The Weekly Vista

News

POA to purchase land from Cooper The POA Board approved another land purchase from Cooper Communities at its regular meeting on Thursday. A parcel of land that includes the only boat launch on Lake Ann is currently owned by Cooper. by Lynn Atkins

Food pantries stay busy Three food pantries in Bella Vista are helping families celebrate Thanksgiving this week. by Lynn Atkins

Resident fights POA water policy When covid-19 hit, Nicole Leonard became one of the many Americans who lost part of her income. Since March, she has been working from home, but only on a part-time basis. At first, she was able to keep up with the bills, but then she heard from a POA collection specialist. by Lynn Atkins

City adjusts shelter agreement to help with a tough year The city has agreed to make a one-time $20,000 payment and increase its financial commitment to the Bella Vista Animal Shelter by $1,000 per month. by Keith Bryant

71 new COVID-19 cases in Bella Vista The Arkansas Center for Health Improvement reports 71 new covid-19 cases in Bella Vista for the week ending Nov. 16, bringing the city's total to 506. by Keith Bryant

RELIGION: Heal us Jesus asked a chronically sick man at the pool of Bethesda a "yes" or "no" question. "Do you want to be healed?" (John 5:6). The man launched into a lengthy response laced with excuses. Jesus listened and then healed the man that never said yes or no. A "yes" would have radically changed his life. A "no" would maintain the status quo of his life. Sometimes the obvious "yes" may not be so easy when we are faced with a radical change in our comfort zones.

Ready for installation Keith Bryant/The Weekly Vista A large concrete culvert apron awaits installation near the intersection of Manchester Drive and Euston Road where work continues for a greenway spur to connect Blowing Springs and Metfield. by Keith Bryant

City offices remain closed until 2021 The city announced its offices will remain closed until next year, extending a closure previously intended to last until the end of November. by Keith Bryant

Community

'Weekly Vista' soliciting Letters to Santa Each December, the "Weekly Vista" publishes the Christmas wishes of children at Cooper Elementary school as Letters to Santa. The children handwrite their letters and we try to print them exactly as written. Sometimes the letters are accompanied by a creative and colorful drawing.

Club News Bella Vista Civil War Roundtable

Keeping you updated Some BV City Facilities Remain Closed

Bella Vista Community TV Schedule Bella Vista Community TV

Bella Vista Weather Forecast Thursday, Nov. 26

Lottery Missouri Lotto

Weather History Monday, Nov. 16

Bella Vistas' history of being a wet county Reprinted story from the Past Perspectives column in the Weekly Vista on January 2, 2013.

Opinion

OPINION: I am Thankful for ... This is the best week of the year to stop, take a deep breath, and reflect on all our many blessings. Tomorrow (Thursday) is Thanksgiving.

OPINION: Thanksgiving backstory In 1621, Pilgrim settlers of Plymouth Rock set aside several days to celebrate an abundance of food and nature's graciousness in killing fewer of them as in previous years. The story of the amicable relationship between the Pilgrims and Native Americans is one of the first we learn as children. It fills us with the warm fuzziness of Man's generosity to others, despite cultural differences. But as we have come to learn about factual history, that endearing story was actually a prelude to horrific conflicts caused in large part by ignorance of cultural differences. Of course, greed and misplaced ambition also played a significant role. by Graham Thomas

RELIGION: What is truth? Jesus, attempting to reveal himself as the Son of God, had many who believed in him; but a few Jews did not. To them, he said, "If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and truth shall make you free (John 8:31-32 NKJB)." To which, they responded that they had been faithful to their past as descendants of Abraham and challenged Jesus' claim about the truth setting a person free.

Hallmark channel? Hallmark channel?

OPINION: The Story Of Thanksgiving Turkey, stuffing, cranberry sauce, mashed potatoes, hot rolls and, of course, last but certainly not least, pumpkin pie covered with gobs of whipped cream; these are a few of my favorite things, thanksgiving meal things that is. I guess, for me, Thanksgiving Day has always been all about the meal enjoyed with friends and family. The real story behind the holiday seemed unimportant.

RELIGION: The humor of Jesus I recently heard a sermon on laughter in the Bible. Unfortunately, the pastor used a wrong scripture story from the Old Testament for his purpose, and instead of making me laugh, it almost made me cry. He should have focused upon the humor in Jesus' teachings. by Terri OByrne

OPINION: 'Lame Duck' Asa ill-prepared for 'pesky' legislature Gov. Asa Hutchison, it would seem, is trying to resist adjusting to his new role as a "lame duck" governor of Arkansas. by Maylon Rice

OPINION: Bacon run I started the trek earlier in the morning than in past years. I also was going alone, what with the wife keeping our grandchild that day. After giving assurances to be careful, I loaded the ice chest into the truck and set off. by Devin Houston

Religion

OPINION: Thanksgiving a day to rejoice in the LORD! "They read from the book, from the Law of God, with interpretation, and they gave the sense, so that the people understood the reading. Then Nehemiah the magistrate, Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who were teaching the people said to all the people, 'This day is holy to the LORD your God. Stop mourning and weeping.' (This was because all the people wept when they heard the words of the Law.) Then he said to them, 'Go your way. Eat the fat, drink the sweet drink, and send portions to those for whom nothing is prepared; for this day is holy to our Lord. Do not be grieved, for the joy of the LORD is your strength.' So the Levites quieted all the people, saying, 'Hush! Because today is holy you should stop being so sorrowful.' Then all the people went to eat, to drink, to send portions, and to enjoy a great celebration because they had understood the words declared to them." Nehemiah 8:8-12 by Randy Moll

RELIGION: Show don't tell Growing up, I often heard it said you should live your life as though it were the only Bible someone were to read. What if you couldn't tell someone you were a Christian, verbally, that is? It is much like writing a novel.

RELIGION: Bella Vista Church News Unity Church of the Ozarks

RELIGION: Don't forget to pray for ministers of the Gospel "Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving; withal praying also for us, that God would open unto us a door of utterance, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in bonds: that I may make it manifest, as I ought to speak." Colossians 4:2-4 by Randy Moll

RELIGION: Bella Vista Church News Bella Vista Baptist Church

RELIGION: Some thoughts on tithing Leighton Farrell was the minister of Highland Park Church in Dallas for many years. He tells of a man in the church who once made a covenant with his pastor to tithe 10 percent of their income every year. They were both young and neither of them had much money.