The fifth time proved to be the charm Tuesday, as voters finally passed a millage increase to build a new junior high facility in Forrest City.
By an unofficial vote of 2,187 to 1,509, a 2.5 mill increase was approved by voters in a special election.
It was the fifth try for a millage increase, according to Superintendent Lee Vent.
"We started in September of 1997, and we got so close in 1997 we decided to go immediately in January of 1998 and it failed miserably, like two-to-one," said Vent. "So by state law we had to wait (until the next calendar year) until 1999, and in September we tried again. That's when we lowered it to 3 mills and it failed there. It was close. Then in 2000 we tried it again and lost by 200-plus votes. And then, tonight, and we're very pleased that it passed."
Over those years, the requests fell from 9.9 mills to 3 mills, and finally to 2.5 mills.
Vent said construction cannot start immediately but will begin as soon as possible.
"The procedure will be, it will take about two months to sell the bonds," he said. "And it will take about two months for the architect to get together all the specifications for the bids, and then the bids will be put out and advertised. That will take two weeks to a month.
"So we're looking at a groundbreaking, at the earliest, around the first of October. Everything has to fall into place accordingly."
Vent said the new junior high school will be an asset to the community.
"There have been many who thought this divided the community. But now we can use it as a symbol of bringing the community together. And we're well pleased that the patrons saw fit to let us go on and build this new junior high school, and get on with improving Forrest City."
The school district's financial director, Pat Flanagin, also expressed pleasure at the millage's passage.
"It was a pleasure to be one member of a winning team of 2,187 people, who care about our kids and the future of Forrest City," Flanagin said.
After seeing the millage proposal go down in flames four times, Billy Ferguson, principal of the junior high school, admitted to some surprise when it passed this time.
"I'm still in a state of shock that it passed and passed with a large margin," said Ferguson. "But I always thought that the patrons would finally come through for us and they did."
Ferguson said everyone at the junior high this morning was euphoric, including the students. He said the unselfishness of students who knew they would be gone by the time a new junior high is built was inspiring.
"They have talked about it, and they have worked for it. A lot of the students have made commercials and been talking to their parents and families," said Ferguson. "I think they are very aware of what the future would be for Forrest City if we had not passed this millage. And they are really excited that their influence has paid off."
Ferguson went so far as to say the influence of the students might have done more than the adults.
"I think the students, telling their side of it, really had more effect. People got tired of hearing us adults. The kids made it more believable. Sunday when they were giving the tours of the building, and when they were interviewed by TV stations -- I was exceptionally proud of them."
By DAVID NICHOL
T-H Staff Writer
During a fairly brief meeting, the Forrest City City Council on Tuesday accepted bids for demolishing several condemned houses and passed an ordinance to waive the bidding process for a certain purchase.
There were eight houses included in the bidding. Billy Steverson came in with individual bids on each house that were lower than anyone else's, except for two bids which were the same as the second-lowest bidder. Steverson will be given the contract, pending review.
There were two other bidders, Mike Smith and Delta Enterprises.
The ordinance was to waive bid requirements for the purchase of a video projection system for the Forrest City Civic Center. It was on third reading. On the vote to adopt, Alderman Glenn Ford voted no.
On another matter, the council accepted the recommendation of Bill Hays, chairman of the Forrest City Airport Commission, to appoint Vester Wroten to the commission. He will replace Herman Higgins, whose term is expiring. The council also reappointed Homer Jacobs to the commission.
By DAVID NICHOL
T-H Staff Writer
Low income Forrest City home owners are getting a chance to apply for grants and loans to improve their homes or, in some cases, have new homes built.
That was the topic of one of two public hearings held Tuesday evening before the regular Forrest City City Council meeting. The other public hearing had to do with parks and recreation funds.
Joe Maxwell was on hand to explain the housing program, which is funded by HUD and disbursed by the state to communities in block grants of up to $300,000.
The program is not for everyone, Maxwell explained. There are income restrictions, based on gross income of the entire household and the size of the household. Also, the recipient must be a homeowner -- this program does not work with rental property. Also, the program does not make improvements to mobile homes.
The program will not make so-called "luxury improvements" to a home -- meaning building a deck or adding rooms. However, for such things as wiring, plumbing, insulation, roof repairs, etc., a homeowner can apply for up to $25,000.
If needed improvements cost more than $25,000, there is the option of building a new home valued at up to $60,000.
Maxwell said that the program offers no help for relocating while a resident's home is being remodeled or rebuilt.
Several people attended the meeting who were interested in applying, and they met with Maxwell after the meeting.
The meeting about parks and recreation funding concerned a 50-50 matching grant available from the state for park development or park improvement, which could go as high as $250,000. The only comment from the audience was that South Side Pool needs some improvement. Mayor Larry Bryant said there are also some modifications which need to be made for compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act.
By KENDALL OWENS
T-H Staff Writer
A 66-year-old Indiana man was airlifted to the Elvis Presley Trauma Center in Memphis Tuesday following an accident on Interstate 40 near the exit ramps in Forrest City.
Arkansas State Police Troop D Senior Corporal Howard Smith said James A. Mull, 66, of Denver, Ind., drove his 1997 Dodge pickup underneath a Peterbilt truck driven by Robert L. Arnold, 40, of Silva, Mo., as traffic slowed down due to construction.
Mull, currently listed in serious condition at the Med, had to extracted from his vehicle, which was pinned underneath the trailer of the truck, by the Forrest City Fire Department's Rescue Unit.
"People just aren't paying attention to the road, and when the traffic begins to back up, we have these types of accidents. It appeared that Mr. Mull tried to slow down when he saw the traffic stopping, but it was too late. Traffic had been backed up all morning as people were trying to merge from two-lane traffic to one-lane traffic and when we have that type of slow down on the interstate we get these kinds of accidents," said Smith.
Officers with the Forrest City Police Department were also on the scene to assist ASP and FCFD officers with accident and traffic control.
Mull is expected to be charged with following too closely.