By DAVID NICHOL
T-H Staff Writer
A new computer at the Palestine Police Department will give instant access to information on missing children around the country.
Gary Matthewson was installing the equipment today. It connects Palestine with the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.
"It's going to allow them to have access to pictures they can print off," said Matthewson. "They can check for anyone from a certain area, a certain state, anywhere in the United States."
That isn't all.
"Also, it's going to allow them, if they have a child come up missing here, they can scan it into their computer, and in five minutes they can have that picture, that information, out on the national network," he said. "So it's just going to turn hours into minutes, getting that information out that they need, to get a child returned."
The setup, which altogether costs about $1,300, is a good deal for small towns, said Matthewson.
"What this does, it gets rid of the 'small town syndrome,'" he said. "They're going to have just as much access to all the information, and they are going to be able to get their information out there just as fast as any large city in the United States."
Police Chief Stanley Barnes said he is glad to have the computer.
"I hope we don't ever have to use it," he said. "But if we do need it, we've got it. The reason I put in for it is the school here."
Mayor Willetta Carroll said she was taking no credit for the system.
"I think it's great, but you know that was all Stanley's doing. He should get all the credit, not me. I think he's doing a fantastic job."
By KENDALL OWENS
T-H Staff Writer
"The ballots should be in by Tuesday," said St. Francis County Election Coordinator Judy Armstrong this morning when asked if early voting for the Sept. 17 school elections would begin on time.
Early voting is scheduled to begin at 8 a.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 3.
According to Armstrong, ballots have been ordered from ES&S, of Omaha, Neb., and county election officials expect the ballots to be ready for early voting. Voters may cast their ballots from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the St. Francis County Courthouse in the St. Francis County Clerk's office. Early voting will end on Monday, Sept. 16.
"We fully expect the ballots to be in Tuesday so that we can start early voting on time. The only delay that we might see would be due to the holiday weekend, but no one has told us that they wouldn't be on time," Armstrong said.
Contested school board races will be held in both the Forrest City and Palestine-Wheatley School Districts.
Polling locations have been selected for the Sept. 17 school election.
The St. Francis County Election Commission met this morning at the Forrest City School Administration office.
The polling locations will be as follows.
Ward 1, Christ Church; Wards 2, 3 and 4, Forrest City Civic Center; Courthouse East and West, Bonaire and Tuni, St. Francis County Courthouse; Parrott, Good Hope Church; Madison, Widener, Round Pond and Mosely, Madison City Hall.
Hughes City and Country, Heth, Blackfish and Horseshoe Lake, new Hughes Community Center.
Palestine at the Twin Assembly Church; Wheatley at the Wheatley Community Center.
A small turnout is expected. None of the districts is asking for a millage increase, and there are only two contested school board races in the entire county. In Forrest City, incumbent Sandra Taylor is being challenged by Tony Morgan for Position 5. In Palestine-Wheatley, incumbent Stan Siler is being challenged by Don V. Lee for Position 5.
By ALAN SMITH
T-H Staff Writer
The Boy Scouts of America is a rite of passage for many young boys, and the organization will offer area youth the opportunity to join this week at local elementary schools.
BSA will host organizational meetings on Thursday for boys ages six to 18.
"Boys interested in the program should go to the school they attend on Thursday night," said Monica Farrester, a Delta District Executive of the Quapaw area council. The Delta District includes 10 packs in Arkansas, Monroe, Lee, Phillips and St. Francis counties.
Farrester says that scouting is a great way to teach youth values and help them develop character.
"The advantage boys who have been scouts have over the rest is that Scouting teaches them timeless values," explained Farrester, "It builds good character, keeps their morality straight and keeps them physically fit. The program also emphasizes citizenship training.
"On Thursday, Aug. 29, at 7 p.m., we are inviting all boys interested to sign up. Boys attending Central, Caldwell and Stewart elementary schools may sign up on that night. We will also be holding a sign-up meeting on Thursday, Sept. 5, for Forrest Hills and Madison Elementary students. The fees to join are $7. An additional $9 is needed to subscribe to the Boy Scout magazine," added Farrester.
Boys ages six to 10 are eligible for the Cub Scouts, and young men ages 11 to 18 are eligible for the Boy Scouts.
For more information call Terry Sharp at the Quapaw Area Council headquarters in Little Rock at (501) 664-4780.
St. Francis County had an unemployment rate of 9.2 percent in July, up from 9.1 percent in June, but down from the 9.8 percent recorded in July of last year.
According to figures from the Arkansas Employment Security Department, during July, St. Francis County had a civilian labor force of 12,075, with 10,950 working and 1,125 not working. The figures gave St. Francis County the 11th highest unemployment among Arkansas' 75 counties.
The state's highest unemployment was 13.8 percent, recorded in Mississippi County. In all, five counties had unemployment of 10 percent or higher. After Mississippi County, there was Chicot County (11.9 percent), Desha (11.2 percent), Phillips (10.8 percent) and Poinsett (10 percent).
The lowest unemployment was 2.4 percent, in Benton County. Two other counties had unemployment below 3 percent -- Madison County (2.7 percent) and Washington County (2.8 percent). Twenty-one counties had unemployment rates at 5 percent or lower.
The rates in surrounding counties during July were as follows: Cross, 7.2 percent; Crittenden, 7.2 percent; Lee, 9.8 percent; Phillips, 10.8 percent; Monroe, 8.5 percent; and Woodruff, 9.1 percent.
Statewide, the unemployment rate was 5.2 during July, the same rate posted for June. It was also the same rate posted for July of last year.
The St. Francis County Health Department reported this morning that it still has not received the Hepatitis B vaccine, which many school-aged children need.
The Health Department reported that there is a shortage of the vaccine, and there is still no word on when the vaccine will be received.
Two female employees at the Dollar General Store on South Washington Street were robbed at gunpoint as they were locking the business Sunday night.
The Forrest City Police Department said the two women told police they had just walked outside when they saw a black male subject, dressed in black and armed with a handgun, walk around the corner of the building toward them.
According to the report, the suspect told the women to get down on the ground as he proceeded to take their purses and the store deposit. An undetermined amount of money was stolen.
The investigation is continuing.
Several pieces of electronic equipment were stolen during a weekend break-in at the Lincoln Middle School at 149 N. Water St., in Forrest City.
The Forrest City Police Department reported a VCR, a computer, two monitors, a printer, a keyboard and two speakers were stolen during the burglary which was discovered Monday morning as students and teachers arrived for class. Police said entry was gained through a window on the north side of the building.
According to the police report, an officer responded to an alarm call at the school just after 5 a.m. Sunday, but the officer reported everything appeared normal at the school.