By DAVID NICHOL
T-H Staff Writer
The Legislature will probably not allocate any more money next year on economic development in Arkansas, but maybe there won't be any less, a state representative said this morning.
Rep. Danny Ferguson, who is also executive director of the Forrest City Area Chamber of Commerce, was responding to a comment by Sen. Jim Hill of Nashville. Hill, who will be Senate president in next year's legislative session, said earlier this week that the state budget will be too tight for an increase in funding for the Arkansas Department of Economic Development.
"We're not going to see a lot of new money in economic development next year, because of constraints on the state budget caused by education demands, the Department of Corrections and so forth," said Ferguson.
He said that in the past year, a consulting firm called Fluor Corp., had been hired by the state to prepare a report, comparing the industrial recruitment incentives in Arkansas to surrounding states as well as states throughout the region.
"There will probably be some tweaking of Arkansas' incentive package in the next session, but I don't look for things requiring money up front," said Ferguson. "Most of the tweaking is going to come from incentives that are performance-based. For instance, giving incentives for companies only after they have expanded, or after they have hired, more workers -- not an up-front net loss of revenue to the state."
Ferguson said the upcoming session of the Legislature will have an all-too-familiar theme.
"It looks like it's all going to be about money," he said.
A decision is pending from the Arkansas Supreme Court on a lower-court decision that ruled state public school funding inadequate.
"We hope that decision comes down before the session begins, so we can start addressing the tough decisions we'll have to make."
There is also the question of the sales tax on groceries. There is an effort underway to have a measure included on the ballot which would do away with the tax altogether. Ferguson said if that measure gets on the ballot, it stands a good chance of passing.
"While it is being touted to help low income people, it actually hurts low income people in lost services," said Ferguson.
"There are two trains of thought if it passes," he continued. "Will the state make up the loss, turn around and raise the state sales tax on everything else? Of course, when yo do that, it puts an increase on utility bills and non-food items, that also hurts low-income people."
He said the second train of thought would simply be to cut services.
"There is a feeling -- and I think if the measure gets on the ballot and passes overwhelmingly -- that the legislature will give the people what they've asked for, which is a huge cut in services."
By ALAN SMITH
T-H Staff Writer
A new problem with equipment was revealed to the Forrest City Water Commission this week.
Jim Beazley, manager of the Forrest City Water Utility, told commissioners of another piece of equipment that needs to be replaced as soon as possible.
"When it rains, it pours," Beazley said, referring to recent difficulties with a pump motor at the Mallory Road station that needed to be replaced last month and the current problem facing the commission.
"The pump station near Indian Hills (apartments) has had its motor burn out. A portable pump has been placed there temporarily, and is carrying the load. I need permission to purchase a new pump station for the location.
"The station is sized for that area. The only thing running on that station right now is the apartment complex, so we don't need a larger station right now. I want to replace it with one that is the same size," Beazley added.
Beazley asked for an above-ground station to replace the underground lift station that is in need of removal. The cost of the new station was presented to the commission as $26,085. The members voted unanimously to give Beazley permission to purchase the station.
Beazley also updated the commission on other news concerning the city sewers.
"We are looking at the sewers and trying to develop an over-all plan to repair and update the current system," Beazley said. "The problems we are seeing are simple ones, but not cheap ones."
By ALAN SMITH
T-H Staff Writer
Smaller than anticipated state budget cuts will allow Crowley's Ridge Technical Institute to begin its next financial year with a boost in finances, board members learned this week.
CRTI President Burl Lieblong presented the information to board members during their quarterly meeting on the Forrest City campus.
According to an expenditure analysis report handed out at the meeting, the cash available as of July 31, 2002 was $938,972.92. Lieblong said this figure is due basically to budgeting by school officials. The extra money will be added to the funds for the next financial year.
"We figured in a larger cut from the state than they took," Lieblong said. "They took approximately $260,000 in cuts, but we had forecasted more like $400,000 in cuts for this year. We took several cuts last year, and we budgeted this past year along those lines. That's why we have the extra money."
Lieblong also discussed with the board a vacant teaching position.
"Our ABE/GED instructor in Cross County has taken another job. We need to start interviewing candidates very soon," Lieblong told board members. Lieblong stated there maybe need for a special meeting to be called before the next scheduled meeting.
"The new classrooms for the truck driving class are near completion and are already being utilized," Lieblong added. "Plumbing and air conditioning are installed. All that is left is ramps to the doors."
The board also agreed on details of the barbecue held annually at CRTI. This year the event will take place on Oct. 4 from 5 to 9 p.m. and will again feature entertainment and door prizes.
The next scheduled meeting will take place on Nov. 16 at 6 p.m.
By KENDALL OWENS
T-H Staff Writer
A mobile home fire in Heth turned out to be more than just a fire when investigators with the St. Francis County Sheriff's Department noticed items missing from the home.
According to a report from the sheriff's department, around midnight last night, dispatchers received a call from a towing company driver that there was a large fire just west of the Interstate 40, 264 mile marker. According to the report, Deputy Hank Leary arrived at 24071 Hwy. 70 East, the home of 20-year-old Sarah Masner, and noticed flames inside the trailer.
Leary said as he approached the trailer he noticed several items on the ground outside, and upon entering the trailer, he noticed that a couch and chair were turned over in the living room and a mattress was on fire. The Hughes Fire Department arrived at the scene and put out the fire inside the home and a separate car fire on the outside of the structure.
Deputies reported the living room and a bedroom in the residence had been ransacked and a television and VCR were missing. The fire started in the master bedroom, according to officers.
Today's paper carries a special section saluting the families of Ronnie and Jerry Jarrett, partners in the J.T. Jarrett and Sons Partnership, and the St. Francis County Farm Family of the Year.
The Farm Family of the Year is sponsored annually by the Times-Herald, Entergy, the Arkansas Press Association and various farm agencies.
The section could not have been put together without the help of the following sponsors: Adam's Farms, Arkansas Concrete, Brother's Implement, Cache River Valley Seed, Catfish Island, Chez Weenie, City of Colt, City of Palestine, Clark Oil and Colony Shop.
Dearl and Harold Auto Electric, Debbie's Flowers and Gifts, Diamond D Wrecker, East Arkansas Insurance, Entergy, Erwin Keith, Farm Bureau, Farm Credit Mid-South, First National Bank of Eastern Arkansas and First National Bank of Wynne.
Food Giant, Forrest City Area Chamber of Commerce, Forrest City Bank, The Earl Gore Family, Gray's Service Center, Greg and Jim's, Sonny Gunn, Hair Force One, Gene Harris and Bobby Henard Tire.
Preston Hicky, Hobbs Implement, Honda of Forrest City, Ray Houser, Johnny and Rita Jayroe, Jayroe Professional Business Services, Judy's Antiques and Gifts, Jumper's Well Service, Landtree LLC and Lawhon-Wheatley.
Lindsey Brothers Gin, Littlefield's Grocery, Looney Implement of Hughes, Mike's Family Foods, Howard Miller Insurance, Paula's Hair Care, Pearson Insurance, Producer's Rice-Wynne, Producers Tractor and JoAnn Raulerson.
Riceland Foods-Wheatley, Ridout Lumber, St. Francis County Co-op, St. Francis County Judge Carl Cisco, Sanyo, Sears, Ted's Marine and Sporting Goods, Times Herald Printing and Office Products, Ungerank Chiropractic and Western Auto.
Wholesale Metal, Wilkin's Outlet and Woodruff Electric Cooperative Corporation.