State News

State News

Lewisville Man Arrested on Murder Charges

LAFAYETTE COUNTY – Around 11 p.m. Saturday, officers received a call that woman was found stretched out in the caller's yard.

The caller reported a black male walking away from the yard. The man was described as having no shirt on and wearing jogging pants and a do-rag.

An officer found 39 year old Ardell Burnell matching the description of the male from the scene. After further investigation, Burnell was arrested on 1st degree Murder charges and transported to the Lafayette County Jail. The victim was identified as 27 year old Crystal Burnell of Lewisville.

Arkansas State Police are still investigating.

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Clay County Man Pleads Guilty to Possession of Child Pornography

PIGGOTT – Second Judicial District Prosecuting Attorney Scott Ellington announces Shane I. Thompson, 43, entered a guilty plea today in the Eastern District Circuit Court. His plea involved four counts of Distributing, Possessing, and Viewing Matter Depicting Sexually Explicit Conduct Involving a Child. He was sentenced to ten years in the Arkansas Department of Correction on count one and ten years in the Arkansas Department of Correction on count two. These sentences will run consecutively for a total of 20 years in the Arkansas Department of Correction. On counts 3 and 4 he received 120 months suspended sentence. He was ordered to register as a sex offender upon release from the Arkansas Department of Correction. Last October, the Arkansas State Police began an investigation of Thompson after receiving a Cyber-tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. A search warrant was issued for the Defendant’s home and executed on April 13. During the search of his home, the Arkansas State Police recovered multiple digital devices containing explicit child pornography.

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Arkansas Corn Farmers Accelerate Harvest

LITTLE ROCK – Corn harvest in the state should be around 85 percent to 90 percent complete this week, said Jason Kelley, extension wheat and feed grains agronomist. Southern Arkansas corn should be nearly finished, Kelley said, and the northern counties a little behind.

“This week has been good weather for harvest and farmers got a lot done,” Kelley said.

NASS projects corn harvests at about 182 bushels per acre overall for Arkansas. “That’s not a record,” Kelley said, “but it’s good.”

Kelley said yields are likely lower or more variable in southern counties.

Northeast Arkansas will probably see the best crop, he said.

Arkansas corn fields didn’t see a lot of damage from Gordon, Kelley said. There was some lodging in isolated fields from heavy rain and high winds, but most corn acreage avoided the worst damage.