News Briefs

A benefit for Todd Huber's medical expenses will be held at Chelsea's, where Huber worked as a bartender, on Friday, Feb. 5 beginning at 5 p.m.

The benefit will include a silent auction, a live auction, a cake walk, food and live music. Donations and auction items can be dropped off at Chelsea's at the intersection of Mountain and Center streets.

For details, call Stick at Chelsea's at 253-6723 or 253-7890.

Drennon memorial account established

A memorial account for Michael D. Drennon and family has been set up at Cornerstone Bank. Donations are being accepted at all banking locations.

For details, call 253-2265.

Beaver Lake is being lowered 7 feet

The high level of Beaver Lake caused by repeated rains during the fall and winter of 2009 is being lowered. On Jan. 19, the Army Corps of Engineers began making releases through the hydropower turbines to bring the lake down to 1,120.4 feet above sea level, the top of the conservation pool. Beaver Lake peaked at 1,127.3 ft.

Owners of docks on Beaver Lake are advised to move them to prevent grounding as the lake recedes. Officials also cautioned anglers downstream from the dam to be extra vigilant because currents will be strong and swift when the larger releases are being made. Officials also advised downstream boat dock owners to ensure their docks are properly secured to withstand high flows.

The lake level is dropping about one half foot each day. Releases from Beaver Dam will begin at full hydropower generation capacity for 24 hours a day and continue until the lake falls to elevation 1121.4 feet. Then releases will be reduced to about the equivalent rate of operating at full power for 12 hours a day until the lake reaches conservation pool elevation 1,120.4 feet.

Daily lake information can be obtained on the Internet at www.swl.usace.army.mil by clicking on the "Water Management" button.

Gates to speak to

Ladies Noon Luncheon group

Area women are invited to a Ladies Noon Luncheon on Thursday, Jan. 21 at Forest Hill Restaurant in Eureka Springs. Charlene Gates will be the speaker.

The noon luncheons are held each third Thursday of the month with different speakers, offering a time of fun and fellowship.

The Gathering Place will provide a door prize.

For details or to make reservations, call hostess Margo Prior at (870) 929-6363, or e-mail her at wwjd4u@cox.net.

Library exhibits Rankine portraits

The teenagers of Carnegie Public Library invite the public to the opening of John Rankine's latest portrait study, "Carnegie Rising: Photographs of Library Teens."

The exhibit will be unveiled at a reception at the library on Friday, Jan. 22 from 5 to 6:30 p.m. Rankine's style shines in 25 portraits of members of the next generation of library lovers. Also shown will be a composite poster, designed and donated by the artist, to be permanently displayed in the Young Adult area of the library.

Individual portraits will remain on display through Feb. 6. For details, e-mail info@eurekalibrary.org or call 253-8754.

Town hall meetings to address new high school

The Eureka Springs School District and New High School Building Committee invite the community to Town Hall Meetings scheduled for Jan. 25 at the Holiday Island Clubhouse Ballroom and Feb. 1 at the Eureka Springs Middle School cafeteria. Both meetings will start at 6:30 p.m.

A panel of Eureka Springs School District staff, students and guest speakers will address facts about the existing high school and the proposed building and will answer questions.

For details, call High School Principal Jack Golden at 253-8875 or School Superintendent Wayne Carr at 253-5999.

Metafizzies to ponder Hamlet

At the Arkansas Metaphysical Society meeting on Monday, Jan. 25 at 6:30 p.m. at 68 W. Mt. St., Dr. Alden Stallings will speak on "The Metaphysical Dimension of Hamlet," reflecting on the central theme that Hamlet deals with death on both the physical and spiritual levels.

Dr. Stallings is a retired Foreign Service Officer and long-time student and teacher of Transcendental Meditation.

HIFA to meet Jan. 26

The Holiday Island Fire Auxiliary's (HIFA) first meeting of 2010 will be held on Tuesday, Jan. 26 at 11:30 a.m. The meeting will be held at the Clubhouse.

Lunch will be catered by the Gazebo Restaurant and admission is $8. Yearly dues for HIFA are $12. The organization raises funds to purchase equipment and meet other needs of the Holiday Island Fire Department. If you will be attending the luncheon and are not a current member, please call Monica Kirby at 363-6025 by Thursday, Jan. 21 to RSVP.

HI to offer van tours of ES high school

The Holiday Island Recreation Center has scheduled van transporation for tours of the existing Eureka Springs high school campus for those who have questions about the proposed new high school and the upcoming millage election to support it.

For a trip to run, at least eight people need to be signed up. The following dates are scheduled: Jan. 27, Jan. 29, Feb. 3 and Feb. 5.

Cost of the trip is $2 per person. For details or reservations, call the Recreation Center at 253-9890 or stop by to sign up for a tour.

NEBCO sets spaghetti feed for Jan. 29

The Northeast Benton County Volunteer Fire Department will host an all-you-can-eat Spaghetti Feed fundraiser on Friday, Jan. 29 from 4 to 7 p.m. at the NEBCO Community Center at 17823 Marshall St. (Hwy 62), in Garfield.

Cost, which includes a drink and dessert, is $6 for adults, $3 for children 5 to 12 and free for children under 5.

All proceeds will go to the building fund for the new NEBCO VFD fire station #2 on Posey Mountain.

For details, call Don Berndt at (479) 359-3134.

Coffee with Crosson scheduled Feb. 1

The next Holiday Island Coffee with Crosson will be held on Monday, Feb. 1 at 8 a.m. at the Island Room, across from the Recreation Center. There will be no coffee meeting with Crosson on Jan. 25.

The meetings are information sessions with District Manager Kevin Crosson to discuss issues and decisions made by the board of commissioners for those who cannot attend regular board meetings,

The board will hold a voting meeting on Monday, Jan. 25, at 9 a.m. at the district office at 110 Woodsdale Dr. For details, call 253-9700.

Burns celebration cancelled

After 10 years of honoring the Scottish bard Robert Burns, the annual event celebrating his birthday has been cancelled due to non-participation.

Those who made reservations may call the Best Western Inn of the Ozarks at 253-9768 for a full refund.