Camden police officer turns 90, oldest active officer in Arkansas

CAMDEN — Camden holds claim to the oldest active police officer in Arkansas.

Officer Leonard Charles Smith, better known as “L.C.

Buckshot”, celebrated his 90th birthday on May 12.

Officer Smith spent 46 years with the Ouachita County Sheriff’s Department. He worked in various roles before retiring in September 2010.

Just four months later, he went to work with the Camden Police Department.

“They wanted me to come work with the Camden Police Department,” Officer Smith said. “They said I had too much wisdom and knowledge and they needed it over here.”

Officer Smith has worked for both departments for a total of 56 years. He works a typical eight-hour shift during a fourday work week.

“If you’re able to go to work, go to work,” Officer Smith said. “I love law enforcement. That’s one of my careers.”

Community members say Officer Smith has helped many residents in the county on and off the clock. Once he takes off his police hat, that’s when he steps into his other power roles.

“I’m the assistant coroner and I also work for the funeral home,” he said.

He’s also heavily involved at his church where he serves as a deacon and mentors younger men around the community.

Officer Smith is the neighborhood watch coordinator and special events coordinator at the police department.

He also works in the district courts and is patrolling the school zones in the mornings.

“I feel good,” Officer Smith said. “Trusting in the good Lord and I don’t eat no fast food.”

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JONESBORO — A Weiner man was killed after a headon collision on Interstate 555 at the Nestle Road exit Wednesday morning.

According to an Arkansas State Police fatal crash summary, Billy Summers, 91, of Weiner, was on I-555 traveling southbound in the northbound lane.

The report stated Summers hit a tractor-trailer head-on, which caused a secondary crash. Summers was pronounced dead on the scene by the Craighead County coroner.

The crash happened shortly before 9:30 a.m. Nearly two hours after the crash, a section of I-555 remained closed to through traffic. By noon, police reopened the interstate’s northbound lanes, according to Presley. The interstate fully reopened just before 2 p.m. on Wednesday.

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ACH Auxiliary raises $1.54 million for hospital

LITTLE ROCK — Arkansas Children’s Hospital (ACH) Auxiliary donated a historic $1.54 million to support ACH programs. This is the largest gift made in the 52-year history of the ACH Auxiliary.

The $1.54 million gift was raised through annual initiatives including the Holiday Card Project, Miracle Ball, Á la Carte, ACHievers, Playaway Gift Shop and Race for a Healthier Tomorrow. Since 2011, the ACH Auxiliary has raised $1 million or more annually.

The funds received by the ACH Auxiliary support:

• Arkansas Children’s Research Institute

• Comfort Foods Program

• Palliative Care Program

• Center for Good Mourning

• Patient Experience The funds support the operations of the Arkansas Children’s Research Institute and will support initiatives to improve the patient experience, enhancing interior and exterior spaces through discovery and delight.