By KENDALL OWENS
T-H Staff Writer
The wife of a Marianna man killed earlier this month in a motorcycle accident in Forrest City died early this morning at the Elvis Presley Trauma Center in Memphis from injuries she sustained in the accident.
Danita D. Jones, 48, of Marianna, was seriously injured in a June 15 motorcycle accident on South Washington near the Rosser Street intersection.
Jones and her husband John Jones, 49, were southbound on Highway 1 on the couple's 1992 Harley Davidson motorcycle when a 1993 Oldsmobile, driven by Carolyn Williams, 39, 340 Turner Circle, Apt. 11, Forrest City, turned in front of them.
According to a report from Arkansas State Police Troop D in Forrest City, John Jones died just after the accident. Due to the extent of Danita Jones' injuries, she was taken by ambulance to Baptist Memorial Hospital-Forrest City and later airlifted to the Elvis Presley Trauma Center in Memphis.
Williams, who already faced charges of negligent homicide, DWI, failure to yield to a left turn and expired driver's license, could also face a second count of negligent homicide, according to St. Francis County Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Chris Morledge.
According to Morledge, the second charge of negligent homicide could come after it has been investigated further because the prosecutor's office had not yet been notified of Jones' death.
"My first inclination is that she will be charged with a second count of negligent homicide, but we'll need to investigate it further before making any decisions," Morledge said.
Williams is currently free on $25,000 bond. If convicted of
negligent homicide, she could be sentenced to three to 10 years
in prison on each count.
By DAVID NICHOL
T-H Staff Writer
The Arkansas State Police have a new weapon in their arsenal to use in the fight against drinking and driving.
Capt. Nathaniel Jackson, commander of ASP Troop D headquartered in Forrest City, said this morning that area troopers have been equipped with several "Sniffers." These are flashlights with built-in alcohol detectors.
The gadgets can detect the presence of alcohol within a car, coming from the breath of a person or from a beverage in the cup holder.
State police in Little Rock and the state chapter of Mothers Against Drunk Driving demonstrated the devices at a news conference this week to inform motorists of increased enforcement efforts beginning Friday and continuing through the Fourth of July weekend.
Jackson said the enforcement effort is called "You Drink and Drive, You Lose." He said it would cover more than just the Fourth of July weekend.
"We will be participating in the program," said Jackson. "It runs from (this Friday) June 27 to July 13."
He said the local ASP troop, which includes St. Francis, Crittenden, Phillips, Lee, Cross, Woodruff, Monroe and Prairie counties, will be using the Sniffers.
"We will be utilizing all the equipment we have in our inventory, including those passive alcohol sensors," he said.
The Sniffers can also detect lower amounts of alcohol, useful in determining whether someone under 21 is over their legal limit of 0.02.
The devices are not without controversy. Results from the devices are not admissible as evidence in court, which has led some civil liberties advocates to question whether their use is a violation of the Fourth Amendment, protecting against unlawful search and seizure.
Ohio's state police in 2001 chose not to use 10 devices donated by MADD, out of concern that DWI convictions could be threatened if they are based on information that would not be admissible in court.
Rita Sklar, head of the state chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union, said she was concerned the devices constitute a secret search.
State police have 118 of the devices, at $683 each, distributed
among the state's 12 troops. Troopers have been using them for
the past two or three months and have already made several arrests
based on investigations begun after the Sniffer detected alcohol,
state police Director Don Melton said Wednesday.
By DAVID NICHOL
T-H Staff Writer
A boost in state funding of about $13 per student will be a help, but more is needed, the Forrest City School superintendent said this week.
"It will impact us about $52,000," said Lee Vent.
It was reported Wednesday that the state Board of Education was returning $5.9 million to the schools in the state. That money had been shifted from equalization funding to other programs. Equalization funding makes up the bulk of the $1.7 billion Public School Fund, and is used by schools for daily operating expenses, according to the report.
Vent said while the $52,000 would be welcome, it wouldn't come close to making up previous cuts.
"We've lost $424,000 in cuts in state aid, so it helps a little bit to recover some of that," said Vent. "But we'll still have a net loss of about $375,000 in state aid."
Vent said that over the last two years, the school district had lost $235 per student.
"And we are recovering $13 per child," he said. "So you're talking major dollars here. It helps, but we need much more."
Another $1.8 million may be coming statewide.
The adjustment to the Public School Fund budget came with only a week left in the fiscal year.
The last-minute financial changes followed a lawsuit over how the $1.4 billion earmarked for equalization funding for schools was being spent.
Eleven public school districts filed a lawsuit in late May against the state Education Department to stop the agency from using almost $4 million in school funds to pay off debt associated with the long-running school desegregation case in Pulaski County.
The suit argued that the equalization funds appropriated each
year are to be used to bring all school districts to a uniform
level of funding, not for any other purpose.
By ALAN SMITH
T-H Staff Writer
Going back to school for most children is tough. Shaking off those long summer days and getting buckled down to go to class in the fall is difficult enough without added problems.
The Crowley's Ridge Development Council, Inc., is once again making an effort to eliminate some of the problems low income children and families face when the first day of school arrives.
The CRDC's Supply Our Schools program is working to supply the children of low income families with basic school supplies. Angela Wilburn of CRDC stated that this year may be different than last year's drive.
"Supply Our Schools is a yearly program that we run," said Wilburn. "The area we serve includes St. Francis, Cross and Poinsett counties. The program tries to provide the essential supplies, such as pencils, paper, crayons and scissors, to as many children in need as we can. Last year, we were able to supply the children with backpacks as well. Depending on how our donations go this year, and how many children we need supplies for, we may be able to do that again. But right now, we are just planning on providing the other supplies.
"Parents who are interested in getting their children in the program need to show proof of income, proof of all people living in the household and they need to fill out a short application form. You must meet the income requirements according to the CRDC Family Services Center Poverty Guidelines," Wilburn added.
According to Wilburn, donations are vital to the program. "We welcome donations both of the supplies themselves or of money. They are greatly appreciated, and we encourage local businesses and individuals to donate if they can. Donations can be dropped off at our office in located at 247 North Division in Forrest City. We are also working with on placing other drop-off areas around the city and county."
Wilburn said applications for the program are available from her office. For more information on the Supply Our School program, contact Wilburn or Rose Campbell at 870-630-0193.