LITTLE ROCK (AP) — Gov. Mike Beebe told lawmakers Monday that he won’t release $1.8 million to build a 100-foot tunnel to connect the state Capitol to a nearby office building.
Beebe spokesman Matt DeCample said the governor met Monday with House Speaker Robbie Wills and Sen. Steve Faris to talk about the tunnel project. DeCample said Beebe is willing to release money to renovate the nearby building, but not the funding for the tunnel.

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Editor’s note: This column ran previously in the Guard on Oct. 3, 1996.
73 YEARS AGO
Austin Hill, 18, of Batesville was injured this afternoon when he fell from a hoist while at work on the bridge and overpass at Miller’s Creek, one mile northeast of here. Hill was rushed to a hospital here where it was found that his left arm was broken and that he suffered painful bruises about his body. Hill fell 60 feet when some part of the hoisting apparatus apparently gave way.

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For those shoppers looking for the latest in home decor and personal fashion accessories, they will find a large selection at Ivory Owl, 655 St. Louis St. in Batesville.
With flexible business hours, the Ivory Owl is available to serve the public from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday.
“We offer a wide variety of home decor, including lamps, picture frames, inspirational art pieces, candle sticks and more,” owner Deann Castleberry said recently.

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Anytime Fitness, the world’s largest and fastest growing 24-hour co-ed fitness franchise, according to a news release, is now open in Suite I of the Market Place Shopping Center at 3050 E. Harrison St. in Batesville.
The high-tech center occupies space formerly used by Puff’s clothing.
“The convenience and affordability of Anytime Fitness can’t be beat,” said Chris Kimball, owner of the fitness center.

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PLEASANT PLAINS — You can’t miss the new location of B.F. Smith & Son Saddlery in Pleasant Plains. It’s the western-looking log store along Highway 167 with all the saddles out front and the tall sign posts with the horse on top.
Operated by a fourth generation relative of B.F. Smith, Stacy Rutledge and her husband Philip Rutledge, the store offers a total line of cowboy/cowgirl accessories, supplies, and horse tack.
“We have top names in hats, boots, clothing, plus a complete line of top quality horse tack and equipment,” Stacy Rutledge said recently.

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QUITMAN — The Fall Harvest Festival in Quitman is more than its name implies. Experience the Arkansas
Frontier on a working farm, beginning Friday. The event incorporates education into hands-on fun, such as picking pumpkins, feeding farm animals, visiting an enchanted forest, touring an Indian village and mining for treasure, just to name a few.

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LITTLE ROCK (AP) — Little Rock police say a former North Little Rock School Board member is the target of a criminal child pornography investigation.
Police Lt. Terry Hastings says 46-year-old Trent Cox has been identified as a suspect in the case.
Cox has not been charged.
The search warrant was served last Thursday and Cox resigned from the school board on Friday saying the travel demands of his job were forcing him to miss too many meetings.

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PINE BLUFF (AP) — A Pine Bluff man arrested for an alleged assault on his mother has been released from jail, though authorities say an investigation is continuing into the woman’s death.
Fifty-nine-year-old Daniel Olson was arrested after he told police Friday he found his mother, 83-year-old Martha Olson, dead in a bathtub of water.

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The National Association of Junior Auxiliaries area meeting was held recently in Memphis.
Living a life of service and avoiding and resolving conflict were the main messages Independence County Chapter members came away with, according to a news release.

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All parks and recreation grant applications must be turned in to the Independence County Judge’s Office by no later than 4:30 p.m. Sept. 30 to be eligible for grant monies, according to County Judge Bill Hicks.

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CONCORD — The Concord School Board will meet in special session at 6 tonight in the high school media center for a school finance workshop presented by First Security Beardsley Public Finance, according to an agenda for the meeting.
First, the board will consider a letter of resignation from board member Tim Southerland. A new board member may be appointed during the session.
Rose Sparks will present an update on bricks and rocks for a project at the high school.
The Beardsley finance workshop will then be presented.

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