CRSD

Offers Summer School And Free Meals

The Cossatot River School District wants to remind students of summer opportunities.

Summer school is offered Tuesday - Friday during the month of June. Contact the building principal if you are interested in your child attending.

Also, do not forget our summer feeding program. Anyone 18 years or younger in any community can arrange to pick up breakfast and lunch from the CRES cafeteria by contacting Carla Harwood at 479216-3324.

The WOMEN FOR JESUS Prayer group will meet for a Brunch, Saturday, June 17, at the Union Bank of Mena conference room. All women thirteen years of age and up are welcome. Questions call (918) 755-4462 LL, Cynthia Perkins or text (918) 429-8538 Cell T0614

- EDUCATION -

Solid Foundations Christian Academy

The Solid Rock Church at Y-City will open a Christian school in the fall of 2023 for students entering grades K-8. The first day of school will be August 21.

For more info call pastors Mike and Jan Shaddon. Mike’s cell - (479) 207-0616 , Jan’s cell - (479) 207-2813 T0614

YARD SALE -

Multi-family Yard Sale, 2008 Valley View

Dr., Friday, June 16 - Saturday, June 17. Furniture, dishes, misc., clothes, tools, moving/ clearing out, lawn mower 8 a.m. - 5p.m. T0614

Yard Sale, 409 Lakewood Dr., Saturday only, June 17, all day. Furniture, household items, and clothes. T0614

- SERVICES -

Wendell’s Tree Service - Tree Removal and Trimming. Experienced and fully insured for ALL your tree-trimming needs. Call (479) 394-0227 or (479) 216-4328. T0628

Mobile lawnmower repair and repair flats. Minimum, $20 service call. For details, call Bill Duff (479) 216-5204. T0614

Construction, steel buildings, welding, pads, ponds, and roads. Military discounts. Insured. Give RC Customz a call for free estimates at (479) 216-2976. T0628

Tree services, forestry mulching, storm cleanup, stump grinding. Signs and light replacement. Give RC Customz a call at (479) 216-2976 for Free estimate. T0628

Carter’s Excavating - Licensed Contractor: Heavy and light dozer work, heavy excavation, soft ground to rock excavation, heavy off-road hauling, road design and construction

50 years in trade, 40 years in area. Subsidiary of RCI Construction (479) 394-9227

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Mena Shuttle - Ground transportation to AR and TX airports. Doctor and emergency appointments. Also, light deliveries. (870) 490-1191 T0628

Carter’s Excavating - Licensed Contractor: Roads, bridges, house pads, building pads, basements, land clearing, small lots to large tracks, ponds, stream crossings, farm roads, building demolition, site planning & prep.

50 years in trade, 40 years in area. Subsidiary of RCI Construction. (479) 394-9227

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- WANTED -

Wanted AOD automatic transmission 1990 Ford Ranger. Must hook up to 2.3 4-cylinder. One from ‘88 thru ‘91 will work. Does not need to be good. Just need core.

Ray (479) 477-0576 T0614

- FOR SALE -

Gun cabinet for sale, wood with glass door and lower cabinet, 74 inches tall. $150. Call Joan Evans 479-243-0405. T0614

For sale by owner - 40 acres, mostly pasture land with home. West of Cove, Ark. $260,000. Call (870) 571-7858 (cell) or leave message at (870) 387-3049. T0705

1996 Motor Home for sale - Class C, as is best offer. (479) 234-0237 T0614

Hand-carved flute, round oak coffee table, twin bed w/mattress, pressure cooker, hot air fryer, antique chair, double air mattress, bread machine. (479) 322-0065 T621

- HELP WANTED -

F.M. Dix Foundry is accepting applications for general labor positions. Applications may be picked up at the office, located at 301 Maple Avenue in Mena, from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. Competitive starting wages with benefits available.

Notice to Applicants: Screening tests for alcohol and illegal drug use may be required before hiring and during your employment.

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Brodix, Inc. is accepting applications for an experienced CNC Machine Operator. Applications may be picked up at the Brodix office, located at 301 Maple Avenue in Mena, from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. Competitive starting wages with benefits available.

Notice to Applicants: Screening tests for alcohol and illegal drug use may be required before hiring and during your employment.

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Brodix, Inc. is accepting applications for general labor positions. Applications may be picked up at the Brodix office, located at 301 Maple Avenue in Mena, from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. Competitive starting wages with benefits available.

Notice to Applicants: Screening tests for alcohol and illegal drug use may be required before hiring and during your employment

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Brodix, Inc. is accepting applications for a technical/phone sales position. Responsibilities include, but are not limited to, answering technical inquiries, providing product information and recommendations, troubleshooting with potential and current customers, and processing orders in a fast-paced office setting.

Parts, automotive, and computer experience would be helpful.

Applications may be picked up at the Brodix office, located at 301 Maple Avenue in Mena, from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. Competitive starting wages with benefits available.

Notice to Applicants: Screening tests for alcohol and illegal drug use may be required before hiring and during your employment.

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Brodix, Inc. is accepting applications for an experienced TIG Welder for a permanent day shift position. The applicant must be proficient in welding aluminum. Applications may be picked up at the Brodix office, located at 301 Maple Avenue in Mena, from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. Competitive starting wages with benefits available.

Notice to Applicants: Screening tests for alcohol and illegal drug use may be required before hiring and during your employment.

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REQUEST FOR BIDS CITY OF MENA, ARKANSAS

The City of Mena, Arkansas, is seeking sealed bids from interested and qualified individuals/contractors for the purpose of clearing and disposing of all vegetation and debris from the property located at 206 10th Street, Mena, Arkansas.

Project specifications may be picked up between the hours of 8:00 am and 4:30 pm at Mena City Hall, 520 Mena Street, Mena, Arkansas.

Bids must be submitted in written form in a sealed envelope clearly marked with the individual’s or contractor’s name, date of response, and the words “VEGETATION AND DEBRIS REMOVAL 206 10th STREET PROJECT”.

A Mena City Hall representative must receive any and all responses not later than 3:00 pm CDT on June 21, 2023, at the Mena City Hall, 520 Mena Street, Mena, Arkansas 71953. All Bids received in response to this notice will be reviewed and presented to the Mena City Council for consideration.

Questions on the foregoing may be directed to Seth Smith, (479) 394-4585. No bidder may withdraw their bid within thirty (30) days after the actual date of the opening thereof without written consent of the owner.

The City of Mena reserves the right to reject any and all bids, to waive all formalities, and to award the contract deemed most advantageous to the City.

This is an Equal Employment Opportunity project and all licensed small, minority, and women businesses are encouraged to apply.

Seth Smith, Mayor

City of Mena

June 7, 2023

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CRIDER continued from page 1

Crider, who was over the age of 18 at the time of the alleged incidents, was accused engaging in sexual intercourse or deviate sexual activity with another person who was less than 14 years of age, constituting a Class “Y” Felony. A Class “Y” Felony is the most serious non-capital charge which one can receive in Arkansas. If convicted, the prison sentence can range from 10 to 40 years.

Crider waived his arraignment, having his attorney Brent A. Miller of the Miller Law Firm in Hot Springs enter a “not guilty” plea to the charges.

A motion by Miller to bar prosecution on “res judicata” was made to prohibit and bar the Court from the re-litigation of the issue of whether Crider engaged in sexual contact with S.C. based upon the due process clause and res judicata. According, in part, to the motion:

1. Defendant is charged with Rape.

2. The allegation involves incidents from 2 ½ years ago.

3. The allegation by alleged victim, S.C. was made known to authorities on July 23rd, 2020.

4. The investigation ceased and the file was sent for review to the prosecutor’s office on October 15th, 2020. No charges were filed at that time.

5. On or about May 3rd, 2021, a hearing was held at the Office of Appeals and Hearings, Judge Sheila McDaniel presiding. Investigator Alissa Gordon was present, as was the Defendant. Inv. Gorden introduced the State’s investigative file as well as the DVD of the C.A.C. interview of S.C. into the record. The

Defendant testified on his behalf. The Hearing resulted in a finding that there was insufficient evidence to prove by a preponderance of the evidence that this same allegation was true. The allegation was unsubstantiated. No appeal was made by DHS. The CHRIS # is 204256 and the appeal by Mr. Crider that overturned the DHS true finding is Case #20006400.

6. In January of 2023, an affidavit for arrest warrant based upon the same allegation of S.C against the Defendant was filed in Polk County Circuit Court. Defendant was then arrested based upon the same information known by the Polk County Sheriff’s Office, as well as the 18th -West Judicial District Prosecutor’s Office, 2 ½ years prior.

Continuance and trial

Citing facts based on the hearing from 2021, the State’s response explained in paragraph nine that the criminal case against the defendant, Crider, was not a re-litigation. The Court agreed.

An order of continuance was made March 13. Crider was arraigned March 15 and his pre-trial hearing took place Apr. 12. His trial took place at the Polk County Court House throughout June 8 and 9.

The alleged victim, S.C., was one of two minors. Buschman stated, “Crider was accused of raping and sexually assaulting two children. The victims bravely testified at trial.

I am grateful to the jury for their service and dedication in this case. They spent two long days hearing testimony that was traumatic and difficult to hear. They remained steadfast and deliberated, without dinner, for four hours. They were discharged by the Court at two minutes until midnight on June 9th.”

Polk County Sheriff Scott Sawyer posted on Facebook, “We just finished up a two-day jury trial at midnight tonight. It’s been a long couple of days and I’m running on empty. I’d like to thank all of my guys, our Judge Andy Riner and his staff, and Prosecutor Debra Buschman and Robert Presley and their staff for their hard work. Our jurors gave us two long days listening to some graphic testimony and reached what I believe was the correct verdict and an appropriate sentence. Many people try to get out of jury duty but you all stepped up and performed a great service for your community. And to the two special young ladies... I’d like to say thank you for your courage and grace.”

Buschman also said, “The victims in this case showed tremendous courage in coming forward and testifying. Because of their bravery, Crider will be unable to harm other children for the foreseeable future. My heart and prayers are with them as they grow into the young women God made them to be.”

According to Buschman’s statement, the Court, upon recommendation of the jury, sentenced Crider to a total of 59 years in the Arkansas Department of Correction. He will be eligible for parole in 28.5 years.

Buschman was not certain if Crider will appeal but based on previous experience with other cases like this, she said she would expect him to.

Many people were involved in the investigation, arrest and the prosecution of this case. Buschman stated, “The Polk County Sheriff’s Office investigated this case with precision and integrity. The Sheriff’s Chief Deputy, Randy Jewell, made this case. There are places where these kinds of tough cases are not a priority, but Sheriff Scott Sawyer makes sure Polk County is not one of them.

“Elena Cannon, a fierce and devoted champion of justice for children, investigated on behalf of the Prosecuting Attorney’s Office. She was invaluable in preparing this case for trial and I am indebted to her for all she has done, not only in this case, but also in the many child abuse cases that preceded it.

“Robert Presley, the Chief Deputy Prosecuting attorney, was co-counsel for the State. He is a veteran of the U.S. Navy, a gifted trial attorney, and a staunch advocate for the truth. His skill and expertise were essential in securing this guilty verdict. But above all, I credit God for His love of justice and for enabling me to do the hard work I love — fighting for those who cannot protect themselves.”

Buschman finished by stating, “I am grateful every day He lets me do this job. To God be all the Glory.”

The following information was received from Polk County law enforcement agencies. The charges against those arrested are allegations and the cases are still pending in the courts. Individuals charged and whose names appear in this column may submit documentation to us at a later date that the charges have been dismissed, or that they have been found innocent, and we will include that information in this space in a timely manner.

POLK COUNTY SHERIFF’S LOG

June 5, 2023

Lee Wisnoski, 48, of Mena was arrested on a Felony Failure to Appear Warrant and a Misdemeanor Failure to Appear Warrant.

Zachary Bryan, 31, of Mena was arrested by an officer with Probation Parole to be held for another agency.

June 6, 2023

An incident in the jail led to Holly Bunyard being issued a citation for 2nd Degree Criminal Mischief.

Christopher Chesser, 38, of Hatfield was arrested on five Failure to Appear Warrants.

Deputies responded to a walk-in complainant in reference to stolen property from a residence on Hwy 375 W near Mena.

June 7, 2023

Shannon House, 56, of Grannis was arrested by an officer with the Grannis Police Department on warrants for Disorderly Conduct and Breathing, Inhaling or Drinking Certain Intoxicating Compounds.

June 8, 2023

Deputies were dispatched to a residence on Heritage Lane near Hatfield in reference to a structure fire.

Deputies were dispatched to a residence on Hwy 8 E near Big Fork in reference to an unattended death.

Jamie Miller, 49, of Mena was arrested on a felony warrant for Possession of Firearms by Certain Persons.