By DAVID NICHOL
T-H Staff Writer
A lot of money has already been spent on improving highways in the Forrest City area, and more is headed this way, according to the director of the state Highway and Transportation Department.
Dan Flowers addressed highway issues during a joint meeting of the House and Senate Interim Committees on Public Transportation, which was held in Forrest City Thursday.
"In the last 10 years, the highway department has spent about $82 million in St. Francis County," Flowers said. "And we also have an additional $44-45 million programmed for other projects here in the county."
He said one major concern was the development of the Highway 1 Corridor, from Jonesboro to Helena.
Some sections between Forrest City and Jonesboro have been four-laned and others have had passing lanes added, he said, adding that this year, contracts will probably be let on some more work between Colt and Wynne.
"There will be some four laning and some passing lanes," he said after the meeting. "That is all in the designing stage right now."
During the meeting, he also mentioned the bypass.
"If you've been around here, you've seen work going on, on the Forrest City bypass," he said during the meeting. "There is about $26 million of work going on, and this is only the first stage of the total.
A lot of work is planned to the south, also, where Highway 1 has been four-laned to Haynes.
"We have a project that will be going to contract in the next year or so, to improve Highway 1 through Marianna," he said. "Then we'll certainly be giving consideration to the next step, to fill in the gap between Haynes and Marianna to provide four-lane access to Marianna."
In addition, he said the City of Forrest City has received a total of almost $400,000 in grants for sidewalk work. He said the department has been working closely with Mayor Larry Bryant on the sidewalk grants.
"This is part of our transportation enhancement program, which assists cities in doing non-roadway type work, things that enhance the transportation system," he said. "These are federal funds that the Arkansas Highway Commission makes available to the cities based on application, and we're trying to work with Forrest City."
He also said a lot of work is taking place on the interstate.
"This is the third and final year of our state rehabilitation program as far as letting contracts are concerned. But, work will continue for a couple of more years after the last project is contracted. It will take that long to actually get the work done," said Flowers. He was also complimentary to Bryant.
"Mayor Bryant has served on our advisory committee for the interstate rehabilitation program and has been very visible and very supportive of what we're trying to do as far as handling traffic issues in construction zones," said Flowers. "I want to thank him for his assistance to the Highway Department."
During a question and answer session, Flowers was asked to elaborate on what types of grants for transportation improvement are available.
"Under the federal aid highway program, there are certain funds that we make available to local governments," he said. "We have funds that we can work with cities to set up projects where we would provide 80 percent of the cost. We have only a limited amount of money every year. And we have a backlog of projects. So any city that is interested in initiating a project with federal funds should get with us, call our offices. And we can work with them and...put them in line to have a project whenever that money is available."
Also present was Shirley Harvell with the local branch of the NAACP, who urged that the Highway Department use local and minority contractors. She also urged that any banking institutions in the area which may be invovled in highway work use the Community Reinvestment Act and that the financial institutions board reflects the diversity of the area.
By KENDALL OWENS
T-H Staff Writer
A Widener man was captured Thursday after allegedly attempting to rob a Post Office in that city.
Robert Perkins, 24, was arrested for criminal attempt to commit aggravated robbery following a morning incident at the Widener Post Office.
The St. Francis County Sheriff's Department reported Perkins entered the Post Office yesterday morning armed with a pistol and threatened to shoot a postal employee if she didn't give him money. According to the report, the employee told Perkins that she didn't have any money and that she was calling the police at which time, Perkins left the building.
According to Widener Police Chief Shelly Bieber, who received the first call, Perkins was first spotted walking within blocks of the Post Office.
"After I took the call, I contacted the Sheriff's Office and the Postal Inspectors, and then I went on patrol to see if I might be able to spot anything suspicious. I saw Perkins walking a couple of blocks from the building, stopped him and started questioning him. I then took him back to the Post Office but we later released him," said Bieber.
"After the officers with the Sheriff's Department got there and processed the scene and the Postal Inspectors arrived, I took them to Perkins' home, and when we got back to the Post Office he confessed to inspectors," Bieber said.
Postal inspectors recovered a gray ski mask, a .22 caliber revolver and two jackets used in the robbery. The suspect is being held in the St. Francis County Jail.
Gordon McCoy has announced that he is a candidate for the State Senate from District 16, the seat currently held by Alvin Simes, subject to the Democratic primary.
McCoy, 37, was born in Forrest City to M.C. McCoy and the late Arge McCoy. He is the grandson of Luke McCoy, and is one of 12 siblings. He is married to Pamela D. McCoy, a social worker for the West Memphis School District.
He is a graduate of Tuskegee University with a business degree in economics. He is employed as internal auditor for First National Bank of Eastern Arkansas. He has also been a career employment counselor with Work Force Inc., a training facilitator and GED examiner with East Arkansas Wilderness Institute, an assistant manager at Sam's Wholesale and manager at Pizza Hut.
He is vice president of the Forrest City School Board.
"My accomplishments during my three-year tenure on the school board have been very rewarding," he said. "Through team collaboration efforts and with the support of the community, we have been able to build a new Mustang Arena, cafeteria, indoor practice facility and gymnasium. An even more significant feat was the passage of the millage which has opened the way to the building of a state-of-the-art junior high school complex."
He is also currently a captain in the U.S. Army Reserve National Guard, where some of his duties include brigade maintenance officer, assistant logistics officer, battalion tactical intelligence officer and company commander.
"I am acutely aware of the level of commitment and dedication that is needed in pursuit for the office as state senator of Arkansas, and I do not take lightly the charge that is set before me," McCoy said.
"Nevertheless, I am compelled to give my best to aid in addressing the needs of the people in District 16. My decision to run was made with much consideration and humility, for I believe that all things are possible with God's help and guidance and the support of you, the voters," McCoy said.
He continued, "I am convinced that together, we can make a difference, Therefore, I am asking that you please allow me to introduce to you an alternative for state senate in the year 2002. I do believe that Arkansas is the 'Land of Opportunity,' and I believe that opportunity is given to each one of us equally, but it is up to the individual to explore it. Yes, we can increase employment opportunities, expand industry, improve the quality of education and the overall quality of life for the people in district 16, and I am deeply committed to this cause. I am thanking you in advance for your support and for your contributions."
Some members of a Forrest City High School graduating class are sharing more than just the year they graduated.
The Forrest City Police Department today reported some FCHS Class of 1988 members are being targeted in a scam.
A report on file at the FCPD shows that charge accounts have been opened in the names of several class members.
According to one report, one victim received a call last fall from a female subject requesting information about her for a possible class reunion. She later received a bill from a department store where someone had opened a charge account in her name and bought a computer.
After speaking with other members of her graduating class, the victim told police the same thing has been happening to other 1988 graduates who live in other areas, particularly a classmate in Blytheville who has also suffered from the same type of credit card fraud.
A third classmate also told police she had been contacted by the female subject about a possible class reunion, but so far, no credit accounts had been opened in her name.
Police are working to get a list of all of the classmates who might have been targeted.
A new golf course and lodge at Village Creek State Park will also mean an enlargement of the park's water and sewer systems.
Mike Brawner, park superintendent said a new sewer treatment plant has already been approved for the park.
The existing treatment plant was original equipment with the park, and Brawner said it had simply worn out.
The new plant will process about 30,000 gallons of water a day, up from the 10,000 currently used through its visitors center and cabins. The project is expected to cost about $267,000.
The current sewage treatment plant is located in the north-central area of he park. Brawner said the new plant will be located next to the old one. The park's water comes from the Cross County Rural water system.