By KENDALL OWENS
T-H Staff Writer
Over 200 people from across Eastern Arkansas weathered hot temperatures Saturday to take advantage of the first St. Francis County Cancer Awareness Expo.
Stephanie Bryant, with the St. Francis County Cooperative Extension, said between 200 and 250 people turned out and made the event a success.
"We really had a great turnout, and everything went really well. The people who came out were wonderful, and our volunteers really helped out. We had a few glitches, and the members of the church really helped out as did the mayor's staff, the people from the health clinic and the members of the St. Francis County Homemakers Extension class," Bryant said.
According to Delores Woods with the Eastern Arkansas Enterprise Community, the high attendance at the Expo also pleased the sponsors and vendors who were present.
"Everyone was really pleased with the turnout that we had. The people from UAMS (University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences) said they were happy with the number of people who came out and all of the vendors had good things to say about the Expo. I'd say that we were pretty successful," Woods said.
Both Bryant and Woods said that several people also took the time Saturday to receive free mammograms and prostate examinations which were available at the Expo. According to Bryant, 22 mammograms were given at the Expo with a waiting list of 20 names. Woods said that close to 50 people received at least one of the exams. Bryant also said that organizers are attempting to set up examinations for anyone who may have been on the list.
The Expo was sponsored by the Cancer Control Outreach Center, which is a part of the Arkansas Cancer Research Center at UAMS in conjunction with the St. Francis County Cancer Council, the Electric Cooperatives of Arkansas, the city of Forrest City, the Lee County Cooperative Extension Clinic, Breast Care of St. Francis County, Baptist Memorial Hospital-Forrest City, the Arkansas Department of Health Hometown Health Initiative and the Arkansas Prostate Cancer Foundation.
The Caldwell Fire Department is one of 11 rural Arkansas fire departments to receive part of a $376,037 grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program.
According to press release from the Arkansas Congressional delegation, the Caldwell Fire Department will receive $36,432 which will go towards fire operations and firefighter safety.
The fire departments joining in receiving grant monies include: the Tri-Community Fire Department in Austin, which received $25,740; the Caraway Volunteer Fire Department, $44,304; the Jacksonport Volunteer Fire Department, $7,920; the Vilonia Fire and Rescue, $38,867; the Moreland Fire Department near Russellville, $23,599; the Pine Ridge Volunteer Fire Department in Oden, $45,000; the "Y" Community Fire Department near Rison, $28,125; the Boles Volunteer Fire Department, $43,587 and the Trinity Volunteer Fire Department near Texarkana, $34,961. The St. Paul Volunteer Fire Department also received a grant of $47,502 which will be used toward the purchase of a firefighting vehicle.
The awards were part of the the 11th round of grant announcements from FEMA, and to date, over 2,600 fire departments nationwide have received close to $170 million to support their roles as first responders in the neighborhoods and communities they serve.
St. Francis County was one of 29 counties across the state to record a rise in unemployment rates last month.
Reaching the 10 percent mark for July, the unemployment rate increased from 9.7 percent in June and from 9.4 percent for July of 2002. The figure gave the county the 12th highest unemployment out of Arkansas' 75 counties, according to figures supplied by the Arkansas Employment Security Department.
In July, St. Francis County had a civilian labor force of 13,025, with 11,725 people employed and 1,300 not working.
Mississippi County, which has had the state's highest unemployment level since February of 2001, again hit the high mark at 15.4 percent down from 15.7 percent last month. The lowest rate for the month was 2.7 percent recorded by Madison County, which was followed closely by Benton County at 2.8 percent. There were 12 counties that had rates of 10 percent or higher.
The unemployment rates in surrounding counties in July were: Cross, 9.3 percent; Crittenden, 7.6 percent; Monroe, 9.3 percent; Lee, 13.3 percent; Phillips, 11 percent and Woodruff 13.8 percent.
Arkansas' rate during July was 5.5 percent, down one-tenth of a percentage from June's 5.6 percent. Nationwide, the unemployment rate fell two tenths of a percentage point between June and July to 6.2 percent.
The Boy Scouts of America will host recruitment events for boys ages six through 18 on Thursday, Aug. 28, at elementary schools in the Central and Eastern Arkansas areas. The meetings will each begin at 7 p.m.
Schools in the Forrest City School District scheduled to hold BSA meetings will be Central, Caldwell, Forrest Hills and Stewart. Madison Elementary students who want to join the Boy Scouts are asked to attend the meeting at Central.
The BSA is the country's largest youth organization with an enrollment of over 4 million members nationwide. The program emphasizes issues such as character development, citizenship training and physical fitness. Boys ages six to 10 are eligible to join the Cub Scouts. Young men ages 11 through 18 are eligible to join the Boy Scouts.
For more information, contact Terry Sharp at the Quapaw Area Council in Little Rock at 501-664-4780.
A Forrest City man told police he was beaten in the head with a crowbar just before midnight Sunday as he walked along Gorman Street.
Jerry Wayne Martin, 36, 119 E. Cook St., told police he was walking when a subject allegedly jumped out of some nearby bushes and began striking him in the head with a crowbar. Martin said that after he fell to the ground, the suspect went through his pockets and stole his wallet, which contained about $30 cash.
Police were called to the scene after Martin, who also had been drinking at the time of the incident, began beating on the door of a nearby residence.
Martin was taken by ambulance to BMH-FC where he was treated and released.
The Palestine-Wheatley School Board will meet at 6:30 p.m. on the junior high campus in Wheatley.
Board members will consider bids for the purchase of milk and bread for the school year and also hear an update on a lawsuit involving the PWSD and the Forrest City School District.
Under new business, the board will consider bids for the purchase of fuel for the school year and the 2003-2004 school budget.