Village open house

Hot Springs Village Property Owners’ Association’s marketing department and HSV Board of REALTORS are pleased to announce the first Real Estate Open House of 2012- March 31 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Approximately 40 houses in four different price ranges will be featured on the tours (<$100K; $100-$200K; $200-$300K and $300K+). Each tour will have a lunch break at one of our sponsoring restaurants: Paradise Grill, the Pink Olive, Mulligans at Ponce and Diamante.

·         Diamante Round of Golf with Lunch for Four

·         HSVPOA Round of FREE Golf

·         2-Night “Stay & Play” Accommodation

·         HSV Single Membership, value $275

·         2-Hour Tennis Court Coupon

·         Fitness Center one-day pass

·         3 Gift Subscriptions to The Sentinel-Record

*Winners must show proof of attending 5 Open Houses

Hot Springs Village is a wonderful place to live and play only 40 minutes from I-430 and I-30.You are invited to discover Hot Springs Village during our Real Estate Open House March 31^st.  Within our unique twenty-six thousand acre community you will find nine golf courses, eleven lakes, a thirteen clay court tennis facility, eight pickleball courts and over twenty miles of wooded, scenic nature trails. Whether you are looking to build, buy an existing home, invest in a second home, townhouse or condo and/or buy a lot… Hot Springs Village is the Right Choice.

Golf front homes and townhouses range in price from $59,900 - $979,900.  Great homes are available with golf course frontage on all of the courses.  If building is an option for you there are golf course frontage lots that may be just what you are looking for.  The median price for a golf course frontage lot is $29,900 and the average is $31,057.

Perhaps lake front living is more to your liking?  The median price for lake front homes and townhouses is $322,450 and the average is $360,318.  Lake front lots are still available, the median is $80,900, and the average is $95,985.

Overall, the median price for all homes and townhouses currently for sale in Hot Springs Village is $184,100, the average is $233,063.  The median for vacant building lots is $15,950 and the average is $34,994.

For more information please contact the Hot Springs Village Board of REALTORS 501-984-5963 and/or visit Welcome2HSV.com.

Join the Fun - Do not miss the Open House, March 31 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Village POA annual meeting May 7

_{Hot Springs Village property owners association annual meeting will be held on  Monday, May 7, at 3 p.m at Ponce De Leon Center in the Ouachita Building.}

_{All property owners are encouraged to attend this meeting.}

Hazardous waste meeting

The Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) will hold a free workshop at Jonesboro March 28, 2012, to assist individuals and facilities that generate hazardous wastes with compliance issues involving state and federal laws and regulations. The event will be held from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Forrest L. Wood Crowley’s Ridge Nature Center, 600 East Lawson Road, in Jonesboro.

ADEQ personnel will provide information on topics such as hazardous waste classification; rules governing accumulation of hazardous wastes; treatment of hazardous wastes; employee training requirements; recordkeeping and reporting requirements; the hazardous waste manifest system; and an inspection checklist for hazardous wastes.

Interested parties should contact Clyde Rhodes, chief of the ADEQ Hazardous Waste Division, for reservations at 501-682-0831, or rhodes@adaeq.state.ar.us.

Participants are encouraged to bring their own lunch to the workshop. Similar workshops are scheduled for June 20, at El Dorado, and September 26 at Hot Springs.

Tank meeting

The Arkansas petroleum storage tank advisory committee will meet 9 a.m. March 27, at the Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) Headquarters Building, 5301 Northshore Drive, North Little Rock. The meeting will be held in Conference Room 1E09 on the first floor of the building.

Items on the agenda include reports on the financial status of the petroleum storage tank trust fund and third-party claims against the fund, and consideration of requests for reimbursements for cleanup operations involving petroleum product releases at Arkadelphia, Benton, Blytheville, Boles, Crossett, El Dorado, Fayetteville, Heber Springs, Jessieville, Jonesboro, Malvern, Morrilton, Mountain Home, Sheridan, and Van Buren.

The committee advises and assists the ADEQ and the Arkansas Pollution Control and Ecology Commission concerning administration of the state regulated storage tank program.

Another cell phone scam warning

Cellular phone users across Arkansas – in fact, across the nation – have been targeted in the past few weeks by con artists who send text messages in efforts to steal personal financial information.

These unwanted text messages purport to be from legitimate businesses. They attempt to entice consumers into providing their private financial information by claiming the consumer has won a retail-store gift card or by saying a bank’s security department needs account information. Consumers are asked to follow an Internet link or to call a phone number, at which point they may be prompted to provide credit-card, debit-card or Social Security numbers.

Because of the pervasiveness of this scam, Attorney General Dustin McDaniel today issued this Consumer Alert to urge Arkansans not to respond to these text messages.

“Consumers should never provide financial information to someone who sends a text message from an unfamiliar number as a means to ask for it,” McDaniel said. “Those who seek that information in unsolicited text messages or emails will likely use it for criminal purposes. Just like ‘phishing’ emails, the best thing for consumers to do when they receive these text messages is to delete them immediately.”

Many consumers are very familiar with “phishing” by email, the practice that con artists use to solicit personal information by posing as banks, credit card companies or even government agencies. These types of phishing schemes have moved to SMS, or text messaging, in a practice the federal government has referred to as “smishing.”

Con artists obtain phone numbers from cell-phone number databases that can be purchased online. Most typically target prefixes specific to mobile phones. One way to reduce unwanted text messages is to register on the federal Do Not Call list, at www.donotcall.gov. 

McDaniel recommended that consumers do the following if they fall prey to a “smishing” scheme:

• Do not respond. Remember that no legitimate company will ever send an unsolicited text or email asking for personal information.
• Contact the business or financial institution directly, using the consumer service number on an account statement or on the business’ website, with any questions or concerns.
• Contact the cell-phone service provider to find out if there are ways to reduce text spam. Some providers can block all text messages that originate from the Internet. Texts sent via the Internet are more likely than phone-to-phone texts to be scams.

More information about scam e-mail and text messages, as well as other consumer issues, is available at GotYourBackArkansas.org, the website of the Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Division. Also, consumers may contact the Division at (800) 482-8982 or (501) 682-2341.

State cracking down on cyber crimes

Attorney General Dustin McDaniel announced a Sebastian County man pleaded guilty to child pornography charges related to his arrest last year by agents from the Attorney General’s Office.

Manuel Garza-Juarez, 44, of Barling was sentenced to 75 years in prison after pleading eight counts of distributing, possessing or viewing matter depicting sexually explicit conduct involving a child, a Class C felony. Sebastian County Judge Stephen Tabor handed down the sentence during a hearing today in Sebastian County Circuit Court.

“This man was a danger to our State’s most vulnerable citizens,” McDaniel said. “He victimized and exploited children. I appreciate the efforts of Cyber Crimes Unit investigators who pursued this defendant and worked to make sure he can never commit such heinous acts again.”

Garza-Juarez, aka Manuel Jesus Suarez, was the first suspect arrested by the Attorney General’s new Cyber Crimes Unit, which began operations last spring. He is the second suspect to plead guilty to Internet crimes against children. In February, a Waldron man was sentenced to 80 years in prison after pleading guilty to similar charges.

Agents with the Cyber Crimes Unit began investigating Garza-Juarez last May after agents suspected that child pornography was being possessed at his residence, 906 P St., in Barling. Garza-Juarez was arrested last July on child pornography charges and was also detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials. Garza-Juarez had previously been deported from the United States because of previous felony convictions of murder, attempted murder and armed robbery in Illinois in 1989.

Agents seized four desktop computers and several compact discs from Garza-Juarez’s residence. Those items were analyzed at the Cyber Crimes Unit Forensic Lab in Little Rock and found to contain images depicting sexually explicit conduct involving a child.

As a result of his conviction, Garza-Juarez will be required to register as a sex offender. He has been in custody since his arrest and will be transferred to the Arkansas Department of Correction.

Following the investigation, the Attorney General’s Office provided the case file to Sebastian County Prosecuting Attorney Dan Shue, who pursued the conviction.

“I am very appreciative of the work done by Mr. Shue’s office and by the agencies that assisted us in the investigation,” McDaniel said. “We are glad in our office to be a resource that supplements the already-exemplary work of our law enforcement agencies and prosecutors throughout the State.”

April in Arkansas' Timberlands

Ecore de Fabre: An American Colonial & Early North America Event is April 7-8 in Bluff City. In 1783, a French trader named Fabre settled on a bluff above the Ouachita River and called the settlement “Ecore Fabre,” which is the present city of Camden. In honor of the French trapping days, White Oak Lake State Park in Bluff City is hosting the third Ecore de Fabre. Meet reenactors demonstrating the presence of the French trappers in this part of Arkansas during the 1780s. Discover history through demonstrations of spinning, weaving, cooking, candle making, rope making, musket shooting, clothing making, river trading, fire starting, tomahawk throwing, and a battle demonstration. For more information visit www.arkansasstateparks.com or call 870-685-2748.

The 21st annual Hogskin Holidays Festival & Cook-Off is April 13-14 in Hampton at the Calhoun County Fairgrounds. This family-oriented event celebrates the legend and heritage of Calhoun County and its people. The festival includes a Pork BBQ cook-off, racing pigs, a children's tractor pull, arts and crafts, a quilt show, a vintage car show, a tractors show, a parade, rodeo, and more. For further information visit www.hogskin-holidays.com or call 870-798-2100.

Video Games Live is April 14 in El Dorado at the Municipal Auditorium. Created by the game industry, this show is performed by the South Arkansas Symphony with choir combined with synchronized lighting, video, live action and audience interactivity. The show starts at 7:30 p.m. For more information check out www.southarkansassymphony.org or call 870-862-0521.

Explore the life and times of the famed, and longest-term president, Franklin D. Roosevelt April 14 via Ed Asner as "FDR" at the Perot Theatre in Texarkana. This new production has sold out in New York and Florida. For more information visit www.trahc.org or call 903-792-4492.

Join a park interpreter on a trail hike and learn how surrounding plants can be used for your benefit during Edible Plants of Logoly State Park April 21 in McNeil.  Participants receive handouts and an edible plants book. Admission is $25. For more information visit www.arkansasstateparks.com or call 870-695-3561.

A Harness and Driving Workshop is April 21 at Historic Washington State Park in Washington. The course covers the basics of safe harnessing and driving mule teams. Cost of the course is $50 and registration is required. An Introduction to Forging Workshop is also being held at the park April 21-22. Join the park smiths at the James Black Forge, home of the Bowie knife, for a hands-on class covering the basic operations of blacksmithing. Cost of the course is $50 and materials and tools are supplied.  For more details on either of the two classes, visit www.HistoricWashingtonStatePark.com or call 870-983-2684.

The 32nd annual Fordyce on the Cotton Belt Festival is April 23-28 in Fordyce at the Courthouse Square. The festival includes entertainment, a parade, model trains, a rodeo, a 5K, a car show, arts and crafts, a quilt show, the Redbug Reunion Rally and more. For more information call 870-352-2055.

The Battle of Jenkins Ferry is April 28 in Sheridan at the Grant County Museum. The day will feature re-enactment activities from this battle fought April 29-30,1864 in the area that is now Grant County. For more details visit www.grantcountymuseumar.com or call 870-942-4496.

Lots of April fun in Central Arkansas

One of “Good Morning America’s” legal analysts and substitute anchors, Dan Abrams, appears live on April 5 in Conway. Abrams is also the founder of MEDIAite, a news and opinion web site, and a former general manager of MSNBC and NBC News chief legal correspondent. His career path includes NBC News general assignment correspondent, regular contributor to “NBC Nightly News,” “TODAY,” and “Dateline NBC.” Abrams has reported on all of the highest-profile cases of the past decade. In addition to his television work, Abrams has also had articles published in, among others: the New York Times, American Lawyer, and The Yale Law and Policy Review. He also writes a monthly legal column for Men’s Health. Abrams appears at 7:30 p.m. in Reynolds Performance Hall on the UCA campus. Tickets are $5 for students, $10 general admission and can be ordered online. For more information, phone 501-450-3406.

It’ll be a day full of great bargains on April 7 and Greenbrier holds is Spring Community Yard Sale and Pancake Breakfast. This indoor sale features a pancake breakfast from 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. for $5. Hot dogs will be served from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Proceeds from food sales benefit a local charity. It all takes place at the City Event Center, 5 Lois Lane. Admission is free. Phone 501-679-6362 for more details.

Enjoy a beautiful day on the Arkansas River with the Easter on the River lunch cruise, Sunday, April 8. The Arkansas Queen riverboat is setting sail at 1 p.m. The menu includes a garden salad, roasted pork tenderloin, queen’s chicken, scalloped potatoes, Southern-style green beans, corn and dinner rolls. The captain’s dessert, iced tea, water and coffee completes the offering. Other beverages are available for purchase. Boarding begins at 12:30 p.m. with expected return time of 3 p.m. Admission is $32.50 plus tax per adult; one child under 10 eats free with each paying adult; price for ages 3-10 is $18.95 plus tax. More information is available by visiting www.arkansasqueen.com or by calling 501-372-5777.

The 2012 Romance in the Rock Slam Jam Conference is April 11-15 at the Doubletree Hotel in downtown Little Rock. The event brings together authors and readers to promote literacy and empowerment among all people. It unites readers and writers of Black romance for literary activities, workshops, entertainment, and a free book signing for the attendees and open to the public. The keynote speaker is Gwyneth Bolton. Registration is $300 for individuals, $275 for group members. The Doubletree is located at 424 West Markham. Visit www.romanceslamjam.org or phone 501-563-3274 for more information.

Have a “Ragin’ Cajun” good time during CARTI’s 8th annual bash of the same name, Thursday April 12. The River Market Pavilions are where the New Orleans-style crawfish boil with all the trimmings takes place. All proceeds benefit Central Arkansas Radiation Therapy Institute cancer patients. Tickets are $35. Visit www.carti.com or phone 501-296-3429 for additional information.

Over 90 authors are on the docket for 9th annual Arkansas Literary Festival, April 12-15 in Little Rock. Among those scheduled to appear are Hope Coulter, Jay Russell, Roy Blount Jr., Kevin Brockmeier and Gwyneth Bolton. Activities take place throughout Little Rock and North Little Rock including the Central Arkansas Library System’s Main Library campus, and venues in the River Markets and Argenta Arts districts. The agenda includes a mix of sessions, panels, special events, performances, workshops, presentations, opportunities to meet the authors, book sales and signings. Most events are free and open to the public. Visit www.arkansasliteraryfestival.org for a complete list of events, authors and entertainers appearing or phone 501-918-3098.

The community of England invites you to its 9th annual Celebration, Saturday, April 14. Downtown’s Foster Park is where there will be a live band, a carnival, food, games and crafts. There will also be merchandise booths, exhibits, zumba dancing, an art show, and tours of the Wagon Yard Museum. In case of rain, festivities will be held April 21. Admission is free. Additional information is available by phoning 501-842-3831.

Join MS of Arkansas on Saturday, April 14 in an effort to raise $85,000 for research and programs into this disease. Multiple sclerosis (or MS) is chronic and often disabling, attacking the central nervous system. Symptoms may be mild, such as numbness in the limbs, or severe, such as paralysis or loss of vision. Meet at the Riverfest Amphitheatre in the River Market. Admission is free. Visit www.walkmsarkansas.org or call 501-663-8104 for more details.

If you love orchids then make sure you have April 14-15 on your calendar as the Arkansas Orchid Society hosts its show and sale. The 2nd Presbyterian Church at I-430 and Cantrell Road is where the activity takes place. You’ll be able to see orchids from all over the world, buy orchid supplies, and view the winners. Judging takes place Saturday morning from 8 a.m. to noon. Hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on the 14th and 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. on the 15th. Admission is free. For more information, visit http://web.me.com/jerrynalice/Orchid_Site/SHOW_%26_SALE.html or call 501-835-7164.

The Arkansas Symphony Orchestra composer of the year, Michael Tork, is featured in the organizations Masterworks VI Concert: Desert and Sea. Performances are in Robinson Center Music Hall on Saturday, April 14 at 8 p.m. with a Sunday matinee at 3 p.m. Special guest is Alexej Gerassimez on the marimba. Selections include Wagner’s "The Flying Dutchman," Torke’s "Concerto for Marimba 'Mojave,'” and "La mer" by Debussy. Ticket prices range from $14 to $52. Visit http://www.arkansassymphony.org/concerts/desert-sea/ or phone 501-666-1761 for additional information.

A sure sign of spring is the opening of the Certified Arkansas Farmers Market. During the month of April, the outdoor shopping venue awaits visitors from 7 a.m. to noon. Located across from the Argenta Market in North Little Rock’s historic district, it is also on the River Rail trolley route. An abundance of free parking is available. Check out the latest in locally grown produce and other items at the corner of Main and 6th Street. Visit www.ArkansasFood.net or phone 501-379-9980 for details.

One of the most enduring musical groups in America, The Oak Ridge Boys, is appearing Monday, April 16, in Conway. A long line of hits, including “Elvira,” “Bobbie Sue,” “Dream On,” and “Fancy Free,” will have you singing right along. The Oak Ridge Boys have spawned dozens of country hits and a #1 pop smash. They have earned Grammy, Dove, Country Music Association and Academy of Country Music awards and garnered a host of other industry and fan accolades. Tickets range from $10 to $40 for the 7:30 p.m. concert in Reynolds Performance Hall on the UCA campus. Visit www.uca.edu/reynolds or call 501-450-3406.

The picturesque Lester Flatt Memorial Park is the site of the 12th Annual Jammers Jamming Family Fun Week. Dates are April 16-21. Visitors are encouraged to bring their instruments and join in for old-fashioned bluegrass and gospel jamming sessions. There will be opportunities to meet talented musician and hone your craft. The park, which includes a pretty little lake and a full-service RV campground, plus an area for tents is located off Ark. 107 near Vilonia. Visit www.lesterflattmemorialpark.com or call 501-835-2451 for additional details.

You'll be able to witness the rugged life of early explorers and trappers that lived in frontier Arkansas during the early 1800s at Woolly Hollow State Park. On April 20-22, the Mountain Man Rendezvous will feature re-enactors dress in traditional period attire and camp in authentic lodges and tents. Demonstrations include the crafts, games, and survival skills needed during the era of the fur trappers. Meet at the historic Woolly Cabin. Admission is free. The park is located at 82 Woolly Hollow Road in Greenbrier. Phone 501-679-2098 or email woollyhollow@arkansas.com for further details and a program schedule.

Help raise funds to fight heart disease during the Central Arkansas Heartwalk 2012, Saturday, April 21. Everything takes place at the Northshore Riverwalk in North Little Rock. The program begins at 8 a.m., followed by the walk at 9 a.m. More information is available by visiting www.heart.org or by calling 501-379-1180.

The Moscow Festival Ballet presents Romeo and Juliet on Thursday, April 26 in Conway. The dance company was founded under the leadership and vision of legendary principal dancer of the Bolshoi Ballet, Sergei Radchenko. It has completed two European tours and has also performed with great success in Turkey, Greece, Japan, Korea, Singapore and Hong Kong. Combine William Shakespeare’s classic play, Tchaikovsky’s haunting music and the amazing dancers, and end result is an experience the whole family will enjoy. Tickets range from $10 to $40. The Reynolds Performance Hall on the UCA Campus is where the curtain rises at 7:30 p.m. Visit www.uca.edu/reynolds or phone 501-450-3406 for more details.

Catch Your Dreams on Saturday, April 28 at Toltec Mounds Archeological State Park in Scott. Many believe that dreams are messages from the spirit world. Good dreams pass through the dream catcher and bad dreams are caught in the web. Learn about traditions and techniques of American Indian dream catchers in this family oriented workshop. Everyone makes and takes one home. All materials are provided. Advanced reservations are required; admission is $10. Phone the park visitor center at 501-961-9442 to get more information.

Celebrate National Astronomy Day on Saturday, April 28 at Pinnacle Mountain State Park in west Little Rock. Park interpreters and members of the Central Arkansas Astronomical Society lead such activities as solar viewing in the afternoon, special indoor programs, and searching the night skies through telescopes from 9 p.m.-10 p.m. Clouds permitting, the evening's telescopic sights include several planets, the moon and other celestial objects. Contact the park for a detailed program schedule for the family friendly event. Admission is free. Phone 501-868-5806 for more information.

If you’re ages 15 and younger, you’re eligible to come try your luck during the Kids' Fishing Derby April 28 at Woolly Hollow State Park near Greenbrier. Held on Lake Bennett, trophies will be awarded in three age groups for first, second and third places, and overall largest and smallest fish caught. Bring your own bait and tackle, plus a lawn chair and picnic to make a day of it. Parents can assist their children but the kids must do their own fishing. Meet at the swim beach; admission is free. Additional information is available from the park at 501-679-2098.

With apologies to The Beatles, strawberry fields are not forever so you need to make sure you don’t miss Cabot’s 10th Annual Strawberry Festival, April 27 and 28. The Cabot Community Center is where local strawberry growers show off the best of their crop for all to taste and purchase. A carnival is open Thursday and Friday, 6 pm.-9 p.m. and Saturday 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Vendor booths are open 6 p.m.-9 p.m. Friday and 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday. The festival pageant is 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday. There will be games and entertainment for the whole family. The center is located at 508 N Lincoln in Cabot. Admission is free. Visit juniorauxiliaryofcabot.com/strawberryfest.html or call 501-628-4044 for more information.

Pryor: bill empowers small business start-ups to succeed part of Pryor’s six point solution for job creation

U.S. Senator Mark Pryor today applauded passage of legislation to make it easier for small companies to raise money from investors.


Pryor said he often hears from the Arkansas business community that burdensome regulations and access to capital stand in the way between success and failure for a small business. He believes the Jump-starting Our Business Start-ups Act will help provide smaller companies with easier access to capital.  The bill relaxes securities laws relating to capital formation. Specifically, it permits “crowdfunding” or the use of social media to finance new businesses. Companies can issue securities totaling up to $1 million without registering the sale with the SEC. Small companies would also be able to sell up to $50 million in shares as part of a public offering before having to register with the SEC.


“For small business owners, I know one of the biggest obstacles for getting a company off the ground or expanding is access to capital,” Pryor said. “My Six-Point Solution to job creation enhances the government’s capacity to help, and this legislation does the same.  It empowers small business start-ups to succeed even during tough economic times.”


The JOBS Act also includes a measure by Pryor and Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX) to provide regulatory relief for community banks.  The provision maintains the $10 million asset requirement but increases the shareholder threshold for SEC registration for bank and bank holding companies to 2,000 from the current 500 threshold. While the asset measure has twice been increased, the shareholder gauge has not—prohibiting community banks from expanding in fear of the additional compliance costs.

“Community banks are the backbone of economic growth in many small towns, and we need them to keep growing and lending in their communities,” Pryor said. “Updating these threshold numbers removes a major roadblock to their growth.”

“We certainly appreciate the efforts of Sen. Mark Pryor (D-Ark) along with Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX) in leading a bi-partisan effort for the cause of small business and community banks in the passage of HR 3606 in the Senate.  The ability to increase the Securities and Exchange Commission threshold from 500 to 2,000 shareholders before embarking on the very costly burden of registration will assist many of our small business’ and banks’ in acquiring the needed capital to fuel their future growth and development.  This effort was a long overdue to help relieve an outdated regulation,” said Scott Grigsby, Executive Vice President and Regional Manager of Arvest Bank.