By TAMARA JOHNSON
Managing Editor
A body was found Saturday inside a fire-damaged home in Forrest City.
A Forrest City Police Department officer on routine patrol reported the fire about 11:30 a.m. at the Althema Griggs residence at 141 Brandon St., when he observed smoke coming from the structure.
According to a press release at the FCPD, the body, which has not yet been positively identified, is believed to be that of Griggs, who lived alone at the residence. The body was found inside the living room of Griggs' home after the fire had been extinguished. The fire is also believed to have been started in the living room.
"We believe the fire was intentionally set until it is proven otherwise," said FCPD Criminal Investigation Division Lt. Dwight Duch.
The homicide investigation was opened after the body was found in the debris, according to the press release. The body was sent to the State Crime Lab in Little Rock for an autopsy to determine the exact cause of death and possibly a time that it occurred. As for identification purposes, Duch said today he was trying to obtain dental records or medical records for the state crime lab to use in identifying the body.
"We can't tell what the exact wounds to the body are, but we found things inside other rooms of the house which indicate a homicide occurred there," Duch said.
Police report Griggs was last seen by a relative about 6 p.m. Friday. Duch said Griggs lived alone at the house and was seldom seen.
Police have yet to determine a motive in the case.
A report at the Forrest City Fire Department shows firemen were at the scene almost five hours, and were called back to the structure after the fire rekindled just after midnight Saturday. A damage estimate was not available on the structure.
Anyone with information regarding the case is asked to call the Forrest City Police Department's CID Unit at 870-633-3434 or the Forrest City Crime Stoppers at 870-261-1499. All calls will remain confidential.
By KENDALL OWENS
T-H Staff Writer
As February draws near, the St. Francis County Extension Service is finalizing the schedule for its annual Arkansas Agricultural Expo 2002.
According to Mitch Crow with the Extension Service, this year's Expo, which is a two-day event scheduled for Wednesday, Feb. 13, and Thursday, Feb. 14, will feature a variety of speakers holding seminars on topics ranging from the latest technology to the changing crop varieties available to St. Francis County farmers.
The first day of the Expo will feature University of Arkansas researchers and Cooperative Extension Service specialists who will discuss marketing and economics, feed grain, soybeans, and wheat production. The second day sessions will focus on cotton and rice production, with the final entry, a Conservation Program Update, ending at noon.
"We're going to have a number of educational seminars available for the farmers. The first day we will center on soybeans, wheat, corn and grain sorghum, and Thursday will be primarily for rice and cotton," Crow said.
Crow said that last year's biggest problem, insects, and how to fight them, will also be covered during several of the seminars.
"By far, the problem with insect infestation was the biggest thing many of the farmers had to deal with last year. We will have speakers who will cover each crop and the problem insects for each crop and what the best and most cost effective ways of dealing with the problems are. We will also have speakers who will talk to farmers about disease identification and fungicides," he said.
According to Crow, who is in his first year with the SFC Extension Service, competition from other expo's may affect the attendance this year as it did last year.
"I understand that participation was not what we expected last year, and we're looking for a continuation of that this year. Competition is the biggest factor that we're going to have to face because around the same time as our Expo, John Deere has something going on and the Northeast Arkansas Expo will also be in session," said Crow.
The Expo will feature 45 indoor product and educational exhibits and 10 outdoor displays of the new farm machinery and vehicles.
The Civic Center doors will open daily for the Expo at 7:45 a.m., and close around 5 p.m., each day. Education seminars will begin at 8:45.
This will be the 23rd annual Ag Expo. It has given hundreds of farmers from Arkansas a chance to talk to scientists, agri business representatives and other farmers about advances in their industry. For more information about the Expo, contact the St. Francis County Extension Service at 261-1730.
By KENDALL OWENS
T-H Staff Writer
A recent decision by the Arkansas Sheriff's Association took the possibility of a lawsuit from the ASA against the state off the table, and according to St. Francis County Sheriff Dave Parkman, put the county's financial situation in an even tighter bind.
In a meeting with members of the ASA and Gov. Mike Huckabee, sheriffs agreed to wait at least 60 days after the meeting to receive payment for state prisoners held in county jails.. Huckabee told the sheriffs that if they sued, the state might have to reevaluate other things that the state pays for counties. County jails statewide are currently holding inmates for the Arkansas Department of Corrections and have not been receiving payment for their services due to state budget constraints.
According to Parkman, the agreement will put an even tighter hold on the county's general account, which is already strapped.
"This money would have really helped us out, but now we're going to have to wait longer. We've been waiting on this funding for quite a while and it's really putting us in a bind," said Parkman.
According to Parkman, the lack of funding from the state may force the county to begin releasing inmates with lesser charges due to the lack of room and a lack of funding.
"Right now, we're still able to keep everyone in, and that's what we intend to continue to do. I will use every resource available to keep felons in here, but we have to get some relief from somewhere. Hopefully, we can get this thing worked out and we can get a special session of the legislature so they can allocate some funds to help the jails out," Parkman said.
In November, the DOC had $22.6 million cut from its budget as part of a $142 million state budget shortfall. $5 million of that was slated to pay counties and by the end of June, when the fiscal year ends, the state could owe counties $10 million. In December, missed payments to St. Francis County totaled over $100,000.
A West Memphis man died Friday afternoon in an accident north of Hughes.
According to the report by the Arkansas State Police, David Woods, 55, of West Memphis, was driving a 1976 Ford truck north on U.S. 79, about 7.3 miles north of Hughes.
Woods' vehicle apparently drifted into the southbound lane, striking a 1998 International truck being driven by Johan Redekop, 33, of Leamington, Canada.
Redekop was not injured. There were no other people riding in either vehicle.