LOCAL AND REGIONAL NEWS WITH RICK HOLT
YOUR LOCAL AND REGIONAL NEWS
COLT AIRPORT RECEIVES GRANT
September 25
The Delta Regional Airport in Colt has just been approved for a $200,000 grant from the Arkansas Department of Aeronautics to install jet fuel tanks at the airport.
Delta Regional Airport Authority Board Chairman Shannon Hobbs has more details:
Mr. Hobbs said that they’re hoping to have the project completed by spring or summer of 2021:
That’s Delta Regional Airport Authority Board Chairman Shannon Hobbs.
ARKANSAS VIRUS UPDATE
September 25
Arkansas' count of coronavirus cases rose Thursday by 1,086, the largest one-day increase in almost two weeks. (Democrat-Gazette)
The state's death toll from the virus rose by 17, to 1,246.
The increase in cases included 1,030 that were confirmed through PCR tests. The other 56 were "probable" cases, which include those identified through less-sensitive antigen tests.
Gov. Asa Hutchinson commented that Thursday’s report of 1,030 new PCR positive COVID-19 cases serves as a caution to everyone who is out and about engaging in work, school, and recreation.
The number of people hospitalized in the state with covid-19 fell by 11, to 457.
Those patients included 97 who were on ventilators, up from 90 on Wednesday.
FC TEENS CHARGED
September 25
Three Forrest City teenagers were arrested Thursday (9/24) after being caught riding stolen 4-wheelers.
A Forrest City patrol officer was on routine patrol around 10:30 Thursday morning when he spotted three male subjects riding on two 4-wheelers heading west on Day Street. The officer recognized the three and noted that all three had outstanding felony warrants with the city.
The officer initiated a traffic-stop, but the teens took off at a high rate of speed. The suspects ran multiple stop signs from End Street all the way to Mallory Road before going into a corn field owned by Mr. Henry Jayroe.
They continued through the corn field into a bean field before coming out on Turner Road where officers were waiting. The teens then turned back into the field, causing even more damage. The suspects finally came back out to Turner Road and surrendered to police.
A background check determined that the 4-wheelers had been stolen from Honda of Forrest City. The three 16-year old suspects each face felony charges of theft by receiving and 2nd degree criminal mischief.
Mr. Jayroe estimated damages to his crops at around $3,000.
ELECTION LAW STRUCK DOWN
September 25
A Pulaski County judge on Thursday struck down a section of state law that was used to disqualify three separate ballot measures from receiving votes in this fall’s elections.
Circuit Judge Mary McGowan wrote in her order that the law, which requires that paid canvassers in Arkansas pass state and federal criminal background checks, is both impossible to comply with and unconstitutional.
Attorney General Leslie Rutledge, whose office defended the law, soon after filed a notice of her appeal of the decision to the Supreme Court of Arkansas.
McGowan said her decision was based on testimony from an attorney for the Arkansas State Police who said the agency does not run federal background checks, despite the law’s requirement that groups obtain one from state police on behalf of their paid canvassers.
McGowan’s ruling comes too late for any of the three groups to regain a spot on the ballot in the November general election, as ballots have already begun printing in counties around the state.
Instead, the ruling places an injunction on the law for groups that are beginning to petition for the 2022 election.
SENATOR INGRAM REPORT
September 25
In his radio address this week, State Senator Keith Ingram talks about the variety of information provided by the Census Bureau.
Here’s Senator Ingram:
Thanks Senator Ingram.
WEST MEMPHIS NEW FIRE STATION
September 25
The City of West Memphis and the West Memphis Fire Department celebrated the grand opening of a new fire station on Thursday. (Channel 8, Jonesboro)
The Dennis Brewer Fire Station No. 3 features a police substation and is located at E. Broadway & Martin Luther King Jr. Drive.
This fire station is named after the late Fire Chief Dennis Brewer who died back in May.
Senator Keith Ingram said the new building is a testimony to Chief Brewer’s service to the city.
The new addition is the first part of an $11 million capital investment project for the city.
Other projects will include a new courthouse and another fire station that’ll be built at the corner of Broadway and College Boulevard.
HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL DISCUSSION
September 25
The high school football season is entering its first week of conference play, and one of the state's top health officials is stressing safety as teams keep playing.
Dr. Joel Tumlison, a physician specialist with the Arkansas Department of Health, said that he's been pleased with how football programs have adapted to coronavirus protocols for the 2020 season.
He commented that the schools “have done a pretty good job in general."
Officials report that there have, however been several bumps in the road this week.
As of Thursday, 15 conference matchups scheduled for tonight have been cancelled because of covid-19. Those include Blytheville at Cave City, Conway at Little Rock Southwest, Little Rock Parkview at Greenwood, Jonesboro at El Dorado, Texarkana at Magnolia and Arkadelphia at Nashville.
Overall, there have been 34 known games affected by the virus this season, including 19 during the first four weeks from Aug. 27-Sept. 18.
The canceled games are considered a “no-contest.”
SPORTS
September 25
The Forrest City Jr. Mustangs lost a close one Thursday night at Mustang Stadium.
The Mustangs lost to Greene County Tech 30-28 in overtime.
The loss drops the Jr. Mustangs to 2-2 on the season. The team will be on the road at Valley View next Thursday, Oct. 1.
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In high school football tonight (Friday):
--Forrest City at Greene County Tech (KXJK)
--Marvell Academy at Delta Academy (KBFC)
--Palestine-Wheatley at Walnut Ridge
--Dumas at Helena-West Helena
--Brinkley at Rose Bud
--Wynne at Brookland
--Rison at Barton
--Marked Tree at McCrory
--Desoto at Deer Creek
--Lee Academy at Humphreys
--West Memphis at Marion
--Paragould at Valley View
--Cross County at Earle
--Nettleton at Batesville
All games kick-off tonight at 7 o’clock.
OBITUARIES
September 25
--Graveside service for Robert Genoa Brown, 86, of McCrory will be Saturday (9/26) at 10 a.m. at New Quiet Cemetery in Augusta. A walk-through visitation will be Friday from 6-8 p.m. at Mt. Pisgah MB Church in Patterson. Branscumb, Johnson and Gilchrest Funeral Home of Brinkley is in charge of arrangements.
--Funeral service for Annie Taylor, 62, of Forrest City will be Saturday (9/26) at 11 a.m. at the Larry Bryant Center in Forrest City. Burial will follow at Casteel Cemetery. Visitation will be Friday from 5-7 p.m. at Miles Mortuary in Forrest City. Marianna Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
--Graveside service for Mable Jean Greene, 73, of Augusta will be Saturday (9/26) at 11 a.m. at New Quiet Cemetery in Augusta. Branscumb, Johnson and Gilchrest Funeral Home of Brinkley is in charge of arrangements.
--Funeral service for Bertha Brown, 65, of Forrest City will be Saturday (9/26) at 1 p.m. in the chapel of Miles Mortuary. Burial will follow at Casteel Cemetery. Visitation will be Friday from 3-5 p.m. at Miles Mortuary, which is in charge of arrangements.
--Funeral service for Dorothy Williams, 93, of Forrest City will be Saturday (9/26) at 1 p.m. at Lane Chapel Church (family only). Burial will follow at Casteel Cemetery. A public walk-through viewing will be Friday from 5-7 p.m. and again Saturday from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the church. McNeal-Coleman Funeral Home of Brinkley is in charge of arrangements.
--Funeral service for Kimberly Hilliard, 32, of Forrest City will be Saturday (9/26) at 2 p.m. at the Forrest City Event Center. Burial will follow at Casteel Cemetery. Visitation will be Friday from 4-6 p.m. at Miles Mortuary, which is in charge of arrangements.
--Funeral service for Robert L. Bell, age 60, will be Saturday (9/26) at 2:30 p.m. at Marianna Funeral Home. Burial will follow at Clay Hill Cemetery at Haynes. Visitation will be Friday from 1-5 p.m. at the funeral home. Marianna Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
--Funeral service for Alice Faye Stovall-Swanigan, 71, of Jacksonville, formerly of Brinkley will be Saturday (9/26) at 2:30 p.m. at Mt. of Olive Ministries in Brinkley. Burial will follow at Ebenezer Cemetery in Cotton Plant. Branscumb, Johnson and Gilchrest Funeral Home of Brinkley is in charge of arrangements.
--Funeral service for LaTerrence Ray Brown Sr., 42, of Clarendon will be Sunday (9/27) at 2 p.m. at the Brinkley Convention Center. Burial will follow at Shady Grove Cemetery in Clarendon. Branscumb, Johnson and Gilchrest Funeral Home of Brinkley is in charge of arrangements.
--Funeral service for Adam Davis, 25, of Marianna will be Monday (9/28) at 2:30 p.m. at Marianna Funeral Home Chapel. No public visitation will be held. Marianna Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
--Funeral service for Brother Jesse Driver, 91, of Forrest City will be held Thursday (10/1) 11 a.m. at the Larry S. Bryant Multipurpose Center in Forrest City. Burial will follow at the Arkansas State Veterans Cemetery in Birdeye. Visitation will be Wednesday (9/30) from 5-7 p.m. at the Christ Temple Pentecostal Church in Forrest City. Miles J Kimble Mortuary is in charge of the arrangements.