Ozarks At Large

Two groups announce intentions to file suit to block a new law that they say would make it more difficult to circulate petitions to get initiatives on the general election ballot. Two area schools get recognized, one for ESL proficiency and the other for overall achievement. And the Joe Martin Stage Race gets underway, with cycling traffic set to peeve some motorists on certain area roads this weekend.
Here is the key to our clips heard in this morning’s montage of famous cemeteries, graveyards and funerals in pop culture:
- Thriller by Michael Jackson. The most famous dance routine set in a graveyard.
- Opening moments from the original Night of the Living Dead.
- The original “graveyard smash”, "The Monster Mash" by Bobby Pickett.
- A wonderful Lee Marvin stumbles into a funeral in the underrated comedy, Cat Ballou.
- Gene Wilder and Marty Feldman have a rough night in the cemetery in Young Frankenstein.
- Opening moments from a 1940 film version of Thornton Wilder’s Our Town.
- Abe Vigoda and Al Pacino is a pivotal scene at Don Corleone’s funeral in The Godfather.
- Theme from the HBO series Six Feet Under.
- Reginald Owen as Scrooge in the 1938 film A Christmas Carol as he sees his own grave.
- The Crypt Keeper from an opening episode of the HBO series Tales From the Crypt.


We continue our series previewing this weekend's poetry festival at Nightbird Books. Katie Nichol grew up in St. Cloud, Minnesota and says she started writing poetry when she was about 12 years old:
Artosphere is just around the corner, and as a result, a full slate of activities are on the schedule at Walton Arts Center.
Becca Martin Brown says that Fleetwood Mac, Little Big Town and Jewell are a few of the music acts to keep an eye out for in the coming days.
Latest Edition of Ozarks at Large
Thursday, December 19, 2013
Ahead on this edition of Ozarks, experts say it's no surprise that millennials have lower credit scores when compared to other generations, with Arkansas millennials' scores ranking fourth lowest in the nation. And we speak with a local police officer about how to prevent becoming a victim of theft; it's as simple as locking your doors.
Arkansas Attorney General Dustin McDaniel has filed a consumer-protection lawsuit against a Kansas-based debt collection agency, the Fort Smith Board of Directors is now conducting business without paper, and more.
“Lions and Tigers and Bears” by: TW Walsh
Much of Arkansas is under extreme drought, with portions of the Arkansas River Valley listed as exceptional. Ponds and creeks are drying up. Lake and river levels are dropping. But what about your water well? We talk with the experts about our drought-threatened water supplies.
As of July 3, 91 animals throughout Arkansas have tested positive for rabies. Boone and Newton counties currently have the highest number of cases of animals tested positive for rabies. Richard Murphree, the environmental manager for the Arkansas Department of Health's northwest regional office, helps us interpret these numbers. More information is available at www.healthy.arkansas.gov.
Today, Becca Martin Brown from NWA Newspapers sends us to an art exhibit and a concert.
Sesame Street Theme Song
A new smart phone application will allow users to track University of Arkansas transit buses in real time. Chris Nixon is one of the developers who worked on the app. More information is available here.