Between Editions

This is priceless. President Bush’s Scottish Terrier, Barney, bit a Reuters reporter this week. Guess the guy was a Democrat.

Here’s to the hope and change that Barack Obama says he will deliver to this nation. I think all of us took a giant leap toward building a better future for America by voting this man into office.

Millions gathered all over the country to celebrate Obama’s historic election, displaying a level of patriotism not seen in many decades. Congratulations to the 44th president of the United States.

Change is a’comin.

It looks as if all incumbents, both JP and city council, will hold on to their seats.

That means for the city: Vertis Mason and Judy Ward, and for the county, Harrell Chandler and Donnie Crawford.

Look for solid numbers in Wednesday’s News-Times.

Collect your election thoughts and post them here. I’ll have more later. Party on.

I’ll be setting up a live feed — hopefully — from the Union County Courthouse to post any tidbits that come our way.

Tonight will be historic, if only because so many people turned out to vote.

Stay tuned.

One of my coworkers received a robot call today advising him that he should vote tomorrow, rather than today. Some of the robo calls around the nation are skewed toward Democrats, saying that if you are a Democrat, then you need to vote Wednesday instead of today.

I’ve called the Sec. of State’s office for comment but haven’t heard back.

**UPDATE**
Sorry I’m so late in publishing an update to this post. The Sec. of State’s office told me that this is the first they’ve heard of robot calls of this nature in Arkansas. They gave me the number to the Department of Justice, who will be looking into the matter.

**UPDATE 2**
Rod Harrington, our weekend editor at the News-Times, just confirmed that the robocall he captured on his machine did say that Barack Obama supporters should vote Wednesday instead of Tuesday. The call also was also produced to make the listener believe it came from the Alltel Corporation. Harrington is not an Alltel customer.

Early voters in Union County are now lined up outside the Union County Courthouse, spilling onto Jefferson Street downtown, I’m told this morning by the county clerk’s office.

More than 6,300 of the county’s 26,000 registered voters have already cast their ballots.

I voted this morning in Camden.

Democracy in action — ain’t it great.

Oh, and I am still having issues with picture uploads to the blog. Frustrating!

Hope your Halloween is going well. Currently, we’re being tricked here, as the technology gods have made it so that I cannot upload photos to the blog.

I had planned on posting some photos this morning from my trip. Hopefully things will be fixed soon.

More to come.

And folks are still lining up. One local official has predicted as many as 7,500 could cast their ballots before election day.

Quite impressive, I’d say.

Early voting at the Union County Courthouse continues through Monday.

I’m getting settled in after a trip to Savannah, Ga., Asheville, N.C., Atlanta and Nashville.

And there is a lot to catch up on. Give me time and I’ll have the blog back in ship shape soon.

It’s been a hectic couple of days, which I’m sure you will know if you’ve read the paper. I’ve been pulling double duty covering the Smackover School District’s crisis.

Also, I’m leaving for Savannah and Atlanta, Ga., tomorrow, then on to the Carolinas.

Hopefully I’ll have time to post something while I’m gone. I’ve asked a coworker to keep things rolling in my absence.

Thanks for being patient, and I’m sorry the posting has been slim lately. Stay with us.

Lines are long at the courthouse. Make your voice heard.

Vote from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Oct. 25. and Nov. 1 at the Union County Clerk’s Office.

Early voting will close at 5 p.m. on Nov. 3, the day before Election Day.

Anne Pressly, a reporter for KATV Channel 7 in Little Rock, was stabbed and beaten Sunday night inside her Little Rock home, the Arkansas Times blog is reporting.

With violent crime on the rise recently in Little Rock, this is just another frightening addition. Pressly’s condition is not good, all reports indicate.

Click here for more.

I’ve decided to create a special page detailing the various initiatives and referendums that you will see on your ballot when you head to the polls.

Click here for access. You can also access this information by clicking the “Ballot information” link under the “Pages” column at the top of this blog.