Looking animated and focused, the "King of Pop" is seen here working on routines for his upcoming concert series at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on June 23. Two days later, he was dead at age 50.
"Mr. Cabbage Head and the Screaming Radishes" will be playing from 6 to 9 p.m. Friday during Ozark's Independence Day Celebration at Westside Park, coordinated by the Ozark Fire Department.
Susan Holman and the 4-H foundation have planned a bike parade at 6:45 p.m. Youngsters are invited to bring their bikes or child-size vehicle, decorated in a patriotic theme, to the softball field at that time to take part in the parade. Prizes will be awarded to the winning entry in three divisions: ages five and under; 6 to 10 and 11 and up.
Also, the city pool will be open for free swimming by all ages from 6 to 9 p.m. and there will be a free water slide and bounce around.
Ozark Fire Department will be selling hot dogs, hamburgers, nachos and drinks in the park during the evening. A 50-50 drawing will also be held.
At dusk, a fireworks display will be presented by the fire department's trained pyrotechnies team.
*****
Altus celebration slated on 4th of July
An annual old-fashioned Independence Day public celebration will again be held at Altus City Park on the evening of the 4th of July.
Food concessions will open at 5 p.m., and musical entertainment is scheduled to begin at 5:15 p.m.
Sign-up will begin at 6 p.m. for the turtle race at 6:15. Other free activities for the youngsters will include sack races, three-legged races and a water balloon toss.
The evening will also include the traditional women's iron skillet-throwing competition for ages 16 and over.
A big fireworks extravaganza will be presented at dusk by the Altus Fire Department.
*****
Main Street Ozark gets grant
PRESENTATION -- Main Street Ozark has been awarded a $5,000 Downtown Revitalization Grant for a "branding" project from the Arkansas Historic Preservation Program. Main Street Ozark director Sandy Key and MSO board member Steve Outlaw are shown accepting a grant award check from Gov. Mike Beebe (center), Department of Arkansas Heritage director Cathie Matthews, AHP program director Frances McSwain and Main Street Arkansas director Cary Tyson. Ozark was one of 14 Main Street cities sharing $85,000 in Downtown Revitalization grants for building rehabilitations, parks, streetscape improvements and other design-related projects.
*****
FIREWORKS STAND -- Patriotic decorations adorn this former residence on West Commercial which serves as a fireworks sales location, just one of three in the Ozark city limits. The City of Ozark has issued a reminder that city ordinance outlaws the shooting of bottle rockets in the city limits, and fireworks are prohibited after 10 p.m., except on July 4, when the deadline is extended to midnight.
*****
Ozark PO announces special holiday hours for weekend
The Ozark Post Office will close their retail operation at 12 noon July 3. Regular mail delivery for July 3 will be unaffected by the change.
For alternate postal services, visit: River Valley Vacuums Contract Postal Unit, 2704 W. Main, St., Russellville, AR 72801 from 7:30 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Regular post office retails hours and full delivery operations will resume on Monday, July 6.
*****
Holiday closings
The Franklin county courthouses and Ozark and Altus city offices will be closed Friday in observance of Independence Day. The Spectator office will also close that day.
The Franklin County Library will close both Friday and Saturday.
The Ozark Depot Museum will be closed Friday afternoon and all day Saturday, reopening Monday.
*****
Altus City Council meeting Monday
The Altus City Council will be meeting in regular session at 6 p.m. Monday at Altus City Hall.
*****
School board apaproves stimulus bids
The Ozark School District held a special school board meeting on Thursday, June 25, to approve stimulus spending bids and three proposed plans including "standard based" report cards for elementary students in literacy, a K-12 Comprehensive Literacy plan and updated job descriptions. The Technology Security and Use plan and finalization of student handbooks were both tabled. All board members were present except Travis Johnson.
*****
POC to meet July 9
The Ozark Planning Commission will meet Thursday, July 9, at 7 p.m. in the council room of the Ozark City Complex.
*****
Bond hearing set for two
Bond of $2,500 each was set Sunday by Circuit Judge Gordon "Mack" McCain at probable cause hearings for Dena Hancock, 41, and Christopher Krebs, 42, both of Ozark.
Hancock was arrested Sunday on a felony bench warrant for delivery of a controlled substance, counterfeit substance and delivery of a controlled substance/oxycodone/morphine.
Krebs was arrested that same day on a felony warrant for failure to comply with conditions of probation.
*****
County resident charged wtih sexual abuse
A former Sebastian County Detention Center deputy, residing in west Franklin County, has been accused of sexually assaulting two female inmates at the detention center.
According to a report last week in the Times-Record, Leon Wilson Wood, 64, was arrested June 15, charged with two felony counts of third-degree sexual abuse and terminated from his position.
*****
Bank accepting bids to complete new construction
A Bank of the Ozarks officer told The Spectator, when contacted Tuesday, that the bank is in the process of working with a bonding company to solicit bids for completion of the Kenneth Smith Operations Center here.
Work has been shut down for about four months on the three-story, 27,00 square foot project on West Commercial.
