News
Chiefs’ hirings need oversight, lawmakers told
BY SETH BLOMELEY
Arkansas has about 350 police chiefs, but no state agency checks to see whether the cities conducted the required background checks. - Tuesday, May 13, 2008
La Nina blamed for fierce weather
BY AMANDA O’TOOLE
In Arkansas, 2008 has been full of the stuff usually seen in disaster movies. - Tuesday, May 13, 2008
Sparks fly in debate on sunshine vitamin
BY CAROLYNE PARK
The discovery by researchers that at least 30 percent of the U.S. population is vitamin D deficient has led to a burst of interest in the vitamin long known to help strengthen bones and boost the immune system. - Tuesday, May 13, 2008
Board OKs tying tests’ scores with graduation
BY CYNTHIA HOWELL
In preparation for stricter student testing requirements that will go into effect in 2009-10, the Arkansas Board of Education on Monday gave preliminary approval to a set of rules for that program. - Tuesday, May 13, 2008
Some school districts to get tax windfall; 14 must repay excess
BY EVIE BLAD
The state Department of Education will pay millions of dollars to several Northwest Arkansas school districts in the coming months to align with a 2007 school-funding law. - Tuesday, May 13, 2008
ROGERS : Aldermen will vote on livestock tunnel
BY AMANDA O’TOOLE
ROGERS — A dead-end street in south Rogers leads to a field where someday grazing cows will avoid a busy road by using a tunnel built for hooves. - Tuesday, May 13, 2008
Principal at Rogers’ Kirksey Middle School earns state honor
ARKANSAS DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE
Roger Hill of Kirksey Middle School in Rogers is one of two principals the state Board of Education recognized as Master School Principals at its meeting Monday in Little Rock. - Tuesday, May 13, 2008
Getting it straight
The Democrat-Gazette wants its news reports to be fair and accurate. We correct all errors of fact. If you know of an error, write: Arkansas Democrat-Gazette SUSAN SCANTLIN Editor, Northwest Arkansas 515 Enterprise Drive, Suite 106 Lowell, Ark. 72745 or call (479) 770-8460 during business hours Monday through Friday. - Tuesday, May 13, 2008
NW Arkansas today
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QUOTE OF THE DAY “People typically associate tornadoes with Oklahoma, Kansas and the Plains, and they don’t realize how susceptible we are to that damage.” Marshal Watson, Benton County Emergency Management director, on the recent violent storms Article, 1B Today’s meetings Elkins Economic Development Committee, noon Tontitown Technical Advisory Committee, 1 p.m. Siloam Springs Planning Commission, 4 p.m. Fayetteville City Council agenda session, 4:30 p.m. Benton County Committee of 13, 5 p.m. Siloam Springs School Board, 5 p.m. Springdale School Board, 5 p.m. Fayetteville Water and Sewer Committee, 5:15 p.m. Bentonville City Council, 6 p.m. Springdale City Council, 6 p.m. Rogers Community Welfare and Environment Committee, 6:45 p.m. Cave Springs Planning Commission, 7 p.m. Centerton City Council, 7 p.m. Elkins Street Advisory Committee, 7 p.m. Rogers Transportation Committee, 7 p.m. Rogers Community Service Committee, 7:15 p.m. Rogers Finance Committee, 7:15 p.m. Rogers City Council, 7:30 p.m. West Fork City - Tuesday, May 13, 2008
TRAVELERS’ CHECK : Couple finds vacation trip rerouted
ROBERT J. SMITH
Imagine booking a flight from the Northwest Arkansas Regional Airport to Jamaica, paying for it and then having the airline call a month later to say it can’t be done. - Monday, May 12, 2008
FAYETTEVILLE : Cost savings touted by LED proponents
BY ROBERT J. SMITH
Fayetteville city officials are looking at saving money over the long haul by using pricey, energy-efficient bulbs and fixtures in street lights. - Monday, May 12, 2008
BENTON COUNTY : 2 races for judge draw 4 to ballot
BY ADAM WALLWORTH
Benton County voters will seat two circuit judges May 20. - Monday, May 12, 2008
Adoption in DeWitt reunites four siblings
BY CHARLOTTE TUBBS
DeWITT — Lou “Boo” Cox grew up in a family of seven, so he thought he knew what it took to run a large household before he and his wife adopted four siblings. - Monday, May 12, 2008
SPRINGDALE : iPods double as study, classroom manager aids
BY EVIE BLAD
SPRINGDALE — Principals in the Springdale School District collect covetous student stares as they pass through the hallways. - Monday, May 12, 2008
Agency to lease land for drilling royalties
BY CHARLOTTE TUBBS
The Developmental Disabilities Services Board sold more than 7,000 acres in Logan County to the Boy Scouts 32 years ago. But the division, a part of the Department of Human Services, retained mineral rights to the land and recently learned that someone was interested in leasing the mineral rights. - Monday, May 12, 2008
Other days
100 YEARS AGO May 12, 1908 Acting Governor Allen Hamiter issued a call for a special session of the state legislature. He calls the legislature for the purpose of taking up the matter of completing the new state capitol and also to arrange for the monthly payment of state tax money into the general revenue fund. Hamiter and his friends claim that Acting Gov. Pindall, who is now in Washington, D.C., and whose place as governor of Arkansas was assumed by Hamiter during his absence from the state, cannot revoke the call for the special session, and that nothing can prevent the session. - Monday, May 12, 2008
NW Arkansas today
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QUOTE OF THE DAY “We’re not going to jump off the cliff because it’s the sexy thing to do.” John Coleman, Fayetteville’s sustainability coordinator, on using LED street light fixtures to reduce energy consumption Article, 1B Today’s meetings Fayetteville Advertising and Promotion Commission, 2 p.m. Rogers Airport Commission, 4 p.m. Fayetteville Street Committee, 4:30 p.m. Fayetteville Planning Commission, 5:30 p.m. Washington County Juvenile Concerns Advisory Board, 5:30 p.m. Cave Springs City Council, 6 p.m. Decatur City Council, 6 p.m. Farmington City Council, 6 p.m. Pea Ridge School Board, 6 p.m. Prairie Grove School Board, 6 p.m. Centerton Planning Commission, 6:30 p.m. Fayetteville Ward 2 Meeting, 7 p.m. Greenland City Council, 7 p.m. Lincoln City Council, 7 p.m. Little Flock City Council, 7 p.m. West Fork School Board, 7 p.m. Looking ahead Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation’s Walk to Cure Diabetes Corporate Recruitment Breakfast, 7:30 a.m. Tuesday, Embassy Suites, Rogers Women’s Connection High Style - Monday, May 12, 2008
Graduate students map out business plan, advertising for Jonesboro’s transit system
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
JONESBORO — Graduate students from Arkansas State University are getting a handson experience in business and advertising by handling marketing for backers of a ballot item on continued funding for Jonesboro’s public transit system. - Monday, May 12, 2008
Wild or farmed, sales increasing for ginseng
BY MARK MINTON
KINGSTON — Deep in the hills, growers monitor secret plots of land in a quest to cash in on the Ozarks’ most valuable herb. - Sunday, May 11, 2008
BENTON COUNTY : 5 battle for shot at judge
BY AMANDA O’TOOLE
Leadership and county finances are the top issues fueling the most competitive race in Benton County’s primary election since 1996. - Sunday, May 11, 2008
Service tests sailor’s dedication to earn UA degree
BY ADAM WALLWORTH
FAYETTEVILLE — Pursuing a master’s degree is stressful enough for most people. - Sunday, May 11, 2008
Bank’s patrons look for answers
BY STACEY ROBERTS
FAYETTEVILLE — Owners of small local businesses knocked on the locked doors of ANB Financial branches Saturday morning looking for answers — and access — to their money. - Sunday, May 11, 2008
BENTON COUNTY : District 99 contest far from being dirty fight
BY LAURA KELLAMS
BENTONVILLE — Vickey Boozman said she didn’t know anyone else was running for a state House seat in District 99 when she decided to make a run for it. - Sunday, May 11, 2008
Other days
100 YEARS AGO May 11, 1908 Acting Gov. Allen H. Hamiter was asked again whether he had any intention of calling a special session. He said that there was absolutely nothing new to give out on that subject whatever. He had already stated he had no intention of doing so. Gov. Hamiter expressed both surprise and wonder at the reports circulated that he intended to call a special session. “I cannot understand,” stated the governor, “how on earth such reports were ever started.” 50 YEARS AGO May 11, 1958 A White team that had the stuff to shake off adversity and produce the big plays left it an even-stephen spring last night as the Razorbacks’ intra-camp warfare closed before 9,000 fans. The Reds, victors last week, went down 21 to 14 in a bristling struggle that had the folks actually standing at the finish. 25 YEARS AGO May 11, 1983 State Representative Grover Richardson of College Station intensified his attack on Gov. Bill Clinton, saying Mr. Clinton’s top black aide is guilty of “outright lies and half-truths - Sunday, May 11, 2008
Nurse indicted over medical-supply buys
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
A federal grand jury indicted a nurse on numerous charges accusing him of paying kickbacks so a nurse at Baptist Health Medical Center would buy goods from a medical-supply business, prosecutors said Thursday. - Sunday, May 11, 2008
Ex-worker accused after funds missing
ARKANSAS DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE
A food service manager in the Cabot School District, who resigned on Dec. 1, is accused of misappropriating nearly $47,000, a state auditor said Friday. - Sunday, May 11, 2008
NW Arkansas today
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QUOTE OF THE DAY “If you hear about a crop you can sell for $800 a pound for the dry roots, you’re going to get interested.” Andy Hankins, an extension specialist at Virginia State University, describing “wild-simulated” ginseng Article, 1B Looking ahead Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation’s Walk to Cure Diabetes Corporate Recruitment Breakfast, 7:30 a.m. Tuesday, Embassy Suites, Rogers Women’s Connection High Style Luncheon, noon-1 :30 p.m. Tuesday, Clarion Inn, Fayetteville The Heritage Trail: One Route, Three Histories of Arkansas, 4:30-7 :30 p.m. Thursday, Botanical Garden of the Ozarks, Fayetteville National Railway Historic Society, 7 p.m. Thursday, Shiloh Museum, Springdale Fourth annual Habitat For Humanity Hammer and Nail Golf Classic, 8 a.m. Friday, Lost Springs Golf Course, Rogers Third Friday Twilight Walk, 4-8 p.m. Friday, downtown Rogers 18th annual White Street Studio Walk, 4-10 p.m. Friday, White Street, Eureka Springs Health education Alcoholics Anonymous, 1 p.m. today, Alano Club, 568 W. S - Sunday, May 11, 2008
Group vows more help for children of inmates
BY ANDY DAVIS
Advocates for the children of Arkansas prison inmates vowed Friday to continue pushing for lower telephone rates at prisons and for more financial support for people who care for their grandchildren. - Sunday, May 11, 2008
Keith Jackson flies to keep vow to witness graduations
BY JOHN KRUPA
Years ago, Keith Jackson made a promise to attend the college graduation ceremonies of every child who advanced through his Little Rock-based outreach program for youth at risk of dropping out of school. - Sunday, May 11, 2008
Missing sex offender surrenders in state
BY JENNIFER SULLIVAN AND CHRISTINE CLARRIDGE THE SEATTLE TIMES
SEATTLE — A registered sex offender who lived under a bridge in Snohomish County, Wash., for three days before cutting off his state-issued GPS tracking ankle bracelet and disappearing turned himself in to police in Arkansas on Friday, according to the U.S. Marshals Service. - Sunday, May 11, 2008
