Lawmakers honor deceased deputy
WASHINGTON -- Members of the Arkansas congressional delegation paid tribute last week to Sgt. Mike Stephen of the Stone County sheriff's office, who was killed in the line of duty on July 18.
U.S. Sen. John Boozman, a Republican from Rogers, eulogized Stephen on the Senate floor Monday.
U.S. Rep. Rick Crawford, a Republican from Jonesboro, honored his memory in a House floor speech two days later.
Stephen, an Army veteran with two decades of law enforcement experience, was fatally shot after responding to a domestic disturbance call in Leslie.
He died at the scene.
In addition to his work in law enforcement, Stephen, 56, served with the Pineville Fire Department, the last 11 years as its chief, Boozman said.
"He was known as a leader who put 110% into everything that he did," Boozman said. "Sgt. Stephen's colleagues in the sheriff's office will remember him as a man who led from the front and pushed everyone to do better."
"Sgt. Stephen exemplified what it meant to serve and protect," Boozman said. "Arkansas will be forever grateful for his sacrifice."
Crawford, whose district includes Stone County, praised Stephen while standing in front of a portrait of the fallen peace officer.
The principles that Stephen prized had been passed down to those he loved, Crawford told his congressional colleagues.
"He instilled his values and dedication to public service in his family, all of whom served as volunteer firefighters. Whenever a call came to the Stephen home, the entire family responded," Crawford said. "Beloved by his colleagues, Sgt. Stephen viewed public service as more than a job. He was always on-call 24/7 ready to assist his community in any way."
Doolittle Raider up for promotion
A dead World War II veteran will get a posthumous promotion if U.S. Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., has his way.
Lt. Col. Dick Cole, who died earlier this year at age 103, was the last of the Doolittle Raiders, a group of volunteers who launched the first attacks on mainland Japan after its attack on Pearl Harbor.
The strikes, in April 1942, came less than five months after the U.S. entry into World War II. At a time when Japan was on the offensive in much of the Pacific theater, the bombings boosted American morale and gave Tokyo a taste of what was to come.
The group of raiders was named after Lt. Col. James Doolittle, who led the effort. Cole was Doolittle's co-pilot. A native of Dayton, Ohio, he died on April 9 in San Antonio. He was buried with full military honors at Arlington National Cemetery.
The legislation honoring Cole is backed by the senators from Ohio and Texas, plus Cotton, a U.S. Army veteran from Dardanelle who served as a member of the Old Guard at Arlington National Cemetery in between tours of duty in Iraq and Afghanistan.
If the measure passes, then Cole will be bumped up to colonel "on the retired list," the bill states.
In a news release, Cotton said Americans are indebted to Cole and Cole's colleagues.
"The Doolittle Raiders volunteered for an uncertain and hazardous mission to strike back against the enemy after Pearl Harbor. Their daring raid rallied our nation for a prolonged war and showed the world that America couldn't be cowed even by a devastating attack. The raiders knew their mission could be a one-way trip. They chose to go anyway, and so are worthy of our honor and gratitude," he said.
OBU grad joins Westerman staff
It's been a busy spring and summer for Arkadelphia native Julie Williams. In May, she graduated from Ouachita Baptist University with a bachelor's degree in mass communications and political science. In June, she won an $8,000 scholarship as second runner-up in the Miss Arkansas competition. On July 18, she joined the staff of U.S. Rep. Bruce Westerman, a Republican from Hot Springs whose district includes Arkadelphia and the rest of Clark County.
In addition to studying, competing and hunting for work, she completed a three-week study tour of Europe, visiting Rome, Florence and Venice while in Italy and Paris while in France.
One of the highlights, the Baptist minister's daughter says, was visiting England's Canterbury Cathedral, the mother church of the Anglican Communion, which includes the Episcopal Church.
(Amy Williams and the Rev. Charlie Williams, pastor of First Baptist Church in Murfreesboro, are her parents.)
As a field representative and projects coordinator for Westerman, Julie Williams, 22, will work primarily out of the congressman's Hot Springs office.
"We're really pleased to have her on staff," Westerman said. "I'm very confident she's going to do a great job."
Williams' interests in government and public service are deeply rooted, she said.
In between her sophomore and junior years in college, she completed an internship in Westerman's Capitol Hill office.
"I tried to get involved, very early on, in the political process. It's always something I've been passionate about," she said.
At OBU, she was active in College Republicans. She also served as editor-in-chief of the student newspaper, The Signal.
Now, she'll be interacting with constituents on a regular basis.
"It's just an honor to be able to work in the district I grew up in. These people are very special to me," she said.
Planning to visit the nation's capital? Know something happening in Washington, D.C.? Please contact Frank Lockwood at (202) 662-7690 or flockwood@arkansasonline.com. Want the latest from the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette's Washington bureau? It's available on Twitter, @LockwoodFrank.
A Section on 07/28/2019