Friday, June 23, 2006
Forgetful Friday
(I just knew there was something I forgot earlier today. Here it is, just for the record.)
Congressman Vic Snyder was the only Arkansas representative to vote against tax breaks for the super-wealthy, as the United States House of Representatives acted to cut the estate tax.
A Texas businessman said Thursday that he's halted a campaign for voters to allow his company to run casinos in Arkansas.
Little Rock has recorded homicide number 34 for 2006, and, in an unrelated incident, there was a double shooting and robbery at a downtown American Legion club.
Former Pine Bluff police officer Robert Bergstrom has been found guilty of one count of first-degree sexual assault and one count of second-degree sexual assault for encounters with a 15-year-old girl during 2002 and 2003. He was sentenced to 10 years on the first-degree sexual assault charge and five years on the other assault charge, the sentences to run concurrently.
Three murderers, including the cousin of a Saline County murderer whose release last year sparked an outcry from a prosecutor, have been recommended for executive clemency. Johnny Withamhas been imprisoned since 1974 for the slaying of Stanley Wells of Little Rock, which he committed with his cousin Denver Witham. The two beat Wells to death with a steel pipe and left his body near the China Grove cemetery in rural Saline County. Denver Witham was released last year after winning clemency from Gov. Mike Huckabee
A year of all-expenses paid travel and teaching in Taiwan is in the planning stages for a number of Arkansas' elementary and secondary school teachers, Gov. Mike Huckabee announced from his Asian tour Wednesday.
The Little Rock School District's 107 buses that ran on biodiesel in 2004 traveled an average of 1.1 miles per gallon farther than their diesel counterparts, saving the district thousands of dollars and grabbing the attention of Northwest Arkansas school transportation directors.
According to David Smith's report in the Democrat-Gazette, Arkansas is experiencing its first slowdown in home sales in at least 10 years. Sales in May, compared with May 2005, were down 5 percent statewide. In the state's most populous counties, home sales declined 9 percent in Pulaski County, 16 percent in Benton County and 22 percent in Washington County.
Centerton in Benton County heads the list of the top 10 fastest-growing cities. It's population grew by 138 percent between April 2000 and July 2005. Blytheville is the city with 10,000 or more residents which had the largest population decline. It's population fell by 8.95 percent to 16,638 from 2000 to last year. Cabot, Maumelle and Shannon Hills, all in central Arkansas, were among the top 10.
Insurance may not cover damages after a vehicle veered wildly through a fence and nearly ended up in the deep end of the Atkins Municipal Pool last week. Mayor Jerry Don Barrett told the Atkins City Council that a 10-year-old girl was driving the car, under the supervision of her grandfather. City Attorney Bill Swain said the city may have a problem. The owner of the vehicle's insurance may not cover the damage because a child was driving.
The $411,000 bill for federal taxes and penalties is a problem, one Leachville City Council member told the Jonesboro Sun Wednesday.
Travlerocity blog reports that Bill Valentine plans for the new Dickey-Stephens ball park in North Little Rock to have an adults only bleacher section, served by a draft beer concession, where smoking will be allowed.
The Northwest Arkansas Ghost Connection will investigate apparitions, rattling doorknobs, unexplained loud noises and displaced items at the St. Francis County Museum in July.
Congressman Vic Snyder was the only Arkansas representative to vote against tax breaks for the super-wealthy, as the United States House of Representatives acted to cut the estate tax.
A Texas businessman said Thursday that he's halted a campaign for voters to allow his company to run casinos in Arkansas.
Little Rock has recorded homicide number 34 for 2006, and, in an unrelated incident, there was a double shooting and robbery at a downtown American Legion club.
Former Pine Bluff police officer Robert Bergstrom has been found guilty of one count of first-degree sexual assault and one count of second-degree sexual assault for encounters with a 15-year-old girl during 2002 and 2003. He was sentenced to 10 years on the first-degree sexual assault charge and five years on the other assault charge, the sentences to run concurrently.
Three murderers, including the cousin of a Saline County murderer whose release last year sparked an outcry from a prosecutor, have been recommended for executive clemency. Johnny Withamhas been imprisoned since 1974 for the slaying of Stanley Wells of Little Rock, which he committed with his cousin Denver Witham. The two beat Wells to death with a steel pipe and left his body near the China Grove cemetery in rural Saline County. Denver Witham was released last year after winning clemency from Gov. Mike Huckabee
A year of all-expenses paid travel and teaching in Taiwan is in the planning stages for a number of Arkansas' elementary and secondary school teachers, Gov. Mike Huckabee announced from his Asian tour Wednesday.
The Little Rock School District's 107 buses that ran on biodiesel in 2004 traveled an average of 1.1 miles per gallon farther than their diesel counterparts, saving the district thousands of dollars and grabbing the attention of Northwest Arkansas school transportation directors.
According to David Smith's report in the Democrat-Gazette, Arkansas is experiencing its first slowdown in home sales in at least 10 years. Sales in May, compared with May 2005, were down 5 percent statewide. In the state's most populous counties, home sales declined 9 percent in Pulaski County, 16 percent in Benton County and 22 percent in Washington County.
Centerton in Benton County heads the list of the top 10 fastest-growing cities. It's population grew by 138 percent between April 2000 and July 2005. Blytheville is the city with 10,000 or more residents which had the largest population decline. It's population fell by 8.95 percent to 16,638 from 2000 to last year. Cabot, Maumelle and Shannon Hills, all in central Arkansas, were among the top 10.
Insurance may not cover damages after a vehicle veered wildly through a fence and nearly ended up in the deep end of the Atkins Municipal Pool last week. Mayor Jerry Don Barrett told the Atkins City Council that a 10-year-old girl was driving the car, under the supervision of her grandfather. City Attorney Bill Swain said the city may have a problem. The owner of the vehicle's insurance may not cover the damage because a child was driving.
The $411,000 bill for federal taxes and penalties is a problem, one Leachville City Council member told the Jonesboro Sun Wednesday.
Travlerocity blog reports that Bill Valentine plans for the new Dickey-Stephens ball park in North Little Rock to have an adults only bleacher section, served by a draft beer concession, where smoking will be allowed.
The Northwest Arkansas Ghost Connection will investigate apparitions, rattling doorknobs, unexplained loud noises and displaced items at the St. Francis County Museum in July.
