Three Arkansas State Policemen from Troop D in Forrest City were recent recipients of the 2002 Blue Knight Award from Mothers Against Drunk Driving.
The awards were presented recently at the Governor's Conference Room at the Arkansas State Capitol in Little Rock.
Troopers First Class Mike Kennedy, David West and Sammy D. Koons were among those honored.
"Blue Knight Awards are recognitions for the top state troopers in terms of the number of drunk driving arrests over the course of a year," said Teresa Belew, executive director of the Arkansas MADD chapter.
"We believe, and know, that drunk driving is this nation's most frequently committed violent crime," she continued. "More than 32 percent of Arkansas' traffic fatalities are alcohol related. Therefore we believe that drunk driving prevention is a very important part of homeland security."
Belew also said that the troopers deserve to be honored. "Our position is, that these men and women are the heroes who protect us from a daily terror, and that is the terror of a drunk driver. We're losing Arkansas citizens every week and more are injured. And these folks (troopers) are on the front line."
Gov. Mike Huckabee attended the awards presentation, which is an annual event.
"It's so important," said Belew. "Just the very fact that your area has three of the top officers shows that you have an area where there is a lot of drunk driving," she said. "And anything that can be done is helpful. You have officers who are being very diligent, and we want to remind everybody to be very wise about combining drinking and driving."
The Times-Herald news staff won several awards this past weekend in the Associated Press Managing Editors Association journalism contest, for work done in 2002. The paper competed in the Smaller Papers category.
Sports Editor Fred Conley won a first place in the Feature Sports division, with a photo entitled "Mouth to Glove." Conley also took a third place in the Sports Story division for an article, "New Life for FC Legion."
The staff won a second place in the News Coverage Division for "Spill Forces Evacuation." The staff won another second place in the Service to Freedom of Information division, for "Council uses Executive Session to Cut Budget." David Nichol won a third place in the Education Reporting Division for "Education Ideas Collected."
Two traffic stops resulted in the arrests of four people on Friday and Saturday, according to reports from the Arkansas State Police.
At about 3:34 p.m. Friday, a 1990 Cadillac was stopped in Interstate 40 for speeding. The driver had a suspended license, and was also wanted in Texas. There was an odor of marijuana in the car, and a pound of marijuana was found under the driver's seat.
The driver, David Adam Moon, 26, of Canton, Texas, was charged with speeding, driving on a suspended driver's license, possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver, probation revocation in Texas and a Texas warrant for theft over $500. Also arrested was a passenger, Jose Gonzalo Rios, 20, of Hawkins, Texas, and charged with possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver.
On Saturday at about 11:30 a.m., a 1994 Mercury Cougar was spotted with a severely cracked windshield. The car also pulled over in front of a tractor trailer, causing the driver to hit the brakes.
When the car was pulled over, according to the report, the driver said he didn't have a license and had never had one. He also, reportedly told the trooper that he didn't know who the car belonged to, but it was his now. He had no identification on him. Marijuana and paraphernalia were found in the car.
Arrested was Michael Joseph Shows, 29, of Splendora, Texas. He was charged with possession of marijuana with intent to deliver, possession of a controlled substance (methamphetamine) with intent to deliver, DUI, refusing test, no driver's license, possession of drug paraphernalia, criminal impersonation, no insurance and improper use of tags.
Also arrested was a passenger, Thaddeus Winslow Shawd, 40, of San Antonio, Texas. He was charged with possession of Marijuana with intent to deliver, possession of methamphetamine with intent to deliver and possession of drug paraphernalia.