By KENDALL OWENS
T-H Staff Writer
A bill for over $17,000 for services rendered in 2002 for the May primary election to ES&S ballot printing services will finally be paid by the county, according to St. Francis County Clerk Elizabeth Smith.
Smith told members of the St. Francis County Election Commission Tuesday that the payment, which was originally approved last year, was recently approved by the quorum court.
At the April meeting of the quorum court's budget committee, Smith told justices that the payment to ES&S had not been made because there was not a 2003 appropriation.
Election commission member Bettye Proctor said she was pleased with the news that the bill was going to be paid. "I was wondering why that hadn't been paid when we've followed protocol and turned all of the bills in. I turned in a copy in January and another copy in February, but we still kept getting bills."
In other business, early voting for a millage increase request in the Palestine-Wheatley School District will begin Monday in the St. Francis County Clerk's office. The special election will be held on Tuesday, May 20.
Commission members were unsure if the ballots for the election would be in by Monday, but voting will begin as soon as the ballots arrive. According to election coordinator Judy Armstrong, the ballots have been ordered and are expected to be in on time.
"We got everything nailed out and all of the changes made to the ballot, and since it's only the one issue, they should have them ready and here by Monday," Armstrong said.
Commissioners voted to have two polling locations, one at the community center in Wheatley and the other at Twin Assembly of God Church in Palestine. Each site will be staffed by five poll workers, and the commission has ordered 600 ballots for the election. Both the Forrest City and Hughes School Districts will hold their millage elections in September.
By ALAN SMITH
T-H Staff Writer
Eight area churches are preparing to take part in the 52nd annual national Day of Prayer on Thursday, May 1. The local event, as Pastor James Dean of the First Baptist Church explained, will offer citizens the opportunity to pray for several issues that the local area and the nation faces.
"On Thursday, we will host prayers from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., and will have what we are calling a Community Wide Prayer Service beginning at 7 p.m.," said Dean. "Including First Baptist, eight churches will provide prayer guides throughout the 12 hours in our auditorium. The New Testament will be read continuously during that time. Anyone is welcome to attend and pray.
"We are also having a Season of Prayer, in which the pastors of the eight churches will pray for specific things. A pastor will pray for our elected officials, both local and national. Another will pray for our military. We will cover many topics."
According to Dean, the event held in Forrest City will be just one of about 8,000 that will take place on Thursday across the nation.
"President Bush and Congress signs proclamations for the day, and the whole country is involved. It's not just a local event, we will join people from across this nation in praying for our communities and our country."
Besides First Baptist Church, located at 507 North Rosser, Spring Grove Baptist Church, Emmanuel Baptist Church, the Rising Sun M.B. Church, First United Methodist Church, Fellowship Bible Church, Macedonia Church and Second Baptist Church will sponsor and participate in the service. The Wednesday Morning Prayer Group is also a sponsor.
By ALAN SMITH
T-H Staff Writer
Forrest City attorney Alan Cline has been named Volunteer Attorney of the Year by Legal Aid of Arkansas. Cline, who was one of several attorneys in Arkansas to be selected for the award, is being recognized in honor of Law Day on Thursday, May 1.
LAA serves 31 counties in Arkansas, and an outstanding volunteer award is given to an attorney in each of the counties.
According to a press release, Cline received the award for his more than 30 hours of pro bono (volunteer) work with the Arkansas Volunteer Lawyers for the Elderly, a program that provides free legal help for elderly Arkansans. His donation of time is estimated to be worth over $3,000 to the community.
Cline said that he was surprised by the award. "I didn't even know that Legal Aid gave awards," said Cline. "I was really surprised. I never really thought about how much time I spent helping the program. I really enjoy the work, and I am honored that they gave me this award."
Cline, who currently serves as city attorney for Forrest City, has also held that position in other cities, such as Widener and Madison. He said he feels that volunteering is the right thing to do.
"It was something that I was taught early on in my career. I enjoy the time I've spent volunteering. It provides legal services to people who cannot afford it. That is a good cause," Cline said.
Cline is a member of the St. Francis County Bar Association, the Arkansas Bar Association, the American Bar Association, the Arkansas Trial Lawyers Association and the Forrest City Area Chamber of Commerce. He also volunteers with the Equal Access to Justice Pro Bono Panel in SFC.
A graduate of Forrest City High School, Cline attended the University of Arkansas and the UA Law School. He began his private practice with the firm of Easley, Hicky and Cline in Forrest City, and is currently with Sharpe, Beavers and Cline.
By DAVID NICHOL
T-H Staff Writer
It's possible that the St. Francis County's wheat crop may not follow the general state trend this year, while the soybean crop may.
According to Justin Hensley with the St. Francis County Extension Service, the local wheat crop seems to be in better condition than in other places in the state, while there could be a reduction in soybean acreage locally, as has been predicted statewide.
Some reports expect the smallest wheat crop since 1985 will be harvested because of weather problems.
According to the reports, early last year it was predicted that 1.5 million acres would be planted in the state. After an October that was too wet for most of the state, only about 1 million acres were predicted. That figure was then cut to 760,000 acres. And much of the wheat that actually emerged didn't grow enough before its dormant period over the winter.
A University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension specialist has said the Arkansas wheat crop harvest would be more like 600,000 acres.
However, locally the picture hasn't been that bad, according to Hensley.
"We haven't seen that much of a problem with the wheat," he said. "The weather has been fairly favorable."
He said several days of windy weather "wasn't really good" for the wheat and there was some damage, but he said that was mostly cosmetic damage.
On soybeans, an Associated Press story said that Arkansas farmers are expected to reduce slightly the acreage they devote to growing soybeans this year.
Hensley said that might be the case locally.
"There is a possibility there will be a downturn," he said. "We really can't be sure until it's all planted. But it seems, just from being around the county, there are a few more rice fields and a few more corn fields. And that acreage has to come from somewhere. It will probably come from soybeans."
The U.S. Agriculture Department has said about 2.9 million acres are expected to be planted in soybeans this year in Arkansas. That would be down about 50,000 acres from last year.
Arkansas State Police seized two kilos of cocaine during a routine traffic stop Tuesday morning near Forrest City.
The Ford Expedition, driven by Stevie Earl Richardson, 42, was stopped about 7:45 a.m. near the 246 mile marker on Interstate 40 after a trooper observed him following too closely behind another vehicle.
After giving officers consent to search his vehicle, troopers found the cocaine, with an estimated street value of $200,000, hidden inside the truck.
According to arrest records, Richardson was released on a bond of his own recognizance.