State briefs
More tows for disabled abandoned cars on roads
LITTLE ROCK — Arkansas state troopers are cracking down on abandoned disabled cars littering highways.
Authorities say vehicles left on the white fog line or within three feet of the line at the edge of highways now will be towed immediately because they’re a safety danger for others. Normally, motorists get 24 hours before they have to move their
disabled vehicles. But the law also makes it illegal for broken-down cars and trucks to be that close to the driving lane.
For those legally left on the side of the road, Trooper Gabriel Monroe says troopers will put a green sticker on abandoned vehicles and mark the time so other troopers can determine once 24 hours has passed. A typical tow to an impound lot costs motorists between $90 and $150.
LR police chief mulling beards OK for officers
LITTLE ROCK — Little Rock’s police chief is considering a change in the department’s grooming policies so male officers can have more facial hair.
Chief Kenton Buckner says he’s received numerous requests from officers who’d like to have beards or goatees. Department policy now allows only mustaches as facial hair.
Little Rock television station KATV reports Buckner says young officers in his department don’t perceive facial hair as unprofessional and he’s willing to give the idea some serious thought.
The chief also says while he’s more open to facial hair than visible tattoos, he also may be willing to relax tattoo restrictions. Current regulations mandate visible tattoos be covered with a long-sleeve shirt or removable sleeve.
NWA state park pool unsafe, closed all summer
HUNTSVILLE — A half-century-old swimming pool that anchors a northwest Arkansas state park is being closed all summer because of safety concerns.
Arkansas state park officials say they fear the supporting walls at the pool at Withrow Springs State Park could fail, so they’re keeping visitors to the park about 25 miles east of Fayetteville away from the pool.
The parks agency says what happens next isn’t certain but says repairs would be costly and time consuming. An engineering study last year recommended replacing part of the pool deck and walls to a mechanical room.
Withrow Springs State Park Superintendent Earl Minton says the pool was built in 1967 and 1968 and renovated 20 years ago. It’s one of seven Arkansas state parks with a swimming pool.
Storms in east Arkansas leave 1 injured, outages
FORREST CITY — At least one person has been hurt as strong storms have pounded areas of eastern Arkansas.
About 6,000 Entergy Arkansas customers had power knocked out late Saturday in St. Francis County as authorities reported downed trees and power lines.
Details of the injured person aren’t immediately known. Sheriff’s deputies have been canvassing streets from Colt to Caldwell to Forrest City to see if people needed assistance and county crews have been working to clear roads blocked by debris.
The civic center in Forrest City, about 90 miles east of Little Rock, has been opened as a shelter. The National Weather Service says it will investigate to determine if a tornado is responsible for some of the damage.