LOCAL AND REGIONAL NEWS WITH RICK HOLT
YOUR LOCAL AND REGIONAL NEWS
CITY OF FC RECOGNIZED
January 18
Arkansas Business recognized the 2020 Trendsetter City winners and honorable mentions at the 2021 Municipal League Winter Conference on Jan. 14.
The Trendsetter City program was created to honor cities throughout Arkansas that have gone above and beyond to improve lifestyles, infrastructure and wellness within their communities. Honorees are chosen by an outside panel of
judges.
The City of Forrest City was selected as a 2020 Trendsetter City winner in the Education/Workforce Development category for populations between 5,000 – 20,000 for the East Arkansas Regional Summer Youth Initiative.
Forrest City was also awarded the Don A. Zimmerman Pinnacle Award for their winning summer youth program.
Mayor Williams recognized the many people and organizations who contributed to the success of the youth initiative, including State Representative Reginald Murdock, The Forrest City Chamber of Commerce, grant writers Glynis Lynch and Frederick Freeman, along with Program Director Lasandra Ward, Assistant Program Director Alondra Mitchell and volunteers April McKisick and Brandye Williams.
Mayor Williams also expressed thanks to area education leaders, Dr. Tiffany Hardrick, Superintendent of Forrest City Schools; EACC President Dr. Cathie Cline and the Lee County School District.
ARKANSAS VIRUS UPDATE
January 18
Arkansas health officials reported an additional 976 cases of covid-19 Sunday. (Democrat-Gazette)
That’s down from the 2,543 cases recorded Saturday and more than 3,100 new cases reported Friday. It's the smallest daily increase since the Sunday after Christmas, and the year's first increase of fewer than 1,000 cases.
An additional 18 people died from the coronavirus Sunday, raising the death toll in the state to 4,311.
The additional cases raised the state’s tally to 271,154 cases. Of those, 24,887 cases were active.
The number of Arkansans hospitalized with the coronavirus fell by 21 to 1,271. The number of patients on ventilators increased by seven to 221.
Health officials administered an additional 5,233 doses of covid-19 vaccines during the 24-hour period. The state has used 47.6% of its vaccine doses.
The state is set to begin Phase 1B of its vaccination protocol today (Monday). Under Phase 1B, people age 70 and older, teachers and school staff, childcare workers and higher education employees are eligible to receive the vaccine.
ARK LEGISLATURE TO ADDRESS THEFTS
January 18
A bill has been filed in the Arkansas legislature that, if approved, will require those selling and purchasing catalytic converters to provide and require a lot of information and identification. (AP)
House Bill 1012, sponsored by Rep. Johnny Rye (R-Trumann) - will require a description of any part, tire, or accessory sold along with a description of the person selling it.
The person selling the part must provide a description and license number of the car they have and if it is a catalytic converter, more detail is needed.
Other information like address, gender, birth date, driver’s license number, and more will be required.
The business purchasing the item must require the date the seller acquired the catalytic converter and the vehicle identification number of the vehicle the catalytic converter was taken off of, under the bill.
The bill was presented in response to a rash of catalytic converter thefts over the past year.
One law enforcement official commented that the law would give them another tool in solving these crimes.
FC WOMAN ASSAULTED
January 18
A Forrest City woman told police that she was sexually assaulted early Sunday morning (1/17).
The victim told police that she was at the Flash Market on Deadrick Road when she asked a man in a dark colored SUV for a ride to McClendon Street.
The man agreed and the woman got into his vehicle. She said when they took off, the man started going in the wrong direction.
She said the man drove over to Carriage House Apartments where he stopped, forced her into the back seat of the SUV and assaulted her.
Police have a description of the suspect and are continuing to investigate.
FC COOKING FIRE
January 18
A Forrest City residence was damaged in a kitchen fire over the weekend.
Forrest City firefighters responded to 725 Walker Street around 5:20 p.m. Saturday.
Firemen entered the structure and found that a cookstove was on fire. They were able to quickly extinguish the fire with a water can.
The fire caused damage to the kitchen area, melted some wiring and scorched the walls. There was also smoke damage throughout the structure.
Fire investigators say the fire was caused by unattended cooking.
No injuries were reported.
PALESTINE FIRE REPORT
January 18
A house trailer in the Palestine area was destroyed in a fire Sunday night (1/17).
Firefighters from Palestine and Forrest City responded to a structure fire at 209 Higgins Street in Palestine around 10:15 p.m. Sunday.
Palestine Fire Chief Zakk Jumper reported that the single-wide mobile home was fully involved by the time firemen arrived on the scene.
One of the occupants was not at home at the time of the fire; a second was able to get out of the burning structure safely.
No injuries were reported. The cause of the fire is still under investigation.
FC STOLEN CAR REPORT
January 18
Forrest City Police are investigating a stolen car report.
A patrol officer was dispatched to 1934 Lindauer Road Friday night where they spoke with Ms. Mary Wilson.
Wilson stated that she was driving on Old Madison Road around 8 p.m. Friday when her car began to overheat. Wilson said she pulled over to the side of the roadway and decided to let the car stay there until the next morning to cool down.
Ms. Wilson said when she returned the next day, the car was gone.
Police say there was no record of the vehicle having been towed. The investigation is ongoing.
FCPD DWI ARRESTS
January 18
Forrest City Police made a couple of DWI arrests over the weekend.
A patrol officer was on routine patrol at Day and Division streets around 8:30 Saturday night (1/16) when he observed a man in a light-colored vehicle driving erratically.
The officer stopped the car and spoke with the driver, 73-year-old James Dumas of Forrest City, who admitted that he had been drinking.
The officer reported the Dumas failed several field sobriety tests and was placed under arrest for suspicion of DWI and numerous other traffic violations.
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In the second incident, a patrol officer stopped a vehicle around 4 a.m. Sunday after seeing the driver weaving from lane to lane.
The driver, later ID’ed as 31-year-old Martez Smith of Forrest City, admitted that he had been drinking.
Smith failed several field sobriety tests and then refused to submit to a breathalyzer test at the police station.
Smith was processed and charged with DWI and several other violations.
WYNNE RESIDENCE DAMAGED IN FIRE
January 18
A residence in Wynne was damaged in a fire Sunday morning (1/17).
Wynne firefighters were dispatched to a structure fire on East Union Street around 5 a.m. Sunday.
A heavy fire could be seen as firefighters arrived on the scene. However, they were able to contain the fire to a single room.
No injuries were reported.
Firefighters expressed thanks to Wynne Police officers for their assistance.
USDA FOOD RECALL
January 18
Nestlé Prepared Foods is recalling more than 762,000 pounds of pepperoni Hot Pockets. (Channel 8, Jonesboro)
The frozen stuffed sandwiches — shipped to retail stores nationwide — are being recalled because they “may be contaminated with extraneous materials, specifically pieces of glass and hard plastic,” the USDA said Friday.
The problem was discovered when the company received four consumer complaints of extraneous material in pepperoni Hot Pockets. The company has received one report of a “minor oral injury” associated with consumption of the product.
The recall is for 54-ounce packages containing 12 “Nestlé Hot Pockets Brand Sandwiches: Premium Pepperoni made with pork, chicken and beef pizza garlic buttery crust.”
Anyone who has purchased this product is urged not to consume it. It should be thrown away or returned to the place of purchase.
SPORTS
January 18
In high school basketball action Friday night:
Sr. Boys
--Mills over Forrest City 79-34
--Helena-West Helena over Palestine-Wheatley 53-45
--Earle over Rector 66-57
--Cross County over at EPC 62-59
--West Memphis over Paragould 58-32
--Marion over Greene County Tech 53-43
--Jonesboro over Searcy 86-36
Sr. Girls
--Helena-West Helena over Palestine-Wheatley 55-20
--Earle over Rector 37-27
--Wynne over Robinson 46-42
--Greene County Tech over Marion 51-46
OBITUARIES
January 18
--Graveside service for Kenneth Dale Fobbs Jr., 49, of Bald Knob will be Monday (1/18) at 3 p.m. at New Quiet Cemetery in Augusta. Visitation will be Monday from 2-3 p.m. at the cemetery. Branscumb, Johnson and Gilchrest Funeral Home of Brinkley is in charge of arrangements.
--Funeral service for Elder Cleaster Rupert, 65, of West Memphis will be Saturday (1/23) at 10 a.m. at the Larry Bryant Center. Burial will follow at Pleasant Valley Cemetery in Brickeys. Visitation will be Friday from 1-5 p.m. at Marianna Funeral Home, which is in charge of arrangements.
--Funeral service for Walter Hill, 67, of St. Francis County will be Friday, January 29th at 11 a.m. at Wynne Baptist Church. A private burial will follow at Forrest Park Cemetery. Stevens Funeral Home of Forrest City is in charge of arrangements.