Washington County residents eventually will come to appreciate stronger stormwater rules, but county officials look only at current road-building projects

NWAOnline.com

Getting Rock Costly

DELAY IN STORMWATER PERMIT STALLS ROAD WORK ON EAST SIDE


By Scott F Davis

Thursday, December 24, 2009

FAYETTEVILLE — The gravel used to smooth roads on the east side of Washington County makes a long journey before county crews lay it down.

Mined from the county-operated quarry along Arkansas 45 near Morrow, the gravel used to the east is trucked to and stockpiled at the Washington County Road Department in south Fayetteville. County officials say there’s a better — and less expensive — way to give county residents the roads they deserve.

But standing between the county and its need for more, and more affordable, gravel for the east side is a legal dispute in Little Rock. There, the Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality’s changes to how it issues stormwater permits is meeting resistance from a nonprofit group of businesses and industries that deal with state regulations every day.

Meanwhile, a crushed limestone quarry east of Elkins former County Judge Jerry Hunton leased for 10 years for $300,000 sits idle, awaiting a stormwater discharge permit from the state agency.

In December 2008, the county signed the lease with Earl and Gayle Fochtman to remove an estimated 400,000 tons of crushed limestone from the Fochtman’s property in the Tuttle community.

But the county has extracted no gravel. The state has stopped renewing permits in the wake of a challenge to its permit process, and the general stormwater permit the county held expired in November 2008. It continues to operate with state permission under its expired permit until the dispute is resolved.

That permit covers continued operation in Morrow, but since the Fochtman quarry is new, it’s not covered by the prior permit and cannot be opened.

“The government has shut us down,” said County Judge Marilyn Edwards. “We’ve got to have a place to be able to mine gravel so we can build roads.”

County road officials say it’s impractical to haul rock all the way from Morrow on a routine basis for roads on the east because it increases fuel and personnel cost. Buying from private gravel quarries, they say, is too expensive, especially in lean budget times.

For Edwards, the quarry quandary is frustrating when she hears frequent complaints about roads and requests for gravel from residents on the east side.

Six Month Wait

The county has submitted a new permit application for an individual stormwater permit for the Fochtman property, but the approval process on those takes much longer.

Edwards said she’s spoken to Department of Environmental Quality officials who have promised to move the process along, but the county still faces a wait of three to six months.

The approval time for an industrial permit was typically a week or two, while the individual permits may take between three to six months, said Jamal Solaimanian, an engineering supervisor with the state agency’s water division.

Russell McLaren of GBMc(cq’d) and Associates, which prepared the county’s individual permit application, said he expects a draft permit to be issued within 30 to 60 days, followed by a 30-day comment period. After comments are addressed, the final permit will be issued, he explained.

Ready To Go

The county got a bargain when it purchased a portable crusher in a federal surplus sale in 2006 and the Road Department is eager to get it working to bring some much-needed relief on the east side, said Shawn Shrum, assistant road superintendent.

“We’re really wanting to get this going on the east side,” said Shrum “On that east side, it’s so hard — hauling from Morrow is too far and if you try to buy it, you can’t afford it.”

On a few projects on the far east side of the county, the department has purchased gravel from nearby private quarries because it was more affordable than hauling gravel from the west, he said.

Permit Problems

The county is caught in a dispute between the Arkansas Environmental Federation, a 350-member nonprofit organization representing regulated businesses, and the Department of Environmental Quality. At issue is how far the state can go in changing permit requirements and criteria without going through a detailed rule-making process that includes public hearings.

The Arkansas Environmental Federation objected in June to the agency’s proposed changes to its industrial permits. As a result, the agency is not issuing permits and is allowing those with expired permits to continue under their old permit, officials said.

“We felt like this one was such a dramatic change,” said Randy Thurman, executive director for the federation. “They moved to a much more stringent permit. They had failed to make a case for those changes.

The agency’s changes affect about 2,000 facilities across the state, prompting the federation to object.

“We feel like we have to do it because it’s such a significant change and it looks and feels like a rule,” Thurman said.

Changing rules in the state requires a far more complicated process than the permit modification the Department of Environmental Quality says it has undertaken.

The federation’s appeal went before an administrative hearing officer in November. A finding from that hearing has not yet been issued, officials said.

Aaron Sadler, a spokesman for the state agency, said the department reviews the permits every five years and the recent changes were made to comply with revised federal stormwater guidelines.

Democrat/Gazette December 21, 2009, editorial advocating saving sale-barn land for Fayetteville National Cemetery pleases majority of veterans and neighbors, but the problem is that saving Town Branch homeowners from flooding downhill from the cemetery is still being ignored: VA already at work preparing to dredge and fill wetland and pipe stormwater directly to Hill Avenue and thus to the 11th Street bridge on the Town Branch

Please click on individual photos to ENLARGE view of wetland area along the north edge of the Fayetteville National Cemetery being prepared for dredging and filling for grave sites. The depressional wetland developed over centuries because it is above a bedrock karst area where groundwater sinks into the underground caverns and aquifers and reduces surface-water flooding. When it is piped to the Town Branch it will further aggravate the flooding danger between Ellis and Van Buren avenues already created by the University of Arkansas' failure properly to manage stormwater on the campus and by paving and development along Martin Luther King Boulevard and on the Aspen Ridge/Hill Place project.

Save acres for vets

Now buy the land for the cemetery

Monday, December 21, 2009

Print item

LITTLE ROCK — LIKE WARM Arkansas Christmases, dry eyes after It’s a Wonderful Life, and little boys from the Natural State scribbling “LSU gear” on their annual wish lists, some things are just not meant to be. That’s the way it seems with the controversial student apartments that apparently won’t be built in south Fayetteville. You know, where Washington County’s historic livestock auction house operated until June.
A lawsuit that sought to override the city’s denial of a rezoning request seems to be kaput. Campus Crest developers of North Carolina wanted to buy the property from the auction house’s owner, Bill Joe Bartholomew, and build 500 apartments on the property. But the drawn-out legal ordeal surrounding this purchase became just too much to bear. Mr. Bartholomew now wants his suit dismissed.
The proposed sale to Campus Crest became a flashpoint for veterans and others last summer. They wanted to secure the site across Government Avenue from the city’s National Cemetery so they might preserve the sacred nature of that location. They basically argued that more student apartments in an overbuilt Fayetteville wasn’t an appropriate use of the land. They had a point. The former auction barn parcel does provide an ideally located space to enlarge this rapidly filling cemetery.
Fayetteville’s council denied Mr. Bartholomew’s request to rezone his property. The rezoning would have sealed the sale and enabled Campus Crest to purchase and develop the property. That’s when Mr. Bartholomew filed his suit against the city.

This latest development means the corporation that oversees the cemetery’s operation, Congress, the national office of Veteran’s Affairs, and veterans’ organizations need to find a way to purchase this property. The space needs to be preserved and protected as a final resting place for our veterans in the decades to come.

Audubon Arkansas open house from 4 to 7 p.m. today; Environmental Action Committee at 5:30 p.m. in Room 326 of city hall

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2009
Audubon Arkansas open house from 4 to 7 p.m. today; Environmental Action Committee at 5:30 p.m. in Room 326 of city hall
The Holiday Season is a busy time so here's a little reminder about our Holiday Open House! If you have not yet RSVP'd don't forget to drop us a line and let us know your are coming! We are looking forward to seeing everyone there!

Please Join Us

Thursday, December 10, 2009
From 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at
34 East Center Street
Fayetteville, Arkansas

For the
Audubon Arkansas
Holiday Open House

The staff and board of Audubon Arkansas invite you to join us for food, refreshments, conversation and conservation. Spouses, children, and friends welcome.
Please RSVP to mviney@audubon.org
Wishing You Happy Holidays!!!

Audubon Arkansas open house from 4 to 7 p.m. today; Environmental Action Committee at 5:30 p.m. in Room 326 of city hall

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2009
Audubon Arkansas open house from 4 to 7 p.m. today; Environmental Action Committee at 5:30 p.m. in Room 326 of city hall
The Holiday Season is a busy time so here's a little reminder about our Holiday Open House! If you have not yet RSVP'd don't forget to drop us a line and let us know your are coming! We are looking forward to seeing everyone there!

Please Join Us

Thursday, December 10, 2009
From 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at
34 East Center Street
Fayetteville, Arkansas

For the
Audubon Arkansas
Holiday Open House

The staff and board of Audubon Arkansas invite you to join us for food, refreshments, conversation and conservation. Spouses, children, and friends welcome.
Please RSVP to mviney@audubon.org
Wishing You Happy Holidays!!!

Susan Young's book about Tontitown, "So Big, This Little Place," is wonderful, but people who heard her lecture on the history it was based on were impressed most by Susan's presentation: See comments below

I thought I knew Susan, whose friendship I have cherished for many years. But I was one of those with teary eyes when I heard her speak from her heart about the people she loves -- her "families" of friends. It was a first for me, and now I'm a little jealous, because it was easy to see that everybody in that audience also loves her. She was brimful of her passion for history and the people of Tontiown -- downright stunning as she turned her presentation into a conversation. I felt like we were all turning the pages of a family album as she brought us deep into her story about Tontitown, which is really a story about all of us Please find a way to read her book and thank her for reminding us of who we are. And ask her to write and share some more.

Proud admirer of "our" Susan,

Jim

Agenda for December 10, 2009, meeting of Washington County Quorum in Fayetteville, Arkansas

Wash. Co. quorum court agenda for Dec. 10 mtg‏
From: Jeff Erf (jerf@sbcglobal.net)
Sent: Fri 12/04/09 8:26 PM
To: Northwest Arkansas List (nw-ar-list@googlegroups.com)
REGULAR MEETING OF THE WASHINGTON COUNTY QUORUM COURT

Thursday, December 10, 2009
7:00 p.m.
Washington County Quorum Court Room

A G E N D A

1. CALL TO ORDER. JUDGE EDWARDS

2. PRAYER AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.

3. ROLL CALL.

4. ADOPTION OF AGENDA. At the beginning of each
meeting, the agenda shall be approved. Any JP may
request an item be added to the agenda subject to
approval of the Quorum Court.

5. APPROVAL OF MINUTES. Approval of the minutes of
the November 12 regular meeting of the Quorum Court. (5.1)

6. FINANCE REPORT. (6.1) STEVE ZEGA

7. APPROPRIATION ORDINANCE: AN ORDINANCE
RECOGNIZING REVENUES AND APPROPRIATING
MONIES FOR THE EXPENDITURES IN EACH FUND
FOR WASHINGTON COUNTY, ARKANSAS, FOR THE
YEAR 2010, AND ADOPTING A BUDGET FOR THE
VARIOUS DEPARTMENTS REFLECTING THE LINE
ITEM EXPENDITURES THEREOF. This ordinance
will adopt the 2010 Budget for Washington County
as recommended by the Budget Committee of the
Whole. (7.1, 7.2) STEVE ZEGA

8. COUNTY JUDGE’S REPORT. (8.1, 8.2) JUDGE EDWARDS

9. COMMITTEE REPORTS.

(A) Travel Rules & Regulations for County Employees
and Elected Officials. The Personnel Committee is
recommending clarifications to the County’s Travel
Rules & Regulations. Changes to these regulations
must be approved by the Quorum Court by simple
motion. (9.1) MICAH NEAL

10. AN ORDINANCE AMENDING ORDINANCE NO. 2009-43
AUTHORIZING THE ZONING BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT
TO RECONSIDER CONDITIONS IF NO APPEAL HAS BEEN
FILED; AND AMENDING OTHER MATTERS CONCERNING
APPEALS. This ordinance is on first reading and is being
recommended by the County Services Committee. (10.1) CANDY CLARK

11. AN ORDINANCE ESTABLISHING TIME LIMITS FOR
CONDITIONAL USE PERMITEES TO SUBMIT THEIR
PROJECT TO THE PLANNING BOARD. This ordinance is
on first reading and is being recommended by the County
Services Committee. (11.1) CANDY CLARK

12. AN ORDINANCE AMENDING WASHINGTON COUNTY
CODE 2.7-2 PERTAINING TO THE SPAY/NEUTERING
PROGRAM. This ordinance is on first reading and is being
recommended by the County’s Animal Concerns Advisory
Board and the County Services Committee. (12.1) CANDY CLARK

13. AN ORDINANCE AMENDING WASHINGTON COUNTY
CODE 2.7-35 PERTAINING TO STRAY DOGS. This
ordinance is on first reading and is being recommended by
the County’s Animal Concerns Advisory Board and the
County Services Committee. (13.1) CANDY CLARK

14. A RESOLUTION ENDORSING WASHINGTON COUNTY’S
PARTICIPATION IN THE SPAY DAY USA CELEBRATION.
This resolution is being recommended by the County Services
Committee. (14.1, 14.2) CANDY CLARK


15. AN EMERGENCY ORDINANCE CREATING THE OFFICIAL
POSITION OF COUNTY JAIL PHYSICIAN. This ordinance
is being recommended by the Jail/Law Enforcement/Courts
Committee. It contains an emergency clause, requiring
one reading, and will be in effect immediately upon
passage. (15.1) MARY ANN SPEARS

16. OTHER BUSINESS.

17. CITIZEN’S COMMENTS. Fifteen-minute comment period
with a three-minute limit for each individual to comment on
items on the agenda or other items.

18. ADJOURNMENT.

/kb

Verbesina virginica among several species that serve in winter as ice plants! Find it early mornings in a variety of places in addition to World Peace Wetland Prairie

Please click on images to ENLARGE photo. Ice-plant displays are like snowflakes. No two are alike. Drive along roads with ditches that have not been mowed back all the way and spot Verbesina virginica with ice around its base on cold, clear mornings. ANOTHER REASON NOT to mow roadsides and old prairie areas. Sometimes, if the mowers haven't cut close to the ground but have taken off the tops of the often 6-foot-tall plants, the ice formations may be spotted by carefully watching for short stem remains.

Instructions that Natural Resources Conservation Service contractors are supposed to be following

Please click on image to go to Flickr site and ENLARGE for reading and find related documents and photos.

Workers in the Town Branch take a break near 11th Street between Hill Avenue and Duncan Avenue

Federal destruction of Town Branch riparian timber and soil

Aubrey james | MySpace Video

Theo Witsell of the Arkansas Natural Heritage Commission to speak on rare habitat and newly found wildflower species

Please click on image to ENLARGE view of invitation to FGNS meeting on November 21, 2009.

Senior Democrats meeting at 11:30 a.m. Tuesday November 17, 2009

Hello Everyone!

Below is a quick notice from Bonnie Cook regarding Senior Democrats tomorrow. It is at the Western Sizzlin in Springdale. Make sure to attend!



We are very fortunate to have Brenda Gullett as our guest speaker at Senior Democrats on Tuesday, November 17th. Brenda is on the State Board of Education. She served four years as a State Senator and two as a State Representative. Brenda continues to participate in many other activities. Brenda's topic will be: Charter Schools and Home Schooling verses Traditional Public Schools in Arkansas--Pros and Cons. A question and answer period will follow.

Here are some other things that will happen tomorrow.
We will elect officers for next year. All officers want to return. You can nominate people from the floor.


You may want to join Senior Democrats now for next year. It will help if you print off the form and have it filled out. Hopefully, we will have or get some forms at some point in case you don't have a printer.

I did get in the newspaper twice and we are suppose to have press coverage. One more time, please make a special effort to attend tomorrow. I feel education is the key to our future in so many ways.
--

Lawsuit brings news coverage of Sheriff's Department

http://www.kfsm.com/news/kfsm-news-nwa-helder-lawsuit-sheriff-sexual,0,2604698.story

Red Oak Park plan would tear up the ground and displace mature trees and other significant vegetation but do nothing to protect the park from the huge upstream flow of water from the south, east and west

Red Oak Park Plan

MAYBE, this plan would help protect the property of the landowner downstream to the north toward Hamestring Creek. But it will totally miss the point of trying to protect the existing mature trees and will allow an incredible increase in erosion during construction and have only a minimal chance of improving the park in any credible way.

The only worthwhile and effective use of the money set aside for this plan would be KEEPING the water WATER WHERE IT FALLS: On the lots in the subdivisions to the south, east and west in raingardens created in the yards and in the treeless portion of the park at the southeast corner.

Helping people create raingardens using the natural soil remaining in the area and encouraging NOT to mow but to protect native vegetation there would decrease the dangerous runoff to a manageable level.

It is illogical to spend money doing some that won't meet the goals of the people who originally began complaining about the situation.

Rogers group challenges Fayetteville's authority to regulate mining in county

ORDINANCE CHALLENGED: Quarry Files Complaint Against City

ROGERS GROUP REQUESTS PREVENTATIVE COURT ORDER

By Skip Descant

Wednesday, November 11, 2009

FAYETTEVILLE — The operators of a limestone quarry just outside Fayetteville want a judge to say the city has no authority to regulate activities there.

“The city has no authority to regulate the quarry, which is located entirely outside the city limits,” the Rogers Group argues in a complaint filed in U.S. District Court for the Western District of Arkansas.

The Rogers Group is requesting a court order to prevent the city from exercising authority over its business operations outside the city.

Last month, the Fayetteville City Council passed a resolution to limit quarry activity inside the city, but also within one mile of the city. The council concluded in a 6-2 vote that because the quarry had become a “nuisance,” aldermen had authority to draft an ordinance to mitigate mining activities that create noise, dust and explosive shock.

The Rogers Group argues any nuisance it may cause by its operations must be proven in court.

“A city cannot just declare this operation to be a nuisance,” said Stephen Giles, a Little Rock attorney representing the Rogers Group. “If the quarry was located in the city limits, the city would have some more authority.”

The complaint also states restrictions on hours of operation would cause undue fi nancial losses.

“Although ostensibly intended to regulate rock quarries pursuant to the city’s police power, the ordinance will have the effect of putting the quarry out of business by making it impossible to operate the quarry in an economically viable manner,” the court fi ling reads.

“Some of the regulations in the ordinance are just totally unreasonable,” Giles said.

The city plans to deny the allegations made by the Rogers Group, said Kit Williams, city attorney.

The issue of mining and quarrying came to the forefront beginning in late 2008, when the Big Red Dirt Farm just outside west Fayetteville asked to convert to a limestone quarry. The red dirt operation was grandfathered in because it existed before zoning, but the change of use required county approval.

The planning board rejected the request, but the Quorum Court granted the changeover on appeal. Neighbors sued, and the case is pending in court.

Shortly after, the Rogers Group asked to expand its 45-acre quarry just north of Big Red into a neighboring 100-acre dirt pit. The planning board and Quorum Court both rejected the expansion, and the company sued.

Tour of Woolsey Wet Prairie and Fayetteville's westside sewage-treatment plant at 2 p.m. today precedes big evening for Illinois River Watershed Partnership

Illinois River Watershed Partnership
Annual Stakeholders Meeting
November 10, 2009
2:00 to 3:30 pm Tour of Fayetteville West Side Treatment Plant and Woolsey Wet Prairie
4:00 pm. Tour of Fayetteville Sam's Club
5:30 pm Hors d'oeuvres at Arvest Ballpark, Springdale
6:00 pm Sponsor Recognition and Golden Paddle Awards Reception
7:00 pm. Annual Membership and Board Meeting
Thank you for your dedicated efforts and support
to preserve, protect and restore the Illinois River Watershed.

To see evidence of the need for protection, please click on image to ENLARGE example of construction-site erosion in the Illinois River Watershed.

From Northwest Arkansas environment central

Washington County Quorum Court agenda for November 12, 2009

Wash. Co. Quorum Court Agenda - Nov. 12, 2009‏
From: nw-ar-list@googlegroups.com on behalf of Jeff Erf (jerf@sbcglobal.net)
Sent: Sun 11/08/09 4:35 PM
To: Northwest Arkansas List (nw-ar-list@googlegroups.com)

REGULAR MEETING OF THE WASHINGTON COUNTY QUORUM COURT

Thursday, November 12, 2009
6:00 p.m.
Washington County Quorum Court Room

A G E N D A

1. CALL TO ORDER. JUDGE EDWARDS

2. PRAYER AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.

3. ROLL CALL.

4. ADOPTION OF AGENDA. At the beginning of each
meeting, the agenda shall be approved. Any JP may
request an item be added to the agenda subject to
approval of the Quorum Court.

5. APPROVAL OF MINUTES. Approval of the minutes of
the October 8 regular meeting of the Quorum Court. (5.1)

6. FINANCE REPORT. (6.1) STEVE ZEGA

7. APPROPRIATION ORDINANCE: AN ORDINANCE LEVYING
THE COUNTY, MUNICIPAL AND SCHOOL DISTRICT TAXES
FOR THE YEAR 2009. The Quorum Court is required to levy the
county, municipal, and school taxes for the current year at its
regular meeting in November of each year. (7.1, 7.2) STEVE ZEGA

8. COUNTY JUDGE’S REPORT. JUDGE EDWARDS

9. COMMITTEE REPORTS.

10. AN EMERGENCY ORDINANCE CALLING A SPECIAL
ELECTION ON THE QUESTION OF THE LEVY OF THE
ANNUAL DUES OF THE GOSHEN VOLUNTEER FIRE
DEPARTMENT A/K/A GOSHEN FIRE DISTRICT
ASSOCIATION; AND PRESCRIBING OTHER MATTERS
PERTAINING THERETO. This ordinance contains an
emergency clause making it in effect immediately upon
passage. It is being recommended by the County Services
Committee. (10.1-10.3) JOE PATTERSON

11. AN ORDINANCE AMENDING ORDINANCE NO. 2009-43
AUTHORIZING THE ZONING BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT
TO RECONSIDER CONDITIONS IF NO APPEAL HAS
BEEN FILED. This ordinance is on first reading and is being
recommended by the County Services Committee. (11.1) CANDY CLARK

12. OTHER BUSINESS.

13. CITIZEN’S COMMENTS. Fifteen-minute comment period
with a three-minute limit for each individual to comment on
items on the agenda or other items.

14. ADJOURNMENT.

Veterans Memorial 5K entry form for 8 a.m. Saturday, November 7, 2009, linked below video

Veterans Memorial 5K entry form for Saturday, November 7, 2009

Please click on image to move to Flicker site and ENLARGE.

Please click on image to move to Flickr page and ENLARGE view.

Please click on image to ENLARGE view of a sample of items that will be in the goody bags of the first 300 runners who sign up for the Nov. 7, 2009, Veterans 5K.

Please click on image to go to Flickr page to Enlarge logos of first two major sponsors of the Veterans' 5K race set for November 7, 2009, in Fayetteville, Arkansas.

Ducks Unlimited Banquet October 29, 2009, in Fayetteville, Arkansas

Please click on images to move to Flickr site and use magnifying tool above photo to ENLARGE for easy reading.

Ducks Unlimited Banquet October 29, 2009, in Fayetteville, Arkansas

Please click on images to move to Flickr site and use magnifying tool above photo to ENLARGE for easy reading.

Green Groups Guild meeting Thursday

From: Green Groups Guild (ggg@listserv.uark.edu) on behalf of ggg (ggg@UARK.EDU)
Sent: Tue 10/13/09 2:31 PM
To: GGG@LISTSERV.UARK.EDU

Meeting 10/15/09 7:00 p.m.
209 Thompson Ave. Three Sisters Bldg on Dickson above Fez Hookah Lounge.
Patrick Kunnecke
GGG President
ASLA Vice President
4th Year Landscape Architecture Student
479-544-1906

Runners and Sponsors sought for Nov. 7, 2009, 5K veterans' memorial race to benefit Fayetteville National Cemetery

Please click on image to move to Flickr site and ENLARGE for easy reading. The Regional National Cemetery Improvement Corporation meets at 10:30 a.m. Saturday October 10 and needs to add sponsor names to the file for the race T shirts and the brochures so that printing can begin. Already, Tyson Foods has donated at the Medal of Honor level and has challenged others to join them at the top of the list, thanks to the effort of RNCIC Secretary Peggy McClain.

Veterans' Memorial 5K race set for November 7, 2009, in Town Branch neighborhood: Sponsorship information below

The Regional National Cemetery Improvement Corporation (RNCIC) is organizing a Veteran’s Memorial 5K race on Saturday, November 7th at the National Cemetery in Fayetteville. The purpose of this 5K race is to raise funds for purchase and clearing of land to expand the Cemetery and, even more importantly, to raise the awareness of the Cemetery and the ongoing threat of closure.
We write to ask that you consider sponsoring the event.
The sole mission of the nonprofit RNCIC is to secure and clear land adjacent to the Fayetteville National Cemetery to ensure that the cemetery can continue to receive veterans for burial. Established immediately after the Civil War, the Fayetteville National Cemetery is an important part of the history of this region and the country. Veterans living in Northwest Arkansas, as well as many veterans from here but now living outside our region, have planned their final resting place here. But that may not be possible in the near future.
The Veteran’s Administration maintains the Cemetery, but the purchase of new land to expand
existing National Cemeteries has not occurred in decades.
When the RNCIC was organized only seven unfilled grave sites remained at Fayetteville National
Cemetery and the Cemetery was soon to be permanently closed to new interments. We have kept the Cemetery open and increased its size by over 120 percent in the ensuing 25 years, but with the passing of the World War II generation of veterans, the Cemetery will be full in a few years and closed to new burials.
Unless, of course, we act now to prevent that.
The recent controversy over the possible rezoning and development of the adjoining property has regularly been on the front page of local newspapers this summer. The massive turnout of veterans and non-veterans alike to public hearings demonstrates the deep emotional currents that surround the National Cemetery. We are grateful for past commitments to support veterans made by this community. We plan to make the race an annual event and, in this inaugural year, we are happy to give you the opportunity to associate yourself with keeping an important part of this region’s and nation’s heritage alive and to honor those who guarded us. We hope that you will see your way clear to sponsor this event. Please feel free to contact us with any questions.
Respectfully submitted,
Wesley Stites, Race Organizer
wstites@uark.edu
Tel: 479-871-7478
5K RACE
VETERANS MEMORIAL
Regional National Cemetery Improvement Corporation
P.O. Box 4221
Fayetteville, AR 72702
http://regncic.tripod.com

2009 Veteran’s Memorial 5K Race Sponsorship Levels
We thank you for considering sponsorship of this fundraising event. As you may know, all
proceeds of the race go to purchase and clear land for the expansion of Fayetteville National
Cemetery. The Regional National Cemetery Improvement Corporation is a registered nonprofit
with a 25-year history. Through the efforts of this group and, even more importantly, the
generosity of past donors, land has been purchased, cleared, and donated to the Veterans Administration increasing the size of the National Cemetery by 120% and keeping it open for
burial of veterans. However, without additional purchases of land, the cemetery will be closed in 14 years or less.

MEDAL OF HONOR - $1000
Business name and logo prominently on front and back of race shirt
Business name and logo on all race materials and race website
Sponsorship noted in all press releases
Business name and logo on finish line banner
Business recognized at award ceremony
Distribution of marketing materials and/or product samples in race goodie bags
10 complimentary entries and/or race shirts

DISTINGUISHED SERVICE - $500
Business name and logo prominently on back of race shirt
Business name and logo on race website
Business name and logo on finish line banner
Business recognized at award ceremony
Distribution of marketing materials and/or product samples in race goodie bags
5 complimentary entries and/or race shirts

SILVER STAR - $250
Business name and logo on back of race shirt
Business name and logo on race website
Business recognized at award ceremony
Distribution of marketing materials and/or product samples in race goodie bags
3 complimentary entries and/or race shirts

BRONZE STAR - $100
Business name and logo on back of race shirt if room allows
Business name and logo on race website
Business recognized at award ceremony
Distribution of product samples in race goodie bags
1 complimentary entry and/or race shirt
CONTACT Information:
Wesley Stites 479-871-7478
All checks should be payable to Regional National Cemetery Improvement Corporation or to R.N.C.I.C.
Regional National Cemetery Improvement Corporation
P.O. Box 4221
Fayetteville, AR 72702

Please see Mike Odom on Tour de Cure Web site and help him raise the final $150 to compete in the race to fight diabetes!

Ride with other area bicylists on October 3, 2009!
Arvest Ballpark, 3000 South 56th Street, Springdale
For more information, call 1-888-DIABETES

Mike Odom of Fayetteville on Tour for the Cure site

Information about tomorrow's Tour de Cure in Springdale

Green-building conference in October 2009

Cities Alive Introduction from Johan A. du Toit on Vimeo.

Roseanne Cash on NPR

Agenda for September 10, 2009, meeting of the Washington County Quorum Court in Fayetteville, Arkansas

REGULAR MEETING OF THE WASHINGTON COUNTY QUORUM COURT

Thursday, September 10, 2009
6:00 p.m.
Washington County Quorum Court Room

A G E N D A


1. CALL TO ORDER. JUDGE EDWARDS

2. PRAYER AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.

3. ROLL CALL.

4. ADOPTION OF AGENDA. At the beginning of each
meeting, the agenda shall be approved. Any JP may
request an item be added to the agenda subject to
approval of the Quorum Court.

5. APPROVAL OF MINUTES. Approval of the minutes of
the August 13 regular meeting of the Quorum Court. (5.1)

6. A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING PAUL DOUGAN TO
SOLEMNIZE THE MARRIAGE OF DEREK DOUGAN
AND SUZANNE BAKER ON DECEMBER 19, 2009,
IN FAYETTEVILLE, ARKANSAS. (6.1) JACK NORTON

7. FINANCE REPORT. (7.1) STEVE ZEGA

8. COUNTY JUDGE’S REPORT. JUDGE EDWARDS

9. COMMITTEE REPORTS.

10. AN ORDINANCE AMENDING WASHINGTON COUNTY
CODE 11-196 AND 11-198 CONCERNING EXPANSION
OF NONCONFORMING USES. This ordinance is on
2nd first reading. (10.1-10.3) CANDY CLARK

11. A RESOLUTION TO SUPPORT AN ALTERNATIVES
ANALYSIS STUDY TO DETERMINE THE FEASIBILITY
OF A LIGHT RAIL TRANSIT SYSTEM IN NORTHWEST
ARKANSAS. This resolution is being brought to the
Quorum Court by JP Gary Carnahan. (11.1-11.3) GARY CARNAHAN

12. OTHER BUSINESS.

13. CITIZEN’S COMMENTS. Fifteen-minute comment period
with a three-minute limit for each individual to comment on
items on the agenda or other items.

14. ADJOURNMENT.

Bad news for fans of excellence in reporting; end of competition could mean no chance of thorough coverage of news

UPDATED: Democrat-Gazette, Stephens Media Plan Joint Venture in Northwest Arkansas

By Lance Turner - 9/3/2009 11:05:54 AM

After suffering "significant financial losses during the current economic recession," the
Arkansas Democrat-Gazette and Stephens Media plan a joint venture in northwest Arkansas,
the news organizations announced Thursday.
The joint venture would move forward if Stephens can't find a buyer for its flagship
newspaper, The Morning News. But Democrat-Gazette Publisher Walter Hussman says he doesn't
believe a buyer will be found.
"If someone comes along and buys it, then we’ll continue to compete with The Morning News
and this merger won’t be consummated," Hussman, CEO of Wehco Media Inc., which owns the
Democrat-Gazette, said in his newspaper's coverage of the deal. "We suspect that won’t
happen."
Both companies have asked the U.S. Department of Justice to evaluate the deal. The Justice
Department had requested that Stephens put The Morning News up for sale, the companies said.
In absence of a sale, the two firms plan to establish a joint venture, called
NorthwestArkansas Newspapers LLC, according to a news release available on Stephens'
ArkansasNews.com. The organization will be "equally owned by the parties."
"The parties will contribute the assets of their Northwest Arkansas daily newspapers
(Benton County Daily Record, the Morning News, Rogers and Springdale, the Northwest
Arkansas Times, and the Northwest Edition of the Democrat-Gazette) and weekly newspapers,
real property, plants, and equipment to the new LLC. Stephens Media will be responsible
for editorial control of the local newspapers in northwest Arkansas. Arkansas
Democrat-Gazette Inc. will control advertising, business, production and circulation
functions of the new LLC, and will be in charge of the editorial functions of the
Northwest Arkansas Edition of the Democrat-Gazette."
Jeff Jeffus, publisher for the Democrat-Gazette's northwest Arkansas operations, will be
president of the new LLC, the companies said.
In announcing the deal to employees in northwest Arkansas on Thursday, Hussman said
newspaper jobs would be cut.
If the deal goes through, it would end more than 20 years of competition in the region
between two of the state's biggest media companies and wealthiest Arkansans, Hussman and
financier Warren Stephens, who owns Stephens Media.
In northwest Arkansas, the Democrat-Gazette owns the Northwest Arkansas Times and the
Benton County Daily Record. It also publishes a zoned edition of the Democrat-Gazette for
12 counties in the region.
Stephens Media owns The Morning News and several other newspapers in the region. It also
owns several papers in central Arkansas, including the Times of North Little Rock, the
Cabot Star-Herald, Carlisle Independent, Lonoke Democrat and Sherwood Voice and the
Jacksonville Patriot.
ArkansasBusiness.com will update this story.

Leased riparian areas to be restored to protect Illinois watershed

The Morning News

Local News for Northwest Arkansas


State, Federal Government To Lease Land To Protect River

By Doug Thompson
THE MORNING NEWS
ROGERS — More than 20 square miles of land along the Illinois River and its tributaries will be planted with trees, native grasses and other plants under a project launched Tuesday.

The program's goal is to stop 10,000 tons a year of pollutants and sediment from getting into the river, state and federal organizers said. The 15,000-acre, $30 million program will be the largest of its type in Arkansas, by far, said Randy Young, director of the state Natural Resources Commission.
"Northwest Arkansas, growing economic gem that it is, is also cognizant of the need to protect our natural resources," said Gov. Mike Beebe. The governor publicly thanked the Walton Family Foundation for a $1 million contribution to the project.

The Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program is voluntary, organizers said. Landowners can apply to sign 15-year contracts with the U.S. Department of Agriculture for their plots of land along the river and streams.

Cropland and poor quality pastures are sought under the $30 million project. Those lands will be planted with native plants to stem erosion and provide food and shelter to wildlife, organizers said. The contracts will pay an estimated average of $85 per acre annually with a starting bonus amounting to as much as $350 an acre.

"I'm very interested. I'd sign up today if the forms were here," said dairy farmer Bill Haak of Gentry. "This is very farmer friendly and, if you look at the details, you can see that the people who wrote this up have the insight into what will make it work."

"I have grandkids," Haak said when asked why he was interested. "You need another reason than that? Well, this is a chance for farmers to step up to the plate and help preserve water quality."

Oklahoma Attorney General Drew Edmondson is suing Arkansas poultry companies in federal court over pollution in the Illinois River. The case is scheduled for trial Sept. 21.

"We hope this project will help prevent pollution from reaching the waters of the Illinois and its tributaries and support these types of efforts in both states," Edmondson said in a prepared statement about Tuesday's announcement.

The conservation program in Arkansas will match up with a similar one in Oklahoma. The two programs will cover the entire Illinois River watershed, Young said.

Of the $30 million, $24 million will come from a federal appropriation sought and obtained largely through the efforts of 3rd District Rep. John Boozman, R-Rogers, organizers said. Most of the rest will come from a $1.5 million appropriation from the state and in-kind services provided by the state, such as planning for each plot's project by the state Game and Fish Department and other agencies and water quality monitoring by the state Department of Environmental Quality.

Contact Information
Watershed Leases

Those interested in the project can call the Washington County office of the federal Farm Service Agency, 479-521-4520, or the Benton County office, 479-273-2622. Information is also available at www.fsa.usda.gov.

Video from the Fayetteville National Cemetery with Washington County Livestock Auction barn in the background

Please go to
http://www.flickr.com/photos/7295307@N02
to see some of today's photos online. My picasa gigabite is full!

Video from the Fayetteville National Cemetery with Washington County Livestock Auction barn in the background

Please go to
http://www.flickr.com/photos/7295307@N02
to see some of today's photos online. My picasa gigabite is full!

Washington County Democratic Central Committee to meet at 6:00 p.m. Monday, August 17, 2009

David Whitaker sent a message to the members of Washington County Democratic Central Committee.
Subject: August Central Committee Meeting
The Washington County Democratic Central Committee will hold its monthly business meeting at 6:30 pm on Monday, August 17 at the new Homewood Suites (1305 North Palak Drive in Fayetteville). Our guest will be Vicki Thomas, Superintendent of the Fayetteville School District. She will be discussing the upcoming millage election and the new Fayetteville High School.
We'll gather at 6:00 for a half-hour of socializing with refreshments.
Directions
From I-540: Exit 64 to Wedington Road, Highway 16 W and turn left onto Wedington Drive. Turn right onto North Shiloh Drive. Turn left onto North Palak Drive.
From Highway 71: Travel west on North Street (at the new UAMS campus), North Street becomes Wedington Drive at the junction of Garland Avenue/Highway 112. Continue straight crossing over I-540. Turn right onto North Shiloh Drive. Turn left onto North Palak Drive.
Hope to see you all there!
David J. Whitaker, Chairman
Washington County Democratic Central Committee

Quorum Court agenda for meeting at 6 p.m. August 13, 2009

REGULAR MEETING OF THE WASHINGTON COUNTY QUORUM COURT

Thursday, August 13, 2009
6:00 p.m.
Washington County Quorum Court Room


A G E N D A

1. CALL TO ORDER. JUDGE EDWARDS

2. PRAYER AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.

3. ROLL CALL.

4. ADOPTION OF AGENDA. At the beginning of each
meeting, the agenda shall be approved. Any JP may
request an item be added to the agenda subject to
approval of the Quorum Court.

5. APPROVAL OF MINUTES. Approval of the minutes of
the July 9 regular meeting of the Quorum Court meeting. (5.1)

6. A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING JOHN BURROW TO
SOLEMNIZE THE MARRIAGE OF TIM CONKLIN AND
MICHELE BECHHOLD ON OCTOBER 17, 2009, IN
FAYETTEVILLE, ARKANSAS. (6.1) STEVE ZEGA

7. A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING AFTON EMBRY TO
SOLEMNIZE THE MARRIAGE OF MATHEW LEE EMBRY
AND MISTY LEA BALL ON OCTOBER 25, 2009, IN
FAYETTEVILLE, ARKANSAS. (7.1) JOE PATTERSON

8. FINANCE REPORT. (8.1) STEVE ZEGA

9. COUNTY JUDGE’S REPORT. (9.1) JUDGE EDWARDS

10. COMMITTEE REPORTS.

A. Amendments to the Employee Handbook.
The Personnel Committee is recommending
amendments to the Sick Leave policy. Changes
to the Employee Handbook must be approved
by a majority vote of the full Quorum Court. (10.1) MICAH NEAL

11. AN ORDINANCE AMENDING WASHINGTON COUNTY
CODE 11-196 AND 11-198 CONCERNING EXPANSION
OF NONCONFORMING USES. This ordinance is on
first reading and is being brought to the Quorum Court by
JP Candy Clark. (11.1, 11.2) CANDY CLARK

12. AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE WASHINGTON COUNTY
CODE OF ORDINANCE PERTAINING TO POLICIES AND
PROCEDURES REGARDING TRAVEL. This ordinance is on
first reading and is being recommended by the Personnel
Committee. Upon adoption of this ordinance, the Travel Rules
and Regulations for County Employees and Elected Officials
will need to be approved by a majority vote of the full Quorum
Court. (12.1, 12.2) MICAH NEAL

13. OTHER BUSINESS.

14. CITIZEN’S COMMENTS. Fifteen-minute comment period
with a three-minute limit for each individual to comment on
items on the agenda or other items.

15. ADJOURNMENT.

/kb

Special treat along with spaghetti and chicken dinners at Tontitown Grape Festival will be book-signing by Susan Young of Shiloh Museum

"This Little Place: The Founding of Tontitown, Arkansas, 1898-1917" by Susan Young, outreach coordinator at the Shiloh Museum of Ozark History in Springdale, will be available with its writer on hand to sign her book from 4 to 10 p.m. Thursday and Friday.

Fayetteville food drive and Washington County "stop the quarry" efforts touted on square on Saturday July 18, 2009

Please click on images to ENLARGE view of details. The finger points to the area where the red-dirt pit that owners want to convert to a limestone mine sits on the edge of Fayetteville. It is up to the Washington County Quorum Court to see that the proposal is not allowed. Residents of Fayetteville and the rest of Washington County must let their justices of the peace know their feelings about this project or it could become an even uglier disaster than shown on the poster. And the limestone pit is estimated to take 75 years to deplete!