From the State Senate

Law enforcement is predominately a duty of local governments, and the overwhelming majority of police officers in Arkansas work for cities and counties.

However, state government does have 1,299 employees in the Department of Public Safety. There are 897 people working for the State Police. The Division of Emergency Management has 88 employees.

The state Crime Lab has a staff of 140, the Commission on Law Enforcement Standards and Training has 38 employees and the Arkansas Crime Information Center has 43 employees.

There are 93 employees whose work is shared by the other divisions. Their duties are administrative, for example, they work in information technology, human resources and writing grant applications.

The Crime Information Center (ACIC) is one of the most important agencies in law enforcement, although many people are unfamiliar with it.

Its primary duty is to operate a massive data system for 250 law enforcement agencies in Arkansas. When local officers take the fingerprints of a criminal suspect, they look for a match in a massive data base with prints submitted by the FBI, the National Crime Information Center and the other 49 states. ACIC is responsible for the entry of all Arkansas criminal files to the national system.

The files contain much more than fingerprints. They have lists of stolen vehicles and metals of value for resale or recycling. They have logbooks of the sales of ephedrine and pseudoephedrine, which are essential ingredients for making illegal drugs.

Criminal history records include pardons by the governor, orders to seal, mental health commitments and juvenile records.

The records include results of background checks that are used for handgun permits, and certain records of domestic violence.

ACIC manages the sex offender registry. The names are submitted by local, state and federal law enforcement agencies. However, ACIC is responsible for documentation, record retention and tracking of registered sex offenders.

Some of the hardware used at ACIC is almost 14 years old and in need of replacement. The agency is working with the Division of Information Systems to upgrade its technology.

The database of people’s criminal histories is available to local law enforcement officers, but not to the public because it is exempt from the open records requirements in the Arkansas Freedom of Information Act. However, sex offender information is public.

Also, ACIC compiles crime statistics that are available to the public. For example, every month in Arkansas between 500 and 700 guns are reported stolen. The cumulative impact of that number may surprise people - at the end of 2022, more than 58,000 guns had been reported stolen in Arkansas.

For comparison, at the end of 2022 there were a total of 11,821 motor vehicles and 308 boats reported stolen in Arkansas.

One file maintained by ACIC is of extreme value to law enforcement. It’s the file of 263 people who are not only prone to violence, but specifically prone to violence against police officers.

The legislature created ACIC in 1971 and has updated its authority, and many times since then has modernized its equipment and technology.

HORSES continued from page 1

“Why on earth would I even think to bring in more animals that are gonna burn hay on me?

“I ended up on Facebook and I saw some woman’s avatar. It was her and a cowboy hat and she had her arm raised up in the air and she was like, ‘Help me, I’m drowning.’ I just looked at that and I thought, ‘What would make someone generate an avatar like that with such a pleading sort of look? Right? What would that be? So, just because I was curious, I clicked on it and then it was like a tidal wave rush of these beautiful horses. I mean, just so gorgeous. I couldn’t believe it. Momma/baby pairs — mares and their foals paired up.

“At the top it said, ‘Owned by kill buyers.’ I thought, ‘Well, that’s not okay.’ You think of a momma and a baby, and they need to be stress free, comfortable, fed extra feed, cared for in a different way, and given the space to sort of grow and raise that young baby. Just any animal should be given that.

I looked at that and I thought, ‘You know, that is not good.’ I saw the stickers on their butts, and I was like, ‘I could probably adopt one pair. I’ll adopt one pair.’ I thought to myself, ‘You know, maybe that’s not so responsible given that my union is striking and there’s no more jobs in the foreseeable future for me, which means no money, no income coming in.’”

Despite that uncertainty, she didn’t let it deter her. Inspiration and a seedling of a thought germinated and grew.

“I thought, ‘Well, let me be creative, put it on my Instagram and see if anybody would wanna sponsor these horses.’ Then I could care for them and then maybe people would wanna share the cost of the feed and the hay and maybe it would offset my responsibility just a little bit because I love the caring for them. I’ll do that all day long, but it’s just I can’t financially afford more animals that eat like that.

“So, I put it up and immediately, peo- ple were like, ‘Yeah, we wanna help. We wanna free them.’ I was like, ‘Okay, well, here’s my Paypal. You could just send some money.’ Even before I finish the sentence, it’s like the money is there. I was like, ‘Wow, so they really wanted to do this.’ So, I bailed that pair out.

“Then I thought, ‘Well, because I because they sent me that money to do that. I said, ‘I promise that whatever money you sent, I will rescue horses with this money. I did exactly what I said. We saved every single horse from that truck, every single mother/baby pair. I was like, ‘Okay, now I have 48 horses,’” Olivieri said with a laugh of have the facilities to do this. I did not have the structure in place. Maybe some people may call that irresponsible, but I kind of look at it like I’m moving on full trust. There is, without a doubt, a divine architecture at play here and I am simply keeping fear at bay within myself that I won’t have enough. There won’t be enough hay, there won’t be enough feed, there won’t be enough… and it’s just taking care of itself. I mean, Purina has stepped up and they are sponsoring all of the feed for all of the horses indefinitely right now. I would never be able to do this if this kind of thing didn’t pop up like this. made that announcement, I had extra money then in the Paypal. I thought maybe I could bail two out if they’re just sending me the money to do it, I’ll do it.”

Tractor Supply [Co.] stepped up and has donated not only water troughs, hoses and almost everything I’ve asked for. They connected me with a vendor with Tarter [USA]. Tartar brought 60 pan corral panels and dropped them off on a semi for the babies.

She bailed out two and then the money kept coming in, leaving her wondering what to do next.

Her idea began growing like wildflowers. She said, “‘Well, hold on a second, I’ll do this. Do you guys want me to take more?’ and they’re like, ‘We wanna rescue more.’ So, I just kept doing it and I kept posting pictures. They would be like rescue this pair. The [hay] bales were around $1050,” she said with disbelief. “People were sending exactly that amount, and multiple times. I was like, ‘Oh my God. Now I’m really responsible. I feel really responsible for these people’s money, and they’re donating to save the horses. So, I have to save the horses.’

By the end of three days, I had rescued 28 horses. There were 14 pairs exuberance.

The next hurdle was the problem of getting them all back to Arkansas, not to mention determining on how to properly handle that amount of responsibility and obtain enough supplies for proper watering and feeding.

“Therein lies the next phase. In my mind, I wasn’t thinking of all of the steps. I’ve never done this. You don’t think you’re naive to the fact. You can say naïve, or you can say, ‘I’m in, I have faith that whatever this thing is that’s moving is gonna help me.’ It’s not just up to me because it hasn’t felt like that this entire time. It felt like it wanted to happen.

“And these horses are doing the work. They are generating awareness and they are enticing people to then help them stay alive. All I have to do is be the vessel in which those pathways connect.

“That’s sort of how I’ve done this. I definitely was not prepared. I did not

Literally, if I tell you I was not prepared, there are two rescue groups that I have right now on the property. The first one was that momma/baby pair. I call it the Momma Baby Army.

“When I did that, a rep from Purina came and dropped off 25 buckets of foal feed. I thought she was just gonna bring me like a couple of buckets in her car. She brought 25 buckets, and I was like, ‘Wow, I have a lot of foal feed now — milk pellets. I thought, ‘Well, maybe I should go rescue a few more foals because I can feed them right now.’

“I started looking at the other kill pens because, for some reason, over the past couple months there has been the largest, foal presence in kill pins that the rescuers I’ve talked to have seen in their entire careers. There’s been more foals that have shown up in kill pens over the last few months.”

To discover whether she rescued more horses, and the health issues some horses have had to overcome, watch for part three of Olivieri’s interview next week. Meanwhile, the standalone article of part one [The Pulse Nov. 15] has links on how you can donate.

Joyce Nodene Maxey

Mrs. Joyce Nodene Maxey, age 98, passed away, Saturday, November 4, 2023, in Issaquah, Washington. She was born May 30, 1925, in Cove, Arkansas, to Grover Sims and Sarah (Clark) Sims.

Joyce was known as a very family-oriented person, she loved being surrounded by her family and looking through photos and sharing stories to one another. She was also very fond of crocheting, gardening, quilting, and sewing.

Mrs. Maxey is preceded in death by her parents, Grover and Sarah (Clark) Sims; daughter, Barbara Koenig; husband, George Maxey; grandson, Robert Koenig; granddaughter, Kimber White; 2 brothers and 5 sisters.

She is survived by her sister, Muriel Manning; daughter, Georgia PettyJohn and husband Elroy; grandchildren, Desiree (Hart) Cuddihy, Casey Koenig and wife Tammy, Beth Koenig, Christy Keith and husband Kendall; 10 great-grandchildren; several great-great-grandchildren; as well as by a host of nieces, nephews, other family and friends.

Services for Mrs. Joyce Maxey will be held at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, November 18, 2023, at the Beasley-Wood Chapel in Mena, Arkansas. Casey Koenig will be officiating under the direction of Beasley-Wood Funeral Home. Interment will follow at the Pleasant Grove Cemetery in Cove, Arkansas. Visitation will be general.

Online obituary at beasleywoodfuneralhome.com

Cassius “Junior” Garfield Hennings Jr.

Cassius “Junior” Garfield Hennings Jr, age 73, of Mena, Arkansas, died Wednesday, November 15, 2023, at the Green House Cottages of Homewood in Mena, Arkansas. He was born on Sunday, June 18, 1950, to Cassius Garfield Hennings Sr. and Phyllis Hoeke Hennings in Mena, Arkansas.

With a quiet personality that was easy to get along with, Junior was a man of simplicity who loved his family and valued hard work. He had an exemplary work ethic that set him apart. In his silent, resilient manner, Junior would teach those around him the importance of dedication and perseverance, lest anything be put off for later. His approach to life bore the testament of his belief in getting things done in a timely manner.

Junior held a special fondness for softball and wrestling, watching them on television or recording them to watch later. His recreational activities included fishing, playing bingo at the American Legion, and tinkering with old cars. His quiet presence and easygoing nature will be dearly missed by his family and friends. He leaves behind a legacy of hard work and devotion and will forever be remembered for his quiet strength and gentle spirit.

Junior is preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Sharon Dee Hennings; one stepdaughter, Lois Mae Stone; two sisters, Phyllis Gallego and Joyce Bissell.

Junior is survived by his two sons and daughter-in-law, Nathan Stone of Mena, Joshua and Emiko Hennings of Wickes; two brothers, Butch and Frances Hennings of Cherry Hill and Richard and Reginna Hennings of Atlanta, Georgia; five grandchil- dren, Garrett Hennings, Clint Hennings, Beau Hennings, Tyrel Hennings, Amy Hennings; numerous nieces and nephews, and a host of other relatives and friends.

No services are planned at this time. Cremation arrangements are entrusted to Bowser Family Funeral Home in Mena, Arkansas.

Online Guestbook: bowserffh.com

James David Embry

James David Embry, 49 of Hot Springs, AR, formerly of Mena, passed away Sunday, November 5, 2023. He was born February 27, 1974, in Mena, AR, to Dale and Yvonne Embry.

He is preceded in Death by grandparents James and Shirley Rathell, Clyde and Wilba Embry, and a baby daughter.

Survivors include life partner, Donna MacDonald of Hot Springs; Father, Dale Embry of Mena; Mother, Yvonne Embry of Prairie Grove; Brothers John Embry and wife Kendra, of Mena; Steve Embry, of Harrison; Sister, Amanda Embry of Prairie Grove; and nephew, Zayne Embry, of Mena.

He was a loving partner, son, brother, uncle, and friend who will be missed by many.

He has been sent for cremation and a memorial will be held Tuesday, November 28, 2023, at 2:00 p.m., at Southside Church of God in Mena.

Polly

Sue Brown Polly Sue Brown, 87, of Acorn, Arkansas, passed away on November 18, 2023, peacefully at her home in Acorn. Polly was born on October 5, 1936, to James Golden and Wilanna (Ralls) Golden in Athens, Arkansas.

Polly was a member of the Northside Church of Christ, she loved baking sugar cookies, and she was a professional quilter. Her quilting was so amazing she won first place at the county fair. The only reason why she stopped entering her quilts was she wanted to give someone else a chance at winning. She loved watching and listening to baseball games. She used to listen to the Atlanta Braves on the Radio before there was TV.

She is survived by; one son, Alden (Deanna) Brown; and two daughters, Cindy Lou (James R.) Martin, and Perri (Dwayne) Curry; one sister, Alice Holomshek; five grandchildren, twenty-two great-grandchildren, and six great-great-grandchildren. She is preceded in death by her parents, seventeen siblings, granddaughter, Sally Wigger, and Grandson, Tony Curry.

Graveside service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, November 25, 2023, at Nunley Cemetery in Nunley, Arkansas, with Brother Frank Gibson officiating. There will be a scheduled Visitation on Friday, November 24, 2023, from 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. at Beasley Wood Funeral Home.

Online obituary and guestbook at beasleywoodfuneralhome.com