Sahara was on a 50-mile training toss when she became lost. She had been missing for seven days.

Harvest pushed back even further for local farmers as the rain is steady. Most hope to get back in the fields to finish up Monday.

During the first two weeks of operations for the Arkansas Scholarhip Lottery, a total of --- Southwest Arkansas retailers participated in the rollout of more than half-a-million in ticket sales, making some $25,650 in commissions on those sales across the eight-county region.

Reports from key participants for how things progressed in the first ever school flu shot clinic were good.

Lotto lovers in Southwest Arkansas accounted for more than half-a-million dollars of the $19 million generated by the Arkansas Scholarship Lottery in its first two weeks of operations.
Gamers from the eight counties in Southwest Arkansas spent $513,000 on lottery tickets during that two week period, or roughly $36,000 per day, seven days a week.

Nobody really liked it, but everybody wanted it, as more than a dozen attorneys, businessmen, mayors, and area residents told the chairman, and a native son of Hope who now serves as a public utilities commissioner for the state Thursday night that AEP/Southwestern Electric Power Co. needs a proposed general rate increase.

Eleven of 13 members of the Arkansas Pollution Control and Ecology Commission sided with AEP/Southwestern Electric Power Co. on Friday in keeping more than 900 workers on the job at the John W. Turk, Jr., Power Plant under construction near Fulton.

About two dozen people stood in line at Haile's Exxon in Heber Springs, Ark., just after 12 a.m. Monday, Sept. 28, 2009, in order to take part in the state's first lottery. The first person in line, Karen Hargis of Heber Springs bought $5 worth of instant tickets, but did not win.

As with any gambling activity, whether it be horse races, dog races, casinos, or the lottery, players are encouraged to be wise about their spending and to play responsibly.

Arkansas will launch its state-run lottery Monday, with $50 million dollars worth of scratch-off tickets going on sale around the state. Those who buy tickets could win as much as $100,000, and part of the proceeds from ticket sales will fund college scholarships.

More support came in from the state for the Amtrak stop and train station in Hope which will be added to the Amtrak October schedule as a “to be announced” stop. Renee Robison, group travel manager with Arkansas State Parks, talked in length, as did other presenters at a recent House and Senate interim committee meeting on transportation at the University of Arkansas Community College at Hope.

“I always say the train station is the living room to the city you are living in,” Assistant Superintendent of Amtrak’s Southwest Division Joy Smith said at the recent House and Senate legislative transportation committee meeting held at UACCH.

Hope’s hopes for an Amtrak stop were still rolling down the tracks Thursday, but not sure yet just what time to meet the train as the quest for the Texas Eagle to stop at the Hope station received more support.

When you’re on the endangered species list, you get what you need. The red cockaded woodpecker might not realize it, but the Arkansas Forestry Commission, Arkansas Natural Heritage Commission and The Nature Conservancy are working diligently to add some much needed square footage to its vast home.

Recalling his experiences during the August Congressional recess, U.S. Representative Mike Ross, D-Ar., asked listeners in a “phonehall” town hall forum Thursday to “get involved” in the healthcare debate.