State briefs
Lawyer chosen as Republican nominee to open state House seat
OZARK — An Ozark lawyer has been selected as the Republican nominee to a state House seat to replace a state representative who resigned to take a job in the governor’s office.
The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reports that delegates at a GOP convention Wednesday selected 37-year-old Sarah Capp to replace Rep. Bill Gossage on the Nov. 8 ballot.
Gossage resigned last month to become Gov. Asa Hutchinson’s deputy chief of staff for external operations.
State party Chairman Doyle Webb said that because there are no other candidates for the seat, Capp will become the representative after the election.
Meanwhile, a lawsuit has been filed alleging that a convention to choose the nominee is unconstitutional and that an election is required.
Webb said he believes the claim has no merit.
Arkansas governor requests disaster declaration for crops
LITTLE ROCK — Gov. Asa Hutchinson is asking federal agriculture officials for a disaster declaration for 12 northeast Arkansas counties that he says suffered millions of dollars in crop damages from recent flooding.
Hutchinson on Thursday released a letter he sent recently to U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack requesting a disaster declaration in terms of crop losses for Carroll, Clay, Craighead, Independence, Jackson, Lawrence, Lincoln, Madison, Prairie, Randolph, White and Woodruff counties. Hutchinson said the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture estimated the crop losses in the area at between $45.6 million and $50 million.
In his Sept. 16 letter to Vilsack, Hutchinson said many crops were in or near the harvest stage when they were submerged by eight to 12 inches of rain that fell during a four-week period in the region.
Arkansas State Chamber of Commerce opposing casinos measure
LITTLE ROCK — The Arkansas State Chamber of Commerce says it’s opposing a ballot measure that would legalize casinos in three counties.
The chamber on Thursday said its executive committee voted earlier this week to oppose the proposed constitutional amendment that would allow the casinos in Boone, Miller and Washington counties. If approved by voters, the casinos would be run by private companies owned by supporters of the measure.
The chamber said it believed the measure would be bad for business. Supporters of the measure have touted it as a way to create jobs and boost tourism in the state.
A group funded by horse and dog tracks that offer video poker and other forms of electronic gambling is campaigning against the measure and has sued to disqualify it from the November ballot.
Mulberry’s Allied Bank closed by Arkansas Banking Department
MULBERRY — The Arkansas State Banking Department has closed Allied Bank in Mulberry and the bank’s deposits are being taken over by Today’s Bank in Huntsville.
The banking department announced the action Friday and said the five branches of Allied Bank will reopen during their normal business hours as Today’s Bank.
The department said Allied Bank depositors can access their money Friday night and during the weekend by writing checks or using ATM or debit cards. Checks drawn on Allied Bank will continue to be processed and loan customers should continue making payments.
The department says Today’s Bank has also agreed to purchase essentially all of Allied Bank’s assets.
Customers with questions should call the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation at 1-800894-7035.
Nutritional supplement maker to expand plant in Harrison
HARRISON — The maker of nutritional supplements at a plant in Harrison has announced plans to expand its operations and add 100 new jobs during the next four years.
Harrison-based Lecheek Nutrition announced Friday that it will move into a new, 437,000-square-foot building and invest $6.7 million in the facility. The additional employees will bring the company’s workforce to about 170.
Lecheek owner and founder Dustin LeBleu was joined by local officials and Gov. Asa Hutchinson for the announcement.
The company was founded in 2010 and says it now provides nutritional supplements
in about 20 countries.
Replacement nominee chosen for late Lawrence County judge
WALNUT RIDGE — Democrats have chosen a candidate to replace the late Dale Freeman as the nominee for Lawrence County judge.
Democrats voting Thursday selected John Thomison over Freeman’s widow, Mary Freeman.
Dale Freeman died Saturday of injuries suffered in an Aug. 10 auto crash.
Thomison has run at least twice unsuccessfully against Dale Freeman, including in the March Democratic primary.
Thomison will have no opposition in the Nov. 8 general election and will take office Jan. 1.
Alumna gives $1M to support SAU engineering program
MAGNOLIA — Southern Arkansas University has received more than $1 million to support its new engineering program.
The university says Edna Cook Norvell made the gift because of her positive experience she had while attending Magnolia A&M, which is now SAU. The money will create an endowment to fund scholarships for students in the school’s engineering program.
The university created the engineering program in the fall of 2014. This fall, about 200 students are declared engineering majors.