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Southside Public Water Authority OKs budgets
SOUTHSIDE — The Southside Public Water Authority board on Tuesday approved the 2012 budget for its water and wastewater operations and discussed upcoming board elections, said Manager John Richardson.
The water budget calls for expected expenditures of $1,668,530; the wastewater budget calls for $689,615 in the same category. -
FFA recognized on C-Span
SOUTHSIDE — Many students at the Southside School District had never stepped inside a stockyard let alone raise prize-winning animals and garner national attention before adviser Chase Hilton came along.
Ask 27-year-old Hilton and he’ll probably tell you that’s no credit to him, but others at the district might disagree. Since it’s start nearly four years ago, the Southside Future Farmers of America program and its 135 students involved have competed and won both local, state and national competitions. -
Remembering New Madrid’s quake 200 years ago
Two hundred years ago on Dec. 16, 1811, the New Madrid Seismic Zone unleashed one of the most powerful earthquakes to shake the lower 48 states — a quake so powerful it caused waterfalls on the Mississippi River, shook houses in Charleston. S.C., and rang church bells in Boston.
The first terrifying jolt hit at 2:15 a.m., with modern estimates pinning it at 7.7 on the Richter scale. Six hours later came what is now known as the Daylight Shock, a quake of similar intensity. -
Town’s landmark store demolished — Cord ‘won’t look the same,’ says resident
CORD — Ever since she was 5, Fayna Northcutt Spragg has had fond memories of her grandfather’s store at Cord. For years, she could look out her window every morning and see the landmark building decay and crumble, and that bothered her.
That’s when a local wrecking crew reduced the vacant and nearly windowless building to a pile of rubble to be burned. Also burned that day with the Cord Fire Department standing by was the old Cord gymnasium, just up the street from the store. -
Bond set for three in burglary
Bond has been set at $75,000 each for three men charged in a home burglary Dec. 5 that netted them approximately $34,000 in guns, jewelry and electronics.
Court affidavits, filed by the Independence County Sheriff’s Office, name Joshua Melton and Sergio Archuleta, both 18, and Shawn Mullins, 19, of breaking into the home of Marshall Bentley of Denison Heights and taking the items.
Investigator Jeff Sims said the case against the three was developed over several days with cooperation from witnesses and surveillance video from a neighbor. -
Ficks to celebrate 60 years
NEWARK—Max and Margaret Kirby Fick of Newark celebrate their 60th wedding anniversary today.
The Ficks were married Dec. 15, 1951 in Metamora, Mich. with Earl and Albertine Kirby officiating. -
Todd, Thornton announce plans
PARAGOULD — Mr. and Mrs. Michael Todd of Paragould have announced the engagement and upcoming marriage of their daughter, Ginger Rae Todd, to Aaron Michael Thornton, son of Lakay Thornton of Batesville and the late Kenneth Thornton.
The bride-elect is the granddaughter of Fred Westmoreland of Jonesboro and the late Flossie Westmoreland, Lynn Tutor and Herbert Todd Jr., all of Wynne.
She is a 2008 graduate of Greene County Tech in Paragould and will graduate in spring 2012 from Arkansas State University with a bachelor of science in social work. -
Area churches offer variety of Christmas programs
DESHA — Desha First Baptist Church will perform a rock ’n’ roll Christmas musical, “Finding Christmas,” using the music of Trans-Siberian Orchestra.
Show times are 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 6:30 p.m. Sunday in the Life Center behind the church.
The show tells the story of two lives that are changed forever when they discover the Christmas spirit with the help of a tiny angel.
The event is free.
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White Drive Baptist Church will have its annual Christmas musical titled “Did They Know?” at 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. -
MITM hosts Ozark Christmas
HORSESHOE BEND — The monthly Music in the Mountains Show will be at 6 p.m. Saturday at the Horseshoe Bend Theatre in the Lower Diamond B Mall.
The Highway 289 Band will perform many Christmas favorites with guests Cari Long and Wayne Gunter and cast members Brenda Doty, Ron Hart and Jerry Kipper. Admission is by donation.
Pictures with Santa will be available.
Concessions will include Boston butt pulled pork sandwiches, hot chocolate and other items.
For more information call (870) 373-3303. -
Author to sign books
HARDY — Author Sherry Laymon will hold a book signing from 2-4 p.m. Saturday at Words Bookstore, 201 N. Spring St., Hardy.
Laymon, a resident of Hot Springs, will sign copies of her biography book, “Fearless: John L. McClellan, United States Senator.” -
Dockins, Harper wedding reception to be Saturday
MANUEL ANTONIO, Costa Rica — Kimberly Paige Harper and Travis Allen Dockins were united in marriage Dec. 4 at El Parador in Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica.
The bride is the daughter of Thomas and Carolyn Harper of Helena. She is the granddaughter of Carmen Carpenter of Waldenburg and the late Malcolm Carpenter and the late Dr. and Mrs. Bland “BR” Harper of Monette. The groom is the son of Tony and Jill Dockins of Batesville and the grandson of Billie Doyle and the late Ernest J.T. Doyle and Wilma Dockins and the late Lester Dockins, all of Batesville. -
The Weekend Events
Friday
• “Finding Christmas,” performed by First Desha Baptist Church with music by Trans Siberian Orchestra, Life Center building behind the church in Desha, 7 p.m. Free admission. Call (870) 698-1200.
• “A Journey Begins,” First Church, 240 White Drive, Batesville, 7 p.m.
• Words and Afterwords featuring Locke House Band, 201 N. Spring Street, Hardy, 7-9 p.m. Call (870) 856-5579 or visit www.WordsAfterwords.com.
Saturday
