John Bame and Fayetteville High School students look at old rail trestle and discarded rail ties blocking construction of city trail through old tunnel under existing Arkansas & Missouri Railroad

I might not have discovered this for some time had not John Bame brought some FHS students to World Peace Wetland Prairie and then taken them on a walk of the Pinnacle Prairie Trail and the part of Tsa-La-Gi Trail as yet uncompleted from the Hill Place Apartments through the old rail tunnel to the west to Razorback Road and beyond. Thanks to the environmentally aware students for caring and wanting to learn more about the delicate geography and geology of our city.
Please click on image to enlarge view of railroad ties over mouth of tunnel and then watch video below the photo to learn reaction of workers when they learned that the ties should not be dumped there.

Rail ties being dumped in mouth of tunnel in Fayetteville AR

Aubrey james | MySpace Video

The Fayetteville city trail administrator telephoned the railroad manager in Springdale an hour later and the railroad official confirmed that the ties were not to be dumped there but were to be dumped at Cato Springs Road. Rail ties are creosoted and very dangerous to human beings and other living things when the chemicals leach into the watershed.

Restore clean-water act to original strength Now!

Please double-click "view as webpage" link near top right to see full post.

March 22, 2010  View as Webpage | Forward | Subscribe   Dear Aubrey, If you think the Clean Water Act protects your drinking water from pollution, think again. Please take action today to ensure fundamental safeguards for clean water in our streams, rivers, and lakes. A confusing 2006 Supreme Court decision on the Clean Water Act has left the fate of 60 percent of the nation’s stream miles -– that provide drinking water for 117 million Americans –- in legal limbo. As a result, as reported in The New York Times, polluters are now claiming complete exemptions from reporting what they dump into local streams. Congress can resolve this problem by passing legislation to restore full federal protection for all our waters. Help us ensure that all of our nation’s waters are protected under the Clean Water Act. Urge your representative to support introducing and passing the Clean Water Restoration Act today. Thank you for your support. Sincerely, Katherine Baer Senior Director, Clean Water Program

To contact American Rivers, email us at outreach@AmericanRivers.org. To update your profile or change your preferences click here. To unsubscribe click here.  American Rivers ©2010

I would like to express grave concern over the loss of protection for many of our small streams that provide clean drinking water for 117 million Americans in communities across the country. Supreme Court decisions in the Rapanos and Carabell cases have made it confusing and burdensome for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to protect small streams and wetlands under the Clean Water Act.

As a result, enforcement actions against polluters have declined sharply the EPA estimates that over 1,000 cases have been shelved or dropped altogether. More recently it has become clear that some polluters are using the decisions as a justification to avoid any permitting and reporting requirements for discharging pollutants into our waters.

For the Clean Water Act to fulfill its goal of restoring the chemical, physical, and biological integrity of the nation's waters, all waters must receive protection corresponding with Congress' original intent when passing this landmark law. Upstream waters must be protected from pollution and destruction if we expect downstream waters to be fit for swimming, drinking, and fish and wildlife, and downstream communities to be safe from flooding.

I urge you to act in the interest of preserving clean water for healthy communities and wildlife. Please support introduction and passage of the Clean Water Restoration Act, which would clarify the definition of waters to eliminate uncertainty and ensure clean water in accordance with the goals of the Clean Water Act.

Thank you for your consideration.

World Peace Wetland Prairie spider milkweed, false indigo bush, dogbane, blue-eyed grass and cottontail rabbit photographed on May 21, 2009

Please click on individual images to ENLARGE view of a sample of what you won't see on Earthday at World Peace Wetland Prairie but may see again if you visit in May. Native wildflowers and tall grass emerge later than the typical nonnative species found in many gardens in Arkansas.

Photo above reveals view northwest with Amorpha fructicosa bush in bloom. Also known as false indigo or indigo bush on May 21, 2009, at World Peace Wetland Prairie.



Cottontail rabbit reluctant to leave his grazing area and hoping photographer will back away on May 21, 2009, at World Peace Wetland Prairie.

In photo above, the tiny blue-eyed grass is seen growing near a tall dogbane or Indian Hemp plant.

Above, Asclepias viridis, also known as spider milkweed or antelope horns, is nearing full bloom. Viridis is the earliest of the milkweeds to bloom in Northwest Arkansas.


Above is an instance of a tall dogbane or Indian hemp plant with a shorter spider milkweed at right.
Dogbane seems always to pop out of the ground before the milkweed and the leaves of the two are similar. Both are plentiful at World Peace Wetland Prairie.
For more photos of wildflowers at WPWP, please see
WPWP wildflowers

Regional National Cemetery Improvement Corporation meeting set for 10:30 A.M. Saturday, March 13, 2010, at the American Legion Hut in south Fayetteville, Arkansas

REGIONAL NATIONAL CEMETERY IMPROVEMENT CORPORATION
PO Box 4221
Fayetteville, AR 72702
President Roger McClain called the meeting to order at 10:25.
Recited Pledge of Allegiance
Ron Butler offered the prayer

OLD BUSINESS
1. Jake Lamkins moved, 2nd Ron Butler the approval of the minutes. Minutes approved.
2. Harold Crivello presented the Financial Statement. Jake Lamkins moved 2nd Ron Butler approval of the statement as presented. Motion passed.

NEW BUSINESS
1. Election of officers returned all current office holders to their positions.
2. Harold Crivello reported on IRS tax exempt status.
3. Welcome Dave Rader as new member.
4. Dave Rader, Lorna Sterrett, and Jake Lamkins will audit the books for the year.
5. Roger McClain reported Mrs. Ames is ready to sell the #12 property.
6. 2nd Annual 5K Veterans Day Race is tentatively set for Nov. 6th.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
1. Everyone please take a few minutes to write a letter to the editor regarding the cemetery. Bring copies of your letter to the next meeting. IF WE DON’T DO THIS, WE WILL BE IN THE SAME SHAPE NEXT YEAR.
2. The VSO office is located on the County South Campus close to the jail. Everyone feel free to stop by and see the new location. They are there to help all veterans
The meeting was adjourned at 11:35 a.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Peggy McClain, Secretary
NEXT MEETING March 13, 2010 10:30 a.m. at the Fayetteville American Legion Post 27

RNCIC receives significant donation for cemetery-expansion projects from Bella Vista's VFW Post 9063 on February 13, 2010 from

Please click on image to ENLARGE

VFW Post 9063 auxillary donates $1,000 to support Fayetteville National cemetery enlargement projects
Lorna Sterrett of Bella Vista, Arkansas, presents a check for $1,000 to Roger McClain, President of the Regional National Cemetery Improvement Corporation. Other RNCIC board members are Peggy McClain (left) secretary, Harold Crivello (right center) treasurer and Ron Butler (right) vice president. The check was from the Ladies Auxillary of VFW Post 9063. Sterrett is a member of the auxillary as well as an at-large member of the RNCIC board of directors.

2009 aerial photo of Fayetteville National Cemetery

http://regncic.tripod.com/RNCIC_CemeteryAerial09-07-14b.jpg
2009 aerial photo of Fayetteville, Arkansas

Photo montage of World Peace Wetland Prairie in a few blocks southwest of the National Cemetery in Fayetteville, Arkansas

Please click on image to ENLARGE and navigate up and down, right and left, to see whole montage.

Montage by Lauren D. Hawkins with photos by Aubrey James Shepherd

OMNI Center for Peace, Justice and Ecology invites all to open house from 3 to 6 p.m. today

View Larger Map



OMNI Center for Peace Justice and Ecology opens new house to all TODAY!
Office Phone: (479)935-4422
omni.center.for.pje@gmail.com
“OMNI Center for Peace, Justice & Ecology
educates and empowers people to actively
build a non-violent, sustainable and just world.”
Saturday,
February 2010
3:00—6:00 PM
3274 N. Lee Ave
OMNI CENTER for PEACE, JUSTICE & ECOLOGY
You are invited to celebrate the dedication of
OMNI Center’s new building! Enjoy music, re-
freshments, good fellowship, speakers, and
tours! Learn more than 35 ways to be involved
in OMNI. Help build a culture of peace in an
earth restored, that includes everyone.
Children
Welcome!
Handicap
Access
Refreshments
Will Be
Served!
Open House!

January 31, 2010, birds of World Peace Wetland Prairie searching for bare ground and free seed

Please click on individual images to ENLARGE view of assorted birds. Many more species are around today, such as red-winged blackbirds, bluejays, cardinals and many others whose names and photos are more difficult to collect.

RNCIC to meet at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, January 9, 2010, American Legion Post north of 15th Street in Fayetteville, Arkansas; December minutes below

REGIONAL NATIONAL CEMETERY IMPROVEMENT CORPORATION
PO Box 4221
Fayetteville, AR 72702

President Roger McClain called the December 12, 2009, meeting to order at 10:30.
Recited Pledge of Allegiance
Harold Crivello offered the prayer

OLD BUSINESS
1. Jake Lamkins moved, 2nd Harold Crivello the approval of the minutes. Minutes approved.
2. Harold Crivello presented the Financial Statement. We made approximately $2,500 after expenses on the race. Jake Lamkins moved 2nd Beverly Swaim approval of the statement as presented. Motion passed.

NEW BUSINESS
1. Jake Lamkins reported on the new web site. We have had 585 visits to the site with 230 page visits which represent how many things were looked at on the site.

ANNOUNCEMENTS
1. Everyone please take a few minutes to write a letter to the editor regarding the cemetery. Bring copies of your letter to the next meeting. IF WE DON’T DO THIS, WE WILL BE IN THE SAME SHAPE NEXT YEAR.
2. The VSO office is located on the County South Campus close to the jail. Everyone feel free to stop by and see the new location. They are there to help all veterans
The meeting was adjourned at 11:10 a.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Peggy McClain, Secretary
NEXT MEETING 9 January 2010 10:30 a.m. at the Fayetteville American Legion Post 27

Democrat/Gazette December 21, 2009, editorial advocating saving sale-barn land for Fayetteville National Cemetery pleases majority of veterans and neighbors, but the problem is that saving Town Branch homeowners from flooding downhill from the cemetery is still being ignored: VA already at work preparing to dredge and fill wetland and pipe stormwater directly to Hill Avenue and thus to the 11th Street bridge on the Town Branch

Please click on individual photos to ENLARGE view of wetland area along the north edge of the Fayetteville National Cemetery being prepared for dredging and filling for grave sites. The depressional wetland developed over centuries because it is above a bedrock karst area where groundwater sinks into the underground caverns and aquifers and reduces surface-water flooding. When it is piped to the Town Branch it will further aggravate the flooding danger between Ellis and Van Buren avenues already created by the University of Arkansas' failure properly to manage stormwater on the campus and by paving and development along Martin Luther King Boulevard and on the Aspen Ridge/Hill Place project.

Save acres for vets

Now buy the land for the cemetery

Monday, December 21, 2009

Print item

LITTLE ROCK — LIKE WARM Arkansas Christmases, dry eyes after It’s a Wonderful Life, and little boys from the Natural State scribbling “LSU gear” on their annual wish lists, some things are just not meant to be. That’s the way it seems with the controversial student apartments that apparently won’t be built in south Fayetteville. You know, where Washington County’s historic livestock auction house operated until June.
A lawsuit that sought to override the city’s denial of a rezoning request seems to be kaput. Campus Crest developers of North Carolina wanted to buy the property from the auction house’s owner, Bill Joe Bartholomew, and build 200 apartments on the property. But the drawn-out legal ordeal surrounding this purchase became just too much to bear. Mr. Bartholomew now wants his suit dismissed.
The proposed sale to Campus Crest became a flashpoint for veterans and others last summer. They wanted to secure the site across Government Street from the city’s National Cemetery so they might preserve the sacred nature of that location. They basically argued that more student apartments in an overbuilt Fayetteville wasn’t an appropriate use of the land. They had a point. The former auction barn parcel does provide an ideally located space to enlarge this rapidly filling cemetery.
Fayetteville’s council denied Mr. Bartholomew’s request to rezone his property. The rezoning would have sealed the sale and enabled Campus Crest to purchase and develop the property. That’s when Mr. Bartholomew filed his suit against the city.

This latest development means the corporation that oversees the cemetery’s operation, Congress, the national office of Veteran’s Affairs, and veterans’ organizations need to find a way to purchase this property. The space needs to be preserved and protected as a final resting place for our veterans in the decades to come.

Jim Buckner, a former military officer and a leader in the Arkansas division of the Military Order of the Purple Heart, fought valiantly to preserve this property for the cemetery and future fellow veterans. And while the corporation that manages operations for national cemeteries seems to favor expanding the graveyard in an entirely different direction, it needs to acquire these nine acres as well. Few will argue that every cemetery will only grow larger, especially as long as there are veterans.
Mr. Bartholomew, who’s left without a buyer, has earned a sale after everything he’s been through. He’s undoubtedly disappointed that he had to drop his legal challenge. But as everyone knows, any lawsuit can drag on and on with virtually no end in sight. And no potential buyer wants that much uncertainty.
No one can blame Mr. Bartholomew for wanting to sell his property. After all, it’s his property. Today, he shrugs and says he’s just going to “wait and see what happens.”
His bad luck in all this came solely because this sale barn that operated for 70 years happened to lie across the street from one of Arkansas’ three national cemeteries-and this one also happens to be running out of space. Those who both manage and patronize this cemetery now should work diligently to find a way to buy the property.

Editorial, Pages 14 on 12/21/2009

Arkansas Democrat/Gazette editorial a hit with neighbors and veterans on December 21, 2009

Save acres for vets
Now buy the land for the cemetery
Monday, December 21, 2009

Print item

LITTLE ROCK — LIKE WARM Arkansas Christmases, dry eyes after It’s a Wonderful Life, and little boys from the Natural State scribbling “LSU gear” on their annual wish lists, some things are just not meant to be. That’s the way it seems with the controversial student apartments that apparently won’t be built in south Fayetteville. You know, where Washington County’s historic livestock auction house operated until June.
A lawsuit that sought to override the city’s denial of a rezoning request seems to be kaput. Campus Crest developers of North Carolina wanted to buy the property from the auction house’s owner, Bill Joe Bartholomew, and build 200 apartments on the property. But the drawn-out legal ordeal surrounding this purchase became just too much to bear. Mr. Bartholomew now wants his suit dismissed.
The proposed sale to Campus Crest became a flashpoint for veterans and others last summer. They wanted to secure the site across Government Street from the city’s National Cemetery so they might preserve the sacred nature of that location. They basically argued that more student apartments in an overbuilt Fayetteville wasn’t an appropriate use of the land. They had a point. The former auction barn parcel does provide an ideally located space to enlarge this rapidly filling cemetery.
Fayetteville’s council denied Mr. Bartholomew’s request to rezone his property. The rezoning would have sealed the sale and enabled Campus Crest to purchase and develop the property. That’s when Mr. Bartholomew filed his suit against the city.
This latest development means thecorporation that oversees the cemetery’s operation, Congress, the national office of Veteran’s Affairs, and veterans’ organizations need to find a way to purchase this property. The space needs to be preserved and protected as a final resting place for our veterans in the decades to come.
Jim Buckner, a former military officer and a leader in the Arkansas division of the Military Order of the Purple Heart, fought valiantly to preserve this property for the cemetery and future fellow veterans. And while the corporation that manages operations for national cemeteries seems to favor expanding the graveyard in an entirely different direction, it needs to acquire these nine acres as well. Few will argue that every cemetery will only grow larger, especially as long as there are veterans.
Mr. Bartholomew, who’s left without a buyer, has earned a sale after everything he’s been through. He’s undoubtedly disappointed that he had to drop his legal challenge. But as everyone knows, any lawsuit can drag on and on with virtually no end in sight. And no potential buyer wants that much uncertainty.
No one can blame Mr. Bartholomew for wanting to sell his property. After all, it’s his property. Today, he shrugs and says he’s just going to “wait and see what happens.”
His bad luck in all this came solely because this sale barn that operated for 70 years happened to lie across the street from one of Arkansas’ three national cemeteries-and this one also happens to be running out of space. Those who both manage and patronize this cemetery now should work diligently to find a way to buy the property.
Editorial, Pages 14 on 12/21/2009

cemetery

Landowners' guide to living with land and water in the Ozarks

Treating land such as the wetland on the north and east sides of the Fayetteville National Cemetery with respect

Appeal of City Denial of approval for apartments next to Fayetteville National Cemetery dropped by auction-barn owner

NWAOnline.com

Landowner Drops Zoning Lawsuit

By Skip Descant

Tuesday, December 15, 2009

FAYETTEVILLE — An effort to build college student apartments on the site of the former Washington County Livestock Auction is likely further away than ever.

Billy Joe Bartholomew, the barn’s owner, said the prospect of lengthy litigation to acquire city permission to build on the site prompted Campus Crest, an apartment development company, to lose interest in the project.

“If I could have gotten them down to maybe six months, then maybe they would have stayed interested,” Bartholomew said Monday.

Bartholomew filed a motion to dismiss his lawsuit against the city Monday.

The former livestock barn plodded its way through a lengthy and controversial rezoning process, as neighbors and veterans groups came out against North Carolina-based Campus Crest’s plans to build some 200 apartments on the 9-acre site.

The veterans opposed development of student-focused apartments just across Government Street from the Fayetteville National Cemetery, saying the use was incompatible with the hallowed ground reserved for honoring those who served the nation in the military.

The Fayetteville City Council denied Bartholomew’s request to rezone the property from heavy commercial/light industrial to downtown general, a zoning that would have cleared the way for the Campus Crest project. Bartholomew responded by appealing the city’s decision in Washington County Circuit Court, a process that may have dragged out for months, if not beyond a year.

“If you don’t know how long it will take, it’s hard to ask people to wait that long,” Bartholomew said.

For now, Bartholomew isn’t sure what the future holds for the sale barn, which closed its doors in June after more than 70 years in operation. He does not currently have a buyer.

“I’m just going to wait and see what happens,” Bartholomew said.

Campus Crest officials could not be reached Monday afternoon for comment.

That’s terrific,” veteran Jim Buckner said when he learned Bartholomew had dropped the legal challenge. “I think it’s good news for the veterans. It really does clear some things up for us.”

Buckner is a former military officer and is senior vice-commander for the Military Order of the Purple Heart, Arkansas Division.

Although the Regional National Cemetery Improvement Corp. that formally oversees operation of the cemetery has said it wants to expand in another direction, Buckner said Monday he still wants to see the Bartholomews’ property used to expand the cemetery.

Bucker, who helped lead opposition to the student apartments, said he hopes Congress will authorize and fund the purchase of the former auction site through the Department of Veterans Affairs, or that local veterans can somehow raise enough money to buy it.

Ron Wood contributed to this report.

Town Hall meeting starts at 7 tonight Yvonne Richardson Center

Town Hall Meeting to be Held December 14, 2009

DEC
10
2009
Mayor Lioneld Jordan will be holding the final Town Hall Meeting of the year at the Yvonne Richardson Community Center on Monday, December 14, from 7 p.m. until 8:30 p.m. Everyone is encouraged to come. The Yvonne Richardson Community Center is located at 240 East Rock Street.

Channel 5 covers Wreath Day at Fayetteville National Cemetery

 

Northern strip of wetland on National Cemetery property soon to be prepared for gravesites by government contractors for VA

National Cemetery wetland parking gone wrong

Aubrey james | MySpace Video

When a wrecker gets stuck, you know it wasn't a good place

Aubrey james | MySpace Video

This strip of land recently studied by the VA and its contractors is to be prepared for use by the cemetery. Obviously, it will have to be covered with several feet of additional soil so that graves will be above the flood level and will eliminate a significant part of the "critical groundwater recharge area" of the Town Branch of the West Fork of the White River. Water that historically would have soaked in there will be forced to find new routes, and the amount of water forced to stay on the wooded wetland at right will be increased. Water running off that area already is piped to the Town Branch at the 11th Street bridge. The volume of water flowing south of that bridge toward 15th Street will be further increased and flash floods will be more dangerous to lives and property downstream.

Audubon Arkansas open house from 4 to 7 p.m. today; Environmental Action Committee at 5:30 p.m. in Room 326 of city hall

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2009
Audubon Arkansas open house from 4 to 7 p.m. today; Environmental Action Committee at 5:30 p.m. in Room 326 of city hall
The Holiday Season is a busy time so here's a little reminder about our Holiday Open House! If you have not yet RSVP'd don't forget to drop us a line and let us know your are coming! We are looking forward to seeing everyone there!

Please Join Us

Thursday, December 10, 2009
From 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at
34 East Center Street
Fayetteville, Arkansas

For the
Audubon Arkansas
Holiday Open House

The staff and board of Audubon Arkansas invite you to join us for food, refreshments, conversation and conservation. Spouses, children, and friends welcome.
Please RSVP to mviney@audubon.org
Wishing You Happy Holidays!!!

RCNIC meeting at 10:30 a.m. Saturday December 12, 2009; November minutes below

REGIONAL NATIONAL CEMETERY IMPROVEMENT CORPORATION
PO Box 4221
Fayetteville, AR 72702
Pres. Roger McClain called the meeting to order at 10:30 a.m.
The Pledge of Allegiance was recited.
Harold Crivello gave the prayer.
The motion was made, seconded, and passed to approve the minutes from the October meeting.
The motion was made, seconded, and passed to accept the Treasurer’s report for October 31, 2009. The ending balance as of that date is $12,626.43.
Jake announced that he has made a memorial donation to the RNCIC by a donation to upgrade the website. He has bought the domain name RNCIC.com and also upgraded the website to a premium plan that does not have ads. Thanks were expressed to Jake.
Wes Stites reported on the 1st 5K Veterans Memorial Race which was held in Fayetteville on Saturday, November, 7, 2009. Preliminary reports indicate approximately $2,300 in total expenses; sponsor donations totaled approximately $3,000; total income from donations and entries was approximately $5,900; leaving a net profit of approximately $3,500 with 3 bills outstanding. There were 104 registered runners. It was suggested that a detailed report should be filed with the secretary for future reference. Thanks were expressed to Wes and Josh.
The race brought good publicity for the national cemetery with TV and newspaper coverage. Wes suggested that extra tee shirts be given to the sponsors. It was felt that since this first race was successful that it should be an annual race on the Saturday closest to Veterans Day with the exact date to be determined each year.
Harold Crivello presented a check to Pres. Roger McClain in the amount of $2,004 from his MOPH local chapter for their share of profit divided up from the national convention.
Ron Butler said that there is a loosely organized group of veterans working to secure the three acres of land north of the administration building and owned by Bartholomew. The work of this group is not to be confused with the work of the RNCIC. The purchase arrangement would be between the VA and Bartholomew.
The group agreed to meet next month in Dec. to finalized the race activities and accounting for the end of 2009.
The meeting was adjourned at 11:15 a.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Lorna Sterrett
Acting Secretary


SPECIAL MEETING 12 December 2009 10:30 a.m. at the Fayetteville American Legion Post 27
Peggy McClain

1999 photo and caption in The Morning News showed one of the extra pleasures of living in the Town Branch neighborhood only 10 years ago

Please click on title above to go to original view of photo on old Web site.

State Representative Lindsley Smith's legislative update in honor of Veterans Day 2009

Legislative Update‏
From: LINDSLEY SMITH (lindsleysmith@msn.com)
Sent: Sun 11/15/09 8:43 PM
To:
In 1918, at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month… the world rejoiced. An armistice was signed to end the “war to end all wars.” The following year, President Woodrow Wilson declared November 11th to be recognized as Armistice Day. Some two decades later, Congress voted to make November 11th a national holiday to include all veterans of America’s wars.
To honor the service of military personnel and veterans, the Arkansas House of Representatives, in concurrence with the Senate, enacted several pieces of legislation on their behalf during the 87th General Assembly.

· Act 30 of 2009 requires that all state flags on public buildings be lowered to honor and pay tribute to a member of the armed services, who is killed in action.
· Act 944 of 2009 eliminates the requirement that members of the National Guard or Reserve, who are teachers or school administrators, pay for the cost of a substitute employee when the member is on military leave.
· Act 214 of 2009 amends the Arkansas National Guard tuition incentive program by increasing the annual tuition incentive award up to five thousand dollars per eligible service member payable at $2,500 per semester.
· Act 232 of 2009, clarifies the Governor’s power to order the organized militia into active service for the purpose of working with state agencies in the planning and training for emergencies or disasters and to respond to emergencies or disasters.

Additionally, several pieces of legislation were enacted for special license plates to honor military personnel and veterans.

· Act 784 of 2009 creates a newly redesigned military license plate. The plates will be available beginning November 12, 2009, at Arkansas State Revenue Offices that issue special license plates.
· Act 651 of 2009 authorizes the issuance of a special license plate for Cold War veterans.
· Act 685 of 2009 allows the Department of Finance and Administration to issue Gold Star Family special license plates to spouses or parents of members of the armed forces killed in a conflict.
· Act 632 of 2009 amends the Special License Plate Act of 2005 to allow retired members of the armed forces of the United States to obtain special license plates for nominal fees.

Regional National Cemetery Improvement Corporation monthly meeting at 10:30 a.m. at the American Legion Post on Curtis Drive a few blocks north of 15th Street in Fayetteville

REGIONAL NATIONAL CEMETERY IMPROVEMENT CORPORATION
PO Box 4221
Fayetteville, AR 72702
President Roger McClain called the meeting to order at 10:30.
Recited Pledge of Allegiance
Harold Crivello offered the prayer
OLD BUSINESS
1. Jake Lamkins moved, 2nd Aubrey Shepherd the approval of the minutes. Minutes approved.
2. Harold Crivello presented the Financial Statement. Jake Lamkins moved 2nd Beverly Swaim approval of the statement as presented. Motion passed.
3. Harold Crivello suggested we consider getting a CD for $5k at the August meeting. We need to review at October meeting.
4. Wes Stites reviewed donations to date for the 5K Run and led discussion of what we need to do day of event.
NEW BUSINESS
1. Ron Butler discussed meeting with Steve Gray regarding the Bartholomew property. The property is still for sale and any sale of the 3 acres that include the parking area would be between the National Cemetery System and Mr. Bartholomew. We would not have any involvement with this.
2. Lot 15 is available for sale. Owner will be getting appraised value he wants and calling back.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
1. Everyone please take a few minutes to write a letter to the editor regarding the cemetery. Bring copies of your letter to the next meeting. IF WE DON’T DO THIS, WE WILL BE IN THE SAME SHAPE NEXT YEAR.
2. The VSO office is located on the County South Campus close to the jail. Everyone feel free to stop by and see the new location. They are there to help all veterans
The meeting was adjourned at 11:30 a.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Peggy McClain, Secretary
NEXT MEETING 14 November 2009 10:30 a.m. at the Fayetteville American Legion Post 27
Peggy McClain

Deanna Duplanti of Fayetteville was pleased with the military-style dog tags appropriate trophies for runners in the Veterans Memorial 5K run on November 7, 2009, at the Fayetteville National Cemetery

Please click on images to go to Flick site to ENLARGE view of Deanna Duplanti and find related photos and 5K race results.

Veterans Memorial 5K Race banner at Fayetteville National Cemetery on November 7, 2009, honors top donors: Tyson Foods Inc. donated $1,000 while Hogeye Inc. donated $500 plus pride pins on cards commemorating the inaugural running of the event for all runners

Please click on image to go to Flickr site and ENLARGE view and navigate to see race results and related photos and information.

Frank Arellano, 43, of Rogers, who previously won his age group in a race at Eureka Springs, wins Veterans Memorial 5K at Fayetteville National Cemetery on Nov. 7, 2009

Please click on image to go to Flickr site and ENLARGE for reading.

Rendy Williams wins women's division of Veterans Memorial 5K race at the Fayetteville National Cemetery on November 7, 2009; women's results listed below

Please click on image to go to Flickr site and ENLARGE photo and navigate to see related photos and full Veterans Memorial 5K race results.

Please click on image to go to Flickr site and ENLARGE for reading and find related photos and results later.

Northwest Arkansas Times reports on Veterans Memorial 5K with nice background article but lists only overall winner

Race Promotes Expanding Cemetery Borders
By Kate Ward
Sunday, November 8, 2009
FAYETTEVILLE — A race across town brought Fayetteville National Cemetery supporters a step closer to expanding property borders on Saturday.
Hosted by the Regional National Cemetery Improvement Corp. the Veteran’s Memorial 5K race marked the group’s first official fundraiser aimed at purchasing the property along Hill Street (Actually South Hill Avenue) to expand the cemetery’s existing acreage.
“We’ve been raising funds for a long time through donations from individuals and various veteran organizations,” said Wesley Stites, race coordinator. “This is a small organization and we don’t have that many people involved. We’d like to attract more attention to our cause and create more expansive goals.”
The group was organized in 1984 to aid in the expansion and improvement of the Fayetteville National Cemetery. The site was established after the Civil War in 1867 as the final resting place for Union soldiers killed in nearby battles. During the past five years, the nonprofit group has aided in expanding the property by 120 percent.
“We’ve been doing this for 25 years,” Stites said. “We’re in this for the long run. No matter how successful you are, there’s always going to be a need for more land. The World War II generation is passing away in enormous numbers. If we don’t stay ahead of things, the cemetery would close in, perhaps, a dozen years. It’s up to us to keep it open.”
Now administered by the Department of Veterans Affairs, Stites said the cemetery nearly closed in the 1980s, when just a handful of burial sites remained and no federal funding was available. During the past 25 years, the group has purchased houses and lots bordering the site, cleared the land and deeded the property to the federal government to expand the cemetery.
“There are a lot of people who don’t appreciate the fact that Fayetteville is really blessed to have a national cemetery,” Stites said. “There are 11 states that don’t even have one. Arkansas is fortunate enough to have three, two of which are still open. If the cemetery closes, the VA will not be opening a new one near Fayetteville in anyone’s lifetime.”
Blogger's note:
(By the word "closing" the speaker is talking about running out of space for burials. The cemetery would continue to exist and be maintained by the Department of Veterans Affairs if space for new burials ran out.)
While there was previous controversy surrounding the purchase of the Washington County Livestock Auction Barn owned by Billy Joe Bartholomew, Stites said the site is too costly for the group to purchase.
“We would love to be able to buy the sale barn and turn that land over to the cemetery, but unless a major donor comes forward, it’s just not realistic,” he said. “Mr. Bartholomew has been a longtime supporter of the cemetery and he even allowed us to start the race on his property.”
Saturday’s race attracted more than 100 area residents. The event started at the national cemetery on Government Street (Actually South Government Avenue) in south Fayetteville, traveled to Wilson Park and looped back around to the starting line.
Rogers resident Frank Arellano, 43, took first place, finishing in just 17 minutes and 44 seconds.
“I had the option of running in a promotional race in Bella Vista, but this was a more important cause to me,” he said. “My stepdad is a veteran and I really respect all those people who risk their lives for our country and for our communities.”
Although Tontitown resident Janet Taylor sat out for this year’s run, she played an integral role behind the scenes in coordinating the event.
“I’m an Army veteran and I work at the VA,” she said. “Whenever there’s an event that supports veterans, I try to be there. I also helped organize a veterans run for the VA in July and I wanted to share some of the tips I learned for this group’s first fundraiser.”
Stites said he was satisfied with the outcome of the race, adding that it likely raised more than a couple (of) thousand dollars.
“There’s a tremendous amount of history in this cemetery,” he said. “It houses those who’ve been killed in every conflict, including Iraq and Afghanistan. I don’t have any friends or family buried here and I’m not a veteran, but I think it’s important enough to spend the time and money to make sure it stays open. It’s our way of saying ‘we respect the sacrifices you’ve made for us.’”
For more information about the group or to make a donation, go to regncic.tripod.com.

Air Force and other services represented by runners in Veterans Memorial 5 on November 7, 2009

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Regional National Cemetery Improvement Corporation volunteers make a success of Veterans Memorial 5K with the help of sponsors and donors

Please click on image to go to Flickr site and ENLARGE view of volunteer group working at the Veterans Memorial 5K on November 7, 2009, and view related photos and race results by navigating on Flickr.