By JEFFREY SMITH
Leader staff writer
Beebe Police Chief Wayne Ballew presented the city’s Award of Valor to four men who helped a family escape from a recent house fire at 504 Priest Road.
Officers Stephen Reed and Blake Rogers and brothers Dylan and Tyler Bevill were presented with plaques during the city council meeting on Monday.
Ballew said that at 4:30 a.m. Feb. 5 police received a call that a house exploded and people were trapped. Police and fire were dispatched to the scene.
The house was fully engulfed with flames. Dylan and Tyler Bevill, who lived across the street, went to aid their neighbors.
The Bevills helped officers Reed and Roberts by gathering picnic tables to help reach a balcony at the rear of the house.
They were able to help an elderly couple and their son escape the house without serious injury. As they were assisting there were small explosions happening at the residence.
“These two young men took their time to help officers, in regard to their safety, to remove the people from the residence. On behalf of the mayor and city council I present the valor award. These awards are not handed out every day to just anyone,” Ballew said.
In other business, the city council approved a 12-month delay on condemnation of the vacant Powell Building. Andrew Spinks is the new owner of the building.
He plans to install a new roof and restore its windows, repair its facade’s bricks and paint the exterior within six months. His plan is to divide the building into two retail spaces.
The council also approved $2,000 to $2,500 for the parks department to build restrooms at the softball field at the city’s ball park by May.
Aldermen approved a resolution for the final budget for 2016. Revenue was $5.4 million and expenses were $5.1 million.
