By DAVID NICHOL
T-H Staff Writer
An Oklahoma company recently reached an informal settlement with the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), over an incident in which three company employees fell to their deaths from a communications tower in rural St. Francis County.
According to documents provided by OSHA, All-States Construction Co., of Waggoner, Okla., agreed to pay amended penalties totaling $3,600, and agreed to correct violations cited by OSHA in the incident. Before being amended, the penalties had added up to $14,100.
On Jan. 2 of this year, a work crew was changing guylines on an Alltel tower located on SFC 409, about three miles northeast of Ark. Highway 284.
Three men were being hoisted to the top of the 250-foot tower by a one-inch rope and pulley. The rope was tied to the front of a pickup truck, which was being backed up by the crew's foreman. The rope broke when the three men were about 100 feet off the ground and all three fell to their deaths.
The victims were Brian Barnes, 23 and John Seabolt, 26, both of Muskogee, Okla., and Jamie Anders, 27, of Hattiesburg, Miss. The accident was witnessed by the crew foreman, Foster Barnes, 50, of Muskogee, the uncle of one of the victims.
After an investigation of the incident, OSHA issued several citations. Some of those include: That the company did not furnish a place of employment free from recognized hazards; that there was no accident prevention program; that rope with broken fibers was not replaced immediately; that body belts, harnesses and components were not used only for employee protection; that personal fall arrest systems were not inspected prior to each use for wear, damage and other deterioration; that an oral or written report of the accident was not made within eight hours to the area office of OSHA (the report was not made until about 27 hours after the accident, according to OSHA).
The informal settlement agreement was reached in June.
The Forrest City Area Chamber of Commerce is planning a "Star Spangled Celebration," honoring the Forrest City National Guard members and their families at 6:30 p.m. on Monday, July 29, at the Civic Center.
The celebration and catfish dinner will be a community welcome home for the local guardsmen deployed over eight months ago as part of Operation Enduring Freedom.
There are a total of 44 Guardsmen returning home from the Sinai Desert.
Congressmen Marion Berry will be on hand to offer the official welcome home while local eighth grade student Kenneth Norman and Miss Arkansas 2000 Sara Harris will provide patriotic music.
"All community members are encouraged to attend to show appreciation and support for the troops," said officials organizing the event.
Tickets are $10, and may be purchased at the Chamber office on Izard Street.
Celebration sponsors include First National Bank of Eastern Arkansas, Bonanza (Matt Townsend), Baptist Memorial Hospital-Forrest City, Chris Oswalt, Classic Flowers & Weddings (Glenn Oswalt), Danny Ferguson, Union Planters Bank, Forrest City Bank, APAC, the Elected Officials of St. Francis County and First National Bank of Forrest City. Anyone interested in helping support the event with a sponsorship is asked to contact the Forrest City Area Chamber of Commerce office at 870-633-1651.
The Forrest City Area Chamber of Commerce is a voluntary organization of individuals, businesses and institutions working to advance the commercial, industrial, agricultural and civic interests of Forrest City and St. Francis County, according to the press release announcing the event.
The St. Francis County Community Foundation ended a successful first year in June with its partner, the Walton Family Foundation.
Over the year, the foundation built support for charitable causes in St. Francis County. "We established a dedicated board of community leaders who were active and generous in developing a foundation for our community causes," said Chairman Pat Flanagin.
The board, along with other Founders Club Members, gave $20,000 that will help fund future operations of the organization. The Walton's matched that $20,000 and will continue to do so for another four years. The Walton Family Foundation also matched the $50,000 that was established by local donations.
Local donators include the Cohn Family Fund, The EACC Endowment, the Forrest City Education Foundation and the Youth Advisory Committee.
All of these donations will produce grants each year for local community causes. "The Walton Foundation gave us an additional $10,000 which was passed out in local grants," said Flanagin.
Grantees include: The Fellowship of Christian Athletes, the St. Francis County Museum, the Humane Society, Special Olympics, The Literary Council, The Eureka Club, The Cyber Cafe, the July Fourth Community Celebration, and the upcoming Rumble on the Ridge Basketball Tournament.
Grants will be given to worthy causes again in the coming year in addition to more than $3,000 that will be given by The Kellogg Foundation and the local Youth Advisory Committee.
"Our board really worked hard this year to get us to this point," said Executive Director Sonya Fletcher. "I am looking forward to another banner year."
Flanagin expressed gratitude for The Walton, Kellogg, and Rockefeller Foundations that will be involved in matching local community donations in the coming year.
By ALAN SMITH
T-H Staff Writer
The Wheatley Fire Department has received a grant to purchase new equipment.
Wheatley Mayor Larry Nash told councilmen during their regular monthly meeting Thursday evening that the city has been approved for the $11,250 grant that will allow the department to update its equipment.
In addition, Nash said the city is also applying for a grant to replace some sidewalks.
The council was updated on the status of a recently condemned parcel in the city. The property is owned by Barbara Shumate, and Nash said she had signed for a certified letter informing her of the city's action. "The letter was signed for by Ms. Shumate, and now we can proceed with tearing it down," Nash said.
However, Nash also told councilmen that he had purchased the land at an auction when the property was put up for sale by the state due to delinquent taxes owed against it. The mayor said he would pay the costs for cleaning up the property.
The Forrest City Police Department and the City of Forrest City will present a night of magic with magician Jim Princeton on Friday, July 26, at 7:30 p.m. at the Forrest City Civic Center.
"This will be a show for the entire family," said Forrest City Police Department Lt. Eddie Adamson, one of the organizers of the event. Princeton has performed his magic in theaters in Branson, Mo. and all over the country, according to a press release.
This event is free to the public, and is part of a year-long schedule of Drug Free/Violence Free programs being paid for through a grant from the Arkansas Department of Health.
For more information, contact Adamson at the FCPD at 870-633-3434.
Two people were arrested Thursday after a police officer discovered marijuana and drug paraphernalia in an apartment being rented by one of the suspects.
According to the Forrest City Police Department report, an officer went to #174 Rice Street, where he saw Charles Taylor enter the residence. Taylor, 29, of Colt, was wanted on a warrant for third-degree battery in Bald Knob.
In the apartment, the officer found Brenda Sue Evans, along with some marijuana, pipes and containers of marijuana seeds.
Evans, 31, the renter of the apartment, was charged with possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia. Taylor was arrested on the warrant.
The Forrest City City Council will meet Tuesday, July 16, at 7 p.m. at city hall.
Included on the agenda are bid openings for fire apparatus and street striping. Also on the agenda is a resolution to accept funds for the municipal airport.