By KENDALL OWENS
T-H Staff Writer
Some county roads will soon be surveyed to determine if state aid will be an option to help fund necessary repairs.
"We've got three or four roads and maybe a couple of bridges that we are getting ready for the state to look at this week to see if they qualify for possible upgrades through the state road aid program," St. Francis County Judge Carl Cisco said.
He added that overall, the roads are in good shape throughout the county.
"We've been doing some upgrades and repairs of our own on county roads. We've had to replace some pipes in the county that had rusted out and then collapsed this winter, and we've been doing our normal work of grading and gravel work on the roads," Cisco said. "One of the biggest problems that we have is not on the roads but near the roads. We have a problem, and have had a problem, with beaver dams that are clogging up ditches and waterways. These dams are backing water up onto the roads, and there's not much that we can do to stop them because most of the dams are on private property."
According to Cisco the dams have also been causing problems for local farmers. "The farmers can go out and blow up the dams or rip them out, but it doesn't do a lot of good because the beavers just go right back in and put up new ones."
On another matter, Cisco said the recent "Clean Out Your Files Day" was a huge success.
Cisco said the response from county citizens was more than was expected, and he was happy with the results of the event.
"Our numbers showed us taking in over two and a half tons of paper that we have been shredding. That was more than we were expecting to take in, but believe us, we are happy with it," said Cisco.
He also noted that the success of the event shows the effectiveness of NEARCO, the Northeast Arkansas Recycling Center in Madison.
"Charlie Wood with the East Arkansas Solid Waste District was very pleased with the results of the event, and he is hopeful that the same results can happen in other counties in the district. I was glad that Forrest City and St. Francis County could set a good example for the rest of the district. I hope that the other counties can have this type of success," Cisco said.
Local music and musicians will be showcased at the St. Francis County Museum during May, in celebration of Arkansas Heritage Month.
Vintage instruments will be on display in the front parlor of the museum and there will be live, free music each Saturday of the Month.
There will be a format to the music presentations, according to Laura Mazzanti, museum director.
"The first week (May 5) is going to be gospel. Next week it is going to be bluegrass. The third week, the blues. The fourth week we may have a combination of everything."
Concerts will take place on the front porch of the museum.
The first concert will begin at 2 p.m. Saturday. It will feature the Country Gospel Group, the Goodwill Quartet, and Grant and the Country Voices.
The museum will also be open for tours of the instrument exhibit and other attractions of the museum.
"This is a family event and a chance to hear some of our fine local musicians," said Mazzanti. She said Larry Nicholas of The Music Shop in Forrest City helped in organizing the first concert and curating the instrument exhibit.
The St. Francis County Museum is located in the historic Rush-Gates house at 603 Front Street in Forrest City. Museum hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, and Saturday afternoons during Arkansas Heritage Month. Special tours are also available by appointment.
By KENDALL OWENS
T-H Staff Writer
The Forrest City Area Chamber of Commerce recently received a matching grant from the Wal-Mart Corporation for economic development.
According to Chamber Executive Director Danny Ferguson, the grant, called the Economic Challenge Grant, will match dollar for dollar funds raised by the Chamber for economic development in Forrest City and St. Francis County.
"Wal-Mart has pledged to match us dollar for dollar for all funds that we can raise for economic development up to $7,500 which would give us an additional $15,000 to put into economic development," Ferguson said.
Currently the contracts with the county and city total $35,000 for economic development, and Ferguson said that close to $1,500 has already been raised toward the challenge grant locally.
"The day after this was announced, Woodruff Electric donated $1,000. We would like to encourage other businesses or individuals who would like to support economic development, or those which feel they might benefit from any expansion in our local economy, to contact us about donations," said Ferguson.
He also said economic development ranges from advertising in trade magazines, such as magazines that gear toward expanding industries, to the ability to work industrial trade shows partnering with the Arkansas Department of Economic Development and Teamwork Arkansas, Entergy's Economic Development Branch.
"Both ADED and Teamwork Arkansas work trade shows across the country, and they invite local economic development agencies to work their booths to try to get prospects for the state of Arkansas. Once you work one of those booths, you get a copy of all of the leads that were produced at the event so that you can try and work with those companies for your community," said Ferguson.
For more information, Ferguson said that individuals and businesses may contact the Forrest City Area Chamber of Commerce or the Forrest City Industrial Development Corporation.
A public hearing will be held at 6:30 this evening in city council chambers for the purpose of discussing a proposed annexation to the city. The area in question is referred to as the Patillo Road area.
The Forrest City Council will hold its regular meeting at 7 p.m.
Councilmen will open bids for asphalt and a traffic signal for the intersection Bufford and Division Streets.
The St. Francis County Quorum Court's personnel committee will meet at 5 p.m. Wednesday, May 2, at the courthouse.
On Thursday, May 3, the Colt City Council is scheduled to meet at 7 p.m. at city hall.