Marisa's portfolio

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T September 1, 2011 Fhursday riday, N,ovember 5, 2010

The

Daily Citizen TheDailyCitizen.com www.thedailycitizen.com

Serving Searcy and White County, Ark., since 1854

BaldWeek Knob10kicks off 2011 season is officially in the tonight books Security as Sept. 11talks date nears Presidenttightens sets biPartisan The Bulldogs a head start the season tonight Check theget sports page foron results of Thursday’s whenlocal theyhigh faceschool Pocahontas on games. the road. football —— PagePage 1b 1B

As the 10-year anniversary the 9/11 attacks nears, President Obama has invitedofRepublican and Democrat US officials are intensifying security efforts. officials to meet with him on Nov. 18.

— Page—2aPage 2A

unemployment CitiesLocal endorse bypass falls tax

Committee bar fight death Deceased: Larry Martin, 57 meeting Altercation/death: Elks Lodge, 2006; death occurred in 2008 Who: Committee appointed by Lawsuit filed: 2010 mayor to review Chapter 17 Outcome: Jury decided on no money for dead man’s sister What: Elected to hold a public forum sometime in near future Why: To gauge public views on taxes and licenses for businesses

Jury decides against woman in City to lawsuit Bypass tax bar fight

hold public hearing

No money awarded in death

By Warren Watkins warren@thedailycitizen.com A jury took 40 minutes Friday to decide against the sister of a man who died after a bar fight.

The lawsuit, heard before White County Circuit Judge Panel lookswasinto Tom Hughes, filed after a 2006 bar fight at the outdated ordinance Elks Lodge in Searcy. Larry By Marisa Lytle Martin, 57, died in 2008, two mlytle@thedailycitizen.com years after a fight at the private ThePlaintiff City ofwas Searcy will club.

Martin’s gather public input on busisister, Notra McGhee, who ness licenses and taxes claimed negligence on after the a recent decision by a city part of the club. McGhee panel. was represented by attorney The committee voted to Connie Grace of in theChapter Little make some changes Rock lawCode firm of ofOrdinances Gary Holt 17 in the andbetter Associates.

Defendants to suit today’s needs. were the Searcy Elks Lodge The ordinance, which covers and the club’s insurance licenses and taxes for combusipanies, defended by nesses, was written inattorney 1969.

BillThe Frye of the states Frye that Law ordinance it Firm in North Little Rock. is unlawful for any person to A on 2006 altercation at carry any trade, business, the bar between Martin and profession or vocation within the city limits without obtaining an occupational license, which is issued them by the City Clerk.

An issue discussed within the committee Tuesday was the discrepancy between the various fees and taxes required of both brick and mortar, or stationary, businesses and transient vendors, which are defined in Chapter 17 Public as businesses that have no hearing fixed place of business within

Sullivan

Doyle

n Early voting starts Tuesday

n Georgetown onlyoccurred town without Dean Emmerling confirmed endorsement two years before Martin died.

Emmerling, originally named as a defendant, then dropped, did not testify.

The Elks Lodge, at 3708 Evans Drive is in White County, not in the city limits of Searcy but on a “peninsula” almost completely surrounded by the city. White County is “dry,” meaning the sale of alcohol is illegal except for private clubs like the Elks Lodge that are allowed to sell alcohol by the drink.

“Larry took an empty swing and missed,” Grace told the jury in her opening remarks. “Emmerling reached back and threw a punch and hit Larry and pushed him over some chairs.”

Martin, a diabetic with cirrhosis of the liver, a bleeding disorder and a history of alcohol abuse, hit his head hard on the floor, then was placed into a chair, Grace

Jobless rate in county UnemPloyment rates shows an increase of monabout ing held at the end of August and The seenrate how the city needs the Pangburn n White County: 7.9 percentpasses McRae is expected to pass a resolution60 jobs. ey it would receive from the tax. begins a downward trend n State: 7.5 percent Pangburn expected to receive “Sixty peopleis could have been in the

By Lukeendorsing Jones the tax on Tuesday. resolution, McRae Pangburn Mayor Gary Doyle saidgas $138,815 revenue. industry,” in said Jim Dixon of Liberty ljones@thedailycitizen.com Border Counties he and rate the council to residents havehadsome culverts that we “We’ve Electrocraft employ in Whitespoke County has Bank. “We expected to TuesdayThe jobless n Cleburne: 6.6 percent before passing the resolution. the earlier parts of the 2000s.

need about 50.”to replace and there are some

fallen to 7.9 percent in August, according n By Independence: percent Molly M.8.1 Fleming “We were Statistics. going to pass it ear- Even during thetown recession, average potholes around that need to be to the Bureau of Labor n mfleming@thedailycitizen.com Jackson: 10.0 percent lier, but some of the council mem-ratesrepaired,” have stayed far said. below“We’d those like of the Doyle to The overall rate has fallen since n Woodruff: 8.9 percent One more city in White County has bers felt like we should talk to theearlywiden 1990s, where the annual rate was some of our streets if we could.

February’s 9.2 percent — the highest n endorsed Prairie: 7.7the percent one-cent Highway 36-67 residents before we took a vote,” healmost 10 percent from 1990-1992. percentage for“Once the county in the lastthe 10resi- If we don’t get the tax money, it will n Connector Lonoke: 6.8Route percenttax issue and another said. we spoke with Arkansas’ statewide is 7.5 projects. percent. take a long time to rate do those but theitnumbers are still hovern is Faulkner: 7.3 percent set to endorse it on Tuesday. years —dents, came back that they were CoNTINuED oN PagE 3a We don’t have a lot of revenue for our ing around double the low rate seen in Pangburn passed a resolution endorsing the tax during a special meet-

Windy marquee Animals available at shelter

about 60-40 in favor.”

He said the residents have

Continued on Page 3A

County fair

When: Sept. 12-17 Location: White County Fairgrounds, Searcy Admission: Prices vary each night, ride armbands available

County fair opens Sept. 12 Bull riding contest, parade to be held

By Molly M. Fleming mfleming@thedailycitizen.com Once school gets back in full swing and the days start to get a little shorter, it’s not CoNTINuED oN PagE 3a long until the late summer tradition of food, rides and competition returns — and it’s just around the corner.

The White County Fair will open to the public on Monday, Sept. 12, though the county horse show will be held on Saturday, Sept. 10.

On Monday, the fair parade will kick of festivities at 4 p.m. in downtown Searcy.

Parade floats can compete in three different categories: Service organizations, educaNext meeting: 7 p.m., Dec. 6 tional organizations and comLocation: City hall mercial floats. Plaques will be awarded for first, second and third place in each category, there, we’ve done,” Swanson as well as to “Best Team” and said. “I hope that will go a “Wagon Hitch.” long way toward reducing Later that evening, severor doing away with the fine al local women will compete they set on us. That place is for the title of White County in great shape.”

Fair Queen. The contest Mayor Randall Homsley will start at 7:30 p.m. at the said grant applications are Entertainment Center. being submitted and word Gate admission for Monday on approval is expected in is $4 for adults and $3 for chilthe future. The city’s outdren ages 6-12. Children age 5 standing loan for the origiand younger get in free. nal installation of the system The fun continues on may be incorporated into the Tuesday and Wednesday new loan for improvements, armbandroad-night.

Kevin Hammett of Searcy Cinema 8, enduring blustery crosswinds, rearranges letterswith on the theater’s Homsley said.

Admission is free all day side marquee mid-afternoon Thursday. Luke Jones/ljones@thedailycitizen.com “We’re still having some on Tuesday, sponsored by major infiltration from White County New Media.

Garner,” Homsley said.

On Wednesday, admission is CoNTINuED oN PagE 3a $4 for adults and $3 for chilPolly hides from a photographer from The Daily Citizen at the Searcy Animal Shelter Wednesday. The sheldren ages 6 to 12. Children ter houses many cats and dogs who are looking for good homes. It is open from 3-5 p.m. on Mondays and age 5 and younger are free. from 1-5 p.m. Tuesdays through Sundays. The shelter is located at 112 Johnston Road, Searcy. It can be Support offeredMarisa for Lytle/mlytle@thedailycitizen.com Continued on Page 3A reached at 501-268-3535 or www.hss.petfinder.com.

Higginson sewer woes bring probable rate increase

not yet scheduled Continued on Page 3A

By Warren Watkins warren@thedailycitizen.com HIGGINSON — The city says it has resolved its sewer Where: Horatio problems for now, but a rate Who: 26-year-old Rubi increase is in the Jose works for a charged with felony aggralong-term solution. vated burglary The system is 21 years old, according to Alderman Glen Swanson, the system operator. Earlier in the year the Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) filed a lawsuit against the city concerning problems with the city’s treatment plant. Swanson said a July inspection by ADEQ was conducted with reference to a list of problems made by ADEQ. The“Everything Associated Press showed on HORATIO — A Horatio man awoke to find a burglar clad in a ski mask dragging a handcuffed woman who lived in their mobile home toward the door. He stopped him by whacking him on the head with a machete.

TheThe Associated Press Gazette Texarkana LITTLE ROCK — reported Wednesday that Sevier Arkansas' state Senate is preCounty deputies charged 26paring for next year's year-old Jose Rubi withlegislafelony tive sessionburglary. days after voters aggravated gave Republicanshad majora gains Investigators little in the Democrat-controlled help in identifying a suspect.

Legislature.

The burglar dropped a pill botSenators gathered the tle with an address on it.at When state arrived Capitol on address Thursday Rubi at that and had machete wounds on and his for freshman orientation head, deputies arrested for him.the meetings to prepare

Robbery

Machete wounds link man to burglary

city coUncil

Elementary welcomes parents to ESL party

got to reach out Ark. senators prepare for Spanish-speaking students esl inVolVement Party "We’ve and help these students 2011 legislative session seek 3rd person connected to death of Sherwood and their parents."

Investigators woman What: Tips and resources for parents of Spanish-speaking students Where: Riverview-Kensett Cafeteria When: 6 p.m. Tuesday

By Luke Jones ljones@thedailycitizen.com Riverview-Kensett Elementary legislative sessionPress that begins school will hold an partymiss-know how to geta involved and this isin Cleary, 74,involvement was reported "There's lot of unknowns The Associated in January.

Senators — planned for the ing parents students. getting them involved.”

Aug.of22ESL when a neighbor calledone way this of investigation," Bedwell said.

SHERWOOD Investigators towere choose their committee standsafter for English Seconddoor The will featureall a presentation finding as hera garage "It event is networking the time. ... looking Wednesday for a thirdESLpolice assignments in the afternoon.

Language. open and her car missing. Policeof ESL They're trying by to ESL makecoordinator sure to get information person in connection with the death orientation meetfound no one the home. all of this sorted out." is for the inparents of ESL Debbie ofThe a Sherwood woman who disap-“This Thompson, then a list of parent ing comes days last afterweek.students toAncome investigator two by women who were out and learndiscovered ways tips andThe peared fromtwo her home resources Chandler.

Republicans madePolice gains upChief and James Cleary's body the arrested haven't been parents chargedrecwith Sherwood they can get involved andfollowing learn tipsnight Some of the tips help down the ballot ditchwith easthomework,” of Sherwood Cleary's death. between English Bedwell said in thatArkansas. he was anticion howintoa help saidafterognize the differences Republicans will arrest hold 15 of caseSouthwest of two School womenfifth arrested Family friendswith saidstudents goodbye pating a third in the of one Middle grade forand Spanish andand working the 35 seats inCleary, the statebut Senate using thewho dead woman'swhose to parents Cleary read at a only funeral on Tuesday.

Katherine he declined teacherallegedly Audrey Chandler, is orgaSpanish or not card “It’s saidgoing Cleary's next and atdetails least 44of of the to year discuss the probe, nizing credit the event. to bebelonga at all.Afterward, Debora Burden, Cleary's ings had beentimes, dumped friend the andattending neighbor,parents said will she be was 100 seats in the House. including how she was killed. great night.

Many theythere. don’t Finally,

WEATHER

Today: Highs Today: Mostly Sunny. sunny.

Highs in the in the50s. midNorthwest 90s. Southeast mid winds winds 10 mph.

10 to 5 15tomph Tonight: Tonight: Partly Clear.cloudy.

Lows inLows the around 70. Southeast upper 20s.

Northwest winds 55 to to 10 10 mph. mph.

Vol. Vol. 157, 156, No. No. 210 265 ©2011 ©2010 The The Daily Daily Citizen Citizen

INDEX NATION & STATE, & STATE, 2A OPINIONS, 4A LIFESTYLES, 5A CALENDAR/OBITUARIES, 6A SPORTS, 1B CLASSIFIEDS, 5B

“

auDReY CHanDLeR frustrated that the first police officers Southwest Middle School fifth grade teacher on the scene the morning Cleary was able to fill missing out a survey how reported didn'tdetailing notice what theshe program or didsigns not help called did obvious thatthem. someAs of"was 2009, there were 53 ESL stuthing seriously wrong." said she got a callDistrict. from a dentsBurden in the Riverview School security at 4:15 a.m. saying “I thinkcompany it’s huge,” Chandler said. a garage motion had “I that mean, you door can look at alarm our state beennow triggered at Cleary's residence. right and with all the plants and Besidescoming findingin,the doorgotopen and factories we’ve to reach car gone, neighbor's dog outCleary's and help these her students and their was unleashed and barking, she said. parents.”

A bird doesn'twhich sing one There are truths because hasafter an answer, can onlyitsay having it won singsthe because it has song. right to say athem.

LouCoCteau Holtz Jean

French Coach, director,1937 1889-1963

Contact us: 3000 E. Race, Searcy, AR 72143, (Phone) 501-268-8621, (Fax) 501-268-6277

”

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2011

75¢

The

Daily Citizen TheDailyCitizen.com

Serving Searcy and White County, Ark., since 1854

TOURNEY GETS PLAYERS UP TO SPEED

PLANS FOR STATE HEALTH EXCHANGE NIXED

Searcy’s varsity basketball teams are making the most of the Searcy Bank Classic. — PAGE 1B

Arkansas’ insurance commissioner said the state will stop trying to seek health exchange control. — PAGE 3A

Yarnell’s trustee urges approval Paperwork to finalize Yarnell’s sale filed Friday

BY JACOB BROWER jbrower@thedailycitizen.com

LITTLE ROCK — The trustee overseeing the liquidation of Yarnell’s assets asked a U.S.

Bankruptcy Court judge Friday to fast track finalization the sale of the company’s real and intellectual property to Schulze & Burch Biscuit Co. (S&B) of Chicago.

Randy Rice, United States bankruptcy trustee, said during a Friday morning press conference in Little Rock that he is “cautiously optimistic” that the

sale will be finalized quickly.

S&B purchased the Yarnell’s plant and equipment along with its trademark and recipes earlier this week.

“We want to shorten the time for creditors to object,” he said.

“We want to see it get on the fast track.”

Yarnell’s owes $15 million in debt and the property sold to

Christmas concerts Who: Bradford public school students What: To perform in Christmas music programs When: Monday, Dec. 5 and Tuesday, Dec. 13 at 7 p.m.

Where: Bradford school auditorium

S&B for $1.34 million. Property purchased by bidders not associated with S&B include vehicles, tools and other miscellaneous items. Rice said the auction brought in “in excess of” $1.54 million — well short of the company’s $15 million of debt.

“It is not my job to make up

Bradford students to perform

Please see YARNELL’S | 3A

HU HOSTS COMMUNITY CHRISTMAS OPEN HOUSE

Arrest Who: Michael Jones, 40, of Judsonia When: Thursday

Man arrested on felony warrant

New teacher to conduct first Christmas concert in new auditorium

BY MARISA LYTLE mlytle@thedailycitizen.com

BRADFORD — The new choral director of Bradford Public Schools will conduct two Christmas music programs in the next couple of weeks.

In August, Jeanie Clements began her job as music specialist and junior and senior high choir director for the Bradford school district.

“I taught for two years at Newport,” she said, “but this is my first year at Bradford.

It has been wonderful. The community has been very receptive. The faculty and administration have been very welcoming. The kids are willing to work hard, so it’s been a great year.”

Clements teaches music to all Bradford students in kindergarten through eighth grade, as well as to 27 high school students.

“I have about 350 students total,” she said. “They have all been working really hard on the Christmas music. The elementary students have been working on Christmas songs since September; we had to start so early because I only see them for 40 minutes once a week.”

According to Clements, the kids have enjoyed preparing for their concerts, and she expects many parents, grandparents and others to attend the performances.

Jones

Suspect accused of holding homeowner against his will Deputies with the White County Sheriff’s Office arrested Michael Jones, 40, of Judsonia, after a recent chase and standoff.

Deputies were attempting to serve a warrant on Jones around 6 p.m. Thursday when they located him traveling southbound on Main Street in Searcy and attempted to make a stop. Jones led deputies on a brief chase to a residential mobile home park outside of Searcy. He attempted to back into a patrol unit before exiting his vehicle and fleeing on foot.

It was later reported to deputies that Jones forced his way into a home, holding the homeowner against his will. The homeowner was eventually released and deputies entered the residence and took Jones into custody without incident.

Jones had an outstanding warrant out of the White County Sheriff’s Office for first-degree battery for an Aug. 31 incident when he allegedly stabbed another man, as well as a parole violation warrant. Jones now faces charges of fleeing and false imprisonment. He is being held on a $65,000 bond and will appear in White County Circuit Court Tuesday.

Marisa Lytle/mlytle@thedailycitizen.com

John Stephen Boone (left) and Natalie Oliver (right) fill their cups at an illuminated punch fountain during Harding University’s Christmas Open House on Thursday evening. The event was catered by Classic Fare and featured live musical performances, outdoor light displays and carriage rides.

“I wish I had greater news to tell you, that we had a big pot of money and that big pot of money is going to alleviate some of your problems. I can’t tell you that.”

Mike Beebe Governor of Arkansas

$63M in new higher ed funding needed

BY ANDREW DEMILLO Associated Press

NORTH LITTLE ROCK — A state board recommended $63 million in new funding for Arkansas’ public colleges and universities on Friday, while acknowledging that they’re unlikely to receive it in next year’s

WEATHER Today: Mostly cloudy. Rain likely. Highs in the lower 60s.

South winds 10 to 15 mph.

Tonight: Rain. Lows in the lower 50s. South winds 10 to 15 mph.

Vol. 157, No. 290 ©2011 The Daily Citizen

Please see CONCERT | 2A

budget after Gov. Mike Beebe warned there was no new money for most agencies.

The Arkansas Higher Education Coordinating Board said the request included in its recommendation would fund only 75 percent of the needs campuses say they have for the

budget year that begins July 1.

The panel approved the recommendation as the Legislature prepares for its fiscal session in February.

Shane Broadway, interim director of the state Department of Higher Education, said it was unlikely that the recommenda-

INDEX

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NATION & STATE, 2A OPINIONS, 4A LIFESTYLES, 5A CALENDAR/OBITUARIES, 6A SPORTS, 1B CLASSIFIEDS, 5B

tions would be funded because of the economy and a tight state budget.

“Certainly, you would like that new funding, but not having a cut is still pretty good,” Broadway said.

Please see EDUCATION | 2A

I invent nothing, I rediscover.

AUGUSTE RODIN 19th Century French sculptor

Contact us: 3000 E. Race, Searcy, AR 72143, (Phone) 501-268-8621, (Fax) 501-268-6277

”

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 2011

75¢

The

Daily Citizen TheDailyCitizen.com

Serving Searcy and White County, Ark., since 1854

ROUND 2 OF PLAYOFFS IN THE BOOKS

WC CENTRAL TO CONSTRUCT BUILDING

Turn to sports to find out how Searcy, Harding Academy and Beebe fared Friday night. — PAGE 1B

The White County Central School District has hired a contractor to draw plans for a new building. — PAGE 3A

Arrests made in Searcy murder

Beebe School Board

3 men now charged with capital murder

Next meeting at 6:30 p.m. on Dec. 12 in the board room in Central Offices

Beebe schools saved $125K

BY MOLLY M. FLEMING mfleming@thedailycitizen.com

Searcy police officers have arrested two more men in relation to the Oct. 23 homicide of Zachary Mitchell, 20,

of Searcy, while another suspect who was already arrested is also being charged with the homicide.

Police arrested Maurice Andre Alexander Jr., 20, in Searcy on a charge of capital murder and police in Lenexa, Kan., arrested Devonte Tre Nelson, 19, in Lenexa, who is also being charged with capital murder.

Both men received formal charges of capital murder on Thursday afPlease see HOMICIDE | 2A

Mitchell

Alexander

Nelson

BIRDS FIND HOME IN URBAN AREA

Speaker says savings on energy should increase

BY ERICA SIRRATT Special to The Daily Citizen

Energy Education Specialist Jean Stark told the Beebe School Board that the district has saved $124,003 since February when the new Energy Education contract went into effect.

Between February and August 2011, the district has saved $124,003 by conserving energy and tracking their use of electricity, water, sewer, and natural gas.

Stark said for September alone the savings was $14,295.18 and he only expects the savings to get bigger.

Stark spends his time monitoring the use of energy and trying to change the habits of the students and staff. Stark tracks and analyzes the amount of energy used on campus.

“We try to teach people if you don’t need it, shut it off,” Stark said. “Just stay comfortable.”

Stark said that the Career

Marisa Lytle/mlytle@thedailycitizen.com

An American robin (above) perches on an iron gate outside the Searcy Art Gallery earlier this week. Robins reside in Arkansas all year-round. At left, the state bird of Arkansas, the Northern mockingbird, peeks out from atop a berry bush in the Searcy Art Gallery’s garden earlier this week. Mockingbirds are present in the state year-round.

Please see BEEBE | 2A

Boozman: Debt panel will deal 11th hour

“This is our worst nightmare. The entire OSU family is very close, very close indeed. To lose anyone, especially these two individuals who are incredible life forces in our family, it is worse beyond words.”

BY ANDREW DEMILLO

Burns Hargis

Associated Press

OSU president

NORTH LITTLE ROCK — U.S. Sen. John Boozman said Friday that he believes a special deficitcutting panel will reach a last minute-deal to find $1.2 trillion in spending cuts, he doubts that members will go beyond that amount.

The Republican senator from Arkansas said he thinks the threat of automatic cuts that would take effect if an agreement isn’t reached by Wednesday should be enough to spur the 12-member committee to make a deal.

“I think that they’ll get it done.

Please see SUPERCOMMITTEE | 2A

Oklahoma State coaches die in plane crash

BY JEFF LATZKE Associated Press

STILLWATER, Okla. — Kurt Budke turned Oklahoma State’s women’s basketball team into a winner and hoped he’d found the place where he’d coach until he retired.

Miranda Serna had passed up opportunities to leave his side, staying loyal to the man whom she had helped to win a junior college national championship and then rebuild a big-time

WEATHER Today: Mostly cloudy. Rain likely. Highs in the mid 60s.

South winds 10 to 15 mph.

Tonight: Cloudy. Rain likely.

Lows in the mid 50s. South winds 10 to 15 mph.

Vol. 157, No. 278 ©2011 The Daily Citizen

college program.

Having succeeded together, Budke and Serna died together — perishing in a plane crash on a trip aimed at building their team’s future.

Budke, the head coach, and Serna, his assistant, were killed Thursday when the single-engine plane transporting them on a recruiting trip crashed in steep terrain in Arkansas, the university said Friday. The pilot, 82-year-old former Okla-

homa state Sen. Olin Branstetter, and his 79-year-old wife, Paula, also died when the plane sputtered, spiraled out of control and nosedived into the Winona Wildlife Management Area near Perryville, about 45 miles west of Little Rock.

There were no survivors.

“This is our worst nightmare.

The entire OSU family is very close, very close indeed,” OSU President Burns Hargis said at a news conference. “To lose

INDEX NATION & STATE, 2A OPINIONS, 4A LIFESTYLES, 5A CALENDAR/OBITUARIES, 6A SPORTS, 1B CLASSIFIEDS, 5B

“

anyone, especially these two individuals who are incredible life forces in our family, it is worse beyond words.”

The crash was the second major tragedy for the sports program in about a decade. In January 2001, 10 men affiliated with the university’s men’s basketball team died in a Colorado plane crash.

“When something like this Please see CRASH | 2A

Man may aspire to virtue, but he cannot reasonably aspire to truth.

NICHOLAS DE CHAMFORT 18th Century French writer

Contact us: 3000 E. Race, Searcy, AR 72143, (Phone) 501-268-8621, (Fax) 501-268-6277

”

The Daily Citizen

Friday, November 4, 2011 • Page 3A

LOCAL/WORLD

Marisa Lytle/mlytle@thedailycitizen.com

Fall hue brightens Searcy’s landscape Autumn leaves of red and gold burnish the trees, and persimmons hang on the bare branches of a small tree in Riverside Park in Searcy.

Biggest jump seen in global warming gases Searcy man killed

BY SETH BORENSTEIN AP Science Writer

WASHINGTON — The global output of heattrapping carbon dioxide jumped by the biggest amount on record, the U.S. Department of Energy calculated, a sign of how feeble the world’s efforts are at slowing manmade global warming.

The new figures for 2010 mean that levels of greenhouse gases are higher than the worst case scenario outlined by climate experts just four

years ago.

“The more we talk about the need to control emissions, the more they are growing,” said John Reilly, co-director of MIT’s Joint Program on the Science and Policy of Global Change.

The world pumped about 564 million more tons (512 million metric tons) of carbon into the air in 2010 than it did in 2009. That’s an increase of 6 percent. That amount of extra pollution eclipses the individual emissions

of all but three countries — China, the United States and India, the world’s top producers of greenhouse gases.

It is a “monster” increase that is unheard of, said Gregg Marland, a professor of geology at Appalachian State University, who has helped calculate Department of Energy figures in the past.

Extra pollution in China and the U.S. account for more than half the increase in emissions last year, Marland said.

“It’s a big jump,” said Tom Boden, director of the Energy Department’s Carbon Dioxide Information Analysis Center at Oak Ridge National Lab. “From an emissions standpoint, the global financial crisis seems to be over.”

Boden said that in 2010 people were traveling, and manufacturing was back up worldwide, spurring the use of fossil fuels, the chief contributor of man-made climate change.

in 3-vehicle accident towed by a 2008 Dodge.

After impact, Rouse’ vehicle struck another southbound vehicle head on.

Rouse was transported to White County Medical Center and pronounced dead at 12:42 p.m. The drivers of the other two vehicles were uninjured.

The report states that Rouse was not wearing a seat belt at the time of the accident.

The Daily Citizen

A Searcy man was killed recently in a three-vehicle accident on Highway 157 at Steprock.

According to a report from the Arkansas State Police, William Rouse, 37, was traveling northbound at about 10:49 a.m. Wednesday in a 2005 Chevrolet when his vehicle crossed the center line and struck a utility trailer being

Boehner: New revenues depend on benefit program spending reform

BY ANDREW TAYLOR Associated Press

WASHINGTON — House Speaker John Boehner said Thursday that “there’s room for revenue” as a congressional deficit-reduction supercommittee seeks $1.2 trillion or more in deficit cuts over the coming decade. But he says it would require a major overhaul of government benefit programs.

“Without real reform on the entitlement side, I’m not even going to put any new revenue on the table,” Boehner said.

Entitlement programs include Social Security,

Medicare and Medicaid.

Boehner says he remains committed to helping the deficit panel succeed and that Congress should approve its recommendations if it produces a plan to curb the government’s gush of red ink.

“I didn’t agree to set this thing up with any idea that it wouldn’t succeed,” Boehner said. “I’d love to exceed the goal, but we have to meet the goal, and I’m going to put every ounce of effort in to make sure that we do.”

Shortly after meeting with reporters, Boehner

AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite

Rep. Jeb Hensarling, R-Texas (left), and Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash. (right) co-chairmen of the Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction, confer at the start of a Tuesday hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington. met again with supercommittee Republicans.

The panel has three

weeks to come up with recommendations that would be given an auto-

In European crisis, Obama sees risks back home

BY JIM KUHNHENN Associated Press

CANNES, France — His political fortunes and his nation’s economy at risk, President Barack Obama on Thursday implored European leaders to swiftly work out a eurozone rescue plan, aware of the potential fallout at home if they fail.

Obama, at the French Riviera for a summit of the Group of 20 leading industrialized and developing economies, pledged to be a partner in helping the Europeans cope with the economic emergency. But his aides insisted

that Europe’s problem, brought on by the threat of a Greek default, was one it had to fix.

Taking his jobs-first message abroad, Obama said the goal was getting people back to work.

“That means,” Obama said, “we’re going to have to resolve the situation here in Europe.”

For Obama, an incumbent seeking a second term in a time of economic peril, the stakes in Europe are immense.

Europe is the largest U.S. trading partner, and its intertwined financial institutions mean that a

worsening crisis in Europe inevitably would spread across the Atlantic. The timing could not be worse as the weak U.S. economy is beginning to show some signs of life even with the unemploy-

ment rate stuck at 9.1 percent.

Obama’s economic options and his leverage are limited, and the European debt crisis consumed all attention at the summit meeting.

matic vote by both House and Senate.

The deficit panel appears deadlocked over demands by Democrats that it raise substantial new revenue. Republicans are united against the idea, though a GOP proposal last week counted new Medicare premiums and larger contributions from federal workers to their retirement as revenue.

Republicans also assumed about $200 billion in revenue would come from the economic growth associated with reforming the loopholecluttered tax code.

Boehner discussed a potential deficit deal with President Barack Obama this summer that would have allowed up to $800 billion in new revenues as part of a comprehensive tax overhaul bill that would have eliminated many tax breaks and used the savings to lower income tax rates.

However, the BoehnerObama talks fell apart.

Boehner said Thursday that “all kinds of discussions” are going on now.

“I think there’s room for revenue but there’s clearly a limit to the revenues that may be available,” Boehner said.

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SATURDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2011

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Daily Citizen TheDailyCitizen.com

Serving Searcy and White County, Ark., since 1854

‘THINK PINK’ IS INSIDE TODAY’S EDITION

WEEK 8 OF PREP FOOTBALL IN THE BOOKS

Turn to Section C for local stories about breast cancer survival, treatment and awareness. — PAGE 1C

Turn to the sports section to see how local high school football teams fared Friday night. — PAGE 1B

County chooses insurance plan Committee discusses addressing issue, lack of safety plan

BY MOLLY M. FLEMING mfleming@thedailycitizen.com

When it comes to insuring the White County employees and elected officials, insurance companies were not enthused to offer their services, said Cindy Dixon, with Gallagher Benefit Services.

The company is hired by the county to find the best insurance rates, and the only company that offered a competitive rate was QualChoice, who has insured the county for the last two years.

But this year, the company increased its fee 12.9 percent because of the number

of claims filed in the county last year.

“In the last plan year, QualChoice made less than $1,000 due to the amount of claims they had to pay,” Dixon said during the Thursday night meet-

Concert Who: Bradford Schools band director Matthew Watson and ASUJonesboro tuba and euphonium quartet What: Performed concert Where: Newly constructed Bradford Schools Auditorium When: Thursday evening

Please see INSURANCE | 2A

Concert White County farmers plant strawberries held at Bradford Schools Local Farm

Who: Kenneth and Debbie Horton What: Raise commercial crops on their farm and sell at fruit and vegetable stand Where: Bald Knob Additional info: The Hortons just planted strawberries. Pumpkins and turnips, among other crops, are being harvested.

Quartet, new director perform in new auditorium

Horton farm in Bald Knob grows variety of commercial crops

BY MARISA LYTLE mlytle@thedailycitizen.com

training force. The U.S. also had been interested in keeping a small force to help the Iraqis deal with possible Iranian meddling.

The task now is to speed the pullout of the remaining U.S. forces, nearly 40,000 in number.

Staying behind in Iraq, where bombings and other violence still occur, will be some 150-200 U.S. military troops as part of embassy security, the defense attaché’s office and the office of security cooperation. That’s common practice but still a danger to American forces.

Obama, an opponent of the war since before he took office, nevertheless praised the efforts of U.S.

BRADFORD — The school district hosted a concert in their new auditorium Thursday evening.

Also new to the school is band director Matthew Watson, who performed during the concert.

Watson is a May 2011 graduate of ASU in Jonesboro and first-year teacher. He teaches grades fourth through twelfth, with beginning band starting in fifth grade.

“My goals for the band are to continues to build off of the encouragement from the administration,” Watson said, “and to show students that music is an enjoyable and worthwhile endeavor.”

Performing in the Thursday concert was a quartet from Watson’s alma mater.

Dr. Ed Owen, a euphonium player and former professor of Watson’s, performed with a graduate level euphonium player, a graduate level tuba player and a junior music education tuba player. Their names are Jeremy Drymon, Jason Tacker and Eric Barnett. The ensemble played pieces by Anton Bruckner, Antonio Vivaldi and John Stevens.

Owens performed a solo rendition of The Beatles’ “Blackbird” arranged by a Norwegian tuba player.

In addition, Watson and Owens, both on euphonium, played the four-movement duet “Suite for Two” by John Stevens.

Watson commented on the importance of the new auditorium to Bradford Schools.

“Having a new auditorium is a terrific asset to have,” Watson said. “It shows the administration’s commitment to the arts at Bradford Schools and also allows the school a place to hold pageants, talent shows and graduation. It has improved the school by helping the community and showing that the arts are an important, fundamental staple in public schools.”

According to Watson, from what he has been told, the band has generated more interest than in previous years, as is evidenced by the number of beginning students who rented instruments this year being triple the number from the past three years combined.

While euphonium is his primary instrument, Watson also plays all of the band instruments, as well as piano and guitar. He said he has really enjoyed being the new band director at Bradford

Please see IRAQ | 2A

Please see CONCERT | 3A

BY MARISA LYTLE mlytle@thedailycitizen.com

Approximately 60,000 newly planted strawberry plants could yield 60,000 quarts of the delicious red fruit come April and May at one Bald Knob farm.

Kenneth Horton planted his strawberries Oct. 12 and will wait until late April to begin harvesting them.

In the meantime, he must ensure the fruit is protected from winter weather.

“For these berries to grow properly, the temperature needs to stay in the upper 40s at night and in the 60s and 70s during the day for the next three to four weeks,” Horton said. “In the next month, we will put on row covers — they’ll look like white bed sheets covering the field — to protect the plants form the cold.”

Horton said new leaves are just starting to appear on the plants.

“I hope they’ll be more developed before the real winter sets in,” he said.

“Having a healthy plant now is what determines the yield in the spring.”

The harvesting will span five to six Marisa Lytle/mlytle@thedailycitizen.com weeks, beginning in late April and con- Kenneth Horton picks a few mustard greens at his farm in Bald Knob on Tuesday. tinuing throughout May. In addition to mustard greens, the Horton family grows strawberries, pumpkins, spinach, kale, purple hull peas, collard greens and more. They have just planted Please see STRAWBERRIES | 2A the strawberries, but some crops, such as pumpkins, are being harvested.

Iraq war over, US troops coming home

BY BEN FELLER AP White House Correspondent

AP Photo/Maya Alleruzzo, File

Members of 1st Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division, based at Fort Stewart, Ga., walk toward a C-17 aircraft last November at Sather Air Base in Baghdad as they begin their journey home after a year in Baghdad. President Barack Obama on Friday declared an end to the Iraq war, announcing that all American troops would be withdrawn from the country by year's end.

WEATHER Today: Mostly clear. Lows in the upper 30s. Winds becoming south 5 mph.

Tonight: Sunny. Highs in the mid 70s. South winds 5 to 10 mph.

Vol. 157, No. 254 ©2011 The Daily Citizen

WASHINGTON — America’s long and deeply unpopular war in Iraq will be over by year’s end and all U.S. troops “‘‘will definitely be home for the holidays,” President Barack Obama declared Friday.

Stretching more than eight years, the war cost the United States heavily: More than 4,400 members of the military have been killed, and more than 32,000 have been wounded.

The final exit date was sealed after months of intensive talks between Washington and Baghdad failed to reach agreement on conditions for leaving several thousand U.S. troops in Iraq as a

INDEX NATION & STATE, 2A OPINIONS, 4A LIFESTYLES, 5A CALENDAR/OBITUARIES, 6A SPORTS, 1B CLASSIFIEDS, 4B

“

It's not that we need new ideas, but we need to stop having old ideas.

EDWIN LAND American scientist and inventor

Contact us: 3000 E. Race, Searcy, AR 72143, (Phone) 501-268-8621, (Fax) 501-268-6277

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