By DAVID NICHOL
T-H Staff Writer
The Forrest City Airport Commission on Monday discussed the possibility of a feasibility study to determine whether a regional airport is needed for the Forrest City-Wynne area.
Bill Hays, chairman of the commission, said there was considerable discussion at a meeting last week of the newly formed Regional Airport Authority. Part of the discussion centered on establishing an exact geographical location for the airport, Hays said. But he also said he believes a feasibility study would be a good idea.
"I don't see anything wrong in having a feasibility study, to see if we really need a regional airport," said Hays.
Hays, commission member Joe Williams and citizen Shirley Harvell, are appointed members of the Regional Airport Authority. Harvell attended the authority's meeting last week, and also attended Monday's commission meeting. She said she was disturbed by a proposal to increase the size of the authority, to bring in more business people. She said many of the authority's members are already business people.
She also said that the original resolution forming the authority -- passed by the governing bodies in Forrest City and Wynne, as well as St. Francis and Cross counties -- did not call for extra members.
City attorney Alan Cline, who attended the meeting, said nothing is set in stone until the governing bodies actually pass ordinances, giving the formation of the commission the force of law.
On a related matter, Hays gave an update on the status of the Forrest City Municipal Airport's Master Plan. The commission has been trying to get some assurance from the Federal Aviation Administration that the work proposed in the Master Plan can go forward. There have been concerns that improvements at the local airport will be halted if planning goes forward for a regional airport.
"We have had no meeting with the FAA, and no direction from the FAA," said Hays.
On another matter, Hays told the commission that the work has been completed on burying the power lines on the south end of the airport. He said that removed a potential hazard.
"You have noticed, no doubt, that the lines are underground," said Hays. "We want to give credit and our deepest appreciation to Entergy's Mike Davis and Jeff Hamilton. They were the ones who handled this for us, and this was done at no cost to the city."
The lines were about 29 feet high, and more than 300 feet of line was buried.
"It is a tremendous safety enhancement, and we appreciate Entergy's willingness to do this for us," he said.
Commissioners also learned the new management lease agreement, between the airport and Hutcherson Flying Service, for the airport is almost ready.
Jim Pickens, director of the Arkansas Department of Economic Development, will be the guest speaker when the Forrest City Area Chamber of Commerce holds its banquet Tuesday, May 20.
The event will begin at 6:30 p.m., at the Forrest City Civic Center. Tickets are $15 each. Corporate tables are available for $200.
Also featured will be the St. Francis County Farm Family, the Jarrett family. In addition, new board members will be introduced and outgoing board members recognized.
Pickens, a native of Jonesboro, has been director of the ADED since June of 2001. He had served as interim director since February of that year. He served several positions with Arkansas Power and Light Co., now Entergy, including vice president of public affairs in Little Rock and director of state governmental and external affairs in Little Rock general offices.
A lawsuit has been filed against a railroad company over two separate accidents which occurred at the same St. Francis County crossing within weeks of each other last summer.
Rhonda Winters, on behalf of the estate of Keith Winters, and Brenda Rutherford have filed the suit, naming Union Pacific Railroad Co., Burlington-Northern Santa Fe Railroad Co., Bruce Brown and Charles Felkins as defendants.
The first accident occurred on June 13, 2002, when a van driven by Rutherford on SFC 219 was hit by a westbound Burlington-Northern train. The second accident was on July 5. Keith Winters was killed at the same crossing, when his vehicle was struck by a westbound Burlington-Northern train.
The track is owned by Union Pacific. Bruce Brown was director of track maintenance for Union Pacific. Charles Felkins was employed as director of public projects for Union Pacific.
The suit alleges that in both instances, adequate warning was not given. It also alleges, among other things, that the markings at the crossing did not comply with state and federal law.
The suit seeks compensatory and punitive damages of an unspecified amount.
By KENDALL OWENS
T-H Staff Writer
After four years in existence, the Northeast Arkansas Recycling Corporation or NEARCO is standing on its own, making a profit and now undergoing a facelift of sorts.
St. Francis County Quorum Court justices approved a measure which will add a warehouse to house a $60,000 bailer the facility received through a grant last year. According to St. Francis County Judge Carl Cisco, the success at NEARCO can be attributed to a growing interest in recycling in the south.
"When we started this program, recycling was pretty much on the backburner in the southern states. It's been picking up over the past few years, and there is just a growing interest across the area. When we started, we had only two companies that we could sell our products to, and now we get calls from Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana and Alabama. It's cost effective, and our ability to handle different things has also allowed us to assist local businesses and factories with waste that would have ended up in the landfill," Cisco said.
According to figures provided by NEARCO, in 2002 the recycler handled 2,503.55 tons of waste, including cardboard, stretchwrap, old news print, foam-cor and sorted office white paper. The facility had total sales of $172,299.20. According to these figures, cardboard sales constituted $156,242.35; office white paper, $6,704.50; stretchwrap, $3,117.50; old news print, $3,827.70 and foam-cor, $2,407.15. The totals in landfill savings equaled about $62,588.75, and the facility warehoused 275 tons.
"The new building will allow us to have more storage space, which will in turn allow us to keep material until it is at an optimal price for profit. We're also seeing more interest in our foam-cor and stretchwrap, so we fully expect the facility to continue running strongly," he said.
NEARCO services over 100 small businesses in St. Francis County and also recycles materials from factories in St. Francis, Cross, Crittenden and Phillips counties. According to Cisco, a trip to the Southeast Recycling Conference in Florida this week will allow officials to further network with recyclers nationwide.
"This trip is going to be an excellent opportunity for us to further showcase NEARCO and to also network with other facilities to see what things we might be able to do better."
NEARCO was awarded the 2002 top governmental recycler award for the state of Arkansas last fall.
The Kelly Miller Circus will be in town on Friday, April 25, at the Wiley T. Jones Fairgrounds.
According to a press release, the festivities will begin when the animals will be unloaded at 7:30 a.m. that morning. The elephants will raise the Big Top tent between 8:30 and 9 a.m. Guides will be furnished to school groups and anyone in attendance.
Two performances will be held at this one-day event, one at 4:30 p.m. and another at 7:30 p.m. The event is sponsored by the Sahara Shrine Center, and tickets will be $5 for children and $8 for adults. Tickets are available at True Value Hardware, Blimpies, Food Giant, Citgo and Express Cleaners.
Motorbike enthusiasts will get the chance to have some fun, win prizes and help Special Olympics Arkansas at a Poker Run," set for Saturday, April 12.
The Poker Run is a way to have fun while raising money, said Anita Vandiver, an organizer of the event. Bikers will start from a specified point and stop at five stations along the way before reaching the finish. At each station, the biker receives a playing card. The one with the best poker hand at the finish wins.
The entry fee is $15. There will be a $100 prize for the best hand. There will also be drawings and door prizes at the finish.
The Poker Run will be from Wynne to Forrest City. Registration will be held, and the run will begin at the Wynne High School football field. The first bike out will be at 10 a.m. The run will end at Central Arkansas Turbine (at the airport) in Forrest City. Along with drawings for the participants, there will be barbecue and live music by the Cypress Creek Band at the finish.
All proceeds will go to benefit Special Olympics Arkansas. For more information, contact Brenda Warf at 870-633-1454 or 870-633-9152; or Anita Vandiver at 870-633-8042.