siloam Springs; Audra Butcher, Decatur; Sharina Cole, Tracy Craft, Kristina Felton, Wendy Sooter, Bentonville; Kristi Duty, Amanda Maute, Traci McGraw, Centerton; Heather Fox, Gina Little, Rachel Northup, Elizabeth Powers, Patricia Spear, Springdale ; Marsha Huffman, Lowell. The following students have been named to the JBU president’s and dean’s list of distinguished students from the Advance Degree Completion Program. Each student is a member of the Northwest Arkansas cohort group number four, working towards a bachelor’s degree in early childhood education. President’s list: Melissa Eaton, Brandolyn Peterson, Fayetteville; Maryanne Held, Bentonville; Kendree Kilsch, Centerton; Rebecca McClure, Farmington. Dean’s list: Nhi Blansett, West Fork; Karla Chadick, Fayetteville; Alicia Fogley - Wednesday, August 6, 2008

Del Monte gives JBU SIFE $5,000 grant

From Staff Reports

Del Monte Foods has given a grant of $5,000 to the John Brown University SIFE team to help continue development projects through its international outreach programs. The partnership came about after a representative of Del Monte heard about the global impact of the projects developed by the SIFE team at JBU. The initial grant of $5,000 was presented to JBU in 2007. Thanks largely to the success of last year’s project, JBU was awarded a second grant of $5,000 this year. Funds from the 2007 grant were used to start a sewing school in Guatemala, expand a small casket business in Guatemala, launch 15 tortilla businesses and start a computer school in Nicaragua. SIFE teams traveled to these countries to train the new business owners and help implement the business plans. Joe Walenciak, JBU business professor and SIFE advisor said that the SIFE teams plan to utilize the new 2008 grant money in a similar way and that they hope the outcome is even more impactful than last year. SIFE is an international organization t - Wednesday, August 6, 2008

Larsons celebrate 50 years of marriage

Merle and Delores Larson will be celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary with a reception Aug. 10 from 2:30 p.m. to 4 p.m. at Harvard Avenue Baptist Church in Siloam Springs. They were married Oct. 25, 1958, in Moorhead, Minn. They have lived in Siloam Springs for the last 35 years. He is retired from Simmons Foods and she served as a Welcome Wagon hostess for 25 years. They have two daughters ; Kim Stewart and husband Blake of Sister Bay, Wis., and Jan Rakestraw and husband P.D. of Siloam Springs; and six grandchildren. - Wednesday, August 6, 2008

McCord, Branson wed June 7

Trenton McCord and Sara Jo Branson were married on June 7, 2008. The groom is the son of Tim and Brenda McCord of Siloam Springs, Ark., and the grandson of Dorothy McCord and of Pearl Harrold of Blackwell, Okla. He is a senior, majoring in Biology at William Jewell College and currently works at Seaport Dental Office. The bride is the daughter of Carl and Bonnie Branson of Higginsville, Mo. She is a senior nursing student at William Jewell College and currently works at Liberty Hospital. The wedding took place in Higginsville at First United Methodist Church and was officiated by Dr. Greg Fine. - Wednesday, August 6, 2008

Youth orchestra announced

The Ozarks Philharmonic Youth Orchestra’s board of directors recently launched a new youth program for the tristate area. The OPYO program will offer the opportunity for young musicians to participate in beginning and intermediate level ensembles and ultimately, the opportunity to train and perform in a full orchestra setting. Auditions will be held Aug. 18, 23, and 25 in Fayetteville, Springdale and Rogers. - Wednesday, August 6, 2008

West Siloam Springs News : Gift of Love: Still going strong in West Siloam

GEORGIA BATEMAN

Leah Allen's daughter, Pat, along with two of her children, came by for a visit the other day. It was so good to see then. I do love company, especially children. Those kids love to visit and go swimming at their Grandma's, but they get tired of fighting the skeeters. I am looking forward to attending the next firemen's dinner on August 9th. Perhaps Nellie Duncan will be there with her delicious angel food cake. But, Nellie, if you can't bring the cake, don't let it keep you away. It's you we're missing and not the cake, no matter how good it is. If you were confused when I gave Mr. Stonsipher an extra birthday, there was a meaning for my madness. The reason was to keep secret of a special birthday gift for Jasmine, J.O. Thomason's granddaughter. On her birthday they gave her a bright red motor bike and helmet, along with other gifts. When asked what her favorite gift was, she replied, "The gift of love; for without it I would not have my swimming pool, cake or ice cream." That answer was good enough for me. - Wednesday, August 6, 2008

CHURCH NEWS

Prophecy class Trinity Pentecostal Church will begin a class on prophecy on Aug. 3. For more information, call 549-3595. Moms In Touch Moms In Touch International (Mothers meeting to pray for their children and schools) will begin meeting Aug. 18, and will continue each Monday morning throughout the school year at 8:30 a.m. in Siloam Springs. The purpose is to intercede for our children and their schools through prayer. Children face many pressures, and to "stand in the gap" through prayer is the best gift we can give to them. F or more information, call Carey Pollard at 524-3809 or go to www.momsintouch.org. Mothering Matters Mothering Matters, a ministry of Siloam Springs Bible Church, will begin meeting on Sept. 5, from 9:15 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at the church. Mothering Matters is designed to encourage mothers of young children in Siloam Springs and the surrounding communities. Meetings are held the first and third Fridays of each month throughout the school year. Main meetings on first Fridays will feature - Wednesday, August 6, 2008

Colcord author publishes ‘Ruby Among Us’

By Jessica Weekley Staff Writer jessicaw@nwanews.com

Tina Ann Forkner may be a distinguished author within the national publishing community but in these parts, at least according to her, she’s still little Lisa Gray. She’s still the quick-to-smile daughter of Dennis and Barbara Gray, still a former Miss Colcord, still Sherry Gray’s sister. She can vividly remember high-kicking on the sidelines as a Colcord Hornet cheerleader at football games. “I think that my story is kind of a Cinderella story,” Forkner said. “I feel very blessed and never want to lose the passion of writing that keeps it pure.” In May, WaterBrook Press, a division of Random House, Inc., published Forkner’s debut novel, Ruby Among Us. “It’s amazing to walk into a bookstore and see your book,” Forkner said. “It’s very exciting and kind of like a dream — a writer’s version of Star Search.” The 336-page fictional novel highlights a multi-generational cast of dynamic female characters. With a sense of grace noted by critics across the country, Forkner dips into the women’s personal triumphs and - Wednesday, August 6, 2008

A LITTLE SPICE FROM GINGER : Pentagon: 1st and 2nd times are a charm

Ginger Macfarlan

Being a member of two separate conferences in Washington, D.C. this summer afforded me the opportunity to tour many of the “big attractions” twice. - Wednesday, August 6, 2008

LOOKING BACK : 50 years ago: City sets stage for filmstrip producer

Compiled by Jackie Brooks

50 Years Ago From the Herald and Democrat in 1958 Alfred Devereaux, president of Eye Gate House, New York, visited Siloam Springs in connection with a film strip his company was making. The subject of the educational color film strip was “Small City, U.S.A.” and it would feature many pictures of our city. Eye Gate House was the largest firm producing color film strips in the country, their films were being distributed in about 85,000 schools across the nation. In his first visit to Siloam Springs, Devereaux was the guest of Col. Homer Kellems, who was a photography director for the firm. Kellems had taken photographs for several of the strips, and in one, “Consequence,” used the high school and main street of Siloam Springs. 40 Years Ago From the Herald and Democrat in 1968 A group of city officials and other dignitaries attended the ground breaking at the Highland Shopping Center. Representatives of the future tenants of the center were present for the occasion. Firms leasing at the new center were Wal-Mart - Wednesday, August 6, 2008

Museum offering wide-range of upcoming events

Through Aug. 16 – Exhibit on “Promoting Siloam Springs Businesses” featuring vintage and other items related to promoting Siloam Springs businesses through the years. The exhibit will include posters, calendars, tokens, business cards and more from Don Cundiff's private collection. The museum is located at 112 N. Maxwell St. and is open 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. Call 479-524-4011 for details. Aug.23 through Oct. 29 – Exhibit on: “Arrowheads, Spear points, Knives & Drills: Some Stone Tools Found Near Siloam Springs.” Many people enjoy hunting for arrowheads in the fields and river valleys of this area. To archaeologists, these artifacts tell the story of the people who once lived here. Sept. 6 – Walking Tour of the Downtown National Register Historic District at 10 a.m. led by Don Warden, Director, Siloam Springs Museum. Depart from the museum at 112 N. Maxwell Street. Sept. 27 - “Discovering the Bluff Dwellers” at 2 p.m. A program presented by Gaye Bland, Director of the Rogers Historical Museu - Wednesday, August 6, 2008

Casting for millions : Siloam angler qualifies for Forrest Wood Cup

By Tim Ritter Sports Editor timothyr@nwanews.com

Siloam Springs resident Carl Svebek III is living out a fisherman’s dream. On Aug. 14-17, Svebek will be among the Top 77 anglers on the Wal-Mart FLW Tour competing in the 2008 Forrest Wood Cup on Lake Murray in Columbia, S.C., for a shot at $1 million dollars. “The Forrest Wood Cup is what all of us fishermen shoot for,” Svebek said. “It’s the Super Bowl of bass fishing.” Anglers from all 50 states plus Australia, Canada, Italy, Japan, Mexico and Spain competed in the Wal-Mart FLW Tour, Wal-Mart FLW Series, Stren Series Championship, Wal-Mart BFL All-American and TBF National Championship to qualify for the 2008 Forrest Wood Cup. Arkansas ranks second behind California with the most representation at the Forrest Wood Cup, sending 17 anglers to the traditionally-rich four-day tournament. According to FLW Outdoors President and CEO Charlie Evans in a press release, “The Forrest Wood Cup is the crown jewel of professional fishing and the biggest sporting event of any kind held in South Carolina this year. “It i - Wednesday, August 6, 2008

RB Curtis ready to prove he belongs in Hogs’ lineup

FAYETTEVILLE — Changing times make freshmen more ready to play right a way. That’s good news for the University of Arkansas Razorbacks. The Razorbacks graduated a host of 2007 seniors plus former All-American running backs Darren Mc-Fadden and Felix Jones, who declared for the NFL Draft following their junior seasons. The departures left first-year head coach Bobby Petrino with more holes than a moth-eaten sweater. So head coach Petrino, offensive coordinator/receivers coach Paul Petrino and defensive coordinator Willy Robinson eye freshmen very much in Razorback present rather than just Hog futures. “We’ve got a lot of freshmen,” Paul Petrino said, “that will probably end up helping us this year.” Could one start, Bobby Petrino was asked? “Maybe more than one,” the head coach replied. “You look at our receiving corps no doubt we’ll have a lot of competition. At running back, Michael Smith (a junior 2-year letterman ) is doing really well but he’s going to have a lot of competition from De’Anthony Curtis and - Wednesday, August 6, 2008

SS golfers set sights on making 5A state tourney

By Tim Ritter Sports Editor timothyr@nwanews.com

Little Texas, a country-music group in the late 1990s, featured a hit song, “First Time for Everything.” According to Siloam Springs head golf coach Brian Matchell, the same can be said for the outlook of the Panthers during the 2008 fall season. “We have three solid returnees on the boys’ team that hopefully can carry us to state, and our girls finally have a team for the first time in five years,” Matchell said. “It should be an exciting next two months.” Matchell, who coaches both the boys’ and girls’ golf teams, expects seniors Matt Johnson and Coleson Rakestraw, as well as junior Don Voss to lead the Panthers back to the Conference 5A State Tournament, a place the team hasn’t been too in quite some time. Johnson experienced the state tournament as an individual in 2007, and according to Matchell, he’s been playing pretty consistent this summer. - Wednesday, August 6, 2008

Siloam swimmer reaches Speedo Junior National Championships

By Sam Steinberg Sports Writer sams@nwanews.com

BENTONVILLE — A pair of local swimmers will be in the Twin Cities competing in the Speedo Junior National Championships. Michael Haefner and Ellis Miller of the Razorback Aquatic Club Aquahawgs swim club will compete against the nation’s best in Minneapolis at the University Aquatic Center on the campus of the University of Minnesota. The championships began Monday and conclude Friday. Haefner is a senior at Bentonville High School. He will compete in the 100- and 200-meter breaststroke, 200 individual medley and 200 freestyle. - Wednesday, August 6, 2008

Classification change proposal put to a vote

By Tom Glave Sports Writer tomg@nwanews.com

BENTONVILLE — Two years ago the state’s largest 32 high schools were divided into two classifications for athletic play. Those schools will be getting back together in two more years if a proposal is passed by the governing body of the Arkansas Activities Association Tuesday in Little Rock. Representatives from the 499 AAAmember schools will meet at at the Statehouse Convention Center to vote on the proposals. Two of the six proposals on the table would change the organization for conference and/or postseason play for the state’s largest schools. Proposal No. 2, championed by Siloam Springs, would divide the 32 schools in Class 6A and 7A into four conferences based on geographic locations for regularseason play in volleyball, basketball, soccer, baseball and softball. Those teams would then return to their classifications for the postseason. Similar to a proposal it presented in 2006, Siloam Springs hopes the change would help teams — including the Panthers if the district moves from Class 5A to 6A — avoid lo - Wednesday, August 6, 2008

SPORTS NOTES

FOOTBALL Equipment Checkout Incoming Siloam Springs Middle School seventh graders will check out equipment on Aug. 14-15 from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. at the middle school gymnasium. Practice will begin on the first day of school, Aug. 18, at 7:30 a.m. All athletes need to bring a T-shirt, cleats and shorts to practice in. GOLF AAU Mavericks hold scramble The Arkansas Mavericks, a ninth-grade girls’ AAU basketball team comprised of players from Northwest Arkansas including three from Siloam Springs, will hold a golf tournament on Aug. 23 at Valley View Golf Club in Farmington. The tournament will start at 9 a.m. and proceeds will be used to support the Mavericks in the upcoming season. The cost of the tournament is $300 per team (four-man scramble limited to the first 36 paid teams). The registration deadline for this tournament is Aug. 22. The three girls and two coaches representing Siloam Springs on this team are: Lindsey Larkin, Emery Rakestraw, Makenzie Sharp and coaches Jerry Larkin and P.D. Rakestraw. For mor - Wednesday, August 6, 2008

Beach Bums claim sand volleyball title

Staff Reports

Bump, hit and spike. The Siloam Springs Parks & Recreation Department put the finishing touches on their 2008 summer sports schedule with the 4-on-4 Coed Sand Volleyball Tournament held at Bob Henry Park. A total of eight teams competed in the tournaments with the Beach Bums sweeping through the winner’s bracket to claim the championship. The Beach Bums knocked off the Launchers, 25-22, 25-16 in the finals. In the semifinals, both teams advanced to the championship match with decisive victories. The Beach Bums roared past Rumble B’s, 25-17, 25-20 ; while The Launchers dropped Abusement Park Warriors, 25-21, 25-16. - Wednesday, August 6, 2008

Naturals activate De La Cruz

Staff Reports

SPRINGDALE — Northwest Arkansas Naturals reliever Julio De La Cruz was activated from the 7-day disabled list Wednesday. De La Cruz has been shelved since May 22 with a sore right shoulder. Thus far in 2008, De La Cruz, the 27-year-old right-handed pitcher from Cotui, Dominican Republic, has made 13 appearances from the Naturals’ bullpen, posting an 0-1 record and a 4.28 earned run average. De La Cruz was signed as a minor league free agent in December after spending the first seven years of his career in the Philadelphia Phillies organization. - Wednesday, August 6, 2008

Area swim team takes third at state

Staff Reports

BENTONVILLE — The Northwest Arkansas Aquatics swim team accomplished its goal at last weekend’s Arkansas Swimming Inc., Long Course Age Group Championships. The Sharks finished third with 502.5 points but had several swimmers earn new qualification times. Little Rock’s Dolphin-Laser Swim team won the meet with 1,232 points for its third straight state title and the newly-merged Razorback Aquatic Club Aquahawgs were second with 701 points. The Sharks had four swimmers make new sectional cuts, including Lauren Tininenko, who won three events in the Girls’ 13-14 year-old age division. She won the 200-meter backstroke, 100 back and tied in the 100 butterfly. She was also second in the 50 freestyle. Clara Bracy, Jimmy Parker and Erin Suchy also made sectional cuts. The Sharks also added two swimmers to their roster for next week’s Central MegaZone Swimming Championships in Indianapolis. Harry Cole, who won the 50 fly in the Boys’ 10-and-under division to qualify for the meet, and Hannah Cade will join 10 other Sha - Wednesday, August 6, 2008

Razorback football featured on Fox Sports Net

Staff Reports

FAYETTEVILLE — A 2008 Arkansas season football preview special will air on Fox Sports Net Southwest, FSN South and SportsSouth nine times from Aug. 3 to Aug. 27. The show was produced by FSN Southwest and was shot on campus. The broadcast schedule is as follows: FSN Southwest — Tuesday, Aug. 12, 1:30 p.m.; Monday, Aug. 18, 3:30 a.m. and Saturday, Aug. 23, 9:30 a.m.; FSN South — Monday, Aug. 18, 7:30 p.m. and Tuesday, Aug. 19, 12:30 p.m. and SportsSouth — Wednesday, Aug. 27, 10:30 a.m., 4:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. The Arkansas special features interviews with firstyear head coach Bobby Petrino and senior quarterback Casey Dick. The Razorbacks were 8-5 last season and earned a spot in the Cotton Bowl. Dick passed for 1,695 yards and 18 touchdowns. Heading into the season, Dick is the starting quarterback, followed by his brother, Nathan, who is a redshirt sophomore, as his backup. - Wednesday, August 6, 2008

Hunter Education course offered in Bentonville

Staff Reports

BENTONVILLE — It is time to think hunting. Summer is close to being over and fall is not far away. Dove season, archery season and deer seasons are just around the corner. In case their are any hunters out there that are not certified, the Benton County Chapter of Quail Unlimited is holding a class to do so. The Arkansas Hunter Education Certification course will be held Aug. 16 at the BCQU Plantation, which is located five miles west of Bentonville on Highway 72. The class starts at 8 a.m. with registration and sign-in beginning at 7:30 a.m. There is no fee or cost for this certification class. Lunch will also be provided by the BCQU “Cooking Team” and Wal-Mart. There is no pre-registration required, and there is no limit to the class size. According to Arkansas state law, if you are born after Dec. 31, 1968, you must have completed a state certified “Hunter Education Certification” class to hunt in Arkansas. This course will meet the requirements for Arkansas plus most all other states and provinces in the - Wednesday, August 6, 2008

NWA Attitude place fifth at national tourney

Staff Reports

The Northwest Arkansas Attitude, an 13-and-under AAU girls’ basketball team, recently placed fifth at the M.A.Y.B. National Tournament held Aug. 1-3 in Edmond, Okla. With their successful showing, the Attitude wrapped up its season with a 43-12 record. The Attitude swept through pool play, going 3-0 and receiving a first-round bye in bracket play. In the first game of the tournament, Westside Select, a team from Dallas, Texas, used a strong second-half effort to roar past the Attitude, 47-24. Facing elimination, the Attitude narrowly got by the Arkansas River Valley Lady Swish, 41-37. Then, on Sunday, the Attitude made the seventh time against the Missouri Show-Me Flames a charm, pulling off a 43-42 victory. The road to victory continued in Game 3 as the Attitude outlasted the Lubbock (Texas) Lady Heat, 43-40. In the fifth-place game, the Attitude finished the tournament with an 8-1 record, after defeating the Missouri Valley Lady Blazers Elite, 41-29. The Westside Select won the tournament and also finished - Wednesday, August 6, 2008