Wayne Bell closes out his personal entertainment picks of 2012 by discussing his favorite books and plays of the year.
Ozarks At Large
Arvest Bank announces its acquisition of several Bank of America branch banks, a famous Fort smith restaurant announces its plans for reopening, and the city of Fayetteville looks to trade paper for pixels.
On its surface, today's week in review may look like a retread of last week's, but these education stories offer a twist of innovation.

A new book collects scores of photographs of the history of Siloam Springs, including a visit from Eleanor Roosevelt.
For more on the Siloam Springs Museum, click here.
Professional baseball was in northwest Arkansas in the 1930s. The nearly-forgotten league is the subject of an upcoming book.

Here are the eleven elements of today's Christmas tree montage:
- Miles Davis' version of "O Christmas Tree"
- Mr. Wilson volunteers to cut down a tree in a 1961 episode of "Dennis the Menace"
- The Griswald Family goes a long way for the perfect tree in "Christmas Vacation"
- Brenda Lee's classic "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree
- Charlie Brown selects a tiny, sad tree in the "CHarlie Brown Christmas Special"
- Tchaikovsky's "Christmas Tree" from "The Nutcracker Suite"
- Cindy Lou Who questions the Grinch
- Zuzu explains that bell ornament on the tree at the end of "It's A Wonderful Life"
- Elvis and "Blue Christmas"
- Festivus revealed on a classic episode of "Seinfeld"
- Wynton Marsalis gives "O Christmas Tree" a bit of New Orleans bounce
In a growing area such as Northwest Arkansas, schools are bound to make the news. The past week was full of education stories involving money in one way or another. Ozarks at Large’s Timothy Dennis takes a look back at a few of those stories.
Ground will be broken early this new year on a much-anticipated Northwest Arkansas highway project, known as the “Fayetteville Flyover” which will create easy access from North College Avenue to both the mall district and Interstate 540.
Latest Edition of Ozarks at Large
Tuesday, May 20, 2014
Ahead on this edition of Ozarks: it's primary election day in Arkansas, and Roby Brock talks to three Republicans who are vying for their party's nomination for attorney general. Plus, the City of Fayetteville is looking toward the future as Baby Boomers continue to age. A new project wants the city to become an age-friendly place. And, in our monthly series on technology, we visit the VA hospital in Fayetteville, where new solar arrays aim to make the facility more sustainable.
Sunday liquor sales begin in Springdale, the Fayetteville Farmers Market continues its push to expand one of its markets through the winter, and Governor Mike Beebe urges Arkansans to get a flu shot.
"Confirmation" by Charlie Parker
Leading up to Black Friday, organizers for a union-backed Walmart employee strike boasted a mass demonstration across 46 states in protest of unfair labor conditions. By late Friday no such strike materialized. Still, as Jacqueline Froelich reports, dozens of protests did occur—as Walmart corporate kept its guard up.
Thanksgiving week means a short work week for many, but as Roby brock from Talk Business explains, the business news for the week is plentiful.
"Farewell to Cheyenne" by Ennio Morricone
The University of Arkansas Community Design Center has received a grant as part of the Decade of Design Program of the American Institue of Architects. The project addresses what Fayetteville will look like in the year 2030 if 80% of new development united the urban and agricultural landscapes. OAL’s CT tells us more.
Hope 2012, a one-day health and service event, was held this fall. One of the chief organizers, Kevin Fitzpatrick, tells us what this fourth edition of the event tells us about northwest Arkansas.
"You Don't Have To Be Afraid" by Kaki King