By KENDALL OWENS
T-H Staff Writer
The path of the new Forrest City bypass is becoming more defined daily as motorists traveling along Highway 70 west can see workers constructing the road on both sides of the highway.
In the past few weeks, a large mound of sand and dirt has been placed on the south side of Highway 70 as the first part of an overpass to cross the highway, according to Arkansas Highway and Transportation Department District Engineer Ray Woodruff.
"We've been working on the approach ramp that will go over the highway there, and you can also see where the columns are going to go in. We have been driving concrete columns on both the Highway 70 side and the overpass that will cross the railroad track north of Highway 70. We have to put in steel girders at those sites and then pour more concrete to build the columns, but we're well on our way," said Woodruff.
He added that the relatively good weather in the area recently has helped construction on the bypass move forward.
Motorists can also see the changes taking place with the new leg of Yocona Road, visible just west of the bypass work.
"There is a section where people can see that we have cleared out land and actually started forming the new leg of the road, just west of Yocona's current location," said Woodruff.
When asked if construction might cause closures of Highway 70, Woodruff said, "The contracts that we have with our contractors only allow the highway to be closed for 15-minute periods of time so we don't expect any major closings. The only time that the highway would be closed is when the iron girders are going in for the overpass. Otherwise things should run smoothly."
On a related matter, Woodruff suggested that St. Francis County drivers who normally use Interstate 40 for primary travel to the western portions of the state might consider using Highway 70 as an alternate route.
"In my district, we don't have any construction along Highway 70 that would impede the flow of traffic, and I don't think there is any major construction in the next district over. That makes 70 a good second route for people who are traveling to southwest, central or northwest Arkansas.
They can pick the interstate back up at several locations on the other side of the construction, and the only thing that would hold anyone up is when the traffic off of the interstate overflows onto 70," said Woodruff.
Woodruff also said that travelers may check with the AHTD's new website, www.arkansasinterstates.com to see where interstate construction and lane closures are taking place.
"If someone is heading out on the interstate this will tell them exactly where they can expect road work and lane shutdowns to be. It's a great site with a lot of information that can be put to good use by interstate drivers," Woodruff said.
By DAVID NICHOL
T-H Staff Writer
The Forrest City Lions Club on Monday voted to have a letter drafted to Mayor Larry Bryant, voicing opposition to the idea of paying rent for storage space at the Forrest City Civic Center.
At last week's Civic Center Commission meeting, member Shirley Harvell suggested that the Lions Club, the Rotary Club and the Kiwanis Club either remove all their club paraphernalia from the walls and remove items from the locked storage areas each club uses, or pay a $25 monthly fee.
"Ms. Harvell has discovered that there are rooms up here, closets -- the Lions Club has one, Kiwanis has one, the Musical Coterie has one," said Danny Capps, a Lions Club member. "And we haven't ever paid rent on those, I guess, since the beginning of the civic center. And now she's come up with the idea that we need to be paying rent on those rooms, besides us having a regular stated meeting out here every Monday. It's sort of like guaranteed income, to me, for the civic center, for civic groups to meet."
Capps suggested Lion's President Joey Astin draft a letter to Bryant, stating the club's objections to the rental.
"We could use the money to buy glasses for kids or help people with sight impairments," said Capps. "Instead of sending it to the Civic Center Commission for rent on the closet, we can use the money for community betterment."
Astin said he had not yet written the letter, but said the letter would basically say what Capps had said.
"Essentially, it will say we'd be sacrificing services for a number of people who need glasses in the community," Astin said. "I believe the cost adds up to about $300, and we pay about $80 per child for their exam and their glasses. It's going to cut into our budget. That's just an example. I think it's the best example."
Astin was reminded the commission had tabled the motion to charge rent for the time being, and that the civic clubs were supposed to be contacted.
"We have not been contacted yet," said Astin. "They did say they would contact us and get our opinion. Whether we need to draft a letter or not -- I'll be happy to do it...We can also make the offer to sit down and discuss it."
George Wise made the motion that the letter be They can pick the interstate back up at several locations on the other side of the construction, and the only thing that would hold anyone up is when the traffic off of the interstate overflows onto 70," said Woodruff.
Woodruff also said that travelers may check with the AHTD's new website, www.arkansasinterstates.com to see where interstate construction and lane closures are taking place.
"If someone is heading out on the interstate this will tell them exactly where they can expect road work and lane shutdowns to be. It's a great site with a lot of information that can be put to good use by interstate drivers," Woodruff said.
By CRYSTAL HOLLIS
T-H Staff Writer
There will soon be two vacancies on the Crowley's Ridge Technical Institute board of directors, according to CRTI President Burl Lieblong.
The term for Bill Hayes, board chairman, will expire June 30. The term for Vivian Cooper, vice chairperson, expired earlier this year.
Cooper was to be replaced by Marvin Morrison, warden at the Federal Correction Institution - Forrest City. Lieblong said Morrison was recommended by the Secretary of State and approved by the Governor for the position before Morrison declined the post. According to Lieblong, Morrison cited a possible conflict of interest with his position at the prison and a seat on the board.
"I don't know if they will make two appointments at one time or how that's going to work, but that's where we are right now," said Lieblong.
Lieblong also announced that Arkansas will be entering a new school computerized bookkeeping system called ACES on July 1.
Lieblong said the new system will take longer to add new people to the payroll. "When we recommend somebody for hire, there's 23 different screens to go through to put one person on the payroll."
The school is also checking on a new accreditation agency to eventually replace North Central.
According to Jerry Williams, supervisor of instruction at the school, the Council on Occupational Education is a national accrediting agency which assures quality and integrity in career and workforce development and fits the needs of the institution. It is a non-profit voluntary membership organization serving postsecondary education and training institutions, centers and similar entities.
Williams said there are three steps to be considered by COE. "The first step is to send a letter to seek accreditation, and the second step is to fill out a candidacy application by Aug. 3 of this year. Then it could take as long as three years to be evaluated by the COE and considered for acceptance. However, once accepted, we can get full accreditation in six months," he said.
According to Williams, five staff members will be flying down to Orlando, Florida next month to be trained on COE procedures.
Lieblong said he feels COE would be better suited to the institution because it is a national accrediting agency, as opposed to the current accreditation agency, North Central, which is only regional.
Several meetings are planned for this evening in Forrest City.
The St. Francis County Museum Board will meet at 5 p.m. at the museum.
At 6 p.m., the St. Francis County Quorum Court's budget committee will meet at the courthouse. That meeting will be followed by a full Quorum Court meeting at 7 p.m.
The Forrest City City Council will meet in regular session at 7 p.m. at city hall.
All meetings are open to the public.
The Widener Police Department has applied for a grant for equipment.
The grant request, from the Rural Development Administration, is for $14,644.
"We've got two cars we're going to have to equip," said Mayor Dot Halford. "And we're planning on getting a computer with a program to help us with our court and tickets."
She said the towns police department currently has three employees -- two full time and one part-time.
The proposal is under review at the East Arkansas Planning and Development District in Jonesboro.