Street closure in Hot Springs

Olive Street in Hot Springs between Ouachita and Central Avenue will be closed to through traffic all week from 7 a.m. until 3:30 p.m. daily, beginning today, Tuesday, July 19 for sewer main repair. Only emergency vehicles will be allowed to pass through the closed street. For the same time period, the southbound lane of Central Avenue will be closed beginning at the intersection of Olive Street. Vehicles will need to merge to the inside lane. Signs will be posted and motorists are asked to use caution when traveling in these areas.

State's tobacco advisory board to meet

WHO: Arkansas Department of Health Tobacco Advisory Committee

WHEN: Wednesday, August 17, 1:30 p.m.

WHERE: 1ST Floor Conference Room
American Cancer Society
901 North University Avenue
Little Rock, AR 72207

NOTE: The Tobacco Advisory Committee (TAC) will meet a minimum of once each quarter in order to advise and assist the Arkansas Board of Health in carrying out the provisions of Act 1572 of 2001.

Message from Congressman Mike Ross

July 13, 2011 - The National Parks Conservation Association honors Mike for his work fighting to protect our national parks in the 111th session of Congress.

In the midst of the debt ceiling negotiations in Congress, we sometimes lose sight of the big picture. If Congress does nothing but simply raise the debt limit, we are ignoring the fundamental problem that spending is out of control and that we are once again kicking the can down the road until we hit the debt limit again.

Every time the United States approaches its debt limit, it creates problems in our economy. The uncertainty of America being able to pay its bills threatens our credit rating around the world, destabilizes the markets, stunts economic recovery and hurts job creation. So, the best and most commonsense way to ensure this debt limit problem never happens again is to require that Congress stop out-of-control deficit spending altogether.

That’s why I have cosponsored a balanced budget amendment to the United States Constitution, or H.J.Res. 10. In fact, I have helped introduce a balanced budget amendment in each and every session of Congress since I first arrived. I strongly believe in a balanced budget amendment because it is the only guaranteed way we can get our fiscal house back in order and prevent future fiscal irresponsibility.

H.J.Res.10 would require Congress to produce a balanced budget every fiscal year and would require the President to submit a balanced budget in his or her annual report to Congress. The amendment would also prohibit spending for a fiscal year to exceed revenues, unless, by a three-fifths roll call vote of the House and Senate, Congress authorizes a specific exemption.

The last time a balanced budget amendment was seriously considered was in 1995, when it passed the House but failed by a single vote in the Senate. An amendment to the U.S. Constitution proposed in Congress requires a two-thirds majority vote in both the House and Senate and must then be ratified by three-fourths of the states, or 38 states, or by a ratifying convention.

Some will argue that a balanced budget amendment isn’t practical. But, look at our state. Arkansas has a balanced budget amendment and prohibits deficit spending. The amendment has required our Governor and the state legislature to work together and, as a result, our state has consistently produced balanced budgets. I know it can be done because as a former state legislator, I made the tough decisions, took the tough votes and worked with members of both parties to reach a balanced budget for each of my ten years in the State Senate.

Back in the mid-1990s, President Clinton faced growing budget deficits, a ballooning national debt and a divided government with Republicans controlling Congress. Though they certainly had their battles, in the end, our nation achieved not only a balanced budget, but a budget surplus, effectively erasing the nation’s budget deficits for the first time in four decades. Though the budget surpluses didn’t last long after President Clinton left office, the experience taught us that by working together in a bipartisan manner, it is possible to balance the budget. It was done then and it can be done again.

I will continue to monitor the debt ceiling negotiations very closely, but I will also be looking long-term and working to pass a balanced budget amendment. Both sides will be forced to make concessions and I will continue to be a moderating voice, bringing everyone to the table as we find commonsense ideas that will help us return to the days of a balanced budget and a stronger economy.

Clarification of Village water policy

Beginning Friday, July 15 the water restriction on all outdoor water use is being replaced.

The POA is imposing and odd/even watering restriction. Residents and businesses with odd number addresses are restricted to watering their landscape on odd number days.

Residents and businesses with even number addresses are restricted to watering their landscape on even number days. All townhouse courts, regardless of their address, are assigned to even number days.

All landscape watering is required during non-daylight hours.

The amount of water available to Hot Springs Village is not the issue. The ability to treat water for consumption is. Hot Springs Villages' water treatment plan is limited to 4 million gallons of water in a 24-hour period. Water users are exceeding this more frequently. When the amount of water is exceeded, water is used from the storage tanks.

Continued excessive use limits the fire departments ability to fight any type of fire, could limit the availability of tap water, and in some cases can cause boil orders due to loss of pressure.

This water restriction will be in place for some time, so please adjust your landscaping timers to accommodate.

Coronado Center will be closed two days in August

The Coronado Fitness Center will be closed on Saturday, August 6 through Sunday, August 7 for annual maintenance. The facility will reopen on Monday, August 8, at 6a.m.

Lowes coming back to Woodlands

To kick off their exciting Silver Anniversary celebration, the Hot Springs /Hot Springs Village Symphony Guild is proud to bring the popular Lowe Family to Woodlands Auditorium, Saturday, September 10th. No strangers to many who have been privileged to witness their amazing talent in Branson and on Woodlands stage, this family has been entertaining hundreds of thousands around the world for over 25 years. All seven of the Lowe Family siblings began studying and performing the music of the masters from very young ages.

Soon, additional instruments, dance classes, and vocal lessons were added… along with more teachers and more practice time. The rest is history.

Versatile on many instruments, the nine Lowes offer an amazing blend of show-stopping classical, Broadway, Irish, jazz, bluegrass, old-time favorites, spectacular dance, 6-part harmony, gospel, a stirring patriotic tribute, and more! This high-energy, fast-paced variety show will leave you breathless.

Three musicals for your consideration

Community Theatre of Little Rock presents its Summer Musical production of The Great American Trailer Park Musical on July 15th, 16th, 22nd, 23rd, 29th and 30th at 7:30 pm and July 17th, 24th and 31st at 2:00 pm, at the Public Theatre, located at 616 Center Street, next to Horn’s in downtown Little Rock.

Admission is $16 for adults, $14 for military, students and seniors age 65 and over, $14 for groups of 10 or more. Due to Adult Themes, this show is not recommended for children.

Seating is limited, so reservations are highly recommended. To make a reservation, call or text 501-410-ACT3 (501-410-2283). On-line reservations at www.ctlr-act.org.

The Weekend Theater will present My Fair Lady, book and lyrics by Alan Jay Lerner, music by Frederick Loewe, and adapted from George Bernard Shaw's play and Gabriel Pascal's motion picture “Pygmalion”. The production is directed by Allison Pace, with musical direction by Lori Isner.

Performances are 7:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, 2:30 p.m. Sundays, July 22-August 13. Tickets are $20, $16 for students and seniors age 65 and older. For more information call 501-374-3761 or visit www.weekendtheater.com. The Weekend Theater is located at 7th & Chester in downtown Little Rock.

Annie will be presented by the Cabot Community Theatre on August 4th, 5th, 6th, 11th, 12, and 13th. The theatre is located at 204 North First Street (next to Annex bldg) in Cabot.

Tickets are $25 for adult dinner & show or $15 show only and $25 for child (12 an under) dinner & show or $10 show only. Group discounts: $5 discount per person with 12 or more paid tickets.

Dinner is 6:30 p.m. and the show begins at 7:30 p.m. Reservations are required: seating is limited. Call 501-941-2266.

Oaklawn Rotarian of the Year

2011-2012 Oaklawn Rotary Club President Karolyn Fankhouser congratulates 5-year Rotarian Lee Richardson upon receiving the prestigious “Rotarian of the Year” award at the club’s recent installation banquet. Richardson was honored for establishing and expanding the club’s volunteer work at special events. By partnering with Turf Catering, club members work the concession areas at major events at the Hot Springs Convention Center and Summit Arena, with all proceeds benefiting the club’s student scholarship fund. Richardson demonstrates the Rotary motto, Service above Self, by recruiting and scheduling volunteers and serving as a liaison with Turf Catering. To date, more than $5,000 has been raised through the club’s concession work.

Installation of officers at Rotary Club of Oaklawn

The Oaklawn Rotary Club inducted the 2010-2011 slate of officers at its recent installation banquet, held at the Austin Hotel. From left: Kevin Bingham, vice president; Clyde Covington, Secretary; Bill Vowell, director; Tammy Hamilton, director; Ben Bancroft, director; Karolyn Fankhouser, president; Dick Muse, past president; Myrtle Batty, director; Gary Welch, treasurer; and Lee Richardson, president-elect.