By DAVID NICHOL
T-H Staff Writer
A new Senior Citizens Center for Forrest City came a step closer Thursday, as a rather soggy groundbreaking was held at the Municipal Sports Complex.
Mayor Larry Bryant said he had would have liked to have had work started already on the site, but the weather has simply been too wet.
Bill Crawford, the contractor for the project, said once equipment could be gotten on the site, several inches of the existing topsoil would be removed, and then about 18 inches of clay soil would be put on the site to raise the ground level.
"We're waiting for weather," to allow the work on the complex to begin, said Bryant.
The city received a $350,000 grant for the building of the center.
The need for a new Senior Citizens Center had been voiced for some time. The biggest complaint about the Grobmyer Circle location was access. Grobmyer Circle is in a hilly area, and many senior citizens had time getting to the center down steep steps or ramps.
There had been some discussion over the location, also. Some council members had stated they felt the center should be located in the downtown area, and some downtown sites were actually considered. There were also worries that the sports complex might bring too many young people around the area. Some senior citizens, including Tempie Moorehead, a retired educator, said they would feel safer at the athletic complex than they would downtown.
The new building will be 44 feet by 80 feet. It will be located off the southeastern corner of the parking lot.
By KENDALL OWENS
T-H Staff Writer
After failing in a bid to annex over 20,000 acres of land in St. Francis County in November of 2000, officials in the city of Jennette, which is in located in Crittenden County, are attempting a second annexation of property inside St. Francis County.
According to an ordinance from Jennette, officials there are seeking to take in close to eight acres of the county, which is located close to the Crittenden and St. Francis County lines in the Shearerville Community.
The ordinance to annex the land was filed this week in the St. Francis County Clerk's office. A copy has also been filed in the Crittenden County Clerk's office. According to the ordinance, votes will be cast during the May 21 primary to determine the annexation issue.
St. Francis County Judge Carl Cisco said the current bid may be an attempt to add revenue to the city of Jennette. The measure would incorporate a nearby grocery store which is located at the intersection of U.S. Highway 70 and Arkansas Highway 79.
"I think this is an effort to try to make money for the city by bringing in an entity which will give the city a higher tax base and more money for the city," Cisco said.
The original bid for annexation was defeated by a margin of 246 to 22. Officials in Jennette could not be reached for comment.
By KENDALL OWENS
T-H Staff Writer
A Forrest City man who was sentenced to five years in the Arkansas Department of Corrections on charges dating back to January of last year was resentenced Thursday to 15 years in the ADC.
Rex Bradford, 42, 2786 SFC 811, was arrested on Jan. 22, 2001, for possession of firearms by certain persons, possession of drug paraphernalia, fleeing, possession of a controlled substance, simultaneous possession of drugs and firearms and unauthorized use of another person's property to facilitate certain crimes. On Jan. 26, he was arrested for reckless driving, fleeing, possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver, possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of an instrument of crime and littering. On Oct. 25, police arrested Bradford for possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver, felon in possession of a firearm, manufacturing a controlled substance and simultaneous possession of drugs and firearms.
Bradford was sentenced last week to five years in prison, which were to run concurrent, on three of the charges against him with the other charges nolle prosequi. However, in a move Thursday, Circuit Court Judge L.T. Simes III, changed the sentences to run consecutive which will give him five years to serve for each charge. According to Simes, the change in sentence was a move to assure fairness in sentencing.
"I have a commitment to be fair in sentencing, and when I looked at the case and looked through his files, I saw a person with an extensive criminal record.
"I feel that if I'm going to sentence people with lesser crimes to more time then I have to be fair to everybody and that's what this move today does," Simes said.
During the resentencing hearing, Bradford's attorney, Louis Etoch, objected to the resentencing saying, "Mr. Bradford was sentenced in this courtroom pursuant to a plea agreement between myself and deputy prosecuting attorney Gary Mitchusson and I know of no reason to change that agreement," said Etoch.
At the time of Bradford's arrests last year, he was already serving a five-year suspended imposition of sentence for other charges.
On Jan. 24, 1999, he was arrested for possession of a controlled substance, on Jan. 25, he was arrested possession of drug paraphernalia, and on Dec. 19, 1999, he was arrested for theft by receiving over $2,500.
On the three cases that were nolle prosqui last week which dealt with revocation of his suspended sentences, Simes said that he saw no reason to reopen the cases.
By KENDALL OWENS
T-H Staff Writer
After a month without a police officer, officials in Colt decided during their regular monthly city council meeting Thursday to interview three candidates for the vacant spot.
Council members agreed to interview the three candidates next week and also agreed to request a more indepth background check following the interviews. Colt City Manager Bobby Clarkson suggested that council members only request the background check following the interviews.
"This background check is pretty deep, and I don't think that you should ask the people that you're not considering for the job to fill out something that extensive," Clarkson said.
In other business, the council agreed to have an ordinance requiring building permits created. The plan, which is based on an existing ordinance in Palestine, will call for all building projects to require permits. A plan, which would have called for contracting permits, was not agreed upon because council members agreed that enforcement would be difficult.
"It's going to be difficult to enforce the building permits. I know that I wouldn't have time to go around and check on every electrician and plumber that came to town to see if they had the permit. It would really only have affected us with the bigger contractors that come in because they expect to have to pay for the permit," Clarkson said.
Council members also agreed to an additional fee for businesses that fail to pay the annual $25 fee for a business permit. According to Clarkson, one Colt business failed to pay the fee before the Jan. 31 deadline and didn't pay the fee after being reminded of it in February.
"We only had one that didn't pay, and I still haven't heard from them even though I've notified them that they were late and gave them until the end of February to pay it. Right now we have no way of enforcing the ordinance even though we've got the ordinance on the book," he said.
Council members agreed to the additional $25 fee as well as a measure that will tack the fee onto a delinquent businesses water bill.
St. Francis County Judge Carl Cisco announced today his candidacy for reelection to office subject to the May 21 Democratic Primary. Cisco is a lifelong resident of St. Francis County and has served as county judge for over 17 years.
"It has been a great honor to serve the citizens of St. Francis County. As county judge, I have been able to work toward completing many rewarding projects that have been of great benefit to the people of our county. An example of one such project has been NEARCO (North East Arkansas Recycling Company), which was established under my term as county judge in an effort to keep trash out of landfills, while at the same time, giving citizens a place to dispose of old appliances and other waste. Businesses now have an opportunity to recycle cardboard and other paper waste in order to reduce their cost for trash disposal," Cisco said.
"Under my administration we have been very fortunate to work with the state in order to improve county roads and bridges. We have had over $260,000 in state aid road work and $380,000 in state aid bridge construction during the past two years. We have also paved an additional three miles of county roads," Cisco added.
"St. Francis County became the fiscal agent for the EAEC (East Arkansas Enterprise Community), which serves four counties. I enjoy working with other counties in our area to help entities leverage resources which are used to enhance the quality of life for our citizens. The county was given a grant for $1.2 million from the state for the Patillo Acres sewer project. We also assisted the St. Francis Rural Water Association in receiving a grant for the Shady Grove Water Project," Cisco said.
"One of the most exciting projects has been the St. Francis County Transportation Mall. Interstate 40 between Little Rock and West Memphis has the highest traffic count of any corridor in the United States over 36,000 vehicles every 24 hours. We now have a tremendous opportunity to develop a major economic industry for St. Francis County that would create over 700 new jobs and give us a tax base that would double what we are presently receiving from industry. So far, the county has received over $300,000 in grant funds from federal and state agencies to study the possibility of making this idea a reality," Cisco continued.
"My goal as county judge is to continue to pursue all avenues of development and growth for our area, while at the same time keeping taxes to a minimum. Working together, St. Francis County's vision for the future is bright. On May 21 of this year, I respectfully ask that you cast your vote for continued progress and good county government. Vote for Carl Cisco, county judge. Your vote and support is greatly appreciated," Cisco concluded.
Elizabeth Smith today announced her candidacy for a second term as County and Probate Clerk of St. Francis County.
Smith has over 34 years experience in the County Clerk's office, with two and a half of those years as clerk. She began her years of service during the tenure of Dorothy Bernard. When Bernard died, Smith was appointed to complete the unexpired term serving for 15 months as Clerk. At the end of that term, Smith returned to the position of Chief Deputy Clerk, where she served until December of 1999. Smith was elected Clerk in May of 2000 and took office on Jan. 1, 2001.
Smith has more than 140 hours in the Arkansas County Clerk's certification program.
She is a member of the Ragland Memorial Presbyterian Church where she is church pianist, secretary-treasurer and Sunday School superintendent. She is also a member of the Forrest City Lions Club where she is presently serving as program chairman. She is also a member of the East Arkansas Gospel Singing Association and sings with The Harmony Trio.
"I have enjoyed the past 14 months as your County and Probate Clerk, and look forward to continuing to work for you and with you. My office is run on an impartial, non-partisan basis, in order to serve each and everyone who comes in, in a friendly, efficient and courteous manner. I love the work I do and enjoy helping people. We have faced some budget and personnel cuts in the past few months, but with my very willing and competent deputies, Barbara Clark and Calandra Henderson, we will continue to provide the best service possible to any and all. I ask for your continued support and vote on May 21, 2002," Smith said.
She has two sons. John E. Smith Jr., and his wife Pattie have two children, Angie Ingold and Wes Jackson, and three grandchildren, Trey and Chris Colvin and Katie Jackson. A second son, James Ray Smith and his wife Marveta have two children, Debby and Jay. Both sons live in St. Francis County with their families.
The St. Francis County Slimathon 2002 is drawing to a close with the final weigh out scheduled for March 12.
The Slimathon has been sponsored by Baptist Memorial Hospital and the St. Francis County Farm Bureau Women's Committee in effort to promote healthier lifestyles among county residents. The event kicked off on January 15 and has lasted for the last eight weeks. Final weigh out will be Tuesday, March 12, from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Photo identification will be required for all participants weighing out. All information will remain confidential.
The stakes are high with 43 teams competing for a prize of over $2,300 to be split equally among team members. All weight losses will be computed by a percentage system rather than total pounds lost. This is believed to make the competition fair for everyone. Results will be tabulated by March 13.
All churches that plan to serve Easter dinner for the needy are asked to contact Lula Clay or Catherine Freeman of the St. Francis County Food Pantry at 633-3382 or 633-6335.
"Easter is right around the corner and we need to be getting this stuff together."
Three city councils are scheduled to meet Monday.
The Widener City Council meets at 6 p.m., the Madison and Hughes city councils will meet at 7 p.m. The meetings will be held at each city's city hall.
Also on Monday, the Forrest City Public Library board will meet at 4 p.m. at the library.