By TAMARA JOHNSON
Managing Editor
A middle school teacher arrested on drug charges has been suspended with pay pending the outcome of a police investigation.
Forrest City School District Superintendent Lee Vent said April Fulbright Gilbert, 26, a first-year social studies teacher at Lincoln Middle School, was suspended this morning following an administrative hearing in his office.
"She has been suspended with pay while this is being investigated by authorities," Vent said. "We're going to see how that plays out."
Gilbert was arrested Saturday at her home in Wynne along with 21-year-old Joshua Pagan. The two are charged with possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver, possession of drug paraphernalia, simultaneous possession of drugs and firearms and endangering the welfare of a minor.
She was arraigned Monday in Cross County District Court and released on a $25,000 bond.
She taught her classes a half a day on Tuesday and Wednesday this week, according to school officials.
The district has begun the process of replacing Gilbert. Vent said district officials are reviewing applications on file "to try and find the best possible replacement for her."
The suspension process allows Gilbert to have a hearing before school board members if she requests such a meeting.
By CRYSTAL HOLLIS
T-H Staff Writer
The results of an impact study conducted on last year's AAAAA basketball in Forrest City will not be released to a Chamber of Commerce requesting the information.
Forrest City Advertising and Promotions Commission Chairman Kem Merrell said because the commission paid for the study, the commission owns it and he will not release the survey results for the Fort Smith Chamber of Commerce. "It is ours, and we are not going to release it," said Merrell.
Dr. John Alderson with East Arkansas Community College, who was in charge of the survey which was paid for with public money that funds the commission, said he had recently been contacted about the survey by a former Forrest Citian who now works for the Fort Smith Chamber.
Fort Smith outbid Forrest City to host this year's 5-A state basketball tournament.
Forrest City Chamber Executive Director Danny Ferguson said, in his opinion, the study would fall under the Freedom of Information Act. "My 25 cents worth of legal advice is I would bet you it is subject to FOI because you were tax-funded and that would fall under Freedom of Information," Ferguson said.
Merrell said he did not care about the FOI. "Because we paid for it, and it is proprietary information to what we are doing," said Merrell. "It would be like giving away the Colonel's recipe."
In other business, the commission denied a funding request from representatives with the local American Legion Baseball group. The commission did, however, agree to fund $5,000 for an American Legion Division A Tournament to be held in July.
Commissioners also passed a motion giving the St. Francis County Museum $1,815 for signs, fliers and postage to promote the third annual Circle of Friends Intertribal Native American Pow-Wow scheduled for March 29-31 at the Wiley T. Jones Fairgrounds.
By CRYSTAL HOLLIS
T-H Staff Writer
A policy aimed at controlling the hiring of relatives to work for the City of Palestine has been suggested by one city council member.
Councilwoman Carolyn Burdett suggested during a regular city council meeting this week that the council consider implementing a personnel policy regarding the hiring of relatives. Burdett said her suggestion comes on the heels of an incident in January when the city's water supervisor hired his brother for temporary work.
The water supervisor, Derrick Wayne, is the nephew of Mayor Willetta Carroll. He told councilmen in January that he did not intend for his brother to work for him on a regular basis, but when he hired his brother, he needed the extra help immediately. "I had another pumping station go out on us, and my brother was available to help," said Wayne.
Carroll told the council she has checked on the matter of hiring relatives with Don Zimmerman, an attorney with the Arkansas Municipal League. "I told Don about the situation because it was a matter of one of my nephews hiring another nephew, and he said there was nothing wrong with it," she said.
City attorney Jerry Roberts said it would be difficult for a town the size of Palestine to not be able to hire relatives. "It would be hard to not hire a relative around here because so many people are related to each other in one way or the other," said Roberts.
Roberts said he would look into the legality of implementing an employee policy, but cautioned councilmen that sometimes policies of this nature go more on the side of the employee, rather the employer.
In other business, Carroll told councilmen the city may eventually have a new cable franchise considering the current company is going through bankruptcy. She said March 29 is the deadline to file for a franchise fee from Classic Cable, and that East Arkansas Video could replace the previous cable franchise, but only after bankruptcy proceedings have been finalized.
By CRYSTAL HOLLIS
T-H Staff Writer
Hughes city councilmen this week admitted that budget cuts were arranged during a recent executive session.
The subject was discussed during a city council meeting when alderman Joe Cox requested that the Times-Herald print a retraction about disciplinary action taken against a city employee who was dismissed in January. "The last article that was in the paper, it said something about we dismissed Mr. Barclay (Clarence Barclay, former street supervisor for the city) for disciplinary reasons. But that was incorrect," said Cox. "His job was eliminated. It was a street manager job position. The police department was what we went in (executive session) for," he said.
Cox then said the council decided upon budgetary matters during the closed meeting. "We were cutting back. That's what we were doing."
The Freedom of Information Act states that "The reason given for (closed meetings) must be for the specific purpose of considering employment, appointment, promotion, demotion, disciplining or resignation of any public officer or employee. This may not include general discussion about making policies related to these. This must be done in open session."
As for the article printed last month, no mention was made connecting Barclay to disciplinary action, only that his position was eliminated during the closed session.
Hughes Police Chief Joe Stone alleged this wasn't the first time city officials have arranged the city budget without a public hearing. Stone said that on Friday, Dec. 28, the mayor left a message for him to eliminate some positions in his department.
"He said to get rid of the part-time dispatcher, who was paid minimum wage at 32 hours a week, and we had to get rid of one full-time police officer who was paid $25,000 a year," said Stone.
Councilmembers and Mayor Donnie Mooney refused to comment on the subject when asked about the outcome of the disciplinary action meeting regarding the police at the Jan. 14 city council meeting.
In other business, councilmen discussed the city's high costs for auto repairs for the police department. Cox and Alderman Joyce Long said the city should look into purchasing new vehicles for the police department. "It would be cheaper to buy them new cars rather than pay for all of these repairs," said Long.
Stone said the city was billed an average of $900 to $1,500 a month in auto repairs by Marotti Chevrolet. "In January alone, we were billed $842 in car repairs," said Stone., estimating that the city pays Marotti Chevrolet approximately $13,000 to $18,000 in auto repairs each year.
The Hughes mayor is also the shop manager at Marotti Chevrolet in Hughes.
The council tabled discussion on a rebate payment to Bunn Properties should Bunn receive government funds from Arkansas Rural Development to build another government housing project in the city.
According to Ricky Bunn, owner of the development corporation in Arkadelphia, Hughes has already been paying his development company $320 a year, which is a percentage of the taxes being paid for Hughes Heights, a government housing project. "This helps with leverage money with Arkansas Rural Development," said Bunn.
The new project is expected to be a 24-unit, handicapped accessible, one-story apartment complex on property that will be purchased in Hughes. Bunn also said his company is now managing all of his properties instead of farming out management.
By KENDALL OWENS
T-H Staff Writer
Changes approved by the state Education Board for the state's preschool program will not impact Forrest City's ABC School program, according to director Vivian Ryan.
The changes would establish more stringent education requirements for teachers and aides, requiring at least one teacher with a bachelor's degree in early childhood education or a related field for every two classrooms. All other staff members must hold either a two-year associate's degree or 120 hours of training qualifying them for a certificate in child development studies. They will also require using proven curricular programs from a state-approved list; mandate annual professional staff development; carry out programs to engage parents in the education of their children; use a range of health screenings for early detection of problems in children, and preschool centers would have to operate at least 7.5 hours per day. According to Ryan, the ABC School is currently operating within the parameters outlined in the changes proposed.
"We currently have everything in place that these new requirements call for, all of our aides have the 120 hours of training. Our core knowledge, growing with math and NAYEC programs are all monitored by Arkansas State University. We are currently mandating the professional development, and we have always had a parent involvement program," Ryan said.
She also said that the school currently has an affiliation with the St. Francis County Health Department for health screenings, and that the facility is among the 162 centers around the state that operates a minimum of seven and a half hours daily.
The funding changes will be provided for by a new tax on beer sales, but the tax will expire in 2003 leaving almost a $10 million shortfall for 2003-2004 in the Better Chance program. There will be a public hearing on the proposed changes before the Education Board has a final vote in the spring.
In keeping with the spirit of Valentine's Day, the Times-Herald is running a special section, "Brides," in today's edition. The section is made possible by the following advertisers:
Antique Rose, Catfish Island, Chez Weenie, Classic Flowers, Country Acres Limousine Service, Curious Heart, Edwin Houston, Express Dry Cleaners and Laundry, Forrest City Bank, Forrest City Florist, Food Giant, Floyd Printing Company, The Gallery, Gorman Photographics, Holiday Travel, Inc.,
Interiors by Sandra, Judy's Antiques and Gifts, LaRand's Gifts, The Lower Deck, Mary Ann Rosamond Sewing and Alterations, Northside Liquor, Parker Furniture, Picture Perfect, Ruby's Flowers and Gifts, Southern Furniture Company,
Southview Liquor, Special Events Catering, Special Occasions, Barbara Taylor Art Studio, Taylor Casbeer, Times Herald Printing and Office Products, Vel-Rich Jewelers, Wal-Mart Supercenter and Wal-Mart Bakery and Martha Wilson Realty.
Revenue from local option sales and use taxes in Arkansas have been released by City and Town, the official publication of the Arkansas Municipal League.
St. Francis County government had sales tax receipts of $127,593.13. In addition, towns within the county received the following prorated amounts: Hughes, $25,288.36; Forrest City, $200,112.62; Wheatley, $5,038.70; Palestine, $10,036.78; Madison, $13,368.84; Caldwell, $6,298.38; Colt, $4,984.53; Widener, $4,537.57.
Cities within the county with their own sales taxes collected the following: Forrest City, $141,923.73; Hughes, $6,807.72; Madison, $1,990.96; Palestine, $5,706.20; Wheatley, $3,718.01.