SALT council speaks to Bella Vista seniors

Keith Bryant/The Weekly Vista A healthy crowd showed up for the Senior Safety Academy to learn about several issues facing seniors. Volunteers prepared a lunch for everyone attending.
Keith Bryant/The Weekly Vista A healthy crowd showed up for the Senior Safety Academy to learn about several issues facing seniors. Volunteers prepared a lunch for everyone attending.

The Seniors and Law Enforcement Together (SALT) Council, held its annual Senior Safety Academy at the Bella Vista Lutheran Church on Forest Hills Blvd. last Tuesday, Oct. 9.

Police chief James Graves estimated more than 100 people showed up. In addition to providing workshops on common issues seniors face, like fraud, it's also a good opportunity to inform people of services the department offers -- and it's a good chance for the department to learn what citizens are concerned about.

"This event, like all the events we do, is really a chance to interact with the citizens," he said.

Addressing a gathered crowd, Graves said that Bella Vista has very little violent crime and property crime stays fairly low, but drug activity is a significant issue because so many neighborhoods offer a secluded space.

Drug sales are less common than manufacturing, he said, and he's established a narcotics officer position that has led to multiple arrests. The department has served seven or eight narcotics-related warrants this year, he said.

"We're working hard to get that stuff out of the community," he said.

Drug activity can lead to other serious issues, Graves said.

Graves fielded questions from the audience about trails, whether the department uses drones, the new tactical response unit, what to look for when drug activity is suspected, whether lights deter burglars at night, bow hunting in Bella Vista and other topics.

"I really enjoy this back and forth," he said.

Outside the auditorium, Keith and Raelene Plummer sat at a table to promote their business, First Light Home Care, which Keith Plummer said provides nonmedical caretakers to help people stay in their own homes later in life.

It's extremely helpful, Plummer said, to get a chance to reach audiences with their freshly-started business.

"This is a really good target group," he said. "We all eventually will need a little help."

Between presentations, Gravette resident Ken Ubben enjoyed his lunch and mused about some of the day's lessons.

"It's high quality," he said.

He was especially shocked to learn about how much information is readily available on the web about any given person -- what they like to buy and where they go, among other things. He said it was reminiscent of the television show Person of Interest.

"It scares the daylights out of me," he said.

General News on 10/17/2018