Delight Man Found Dead by P.J
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The Murfreesboro Diamond Wednesday, May 1, 2013 • Issue 41 • 1 Section • 12 pages • In Pike County, Arkansas • 75¢ Home of the USPC 103-230 Established 1975 Crater of Diamonds State Park Delight man found dead By P.J. Tracy IV own blood. Dowdle was later pronounced dead on scene Diamond Editor by the coroner. An investigation then began into the particulars of the A man was found dead in a Delight residence on Monday death, and a search warrant was obtained from Judge night. Charles Yeargan. At approximately 10:33 p.m. the Pike County Sheriff’s Of- Evidence was collected and a single male suspect was fice (PCSO) received a 9-1-1 telephone call from a female arrested on charges of murder. At deadline the name was stating that “someone was dead” at a Highway 26 resi- still being withheld from the press as part of the ongoing dence in Delight. investigation and pending formal charges. First responders via ambulance were dispatched to the Kinzler stated that he suspected that formal charges scene, who in return called the PCSO to confirm the death. would be levied against the alleged perpetrator by Wednes- Detective Clark Kinzler arrived on scene with other day or Thursday of this week, depending on the outcome members of the PSCO and secured the scene. Kinzler con- of the full investigation. tacted Dept. Prosecuting Attorney Jana Bradford and Pros- Pike County Sheriff Charlie Caldwell and Kinzler were ecuting Attorney Brian Chesshir, the latter of which later aided in the investigation by Jerry Lowery, the South Cen- arrived on scene. tral Drug Task Force and Neil Thomas, Arkansas State Po- Upon entering the residence, Kinzler observed the body lice Investigator, who is in charge of the investigation. of David Dowdle in the living room, lying in a pool of his Chamber delays Festival to fall Cites cooler weather, sidewalk issues as reasons for changing date, immediately moving forward with plans for Chamber Awards Banquet By P.J. Tracy IV The Diamond Festival Pageant, normally held a week Diamond Editor prior to the festival itself, will also be reset. Eight to nine vendors have already confirmed for the The Murfreesboro Chamber of Commerce met for a sec- now canceled festival date, according to Chamber Vice STAFF PHOTO/P.J. Tracy IV ond time this month in order to further discuss the Dia- President Dana Stone. Those vendors will be notified of the DROP BOX FOR UNWANTED DRUGS ... Pike County mond Festival. date change so that their fees can be applied to the new Sheriff Charlie Caldwell would like to announce the addition Originally scheduled to be held on June 7-8, the board of a drop box for unwanted prescription drugs in the lobby of date, when set, or refunded. unanimously agreed to postpone the festival until fall. The the Pike County Sheriff’s office. The box was provided by the The awards banquet also got a confirmation by the yet to be determined date will be determined at the next Arkansas Department of Health/Pike County Health Unit. The group, and a date is being set that can be accommodated regularly scheduled meeting that will be held on Tuesday, box is used to held keep unwanted or expired prescription both by a caterer and the CADC Senior Adult Center, who May 28 at 5:30 p.m., one day after the Memorial Day holi- drugs away from children and out of the water supply. Ac- traditionally hosts the event. The Chamber is currently day. cepted items include prescription medications, patches, and seeking a date in the first half of June. ointments, over the counter medications, vitamins, medical After some early talk to t-shirt design and car show lo- Once a banquet date is set, within a week, the board will samples and medications for pets. Items not accepted at the gistics, the group mulled worries about the ongoing side- again meet to plan smaller details and seek donations for drop box include hydrogen peroxide, thermometers, needles, walk project being finished by early June, deciding that the the planned silent auction at the event. inhalers and aerosol cans of any variety. logistical and huge liability concerns of possibly holding Award nomination forms will appear in a future edition a festival on the square around an ongoing construction of the Murfreesboro Diamond. zone was simply unacceptable. The consistency of the Chamber was discussed as it was Additionally, it is unknown at this time when the second- Pike County man noted that several members have recently left, pulling the ary step of milling down the highway to the new sidewalk Chamber Board numbers down to critical levels. The dis- level will occur. The job will be handled by the Arkansas cussion point of lowering the number of board members Highway Department at some point following the sidewalk or the number needed at a meeting to hold a quorum in the dies in wreck construction. group’s “outdated” bylaws will be investigated at a later Ultimately, the lure of better weather and less fall activi- By P.J. Tracy IV meeting in the summer. ties proved to sound preferable to the group, perhaps al- Diamond Editor On hand was Southeast Pike County Association (SEP- lowing for the addition of some new activities – perhaps in- CA) President Randy Abbott to discuss the possibility of A single vehicle accident between McCaskill and Delight cluding a 4k run, poker run and bass tournament – will be becoming a sister-type organization to the Murfreesboro killed a Murfreesboro resident last Saturday. further discussed at a later date. Additionally, the classic Chamber of Commerce, and offered what help he and his According to a preliminary Arkansas State Police report, car show that will be a part of the festival, was scheduled organization could provide, noting that both organizations thirty-one year old Billy Joe Williams died in the accident to be held in the NAPA parking lot – and the prospect of would be better off with bigger numbers of volunteers. at Arkansas 195 and Hempstead County Road 51 about holding the event in a place with a complete lack of shade The Chamber agreed to put the past behind them and 12:30 a.m. in June weather proved to be illogical to the board in dis- move forward, with the idea they have much to offer, but According to the report, Williams was driving a 1996 cussion. need to looking into new and fresher projects and promo- model Dodge van north on Arkansas 195 when he failed to Finally, the desire not to attract sponsors for both the tions, with the possibility of exchanging member positions negotiate a left-hand curve. The van traveled off the right festival and the still-planned Chamber Awards Banquet with the SEPCA. side of the road and collided with a tree, causing a fire. was the final deciding factor. Abbott also announced the Southeast Pike County will Williams was pronounced dead at 3:15 a.m., and the re- The date of the festival will likely be set before or after hold their annual Music Festival in Delight on Sept. 27-28. port stated that the weather was cloudy and the road was the Saturday, Oct. 12 Fall Festival that will be held at the dry. He was the only occupant in the vehicle. Crater of Diamonds. The body was released to Brazzel Funeral Home in Hope. Business to hold open house By P.J. Tracy IV Diamond Editor After coming to Murfreesboro on vacation, a couple liked the area so much, they wanted to stay permanently. Living near Fort Worth, Texas, Sara Owens said, along with husband Rick, that while on a three day trip, which included the Crater of Diamonds, they “fell in love with the area.” “We kicked it around for six months, sold everything, and with my jewelry business came here with the intention of setting up shop somewhere,” said Owens. However Owens came across the opportunity to pur- chase Pop’s Antiques, with its location of the courthouse square, when the former owners decided to retire. And thus began Sara’s Showroom, with antiques, vintage items and collectibles, which opened March 1. Owens does have a few vendors in the store, to whom she rents space monthly or works on consignment. Approximately a month later, upon hearing and seeing need of another fishing bait and tackle location in the area, the couple’s “second” business -- the Fishin’ Hole -- came into existence. The Fishin’ Hole is in the back of Sara’s STAFF PHOTO/Danielle Brown Showroom and accessible by a door across the street from CELEBRITY WAITER EVENT ... The event, held at the CADC Senior Center in Murfreesboro on April 23, raised approximately Murfreesboro City Hall. $5,000 for the fight against cancer as part of the Tri-County Relay for Life efforts. The third annual Tri-County Relay for Life will be held on Friday, May 3 at the Centerpoint Schools track. Pictured above is the waiters/staff of the event (L to R): Barbie Baxter, Beckie Alden, Penny Lamb, Christy Buck, Karen Voan, Sabrina Williams, Shawna Coleman, Karli Miller-Young, Loletia OPENING Rather, Sandy Campbell, Jennifer Cox and Kelly Hardin. Coleman is a member of “Team Camo” at the Relay event. Continued on Page 2 Page 2 • Wednesday, May 1, 2013 • MURFREESBORO DIAMOND ‘Dear Preacher’ Obituaries By Tommy Mounts, Murfreesboro Church of Christ Dear Preacher: “I have heard Catholic pope and the Catholic people talk about the ‘Dark dominance of Europe. With the Dennis Wade Moncus, 54, Murfreesboro Ages’. What does that mean? printing of the Bible, people When did they exist and what could now read and understand Dennis Wade Moncus, 54, of Murfreesboro, died on Monday, April 22, 2013 caused them? Can they return?” for themselves God’s message in Hot Springs, AR.