By KENDALL OWENS
T-H Staff Writer
Doors at schools throughout St. Francis County will swing open Monday welcoming students to the beginning of the 2001-2002 school year.
Students in the Forrest City, Palestine-Wheatley and Hughes School Districts, along with Calvary Christian School, will begin the new school year on Monday, Aug. 20.
Teachers have already begun preparing for the start of school. Instructors are attending inservice this week
Each school district will also be hosting open houses this week so that parents and students can learn class assignments and meet the teachers. According to an official with the Forrest City School District, class assignments are also being posted at the front of each building. Open house in the FCSD is scheduled for Thursday, Aug. 16, from 4 to 6 p.m. at each school.
Thursday will also be the day that parents in the Palestine-Wheatley School District find out who their children's teachers will be. Open house in the PWSD will also be from 4 to 6 p.m. on each campus.
In Hughes, the district has scheduled parent/teacher conferences for Friday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on each campus.
An open house has also been scheduled for Sunday, Aug. 19, from 2 to 5 p.m. on both the elementary and senior high campuses of Calvary Christian School.
By KENDALL OWENS
T-H Staff Writer
Unexpected revenue has given the county's general account a boost, according to St. Francis County Treasurer Ann Harbin.
Harbin told members of the Quorum Court's budget committee during their monthly meeting Tuesday evening that three checks from the state, totaling $67,209,82, had been received. As of Tuesday, the general fund balance was at $151,487.32.
"Our totals look good for right now, but we've got to remember that we still have another pay period this month. Overall, general is looking good, and we're showing a nice high figure. But, that's due in part to three checks that we didn't know we were getting," Harbin said.
"The first check we received was for $24,288.53. That was money from the state which was a turnback for gross revenue that most counties received.
"The next check was from the University of Arkansas for $22,835. It was for overpayments to the extension program that UA was paying us back," Harbin said, adding, "The overpayments were due to our extension service being short some personnel that we've been paying them for.
"The third payment was $20,086.29 for juvenile court from the state. That will also allow us to now bill Woodruff and Cross Counties for what we do for them," Harbin added.
At the beginning of August, county general's balance was $115,928.41, compared to a balance of $100,025.71 in August last year.
Committee members also received a report from County Clerk Elizabeth Smith, detailing the budget spending during the first month of the three-month budget period adopted in July. In the budget report, justices were shown that several departments would need additional appropriations, but according to Justice Regan Hill, the need for additional funds in some departments was expected when the budget was originally drawn up.
"When we put this budget together, we knew that there were going to be some departments that would face a shortfall and would need additional funds. Now we just need to appropriate those funds, and the additional money that Ann told us about should help with that," Hill said.
The accounts that will need money for September include the Municipal Court account, the prosecuting attorney account, the quorum court account, the coroner's account and the health department.
Justices also agreed to make a $35,257.37 payment to the city of Forrest City for the second quarter this year for the county's share of the costs for operating Municipal Court.
There will be only one location for residents inside the Forrest City city limits to vote in the Sept. 18 school election.
Because there are no contested races, the Forrest City Election Commission, made up of Joe Young, Betty Proctor and Dr. William Traylor, decided Tuesday that the four Forrest City wards will all vote at the Forrest City Civic Center.
The Forrest City School District requested that the number of voting locations be reduced. Schools are allowed to make such a request under Arkansas law, when there are no contested races in a particular district.
Two Forrest City School Board positions are up for re-election. Rev. Ronald Williams and Gordon McCoy, the two incumbents in Positions 3 and 4, respectively, are unchallenged.
Voting locations for areas outside the city limits but still in the Forrest City school district, such as Tuni, Bonair, Parrott, Newcastle, Courthouse East and West, Colt and Madison will be announced later, along with voting locations for Palestine-Wheatley and Hughes.
Preliminary totals for the recent Mightymite Triathlon were presented during an unofficial meeting Tuesday of the Forrest City Advertising and Promotions Commission.
The meeting was not conducted as scheduled because there were not enough members in attendance to represent a quorum.
Commission chairman Kem Merrell said that although he had not received the formal numbers on this year's event, which was underwritten by the A & P, it appears at this point that the triathlon cost about $800.
"We haven't gotten all of the figures in yet," said Merrell. "But it looks like it cost us anywhere from $600 to $800, but even $500 of that was for unpaid bills from last year so I guess you could say it cost us only $200 or $300."
Dr. John Alderson of East Arkansas Community College said he will have all of the figures from the triathlon at the September meeting.
The Crowley's Ridge Technical Institute's board of directors will meet in a quarterly session at 1 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 16, at the school.
Board members are expected to elect new officers and approve the hiring of new instructors.
In a brief meeting, the Caldwell City Council on Tuesday agreed to look into the possibility of paying for a pumping station to improve water pressure to some customers.
"There have been a few complaints beginning to surface," said Mayor Gary Hughes.
He said users in the Barrow Hill Road-Telico area are having problems with low water pressure.
On another matter, the upcoming "Cotton Pickin' Festival," to be held Sept. 28 and 29, was discussed. Planning is under way for the festival, which may become an annual event.
Some unique events, such as a cotton picking contest, are being planned.
City Clerk Jenny Lindsey is a co-chair of the festival planning, and said volunteers are needed. Anyone who wants to help or who has suggestions for entertainment or games may contact her at 633-1513. Frances Midgett is also co-chair, and can be reached at 633-4325.
"Quite a few activities are being planned for those two days," said Hughes. More details will be published as time for the festival draws near.
On another matter, the council agreed to transfer funds from the solid waste account into a general savings account where it can draw interest. An ordinance to that effect will be drawn up.
A Heth man has been arrested in connection with the June rape of an Earle teenager.
Joe Brown, 28, is charged with rape stemming from an incident at a Madison apartment on June 1 during which a 13-year-old girl was assaulted.