Luke's photographer portfolio

The Daily Citizen

Thursday, July 22, 2010 • Page 3A

LOCAL

Afternoon wreck

An injury accident occurred Tuesday when the vehicle of Angela Presley, 21, of Conway, collided with Patricia Lewis, 71, of Houston’s Toyota Camry on Highway 367 near the Little Red River bridge. Lewis was apparently attempting a U-turn and failed to yield the right of way to Presley, according to a Searcy Police official.

Lewis suffered injuries and was transported to White County Medical Center. She was also given a citation for failure to yield. Luke Jones/ljones@thedailycitizen.com

Local to be recognized

The Associated Press NORTH LITTLE ROCK — A memorial service is scheduled for 11 a.m.

Saturday for Nick Bacon, who was the last living Arkansan to be awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor.

The 64-year-old Bacon died of cancer last Saturday.

Bacon was a former director

of the Arkansas Department of Veterans Affairs.

The service will be held at 11 a.m. at Arkansas State Veterans Cemetery in North Little Rock, with a reception to follow at Militia Hall at Camp Robinson. The public can park at Pulaski Technical College Aerospace Technology Center across from the cemetery.

Shuttle transport to the service will be provided, starting at 9:30 a.m. Seating at the service isn’t guaranteed, but water will be provided.

Bacon served in the Army from 1963 to 1984 and was awarded the nation’s highest military honor for his actions during a 1968 battle in Vietnam.

They just moved to Searcy...

A groundbreaking for the Cancer Center of Excellence was held Tuesday by officials at White County Medical Center. The new facility is expected to open next year and will feature consolidated services for cancer patients. Pictured are the White County Medical Center Board of Directors, from left, Mitchell Hamilton, Dr. Eugene McKay, Chairman Monty Betts, Jim Wilson, Cleave Treat, Marvin Delk and Keith Feather. Warren

Watkins/warren@thedailycitizen.com

Center: Consolidated services are goal

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1A

officer, made remarks at Tuesday’s ceremony, as did Cecily and James Norman, co-chairs of the foundation’s development council.

“I think it’s an opportunity to give something back to our community in a small way that is going to provide treatment and relief for citizens and families for a long time to come,” James said. “This is an opportunity for everybody to be a contributor. You may not be able to go out and minister to someone or talk

to someone, but everybody can give something. This is your chance.”

Associates (employees) of the hospital have joined the Positive Empowered People (PEP) Club by pledging a minimum of $4 per pay period during the threeyear fundraising project. So far, 818 have joined, Feltrop said, and have pledged over $347,000. The club will name the main lobby of the cancer center.

The hospital auxiliary will

name the conference/education room, Feltrop said, the healing garden will be named by the Conley family, the Appearance Center will be named Amy Daniels and the Larry Crain family will name the snack area Crain Cafe.

Naming opportunities for donors are available, Feltrop said.

For more information on the center or the foundation, persons may call Feltrop at (501) 380-1056 or e-mail her at cfeltrop@wcmc.org.

Meeting: County bans synthetic drug

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1A

In other business, the court authorized a $7,500 grant to the White County Children’s Safety Center, 501 E. Race St. The center recently began providing medical examinations of children who are suspected to be victims of sexual abuse.

A non-profit program in support of children who have been abused or neglected, the center provides a non-threatening forensic environment where law enforcement personnel can obtain evidence and testimony from children while making the victims feel safe. Video of the interviews is recorded in an observation room and detectives can feed questions to a trained interviewer through an earpiece while she talks to the children.

Therapy is also offered to the children. The center provides support to White, Cleburne, Independence, Stone, Woodruff, Jackson and Izzard counties.

The next meeting of the White County Quorum Court will be Aug. 17.

The court meets the third Tuesday of each month at

District 6 Justice of the Peace Johney Gibson reports on the work of the county budget and finance committee, which he chairs, at Tuesday’s meeting of the White County Quorum Court as County Judge Michael Lincoln, right, watches. The two will face off in November in the county judge’s race, Gibson as the Democratic nominee and Lincoln as the Republican. Warren Watkins/warren@thedailycitizen.com

7 p.m. in the second floor courtroom of the White

County Courthouse downtown Searcy.

in

B

...and they need your help.

ut do they know what products and services you offer? Where your business is located? Or why they should come to you for help? They will if your business advertises in the ALL NEW 2011 Searcy Community Guide.

This annual publication by the Searcy Regional Chamber of Commerce and The Daily Citizen is distributed all year long to people requesting information about Searcy. It can be found in local hotels, banks and real estate offices. And it is available online at www.searcychamber.com and www.thedailycitizen.com.

This is where you need to be if you want to reach visitors, newcomers, retirees and workers on temporary assignment in Searcy.

Introduce your business to thousands of new customers with a fullcolor ad in this expanded, top-quality publication. Early-Bird Rates are available right now, but you must act soon. Call The Daily Citizen today for more information.

The

Daily Citizen Call 501-268-8621 to reserve your place.

50¢

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 30, 2010

The

Daily Citizen www.thedailycitizen.com

Serving Searcy and White County, Ark., since 1854

LIONS IMPROVE TO 11-3 WITH VICTORY ARK. HOUSE RACE LOSER FILES COMPLAINT Searcy beat Fayetteville 57-52 in the final game of the Springdale Tournament Wednesday. — PAGE 1B

The loser of a race for an Ark. House seat says winner does not meet residency requirements. — PAGE 2A

KENSETT DEDICATES RESTORED COURT BUILDING

ARSONS

The Mayfair: Sofa in lobby; lobby and doors damaged Vehicle at Mayfair: Rear floorboard, minor damage Elm Terrace: Couch in apartment; room damaged Arrested: Audley “A.J.” King, 27

Police: Arsonist arrested Man caught on steps of courthouse with lighter

Gov. Mike Beebe, center, addresses guests at Wednesday’s open house for the newly renovated Kensett city courtroom. Kensett Mayor Max McDonald listens to his left. The renovation was completed at a cost of $65,000 and is located in the former Double “S” Carpet building on SE First St. Luke Jones/ljones@thedailycitizen.com

Governor speaks at open house

K

By Luke Jones ljones@thedailycitizen.com ENSETT — Gov. Mike Beebe was present in Kensett Wednesday for an open house at the newly restored city courtroom.

The building, located on SE First St. near the railroad tracks, has served as a courtroom for several years, but was in disrepair.

The restoration was completed at a cost of $30,000 to the city and a $35,000 grant.

“It’s all paid for,” said Mayor Max McDonald.

The early 20th century building has seen numerous occupants, including Double “S” Carpet & Supply.

The Scott family, who owns that business, donated the structure to the city of Kensett several years ago.

“I think they’ve done a wonderful job to it,” said Gary Scott

DOUBLE ‘S’ BUILDING Where: SE First St. Constructed: Early 1900s Now: Court Building Cost of restoration: $65,000

of Double “S.” “It’s a great improvement.”

Scott also praised the current changes to the city.

“Max and the city council are starting to improve the town,” he said. “[Robert] Underwood is putting in a new subdivision, and new duplexes are going in. The city council and the mayor are starting to enforce the city ordinances to clean up. I’m excited about the town.”

Kensett Municipal Judge Don Raney reminisced about holding city court in the local fire station, where the fire engine would need to be pushed out in order to afford space for the court.

“We appreciate the city and the mayor,” Raney said. “City courts

CONTINUED ON PAGE 3A

Gov. Mike Beebe, center, poses with Kensett mayor Max McDonald, right, and McDonald’s wife in Kensett’s newly renovated city courtroom. Luke Jones/ljones@thedailycitizen.com are important to cities in Arkansas.” praised Kensett for its system.

“Let’s never forget it’s the peoAt the end of the program, ple inside [the building] that make Governor Beebe stressed the it work,” he said. importance of city courts, and

Kensett man charged in attack on elderly woman Police: Victim was 83, man charged is 28

By Warren Watkins warren@thedailycitizen.com A Kensett man has been charged with battery of an elderly woman during a domestic dispute, according to police.

Brian Allen Campbell, 28, is slated to appear before White County Judge Robert Edwards on a charge of battery, with arraignment Jan. 4, pre-trial hearing Feb. 2 and jury trial March 8, according to information on file with the White County Circuit Clerk.

Kensett Police Officer Erek Balentine reported he was dis-

BATTERY

Victim: Clystia Waggle, 83 Charged: Brian A. Campbell, 28

patched to the Kensett Apartments, 405 E. Wilbur D. Mills Road, Apartment 17, for a domestic dispute in progress. Upon arrival Balentine was told by Clystia Waggle, 83, that she had asked Campbell to leave several times and he refused, Ballentine reported.

The victim’s daughter said her mother asked Campbell to leave and hit him on the arm a few times with a plastic trash can and he still would not leave, according

to Ballentine’s affidavit on file in the case.

Campbell was laying on the couch in the living room and Waggle was sitting in her recliner beside the couch and Campbell kept cursing over and over and would not quit cursing, Ballentine said Waggle told him, and Waggle asked Campbell to stop several times and he would not. Ballentine reported Waggle said that Campbell was mad and cursing because he thought he wasn’t going to get anything to eat. Campbell then said that he could talk and do whatever he wanted in this house, Ballentine quoted Clystia Waggle as saying, and Waggle then began

yelling at him to leave. Campbell got to the door and turned around and said he did not have to leave, Ballentine reported Waggle told him, and Waggle said she told Campbell to leave or she was calling the police.

Balentine reported that Waggle said Campbell said, “Hell no, you won’t,” and came at Waggle with both hands up and put both his hands on Waggle’s shoulders, shoving her back until she fell and hit her head on a kitchen table chair. Waggle told Balentine her head was injured in the fall.

Officers was arrested Campbell blocks away from the site of the alleged attack, Ballentine said.

Arkansas House leaders now won’t use state vehicles

The Associated Press LITTLE ROCK — Arkansas House Chief of Staff Bill Stovall says top officials in the chamber won't commute any more in state vehicles.

Stovall tells the Arkansas

Democrat-Gazette that outgoing Speaker Robbie Wills, D-Conway, has turned in his vehicle for use as a pool vehicle. State Rep. Robert Moore, DArkansas City, the incoming speaker, says he'll drive his personal pickup

WEATHER

Today: Mostly cloudy. Highs in the lower 60s. South winds 15 to 20 mph.

Tonight: Breezy. Lows in the upper 50s. South winds 10 to 15 mph in the evening.

Vol. 156, No. 312 ©2010 The Daily Citizen

By Warren Watkins warren@thedailycitizen.com A man has been charged with three counts of arson after a trio of fires erupted at two apartment buildings, police say, and was caught on the steps of the courthouse with a lighter.

Audley “A.J.” King, 27, was arrested by KING the Searcy Police Department late Tuesday night after the incidents, police say, which were located blocks apart.

At about 8 p.m. Tuesday officers responded to The Mayfair, a former hotel and now an apartment building at 101 N. Spring, to assist the Searcy Fire Department with traffic control surrounding a structure fire.

“There was a sofa that had heavy fire damage to it,” said Assistant Fire Chief Doug Baker. “The bulk of the fire was right there on the

instead of a state vehicle.

Moore says he made that decision because of a recent focus on the use of state vehicles. Stovall says it would have been "difficult to justify" continuing to use the state vehicle for

commuting. The House sent two of its four vehicles to the state Department of Finance and Administration to be sold. Stovall says the other two vehicles will be used for errands by House staff members.

INDEX NATION & STATE, 2A OPINIONS, 4A LIFESTYLES, 5A CALENDAR/OBITUARIES, 6A SPORTS, 1B CLASSIFIEDS, 5B

“

Ark. school used by officers for training

Police Lt.: Realistic locations are vital The Associated Press HOT SPRINGS — Hot Springs police are using a school that's closed for Christmas vacation to practice their response to a school-shooter scenario.

Police conducted the drill at Cutter Morning Star High School on Tuesday.

Police Lt. Bill Hrvatin tells the Hot Springs SentinelRecord that the school was chosen because he has ties to the school and because it's important for authorities to train in a realistic location when possible.

The training included two simulated shooters, negotiators and simulated bullets and weapons. Each of the two hostages in the scenario wore full protective gear and police also wore full gear.

Hrvatin says the most challenging part of hostage scenarios is communication.

A beauty is a woman you notice; a charmer is one who notices you.

ADLAI E. STEVENSON

American politician, 1900-1965

Contact us: 3000 E. Race, Searcy, AR 72143, (Phone) 501-268-8621, (Fax) 501-268-6277

”

White County Football 2010 < The White County Football 2010 guide is

inside today's edition of The Daily Citizen.

Get in-depth looks at Searcy, Harding Academy, Riverview, Bald Knob, Beebe, Rose Bud and Harding University. — INSERT

Pictured, from left: Rose Bud’s Braden Irwin (WR-DB), Beebe’s Scot Gowen (QB-DB), Riverview’s Chayse Parson (RB-LB), Searcy’s Mike Brown (RB-LB), Harding Academy’s Seth Keese (QB-S) and Bald Knob’s Jordan Johnston (WR-DE). Jacob Brower/jbrower@thedailycitizen.com

BECK: US TURNING BACK TO GOD

From the steps of the Lincoln Memorial, conservative broadcaster Glenn Beck told thousands of activists that the U.S. has too long “wandered in darkness.” — PAGE 2A

$1

SUNDAY, AUGUST 29, 2010

The

Daily Citizen www.thedailycitizen.com

Serving Searcy and White County, Ark., since 1854

STIMULUS MONEY IN WHITE COUNTY

Transportation: $6.1 million Education: $14.6 million Community Development: $854,000 Safety/Law Enforcement: $271,000 Emergency Assistance: $19,400

Senator: $21M allocated locally

Entergy: Don’t fall for scam

Bills should be paid only through approved methods, official says

By Warren Watkins warren@thedailycitizen.com Just electric bills for cooling homes on the hottest days of summer are arriving in Searcy mailboxes, Entergy Arkansas is warning Searcy residents to not fall prey to a scam in the area.

The scam like this, according to

ENTERGY QUICK-PAY CENTERS IN SEARCY

■ At The Bend, 401 N. Maple ■ Country Mart, 2702 E. Race ■ Mayflower Food Store, 2205 W. Beebe-Capps Expressway

Paul Ford, regional customer service manager: The setup: Someone claiming to represent a third-party bill-payment-

assistance agency approaches a customer and claims they’ll help the customer pay a portion of their electric bill.

The hook: The customer must pay a portion of the bill, the scammer claims, saying his “agency” will send in the total amount due to the utility company.

The sting: After the scammer gets the customer’s money, he may even call in a payment through Bill Matrix, which is a legitimate third party

CONTINUED ON PAGE 3A

Teams convene from US, Europe

I

Andrew Reynolds, veteran Q-Zar player and organizer of the international Q-Zar tournament, fires off a round of phaser blasts. Several teams from California, Chicago, Ireland and elsewhere will gather at LazerCade for the first-place prize. Luke Jones/ljones@thedailycitizen.com

WEATHER

Today: Partly sunny. Highs in upper 80s. Southeast winds 5-10 mph.

Tonight: Mostly cloudy.

Lows in upper 60s.

Southeast winds 5-10 mph.

Vol. 156, No. 207 ©2010 The Daily Citizen

CONTINUED ON PAGE 3A

LASER TAG TOURNAMENT TARGETS SEARCY

White County receiving federal stimulus funds

By Warren Watkins warren@thedailycitizen.com The federal government has allocated $21 million in stimulus money to White County since the beginning of the recovery effort last year, according to a U.S. Senator.

“In addition PRYOR to significant tax cuts for middle class families, Arkansas is expected to receive $2.9 billion for investments in transportation, water infrastructure, education, public safety, energy efficiency and health care,” Sen. Mark Pryor, D-Ark., wrote in a press release Aug. 19. “These funds are already having a significant impact on the local level.”

White County Stimulus Funds as of July 1, according to Pryor: ■ Transportation: $6.1 million — Highway 16/Holmes Road signal (Searcy) and Hwy. 67B/Hwy. 31/Hwy. 367 signal (Beebe); Hwy. 167 rehabilitation (Jackson County line north, Overflow Creek north, Independence and White Counties, Pleasant Plains south; Hwy. 16, Pangburn to Searcy to construct one northbound and one southbound passing lane for 2.41 miles.

■ C o m m u n i t y Development: $854,000 — White County: Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant Program; White River Area Agency on Aging, Inc. for meal delivery; Beebe

that customers can use to pay bills electronically. But the transaction is fraudulent, the customer’s bill remains unpaid and the amount the customer gave to the scam artist is gone.

“We are disheartened, disturbed and downright angry whenever we hear of someone trying to con our customers out of their hard-earned money, and we are eager to help the authorities in any way we can to catch

INDEX NATION & STATE, 2A OPINIONS, 4A LIFESTYLES, 5A CALENDAR/OBITUARIES, 6A SPORTS, 1B CLASSIFIEDS, 4B

“

By Luke Jones ljones@thedailycitizen.com n September, one team will emerge from Searcy’s LazerCade with the international Q-Zar tournament trophy.

The game of laser tag is played worldwide, and though the Q-Zar company declared bankruptcy almost a decade ago, its system is widely used.

Andrew Reynolds helped organize the tournament and has been playing laser tag for 10 years.

“Every kind of laser tag has its own competitive aspect of it, I suppose,” he said. “I think that Q-Zar is really the most — I don’t want to say difficult — but the most technical of the laser tag systems out there.

“Most people who play multiple systems say Q-Zar is the best.

The challenge that Q-Zar brings, the camaraderie and the friendship, that’s what really draws them to it.”

Though it is smaller in comparison to laser tag systems like Laser Quest, Q-Zar still attracts a dedicated tournament crowd from all over the U.S. and U.K. This year’s event, Reynolds said, will include two teams from California, two from Ireland, one from Chicago, one from the Cincinnati area and at least one from Searcy.

The tournament was originally intended to be held in a venue in Tampa, Fla., but when the buildCONTINUED ON PAGE 3A

All the things one has forgotten scream for help in dreams.

ELIAS CANETTI

Swiss author, 1905-1994

Contact us: 3000 E. Race, Searcy, AR 72143, (Phone) 501-268-8621, (Fax) 501-268-6277

”

50¢

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 7, 2010

The

Daily Citizen www.thedailycitizen.com

Serving Searcy and White County, Ark., since 1854

WILDCATS PREPARE FOR STATE FINALS OBAMA, REPUBLICANS REACH TAX CUT DEAL Harding Academy is practicing for its final week, preparing for Rivercrest on Saturday. — PAGE 1B

FIRST SOUTHERN SECURITIES INVESTIGATED Where: First Southern Bank Amount: $22 million

Bank investigates disputed bonds

$22 million in investments may be worthless

By Warren Watkins warren@thedailycitizen.com The president of a Batesville bank with offices in Searcy said Monday he fears that some of the bonds purchased by his financial institution since it opened in 2005 may be worthless.

ArkansasBusiness.com reported Monday that as much as $22 million bought by First

Southern Bank may be fraudulent and that federal regulators were investigating. Bank President and Chief Executive Officer Woody Castleberry told The Associated Press he hadn’t heard from the bond salesman in at least a month.

Castleberry said the bank has $19.2 million in capital and he wouldn’t place a value on the suspect bonds.

ArkansasBusiness.com said lenders and bank regulators are investigating rural improvement district bonds

The President announced agreement with the GOP to extend expiring tax cuts for all Americans. — PAGE 2A

Candidates file final reports Johney Gibson ends campaign $1,350 in debt

LINCOLN

By Warren Watkins warren@thedailycitizen.com County judge candidates Michael Lincoln and Johney Gibson have filed their final campaign finance contribution and expenditure reports, showing the entirety of their efforts.

Lincoln, a Republican who was seeking re-election to his third two-year term, defeated Gibson, the Democratic challenger, in the Nov. 2 General Election.

GIBSON

CAMPAIGN DEBT County judge’s race Michael Lincoln: Zero Johney Gibson: $1,350

Final reports from all candidates not in run-offs were due Thursday in the office of White County Clerk Tanya Burleson in accordance with state law, revealing names of donors and amounts received and spent. The reports differ from preelection reports in that a final report is required of all candidates whether they raised or spent any money or not according to Arkansas Ethics Commission Director Graham Sloane.

There are no exceptions to candidates for the final report, Sloane said.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 3A

PEARL HARBOR VET RECALLS EXPERIENCE

CONTINUED ON PAGE 3A

9-year-old injured in parade mishap

Inflatable Santa PARADE INJURY 6:32 p.m. Saturday found slashed Time: Location: Searcy, intersecBy Warren Watkins warren@thedailycitizen.com A nine-year-old boy was hurt in the Searcy Christmas parade.

The accident happened 140 feet west of the intersection of Race and Cross streets, according to a report filed

by Sergeant Steve Spurlock.

The driver of vehicle pulling the trailer/float was Donald Weaver of Searcy, 45, Spurlock reported.

Matthew Barber, 9, of Searcy is believed to have received injuries that were not life threatening.

“He got out of the float and started to get back in and slipped and fell,” Spurlock reported. “His right foot went under the trailer and the trailer ran over his right foot.”

The parade was paused

tion of Race and Cross streets Victim: Matthew Barber, 9, of Searcy

and Barber was transported to White County Medical Center by NorthStar EMS, according to the report.

“We had 25 people working that parade to make sure everything went smoothly,” said Major Tim Webb with the Searcy Police Department. “When you’re on a float that’s a moving vehicle and very dangerous.

With the Christmas parade being at night, that poses a whole new challenge not only for the float operator but for everyone involved. For the operator of the floats, you’re not able to see what’s going CONTINUED ON PAGE 3A

Officer in unmarked car nabs teen thief

PANGBURN — A juvenile was caught red-handed breaking into cars after police used an unmarked car to surprise him, police say.

A 17-year-old male was arrested early Monday morning and charged with the breaking and entering of several vehicles over the past month, according to Chief of Police Harold Glenn.

Glenn said that at around 12:40 a.m. the teen was caught sitting in a car in the parking lot at the Hiram Apartments on Monroe Street, which is Highway 124, by Captain Eric Patterson.

“We’vebeentryingtocatch the person for approximately a month using marked patrol cars,” Glenn said, “and we were getting nowhere. So the decision was made by me to use unmarked cars and have a marked unit standing by. The young man made a comment

JUVENILE NABBED

When: 12:40 a.m. Monday Where: Hiram Apartments, Pangburn How: Stealthy use of unmarked car

that we were not allowed to use a unmarked car and that was not fair.”

The juvenile, whose name cannot be released according to state law, made a statement with his parent with him, Glenn said, and then based on information in the statement other items were recovered from vehicles the juvenile and two others had broken into.

Other arrests are pending, Glenn said.

After being released into the custody of a parent, the boy allegedly caused a domestic disturbance and was then arrested again and sent to a juvenile detention center in Batesville, Glenn said.

WEATHER

Today: Mostly sunny. Highs in the mid 40s. Northeast winds 5 mph.

Tonight: Mostly cloudy.

Lows around 20. Northeast winds 5 mph.

Vol. 156, No. 292 ©2010 The Daily Citizen

George Morris holds a photo of himself in 1941, shortly before he as a radio man found himself on the decks of the USS Minneapolis during Japan’s bombing raid on Pearl Harbor. Morris remained in the navy throughout the rest of World War II. Luke Jones/ljones@thedailycitizen.com

Morris survived attacks T

By Luke Jones ljones@thedailycitizen.com he year 1942 was a tumultuous one for America, and George Morris, 90, father of Searcy mayor-elect David Morris, was right in the thick of it.

In December 1942 Morris was aboard the USS Minneapolis, a heavy cruiser and flagship for the admiral’s staff Morris was attached to.

On the fateful day, Dec. 7, a younger operator on a “drill circuit” (a training radio that receives mostly fabricated messages for training) received an unusual message.

“He yelled out, ‘Hey, I’ve got something I’ve never seen before,’”

Morris said. “’It sounds crazy!

I’ve got a message that says, this is no drill, repeat, no drill. It says what appear to be Japanese planes are coming in!’”

Morris Pearl Harbor veteran couldn’t Station: USS believe it: There weren’t Minneapolis Classification: supposed to Radio man, petty be Japanese aircraft within officer second class 1,000 miles of the harbor. But he checked the message and found it to be exactly as the operator said.

INDEX NATION & STATE, 2A OPINIONS, 4A LIFESTYLES, 5A CALENDAR/OBITUARIES, 6A SPORTS, 1B CLASSIFIEDS, 5B

GEORGE MORRIS

“

“I just took the message and sent it right up to the bridge,” he said. Less than five minutes later, more messages poured into the drill circuit: The planes were in the harbor.

“In just a few minutes, we had Japanese planes all over the harbor, bombing the battleships,” Morris said.

As the Japanese swept over the docked American battleships, the USS Minneapolis with Morris aboard fled the conflagration to regroup with an offshore aircraft carrier.

“We could see the planes come

CONTINUED ON PAGE 3A

A typewriter is a means of transcribing thought, not expressing it.

MARSHALL MCLUHAN Sociologist, 1911-1980

Contact us: 3000 E. Race, Searcy, AR 72143, (Phone) 501-268-8621, (Fax) 501-268-6277

”

50¢

FRIDAY, JULY 9, 2010

The

Daily Citizen www.thedailycitizen.com

Serving Searcy and White County, Ark., since 1854

SEARCY LEGION TAKES ON BATESVILLE

The Crain Automotive team hosted Batesville Thursday in its final game before its home tournament. — PAGE 1B

SPY SUSPECT SWAP APPEARS IN WORKS

U.S. and Russian officials met secretively Wednesday on two continents for a possible swap of spies. — PAGE 3A

SEARCY LOCOMOTIVES RUN REMOTELY

CORNERSTONE CHRISTIAN ACADEMY Location: Faith Assembly of God, Highway 16 Students: 45-50 Faculty: 6

Private school turns 10 School director recounts growth and changes

Rob Shoultz spots for Chad Billson as the pair moves their remote control locomotive (RCL) down Park Avenue. Searcy’s other RCL, a gray “slug” that is no longer used, can be seen in the distance. Luke Jones/ljones@thedailycitizen.com

Operators work on Park Avenue

T

By Luke Jones ljones@thedailycitizen.com he age of the railroad has largely left Searcy behind, but, every now and then, diesel engines still trundle up and down Park Avenue, and they aren’t normal engines.

Some of the last remaining tracks in Searcy are home to a particular type of train: Remote control locomotives, or RCLs for short.

The special engines were first used in 2002. They lack engineers in the common sense, and

5 FRAUD COUNTS

Who: Little Rock developer Steve Clary What: Faces 5 fraud counts

REMOTE CONTROL LOCOMOTIVES In use since: 2002 Range: One mile

are instead maneuvered externally by specially licensed operators with control boxes. The operators receive training and certification to pilot RCLs. Some operators may be specialized enough that they can only pilot RCLs and no other types of train.

A few other RCLs are used in

Little Rock and Shreveport, La., according to Lance Stubblefield, a yard manager with Union Pacific.

A gray locomotive that always sits at the corner of Park and Benton is an old RCL that is rarely used. According to Stubblefield, that RCL is referred to as a “slug” because it lacks certain parts and is not used for yard work. It does, however, operate on a different frequency than most RCLs and is used in training RCL operators for that reason.

Chad Billson, a senior RCL manager, has been working with RCLs since 2003 and Rob Schoultz, a veteran railroad employee, travel to Park Avenue six days a week to operate its working RCL. Most of the time, the pair employs a “pitch-and-catch” technique where one operates the engine and the other stands a short ways away and spots for any obstacles. An operator always keeps an eye on the end of the train.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 2A

Emergency personnel respond to spill

LR man faces fraud counts

The Associated Press LITTLE ROCK — A federal grand jury has handed up an indictment against Little Rock developer Steve Clary, who faces five fraud counts.

Clary developed the Shackleford Crossing mall southwest of the Interstate 430-630 interchange. He was charged Wednesday with using $1.6 million from a loan to spread the money among four businesses in which he has a financial interest.

Prosecutors say Clary obtained a loan to fund a business that would buy, customize and lease buses. The indictment says the bank sent a portion of the loan proceeds to a company that was to outfit the buses. Clary allegedly arranged for the vendor to redistribute the funds.

Johnny Kimbriel of the Arkansas Highway Department shovels sand onto a small chemical spill at Highway 67 exit 45 at around 2:45 p.m. Thursday afternoon. The AHD and Searcy Fire Department reported to the spill.

Jacob Brower/jbrower@thedailycitizen.com

WEATHER

Vol. 156, No. 163 ©2010 The Daily Citizen

Today: Showers likely. Highs in the mid 80s. West winds 5 to 10 mph.

Tonight: Mostly cloudy. A chance of showers. Lows in the upper 60s. West winds 5 mph.

INDEX NATION & STATE, 3A OPINIONS, 4A CALENDAR/OBITUARIES, 5A LIFESTYLES, 6A SPORTS, 1B CLASSIFIEDS, 4B

“

By Luke Jones ljones@thedailycitizen.com Tina Horton, director and teacher at Cornerstone Christian Academy, has watched her school grow over the past 10 years and couldn’t be more thrilled at the strides it has made.

The school began as a lower-cost alternative to many of the high-tuition private schools around White County.

“Our primary vision was to offer an affordable Christian education,” Horton said. “We were worried that people couldn’t afford it and therefore believed they didn’t have the option.”

To help with this, the school offers payment plans and scholarships and special items like discounts for multiple children from the same family. “Every student should CONTINUED ON PAGE 2A

Harding students win competition

Three Harding University students represented the College of Pharmacy at the Nonprescription Medication Academy’s annual Over the Counter Competition, taking home the victory for the second consecutive year.

The contest was held in conjunction with theArkansas Pharmacists Association meeting June 12 in Fort Smith.

Aakash Patel of Cartersville, Ga., Ankita Desai of Roswell, Ga., and B.K. Mthongana of Searcy, made up the winning team, defeating contestants from University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences in the final round of the Jeopardystyle competition.

Each team was assigned two pharmacists on site — Harding’s team was joined

by Arkansas pharmacists C.A. Kuykendall and Danny Porter. Kuykendall competed with Harding’s winning team at last year’s competition.

The first-place trophy will remain on display in the student affairs and admissions office at Harding until next year’s competition.

Education is simply the soul of a society as it passes from one generation to another.

GILBERT K. CHESTERTON English writer, 1874-1936

Contact us: 3000 E. Race, Searcy, AR 72143, (Phone) 501-268-8621, (Fax) 501-268-6277

”