LITTLE ROCK, ARK. – Arkansas Forestry Commission crews suppressed 14 wildfires that burned 329 acres between 3:30 p.m. Tuesday and 3:30 p.m. today. County Judges have issued burn bans in the following counties: Ashley, Bradley, Chicot, Cleveland, Columbia, Drew, Hempstead, Howard, Lafayette, Miller, Nevada, Ouachita, Pike, Polk and Union.
On July 5, an AFC firefighter in Ashley County had to be transported to a local hospital where he was treated for dehydration and heat exhaustion. He was released this morning. The recent high temperatures create hazardous working conditions for firefighters.
“We are asking all Arkansans to please use caution when burning yard debris or doing any type of outdoor burning,” said Christina Fowler, AFC Public Affairs Coordinator. “We also encourage firefighters to drink lots of water and take breaks whenever possible to avoid heat-related illnesses.”
Since July 1, AFC crews have suppressed 59 fires that have burned 840 acres. In June, 160 wildfires were suppressed. Those fires burned 1,163 acres, far exceeding the 10-year average for the month of June ̶ 54 fires for 393 acres.
With a high fire danger risk, there are a few things to remember:
• Burning is strongly discouraged. This is especially true on days where humidity levels have dropped below 30 percent and winds are gusty. Fires can spread quickly in these conditions.
• Be mindful that sparks from lawn mowers and haw baling equipment can start a wildfire.
• Never discard cigarettes from vehicles.
• Never park vehicles where grass or other vegetation can touch the exhaust system.
For tips on protecting your home from wildfire, visit www.arkansasfirewise.com. To view current burn bans and wildfire danger ratings, visit www.arkansasforestry.org. To report a wildfire, call the Arkansas Forestry Commission Dispatch Center at 1-800-468-8834, or 911.

DWI ARRESTS UP ACROSS STATE
DURING JULY 4th HOLIDAY PERIOD
Death Count On State Highways Declines

(LITTLE ROCK) - Arkansas State Troopers made 215 DWI/DUI arrests during the Independence Day holiday reporting period (6 AM, July 1 – midnight July 4th). This compares with 201 arrests of the same categories during the July 4th, 2010 holiday period.

Five deaths were reported from highway crashes investigated by State Troopers this year, compared with seven deaths during last year’s July 4th holiday.

The cumulative enforcement activity by State Troopers assigned to the Highway Patrol Division during the holiday indicates:

• 1,444 speeding tickets were issued in addition to 1,422 warnings for vehicle speed.
• 834 motorists were cited for safety belt or child safety restraint violations.
• 593 criminal arrests were made by State Troopers.
• Troopers also investigated 150 highway crashes across the state during the four-day holiday period.

DRUNK DRIVERS WILL BE TARGETS OF
HOLIDAY ENFORCEMENT INITIATIVE

ARKANSAS LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS AIM FOR
SAFE SUMMER HOLIDAY TRAVEL ON STATE & LOCAL ROADS

June 28, 2011

(LITTLE ROCK) – The Arkansas State Police Highway Safety Office announced today a summer holiday enforcement initiative to combat impaired driving beginning with the July 4th holiday period.

“Drunk Driving. Over the Limit. Under Arrest” is a nine day long statewide enforcement campaign set to begin July 1st.

The Arkansas mobilization effort includes city, county and state law enforcement agencies working together and devoting overtime patrols to combat drunk driving.

A 25 year comparison of NHTSA statistical data indicates, on average, nearly half of all deadly traffic crashes during each July 4th holiday period have involved alcohol as a contributing factor.

“The Fourth of July should be a time for celebration, but for too many Arkansans, it has ended in tragedy,” said Colonel JR Howard, Director of the Arkansas State Police and the Governor’s Highway Safety Representative.

“We want Arkansans to enjoy this important American holiday, but to do so in a responsible and safe manner for the sake of their families and others on the state and local roadways.”

All 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico enforce laws making it illegal to drive with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .08 or higher. Violators can be sentenced to jail time, have their driver license revoked, charged higher insurance rates and incur dozens of other unanticipated expenses.

Despite the rigid penalties, impaired driving continues to be one of the nation’s most dangerous problems. During 2009 the number of fatalities from alcohol related motor vehicle crashes totaled 10,839, nearly 32 percent of all U.S. traffic related fatalities. On average during the year, one person was killed every 48 minutes as the result of a traffic crash in which alcohol was a contributing factor.

Arkansas motorists were not immune to the deadly 2009 trend. Comparatively the 585 traffic fatalities during 2009 included 168 deaths (29 percent of the total) that were alcohol related.

“Alcohol impairs many of the skills that safe driving requires. This leaves us, as law enforcement officers, with little choice, but to demonstrate a position of zero tolerance and anyone caught driving with a BAC of .08 or higher will be arrested,” said Colonel Howard. “It’s simply not worth the risk. So, if you are caught over the limit, you will be arrested,”

For more information, log onto the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration website for “Drunk Driving. Over the Limit. Under Arrest.” at www.StopImpairedDriving.org or call the Arkansas Highway Safety Office at (501) 618-8136.

Committee Approves Ross Bill to Expedite Approval of Canada-to-Gulf Pipeline Project Would Create Jobs, Reduce Dependence on Middle Eastern, OPEC Oil

WASHINGTON – The Energy & Commerce Committee in the U.S. House of Representatives approved legislation on Thursday introduced by U.S. Congressman Mike Ross of Prescott to expedite the analysis and decision process regarding the construction and operation of a pipeline that would carry crude oil from Canada to refineries along the Gulf of Mexico. The North American-Made Energy Security Act, H.R. 1938, which Ross introduced with U.S. Congressman Lee Terry, R-Neb., passed the committee with bipartisan support on a vote of 33 to 13 and will now be sent to the full House of Representatives for consideration.

Ross, who is a member of the House Energy & Commerce Committee, said his bill will expedite a final decision on the Keystone XL pipeline, which would allow millions of barrels of Canadian oil supplies to flow into U.S. markets. Specifically, the legislation would require the president to issue a final Presidential Permit decision by November 1, 2011. The pipeline has been the subject of more than 30 months of consideration and a coordinated review by more than a dozen federal agencies. All other cross-border pipelines which have received Presidential Permits have taken between 18 and 24 months.
 

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. - More than 30 Little Rock-area residents will get the opportunity to assist with Arkansas' disaster recovery while building their professional skills and drawing a good paycheck. Those Arkansans will be given short-term jobs as local hires of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
FEMA has joined forces with the Arkansas Department of Workforce Services (DWS) to recruit and screen project engineers and writers, public information officers and record keepers, ordering and warehouse specialists, applicant service representatives and telecommunications specialists. All the temporary employees will have a hand in their state's disaster recovery.
Arkansans may obtain job descriptions and apply for FEMA positions through a DWS office only. Preference will be given to residents who live within a 50-mile radius of Little Rock. DWS office locations are posted on the agency's website at www.arkansas.gov/esd/.
At the DWS center, interested applicants are required to present their resume and employment history to a DWS counselor, who will compare applicants' qualifications with FEMA's job descriptions looking for a match. Qualified candidates' application materials will be forwarded to FEMA staff, who will contact those candidates who are selected for interviews.
"Everyone wins with these temporary jobs," said State Coordinating Officer David Maxwell. "Arkansans bring valuable local knowledge and a unique perspective as disaster survivors to FEMA while FEMA gains access to a pool of local talent committed to helping the agency complete its Arkansas mission."
Several of the local hires will be employed in FEMA's Individual Assistance (IA) or Public Assistance (PA) units. Those selected for IA will be providing direct support to survivors affected by the April storms and subsequent flooding. Local hires brought into the PA group will help communities that are working to restore damaged or destroyed public infrastructure in designated disaster areas.
"Local hires come to FEMA with tremendous empathy for other survivors and a personal stake in making recovery succeed," said Federal Coordinating Officer Nancy M. Casper. "Their connection to their state energizes and enriches other FEMA staff from all over the country."
All are encouraged to visit www.fema.gov or www.adem.arkansas.gov for more news and information about this disaster.
 

ARKANSANS IN 10 MORE COUNTIES CAN APPLY FOR FEMA DISASTER FUNDS; 34 COUNTIES ADDED FOR PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. - Federal disaster assistance has been extended yet again in Arkansas as a result of the storms, tornadoes and flooding that struck the state beginning April 23, the Arkansas Department of Emergency Management (ADEM) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) said Monday.
Ten more counties join the 16 others that have been designated for federal Individual Assistance under the presidential disaster declaration and subsequent amendments. The newly added counties are Cross, Greene, Independence, Jackson, Lawrence, Lonoke, Mississippi, Monroe, Prairie and Woodruff.
In addition 34 more counties have been added to the 10 already set to receive federal aid under FEMA's Public Assistance program. These are Baxter, Boone, Calhoun, Chicot, Clark, Clay, Cleburne, Cleveland, Crittenden, Cross, Dallas, Franklin, Fulton, Greene, Howard, Independence, Izard, Johnson, Lawrence, Lincoln, Madison, Marion, Nevada, Newton, Perry, Pike, Polk, Randolph, Saline, Searcy, Sharp, Van Buren, White and Yell.
"We appreciate FEMA's response to the state's request to extend federal help to even more Arkansans. This allows assistance to be available to some of our hardest hit areas," said State Coordinating Officer David Maxwell.
"We hope these additions to the disaster declaration will jumpstart the rebuilding process in many parts of the state," said Federal Coordinating Officer Nancy M. Casper. "Our goal is to help the people of Arkansas and their communities recover from this disaster and get back to normal as soon as possible."
Information about FEMA's Individual Assistance program is available at www.fema.gov/assistance/process/assistance.shtm. More information about Public Assistance can be found at www.fema.gov/government/grant/pa/index.shtm.
Arkansans in any of the 26 counties now designated for Individual Assistance under the disaster declaration should register with FEMA. They can register online at www.disasterassistance.gov, via web-enabled phone at m.fema.gov or by calling 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) or TTY 1-800-462-7585