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.
Becca Martin Brown reminds us that W. Stuart Towns, author of “Enduring Legacy: Rhetoric and Ritual of the Lost Cause,” will have a reading and book signing today at Fort Smith Museum of History.
The Arkansas Civil War Sesquicentennial Commission is commemorating the 150th anniversary of the Civil War in Arkansas. The Civil War Sesquicentennial will be celebrated between 2011 and 2015.
Later this summer, a dozen bronze plaques will be placed on the sidewalk outside the Statehouse Convention Center in downtown Little Rock to honor the service and sacrifice of Civil Rights’ era icons. Recently Malcom Glover of our partner station KUAR attended ceremonies surrounding the unveiling of the historic markers etched with the names of the Little Rock Nine, NAACP activists L.C. and Daisy Bates, and civil rights attorney Christopher Mercer, Jr.
Governor Mike Beebe is encouraging state legislators to move cautiously with the state’s financial surplus, a member of the UA faculty is receiving a distinguished award from the National Science Foundation, and more.
Music: “Stratosphere Boogie” by: Speedy West
The U.S. Veterans Health Administration is increasing psychiatric staff and support services across the country to help meet veterans' needs. For more information, visit VA.gov.
“Helping Hand” by: Yo Yo Ma