White river journal, mar 26, 2015

Page 1

75¢

Courthouse from Plunkett-Nichols building (Photo by Richard Davis, Architectural Salvage by Ri-Jo, Mena, Ar.)

1 SECTI ON - 16 PAG ES V OLUME /Y EAR # 108

-

W EEK # 33

( 561 6 TH W EEK )

“A FREE P RESS AND A F REE P EOPLE - A N U NBEATABLE TEAM ” D ES A RC , A RKANSAS (C OUNTY S EAT ) P RAIRIE C OUNTY

P UB LI S H E D E A C H T H U R S D A Y S I N C E 1 9 0 7 THU RSD AY, MAR CH 26, 2015 Davis’ photo above taken thru opening

Removal of Plunkett-Nichols Building, 2nd & Main, continues . . . Front (North) Wall exterior & interior (2nd floor) as of 3/24/15 - More photos Pg 10

Chamber’s Annual Awards Banquet here Saturday night

ACTIVITIES CALENDAR SAT., MARCH 28, 6 PM Annual Chamber Banquet First United Methodist Church Christian Life Center

Vilonia tornado victim to speak

SUN., MARCH 29, 2 PM Sand Hill Cemetery Ass’n. Sand Hill M. Baptist Church MON.MARCH 30, 5:30 PM MPCF Meeting DeValls Bluff Admin. Bldg Discussions along with Fellowship & Refreshments

TUES., MARCH 31, 1-4 PM Retirement Reception Police Chief Darrell Turner Des Arc City Hall TUES., MARCH 31, 6 PM Parent Advisory Committee (PALS) Des Arc Elem. Cafetorium

TUES., MARCH 31, 7PM DABA Draft Night Des Arc Firestation All coaches be present

MON., APRIL 6, 6 PM Des Arc Zoning Board City Council Chambers

Search and seizure at Sand Hill residence On February 26, 2015, the Prairie County Sheriff’s Office was notified by the United States Internal Revenue Service that they were executing a search warrant on the residence of Gary and Rhonda Williams at 14114 Sand Hill Road. While executing the search warrant, several illegal items were discovered, according to Prairie County Sheriff Gary Burnett. These items were not covered by the IRS warrant and were unrelated to their investigation. Chief Deputy Bill Duerson and Detective James Medlin of the Prairie County Sheriff’s Department obtained an additional search warrant for the residence. During the execution of the second search warrant, several items were located and seized by the sheriff’s office. The case is still under investigation and formal criminal charges are anticipated after review by the prosecuting attorney’s office. Details of the investigation by the United States Internal Revenue Service are unknown, according to the sheriff’s office. The affidavits have been sealed by the U.S.Magistrate and are unavailable at this time.

Left to right, Rhonda Hambrick, Theresa Whiting and Diana Babb, Guess and Company employees, Kentaro Nishimura, president of Nishimura Shoji Shoten, Co. LTD. , Sun Jing, Production Manager for the firm, Harvey Joe Sanner, DAIDC and Paul Guess, owner of Guess and Company at Des Arc.

Executives from Japan visit local business Prairie County was fortunate to be able to host some international visitors to the area on Wednesday, March 25. Kentaro Nishimura and a young lady named Sun Jing were in Des Arc at the invitation of Paul Guess, of Guess and Company that produces candles in his Des Arc plant. Nishimura is president

of Nishimura Shoji Shoten Co., LTD. Ms. Jing is the Production Manager for the firm that is headquartered in Kyoto, Japan. A noteworthy fact about the man and his company is that it’s a family owned business dating back to 1823. They produce very high quality fabric suitable for manufacturing vintage kimonos.

Paul Guess is announcing the launch of a women’s sachet division, which is a natural extension of the Lux Fragrance products. Following a lunch meeting at Lindsey’s Restaurant Mr. Guess, Mr. Nishimura and Ms. Jing began working on a partnering agreement expected to be pubSee VISITORS - Page 10

April Smith of Vilonia will be the guest speaker at the annual Chamber of Commerce Awards Banquet to be held at the First Methodist Christian Life Center at 7:00 p.m., Saturday, March 28. Tickets are still available, advises Chamber president, Bob Childers. April and family, her husband, Daniel, and two sons had just moved to Vilonia after the sale of their home in Sherwood when the tornado hit Vilonia on April 27, 2014. The Smiths were devastated as the tornado took the lives of their two young sons. April and Daniel also sustained injuries and their home was destroyed. How do you live through the loss of your children and home? As you will see by her testimony, their faith has carried them through. And what a strong faith April and Daniel have. April said,”We are broken,

but we will mend. I am holding on to the only thing I have left. The truth that God is good all the time.” Highlighting the program will be the presentation of awards to citizens who have been chosen, some by public nomination and some by their peers to be honored as outstanding in their duties as citizen, public servant, business owner, teacher and fireman. Tickets are $15.00 and are available at Merchants and Planters Bank and Farmers and Merchants Bank. The banquet this year is being held in the Christian Life Center at the First United Methodist Church at 601 Erwin street. The Awards Banquet is just one of the several annual activities sponsored by the Des Arc Chamber of Commerce.

Wilson sentenced to 15 years for 2013 Metcalf slaying About 8 p. m., Friday, March 20, at the courthouse in Des Arc, a jury of six men and six women returned a verdict in the murder trial of Edgar Wilson, former owner of Happy Times Liquor in DeValls Bluff. Wilson was charged wih first degree murder in the slaying of Dale Metcalf outside the store. The jury, drawn from the Southern District of Prairie County, found Wil-

son guilty of Second Degree Murder. After finding Wilson guilty, the jury was presented testimony on behalf of both Metcalf and Wilson before again returning to deliberate the penalty. The jury sentenced Wilson to 15 years in the Arkansas Department of Correction. The State of Arkansas was represented by attorneys with the 17th Judicial District including Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Tim

Isaac, and Chief Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Phyllis Hendrix. Becky Reed, the newly elected Prosecuting Attorney, was also in attendance. The defendant was represented by Brannon Sloan and Lucas Rowan of Little Rock law firm Dodds, Kidd & Ryan. Thomas M. Hughes was the presiding Circuit Judge over the trial. At this time, it is unknown whether or not Wil-

son will file and appeal, according to Deputy Prosecutor Isaac. The fatal shooting occurred about 9:30 p. m. on Friday, September 14, 2013, outside the Happy Times Liquor Store in DeValls Bluff. Local police investigating at the time advised that Wilson and Metcalf had argued before the shooting took place outside the store. Metcalf was 41. Wilson was 61 at the time. Metcalf was pro-

nounced dead at the scene. Wilson was jailed at Des Arc. He bonded out while awaiting trial.

Obituaries P g. 3

SYCAMORE TREE

Donald Bullard, 74, Kansas Carol A. Cripe, 64, Stuttgart Carroll Edwards, 70, Stuttgart Amanda Harrison, 90, Brinkley Alberta Montgomery,68,Stuttgart Odell Pollard, Searcy Billy Rambo, 73, Des Arc Andrew Williams, 54, Clarendon Tina Zimmerman, 46, Carlisle

Scale model of Union Gunboat during Civil War Above model was part of the opening of a special Civil War Gunboat Exhibit currently on display at Lower White River Museum State Park, Des Arc (See Pg 14)

Feb. 26 issue of the Journal incorrectly called this white-bark tree, just west of Dondie’s restaurant, a “Cottonwood”. Local resident Logan Crane chased us down recently to let us know it was a Sycamore, and to politely ask if we really knew our trees? As it’s been a long time since Boy Scout days, guess we admit to NO.

T he J ournal w elc omes your input (c omments , s ugges tions , per sonal new s , photos , etc )

New/Renewed Journal Subscribers . . Contact Us: Email: wrjnews1@centurytel.net

Chuck Tucker, Conway, AR

&

Elmer Floyd, Hazen, AR

Mail: PO Box 1051, Des Arc, Ar 72040

Tel: 870-256-4254


Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.