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April 8, 2015
THE POLK COUNTY
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1168 Hwy 71 S • Mena, AR 71953 • 479-243-9600
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Easter EasterTraditions TraditionsContinued Continued
Collision Claims Lives of Mother & Children
BY MELANIE BUCK A fatal collision was reported to Polk County authorities shortly after 1 p.m. on Monday, April 6, 2015. A 2002 Ford Van was northbound on U.S. Hwy. 71 when it collided with a 1975 Peterbilt semi tractor-trailer around the Six-Mile Hill area between Hatfield and Cove. Latosha Nicole Leather, age 23 of Lockesburg, Ark., was driving the van when she lost control, spun around 180 degrees, and entered the southbound lane CONTINUED ON PAGE 7
Burr Facing New Charges
BY MELANIE BUCK Alicia Burr was present in Polk County Court Wednesday, April 1, 2015 where Judge Jerry Ryan was presiding, concerning an alleged probation violation stemming from an incident that occurred in DeQueen in February. Burr was previously convicted in Polk County Circuit Court when she pled “no contest” to Arson {5-38-301}, a Class A Felony, three counts of Aggravated Assault {5-13-204}, a Class D Felony, and Criminal Mischief in the First Degree {5-38203a1}, a Class D Felony, in June 2014. Burr was sentenced by Polk County Circuit Court Judge J.W. Looney in August 2014 to 10 years probation with more than 20 conditions. Any violation to the conditions of probation can cause any part of the full sentence to be imposed. One of the felonies Burr was charged with carries a 30-year sentence. Looney CONTINUED ON PAGE 6
Mobile Home Explosion in Hatfield
Thousands of county children enjoyed the long-standing tradition of hunting Easter eggs as multiple churches and organizations hosted community Easter Egg Hunts. Proud of her prize, this toddler joined many that blanketed McMillan Park gathering over 3,500 eggs during an event hosted by Dallas Avenue Baptist Church.
BY MELANIE BUCK Deputies with the Polk County Sheriff’s Office were dispatched to 105 Faith Lane in Hatfield in reference to a residence that had exploded and was on fire on Friday, April 3, 2015. The residence was described as a single-wide mobile home. Polk County also dispatched the Hatfield Fire Department and Southwest EMS to the scene. Prior to arriving, dispatch advised that the occupants were out of the residence, but had received burns. Upon arrival of law enforcement, Hatfield Volunteer Fire Department was already on scene and fighting the fire. Upon inspection it appeared that most of the smoke and fire were coming from the west end of the structure. The occupants of the residence, identified as Linda Pilgrim, age 55, and Richard Fox, age 53, both of Hatfield, were located at a neighbor’s residence following CONTINUED ON PAGE 8 1020 MENA ST. MENA, AR 71953 | SINCE 1939
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