Amber Turley a Twenty-seven-year-old entered the plea Tuesday and was sentenced to two years in prison and four years probation on each count. The sentences will run concurrently – meaning she has two years to serve.

It happened Friday afternoon at 421 Watson Street.

Benton Police believe Sara Sousa, 21, targeted Officer Melonie Cannada because she was upset by previous dealings with the officer, who was not hurt in the incident.

Police say the truck came to a rest inside the apartment after knocking down the front door and badly damaging the front of the unit. Officers were quickly on the scene and arrested Sousa immediately. The woman was also found to be carrying a 12″ kitchen knife.  

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Amanda Garvin, 29, of Conway was killed in the accident and pronounced dead on the scene.

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Amber Turley has pleaded not guilty to three counts of felony child endangerment for the April 19 deaths of her boys – 8-year-old Aaron, 7-year-old Alex, and 2-year-old Anthony. She is due in Morrilton in court Tuesday morning .

Turley, Prosecutors allege used marijuana and a prescription depressant and had a blood-alcohol level of .05 percent prior to the 3:30 a.m. crash.

Turley and her three children attended a party in Conway, then she dropped off her boyfriend at Mallet Town before the accident, Witnesses told police.

“During many of our school age events last year we asked participants to fill out surveys about what they would like to see the museum focus our programs on this year. Overwhelmingly, the students wanted to learn more about the Great Depression and World War II, so this program was born out of those suggestions,” stated Amanda Nikkel, volunteer coordinator.

The Scouts will find out about and taste popular foods that were introduced to the public during the 1930s such as Spam, Kool-Aid, Ritz crackers, etc.  Through a rationing game, developed by the staff of the museum, Scouts will experience how rationing during World War II affected people’s lives on the home front.  Scouts will also learn to identify allied and axis aircraft, and will make and decorate a paper model to take home. 

Additional activities will focus on the New Deal Federal Art project, and making homemade silly putty.    In 1943, the War Production Board asked American companies to develop a synthetic rubber after Japan invaded many of the countries producing natural rubber.  James Wright, a General Electric engineer, was working on a solution to this problem when he “accidently” invented the gooey, bouncy substance now known as Silly Putty.  Wright sent samples of the putty to scientists around the world, but no one could find a use for it.  However, marketing genius Peter Hodgson thought it would make a great toy.  He was right.

Since this program is scheduled the day before Easter, we will have an Easter Egg Roll on the side lawn of the museum.  The most popular Easter egg roll is held annually on the lawn of the White House.  Dolly Madison began the tradition in 1814 on the lawn of the Capitol building; however, in 1877 a new lawn was planted at the Capitol and the gardeners canceled the event.  Congress then passed a law making it illegal to use the grounds as a children’s playground.  By the request of many children, Rutherford B. Hayes brought the tradition to the White House lawn.  The event has been only been canceled for inclement weather and during World War I and World War II. 

The cost for this program is $5.00 per participant and space is limited to 50 participants.  Pre-registration is required by March 24, 2010.   Scouts participating in the workshop will receive a custom designed Old Independence Regional Museum patch.

Old Independence serves a 12-county area:  Baxter, Cleburne, Fulton, Independence, Izard, Jackson, Marion, Poinsett, Sharp, Stone, White, and Woodruff.  Parts of these present-day counties comprised the original Independence County in 1820s Arkansas territory.

Daily sessions include a mock election, a review of the history of voting rights in America, information on high school poll worker programs, and interactive activities focusing on women’s suffrage, civil rights, and the voting process. Eligible students will also be given the opportunity to register to vote before the program concludes with a guided tour of the Arkansas State Capitol.

“Our young voter education programs are structured to engage the next generation of Arkansans in the political process,” said Secretary Daniels. “Civic education is a responsibility we all share as we work to ensure that our youth have the knowledge and tools to be active participants in government at every level.”

The spring young voter education program will be presented at the Association of Arkansas Counties Building at 1415 W. Third Street in Little Rock from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm on March 17-18.

The Secretary of State’s office offers an additional young voter education program each fall.

The following secondary schools have registered to participate in the spring program: Arkadelphia High School, Arkansas School for the Deaf, Camden-Fairview High School, County Line High School, Flippin High School, Glen Rose High School, Hall High School, Lafayette County High School, Lamar High School, Morrilton High School, Perryville High School, Poyen High School, Prairie Grove High School, Quitman High School, Taylor High School, Texarkana High School, Van-Cove High School, White Hall High School, and Woodlawn High School.

Dr. Philip Patterson, president of the NCSA, presented the award to Jones in front of 250 Christian school administrators. Harding University President David B. Burks was also in attendance, as well as Harding Academy Superintendent James Simmons and Dr. Ed Higginbotham, retired Harding University professor.

(left to right) Harding Academy Superintendent James Simmons; teacher Craig Jones, recipient of the Teacher of the Year Award; and retired Harding University Professor Ed Higginbotham at the National Christian School Association annual conference.

Jones has worked for more than 30 years at Harding Academy where he teaches music, drama, and Bible classes and also directs the chorus.
Under his direction, the junior and senior high choirs consistently receive Division I ratings at regional and state competitions. His choirs have traveled across the nation and also performed at Carnegie Hall in New York City 10 times.

Jones also received the 2009-10 Outstanding Music Educator Award from the National Federation of State High School Associations earlier this year.

A member of the Arkansas and American Choral Directors Associations, Jones is a 1977 graduate of Harding College. He received a master’s degree in music history from Memphis State University.

For more information about the NCSA, visit www.nationalchristian.org.

News Release

MARION BERRY, United States Representative, First District, Arkansas

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 11, 2010

On Wednesday, March 10, Congressman Marion Berry introduced his own health care bill to the House. Bill H.R. 4813 has been referred to several house committees for consideration.

The bill includes several pieces of legislation that Congressman Berry has presented to the floor in the past including language for the Secretary of Health and Human Services to negotiate prices of pharmaceuticals for Medicare Part D recipients, eliminating pre-existing conditions, allowing drug importation that CBO has projected will save 50 billion alone over the next 10 years, exempting all pharmacies and pharmacists from DME accreditation, and no taxpayer funding for abortions.

“Health care reform must be deficit-neutral and must be fully paid for by squeezing out more savings from the pharmaceutical manufacturers and private insurance industry instead of cramming down hospitals and other providers and taxing Americans” said Berry.