By TAMARA JOHNSON
Managing Editor
A Forrest City teenager is in serious condition today at a Memphis hospital after being trapped underneath a pickup truck that hit him while he was walking on a sidewalk along North Washington Friday evening.
According to a report on file at the Forrest City Police Department, George C. Stotts, 41, 1009 Smith St., Forrest City, was southbound on North Washington near the Lake Street intersection when the accident occurred about 6:30 p.m.
Stotts, who was traveling in the outside southbound lane, told police the brakes on his vehicle locked up when he tried to avoid hitting a car that had turned into his path from Lake Street. Stotts' vehicle skidded into the inside southbound lane and across both northbound lanes before jumping the sidewalk and striking 15-year-old Raphael Beech, 427 McCleskey, Forrest City. A second pedestrian, 18-year-old Marieo Beech, was not injured.
The truck continued across the sidewalk and down an embankment where it finally came to rest in a nearby wooded area; however, the teenager was trapped under the vehicle.
The Forrest City Fire Department's rescue unit assisted the ambulance crew from Baptist Memorial Hospital-Forrest City, in removing Beech from under the truck. Emergency workers treated him until Med Flight from the Med Center in Memphis landed at the scene and transported Beech to the Elvis Presley Trauma Center.
Stotts was taken to the BMH-FC emergency room where he was treated and released.
Damage to Stotts' vehicle is estimated at $2,000.
In an unrelated accident, a toddler was injured Sunday night when he ran in front of a car on Division Street about 9:20 p.m.
The FCPD reported 19-month-old Ja'Terrion Brown, 913 Mann St., Apt. 119, Forrest City, ran into the path of a 1994 Toyota Camry driven by Carolyn Holland, 33, 810 W. Day, Forrest City.
Holland told police she was driving north on Division Street near its intersection with Cook Street when the child ran in front of her vehicle from a residence at 702 N. Division. She told police she tried to stop, but struck the child anyway.
Brown was taken by ambulance to BMH-FC where he was treated and later airlifted to Arkansas Children's Hospital in Little Rock. His condition was unavailable.
By KENDALL OWENS
T-H Staff Writer
In an effort to coordinate county disaster plans, the St. Francis County Office of Emergency Services will hold an organizational meeting on Wednesday, June 18, for the purposes of establishing a countywide emergency response team and system.
According to OES Coordinator Bill Dooley, the meeting, which will be held in the quorum courtroom at the St. Francis County Courthouse at 9 a.m., is to develop a county wide disaster plan and to compile a booklet of known resources that could be used in the event of a disaster.
"We're looking to include the other communities and towns in the county to get everyone together so that we can organize a system that will allow us to help all of the communities in the county in case of a disaster," Dooley said.
"We've got 53 miles of interstate running through this county and if we have a spill out there and the conditions are right, every community in the county could be effected so we need to be ready to respond," he said.
According to Lisa Drake with the emergency coordinator with the Forrest City School District, the goal of the committee is to ensure that the proper personnel and equipment is available in case of a disaster.
"We need to know who to get in contact with in case something happens in one of the other communities in the county. Right now Chief Curtner (Forrest City Fire Chief Dan Curtner) said that there is a gentleman's agreement with the other cities that we will help, but there's nothing in writing. We need to be able to work together in case of a major disaster and that's what we're trying to do. All of the mayor's and their emergency personnel have been invited to the meeting and we're hoping that they will be able to give us as much information as possible," Drake said.
Some of that information, according to Drake, will include area contractors and heavy machine operators who could assist in disaster efforts.
"If something were to happen in Forrest City, then yes, I would know exactly who to call and get in here on the job. I can't say the same thing if something happened in Hughes. We need a booklet or document that lists area contractors and people like that so that we can contact them if we need them," she said.
According to Drake, the purpose of the meeting is also to establish a second location that could be used as a point to work with the injured.
"If we have a big disaster, like the tornado of '74, then
we're going to need someplace other than the hospital that people
can go to find their family members that don't have major wounds.
It would also be used as a location that we could coordinate things
out of," Drake added.
A woman has been charged with battery and terroristic threatening, after allegedly stabbing a sheriff's deputy in the arm with a pen Saturday.
According to the report, at about 1:15 p.m. a jailer entered the radio room at the jail, and informed Matron Johnny Jones and Deputy Stanley Barnes that there might be a fight in a women's cell.
Jones and Barnes went to the cell and found two prisoners, Shindid Braddock and Sheryl Locust, having a heated disagreement.
The report states that Jones attempted to break up the argument, but Braddock continued to use profanity. Jones then attempted to step between the two women. Braddock allegedly shoved Locust and tried to stab her with a pen Braddock had in her right hand. At that time, Barnes stepped in and grabbed Braddock's left hand. Braddock then allegedly began stabbing Barnes in the arm with the pen.
Braddock was put into another cell and allegedly threatened Barnes.
Braddock, 32, whose address was listed as the St. Francis County Jail, was charged with second degree battery and terroristic threatening. Barnes received first aid on his arm.
By KENDALL OWENS
T-H Staff Writer
Several area businesses were vandalized Sunday when plate glass windows were broken by pellet gun fire.
According to a press release from the Forrest City Police Department, five business, Ridout Lumber Company, 1823 West Broadway; Parker Furniture, 206 N. Washington; Staton's Furniture, 942 N. Washington; Taco Bell, 2055 N. Washington and Payless Shoes, 2212 N. Washington, all reported damage between 1:30 p.m. and 3 p.m. Sunday afternoon.
In a separate incident, an employee of Dixie Furniture, 2040 N. Washington, reported damage to a door at the store on Saturday. According to the report, the employee was working when he heard glass break at the front of the building. Officers reported finding a piece of glass that appeared to have been shot out.
Also on Saturday, FCPD officers responded to an attempted break-in at the Forrest City High School band hall. According to the report, officers arrived at the band hall shortly after 7 p.m. and were met by the FCHS band director. According to the report, officers suspect that the building's alarm system frightened the burglar off. Officers were able to collect evidence at the scene of the crime.
No suspects have been arrested.
By DAVID NICHOL
T-H Staff Writer
A farmer has been arrested in connection with the theft of numerous farm equipment items stolen in Mississippi.
The stolen property was recovered Thursday in St. Francis County.
According to the report, officers were informed that Rex Lester, 32, of Memphis, was using stolen farm equipment on SFC 503, south of Highways 70 and 75. It was also reported that Lester had some equipment on SFC 447.
Upon investigation, the following items were recovered: A New Holland Ford Tractor stolen from Bubba Martin of Tallahatchie County, Miss.; a John Deer 8410 tractor, stolen from David Lusk of Sunflower County, Miss.; a Great Plains grain drill, stolen from Bubba Martin; a Sunflower disk, stolen from Stringer Equipment Co. in Tallahatchie County, Miss.;a flat trailer with a 1,000 fuel tank, stolen from Omega Plantation in Coahoma County, Miss.; and assorted tools, also stolen from the Omega Plantation.
Lester was arrested and charged with theft by receiving.
A 19-year-old Forrest City teenager wanted for aggravated robbery has been returned to Forrest City after being captured in Peoria, Ill., last week.
According to a report from the Forrest City Police Department, Brandon Howard, 1033 N. Rosser St., was booked at the FCPD on Friday for the robbery charge and charges of failure to comply and failure to appear.
No information was available from the FCPD as to which robbery Howard is a suspect in, nor how he was captured in Illinois.
The Forrest City School Board is scheduled to meet at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, June 3, in the administration building.
Board members will hear a report from the district's fiscal agent regarding a school election.
The board will also be updated on the new junior high school project.
Personnel policy and student handbook revisions will also be presented to the board.
The Forrest City City Council will hear second reading of an ordinance regarding a regional airport during the group's regular meeting Tuesday at city hall. The meeting begins at 7 p.m.
The council is also expected to hear the presentation of "Quality of Life" projects in the city.