Back to profile

RSS Feed

Ron Wood

Stories by Ron

Pardon Request Brings Back Mother’s Pain A Decade Later

FAYETTEVILLE — P.J. Langford was shopping at a Walmart shortly after her 16-year-old daughter, Elizabeth, died in a crash with a drunk driver. Over the loudspeaker, she heard the man who killed her daughter being paged to the store’s auto center. He worked there. Read More »

By Ron Wood posted March 14, 2010 at 6:14 a.m.

S State Wants Dirt And Gravel Pit Closed

FAYETTEVILLE — The state is seeking to close down dirt and gravel mining operations at a quarry west of Fayetteville operated by a company belonging to local developer John David Lindsey. Read More »

By Ron Wood posted March 9, 2010 at 5:40 a.m.

S Killer Says Attorneys Failed Him

FAYETTEVILLE — Convicted murderer Jerry Donald Sykes contends his trial attorneys failed to properly represent him and is asking a judge to overturn his conviction. Read More »

By Ron Wood posted March 9, 2010 at 5:36 a.m.

S Down Economy Delays Some Projects

FAYETTEVILLE — A sports complex didn’t get built and a regional park was put on hold because of the down economy in 2009. Read More »

By Ron Wood posted March 7, 2010 at 5:56 a.m.

S School Wants Wolfe Suit Dismissed

FAYETTEVILLE — The Fayetteville School District has filed a motion asking a former student’s bullying and sexual harassment lawsuit be dismissed, asserting there’s no evidence to back up his claims. Read More »

By Ron Wood posted March 6, 2010 at 5:47 a.m.

S Rogers Group Wants Quarry Ordinance Voided

FAYETTEVILLE — The Rogers Group has asked a federal judge to rule Fayetteville cannot legally declare a rock quarry outside the city a nuisance. Read More »

By Ron Wood posted March 6, 2010 at 5:11 a.m.

S West Fork Seeks Dismissal of Suit Over Condemnation

FAYETTEVILLE — West Fork officials want out of a federal lawsuit stemming from the condemnation and razing of two buildings. Read More »

By Ron Wood posted March 6, 2010 at 5:09 a.m.

Springdale Man Acquitted Of Battering Police Officer

FAYETTEVILLE — Johnny Ray Balentine got hit on the head with a flashlight, zapped with an electric stun gun, handcuffed and hauled off to jail after his mother called Springdale police to their home to quell an argument last year. Read More »

By Ron Wood posted March 5, 2010 at 5:57 a.m.

S Rotary Moving North

FAYETTEVILLE CLUB LEAVING DOWNTOWN

FAYETTEVILLE — For the first time in more than 20 years, Fayetteville’s downtown Rotary Club won’t be downtown anymore. Read More »

By Ron Wood posted March 3, 2010 at 6:01 a.m.

Filing Period Opens For Primary

COUNTY JUDGE DESCRIBES FIRST DAY AS ‘POLITICAL FESTIVAL OF SORTS’

FAYETTEVILLE — Washington County Judge Marilyn Edwards has always filed to run for office as soon as the filing period opens, it’s a habit that goes back to her days working in the County Clerk’s Office. Read More »

By Ron Wood posted March 2, 2010 at 5:15 a.m.

Sexual Assault Lands Former Rover In Prison

FAYETTEVILLE — A judge Friday sentenced to prison a man who had been employed to patrol University of Arkansas residence halls but who pled guilty to sexually assaulting a drunken student in her dorm. Read More »

By Ron Wood posted February 27, 2010 at 5:08 a.m.

Second Person Pleads Guilty To Lying For Hayes

FAYETTEVILLE — Ricky Frazier told a judge Thursday he lied under oath to protect Terry Hayes. Read More »

By Ron Wood posted February 26, 2010 at 5:45 a.m.

S Women Say Attorneys Should Be Disqualified

FAYETTEVILLE — An attorney should step down if he has even unrelated information about a former client and is representing someone that client is now suing, say two women in a sexual harassment lawsuit against the Washington County Sheriff’s Office and a former employee. Read More »

By Ron Wood posted February 25, 2010 at 5:40 a.m.

S Hayes Trial Witness Admits She Lied In Circuit Court

FAYETTEVILLE — A woman who testified last year on behalf of Terry Hayes, a man who fled authorities after his conviction in Washington County Circuit Court, pleaded guilty Wednesday to perjury. Read More »

By Ron Wood posted February 25, 2010 at 5:38 a.m.

Nude Photo Lawsuit Dropped

COUPLE ALLEGED CELL PHONE IMAGES WERE POSTED ONLINE

FAYETTEVILLE — A Bella Vista couple who sued over the online publication of nude photos from a lost cell phone has ended their lawsuit. Read More »

By Ron Wood posted February 24, 2010 at 6:09 a.m.

S Porn Viewing, Records Irrelevant, Men Say

FAYETTEVILLE — Former employees of a local McDonald’s have asked a judge to bar certain questions if a lawsuit over nude photos from a lost cell phone that ended up on the Internet goes to trial. Read More »

By Ron Wood posted February 23, 2010 at 5:03 a.m.

Lawyers Say Divorces Irrelevant To Harassment Case

FAYETTEVILLE — Attorneys for a former Washington County Sheriff’s captain should not be disqualified from representing him in a federal sexual harassment lawsuit, according to a motion filed Thursday. Read More »

By Ron Wood posted February 19, 2010 at 5:32 a.m.

DRUG COURT TV: Show Garners National Interest

FAYETTEVILLE — Washington County Drug Court has been giving local cable viewers a dose of reality for years. Read More »

By Ron Wood posted February 17, 2010 at 5:09 a.m.

S Candidates Aim To Stand Out At Forum

CONTENDERS FOR JUDICIAL SEATS GATHER AT SENIOR DEMOCRATS-SPONSORED EVENT

FAYETTEVILLE — Candidates for two judicial seats in Washington and Madison Counties tried Tuesday to differentiate themselves from the competition at a forum sponsored by the Senior Democrats of Northwest Arkansas. Read More »

By Ron Wood posted February 17, 2010 at 5:01 a.m.

Man Pleads Guilty To Sexual Assault

FAYETTEVILLE — A former University of Arkansas employee pleaded guilty Thursday to sexually assaulting a woman in her dorm room in September. Read More »

By Ron Wood posted February 12, 2010 at 5:57 a.m.

Women Want Lawyers Disqualified From Sexual Harassment Suit

FAYETTEVILLE — Two women suing over alleged sexual harassment at the Washington County Sheriff’s Office want an opposing law firm thrown off the case. Read More »

By Ron Wood posted February 12, 2010 at 5:41 a.m.

Child-porn convict challenges sentence

70 years exceeds maximum, he says

FAYETTEVILLE — A Bella Vista man who molested foster children in his care and filmed the encounters told a judge Wednesday that he wants his sentence to be reconsidered. Read More »

By Ron Wood posted February 12, 2010 at 4:29 a.m.

BELLA VISTA OFFENDER: Bergthold Wants Do-Over

CONVICTED CHILD MOLESTER SAYS SENTENCE TOO HARSH

FAYETTEVILLE — A Bella Vista man who molested foster children in his care and filmed the encounters told a judge Wednesday he wants a do-over on his sentencing. Read More »

By Ron Wood posted February 11, 2010 at 5:49 a.m.

Search For Missing Woman Leads To Dump,

FAYETTEVILLE — When investigators went looking for a body last year, they also found an illegal dump. Read More »

By Ron Wood posted February 6, 2010 at 5:23 a.m.

Special Prosecutor Won’t Charge University Athletes Over Incident

FAYETTEVILLE — A special prosecutor said Friday there is not enough evidence to charge three University of Arkansas basketball players over a sexual encounter at a fraternity house last year. Read More »

By Ron Wood posted February 6, 2010 at 5:17 a.m.

S Judge Won’t Delay Quarry Case

FAYETTEVILLE — A federal judge has refused to delay a lawsuit over a quarry west of Fayetteville while an appeal winds through the courts. Read More »

By Ron Wood posted February 5, 2010 at 5:21 a.m.

S Government: Fincher’s Move To Vacate Frivolous

FAYETTEVILLE — A Washington County man convicted of having illegal machine guns wants to retry issues already decided and his conviction should not be thrown out, federal prosecutors said Wednesday. Read More »

By Ron Wood posted February 4, 2010 at 4:53 a.m.

S Bank Seeks Foreclosure On Fulbright Building

FAYETTEVILLE — First Federal Bank of Arkansas filed a foreclosure petition Wednesday for the Fulbright Building, the former site of the public library adjacent to the Washington County Courthouse. Read More »

By Ron Wood posted February 4, 2010 at 4:52 a.m.

S Decay Getting Appeals Attorney

CONVICTED DOUBLE MURDERER HAS 90 DAYS TO RAISE ISSUES

FAYETTEVILLE — Convicted double murderer Gregory Christopher Decay will be appointed an attorney by the state to handle appeals of his two death penalties. Read More »

By Ron Wood posted February 2, 2010 at 5:01 a.m.

S Appeals Court: Fincher Tried To Hide Assets

FAYETTEVILLE — An appeals court said Federal Judge Jimm Hendren was correct to order a self-proclaimed leader of the Washington County militia to pay for an attorney. Read More »

By Ron Wood posted February 2, 2010 at 4:58 a.m.

S Decay Due In Court For Monday Hearing

FAYETTEVILLE — Condemned double murderer Gregor Christopher Decay will be in a Washington County courtroom Monday for the first time since he was sentenced to death in April 2008. Read More »

By Ron Wood posted January 31, 2010 at 8:08 a.m.

S Weatherman Sees Improvement over Weekend

FAYETTEVILLE — Northwest Arkansas should see improving weather over the weekend, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service in Tulsa, Okla., said Friday. Read More »

By Ron Wood posted January 30, 2010 at 12:38 a.m.

S NO EVIDENCE OF INTENT: Charges Dropped

FAYETTEVILLE — Prosecutors Wednesday dropped charges against a woman whose 5-year-old son was ejected from a car during an accident and found laying in the middle of South Thompson Street in Springdale. Read More »

By Ron Wood posted January 28, 2010 at 6:12 a.m.

S COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE: Judge Orders Links Cut

SUIT CLAIMS SEXUAL HARASSMENT, FREE SPEECH VIOLATIONS

FAYETTEVILLE — A federal judge has ordered Internet links from a court filing to a lawyer’s website cut off. Read More »

By Ron Wood posted January 28, 2010 at 6:05 a.m.

S Quarry Case On Hold Pending Appeal

FAYETTEVILLE — A circuit judge in Washington County has delayed a lawsuit to allow an appeals court to decide in a similar case whether conditional use appeals should be heard by a judge or jury. Read More »

By Ron Wood posted January 27, 2010 at 6:09 a.m.

Stueart Given Probation For Shooting Incident

FAYETTEVILLE — A Fayetteville man was sentenced to six years probation Tuesday for a shooting incident last summer. Read More »

By Ron Wood posted January 27, 2010 at 6:05 a.m.

S Magistrate OKs Jail Settlement

LAWSUIT FILED OVER SILOAM SPRINGS STRIP SEARCHES

FAYETTEVILLE — A federal magistrate has approved a preliminary settlement to end a lawsuit over strip searches at the now-closed Siloam Springs City Jail. Read More »

By Ron Wood posted January 26, 2010 at 5:52 a.m.

S McDonald’s Owner Wants Nude Photo Suit Dismissed

FAYETTEVILLE — McDonald’s and a local franchise want a judge to throw out a lawsuit over nude photos from a lost cell phone that ended up on the Internet. Read More »

By Ron Wood posted January 23, 2010 at 5:15 a.m.

S Court Upholds Hanna Custody Ruling

FAYETTEVILLE — The Arkansas Court of Appeals has upheld a judge’s custody ruling in a contentious divorce between Burt and Donna Hanna. Read More »

By Ron Wood posted January 22, 2010 at 7:26 a.m.

S Anderson Capital Murder Trial Reset

FAYETTEVILLE — The capital murder trial of Ricky Ray Anderson, charged with killing Jill Lynn Ulmer, had been reset to allow his new lead lawyer time to prepare. Read More »

By Ron Wood posted January 20, 2010 at 5:20 a.m.

Crowd Honors Legacy

FAYETTEVILLE — There were no police dogs, taunting crowds, fire hoses or tear gas waiting to block marchers Monday. Read More »

By Ron Wood posted January 19, 2010 at 4:19 a.m.

S INDIGENT DEFENSE: Rulings Cloud State Law

DIFFERENT CASES POSE TWO INTERPRETATIONS OF STATE FUNDING

FAYETTEVILLE — The Arkansas Legislature or the Arkansas Supreme Court may have to determine under what circumstances the state will help in pay for an indigent person’s criminal defense. Read More »

By Ron Wood posted January 18, 2010 at 3:51 a.m.

S Eggert Seeks Release Until Murder Trial

FAYETTEVILLE — Delores Eggert, charged with capital murder in the death of her mother, is asking to be released from jail while she awaits a capital murder trial. Read More »

By Ron Wood posted January 16, 2010 at 3:43 a.m.

S Lindsey Denies Breaking Agreements, Wants Hearing

FAYETTEVILLE — John David Lindsey has answered two lawsuits claiming he hasn’t paid his bills for two quarries west of Fayetteville, saying he hasn’t breached the agreements. Read More »

By Ron Wood posted January 15, 2010 at 5:47 a.m.

S Quarry Neighbors Appeal Denial Of Jury Trial

FAYETTEVILLE — Neighbors of a quarry west of Fayetteville have appealed a judge’s decision denying them a jury trial in their lawsuit against he county planning board. Read More »

By Ron Wood posted January 13, 2010 at 4:39 a.m.

Judge OKs Testing In Pankau Case

MAN CONVICTED OF BURGLARY, ATTEMPTED RAPE GETS CHANCE FOR DNA EXAM

FAYETTEVILLE — A judge will allow DNA testing that could result in a new trial for a man convicted of trying to rape a Springdale woman. Read More »

By Ron Wood posted January 12, 2010 at 4:38 a.m.

S Company Sued Over Second Quarry Deal

FAYETTEVILLE — Owners of a quarry west of Fayetteville have sued John David Lindsey and his mining company, claiming the company isn’t paying the mortgage but is still mining the property and selling dirt and gravel to third parties. Read More »

By Ron Wood posted January 9, 2010 at 6:13 a.m.

S Officials Check Welfare Of Elderly

FAYETTEVILLE — Several organizations are looking out for older residents of the area during the deep freeze. Read More »

By Ron Wood posted January 8, 2010 at 1:18 a.m.

S Country Club Sues Over Missed Scheme

Suit Claims $150,000 Lost

FAYETTEVILLE — The Springdale Country Club has sued an accounting firm, claiming it missed a long-running employee embezzlement scheme. Read More »

By Ron Wood posted January 8, 2010 at 1:16 a.m.

S Suit Alleges Deceptive Trade Practices

FAYETTEVILLE — Mark Rich, who owns land west of Fayetteville, has sued John David Lindsey claiming the developer purposely reneged on a dirt pit deal leaving Rich between a rock and a hard place. Read More »

By Ron Wood posted January 7, 2010 at 3:49 a.m.