By CRYSTAL HOLLIS
T-H Staff Writer
With the special election for a two-and-a-half millage increase a few days away, Forrest City School District officials want to make sure voters are given the opportunity to see why a new junior high school is needed by hosting an open house at that facility.
The open house is scheduled for Sunday, June 3, from 2 to 4 p.m., at the school located on Division Street.
According to FCJHS Principal Billy Ferguson, this will be the last chance for those who are not familiar with the school to see what all the fuss is about.
"This will let people take a look at the building and see for themselves what they're throwing their money away on," said Ferguson.
This is the first time an open house has been held at the school prior to an election for a millage increase. Ferguson said he hopes some of those who have been opposed presently and in the past will come in and change their minds.
"We want those who oppose the millage to see the condition of our library, the room that has been closed below the library, the classrooms upstairs and the auditorium," Ferguson said. "We want people to see for themselves that now is the time for the millage."
According to Tammy Mills, chairperson of the FCSD millage promotion committee, some people have felt school officials have exaggerated the condition of the building. "We have approximately 675 junior high students currently enrolled there, and we would like that many people to come to the open house so they can see how it is on a day-to-day basis at the school," said Mills. "We want those visiting Sunday to go anywhere and everywhere in the school."
Mills offered several reasons for the open house. "We can go out and preach to people all day long, but no one knows what we are talking about until it hits home. Maybe seeing the inside of the school firsthand will hit home with some people how much we need this millage increase for a new junior high," she explained.
The election on June 5 will mark the fifth time voters in the FCSD have gone to the polls to vote on a millage increase. According to FCSD Superintendent Lee Vent, elections in September of 1997 and January of 1998 where for an increase of 9.9 mills. "We wanted the money back then not just for a new junior high but for other school repairs as well," said Vent.
In the fall of 1999 and 2000, voters went to the polls for the first time to vote for a substantially smaller 3 mill increase for the sole purpose of building a junior high.
Vent said the opposition to the increases in the past has fluctuated instead of steadily declining.
"Maybe the voters will see this time that a school is like a business venture. When we formed this committee, I found out the average school building is only meant to last for 35 years," Mills said. "Well, this building will be 71-years-old this summer, and it makes perfect sense to replace it with a new one if we want to attract more people to our city and prosper."
By DAVID NICHOL
T-H Staff Writer
A company claiming to be sponsored by the Forrest City Area Chamber of Commerce is trying to sell ads on a map to local businesses.
However, the firm calling itself Liberty Marketing has no such sponsorship, according to the Chamber.
"They are claiming they are sponsored by us," said the Chamber's executive director, Danny Ferguson. "The reason we know is, we've had a couple of members call in to verify that the Chamber is sponsoring them. And we are not."
Ferguson said he talked to a representative of the company, who actually agreed that they were claiming to have Chamber sponsorship.
"I asked him not to do it, and told him we were going to be running news stories about it," he said.
According to Ferguson, the Chamber does its own map every second year.
"We're getting ready to do it this summer. We sell the ads ourselves and it all goes to the Chamber," he said. "None of it goes to an out of state marketing firm."
He continued, "My view is, not only is it underhanded to claim the Chamber is sponsoring it when we aren't. But it's also sucking money from local businesses to some out-of-state marketing company."
Ferguson urged businesses to avoid purchasing ads in the Liberty Marketing map.
"I would encourage people who want to buy ads in a well-distributed map to save their money and participate in the Chamber maps this summer," he said. "It is sent out in all newcomer packets and to people who contact us by mail or who walk in. We give out boxes and boxes of them.
"And we do not distribute Liberty Marketing maps. And we are certainly not sponsoring them."
The St. Francis County Museum recently announced the first Great Rush Road Rally, to be held Saturday, June 16. The event will celebrate the founding of the Arkansas Automobile Club and will allow participants to learn more about county history and local historic sites.
Dr. J.O. Rush, whose home houses that St. Francis County Museum, founded the Arkansas Automobile Club in 1912 and as a physician he appreciated the significance of the automobile in bringing health care to area residents. His home, at one time, even sported vintage automobile headlights which were used as porch lights.
The rally will begin at the museum, located at the 603 Front Street in Forrest City, with a tour for clues to the sites to be visited by participants. The object of the "scavenger hunt" for sites is to visit as many as you can in the safest, allowable time.
"We want to emphasize that this is not a race," said museum director Laura Mazzanti. According to Mazzanti participants completing the course in less time than is deemed safe by the rally committee will be disqualified.
There will be a grand prize given to the vehicle that completes the course after visiting the most sites in the shortest allowable time. Prizes will also be given in best sports car, best classic car, best decorated vehicle and participants favorite categories. Families are encouraged to be creative with the family van or sedan and teams may also consider special outfits. Prizes will be awarded during a barbecue lunch at Oscar's following the event. Lunch reservations can be made by contacting the museum.
Volunteers are also needed for the event. Anyone interested in volunteering should contact the museum at 261-1744. Registration for the event is $5 per vehicle and each vehicle should have a driver and navigator for safety purposes. Participants may register at the museum starting June 1. Rally rules will be available at registration and clues will be handed out the day of the event. For more information contact the St. Francis County Museum at 261-1744. The St. Francis County Museum is located in the historic Rush-Gates house at 603 Front Street. Museum hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday to Friday. Special tours are available by appointment.
Sales tax receipts in St. Francis County have been announced by the Arkansas Municipal League.
On county sales tax, the St. Francis County Government had receipts of $122,857.16. Cities also received the following amounts: Hughes, $24,349.72; Forrest City, $192,684.88; Wheatley, $4,851.68; Palestine, $9,664.24; Madison, $12,872.62; Caldwell, $6,064.60; Colt, $4,799.52.
Cities with their own sales taxes received the following: Forrest City, $130,207.91; Hughes, $8,974.41; Madison, $2,050; Palestine, $4,304.40; Wheatley, $4,497.45.