Jeannie Burlsworth is the founder and chairwoman of the anti-illegal-immigration group Secure Arkansas which has been trying (unsuccessfully) to keep illegal aliens from getting certain public benefits in our state. Oh yeah, and she’s also one of the two individuals on this planet besides State Rep. Jon Woods (and bass player of local band A Good Fight) who actually believes local hispanic gang warlords are ordering “hits” on people across America.

“I think we are being targeted by the Mexican government,” said Burlsworth during her story-time hour yesterday. Yeah, that’s about all I would need to hear before getting up and leaving either.

Limiting tax-payer benefits to U.S. citizens seems like a no-brainer and should definitely be addressed. But trying to scare people using racism and the words “terrorists” or “gangs” is the kind of tactic that only attracts 15 of the over 400,000 people in Northwest Arkansas…you know, the area that is “starting to look like Mexico.”

According to the Secure Arkansas official blog, Burlsworth and friends are “still here, and we’re not going away!” Unfortunately for the group, the same can’t be said of its audience.

[Via NWAnews]

After running a quick google search, I came across Experience Fayetteville, our very own tourism site.

As soon as you click the link, you’re presented with a professional, clean and easy-to-use web site, which is exactly what I had hoped for. Right from the get go, I found what I was looking for: Our tourism commercials. Thankfully, much like the web site, they too are quite well made and are, in fact, pretty awesome.

I did a little bit more exploration and have concluded that a “Kudos” is in order for the Fayetteville Tourism department. Not only are the commercials excellent, but the web site, as a whole, is fantastic. It’s clean (but not bland) layout is inviting and doesn’t make you want to click the back button instantly, which is exactly what you want in a website decidated to alluring you into visiting our humble, yet totally unbe-freaking-lievably awesome town.

Did I mention that ExperienceFayetteville.com contains a wealth of information that even a local could find handy. Don’t believe me? Check out the “Where to Eat” section.

Pretty sweet, huh? Definitely a site to be proud of. Good job, Fayetteville Tourism Department. Good job.

Although some claim that the Fouke Monster (Named after Fouke, Arkansas, the area where it was first sighted) first appeared in the 1940’s, the first real reports of the beast surfaced in 1971 after a bear-like creature attacked the house of Bobby and Elizabeth Ford over the course of several nights. From that point on, several more sightings surfaced, some spotting the creature crossing Highway 71 or finding tracks in the woods. Sightings continued on through the 70’s and died down during the 80’s and early 90’s. In 1997 and 1998, forty sightings we reported. No word on any activity since then.

While you’ll probably never see the monster in real life, you can check it out yourself in the three Boggy Creek films. The Legend of Boggy Creek, Return to Boggy Creek and the MST3K’d The Barbaric Beast of Boggy Creek Part II (There’s no Part I, BTW. Who knows why?) all revolve around the not-so-infamous Fouke Monster. The third film features some pretty sweet shots of the U of A campus circa 1985, which is definitely worth checking out. All three movies rule. Sorta. Kinda. Not really, though.

So, believe it or not, it’s pretty cool to know that we’ve got our very own Bigfoot-esque legend right here in Arkansas.

Check out the MS3TK’d version of The Barbaric Beast of Boggy Creek Part II here.

We’d nearly forgotten ourselves…that is until The Iconoclast served us all up a reminder late last night. “Of course, we all know that the much ballyhooed water park never got built. A bunch of rich guys ended up getting richer and getting sued by their partners,” writes Jonah.

Actually, that was an understatement. It’s less of a reminder and more of a gigantic slap in the face as it also brings back memories of a certain developer who is currently associated with another water park (or mud hole, should we say) located on the corner of College and Mountain.

It’s quite a depressing read. Hell, it’s already prompted the Arkansas Times to ask “How stupid is Fayetteville?” Unfortunately, that’s beginning to sound like a pretty good question.

Head on over and read the full post…that is, if you think you can stomache it.

According to a UA press release issued this morning, “a growing number of complaints from pedestrians” has sparked a reminder that scooters are considered motor vehicles and obviously, motor vehicles aren’t allowed on sidewalks.

“It appears that many scooter riders don’t understand that their scooters are motor vehicles under Arkansas law and are subject to the same traffic laws,” said University Police director Steve Gahagans. Actually, Mr. Gahagans, I would be willing to bet that every scooter rider understands that their scooter is a motor vehicle. What they probably don’t understand, however, is why you guys let them get away with riding their scooters on campus for so long and are just now deciding it’s a violation. Maybe now that a certain someone is no longer buzzing around campus on a bright blue Yamaha, things have changed?

Anyway, if you’re used to riding around campus on a scooter, let this be a warning that the po-pos be creepin’ this semester and if caught, you can expect a ticket.

For more information, including some tips on how to legally park your scooter on campus, check out the full UA press release here.

There’s mud, water and even a few tracks zig-zagging across it. Hell, there’s even a fence to keep the crowd safe from the outside traffic. And all this time, we thought it was just a big disaster.

Originally slated to be a hotel and open by September 7, 2007, the developers instead have given us this beautifully carved, gigantic mud pit and they’ve only had to spend $ 25,042 in liquidated damage fees a month for it. Deal! With only one payment remaining, these guys are nearly off the hook. And we’re one step closer to the biggest mosquito farm this side of Shelby County.

Nevertheless, and according to a recent NWA Times article, “Ward 2 Alderman Nancy Allen wants to know when the Fayetteville City Council will get to talk to developers John Nock and Richard Alexander about the Renaissance Hotel“.

Aw c’mon, Nancy! We’ve been needing a mud track in Fayetteville for years. Now we’ve got one right in the heart of the city! Unless you’re gonna ask them when the bleachers are getting installed, we’d suggest leaving those guys alone. Besides, they’re busy being rich and awesome.

[Via NWAnews.com]

Two of the bridges are supposed to be near the intersection of Prospect Street and Frisco Avenue. Anybody know where Frisco Avenue is? Am I just blanking out here? Probably.

According to the NWA Times, the final bridge is “north of Van Asche Drive in the CMN Business Park.” Anybody know what/where the CMN Business Park is? Am I blanking again? Yes? Jeez. Sorry.

While riding the trail this weekend, I noticed two new bridges but they were nowhere near complete as they still needed concrete and were completely roped off. Also, the trails leading up to them weren’t finished either. I guess maybe the headline should’ve read “Final three Scull Creek Trail bridges to be installed today…to be usable sometime later?”

Who’s got the skinny? I know one of you folks does. Hit me.

[Via NWAnews.com]

We received word that the folks at Asbell Elementary are looking for a couch to place in the library for the kiddos to enjoy. “It would be more comfortable for those wee little ones just starting out and for the older ones to recline on with a good book to read,” said PTA member Tandorra Williams. “We are just looking for a couch that will bring comfort and the feeling of familiarity one usually gets at home.”

If you have something you think might work and that is easy to wipe down (not cloth), contact the school and ask to speak with Mrs. Harris, the librarian. The number to reach her at is 444-3080 from 8:00 am-3:15 pm Monday through Friday.

C’mon, you know donating it will feel much better than driving around campus at night trying to find a dumpster with enough room, won’t it? Sure it will!

This morning, we were alerted to a short promotion that Slim is running right now in which you fill out a brief survery, print that dude out and turn it in for a free Chick’s plate which consists of three tenders, fries, one dipping sauce & Texas toast. That’s a $4.99 value, folks. Not bad!

The questions range from boring as hell (”Rank the most important factors determining your choice of restaurant”) to pretty sweet (”Rank your favorite chicken restaurants”) to totally badass (”Where in NWA would you like to see another Slim Chickens?”).

If for no other reason than to help get us another Slim Chickens location here in Fayetteville (instead of Springdale), head on over to slim-chickens.com and click on the survey link at the top right of the page. Just do it quick, though, because the promotion expires September 1st.

Fill it out, print it out, use it out. Mmmm.

Just a few short months ago, we reported on Once upon Dickson: An Illustrated History, 1868-2000 and, much to our delight, it looks like yet another Fayetteville-centric book has been published. Featuring over 180 photos, Tom Ewart’s University of Arkansas - Etched in Stone is a photography book that aims to capture everything that we’ve come to know and love about the University of Arkansas.

In a release statement issued yesterday, Ewart said the following:

“Special photos for a very special place to me for many, many years. I hope that this book will help remind us of the times spent on campus and the good times spent with family and friends at the flagship university of the state, whether attending class, walking across the stage receiving that coveted degree or rooting on our beloved Razorbacks. I have photographed countless numbers of truly exceptional people at the University of Arkansas and each one of them have added to my experience, this book is dedicated to those who have been a part of the University of Arkansas experience in the classroom, athletic field or business world. The strength of the university is in the experiences we hold dear and those who have touched our lives and helped shaped us who we are today. I hope this collection of images will help us reconnect with the good times we had at the University of Arkansas. I would like to thank the Arkansas Alumni Association for whom this project was conceived and who had made this project come to pass.”

Like many U of A grads, myself included, it seems that Mr. Ewart’s quite passionate about the University of Arkansas. It’s nice to see people like Tom Ewart and Once upon Dickson author, Anthony J. Wappel, working to capture the history of and passion for Fayetteville that many of us share.

If you’re interested in picking up a copy, you can order one from nwaphoto.com or, I’m assuming, at any local book retailer.

I’m looking forward to picking up a copy for myself.

Oh yes, you need to begin preparing your body, soul and mind for some sweet, sweet Carnie action!

The Fair rules!

Wait. What? You think the fair is “lame?” Guess what, buddy? You’re totally wrong.

Here’s why the Fair rules: Carnies, corndogs, the Zipper, Tilt-a-Whirl, mullets, rat tails, winning knifes at the ring toss, winning a rabbit and/or goldfish, goats, dutch oven (ha!!!) cooking contests, mirrors with hot, bikini-clad women on them, popping balloons with darts, bumper cars, giant blow-up guitars, the “fun” house, tractor pull, the constant fear of death-by-carnie, funnel cake, quilts, “art,” hillbillies, goth kids that are way out of their element, that funny-looking guy with 3 teeth, half shirts, muscle pants and so much more. The Fair rules! This is an absolute.

There’s been some confusion as to the dates of this year’s Fair, but The NWA Times has spoken with Fair board President Doris Cassidy and clarified the dates and times. Whew. I’d hate to miss out on some killer ring-toss action because of some confusion over the dates.

So, to clarify: The Fair will run from this coming Saturday, August 16th thru Saturday, August 23rd. The Carnival will open on Tuesday, August 19th and will also close on the 23rd.

While the Fair officially kicks off this Saturday, the Carnival itself won’t open until Tuesday at 5pm. So, unless you’re a member of the 4H club or you really want to walk around and look at goats, cows and horses all while “enjoying” the smell of animal crap, I’d hold off on heading out to the fairground until Tuesday.

So, grab some friends and head out to the 2008 Washington County Fair. I can almost guarantee you’ll have a good time.

I can almost taste the funnel cake now.

PS - Bring a camera and capture the glory. Submit your best photos to FayettevilleFlyer at gmail dawt com.

What’s it gonna be called? How about “Arkansas Life,” since, you know, living in Arkansas is all about trendy fashion, sophistication and stylish entertainment. Am I right?

To try and get a better idea of what we can expect in the September 1st premier edition, we headed over to the magazine’s website where we found four interesting photos depicting life in our great state. Judging from this fine (stock?) photography, it appears as though we can all look forward to plenty of stories about women sucking on sunglasses and men who have a heck of a time talking on their cell phones due to the annoying sound of their personal jet airplane engines roaring in the background.

This gigantic piece of monthly junkmail will run you $20 per year. No seriously, you’ll actually have to pay for this thing. Fortunately for those who are wealthy enough to receive a free subscription, the pages will all be bound together and the publication can be tossed in the trash can with one quick flick of the wrist.

It’s nice to see that while the rest of the newspapers across the country are scrambling to find the recipe that will keep them off of the chopping block, our Democrat-Gazette is still stuck in the 80s.

[Via Arkansas Times]

Thankfully, I happened to have time to stop and capture this epic moment on my camera in the hopes of sharing and spreading this one man’s badassery around the NWA metropolis.

Good job Jeep guy. Good job. I promise you this: What you did in the Starbucks parking lot will not be taken lightly or simply forgotten. No, my friend, it will live on. Thru song, I will pass the stories of your bold and selfless act down to my children, and they to theirs. Your courageous actions will spread throughout the land like a wildfire. Generations will pass, civilizations will rise and fall, yet several millenia from now your great song will still be sung by peasants and kings, Gods and monsters, from the great halls of Mount Olympus to the gates of Valhalla, from the highest of mountains to the deepest of chasms. Thru space and time, we will carry your song in our hearts. Never forgetting. Never ceasing to sing your story.

God bless you Jeep guy.

Our objective for the first round of questions was to get to know the candidates in a really informal kind of way and find out a little about the personalities of them more than anything else.

Next, we’d like to get a little more in-depth. The second round of questions will be based more on what we think the central issues are facing Fayetteville going forward, and each candidate’s stance on these issues. We’d like to make these interviews a little more uniform so that we get everyone’s ideas on each issue, and as always, we want to keep our interviews short and sweet.

Since the comments were turned off, we’d like to provide a space here to talk about the first round of interviews, and then get an idea of the kinds of issues you would like us to address on the next round.

If you need a reference, you will be able to find all the candidate interviews on the Flyer home page, located for your convenience in the “Mayoral Candidate Zone.”

So, let’s hear it Fayetteville. Which candidate was most impressive? Who surprised you? Who is full of baloney? Who Springdale’d it up? Here’s your chance to talk about it.

As I was driving down College Avenue the other day, sipping on some sizzurp a coke, it caught my eyes; a brand-spankin’ new, Dodge Challenger SRT-8 parked right up front at Lewis Chrysler Dodge. It was glorious. Instinct forced me to whip my car around and pull into the parking lot as fast as possible, hop out and admire the beast. Normally, orange cars are pretty repulsive, but not this one. No, no, no… not this one. Orange is perfect. A bland color just wouldn’t do.

I really, really wanted to hop in and take it for a spin, but I knew that doing so would mean that I’d end up wanting to buy it. And for $41k, I’d end up a little over my head in car payments. I can’t tell you how tempting it was to get behind the wheel and mash the pedal down just to get a feel of what a 425 HP 6.1L V8 HEMI engine can do. Despite my need for speed and the urging of the car salesman, I refrained. Thank God.

After a good 10 or 15 minutes of walking around and soaking it all in, I decided it was time to head out or else I was sure I’d give in to the temptation to test drive it. So, I took one last look and a picture of it on my camera phone and hopped back in my own car.

Driving off, I couldn’t help imagine how sweet it would be to be behind the wheel of the limited edition 2008 Dodge Challenger SRT-8. For now, I’ll keep on dreaming.

If you want to get a closer look for yourself, head on out to Lewis Chrysler Dodge and take a look at their showroom.

On a side note: Now that the Challenger is out, when will the new Chevy Camaro show its face? I’ve been itching to see one on the road.