By KENDALL OWENS
T-H Staff Writer
Three offices at the St. Francis County Courthouse were cited for failing to comply with state laws, according to the final audit report released by the state.
The report, compiled by state auditors, cites a variety of infractions in the offices of St. Francis County Treasurer Ann Harbin, St. Francis County Clerk Elizabeth Smith and St. Francis County Judge Carl Cisco.
The report also shows that the "offices of sheriff and collector and circuit clerk, were in substantial compliance with Arkansas fiscal and financial laws."
According to the report, both Cisco's and Harbin's offices were cited for failing to utilize the claims process regarding two funds, the Transportation Mall Fund, which was established to handle grant funds for the project, and the East Arkansas Enterprise Community Fund.
According to the audit report, $350,372 in funds for the two accounts was improperly paid. According to Harbin in a June story regarding the audit exit, which also cited the errors, the two accounts were not included in the claims process because they were totally funded through grants.
"The county sees no revenue from either of these two accounts which hold grant funding only. With the transportation mall, that money goes into that account and everything is actually paid out of Jonesboro. All the county has is an account set up so that we can input the grant funds. The funds in the EAEC account are there because we're set up to be their fiscal agent and basically do their check writing," Harbin said while referring to the exit audit report in June.
This morning, Harbin said both accounts have now been dealt with, and the county is in compliance with the auditors request.
Since June, the county, which was serving as fiscal agent for the EAEC, has removed itself from the position which eliminated the handling of EAEC funds.
"We went to the EAEC in July and told them that we were going to step down as fiscal agent due to the audit issues, and they told us that they were in the process of incorporating which would eliminate the need for a fiscal agent. We recently were able to step down completely as fiscal agent because they completed their incorporation, and we're now in full compliance with the auditors' request," said Cisco.
Harbin was also cited for again failing to properly reconcile bank statements with county records. According to the audit report, accurate reconciliation is necessary to provide the Quorum Court and the county with an accurate financial position of the county. According to Harbin, the errors were due in large part to checks which were voided or had payment stopped which hadn't been logged in the county books.
"This is referring to one bank that we had problems with because of checks being voided or stop payments on from the county clerk's office that we were not notified about. This only involved a few dollars, and since has been corrected," Harbin said in a written statement.
Cisco was also cited by auditors for authorizing transfers from restricted funds which have yet to be repaid. According to the audit report, $40,000 was owed to the economic development account from county general and solid waste. Cisco said that the funds would be repaid, once the county receives the final tax settlement.
An error in computing the assessor's salary and expense and the collector commission to the amount of $10,308, which was charged to county general, led to St. Francis County Clerk Elizabeth Smith also receiving a write up.
"This was just human error, and the matter has been cleared up and we're in compliance," said Smith.
In June, Smith blamed the error on problems computing the $300 tax credit which was instituted in 2001.
Two personal injury lawsuits have been filed in St. Francis County Circuit Court, one against a fast food restaurant and the other against a cable company.
Bobby Malone of Forrest City is asking for $74,500 from Taco Bell. His suit claims that on Aug. 12, 2001, at about 3 p.m., Malone entered the restaurant and slipped on a wet substance on the floor.
The suit claims that Taco Bell was negligent in allegedly not cleaning up the floor properly and in not warning that the floor was wet.
The second suit was filed by Beatrice Whiteside and Scott Whiteside against East Arkansas Video.
The suit claims that on Nov. 13 of this year, Beatrice Whiteside was visiting an apartment complex on Grobmyer Circle, when she tripped over a cable which had been installed in the complex. According to the suit, the cable was permitted to lie on top of a sidewalk.
The suit claims that Beatrice Whiteside incurred injuries, medical expenses and loss of wages. It also claims that Scott Whiteside has suffered loss of society and consortium of his wife.
The suit does not specify an amount.
Both suits call for a trial by jury.
By ALAN SMITH
T-H Staff Writer
Being named the Grand Marshal of a parade is a prestigious honor, and this year that goes to a deserving group of young people who are very active in both their school and their community.
The Forrest City High School Mock Trial Team, winners of the 2001 and 2002 state mock trial championships, have been named Grand Marshals for the Forrest City Community Christmas Parade to be held Friday night beginning at 7 p.m.
The teams' selection, according to Mary Beth Doler of the Forrest City Area Chamber of Commerce, is consistent with the process used in past years.
"We try to choose someone who has accomplished something great each year to serve as Grand Marshal," said Doler. "This group of teenagers has accomplished many things in the past two years. All you ever hear about are teenagers in a negative sense, and we felt it was high time to put the spotlight on some community-minded teens."
By "community minded," Doler is referring to the Mock Trial teams in past years and how they have represented Forrest City, not only at the state level, but nationally as well. Mock Trial team members also help in projects that benefit the community.
"These kids are very heavily involved with the Toys for Tots program," explains Brad Beavers, an attorney coach for the team. "These are top kids. We are very proud of them, and the kids who graduated who were on the team, they all represent everything that is good in our community and really deserve this honor."
Abbie Robinson, principal of FCHS adds that this group is one of the best she has seen at the school.
"We all are very proud of the achievements of this group, and the seniors who graduated last year," commented Robinson. "To win back-to-back championships is a real accomplishment. These students have not only done that, but most of the kids are very active in student government, in the Beta Club and other community service projects. We couldn't be more proud of them all."
The Mock Trial team members will lead the parade beginning at 7 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 6. The parade will begin at the FCHS parking lot, travel up Arkansas Street to Washington Street and then travel south. The parade will end at the Union Planters Bank on Rosser Street.
Village Creek State Park is hosting a pair of events this month to help with the annual Toys for Tots Drive.
According to a press release from Village Creek, a benefit ride for Toys for Tots will be held Saturday, Dec. 8, at 8 a.m. The park will be accepting new toys, with a value of $10 or more, and check in will take place in the north campground. The ride will go throughout the day, and the trail fee will be waived for the day. Riders must have negative Coggins papers on each horse, and copies are not acceptable.
Village Creek is also accepting unwrapped toys at the visitors center, daily, between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. or at the drop box at First National Bank in Wynne. Toys will be accepted until Dec. 20, and will be distributed on Dec. 21 and Dec. 22. Monetary donations are also being accepted by check or money order.
For more information on either event, call (870)238-9406.
The St. Francis County Food Pantry is getting ready for its campaign to give Christmas boxes to the needy.
Because of tight times, "Christmas boxes this year are for those who can't afford their own Christmas dinner," said Catherine Freeman of the Pantry.
People may sign up for boxes beginning at 8 a.m. on Monday, Dec. 9.
In the meantime, Freeman said the Pantry is in need of donations.
"We need all the donations we can get," she said.
She also reported that the Pantry will close Dec. 20, and will reopen Jan 2.