Pair drive-bys in Marion has police seeking info

Missing Tennessee girl becomes federal case

NASHVILLE — The FBI has joined an expanding search, which now spans four states, for a teenager who disappeared two weeks ago from her Tennessee home — as it was revealed that her cellphones had last pinged nearly 140 miles away in another state.

Savannah Leigh Pruitt, 14, of Madisonville, vanished from her home on Jan. 13, according to authorities. She was last seen heading to bed between 11 p.m. and 11:30 p.m. by her mother, they said. Savannah’s parents, Randall and Christina Pruitt said there were no red flags and that she went to bed that night in good spirits.

“We were sitting in the living room, talking,” Randall Pruitt said. “She was her normal, bubbly self, and happy.”

Investigators said she had two cellphones and they’d both pinged in Corbin, Kentucky, almost 140 miles away, between 5:15 a.m. and 5:30 a.m. the next day.

“Both phones were powered off at that point and there has not been any activity on either phones since that early morning hour of Jan. 14,” Monroe County Sheriff’s Office detective Jason Fillyaw said.

Randall and Christina Pruitt said neither the family or Savannah knew anyone in Kentucky. The family had recently moved to Tennessee from Georgia.

The teen’s window was also found open and some of her clothes and her bed sheets were missing, according to authorities.

“Right now we’re still treating this as a missingpersons investigation. All the leads that we’ve searched for at this point have kind of hit dead ends,” Fillyaw said.

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Children K-3 invited to write, illustrate stories for PBS KIDS Writers Contest

CONWAY — The Arkansas Educational Television Network is now accepting entries for the PBS KIDS Writers Contest through Friday, April 5.

The PBS KIDS Writers Contest is designed to promote the advancement of children’s literacy skills through hands-on, active learning. The contest empowers children in kindergarten through third grades to celebrate creativity and build literacy skills.

Each entrant will receive a participation certificate, and 12 winners – three from each grade – will receive an AETN prize pack. In addition, first place winners will win a PBS KIDS Playtime Pad, preloaded with educational games, music and videos.

Arkansas teachers who submit stories from their classes will have the opportunity to win a visit from Clifford the Big Red Dog. Two teachers will also win a collection of five PBS KIDS Playtime Pads for their classrooms.

Winning stories, contest rules, and entry forms, are available at aetn.org/writerscontest. Additional information is available by emailing marketing@aetn.org.

Stories may be fact, fiction, prose or poetry. Only one entry will be allowed per person, and stories must be by a single author. Kindergarten and first grade stories must have a minimum of 50 words and a maximum of 200 words. Second and third grade stories must have a minimum of 100 words and a maximum of 350 words.

Text must be printed, written legibly or typed. Children who cannot write may dictate their story to be printed, written legibly or typed. Stories must have at least five original, clear and colorful illustrations.

Each entry must be accompanied by an official signed and completed entry form, which can be downloaded from the website. Entries must be submitted by mail to: AETN – Writers Contest, 350 S. Donaghey, Conway, AR 72034. Entries must be received by close of business Friday, April 5. Winners will be chosen in May and featured on aetn.org/writerscontest. Entries will be judged on originality, creative expression, storytelling and integration of text and illustrations. ***

Car stolen with 1-yearold child inside after Memphis woman leaves it running while using ATM

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – A woman had her car stolen with her 1-year-old child inside after she left it running while she used an ATM in Memphis.

According to police, the incident happened around 3:30 p.m. Tuesday in the 1100 block of South Bellevue Street.

The victim – Amber Booker – told police she got out of her 2002 Ford Explorer after parking near the First Tennessee Bank ATM with it still running.