By CRYSTAL HOLLIS
T-H Staff Writer
Russellville resident Tim Hale began his 310-mile journey across Arkansas on Friday to increase cancer awareness. That journey brought him through Forrest City on Thursday afternoon.
Hale is also hoping his journey will help increase participation in Relay for Life events planned throughout the state this spring.
A large group of Relay for Life team members and volunteers from this area joined cancer survivors on East Broadway to welcome Hale to Forrest City.
Hale, 52, said his goal is to walk 45 miles each day. Although Hale admitted he has competed in marathons and ultra marathons involving 100 mile runs, he said nothing compares to the strain of the walk across the state. "I've done nothing that has been day after day like this. It kinda grinds on you. Different pieces start to wear out on you, and it kinda wears on you," Hale said.
The walker was expected to arrive in Memphis today.
Hale said last year was the first year he participated in the Relay for Life, and that event changed him. "After going to the relay, I was just blown away. It was just fantastic. When Monday morning came, I was talking to some friends and more than half of them didn't even know what I was talking about," he said.
That's when he decided to make the 310-mile journey to increase awareness about the Relay.
"Especially the memorial service with the candles. I saw it and I said man, 'this is just fantastic.' So I talked with our group about a walk across the country or something like that. Finally they said if I wanted to do it, do it.
"There are 13 cities across our route here which are having relays, and some of them are for the first time this year. I think we gave a couple of them a really good send off. Lonoke has worked very hard and Ozark is having their first," said Hale.
He also noted the nationwide event this year is expected to raise about $130 million for cancer research. "Those dollars are going straight to research, and to support cancer victims," he said.
Forrest City's Relay for Life will begin on Friday, May 11, at 7 p.m. and continue until 7 a.m. on Saturday at Sam Smith Stadium.
By DAVID NICHOL
T-H Staff Writer
The recent session of the Arkansas Legislature saw two bills passed which create felony offenses for certain actions directed at a school, its personnel or students.
It was part of more than a dozen bills which created felony offenses, along with harsher penalties for some crimes.
Forrest City Superintendent Lee Vent said this morning he is in favor of the two new laws directly affecting schools.
Under one law, making a death threat against a school employee or student will be a felony. It would be punishable by up to six years in prison. The threat would have to be more than verbal. It would have to involve the use of a deadly weapon and would require a close tie between the threat and a substantial effort to carry it out.
Under the second law, making a false bomb threat to a school will be a felony instead of a misdemeanor.
"It's certainly legislation that's in step with the trend," said Vent. "State legislatures throughout the country are making penalties more harsh in response to threats to school personnel or school property or anything that is a negative circumstance to the school."
Vent said the state School Administrators Association strongly endorsed the legislation.
"We were pleased that the Legislature passed it," he said. "Something has to be done to curtail these things. Subsequently, your local school policies will be aligned to address the new situation.
"These new statutes will be included in the policy for the 2001-2002 school year. I personally think it was much needed and I strongly endorsed it."
He said a felony would be an expulsion-level infraction.
Some of the other stiffer laws, not having to do with schools, include:
*Limits on how much of the cold remedies ephedrine and pseudoephedrine consumers may purchase at one time. The medicines are used to manufacture methamphetamine.
*Stealing generators during a disaster will be a felony, and will call for a fine of up to $50,000 and possible jail of up to six years. This was a response to the ice storms of last winter.
*Registered sex offenders who change their name may be charged with a felony. There are exceptions for offenders whose names change because of marriage or to conform with religious preference.
*Sexual abuse of an inmate by a correctional officer will be a felony.
*Stealing property of $500 or less while on a crime spree will be a felony.
By KENDALL OWENS
T-H Staff Writer
A downtown building which collapsed earlier this month may be a step closer to getting completely demolished, according to Jim Taylor of Little Rock, owner of the property.
Damage from the building, which collapsed on April 2, has closed the intersection Front and Izard streets in downtown. Forrest City. Building Inspector Chester Crossen said officials are giving Taylor time to clear the debris.
"We have to do something because we have to get these streets open, but right now we're giving Mr. Taylor time to get with a demolitions company and get everything cleared out. The last time I spoke with him (Taylor) he said that he had been in contact with a company out of Memphis, and would try to get something done soon," said Crossen.
According to Taylor, the only thing holding up progress right now is getting a settlement from his insurance company.
"I'm waiting to hear back from the insurance company before I proceed any further. Once they tell me how much they're going to cover, we can start work. It will be hard to get anything going until I hear from them because of the way the demolitions company does their work. I have contacted a company in Memphis that will be handling the project. They have to do their work in stages, and it has to go in those stages so that no one will get hurt," said Taylor.
Taylor also said that he had recently been in contact with the insurance company and things are looking good for work to begin soon.
"If what I've heard from the insurance company is true, they are close to a settlement on the claim. Once that happens, work should begin soon, and when I say soon, I mean within the next week or so," said Taylor.
By KENDALL OWENS
T-H Staff Writer
Testing of the city's new tornado warning system was scheduled to begin today, according to city officials and those with Safety Com Inc., of North Little Rock.
David Miller, a Safety Com representative, said that the system, which runs on batteries, was installed this week, and can be tested without causing a disturbance to citizens of Forrest City.
"The mayor's office has given us a go for testing today once we've completed installation. Once Entergy supplies the batteries, we will be able to program the sirens and run tests afterward. We can even do the testing at decibels that cannot be heard by human ears," said Miller.
According to Chester Crossen, Forrest City building inspector, the sirens were placed at six different locations around town. The locations include the intersection of Eaton and Sanyo Roads in the Industrial Park; the intersection of Morledge and Forrest Lake Roads in Edgewood; North Farr Street, near the city shop; the intersection of White Oak and Redwood Drives in Forrest Hills; the intersection of Newcastle Road and Stancel Lane near the interstate; and the intersection of Murray and Cherry Streets near Forrest City High School.
Leslie McMillan was responsible for helping Saftey Com distribute the sirens, and he said these locations were chosen to give the entire city the best coverage.
"Basically the mayor wanted to make sure that everyone would be able to hear the siren if needed. We chose the locations to make sure that was possible," said McMillan.
According to Miller, the system meets the standards set by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, and will cover a 6,000-square-foot area when the system is stable, and a 12,000-square-foot area when the siren rotates.
The system will be fully operational following the testing.
Two suspects made off with $250 from Southside Recycling on Wednesday.
According to the Forrest City Police Department, an employee said two men came up to the business, and one asked if they were hiring. The suspect was told not at this time, and the employee was getting a business card to give to the suspect. That was when the suspect allegedly produced a handgun and demanded money. One other employee was in the office at the time.
The men fled with $250.
One suspect is described as a black male about six feet, two inches tall wearing a black coat and a white baseball cap. The second is described as a black male about five foot, seven, and wearing tan pants. Both looked to be in their teens or early 20s.