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McGehee Lawyer Pleads Guilty to Mail Fraud Charges Two weeks before Justin Dailey Carpenter is scheduled to stand trial before an Ashley County Circuit Court Jury, his former attorney pleaded guilty on two counts of mail fraud. Carpenter is accused of capital murder involving the July 2007 beating death of his wife, Jennifer Carpenter. Bill R. Holloway represented Carpenter in the capital murder case until he was placed on interim suspension on January 31 by the Arkansas Supreme Court by the Committee of Professional Conduct. Holloway maintained a private law practice in McGehee, but now resides in a Missouri nursing home. According to a news release by Jane W. Duke, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas, Holloway, 68, pleaded guilty on Friday, November 21, before United States District Judge Susan Webber Wright. He is facing a statutory penalty of up to 30 years and a fine up to $1,000,000 on each count. A sentencing date will be set after completion of the customary pre-sentence investigation report by the United State Probation Office. According to the information, Holloway embezzled settlement funds in two 2007 personal injury cases. In each case Holloway negotiated a settlement with Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., on behalf of his client. In both incidents, Wal-Mart mailed a $7,000 settlement check to Holloway's law office which he deposited in his business account. In the first case, Holloway did not inform the client of the settlement. In the other case, Holloway misled his client to believe that the money had to be placed in a trust account for 30 days before the client could receive payment. Neither client received payment. "A productive and successful attorney/client relationship requires that a special bond of trust exist between the two parties. The client relies upon the attorney to advocate in the client's best interest; to keep the client advised of material issues; to exercise professional judgment on the client's behalf; and to safeguard any funds the client has entrusted to the attorney," Duke said. "A breach of that trust by the attorney can be devastating to the client. It is also detrimental to the legal profession and the judicial system as a whole." As part of the plea agreement, Holloway agreed to immediately surrender his license to practice law. However, Stark Ligon, executive director of the Arkansas Supreme Court Committee on Professional Conduct, confirmed that the surrender of Holloway's license had already occurred. "Because of the potential that other clients have incurred similar losses, the United States reserved the right to argue at sentencing for restitution in an amount higher than the actual losses charged in the information," Duke said in a written statement. The case was investigated by the Little Rock Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Arkansas State Police. Criminal Chief Patrick C. Harris and Assistant United States Attorney Laura G. Hoey are prosecuting the case. Hamburg’s Council Adopts Ordinance for Holiday Cash All six members of the Hamburg City Council attended a very routine meeting on Monday afternoon, December 15.
Berry Packing Renovations To Create 50 New Jobs in County In a period where the national news is full of bailouts of banks, the auto industry and insurance companies, there was some good news in Ashley County this past week when the Crossett Economic Development Foundation announced that 50 new jobs will be coming to the area.
Teachers in the Hamburg School District will not receive a Christmas bonus this year, despite some lobbying efforts for such a payment. The Hamburg School Board decided Monday night, December 15, that such a payment would be fiscally irresponsible.
In the regular meeting of the Ashley County Quorum Court on Tuesday, December 9, the justices approved the budget for the coming year and also approved a distribution of game and fish fines to the Hamburg and Crossett school districts. In addition, the county jail will soon be housing prisoners from Warren and Bradley County. UAM One of Only 33 Colleges To Earn Concurrent Credit Approval The Arkansas Department of Higher Education (ADHE) has announced that the University of Arkansas at Monticello (UAM), has become one of only 33 higher education institutions in the nation to receive full accreditation for its concurrent enrollment programs through the National Alliance of Concurrent Enrollment Partnerships (NACEP), a professional organization for high schools and colleges that fosters and supports rigorous concurrent enrollment.
A hearing in a capital murder case in Ashley County Circuit Court ended in a twist on Friday afternoon, December 5, when the accused, Justin Dailey Carpenter, 34, entered a guilty plea to first degree murder, a Class Y felony. Eight File Applications for Post of Hamburg School Superintendent With three weeks remaining before the application period closes, eight people, including two with ties to the Hamburg School District, have applied for the position of superintendent of schools. The deadline for applications to be returned is December 31, and Hamburg's interim superintendent, Marilyn Chambers, said Monday afternoon that three or more application packets are still out.
Ashley County narcotics detective Matthew D. Brooks was one of eighteen Arkansas law enforcement officers honored last week for completing the Narcotics Officer Certificate Program. This was an intensive education program of the Criminal Justice Institute that provides law enforcement officers with the knowledge and skills they need to conduct a basic narcotics investigation. The ceremony was held Wednesday, December 3, in the Capitol Room in the University Center at UAM.
Fifth graders from Allbritton Elementary are helping others while they help themselves this school year by participating in Scholastic Book Club's Classrooms Care program, a philanthropy-based literacy campaign designed to teach children about the joys and importance of reading and giving. This fall, students in Melissa Bell's classroom and all across the country read 100 books and, in turn, Scholastic Book Clubs, a division of Scholastic, the global children's publishing and media company, will donate one million new books to disadvantaged children nationwide. Magnolia Judge to Succeed Sam Bird in District 5 Seat on Court of Appeals LITTLE ROCK n Governor Mike Beebe has named Mike Kinard of Magnolia as Associate Judge for District 5 on the Arkansas Court of Appeals. McGehee Lawyer Pleads Guilty to Mail Fraud Charges Two weeks before Justin Dailey Carpenter is scheduled to stand trial before an Ashley County Circuit Court Jury, his former attorney pleaded guilty on two counts of mail fraud. Thanksgiving Comes One Day Early for 160 Guard Members CAMP SHELBY JOINT FORCES TRAINING CENTER, Miss. - Shedding tears of joy on Hamburg Needs to Recycle, Cut Landfill Costs, Hargis Tells Council Hamburg Public Works Director Jimmy Hargis told the Hamburg City Council in its regular meeting on Monday night, November 24, that the city needs to look at a recycling program to cut the costs of material taken to the Ashley County Landfill. International Paper to "Indefinitely" Close Pulp Mill in Bastrop International Paper on Friday, November 21, announced the indefinite closure of its pulp mill in Bastrop, LA. Hamburg Board Oks Track Funds, Discusses Superintendent Search The regular meeting of the Hamburg School Board on Monday night, November 17, was a rather routine one, with the board taking action on only one item. The board also again discussed the procedure for hiring a new superintendent.
After months of debate by Crossett's aldermen to perfect and adopt an amended animal control ordinance, council members again addressed the topic during Crossett's regular city council meeting on Monday night, November 17. Quorum Court Approves Levy of Taxes for Next Year, Hears Reports Members of the Ashley County Quorum Court, in their regular meeting, held Wednesday, November 12, because the courthouse was closed on Tuesday for Veterans Day, adopted the tax rates for the various taxing units in the county for this year. Crossett Board Buys Buses, Sends Seventh Grader Home for Year The Crossett School Board held its regular meeting on Thursday, November 13. Presenting the financial report, Business Manager Norman Hill said the district is back on monthly cash basis. In a comparison of the current year to the previous year, Hill said the ending balance in October reflects $110,393.91 more, but the amount includes $300,000 in local taxes paid to the district last month. "We actually collected about $300,000 in local taxes in October of this year that is normally collected in November," said Hill. "We're back on a cash basis." Legal Notices Now Available on Web Effective this week, all legal notices published in the print edition of the Ashley County Ledger are also available in a searchable form on the Internet. The web site also features legal notices from the Crossett newspaper and many others in the state and from over 30 newspapers across the nation. From Portland to the Battle of the Bulge and Dachau: Earl Cochran in WWII "I'm not a hero, I did as I was told," Earl Cochran, 90, of Portland said, reflecting on the time he served as a captain with the 42nd Infantry, Rainbow Division, in the 3rd and later the 7th Army during World War II. Cochran, a 1936 graduate of Portland High School, obtained a business degree in 1940 from the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville. While in college, he said, male students were required to attend two years of Reserve Officer Training Course (ROTC), but that he re-enrolled in the course and attended four years and was commissioned as a second lieutenant. Court of Appeals Affirms County Cocaine Conviction The Arkansas Court of Appeals, in a decision released on Wednesday, November 5, affirmed the conviction of an Ashley County man for possession of cocaine with intent to deliver and fleeing.
Governor Mike Beebe and Department of Rural Services Director Butch Calhoun presented $163,291.92 to 15 rural communities selected for Fiscal Year 2009 Cycle I funding through the Arkansas Rural Community Grant Program at an awards ceremony held October 31 in the governor's reception rRoom at the Arkansas State Capitol. Hamburg, Crossett Announce Dates, Plans for Christmas Celebrations The Hamburg and Crossett Chambers of Commerce announced plans for the annual Christmas celebrations in the two cities. In Hamburg, the annual Hamburg Holidays celebration will be held on Thursday, December 4, on the square, while Crossett's celebration will be one day later, on Friday, December 5. Jury Finds Holland Not Guilty in 3,373 Acre Fire An Ashley County Circuit Court jury of six men and six women with two female alternates deliberated only about two hours on Thursday afternoon, November 6, before returning a verdict clearing Joel David "Luke" Holland of all charges in connection with the January 8, 2006, fires that burned 3,373 acres. Ashley County Votes for McCain, Kersten, Hospital Tax and Amendments Ashley County's voters were in step with fellow voters in Arkansas in the general election on Tuesday, November 4, as they gave Republican John McCain a majority for U. S. President, but they were out of step with the nation as a whole. Democrat Barack Obama won the election handily. Hamburg Board Sets Plans For Superintendent Search In a special meeting on Thursday afternoon, October 30, the Hamburg School Board approved the procedure to follow in the search for a new superintendent of schools. State Says Schools on Improvement List Increasing in Number The number of Arkansas schools categorized as being in school improvement under the federal No Child Left Behind legislation rose to 375 this year, for an increase of 50 from the year before, according to a news release from the Arkansas Department of Education on Friday. Crossett Among Winners of Volunteer Awards Twelve communities have been selected to receive the 2008 Arkansas Volunteer Community of the Year Award. Chosen to receive recognition for their volunteer efforts are Bay, Bella Vista, Bryant, Clarkridge, Clarksville, Crossett, El Dorado, Fort Smith, Heber Springs, Marked Tree, Maumelle, and Van Buren. Class Seeks Nominations For HHS Hall of Fame The Leadership Class at Hamburg High School is in the process of creating a Hamburg Hall of Fame to recognize successful graduates of the school. Hamburg Chamber Asks Council for Support The Hamburg City Council in its regular meeting on Monday night, October 27, heard three requests for funding. Hamburg Board Finalizes Sale of Phase II Construction Bonds In a special meeting at noon on Tuesday, October 21, the Hamburg School Board finalized the sale of $2.79 million in construction bonds for the second phase of the projects approved by the voters in 2007. Crossett Council Takes Action on Launius Request With two items on the agenda, one of which was postponed, Crossett aldermen took a single action during the council's regular meeting held on Monday, October 20. Hamburg Board to Set Requirements, Desires for Superintendent In its regular meeting on Monday night, October 20, the Hamburg School Board set two special meetings, with one of the two to deal with construction projects and the second to formulate what the board wants in a permanent superintendent and the procedures for the search. Child's Death Due To Internal Injuries Ashley County Coroner Steve Hartshorn said this week that a report from the Arkansas State Crime Laboratory indicated that a Hamburg girl, Niesha Kry'stal Lewis, died from internal injuries as a result of an automobile accident in Hamburg on Friday, October 3. Rawls Presides Over Quorum Court Meeting The Ashley County Quorum Court held its regular meeting on Tuesday, October 14, in a session that lasted only about 20 minutes. Crossett Board Reorganizes; Hill Says Inflation Eating Up Savings from District Reconfiguration The election of officers and ex-officio financial secretary, financial report, the annual report to the public and the designation of disbursing officer centered Crossett's School Board of Education October meeting held on Monday, October 13. One of the two Crossett men accused in the April beating death of a Sioux Falls, South Dakota, man was sentenced Monday, October 20, to 10 years in prison. Crossett School District Report to the Public The Crossett School District operates four school sites, all of which are accredited by the North Central Association. A very detailed improvement plan is in place at each campus to guide the schools by NCA Standards over a five-year period. Additionally, the schools are following plans to improve the academic success of students on the state-mandated assessment.
Wilmot native Mamie Parker has been selected The Wilderness Society's national Faces of Conservation award for her lifetime commitment to fish and wildlife conservation. Her photo will hang on a specially-designated wall in the nonprofit's Washington headquarters.
According to an announcement from Miss Ashley County pageant coordinator Renee Stokes, Jahley Stahley has relinquished her the title of Miss Ashley County 2008 as well as the crown, all awards and scholarships.
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