By KENDALL OWENS
T-H Staff Writer
A team effort is being credited for a successful term of Circuit Court in St. Francis County.
Circuit Court Judge L.T. Simes III said the combined efforts of the prosecutor's office, the public defender's office, the St. Francis County Sheriff's office and the St. Francis County Circuit Clerk's office have made this term the smoothest he has seen during his tenure in St. Francis County.
"This has really been a team effort on all parts. Public Defender Dan McGill has had his cases ready, and been prepared when called upon. The prosecutor's office has been prepared and had cases ready to go when the names were called off the docket. We've also been helped by the work of the sheriff's department. Angela Barton, with the Department of Community Punishment and Annie Washington, St. Francis County Fine Collector, have both really been on the job. Last but not least, the Circuit Clerk's office has done a wonderful job, as usual," Simes said.
During the two-week term of court, according to Simes, 129 cases were removed from the docket. Earlier this week, it was reported in the Times-Herald that between 110 and 115 cases would be disposed of. According to Simes, part of the credit for that can be attributed to the efforts of criminal case coordinator Shannon Bonds.
"This county has been progressive in its efforts to help the system move along and clear the dockets. I went before the quorum court with the idea of a criminal case coordinator, and they approved it. Now, it is beginning to show dividends," Simes said. "The criminal case coordinator helps makes things run smoother because she's always onhand to communicate with attorneys and schedule things that at one time required contact between attorneys from both sides and myself. She maintains most of the contact with attorneys now, and this system gives the prosecution and my office a go-between that we can get information from. It makes the system run smoothly. It's been very beneficial to us."
According to Simes, $38,140 in fines and court costs were levied during this term of court, and an additional $1,600 was ordered paid to the St. Francis County Public Defender fund. Simes said that one jury trial was held, and three extradition hearings were held for individuals with warrants from outside the state.
By DAVID NICHOL
T-H Staff Writer
Forrest City residents who have been complaining over delays in having their garbage being picked up late should be seeing some improvement in service soon, according to Joe King of King Disposal, Inc.
King said the problem has been twofold -- a combination of a truck used for residential pickup being down and the effects of recent heavy rainfall on the West Helena landfill.
"On the residential truck, the main truck, the injector pump they have is on recall," said King. "We took it last Friday for them to fix it. They got the pump, but the gasket did not come in and they had to reorder the gasket. That's the reason the truck is down, and we've been using the backup truck."
In addition to truck problems, the rain has caused an unusual complication with access to the landfill, he said.
"It's hard to get in and out of the landfill when it's raining, he said. "Right now we can't just drive up there and dump. They're pulling us in and out through the mud. We have to be hooked up to a chain and towed in and out."
He said with the mud problem, it can take at least three hours to get dumped at the landfill.
"Three hours to get dumped, an hour there and an hour back, you've done lost five hours," he said. "It's just a matter of lost time at the landfill. There are only so many hours in the day."
He said that while a three-hour wait at the landfill is not unusual, he has documented up to four hours.
King said on Thursday that he was hoping to get the main residential truck back that afternoon, and have it ready to work today. He said he hopes that people will understand that the problems with garbage pickup are only temporary.
"If the citizens will just be patient, we will get to them," he said. "We are doing everything possible to make sure we get to them."
By CRYSTAL HOLLIS
T-H Staff Writer
A new animal ordinance in Wheatley was amended Thursday night after several residents voiced complaints during a city council meeting.
Most residents complained about the difference in licensing fees based on whether an animal is spayed or neutered. Residents with animals that are spayed or neutered would be required to pay a licensing fee of $5 for the first animal and $3 for each additional animal. Those with pets that are not spayed or neutered would have to pay $30 for the first animal and an additional $25 thereafter. The city would have require the licensing fees to be paid annually.
Wheatley resident Ricky Heep told councilmen that he agrees the city needs a dog ordinance, but objected to the original licensing fee.
"I know we need a dog ordinance in this town, and I don't object to that. I have three dogs, and I have built pens for them. I don't let them run loose," Heep said. "What I am opposed to, is having to pay the fee for dogs not spayed or neutered. I breed my dogs, and the way it is set up now, I would have to pay $80 a year just to license my dogs, and I think that's pretty steep," said Heep.
Other residents shared Heep's sentiments, saying they also breed their dogs and that the licensing fee was too high.
Mayor Larry Nash said the ordinance may be strict, but it did get people's attention. "I will say this, we have now gotten people's attention, and that's what I wanted to do," said Nash. "We have had such a big problem in the past with dogs running loose, and when we would send someone out there to pick the dog up, the dog would be back in his yard. Now, with this ordinance, if a citizen complains about a dog running loose, we can go pick it up and fine the owners, even if they are back in their yard."
After some discussion, councilmen unanimously agreed to require pet owners to pay the one-time $5 and $3 fees for animals. Pet owners will also be required to present proof of vaccinations when licensing pets annually.
The council also approved the annual property insurance premium of $3,065 for nine city structures, including the city hall and its contents.
Marie Todd announced today she will seek election to her third term as Forrest City City Clerk Treasurer.
Todd has worked for the City of Forrest City for the past 13 years, and is in the fourth year of her second term as the city's clerk-treasurer. She became a certified municipal clerk in 1998.
She also serves as the secretary to the Forrest City Planning Commission, Firemen's Pension Board and the Municipal Judge and Clerk's fund. Todd is also a member of the International Institute of Municipal Clerks and the Arkansas City Clerks, Recorders and Treasurer's Association. She has also served on the Large First Class Cities Advisory Council for the Arkansas Municipal League.
As a member of the Forrest City Area Chamber of Commerce, Todd served on the board of directors from 1998-2000, and is currently serving on the Greencoat Committee. She is also a member of the Forrest City Kiwanis Club.
Married to Kim Todd, she has two daughters, Mrs. Trey (Tonya) Poteat who lives in Conway and is attending the University of Central Arkansas, and Jessica Thomas, who attends Forrest City High School. She is also an active member of the Second Baptist Church.
"An audit is performed each year by the Arkansas Legislative Joint Auditing Committee, and each year, my office has been in substantial compliance with the Arkansas fiscal and financial laws under my administration," Todd said.
"I take my role as a public servant very seriously. I believe that you should treat others as you want to be treated yourself, and I have tried to exhibit this belief in my dealings with the public, other elected officials, city personnel and the media. I have a good working relationship with each of the local banks. I have gained a keen knowledge of state and local laws that govern our city. Under my direction, the clerk-treasurer's office has, and will remain, open to all, helpful to all and courteous to all.
"I thank you, the citizens of Forrest City, for allowing me to serve as your clerk-treasurer for the past seven-plus years, and respectfully ask that you give me your vote and support again so I can continue serving as your city clerk-treasurer.
Craig Jones announced today that he will seek reelection to the office of St. Francis County Assessor in the May 21 Democratic primary.
Jones worked in the assessor's office for eight years prior to becoming St. Francis County Assessor in January of 2001.
During his tenure as assessor, he combined the real estate office with the main office for taxpayer convenience. He also kept the office open late several nights to better serve those taxpayers who work during the day and did not have the opportunity to go by the courthouse during regular business hours. Jones said he has worked diligently to make sure every taxpayer who qualified got the $300 "tax credit" they deserved and is currently enacting a "tax freeze" to qualified taxpayers, which will help relieve the burden of taxes on the disabled and senior citizens of St. Francis County.
Jones said, "The $300 tax credit helped a lot of taxpayers save money." He added, "My staff and I, in conjunction with the collector's office and with the help of the local media, were able to credit over 6,000 taxpayers in 2001."
Jones went on to say, "This credit gave the county unexpected money during most of the year and was totally reimbursed, by the state, in December 2001."
Under his direction the assessor's office processed over 1,000 deeds and worked with less personnel due to budget shortfalls. Jones stated, "The assessor's office staff should be commended on the excellent work they did in 2001 and they continue to work hard for all the citizens of St. Francis County, which has made my job a lot easier."
Jones, a Democrat, is a member of the International Association of Assessing Officers and the Arkansas Assessor's Association. He is chairman of the St. Francis County Literacy Council and vice chairman of the St. Francis County Museum Board. He also serves on the Hometown Health Improvement advisory committee. Jones, a lifelong resident of St. Francis County, is a member of the First United Methodist Church in Forrest City. He is married to the former Niki Russell and they have two sons, Cooper and Carter Jones. Jones is the son of Stanley and Gail Jones and the grandson of Mrs. Claudia Jones and the late Bill Jones and the late Mr. and Mrs. Gordon Davis. He is the great grandson of Mrs. Lillie Jumper.
Jones added, "I would like to take this time to ask the citizens of St. Francis County for their vote and continued support in the upcoming election. It has been an honor serving as your assessor and I would like to continue working for you. I will continue to treat all taxpayers in a fair and impartial manner and will continue to work with the other elected officials and the Quorum Court and will keep a courteous and professional atmosphere in the assessor's office."
Jones concluded with, "I believe each elected official has the obligation to help the taxpayer, whenever possible, and I will continue to make that my main priority when reelected your assessor."
A former director of the Forrest City Public Library pled guilty Thursday to embezzling more than $5,000 during her nine-month tenure as director of the Bristol, Va., public library.
Christine Shafer, 34, whose last name was Maxam when she was director of the Forrest City facility, entered the plea to a single charge of embezzlement in circuit court in Bristol. She was released on $2,500 bond and must return on June 10 for sentencing. Judge Charles Flannagan said Shafer could face up to 20 years in prison.
Shafer is accused of using a library credit card to get cash advances and to buy personal items on several occasions from June 3 to Oct. 10 last year.
''There were 36 individual events of theft on 31 days'' during that period, Kirksey said. ''Eleven of those instances were in excess of $200. The total amount of theft determined by audit was $5,322.'' Full restitution has been made to the library, he said.
Shafer's attorney, Jim Bowie, said he and his client would not comment until her sentencing.
After serving as the city library director in Forrest City, Shafer took the job in Bristol in January 2001.
She was charged in October after a review of the library's financial records and resigned the same day.