
Ozarks At Large

Yesterday's release from the Federal Bureau of Labor Statistics shows broad-based job growth in northwest Arkansas, sales tax revenue went up for the big four cities of northwest Arkansas in November. NWACC decides to buy land from the Arkansas and Missouri Railroad. The education given by the U of A is again described as a good value by the Princeton Review. A teaching farm in Fayetteville gets a grant from Ozark Natural Foods. And Arkansas' newest state senator doubles down on not renewing the state's Private Option expansion of Medicaid.
The Jones Center has plans to renovate some of its outdoor recreational facilities, while the city of Fayetteville has plans for expanding the city's trails network in 2014. And one Springdale-based poultry company issues a recall for more than a million pounds of frozen chicken products.
University of Arkansas Fort Smith's "Read This" 2014 book is "The Things They Carried" by Tim O'Brien.
The Arkansas Department of Health continues to urge residents to get a flu shot as the number of people in the state who have died from flu-related illness continues to climb. The IRS reminds residents that tax season is about to get underway. The risk of wildfire continues to increase across Arkansas. And Sam's Club announces that it will lay off roughly 2 percent of its overall workforce.


Here is the list of clips for our Denver/Colorado montage. We'll have Seattle next week.
1. Ho Hey by Colorado-based band The Lumineers.
2. Robin Williams, as Mork, introduces himself to Boulder, Colorado (where the show was set).
3. Earth, Wind and Fire (with three Colorado natives) sings Boogie Wonderland.
4. Jack Nicholson crashes through in The Shining (at a Colorado hotel).
5. Voices from South Park, Colorado.
6. The song Colorado, My Home from the Broadway musical The Unsinkable Molly Brown.
7. Joan Collins and Linda Evans meet for the first time on the Denver-based soap opera Dynasty.
8. A 1970s commercial for Coors.
9. Colorado native Ralph Edwards surprises yet another celebrity on This is Your Life.
10. John Denver with Rocky Mountain High. Of course.
Apologies to: Lon Chaney and Douglas Fairbanks (how do you get silent stars into an audio montage?) and Hattie McDaniel.
1. Ho Hey by Colorado-based band The Lumineers.
2. Robin Williams, as Mork, introduces himself to Boulder, Colorado (where the show was set).
3. Earth, Wind and Fire (with three Colorado natives) sings Boogie Wonderland.
4. Jack Nicholson crashes through in The Shining (at a Colorado hotel).
5. Voices from South Park, Colorado.
6. The song Colorado, My Home from the Broadway musical The Unsinkable Molly Brown.
7. Joan Collins and Linda Evans meet for the first time on the Denver-based soap opera Dynasty.
8. A 1970s commercial for Coors.
9. Colorado native Ralph Edwards surprises yet another celebrity on This is Your Life.
10. John Denver with Rocky Mountain High. Of course.
Apologies to: Lon Chaney and Douglas Fairbanks (how do you get silent stars into an audio montage?) and Hattie McDaniel.

Web Extra: Images From Sleet City Signs
Latest Edition of Ozarks at Large
Sunday, June 8, 2014
Ahead on this edition of Weekend Ozarks, a float along the Buffalo River nearly a year after a hog farm started business near the waterway, and a brand new water park in Siloam Springs is almost ready for the public. And speaking of being ready for the public, the Walmart AMP in Rogers last night had its public debut. Blake Shelton was the first headliner to perform in the new venue, but a few days earlier, we got a sneak preview of the facility.
Here are the eleven elements of today's Christmas tree montage:
Miles Davis' version of "O Christmas Tree"
Mr. Wilson volunteers to cut down a tree in a 1961 episode of "Dennis the Menace"
The Griswald Family goes a long way for the perfect tree in "Christmas Vacation"
Brenda Lee's classic "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree
Charlie Brown selects a tiny, sad tree in the "CHarlie Brown Christmas Special"
Tchaikovsky's "Christmas Tree" from "The Nutcracker Suite"
Cindy Lou Who questions the Grinch
Zuzu explains that bell ornament on the tree at the end of "It's A Wonderful Life"
Elvis and "Blue Christmas"
Festivus revealed on a classic episode of "Seinfeld"
Wynton Marsalis gives "O Christmas Tree" a bit of New Orleans bounce
Becca Martin Brown gives us a hurried list of holiday happenings for this afternoon in the region.
The Arkansas Supreme Court rules in favor of two school districts in their suit against the state Department of Education and the state treasurer. Arkansas Attorney General Dustin McDaniel files suit against two Washington County companies. And, Governor Mike Beebe's office weighs in on yesterday's jobs announcement in Fort Smith.
"It's Almost December" by The Real Pills
A deal for the Whirlpool plant falls through, a new manufacturer announces an arrival and unemployment numbers are released. Michael Tilley with the City Wire provides the details.
"A Great Adventure" by Carter Burwell
Jay Jennings has collected the short fiction, reporting and essays of Charles Portis in a new book, Escape Velocity: A Charles Portis Miscellany. He’ll discuss the book at Nightbird Books tomorrow night.