By TAMARA JOHNSON
Managing Editor
An estimated $30 million in cocaine was found hidden among toys inside a tractor-trailer truck that was stopped for speeding just before 8 a.m. Sunday morning on Interstate 40 near Forrest City.
The bust is one of the largest in the state's history, according to a spokesman with Arkansas State Police Troop D Headquarters in Forrest City.
According to police, the cocaine was placed inside 12 boxes, each containing about 25 kilos. The total weight of the drugs is estimated at 300 kilos, or 660 pounds. The search was conducted after the truck's driver was cited for driving on a suspended driver's license. The trooper reported the driver and a passenger appeared nervous during the traffic stop, which lead him to ask for permission to search the truck.
The truck's trailer was loaded with boxes of toys which were headed to a Wal-Mart store in North Carolina, according to state police. The boxes of cocaine were placed among the toy boxes.
The passenger, Hector Aquilar-Corona, 37, of Tucson, Ariz., and the driver, Francisco Galvan, 36, of Lynwood, Calif., are charged as a result of the stop. Aquilar-Corona is charged with permitting an unauthorized driver to drive and possession with intent. Galvan is charged with driving on a suspended driver's license and possession with intent. The two were scheduled to be arraigned in St. Francis County District Court this afternoon.
"This is one of the largest loads to be taken off an Arkansas highway," according to the ASP spokesman. The drugs have been released to the Little Rock office of the Drug Enforcement Agency.
By DAVID NICHOL
T-H Staff Writer
While the Arkansas Legislature has come under criticism from some quarters for a perceived lack of action during the recently-ended special session on education, a local lawmaker said more was accomplished than many believe.
"I think we accomplished a lot, regardless of what some of the large city editorial writers say," said state Rep. Danny Ferguson. "And I think if you talk to people who were close to the process, I think we did accomplish a lot."
The state was under a mandate from the Arkansas Supreme Court to reform the way schools are funded. In November of 2000, the court ruled that the funding for Arkansas public schools was inadequate and inequitable.
Ferguson said it was only natural that people from different parts of the state would see the solution from different perspectives.
"The first thing that's important for people to realize is that the House of Representatives is made up of people from every geographical part of the state, both rural and urban," he said. "And your large city newspapers are out of urban areas, and their writers reflect an urban viewpoint. But there is a lot of concern over balanced restructuring and the consolidation issue on the part of rural representatives.
He said there were some definite steps taken by the legislature.
"We passed a new funding formula that will increase school funding in poverty areas," he said. "We raised starting teacher pay from $21,860 to $27,500, plus raises for existing teachers. We administratively consolidated school districts with fewer than 350 students."
He said a new accountability bill was passed, that establishes new testing to track students' year-to-year progress.
"And this is one thing we did, which no other state has done as I understand it. We approved a bill that says public education is a priority funding, and requires funding to be taken out of other (non education accounts) if revenues fall short," he said.
The Legislature also approved $10 million to study of the physical plants of each of the public school buildings in the state.
The Legislature also passed a 7/8 percent sales tax increase, and they also applies the state sales tax to several services now tax-exempt. They include pet grooming, pest control, dry-cleaning and laundry services, boat storage and docking fees, self-storage and mini-warehouse facilities, body piercing and tattooing, wrecker and towing services and locksmith services. Corporate franchise taxes have also been increased.
Both houses also approved HB 1162, b Rep. Bill Stovall of Quitman. This bill, which requires voter approval in the November general election, would increase the statewide minimum property tax rate from 25 mills to 28 mills.
In addition, money was approved for pre-kindergarten programs, and incentives were passed for new teachers in poverty areas.
Ferguson said he believed the Legislature has done things which will show a good-faith effort to meet the court's mandate.
Two masters have been appointed by the Supreme Court to review what the lawmakers have done. Their report is due to the court on April 3.
Ferguson said he believes the court mandates will be satisfied.
"I think so, but I'm not an attorney," he said. "Attorney General Mike Beebe said we have a pretty strong case to take to court when yo look at what we passed."
According to one wire story, representatives of the Arkansas Rural Educators Association will be deciding soon on whether to file a class action federal lawsuit to overturn Act 60, the act which will consolidate the administrations of districts with fewer than 350 students.
A father and his son face charges today after a pool hall brawl Saturday night at the Moose Lodge in Forrest City that sent one man to the hospital.
The Forrest City Police Department reported the fight began over a pool game about 11:15 p.m. Thomas Stovall, 37, of Russellville, told police he was playing pool with Charles Lytle Jr., 19, 115 SFC 324, when Lytle suggested they bet money on the game. Stovall told police when he refused to bet on the game, Lytle became upset and words were exchanged before he walked outside. He returned a short time later with his father, Charles Lytle Sr., 41, 115 SFC 324, Forrest City, and a female subject. The two men allegedly began throwing pool balls at the patrons and hitting Stovall in the head with a pool stick.
Stovall suffered cuts and bruises to his face, arms and hands while attempting to block the blows from the pool sticks being swung at him, according to the police report. Stovall was treated and released at Baptist Memorial Hospital-Forrest City.
The older Lytle is charged with aggravated assault while the younger Lytle is charged with third-degree battery. Both were scheduled to appear in St. Francis County District Court this afternoon.
A Tennessee truck driver was treated at a West Memphis hospital after being robbed at gunpoint Sunday night at the Truckstops of America at Shell Lake.
Richter E. Shinkle, 49, of Hermitage, Tenn., told deputies with the St. Francis County Sheriff's Department that he was exiting his truck about 8:15 p.m. when a black male, about six feet tall, approached him from behind and stuck a pistol in his back.
Shinkle said when he turned around, the suspect pointed the gun in his face and demanded his wallet.
After giving up his wallet, which contained about $240, Shinkle told police the suspect told him to turn around at which time he struck him in the back. Shinkle, who had recently undergone back surgery, was transported by ambulance to Crittenden Memorial Hospital where he was treated and released.
The owner of a rural nightclub is once again charged with carrying a weapon after police responded to reports of a fight there early Sunday morning.
Stanley Hurst, 60, 224 N. Gorman, was charged with carrying a weapon after deputies responded to calls of a large fight at Stan's Pad on County Road 224 about 2 a.m. yesterday.
This is the second time Hurst, who is an auxiliary police officer with the Forrest City Police Department, has been charged with carrying a weapon inside the club. The first charge was levied in July 2002 when deputies responded to a stabbing at the club. That charge was dismissed in St. Francis County District Court a few days later.
Deputies responding to the fight early Sunday said they met at least 60 cars leaving the club as they were enroute to the disturbance call. During a search of the inside of the building, deputies reportedly found the loaded revolver behind the bar. Deputies also reportedly found evidence that indicated controlled substances had been used inside the building, but no drug charges were filed.
St. Francis County Chief Criminal Investigator Glenn Ramsey said Hurst has been warned on several occasions not to take guns into his business where alcohol is served because state law prohibits it.
Hurst was scheduled to appear in St. Francis County District Court this afternoon.
Rumors surrounding a supposed closing of the Boar's Head Provisions plant in Forrest City are unfounded, the executive director of the Forrest City Area Chamber of Commerce said this morning.
Danny Ferguson said he had been asked by both the company president and the plant manager to speak for the company.
"There is absolutely no truth to that rumor," said Ferguson. "Boar's Head is moving the ham production line out of Forrest City over the next few months, but that is a planned move to increase the poultry production.
"There are absolutely no plans to close down. They've been doing very well," Ferguson said.
Led by a remodeling project at East Arkansas Community College, projects valued at $351,900 received Forrest City building permits during January.
EACC's $95,000 remodeling project was the largest single project, followed by $50,000 for new construction for Times-Herald Printing on Garland Street.
Other projects included $40,000 room addition for the St. Francis County Farmer's Association on West Broadway, $16,000 for Ray Houser Termite and Pest Control on East Broadway, a $10,000 remodeling project at First United Methodist Church, also on E. Broadway and a storage room valued at $1,000 for Debbie's Flowers on E. Broadway.
In addition, there were several private projects, including one fence, one remodeling project, a siding project, one storm damage repair project, one new house, one shed, a storage room and a new roof.
Forrest City has been awarded a $90,000 matching grant which should wrap up the project to renovate Southside pool.
The grant was also announced in a press release. The release stated that the grant was part of $890,000 in similar, 50/50 matching grants awarded by Gov. Mike Huckabee.
"I think this will complete the project," said Mayor Larry Bryant. "It should get us to completion. We also have another grant we can cross our fingers on, in regards to a walking trail. Every dollar counts."
The Southside Pool project includes making the pool handicapped-accessible and installing a slide, among other improvements.
The grants are administrated by the Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism's Outdoor Recreation Grants Program. It is financed by a portion of the state's real estate transfer tax.