By KENDALL OWENS
T-H Staff Writer
Civic groups storing items at the Forrest City Civic Center will not be charged for the closet space for now.
In a unanimous vote Monday, the Civic Center Commission agreed to leave the current storage space as it is on a recommendation by commission chairperson Delores Morelon. Morelon told the group she had spoken with several members of the various civic groups, some of which meet weekly at the civic center, and said she could see no reason to make changes to the way groups store items at the facility at this time.
"As I promised, I talked with several organizations, and no one I spoke with expressed a need to store anything out here on a long term basis. Basically, the only need they have is, as Raymond talked about, to store something maybe overnight if they have an event out here," said Morelon.
The Rotary, Lions and Kiwanis clubs, along with the Musical Coterie, use closet space at the Civic Center.
In other business, Forrest City Mayor Larry Bryant attended the meeting and basically told commissioners the city would be adding a food-warming area at the Civic Center, with or without the commission's approval. Bryant said the coat room would be remodeled to include a sink and an area to keep food warm.
"You all can go along with me or not, but we're going to add a food warming facility down in the coat room that we're taking out of commission. When Jim (Hitchcock, the center's caterer) is catering in one room, and someone else is catering in another, they don't have anywhere to go. Regardless of who it is, people need to be able to get water and have food warmed without having a conflict with anyone else."
Taking on a racial tone, the mayor added, "Everything gets to be black and white in Forrest City, and this will eliminate that because if there are black people in the big room and white people in the small room, or vice versa, this gives everyone access to a warming facility," Bryant said. "What we're looking for on this is equality to everyone that rents out here. If this works out fine then we might look at adding a warming facility on the end of the building also. This should eliminate some of the problems that you all have been faced with."
The mayor also suggested commissioners consider other issues involved with the civic center such as improvements and rate increases.
"I think that you all should consider some of the priorities that you face such as the upkeep of the facility. I think that each time you all come you should break into committees with some of you checking the restrooms and some of you checking the grounds and the facility as a whole to make sure that everything that we have out here is in good condition or to spot things that need to be done," said Bryant, adding that commissioners should consider asking the city council to hire a part-time employee to work about 30 hours each week.
As for the rates, Bryant said, "The current rental rates are fine, but the increase in utilities has given us a need to increase the rental rates across the board based on utilities. A raise of 3 to 10 percent would be fine."
Commissioners tabled the issue of raising the rates, but voted to ask the council to allow them to hire a part-time employee.
Before adjourning, commissioners voted unanimously to change their meeting schedule from monthly to quarterly.
Forrest City Junior High School has been awarded a Focus Professional Development grant of $8,000 from the Foundation for the Mid South, to help improve students' literacy level.
Billy Ferguson, principal of the junior high, said the school has been involved with the Foundation for the Mid-South for several years, in an effort to improve academic performance among middle-level students.
"The area we have identified has been literacy," said Ferguson. "We want to really concentrate on that for the next two to three years, bringing students up to where they ought to be. We feel that if students can read and write, and understand what they are doing, they will be able to do well in other areas."
He said he believes the school is on the right track in the area of math, because of improving scores. However, he said that while scores in literacy have shown some improvement, it isn't felt there has been enough.
Ferguson said he and several eight grade English and writing instructors will be taking a trip to Jackson, Miss. soon.
"We'll visit with consultants and program administrators, trying to figure out the best program for here in Forrest City, to fit our needs," he said.
There will be an effort to increase literacy levels throughout the curriculum, Ferguson said.
By DAVID NICHOL
T-H Staff Writer
The Widener City Council decided Monday that persuasion might work better than an ordinance to insure a clear view for motorists on city streets.
An ordinance had been drawn up which, if passed, would have made it unlawful to "build, grow or permit the building, placement or growing" of anything that might obstruct the clear view of traffic.
In order to do this, the ordinance would have created a setback, affecting all property located within 30 feet of the centerline of any street or alley. Any building, sign, post, tree or other object already existing within the setback would be permitted to remain, as long as it was not considered a hazard.
City Attorney Bill Snowden explained the ordinance as being necessary for safety.
"The question arose about two months ago, regarding boundaries of streets in town, and what could be placed in close proximity to the streets," Snowden said. "And this ordinance is an attempt to narrowly regulate the safety aspects of placing something next to the street...What the attempt was, was to provide drivers who are going down the city streets with an adequate field of view."
He said this could be especially critical at intersections.
"Obviously, if you're at an intersection where you do not have the right of way...you need to be able to see in both directions. In order to do that, if there are bushes or trees or buildings sitting right there on the end of the street, it means you have to pull out that much further," he continued. "And of course, we all know that once you get out in the middle of the street -- yes, you can see both ways. But you're also out in the middle of the street."
He also said visibility can be a safety factor in other places besides intersections, and mentioned children running into the street.
However, several council members said they had problems with the strictness of the ordinance. Felicia Watson said a lot of people had approached her about the proposal, and all were opposed to it.
"No one is against drivers being able to see," she said. But she added that the people who had talked to her thought the situation could be controlled in other ways.
Councilman Ronnie Barnett said he felt the 30-foot setback was too far.
Snowden said persuasion might work.
"It might be, that simply a visit from the council member who represents that particular ward or who knows that person, would be sufficient to cure what obstacles there are to vision in Widener," he said. Later, after more discussion, he agreed, "Let's try talking to people and see if we can get if fixed."
In other action, the council adopted a resolution authorizing Mayor Dot Halford to apply to Rural Development for a police equipment grant. The grant, for $10,980, would go toward the purchase of computer software and other equipment.
The council also delayed action on a resolution on some condemned
properties, because Snowden said there was not a legal description
of the properties in question. He said he would help Halford get
the legal descriptions.
By DAVID NICHOL
T-H Staff Writer
The hallway outside the St. Francis County Assessor's office was the scene of an unveiling ceremony Monday afternoon, as the late Edgar Borden, who was assessor at the time of his death, was honored with a plaque.
Craig Jones, the current assessor, conducted the ceremony.
"Edgar touched everyone that he met and we will always remember him," Jones said. "He had compassion and a great sense of humor."
He also said, "Everyone in the assessor's office owes a debt of gratitude to Mr. Borden. He gave all of us a job, encouraged us to go to school and get our education so we could make a living and have a career. We will always be grateful. He was a pleasure to work for and was always the first one there when times got tough."
Jones read a long list of people who had donated money to pay for the plaque.
"So many people were so generous in giving for this plaque that we were able to raise a little extra money," Jones said, adding that the extra money was going to the St. Francis County Food Pantry in Borden's memory. The check, for $50, was presented to a representative of the Pantry. A letter of gratitude was read from Catherine Freeman, founder of the Pantry, who could not be present.
Several county officials spoke, including County Judge Carl Cisco, Sheriff Dave Parkman, Treasurer Ann Harbin, Circuit Clerk Bette Green and Justice of the Peace O.J. Gandy.
"This plaque will stand as a tribute to a man who spent
over 20 years helping others and making a difference," said
Jones in wrapping up the ceremony. "I will always remember
him and the things he did and said. Every time I hear a funny
joke or hear a pair of boots walk down the courthouse hall, I
will remember. I feel that I am a better person for knowing him
and will always miss him."2
The Terry McGraw Family which farms about 2,300 acres at Jumper's Corner, about two miles west of Palestine, has been named the Farm Family of the Year. Family members include: daughter Ashley McGraw, 17; Debbie McGraw; son Clint McGraw, 23 and Terry McGraw.