FOUR CRITTENDEN COUNTY MEN CHARGED WITH CONSPIRACY TO COMMIT ELECTION FRAUD

State Legislator and Three Others Enter Guilty Pleas

Little Rock - Jane W. Duke, Attorney for the United States, Acting Under Authority
Conferred by 28 U.S.C. § 515, and Federal Bureau of Investigation Special Agent in Charge
Randall C. Coleman announced the waiver of indictment and filing of a felony information
charging four Crittenden County men with conspiracy to commit election fraud. This is the first
known use of the Travel Act to bring charges for vote-buying in a purely local election.
The individuals charged include Hudson Hallum, State Representative for District 54; his
father, Kent Hallum; West Memphis City Councilman Phillip Wayne Carter; and West Memphis
Police Officer Sam Malone. In addition to waiving indictment, the defendants entered guilty
pleas to the charge contained in the information. In doing so, each acknowledged his
participation in a conspiracy to bribe voters to influence absentee votes in the Arkansas District
54 primary, its runoff election, and the general election, all of which were held between February
and July 2011. At the time of the elections, District 54 included West Memphis, Marion, Earle,
and Turrell, Arkansas, as well as other rural areas of Crittenden County.

It is much easier to prevent a disease than to treat it.  That is  exactly what immunizations aim to do.  August is National Immunization Awareness Month.

And since many families are getting ready to go back to school, we want to remind you about
Rep. Keith Ingramthe immunizations your child will need to attend public and private schools in Arkansas.  Your family doctor’s office or local health unit can check to see if your shots are up-to-date.

Below two examples of immunizations required in Arkansas.

·       Seventh graders must have one dose of vaccine to prevent tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis (Tdap vaccine).

·       Kindergarten children must have two doses of varicella (chickenpox) vaccine even if they have already had chickenpox. 

Making sure that children of all ages receive all their vaccinations on time is one of the most important things parents can do to ensure their children's long-term health, as well as the health of friends, classmates, and others in the community.

Because of immunizations, we've seen the near eradication of polio and smallpox.  Over the years immunizations have thwarted epidemics of once common infectious diseases such as measles, mumps, and whooping cough.

However, outbreaks still happen.  For example, preliminary data showed more than 21,000 cases of "whooping cough" (pertussis) in this country in 2010.  Twenty-six deaths were reported.  Additionally, from January 1 to May 20, 2011, there were 118 cases of measles reported in the United States--- more than any year since 1996.  Measles spreads easily and it can be serious, causing hospitalization and even death.  Young children are at highest risk for serious complications from measles.

Arkansans will need to dispose of an estimated 8 to 10 thousand tons of electronic waste this year.  That includes your old televisions, computers, and cell phones.

Just think about the number of electronics you have replaced in the last few years.  Now Rep. Hudson Hallummultiply that by 1.3 million (the amount of households in Arkansas) and you can quickly visualize the problem for our state’s landfills.

Electronic waste is the fastest growing waste stream today.  Not only is it a problem for our landfills because of the space, but most electronics have hazardous chemicals which could leach out into our groundwater and streams.

Valuable material can be recovered from old electronics, and used to make new products. 

12th Annual Crittenden County Business Expo

West Memphis Chamber of Commerce presents its twelfth annual Crittenden County Business Expo. The expo theme is “South of the Border”. The event will be held at Holiday Plaza Mall located at 1800 Missouri, West Memphis, Arkansas, Thursday, September 20^th from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Business After Hours will be held immediately after the business expo for vendors and chamber members.

Over the past three months I have attempted to clear my head and move on from Crittenden County. The dealing with political players and acting as a media outlet had drained every ounce of creativity that I had ever built up in my feeble little soul. The 6+ years of work that I had put into creating an online media outlet has also fallen by the wayside. Someone told me a few months ago that the site had crashed and was inaccessible. I didn't care.

I have for years had a feud with the local print publication... but that feud was based on the blind following of a dead, ineffective format.

Some of that creative energy is coming back but completely turning my back on HOME... is just wrong. The level of hate spewing from the pens of supposed community leaders, scares the bajeebees out of me.

Please read the email below and understand that it is this type of mentality that is DESTROYING our community. Business is business and I am not going to use this letter as an ad sales stunt. I am back in this fight. I need moral support. I need suggestions and I need content / editorial contributions. We, as a community, can create a new media outlet that will grow and produce a positive and (I dare say), PROGRESSIVE image of Crittenden County.

Jason Stark
Publisher 

(Warning: Offensive, Hateful and Derogutory language)