Making futures bright

The children of Pea Ridge will have a brighter future thanks to the generosity of the family of former resident Col. Joe Hart. Hart died May 23. His heirs had worked closely with Police Chief Tim Ledbetter during Hart's latter months of his life as his memory and health declined.

"We are delighted to do this for Pea Ridge," said Toni Isliefson of Lakeview, Minn. "Dad would be glad."

Hart, 93, moved to Pea Ridge after a long, illustrious military career, including being a prisoner of war during World War II.

After moving to Pea Ridge, Hart became involved in city government, serving on the City Council in the 1990s and running for mayor in 1990, 1994 and 2010.

Faced with a large house full of furniture, household items and clothes, Hart's heirs -- Toni and her brothers, Mike and Pat Hart -- took the items they wanted and chose to donate the rest to the community through Bright Futures.

"We are very grateful for Tim suggesting Bright Futures," said Rick Neal, Pea Ridge School superintendent, "and for Col. Joe Hart's family allowing us to have an auction in their father's home. We are grateful to the Camps for donating their time."

"Toni asked if there was some place she could donate all the stuff," Ledbetter said. "I suggested Bright Futures."

After talking with Neal about the donation, Ledbetter said it was apparent that there was not enough storage available to Bright Futures for all the items, so they decided to auction all the items off and give the proceeds to Bright Futures.

"I went to the Camps (Derry and Sharon of Camp Auction Service) to see if they could guide us or help us with it and they said they'd be thrilled to be a part of it," Ledbetter said.

Members of the Bright Futures Advisory Board worked with the Camps, collecting items that could be used and donated immediately including clothes and kitchen items, then worked to list the items for the sale. Nathan See, city Street Department superintendent, volunteered to get a large trash bin donated for the day of the sale.

"Tim has been working with the family," Rick Neal said. "All the proceeds will be donated to Bright Futures."

"I just really believe the family of Col. Joe has really stepped up for our community," Ledbetter said. "It's really hard to describe how much stuff is there. I was really proud to introduce the Hart family to the Bright Futures. ... We thank the school and especially the Bright Futures program."

"I think every kid in Pea Ridge will have Christmas," Neal said, referring to the ability to buy Christmas presents for needy children with some of the proceeds from the sale. Bright Futures has joined with the Angel Tree project in Pea Ridge this year.

The auction is at 9 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 22, at 390 Ryan Road.

Items for sale include lamps, glassware, kitchen ware, pictures, chest freezer, patio furniture, furniture, tools, electronics including a 60-inch television, a Dell computer and much more.