ALL THOSE IN ATTENDANCE AT A RUSSELLVILLE PARKS AND RECREATION MEETING LAST (MON.)NIGHT WERE SUPPORTIVE OF SOME COMING CHANGES FOR TWO LOCAL PARKS. THE PUBLIC HEARING ADDRESSED POSSIBLE CHANGES TO THE OLD SHORTY TRAIL AT BONA DEA PARK AND THE CURRENT VETERANS PARK ON NORTH DETROIT. TERRY THOMAS, ASSISTANT PARKS AND RECREATION DIRECTOR SAID COMMENTS ON THE PROPOSAL ARE NOW BEING ACCEPTED. RUSSELLVILLE CITY COUNCILMAN AND AMERICAN LEGION OFFICIAL BILL EATON SAID A COALITION OF VETERANS ORGANIZATIONS HAVE DISCUSSED FOR SOMETIME, THIS SORT OF PROJECT. WITH THE EVENT OF THAT CHANGE, A NEW NAME FOR THE NORTH DETROIT PARK WOULD THEN BE NEEDED. SUGGESTIONS ARE NOW BEING TAKEN AT THE PARKS AND RECREATION OFFICE, INSIDE THE HUGHES COMMUNITY CENTER,
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ATKINS AND POTTSVILLE FIRE DEPARTMENTS RESPONDED MONDAY AFTERNOON TO A GRASS FIRE IN THE 300 BLOCK OF HUDSON ROAD. UNITS WERE CALLED TO THE SCENE ABOUT 2:50 P/M, AND BATTLED THE BLAZE FOR MORE THAN 30-MINUTES, BEFORE BRINGING IT UNDER CONTROL. NO INJURIES OCCURRED, AS A RESULT OF THE INCIDENT.
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OFFICIALS WITH 15th JUDICIAL DISTRICT PROSECUTOR TOM TATUM THE SECOND'S OFFICE SAYS AN AUGUST TRIAL DATE HAS BEEN SET FOR A 26-YEAR OLD YELL COUNTY MAN, CHARGED WITH FIRST-DEGREE MURDER, BATTERY AND BRIBERY, IN A JULY 2014 INCIDENT. SAMUEL WARD IS CHARGED IN CONNECTION WITH THE SHOOTING OF HIS PREGNANT WIFE, RESULTING IN THE DEATH OF THEIR UNBORN CHILD. INDICATIONS MONDAY WERE THAT A PRE-TRIAL HEARING FOR WARD HAS BEEN SCHEDULED FOR MAY 7th, WHILE AUGUST 10th AND 11th HAVE TENTATIVELY BEEN SET ASIDE FOR HIS TRIAL IN YELL COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT. WARD REMAINS IN THE YELL COUNTY DETENTION CENTER.
PROSECUTION AUTHORITIES SAY THEY ARE STILL AWAITING THE RESULT OF A MENTAL EVALUATION FOR 21-YEAR OLD BROOKE FLOYD OF GREENWOOD. FLOYD IS CHARGED WITH MANSLAUGHTER IN THE DEATH OF HER 10-MONTH OLD SON, IN A INCIDENT THAT OCCURRED LAST SUMMER IN YELL COUNTY. FLOYD REMAINS FREE ON A 50-THOUSAND DOLLAR BOND.
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BOND HAS BEEN SET AT 50-THOUSAND DOLLARS FOR A 27-YEAR OLD SUSPECT, ARRESTED BY POPE COUNTY SHERIF'S AUTHORITIES ON BREAKING AND ENTERING AND THEFT BY RECEIVING CHARGES. THE SUSPECT, IDENTIFIED AS JACOB HARDIN APPEARED MONDAY BEFORE POPE COUNTY DISTRICT JUDGE DON BOURNE. JUDGE BOURNE FOUND PROBABLE CAUSE TO HOLD HARDIN OVER FOR A MAY 4th PLEA AND ARRAIGNMENT HEARING IN POPE COUNTY DISTRICT COURT. HARDIN WAS ARRESTED IN CONNECTION WITH RECENT BREAK-INS AND THEFTS IN THE CLIFF AND STREAM, STONEGATE AND COVE LANDING AREAS IN POPE COUNTY.
