By DAVID NICHOL
T-H Staff Writer
The first thing one noticed was that Mustang Arena has probably never been that quiet -- at least not when several hundred people were there.
The Career Expo, sponsored by the Education Committee of the Forrest City Area Chamber of Commerce, got under way this morning, attended by about 32 exhibitors and an estimated 300 students.
"I think today is awesome," said Dr. Alice Barnes, who chairs the Education Committee and is also deputy superintendent of the Forrest City School District. "The turnout is great. I think we have 99.9 percent of all the exhibitors who committed here today."
The Career Expo brought in exhibitors representing a wide range of potential careers for high school students.
"They range from agriculture to health care to manufacturing and industry, education and finance," she said. "We have career 'clusters' representing all the careers in St. Francis County."
This morning's session included seniors from Forrest City High School and high school students from Hughes. Barnes said that later, FCHS juniors and students from Palestine-Wheatley would attend the Expo.
"For it being the first time, I think we're having the greatest success we could have," Barnes said. "There have been so many who have helped us. We've had overwhelming support from the community -- even from the state level. And this day is a success because of that support."
Some of that state support came in the form of the partitions that were used.
"It's a place called Pathfinder in Little Rock," she said. The state, apparently, had a surplus of partitions, "and the Pathfinder group found them and donated them to us to keep. We also have some extra that we would like to donate to any group that needs them. They need to contact Joey Astin."
Jan Haven, vice president for Student Affairs at East Arkansas Community College, chairs the Education Committee's Careers and Life Skills subcommittee. She said the Expo was set up to allow small groups of students to visit with exhibitors at once.
"We wanted a way to benefit the students the most," she said. "And we felt that small group situations and giving options of different careers to choose from would be the best. It's giving them the opportunity to ask questions, and having them answered. And keeping it small helped accomplish that."
Haven continued, "We're really pleased with the way it has turned out. Of course, it wouldn't have been possible without the exhibitors, and we had wonderful sponsors, too."
She said the Career Expo was put on with a zero budget, "And that's what's so amazing. The Education Committee has really worked hard in putting this together, and we hope this is the first of many."
By ALAN SMITH
T-H Staff Writer
The American Lung Association of Arkansas will give local sharpshooters an opportunity to raise funds to help fight lung disease on Saturday, April 26, at the Crowley's Ridge Shooting Resort.
Steve Horton, coordinator of the first-year event, said that all funds raised from the competition will go towards very specific local causes.
"All proceeds will benefit two causes," said Horton. "One of the causes will be to send a child from St. Francis County to Asthma Camp at Ferncliff Camp for free. The other cause is to provide financial support to the Forrest City High School group, High School Heroes." According to a press release sent by the ALA, Heroes is an anti-smoking prevention mentor program that is designed to teach children about the dangers of smoking.
"The field is limited to 10, four-man teams," added Horton. "The first five teams will compete at 9 a.m. After they are finished, we will serve lunch and then hold the competition between the next five teams." According to the release, each person will attempt 100 clay targets. Places will be named and trophies will be handed out to the top three teams.
An entry fee of $50 per person, or $200 per four-man team is required. Teams interested in entering the tournament may contact Horton at 633-9050. For more information about the American Lung Association or its programs, call 1-800-586-4872.
A New Jersey truck driver was attacked inside the restroom at a nearby rest area Wednesday evening, according to reports on file at the St. Francis County Sheriff's Department.
Deputies reported Aleksand R. Baburov, 45, of Bayonne, N.J., was attacked by a white male suspect in his early 30s as he entered the restroom just after 6 p.m. Police said the suspect allegedly pointed a gun at the victim who told police he could tell the gun was not real and started laughing at the suspect who then pulled a knife and started stabbing him.
The suspect then fled the bathroom and got into a black Jeep with another white male subject and drove west on Interstate 40, police reported. Police said robbery appeared to be the motive for the attack.
During the investigation, officers recovered a cigarette lighter, shaped like a small pistol, from the bathroom floor.
The victim was taken to Baptist Memorial Hospital-Forrest City where he was treated for cuts to his face, an arm and his chest before he was released.
The investigation is continuing.