By DAVID NICHOL
T-H Staff Writer
There is one more big celebration left of the holiday season, and in many ways, it's the most dangerous one.
Alcohol and New Year's Eve seem to go together. Throw an automobile into the mix, and it's a recipe for tragedy.
However, designated drivers can save lives, and there is even a telephone number people can call to get a ride home.
H.N. Green, chief deputy for the St. Francis County Sheriff's Department, said anyone who needs a ride home may call 633-2611. That will put them in contact with a dispatcher, who will send a deputy to help a person get home.
Sheriff Dave Parkman said the service has been provided, "I think, ever since I've been in office."
Parkman said there is some response to the service, "though not as well as I'd like. My opinion is, I'd rather go get somebody and take him home, than have him go off down the road and run over somebody. My theory is, it doesn't cost us that much if somebody calls us and says he's had a little too much to drink and we take him home. I'd rather do that than for somebody to not make it home."
For those who choose to drink and drive, law enforcement will be waiting.
"We don't have a problem with people going out and having a good time for New Year's," said Lt. Tommy Wicker of Arkansas State Police Troop D. "But if they are going to drink, they need to have a designated driver, or have some other appropriate plans to get home without having to drive."
There will actually be two ASP programs in effect for New Year's Eve, according to Wicker. One is called "You Drink, You Drive, You Lose." It has been in effect since Dec. 20, and will continue through Jan. 5.
The second program is the official ASP holiday period, which begins at 6 o'clock tonight, and goes through midnight on Jan. 1. According to Wicker, the official time doesn't go past that, "because New Year's Eve is the big day" for drinking.
"DWI is going to be our primary concern," said Wicker. "We have our sobriety checkpoints planned for the New Year's holiday."
Arkansas Game and Fish personnel today reported several people were arrested during the weekend for various hunting violations.
On Friday, Dec. 27, John A. Davis, 34, of 2224 Appling Road in Forrest City, was cited for failure to record a deer. Also on Friday, Terry R. Hanes, 34, of Moro, was arrested for failure to record a deer and no license.
On Saturday, Dec. 28, Tracy Smith, 32, of Bono, was arrested for prohibited use of ATV on a management area. Charles W. Kennedy, 18, of 74 SFC 316 was arrested for no hunting license.
On Sunday, Dec. 29 there were even more arrests. Stephen Cochran, 41, of Colt, was arrested for failure to record harvest. Danny Devazier, 35, of Palestine, was arrested for the hunter orange requirement. Leo Devazier, 64, of Palestine, was charged with no hunting license. Deaderick Barnes, 28, of 166 Gregory, Forrest City, was arrested for hunting without written permission and hunting on a revoked license. Aubrey L. Jones, 51, of Colt, was arrested for hunting from the road and illegal deer. Fredrick Leak, 37, of 1245 E. Garland, Forrest City, was arrested for possession of restricted ammunition. Bruce Morgan, 40, of 322 S. Powell, Forrest City, was arrested for hunting on posted property. Terrance D. Allen, 25, of 619 Haven, Forrest City, was charged with hunting without permission. Keith McCoy, 44, of 1310 Jones, Forrest City, was charged with hunting on posted property.
A woman jailed in Hughes for fighting Friday night was brought back to Forrest City Saturday after police found her two small children alone in their Turner Circle apartment.
Teyona Ewing, 20, 119 Turner Circle, Apt. 27, was arrested by Hughes police for fighting with a male subject.
According to a report at the Forrest City Police Department, Ewing telephoned a relative in Forrest City from the Hughes Police Department early Saturday, telling her that she had left her two young children alone in her apartment. The relative notified police who were let inside the apartment by a housing authority official.
Once inside the apartment, police found a four-month-old baby boy asleep in a crib, and a 15-month-old girl asleep in a nearby bed.
Officials cleaned, dressed and fed the children before transporting them to the police department where they were released to officials with the Department of Human Services.
In addition to the Hughes charges, Ewing is charged with two counts of first-degree endangering the welfare of a minor.
Wednesday will begin the New Year, but Jan. 1, will also begin terms for many officials elected and re-elected earlier this year.
In a ceremony Wednesday, the official swearing in for St. Francis County elected officials will be held at 11 a.m. in the Circuit Court Room at the St. Francis County Courthouse. Chancery Judge Ben Story will swear in the county officials.
At 3 p.m., inauguration ceremonies for Forrest City Mayor Larry Bryant will be held at the Forrest City Civic Center. The services will be highlighted by several area soloists and groups prior to the swearing in of Bryant by First Judicial District Judge L.T. Simes III.
A Colt man accidentally shot himself in the hand after returning home from a hunting trip Saturday morning.
The St. Francis County Sheriff's Department reported Errol Woods, 42, was standing outside his home on County Road 241 when the weapon discharged. Deputies reported Woods was adjusting the variable choke on his 20-gauge shotgun when the weapon accidentally fired, striking him in his left hand.
Woods was treated and released at Baptist Memorial Hospital-Forrest City.
A Forrest City man bleeding from two stab wounds walked to the Forrest City Police Department for help Friday evening.
Joseph Webb, 62, 1000 Spring #88, Forrest City, told police he suffered the stab wounds to his chest and abdomen as he was falling down some stairs at a North Rosser residence. According to the police report, Webb told officers, "somehow a stick or something stuck him twice as he was falling."
Police said there were no witnesses or suspects in the incident.
Webb was taken by ambulance to Baptist Memorial Hospital-Forrest City where he was treated and released.
Two teenage drivers were arrested after police found them racing on Eldridge Road Saturday night.
The two 17-year-old drivers, one from Forrest City and the other from Colt, are each charged with driving under the influence, minor in possession of alcohol and racing on the highway. The Forrest City teen is also charged with obstructing governmental operations, and the Colt teen is charged with having a suspended driver's license.