Fayetteville city governent shares SEVERE WEATHER WARNING

Hazardous Weather Expected in Northwest Arkansas Tonight

The National Weather Service out of Tulsa, Oklahoma, has issued a hazardous weather outlook for Northwest and West Central Arkansas, as well as much of Eastern Oklahoma.  The City of Fayetteville asks that you consider these alerts seriously and make needed safety precautions. 

A widespread severe weather episode is expected this afternoon and evening across eastern Oklahoma and Northwest Arkansas. The developing weather pattern is highly favorable for long track supercells capable of strong tornadoes, large hail, and winds in excess of 70 mph. These storms will develop across central Oklahoma late this afternoon and spread eastward during the evening. By late this afternoon a strong upper level system will be moving out of the southwest U.S. with an unstable airmass in place over much of Central and Eastern Oklahoma. Scattered thunderstorms are expected to develop along the dry line in Central Oklahoma late this afternoon and become severe very quickly.

Storms will increase in coverage through the evening as they move into Northwest Arkansas with the threat of widespread damaging severe weather continuing late into the evening. In addition, dangerous flooding remains ongoing over parts of Northeast Oklahoma and Northwest Arkansas due to heavy rainfall Monday.  Any additional significant rain will only enhance the flooding issues.  Below are emergency procedures in the event of a tornado:

If you are in a structure:
Go to a pre-designated shelter area such as a safe room, basement, storm cellar, or the lowest building level.  If there is no basement, go to the center of an interior room on the lowest level (closet, interior hallway) away from corners, windows, doors, and outside walls.  Put as many walls as possible between you and the outside.  Get under a sturdy table and use your arms to protect your head and neck.  Do not open windows.

If you are in a vehicle or mobile home:
Get out immediately and go to the lowest floor of a sturdy, nearby building or a storm shelter.  Mobile homes, even if tied down, offer little protection from tornadoes.

If you are outside with no shelter:

Lie flat in a nearby ditch or depression and cover your head with your hands.  Be aware of the potential for flooding.  Do not get under an overpass or bridge.  You are safer in a low, flat location.  Never try to outrun a tornado in urban or congested areas in a car or truck.  Instead, leave the vehicle immediately for safer shelter.  Watch out for flying debris.  Flying debris from tornadoes causes most fatalities and injuries.  For additional information, please see information from the Federal Emergency Management Association on tornadoes at http://www.fema.gov/hazard/tornado/index.shtm.

Events of interest galore

Following are a number of announcements with attached minutes from the last Senior Democrats' meeting:

 

TO Sr Dems of Northwest Arkansas:  Western Sizzlin has gone up on their prices.  They asked for an increase to $9.80.  I got them to agree to $9.25 and with the .75 added for our group that will bring the cost to $10.  We will meet there this coming Tuesday and then we will vote if you wish to continue there.  They have not raised the prices for 5 years and are charging the $9.80 for all of their other groups.  I wanted you to know before you arrived next Tuesday.

Hope all of you will come hear our new Arkansas Democratic Party Communications Director, Candace Martin.  She will be speaking on Arkansas Democrats' focus, message, and party building.  Everyone come out and welcome Candace to NW Arkansas!

 

Berta

 

 

Washington County Democratic Party Central Committee announcement:

Please note, meetings are back at the Washington County Courthouse: Quorum Court Room!

All are welcome to join the members and friends of the Washington County Democrats. Meeting set to begin at 6:00pm.

Can't make it to this meeting? No problem. You can catch up with us next month. The WCDCC meets the 3rd Monday of every month.
Bring a friend! Tyler B. Clark

 

 THE NEXT MEETING of the Benton County Democrats is May 23, 2011 at the Bentonville Clarion at 11:15 with Attorney General Dustin McDaniel as the speaker. For reservations for the $12 lunch buffet,
contact Carole Westby at 876-2178 or westby@cox.net by Thursday, May 19th. (Their newsletter can be read at  www.bcdems.org .)

 

 

To Those Interested in Natural Gas Issues:

There is a growing concern about environmental and health issues related to the development of natural gas.  In spite of the Arkansas Legislature's failure to strengthen regulations, which have successfully passed in other states, we now have an opportunity for the voters to take action.  An initiated act has been introduced to revise Arkansas's natural gas severance tax.  It would raise the current 5% to 7% and disallow the exemptions that were negotiated in the 2008 version. This action introduced by Sheffield Nelson will be on the 2012 general election ballot if a sufficient number of signatures are collected on petitions and if the electorate understands the issue when they go to vote.  These are two big if's!  That is why it is important to learn what this is about so that you can spread the word.  Volunteers are also needed to help with the petition drive.

Arkansas's taxpayers are faced with over $455 million dollars of highway damage from the heavy truck traffic operating in the Fayetteville Shale Play.  The current severance tax paid by the industry and royalty recipients has come nowhere close in covering this cost.  Nelson's initiated act would raise the rate to compare with those of adjoining states and provide more funding for these repairs.

Sheffield Nelson is the invited guest speaker at the League of Women Voters of Washington County annual meeting and dinner on Thursday, May 19.  He will also be presenting information at a press conference that same day.  The public is invited to both of these events, but reservations to the dinner are needed by May 13.  Here are the details:

Public Press Conference

When:  Thursday, May 19, 3:00 pm

Where:  Fayetteville Town Center - Mockingbird Room, 15 West Mountain, Fayetteville

Who:  Media representatives and members of the public interested in the natural gas severance tax petition

Reception for Sheffield Nelson

When:  Thursday, May 19, 5:15

Where:  Butterfield Trails Village - "The Lodge", 1923 Joyce Boulevard, Fayetteville

Who:  Anyone interested in meeting Sheffield Nelson from League members or public

 

Sheffield Nelson Guest Speaker at LWVWC Dinner

When:  Thursday, May 19, 5:45

Where: Butterfield Trails Village - "The Lodge", 1923 Joyce Boulevard, Fayetteville

Who:  Anyone interested in hearing Sheffield Nelson speak - League members or public

Cost:  $10.00 per person for dinner - Reservations required by May 13 to Joyce Hale 527-2777 or email joycehale43@gmail.com

Feel free to share this information and contact me if you have any questions.

Joyce Hale

Joyce Hale, President

League of Women Voters of Washington County

Smart politicians always willing to pose with dogs and children, even the photographer's dog

Please click on individual images to ENLARGE view of U.S. Representative Bill Alexander with Bounty Grant's Aubunique Who inspecting flood damage on White River at Des Arc.

U.S. Rep. Bill Alexander and Bounty Grant's Aubunique Who at Des Arc in 1991

Republicans confess their mistaken vote to privatize Medicare

NEWS RELEASE: REPUBLICAN PARTY CONCEDES ON PRIVATIZATION OF MEDICARE “CRAWFORD, GRIFFIN REGRET SELLING OUT ARKANSAS SENIORS”

By Arkansas Democratic Party - Added 05 May 2011

May 5, 2011                                                                          FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:  Candace Martin - Communications Director                              Mobile: (870)761-6324

Office: (501) 374-2361                                                             E-mail:  cmartin@arkdems.org This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

REPUBLICAN PARTY CONCEDES ON PRIVATIZATION OF MEDICARE
“CRAWFORD, GRIFFIN REGRET SELLING OUT ARKANSAS SENIORS”

(LITTLE ROCK) Democratic Party of Arkansas Chairman Will Bond commented on the Republican Party’s concession to privatize Medicare while cautioning that the Republican congressional delegation from Arkansas be mindful of protecting industry and agriculture during continued talks on the federal budget.

 “Griffin and Crawford have been out in their Districts trying to convince voters that the plan they voted for did not privatize Medicare; their Republican leadership offers a no-frills answer in calling the plan one that would ‘privatize Medicare.’ Their explanations of their votes were never anything more than misleading rhetoric to cover up their real priorities.”

“Griffin and Crawford are not prioritizing sensible solutions to our government debt. Griffin has attempted to make us forget of his service in the Bush administration, the very administration that got us in this debt crisis. Griffin claimed he 'saved' Medicare in his tele-town hall, all the while knowing all his vote really saved was some extremist Tea Party talking points.”

“Arkansas Democrats know how to responsibly balance budgets. Arkansas Democratic leadership has maintained a balanced budget in Arkansas the toughest economy since the Great Depression and the last President to balance the federal budget was an Arkansas Democrat.”

“The Democratic Party of Arkansas hopes that the Republican congressional delegation will not allow important industries in Arkansas like agriculture to become their next target in budget talks and instead consider options that are in the best interest of Arkansans and our country, like ending significant tax breaks for Exxon Mobile and the like.”

###

Background
“On the eve of debt-reduction talks led by Vice President Biden, House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (Va.)…said Republicans recognize they may need to look elsewhere to achieve consensus after President Obama “excoriated us” for a proposal to privatize Medicare.” (Washington Post, “Budget talks: Republicans offer to seek common ground with Democrats”, 5/4/2011)
 

Doug Tallamy tells us about 'Bringing Nature Home' to provide habitat for wildlife

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