A pair of accidents in St. Francis County Tuesday brought eastbound traffic on Interstate 40 and Highway 70 to a standstill and kept emergency personnel busy for several hours.
Traffic on I-40 near the Earle exit was halted when a westbound 18-wheeler veered off the roadway just east of the exit and traveled across the median into the eastbound lane of traffic where the tractor plunged into Shell Lake. Portions of the broken trailer and its contents remained on the bridge, blocking traffic.
Trooper Rodney Myers with Arkansas State Police Troop D headquarters in Forrest City said the driver, David Johnson, 58, of Ellorsee, S.C., was driving the Western Express Inc., truck when the wreck occurred just before 2 p.m.
Myers said Johnson crossed the median and traveled about 320 feet to the bridge where his vehicle struck the north and south sides of the eastbound bridge before the tractor plunged over the south side of the bridge, struck a tree while airborne and landed facing north with the driver's side at the edge of the water. Johnson received only minor injuries in the accident and was treated and released at Crittenden Memorial Hospital in West Memphis, Myers said. No charges have been filed.
After troopers closed the eastbound lanes of I-40 for crews to clean up the load of mulch that was inside Johnson's trailer, which had broken apart from the tractor, drivers began using Highway 70, which became blocked shortly thereafter due to an accident involving two 18-wheelers and a car, according to state police.
Officials with Troop D said the three-vehicle wreck happened when a 1992 Buick driven by Alfred Hutchison, 32, of Madison, and a 2001 Freightliner driven by Kenneth Boker, 37, of Wiley, Texas, were struck from behind by a Freightliner truck driven by Eduardo Magallon, 26, of San Antonio, Texas.
ASP officials said Hutchison and Boker were stopped in traffic when Magallon rear ended Boker who then hit Hutchison. Magallon and a passenger in his truck, Manuel Vasquez, 23, of Eagle Pass, Texas, along with two passengers in the Hutchison vehicle, Jeanette Hutchison of Madison and Leonard Burgess of Heth, were transported to Baptist Memorial Hospital-Forrest City where they were treated and released.
The two accidents caused several traffic jams. The interstate was reopened about 6 p.m.
A fuel spill in the accident on Hwy. 70 stopped traffic in both directions until 6 p.m. as members of the Forrest City Fire Department Hazardous Materials Team worked to clean the area. Traffic started to flow shortly after the Haz-Mat team left the scene at 6 p.m., but the accident was not cleared until close to 8 p.m. According to an official with Troop D, Magallon will be cited for careless driving.
A man being held in Wynne on drug charges has also been charged with two burglaries in Forrest City.
According to the Forrest City Police Department, William Earl Davis, 22, of Wynne, has been charged with burglaries at Forrest City Muffler and Gray's Service Center.
Davis was arrested in Wynne last week after Cross County deputies went to his residence for a probation search and found a small amount of marijuana. Interviews with Davis revealed that he was allegedly involved with several other crimes. Police from Forrest City then interviewed Davis.
Davis is accused of the burglary of Forrest City Muffler Shop at 603 N. Washington . He allegedly stole a pickup truck in Wynne, which he used to knock down the south wall of the muffler shop to gain entry. A small amount of cash was taken from the desk drawer.
Davis then allegedly went to Gray's Service Center, broke out a front door glass, and stole a cash register. He then continued north, abandoned the truck and allegedly stole another vehicle at Caldwell.
He is also suspected in a recent break-in at the Whistle Stop Cafe in Fair Oaks and Jack Ryan's Grocery in Cross County. Cross County authorities also say Davis has used a stolen vehicle to commit crimes.
At present, Davis is charged with theft by receiving over $500, theft of property over $2,500, theft of property over $500 and two counts of commercial burglary.
By ALAN SMITH
T-H Staff Writer
The Palestine City Council meet for the first time since mid-January on Tuesday night, and two major issues were addressed by councilmen.
The most pressing issue was a cross-connection ordinance that deals with control of the city's water supply. City attorney Jerry Roberts gave the first reading of the ordinance. In part, the purpose of the ordinance is to help isolate pollution, prevent back flow and bring the system up to state regulations.
"My understanding is that the (Arkansas) health department has to have this ordinance passed by Thursday. I suggest that you declare that this is an emergency and that you suspend the rules to have the final two readings tonight."
The council voted to suspend the rules so that the new ordinance could take effect before the deadline, and it was adopted unanimously.
Another issue facing the members was the two vacancies on the council. Alderman Rick Plunkett, Ward 3 Position 2 on the council, recently moved out of state, leaving his position and the Ward 2 Position 2 positions open. The Ward 2 Position 2 slot was opened in January when the council accepted the resignation of Carolyn Burdett.
Gary Park appeared before the council asking to be appointed to the Ward 3 position vacated by Plunkett and was sworn in. Two residents were scheduled on the agenda to ask for the Ward 2 position vacated by Burdett, but neither attended the meeting.
In other news, the council voted unanimously to pay $20 per
firefighter for their worker compensation and to declare the month
of May as Flood Awareness Month.
By ALAN SMITH
T-H Staff Writer
Motorcycle enthusiasts are slated to ride between Wynne and Forrest City for a good cause on Saturday, April 17.
The second annual Ride the Ridge Poker Run will benefit the Northeast Arkansas Special Olympics and help provide funding for training and travel in the area, state and internationally. Anita Vandiver, Northeast Arkansas Special Olympics Field Representative, spoke about how the ride came about and the various events that will take place for bikers and non-bikers alike.
"We had heard of other charitable causes holding poker runs and thought that it was something that we could do," said Vandiver. "In recent years, the number of motorcycle enthusiasts has really grown in the area and we thought it would be a good time to start our own run." Vandiver added that the event, which will run from the Wynne High School football field to the Central Arkansas Turbine at the Bonair Airport on Highway 1 South, was the first in the state that benefited the Special Olympics.
Vandiver then talked about what a poker run is. "There will be five stops," stated Vandiver, "and at each stop the bikers will receive a card for their poker hand. When the bikers make it into the airport, they can purchase additional cards to try and improve their hand. The winner will receive $100, second place receives $50 and third place get $25. And participates are not limited to one hand. They can purchase additional hands when they register for $10 apiece. The more hands that they hold, the better their odds are of winning."
The first bike will leave on the approximately 90 mile ride at 10 a.m. and the last bike out will leave at 12 p.m. With a cutoff time for bikes to arrive at the airport of 3 p.m., that leaves a lot of down time, especially for those who are among the first bikers out. Vandiver says that many activities are planned to for the participants and general public during this time.
"We will have several things going on. We will hold a 50/50 drawing, an auction, we'll have live music from the Dixie Whiskey Boys band and our BBQ and crawfish boil. Field events will also be held. Those will include horseshoes and other contests such as riding your motorcycle for the longest distance at the slowest speed. Some of these contests will also prizes.
"Another important thing is that everyone is invited, even if they don't have a motorcycle," continued Vandiver. "We invite you to come out, eat and enjoy the live entertainment. We raised $3,200 at last year's event and we have a goal this year of $5,000. Our early indication is that we will have at least 200 bikes participating this year, but we also would like to get a good crowd for the field events."
The entry fee for motorcyclists is $20, which includes their
first hand of poker, an event T-shirt, food and entertainment.
For those without a motorcycle, or for those who don't want to
make the run, tickets are $10, which includes food and entertainment.
In case of rain on the 17th, the rescheduling date for the poker
run will be Saturday, May 1. For more information about the poker
run or Special Olympics, contact Anita Vandiver at 870-261-8608,
e-mail her at soanita3@hotmail.com, or contact Brenda Warf at
870-633-1454, 870-633-9152, or e-mail her at bwarf@asp.state.ar.us.
The Forrest City Lions Club will hold Spaghetti Day II on Thursday, April 15, from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the First United Methodist Activity Center.
The proceeds from the event will benefit the Club's efforts to assist the sight and hearing impaired. Tickets for the dinner are $5 and may be purchased from any Lions Club Member. Children under five eat for free. Dine in and carryout are available. Deliveries can also be arranged by contacting a club member.
Club members will also have brooms and mops on sale at the dinner and will be accepting donations of used eye glasses.
Two teenagers were arrested on drug charges after allegedly being caught with marijuana inside the gym on the Forrest City Junior High School campus recently.
The Forrest City Police Department reported that after two coaches reportedly smelled marijuana on April 8, they kept all the students in the gym until they could determine where the smell was coming from. When confronted, the two 14-year-olds admitted to having the drugs and gave it to Principal Billy Ferguson, according to the police report.
The two were arrested Tuesday on charges of possession of marijuana, and were released to their mothers. They are scheduled to meet with juvenile intake officers Monday.
Ferguson told police both students will be recommended for expulsion.
A Forrest City man wounded in fighting in Iraq last week is recovering in a Washington D.C. hospital, according to members of his family.
Sgt. Clifton Leisure of Forrest City, a member of the 151st Calvary, Troop E, based in Marianna, is currently in stable condition after suffering multiple injuries in fighting Wednesday, according to family members. According to Leisure's sister, he had been on the ground in Iraq less than 24 hours when the attack occurred.
Army Sgt. Williams Labadie was killed in the attack after being shot in the chest during fighting Wednesday, just two weeks after being deployed. Labadie was assigned to the 1st Cavalry, 39th Brigade, Troop E 151 Cavalry at Camp Taji in Kuwait.
An account has been established at First National Bank of Eastern Arkansas to help pay for travel expenses incurred by Leisure's family as they prepare to travel to Washington. The fund will also assist the family with other expenses incurred.