The Workforce Investment Board of Eastern Arkansas has received a $1.5 million grant for the purpose of serving workers who were laid off from four area companies.
"Nearly 300 workers were affected by layoffs and plant closings at Airtherm, Coastal Unilube, D & G Trucking and Yale Hoist," said Sharon Williams, executive director of the Workforce Investment Board of Eastern Arkansas.
Airtherm and Yale Hoist were located in Forrest City. Coastal Unilube was located in West Memphis, and D&G Trucking was in Wynne.
The Board applied for funds from discretionary funds available through the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) to serve Dislocated Workers.
"It took DOL a long time to respond to the request, but full authorization has been given to immediately begin serving those in need of training and employment services," she said.
Only workers affected by any of the four company layoffs should visit the Workforce Center of Forrest City, 2615 South Washington, on Saturday, Aug. 17 from 8:30 a.m. to 11 a.m., or the Workforce Center in West Memphis, 260 Shoppingway, on Monday, Aug. 19 from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
"Although all workers are encouraged to come to the area Workforce Centers in each of the five counties, these two days have been designated for those individuals specifically," said Williams. "It is important to note, services are always available to other Dislocated Workers at any of the Centers," Williams added.
In the meantime on a related subject, a nonprofit agency says Arkansas lost almost $14.5 million in federal funds to train low-income, low-skilled Arkansans for jobs.
The Good Faith Fund, in a report released Thursday, said the state was eligible to receive $25 million in the fiscal year that ended June 30, 2001. But only about $10.5 million was used. The unused money does not carry forward to following years.
''The bottom line, with all this money going unspent, is that a lot of people with low skills are going without training they need,'' Angela Duran, director of policy development for Good Faith, said. ''And a lot of employers are not getting the well-trained employees they need.''
Only 37 percent of the money actually spent, about $3.9 million, was used to train workers. Almost 60 percent of the $10.5 million spent last year -- about $6.3 million -- was for programs such as job-search assistance, resume preparation and career planning.
Cindy Varner, deputy director of the Arkansas Workforce Investment Board, said it took several months for the state's 10 work-force investment boards to implement a new program under the Workforce Investment Act. The act replaced the Job Training Partnership Act, the vehicle to train workers in Arkansas for more than a decade.
''This was not unique to Arkansas,'' Varner said. ''Many states across the nation underused their expenditure of funds.''
Varner said Arkansas' work-force investment boards did a better job using their available funds in the fiscal year that ended June 30, 2002, but she didn't give any specifics.
Sen. Percy Malone, D-Arkadelphia, co-sponsored the state version of the federal law.
''A lot of us are disappointed that not more money is going to workers,'' Malone said. ''And we've been disappointed that things have not moved faster. But I'm not sure anybody could have done much better.''
Good Faith surveyed more than 100 of Arkansas' largest employers. Of the 97 percent who responded, 67 percent said they had trouble finding the skilled workers they needed.
The nonprofit's report also said the work-force boards have done a poor job of informing businesses in Arkansas about the programs available to them.
The Good Faith Fund is a subsidiary of Southern Development Bancorporation in Arkadelphia, and has offices in Pine Bluff, Stuttgart, Helena and Little Rock.
By ALAN SMITH
T-H Staff Writer
The Forrest City Heart Walk Committee met this week to discuss plans for this year's annual fundraiser.
The annual Heart Walk benefits the American Heart Association which uses the donations to fund research leading to advances in curing and treating cardiovascular disease and strokes. This year's Heart Walk is scheduled for Oct. 12 at Baptist Memorial Hospital-Forrest City.
The goal this year is to raise $25,000, but sponsorship will make up a large percentage of that goal, said Alexis Smith, an AHA representative who has worked with the Forrest City effort for the past two years.
"Our goal is to have $7,000 of the $25,000 paid for by sponsorships," Smith told committee members. "We need to start the process of contacting potential sponsors and past sponsors for donations and teams of walkers."
The Presenting Sponsor for this year's Heart Walk is Baptist Memorial Hospital - Forrest City. Forrest City Bank will be the Bank Day Sponsor, and UPS will be a Friend of Heart Sponsor.
"I am also contacting local businesses about selling our paper hearts at their registers. Last year we sold $2,000 worth," added Smith. "The hearts are a dollar each and have names of loved ones written on them. They are displayed in the store for people to read and really do a lot to promote the event."
Schools are another traditional fundraising method that the commission plans to use again this year.
"Hopefully, I can have the area schools contacted by the first or second week of school and know what they are going to do (as far as donations, fundraising and teams of walkers)," committee member Robert Doyle commented. "The earlier I can talk to them, the better, since we are running the walk earlier this year than in years past."
The committee also set a date for the annual team captain kick-off. The kick-off will be held Monday, Sept. 9, from 11:30 a.m. until 1 p.m. at Burger King.
Smith also told committee members that she is leaving her current position and will be replaced by Anne Moyer of Fayetteville who will help with the Forrest City event.
By KENDALL OWENS
T-H Staff Writer
The survivors of a man who died as the result of injuries sustained in a March accident near Palestine have filed a lawsuit against both the companies and the drivers involved in the wreck.
The accident occurred on Interstate 40 involving a shuttle bus which transports travelers between the Memphis and Little Rock airports.
According to a lawsuit filed in the St. Francis County Circuit Clerk's office, Dr. Sudhir Kumar, the administrator of the estate of M.S. Chandrasekharaiah, is suing the Memphis-based, The Bette Bus Shuttle, Inc. and its driver, Albert Raymond Thiele and an Alabama trucking company, John M. Gibbs Livestock, and its driver, Rodney Allen White. The lawsuit alleges negligence which caused the death of Chandrasekharaiah who was a passenger on the Bette Bus.
The suit claims that Thiele was westbound on I-40 in the left inside lane when he came upon slowed and stopped traffic. Allegedly, Thiele pulled the 2001 Dodge Ram van onto the shoulder so that he could see traffic ahead of him. Thiele then backed down the left shoulder of the interstate and attempted to back across both lanes of traffic when he reportedly backed into the path of a 2000 Peterbilt truck being operated by White.
The estate of Chandrasekharaiah is seeking damages for loss of life, funeral expenses, pain and suffering prior to his death, medical expenses attributed to the accident, the value of earnings, profits, salary and/or working time lost by Chandrasekharaiah prior to his death, scars and disfigurement sustained and the expenses of the necessary help in Chandrasekharaiah's home prior to his death which was required as a result of the accident. The estate is also seeking damages for financial injuries, mental anguish and loss of consortium.
By KENDALL OWENS
T-H Staff Writer
Members of the Colt City Council heard and approved the third reading on two ordinances Thursday night during their regular monthly meeting.
One ordinance makes a temporary $3 charge on residential water bills permanent. The money will assist in repaying a loan for the construction of a new well. The second ordinance requires building permits to be purchased for new construction in the city.
In other business, aldermen agreed to a 50-cent raise for a city employee. On the recommendation of City Manager Bobby Clarkson, council members approved the raise for part-time employee Debbie Cofield.
"Debbie is probably the hardest working employee that we have. She's always busy doing something, whether it's working over at the park or cleaning out the community center, and I just think that we need to show her how much we appreciate her," Clarkson said.
Clarkson also told council members that letters had been sent to several Colt residents regarding uncut grass. Clarkson also added that he was having problems contacting some landowners.
"I've had some complaints, and so I've started sending out letters to those people that we've got addresses on and everything. We've got some people that have property in the area that don't live here anymore, and that makes things a little more difficult. I've got to do some investigating to get in contact with those folks, but as a rule, once they've received a letter, they take care of the problem," Clarkson said.
Colt currently has an ordinance which allows the city to cut grass at a charge of $2 per square foot. According to city attorney Steve Routon, that would be approximately $800 for cutting one acre.
The Wheatley City Council reviewed a draft of a new plumbing ordinance during their regular meeting Thursday night.
City Attorney Marshall Wright brought the new ordinance to the councils attention, stating that the draft was much like the old ordinance but had some minor changes.
"The new ordinance looks a lot like the old one," said Wright. "The difference between the two is that the language is updated in the new one, and I added a section on street opening."
Wright explained that as the ordinance reads currently, there are no provisions made for repair to city streets that are torn up to connect properties to the city water system.
"This ordinance states that anyone connecting to city water and has to tear up city streets to access it must replace any and all damage they cause and pay for it themselves," Wright told council members.
"Fee changes were left out of the draft because I didn't know if you (the council) wanted to change the rates or not. I feel that updating the current ordinance is something we should do, whether or not we change the fee rates," Wright continued.
The council tabled the matter until the September meeting.
An update on condemned property and property needing to be cleaned was also presented.
"There are several lots that the city does not own that we are currently doing the up-keep for and are not getting paid to do," Mayor Larry Nash commented. "The owners need to be contacted and told that this will stop."
A Forrest City Police officer responding to a report that shots had been fired was involved in a traffic accident Thursday afternoon.
Patrolman John Thomas was responding to the report that shots were fired at 732 Hicky Street. He was traveling north on Division Street when the accident occurred.
According to Thomas, a vehicle pulled out in front of him from the St. Francis County Health Unit office.
There was no report on the name of the driver of the other vehicle. An ambulance was called to the scene.