In what turn out to be one of the most historic nights in our nation’s history, Democrat Barack Obama was declared 44th President-elect of the United States, becoming the first African-American elected to lead the free world.
At 10 o’clock, every major network declared Obama as the winner. Republican John McCain soon followed and conceded defeat. Obama, speaking to a crowd in Chicago and before a world-wide television audience, declared quote “Change has come to America” end quote and quote “This is your victory” end quote.
He will be inaugurated on January 20, 2009
-----------------------------------------
There will be a November 25th run-off to determine the Mayor of Jonesboro. Harold Perrin and Alec Farmer will now square off to replace Mayor Doug Formon, who was not seeking re-election. Jason Willett and Felica Parks also hoped to win Jonesboro’s highest office but both failed short in their effort to make the run-off. Perrin led the race with almost 42 percent, followed by Farmer’s 33 %, Willett 14 % and Parks’ 11%.
----------------------------------------------
Police say an armed robbery that began at the Mall at Turtle Creek in Jonesboro ended on the Interstate 55 Bridge near Memphis following a high speed chase that left the suspect injured.
A clerk at Gordon’s Jewelers was pepper-sprayed in the robbery, and the suspect grabbed approximately $25,000 in jewelry before leading officers on a high speed chase. Police say the suspect crashed in West Memphis after running across spike strips and was transported to The Med in Memphis.
------------------------------
Police from Jonesboro received assistance from other law enforcement departments and made several arrests after being called to a north Jonesboro apartment complex late last night to disperse a large crowd. Unconfirmed reports have one, and possible two, officers injured in the fiasco near North Caraway Road. We’ll have more information as it becomes available on this story.
-------------------------------------------
Alderman races in Jonesboro:
Gene Vance 58 % over Michael Ledbetter for Ward 1, Position 2;
Chris Gibson 56 % over Sherry Sanders for Ward 3, Position 2;
Mitch Johnson over Don Mullenix with 51%, Ward 4, Position 2;
A runoff for Ward 5, Position 2, Rennell Woods led with 40% but its still not clear who will also be in the runoff with him. Robert Sapiro and Brad Shumpert each finished with 25 percent; unofficial returns late last night had Sapiro leading Shumpert by 23 votes, and if his lead holds, Sapiro would be in the runoff.
-----------------------------------
Arkansas statewide measures creating a lottery and banning unmarried couples from being adoptive or foster parents won support from Arkansas voters.
Lt. Gov. Bill Halter pushed for the lottery that he say will fund college scholarships through its sales and raise $100 million annually. The Legislature will decide what types of games will be offered during its 2009 session but Halter has said he believes it will be scratch-off type games.
The ban was aimed primarily at stopping gays from acting as foster or adoptive parents.
------------------------------------------
