By KENDALL OWENS
T-H Staff Writer
Officials with area fire departments are asking St. Francis County residents to use caution with heating appliances due to the number of recent deaths due to fire.
There were five fire related deaths in the month of January in this area and 25 deaths state wide. According to Jimmy Poe, Chief of the Palestine Fire Department, some of the deaths could have been prevented through the use of smoke detectors and the cautious use of space heaters.
"Personally I hate space heaters. Every winter people lose their lives and their homes because of them. Recently we lost a resident and several houses and each one could be linked to space heaters," said Poe.
Poe added that safety plays a large role in fire prevention regarding space heaters.
"People have to understand the danger that these things are. I understand that in the winter they provide heat for those that don't have other sources and they provide inexpensive heat, but safety has to be a thought in the mind of those using them.
"You have to keep combustibles away from the heaters at all times. You also need to make sure that where you place them is sturdy and secure to avoid tilting. We even saw a fire during the ice storm where a family left their home and thought they had turned the heater off but when the electricity came back on the heater was on and caused a fire," Poe said.
Fireman Samuel Pettus with the Forrest City Fire Department echoed many of the sentiments given by Poe and added that children are at risk when space heaters are involved also.
"Space heaters can be extremely dangerous if the owner doesn't follow the guidelines given in the manual. You have to follow those directions and you also have to try to keep your children away from the heater. We see many instances where a home may not be damaged but a child is burned because he backed up to the heater and his pajamas or clothes ignited. Parents have to make sure to keep their children away from heaters because of that danger," said Pettus.
Both firemen stressed the importance of smoke detectors in the home and the need for a fire plan. "If a family can't formualte a fire plan or they need help with a fire plan they can always contact their local fire department for help. Everyone needs at least two smoke detectors in their home and I suggest one for each room. Even in the heaveist sleep a person will be able to hear the siren from the detector if you have one in each room," said Poe.
Pettus urged residents to not only have detectors but to also maintain them properly. "We recommend checking the batteries twice a year on a detector to insure that it's working. We also suggest that each resident clean the detector once or twice a year to clear them of cobwebs and dust because if they're not clean they won't work as well. You can buy a can of compressed air and simply blow the dust and debris out," said Pettus.
By CRYSTAL HOLLIS
T-H Staff Writer
Local Elementary students will now have the opportunity to check books out after school hours. The Forrest City School District and the Forrest City Junior Auxiliary have announced the arrival of a Bookmobile.
The Bookmobile will arrive at area elementary schools on Mondays, from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. Students in kindergarten through the fifth grade will be able to check out a book to take home to read.
According to Debbie McInturff, a teacher at Stewart Elementary School and also a member of the Jr. Auxiliary, students must be accompanied by an adult the entire time. The adult will need to fill out a library card, so the student may check out a book.
In February, the book mobile is scheduled to be at Stewart Elementary on the 5th, Caldwell Elementary on the 12th, and at Forrest Hills Elementary on the 26th.
The Bookmobile will be at Madison Elementary on March 5, at Stewart Elementary on the 12th, and Caldwell Elementary on the 26th.
In April, the bus will be at Forrest Hills Elementary on the 2nd, Madison Elementary on the 9th, Stewart Elementary on the 16th, Caldwell on the 23rd and Forrest Hills Elementary on the 30th.
According to McInturff, students attending Central may check books out at any of the locations, on any Monday.
Books will not be distributed on Feb. 19, Presidents Day and the week of spring break.
State Rep. Danny Ferguson said that while deregulation of electric service may be a good idea, he agreed with the House in voting to extend its implementation.
"The original bill was passed two years ago, and said deregulation would take place no later than Jan. 1, 2002," said Ferguson.
"We've moved that to where it can occur as late as Oct. of 2005."
Ferguson said the measure also beefs up the Public Service Commission requirements to measure the benefits of deregulation for residential and small business customers.
The bill still has to be voted on by the Senate.
Ferguson said the stories coming from California about power shortages -- caused in part by deregulation -- had a definite effect on the House vote, even though the situation is different in Arkansas.
"California and Arkansas are not apples and apples," he said. "California has not built any plants in years, due to strict environmental requirements. And Arkansas is a surplus producer of power."
He also said that since discussions about deregulation began in Arkansas, new power plant production has been announced.
Ferguson said the last few days "just wasn't one of those earth-shaking weeks."
He did say the House passed a measure to lower the threshold for DWI from .10 to .08. "That was tied to the threat of losing federal highway funds."
The House also approved what Ferguson said some people might see as a weakening of the state's anti-littering laws, but Ferguson said he actually believes it will help.
"The existing law stipulates a $1,000 fine for first offense on littering," he said, which seemed overly harsh for a first offense. "What happened was, a lot of prosecutors and judges were reluctant to enforce it."
The new law provides for eight hours of community service for first offenders, "and that probably will be in the area of cleaning up," he said.