News in brief

RIVER VALLEY and OZARK AREA — CLEBURNE COUNTY

Child drowns in Greers Ferry Lake

MID WAY BRIDGE - Lane Isaac Mathews, 4, of Batesville drowned July 20 while swimming with his family in Greers Ferry Lake. The 4-year-old, the son of Joshua and Amy Mathews of Batesville, went missing from the Mid Way Bridge area on the evening of July 20. The Greers Ferry Fire Department was the first to respond to the scene. Cleburne County Search and Rescue and Greers Ferry Police Department personnel also responded. The Mathews family had pulled their boat up on the shore and were swimming in the immediate area around their boat with their children when they discovered that 4-year-old Lane was missing. A search was initiated on land, and also in the water by the first diver on the scene. The diver was able to locate the 4-year-old and get him to the surface, where lifesaving efforts began. The child was taken to Baptist Medical Center in Heber Springs, where continued efforts to revive him were unsuccessful.

CONWAY COUNTY

UACCM chancellor search continues

MORRILTON - The committee searching for the next chancellor of the University of Arkansas Community College at Morrilton is in the midst of the interview process.

A national search was launched after Chancellor Nathan Crook retired on June 30.

The committee has narrowed its decision to three finalists: Thomas Flowers of Center Ridge, who worked at UACCM from 1992-2008; Larry Davis, currently of Arkansas State University-Newport; and Nancy Russell, vice president for instruction at Pima Community College in Tucson, Ariz.

Each finalist met with staff, faculty and students for an evaluation.

A final recommendation will soon be made to UA System President B. Alan Sugg, who will make a final recommendation to the UA System Board of Trustees.

FAULKNER COUNTY

Election Commission to host public forum

The Faulkner County Election Commission will host a public forum to provide an opportunity for voters, candidates, election and political workers to discuss the election process on Saturday in Courtroom “A” at the Faulkner County Courthouse at 10 a.m.

The recent primary and runoff elections, as well as September’s School Board election and the general election in November, will be discussed. Opportunities for people to participate in the election process in Faulkner County will also be discussed. The election commissioners want to hear about what went wrong, what went right and all ideas and comments for improving the election process.

A second public forum will be held in September, to which candidates will be specifically invited and educational materials dealing with the election process will be made available. The date and place of the second forum will be set at the Saturday meeting.