North East Arkansas Emergency Services

Jonesboro Police and Fire Work to Save Jobs.

2010-06-23T12:05:00.000-07:00

The city of Jonesboro is proposing a 1/2 cent sales tax increase to help save 67 public safety positions. According to the city of Jonesboro's web site if the tax is approved by the voters, the tax would take place Jan. 1st through December 31st 2014.

If the vote doesn't pass, it will cause the police department to lose 40 postions and the fire department will lose 27 positions.

If you are a Jonesboro resident, please VOTE YES to the 1/2 cent sales tax and encourage your neighbor and friends to do the same.

UPDATE: West Memphis Funeral Arrangements Announced

2010-05-23T11:33:00.000-07:00

WEST MEMPHIS, AR. Funeral arrangements have been announced for Sgt Paudert and Officer Evans.

Visitations for both Paudert and Evans will be at West Memphis Lehr Arena from 5:00pm to 9:00 pm Today and Funeral for Paudert will be at 10:00am on Monday and Evans will be at 2:00pm Monday both at the West Memphis Lehr Arena.

Pine Bluff Firefighter LODD

2010-05-23T10:41:00.000-07:00

PINE BLUFF, AR. Lieutenant David Curlin who was critically injured on January 3rd, 2010 at a working commerical building fire has succumbed from his injuries at Baptist Medical Center in Little Rock.

Lt. Curlin was a 14 year veteran of the Pine Bluff Fire Department. While working at the fire a second story wall collapsed pinning Curlin under a metal beam. firefighters used everything from extrication tools to shovels to work and free Curlin from the deberis. It was reported that Curlin and his crew were preparing to exit the structure when the collapse occured.

Funeral arragements will be posted as soon as it is announced.

We wish to extend our condolences to the family of Curling and to the members of the Pine Bluff Fire Department.

http://www.pineblufffire.com/

Lieutenant David Curlin

UPDATE: Police Identifies West Memphis Police Shooters

2010-05-22T17:53:00.000-07:00

WEST MEMPHIS, AR, Police have identified the two shooters who gunned down two West Memphis Police Officers SGT Brandon Paudert and Officer Bill Evans and wounding Crittenden County Sheriff Dick Busby and Chief Deputy W.A. Wren.

Sheriff Busby is listed in Stable condition. Deputy Wren has been upgraded from critical to serious condition. Both are at The Med in Memphis.

The suspects Jerry Kane Jr. 45 and his 16 year old Son Joseph both of Vienna, Ohio were identified by family members.

West Memphis Police LODD

2010-05-21T14:50:00.000-07:00

West Memphis, AR- Two West Memphis police officers paid the ultimate sacrafice on Thursday May 21, 2010. Sgt Brandon Paudert and Officer Bill Evans pulled over a white minivan on I-40 and were gunned down by two unidentified men. The men then sped off and a search began for the mini van. The two officers were airlifted to a local trauma center were they both passed away from their injuries.

90 minutes later Crittenden County Sheriff Dick Busby and his Chief Deputy W.A. Wren spotted the vehicle at a local wal-mart parking lot and local law enforcement converged on the parking lot blocking all escape routes. The minivan sped up in an attempt to escape and a Arkansas Fish and Game officer rammed the van with his truck putting the van out of commission.

It is not clear as to who fire the first shots but both Sheriff Busby and Chief Deputy Wren were wounded in the shoot out. They were both taken to a local trauma center where they are currently being treated.

Both West Memphis officers come from a long line of law enforcement officers. Sgt Paudert is the son of West Memphis Police Chief Bob Paudert. Officer Evans is a third generation officer whose father and grand father were police officers. Evans also has a brother who is an officer with West Memphis Police.

Funeral arrangements have not yet been released. As soon as it becomes available we will post it here and on our facebook page.

We extend our condolences to the families and the members of the WMPD. And hope for a speedy recovery for Sheriff Busby and Chief Deputy Wren.

Norman Eugene Eidson Jr. (1966-2010)

2010-05-17T18:12:00.000-07:00

Lake City Fire Chief Norman Eugene Eidson Jr. passed away on April 29th from a heart attack at St. Bearnards Medical Center in Jonesboro.

Chief Eidson Jr. was a 20 year member of the Lake City Fire Dept. His last 9 years he served as Chief of the dept. He succeeded his father Chief Norman Eidson Sr.

Services were held at Emerson Memorial Chapel in Jonesboro on May 2, 2010. Police, Fire and, EMS agencies from across the area along with the Jonesboro Fire Dept Honor Guard Pipes and Drums came to pay their final respects for the Chief.

Interment was at Pine Log Cemetery in Brookland.Chief Eidson Jr. received full honors.

North East Arkansas Emergency Services would like to extend its condolences to the Chief's family and to the members of the Lake City Fire Dept. May the Lord be with you during this difficult time.

Lake City P.D. and Craighead Co. Sheriff's

Medic One EMS

Valley View F.D.

Bono F.D.

Brookland F.D.

Philladelphia F.D.

Carraway F.D. Lake City F.D.

Jonesboro Engine 6

Jonesboro House Fire

2010-05-17T17:27:00.000-07:00

On May 8th Jonesboro firefighters responded to a report of a house fire on West Nettleton Ave. in Station 2's first due area. Fire Crews made a good stop on the fire. The cause of the fire is still under investigation.

Units on scene:
-Engine 2
-Engine 6
-Truck 2
-Rescue 1
-Battalion 2

Below are photos from the scene which were submitted by Erick Free of Jonesboro.

Truck 2
Engine 6

Engine 2, Battalion 2, Rescue 1

Truck 2

Engine 6

Numerous wrecks reported in the region.

2009-08-26T20:33:00.000-07:00

Photo Credit: Jonesboro Sun

In Jonesboro a local teen was air lifted to The MED in Memphis after he was involved in an accident with a CWL dump truck. A JETS bus was involved in a accident with a car at the intersection of Church Street and Mathews. A former Newport Police officer was killed in an auto accident in Jackson County. For more on these stories click the links below also a video is included in the KAIT link.

KAIT News with video
Jonesboro Sun Article

Plumerville, AR LODD

2009-06-22T16:49:00.000-07:00

The Plumerville Police force is mourning the loss of their Assistant Police Chief after he was fatally shot this morning while on a traffic stop early Friday morning.

Chief Joey Cannon pulled over a vehicle on HWY 64 that was believed to have been stolen.

Today Plumerville Police Chief Bill Hartman identified the shooter as Shane Ashton Lonix, 22 and a resident of Conway, AR.Lonix shot Chief Cannon then fled on foot giving chase to police officers. Lonix was arrested 2 hours after Cannon was shot. The Conway County Prosecutor has charged Lonix with capitol murder, weapons possession and theft by receiving and is being held at the Faulkner County Detention Center.

Chief Cannon was set to retire at the end of this month. He leaves behind 1 son, 1 daughter and 5 grandchildren.

Funeral Services for Chief Cannon are set for tomorrow in Plumerville.

Check out KARK 4 for more details

Hwy 63 Accident claims 5 lives.

2009-05-27T21:38:00.000-07:00

KAIT8.COM IMAGE

A PT Cruiser heading the wrong way on HWY 63 collides with a bus carrying people with special needs. 5 people including the 2 drivers were killed in the collision. Several others were injured. 2 people had to be airlifted to area trauma centers while others were transported to local hospitals.

According to eyewitness accounts and police the pt cruiser was heading southbound in the northbound lane of HWY 63 just before the Nestle Rd. overpass.

HWY 63 was closed for 4 hours while the accident was cleaned up.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE DETAILS ON THE ACCIDENT.

Bono Haz-Mat Incident

2009-05-13T08:24:00.000-07:00

Photo Credit: KAIT 8 NEWS

(Tuesday May 12, 2009) Bono Fire Department responded to a accident involving a gasoline tanker, and Airgas truck, and 1 car on HWY 63 which had traffic shut down for about 2 hours. The tanker swerved to miss the airgas truck which had pulled out onto the highway and hit a car then turned over. Both Jonesboro and Bono FD's worked to free a woman from the wrecked car. Once freed she was carried to the awaiting Air EVAC helicopter to be flown to a trauma center for further evaluation and treatment of her injuries. Fire crews worked to clean up the spilled gasoline before opening HWY 63 back up to traffic again.

Click here to read the story and watch video from KAIT News

AIR EVAC Jonesboro Base.

2009-05-11T20:11:00.000-07:00

Today after several attempts to get a shot of Air EVAC of Jonesboro, AR. I got lucky! I was humbly welcomed by Pilot David Hudson.

David showed me around the base while waiting for the helicopter to return from it's trip to a Little Rock hospital. David explained that the Base originally started out in 1998 at the Jonesboro Airport and moved 5 yrs ago to it's present location just outside the Lake City city limits on HWY 18.

According to the website it states that Air EVAC of Jonesboro has flown over 8,000 accident free hours. Pilot Hudson explained that the pilot's work 12 hour shifts while the flight nurse and medic's work 24 hour shifts. He also showed me the service area map and says that they fly 70 miles radius on scene flights and once there, they will fly where ever they need to fly the patient's to. He says he has flown as far as St. Louis and, Nashville.

I do hope to go back and get more pictures during the day so I will be posting more pictures later!

Air EVAC returning home.

Jonesboro Base

THE OFFICE

THE KITCHEN
DAY ROOM
HANGER AND HELIPAD

INSIDE THE HANGER

Medic resupplying

Jonesboro Fire Department Station No. 7

2009-05-10T12:39:00.000-07:00

Today I visited the newest addition to the Jonesboro Fire Department. Fire Station No. 7 located on C.W. Post Road in the eastern part of Jonesboro. Station 7 houses a 2004 Pierce Enforcer 75' Quint (Engine 7) and a 3500 gallon Peterbuilt tanker/pumper (Tanker 1). Tanker 1 is used to assist area volunteer stations and also to proivde water shuttles in non hydrant areas of Jonesboro.

CRAIGHEAD COUNTY OEM MOBILE COMMAND CENTER

2009-05-10T12:26:00.000-07:00

I was able to check out the CCOEM mobile command center which was being used at the NEA Biker Classic in Jonesboro, AR. This trailer has 5 pods which all has a computer, a compliment of radioes (HAMM, 800mhz, and VHF) The computers are internet capable and have the ability to access both the ACIC and the NCIC for criminal background checks. The computers are set up similar to the ones used in Jonesboro PD units and in the dispatch center at JPD. The trailer also has a 40 feet retractable tower for radio antenna's and a camera to be used for security purposes. The trailer also has a weather station for recording weather stats on site. This trailer is used at special events such as the biker classic and at the Arkansas State University football games. The trailer also is deployed for major incidents where a mobile command center would be needed.

Jonesboro Police Department D.A.R.E. units

2009-05-10T12:06:00.000-07:00

This weekend I was able to snap some shots of Jonesboro Police Department's D.A.R.E. vehicles and the NEA Clinic / JPD D.A.R.E. trailer which was used to attract children to come play video games at the NEA Biker Classic "DARE to ride" which was held in Downtown Jonesboro.

2007 DODGE CHARGER D.A.R.E. UNIT

NEA CLINIC/JPD D.A.R.E. TRUCK

NEA CLINIC/JPD D.A.R.E. TRAILER LEXUS LS400 SEIZED D.A.R.E. UNIT

Arkansas Fallen Firefighter Memorial

2009-05-10T11:29:00.000-07:00

The Arkansas Fallen Firefighter Memorial is currently traveling through the state of Arkansas promoting the Statue that will be placed at the State Capitol in Little Rock, AR. The memorial is on a 12 city tour throughout the state. The Statue weights over 6,000 pounds and stands 16 feet tall.
The bronze statue alone is worth $301,170. The entire project is only 65% funded at this point and is being made though hundreds of small donations by buying a granite sidewalk paver, purchasing a fallen firefighter memorial license plate through the DMV, and though a raffle ticket sale of a honda 4X4 4-wheeler according to the Arkansas Fallen Firefighter Memorial Web site. (http://www.arfallenfirefighters.org/)
The memorial plaza which will be built at the state capitol will cost $683.020. Funds are still needed to make this project a reality. Please visit their web site and donate! Make this project happen!