By DAVID NICHOL
T-H Staff Writer
Schools in Forrest City were visited today by representatives of Yale University, in town to see how the Schools for the 21st Century program is working in early childhood development.
Jennifer Heath is program manager, and Vanessa Liles is program associate, for the Schools of the 21st Century program, sponsored by Yale.
According to Heath, Yale has been working with several school districts around the state for several years. One of those districts has been Forrest City.
"The goal of the Schools of the 21st Century is to promote the optimal development of all children, beginning at birth," said Heath. "The notion is that learning does not just begin in kindergarten. There is a lot of learning between the ages of 0 and 5. And we think it's really important that kids have opportunities to be in quality settings prior to coming to kindergarten -- where, they can, obviously, be safe, but where they can also learn, explore, play."
While early childhood development is one of the biggest parts of the Schools of the 21st Century program, Heath said there are other pieces.
"Also providing children with quality support, through after-school programs, and also making sure children have access to health care."
Heath said they were in Forrest City to look over its program.
"Forrest City submitted a program to us for how they wanted to spend the grant money that's available, and the program has been approved," said Heath. "So we're here to talk to them about their plan, see how they're progressing and see how we can be helpful. Our role in this is to provide technical assistance and training."
After visiting ABC School, Heath and Liles were also to visit Stewart School, and the administration building.
In Arkansas, some of the other sites include Arkadelphia, Batesville, Hamburg, Paragould, Rogers and Fayetteville. New sites to be added this year include Augusta, Newark, Omaha, Van Buren and Plainview-Rover.
By KENDALL OWENS
T-H Staff Writer
In a confusing move Monday night, Madison City Council members first voted against a resolution supporting a grant application for a community center and then voted to approve the resolution for the application.
Madison Mayor James Brooks presented the resolution, which was necessary for the city to continue its efforts in seeking a $50,000 grant for the construction of a community center. Brooks told council members the resolution was a necessary part of the process to receive a grant from the United States Department of Agriculture Rural Development.
"This resolution basically says that the city of Madison would like to receive $50,000 from the USDA to help in the construction of a community center. You all approved the seeking of this grant several months ago, so I don't see what the problem would be," Brooks said.
Council members Annie Winfrey and Leroy Anderson questioned whether the facility, which would be located on Dr. Martin Luther King Street next to city hall, would meet the needs of the Madison residents.
"At our last meeting there were some questions over whether there would be enough parking at the location. I don't know if that question has been answered or not, but I think that more investigation into this really needs to be done," Anderson said.
According to Brooks, he has been given assurances from members of the USDA Rural Development office that the site chosen would provide space for parking.
Winfrey argued that not only was there not adequate parking, but also that someone who didn't live in Madison could not make the correct assessment on parking in that location.
"They will tell you that the parking is fine because they don't live here and won't have to use the building. I can't see how that spot would provide adequate parking for citizens or even be able to put in handicapped parking," Winfrey said.
On a motion from Winfrey not to accept the resolution, council members voted 3-2 with aldermen Winfrey, Oscar Brown and Lindsey Cowins voting against the resolution and council members Anderson and Gail Graham voting for the resolution. Alderman Thomas Davis abstained from the vote.
Aldermen then reversed their decision, without discussion, by passing a motion to accept the resolution. Council members Cowins, Graham and Anderson voted for the resolution with Brown and Winfrey voting against it. Davis again chose to abstain from the voting.
In other business, a pair of ordinances were adopted last night which may bring more income to the city. Council members agreed by a unanimous vote to approve a measure which will establish penalties for businesses which do not purchase annual occupational licenses. According to Madison City Attorney Jim Pat Flowers, business owners who do not pay for their licenses by March 15 could face penalties of up to $1,000. New businesses have to pay the fee within their first five business days.
"This establishes a fine for businesses that fail to purchase their occupational license. We have a business that hasn't bought a license during my term as mayor and probably not before then, and in the past there was nothing that we could do. This will give us a way of enforcing the ordinance that we already have on the books requiring the licenses," said Brooks.
The second ordinance adopted by the council will allow the city to charge a $55 towing fee and a $10 per day storage fee for vehicles impounded by the city of Madison.
A third ordinance, which would have charged criminals a fee for their incarceration, failed due to a lack of a second on a motion.
By CRYSTAL HOLLIS
T-H Staff Writer
The Hughes City Council is considering hiring a prosecutor to ease the flow of cases in city court.
Mayor Donnie Mooney told councilmen Monday night that City Judge Alan Cline has requested the city hire Jerry Roberts, who is also the city attorney, as the city's prosecuting attorney. The city holds court twice a month.
"This could help him (Cline) move cases a lot quicker," said Mooney.
Council members agreed to take the matter under advisement and determine at a future meeting what the pay should be for a city prosecutor should Roberts take the position.
In other business, Hughes will establish a policemen's retirement benefit fund board. The board will consist of the mayor, two council members, a police officer and the city treasurer.
The board was established to deal with a request from the daughter of a former Hughes police chief who is asking that she receive the money left over in his retirement fund since her mother, the named beneficiary, is deceased.
Hughes City Clerk Rick Overturf said he has already sent a copy of the city's police retirement benefits ordinance to the Arkansas Municipal League to find out if the city can change the ordinance. Roberts said he will send a copy to the state attorney general's office to seek an opinion on the matter.
Two board members, councilmen Jesse White and John Tate, were appointed to the board.
In other business, councilmen discussed steps being taken to force a Hughes resident to clean up his business.
Council members said residents have complained about the condition of a car wash located in the middle of the city. The occupant of the business has reportedly violated the city's ordinance regarding broken-down vehicles cluttering property. The occupant of the business said last month he sometimes works on cars at the business. "He's even running a laundromat at that place," said one council member. Roberts said he had sent the occupant a letter in the past advising him to remove the cars from the lot.
The occupant of the business maintained last month that all of the vehicles were operational, so he didn't feel he was in violation of the city's ordinance.
Aldermen agreed last night to have Roberts send the occupant a second letter and to have pictures taken of the business by council member Joyce Long. "He kept saying last month that he had moved all of those cars so I went out again after the last meeting and they are all still there," she said.
Ann Gadberry Harbin announced today she is a Democratic candidate for the office of St. Francis County Treasurer in the 2002 Democratic primary. Harbin is seeking reelection to her fourth term as County Treasurer.
A lifelong resident of St. Francis County, Harbin has been employed in the Treasurer's office for 15 years, beginning under the leadership of former treasurer Thomas Cope in 1987. She served as Chief Deputy Treasurer for nine years prior to being elected to the office of treasurer.
"Knowledge and experience in the day-to-day operations are essential in carrying out the duties of the office to which I am seeking reelection," Harbin said. "I am very knowledgeable of the laws that govern the Treasurer's office.
"Because I already know how to take care of the county's money, I will continue to invest this money to get the most interest rate possible, I will continue to work with all banks in the county, I will continue to computerize all records in the office and I will continue to make all records available to the public as it has always been in the past. The County Treasurer's office is also responsible for all accounts and finances in the county government," Harbin said.
"I enjoy working with people and will continue to assist them in any way I can such as notary services. I will continue to have an open-door policy as I have done. This job is very rewarding in that I can serve the people of St. Francis County," Harbin added.
"I value the trust which was placed in me when elected in 1996, and I would appreciate your vote and support as I ask the voters of St. Francis County to reelect me to this office on May 21, 2002, so that I may
See HARBIN on Page 3
John A. Eason of Marianna announced this week his intent to seek reelection to the House of Representatives, District 52, formerly District 97.
Eason retired as executive director of the Lee County Cooperative Clinic in June of 2000. He is presently serving as a member of the Arkansas Community Foundation. He has also served on numerous boards and with many community programs throughout the state of Arkansas.
Eason said that his motto is "A man good for the people."
He is married to Ruby J. Hill-Eason. They have two daughters, Dr. Anita Eason-Jones and Dr. Phyllis O. Eason, and one grandson, John T. Kelley.
Robert Smith is announcing his candidacy for Madison Township Constable.
Smith is a life-long resident of St. Francis County and has more than 20 years of law enforcement experience. He was the 1987 St. Francis County Law Enforcement Officer of the Year.
Madison township is the area between the L'Anguille and St. Francis rivers and is about four miles wide. It includes Forrest City, Madison and Beck Spur.
Smith asks for your vote on May 21 in the Democratic Primary Election.
The Widener City Council on Tuesday heard first reading of an ordinance to add $10 to the costs of the city court.
City Attorney Bill Snowden said Act 366 of 2001 permits towns to levy the fee.
"The Legislature passed it, and it's available to you," said Snowden.
The fees would go into the city's general fund.
Snowden also led a discussion on the wording of the warning on the back of the city's water bills. Currently, the warning states that water bills are due on the 15th of each month, and after that there is a 10 percent late charge. If the bill is not paid by the 19th, the warning states that there will be a $20 reconnection fee.
Snowden said he had been asked if that meant there would be a $20 fee, even if the water had not been cut off. He said the way he read the statement, there would be a fee, regardless.
After the council discussed the matter, it was the consensus of the members that the wording on the back of the water bills did not have to be changed.
On another matter, Mayor Dot Halford informed the council that the city is having a big problem with muskrats at its sewer pond. She said she didn't even know what a muskrat looked like until one was pointed out to her. She said the animals are burrowing into the banks of the pond, and those holes are allowing parts of the bank to wash out.
She said she has been told by the game warden that they city can shoot or trap the animals, but not poison them. She also said that if the city can get rid of the muskrats, the banks of the sewer pond will have to be strengthened.
Three meetings are set for tonight in St. Francis County.
The St. Francis County Quorum Court will hold a budget committee meeting at 6 p.m. at the courthouse.
The Palestine City Council will meet at 7 p.m. at city hall, and the Hughes School Board is scheduled to meet at 7 p.m. in the board room.
All meetings are open to the public.