By DAVID NICHOL
T-H Staff Writer
In spite of important state-wide issues like teacher pay raises and electric deregulation, from a local standpoint the biggest issue before the Arkansas Legislature is a bill to force the merger of East Arkansas Community College and Crowley's Ridge Technical Institute.
That was the assessment by state Rep Danny Ferguson from home this morning.
"This will be the hottest one issue I'll have to address this session," said Ferguson, who represents the Forrest City area and has people on both sides of the merger issue as constituents.
A state task force recommended in 2000 that the schools be merged (and that also Garland County Community College in Hot Springs merge with Quapaw Technical Institute). People associated with CRTI have been adamantly opposed to the merger.
Ferguson said there will be a public hearing of the Senate Education Committee on Feb. 28 to discuss the issue. Both sides of the issue will be expressed during the hearing.
"I think that in Little Rock, it's going to pretty much depend on what comes out in the hearing," said Ferguson. "There has been a lot of mail received by legislators on this issue. But there have also been several studies done since 1981, including the last one, the task force established by the Legislature, that recommended the merger and recommended that legislation be introduced."
Ferguson said he wasn't sure how many would speak during the hearing. "In House committees they generally try to let anyone in the audience who has an opinion, for or against a bill, to express their point of view. But I can't really speak for the Senate committee," Ferguson said.
As for Ferguson, he said either way he votes will upset someone, and he will vote for what he sees as the best solution.
"Personally, as far as local politics goes, this is a no-win situation for me," he said, "because emotions are running high on both sides. It's one of those issues I'm going to have to study. I've already studied it. I've read every shred of information Burl (Lieblong, CRTI president) has given me and read the transcripts of the Non-Baccalaureate Task Force. I've done a lot of research on Arkansas codes on how no one can be fired or lose benefits.
"What I'm having to sort through is, does merging virtually wipe out technical training, as we're hearing from some people, or does it expand technical training, as we're hearing from some other people? It's just one of those things where we're going to have to dig through to the bottom. And the bottom line is this -- will it enhance or will it be detrimental overall to techincal education in our community?"
By KENDALL OWENS
T-H Staff Writer
Pretrial motions were heard Friday in the case of Jeffery Briant Gibson in the June shooting of off-duty Forrest City Police Officer Lewis Jones outside a nightclub where Jones was working as security.
Attorneys for Gibson, of New Orleans, presented 54 motions to Circuit Judge L.T. Simes III on issues ranging from whether Gibson would be restrained during his trial to the amount of media coverage of the incident.
Questions were raised on whether Gibson would be allowed to enter the courtroom unrestrained because of an alleged escape attempt by Gibson and four other St. Francis County Jail inmates in November. St. Francis County Jailer Jerry Wayne Culver testified that Gibson and a fellow inmate called him upstairs and told him that their cell had flooded.
"When I went to put the mop and bucket in the cell Jeffery Briant Gibson grabbed my wrists and pulled me into the cell. Then he sat on me three or four times and took my keys and my radio. While Gibson was locking me into the cell Donte Hill unlocked the other doors on the top floor," said Culver.
Lew Marzuk, defense attorney for Gibson, said that it might prejudice the jury if Gibson appeared before them in shackles.
"Your honor, the appearance by the defendant in restraints might prejudice the jury against him before the trial can even begin," said Marzuk.
Simes decided that Gibson would be allowed to wear civilian clothes and would not be required to wear handcuffs but would remain in leg irons during the trial. Simes also agreed to allow jailers to bring Gibson to the courtroom prior to the jury entering the courtroom.
Marzuk also argued that the defense attorneys should be removed from the case and a continuance granted because both attorneys for Gibson also represent Hill on escape charges. Simes denied that motion and defense attorneys will file an appeal with the Arkansas Supreme Court.
Defense attorneys were denied a change of venue in the case by Simes. Attorneys entered several items as evidence to say that Gibson could not receive a fair trial in St. Francis County. Articles from the Times-Herald and the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, as well as television coverage and radio coverage of the incident were used to argue the defense's case. Joseph Cummings, a North Little Rock private detective, testified that he recovered 10 front page articles from the Times-Herald on both the alleged murder and the alleged escape attempt by Gibson. Cummings also played audio tapes of coverage by KXJK in Forrest City on the murder of Jones. Videotaped footage was also shown that had been taken by Little Rock television stations.
Opening statements in the murder trial of Gibson are scheduled to begin Monday, Feb. 26, at the St. Francis County Courthouse.
Forrest City Police have made another arrest in the breakup of a counterfeit business check ring.
The arrest of Michelle Smith, 28, of 932 Rice #143, Forrest City, brings to eight the number of arrests made by Forrest City and Memphis police. More arrests are expected.
An estimated 30 counterfeit checks were passed in Forrest City during December, amounting to about $30,977. Wal-Mart of Forrest City and First National Bank of Eastern Arkansas were among the victims.
The checks were made on businesses such as Auto Zone of Memphis, Overnite Transportation Co. of Memphis, Motel Management DBA Super 8 Motel of Memphis, Distribution Systems of Union, N.J., Furniture for Less Inc. of Memphis and Consolidated Systems Inc. of Columbia, S.C.
According to the police report, the investigation is continuing.
Several meetings are planned for Tuesday in St. Francis County.
The Forrest City Water Commission is scheduled to meet at 10 Tuesday morning at the water department.
At 5 p.m., the St. Francis County Museum Board will meet at the Rush-Gates house.
The Forrest City School Board will meet at 5:30 p.m. in the administration building. Board members are expected to hold student disciplinary hearings and discuss bids for new buses. The board will also review a revised school calendar for the 2000-2001 school year along with a proposed calendar for the 2001-2002 year.
The Palestine-Wheatley School Board will meet at 6:30 p.m. in the high school cafetorium in Palestine. This will be the board's first meeting since November.
The Forrest City City Council will meet at 7 p.m. at city hall with a full agenda. Councilmen will discuss several ordinances and open bids on a tornado warning system.
Also at 7 p.m., the St. Francis County Quorum Court will meet at the courthouse.
All meetings are open to the public.
Two people were sentenced to state prison during circuit court hearings Friday at the St. Francis County Courthouse.
Vernon L. Hamilton, 30, 1320 Whitaker, Forrest City, was sentenced to three years in the Arkansas Department of Corrections for second-degree forgery.
David Wayne Fleming was given 10 years in the ADC with credit for time served, and a five-year suspended imposition of sentence after release for possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver.
Woodrow Neal Jr., 34, 124 W. Midway, Forrest City, received a five-year suspended imposition of sentence with two years of supervised probation and a fine of $250 for first-degree battery.
Three cases were also nolle prosequi during Friday's hearings.