By DAVID NICHOL
T-H Staff Writer
The Forrest City City Council on Tuesday agreed to hold off action on an ordinance which would legally establish a Regional Airport Authority.
The authority has been established by resolution, but the ordinance would give the group actual legal status to go about the job of studying, and possibly even establishing, a regional airport between Forrest City and Wynne.
Similar ordinances are to be passed by the City of Wynne, as well as St. Francis County and Cross County governments, once there is unanimous agreement on the wording.
Alderman Roger Breeding, who has attended several meetings of the Regional Airport Authority, requested that the ordinance be tabled until after the authority's next meeting, which will take place Thursday. He said the authority might request some changes in the wording of the ordinances the four governing bodies are being asked to pass.
Breeding also said he was confused by the Forrest City Airport Commission's action Monday to use some of its own money to pay for a feasibility study for the regional airport. He said the feasibility study is something that should not cost the city anything.
"It will be paid for by the Regional Airport Authority, once they receive the authority to write and get grants," said Breeding. "And they will receive that right as we pass an ordinance making them a legal body...Why the city of Forrest City or the Forrest City Airport would want to pay for it, I don't know."
Mayor Larry Bryant responded, "That would be in the absence of the Federal Aviation Administration giving them money. In the letter they (the Forrest City Airport Commission) had (from the FAA) it was implied that they should use some of their money for (the feasibility study)."
Bryant continued, "They say they want to make a move, we need to make a move. If we're not going to make a move then we just move right along. But it needs to be studied. A feasibility study might come out and say we don't need (a regional airport). It might say it doesn't need to be where it's going to be. It might say a whole lot of things. That's the reason you have a feasibility study. But it don't matter with me one way or the other...I'm out of that."
On another matter, the council read for the third time, and adopted without discussion, an ordinance to empower the mayor to appoint and authorize inspectors and code enforcement officers to issue citations to alleged violators. In previous discussions, it had been pointed out that the enforcement officers will issue citations only in their particular fields.
The council also suspended the rules and read an ordinance three times, to waive bid requirements for a new mower for the city's Parks and Recreation Department. The existing mower is out of service. The ordinance was adopted.
In other action, the council heard first reading on an ordinance to rezone 727 E. Garland to C-2 commercial. The council also gave the mayor authority to advertise for professional services for design and engineering for South Side Pool.
A West Helena man was arrested Tuesday on sexual assault charges stemming from an incident last week in which he allegedly attempted to rape a Colt woman inside her home.
Michael Williams, 26, West Helena, is charged with second-degree sexual assault in connection with the attack Friday morning.
According to an affidavit on file at the St. Francis County Courthouse, the woman had just returned home from working all night at a Forrest City manufacturing plant when she found the suspect hiding inside her utility room. The suspect allegedly attacked her and attempted to rape her, but she was able to talk him into stopping when she claimed to have condoms in her bedroom, then in her truck. When she went to retrieve the condoms from her truck, she reportedly called her husband on a cell phone and he alerted police to the attack.
After seeing the victim on the telephone, the suspect reportedly grabbed his clothes and ran naked from the house to his vehicle and fled.
Williams is being held on a $50,000 bond, and is scheduled to be arraigned in St. Francis County District Court this afternoon.
By DAVID NICHOL
T-H Staff Writer
A local attorney was recently named Outstanding Trial lawyer of the Year by the Arkansas Trial Lawyer's Association.
Mike Easley, partner in the firm of Easley, Hicky and Hudson, received the award at the ATLA awards luncheon held in Eureka Springs on May 2.
In presenting the award, Bob Estes, president of ATLA, said, "This recipient never stops surpassing his own excellence. He is noted as one who possesses the highest integrity, honesty and fairness."
Easley said he was surprised by the honor.
"From the very first convention of trial lawyers that Knox Kinney took me to when I started practicing law, I've envied the work that trial lawyers do for people," Easley said. "If it weren't for lawyers representing ordinary people there would be no justice for the rank and file citizens of this country. In other countries, where we don't have a contingency fee, issues of law are only able to be determined by the wealthy or the large companies. In our country, everybody can stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the powerful and the wealthy because of what trial lawyers do."
Easley acknowledged that being a trial lawyer is not always the most popular thing to be, but "it's one of the foundational tenets of our democracy. I've always thought it's been a huge honor to be asked to be the spokesman for someone who is injured or whose relative has been killed. And for that reason, I take my job very seriously. And I think the majority of trial lawyers to."
Easley said he loves what he does, starting the morning between 5 and 6 a.m. and usually working a full 12 hours.
"And it's still fun for me. Practicing law is a fascinating experience. And you're constantly learning. You always have to learn about a product. You have to learn engineering principles. You have to know about people, and understand people, when you're selecting and impaneling juries. I don't think your mind ever gets old when you're challenged like that."
He said he loves working with other lawyers and particularly enjoys the competitiveness of a courtroom trial.
"Somebody's got to win and somebody's got to lose, and I really don't like to lose," he said. "I think one of the reasons I put on the best case I can possibly put on is that I fear losing so much. If I lose a case, I don't sleep for nights afterwards. And I'm always wondering what I did wrong."
He said he works with people who give him a lot of support. "We have a great team here...I'm just happy to get paid for something I enjoy doing so much."
Easley reiterated how honored he feels to be named Trial Lawyer of the Year.
"There are a lot of lawyers in Arkansas," he said. "A lot of awfully good ones. To be even considered even close to some of the people I've seen work, is a real thrill. Arkansas is blessed with some really effective, talented lawyers. Our state doesn't really take a back seat to anywhere else. We've got some wheel horses practicing. And I'm still kind of numb over it all."
Easley has been practicing law since 1974, after receiving his law degree from The University of Louisville. He currently works with lawyers Preston Hicky, Ann Hudson and Jennifer Hicky Collins.
Easley's practice focuses on civil trial work in automobile litigation, product liability, railroad, and medical malpractice. He is listed in The Best Lawyers in America and America's Outstanding Lawyers. He is a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers; a Diplomate of the American Board of Trial Advocates; a member of the Million Dollar Advocate's Forum; was designated in 1985 as a "Civil Trial Advocate by the National Board of Trial Advocacy; is a member and former president of the Arkansas Trial Lawyers Association; the Association of Trial Lawyers (president, Council of Presidents, 1990-91); the Arkansas Bar Association, and the Southern Trial Lawyers Association.
He has been married to Sarah Jordan Easley for 33 years. They have three children: Amon Elizabeth (25); Laura Easley Houseal (22) and Austin (17).
Easley is an elder of the Graham Memorial Presbyterian Church, where he has taught Sunday School for 23 years.
During his acceptance speech, Easley credited his staff, wife and family, law partners and parents.
"I have been taught that people are to be loved and trusted,"
he said. "I have been taught that Christ meant what he said
when he said we are here to serve one another."
Two people were arrested Tuesday night when police raided a house on Haven Street.
The Forrest City Police Department executed a search warrant at the residence of Eugene "Newt" Franklin, 51, and Ivory "Iris" Powell, 45. Inside the home, police seized .9 grams of suspected crack cocaine, 7.8 grams of marijuana, some items used to ingest the crack cocaine and other items connected with illegal drug sales and use, according to the police report.
Mary Powell and a child were inside the house, but were not charged in the drug raid. However, police discovered Mary Powell was wanted on a warrant for failure to appear on a speeding arrest in Poinsett County. She was told when to appear in court there and released.
The home is located within 1,000 feet of three churches and also within distance of a city park, which are defined as certain facilities in the Arkansas Criminal Code.
Franklin and Ivory Powell are charged with possession of a controlled substance, crack cocaine, with intent to deliver near certain facilities, possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of marijuana. Both were placed in the St. Francis County Jail, pending arraignment this afternoon.
Three meetings are scheduled for Thursday night in St. Francis County.
The Colt City Council will meet at 6 p.m. at city hall.
The Regional Airport Authority will meet at 6:30 p.m. in the Colt Community Center.
The Wheatley City Council is scheduled to meet at 8 p.m. at city hall.
All meetings are open to the public.