The 2001 St. Francis County Fair will be held all next week, Sept. 3-8, at the Wiley T. Jones Fairgrounds.
Activity will actually begin this Friday, Aug. 31, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. with the beginning of set-up for commercial and educational booths.
On Saturday, Sept. 1, from 2-7 p.m., set-up will continue and entries may be made in several departments (Entry times in many categories have been changed this year -- see the Fair schedule).
Sunday will feature rehearsals for the pageants in all age groups, from 2-5 p.m., and setup will continue.
Monday, Sept. 3, will be Labor Day and the first full day of Fair activities. An admission of $8 for ages 2 and up ($2 for senior citizens) allows fair-goers to ride all the rides they want from 1-10 p.m., and will also gain admission to wrestling at 8 p.m. From 1-4 p.m. will also be 4-H Day, with crafts, relay races, demonstrations, games and other activities for kids. The main exhibit building will be open from noon until 9 p.m.
Monday will also see the first of a new addition -- demonstrations of various arts and crafts. Monday's demonstration will be the art of quilting, by the Caring Touch Circle of First Baptist Church, from 10 a.m. until 9 p.m.
On Tuesday, Sept. 4, the main exhibit building will be closed for judging at 10 a.m., and will be reopened at 4 p.m. Admission will be $1 for children up to 12 years, $1 for those aged 55 and older and $2 for all others (these admissions will continue throughout the fair, except during special promotions such as Armband Night. This will be Security Officers Night, with special passes for officers working at the fair and their families. At 7 p.m., the Wee Miss, Tiny Miss and Little Miss St. Francis County Fair contests will be held.
Tuesday's demonstration will be silhouette cutting and nail painting from 6 to 9 p.m., presented by Angie Laster.
Wednesday, Sept. 5 will see the cattle show at 1 p.m. and the horse show at 3 p.m. Miller's Spectacular Shows will feature Armband Night from 5-10 p.m., in which a $9 admission enables fair goers to ride all the rides they want. The Horticulture building opens at 4 p.m. The Junior Miss, Senior Miss and Fairest of the Fair contests will be held, beginning at 7 p.m.
The demonstration for Wednesday will be piñata making, presented by Cissy Smith, from 6 to 9 p.m.
Thursday will feature another Armband Night. The annual Youth Talent Show will be held, beginning at 7 p.m.
In addition, face painting will be demonstrated by Ruth Ann Haycroff, Naomi Williams and Geralldine Powell.
On Friday, gospel performers will take the stage at 6 p.m. and exhibit buildings will be open from 10 a.m. until 9 p.m. The livestock will go home Friday night and the livestock building will be closed.
Also on Friday, from 6 to 9 p.m., Al Cullum will demonstrate ceramics.
Saturday will feature Kid's Day, with all rides for $1 from noon until 5 p.m.. There will be a domino contest at 2 p.m. There will be live music starting at 7.
Free Bingo will also be offered at the St. Francis County Fair again this year. The Bingo will be held on Monday at 2 and 6 p.m., and at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Thursday and Friday.
The ever-popular Kountry Kitchen will also be open during the fair.
By KENDALL OWENS
T-H Staff Writer
Forrest City police are investigating a possible homicide this morning involving a 40-year-old black female and an acquaintance.
The female subject was found dead today in a residence on Dooley Street.
According to CID Chief Investigator Lt. Dwight Duch the death of the woman may stem from a domestic violence incident that occurred Thursday night in which the woman was beaten and later transported to Baptist Memorial Hospital-Forrest City where she was treated and released.
"Right now we're investigating this as a possible homicide. The victim was involved in a domestic battery incident yesterday, and we're trying to find out if those injuries led to her death," said Duch.
According to FCPD Chief Clarence McNeary, the department has a suspect in custody, but it is too early to file any charges in connection with the woman's death.
"We're still investigating everything, and although we have someone in custody, until we have a cause of death from the state crime lab we won't be able to determine if he'll face murder charges," said McNeary.
According to McNeary, officers responded to last night's assault and the victim was transported to the hospital.
"Around 10:30 p.m., we received the domestic battery call and had the victim transported to the hospital. Apparently, she was treated and released by hospital officials because around 1 a.m. we received a call to transport the victim home. She asked the officer that picked her up to take her to the Dooley Street residence, and that's where she was found this morning," said McNeary.
According to McNeary, the suspect is currently being held for revocation of several suspended imposition of sentence charges.
The victim's body has been sent to the State Crime Lab for autopsy.
By DAVID NICHOL
T-H Staff Writer
St. Francis County Judge Carl Cisco said today he recently received a strong letter of support for a massive truck mall from U.S. Senator Tim Hutchinson.
"We're just trying to get all the help we can, and we appreciate the senator's help," said Cisco.
The truck stop, if realized, would cover about 120 acres. It would include motel and restaurant facilities and employ anywhere from 500 to 700 people, Cisco said.
He has proposed that it be located in the Widener area.
Cisco said Hutchinson wrote that he would work to try and get $25 million for the project from the Senate Appropriations Committee on Veterans' Affairs, Housing and Urban Development and Independent agencies.
According to Cisco, he has also received written support from U.S. Sen. Blanche Lincoln and U.S. Rep. Marion Berry.
While Lincoln did not mention money amounts, she did say she was a big supporter of the project. Berry wrote that the area had "great potential for this type of development."
The Forrest City City Council will hear second reading of an ordinance requiring emergency personnel of the fire and police departments to live inside the city, when it meets in regular session Tuesday, Sept. 4.
The meeting will be at 7 p.m. in the council chambers.
The ordinance applies only to new employees.
In other business, a preliminary plat approval will be requested for Horizon Subdivision, adjacent to the Forrest Hills Addition.
Several government offices, as well as area schools, will be closed Monday for the Labor Day holiday.
Forrest City City Hall and the St. Francis County Courthouse will both be closing their doors and reopening on Tuesday, Sept. 4, at 8 a.m.
Area schools will be closed in celebration of Monday's holiday. Forrest City, Palestine-Wheatley, Hughes and Calvary Christian Schools all will be closed along with Crowley's Ridge Technical Institute and East Arkansas Community College. Classes are scheduled to resume at the regularly-scheduled times on Tuesday.
Authorities have issued a warrant for the arrest of a man in connection with the alleged rape of a 15-year-old girl.
According to the report, the suspect had sexual intercourse with the victim on three different occasions. On the last occasion, the girl's mother allegedly walked in on the incident and contacted police. The victim was examined at a hospital in Helena.
According to the report, the suspect had bought several expensive items and given them to the girl. He also allegedly told her there was "a tombstone with your name on it" if she told anyone.