|
|
|
|
Two fired from Alexander police |
|
|
Wednesday, 09 July 2008 |
Ex-fire chief, reserve officer allegedly spent night at fire station
A former Alexander fire chief and a reserve police officer have been terminated from the Alexander Police Department after allegedly spending the night together in the city fire station.
“A male and a female are going to spend the night together at the fire station for what reason?” Alexander Mayor Shirley Johnson said in regard to the incident.
Patrick Duvall, 30, who was the fire chief as well as a part-time police officer and has served with the department for less than a year, reportedly spent the night with reserve officer Cindy Hood, 23, at the department on June 28. Duvall reportedly had asked other firefighters to leave the station before Hood arrived.
Both Hood and Duvall are married to other people, Johnson said.
“I was told he asked all the firemen to leave the fire station on [June 28] because he needed peace and quiet,” Johnson said. “He and Hood then spent the night in the fire station together.”
After learning of the allegations, Johnson terminated Duvall on June 30, and on July 3 Duvall turned in a notice of appeal to the city of Alexander.
On Monday, a special City Council meeting was called to discuss the issues. Following an executive session in which Duvall pleaded his case, the council unanimously decided not to override the mayor’s decision, Johnson said.
“[Duvall] actually pulled me aside before the executive session,” Johnson said. “He told me that no matter what the results of the decision were, that it would be the end of it. He said he wasn’t mad at me. I took that as he wasn’t going to fight for his job any further.”
On Tuesday, both Duvall and Hood received a letter from the Alexander Police Chief, Allen D. Spears, terminating their employment. Duvall was a part-time officer serving on weekends and Hood was a reserve officer as well as a volunteer firefighter.
“I would like to take this time to thank you for your dedication while serving as an officer,” the letter states. “One must realize we as law enforcement have a higher standard to display to the public. ... this incident has brought discredit upon the Alexander Police Department, which violates rules and regulations. Effective this date, your employment with the Alexander Police Department has been terminated... .”
Johnson said there is no active search and no date set at this time to replace the chief, but said Capt. Taylar Shell, 26, will serve as interim fire chief. She also said she believes the fire department stands behind her decision.
“The morale in the department is down,” Johnson said, “which is one of the reasons why I terminated Duvall. I think he was aware that this was going to happen because I previously discussed problems I had with the department.”
Duvall and Hood were not available for comment at press time. |
 |  |  |  |  | Just being with family and eating good food is the best part!!- Liz McGee Quantz (Haskell, AR)
The Mabelvale United Methodist Church in Mabelvale, AR will
be hosting a fall carnival on Sunday evening October 26th from 5 to 7pm in the
Fellowship Hall. Kids will love it, parents will too! - Roger Poole (Bryant, AR)
I make an awesome Pina Colda Cake. You buy a boxed yellow
cake mix and mix it and bake it per the instructions on the box. After you bake the
cake allow it to cool for about 15 minutes. Use the end of a wooden spoon to poke
medium size holes all in the cake. Take a can of Eagle Brand Milk and Cream of
Coconut and alternate pouring them into the holes. Place the cake in the fridge for
about one hour, remove and put Cool Whip on top, as much or as little as you like.
The cake is better if you let it sit all night in the fridge before eatting. It is
wonderful!!! - Kelly Chase (Alexander, AK)
My favorite memories of Thanksgiving were when we lived in
Tulsa, Ok. There were always folks that didn't have a place to go for the holiday-
so they wound up at our house along with most of my husband's family from Benton.
The house was packed. The Thanksgiving meal was wonderful. But the celebration
didn't end there. At night, all weekend, there were pallets spread throughout the
house and the good eats seemed to never end. And on Friday morning (after
Thanksgiving) all the females were up before dawn and Christmas shopping by 8:00
a.m. Those are memories that I will cherish forever. - Billie Loe (Texas)
I always get to make the turkey for our Thanksgiving. So
you can add more butter or flour for consistency. Wash your turkey, pat dry, take
another stick of butter and rub all over turkey. Then take with your hands and smear
the batter a little thick, all over the turkey. Once all of the turkey has the
batter on it, I will melt the another bar of butter and put it in the bottom of the
pan of my turkey. It will make a wonderful gravy to use on your turkey when done.
So, then get enough aluminum foil to make a "tent" over your turkey. Put in oven and
bake @ 375 all night. It will be so moist, the crispies are great and the gravy
makes it better. Now the flip side to this is, it will be so tender it will fall apart.
So, I do not serve as a whole turkey. I go ahead and slice up, pour some grave
over some of the sliced up turkey for those who like it and then slice up some
turkey without gravy. You will have many compliments on this. Happy Thanksgiving
and Enjoy! - Liz Johnson (Benton) We prepare a traditional Thanksgiving dinner that morning.
Then we pack it all up and travel to deer camp in South Arkansas. We serve dinner to
all those who don't have family with which to share. We'll spend the afternoon
playin' dominos, pitchin' horseshoes and just visitin'. It's a wonderful time. - Pat Stuckey (Bismarck) We invite all the family in and cook the traditional feast.
Everyone gets silly when they get full. That is entertaining. - Jim Perry (Benton) Frozen pizza - Greg Marsh (Medicine Hat) The whole family gets together and we have dinner and noon
visit for a while then go home to take naps and get ready for black friday sales! - Terrie Schulz (Benton)
My childhood memories are of the sumptuous dinners my
grandfather, Byron Yarbrough, Sr. would prepare. Family members came from all over
Arkansas, Louisiana and Texas to our home of South East Street. It was a wondeful
time I really didn't learn to appreciate until he and my grandmother passed away.
Later, my cousin Eleen Murray brought the tradition back and family members gathered
at their home near Lake Norrell. Today, it's the memories of
Thanksgivings past that I treasure. It was because of these gatherings that I came
to realize the importance of family. - David Hughes (Herndon, VA)
My favorite time of remembering Thanksgiving is when all of
my family would get together and enjoy the most wonderful feast I have ever tasted.
My mom would make at least 2 to 3 different stuffings, actually her and my sister
Tammy Parker(Schultz) would make everything. I am not quite the chef my mom and
sister are. I live now and have lived for most of my life away from home in
different states so I have tasted many other dishes. None can compare to my
mom's(Pat Brumley). But most of all it is the family being altogether and just
laughing and having fun. My husband experienced this tradition for the first time in
1999 and still to this day can not stop talking about it. His traditions were not
the same. He couldn't believe the amount of food, fun, and family we had for the
holidays. I didn't understand it because I am used to it always being that way. I am
very lucky to have the family I have. My ex-step dad (David Hughes) still treats me
and my sister like his own so I have extended family to share the holidays with too. Even if it
is just a phone call, prayer, or written. I sure so miss Benton. I was raised
there and even though I am in Hoosier state since 2001 I let everybody know I am
proud to be a Razorback. I will never be anything else. God bless everyone in
Benton and someday I hope to see you soon. - Debbie Brooks (Schultz) (Columbus, IN) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Razorbacks
