By CRYSTAL HOLLIS
T-H Staff Writer
The City of Hughes has greatly reduced its water loss.
"Water loss is down tremendously," Mayor Donnie Mooney told members of the city council this week.
According to Mooney, the town had been suffering a 50 percent water loss in past months. However, his month, the loss is at 10 percent.
"We got out this month and fixed a lot of leaks," said the mayor.
On a related matter, the Hughes council had agreed last month to cut off water to residents who were behind on their water bills. According to Terry Smith, city clerk, a lot of payments and reconnect fees were paid as a result of the new policy.
Smith also said the new city water supervisor, Mark Findley, had been instrumental in the effort to read meters and cut off water on delinquent accounts.
Mooney said the water bills were behind by $30,000 for the last few years, this month, the bills are only $10,000 behind.
Alderman Joe Cox said he served on the council once before, and the water bills were $30,000 behind.
"When I came back to serve on the council four years later, this year, the water department was still at $30,000 in uncollected bills," he said. "This is the lowest I have ever seen the water bill accounts and that is a good thing."
Cox also wanted to know if residents using the fire department to fill swimming pools were paying for the service. Mooney replied he didn't know but believed they all were paying for the service. He said he would make a list of residents with pools and check to see if they have all paid for the service.
Mooney also distributed a copy of a check from the Federal Emergency Management Association (FEMA) for $21,931.22. The check was reimbursement for clean up efforts from December's ice storm damage.
The mayor told alderman how the money was to be distributed with $6,931.22 going to the water department and $5,000 each to the sanitation and street departments and the city's general fund.
On another matter, Mooney said he was pleased with the figures from the 2000 census report released last month.
"I am tickled about it," he said. "I really expected us to go down in population and instead we went up, I didn't expect that," he said. Hughes' population rose from 1,810 to 1,867, according to the new census figures.
In other business, council members were introduced to Orwell Hightower from Marianna. Hightower represents Commercial Group South, a new home manufacturing facility in Marianna. He said the homes built by Commercial Group South are affordable, particularly to low income people.
Hightower said the plant is looking for more employees.
By CRYSTAL HOLLIS
T-H Staff Writer
A budget has been approved for the summer baseball program in Palestine.
The city's Advertising and Promotions Commission on Wednesday morning approved the budget submitted by program coordinator Mark Main.
The commission will pay almost $10,000 to fund the baseball program this year. That total includes $6,900 for the program and $3,000 to Main for his work.
Commissioner Nellie Higgins said she would like to see the baseball program stand on its own in the future so the A&P can concentrate on other projects to promote the city.
At present, the Palestine A&P has over $17,000 in its budget.
Commissioners agreed Main will meet with them at the next meeting, to be held at the end of the baseball season, to discuss how the money was spent and how much money the program will receive next year.
Commissioner and city treasurer, Charles Maness said he would like to see Main keep records and receipts of all expenditures. Maness said the previous coordinator did not keep any records.
Main budgeted $600 this year for concessions start up and $200 for umpire start up. An estimated $1,000 was approved for equipment for the teams and $2,000 for repairs to the baseball complex, which Mayor Willetta Carroll said Main has already begun.
"The concession stand was broken into and there was a fire," said Carroll. "Mark has already cleaned up the mess from that."
The proposed budget also included $725 in concessions debt from last year and dues to Brinkley for the last two years, which should have been paid by the former coordinator, according to commissioners. Also, according to the budget, $1,275 will be paid to Main's wife as a part-time employee for the ballpark, $500 to have the lights turned on at the field and $600 for insurance.
The P.O.P.S./M.O.M.S. organization will hold its 11th annual banquet this Saturday, April 14 at the Forrest City Civic Center, beginning at 7 p.m.
The St. Francis County Health Department will do health screening prior to the banquet, from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. People are invited to the health screening, whether they are attending the banquet or not.
The guest speaker for this year's event will be Kym Clark, a 15-year news anchor for Channel 5 in Memphis. A native of Georgia, she holds a bachelor's degree in communication. She serves on numerous boards in Memphis and has spoken in a number of schools in Memphis. There will be a reception for Clark beginning at 6:30 p.m.
Tickets for the banquet are $15, and can be purchased from any P.O.P.S./M.O.M.S. member. Anyone wanting a ticket may also call 633-2755 or 633-7618.
Today's Times-Herald features a special Spring Car Care section, brought to you by the Times-Herald staff and advertisers.
The section covers every aspect of caring for your car.
Sponsors of this section include: AAA Title Pawn, Battery Warehouse of Forrest City, Crowley's Ridge Technical Institute, Dearing Body Shop, Dearl and Harold Auto Electric Service, Dennis Auto Repair, Diamond D Wrecker, Dub Taylor and Sons Body Shop, East Arkansas Insurance, First National Bank of Wynne, Forrest City Bank, Forrest City Muffler Shop, Goodyear, Gray's Service Center, Hicks Body Shop, Hill's Exxon, Honda of Forrest City, Howard Miller Insurance, Joey's Muffler and J & J Sounds, Larry's Eastside Auto, Lee's Auto Repair, Mace's Small Engine, Machen Ford and Chrysler, Mathes Auto Repair, NAPA Auto Parts Store, Randle and Sons Detail Car Wash, Taylor Glass, Union Planters Bank, Western Auto and White Motor Company Wrecker Service.
Several area public offices will be closed for the Easter holiday beginning tomorrow with Good Friday.
The St. Francis County Courthouse will be closed tomorrow and will reopen Monday, April 16, at 8 a.m. Forrest City City Hall, however, will be open tomorrow from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Classes at all area schools will not be in session tomorrow with students in the Forrest City School District returning Monday, those in Palestine returning Tuesday and students in the Hughes School District returning on Monday. Teachers in the Hughes School District will work tomorrow to cover one of the days used during the December ice storms.
Crowley's Ridge Technical Institute closed for the holidays earlier this week and will return to class Monday. Classes at East Arkansas Community College will not be in session tomorrow but are scheduled to begin Monday at their regular times.