City Expected to Decide on Downtown Parking Deck
By: Jay Dillon
Updated: December 4, 2012
The future of downtown parking in Fayetteville could be decided Tuesday night as city leaders are expected to choose one of three plans for a new structure near the Walton Arts Center. These are the seven stories you need to know about before you head out the door.
A week ago, city council members heard presentations about the best location for a parking deck. Monday night the public had the chance to ask questions about the project at the Mayor's town hall meeting. Out of the three options on the table, a consulting firm recommended the theater lot, which is where Grub's Bar and Grill currently sits. The council says it would try to make a decision at Monday night's meeting. Once a site is chosen, the city believes the project could being next year.
A congregation in Springdale is being uprooted to make way for a new exit off Interstate 540. City planners have been discussing an interchange at Don Tyson Parkway and I-540 for almost three years now. Now, those plans are in motion and Victory Church has less than 30 days to move. While the church knew the move was coming, and accepted it, it's not happy about the amount of money the city offered for the land. The city says it had the property appraised and there's not a lot of negotiating room since it's a federal project. Church officials have rejected the offer and are filing suit, putting the price of the property into the court's hands.
Van Buren police arrest a level three sex offender for failing to register. Officials say Brian Lester lived in the 1200 block of Chestnut Street for one month but failed to contact law enforcement about his move. Lester was convicted in 2011 of internet stalking of a child when he met an undercover officer who was posing as a 15-year-old female in an online chat room. Lester was booked into the Crawford County Detention Center with no bond.
A Fayetteville man is arrested and accused of secretly recording nude video of a girl. Police say 42-year-old Thomas Pipes set up a camera in a bathroom, taping the 14-year-old as she showered. According to investigators, Pipes' wife found the video and turned him into police. During an interview, officers say pipes claimed the recordings were not sexual in nature. He faces a charge of possessing material depicting sexually explicit conduct involving a child and video voyeurism.
The future of Arkansas' Scholarship Lottery is unclear this morning. On Monday, the lottery commission met at Arkansas Tech University to talk with students who have benefited from the scholarship money the lottery creates. Because of low ticket sales, the future of that money is in jeopardy. The commission will now talk about ways to make the money last without costing students their education. Higher Education Director Shane Broadway has said this decision could be the biggest one lawmakers make in the upcoming session.
Speaking of the lottery, if you've played recently, check your ticket! According to state officials, Arkansas Lottery winners didn't collect nearly $5 million for the fiscal year that ended June 30th. People typically have six months to claim a prize. Any money that goes unclaimed flows back into the scholarship fund.
Benton County is under a burn ban Tuesday morning. The county issued the 24-hour ban Monday with plans to re-evaluate later on Tuesday. Meantime, the Washington County Sheriff's Office and the Springdale Fire Department have also both issued red-flag warnings. They too are encouraging folks not to do any outside burning.
A week ago, city council members heard presentations about the best location for a parking deck. Monday night the public had the chance to ask questions about the project at the Mayor's town hall meeting. Out of the three options on the table, a consulting firm recommended the theater lot, which is where Grub's Bar and Grill currently sits. The council says it would try to make a decision at Monday night's meeting. Once a site is chosen, the city believes the project could being next year.
A congregation in Springdale is being uprooted to make way for a new exit off Interstate 540. City planners have been discussing an interchange at Don Tyson Parkway and I-540 for almost three years now. Now, those plans are in motion and Victory Church has less than 30 days to move. While the church knew the move was coming, and accepted it, it's not happy about the amount of money the city offered for the land. The city says it had the property appraised and there's not a lot of negotiating room since it's a federal project. Church officials have rejected the offer and are filing suit, putting the price of the property into the court's hands.
Van Buren police arrest a level three sex offender for failing to register. Officials say Brian Lester lived in the 1200 block of Chestnut Street for one month but failed to contact law enforcement about his move. Lester was convicted in 2011 of internet stalking of a child when he met an undercover officer who was posing as a 15-year-old female in an online chat room. Lester was booked into the Crawford County Detention Center with no bond.
A Fayetteville man is arrested and accused of secretly recording nude video of a girl. Police say 42-year-old Thomas Pipes set up a camera in a bathroom, taping the 14-year-old as she showered. According to investigators, Pipes' wife found the video and turned him into police. During an interview, officers say pipes claimed the recordings were not sexual in nature. He faces a charge of possessing material depicting sexually explicit conduct involving a child and video voyeurism.
The future of Arkansas' Scholarship Lottery is unclear this morning. On Monday, the lottery commission met at Arkansas Tech University to talk with students who have benefited from the scholarship money the lottery creates. Because of low ticket sales, the future of that money is in jeopardy. The commission will now talk about ways to make the money last without costing students their education. Higher Education Director Shane Broadway has said this decision could be the biggest one lawmakers make in the upcoming session.
Speaking of the lottery, if you've played recently, check your ticket! According to state officials, Arkansas Lottery winners didn't collect nearly $5 million for the fiscal year that ended June 30th. People typically have six months to claim a prize. Any money that goes unclaimed flows back into the scholarship fund.
Benton County is under a burn ban Tuesday morning. The county issued the 24-hour ban Monday with plans to re-evaluate later on Tuesday. Meantime, the Washington County Sheriff's Office and the Springdale Fire Department have also both issued red-flag warnings. They too are encouraging folks not to do any outside burning.
