News

It’s tradition at Eureka Springs High School to provide Thanksgiving baskets for local families in need, but that almost didn’t happen this year. “Normally we have a group on campus who sponsors this event, and we realized we hadn’t heard anything about it,” said teacher Adam Louderback. “We had less than two weeks to pull it together. We couldn’t do a proper food drive, so we just started throwing money at it.”...

The 2018 Silver Tea will herald in the Christmas season from 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 6, at the Crescent Hotel. The English-style “high tea” is hosted by St. James Episcopal Church and features ladies and gentlemen in colorful Victorian fashion or more eclectic, colorful attire. There will be tables laden with pastries, tea, cookies and sandwiches — and tea poured from antique silver service by the ladies of St. James...

For 30 consecutive years, area scouts have been serving the needs of the Eureka Springs community with the annual Scouting for Food event. Scoutmaster Bruce Bieschke and troop committee leader Carole Bieschke said the Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, their families and leaders of Eureka Springs spend roughly 500 hours each year on the food drive...

The Eureka Springs Parks and Recreation Commission is making it even more tempting to ride the downhill mountain bike trails at Lake Leatherwood City Park. At a special meeting Nov. 8, the commission agreed to work with local company Shuttlebug to offer a shuttle service Nov. ...

When it comes to the city’s infrastructure, Eureka Springs is keeping its head above the water. The Eureka Springs City Council heard from public works director Dwayne Allen on Thursday, Nov. 15, about the water audit completed in October. The audit covered 42.5 miles of water line and pinpointed nine major previously undiscovered leaks, Allen said, and very few leaks on the customer side of the meters...

The Eureka Springs City Advertising and Promotion Commission approved its 2019 budget on Wednesday, Nov. 14, but the decision didn’t come without debate. Events coordinator Andy Green spoke to the commission about its Oct. 24 workshop, where he was asked to come up with a plan for next year’s special events under $200,000. Green said he has been working with director Mike Maloney and finance director Rick Bright to figure out how The Auditorium could sustain itself...

The Arkansas School Recognition Program has awarded Eureka Springs High School a grant of $19,042.56. High school principal David Gilmore said the grant is a result of the school's high test scores and higher-than-average graduation rate. He said the school’s graduation rate is at 89.74 percent, beating the state average of 87.97, and the school is 11th in the state when it comes to test scores...

The Eureka Springs Garden Club recently named the Gardens of the Season winners. --- ---...

Eureka Springs High School held a special assembly Monday, Nov. 12, to honor the 100th anniversary of Veterans Day and recognize local veterans for their service. Principal David Gilmore welcomed local veterans, saying he hoped students would honor veterans and understand the sacrifice veterans have made for the country...

Photo by David Bell/Lovely County Citizen Eureka Springs High School’s Homecoming royalty gathers for a group photo after being honored during ceremonies Friday, Nov. 9. From left are King Chris Segura, Queen Makenzie Meyer, Princess Summer Fish and Prince Isaiah McCurry...

Submitted photo Chuck and Pattie Jarrett receive a $125 donation from the Basin Springs Masonic Lodge No. 386 of Eureka Springs for A Cup of Love Ministry. Pictured from left to right are Chuck, Pattie and lodge secretary Ferguson Stewart.

A Eureka Springs man was killed Thursday morning in a one-vehicle accident in Holiday Island. According to a preliminary report from the Arkansas State Police, Nicholas R. Godard, 34, was driving a 2006 Honda northbound on State Line Road west of Summit Drive at 6:40 a.m. when he lost control of the vehicle in a curve. The vehicle crossed the center line and ran off the road, striking an electric pole, according to the report...

The Carroll County Country Chicks Extension Homemakers Club (EHC) is offering a local option for Christmas shopping this weekend. The fourth annual Christmas Gifts Galore will be held from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 17, in the educational and business hall at the Carroll County Fairgrounds in Berryville. Club secretary Johanna Edwards said there are only a few vendor spaces left...

The owner of four Rowdy Beaver restaurants — including two in Eureka Springs — pleaded guilty Oct. 30 in federal court of failing to pay federal employment taxes. Rodney Minner, 62, of Eureka Springs, was indicted in April on 35 counts of willful failure to collect and pay over employment taxes over a four-year period from April 30, 2012, to April 30, 2016. The indictment listed the total tax loss for all 35 counts at $415,505.30...

The Indie Art and Craft Fair will be held from noon to 8 p.m. Friday, Nov. 23, and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 24, at Main Stage Creative Community Center at 67 N. Main St. in Eureka Springs. A reception is scheduled for 5 p.m. on Friday. In addition to giving the community the opportunity to find unique Christmas gifts, 30 percent of all proceeds will be donated to Main Stage. This venue has helped to support youth and adult theater, as well as providing resources to local artists...

The Eureka Springs School Board voted Monday to award a $1,000 bonus to all licensed and classified personnel. “Basically anyone that gets a paycheck from our school got a $1,000 bonus,” said Superintendent Bryan Pruitt. The board also voted to raise the salary index for facility director Mike Dwyer because he has completed his maintenance plant manager certification through the Arkansas Association of Educational Administrators (AAEA)...

Photo by David Bell/Lovely County Citizen Shelby Little, left, and Carter Drennon are Eureka Springs High School’s Mr. and Ms. Basketball for 2018. The two were honored at Homecoming ceremonies on Friday, Nov. 9.

Photo by David Bell/Lovely County Citizen Good Shepherd Humane Society raised money for the dogs and cats at the Bonejour Gala Tuesday, Nov. 6. Pictured from left to right are (top row) Kathryn Johnson, Kathy Cobb, Nelli Clark, Hallie Roberts, Sam McCullough and Jackie Looney and (bottom row) Alex Burrington, Panda the dog, Ashley Davis, Ceddy White the dog and Jonathan Davis...

Eureka Springs coach Brian Rambo is a veteran coach who has had the luxury of coaching some talented players during his career. But only twice in his career, Rambo said, has one of his players recorded a triple double. The first time came last season, when then-junior Garrett Cross accomplished the feat in a game against Alpena...

Ryan Sanchez knew that rebuilding the Eureka Springs girls basketball program wasn’t going to happen overnight. The Lady Highlanders, after all, had won just nine games combined over the previous three seasons. “We’re building a foundation, creating a culture,” said Sanchez, a 1994 Eureka Springs graduate. “We know it’s going to take some time. But I’m impatient. I want it to happen right now.”...

Eureka Springs’ Katelyn Ross has been invited to attend the 2019 High School Golf National Invitational in June at Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Fla. This event showcases 124 of the best high school golfers from throughout the country.

Charles T. Cross, CEO of Cornerstone Bank, recently presented a check for $10,000 to the Eureka Springs Community Center Foundation. The donation was part of a $50,000 commitment the bank made to the foundation in 2016 to help facilitate the completion of various phases of the project. The funds went to assist in the renovation of the interpretive visitors center and the Eureka Springs Chamber of Commerce office that is now located at the community center...

A Eureka Springs man was killed Thursday morning in a one-vehicle accident in Holiday Island. According to a preliminary report from the Arkansas State Police, Nicholas R. Godard, 34, was driving a 2006 Honda northbound on State Line Road west of Summit Drive at 6:40 a.m. when he lost control of the vehicle in a curve. The vehicle crossed the center line and ran off the road, striking an electric pole, according to the report...

Photo by Tavi Ellis It’ll take more than a little rain to stop the Huss family from trick-or-treating on the Historic Upper Loop on Halloween night. Pictured from left to right are Justin, Jennifer and Kora Belle Huss.

Eureka Springs Mayor Butch Berry was re-elected Tuesday, defeating challengers Theodore Cottingham and Mike Seals to win a second term. Final but unofficial results listed Berry with 514 votes (52.9 percent). Cottingham received 284 votes (29.2 percent) and Seals got 174 (17.9 percent)...

The Eureka Springs Carnegie Public Library is checking out some new property. Lucilla Garrett, president of the library’s board of directors, said the library has purchased the building next to it. Garrett said that includes a garage, garden area and two-story former antique store. The former antique store is more than 2,000 square feet, Garrett said, and that’s not counting the garage and garden area...

Eureka Springs will be honoring the valor of its local veterans with several scheduled events this weekend, saluting their service with food, commemorations and more. Legends Saloon will kick off Veterans Day festivities in Eureka Springs with a Marine Birthday and Veterans Party from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Friday, Nov. 9. There will be live entertainment, a free buffet for veterans, a cash bar and a silent auction...

Carroll County Sheriff Randy Mayfield fired Chief Deputy Maj. George Frye on Monday, Frye confirmed. “I have been terminated, and I’m reviewing my options,” Frye said. Mayfield did not return messages on his office and cell phone. The firing came on Frye’s first day at work after a weeklong vacation and less than a week after former District 3 Justice of the Peace Lamont Richie’s resignation. ...

A Cup of Love Ministry is hoping to expand its services, and founders Chuck and Pattie Jarrett are reaching out to the Carroll County community for help. The Jarretts are raising money to open a temporary shelter at 4032 E. Van Buren in Eureka Springs, where they have fed the community for more than a year. They offer several kinds of soup and desserts from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday and open the food bank from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Fridays...

Charles T. Cross, chief executive officer of Cornerstone Bank, has announced the appointment of Ronnie Whiteley to the local bank’s Advisory Board of Directors for the Eastern District of Carroll County. Whiteley, along with wife Christy, owns and operates Montgomery Whiteley Realty in Berryville. ...

The annual Food Truck Lottery will be held on Thursday, Nov. 15, at the Eureka Springs City Council’s meeting. Interested property owners on Highway 62, Main Street, Highway 23 South, Kingshighway (from the intersection of Highway 62 to Eugenia Street) and Center Street (from Spring Street to German Alley) may contact the city clerk treasurer at 479-253-9703 for an application. A parking lot inspection is required...

Carroll County Judge Sam Barr was re-elected Tuesday, defeating Green Forest Mayor Charlie Reece. Former Berryville police officer Jim Ross was elected sheriff over Carroll County Sheriff’s Office Sgt. Mark Bailey, and Connie Doss unseated longtime County Clerk Jamie Correia...

In 2013, Sonny Smith gave an emotional account of his military service in Vietnam — service he said led to him receiving a Bronze Star and Purple Heart. He maintained his story in an Oct. 4 interview with Lovely County Citizen, describing his service in detail...

Photo by Tavi Ellis Karen Pryor portrays suffragette Daisy Tatman Perkins at the Eureka Springs Historical Museum’s 10th annual Voices from Eureka’s Silent City on Saturday, Oct. 27. Determined ladies like Daisy fought for women’s suffrage for nearly a century before finally succeeding in 1920, thanks in part to women’s successful roles ‘over there’ in WWI...

Kristi Kendrick has officially resigned from the Eureka Springs City Council. In an Oct. 26 email, Kendrick says she is resigning from Ward 3 Position 2 effective immediately. Her resignation didn’t come as a surprise to anyone who attended the council’s Oct. 22 meeting, where Kendrick delivered a scathing criticism of the council in particular and city government in general and vowed to submit her resignation by the end of the week...

District 3 Justice of the Peace Lamont Richie resigned from the Carroll County Quorum Court on Tuesday. Richie, a Democrat from Eureka Springs who was serving his fourth term as a JP, submitted his resignation in a letter to Carroll County Judge Sam Barr and the 10 other JPs...

The Greater Eureka Springs Chamber of Commerce sponsored a mayoral review on Wednesday, Oct. 24, at the Inn of the Ozarks Convention Center, allowing the three candidates for mayor to share their thoughts on a variety of topics. Mayor Butch Berry is being challenged in the Nov. 6 general election by Theodore Cottingham and Mike Seals...

The Eureka Springs Highlanders bounced back from a season-opening loss to reel off five consecutive victories, including three in the past week, before suffering their second loss of the season on Tuesday at Alpena. The Highlanders traveled to St. Paul on Thursday, Oct. 25, and defeated the Saints 51-20. Senior Garrett Cross scored 21 points and senior Slade Clark added 11 to lead Eureka Springs...

There’s a lot of learning going on for the Eureka Springs Lady Highlanders in their first year under coach Ryan Sanchez. So far, the Lady Highlanders seem to be applying those lessons. Eureka Springs lost at Alpena by a score of 57-16 on Tuesday. But the Lady Highlanders have already won three games, the latest a 44-26 victory over Deer on Monday night...

Submitted photo Eureka Springs High School senior Hayden Nance, son of Diana and Johnny Nance,  has been named the Eureka Springs Rotary Student of the Month for September 2018. Nance is a National Honor Society Gold Renaissance student and maintains a 3.9 GPA.  Nance’s hobbies are drawing and making short films. His art is displayed on the Art Wall in Downtown Eureka Springs. He has had work displayed at Brews and has received first place two years in a row at the Youth Advisory Council  (YAC) art competition for charity. ...

The Eureka Springs Hospital Commission voted to retain a new attorney at a special meeting Friday, Oct. 26. Chairman Michael Merry said the commission needed to replace its current litigating attorney, Harold Simpson, because he is no longer litigating...

Carroll County Sheriff Randy Mayfield admitted Monday that he used a homophobic slur in reference to District 3 Justice of the Peace Lamont Richie. In a written statement, Mayfield wrote that he used the slur during a “momentary loss of professionalism.”...

The Eureka Springs City Council held one of its shortest meetings in memory Monday night, but the brevity didn’t mean it was a quiet meeting. Ward 3 Alderwoman Kristi Kendrick delivered a scathing criticism of the council in particular and city government in general and vowed to submit her resignation by the end of the week...

The Eureka Springs Community Center is partnering with the Eureka Springs Carnegie Public Library to offer a family-friendly event celebrating the power of after-school programs. Scheduled from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 25, at the community center, the event will feature performances by Melonlight and Z-Crew, circus arts and fire tricks by Elite Dance Studio, light-themed art activities by Eureka Springs School of the Arts and the University of Arkansas’ inflatable planetarium...

Eureka Springs High School students aren’t afraid to get their hands dirty, especially if it’s for a good cause. Over the past month, the students have been volunteering at Echo Village, an affordable housing project on Passion Play Road. High school teachers Jason McAfee and Nancy Stainer helped out, too. McAfee said high school principal David Gilmore has been pushing for more volunteerism, saying students can receive one full credit for 75 hours of volunteer work...

Voices from Eureka’s Silent City has been entertaining visitors and locals alike for 10 years now. The Eureka Springs Historical Museum’s living history tour began more than 10 years ago, when Carol Greer was having dinner with her sister. Her sister told her about walking tours at the cemetery in Park City, Utah, Greer said...

The Eureka Springs School District received its annual report card early this year. According to a press release from the Arkansas Department of Education (ADE), the 2018 Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) Index and Accountability At-A-Glance reports, which include data from the 2017-18 school year and the 2018 ACT Aspire results, were issued on Oct. 12...

Early voting for the 2018 General Election began Monday, Oct. 22. Early voting will continue through Monday, Nov. 5, at the Carroll County Clerk’s Office in Berryville or Eureka Springs. The Berryville office, located at 210 W. Church St., inside the Eastern District Courthouse, is open from 8:30 a.m. ...

Myrtie Mae’s waitress Molly Herndon Pinkley is getting better after being injured in a two-vehicle accident on Wednesday, Oct. 17. Abbie Miller, who works with Pinkley at Myrtie Mae’s, said Pinkley was airlifted to Washington Regional Medical Center in Fayetteville after the accident. Pinkley’s injuries include broken ribs, facial fractures, several broken vertebrae, a lacerated liver and a possibly broken wrist and arm, according to Miller...

Submitted photo The Abendschone Chapter of the National Society of Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) celebrated the 128th anniversary of the founding of DAR and the National Day of Service at their monthly meeting Oct. 11. The DAR also heard from Suzie Bell of Echo Village. From left to right are Suzanne Williams, Ginger Malmstrom, Andrea Rowe, Suzie Bell, Sherry Kerr and Fayette Schmutzler...