By KENDALL OWENS
T-H Staff Writer
Along with hot dogs and fireworks for the Fourth of July will be the annual increased patrols along the interstate and highway systems in Eastern Arkansas by officers with Arkansas State Police Troop D.
Travelers can expect to see increased police presence beginning Friday, with the holiday period beginning Friday at 12:01 a.m., according to Capt. Nathaniel Jackson, commander of ASP Troop D.
"Our holiday period will begin on Friday, and it will run through Monday night at midnight. We'll be out looking for the folks that make the decision to drink and drive, and we'll have several sobriety checkpoints set up throughout the holiday period," Jackson said.
According to Jackson, an expected increase in travel on Friday will see a saturation of area interstate highways in an attempt to make sure everyone travels safely.
"On Friday, we're expecting to see the bulk of our holiday traffic with everyone out on their way to see friends and family. Our plans are to have everyone working on Interstate 40 and Interstate 55 so that we can try to make sure everyone arrives at their destinations okay," Jackson said.
Jackson also said that the saturation effort will shift to the highway systems on Sunday and Monday.
"We'll have checkpoints going up Saturday at some point, and then on Sunday and Monday we'll be out in force on the highway systems making sure that people aren't celebrating too much," he said.
As state police crack down on the highway systems, Forrest City Police Officers will also be out in force during the holiday weekend. According to Chief Clarence McNeary, plans are to have several checkpoints across the city, not only to check for sobriety, but also to check for seat belt usage.
"We'll have our sobriety and seat belt checkpoints up across the city all weekend with an emphasis on making sure that the children are buckled in," McNeary said.
With the Maroon and Gold Reunion coinciding with the holiday weekend, McNeary said the city's auxiliary officers will also be put to use.
"We've never had any problems that stem from the Maroon and Gold, and we don't expect to see any this year either. With all of the extra people in town, we are going to utilize our auxiliary officers, but there are no plans to have officers working extra shifts or any extended shifts," McNeary said.
According to St. Francis County Sheriff's Department Chief Deputy H.N. Green, the county will continue with its normal patrols.
Those headed out for the holiday may want to take a little extra time with at least one construction area in St. Francis County. According to a press release from the Arkansas Highway and Transportation Department, one mile of I-40 east of Forrest City at the 253 through 254 mile markers will see traffic down to one lane in both directions.
Also on I-40 four miles of lane closures, in both directions, will affect drivers in Franklin County east of Ozark from mile markers 44 through 48 and in Johnson County east of Clarksville, westbound drivers will see one lane traffic for eight miles from mile marker 64 to 72.
Other lane closures along the state's interstate system include one mile along I-540 in Crawford County north of Alma in both directions and one mile in both directions in Hot Spring County near Malvern.
By DAVID NICHOL
T-H Staff Writer
Spraying for mosquitoes began Tuesday in Forrest City, according to J.C. Rice, pest control officer.
"We're going to spray three nights a week for a short while," said Rice, adding that the number of nights in which spraying takes place may be increased.
Other mosquito control efforts have been underway longer, he said.
"We've got these Altosid briquettes that we put in standing water, and it's really safe to the environment and works really well to keep mosquitoes from hatching," Rice said. "That's a major part of our program. We use it from early in the year, when it starts warming up all the way through the summer until it starts cooling down again. We try to keep that water treated because it does the best job of anything we have."
Rice admitted that with the recent rainy weather, standing water has been difficult to avoid. However, he said there are some things residents can do to help.
"If they've got any old tires or buckets, or anything of that sort, they need to get rid of it," he said.
He also said that pet drinking bowls and birdbaths need to have the water changed regularly.
"And of course, if they've got standing water somewhere
that they think we're missing, I'll certainly be glad to come
treat it," he said.
Forrest City is planning to join over 10,000 communities in the United States, Canada and U.S. military bases around the world in an effort to prevent crime and drug use.
The 21st annual National Night Out, which is sponsored by the National Association of Town Watch and co-sponsored by the Forrest City Police Department, is expecting over 34 million people to participate in the event, which will be held on Tuesday, Aug. 3.
According to a press release from the FCPD, the National Night Out is designed to heighten crime and drug prevention awareness, generate support for and participation in local anti-crime efforts, strengthen neighborhood spirit and police/community partnerships, and send a message to criminals letting them know neighborhoods are organized and fighting back.
The FCPD is encouraging residents to lock their doors, turn on their outside lights and spend from 7 to 10 p.m. outside with their neighbors, friends and police. Officers will be out in full force on that evening visiting area residents. The mobile command unit will also be traveling throughout the city distributing information about seat belt safety and crime prevention.
"The event will be as successful as the neighborhoods want it to be," FCPD Lt. Eddie Adamson said. "We will be doing all we can to support them on this program, but it will take the work of the neighborhoods to really make this a success and send a message that we are going to take a stand against crime in each neighborhood in Forrest City."
The police are also encouraging neighborhoods to organize block parties and other events in recognition of National Night Out. Those who would like more information about the program or those who would like to organize an event should contact Adamson at 870-633-3434.
St. Francis County jurors who have been seated for the current term of circuit court are formally excused.
SFC Circuit Court Clerk Bette Green said the jurors had been excused since May 21, but were scheduled to call for information on Monday, July 5, for a trial that was scheduled to begin on Tuesday. However, that case has been settled, according to Green.
Jurors needing more information may call the juror call-in
numbers at 633-2035 or 1-800-570-5885.