Little Rock – An Arkansas Supreme Court committee has suspended the law license of an Izard County attorney for six months for avoiding a client.

The court’s Committee on Professional Conduct also ordered Stephen L. Lewis to pay $5,600 in restitution and $50 in costs. The committee cited professional misconduct in Lewis’ handling of a case involving damage to a motorcycle damaged while a potential buyer drove it in 2003.

The motorcycle’s owner, Jeremy Smith of Jonesboro, learned that Lewis never filed a lawsuit on his behalf, even though Smith had given the attorney $100 for “fees” in November 2004. Smith says Lewis didn’t return his messages.

Lewis had his law license suspended by the committee for three months in May 2007 in another case and never applied for reinstatement.

The Searcy Police Department has named Officer Rachel Smith as the new School Resource Officer for Ahlf Junior High School. Smith has been an officer at the Searcy Police Department since December of 2006.

Officer Rachel Smith replaces former school resource police officer Neil Hamilton Riley, 48, who was arrested while climbing into a 16-year-old’s bedroom window around one o’clock Tuesday morning after troopers followed up on a report of his alleged inappropriate relationship with the girl. Riley resigned from the Searcy Police Department after his arrest.

Officer Rachel Smith will begin her role as School Resource Officer on Monday, March 1 .

Officer Rachel Smith has been involved in community, she participates in the Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics, the National Night Out block party, the Polar Bear Plunge, and other community activities.

Officer Rachel Smith is a native of Shirley and a graduate of Shirley High School. She has attended ASU-Beebe and Southeast Arkansas College in Pine Bluff.

Senate President Bob Johnson says he won’t challenge U.S. Sen. Blanche Lincoln in the Democratic primary in May.

Johnson told reporters on Thursday that he’s decided against running against Lincoln — a Democrat seeking a third term. Johnson is a former House speaker from Bigelow and says he’s decided his family is more important than a Senate run.

Johnson said in August he was considering the race.

Lincoln faces a tough re-election bid with eight Republicans saying they’re seeking the GOP nomination to challenge her. Lt. Gov. Bill Halter has also been mentioned as a potential challenger to Lincoln in the Democratic primary.

Johnson spoke to reporters after the Legislature wrapped up its first fiscal session.

Washington – United States Senator Blanche Lincoln last night was honored by the National Guard Youth Foundation for her dedicated support of the National Guard Youth ChalleNGE program, which provides intervention, guidance and encouragement in the lives of at-risk youth. The program targets teenagers who have dropped out of school and helps put them on a path to a productive future.

Major General William D. Wofford, Adjutant General of Arkansas National Guard; Arkansas National Guard Youth ChalleNGe Cadet Jasmine Davis of Hot Springs; Arkansas National Guard Youth ChalleNGe Cadet Emily Bradley of Viola and Arkansas National Guard Youth ChalleNGe Director Robin Gifford were all present at last night’s gala.

“I am honored to receive the ChalleNGe Champion Award, but those who should truly be recognized and honored are the men and women of our National Guard,” Lincoln said. “The Youth ChalleNGe Program is only one example of the outstanding work that you do. I have seen firsthand how Arkansas’s Youth ChalleNGe program at Camp Robinson helps at-risk youth become more productive, employed and law-abiding citizens.”
 
Last week, Lincoln introduced a resolution to recognize National Guard Youth Challenge Day on February 24, 2010. Each year, up to 160 teens benefit from Arkansas’s National Guard Youth ChalleNGe Program, and Lincoln would like to see that number grow.

The National Guard Youth ChalleNGe program reaches out to kids aged 16 to 18 who have dropped out of school and places them in a five-month residential program and 12-month mentoring program during which participants learn life skills, gain work experience, receive on-the-job training and participate in community service while working on a high school diploma or GED.

The program has been independently rated as one of the most cost-effective and efficient programs for at-risk youth in the United States and has graduated more than 92,850 former high school dropouts from the program to date. Ninety-nine percent of these graduates have gone on to pursue higher education, a career in the military or employment.

Win Amelia Earhart: Queen Of The Air DVD this Weekend February 27th through 28th from KFFB 106.1. Call and register when asked to on the air at 1-800-896-1669 (weekends only) or register on line at www.ourcontestonline.com

She was an uncommon heroine, a legendary aviator, and the focus of one of the greatest mysteries of all time. Drawing on extensive archival footage, interviews, and newly discovered evidence, BIO™ examines her dramatic story in AMELIA EARHART: QUEEN OF THE AIR, providing an unforgettable look at the life and legend of the courageous and groundbreaking aviator.

A daredevil of unimaginable proportions, Amelia Earhart was destined to make her mark on history. Even as she was wowing the world by annihilating existing aviation records, her unconventional short hair, pants, and leather jacket had already made her an undisputed icon. Her mysterious disappearance while attempting to fly around the world has long been at the center of great debate. But what really happened to one of the world’s most promising aviators?

Run Time: 50 mins. + extras
Format: DVD/Single

Title: Benefit Bowl-A-Thon 2010 in Conway
Location: Conway Family Bowl 1010 East Oak Street Conway, AR 72032
Description: Conway Human Development Center Volunteer Council
Benefit Bowl-A-Thon 2010
Friday, March 5th, from 3-5 p.m.
Conway Family Bowl

For More Details And Entry Forms Call CHDC Volunteer Services @ 501-329-6851 X319, Major Andy Shock @ 501-450-4914 X233 or Stefanie Vann @ 501-450-1831
All Proceeds will benefit CHDC Individuals.
Free Bowling
Free Shoe Rental
Free T-Shirt
Free Refreshments

Start Time: 1500
Date: 2010-03-05

Annual Meeting
With Guest Speaker
Johnelle Hunt
co-founder J.B. Hunt Transport

Tickets $50 per person
Bronze Sponsorship $500
Silver Sponsorship $1,000
Bronze Sponsorship $2,500
Platinum Sponsorship $5,000

WASHINGTON, D.C.— Senator John D. (Jay) Rockefeller IV, Chairman of the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, and Senator Mark Pryor, Chairman of the U.S. Senate Subcommittee on Consumer Protection, Product Safety, and Insurance, sent a letter yesterday to the Office of the Inspector General for the U.S. Department of Transportation as part of its investigation of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) handling of the Toyota recalls. 

The letter requests that the Inspector General expand his audit to encompass:

Industry-wide complaints or reports collected by NHTSA regarding sudden unintended acceleration and brake failure in automobiles with electronic throttle and braking control systems;
Compliance with the Transportation Recall Enhancement, Accountability, and Documentation (TREAD) Act reporting requirements; and
Government ethics at NHTSA.

(Little Rock) — The Public Health Nursing Association of Arkansas (PHNAA) Section of the Arkansas Public Health Association (APHA) has scheduled “A Day of Appreciation and Celebration” for public health nurses of Arkansas. The First Christian Church in Little will be the site of the celebration on Saturday, February 27 from 9:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Public health nurses will be recognized for their hard work during the rounds of mass flu clinics and school clinics recently completed in all seventy-five counties of Arkansas.

Public health nurses include those employed by the Arkansas Department of Health (ADH) and school nurses throughout the state. In Arkansas, the Arkansas Department of Health administered 626,578 doses of seasonal and H1N1 vaccine at an estimated 1,199 school/daycare clinics statewide and at 180 mass flu clinics in every county, and there were no known reports to CDC of any undesirable reactions to any flu vaccine.

Special speakers during the day will include former U.S. Senator David Pryor, and B.J. Sams, former news anchor of KTHV in Little Rock. Nurses will receive two continuing nursing education credits for their participation. First Christian Church is located at 1500 N. Mississippi Street in Little Rock.

PHNAA was established in 1981 for the Public Health nurses who work for the Arkansas Department of Health. The purposes of the Association include:

• Increase public & professional awareness & acceptance of the vital role of the nurse in the local public health program.
• Promotion of better working conditions, increase benefits, and increase opportunities for training & education for Public Health Nurses.
• Sharing of experiences, techniques, projects & activities proven successful in Public Health Nursing.
• Provide a vehicle for nurses to have an opportunity for input in the formation of policy & program plans affecting the delivery of health care services.