Governor announces Northeast Arkansas prosecutor appointments

LITTLE ROCK — Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson on Thursday announced his intent to appoint the following prosecuting attorneys:

• Judge Keith Chrestman, Jonesboro, as Prosecuting Attorney for the Second Judicial District. Term begins January 1, 2021, and expires December 31, 2022. Replaces Scott Ellington.

“I’m delighted to appoint Judge Keith Chrestman as Prosecuting Attorney for the Second Judicial District,” Hutchinson said.

“I am confident that his years of experience on the bench, as a deputy prosecutor, and in private practice will serve him well in this new role.”

Judge Keith Chrestman released the following statement: “I accept Governor Asa Hutchinson’s appointment, and I appreciate this opportunity to continue to serve the Second Judicial District. His continued faith in me is humbling.

I’m also overwhelmed by the support of those who took time to contact the Governor in support of my application. I’m looking forward to a productive two years.”

• Ryan Cooper, Imboden, as Prosecuting Attorney of the Third Judicial District.

Term begins January 1, 2021 and expires December 31, 2022.

Replaces Henry Boyce.

“Ryan Cooper’s service as Prosecuting City Attorney for both Walnut Ridge and Hoxie and most recently, as the Chief Deputy Prosecutor of the Third Judicial District has prepared him for the role of Prosecuting Attorney,” Governor Hutchinson said.

“I appreciate his willingness to serve and his dedication to the Third Judicial District.”

Ryan Cooper issued the following statement: “I am honored to humbly accept the appointment of Governor Asa Hutchinson.

I look forward to further serving the community and will tirelessly strive to be worthy of the challenges of this office and steadfastly advance the cause of justice.”

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State Senate candidate criticized for KKK

Halloween costume worn as teen

LITTLE ROCK — A Republican candidate running for Arkansas State Senate said he made “mistakes' as a teenager after repeatedly denying his dismissal from a Mississippi high school for wearing a racist Ku Klux Klan costume for Halloween.

Charles Edward Beckham III initially denied reports from the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette and Arkansas Times that he was suspended and dismissed from Mississippi School for Mathematics and Science for wearing a racist Ku Klux Klan costume at a school-sponsored Halloween event. The Arkansas Times first reported Beckham's dismissal on Tuesday.

Beckham also told the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette in a email Tuesday that people fabricated the allegations and blamed it on a ploy by the Democrats.

“First of all, I unequivocally denounce the KKK and any like minded hate group,” Beckham said in the email. “It is sad that the Democrats will do anything and say anything to try to win. The accusations that have been made about me are not only baseless and false, but disgusting.”

But the Democrat-Gazette obtained court records from a lawsuit Beckham's family filed in Hinds County Circuit Court in Jackson, Mississippi, that challenged his dismissal from the school.

In October 2000, Beckham and two other classmates wore KKK outfits and were caught by school staff members and immediately given three days of inschool suspension, according to the court records.

Later, the school’s director dismissed Beckham during his senior year, a decision upheld by the Mississippi

Continued on Page 11 STATE NEWS (cont.)

Board of Education.

Alana Nichols, who's Black, was a junior at the school when she saw her classmates in the racist costumes

and said she was

“petrified.'

“When I think about memories of high school, this is at the forefront, and that’s unfortunate,” Nichols said. “My initial thought was, ‘What’s going to happen?

Am I going to die? Is there going to be a rally?’” Beckham, now 37, on Thursday said he made “mistakes' as a teenager.

“I do sincerely apologize for any angst or grievances that I have caused anyone as a minor, as that is not the man that I am today,” Beckham said. “I continue to unequivocally denounce the KKK and any like minded hate groups and the rumors that I am or have ever been part of the KKK are absolutely ridiculous.'

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BROOKLAND — After attempting to show his support for presidential candidate Joe Biden, a Brookland resident said he will not be putting up any more campaign signs in his yard.

About 25 days ago, Jim Tolewitzke said he put his first political sign in the yard.

“It made it 10 days,” he said, noting someone stole the sign and left the metal frame in the yard. “I went down to the Democratic headquarters and got another sign.”

That one made it five days, he said.

Tolewitzke said his next attempt was to order banners from VistaPrint. This time, his political signs included a message for the thief.

“Note to the thief who stole two political signs, don’t be a coward, come talk to me,” it read.

Two days later, Tolewitzke said he was at work when he received a call from his wife, Nancy. Tolewitzke said he is calling it quits on his attempts to support the Biden-Harris campaign with yard signs.

“I probably won’t get any more signs,” he said. “I’ll just leave the frame up and let people see.”

Brookland Detective Chris Jones said it was the first he had heard of issues with political signs being stolen from yards or tampered with. If caught, there would be some misdemeanors charges if the thieves, he

Continued on Page 14 STATE NEWS (cont.)

said.

In Jonesboro, there have been four reports of political sign theft, JPD First Shift Patrol Sgt. David Stout. He said Tolewitzke’s case would be a misdemeanor, but there might be an added charge of criminal mischief and possibly criminal trespassing.

If the thief was caught, there would have to be an actual affidavit filed by the victims, Stout said. Yard sign thefts are common occurrences during elections, he noted.

Stout’s neighbor recently had a Trump flag stolen from his yard.

“About a month ago, there were three teenage girls who stole my neighbor’s Trump flag from the tree along with the flag pole,” he said. “There are always people who are not happy with their neighbor’s choice of candidates.”

Stout said his personal opinion is this year is probably worse for these types of incidents because of all the media hype surrounding the presidential candidates.

Craighead County Republican Committee Treasurer Bill Hendrix said he has had a lot of people come in wanting to replace stolen Trump signs.

“I had a guy call wanting a Trump sign, so I delivered it,” he said. “When I pulled up he had a Trump flag in his yard, and I thought that would be a safe place to put one.

Hendrix said he got a call the next day saying that sign did not make it to the next day before someone

also,” he said.

More than 50 Biden-Harris yard signs have been stolen, said Dr. Asad Khan, chairman of the Craighead County Democratic Party.

“Two days ago, my own sign was stolen. I have had many colleagues and friends who have had signs stolen also,” he added.

Khan suspects Republicans are the culprits, but he noted that other suspects could simply be pranksters. “(Jonesboro) is a Republican town. … Every day someone comes to the office wanting more signs because they have been stolen,” he said.

While Tolewitzke has thrown in the towel on displaying

candidate in his yard, he is keeping his sense of humor about the situation.

“I laughed the first time, and I laughed the second time,” he said. “I am humorous and a joker and kidder, but this is sad and something people just shouldn’t do.”