By DAVID NICHOL
T-H Staff Writer
Rep. Danny Ferguson expressed disappointment on Thursday over the failure to extend the legislative session, leaving the state without a budget for now.
"It was very depressing," said Ferguson. "We were so close to having the budget worked out. The Revenue Stabilization Act was in front of us. We had tobacco tax money out of committee and ready to vote on.
"I just felt sick that this was the way my last session ended," added Ferguson, who will be term-limited out of office.
Meanwhile, Gov. Mike Huckabee said Thursday he would call legislators into special session by early May to pass a state budget for the next two years.
Ferguson complained that a May special session would be a waste of taxpayers' money.
"It's going to cost $30,000 a day, and it's going to be a contentious session. We were within, probably, 24 hours of doing a budget."
Huckabee said the budget session, which he would call no sooner than April 28 or May 5, could be the first of several special sessions this spring and summer to address issues left hanging when the Legislature abruptly ended a 94-day regular session.
Ferguson said the current state budget runs out June 30, and it is unclear what may happen if a budget is not passed by then.
"The agencies we passed appropriations on, even though the budget didn't pass, will continue to be funded at last year's level, as I understand it," he said. "In some agencies, where we have not passed appropriations on, there is confusion over whether they are going to have any money or not."
He said Human Services and Parks and Tourism are among the agencies for which appropriations have not been passed, and that one positive note is that his proposed constitutional amendment, to allow the legislature to go into session and authorize bonds for a super project, will apparently be on the ballot.
"Say, if Arkansas got a project that would be investing a minimum of half a billion dollars, and hiring a minimum of 500 people, then the Legislature could go into session and authorize bonds to finance that super project. It would allow the state to react quickly. It's very similar to what other states have done," Ferguson said.
Regarding public reaction to the session, Ferguson said, "I'd
just say, of the hundreds of phone calls and letters I've received,
people just need to direct those to the governor and those who
voted to block the extension of the session."
By TAMARA JOHNSON
Managing Editor
Police made several drug arrests early Thursday when they simultaneously executed search warrants at two Forrest City residences.
Forrest City Police officers, along with an Arkansas State Police Troop D officer and his K-9, raided homes at 209 Brandon St., and 632 Christian St., about 2 a.m.
Inside the Brandon Street residence, which was occupied by William Henry Malone Jr., police seized a medicine bottle containing a white powdery substance that tested positive for a cocaine base, along with $2,965 in cash and a .380 semi automatic pistol. The drugs are being sent to the State Crime Lab for analysis.
Malone, who is a convicted felon, was charged with possession of firearms by certain persons.
The house on Christian Street, which according to police is either owned or managed by Malone, was being searched at the same time. Inside this structure, police arrested two men on drug charges and seized 5.3 ounces of marijuana and .3 grams of cocaine. The marijuana has an estimated street value of $755, and the crack cocaine has an estimated street value of $40.
Police arrested Bernard Woodard, 39, 632 Christian St., Forrest City, for possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver near certain facilities, marijuana. Daniel Poole, 46, of Marianna, was arrested for possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver near certain facilities, cocaine. The residence is located within 1,000 feet of a public school and a day care facility which are defined as certain facilities in the Arkansas Criminal Code, according to police.
In a separate incident overnight Wednesday, a 17-year-old male juvenile was arrested for possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver near certain facilities when he was checked by an officer assigned to the Forrest City Housing Authority.
According to the report, the teenager had been given a previous warning about trespassing on the FCHA property. Police said when the officer approached the teen, he recovered three bags of marijuana with a total weight of 4.5 grams. The teen is charged as an adult and was scheduled to appear in court Thursday.
On Thursday night, police arrested two people on drug charges after a traffic stop.
The vehicle, driven by Donna Baker, 22, 314 E. Tennessee, Forrest City, was stopped by police at the Division and Mississippi streets intersection about 10 p.m. Officers reported 1.5 grams of marijuana was "in plain view" inside the truck, and although Baker attempted to flee, she was caught by police and charged with misdemeanor possession of marijuana.
A wrecker service was called to tow Baker's vehicle from the scene, but while attempting to load the vehicle, a male subject tried to take possession of the truck. After receiving a description of the suspect, police spotted him at the construction site of the new junior high school campus, and a foot chase ensued.
A short time later, police reported Kim Lamb III, 25, 206 Calvert, Forrest City, was captured and charged with possession of a controlled substance, marijuana, with intent near certain facilities.
According to police, during the chase, officers noticed the suspect throwing something from his pockets, and after backtracking through the path of the chase found a bag containing 106.7 grams of marijuana with an estimated value of $571.
By ALAN SMITH
T-H Staff Writer
The Crowley's Ridge Technical Institute Board of Directors Thursday night heard several updates on current issues facing the institution, and those which can be expected over the next few months.
The first order of business was electing officers, a problem that faced the board at its last quarterly meeting.
Burl Lieblong, president of CRTI, told the board that they had two options for dealing with the election of officers. "Last meeting, the board decided to hold off on electing officers until both of the vacancies were filled," Lieblong said. "Both are filled now by are new members, J.B. Smith and Mike Lawyer. Mike could not attend tonight because of a prior engagement, but he is on the board. We can either choose to elect officers now, or we can wait until everyone is here. It is your choice."
The board chose to table the issue until their next meeting, but elected Glenda Caldwell the interim chairperson until then.
Lieblong discussed the school's certification process. "The evaluation team for the COE (Council of Occupational Education) will be here for a reception on Monday, June 2, from 6 to 8 p.m. at the student center. They will be here all of that week looking at our campus and evaluating us for possible certification," Lieblong said.
"The team will be headed up by Darrell Rodrigez from Louisiana. I've spoken to him, and I have a good idea of what they are looking for. We are looking forward to hosting the team, and we welcome any help they can offer us in earning COE certification."
Lieblong also discussed state funding with board members. According to Lieblong, a bill was in the Legislature that would have appropriated the funds for the institution, but had not been voted on.
"The legislature did not adjourn, which is good news for us," stated Lieblong. "Our appropriations bill is still waiting to be passed. I don't think we will have any problems getting it passed, but we will have to wait until they call a special session."
"It is my understanding that the bill will carry over, and until the new appropriations are passed, they will allow us to operate on last year's appropriations," Smith added.
In other news, the board unanimously voted to approve $15,000 for advertising items and to hold its next meeting on Thursday, Aug. 21, at 1 p.m.
By KENDALL OWENS
T-H Staff Writer
Grant requests were approved during a meeting Thursday morning of the Eastern Arkansas Regional Solid Waste Management District at the St. Francis County Courthouse.
Close to $180,000 in grant requests, including one for the city of Wheatley for an oil furnace for the Palestine-Wheatley School District shop, were approved.
According to EARSWD officials, the oil furnace for the shop was needed because an earlier oil furnace granted to the city is being overused between the city shop and the school shop. The $8,000 grant will provide a separate facility at the school's bus shop.
Other grants approved Thursday will provide $10,000 for education through the EARSWD; $5,000 for poly tube collection and transportation; $7,500 for recycling for the school and city of Weiner; $21,995 for the city of Marvell for a leaf vacuum; $30,000 for the city of Helena, also for a leaf vacuum; $18,000 for a truck to pull and hold wood chips for the city of Harrisburg; $42,000 for a metal crusher for Cross County and a second grant for $35,000 for a wood chipper for Cross County.
The grants will be distributed in order until the grant funding is depleted. The EARSWD awarded over $152,000 in grants in 2002.
Cross County officials petitioned the board to move their request for the metal crusher up the list in place of their wood chipper.
"There is a serious need in this area for a metal crusher, and this would be something that not only Cross County could use. With this machine, we'll be able to take this bulky material, which is difficult to load and transport, and make it a lot more manageable," said Cross County Judge Billy Lee.