By TAMARA JOHNSON
Managing Editor
Teachers in the Forrest City School District will be coming back to school after Memorial Day, but students won't.
The FCSD board Thursday night adopted changes to the district's calendar in an effort to make up two school days lost recently due to snow. The move will require students to attend classes on two days originally scheduled for teachers only.
Classes will be held on May 10, graduation day, and May 24. Both days are on the school calendar as curriculum development days. The move places the teacher workshop days at the end of the calendar meaning teachers will be in school on May 28 and 29.
The board also agreed to allow Superintendent Lee Vent to continue talks with Yale Hoists officials regarding the company's empty plant in the industrial park.
The company recently donated office furniture from the facility to the school district. Vent said company officials talked with him during that time about the school district possibly purchasing the plant which is a 257,700-square-foot facility located on 37 acres. According to Vent, the company has offered to sell the property to the school district at a cost of $3.2 million.
"I wish we had known about it before the millage increase to do what we're doing now," Vent said. "We do not have $3.2 million, but I would like the authority to negotiate further with these people about the plant."
Board members had mixed reactions regarding the facility.
"My initial reaction is this would be like grabbing the tail of a dinosaur," said board member Mallory Nimocks.
"I'm looking at it from an industrial standpoint for industrial-type training," said board member Sandra Taylor, adding that Crowley's Ridge Technical Institute and East Arkansas Community College might be interested in working with the school district to develop programs to be taught at an industrial-type facility.
Board members also heard from FC High School teacher Vicki Timmons and student Jessica Long regarding a proposal to change the high school from block scheduling to seven-period scheduling. Both were against the move and urged board members to review the matter and gather input before making a decision.
Timmons and Long said block scheduling works better for the students and it reduces violence because students don't change classes as often. They also said with block scheduling learning is more intense and if a student fails a class, he or she can repeat it the next semester instead of waiting a year.
The board approved a variety of change orders for the new junior high school. The largest change is in the bracing of the gym walls at the facility being remodeled. The walls are being supported by steel braces. This move will cost $64,474.
A second change order was for a different partition to be used in the auditorium. Instead of the partition being placed on side walls, the motorized curtain will now be stored in the ceiling and come to the floor when necessary. This move will save about $22,800.
Board members pointed out that change orders will be made throughout the project, but should not affect the overall costs due to a contingency in the bid.
Vent told board members he has been selected to participate in a forum on public education being sponsored by the Kettering Foundation in Dayton, Ohio. Vent is one of two Arkansas educators selected for the program to be held March 27 and 28.
Following an executive session, board members agreed to rehire all district administrators and accepted the resignation of athletic director Bill Baxter.
A lawsuit seeking a half million dollars in compensatory damages has been filed by King Disposal, Inc. against two companies over alleged violations of King Disposal's contract with Forrest City for garbage collection.
The defendants are Eaton-Moery Environmental Services, Inc. and Waste Corporation of Arkansas, Inc. The City of Forrest City is also named as a defendant, although no money is sought from the city.
King Disposal is being represented by attorney Michael Easley.
The lawsuit, filed Tuesday, claims that King Disposal was awarded an exclusive franchise agreement to collect refuse in Forrest City, beginning Nov. 5, 2001.
The suit claims that the defendants informed their industrial customers in Forrest City that they would continue to do business with them, and continued to do so.
According to the suit, Eaton-Moery Environmental Services has continued to do business with Boar's Head and Sanyo Manufacturing, and Waste Corporation of Arkansas has continued doing business with Boar's Head, Baptist Hospital, Claireson Company, Inc., Entergy Warehouse, Foam Fabricator's Ltd., Mulay Plastics, Sanyo Manufacturing, St. Francis County Courthouse, Yale Hoists and a construction bin on South Powell.
"The continued operation of the defendants' businesses in Forrest City...constitutes knowing and intentional interference with the contractual relationship between the plaintiff and the City of Forrest City, resulting in damages to the plaintiff," the suit alleges.
The suit also alleges that Waste Corporation of Arkansas interfered with King Disposal's ability to perform its contract with residential customers. One of the actions the suit accuses WCA of doing is "causing its employees place harassing phone calls to plaintiff, representing themselves as customers (who did not exist)."
The suit asks for compensatory damages of $250,000 each from EMES and WCA, plus punitive damages, and to grant an injunction against EMES.
Attorney Robert M. Ford of Wynne is representing EMES. He said his client's only disagreement with King Disposal is over industrial refuse.
"We're not in disagreement that the city can enter into a exclusive waste disposal contract with a waste disposal company, for residential customers and commercial customers," said Ford. "That means your retail stores, restaurants and stuff like that."
However, Ford said that industries are different, and are generally allowed to solicit and employ waste disposal companies to meet their individual needs.
"We have two or three companies that we have been trying to service in the Forrest City area, that are not listed as either commercial or residential," Ford said. "And in the bid letting in which Mr. King received the exclusive franchise, we did not feel and still don't feel that the bid letting covered industrial customers."
"It was our feeling and position that Boar's Head, for example, or Sanyo, or another industry could negotiate their hauling free and independently of the city telling them what they had to do. I think most industries feel they are not like residential patrons."
St. Francis County Sheriff Dave Parkman of Forrest City today announced his Democratic candidacy for re-election to a ninth term as sheriff and collector subject to the May Primary.
Parkman is a veteran law enforcement officer with more than 30 years experience. He is retired from the Forrest City Police Department where he advanced from patrolman to chief of police. He also served five years as a criminal investigator with the Cross County Sheriff's Department.
A lifelong resident of St. Francis and Cross counties, Parkman has also attended numerous law enforcement training schools and seminars, including a special course offered by the University of Arkansas.
He served 18 months in the military including one year in Korea. He is a member of the American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars. He is also a 32nd degree Mason and a Shriner.
Parkman first took office in January 1987, and is currently serving his eighth term as sheriff and collector.
"Before taking office, I promised to restore public trust in the sheriff's office, have fair and impartial and efficient law enforcement and work in harmony with other law enforcement agencies. We have accomplished all of these in a low-keyed manner," Parkman said.
Parkman said under his administration, many things have been accomplished including the addition of a new detention facility and the updating of the old jail to meet state and federal guidelines.
He was also instrumental in the installation of a toll-free telephone system for the benefit of the citizens who must call long distance to contact the sheriff's office. In addition, Parkman worked with Southwestern Bell Telephone to install an inmate telephone system in jail cells. The county receives revenue generated through this telephone system.
Parkman also worked with the East Arkansas Area Agency on Aging to install the "Are You Okay" system at the jail. This system telephones the elderly and handicapped residents throughout the county daily to make sure these citizens are cared for. If the elderly or handicapped person fails to answer the telephone, a deputy is dispatched to that person's residence.
St. Francis County also has an auxiliary deputy force and a search and rescue unit which were organized under Parkman's leadership. Both of these groups assist the sheriff's department in various ways and were instrumental in helping to establish the county's disaster plans. These units are trained to assist in any disaster or emergency situation.
"When I took office, I promised to restore the public trust in my office and to reduce the criminal activity in our community. With the help of my staff and the citizens of St. Francis County, this has been accomplished. My greatest personal satisfaction is being able to serve the citizens of our county and to assist those in need," Parkman said.
"With your continued support and vote of confidence, I will continue to serve all citizens in an efficient, fair and impartial manner to the best of my ability," he said. "I do not plan to make any major changes in the day-to-day operation of the sheriff's office. My objective is to give the citizens the best service possible."
Parkman was married to the late Irene Jones Parkman, and they have three daughters, Martie Parkman Ramsey, Susie Parkman Jones and Christy Parkman Gross. He also has six grandchildren.
Leodis Williams Sr., of Forrest City, announced today that he will be a candidate for the Justice of the Peace District 10 position.
Williams, a life-long resident of St. Francis County, is currently the supervisor of building and grounds with the Forrest City School District. He is also the owner and operator of New Products International. He is a former employee of Sanyo Manufacturing where he worked for 25 years and served in several positions including group leader and stock room supervisor.
Williams is the husband of the former Pauline Cooper of Forrest City and they are the parents of five sons. He is a member of Salem Baptist Church where he serves as chairman of the trustee board, a member of the senior choir and helps supervise youth basketball.
"I want to be your representative for District 10. I am asking for your vote and support in the May 21, Democratic Primary," Williams said.
The NAACP Youth Council of Forrest City has made application to the Arkansas Heritage Association to attempt to reconstruct African American History for the years 1965 through 1975 in St. Francis and Lee counties, with special emphasis on the two county seats of Forrest City and Marianna.
"The grant will allow us to interview about 30 persons via audio and videotape regarding activities that occurred during these years of the Civil Rights movement," stated youth president Melvin Shaw.
"The project will be called 'Civil Rights/Civil Wrongs...The Golden Years' and we will be expecting a reply (on the grant application) by April of 2002," Shaw added.
Tours and Things, a new full-service travel agency, has been opened in Forrest City by Ed and Mamie Jo Chauvin.
Between the two of them, they have more than 20 years of experience in the travel business. They do not represent any one travel supplier, and therefore offer a wide range of choices in air, land and cruise travel.
For more information, phone 870-633-5818, or toll-free, 800-203-6051 or fax 870-630-0228.
The advertising staff of the Times-Herald recently took six awards -- including two firsts -- in the annual Arkansas Press Association Better Newspaper Advertising Contest.
Jim Wirski, advertising manager, won a first place in the campaign division for Parker's Best Brands Plus' "Real Inventory Clearance." Ann Ash took first place in the original illustration category for a Chez Weenie ad entitled, "Chez Weenie...Exceptional Stuff."
Wirski also took a second place in the one spot color category, for Ridge Ripe Farms' "Tomatoes are Ready" ad. Donna Sugg's ad for area ministers in the political ad category, "Vote for your life," also took second.
A third place award went to multiple ads in the special issue category, entitled, "A Nation Copes," involving the entire ad staff. Another third was received by Donna Sugg in the most original idea category, for her New Parents "Congratulations" ad.
The staff also took a Merit Award for Smaller Dailies in the sweepstakes category.
The Forrest City Planning Commission is scheduled to meet at 4 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 26, at city hall.
Commissioners will hear a request from Attorney Jim Miller, on behalf of Jim and Betty Reeves, requesting 815 N. Izard be rezoned from residential to commercial to allow for the construction of a warehouse at that location.