By DAVID NICHOL
T-H Staff Writer
A week is not a long time to get an impression of another country, but Sally Foster headed back to England on Saturday, with what she said was a pretty good idea of the type of British student who might enjoy a trip to the United States -- to East Arkansas Community College in Forrest City, Ark., to be exact.
"I think probably non-traditional students, those 21 and over, probably would benefit most," she said.
Taking a few minutes before heading back home, Foster, 48, who teaches at Norton-Radstock College, a two-year institution in England, referred to her short week as a "whirlwind," but said she enjoyed herself and got a lot of useful information.
It wasn't the first time she tried to come to America.
"Initially, last year we were hoping to bring some students over," she said. "And people who teach non-traditional students were asked if they wanted to go, and surprisingly I was the only one who sought to join. Then, with all the things that happened last year, that didn't materialized."
She was disappointed, but said she got a second opportunity this year.
"I've come out this time to see which sort of students would most benefit from an exchange" she said.
There wasn't much time to sit still during her visit.
"Saturday night I got here, and Sunday we went to Hot Springs for the Arkansas Association of Two-Year Teachers conference, and got back Tuesday night. It was very interesting," she said.
The rest of the time she was either sitting in on classes, taking part in a question and answer session or being taken to tourist spots. She said she went to Graceland in Memphis because she felt it was almost an obligation. When asked, she laughed and described the house, particularly the Jungle Room, as "all very tacky."
But she quickly added. "But as soon as he (Elvis) starts singing, I can forgive him anything. I love Elvis' voice."
Foster stayed with Ann Siglin, special populations recruiter and off campus coordinator at EACC. Siglin said the question and answer session was a big success. "If I hadn't gotten up and put an end to it, it would have gone on all afternoon. They were just enthralled," said Siglin.
Back home, Foster teaches people who want to be "learning support assistants or teaching assistants -- you call them teacher's aides.
"I teach them about all the various disabilities they might come across in the classroom. We have an inclusive policy of education as far as possible."
She also teaches some history to students who are going on to university.
"I also teach young people who want to be nursery nurses -- probably the same sort of job you have in your day cares. I also teach women who are returning to the workplace, who need some additional learning."
When jokingly asked what she does in her spare time, she laughs.
"I don't have a lot of spare time. I have three teenage children, so they take up a lot of time, running them back and forth," she said. "It's not quite as bad as it is around here. We're much closer to everything so they do get about on their own a little bit more than here."
She also likes to swim, and tries to swim three times a week. She likes to walk and she enjoys reading.
Even though her week was hectic, she said she enjoyed herself and also learned a good bit.
"I've learned so much from everybody," she said. "It's so interesting. "I've learned much about your education system that I didn't know about at all, and I've got a good idea of which students would be good to bring back."
One this that's different is that in England, students can leave school at 16.
"It's not considered dropping out," she said. "That is the legal age at which you can leave school. But more students are going on now until they're 18. At 16, they have a public examination in a number of subjects, and that gives future employees or college personnel an idea of where you stand."
Also, students can narrow their subjects down to a specific field, once they have achieved a certain level of proficiency.
"You narrow the subjects down. I'm kind of surprised you have so may staying on until they're 18 having to take all those different subjects," she said. "Of course, you have to meet certain standards. Obviously, you have to be on a certain level in those courses to go on to university."
She continued, "My son just started at Oxford University, and he's just doing English. He doesn't' have to do anything else but English."
According to Foster, there are hopes that a group of students from Norton-Radstock will be able to visit EACC in the spring.
By ALAN SMITH
T-H Staff Writer
The second annual Forrest City Prayer Walk will take place on Saturday, Oct. 26, with the purpose of praying for changes in the city and county.
The Wednesday Morning Prayer Group, organizers of the event, and other participants will be praying for economic and social harmony throughout the area, according to a press release.
Group organizers say they believe that prayer is the answer to changing the community for the better.
"The Wednesday Morning Prayer Group has been praying that on this day, the people of Forrest City, St. Francis County, and the surrounding area will acknowledge that God and prayer hold the only answer in bringing change to our area," said Gary Bryant, group spokesman.
According to the press release, the group began meeting over four years ago, and was originally a Promise Keeper's group. The Promise Keeper's believe that becoming committed to a religion is a life-long process. The founder of the group, Ruben Johnson, took it a step further by training men to hold each other accountable to their commitment, the press release said.
The walk will be held from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. at the Forrest City Civic Center. The event will include prayers, praise and singing.
By DAVID NICHOL
T-H Staff Writer
Three elderly people died Wednesday night in Cherry Valley, when their house exploded, the result of a possible gas leak.
According to Roger McElroy with the Cross County Sheriff's Department, the call came in about 8:30 p.m.
"We got a 911 call of a house exploding there in Cherry Valley," said McElroy, who said that was exactly what happened. "It blew the walls down. It was nasty."
Killed in the blast were Justin Paul Pitts, 98, his wife, Jewel Pitts, 96, and their son, Kenneth Pitts, 73.
"Also inside the residence was Kenneth Pitts' wife, Lenore Pitts (no age given)," said McElroy. "She was kind of in shock. We don't know if she ran out or was thrown free."
McElroy said from information they were able to get from Lenore Pitts, the family was returning from a trip to Jonesboro, "and just walked into the house, and that's the only definite thing we've got right now."
McElroy said a gas leak is possible, but there will still be an investigation.
"We're suspecting a gas leak, but we don't know for sure," he said. "We don't have a definite cause as of this time."
Bids have been opened for a project to widen Ark. Highway 1 from Colt northward to Wynne, according to a release from the Arkansas Highway and Transportation Department.
APAC-Tennessee, Inc. of Memphis was the apparent low bidder, at $11,075,809.30. The project will widen the highway to four lanes. Highway 1 has already been widened from Forrest City through Caldwell and to Colt. Eventually, Highway 1 will be four-laned from Marianna to Wynne. The four-laning is also planned for as far south as Helena, and some are hoping to have the highway widened all the way north to Jonesboro.
"Widening Highway 1 to four lanes will make travel safer and easier for motorists in that area," said Highway Commissioner J.W. "Buddy" Benafield in the press release, referring to the project between Colt and Wynne.
Construction is expected to begin on the project in six to eight weeks, weather permitting. Work should be completed in late 2003.
Those wanting to spend Halloween under the stars might want to go to Village Creek State Park on Saturday, Oct. 26.
The park will host a Halloween party starting at 7 p.m. in the North Campground. Events for the evening will include a costume contest for children and a Halloween cartoon shown outdoors.
Old-fashioned favorites such as hot chocolate and kettle corn will be served and children can meet some of the park's resident ghouls and goblins.
The fee per person is $2 and you must bring your own lawn chairs or blankets. Children are not required to dress in costume to attend.
For more information, call Village Creek State Park at 238-9406.