By KENDALL OWENS
T-H Staff Writer
A St. Francis County jury awarded the largest monetary settlement in the county's history Friday by approving a $30 million judgment for a Wynne family.
The judgment is the result of a 1998 accident involving the Union Pacific Railroad.
On Thursday, the jury in the case of Chris and Claudette Barber versus Union Pacific, awarded $5.1 million for compensatory damages to the Barbers for injuries Chris Barber, 37, sustained in a January 1998 accident near Goodwin, when the vehicle he was a passenger in was struck by a train on the Union Pacific tracks. According to Barber's attorney Mike Easley, Barber suffered a spinal cord injury which left him partially paralyzed with a closed head injury with short-term memory loss and permanent nerve damage in one leg which causes constant burning pain. Barber also suffers from an intractable back for which he is in therapy, migraine headaches and bowel and bladder dysfunction, according to Easley.
On Friday, the jury awarded Barber $25 million in punitive damages which, according to Easley, is to punish Union Pacific for its actions and to deter the railroad and others from making similar decisions in the future. According to Easley, the railroad was at fault due to overgrowth along the Brinkley substation which extends from Brinkley through Forrest City, and the railroad's lack of action regarding complaints voiced prior to the accident.
"The railroad has abandoned its legal duty to clear brush along the Brinkley substation. There were complaints from several people before this accident happened, and the railroad just ignored the calls. The mayor of Palestine, a garbage hauler and even an employee of Union Pacific had called to tell them about the overgrowth, but each call was put off. It was always 'that's someone else's department' and then this happened. We've found out that the growth was so bad that it would have cost them twice what it would have for any other substation in the area to clear," Easley said.
"There were a number of people who said that they were afraid to make that crossing in particular because you couldn't see to cross, and there had been several close calls. There were even paramedics and sheriff's deputies who didn't want to cross because it was so dangerous," Easley added.
It was not known Friday whether Union Pacific would appeal the jury's decision. According to attorney Fred Ursery, lead attorney for UP, he needed time to discuss the award with UP officials.
"We have not yet had a chance to review the results of this case with our client. No direction has been determined yet in how we will seek relief in this matter," Ursery said.
By ALAN SMITH
T-H Staff Writer
The Scott Bond Family plot in Madison was formally rededicated Saturday because of the plots' induction in the National Registry of Historical Sites earlier this year.
The recognition makes the plot the first African-American grave plot registered in the Arkansas Delta. The plot was recognized though the efforts of the Arkansas Delta African-American Historical Society and the Scott Bond Cemetery Association, but according to Phyllis Hammonds, President of the ADAAHS, the job is not over.
"The Bonds Family plot is registered, but the rest of the cemetery is not. More research must be done on the other plots to find out who they are." Hammonds said. And the effort does not stop in Madison, "ADAAHS helps and trains African-Americans to form their own groups like the Scott Bond Cemetery Association to preserve these important places for future generations," she added.
Scott Bond was an African-American philanthropist and millionaire born in 1852, according to Hammonds. He moved to Madison in 1872 and later purchased three acres of land in Madison for African-Americans to have a cemetery when segregationists would not allow them to bury their dead in a cemetery that was under construction at the time, according to Hammonds. Bond died in 1933.
A large group of area dignitaries attended the formal rededication at the cemetery. The group then continued the celebration at the Forrest City Civic Center where refreshments and entertainment were provided.
Three instances of auto theft were reported to the Forrest City Police Department over the weekend.
The first report was Friday, at about 6:25 p.m. Chuck Hamilton of Memphis reported that his 1996 Mitsubishi Eclipse was stolen from the parking lot on the west side of the Holiday Inn. He reported the car was left there on Wednesday, May 8, and was gone when he returned from out of town on Friday, May 10.
The second report came in Saturday morning. Joseph Rucker Jr., of 1362 Jones Street, Forrest City, said a 1998 Chevrolet Malibu was stolen from the front of his house overnight.
The third incident was reported at around 11:15 p.m. Saturday. Carlos L. Hobs of Moro, stated that he parked his vehicle in the parking lot of Broadway Twin Cinema at 9:30 p.m., and when he returned to the parking lot the vehicle was gone.
All three incidents are under investigation.
Three city council meetings tonight kick off a week full of a meetings in St. Francis County.
The Widener City Council meets at 6 tonight. The Madison and Hughes city councils each meet at 7 p.m. The meetings will be held at each city's city hall.
The Forrest City Advertising and Promotions Commission will meet at 2 p.m. Tuesday at the Forrest City Area Chamber of Commerce office.
The Forrest City School Board is scheduled to meet at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday.
School board members are scheduled to discuss student handbook revisions and personnel policy revisions. The board will also hear an update on construction of the new junior high school.
The Palestine and Caldwell city councils each meet at 7 p.m. Tuesday, and the Hughes School Board will meet at 7 in the board meeting room at the school.
All meetings are open to the public.