By DAVID NICHOL
T-H Staff Writer
Mayor Larry Bryant said today that he vetoed an action taken by the city council last week on how Forrest City would be billed for garbage pickup at apartment complexes.
The council voted last week to allow King Disposal to charge for individual carts in apartment complexes which have bins. Council members cited what they thought was an ambiguity in the contract which might make the city vulnerable to a lawsuit.
A part of the contract between the city and King Disposal states that pickup "may" be considered as commercial in apartments with more than 10 units.
This morning, Bryant said he vetoed the vote out of principle.
"The definition of 'residential' was clear," said Bryant. 'Mr. (Joe) King had understood it when he bid on it."
Bryant said he realizes his veto might be overridden by the city council.
"They can override it, if they so desire" he said. "But this is the principle of it, and a man without principle is not a very good person. I was looking out for the people of Forrest City, and that was what they elected me to do."
On the vote last week, Aldermen A.L. Harris, Glen Ford, Chris Oswalt, John Gadberry, Roy Hancock and Richard Benson voted yes, Cecil Twillie abstained and Mary Jeffers was absent.
Contacted this morning, King said only, "At this time I don't have any response. I'm going to let my attorney handle it, and I'm just going to leave it at that."
Council member Glenn Ford said he couldn't predict what the council would do.
"I'll just wait and see what happens," Ford said. "We'll either override his veto at the next council meeting, or sustain it. One of those two things will happen."
He said he was surprised by Bryant's action.
"I'm kind of surprised at it. Maybe he's found out something or gotten some more information. But we'll have to vote on whether to override it or sustain it at the next council meeting."
By KENDALL OWENS
T-H Staff Writer
The Forrest City Police Department is looking for information in connection with several recent armed robberies.
According to Lt. Eddie Adamson, officials with the police department are asking anyone with information on the robberies to contact Crimestoppers at 261-1499.
"Crimestoppers offers up to $1,000 for information that leads to the conviction of individuals that are involved in crimes. All calls are kept confidential, so people don't have to worry about anyone finding out that they called," Adamson said.
According to Adamson, an extra effort is being made to get information following a pair of aggravated robberies Monday night, one taking place at Union Planters Bank and the other in the Wal-Mart parking lot. The police department is also seeking information on two robberies that took place earlier this month at the Broadway Twin Cinema. Last week an undetermined amount of money was taken during an armed robbery and earlier this month, a money bag was taken from the theater owner as she was attempting to get into her vehicle after closing.
People in the Hughes area who are underinsured or who have no insurance at all for health care will have some help beginning April 1.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has awarded $254,678 to the Lee County Cooperative Clinic in Marianna, to help support a new site to serve uninsured and underserved people in Hughes.
The announcement was made by U.S. Sens. Tim Hutchinson and Blanche Lincoln.
The center anticipates serving about 1,200 medically indigent individuals when the new site is at full capacity.
"It's going to be at 128 S. Broadway in Hughes," said Clifton Collier, assistant executive director of the Lee County Cooperative Clinic. He said that for those familiar with the area, it is the former office of Dr. Grady Collum.
"It will open on April 1," Collier said. "We're going to have a program at 1 p.m., and we want to invite everybody out to that."
The senators each expressed pleasure at the funding.
"Access to quality health care is essential to the health and well being of our citizens," said Hutchinson, a member of the Senate Health Committee. "This funding will help provide a safety net for the most vulnerable citizens in St. Francis County."
"This funding for a new center is essential to our Delta citizens who go without proper health facilities," Lincoln said. "I am happy to see this being awarded to those individuals who can benefit the most."
State Senator Alvin Simes has announced his plans to seek reelection to the Arkansas State Senate District 16 position which includes parts of Crittenden, Lee, Phillips and St. Francis counties.
"I want to continue serving the constituents of the district by working to improve the quality of education, transportation, recreational facilities and economic development," said Simes, a Democrat, of West Helena.
As a freshman senator, Simes served as a member of the Senate Rules, City, County and Local Affairs and Joint Performance and Review committees. He also chaired the Senate Public Transportation Committee, and used the position to bring the government to the people during the recent Community Committee meetings held in Helena, Forrest City and West Memphis.
According to Simes, he is also pleased with the various highway improvement projects currently under way in Eastern Arkansas, and he said that he intends to continue working to improve the highway development in the district.
According to Simes, there are several priorities to his constituents which included, making himself assessable to his district by having monthly meetings; being responsive to constituents' needs; proposing legislation during the session and by obtaining Attorney General opinions.
During his first term, Simes said he sponsored several bills, including an act which revised the amount of attorney fees to be awarded in worker's compensation cases. He also sponsored a bill which helps provide assistance with funeral costs for needy Arkansans and created a board of directors to study methods for providing funeral assistance to needy Arkansans.
Through his work, Simes said he was able to receive over a half-million dollars for several projects for cities in the district. The cities of Jennette, Madison, Marvell, Crawfordsville, Lakeview, Aubrey and Edmondson each received $50,000 for municipal infrastructure projects, and Edmondson also received an additional $50,000 for similar infrastructure projects in the Anthonyville community. He said he was also able to secure $100,000 for the renovation and repair of the J.H. King Community Center in Forrest City and $50,000 for renovation and land acquisition for the city of Earle for city hall.
"My past experience in the Senate will afford District 16 greater opportunities to receive benefits from the state," said Simes.
Simes, a graduate of Helena-West Helena Central High School, has practiced personal injury, criminal law, family law and civil rights law since August of 1989.
He earned his bachelor's degree in business administration from Arkansas State University in Jonesboro and a Juris Doctorate in Law from the University of Arkansas Law School. He is a member of Delta Theta Phi Law Fraternity and Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. He is also a member of First Baptist Church in West Helena and has served as city attorney for the city's of Madison and Holy Grove as well as serving a three-year stint on the Phillips County Quorum Court.
The Forrest City Planning Commission on Tuesday tabled a request for a lot size variance until those making the request could work out some problems.
Sylenda and Michael Davis were requesting a variance to place a 28 foot by 52 foot manufactured home at 218 Dooley Street. The lot is 50 feet by 77 feet.
The problem came when commission members learned that the Davises want to attach the trailer to an existing house which is 28 feet wide. This would make the finished structure larger than the lot.
The commission suggested that a survey be made of the lot to get the exact dimensions.
In filings Tuesday for countywide positions in the May 21, Democratic primary election, two candidates entered the race for St. Francis County Treasurer.
According to records in the St. Francis County Clerk's office, St. Francis County Treasurer Ann Harbin, of Forrest City, and Colt resident Tammy Talley, filed for the treasurer's position. Joining Harbin as incumbents filing for reelection Tuesday was Regan Hill for Justice of the Peace District 7.
In other filings, there were two entries into separate constable races for the May election. Danny L. Smith, of Forrest City entered the race for the Constable of Johnson Township, and Jerry L. Young, of Hughes filed for the position of Constable of Blackfish Township.
In other races, James T. Meredith, M.D., of Forrest City, filed for reelection to the County Coroner's seat, and Claude Berry, also of Forrest City, filed for election to JP #9 Position 2 on the Democratic Central Committee.
Mayor Larry Nash of Wheatley, was the only individual to file in municipal races.
The filing for the May primary closes on Tuesday, April 2, at noon. Individuals interested in filing for the primary have only two days to file because the St. Francis County Courthouse will be closed Friday in celebration of Good Friday. Filing, for the November general election, in municipal races will close on Monday, May 20.