LOCAL AND REGIONAL NEWS WITH RICK HOLT

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EARLY VOTE STARTS FEB 18

February 17

Early Voting begins Tuesday (2/18) for the March 3rd Preferential Primary & Nonpartisan General Election.

Early Voting hours are from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Friday, and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturdays. Early voting ends at

5 p.m. on Monday, March 2nd.

To check your voter registration information, find your polling location, or view a sample ballot, visit www.VoterView.org. 

If you have moved or your information has changed and you need to update your voter registration, you have until February 28th to make this change.

By state law, voter identification is required at the polls, so remember to have a photo ID with you when you go to vote.

FC MAN FACES FELONY

February 17

A Forrest City man was arrested over the weekend for failure to comply with sex offender reporting requirements.

Forrest City Police report that 21-year old Sla’Keith Maxwell Jr. was arrested on an outstanding warrant Sunday on a felony charge of failure to register as a sex offender.

Maxwell is a Level 3 sex offender which mean he has a “high risk” of re-offending.

Forrest City PD lists Maxwell’s address as 260 Cardinal Drive in Forrest City.

His official address on the Arkansas Sex Offender Registry is listed as the 400 block of Smith Street in Forrest City.

Maxwell criminal history shows a criminal conviction on a charge of 3rd degree sexual assault.

FCPD RECOVERS STOLEN TRUCK

February 17

Forrest City Police recovered a stolen pickup truck early Friday morning (2/14).

A patrol officer attempted to stop a 2000 model Toyota Tacoma around 2:20 Friday morning on Hwy One, near the I-40 overpass.

The driver refused to pull over and instead turned east on Holiday Drive. The officer pursued the truck to Newcastle Road where they driver turned south. The driver then lost control of the vehicle in a curve and fled the area on foot.

Officers from Forrest City PD and the St. Francis County Sheriff’s Department searched the area but were unable to locate the driver.

A background check on the truck determined that it had been reported stolen out of Jonesboro. Police say the suspect and the vehicle were  also involved in an attempted commercial burglary in St. Francis County.

The suspect was described as a heavy-set white male, wearing a long sleeve red shirt with a gray thick vest, blue jeans and a black toboggan.

Police are investigating.

FCPD SEEKS SUSPECT

February 17

Forrest City PD is asking for the public’s help in identifying a suspect in an ongoing theft investigation.

Police say the male subject is responsible for a theft that occurred recently at the local McDonald’s.

The suspect’s photo can be seen on the PD’s Facebook page.

Anyone with information in the case is asked to please call 870-633-3434. All callers will remain anonymous.

FC MAN CHARGED

February 17

A Forrest City man was arrested on a felony assault charge after attacking police during a domestic disturbance call Sunday night (2/16).

Forrest City Police officers answered a call for back-up around 6:45 Sunday night at 716 Laughrun Drive in the Beech Grove area.

At the scene, police were told that 36-year old Akira Norris appeared to be intoxicated and had pushed an officer several times.

Police tried to get Mr. Norris to calm down, but he refused to comply. He reportedly took a swing at an officer and continued to make threats. 

Mr. Norris was eventually subdued and taken into custody. A security search revealed that he had four bullets in his pocket; he said the bullets were for the officers.

Norris is being held at the St. Francis County Jail on charges of aggravated assault on a certified law enforcement officer, terroristic threatening, disorderly conduct, resisting arrest and public intoxication.

Norris is also currently on parole. His parole officer was notified, and a “hold’ was placed on him at the county jail.

FC COUPLE CHARGED

February 17

A Forrest City couple was arrested on misdemeanor battery charges following a domestic disturbance at their home over the weekend.

Forrest City Police officers were dispatched to 219 Oak Avenue around 10 p.m. Saturday where they came into contact with 30-year old Shundricka Johnson and 23-year old Denovte Stokes.

After questioning both parties, the two subjects were arrested on charges of 3rd degree domestic battery and disorderly conduct. Ms. Johnson was also charged with resisting arrest.

Police also called the Arkansas Child Abuse Hotline due to the level of physical violence between the two parties over the past few months.

FCPD DWI ARREST

February 17

A Lee County man was arrested on a DWI charge following a one-vehicle accident in Forrest City Saturday night (2/15).

Forrest City Police report that 29-year old Craig Patton of Marianna crashed his car into a tree on North Rosser Street just after 7 p.m. Saturday. Police say he then fled the area on foot.

Police caught up with Patton a short time later, at which point he began fighting with officers. He was eventually subdued and placed in handcuffs.

Patton was later booked at the police station on charges of DWI, fleeing, no proof of insurance, obstruction, driving on a suspended license, fictitious tags, resisting arrest and violation of a protection order.

HOLIDAY CLOSINGS

February 17

All area banks and post offices are closed today for Presidents Day, along with most all local, state and federal government offices.

The Forrest City School District will be also closed today for the holiday. Classes will resume on Tuesday, Feb. 18, at their normally scheduled times.

The Forrest City Area Chamber of Commerce will also be closed in observance of President’s Day.

AIR SUPPLY TICKETS

February 17

East Arkansas Community College presents the iconic Australian pop/rock duo, Air Supply, in concert, Saturday, April 4th at 7:30 p.m. at the EACC Fine Arts Center. 

Tickets for Air Supply’s “Lost in Love Experience Tour” are now on sale.

Tickets are $39 and are available online at EACC.edu, by calling 870-633-4480, ext. 352, or in person at the Fine Arts Center Ticket Office. 

MEETINGS AND EVENTS

February 17

--The St. Francis County Quorum Court’s Budget Committee will meet Tuesday (2/18) at 4:30 p.m. in the upstairs courtroom. That’ll be followed by a meeting of the full Quorum Court at 5 p.m.

--The City Council of Forrest City will meet Tuesday (2/18) at 5 p.m. at City Hall.

--The Wheatley Planning Commission will meet Tuesday (2/18) at 6 p.m. at Wheatley City Hall. That’ll be followed by a meeting of the Board of Adjustment.

--The Lee County Cooperative Extension Service will host a Peanut Production Clinic Wednesday (2/19) starting at 8:30 a.m. at Woodruff Election in Forrest City. Call 870-295-7720 for more information.

--The East Arkansas Community College Board of Trustees will meet Thursday (2/20) at 6 p.m. in the EACC Cosmetology Building.

RAZORBACK BASEBALL

February 17

The No. 7 Arkansas baseball team finished a weekend sweep of Eastern Illinois, winning Sunday’s game, 12-3, at Baum-Walker Stadium.

The Razorbacks totaled 27 runs on 35 hits over the three-game set, while allowing just five runs, striking out 31 at the plate.

It was another phenomenal day at the plate for outfielder Heston Kjerstad, who went 3-for-5 with two home runs and a double, six RBIs and two runs scored on Sunday. He finished the weekend with seven hits in 12 at-bats, 20 total bases and 10 RBIs.

Kjerstad was one of three Hogs with three-hit games on Sunday, joining Christian Franklin and Matt Goodheart.

Up next, Arkansas welcomes Gonzaga to Baum-Walker Stadium for a four-game series starting Thursday and going through Sunday (Feb. 20-23).

We’ll have all four games on KXJK, AM-950 and 106.5 FM.

SPORTS NEWS

February 17

In high school basketball action Friday night:

Sr. Boys

--Pulaski Academy over Forrest City 76-66

--Harding Academy over Palestine-Wheatley 75-33

--Mt. Vernon-Enola over Brinkley 65-56

--Robinson over Wynne 51-38

--West Memphis over Nettleton 62-29

--Marion over Searcy 71-53

--Greene County Tech over Jonesboro 73-54

Sr. Girls

--Pulaski Academy at Forrest City 83-65

--Harding Academy over Palestine-Wheatley 53-17

--Mt. Vernon-Enola over Brinkley 57-55

--Wynne over Robinson 49-47

--Nettleton over  West Memphis 65-59

--Searcy over Marion 51-46

--Jonesboro over Greene County Tech 50-31

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Area high school basketball teams will be busy this week. In addition to teams wrapping up the regular season, several are in tournament play. Lee Sr boys are heading to Clarendon for conference tournament play. This week. The Trojans are ranked number 2 in Double A rankings in the Democrat-Gazette behind number 1 ranked Clarendon. Marvell Academy girls will play in state tournament action Wednesday at 4 and Lee Academy girls will play in the same state tournament Wednesday at 6:30. Both Desoto teams are headed to state with the boys playing at 5:15 and the girls game following at 6:30.

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OBITUARIES

February 17

Funeral service for Miss Pamela Davis, 55, of Conway will be Saturday (2/22) at 10 a.m. at Cornerstone MB Church in Madison. Burial will follow at Scott Bond Cemetery in Madison. Visitation will be Friday from 2-5 p.m. at Clay Funeral Home in Forrest City, which is in charge of arrangements.