the prison break.

I've been out of town this weekend, so I didn't have to drive to Cummins and cover the prison break story. Apparently, 'powers that be' had the bright idea to allow one of the jobs at the prison to be prisoners making guard uniforms.

I'm sure those that don't know about this can tell where it's going....because of this grand plan, two convicted murderers borrowed a couple of the uniforms and waltzed right out of the prison with the other guards during shift rotation to a car that was parked nearby, apparently waiting for their escape.

A possible sighting was reported in Missouri, and I certainly hope noone loses their life because the State of Arkansas could not foresee that a possible security breach was on the horizon when they allowed the same garments guards wear to actually be made by prisoners.

I'm just surprised it hasn't happened before now.

I wonder if another job in the prison is making keys for the gates.

Drew County Speedway hosts popular MSRA series

The MSRA Super Late Models roared into Drew County Speedway for a two -night show May 15-16, on the heels of fans’ requests for an appearance by the thriving series. Racers often televised on such networks as The Speed Channel arrived in full glory, and cars built throughout the southern region of the United States thundered around the track in multiple heats, B-Mains and two features, surpassing fans’ expectations. The show was packed with 27 super late model racers rolling into the speedway, taking their turns at the 3/8- mile oval track.

Kyle Beard (#86) of Truman, who ran at Drew County Speedway in 2008, proved his skills in last year’s race by leading the most laps before being passed at the very end to finish second. Speaking of his previous appearance before Friday‘s feature, Beard said “I’ve always liked running here at this track. The surface is right tonight, and my car’s been pretty good (so far). It looks to be a good night for the #86 car.”
The weekend did serve Beard well, granting him a win Friday night after an explosive run with hard-driving contenders (#93) Ray Moore of Shreveport, La., who finished second; and (#8M) Michael Murphree of Little Rock to round out the top three. Beard went on to secure a fifth place finish in Saturday’s feature.

Finishing mid-pack both nights (11th and 14th places), the #94r driver stuns locals wherever he goes when fans learn Austin Rettig is only 14 years old. In contention for 2008 Rookie of the Year, the zealous teenager of Sikeston, Mo., followed in his dad’s footsteps, also a dirt track racer who has recently limited his competition to allow Rettig to take the wheel. Rettig first strapped into street stocks at the age of 12, then moved up to crate late models where he earned two wins before graduating to the MSRA super late models this season.

However, Rettig is not the only teenager to run with the series’ veteran drivers; 15-year-old Gary Christian of Broken Bow, Okla., began racing go-carts at the age of five, then made his way through motorcycles and mini-stocks, honing his skills on modifieds before moving into super late models last year. His dad is known in the ASCS world for racing sprint cars, and Christian is sure to have a strong future in his sights, having already earned a racing resume of which many men would boast.


Monticello driver Bobby Derryberry (#13x) raced his way into the feature in Friday’s B-Main, while Stormy Derryberry (#311), also of Monticello, earned his way into Saturday night’s show after missing by inches over the finish line a second-place secured spot into the show during an exciting Friday night B-Main run.

Saturday’s feature was won by Billy Moyer Jr. (#21JR) of Batesville, a local favorite who has raced against well-known drivers such as Scott Bloomquist, as well as headlining racers known in the NASCAR series.

Local Series

Friday’s mini-stock race ended with returning champion Nick Frost of Monticello (#11) winning the checkered, followed by (#11x) Eric Moss of Watson in second and (#44L) Chris Lawson of Warren placing third.

In the cruiser feature, the top three contenders Friday evening were John Anthony of Dumas (#35), Brian Pharr (#26), and Tony Gillespie of Dumas (#11), who secured a third place finish after moving through the field from 16th spot.

The hobby stock division awarded winnings to three of its strongest Monticello racers again this week, with Jimmy Gibson (#83) winning the feature, followed by second place (#225) Kenneth Harvey and (#5M) Mandy Hayden, third place.

Thirteen street stocks took the track and was led to the checkered Saturday night by Huttig racer Joel Ball (#B1), with racer and car owner Eckie Harrison’s cars (#53 and #54H) lining up in second and third place finishes.

Friday’s limited modified show brought first place winner Waylon Ball of El Dorado (#B75) to the checkered, with Warren racer Joey Simmons (#17J) racing into second place as Monticello drivers (#1R) Bennie Ryburn and (#07T) Todd Abbott had another strong week with top five finishes.

The O’Reilly Modfieds took the track Saturday night and Casey Findley of Bryant (#17f) held off second place Richard Anders of El Dorado (#18A) to take that win.

Introducing Art Veno.

I am quite honored and owe a special thanks to Dr. Arthur Veno, best-selling author who has chosen my photography from a selection of nationally recognized photographers to be featured in his latest project, Biker Chicks, now available for sale and, as I have been told, is currently listed as the #1 bestseller in Australia.

Introducing Dr. Veno....

Dr. Arthur Veno is Adjuct Professor of Criminology at Monash University.

He has written three popular books on bike culture The Brotherhoods: Inside outlaw motorcycle clubs (Allen and Unwin, 3rd ed November 2009); The Mammouth Book of Bikers (Constable and Robinson, London, 2007) and Biker Chicks: The magnetic attraction of women to bad boys and motorbikes (Allen and Unwin, May, 2009).

He was the Director of Police and Justice Studies at Monash for many years and has received numerous national and state awards for his work in violence prevention with both bikies and police.

From 2001-2005 he worked on a grant requiring him to ride with The South Australian Gypsy Jokers during their campaign to stop the introduction of the current anti-bikie legislation in South Australia and assisted the Secretariat of the Joint Parliamentary Committee reviewing the Australian Crime Commission's Serious and Organised Crimes Act in 2008.

He was awarded the Australian Psychological Society's Distiguished Career award for his work with bikies and police in 2007.

He has never been a member of any club.

Biker Chicks named best seller in Australia

I just got word that Arthur Veno's book "Biker Chicks" is the #1 best-seller in Australia!
I find that to be particularly fabulous because my sister is a contributing author and featured in it!

My previous blog about these books.

A repost...

Read this!

Shelley's blog...

My friend Shelley posted a blog about Kristina, our friend who is battling cancer.
Please visit this blog and keep Kritina in your prayers.
Thanks, Shelley, for this post.
~We love you, Kristina~
http://naturallightphotog.blogspot.com/2009/05/kristina.html

My sister, the author. She never ceases to amaze me, that's for sure.

She arrives in all her splendor...

Well, here it is! Actually, here THEY are.

My sister, a Monticello native and writer for Easy Rider and In the Wind biker magazines, has become a reknown biker personality throughout the United States and Australia.

As contributing author, her story is featured in the newest project of well-known and best-selling author Art Veno (and Edward Winterhalder), Biker Chicks..., as well as a book written by Amy, Wicked Bitch. Both books will be on tour this summer, beginning later this month with numerous appearances in New York City.

The first person in history allowed to be photographed with Elvis Presley's bike collection, Amy and her book have gotten rave reviews from some of the biggest names in publishing and outlaw biker organizations. Her sometimes amusing, often heart-wrenching, and constantly shocking stories are sure to stun and entertain anyone who dares to read it.

The book is available for immediate purchase by clicking here.

Tenth DTF makes arrests

www.pbcommercial.com

Erratic driving with a child in the vehicle ended in the arrest of two Hot Springs men on drug manufacturing charges Tuesday.

Tenth Drug Task Force Lt. Jason Akers said a traffic stop was made in Drew County “after a lengthy surveillance on the vehicle and its occupants“; the surveillance, Akers said, was the result of the vehicle being seen weaving on the highway.

During the traffic stop, agents learned that an unspecified quantity of ephedrine-based cold pills were inside the vehicle. A subsequent search of the vehicle located four boxes of the ephedrine-based medicine, often used in the manufacture of methamphetamine. Akers said the DTF has information the pills were being taken to a location other than Drew Couny to be used in the manufacturing of the illicit drug.

The driver of the vehicle, Charles Lee Hancock, 50, and a passenger, Tommy Smith, 26, were arrested, and each face charges of Possession of Drug Paraphernalia with the intent to manufacture. First appearances for the suspects have not been conducted. A third person was inside the van at the time of the incident, Akers said, but was not arrested. A small child was also inside the vehicle.

My flowers Spring 2009

I'm so proud of these lil boogers. The rain has tormented them....twice I've had to pick them up out of the yard after floods and replant. At least a dozen times more, they have completely flooded and drowned in the flower bed. I was certain they wouldn't bloom.
I snapped these a couple of days ago when the first blooms started appearing...I woke up this morning and have at least 50 gorgeous pink, purple, orange and white flowers, just overlapping each other, and I'm so happy! I could stare at them for hours....lilies are officially my MOST favorite flowers EVER!!

Tragic search ends in Bradley County

Family members of LaTasha Strong, a Warren resident and 32-year-old mother of two, stood nearby as the Honda Civic she was a passenger in was pulled from flooded waters at approximately 3:45 p.m. Monday, following a 34-hour search near the Flat Branch Creek bridge in Bradley County .

The car was located in the same location amongst trees and brush where a rescue boat crashed in violent waters and overturned at approximately the same time Sunday while searching for the vehicle; searchers were not injured in the incident.

Strong’s body was located inside the vehicle. Police believe the driver, 30-year-old Tyrone Gilliam, also of Warren, fell asleep while traveling in the westbound lane of Hwy. 278 West, approximately ½ mile east of the Saline River Bridge, just before 5 a.m. Sunday. Gilliam was able to escape the submerged vehicle and was transported to Bradley County Medical Center where he was treated for minor injuries and released.

Strong’s father, Jeff Strong of Banks, told reporters minutes before the vehicle was recovered “I know we won’t find her alive, but hopefully we can find some closure to it.” A large crowd of family members, friends and volunteers had gathered Sunday and Monday along the highway awaiting word.

Bradley County Sheriff Rick Anders expressed his sympathy Monday evening to the family of Strong, as well as his appreciation to the numerous volunteers and emergency workers in nearby counties who assisted in the search and recovery effort.

Search for Warren resident continues in violent waters

Heavy rain and continually rising flood waters are hindering the search of a woman who was passenger in a vehicle submerged in rapidly flowing waters early Sunday morning in Bradley County.



Rescue personnel and volunteers from Bradley, Drew, Jefferson and Ashley counties have gathered since approximately 5 a.m. Sunday and fought violently rushing waters near the Flat Branch Creek overpass, approximately ½ mile east of the Hwy. 278 West Saline River Bridge.

While the area surrounding the creek is rarely flooded, its current is violent and continues to rise with the ongoing rains in southeast Arkansas, preventing divers on the scene from searching for the missing car and victim, who was identified as LaTasha L. Strong, 32, of Warren, by her her father, Jeff Strong of Banks. Strong’s family has gathered along the highway and awaited word, hovered under umbrellas near a pile of plastic car pieces that were recovered Sunday.

While magnets have picked up signals in the vicinity south of the bridge, the waters are too dangerous for divers to search, drastically affecting a full-scale search.

At one point Sunday afternoon, a boat carrying rescue workers and volunteers was shoved by the violently flowing water and crashed into trees, overturning the boat; the searchers were able to cling to trees and were not injured.

According to the victim’s family, Strong was a passenger in a vehicle driven by Tyrone Gilliam, also of Bradley County, in the westbound lane when the vehicle left the road and drove into the flooded area of the creek. Gilliam was able to escape the vehicle and was transported to Bradley County Medical Center where he was treated for minor injuries.

Arkansas State Police Sgt. Gary Gambill said Monday that the ASP is assisting with the highway’s traffic flow in areas of the search and remains on the scene; however, a complete investigation is stalled until the Bradley County Sheriff’s Office recovers Strong and the vehicle. “We were dispatched to the wreck, but until Ms. Strong or the vehicle is recovered, we cannot proceed with any information other than an initial report of the accident.