By DAVID NICHOL
T-H Staff Writer
The Arkansas Agricultural Exposition opened for its 23rd annual two-day session this morning.
Some 46 exhibitors, ranging from 4-H to chemicals and tractor companies, are inside and outside the Forrest City Civic Center. Also, experts on different aspects of agriculture will be conducting seminars on a variety of crops.
St. Francis County Extension Agent Justin Hensley said that while the seminars are mostly on the same subjects as usual, there may be some extra attention paid to bugs this year.
"I guess there is one thing, and that's insect control," said Hensley. "We had such a big problem with stinkbugs last year in everything last year -- rice, soybeans and cotton. We've kind of got a little bit more emphasis on them, I believe."
He said the winter has been fairly mild, which might make people expect even more stinkbugs. However, at least for the insects which concern farmers, the mild weather could end up helping.
"One thing that has helped us out, maybe, is that we have seen a few of them already out and about," he said. "There's not very much for them to feed on, because they are, pretty much, fruit feeders. And maybe the ones who come out of dormancy will starve to death, or we'll get a good cold spell and freeze them out. But they had a good over-winter population."
One thing noticeable this year is that there are fewer pieces of large equipment on display. The parking lot beside the civic center is usually lined with some of the bigger offerings of farm equipment companies, but there is not as much this year.
Hensley agreed there was less equipment this year. "I don't know, it may have something to do with sales being down."
He said some farmers are waiting on big ticket items, as well as waiting to decide what they will plant.
"With the Farm Bill still being up in the air, there are a lot of farmers who just don't know what they're going to plant or how much of it," he said. "When the Farm Bill is up in the air, the farmer is pretty much up in the air. So they're kind of leery about taking on a big purchase right now."
He said some farmers have their minds made up, "so they're just going to go on with it. But I know that some of them are waiting to see."
By TAMARA JOHNSON
Managing Editor
A middle school teacher in the Forrest City School District has been arrested on felony drug charges.
April Fulbright Gilbert, 26, a sixth grade social studies teacher at Lincoln Middle School, was arrested Saturday morning when police executed a search warrant at her residence in Wynne.
Forrest City School District Superintendent Lee Vent said he was unaware of Gilbert's arrest, but added that because it will be a personnel matter, he could not comment at this time on Gilbert's status in the district. He did, however, confirm that Gilbert had been at work a half a day on Tuesday and Wednesday this week. This is Gilbert's first year to teach in Forrest City.
"I have not heard about this, but I will have to go mum at this point because it is a personnel issue. This was news to me and to the principal at Lincoln." Vent said.
FCSD policy allows for an administrative hearing regarding Gilbert's future with the district following her arrest.
According to reports from the Cross County Sheriff's Department, Gilbert and Joshua Pagan, 21, were arrested at their home at 908 Cleveland Street in Wynne about 10:30 a.m. Saturday during the execution of a search warrant by deputies and Arkansas State Police. During the search, police found about six grams of crystal methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia.
Gilbert and Pagan were charged Saturday with possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver, simultaneous possession of drugs and firearms and possession of drug paraphernalia.
The two were charged Monday, prior to an appearance in Cross County District Court, with endangering the welfare of a minor. That charge involves Gilbert's son, who a Cross County Sheriff's Department spokesperson said was at the residence at the time of the arrests.
The bond for both suspects was set at $25,000, and their charges were transferred to Cross County Circuit Court.
By KENDALL OWENS
T-H Staff Writer
Palestine-Wheatley School District officials are still trying to sort through allegations of a strip search students say was conducted recently by a high school principal.
The incident is reported to have occurred at the junior high school campus in Wheatley after money was discovered missing by a person at that school.
PWSD Superintendent Jimmy Allen said that because the investigation is continuing, no disciplinary action has yet been taken against the principal, Jeff Cagle, or any of the students interviewed so far.
It was originally reported to the Times-Herald that 12 students were strip-searched in an attempt to locate the missing money. However, according to school district officials, the number of students actually searched has dropped to seven, with administration officials unsure of how many students were interviewed.
Allen said the school administration plans to "thoroughly investigate" the matter before taking any disciplinary actions.
"As of right now, there have been no actions taken because we want to make sure that we respect everyones' rights. As we go through this, we have to be aware of the rights of the students and their parents as well as the rights of the administrator involved," Allen said.
Monday it was reported that Cagle, who was working at the junior high facility while PWJHS principal Charles "Bubba" McCain was off campus at a meeting, searched the students in an effort to find money that was missing from the office.
This morning, Allen clarified the matter saying that the money was not school district money, but money taken from an individual.
When asked if Cagle notified the district prior to beginning the search Allen answered, "There was no notification to the administration, nor was the Wheatley Marshal notified. We've found out that it was requested that someone call the Wheatley Police Department because the officer also works with the district, but that call never went out. There has been no report taken by the police, but that could happen later on. We've also not been able to locate the money that was reported missing."
Allen also said rumors of a special school board meeting are false. "There could be an incident that isn't related to this at any time that would merit a called meeting, but reports that there has been a meeting called for tomorrow night are false. Right now, we're going on as scheduled to have our regular meeting on the 25th," he said.
By KENDALL OWENS
T-H Staff Writer
Filing fees for the May Democratic Primary were set Tuesday by the St. Francis County Democratic Central Committee.
Committee members agreed to leave the filing fees as they were during the 2000 election. The filing fees for the May primary election are: County Judge and County Sheriff, $786; the County Clerk, Circuit Clerk, County Assessor and County Treasurer, $706; the County Coroner, $101; Justices of the Peace, $95; Constables, $36 and Democratic Central Committee, $10. The fees for Widener residents interested in running for Mayor or Alderman also remained the same at $40.
According to Betty Proctor, committee chairman, the national recession is the primary reason for not increasing the filing fees.
"Money is not flowing as freely right now as it was during the last primary, and I don't see a reason why we should increase the fees. They're fine right where they are," Proctor said.
In other business, the committee voted to allow St. Francis County TreasurerElizabeth Smith to collect filing fees at a cost of $800. According to committee member Joe Young, the procedure follows tradition for the DCC.
"We've always had the treasurer handle the fees, because everything else has to go through her office. I've spoken with Elizabeth, and she is willing to handle everything again this year," Young said.
Committee members also were notified that a political rally will be held Saturday, April 13, at the Forrest City Civic Center.
It was also announced during the meeting that the filing period for the election will begin Tuesday, March 19, and close at noon on Tuesday, April 2.
The primary will be held Tuesday May, 21.
By DAVID NICHOL
T-H Staff Writer
"Who will build Arkansas if her own people do not? And who will build Forrest City and St. Francis County if their own people do not? If you don't care, why should anybody else?"
That was the challenge from Pat Lile, president and CEO of the Arkansas Community Foundation, as she spoke to the Forrest City Rotary Club Tuesday. The foundation has been in existence for 25 years and has assets of about $30 million. She was in town to help spread the word about the St. Francis County Community Foundation, formed just last year as an affiliate of the statewide organization.
"You can get some money from the state sometimes, and even get some money from a national foundation, but that's not the long term answer," Lile said. "The answer lies within ourselves. Who will build Forrest City and St. Francis County if you do not?"
She said the local foundation would be a vehicle for philanthropy and community building. The foundation can serve as an umbrella organization, which can provide expertise in establishing permanent endowments for a variety of causes, from scholarships to aid for non-profit organizations and churches. In addition, if the local foundation can raise $600,000 over the next six years, it will be eligible for a one-to-one match from the Walton Family Charitable Support Foundation.
"A community foundation is unique in that it consists of the financial assets of a lot of different people. It is not a private foundation which gets its wealth from one family or one individual or company," she said. She added that there is a need for community foundations.
"What is the need? I'll tell you what the need is," Lile said. "I don't know of a non-profit that has adequate operating money. I don't know a non-pofit that doesn't need another place to go for funding. It's a real challenge day to day to keep those doors open."
However, she said she is optimistic. She said she was born in Hope and lived in Pine Bluff for years before moving to Little Rock.
"At the risk of sounding political, I still believe in a place called Hope," she said, and then continued, "I believe in a place called Forrest City and a place called Mena and a place called Rogers...That's where the action is. That's were real people, every day, go about building their lives and building a community that is worthy of the value system that they treasure."
People interested in learning more about the St. Francis County Community Foundation may contact Pat Flanagin, chairman, or Joye Hughes, executive director, at 633-1485. Donations are tax-deductible.