By DAVID NICHOL
T-H Staff Writer
The Navy Junior ROTC program at Forrest City High School officially received its commission in a special ceremony held this morning at Mustang Arena.
"This is a great day for the community and the school," said Chief Byron Mitchusson, one of the instructors. He explained that before a unit like the one at FCHS is commissioned, some groundwork needs to be done, and that has taken place. "Today, the Navy Junior ROTC program officially becomes part of the Navy family."
FCHS Principal Abbie Robinson welcomed everyone, saying, "We have been eagerly anticipating the day the NJROTC program was commissioned."
A special guest was Cdr. Henry Rauch, NJROTC Area Eight Manager.
"Junior ROTC is a small portion" of the over-all Navy mission, he said. "But I think, and I'm sure you agree, that it's a very important program for the future of our country."
He said the Navy Junior ROTC program was initiated in the mid-1960s, and is now the third largest of the ROTC programs, behind the Army and Air Force. To date, there are 490 NJROTC programs in operation.
"Its goals are to teach citizenship, leadership and teamwork, and to produce leaders for our country," Rauch said. "I'm very pleased. You're off to a great start."
Lt. Nick Hutchins, instructor, presented the commission to Forrest City School Superintendent Lee Vent. Vent said the school district had been trying to get an ROTC program since 1996. He said funding for those programs was short at the time, but eventually the Navy came through.
"The Navy came and toured the facility and liked what they saw, and the rest is history," said Vent, who continued, "This is one of the class acts we have in our school system. It is with a great deal of honor and pride that I accept this commissioning."
Tom Newman, rector at Good Shepherd Church in Forrest City and also squadron chaplain for the East Arkansas Composite Squadron of the Civil Air Patrol, was another guest speaker.
"The exciting thing about working with these young people is seeing how they are going to turn out in the future," said Newman.
He added that participation in ROTC is good for the young people and the community. He said that holds true whether the participants go into the service or stay in civilian life.
"These are the ones who will stand up and be counted," he said. "They will fill the posts -- the elective posts, the voluntary posts. And it is an exciting thing to see it happen, because we know we are training new leaders."
The Forrest City High School Band played several selections during the program. There was a reception afterwards.
By KENDALL OWENS
T-H Staff Writer
Estimates on the cleanup following the December ice storm in Forrest City are being compiled, and they are high.
According to figures released by Mayor Larry Bryant, the costs are estimated at $116,121.96. That figure includes: sand, $1,898.51; limb and debris removal, $53,737.75; Robinson Tree Removal, $7,700; city overtime, $7,777.62; machine operation, $45,008.08.
According to Forrest City Public Works Director Clovis Macon, more than 11,000 cubic yards of debris have been taken to the Forrest City landfill by workers with Phillips and Jordan, Inc., a contractor working with the city. City workers will begin burning that debris this week.
Macon also said all of the streets in Forrest City have been covered but city officials aren't expecting complete clean up any time soon.
"We've been putting in a lot of hours to try and get all of the limbs and debris up. We've covered every street in Forrest City, but we have to continue working at it because a lot of the debris hasn't been brought out to the road yet. This is going to be an ongoing process. We've been keeping up so far, and that's what we plan to continue doing," said Macon.
Forrest City Mayor Larry Bryant said that the Federal Emergency Management Agency will pay up to 90 percent of the costs and the city and state will each pay five-percent of the costs.
"FEMA guidelines say that they will pay fair and reasonable costs as long as you stay within their guidelines. They will be paying for the limb and debris removal, the overtime, and the machine operation for the limb and debris removal. The Highway Department will also be paying for a portion of the removal because it was on state aided streets," said Bryant.
Forrest City native Florine Bingham was recently named to the Arkansas State University board of trustees for a five-year term by Gov. Mike Huckabee. Bingham will replace Velmar Richmond of Jonesboro.
"I received the call on Jan. 10, but it became official on the Jan. 15. I was surprised when the governor's office called. This is really a shock," said Bingham.
Bingham, manager of employee relations at Boar's Head Provisions, received her bachelor's degree in chemistry from Lane College in Jackson, Tenn., a master's degree in guidance and counseling from ASU and also received her certification in administration from ASU.
Bingham spent 28 years as an educator and implemented the "Total Quality Management" principle in the Forrest City School District. "My experience both with the Forrest City School District and with Boar's Head will be a huge plus in the work that I can do to improve on the ASU system," she said.
According to Bingham the appointment to the board is an exciting experience that she hopes to enjoy.
"I'm an ASU graduate and I'm proud of the school for the success it has attained. I believe strongly in continuous improvement, and I will do what I can to help with that improvement," said Bingham.
Bingham, a former member of the Arkansas Workforce Investment Board, said that her work with the board, which recently gained national recognition for its efforts in getting welfare recipients into the workforce, gives her a certain insight into what colleges should do to better prepare students for the 21st Century.
"The workforce now should be able to compete, not just locally but internationally, and I think that should be one of the goals of any upper level institution. ASU has been working to that end, and I would like to be a part of that continuing goal. I also believe that in order to reach students you have to have room for growth, and ASU has done that by reaching out with campuses in Beebe, Newport, Mountain Home and Heber Springs as well as the Jonesboro campus. Arkansas State has been an institution in the Delta area and we have to work to continue its strength so that it can continue to benefit the community," said Bingham.
According to Bingham, her first meeting with the board is scheduled for February at ASU-Beebe.
"As trustees, if we communicate effectively, disagree agreeably and base our decisions on data, we will meet the needs of our customers and that will cause us to continue to be successful," she said.
A Widener woman allegedly wielding a toy pistol robbed a local motel earlier today.
April Renee Washington, 20, was arrested a short time after police say she robbed the Comfort Inn Motel at 115 Barrow Hill Road.
According to a report at the Forrest City Police Department, an employee at the motel told police a woman matching Washington's description came into the business to rent a room just after 1 a.m. The suspect then went outside for a moment before coming back into the business and demanding the money from the employee. She allegedly told the cashier not to call the police or she would shoot her.
After Washington reportedly fled the business, the employee notified police of her description, and she was arrested a few minutes later near the 243 mile marker on Interstate 40. Inside Washington's vehicle, police found the clothes and toboggan she was wearing, as described by the employee, along with the $131 in cash reportedly taken in the robbery. Police also recovered a toy pistol which is believed to have been used to commit the robbery.
Washington is charged with aggravated robbery. She was also arrested on outstanding misdemeanor warrants from Harrisburg. She is scheduled to be arraigned in Forrest City Municipal Court on Wednesday.
In addition to the overnight robbery, one robbery and two attempted robberies were reported during the weekend in Forrest City. Local police ask that anyone with information regarding the robberies of stores located near the Interstate 40 area to contact the Forrest City Crime Stoppers at 870-261-1499.
Information leading to the arrest and conviction of the suspects could lead to a reward of up to $1,000.
Information may also be provided directly to the Forrest City Police Department at 633-3434. All calls will remain confidential.