Forrest Hills Elementary School is one of 14 schools statewide selected for a $150,000 Comprehensive School Reform Demonstration Grant.
The grant, which will begin this spring, is for a three-year period to implement a model program for improving reading and language arts instruction.
According to District Instructional Specialist Joye Hughes, the model program selected will use a curriculum based on research and effective practices in reading, called "Success for All".
"At the heart of the program is 90 minutes of uninterrupted reading instruction. Students are individually accountable but also work in teams for skill improvement. Writing is emphasized throughout the program as a method for creative expression and responding to literature," said Hughes.
Hughes said that the funds will be used for teacher training, books, materials and technical assistance coordinated through the University of Memphis.
School Principal Betty Beazley thinks that the grant will be a benefit to the students. "This model is a good fit with the state's 'Smart Start' initiative to improve learning at the elementary level. Our faculty studied this and a number of other reform models and overwhelmingly selected 'Success for All,'" said Beazley.
Forrest City School District Superintendent Lee Vent praised his staff for the efforts in planning and developing implementation of the proposed model as well as securing the grant to fund it.
"We have a dedicated professional staff who are willing to go the extra mile for their students. This is one of many such examples in our school district," said Vent.
By KENDALL OWENS
T-H Staff Writer
Payroll issues and the recent dismissal of a county employee highlighted Tuesday night's St. Francis County Quorum Court's personnel committee meeting.
Committee members questioned County Judge Carl Cisco about the implementation of a 2.5-percent pay increase that quorum court members approved in December. Tracy Teal, Cisco's chief of staff, told committee members that an error had occurred in the tabulation for withholdings on payroll checks for some county employees. Teal said the 2.5-percent increase was reflected in the employee's gross salary, but not in the net amount. The error actually caused some employees to receive a smaller paycheck than they had received prior to the raise.
"The clerk's office has been sitting down with employees and getting all of the information correct, and hopefully by Monday, when the next payroll is due, it will all be straightened out," Cisco said.
Committee members also raised questions regarding a pay cut received by two employees in the County Clerk's office.
"We understand that the dependents and those type of things may make the net amount of things wrong, but they should be able to take the gross amount of their check and multiply it by 26 and come up with the 2.5-percent," Justice Jack Crumbly said. "Now correct me if I'm wrong, but we agreed that every county employee would receive a 2.5-percent increase. So, how does a person go down in salary if there's an increase and they're not new hires?"
Cisco suggested that committee members pose their questions to County Clerk Elizabeth Smith, who did not attend the committee meeting.
The committee then met in an executive session to discuss the dismissal of former employee Tammy Talley from the County Clerk's office. Talley was dismissed on Jan. 2, Smith's first day in office, for "extenuating circumstances."
During the December personnel committee meeting, Talley had agreed to a pay cut and the loss of her Chief Deputy title, which is an at-will position for the elected official.
Following the executive session, committee members announced they plan to meet in February with Smith, County Treasurer Ann Harbin and County Attorney Fletcher Long.
Justices also heard from Election Commissioner Joe Young of Hughes who is petitioning the court for the creation of an election coordinator position.
"Over the last three or four years we've seen a stronger second party in Arkansas. Because of that, it has become more difficult for us to do our day-to-day jobs as well as do the job as commissioners. There are several counties in Arkansas that have election coordinators, and I think that we need one here. That person would handle the majority of the duties involving the election and basically would oversee the election process with the commissioners overseeing them," said Young.
Cisco supported Young by saying that he is planning to talk to some of the other counties about what process they use as far as election coordinators are concerned. He told committee members that he would like to look into the matter further but the idea, in his opinion, is a good idea.
By TAMARA JOHNSON
Managing Editor
A suspect in a series of Missouri burglaries was arrested in Forrest City Tuesday afternoon.
According to the Forrest City Police Department, Richard Ortiz, 25, of Rogers, and his cousin, a 17-year-old Marianna juvenile, were arrested outside Wal-Mart by police responding to a shoplifting call.
FCPD Criminal Investigation Division Lt. Dwight Duch said the two suspects led police on a brief foot chase outside the store about 4:30 p.m. before they were arrested.
During the arrests, police discovered Ortiz is wanted by Missouri officials for aggravated assault on a police officer and as a suspect in several burglaries there. Ortiz is also wanted for a probation violation in Benton County, Ark.
An inventory of Ortiz's vehicle revealed five handguns, one sawed-off shotgun, crystal methamphetamine, drug paraphernalia and a large quantity of jewelry, cameras and other items stolen in burglaries that occurred in McDonald County, Missouri.
Ortiz is charged with theft by receiving over $500, possession of a controlled substance with intent to sell near a certain facility, possession of drug paraphernalia, criminal use of a prohibited weapon, theft by receiving, firearm and felony possession of a firearm, shoplifting, fleeing and resisting arrest.
The juvenile is charged with theft by receiving over $500, possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver near a certain facility, theft by receiving, firearm; shoplifting and possession of drug paraphernalia and criminal use of a prohibited weapon. Duch said police expect to drop the adult charges faced by the juvenile.
Both were scheduled to appear in Forrest City Municipal Court this afternoon.
Duch said Ortiz will be transferred to Benton County after he faces local charges. From there, he is expected to be extradited to Missouri.
Four Troop D officers were among 21 award winners at the first departmental Blue Knight Awards yesterday at the Capitol.
The Arkansas State Police in conjunction with Mothers Against Drunk Driving presented the awards during the ceremony with Governor Mike Huckabee. According to the Arkansas Highway and Transportation Department, Office of Highway Safety, drugs or alcohol were contributing factors in the cause of 190 of the 605 highway deaths in 1999
"Too often the personal heartbreak of a family victimized by a drunk driver gets lost in the numbers associated with drunk driving. I want to thank these troopers who have performed their duty by removing drunk drivers from Arkansas highways, thus preventing future tragedies," said Huckabee.
Trooper First Class Sammy Koons of West Memphis and Trooper Mike Kennedy of Forrest City both led Troop D with 74 DWI arrests for January through November of 2000. Trooper Aundrae Mack of Marion was also awarded for his 68 arrests as was Trooper Darrell Winston of West Helena. The four officers placed fifth through eighth in arrests for the state during last year.
Troop D was also recognized for its efforts to fight drunk driving with an award. Troop Commander Steve Gray was on hand to receive the award.
An educational meeting to help the public form a better understanding of blackbirds -- particularly the disease caused from their roosting -- will be held Tuesday, Jan. 30 at noon in the council room at city hall.
The meeting will be presented by the staff of the Pest Control Department.
"We thought we might get some people up here and talk to them," said J.C. Rice, pest control officer. "We're trying to get more people to participate. We have some information, and we'll see if I can get it through to people to try and help themselves. There are so many birds in town it's hard for the pest control department on its own to handle them."
The day will also include a demonstration of available noisemakers at Beech Grove Park, at 4:30 p.m.
Widener Mayor Dot Halford has put out a call for everyone to bring their branches and limbs lost during the recent ice storm out to the curb for pickup.
"We need everybody to come on and get them out this week, because we should be through with everything by Friday," Halford said.
Larry Hobbs of Colt has contracted with the city to do the work. Halford said a lot has already been done.
"He's going to ride around and pick up what's left," she said.