By DAVID NICHOL
T-H Staff Writer
If the city of Marion should land a Toyota assembly plant, the impact would reach far beyond Marion, local officials said this morning.
The $750 million project, if it comes to fruition, would have the potential for tremendous positive economic impact locally, said Forrest City Mayor Larry Bryant.
Bryant referred to a meeting held a few weeks ago, attended by leaders of several Delta counties.
"What came to light was, that it was possible that the Toyota plant would be built in the Marion area," said Bryant. "And what came out in the meeting was that all cities within a 50- to 75-mile radius should have economic benefits."
He continued, "We looked at our own Yale building as a possible plus."
Bryant said that there is a possibility that once a large plant was located in Marion, then so-called "feeder" plants might be opened in the area, providing parts.
"We are in an ideal location to get some feeder business from the automobile industry. We have Interstate 40. We have the railroad. And we have people with the skills -- people who were laid off at Yale and Airtherm and others. We have the land and the resources to make it happen.
"We are prayerful that they will decide to come to Arkansas. I think it would be something great for the Delta. We've been waiting for something big."
St. Francis County Judge Carl Cisco also mentioned the meeting. And while saying there are still a lot of things to be done, he said the location of a Toyota plant in Marion would be a great opportunity.
"I think there is going to be a chance to pull an industry into our area," said Cisco. "Because it's been shown that when a plant this size moves in, a lot of the suppliers will follow, and usually locate fairly close.
"We have a good chance, maybe at the Yale plant, or Thornapple," he continued. "We've been working with Crittenden County. I also know the Memphis Area Chamber of Commerce is also working with them."
Cisco said the leaders who attended the meeting agreed to help Marion come up with some funding help, but only once it is definite that the plant is actually coming. "I think we could get a ton of jobs out of it," he said. "It will give an economic boost to the whole area."
Danny Ferguson, executive director of the Forrest City Area Chamber of Commerce, said that in other cases where large automotive plants have located, "supplier plants pop up within 50-75 miles."
He said Canton, Miss. and Georgetown, Ky. were good examples.
"So, if what we've heard in the media is true, and Marion is in the running for this, with Forrest City being 40 miles or so from Marion on I-40, It would put us in an excellent position for trying to recruit some supply industries."
Ferguson continued, "Based on models of what's happened with auto plants in other states, often times, more jobs are created in the satellite industries than in the actual auto assembly plant itself."
By DAVID NICHOL
T-H Staff Writer
A lawsuit has been filed by the parents of a child who say their son was improperly dismissed from Calvary Christian School and denied due process.
The suit, filed in circuit court, is by Ted Huffstuttler and Dorma Huffstuttler, parents of Preston Huffstuttler. Listed as defendants are Calvary Christian School, Inc., and Terral Neeley, Michael Borden, M.C. Lewellen Jr., David Rogers and Suzanne Hess.
The suit claims that the Huffstuttlers were informed on Jan. 17 of this year that Preston Huffstuttler's last day would be Friday, Jan. 18.
The suit claims that Preston Huffstuttler was "disenrolled" in retaliation for the Huffstuttlers' questioning of the school's accreditation and policies. The Huffstuttlers also say they had questioned the administration over the presence of a video surveillance device in a classroom/dressing room area of the school. The suit claims that "these videotapes were taken to the homes of one or more of the individual defendants and viewed for a purpose unrelated to legitimate school activities."
The suit also claims that the defendants issued false statements over the character of Preston Huffstuttler, and that Hess continually referred to Dorma Huffstuttler as "the devil."
The suit claims that the Huffstuttlers have suffered "severe emotional distress." It also claims that Preston Huffstuttler will continue to suffer distress due to "separation of Preston from his lifelong schoolmates" and that he has had to abandon participation in his previous sports related activities "and has lost all opportunity to graduate as valedictorian during his senior year."
The complaint requests no specific monetary amount, but asks for compensatory and punitive damages and attorney's fees. The suit also asks for a jury trial.
An elderly man reported missing Saturday evening told authorities that he was hiding in a closet from his wife because she had allegedly been beating him.
The St. Francis County Sheriff's Department reported Harold Cothran, 87, 3554 Hwy. 70 West, Forrest City, was found just after 8 p.m. inside a bedroom at his home.
According to the report, deputies were called to the Cothran residence because the elderly man's wife, whose name was not given, said he had been missing since about 6 p.m., and that she had searched the house for him several times. Upon entering the home, deputies reportedly heard noises coming from a back bedroom and inside that room, found Cothran on the floor, suffering from multiple bruises and cuts on his arms, and one of his legs was injured.
Upon finding the man, deputies reported Cothran's alleged wife started asking him, "who are you and how did you get in my house?"
Cothran told the deputy his wife had been beating him.
Cothran was taken by ambulance to Baptist Memorial Hospital-Forrest
City. An emergency room doctor told police that both of the two
elderly subjects need help in caring for themselves, especially
Mr. Cothran because he was also malnourished.
By KENDALL OWENS
T-H Staff Writer
St. Francis County Election Commissioners will have to wait a little longer before knowing whether the city will file a lawsuit against the commission in an effort to keep candidates that filed after the city's filing deadline off the November ballot.
According to Forrest City City Attorney Chris Morledge, city council members will determine Tuesday night if they wish to pursue the matter any further.
"I'm going to take the matter before the council at tomorrow night's meeting, and the council will have to approve the lawsuit before we can go any further," Morledge said.
Last week, election commissioners ruled that candidates Ray Woodard and Charles Avant would remain on the ballot, although they filed after the May deadline called for by Forrest City ordinance.
Commissioners followed the advice of St. Francis County Attorney Fletcher Long who told them that the two should remain on the ballot since they filed within the state mandated 60-80 filing period for independent candidates.
Commissioners decided last week that the names of the candidates would remain on the ballot unless ordered by a judge and if the candidates were disqualified then any votes for them would be disqualified.
A Forrest City man was arrested Friday night for possession of crack cocaine and allegedly trying to sell it.
According to the report by the Forrest City Police Department, an officer was approached by a citizen who told him someone had offered drugs for sale.
The officer found the person and two others near the intersection of Choctaw and Water streets. According to the report, the officer asked a man who identified himself as James if he could search him, and James agreed. However, the man became agitated and would not let the officer search his pockets.
The man was arrested with the aid of other officers. In one of the man's pockets was a plastic bag continuing 14 smaller bags, each allegedly containing crack. The total weight of the crack cocaine was 4.5 grams.
Arrested was James A. Smith. He is charged with possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver and criminal impersonation.
The filing period for municipal offices will be one of the subjects for discussion Tuesday when the Forrest City City Council meets.
The meeting will take place at 7 p.m. at city hall.
There has been some disagreement over when the filing period should be.
Also on the agenda is Rev. Uzziah Duncan and Ronnie Alexander, speaking on behalf of a proposed Boys and Girls Club.
There are also three ordinances to be introduced -- one for
rezoning, one to vacate an alley and one to waive bid requirements
for the purchase of accounting and payroll software under an emergency
situation.
A pair of Forrest Citians have been appointed to state boards by Gov. Mike Huckabee.
Ken Patterson, a professional photographer, and Stephanie Bryant, an extension agent with the St. Francis County Extension Service, were both recently named to state boards.
Patterson will serve a four-year term on the Crowley's Ridge Technical Institute board of directors. Patterson's term will end June 30, 2006 and he replaces Bill Hays.
Bryant will serve until Jan. 14, 2003, on the Motor Vehicle Commission, replacing Eddie Hardin.