By ALAN SMITH
T-H Staff Writer
The Forrest City Police Department and the Arkansas Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) are joining with Mustang 17 to help citizens in the area realize the dangers of drinking and driving.
Police Chief Clarence McNeary and Lt. Eddie Adamson will both appear on a 20-minute video to talk about the dangers of drinking and driving. The informational video will air several times on Mustang 17 between this weekend and the beginning of the year.
Adamson said the video features a story of a Wyoming State Police officer and his personal dealings with drunk driving.
"The trooper on the video lost his daughter in a drunk-driving crime," said Adamson. "His five-year-old daughter was killed in an accident that involved his ex-wife. About three out of every 10 Americans will be involved in an alcohol-related crash at some point in their lives. Another statistic is that 68 percent of all children killed in an alcohol-related accidents were riding in a car with a drunk driver.
"This is the most dangerous time of the year for drunk-driving fatalities. On the average, a person dies every 30 minutes as a result of a drunk-driving crime. I call them 'crimes' instead of 'accidents' because they are 100 percent preventable. Also, on average, one person is injured every two minutes," Adamson said.
"We are urging people not to drive drunk or allow anyone else to drive drunk," added Adamson. "Also, use your seat belts and car safety seats. You never know if someone else is driving drunk beside you."
McNeary talked about other efforts of the police to keep drunk drivers off the roads this holiday season. "We will have increased patrols and mobile-saturation checkpoints to check for drunk drivers and other violations," McNeary stated. "This is the time of year that people celebrate, and sometimes they celebrate in the wrong way. Those people are a danger to themselves and to others.
"We want people to use common sense and not just on the roadways," continued McNeary. "We are increasing patrols around neighborhoods and in commercial and business areas for thieves. They are very opportunistic this time of year. They know people are out Christmas shopping, and they have extra items in their houses and extra cars in their driveways.
"Pay extra attention to your surroundings at home and while shopping. If you are going from place to place shopping, put the packages you have bought in the trunk and not the back seat. Don't advertise your house to criminals. If you have bought high-end items like televisions or DVD players, don't put the empty boxes in front of your house. Cut them up and place them in a garbage bag," McNeary said. "Also, don't leave your curtains open on your windows. I know people want to show off their Christmas trees, but that lets everyone know what you have in your house. Thieves Christmas shop by riding through neighborhoods, they say, 'Look, somebody's getting a television for Christmas. Let's take it!'"
McNeary also offered some tips for people who leave themselves open for criminals in cold weather and don't realize it. "Many people come out before work and warm up their cars by letting the heater run. They come out of their house and open their car and start it up. Many people don't think to lock their cars. Thieves check car doors, especially those that are running unattended. If a car is unlocked, that is just too easy. The same thing applies if you are going into a store for 'just a second.' It takes just a second for criminals to make off with your car if it is still running."
With Christmas a week away, many city and county buildings will be closing for the holidays.
All schools in the Forrest City School District will hold the last day of classes for the calendar year on Friday, Dec. 19. Students will return to school on Monday, Jan. 5.
Students attending schools in the Palestine-Wheatley School District will dismiss at 2 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 19, and will resume classes on Jan. 5.
The Hughes School District will dismiss its children at 1:30 p.m. today and Friday. The last day for students will be Friday, and they will also return to school on Jan. 5.
East Arkansas Community College will close on Tuesday, Dec. 23, at 3 p.m. The college will reopen for classes on Monday, Jan. 5.
Crowley's Ridge Technical Institute will be closed Friday, Dec. 19, through Sunday, Jan. 4. Registration will begin on Monday, Jan. 5, and regular classes will resume on Tuesday, Jan. 6.
The Forrest City City Hall will be closed on both Christmas Day, Thursday, Dec. 25, and Friday, Dec. 26. City hall will be open on Wednesday, Dec. 24.
The St. Francis County Courthouse will be closed Wednesday, Dec. 24, through Friday, Dec. 26.
City hall and the courthouse will reopen on Monday, Dec. 22.
A man serving out his fines in the St. Francis County Jail walked away from a work crew to which he had been assigned on Tuesday, but his freedom was short-lived.
Marvin James, 26, 714 Hicky St., Forrest City, was working as a trusty with a county road crew when he failed to return to the jail with the remainder of the trusties Tuesday evening. The trusties help pick up around dumpsites throughout the county, according to officials at the St. Francis County Jail.
James was captured by the Forrest City Police Department Wednesday at a home on Buford Street, according to jail officials.
In addition to the misdemeanor charges for which James had already been fined, he is now also charged with third-degree escape.
Two more instances of mailbox vandalism have been reported to police, bringing the number of reported incidents to five since last Friday.
On Tuesday, Larry Hampton of 435 Calvert reported his mailbox had been damaged by person or persons unknown.
At about the same time, Bill Wilkins, of 425 Calvert, reported that his mailbox had also been damaged.
Three instances of mailboxes being damaged were reported over the weekend. There are no suspects at this time, but police are investigating.