By KENDALL OWENS
T-H Staff Writer
A state commission this week postponed placing 11 counties in the Cache River basin in east Arkansas, which includes St. Francis, on the groundwater critical list.
The Arkansas Soil and Water Conservation Commission approved a recommendation from commission executive director Randy Young to wait for results of a continuing U.S. Geological Survey study and review of groundwater-level readings from last spring before making a decision.
According to Todd Fugitt with the ASWC Commission, board members decided not to act this week based on the need for further information before rendering a decision.
"The commission decided Wednesday that the additional data that will be provided over the next couple of months might be beneficial. They will basically wait and see what the information says before making a decision. That is not to say that the area won't be placed on water restrictions, it's just a delay in the commission taking action," said Fugitt.
Agricultural interests in the Cache River basin pressed the ASWC Commission to not act because of the water restrictions the designation could mean for farmers. Hundreds of farmers attended meetings held during the fall to discuss the prospect of the designation.
The commission heard numerous complaints that the designation would lead to fewer property rights for farmers. And growers also expressed concern that they would be taxed and put under further regulations.
Declaring the basin a critical groundwater area legally acknowledges that there is a significant groundwater decline or a degradation of water quality. Two areas in the state already have that designation: the Grand Prairie area and Bradley, Calhoun, Columbia, Ouachita and Union counties in south-central Arkansas.
The Cache River basin includes the western parts of Clay, Craighead, Cross, Greene, Poinsett and St. Francis counties, and all of Jackson, Lee, Monroe, Phillips and Woodruff counties. A number of other counties are included in an area for future study.
By CRYSTAL HOLLIS
T-H Staff Writer
The St. Francis County Museum board is looking at ways to offset a decrease in funding.
Board members this week reviewed ways to make up the $2,500 cut in county funding; however, none of the options discussed would cover salaries.
Museum Director Laura Mazzanti told the board the museum has received $18,000 in a trust from Behavioral Health. She said the money is held in a trust controlled by the Cultural Foundation, and that she doesn't believe it can be used for salaries.
"I believe in my heart they did not intend for us to use it for salaries," said Mazzanti. "I think it is supposed to be used for utilities, rent, facilities and the like."
Mazzanti said she will present attorney Brad Beavers of the Cultural Foundation with a proposed monthly budget for the remainder of 2002.
In addition to the money from Behavioral Health, Mazzanti and part-time employee Brenda Fort have been applying for grants from the state. The only catch to these grants is neither can be used for salaries.
Fort recently completed an application for a federal grant in the amount of $14,366 for general operations support. According to Fort, the museum will have to wait until September to find out if the application is accepted, and the money cannot be used for funding lost from another source, such as her salary. "We won't know until September if we qualify for the grant or not," said Fort. "And if we do, the money will be disbursed over the next two years."
Mazzanti applied for a grant application with the Arkansas Department of Heritage in the amount of $4,000. "We would only use this money for our Heritage Month program in May," said Mazzanti.
Mazzanti said she is on the agenda to meet with the Forrest City Advertising and Promotions Commission in February to discuss ways the commission might be able help the museum with promotions for tourism.
"The county has been funding us for over 10 years I believe, and I think they should know how grateful we are. I don't want them to get the impression that we are no longer grateful because they couldn't fund us as much as in the past," said board member Craig Jones.
By CRYSTAL HOLLIS
T-H Staff Writer
The jobs of several city workers in Hughes were modified following an executive session this week that was called to discuss possible disciplinary action against one employee.
After returning to the open meeting, councilmen voted to eliminate the street supervisor position held by Clarence Barclay, approved a $50 raise for city water supervisor Mark Findley and also agreed to allow a city sewer department employee Jody Anderson to remain on the city's payroll despite being unable to return to work due to an illness.
The city council did not discuss in public why they voted to eliminate the street supervisor's position. The council did agree that Anderson would continue to be paid until the council decided to stop paying him. Currently, the city has two other people on payroll performing Anderson's duties.
In other business, Hughes Police Chief Joe Stone told council members that cutbacks to the police force, which the mayor requested last month, had been enacted. Stone said he had laid off one dispatcher, but filled a vacant position on the force with that dispatcher, and Lt. Mike Medford agreed to resign so other cutbacks would not be necessary.
According to Stone, the police force is down to one patrolman at any given time, except for weekend evenings. "We have only one officer on duty during each shift during the week. On the weekends, we have two on duty on Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights," said Stone.
Mayor Donnie Mooney told councilmen the city's unpaid water bills have decreased to about $4,000. At the beginning of last year, that debt amount was about $24,000. "That's a whole lot better," Mooney said.
James Cottrell, director of the Small Town Resource Center of the East Arkansas Enterprise Community, presented a check for $20,000 to Mooney. That money will be used for the second phase of the community center project.
"I am so well pleased with this. I have been attending these meetings with the East Arkansas Enterprise Community, and it has been well worth it for our city." Mooney said.
King Disposal will be closed Monday, Jan. 21, for the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. holiday.
The makeup day will be Friday, Jan. 25, according to Joe King of King Disposal.
The Forrest City Education Association will once again sponsor a Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. birthday celebration.
The event is scheduled for 11 a.m. Monday, Jan. 21, at the United Christian Church at 203 W. Franklin St.
The event will feature, Sen. Alvin Simes, a Phillips County native. He serves as chairman of the Senate Public Transportation Committee, and is a member of the Joint Budget Committee. He also serves on the Senate City, County and Local Committee, Rules, Resolutions and Memorials and Joint Performance Review, and is a member of the Legislative Audit Subcommittee and Desegregation Litigation Subcommittee. The Forrest City High School Choir will also perform at the event.
Three men were arrested Thursday on drug charges in two unrelated incidents.
Arkansas State Police Troop D reported a trooper stopped an automobile for driving erratically and speeding. The driver did not have a driver's license. After getting permission to search the car, the officer found about eight pounds of marijuana hidden in a spare tire.
The trooper arrested Juan Carlos Magarin, 22, of Dallas, Texas, and the passenger, Manuel Antonio Tovanche, 26, of Arlington, Texas. Both are charged with possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver, and bound over to circuit court on a bond of $25,000 each.
In the other incident, officers with the Third Judicial District Drug Task Force arrested Billy Ray Allen, 27, of Widener, on five counts of delivery of a controlled substance. Allen was arrested in Widener.