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NW Ark. bank branch robbed
FAYETTEVILLE (AP) — Police are investigating the robbery of a Bank of America branch in Fayetteville.
Sgt. Craig Stout says a man walked into the bank just after 10 a.m. Thursday and handed a teller a manila envelope and a note demanding money. Officers say no weapon was displayed.
The robber took the money and was last seen headed southeast of the bank on foot. No injuries were reported.
The man is described as a white male in his late 20s to early 30s.
He wore wire-rim eyeglasses, a black knit cap and a black and gray fleece jacket that zips. -
Backhoe used in break-in
FORT SMITH (AP) — Police in Fort Smith are trying to find a robber who used a backhoe to break into a pawn shop and steal jewelry.
The break-in at Cooper’s Pawn Shop occurred early Wednesday. The machine was backed into the pawn shop doors and broke them open. An alarm at the business went off at about 4:30 a.m., but the culprit was gone by the time they arrived.
Business owner Macy Bracken says several trays of gold and silver rings were taken. The loss was estimated at more than $50,000.
Investigators say they are still trying to find the owner of the backhoe. -
2 arrested for having heroin
BEEBE (AP) — Police in Beebe say a Jacksonville man and a Vilonia woman have been arrested for possession of heroin and drug paraphernalia.
Officers investigating reports of a man injecting himself with a syringe outside a convenience store arrested 21-year-old Jonathan Ryan and 18-year-old Jennifer Fields on Wednesday.
Police say the two were arrested after admitting they were using heroin and syringes and drug paraphernalia were found in their car.
Police Capt. Eddie Cullum said this is the first seizure of heroin in Beebe that he can recall. -
Boat recovered; man arrested
WALNUT RIDGE — Officers from the Lawrence County Sheriff’s Department arrested Colton Pins, 20, of Imboden on Thursday for theft of property, criminal trespass and criminal mischief, said Sheriff Jody Dotson.
“The arrest came after deputies took a report of a stolen boat, motor and trailer from Imboden and also some stolen power unit batteries on the Lawrence/Randolph County line,” Dotson said. “The boat was chained to a post support on a shed building; when the boat was hauled off it snapped the post, causing damage to the shed.” -
Jacksonport campground reopens
JACKSONPORT (AP) — The campground and boat ramp that were damaged in flooding at Jacksonport State Park are reopening.
The park says the facilities are to be open for use today.
Floodwaters have receded from the park, which is near the confluence of the Black and White rivers. The park’s grounds needed a month of work to make road repairs, clean mud off campground picnic tables and ensure electric connections were working. -
Inmate charged with damaging jail cell
Bond has been set at $40,000 for a Batesville man accused of damaging his Independence County jail cell.
Lt. Jimmy Smith, investigator for the Independence County Sheriff’s Office, said in a court affidavit filed Wednesday that Willard Richard Hood, 52, damaged a fire sprinkler in his cell on June 5.
“At the jail Deputy Michael Moody was advised that the sprinkler head in cell C-3 was damaged and Hood was the only inmate in the cell,” Smith said. “Since the sprinkler head is damaged, the cell cannot be used until repaired.” -
Marion Berry moved out of intensive care
LITTLE ROCK (AP) — Former Arkansas Congressman Marion Berry has been moved out of intensive care as he recovers from brain surgery to remove a tumor.
According to a posting by Berry’s family on CaringBridge.org on Thursday, Berry is now in a regular room at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences. The 68-year-old congressman had surgery on Tuesday after doctors discovered a tumor on the left side of his brain. -
Concord board has full agenda
CONCORD — The Concord School Board will meet at 7 p.m. Monday in the administration building to handle personnel issues, said Superintendent Dr. Michael Davidson.
The directors will consider a couple of letters of resignation and consider hiring a bus driver, a special education teacher, a science teacher and a kindergarten teacher.
They will also consider rehiring a media specialist/elementary teacher and consider approving a salary index for the assistant technology coordinator. -
Correction
The Brockwell Music School’s closing program was incorrectly listed in the Guard. The program will be June 24.
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Board hires employees, tables bids
MELBOURNE — Bids for a proposed restriping and resurfacing project at Melbourne High School were put on hold by the school board Wednesday night but hiring several new employees was not.
The board opened three bids for the restriping and resurfacing of parking lots and roadways at the high schools, but tabled the matter because bids did not include material costs.
Bids included those from Atlas Asphalt at 64,100; Times Striping of Van Buren, 57,331; and the Don Stephens company of Little Rock at 57,000. -
Ozarka announces Whitten as 2011 Outstanding Staff
MELBOURNE — Ozarka College recently named Public Relations Specialist Kim Whitten as its 2011 Outstanding Staff.
She will represent Ozarka in that capacity in October at the Arkansas Association of Two-Year Colleges annual conference.
With Ozarka since 2002, Whitten’s outstanding work ethic and many talents earned her this honor as a follow-up to selection for Outstanding Staff member in 2004, according to Ozarka President Dr. Richard Dawe. -
Melbourne School, state ed sued
A school in northwest Arkansas is suing the Melbourne School District and Arkansas Department of Education Commissioner Tom Kimbrell, claiming that a provision related to special-needs funding singles out the Izard County school.
The Deer/Mount Judea School District in Newton County filed the lawsuit in Pulaski County June 1.
