By KENDALL OWENS
T-H Staff Writer
At 1,800 miles, a ride from the Alamo in San Antonio, Texas, to New York City would be a long and arduous journey, but take that tour on horseback and you have the venture that San Antonio native, Les Nichols is currently undertaking.
Nichols, a thoroughbred trainer, is on the road from the Alamo to Ground Zero, raising funds to benefit the families of firefighters and police officers injured and killed during the Sept. 11 tragedies. According to Nichols, the decision to make the trip came from a desire to do what he could to help just one family or just one child and also to represent the cowboys of America.
"I felt like after Sept. 11, I had to do something to make a difference to just one family or just one child. After seeing the pain in the eyes of our children as they watched the devastation day after day, I knew that I had to do something to help. I saw football players and baseball players and basketball players doing something but I didn't see the world of the cowboys being represented and I knew that I had to do something.
I couldn't sit on the bench on this one, If what I'm doing makes a difference for one kid or one family then all of the riding and all of the time will be well worth it," Nichols said.
On the road, Nichols is seeking the assistance of small town fire departments for lodging. Monday's stop was at the Forrest City Fire Department, where he and his road mate, Posse, a half border collie and half Australian shepherd laid their heads. According to Nichols, his trip across Arkansas has been well worth the effort, as Arkansans have opened their arms to him.
"Coming through Arkansas has been great. Every town that I've been through has done whatever they could to help me. I've been featured on television and in newspapers across the state and I wasn't looking for that. It has really been a great experience. In Carlisle, I had a family that just didn't want me to leave town. People all over the state have really made me feel at home," Nichols said.
Nichols has set a $1 million goal for raising funds for the New York City Firefighters Fund. To reach that goal, Nichols is leaving tickets with local fire stations with proceeds going towards the Firefighters Fund. People making a $5 donation will have the chance at winning a custom made Jim Taylor saddle valued at close to $5,000. Horse trainers across the nation are donating horses to also help Nichols on his cross country trip.
For more information on Nichols, go to www.americanposse.org.
Evans Seawood Jr. of Forrest City, announced his candidacy for re-election as Justice of the Peace for District 5 of the St. Francis County Quorum Court today.
Seawood, a lifelong resident of St. Francis County, is a former Forrest City and Wynne police officer and is currently in his 31st year as an employee at Sanyo Manufacturing in Forrest City.
Seawood received quorum court training from the Association of Arkansas Counties in Little Rock and currently serves on the County Personnel Committee.
"The year 2001 was a very challenging one. A half-cent sales tax was passed to replace the Real Tax, up to $300, and it didn't generate as much revenue as expected. Then there was the Sept. 11, terrorist attack. The state currently has a $142 million shortfall which has an adverse affect on all of the counties, however, St. Francis County made it through 2001 with minimum cutbacks.
Through sound decision making and good stewardship, we were able to meet the challenges we faced in the year 2001. You can be assured that we will respond in 2002 in the same manner," Seawood said.
Seawood and his wife of 37 years, Vera , are the parents of six children and have eight grandchildren. He is a member of Macedonia M.B. Church in Madison and serves as a deacon, church treasurer and founder and chairman of the church's scholarship fund. He is also a member of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People.
"I am asking for your continuous support and for your vote in the May 21, Democratic Primary. I am capable, experienced and ready to handle any challenges that we will face in 2002," Seawood said.
Village Creek State Park will host "Saddle Up For St. Jude" on April 27.
This will be an opportunity for horse owners to ride in the scenic beauty of the park, and at the same time raise money that will benefit children from all over the world.
The event will feature a 10-mile ride, free lunch on the trail, and auction, dinner and live entertainment.
Money raised from the event will go to build an endowment fund to help ensure St. Jude Children's Research Hospital's continued efforts in research and treatment of childhood catastrophic diseases.
There will be a limited number of campsites available, with reservations required, for those wising to stay the weekend.
Anyone interested can help out, whether they ride or not.
To obtain a pledge form, or for more information, call Vicki Trimble at Village Creek State Park, 870-238-9406. The park is located about 14 miles northeast of Forrest City.
Widener City Hall will be the site of a free smoke alarm giveaway on March 7.
The Crowley's Ridge Development Council is sponsoring the giveaway, it was announced at Monday's city council meeting in Widener. The event will take place from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m.
Mayor Dot Halford said she had been told that anyone living in St. Francis County can come get a smoke detector, and she urged everyone who needs a smoke alarm to come.
They like to have participation when they come out like that," she said. "They're going to bring the smoke alarms with them."
She said there is a form to be filled out, but said there are no income requirements.
There will also be information on other services offered by the CRDC Family Service Center including weatherization, utility assistance, free resumes and prescription assistance.
On another matter, Halford said she would like to hold a groundbreaking ceremony for the new community center this Thursday.