TULSA, Okla. (AP) - A cold front moving across Oklahoma into Arkansas is expected to be followed by light freezing rain and freezing drizzle in northeastern Oklahoma through north-central Arkansas. The National Weather Service said temperatures are expected to fall into the 20s to lower 30s through Monday morning and the rain and drizzle could leave roads, bridges and overpasses slick and hazardous.
AUTHORITIES SAY NO INJURIES RESULTED FROM A BARN FIRE THAT OCCURRED LATE SUNDAY NIGHT IN THE 93-HUNDRED BLOCK OF U.S. HIGHWAY 64 NEAR ATKINS. FIREFIGHTERS WERE DISPATCHED JUST AFTER 11 P/M, WITH SMOKE SHOWING UPON THEIR ARRIVAL. THAT BLAZE WAS QUICKLY EXTENGUISHED, AND UNITS RETURNED TO SERVICE. CAUSE OF THE FIRE AND DETAILS ON THE AMOUNT OF DAMAGE WAS NOT READILY AVAILABLE.
DANVILLE FIRE DEPARTMENT UNITS WERE DISPATCHED TO AN OUT OF CONTROL BRUSH FIRE ON SUNDAY MORNING. FIREFIGHTERS WERE CALLED TO THE SCENE OF THE BLAZE AT 7th AND CLEVELAND STREETS, WHERE THEY BROUGHT THE FIRE UNDER CONTROL WITHIN ABOUT 25-MINUTES. NO INJURIES RESULTED AS A RESULT OF THE BLAZE. NO POSSIBLE DAMAGE INFORMATION WAS AVAILABLE.
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TODAY (MON.) WILL BE THE DEADLINE FOR A HOLIDAY SHORTENED WEEK, DURING WHICH CANDIDATES INTERESTED IN THE ARKANSAS STATE SENATE DISTRICT 16 SEAT COULD FILE FOR THAT POST. OUTGOING ARKANSAS GOVERNOR MIKE BEEBE HAS SET A SPECIAL ELECTION FOR APRIL 14TH TO FILL THE VACANT STATE SENATE SEAT THAT HAD BEEN HELD BY MICHAEL LAMOREUX OF RUSSELLVILLE. AS OF WEDNESDAY, ONLY STAN BERRY OF DOVER AND GREG STANDRIDGE OF RUSSELLVILLE HAD FILED. PRIMARY ELECTIONS FOR THE SEAT WILL BE HELD JANUARY 13TH, WITH RUNOFFS SET FOR FEBRUARY 10TH IF REQUIRED.
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SCHOOL OFFICIALS IN SEVERAL ARKANSAS DISTRICTS, INCLUDING SOME IN THE VALLEY, ARE LOOKING FOR WAYS TO REPLACE THE PENDING LOSS OF A PROGRAM THAT PROVIDES FOOD TO NEEDY STUDENTS. THE ARKANSAS RICE DEPOT TOLD DISTRICTS IN JOHNSON, LOGAN, SCOTT CRAWFORD, FRANKLIN, AND SEBASTIAN COUNTIES THAT THE PROGRAM PROVIDING FOOD FOR STUDENTS TO TAKE HOME EACH WEEKEND WILL END JANUARY 1ST. THE TIMES RECORD REPORTS THAT THE RICE DEPOT SAID IN AN EMAIL THAT IT'S FOCUSING ON INCREASING THE IMPACT OF ITS FOOD DISTRIBUTION AND THAT IT CONSIDERED THE AVAILABILITY OF OTHER HUNGER RELIEF ORGANIZATIONS IN THOSE AREAS. LAMAR SCHOOLS SUPERINTENDENT ROY HESTER SAID THE PROGRAM FOR THE APPROXIMATELY 100 STUDENTS IN HIS DISTRICT WHO RECEIVE IT COSTS ABOUT $300 A WEEK. OTHER SCHOOLS ARE TURNING TO LOCAL GROUPS SUCH AS CHURCHES FOR HELP.
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