Tuesday, September 26, 2006

Crisp Tuesday morning

The Russellville Courier reports that Pope County coroner Leonard Krout questions the handling of blood samples from a July 21 accident that killed sportscaster Paul Eells and B. J. Burton of Dover. Krout says the samples were never in the custody of UAMS, which, he says, should have determined if the samples had, in fact, been ruined by the heat while being shipped to Little Rock. Krout claims to have sent the samples directly to Pulaski County Coroner Malcolm – at Malcolm’s suggestion. Malcolm decided the samples were ruined. Stout further says that Malcolm has not returned the viles of blood despite his repeated requests.

The second person missing from weekend flooding in Sharp County has been found. Jackie Robinson’s body was localted 200 yards from his van in Riverbend Park, where he had gone to seek shelter.

Gov. Mike Huckabee declared six counties in Arkansas state disaster areas in the wake of weekend storms that rolled through the northern part of the state.

War Memorial Stadium officials have announced changes for Arkansas Razorback football games in Little Rock, including the introduction of reserved tailgate spots and revised traffic routes. With a loss of 2,000 to 3,000 parking spots because of construction around the stadium, Stadium Commission Chairman Gary Smith says new procedures are needed to make the tailgating process easier.

Forty-nine years after crowds greeted them with jeers and taunts upon integrating Central High School, the Little Rock Nine were honored Monday with the dedication of 10 marble benches on the school’s front lawn. Three of the nine attended the event. The tenth bench is dedicated to past present and future students of Central.

A circuit judge has dismissed a lawsuit contesting the results of the District 16 state Senate runoff election because it failed to include the Arkansas secretary of state and the Democratic Party of Arkansas State Committee as parties to the case. The complaint accused the Election Commission chairman of misconduct and the St. Francis County clerk and county poll workers of making election-related mistakes. It also questioned the legitimacy of at least 186 votes.

Deliberations in the case against Deanna Bobo continue today. The attorney for a former Greenwood teacher accused of having sex with a student told jurors Monday that Greenwood police investigators were incompetent and botched the investigation of her client. In closing arguments before the Sebastian County Circuit Court jury, Shannon Foster of Fort Smith characterized the investigation as “Keystone Cops on a witch hunt.”

The 13-year-old female Stuttgart Public School student who claimed she was raped on the Stuttgart High School campus on Sept. 6 has recanted her story, the Stuttgart Police Department announced Friday.

A jury took only 21 minutes to rule in favor of a company that was sued for selling a chicken feed that plaintiffs alleged contributed to a Prairie Grove boy’s leukemia seven years ago.

None of the 50 or so people who attended Monday's special meeting of the Gentry School Board was likely late for dinner. That's because the meeting lasted only six minutes. The meeting was called to discuss the recent resignation of former Gentry High School football coach Jeff Stewart. Stewart resigned Sept. 11 after getting into an argument with a fan at the Sept. 8 Pioneers' game at Elkins. Supporters of Stewart submitted a petition, signed by nearly 250 people, calling for Monday's special meeting.

A proposed agreement of about $330 million has been reached in the class-action lawsuit that was filed against Murphy Oil USA Inc. over the spill of crude oil from the company’s refinery in Meraux, La., in the wake of Hurricane Katrina.

Former WorldCom CEO Bernie Ebbers, who is 65 tears old, will report to federal prison today. A federal judge sentenced him to 25 years in prison. He will have to serve 21 years and four months before he can become eligible for parole He was convicted earlier this year of securities fraud, submitting false claims to the SEC and conspiracy to commit securities fraud.

The New York Times reports scientists have found evidence of ivory-billed woodpeckers, this time in Florida. But having observed the turbulent disputes among ornithologists and birders that followed the report last year that the bird had been found in Arkansas, these researchers are proceeding with caution.

As many as 500 employees at Cooper Tire & Rubber Co.’s Texarkana plant will lose their jobs when the company switches from full-time production to “flex” production to compensate for decreased tire demand, according to a company statement.

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