Now that the 2006 elections are over, Gen. Wesley Clark is turning his attention toward deciding to run for president. Sources tell the Arkansas Times that Clark has said he will make his decision within the next two months.

Clark’s spokesman, Erick Mullen, said, “That’s true, but we don’t have a timeline for when a decision will be made just yet.”

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Mullen added, “All options are on the table. Gen. Clark was the [Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee’s] number-one requested surrogate, especially in red states and swing states during this cycle. As we travel around, in places that other Democrats don’t go, there is a clamor and enthusiasm to see Gen. Clark serve in public again. Obviously, with the war and national security at the top of the agenda, Clark is well-suited to lead the country in a better direction than it’s going now.”

Neighbors say no

More than 100 residents of the Overlook subdivision, most recently homeowners in Greathouse Bend, have signed a petition asking the city not to allow a townhouse development on Overlook Drive.

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Gary Green, the Little Rock lawyer, recently announced his intent to build 30 condos on 4.8 acres overlooking the Murray Lock and Dam, formerly a park run by the city but owned by the Army Corps of Engineers. He has told neighbors the development would not block their view of the river and would be upscale.

The land is surrounded on three sides by single family development. Green will have to get the land rezoned for multi-family to go forward with the project. Alternatively, he’s offering the property, which he bought from Our House Inc. for $550,000 in September, for $1.2 million.

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Another round

A River Market district gallery owner presented the city with statements from security officers at the Main Library and the Historic Arkansas Museum that say an open-container law in the district would turn the area into an “eyesore” and that an “intoxicated person free zone” would increase problems with transients, and her landlord said the district could cost her business tenants.

Gallery owner Debra Wood, Melton building owner Jo Melton and other district business representatives met with city officials on Monday about a bill the city included in its legislative package that would allow the establishment of entertainment districts with outdoor alcohol consumption.

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Architect Tim Heiple and library director Bobby Roberts told Police Chief Stuart Thomas and Assistant City Director Bryan Day they don’t oppose the bill as long as the city guarantees the district will be sufficiently policed at night and cleaned up before the daytime family traffic arrives.

Roberts gave Day three amendments he wants attached to the entertainment district bill before it goes to the state legislature in January. They would require cities to take responsibility for safety and clean-up, prohibit any but resident bars to sell liquor and create an advisory body on how to implement the law.

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