3 killed in crashes on state roadways
Three Arkansans died in separate accidents on state roads Wednesday, according to preliminary Arkansas State Police fatality accident reports.
Just before 4 p.m., Aubrey Sims, 81, was driving a 2008 Chrysler south on Arkansas 32B and tried to cross the highway bypass to go into a Wal-Mart parking lot in Ashdown, state police said. Sims didn’t yield to a 1998 Western Star tractortrailer headed east on the Arkansas 32 bypass, state police said. The tractortrailer struck the Chrysler on the right side, killing Sims and passenger Ronda Sims, 49, both of Ashdown, state police said. The tractor-trailer driver, Benny Culpepper, 58, of Nashville, was uninjured.
About 8:30 p.m., Brian Logan, 33, of Mena, was driving east on Arkansas 88 in a 2010 Dodge pickup when a 2003 Mack tractortrailer turned west onto the highway from Polk County Road 63, state police said.
Logan’s vehicle ran into the back of the tractor-trailer, and he died of his injuries, state police said.
The tractor-trailer driver, James Warford, 49, of Waldron, was uninjured.
- ARKANSAS DEMOCRAT-GAZETTEImmigration to be focus of talk in LR
A University of Arkansas Clinton School of Public Service panel discussion Wednesday will focus on efforts to change the nation’s immigration system.
Panelists will include Jeffery Hall, associate director of national affairs for the Arkansas Farm Bureau; Zulma Toro, provost and vice chancellor for academic affairs at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock;
Sherece West-Scantlebury, president and CEO of the Winthrop Rockefeller Foundation; and Randy Zook, president and CEO of the State Chamber of Commerce/Associated Industries of Arkansas.
Those attending the noon to 1 p.m. event in Sturgis Hall may take lunches; drinks will be provided. Seats can be reserved by emailing publicprograms@ clintonschool.uasys.edu or by calling (501) 683-5239.
- ARKANSAS DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE
Trimmer, 41, dies in LR tree accident
A Heber Springs treetrimmer died Thursday after a tree fell on him, according to Pulaski County sheriff’s deputies.
About 1:55 p.m., Scotty Baughman, 41, was standing on the ground as a coworker cut down a tree at a home at 24710 Kanis Road in Little Rock, deputies said.
The tree fell and struck Baughman in the head, killing him, deputies said.
Baughman was part of a three-man crew for an unidentified Redfield treetrimming service, deputies said.
- ARKANSAS DEMOCRAT-GAZETTEJury: Missouri man killed elderly couple
LEBANON, Mo. - A 33-year-old Missouri man has been found guilty of first-degree murder for the2010 killings of an elderly couple in Laclede County.
Jesse Driskill was found guilty of two murder counts and other charges, and could face the death penalty. The jury returned its verdict late Wednesday afternoon after deliberating for more than three hours.
Driskill was convicted of killing 82-year-old Johnnie Wilson and 76-year-old Coleen Wilson at their rural home. The reading of the jury’s verdict was interrupted, because Driskill needed to leave the courtroom. The remainder of the verdict was read without him there.
Missouri Attorney General Chris Koster took the unusual step of appearing personally in the courtroom during the week to assist the prosecution.
- THE ASSOCIATED PRESSPolice nab suspect in death, abduction
TULSA - An Oklahoma man suspected of killing his mother and abducting his 6-year-old son faces first-degree murder and kidnapping charges after being caught in north Texas.
Lewisville city jail records show 37-yearold Robert Connor III was held without bail Wednesday just hours after he surrendered at a hotel. His son, Declan, was unharmed and was taken into protective custody.
Capt. Jay Powell said police in the Dallas area will coordinate with Oklahoma authorities on the suspect’s return.
An AMBER Alert was issued for the boy Tuesday night by the Osage County sheriff’s office after Deborah Connor was fatally shot at a home near Sand Springs, Okla.
Sheriff Ty Koch said Robert Connor and his mother, who was caring for Declan, apparently had argued over money.
- THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Body in Missouri said to be girl, 12
GOLDEN CITY, Mo.
- Authorities said a body located Wednesday in southwest Missouri is that of 12-year-old Adriaunna Horton, who had been missing since Monday.
The Missouri State Highway Patrol announced the identification late Thursday. Adriaunna was last seen Monday when she got into a vehicle in Golden City, where she lived with her father. Her mother lives in Overland Park, Kan.
A man who once worked with the girl’s father, 34-year-old Bobby D. Bourne Jr. of Lamar, has been jailed on charges of kidnapping. He’s being held in lieu of $1 million bond.
The Joplin Globe reported Bourne was moved overnight from the Barton County jail to the nearby Jasper County jail.
Derek Walrod, captain with the Jasper County sheriff’s office, said Barton County officials wanted Bourne transferred to a larger, more secure jail.
- THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Northwest Arkansas, Pages 12 on 08/24/2013