Sara Harris, Miss Arkansas 2000, will be the keynote speaker during commencement exercises at Forrest City High School on Friday, May 18, at Mustang Arena. Graduation begins at 7 p.m.
A 21-year-old 1998 graduate of FCHS, Harris is probably one of the youngest graduation speakers in the history of the school, according to FCSD officials. She is the daughter of Betty and H.N. Green of Forrest City.
In addition to being Miss Arkansas, Harris has garnered a number of other regional and state honors, including two-time talent preliminary winner in the Miss Arkansas competition, the newcomer award in Miss Arkansas in 1998, third runner-up to Miss Arkansas in 1998 and 1999 and Coleman Dairy overall talent winner in Miss Arkansas in 2000. She has also won various other pageants in recent years.
A member of the Honors Program at East Arkansas Community College, Harris completed her Associate of Arts degree at EACC in May, 2000 cum laude. She was also on the dean's list, was a United States Achievement Academy All-American Scholar, was on the National Dean's List and was the Forrest City Musical Coterie's Scholarship recipient for three years. At Forrest City High School, she graduated in the top 10 percent of the 1998 senior class.
She plans to continue her education at Arkansas State University by seeking a degree in elementary education.
As Miss Arkansas, and on to the Miss America competition, her area of interest has been the implementation of the "Music Matters" program in which music is incorporated into the Arkansas educational system as a method of achievement in other academic areas.
She was also with Mustang 17 television in Forrest City while in high school, and continued with the TV station throughout the following two years.
* Palestine-Wheatley High School, 8 p.m. Friday, May 18, PWHS football field.
* Hughes HIgh School, 6 p.m. Friday, May 18, HHS football stadium
* Calvary Christian High School, Saturday, May 19, 6 p.m., First Baptist Church
By DAVID NICHOL
T-H Staff Writer
The outbreak of shigellosis which began in February has slowed down but has not gone away, according to the state Health Department.
"Our official number is now 120," said Elisha White, communicable disease specialist. "That means since Feb. 16 to the present, we have had 120 cases of shigella (the bacteria which causes the disease) in St. Francis County. That's reported -- diagnosed, clinically culture-positive."
White said about 50 percent of the cases have been in day cares and schools. The rest have been parents, siblings and playmates of children.
"We're concerned with schools being let out, and a lot of day cares in summer don't keep as many children as during the school year," she said. "And with the advent of summer, and the ball season, and grandma coming to visit and people going out of state, they need to be aware that we've still got it. And they need to make sure they wash their hands and their kids hands."
White said the Center for Disease Control, out of Atlanta, has become involved in the outbreak because of the large number.
"They have given some recommendations to us to implementing day cares and that's what we're doing," she said. "We're visiting day cares, we're giving them a video on hand washing. We're still interviewing cases.
"It is slowing down. It's not as many as we used to have. Now we're getting maybe one or two a week as opposed to four or five a week. But it hasn't stopped altogether. We need to let people know that it's still here, they still need to be aware of the symptoms. There's no change except that the numbers are going up and they're getting a little anxious in Atlanta for us to quit this."
Infected persons may experience mild or severe diarrhea, often with fever and traces of blood or mucous in the stool. This may be accompanied by abdominal cramps and vomiting. In most cases, the greatest health danger is dehydration.
Also, according to Health Department information, Children with diarrhea should be kept home until their diarrhea ceases. They can then return to their day care or Head Start -- provided they carefully wash their hands after toilet visits. Hand washing is considered the best defense against the bacteria.
It is suggested that anyone with symptoms be tested for the disease. Antibiotics are useful in shortening the duration of shigellosis.
"One hundred and twenty is a pretty hefty number," said White. "It's a reason to be concerned."
She emphasized that the number is the total number or cases since the outbreak began, not the number of active cases at the present time. Those who were sick at the beginning of the outbreak have recovered -- except for those who have caught it again. White said this isn't the type of disease that a person can get only once.
"Yes, you can catch it again," she said. "We've had a kid have it three times. And it's in the family -- they keep passing it around."
The main concern of the CDC is that a drug resistant strain of shigella might emerge, according to White.
"Germs are very smart. Shigella is a bacteria, but it's a very easily mutated bacteria. So if a patient is diagnosed with shigella and they are given antibiotics, and they don't complete the course -- how many times have we been told to take all of our antibiotics? But as soon as you feel better in a day or two, what do yo do with the rest of your antibiotics. You put them up in your cabinet."
She said people not completing their medicine is one thing which contributes to the development of resistant bacteria.
"If you're diagnosed, you need to take all your medicine," White said.
There have been no deaths in the outbreak. There have been some hospitalizations due to dehydration.
"And with summer coming, people are sweating more, and they don't need to get sick with diarrhea and sweating. They could get dehydrated easier."
By KENDALL OWENS
T-H Staff Writer
Representatives of the Forrest City/St. Francis County Abstract Co., Inc. have filed a lawsuit against the owner of the damaged building on Front Street, and the construction company that is handling the demolition of the building.
According to attorney Frank Morledge, the suit against James Taylor, owner of the building located at 525 Front Street, Ralph Holland and C.C.R. Inc., project contractor, is an attempt to insure that the building is removed safely without causing further damage to the property of Forrest City/St. Francis County Abstract Co., Inc.
"We have a crack in the floor that had not been there before demolition began. We filed this suit because their building is hovering over our building and we want to make sure that the building is safely removed without causing any further damages to our property," said Morledge.
According to the lawsuit filed this week, the plaintiffs are seeking an injunction forcing the removal of the structure; indemnity from loss, costs, damage or risk with regard to such removal; judgment against the defendants, jointly and severally, for the damage to the improvements on plaintiffs lands; attorney's fees and cost; an immediate hearing on emergency relief and for all other fit and proper relief.
Taylor could not be reached for comment this morning.
Last week during demolition, damage was also reported at the St. Francis County Housing Authority. According to Housing Authority Director Gary Chapman the HUD offices suffered damages to walls, flooring, a pair of computers and several ceiling tiles which had to be repaired before his offices could reopen this week.
"We had to have new ceiling tiles installed in all of the rooms and we had to have new flooring installed all through the building. There were two computers that had to be replaced and a desk that was ruined," Chapman said.
When asked if there might be a lawsuit pending from his offices, Chapman replied, "We've turned everything over to our insurance company and we're letting them handle everything with the other insurance companies."
By CRYSTAL HOLLIS
T-H Staff Writer
The St. Francis County Museum is being asked to support a program that would honor former courthouse employees who have died while in office.
St. Francis County Assessor Craig Jones, who is also a member of the museum board, discussed a project with other members during the board's regular monthly meeting this week.
"We just got a plaque for Edgar Borden [former county assessor]. We don't have anything else at the courthouse to remember those people who worked for the county for so long. I think it would be a good thing," Jones said. The bronze plaque for Borden cost about $500, he added.
Jones told board members he plans to ask the county to support the project by designating $500 each year for plaques. The museum board would then be asked to determine which late county official or employee to honor each year.
"This way, the county won't have to try and pick someone out and nominate them. The board will handle all nominations and choose one person each year," Jones said. "Right now, there is nothing at the courthouse to recognize former elected officials. We would like to see the plaques displayed in front of the former offices of those who are being honored," he said.
Jones said he plans to present the idea to the Quorum Court for approval.
In other business, Museum Director Laura Mazzanti told board members the Road Rally will be held on Saturday, June 9. The entry fee is $5 per vehicle.
The rally will be conducted like a scavenger hunt. Participants will be given clues to historic places within the county. The entrants will then be required to travel to those destinations and get a card. The first vehicle to make it back to the museum with the most destinations completed, will win a prize, according to Mazzanti, who also stressed that volunteers are needed to assist with the rally.
Mazzanti also said the Heritage Month has been going better than expected.
"I have not been a gospel music fan, but those musicians we had the first Saturday in May really made me like gospel music a lot," Mazzanti said. "We all got into it, and they played until 5 p.m., which is longer than we expected, but everyone was having such a great time out on the porch. We had about 50 visitors that day, so it was very successful for the museum."
Bluegrass music, performed by Shallow Creek, will be featured on the porch this Saturday.
Palestine-Wheatley High School has named its valedictorian and salutatorian for the graduating class of 2001.
Kenny Jared Parker is Valedictorian, graduating with a grade point average of 4.0. He is the son of Kenny and Valerie Parker of Palestine. He is the grandson of Charlie and Ann McClendon of Marianna and John Henry and Dean Parker of Palestine.
Parker has received an Eastern Arkansas Scottish Rite Scholarship and an Academic Distinction Scholarship from Arkansas State University.
In school, Parker received the President's Award, the Honor GPA award and was honored at the Kiwanis Top 10 Percent Banquet. He was quarterback for the Patriot football team and received the Most Valuable Player award, the 110 percent Player of the Year Award and the Gatorade Award. He was also a member of the Patriot baseball team.
He is a member of the Palestine Cumberland Presbyterian Church and a member of the Logas Youth Group. He has participated in a youth mission trip to Rio Bravo, Mexico for the last two years.
Parker plans to major in engineering at ASU.
Derrick Deshaun Franklin is the school's salutatorian. He is the son of Carol Waller of Palestine and Gordon Franklin of Memphis, and is graduating with a GPA of 3.98.
Franklin was a member of the Palestine-Wheatley basketball, baseball and track teams. He was manager for the Patriot football team. He was a member of he Beta Club Spanish Club, Gifted and Talented program, and was senior class president. He received the Principal's Award and was voted Most Likely To Succeed in his class. He received a Lasallian Scholarship to Christian Brothers University, and also a full-tuition scholarship to attend Arkansas State University. He plans to attend Mississippi State University, where he has received a Work Study Grant, Federal Pell Grant and SOEG Grant. He will major in chemical engineering.
By CRYSTAL HOLLIS
T-H Staff Writer
Dilapidated, abandoned houses lining Bush, Cowan and Love Streets in Hughes will soon be going up in smoke, according to Hughes Mayor Donnie Mooney.
Citizens of Hughes attended Tuesday night's city council meeting with petitions to have the city condemn the structures which have been deemed unsafe as well as an eyesore by residents in the city. Other residents came to voice concern about raw sewage backing up onto the sidewalks of the city.
"We request that these houses be boarded up or torn down," said resident Edward Watts, who presented the petition. "Summer is almost here and these structures are a hazard to our children."
Watts also thanked the mayor for the recent clean-up crews which will continue for the rest of the month of May.
"Another thing we are concerned about is when it rains, we have sewage backing up onto the streets," said Watts. "This stuff is getting tracked into the houses and this creates a health hazard."
Other residents declared the same sentiments saying they felt embarrassed by the structures and the smell from the sewers.
One area resident said, "It is embarrassing when you have company from out of town and they have to drive past these ugly houses in your neighborhood." Another resident said a repairman came to her house and had to discontinue the repairs because three snakes were piled up next to her house. She said she felt the snakes were there because of the abandoned house next to hers.
Mooney told the residents the city was already working on the problems.
"The other day we burned down the old church by the health center and Thursday night we will be burning down one on Main Street and we are working on some more. We have burned down a couple other houses and we are going to try to get the clean up done on those." he said.
Mooney further explained, "We are all working on it and it is a slow process. Some of them we can get to quick and on others there is a process we have to go through."
Mooney said the sewer was an ongoing situation. "We have a good water man (Mark Findley) and he has been graciously working on this and if you (the residents) would call him to come look at it when it (sewage leaks) happens, then we can come and look at it.
"We had one Friday night," continued Mooney. "He went out and looked at it when it rained and I went with him. And we went out Saturday to try and fix it. So call Mark when it happens so he can see it and then it can be fixed."
Mooney said the city has been trying to get a new water system and a new sewage system at the same time.
"It's in the plans somewhere down the road. I hope we can get more money to get new water and new sewage," said Mooney.
He also said he hoped the city could get inmates from the penitentiary to come back to help with the cleanup again.
Watts told the council and the residents there was a breakdown in communication concerning these situations. "The Crowley's Ridge Development Council is considering putting out a newsletter for the residents of Hughes because we don't have a newspaper to report what goes on so we do not know if and when the city is taking action about our concerns," said Watts.
In other business, Mooney informed the council Charles Jones, Jr., formerly of Hughes, had been accepted into medical school and the city would make the first payment of over $4,000 towards his tuition. "We are so proud of him," said Mooney.
In March, the council agreed to pay half of Jones' tuition if he was accepted into medical school. At the time, Jones was just an alternate but according to Mooney, was placed at the top of the list recently. Under the program, Jones will be required to come back to Hughes and practice medicine for four years.
The East Arkansas Community College Board of Trustees will meet tonight at 7 o'clock in the administration building.
A summer/fall enrollment report will be given, along with recommendations for the tuition/fee schedule. Also on the agenda are several resignations and acceptance of grants and contracts.
Police departments in three St. Francis County towns have received grants under the federal Bulletproof Vest Program.
The announcement was made this morning by U.S. Rep. Marion Berry and U.S. Sens. Blanche Lincoln and Tim Hutchinson.
Forrest City was awarded $1,553.83 toward the purchase of five vests; Wheatley received $513.88 toward the purchase of two vests; Widener was given $489.27 toward the purchase of two vests.
It was part of nearly $300,000 awarded to law enforcement agencies in Arkansas.
The vest program funds are allocated through the U.S. Department of Justice's Bulletproof Vest Partnership Grant Act of 1998, which authorizes $25 million a year. The program is intended to cover up to 50 percent of each jurisdiction's total costs for the vests.
A local jury sentenced a Forrest City man Wednesday to 20 years in the Arkansas Department of Corrections.
Demetrius Henderson, 21, 409 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Dr., was convicted of residential burglary and fleeing. The jury deliberated about 45 minutes before returning with the guilty verdict.
During the sentencing phase, jurors deliberated about 30 minutes before sentencing Henderson to 20 years in prison.
The trial was held in the Municipal Court building due to the fire damage in the circuit courtroom.
Circuit Court will be held in the Municipal building through Friday this week.