By KENDALL OWENS
T-H Staff Writer
Voting this morning was light at the four wards in Forrest City.
As of 11 a.m., only 394 voters had turned out at the polls. Forrest City Wards 2, 3 and 4 are voting at the Forrest City Civic Center, and Ward 1 voters cast ballots at Christ Church.
At the Civic Center, a total of 279 ballots had been cast, with 84 voting in Ward 2, 109 voting in Ward 3 and 86 voting in Ward 4.
At Christ Church, 115 people had voted, but according to poll worker Ernestine Weaver, the flow of voters had been steady with an increase expected about noon.
On another election matter, over 2,000 St. Francis County voters cast ballots during the two-week early voting period.
According to figures from the St. Francis County Clerk's office, 2,019 ballots were cast during early voting which began on Oct. 21. In 2000, just over 2,000 ballots were cast during the two-week period before the general election which then included a presidential election.
During the same time for this year's election, 594 absentee ballots were sent out, either by mail or by bearer. According to County Clerk Elizabeth Smith, the races for Forrest City mayor and the several city council seats up for grabs generated the increased voter turnout.
"The turnout for early voting was good and that has to go to the races in Forrest City. I would say
that most of the people that voted early were voters from Forrest City, where we have several local races on the ballot. Everything went real well even in the times when we had small lines to vote. It really did run smoothly," said Smith.
According to Weaver, the increased turnout caused a little added stress for the two workers that manned the polls during the two weeks.
"It was a little hectic. We didn't have anyone to replace us most of the time, and it was just the two of us working. Yesterday, we voted over 300 people, and we couldn't leave the polls to get lunch or anything, so I would say that turnout so far has been good," Weaver said.
There are 18,005 registered voters in St. Francis County with close to 8,000 Forrest City voters. Polls will close throughout Arkansas tonight at 7:30 p.m.
By DAVID NICHOL
T-H Staff Writer
The flu vaccine is not yet available at the St. Francis County Health Unit.
When called this morning, a Health Unit employee said it might be the middle of November before the vaccine arrives.
In the meantime, the state Health Department has suspended surveillance of the West Nile Virus.
"Cold weather reduces mosquito populations and greatly limits the transmission of mosquito-borne diseases," a press release stated.
For that reason, effective immediately, the Health Department will not accept dead birds for testing. Testing for West Nile and other mosquito-borne diseases will resume sometime in May of 2003.
So far, there are no cases of human West Nile in St. Francis County. As of Oct. 29, there were 20 positive cases in Arkansas and 21 suspected.
As of Nov. 1, there were six birds and four horses which tested positive for the virus in St. Francis County. One horse has died, according to the Health Department web site.
The department said it would continue to report outstanding cases of the virus from this year. To date there are no confirmed human West Nile deaths in the state, although two deaths -- one in Union County and one in Independence County -- are associated with the suspected cases. Confirmation is awaited on those cases.
''We are in the process right now of evaluating this season to better understand how to proceed next year,'' department spokesman Bob Alvey said. ''While we feel that we gave a very solid response this year, there's always room to improve.''
Nationwide, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta reported that the virus has infected more than 3,200 people in 38 states and Washington, D.C., this year and killed more than 170 people.
By TAMARA JOHNSON
Managing Editor
An Arkansas State Police Sergeant has died in an accident near Brinkley.
Larry Folkner, 56, a sergeant with ASP Headquarters Troop D in Forrest City, was killed in a one-vehicle accident south of Brinkley, on the Old Military Road that connects Brinkley and Clarendon.
The accident was reported just before 6 a.m., although the time of the accident is estimated to have been about 10 Monday night.
According to the report from ASP Troop D Sgt. Jackie Speer, Folkner was westbound on Highway 241 when he failed to stop at a stop sign and crossed the Highway 302. His 1999 Chevrolet traveled an estimated 129 feet before striking a parked farm tractor, according to police.
By DAVID NICHOL
T-H Staff Writer
Plans are being made for the second annual Palestine Christmas Parade, to be held Saturday, Dec. 7, at 6 p.m.
We're going to form up the same place we did last year, in front of the high school gymnasium," said Laveta Ross, parade chairman. "And we're going to follow the same route as last year."
The route will go from the gymnasium, past the elementary cafeteria, "and when you get to the curve, take a left through the stop sign, take another left onto Highway 261, follow 261 out to Highway 70, take another left, get to the First National Bank, take a left there, and follow it back around to the gymnasium. That's where we'll disperse," Ross said.
She said there was a good turn out last year.
"If we have as much fun as we did last year, we'll be happy," she said.
She said the timing of the parade is to allow people who were in the Forrest City parade a chance to participate if they wish.
This year, floats will be judged. Also classic cars and antique tractors are invited. Junior and senior high bands are welcome.
Applications may be picked up at the Palestine city hall. For more information, 870-581-2166.
This has been a season of several first time occurances in the Times-Herald Professor Pigskin Contest, and last week gave us another.
Two weeks ago, Marilyn and Lois Gaskin tied for missing the fewest selected games, but neither were correct in picking the tie-breaker game. That was a first. The two ladies split the prize money.
It has happened again. Both Marilyn and Lois, along with Edith Bobbitt, each missed just four of the selected games last week. Bobbitt was automatically eliminated from the equation after picking Mountain Home over Forrest City in the tie-breaker.
Once again, Marilyn and Lois went head-to-head in the tie-breaker, and this time it was Marilyn getting the upper hand by correctly selecting Forrest City over Mountain Home and coming within 13 points of correctly guessing the final score of the game.
Congratulations for the second time this season.
This week's Professor Pigskin can be found inside today's Times-Herald.
The regular Forrest City City Council meeting will be moved from Tuesday to Thursday, Nov. 7, next week, because of Tuesday's election.
The brief agenda includes setting the millage rate for real and personal taxes, and a request for preliminary plat approval of the Lindauer Cove Addition.
Classes in the Forrest City School District will be dismissed on Thursday and Friday this week.
The closing of school is to allow teachers and other personnel an opportunity to attend the Arkansas Education Association's fall conference.
Classes will resume at the normal time on Monday, Nov. 11.