Prosecutor Sworn In On J P Case

A special prosecutor has been sworn in on the case involving a member of the Sebastian County Quorum Court. Marc McCune, Crawford County Prosecuting Attorney, will serve as  the prosecutor against Justice of the Peace John Kent Spradlin.

On July 6, Spradling, 59, was arrested after a domestic battery report was filed against him by a minor female relative.  She claimed Spradlin physically and verbally threatened her.  He has had no formal charges filed against him.

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Victim Of Apt Fire Identified

The victim of a Ft. Smith apartment fire on July 26 has been identified as Larry Joe Jinks.  The incident took place at 4001 Rogers Ave at the Cambridge House Apartments.  According to Battalion Chief Boyd Waters, when fire crews arrived, neighbors were attempting to put the fire out with fire extinguishers.

Jinks, 62, was transported to Mercy Hospital where he later died.  His dog, who was also in the apartment, survived.  Waters said the furniture inside the apartment was damaged.  However, there was no structural damage to the complex.  The cause of the fire was deter-mined by the Ft. Smith Fire Department to be smoking in bed.

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Driver Of Motorized Scooter Killed

Bobby Anderson of Ft. Smith died following an accident Friday, July 31 involving a motorized scooter and an automobile.  It happened at the intersection of N. 50th St & Midland Blvd.  No charges have been filed at this time, police said.

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EBT Cards Accepted At Farmer's Market

Families that are low-income now will be able to purchase fresh fruits and vegetables at the Ft. Smith Farmer's Market with their EBT card.  It has been in the process for three years.  Organizer Joe Carr said "There's not that many places around where they can do this.  And it helps the farmers as well.  You know, helps the local farmers.  So it kind of helps both of us, low-income and the farmers."

The market is located on Garrison Ave and takes place from 7 a.m. until noon every Tuesday and Saturday.

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Stabbing Suspect Turns Himself In

A stabbing took place early Saturday morning around 3 a.m. at the Cottage Apartments located at 303 E. Shawntel Smith Blvd in Muldrow.

According to police, they were told by Joseph Morton that two men broke into his apartment and stabbed him.  Tyler Chapman, 22, who was identified as one of the suspects, was arres- ted later at his home at 402 Southeast 11th Street.

The Muldrow Police were looking for Reeves Gentry, 38, in connection with the incident.  Gentry later turned himself in after seeing a news report on the stabbing.  Dispatchers said he did not confess to the incident.

Chapman and Gentry are both being held in the Sequoyah County Jail on a $20,000 bond each.  The charges are suspicion of first degree burglary, aggravated assault and battery with injuries.

Morton, 36, was taken to Sparks Regional Medical Center and was treated in the intensive care unit.  His condition is unknown at this time.

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Lawsuit Against Ft. Smith School Board Amended

There was a lawsuit filed by Ft. Smith Attorney Joey McCutchen against the Ft. Smith School Board on July 23.  McCutchen filed it on behalf of Curtis Sorrells, a Ft. Smith resident, re- garding a meeting that took place on June 23.  The meeting was that of the Committee of the Whole, which makes recommendations to the full Board.

The lawsuit alleges that when the vote was taken at the meeting on the recommendation to retire Southside's mascot and song, they violated the Arkansas Freedom of Information Act open meetings provision.  Wednesday McCutchen was granted two weeks for additional dis- covery.

Originally the lawsuit was field against five School Board members, then six.  However, Thursday he amended the complaint again and is now targeting the School Board as a whole rather than individual members.  McCutchen said the two weeks will allow him to question the School Board members.

According to Deanie Mehl, School Board President, in light of the litigation, the vote on July 27 to immediately retire the fight song and phase out the mascot, was not treated as a Committee of the Whole recommendation.

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Soldiers Received Firearm Training

Firearm training took place Wednesday and Thursday of last week at Ft. Chaffee for soldiers.  This was done due to an executive order issued on July 20 by Governor Asa Hutchinson.  His order came after four Marines and a sailor were killed in a shooting rampage at a recruiting station and Navy & Marine Reserve center in Chattanooga, Tennessee.

Lieutenant Colonel Dwight Ikenberry with Ft. Chaffee said "Using a weapon for defensive measures in a civilian community, right here in our home state of Arkansas, is different from what they may experience in Iraq or in Afghanistan."  He also said the military-issued 9mm pistol that they will be armed with is a different weapon that what many of them are used to.

Camp Robinson in Little Rock also held training last week.  Arkansas is one of seven states arming its National Guard.

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