Ozarks At Large

The Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration releases revenue projections for the 2014 fiscal year ahead of next year's Fiscal Session of the Arkansas General Assembly. Governor Mike Beebe is sued by one of the leaders of the state Republican Party over an alleged violation of the state's Freedom of Information Act. Fort Smith transit officials propose a fare increase to help offset rising overhead costs. And Van Buren officials get a peek at a proposed budget for next year.

Along with the Kings River Watershed Partnership, which formed in 2001, and the Illinois River Watershed Partnership which organized in 2005, the Beaver Watershed Alliance, established three years ago, is also working to improve regional water quality. We meet Board President, Bob Caulk (left) and director, John Pennington, on a very impaired tributary, to talk shop.

Here are our 12 clips for the montage inspired by the 12 Days of Christmas.

1. The opening theme to the PARTRIDGE Family.


2. Alabama sings the TURTLE DOVEing lyrics from their song Dixieland Delight.


3. Foghorn Leghorn chats with a HEN (not French, true) in a Warner Brothers cartoon.


4. The Beatles sing Blackbird. Our research indicates COLLY BIRDS are blackbirds.


5. The Olympic Theme, representing FIVE RINGS.


6. GOOSE from Top Gun talks to Maverick.


7. The opening go Tchaikovsky's SWAN Lake.


8. Shirley Booth as the MAID Hazel in the television program of the same name.


9. Rosemary Clooney, a LADY, sings about DANCING.


10. LORD Grantham, for Downton Abbey, gets ready to go…perhaps to LEAP?


11. Rowdy Roddy PIPER yells at another wrestler.


12. Todd Rundgren sings Bang the DRUM All Day.

Apologies to Arkansas-born Goose Tatum of the Harlem Globetrotters, the cast of Black Swan and bagpipers everywhere (but Roddy Piper was louder). Maybe next year.

The Arkansas Scholarship Lottery has existed for four years and it's director is thinking about the future.