By KENDALL OWENS
T-H Staff Writer
A Clarendon woman is recovering today from injuries she received Thursday afternoon when she reportedly drove her van into the path of a westbound Union Pacific train in the Beck Spur area.
According to a report from Arkansas State Police Troop D in Forrest City, 54-year-old Brenda Rutherford, drove into the train's path at the crossing located on St. Francis County Road 219.
According to the police report, at about 3:20 p.m., Rutherford was traveling south on County Road 219, the Beck Spur area, in a 2001 Dodge 3500 Series passenger van, when she attempted to cross in front of the train.
The van, which is owned by Mid-Delta Transit, was struck near the rear and knocked an estimated 50 feet southwest of the crossing. Rescue personnel from the Forrest City Fire Department Search and Rescue Team were dispatched to the scene, where they had to extricate Rutherford from the wreckage with the "Jaws of Life."
Rutherford did not have any other passengers in the van.
According to an officer with Troop D, about an hour before the accident, Rutherford had been ticketed for speeding. The trooper was unsure of any other infractions on Rutherford's driving history. According to the officer, however, charges of careless driving and failure to yield are pending.
Rutherford was airlifted from the scene to The Med Center in Memphis where she was listed in satisfactory condition this morning.
By DAVID NICHOL
T-H Staff Writer
Mosquito spraying began in Forrest City last night and will continue through the mosquito season.
"We started Thursday night," said J.C. Rice, pest control officer, this morning. "And depending on the weather, we'll spray two or three evenings a week."
On nights when spraying occurs, it will begin at about 7:30 p.m., and will end around 1 a.m.
Some mosquitoes are out, but Rice said they aren't out in force yet.
"We don't have many mosquitoes yet, but we've got a few," he said.
The city spraying program uses Scourge insecticide.
The city also uses a larvicide called Altosid, which comes in small briquettes.
"It's just a small tablet," said Rice. "It's a chemical that actually kills the mosquito larvae before they hatch."
The Altosid briquettes are placed in stagnant water, wherever mosquitoes might breed, and is in use for longer each year than spraying.
"We do that pretty well throughout the year," he said, "Because we have some warm weather even during winter."
The Forrest City City Council will meet in regular session Tuesday, June 18 at 7 p.m. in city hall.
There will be a resolution appointing members to the Forrest City Public Health Facilities board, and second reading of an ordinance creating that board.
Also on the agenda are Ronnie Mitchusson concerning King Disposal, Inc., and Derwin Sims, concerning a proposed development named Downs Village at Broadway (U.S. Highway 70) and Day Streets.
The Downs Village development has encountered opposition previously because of concerns over flooding. Some residents have also questioned the quality of the housing that would be built in the development.
A 16-year-old Forrest City girl was transported to Baptist Memorial Hospital-Forrest City after she was struck by a car on West Broadway last night.
According to a report from the Forrest City Police Department, 63-year-old Anderson Boyd, 212 Bond Dr., Forrest City, was traveling west on Broadway when 16-year-old Mary Parker ran into the roadway. According to the report, the Boyd vehicle struck Parker, but she left the scene running.
Officers later found Parker at a residence and she was transported to Baptist Memorial Hospital, where she was treated and released.