What Will Mary Think?

Fayetteville Mayor Dan Coody has stated to local business leaders — during a gathering at the Bank of Fayetteville and later at the bimonthly Genesis Coffee Break — that he would be on hand to publicly welcome Kohl’s department store at its April 20 grand opening. Kohl’s officially opened April 16.

Kohl’s is located at CMN Business Park just south of the Northwest Arkansas Mall. The development of the Kohl’s site faced heavy protest for the removal of several trees estimated to be more than a century old. Protester Mary Lightheart even lived in one of the trees for about three weeks.

Many credited that controversy with being the deciding factor in Coody beating incumbent Fred Hanna in the November run-off election for mayor.

Kohl’s manager Chris Osborne wouldn’t say if he had heard from Coody, but did say there would be a ribbon-cutting ceremony with “local dignitaries” on hand.

Both Kohl’s and the protesters have been in contact with the Fayetteville Police Department. Kohl’s has contracted out the police to be on its grounds for the first week it’s open. Rick Hoyt, assistant chief of police, said he believes the protesters won’t be in full force until Saturday, April 21.

“[The protesters] have agreed not to park on Kohl’s or even CMN’s property,” Hoyt said. “They will walk into the property on the sidewalks. They are aware they cannot block traffic or the driveways.

“Where they’re really wanting to get is on the grassy area between Shiloh Drive and the bypass. If they try to get on Kohl’s property or in the parking lot, we would take whatever enforcement action at the direction of Kohl’s that would be proper.”

Lightheart, a Goshen resident, was also brought into Fayetteville to meet with Rev. Lowell Grisham of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church on East Avenue about the clearing of some trees on that lot for the construction of a new parish hall. Lightheart had concerns about the removal of some old trees on the lot, but the meeting apparently stopped Lightheart from pursuing a public protest. Coody is a member of the church.