Members of the North Central Arkansas Artist League hung a new exhibit of 31 pieces of art at Ozark Health Medical Center on Highway 65, Clinton, on Monday, February 22nd.  The exhibit will hang until mid-May.

Exhibiting artists are Freda May, Doris Sexson, Van Swink, Ruby Krimm, Connie Hood, Ellen Kelly, Anne Strawn, Pauline Sears, Bonnie Hookman, and Alison Shreck, all of Fairfield Bay; Jan Cobb and Pamma Henderson of Edgemont; Judy Shumann, Quitman; Diana Foote, Clinton; and Joyce Hartmann, Choctaw.

Subjects embrace a colorful variety of landscapes based on the artists’ trav

els, as well as Ozark snowscapes, animals, flowers, still life, abs

tracts, underwater and rural scenes. Included are oil paintings, watercolors, pastels, charcoal, acrylic, gouache mixed media, and collage.

The display is on the upper level between the cafeteria and the n

ursing home. All are available for purchase at the Gift Shop with a portion of each sale benefiting projects by the Hospital Auxiliary. If the shop is closed,

buyers may call Exhibit Coordinator Joyce Hartmann at 745-6615 or the individual artist, whose phone number is on the card.

Artists meet to paint together each Monday morning at Bayside Studio and Gallery at the intersection of Greenwood Rd. and Highway 330 in Fairfield Bay, across from Razorback Rock on the way to the Marina. Interested persons who want to view painters at work or see more local art are invited to visit Bayside. For more information call President Jan Cobb at 825-7085.

Eleanor Hilsenrath

Community Club President Carlene Barra and Woodland Garden Leader Dianne Percefull are admiring the installation of the Frank Lloyd Wright garden sculpture Sprite in the Woodland Garden at Ed Leamon Park.  With the financial support of the Fairfield Bay Community Club, and donations from individuals and corporations, the Van Buren County Master Gardener organization is able to provide our community with a showplace of a garden.  The pergola at the main entrance, with its new stone enhanced sidewalk, was funded by Chesapeake Energy, and a committee has been formed to make decisions about the new Chesapeake donation, presented a few weeks ago.  The garden around the pergola will be planted this spring, including Confederate Jasmine and Cross Vine climbing the structure and coordinating with the same vines climbing the Rotary Arbor at the other entrance.  Remember to keep May 15 on your calendar as the Van Buren County Master Gardener Plant Sale at the park.

The Van Buren County Master Gardener program is a part the University of Arkansas Dept. of Agriculture Extension Service.

By: Jim & Phyllis Wilkins

On a recent Wednesday evening Lions Jim & Phyllis Wilkins and John Edminston were invited to meet with the Sunday School Class from the Full Gospel Tabernacle Church on Highway 110 On February 5 2008 this church was completely destroyed by a tornado but has been completely rebuilt. The youth in the Sunday School Class range from approximately 4 to 16 years of age  had recently decided to undertake a fund raising project for charity through activities like a penny march during services carrying a bank in the form of a log cabin church. The Sunday School Class raised some $384 (later rounded to $400 by the Church) and with the assistance of Pastor James Hutto and teacher Freda Sowell decided to donate all their money to help other children. Their choice was the children affected by the Jan. 10  earthquake in Haiti. After seeing recent articles in the FFB News regarding the Lions Clubs International Foundation (LCIF) involvement in relief efforts the Sunday School Class decided to donate the entire $400 to the Lions Haiti Earthquake Relief Fund.

After Class member, Brendon, made the presentation Lion Jim gave information regarding the LCIF relief effort where $25 – $50 will provide water, food rations, clothing and shoes to keep a family or several individuals feed, protected and sustained for at least one week or more. $100 – $250 can provide first aid and medical supplies for one shift of emergency first aid for the backlog of injured. Pictures of the Haitian children being given water, food, clothing and shelter were also provided for the Sunday School Class. Less than two years after losing their own church, the youth of the Full Gospel Tabernacle Church have shown the true meaning of charity by giving to those in need even though they did not know them. The Fairfield Bay Lions wish to convey our thanks and appreciation to the members of the Sunday School Class and all the church members who contributed to their gift.

The next meeting for the Fairfield Bay Lions will be Thursday, March 11 when our speaker will Chris Knife with the Arkansas Sheriffs Youth Ranch Program. Dinner ($7.50 per person) will be served at 5:30 p.m. and the menu will be Chicken Breast in Marsala wine/mushroom sauce, bacon wilted lettuce salad, french bread and homemade deserts. The Lions Club still have HiDiHo Nuts ($10) and Truffles ($6) available by contacting Jim or Mary Meadows at 884-6388. Bingo resumed on Monday, March 1st and will be held every Monday evening at 7 p.m. at the Lions Den, 365 Dave Creek Parkway.

Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA 20th) took another step towards reaching their goal to serve all abused and neglected children in the 20th Judicial District, which includes Van Buren, Searcy and Faulkner counties, by swearing in three new advocates last week.

After completing extensive background checks and training Barbara Hutto, Sally Wheatly and Wendy Russ stood before Judge Clark and swore to faithfully protect and promote the best interest of each child they represent. 

As a CASA advocate these women will be assigned to an open dependency neglect case, which involves a child having been removed from their home due to abuse or neglect.  The advocates role is to investigate every aspect of that child’s life and make a fact based, child focused report to the judge.  When asked what a good outcome is for CASA, Van Buren County Advocate Coordinator Debra Lance explained, “a good outcome is when a child is placed in a safe and permanent home as quickly as possible.  It can mean the child is placed back in the home with their parents; is placed with a relative who is able to care for them; and in some cases it means a non relative adoptive placement is found.”

CASA Program Director Els Strickland explains, “a CASA is only interested in what is best for the child.  There is no other agenda or issue to be considered.  A sad day is when a child is left lingering in the foster care system watching their childhood tick by without a support system to guide them into adulthood.”

With April, which is Child Abuse Prevention Month, right around the corner, CASA 20th is working hard to continue to recruit more local citizens willing to step up and make a difference in these children’s lives.  As new advocate and Clinton City Council Member, Wendy Russ said, “I’ve seen the urgent need in our area for advocacy for children and for more help in strengthening of the family structure. Each child deserves a healthy, happy, strong living environment and if we work together as a community and expect that of each other, we can make it happen.”

To show your support for abused and neglected children in our community please join CASA 20th on Thursday April 8, 12 p.m., Van Buren County Courthouse, downtown Clinton for a flag raising ceremony to recognize April as Child Abuse Prevention Month.

To learn more about CASA 20th and how you can become an advocate please visit www.casa20th.org or contact Debra Lance at 745.3038.