CitizenDailyThe

WEATHERToday: Mostly cloudy. Rain likely. Highs in the mid 40s. Northeast winds 10 to 15 mph. Tonight: Partly cloudy. Lows in the lower 30s. Northeast winds 5 to 10 mph.

Vol. 157, No. 301©2011 The Daily Citizen

“ ”One can never consent to creep

when one feels an impulse to soar.

HELEN KELLER

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

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2011 75¢

Serving Searcy and White County, Ark., since 1854

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

I N D E X

TheDailyCitizen.com

HARDING STUDENTS GET READY FOR BREAK

The Arkansas Highway Com-mission has yet to name a route

for the 36/67 Connector Route, but the Searcy School District knows where it wants the route to go.

The school board approved a resolution on Wednesday dur-ing its regular meeting to en-courage the highway commis-sion to choose the Covington Road route, known as the north-ern route.

As stated in the resolution, “The administration and board

of directors of the Searcy Spe-cial School District are con-cerned that the construction of the north bypass loop along Collins Road or Holmes Road could cause signifi cant disrup-tion of access to Searcy High School and increased safety risk to students.

“The board of directors of the Searcy Special School District

Searcy board supports north route

BY MOLLY M. FLEMINGmfleming@thedailycitizen.com

Panel passes resolution

favoring northern bypass route

The season of giving mani-fests itself in wrapped presents and in many presents that are un-wrappable, such as hugs, smiles and good deeds.

One present that does not come in a box or bag is what the American Red Cross is call-ing the “Perfect Gift” — the gift of blood.

“Blood donations are histori-cally slow during the holidays,” said Alan Gibson, communica-tions manager for the Greater Ozarks-Arkansas Blood Region of the American Red Cross. “Every two seconds someone needs blood. Whether it is for a routine surgery, emergency

Locals can give ‘Perfect

Gift’

BY MARISA LYTLEmlytle@thedailycitizen.com

Red Cross seeks blood

donations during the holidays

Perfect giftWho: American Red CrossWhat: Is sponsoring a pro-

gram called Perfect GiftWhy: To promote blood

donationsWhen: During the holiday

season

Marisa Lytle/mlytle@thedailycitizen.com

Freshmen dietetics majors Carly Truloch and Lisi Padilla study for their family and consumer science final in the Heritage lobby at Harding University. HU students finish finals today and are heading home for Christmas break.

BRADFORD — The city of Bradford may regulate pri-vate sewer laterals because of a recent decision by the city council.

Engineer Micheal Clayton offered the council two op-tions for regulating private sewer laterals.

According to a handout that was distributed to the coun-cil, the sewer lateral is a pipe that connects a home plumb-ing system to the city’s sewer main and is considered the responsibility of the property owner.

“Most cities don’t have a good grasp on regulating pri-vate surfaces,” Clayton stated at Monday’s council meeting.

The fi rst option submitted by Clayton imposed a $30 per month penalty on property owners for who opted not to repair or replace their defec-tive private sewer laterals. The second option submitted by Clayton stated that a writ-ten letter and pictures from the smoke testing would be sent to the property owner and the property owner would obtain a no cost permit from the city within 90-days to re-pair the defective sewer.

According to Clayton, fail-ure to comply with the fi rst notice will result in a second notice that would require the property owner to obtain a permit from the city within 30-days to repair the defective sewer. A third and fi nal notice will be sent to the property owner by fi rst class mail and certifi ed letter and the prop-erty owner will be required to obtain a permit from the city within 30 days to repair the

sewer, Clayton stated. Failure to comply will result in the suspension of water service, he said.

Clayton recommended that the city be divided into four areas with the railroad and Main Street acting as barriers when the city began the pro-cess of regulating the private sewer laterals.

Mayor Arthur Dunn told council members that they needed to chose one of the options for the city attorney to review and added that he liked the second option. Dunn suggested that the option be amended to include a provi-sion that allowed the property

owners who could not come into compliance within the time frame to petition the city council for more time. The council unanimously decided to proceed with the second option and include the provi-sion recommended by Dunn. The vote also included the division of the city into four areas.

In other business, Police Chief Claude Money reported to the city council that the police department had re-ceived notifi cation and had been award $26,000 in grant money into order to purchase a police cruiser. According to Dunn, Money had written the grant application and been awarded the money from a Justice Department grant.

“Claude deserves a lot of credit on this,” Dunn praised, “We are very fortunate to get this grant.”

Bradford city council weighing its options for sewer

BY M. A. WEBBSpecial to The Daily Citizen

Police department to get new cruiser

Bradford City Council

Next meeting: 7 p.m. Jan. 9

Where: Bradford City Hall

“Claude (Money) deserves a lot of credit on this. We are very fortunate to get this grant.”

Arthur DunnMayor of Bradford

LITTLE ROCK — The Arkan-sas Supreme Court reversed a death row inmate’s sentence Thursday because of what the justices called a breakdown in the appellate process.

The state’s highest court also reopened the direct appeal of Frank Williams, who was sen-tenced to die for the 1992 shoot-ing death of a farmer in south-ern Arkansas.

Associate Justice Paul E. Dan-ielson wrote that the court de-cided to send the case back for new sentencing not because of “the specifi c arguments of Wil-liams, but because there was in-deed a breakdown in the appel-late process ...”

Williams’ attorneys argued earlier this month that his case deserves another look, in part because they say his previous attorneys weren’t effective. An assistant attorney general dis-agreed.

Death row inmate’s sentence

overturnedBY JEANNIE NUSS

Associated Press

OFFICERS TAKE PART IN NATIONAL CAMPAIGNSearcy police have teamed up with the highway safety office to take part in a safe driving campaign. — PAGE 3A

LIONS AIM TO FIX ISSUES AT PARAGOULDSearcy has a chance to put a win in the books in Paragould today before tourney play. — PAGE 1B

LLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLSP

Searcy School Board■ Approved resolution to

support northern bypass route

■ Discussed expansion plan to junior high

■ Solicited bids for new school bus

Please see GIFT | 2A

Please see INMATE | 2A Please see BRADFORD | 2A

Please see BYPASS | 2A

wishes to express its de-sire for the construction of any state highway project to take a northerly route around the city of Searcy and not to utilize Collins Road or Holmes Road, and to minimize interfer-ence with current school traffi c and access to Searcy High School, and provide for the safety of students, faculty, and patrons in ac-cessing the school from the north...”

The board approved the resolution unanimously.

In other action items, the board gave a second look to a zoning plan for school board elections, with the fi -nal approval to come at the

January meeting.The board also approved

a bid solicitation exemp-tion for purchase of a school bus that was totaled recently in an accident. No students were injured. The exemption will allow the school district to not have to go through the bidding process of fi nding the best price available because of the sudden need for the bus.

In other business of the board, Assistant Super-intendent Calvin Estes discussed the district’s facilities master plan. He said the district is looking at expanding the cafeteria at the junior high in order to get ready for the middle school students. He said

in order to expand that cafeteria, two of the class-rooms would have to be shut down, which would add to the already existing need for additional class-rooms.

Estes said school offi -cials have talked to con-tractors about the class-room building and about expanding the cafeteria; but nothing has been made offi cial yet.

Superintendent Diane Barrett told the board about their upcoming

panel discussion with the Searcy Leadership Insti-tute on Jan. 10. The board will also have a work ses-sion on Jan. 19 at 5:30 p.m.

The board meets the

third Wednesday of each month at 5:15 p.m. at the

Searcy Administration Building.

Page 2A • Friday, December 16, 2011 The Daily Citizen

FROM PAGE ONE

The Daily Citizen corrects factual errors promptly and courteously. If you have a correction or clarifica-tion, please call Editor Jacob Brower at (501) 268-8621 or e-mail him at jbrower@thedailycitizen.com.

Corrections

BYPASS: School district looking at expanding junior high cafeteria to prepare for middle school studentsCONTINUED FROM 1A

In Thursday’s opinion, Danielson wrote that the jury had erred in fi lling out a form in Williams’ case. At least on paper, the jury said there wasn’t evidence of mitigating cir-cumstances — the kinds of events or conditions that juries consider in decid-ing punishment. But, dur-ing court proceedings, the

jury had heard testimony from a counselor who said Williams grew up in a dys-functional family.

“Additionally, evidence was presented that he was functioning with a low I.Q., understanding things in society about as well as a nine or ten year old,” Danielson wrote.

So, the Supreme Court concluded that the jury “sentenced Williams to

death solely based on the aggravating circum-stance, which is reversible error,” Danielson wrote in the unanimous decision from the seven-member court. Associate Justice Donald Corbin didn’t par-ticipate in the opinion; Special Justice Steven Quattlebaum joined in his place.

Thursday’s decision marks the second time in

as many weeks that the state Supreme Court has reversed a death sentence.

Last week, the court overturned another death row inmate’s sentence and conviction because of juror misconduct. One ju-ror dozed off and another juror tweeted during court proceedings for Erickson Dimas-Martinez, so the justices sent his case back for a new trial.

Dimas-Martinez was sent to death row for rob-bing and shooting a teen-ager after a party in north-west Arkansas in 2006. Prosecutors said Dimas-Martinez held 17-year-old Derrick Jefferson at gunpoint and demanded his money before he shot him.

Williams was sentenced to death for the 1992 shooting death of Lafay-

ette County farmer Clyde Spence. Prosecutors said Williams shot Spence with a .25-caliber pistol after Spence fi red him.

Williams’ attorney, Deborah Czuba, declined to talk about his case Thursday. A spokesman for Attorney General Dustin McDaniel said his offi ce is weighing its op-tions and that it respects the court’s decision.

INMATE: IQ, lack of mitigating circumstances on paper lead to reversal of sentence in 1992 murderCONTINUED FROM 1A

or accident or to aid in the treatment of cancer or another disease, the need for blood is con-stant, and there is no man-made substitute. It is only available when caring people give.”

Almost any adult can give this gift that saves lives. Blood donors must be at least 17 years of age, weigh 110 pounds or more and be in generally good health.

The American Red Cross Blood Center lo-cated at 1120 S. Main Street in Searcy is open every Tuesday and Fri-day from noon to 6 p.m.

According to the Red Cross, all blood types are needed to maintain

a suffi cient blood supply, especially type O nega-tive. Type O negative, the universal blood type, is always in high demand because it can be trans-fused to patients with any blood type, especially in emergency situations.

“It’s the season of giv-ing,” said Erschelle New-some, CEO of the Greater Ozarks-Arkansas Blood Region, “and there’s one gift that won’t cost you a penny, but means the world to a patient in need. By donating blood, you can give someone an opportunity to spend an-other holiday with their loved ones.”

The Perfect Gift cam-paign, explained Gibson, is the Red Cross’s way of reaching out to commu-

nities during this special time of year when giving is on people’s hearts and minds.

“This is a call to action for those who are willing to share the Perfect Gift,” Gibson said. “All donors will receive — while sup-plies last — a long-sleeve Perfect Gift T-shirt to remember their effort to help someone during this special time.”

Following is a list of upcoming blood drives in the local area:

• American Red Cross Blood Center RSMO, located at 1120 S. Main Street in Searcy: Today; Tuesday; Friday, Dec. 23; Tuesday, Dec. 27; Friday, Dec. 30; Tuesday, Jan. 3, and Tuesday, Jan. 6 — all from noon to 6 p.m.

• Walmart, located at 3509 E. Race Avenue in Searcy: Saturday from 2-5 p.m.

• Harps Food Store, lo-cated at 2525 W. Beebe Capps Expressway in Searcy: Sunday from 1-5 p.m.

• Oakdale Nursing and Rehab, located at 101 Cynthia Street in Jud-sonia: Thursday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

• First Security Bank: Thursday, Jan. 5, from 1-6 p.m.

To make a blood dona-tion appointment or for more information about Perfect Gift, people may call 1-800-REDCROSS or visit the organiza-tion’s website at www.redcrossblood.org/per-fectgift.

GIFT: Red Cross hosting blood drives in Searcy throughout DecemberCONTINUED FROM 1A

Money also reported that the police depart-ment had generated $3,828 in revenue dur-ing the month of No-vember. According to Money, there were 85 calls in the city, 104 traffi c stops, 27 cita-tions issued, 100 se-curity checks, and 118 warnings issued during the month.

Fire Chief Dennis Whitener stated that the fi re department had responded to two struc-ture fi res, one grass fi re and had conducted two drills. Whitener said that the fi rst respond-ers had responding to a total of 15 calls. Whit-ener stated that at the

fi re department’s Josh Jones was named rook-ie of the year. Whitener also stated that Shane Blevens was named fi re-fi ghter of the year and Bill Fies was named fi rst responder of the year.

Water Department Superintendent Billy Burruss presented the water report to the council and stated that the water department had pumped 2.1 million gallons of water during November and the de-partment had fi xed sev-eral leaks.

The next meeting of the Bradford City coun-cil will be 7 p.m. Jan. 9. The council meets the second Monday of each month at the Bradford City Hall.

BRADFORD: Next meeting Jan. 9CONTINUED FROM 1A

LITTLE ROCK — Rice growers met a threshold to move forward with a $750 million settlement over genetically modifi ed rice, the company blamed for the problem said Thursday.

Bayer CropScience had agreed to the settlement this summer, fi ve years af-ter the company inadver-tently introduced a strain of genetically altered long-grain rice into the U.S. market. As part of the settlement, Bayer set a threshold of 85 percent of rice acreage involved and could have opted out of the deal if enough farmers didn’t sign up.

“Although Bayer Crop-Science believes it acted responsibly in the han-dling of its biotech rice, the company considered it important to resolve

the litigation so that it can move forward focused on its fundamental mission of providing innovative solutions to modern agri-culture,” spokesman Greg Coffey said in a statement.

Farmers in Arkansas — where about half of the nation’s rice is produced — as well as Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri and Texas, suffered economic losses after the German conglomerate developed an experimental strain of rice called LibertyLink to withstand its Liberty her-bicide. Federal regulators had not yet approved it for human consumption when trace amounts were found mixed with conven-tional rice seed in storage bins.

No human health prob-lems have been associated with the contamination, but that wasn’t known at the time.

Threshold met for $750 million rice deal

BY JEANNIE NUSSAssociated Press

WASHINGTON — The job market is healthier than at any time since the end of the Great Reces-sion.

The number of people fi ling for unemployment benefi ts fell last week to the lowest since May 2008, a sign that the waves of corporate layoffs that have defi ned the past few years are all but over.

“This is unexpectedly great news,” said Ian Shepherdson, an econo-mist at High Frequency Economics.

It will take an addition-al step — robust hiring, not just the end of layoffs — to bring the 8.6 percent unemployment rate down signifi cantly. Experts say that won’t happen until businesses are more con-fi dent about customer demand. And the Euro-pean debt crisis could still cause damage here.

But the report on un-employment claims Thursday was the latest to suggest that the economy, two and a half slow years after the offi cial end of the recession, may fi nally be picking up momentum.

The nation added 100,000 or more jobs every month from July through November, the fi rst fi ve-month streak since 2006. And the econ-omy, which was barely growing when the year started, has picked up speed each quarter.

More small businesses plan to hire than at any time in three years, a trade group said this week. And another private-sector survey found more com-panies are planning to add workers than at any time since 2008.

The number of people applying for unemploy-ment benefi ts came in at 366,000, down from 385,000 the week before. That moves the fi gure

closer to its pre-recession range of roughly 280,000 to 350,000.

The last time claims were so low, the nation was six months into the recession but didn’t know it yet. The unemployment rate was 5.4 percent — a level almost hard to imag-ine these days. Unem-ployment has been above 8 percent for almost three years.

That spring of 2008, Bear Stearns, an invest-ment house that predated the Depression, had been hobbled by its investment in subprime mortgages and was sold near col-lapse to JPMorgan Chase for a paltry $10 a share.

The worst was yet to come. Lehman Brothers collapsed that September. Credit froze, investors panicked and the stock market plunged. Busi-nesses began slashing millions of jobs. Unem-ployment claims peaked at 659,000 in March

2009.Unemployment claims

are a measure of the pace of layoffs, and they have declined steadily for three months.

But that’s just part of the picture. Business aren’t hiring with gusto. Unemployment fell 0.4 percentage points last month, but about half the decline was because peo-ple gave up looking for work and were no longer counted as unemployed.

“One of the features of this recovery is that hiring is exceptionally weak,” said Jeremy Lawson, se-nior U.S. economist at BNP Paribas.

And weaker-than-usual hiring doesn’t necessar-ily show up in unem-ployment claims. Many employers cut staffs to the bone during the re-cession. If they worry that business will grow weakly next year, they may hold off on layoffs — but not hire, either.

Unemployment claims at lowest in 3 1⁄2 yearsBY CHRISTOPHER S.

RUGABERAP Economics Writer

Heart & Soul1627 E. Beebe Capps, Searcy • 501-268-2290Holiday Hours: Mon-Fri 10-6 • Sat 10-5

Gifts. Bridal. Interiors.

Personalized Mugs

Ready While You Wait!Great Gift Idea!

Almost AnythingJEWELRY GIFTS HANDBAGS AND MORE1215 EAST RACE AVE. • 501-268-7339

Jewelry & Gifts

9am-6pm Monday-Friday,10am-5pm Saturday

“Like” Us On Facebook!

Open Sundays 1pm-5pmNow through December 18th

μ

NEWSHIPMENT

ofHeadbands

JustArrived!

50% OFF CHRISTMAS FLAGSAND ALL OTHER CHRISTMAS!

Admission $200

Tuesdays or Thursdays $100

RIALTO THEATRE268-6699

NIGHTLY 7:30SAT & SUN MATINEE 2:00

www.webertheaters.com

COURAGEOUSPG13