The Morning Star Fire Department reported to the Garland County Sheriff’s Department this morning at just after 1AM that fire department personnel were working an arson at a house just off Akers Road. According to the report, the blaze occurred at 105 Circle “R” in a property that is currently in foreclosure and was empty at the time of the fire. Firemen report finding two empty five gallon cans that reportedly contained some type of accelerant. One of the cans was found about half way up the stairs that lead to the second floor with the other found in a closet. The damage to the structure is estimated to be approximately $150,000. The investigation is continuing.
An attorney for the Arkansas Public Employees Retirement System told the Arkansas Democrat Gazette yesterday that seven elected county or city officials were mailed notices Monday that they had received retirement benefits improperly. The report said that officials were informed that their benefits will be cut off and they must repay the benefits that they have received. According to the Democrat Gazette report, retirement system officials declined to name the elected officials whose retirements are under review. The report, however, did identify three officials from Garland County, one from Woodruff County, two from Lonoke County, one from Desha County, one from Jefferson County and one official from Lafayette County who drew retirement benefits while continuing to stay in office. The Arkansas Public Employees Retirement System Director, Gail Stone, made a final determination Friday that each of the officials had failed to meet a requirement that they terminate employment before receiving retirement benefits. System attorney, Jay Wills, said that each official owes the system thousands of dollars and some owe amounts considerably higher. The officials can appeal the ruling to the system’s board of trustees and then to circuit court, according to Wills.
The Garland County Sheriff’s Department reports the arrest of a Hot Springs woman late yesterday morning on a charge of felony first degree battery. 23 year old, Randi Ward, was taken into custody after allegedly shooting her estranged boyfriend. According to the report, the sheriff’s department received a call at around 10AM from Ward reporting that she had just shot someone. The victim, identified as 25 year old, Steven McKinney, of Hot Springs Village, was located by officers with the Hot Springs Police Department inside a vehicle with a gunshot wound. Ward told police that she was alone when McKinney came to the residence. She is alleged to have said that she shot through the front door when he refused to leave. McKinney was transported to National Park Medical Center for treatment for the gunshot wound to his upper torso and arm. Ward could face up to 20 years in prison if convicted on the charge.
The Hot Springs Police Department reports that officers were dispatched to 2017 Central at just before 3AM this morning in response to a report of 2 hispanic males running after a black female. Upon arrival, the two men told police that were sleeping in their residence when they were awakened by a black female inside the home. The men told officers that they observed a wallet in the woman’s hand that belonged to one of the men. The two gave chase and caught the woman at the intersection of Greenwood and Central. The suspect, identified as, 38 year old, Charlotte Renita Moore, who lists an address of 501 Morrison, was arrested and charged with residential burglary, a class “B” felony. Moore reportedly is currently on parole for a previous felony conviction in 2000 out of Fordyce. Moore’s bail was set at $5,000.
A 25 year old Little Rock woman reported to the Garland County Sheriff’s Department yesterday afternoon at around 6PM that she and a male suspect got into an argument which resulted in the alleged suspect grabbing her by the neck. The woman, who is pregnant, also alleged that after the altercation had ended, the suspect caused approximately $1,500 in damage to her vehicle by hitting it with a 2X4. The suspect, 24 year old, Bufford D. Stone, who lists an address of 130 Amity Road, was arrested by deputies and charged with one count of second degree domestic battery, a class “B” felony and one count of criminal mischief, a class “C” felony. Stone is scheduled to appear in Hot Springs District Court on the charges March 30th.
The Garland County Sheriff’s Office reports that deputies responded to 148 Holly Oak Lane Friday afternoon to assist parole and probation officers who reportedly had two subjects, a father and son, in custody due to guns and drugs being found at their residence. The report stated that probation officers were doing a home visit when the guns and drugs were allegedly located inside the residence. Reportedly, one of the officers had ask one of the men if he had any guns or drugs on the premises and was taken to a bedroom where seven shotguns and rifles were located along with a small plastic baggy containing a white powdery substance which later field tested positive for the presumptive identification of methamphetamines. The man, identified as Westley J. Ham was taken into custody. Meanwhile, Westley Ham’s father, Walter Ham, was reportedly asked by officers if there was anything else in the house that they should know about. The elder Ham allegedly told officers that he had some marijuana in his gun safe. With his permission, officers opened the safe and located a gallon zip lock bag containing approximately 7.8 ounces of marijuana along with several rifles and a pistol. According to the police report, both the father and son are convicted felons. Both the men were charged with simultaneous possession of drugs and firearms, a class “Y” felony and possession of firearms by certain persons, a class “B” felony. Westley Ham was also charged with possession of a controlled substance, meth, a class “C” felony with Walter Hamm charged with possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver, marijuana, also a class “C” felony. A court date is scheduled for March 30th in Hot Springs District Court.
Steven Alan Standridge of Mount Ida, owner of a 17-office insurance agency, had his insurance license yanked by the Arkansas Insurance Department on Tuesday after regulators became convinced that he had forged documents related to collateral on an insurance company he bought last year.
In addition to the emergency suspension order entered against Standridge, the Insurance Commissioner Jay Bradford also issued an order placing his Steve Standridge Insurance Inc. under the department’s supervision.
The two complaints against Standridge concern his failure to return $430,000 in unearned premium to the Bank of Star City, which had provided premium financing on a policy that was then cancelled, and what appears to be kiting of $4 million that was lent to Standridge and his wife for the purchase of Gibraltar National Insurance Co. of Little Rock last year.
Alice Jones of the Arkansas Insurance Commission said late Wednesday afternoon that there has been no impact on customers at this point.
The Hot Springs Police Department reports that an officer on patrol on Hobson attempted a traffic stop yesterday at just after 12 noon with the driver of the vehicle attempting to flee police. The vehicle was reportedly speeding and accelerated through a residential area as the officer activated his siren. The report stated that the vehicle traveled into a yard at one point as it tried to make a turn to elude police but managed to get back on the roadway. Police say the Jeep was located at a dead end on Campbell Street with the driver exiting the vehicle and fleeing on foot. Police say the vehicle was left in gear and continued to roll over a three foot retainer wall and hit the rear of a residence causing considerable damage to the building. The suspect reportedly turned as he fled giving police a clear view of his face. The suspect in the chase was located a few blocks away and was detained until he could be positively identified by the pursuing officer. 28 year old, Ryan Keith Haymon, was arrested and charged with fleeing, a class “D” felony and numerous misdemeanor traffic violations. Haymon is alleged to have a previous felony conviction out of Malvern and Hot Spring County along with felony warrants out of Hot Spring County and Benton plus misdemeanor warrants out of Garland County. Haymon is scheduled to appear in Hot Springs District Court on the charges March 22nd.
(Story used with permission from KLRT Fox 16)
We all get a big cell phone bill from time to time, but try $16,000. One Hot Springs man says that’s what he was charged after only a month and a half of internet service on his daughter’s phone.
Chris Brown says he has a Verizon family plan and only wanted to allow his daughter to send and receive pictures. But that requires internet use and his daughters plan was pay-as-you-go, not unlimited. Chris Brown couldn’t believe his eyes when he opened his phone bill online.
“The first thing I think of is, this thing costs more than my truck. It cost more than a house payment, I couldn’t fathom it, it’s mind-blowing,” Brown said.
He first found out his daughter’s phone was racking up the pay-as-you-go charges last month, when he got a bill over $3,000. Verizon reduced it by 75 percent. Brown banned his daughter from the phone and says the family asked Verizon to remove the internet from her phone. So he doesn’t understand why the charge went up to $16,000.
Brown says once he got to look at the phone usage online, he saw that the phone was connected to the internet when the family didn’t even know it.
A spokesperson for Verizon said Verizon does work with customers in extreme situations.
“We’re going to work with our customers; we’re going to look into the situation. I cannot comment on this situation specifically however, we will work with our customers and see what we can do to help them,” said Lucie Pathmann with Verizon.
Pathmann also said if you want to avoid charges like this, make sure your phone is disconnected from the internet when you’re done and look for the plan that works best for you or your family. Some limit usage to a certain amount of kilobytes a month, and others offer unlimited usage.
Now, Brown worries about his family’s future.
“If that goes on your credit that messes you up,” he said.
Mr. Brown says his wife has been talking to Verizon and the family is waiting to hear back to see if anything can be done to reduce the cost of the bill.
Those with Verizon say there are a number of options when it comes to managing a phone for your child.
- Limit the times of day they’re allowed to make calls.
- Keep your kids from getting onto your own phone’s internet by setting up a password.
- If you have a limited plan, you will get an alert and have to give approval before you exceed your number of kilobytes or megabytes for the month.
KLRT Fox 16 reports that teachers in the Fountain Lake school district want to reinstate corporal punishment. Forty teachers signed a petition to bring back spanking and went to the school board to take action.
One parent FOX16 spoke with is for corporal punishment.
“Because kids don’t respect teachers and they need respect.”
Another parent said she is against it. “No one will punish my child but me…period,” Lisa Hayes said.
The forty Fountain Lake teachers, most from the elementary school, signed a petition to reinstate corporal punishment. The school board president says this started after teachers visited an elementary school in Hamburg that administers corporal punishment on its students.
The issue went to the board last month but action wasn’t taken. Before making a decision, the board will call for a special work session to research and evaluate the current disciplinary policy and decide from there whether to whether to change the policy.
(story used with permission of KLRT Fox 16)