Some wild art and some wild track

Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/JASON IVESTER --04/27/10--
Former NFL player Bo Eason sets a kickoff wedge with Alysia White (from left), 9, Ruby Vega, 10, Melissa Jimenez, 11, and America Cervantes, 9, on Tuesday, April 27, 2010, inside Jones Elementary School in Rogers. Eason was giving a presentation to the Girls on the Run group which consisted of about 30 third- to fifth-grade girls at the school.


Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/JASON IVESTER --04/28/10--
Russ Tucker (left) and Roy Cope, both employees with Best Banner and Sign Company, install the sign for Academy Sports + Outdoors Wednesday at the store's future location, Shoppes at Centre Point, along Pleasant Crossing Boulevard in Rogers. The approximate 75,000-square foot store has an expected opening of late August.


Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/JASON IVESTER --04/29/10--
Van Buren High School sophomore Shea Smith rests in the shade in the stands Thursday while at John McDonnell Field in Fayetteville. Smith was at the track competing in the high jump and the 4x100-meter relay team for the 7A state track and field championships.

Don't rain on my parade, erm, carnival

Today's update is a couple pieces of wild art from Benton County.


Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/JASON IVESTER --04/26/10--
Kate Amsbaugh of Bentonville packs books Monday inside the Bentonville Public Library left over from a weekend book sale at the library. An estimated 4000 books were donated for the sale, with proceeds benefitting the library.


Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/JASON IVESTER --04/26/10--
Fun Time Shows employees William Pinkard (left) of Malden, Mo., and James Mayweather of Topeka, Kan., unhook swings for the Cyclone Swing ride Monday in the parking lot for the Frisco Station Mall in Rogers. The Spring Fair opens Wednesday and runs through May 9.

Photographing a Photographer

A couple weeks ago I photographed Art Meripol for our Profiles section and it ran yesterday (Sunday). Meripol, a University of Arkansas alum, is a senior travel photographer for Southern Living magazine and lives in Birmingham.

I shot the lead portrait along Dickson Street in Fayetteville (we chose to with the first one) and the secondary photo inside George's, a bar on Dickson.

Long week

I know some of you have just been sitting on the blog all week constantly hitting "refresh" just waiting for an update. Well click no longer.

It's been a long week with a few not-behind-the-camera issues. Rather than get into details and continue making excuses for not posting, I'm posting a week's worth of art (sans those accompanying advance stories not yet run) with their respective cutlines (captions) to explain each.


Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/JASON IVESTER --04/19/10--
Jimmye (cq) Whitfield (right) watches as her granddaughter Alise (cq) Whitfield, 3, both of Fayetteville, works on an art project Monday inside the Nadine Baum Studios in Fayetteville as part of the Northwest Arkansas Community Creative Center. The pair were participating in the last day of the four-week parent and child art classes called "Let the Sun Shine In" which met once a week.


Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/JASON IVESTER --04/19/10--
Bobby Campbell plants tomatoes Monday in the garden next to his home at the intersection of Old Farmington Road and U.S. 62 in Farmington. Campbell and his wife have been operating their business, Bob & Sue's Fresh Vegetables, for several years said Campbell.


Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/JASON IVESTER --04/21/10--
Jason Palmer (left) and Chad Ladish, both of Fayetteville, chisel Arkansas native stone for a stone wall Wednesday alongside the Crystal Bridges Trail in Bentonville. The wall will serve as the entrance for a mountain bike trail being built.


Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/JASON IVESTER --04/21/10--
Northwest Arkansas Community College students visit with business representatives Wednesday during the school's career fair inside the Student Center on the Bentonville campus. Various businesses set up booths for both students and the public for career-recruiting purposes.


Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/JASON IVESTER --04/22/10--
Fayetteville High School senior Gelleman (cq) Chavez walks around the Central Quad in front of the Arkansas Union on the Fayetteville campus of the University of Arkansas Thursday, April 22, 2010 donning 250 plastic bags -- the average number used by an American annually -- as part of the school's Earth Day activities. Chavez was doing work for his Service Learning class by promoting Habitotes, bags made from recycled water bottles.


Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/JASON IVESTER --04/22/10--
Northwest Arkansas Naturals vs Arkansas Travelers
Naturals' Mike Moustakas follows through on a solo home run in the third inning against the Arkansas Travelers Thursday at Arvest Ballpark in Springdale. Moustakas also hit a two-run home run in the first inning.


Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/JASON IVESTER --04/22/10--
Northwest Arkansas Naturals vs Arkansas Travelers
Naturals' Mike Moustakas (left) is congratulated by teammate Johnny Giavotella after hitting a two-run home run in the first inning that scored the pair against the Arkansas Travelers Thursday at Arvest Ballpark in Springdale. Moustakas also hit a solo home run in his second at-bat in the third inning.


Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/JASON IVESTER --04/22/10--
Northwest Arkansas Naturals vs Arkansas Travelers
Naturals catcher Manny Pina blocks the plate and tags out Travelers' Abel Nieves in the first inning Thursday at Arvest Ballpark in Springdale.


Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/JASON IVESTER --04/22/10--
Northwest Arkansas Naturals vs Arkansas Travelers
Naturals' Clint Robinson safely slides into second base as the throw to Travelers' second baseman Abel Nieves sails over his head in the third inning Thursday at Arvest Ballpark in Springdale.


Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/JASON IVESTER --04/22/10--
Northwest Arkansas Naturals vs Arkansas Travelers
Naturals' Mike Moustakas (center) is congratulated by teammates as he returns to the dugout after hitting a solo home run in the third inning against the Arkansas Travelers Thursday at Arvest Ballpark in Springdale. Moustakas also hit a two-run home run in his first at-bat in the first inning.


Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/JASON IVESTER --04/22/10--
Northwest Arkansas Naturals vs Arkansas Travelers
Naturals' Nick Van Stratten safely dives back to first base against the Arkansas Travelers Thursday at Arvest Ballpark in Springdale.


Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/JASON IVESTER --04/22/10--
Northwest Arkansas Naturals vs Arkansas Travelers
Naturals' Anthony Seratelli slides into third base after Travelers third baseman Jay Brossman records the force out in the fourth inning Thursday at Arvest Ballpark in Springdale.


Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/JASON IVESTER --04/23/10--
Monica Gutierrez leads a group of Mathias Elementary students in Zumba dancing Friday inside the library of the Rogers school. Gutierrez, along with partner Claudia Aguilar, were presenters in the school's Arts Festival and Career Week.


Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/JASON IVESTER --04/23/10--
Elizabeth Gardner (left) of Greenland and Betty Christian of Goshen look over items Friday at the county-wide garage sale hosted inside the exhibit hall on the Benton County Fairgrounds in Vaughn. The second annual sale continues today (SATURDAY) from 9:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. and the $2 admission benefits the fairgrounds.


Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/JASON IVESTER --04/23/10--
Hunter Haynes, Illinois River Watershed Partnership board member, plants Autumn Joy Seedums Friday in a rain garden near the bridge for Horsebarn Trail and 52nd Street in Rogers. The rain garden helps to prevent stormwater pollution into the neighboring creek.

Putting in a little OT

I've got a few to post today.

Friday's entries are two pieces of wild art. The first is from a small pre-school parade for Arkansas Children's Week.

And then I grabbed the young fisherman up near Bella Vista along a creek.

Saturday I put in a little overtime to help cover UA versus Georgia in baseball. Thankfully the rain held off for the most part and the Hogs dominated with their tenth straight win and second straight 10-2 win over the Dogs.

The last two frames are a couple portraits for today's Profiles section.

On a little side note, the Wal-Mart pic from the previous post actually made it to print in today's Business section.

Recycling Wal-Mart

I started Thursday with the NWA Regional Development Conference during which plans were discussed about the expansion of the Wal-Mart Visitors Center in downtown Bentonville.

Following that I went over to Arvest Ballpark in Springdale where electronics were being accepted for recycling on a commercial level -- residential items are being accepted on Friday.

And today we ran my portrait of UA golfer Kelli Shean for our advance on the SEC golf tournament in Tuscaloosa.

Posted last is a photo I shot last week inside one of our Wal-Marts for a Business story. Unfortunately, the story fell through and the photo never ran. I really liked the shot so I've given it life here. Maybe it'll run later as a stock photo for another Wally World story.

Two Days Worth

I forgot to post yesterday to the blog, so here's what should've made it and today's installment together.

We start off with Tuesday's wild art hunt beginning with a lady dressed in a baby costume attempting to draw business to a newly opened daycare center. You can't make that up.

Following that, I strolled over to the Shiloh Museum in Springdale for the opening of an exhibit detailing the history of the Springdale Fire Department.

Wednesday's wild art includes the opening of the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure registration office and HazMat training.

And finally we've got a portrait of Jamie Marshall who plays on the Razorback golf team for our advance on the SEC tournament.