By KENDALL OWENS
T-H Staff Writer
Personnel in the Forrest City School District will be getting a pay raise, just not the one previously requested.
FCSD board members on Tuesday night approved a $500 pay raise for teachers during Tuesday night's regular board meeting.
Superintendent Lee Vent said the raise is the option the district has chosen to take instead of the $1,000 raise which was requested by the Personnel Policy Committee.
"I cannot recommend acceptance of the proposal offered by the Personnel Policy Committee. With everything as it is financially I don't think that we can pay the full $1,000 raise at this time. I would propose that we go ahead and do half of that amount, and then revisit this at the end of the year to see if the finances are in place to go ahead and honor the entire thing. This is a risk, and I want that to be known, because we're doing this without the benefit of seeing the final settlement," said Vent.
According to fiscal officer Pat Flanagin, the raise will go to all employees but will be different amounts for classified personnel based on contract length.
Board members also voted to approve a pair of resolutions to allow current school district employees to continue doing contract work for the district. Vent said new legislation mandates that school districts disclose any contract relationships between school employees, administrators or board members. According to Flanagin, there were only two relationships inside the district that needed to be addressed.
Flanagin said Mike Laird, an employee with the technology department, also serves the district as a security contractor.
"Mr. Laird provides us with cameras and other security items that we need. He also provides our yearly maintenance and does it at about half the cost we were previously paying so it's saving the district a good deal of money. What you're doing is hearing this information in a public meeting and then either approving a resolution or not," Flanagin said.
The second case involves child nutrition officer Evelyn Rayford. According to Flanagin, Rayford serves the district in a catering capacity for certain events. Board member Rev. Ronald Williams excused himself from the proceedings because Rayford is also his sister. Board members approved the resolution.
Vent also announced during the meeting that the district will be attempting to host the Arkansas Activities Association 5-A tournament for the second straight year.
By TAMARA JOHNSON
Managing Editor
Three men with extensive criminal histories among them are being sought for questioning in a triple murder last week in Crow Creek.
St. Francis County Sheriff Dave Parkman said police are searching for Steven Dewayne Neal, 35, of Marianna, Kevin Mosby, 30, 214 W. Cook St., Forrest City, and Jimmy Mills, 30, 720 N. Gorman St., Forrest City.
Parkman said the three should be considered "armed and extremely dangerous."
Police have issued felony theft warrants for the three in connection with the theft of a white 1996 Ford Windstar van. The van was rented Friday morning by a fourth subject who Parkman said is not a suspect in a crime at this point.
According to Parkman, the vehicle was rented Friday morning, before the murders are believed to have occurred inside a home shared by victims Dylan A. Boyd, 31, and Carl Boyd, 21. The third victim, Dewayne Stewart, 27, 1731 Indian Hills, Forrest City, was visiting at the time of the shootings.
Parkman further described the suspects. "Neal is also known as "Spud." He is six-foot-four and weighs 180 pounds. Mosby is also known as Kevin Heard and "Mud." He is five-foot-seven and weighs 200 pounds. The third man, Mills, is also known as "Didley." He is five-foot-eight and weighs 227 pounds," Parkman said.
The van was scheduled to be returned Monday afternoon, but the owner of a local car rental business said the vehicle was not returned. The three men sought for questioning have not been seen in the Forrest City area since Friday, according to Parkman.
St. Francis County Chief Investigator Glenn Ramsey said based on the coroner's report, the three died from multiple gunshot wounds. Police say a 9mm and .25 caliber weapons were used in the murders. The bodies of the three victims were found Friday evening when one of the victim's girlfriends returned home from work.
Anyone with information on the three men should contact the St. Francis County Sheriff's Department at 870-633-2611.
By CRYSTAL HOLLIS
T-H Staff Writer
A professional race director may take over the helm of the Mightymite Triathlon this year, if he can get sponsorship for the race.
Wendall Robertson of Memphis met with the Forrest City Advertising and Promotions Commission yesterday to discuss a possible arrangement. Robertson has been a a full-time race director for three years and said the biggest race he directs is the Memphis in May Triathlon.
He also said he has participated in the Mightymite a few times and said the race is known in Memphis.
"I know most of the triathletes in Memphis and they talk about this race, and they want to see it continue," he said.
Robertson's pay, if he accepts the position, will be based on an incentive plan for gathering sponsors for the event. Robertson will receive a portion of the proceeds from the sponsorship. But he also said he has not ever tried to get sponsorship for a race before and doesn't know the people in this area.
The commission formed a group to meet with Robertson to get him acquainted with the area. Shelia Lieblong of the Forrest City Chamber of Commerce, Forrest City Alderman Chris Oswalt and East Arkansas Community College instructor Dr. John Alderson will assist Robertson.
Robertson offered to put the race on a mail-out to 25,000 people around the country to encourage participation in the race. He said
also has a website for races.
"I have four other races and I send a mail-out. I can put the triathlon on the mail-out with the other four and the cost would be less than one-fourth of the printing and mailing and I could post it on the website."
The commission passed the motion to underwrite the mailings, if Robertson takes the position.
Robertson said he will tell the commission in the near future if he can take on the Mightymite after he has has an idea on the participation of sponsors.
In other business, the commission heard from Alderson, who has conducted an economic impact study for the commission on the Crowley's Ridge Saddle Club Charity Rodeo, which was a two day event held in early October.
Alderson's study indicates the rodeo generated an economic impact of $26,638.29 for the Forrest City area.
The commission also agreed to give Forrest City School District Athletic Director, Bill Baxter, $25,000 for the 2002 Rumble on the Ridge. The commission also appropriated another $12,000 if the AAA agrees to have the AAAAA High School Basketball tournament at Mustang Arena again this year.
According to Baxter, the state tournament was more of a success than the Rumble on the Ridge, because of more teams and time of year. "That is 32 teams coming here to play, with about 100 people with each team," said Baxter. "The Rumble did well this year. We had the second largest ticket sale since we started having the Rumble," he said. "But I see the AAAAA tournament has being one that will do good for the city in hotel rentals and restaurants."
The deadline to submit letters to Santa for publication in the Times-Herald Christmas edition is Friday, Dec. 14.
Letters will be printed on Friday, Dec. 21, and Monday, Dec. 24.
The letters may be mailed to the Times-Herald at P.O. Box 1699, Forrest City, AR 72336, dropped by the office at 222 N. Izard or e-mailed to fctimes@thnews.com.
The Widener City Council on Monday approved a Water and Sewer Department budget for 2002.
The budget projects income of $108,400, with expected expenditures of $107,404. The 2001 budget called for income of $105,700 with expenditures of $103,504.
On another matter, after some discussion, the council approved a motion to give city employees a year-end bonus equal to one extra paycheck.