Thursday, September 28, 2006
Thursday items of note
University of Arkansas football broadcaster Paul Eells was not under the influence of alcohol or drugs at the time of the July 31 traffic accident on Interstate 40 in Pope County that claimed his life and the life of B.J. Burton of Dover, a private autopsy on the sportscaster revealed. Dr. Frank Peretti, an associate state medical examiner, conducted the postmortem examination the day after the accident, at the request of Eells’ wife. Peretti said Vickie Eells gave him permission to release information about the toxicology report “There was no evidence of alcohol or drugs in the body,” Peretti said. “Mr. Eells died of injuries he received in the accident.”
Conway police arrested eight people protesting the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy for gays in the military after they refused to leave a Navy recruitment office. The sit-in began after Esther Mead, 31, of Conway was not allowed to enlist after she mentioned to a Navy officer that she was gay.
Legislators received word Wednesday that the cost of fixing up Arkansas’ public school facilities will likely be $250 million, which they expect will likely come from the state’s surplus. The ballpark estimate for school facilities over the twoyear budget cycle is to be debated in the 2007 legislative session.
Alex Daniels of the Democrat-Gazette reports both of Arkansas’ senators expressed concerns over legislation defining appropriate treatment of suspected terrorists, butut they stopped short of saying they would vote against it. Lincoln said reciprocity - how foreign governments would treat captured U.S. soldiers in light of any new rules - was a sticking point.
The Shannon Hills police chief was hurt during a sting operation which resulted in the arrest of eight suspected internet child predators. Shannon Hills police and Saline County sheriff’s deputies lured suspects to a home that purportedly had a young child inside. Police Chief Richard Friend injured a leg after a suspect’s car hit the pickup he was in. Friend was released from the hospital early Wednesday with a cast.
Waldron Mayor Troy Anderson has resigned, effective Sunday. Anderson faces charges of abuse of public trust and patronizing a prostitute, and is expected to finalize a plea agreement by Monday, Anderson allegedly exchanged city water services for sex.
Dassault Aviation of Paris has signed a $1.1 billion deal to sell NetJets Europe 24 Falcon 7X jets, the company said. The order, the largest business jet order in European history, will be completed at Dassault Falcon Jet Corp.’s plant at Little Rock, the company said. The deal is Dassault’s largest ever private jet sale.
In the wake of an investigation by the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs, Tyson Foods will pay $1.5 million to about 2,500 women and minorities that it did not hire. The OFCCP conducted its investigation from 2002-04 at poultry plants in Broken Bow, Okla., Grannis, Clarksville, Berryville and Van Buren.
Springdale Mayor Jerre Van Hoose and Rich Baseball owner Bob Rich signed copies of the contract for the Wichita Wranglers to move to Springdale for the 2008 season.
Economic development in the Mississippi Delta will remain difficult as long as workers there continue to experience a high incidence of diabetes, Delta Regional Authority officials said Wednesday. They announced a new effort to help area residents get medical help in battling the disease and keeping track of their progress.
Another new Jonesboro eatery has filed for a private Club permit with the state ABC board. If granted, the Brockhouse would become the fourth Main Street business serving alcoholic beverages.
Delta State University's "Fighting Okra" mascot has landed a leading role on an episode of The Food Network's "Good Eats," a family cooking show starring Alton Brown. The episode, Okraphobia, will premiere at 9 p.m. Wednesday with additional air dates at midnight Thursday, 9 p.m. Friday, 1 a.m. Saturday and 6 p.m. Oct. 6.
Conway police arrested eight people protesting the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy for gays in the military after they refused to leave a Navy recruitment office. The sit-in began after Esther Mead, 31, of Conway was not allowed to enlist after she mentioned to a Navy officer that she was gay.
Legislators received word Wednesday that the cost of fixing up Arkansas’ public school facilities will likely be $250 million, which they expect will likely come from the state’s surplus. The ballpark estimate for school facilities over the twoyear budget cycle is to be debated in the 2007 legislative session.
Alex Daniels of the Democrat-Gazette reports both of Arkansas’ senators expressed concerns over legislation defining appropriate treatment of suspected terrorists, butut they stopped short of saying they would vote against it. Lincoln said reciprocity - how foreign governments would treat captured U.S. soldiers in light of any new rules - was a sticking point.
The Shannon Hills police chief was hurt during a sting operation which resulted in the arrest of eight suspected internet child predators. Shannon Hills police and Saline County sheriff’s deputies lured suspects to a home that purportedly had a young child inside. Police Chief Richard Friend injured a leg after a suspect’s car hit the pickup he was in. Friend was released from the hospital early Wednesday with a cast.
Waldron Mayor Troy Anderson has resigned, effective Sunday. Anderson faces charges of abuse of public trust and patronizing a prostitute, and is expected to finalize a plea agreement by Monday, Anderson allegedly exchanged city water services for sex.
Dassault Aviation of Paris has signed a $1.1 billion deal to sell NetJets Europe 24 Falcon 7X jets, the company said. The order, the largest business jet order in European history, will be completed at Dassault Falcon Jet Corp.’s plant at Little Rock, the company said. The deal is Dassault’s largest ever private jet sale.
In the wake of an investigation by the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs, Tyson Foods will pay $1.5 million to about 2,500 women and minorities that it did not hire. The OFCCP conducted its investigation from 2002-04 at poultry plants in Broken Bow, Okla., Grannis, Clarksville, Berryville and Van Buren.
Springdale Mayor Jerre Van Hoose and Rich Baseball owner Bob Rich signed copies of the contract for the Wichita Wranglers to move to Springdale for the 2008 season.
Economic development in the Mississippi Delta will remain difficult as long as workers there continue to experience a high incidence of diabetes, Delta Regional Authority officials said Wednesday. They announced a new effort to help area residents get medical help in battling the disease and keeping track of their progress.
Another new Jonesboro eatery has filed for a private Club permit with the state ABC board. If granted, the Brockhouse would become the fourth Main Street business serving alcoholic beverages.
Delta State University's "Fighting Okra" mascot has landed a leading role on an episode of The Food Network's "Good Eats," a family cooking show starring Alton Brown. The episode, Okraphobia, will premiere at 9 p.m. Wednesday with additional air dates at midnight Thursday, 9 p.m. Friday, 1 a.m. Saturday and 6 p.m. Oct. 6.
