By DAVID NICHOL
T-H Staff Writer
The Forrest City Airport Commission on Monday discussed the lease of Hutcherson Flying Service, and the apparent consensus was to renew the lease, although a vote was not taken.
Hutcherson Flying Service manages the airport, and does such things as mowing the grass, selling fuel and keeping the airport open six days a week during the summer and five days a week during the winter, according to commission member Homer Jacobs.
"I feel they are really doing a good job," said Jacobs. "We need them and they need us."
The lease expires at the end of December.
Commission Chairman Bill Hays asked if any members have heard of anyone else wanting the job at the airport.
"They're doing a good job, but do we need to look at other people?" he asked. "I haven't heard from anyone else."
The flying service is asking for a five-year lease, while the commission seemed more inclined toward a three-year lease.
In the end, Hays said it has always been a practice for Hutcherson to inform the commission in writing if it wished to renew its lease.
"They do need to put this in writing and submit their request for consideration," Hays said.
The vote will probably be taken at the next meeting.
In other business, the commission learned that there may be news by the middle of December on whether or not the scaled-down master plan for the airport has been approved.
A more ambitious expansion plan was canceled after local landowners vigorously opposed the idea.
There was also discussion about a new sign for the airport. Jacobs said he had spoken to Mayor Larry Bryant, who was supportive of the effort. There was also some discussion over whether the sign should be lighted or not. An unlighted sign would be cheaper.
On another matter, the commission discussed some needed maintenance on the parking lot and taxi areas of the airport. It was estimated that those surfaces had not been sealed since 1988 or 1989. An estimate has been given on the cost of filling the cracks, patching and striping. However, it is over the $5,000 limit which is the maximum amount the mayor can spend without bidding
There is also a possibility that some of the work could be done by the city. After some discussion, it was decided to find out if the city could handle some of the work, and then possibly bid out the rest of the job.
By DAVID NICHOL
T-H Staff Writer
Nathaniel Jackson has been interested in law enforcement all his life, and has turned that interest into a career.
The new commander of Arkansas State Police Troop D, headquartered at Forrest City, got his first taste of law enforcement while in the Army, as a member of the Military Police.
"I started my law enforcement career in the military, back in 1968. I stayed eight and a half years on active duty with the Military Police, got out and went in the Army Reserve. I just always had an interest in law enforcement. It's something I always wanted to do, from a teenager all the way up."
He retired from the Army Reserve with 28 years of service.
He is a graduate of the FBI National Academy as well as his military training. He has also completed numerous criminal justice courses.
Jackson, 54, was originally from Mississippi but grew up in Pine Bluff. He has been working with the State Police for 23 years.
He began his career in Crossett as a trooper. He was promoted to sergeant and spent several years with Troop A in Little Rock. In Oct. of 1984 he was promoted to lieutenant, and became assistant troop commander of Troop G in Hope.
In January of 2001, he became commander of the Special Investigation Unit in Little Rock, which he said is more commonly known as Internal Affairs.
"I was there for about a year and 10 months and then was promoted to captain.
He said he will live in Marion.
He and his wife, Joyce, have two children. Nathaniel Jackson Jr. lives in Pine Bluff and Pamela Jackson lives in Jonesboro.
"I'm happy to become a member of the Troop D family," said Jackson. "I'm looking forward to working with the guys here. It's my understanding that they're a great bunch of guys, hard workers. And I plan on continuing that."
Jackson took his position Dec. 1, replacing Capt. Steve Gray, who retired.
Traffic was backed up on Highway 79 between Marianna and Hughes for about three hours Monday afternoon.
Arkansas State Police Trooper Deryl Walker, with Troop D headquarters in Forrest City, said the accident occurred about 4 p.m. when an 18-wheeler collided head-on with a farm tractor.
Stanley Johnson, 54, of Memphis, was traveling south on Highway 79 at the L'Anguille River Bridge when he passed a stopped Winnebago, according to Walker. The Winnebago had stopped in the highway to allow the John Deere 4960 farm tractor, driven by Lavern London, 39, to cross the bridge. Walker said the bridge is long, and the tractor was covering most of it, which prevented the motor home from crossing. According to Walker, Johnson drove his 1995 Volvo tractor trailer around the motor home and hit the tractor head on.
The Winnebago was not involved in the crash.
Walker said the highway was closed for about three hours while crews cleaned up the debris.
London was taken by ambulance to Baptist Memorial Hospital-Forrest City where he was treated and released.
Johnson was cited for careless driving.
A Christmas float on its way back to Forrest City Monday night was damaged when it was hit by a drunk driver on Highway 70 West.
The float, decorated by the Federal Correctional Institution-Forrest City, was headed home after participating in the Brinkley Christmas Parade.
According to a report on file at the St. Francis County Sheriff's Department, the float was eastbound on Highway 70 when it was struck by Jesse M. Allen, 66, of Palestine, a multiple DWI offender. Allen reportedly crossed the center line and struck the float. After exiting his vehicle, Allen spoke with FCI-FC officials before fleeing on foot to a nearby field where he was found after state police engaged the canine unit in the search.
Allen is charged with fourth offense DWI, drinking in public, driving on a suspended driver's license, driving left of center, no proof of insurance, fleeing and driving with suspended vehicle tags.
FCI-FC officials did not return phone calls about the wreck.
In a weekend where upsets were the name of the game in the high school and college ranks, Jamie Joshua from Forrest City survived to win the Times-Herald Professor Pigskin contest last week.
Joshua missed only five of the selected games to win the $50 cash prize.
The final Professor Pigskin selections for 2002 can be found inside today's Times-Herald.
Choose wisely. This is the last chance until next year.
Sales tax receipts for October netted $145,849.14 for St. Francis County government.
In addition, towns inside the county received the following: Hughes, $28,906.62; Forrest City, $228,744.72; Wheatley, $5,759.64; Palestine, $11,472.84; Madison, $15,281.64; Caldwell, $7,199.56; Colt, $5,697.72; Widener, $5,186.80.
Towns in St. Francis County with their own sales taxes received the following: Forrest City, $164,533.14; Hughes, 8,519.40; Madison, $2,366.58; Palestine, $$6,693.21; Wheatley, $5,391.17.
A child walking to school in Forrest Hills was struck by a motorist Monday morning.
Jeremy Jones, 10, was hit about 7:40 a.m. by a 1995 Dodge driven by Louise Quinn Day, 72, 825 Park Dr., Forrest City.
According to the report on file at the Forrest City Police Department, Day said she was traveling south on Sycamore, near Laurel Circle, when she saw three children walking in the roadway toward a nearby school. Day said Jones walked in front of her vehicle, causing her to strike him.
Jones, whose leg was injured, was taken to Baptist Memorial Hospital-Forrest City by his mother, and was treated and released.