News

A $10 million endowment created and funded this fall will put Eureka Springs School of the Arts (ESSA) on a trajectory of nationwide impact. In September, the Windgate Foundation established the endowment at the Arkansas Community Foundation to provide ongoing operating support for the 20-year-old school of art and fine craft. The endowment is expected to produce $400,000 per year in operating support after a required one-year waiting period...

Carroll County saw another triple-digit increased in confirmed COVID-19 cases in a seven-day period beginning Tuesday, Nov. 24, according to Arkansas Health Department data.

The Good Shepherd Humane Society Thrift Store in Eureka Springs has temporarily changed the days it’s open to the public, but the Berryville store is still open Tuesday through Saturday and accepting new volunteers.

The Holiday Island Community Blood Drive will be held from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday, Dec. 7, at the Elks Lodge No. 1042 located at 4 Park Cliff Drive in the Holiday Island shopping center.  Free cholesterol screening for all donors.  Masks are required.  Appointments are encouraged to manage donor flow.  To schedule an appointment, call 417-227-5006 or go to www.cbco.org/donate-blood...

Jason Tennant, president of CS Bank has announced the promotion of Audra Deason to branch manager for CS Bank’s Holiday Island location. Deason will be responsible for the oversight of the deposit services staff and daily operations of the Holiday Island facility. As the bank continues to grow its client base, Deason will provide advice to new and current customers to find products and services to fit their individual needs...

The Answering the Call program started in March when the COVID-19 pandemic first hit as a way to help Carroll County residents stuck at home. Eight months later, the program is still going strong.

Bill Featherstone is this week's Citizen of the Week. Featherstone was nominated by Kathy McCoy for his work on the First United Methodist Church of Eureka Springs' Answering the Call program, which delivers free meals to citizens in need. To nominate somebody for Citizen of the Week, email Samantha Jones at Citizen.Editor.Eureka@gmail.com...

We all have that adorable, grumpy old person in our lives. You know the one. They are super cute with just the right amount of contrariness to keep things interesting. They look at us all like we are the crazy ones and sling the best insults but they also have that sly smile that lets you know there is true love behind those eyes. ...

One of the most beloved annual holiday traditions in the Arkansas Ozarks returns to the 1886 Crescent Hotel & Spa.  “Christmas At the Crescent” will immerse hotel guests in the holiday spirit for eight days in 2020, Dec. 4-11. “This year’s festive celebration will see a few new twists on tradition,” hotel activities director Mary Howze said. “Our list of activities and offerings have been expanded and some slightly redeveloped to embrace our unique 2020 year. One such nuance will be at this year’s ‘Santa’s Brunch.’ It will only be open to hotel guests; reservations required. There will be no buffet, but plated meals will be served to tables. ...

A fire at Green Tree Lodge RV Park completely destroyed the structure and skipped over Highway 62 to start another fire across the road, but no one was injured in either blaze.

The Eureka Springs City Council will have two meetings in December. On Monday night, Mayor Butch Berry suggested that the council discuss its meeting schedule for December. Berry said the council has historically just had one meeting in December on the second Monday because of the Christmas and New Year's holidays. Council member Terry McClung said he thought the council should meet twice this year, saying there won't be "a whole lot of Christmas parties" because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Two more Carroll County residents have died from COVID-19, the Arkansas Department of Health reported Monday afternoon, raising the county’s total death count from the virus to 23.

The Eureka Springs City Advertising and Promotion Commission approved its 2021 budget on Wednesday, Nov. 18, but the decision didn't come without debate.

The Eureka Springs Carnegie Library is working toward reopening to the public. According to a press release, the library staff has been working hard the past few months to serve the community in creative ways while preparing a plan for reopening the library and media center for browsing in a way that keeps patrons and staff safe during the COVID-19 pandemic. Given the layout of the facilities, the release says, library officials have been mindful to approach this matter with utmost care...

Eureka Springs High School senior Mia Evans is the Rotary Student of the Month for October. The daughter of Kelley Evans, Mia maintains a 4.0 GPA and is a Gold Renaissance card holder and a member of the National Honor Society. She has served as class council secretary and is the current secretary of the Rotary Interact Club. ...

Eureka Springs has a new public art project in the works, thanks to the Eureka Springs High School Art Club. Art teacher Jessica Cummings has led her students in a project that aims to dress up storm drains around town. The project is made possible by a grant from the Arkansas Arts Council that was secured by the Eureka Springs Arts Council. Two storm drains will be completed this fall and four more will be completed in the spring of 2021...

Rev. Blake Lasater is this week's Citizen of the Week. Lasater, who serves his congregation at First United Methodist Church of Eureka Springs, has been the driving force behind the church's Answering the Call program which offers free food delivery for those in need. Church secretary Martie Davis said Lasater has been instrumental in getting grants for the program, ensuring that it continues to serve the community...

Let's talk about Rocket. Rocket is this week's Pet of the Week! Rocket is a happy young brown and white terrier mix with the cutest pointy ears. Rocket has been with us for a while to undergo heart-worm treatment but he is now perfectly healthy. Rocket needs a home for Christmas! He would do best as the only pet in the household and would love an active owner. ...

The Eureka Springs Elementary School Scotties recently mailed out 157 holiday cards and letters to the military. According to teacher Donesa Mann, the Scotties ‘love to show their appreciation for others, and since we could not have a Veteran's Assembly this year, this project is kind of a substitute.’...

The Eureka Springs City Advertising and Promotion Commission had some special guests at its regular workshop on Wednesday, Nov. 11.

The Eureka Springs Hospital Commission has yet to reach a settlement agreement with former management company Alliance Management Group.

Students at Carroll County schools found creative ways to observe Veterans Day last week, honoring those who have served our country’s military last week.

Arkansas health secretary Dr. Jose Romero on Tuesday compared the state’s rising number of COVID-19 infections to “a boulder rolling down a hill,” and warned that “there will come a time when we cannot stop it.”

The Eureka Springs Hospital Commission is saying goodbye to longtime chief financial officer Scott Stone, but the commissioners hope to retain Stone for a couple of months after his contract is set to expire.

Eureka Springs Cemetery Commission chair Susan Tharp said the commission is in need of a new commissioner to replace Judy Holden at its meeting Tuesday, Nov. 10.

The Carroll County Quorum Court approved the first reading of a proposed 2021 county budget at Monday’s November meeting at Southern Heights Baptist Church in Berryville.

This week's Pet of the Week is our young guy Doug. Doug is a 6-month-old terrier mix who loves to play. He was crate trained by his former owners and walks well on a leash. Doug would do great in a home where he gets plenty of playtime and attention. He is sweet, cute and looking for a home. You can meet Doug and any of our other adoptable animals at the Good Shepherd Humane Society Adoption Center on Highway 62. The center is open daily from noon until 5 p.m...

The Eureka Springs FBLA Club are this week's Citizens of the Week. The club is sponsoring a Thanksgiving Food Drive Contest at the school to give back to those in need. The food drive annually supplies several low-income families with a great Thanksgiving meal...

Holiday Island is officially a town. According to final but unofficial results from the general election on Tuesday, Nov. 3, Holiday Island residents voted in favor of incorporation by a margin of 789-708.

Twenty Carroll County residents have now died from COVID-19, the Arkansas Department of Health website said Monday morning — an increase of one over the past week.

The Eureka Springs City Council spent much of its meeting Monday night discussing the possibility of increasing the salary for city employees in 2021 but ultimately took no action on the issue.

The Eureka Springs School Board voted Monday night to refund a bond valued at $9,995,000, accepting the interest rate of 1.379688 percent from the lowest bidder, SAMCO.

People who would like to give Christmas gifts to kids in need can do so with the help of the Angel Tree program.

Carroll County Clerk Connie Doss and everybody else that worked to make the 2020 election go smoothly are this week's Citizens of the Week. Many poll workers volunteered their time to help people vote, and Doss' team worked until Wednesday afternoon to get the full results to the public...

This week's Pet of the Week is our pretty princess Rapunzel. Rapunzel knows she is the most beautiful cat in the Lighthouse and will tell anyone who asks. She is full of love and sass. Rapunzel wants just the right amount of love and will let you know if you are pushing it a little too far. ...