News
Calhoun County Deputy Named Arkansas Officer of The Year
LITTLE ROCK – Attorney General Tim Griffin today honored law enforcement officers from across Arkansas at the 2024 Officer of the Year Awards luncheon. At the conclusion of the event, Griffin issued the following statement:
“Each year we honor the service, sacrifice, and dedication of Arkansas’s law enforcement with the Officer of the Year Awards. The men and women we’ve recognized today have shown outstanding courage and commitment to their communities in the past year. As we celebrate the ways they have gone above and beyond to keep Arkansans safe, we honor not just these few, but all law enforcement officers.
“This year’s state Officer of the Year is Chief Deputy John Cutrell of the Calhoun County Sheriff’s Office. During the mass shooting at the Mad Butcher grocery store in Fordyce on June 21, 2024, Chief Deputy Cutrell was near the scene when calls began to come in. Chief Deputy Cutrell immediately jumped into action to assist law enforcement, paramedics, and victims. While on scene, he aided a paramedic by driving the ambulance to the hospital while the paramedic was treating a severely injured victim. Chief Deputy Cutrell then helped the paramedic transport the victim to their room so the medical staff could provide further medical treatment. Afterward, Chief Deputy Cutrell immediately returned to the Mad Butcher grocery store and began preserving the crime scene.
“The victim Chief Deputy Cutrell assisted that day is alive because of the chief deputy’s actions. In a situation of chaos and violence, Chief Deputy Cutrell demonstrated strength, compassion, and courage. He was among many heroes in Fordyce that day, and his actions are representative of the best of law enforcement in our state.
“As the top law enforcement officer in the state, I am committed to supporting and working with Arkansas’s law enforcement community to ensure they can continue to protect and serve our citizens at the highest levels of excellence and professionalism.”
Honorees are officers from each of the state’s counties, five regional winners, two recipients of the Dwayne Yarbrough Distinguished Service Award, four valor tributes (officers who died in the line of duty) and one statewide Officer of the Year. This year’s honorees are:
Statewide Officer of the Year: Chief Deputy John Cutrell, Calhoun County Sheriff’s Office
Northeast Region: Corporal Marcus Simpson, Arkansas State Police
Southeast Region: Chief Deputy John Cutrell, Calhoun County Sheriff’s Office
Southwest Region: Deputy Joshua Butterworth, Polk County Sheriff’s Office
Central Region: Trooper Austin Duncan, Arkansas State Police
Northwest Region: Deputy Tyler Himes, Crawford County Sheriff’s Office
Valor Tributes:
Officer Michael “Cain” Maxheimer, Shannon Hills Police Department
Deputy Justin Smith, Stone County Sheriff’s Office
Officer Tommy Foster, Jr., Conway County Detention Center
Corporal Raymond Kuuchi, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Police Services
Dwayne Yarbrough Distinguished Service Awards:
Corporal Lonnie Stone, Flippin Police Department
Sergeant Justin Wagner, Polk County Sheriff’s Office
County Officers of the Year:
Arkansas County: Deputy Patrick Johnson, Arkansas County Sheriff’s Office
Ashley County: School Resource Officer Robert Black, Crossett Police Department
Baxter County: Agent Bobby Hicks, Arkansas Department of Corrections – Division of Community Correction
Benton County: Corporal Joshua Fritz, Siloam Springs Police Department
Boone County: Deputy Tyler Nichols, Boone County Sheriff’s Office
Bradley County: Trooper First Class TreVaughn Moore, Arkansas State Police
Calhoun County: Chief Deputy John Cutrell, Calhoun County Sheriff’s Office
Carroll County: Officer Zachary Gray, Berryville Police Department
Chicot County: Trooper David Menotti, Jr., Arkansas State Police
Clark County: Lieutenant Dean Palmer, Arkansas Police Department
Clay County: Trooper Christian Underwood, Arkansas State Police
Cleburne County: Assistant Area Manager SRT Marcus “Levi” Lovin, Arkansas Department of Corrections – Division of Community Correction
Cleveland County: K-9 Officer Austin Powell and K-9 Annie, Arkansas Game and Fish Commission
Columbia County: Trooper Justin Cherry, Arkansas State Police
Conway County: Assistant Chief Trent Anderson, Morrilton Police Department
Craighead County: Special Agent Heath Gurley, Arkansas State Police
Crawford County: Deputy Tyler Himes, Crawford County Sheriff’s Office
Crittenden County: Trooper Dairren Evans, Trooper Dylan Evans, Corporal Billy Martin, Arkansas State Police
Cross County: Trooper First Class Kristopher McCrea, Arkansas State Police
Dallas County: Trooper First Class Jimmy Plyler, Jr., Arkansas State Police
Desha County: Deputy Alan Hernandez, Desha County Sheriff’s Office
Drew County: Sergeant Chris Austin and K-9 Aiko, Drew County Sheriff’s Office
Faulkner County: Officer Darnell Flowers, Arkansas Department of Corrections – Division of Community Correction
Franklin County: Trooper Dalton Lewis, Arkansas State Police
Fulton County: Sergeant Justin Nowlin, Arkansas State Police
Garland County: Trooper Justin Parker, Arkansas State Police
Grant County: School Resource Officer Saundra McCool, Sheridan Police Department
Greene County: Corporal Stephen Pace, Paragould Police Department
Hempstead County: Trooper First Class Trevor Dew, Arkansas State Police
Hot Spring County: Corporal Anna Eubanks, Malvern Police Department
Howard County: Investigator Tim Bowlin, Dierks Police Department
Independence County: Deputy Sherman Rucker, Sergeant Zachary Spohr, Independence County Sheriff’s Office
Izard County: Lieutenant Robert Cross, Arkansas Department of Corrections – Division of Correction
Jackson County: Corporal Marcus Simpson, Arkansas State Police
Jefferson County: Trooper James Harrell, Arkansas State Police
Johnson County: Corporal James Harmon, Lamar Police Department
Lafayette County: Assistant Chief Daniel Simmons, Lewisville Police Department
Lawrence County: Deputy Jason Fraser, Lawrence County Sheriff’s Office
Lee County: Special Agent James Collins, Arkansas State Police
Lincoln County: Investigator Larry Gailey, Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office
Little River County: Trooper First Class Ian Nelson, Arkansas State Police
Logan County: Corporal Jed Bolyard, Arkansas State Police
Lonoke County: Trooper Ana Escamilla, Arkansas State Police
Madison County: Game Warden Caleb McClanahan, Arkansas Game and Fish Commission
Marion County: Deputy Brett Castle, Lieutenant Silas Gibson, Sergeant Mark Lee, Marion County Sheriff’s Office
Miller County: Sergeant Kyle Caudle, Sergeant Matt Warner, Texarkana Police Department
Mississippi County: Sergeant Jared Camp, Manila Police Department
Monroe County: Trooper Gavin Taylor, Arkansas State Police
Montgomery County: Sergeant Emily McCaghren, Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office
Nevada County: Sergeant Jeremy Hendrix, Nevada County Sheriff’s Office
Newton County: Chief Deputy Mike Blocker, Newton County Sheriff’s Office
Ouachita County: Chief Nathan Greeley, Bearden Police Department
Perry County: Investigator Todd Bonds, Perryville Police Department
Phillips County: Trooper Dairren Evans, Arkansas State Police
Pike County: Sergeant Shaun Furr, Pike County Sheriff’s Office
Poinsett County: Lieutenant Jay-Ryan Woods, Poinsett County Sheriff’s Office
Polk County: Deputy Josh Butterworth, Polk County Sheriff’s Office
Pope County: Corporal Kevin Hobby, Russellville Police Department
Prairie County: Trooper Rand Lace, Arkansas State Police
Pulaski County: Special Agent Travis May, Arkansas State Police
Randolph County: School Resource Officer Felipe Baiza, Maynard School District
St. Francis County: Trooper Blake Irvin, Arkansas State Police
Saline County: Trooper First Class Austin Duncan, Arkansas State Police
Scott County: Trooper Justin Shackleford, Arkansas State Police
Sebastian County: Trooper Tucker Phelps, Arkansas State Police
Sevier County: Patrolman Rene Ramirez, De Queen Police Department
Sharp County: Senior Corporal Roger Tate, Arkansas Game and Fish Commission
Stone County: Special Agent Drew Widner, Arkansas State Police
Van Buren County: Special Agent Kevin Brown, Arkansas State Police
Washington County: Special Agent Heath Gurley, Arkansas State Police
White County: Corporal John Long, White County Sheriff’s Office
Woodruff County: Constable Johnnie J. Hodge, McCrory Township
Yell County: Officer Jesse Keeling, Officer Anthony Ochoa, Danville Police Department
10:30 PM UPDATE
Statewide
All Arkansas state government offices are closed Thursday and Friday.
El Dorado
The El Dorado School District will dismiss classes early at 1:00 p.m. on Thursday, January 9, and will be closed on Friday, January 10th. The district urges everyone to prioritize safety during the anticipated weather conditions.
The Boys and Girls Club of Union County will be closed on Thursday.
Westside Christian School
Westside Christian School will dismiss classes early at 1:00 p.m. on Thursday, January 9, and will be closed on Friday, January 10th.
Bravo Dance Centre
All classes for the remainder of the week have been cancelled. Classes will resume on Monday, January 13th.
Camden Fairview
The Camden Fairview School District has announced that all classes will be canceled on Thursday, January 9, and Friday, January 10, due to expected severe weather conditions. The decision was made to prioritize safety, with concerns about hazardous road conditions during afternoon dismissals.
All district events scheduled for Thursday, Friday, and Saturday have also been canceled. Updates regarding rescheduled events are already being shared, including the following:
- Basketball games originally scheduled for January 9 and 10 will now take place at the CFHS Gym on Tuesday, January 21, with start times to be announced.
- The Ivory Intermediate Spelling Bee will now be held on Wednesday, January 15, with 5th grade at 8:20 AM and 4th grade at 9:30 AM.
Thanks to five built-in inclement weather days in the school calendar, students will not need to make up the missed days. The district will continue to monitor conditions and provide updates.
CFSD employees are advised to check their work emails for updates. The district encourages everyone to stay safe and warm.
Parkers Chapel
The Parkers Chapel School District will dismiss early at 1:00 p.m. on Thursday, January 9, due to anticipated weather conditions. Schools will remain closed on Friday, January 10.
Smackover
The Smackover-Norphlet School District will dismiss classes early at 1:00 p.m. on Thursday, January 9, due to forecasted inclement weather and potentially hazardous road conditions. Buses will begin lining up at 12:30 p.m., and all after-school preschool classes are canceled.
Classes and all extracurricular activities are also canceled for Friday, January 10. The basketball game against Centerpoint has been rescheduled for Monday, January 13. District officials emphasized that the safety of students, staff, and the community remains their top priority.
Magnolia
The Magnolia School District will dismiss classes early at 1:00 p.m. on Thursday, January 9, 2025, due to anticipated inclement weather. While officials believe it is unlikely schools will be open on Friday, a final decision will be made after assessing actual weather conditions. The district will continue to monitor updates and communicate any changes.
Hampton
Due to the threat of inclement weather Hampton Schools will be closed Thursday, January 9, 2025. The decision was made for the safety and the best educational outcomes for students and staff.
EL DORADO –
Winter weather sweeping through the region has left thousands of Entergy Arkansas customers without power. As of 7:30 a.m. on Friday, 1,510 customers in the El Dorado area and over 3,700 customers in Columbia County were reported to be without service.
Entergy Arkansas stated that crews are actively assessing the situation and working on restoration efforts where it is deemed safe. “It is on these assessments that we base our estimated restoration times. We will communicate these estimates with you and will provide updates as new information becomes available. Our crews will simultaneously be restoring service where it is deemed safe to do so,” the utility provider said in a statement.
Ice accumulation is a major factor in the outages, as it adds significant weight to power lines and tree limbs, causing them to stretch, bend, or snap. A half-inch of ice can increase the weight of a tree limb by up to 30 times, potentially bringing down power lines and causing widespread interruptions.
Entergy advised customers to turn off electrical appliances and heating units to avoid overloading the system once power is restored. Additionally, the company emphasized safety precautions for residents:
- Stay away from downed power lines, as live wires can be deadly. Report downed lines or damaged equipment by calling 1-800-9OUTAGE or 1-800-968-8243.
- Avoid trimming trees or removing debris near power lines, as this task should be left to power company crews or contractors.
- Keep clear of work zones where crews are making repairs.
- If using a generator, ensure it is installed by a licensed electrician and disconnected from the utility system to prevent safety risks.
Residents are encouraged to remain patient as restoration crews work to safely return service. For the latest updates, visit SouthArkansasNow.com or monitor Entergy Arkansas’ communications.
LITTLE ROCK – In anticipation of severe winter weather expected to impact Arkansas on January 9, 2025, Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders has issued Executive Order 25-01, declaring a state of emergency and allocating $150,000 from the Governor’s Disaster Response and Recovery Fund. This proactive measure aims to address potential dangers, hardships, and property damage caused by the approaching storm.
Emergency Funding and Assistance
The funds will be managed by the Arkansas Division of Emergency Management and can be used for both program and administrative costs to aid recovery efforts. The declaration emphasizes the potential for significant impacts on citizens and public infrastructure across the state, highlighting the need for supplemental assistance to local governments and communities.
Winter Weather Threat
According to the National Weather Service, the incoming winter storm is expected to bring heavy snow, freezing rain, and dangerous ice accumulations, creating hazardous travel conditions and potential power outages. The emergency declaration underscores the seriousness of the threat and prepares state resources to respond swiftly.
Governor’s Statement
“Severe winter weather poses a serious threat to the safety and well-being of Arkansans, as well as to public property throughout our state,” Governor Sanders stated. “This emergency declaration ensures we are ready to provide critical support where it is needed most.”
Preparedness Measures
The declaration follows warnings from meteorologists and emergency management agencies urging residents to prepare for the storm by stocking up on essential supplies, avoiding unnecessary travel, and staying informed about road conditions and weather updates.
This state of emergency enables rapid mobilization of resources to protect lives and property as Arkansas braces for potentially devastating winter weather.
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