Trish O'Connor

Suspects in police shooting killed in West Memphis shootout, Sheriff Busby and Deputy WAWren injured

Four West Memphis police officers were shot, two fatally, Thursday morning in West Memphis, AR.

The chain of events started late Thursday morning, when two officers were shot and killed during a traffic stop near I-40 and Airport Road. Two Hispanic men in a white Plymoth van with Ohio tags decided to take the officers lives. The van was registered to a church, House of Gods Prayer, in New Vienna, Ohio.

West Memphis Police Chief Bob Paudert said his son, Brandon Paudert, was shot in the back of the head and died. The other officer, Bill Evans, also died later at the hospital.

After the initial shooting of the officers on the interstate, the suspects escaped.

After closing down portions of I-55 and I-40, and searching car-to-car, police tracked the alleged shooters to the Walmart parking lot in West Memphis.

There, a second shootout occurred. During the gunfire, both suspects were killed. Additionally, two Crittenden County sheriff's deputies were shot and wounded. Both deputies were taken to The MED, in Memphis, TN. Sheriff Dick Busby and Deputy WA Wren were the injured deputies. Both are in critical condition. The news states that WA Wren is in surgery.

• News Channel 5 update, constant video

The Walmart in West Memphis is closed at this time. The local police force is removing the employees and patrons to a subdivision in the rear of the Walmart Property for their safety. Many stand in the middle of Rich Road still in shock about the turn of events.

Brandon Paudert and Bill Evans were assigned to the West Memphis Police Department's drug interdiction unit.

PLEASE PRAY FOR THE OFFICERS FAMILIES, THEIR CO-WORKERS, THE COMMUNITY AND THE MEDICAL STAFF CARING FOR THE INJURED OFFICERS AT THE ELVIS PRESLEY TRAUMA CENTER IN MEMPHIS, TN.

Many of us had record rainfall amounts this past weekend coupled with tornado warnings or worse. As I reflect on my weekend, I am thankful that West Memphis had minor flooding and no tornado damage. Other cities in our area weren't as lucky. Marion, AR had flooding problems in a few subdivisions. Their City Public Works and Fire Department staff quickly came to the call of the neighborhoods and pumped the rain water from the area. Another community hard hit was Millington, TN. Millington is a community made up of mostly Navy personnel that is just across the Mississippi River in Tennessee. Many families, approximately 950 residents were forced from their homes when a levee broke. The levee is repaired now but the damage remains to be tallied. The Fire Chief is quoted as saying that the flood on Saturday was a a 1,000 year flood plan. http://fwix.com/memphis/share/a6dcf2c530/flood_victims_advised_to_record_all_their_expenses

I wish to thank the staff of both the West Memphis and the Marion Fire Departments along with our Emergency Management Agency representative, Ronny Rogers, for all their hard work. You make Crittenden County the "best Place to live."

THIS IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR THE RESIDENTS OF WEST MEMPHIS AND CRITTENDEN COUNTY. I AM PROUD TO HAVE AWESOME PRODUCTS, INC. IN OUR COMMUNITY. Monday, April 19, 2010 THE EVENING TIMES Business expansion may add 200 jobs A business with manufacturing and distribution centers in West Memphis has plans for a major expansion that will add at least 200 new jobs to the city. Awesome Products Inc., a company based in Buena Park, Cal. that produces household cleaning products, is in the process of expanding its facilities at 271 South 7th Street and 110 East Jefferson by 700,000 square feet. The additions will add between 200 to 300 new jobs, according to Awesome Products President L.D. Hardas. "We love West Memphis... It's a very big project that we're trying to bring in there," Hardas said in an telephone interview Thursday afternoon. West Memphis City Council members approved a pair of resolutions Thursday to authorize the company to participate in a state program that refunds companies for local sales and use taxes for certain building projects that add jobs. The addition at Awesome Products will also result in an expansion at Consolidated Container Company in West Memphis, according to West Memphis Economic Development Director Ward Wimbish. Consolidated Container Company, an Atlanta-based company, will make the containers for Awesome Products. Consolidated Container Company originally wanted to produce the containers at its Memphis facility, but Hardas decided to build an addition to allow the company to produce the containers on site, Wimbish said. "He said ‘No, I'm not buying any bottles from you that you don't make in West Memphis,'" Wimbish said. "So, they are doubling the capacity of what they produce in West Memphis by putting four new lines in his building... His production is so large that they've devoted four lines 24-7 to supply him." Awesome Products also has manufacturing and distribution centers in Patterson, New Jersey and Orange County, Cal. The company has purchased additional property in West Memphis with plans to produce even more products in the future, the economic development director said. The California company, which sells cleaning products to Dollar Tree, Dollar General and Family Dollar stores, is a "really good fit" for West Memphis, Wimbish said. "He's the kind of corporate citizen that we need more of," Wimbish said of Hardas.

Coldwell Banker Heritage Homes, West Memphis, AR

will host a Buyers Seminar in our office located at 704 N Missouri Street,

on Saturday, April 10 and Saturday, April 17.

The seminar will begin at 10:00am.

In this seminar, you will see what it takes to secure a mortgage loan and complete the task of buying
your home. This seminar will last no more than 1 hour.

The $8000 tax credit goes away in May so we must have a contract written,
signed and accepted before April 30. The $6,500 sellers tax credit also
goes away in May.

A Mortgage Officer from Iberia Bank will be on site to get you Pre-Approved so that you can
begin your hunt for a new home immediately!



Please give me a call at (901) 491-8830 for additional information or a
showing appointment.

THIS SEMINAR WILL BE FOLLOWED BY AN OPEN HOUSE BLITZ ON SATURDAY AND SUNDAY IN WEST MEMPHIS AND MARION FROM 1-3PM.

PLEASE FORWARD THIS BLOG POST TO ANYONE that might be interested in obtaining a home prior to the expiration of the tax credit.

We are pleased to invite you to join us for the West Memphis High School Band Alumni Concerts to be held April 25 in our beautiful Performing Arts Center at 2:30.

The rehearsals will be April 24 beginning at 9:30. If you need an instrument you can email Cathy Williams, cathywmhs25@aol.com or send a message on Face Book. Our guest conductors for the weekend are former West Memphis Band Directors Phil Burns, Steve Warner and Bobby Porter.

Amro Music Store in Memphis is willing to allow you to use an instrument for the weekend but I need to know immediately in order for Mr. Burns to set that up. We have already had alumni coming by to pick up music or borrow an instrument to practice. Many alumni have sent their instrument to the shop to have it checked out and ready to go, made plane reservations and called other friends. It's going to be a fun weekend with lots of reliving memories with old friends and making new ones.

Join the WMHS Band page on Facebook and post pictures of your band memories and see who all is signed up to join us. Please spread the work to all your former band friends. We also are looking forward to being joined by former WMHS Band member and Stax Music Legend Wayne Jackson.

The schedule looks to be:
Saturday, April 24th
9:30 Meet and greet give out music
10:00 Rehearsal
12:00 Lunch provided by WM Band Boosters
1-4 Rehearsals (with plenty of breaks Ha)
Dinner out with your friends. Some of the different decades are planning dinner out! Contact your friends!

Sunday, April 25th
If you would like to attend First Methodist Church, Phil Burns is one of the music directors or attend your former hometown church.
1:30 Warm up
2:30 Concert WM Performing Arts Center

Please help by contacting your friends who are not on Facebook WMHS Band page that may not know about this fun event. If you are not up to playing just come and join us for the fun and fellowship and attend the concert on Sunday.

Please email CATHY ANDREWS WILLIAMS at cathywmhs25@aol.com immediately with your instrument so that we can send you music!

Looking forward to hearing from you!