News 2008-08-15 Andanh.com

Thursday thread Thu, 14 Aug 2008 18:35:54 -0600

Your turn. I'll be trying to stay up for Phelps.

Police: Gwatney killer a stalker Thu, 14 Aug 2008 15:45:36 -0600
Searcy police have provided Arkansas Times with two police reports that indicate Timothy Dale Johnson, suspected of slaying Democratic Party chair Bill Gwatney, harassed a Searcy woman in 2004, 2005 and 2006.

According to a report tagged by officers as "harassment" and filed Feb. 17, 2005, workers at a Searcy dentist's office told police that before Christmas 2004, Johnson had come in and claimed he was very upset due to the loss of his dog. Sometime after the first of the year, the report goes on to say, Johnson came back and requested to speak to a particular female employee.

"He then asked her if he could take her out on a date," the report states. "She told him that she was happily married and that they could just be friends. He agreed and left the office. On Valentine's Day, he brought her some flowers. He then came in today (2/17/05) and handed her a disturbing letter which upset her greatly. She did not read it until the subject had left the office already. She then called the P.D. to file a complaint."

The text of Johnson's letter to the woman was not included in the report.

In a second report, filed Feb. 8, 2006 under the heading of "suspicious activity," an employee of the dentist's office phoned police to say that Johnson had come in with a box of candy for the woman he had brought flowers to the previous year. Johnson was told that the woman didn't want anything to do with him and he left. Afterward, employees of the doctor's office called police. The woman said that she had not had any contact with Johnson since their previous encounter, and told police she didn't want to file charges.

The reports do not say whether Searcy police contacted Johnson about the incidents. Attempts to reach the woman in question at the dentist's office were met with a terse no comment and a warning that if the reporter called back, employees would call the police.

Shootout on Roosevelt Road Thu, 14 Aug 2008 15:38:32 -0600
Two men were wounded in a shootout at a convenience store at Roosevelt and Arch. KARK has some details. LRPD told me one was shot in the arm and one in the head.

BREAKING: Killer had Gwatney note Thu, 14 Aug 2008 13:13:48 -0600

UPDATE: A search warrant returned to Searcy district court today with a receipt for property taken during the search of the Searcy home of Timothy Johnson, the suspected killer of Democratic Party chair Bill Gwatney, provides the first indication that Johnson might have targeted the former senator and car dealer. (The photo of Johnson was provided by LRPD.)

According to that document, among the items seized was a note bearing Gwatney's name and two sets of car keys from Gwatney dealerships. Also 14 weapons.

Police are not discussing the product of the search. A spokesman said detectives are continuing to pore over the material. He couldn't predict whem more details would be provided. He said police still had no evidence of a link between Johnson and Gwatney.

The list of items seized: A personal computer, a bottle of prescription anti-depressants (Effexor XR); a "sticky note" bearing the word "Gwatney'" and a telephone number (LR police said they didn't know if it was Gwatney's phone number); a Smith and Wesson gun box; unspecified paperwork; a Browning .22-caliber pistol; a Thompson 50-caliber rifle; a CZ rifle; a Remington model 700 rifle; a Benelli double-barrel shotgun; a CZ rifle; a 12-gauge shotgun; a CZ M-1 carbine; a U.S. M-1 rifle; a Mohawk 600/308 rifle; a CZ 20-gauge shotgun; a Winchester .22-rifle; a Remington .25/06 muzzle loader; a New Englander muzzle loader; two sets of keys with a Gwatney dealership emblem and the last will and testament of Timothy Johnson.

The lists suggests we may be getting closer to issues that could have stirred Johnson, described in our conversations today with people who knew him as a quiet loner known mostly for his passion for guns.

UPDATE: Is there any chance political passion played a role? It is far too early to say. But, for the record, we obtained Johnson's voting record in White County. He was a regular voter, casting ballots 13 times since November 2000. He voted Republican more often than not in primary balloting. He voted Republican in 2002 and 2004 primaries and the 2008 presidential primary. He voted in the Democratic primary and Democratic runoff primary in 2006. There was no record of a vote in this year's May primary on either side.

More bio on Johnson here. He had three sisters, one of whom lived in Sheridan. Police say she helped him with finances and other matters and he may have been heading toward her home when police gave chase.

OUR FIRST POST THIS MORNING

... The morning brought no reassurance that we'd lived through a dream yesterday. It was just confirmation of the nightmare. There was little enlightenment on what drove Timothy Johnson to gun down Democratic Party chair Bill Gwatney. There's only greater sadness in the cold aftermath at the loss of a father, husband, successful businessman and happy political warrior.

The Searcy Daily Citizen contributes a little background on the suspected killer. A search of his home turned up a large amount of ammunition consistent with firearms found after he was killed at the end of a lengthy police chase. Neighbors, however, found little remarkable about a man they saw walking his dog on a country lane south of town.

A trusted source said Johnson had received treatment in the past at a drug and alcohol rehabilitation center in Searcy. But so have thousands of others who have gone on to live productive, peaceful lives. It's also been reported that Johnson had left his a job at a Conway Target store earlier in the day after an angry incident over graffiti he'd scrawled on store walls, though store officials say he'd never exhibited unusual behavior before. If that offers a small insight to his state of mind, it offers nothing on the motivation for a journey that led him to Democratic Party headquarters and his request to see a party chairman who chanced to be making a visit to the office then.

A Little Rock police spokesman said early this morning that the search of Johnson's home in Searcy turned up no writings, publications or books that suggested any motivation for the crime. There was, he said, no writing on the wall, such as those he wrote on his employer's store walls. He did have an interest in weapons. In addition to reports about guns and ammos seized yesterday, a neighbor tells us of talking to a parcel delivery service driver who said he'd often delivered firearms to Johnson. Johnson participated in high-powered rifle competitions held by a Cleburne County gun club. See more on that on the jump.

FUNERAL NOTE: The funeral for Bill Gwatney will be at 2 p.m. Monday at Pulaski Heights United Methodist Church by Rev. Vic Nixon, a spokesman in the church office said. Flags will fly at half-staff at the Capitol that day.

Gov. Mike Beebe talked with the press about his friend today and remembered stories from Senate days. It also was revealed that Gwatney had played Asa Hutchinson in Beebe's debate prep for the 2006 election and Mike Huckabee in Jimmie Lou Fisher's run against Huckabee in 2002. Beebe also answered questions about security, emphasizing that security was important, but so was public access to the Capitol.

Also on the jump: a tribute to Gwatney from the Family Council.

Verizon's plans for LR Thu, 14 Aug 2008 13:00:20 -0600

^{-- Brian Chilson photo}

Full crowd scene today at the Statehouse Convention Center for the Clinton School of Public Service speech by Verizon Wireless CEO Lowell McAdam.

McAdam played up Verison's commitment to local communities with a short video and presentation. Then he got down to brass tacks: what's the Alltel acquisition going to mean for Little Rock?

McAdam said that while he was limited in what he could divulge given that the deal is working its way through federal channels, he did confirm that Verizon will turn the Alltel campus into their 21st regional headquarters. He said that the call center will stay put as well, and that he hopes grow the center to "well over 1,000 employees" within a year of the merger.

Not all was rosy, however. Said McAdam: "Will everyone who has a job that is there in the campus today? No. I'm not going to stand up here and tell you that. These mergers are built on synergy. Synergies involve eliminating redundancies across an organization. So I'm not going to tell you that. But I will tell you that... if we continue to grow, we will stay on that same kind of trajectory. So there will be a lot of opportuniity. It may not be right here in Little Rock, but I can tell you, we've got the message loud and clear from the senator [Mark Pryor introduced McAdam] and the mayor and everyone we meet that preserving jobs here is important."

And Arkansas casts its votes for .... Thu, 14 Aug 2008 12:00:02 -0600
Hillary Clinton's name will be placed in nomination at the Democratic National Convention. No more than was done for Shirley Chisholm. Obama looks good here. More commentary on that point.

Walgreens on Main Thu, 14 Aug 2008 08:53:17 -0600

We thought the proposal for a Walgreens at 17th and Main Streets died in June. But it's back, we learn thanks to the Downtown Neighborhood Association. It got approval last night from the Capitol Zoning District Commission's design review committee, but with some recommended design changes that didn't appear to please the developer, according to a CZDC official. The Mansion Area Advisory Committee will consider the plan Aug. 26 and the full Commission Aug. 28.

Most of the world may wonder why we care. For what it's worth: it's one of those interesting neighborhood issues. The site is in a historic neighborhood peopled by many believers in preservation and community planning. They are pushing for strong design controls and a street-oriented design as friendly to pedestrians as cars. Some others say a Walgreens would be a welcome addition to a neighborhood that, despite lots of improvements, still has its share of blight and a scarcity of retail. Interesting. The drugstore chain apparently favors uniformity of appearance in its stores.

Huck on Romney warpath Thu, 14 Aug 2008 08:36:41 -0600

Mike Huckabee and other evangelicals plan several events this week to dissuade John McCain from naming Mitt Romney as his running mate. Here, Huckabee says it's not Romney's faith, but inconsistencies that explain the opposition. Richard Land of the Southern Baptist Convention is more candid. He says, yes, Mormonism is a problem for some, though he supports Romney.

There are people in the evangelical community who would have a problem with his Mormonism," he added. "I am not one of them. I mean, I'm very clear that I do not believe Mormonism is a Christian faith. But that does not disqualify someone from being President or Vice President. And my guess would be that, probably, about 15 to 20 percent of the evangelical community would have a problem with his Mormonism."

In other church and state news: Romney people aren't happy with how The Huckster manipulated religion as an issue in South Carolina, Baptistland.

The Huckster is also demanding that McCain's veep be anti-abortion.

Politico, noting Huck's anti-Romney move, quotes a Romney supporters who gets it:

Romney supporters, while anxiously awaiting word of McCain's veep decision, have sought to only look forward, offering public support of the GOP nominee and avoiding reprising their Iowa caucus battle. Privately, though, Romney's loyalists continue to loathe Huckabee at levels that approach the earlier disdain between Obama and Clinton camps.

Instead of hitting back, though, they're hoping to burnish their "team player" credentials by not responding in kind, with the idea being to portray Huckabee as the one who is looking out for his own interests.

The Huckster, put himself above all else? Say it ain't so.

Taxpayer dollars at work Thu, 14 Aug 2008 08:25:24 -0600

I mentioned last week that I'd been copied an e-mail with racist jokes about Barack Obama sent from the e-mail of an office worker at the state Alcoholic Beverage Control Division. The putative investigation there has apparently come up dry, no pun intended, in that you'd have to look through some e-mails to find it.

Today, I've received two more forwards of the same "jokes" from state employee e-mail accounts, one of them originating at an Arkansas Workforce Center. Lot of spare time on their hands, seems like.

Good deed rewarded Thu, 14 Aug 2008 05:58:56 -0600
John Brummett this morning recalls a signal achievement of Lu Hardin's leadership of UCA -- the salvation of the critically praised but long struggling Oxford American magazine. He's prompted by news of what should be the magazine's biggest music issue ever, thanks to the sponsorship of CMT.

In other news ... Wed, 13 Aug 2008 17:34:03 -0600

Our attention has been focused today on the shooting of Bill Gwatney. Other things have occurred.

The post-Broyles era continues with news that KATV has given up its exclusive rights to Razorback sports. The contract has been sold for big bucks to ISP Sports. KATV has a piece of the action as "flagship" station for Hog broadcasts. Media mavens will have to explain the ins and outs of this.

The new Arkansas Times is on the web. It includes our first look at UCA Foundation records for the expense account it provides for UCA President Lu Hardin. They spend far more than the $57,000 per year reported as the value of the expense account in a recent state Higher Education Department survey. A university official explained after we went to press that the university only counted strictly personal expenses by Hardin, not expenditures clearly for university purposes. So far, the Foundation has only disclosed spending in broad categories. We've asked for itemized expenses on travel, meals, home furnishings, gifts to others, etc.

Also in the Times: Check out how a UCA trustee, Michael Stanton, wound up getting a free wedding reception for his child at the UCA student union.

Bill Gwatney killed; assailant dead Wed, 13 Aug 2008 12:06:40 -0600

^{KARK Photo at Democratic headquarters}

Arkansas State Democratic Party Chair Bill Gwatney was fatally wounded at State Democratic Party Headquarters on Capitol Avenue about 11:50 a.m. today.

The suspected shooter was also fatally wounded in a shootout with police after a 30-mile chase into adjoining Grant County, a Little Rock police spokesman said. He has now been identified as Timothy Dale Johnson, 50, of Searcy. A sister who lives in Sheridan identified him, police said.

Johnson had no prior police record, according to the Little Rock police and a motive was still unknown. "This is one of those where we may never know," said Police Lt. Terry Hastings.

Immediately after the shooting, police sources said they were working to confirm tentative information that the suspect was a former employee of a Gwatney car dealership. The Little Rock police said, however, at an afternoon news conference that the shooter, whom they did not identify, was NOT a Gwatney employee and, so far as they knew, never had been, contrary to some reports mentioned here earlier in the day. Hastings said they hoped to learn from family more about Johnson's background.

It developed later that Johnson had left his job earlier in the day at a Target store in Conway after an incident involving angry grafffiti he had scrawled on store walls. See his photo and a brief update here.

According to one source, information gathered about Johnson indicated he'd exhibited erratic behavior at least one other time in the past. He reportedly made an irate visit to a dentist a year or so ago, but later returned to apologize. But his neighbors in Searcy said he'd been a quiet neighbor and unremarkable while living alone in the home of his late parents.

^{-- Brian Chilson photo}

Gwatney, 48, was taken from the scene in an ambulance and it was believed from the first that his condition was dire. Police spokesman Terry Hastings (shown at crime scene briefing shortly after the shooting) said that he'd been shot three times in the upper body. At 2 p.m., friends with the Gwatney family at the hospital told friends he was still in surgery. Friends say doctors were struggling to keep him stable because of the severity of the wounds.

His death was officially announced at a police news conference originally scheduled for 4 p.m. After delaying the news conference for about a half hour, police announced that Gwatney was pronounced dead at 3:59.

The shooter had entered the party office and asked to see the party chairman. By one account, he said he was interested in volunteering. He walked past a worker who tried to stop him and the shots were heard shortly after. The man ran out and drove off.

We learned later that Gwatney, who doesn't keep regular office hours at the party, had stopped by to sign some checks. He was with Mariah Hatta, the party executive director. She told a friend that she'd heard some noise outside and a man mentioning something about White County. He entered Gwatney's office, shook his hand and then started firing. Hatta ran from the office after the first shot was fired and sought help at the nearby office of the Family Council.

At a briefing less than an hour after the shooting, police said the shooter left in a blue Dodge Dakota pickup. There was some initial conflict about whether the shooter changed vehicles, but those reports seem likely to have been the product of early confusion. A chase of a blue Dodge Dakota pickup ensued minutes later and it ended in Sheridan, where police say the suspect was shot and taken into custody.

Shots were fired at the suspect as the chase neared Sheridan, with county deputies, State Police and city police in pursuit. The chase was brought to a conclusion by driving tactics -- a PIT maneuver - that forced the suspect's pickup off the road near Highway 46 and Little Creek Cutoff.

After the car ran into a field near the Winston Clinic, on the northern edge of Sheridan, there was an exchange of gunfire between police and the suspect. The man was alive when he was airlifted from the scene, but Lt. Terry Hastings of the LRPD said he died later at a hospital.

At a Sheridan news conference, State Police described a chase of roughly 30 minutes and 30 miles that ended in the suspect's fatal wounding. State Police on the Pine Bluff freeway got news of the wanted vehicle at 12:06 p.m. and spotted it at Dixon Road a few minutes later. They gave chase and followed when the driver took the turnoff to Sheridan.

Before it was over, four LR police cars, three state cruisers and Grant County deputies joined the chase. Five miles north of Sheridan, the suspect evaded a spiked puncture strip and roadblock. He was forced into a ditch near Sheridan, but kept driving. Sheridan police began shooting to disable the car, but, even with flattened tires, he kept driving on Little Creek Cutoff to its intersection with Highway 46. Finally, after multiple rammings by three police cars, as shots were being exchanged, the pickup came to a stop. The police say the suspect came out of his car with gun drawn and officers opened fire, finally mortally wounding him. That brought the chase to an end about 30 minutes after it began. Multiple weapons were seized, including a revolver, rifle and semi-automatic weapon.

Officers had established a tentative identification of the man they were chasing, but were withholding it until confirmation. State Police wouldn't discuss the man at their Sheridan news conference. Little Rock police said little more at their 4 p.m. briefing.

A Democratic Party office worker made the 911 call from a florist shop next door. She was heard to tell the police dispatch: "Help, our chairman's been shot."

The shooter was described in the phone call as a white man in his 40s, with whitish hair and wearing khaki pants.

Police picked up the shooter's trail because he threatened someone with a gun nearby not long after Gwatney was shot. A man with a gun confronted an employee in the Arkansas Baptist State Convention office building a few blocks east of Democratic headquarters around noon and said he'd lost his job. This was minutes after the shooting, police said. He pointed the gun, but didn't shoot. He fled in a vehicle, a blue Dodge Dakota pickup, whose description was reported to police. That description led to the police chase.

Gwatney, a former state senator, was an executive in a car dealership group, a business in which employment changes are not uncommon. Rumors immediately arose that the shooter might have been a disgruntled former employee of a Gwatney dealership. But police were firm Wednesday afternoon in saying there was no connection between the man and a dealership.

Though the suspect, Johnson, had a sister in Sheridan, police said they had no idea if his drive in that direction was related or only coincidental.

Gov. Mike Beebe was en route by plane to Northwest Arkansas when the shooting occurred. He got word and returned to Little Rock. He was with the Gwatney family at UAMS. The scene grew crowded with media, family, politicians and others awaiting word on the progress of extensive surgery,

Under the Dome, Rep. Steve Harrelson's blog, reported that the Capitol was in "lockdown" after the shooting.

KATV reported that Republican Party workers at their headquarters on Sixth Street, just two blocks away, were sent home early out of what an official said was "an abundance of caution." Police gave no indication that the shooting was the work of anyone other than the man stopped in Sheridan.

Statements came from politicians and others who knew Gwatney -- Barack Obama, Bill Hillary Clinton, Howard Dean, among others.

The Pulaski County Democratic Women will hold a prayer vigil for Gwatney at 6 p.m. Thursday on the Capitol steps. The public is welcome.

Arkansas Business has an obituary here, including a tribute from Gov. Beebe.

John Williams, David Koon and Bob Lancaster contributed to the report.

Welcome to LR Wed, 13 Aug 2008 11:39:49 -0600

We hear the Mexican consulate in Little Rock is adding a second shift. That means they can accommodate 300 people seeking identity cards and other services as opposed to 160 a day. That represents huge growth after only a year in business.

Touchdown club speakers Wed, 13 Aug 2008 11:26:16 -0600
They announced a star-studded lineup of speakers for the LR Touchdown Club this year. They include Gus Malzahn. A late entry is Bob Tebow, the week of the UA/Florida game.

'Huck's new grill' Wed, 13 Aug 2008 11:04:11 -0600

The Arkansas Project bites off a story that the Arkansas Blog, ever endeavoring to treat former Gov. Mike Huckabee with respect, was reluctant to chomp on.

We had a well-placed source who said the governor had received cosmetic dentistry in preparation for his new role as a media star. We sent a note to the former first lady with a query about the matter. She did not respond. We held off reporting the rumor.

The Arkansas Project, with its strong Republican ties, says a Huckabee friend confirmed the dental work for them. Also:

When asked if Huckabee might undergo future cosmetic surgeries, the friend claimed that he wouldn’t be surprised if Huckabee “chose to go under the knife again,” especially now that the governor said to be finalizing negotiations with the Fox News Channel for his weekend television program. He added that “hair plugs might be a good next step” for Huckabee.

Politico takes note. We think you can find the dental artist right here in LR, should you be looking for similar. Think freeway.

Hit with a board Thu, 14 Aug 2008 00:00:00 GMT
The second Friday of every month, John McNeill gets in his truck and makes the drive from Hot Springs to Little Rock for the Arkansas State Contractors Licensing Board meeting.

Rethinking remediation Thu, 14 Aug 2008 00:00:00 GMT
Black students at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff do not exist just to play football, says UAPB National Alumni Association president Samuel Staples.

The doctor and the comic Thu, 14 Aug 2008 01:00:00 GMT
George Carlin, among others, regarded the bottled-water phenomenon with misgiving. ?When did this country get so thirsty?? he asked.

Cool clear water Thu, 14 Aug 2008 01:30:00 GMT

Water wars Thu, 14 Aug 2008 23:00:00 GMT

Try the tofu Thu, 14 Aug 2008 00:00:00 GMT
An Arkansas politician is expected to eat the coon just as a follower of Jim Jones was expected to drink the Kool-Aid ? no hesitation, no excuses.

Summer reading club. Wed, 13 Aug 2008 00:00:00 GMT

UCA?s tangled web Thu, 14 Aug 2008 00:00:00 GMT
The controversy over University of Central Arkansas President Lu Hardin?s pay and perks has had a ripple effect on local politics.

The Observer, Aug. 14 Thu, 14 Aug 2008 00:00:00 GMT
Do you remember your first time ? to eat a pizza? The Observer does. They called them pies then (the 1950s).

Orval, Aug. 14 Thu, 14 Aug 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Aug. 6 - 12, 2008 Thu, 14 Aug 2008 00:00:00 GMT
It was a good week for... JACK GILLEAN. The vice president at University of Central Arkansas continues to be a beacon for honesty in the ongoing controversy about presidential pay and other problems at UCA. His latest straight talk: It likely was a violation of state law for UCA to provide a tent for a campaign fund-raiser for Republican Sen. Gilbert Baker at the home of UCA trustee Michael Stanton. Earlier, Gillean had questioned the UCA Board?s methods in providing bonus pay for President Lu Hardin.

July 30-Aug. 5, 2008 Thu, 07 Aug 2008 00:00:00 GMT
It was a good week for ? LES WYATT. The president of Arkansas State University was revealed by a Higher Education Department survey to be the best-compensated college administrator in Arkansas with pay and perks worth $540,610 a year. None of the rest was exactly hurting thanks to various private bonuses and deferred compensation deals, a fact that could bring some legislative scrutiny in 2009.

This modern world, Aug. 14 Thu, 14 Aug 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Detectives Seek Motive For Gwatney Slaying Thu, 14 Aug 2008 22:13:28 -0500
SEARCY - Neighbors of the man who gunned down state Democratic Party chairman Bill Gwatney described him Thursday as a quiet, friendly sort who shared with them vegetables from his backyard garden.

Gwatney Remembered For Big Heart, High Energy Thu, 14 Aug 2008 21:41:55 -0500
LITTLE ROCK - In an emotional news conference at the state Capitol Thursday, Gov. Mike Beebe said his late friend Bill Gwatney strove to make Arkansas a better place.

United Way Kicks Off $4.5 Million Campaign Thu, 14 Aug 2008 21:31:32 -0500
FAYETTEVILLE - Because homelessness, illness and abuse don't know county and city boundaries, the United Way is committing itself and supporters to merge as one region again this year for another $4.5 million annual campaign.

Victory Theater Out Of Debt Thu, 14 Aug 2008 21:13:19 -0500
ROGERS - The Victory Theater embarked on a new era Thursday.

Panhandling Ban Would Hurt Donations, Fundraiser Says Thu, 14 Aug 2008 21:13:14 -0500
ROGERS - A fundraising mainstay may soon be a thing of the past in Rogers.

Republican Women Honor Former Candidates Thu, 14 Aug 2008 21:31:23 -0500
BENTONVILLE - Linda Napierala used tongs to turn piles of bright pink hot dogs cooking on aluminum foil over the grill. In the pavilion at Memorial Park in Bentonville, Benton County Republican Women members prepared a buffet of homemade dishes: baked beans, watergate salad, grape salad, pot roast and banana pudding.

Rogers Man Seeks Return To City Council Thu, 14 Aug 2008 21:13:09 -0500
ROGERS - Gary Townzen enjoys serving his community - so much so he's running to retain his seat on Rogers City Council.

Rogers City Councilman Announces Re-Election Bid Thu, 14 Aug 2008 19:32:22 -0500
ROGERS - Buddy Wright thinks he knows what's right for Rogers.

Trial Set For Dec. 9 In Gravette Killing Thu, 14 Aug 2008 19:32:23 -0500
BENTONVILLE - A Gravette man representing himself in a first-degree murder case is set for trial Dec. 9.

Police Arrest Springdale Man In Child Porn Investigation Thu, 14 Aug 2008 19:32:27 -0500
SPRINGDALE - A man was arrested Thursday on a suspicion of possessing child pornography.

Teacher Likely In Classroom Monday Despite Drug Arrest Thu, 14 Aug 2008 19:32:21 -0500
ROGERS - An Oakdale Middle School teacher arrested for allegedly trying to get medication without a prescription could be in the classroom Monday.

Police Say Man Groped, Kissed 8-Year-Old Girl Thu, 14 Aug 2008 19:32:28 -0500
FAYETTEVILLE - A man was arrested Wednesday in connection with the attempted rape and groping of his stepdaughter's friend, according to police.

County Buys Terminella Building Thu, 14 Aug 2008 21:41:44 -0500
FAYETTEVILLE - The county has been seeking additional office space for several years, and one option examined was a two-story office building at the corner of College Avenue and Spring Street, built in 2006 by developer Tom Terminella.

Early Voting Site Established in Springdale Thu, 14 Aug 2008 21:41:49 -0500
FAYETTEVILLE - Washington County voters will be able to vote early in two locations this year.

Secretary Of State Won't Handle Complaint Thu, 14 Aug 2008 21:31:24 -0500
The Arkansas secretary of state's office isn't the proper venue for a complaint against the Bella Vista Property Owners Association, its general counsel says.

Wrongful Death Suit Filed Over Fatal Mexican Wreck Thu, 14 Aug 2008 21:31:25 -0500
FAYETTEVILLE - The estate of a Fayetteville family killed in a traffic accident in Mexico has filed a wrongful death suit in Washington County Circuit Court against the Hertz rental car company, its subsidiaries and an employee.

Two Federal Courthouses Safe From Closing Thu, 14 Aug 2008 21:31:26 -0500
HARRISON - Federal courthouses in Harrison and Batesville will remain open, officials say, after the facilities were tabbed last year as in danger of closure.

Two Applicants Seek Rogers School Board Seat Thu, 14 Aug 2008 21:31:31 -0500
ROGERS - A a lawyer for Wal-Mart and an employee at the Children's Advocacy Center of Benton County both want to fill Faye Jeffery's seat on the Rogers School Board.

Aquatic Center Ends Season Early Thu, 14 Aug 2008 21:31:33 -0500
SPRINGDALE - The Springdale Aquatic Center will close early this year, to save money.

Siloam Springs Schools Tap Reserve Thu, 14 Aug 2008 21:31:34 -0500
Siloam Springs school officials will use $610,756 from reserves to cover one-time expenses for the 2008-09 school year.

Coody To Ask Fayetteville Council To Save Bus Route Thu, 14 Aug 2008 21:12:55 -0500
FAYETTEVILLE - Mayor Dan Coody wants the City Council to save a public bus route threatened by high fuel costs and a shrinking budget.

12-Year Prison Sentences Follow Internet Stalking Thu, 14 Aug 2008 21:13:02 -0500
BENTONVILLE - Two men were sentenced to 12 years in prison for Internet stalking of children.

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