TERRICA HENDRIX
Editor
NASHVILLE- Howard County Sheriff Bryan McJunkins confirmed on Tuesday morning that the Nashville High School EAST Lab car seat drive collected more than 200 seats.
During the week of March 28 – April 1, the NHS EAST Lab program, the Howard County Sheriff’s Office, and the Nashville Police Department conducted a car seat drive. The drive was not a typical drive because in exchange for a new-in-the-box car seat, both departments agreed to credit any individuals owing an outstanding balance of HCDC fines. For every booster-style seat donated, an individual received $50 dollars credit and a $500 credit for every infant and baby-style car seat. The credit could only be applied to the fine amount and was not applied to court cost, court automated fees or restitution, McJunkins confirmed.
On the morning of April 1, McJunkins said approximately 160 car seats were donated and $40,000 was credited towards HCDC fines. Within a few hours of releasing that figure to The News, more car seats were donated.
“We ended up with 252 seats with over $100,000 credited towards [Howard County District Court] fines.”
The sheriff explained, “I think approximately [an additional] 130 seats came in Friday.”
McJunkins said that participants bought car seats from Hot Springs, Hope, Texarkana, New Boston, Texas and Idabel, Okla., after the local Walmart sold out of car seats.
He added that, “this was a big group effort” which included his entire “HCSO staff, NPD, Prosecuting Attorney Bryan L. Chesshir, Howard County Health Coalition, NHS EAST Lab, local media, and Howard Memorial Hospital, all partnering up.”
The car seats will “be turned over to HMH for the baby safety shower” the hospital hosts for local parents, he ended.
