Two local institutions of higher learning will remain separate entities for now.
Legislation to merge Crowley's Ridge Technical Institute with nearby East Arkansas Community College failed to pass the Senate Education Committee this morning.
An evenly split panel defeated the proposal, which would have consolidated the two schools.
Supporters of the bill, primarily Sen. Jodie Mahony, D-El Dorado, said the merger would not result in lost programs or jobs, but would save state money by eliminating duplication of services.
Opponents argued that legislative intervention might not be best for the St. Francis County community.
Administrators with EACC have supported the merger while CRTI officials have been against the move. Telephone calls to officials with both EACC and CRTI were not returned as of press time.
According to an Associated Press story, opponents of the measure burst into applause that carried out into a Capitol hallway after the vote. Crowley's Ridge President Burl Lieblong told the AP he was pleased with the committee's decision.
''Now we can stop politicking and get back to work,'' Lieblong said. Crowley's Ridge served 6,000 students last year in standard vocational programs as well as business and industry classes and a high school equivalency program.
East Arkansas Community College is a two-year college that offers associate degrees in a variety of disciplines that the vo-tech does not offer.
''I have struggled with forcing a solution. I'm reluctant to say we know better,'' said Sen. John Brown, R-Siloam Springs.
Senator Jimmy Jeffress, D-Crossett, called the proposed merger a ''first step to damaging our vocational needs.''
A legislative task force on non-degree programs had recommended the merger.
Sens. Alvin Simes, D-West Helena, and Mike Everett, D-Marked Tree, had opposed the measure, saying it would hurt efforts to move people into jobs in the impoverished Delta.
Both senators argued that in other instances where schools have changed to become more academically oriented, vocational-technical training programs have suffered or have been eliminated.
By DAVID NICHOL
T-H Staff Writer
State Sen. Alvin Simes reiterated his opposition Saturday to the merger of Crowley's Ridge Technical Institute with East Arkansas Community College.
He was speaking at a forum attended by about 50 people at the Holiday Inn in Forrest City.
The bill which would force the merger was discussed in the Senate Education Committee last week. The bill was defeated today.
"I am taking that stance for a number of reasons."
He said one reason was that Eastern Arkansas was not represented on the task force which made the recommendation to merge.
"They were all from central Arkansas and northwest Arkansas," he said. "I understand there was only one person on the 64 member study team who was from eastern Arkansas. Quite frankly I take offense when someone from El Dorado or Little Rock or even Fayetteville conducts a study about our area that involves the education and economic development of this community, and we have absolutely no input in it."
He said both schools have vital roles in the community which they are performing effectively as separate entities. He said a study should involve both boards. He also said the action would be more of a takeover than a merger.
"It does amount to a takeover, because the new board would be all members of East Arkansas Community College," Simes said. "And I think most of you know, that where you have no input, you have no participation in the decision making."
Simes also said he had some bills pending. Two to do with workers compensation laws. He said one would give injured employees the right to choose the physician who will take care of job-related injuries. That bill is set for a hearing Wednesday.
"One of the most critical decisions we make is the decision as to what doctor is going to give us care. For years we have allowed companies to choose what doctor is going to treat us," Simes said. "The fact that I work for you is one thing, but it should not give you the right to say what surgeon is going to take me into the emergency room."
He said there was strong opposition from insurance companies.
Another bill would allow attorneys who win a case for a person injured on the work to collect 20 percent of the award. He said he is in favor of legislation requiring that all appointments to the Workman's Compensation Commission are lawyers who have practiced for at least five years.
He also said that the entire Senate is in favor of the $3,000 raise for teachers proposed by
Gov. Mike Huckabee. However, he also said revenue projections are not favorable.
"The state auditors are doing projections on revenue," he said. "And at this point we're being told that we don't have the $120 million necessary to give this raise over the next two years. I'm in favor of it, the complete Senate is in favor of it, but if we don't have the money, I guess you all understand that we may not be able to do what we would like to do in terms of increasing teachers' salaries.
He said he is also seeking a $250,000 appropriation to try to revitalize the Lee County Hospital.
"Lee County is the only county in the district I serve that does not have hospital facilities for its residents. And I am seeking funds to bring that hospital back."
He also said a third circuit judgeship is needed in this area.
During a question and answer session, Simes said the hate crimes bill, of which he is a co-sponsor, is bogged down. He said there has been strong opposition to the inclusion of crimes against homosexuals. He said there has been pressure to remove that wording from the bill.
Simes also said he has been appointed to an energy subcommittee, to visit California and study the electric power crisis there, to try to avoid mistakes which may have been made there, if Arkansas deregulates the electric industry.
By KENDALL OWENS
T-H Staff Writer
The 5-A state tournament hosted by Forrest City drew to a close Saturday afternoon, ending a week of exciting basketball play.
Forrest City School District Athletic Director Bill Baxter hailed the tournament a success for both the community and the school district.
"I would rank it a fantastic success for Forrest City. I heard nothing but praise from the visitors about our facility, tournament organization and the volunteer effort. Not only did we have the teams come in and the parents of players, we had basketball fans from across the state come into our town. I saw several people that I know from across the state that were here simply to enjoy the games, and that is exactly what they were able to do," said Baxter.
Niki Jones, director of community relations with the Forrest City Area Chamber of Commerce also said that she heard plenty of praise for the tournament.
"People seemed to have had a very good time, and Forrest City came off extremely well in the eyes of people from across the state. Our hospitality area was well received, and we were able to help a lot of the teams with our volunteer effort. We had some cellular phones that were donated to us by a local business and through those we were able to help people by arranging dinner reservations for families and teams. All in all, I think that the tournament was a success," said Jones.
According to both Jones and Baxter, official numbers from a survey conducted during the tournament have not been finalized. Those figures are being tabulated by students in the Business and Industry Training Program at East Arkansas Community College. Jones said that a separate survey will be going to restaurants and hotels that are chamber members to help determine the local impact of the tournament.
"The students in the Business and Industry Training Program are handling the survey that was distributed at the tournament. We're expecting those numbers later in the week," Jones said. "Our second survey will go to the local restaurant and hotel owners who are members of the chamber. Both surveys will give us a good estimate of the economic impact the tournament had on Forrest City."
According to Baxter, more than $29,000 in gate receipts are being turned over to the Arkansas Activities Association.
Baxter said that the security detail during the tournament was also praised by visitors and teams.
"I had several of the coaches from the teams tell me how good our security during the tournament was. We only had one minor incident during a five-day tournament, and I would call that a success. When you have that many people coming through in such a few days it could be a problem, but we did a great job and everyone was great," he said.
Remodeling and repairs accounted for most of the building permits issued in Forrest City during February, according to figures from the mayor's office.
Only eight permits were purchased for projects valued at $321,468.
In commercial developments, Ralph Holland received a permit for an apartment project valued at $100,000, as the largest single project. Sanyo is doing a $90,718 remodeling, and a $90,000 remodeling is planned by Forrest City Financial Center.
The rest of the permits were for private residences, and included three repair jobs and two remodeling jobs.
The first two months of the year have seen projects valued at $588,153 for which building permits have been obtained.
A two-year-old child was taken to Baptist Memorial Hospital-Forrest City Saturday after being struck by a car.
The incident reportedly occurred at 155 Midway in Forrest City. According to the police report, witnesses said the child was struck by a vehicle driven by Jimmy Rogers of 142 Bray Street.
The child, Jakya Williams, was described as having lacerations on her back, a cut above her right eye and a knot on the back of her head.
No charges had been filed as of this morning.