Monday Pat Classic 8/4/08

OK< everybody. Tomorrow is PatFest. Birthday number 58. Tomorrow, God willing, I will have outlived my dad by ONE DAY.

The column runs in today’s Arkansas Democrat-Gazette on the Voices page in the Arkansas section.

The morning updates run twice an hour on K-106.3 The Greatest Hits of All Time with John Lee and Spirit FM with Don Burns at 93.3 and 100.7.

My radio show is on at 9.

KSMD 99.1 FM – Searcy/Batesville

KWCK 1300 AM – Searcy

KAPZ 710 AM – Bald Knob/Augusta

KAWW 1370 AM – Heber Springs/Clinton

 

A heat advisory is in effect. Nineteen counties across Arkansas, including Pulaski County, have declared bans on outdoor burning.  A firefighter was treated for heat exhaustion and smoke inhalation Sunday as crews battled more than a dozen wildfires in southern Arkansas. Pine Bluff and Little Rock both experienced significant power outages yesterday.

Hot temperatures are hitting the poultry industry hard. Many dead birds are the result of the newest practice of growing heavier chickens.

Maj. Paul Suskie, chairman of the state Public Service Commission, was allowed to cut short his tour of duty in Iraq as top legal officer for Arkansas’ 39th Infantry Brigade despite orders to deploy for the entire year. The Democrat-Gazette reports that his shortened deployment is a privilege not afforded other soldiers and directly conflicts with U.S. Army policy.

As Congress adjourned for its summer break, four lawmakers from Arkansas are already back from Iraq. Reps. Ross,  Boozman, and Berry, and Sen. Pryor met with members of the Arkansas National Guard’s 39th Infantry Brigade.

The Department of Human Services and the State Police are investigating the deaths of four children who died in foster care in the last two months. Two of the deaths involved allegations of abuse.

The Arkansas Public Service Commission warns that natural gas utility customers should prepare for “significantly higher” natural gas bills than last winter.

Former Arkansas linebacker Freddie Fairchild was arrested booked into the Washington County Jail at 3:09 a.m. Sunday on misdemeanor charges of possession of a controlled substance and fleeing. This is the second arrest in the past five months for Fairchild, who was kicked off Arkansas’ football team following his arrest in late March on charges of assaulting a girlfriend and keeping her against her will.

The Razorbacks first pre-season practice is today.

Support is strong among legislators for making cruelty against animals a felony in Arkansas, according to Gov. Mike Beebe.

The chief attorney for the state Game and Fish Commission says “it’s a gray area” whether the commission constitutionally can share natural gas proceeds with other state agencies as Gov. Mike Beebe wants.

The former bookkeeper for the Decatur School District turned herself in to police on theft charges from the struggling school system. Tina Murray is accused of stealing $41,471 from the school district. Decatur was taken over by the Department of Education on Thursday.

Murphy Oil’s El Dorado Promise has had a positive effect on the local school system. As of mid-July, there are 102 new students in the system this year.

John Meyer, the new CEO at AXCIOM tells Roby Brock that has global aspirations. He says Arkansas will always be the spiritual headquarters.

An effort by the Pine Bluff/Jefferson County Library Board to evict Division Two of District Court from its current space on the ground floor of the main library is set for trial today in Jefferson County Circuit Court.

Patrick Duval, who is accused of shooting four people at a wedding in rural Pope County including the bride and groom, faces a public intoxication charge after officers arrested him Saturday morning on a domestic disturbance call.

Filed under: Arkansas