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SATURDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2011
The
Daily Citizen Serving Searcy and White County, Ark., since 1854
TheDailyCitizen.com
‘THINK PINK’ IS INSIDE TODAY’S EDITION
WEEK 8 OF PREP FOOTBALL IN THE BOOKS
Turn to Section C for local stories about breast cancer survival, treatment and awareness. — PAGE 1C
Turn to the sports section to see how local high school football teams fared Friday night. — PAGE 1B
County chooses insurance plan Committee discusses addressing issue, lack of safety plan BY MOLLY M. FLEMING mfleming@thedailycitizen.com
When it comes to insuring the White County employees and elected officials, insurance companies were not enthused to offer their services, said Cindy Dixon, with Gallagher Benefit Services.
The company is hired by the county to find the best insurance rates, and the only company that offered a competitive rate was QualChoice, who has insured the county for the last two years. But this year, the company increased its fee 12.9 percent because of the number
of claims filed in the county last year. “In the last plan year, QualChoice made less than $1,000 due to the amount of claims they had to pay,” Dixon said during the Thursday night meet-
Concert Who: Bradford Schools band director Matthew Watson and ASUJonesboro tuba and euphonium quartet What: Performed concert Where: Newly constructed Bradford Schools Auditorium When: Thursday evening
Please see INSURANCE | 2A
Concert White County farmers plant strawberries held at Bradford Schools Local Farm
Who: Kenneth and Debbie Horton What: Raise commercial crops on their farm and sell at fruit and vegetable stand Where: Bald Knob Additional info: The Hortons just planted strawberries. Pumpkins and turnips, among other crops, are being harvested.
Quartet, new director perform in new auditorium
Horton farm in Bald Knob grows variety of commercial crops
BY MARISA LYTLE mlytle@thedailycitizen.com
training force. The U.S. also had been interested in keeping a small force to help the Iraqis deal with possible Iranian meddling. The task now is to speed the pullout of the remaining U.S. forces, nearly 40,000 in number. Staying behind in Iraq, where bombings and other violence still occur, will be some 150-200 U.S. military troops as part of embassy security, the defense attaché’s office and the office of security cooperation. That’s common practice but still a danger to American forces. Obama, an opponent of the war since before he took office, nevertheless praised the efforts of U.S.
BRADFORD — The school district hosted a concert in their new auditorium Thursday evening. Also new to the school is band director Matthew Watson, who performed during the concert. Watson is a May 2011 graduate of ASU in Jonesboro and first-year teacher. He teaches grades fourth through twelfth, with beginning band starting in fifth grade. “My goals for the band are to continues to build off of the encouragement from the administration,” Watson said, “and to show students that music is an enjoyable and worthwhile endeavor.” Performing in the Thursday concert was a quartet from Watson’s alma mater. Dr. Ed Owen, a euphonium player and former professor of Watson’s, performed with a graduate level euphonium player, a graduate level tuba player and a junior music education tuba player. Their names are Jeremy Drymon, Jason Tacker and Eric Barnett. The ensemble played pieces by Anton Bruckner, Antonio Vivaldi and John Stevens. Owens performed a solo rendition of The Beatles’ “Blackbird” arranged by a Norwegian tuba player. In addition, Watson and Owens, both on euphonium, played the four-movement duet “Suite for Two” by John Stevens. Watson commented on the importance of the new auditorium to Bradford Schools. “Having a new auditorium is a terrific asset to have,” Watson said. “It shows the administration’s commitment to the arts at Bradford Schools and also allows the school a place to hold pageants, talent shows and graduation. It has improved the school by helping the community and showing that the arts are an important, fundamental staple in public schools.” According to Watson, from what he has been told, the band has generated more interest than in previous years, as is evidenced by the number of beginning students who rented instruments this year being triple the number from the past three years combined. While euphonium is his primary instrument, Watson also plays all of the band instruments, as well as piano and guitar. He said he has really enjoyed being the new band director at Bradford
Please see IRAQ | 2A
Please see CONCERT | 3A
BY MARISA LYTLE mlytle@thedailycitizen.com
Approximately 60,000 newly planted strawberry plants could yield 60,000 quarts of the delicious red fruit come April and May at one Bald Knob farm. Kenneth Horton planted his strawberries Oct. 12 and will wait until late April to begin harvesting them. In the meantime, he must ensure the fruit is protected from winter weather. “For these berries to grow properly, the temperature needs to stay in the upper 40s at night and in the 60s and 70s during the day for the next three to four weeks,” Horton said. “In the next month, we will put on row covers — they’ll look like white bed sheets covering the field — to protect the plants form the cold.” Horton said new leaves are just starting to appear on the plants. “I hope they’ll be more developed before the real winter sets in,” he said. “Having a healthy plant now is what determines the yield in the spring.” The harvesting will span five to six Marisa Lytle/mlytle@thedailycitizen.com weeks, beginning in late April and con- Kenneth Horton picks a few mustard greens at his farm in Bald Knob on Tuesday. tinuing throughout May. In addition to mustard greens, the Horton family grows strawberries, pumpkins, spinach, kale, purple hull peas, collard greens and more. They have just planted Please see STRAWBERRIES | 2A the strawberries, but some crops, such as pumpkins, are being harvested.
Iraq war over, US troops coming home BY BEN FELLER AP White House Correspondent
AP Photo/Maya Alleruzzo, File
Members of 1st Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division, based at Fort Stewart, Ga., walk toward a C-17 aircraft last November at Sather Air Base in Baghdad as they begin their journey home after a year in Baghdad. President Barack Obama on Friday declared an end to the Iraq war, announcing that all American troops would be withdrawn from the country by year's end.
WEATHER Today: Mostly clear. Lows in the upper 30s. Winds becoming south 5 mph. Tonight: Sunny. Highs in the mid 70s. South winds 5 to 10 mph. Vol. 157, No. 254 ©2011 The Daily Citizen
WASHINGTON — America’s long and deeply unpopular war in Iraq will be over by year’s end and all U.S. troops “‘‘will definitely be home for the holidays,” President Barack Obama declared Friday. Stretching more than eight years, the war cost the United States heavily: More than 4,400 members of the military have been killed, and more than 32,000 have been wounded. The final exit date was sealed after months of intensive talks between Washington and Baghdad failed to reach agreement on conditions for leaving several thousand U.S. troops in Iraq as a
INDEX NATION & STATE, 2A OPINIONS, 4A LIFESTYLES, 5A CALENDAR/OBITUARIES, 6A SPORTS, 1B CLASSIFIEDS, 4B
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Contact us: 3000 E. Race, Searcy, AR 72143, (Phone) 501-268-8621, (Fax) 501-268-6277
”
Page 2A • Saturday, October 22, 2011
The Daily Citizen
FROM PAGE ONE STRAWBERRIES: Hortons sell strawberries, vegetables from stand on Highway Avenue North in Bald Knob CONTINUED FROM 1A
“We hope to have a 90 to 95 percent survival rate between now and the spring,� Horton said. “A few plants are damaged in the digging. Ideally, though, each plant will produce a quart or more of strawberries.� In the spring, people may purchase strawberries from the Horton family’s fruit and vegetable stand on Highway Avenue North in Bald Knob. The Hortons grow several other commercial crops, including turnips, spinach, kale, purple hull peas, collard greens, mustard greens and wheat. Additionally, they raise cattle and grow non-commercial pecans. The Hortons allow people to come pick their own turnips from the field. Strawberries can only be acquired from the fruit stand, however. “Lots of elderly people really love their greens,� Horton said. “They come here and pick bagfuls. We have them planted in rows because they’re easier to pick that way. If people want to come pick turnips, they can come to the farm from now until the first hard freeze.� “We pick turnips Monday through Saturday and take the day off on Sunday. During strawberry season, we can’t do that. We have to pick seven days a week because the berries won’t wait.� Horton said the turnips are edible now but
Photos by Marisa Lytle/mlytle@thedailycitizen.com
A strawberry leaf (above) pokes out of the plant’s protective covering. According to farmer Kenneth Horton, the strawberry plant’s crown needs to be as large as possible to produce a good yield. Horton planted his 60,000 strawberry plants on Oct. 12, and he said a 90 to 95 percent yield for the spring harvest would be satisfactory. Bald Knob farmer Kenneth Horton (right) pushes aside leaves to make visible a turnip almost ready for picking. Horton said that while the turnips are ready to be eaten, they will be ideal to pick when they are baseball-sized, which he expects to occur within the week. will be ideal to pick next week when they grow to the size of baseballs. While he enjoys eating turnips raw, especially young turnips, his wife, Debbie, prefers them cooked. “Cooking them takes the edge off of them,� she said.
“It makes them sweeter.� Horton’s wife and his son, Justin, manage the fruit stand. The store will probably close for three months during the winter. If it stays open, it will keep limited hours. On the same plot of land as the store lies a pump-
kin patch from which the orange fruit is harvested and sold during autumn. Horton said the store stays open six days a week in the Halloween season to accommodate the high flux of business. Both Kenneth and Debbie came from dairy farm-
ing families and have been raising crops themselves for 10 years. Prior to that, Horton worked 27 years for a phone company. According to Horton, we may not have long before continual cold weather hits. “Last week, I saw the first Canada geese flying south,�
he said. “That’s a good indicator of winter not being far behind. Likewise, robins are good indicators of the coming of the spring.� Then, with spring comes the harvesting of the Hortons’ 60,000 quarts of strawberries. In that case, bring on the robins.
IRAQ: President Obama declares end to one of the nation's most divisive, costly and long-standing wars CONTINUED FROM 1A
troops in Iraq. He said American soldiers would leave “with their heads held high, proud of their success.� For Obama, Friday’s an-
nouncement capped a remarkable two days of national security successes, though there’s no indication how much they will matter to re-election voters more concerned with economic woes at home.
On Thursday, the president heralded the death of Libyan dictator Moammar Gadhafi and a day later the end to one of the most divisive conflicts in U.S. history. The wars in Iraq and Afghanistan have cost the
U.S. more than $1.3 trillion. Obama did not declare victory. He did speak, though, about the string of wins on his watch — none bigger than the killing of Osama
bin Laden, the al-Qaida leader behind the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. The Afghanistan war still rages, but there, too, Obama has moved to end the combat mission by the end of 2014.
This was, in essence, the third time Obama had pronounced an end to the war, allowing him to remind the nation he had opposed it all along — a stance that helped his White House bid in 2008.
INSURANCE: 'This plan will help with our risk management and will help with our worker's compensation...' CONTINUED FROM 1A
ing of the Personnel and Safety Committee of the Quorum Court. The committee discussed several plan options offered by QualChoice and decided to stay with the current plan that offers a wellness package, which gives discounts to employees who participate in the different aspects of the county health fair. The wellness packages offers the following
discounts: $50 to nonsmokers, $10 to those who attend the health fair, $10 for cholesterol in the normal range without medication, $10 for blood pressure in the normal range without medication and $4 for blood sugar in the normal range without medication. Overall, a county employee could earn up to $84 in discounts, making that employee’s insurance costs only $84 a month. The committee also picked Guardian for life,
vision and dental insurance. That recommendation will not have to be forwarded to the budget committee because the county does not pay for those insurance costs, as they are paid by each individual employee. In other business of the committee, County Judge Michael Lincoln discussed the issue with the 911 addressing system in the county. He said there is no ordinance in the books as to how addresses should be created; therefore,
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there are many duplicate streets and addresses in various parts of the county. “I know in the past we have had a 911 call go out for a Thomas Road, and there is a Thomas Road in Beebe and in Bradford,� Lincoln said. “The first responders went to the wrong one, so they lost a lot of time having to go to the other one. We are talking about life or death situations here, so we don’t have a lot of time to lose.� Lincoln said that 911 Director Nancy VanWinkle volunteered for the task of sorting out the addressing problem in the county, and she has asked for an ordinance that requires
Personnel committee â– Recommended insurance plan to county budget committee â– Forwarded addressing ordinance to December Quorum Court agenda â– Forwarded Safety Plan to December Quorum Court agenda
all plats to be signed off by the judge before they can receive a 911 address. Lincoln said this is just one step in a long process. “We are also trying to work with the assessor and make it required that you have to have your land assessed before you can get a 911 address because we have a lot of
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people who are living in the county that have not been assessed, so we are losing tax revenue,� Lincoln said. The committee decided to forward the addressing ordinance onto the December Quorum Court meeting, which will allow all of the court members to look at the ordinance. Lincoln also discussed with the committee the need for a Safety Plan in the county, as there is currently not a plan. He said he recently appointed County Emergency Management Deputy Director Andy Mariani as the head of county safety. Mariani then created the safety plan. “This plan will help with our risk management and will help with our worker’s compensation claims,� Lincoln said. The committee forwarded the plan to the December Quorum Court meeting. The full Quorum Court will meet on Nov. 15 at 7 p.m.
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SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2011
The
Daily Citizen Serving Searcy and White County, Ark., since 1854
TheDailyCitizen.com
WHITE COUNTY BLOOD DRIVES UPCOMING HARDING CLOSES 2011 SEASON AT HOME Residents of White County have several opportunities to donate blood in the coming weeks. — PAGE 2A
The Bisons looked to end the season with a win against a conference foe Saturday. — PAGE 1B
Harding president reflects Burks will stay at the university as chancellor BY MOLLY M. FLEMING mfleming@thedailycitizen.com
In the past 25 years, the student body at Harding University has changed, but one thing has remained the same — the school’s mission. To Harding University President David Burks, that is vital to the school’s
future. “The school’s mission is who we are. That’s why students choose to come here. I think that maintaining that mission will be the No. 1 responsibility of the next [university] president,” Burks said. Burks has served as the president of the university for the past 25 years. He
Giant Canada geese are non-migratory and stay in Arkansas all year, a beauty to some, a nuisance to others.
Arkansas home to Canada geese
will step down from the helm at the end of the 2012-13 school year. During his time as president, Burks said his top priority has always been to continue the mission of the school. “I would hope that people would look Please see BURKS | 2A
Canada geese
Burks
BK WALL TO SERVE AS LASTING MEMORIAL
Geese inhabit White County year-round BY MARISA LYTLE mlytle@thedailycitizen.com
Each year, Americans watch the sky as V formations of Canada geese fly south for the winter. However, many may have noticed flocks of geese that, rather than taking to the skies, linger on ponds and meadows throughout most of the year. One should not suppose that these geese are lazy members of the goose family who have decided flying cross-country is more trouble than it is worth. According to AGFC bird conservation program leader Karen Rowe, these geese that Please see GEESE | 3A
Motorcyclists Molly M. Fleming/mfleming@thedailycitizen.com
During the dedication for the Bald Knob Veterans Memorial Wall on Friday afternoon, Larry Pagan of the Rolling Thunder motorcycle group, along with two other members of the group, hold two U.S. flags and the Prisoner of War: Missing in Action flag while Steve Tidwell and his band play a medley that includes “Battle Hymn of the Republic.”
City’s wall honors those who served
While the reputation of motorcyclists is not good, there are several groups in White County that stand out from that negative reputation. These organizations help with a number of different causes, from helping foster children to escorting the caskets of fallen soldiers to their final resting place.
Motorcyclists ride for causes
BY MOLLY M. FLEMING
Dispute the stereotype that all bikers are bad
mfleming@thedailycitizen.com
BALD KNOB — A few months ago, the wall on the side of the Main Street Barbershop in Bald Knob was blank. There was nothing significant about it. But after hundreds of dollars in donations, the wall now stands as a reminder to residents and all who drive pass it that the city appreciates the service of all of those who served in a war. The wall now bears the city’s veterans memorial mural, a large colorful array of U.S. symbols as well as the logos of all five branches of the military. For Bald Knob alderman and Vietnam veteran Carl White, the memorial mural has been needed in the town for many years. “I’ve been through several different towns in Arkansas, and most of them have some type of memorial. We didn’t have one so I worked with the mayor to get one up,” White said. White said the wall shows oth-
On nearly every weekend across the state, a group of motorcyclists gathers with a cause in mind. The group members are dressed in the traditional leather vests and chaps, along with some decorative silver chains and black boots. If one were to see this group in a parking lot, one might speculate that they were rallying together to go stir up trouble. Yet, in fact, they are rallying together to make a difference in a person’s life; and, most likely, that person is a child. Ever since the historic motorcycle rally in Holister, Calif., in 1947, which was later immortalized in the movie “The Wild
Please see WALL | 3A
Please see BIKERS | 2A
BY MOLLY M. FLEMING mfleming@thedailycitizen.com
WEATHER Today: Partly sunny. A slight chance of showers. Highs in the lower 70s. Tonight: Mostly cloudy. A chance of showers. Lows around 60. Vol. 157, No. 271 ©2011 The Daily Citizen
INDEX NATION & STATE, 2A OPINIONS, 4A LIFESTYLES, 5A CALENDAR/OBITUARIES, 6A SPORTS, 1B CLASSIFIEDS, 5B
“
I am I plus my circumstances. JOSE ORTEGA Y GASSET 20th Century spanish liberal philosopher
Contact us: 3000 E. Race, Searcy, AR 72143, (Phone) 501-268-8621, (Fax) 501-268-6277
”
The Daily Citizen
Sunday, November 13, 2011 • Page 3A
FROM PAGE ONE WALL: City still collecting money for additional wall to be built adjacent to current wall, Wallace says CONTINUED FROM 1A
er veterans that the city appreciates their service. “The wall shows people that the veterans [in Bald Knob] are finally being recognized for what they did for our country. It will help tell the story of where our country has been.” Bradford resident Gene Reagan painted the wall, and his for reason for doing so is quite simple. “Because I have the freedom to do so,” he said. Reagan said he has been an artist all of his life, from painting to graphics on motorcycles to stonework. He even plays the drums when he has the time. Reagan said he was able to design the wall, so he wanted to include as many important elements as possible. He said it was important to him to include the logos of all five branches of the military. “I wanted to include the bulldog because it’s the city of Bald Knob and this is Bulldog country,” he said. “It was my choice to include the Iwo Jima scene because that’s such a sign of unity. We don’t want to forget that,” he said. The same idea held true for why he included the Prisoner of War: Missing in Action logo as well as the American Bald Eagle. “We never want to forget,”
Molly M. Fleming/mfleming@thedailycitizen.com Molly M. Fleming/mfleming@thedailycitizen.com Bill “Rhino” Morton holds the U.S. flag during the dedication ceremony at the Bald Knob Veterans Me- Steve Tidwell and his band entertain the crowd at the Bald Knob Veterans Memorial Wall dedication ceremony on Friday afternoon. morial Wall on Friday afternoon.
he said. The design of the wall also has pictures of the modes of transportation that are often used in the military. “I included those as kind of an educational thing,” he said. “A child may not know the logos [of the branches of the military], but they’ll know the machines. I’d just hope people would remember that freedom comes at a price.” In order for Reagan to be able to paint the mural on the wall, the city had to get the OK from John Fisher, the owner of Main Street Barbershop, which is housed in the building. “I’m part of the community, so why would I say no to something that would bless everyone?” he said. Fisher said his father was a World War II veteran
and his brother was in the military during the Vietnam War, though he didn’t fight in the war, so the memorial did have a special meaning to him. “It’s such a good spot for it,” Fisher said. “It seemed like the right thing to do. When I reopened my business, I knew I wanted to be a bigger part of the community. It’s a good feeling to be involved in something that has touched so many people.” On Friday afternoon, Fisher and Reagan were able to see just how many lives they had touched during the official dedication ceremony of the wall. Bald Knob Mayor Doyle Wallace said he could not be more pleased with how the wall turned out. “I think it’s great. He did a beautiful job,” he said. “I
think the wall really brightens up this area. It really tells a story.” Dozens of people gathered in the parking lot adjacent to the wall to listen to a few local military officials speak and hear Steve Tidwell and his band play some original songs about veterans. State. Rep. Jeremy Gillam, R-Judsonia, followed the address given by Bald Knob Mayor Doyle Wallace. Gillam said that citizens should be sure to appreciate veterans, “though our gesture may pale in comparison to the sacrifice they made for us.” Brig. Gen. Jim Daniels spoke after Gillam. “This wall is a credit from the community to all of you that have served,” he said. Daniels continued to talk about the importance of vet-
erans to the country. “Patriotism is an attitude, an emotion, but it’s not much if you don’t act on it,” he said. Daniels told the audience about his son, who would be leaving for his sixth tour of duty on Nov. 29. He said that today’s military is fighting a war that is similar to Vietnam. “Our military is fighting a war that our civilian population are not participating in and they do not understand,” he said. Col. Gary Vest spoke after Daniels. He told the audience about when his son was about to be deployed to Afghanistan, and Vest said he wanted to go too. He was sent overseas as well, and since his return, he has retired. “I told [the military] that
they can send me anytime, but they need to leave my children alone,” he said. “Unfortunately someone’s children have to go. I didn’t understand what a veteran was until I was over there and came back.” The last speaker was Col. Tom Thomas, who had served with Tidwell. “A patriot believes it, but a veteran lived it,” Thomas said. Wallace said the city is still collecting money for building of an additional wall that will be built adjacent to the current wall. Anyone who is a veteran and Bald Knob High School graduate can have their name on the memorial wall. Donations can be given at First Community Bank in Bald Knob or by calling Wallace at (501) 724-6371.
GEESE: Giant Canada geese may move around within state without traveling long distances, Rowe says CONTINUED FROM 1A
remain in the South even during the warm months are not the typical Canada geese — rather, they are members of a subspecies known as the giant Canada goose. “Most likely these geese that are remaining in the state year-round are what are known as giant Canada geese,” she said. “There is a variety of races, or subspecies, of Canada geese that differ from each other in migration patterns and also in their sizes.” Giant Canada geese are the largest Canada goose subspecies and are naturally non-migratory. “With experience, you can tell the difference between subspecies by their size and by their subtle differences in markings,” Rowe said. “Generally speaking, the ones we see in Arkansas between March and September are giant Canada geese.” According to Rowe, Giant Canada geese may move around within the state, but for the most part do not travel long distances.
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“Since short, lush grass is desirable to these geese,” said Rowe. “They often reside on golf courses. They have become a nuisance in some areas because they take up space and eat the grass. Unfortunately, what goes in must go out, so waste can be a problem, too.” The McLaughlin family of Searcy can attest to the annoyance a large flock of giant Canada geese can cause in a residential area. Ann McLaughlin lives in a house facing a large pond, with her sons and their families inhabiting separate houses on the same plot. “We built this house and the pond in 2006,” she said. “We bought some tame white geese to live on the pond, but ever since we moved in, the Canada geese have come and stayed here, too. They leave to visit other ponds, but they always come back. They’re here all year round.” According to McLaughlin, the Canada geese abide well with the tame geese, and they are nice to look at, but some issues accompany their presence.
“It’s nice to drive by and see the geese,” she said, “but sometimes there are just too many. When I go to feed the fish, the geese come up to eat the food. They make a mess with their droppings. It would be better if there were only about 25 of them here at a time.” The giant Canada geese on the McLaughlins’ property nest on islands out on the pond. According to McLaughlin’s son Andy, the geese are generally benign but become aggressive if anyone or anything comes near their nests. McLaughlin said she has researched ways of removing the giant Canada geese from her property. “The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission told me they can shoot something off that will make a big blasting sound and scare away the geese for good,” she said, “but I don’t want to risk scaring off the tame geese.” According to Rowe, the AGFC has developed other ways of solving the problem of goose overpopulation.
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“Members of the AFGC can oil goose eggs to try to reduce their numbers,” she said, “or they can addle the eggs so that they won’t hatch. They can’t just destroy the eggs, because then the geese will simply lay more. If the geese don’t know their eggs won’t hatch, they won’t lay more eggs. “Also, we’ve established an early waterfowl season with the specific intention of diminishing the population of the non-migratory giant Canada geese without doing so to the other populations of Canada geese.” Rowe suggests that those having problems with giant Canada geese should stop feeding them all together, even if other types of geese or ducks are on the premises. “If people need help, they should call the AGFC,” she said. For more information, persons may contact the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission at 1-800-2644263, visit their website at www.agfc.com or email them at askagfc@agfc. state.ar.us.
Marisa Lytle/mlytle@thedailycitizen.com
Canada geese stroll along a pond on North Main Street in Searcy. A non-migratory subspecies of the Canada goose known as the giant Canada goose dwells in Southern ponds and grassy areas year-round instead of migrating north during warmer months.