Northwest Arkansas Times (Newspaper) - April 17, 2007, Fayetteville, Arkansas newspaper serving Washington County since 1860 Arkansas Democrat NORTHWEST ARKANSAS TIMES Farmington Cards FS Union Christian waiting game COURTESY Renaissance Tower will become instantly recognizable in the Fayetteville skyline once built Construction of the 18story building is scheduled to begin soon with engineering designs and project review by Marriott International at 60 percent complete Renaissance moving as fast as possible as developers seek Marriott approval Northwest Arkansas Tiroes The developers of the Renaissance Tower are learning that Marriott International doesnt let just anyone use its name Marriott is the best in the business for many rea sons one of which is their tremendous attention to hotel design and layout said John Nock one of the primary devel opers of the project Before the 18storybuild ing can be the first Marriott Renaissance hotel in the state it must go through a thorough evaluation by the company which Nock said reviews every aspect of the project all the way down to guest satisfaction in elevator wait times This process has been Although disappointing that the process has taken months longer to this point than planned it is satisfy ing to know that the franchise agreement process is inked with Marriott for a Renaissance Hotel Neck one of the primary of the Renaissance The project is being reviewed by Marriott Inter national which must approve nearly every aspect of the image shows one of the boards submitted to the company that highlights a few materials planned in some guest rooms quite involved but has made the project a much better one in the he said The review process is fairly standard but varies depending on the brand and project said Gordon Lam bourne director of public relations for Marriott Of all the brands the Renaissance is the most unique when we look at a com Lambourne said Renaissance hotels by nature are unique he said They reflect the com munity he said and range from traditional to modem He said the company tries to get the process finished as quickly as possible but there is no set time frame because there is such a wide range of factors being considered It just Lam bourne said The project has grown since the Fayetteville City Council approved the states first Tax Increment Financ ing district in 2005 to clear the way for it At that time it See HOTEL page A8 Long sentenced to 12 years in prison for sexual assault Northwest Manas Times A 28yearold man found guilty last week of second degree sexual assault was formally sentenced Moh day morning in Washington County Circuit Court to 12 years in prison Fourth Circuit Judge Wil liam Storey acting on a jury recommendation last week sentenced Dustin Dewey Long of Bella Vista to the Arkansas Department of Correction Jurors found Long guilty Thursday of having sexual contact with a girl while working as a janitor at Sequoyah Childrens Garden See LONG page AS UA heightens police patrols in wake of Virginia shooting spree The University of Arkan sas stepped up police patrols Monday in the wake of a sive and deadly shooting spree at Virginia Poly technic Insti tute and State University in Blacksburg Va according to a statement released late Monday UA officials said the change was an effort to deter any kind of similar response in the aftermath of Virginia Techs tragedy See UA page AS page 1A of todays Mama Many see advantages to skate park in Prairie Grove BY MARSHA Northwest Arkansas Tiroes FRAME GROVE Par ents pastors and young people volunteered Monday to raise money tackle the construction of a skate park and supervise the young people using it if only the City Council could find a place and a way to make it happen They couldnt at least Liability and funding about three dozen adults issues are the biggest prob and about three lem facing a skate park in people associated with the Prairie Grove Mayor Sonny Big House an outreach after Hudson told a crowd of school program We have our eyes open and are looking at the situa tion in the future and maybe See PARK page A7 AMP gets needed support to ensure full third season Arkansas Times There will be at least one more year at the Arkansas Music Pavilion thanks to the support of the Northwest Arkansas community We needed one last push for said Dan White one of the owners of the AMP saying that because a large sponsor had not committed its support the group need ed to raise by 5 Monday The needed support was received he said so the season win go as planned There never was a question of individual support White See AMP page A7 Meetings to spark ideas for Mission improvements BY MARSHA Northwest Arkansas Times Traffic problems already exist on Mission Boulevard Ward 3 Alderman Bobby Fer refl declared Monday at the Street Committee If we dont start some where were not going to get he said dur ing a discussion of future improvements for the arte rial highway that winds from North Street to Crossover Road Asked if he thought improvements would add traffic he answered I dont City Engineer Ron Petrie when asked his opinion to See MISSION page A7 Loose Caboose BROOKE McNEELY Northwest Arkansas Times Al Kaeppel with the Mountain Chapter of the National Railway Historical Society removes walls of an exErie Railroad caboose on Monday as it is prepared it for res at the Depot on Emma Avenue The caboose will be used June 23 in the societys Mixed Train Weekend Banking Free Pa TRAs 300 Ny 7820700 with HAVE SEAL or any of our loan officers needs