Filling the holes with some wild art

Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/JASON IVESTER --05/26/10--
David Scheers of Joplin, Mo., carries a bag of stuffed animals on Wednesday, May 26, 2010, to hang inside one of the game booths to set up for a carnival in the parking lot at Frisco Station Mall in Rogers. The carnival, operated by Pride Amusements, will run through Monday (MEMORIAL DAY).



Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/JASON IVESTER --05/26/10--
Micah Fankhauser (cq) (left), 3, watches as his brother, Silas Fankhauser, 4, walks back under the bridge crossing the creek on Wednesday, May 26, 2010, at Lake Atalanta in Rogers. The brothers came to the park with their parents, Joel and Alice, and 18-month-old sister, Liza, all of Little Rock. The family was visiting Alice's parents, Richard and Glenna Weaver, both of Bentonville, who were also at the park with them.



Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/JASON IVESTER --05/27/10--
Tillery Elementary fifth-grader Olivia Kennedy, 10, (front) works with classmates on Thursday, May 27, 2010, at the Rogers school in an exercise during which students learned about water bird migration. Third- though fifth-grade students participated in the school's Celebrate Effort Day which celebrated their effort during this year's testing season. The theme for the event was "Go Green."



Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/JASON IVESTER --05/27/10--
Maddie Mills (left), 17, and Hannah Ray, 16, sit on the Butterfly Bench on Thursday, May 27, 2010, before the dedication for the bench outside Leverett Elementary School in Fayetteville. The bench, designed by artist Eugene Sargent, was installed in memory of Hannah's sister, Olivia Ray, who died after being struck by a car last year.



Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/JASON IVESTER --05/28/10--
Northside Elementary fifth-grader Karen Romero, 11, holds the bottle steady as kindergartener Fernanda Albarran, 5, pours water into it during the "Catch the Rainwater" relay race on Friday, May 28, 2010, for the students' field day at the Rogers school. The theme for the event was "Pirates Going Green."



Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/JASON IVESTER --05/28/10--
Northside Elementary fifth-graders Kyle Edgeworth, 11, squeezes water from sponges onto Juan Belloso, 11, while waiting for another set of students to play the "Swab the Deck Me Hearties" relay race on Friday, May 28, 2010, for the students' field day at the Rogers school. The theme for the event was "Pirates Going Green."



Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/JASON IVESTER --05/28/10--
Northside Elementary kindergartener Alexis Vidal, 6, squeezes water from a sponge into a can during the "Swab the Deck Me Hearties" relay race on Friday, May 28, 2010, for the students' field day at the Rogers school. The theme for the event was "Pirates Going Green."



Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/JASON IVESTER --05/28/10--
Northside Elementary fifth-grader Kyle Edgeworth, 11, slings water from his hair on Friday, May 28, 2010, during the students' field day at the Rogers school. The theme for the event was "Pirates Going Green."



Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/JASON IVESTER --05/28/10--
Rogers Mayor and Republican Congressional Candidate Steve Womack (left) shakes hands with former challenger Kurt Maddox following a news conference on Friday, May 28, 2010, inside the Embassy Suites in Rogers. Maddox announced his endorsement for Womack during the news conference.



Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/JASON IVESTER --05/28/10--
Reagan Elementary fifth-grader Hope Von Gremp, 11, (center) saws through a piece of PVC pipe with other members of the REACH class on Friday, May 28, 2010, during their "Build-A-Thon" called Huts for Haiti outside the Rogers school. The students designed and built a life-sized structure and planned a fundraiser to benefit the victims of the Haiti earthquake

Seriously, I didn't die...seriously

I've been pretty damn slack at posting and I'm sorry. I've been pretty busy at work and when I've been home (if we didn't have company), I've been spending a lot of time working in the yard. So I've been negligent to the blog. So here's a super post with most of my work during the period.



Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/JASON IVESTER --05/13/10--
SEC Softball Tournament
Auburn catcher Elizabeth Eisterhold applies the tag to Florida's Tiffany DeFelice at the plate in the second inning during the SEC tournament Thursday, May 13, 2010, at Bogle Park in Fayetteville.



Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/JASON IVESTER --05/13/10--
SEC Softball Tournament
Florida players welcome Megan Bush (left) at home plate after her three-run home run in the fifth inning against Auburn during the SEC tournament Thursday, May 13, 2010, at Bogle Park in Fayetteville.



Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/JASON IVESTER --05/14/10--
Alex Vasquez, Northwest Arkansas Community College Board of Trustees member and Wal-Mart attorney; shot on Friday, May 14, 2010, inside Burns Hall at NWACC in Bentonville for nwprofiles



Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/JASON IVESTER --05/14/10--
Alex Vasquez, Northwest Arkansas Community College Board of Trustees member and Wal-Mart attorney; shot on Friday, May 14, 2010, inside the Student Center at NWACC in Bentonville for nwprofiles



Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/JASON IVESTER --05/14/10--
Andy Patterson of Tyler, Texas, practices on Friday, May 14, 2010, inside Fast Lane Entertainment in Lowell. The center is hosting the Professional Bowlers Association Southwest Region Northwest Arkansas Open which begins this morning (SATURDAY) with 60 entries and concludes with the finals on Sunday.



Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/JASON IVESTER --05/15/10--
Former First Lady Laura Bush signs copies of her new book, "Spoken From the Heart," for club members on Saturday, May 15, 2010, inside the Sam's Club in Fayetteville. Bush also visited the Wal-Mart Supercenter on Pleasant Grove Road in Rogers later in the day.



Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/JASON IVESTER --05/16/10--
Jesse Adams of Springdale checks on the power conditioner/power inverter while Stan Sasser (from left) of Fayetteville, Lisa Ostrom of Fayetteville and Monty Mason of Bentonville pedal to provide power to a concert on Sunday, May 16, 2010, during Artosphere at North Shore Park at Lake Fayetteville. Adams, the head carpenter for Walton Arts Center, assembled the cycling station.



Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/JASON IVESTER --05/16/10--
Rana Santacruz of New York City plays the accordian with his band on Sunday, May 16, 2010, during Artosphere at North Shore Park at Lake Fayetteville. Power for the performance was being generated by cyclists (background).



Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/JASON IVESTER --05/17/10--
Grimes Elementary School fourth-graders Cole Regier (cq) (from left), Alyssa Danley, Alexis Villalovos (cq) and Emily Efurd (cq) check underneath on the construction of their boat, "The Olympian," on Monday, May 17, 2010, at Lake Atalanta in Rogers. The students were four of about 150 fourth-graders from the Rogers Public Schools gifted and talented program participating in the fourth annual REACH Regatta during which the students designed boats out of a set of various materials and raced them along the creek.



Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/JASON IVESTER --05/17/10--
As she continues to read about candidates, Adrienne Richard of Bentonville is guided to an open station by election official Nancy McCloud of Bella Vista on Monday, May 17, 2010, inside the Benton County Administration Building in Bentonville. Monday was the last day for early voting.



Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/JASON IVESTER --05/18/10--
Monica Fuller; shot on Tuesday, May 18, 2010, at the Botanical Garden of the Ozarks in Fayetteville for nwprofiles; feature bride



Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/JASON IVESTER --05/18/10--
Monica Fuller; shot on Tuesday, May 18, 2010, at the Botanical Garden of the Ozarks in Fayetteville for nwprofiles; feature bride



Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/JASON IVESTER --05/19/10--
Third-grader Ashley Smreker (cq), 9, peers out from a plastic bag to cheer the introduction of the Northwest Arkansas Naturals during their game on Wednesday, May 19, 2010, against the Tulsa Drillers at Arvest Ballpark in Springdale. Smreker was at the game with a group from TG Smith Elementary School in Springdale for School Kids Day.



Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/JASON IVESTER --05/19/10--
NWA Naturals vs Tulsa Drillers
Naturals shortstop Chris McConnell looks to the umpire for the call after attempting to make the tag on Tulsa's Matt Repec at second base in the sixth inning on Wednesday, May 19, 2010, at Arvest Ballpark in Springdale. Repec was called safe on the play.



Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/JASON IVESTER --05/19/10--
NWA Naturals vs Tulsa Drillers
Naturals right fielder Nick Van Stratten fields a fly ball in foul territory against Tulsa on Wednesday, May 19, 2010, at Arvest Ballpark in Springdale.



Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/JASON IVESTER --05/19/10--
William Cherry, 6, shows his mother, Amanda Cherry, a picture in a book about whales on Wednesday, May, 19, 2010, in the children's libary inside the Springdale Public Library. William came to the library with his mother and brother, Andrew Cherry, 4, all of Springdale, for story time.



Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/JASON IVESTER --05/20/10--
University of Arkansas School of Law secretaries Bridget Young (left) and Misty Slavens eat lunch on Thursday, May 20, 2010, in the east stands inside Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium in Fayetteville during the 12th annul staff appreciation picnic and vendor fair. The event was hosted by the UA Staff Senate.



Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/JASON IVESTER --05/20/10--
University of Arkansas horticulturists Jeff Caperton and Tina Buxton construct a bamboo trellis for a bean garden on Thursday, May 20, 2010, on the Fayetteville campus. The vegetable garden, which is part of the horticulture department's display garden, will grow Chinese long beans.



Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/JASON IVESTER --05/21/10--
3A softball state championship - Perryville vs Ark. Baptist
Perryville catcher Tiffany Hubbard turns in attempt to make the tag on Arkansas Baptist's Riley Roberts at the plate in the fifth inning during the 3A state championship game on Friday, May 21, 2010, at Bogle Park in Fayetteville. Roberts was safe for the score on the play.



Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/JASON IVESTER --05/21/10--
3A softball state championship - Perryville vs Ark. Baptist
Perryville's Tori Taylor and Lindsey Bean (#20) collide while fielding a pop fly in shallow right field in the sixth inning against Arkansas Baptist during the 3A state championship game on Friday, May 21, 2010, at Bogle Park in Fayetteville. Taylor made the out on the play.



Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/JASON IVESTER --05/21/10--
3A softball state championship - Perryville vs Ark. Baptist
Arkansas Baptist pitcher Emily Guess celebrates after striking out the final Perryville batter in the seventh inning during the 3A state championship game on Friday, May 21, 2010, at Bogle Park in Fayetteville.



Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/JASON IVESTER --05/23/10--
Sam, a three-year-old boxer mix, tries to steal a sip of beer from his owner, Cary Hague (cq) of Lowell, on Sunday, May 23, 2010, before the start of the game between the Northwest Arkansas Naturals and the Arkansas Travelers at Arvest Ballpark in Springdale. Hague brought Sam as part of the Naturals' promotion Bark in the Ballpark.



Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/JASON IVESTER --05/23/10--
Jake the Diamond Dog brings a basket of water bottles to umpires Seth Buckminster (left) and Kellen Levy between innings of the game between the Northwest Arkansas Naturals and the Arkansas Travelers at Arvest Ballpark in Springdale.



Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/JASON IVESTER --05/23/10--
NWA Naturals vs Arkansas Travelers
Naturals' Manny Pina (right) and manager Brian Poldberg plead their case to home plate umpire Brad Myers during the third inning against the Arkansas Travelers on Sunday, May 23, 2010, at Arvest Ballpark in Springdale. Pina claimed to have been hit by a pitch on the arm.



Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/JASON IVESTER --05/23/10--
NWA Naturals vs Arkansas Travelers
Travelers center fielder Jeremy Moore leaps to make an out against the wall in the fourth inning against the Naturals on Sunday, May 23, 2010, at Arvest Ballpark in Springdale.



Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/JASON IVESTER --05/23/10--
NWA Naturals vs Arkansas Travelers
Naturals' Nick Van Stratten looks to left field as he rounds Travelers second baseman Ryan Mount in the fifth inning on Sunday, May 23, 2010, at Arvest Ballpark in Springdale.



Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/JASON IVESTER --05/24/10--
City of Bentonville Electric Department employee Gabe Fields inspects the tornado siren high above Memorial Park in Bentonville on Monday, May 24, 2010. Fields was part of a three-man crew, including Burton Chaney and Wes Poe, that was performing annual maintenance to the unit which entails changing batteries, checking fuses and oiling/greasing moving parts.



Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/JASON IVESTER --05/24/10--
Katie Hatch of Springdale fills out job applications on Monday, May 24, 2010, inside the John Q. Hammons Center in Rogers during the Spring Job Fair.



Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/JASON IVESTER --05/25/10--
Kassidy Lane, 9, of Siloam Springs is greeted by Disney characters Mickey and Minnie Mouse on Tuesday, May 25, 2010, inside the Rogers High School gym after Kassidy was surprised with a Disney cruise for her and her family through the Make A Wish Foundation Mid South Chapter. Rogers High School students raised over $4500 to contribute to the gift. Kassidy suffers from a congenital heart defect.



Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/JASON IVESTER --05/25/10--
Karen Weber washes Missy, an 18-year-old quarter horse/Arab mix, on Tuesday, May 25, 2010, inside the stalls at the Horses for Healing barn in Bentonville. Missy will be one of the horses for adoption at the center's annual Barn Dance benefit on Saturday, June 12.

Track portraits

On Tuesday, I shot a pair of UA track portraits. Freshmen Caleb Cross and Stephanie Brown were our focus for our preview stories for the SEC tournament in today's paper.

Benton County wild art...what's new?

Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/JASON IVESTER --05/10/10--
Alice Boepple (left) of Pea Ridge and Samantha Scott (center, right) of Bentonville, teach J.D. Lightwine (right) and his wife, Colleen Lightwine, both of Springdale, how to play Mah Jongg on Monday, May 10, 2010, inside the Rogers Adult Wellness Center. Boepple and Scott lead lessons in the Chinese tile game on Mondays and Thursdays at the center with open play following.

Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/JASON IVESTER --05/10/10--
Arkansas First Lady Ginger Beebe reads from "Winston the Book Wolf" by Marni McGee to Tillery Elementary School second-graders on Monday, May 10, 2010, in the library of the Rogers school. Beebe is promoting her project, "Together We Read."

Soccer, soccer, galore

Friday was a soccer overload. I shot four state championship games after all was said and done.

I had the 5A girls and boys championship games already on my plate. Then while I was shooting the first game, I got a call from the newspaper down in Searcy asking if could string the two following games for them. Reluctantly, I accepted as I knew they were in a bind with their arranged stringer's car breaking down.

The final game (Searcy vs Mountain Home for the 6A boys championship) turned out to be probably the dirtiest game I've ever watched/covered.

These two teams have faced each other now three consecutive years for the title and all three have been won by Searcy. This obviously caused some animosity as the Mountain Home players were shown five yellow cards and two direct red cards



Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/JASON IVESTER --05/07/10--
LRCA vs PA - 5A girls soccer championship
Little Rock Christian players celebrate following their 4-0 win over Pulaski Academy for the 5A championship game on Friday, May 7, 2010, at Razorback Field in Fayetteville.

Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/JASON IVESTER --05/07/10--
LRCA vs PA - 5A girls soccer championship
Little Rock Christian's Joanna Bentley (left) and Kelsey Smith celebrate past Pulaski Academy's Lizzie McSpadden (center) after Bentley's goal in the first half of the 5A championship game on Friday, May 7, 2010, at Razorback Field in Fayetteville.

Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/JASON IVESTER --05/07/10--
LRCA vs PA - 5A girls soccer championship
Pulaski Academy goalie *** saves a shot on goal from Little Rock Christian in the first half of the 5A championship game on Friday, May 7, 2010, at Razorback Field in Fayetteville.

Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/JASON IVESTER --05/07/10--
LRCA vs PA - 5A girls soccer championship
Pulaski Academy's #17 is consoled by teammate #22 (left) after the team accepted their runner-up trophy following their game against Little Rock Christian for the 5A championship game on Friday, May 7, 2010, at Razorback Field in Fayetteville.

Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/JASON IVESTER --05/07/10--
LRCA vs Hope - 5A boys soccer championship
Little Rock Christian's Andrew Davis heads the ball away from Hope's Rual Leyva in the first half of the 5A championship game on Friday, May 7, 2010, at Razorback Field in Fayetteville.

Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/JASON IVESTER --05/07/10--
LRCA vs Hope - 5A boys soccer championship
Hope's Jose Nava (from left), Juan Arroyo and Ismael Arnanda walk back to accept their runner-up trophy following the game against Little Rock Christian for the 5A championship game on Friday, May 7, 2010, at Razorback Field in Fayetteville.

Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/JASON IVESTER --05/07/10--
LRCA vs Hope - 5A boys soccer championship
Hope's Cody Washington (left) and Little Rock Christian's Nathan Gay vie for possession in the first half of the 5A championship game on Friday, May 7, 2010, at Razorback Field in Fayetteville.

Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/JASON IVESTER --05/07/10--
LRCA vs Hope - 5A boys soccer championship
Hope's Juan Arroyo celebrates after scoring the game's first goal against Little Rock Christian in the first half of the 5A championship game on Friday, May 7, 2010, at Razorback Field in Fayetteville.

Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/JASON IVESTER --05/07/10--
LRCA vs Hope - 5A boys soccer championship
Little Rock Christian goalkeeper Austin Whitesell (bottom) protects himself and the ball from Hope's Stephen Riemar in the first half of the 5A championship game on Friday, May 7, 2010, at Razorback Field in Fayetteville.

Photo by Jason Ivester --05/07/10--
6A girls soccer championship -- Searcy vs El Dorado
Searcy players celebrate following their 3-1 win over El Dorado for the 6A championship game on Friday, May 7, 2010, at Razorback Field in Fayetteville.

Photo by Jason Ivester --05/07/10--
6A girls soccer championship -- Searcy vs El Dorado
Searcy's Jade McCoy tries to get around El Dorado's Samantha Justus in the second half of the 6A championship game on Friday, May 7, 2010, at Razorback Field in Fayetteville.

Photo by Jason Ivester --05/07/10--
6A girls soccer championship -- Searcy vs El Dorado
El Dorado's Caitlin Brown (left) tries to take the ball from Searcy's Kerry Moon in the second half of the 6A championship game on Friday, May 7, 2010, at Razorback Field in Fayetteville.

Photo by Jason Ivester --05/07/10--
6A girls soccer championship -- Searcy vs El Dorado
Searcy's Michaelah Weaver (left) tries to get around El Dorado goalkeeper Meredith Rice to get the ball in the first half of the 6A championship game on Friday, May 7, 2010, at Razorback Field in Fayetteville.

Photo by Jason Ivester --05/07/10--
6A boys soccer championship -- Searcy vs Mountain Home
Searcy's Steven Seitz (left) is taken down by Mountain Home's Brock Barnhill in the box in the first half of the 6A championship game on Friday, May 7, 2010, at Razorback Field in Fayetteville. Barnhill received a red card on the foul and Seitz scored on the ensuing penalty kick.

Photo by Jason Ivester --05/07/10--
6A boys soccer championship -- Searcy vs Mountain Home
Searcy's Brandon Treece (left) celebrates with teammate Evan Scarbrough after Treece's goal against Mountain Home in the first half of the 6A championship game on Friday, May 7, 2010, at Razorback Field in Fayetteville.

Photo by Jason Ivester --05/07/10--
6A boys soccer championship -- Searcy vs Mountain Home
Mountain Home's Jeff Cotter (left) and Searcy's Andrew Moore collide while going for the ball in the first half of the 6A championship game on Friday, May 7, 2010, at Razorback Field in Fayetteville.

Photo by Jason Ivester --05/07/10--
6A boys soccer championship -- Searcy vs Mountain Home
Mountain Home's Brock Barnhilll (center) is shown the red card by the official against Searcy in the first half of the 6A championship game on Friday, May 7, 2010, at Razorback Field in Fayetteville.