AFTER SIGNIFICANT DELIBERATION, A 5TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT CIRCUIT COURT JURY HAS FOUND A 26-YEAR OLD POPE COUNTY MAN NOT GUILTY OF FIRST DEGREE MURDER. THE WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON VERDICT AT THE POPE COUNTY COURTHOUSE COMPETED THE THREE DAY TRIAL OF TRAVIS WHITE, CHARGED IN CONNECTION WITH HIS ALLEDGED INVOLVEMENT THE SHOOTING DEATH OF 32-YEAR OLD CHAD FERGESON, IN JULY OF LAST YEAR. FERGESON'S BODY WAS DISCOVERED OUTSIDE OF A RESIDENCE IN THE GUM LOG COMMUNITY OFF HIGHWAY 124. WHITE AND 29-YEAR OLD WILL HARRIS BECAME THE SUBJECT OF A POPE COUNTY SHERIFF'S INVESTIGATION, AT THE TIME OF FERGESON'S DEATH. WHITE SURRENDERED TO AUTHORITIES AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT. HARRIS WAS SUBSEQUENTLY ARRESTED ON AN UNRELATED PAROLE VIOLATION AND WAS REMANDED TO THE ARKANSAS DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS IN SEPTEMBER OF 2007. HE WAS NEVER CHARGED IN CONNECTION WITH THE MURDER UNTIL LATE MAY OF THIS YEAR, AS A RESULT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION IN THE CASE.

CONSIDERATION OF AN ORDINANCE TO APPROVED RATE INCREASES FOR THE CITY'S WATER AND SEWER SERVICE WILL BE ADDRESSED DURING THURSDAY'S MEETING OF THE RUSSELLVILLE CITY COUNCIL. THE PROPOSAL, REVIEWED DURING SEVERAL RECENT PUBLIC HEARINGS, WOULD PROVIDE ADDITIONAL NEEDED FUNDING FOR THE UTILITY, ACCORDING TO WATER COMPANY OFFICIALS. ALSO ON TAP WILL BE SEVERAL REZONING ISSUES, SPECIAL USE PERMIT REQUESTS AND A DISCUSSION OF THE DILAPIDATED STRUCTURES ORDINANCE. CONSIDERATION OF A BID FOR LIGHTING AT SHILOH AND HICKEY PARKS WILL ALSO BE ADDRESSED DURING THE 6 P.M. SESSION AT RUSSELLVILLE CITY HALL.

ALSO ON THURSDAY'S MEETING AGENDA... A VARIETY OF BUSINESS, PERSONNEL AND OTHER ISSUES WILL BE REVIEWED BY MEMBERS OF THE ARKANSAS TECH BOARD OF TRUSTEES DURING THEIR NOVEMBER SESSION, SET 1 P.M. IN THE PENDERGRAPH LIBRARY.

MORRILTON'S PETIT JEAN MEATS WILL BE FEATURED IN AN UPCOMING EPISODE OF "ROAD TASTED WITH THE NEELYS" ON THE FOOD NETWORK. DURING THE SHOW, PAT AND GINA NEELY HIGHLIGHT THE NATION'S MOST UNIQUE SPECIALTY STORES AND FAMILY-RUN BUSINESSES WITH ONE-OF-A-KIND THANKSGIVING TREATS. DAVID RUFF FROM PETIT JEAN MEATS SAYS A PETIT JEAN HAM IS INCLUDED IN THE "NEELY-STYLE' TURKEY DAY" FEAST...
THE SHOW WILL PREMIERE THIS FRIDAY AT TEN P.M. IT WILL RE-AIR ON SUNDAY AT THREE P.M. AND AGAIN THE NIGHT BEFORE THANKSGIVING AT EIGHT P.M. AND THREE A.M. PETIT JEAN MEATS HAS BEEN A FIXTURE IN MORRILTON FOR 80 YEARS.

THE ARKANSAS STATE POLICE WILL BE WORKING ALONGSIDE LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES DURING THE UPCOMING THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY PERIOD. TOGETHER THE TROOPERS, LOCAL OFFICERS AND DEPUTIES WILL BE REMINDING ALL HIGHWAY TRAVELERS TO BUCKLE UP. THE THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY IS TYPICALLY ONE OF THE MOST DANGEROUS TIMES FOR TRAVEL ON THE NATION'S STREETS AND HIGHWAYS, ACCORDING TO STATE POLICE DIRECTOR COLONEL WINFORD E. PHILLIPS. DISTANCE MAKES NO DIFFERENCE, ACCORDING TO PHILLIPS, SAFETY BELTS AND RESTRAINTS SAVE LIVES. THE DIRECTOR REMINDS TROOPERS WILL BE FOLLOWING A "NO TOLLERANCE" POLICY, ON SEAT BELT COMPLIANCE AND ESPECIALLY ON RESTRAINTS FOR JUVINILES.

DANVILLE AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE MEMBERS ARE MAKING FINAL PLANS FOR THIS SATURDAY'S BUSINESS COMMUNITY OPEN HOUSE. CHAMBER PRESIDENT PAULA DICK SAYS THEIR HOPING RESIDENTS SHOP LOCAL THIS HOLIDAY SEASON. HOURS FOR THE EVENT WILL BE FROM 9-TILL-4 AND DICK URGES RESIDENTS TO TAKE TIME TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THE EFFORT.

LITTLE ROCK. ARK. (AP) - ST. VINCENT MEDICAL CENTER SAYS IT HAS DISMISSED "SEVERAL" HOSPITAL EMPLOYEES WHO DUG INTO THE MEDICAL RECORDS OF TELEVISION ANCHORWOMAN ANNE PRESSLY. THE TV NEWSWOMAN WAS BEATEN AT HER HOME OCTOBER 20TH, AND DIED AT ST. VINCENT ON OCTOBER 25TH.

ARKADELPHIA, ARK. (AP) - HENDERSON STATE UNIVERSITY PRESIDENT CHARLES L. WELCH SAYS NO ONE WAS INJURED WHEN A SINGLE GUNSHOT WAS FIRED AT A GROUP OF STUDENTS NEAR HIS CAMPUS. WELCH SAID THE SHOT WAS FIRED YESTERDAY AFTERNOON AT THE STUDENTS HEADING FOR AN HSU DORMITORY.

LITTLE ROCK, ARK. (AP) - ARKANSAS HOLIDAY TRAVELERS CAN GIVE THANKS FOR LOWER FUEL PRICES, BUT AUTHORITIES SAY THEY MAY ALSO WANT TO KEEP AN EYE OUT FOR DEER. OFFICIALS SAY ABOUT HALF OF RECENT TRAFFIC CRASHES IN PARTS OF ARKANSAS HAVE BEEN DEER RELATED.