By KENDALL OWENS
T-H Staff Writer
Even though most county officials appear to be struggling with financial problems, one county agency is actually reporting collections up for the year.
According to information given to justices at Tuesday night's budget committee meeting by St. Francis County Sheriff and Tax Collector Dave Parkman, tax collections for the year are actually up compared to collections at the same time last year.
Information provided by the sheriff's office shows tax collections, as of Wednesday, at $2,322,463.03, up, $318,290.86, compared to the same time last year.
Parkman said the difference in collections can be linked to payments from the state for reimbursements for the $300 homeowners tax credit. Figures from the Sheriff's office put those payments at $790,824.31 with a June 30 total of $1,093,638.25 being reported to the state for reimbursement. Tax collections within the county are actually down, $472,533.45 for the year without the state reimbursement.
Parkman told justices Tuesday night that total tax collections for the year should be close to $400,000 over collections from last year.
"With the taxes that have been collected and the state turnback money, we're going to be close to $400,000 over what we collected last year. It's my understanding that the half cent sales tax is paid to the county to offset the credits and shortfalls of the taxes. With such a check we'll be a little over $400,000 over where we were last year," said Parkman.
Parkman also told justices that his offices, the Sheriff and Collector's Department and the county jail turned over close to $102,000 to the county treasurer from the jail during the last two weeks. Parkman also said that his offices would turn back approximately half of the money budgeted to them during the three-month budget period which ends Sunday.
"For the three departments that we operate, we're going to turn back almost half, or close to $70,000 of the money that we were budgeted. Our offices are doing all that we can," he said.
There is a called meeting of the Quorum Court scheduled for tonight at 7 in the quorum court room. Justices are expected to pass an appropriation setting aside over $200,000 for county general for the next three months.
Tires were cut on several vehicles throughout Forrest City neighborhoods this week.
The Forrest City Police Department reported 18 people found at least two tires slashed on their vehicles Wednesday.
FCPD Criminal Investigation Division Sgt. John Riggins said the tire slashing spree is believed to have begun near Hill Street and continued on Dillard, Izard and Graham streets. The incidents also carried into the Beech Grove and Yankee Town areas.
Riggins, whose tires were also cut, said the first report was made to police about 2 a.m. He said the criminal mischief is believed to have started before midnight.
"So far, we have 18 people who have called in and told us about it. Some of the people have called in their complaints," Riggins said.
He also said the incidents appeared to be random and that most of the vehicles involved were parked on the street or at the side of the residence. "None of the cars involved were parked in a carport or garage," Riggins said.
Anyone with information regarding the incidents should contact the Forrest City Police Department.
By CRYSTAL HOLLIS
T-H Staff Writer
Members of the St. Francis County Museum board are looking at ways to possibly help the county ease its financial burden for the remainder of the year.
Museum Director Laura Mazzanti and attorney Brad Beavers suggested to board members Wednesday afternoon that the museum look at its accounts to see if the facility could accept a smaller monthly contribution from the county through the end of the year.
Several board members anticipated a cut in funding would be suggested by the Quorum Court's budget committee on Tuesday. "We just knew they would suggest to cut funding for the museum, but they didn't even mention us at all, and I was really surprised," said board chairperson Rush Beavers.
The museum typically receives $5,000 each month from the county general account. The portion of that money which is not spent is carried over monthly and used for operational purposes.
As for appropriations for the month of September, Mazzanti said there is enough money in the museum's account to pay for September without receiving money from the county.
"Basically, we are going to just be asking for salaries and benefits for the remainder of the fourth quarter," said Mazzanti. "We would also not be taking what they owe us for September. They would ordinarily be cutting us a check right now for our September operations."
Mazzanti and Brad Beavers said they are proposing that the museum appropriation for the remaining quarter be reduced because the county has always been supportive of the museum and they said they feel it is the least the museum can do to help the county through its financial difficulties.
"We want to show them that we are willing to work with them when they have problems because in the past, they have worked with us when we've had problems," Brad Beavers said.
Some board members expressed concern as to how this request for a decrease might affect the approval of next year's proposed budget of $60,389, which the county has not yet considered.
"We already reduced our proposed budget for 2002 by 10 percent of this year's budget, and now we are going to suggest to them they reduce our appropriations for the remainder of this year," Rush Beavers said. "I just hope it will not affect how they will vote on our proposal for 2002."
A lawsuit has been filed by a man who claims he was injured by the actions of a Forrest City policeman.
In the lawsuit, Calvin Chism claims that as an employee of the Forrest City Fire Department, he responded to the scene of a three-car accident on March 22, 2001. According to the complaint, one person was trapped in a vehicle. According to the lawsuit, Chism and others began rescue attempts, when Officer Mike Long, a defendant, arrived on the scene and began demanding that they cease their rescue attempts and move the fire vehicle to a different location.
The suit claims that before Chism or anyone else could do anything, Long jumped into the fire vehicle and took it out of gear which caused Chism to become lodged between the vehicle and a generator. The suit says that Chism received physical and emotional injuries from the incident.
Named as defendants are Long, the City of Forrest City, Lt. Eddie Adamson, Chief "Stacy" McNeary (the chief's name is Clarence McNeary; Stacy was the name of a former chief); and "John Does."
The suit is not seeking a specific amount, but asks for "compensatory, incidental, punitive, actual damages and mental anguish and other awards."
In an abbreviated meeting this week, Palestine-Wheatley School Board members elected Rodney Hicks as the president of the PWSB for the 2001-2002 year.
In a 4-0 vote, Hicks was elected after he and board member Ronnie Crider were both nominated. Crider rejected his nomination after PWSD Superintendent Jimmy Allen reminded board members that the presidency rotates on a yearly basis from a Palestine resident to a Wheatley resident.
"It's just something that we've been doing since the schools consolidated. If the president of the board is from Palestine one year, the next year one of our Wheatley board members holds the position," said Allen.
Three members of the board, outgoing president Bill Ray, Gayle Gardner and Dorothy Smith did not attend the meeting.
Board members also agreed to add three employees to the district. Christi Story was hired to serve as a teacher's aide; Maria Hughes, as a special education aide and Michael Barnes in the maintenance department.
At the recommendation of Allen, board members agreed to sign off on the 2000-2001 budget for the PWSB, and agreed to allow Allen to auction off outdated computers and buses.
Questions regarding new computers for the district were also answered by Allen. Board member John Henry Parker questioned Allen about computers which were to be given to the district.
"A gentleman contacted me and said that he'd been trying to give them to us since March and hadn't been able to get anything done on it. I'd just like to know where we stand on it." Parker said.
According to Allen, the computers are scheduled to be installed within the next week.
"As soon as we have a room for the computers they are to be installed. I think there may have been some miscommunication, but it's all taken care of now," he said.
Marijuana was found inside a postal package at a Forrest City woman's home on Wednesday after police executed a search warrant at the residence.
According to a report at the Forrest City Police Department, Tameshia Warren, 29, 904 Mann Street, Apt. 230, was arrested on charges of possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver near certain facilities and use of a communication facility.
During the search, police found a package which contained about 3.91 pounds of marijuana with an estimated street value of $6,200. Two small weighing scales were also found inside the home.
Warren was scheduled to appear in court this afternoon.
The Arkansas State Police and the United States Postal Inspector's office also assisted in the investigation which is continuing.
September is Rice Month, and today's edition contains a special section dedicated to the rice industry and Mandy Michaelis, Miss St. Francis County Rice.
The special section is made possible by the following advertisers:
Antique Rose, Arkansas Concrete Co., Arkansas Distributing, Aunts of Mandy Michaelis, Battery Warehouse of Forrest city, Brothers Implement Co., Cajun Express, Cartillar Family Dentistry, Central Arkansas Turbines Inc., Chez Weenie, Clark Oil Co., Classic Flowers, Creative Framing, Crowley's Ridge Technical Institute, D&D Gore Farms, Debbie's Flowers,
Dub Taylor & Sons Body Shop, East Arkansas Insurance, Edward Jones, Entergy, Express Cleaners, The Family Shoe Box, Farm Credit Midsouth, First National Bank of Eastern Arkansas, First National Bank of Wynne, Flippo Motors Inc., Food Giant, Forrest City Bank, The Gallery, Gray's Service Center, Goodyear, Hagger Well Service, Hardwick Well Supply Inc.,
Hood Pagen & Associates, Imperial Real Estate & Property Management, Lawhon Farm Services Inc., Lindsey Brothers Gin & Warehouse, Long Accountants, Machen Ford & Chrysler, Donald & Mary Michaelis, Mike's Family Foods, Howard Miller Insurance, NAPA Auto & Truck Parts, Osborne Seed Co., Oscar's, Producers Rice Mill Inc., Producer's Tractor Co., Inc., Racer's Ag Service, Rascals & More,
Riceland Foods-Stuttgart; Riceland Foods-Wheatley, Ridout Lumber & Home Center, Ruby's Flowers & Gifts, St. Francis County Farm Bureau, St. Francis County Farmer's Association & Hutcherson Flying, St. Francis County Officials, Sonic, Standridge Heat & Air, Ted's Marine & Sporting Goods, Inc., Times-Herald Printing & Office Products, Tri-County Farmers Assn., Union Planters Bank, Wal-Mart Supercenter, Wholesale Metal Supply and Woodruff Electric Cooperative Corp.
The St. Francis County Quorum Court will meet in special session at 7 tonight at the courthouse.
The meeting is to determine a budget for the remaining three months of the year.