The 479 Show

Coming up on this week's episode, while the heat wave was making a brief return to the region, the real heat was inside a couple of municipal buildings with mayors in Tontitown and Lowell getting flamed by council members, leading to a censure in the former case and a continuing investigation in the latter creating heartburn less than two weeks from early voting.

Our crime news ranged from the political, with the bonding out of a former state legislator and sole candidate for Benton County Judge, to the end of two careers for a substitute teacher after the end of his second, and allegedly more lucrative career, and the latest on a suspected murder in Sulphur Springs this past August. Meanwhile, an ex-professor at the University of Arkansas fired over what university officials said were her violent and anti-Semitic posts was hoping to earn a living as a professional plaintiff via the federal courts.

There was also some more legitimate business being conducted with the Springdale City Council Committee of the Whole endorsing the participation of Tyson Foods in the tax-back program to allow for its repurposing of its newly-acquired plant on Randall Wobbe Lane, the Fayetteville City Council prohibiting the use of city funds and resources on automated license plate readers, which the Police Department had no plans for. and the Siloam Springs Board of Directors giving the matter a couple of weeks while starting the process toward a moratorium on data centers. U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy toured the area to discuss three major projects to help move more people and cargo.

Our Benton County Extension report focuses on the continuing changes in the region as more agricultural land is dedicated to housing and commercial developments.

And our trip off the beaten path takes us to Douglas County, Georgia, where a diner's attempt to skip out on a Red Lobster bill resulted in his spending the next few meals without any cheesy biscuits.

On this week's episode, a light week of government action featured the Bella Vista City Council and Washington County Quorum Court holdings meetings.

Ground would be broken on a new Walton-family inspired STEM-based university that aims to be more than a BIT player in workforce development...you'll understand the pun in a bit...er, in a few minutes.

The courts were even busier this week, with the lead story of the week seeing the lone candidate for Benton County Judge posing for more unwanted photographs which would wind up on opposition campaign fliers were there any opposition this year, or should he remain eligible and willing to stand for public office.

Creditors allowed what may appear to be the corpse of America's Car-Mart to live another week, but shareholders continued their sell-off in what may soon become a race to get while the getting's still possible

Our feature event of the week was the Benton County Fair, with the KURM microphones returning to Vaughn after missing the last two annuals.

Our Benton County Extension report asks our listeners, how do you like them apples.

And our trip off the beaten path takes us to Nitro, West Virginia, where the local deer and varmint population had to not only worry about becoming roadkill, but waking up the next morning with one heck of a hangover, or in the case of the deer, waking up next to a strange doe or buck that they swore was more attractive a few hours ago or wondering what possessed them to punch that bear in the nose..

Coming up on this week's episode, the week was busy with the main event featuring the Benton County Quorum Court decision on an immigration enforcement program and potential to expand its jail that hasn't grown since it was built in 1999.

Other action included the Springdale City Council purchasing hardware for its information technology upgrades, the Bentonville City Council hearing about and approving transportation projects, the Rogers City Council approving a rezoning to accommodate low-income housing.

In the school boards, the Gravette board would continue negotiations on the sale of property it purchased for a future building while the Fayetteville board heard updates on its capital projects and renamed the Performing Arts Center at its high school.

The Illinois River watershed pollution case is back in the hands of a Tulsa-area federal judge with both sides asking him to accept a settlement in lieu of his judgment.

Our Benton County Extension report previews the upcoming County Fair in Vaughn.

And our trip off the beaten path takes on a road excursion from Hulbert, Oklahoma to London, Arkansas, which featured a $1.2 million harvest of Puff the Magic Dragon Weed.

Coming up on this week's episode, the heavy week of government meetings generated a lot of discussion but not too much immediate action, with the Fayetteville City Council allocating funds for its bonds, the Siloam Springs Board of Directors approving a memorandum of understanding on a major law enforcement task force, the Lowell City Council discussing and tabling its proposal to pull the plug on the Flock cameras while Washington Countny's Quorum Court pulled the trigger despite the use of the devices not even on the agenda or any of the current or potentially elected officials.

The University of Arkansas Board of Trustees had a busy two days, upholding the dismissal of a former political science professor after questioning why the research expenses he turned in coincided with his wedding and reception, which might not have been money well spent after he got his name in the paper, not to mention a few more invitations to court with his lady love in line to collect some future alimony and child support payments. The board would then turn to the critical matter of the state of the UA athletic program, particularly the football program whose next coach might as well be Art Turf.

Our Benton County Extension report takes us to more serious matters with the emergence of a nasty food allergy.

And our trip off the beaten path takes us to Mankato, Minnesota, where an Albanian visitor attempted a marketing scheme that led to the latest variation of the Arthur Miller tome, Incarceration of a Salesman.

Coming up on this week's episode, the Labor Day holiday might have shortened the work week for our government agencies, but the Bentonville City Council could have probably used another vacation after the marathon session the next night.

The Springdale City Council had a much shorter session as it approved the contract to work on the eastern gateway to downtown, while the Board of Education heard the update on the Westwood Elementary construction.

Rogers-based America's Car-Mart would also see its name in the paper as it attempts to stave off the wolves at the door in advance of its shareholder's meeting.

The crime highlights featured the retirements of a couple of suspected cocaine dealers while there was more drama involving the Benton County Judge's race with the retiring incumbent offering to delay his departure if the heir apparent renounces his gavel.

We also marked the 25th anniversary of the 9-11 terror attacks in New York, Washington and Pennsylvania with area organizations marking the occasion with ceremonies and acts of service.

Our Benton County Extension report offers some advice for homeowners as the drought continues to tighten its grip on the region.

And our trip off the beaten path takes us to Waiblingen, Germany, where the descendant of the Stihl company's founder commemorated Labor Day with comments suggesting that Stihl wasn't just a noun, but also a verb.

On this week's episode, the latest major transportation project in the region reached a milestone with a ribbon-cutting ceremony celebrating the completion of two highways.

The heat continued its grip on the region, continuing the worsening conditions of the drought not seen in a decade.

Government business was quick with Springdale's City Council moving forward its East Emma Streetscape project, the Benton County Planning Board dealiing with telecommunications towers and Siloam Springs was the latest to join the Flock.

Area colleges would release their enrollment numbers and Benton County voters may need to wash their hands after casting a ballot for County Judge in November.

Our Benton County Extension report previews an upcoming herbicide applicator class while the Comment from the Capitol recaps the short week in D.C.

And our trip off the beaten path takes us to Clearwater, Florida where we an ultra-specialist in the criminal activity game had residents facing their final days wondering if their cold body would be riding to the hearse on some hot wheels.

On this week's episode, our busy week began with the Bella Vista City Council rushing through the creation of an Advisory Green committee while taking its time discussing a sales tax reduction proposal, the Springdale City Council approving its updated land use plans, the Bentonville City Council turning down the noise, the Benton County Quorum Court sitting through the sound and fury while approving a bond issue to help build more health care facilities and the Fayetteville Board of Education approving a maximum price construction contact for the future Ramay Junior High School.

We also had plenty of crime to keep our police busy while the latest shoe dropped in the case involving Benton County's lone County Judge candidate who may be closer to sitting behind bars than the podium at future Quorum Court meetings.

Our Benton County Extension report celebrates the accomplishments of some area 4-H youth.

And our trip off the beaten path might be better known as a trip to the Roadkill buffet with a couple of food haulers dropping off their cargo sooner than expectted.

On this week's episode, it was a mixed bag of news this week with Springdale officials hearing about plans for the Rabbit's Foot Lodge, Fayetteville would adopt tighter restrictions on data centers, Siloam Springs would place their sales tax extension on the ballot and Washington County's legislative branch would exert more control over its budget.

In the school house, Rogers would approve new courses as part of its advanced curriculum while Bentonville approved a contract for the expansion of one of its newer elementary schools.

Statewide news would see the apparent end of the proposed mega-prison in Franklin County and the setback in Arkansas ballot measures in federal district court.

Our Benton County Extension Report weighs in on the mental health crisis.

And our short trip off the beaten path takes us to Crawford County, where a young Fort Smith flimmer-flammer was stuffed in the slammer while preparing for what may be a tour of court houses across the state for a series of command performances before a black-robed audience.

Coming up on this week's episode, our busy week saw the Washington County Quorum Court look to assert greater control over capital outlays, the Springdale City Council back to full strength, the Rogers City Council moving its bond issue and sales tax extension to the hands of the voters, the Centerton City Council joining the growing flock of communities to pluck the feathers of its surveillance camera system and the Lowell City Council changing its rules of procedure.

Meanwhile, Tyson Foods would consolidate its beef processing facilities as the segment continues to struggle while row crop famers in the state planted more soybeans while pulling back on corn and rice sowing.

The Benton County Extension Office previews a meeting of the area Cattleman's Association in September.

And our trip off the beaten path takes us to Jefferson City, where the subjects of our story learned the lesson...you snooze, you lose...the hard way.

Coming up on this episode, the Springdale City Council may have complicated matters in their bid to fill a vacancy while the Pea Ridge Planning Commission approved a controversial rezoning for a proposed development next to its city park. Benton County officials would discuss the proposed re-allocation of its one-cent sales tax but have a short time to place the question before the voters.

Officials in Fayetteville would break ground on the future Ramay Junior High School while Springdale opened its repurposed Elementary School.

Municipal filing season ended and we have a nunber of significant mayoral races in Benton County. But most of the eyes are on a now-former state representative and for-the-moment only candidate for county judge as his problems continued piling up.

Our Benton County Extension report focuses on getting kids ready to return to school and the accompanying routines, while the Community Blood Center of the Ozarks held its latest drive in Fayetteville.

And our trip off the beaten path takes us to Florida, which may be in such bad shape now that it had to import people to star in the "Florida man" stories that usually provide entertainment value for the big city journalists.