The state/region in brief

Thursday, February 7, 2013

2 die in crashes on roads in state

Two women died Tuesday in accidents on Arkansas roads, according to preliminary Arkansas State Police accident reports.

About 7:45 a.m., Cindy Lawson, 47, of Gurdon was driving west on Arkansas 26 in Clark County when her vehicle crossed into the opposite lane and collided with a dump truck, the report states.

Lawson died at the scene.

James Riley, 50, of Arkadelphia, the driver of the truck, was uninjured.

About 2:25 p.m., Stephanie Hall, 26, of Jonesboro was northbound on U.S. 49 in Craighead County just south of Goobertown, between Brookland and the county line. Hall’s vehicle veered off the road and crashed into an unattended tractor-trailer parked on the shoulder, the report says.

Hall was taken to St.

Bernards Medical Center in Jonesboro, where she later died.

Rogers woman killed in accident

A Rogers woman died Wednesday after a head-on collision in Benton County, according to a preliminary Arkansas State Police fatality accident report.

About 6:10 a.m., Tiffany Crawford, 21, was eastbound on Arkansas 12, east of Rogers, when she attempted to negotiate a curve and her vehicle crossed into the opposite lanes, state police said.

Crawford’s vehicle collided with a westbound Dodge truck driven by Peter Lane, 39, of Rogers, state police said.

Crawford died of injuries suffered in the accident. Lane was taken to Washington Regional Medical Center in Fayetteville.

TULSA - An Illinois man accused of plotting to firebomb dozens of churches in northeastern Oklahoma with Molotov cocktails will be tried in federal court rather than state court.

Ottawa County District Attorney Eddie Wyant said state charges against Gregory Arthur Weiler II, 24, of Elk Grove Village, Ill., were dropped Wednesday after Weiler was taken into federal custody.

Weiler had been jailed in Miami, Okla., since October, when authorities arrested and charged him with threatening to use an explosive or incendiary device and violating the Oklahoma Antiterrorism Act.

Prosecutors said Weiler planned to bomb churches in Oklahoma and that investigators found instructions for making Molotov cocktails, a list of 48 churches and a written outline of his plan.

Missouri inmate charged in killings

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. - A 25-year-old inmate has beencharged in the stabbing deaths of an elderly southwest Missouri couple nearly two years ago.

The Springfield News-Leader reported that Jose Huckleberry was charged Tuesday in Greene County with first-degree murder, armed criminal action and burglary.

Huckleberry is accused of killing Donald and Helen Willingham, both 79, on April 25, 2011, at their home near Springfield.

Investigators said Huckleberry told officers he entered the home intending to rob it. Helen Willingham called 911 saying an intruder was assaulting her husband. Both victims were dead when deputies arrived six minutes later.

Ex-guard pleads innocent in death

McALESTER, Okla. - A former Oklahoma State Penitentiary guard has pleaded innocent to second-degree manslaughter in the death of an inmate.

David Willis was charged last week in the July 2012 death of Julius Parker. Authorities said Parker died of smoke inhalation after setting a fire in his cell.

An affidavit alleges that Willis and two other guards did not promptly check on Parker, despite seeing smoke coming from his cell.

The McAlester News-Capital reported Willis entered the innocent plea Tuesday in Pittsburg County District Court. Court records do not list an attorney for him.

Department of Corrections spokesman Jerry Massie said Willis was fired in September after an internal investigation into Parker’s death.

Sanctuary takes in 57 more horses

LINN CREEK, Mo. - A sanctuary for abandoned and abused horses in central Missouri is dealing with a population boom.

The Lake Sun Leader reported Forget-Me-Not Horse Rescue and Sanctuary in Linn Creek is taking in 57 horses from a southwest Missouri farm that went out of business.

Sanctuary owner Connie Hendrix said Tuesday that the horses are in varying states of health, with some of them malnourished and others needing basic medical care.

Hendrix - whose operation already had about 30 horses - estimates it costs $100 per horse to get them ready for foster homes or adoption.

The newly arrived residents include mustangs, quarter horses, appaloosas and other breeds in different stages of training.

Hendrix said Forget-Me-Not needs cash donations, foster homes and people interested in adopting the newcomers.

Northwest Arkansas, Pages 8 on 02/07/2013