By ALAN SMITH
T-H Staff Writer
A new course will be offered to students attending Crowley's Ridge Technical Institute this fall.
During a special meeting on Monday, the CRTI board approved a proposal by school president Burl Lieblong to add a computer repair and networking program beginning Aug. 1.
The course will prepare students for an information technology career and offer "hands-on training conducted on computer hardware, software, upgrades, configurations and problem-solving techniques," according to the proposal booklet handed out in the meeting.
According to the booklet, no institution in the state of Arkansas within a 75-mile radius of CRTI offers a similar program, and no new faculty, facilities or additional costs beyond what is currently budgeted will be needed.
Lieblong told board members, "This program is really needed because of the high demand in the area for these types of services."
Personnel was also discussed during the meeting, in an executive session. After the short session, the board unanimously voted to hire Alonzo Gatling as the new Assistant Director of Student Services, and Debbie Hill and Pat Hamilton as new LPN instructors.
The board also granted Lieblong permission to negotiate a contract with Ronald Blankenship to teach carpentry at the Federal Correctional Institution-Forrest City for CRTI.
In other news, Frances Harper, CRTI board member, has been submitted by the board to Gov. Mike Huckabee for reappointment to a five-year term on the board. Harper's appointed term expired on June 30, 2002. The board also voted to move the start time of the next scheduled meeting on Aug. 21 from 1 p.m. to 12 noon.
By KENDALL OWENS
T-H Staff Writer
Quick thinking by a St. Francis County farmer may have saved the life of a 15-year-old boy trapped under a car, the result of a single-car accident on St. Francis County Road 509 Monday afternoon.
According to an accident report from the St. Francis County Sheriff's Office, 15-year-old Rico Thomas was injured when the car in which he was a passenger overturned on SFC 509. The driver, 18-year-old Thedrick T. Brown of Earle, lost control of his 1997 Chevrolet Cavalier. According to SFC Deputy Donald Parkman, Brown was traveling at a high rate of speed when the accident occurred.
"He was driving much too fast on that road when he just lost control. The car traveled 135 feet and overturned trapping one of the passengers under it when it came to a stop," Parkman said.
At that point, passerby Norris Latham of Haynes sprung into action. According to Parkman, Latham, who lives near the area where the accident occurred, witnessed the wreck, stopped his vehicle and grabbed a bumper jack and blocks. He used those items to jack the vehicle up and block it off so that Thomas could be pulled away from the vehicle.
"Norris was just driving by, and it was his actions that saved this boy's life. He stopped his truck and grabbed his jack and got the car off of the boy so that he could be pulled out. He was a real good Samaritan," Parkman said.
Thomas was transported to LeBonheur Children's Medical Center in Memphis where he was treated and released.
A reward is being offered for information leading to the arrest of suspects in an aggravated robbery last month that left a homeowner nursing a wounded leg.
The St. Francis County Sheriff's Department reported today that four black men stormed into the John Peeples III residence on Highway 70 East at Heth on June 21, demanding money and guns. The suspects allegedly shot Peeples, 43, in the leg.
Peeples, his wife, Susan, 43, and their eight-year-old daughter, were home at the time of the robbery.
Deputies reported the suspects forced their way into the Peeples' home just before 11 p.m., and stated, "Where is your guns and where is the safe?" According to the police report, several pieces of jewelry, three guns and a large amount of cash were taken during the robbery.
Peeples was taken by ambulance to the Med Center in Memphis where he was treated and released.
The SFCSD is offering a $1,000 reward for the arrest and conviction of those responsible for the robbery.
Deputies said all information will remain confidential. Anyone with information should contact the St. Francis County Sheriff's Department at 870-633-2611 or 1-800-498-3529.
A new law, called the Arkansas Graduated Licensing Law, went into effect Monday with the beginning of the new fiscal year.
According to information provided by Troop D of the Arkansas State Police, Act 1694 of 2001 affects persons who have not been issued a photo Arkansas driver's license before Monday.
When state offices opened for business this week, anyone between the ages of 14 and 18 will be issued a graduated license, either learner or intermediate.
This will apply no matter when the person took and passed written and road exams.
The learner's permit is the beginning driver's license issued to a person at least 14 years old. It expires on the person's 16th birthday. Applicants may qualify for a learner's license by passing the written and road tests given by the Arkansas State Police, passing the vision exam and having no serious accidents or traffic convictions in the most recent six months.
A learner's license has the following restrictions: All passengers must have seat belts attached at all times, and the driver must be accompanied by a licensed driver at least 21 years old. When the learner's license expires on the person's 16th birthday, an intermediate driver's license may be applied for.
An intermediate license is issued to persons ages 16 to 18, and expires on the person's 18th birthday. Applicants who have a learner's license may move up to the intermediate license only if they have no serious accidents or serious traffic offenses within the most recent six months.
In a vehicle being driven by a person with an intermediate license, passengers must use their seat belts. Any person under the age of 18 must also have an adult present for a six-month period, or until reaching the age of 18.
A regular license can be issued to a person at age 18, when the intermediate license expires. To receive a regular license, a person must not have been in a serious accident or had a traffic conviction for at least 12 months.
The age restrictions in the program do not apply to a person 16 or older if the person is married, has a high school or a GED diploma or is in the U.S. military.
For the purposes of the law, a serious accident is one in which the driver is found at fault and is placed on the driver's record. A serious traffic conviction includes alcohol-related violations, seat belt violations, reckless driving, passing a stopped school bus, running a stop sign or stop light, and numerous other offenses.
The Planter's Cotton Oil Mill, which was the site of a raging fire last week, hopes to reopen to full capacity as soon as Monday.
"We (the plant) are about 50 percent complete with our repairs. All the electrical work has already been done," said Jim Cobb, Operations Manager for Planter's . The repairs to the electrical system had to be made before Arkansas Power and Light could connect the power back to the affected portions of the mill."
The mill has been able to ship seed even though they have not been able to receive new seed due to the extensive damage.
According to Cobb, the damage estimate, as a result of the fire, is $45,000, covering all materials and labor. The fire was started when a conveyor belt overheated and threw sparks onto cotton seeds igniting them, Cobb said.
A 23-year-old Colt man was injured Monday after wrecking his motorcycle.
The St. Francis County Sheriff's Department reported Christopher G. Ray of Colt was traveling east on St. Francis County Road 206 near Colt on his 2003 Kawasaki when he lost control of the motorcycle and fell off, causing him and the bike to slide about 200 feet.
According to the report, Ray was taken by helicopter to the Regional Medical Center in Memphis, but his condition was unavailable this morning.