Jeanni Brosius
Stories by Jeanni
End of a tradition
posted: 05/24/2012 3:08 a.m. Discuss
On a warm May morning, Harry and Dorothy Roland sat on the front porch of their Pangburn home reminiscing about how their collection of daylilies had seemingly taken on a life of its own. A lizard scampered by Harry’s feet. Bluebird Hill Farm is a peaceful place with a view of rolling hills beyond the multitude of daylily beds.
Food pantry rises from the ashes
posted: 05/24/2012 3:07 a.m. Discuss
A February fire may have slowed down Bill and Treva Mills of Kensett just a bit, but it didn’t stop them from opening the Kensett Community Outreach Inc. food pantry.
Boutique benefits animal shelter
posted: 05/24/2012 3:06 a.m. Discuss
T he cost of running an animal shelter can be staggering, especially when there are more than 700 animals each year that need to be tested, given shots and fed.
Filming cousins
posted: 05/20/2012 3:04 a.m. Discuss
When cousins Christopher S. Thompson of Conway and Brian White of Searcy decided to make a film, they went all in.
Community college adopts River Bandit as mascot
posted: 05/20/2012 3:02 a.m. Discuss
The definition of mascot is a person, animal or thing that brings good luck. It may seem unusual for a school to have a mascot when there isn’t a sports team, but don’t tell officials at the University of Arkansas Community College at Batesville that.
Scholarship honors governor’s mother
posted: 05/20/2012 3:01 a.m. Discuss
As if being a single parent isn’t difficult enough, going back to college is just one more challenge many single parents take on. The White County Single Parent Scholarship Fund Inc. is working to help alleviate some of that burden.
front & center: George Lankford
posted: 05/20/2012 2:57 a.m. Discuss
The Old Independence Regional Museum in Batesville was quiet except for a few people trickling in to vote early in the primary election. In a room down from the museum’s library, George Lankford sat in a black metal chair and told a few stories. Some were humorous, and some were intriguing.
Filming cousins ...: Southern Gothic thriller gets accolades
posted: 05/20/2012 1:58 a.m. Discuss
When cousins Christopher S. Thompson of Conway and Brian White of Searcy decided to make a film, they went all in.
Buzz on MosquitoFest
posted: 05/17/2012 3:05 a.m. Discuss
On a hot summer evening almost 30 years ago, a group of friends had just come in off the golf course. Swatting mosquitos as the group visited, Eva Kyle-Jones jokingly said, “We should have a mosquito festival.” That joke has evolved into what will be the 27th annual MosquitoFest in downtown McCrory. Festivities will kick off at 5:30 tonight with the Mosquito Swat Dash at Raney Park and conclude after the MosquitoFest Golf Tournament that begins at 1 p.m. Sunday. The time in between will be filled with fun activities and entertainment for the entire family.
‘A mothering project’
posted: 05/17/2012 3:03 a.m. Discuss
A plastic bin of baby paraphernalia and clothing sat atop a brown folding table in a classroom at Cave City High School. On the front of the bin was a label identifying the bin as part of the Bethany Project, which provides clothing and other items to moms.
Extension Homemakers Club celebrates 100 years
posted: 05/17/2012 3:01 a.m. Discuss
Much has changed over the past 100 years, but the desire to care for one’s family has stayed the same.
First Electric Cooperative lights up 75 years of service
posted: 05/13/2012 3:31 a.m. Discuss
When the Rural Electrification Administration began offering electrical service in 1938 in Arkansas, only 105 homes were lighted. It soon became a status symbol to have an electric home.
‘Heart for service’
posted: 05/13/2012 3:29 a.m. Discuss
It was a hot May afternoon as Buddy Muirhead cranked the motor of his perfectly restored 1924 Ner-A-Car motorcycle that sat in his driveway. His boyish grin was evidence that he has a passion for antique motorbikes, and this one has been in his family since it was purchased more than 85 years ago.
School district employees help send students to college
posted: 05/13/2012 3:26 a.m. Discuss
Cabot School District teachers and school employees are helping to pay for some students’ college education.
front & center: Nicky Boyd
posted: 05/13/2012 3:25 a.m. Discuss
Gleaning a small perfume bottle from one of the shelves that line a wall in his office at Harding University, Nicky Boyd gazed at the intricate detail of the red bird that is painted on the bottle. He then slowly turned and said, “This is one of my favorite pieces. It’s painted from the inside.”
First Electric Cooperative lights up 75 years of service
posted: 05/13/2012 2:59 a.m. Discuss
When the Rural Electrification Administration began offering electrical service in 1938 in Arkansas, only 105 homes were lighted. It soon became a status symbol to have an electric home.
Portfest in full swing for June return
posted: 05/10/2012 3:26 a.m. Discuss
411 about Portfest Where: Jacksonport State Park in Newport When: June 1-2 Cost: Tickets for June 1 are $15 in advance and $20 at the gate. Tickets for June 2 are $10 before 4 p.m. and $15 at the gate after 4 p.m. Kids 6 and younger will get in free both days. Coolers are welcome, but there will be a $5 cooler fee at the gate. Parking is free. NEWPORT — The annual Portfest Rollin’ on the River Festival will be right on track this year.
Young man
posted: 05/10/2012 3:25 a.m. Discuss
Larry Lewis spent 36 years working in a couple of White County school systems. From coaching and teaching up to administration, he said he had worked with kids for so long that it didn’t seem right to just walk away after he retired.
Harding Academy student wins national cooking title
posted: 05/10/2012 3:24 a.m. Discuss
It may seem like a coincidence that Harding Academy has produced a national cooking prize winner two years in a row.
Last goodbye
posted: 05/06/2012 2:38 a.m. Discuss
It was bittersweet as a crowd gathered at Little Rock Air Force Base on Tuesday morning to bid farewell to tail No. 61-2358, the last C-130 E to retire from the 19th Airlift Wing and from the active-duty Air Force.
Author strives for ‘clean romance’
posted: 05/06/2012 2:37 a.m. Discuss
A waterfall is the backdrop for romance.
Prescription drug take-back event successful
posted: 05/06/2012 2:32 a.m. Discuss
The side effects of prescription drugs can go way beyond those listed on the slip of paper the pharmacist tucks into the bag.
Heber Springs author strives for ‘clean romance’
posted: 05/06/2012 1:59 a.m. Discuss
A waterfall is the backdrop for romance.
Bringing bomber back
posted: 04/29/2012 3:16 a.m. Discuss
The last B-58 Hustler to leave Little Rock Air Force Base is finally back home. And this wasp-waist jet has a story to tell. Not only was this particular bomber the last to leave LRAFB, it was the first Hustler to enter into enemy air space when it flew over Cuba during the Cuban Missile Crisis in October 1962. The plane was later converted to a TB-58, which was used for pilot training.
Searcy broadcast-journalism program producing real-world reporters
posted: 04/29/2012 3:15 a.m. Discuss
Monday morning at Searcy High School’s Student Television Network, Justin Rose and Dylan Rohr decided to anchor the news desk wearing their tuxedos from prom, which had been the previous Saturday.
Grants allow Augusta to make necessary improvements
posted: 04/29/2012 3:14 a.m. Discuss
Crews in this small Woodruff County town will be busy this year with various projects funded by grants.
A real home
posted: 04/26/2012 3:32 a.m. Discuss
There are times in young people’s lives when they are at a crossroads and must choose which direction to take. For young girls who are pregnant or have babies, those options may be limited. Moms in foster care are usually separated from their children because many foster homes aren’t equipped to care for babies and toddlers.
Taking a dip
posted: 04/26/2012 3:29 a.m. Discuss
Fourteen-yearold Ryan Zick slipped into the indoor pool at the Jacksonville Community Center on Friday afternoon for his weekly swimming lesson with Diane Novotny. Most children Novotny teaches are younger, but Ryan has autism.
Mock crash affects students deeply
posted: 04/26/2012 3:29 a.m. Discuss
On prom night, following an alcohol-related crash, a young girl lay dead on the roadside as her friend made a frantic 911 call.
Education focus of representative’s speech
posted: 04/22/2012 3:03 a.m. Discuss
The ties that people of Jacksonville and Cabot have formed with one another are what binds the neighboring communities together.
Tough Mudder extreme obstacle course offers chance to bond
posted: 04/22/2012 3:02 a.m. Discuss
When Miranda Reynolds of Searcy learned about the Tough Mudder — a 12-mile obstacle course that benefits the Wounded Warrior Project — she decided that running it would be a great way to honor her grandfather, Eppes Mabry of Mountain View, who was injured during World War II.
Students behind community-center project
posted: 04/22/2012 2:50 a.m. Discuss
Several Pangburn High School students hope their efforts will lead to a community center for the town.
Noteworthy performance
posted: 04/19/2012 4:15 a.m. Discuss
Ask members of the Beebe High School Band what was most memorable about their recent trip to Walt Disney World Resort, and most of them would probably say winning the Golden Mickey Award.
Bald Knob foundation enriches students’ education
posted: 04/19/2012 4:12 a.m. Discuss
Many students who graduate from Bald Knob High School would not be attending college or trade school if it weren’t for financial assistance. Sometimes scholarships can make the difference, offering students the opportunity to continue their educations.
Cell audio tour of Civil War sites available
posted: 04/15/2012 3:08 a.m. Discuss
Visiting a Civil War site is a great way to learn more about the battle that took place there, but the Arkansas Civil War Sesquicentennial Commission has taken such visits a step further with cellphone audio tours.
The Big 5-0
posted: 04/15/2012 3:05 a.m. Discuss
Walking down the streets of Mountain View during the annual Arkansas Folk Festival is like stepping back in time. When the Ozark Folk Center State Park opened in 1973, it focused on mountain music and traditional crafts that were a way of life in the Ozarks. But before that, the Folk Festival had become an annual tradition in Mountain View.
Superheroes ready to battle obesity in Cabot 1K fun run
posted: 04/15/2012 3:01 a.m. Discuss
Who do you think would be faster in a footrace, Superman or The Flash? Or would Iron Man’s rocket-propelled suit give him the edge?
front & center: Tommy Hancock
posted: 04/15/2012 2:58 a.m. Discuss
There’s a certain bit of style about a man in a snap brim fedora, and Tommy Hancock wears his to show his affection for the days of pulp fiction.
Say CHEESE!
posted: 04/12/2012 4:22 a.m. Discuss
By the time the milk tanker truck barreled up the gravel lane, Cindy Daley was well into her morning routine, which began at 5:15 a.m., at Daley Dairy in Rose Bud.
Searcy police first in state to adopt Smart911
posted: 04/12/2012 4:22 a.m. Discuss
Imagine if emergency-services personnel had information — such as photos of and detailed information about the caller’s home, the security pass code, medical information and photos of the residents, their children and pets — at their fingertips prior to coming to an emergency call.
People Helping People has long history of assisting community
posted: 04/12/2012 4:21 a.m. Discuss
In a metal building in a town of less than a hundred people, thousands of dollars are raised for those in need. So far this year, more than $60,000 has been donated to people within a 30-mile radius of Amagon.
Dogged dedication
posted: 04/08/2012 2:49 a.m. Discuss
A small caravan of vehicles from the 19th Security Forces Squadron Military Working Dog Section finally came to a stop in a remote area on the Little Rock Air Force Base on Tuesday morning.
Reaching out to those in need
posted: 04/08/2012 2:48 a.m. Discuss
After organizing a Hellfighters Christian Ministries chapter in Batesville in November, Steve and Jamie Blakely began collecting food and clothing for people in need. They soon realized that the needs were much greater than just canned goods and a coat. People began coming to the Hellfighters for help finding a place to sleep.
A home by any other name
posted: 04/08/2012 2:45 a.m. Discuss
Are there people living under bridges in Batesville ? That is a question that may be debated; however, no one seems to dispute that it is a good idea to help those who have no place to call home. The debate is about the location of a homeless shelter and if it is truly needed.
front & center: Rebecca Riley
posted: 04/08/2012 2:44 a.m. Discuss
The desire to help others has always been a part of Rebecca Riley’s life, beginning with her learning disabled sister, Rachel, who is now 25. Now as executive director of Family Violence Prevention of Independence County, Riley fulfills her desire to help people on a daily basis.
Ride interrupted
posted: 04/05/2012 3:38 a.m. Discuss
In Sean Conway’s attempt to break the world record of cycling around the world, he was knocked off his bike March 21 as he rode through White County. The 30-year-old athlete left London on Feb. 18 on his journey, in hopes of making the 18,000 mile ride in only 100 days to not only break the record, but to raise awareness for SolarAid, a charity that provides solar-powered lamps to people in Africa.
Air base celebrating Month of the Military Child
posted: 04/05/2012 3:36 a.m. Discuss
Men and women who leave their families to serve in the military aren’t the only ones who make sacrifices. So do the children who are left behind, worrying about and missing their mothers or fathers.
Churches collecting Bibles for world missions
posted: 04/05/2012 3:35 a.m. Discuss
There are many areas of the world that the word of God hasn’t reached, and thanks to a project at Park Hill Baptist Church in North Little Rock, Bibles will soon be on the way to some of those areas.
Not all fun and
posted: 04/01/2012 2:47 a.m. Discuss
Bobby Quattlebaum read a newspaper article about a toy show in Searcy, and he said he wondered what it was all about, so he went to the show. “When I got there, I looked around and asked, ‘What are grown men doing playing with toys?’” he said with a laugh. “There were a lot of farmers buying farm toys. They were taking it seriously.
Junior Auxiliary of Searcy celebrates 50 years
posted: 04/01/2012 2:46 a.m. Discuss
Ruby Nell Moye joined the Junior Auxiliary of Searcy in 1962 in hopes of contributing to her community. Moye is now a lifetime member of the nonprofit organization, which focuses its endeavors on the children of White County.
