St. Francis County is among several counties in Arkansas designated a disaster area because of spring rain.
Dozens of counties across the state this week received disaster declarations from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, making farmers in these areas eligible for loan programs.
The areas got the designations following losses from excessive rain, flooding and hail that happened on March 18.
Farm operators in these 35 counties can apply for low-interest emergency loans from the Farm Service Agency, though loans are not automatically awarded.
Arkansas' U.S. Sens. Tim Hutchinson and Blanche Lincoln announced the designations Thursday.
The counties designated primary disaster areas, in addition to St. Francis County, are: Arkansas, Clay, Craighead, Crittenden, Cross, Greene, Independence, Jefferson, Lawrence, Lee, Mississippi, Monroe, Poinsett, Randolph, Sebastian and Woodruff.
The counties designated contiguous disaster areas are: Cleburne, Cleveland, Crawford, Desha, Franklin, Grant, Izard, Jackson, Lincoln, Logan, Lonoke, Phillips, Prairie, Pulaski, Scott, Sharp, Stone and White.
Plans are set for the 2002 Forrest City Community Christmas Parade on Friday, Dec. 6, and with the success of last year's parade, the 2002 parade is meet with much anticipation, according to officials organizing the event.
This year's theme will be "A Christmas to Remember," and the Grand Marshals will be the members of the Forrest City Mock Trial Team.
All entrants will be judged prior to the parade. The judges will then award the winners with trophies before the parade begins so they may display their trophies during the parade. In addition, the winners will carry a banner announcing their category and place.
Parade entrants are required to be in place no later than 6 p.m. at the Forrest City Civic Center parking lot to compete. Those who arrive late may still participate in the parade, but they will not be judged in the competition, organizers said.
Floats will be divided into five categories: Industrial/Commercial, Churches, Civic Groups, Novelty and Schools. They will compete for first, second and third place.
The parade will begin at 7 p.m. at the Forrest City Civic Center parking lot and will head south on Washington Street to Hill Street, travel one block west on Hill to Rosser Street, turn north on Rosser and end at Union Planters Bank.
Any vehicle participating in the parade without a float attached to it must be classified as a classic car or truck (30 years or older). Also, to enter the competition as a float, there must be a float attached to the vehicle or pulling mechanism, organizers said. For example, a decorated car will not serve as a float. All area antique tractor owners are invited to join the parade again this year, according to a press release.
Entry forms must be turned in by Friday, Nov. 22, and no groups will be allowed in the parade who have not submitted an entry form. There is no charge to enter.
For more information, call the Forrest City Area Chamber of Commerce at 870-633-1651.
A fire which did major damage to a house on Beech Street Thursday evening is being treated as an arson.
Forrest City police and firefighters were called to 220 N. Beech, in answer to a call that the house had been set on fire.
After the fire was extinguished, an initial investigation determined that the fire was started in a rear bedroom of the house.
Damage to the house was estimated at $15,000 to $20,000.
The fire is under investigation.
East Arkansas Community College will host a debate among candidates for Forrest City mayor, on Monday, Oct. 21, beginning at 7 p.m., at the EACC Lecture Hall.
Each candidate will be given the opportunity for a three-minute opening and closing statement. In between, candidates will be given the opportunity to respond to five questions prepared by Dr. Mary Weiner's American government students. Weiner, member of the EACC Social Science Department faculty, will act as moderator.
The mayoral candidates are incumbent Larry Bryant, Bill Baxter, Frederick Freeman and Chris Oswalt.
The annual Forrest City Marching Band Festival will be held this Saturday, Oct. 19 at Sam Smith Stadium.
The event, sponsored by the Forrest City Band Boosters, will begin at 11 a.m., and will continue until about 7 p.m.
Seventeen high school and junior high bands have accepted invitations to compete.
Admission is $2. Concessions will be available.
The St. Francis County Branch of the NAACP will host its 25th annual Freedom Fund Banquet, Friday, Nov. 1, at the Family Life Center of Salem M.B. Church, beginning at 6 p.m.
Dr. C. Calvin Smith of Jonesboro will be the speaker. The theme is "Freedom Under Fire."
Tickets are $15, and must be purchased at the door. Tickets must be purchased by Oct. 18.
For more information, contact Earnestine Weaver at 870-633-7198 or Frank Shaw at 870-633-5790.