Caps and gowns, "Pomp and Circumstance," speeches and memories. It's that time of year again. All over America, high school seniors are getting ready for graduation.
No matter whether it's held outdoors or inside, and no matter if it's a large or small graduating class, commencement is the biggest night in the young lives of most seniors, and will be remembered into adulthood by most as one of the biggest events of their lives.
Local schools are no exception. Graduation will be taking place over the next three weekends at public and private high schools in St. Francis County. Dates and times for the graduations are listed chronologically as follow.
Seniors at Forrest City High School will graduate this Friday, May 10, at 7 p.m. at Sam Smith Stadium. In case of rain, the graduation will be moved to Mustang Arena.
If the event is moved into the arena, graduates will receive 10 tickets each for family members and friends, according to FCHS Principal Abbie Robinson, who added that seating will be unlimited if the event is held at the stadium.
Palestine-Wheatley High School will have its graduation exercises on Friday, May 17, at 8 p.m. on the school's football field. In case of rain, graduation will be moved to the gym.
Calvary Christian High School will graduate its seniors on Saturday, May 18, beginning at 6 p.m., in the Calvary Auditorium, located on the elementary campus.
Hughes High School's seniors will graduate Friday, May 24, at 6 p.m. on the high school's football field, or in the gym in case of rain.
By DAVID NICHOL
T-H Staff Writer
With primaries less than two weeks away, electioneering is gearing up to a fever pitch. However, there are laws to keep candidates and their workers from getting too carried away with trying to influence voters.
For instance, state law states just how close candidates or campaign workers can be to the polling place when they're handing out campaign literature.
"It's 100 feet," said Bettye Proctor, a member of the St. Francis County Election Commission. And that means 100 feet from the building's entrance. The rule applies to early voting as well as election day. Early voting is taking place at the county courthouse.
There were reports that some people were violating the 100-foot law, but Proctor said she finally dealt with the problem.
"I got me a 100-foot roll of string, and measured it out from the door," she said. She said markers have been placed at 100 feet.
She said similar precautions will be taken when the elections are held.
"All the polling places will be the same," she said. "We'll have a can of spray paint and mark 100 feet wherever we have a polling place."
The law actually goes beyond mere campaigning, protecting voters from any kind of harassment. It states that in addition to the prohibition on electioneering, no one may "solicit signatures on any petition, solicit contributions for any charitable or other purpose...in the building or within 100 feet of the primary exterior entrance used by voters to the building containing the polling place."
A pair of Forrest City intersections received additional stop signs making them four-way stops this week after several complaints from Forrest City motorists and residents.
Signs went up on Izard Street at the intersection of Izard and Cross near the St. Francis County Courthouse after a number of complaints had been made to city hall. According to Leslie McMillin with the Street Department, the new signs should expedite traffic at the intersection.
"We've had some complaints about difficulty seeing around the corner there near the courthouse, and we've also had some complaints from people that get stuck on Cross Street and can't get through," McMillin said.
A second sign was erected at a Cook Street intersection when street department officials added a second set of signs at the intersection of Cook and Cherry Streets. According to McMillin, the signs were added at that intersection due to complaints of speeding on Cherry Street.
"We've had some speeding problems down there, so to try to control the traffic we put those signs up hoping that we can prevent someone from getting hurt," McMillin said.
A fish fry, to benefit the St. Francis County Museum, will be held Saturday, May 18, sponsored by the St. Francis County Cultural Foundation.
The event will take place from 4-8 p.m. at the museum. Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for children 11 and younger.
In addition to the fish fry, there is an open invitation to all state and local candidates to meet with voters and address the gathering. There will also be live entertainment.
In addition, a silent auction will be held inside the museum. Gifts and gift certificates have been donated to the auction.
Proceeds from event will go to help the museum continue its programs.
"Community residents are encouraged to come and support the museum and enjoy an evening of good food and fun," said Laura Mazzanti, director of the museum.
Tickets are on sale at the museum, as well as the Forrest City Chamber of Commerce or from members of the museum's Board of Directors.
The St. Francis County Museum is located in the historic Rush-Gates Home at 603 Forrest City. The museum is open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information, call the museum at 870-261-1744.
A teenager wanted for robbery in Dallas was captured Wednesday in Forrest City.
Joshua Aaron Kleier, 19, was taken into custody Wednesday evening by officers with the Forrest City Police Department. According to a FCPD report, the police had received information from Dallas authorities that Kleier was visiting his grandparents who live on Division Street.
Kleier was placed in the St. Francis County Jail where he is being held for the Texas authorities. A county jail spokesperson this morning said Kleier is refusing to waive extradition to Dallas.
Dallas authorities reported they will continue with their efforts to extradite the suspect.
A Saturday event will celebrate the placing of the Scott Bond Family Plot in Madison on the National Registry of Historic Places.
The event is being sponsored by the Arkansas Delta African American Historical Society, Inc. and the Scott Bond Cemetery Association.
There will be a rededication of the cemetery at 4 p.m. at the cemetery site. Then from 5-7 p.m. there will be a celebration at the Forrest City Civic Center, 1335 N. Washington.
Scott Bond was one of the wealthiest and most influential African Americans of the 19th Century, and lived in Madison.
The East Arkansas Community College Board of Trustees will meet at 7 tonight in the college board room.
Two city councils will also meet tonight. The Colt City Council will meet at 7 p.m., and the Wheatley City Council will meet at 8 p.m. The meetings will be held in each city's city hall.