By DAVID NICHOL
T-H Staff Writer
Economy, jobs and quality of life were the themes of Thursday night's forum of Forrest City mayoral candidates.
A little more than 100 people turned out for the event, which was sponsored by the Forrest City Area Chamber of Commerce. The incumbent talked about his record and challengers talked about changes they said should be made.
The candidates had been given questions ahead of time so they could prepare answers, and were also given two-minute opening and closing statements.
Larry Bryant, the current mayor, said his motto is for everyone to have equal opportunity.
"I ask that you consider and continue supporting me, because I am a proven entity," said Bryant. "I have proven administrative and financial skills. Just check the record. The record will speak for itself. The Bryant administration has come under budget in the last three and a half years by over $3.5 million, while other cities and counties are either in the red or barely making the bills.
"The question is, do you want a proven leader, or do you want to gamble on promises, fairy tales, during a time when our country is on the verge of war. You know what I can do."
Bill Baxter said he and his wife chose Forrest City as the place to make their lives.
"We believe in Forrest City, we believe in the people of Forrest City," he said.
Baxter said he has been active in many civic organizations in his church.
"I labored in the efforts to build the Mustang Field House, raised funds for the flagpole you see in front of Mustang Arena," he continued. "To see Forrest City go forward, we must focus on the opportunities that exist to move us forward. And that will require enthusiastic, progressive leadership."
He said he would be accountable as mayor. "I believe in communication, and I believe in cooperation. I will work closely with other elected officials such as the city council...I understand that the mayor sets the tone for this city."
Frederick Freeman said there is potential for economic growth in Forrest City.
"I'm seeking the mayoral position to provide leadership, along with programs to enhance the quality of life for all citizens and continue to open the doors of opportunities."
Freeman said he has been active in economic development in Forrest City. "As mayor I look forward to bringing all aspects of our city together to bring Forrest City forward."
Chris Oswalt said he has seen Forrest City go through good and bad times.
"I'm not going to take the mayor's position lightly," he said. "I'm going to work hard for everybody that's here. I know we're not all going to be able to get along, but I'm going to try my best to work with everybody in the city."
He said he has a son who is 19 months old. "I want him to grow up in a town that has an opportunity for everybody. Not just a select few that have opportunities because their parents happen to have good paying jobs...When people graduate high school I don't want them to see Forrest City in their rear view mirrors and that be the last time they ever lay eyes on Forrest City."
The full forum was taped for broadcast on Mustang 17.
By KENDALL OWENS
T-H Staff Writer
On the advice of St. Francis County Attorney Fletcher Long, members of the St. Francis County Election Committee agreed to leave the names of two individuals who filed for election after the May filing deadline on the ballot.
In a 3-0 vote, commissioners agreed Thursday to leave the names of Charles Avant and Robert Woodard on the ballot for the November general election. The vote, although unanimous, came with hesitation from at least one of the commissioners. In a move to show solidarity with the other commissioners, Bettye Proctor agreed to vote with board members, although she voiced opposition to the move.
"I don't see why we should leave the names of those that filed after the May deadline when everyone in Forrest City knows that for years the filing period ended the day before the primary at noon. I knew it, and I've never run for anything in Forrest City. It's common knowledge but since you two (commissioners Joe Young and Paul Spears) say they should be left on, then I'll agree to it," Proctor said.
Commission chairman Joe Young told board members that he felt that it would be best to side with the candidates and the advice of the attorney.
"In this case, I just really feel, number one, it would be best to follow the attorney's advice. The second thing is that I just couldn't sleep at night if I felt like I kept someone off the ballot that deserved to be there and should be there. Either way we decide, we are going to get sued, and this way, the candidates names are on the ballot," said Young. The vote now will place the matter before a judge, as Forrest City City Attorney Chris Morledge announced that he will pursue a lawsuit to determine which candidates are the legal candidates in the race.
"In this case, the commission would have faced a lawsuit from either direction. By leaving the names on the ballot, they face a suit from the city, and if they had decided to take the names off, they would face a lawsuit from the individuals who were left off. According to an attorney general's opinion earlier this year, the only way really to determine this matter would be through a judge," said Morledge.
If the candidates are removed from the ballot, officials said that rather than order new ballots, they would remove the names from the chip so that the votes are not counted. Morledge said that if the city won, they would request that new ballots be ordered without the candidates' names.
By KENDALL OWENS
T-H Staff Writer
St. Francis County Quorum Court members unanimously agreed to a letter of intent from Baptist Memorial Hospital to allow Baptist to take over ownership of the property on Holiday Drive.
The move by justices on Thursday allows BMH-FC to seek the funding needed to expand services and facilities at the hospital, according to Dr. Dale Morris, who served as spokesman for Baptist.
"We need space for several things at the hospital, and this will allow us to seek the funding necessary for that expansion. Plans call for a new physician's office here in Forrest City which will allow us to recruit and retain new doctors, which are needed for our growing community," Morris said.
Morris also told justices that the expansion would include the upgrading of the labor and delivery unit as well as the inclusion of an open-air MRI system.
"Since the construction of the hospital, there have been a lot of advances in the birthing process hospitals use. Years ago, when a mother went in to deliver, she was rolled down the hall and that's where everything took place. Now, in a lot of instances, mothers never have to leave the rooms," Morris said.
"We also plan to expand the radiological department through the use of an open-air MRI unit. This will help put patients more at ease with undergoing the procedure because they will be in an opened environment instead of the closed in environment most people are accustomed to when it comes to MRI's. The overall goal of this expansion is to provide better local care to patients instead of having patients just come here to be transferred to Memphis," Morris said. Justice Regan Hill questioned if the move to allow Baptist to take over ownership would put St. Francis County citizens in jeopardy of one day losing the hospital.
St. Francis County Attorney Fletcher Long answered Hill by saying, "Under the terms of the agreement, if at some point Baptist could no longer run the hospital, ownership then reverts back to St. Francis County."
Long also explained to justices that the original ownership of the hospital by the county was a move to save Baptist interest in pursuing Act 9 bonds.
Another move by Baptist will pay the county $1 million out of the $3 million indigent care fund Baptist arranged for St. Francis County citizens when they originally won the contract.
According to St. Francis County Judge Carl Cisco, the $1 million is interest gained on the account, and that money cannot be spent for indigent care or administration at the hospital.
"The way the account is set up, Baptist placed $2 million in an account which was to be used to pay for bills that weren't paid and couldn't be paid. The account has been that way since its inception, and the account will remain that way. The money that the county is receiving is interest on the account which cannot be used in any way by Baptist, and therefore would just be sitting in the account," said Cisco.
According to Cisco, county officials have not determined how the money would be dispersed, and the decision would be up to the quorum court.
Several men were arrested early this morning after they were allegedly caught gambling at a pool hall on East Broadway.
According to the Forrest City Police Department report, an officer was doing a walk through of some of the local businesses at about 12:15 a.m., when he entered a pool hall at 301 East Broadway and found several men engaged in gambling.
Charged with gambling were Dequincy Lavell Janet, 34, of Palestine; David Peter Gardner, 42, of 608 Village Street, Forrest City; M.C. Smith Jr., 57, of 913 N. Division, Forrest City; Leroy Brown Jr., 26, of 409 Barg, Forrest City; and Johnny Lee Jones, 46, of 137 E. Midway, Forrest City.
The manager of the business, Emanuel Steward, 42, of 228 N. Gorman, Forrest City, was charged with operating a gambling house.
The building was searched and a number of empty beer cans and containers with liquor were found in them, a possible violation since the pool hall has no liquor license. Also found were a gambling back board, a large amount of cash, three decks of playing cards and eight dice.