
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 elements of our flower montage for Sunday’s show:
1. Nat King Cole singing Ramblin’ Rose.
2. A skunk named Flower, courtesy of Bambi (from the film of the same name).
3. The Statler Brothers singing Counting Flowers on the Wall.
4. Chris Cooper describes the beauty of nature to Meryl Streep in the film Adaptation.
5. The Foundations with their one big hit, Build Me Up Buttercup.
6. Poppies! From Wizard of Oz.
7. Tiny Tim sings Tiptoe Through the Tulips during his first appearance on The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson in 1968.
8. The killer Venus flytrap threatens Rick Moranis in the 1986 version of Little Shop of Horrors. Yes, the Venus flytrap does produce flowers.
9. Secretariat wins the 1973 Kentucky Derby (the “run for the roses”) in record time, 1:59 2/5.
10. Lynn Anderson sings I Never Promised You a Rose Garden.
Apologies to Charlie Rose, Neil Diamond and Barbara Streisand, Poison, and all the romantic comedies ever where a guy gives a gal some roses. Maybe next time.
A new poll of Arkansas voters shows growing support for expanding Medicaid in the state, Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art is appointing a new member to its board of directors, and more.
“Two” by: Ratatat
Michael Tilley from TheCityWire.com discusses a new poll asking Arkansas voters about topics in front of legislators.
The 12th Annual Northwest Arkansas Soup Sunday benefiting Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families is this Sunday from 4 - 7 p.m. in Springdale. OAL’s Christina Thomas spoke with Laura Kellams, director of the organization’s Northwest Arkansas office.
“Twenty-Two” by: Wakey! Wakey!
Becca Martin Brown, from Northwest Arkansas Newspapers, says there are musicals in Siloam Springs and Rogers and a classic Tennessee Williams play at the University of Arkansas included in a big theater weekend.
“Room 222” by: Ion Storm