ARKADELPHIA – Voters in Arkadelphia and Caddo Valley are preparing to decide if they want to merge their southwestern Arkansas cities.

Early voting will open in the Clark County Courthouse on Tuesday and will run through July 13. Regular voting will take place on July 14.

The issue of consolidation has received much debate between officials in both cities. While the Arkadelphia City Board of Directors voted unanimously for an ordinance in favor of consolidation, the Caddo Valley City Council passed a unanimous voice vote against the merger.

If the measure passes, the City of Caddo Valley will no longer be governed under a mayoral form of government. The citys name will be changed to Arkadelphia and will be governed under Arkadelphias city manager form of government.

Accused teen killer’s mother speaks out

The Associated Press

LITTLE ROCK – The mother of a teen accused in a Little Rock murder says she believes he was not involved.

Katie Pierce is the mother of Antonio Terry, one of four teens accused of breaking into Maurice Clark’s home on Tuesday and killing him.

Pierce says Terry is respectful and nice, but can get very angry and has been in trouble with the law before. Yet, she still cannot believe her son robbed and murdered Clark.

Her son and three of his alleged teen accomplices are facing charges of capital murder. Little Rock police identified the others as Marshaun Kendrick, Craig Woods and Thomas Caffery.

Pierce says her son often abused drugs to deal with his problems. She says she hasn’t talked to him since his arrest.

Woman dies in house fire

The Associated Press

ROGERS – A Rogers woman is dead after a fire at her home.

Steve Mankin, acting spokesman with the Rogers Police Department, says fire and police officials are working to confirm the woman’s identity.

Neighbor Mike Wagner says he looked out his window Friday and saw flames and smoke at the house across the street.

Wagner’s wife called 911, while Wagner and a friend ran across the street and broke one of the front windows in an attempt to reach the woman. However, the two were forced back by flames and heat.

Wagner says the woman who lived in the house was older, probably in her 50s, and could not walk well.

The house sustained extensive damage. The cause of the fire is under investigation.

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Information from: The Morning News, http://www.nwaonline.net/