ONE ARREST AND ONE INJURY RESULTED FROM A SINGLE VEHICLE ACCIDENT, EARLY THIS (FRI.) MORNING IN RUSSELLVILLE. AUTHORITIES SAY THE INCIDENT, NEAR THE INTERSECTION OF 4th AND KNOXVILLE, OCCURRED ABOUT 1:30 A/M. RUSSELLVILLE POLICE, FIRE AND POPE COUNTY AMBULANCE PERSONNEL WERE CALLED TO THE SCENE. ONR VICTIM WAS TAKEN TO ST. MARY'S REGIONAL MED-CENTER FOR TREATMENT OF UNDETERMINED INJURIES.
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NO SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE OR INJURIES OCCURRED, DURING A MID-THURSDAY AFTERNOON GRASS FIRE IN THE OAK GROVE ROAD AREA OF YELL COUNTY. AUTHORITIES SAY DARDANELLE RURAL FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS DISPATCHED ABOUT 1:46 P/M, REMAINING THERE UNTIL ABOUT 2:30 P/M, EXTENGUISHING THE BLAZE. CAUSE OF THE FIRE HAS NOT BEEN RELEASED.
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THE SUBJECT OF A DOWNTOWN RUSSELLVILLE PARKING DECK CONTINUES TO BE REVIEWED. MEMBERS OF THE PARKING DECK COMMITTEE DISCUSSED THE CURRENT STATUS OF THAT PROPOSAL, AND POSSIBLE ALTERNATIVES DURING A THURSDAY SESSION. WHILE NO ACTION WAS TAKEN, COMMITTEE MEMBERS AGREED FINDING A HAPPY MEDIUM ON COST AND AVAILABLE PARKING SURFACE, IS A KEY OVERALL GOAL, AND ONE THAT WILL BE FURTHER EXPLORED, AS THE COMMITTEE EVALUATES THEIR OPTIONS IN 2015.
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LAMAR SCHOOL DISTRICT WILL SOON BEGIN THEIR SEARCH FOR A NEW SUPERINTENDENT, AFTER ROY HESTER INDICATED HE'D BE RESIGNING FROM THAT POST, EFFECTIVE WITH THE END OF THE SCHOOL YEAR. HESTER, WHO'S SERVED THE DISTRICT FOR SIX YEARS, WILL BE TAKING THE DIRECTOR'S POST FOR THE WESTERN ARKANSAS EDUCATION COOPERATIVE. LAMAR SCHOOL BOARD ACCEPTED HESTER'S RESIGNATION DURING THEIR JANUARY MEETING THIS WEEK.
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A DANVILLE SCHOOL SYSTEM STUDENT IS THIS YEAR'S YELL COUNTY SPELLING BEE WINNER. ETHAN ELLIS SPELLED HIS WAY TO VICTORY DURING WEDNESDAY'S ANNUAL EVENT, HOSTED THIS YEAR BY TWO RIVERS SCHOOL. ANOTHER DANVILLE STUDENT, KALYB PHOMSITHI, CLAIMED SECOND PLACE HONORS. RILEY DUNMAN OF TWO RIVERS WAS THIRD AND NATHANIEL GRIFFITHS OF DARDANELLE-FOURTH. ELLIS, THE SON OF J.B. AND NANCY ELLIS, WILL PARTICIPATE IN THE ARKANSAS STATE SPELLING BEE TO BE HELD ON SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 28th, IN THE REYNOLDS PERFORMANCE HALL AT THE UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL ARKANSAS.
FINAL PREPERATIONS ARE UNDERWAY FOR THE 2015 POPE COUNTY SPELLING BEE, SET FOR NEXT TUESDAY. RUSSELLVILLE HIGH SCHOOL'S CENTER OF THE ARTS WILL AGAIN BE THE LOCATION FOR THE EVENT, WITH ST. JOHN'S CATHOLIC THE HOST SCHOOL THIS YEAR. A 6 P/M START TIME FOR THE EVENT IS PLANNED.
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