NEWS HEADLINES FOR THE WEEKEND--1122-1123-14

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) - 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 the incoming governor's new chief of staff. Beebe on Friday called for a special election to fill the District 16 seat held by former Senate President Michael Lamoureux, a Republican. Primary elections for the seat will be held January 13th, with runoffs set for February 10th if required.

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EARLY VOTING NEARS ITS FINAL DAY ON MONDAY, AND BALLOT NUMBERS CONTINUED TO GROW, IN REFERENCE TO RUN-OFF ELECTIONS FOR TWO LOCAL MAYORIAL RACES. IN RUSSELLVILLE, A TOTAL OF 1471 BALLOTS WERE CAST AT POPE COUNTY'S ELECTION COMMISSION HEADQUARTERS, AS OF LATE THURSDAY.  A LIGHTER TURN-OUT, THUS FAR, HAD BEEN NOTED IN CLARKSVILLE, 317 EARLY VOTES HAD BEEN RECORDED AT THE JOHNSON COUNTY COURTHOUSE.  EARLY VOTING CONTINUES THRU MONDAY, NOVEMBER 24th, FROM 8 A/M TO 4:30 WEEKDAYS.  POLLS WILL BE OPEN FROM 7:30 TO 7:30 ON ELECTION DAY.

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LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) - Arkansas State Police will join with other state and local law enforcement agencies in a traffic enforcement campaign along Interstate 40 during the Thanksgiving holiday. Troopers will be a part of the "Click It or Ticket" campaign that targets seat belt law violators. Arkansas has a mandatory seat belt law. Other states along the I-40 corridor taking part in the effort include California, Arizona, New Mexico, Tennessee, Oklahoma, Texas and North Carolina. The effort includes having a trooper assigned to every 20 mile segment of the interstate during peak travel hours.

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THE FOURTH, IN A SERIES OF 2015 BUDGET MEETINGS BY THE POPE COUNTY QUORUM COURT IS SET FOR MONDAY.  THAT SESSION, SCHEDULED FOR 5 P/M IN THE QUORUM COURT CHAMBERS, WILL INCLUDE REVIEW OF BUDGETS FROM THE CORONER'S OFFICE, PUBLIC DEFENDER, COUNTY SHERIFF AND DETENTION CENTER BUDGET.  ALSO ON THE AGENDA, WILL BE A REPRESENTATIVE WITH SOUTHWEST CORRECTIONAL MEDICAL SERVICES, TO ADDRESS THE COMMITTEE ON MEDICAL EXPENSES AT THE DETENTION CENTER. 

 

FOLLOWING THAT SESSION, THE QUORUM COURT'S GOVERNMENTAL/PERSONNEL COMMITTEE WILL MEET.  TO BE DISCUSSED WILL BE A REQUEST FROM CIRCUIT CLERK ELECT DIANNE WILLCUTT ON FILLING A VACANCY AND SHERIFF ELECT SHANE JONES ON FILLING VACANCIES AND MOVING POSITIONS, EFFECTIVE JANUARY 1st.  BOTH OF THESE MEETINGS ARE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC.

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NEWS HEADLINES FOR 1121-14

 

RUSSELLVILLE CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS APPROVED A 15-HUNDRED DOLLAR FUNDING FOR A REQUEST BY ALDERWOMAN FREDDIE HARRIS TO SEEK AN AUDIT OF THE ARKANSAS RIVER VALLEY ALLIANCE'S USE OF FUNDS RECEIEVED FROM THE CITY.  HARRIS HAD EARLIER INDICATED THAT SHE HOPE TO HAVE A LIST OF POSSIBLE CANDIDATES TO CONDUCT THE AUDIT, BY THE COUNCIL'S NOVEMBER SESSION, BUT, INDICATED DURING THE MEETING THOSE WOULDN'T BE AVAILABLE UNTIL AFTER THE THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY.  WHILE SUPPORTIVE OF THE REQUEST, ALDERMAN RICHARD HARRIS TOOK TIME TO VOICE HIS SUPPORT FOR THE EFFORTS OF THE ALLIANCE. ORGANIZATION ALLIANCE BOARD PRESIDENT BRYCE MOBLEY WAS ALSO ON HAND FOR THE MEETING, AND INDICATED THAT THE ALLIANCE ISN'T AGAINST AN AUDIT, BUT, ISN'T CLEAR WHAT THE CONCERNS OF THE COUNCIL MIGHT BE. MOBLEY SAID THE ALLIANCE IS WILLING TO MEET WITH THE COUNCIL ANYTIME TO DISCUSS AND REVIEW THESE MATTERS.

 

EARLY VOTING MADE ITS WAY TOWARD THE END OF THE WEEK, BALLOT NUMBERS CONTINUED TO GROW, IN REFERENCE TO RUN-OFF ELECTIONS FOR TWO LOCAL MAYORIAL RACES. IN RUSSELLVILLE, A TOTAL OF 1158 BALLOTS WERE CAST AT POPE COUNTY'S ELECTION COMMISSION HEADQUARTERS, AS OF LATE THURSDAY.  A LIGHTER TURN-OUT, THUS FAR, HAD BEEN NOTED IN CLARKSVILLE, 249 EARLY VOTES HAD BEEN RECORDED AT THE JOHNSON COUNTY COURTHOUSE.  EARLY VOTING CONTINUES THRU MONDAY, NOVEMBER 24th, FROM 8 A/M TO 4:30 WEEKDAYS.  POLLS WILL BE OPEN FROM 7:30 TO 7:30 ON ELECTION DAY.

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LUCKILY, NO INJURIES OCCURRED IN AN OVERNIGHT FIRE AT THE DUFFIELD GRAVEL TRUCK AND WELDING SHOP IN THE GUMLOG AREA. AUTHORITIES SAY PEA RIDGE AND MORELAND FIRE DEPARTMENTS WERE DISPATCHED ABOUT 7:15 THIS (FRI.) MORNING, REMAIN ON SCENE AT THIS HOUR. INDICATIONS ARE EMPLOYEES DISCOVERED THE FIRE, WHEN THEIR ARRIVED FOR WORK FRIDAY MORNING. FEW ADDITIONAL DETAILS ARE AVAILABLE AT THIS TIME...

 

DARDANELLE RURAL FIRE DEPARTMENT MEMBERS WERE CALLED LATE THURSDAY AFTERNOON TO A FARM EQUIPMENT FIRE, ON HIGHWAY 27, SOUTHWEST OF DARDANELLE.  UNITS WERE RESPONDED ABOUT 5 P/M, AND REMAINED ON SCENE FOR APPROXIMATELY 45-MINUTES.  CAUSE OF THE FIRE AND EXTENT OF DAMAGE WERE NOT IMMEDIATELY KNOWN.

 

DOVER RURAL FIRE DEPARTMENT MEMBERS WERE RESPONDED ABOUT 11:30 THURSDAY MORNING TO A GRASS FIRE, IN THE 300 BLOCK OF JOHNSON ROAD, NEAR BEWLEY ORCHARD.  FIREFIGHTERS QUICKLY EXTENGUISHED THE BLAZE AND RETURNED TO SERVICE WITHIN ABOUT 20-MINUTES.  CAUSE OF THE FIRE IS UNKNOWN.

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RUSSELLVILLE SCHOOL BOARD HAS APPROVED THE PURCHACE OF SEVERAL NEW BUSSES, JUST BEFORE THE DISTRICT MAKES ITS WAY INTO THE HOLIDAY BREAK.  DURING THEIR NOVEMBER SESSION THIS WEEK, THE BOARD GRANTED A REQUEST FOR THREE NEW 2015 BLUE BIRD BUSSES AND THE PURCHACE OF A NEW 24 PASSENGER SPECIAL NEEDS BUS.  IN OTHER MATTERS,  BOARD MEMBERS APPROVED A CHANGE ORDER REQUEST BY VAN HORN CONSTRUCTION, ON ADDING BRICK TO A CONCRETE AREA ON THE NORTH SIDE OF THE NEW CYCLONE GYM.  A REQUEST FOR THE CYCLONE BASEBALL TEAM TO PARTICIPATE IN THE TEXAS HIGH CHALLENGE TOURNAMENT IN TEXARKANA, TEXAS ON MARCH 13th AND 14th, WAS ALSO APPROVED.

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NEWS HEADLINES FOR 1120-14

EARLY VOTING CONTINUED WEDNESDAY, IN REFERENCE TO RUN-OFF ELECTIONS FOR TWO LOCAL MAYORIAL RACES. IN RUSSELLVILLE, A TOTAL OF 835 BALLOTS WERE CAST AT POPE COUNTY'S ELECTION COMMISSION HEADQUARTERS.  IN CLARKSVILLE, 153 EARLY VOTES HAD BEEN RECORDED AT THE JOHNSON COUNTY COURTHOUSE.  EARLY VOTING CONTINUES THRU MONDAY, NOVEMBER 24th, FROM 8 A/M TO 4:30 WEEKDAYS.  POLLS WILL BE OPEN FROM 7:30 TO 7:30 ON ELECTION DAY.

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Here is the latest Arkansas news from The Associated Press…

 

FORT SMITH, Ark. (AP) - Jurors have convicted a Fort Smith man of killing two men with a machete. Twenty-one-year-old Gregory Kinsey had faced capital murder charges, but was found guilty of first- and second-degree murder yesterday. Kinsey was convicted of killing 39-year-old Brandon Prince and 32-year-old Nathan Young in June 2013.

 

     LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) - Arkansas prosecutors have charged champion middleweight boxer Jermain Taylor in a shooting at his home. The 36-year-old Little Rock native was charged yesterday with first-degree battery and first-degree terroristic threatening. Authorities say Taylor shot his 41-year-old cousin, Tyrone Hinton, at Taylor's home in Maumelle in late August.

 

     NASHVILLE, Ark. (AP) - An Arkansas man has been sentenced to 100 years in prison for beating and raping a 79-year-old woman and her 14-year-old great-granddaughter. Thirty-nine-year-old Adrian Wooten of Mineral Springs was sentenced yesterday. The attack occurred in August 2013 at the woman's house in Tollette.

 

     FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (AP) - A new faculty fellowship is being created at the University of Arkansas' College of Education and Health Professions thanks to a $500,000 gift from the A.L. Chilton Foundation. The foundation is establishing the fellowship in special education to benefit the Department of Curriculum and Instruction. The foundation was set up in 1945 in Texas by Arthur and Leonore Chilton.

 

NEWS HEADLINES FOR 1118-14

EARLY VOTING BEGINS TODAY (TUES.), AS RUN-OFF ELECTIONS ARE SCHEDULED NEXT TUESDAY FOR MAYORIAL RACES IN RUSSELLVILLE AND CLARKSVILLE.  IN RUSSELLVILLE, RANDY HORTON WILL FACE CHALLENGER TYRONE WILLIAMSON.  IN CLARKSVILLE, INCUMBANT BILLY HELMS WILL MEET CHALLENGER MARK SIMPSON. EARLY VOTING CONTINUES THRU MONDAY, NOVEMBER 24th, FROM 8 A/M TO 4:30 WEEKDAYS.  POLLS WILL BE OPEN FROM 7:30 TO 7:30 ON ELECTION DAY.

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COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENTS THROUGHOUT THE VALLEY HAVE SCHEDULED THEIR DATES FOR THE ANNUAL MASS FLU SHOT CLINIC EFFORTS. POPE COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT DIRECTOR PAM SELLERS SAYS TODAY (TUES.) IS THE DAY OF THE CLINIC IN RUSSELLVILLE AT THE FAIRGROUNDS ON SOUTH KNOXVILLE.  HOURS FOR THE "DRIVE THRU" EVENT BE FROM 8 A/M TO 5 P/M, AND ACCESS WILL ONLY BE AVAILABLE OFF FAIRWAY BOULEVARD.

 

IN JOHNSON COUNTY, WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 19th HAS BEEN SET ASIDE, WITH VACCINATIONS BEING GIVEN FROM 8-TO-5 AT THE MARVIN VINSON CENTER IN CLARKSVILLE.

 

YELL COUNTY OFFICIALS HAVE SCHEDULED THEIR MASS FLU SHOT CLINICS FOR EARLY DECEMBER.  TUESDAY, DECEMBER 2nd, THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT HAS SCHEDULED A CLINIC IN DANVILLE AT FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH FROM 9-TO-5 P/M.  ON THURSDAY, DECEMBER 4th A SECOND CLINIC IS PLANNED IS THE DATE, FROM 9-TO-5 AT THE DARDANELLE COMMUNITY CENTER.

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NO INJURIES RESULTED FROM A TRUCK FIRE MONDAY NIGHT, IN THE 500 BLOCK OF EAST PARKWAY.  RUSSELLVILLE FIRE DEPARTMENT UNITS WERE DISPATCHED MUST BEFORE 8 P/M.  FIREFIGHTERS WORKED QUICKLY TO EXTENGUISH THE BLAZE.  CAUSE OF THE FIRE HAS NOT BEEN RELEASED.

 

APPLETON AND MORELAND FIRE DEPARTMENTS WERE DISPATCHED TO A STRUCTURE FIRE IN THE MOUNT ZION ROAD AREA ABOUT 7:40 MONDAY NIGHT.  UNITS WERE ON THE SCENE JUST OVER TWO HOURS, BRING THE FIRE UNDER CONTROL.  LUCKILY, NO INJURIES RESULTED FROM THE BLAZE, AND AUTHORITIES CONTINUE TO EVALUATE THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE.

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NEWS HEADLINES FOR 1117-14

LIGHT SNOW FELL IN MUCH OF NORTHERN AND WESTERN ARKANSAS ON SUNDAY AND SUNDAY NIGHT. MOST LOCATIONS RECEIVED A FEW TENTHS OF AN INCH. HOWEVER...LOCATIONS IN PORTIONS OF CONWAY AND CLEBURNE COUNTIES SAW AS MUCH AS ONE TO THREE INCHES. OVER CENTRAL AND PORTIONS OF SOUTHERN ARKANSAS...AMOUNTS WERE MUCH LIGHTER...WITH LITTLE ACCUMULATION NOTED. MUCH COLDER AIR MOVED INTO THE REGION DURING THE OVERNIGHT HOURS. PRE DAWN TEMPERATURES RANGED FROM THE TEENS IN THE FAR NORTHWEST TO THE MID AND UPPER 30S IN THE SOUTHEAST.                    

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RUSSELLVILLE POLICE ARE CONTINUING THEIR SEARCH FOR A SUSPECT IN AN ARMED ROBBERY, FRIDAY NIGHT IN THE CITY.  PATROLMEN RESPONDED JUST AFTER 7:30 PM TO THE 200 BLOCK OF EAST 4TH STREET, THE TOBACCO ROW STORE, IN REFERENCE TO AN ARMED ROBBERY. AN UNDISCLOSED AMOUNT OF MONEY WAS TAKEN IN THAT INCIDENT, BUT, LUCKILY THERE WERE NO INJURIES. POLICE INVESTIGATORS ARE EVALUATING EVIDENCE IN THE CASE AND ARE SEEKING ANY AVAILABLE INFORMATION ON THE CRIME, FROM THE PUBLIC.  IF HAVE ANY DETAILS OR MIGHT KNOW A SUSPECT OR SUSPECTS INVOLVED, PLEASE CALL 479-968-3232 OR THE SILENT TIP LINE AT 479-967-2221. ALL INFORMATION IS KEPT CONFIDENIAL.

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BOND HAS BEEN SET AT 25-THOUSAND DOLLARS FOR A 28-YEAR OLD WHITE FEMALE SUSPECT, ARRESTED ON FELONY WARRANTS, PERTAINING TO CHARGERS OF BURGLARY AND FORGERY.  THE SUSPECT, IDENTIFIED AS AMANDA ANDREWS, APPEARED ON FRIDAY 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 FOR A 22-YEAR OLD WHITE MALE SUSPECT, TAKEN INTO CUSTODY BY RUSSELLVILLE POLICE ON CHARGES OF DOMESTIC BATTERY, POSSESSION OF A DEFACED FIREARM AND FALSE IMPRISONMENT.  THE SUSPECT, IDENTIFIED AS JERRID PEERS IS BEING HELD ON 20-THOUSAND DOLLARS BOND.

 

A 10-THOUSAND DOLLAR BOND WAS ESTABLISHED FOR A 30-YEAR OLD WHITE FEMALE, ARRESTED BY POPE COUNTY SHERIFF'S AUTHORITIES ON THEFT OF PROPERTY AND BREAKING AND ENTERING CHARGES.  THAT SUSPECT, IDENTIFIED AS NICOLE CHISUM, AND PERRS ARE SCHEDULED FOR A DECEMBER 15th PLEA AND ARRAIGNMENT HEARING IN POPE COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT.

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