By KENDALL OWENS
T-H Staff Writer
Palestine-Wheatley High School Principal Jeff Cagle has been placed on a 30-day suspension with pay. Cagle was suspended Monday by PWSD Superintendent Jimmy Allen.
Cagle, who was involved in an alleged strip search of several students at PWJHS in Wheatley in January, has been suspended pending a hearing which he is expected to request, according to Allen. Cagle allegedly strip searched several students in an effort to find money that had been reported stolen.
"Our policy allows for a hearing after disciplinary actions no fewer than five days after a person receives the action and no more than 20 days following notification. We're expecting to get something from Mr. Cagle soon," Allen said.
Allen also said that although the action was his decision, the school board would be the final jury regarding the incident.
At least one school board member questioned not only the legitimacy of the strip search charges, but also the reason behind Cagle's suspension.
"In my opinion this is something that never should have been done. I don't think that the suspension has any base whatsoever. If the students were strip searched then that is a problem, but it is my understanding that they were only asked to lower their pants and they still wore T-shirts and underwear. That was to make sure they weren't hiding any money. That may have been too much, but a lot of this goes back to an effort to get rid of Cagle that's been going on for quite a while," said board member John Henry Parker.
Parker also said that some of the reason that Allen wished to get rid of Cagle stemmed from the perception that Cagle was a threat to Allen's job as superintendent.
Allen responded to those charges saying, "It's sad when a board member feels that way, but I will say this. This board has been extremely fair with all of its employees. Each board member has to vote his own conscience and that's what they do. I don't view Mr. Cagle as a threat to my job, and I haven't done anything to see him removed. This action was one that had to be taken," Allen said.
"We have a good school district, and the district is a reflection of the school board that has been elected," Allen added.
By KENDALL OWENS
T-H Staff Writer
Secretary of State Sharon Priest presided over a town hall meeting Monday night designed to address recent changes in the election process.
The meeting, held at the St. Francis County Courthouse, was the third of four such meetings scheduled throughout the state to gather input on needed election changes and to discuss changes made so far in the election process.
Priest said the primary reason for the meeting was for elected officials to hear what the electorate had to say regarding election issues. Also attending with Priest was Sen. Paul Bookout of Jonesboro. Bookout helped sponsor legislation that created the State Election Improvement Study Commission.
"There were a lot of us in the legislature who felt that something needed to be done so that we could do whatever was necessary to try to improve the election process. After Florida, we felt like now was as good a time as any to begin this process, so the commission was formed," Bookout said.
According to Priest, the focus of the commission will center around the entire election process in an attempt to find and fix problems, as well as get suggestions for election law changes.
"This study will cover everything from voter registration to election day. There are a lot of things already going on in the state of Arkansas that are being looked at positively on the national level. Voter identification is being looked at nationally, and for the most part we have that here already," Priest said.
Priest briefed the group over an election law change that will now require at least two poll workers at a site be trained. According to Priest, the effort was to attempt to insure that poll workers are current on their election education to better serve the public.
"This poll worker training is something that we've felt was needed for quite a while. At least two workers must be trained by the state in accordance with the law," Priest said.
Steve Hollowell of Forrest City questioned whether the law would also involve election commissioners. According to Bookout, attempts were made to require the training for commissioners, but it couldn't be accomplished.
"We're suggesting that commissioners take the training courses, but everyone backed off the idea of mandatory training for a job that is volunteered for," Bookout said.
Priest answered questions regarding uniform voting machines and uniform early voting in the state.
"There has been some call for uniform voting machines, but it really hasn't been discussed at any depth. Choice of equipment is something that the state has always left up to each election commission," Priest said.
On early voting, Priest commented that she felt that the effort should be put forth to make government as accessible as many other offices in today's society.
"We in the government are here to work for the people, and I don't see that being done best from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. Early voting and voting on Saturday and Sunday would give people opportunities outside of the normal voting to cast their ballots at their convenience. Banks are now open later, and we're even seeing doctor's offices opening on weekends, so why not government offices," Priest said.
The fourth and final of the town hall meetings will be held tonight, from 6:30 to 8 p.m. in Russellville at Arkansas Tech University in the L.L. "Doc" Bryan Student Center.
State Rep. Danny Ferguson of Forrest City has announced his plans to seek reelection to the Arkansas House of Representatives.
As a result of the 2000 census redistricting, Ferguson will be running in the newly-formed District 51, consisting of Monroe County and parts of St. Francis, Lee and Woodruff counties.
Ferguson, currently in his second term, services on the Revenue and Tax Committee, the Joint Committee on Energy, the Insurance and Commerce Committee and the Legislative Joint Auditing Committee, where he is the House chairman. He will be running for his third and final term in the House of Representatives under Arkansas' term limits. Prior to his election to the Legislature, Ferguson served as mayor of Forest City for 18 years.
Ferguson, a graduate of Forrest City High School, earned a Bachelor of Science degree in business administration at the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville in 1971. He also completed the Certified Public Manager Program at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock in 1998.
He is employed as the executive director of the Forrest City Area Chamber of Commerce, where he works in business and industry recruitment, as well as existing industry retention. He played a key role in the recruitment of several manufacturing firms and the Federal Bureau of Prisons complex in St. Francis County, bringing hundreds of new job opportunities to the area.
In his first term as State Representative, Ferguson sponsored Act 1130 of 1999, that doubled the enterprise zone tax credits to industries that locate or expand in Arkansas' distressed counties, based on unemployment rates.
Ferguson notes, "It takes a team effort to promote economic growth. Unemployment is an area-wide problem and it takes and area-wide effort to address this problem. We must work with business, existing industry, agriculture and education to retain current jobs and to promote expansions. All of us need to project an upbeat, positive image of our communities to attract investment and new jobs to our area, and we should realize that what is good for one particular community benefits the entire area. In addition to working on projects in the Forrest City area, I have worked with other communities and industries in the region. As State Representative of District 51, I will continue to support and place an emphasis on community development and creating job opportunities in this area of the Delta."
Active in civic and professional organizations, Ferguson is a member of the American Academy of Certified Public Managers, Rotary, and the Arkansas Economic Developers, and he is an active member of Graham Memorial Presbyterian Church. He is married and has one daughter, age 9.
Ferguson concludes, "Due to the changing economy, limited revenues and the may needs of our state, the 84th General Assembly will face tremendous challenges in the next session. To all citizens of District 51, I hope to use the experience that I have gained in my first two terms to help us meet these challenges. I would sincerely appreciate your support and vote, and I look forward to the opportunity to serve as your State Representative during the next two years."
By DAVID NICHOL
T-H Staff Writer
Forrest City has received a State Airport Aid Grant of $31,550.
Copies of a letter from the Arkansas Aeronautics Commission informing Mayor Larry Bryant of the grant were given to Airport Commission members at the regular commission meeting Monday.
The grant is a 75-25 match. According to commission chairman Bill Hays, the money will be used to expand an aircraft parking ramp for a possible new hangar.
On another matter, Hays brought the results of a survey recently made of the airport property by Paul Gunn and Associates Consulting Engineers. The survey will be used in figuring out possible expansion of the airport runways. One possibility that has been discussed, although nothing is definite, is to expand the runway 500 feet in each direction, widen it from 50 to 75 feet and increase its load-bearing capacity.
This would be done without expanding the airport property. There has been opposition from adjacent landowners to expanding the airport.
The commission also discussed the Memphis Soaring Society. Hays said he has been told verbally that the organization, made up of gliding enthusiasts, is leaving the airport at Forrest City when its 10-year lease ends. However, he also said notice has been given by the society that it wants to exercise its option for another 10 years.
"We know that they're leaving. They told me they were leaving in August or September," said Hays. "I think they've have made a similar announcement to people in Cross County (near Cherry Valley) that they are coming. There have been a lot of questions about the lease arrangement."
The current lease expires Aug. 31 of this year. Hays said he asked Knox Kinney, the city attorney, for an opinion.
In the opinion, Kinney wrote that according to the lease agreement, the only way the Soaring Society may sublease the property it is leasing from the airport is to first obtain written permission from the Airport Commission.
"The commission will have the responsibility of deciding whether or not to grant this 10 year option," said Hays.
"I think we need to be concerned with what they intend to do with it," said commission member Homer Jacobs. "The Soaring Society is leaving and wanting to keep the lease on the building."
The matter will be studied further.
A man was given 10 years in the Arkansas Department of Corrections for variety of drug charges.
Gregory B. Cook, 30, of Caldwell, was found guilty of manufacture of a controlled substance (methamphetamine) and possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver. He was given 10 years, with 10 years probation after his release.