By DAVID NICHOL
T-H Staff Writer
It seems to happen every day, usually about 1 p.m. and sometimes later in the afternoon. Traffic, especially truck traffic, has been backed up on Interstate 40 in both directions due to construction in the interstate.
This has led to an apparently unending line of trucks, streaming down U.S. Highway 70 and State Highway 1 -- Broadway and Washington streets in Forrest City.
At times, traffic has come to a standstill and intersections have been blocked. It has become a topic of heated conversation in coffee shops, around water coolers, at city council meetings and even at the Forrest City Police Department.
The burning question seems to be: What can be done about this?
Unfortunately, the answer is: Until all the construction is finished, not a whole lot.
"To be perfectly honest, there is not too much the police department can do about this," said Police Chief Clarence McNeary. "It is a problem that is going to be with us for a number of years -- at least two years while the bypass is being constructed."
McNeary said there have been some accidents related to the truck migration, but so far, accidents inside the city have been fairly minor.
He said the highways do not belong to the city, anyway.
"I have contacted the Arkansas State Police regarding what can be done," he said. "I have also contacted the Highway Police. I've contacted the Arkansas Highway Department. Essentially, they all told me the same thing. I already knew the answer, I was just looking for alternatives.
"What they told me is that basically it's a state (not national) highway, those trucking companies pay plenty of road taxes, and there's nothing we can do. They're entitled to the roadway."
According to McNeary, some truckers have been contacted, and have said the most viable route to take is through Forrest City when the traffic begins backing up on the interstate.
He said a trucker who appears to be deliberately flaunting the law can be ticketed.
"As far as any traffic violations, we will act on them. If a truck enters an intersection on a yellow signal and is unable to clear the intersection -- especially if the traffic light cycles twice -- we're going to issue a citation for disregarding the signals," McNeary said. "Truckers have to be cognizant that they have a trailer on there."
There has not, so far, been a big problem with trucks getting off on side streets.
"We've caught a few, but most have not been familiar with the Forrest City area," he said. "Usually, if you are in a strange town, you won't take too many detours, and especially with a big rig."
On occasion, when the traffic gets tied up, the police will direct traffic.
"It's very sporadic," McNeary said. "About 1 in the afternoon it might be heavy for about an hour. Then truckers get on their CBs and get out the word that it's bottlenecking in Forrest City. Then later on, it might get heavy again. It depends on the traffic out on I-40."
He said he believes everything is being done that can be done.
"We've explored every option available. We have called in off duty officers to direct traffic. We've had reserve officers direct traffic. I, myself have directed traffic."
There has also been a problem with big rigs trying to turn onto Broadway from Washington.
"Once again, it's a juncture of highways, and unfortunately, the infrastructure there is not really equipped to handle those trucks turning without making that wide turn and interfering with traffic. As I said, it is not our street."
McNeary said the best way to deal with it is to try being patient.
"It's inconvenient, and it's aggravating. But it comes with progress," he said. "And it really makes us appreciate I-40. We take it for granted, but I-40 is good. It's like, you don't miss the water till the well runs dry."
And you don't appreciate the volume of traffic on the Interstate until it gets diverted down the two main streets of town.
By KENDALL OWENS
T-H Staff Writer
Farmers nationwide are expected to plant more soybeans and rice this season, according to recent reports, but that is not the case in Arkansas.
Lower prices, on top of high temperatures from last year, have caused some farmers across the state to plant more cotton and grain sorghum in place of rice and soybeans.
In St. Francis County, however, County Extension Agent Margy Cannon says that is not necessarily the case.
"We will probably have a little more cotton this year, but it won't be that much of a difference. We'll also see small amounts of milo in soybean fields, but that can be attributed to more than one reason and it won't be in large amounts," Cannon said.
According to Cannon, last summer's heat did affect many area farmers who couldn't irrigate their fields, and that may be one of the reasons for the increase in milo planted.
"The heat last year was hard on the non-irrigated fields, and for farmers, it's a lot harder to grow corn or cotton on a non-irrigated field. That may lead to more milo because it too can be sold to chicken farms as feed. The heat pretty much hurt everything last year. With cotton, you have to place it in a field that you can get water on. But milo doesn't require as much water, so you have to keep your options open," said Cannon.
Lower prices are also contributing to the decision by some farmers to increase their planting of cotton and milo. Both plants are "break-even" crops according to Cannon so there isn't as great a risk in planting them.
According to government surveys, Arkansas farmers are expected to plant nine percent more cotton and seven percent more grain sorghum.
Cannon also said that farmers may be using this year to rotate their crops which is good for the soil.
Milo is a rotation crop, and according to Cannon, farmers rotate their crops periodically to help preserve rich farmland.
The St. Francis County Museum will feature the work of local black artists from Saturday, April 7, to the end of April. The exhibit was curated by museum employee Brenda Fort, and includes works on both paper and canvas in oil, pencil and pastels.
Artists participating in the exhibit include Beatrice McCuen, Darrell Paige, Karen Taggert, Tommy Daniel, Tony Goodman and Johnny Haggins.
A reception honoring the artists will be held at the museum on Saturday, April 7, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
The SFC Museum is located in the historic Rush-Gates house on Front Street. Museum hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. Tours are also available by appointment.
Village Creek State Park will host its annual wildflower walks April 11-14.
Visitors will trek through the park's hillsides and view trillium, mayapple, violets, Jack-in-the-pulpit and a variety of other spring bloomers.
A special program is being offered by Lynnette Dalton with the Photographic Society of America on Saturday, April 14. Dalton will be presenting a dual-slide program set to music that features award-winning wildflower shots. She will also answer questions regarding photography.
For more information, contact Village Creek at 870-238-9406. The park is located about 15 miles north of Forrest City.