By DAVID NICHOL
T-H Staff Writer
The St. Francis County Health Office will begin the first of three phases of smallpox vaccinations this week.
"We will be starting phase one this week," said Bonnie Dodson, head of the office. "Phase one is vaccinating our vaccinators."
Dodson continued, "Phase two is for first responders." This can be police officers, fire fighters, emergency medical technicians, etc.
Phase three will be the general public.
"We don't know when phase two or phase three will begin," Dodson said.
It was recently announced that Baptist Memorial Hospital is one of 34 hospitals statewide which will participate in the vaccination program.
At the same time, concerns over the safety of the vaccine, as well as some other questions, have caused other hospitals to delay implementation or decline to participate in the voluntary vaccination program. Cross Ridge Hospital in Wynne is one of 16 hospitals statewide which has declined to participate.
According to the state Health Department, a total of 1,338 hospital employees and 319 ADH employees have volunteered to receive the vaccine. If an actual smallpox outbreak occurs, response teams vaccinated in phase one would respond by providing vaccine, investigating potential cases or providing care to those infected.
By DAVID NICHOL
T-H Staff Writer
Several drug arrests were made Friday and over the weekend by the Forrest City Police Department.
The first incident began with a routine traffic stop at the corner of Dawson Road and Irving Street. One of the occupants of the car, Eric D. Hilliard, was being checked when a bag of marijuana allegedly fell from his pants leg and he was taken into custody. A further search turned up 19 small bags of marijuana and some crack cocaine.
Hilliard, 23, of 906 Rice, Apt. 209, Forrest City, was charged with possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver near certain facilities for both the marijuana and crack. The "certain facilities" designation can cause a stiffer penalty. In this case, the arrest took place within 1,000 feet of a school. Hilliard was also charged with one count of violation of the Arkansas hot check law.
At about 5:10 p.m. Friday, officers were called to a disturbance at the Chapel Hill Apartments at 1085 Holiday Drive. While there, the officers were told that there was drug activity going on in an apartment. Arrested at that apartment was Nicos H. Wilson, 18, of Apt. 417, Forrest City. He was charged with possession of a controlled substance (marijuana) with intent to deliver near certain facilities. The "certain facilities" in this case is the campus of East Arkansas Community College.
On Sunday, police responded to another disturbance call, this one on Oakland Street. When they arrived, two subjects fled the scene. One suspect, Sean C. Walker, 27, of 605 S. Washington, Forrest City, was caught, and was allegedly in possession of marijuana. This also fit the requirements for "certain facilities" by being within 1,000 feet of Lake Street Park and a church. Walker was charged with possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver near certain facilities, and fleeing.
During the incident, three others were arrested. They are Fred Henderson, 25, of 809 Oakland, Carla Walker, 25, of Mann Street Apt.109 and Jennifer Griggs, 24, of 960 Rice, Apt. 208. All three were charged with obstructing governmental operations. Walker was additionally charged with disorderly conduct and refusal to submit to arrest.
By TAMARA JOHNSON
Managing Editor
A Colt man was arrested Friday on a second charge of rape involving a child.
John D. Easley, 72, turned himself in at the St. Francis County Jail last week after learning of an Arkansas State Police warrant for his arrest for rape.
The current charge stems from an allegation made by the family of a five-year-old girl.
Easley was released Friday on a $50,000 bond, but was scheduled to appear in St. Francis County District Court this afternoon.
On Jan. 31, Easley was arrested for rape following a complaint by the mother of a six-year-old boy who told police the child had allegedly been raped by Easley two days before. Previous reports reveal that Easley was friends with the victim and his family and had reportedly kept the boy "off and on." Police believe the boy was raped on two separate occasions.
He was released from jail on a $35,000 bond after his arrest for the first charge of rape.
The investigation is continuing.
A child who ran in front of a car on Powell Street Saturday evening was not seriously injured.
According to a report on file at the Forrest City Police Department, Ozell Starks, 7, of 302 N. Powell St., ran in front of a northbound car on Powell about 5 p.m. Saturday. Police reported Starks ran out from behind a parked snow cone van and into the path of a 1992 Nissan driven by Tiffany Cunningham, 23, 1010 Smith St., Forrest City.
Smith told police she stopped just as she struck the child in the back with the front of her car. The child was treated and released at Baptist Memorial Hospital-Forrest City.
A new business will offer Forrest Citians a variety of fresh seafood and produce choices within the city limits.
Ocean Harvest, the brainchild of Don Atter and Butch Fryer, will be located at 405 Cleveland Ave., and according to Atter, will offer fresh products.
"The unique thing about Ocean Harvest is that, unlike most other places, we will have a truck in Florida to meet a boat twice a month to ensure fresh seafood," explained Atter. "We will offer seafood that you can pick up and prepare yourself, and also offer prepared dishes of all fish we offer except lobster and crab. We won't have dine-in, but we will have carry-out.
"We will carry rice and bean mixes, french fries and hushpuppies, as well as fresh produce like oranges, lemons, limes and grapefruits," said Atter.
Atter said Ocean Harvest will offer shrimp, oysters, scallops, lobsters and crabs along with a variety of salt water fish. Atter added that the business will have a grand opening this month.
Members of the Omega Chapter of Delta Beta Sigma will work at the local Bonanza Restaurant tonight for "tips" to benefit a national charity.
The event will be held from 5 to 9 p.m., with all money raised going to benefit the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation.
The Bonanza event is one of many the local sorority is sponsoring this week in honor of National Charity Week.
A Forrest City man was sentenced to five years in state prison Friday on drug charges following his arrest last summer during a traffic stop.
James E. Tracy, 26, 2250 Fletcher Rd., plead guilty last week in St. Francis County Circuit Court to driving while intoxicated-drugs, possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia. Tracy was arrested during a traffic stop last June.
His prison term is to be followed by a five-year suspended imposition of sentence on the charges.