By DAVID NICHOL
T-H Staff Writer
In a shorter-than-usual meeting, the Forrest City City Council on Tuesday tabled the issue of whether to override a recent veto by Mayor Larry Bryant.
The veto concerned the council's decision to pay its garbage hauler, King Disposal Inc., according to King's interpretation of the contract it has with the city.
The council had felt that the language in the contract was vague over whether apartment houses, which have garbage bins, should be counted as if each apartment had a garbage cart. Some council members expressed concern that if the language of the contract was ambiguous, it might lead to a lawsuit.
The council voted to allow King Disposal to collect as if the individual apartments had garbage carts.
Bryant later vetoed the action. At Tuesday's meeting, he read a statement to the council, which said, in part, "The veto I handed to the clerk was not against any of you, but a personal matter of principle."
Bryant repeated what he had said before, that he believed Joe King of King Disposal knew what the contract really meant.
After Bryant read the statement, council member A.L. Harris moved that the matter be tabled "until we have a full council meeting."
On the vote to table, Harris, Chris Oswalt, Roy Hancock, Richard Benson and John Gadberry voted yes. Mary Jeffers voted no. Cecil Twillie abstained and Glenn Ford was absent.
On another matter, the council voted to re-appoint Warren Faupel to the board of the Forrest City Housing Authority. The only discussion was by Twillie, who asked if the Housing Authority residents had any representation on the board. He was answered that they did.
Bryant was also asked about a city-wide spring cleanup. He said it was tentatively set for next week or the week after that. He asked council members to contact those who have been asked to serve on the city's beautification committee to work things out. The beautification committee members will be asked to meet next Monday, April 8, at 6 p.m.
By KENDALL OWENS
T-H Staff Writer
Two St. Francis County elected officials survived Tuesday's filing deadline at noon without opposition for the May 21, Democratic Primary.
The incumbents in the remaining four county offices, which include county judge, sheriff and collector, county and probate clerk and treasurer, will have opposition.
St. Francis County Assessor Craig Jones and St. Francis County Circuit and Chancery Clerk Bette Green will both run unopposed in the upcoming election.
St. Francis County Judge Carl Cisco will face off against Quorum Court Justice Author Witherspoon, and St. Francis County Sheriff Dave Parkman will face George Cochran in the race for the Sheriff and Collector's position. In other races, St. Francis County Treasurer Ann Harbin will face Tammy Talley and County and Probate Clerk Elizabeth Smith will seek reelection against former County Clerk Dick Krablin.
Three positions will be up for grabs on the Quorum Court with JP for District 1, Cliff Wise of Hughes being opposed by Charles Jones, also of Hughes. In District 2, incumbent B. McCollum of Heth is facing T.J. McCrary of Forrest City, and in District 11, JP Donald Cagle of Palestine will run against Lure "Boo" Darnell Jr., also of Palestine. Darnell entered the race Tuesday. Former JP Leodis Williams, who is seeking the JP Position for District 10, which is being vacated by Witherspoon, will run unopposed.
The filing period for races in Widener also closed yesterday, and Mayor Dot Halford will face Arvin Billingsley in the race for mayor.
In other county filings, Ruby Dennis, Cora Cobb, Dexter Freeman and Luther Lieblong, all of Forrest City, joined Vance Beasley, of Heth, in races for the Democratic Central Committee. Jimmy McKee of Colt also filed yesterday in an attempt to become the Constable of the L'Anguille Township.
In races for the State Senate and State House, District 16 Senator Alvin Simes of West Helena, received opposition from Democrats Gordon McCoy of Forrest City and Steve Higginbothom of Marianna. Also filing in District 16 was Rose J. McGee of West Memphis. She filed as an Independent.
Representative Danny Ferguson of Forrest City will run unopposed for the newly formed District 52 seat in the House of Representatives. Ferguson currently holds the position of Representative for District 91, but due to redistricting will seek reelection in District 52.
In judicial races, District 1, Division 5, Judge Baird Kinney of Forrest City and Todd Murray of West Helena will face off. Circuit Court District 1.2, Division 2 Judge Harvey Yates of West Helena and District 1.2, Division 3 Judge Ben Story were both unopposed, as was District 1 prosecutor Fletcher Long.
Primary elections will take place on Tuesday, May 21, with early voting opening on May 6, in the County Clerk's office. While filing for the primary elections closed Tuesday, municipal filing for Forrest City, Wheatley, Palestine, Colt, Caldwell and Hughes will remain open until Monday, May 20.
The St. Francis County Museum will celebrate Arkansas Heritage Month in May with a project focusing on the integration of the public schools involving the national civil rights movement of the late 1960s and early 1970s.
The statewide theme of the month will be "Growing Up In Arkansas," with the local effort will be called "Growing Up Together."
According to Museum Director Laura Mazzanti, "We think these events had a major impact on growing up in Arkansas for both the children of that time and the children of today. Integration in the public schools in Forrest City drew attention from local, state and national press."
The project will focus on the affects and local feelings and activities brought on by the civil rights movement. Mark Kumming of KXJK/KBFC Radio will be recording interviews with administrators, teachers, parents, students and local officials who experienced the integration movement. A documentary will be produced from those interviews, which will be aired during May.
In addition, a magazine style booklet will be produced for distribution in the schools and to the general public.
The museum would also like to have a photo exhibit on display during May.
The museum is requesting any assistance the public might be able to provide, including photos, news articles or remembrances from the period.
"Our aim is not sensationalism, but a factual documentation of events significant to this area that tell the story of growing up in Arkansas," said Kumming.
The St. Francis County Museum was one of 12 applicants to receive an Arkansas Heritage Month grant from the state, presented by Gov. Mike Huckabee in a ceremony at the state Capitol.
Anyone who might have questions about Arkansas Heritage Month activities is asked to call the museum at 870-261-1744, or come by the museum, which is located in the historic Rush-Gates Home at 603 Front Street in Forrest City. The hours of operation are Monday through Friday, from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m.
A forum on public education in Arkansas will be held Thursday at the Forrest City High School Cafeteria, beginning at 6 p.m. Similar meetings will be taking place simultaneously around the state -- at least one in each county.
The event is being sponosored by the Blue Ribbon Commssion of Public Education, and is entitled, "Speak Up Arkansas!" It is open to anyone, from educators to the general public.
A Cherry Valley woman's car was stolen by an armed thief in Forrest City Tuesday.
Yolanda L. Smith reported that she and a passenger, Koreckia Moten of Wynne, were in a 1995 Oldsmobile, traveling west on W. St. Andrew. They came to a stop sign at End Street, and a man allegedly approached the car, fired several shots with a gun and made them get out of the vehicle. He left with the car. A purse belonging to one of the women and containing $200 was also reportedly left in the car.
Two men were arrested early this morning in connection with an incident in which a resident's screened porch was damaged.
According to the police report, Colin Futrell of 308 N. Izard called the police and said someone was trying to break into his screened porch.
When officers arrived, they saw two men -- one dressed as a woman -- walking from the scene. The man dressed as a woman was identified as Mark Clark, 19, of 404 Grant Street in Forrest City. The other man gave several names and several dates of birth, and could not be identified at the time of his arrest. He was listed in the police report as a John Doe. He was allegedly in possession of a crack pipe and some marijuana.
Clark was charged with criminal mischief and public intoxication. The John Doe was charged with criminal mischief, possessing drug paraphernalia and possession of a controlled substance.