By DAVID NICHOL
T-H Staff Writer
The Forrest City School Board accepted bids on re-roofing part of Lincoln School and also accepted bids on a telephone system for the new junior high building, during its regular meeting Monday.
The board also rehired the classified and certified employees for the 2002-2003 school year, voted not to dismiss a bus driver, and heard from the Forrest City Education Foundation.
The bid on the roof work at Lincoln went to Jonesboro Roofing, for $203,084. It will cover more than 50,000 square feet of roofing, including the biggest trouble spots in the building, according to architect Bob Beavers.
The telephone bid went to Optus, a company out of Jonesboro, for $7,576.
A recommendation had been made by Superintendent Lee Vent that Ricky Chism be dismissed as a bus driver. Chism requested an open hearing. There were accusations of insubordination, speeding, not doing a proper pre-trip inspection of his bus, endangering children by allowing them to stand up while the bus was moving, and not cleaning his bus.
Chism responded that "I've never gotten a ticket, I've never had an accident." He said he does check the bus over, and reports children who do not sit down. He also alleged that bus drivers who report mechanical problems are often subject to verbal abuse.
Some of the board members questioned the lack of written documentation of Chism's alleged offenses. After an executive session, the board reconvened, and Vent withdrew his recommendation to terminate Chism. He also recommended that Chism be given documented counseling, and the board agreed.
Tom Machen was at the meeting to speak for the Education Foundation. He said the foundation has some concerns, and also said there have been "rumors and innuendoes out there as far as to our intentions, our direction and our relationship to the school." He did not specify what the concerns were, but later mentioned the need for a liaison from the school district. He also presented a resolution to the school board from the foundation.
"What the resolution says is where we came from, what we're about, what we've done for the school district, what we want to continue doing for the school district. And we want the school district to continue working with us," Machen said.
"The problem is, we no longer have an executive director," he continued. Pat Flanagin, a member of the school administration, had been filling that position but recently resigned. "We need a liaison somewhere within the school district...to work with us, to tell us what the school needs, what the school board wants us to do."
While Machen spoke of a liaison from the school district, the resolution states that the education foundation is its own governing body, and reserves the selection of its director to itself.
The board also heard proposals for student handbook revisions, and passed several personnel policy revisions. In other action, the board agreed to authorize the superintendent to sign and fill applications and disburse funds for several programs for the coming school year. The board as well appointed principals as co-custodians of their school activity accounts.
The board also approved the following resignations:
Among certified employees, Rob Lemke, High School, English and Journalism; Mary Katherine Vandiver, Central Elementary Kindergarten; Billy Braswell, Lincoln Middle School, English 7; April Gilbert, Lincoln Middle School Social Studies 6; Lori Gin, Stewart Elementary, Special Ed; Brandy Yarbrough, Special Teachers, Speech Therapist.
Among classified employees, Denise Ugbaja, Title I Aide, Central; Joan Luallen, Title I Tutor, Forrest Hills; Elizabeth Free, Child Nutrition, Central; James Dotson, Caldwell Child Nutrition Custodian; Ralph Matarrazo, Custodian.
The following recommendations for certified employment were approved: Tina Ellis, Special Ed., Stewart Elementary; Will Harris, Band Director, Junior High; Stephanie Lamar, High School French; Rita Shettles, to be arranged, High School.
By KENDALL OWENS
T-H Staff Writer
Candidates in several area races were on hand Tuesday for the NAACP Youth Council's Meet the Candidates night at the Community Voices Center in Forrest City.
The event, which is held during each county election, featured candidates for each of the county office races, as well as candidates for the state senate position.
According to NAACP president Frank Shaw, the event allows citizens a format to meet the candidates who will be on Tuesday's ballot, but it also serves as an opportunity for young adults to get their first exposure to elections.
"We started this several years ago, and we involve the children so that they can get an early understanding of the political process. This gives them an opportunity, although they can't vote yet, to learn the importance of voting, and it also gives them an opportunity to experience politics firsthand," Shaw said.
According to Shaw, the Meet the Candidates event was only one of many ways that the NAACP is trying to get the voting public more informed. Shaw said that the NAACP is currently in a voter registration drive and would also have the "Get Out to Vote" Bus in Forrest City to take voters to the polls.
"We're trying to do our part to let people know the importance of voting through registration as well as taking them to the polls. The bus will be in town Wednesday (today) taking people to the polls to early vote because that is something that we're really pushing this time. It's easier for a lot of people if they go ahead and early vote because then they don't have to fight the crowds," Shaw said.
Early voting is currently taking place in the Election Commission office at the St. Francis County Courthouse in the breezeway. Voting can be done from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
By KENDALL OWENS
T-H Staff Writer
An accident on Interstate 40 near Shell Lake severely injured a Forrest City woman this morning.
According to officers with the Forrest City Fire Department, Angela Faye Duff, 31, was injured when the vehicle she was driving left Interstate 40 and ran down an embankment into a ditch. According to FCFD officials, Duff was taken to the Regional Medical Center in Memphis. Her condition was unavailable at press time.
In a separate accident on Interstate 40, traffic was brought to a standstill for hours when an 18-wheeler carrying purified isophthalic acid, which according to officials with the FCFD is highly flammable, was ripped open in an accident with a second big rig and a pickup. The accident occurred about 7 a.m.
Westbound traffic on I-40 was stopped and eventually rerouted to U.S. Highway 70 as officers waited for hazardous materials specialists to arrive on the scene.
The drivers of each vehicle involved in the accident were transported by ambulance to Baptist Memorial Hospital-Forrest City
No further information regarding their condition was available at press time.
St. Francis County Judge Carl Cisco is being challenged in his reelection bid by Quorum Court Justice Author Witherspoon. The two candidates this week answered a series of questions regarding the job.
The questions and answers are as follows:
If elected, what changes would you make to this office?
Cisco: " I would continue to keep the open-door policy we have, and continue to help people. I have a great staff in Annie Washington and Tracey Teal who do a very good job."
Witherspoon: "I would not make a whole lot of changes as far as staff, but I would improve communication with the citizens of the county."
In your opinion, what services need improvements?
Witherspoon: "I feel road maintenance service to the surrounding communities need improvement. I also want to help rural communities grow through rural grants."
Cisco: "I will continue to provide better roads, improve the solid waste program and continue to pursue industrial leads to try and bring more jobs to St. Francis County."
What do you think is the most urgent issue facing counties today, St. Francis County in particular?
Cisco: "The shortfall in revenue. State budget cuts have caused some reshuffling in the budgets."
Witherspoon: "Utilization of finances in the community."
What type of experience do you have with budgets?
Witherspoon: " I am married and I manage a landscaping business. I have worked at Halsted for 30 years, five of which I was a supervisor. I have also serve as a deacon at Rising Sun Baptist Church where I help manage the church budget. I have also served seven years as a JP on the Quorum Court, and I took part in the budget management."
Cisco: "I have over 18 years experience in county government."
Why are you the best candidate for the job?
Cisco: "I care about the people and try to understand their problems. I love this county and the people in it. I know the problems that we have in the county, such as roads and drainage, from experience."
Witherspoon: "I feel I have compassion for the citizens of the county. I want to help solve the problems in the community and work towards the good of St. Francis County."
How would your election benefit the residents of St. Francis County?
Witherspoon: "Electing me means having a County Judge who is more concerned about the safety and health of St. Francis County citizens. With safety, I will work towards getting rid of outdated wooden bridges, and with health, I want to change the water system from well water to a rural system."
Cisco: "I have reestablished contacts in the last three years, and have made new contacts that will enable me to better serve the people."
What word or phrase best describes yourself?
Cisco: " A proactive, hardworking and creative individual."
Witherspoon: "Compassionate."
By ALAN SMITH
T-H Staff Writer
The Forrest City Advertising and Promotions Commission on Tuesday agreed to continue advertising the city in a statewide travel brochure.
Commissioners heard from Mike Dandurand, vice president and director of field services for Cranford Johnson Robinson Woods, an advertising, public relations and publishing firm from Little Rock. Dandurand discussed the "Arkansas Delta Byways" publication with commissioners and referred them to figures compiled during the five years the group has advertised in the brochure.
Referring to travel and tourism figures from 1997 to 2001, Dandurand told the group that St. Francis County has reaped benefits from its advertising.
According to Dandurand, visitor numbers increased by 23,672, but travel expenditures soared by $6,056,847 in that five-year period. "The Arkansas Delta has had an uphill struggle with image sometimes." he said, but added, "We are headed in the right direction."
The price for the advertisement is $3,450, the same price as it was four years ago. The price also includes Internet space at www.deltabyways.com.
Commissioners voted to accept Dandurand's proposal pending a discussion of the matter with the city council.
Grants were discussed during a brief Palestine City Council meeting Tuesday night.
Councilmen agreed to let the city apply for a $50,000 grant through rural development. The grant would be applied toward the construction of a new community center.
The council also learned through a memo from police officer Tracy Louis that the police department has applied for a grant to purchase bulletproof vests for officers.