By DAVID NICHOL
T-H Staff Writer
Two area state parks, Village Creek State Park and Parkin Archeological State Park will benefit this year from funding through Amendment 75, which created a 1/8 cent sales tax, part of which goes to improvements at the parks.
At Village Creek State Park, located in Cross and St. Francis counties, there are several projects.
One project will be the renovation of four campground bathhouses to comply with Americans with Disabilities Act requirements. The bathhouses are at Lake Dunn north, two at Lake Dunn west and at Lake Dunn south.
Another project is the renovation of the restrooms at the park visitor information center, which will provide new ADA-compliant facilities.
Underpinning will be added to the exterior of the park's 10 rental cabins. The underpinning will improve the energy conservation at these rental facilities.
A new equipment shed will be constructed at the park maintenance compound.
The projects at both parks were bid out as one. Work started in December and will be completed in July. The contract, for $550,000, was awarded to Murdock Enterprises of Marianna.
Parkin Archeological State Park, located within the city limits of Parkin, will see the construction of an enclosed group pavilion and nearby restrooms in the park day-use area. This project includes utilities at each facility. Both the pavilion and restrooms will offer barrier-free access, to meet Americans with Disabilities Act requirements.
In a press release, Arkansas State Parks Director Greg Butts said that Amendment 75 is making a good impact on state parks.
"The state parks belong to the citizens of Arkansas, so we want all Arkansans to know about improvements at their parks," said Butts.
The state's first six state parks were constructed in the 1930s with the help of the civilian conservation corps, followed by the Work Projects Administration. Today, the system has grown to 51 parks located throughout the state.
Amendment 75, also called the Conservation Amend-ment, was passed in 1996. It benefits four agencies, including Arkansas State Parks (45 percent), the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission (45 percent), the Department of Arkansas Heritage (9 percent) and the Keep Arkansas Beautiful Commission (1 percent).
By KENDALL OWENS
T-H Staff Writer
The streets of Forrest City have become increasingly more congested during the daytime hours, and it's not expected to let up any time soon.
Arkansas Highway and Transportation Department District Engineer Ray Woodruff with the Wynne office, said the congestion is mainly due to construction on Interstate 40.
"We've got a project running right now between Goodwin and Forrest City, and in the afternoons when the traffic is at its peak, we get some congestion. Due to CB radios and just noticing traffic, people are pulling off of I-40 and taking Highway 70 to get around the construction," Woodruff said.
According to Woodruff, the AHTD is currently repaving one of the eastbound lanes and the project is expected to be finished later this year.
"We're pulling up the old asphalt and replacing it with 12 inches of new asphalt. We're also doing any other work on that portion that needs to be done along the way. We're expecting to have this project done before the end of the year," Woodruff said.
Woodruff also commented on the continuing work on the bypass in Forrest City. He said that work is progressing well right now, and the recent good weather has helped in that effort.
"We've had some really nice days for working. Right now, everything is moving along as scheduled. You can see a difference in the area on Highway 70 just by driving through," he said.
The AHTD is also working on a project near Madison to repair the Crow Creek bridge south of Madison. Woodruff said that the effort near Madison is a joint effort between St. Francis County and the AHTD.
By KENDALL OWENS
T-H Staff Writer
Pretrial motions in the murder case of Roger Daunte Hill were heard Friday in the multi-purpose room at the St. Francis County Jail. The motions were heard in the jail because of damage to the circuit courtroom following last week's fire.
Hill, charged in the October 1999 death of Carlos Ivey, also faces charges in a November escape from the St. Francis County Jail.
Several of the 53 motions were not opposed by Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Chris Morledge, but a ruling on possible restraints to be used on Hill during the trial did not fall in Morledge's favor.
"I certainly understand that the defendant is facing an escape charge, and I understand that you have to keep security in the courtroom. We're asking that you have an extra deputy posted in the courtroom and not have the defendant appear in cuffs or leg irons," said Defense Attorney Lew Marczuck.
Morledge said the state felt like Hill should be restrained due to the fact that he escaped to another state and should be considered a flight risk.
"We urge the court to require the defendant to be restrained in the courtroom. In no way would we want the trial tainted so we would not object to the jury being dispersed before any testimony by Mr. Hill so that the restraints could be removed. But due to the circumstances, we feel like he should be restrained because he is a high risk for flight," said Morledge.
Yates ruled that Hill would not be restrained in the courtroom at the beginning of the trial, but Yates did say that he would allow deputies to do what was necessary to restrain Hill before entering the courtroom and he stated that Hill's conduct throughout the trial could change the need for restraints.
"The sheriff's department will bring him in in the restraints and place him at the table and they (restraints) will be removed. Mr. Marczuck, he is not to move from that spot," Yates said.
In other circuit court proceedings, felony escape and second-degree battery charges against Jeffery Briant Gibson, 26, of New Orleans, were nolle prosequi by the state. Gibson pled guilty and received a life sentence in February for first-degree murder in the May 2000 shooting of Forrest City Police Officer Lewis Jones.
Also on Friday, George Like, 27, of Forrest City was sentenced to 10 years in the Arkansas Department of Corrections. Like was arrested in December of 1999 for possession of firearms by certain persons, manufacturing a controlled substance, possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver, simultaneous possession of drugs and firearms, possession of anhydrous ammonia and possession with the intent to manufacture.
Two other people received suspended sentences on Friday and there was one other case nolle prosequi.
Two men were killed in an Interstate 40 accident Friday near Wheatley.
Arkansas State Police Troop D in Forrest City reports Stacey Tate, 41, Blytheville, and Eddie Smith, 54, Little Rock, were killed just after 5 p.m. in a head-on collision.
According to the report, Tate was traveling westbound near the 221 mile marker when a left front tire blew out on his 1990 Mitsubishi truck. The blowout caused Tate to lose control of his vehicle, cross the median and collide with the front of Smith's eastbound 1992 Ford truck.
Upon impact, State Police said Smith's vehicle burst into flames and overturned onto the Interstate.
Two area school boards are scheduled to meet tonight.
The Forrest City School Board will meet at 5:30 p.m. in the administration building.
Board members will discuss a proposed new junior high school building project, review a budget of expenditures for the 2002-2003 school year, and authorize the superintendent to apply for grants annually.
The high school mock trial team will also be recognized during the meeting.
The Palestine-Wheatley School Board will meet at 6:30 p.m. in the district's junior high school library on the Wheatley campus.
Board members will consider a certificate of deposit, renew contracts for principals and discuss resignations.
Two meetings are also planned for Tuesday.
The Palestine Advertising and Promotions Commission will meet at 10 a.m. at city hall.
The Forrest City Planning Commission will meet at 4 p.m. at the Forrest City City Hall.
Chris Morledge, representing Cotton Roberts and Jim Frazier, will ask the commission to rezone and empty lot across from the Forrest City Sports Complex from residential to commercial.
Larry and Judy Murray will ask commissioners to approve an 18-foot backyard variance to allow them to construct a storage building at their home on Roosevelt Street.