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W E A T H E RToday: Mostly sunny. Breezy. Highs in the upper 50s. Northwest winds 15 to 20 mph.Tonight: Mostly clear. Lows in the mid 30s. West winds 5 to 10 mph.Vol. 157, No. 251

©2011 The Daily Citizen

“ ”Punctuality is one of the

cardinal business virtues. Always insist on it in your subordinates.

Don Marquis Poet, 1878-1937

Contact us: 3000 E. Race, Searcy, AR 72143, (Phone) 501-268-8621, (Fax) 501-268-6277

Wednesday, OctOber 19, 2011 75¢

Monarch butterflies are in the process of heading south for the winter, and one stopped in Searcy on Monday evening for a bite to eat. State entymologist Gus Laurens, who oversees integrated pest management, said many of the monarchs will end up in Mexico or as far as South America once they’ve passed through Arkansas from northern states. He said the monarchs could be in the state for at least a couple more weeks, but their stay depends on the weather. Molly M. Fleming/[email protected]

Monarch butterflies heading south for winter

Hope Cottage event is Saturday

NATION & STATE, 2A OPINIONS, 4A LIFESTYLES, 5ACALENDAR/OBITUARIES, 6A SPORTS, 1B CLASSIFIEDS, 5B

I N D E X

Purchase of OEM building in worksBy Marisa [email protected]

A motion to transfer $590,000 for purchase of a new building passed its first round of votes Tuesday night in Quorum Court. It must be passed twice more to be officially approved.

This amendment to appropria-tions ordinance 2010-40 calls for the

transfer of $590,000 from fund 01-4699 for the purchase of a building on East Line Road. This building would be used to house the Office of Emergency Management.

Justice of the Peace Bobby Quattlebaum spoke before the court

on specific features of the building. He said it contains approximately 7,500 square feet and sits on 2.89 acres of land.

It was built around 1976, but has received $107,000 worth of outdoor improvements by Brock Landscaping and $77,000 worth of indoor improvements. He added that the building has a kitchen, central heating and air, and a paved parking area, the rest of the land being fenced in and covered with gravel. In addition, the building

is on a rural septic system and is heated by gas.

“The building is listed for $660,000,” Quattlebaum said. “We have negotiated the price down to $590,000. We have also been told the building is ready to move into at any time.”

When the floor was opened for questions, Justice Ed Land asked if the building has been appraised and if it is on the city septic system.

Quorum Court must vote 3 times in favor of amendment for passage

CoNTiNueD oN Page 3a

Quorum Court n Regular session of Quorum Court met Tuesday. n Differing opinions voiced on pur-chase of new oeM building in Searcy

AwAreness event When: Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.Where: Berryhill Park, SearcyWhat to expect: Silent Witness display, children’s activities

By Molly M. [email protected]

By the time one finishes reading this sentence, some-one will have filed a report of domestic violence, as a report is filed every nine seconds.

And in Arkansas, White County has the sixth highest number of reported incidenc-es.

Volunteers with Hope Cottage, a non-profit shelter for women who are victims of domestic violence, want to bring more awareness of the epidemic to residents of White County.

On Saturday, the volunteers will host an event at Berryhill Park from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. that will help educate residents about the frequency of domes-tic violence.

At the event, 23 cutouts of women will be set up, each with a name of a woman from Arkansas who died in 2010 from domestic violence. Four of those women are from White County, said Kate Martin, a volunteer who is helping to organize the event.

“Twenty-two women from Arkansas died last year because of domestic violence,

Domestic violence education

highlight of day


Gene Gessow Who: Former arkansas Medicaid director hired in 2009.What: Resigned from post.Why: To take a job with the state of Massachusetts to be closer to his family.

UALR students anxious after body found By Jeannie nussThe Associated Press

LITTLE ROCK — In a university classroom, students studying Spanish watched a film about the horrific murders of young women in Mexico. As the credits rolled, there was a knock at the door.

A police officer wanted to know: Where was Patricia Guardado?

With the violent images from the movie still hanging in their minds, some of those in the class at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock feared the worst about the bright college sophomore. Their worries were confirmed Monday when police said Guardado's body had been found in a pond outside Little Rock.

Her death has been ruled a homicide, but so far, police haven't named any suspects or released details about how the 20-year-old was killed, or even how she disappeared. Authorities wouldn't discuss whether she'd been assaulted, nor what evidence, if any, had turned up in the waters where her body was found Sunday.

Police haven't ruled out the possibil-ity that a stranger was involved, and that has some students on the urban campus anxious about another attack. Some stu-dents said Tuesday they're looking over their shoulders as they hurry to and

from class. University police say more students have been asking authorities to escort them to their cars.

Kaitlin Barger, one of the students in Guardado's Spanish class, said she was more cautious than usual after her night class Monday.

"I looked behind me. I looked on both sides of me," she said. "I had my keys in my hand, ready to stab" any potential attacker.

Guardado was last seen Wednesday morning as she left home to head to a 9 a.m. calculus class. The car she was driving was found in a parking lot behind a fast-food restaurant across from the school.

Students often park there and in other private lots. Not all of them have surveillance cameras.

University police chief Brad King said there's free parking on campus, about a 10-minute walk at most to the center of campus. But some students, in

a rush to get to class, opt to park in lots like the one Guardado used.

"Half of us park across the street," said Barger, who has also left her car where Guardado's was found.

On Tuesday, when their Spanish class met again, students stared at the desk where Guardado used to sit. Barger wiped tears and makeup from her eyes with a crumpled tissue as students talked about the act of violence that seemed to have jumped from the movie to real life.

"The likelihood of it happening on campus lessens because of security," Barbara Hoover said.

Another student disagreed."Who's to say this couldn't have

happened on campus?" Holly Ajanel asked.

She tapped the desk next to her — the one where Guardado often sat.

"It doesn't matter where she was. It doesn't matter if it happened here on campus..." Ajanel said, her voice break-ing. "Someone who is 20 years old is not here with us today."

Guardado wasn't a particularly gre-garious student, her classmates said. She was smart and determined to succeed, but she didn't call attention to herself.

"She didn't dress up a lot," Ajanel said. "But she was dressed up on Tuesday and I didn't say anything to her. I thought she looked really cute and I feel guilty now for not saying anything."

GuardadO

State Medicaid director Gene Gessow resigns

The Associated PressLITTLE ROCK —

Arkansas' Medicaid director has resigned from his post as the state develops a pro-posal to change the way the program pays for services, the Department of Human Services announced Tuesday.

Department of Human Services Spokeswoman Amy Webb said Gene Gessow resigned his post Monday and his last day will be in November. Gessow was director of the Division of Medical Services in the Arkansas Department of Human Services.

Marilyn Strickland, the division's chief operating offi-cer, will serve as interim direc-tor, Webb said.

Webb said Gessow is taking a job with the state of Massachusetts to be clos-er to his family. Gessow was hired in 2009 and had

previously served as Iowa's Medicaid chief.

Gessow oversaw the development of a proposal Arkansas has made to switch from a fee-for-service model Medicaid uses. Webb said the state will continue work-ing on that proposal, despite Gessow's departure.

"We asked Gene to bring big ideas to Arkansas, and he did," DHS Director John Selig said in a statement released by the department. "Gene has helped us launch significant change that will transform the state's healthcare system. While I hate to see him go, I know family comes first. We have teams in place that will ensure we continue to make progress on these initiatives."

The state in May was given initial approval to move for-ward with developing plans to switch from a fee-for-service model that Medicaid uses.

BulldoGs pursue home plAyoff GAme

Serving Searcy and White County, Ark., since 1854

Bald Knob looks to take over second place with a win over Rivercrest Friday. — pAGe 1B

riverview to Build Bus stop BuildinGThe Riverview school district has accepted a bid from a Cabot company to build a bus shop building — pAGe 3A

TheDailyCitizen.com

CitizenDailyThe

W E A T H E RToday: Sunny. Highs around 50. West winds 5 mph.Tonight: Mostly clear. Lows in the lower 30s. West winds 5 mph.

Vol. 157, No. 302©2011 The Daily Citizen

“ ”Love is the triumph of imagination

over intelligence.

H.L. MENCKEN19th Century American journalist


SATURDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2011 75¢


I N D E X

SANTA CLAUS GREETS LOCAL CHILDREN


CENTRAL BOARD APPROVES MASTER PLANThe White County Central School board approved the facilities master plan during a recent meeting. — PAGE 3A

TheDailyCitizen.com

SEARCY BASKETBALL PLAYERS GIVE BACKSearcy’s varsity boys basketball players took a trip down memory lane Friday afternoon. — PAGE 1B

CKrip

Walmart Neighborhood

Market will soon be in Searcy; but before that can happen, the city of Searcy has to make way for the new building.

The Searcy City Council will have to approve the vacation of streets in the area where the building will be located. Before that can happen, the council must allow the public to com-ment on the possible vacation

of the streets.The council will hold a spe-

cial meeting today at City Hall at 9 a.m. to discuss a resolution to set a public hearing about the vacation of some of Finan-cial Drive and First State Plaza, which will be the location of the new Walmart Neighbor-hood Market.

The council will not be dis-

cussing the actual vacating of the streets. The meeting is be-ing held to set a date for a pub-lic hearing in January.

In other Walmart market news, during the planning and growth committee meeting on Wednesday, City Engineer Mark Lane told the committee

Searcy special meeting today

BY MOLLY M. [email protected]

Panel will consider resolution for public hearing

for vacating streets

LITTLE ROCK — The Arkan-sas State Highway Commission has opened bids for improve-ments to a roadway in White County, according to Commis-sioner John Burkhalter.

The purpose of the project is to replace a bridge on Highway 305. Franks Construction Inc. of Mountain View was awarded the contract at $890,587.40.

“This project will build a new bridge over Brier Creek, which is located southeast of Pang-burn,” Burkhalter said.

Burkhalter said work could begin on the project in two to four weeks, weather permitting.

Completion is expected in 2012.

Pangburn bridge to be

replaced

Bridge workWhere: Highway 305Bid: $890,587.40Expected completion:

Late 2012

Construction bid accepted for $890K

Molly M. Fleming/[email protected]

Peyton Tucker, 3, of Searcy gives Santa Claus a warm hug on Friday afternoon at the Santa Hut outside of the White County Courthouse. Santa will be there today from 1-3 p.m., then again on Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday.

ROSE BUD — The Rose BudSchool board approved its six-year master plan at a recent meeting.

Superintendent Curtis Spann presented the board with a six-year master plan resolution and attached narrative. Accord-ing to Spann, Hugh Burge had aided in drafting the document and the narrative contained the district’s new project.

“We are required by law to have this six-year master plan,”

Rose Bud board

approves master plan

BY M. A. WEBBSpecial to The Daily Citizen

Rose Bud School Board

Next meeting: 7 p.m. Jan. 23

Location: Rose Bud Schools Administration Build-ing

District approves personnel changes

WASHINGTON — Senate leaders agreed on compromise legislation Friday night to ex-tend Social Security payroll tax cuts and jobless benefi ts for two months while requir-ing President Barack Obama to accept Republican demands for a swift decision on the fate of an oil pipeline that promises thousands of jobs.

A vote is expected Saturday on the measure, the last in a highly contentious year of di-vided government.

House passage is also re-quired before the measure can reach Obama’s desk.

In a statement, White House communications director Dan Pfeiffer indicated Obama would sign the measure, say-ing it had met his test of “pre-venting a tax increase on 160

million hardworking Ameri-cans” and avoiding damage to the economy recovery.

The statement made no mention of the pipeline. One senior administration offi cial said the president would al-most certainly refuse to grant a permit. The offi cial was not authorized to speak publicly.

Racing to adjourn for the year, lawmakers moved quick-ly to clear separate spending legislation avoiding a partial government shutdown threat-ened for midnight.

The developments came a few hours after the White House publicly backed away from Obama’s threat to veto any bill that linked the payroll tax cut extension with a Re-publican demand for a speedy decision on the 1,700-mile Keystone XL oil pipeline pro-posed from Canada to Texas.

Obama recently announced

he was postponing a decision until after the 2012 elections on the much-studied proposal. Environmentalists oppose the project, but several unions support it, and the legislation puts the president in the un-comfortable position of having to choose between customary political allies.

Republican senators leav-ing a closed-door meeting put the price tag of the two-month package at between $30 billion and $40 billion said the cost would be covered by raising fees on new mortgages backed by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.

The legislation would also provide a 60-day reprieve from a scheduled 27 percent cut in the fees paid to doctors who treat Medicare patients.

Several offi cials said it would require a decision within 60 days on the pipeline, with the

president required to autho-rize construction unless he de-termined that would not be in the national interest.

Senators in both parties has-tened to claim credit for the deal.

Sen. Richard Lugar issued a statement that said the com-promise included legislation he authored “that forces Presi-dent Obama to make a deci-sion” on the pipeline. The Indi-ana Republican faces a strong primary challenge next year from a tea party-backed rival.

Sen. Max Baucus, D-Mont., chairman of the Senate Fi-nance Committee, said he had “brokered a fi nal deal by bring-ing lawmakers from both par-ties together to support jobs.”

Not all Democrats were as upbeat. “Look, this was tough. Harry (Reid) had to negotiate

Senate leaders reach last-minute accordBY ALAN FRAM

AND DAVID ESPOAssociated Press

“We’ll be back discussing the same issues in a couple of months, but from our point of view, we think the keystone pipeline is a very important job-creating measure in the private sector that doesn’t cost the government a penny.”

Sen. Mitch McConnellSenate Republican leader

Please see MEETING | 2A

Please see CONGRESS | 2A Please see ROSE BUD | 2A

CitizenDailyThe

W E A T H E RToday: Partly sunny. Cooler. Highs around 70. Northeast winds 10 to 15 mph.Tonight: Mostly cloudy. Lows in the lower 50s. Northeast winds 5 to 10 mph.Vol. 157, No. 222


“ ”The shoe that fits one person

pinches another; there is no recipe for living that suits all cases.

Carl JungPsychologist, 1875-1961


Thursday, sepTember 15, 2011 75¢

School board electionS are tueSdayEarly voting is already under way with county school board elections to take place next week. — a



I N D E X

TheDailyCitizen.com

State agency still wants bypassBy Molly M. [email protected]

The Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department still has interest in building the highway to connect Arkansas 36 to Arkansas 67 on the north side of Searcy, according to David Nilles with the highway and transportation department.

“Even though the tax did not pass, the project is still on our books,” Nilles said. “We still think there is a need for

this project. It may take longer for it to get under way, but it is still a project we are going to keep on our books.”

The highway department will be in Searcy on Tuesday to hear from resi-dents about the possibility of building the bypass. The public involvement

Local leaders unsure of funding

Lincoln blames lack of ‘clear message’By Molly M. [email protected]

White County Judge Michael Lincoln on W e d n e s d a y blamed lack of a clear message to the recent failure of the Highway 36-67 Connector tax issue.

“I still think it was a fair tax,” Lincoln said. “It stays local and

it improves locally. It would have improved not just one part of the county, but there would have been improvements in all 16 cities. We just didn’t get a clear message out there and I take responsibility for that.”

Searcy Mayor David Morris cited the low voter turnout for the failure of the tax. However, the turnout was actually 13 ballots higher than the last county-wide sales tax election.

CoNTiNueD oN Page 3a CoNTiNueD oN Page 3a

Walmart market eying Searcy

By Molly M. [email protected]

Searcy could be the home to another Walmart-owned store, though company offi-cials remain mum.

Justin Lawson, Searcy Market President for Centennial Bank, said Walmart has looked at prop-erty near the Centennial Bank on Beebe-Capps Expressway as a possible future location for a Walmart Neighborhood Market.

The property is owned by Centennial Bank and two other landowners, but Lawson said all three par-ties are interested in having the store on the property.

“[Walmart] has had sur-veyors come out and look at the property and they are interested in the area,” Lawson said. “I think their intention is to come over and build behind [Centennial Bank], but they are still in a due diligence period.

FEMA to help with root ball removal

By Erica SirrattSpecial to The Daily Citizen

BEEBE — FEMA has agreed to help Beebe pay for the root balls leftover from April’s tornado.

In August, the city placed an ad in the newspaper giving citizens a three week window to request the removal of root balls on their property. The city received 48 applications with a total of 54 root balls and FEMA has agreed to pay 75 percent of the $9,699.80 bid provided by Hartley Tree Service out of Batesville. City Secretary/Treasurer Carol Crump-Westergren said that the state will pay 12.5 percent of the cost, leaving Beebe to cover the rest.

Beebe man pleads guilty to possession of a firearmA man from Beebe pleaded

guilty to possession of a fire-arm, a class D felony.

Leshawn Maurice Baskin, 39, of Beebe entered a guilty plea in Circuit Court on Aug. 3.

On Aug. 20, 2010, Baskin was stopped for a traffic viola-tion by officer Jean Stark and found to be in possession of a firearm. Baskin was sentenced

to 36 months active probation with 80 hours community ser-vice, a fine of $1,000 and $150 in court costs.

Beebe Police Chief Wayne Ballew also released the fol-lowing information concern-ing recent felony arrests and convictions.

Jimmy H. Vincent, 47, of Beebe was arrested on Sept. 12 after a bench warrant was issued through the White County Circuit Court charging

him with domestic battery in the third degree, a subsequent offense and class D felony.

"Vincent had a previous conviction for domestic bat-tery on record which made the second offense a felony,” Ballew said.

The battery took place on Aug. 16 at the home of Vincent and the victim, iden-tified as Cassandra D. Cobble, 38, located on Green Acres Drive in Beebe. Captain

Eddie Cullum investigated the incident and prepared the felony affidavit. Vincent was incarcerated in the White County Detention Center in Searcy and held in lieu of a $7,500 bond.

Christon L. Powell, 20, of Beebe was arrested on Aug. 31 by C.I.D. Investigator Jeremy Weeks and charged with felony counts regarding resi-dential burglary and theft of


Company yet to confirm report

Above: The Beebe tug-of-war team pulls with all of its might in the championship competition on Wednesday, held at the end of the FFA and FCCLA Days at the White County Fair. The tug-of-war was one of several events held during the day, which included students from Rose Bud, Searcy, Bradford, Beebe, White County Central and Harding Academy. Beebe won the pull and was named the champions of this year’s competition.

Right: The Rose Bud tug-of-war team faces another White County school for a place in the champion-ship pull held during the annual FFA and FCCLA Days at the White County Fair on Wednesday. Rose Bud took second place after being defeated by the Beebe team.


neighborhood marketn in talks to build off Beebe-Capps expressway in Searcyn Looked at several other locationsn Walmart officials have yet to confirm

White County FFAs compete in tug-of-war

next SteP n Local leaders deciding how to build bypassn Highway department wants to pursue bypassn Public meeting scheduled for Tuesday

LincoLn

next meetingWho: Beebe City CouncilNext meeting: 6:30 p.m. on Sept. 26 at City Hall

Beebe still waiting for damage refund

arreStS What: Beebe Police Department made two recent arrests and one recent convictionWho: Jimmy H. Vincent, Christon L. Powell and Leshawn Maurice Baskin

Man sentenced to 36 months probation

CoNTiNueD oN Page 3a CoNTiNueD oN Page 3a

beebe going for victory no. 2 at homeComing off its first victory, the Badgers are upbeat and ready to face Vilonia at home Friday. — Page 1b

W E A T H E RToday: Mostly cloudy. A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Highs in the mid 70sTonight: Mostly cloudy. Rain possible. Lows in the lower 60s.Vol. 157, No. 224


“ ”All my life I have tried to ... plant

a flower wherever the flower would grow in thought and mind.

AbrAhAm lincolnAmerican President, 1809-1865


CitizenDailyThe

Week 3 of local football in the books


Saturday, September 17, 2011 75¢

Turn to sports to find out how White County’s high school teams fared Friday night. — Page 1b

Music acts set for get DoWn DoWntoWnAn Elvis impersonator along with several bands are slated to play at Get Down Downtown. — Page 3a


I N D E X

TheDailyCitizen.com

Local students visit fairgrounds, see the animals

CERT offers emergency trainingGroup

receives federal grant

by molly m. [email protected]

In the last few years, the U.S. has seen its share of natural disas-ters, from a record-setting hurricane hitting the Gulf Coast, to tornadoes tearing apart Midwestern towns, to most recently, wild fires destroying hundreds of acres in Texas.

Arkansas has seen its own share of disasters, including tornadoes and extensive flooding. When Mother Nature shows her wrath, there isn’t always enough emergency respond-

ers to assist those in need. That’s where Community Emergency Response Teams come to help. The first CERT program was organized in 1987 by the Los Angeles City Fire Department as a way to train commu-nity members to meet their immedi-ate needs in times of disasters, such as earthquakes. Eventually, the program went national and is now available in 28 states, including Arkansas.

The White County CERT team has been active since 2004, though

some of those years the activity was kind of low. Office of Emergency Management Deputy Director Andy Mariani oversees the program and wants to see the program reach its full potential within the county.

Mariani said there are around 20 people in the program currently, but he wants more; and he especial-ly wants those who have not been trained as a first responder.

Free courses available for local residents

CoNTiNueD oN PAge 2A

by marisa [email protected]

A White County coali-tion recently received a nationally-funded grant in the amount of $125,000 per year for five years.

The members of White County Invested in Substance Abuse Eradication (W.I.S.E.) were notified at the first of this month that their coali-tion had been awarded a Drug Free Communities (DFC) Mentoring Program grant funded by the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDPC).

The coalition will receive $125,00 per year and will be required to have a 100 percent in-kind and cash match from the community, according to Pam Hambrick, former director of W.I.S.E.

“This is a huge deal,” Hambrick said. “The coalition will have to write a continu-ation application each year, but they should receive the grant for five years, which

Bear Pride volunteers honored

by Pat hambrickSpecial to The Daily Citizen

JUDSONIA — Recognition of the positives seemed to be the theme for WCC's school board meeting Thursday night.

Jackwyln Underwood, high school principal, praised the new yearbooks, senior and youth FFA members for placing third in the White County Fair, and congratu-lated the band on taking third place in the White County Fair parade.

Sandra Hurst, elementary and middle school principal, announced the school would have special recognition for her students who placed in the fair at their next assembly and said parent/teacher conferenc-es will be held Sept. 22.

Allison Baird, elemen-tary library/media, thanked the board for the fresh paint, new carpet, and the repaired roof and discussed her various

Calif. Rep. Loretta Sanchez to LR crowd: Deficit solution ‘difficult’ The Associated Press

LITTLE ROCK — A California Congresswoman and Blue Dog Democrat predicted Friday that it would be very difficult for Congress' deficit "supercommittee" to reach a solution that finds more than $1 trillion in savings.

Rep. Loretta Sanchez spoke Friday at the Clinton School of

Public Service in Little Rock. She told the audience she didn't think President Barack Obama's $447 billion proposal to create jobs could pass the Republican-con-trolled House, and she wouldn't commit to voting for the package.

If Obama's proposal came to a vote, Sanchez said it was "more likely" she would support it.

She said she and other Blue Dogs have discussed offering their own jobs plan, but she didn't expect the group of conservative Democrats

to do so. Asked if she wanted more savings than the deficit commit-tee's goal of $1.2 trillion or more, Sanchez said she just hopes the group will meet that target.

"It's going to be very difficult to have a solution," she said.

Sanchez has represented Orange County, Calif., since 1997. She appeared in Little Rock on Friday to discuss America's economy.

Sanchez called on Congress to protect immigration as a way to attract people with new ideas

for businesses and growth. She also said federal investments were needed in clean energy, education and health care.

"There are new things happen-ing every day that we as taxpayers have invested in," she said.

She argued that government was still needed to help the economy grow and protect the middle class.

"If we wait for the private sec-tor, none of us will see our kids having a middle-class existence," she said.


W.I.S.E. earns $125K this year to

prevent drug abuse

Above: Dominic Yingling, a fifth grader from White County Central School District, gently pets a miniature horse at the White County Fair on Friday morning. He was visiting the fair with Lisa Bontempo’s fifth grade class.

Right: Hunter Jackson, left, and Jim Hale stare down a turkey, which won Best of Show at the White County Fair. Jackson and Hale were visiting the fairgrounds with the rest of Lisa Bontempo’s fifth grade class from the White County Central School District Friday.


grant aWarDeD What: A federal Drug Free Communities grantTo whom: W.i.S.e.Amount: $125,000 for one year, to be renewed each year for five years

certn Community emergency Response Teamn Free training availablen Call (501) 279-6277 for more information

Hispanic student population rising


sanChEz

The Daily Citizen Thursday, December 1, 2011 • Page 3A

FROM PAGE ONE


More than 200 people crowded into the Cabinet Shop on the Yarnell’s property to make a bid during the auc-tion. The auction lasted from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m., though the final sale of the property didn’t conclude untilaround 4 p.m. on Wednesday.

was happy with how it turned out.

“(The chamber) is pleased with what hap-pened today,” Layne said. “Just the idea of a com-pany coming back in and producing ice cream will be wonderful thing for the city of Searcy. We look forward to getting people back to work.”

Before Schulze & Burch made the purchase, all of the real and intellectual property was put on the auction block Wednesday morning and sold for $1.4 million; but that offer was later rejected because the trustee felt it was too low.

The intellectual prop-erty, including the Yar-nell’s trademark, were all sold during the auction on Wednesday morning; but by the end of the day, Schulze & Burch would own all of it.

The Yarnell’s recipes were fi rst purchased for $2,400 by David Davison of Marshall, who is a heat-ing and air conditioning contractor.

“I’m one of those guys that if I can make a profi t, then I’ll try to do that,” Da-vison said. “I like to pick up on some bargains and I think I got a bargain to-day.”

Davison said the only fl avor he had tried of the Yarnell’s brand was vanilla.

“I bought the recipes

for the fi nancial aspect of it,” Davison said. “I didn’t come here today because I like Yarnell’s so much that I wanted to buy their reci-pes.”

The Yarnell’s trademark was purchased by Rogers Yarnell for $18,500, but it would later be included in the purchase of the prop-erty by Schulze & Burch.

Jeff Holtz with Creamery Concept, LLC. purchased the trademark and recipes to the “Guilt Free” Yar-nell’s line for a combined $14,500.

Holtz worked for Yar-nell’s for 22 years and said he helped develop the Guilt Free line.

After Holtz purchased

the Guilt Free trademarks and recipes, he said he did plan on having “some product made” under the Guilt Free line.

“I think the line has a lot of viability in Arkansas and outside of the state,” Holtz said.

The Yarnell’s property sold for less in the late af-ternoon because all of the miscellaneous items had sold during the day. More than 200 buyers showed at 10 a.m. Wednesday morn-ing to purchase a piece of Arkansas history, and there were plenty of pieces to go around. The com-plete auction catalog listed 491 separate items.

Everything was sold,

from the freezers with the Yarnell’s logo to a tool belt in the cabinet shop. All of it had to go during the bank-ruptcy auction. The buyers started clearing their pur-chases out on Wednesday and will continue to clear the property today.


Albert Yarnell, a member of the second generation to operate the Yarnell’s facility, keeps track of the items purchased during the auction on Wednesday morning.


Yarnell's freezers sit in the back of the cabinet shop waiting to be removed after being purchased on Wednesday during the auction.


One of the last items on the auction block was some company memorabilia.

18.Ann Nieto, who is co-di-

recting the play with Angie Cantu, said she believes the audience will enjoy the show.

“When a director gets a script,” she said, “I think it’s vital the director loves the script. If the direc-tor hates the script or is neutral about it, he or she won’t do a very good job with it. When Caleb gave me the script, I read it in one sitting. I laughed, and I cried; I fell in love with it.

“I’m also really pleased with my cast. It’s a two-way road: You must have a good script and also actors who relate to the script. When you have that, the audience will enjoy the play, and that’s the pur-pose of theater.”

According to Nieto, the play has funny characters and a funny plot line that, nonetheless, will pull on audiences’ heartstrings.

“It’s been fun to bring

those elements out,” she said.

Sally Paine, who plays Aida, said she has enjoyed becoming her character during rehearsals as a way

to escape from the stresses and strains of everyday life.

“Aida is a person who loves you by feeding you good food,” she said. “If

she gets upset, she gets busy doing things, espe-cially in the kitchen. It has been fun to play someone who is quite different from the way I am and to think about women who take care of others by feeding them.”

“The play is very funny but very sweet,” she added. “It has a lot to say about how you love each other and how you let people be who they are. Not everyone is going to be just like you, and that’s OK.”

Premier sponsor for the show is ASU-Beebe, presenting sponsor is the DeVore Team Re/MAX Advantage Realty and as-sociate sponsor is Liles Animal Clinic.

Performances of “Over the River and Through the Woods” will be Dec. 2-3, 8-10 and 15-18.

The doors open at 6:15 p.m., with the dinner buf-fet opening at 6:30 p.m. and curtains at 7:30 p.m. The Pizza Playhouse will be Thursday, Dec. 8. The Sunday, Dec. 18 perfor-mance will be a matinee with lunch at 12:30 p.m. and curtain at 1:30 p.m.

Admission prices are $27 for dinner and the show and $24 for seniors. Pizza Playhouse is $18 per person. For the Sunday matinee, admission is $24 for dinner and the show and $21 for seniors. Show only tickets are $13.50 for the general public, $10 for senior citizens and $10 with a student ID. Res-ervations for dinner are required 24 hours in ad-vance of the show and can be made online at www.centeronthesquare.org or by calling (501) 368-0111.

Marisa Lytle/[email protected]

Sally Paine practices her role as Italian-American grandmother Aida Gianelli at a Tuesday evening re-hearsal.

Marisa Lytle/[email protected]

Caleb Keese (left) plays an elderly Italian-American man named Nunzio Cristano, whose wife, Emma, is played by Hilary Polston (right) in “Over the River and Through the Woods.”

CONTINUED FROM 1A

CONTINUED FROM 1A

SOLD: Trustee felt original going price was too low during morning auction; Schulze & Burch buy property

PLAY: Dinner buffet opens at 6:30 p.m. for ‘Over The River and Through the Woods’; Dec. 18 show has lunch

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Featuring Digital Surround Sound DTS in all auditoriums! DOLBY DIGITAL 3D on 3 screensMATINEES WED-SUN

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Puss In Boots PGDigital Surround Sound

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1:45 4:15 6:45 9:15Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn PG13

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CitizenDailyThe

W E A T H E RToday: Sunny. Highs around 50. West winds 5 mph.Tonight: Mostly clear. Lows in the lower 30s. West winds 5 mph.

Vol. 157, No. 302©2011 The Daily Citizen

“ ”Love is the triumph of imagination

over intelligence.

H.L. MENCKEN19th Century American journalist


SATURDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2011 75¢


I N D E X

SANTA CLAUS GREETS LOCAL CHILDREN


CENTRAL BOARD APPROVES MASTER PLANThe White County Central School board approved the facilities master plan during a recent meeting. — PAGE 3A

TheDailyCitizen.com

SEARCY BASKETBALL PLAYERS GIVE BACKSearcy’s varsity boys basketball players took a trip down memory lane Friday afternoon. — PAGE 1B

CKrip

Walmart Neighborhood

Market will soon be in Searcy; but before that can happen, the city of Searcy has to make way for the new building.

The Searcy City Council will have to approve the vacation of streets in the area where the building will be located. Before that can happen, the council must allow the public to com-ment on the possible vacation

of the streets.The council will hold a spe-

cial meeting today at City Hall at 9 a.m. to discuss a resolution to set a public hearing about the vacation of some of Finan-cial Drive and First State Plaza, which will be the location of the new Walmart Neighbor-hood Market.

The council will not be dis-

cussing the actual vacating of the streets. The meeting is be-ing held to set a date for a pub-lic hearing in January.

In other Walmart market news, during the planning and growth committee meeting on Wednesday, City Engineer Mark Lane told the committee

Searcy special meeting today

BY MOLLY M. [email protected]

Panel will consider resolution for public hearing

for vacating streets

LITTLE ROCK — The Arkan-sas State Highway Commission has opened bids for improve-ments to a roadway in White County, according to Commis-sioner John Burkhalter.

The purpose of the project is to replace a bridge on Highway 305. Franks Construction Inc. of Mountain View was awarded the contract at $890,587.40.

“This project will build a new bridge over Brier Creek, which is located southeast of Pang-burn,” Burkhalter said.

Burkhalter said work could begin on the project in two to four weeks, weather permitting.

Completion is expected in 2012.

Pangburn bridge to be

replaced

Bridge workWhere: Highway 305Bid: $890,587.40Expected completion:

Late 2012

Construction bid accepted for $890K


Peyton Tucker, 3, of Searcy gives Santa Claus a warm hug on Friday afternoon at the Santa Hut outside of the White County Courthouse. Santa will be there today from 1-3 p.m., then again on Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday.

ROSE BUD — The Rose BudSchool board approved its six-year master plan at a recent meeting.

Superintendent Curtis Spann presented the board with a six-year master plan resolution and attached narrative. Accord-ing to Spann, Hugh Burge had aided in drafting the document and the narrative contained the district’s new project.

“We are required by law to have this six-year master plan,”

Rose Bud board

approves master plan

BY M. A. WEBBSpecial to The Daily Citizen

Rose Bud School Board

Next meeting: 7 p.m. Jan. 23

Location: Rose Bud Schools Administration Build-ing

District approves personnel changes

WASHINGTON — Senate leaders agreed on compromise legislation Friday night to ex-tend Social Security payroll tax cuts and jobless benefi ts for two months while requir-ing President Barack Obama to accept Republican demands for a swift decision on the fate of an oil pipeline that promises thousands of jobs.

A vote is expected Saturday on the measure, the last in a highly contentious year of di-vided government.

House passage is also re-quired before the measure can reach Obama’s desk.

In a statement, White House communications director Dan Pfeiffer indicated Obama would sign the measure, say-ing it had met his test of “pre-venting a tax increase on 160

million hardworking Ameri-cans” and avoiding damage to the economy recovery.

The statement made no mention of the pipeline. One senior administration offi cial said the president would al-most certainly refuse to grant a permit. The offi cial was not authorized to speak publicly.

Racing to adjourn for the year, lawmakers moved quick-ly to clear separate spending legislation avoiding a partial government shutdown threat-ened for midnight.

The developments came a few hours after the White House publicly backed away from Obama’s threat to veto any bill that linked the payroll tax cut extension with a Re-publican demand for a speedy decision on the 1,700-mile Keystone XL oil pipeline pro-posed from Canada to Texas.

Obama recently announced

he was postponing a decision until after the 2012 elections on the much-studied proposal. Environmentalists oppose the project, but several unions support it, and the legislation puts the president in the un-comfortable position of having to choose between customary political allies.

Republican senators leav-ing a closed-door meeting put the price tag of the two-month package at between $30 billion and $40 billion said the cost would be covered by raising fees on new mortgages backed by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.

The legislation would also provide a 60-day reprieve from a scheduled 27 percent cut in the fees paid to doctors who treat Medicare patients.

Several offi cials said it would require a decision within 60 days on the pipeline, with the

president required to autho-rize construction unless he de-termined that would not be in the national interest.

Senators in both parties has-tened to claim credit for the deal.

Sen. Richard Lugar issued a statement that said the com-promise included legislation he authored “that forces Presi-dent Obama to make a deci-sion” on the pipeline. The Indi-ana Republican faces a strong primary challenge next year from a tea party-backed rival.

Sen. Max Baucus, D-Mont., chairman of the Senate Fi-nance Committee, said he had “brokered a fi nal deal by bring-ing lawmakers from both par-ties together to support jobs.”

Not all Democrats were as upbeat. “Look, this was tough. Harry (Reid) had to negotiate

Senate leaders reach last-minute accordBY ALAN FRAM

AND DAVID ESPOAssociated Press

“We’ll be back discussing the same issues in a couple of months, but from our point of view, we think the keystone pipeline is a very important job-creating measure in the private sector that doesn’t cost the government a penny.”

Sen. Mitch McConnellSenate Republican leader

Please see MEETING | 2A

Please see CONGRESS | 2A Please see ROSE BUD | 2A

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