LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) - A federal appeals court has upheld the dismissal of a civil lawsuit that was filed by the boyfriend of a slain Arkansas beauty queen. Kevin Jones was initially charged and put on trial for the 2005 killing of his girlfriend, Nona Dirksmeyer. Jones was acquitted by a jury and another man was later charged, but not convicted, in the case. Jones sued Russellville police four years after his acquittal, claiming that officers conspired to frame him for the crime. A federal judge in Little Rock dismissed Jones' lawsuit, saying he waited too long to file the case. On Thursday, the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals agreed, finding that Arkansas' statute of limitations says that such claims must be filed within three years.
##
The driver of a sport utility vehicle was airlifted to a Little Rock hospital and three others suffered minor injuries following an accident involving a South Conway County school bus Thursday morning. Johnathan Trafford, director of emergency management for Conway County, says the accident occurred on Highway 124 just east of Springfield. He says the bus was slowing down and had activated its caution light when the driver of the S-U-V hit the rear of the bus. There were 13 students on the bus at the time of the accident. Shawn Halbrook, superintendent of the South Conway County School District, says every student was examined on scene by E-M-Ts. Two students, along with the bus driver, were taken by ambulance to Saint Vincent Morrilton for treatment of minor injuries. The accident is being investigated by Arkansas State Police.
##
CENTURYLINK TECHNICIANS AND REPAIR CREWS WERE ON THE SCENE OF A FIBER OPTIC CUT, NORTH OF RUSSELLVILLE, ALONG HIGHWAY 7 INTO THE LATE EVENING HOURS ON THURSDAY AND EARLY FRIDAY. CENTURYLINK OFFICIALS SAY THE CUT WAS ALONG THE ROADWAY, NEAR THE RUSSELLVILLE COUNTRY CLUB, AND EFFECTED TELEPHONE, DATA AND CELLPHONE SERVICE, NORTH OF THAT AREA. CUSTOMERS IN THE DOVER, SCOTTSVILLE, HECTOR, AND CENTER VALLEY AREAS EXPERIENCED OUTAGES. CENTURYLINK THANKS CUSTOMERS FOR THEIR UNDERSTANDING DURING THIS SERVICE ISSUE. OFFICIALS HAVE NOT INDICATED HOW THE CUT OCCURRED.
##
BOND HAS BEEN SET AT 25-THOUSAND DOLLARS FOR A 19-YEAR OLD WHITE MALE SUSPECT, ARRESTED BY RUSSELLVILLE POLICE ON AGGRIVATED BURGLARY AND THEFT OF PROPERTY CHARGES. THE SUSPECT, IDENTIFIED AS MARCUS HUBBARD, APPEARED THIS WEEK BEFORE POPE COUNTY DISTRICT JUDGE DON BOURNE. JUDGE BOURNE FOUND PROBABLE CAUSE TO HOLD THE SUSPECT OVER FOR A DECEMBER 1st PLEA AND ARRAIGNMENT HEARING IN POPE COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT.
BOND WAS ALSO SET AT 75-HUNDRED DOLLARS FOR A 29-YEAR OLD WHITE MALE, TAKEN INTO CUSTODY BY POTTSVILLE POLICE DEPARTMENT ON POSSESSION OF METHAMPHETAMINE AND POSSESSION OF DRUG PARAPHENALIA. A DECEMBER COURT DATE HAS ALSO BEEN SCHEDULED IN THIS CASE.
##
THE FINAL SATURDAY OPPORTUNITY OF EARLY VOTING IS JUST AHEAD, IN PREPARATION FOR TUESDAY'S NOVEMBER 4th GENERAL ELECTION. AS OF LATE THURSDAY, POPE COUNTY ELECTION COMMISSION HEADQUARTERS REPORTED A TOTAL OF 6795 VOTES CAST. IN YELL COUNTY. AS OF THURSDAY'S ADDITIONS, A TOTAL OF 1,432 BALLOTS HAD BEEN CAST AT THE COUNTY CLERK'S OFFICES IN DARDANELLE AND DANVILLE. IN JOHNSON COUNTY, 1,780 VOTES HAD BEEN RECORDED AT THE COURTHOUSE IN CLARKSVILLE. EARLY VOTING CONTINUES THRU MONDAY.
##
