Last modified: Thursday, January 8, 2009 2:05 PM CST The new Wal-Mart Supercenter at the corner of Arkansas 107 and Maryland Avenue was a widely discussed topic among Sherwood residents.(Kevin L. Grinstead/File Photo) 2008 Review: Revisiting big news by voice staff July 3, 2008 City readies to sell Trammel Road property The city of Sherwood within the next two weeks is expected to start seeking bids from anyone interested in purchasing approximately 50 acres of municipal property along Trammel Road. At the City Council’s regular meeting of June 23, the council followed the advice of Sherwood City Attorney Steve Cobb who told them since more than one party has expressed interested in buying the land, the city should seek bids. Alderwoman Sheila Sulcer, who chaired a special committee that studied what should be done with the property, told her fellow council members that two developers had expressed interest in buying the ground while her committee met twice in June to discuss what should be done with the land. Sulcer said more groups are expressing interest in the land as time goes on. “After talking to Mr. Cobb, I received a third call from someone else interested in it,” Sulcer said. Cobb said the city should put a specific date in an advertisement about when bids would be accepted. July 10, 2008 NorthBelt environmental study completed It’s out for all eyes to see. The Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department (AHTD), in conjunction with the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), has completed a Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) for the North Belt Freeway Project, according to AHTD Director Dan Flowers. The document, which is about 1.5 inches thick, is currently available for review at the city halls and public libraries of Sherwood, Jacksonville, and North Little Rock. Additionally, a review copy is available at the Metroplan Office at 501 W. Markham Street in Little Rock. and at the AHTD District Six Office at 8900 Mabelvale Pike in Little Rock. Comments about the document should be sent to the AHTD Environmental Division, P.O. Box 2261, Little Rock, AR, 72203-2261 by Aug. 18. It can also be viewed online by visiting AHTD’s Web site at www.arkansashighways.com. Flowers said once all comments have been received and evaluated, an application will be submitted to the FHWA for a Record of Decision. A Record of Decision is necessary before the North Belt can be constructed and is the final approval needed to proceed to the next stage of project development, the survey and the design work, Flowers said. July 17, 2008 Some neighbors aggravated by Supercenter’s presence Five weeks have passed with the Wal-Mart Supercenter opened its doors at the corner of Arkansas 107 and Maryland Avenue. For more than a year, neighbors who hated the idea of a Supercenter moving in next door to them feared the discount magnet would wreak havoc on their once-quiet neighborhoods. Also, some city officials were concerned that higher traffic volumes would lead to greater congestion. During a July 8 meeting of the Sherwood City Street Committee, Alderman Steve Fender, who chairs the committee, said a once-promised traffic light is not going to set up at Wal-Mart’s entrance from Arkansas 107. As discussion at public meetings started taking place about the Supercenter, some city officials expressed the need for a traffic light at Wal-Mart’s entrance due to expected traffic increases. Fender said state transportation officials no longer see a need for a light there. Fender’s comments were confirmed by Glen Bolick, a spokesman for the Arkansas Highway and Transportation Department, who said the state has rethought the need for an extra traffic light. “Traffic doesn’t seem to be a problem there at the present time,” Bolick said. July 24, 2008 Sherwood shocked by Estes murder About 150 people attended a memorial service held to honor the memory of the late Tom and Jill Estes who died on June 30 while in Missouri attending a relative’s graduation. An Illinois man, Nicholas Sheley, has been charged with homicide in their deaths. The service was held at Sherwood Forest and was complete with many photos of the Estes from their childhood days through adulthood. About one hour before the service began, the banquet hall at Sherwood Forest was filled with many friends and visitors looking at photographs and speaking to family members about their fond memories of the Sherwood couple. Family minister Stanley Conrad spoke about how well the Estes were loved by their family and friends alike. July 31, 2008 Taylor recognized for heroic deed It was Friday the 13th, June 13th, to be exact. The day synonymous with bad luck turned out to be the case for a Sherwood juvenile who found himself apprehended by Lafredrick L. Taylor while the boy was involved in a violent fight at Chapel Ridge Apartments on Brockington Road in Sherwood. Taylor’s was recognized by the Sherwood Police Department for his effort to apprehend the boy before police arrived. According to a police report filed by Officer Bryan Kinder, he was dispatched to Chapel Ridge at 6:18 p.m. in reference to a juvenile disturbance at the swimming pool. Upon the police’s arrival, they discovered the juvenile being escorted out of the pool area with blood on his shirt. Once the juvenile saw Kinder, he ran back into the pool area and tried fleeing the area by climbing over a fence to escape police. As he was climbing the fence, Taylor, an employee of Chapel Ridge, restrained the juvenile until police had him in custody. The juvenile was later charged with third-degree battery, disorderly conduct and fleeing. In a letter given to Taylor by Police Chief, Kel Nicholson, Capt. Scott McFarland, and Sgt. William Michaels, Taylor was praised for his help to police. “Law enforcement is tasked and trusted by the community to protect its citizens and their property,” according to the letter. “Often it is an overwhelming responsibility in these days and times of high crime rates and minimum law enforcement personnel.” Aug. 7, 2008 Sherwood’s first gas can collection commences Gasoline can owners from across Central Arkansas participated in Sherwood’s first gas can exchange program sponsored by the Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality. Elizabeth Sartain, ADEQ’s program coordinator for the exchange, said the public’s response was better here than the state expected. “Until today, our best turnout was 350 when we had an exchange in Jacksonville,” Sartain said. By 10 a.m. — three hours into the Sherwood exchange — 345 cans had already been exchanged and ADEQ staffers went out to buy more to replace their dwindling supply. The ADEQ exchange was held at the Sherwood City Public Works Complex on North Hills Boulevard. Why is it good for the environment and your health to get rid of an old gas can? “Old cans emit a significant amount of ozone-causing pollution into air every day,” Sartain said. “Ground-level ozone is the main ingredient in smog.” Sartain said old cans, when stored, pose a threat to the health of individuals because of the toxic fumes emitted. “This can harm those with respiratory ailments,” Sartain said. “This protects your family’s health because gasoline vapors contain a number of toxic chemicals, such as benzene which can harm your health.” Aug. 14, 2008 A&P Commission earmarks $100K to North Hills renovation Now that the question of whether Sherwood will buy the former North Hills Country Club and golf course has been answered, with the city agreeing to pay more than $5 million for the 105 acres, the new question is what will be its fate? The Sherwood Advertising and Promotions Commission and Mayor Virginia Hillman Aug. 6 started answering that question when commissioners voted unanimously to earmark $100,000 worth of the A&P’s funds toward renovating North Hill’s main club house. The A&P commission’s vote came after Hillman asked for the six-figure allocation. She wants the money to be used to refurbish the club house. Even though the commission agreed to $100,000, the city may need more. “We are not sure what we are going to find,” Hillman said. Commission Chairwoman Sheila Sulcer said the A&P Commission has available about $200,000, but it has other financial commitments and is not able to provide all $200,000 toward the club house renovation. Aug. 21, 2008 ADEQ won’t budget on proposed sewer fine The Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality isn’t budging on a proposed civil penalty of $23,300 it wants the city to pay for how Sherwood operated wastewater treatment plants in violation of its operating permits. City Engineer Ellen Norvell, Wastewater Treatment Plant Supervisor Bill Miller, representatives of Crist Engineering of Little Rock, and City Attorney Larry Carpenter met Aug. 13 with the ADEQ to discuss the state’s proposed consent decree where it wants Sherwood to pay the penalty. The meeting was the first time ADEQ and the city met since the state submitted its proposed consent decree to Sherwood on July 18. The city had a deadline of Aug. 18 to respond. On Aug. 12, the Sherwood City Sewer Committee met to discuss the decree and to talk about action the city will need to take so it can comply with Aden’s orders. Novel said the meeting with ADEQ was necessary in part so the city can continue negotiating with Crist Engineering about how much the Little Rock consultant will charge Sherwood for its services. Aug. 28, 2008 Sherwood builder featured in Extreme Makeover project Aug. 21 marked a new and special day for a Bigelow family and a Sherwood builder. Their lives intersected for only a week, but now they have a lifetime’s worth of memories. It was that day the McCully family saw their new home built courtesy of Woodhaven Homes, Inc. of Sherwood, for the television show Extreme Makeover. “This has been an incredible experience,” said Woodhaven Homes owner Jack Wilson. Wilson said many people from the Bigelow community were excited about the joyful reaction of the McCully family when they saw their new home. The job started on Aug. 15 and was finished on Aug. 21. “I hope Job and his family will create many fond memories in their home over the years,” Wilson said. Job is the McCully’s son who has fought a lifetime worth of serious illnesses. One day earlier, on Aug. 20, a crew of contractors and volunteers had much the building completed in preparation for the job’s final stages, Wilson said. Wilson said volunteers did final drywall touchup, final electrical walk through, final paint touchup, final plumbing, HVAC start, and cable and telephone reconnecting. Sept. 4, 2008 North Hills’ legal bills questioned While this week was viewed as joyous days by city officials in support of the city taking possession of the former North Hills Country Club and golf course, the transition did not go without a snag. Members of the Sherwood Public Facilities Board questioned City Attorney Steve Cobb and Alderman Charles Harmon about why $96,616.50 worth of attorney bills were placed into the $5.35 million loan package that were to be paid as part of the loan’s closing costs. “Why were we notified so late?” asked board member Bob Dawson, who said the city needed the board to secure the financing but the board was not notified that Quattlebaum, Grooms, Tull & Burrow was going to hire another law firm to help with the North Hills project. At Thursday’s meeting, as board members reviewed the $5.35 million purchasing agreement, members were told that Quattlebaum submitted for payment an $80,000 bill for its own services rendered. In addition, board members questioned who authorized $16,616.50 worth of legal work done on the North Hills project by the Little Rock firm of Jack Nelson Jones. Cobb said Quattlebaum hired Jack Nelson to provide independent legal work with the project’s financing. Sept. 11, 2008 Gravel Ridge canvassed for pit bulls Pit bull owners in Gravel Ridge had until Aug. 9 to register their dogs with Sherwood’s animal control office in order to comply with the city’s pit bull ordinance. Robin Breaux, director of the Sherwood City Animal Shelter, said seven Gravel Ridge pit bull owners have come forward and complied with the law. Breaux said the city has not responded to any attacks of pit bulls on people since Gravel Ridge was annexed into Sherwood about four months ago. “We did have a case of a pit bull getting into a fight with a puppy,” Breaux said. Animal control officer James Tindall the puppy is fortunate it didn’t get hurt worse. “The pit bull had the puppy by the neck,” Tindall said. Breaux said both dogs were in violation of city ordinance because they were loose in Gravel Ridge. Breaux said animal control officers did canvass three or four neighborhoods in Gravel Ridge after residents there voted to be annexed into Sherwood. “We wanted to get an idea of where the pit bulls were,” Breaux said. Sept. 18, 2008 Metroplan commences with Operation Bottleneck As the traffic congestion gurus at Metroplan try to draft Central Arkansas’ next 25-year transportation plan, they say who needs to be asked for advice are the real experts. Now comes Operation Bottleneck, which is the brain child of Metroplan, according to Jim McKenzie, Metroplan’s executive director. Operation Bottleneck is designed to help Metroplan hear from the general public about what can be done to improve the local transportation system. “We are all creatures of habit,” McKenzie said. “Most of us drive to work pretty much the same way.” Metroplan has set up town hall meetings in Sherwood, Maumelle, North Little Rock, Cabot, and Jacksonville to get the public’s input. Sept. 25, 2008 Congress’ return of $8 billion calms concerns about road projects The U.S. Congress’ vote earlier this week to approve $8 billion to be returned to the federal highway trust fund may have calmed the fears of local transportation officials about potential budget shortfalls, but the long-term picture is much more unclear. Randy Ort, a spokesman for the Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department, this week’s vote cleared up some uncertainty about the future of some state highway projects. Ort said the Congress’ vote dealt with putting back $8 billion the federal government took years ago from the trust fund to transfer to its general fund. Ort said the federal government’s cash flow problems won’t impact ongoing improvements to Brockington Road and Arkansas 107 in Sherwood. “Those projects are currently under contract,” Ort said. Construction crews currently are widening Brockington from Kiehl to Arkansas 107. In addition, workers are currently clearing trees on Arkansas 107 between Bear Paw Road and Brockington in preparation to widen it. Once Arkansas 107 is widened between Bear Paw and Brockington, it is expected to reduce traffic congestion in areas such as Miller’s Crossing, Brockington, and the city’s pattern of growth northward, Ort said. Oct. 2, 2008 Police respond to all-girl riot It has been said that girls are full of sugar and spice and everything nice. However, a dozen women, of which only four were 18 years old or older, were arrested on Sept. 20 on assault-related charges after police broke up their fight outside of Parkcrest Apartments as they were using baseball bats and pepper spray. Sherwood police officers responded to a large fight that had broke out at the Manson Road apartment complex. Police knew about the fight after the department received several 911 calls. “The callers advised there were several subjects involved using baseball bats, pepper spray and there were shots fired,” according to a police report compiled by Officer Ryan Baker. Baker said he arrived at the scene and observed several women actively fighting in the parking lot. “I observed approximately 40 people run upon our arrival,” reported Baker, who added that he was accompanied by Officers Bryan Kinder and Jerry Spradlin. “Someone in the crowd shouted, ‘The one with the gun run.’ I was unable to determine who shouted the statement and exactly whom they were speaking of.” Oct. 9, 2008 Sewer committee works to select engineering firm Each member of the all-volunteer Sherwood City Sewer Committee Tuesday heard a loud thump on the table in front of them as proposals from ten companies vying for a contract to study the overall condition of the city’s sanitary sewer system were presented. “You all will need two weeks to take a look at them,” said Sherwood City Engineer Ellen Norvall. During the next few weeks, the ten proposals are expected to be pared down to the top three. The committee will meet again on Tuesday, Nov. 18, at 11:30 a.m., to hear 30 minutes from each of the yet-to-be chosen three, Norvall said. The study is necessary for the city to evaluate its sanitary sewer system as it tries to lessen the impact of pending legal action from the Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ). The ADEQ has sent to the city a proposed consent decree where it wants Sherwood to pay a civil penalty for violations of the its wastewater treatment plant permit and also agree to fix deficiencies to the city’s treatment system. Larry Carpenter, the attorney for the committee, said ADEQ’s original consent decree would have mandated Sherwood implement some action within a 90-day period, which would have been much sooner than possible due to the large amount of work expected to be performed once the system is modernized. Oct. 16, 2008 City officials project a lean 2009 budget During the first nine months of 2008, Sherwood’s city coffers took in almost $600,000 less in tax collections than during the same nine-month period of 2007. According to City Clerk Angela Nicholson, tax receipts in 2008 through Sept. 30 totaled $12.95 million compared to $12.35 million from January to September of 2007. However, those revenue figures do not include one of Sherwood’s most anticipated new taxpayers — the Wal-Mart Supercenter on Arkansas 107 which opened in June. Nicolson said the city should have already received Wal-Mart’s sales tax revenues through the state but the first payment has lagged behind the time frame city officials anticipated. “We are supposed to get our first payment later this month,” Nicholson said. Nicholson said her office is not sure how much money Wal-Mart will be paying the city in sales taxes. She said the state disperses sales tax revenues to municipalities like Sherwood in a lump sum from all sales tax payers and do not let cities know how much revenue is being paid by a particular taxpayer. Mayor Virginia Hillman said she believes the 2009 city budget will be flat, not reflecting an increase in revenues for next year. Oct. 23, 2008 Second-annual business expo bigger than first The second-annual business expo sponsored by the Sherwood Chamber of Commerce featured approximately 50 booths, consisting of numerous organizations and businesses who said they were pleased with the exposure they received. “This was better organized than last year,” said Barbara Graft, an employee with Sherwood Nursing and Rehabilitation Center. “It’s been a great expo.” Organizers set up the booths in such a way that visitors could walk through rows and rows of booths while enjoying the theme of 1950s Rock-N-Roll. Several booth renters could be seen wearing traditional 1950s attire as well as pictures of old records and several images of Elvis Presley that was popular during the decade after World War II. “Yes, we brought Elvis again this year,” said Nita Pilkington of Twin City Bank. The life-sized image of Elvis brought many positive comments last year so Twin City thought it wise to bring back the image of the King of Rock-N-Roll, Pilkington said. Herschel Bowman, president of the Sherwood Chamber of Commerce, said he was pleased with the effort of Chamber Director Pat Layton and Sherwood Forest Director Sharon McMinn for quickly and efficiently getting the expo organized for 2008. “This was bigger and better than last year,” Bowman said. Oct. 30, 2008 Electric settlement adds money to Sherwood coffers Sherwood’s city coffers got about $660,000 richer after the city councils of both Sherwood and North Little Rock passed a revised electric franchise agreement that makes North Little Rock the electric service provider for much of Sherwood through 2015. City Attorney Steve Cobb handed Mayor Virginia Hillman the $660,000 check after Sherwood’s council voted unanimously to sign the agreement and after he received an e-mail informing him that North Little Rock’s council also adopted the agreement. Under terms of the agreement, North Little Rock will pay annual franchise fees for being allowed to provide electric service in Sherwood. The $660,000 was money North Little Rock had been holding back for already-provided electrical service after Pulaski County Judge Timothy Fox ruled approximately ten months ago that North Little Rock didn’t have to pay Sherwood any more franchise fees because Sherwood entered into another franchise agreement with First Electric Coop in Jacksonville. According to Page 7 of the adopted franchise agreement, the money was paid for fees held back from the period of July 1, 2007, to June 30, 2008. Nov. 6, 2008 Sherwood buzzes with activity with Election Day The people have spoken. While early voting put on quite a show, the big feature of Election Day 2008 showed quite a display of political signs, people walking in and out of Sherwood’s polling sites, and some supporters of candidates holding their signs morning, noon, and night. Some of the sign holders were the candidates themselves, such as Alderman candidate Justin Smith, 25, a candidate for Ward Four councilman. “I’m expecting a busy day,” said Smith, experiencing his first time running for office in his attempt to unseat incumbent Steve Fender. Smith said he had a lot of good feedback from different city residents who liked how he used the Internet to get his campaign message out to voters. “Some people told me they voted for me because I posted my campaign on Facebook,” Smith said. Smith spent his Tuesday at various polling sites wearing a sign around his neck and a banner on the back of his van promoting his candidacy. Bobbi Fender, the wife of Alderman Steve Fender, also spent the day out campaigning at polling sites, showing support for her husband’s campaign. It was commonplace seeing family members spending many hours out holding signs at polling sites for their loved ones. “Yes, I will be out here all day,” said Justin Nickels, son of Democratic candidate for the District 43 seat for state representative. “I’m not just supporting him because he’s my dad, but also because he is the better candidate.” Nov. 13, 2008 Clayton has no regrets leaving engineer’s post Fourteen years is a long time for someone to dedicate his or her life and then decide to change his path. But for former Sherwood City Engineer Michael Clayton, he has no regrets he quit the only career he had known for 14 years and start his own engineering consultant business. “I really don’t miss it because it takes a toll on you,” Clayton said. “I needed to make a change in the direction of my life. I am happier doing what I am doing. I like the small business concept.” Clayton said operating a small business isn’t like a daytime job. He sometimes has do work on Sunday but has more freedom. “For this being my first year in business, it’s been good,” according to Clayton, owner/operator of Clayton Engineering Services. “The workload has been pretty steady for me.” Clayton said he doesn’t miss the politics of being a municipal engineer. A constant struggle for municipal engineers the concept of the rights of developers verses what neighbors want or don’t want moving into their neighborhood. Clayton uses as an example when developers want to construct a multi-family dwelling for a U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development housing development. “What a neighbor wants and what a developer wants don’t always mesh,” Clayton said. “A lot of people think housing is great, but not in their back yard.” Nov. 20, 2008 Supreme Court rules in Sherwood’s favor The Arkansas Supreme Court on Nov. 13 affirmed the ruling of the Pulaski County Circuit Court approving the annexation of 2,000 acres of unincorporated land into the city of Sherwood. “We affirm the rulings of the circuit court,” wrote Associate Justice Jim Gunter in a ten-page ruling. On May 11, 2006, four property owners — Sherwood Holding Company, Metropolitan Development, Lilac, and Greg Heslep — petitioned that four tracts of real estate totaling about 1,951 acres be annexed into Sherwood. Sherwood Holding’s land was known as Tract One had 640 acres, Metropolitan Realty’s Tract Two had 589 acres, Lilac’s Tract Three had 608 acres, and Heslep’s Tract Four had 112 acres. According to the ruling, the four property owners authorized former City Engineer Michael Clayton to be their agent to represent them in the annexation case, which had been appeared by the city of Jacksonville. “Appellant City of Jacksonville submitted a resolution opposing the annexation of the properties into Sherwood,” according to Page Two of the court’s ruling. On June 20, 2006, a hearing was held regarding the petition for the annexation in the Pulaski County Circuit Court. The county court granted the annexation on Aug. 3, 2006. After the county court’s ruling, Jacksonville filed an appeal, and a bench trial was held on May 30, 2007 to hear Jacksonville’s appeal. On May 31, 2007, the circuit court entered its judgment, affirming the order of the county court and approving the annexation of the four tracts, which is what Jacksonville was appealing to the Supreme Court. Nov. 27, 2008 2 pit bulls kill Sherwood pet A Sherwood woman was issued citations on Nov. 18 for allowing her two pit bulls to roam at large and for failure to get them rabies vaccinations. The citations issued to Danielle Harris resulted after Sherwood police and animal control officers were dispatched to the home of Beverly Westlake, 8 Ridgewell St., who reported that two pit bulls attacked and mauled her dog. Officer Darin Fuhrman said he arrived at Westlake’s home and was told by a neighbor that the two dogs was attacking her dog in the backyard. “I entered the backyard through the garage and observed a large dog lying between a tree and a trampoline being mauled by two dogs that appeared to be pit bulls,” according to Fuhrman’s report. “I yelled at the dogs and the larger of the two turned toward me while the smaller one attempted to circle me.” Fuhrman said he shot the larger dog with one shot from his service weapon which caused the pit bull to run toward the west side of the yard. “I followed the two dogs and observed that they had both crawled under the deck by the way of a small opening,” Fuhrman reported. Westlake and one of her neighbors, Jim Calloway, gave assistance to the mauled dog, Tucker, who was transported to a veterinarian, Fuhrman said. Dec. 4, 2008 Sherwood woman recalls horrible pit bull attack The Westlake family got Tucker for their then-12-year-old son, Drew, eight years ago. He was the pick of the litter of Golden Retriever puppies. After being brought home, his role progressed from merely being the family pet and best pal of Drew to a member of the Westlake family. However, Tucker is no more following an Nov. 18 attack in his own backyard from two pit bulls who dug a hole underneath a privacy fence separating 8 and 6 Ridgewell Road. Owner Beverly Westlake is both angry and horrified, continuing to experience a wide range of emotions after seeing the two pit bulls maul her pet of eight years to death before her eyes. “I am still having nightmares,” said Westlake. “I am just glad Drew wasn’t here to see this. I can’t get those images out of my mind.” Westlake said Tucker wasn’t small, but he was no match for the pit bulls. Dec. 11, 2008 Sherwood to ask Metroplan for traffic study The city of Sherwood will ask Metroplan to conduct a traffic study of the Stonehill Subdivision in hopes of getting grant money to help construct a second entrance and exit into the neighborhood. The consensus was reached by Sherwood aldermen and Mayor Virginia Hillman Thursday during a public meeting held at the Bill Harmon Recreation Center. The meeting, called a council workshop by City Attorney Steve Cobb, was scheduled so city leaders could meet publicly to discuss in an open forum ideas of how to solve the long-standing problem. Alderman Charles Harmon said discussions with Little Rock Developer Cypress Properties Inc. are at a standstill about the developer potentially providing the extra Stonehill Street or extending Maryland Avenue which would lessen traffic congestion in the area. Cypress is the company which has developed much of the land in what is now known as the Stonehill Subdivision. Harmon said city officials should try to look at different ways to solve the problem. The idea of contacting Metroplan came as several aldermen, Hillman, and City Engineer Ellen Norvall discussed possible ways to procure grant money to help finance the road project. For more than a year, city officials have been trying to agree upon a solution to provide Stonehill with a second entrance and exit because without one, residents living there could not leave and emergency vehicles could not enter if a disaster struck the lone entrance or exit. Dec. 18, 2008 Chamber’s focus was on growth in 2008 Members and guests who attended the December luncheon on Dec. 4 of the Sherwood Chamber of Commerce were treated to a wide variety of entertainment — from high school singers to well-known storytellers. December’s entertainment wasn’t the first time the chamber this year used some unique venues to keep the attention of visitors and entice them to keep coming back. The desire to deviate from the status quo to draw more interest and members has been constantly on the mind of the 2008 chamber chief — President Herschel Bowman. When Bowman was selected as president earlier this year, he said he made it a mission to grow the chamber and spark the interest of the greater Sherwood community. Bowman said Sherwood continues to grow, as is evident with the annexation of Gravel Ridge and 2,000 acres of currently undeveloped land near the Little Rock Air Force Base outside of Jacksonville. Dec. 25, 2008 Henry serves at last city council meeting All good things must come to an end. That famous saying is most fitting for the coming departure of Alderman David Henry, who was recognized Monday during his last regular Sherwood City Council meeting for his public service. Following the approval of the council’s last meeting minutes, Mayor Virginia Hillman asked Henry to step in front of the audience so she could present him with a plaque recognizing his many years of service. “I just want to say I appreciate the opportunity I have had to serve the city on the council,” said Henry. He added that he was proud of the fact that he has served the city dating back to the days that Bill Harmon was the mayor. Harmon served as the mayor for 14 years, starting back in the mid-1990s. Henry’s brief comments were almost more words he has uttered publicly at council meetings for years. He has a reputation of being one of the quietest — if not the quietest — alderman on the council. Henry has served as the city’s Ward 2/Position 2 alderman. Alderwoman Becki Vassar praised Henry’s service to the city, saying that the Henry family has served the city well since 1981.