Local and Regional News 052824

 

FC Shooting Injures One

 

A Forrest City man was injured in a shooting in the Beech Grove area Monday evening (5/27).

 

The Forrest City PD’s Shot Spotter system indicated that shots were fired around 6:30 p.m. Monday in the 200 block of Laughrun Drive.

 

Officers responded to the area where they found 30-year-old Derrick Akins bleeding from gunshot wounds to the left and right calf areas and to one of his ankles.

 

Akins told police that the incident began when he got into a verbal altercation with two individuals about some dice. He said as the altercation became “heated”, the two pulled out handguns and began shooting.

 

Akins said he was shot as he was attempting to run to his nearby residence.

 

Akins was transported to Forrest City Medical Center before being transferred to Regional One in Memphis for additional treatment.

 

Police later detained and questioned the two suspects in the case.

 

Charges are pending as that investigation continues.

 

 

FC Woman Charged

 

Forrest City Police recovered drugs, a weapon and made two felony arrests during a routine traffic-stop in the city early Friday (5/24).

 

A Forrest City Police officer stopped 22-year-old Danyelle Collins of Forrest City around 4:30 a.m. Friday for running a stop sign at North Washington and Arkansas streets.

 

The officer secured permission to search the vehicle after noticing a strong smell of marijuana coming from inside.

 

The search uncovered 60 grams of marijuana and a fully loaded Draco assault rifle.

 

Collins was arrested without incident on a charge of simultaneous possession of drugs and firearms and being a felon in possession of a firearm.

 

A passenger in the vehicle, 20-year-old Dontavious Wakefield of Newport, was also arrested on drug and weapon-related charges and on outstanding warrants out of Newport.

 

 

FC Man Charged

 

A Forrest City man was arrested on an outstanding felony warrant after fleeing from police Friday night (5/24).

 

A Forrest City Police officer was on routine patrol around 10:45 p.m. Friday when he was informed that 49-year-old Durayl Rooks had been spotted in the North Washington Street area.

 

Dispatch advised that Rooks had an active felony warrant with St. Francis County.

 

The officer later spotted Rooks riding his bicycle over near Delta Point Apartments. When the officer attempted to question him, Rooks took off on foot, heading west on Laughrun Drive.

 

Rooks was apprehended after a brief foot pursuit. The officer noted that during the pursuit, Rooks had gotten rid of a black backpack that he’d been carrying.

 

Officers later recovered the backpack, which contained a small amount of methamphetamine, weighing in at around .3 grams.

 

Rooks was later booked at the St. Francis County Detention Center on charges of fleeing and possession of a controlled substance.

 

 

FC Stolen Vehicle

 

Forrest City Police are on the lookout for a stolen vehicle.

 

A Forrest City patrol officer was dispatched to 865 Stonebrook Circle around 8 a.m. Monday where she spoke with the owner of the vehicle, Mr. Pierrion Gates out of Garland, Texas.

 

Mr. Gates said that he’d parked outside his cousin’s residence on Stonebrook Circle the night before, waking up Monday morning to find that his vehicle was gone.

 

The stolen vehicle is a gray, four-door, 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee with Texas tag number, SZG 2170.

 

No suspects have been identified in the case. The investigation is ongoing.

 

 

HWH Council Seeks Resignation

 

The Helena-West Helena City Council is requesting the immediate resignation of Mayor Christopher Franklin. (Channel 3, Memphis)

 

The announcement was made after a viral Facebook Live broadcast that Mayor Franklin conducted was deemed “unbecoming of the office of Mayor.”

 

During a meeting last Tuesday (5/21), the city council determined that Mayor Franklin has recorded, published and disseminated a derogatory Facebook Live video which contained several “foul-mouthed statements” using what they described as a “litany of profanity and antagonistic language.”

 

Therefore, the city council resolved that it “strongly censures” Mayor Franklin for his conduct and “undeniably” requests his “immediate resignation.”

 

The document also “demands” an immediate apology to all persons impacted by the Mayor’s actions.

 

 

Ark Tornadoes Kill Eight

 

Tornadoes that moved across northwest Arkansas early Sunday (5/26) killed eight people, caused major property damage and knocked out power to thousands across the region.

 

The National Weather Service confirmed on Monday that at least four tornadoes hit Benton County early Sunday and another tornado plowed a 21-mile path from Boone County into Marion County.

 

Officials with the Arkansas Division of Emergency Management confirmed that the storm-related fatalities included three in Benton County, three in Marion County and one each in Baxter and Boone counties.

 

Just over 45,000 Arkansans were still without electricity Monday evening, down from around 120,000 Sunday morning.

 

The strongest of Sunday’s tornadoes were rated EF3, with winds of 136 to 165 miles per hour. But damage is still being surveyed and evidence of more tornadoes may be found.

 

Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders toured storm damage on Monday and has asked for a formal federal disaster declaration, which is the first step to providing federal funding for assistance.

 

Overall, the powerful storms over the Memorial Day holiday weekend killed at least 22 people in Arkansas, Texas, Oklahoma and Kentucky.

 

 

Winds Derail Train

 

Officials say a train derailment in the Stuttgart area Friday night (5/24) was caused by strong straight-line winds.

 

The Arkansas Department of Transportation said the train derailment was reported Friday evening on Highway 79, just over four miles northeast of Stuttgart in Arkansas County.

 

Stuttgart Airport officials reported winds up to 63 mph during Friday night’s storms. Officials on the scene confirmed that the straight-line winds caused the derailment.

 

Officials say a train car blocked Highway 79 at the county lines of Arkansas, Prairie and Monroe counties.

 

Several train cars were involved in the incident, but no injuries were reported.

 

 

Ark Prison Suicides Increase

 

State Corrections Department spokeswoman Dina Tyler says a recent increase in the suicide rate in Arkansas prisons is “very concerning.”

 

A report presented to the agency’s board earlier this month found that Arkansas Department of Corrections staff regularly do not adequately document or respond to inmates who are considered at risk of committing suicide.

 

The presentation comes during a year in which the number of suicides among inmates held by the Corrections Department is on track to reach its highest number since at least 2017, according to information provided by the agency.

 

During the period from 2017 through early December 2022, 49 people died by suicide in Arkansas prisons.

 

Seven people have committed suicide in Arkansas prisons this year; eight people did so in 2023. The most recent suicide occurred May 21 at the East Arkansas Regional Unit near Brickeys.

 

The report identifies several issues for the agency to address, such as placement in single-person cells, incomplete or incorrectly filled out mental health assessments, a lack of therapy or counseling being provided, and inadequate training of employees.

 

Most of the inmates who died by suicide during the study’s time frame were single white males without children. Their average age was 37, and almost 74% were in prison for violent offenses.

 

On average, their sentences were 33 years, of which they had been incarcerated for 8.6 years before their death.

 

 

Sports

 

--Arkansas Baseball--

 

The University of Arkansas baseball team has been chosen as the No. 5 overall seed for the NCAA Tournament.

 

The Razorbacks (43-14) are the No. 1 seed for the regional and will host No. 4 seed Southeast Missouri State (34-25) in the 2 p.m. game Friday at Baum-Walker Stadium.

 

Louisiana Tech (45-17) earned the No. 2 seed for the regional and will take on No. 3 seed Kansas State (32-24) in the 7 p.m. game in the opening round.

 

All of the visiting teams are in border states or have a drive of roughly 6 hours or less to reach Fayetteville.

 

The Razorbacks, who are 33-3 at Baum Stadium, have lost seven of their last 10 games, with only three of them at home.

 

Arkansas went 0-2 at the SEC Tournament last week, with relatively high-scoring losses to South Carolina (6-5) and Kentucky (9-6).

 

The SEC had 11 teams selected for the tournament and five of them serving as regional hosts, including top seed Tennessee, No. 2 seed Kentucky, No. 3 seed Texas A&M, Arkansas and No. 7 seed Georgia.

 

Both the total number of teams and regional hosts are NCAA Tournament records.

​

 

Clinton Applications Open

 

Applications are open for high school students who want to be part of the Clinton Presidential Center’s Student Presidential Leaders Series.

 

Fifty high school students — grades 9 through 12 — will be selected for the year-long program.

 

The program engages high school students to develop their leadership skills; explore the importance of inclusivity and civic participation; and learn how to turn their knowledge into action. It helps students build their capacity to be leaders.

 

The 2024-2025 group will spend the year attending in-person and virtual sessions, connecting with their peers from across the state, engaging with established leaders and learning how to make a meaningful difference.

 

The Derek Lewis Foundation supports the program, so there is no cost to participating students.

 

Applications are open through June 16. The first session, a weekend-long summer retreat, is scheduled for July 19-21.

 

More information is available at www.clintonpresidentialcenter.org/studentleaders.

 

 

EACC Golf Tournament

 

On Monday, June 10th, East Arkansas Community College will host the thirteenth annual EACC Golf Tournament at the Forrest City Country Club’s 18-hole course to benefit the EACC Foundation.

 

This year’s co-sponsors for the tournament are Arkansas Concrete Co., Boar’s Head, and Forrest City Medical Center.  Hole sponsorships are still available.

 

The tournament will follow a 4-person scramble format. Entrants in the tournament may form their own teams or enter individually. Cash prizes will be awarded to the top three teams in each flight.

 

Closest to the Pin’ contests on three holes will be sponsored by SFC Farm Bureau. There will be a Putting Contest with a potential $5,000 cash prize, Hole-in-One contests, additional competitions on various holes, and other miscellaneous prizes.

 

A lunch buffet will be provided and check-in for players will begin at 11:30 a.m. The shotgun start begins at 1:00 p.m.

 

The entry fee for players will be $125 for each player or $500 for each team of four, payable to the EACC Foundation. All entries may be dropped off at the EACC Fine Arts Center or mailed to EACC Foundation, 1700 Newcastle Road, Forrest City, AR 72335. 

 

To ensure a tee time, register by Wednesday, June 5th.  Registration forms are available online at EACC.edu.

 

For more information about the EACC Golf Tournament, contact Niki Jones at 870-633-4480 ext. 352.

 

 

NAACP Membership Drive

 

The St. Francis County branch of the NAACP is conducting a membership drive during the month of May.

 

The NAACP encourages area residents to join or renew their membership to one of the oldest Civil Rights organization in the country as they continue their efforts to fight for civil and human rights.

 

You can renew online, by mail or in person.

 

Call 870-945-1072 for more information.

 

 

Probation Officer Position Open

 

The First Judicial District of Arkansas, Juvenile Division, is seeking a full time Juvenile Probation Officer for Cross and Woodruff counties.

 

This position is responsible for providing supervision for juveniles entering the Juvenile Justice System through Probation or Diversion Programs.

 

Job duties include the following:

1. Maintain regular office hours, with occasional after hours/weekend on-call hours as needed.

2. Meet with juvenile and their families on a regular basis to monitor compliance, as well as maintain contact with other parties involved in the case.

3. Maintain up-to-date case files and database entries, draft documents, provide written & verbal court reports and testify in court.

 

Minimum Qualifications for applicants are:

 

1. Bachelor’s Degree in sociology, psychology, criminology or related field OR equivalent experience in a field related to youth/law enforcement.

2. Must pass criminal background check and child maltreatment check and be free of any serious violations.

3. Must pass pre-employment drug screen.

4. Must maintain a valid Arkansas Driver’s License.

5. Must be proficient in Microsoft Office; experience in Contexte preferred; good reading/writing skills essential. 

 

Please send resumes to careers@1stjdc.com.

 

 

EACC News

 

A Healthcare Provider CPR course will be offered at EACC on Thursday, June 6th.

 

The class teaches CPR skills including ventilation with a barrier device, a bag-mask device, and oxygen; use of an automated external defibrillator; and relief of foreign-body airway obstruction.

 

For more information or to register, call 870-633-4480, ext. 333.

 

​

EACC Summer Programs

 

The Community Education and Workforce Development programs at East Arkansas Community College have announced the Summer Schedule of classes for students of all ages.

 

The schedule offers a wide variety of unique Kids on Campus programs and camps including: Children’s Theater Camp, Pickleball, Junior Golf, Basketball, Spike-it Volleyball, Youth Horseback Riding, Gymnastics and much more.

 

There are also classes designed for specific age groups, including

Preschool-ages 3 and 4; Kindergarten through 2nd grade; and for students in grades 3 through 8.

 

Also, the Personal Interests and Senior Sage (students aged 50+) classes for adults include Yoga, Water Aerobics, Conditioning, Applied Piano, and more. 

 

The schedule for Professional Development classes includes Healthcare Provider CPR intended for participants who provide healthcare to patients in a variety of settings.

 

The complete schedule of Summer classes is available online at EACC.edu.  Pre-registration is required for all classes and events.

 

Tuition waivers are available for credit classes for students aged 50+ and discounts are available for children who register for 3 or more classes. 

 

For more information about classes, fees, and locations, please call 870-633-4480 ext. 333.

​

 

School News

 

The Forrest City School District is looking for college students with 60 credit hours or above or individuals with 60+ college credit hours to work in their 2024 Freedom School Program as a Summer School Intern.

 

Interested applicants should send their resume and unofficial transcript to Forrest City Superintendent Dr. Tiffany Hardrick at tiffany.hardrick@fcmustangs.net.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Lee High School in Marianna has been presented with an amazing opportunity for their Class of 2025 scholars who are interested in the medical field to participate in a six-week camp this summer at UAPB.

 

Selected scholars can earn $375 a week. Weekly transportation will be provided. Scholars will participate in activities throughout their senior year and earn a $2,500 scholarship towards college upon completion.

 

Call Lee High School at 870-295-7130 for more information.

​

Obits

​

-Curtis Junior Milton,  81, of Colt died Saturday, May 25th, 2024. Funeral services for Mr. Milton will be Wednesday, May 29th  (05/29) at 10:00 a.m. at Thompson-Wilson Funeral Home in Wynne . Visitation will be from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm tonight, May 28th at the funeral home. Thompson -Wilson Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

 

-Ivy Roberts, 85, of Forrest City, died Friday, May 24th. Funeral services for Mrs. Roberts will be Wednesday, May 29th at 2:00 pm, graveside only at Forrest Park Cemetery in Forrest City. Stevens Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

 

 -Robert Steven May, 58, of Moro died Wednesday, May 22nd. No services will be held for Mr. May in accordance with his wishes. Cross County Funeral Service & Crematory is in charge of arrangements.  

​