Knox Kinney has announced that he is a candidate for reelection for City Attorney of Forrest City, subject to the Nov. 5 general election.
When he was 18 years old, he volunteered for active duty in the U.S. Army in World War II, serving in the 14th Armored Division for three years. When he received his Honorable Discharge he went immediately to college, and law school at Vanderbilt Law School under the GI Bill so he could return to his home county, St. Francis County, to practice law with Judge O.H. Hargraves.
"However, at that time young people in Forrest City were unable to find jobs, and were leaving the state for good to find work elsewhere. Eleven buildings in downtown were vacant. There were no interstates, or cloverleafs, or malls or Community Colleges or Technical Institutes, or Federal Correctional Institutions, to bring jobs and opportunities, which we now have, the result of efforts and vision of many people working together," said Kinney.
Kinney was elected State Representative, and after serving as chairman of the city's Planning Commission, he was elected City Attorney, "my ambition being to serve the people of Forrest City in whatever way I could."
He and his wife Patsy are Baptists.
As City Attorney, Kinney has the duty to prepare all ordinances and resolutions for the mayor and council, and to represent the Mayor and City council in all matters before it. He says municipal law is something of a specialty, and he has rendered official opinions to the city council upon all legal motions requiring interpretation. He has qualified and tried cases in all state and federal courts.
Kinney said, "I am deeply appreciative of what you, the voters, contribute by your advice and support in matters before the city. I ask for your continued vote, counsel and support in my re-election as City Attorney in the coming November election. I sincerely request and deeply appreciate your advice and guidance at all times as we continue to build Forrest City together to be a better town and home for all our people. I'll be there with you, and for you."
Pat Flanagin, board chairman of the St. Francis County Community Foundation, and Victor Vaccaro, president of the Forrest City Education Foundation, have announced in a joint statement that Sonya Fletcher of Forrest City has been selected to be the executive director of both organizations.
According to Vaccaro, "The two organizations are not in competition, but rather support each other, and neither has the operational budget to sufficiently support an executive director alone. It is only natural that we can accomplish more and operate more efficiently by working together."
Commenting on the selection of Fletcher, Vaccaro said, "Both Pat and I and our respective boards are well pleased that Sonya Fletcher has agreed to take the job as joint executive director."
Flanagin agreed, saying, "Sonya has the needed knowledge and skills and has a background in working with charities in our community. She will be a real asset to both organizations."
Fletcher expressed enthusiasm for her new role.
"I look forward to serving as executive director for the foundations," she said. "Both organizations have formerly been house separately in the Forrest City School District and I am very excited about establishing our new joint office. That will be my initial goal. As I learn about all the things that both organizations have done and are doing in our schools and in the community, I can't imagine a more rewarding job."
The Education Foundation exists exclusively to support learning opportunities in the Forrest City Schools that are beyond the financial means of the school district. The Community Foundation supports all charitable causes in the community and in its first year has made grants to the Forrest City Little Theatre, The Fellowship of Christian Athletes and the St. Francis County Museum. More grants are to be announced soon.
Two ordinances make up the agenda for the Tuesday, June 4 meeting of the Forrest City City Council.
The meeting will take place at 7 p.m. in city hall.
There will be third reading of an ordinance which aims to toughen the existing law on itinerant vendors.
There will also be first reading of an ordinance creating a Forrest City Arkansas Health Public Facilities Board.