By DAVID NICHOL
T-H Staff Writer
There has been an exodus of elderly Arkansans from the Delta region, including St. Francis County. But there is a chance the trend may reverse in the next few years.
According to one story, U.S. Census figures show that Chicot, Cross, Crittenden, Lee, Mississippi, Phillips and St. Francis Counties experienced drops in the numbers of 60-to-80-year olds.
Contacted this morning, Ed Doman, director of the East Arkansas Area Agency on Aging, said he didn't have hard figures, but said it is happening. He also said it is difficult to find a reason.
"Frankly, my opinion as to why we're seeing it now, is that the Delta had an outmigration that started some time ago with younger folks," said Doman. "And, I would suspect that there was a generation that didn't move out. Now that generation is growing older, and I think they are having a tendency to follow their kids."
He said one big issue is health.
"Arkansas is just not a very healthy state, and the Delta is not a healthy region in an unhealthy state.
"We see it in our case loads. As far as our home service case loads, we're not providing services in as many people's homes as we did eight years ago."
However, Doman said he believes the trend will reverse.
"I see it, probably turning around, because I think there are more latter middle-aged folks coming back," he said. "I'm not really sure why. I don't have my statistical abstract for the latest census, but from talking with others, What I'd call latter middle age, the 38 to 55 group, seems to be growing on a percentage basis.
"There is a core group that is not going to leave, that is either tied by land or family ties -- something that keeps them here and they're not going to consider leaving," Doman said.
He said the general population is also aging.
With a drop in the elderly population, the Delta is getting fewer state dollars for programs for the elderly, such as help with utility and prescription-drug bills, in-home services and transportation, said Monte Callicott, director of client services for the East Arkansas Area Agency on Aging.
''It definitely has to do with flight,'' he added.
Billy and Wanda Grimmer are part of the migration.
After living in Lee County for more than 50 years, they moved to Jonesboro in 1994 when construction virtually stopped in Marianna. Billy Grimmer is a carpenter; Wanda Grimmer owns a gift shop and catering business in Jonesboro.
''There just wasn't any building going on there,'' Wanda Grimmer, 61, said. ''It had come down to zero. We had to leave.''
Doman said he expects to see more elderly leave, even as baby boomers reach 60 years or older.
''The economy keeps them moving out,'' he said. ''We've had high percentages leaving. Ten or 12 years ago it started eroding away. It's been eroding ever since.''
By KENDALL OWENS
T-H Staff Writer
Voter turnout for today's school millage election has been slow, according to numbers at the Forrest City Civic Center. The proposed millage would increase the current millage by 2.5 mills and extend 9.6 mills.
In the eight boxes voting at the Civic Center, only 197 ballots had been cast this morning at 10:30, another 29 Forrest Citians had voted in Ward 4 at Christ Church. Poll workers remarked that the voting has been light, but they were expecting it to pick up this afternoon when people get breaks for lunch and get off work.
County Clerk Elizabeth Smith was enthusiastic this morning that the turnout for the election would be above normal based on the amount of interest the issue has had.
"I think that turnout for the election will be real good. Our early voting and absentee numbers are good, and people just seem to be interested in this issue. We're expecting to see a lot of people come out and vote because of all the interest that has been generated on the junior high school and the millage," said Smith.
According to Smith, close to 1,250 voters cast early ballots in the St. Francis County Clerk's office, and another 246 absentee ballots were received by the clerk's office.
"We had at least 1,250 ballots cast, if not more, in the early voting and the absentee number was a good number. If those numbers are representative then people are going to get out and vote today," Smith said.
Polls close this evening at 7:30 p.m., and boxes will be counted at the St. Francis County Courthouse tonight with results being given after 8 p.m.
A weekend of activities are planned to honor slain Forrest City Police Officer Lewis Jones. Jones was shot and killed while working as a security guard at the Player's Palace on June 4 last year.
The Lewis Jones Memorial Weekend is scheduled for Saturday and Sunday, June 9 and 10, in Forrest City, according to FCPD Lt. James Tucker.
The event will begin at 8 a.m. Saturday at the Southside Community Park on Eisenhower Street. "There will be games, barbecue, fun and music from different organizations," Tucker said.
On Saturday, a three-on-three basketball tournament will begin at 8 a.m., and a dunking booth will be set up at 10 a.m. The Cherry Valley Police Department will also have its DARE unit on display at the park.
On Sunday, a church service to honor Jones' memory is set to begin at 10 a.m. at the park. "We have asked all the area churches and their ministers to attend the service," said Tucker. "We will have many different choir groups there also, and we will still cook and sell barbecue that day," he said.
Proceeds from the two-day event will benefit the Lewis D. Jones Scholarship Fund.
The weekend's events are the only activities being sponsored by the police department to raise money for the scholarship fund, according to Tucker.
Despite some reports, Tucker said the police department is not soliciting donations by telephone. "We are having a memorial weekend to honor Officer Jones, but we are not calling people on the phone to try to get money for the event," he said.
Tucker said police have received some reports of someone calling people trying to scam money in the name of the event. "It is a shame someone would be out there trying to do this," he said. "We want everyone to watch out. If they give money to these people, it will not be for the Jones memorial."
Anyone wanting to donate to the event may do so by check or money order to the Lewis Jones Memorial Fund. Those checks may be mailed or delivered to the FCPD.
Building permits were issued for projects valued at a total of $471,609 during May in Forrest City.
The May figure brings the total so far this year to $2,597,997.86.
There were only two commercial projects. The largest was for new apartments being constructed at 304 S. Washington by CCR Construction, valued at $125,000. The other was a sign, valued at $650, being erected by O'Reilly Auto Parts at 901 W. Broadway.
The remaining 18 permits were for residential projects. These included one new house, two manufactured homes, four roof/siding projects, three siding projects, two fences, two additions, one roofing project, one fire damage project and two remodeling projects.