Police are investigating an alleged gang rape that occurred Sunday afternoon at Forrest City Junior High School.
According to a report at the Forrest City Police Department, it was reported that a 14-year-old student reported was raped by three juveniles about 4:30 p.m.
FCPD Criminal Investigation Division Detective Harold Munn said the incident took place in an upstairs classroom. He said the building was open because basketball practice was taking place at the time.
School officials would not confirm nor deny if the victim or the suspects are members of the boys' or girls' basketball teams.
The victim was taken to the hospital for a sexual assault exam. The three juveniles accused in the incident were questioned by police.
As of this morning, according to Munn, no arrests have been made.
Contacted this morning, FCJHS Principal Billy Ferguson said he could not comment on the matter. Superintendent Lee Vent initially said he could not comment. "I must wait until the investigation is completed," said Vent. "It does involve minors and students, and we have to respect their confidentiality."
The Colt City Council learned Thursday night that the city is eligible for assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency to aid in the cleanup process necessary after December's ice storm.
City Manager Bobby Clarkson told council members that FEMA had been on site to survey the storm damage and city officials had been told that the city could receive grant assistance to clean up city streets. However, damage along Highways 1 and 306 would not be covered, since they are state highways, and are therefore the state's responsibility.
Clarkson added that the city is responsible for 5 percent of the funding, but could receive credit from FEMA for the volunteer hours spent in clearing the city roadways, any funds the city paid to lease emergency generators and equipment, and any contract labor used during the cleanup. Councilmen then discussed the volunteer work hours performed daily, and various equipment used during the storm recovery.
Before adjourning, returning council member Francis (Mitchusson) Ellis resigned her position, since she had moved out of the city limits. The remaining council members then unanimously voted to appoint Randy Hefner to the vacant Ward 2, position 1 seat.
By KENDALL OWENS
T-H Staff Writer
A preliminary study on the effects of a transportation mall could begin soon according to St. Francis County Judge Carl Cisco.
The judges office recently received a $100,000 grant from the Economic Development of Arkansas Fund Committee for a study to be performed by the Planning and Development District in conjunction with Arkansas State University.
According to Cisco, the facility would be a state-of-the-art rest area and travel lodge complete with convenience stores and possibly motels.
"The idea is for this to be the largest transportation mall in the country. It would be owned by St. Francis County and would bring a vast amount of tax revenue into the county. The preliminary plans for the facility would be a 200-acre park equipped to handle 1,000 trucks with a separate area for family vehicles. The mall would have an area for gas stations, convenience stores, restaurants and a motel," said Cisco.
Due to increased traffic on Interstate 40, Cisco said he feels the mall would be a benefit to the county as well as to travelers and truck drivers.
"We have over 17,000 trucks traveling on I-40 on a daily basis, and this would give them an area to stop and rest and recuperate as well as pick up any necessities they might need. Memphis is fast becoming the transportation hub for the country and that growth should be able to benefit everyone in the Mid-South," Cisco said. "With a major hub like Memphis, and our proximity to Little Rock, combined with the traffic that we see coming through here, it is a good idea to tap into that market. This would also create jobs for St. Francis County, and it would make travel safer on the interstate."
According to Frederick Freeman, of Freeman Resources Incorporated, consultant on the project, planning began last year on the project.
"We started looking into this idea a year ago, and things are beginning to come together fast. We haven't decided on a site yet, but it would be placed on the Eastern side of Crowley's Ridge. This mall would be a benefit to not only the people that travel the interstate, but to the entire area," said Freeman.
According to Freeman the study is projected to be completed by the end of May.
The value of work on private homes outpaced commercial development in Forrest City in January.
The total value of projects for which permits were purchased was $266,685. The largest commercial project required three different permits. O'Reilly Auto parts at 901 W. Broadway received two permits for remodeling, one at $15,000 and one for $10,000. O'Reilly Auto Parts also received a permit for a sign costing $8,000.
E&W of Forrest City, located at 624 E. Garland received a permit for $4,000 in remodeling. First National Bank of Eastern Arkansas at 2217 N. Washington also received a permit for a gazebo valued at $4,000. USA Drugs at 1111 N. Washington got two permits, one for a sign valued at $1,500 and siding valued at $500. Handy Food #1 received a permit for repairs valued at $350.
For private homes, permits were issued for one addition, four repair jobs, one remodeling and two manufactured homes.
Members of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms were expected to take possession today of 61 sticks of high explosive found Saturday.
The Sheriff's Department report stated that the explosives were found in Woody Clark's old shop at Crow Creek.
Sheriff's investigator Glenn Ramsey said the explosive is called Tovex, and said there was no immediate danger.
"It's a stable explosive," Ramsey said. "It's nothing you're going to drop and have it blow up. It's one of the safest explosives on the market."
Ramsey said at this point investigators aren't sure who left the explosives there.
"It was in an old trailer that was being used as a storage facility," he said. "We're not even sure who it belongs to. There was a construction business there at one time, but we don't know if they are the ones who left it."
The Sheriff's Department took possession of the explosives, stored it in the search and rescue building and notified the ATF, according to Ramsey.