Public meetings on water plan set
The Arkansas Natural Resources Commission has scheduled public meetings around the state next month to provide residents a chance to learn about the updated Arkansas Water Plan, the group announced.
Meetings are planned at 6:30 p.m. June 4 at the Fort Smith Convention Center;
at 11 a.m. June 6 during the Arkansas Association of Conservation Districts meeting at Lake Point Conference Center in Russellville; at 6:30 p.m.
June 6 at the Durand Center at North Arkansas College in Harrison; and at 3 p.m.
and 5:30 p.m. at the Pauline Whitaker Animal Science Center in Fayetteville.
Residents can ask questions or make comments about the plan during the 90-minute sessions. The June meetings are the second of four rounds of public meetings regarding the water plan. Information about the plan is available online at arwaterplan.arkansas.gov.
- ARKANSAS DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE
Twisters tore up 4,000 structures
MOORE, Okla. - Emergency officials say nearly 4,000 homes and businesses in five counties were affected by last week’s deadly tornadoes.
The Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management and the Federal Emergency Management Agency say they’ve compiled damage assessments from the storms that took place May 19 and May 20. Preliminary aerial assessments show the storm affected 3,937 homes, businesses and other buildings in Cleveland, Lincoln, McClain, Oklahoma and Pottawatomie counties.
The agencies say that 1,248 buildings were destroyed and 452 sustained major damage.
The May 20 tornado killed 24 people in Moore. A day earlier, two people were killed when a tornado struck near Shawnee.
- THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Monticello man dies in truck crash
A 19-year-old Monticello man died after the pickup he was driving struck a tree and landed in a ditch on Old Arkansas 13 in Monticello early Monday.
Blake Bayird was killed when the truck he was driving ran off the road and he overcorrected, causing the vehicle to slide into the tree about 4 a.m., according to Arkansas State Police. The weather was clear and dry, police said.
Scott Lansdale, 17, of Monticello, a passenger in the truck, was taken to Jefferson Regional Medical Center in Pine Bluff.
- ARKANSAS DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE
Swimmer drowns in Heber Springs
An unidentified 40-year-old Missouri man died after attempting to swim from a boat at Sandy Beach in Heber Springs to the shore Sunday afternoon, according to the Arkansas State Police.
The man disappeared from sight while swimming,police said, but was recovered later and transported by emergency workers to Baptist Health Medical Center in Heber Springs, where he was pronounced dead.
- ARKANSAS DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE
Crossfire kills PB grandma; 4 jailed
PINE BLUFF - A grandmother was fatally wounded in crossfire when several people started shooting, according to the Pine Bluff police.
Authorities said 54-yearold Carol Baker was killed at about 11:30 p.m. Monday. Four people were arrested.
Little Rock television station KTHV reported that Baker had gone to her daughter’s home to pick up her grandchildren. The gunfire began when she arrived.
Pine Bluff police Lt.
Denise Richardson said the four men arrested in the shooting are being held pending formal capital murder charges. Richardson said Baker was caught in crossfire and wasn’t targeted in the shooting. Names of the suspects weren’t immediately released. Police are still investigating.
- THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Gunfire accident kills Oklahoma girl
POTEAU, Okla. - A 15-year-old girl has died after an accidental shooting, the Leflore County sheriff said.
Sheriff Rob Seale said Saylor Slone Martine died Sunday at a Tulsa hospital after she suffered a gunshot wound in her head. The sheriff told the Southwest Times Record that the shooting happened at Saylor’s home in the Tucker community.
Seale said Saylor and her younger sister were handling a semiautomatic handgun that belonged to their parents. He said one of the girls placed the gun down on a counter and when Saylor bent down to pick up her cell phone, the gun suddenly discharged.
The sheriff said neither of the girls was handling the gun when it discharged. He said the weapon may have malfunctioned because of a production defect.
- THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Northwest Arkansas, Pages 8 on 05/29/2013