Debra Hale-Shelton

Mayflower’s ex-chief faces felony charge

Helped convict impersonate a policeman, prosecutor says

A former Mayflower police chief was charged with a felony Friday, about 3 1 /2 months after a man was arrested and accused of impersonating a police officer in the small Faulkner County town.
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Election commissioner quits

GOP member cites problems with Faulkner County clerk

Marvin Lessmann, the Republican member of the Faulkner County Election Commission, announced Friday that he has resigned, and accused the county clerk of “partisan politics” and called for her immediate resignation.
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Dunn asks for limit on mom’s testimony

The man accused of murdering Arkansas Tech University student Nona Dirksmeyer expects the state will try to prove that his mother told the Arkansas State Police that he is a liar, defense attorneys said in court documents.
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HP center built with no bids

Nonprofit got state cash but didn’t have to shop project

Before Conway landed Hewlett-Packard Co.’s. customer-support center with the help of millions of dollars in state incentives, the Conway Development Corp. was already working with Nabholz Construction Corp. on what ultimately would be a $30.5 million building.
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Council clears finance review

Conway passes $1.9 million loan

The Conway City Council on Tuesday approved an almost $1.9 million, five-year loan to help the Sanitation Department cope with dwindling cash reserves and agreed that a Little Rock accounting firm should review the city’s finances immediately.
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UCA wins plaudits for keeping paws off student paper

Echo editors rough up new president

The Echo, the University of Central Arkansas’ award-winning student newspaper, has been taking on the school’s administration on its news and editorial pages. A freepress advocacy group has, in turn, commended the university for resisting the temptation to control the paper’s content.
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Seed swaps in state spread plants, tales

Farmers are joining gardeners, educators, volunteers and conservationists around Arkansas to share — and ultimately save — heirloom and nonhybrid seeds, and the stories that go with them.
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Official: Privacy law spat cost job

Keep lid on data, he advised UCA

A U.S. Education Department official said he was dismissed after he openly disagreed with members of the Obama administration over the application of a federal privacy law.
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Financial bids, audit approved in Conway

The Conway City Council voted Tuesday night to authorize the mayor to obtain bids on more than $2.6 million in financing and to seek a quick, outside audit of the city’s finances, which officials have learned just this month are millions of dollars less than they had thought.
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Officer arrested in room of girl, 16

Lawman nabbed by waiting agents

A Searcy police officer who worked as a school resource officer was arrested early Tuesday on a felony charge of first-degree sexual assault.
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