BENTONVILLE – A $5,000 reward is being offered by the family of a missing mother and daughter from Bentonville for information on their whereabouts.

The Bentonville Police Department says foul play is suspected in the disappearance of Louise Bishop, 81, and Christina Bishop, also known as Christina Johansen, 40.

Police initially said foul play was not suspected when the pair disappeared around June 18. Police Chief James Allen says there have been no new developments that indicate foul play.

But Allen says foul play is more probable the longer people are missing. He says the pair’s checking account has been inactive and nobody has heard from them.

The chief says there have been several tips, but none of them have led anywhere.

Arkansas sets sights

on China rice trade

The Associated Press

LITTLE ROCK – Negotiations in China could open the door to a new line of export for Arkansas rice farmers.

Greg Yielding, executive director of the Arkansas Rice Growers Association, says opening the door for U.S. rice exports to China is expected to top the agenda during negotiations in Shanghai on Monday and Tuesday between officials from U.S. and Chinese food-inspection agencies.

Arkansas farmers lead the nation in rice production. They could tap a niche market in a huge and expanding economy in the country of 1.3 billion people.

Yielding says agricultural officials say they see no reason why the Chinese would not open up the market.

In May, the Agriculture Department’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service outlined safety protocols at the request of the Chinese government.

Historians to decide

fate of schoolhouse

The Associated Press

BENTONVILLE – Historians have until Monday to decide whether a building in Bentonville that local historians think might be a Civil War-era schoolhouse is worth preserving.

Monte Harris, who has led the effort to preserve the building, says it has four solid walls and a decent foundation. The building, encased in a newer house, is on city-owned land that was slated for a municipal parking lot.

Preserving Our History Inc., a nonprofit group Harris started to investigate and possibly preserve the building, says there is an ongoing discussion about how to save the building.

City officials have said Preserving Our History has the option of buying the building and a small strip of surrounding land. City Attorney Camille Thompson says the city would charge about $60,000 for the property.

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