An Arkansas State Police Trooper underwent extensive surgery this morning as doctors in Memphis tried to make repairs to injuries he suffered in an accident Wednesday afternoon near Palestine.
Arkansas State Police Troop D in Forrest City reported Trooper Steven Shane Bewley, 32, of Brinkley, was hurt in an accident just west of the Palestine exit on Interstate 40 just before 4 p.m.
An ASP spokesman today said Bewley's 2000 Ford Crown Victoria police car rearended an 18-wheeler that was stopped on I-40 due to another accident.
Another trooper had just completed the investigation of an accident further westbound that had stalled traffic on I-40, and the traffic had not caught back up to its regular flow when Bewley's accident occurred, according to the spokesman.
The state police report shows that Bewley was westbound when he struck the rear of a 1994 Freightliner driven by Owen W. Loving, 43, of Des Arc. That impact caused Loving's vehicle to hit the rear of a 1996 Peterbilt driven by Keith L. Carr, 39, of Hector.
"I was westbound on the interstate in the left hand lane when traffic was stopped. I was waiting for it to clear up when he (Bewley) rammed me in the back," said Loving, adding that he tried to check on the trooper. "I jumped out to see if he was all right, and it was a mess."
Apparently, Bewley failed to see the traffic stopped, according to the ASP spokesman who said there were no skid marks at the accident scene. "Somehow, he didn't see it. He never hit his brakes. He's not yet gained consciousness, so we may not ever know what happened. He may not remember," the spokesman said.
Bewley was airlifted from the accident scene to the Elvis Presley Trauma Center in Memphis where he is listed in critical condition. State Police were assisted at the accident scene by paramedics with Baptist Memorial Hospital-Forrest City and Forrest City firemen.
Bewley had been in Forrest City for the day to testify in municipal court. He was on his way home to Brinkley, where he lives with his wife and three children, when the wreck occurred. Originally from Russellville, Bewley has been a state trooper for just over a year, and the Brinkley assignment was his first within the organization.
The westbound interstate traffic was backed up past 6:30 p.m., and many of those motorists chose alternate routes along Highways 1 and 70 through Forrest City, creating a traffic jam for local motorists trying to get home.
The Arkansas Department of Health is telling people there is no current screening test for exposure to anthrax spores.
This is in response to many calls the Health Department is receiving about getting tested or screened for possible exposure.
"The tests that are receiving public attention -- nasal swabs and environmental tests -- are to determine the extent of exposure in a given building or workplace," said a press release. "Nasal swabs are not tests to determine whether an individual should be treated for anthrax."
Local physician Dr. Frank Schwartz agreed. "The bad thing about it is, there is really no diagnosis you can do in the office. Symptoms are non specific enough, it behaves like most viruses initially."
As before, he said the biggest problem terrorists have with anthrax is that it is difficult to deliver effectively to large numbers of people. Anthrax is not transmitted from person to person.
Meanwhile, the Health Department still has not documented any cases of anthrax in Arkansas. More than 70 suspicious samples have been tested, and all have been negative.
Locally, there have been scares in Hughes in Wheatley, both of which have been proven false.
The Arkansas Department of Health has established a Bioterrorism Command Center to respond to public inquiries. Anyone with a question about exposure to or treatment for anthrax may call 501-280-4817, from 8 a.m. through 4 p.m., Monday through Friday. For after hours and weekends, the number is 501-661-2136 or 1-800-554-5838. The CDC also has a website, at http//www.bt.cdc.gov.
According to the press release, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's course of action for preventing anthrax after exposure would be with antibiotics like Cipro. It was reported that the CDC has enough antibiotics to prevent the disease in 2 million persons exposed to anthrax.
There may not be a general election this year, but pancake lovers will still be able to indulge themselves on the first Tuesday of November.
An Election Day tradition locally, Pancake Day, sponsored by the Forrest City Kiwanis Club, is held every year whether there is an actual election or not. This year's will be next Tuesday, Nov. 6.
Pancake Day will be held from 6 a.m. until 7 p.m., as usual in the fellowship hall of First Baptist Church on Rosser Street. The price is $5 in advance, $6 at the door. Tickets can be bought from any Kiwanis member.
The menu will include all-you-can eat pancakes, bacon, sausage, coffee, milk, orange juice and soft drinks.
Pancake Day is the biggest fund raiser of the year for the local Kiwanis Club. Proceeds from the day go to the Kiwanis Top 10 Percent Academic Achievement Banquet, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, Kiwanis Nursing Scholarships, college scholarships and other club-sponsored programs.
The Colt Community Development Corporation is sponsoring a Chili Day Saturday, Nov. 3, from noon until 6 p.m. at the William Stone House in Colt.
The plates are $3, and will include a bowl of chili, crackers, dessert, coffee or tea.
Carry outs will be available. All proceeds will go to the upkeep and restoration of the historic William Stone House.
Jurors called for this term of circuit court in St. Francis County are reminded to call the circuit clerk's office Monday evening for information.
Circuit Court Clerk Bette Green said the jurors should call 633-2035 after 4:30 p.m. for information relating to the term scheduled to begin on Tuesday, Nov. 6.
A memorial service honoring the families of Baptist Home care and Hospice patients served from October 2000 through September 2001 is planned for Sunday, Nov. 4, at 2:30 p.m.
The service will be held at the Assembly of God Church on South Washington in Forrest City.
This will be the 11th annual memorial service dedicated to the memory of patients lost to terminal illness. Baptist Hospice volunteer and bereavement coordinator Melissa Gore said, "The purpose of the service is to offer support to the families for the holidays. It is our way of doing something special and helping with the bereavement process."
The service will include candle lighting and vocal performances in remembrance of the patients. A reception will be held immediately following the memorial service in the fellowship hall of the church to allow visitation with the family members.
Hospice is a comprehensive, medically directed, team-oriented care program that seeks to treat and comfort terminally ill patients and their families at home or in a home-like setting, according to Gore.