Six months since Dawna Natzke disappeared

Yesterday marked the six month anniversary of Village resident Dawna Natzke's disappearance from a Christmas party at the home of Village general manager Scott Randall.


Natzke left the party with her boyfriend Kevin Duck. She left without her purse and without her mother. Her mom had gone to the party with the couple.


Natzke's car was found burned out in the Ouachita National Forest before she was officially reported missing. Her body was found partially in a lake in the woods of rural Garland County over a week later.


Garland County took over the murder investigation after Natzke's body was found out in the county. The county named Duck as the person of interest in this matter. At one point Duck fled from Arkansas to Louisiana and was arrested in Lake Charles on probation violations from Hot Spring County. He spent a little time in the Garland County Detention Center before he was released on bail. Duck has not been arrested for Natzke's murder as of this time, no one has.

Village paving program update

The Hot Springs Village Property Owners' Association is continuing its 2012 Road Paving Program, which invests $1.5 million to maintain the HSV street system.

Below is a list of roads that are scheduled to be paved by June 22: Sandez Lane, Para Lane, Ciervo Way, Collado Way, Tenerife Way, San Sabastian Way (Partial), Surtido Lane, Cancion Way, Ola Way, Ola Lane, Doblez Circle, Majorca Drive, Pyrenees Way North, Maya Lane, Jalisco Circle.

The POA will distribute flyers to residents in the affected areas in advance of the paving.

Please observe all posted signs and avoid roads to be paved, if possible.

Weather and contractor availability determine the paving schedule. All streets and dates are subject to change.

Please contact the Public Works Department at 501-922-5524 for the most up to date changes.

Teen Challenge upcoming events

*JUNE*

June 23 - 24:
Teen Challenge assists with course management for the DLT Dawg Days and Spillway Sprint in Arkadelphia. To register for this race, click on the following link: Dawg Days Registration

*JULY*

July 1:
Teen Challenge Choir Service at Stuttgart Assembly of God Church in Stuttgart, AR. Service starts at 9:45am

July 8:
Teen Challenge assists with course management for the DLT Shark Fest Sprint in Bentonville. To register, or for more information about this race, click on the following link: DLT Shark Sprint Registration

July 8:
Teen Challenge Choir Service at East Main Baptist Church in El Dorado, AR. Service starts at 6 p.m.

July 15:
Teen Challenge Choir Service at Christ Lutheran Church in Hot Springs Village, AR. Service starts at 9:30 a.m.

July 18:
Teen Challenge of Arkansas Walk-A-Thon. Teen Challenge students raise money for their program with the help of their family and friends. If you would like to sponsor a student, contact Missy at 501-624-2446.

July 21-22:
Teen Challenge assists with course management for the DLT Riverside Classic Duathlon in Little Rock. To register, or for more information about this race, click on the following link: Riverside Classic Registration

July 29:
Teen Challenge Choir Service at Antioch Baptist Church in Royal, AR. Service starts at 9 a.m.

Teen Challenge Walk-A-Thon

On July 18, Teen Challenge of Arkansas students will be participating in the program’s quarterly Walk-A-Thon. Students who can get themselves sponsored by friends, family, or their church will be walking around Cedar Glades Park from 8 a.m. to 12 noon. Sponsorships can either be through making a flat contribution or by contributing a certain amount per mile walked. The Walk-A-Thon is one of Teen Challenge’s fundraisers that belongs to the students and gives them the opportunity to experience what it’s like to try to get people to support a program that gives them a safe place to come and get their lives back on track at no cost to them. And they have the satisfaction of taking an active role in their own recovery.

All funds raised from this event go directly back into the program. For more information contact Ruth Ann by phone or e-mail at (501) 624-2446 or randers@cablelynx.com.

Teen Challenge of Arkansas is a faith based residential program that helps adult men address life controlling problems, such as addiction. This residential program started in 1969 and has helped thousands of men find, reach and hold onto a future filled with integrity and hope.

Saline County Habitat home dedication ceremony

Join Saline County Habitat for Humanity for the Collegiate Challenge 2012 Dedication Ceremony for the Turner Family. Sunday, June 24, 2 p.m., 607 W. Woodlawn, Partnership Village, Benton  Directions: From I-30 west, take exit 117. Turn right onto AR-5. At the red light, turn left onto AR 35. Go over the overpass. Turn right onto Market Street. Go through downtown Benton staying on Market, over the railroad tracks, stay right. Turn right onto Hope Lane. Follow Hope Lane to the end of the street. Parking is available in the Hope Lane cul de sac.

Snail winning race

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Proposes Delisting of Magazine Mountain Shagreen – Another ESA Success Story Nears Completion

The slow-moving Magazine Mountain shagreen snail is winning the race to become the first invertebrate to be proposed for delisting under the Endangered Species Act.

“Thanks to efforts of the U.S. Forest Service, the Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism, and the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission to restore and protect the habitat of the Magazine Mountain shagreen, the snail's populations are stable, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is proposing to delist the species,” said Cindy Dohner, the Service’s Southeast Regional Director.  “We still have a lot of work to do with our partners in the South to protect listed species.  This snail is another sign that we are having success, and recovery is achievable.”

The public is invited to comment on the delisting proposal for the next 60 days until August 20, 2012.  The Service particularly seeks comments relating to the biological information about this species, relevant data pertaining to threats, and the draft post-delisting monitoring plan.

When the Endangered Species Act was enacted in 1973, this landmark legislation allowed for protection of wildlife, both vertebrate and invertebrate (including snails, mussels, crustaceans, etc), and plants.  In the South, the Service is working to recover over 320 federally listed species – close to 100 of these are invertebrates.  Nationally, the Service
is working to recover about 600 listed animals.   More than a third of them
are invertebrates.

This tiny snail from the highest parts of the Ozarks in Arkansas is about to make history.  If this rule is finalized, the Magazine Mountain shagreen will be the first invertebrate determined to have met its recovery goals for the Service.

A dusky brown or buff colored terrestrial snail, the Magazine Mountain shagreen is only found on Magazine Mountain in Logan County, Arkansas.  It
inhabits the mountain's north and west slopes above 2,200 feet.   The Forest
Service owns Magazine Mountain, which has designated the mountain as a Special Interest Area to protect the species and its habitat.  The Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism has a long-term special use permit from the Forest Service to operate a state park on the summit.  The Forest Service also is conducting annual surveys of the Magazine Mountain shagreen's population and worked cooperatively with the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission and the Service to fund life history and ecology research.  These studies increased the Service’s knowledge of the species’ life history and more accurately mapped its habitat with new technologies.

The Magazine Mountain shagreen was listed as threatened in 1989.  Annual monitoring conducted by researchers indicates that Magazine Mountain shagreen populations have remained stable since 1996.  Additionally, a review of the Magazine Mountain shagreen's status shows adequate regulatory protection exists, and  threats have been eliminated or reduced to the point that the species has recovered and no longer meets the definition of threatened under the Endangered Species Act.

The Magazine Mountain shagreen prefers cool, moist conditions and lives within the talus (a sloping mass of rock fragments at the foot of a cliff) slopes of Magazine Mountain.  It is not known how many talus slopes or acres this species inhabited at the time of listing.  Based on evaluation of recent data, the Magazine Mountain shagreen currently lives on 27 talus slopes on Magazine Mountain, cumulatively comprising about 22 acres.  These populations are now considered secure from threats as Magazine Mountain is entirely owned and protected by the Forest Service and the Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism.

If the Magazine Mountain shagreen is removed from the Federal List of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants, federal agencies will no longer need to consult with the Service to ensure any action they authorize, fund, or carry out is not likely to jeopardize the continued existence of this species. The Service will continue to work with the Forest Service, the Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism, and the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission to implement a post-delisting monitoring plan for at least five years if the Magazine Mountain shagreen is delisted.

To ensure that the final decision resulting from this delisting proposal is as accurate and effective as possible, the Service is requesting comments and information from the public, other governmental agencies, the scientific community, industry, and any other interested parties.

Comments may be submitted using one of the following methods:
•    Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov.  Follow the
instructions for submitting comments on docket number FWS--R4-ES-2012-0002.
•    U.S. mail or hand-delivery: Public Comments Processing, Attn:  No.
 FWS-R4-ES-2012-0002, Division of Policy and Directives Management; U.S.
Fish and Wildlife Service; 4401 N. Fairfax Drive, Suite 222; Arlington, Virginia 22203.

Copies of the proposed rule and post-delisting monitoring plan are available on the Internet at the Federal eRulemaking Portal:
http://www.regulations.gov, or by contacting Chris Davidson, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 110 South Amity Road, Suite 300, Conway, AR 72032 (phone:
501-513-4481; fax: 501-513-4480).

The mission of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is working with others to conserve, protect, and enhance fish, wildlife, plants, and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people  For more information visit www.fws.gov or. http://www.fws.gov/southeast.  Connect with the Service's Facebook page at www.facebook.com/usfwssoutheast, follow tweets at www.twitter.com/usfwssoutheast, watch the YouTube Channel at http://www.youtube.com/usfws and download photos from the Flickr page at http://www.flickr.com/photos/usfwssoutheast.

ADEQ talks ozone

Ozone. It’s a good thing—as long as it’s six to 30 miles up in the stratosphere, where we can’t breathe it.  But when the summer heat stimulates chemical reactions of air pollutants to form ground-level ozone, it’s a bad thing. Human action has contributed to the depletion of good ozone and the creation of bad ozone, and the results can be pretty ugly.

Ozone occurs naturally in the stratosphere. The thin layer of ozone up there shields the earth from harmful ultraviolet rays that can cause skin cancer, cataracts, impaired immune systems and damage to plants.  But chemicals developed in the 20^th century—mainly chlorofluorocarbons, hydrochlorofluorocarbons and halons used as propellants, coolants and fire extinguishers—began to deplete the protective layer of ozone. In 1984 a hole in the layer was discovered over Antarctica, prompting the creation in 1987 of the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone. Since then, 197 nations that have signed the treaty have made significant progress in phasing out the production and use of ozone- depleting substances. As a result, the hole is shrinking and is expected to close during this century.

While protecting the ozone layer up high, we need to prevent its formation nearby, and summer is the time to be most diligent. Ground-level ozone begins to rear its ugly head when temperatures rise in urban areas, where voluminous emissions from gasoline motors and factories and fumes from volatile organic compounds like oil-based paint, pesticides, cleaners and gasoline react in heat and sunlight to form dangerous amounts of ozone, the main ingredient in smog.

High concentrations of ozone at ground level can cause shortness of breath, coughing, wheezing, headaches, nausea, and eye and throat irritation. Ozone is especially dangerous for persons with lung disease, children, the elderly, and outdoor exercisers. Children are at risk for respiratory problems because their lungs are still developing and they breathe more rapidly, inhaling more air pollution per pound than adults. Adults who exercise heavily may increase their intake of air by as much as 10 times their level while at rest.

Ground-level ozone also damages vegetation and ecosystems.  According to the Environmental Protection Agency, it is responsible for an estimated $500 million in reduced crop production each year in the United States. The Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality works with Metroplan, the Central Arkansas Clean Cities Coalition, the Arkansas Department of Health and the Arkansas Highway Department to present Ozone Action Days, a program to make air quality information available to the public in central Arkansas. Counties included are Pulaski, Faulkner, Lonoke and Saline. From May through September, ADEQ monitors ozone levels. An Ozone Action Day Advisory or Alert will be declared in central Arkansas when the ozone levels for the metropolitan area are forecast to exceed the National Ambient Air Quality Standards, which are set by the EPA. Advisories are issued when prolonged outdoor exertion is unhealthy for sensitive groups (i.e., children and persons with asthma or other breathing problems). Alerts are issued when prolonged outdoor exertion is unhealthy for everyone. 

ADEQ director Teresa Marks encourages public agencies, private businesses and individuals to do what they can to reduce ground-level ozone formation to minimize related health risks when an Ozone Action Day advisory or alert has been issued. “Individual actions can make a big difference when we all work together,” she said.

The following suggestions can help reduce ground-level ozone and are especially important on days when an ozone advisory or alert has been issued:

Limit driving and excessive motor idling.

Keep automobiles well-tuned.

Don’t do lawn chores with gasoline-powered equipment. (Every summer day in the Little Rock metro area, gasoline-powered lawn and garden equipment releases more pollutants into the air than a typical large industrial plant.)

Don’t use products that release fumes or evaporate easily.

Don’t refuel during the day; wait until dark.

Don’t overfill or top off your gas tank.

ADEQ’s daily ozone forecasts are available on the agency’s website, http://www.adeq.state.ar.us/. Additional information can be found at the Ozone Action Days site, http://www.ozoneactiondays.org/.

Summer camp at Historic Washington State Park

July 11 – 13 2012  and August 1 - August 3, 2012  9 a.m. - 4 p.m.Summer Break Days for Kids “History Alive Day Camp” 1874 Courthouse Visitor Center

At Historic Washington State Park youth entering grades 4-8 have a unique chance to experience 19th-century life on an up close and personal scale with “History Alive Day Camp.” Campers will be immersed in different hands-on elements of the 1800s. Each day will have a different theme so you can sign up for one day or multiple days. Activities such as farm chores, town ball, BB gun shoot, archery, water cannons, quilting, dutch oven cooking and so much more will be offered.  These programs are by reservation or you may check on availability nearer to date of camp, and will be limited to 15 per day. The cost is $30 per day, or with advance payment and registration you can attend three days for $75 or you can register for all six days for $140. Contact the park for further details and registration. 
Admission: $30 one day; $75 any three days; $140 six days

CONTACT: 
Ph: 870-983-2684, HistoricWashington@arkansas.com

Patricia Thomas

Sales Director

Historic Washington State Park

PO Bx 129

Washington AR 71862

(870) 983-2660

www.HistoricWashingtonStatePark.com

Visit Arkansas State Parks on Facebook !

http://www.arkansasstateparks.com/community

Arkansas AARP

Since March, You’ve Earned a Say has been taking the conversation about Social Security and Medicare out from behind closed doors in Washington and working to make sure Arkansans have a say in the debate about how to strengthen these programs for future generations.

Today, AARP leaders from Arkansas visited Capitol Hill to bring the voices of Arkansans to our members of Congress. AARP State President Sherry Walker and State Director Maria Reynolds-Diaz are scheduled to meet with all six members of the Arkansas congressional delegation.

“Older Arkansans have been telling us that they are frustrated Washington isn’t listening to them when it comes to Medicare and Social Security,” said Reynolds-Diaz. “They’re making their voices heard online and at community meetings and events across the state, and today we’re bringing their messages to Washington, D.C.”

In their Congressional visits, Walker and Reynolds-Diaz will share the results of the first round of You’ve Earned a Say questionnaires. While not scientific, the responses reflect both an understanding that securing the future of Medicare and Social Security may require some combination of more funding or benefit changes, and an overwhelming desire to be involved in the debate about how best to strengthen the programs.

“Medicare and Social Security provide the foundation of retirement security for hundreds of thousands of Arkansans today, and will be equally important to future generations,” concluded Walker. “They have spent their lives paying into these programs and deserve to have a voice in the discussion about how best to strengthen them.”

Follow today’s action live at www.facebook.com/AARPArkansas  and http://twitter.com/ARAARP