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Court of Appeals Affirms Mays' Convictions The Arkansas Court of Appeals Wednesday, December 8, affirmed the first degree battery convictions of Phillip L. Mays, 40, and his wife, Gwendolyn Mays, 40, both of West Radford Street, Hamburg. They were convicted of the Class B felony by an Ashley County jury on June 26, 2003, and both were sentenced to a five-year prison term and a $15,000 fine, as recommended by the jury. They were charged with the crime on December 11, 2001, after their five-year-old child was discovered to have severe burns to both hands. In holding that the evidence was adequate for conviction, the court of appeals stated that, "Phillip Mays, after learning that one of his eight adopted children had stolen some money at school, burned the child's hands while his wife, Gwendolyn Mays, held a candle behind the child." "The child's nine-year-old brother also testified that his father burned his sister's hands while all of them were present," the court continued. "Additionally, the child's 10-year-old sister testified that her father burned her sister's hands in their presence and that her mother stood behind the girl with a candle and told her that if she moved, she was going to get burned from behind." Both adoptive parents denied the allegations and testified that the child burned her hands while "warming them near a stove." The appeals court ruled that the child's injuries qualified as "serious" under Arkansas law, noting her physician's testimony during the trial that the child, at the time seven years old, was still undergoing treatment, and that she had been referred to Arkansas Children's Hospital for surgery. The couple challenged on appeal the decision by Circuit Judge Robert C. Vittitow to not allow the jury to consider an alternative sentence, and the judge's refusal to suspend the five-year prison sentences ordered. The appeals court rejected both arguments and upheld the sentences imposed. Tenth District Prosecutor Thomas Deen said that, barring further delays on appeal, the Mays' appeal bond will be revoked and they will be remanded to the sheriff for transportation to the Department of Corrections. He said the civil case involving the couple has been completed, and parental rights terminated of all the children who have been placed with them. Hamburg Council Adopts Water Rate Increase The Hamburg City Council on Monday night, February 28, adopted new and higher rates for all water customers in the city. The increase does not affect the customers of the city's rural water system. Preliminary Bids Indicate County Within Available Money for New Jail Members of the jail committee of the Ashley County Quorum Court, along with County Judge Emory Austin and other local officials, watched as construction manager Mike Webb and architect Tom Adams opened bids for the new county jail on Tuesday, February 22. Board Decides Not to Try to Compete for Land In a special meeting on Thursday afternoon, February 24, members of the Hamburg School Board decided not to bid on two possible tracks of land for the construction of a sports complex to include new baseball and softball fields, but that decision does not mean that the project is dead. Crossett Cops Check Cookie Caper Crossett police are investigating the theft of 22 cases of Girl Scout Cookies, taken from Hurd Playhouse where they were stored. The theft was reported by Carrie Nault, Girl Scout leader for Troops 192 and 186 in Crossett, on Thursday, February 17. The cookies were valued at approximately $800. Former Hamburg Resident Killed in Lake Village Crash A former Hamburg resident, Charles Herman Smith, died as the result of a two-vehicle accident in Lake Village on Monday morning, February 21. Crossett Council Grants More Time for Debris Removal The Crossett City Council Monday night, February 21, gave two downtown property owners a six-month extension on clearing debris from their burned-out buildings on Main Street. The council voted 4-1 to approve the extension, with Bill Nance voting against the motion. Council member Robert Freeman was not at the meeting. Crossett Man Jailed For Possessing Synthetic Heroin A Crossett man is on jail on a $1 million following his arrest Thursday, February 17, on drug-related charges. Hamburg Board Changes Administrator Assignments In its regular meeting, held on Thursday night, February 17, in Wilmot, the Hamburg School Board changed the assignments for some of the administrators while renewing their contracts for the next year. Game Agent's Report Gives Details of Deer Killing Investigation Ashley County Sheriff James Robinson confirmed Monday afternoon that two deputies have been terminated after they were charged this past weekend with night hunting. Crossett Board to Look Again at Raises The Crossett School Board will look at raises for certified personnel approved Monday night, February 14, again at the board's March meeting, to see if more experienced teachers will get larger raises than were approved.
Morgan Gillum, a fifth grade student at Portland Elementary, won the Ashley County Spelling Bee on Saturday, February 12. Clara Ramsey, a second grader and alternate from Noble Elementary placed second. Gillum is the daughter of Susie and Jeff Gillum, and Ramsey is the daughter of Dale and Connie Ramsey.
The Ashley County Sports Hall of Fame inducted five members into its ranks Thursday night, February 10, during a banquet at the Norman Junior High School cafeteria in Crossett. Those inducted were Jackie Burchfield, Ed Johnson, Levin Johnson, Bill Runyan and Charlie Park.
Hamburg-- Management, contractors, and employees of Fairfield Trucking were honored February 3 for their superior commitment to safety during the past year. Wayne Dill of Dill Brothers Insurance, the agent from the company's insurance carrier, Sentry Insurance, presented the safety award plaque to Jerry Barnes, the company president. The regular meeting of the Ashley County Quorum Court on Tuesday, February 8, was a very routine one, with the meeting consisting mostly of reports. Hamburg Council Proposes Major Increases in Water, Sewer Rates When the Hamburg City Council holds its regular meeting on Monday night, February 28, one of the things which will be on the agenda is a proposal to raise water and sewer rates from 33 to 66 percent over present rates. Wilmot Gets New Free Fire Truck Fire protection in the city of Wilmot improved this past Friday with the arrival of a new (to Wilmot) fire truck, and one of the best things about it is that the truck will not cost the citizens of the city anything. Hamburg Council Approves Anti-Obscenity Ordinance In a special meeting on Friday morning, February 5, the Hamburg City Council approved a new ordinance designed to prohibit the display or sale of any item deemed obscene in the city. Crossett City Council Adopts Anti-Obscenity Bill The Crossett City Council last week adopted an ordinance banning the sale, rent or distribution of "obscenity" and/or "obscene films." Too Early to Comment On Land Sale, Plum Creek Official Says Officials with Plum Creek Timber Co. say it is to early to comment on a possible sale of hardwood forest in southeast Arkansas and northeast Louisiana. County Holds Groundbreaking for New Jail Ashley County reached a milestone on Monday afternoon, January 31, with a groundbreaking ceremony for a new county jail which will be built west of Hamburg. The county has had problems with its jail for years, but those problems have reached a head in the past two years. County's Now Outdated Jail Considered A Great Step Forward 35 Years Ago When the present Ashley County Jail was completed 35 years ago, local officials were ecstatic. Sheriff B. A Courson said that only a few liked the old jail. "About the only people who would have a kind word for the Ashley County Jail would be certain prisoners. And that would be because they know they can get out of it," he said. Local Graduate Student, UAM Forester Develop Software to Speed Responses When firefighting crews are dispatched to battle a forest fire, every second counts. Hamburg Council Questions Cable Television Service The primary discussion item at the Monday night, January 24, meeting of the Hamburg City Council was the quality of service provided by Cebridge Communications, the company which has the franchise for cable television service in the city. Hamburg Chamber Holds Annual Banquet The Hamburg Area Chamber of Commerce held its annual awards and installation banquet on Thursday night, January 20, in the Hamburg Junior High cafeteria. The annual event included the presentation of awards as well as the installation of new officers and directors. Justices Approve Jail Bond Ordinance In a special meeting on Tuesday afternoon, January 18, the members of the Ashley County Quorum Court took their final step in the process of providing additional money for the construction of a new county jail. Also, on Wednesday, Ashley County Judge Emory Austin announced that there will be a groundbreaking ceremony at the jail site west of Hamburg at 2 p.m. on Monday, January 31. North Crossett Woman's Husband Charged with Second Degree Murder The Ashley County Sheriff's Office arrested the husband of a woman whose body was found in her North Crossett home Saturday, December 25, 2004. Hamburg Board Picks Weindorf for Vacancy; Decides on Nine Single Member Districts The Hamburg School Board named Dane Weindorf to fill a vacant board seat during its regular meeting on Monday night, January 10. The board also decided to re-zone the district with nine single member districts rather than having an at-large member. Crossett Board Puts Suspension Policy In Student Handbook The Crossett School Board voted Monday night, January 10, to place an 18-month old suspension policy into the student handbook, a policy which was approved by the board in June, 2003, but was not included in the handbook. Committee Finalizes Plans for New Jail In a meeting with architects for the project on Thursday, January 6, the Jail Committee of the Ashley County Quorum Court approved the final plans for the construction of the new county jail west of Hamburg. Justices Close Year With Special Meeting The members of the Ashley County Quorum Court met on Thursday, December 30, to complete action on the budget for 2005 and to approve a cleanup ordinance for this year.
Narcotics officers with the Ashley County Sheriff's Office dismantled a meth lab set up in a deer stand near the Crossett Municipal Airport last week. The components of the lab were confiscated but no arrests have been made.
Angie Craig is the new executive director of the Hamburg Area Chamber of Commerce. She replaces Robin LaCaze, who now works for Morris Transportation. Farmers Bank Enters Cease and Desist Order with FDIC, Bank Department Farmers Bank of Hamburg announced today that it has entered into an agreement with the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation and the Arkansas State Bank Department providing for a cease and desist order to be entered against the bank. Attempted Robbery at Sonic Foiled A 9-1-1 call foiled an attempted robbery at Sonic of Hamburg Tuesday night, December 21. Hamburg Council Approves Budget, Employee Bonuses In a short meeting on Tuesday night, December 14, the Hamburg City Council adopted the city's budget for 2005, set the salaries for elected officials, adopted a salary scale, and approved two requests by the Hamburg Police Department.
Crossett firefighters fought three fires last week within a 16-hour span. One of the fires is classified as arson. Crossett police are investigating. Voters Approve Extension of Jail Tax In a special election on Tuesday, December 14, voters in Ashley County approved two ballot issues which will help to build a new Ashley County jail as originally planned, without the county having to make drastic cuts. Justices Back Pedal On Reducing Property Taxes The members of the Ashley County Quorum Court, who in a special meeting with the county's budget committee on Wednesday, December 8, agreed to reduce the county general tax from 5.0 to 4.0 mills, crawfished on that proposal in the regular meeting on Tuesday, December 14. Timmons Quits; Hamburg Board to Name New Member in January The Hamburg School Board held a short regular meeting on Monday night, December 13, before adjourning for a Christmas dinner. The board will also gain a new member next month after Betty Timmons submitted a letter of resignation. Court of Appeals Affirms Mays' Convictions The Arkansas Court of Appeals Wednesday, December 8, affirmed the first degree battery convictions of Phillip L. Mays, 40, and his wife, Gwendolyn Mays, 40, both of West Radford Street, Hamburg. They were convicted of the Class B felony by an Ashley County jury on June 26, 2003, and both were sentenced to a five-year prison term and a $15,000 fine, as recommended by the jury. Justices Arrive at Salary Plan; Propose Reduction in County General Tax Members of the budget committee of the Ashley County Quorum Court, faced with two proposals for salary increases for county employees, compromised on a third proposal during a special meeting on Wednesday, December 8. Chamber Members Hear Ross, Sheriff, Superintendent Congressman Mike Ross was in Hamburg on Wednesday, December 1, for a luncheon meeting with members of the Hamburg Area Chamber of Commerce in the fellowship hall of the Hamburg First United Methodist Church. Justices Approve Budget Outline, Tax Levy, New Tipping Fees The Ashley County Quorum Court on Tuesday, November 30, approved the tax levy for all tax districts for the coming year and adopted the outline of the budget for next year, but without finalizing decisions on raises for elected officials and county employees. Office of Civil Rights Finds "Insufficient Evidence" of Discrimination in HSD Cheerleader Selection After an investigation of a complaint that the Hamburg School District's cheerleader selection process discriminated against African-American cheerleader contestants, the regional U. S. Department of Education's Office of Civil Rights, based in Dallas, concluded that "there is insufficient evidence to support a violation of Title VI regarding this complaint" and, "Therefore, this complaint is considered closed as of the date of this letter." Title VI of the Civil Rights Act prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color or national origin.
After two elections and then pulling slips of paper from a basket, Bill Nance is the newly-elected member of the Crossett City Council in Ward 3, Position 2, Hamburg Council Approves Tax Liens on Four Lots, Budget Outline The Hamburg City Council in its regular meeting on Monday night, November 22, approved property tax liens on four parcels in the city and approved the outline of the budget for the coming year. Crossett Board Gives Classified Employees Four Percent Raise The Crossett School Board voted Monday, November 15, to give district classified employees a four percent raise. The vote was 4-1 for the raises, with Doug Thurman abstaining from the vote. Bank Robber Convicted; Faces 8-13 Years in Jail A West Crossett man faces 8-13 years in federal prison for the July bank robbery of Community Bank in Crossett. Ray Hollins, 46, was found guilty in a jury trial in U. S. District Court in El Dorado recently.
CAMP JOSEPH T. ROBINSON - (Second update) Memorial services for Crosset native Sgt. Russell L. Collier will be held at the Eagle Heights Baptist Church located at 703 East Walters Ave., in Harrison, on Tuesday, Oct. 12 at 10 a.m. Burial services will follow at the Springfield National Cemetery located at 1702 East Seminole St. in Springfield, Mo. Ledger's Web Site Best in State Three of Past Four Years For the third time in the past four years, the electronic edition of the Ashley County Ledger at ashleycountyledger.com is the best electronic weekly in the state. The latest award came in the Arkansas Press Association's 2004 Better Newspaper Contest. |
Morgan Gillum Wins Spelling Bee
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