Harrison woman struck, killed while trying to cross interstate
A Boone County woman was killed after being struck last Saturday evening on an interstate highway in Little Rock. According to the Arkansas State Police, 42-year-old Kelly Wood of Harrison was pronounced dead at the scene on Interstate 30.
Wood was reportedly attempting to cross from the west side of the interstate to the east side when she was struck by a westbound vehicle. The driver of the vehicle was not identified.
Road conditions were dry, and the weather was clear in the 10:42 p.m. accident.
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The flu season is in full swing and area schools are feeling the effects. Absenteeism rates climbed over the past week eventually forcing Mountain Home to cancel classes Thursday and Friday.
At Mountain Home, the area’s largest school district, the absenteeism rate was Monday according to superintendent Dr. Jake Long.
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Long says they have been taking extra precautions to help keep germs to a minimum.
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A check of other school districts in the immediate area found similar numbers as Mountain Home. Cotter’s absenteeism rate was at 12 percent Monday with 89 students out. Norfork had 46 students miss school Monday which is 10 percent. At Flippin, 125 students missed school Monday which is 13.6 percent. Yellville-Summit reported 82 students out sick Monday which is near 10%. Calico Rock reported 20 students out Monday which is just over 10 percent. At Viola, 40 students missed class Monday which is 10 percent. At Gainesville, the numbers are better with 6 percent out at the elementary and 5.5 percent at the high school. Bakersfield’s numbers have been the lowest in the area which superintendent Amy Britt attributes to their four-day school week.
Most superintendents say they don’t have a set number to start thinking about calling off classes but for most it’s around 20 percent absenteeism rate. Another factor is staff absenteeism rates and the ability to get substitutes
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Subject of search in Boone County found dead
A man authorities had been searching for in Boone County has been found dead. The body of 59-year-old Paul Veasman was found yesterday morning in a building near his home.
The Harrison Daily Times says the search started Wednesday afternoon and continued until about midnight. Searchers had checked the buildings around Veasman’s home in Diamond City, including the one where his body was found. Authorities believe he returned to the building after it had been searched.
Boone County Judge Robert Hathaway says they are uncertain about the cause of death but Veasman was diabetic.
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Gassville woman pleads guilty to stealing thousands from employer
A Gassville woman admitted during a special session of Baxter County Circuit Court Wednesday to stealing thousands of dollars from her employer and was sentenced to 15 years probation. The total amount of restitution to be paid to the victim will be determined at a hearing set for May 2nd.
Ben Gibson of Yellville, who represents 40-year-old Tracy Adams, told the court he had $45,000 in his trust account, which would be paid immediately to the prosecuting attorney’s office to disburse to the victim. Gibson said the employer would receive the $45,000 regardless of the outcome of the May restitution hearing.
Adams was arrested after her employer noticed a questionable transaction in his records and launched a probe of his own. The employer discovered Adams had allegedly used a business credit card to pay for a personal debt.
Adams, who worked as business manager for her employer, was eventually fired from her job, and the employer contacted police in early March 2017.
According to the probable cause affidavit, Adams was brought in for questioning and allegedly told police she had been stealing from her employer for a number of years. She admitted writing herself extra paychecks, making unauthorized ATM withdrawals, and making online purchases using the business’ credit cards.
At the time the charges were filed in April 2017, investigators said they had already uncovered many non-business-related transactions. The investigation has continued into the total amount of money Adams may have taken from the business.
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Man disarmed by deputy, booked into Baxter County Jail 56th time
A Cotter man well known to the criminal justice system returned to the Baxter County Detention Center on Friday. According to Baxter County Sheriff John Montgomery, 35-year-old Aaron Tullos was arrested on multiple drug and weapon charges.
A deputy responded to a complaint call from an address on Powell Avenue in downtown Cotter just after 9:00 Friday evening and located Tullos in the back seat of a vehicle, and he appeared to be asleep or unconscious. The deputy opened the back door, and Tullos was observed to move. Tullos got out of the car and denied having a firearm, but the deputy reportedly observed the butt of a handgun in his front waistband. The suspect attempted to move away from the deputy as he was disarmed. Tullos also attempted to reach behind his back where the deputy located a small knife. Tullos began to push away from the vehicle and actively resist, but the deputy eventually took him into custody after a Gassville Police officer arrived at the scene and provided assistance.
The handgun in Tullos’ possession was determined to be an unloaded .40 caliber pistol. He is a convicted felon prohibited from possessing firearms. A set of digital scales were also located. The incident occurred within 1,000 feet of the North Arkansas Youth Center.
Tullos was searched further after he was transferred to the detention center’s custody. During the changeout process, he allegedly dropped a plastic baggy containing a substance determined to be methamphetamine. It weighed nearly 10.7 grams.
Tullos faces felony counts of possession of methamphetamine with the purpose to deliver, possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of firearms by certain persons, simultaneous possession of drugs and firearms and furnishing prohibited articles and a misdemeanor count of resisting arrest. He also faces a penalty of proximity to certain facilities and a penalty enhancement of being a habitual offender.
Tullos’ bond is set at $15,000, and he’s expected to appear in Baxter County Circuit Court. He has been booked into the detention center 56 times since 2001.
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