Brewing winter storm “live” thread UPDATED NLR FATAL

Hit “refresh” from time to time and you will keep up with the latest developments.

Remember that there are road, airport, and weather links in the right hand column.

LR City government is shutting down at 3:30.

The chains are goin gon police cars.

You know this already, but traffic is very heavy, especially on 430 and 30.

4:15 four car accident McCain Blvd. and 67/167. This will be a mess. be warmed. Of course, it’s bad everywhere.

The McCain/67/167 wreck is supposedly northbound. Sherwood is working one nearby southbound. 4:20

422 State salt and sand on the way to 40 over pass at 67/167.Nasty

4:23 Kanis overpass near Shackleford, iced over, lots of cars stalled.

4:26 Cantrell near Dillards corporate headquarters getting treacherous.

4:31 It will come as no surprise that Markham headed west is backing up nicely.

4:33 Cantrell hill is bad. The street dept. has it “on the list.”

4:47 barricades headed to Kanis Rd at Ferndale, power lin down. This accident happeened a while ago.

4:51 Hwy. 107 between Brockington and Gravelridge is a sheet of ice.

5:15 Kanis and Shackleford is still icy at 4-3-.

5:29 PM I-30 and Mablevale getting sand. Very bad. And none of this is really news. It is obviously a huge mess out there.

5:31 NLF is obviously hitting its bridges too. Lucust and River Bridge, etc

%:33 I-630 WB at University. Injury accident. Vehicle has left the road. No other details.

5:36 Interstate overpass at Otter Creek (I-30) very icy.

5:45 i40 WB is a parking lot.

The gneral situation is that bridges everywhere are iced up and salt trucks are on the way. Some cars are reportedly stalled on I-30. There are numberous accidents. It is just another interesting drive home. I will continue for a while yet. 5:46 PM

Shackleford near Heart Hospital. Somebody has fallen out of a vehicle. Laying on street.

5:56 Barrow Bridge over 6-30 4 car accident, very hazardous. icy, sand and salt called.

5:58 multi vehicle I-40 mp 150.

Street level multi on University right under 6-30. No injury. clearing quicSB 6:06 PM 67 between wildwood and McCain 5 vehicle accident.

AND THI SIS NOT HALF OF IT.

6;15 Just checking weather service radar, THIS WILL BE A BAD NIGHT TO TRAVEL. There is more coming.

6:18 ANOTHER one at McCain and 67-167 Unknown how many cars. This one is south bound.

6:33 somethng bad is happening on 67-167 north of McCain. Unsure what. I think it is NB. It is nearly time to call it a night.

Kavanaugh from Markham to Cantrell and VanBuren in the Heights are on the list for a touch of sand.

Stranded motorists out west on Kanis 6:36

I430 SB at Col. Glen. one vehicle.

6:40 It looks like many of you are home by now. That’s a good place to spend tonight. Wreckers are backed up. There are many wrecks all over and streets are bad. Bridges are worse. Salt and Sand are on the way. I will be back later is developments require it.

9:15 FOX 16 reports a 4 car crash this evening in North Little Rock which has been fatal to a central Arkansas man. No identity yet.

Filed under: Arkansas, Little Rock, Pulaski County, Weather Resources

City of Little Rock closes down

City manager Bruce More says “head for the hills” at 3:30.

OK, he didn”t literally say exactly that, but you get the picture.

Filed under: Uncategorized

Winter weather advisorites posted for much of Arkansas

Here you go.

243 PM CST MON DEC 15 2008

...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 6 PM THIS EVENING TO
9 AM CST TUESDAY...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN LITTLE ROCK HAS ISSUED A WINTER
WEATHER ADVISORY FOR A WINTER PRECIPITATION MIX...WHICH IS IN
EFFECT FROM 6 PM THIS EVENING TO 9 AM CST TUESDAY. THE WINTER
STORM WATCH IS NO LONGER IN EFFECT.

WINTER PRECIPITATION...A MIXTURE OF SNOW...SLEET...AND FREEZING
RAIN...IS EXPECTED TO INCREASE IN COVERAGE AND INTENSITY DURING
THE OVERNIGHT HOURS. ICE ACCUMULATIONS ARE EXPECTED IN MOST AREAS
BEFORE SUNRISE. ALTHOUGH OVERALL AMOUNTS SHOULD BE LIGHT...TRAVEL
CONDITIONS WILL DETERIORATE SUBSTANTIALLY OVERNIGHT. TUESDAY
MORNING RUSH HOUR CONDITIONS WILL BE AFFECTED SUBSTANTIALLY.

$$

ARZ062>064-160800-
/O.UPG.KLZK.WS.A.0005.081216T0000Z-081216T1500Z/
/O.EXB.KLZK.WW.Y.0013.081216T0000Z-081216T1500Z/
CLEVELAND-DALLAS-LINCOLN-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...FORDYCE...GOULD...GRADY...KINGSLAND...
RISON...STAR CITY
243 PM CST MON DEC 15 2008

...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 6 PM THIS EVENING TO
9 AM CST TUESDAY...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN LITTLE ROCK HAS ISSUED A WINTER
WEATHER ADVISORY FOR FREEZING RAIN AND SLEET...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM
6 PM THIS EVENING TO 9 AM CST TUESDAY. THE WINTER STORM WATCH IS
NO LONGER IN EFFECT.

PERIODS OF LIGHT FREEZING RAIN OR FREEZING DRIZZLE ARE EXPECTED TO
DEVELOP TONIGHT. ALTHOUGH OVERALL ICE ACCUMULATIONS ARE EXPECTED
TO BE LIGHT...TRAVEL CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED TO BE
AFFECTED...ESPECIALLY DURING THE MORNING HOURS ON TUESDAY.

$$

ARZ065>069-160800-
/O.EXB.KLZK.WW.Y.0013.081216T0000Z-081216T1500Z/
BRADLEY-CALHOUN-DESHA-DREW-OUACHITA-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...ARKANSAS CITY...BEARDEN...CAMDEN...
CHIDESTER...DUMAS...HAMPTON...HERMITAGE...LACEY...MCGEHEE...
MONTICELLO...MORO BAY...ROHWER...STEPHENS...THORNTON...WARREN
243 PM CST MON DEC 15 2008

...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 6 PM THIS EVENING TO
9 AM CST TUESDAY...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN LITTLE ROCK HAS ISSUED A WINTER
WEATHER ADVISORY FOR FREEZING RAIN AND SLEET...WHICH IS IN EFFECT
FROM 6 PM THIS EVENING TO 9 AM CST TUESDAY.

PERIODS OF LIGHT FREEZING RAIN OR FREEZING DRIZZLE ARE EXPECTED TO
DEVELOP TONIGHT. ALTHOUGH OVERALL ICE ACCUMULATIONS ARE EXPECTED
TO BE LIGHT...TRAVEL CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED TO BE
AFFECTED...ESPECIALLY DURING THE MORNING HOURS ON TUESDAY.

$$

ARZ007-014>016-022>024-031>033-037>043-160800-
/O.UPG.KLZK.WS.A.0005.081216T0000Z-081216T1500Z/
/O.EXT.KLZK.WW.Y.0013.000000T0000Z-081216T1500Z/
CLEBURNE-CONWAY-FAULKNER-GARLAND-INDEPENDENCE-IZARD-MONTGOMERY-
PERRY-POLK-POPE-SALINE-SCOTT-SHARP-STONE-VAN BUREN-WHITE-YELL-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...ASH FLAT...AVILLA...BATESVILLE...
BAUXITE...BEE BRANCH...BEEBE...BENTON...BRYANT...CALICO ROCK...
CAVE CITY...CENTER RIDGE...CLINTON...CONWAY...DANVILLE...
DARDANELLE...DRASCO...EL PASO...FAIRFIELD BAY...
FOURCHE JUNCTION...GEORGETOWN...GRAVELLY...GREENBRIER...
GREERS FERRY...HARDY...HASKELL...HEBER SPRINGS...HECTOR...
HORSESHOE BEND...HOT SPRINGS...HOT SPRINGS VILLAGE...HOUSTON...
JESSIEVILLE...MAYFLOWER...MELBOURNE...MENA...MORRILTON...
MOUNT IDA...MOUNTAIN VIEW...NORMAN...OIL TROUGH...OLA...OXFORD...
PARON...PELSOR...PERRYVILLE...PINE RIDGE...PLEASANT PLAINS...
ROSE BUD...RUSSELLVILLE...SEARCY...VILONIA...WALDRON...WICKES...
Y CITY
243 PM CST MON DEC 15 2008

...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY NOW IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 AM CST TUESDAY...

THE WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IS NOW IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 AM CST
TUESDAY. THE WINTER STORM WATCH IS NO LONGER IN EFFECT.

WINTER PRECIPITATION IS EXPECTED TO INCREASE IN COVERAGE AND
INTENSITY DURING THE OVERNIGHT HOURS. SOME SNOW AND ICE
ACCUMULATIONS ARE EXPECTED IN MOST AREAS BEFORE SUNRISE. ALTHOUGH
OVERALL SNOW AND ICE AMOUNTS SHOULD BE LIGHT...TRAVEL CONDITIONS
WILL DETERIORATE SUBSTANTIALLY OVERNIGHT. TUESDAY MORNING RUSH
HOUR CONDITIONS WILL BE AFFECTED SUBSTANTIALLY.

$$

ARZ003>006-012-013-021-030-160800-
/O.EXT.KLZK.WW.Y.0013.000000T0000Z-081216T1500Z/
BAXTER-BOONE-FULTON-JOHNSON-LOGAN-MARION-NEWTON-SEARCY-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...BOONEVILLE...BULL SHOALS...
CLARKSVILLE...DEER...FLIPPIN...GASSVILLE...HARRISON...JASPER...
LEAD HILL...LESLIE...MAMMOTH SPRING...MARSHALL...MOUNT MAGAZINE...
MOUNTAIN HOME...NORFORK...OMAHA...OZONE...PARIS...SALEM...
SUMMIT...VIOLA...WESTERN GROVE...YELLVILLE
243 PM CST MON DEC 15 2008

...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY NOW IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 AM CST TUESDAY...

THE WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IS NOW IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 AM CST
TUESDAY.

OCCASIONAL LIGHT WINTER PRECIPITATION WILL CONTINUE THIS
AFTERNOON. THIS PRECIPITATION WILL CONTRIBUTE TO SLICK ROAD
CONDITIONS.

WINTER PRECIPITATION IS EXPECTED TO INCREASE IN COVERAGE AND
INTENSITY DURING THE OVERNIGHT HOURS. SNOW ACCUMULATIONS ARE
EXPECTED IN MOST AREAS BEFORE SUNRISE. ALTHOUGH OVERALL AMOUNTS
SHOULD BE LIGHT...TRAVEL CONDITIONS WILL DETERIORATE SUBSTANTIALLY
OVERNIGHT. TUESDAY MORNING RUSH HOUR CONDITIONS WILL BE AFFECTED
SUBSTANTIALLY.

Filed under: Arkansas, Little Rock, Weather Resources

Winter weather comes to Arkansas

Here is what the National Weather Service has to say.

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR A LARGE PART OF ARKANSAS.

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT

OCCASIONAL PERIODS OF LIGHT WINTER PRECIPITATION WILL CONTINUE
ACROSS NORTHERN AND CENTRAL SECTIONS THIS AFTERNOON. ALTHOUGH
OVERALL PRECIPITATION AMOUNTS WILL BE LIGHT...ADDITIONAL WINTER
PRECIPITATION WILL CONTRIBUTE TO SLICK ROAD CONDITIONS.

THE INTENSITY AND COVERAGE OF WINTER PRECIPITATION IS EXPECTED TO
INCREASE OVERNIGHT.  MUCH OF THE REGION IS EXPECTED TO RECEIVE
ACCUMULATIONS OF WINTER PRECIPITATION. THE SHALLOW NATURE OF THE
ARCTIC AIR MASS OVER THE STATE WILL CONTROL THE TYPE OF WINTER
PRECIPITATION. ACROSS NORTHWEST SECTIONS...MOSTLY SNOW AND SLEET IS
EXPECTED.  ACROSS SOUTHEAST SECTIONS...LIGHT FREEZING RAIN OR
DRIZZLE IS EXPECTED.  A MIXTURE IS EXPECTED TO AFFECT AREAS IN
BETWEEN.

TRAVEL CONDITIONSARE EXPECTED TO DETERIORATE DURING THE OVERNIGHT
HOURS.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY

ROAD CONDITIONS DURING THE MORNING COMMUTE ON TUESDAY MAY BE
TREACHEROUS.

WINTER PRECIPITATION ACROSS THE REGION IS EXPECTED TO DIMINISH
DURING THE LATE MORNING HOURS.

TEMPERATURES ARE EXPECTED TO MODERATE WEDNESDAY AND THURSDAY...WITH
LITTLE IF ANY ADDITIONAL FREEZING OR FROZEN PRECIPITATION. ANOTHER
COLD FRONT WILL PUSH THROUGH FROM THE NORTHWEST THURSDAY WITH A
CHANCE OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS. A CHANCE OF SHOWERS WILL
CONTINUE FRIDAY THROUGH SUNDAY.

Filed under: Arkansas, Weather Resources

Strong arm robery

12:02 Linens and Things on Chenal. Busy day for LRPD.

Filed under: Crime, Little Rock

LR Crime blotter

Here is an update on Saturday’s killing and another incident. No more on the early morning home invasion.

2008- 143703 – HOMICIDE
VICTIM – ANTHONY FOGLE, B/M, 11-19-1973, HOMELESS
INCIDENT DATE/TIME – 12-13-2008 AT 1144 HOURS
INCIDENT LOCATION – ASHER & LEED STREET

Officers responded to the area of Asher and Leed after they were flagged down about a person being shot on the parking lot of Downen Oil.  Upon arrival, officers located a black male with a gunshot wound to the chest.  MEMS responded and transported the victim to UAMS where he died upon arrival.  Witnesses were located who advised they heard one gunshot and then observed the victim grab his chest and fall to the ground.  Homicide Detectives responded, but were unable to locate any identification on the victim.  A thumbprint was taken and ran through AFIS and the victim was identified as Anthony Fogle.  Fogle’s body was taken to the crime lab for an autopsy.  No suspects or motive at this time.

2.              2008- 143993 – COMMERCIAL BURGLARY, THEFT OF PROPERTY, CARRYING
A WEAPON
SUSPECT – JOSEPH BLEVINS, B/M, 7-22-1990, 10107 WHISPERING PINES
VICTIM – BLOCKBUSTER VIDEO, 8521 GEYER SPRINGS
INCIDENT DATE/TIME – 12-14-2008 AT 0300 HOURS
INCIDENT LOCATION – 8521 GEYER SPRINGS
ARREST DATE/TIME – 12-14-2008 AT 0310 HOURS
ARREST LOCATION – 8521 GEYER SPRINGS

Officers responded to an alarm at Blockbuster Video and observed that one of the front lower windows was broken out of the business.  Officers then entered the business and located Joseph Blevins.  Blevins failed to comply with officers commands and Officer Evans released his K-9.  Blevins was bit on the right leg and officers were then able to take him into custody.  Blevins was also armed with a handgun. Blevins was transported to the Downtown Detective Division where he was charged with Commercial Burglary, Theft of Property, Carrying a Weapon, and then transported to Faulkner County.

Filed under: Crime, Little Rock

Early Monday coffee break and first heads

My column in today’s Democrat-Gazette is about corruption in Illinois politics. How do I deal with the controversy? What wisdom have I for you today? Find out on the Voices page in the Arkansas section.

There is the possibility of hazardous weather conditions today. My Lynch at Large blog has a complete set of links in the right hand  column for weather, road conditions, airport arrivals and departures and such. (It in the right hand column)

As this newsletter “goes to press,” there is a home invasion and shooting reported on Reservoir Road. I will try to keep up with it on my blog.

My morning updates are 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. You can also hear my early morning headlines on Y-95 in Camden.

Just in case some of my closer friends are wondering, for the second straight year there will be no Lyncho Christmas party. I have to say that 2008 is turning out to be a pretty good year and God gets the praise.

My train blog is very popular, so check out Trains for America.

http://trains4america.wordpress.com/

As a matter of fact, here is an important opinion piece from the Washington Post last week making the case for Republicans to get behind the Obama push for infrastructure improvements – explicitly including high-speed rail.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/12/07/AR2008120701975.html

U.S. Sen. Blanche Lincoln is asking the Bush administration to rescue the ailing auto industry Friday, a day after her vote helped doom a bailout plan in Congress. On Thursday night, Lincoln voted with Senate Republicans against advancing a House-approved bailout bill. U.S. Sen. Mark Pryor voted to advance the measure.

The seizure of four young brothers associated with Tony Alamo raised to 36 the number of children taken into custody by state child-welfare authorities.

Lawyers for the Arkansas State Police are studying convicted Westside Middle School gunman Andrew Golden’s application to carry a concealed weapon to determine if misdemeanor charges can be filed.

Mike Beebe hinted Saturday that Arkansas could become the site of a fourth windmill manufacturing operation. There are hints the new plant could be in Jonesboro.

The former Rolling Pin Donut factory in Pine Bluff will have another occupant soon: the U.S. Sugar Co. says it will open a plant there and initially employ 20 to 30 workers.

Union members at the Cooper Tire factory in Texarkana have agreed to a three-year contract laden with concessions as part of an effort to keep the plant operating.

Arkansas State Police warn that three “stealth” vehicles are being pressed into service. The crusers are so called because their front and left side look like regular cars, while the right front quarter panel and passenger door bear state police emblems and markings.

Arkansas had the second highest rate of parolees to adult population in the country in 2007 nearly triple the national average,

The University of Central Arkansas plans to quit renting houses to students after May 2009 and will advertise them instead to faculty and staff members, a move that follows complaints of preferential housing.

The Arkansas Republican State Committee elected Doyle Webb, a former aide of the late Lt. Gov. Win Rockefeller, to be party chairman the next two years.

Six inmates imprisoned on methamphetamine-making charges have filed suit, claiming they are due an early release on parole. They claim that the laws establishing parole eligibility for certain methamphetamine related convictions are illegally vague and misleading.

A Miller County jail guard has been charged with sexual assault of a female inmate. Patrick Drake, a former sergeant at the jail, was fired, charged with felony sexual assault, and released on $10,000 bond.

Nolan Richardson, who was Arkansas’ coach for 17 seasons and complied a 389-169 record from 1986-2002, returned to Walton Arena to speak at a news conference announcing plans to honor the Razorbacks’ 1994 NCAA championship team. Before Friday, Richardson hadn’t been in Walton Arena since being fired as Arkansas’ coach March 1, 2002.

Little Rock Police are investigating the fatal shooting of an unidentified man Saturday at 3218 Leeds The shooting is the city’s 38th homicide for 2008, compared with 51 this time last year.

The Benton City Council will consider banning firing guns inside the city — a law many assumed was already on the books.

North Little Rock will look at neighborhood parking regulations and height and setback requirements for a proposed downtown hotel.

A Little Rock district court judge doesn’t have the authority to bar public access to the jail logs related to a man accused of killing television news anchor Anne Pressly, according to a brief filed by the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette at the Arkansas Supreme Court.

The River Rail Streetcar line will be closed today and Tuesday for maintenance.

The south end of the Junction Bridge will be closed for four months beginning Jan. 4 so contractors can begin excavating around the formation that includes the “little rock” that gave the city its name.

One of the two mausoleums at the Edgewood Cemetery was vandalized over the weekend.

Filed under: Arkansas

Breaking news: home invasion and shooting

Apartment resident shot by home intruder on Reservoir Road. 6:0-3 AM

UPDATE 6:28 Time of the break-in is reportedly 5:55. Suspect is a black male, 5 feet 8 inches tall, 180 pounds.

UPDATE 6:40 gunshot wound to leg.

Filed under: Crime, Little Rock