By KENDALL OWENS
T-H Staff Writer
Many voters in the county this morning have discovered problems in some areas that are being blamed on the redistricting which followed the 2000 census.
At polling places across Forrest City, things were running smoothly this morning, but voters in an area near Palestine met with problems. Voters who had been voting in Pine Tree area were told they would vote in Palestine. However, when they got to the Palestine polling location, they were turned away.
"We haven't had any problems this morning. Everything has run real smoothly," said Ed Chauvin, the election official at the Forrest City Civic Center.
Earnestine Weaver, the election official at Christ Church, echoed Chauvin's sentiments saying, "We had some problems getting started this morning because our equipment wasn't in, but once we got started everything has been fine."
The same could not be said at the St. Francis County Courthouse where Luella Downey said that some voters in the Barrow Hill Road area have had problems with being left off of the election rosters.
"All of our problems really have been around people just not being in the books. There have been a lot of people out near Barrow Hill that just haven't been in here. We've been sending them down the hall, and everything has been straightened out," she said.
According to St. Francis County Clerk Elizabeth Smith, problems in the Palestine area are linked directly to the recent redistricting.
"It all goes back to the redistricting. The people near Palestine who have been voting in Pine Tree have been told by someone to vote in Palestine, but the redistricting maps don't reflect the change," Smith said.
Smith added that those in that area would be allowed to vote in Palestine due to the fact that they were told to vote in that area.
Polling places across the county close tonight at 7:30 p.m.
By KENDALL OWENS
T-H Staff Writer
Several questions raised during a previous Palestine-Wheatley School Board meeting were answered Monday night by Superintendent Jimmy Allen during the group's May meeting.
In April, Palestine resident Charles McGowan addressed board members with a series of questions ranging from the number of lawsuits facing the district to whether a public hearing was held last year in accordance with state standards. According to Allen, the district was in compliance on all of the issues raised by McGowan.
"Last month we had a concerned patron come before the board with some questions, and I'm going to try to answer those questions tonight. On adult education, I've talked with the state department, and they told me that would fall under the GED programs that help students get their diplomas after they've dropped out of school. We use the program at the Vo-Tech, which is approved by the state. There were also questions on summer programs for children. We've been offering summer school for students who need help in certain areas, and we're going to continue to do so," Allen said.
"On the question regarding programs for disabled children, we've currently got four full time specialists, four aides and a supervisor, which is something we've never had. In the past, we've just used one of the aides as a supervisor. There were questions over how we advertise for positions, and we do that in newspapers in Memphis and Little Rock. This year we've received between 35 and 40 applications from across the state expressing interest in our school district," he added.
Allen also answered questions over the number of school board meetings held, and provided minutes to the mandatory public hearing which was held in August.
"I talked to the state department to get clarification, and it is recommended that school boards meet once a month while school is in session. If a meeting is missed due to a lack of a quorum, then there does not have to be another meeting scheduled. We try to reschedule, but it is not mandatory," Allen said.
In other business, board members accepted the resignations of two district employees and hired two new teachers and a cook for the high school. Charles "Bubba" McCain, of Forrest City, is retiring from the district where he served as principal and head football coach at PWJHS and as an assistant football coach at PWHS. Kelly Gabe, also of Forrest City, resigned as Spanish teacher in the district. Board members approved the hiring of Heather Hawk to teach chemistry and physics and Glenda Hannon to teach vocal music. Elonda Love was also hired as a cook at PWHS.
Bill Baxter has announced his candidacy for Forrest City mayor.
"With the encouragement of friends and the support of family, I am announcing my intent to run for the office of Mayor of Forrest City," said Baxter. "This has been my home for more than 30 years, and I want to continue to play an active role in our future. I feel our community has a window of opportunity to make great strides in the next few years. The new bypass and the new junior high school can propel us forward. We need mayoral leadership that will promote teamwork and harmony."
Baxter is a 1966 graduate of Arkansas College (now Lyon College) with a degree in mathematics. He received his MSE from Arkansas State University. He taught math and coached basketball for 12 years, 10 of those in Forrest City. He left high school coaching in 1978 to enter the insurance business. Baxter, owner of Baxter, Horner and Devereux Financial Services, Inc., is a Chartered Life Underwriter, and has qualified four times for the Million Dollar Round Table for life insurance.
He is a past president of the Forest City Kiwanis Club, past president of the Forrest City Chamber of Commerce and served six years on the Forrest City School Board, including two years as board president. He has served as chairman of the administrative board of First United Methodist Church of Forrest City and has taught a young adults Sunday School class for 11 years. He is also a member of the Forrest City Education Foundation.
In 1966, Baxter was inducted into the Lyon College Athletic Hall of Fame. In 1999, the Forrest City Rotary Club honored him with the Henry Loeb Citizenship Award.
His love of sports continued through the years, with him coaching his son's Little League and Babe Ruth teams, and his daughter's softball teams. For the past six years he has served as Forrest City Public School's athletic director. He founded the Rumble on the Ridge Basketball Classic in 1997, and he continues to serve as its executive director. Under his leadership, the Forrest City Athletic Hall of Fame was established. He was instrumental in planning and fundraising for the construction of the Mustang Field House and for the "Raise the Flag" project at Mustang Arena.
Baxter and his wife have a son and daughter-in-law, Casey and Jennifer of Forrest City, and a daughter, Becca, of Memphis.
"Our town has tremendous potential if we all pull in the same direction," Baxter said. "I will listen to the citizens of Forrest City and will work diligently with community, county and state leaders to promote our strengths and at the same time address our weaknesses. By working together, I know we can make a difference."
Scott Carroll announced Monday that he is dropping out of the Forrest City mayor's race.
"There are just too many good, viable candidates out there," said Carroll.
"I mainly want to thank all the great support I had," he continued. "I had a lot of people come forth, wanting to help me, and I will certainly be getting back to each one individually.
"All Scott Carroll and his family want to see happening in Forrest City is progress," he concluded.
Five people were recently sentenced to time in the Arkansas Department of Corrections during circuit court activity at the St. Francis County Courthouse.
Robert Benard Humbert, Jr., 16, of Forrest City, was given to 10 years for aggravated robbery and theft over $500.
Rodrick Jermaine Burns, 20, of Forrest City, was sentenced to 10 years for armed robbery.
Fitzpatrick Williams, 32, of Forrest City, was sentenced to 10 years in prison for charges of committing a terroristic act and possession of a firearm by a certain person.
Michael Hastings, 26, of Widener, was sentenced to eight years in prison for theft of property over $500.
Shindid Braddock, 32, was given three years in prison for first-degree terroristic threatening.
All of those sentenced were given credit for time served.