By DAVID NICHOL
T-H Staff Writer
No fatalities were reported on the highways by the Arkansas State Police in the Troop D area during the Thanksgiving holiday weekend, although troopers were kept busy, working 29 accidents.
According to Capt. Nathaniel Jackson, commander of Troop D, "For us, the holiday period started Nov. 26 at 001 hours in the morning, and ended on Nov. 30 at midnight."
One serious accident, a three-vehicle wreck, did occur in the Troop D area Sunday, on Interstate 40 where it goes over Ark. Highway 1 (Washington Ave.) at Forrest City.
According to Corporal Kelvin Stewart, who was among those working the accident, the wreck took place at about 12:15 p.m.
The report stated that a 1996 Ford Explorer driven by Louis Galvan, 29, of Medway, Ohio, was traveling west and attempted to pass a 1985 Freightliner truck driven by Leon Rogers, 57, of Memphis. At the same time, the truck attempted a lane change.
The Explorer was knocked into the bridge wall, bounced off and turned over, and then slid an estimated 285 feet, where it collided with a 1999 Newmar recreational vehicle driven by William Chamness, 64, of Frankford Heights, Ill.
Bivianna Mendoza 14, of Medway, a passenger in the Explorer, was airlifted to Memphis. Two other passengers Angel Mendoza, 40, and Juan Mendoza, 11, both of Medway, were taken to Baptist Memorial Hospital-Forrest City.
In other holiday weekend action, Jackson reported that there were 15 DWI arrests and 82 people cited for seat belt violations.
Jackson also reported that another emphasis was under way during that period -- the "Click It Or Ticket" campaign aimed at seat belt violations. The seat belt campaign ran from Nov. 17 through Nov. 30.
"In the Troop D area, we issued, overall, 146 seat belt citations, and had 23 child restraint violations, made 25 DWI arrests and 29 drug arrests," he said.
By DAVID NICHOL
T-H Staff Writer
Due to a scheduling conflict at Mustang Arena, there has been a route change in this Friday's Forrest City Christmas Parade.
Basketball games have been scheduled at the arena, meaning the parade will have to form up in a different area.
According to Mary Beth Doler of the Forrest City Area Chamber of Commerce, the staging area has been moved to the parking lot between Forrest City Junior High and Sam Smith Stadium.
"We're asking people who are going to be in the parade to pull into the driveway on the Graham Street side, because the parade will leave from the Victoria Street side," said Doler.
The rest of the parade route will be the same -- Victoria to Division Street, Division to Arkansas Street, Arkansas to Washington Ave., Washington to Hill Street, Hill to Rosser Street and Rosser to the Union Planters parking lot where the parade will disperse.
The parade is still scheduled to roll this Friday, Dec. 5, beginning at 7 p.m. Participants are still asked to be in place no later than 6 p.m. for judging. Late arrivals will be allowed to participate but will not be eligible for judging.
This year's parade theme is "The Joy of Christmas." Grand Marshals for this year are members of the Toys for Tots Committee, including Boy Scout Troops 122 and 202.
As usual, there will be prizes for floats, in five categories. Industrial/Commercial, Churches, Civic Groups, Novelty and Schools. There will be competition for first, second and third place in each category. Winners will carry a banner announcing their category and place. Antique tractor owners have been invited to join the parade again this year.
A man trying to rob a local convenience store fell into the custody of police officers early Sunday.
The Forrest City Police Department was notified about 3:40 a.m. that a burglary was in progress at Leak's Quick Shop at 1326 S. Washington. Officers arriving at the scene discovered a window had been broken and contacted the owner of the business, Ricky Leak.
While waiting on Leak to arrive, officers reportedly observed the suspect, Kendrick Coleman, 23, 333 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Dr., Forrest City, "jumping around inside the store" while attempting to crawl into the ceiling.
Once inside the building, a police officer moved a ceiling tile and saw the suspect hiding inside the ceiling. The officer instructed Coleman to come down, and when he refused, the officer sprayed him in the face with pepper spray, according to the police report.
When Coleman started to move, he fell through a ceiling tile and onto a freezer where he was taken into custody by police. Coleman is charged with commercial burglary, and was scheduled to be arraigned in St. Francis County District Court this afternoon.
By DAVID NICHOL
T-H Staff Writer
Sunday's chili cookoff to benefit the Forrest City Area Humane Society has been called a success by organizers.
Called the "Red Hot Sunday Chili Cookoff," the event was held at Graham Memorial Presbyterian Church, attracting 17 teams and a lot of folks interested in tasting those teams' chili, not to mention the silent auction and drawings for prizes.
A highlight of the cookoff was a surprise presentation to Mary Loeb, who has been active in the local Humane Society since its founding.
According to Jean Guarr, president of the Humane Society, a foundation has been formed in honor of Loeb. Called the Mary Gregg Loeb Animal Welfare Endowment Fund, it has been started with the help of the St. Francis County Community Foundation.
"She is the one who has always been there," said Guarr, speaking of Loeb and why the Humane Society and the Community Foundation wanted to honor her. "She's been our strength."
Anyone wishing to make a contribution to the Mary Gregg Loeb Animal Welfare Endowment Fund may send their donations to the Forrest City Area Humane Society, Post Office Box 2091, Forrest City, Ark. 72336. All funds will go to the benefit of animals.
Although final figures were still being compiled, Humane Society members said they were pleased with the turnout and the money raised.
First, second and third place winners were named in the chili contest. Taking first was Jean Guarr. Second place was Ellen Alderson, and Matt Townsend took third.
This was not the type of cook-off in which participants stay up all night on-site to prepare their chili. Contestants were asked to bring their chili already prepared, immediately after church Sunday.
There were also drawings for several prizes. Those winning the three main prizes included William Witcher, who won a DVD player; Jessie Uptigrove, winner of a 32-inch Sanyo television set; and Joan Cook, who won a trip to the Red River Resort at Heber Springs.
By KENDALL OWENS
T-H Staff Writer
An increased police presence was not enough to deter criminals this weekend as several car burglaries were reported during the Rumble on the Ridge basketball tournament held at Mustang Arena over the weekend.
According to reports from the Forrest City Police Department, three incidences of vehicle burglaries were reported by people attending the tournament. According to reports, Timothy Franks, of Tyronza, had $200 in damage done to his 2000 Volkswagon, when vandals knocked out the driver's side window and stole a Pioneer CD player valued at $300. Paige Poteat, of Forrest City, also reported damage to her vehicle when thieves stole a Kenwood radio valued at $300 from her car.
A Pine Bluff man was also a victim of vandals when according to reports, Rodney Granberry told police that the door lock to his car was damaged when thieves stole a Boss stereo system valued at $250. Over $300 in damage was done to his vehicle during the theft, police reported.
Thieves did not limit their work to Mustang Arena over the weekend. A vehicle belonging to a man who was a guest at the Holiday Inn, visiting for the holiday tournament, was also burglarized. According to the report, Jarrett Byrm, told officers that someone had broken into his vehicle while it was parked at the hotel, breaking out his passenger side window and stealing a Pioneer stereo system valued at $400.
In a separate case, a Marvell police officer reported over $10,000 in damage to his personal vehicle. According to the police report, Jeff Goff told officers that when he returned home from work on Wednesday, someone had vandalized his red Ford Mustang. According to the report, the vehicle had been spray painted with silver paint, all four tires had been slashed, the passenger side window had been knocked out and the interior of the vehicle had been cut with a sharp object.
Forrest City Crime Stoppers encourages anyone who has information about a crime to call its number, 261-1499. Those giving information will remain anonymous. Rewards are available in some cases.
The Forrest City City Council will hold a budget meeting at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 2, prior to the regular council meeting at 7 p.m.
The council plans to present the budget during the regular meeting.
In other business, councilmen will consider Christmas bonuses for city employees.
The St. Francis County Community Foundation and the St. Francis County Museum will hold a Holiday Open House on Thursday, Dec. 4, from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. at the Museum.
According to a press release from the museum, the event will feature the Foundation grants and activities as well as the annual Forrest City Junior Auxiliary Angel Tree project. The Angel Tree provides gifts and clothes for needy children in the community and Angels are now available to those seeking to help. The museum is also a drop-off point for the Toys for Tots campaign.
Members of the St. Francis County Youth Advisory Council will also be on-hand at the Open House to welcome and serve guests.
Shots were fired at a would-be burglar as he entered a business/residence on South Washington on Thanksgiving night.
Debra A. Gadberry, 52, 1716 S. Washington, told officers with the Forrest City Police Department that she was awakened by a loud noise about 11 p.m., and when she went into the living room to investigate, she observed a black male attempting to kick in a door on the south side of her home.
Gadberry told police she screamed at the suspect to stop, but when he failed to comply with her request, she went to her bedroom and returned with a .22 caliber revolver. According to the police report, when Gadberry returned to the living room, the suspect was standing inside the residence.
Gadberry told police she fired the weapon at the suspect who immediately fled the scene before she notified the police department.
The FCPD described the suspect as a black male about six feet tall with a large build. He was wearing a rag around his head and a light colored jacket, according to the report. Police found the rag outside the building.
Police reportedly took Gadberry's gun for "safekeeping" because the suspect may have been shot. Baptist Memorial Hospital-Forrest City was notified of the incident, according to the report.