November 16, 2011

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WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2011

The

Daily Citizen TheDailyCitizen.com

Serving Searcy and White County, Ark., since 1854

WILDCATS STILL CLAWING FOR STATE TITLE LOCAL RICE FARMERS CAN FILE CLAIMS Harding Academy will face its next playoff hurdle when Greenland visits Friday night. — PAGE 1B

Farmers who have planted certain types of long grain rice are eligible to receive settlement funds. — PAGE 3A

Police arrest murder suspect

Quorum Court White County Quorum Court meets every third Tuesday at 7 p.m. upstairs in the courthouse.

BY MOLLY M. FLEMING mfleming@thedailycitizen.com

OEM building purchase approved

The White County Sheriff’s deputies have arrested Derrick Lynn Williams, 31, of Searcy in connection with the fatal stabbing of Robbie Joey Blagg, 37, according to Cpl. Steve Hernandez with the sheriff’s office. Williams is being charged with one count of capital murder and does not have the option to bond out of the White County Detention Center. Seventeenth Judicial Dis-

trict Prosecuting Attorney Chris Raff said the charge could bring a sentence of life without parole or the death penalty. Williams “There are certain statutory requirements to seek the death penalty, so we’re still looking into that,” Raff

said. Raff said the two men were friends and the reason behind the murder is still being investigated. Blagg, 37, was found with multiple stab wounds in a ditch near 160 Highway 258 in the Judsonia area around 10:30 p.m. on Nov. 9, which is about half a mile from White County Central Schools. First responders were administering Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) on Blagg, who was later pronounced

dead at White County Medical Center. While at the scene, deputies were told that the victim’s car had been stolen after the initial incident took place. Deputies discovered Blagg’s vehicle on fire near the 300 block of South Booth Road in the Higginson area. Charges have not been filed yet regarding the stolen and burned vehicle, Raff said. In the other fatal crime Please see MURDER | 2A

COUNTY RECEIVES NEARLY 2 INCHES OF RAIN

BY MARISA LYTLE mlytle@thedailycitizen.com

The White County Quorum Court approved an ordinance to purchase a new office facility at the regularly scheduled meeting Tuesday evening. After voting to amend the rules for multiple readings within a single meeting, the court approved both the second and third readings for purchase of the property. Please see BUILDING | 2A

Bradford City Council The council meets at 7 p.m. the second Monday of each month at City Hall.

Bradford employees to receive bonuses

Neighborhood watch to be organized BY PAT HAMBRICK Special to The Daily Citizen

BRADFORD — The Bradford City Council approved a $400 bonus for city employees, unchanged from last year. This was the only item to come to a vote during a recent meeting. Mayor Arthur Dunn presented a proposed resolution for a sewer overflow response plan Monday, which includes policy options and details on the smoke test for the sewer, for the council to look over prior to the December meeting. Assistant Police Chief David Lock said he would present information about neighborhood watch at the next council meeting, citing the increase of burglaries and other incidents around the holidays. Please see COUNCIL | 2A

Molly M. Fleming/mfleming@thedailycitizen.com

Harding University students brave the rain on Tuesday afternoon to get to class. The National Weather Service reported that as of Tuesday afternoon, the White County area had received 1.67 inches of rain.

Rose Bud passes revised budget Update on the progress of the sewer presented BY M. A. WEBB Special to The Daily Citizen

ROSE BUD — The city of Rose Bud now has a revised budget for the remainder of the year because of a recent decision by the city council. Mayor Tammy Bomar presented the city council with a

original budget had allowed for an income of around $466,000 and the revised budget indicated $429,190 in total income. The council unanimously agreed to accept the revised budget. In other business, Bomar updated the council on the sewer system and told the council that two filters needed to be ordered. According to Bomar, additional filters are needed as more locations are added to the system. Bomar stated that a restaurant had been added to the system and two more pods are hooked up.

Rose Bud City Council Next meeting: 7 p.m. Dec. 12 Location: Rose Bud City Hall The next meeting for the Rose Bud City Council will be 7 p.m. Dec. 12. The council meets the second Monday of each month at the Rose Bud City Hall.

Russell discusses community clean-up BY M. A. WEBB Special to The Daily Citizen

The city of Russell discussed the possibility of having a council clean-up day during a recent meeting. At the regularly scheduled meeting on Monday, the city

WEATHER Today: Mostly cloudy. Rain likely. Highs in the mid 50s. Northeast winds 15 to 20 mph. Tonight: Mostly clear. Lows in the mid 30s. North winds 5 to 10 mph. Vol. 157, No. 257 ©2011 The Daily Citizen

revised budget at the regularly scheduled meeting on Monday night. Bomar stressed the importance of the budget and told the council, “We have to pass our revised budget. It has to be passed tonight.” Bomar told the council that the city was slightly overspent, but a carryover balance from last year was still in the bank. Bomar cited the total income as the reason the budget had to be revised. “We didn’t bring in near as much as we anticipated,” Bomar stated. According to Bomar, the

council members in Russell discussed the possibility of sponsoring a community clean-up. The council discussed cutting branches and doing other odd jobs to help make Russell more visually pleasing. No date was set for

the clean-up. The next meeting of the Russell City Council will be 6:30 p.m. Dec. 12. The council meets the second Monday of each month at the Russell Community Center.

INDEX NATION & STATE, 2A OPINIONS, 4A LIFESTYLES, 5A CALENDAR/OBITUARIES, 6A SPORTS, 1B CLASSIFIEDS, 5B

Russell City Council Next meeting: 6:30 p.m. Dec. 12 Location: Russell Community Center

Things start out as hopes and end up as habits. LILLIAN HELLMAN 20th Century American playwright

Contact us: 3000 E. Race, Searcy, AR 72143, (Phone) 501-268-8621, (Fax) 501-268-6277


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