This week has been named National Work Zone Awareness week, and is being observed in Arkansas.
With peak interstate construction levels expected by mid year under the Interstate Rehabilitation Program, motorists are being reminded that "everyone on the road has the responsibility to do the right thing and consider the wellbeing of men and women working to rebuild our highways," according to Highway Department Director Dan Flowers.
In this area, according to Capt. Steve Gray of Arkansas State Police Troop D, construction is going on in West Memphis and between Palestine and Wheatley.
"We have people working those zones every day," Gray said.
There are actually two active projects in the West Memphis area on Interstate 40.
One is from Shearerville to Highway 77, taking in about 12 miles. The other is from Highway 131 to the Mississippi River Bridge.
In Arkansas, more than 700 people were injured or killed in highway work zones during 2000. That same year, about 1,100 people were killed in work zones nationally.
"If motorists will give driving their full attention, slow down and take extra care in construction areas, the number of accidents can be reduced," said Flowers. "Arkansans have been extremely patient during all of this Interstate construction, and for this we are grateful. But as even more miles of Interstate will be under construction this year, work zone safety will be the main focus."
Lane closure locations, estimated travel times and maps to help plan alternate routes are available at the ArkansasInterstates.com website or by calling the AHTD Public Affairs Office at 501-569-2227.
Several people were arrested on drug charges Friday as part of a joint investigation between the Forrest City Police Department and the First and Third Judicial District Drug Task Force.
Four suspects were arrested on warrants for delivery of controlled substances. According to a FCPD press release, each of the suspected deliveries occurred within 1,000 feet of certain facilities as defined in the Arkansas Criminal Code which enhances the penalty ranges of the sentencing to an additional 10 years, according to FCPD Criminal Investigation Division Lt. Dwight Duch.
A 16-year-old Forrest City juvenile was among the four suspects arrested in the case. He is being charged as an adult for delivery of a controlled substance (marijuana) near certain facilities.
Jerome White, 22, 911 Rice St., Apt. 192, is charged with delivery of a controlled substance (marijuana) near certain facilities and violation of a suspended imposition of sentence.
Chris Hunt, 21, 106 Early St., delivery of a controlled substance (cocaine) near certain facilities, and violation of conditions of suspended sentence and parole violation.
Jessie Haggins, 21, 330 W. Sharp St., Forrest City, delivery of a controlled substance (cocaine) near certain facilities.
The four were scheduled to be arraigned in St. Francis County District Court this afternoon.
Duch said, "Anyone who suspects that there are illegal drugs being sold in their neighborhood is asked to call the police department at 633-3434 or the Drug Task Force at 1-800-566-4983, or any local law enforcement agency. All calls will remain confidential, and information provided may be the determining factor in getting one's neighborhood back.
"As a reminder, anyone who has any information on unsolved crimes may call the Forrest City Crime Stoppers at 870-261-1449. The calls are totally anonymous, and a caller may receive a reward up to $1,000 for information leading to the arrest and convictions of suspects in cases," Duch added."We have people working those zones every day," Gray said.
By TAMARA JOHNSON
Managing Editor
A Palestine woman feeling generous on Sunday handed out checks for thousands of dollars to several Forrest Citians.
The problems, however, started this morning when the people who received the checks tried to cash them.
Forrest City Police Department Sgt. Brian Davis said the woman wrote several checks for amounts ranging from $2,000 to $15,000 on Sunday.
According to the police report, several of the checks were written for $2,000 each to employees at Waffle House. At least two checks were written for $15,000 at other locations in the city. Police said the woman entered Waffle House asking if they accepted checks and was told the business did not. She reportedly went to her vehicle and returned with checks written for each employee for $2,000 each on her bank account. The payment line on the check was left blank.
The employees told police the woman told them "God has blessed me, now I bless you."
Police later stopped the suspect's vehicle and she told them she had been blessed and was sharing her money with others.
However, this morning, police reported the checks were not any good, and anyone with a check from the suspect should contact police.
Davis said so far the suspect had not committed a crime by giving away the checks because none of them had been successfully cashed. Davis said the local banks had been notified of the situation and were collecting the checks for police. "There's nothing to arrest her for. Legally, she's not done anything wrong other than give people a no count piece of paper," Davis said.
The City of Madison has received a $50,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture for the construction of a community center.
The announcement was made by the office of U.S. Rep. Marion Berry.
The building, funded through rural development funds, will provide space for community groups, clubs, reunions, youth programs and senior citizen programs.
"This new building will be a welcome addition to the Madison community and will provide a much needed space for people in the community to gather," Berry said.
A van stolen from a Marianna woman was recovered in St. Francis County Sunday morning after it was involved in an accident on County Road 206. The driver of the van fled the accident scene and remains at large.
The St. Francis County Sheriff's Department reported a 1992 Pontiac van stolen from the Jacqueline Taylor residence in Marianna was involved in an accident about 5:30 a.m. Sunday.
Tanosha S. Hinton, 18, Marianna, told police she was traveling east on County Road 206 when the van, which was traveling at an excessive speed, drove up behind her. She told police she slowed down and pulled over to the side of the road to let the vehicle go around her, but instead, the van struck the rear of her car and rolled over onto its side. The driver then fled on foot from the scene.
The investigation is continuing.
The St. Francis County Quorum Court budget committee is scheduled to meet Tuesday at the courthouse.
The meeting will begin at 6 p.m. in the Quorum Court meeting room.