By DAVID NICHOL
T-H Staff Writer
The East Arkansas Community College Board of Trustees has agreed to continue with plans to remodel the Betty Jo Hodges Building and to construct a facade at the front of the school, in spite of a projected shortfall in funds from the state.
At Thursday's board meeting, EACC President Dr. Coy Grace told the board the projects could be completed with money saved from this year's state appropriation, along with money carried over from previous budgets, in light of recent announcements by the governor that that there would be a serious funding shortage.
Grace said originally, the cost of renovating the Hodges building -- which housed the library until the new Learning Resource Center was built -- was put at around $92,000.
"We want to put more walls and other things in there," said Grace. That increased the cost to about $216,000...We do have it in this year's budget, without adding to the budget. It will come from salary savings and from savings on other projects that we are not spending at the rate we were projecting."
He said back in May, the school had been advised not to budget all the so-called Category B money. He said that since Thursday morning, he had learned that the school would not receive any Category B money. However, the school would receive 99.6 percent of Category A money. He said that amount, along with the savings he had mentioned earlier, would make up the amount needed.
"The bad news is, we're not going to receive all that we had hoped to receive," he said. "The good news is, we were prepared for it and can make the appropriate adjustments."
Grace said the remodeled building will house tutoring and student support services, counseling assistance, financial aid and the registrar's office. He said currently, those offices are scattered all over the campus.
"Typically, the students who need a lot of this assistance are the ones who may get disjointed or lost, going from place to place," he said. "And not having things centralized, I think, adds somewhat to our dropout rate. Putting all these things together in one place, should help us to concentrate our efforts and our services to students once they get on campus."
The bid date is Nov. 28, with a completion date in March.
The facade, which Grace described as a "front door" to the campus proper, would cost around $300,000. The board agreed to go ahead with the planning for that project.
In other business, the board heard a brief report from Retha Barker on the EACC literacy program. As an adjunct, the receipt of a $75,000 grant for the Even Start program, handled through the literacy program, was announced. It is a continuation grant. The Even start program is in its eighth year.
The board also accepted a recommendation for employment -- Carmen Williams as administrative secretary for the Vice President for Student Affairs.
The board also agreed to have a retreat in Little Rock, probably in February, to hear the latest news on education from legislators.
Catherine Coleman, vice president for Student Affairs, also gave a report on the school's recently-held 27th annual Counselor's Day and the Miss EACC Pageant. Both were counted as successes. Counselors Day is a time for counselors from the area to visit the campus and see what the school has to offer.
Speaking of the Miss EACC Pageant, Coleman said that technically, it was actually the third pageant -- two were held in the 1980s. She said here are hopes of making it an annual event.
By CRYSTAL HOLLIS
T-H Staff Writer
Recently announced state funding cuts will not be affecting Crowley's Ridge Technical Institute as much as first thought, President Burl Lieblong told the board at its regular meeting Thursday night.
Lieblong told board members he found out the cutbacks would affect only $9,000 in funds received from the state.
"We have held off on hiring a replacement for Dighton Ewan, Coordinator of Student Services, who resigned in June," said Lieblong. " I knew cutbacks might affect us and we have been keeping money in the budget to absorb the cutbacks if we had to. I know we can easily absorb a $9,000 decrease, and we will proceed in hiring someone to replace Dighton."
Board members also took steps to improve security at the school as far as computers and campus visitors are concerned. A computer usage policy was passed, a first for the school. It will be implemented immediately, according to Lieblong. He also said this would be just the start of regulating e-mail usage and computer network resources at the school.
"This is only the beginning," he said. "We will more than likely have to pass more policies in the future, but this will get us started in making sure we can deal with violators and protect our server."
Also, students, staff and visitors will be required to wear identification badges on campus, starting immediately. According to Lieblong, this was something the school should do, since the September 11 attacks.
"We knew we should be able to identify everyone on campus. We have hazardous equipment and chemicals here used in welding and other programs. We want to ensure that anyone on this campus can be identifiable, and we want to know where they are suppose to be while they are here," he said.
The board also learned that CRTI has come one step closer to receiving accreditation from the Council on Occupational Education. The council met on Sept. 23 - 25 and agreed to accept the school as a candidate for accreditation. The process will be ongoing with the next step being an on-site administrator or another full-time employee attending the next two Self-Study Workshops, which are required to be ultimately approved by the COCE.
In other matters, Lieblong announced to board members that enrollment may be up at CRTI this semester, but that he wouldn't know the exact figures until the end of the semester. He did, however, say the Annual CRTI Barbecue held in October did exceed last year's fundraiser by just over $1,000.
The CRTI board of directors will meet again on Thursday, Feb. 21, at 7 p.m., at the school.
By CRYSTAL HOLLIS
T-H Staff Writer
Area residents should use caution when burning leaves due to extremely dry conditions for this time of year, according to Arkansas Forestry Commission Ranger Jim Knight.
Knight, who is in charge of fire control for the six-county District 11, which includes St. Francis County, said this week he has been put on alert for the weekend due to the favorable conditions for forest fires. Knight said the alert is because the conditions are dry right now, but not dry like most people would expect.
"Most people don't understand when you say the conditions are too dry right now. They think back to the summer of last year when we had very little rain and lots of grass and forest fires," Knight said.
"We don't mean dry by summer standards. In the summer, it can rain one day and it takes a week or more before we consider it dry. What we have right now are a lot of leaves on the ground, which is added fuel. We also have high humidity which makes conditions favorable for forest or grass fires," Knight said, adding that it doesn't take long for this area to be without rain for it to be considered dry. "With all of the leaves on the ground, I would say it could take as little as three days in most cases to consider this area dry."
Knight also cautions area residents to think before lighting a match. "I'm not telling people not to burn. This is a good time of the year for people to burn their leaves and debris, but use extreme caution, and by all means, do not burn on windy days."
Forest fires have been reported recently in Pulaski County, as well as grass fires in Arkansas County and one earlier this week in St. Francis County.
A new information director has been named at the Forrest City Area Chamber of Commerce
Forrest City native Mary Beth Doler recently began her duties which include helping coordinate events sponsored by the chamber and assisting people who telephone the chamber for more information about the city.
"I help handle everything here except financial dealings," said Doler.
Currently Doler and Shelia Lieblong, the chamber administrative executive, are planning the Forrest City Area Chamber of Commerce Community Christmas Parade, which is set for Friday, Dec. 7.
Plans are also in the works to have the annual chamber banquet in January, instead of in the spring as has been done in years past. "There is just so much going on in the spring. There is really nothing going on in January, so we are looking into that," Doler said Doler.
The monthly Chamber newsletter, planning for the first Thursday luncheons, website updates and the Chamber membership directory also fall under Doler's duties.
A graduate of Forrest City High School, Doler attended Arkansas State University in Jonesboro and the State Technical Institute in Memphis.
A Forrest City man was sentenced to state prison on a variety of charges Thursday during circuit court hearings at the St. Francis County Courthouse.
Clifford Wilson, 22, Forrest City, was sentenced to 12 years in the Department of Corrections for robbery. He was also sentenced to five years in prison for breaking and entering and three years in prison for third-degree carnal abuse.
All DOC sentences are to run concurrent with credit for time served in the county jail. Wilson will also begin serving a five years suspended sentence upon his release from prison for commercial burglary and theft charges.
Larry Darnell Taylor, 16, of Forrest City, was sentenced to five years in prison for two second-degree battery charges, which was reduced from two counts of attempted capital murder. He will serve a suspended sentence after his release from prison.
Watell Hare, 20, of Forrest City, was sentenced to seven years in prison for robbery.
James Henry Hooker, 35, Palestine, was sentenced to six years in the ADC on drug charges.
A new clothing retail store will open next week in Forrest City.
It's Fashion, to open in the former Cato location in the Cloverleaf Shopping Center, will sell clothing for women, men and children beginning Tuesday, Nov. 20.
It's Fashion is a division of the Cato Corporation, according to district manager Sunny Lamb.
The store will be open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., and on Sunday from 1 to 6 p.m.
Six teenagers have been arrested in connection with an attack on a student Thursday morning at the Forrest City Junior High School.
According to a report at the Forrest City Police Department, the victim was taken by ambulance to Baptist Memorial Hospital-Forrest City after he was beaten and kicked by the suspects. He was treated and released at the hospital.
The six juveniles have been charged with second-degree battery and engaging in criminal group activity.
The Forrest City City Council is scheduled to meet at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 20, at city hall.
Councilmen will consider a variety of ordinances during the meeting.