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Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin: Two Cotton Plant city employees facing theft charges

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Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin: Two Cotton Plant city employees facing theft charges


LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin said two Cotton Plant city employees are in the Woodruff County Jail after an investigation by his office.

Griffin said members of his office’s Public Integrity Unit worked with officers of the Augusta Police Department and Woodruff County Sheriff’s deputies to investigate the two employees. As a result of the investigation, 47-year-old Katrina Criswell and 29-year-old Lakeyia Alexander are facing charges of theft of property, a class D felony, and are currently held in the jail, he said.

A release from Griffin’s office said Criswell and Alexander worked for the city’s mayor’s office. In February 2023, while the mayor was out on medical leave, the pair falsified time sheets to show them working more than their allotted 20 hours per week, investigators said.

Officials said that because of the added hours, more than $5,000 in unauthorized wages was paid.

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“Those who work in local government hold a special public trust, as they are closest to the people,” Griffin said in a statement. “Both of the accused falsified their time sheets to claim more hours than they were authorized to work, thus increasing their salary without the knowledge and approval of the Mayor of Cotton Plant or the City Council.”

Griffin added that stealing from a city that employs you is an affront to the hardworking taxpayers.



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Arkansas

Arkansas basketball drops back out of AP Top 25

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Arkansas basketball drops back out of AP Top 25


The Arkansas Razorbacks (11-3, 0-1 SEC) fell back out of the AP College Basketball Top 25 on Monday.

The drop out of the rankings comes after Arkansas split its games last week. The Hogs took a 92-62 win over Oakland to finish the non-conference slate, but were thrashed 76-52 on the road by No. 1 Tennessee on Saturday to open conference play.

The Razorbacks did, however, receive the second-most votes of unranked teams.

This week isn’t much easier for the Hogs, who will face two teams ranked in the Top 25, though the two games come at home. No. 23 Ole Miss comes to Fayetteville on Wednesday and the Hogs will face No. 8 Florida on Saturday.

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All told, there are nine SEC teams in the AP Poll: No. 1 Tennessee, No. 2 Auburn, No. 5 Alabama, No. 6 Kentucky, No. 8 Florida, No. 10 Texas A&M, No. 14 Mississippi State, No. 17 Oklahoma and No. 23 Ole Miss.

According to ESPN’s Basketball Power Index, the Razorbacks rank 40th overall (12.5 BPI, 11th in SEC) with a 5.6 offensive and 7.0 defensive rating. Arkansas is projected to finish with an 18.8-12.2 (7.8-10.2 SEC) overall record and it has a 0.2% chance to win the SEC.

Despite the blowout loss on Saturday, Arkansas’ NET ranking actually improved one spot from last Monday. The Razorbacks sit at No. 40, up from No. 43 last week. The Hogs are 1-3 in Quad 1 games, 1-0 in Quad 2, 2-0 in Quad 3 and 7-0 in Quad 4.

Here is the full AP Top 25 from Monday:



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3 area athletes, 1 coach selected for All-Arkansas Preps football team

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3 area athletes, 1 coach selected for All-Arkansas Preps football team


The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette has announced its All-Arkansas Preps football team, and the Twin Lakes Area is being represented by three athletes and a coach. Salem junior defensive lineman Keagan Sanderson was named to the first team. According



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Texarkana, Arkansas, Board of Directors to appoint assistant mayor, consider runway project | Arkansas Democrat Gazette

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Texarkana, Arkansas, Board of Directors to appoint assistant mayor, consider runway project | Arkansas Democrat Gazette


TEXARKANA, Ark. — A long-serving city leader will be installed as assistant mayor Monday at the Board of Directors’ first regular meeting of 2025.

Ward 2 Director Laney Harris will take the oath of office in line with a 2023 ordinance that lays out the order directors are appointed to the one-year term of assistant mayor.

The rotation, which began in 2023, is Ward 1, Ward 6, Ward 2, Ward 4, Ward 5 and Ward 3.

Ward 6 Director Jeff Hart, who did not seek reelection in November, was the assistant mayor in 2024.

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Harris represented Ward 2 for two terms until 2005 and has been re-elected every four years since 2008.

In other business, the board will consider a resolution authorizing Airport Executive Director Paul Mehrlich to enter a contract with McClelland Engineering for a runway strengthening project at Texarkana Regional Airport. The project is for the 6,602-foot asphalt runway designated as 4-22.

McClelland has given a cost of $502,203.20 for engineering and design. The state of Arkansas will cover $451,982.88 of the fee, with the city of Texarkana, Arkansas, absorbing $22,503.73. The city of Texarkana, Texas, will be left with the remaining $27,716.59.

The two Texarkanas jointly own the airport.

The Arkansas side’s share of the expense was part of its budget for fiscal year 2024, according to meeting documents.

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In August 2024, the Arkansas Legislative Council approved $16.7 million for upgrades at the nearly 100-year-old airfield.

“The infrastructure improvements will include the expansion of the runway and taxiways that will enable the airport to take on cargo and maintenance repair overhaul work. The improvements will also equip the airport to support larger aircraft, including the Boeing 777,” according to a news release.

The Board of Directors meeting starts at 6 p.m. at the Municipal Building, 216 Walnut St.



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