St. Francis County has received a grant for the construction of a wastewater extension.
Gov. Mike Huckabee this week announced the county would get a $1,206,875 Community Development Block Grant for the project. Additional funding of $50,000 from the Arkansas Soil and Water Conservation Commission will complete the project financing, according to a press release.
"This program provides an opportunity for cities and counties to improve life for their citizens," Huckabee said.
"Whether it's through new water systems, improved sewer services, senior centers or child care centers, these projects directly impact the lives of Arkansans," he added.
The wastewater extension will serve about 115 families in St. Francis County.
The new extension will serve Patillo 1 and Patillo 2, and replace current septic systems that are inadequate in some places.
"This is a very good project for the area. Outdated septic systems have resulted in an unsafe environment for some residents. This is a positive move for everyone involved," said St. Francis County Judge Carl Cisco.
The Arkansas Department of Economic Development administers the CDBG funds for Arkansas communities with populations less than 50,000 and where a majority of households earn low to moderate incomes. The funds originate from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
"Through the CDBG grants, communities all across the state have been able to make improvements that make a real difference," said Jim Pickens, director of the Department of Economic Development.
"These investments benefit both the current residents and businesses, along with prospective entrants to the community. I salute the citizens of St. Francis County for using this program to build a better quality of life for themselves and for future generations," Pickens added.
By CRYSTAL HOLLIS
T-H Staff Writer
With the St. Francis County Museum not receiving any further financial support from the county this year, the board of directors expressed uncertainties about the future of financing at its Tuesday meeting.
However, a fundraising committee has proposed a five-level membership drive to raise money for programs at the museum, and a community fish fry in May.
According to museum director Laura Mazzanti, the membership levels will range from $10 to $1,000.
"The first level would be $10 for individual supporters, $25 for families, $100 and $500 for mostly businesses and $1,000 would be the fifth level of sponsorship," said Mazzanti. "Also, we would like to offer perks for every level such as, their names would go up on the wall for certain levels and discounts on tickets to the fish fry in May."
Mazzanti said the fish fry could be used as a way for political candidates to come out and speak to constituents.
"We would give all candidates a chance to come out and speak, no matter what party they represent," she said.
Cultural Foundation attorney Brad Beavers said the foundation has already approved of the membership drive, allowing the board to proceed.
Board chair Rush Beavers said plans for the drive should start soon. Mazzanti said brochures would be printed, and members would be solicited beginning at the first of the year.
Mazzanti also said the annual Haunted History tours will be Monday, Oct. 29, and Tuesday, Oct. 30, from 7 to 9 each night.
"We will have the tour the Monday and Tuesday before Halloween, and admission will be 50 cents, the same as last year. Over 350 people came to the tours last year, and we are expecting a good turnout this year as well."
In addition to approving the fundraising drive and community fish fry, the Cultural Foundation also approved the use of funds from a grant, issued from Gov. Mike Huckabee last year, to be used to implement lighting for the porch at the museum.
According to Brad Beavers, "There is $2,000 left from the grant and we have already approved using it for lighting and possibly the repair of a leak in the roof, which has started after the rains of last week."
Guardsmen associated with Charlie Company in Forrest City will leave Friday morning for training in Colorado.
Derald Neugebauer, a public affairs officer with the Forrest City unit, said about 50 guardsmen are expected to leave from Forrest City just before noon on Friday. Neugebauer said the buses will arrive about 10 a.m., with departure scheduled for 11:30. The troop will then be stationed in Fort Carson, Colo., for training for the mission.
Company C was notified earlier this month the unit would be part of a contingent from Arkansas that will be traveling to the Sinai Peninsula in Egypt as part of the Multinational Force and Observers, an outgrowth of the 1979 Peace Treaty between Israel and Egypt. Since that time, soldiers have been reporting for duty daily for readiness training.
While the guardsmen are gone, a family assistance center will be open in the Forrest City National Guard Headquarters located on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Dr. Family members with questions regarding the deployment may contact Sergeant First Class Walt Cullum, assistance center coordinator, at 870-630-2418 or 1-800-215-1769.
A Forrest City woman is asking local police to help in the search for her missing daughter and son-in-law.
Juanita Wilson told Forrest City Police Department Criminal Investigation Division Lt. Dwight Duch this week that her daughter, Delilah Jeanette Ellington and her husband, James Ellington, both of 208 SFC 316, Forrest City, were last heard from on Oct. 8.
The couple drives an 18-wheeler and had reportedly picked up a load about 3 p.m. in Downey, Calif., and notified their dispatcher, Glenn National Carriers, via satellite. The couple was expected to deliver the load to Fort Smith on Friday, Oct. 12, but failed to arrive.
The truck was later located in Los Angeles through the satellite system. The company sent a driver to pick up the truck and found the load still in the trailer.
According to an employee with Glenn National Carriers, since the load was picked up, over 500 gallons of diesel has been charged through Delilah Ellington's gas card in the LA area.
The report also stated the Ellingtons had not been located in Los Angeles, according to the Los Angeles Police Department.
By CRYSTAL HOLLIS
T-H Staff Writer
A missing South Dakota man was found Wednesday night in West Memphis after local police had searched most of the day for him near an Interstate 40 rest area at Palestine.
St. Francis County Sheriff's Department Chief Investigator Glenn Ramsey said West Memphis Police found Chauncey Iron Wing, 47, allegedly attempting to break into a store in that city.
Iron Wing was reported missing early Wednesday morning after he disappeared while camping with his family at the rest area. Family members told police he is believed to have left their car about 5:30 a.m.
Officials with five area police and fire departments searched the wooded area most of Wednesday.
Ramsey said the man left Eagle Butte, SD on Sunday, enroute to Flintville, Tenn., with his aunt, cousin and niece. "They stopped here for the night and he got out of the car at 5:30 a.m. They haven't seen him since," said Ramsey.
"We got the call at the Sheriff's office about 6:30 a.m. We had men from the Forrest City and Palestine Fire Departments, the Arkansas State Police, the sheriff's office and a helicopter from Little Rock searching for him," Ramsey added.
Iron Wing's niece, Darla Jo Baker, said her uncle was unable to walk very well, is prone to seizures and has slurred speech.
"He told us he was stepping outside of the car, and he never came back," Baker said. "We knew by 6 a.m. that something had to be wrong. We couldn't find him anywhere close by, and we didn't think he could walk very far on his own or cross the highway."
According to Baker, Iron Wing had never been away from home. "He has never been away from Eagle Butte," she said. "He has never been anywhere before where he didn't know everybody around him."
The West Memphis Police did not return telephone calls this morning regarding the case.