Three local observances of the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks have been announced for next Wednesday, Sept. 11.
Baptist Memorial Hospital - Forrest City will hold a prayer and remembrance service at 10 a.m. on the lower level front lawn of the hospital.
During the service, local fire, police and EMS personnel will be recognized in honor of their fellow emergency professionals who unselfishly gave their lives one year ago, according to BMH-FC Marketing Manager Tiffany Billingsley. The public is invited to attend the service.
"Three hundred forty-three members of the New York City Fire Department lost their lives on Sept. 11," a press release stated. "Members of the New York City Police Department, the Port Authority Police, EMS workers and court officers also made great sacrifices amid startling acts of bravery. Their courage, selflessness and professionalism saved more than 25,000 lives that day."
East Arkansas Community College will also hold a 9/11 Commemoration Program at noon the same day.
The brief memorial service will be held on the EACC campus in the courtyard area outside the EACC Computer Education Center. For more information, contact Elizabeth C. Loeb at 870-633-4480 ext. 214.
The third observance will be at the cafeteria at Lincoln Middle School at 1:15 p.m. The Challengers Team will conduct the program.
"We will unite to mourn, remember and celebrate the indestructible spirit of the United States of America," said a press release from the school.
By KENDALL OWENS
T-H Staff Writer
The search for a police officer for the city of Colt will continue next week as the city once again interviews applicants for the position which was vacated in July.
In August, members of the city council voted to offer the position to a current member of the Forrest City Police Department. According to Colt Mayor Virgil Keeler, Forrest City Police Officer John Heckler rejected the job offer and told the city it was because he could earn more staying with the FCPD.
"I spoke with John, and he told me that it would be too much of a pay cut for him. I can understand that so we reopened the application process," said Keeler.
On Thursday night, members of the council sorted through five applications to find three that they felt were suitable for interviewing. Council members voted unanimously to hold a special meeting on Tuesday, Sept. 10, beginning at 6 p.m. to interview the candidates.
Also on the agenda for Tuesday's meeting will be a proposed variance which will allow a Colt citizen to bypass a city ordinance forbidding the use of two trailers on one piece of property. Council members elected to allow Danny and Rebecca Shepard an opportunity to petition the council to allow them to connect sewer and water to a trailer which is occupied by Danny Shepard's elderly father. In a tearful request, Shepard asked council members to allow him to connect only the water and sewer due to insufficient space in his home.
"I didn't know when we first moved the trailer in that it was a violation of a city ordinance and I understand that now. We're just wanting to hook the water and sewer up so that in the middle of the night he can get up and go to the bathroom without having to come into our house to do it. We would take him in, but we just don't have the room to do it, and this would just make things so much easier," Shepard said.
Council members chose to allow the variance under several conditions which have to be met at Tuesday's meeting. The Shepards must bring letters from their neighbors, giving their opinion on allowing the variance. If the majority of the neighbors agree to the variance the council will grant it. The Shepards will also have to petition the council on a semi-annual basis for re-approval of the variance. The last condition of the variance was that if, and when, the dwelling is vacated all utilities had to be disconnected.
In other business, council members approved the purchase of equipment for the Colt Fire Department. Council members agreed to spend $400 toward the purchase of foam and a saw for the department. Firefighters are currently holding a fundraiser to raise money to be used to send each of the Colt firefighters to a training seminar.
The council also agreed to allow the William Stone House to take possession of a piano which is located in the city's community center, and the council agreed to allow one free rental to the highest bidder at next week's silent auction during Pioneer Days.
By DAVID NICHOL
T-H Staff Writer
A local woman was recently featured in the nationally distributed magazine, Country Woman.
Dana Tittle, who with her husband Alan and family has a "you pick" peach operation on Highway 284 outside Forrest City, was featured in the July-August edition of the magazine.
Tittle said she was surprised when she was contacted by the magazine about doing an article.
"My husband wrote them a letter and told them about the orchard, and me and my activities," she said. When asked, she named a few. "I home school my kids, I compete in triathlon, I sew. And I do a lot of work with my church (First Baptist in Forrest City, where she is preschool director)."
Tittle said she was happy with the article, except for one little problem.
"They put a recipe in the article, and the recipe was printed wrong. It called for one tablespoon of baking powder and it should have been one teaspoon," she said.
One thing the misprint showed, is how many people read the magazine.
"I got calls from all over the country," she said.
Some tried the recipe and it didn't work. Others, she said, realized that a tablespoon of baking powder would be too much.
"I had a lady call from Canada. She realized it was wrong," said Tittle.
The recipe was for Peaches 'n' Cream Pie.
In the article, she talks about the joys of running a "you pick" operation.
*"For those who want hands-on experience with farm life, we pass out containers and point them toward the orchard. Of course, we have to remind the littlest U-pickers that more peaches should reach their baskets than their tummies. Many regular customers drop by every season. It's such fun for me to swap peach preserving tips and recipes with them."
*Reprinted with permission of Country Woman.
Caldwell will host its second annual "Cotton Pickin' Festival" on Sept. 27 and 28.
A variety of events are planned for the two-day event.
Friday evening will feature barbecue. Friday and Saturday will also have hamburgers, hot dogs, funnel cakes, popcorn, French fries, nachos, corn dogs and other refreshments.
There will also be gospel, blue grass and old time music on Friday from 6 p.m. until 9 p.m., and on Saturday from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. Featured will be favorite local groups as well as some out-of-town musicians.
Among the performers will be The Thomas Family, former pastor's family of Caldwell Baptist Church. They will perform Friday, Sept. 27 at 7 p.m.
There will be a Cotton Pickin' King and Queen Contest, for kids aged 3-6 and 7-12, in both boys' and girls' divisions. The pageant will be held Friday, Sept. 27 at 6:30 p.m.. The entry fee will be $5, and first and second prizes will be awarded in each division. Participants must wear fashions made of at least 80 percent cotton. A description of the fashion modeled should be included with the registration fee. The deadline to enter is Sept. 20.
People are welcome to set up arts and crafts booths, for a fee of $20. Booths may be set up both days of the festival. A co-ed volleyball tournament is scheduled for Sept. 28, from 8 a.m. until 4 p.m. Teams will consist of a maximum of seven players, of which a minimum of two must be female. The entry fee is $1 per person.
A pea-shelling contest will be held Sept. 28 at 1 p.m. Each person will have a 30-minute time limit. A special cash prize will be awarded. The entry fee is $2.
The annual cotton pickin' contest will be held Sept. 28 at 11 a.m. Each contestant will be given 30 minutes. The entry fee is $2 and a cash prize will be awarded.
A womanless beauty contest will be held Saturday, Sept. 28, at 6 p.m. Immediately following the womanless beauty pageant on Saturday, "Elvis Presley" will appear live on stage.
Movement toward a golf course at Village Creek State Park is slow, but there is movement, according to State Rep. Danny Ferguson.
"The Department of Parks and Tourism has advertised for proposals," he said. "I've gotten information that the state got only one proposal back, and it was not really complete."
Ferguson said he and Rep. LeRoy Dangeau of Wynne would be meeting with officials next week, "to discuss whether we need to get together and get an incentive package to get more proposals."
Plans call for an 18-hole golf course and lodge.
Students in the Forrest City School district will be dismissed early on Tuesday.
Classes will dismiss at 2 p.m. to allow time for teacher inservice.
School will resume at the normal time on Wednesday, Sept. 11.