By DAVID NICHOL
T-H Staff Writer
With only a little more than a week to go until the local runoff elections, early and absentee voting cannot begin because the ballots have still not arrived.
A call to the St. Francis County Clerk's office revealed that the office has not received the ballots yet.
Joe Young, chairman of the county Election Commission, expressed frustration.
"We've got somebody down there waiting for the ballots to get in," he said. "We thought they would be here by now.
He said attempts are being made to trace the ballots, to try and find out where they are.
Judy Armstrong, county election coordinator, said this morning she has been in contact with ES&S, the company in Omaha, Neb. which prints the ballots.
"They called this morning and said the ballots would be shipped out today. But we were supposed to have them today. I don't know what the deal is. I'm really aggravated. But they are supposed to be shipped out today, and shipped to the courthouse."
A call to ES&S was not returned by deadline.
There are three runoffs in St. Francis County. In Forrest City, Mayor Larry Bryant is in a runoff against businessman Bill Baxter. In Hughes, there are two runoff elections for alderman positions, both in Ward 3. Gary B. Barkley and Joyce Long will face off for Position 1, while Ray Charles Robinson and Jon E. Take are seeking the Position 2 seat.
Runoffs are necessary when there is more than one candidate, and no one gets more than 50 percent of the vote.
The two mayoral candidates in Forrest City tried to be philosophical about the delay, and both said they hoped the ballots would arrive soon.
"Everybody is anxious to start early voting," said Baxter this morning. "I wish they (the ballots) were here. And I'm sure the commission is doing all they can do. But if the ballots are not here, there's nothing we can do about it."
He concluded, "I just encourage people, when the ballots do come in, to go on, get out and vote."
Bryant said the lack of early voting probably wouldn't give any advantage to either him or Baxter, but he also stated that the lateness of the ballots could work a hardship on some.
"The only thing I can say is, it (early voting) will be fair," said Bryant. "My people can't go vote any more than his peple can go vote. And we just want it to be a fair elections. Maybe one day the ballots will come so people can go early vote."
Bryant said there are people who normally early vote, and said he knows at least one person who might not get to vote at all, because he will be out of town the day of the election. He said absentee voters would have the biggest problem.
"It's going to disenfranchise people who vote absentte and who live a long ways away," he said. "But hopefully the people who live here in Forrest City will be able to go vote, and we'll have a good, clean election, no matter how late it is. I'm going to think positive."
By ALAN SMITH
T-H Staff Writer
The Wheatley City Council is buying each councilman a book containing city ordinances.
Judy Baynes, secretary for the city, discussed the service offered by the Arkansas Municipal League to organize and color code all city ordinances after 1950 in a book for each council member.
"The total price is $1,600 for the set for the city," explained Baynes. "It is $10 per page for additional pages to be added."
City attorney Marshall Wright and Mayor Larry Nash both voiced support for the idea.
"I think it would benefit everyone on the council to do this, it will be much more convenient," Wright said.
Nash added, "I know it's a lot of money, but it will save time. You won't have to come up to city hall when you think someone is in violation of a city ordinance."
Councilman John Clifton voiced some opposition. "I think its a lot of money to spend."
Despite Cilfton's concern, the council voted unanimously to purchase the books.
The next item on the agenda concerned a gate that had been built on a city street by a private citizen.
"I've noticed a gate on South 7th Street," Nash said. "The street is on the old city plat. I feel that the gate doesn't need to be there, and if it's a city street, they don't have the right to keep it closed off."
Clifton stated, "It's (the street) not being used by anyone other than them. I could see if someone else had property down there that they couldn't get to, but if they are stopping people from coming onto their property, then I say put a road closed sign on it."
David Lee of the council disagreed with Clifton.
"If Highway 78 is blocked for some reason, that road would be the only access to that part of town," said Lee. "Emergency vehicles might need to use that route also."
The council tabled the issue, asking Wright to send a letter to the citizen asking for the removal of the gate.
In other news, the council received an update on the pornography ordinance that Wright was scheduled to bring before the council.
"The man at the business has covered the magazines in a sleeve, and they are now behind the counter," Nash said.
"That is more than state law requires," added Wright. Wright also reiterated to the council that as long as the businesses complies with state law, they may sell the magazines in question.
"We can force them to keep them out of sight, but we cannot prevent them from selling them," Wright said.
A proposed budget for 2003 was handed out, but not discussed. The budget, along with raises and bonuses for city employees, will be discussed at the December meeting.
Two Texas residents were arrested Sunday morning on drug charges as they traveled through St. Francis County.
Arkansas State Police reported a 1996 Lincoln, driven by April Anne Villanueva, 22, of Odessa, Texas, was stopped near the 250 eastbound mile marker about 10:30 a.m., after a trooper observed the vehicle traveling with the driver's window down. According to the report, the trooper said he found this method of travel unusual since the temperature outside was lower than 50 degrees. He stopped the vehicle, and discovered the driver did not have a driver's license, according to the report.
After calling a wrecker service, the vehicle was inventoried, and the trooper found about 12 pounds of marijuana inside a suitcase in the vehicle's trunk.
The driver was charged with no driver's license, possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver and possession of drug paraphernalia. A passenger, Juan Ernesto Zamora, 23, of Andrews, Texas, was charged with possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Both arrested were scheduled to appear in St. Francis County District Court this afternoon.
A full schedule of meetings, ranging from school boards to city councils, is planned for this week throughout St. Francis County.
The Forrest City Public Library Board will meet at 4 today at the library.
The Forrest City School Board will hold its regular monthly meeting at 5:30 this evening in the administration building. Board members will hear reports from architects on the construction of the new junior high school and also the replacement of a roof at Lincoln Middle School. The board will also discuss a grant and a proposed Arkansas Communities That Care Survey.
The Palestine-Wheatley School Board will meet at 6:30 p.m. at the cafetorium on the high school campus in Palestine. Board members will hear updates on school insurance and discuss personnel.
The Madison City Council will hold a special meeting at 7 tonight to discuss the removal of a city-owned building. Councilmen last week failed to pass a vote which would have kept the building in place.
On Tuesday, the Caldwell City Council will meet at 5 p.m. at city hall, and the St. Francis County Museum Board will meet at 5 p.m. at the museum.
The Forrest City Water Commission is scheduled to meet at 5:30 p.m. at the water department.
At 6 p.m., the St. Francis County Quorum Court will meet at the courthouse. Justices are expected to consider placing the 3 mill road tax back on the books for county taxpayers.
The Forrest City City Council will meet at 6:30 p.m. at city hall for councilmen to discuss the 2003 budget. The regular council meeting is set for 7 p.m., during which councilmen are expected to hear from Joe King with King Disposal Inc.
The Wheatley Planning Commission is scheduled to meet at 7 p.m. at city hall.
The East Arkansas Community College Board of Trustees will meet at 7 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 21, at the college.