By DAVID NICHOL
T-H Staff Writer
With concerns growing that the West Nile virus might spread into Arkansas within the next year, Forrest City Mayor Larry Bryant said not only is mosquito spraying continuing at its regular strength, but an additional night will be devoted to spraying each week.
He was responding to a rumor that the city was diluting its mosquito spray more than usual.
"EPA sets standards on how the chemicals for mosquito spraying are to be diluted and so forth," said Bryant this morning. "And we put it out the same way we have always put it out. We haven't changed the system."
He continued, "Yes, we're spraying, and they have been instructed that we will start spraying on Fridays also, so that instead of three days a week it's four days a week."
Mosquito spraying has been taking place on Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday. He said traffic on Fridays and Saturdays has made it dangerous to try to spray. "People won't give respect or yield for the drivers. You have to weigh all avenues when you're in this business and nothing has changed from last year.
"Nothing has changed. No one complained last year. So the bottom line is, it seems as though there is some orchestrated effort, and it's not based on mosquitoes, it's based on politics."
"I reiterate that mosquitoes are bad everywhere. I went to a mayor's meeting last week. And everybody from Louisiana, Mississippi and Arkansas had the same problems, and everybody is spraying. Some are using Scourge like us, some are using Malathion, some are using other things, but none of them seem to be working."
Bryant said the dilution strength of the mosquito spray is as much a health issue as the mosquitoes.
"If you mix the chemicals too strong, then it becomes a health issue for the people. And who comes first -- the mosquitoes or the citizens of Forrest City?"
Nonetheless, Bryant said the mosquitoes are not as bad inside Forrest City as they are in some other places.
"Go outside the city limits, and you can get eaten up in the daytime or night," he said. "We've been fighting mosquitoes since the first of May -- just because people didn't see the little truck. We did all the preparatory stuff on the front end, putting the capsules and pills in the water, and we're still doing that. We've cut more ditches and things than we've ever done before, trying to fight mosquitoes."
It was reported today that a state health official says the West Nile virus, a mosquito-borne ailment, will likely show up in Arkansas this year or next after spreading westward from the East Coast.
''It's getting pretty close to us. I wouldn't be too surprised, that this year or next year, we find something in Arkansas,'' said Dr. Tom McChesney, state epidemiologist for the Arkansas Health Department.
Arkansas already had been participating in a study with the Centers for Disease Control to screen for the virus, which has been detected in 13 states, but not Arkansas.
In the meantime, Bryant said mosquitoes are going to be a problem.
"You go to Stuttgart, go to DeWitt, go to Widener, go to Madison, and we can talk mosquitoes," said Bryant. "If you're going to be outside, they're going to get you. If you're going to have your lights on all over the place, they're going to attract mosquitoes. So, we want it to be safe for our citizens, and we try to do what we can. We have not diluted any chemicals other than the way it's prescribed on the label, so we won't get in trouble with EPA."
Soon after teachers begin getting paychecks containing raises approved by the Legislature this year, their health insurance premiums will go up too.
An increase in premiums of about $300 a year is scheduled to take effect Oct. 1.
The Arkansas Education Association wants school districts to increase their contributions to insurance premiums.
''If local districts don't step up to the plate, the net effect is going to dilute that raise by about $300,'' said Rich Nagel, executive director of the state's largest teacher union.
Forrest City School Superintendent Lee Vent said increases in insurance costs are nothing new.
"It's almost been an annual event, it looks like," said Vent.
Vent said he believes the school district is doing all it can.
"Basically what we have here is a situation where many of our employees don't participate in the insurance program at all," he said. "So in order to be fair to all the employees of the district, we have given raises so it would be equally applied to all employees, whether or not they participate in insurance."
According to Vent, there are about 290 employees in the insurance program and 300 who are not in it.
"It would be unfair, the way the board looks at it, to help those who are in the program and not do anything for those who are not in the program."
The Legislature in the spring approved teacher pay raises of about $3,000 over the next two years.
John Greer, executive director of the State and Public School Life and Health Insurance Board, says the premium increase stems from rising costs of prescription drugs. Such costs have risen by about 25 percent over the past two years, he said.
By DAVID NICHOL
T-H Staff Writer
Although more rain is needed and wanted, St. Francis County farmers have enjoyed more rain this summer than in the last couple of years, according to Extension Agent Margy Cannon.
That isn't to say there haven't been some other problems.
"Rain wise, it's better," said Cannon. "But insects have generally been bad this year. And of course, the rain makes weed control tougher, because when the crops grow better, so do the weeds."
She said there are still areas which have missed out on what rain has fallen, and added that farmers are depending more and more on irrigation.
"Dry land fields are always tough, especially in the last few years," she said. "We're having fewer and fewer dry land (non-irrigated) fields because it's been so hard to make a crop."
According to Cannon, some soybeans have been harvested, "which is unusual for this time of year. People on dry land fields are moving to more early soybean production systems to try to take advantage of spring rains and beat the summertime drought we always have."
By KENDALL OWENS
T-H Staff Writer
The St. Francis County judge's office is now officially the fiscal agent for the East Arkansas Enterprise Community, according to County Judge Carl Cisco.
Cisco said the county was named fiscal agent last week and already has grant checks which will be distributed soon.
"We were formally named last week and we're up and running. We've already received a few grant checks which we'll be getting out soon. We've got a check for Widener for $12,500 that's ready and a few others, but all in all things have been running smoothly," said Cisco.
The county is taking over the role as fiscal agent for the EAEC after the Arkansas Land and Farm Development Corporation (ALFDC) stepped down as fiscal agent in April of this year. The ALFDC had served as fiscal agent since 1997.
A public hearing is set for this evening to gather comments on a proposal to provide sewer to three areas west of Forrest City.
The hearing is required as part of St. Francis County's application for federal Economic Development Program funds.
The hearing will be held at 5:30 p.m. at the courthouse.
The three areas for which the funds are being sought are the subdivisions known as Patillo 1, Patillo 2 and Redfern. The City of Forrest City has already agreed to allow those areas to connect to the city's sewer system.
According to a press release, Community and Economic Development Program moneys are federal funds received by the state and administered by the Arkansas Industrial Development Commission. The funds are made available to cities and counties according to need.
Advising and registration for the fall semester classes at East Arkansas Community College will begin Wednesday, Aug. 15 and continue through Friday, Aug. 18.
It is recommended that first time students make appointments with counselors in Office Building 1 before beginning the enrollment process.
Continuing students may make appointments to meet advisors during regular hours of 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Students may also register for fall semester classes prior to regular registration. Early registration can often insure class availability.
Late registration has been scheduled for Monday, Aug. 20-Wednesday, Aug. 22.
For more information, contact the EACC registrar's office at 1-800-797-EACC or 870-633-4480, Extension 219, or visit the website at www.eacc.cc.ar.us.
The Arkansas Highway and Transportation Department will begin sealing sections of state highways in St. Francis and Crittenden counties between Aug. 13 and 23.
In St. Francis County, Highway 149 from Highway 38 to Highway 50, a distance of 4.5 miles, will be sealed.
In Crittenden County, Highway 147, from Bruins to Thompson Grove, a distance of 5.8 miles, will be sealed.
The method used will be liquid asphalt and pea gravel. Motorists are urged to use caution when traveling on a highway that is undergoing this treatment, because gravel can cause glass breakage when it is kicked up by a vehicle traveling too fast for conditions. Signs will be placed approaching the work areas to warn motorists of the conditions and to restrict the speed limit to 25 m.p.h.
The Forrest City Junior Auxiliary and St. Francis County Museum will present Discovery Room 2001 on Aug. 1, 2 and 3, for children ages 4-12. Sessions will be held from 10 a.m. to noon daily.
The first day will feature Elaine Bartee who will introduce the Orff Schulwerk Process of learning music.
The Arkansas Arts Center's Artmobile will also be on hand for the kids, and will remain through the afternoon for adults.