PEA RIDGE — Two young ladies will wake up Christmas morning in their own, freshly-painted, decorated bedrooms with new bedding and a house to call their own. Tammy Sutherland and her two daughters have a place to call their own thanks to Habitat for Humanity, which just completed the first Habitat House in Pea Ridge.

At an open house Nov. 16, Sutherland and her daughters were feted by friends, co-workers, city leaders and Habitat volunteers. More than 100 people crowded into the three-bedroom, two-bath house built on the corner of Tinnin and North Davis streets.

Presented with a variety ofgifts, Sutherland was overwhelmed and brought to tears as Debbie Wieneke conducted the ceremony. Mayor Jackie Crabtree presented Sutherland with the keys to the house which was completed a month ahead of schedule.

“The heart of Habitat,” Wieneke said, “is to be a vessel for the Lord however He chooses to use.”

News, Pages 1 on 12/01/2010