By DAVID NICHOL
T-H Staff Writer
Runners from as close as Forrest City and as far away as California gathered this morning to take part in the Olympic Torch Relay as it made its way through town.
Jim McInturff, who was earlier reported to be the first Forrest City torchbearer, actually ended up being the third, but was ready when his turn came.
"I'm excited," he said. "As I've said before, we don't know how many times this relay will be coming through this area. And I feel so lucky to be able to run here."
He was also looking forward to seeing his wife, Debbie, run with the torch later today.
Paul Newton, of Florence, Ala., said he was nominated by his wife, Cheryl.
"She nominated me, and it's exciting. And this is where they put it down that we would be assigned," he said. Florence, he said, is about a four-hour trip. "We came in last night and this morning looked at the town. It's a nice little town."
Sarah Ackerson currently is living in Batesville. However, her accent marks her as an original Californian. She was nominated by her mother, Luann Millings, who still lives in Lancaster, Calif.
"I nominated Sarah, and they liked the letter that I sent, so they asked me to be in it," said Millings.
Dale Copus, of Walls, Miss., said he came because this is where he was supposed to run, but said he is looking forward to it just the same.
Standing around, talking with some other runners, McInturff joked that the real problem with the run was standing around two hours in order to run a few minutes.
Richard Mara of Lawrenceville, Mo., laughingly agreed with McInturff.
"I thought, two tenths of a mile, I won't even get loose," said Mara. He went on to say that his wife had nominated him.
"And you don't select where you go. This is what we got, and we're happy to be here." Sonya Graham, in a wheelchair, is from Starkville, Miss.
"I'm really looking forward to it. The weather could be a little better, but that's all right."
After gathering at the Wal-Mart parking lot, the runners were dropped off at their respective starting places. Long before McInturff arrived at the corner of Division and Graham, students from Stewart Elementary, where he is a regular reader, were lining both sides of the intersection.
As the time drew nearer, the crowd grew, with students from nearby Forrest City High School and many adults who know McInturff and wanted to see him. People came by selling banners and T-shirts. Others came by giving banners away. A Coca-Cola truck came by, dispensing free Cokes to anyone who wanted. A couple of floats drove by with loudspeakers, working the crowd into a frenzy, just before McInturff arrived.
He posed for a second, holding the unlighted torch with kids from Stewart. Then the relay reached him, his torch was lighted, and he began his run into Olympic history.
St. Francis County is one of 50 Arkansas counties that will receive funds through the Federal Emergency Management Agency, Emergency Food and Shelter Program, which works to meet the needs of the hungry and homeless.
According to a press release from U.S. Sen. Blanche Lincoln's office, St. Francis County will receive $24,058 in funding, as part of the $1,308,379 coming to the state. The funding will be distributed to the St. Francis County EFS Program.
According to a press release from the SFC EFS, this year's funding is $2,767 less than the funding received last year. The agencies that received funding from the program last year were the St. Francis County CARE Center; the St. Francis County Food Pantry and the American Legion Goodfellows. This money will be distributed during a meeting set for 1:30 p.m. Thursday at the St. Francis County Courthouse.
"The announcement of this FEMA funding could not have been more timely for Arkansas' homeless. As the winter temperature drop in the state there will be a great need for those less fortunate. This program will make sure that the people in need of assistance will receive food and shelter," Lincoln said in the release.
Arkansas Sen. Tim Hutchinson also commented on the funding, "This grant will strengthen the relationship between FEMA and private organizations in providing food, shelter and assistance to local communities."
Other area counties receiving assistance include: Crittenden County, $27,228; Cross County, $12,508; Lee County, $9,781 and Phillips County, $19,979 in funding.
The mission of FEMA is to help communities that have been affected by disaster. The EFS Program is intended to help those with non-disaster, but nonetheless real emergency needs.
By KENDALL OWENS
T-H Staff Writer
Forrest City Police officers confiscated over $2,000 in drugs from a house on Scott Street Thursday.
Three Forrest City men were arrested during the afternoon raid at a residence at 113 W. Scott St. According to a press release from the FCPD, Nicholas Hamilton, 21, 113 W. Scott St.; LaMarcuis Price, 18, 840 S. Rosser and Martin Gray, 19, 1004 Smith St., were sitting at the kitchen table with marijuana on the table top when officers executed the search warrant.
According to the report, members of the FCPD, the Arkansas State Police and the St. Francis County Sheriff's Department seized 5.2 grams of marijuana with a street value of $750 and 17.1 grams of crack cocaine, valued at $1,700. Police also found a loaded pistol and drug paraphernalia in the house. A bag of marijuana was also seized from Gray's vehicle.
All three men are charged with possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver near certain facilities, possession of drug paraphernalia and simultaneous possession of drugs and firearms.
Hamilton, who is a convicted felon, was additionally charged with possession of firearms by certain persons. The three are scheduled to be arraigned in St. Francis County District Court on Monday, Dec. 17.
By CRYSTAL HOLLIS
T-H Staff Writer
Employees of the city of Wheatley will receive a 3 percent pay raise next year despite the city's anticipated revenue shortfall.
Mayor Larry Nash told councilmen Thursday night that the city will receive less sales tax revenue due to a 17 percent decrease in population. "The sales tax will be going down because of the census," said Nash.
He also said he wanted the employees to receive a raise, but didn't want to give them something that may have to be revoked later when the final determination on tax revenue is made.
"The thing I'm worried about is we can give them this raise, but we might not have the money for it later, like the state with the teachers. They (the teachers) were supposed to get this big raise, but because of the economy and budget, it turned out they were not getting as much. You just can't give someone something and then take it away," said Nash.
Council members voted unanimously to go ahead with the pay increase.
Alderman also passed a motion to have Woodrow Harris, a resident of Wheatley, replace Alderman Arvern Burnett who recently resigned. Burnett had recommended Harris as his replacement.
By KENDALL OWENS
T-H Staff Writer
Colt City Council members agreed to purchase two air packs for the Colt Fire Department during Thursday night's regular city council meeting.
Colt City Manager Bobby Clarkson said the air packs are needed because the ones currently being used are obsolete due to age.
"Right now we have three packs, but they are so old that we can't get parts to repair them. These packs are almost new, and we're getting them for a bargain," Clarkson said.
Clarkson also told council members that he had submitted a grant proposal which might enable the city to purchase additional equipment for the fire department.
Mayor Virgil Keeler said the additional two air packs will be purchased with funds the fire department recently raised.
Council members were also updated on a proposed fire district that the fire department is interested in pursuing. According to City Attorney Steve Routon, getting the district would actually not be in the hands of the council. Routon told councilmen that the decision would have to come from either the County Judge or the Quorum Court. Council members decided not to pursue the issue.
In other business, council members voted to approve the general, street and sewer budgets. Council members also agreed to give city employees a 3 percent pay raise next year.
Sales tax receipts from October have been reported in Town and Country, the publication of the Arkansas Municipal League.
St. Francis County received $142,825. In addition, towns in St. Francis County received the following: Hughes, $28,307.26; Forrest City, $224,001.90; Wheatley, $5,640.22; Palestine, $11,234.96; Madison, $14,964.80; Caldwell, $7,050.28; Colt, $5,579.58; and Widener, $5,079.26.
In cities with their own sales taxes, the following receipts were reported: Forrest City, $163,319.61; Hughes, $10,108.03; Madison, $2,236.39; Palestine, $6,298.70; and Wheatley, $6,282.29.