On August 19th, 2026, an Ashley County jury found Rosario Ford Jr., a 34-year-old Crossett resident and violent habitual offender, guilty of multiple felony charges.
The conviction stems from an investigation by the Crossett Police Department into a report from the victim regarding an incident on December 13, 2025. The victim reported that Ford threatened to “blow her brains out” while possessing a firearm. The Tenth Judicial District Prosecution Attorney’s Office charged Ford as a habitual offender with the offenses of Terroristic Threatening in the First Degree, a Class D Felony and Felon in Possession of a Firearm, a Class B Felony.
During the one-day jury trial Chief Deputy Prosecutor Attorney Sandra Bradshaw presented testimony from the victim and additional witnesses along with home surveillance video. Ford was represented by attorney Joe Mazzanti. After hearing all the evidence, the jury found Ford guilty of both charges.
The University of Arkansas at Monticello Athletics Department announced Nat Grubbs as the 21st recipient of the Spirit Award, presented annually at the Athletics Hall of Fame Banquet.
Introduced in 2006, the UAM Spirit Award is presented to individuals who demonstrate exceptional support and unwavering dedication to the University of Arkansas at Monticello’s athletic programs. This honor recognizes those who go above and beyond for our student-athletes, teams, and department. The recipient embodies the heart and soul of UAM Athletics – through every win, every loss, every rain delay, and every nail-biting moment, they are there. They truly bleed green and white.
Grubbs, a longtime fan of UAM Athletics programs, has provided physical therapy care to Boll Weevil and Blossom athletes for years at South Arkansas Rehabilitation. He and his team have made an incredible impact on the athletics department, helping rehabilitate numerous student-athletes to get them back on the field and back in competitive shape.
On September 2, 2026, after a two-day jury trial, a Drew County jury convicted Taiwan Collins of two counts of Murder in the First Degree and one count of Terroristic Act. The convictions stemmed from the December 3, 2023, shooting at the old Wilmar High School.
Agents from the Arkansas State Police and the Drew County Sheriff’s Office investigated the shooting that ultimately ended in the death of two people. The shooting occurred shortly after the party concluded at approximately 2:10 in the morning. The City of Wilmar uses the old high school as a community center and in the past has rented out the facilities for events.
Jurors heard testimony from witnesses at the scene and that officers arrived at the at the school to find the bodies of Suquorey Pitts, and Independence Young. Special Agent Bo Norris testified that while processing the scene 100 shell casings were collected. Those shell casings were sent to the Arkansas State Crime Lab for firearms and tool marks examination, and the bodies were sent to the medical examiner’s office to determine the cause of death.
Associate Medical Examiner, Dr. Teddi Tubre testified that the cause of death for both men was gunshot wounds. Further testimony indicated that multiple firearms were used in the commission of the indicating multiple individuals firing weapons.
