www.thecabin.net CONWAY, Ark., Friday, April 23, 2010
131st Year — No. 221
18 pages
75 cents
One in custody after allegedly using pickax in brawl By JOE LAMB LOG CABIN STAFF WRITER
A
A fight involving several people at the Willow Street Apartments in Conway culminated when a group of men allegedly used a pickax and a twoby-four to beat another man, and then allegedly tried to run over another group of people when they drove from the scene.
When police arrived in response to reports of a large fight in progress at about 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, the fight was over. Officers made contact with those in an apartment from which a 9-1-1 call had been placed, and were told that an injured victim was in a back bedroom. Officers made contact with this victim, a 22-year-old man, who told them that a man he identified
as Mike Jones and five others, including one juvenile, “jumped him” in the apartment complex parking lot. He was left with a broken finger and a bruised eye, according to the report, as well as a laceration on his forearm he said was caused when Jones hit him with a pickax. The pickax was left at the scene, along with a two-by-four the victim said had also been
used to beat him and to smash the rear windshield of his car. These items were dropped after the men kicked open the door of an apartment in pursuit of the victim, who had managed to run inside. When the men saw that he was on the phone with 9-1-1, according to the report, they dropped their weapons and fled. The victim was taken by MEMS to Conway Regional
Medical Center where, as it happened, police located and arrested a suspect listed in the report as 19-year-old Michael Ray Jones Jr. of 401 Second St., Conway, the Mike Jones identified by the victim. Another officer arriving at the scene was flagged down by two women, one a pregnant woman with cuts and scrapes on her hand, shoulder and face she said
(Editor’s note: April is recognized as Child Abuse Prevention Month. The following is the fourth in a fivepart series.)
Faulkner County’s Relay for Life event will take place at the Farris Center on the campus of the University of Central Arkansas, located across from its original location at Estes Stadium. The event will begin at 6 p.m. today and end at 6 a.m. Saturday, instead of noon Saturday, its original ending time. The location was changed due to imminent rain in the area’s forecast.
By COURTNEY SPRADLIN LOG CABIN STAFF WRITER
A Left to right: Justin Wiedower, Krystal and Rachel Lewis and Auston McDaniel at the Quitman High School Prom. More images from this prom and other Faulkner County school prom at spotted.thecabin.net
Left to right: Rosalyn Moix, Jacklyn Hess and Haley Eubanks at the St. Joseph High School Prom. More images from this prom and other Faulkner County school prom at spotted.thecabin.net
Prom in Faulkner County
Due to imminent rain forecasts for the area, Kim Williams, chairperson for Keep Faulkner County Beautiful, has postponed Saturday’s Conway Cleanup. Williams said if neighborhood groups have been formed and would like to continue with the cleanup effort, supplies are still available by contacting her at kim@conwayarkwansas. org. Williams said the committee is scheduling another date for the cleanup and will announce that at a later time.
Stuck on a Truck contestants announced Centennial Bank announced its 2010 Stuck on A Truck Contestants Thursday. The contestants are Candace Martin, Marietta Monday, Buck Bray, Tom Bougher, Brandon Kennemer, Erica Holland, John Harrelson, Christina Fraser, Jason Beck, Nacole Welch, Chris Brynell, Allin Crawford, Terry Odom, Alex Watts, Cody White, Josh Whitehurst, Jason Baggett, Eric Duvall, Steven Hay, Kevin Cauthen, Joshua Thompson, Kari Allen, Brandy Andrews, Mike Cox and Scuba Steve Sweere. The contestants will be competing against each other in an endurance battle of the mind and will, according to Centennial Bank’s Web site. They will compete for a 2010 Ford F150.
FIght n 2A
CASA asks for help
Relay for Life main event venue, ending time changed
Saturday’s Conway Cleanup canceled due to rain forecast
were caused when a car occupied by some of the men involved in the fight drove over a sidewalk and onto the grass where a number of people were standing. Two others also had minor injuries they said were caused by the car, according to the report, “and all the victims believed that the driver had intentionally tried to
Left to right: Harley Halbrook, Kayla Trantham, Kaleb Bivens, Luke Evans and Levi Halbrook at the Guy-Perkins High School Prom. More images from this prom and other Faulkner County school proms at spotted.thecabin.net
DeShaun Artis and Kanesha Day at the Conway High School Prom. More images from this prom and other Faulkner County school proms at spotted.thecabin.net
The 20th Judicial District of CASA, Court Appointed Special Advocates, is asking for the humanitarians, the people of the community with a heart for children, and the believers in social justice to come forward to volunteer to “be the voice” of abused and neglected children in the district. “We have 47 advocates, each advocate being assigned one or two cases. Our 47 advocates are not able to serve the 153 children in the system. That means we’re serving 67 percent of the children, and the rest go without,” Eirin LewisJeffery, volunteer coordinator said. Jeffery said CASA was only able to serve about 50 percent of children in years past. “We’ve been doing well in recruiting and being recognized by the community, but there’s 33 percent of kids who don’t have anyone to speak for them and that number grows every single day. That number grows every day, of kids we can’t serve,” Jeffery said. According to CASA’s Web site, volunteers are appointed by judges to watch over and advocate for abused and neglected children, “to make sure they don’t get lost in the overburdened legal and social service system or languish in an inappropriate group or foster home.” Advocates will stay with each case until it is closed and the abused or neglected child is placed in a safe and permanent environment. “For many abused children, their CASA volunteer will be the only one constant adult presence — the one adult who cares only for them,” the Web site says. CASA is a unique organization in that it “empowers everyday
CASA n 2A
Candidates speak at Faulkner County Democratic Women fundraiser Free Pizza and Drinks, a thoughtfully named folk music trio, entertains the crowd at Thursday evening’s Faulkner County Democratic Women fundraiser, held at 5th Avenue Park in Conway. JOE LAMB PHOTO
Home delivery 329-2927 Outside Conway 1-800-678-4523 www.thecabin.net
By JOE LAMB LOG CABIN STAFF WRITER
A
The Faulkner County Democratic Women organization held a fundraiser at 5th Avenue Park on Thursday evening, with over 100 visitors attending to hear from candidates and contribute to the party. The event also was intended to celebrate the creation of the FCDW Web site, www. fcdw.org. Those speaking included John Adams, running the U.S. Second Congressional District; Jamie Gates, speaking
FCDW n 2A i n s i d e Classified . . . . . 6-9B Crossword. . . . . . 4B Editorial. . . . . . . . 4A
t h e
Police Beat . . . . . 2A Obituaries. . . . . . 3A Sports. . . . . . . . 6-7A
c a b i n Television . . . . . . 3B Weather. . . . . . . . 2A Yesterdays. . . . . . 2A
House Speaker Robbie Wills discusses his job creation plan Thursday. JOE LAMB PHOTO
Wills unveils job creation plan By JOE LAMB LOG CABIN STAFF WRITER
A
House Speaker Robbie Wills discussed his five-point plan for creating jobs on Thursday as part of his campaign for Arkan-
sas’ Second Congressional District. Wills’ plan calls for increasing class capacity and technology infrastructure
■ spotted.thecabin.net see you there
Wills n 2A