By TAMARA JOHNSON
Managing Editor
A working methamphetamine lab near Haynes was confiscated during a raid Wednesday night.
Officers with the St. Francis County Sheriff's Department and Arkansas State Police Troop D in Forrest City were investigating reports of stolen property being located in a wooded area east of Haynes, near the river levee, when they found two men allegedly operating a crystal meth lab.
During the search, police found about three pounds of crystal meth and a variety of items used in the manufacture of the drugs. A followup search was conducted today, and as of press time, police had confiscated about 40 marijuana plants. The crystal meth has an estimated street value of about $135,000. A value was not yet available on the marijuana plants due to the ongoing investigation.
According to Sheriff's Department Narcotics Investigator Gene Wingo, police arriving at the scene found one suspect riding a stolen four-wheeler which was pulling a stolen trailer. Both items reportedly were stolen from the Jonesboro area.
were allegedly attempting to dismantle the lab when police arrived.
Two Forrest City men were arrested during the raid. Gregory E. Denton, 31, 2131 Indian Trail, and Daniel R. Weddington, 27, 821 Sherwood Dr., both of Forrest City, are each charged with manufacturing a controlled substance, possession of a controlled substance, possession of ephedrine with intent to manufacture, possession of anhydrous ammonia in an unlawful container, possession of drug paraphernalia, simultaneous possession of drugs and firearms, theft by receiving over $2,500 and manufacturing methamphetamine. Denton is also charged with third-degree battery.
Wingo said additional charges may be filed against the two men.
By KENDALL OWENS
T-H Staff Writer
The Forrest City Swimming Pool at Southside Park will be the scene of mass flipping and flapping as children participating in the City Pride program take over the water for three mornings a week.
According to Catrece Davis with the Recreation Department, swimming lessons will begin next week for the 75 area children participating in City Pride. Davis said the lessons will focus on teaching freestyle swimming as well as the backstroke and water adjustment for younger students.
"I'm going to be working with them on freestyle and the back stroke and teaching many of them the proper way to swim under water. I'll also be teaching the smaller ones some water adjustment and how to hold their heads under water and just the proper mechanics for swimming so that they can actually swim and not just get from one side of the pool to the other," Davis said.
According to Davis, the lessons will be held Wednesday and Thursday, from 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. with a free day of fun for participants on Friday. Davis also wanted to remind area civic organizations and churches that the pool is available for rent during the summer.
"We currently have one organization using the pool on Tuesday mornings, and we're always looking for more groups. We really just want the community to be aware of what we're doing over there," she said.
By KENDALL OWENS
T-H Staff Writer
Being honored is something everyone enjoys and appreciates, but when an individual is honored by their peers it gives them a larger sense of accomplishment, and Forrest City Municipal Clerk Geneva Vance would be the first to agree.
Vance, in her 14th year as municipal clerk, was recently honored as Clerk of the Year for the Arkansas District and City Clerks' Association during a banquet in Hot Springs. According to Vance, the honor holds a special place for her because it comes from an organization that consists of her peers.
"Anytime you receive this type of acknowledgment its nice, but it's even better when it's people doing the same job who have the same challenges as you. I don't think by any stretch that I'm the ultimate clerk, but I do my job, and it's nice to know that you're appreciated for your efforts," Vance said.
According to Vance, the honor also holds special meaning because the clerks' association is a group that prides itself on continuing the education of district and municipal clerks through programs created by the clerks.
"We're not just a group that gets together to socialize and meet. We actually work, and our goal is the self-education of clerks statewide. That's why the organization was created and we're one of the few associations that actually does that. We've received national acknowledgment for several of the programs that we do, and we're constantly bringing in people from across the country to help us get better at what we do. We're just a bunch of people who have gotten together to better ourselves at our jobs," she said.
Vance has served as the president of the association for the past two years. She has also served as treasurer of the group and on several committees. She is the wife of Wayne Vance and has two adult sons, Wade and Ryan.
Championship wrestling will make another free appearance at the Forrest City Civic Center tonight in an effort to stop the use of drugs in a program sponsored by the Forrest City Police Department and the City of Forrest City.
According to a press release from the Forrest City Police Department, the event will feature Championship Wrestling star "Too Sexy" Brian Christopher, discussing the perils of drug use.
On the card for tonight's show will be Sir Mo, Derrick King, "All That" Alan Steel, the Beale Street Posse, Spellbinder, the Fabulous Rocker, "All Natural" Flex, "Hollywood" Jimmy Blaylock, Nate the Rat and Forrest City's own Rage.
The event will begin tonight at 7 p.m. at the Forrest City Civic Center. The show will be part of a television taping for Championship Wrestling on WMC Channel 5 to be aired over the next two weeks.