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Decision is Made on the Sharp County Wet/Dry Issue
Posted: Sep 25, 2008 06:01 PM EDT
SHARP COUNTY, AR (KAIT) - Judge Philip G. Smith decided not to allow the wet/dry issue on the November ballot in Sharp County.
The decision came down late Thursday afternoon. In his decision, Judge Smith stated that if this alcohol issue was on the ballot, the votes would not be counted and would be null and void.
The needed signatures to get the item on the November ballot was 4,369 but after 461 were invalidated, the total number fell short of the requirement.
More on this on Region 8 News on KAIT and kait8.com.
Thursday, September 25, 2008
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Wet-dry case enters day 3
Wet-dry case enters day 3
By Larry Stroud Guard Associate Editor
Published: Wednesday, September 24, 2008
ASH FLAT — The excitement level dropped sharply in day two of a civil trial to determine whether voters get to choose wet or dry in Sharp County this November.
Tuesday, however, Sheriff Dale Weaver and other officers set up a metal detector in front of the courtroom because of a comment a Cave City woman had made on Monday, the first day of the trial. The woman was taken to the sheriff’s office, then released without charges, after being heard saying she would return the following day with a gun.
Weaver said he did not interview the woman himself, but the two officers who did said the woman was known to say things she didn’t mean and was not considered a threat.
The metal detector “door” through which spectators had to walk was set up anyway.
The first day of the trial found the courtroom packed with spectators, most of whom appeared passionate about one side or the other.
Circuit Judge Phil Smith ruled that day that the petitions to get the issue on the general election ballot substantially complied with state laws regarding local option elections. He said part of the structure of the petitions was incorrectly worded but said he did not feel that was a fatal flaw and could be fixed with “judicial directive” concerning the wording on the ballots.
He ruled that the issue will be on the ballot, because those had to be prepared in advance and work had to start on that by Tuesday. However, it remains to be seen whether the votes will be counted.
That depends on the validity of the signatures.
Read the rest of the story here: http://www.guardonline.com/?q=node/48102
By Larry Stroud Guard Associate Editor
Published: Wednesday, September 24, 2008
ASH FLAT — The excitement level dropped sharply in day two of a civil trial to determine whether voters get to choose wet or dry in Sharp County this November.
Tuesday, however, Sheriff Dale Weaver and other officers set up a metal detector in front of the courtroom because of a comment a Cave City woman had made on Monday, the first day of the trial. The woman was taken to the sheriff’s office, then released without charges, after being heard saying she would return the following day with a gun.
Weaver said he did not interview the woman himself, but the two officers who did said the woman was known to say things she didn’t mean and was not considered a threat.
The metal detector “door” through which spectators had to walk was set up anyway.
The first day of the trial found the courtroom packed with spectators, most of whom appeared passionate about one side or the other.
Circuit Judge Phil Smith ruled that day that the petitions to get the issue on the general election ballot substantially complied with state laws regarding local option elections. He said part of the structure of the petitions was incorrectly worded but said he did not feel that was a fatal flaw and could be fixed with “judicial directive” concerning the wording on the ballots.
He ruled that the issue will be on the ballot, because those had to be prepared in advance and work had to start on that by Tuesday. However, it remains to be seen whether the votes will be counted.
That depends on the validity of the signatures.
Read the rest of the story here: http://www.guardonline.com/?q=node/48102
Monday, September 22, 2008
Man Charged In Series Of York County Robberies, Shootings Faces First Trial
Man Charged In Series Of York County Robberies, Shootings Faces First Trial
To comment on this story, e-mail Greg Suskin.
POSTED: 6:43 pm EDT September 22, 2008
UPDATED: 6:44 pm EDT September 22, 2008
ROCK HILL, S.C. -- There was a tremendous sigh of relief after the February arrest of 20-year-old Phillip Watts Jr. Watts is charged with seven armed robberies in York County last winter. Four people were shot in those robberies, including two store clerks and two customers in Fort Mill, Rock Hill and York County.
Monday morning, the trial began for Watts, who police said confessed to all seven crimes and gave a detailed statement of how they happened, even telling police he was going to hit a store in the city of York next.
However, on Monday Watts took the stand in a pre-trial hearing and denied ever confessing to anything. He told the judge that he read about the robberies in the paper but didn't know anything about them.
He also claimed that the signature at the bottom of one of the signed police statements wasn't his.
Watts's mother, Valerie Dunham, told Eyewitness News that if her son said he didn't commit those crimes, then she believes him.
"He knows if he did it better than anyone," Dunham said. "He didn't do it. I didn't raise him like that, to tell lies."
Judge John Few asked that a handwriting expert be called in to study the two signatures.
Read teh entire article: http://www.wsoctv.com/news/17533174/detail.html
To comment on this story, e-mail Greg Suskin.
POSTED: 6:43 pm EDT September 22, 2008
UPDATED: 6:44 pm EDT September 22, 2008
ROCK HILL, S.C. -- There was a tremendous sigh of relief after the February arrest of 20-year-old Phillip Watts Jr. Watts is charged with seven armed robberies in York County last winter. Four people were shot in those robberies, including two store clerks and two customers in Fort Mill, Rock Hill and York County.
Monday morning, the trial began for Watts, who police said confessed to all seven crimes and gave a detailed statement of how they happened, even telling police he was going to hit a store in the city of York next.
However, on Monday Watts took the stand in a pre-trial hearing and denied ever confessing to anything. He told the judge that he read about the robberies in the paper but didn't know anything about them.
He also claimed that the signature at the bottom of one of the signed police statements wasn't his.
Watts's mother, Valerie Dunham, told Eyewitness News that if her son said he didn't commit those crimes, then she believes him.
"He knows if he did it better than anyone," Dunham said. "He didn't do it. I didn't raise him like that, to tell lies."
Judge John Few asked that a handwriting expert be called in to study the two signatures.
Read teh entire article: http://www.wsoctv.com/news/17533174/detail.html
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