By DAVID NICHOL
T-H Staff Writer
Caldwell's third annual Cotton Pickin' Festival will be held Sept. 26 and 27, including some features from last year along with some new activities, all geared toward having fun.
"We've got the antique auto show, which will be new this year, as well as the pet show," said Caldwell Mayor Gary Hughes.
A special guest for the pet show will be Sunni Dunn, whose Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, Ch. Rattlebridge Adagio (or "Gio), won the best of breed competition at the Westminster Dog Show in New York City.
"She will give some tips on caring for animals and showing animals," Hughes said.
Also, the bingo is new and the "Tacky Contest" is new.
"For the kids, what's new is the greased pig contest," said Hughes.
Times of all the events are listed later in this story.
Arts and crafts booths are welcomed. Displays may be set up on both days, and the booth rental fee is $20.
Food will also be available. Chili will be featured on Friday, Sept. 26. On both days, there will be hamburgers, hot dogs, funnel cakes, popcorn, French fries, nachos, corn dogs and other favorites.
Most of the time when there aren't other activities taking place on the outdoor stage, there will be gospel music. Many favorite local groups will perform, highlighted by The Direct Connection, which will perform Saturday night.
The gospel music will begin at 5 p.m. Friday.
At 6:30 p.m., the Cotton Pickin' King and Queen will be chosen. Age groups include, ages 18 months to 3, ages 4 to 7, and ages 8-12. There is a $5 entry fee. First and second place prizes will be awarded in each division. All participants must wear fashions made of cotton. A description of the fashion modeled should be included with the registration fee.
The deadline for registering in the King and Queen Contest is Sept. 2.
The pet show will be held at 7:30 p.m. Friday.
The first event on Saturday, Sept. 27 will be the Coed Volleyball Tournament, which will be held from 8 a.m. until 2 p.m. Teams will consist of a maximum of seven players, and players may be any combination of men or women. Trophies will be given to the first and second place finishers. The number of teams is limited, and will be accepted on a first-come basis. There is an entry fee of $1 per person.
Gospel music will begin at 10 a.m.
Several events will take place simultaneously at 1 p.m. Saturday. Kids games, including the greased pig contest, will begin at that time.
Also at 1 p.m., the BINGO games will start.
Another item set for 1 p.m. is the Cotton Pickin Contest. Each person will be given a 30-minute time limit. The person with the most cotton picked will be declared the winner. Cotton sacks will be provided. The entry fee is $2 per person. A special cash prize will be awarded.
At 6 p.m., replacing the Womanless Beauty Pageant, will be the Cotton Pickin' Tacky Contest. Courageous men and woman are needed to dress their tackiest. Judging will be on tackiness,, pose and personality. A special cash prize will be awarded.
During the Tacky Contest, there will be a silent and live auction, with items donated by local merchants.
At 7 p.m. Saturday, a special appearance will be made by "Elvis Presley" live and on stage.
"We feel like this is the largest and most exciting festival in this area," said Hughes. "And we're trying to improve upon it and make it even more exciting for everybody. Our arts and crafts are going to be much bigger this year, and much more interesting. Everything looks like it's going to be bigger and better this year."
By TAMARA JOHNSON
Managing Editor
The son of an elderly St. Francis County man is charged with capital murder in his father's death.
St. Francis County Sheriff's Department Chief Criminal Investigator Glenn Ramsey said the department prepared a capital murder warrant, on the advice of the prosecuting attorney's office, this morning to serve on Robert W. Poland, 36, who is being held in the St. Francis County Jail.
Poland was arrested Monday afternoon on a parole violation near the home he had been sharing with his father, William Poland, 82, on County Road 750. He had served time in state prisons in Arkansas and Texas, according to court records, but had been on parole since his release earlier this year.
William Poland's body was found inside his home near the county fairgrounds on Monday afternoon after worried neighbors reported to police they had not seen the elderly man in a few days.
Ramsey said an autopsy is being performed today to determine the exact cause of death, but is appears at this point he died from blunt trauma to the head.
According to Ramsey, Poland gave deputies a statement Tuesday afternoon regarding the murder. "About the only thing I can say about his statement is that Robert Poland has given a statement that is totally consistent with what investigators have found so far in the death of William Poland."
Poland is scheduled to appear in court Thursday morning.
A West Helena man was sentenced to 10 years in prison Tuesday, after being convicted of shooting two people at a local fast food restaurant in February.
Tyrone Kirkwood, 19, received the sentence in connection with an incident which took place on Feb. 2 of this year. Forrest City officers were called to McDonald's, where several witnesses, including an off-duty police officer, gave statements about the shooting.
An argument apparently had begun between Kirkwood and one of the shooting victims, Aaron Moorman, at the Skating Star. The argument continued at McDonald's, where Kirkwood began shooting. Moorman was struck in the left foot. A second victim, Jimmy Aldridge, who was not involved in the altercation, was struck in the face. Both recovered.
Kirkwood was charged with attempted murder and aggravated assault. In his sentencing, we was given credit for time served.
In other circuit court action, Marissa Lowe, 33, of 918 Garland, Forrest City, was given a five year suspended imposition of sentence for residential burglary and theft of property.
Also, Billy Gene Byrd, 34, of 828 S. Izard, Forrest City, was given five years on 10 counts of forgery.
The EACC Department of Community Education and the Forrest City Police Department will sponsor a Fishing Derby on Saturday, Sept. 13 from 8 a.m. until noon.
The Fishing Derby will be held at the Forrest City Baptist Memorial Hospital pond, which will be fully stocked by the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission with 450 pond catfish.
Children must be accompanied by an adult. There is no charge, but registration is limited. To reserve a place at the Derby, pre-register before Labor Day, Sept. 1, by calling the EACC Department of Community Education at 870-633-4480, Ext. 333 or 261.
Seven females were arrested Tuesday morning during a brawl that broke out at a school bus stop in a local housing project.
The Forrest City Police Department reported the four women and three juveniles began arguing about 7:40 a.m. at the bus stop located in Cope Cove on Highway 334. When police arrived, the suspects were fighting and cursing at each other, according to the report.
One of the suspects, Jeanette Lockett, 24, told police she was jumped by several juveniles when she approached their mothers in the bus line.
Jeanette Lockett; Paulett Lockett, 28; Lucille Lockett, 20 and Sylvia Walker, 33, all residents of Cope Cove, were each charged with disorderly conduct along with the three juveniles, two age 16, and one 14.