By DAVID NICHOL
T-H Staff Writer
Because of budget cuts, there is concern that the local TEA Coalition will cease to function as of June 30.
TEA stands for Transitional Employment Assistance. Its purpose is to help people on welfare with the transition to gainful employment.
"In 1996 the federal government passed welfare reform legislation that changed how the welfare system works," said André Stephens, TEA coordinator. "The law mandates that people can only receive benefits for a maximum of five years. However, each state has the right to set its own time limits as long as it does not exceed the federal limit. Arkansas has a very aggressive two-year time limit. I have always been concerned about this time limit business."
According to Stephens, there are too many people looking for too few jobs in the Delta. He said this is particularly true now, with the economy experiencing a slowdown.
"What safety net will people have if they cannot find jobs because there are no jobs?," he said. "In areas around the country where persistent poverty abounds, it will be difficult to get people off welfare and move them into self-sufficiency overnight."
Stephens said another problem is transportation.
"Recently we had to reduce transportation services, and our phone rang off the hook from people who were calling because they have a job but cannot get back and forth to work," he said, adding that newly-employed welfare recipients face a similar problem with child care.
State Rep. Danny Ferguson, D-Forrest City, said he had asked around and been told that the money going to the TEA coalition was never meant to be permanent funding. Now there is a process of cutting back the funding.
However, Ferguson agreed that there could be problems in areas such as the Arkansas Delta.
"In areas where the welfare caseload has been higher than some other parts of the state, and where unemployment is higher, the elimination of funds is going to let some people fall through the cracks," he said.
"There aren't a lot of jobs being generated in the Delta right now," he continued. "As an example, Arkansas does its notification of industrial prospects through a web site. As of yesterday (Thursday) there are no active prospects on the web site. It's the first time in a while I've seen that. It's indicative of the slowdown in growth, particularly in manufacturing jobs."
Ferguson agreed with Stephens that transportation and child care can be two huge stumbling blocks for a person who has to get a job miles from home and who may have small children that need care.
"It's especially true if you're going from welfare to low-paying, entry-level jobs," he said. "You can't go from being unemployed and on welfare straight to being a manager. You have to work your way up. And if you're going off welfare and take a job at $6.75 an hour, but have to pay child care for three or four kids and have to pay someone to take you to work or make payments on a vehicle, you're going in the hole pretty quickly."
Ferguson said he had also been told that there might be some leftover, unspent funds which local TEA Coalitions could use. However, Stephens said that was not his understanding.
"We were told at a legislative hearing, set aside just for TEA coalitions across the state, that after the money runs out there would not be any funds available. TEA Coalitions basically are going to be defunded after they've exhausted all their money, which in most instances will be after June 30."
A 10-year old Wynne girl is in extremely critical condition at Le Bonheur Children's Medical Center this morning following an ATV accident Sunday near Forrest City.
Mallorie Long, 10, of Wynne, was riding a four-wheeler with her seven-year old sister, Jessica, Sunday afternoon when the vehicle overturned throwing both girls off the four-wheeler.
According to a report at the St. Francis County Sheriff's Department, as the vehicle overturned it struck Long in her head and face causing her injuries.
Paramedics with Baptist Memorial Hospital were called in by the girls' father Donny Hatcher, and attempted to treat Mallorie's injuries at the scene, according to the report. She was later transported by helicopter to Le Bonheur in Memphis.
Jessica was treated for injuries to her wrist at Baptist Memorial Hospital in Forrest City and later released.
By CRYSTAL HOLLIS
T-H Staff Writer
Pat Flanagin, Administrator for Foundation Resources and Finance Director for the Forrest City School District, appealed to members of the Forrest City Area Chamber of Commerce recently to support the proposed millage increase to fund construction of a new junior high school.
The school district is asking voters to approve a 2.5 mill increase on June 5 to construct the new facility. Flanagin told Chamber members this should be one the most favorable times to vote for the millage increase.
"One of the things they (FCSD) have done, which they hadn't done in past elections, is they have been able to scale down the millage to 2.5 instead of 3," said Flanagin. "Also, last year we had reappraisals and a tax bill. Since then, we have had rollbacks, and we anticipate more rollbacks, with the millage. People who own their homes are also receiving a $300 tax credit.
Flanagin said he has still heard some of the same comments from area residents about voting for an increase in the millage.
"The realization is that there are some people that are die-hard against an increase, and they don't want to change. So, we have to recognize that and bring out the people that are for it and get them to come out and vote." said Flanagin.
He also said he has heard more support from people in the community as opposed to the last time a millage increase was on the ballot. "We are trying to raise more money to fund the campaign, and we have had a more positive response to that than times before.
"Last time when we had reappraisal, a lot of people said that with all the rumors of taxes increasing to 3 percent, people said 'well, there's no point in trying this year, it doesn't have a chance,' and yet it came very close."
Flanagin said he is optimistic about the June election. "A bright future is in front of us," he added.
The news staff of the Times-Herald came away with several awards at the annual meeting of the Associated Press Managing Editors Association of Arkansas.
The awards were presented Saturday, May 5 at the Red Apple Inn in Heber Springs.
David Nichol won a first place in campaign coverage, for the story, "Millage Requests Fail."
Managing Editor Tamara Johnson took a second place in headline writing for the headline, "Sausage factory owner linked to shooting deaths." She also took a third place for graphics with "Election results," and another third in the service to Freedom of Information with an FOI seminar she organized. She also shared a second place with Nichol in the news coverage category for "TB reported at FC Junior High."
Sports Editor Fred Conley won a second place for his sports column, "Press Box Bits." He also took a third place in the news spot story category with "They've been here before."
By KENDALL OWENS
T-H Staff Writer
The St. Francis County Sheriff's Department is continuing its search for an inmate who walked away from the jail last week.
Timothy Allen Parker, 35, of Hughes, was being held in the county jail on charges of felony possession of a firearm, three counts of felony terroristic threatening and misdemeanor criminal trespassing. The charges stemmed from two separate incidents in 1998.
St. Francis County Sheriff Dave Parkman said that jailers are unsure how Parker escaped. "No one knows right now how he got out, we just know that it wasn't a breakout. He was an inside trustee, and may have gotten outside and left from there."
According to Parkman, deputies are currently working leads but any help from the public would be appreciated.
"We're working all of the leads that we have, and thought that we would have him over the weekend. We've got a few more leads in the Hughes area that we're working pretty hard on, and we hope to have him back in custody soon. If anyone has any information that might help us apprehend Parker, we'd be happy to hear it," Parkman said.
Parker is described as a white male, six feet, two inches tall and weighing 170 pounds. He has brown hair and blue eyes.
The Forrest City School Board is scheduled to meet at 5:30 this evening in the administration building.
Board members will discuss personnel policy changes and the special school election set for next month.
Under new business, the board will review revisions to the student handbook, the charges for using school facilities and bids on new buses.
Contracts for classified employees will also be renewed for the 2001-2002 school year.
Forrest City School Bands will present their annual Spring Concert, Tuesday, May 8, at Mustang Arena.
The sixth grade band will begin at 6:30 p.m. and will be followed by the seventh grade, Junior High and High School bands.
Admission is $1 per person. Any other donations will be accepted and will be used to purchase additional uniforms for the high school band due to a major increase in students next year.
Village Creek State Park's 7,000 acres have provided a haven for a variety of migrating as well as resident bird populations, according to park officials who want to share these birds with local residents.
Village Creek is offering guided walks, programs, and children's activities this coming weekend to allow visitors to experience the many different kinds of birds found on the park.
As part of the activities, a special program is being offered Saturday, May 12. Knox Martin, the Raptors Rehabilitation Coordinator with the Memphis Zoo, will be presenting a live birds of prey demonstration. Martin will be discussing the methods he uses for caring for injured hawks and owls and how he prepares them for release in the wild. He will also have several different birds on display.
There is no charge for the program. For more information, call Village Creek State Park at 870-238-9406. The park is located about 15 miles north of Forrest City.