Looking back: Top ten news stories of 2009

Many events affected the citizens of Jackson County during the past year, and a few shaped the lives of some more than others.

1. A historic winter storm, which coated the county in a layer of ice on Tuesday, January 27, left nearly all area residents without electricity.  Damages to Farmer’s Electric caused by the ice storm were estimated to be $1 million while Entergy’s were projected to be around $3.5 million.  Shelters for those without power were set up at Harris Hospital and the Tuckerman Fire Station.

2. Jackson County mourned the loss of local legend and Baseball Hall of Fame inductee George Kell on Tuesday, March 24.  Kell played 15 seasons of professional baseball for the Tigers, Red Sox, White Sox and Orioles.   The ten-time All-Star and third baseman also served as a play-by-play T.V. broadcaster for 37 years.

3.  State officials hoped to spark tourism in the region with the signing of a bill designating a segment of Hwy. 67 to be the “Rock ‘n’ Roll Highway” on Friday, March 20.    The grand opening of the historic highway was held during Depot Days in downtown Newport and coincided with a tribute to the late Billy Lee Riley. 
Arkansas Governor and Jackson County native Mike Beebe placed his signature on the legislation which was introduced by Representative J.R. Rogers. 
“The designation of the Rock and Roll Highway will serve as a proud reminder of this region’s role in music history, and will hopefully bring more people here to learn the legacy of the halls and clubs that hosted so many legends,” Beebe said.

4.  Local athlete Caleb Cross was recognized by the city of Newport on Tuesday, May 26 with that date being proclaimed Caleb Cross Day.  The 2009 honor graduate set a state record of 36.99 seconds in the 300 meters and held a G.P.A of 3.95 at Newport High School.  The Razorback track hurdler was also honored by being named the 2008-2009 Gatorade Arkansas Track & Field Athlete of the Year.

5.  The opening of a recently completed portion of Hwy. 67 is another event predicted to have a positive impact on the local economy.  On Thursday, October 15, Arkansas Governor Mike Beebe cut the ribbon during a ceremony celebrating the official opening of the four-lane freeway.

6.  The First Annual Newport Alumni Hall of Fame Banquet honored six of the school’s most notable graduates on Tuesday, August 4 at the Newport Country Club.  Arkansas Governor Mike Beebe, Doyle and Raye Rogers, Charles Balentine, Kaneaster Hodges, Jr. and Joe Miles were selected by members of the Newport Special School District Charitable Foundation to be the first six inductees honored by the group.  The event was intended to raise money for the district’s current students.
Community input will be considered for the second class of honorees, according to Newport Special School District Charitable Foundation chairman Bill Keedy, Jr.
“Next year we are going to ask people to nominate those they thing are worthy of the honor,” Keedy said.  “There are a lot of people out there that we don’t know about that could easily have been in the first class of inductees.”

7.  County officials spent countless hours deliberating and debating the possible solutions to solving problems at the local jail.  The facility was placed on a six-month probation period by the Arkansas Criminal Detention Review Committee.   According to Sheriff David Lucas, the main violation was chronic overcrowding, but a lack of separation of classes and understaffing were also some of the committee’s concerns.  The jail first opened in February of 1980 and had a capacity of 26 inmates.  Construction of a new jail complex and expansion of the current facility have both been discussed by the Jackson County Quorum Court, but a solution has yet to be found primarily due to a lack of funding.

8.  Almost a month after the ice storm, six kindergarten students braved more terribly cold temperatures to break ground at the site of a new elementary school on Thursday, February 19.  Voters passed a millage increase to finance construction of the educational complex for students from Pre-K through sixth grade.

9.  The Newport School Board accepted the resignation of Superintendent Ronny Brown on Monday, October 19.  The former Newport educator and coach had returned to assume the position vacated by Dr. Ron Wilson in 2006 and oversaw the special election passage of a millage increase to build a new elementary school.  Rumors and speculations swirled about the community concerning Brown’s departure, but still no definite answer has been given to the public for the reason why he resigned.  Charles Vondran was chosen to serve as interim-superintendent for the district. 

10.  Local law enforcement officers began searching for an escaped convict thought to be loose in the area on Tuesday, September 15.  William F. McCoy escaped as he was being transported to Brickey’s Correctional Facility near Forrest City.  The escapee had a history of drug charges and two previous escapes from detention centers.  McCoy was most recently charged with manufacture, delivery and possession of controlled substances.  A traffic stop in Madison County led him being taken into police custody on September 27.