Arkansas News Bureau

LITTLE ROCK — The Arkansas Lottery Commission will have its first meeting May 5, Gov. Mike Beebe’s office announced Friday.

The meeting will be held at 1:00 p.m. at the University of Arkansas Systems Board Room, 2404 North University Avenue, Little Rock.

Arkansas voters in November approved a constitutional amendment creating the lottery for scholarships and the Legislature during the recent session created the rules and regulations.

The Arkansas Scholarship Lottery Act required the governor, House Speaker Robbie Wills, D-Conway, and Senate President Pro Tem Bob Johnson, D-Bigelow, to make three appointments each to the nine-member lottery commission.

Appointed to the commission were George J. Hammons, Dianne Lamberth, Ben Pickard, former U.S. Rep. Ray Thornton, Patty Shipp, Derrick Smith, Joe White, Mike Malone and Dr. Susan Ward-Jones.

May 5 was the first date available for all nine appointees to the commission, according to the news release from the governor’s office.