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Bama coach Smart choice for Broyles Award
It promised to be the closest vote in the history of the 14 Broyles Awards. With the finalist’s combined regular season record of 62-1, the minds of the legendary coaches who pick the nation’s number one assistant every year probably were undecided until the first Saturday in December around six o’clock.
BBRA Christmas party
Each table at Benton/Bryant Realtor Association Christmas party is asked to select a leader for the interactive 12-days of Christmas sing-a-long. More photos on page 10.
Thirtysomething
So I got this idea from a series of blogs I’ve been reading. It’s called “Not me Monday.” It’s a way to share great stories about all the parenting oopsies and things all imperfect people do. Enjoy! For more stories, head to mycharmingkids.net to read hers and link to others who have done some pretty funny parenting stuff.
Kay's Cooking Corner
As I was putting my roast in the slow cooker this morning, I dropped a few bay leaves in along with the mixture. They didn’t seem like they would add much flavor, all dried-up and stuff, but I put them in anyway cause that is what you do.
This prompted me to check out their freshness and shelf-stability, which of course led me to a lot of other information about Bay Leaves that I may have read somewhere before but don’t remember. So decided to share the more interesting things with all of you. Below is some of that information, some folklore, yet some of it true.
THEA Foundation exists to inspire and motivate kids
“It all starts with Thea,” said Paul Leopoulos, co-founder of the THEA Foundation in North Little Rock as he sat down at the table. The foundation’s namesake is credited to his daughter Thea Leopoulos who died in 2001.
On the day Thea died, Paul and his wife Linda decided to start the foundation. Their daughter was the motivation because of what had happened previously in her life; Paul and his wife witnessed a major transformation in Thea her junior year of high school.
The Critic's Corner
Looking back over the last few issues of this newspaper, I’m beginning to think I should rename this column “The Grumpy Critic.”
I haven’t liked many of the movies I’ve seen lately. While there are promising new releases in theaters, such as “Blind Side,” the limited amount of time and space I have prohibit me from reviewing every new film, so I pick and choose based on random criteria. I selected “Precious” over “Old Dogs” and “Ninja Assassins” for this week’s column because I was hoping it’d be as good as other critics claim. On Rotten Tomatoes, 91 percent of the reviewers the Web site tracks gave it thumbs up, including the inventor of the thumb, Roger Ebert.
Capital City Chatter
I feel bad for anyone that has a birthday in December. My husband’s birthday is two days before Christmas and his special day always gets crowded with holiday activities. I’m sure it was a lot more damaging when he was a little kid, but he will be 28 this year, so the themed parties and goodie bags are a thing of the past.
Financial Focus
Here’s your year-end investment checklist
We’ve pretty much seen it all this past year— a bear market, a long rally and even a period of neither-up-nor-down. But even though we’ve only got a few weeks left of 2009, you still have time to make some moves that can pay off for you in 2010 — and beyond.
It must be true
Sensible observations
1) When I die, I want to go like my grandfather—who went peacefully in his sleep. Not screaming like all the passengers in his car.” — Author Unknown
2) Advice for the day: If you have a lot of tension and you get a headache, do what it says on the aspirin bottle: “Take two aspirin” and “Keep away from children.” — Author Unknown
October homes sales up for central Arkansas, state
For only the third time in 45 months, the Arkansas Realtors Association (ARA) released a housing market report showing sales growth compared to a comparable month in the previous year.
In October, there were 2,332 single-family, new and existing homes sold by Realtors throughout the state – up 24.11 percent over 1,879 sales in the same month last year. In central Arkansas, there were 814 sales – up 35.22 percent over 602 homes sold in October 2008.
Benton Realtor says warmth of Saline County residents helped her succeed
After 23 years of selling real estate, Pat Mote has established a well-known presence in Saline County.
It might, in fact, surprise some people to know she isn’t native to that county.
Mote and her husband, Jerry, moved to Bryant from Pocahontas and she started her real estate career in 1986. Mote said she was impressed at how quickly her family was accepted in Saline County.
House to House
Insane bargains? Not really…
For the past couple of years, we’ve heard about homeowners who are so desperate that they’ll accept ridiculous offers just so they can sell their houses and get rid of them.
That notion has caused some buyers to believe they’ve got a good chance of finding that “perfect home” and getting it for a bargain. While that tactic may work in some depressed markets around the country, that’s certainly not the case here in Arkansas.
Natural State Snapshots
Members of the Hall High School marching band entertain the crowd gathered at Little Rock's Big Jingle Jubilee Holiday Parade on Dec. 5. The parade ended at the state capitol building with an official lighting ceremony and firework show.
ARA president says more information needed about home buyer tax credit
For the past couple of years, Realtors in Arkansas have said tax credits for first-time homebuyers have attracted buyers to the housing market, but that a credit for existing home owners would be even better.
The most recent first-time home buyer tax credit was set to expire and offered up to $8,000 to people closing on homes by Nov. 30. At the first of November, that credit was extended to people who purchase homes prior to April 30 and close on them within 60 days.
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