By KENDALL OWENS
T-H Staff Writer
A new way of attacking the criminal case docket in St. Francis County Circuit Court has proven helpful to all involved. So helpful in fact, that other counties are considering copying what is being done here.
The St. Francis County Quorum Court approved a new circuit court coordinator position late last year. Shannon Bonds, who had experience in the circuit clerk's office, was hired for that position and began working on the criminal docket in January.
Bonds basically schedules cases and notifies attorneys when their cases are set so each party knows when to appear in court.
"Before, all of the attorneys would appear on the first day of court because they weren't sure when their cases would be tried. This position gives the attorneys, both the prosecution and defense, someone to talk to," Bonds said. "Speaking with the attorneys, I know they're pleased with the changes because they have other things to do than criminal cases. Now, this gives them a certain date."
Circuit Court Judge L.T. Simes said the changes have had a positive impact on all circuit court proceedings.
"We've seen a tremendous improvement in the operation of court since January. We've seen such improvement that we're seeing efforts in both Phillips and Cross counties to implement the same changes in their circuit courts," Simes said. "The changes that we have made here have been great at helping us with our docket.
"In the past, we would have 500 cases on the docket and they would be called someway, somehow. What we did this time, was we had Mrs. Bonds prepare a docket approximately two weeks before the start of the term. She sent each attorney a docket with the first week set aside for the Jeffrey Gibson case, but the following Monday, there were between 30 and 45 cases set. Since those lawyers knew which one of their cases was going to be on Monday, they had to be ready for Monday. They also received a notice from the judge, and the lawyer has a court order for their appearance," said Simes.
St. Francis County Circuit Court Clerk Bette Green also noted the impact the changes have made in her office. Green said that the coordination between the prosecutor's office and her office in the past has held up the time that it took for someone to be processed into the Department of Corrections. She said that process has now moved from a multi-week process to a 48-hour process.
According to Green, the changes have also helped make the daily operations in her officer more efficient.
"We can get things done now on a daily basis. Each day after court, I go through and pull every docket sheet from the case that has been disposed of. Someone in the morning can fax that information to the prosecutor, and we can get that wheel rolling to get the paperwork back to the judge so he can sign it," Green said. "When his term of court his over, then the judge will be finished. It also means that we can shorten the waiting list on inmates at the county jail because if the paperwork is already complete, the inmate isn't being held up in St. Francis County."
During the current circuit court term, over 180 cases were removed from the docket, which, according to Bonds, doubles the normal amount of cases handled during a term of circuit court.
"In the past, during a good term we would dispose of 80 to 100 case. We could double that number this term, so the position has made a difference," said Bonds.
Simes also commented on the overall coordination between the various offices and the St. Francis County Quorum Court.
"This is a process that has never been done before here, and it's something that was needed. We are still learning and will continue to make changes. This has been a joint effort, Mrs. Green and Mrs. Bonds have worked very hard to make sure that this worked," Simes said. "We could not have been able to accomplish any of this without the foresight of the Quorum Court," said Simes.
The Miss St. Francis County Rice contest for 2001-02, sponsored by the St. Francis County Farm Bureau Women's Committee, will be held Tuesday, April 10, beginning at 6:30 p.m. at the Farm Bureau office in Forrest City.
The purpose of the contest is to promote interest in rice cooking and rice promotion among young people, and to focus the attention of the general public on the importance of the rice industry to the economy of St. Francis County.
Any girl enrolled in school who is 16-19 years of age, or who turns 16 during the 2001-02 school year, and who resides in St. Francis County, is eligible.
Each contestant must give a five-minute oral presentation on rice. Also, each contestant must bring the following:
*A prepared rice dish, which is to contain at least three cups of cooked rice. Recipes cannot be prepared with uncooked eggs.
*Three typed copies of her recipe, one copy with her name on it and the other two without.
*An 8 and one-half by 11-inch sheet of paper with the contestant's name, address, school attending and list of activities.
The deadline for entering is April 3. Entry forms must be turned in to the Farm Bureau office by 4:30 p.m. on that day.
A cash prize of $250 will be awarded to the winner.
The winner will be required to promote rice at various functions involving a cross-section of civic, social, school and church groups.
Entry forms may be picked up at the Farm Bureau office Monday through Friday between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m.
For more information, contact Judy Jayroe at 581-2459 or Denelda Michaelis at 581-2277.
By CRYSTAL HOLLIS
T-H Staff Writer
The East Central Firefighters Association will host a "Citizens Against Fire" Prevention Day Saturday, March 24, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., at the Forrest City Civic Center.
Forrest City Fire Department spokesman Anthony Renigar said firemen from about 40 area fire departments are expected to attend the event which will be both educational and informative. Activities are also planned for children attending the event.
"The event is geared towards teaching young and old alike about fire prevention and safety." said Renigar.
Renigar said the event was organized due to the large number of fire deaths in recent years.
"This year, we're already to number 32 in Arkansas. We had meetings in Little Rock and Jonesboro last month, and from those meetings, we came up with a new program called Citizens Against Fire. We want to make a prevention day out of it where we could invite the eastern Arkansas area to come out and be a part of a fire prevention day. This event is for everyone from small children all the way to the senior citizens," Renigar said.
Among the programs scheduled for children is a 911 simulator where children will learn to speak to a 911 dispatcher and learn how to give the important information to the dispatcher in case of an emergency, Renigar said.
"There will also be a trailer filled with smoke called the smoke house. The smoke house is designed like a miniature house for children to learn how to escape from burning homes safely," he said.
There will also be a robotic fire truck called Fire Plug, which squirts water. Smokey the Bear and Fire Pup are also expected to attend the event.
Programs scheduled for Saturday include:
9 to 10 a.m. and 1 to 2 p.m.: Jimmie Parks of the Arkansas Children's Hospital will present a program about burns.
11 a.m. to noon: Arkansas State Fire Marshall Lloyd Franklin
10 to 11 a.m.: Fall and fire prevention for senior citizens by Betty Watts with the Arkansas Department of Health.
1 to 4:30 p.m. Jim Tolewitzke and Jim Gates with the Arkansas "Learn Not to Burn" program for teachers, day care workers and church leaders.
Bob Edwards with the Arkansas Fire Academy will discuss fire safety, and representatives with the Arkansas Forestry Commission will talk about preventing forest fires and this year's fire season.
The Med Flight helicopter is scheduled to be at the civic center from 1 to 3 p.m.
Renigar said the helicopter will be set up to demonstrate how injured people are transported by air. Baptist Memorial Hospital of Forrest City will also be on hand to give free blood pressure checks.
In addition to entertainment and educational programs, many local area businesses have donated door prizes for the fire prevention day.
"We have had a lot of good response from our community with people wanting to come and people wanting to give door prizes," Renigar said.
Among the prizes donated are: Color televisions from Sanyo Manufacturing, bicycles from Wal Mart, savings bonds from First National Bank of Eastern Arkansas, Forrest City Bank and Union Planters Bank, Susan B. Anthony dollars from First National Bank of Wynne and many more prizes.
East Central Firefighters will also be taking applications for free smoke detectors.