NEWS HEADLINES FOR 0123-15

EAST PARKWAY AVENUE WAS CLOSED FOR ABOUT 30-MINUTES ON THURSDAY AFTERNOON, AFTER A CENTERPOINT GAS LINE WAS CUT AT A CONSTRUCTION SITE.  THE CUT, AT THE SITE OF THE NEW STEAK AND SHAKE, AT 2200 EAST PARKWAY, WAS QUICKLY CORDONED OFF, WITH RUSSELLVILLE POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENTS RESPONDING TO THE SCENE, ALONG WITH CENTERPOINT ENERGY CREWS.  UTILITY TECHNICIANS QUICKLY REPAIRED THE LINE CUT, AND THE STREET WAS RE-OPENED, WITHOUT INCIDENT.

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BOND HAS BEEN SET AT 10-THOUSAND DOLLARS FOR A 25-YEAR OLD WHITE MALE SUSPECT, ARRESTED BY RUSSELLVILLE POLICE ON ROBBERY AND ASSAULT CHARGES.  THE SUSPECT, IDENTIFIED AS DAVID HENRY, APPEARED IS WEEK BEFORE POPE COUNTY DISTRICT JUDGE DON BOURNE.  JUDGE BOURNE FOUND PROBABLE CAUSE TO HOLD THE SUSPECT OVER FOR A MARCH 2nd PLEA AND ARRAIGNMENT HEARING IN POPE COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT. 

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DARDANELLE POLICE ARE CONTINUING THEIR INVESTIGATION INTO ALLIGATION OF SEXUAL ASSAULT, INVOLVING SEVERAL MINOR CHILDREN.  AUTHORITIES SAY A 39-YEAR OLD HISPANIC MALE, WHO'S NAME IS BEING WITHHELD PENDING THE FILING OF FORMAL CHARGES, WAS RECENTLY TAKEN INTO CUSTODY.  POLICE REPORTS INDICATE THAT THE MOTHER OF THE CHILDREN, AND THE WIFE OF THE SUSPECT, TOLD INVESTIGATORS SHE BELIEVED HER HUSBAND WAS INVOLVED.  ARKANSAS STATE POLICE CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICES AND DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES PERSONNEL ARE ALSO INVOLVED IN THE INVESTIGATION.

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RUSSELLVILLE'S BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT AND PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING FOR JANUARY ARE SCHEDULED FOR NEXT MONDAY, JANUARY 26th.  A PUBLIC HEARING ON TWO VARIANCE MATTERS WILL BE ADDRESSED DURING THE BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT SESSION, SET FOR 5 P/M.  DURING THE PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING, REZONING OF PROPERTY IN THE 300 BLOCK OF WEST 10th STREET, A REQUEST TO VACATE AN ALLEYWAY, OFF WEST K STREET AND PLAT DISCUSSION FOR A PLANNED URBAN DEVELOPMENT ARE TO BE ADDRESSED.  THAT MEETING IS SET FOR 5:30, BOTH WILL BE HELD IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBERS OF CITY HALL.

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NEWS HEADLINES FOR 0122-15

TODAY'S (THURS.) MEETING AGENDA INCLUDES...

 

RUSSELLVILLE CITY COUNCIL FINANCE COMMITTEE WILL MEET THIS (THURS.) AFTERNOON AT 5:30, JUST PRIOR TO THE REGULAR JANUARY SESSION, SET FOR 6 P/M, THE COUNCIL CHAMBERS OF CITY HALL.  SEVERAL ITEMS WILL ALSO BE ADDRESSED BY THE POTTSVILLE SCHOOL BOARD DURING A 7 P/M MEETING.

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RUSSELLVILLE'S EVALUATION PANEL WILL BE HOSTING SEVERAL PRESENTATIONS BY SELECT3ED ARCHITECTURAL FIRMS, IN REFERENCE TO CONSTRUCTION OF A NEW CENTRAL FIRE STATION.  THE SHORTLIST OF FOUR FIRMS WERE SELECTED FROM A TOTAL OF ELEVEN FIRMS THAT SUBMITTED PROPOSALS, IN ACCORDINACE WITH THE CITY'S REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS.  INCLUDED WILL BE THE RENAISSANCE GROUP, HOEFER-WYSOKI ARCHITECTURE, JACKSON BROWN PALCULICT ARCHITECTS AND GUEST REDDICK ARCHITECTS. THE PRESENTATIONS WILL BE CONDUCTED ON THURSDAY, JANUARY 29th, IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBERS OF RUSSELLVILLE CITY HALL.

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A STUDENT FROM THE RUSSELLVILLE EDUCATION ASSOCIATION OF CHRISTIAN HOMESCHOOLERS WILL BE HEADED TO STATE COMPETITION, AFTER WINNING THE POPE COUNTY SPELLING BEE THIS WEEK.  ST. JOHN CATHOLIC SCHOOL HOSTED THE 2015 EDITION, HELD TUESDAY AT RUSSELLVILLE'S CENTER OF THE ARTS.  PRINCIPAL MARK TYLER RECOGNIZED JULIAN LILLEY, THE SON OF RAYMOND AND KELLY LILLEY 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.

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SATURDAY'S THE DATE FOR THE 3rd ANNUAL "RUSS-VEGAS COACHES KAROKE" EVENT IN THE RUSSELLVILLE SCHOOL DISTRICT.  THE EFFORT, A FUN FUND RAISER FOR THE DISTRICT'S ATHLETIC DEPARTMENT, FEATURES A BUSY SILENT AUCTION, WITH SOME UNIQUE ITEMS, AND LOTS OF ENTERTAINMENT.  ATHLETIC DIRECTOR JOHNNY JOHNSON SAYS THE SILENT AUCTION BEGINS AT 6 P/M, AND THE ENTERTAINMENT STARTS AT 7 P/M. TICKETS ARE 5-DOLLARS EACH, ARE AVAILABLE AT THE CENTER OF THE ARTS BOX OFFICE AND WILL BE AVAILABLE AT THE DOOR ON SATURDAY NIGHT.

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THE ARKANSAS DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH IS REPORTING INFLUENZA IS STILL WIDESPREAD IN ARKANSAS WITH AN ADDITIONAL 15-HUNDRED CASES REPORTED LAST WEEK, BRINGING THE TOTAL SINCE SEPTEMBER TO 11-THOUSAND-500 IN ARKANSAS.  THE DEPARTMENT SAYS 23 PEOPLE IN ARKANSAS HAVE DIED FROM THE FLU THIS SEASON. 

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NEWS HEADLINES FOR 0121-15

RUSSELLVILLE SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS APPROVED AN EXTENSION OF THE SUPERINTENDENT'S CONTRACT, DURING THEIR JANUARY SESSION LAST (TUES.) EVENING.  RANDALL WILLIAMS HAS SERVED THE RUSSELVILLE DISTRICT IN THAT CAPASITY SINCE 2006.  IN OTHER MATTERS, THE BOARD ALSO AUTHORIZED A SECOND LIEN CONSTRUCTION BOND SERIES FOR 2015, IN THE AMOUNT OF 6.5-MILLION DOLLARS.  SEVERAL CONSTRUCTION AND IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS ARE PLANNED, AS A RESULT.  A REPRESENTATIVE OF STEVENS, INCORPORATED, ON HAND TO REVIEW INFORMATION ABOUT THE MATTER, ALSO INFORMED THE BOARD THAT A 2010 BOND ISSUE BY THE DISTRICT COULD BE REFUNDED THIS YEAR, AND IN DOING SO, COULD SAVE THE DISTRICT SOME 850-THOUSAND DOLLARS. 

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RUSSELLVILLE CITY CORPORATION AND CITY COUNCIL OFFICIALS CONTINUE TO WORK ON A PROPOSAL TO SIGNIFICANTLY UPDATE AN AGING WATER AND SEWER SYSTEM INFRASTRUCTURE.  DURING A TUESDAY SESSION, CORPORATION MANAGER STEVE MALLETT OUTLINED THE CURRENT STATUS OF THE SYSTEM, AND THE NECESSITY OF REPAIRS AND IMPROVEMENTS FOR THE FUTURE OF THE CITY.  AN ESTIMATED COST??? IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD OF 71-MILLION DOLLARS OVER THE NEXT SIX YEARS.  MALLETT SAID THEIR PROPOSAL WOULD NET A MAJORITY OF IMPROVEMENTS FUNDS FROM BOND ISSUANCES, BUT, AN INCREASE IN WATER AND SEWER RATE STRUCTURE WOULD MOST LIKELY BE NECESSARY. THE EXTENT OF HOW THE IMPROVEMENTS WOULD BE MADE, AND HOW FUNDING WOULD BE STRUCTURED WERE OUTLINED IN A MORE THAN 2 HOUR MEETING.  FURTHER DISCUSSION OF THE MATTER IS EXPECTED DURING THE UPCOMING JANUARY SESSION OF THE RUSSELLVILLE CITY COUNCIL FINANCE COMMITTEE MEETING.

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THE CITY OF MORRILTON'S NEW MAYOR SAYS HIS FIRST YEAR IN OFFICE WILL LIKELY BE A "REBUILDING" YEAR FOR THE CITY.  ALLEN LIPSMEYER DOESN'T ANTICIPATE ENGAGING IN ANY MAJOR PROJECTS THAT MIGHT DRAIN THE CITY'S FINANCES.  HE SAYS LEADERS WILL TRY TO "TAME BACK" ANY EXCESS SPENDING AND LOOK FOR UNIQUE WAYS TO INCREASE REVENUE. MAYOR LIPSMEYER SAYS THE CITY HAS MANAGED TO STAY IN GOOD FINANCIAL STANDING, DESPITE A SLIGHT DECREASE IN SALES TAX COLLECTIONS IN 2014.

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DURING A PLANNED THURSDAY SESSION OF THE POTTSVILLE SCHOOL BOARD, THE JANUARY SESSION WILL INVOLVE A DISCUSSION OF THE GOOGLE CHROME-BOOK PROGRAM AND DISTRICT'S POSSIBLE INVOLVEMENT, FINANCE, BUILDINGS AND GROUNDS AND POLICY UPDATES, AND RECOGNIZITION THEIR STUDENTS OF THE MONTH.  CONSIDERATION OF A VEHICLE PURCHACE IS ALSO INCLUDED ON THE AGENDA.  A STUDENT DISCIPLINE HEARING WILL BE HELD AT 6:30, WITH THE FULL BOARD TO MEET AT 7 P/M, IN THE HIGH SCHOOL LIBRARY.

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NEWS HEADLINES FOR 0120-15

TUESDAY'S MEETING AGENDA INCLUDES... THE FIRST 2015 SESSION OF THE RUSSELLVILLE CITY CORPORATION BOARD.  SEVERAL MATTERS TO ADDRESSED DURING AT 3 P/M MEETING, IN THE UTILITY HEADQUARTERS ON WEST 3rd STREET.  RUSSELLVILLE CITY COUNCIL AND CITY CORPORATION WILL HAVE A JOINT MEETING AT 4 P/M, IN THE CITY HALL FIRST FLOOR CONFERENCE ROOM.  COORDINATORS SAY THE PURPOSE OF THAT MEETING WILL BE TO DISCUSS FINANCING OPTIONS FOR REPAIR AND REPLACEMENT OF WATER AND SEWER LINES. RUSSELLVILLE SCHOOL BOARD WILL ALSO MEETING THIS (TUES.) EVENING, WITH BUILDINGS AND GROUNDS, BUDGET AND POLICY COMMITTEES SESSIONS AT 6:15 P/M.   A MEETING OF THE FULL BOARD IS SET FOR 7 P/M, IN THE DISTRICT'S ADMINSTRATION BUILDING.

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JANUARY IS NATIONAL SCHOOL BOARD RECOGNITION MONTH, A TIME TO RAISE PUBLIC AWARENESS OF THE ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF LOCAL BOARDS OF EDUCATION AND TO THANK YOUR COMMUNITY'S SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS FOR THEIR EFFORTS.  SOUTH CONWAY COUNTY SCHOOLS SUPERINTENDENT SHAWN HALBROOK COMMENDED THE MEMBERS OF THEIR BOARD OF EDUCATIOIN EARLIER THIS MONTH FOR ACHIEVING MASTER SCHOOL BOARD STATUS. SUE SPIVEY AND BUCK JOYNER ARE THE LATEST TO BECOME MASTER SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS.

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MORE THAN 200 PARTICIPANTS MARCHED MONDAY, IN AN EVENT ON THE ARKANSAS TECH CAMPUS AS A PART OF DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING BIRTHDAY. THE UNITY MARCH, WHICH BEGAN AT THE DOC BRYAN STUDENT SERVICES CENTER ENDED AT THE W.O. YOUNG BUILDING, AT WHICH POINT PARTICIPANTS WERE INVITED INTO THE YOUNG BALLROOM FOR A RECEPTION. SPEAKERS INCLUDED RAHK LASH, RESIDENT DIRECTOR AT BROWN RESIDENCE HALL AND KATIE FRAZIER, A SENIOR FROM DANVILLE AND PRESIDENT OF THE ARKANSAS TECH STUDENT GOVERNMENT ASSOCIATION (SGA). KING ACTIVITIES CONTINUE TODAY (TUES.), WITH AN OPEN MIC NIGHT AT BASWELL TECHIONERY BEGINNING AT 9 P.M. AND ON WEDNESDAY, JAN. 21, WITH A GALLERY WALK AT YOUNG BALLROOM FROM 10 A.M.-10 P.M.

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AUTHORITIES SAY NO SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE OCCURRED AS A RESULT OF A MID-MORNING GRASS FIRE IN THE JONES MOUNTAIN ROAD AREA OF YELL COUNTY ON MONDAY. CHICKALAH FIRE DEPARTMENT PERSONNEL WERE CALLED TO THE SCENE JUST AFTER 10 A/M, REMAINING THERE FOR LESS THAN 30-MINUTES, EXTENGUISHING THE BLAZE.  NO CAUSE OF THE FIRE HAS YET BEEN RELEASED.

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IT'LL BE A SHORT WEEK AT THE STATE CAPITOL, BUT A BUSY ONE, AS LAWMAKERS AND GOVERNOR ASA HUTCHINSON RETURN TODAY (TUES.) FOR THE STATE'S LEGISLATIVE SESSION.  HUTCHINSON IS SCHEDULED TO RELEASE HIS BUDGET FOR THE 2015-16 FISCAL YEAR EARLY IN THE WEEK, HAVE HIS TAX CUT PROPOSAL HEAD TO A STATE SENATE COMMITTEE WEDNESDAY AND DELIVER A KEY SPEECH ON THE PRIVATE OPTION AND HEALTH CARE REFORM ON THURSDAY.  THE SENATE REVENUE AND TAXATION COMMITTEE COULD DISCUSS THE HUTCHINSON TAX CUT PROPOSAL WEDNESDAY MORNING. 

NEWS HEADLINES FOR 0119-15

DOVER CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND ITS MANY COMMUNITY SUPPORTERS TOOK TIME ON SATURDAY TO HONOR NOT ONE, BUT, TWO "CITIZENS OF THE YEAR", DURING THEIR ANNUAL BANQUET. CHAMBER MEMBER KATIE VILLALOBOS INTRODUCED THE FIRST OF THOSE, ANN HOGREFE.

THE CHAMBER'S SECOND CITIZEN OF THE YEAR 2015, IS SCOTT VAN HORN.  VAN HORN THANKED THE CHAMBER FOR THE HONOR, SAYING THAT "GETTING INVOLVED" IN MAKING THE COMMUNITY BETTER, HAS ALWAYS BEEN A FAMILY AFFAIR. OTHER AWARDS INCLUDED... BRADLEY NELSON BEING HONORED AS "CHAMBER MEMBER OF THE YEAR" AND DOVER HIGH SCHOOL'S EAST LAB AND COORDINATOR SHARLA HARTZELL RECEIVING THE "COMMUNITY SERVICE AWARD".

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ON THE ARKANSAS TECH CAMPUS, THOSE INTERESTED CAN CELEBRATE THE LEGACY OF DR. KING WITH A SERIES OF EVENTS. MONDAY, A CAMPUS AND COMMUNITY CLEAN-UP IS PLANNED, BEGINNING AT THE HINDSMAN TOWER AT 9 A.M.  A CAMPUS MARCH IS SET FOR 2 P/M, IN FRONT OF THE DOC BRYAN STUDENT SERVICES CENTER. ACTIVITIES WILL CONTINUE ON TUESDAY, WITH AN OPEN MICROPHONE NIGHT IN BASWELL TECHIONERY AT 9 P.M. AND ON WEDNESDAY, JAN. 21, WITH A GALLERY WALK FROM 10 A.M.-10 P.M. IN THE YOUNG BALLROOM. THE SERIES IS SPONSORED BY THE ARKANSAS TECH AFRICAN-AMERICAN STUDENT ASSOCIATION (AASA), ALPHA PHI ALPHA FRATERNITY, SPECTRUM AND STUDENT GOVERNMENT ASSOCIATION

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A VARIETY OF OBSERVANCES, MARKING THE BIRTHDAY OF DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING WERE HELD OVER THE WEEKEND.  RUSSELLVILLE'S PROGRESSIVE MEN'S CLUB HELD THEIR 27th ANNUAL "KING DAY" EVENT AT THE HUGHES COMMUNITY CENTER ON SATURDAY.  DR. RUBY BURGESS SERVED AS GUEST SPEAKER FOR THIS YEAR'S EFFORT, AND REFLECTED ON SOME OF KING'S OBSERVATIONS ON THE STATE OF HUMAN NATURE, AND HOW HE SAW ITS CHANGE COULD EFFECT OUR FUTURE.  REPRESENTATIVES FROM NEW PROSPECT BAPTIST CHURCH, UNITY MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH, MT. ZION CHURCH OF MORRILTON AND THE ARKANSAS TECH CHOIR ALSO PARTICIPATED IN THE PROGRAM.

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MANY LOCAL, STATE AND FEDERAL OFFICES, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF EMERGENCY SERVICES, WILL BE CLOSED ON MONDAY, JANUARY 19th, IN OBSERVANCE OF DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING DAY AND ROBERT E. LEE'S BIRTHDAY. OFFICES WILL RE-OPEN FOR REGULAR BUSINESS ON TUESDAY.

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