By DAVID NICHOL
T-H Staff Writer
A privatized golf course at Village Creek State Park is much closer to reality, although there is still a time line to be followed, according to state Rep. Danny Ferguson.
Ferguson said he and state Rep. LeRoy Dangeau of Wynne have been working with the state Parks and Tourism Department on the project.
"When the commission met last week, they unveiled a feasibility study and it came out positive," said Ferguson. "It looks like we're going in the direction of an A-1, first class golf attraction, as opposed to a limited-budget state public course."
Ferguson said that while the completed golf course is still "a ways off, this could be a major attraction for eastern Arkansas. And it's something that was in the original design of Village Creek."
The park opened in 1976. At that time, plans called for an 18-hole golf course, but the idea was shelved due to lack of funding.
As for the time line, Ferguson said that after the feasibility study came out, it was decided to go on with a request for proposals.
"There will be a 30-day period to finalize comments" for the proposals, according to Ferguson. "Then the notice will be sent out nationwide to golf course and lodging developers. This will probably take about 45 days. They will do it by Internet, they will do it by ads, and so forth."
Next will come a period of 90 to 120 days to allow the developers to prepare their proposals and get them back to Parks and Tourism.
"We're looking at maybe six months," Ferguson said. "It's still a pretty long time, but the news is really positive."
He said the work isn't going cheap.
"Some of the 'guesstimates' being thrown around include about a $5 million minimum for the development of the golf course," he said. "The lodge, depending on what kind of proposals are sent back, could be a spread of $10 million to $20 million. It would be a huge operation, and they are looking at a long term partnership with a private developer on this."
Another 4-wheeler stolen from the Palestine area was recovered by St. Francis County Sheriff's Deputies this past weekend, and two more people were arrested in connection with the thefts.
According to a report from the Sheriff's office, Clarence Pearson Jr., 18, of Forrest City, and a 17-year-old Forrest City juvenile were both arrested Friday in connection with the thefts. Both face charges of theft over $2,500. The 4-wheeler was recovered in a wooded area off of SFC 931 west of Wheatley Friday by St. Francis County Investigator Gene Wingo.
Christopher Gardner, 18, of Palestine and a 17-year-old Palestine juvenile were arrested Wednesday, and also were charged with theft of property over $2,500 after police found them riding two of the stolen all-terrain vehicles on SFC 838.
Sheriff's Deputies also recovered a second vehicle this weekend while on routine patrol. According to the report, Deputy Billy Able was on patrol about 10 miles east of Forrest City on Arkansas Highway 50 when he spotted a 1989 blue Chevrolet pickup parked on the edge of a wheat field.
According to the report, the pickup, which is owned Terry and Deborah Rutherford of Southaven, Miss., had been stripped of its engine, transmission and radiator. The steering column had been damaged and the front and rear tires had been removed with the front tires being replaced with smaller tires. No arrests have been made in this case.
By KENDALL OWENS
T-H Staff Writer
Monday was a day filled with ceremony and celebration for many in Forrest City. Programs honoring Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and the youth of Forrest City were only two examples of the way some celebrated the holiday.
The Forrest City Education Association held its annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. program Monday morning at United Christian M. B. Church. State Sen. Alvin Simes was the guest speaker for the event.
Renee Malone, a reporter and anchorwoman with UPN 30 and WPTY 24 in Memphis, was the guest speaker at an evening celebration.
Simes, a native of Helena, spoke to the audience of close to 100 on subjects ranging from the birth of civil rights in America to the question of whether King would feel that his dream has been realized.
"If Dr. King wouldn't be pleased with his dream, then why not? Contrast Dr. King's love and non-violence policies with where we are today. Black on black crime in America is at a higher rate than at anytime in the history of African-Americans in this country," Simes said. "Contrast his Nobel Peace Prize with a visit to St. Francis County Circuit Court Tuesday (today) morning and see how many African-American men under the age of 35 who will paraded into the courtroom in shackles right here in St. Francis County.
"Then you contrast the fact that Dr. King gave his life and others, gave their lives to get a voter's rights act passed, and we have African-Americans today who will not register to vote," Simes said. "We have a duty to encourage people to register to vote because not only does not being registered not allow you to participate in elections, it also means that you can't serve on a jury because the jury pool is a composite of the voter registration logs. We have a significantly lower percentage of African-Americans onjuries because they will not register to vote. Then, many of those who do show up at the courthouse to serve for jury duty, show up with an excuse to get them out of their duty," said Simes.
Five St. Francis County young adults were honored during Monday night's annual Youth of the Year Awards Banquet sponsored by the Forrest City Community Voices Center. The event was held at the Forrest City Civic Center.
Akissi Brooks, a member of Union Baptist Church, was named as Youth of the Year for 2002. Weston Lloyd of Cornerstone Baptist Church was the runner up. Also nominated for the honor were James Millbrooks, Jonathan Beasley and Shannon Nicks.
Malone spoke to the group of close to 200, many of them children, about bringing King's dream to reality.
"I was told that for a young person to be nominated for this honor they have to exemplify three things, church involvement, community involvement and education. Those are the three things that I feel you have to have to bring the dream to reality," Malone said.
By TAMARA JOHNSON
Managing Editor
A local private school is attempting to expel one of its honor students based on actions by the child's parents, according to court documents on file at the St. Francis County Courthouse.
On Friday afternoon, Wynne attorney Richard Proctor filed a complaint against Calvary Christian Schools Inc., on behalf of the student and his parents, along with a petition asking for a temporary and permanent restraining order to prevent the school from expelling the student.
Circuit Judge Ben Story on Friday issued the restraining order preventing Calvary from expelling or discharging the teen pending the outcome of a court hearing. The hearing was originally set for Thursday, but due to some scheduling conflicts, the hearing will be held Wednesday morning at the St. Francis County Courthouse.
The student, who the parents claim has never missed a day of school during his 11 years of school, is being allowed to attend classes at Calvary until the matter is resolved. The parents claim the actions against their child are being taken due to personal grievances the board has against them.
Named as defendants in the lawsuit are Calvary Christian School Inc., and Terral Neeley, Michael Borden, M.C. Lewellen Jr., and David Rodgers, individually and in their capacity as directors of Calvary Christian School.
The mother of the child referred questions regarding the matter to the family's attorney, Richard Proctor of Wynne. Proctor said he preferred not to comment on a pending case.
Calvary Principal Allen Jackson, who Proctor claims in his court filing attempted to deliver the letter to the child's parents informing them of the school's decision to disenroll him, also denied comment on the matter.
Chris Morledge, the attorney for Calvary Schools, said he planned to file a motion this afternoon for the entire matter to be dismissed. In the meantime, a hearing is set for 9:30 a.m. tomorrow before Circuit Court Judge Kathleen Bell.
Based on court records, Jackson attempted to deliver a letter to the student's parents on Thursday, Jan. 17, advising them that because of actions by the parents, their child may not attend school after Friday, Jan. 18. The family also received a refund on the tuition paid to the school.
According to documents at the courthouse, a board meeting was held on Jan. 17, which resulted in the student's expulsion. Story ruled Friday that neither the student, or his parents, received notice of the meeting or were not allowed an opportunity to be heard in the matter.
"The letter resulting from the meeting on its face does not give specific adequate reasons for expulsion or discipline and gives no avenue of appeal or other due process," Story ruled.
Morledge said Story's ruling was done Friday afternoon without notice to his clients.
One problem cited by the parents over the removal of their son is that public schools in the area are on block scheduling and Calvary students operate under a different schedule. The parents claim the boy would miss an entire year of school if he is expelled.
According to the court filing, last fall, the parents of the student expressed concern over the school allegedly losing its accreditation and the "apparent lack of authority of those who hold themselves out to be the governing board of the school." There were meetings of the parents of students at Calvary which were apparently offensive to the school's board.
One concern of the parents is an allegation which was denied by school authorities that a camera was hidden in the duct work in the classroom or rooms. This allegation concerned parents that their children's privacy rights were being violated. Since then, the lawsuit claims, there have been numerous acts of harrassment toward the student.
The lawsuit also questions the matter in which board members are selected and asks the court to outline a procedure for the election of board members.
The school claims that actions by the boy's parents violate an agreement between the parents and the school that the parents will support the policies, procedures, staff and administration of the school.
Morledge said the school officials are within their rights as a private institution to disenroll the student.
"Basically, our position is that there is a contractural relationship between the student, the parents and the school. The child has a right to an education, but that right lies with the Forrest City High School This is a private school, and it should be considered a privilege for him to attend this school," Morledge said. "The school board has determined to disenroll him. He has not been expelled. This is a totally different situation than you deal with in public education. This is business.
"They allege due process was violated. This is not a state institution, and not a Forrest City High School child. He is not entitled to due process. In addition, there is no irreparable harm to him," Morledge continued.
"Calvary is a faith-based Christian education program. There are certain promises and conditions a family agrees to follow such as not creating discord and abiding by the conditions of the school," Morledge said. "In reality, there are two sides to all of this. Calvary has not lost any other students as a result of this. The school is in as good a position now as it was last Thursday before this happened."
A brief chase and an attempt to eat evidence were all a part of a drug arrest yesterday by Forrest City Police Officers.
According to a report at the Forrest City Police Department, officers Travis Hill and Shane Rogers were involved in a foot chase yesterday after stopping a vehicle on Cook Street. Police reported 22-year-old Derrick Long, 103 Union St., Forrest City, exited a vehicle being driven by Carlos Lang Jr., 25, of Marianna, after Lang was pulled over for a traffic violation.
According to the report, Rogers and Hill chased the subject and observed him attempting to eat something as he was running and saw Long remove his jacket. Rogers caught Long, and as he was arresting him, officers found a wet small plastic bag with an off-colored rock substance inside. Officers also found a larger bag, which had been chewed, that also contained an off white substance at the scene, and a .22 caliber pistol was found in Long's jacket pocket.
Long was charged with possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver, simultaneous possession of drugs and firearms, tampering with physical evidence, possession of firearms by certain persons, fleeing and failure to comply in connection with non-payment of previous fines.
The Arkansas Highway and Transportation Department has modified one of its scheduled lane closures for next week due to improvements being made at a railroad crossing.
Officials reported Monday that both lanes on Highway 1 in Forrest City would be closed for asphalt work being done by Union Pacific Railroad on Monday, Jan. 28. However, it was reported today that the crossing will be closed one lane at a time for the work.
The Sunday, Jan. 27, construction schedule remains unchanged. All lanes will be closed at the Highway 1 crossing for one to one and a half hours on Sunday.