Mtn. Home man on parole from Iowa now a fugitive
Fifty-four year old Johnnie Joe Collins of rural Mountain Home, an active parolee from Iowa who was sent to prison in that state for second-degree murder in the shooting death of a gas station attendant in Council Bluffs, and who picked up a number of drug charges after moving here, is now a fugitive.
Collins was due to re-appear in Baxter County Circuit Court last week, but did not show and a Failure to Appear warrant has been issued in both of his cases.
His drug-related charges stem from home visits by probation and parole officers from the Arkansas Department of Community Correction, along with investigators from the Baxter County Sheriff’s Office and officers with the 14th Judicial District Drug Task Force.
In his latest arrest in this county, Collins was one of four people taken into custody at this residence on County Road 458 in late May. Officers had gone to the home as the result of information received by the Sheriff’s Office there were firearms in the residence and methamphetamine was allegedly being sold.
In the late May visit, drugs and firearms were found in the residence, according to the probable cause affidavit filed in his case. It was also reported Johnnie Joe Collins and the others arrested “gave answers so clearly false it was obvious they were attempting to patronize the officers”.
As a convicted felon, Collins is not allowed to possess firearms.
Those arrested included Johnnie Joe Collins’ brother, Frank, who is currently an inmate in the Baxter County jail. According to the electronic jail log, the bond for Frank Collins is set at slightly more than $30,000.
In his latest criminal case, Johnnie Joe Collins faces charges including simultaneous possession of firearms and drugs, possession of drugs and drug paraphernalia and being a felon in possession of a firearm. It is expected charges will also be filed related to his failure to appear in court as ordered.
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State Representative Nelda Speaks trumped by seniority
State Representative Nelda Speaks, who is serving her first term in the Arkansas House of Representatives, will not be returning to the House Committee on Revenue and Taxation for the 91st General Assembly. She currently serves on the committee and was surprised to learn she wouldn’t be able to serve the next term because in last Thursday’s House committee, selections were based on seniority.
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The Revenue and Taxation Committee has 20 members. Next year 11 will be Democrat and 9 Republican, while the House will have 26 Democrats and 74 Republicans.
Speaks says she doesn’t agree with the selection process.
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Speaks isn’t the only Republican to share this sentiment. According to the Arkansas Democrat Gazette, Republican Lieutenant Governor Tim Griffin posted on Twitter and called the assignments an affront to voters, outrageous and unacceptable.
House Democratic Leader Michael John Gray says however, the Democratic party is going to take a responsible look at bills coming through and there should not be a political ideology driving fiscal responsibility.
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ASUMH opens mechatronics facility
Arkansas State University-Mountain Home opened their state of the art mechatronics facility Wednesday at their 4,500 square foot Technical Center located at 4034 U.S. Highway 62 West in Mountain Home. Mechatronics is one of four different degrees available in workforce technology at the college. Attendees had the opportunity to tour the center and meet with manufacturers and exhibitors.
Dr. Charles Welch, president of the Arkansas State University School System, says the program is one of a kind.
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According to Welch, the technical center and mechatronics facility was the result of a group effort.
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Welch says it’s rare such a project took only two and a half years to develop partnerships and acquire the training equipment with limited resources. He’s also excited student enrollment and revenue have exceeded expectations.
Chairman of the Arkansas Economic Development Commission, Lang Zimmerman, says the impact the technical center will have on the community is significant both in the short and longterm.
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Chancellor of ASUMH, Dr. Robin Meyers agrees with Zimmerman saying the mechatronics, welding, HVAC and automotive programs are the wave of Baxter County’s future.
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ASU-Mountain Home offers certification and two year associate degrees in automotive system repair; welding; heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration and mechatronics with scholarships available to traditional and non-traditional students. For more information, call Karen Heslep at 870-508-6100.
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GOP plans to repeal ACA welcomed by BRMC
President-elect Donald Trump’s promise to repeal the Affordable Care Act, commonly referred to as Obamacare, is likely to be one of the most visible issues on his and the GOP’s radar when he is inaugurated on January 20th.
Ron Peterson, President and Chief Executive Officer of Baxter Regional Medical Center, says a repeal of the Affordable Care Act is appropriate because adjustments to the bill have been stagnant.
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Peterson is hopeful health care dialogue between President-elect Trump and congress will illustrate, what he says, are the deep cuts hospitals have endured through the Affordable Care Act including reimbursements from Medicare. He says its also important for state representatives and senators to diagnose the funding channels for Medicaid, known as the Arkansas Works program, if Obamacare is repealed.
Another challenge the hospital faces is an increased workload according to Peterson.
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Arguments have been made the Affordable Care Act has threatened the quality of care patients receive. Peterson says locally that’s not the case and providing quality care has not lost focus at Baxter Regional.
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According to a recent Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation study, Americans are equally divided in opinion regarding the Affordable Care Act with 45 percent showing a favorable and 45 percent showing an unfavorable view.
In part two of this series, coming up next week on KTLO, CLassic Hits and The Boot we’ll speak with local orthapaedic surgeon Dr. Tom Knox.
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Selfridge apparently headed to trial
The rape and incest case of Jeremiah Wayne Selfridge of Mountain Home appears headed for a December trial. Selfridge entered a not guilty plea to the charges against him during a court session in March.
The 18-year-old Selfridge made a reappearance in Baxter County Circuit Court Thursday.
Selfridge was charged after an incident that occurred in mid-January at a residence in Mountain Home. The victim, a close relative of Selfridge’s, reported the assault and Selfridge allegedly waived his Miranda rights and admitted to the attack during an interview with investigators February 2nd.
Rape is a Class Y felony in Arkansas, while incest is a Class C felony.
Selfridge’s attorney, Norman Wilber of Mountain Home, had filed a motion for a psychological evaluation to determine if his client was competent to defend himself against the charges. While the results of such examinations are sealed, it can only be assumed Selfridge was found competent to proceed since the case is apparently proceeding to trial.
Selfridge had also been charged in the theft of five firearms from his grandfather, but those charges have been dropped since the victim indicated he did not want to pursue the case.
Circuit Judge John Putman signed an order dismissing the theft charges October 6th.
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