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.

A little wild art here, a little Naturals there

Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/JASON IVESTER --05/04/10--
Dressed as a honeybee, Westside Elementary School fourth-grader Hannah Naylor, 10, tastes her honey while showing off her project on Tuesday, May 4, 2010, inside the Rogers school. Fourth-graders researched for two weeks and created individual projects depicting pieces of Arkansas history for the presentation.

Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/JASON IVESTER --05/04/10--
Westside Elementary School fourth-grader Hallie Bowman, 10, offers plastic diamonds to viewers as part of her project on Tuesday, May 4, 2010, inside the Rogers school. Fourth-graders researched for two weeks and created individual projects depicting pieces of Arkansas history for the presentation.

Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/JASON IVESTER --05/04/10--
Dressed as an Quapaw Indian, Westside Elementary School fourth-grader Emma Johnson (left), 9, waits to describe her project to visitors on Tuesday, May 4, 2010, inside the Rogers school. Fourth-graders researched for two weeks and created individual projects depicting pieces of Arkansas history for the presentation.

Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/JASON IVESTER --05/04/10--
Dressed as Judge Isaac Parker, "The Hanging Judge," Westside Elementary School fourth-grader Aidan Dunn, 9, describes his project on Tuesday, May 4, 2010, inside the Rogers school. Fourth-graders researched for two weeks and created individual projects depicting pieces of Arkansas history for the presentation.

Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/JASON IVESTER --05/04/10--
new home construction for business; homes on Berkeley Avenue in Rogers shot on Tuesday, May 4, 2010

Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/JASON IVESTER --05/04/10--
Felipe Gonzalez spreads concrete for a foundation on a new home construction on Tuesday, May 4, 2010, on Cunningham Avenue in Rogers.

Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/JASON IVESTER --05/04/10--
John Rhea closely examines a cracker bowl brought by Catherine Naccarato of Rogers on Tuesday, May 4, 2010, inside the Rogers Adult Wellness Center. Rhea and his wife, Cherry Rhea, who operate Vintage Antiques in Rogers, were offering free antique appraisals during a session at the center.

Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/JASON IVESTER --05/05/10--
Tyler Richardson (left), 10, and others reach items out to be autographed by Naturals outfielder Nick Van Stratten on Tuesday, May 5, 2010 before the Northwest Arkansas Naturals game against the Springdfield Cardinals at Arvest Ballpark in Springdale. Richardson was at the game with a group from Ozark Adventist Academy in Gentry as part of School Kids Day.

Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/JASON IVESTER --05/05/10--
Northwest Arkansas Naturals vs Springfield Cardinals
Naturals' Derrick Robinson is tagged out by Cardinals first baseman Curt Smith during the first inning on Wednesday, May 5, 2010, at Arvest Ballpark in Springdale.

Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/JASON IVESTER --05/05/10--
Northwest Arkansas Naturals vs Springfield Cardinals
Naturals' Nick Van Stratten (left) gets caught in a run-down between Cardinals' Andrew Brown (#18) and Pete Kozma during the second inning on Wednesday, May 5, 2010, at Arvest Ballpark in Springdale.

Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/JASON IVESTER --05/06/10--
Fort Valley State University Vice President Isaac Crumbly (left) meets with Unviersity of Arkansas Chancellor David Gearhart prior to a news conference announcing the schools' agreement to establish dual degree programs in geosciences on Thursday, May 6, 2010, inside Old Main on the Fayetteville campus.

Early voting

So today's post brings a little early voting for some small local elections, wild art of pressure washing a church and some 7A high school state semifinal soccer action.


Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/JASON IVESTER --05/03/10--
Linda Bruce (from left) of Bella Vista checks in with election officials Kim Stevens of Rogers and Nancy McCloud of Bella Vista on Monday, May 3, 2010, for early voting inside the Benton County Administration Building in Bentonville. Early voting continues through May 17 for the preferential primary and nonpartisan judicial general election.


Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/JASON IVESTER --05/03/10--
Loraine Venter of Bentonville casts her vote on Monday, May 3, 2010, for early voting inside the Benton County Administration Building in Bentonville. Early voting continues through May 17 for the preferential primary and nonpartisan judicial general election.


Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/JASON IVESTER --05/03/10--
Lowell Jester of Rogers pressure washes underneath the roof overhang on Monday, May 3, 2010, at Colonial Baptist Church on Olive Street in Rogers. Jester and Bruce Jones of Bella Vista, both with In Line Construction in Springdale, also painted underneath the awning for the entrance to the church earlier.


Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/JASON IVESTER --05/03/10--
Rogers High School vs Little Rock Catholic boys soccer
Rogers' Erik Mora (left) and Little Rock Catholic's Jon Miskin go after a ball during the first half of the 7A semifinal game on Monday, May 3, 2010, at Rogers Heritage High School.


Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/JASON IVESTER --05/03/10--
Rogers High School vs Bentonville High School girls soccer
Bentonville's Margaret Power (left) celebrates after scoring the Tigers' second goal of the game against Rogers during the second half of the 7A semifinal game on Monday, May 3, 2010, at Rogers High School.


Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/JASON IVESTER --05/03/10--
Rogers High School vs Bentonville High School girls soccer
Rogers' Ibett Cordona (left) dives in to knock the ball away from Bentonville's Hanna Nilsson during the second half of the 7A semifinal game on Monday, May 3, 2010, at Rogers High School.


Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/JASON IVESTER --05/03/10--
Rogers High School vs Bentonville High School girls soccer
Rogers' Nancy Rosales (left) and Bentonville's Rylea Wallace go for a ball in the air during the second half of the 7A semifinal game on Monday, May 3, 2010, at Rogers High School.

HS Soccer Playoffs

Today's installment comes from a pair of high school soccer playoff games -- the first, a girls game between Rogers Heritage and Mount Saint Mary, and the second, a boys game between Little Rock Central and Fort Smith Northside.

The girls game featured a weather delay during the game of almost two hours and both head coaches getting ejected for separate instances.