After months of remodeling inside, and installing all new gasoline equipment outside, T Mart 12, formerly the old Renos convenience store at the foot of the White River Bridge, is now open and ready to celebrate with an open house Saturday. The renovated business offers a full hot deli with pizza, chicken, and barbecue, as well as fresh sandwiches made daily, according to owners Jerry and Connie Townsley.
Benton truck driver Jimmy Willis, 40, said he was going up Ramsey Mountain on Highway 167 south a few minutes after 8 this morning when he heard a snap. “I had just slowed for the curve, I was doing about 30 when everything happened,” said Willis. “I heard the snap and didn’t even have time to look in my mirrors to see what was wrong before I was on my side.” Willis was driving an International tractor to pull an open box trailer loaded with crushed cars headed for a recycling center when his load shifted, causing his trailer to turn over and take his truck with it.
June 20, 2010, it didn’t matter that it was hot and humid and there were a lot of dads who could have spent their Father’s Day at home. Instead, they turned out — in droves — for a sad occasion, proud to honor a local serviceman who had died for his country. Today, the state chapter of Patriot Guard Riders came to honor local law enforcement and thank the members of the Independence County Sheriff’s Department for helping them provide escort service during the funeral of Cpl. Chris Yauch of Batesville.
Gang graffiti found in city park restrooms this morning, and on traffic signs over the weekend is the work of “wanna be’s,” Independence County Sheriff Alan Cockrill said this morning. “We have no word whatsoever of any gangs operating in our county,” Cockrill said. “Besides, if you were in a major gang, why would you go around painting it on walls and traffic signs?” The graffiti Cockrill referred to, “SUR 13 and Southerners 13,” was discovered on the walls of restrooms at Riverside Park this morning by cleaning crews.
Police have yet to identify one of the two people killed in a two-vehicle crash on Highway 25 at Locust Grove around 5:30 this morning, Trooper Jeremy Page with the Arkansas State Police said. Page said the truck was heavily damaged in the wreck and members of the Batesville Fire Department Rescue Squad and Desha First Responders spent an extensive amount of time and effort in extricating the driver.
Three local teens, ages 16 and 17, are behind bars for their alleged participation in an armed robbery of a Batesville man in the early morning hours of June 17. Robert A. Ashburn of Addie Street told police he was awakened from sleep around 3 a.m. when someone pressed a gun to his head and told him not to move. According to Ashburn, the only things taken during the robbery were a PlayStation 2 console, valued at $100 and his wallet, which contained his bank debit card, Social Security card and identification.
Getting your picture in the paper is not always a good thing, Just ask Darrell Ross of Rosie. He is in the Independence County jail as the prime suspect in a home burglary in Independence County as well as for using stolen credit cards in Newport and Jonesboro, and being wanted in Jackson County for failing to appear in court. Independence County Sheriff’s Investigator Rob Leonard said this morning that after the Guard ran photos of three suspects in the burglary last week of the Carrie Brown residence on Allen Chapel Road, an arrest has been made.
Newark Mayor Randy Hendrix had good news for Sheriff Alan Cockrill when the Newark/Independence County Law Enforcement Committee met briefly Wednesday afternoon. “I don’t have a complaint one,” Hendrix said. “Everything’s good; it’s the best it’s been in a long time.” Through an interlocal agreement with the sheriff’s office, Newark is provided two deputies, Dale Jackson and Jason Eddington, to patrol the city and surrounding area, as well as serve as part-time school resource officers. The city of Newark then provides a portion of their salaries and equipment costs.
Batesville’s Westside neighborhood has a new restaurant, now that the Wing Shack and Cheeseburger Grill at 511 N. Central Ave. is open for business. “We’re excited about being here,” general manager James Patterson said recently. “We have been met with great enthusiasm from everyone and are looking forward to getting to know our Batesville customers.” Judy Powell, who co-owns the business with her husband Bill, along with Rick and Melissa Willis, agreed.
A 30-year-old Locust Grove woman was injured in a one-car accident in front of the Batesville National Guard Armory around 9:15 this morning.
Police say a Ford Escape, being driven by Miranda Dunegan of Locust Grove was traveling east on White Drive when it crossed the center line, and ran off the roadway into the ditch.
Emergency workers at the scene said evidence indicated that Dunegan’s vehicle traveled only a short distance until it struck a metal culvert and became airborne for some 60 feet before overturning and landing on its side.
