Multi-agency operation seizes $30,000 in fentanyl and other dangerous street drugs in Polk County

Submitted by Debra Buschman

(MENA, Ark. — March 29, 2023) Prosecuting Attorney for the 18 th West Judicial District, Debra Buschman, announced today that on March 22 the 18 th West Drug Task Force, in conjunction with the Polk County Sheriff’s Office, Mena Police Department, and Arkansas

Probation and Parole seized quantities of the drugs fentan - yl, methamphetamine, hydrocodone, Xanax, Suboxone, and marijuana, valued at approximately $30,000, from a group of individuals dealing drugs in the area.

The bust came after a month- long investigation targeting a local counterfeit oxycodone medication ring. The counterfeit pills, sold as 30 mg oxycodone to unsuspecting users, actually contained the dangerous drug fentanyl, which is much deadlier than oxycodone. The bogus pills were blue in color and had “M30” stamped on them.

Law enforcement has noted this type of fake pill usually contains between .2 mg and 5 mg of fentanyl, with dosages varying from pill to pill, making the risk of overdose more likely. For reference, just 2 mg of fentanyl is likely to be fatal to a person. Overdose by inadvertent contact with fentanyl has developed as an emerging hazard to law enforcement due to the intense strength of the drug and its increased prevalence on the street.

In addition to selling locally, the suspects were smuggling these drugs and other contraband into prisons. Equipment and records for the smuggling operation were also confiscated, as well as the mobile devices used to facilitate the transactions. Two individuals have been arrested and warrants are being sought for other individuals involved.

Tornadoes

continued from page 1 morning.

Southwest Arkansas was spared any significant damage from Friday’s storms. However, damage was widespread in Little Rock and in Wynne in northeast Arkansas following the deadly storm system. Neighboring Tennessee has recorded at least 15 deaths and widespread damage.

Pulaski County tornado

According to the (NWS) office in Little Rock, As the storm closed in on the Little Rock area, a Tornado Warning was issued at 2:03 p.m. CDT. It went downhill from there. A tornado quickly spun up and began causing destruction about two miles west-northwest of the intersection of Interstates 430 and 630. When it was clear the situation was becoming catastrophic/life-threatening, a Tornado Emergency was posted at 2:28 p.m. CDT.

The tornado tracked roughly 32 miles, with a maximum width of 600 yards, from west Little Rock through North Little Rock, Sherwood and Jacksonville (all in Pulaski County) before finally weakening on the south side of Cabot (Lonoke County). There were at least 60,000 power outages, many of these in Pulaski County. More than 50 people were injured and admitted to hospitals. Miraculously, only one person was killed.

Video and photographs from Little Rock and Wynne show catastrophic damage to communities with wide swaths of flattened homes and trees. A packed event venue in Little Rock collapsed during the storm. Fortunately, no one was killed.

Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders quickly instituted a state of emergency Friday and mobilized Arkansas National Guard members to assist with recovery efforts. Around 13,000 Arkansas residents remained without power as of Sunday evening.

Sanders said, “Today has been a very hard day for the state of Arkansas,” Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders said at a briefing with Little Rock officials Friday night. “The goodness of this is that Arkansas and Arkansans are tough - and we are resilient. No matter what comes our way, we will get back up the next day and keep moving. We will help our neighbors. We will ensure that every Arkansan who needs assistance has it. Our message and our mission is really simple: The people come first and the paperwork will come second.”

Sanders’ request for a Major Disaster Declaration from President Joe Biden to support ongoing recovery efforts in communities impacted by the tornadoes on Friday, March 31, was approved Apr. 2.

“I’d like to express my thanks to President Biden and our federal partners for their speedy approval of my Major Disaster Declaration request. It’s clear that the damage caused by Friday’s tornadoes is significant and widespread,” Sanders said. “I will continue to work with our first responders, law enforcement, volunteers, and state and local leaders to help Arkansans recover. Arkansas stands strong. I know we will come back from this.”

The Major Disaster Declaration provides Arkansas with the following federal assistance:

• Individual assistance and public assistance categories A and B for Cross, Lonoke, and Pulaski Counties

• Direct federal assistance said nearly 3,000 structures were either destroyed or damaged in Little Rock, mostly in the west and north of the city. The tornado – since rated by the National Weather Service as an EF3 – tore a six-and-a-half mile swath through western Little Rock and North Little Rock. Winds were recorded as high as 165 mph. If the winds had reached 166 mph, the rating would have been EF4. Many areas of North Little Rock were under curfew Apr. 1-3, and several roads in areas throughout the damaged portions of the cities were closed as crews worked to clear debris, restore power and make other repairs.

• Hazard Mitigation statewide Little Rock Mayor Frank Scott, Jr.

Eastern Arkansas tornado NWS stated on their site a separate supercell spawned a tornado, rated at least EF3, carved a path through Wynne (Cross County) around 4:45 p.m. CDT. Structures were obliterated, and at least four fatalities resulted. Farther downstream, it appears the same tornado wreaked havoc (i.e. homes damaged or destroyed and trees uprooted or snapped) just west of Parkin (Cross County) and north of Earle (Crittenden County). South of Turrell (Crittenden County), a truck was overturned on Interstate 55.

Four deaths were attributed to the tornado in eastern Arkansas.

Stone County tornado

A third tornado (EF2) was confirmed Monday afternoon in Stone County.

One-stop website for tornado recovery Sanders launched a one-stop website for tornado recovery on Monday.

Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders today launched helparkansas.com, a one-stop website for tornado recov- ery resources. This website includes information on federal, state, local, and charitable resources for tornado victims, as well as volunteer and charity opportunities for Arkansans seeking to help.

“Now that Arkansas is getting federal, state, local, and nonprofit assistance, we need a one-stop website where storm victims can find the resources available for their recovery. My administration just launched helparkansas.com to offer that information in one easy place,” Sanders said. “Tornado victims will be able to find the assistance they need, and those looking to help will find a way to volunteer or donate. We will continuously update this site as information changes.”

Visit helparkansas.com for more information.

FEMA

FEMA released the following statement: FEMA’s Individual Assistance can include grants for temporary housing and home repairs, low-cost loans to cover uninsured property losses and other programs to help individuals and business owners recover from the effects of the disaster.

Roland W. Jackson has been named the Federal Coordinating Officer for federal recovery operations in the affected areas. Additional designations may be made at a later date if warranted by the results of damage assessments.

Residents and business owners who sustained losses in the designated areas can begin applying for assistance by registering online at DisasterAssistance.gov or by calling 1-800621- 3362 or 1-800-462-7585 TTY.

See TORNADOES continued on page 13

Tornadoes

continued from page 12 weather.

More storms

Another storm system rolled through Southwest Arkansas Sunday night but no major damage was reported. Tuesday night into Wednesday saw even more severe weather with Polk County being part of the state considered a moderate risk for severe

Given the dangerous storm systems throughout the region the past few weeks, it’s certainly not too late to develop or refresh a safety plan for your home and family. That includes identifying the safest areas in your home to shelter from strong winds or a tornado, and ensuring you have access to weather reports. You should also keep food, flashlights and blankets handy and ensure your cellphone is charged before a storm system approaches.

If you live in a community that has a tornado shelter, plan your route, and an alternate route, if necessary.

By Richie Lawry

My daughter’s family loves to be on a river. They own rafts, kayaks, paddleboards, and canoes. Over the past few years, I have taken trips with them on the Caddo, Ouachita, and Buffalo Rivers in Arkansas. The river has a relaxing, hypnotic quality. You can see the beauty of nature while floating a river that you can’t see any other way. I love the serene tranquility and peacefulness of a river float. It is like everyday life doesn’t exist while floating on a river.

I always look forward to our family river adventures. My son-in-law planned a spring break raft trip on the Mulberry River this year. I was excited to see the Mulberry as I had never been on it.

My wife and I have spent time in Eureka Springs most years for the past 40 years. Our route to Eureka Springs would take us up Highway 23 and the Pig Trail Scenic Byway. The Pig Trail winds through the Ozark National Forest with almost every kind of scenery imaginable, from rivers to waterfalls to mountain views.

One stop we always made on the Pig Trail was the Turner Bend Store on the Mulberry River. The Turner family opened the Turner Bend store in 1911 on the banks of the Mulberry River. Whenever we stopped at Turner Bend, I would see all the canoes and kayaks at the campground, and I thought it looked like fun. The milky blue-green water of the Mulberry, its lush, forested banks, and its gorgeous Ozark scenery are exquisitely beautiful. But we never explored the area because we were going to Eureka Springs.

We got up early Saturday morning and headed to the Mulberry River. My son-inlaw had rented the rustic Riverside Retreat cabin on its banks. After the terrible storms of the day before with tornadoes that devastated Little Rock and other areas of Arkansas, the day was bright and sunny. The skies were a deep blue, and the scenery was beautiful. Lush green pastures and hillsides with dogwoods and redbuds told us it was spring.

When we arrived at the cabin, there was a flurry of activity. Kids and adults were preparing for a day on the river. When ev-