Police arrest four men connected to a string of burglaries in Fayetteville. Investigators said the burglaries happened in the same area.

Toby Hedge lives in one of four homes burglarized by the same group of suspected thieves. He lives on Wilton Court on the west side of Fayetteville.

“All the drawers were pulled out. Turned over and my mattress was flipped. I mean they’ve gone through everything,” Toby Hedge said.

Police arrested Justin Tomlinson, Fernando Rocha, Scott Martini and Franklin Dodds, all 18-years-old, all from Fayetteville and all accused of home break-ins.

When Hedge got home, his headphones, MacBook, his pistol, which was a gift, and guitar were gone, among other things. However, the last two he did get back.

“I think when it was all added up it was like $15,000 or so between the two of us,” Hedge said.

Those who live close by said they are relieved the four were caught and they will make sure and take extra precautions when leaving their homes.

“I think if you live in a safe neighborhood the assumption is that everything is OK here but we’re careful and we do lock our doors and now we will be even more careful now,” said Ana Bridges, who lives on American Drive where another home was burglarized.

Those like Hedge said he’s also glad they are behind bars.

“To think that someone can just come in, take everything from you and get away with it because the odds of catching them were pretty low but I’m glad the police did, they are caught and they are paying the price now,” Hodge said.

Police said the thieves pawned most of the belongings and Hedge said some things are irreplaceable.

“Like some notes that my girlfriend wrote me were in this backpack that they took and I won’t get those back. There’s a lot of things like that are just gone,” Hodge said.

A stolen TV from one of those homes was found at a pawn shop, which led authorities to the suspected thieves. The four men were charged with counts of residential burglary and theft of property.

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Police arrest four men connected to a string of burglaries in Fayetteville. Investigators say the burglaries happened in the same area.

In the past month, two local expecting mothers have been murdered in the River Valley.

A pregnant mother was allegedly stabbed to death by her husband Tuesday afternoon in Fort Smith. Just last month, a 20-year-old carrying her first child was found shot to death in her car on a Spiro road.

Both are reminders pregnant women could often be a target for murder.

“Homicides are the second leading cause of death for pregnant women,” said Babb.

According to Babb, half of murdered pregnant woman are killed at the hands of their intimate partner.

“They’re less likely to leave and that’s because they don’t want to disrupt the relationship during pregnancy,” said Babb.

Police say James Herring told detectives he was not happy with his week-old marriage to Celestia Duffin, who was six months pregnant. The baby died shortly after being delivered at a local hospital.

Babb says women may think an unexpected baby could help the relationship.

Coordinators at the crisis center say one out of every four women will experience domestic abuse in their lifetime.

The center has helped 1,000 in the past year. Lona, who didn’t want her face or full name revealed, is one of them.

“I still have my children,” said Lona. “I still have my family. I still have the breath in my life, and so many don’t.”

Lona says she finally found the courage to get out of her abusive marriage, and hopes others take those first steps to a new life too.

“There is help and there is hope and you don’t have to go through this alone,” said outreach coordinator June LaMia.

LaMia and Babb recommend anyone in an abusive relationship to seek help. To learn more about the Crisis Intervention Center, click HERE, or call the hotline at 1-800-359-0056

David Richardson pleaded guilty to manslaughter, being an accomplice to burglary, robbery and theft as part of a plea deal, according to the Northwest Arkansas Times. He was sentenced to 59 years in prison with 19 years suspended.

In November 2011, police say Richardson and Roderick Cooper broke into a home on Olive Avenue. A man they surprised inside the home shot Cooper, who later died.

Richardson left the scene with two other people, police say.

The case remains under investigation.

One of the two men from Benton County will hold this new position created because of population growth in the area.

Hester is a political newcomer, while Summers is a veteran.

‘”I feel like I represent a younger generation with a bunch of new ideas, we`re willing to make some drastic changes to change things in government and I think that`s what I need, Just to go along get along is not getting anything done for us,” says Hester.

“II think if you look at experience that a key factor here when you look at the time I spent in both in the house, Quorum Court and Bentonville City Council,” adds Summers.

Each candidate is focusing on certain issues, Summers says job growth and Hester says no new taxes.

“My strategy all along has been for people to get paycheck so they can purchase items and pay taxes. In my opinion paychecks solve a lot of problems, let’s put people to work, let`s get everybody getting a paycheck,” says Summers.

“I think the number one issue is the issue of taxing, when corporations and businesses and individuals are taxed to much they pull back, they withdrawal, they’re not expanding business and we`re not growing business, you`re not hiring ne people , less taxes more jobs,” adds Hester.

And here`s something that you might not about them

“Not very frequently you would catch me in a business suit.  I’m more of a white t-shirt, boots kind of guy,” says Hester.

“I’m a very proud grandfather, probably people know that, but my grandchildren live in Fayetteville and I’m just so excited about getting to spend time with them,” says Summers.

To learn more about Bart Hester visit  http://www.hesterforarkansas.com/about-bart/

To learn more about Tim Summers visit http://votetimsummers.com/

Last year, some employees were fired after making mistakes in reporting and getting results.  County Judge Bob Clinard shifted election commission employees and some of the commission’s duties to the county clerk’s office.

Even more changes took place this year.

“We moved into a new building, we’re going to have to change up our reporting in procedures from the poll workers and just iron out a few glitches that will probably happen,” said Election Commissioner John Brown.

Brown says to be more efficient, save time, and money they’ve decreased the amount of precincts reporting from 83 to 57.

To get the results to the public more quickly, the commission will post results on the Benton County website.

Voters will have the option to vote electronically and by paper. But Clinard says electronic voting is more accurate. He also says using paper ballots is a waste of natural resources and money.

Polls are open next Tuesday from 7:30 am to 7:30 p.m.

“It was really hard to do a couple times. I’m not gone lie,” said Thad LyBrand.

Thad says if class was in session kindergarten through 12^th grade he was there. “I’ve come to school feeling crappy numerous times and I’ve just worked my way through it,” said Thad.

The band member and football player, balanced school work and extra-curricular activities season after season. “During first semester I wouldn’t get home until almost six,” said Thad.

Thad says his mom motivated him to attend school. “Each day you get up and go to school,” said Janie LyBrand, Thad’s mom, “It’s a school day. We go to school. That’s just the way it is.”

Thad admitted getting up is not always easy. His parents have a solution. “He’ll just take a big old cup of ice water,” said Thad, “He’ll just dump it right on my bed.”

Janie says the streak was nearly broken by bad food in the 10^th grade. Thad missed a half day of school. “He was bound and determined, but he couldn’t make it the whole day,” said Janie, “He called and said ‘I can’t. I really want to stay, but I can’t.’ He was in the bathroom throwing up.”

Janie says her son always enjoyed school. He likes learning and socializing.

Thad plans to continue his perfect attendance record at Arkansas State University. 5NEWS asked Thad who will wake him up in college. He said, “Probably my roommate.”

Thad plans to major in mechanical engineering and eventually join the United States Air Force.

The Bass Reeves legacy monument is now mounted on its base at Ross Pendergraft Park on Garrison Avenue. This base is actually made of old cobblestone from the popular downtown street.

It was an emotional day for some as the long awaited statue finally unveiled.

“It’s been a lot of hard work,” said Baridi Nkokheli, who helped raised funds for the statue. “A lot of volunteers and it really goes to show what Fort Smith and its citizens can do when they put their minds together.”

Nokikeli portrayed Bass Reeves during the ceremony as the statue of US marshal was escorted into to the city by two dozen law enforcement agencies.

As the legacy monument crossed over the Garrison Avenue bridge, a crowd of supporters clapped cheered and some even shed a few tears.

“It’s a pretty special event and it was pretty touching, watching it come over the bridge,” said Phil White. “It was more than what I really expected.”

The crowd says it’s important to honor Reeves who served 32 in the Marshal Service.

“He is the longest served US Marshal Deputy Marshal in a 223 year history of the marshal service and actually caught the most criminals,” said Nokikeli

Sculptor Harold Holden says he read the historical figure often has a hound with him to track criminals.

As the Marshal looks onto Garrison Avenue, everyone who travels the road will now remember the legacy he left behind.

“Just the history of Fort Smith and how this was just one guy and how big a difference he made and how he’s being recognized today is pretty impressive and I think it says a lot about our community,” White said.

The Bass Reeves monument cost about $300,000 dollars to create. It was funded completely by donations.

Click here for a behind the scenes look at the making of the Bass Reeves statue.

Thought it would be interesting to compare the number of severe weather reports from both 2011 and 2012. 

A word of caution when looking at the map; even though we get most of our severe weather in the Spring… the 2011 map includes Jan-Dec but the 2012 map only includes Jan-May so the number of dots will increase.

Even though we don’t have a complete data set for this year you can certainly see what an active year 2011 was. 2012 has been very tame. Nationally, there have been severe tornado episodes this year, but it appears the majority of the reports were only from big episodes such as the Dallas Tornado Outbreak, Kentucky/Tennessee Outbreak, West Oklahoma/Kansas Outbreak, and the January SE Arkansas/DeepSouth Outbreak.

In our area, we’ve really only seen 2 tornadoes this year. An EF1 in Crawford Co. And an EF1 near Tahlequah.

-Garrett

Police, animal control and Game and Fish officials were called to an area at Fianna Way and St. Anthony to coax  one Black bear out of a tree.

Officials used a tranquilizer to get the bear down. They say the other bear hasn’t been seen since.

We snapped a picture of the bear with our cameras.

Earlier this month, a bear cub was spotted at a Pocola Shopping Center.

“The mild winter has resulted in Fayetteville school children being released for summer break earlier than anticipated this year, so we want to open the pool a little earlier making it truly feel like summer for  Fayetteville families,” Jordan said in a statement.

The pool opens at 4:00 p.m.  on June 1, and admission is free.

After June 1, regular admission is $2 for youth ages 15 and under and $3 for adults. More information can be found at www.accessfayetteville.org.

All the tickets have been claimed by Walmart associates and there will be none available for the general public.

In years past, people lined up outside Bud Walton Arena in Fayetteville to wait for free unused tickets to see the big-name acts appearing every year at Walmart’s shareholder concerts.

This year instead of associates waiting in line to get their tickets at the door, they`ll have them before they walk up.

Last weekend Walmart associates all across the world were able to claim four tickets each at kiosks inside stores and through Ticketmaster.

The tickets were all claimed, and that means if you`re not a Walmart associate or you can’t get a ticket from one, you won’t be seeing acts like Carrie Underwood and Aerosmith.

This year Walmart officials say even if seats are empty, they will not be given to the public.

The concerts are for the associates, as a way to say thank you for their hard work during the year, according to the company.

Some say they believe Walmart could have done something to allow the public in, as they have before.

“Walmart, and especially the way Sam Walton’s always been, or the way they talk about the way he’s always been, how he’s about the people and about how he wants to take care of the common man, I guess it would be,” said one man 5NEWS spoke with. “It seems kind of odd that he would keep those people that he always cherished, you’d keep those people out of events like that.”

On Tuesday, May 29, Carrie Underwood will take the stage at Bud Walton Arena with a surprise guest. The following night Aerosmith and Cheap Trick will perform.

The actual shareholder meeting will be held on Friday, June 1st at 7 a.m. After the meeting there will be a 30 minute live question and answer session with company executives for shareholders.

McDaniel, attorneys general from 43 other states and the District of Columbia, and the Federal Trade Commission filed settlements with Skechers, the makers of Shape-Ups, Tone-Ups, and the Skechers Resistance Runner shoes, according to a statement from McDaniel’s office.

Up to $40 million will be allocated for refunds to consumers who purchased those brands of shoes. Skechers will pay an additional $5 million to the settling states.

McDaniel alleged that Skechers had no adequate support for its claims that its line of rocker-bottom shoe products caused consumers to lose weight, burn calories and firm, tone or strengthen thigh, buttock and back muscles. In its marketing, packaging, advertising, offering and selling of the shoes – Shape-ups, Tone-ups, and Skechers Resistance Runner – Skechers made health-related claims that were not substantiated at the time the claims were made, McDaniel alleged.

Consumers who purchased Shape-Ups, Tone-Ups, or the Skechers Resistance Runner should visit www.ftc.gov/skechers or call (866) 325-4186 for information about how to obtain a partial refund. Eligible consumers should receive a refund of approximately $20 for each pair of shoes purchased and covered under the settlement.

The State will receive $84,254 from the settlement.

There were 463 sales in April in Benton and and Washington counties, as reported MountData.com. Unit sales were down 16.72% from the same month in 2011.

For the first four months of the year there were 1,706 total sales in the two counties, up 5.92% in Benton County and falling 6% in Washington County.

Agents blame the warm winter for the slight pullback in April. Vicki Briolat, agent with Crye-Leike in Bentonville, said the market is definitely stronger than a year ago, even if the April sales don’t concur. Click here to read the full story from our partners at TheCityWire.com.

Overstreet is 95-years-old now, and still working six days a week.

“I can come and go as I please anymore,” Overstreet said. “I try to get here by ten o’clock and work till noon. Then I go home at noon and take a nap and then come back around 3:30 p.m. If there’s some work to do, I’ll work till 6 p.m. If not, I’ll go home.”

When he opened Overstreet’s there were only 2,200 people in Bentonville. Overstreet’s has always been on the square, but they’ve had to move locations a few times.

Once he had to move the business because some new guy in town named Sam Walton had plans for a “5-and-dime.”

“There were two businesses in the right half of the building and he wanted the whole building for his dime store,” Overstreet said.

Overstreet and his beloved wife, Belle, became friends with the Walton family and anybody else who came in the store. Consider that many generations of many families have been customers of Overstreet.

Thank goodness he made it back from the war because his unit was bombed repeatedly.

“A bomb landed in the swamp about a city block from us,” he said. “That was the closest we ever got hit. It was when a Japanese bomber jettisoned his bombs over us.”

After making it back in one piece, it was time to concentrate on time pieces. He earned a degree from the prestigious Elgin Watch College in Chicago.

Overstreet’s started as a watch repair store, but has evolved into a full-service jeweler offering diamonds, bridal-engagement, and custom design services.

He doesn’t plan to stop working anytime soon, but it’s nice to know that one of his sons and grandson have joined the staff. That ensures that Overstreet’s Jewelry will continue shining like a perfectly cut diamond for many years to come.

Police say Glen Dale Springer, 54, arranged a meeting with whom he thought was a teenage girl online. But he was actually chatting with an undercover investigator.

When Springer arrived at the undisclosed location he was immediately arrested for internet stalking of a child, Det. Jonathan Wear says.

He was booked into the Crawford County Jail on a $7,500 bond.

Approximately 30.7 million Americans plan to drive to their destination this year, an increase of more than 500,000 travelers on the road compared to 2011, according to the organization, which provides roadside and travel services.

However, people won’t be traveling as far as they have in previous years to see their family and friends, the survey found. High gas prices and tight budgets are forcing travelers to rethink their trips.

The average distance of travel this year is expected to be 642 miles, 150 miles less than last year’s Memorial Day holiday, according to AAA.

“Steadily increasing gas prices throughout the spring significantly squeezed many household budgets,” AAA President and CEO Robert Darbelnet said in a statement.

While most survey respondents said increased fuel prices won’t impact their decisions, 47% said they’ll handle the high gas prices by cutting other costs so they can still make their trip. Those who intend to economize plan to reduce entertainment costs, stay at less expensive hotels or stay with friends.

But even if plans include crashing on a cousin’s couch to save cash, the average cost of the trip is estimated to be higher this year. The survey’s median cost of the holiday weekend is $702, a slight increase over last year’s $692.

The dominant mode of transportation for people will be by automobile. Nine out of 10 travelers will go by car. Only 7% of survey respondents plan to fly to their destinations this year, a decrease of 5% from 2011. The rest of the holiday travelers will go by rail, bus and boat.

The annual survey considers those traveling 50 miles or more between May 24 and May 28 as holiday travelers.

However, only a partial eclipse (less than 50% of the sun covered) is expected in eastern Oklahoma and western Arkansas. The partial eclipse should start to become visible after 7PM Sunday night and will continue until the sun sets after 8PM.

Remember, to always use protection for your eyes if you plan to view to solar eclipse to avoid damaging your eyes. A complicating factor in trying to view the eclipse will be a cold front in the area Sunday night. The Euro weather model is showing a decent bit of cloud cover at 7PM Sunday night across eastern Oklahoma and parts of northwest Arkansas.

Here are a few links if you are interested in reading more about the eclipse:

http://earthsky.org/tonight/annular-eclipse-of-the-sun-china-to-texas-on-may-20-or-may-21

http://eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov/SEmono/ASE2012/ASE2012.html

-Joe