By DAVID NICHOL
T-H Staff Writer
The ballots have arrived, but early voting for the primary still had not begun this morning because ballots had to be sorted to reflect the latest redistricting.
Also, people wanting to early vote will need to go to a different location than the County Clerk's Office.
The early voting operation has been moved down the hall, to the St. Francis County Election Commission office, an action which may be in defiance of Arkansas election law, which states that the county clerk is to be the custodian of the absentee and early voting ballots.
"The law says it should be under the county clerk," said St. Francis County Clerk Elizabeth Smith this morning. "But the election commission felt that since I have an opponent, it would be better if they handled it. And rather than cause a stink, I went along with it."
Smith's opponent in the Democratic Primary is Dick Krablin, the former county clerk, whom she defeated in 2000. Krablin's office handled the early voting in that election, according to Smith. "Some people will tell you they (election commission) handled it, but I was here (in the county clerk's office) every day checking things."
Joe Young, chairman of the election commission, said the commission thought it would be the best thing to move the early voting.
"The main reason is, the county clerk has got an opponent, and they wouldnot be comfortable with an opponent handling the ballots," Young said. "So we thought the right thing to do would be to move it. We have a good place for it. Plus, the county clerk is busy with auditors and everything."
Young stated that the election commission did handle early voting in the last election.
Tim Humphries, legal counsel to the Secretary of State's Election Division, was contacted this morning.
"All I can do is cite the statute, which puts the responsibility with the county clerk," he said. "That's all I can say."
The law states, "The county clerk shall be the custodian of the absentee and early voting ballots. The county clerk shall be furnished a suitable room at the county courthouse and shall exercise all the powers and duties concerning the application for, the issuance of, and the voting of absentee and early voting ballots required by law of the county clerk."
In the meantime, election workers are trying to sort out the ballots. Ed Chauvin, one of the election officers, said redistricting has caused some confusion. As an example, he said Forrest City Ward 4 is divided into three JP districts, with each district requiring a different ballot.
Ernestine Weaver, another election officer, said, "One man came in this morning and new what ward he was in and where he lived, but we couldn't decide which ballot he needed."
Chauvin said he felt sure that early voting could begin this afternoon.
By DAVID NICHOL
T-H Staff Writer
The idea of a regional airport which would serve the St. Francis and Cross County areas was discussed Monday night during the regular meeting of the Forrest City Airport Commission.
Buzz Haven, a St. Francis County Farmer, and John Kerr of Wynne, chairman of a special committee appointed by the Cross County Judge, were guests of the commission.
Haven, who farms on land adjacent to the Forrest City airport, has been opposed to expanding the present facility, but has also been a proponent of a regional airport.
"Right now this is in the planning stages," said Haven. "We haven't done anything yet. We need your input on everything. We don't want to leave anyone in the dark."
Kerr, a Ph.D. associated with Mid-South General Aviation and Ag Training Academy, is also chairman of the airport commission in Wynne. He said that if there is real interest in the idea, both communities will have to come together. He said such a project would be made with the future, not the present, in mind.
"Our commission up there in Wynne is happy with the Wynne Airport," said Kerr. "But, at the same time we certainly want to see if a regional airport would better serve the region...At first, I had my doubts about it...But where are we going to be, 10 years from now? What will we be wanting to do, 10 years from now?"
He continued by saying that the regional airport would be just that, to serve the immediate region better than the existing airports at Wynne and Forrest City would. He said a 5,000 to 6,000-foot runway would be good, and anything beyond that might not be practical.
"We're not going to get Northwest Airlines in here. Fed-Ex won't fly here," said Kerr. "We're too close to Memphis for that. All we're interested in is building a bigger facility" that would be better than the two smaller airports.
Kerr said there is still a lot of talking to be done, and said the FAA is at least open to the idea. He also said he wasn't interested in going in and taking people's land away from them.
"I just can't help but believe that the effort of making this happen would be well worth it," said Haven. "If everybody is willing to get behind this, we can make it happen."
Kerr said a possible timetable would be five years. He also said, in answer to a question, that Lee and Monroe counties would not be included. He said the reason is geographical -- it would not be possible to locate one airport in such as way as to be convenient to all four counties. The small municipal airports would be closed. The airport, to receive the support of the Wynne group, would have to be located between Wynne and Forrest City, possibly in the Colt area.
"The only way the Wynne Airport Commission is going to be willing to sell their airport is for there to be a convenient location. Same thing for Forrest City," he said.
The Forrest City group took no action, but said they would be willing to study the matter.
On another matter, the commission agreed on a contractor to do heating and air conditioning work for the airport office building.
The commission received two bids, one from L&L Heating and Air Conditioning of Forrest City for $2,968 and one from mark Andrews Heating and Air Conditioning for $2,600. The commission voted to go with the higher bid because it was local and members said it would be easier to have the units serviced.
The bids will be turned over to Mayor Larry Bryant.
By TAMARA JOHNSON
Managing Editor
The Forrest City Crime Stoppers program has rewarded money to individuals offering information that has helped police solve several local cases.
During a Crime Stoppers board meeting Monday, the group awarded $1,050 to subjects providing police with information in three cases.
According to a report from the meeting, the board awarded $800 to one individual who helped police arrest suspects in eight armed robberies. The board also gave $200 for information involving a felony warrant of a fugitive wanted for a hot check violation, and $50 for information provided by a tipster on a bank robbery suspect. The information on the bank robber did not result in the suspect's arrest, but it did help police in the case, according to the FCPD Criminal Investigation Division Lt. Dwight Duch.
In January, the board awarded $400 to one tipster and $100 to another in a case involving robberies at Leake's Quick Shop. A $300 award was also made to a tipster who helped police arrest a subject wanted for the theft of $3,800 from inside a vehicle.
A $500 award was given to a tipster in March last year. That tip led police to the arrest of Roger Hill. Hill was being held for capital murder in the St. Francis County Jail when he escaped.
To date, Crime Stoppers has awarded $2,350 to people helping police with information in cases.
Duch encourages anyone with information in police investigations to contact Crime Stoppers at 261-1499. The names of people calling the Crime Stoppers line will remain confidential. The tipsters will receive a code and instructions on how to follow up on the information they provide to police. Tipsters have six months from the date of the award to pick up their money, Duch said, adding that one individual, who has been awarded money by the board, has not yet picked up his or her check.
The reward amounts are decided by the Crime Stoppers board which uses a chart to determine how much money should be given to tipsters depending on the type of crime, severity of the crime, injuries, etc., Duch said. The maximum award is $1,000.
Although Duch said the program has been very successful so far, Crime Stoppers is in need of donations to continue operating. "This is run off donations for the most part. Without donations, the reward money will eventually be depleted," Duch said.
Anyone wanting to donate may do so by mailing a check to the City of Forrest City, c/o Crime Stoppers, P.O. Box 1074, Forrest City, AR 72336.
Heather Hall and Holly Jumper have been named co-valedictorians for the Palestine-Wheatley Class of 2002, which will observe commencement exercises on, Friday, May 17, at 8 p.m. at the Palestine-Wheatley High School Football Field in Palestine.
Hall, the daughter of Benny and Laura Hall of Palestine, is a member of the PWHS Chapters of the Beta Club, where she serves as president, the student council, the Spanish club and is a gifted and talented student. She is in her sixth year as a PWJHS and PWHS cheerleader and has served as captain for the past three years. She was elected as the 2001 Football Homecoming Queen and was voted senior class Most Beautiful.
Hall, an active member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Youth Group and Old Fashion Baptist Church, is also a Who's Who Among American High School Students; an All-American Scholar; an Outstanding Student of America and a Presidential Scholar. She is also an American Character and Citizenship Award winner. She plans to attend Rhodes College in Memphis, where she has received a Presidential Scholarship.
Jumper, the daughter of Kenny and Renee Jumper, is also a member of a variety of clubs. She is a Beta Club member and gifted and talented student and serves on the Yearbook Staff and in the Bible Club. She was voted Most Likely to Succeed in her senior class and is a National Honor Scholar and a member of Who's Who Among American Students. Jumper is going to attend Southwestern Assemblies of God University where she will major in Counseling Psychology.
Three seniors have also been named as salutatorians for the class. Nikki Bass, Natalie Howton and Ashley McGraw earned the honor as co-salutatorians.
Bass, the daughter of C.L. and Beverly Bass, served as senior class vice-president and Beta Club secretary. She was a member of the Lady Patriot basketball and softball teams and also served as FCA president. She was a cheerleader, a member of the student council, a member of the Spanish Club, a gifted and talented student and an All-American Scholar.
Bass, who plans to attend East Arkansas Community College in Forrest City, is a member of Beck Spur Baptist Church.
Howton, the daughter of Brent and Christie Howton, is a Beta Club member, a Lady Patriot cheerleader and a member of 4-H. She plans to attend the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville in the fall.
McGraw, a National Honor Scholar, is the daughter of Terry and Debbie McGraw. She is a member of the Beta Club, the Spanish club, FCCLA and the gifted and talented program. She is a Who's Who Among American Students and will attend Harding University where she plans to major in Nursing with a minor in Spanish.