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Thursday August 28, 2008

Flooding In Downtown Heber Springs
Businesses in Downtown Heber Springs say enough is enough. Heavy rains last week flooded a number of shops for the fourth time this year, causing thousands of dollars in damage. Paulette Yarbrough tells the Sun Times, the constant flooding and water damage downtown is really taking its toll on the merchants. Mayor Jackie McPherson says the Corps of Engineers is conducting another study on how to remedy the problem. Even after identifying the issue, McPherson says it’s going to take millions of dollars in grants from the Federal Government to put an end to the flooding.

Tuckerman Resident Escapes Train Collision
Paul Nunn of Tuckerman must be living right. He narrowly escaped death earlier this week. Nunn was crossing the railroad tracks at highway 37 in his motorized wheel chair early Tuesday morning when a tire on his chair stuck in the tracks. Officer Dale Jackson was on the scene at the time and told the Newport Independent Nunn was able to roll out of the chair just before the train hit it, sending the chair flying over 100 feet. Officer Jackson says Nunn refused medical treatment and was very fortunate to be alive.

Fishing Report
When Jed Hollan talks, people listen. Prime example: Heavy rains in Cleburne County last week released a lot of sediment into the Little Red, muddying up the river and making the water quite thick. Knowing he has the ear of the Corps of Engineers, Hollan made a call to the field office in Little Rock and requested a slight increase in water releases to flush the river clean. One call was all it took, the Corps complied and Hollan says the Little Red is back to its normal state for this time of year and the fishing is wonderful.

Families First Fighting Proposal
Still no official legal challenge from Arkansas Families First on the “unmarried/ co-habitating” adoption ban ballot proposal however, Amiee Berry with Families First says the group continues to review submitted signatures and they have not ruled out a court challenge to keep the ban off the November ballot. Berry is appealing to all voters, Republican, Democrat, conservative and liberal, not to support the proposal. Berry and most foster care professionals say the proposal is too restrictive. They’ll argue the ban can, in some cases, prevent family members from adopting kids whose parents are unable to care for them.

Sports

Razorback Update
Hogs defensive coordinator Willy Robinson says his boys are playing better in practice, but not as well as they need to. Robinson wants to see improvement in getting to the ball and tackling. Red-shirt Freshman Jerry Franklin has made an impression on the staff and Robinson says Franklin will start this Saturday against Western Illinois.
The ASU Red Wolves and Coach Steve Roberts have high expectations this season, the Wolves have six offensive starters returning and five defensive regulars in the starting line up this year and look to improve on last year’s 5-7 record in the Sun Belt Conference.

MLB News
Ryan Ludwick went 3-4 with two RBI's and scored two runs as the Cards beat the Brewers last night 5-3. The series split puts St. Louis right back where they started earlier this week, 3.5 games behind the Brewers in the Wild Card. Cards are off today, they start a 3 game series in Houston Friday night.

A historic day in Major League Baseball today, instant replay will be used for the first time ever in series that start tonight. Umpires will only be able to call for a reply on home run balls that are too close to call or for what MLB has termed “boundary calls”.