The Web Fairfield Bay News
That's Right! The Fairfield Bay Chunky Dunk Group will be making their 7th (seventh) Annual Polar Bear Plunge into our lake on January 1, 2010.
We will meet at the V.F.W. at 12 -12:30 p.m. for some courage and inspiration. We will proceed to the swim area at the Marina at 1:45 pm and make our PLUNGE at 2 p.m.
Dick and Larry will provide their famous home-made chili for the Dunkers and Watchers immediately after the plunge back at the V.F.W.
So come out and enjoy the fun and good eats. EVERYONE is WELCOME!
For more information call: Dick and Patti Leitner 884-4994 or Larry and Gesine Ladage 884-3566. Hope to see you on New Years Day 2010.
There will be no trash pickup on Thurs, Dec 24 or Fri, Dec 25. Wednesdays and Thursdays (Dec 23,24) routes will be picked up on Wednesday, Dec 23. Fridays and Mondays (Dec 25,28) routes will be picked up on Monday, Dec 28.
There will be no trash pickup on Friday, January 1, 2010. Fridays route will be picked up on Thursday, Dec 31.
Sara Michael
Library Director
This is the traditional season of giving gifts for many of us. It brings us joy to give and receive as an expression of our appreciation and love for each other. This year as I approach the gift season I find myself thinking outside the box.
Christmas has been my favorite holiday since I was a child. I loved the glowing essence of the season that seemed to permeate everything with goodness. Baking cookies with my mother, choosing a special perfume for an older sister, a Match Car for my little brother, a sweater for an older brother, a lovely bath powder for my mother and, yes, Old Spice for my father. With six brothers and sisters Christmas was quite the time of gift giving, and though I never expected too much, I was never disappointed. All these years later I remember being most thrilled with my shiny new Easy Bake Oven. Those who know me today can appreciate the irony in this. I am not a baker! The anticipation of giving and receiving then filled me with the spirit of love in its own way. I loved the carols, the candles, the scent and sight of the colorful tree. I loved it all.
I still love Christmas but, as with most of us, I approach it a little differently these days. It's the spirit of love and kindness and joy that still draw me to this special time of year. Yet my horizons are bit broader. I think about my loved ones, my friends, my local community, and my global community. There is such a sense of connectedness with the greater whole that fills me with gratitude....and so, it overflows. My giving and receiving is changing.
Here are just a few ideas for those who want to give 'outside the box'. We all have so much and some of us can't think of a single thing we 'need' but there are many 'in need'. There are many international organizations you can give to and present this contribution as a gift in someone's name. Three that come to mind are Heifer International, Habitat for Humanity, SEVA Foundation...and there are so many more. You can look any of these up on the internet or Google for a list of international charitable organizations and read about what they do.
Closer to home are the Arkansas Food Bank, the Salvation Army, Alzheimer and Hospice organizations and more. And locally there are several worthy organizations that someone would be honored to have a gift given to in their name. Consider what your friend or loved one loves locally.....the Animal Shelter, the Fire Department, the Library, the Dove House, a family, and more. Give to an individual, give to your community, give to the world. Do whatever moves you and fills you with joy. Get creative. And this year, if you choose, you can even do it without a box.
Chesapeake Energy will likely begin 3-D seismic testing this week in Fairfield Bay to determine the best locations to drill for natural gas. Though the company planned to use 2-D seismic testing in the initial phase, it has instead opted to collect 3-D data now which provides a higher resolution look at the characteristics of the shale to help better locate productive strata of natural gas.
3-D seismic provides more accurate data because it utilizes multiple observation points. A grid of geophones and seismic source impact points are placed on the surface. The result is a volume of seismic data gathered from a range of different angles and distances, which is used to generate 3-D pictures of underground formations and geologic features. These images allow geophysicists and geologists to study the composition of underground formations in a particular area. It works very much like a sonogram or MRI used in medicine.
This technology has raised the success rate of exploration efforts by ensuring more accurate location of drill sites resulting in more productive wells.
This activity will occur throughout the community, beginning on the western edge of town at Highway 330. Because of the rugged terrain in the Bay, seismic crews may utilize low flying helicopters with trailing pouches containing listening devices. Additionally, workers on four-wheelers will be busy placing flags along the testing route.
Property owners whose surface will be affected will receive in the mail a "Notification of Intent to Conduct Geophysical Survey" and will be asked to select one of the four Fairfield Bay organizations they would like to receive a contribution from Chesapeake, as a goodwill gesture for any inconveniences. The four groups are Fairfield Bay Animal Shelter, Fairfield Bay Library, Fairfield Bay Master Gardeners and Fairfield Bay Volunteer Fire Department.
Chesapeake will work with the city and residents to minimize any temporary inconveniences. If you have any questions, please call Fairfield Bay Code Enforcement Officers Bud Wells or Dallas Clark at 501-884-6020 or 501-884-3130.
Cutline: Misha Burton works in houskeeping at IRV and each year she sets up her private collection of Christmas houses in the display case. She has collected over 60 ornaments over the years. Christmas is her favorite time of year and she loves sharing her joy with everyone.
The American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars Posts of Fairfield Bay joined together on November 18 for a special membership event. On hand was Brigadier General Maryanne Miller, former Commander of the 349th Air Mobility Wing, Travis Air Force Base who was en-route to her new position as Director of Programs and Requirements for the Air Force Reserve Command at the Pentagon. Brigadier General Miller is an accomplished command pilot, primarily flying the C-5 and other air mobility aircraft. She has over 4000 hours of flight time.
General Miller started her remarks by thanking all those in attendance who have helped and are helping to maintain our country's strength posture. She included in that number those who may wear a uniform, such as the public defenders, police and fire fighters, but are not a necessarily a member of our armed forces. In her opinion, the global war on terror requires everyone to be vigilant and prepared.
Included in General Miller's review of the current state of affairs was the following. The War on Terror will take a long time. As a result, our armed forces are continuing to develop new and better equipment and operational tactics. In the next generation, a great many of our air assets will be piloted remotely. Most of our aircraft, including fighter aircraft, will probably be unmanned. Currently, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV's) are flying over the battlefields of Iraq and Afghanistan and delivering ordinance on the battlefield, but are being flown from consoles found in the United States.
The Air Force is making strides in numerous areas to provide our soldiers and marines on the ground with whatever they need to be successful. Currently, the Air Force is developing a guided parachute that will allow them to place parachute loads in a specific area on the ground. That will allow them to provide direct assistance in combat areas where our servicemen may be surrounded.
We are making tremendous strides in taking care of soldiers. Due to the miracles of modern medical care and better training, as well as the modern capabilities of the our airlift wings, a wounded soldier can be taken from the battlefield to a stateside military specialty hospital in the US within 20 hours. We are caring for our soldiers, sailors, marines and airmen in this conflict better than we ever have before.
General Miller emphasized that the quality of our Armed Forces today is based on the foundation built by the veterans of past wars. She congratulated those in Greer's Ferry Lake area of served and continue to serve in so many arenas.
VFW Commander Larry Rose opened the meeting with the Pledge of Allegiance and remarks. Chaplain Reverend Bob Hadley gave the invocation. Legion Commander Deb Ivanor welcomed everyone and thanked them for their attendance and service.
The event was made possible through the cooperative efforts of Legion Post 333 and VFW Post 4513. The VFW Ladies Auxiliary graciously served coffee and desserts to those in attendance.
The Christmas Lighting Ceremony of Ed Leamon Park is scheduled for 6 p.m. on December 5, 2009. Viewing will be from the Senior Center parking lot. following the lighting, Christmas carols and refreshments will be inside the Senior Center. The public is invited to attend this annual event.
The Indian Hills Country Club will be closing January 1st – January 19th for some much needed cleaning and maintenance. We will open the Bay View Thursday thru Saturday for lunch and dinner buffet during this time.
2010 Fairfield Bay Community Club Board of Directors
Meeting Schedule
Tuesday, January 26, 2010 Regular
Meeting 9:30 a.m.
Tuesday, February 23, 2010 Regular
Tuesday, March 23, 2010 Regular
Tuesday, April 27, 2010 Regular
Tuesday, May 25, 2010 Regular Meeting 9:30 a.m.
Tuesday, June 22, 2010 Regular
Annual Meeting at the IHCC at 7 p.m.
on Thursday, July 15, 2010
Tuesday, July 27, 2010 Regular Meeting 9:30 a.m.
Tuesday, August 24, 2010 Regular
Tuesday, September 28, 2010 Regular
Tuesday, October 26, 2010 Regular
November Regular Meeting TBA
December Regular Meeting TBA
Dan Feuer
Editor
On Monday, November 30 the City of Fairfield Bay will host a retirement party for one of the cities most valued citizens in the development of Fairfield Bay, Dick Kellenberg former chairman of the Planning and Zoning Commission after 16 years of service. The public is invited to attend this event from 2-4 p.m. Dick Kellenberg and his wife Bonnie came to Fairfield Bay in 1990 prior to Fairfield Bay becoming a city.
In 1992 Dick was contacted by Ed Roberts, a member of the Community Club Board of Directors to be on a committee to do a feasibility study of incorporating Fairfield Bay. After a year of working on the project, a hearing with the Van Buren County Judge Dale Lynch resulted in the incorporation of the city of Fairfield Bay as of July 29, 1993.
The first order of business was to establish a city council and mayor. The future of the city required a Planning and Zoning Commission and Dick Kellenberg became chairman because of his extensive knowledge and experience with his own Planning Consulting business in Kansas City, Mo.
As one of his first of many successful projects, Mayor Paul Mueller asked Dick to look into produce vendors coming into the city and setting up shop any where they wanted. This just didn’t sit well with the Mayor and he felt that something should be done. Dick setup regulations and established a permanent vending area for produce vendors which is now located next to Woodland Mead Park.
The next big project was the redesigning of the Mountain Ranch entrance. “For safety and appearances, Planning and Zoning deals with many issues regarding traffic flow,” said Dick. The City and the Community Club split the costs and the project took about six months to complete.
The Fairfield Bay Library was originally located in the Mall above the bowling alley. The existing library board together with a special committee purchased land from Dick Meraz and a 5,000 sq. ft. facility was built which now houses the Library and Pharmacy. Dozens of people donated about $300,000 to construct a debt free building.
The biggest project for Fairfield Bay was the construction of the 2.2 million dollar, 23,000 sq. ft. Hart Center facility. “Although there were many cutbacks to the original design of the Hart Center, it has helped the growth of Fairfield Bay tremendously,” said Dick.
Dick’s friend and neighbor, Don Cuatt, a retired architect, was instrumental in the design and labor in these projects. Much of the organizational work on the library and fitness center included Dick Meraz, Jim White and others. The totem pole at the main entrance was the reason for the park, and was carved by Jim and the Woodcarvers Club.
The City of Fairfield Bay is pleased to announce the passing of a new ordinance to legalize the use of golf carts on city streets with a speed limit of 35 miles per hour or less for travel to and from a golf course.
Golf carts boast high mileage and low emissions. In these days of high gas prices and fears of global warming these vehicles offer a perfect alternative mode of transportation for many of our citizens going to and from a golf course.
26 other states currently allow golf carts to be utilized for transportation in resort retirement communities similar to Fairfield Bay. Arkansas law A.C.A. 14-54-1410 currently only allows travel to and from a golf course if passed by a city ordinance. Fairfield Bay joins Cherokee Village and Hot Springs Village in offering this alternative to our citizens.
To address safety concerns, we have modeled our ordinance after those in other Arkansas cities as well as reviewing implementations across the country. To drive on a city street with a speed limit of 35 miles per hour or less from your residence to the golf course you must:
• Be a licensed driver at least 16 years of age
• Drive only during daylight hours , defined as one half hour after sunrise to one half hour before sunset
• Drive with the flow of traffic and when impeding traffic, pull over at a safe place to allow faster vehicles to pass
• Have the following special equipment on your golf cart
• Adequate brakes
• A rear view mirror
• An orange flag no more than 12 inches in length and no less than 6 inches in width displayed a minimum of 6 feet above ground level
• Taillights that illuminate when the brakes are applied
• Purchase liability insurance- this insurance is a good idea, even if you only drive your cart on the golf course. We have been informed by insurance agents that your homeowners insurance only covers your cart on your own premises.
Police Chief Brown and Constable Phillips have both expressed concerns regarding safety of golf carts on our city streets. As gas crews come in and hotel construction starts, golfers need to be especially aware and careful. Similar to bicycles and mopeds, golf carts will be going at a substantially slower speed than most automobiles and trucks and can be easily ran up on when going over a hill or around a curve.
We hope this new ordinance will be a positive for current and future residents. It can help the environment, our pocket books, and provide another good reason to live in and enjoy Fairfield Bay.
On Tuesday, November 10, 2009 the Shirley Elementary Cub Scouts presented the colors and raised the flag beginning the Veterans Day celebration on the Shirley school campus. The Kindergarten class led the Pledge of Allegiance and Christina Bradford sang the National Anthem.
Throughout the ceremony, each class from first through sixth made a presentation honoring the men and women who have put their lives in harms way to protect the freedoms that we have today. Sixth grader Peyton Loeschner sang “God Bless the USA” and fifth grader Hunter Gaddy read his essay, “Heroes.”
General Don Morrow (pictured above) talked to the audience and gave a brief history lesson about Francis Scott Key and the National Anthem. The 106th Army Band played songs for each of the armed forces as the audience acknowledged either theirs or a family members term of service for each branch.
As everyone stood, Taps was played in honor of lives recently lost at Ft. Hood and soldiers lost in wars of the past and present.
In closing Elementary Principal Cindy Coleman gave special thanks to veteran and superintendent Jack Robinson for his vision.
On October 20, 2009 ballots were mailed to all members in good standing with the Fairfield Bay Community Club, Inc. requesting their approval allowing the Fairfield Bay Community Club, Inc. to construct, own and operate a hotel.
Francis Grillot, Secretary of the Fairfield Bay Board of Directors, advised a quorum was represented in accordance with the By-laws of the Fairfield Bay Community Club.
Dick Carpenter, Election Committee Chairman, announced the election results of the ballot initiative. Voting Yes were: 2,277 votes. Voting No were: 805 votes.
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