By DAVID NICHOL
T-H Staff Writer
A stepping up of the Arkansas State Police presence over the long Fourth of July weekend was successful for the Troop D area in at least one way -- there were no fatalities.
Like ASP troops all over the state, Troop D -- which includes St. Francis, Crittenden, Phillips, Lee, Cross, Woodruff, Monroe and Prairie counties -- had sobriety checkpoints and also saturated the interstate and highway systems. The official holiday period began early Friday and continued until midnight Monday.
"There were no fatalities, fortunately," said Capt. Nathaniel Jackson, commander of Troop D.
Although there were no fatalities, troopers did investigate 10 accidents in the troop's area.
Also during the weekend, there were 418 speeding arrests, 19 DWI arrests and one DUI arrest.
In addition, there were 75 safety belt and 10 child restraint arrests.
There were 52 other hazardous arrests (lane changing, tailgating, etc.) and 106 non-hazardous arrests (tail light out, etc.)
The total number of officer-vehicle contacts in Troop D was 1,289, counting motorist assists and warnings.
By KENDALL OWENS
T-H Staff Writer
Heavy rains over the past month have considerably slowed the process of renovating and improving the Southside Swimming Pool.
Forrest City Mayor Larry Bryant said this morning, that construction at the facility has been moving as fast as possible with the inclement weather in June.
"They have the block wall up and they are supposed to begin some of the work on renovating the pool this week, but they have really been held up due to the rain. When you're working outside, the weather can force delays and that's what we're seeing," Bryant said.
Bryant also commented on the city's effort to add a large water slide to the pool. According to Bryant, the slide will be in addition to diving boards.
"We haven't really made any progress on the slide because we've got to get the roof on the building first. We're looking for as much information as we can find on this project, and we've rebid the slide to see if we can get more bids. We'll move forward from there," he said.
The project was rebid on June 17, after only one bid was received in the original bid process.
The renovation taking place at the pool at Southside Park is a part of an overall effort to improve the park. The Parks and Recreation Department recently completed extensive work improving the park's softball and baseball fields and future plans call for a walking trail to be built at the facility.
A Forrest City police officer's pinkie finger was broken during an altercation with a patient at a local treatment facility Sunday night.
Officer Lynn Hernandez was called to the Forrest Hills Residential Care Facility at 1803 Lindauer Road about 8:20 p.m., regarding a patient who had allegedly damaged a car belonging to Angela Towner, 32, of Forrest City.
Towner told police she was dropping her aunt off at the facility when a patient there bent the antenna on her 2004 Dodge Intrepid, causing about $50 damage.
While Hernandez was taking the report from Towner, the patient reportedly became unruly, and repeatedly struck Towner's car. The officer said because she is familiar with the patient, she attempted to restrain her, but she broke free and bent the small finger back on Hernandez's left hand, breaking it.
Hernandez was treated and released at Baptist Memorial Hospital-Forrest City.
By KENDALL OWENS
T-H Staff Writer
The future of Lincoln Middle School and a press conference by former LMS Principal Marshall James will highlight a called community meeting at 4:30 p.m. Wednesday, scheduled to be held at the Forrest City Civic Center.
According to Billy Satterwhite with the St. Francis County Chapter of the NAACP, the organization sponsoring the event, the purpose of the meeting is to address several concerns the organization has with LMS.
"We want to emphasize that this is a community meeting for all of the patrons and parents in the Forrest City School District," Satterwhite said.
A press release from the NAACP said that questions regarding positions being moved from the school and the principal's position recently vacated by the retirement of James will be focuses of the meeting.
"We want to make sure that the children continue to be the focus at Lincoln, and we're not sure that's happening. There are several teachers that underwent specialized training at Lincoln that are now being moved. Those teachers received the training, and it was supposed to be applied at the school. Now the training and those teachers are being moved, and we don't feel that those decisions will benefit the children that will be attending Lincoln," Satterwhite said.
"We also don't understand why Mrs. Shackleford (Estella Shackleford vice principal at LMS) hasn't been promoted to the principal's position. She also received the training and has been there through the implementation of several programs ongoing at the school. We want to see a smooth transition from Mr. James to Mrs. Shackleford," Satterwhite added.
A second press release from the NAACP announced that James would also hold a press conference at this meeting, in reference to allegations of incompetence that have been levied against the teaching staff at LMS.
Members of the Forrest City School Board recently rejected a recommendation from FCSD Superintendent Lee Vent to hire Sandra Nicks Mills as the principal at LMS.
According to Vent, he was not invited to attend the community meeting. When questioned whether any school district administration officials would be present Satterwhite said, "I'm not sure if anyone has been invited, but this is a community meeting, open to anyone and school administrators would be more than welcome."
The next meeting of the Forrest City School Board is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. Monday, July 12, in the administration building.
By TAMARA JOHNSON
Managing Editor
A Forrest City man is being treated at a Little Rock hospital after being shot in the leg late Monday night on B Street.
The Forrest City Police Department found Roosevelt Franklin, 37, 1912 Crawford, lying in the front yard of a residence on B Street just before midnight.
Police had received a call from a concerned citizen who said he first thought the noise was from fireworks, but after looking out of his window, saw Franklin on the ground, holding his right leg.
Upon arrival, officers found the victim suffered a gunshot wound. He was transferred to Baptist Memorial Hospital-Forrest City where he was treated and later transferred to the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences in Little Rock.
Franklin, who reportedly identified the suspect for police, said he didn't know why he was shot, but that the suspect had been pointing a gun at him for about a week.
Due to the seriousness of Franklin's injury, police reported they have been unable to get an affidavit signed against the man believed to have shot him.
The Forrest City City Council will meeting in regular session tonight at 7 o'clock at city hall. Among agenda items are an ordnance to add wrecked dilapidated and inoperable motor vehicles to the existing law of articles to be kept from residential property.
There is also an ordinance to adopt a new city zoning code to meet existing changes and conditions within the city.
There was also a request at the last meeting that the Forrest City Civic Center catering issue be included on the agenda. There may also be a preliminary report from a special committee appointed to study the purchase of Snyder's, a scrap metal business, and 501 Logistics. The property has been offered to the city for sale.
A Pocahontas man and a Cherry Valley man will appear in St. Francis County District Court Wednesday on drug charges after deputies with the St. Francis County Sheriff's Department made an arrest on Monday.
According to a report from the Sheriff's Department, James Tracy, 28, of Pocahontas and Terry D. Doyle, 32, of Cherry Valley, are both facing charges of criminal attempt to manufacture methamphetamine; possession of ephedrine with intent to manufacture methamphetamine; over possession of ephedrine and possession of drug paraphernalia with intent to manufacture methamphetamine.
According to the report, Tracy was a passenger in a vehicle driven by Doyle when officers made the arrest Tuesday evening near Madison.
The East Arkansas Community College Board of Trustees will meet Thursday, July 8, at 7 p.m., in the EACC Board Room.
Among agenda items are the approval of several certificates in technology. There will also be a status report on construction projects, and in Special Reports, there will be presentation of the students who participated in the most recent exchange with Norton Radstock College in England.
A man performing community service for the city was bitten by a dog Friday, according to the Forrest City Police Department.
Carl Stewart, 29 was in the backyard of a residence at 1503 Lindauer, clearing brush, when he was attacked and bitten by a pit bull. He was bitten in the area of his hand. Stewart was treated and released at Baptist Memorial Hospital. The dog was picked up by Animal Control to be held in quarantine.