By DAVID NICHOL
T-H Staff Writer
The apparent loser in the May Democratic Primary for mayor of Widener has filed a complaint with the State Board of Election Commissioners, alleging irregularities in the voting.
Arvin Billingsley ran against incumbent Mayor Dot Halford in the Democratic Primary May 21. Unofficial returns showed Halford winning by a vote of 56 to 41. In June, the Board of Election Commissioners informed the members of the St. Francis County Election Commission that the complaint had been filed.
Billingsley's complaint alleges, in part, that there are a number of voters who signed a supplemental page to the current voter list, but whose names do not appear on the list of electors voting at the Widener polling site. There is also an allegation that at least five people were allowed to vote who were not registered to vote in the county.
Joe Young, chairman of the St. Francis County Election Commission, said Tuesday that he believed things had been worked out, specifically the charges that unregistered people had voted.
"I kind of think they have been worked out" he said. "He went to Little Rock and complained, and they came back on us that about 20 names were not registered."
He said documentation had been provided to the state board, "and we haven't heard anymore from it. They were mistaken about the names."
The Forrest City Area Chamber of Commerce is planning a "Star Spangled Celebration," honoring the returning Forrest City National Guard members and their families at 6:30 p.m. on Monday, July 29, at the Civic Center.
The returning service members will gather at the National Guard Armory at 6 p.m., and receive a police escort to the Civic Center. Residents are encouraged to line the streets to welcome them home.
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 the release.
Tickets are on sale for $10 at the Chamber office. The deadline to purchase tickets is Thursday, July 25. Tickets will not be sold at the door.
Event 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 and Cartillar Family Dentistry. 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.
By KENDALL OWENS
T-H Staff Writer
Only days after discussing a potential "time bomb" in regard to two pumps at the Mallory Road sewer pumping station, a seal on one of the pumps exploded, forcing Forrest City Water Commissioners to make a decision now rather than later.
Forrest City Water Utility Manager Jim Beazley told commissioners during a special meeting this week that the "number two" pump at the station blew seals and flooded the dry well at the pumping station.
After much discussion, commissioners voted unanimously to replace two of the pumps in the station at an estimated cost of $100,000. Commissioners also voted, on the recommendation of Beazley, to waive the bid process and give the contract to Broadway Electric in Forrest City to replace the pumps. Tommy Eldridge with Broadway Electric attended the meeting and explained to commissioners the plans for the new pumps at the station.
"There are currently 25-foot drive shafts in the station with motors on top of the drive shafts. Those have a lot of moving parts, and our plan is to do away with them and place the motors directly on top of the pumps. The motors will be between eight and 10 feet off the ground and will have plenty of clearance in case the station floods," Eldridge said.
Placing the pumps in an area that might flood caused concern for several of the commissioners and also for Beazley, but safety factors and costs overrode their concerns.
"I really don't like putting pumps in an area that might flood, no matter how remote the possibility, but this seems like the idea to go with. There are some safety concerns when you go in there with all of those moving parts that we have now and going this route will also save us some," Beazley said.
There is currently one pump operating at the site with a standby pump available if needed. The pumps won't be available for installation for eight to 10 weeks.
By KENDALL OWENS
T-H Staff Writer
The city of Colt is once again searching for a policeman after its newest officer, Kenneth Pickett, resigned.
In a July 20 letter from Pickett, the officer told council members and Mayor Virgil Keeler, that he would resign, citing "irreconcilable differences" with Keeler. Pickett had been on the job since May.
While the city continues its search for a new officer, St. Francis County deputies will help patrol the Colt area.
"I've contacted the Sheriff's office, and he said that he would patrol the area a little bit more. They help out like that anytime we need them, and that really helps," Keeler said.
Council members decided to re-interview two people who had applied for the position prior to Pickett's hiring in an attempt to quickly replace the officer.
A nursing home orderly was arrested Monday and charged in an incident in which a patient was allegedly struck.
According to a police report, the Forrest City Police Department was notified by Emma Morman that her father, Tommie Lee Austin, 80, a resident of Crestpark Nursing Home of Forrest City, had been assaulted.
Frank Mull, 60, of 321 "A" Street in Forrest City, allegedly struck Austin. The incident apparently happened after Austin kicked at Mull while the orderly was changing Austin's adult diaper.
Austin was taken to the emergency room at Baptist Memorial Hospital-Forrest City, and treated for a cut above his left eye. A policeman later visited the nursing home and reported that the area around Austin's eye was swollen and the eye was extremely blood shot.
Mull is charged with second-degree battery.
A Forrest City woman walking along Scott Street Tuesday night told police she was forced into her home where she was assaulted and raped.
The 53-year-old victim reported to the Forrest City Police Department that the black male suspect allegedly forced her into his car and drove her to her house where the rape allegedly occurred. The victim told police the suspect told her to either get into her house or he would kill her.
Police reported the victim suffered bruises to her face, but refused to have a rape exam kit done at the local hospital. The investigation is continuing.