CDC: Older teens often text while driving
ATLANTA — Think your teen would never text while driving? More than half of high school seniors admitted in a government survey that they’ve done just that.
It’s the first time the question was asked in a teen poll on risky behavior, and the finding comes amid a renewed federal crackdown on distracted driving.
Texting and cellphone use behind the wheel is “a national epidemic,” Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said Thursday.
“We need to teach kids, who are the most vulnerable drivers, that texting and driving don’t mix,” LaHood said at a Washington news conference to announce pilot projects in Delaware and California to discourage distracted driving.
In the survey, about 58 percent of high school seniors said they had texted or emailed while driving during the previous month. About 43 percent of high school juniors acknowledged they did the same thing.
“I’m not surprised at all,” said Vicki Rimasse, a New Jersey woman whose son caused a fender bender earlier this year after texting in traffic. She made him take a safe- driving class after the mishap.
“I felt like an idiot,” said her 18- year- old son, Dylan Young. The episode taught him “to be a lot more cautious,” although he conceded that he sometimes still texts behind the wheel.
The findings released Thursday are the first federal statistics on how common the dangerous habit is in teens. Distracted driving deaths are most common in teens, blamed for about 16 percent of teen motor vehicle deaths.
Focusing on a cellphone instead of the road leads to delayed reaction times, lane swerves and other lapses with sometimes fatal consequences, experts say.
Thirty- nine states ban texting for all age groups, and an additional five states outlaw it for novice teen drivers. And authorities are increasingly cracking down. In the last two weeks, teens in Missouri and Massachusetts have been sentenced to jail — one for a year — for fatal accidents involving texting.
For the survey, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention last year questioned more than 15,000 public and private high school students across the country. Some earlier studies had suggested teen texting while driving was becoming common, though perhaps not quite so high.
Still, the numbers aren’t really surprising, said Amanda Lenhart, a senior researcher at the Pew Research Center in Washington. She studies how teens use technology.
A typical teen sends and receives about 100 text messages a day, and it’s the most common way many kids communicate with their peers.
“A lot of teens say ‘ Well, if the car’s not moving and I’m at a stoplight or I’m stuck in traffic, that’s OK,”’ said Lenhart, who has done focus groups with teens on the topic.
Other teens acknowledge that it’s not safe, but they think it is safer if they hold the phone up so they can see the road and text at the same time, she said.
The CDC survey didn’t ask whether the texting or emailing was done while the vehicle was moving or stopped. The survey is conducted every two years, but this was the first time it asked about texting while driving.
Young’s fender bender occurred one winter afternoon while he was in crawling traffic on his way to a guitar lesson. No one was hurt.
It’s frustrating that the accident did not break him of the habit, Rimasse said.
She described her son as an articulate honors student in North Arlington who walks to school and spends little time in the SUV that they share.
R. L. “Bill” Carter, age 87, of Hot Springs, died Tuesday, June 5, 2012.
He was born on April 16, 1925, the son of Thomas Carter and Grace Corley Carter. He was preceded in death by his parents; three brothers, Milton Carter, Whis Carter, and Milas Alvin Carter; and four sisters, Lorraine Sartin, Lois Wheeler, Ola Mae Diebold and Bessie Cook.
He was a member of the First Church of the Nazarene of Hot Springs and was a veteran of the U. S. Navy, serving in the Pacific during World War II. He was a retired barber.
He is survived by his wife of 61 years, Audrey Carter, of Hot Springs; one daughter and son- in- law, Felecia and Charles Swint, of Lonoke; one son, John Carter, of Hot Springs; four grandchildren, Audrey Swint and Gabe Carter, both of Hot Springs, Tyler Carter, of Gulfport, Miss., and Bill Swint and wife Christina, of Corning; two great- grandchildren, Hunner Swint and John Ethan Swint, of Corning; his little buddy, Nathan; one brother and sister- in- law, Ray and Catherine Carter, of Beebe; one sister and brother- in- law, Gladys and Bob Burrow, of Brinkley; nieces, nephews, cousins, and a host of friends.
Services will be held at 11 a. m., Saturday, June 9, 2012, in the Davis- Smith Funeral Home Chapel, Hot Springs, with Dr. Conley Henderson, the Rev. Terry D. Carter and the Rev. Grady Parker officiating.
Interment will be held in the Memorial Gardens Cemetery.
Military honors will be provided by the U. S. Navy Honor Guard.
Visitation will be held today from 6- 8 p. m.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Arkansas Hospice, 628 Malvern Ave., Hot Springs, AR 71901.
GLENWOOD – Burl Cowart, 78, of Glenwood, died Wednesday
He was born May 16, 1934, at Lodi, the son of James Levi and Allie Mae Welch Cowart.
Survivors include his wife of 56 years, Viola Cowart, of Lodi; three sons, Mike ( Tammy) Cowart, Mark Cowart and Jody ( Paige) Cowart, all of Lodi; two daughters, Freda Cowart, of Tulsa, Okla. and Kristie Womble, of Hot Springs; nine grandchildren; five great- grandchildren; three brothers; four sisters; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Services will be 2 p. m., Saturday in the Pilgrims Rest Landmark Missionary Baptist Church.
Visitation will be today, 6- 8 p. m., at the church.
Interment will be in the Lodi Cemetery under the direction of Davis- Smith Funeral Home, Glenwood.
Guest registry is at http:// www. davis- smith. com.
ARKADELPHIA – Our beloved Elinor Ruth Fulmer Diggs journeyed home to be with our Lord Jesus Christ on June 6, 2012. She was delivered into this world on Feb. 12, 1925, in Stamps, to Roland R. and Dameris Maxine Fulmer. She is preceded in death by her husband, Edgar Charles Diggs and daughter, Sandra Gayle Fields.
She is survived by her daughter, Cathy Calhoun and her husband Buddy, of Calhoun, La.; one brother, Edward Fulmer, of Las Vegas, one sister, Barbara Eakin; three grandchildren: Eddie Fields and wife Claudia, of Sherwood; Brad Calhoun and wife Kari, of Hot Springs; and Jenni White and her husband Joe, of Calhoun, La; six great- grandchildren: Abby Calhoun, Grayson Fields, Kaley White, Carter Calhoun, Peyton White, and Bryce White.
Visitation will be at Ruggles- Wilcox Funeral Home in Arkadelphia today, from 6- 8 p. m.
Service will be at Rest Haven Memorial Gardens in Arkadelphia on June 9 at 10: 30 a. m..
Sign on- line guest book at http:// www. ruggleswilcox. com.
MALVERN – Bill Dunn, 67, of Malvern, died Wednesday, June 6, 2012, in Hot Springs.
He was born Sept. 5, 1944, in Paron, to Thelma and the late William Dunn.
He was predeceased by his father and one sister, Lucy Mangrum.
Survivors include: Thelma Odell Neal Dunn, mother, Buckville; wife, Judee Dunn, of Malvern; sons Tony ( Stephanie) Dunn, of Malvern and Brandon ( Connie) Jackson, of Hot Springs; daughters Vallerie Ahart, of Malvern and Janet ( Wayne) Weatherford, of Pearcy; four brothers; six sisters; eight grandchildren; and three great- grandchildren.
A memorial service will be today at 4 p. m. at Atkinson Funeral Home Chapel.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Second Chance Animal Rescue, P. O. Box 1162, Malvern, AR 72104.
Cremation arrangements entrusted to Atkinson Funeral Home, Malvern. Guests may register at http:// www. atkinsonfuneralhome. net.
Henry “Hank” Fossum, 87, of Hot Springs, died Monday, May 28, 2012.
A Memorial Service will be held 3 p. m. Saturday, June 9 at Christway Unity Church, 300 Oaklawn.
Arrangements are by Hot Springs Funeral Home.
Online condolences at http:// www. hotspringsfh. com.
CLERMONT, Fla. – Sheila Gallagher, age 54, of Clermont, Fla., formerly of Hot Springs, died Saturday, May 26, 2012. Sheila was born to William Gallagher and Lucille ( Smith) Gallagher on Oct. 7, 1957, in Buffalo, N. Y.. She attended college and went on to become an LPN Nurse.
Shelia is survived by: sons; Wesley Gradwell, of Lackawanna, N. Y., and Robert Bauer, of Buffalo, N. Y.; brother, William Gallagher and wife Bonnie, of Buffalo, N. Y.; sisters, Susan Anderson and husband Donovan, of Clermont, Fla., Sheree Gallagher and husband, David, of Clermont, Fla..
Services will be privately held by the family.
Arrangements by Rosewood Cremation.
Obituary/ Photo/ Guestbook at http:// www. rosewoodcremation. com.
BRYANT – Jewell D. Gamble, 72, of Bryant, died on June 5, 2012. She was born Aug. 1, 1939, in Fannie, to Ruey and Viola ‘ Noles’ Rowland. She is predeceased by her parents and husband, Robert Gamble.
Loving survivors include her daughter, Carol Gamble, of Tulsa, Okla.; son, Bobby Gamble, of Bryant; son, Phillip Gamble, of Bauxite; five grandchildren, Robby Gamble, Joshua Gamble, Caleb Gamble, Lance Gamble and Drew Gamble; four greatgrandchildren; brother, Darrell Rowland and three sisters, Mar- jorie Curtis, Shirley Ipox and Nellie Miller.
Services are 10 a. m. today at Walnut Grove Cemetery, Jessieville, with Brother Ronnie Vanderslice officiating.
Guest register is at http:// www. caruth- hale. com.
Edward A. “Fast Eddie” Huss, 68, of Hot Springs, died on May 30, 2012, in Hot Springs. He was born Jan. 15, 1944, in West Chester, Pa., to the late Franklin and Mildred Robb Huss. He was a door maker and enjoyed shooting pool.
He was predeceased by one son, Robert Edward Huss.
Survivors include one daughter, Tammi Huss Alexy, of Collegeville, Pa.; one brother, Charles Huss, of West Chester, Pa.; two sisters and brothers- in- law, Jean and Joseph Piermatteo, of Florida and Betty and Thomas Robson, of North Carolina; two grandchildren, Sean Huss and Cassandra Alexy; several nieces and nephews, and a special friend, Joyce Stark, of Hot Springs, and a host of friends.
He requested to be cremated.
Memorial services will be at 2 p. m. Saturday at Shady Haven. Arrangements are by Hot Springs Funeral Home. Online condolences at http:// www. hotspringsfh. com.
MEMPHIS, Tenn. – Irene Holt, 79, of Memphis, formerly of Hot Springs, died Monday, June 4, 2012. She was born May 20, 1933, in Altheimer, to Charlie and Cleo Johnson Frye.
She was a former employee of the Job Corps and a former entrepreneur in Hot Springs.
She was predeceased by her parents; her husbands, James E. Hill and Sylvester Holt; infant son, James Hill; her siblings, Johnny Frye, Johnnie B. Hicks Sr., Hensley Frye and Mary Brunston.
Survivors include her son, Charles “Chuck” ( Anita) Hill Sr., of Olive Branch, Miss.; one daughter, Angela “Buffy” Holt, of Memphis; five grandchildren, Tacarra Hill, Charles “C. J.” Hill Jr., Erica Thrower, Ashley Hill and Sade Thrower and one great- grandchild, Cayden Hill and a host of nieces, nephews and extended family.
Funeral services will be 1 p. m. Saturday at Union Baptist Church with the Rev. Douglas E. Jones officiating pastor and the Rev. Steve Lake as eulogist. Burial will follow in Crestview Cemetery. Visitation will be from 5- 7 p. m. today at Carrigan Memorial Funeral Home.
Guest registry is at http:// www. carriganmemorial. com.
The service for the Rev. Jimmy “Jim” Darrell Lambert, 69, of Hot Springs, formerly of Dumas, who died Sunday, June 3, 2012, will be 2 p. m. today at the former Delta Church of God located east of Dumas with the Rev. Keith Pennington officiating.
Burial will be at the Jefferson Community Cemetery on Win- chester Road with military honors provided by the U. S. Navy.
A visitation will be held from 12 p. m. until service time at the church in Dumas.
Pallbearers will be Glendon Lambert, Brian Lambert, Jeff Lambert, Marion Lambert, Billy Paul Lambert and Rickey Lambert.
The service for David Paul Owens, 61, of Hot Springs, who died Sunday, June 3, 2012, will be 10 a. m. today at DavisSmith Funeral Home Chapel, Hot Springs, with Brother Lynn Baxter.
A short reception will immediately following the service at Brenda’s home.
His family has requested that donations be made to the Arkansas Hospice Inc., 628 Malvern Ave., Hot Springs, AR 71901, http;// www. arkansashospice. org/ donation. htm or the Disabled Veteran’s Administration, DAV Memorial Program, P. O. Box 14301, Cincinnati, OH 45250- 0301, http;// www. DAV. org.
PENCIL BLUFF – Richard L. Poe, age 87, of Pencil Bluff, died Tuesday, June 5, 2012.
He was born Nov. 22, 1924, at Crockett, Texas, the son of Louis L. Poe and Effie Loue Thames. He was preceded in death by the true love of his life, Gladys " Snooksie" Poe; his parents; two brothers, Louis L. Poe and Billy Joe Poe; and his special cousin, O. C. Poe.
When Richard was 70 years old he accepted Jesus Christ into his life, being saved and baptized at the former Second Baptist Church in Hot Springs. Everyone who had the opportunity to know Richard knew that he was a lifelong avid John Wayne fan, and even had the honor of meeting and riding the trails with him when he was a younger man.
Also, earlier in his life, for over 35 years, he and his loving wife, Snooksie, operated the San Jacinto Inn, in Deer Park, Texas. Upon the . death of his wife, he knew it was time for him to call his beloved friend " Les" to come and help him move and return to Mount Ida, where he had maintained a farm over the years that he and Snooksie enjoyed as their summer home. Richard always knew he had made a wise decision in this move, as he was then able to enjoy bush hogging and working on his farm; but most importantly it allowed him the joy and pleasure of living with Les and all his loving extended family until the Lord called him home. Richard truly loved his family and each and every member of his extended family, and he will be dearly missed by all.
He is survived by his brother and sister- in- law, Charles and Kay Poe, of The Woodlands, Texas; his sister and brotherin- law, Geneva and Wallace Miller, of Magnolia, Texas; his sister- in- law, Jewel Poe, of Deer Park, Texas; his special cousin, Eva Chamliss, of Texas; his very special and loving extended family, Les and Pat Jackson, of Pencil Bluff; Rob Jackson, of Pencil Bluff; Kim Miller and her children, Michael Miller and Madison Miller, all of Hot Springs; Varine Carr and Lois Standridge, both of Mount Ida; Brenda Childs, of Hot Springs; Richard and Snooksie’s lifelong friends, Pete and Bonnie Mustin, of Deer Park, Texas; several nieces, nephews, cousins; and a host of friends.
Services will be at 2 p. m. today, in Pencil Bluff First Baptist Church with Brother Mike Smith officiating.
Visitation will be from 12: 30- 1: 45 p. m. prior to the service.
Interment will be in the Amerson Cemetery under the direction of Davis- Smith Funeral Home, Glenwood.
Pallbearers will be Larry Carr, Maurice Carr, Rob Jackson, Michael Miller, Delton Hughes, Darrell Poe, Patrick Usdrowski and Jim Klutts.
Honorary pallbearers are Tammy Klutts, RN; Kim Miller, RN; Judy Pratt, Nurse Practitioner; the nurses and staff of Hospice Home Care; the doctors, nurses and staff of Hot Springs Internal Medicine; Jimmy Didier; Ray Powell; Mel Gordon; Phillip Carr; and Laura Wagner and her wonderful staff at the Mount Ida Pharmacy.
Memorials may be made to Pencil Bluff First Baptist Church, 3466 Hwy. 270 West, Pencil Bluff, AR 71965, or to Amerson Cemetery Association, c/ o Lois Standridge, P. O. Box 151, Pencil Bluff, AR 71965.
Guest registry is at http:// www. davis- smith. com.
HOT SPRINGS VILLAGE – Donald James Srum, 75, of Hot Springs Village, passed away in St. Joseph Hospital on Friday, June 1, 2012. Don was a member of Barcelona Road Baptist Church in the Village. Don was born April 1, 1937, to Armand and Thelma Adkerson Srum in Cardwell, Mo.. He married Pat Clark on April 9, 1955, in Hernando, Miss.
Don served in the United States Air Force for eight years. After completing his military commitment, he returned home and completed his Bachelor of Science from Arkansas State University. He was awarded the Master of Science degree in Mathematics from the University of Illinois. Don became a secondary school mathematics teacher in Missouri and Illinois. He left public schools to become a produce broker in Chicago. At his retirement in 2005, he owned and operated a produce warehouse in downtown Chicago.
Don is survived by his wife, Pat; one son, Rick, of Chicago, two daughters, Robin Lowing, of Mechanicsburg, Pa., and Donna Marshall and husband, Burton, of Tallahassee, Fla.; one sister, Jean Shrum, of Kenneth, Mo., 10 grandchildren, four greatgrandchildren, and many other relatives and friends.
Funeral services were Tuesday, June 5, 2012, in Senath, Mo., with burial in Memorial Gardens in Kenneth, Mo.
A memorial service to honor Don will be conducted at Barcelona Road Baptist Church in Hot Springs Village at 6: 30 p. m. Sunday.
MALVERN – Marcia Jean Stouffer, 68, of Malvern, died Wednesday, June 6, 2012, at Arkansas Hospice in Hot Springs. She was born Oct. 1, 1943, in Lyons, Kan., to the late Ray and Verma Jean ( Riley) Crissman.
Left to cherish her memory is husband, whom she married on Oct. 1, 1981, Robert Stouffer; stepsons, Robbie Weinmeister and Steven Eugene Stouffer; stepdaughter, Tammy Louise Moore; brothers, Dale Freeman and wife Carolyn and Robert Waddle Jr.; sister, Lillie Marie White and husband Charles; grandchildren, Anthony Parker and Steven Patrick Stouffer.
Services will be held Saturday at 12 p. m., with Brother Dale Diffee and Sister Carol Clark officiating at Leau Fraiz Cemetery.
Arrangements by Regency Funeral Home. You may sign the guestbook at http:// www. regencyfuneralhome. com.