By KENDALL OWENS
T-H Staff Writer
A movement is under way which might introduce growth to St. Francis County by utilizing Crowley's Ridge to attract baby boomers who are looking to escape big-city life.
According to St. Francis County Judge Carl Cisco, meetings were recently held with officials from local banks as well as medical professionals to gauge interest in commissioning a study on a proposed active adult community to be located in the Newcastle area.
"This is something that I've been talking about for quite awhile, and the reason we're talking with the banks and Baptist is because the people that we're focusing on would utilize those facilities more than anyone else," Cisco said.
"There has been a trend for a while for people who are either from an area or people who want to escape from cities to quieter areas to find locations that keep them close to those places, but at the same time offering them some of the amenities and conveniences that you have in a metropolitan area," Cisco said. "Mississippi has really done quite well with this, and other areas in Arkansas, like Hot Springs and up in the Fayetteville area, have done a good job of attracting retirement communities for years. We've got an untapped resource on the Ridge which could also provide people with security and a nice area, while not being too remote.
"We've got a first-class hospital here to service people of retirement age, and we're relatively close to not one, but three large areas Memphis, Little Rock and Jonesboro. So if you're wanting to get out of Memphis and move to a different area and your children are still living in Memphis, you're then only 45 minutes away," Cisco said.
According to Cisco, the county's involvement in the project might be with assistance in providing infrastructure for the community. He also said that the benefits to the county would be in the creation of jobs and in possibly attracting physicians to the area.
"A community like this would create some non-traditional jobs, and those are jobs that we need. Folks that have retired like to travel, and if you've got a nice gated community out there, then you're going to need security personnel. If there's major construction, then the contractors will need to hire more people, and by bringing in a focus group like retirees, you also attract physicians," Cisco said. "For years, the focus has been on attracting manufacturing jobs and that's fine, but that market is so competitive. We need to look at ways to create non-traditional jobs that will increase the income in the area and increase the number of people working," he said.
According to Cisco, the location of the proposed community would also benefit from the new golf course to be located at Village Creek State Park.
"Having activities and an area that is as close to the community as Village Creek State Park would really be an asset. The new golf course that is being built will be an attraction to folks, as would the lodge with its restaurant and all of the amenities. Green space is really important and that's one of the real points on Crowley's Ridge and at the park. That area is beautiful, and you can create walking trails through the community and they can also go to the park and enjoy a day on the trails," he said.
According to a proposal on the project from Quality Life Communities, the sample program would include single-family homes, town homes, courtyard condominiums; congregate condominiums, a health care center and amenities including a fitness center, tennis courts, swimming pool and fitness and health programs.
By ALAN SMITH
T-H Staff Writer
A change in salary figures in the proposed 2004 budget for the Forrest City Public Library was discussed during a FCPL board meeting Monday afternoon.
Dashaune Hill, a co-director at the library, said the figures presented in the budget could be larger because of raises that were included to match what the Forrest City City Council is proposing for city employees.
"Our salary numbers have changed," said Hill. "The Mayor's office is proposing a 3-percent across-the-board raise for city employees. I figured that raise in for our three full-time employees, myself, Sarah (Jumper, the other co-director) and the technical assistant.
"Another issue is our part-time workers," continued Hill. "The mayor's office says that when they hire people, they like to hire them at no less than $6.50 (per hour). I wanted to ask the board and see what you wanted to do. We have two part-time employees, and neither make $6.50."
Board member Brad Beavers offered his opinion on the matter. "I feel we should give them (the full-time employees) whatever the city decides to give its employees for a raise as long as we don't go in the red to do it." Beavers also proposed that instead of both part-time employees making $6.50 per hour, just one should be given that amount. The other will be given $6 per hour.
Beavers made the motion that the board accept the proposed budget for 2004 with the amendments that he proposed. The board unanimously agreed.
Beavers then gave an update on the new parking lot near the library. "The city has begun clearing the area. The plan is for them to work on the lot during the winter when they have time so when spring comes they can grate and pave it."
Before adjourning, Hill told board members of an opportunity for the library to get some help with odd jobs through the St. Francis County Drug Court.
"I was contacted by the drug court people, and they asked us if we would like to have some of their people on community service do service here. I want you to know that they have offered this to us, and we want to know if you want us to pursue it."
Beavers stated that he had discussed the program with Judge Ben Story and his understanding is that the library staff would have authority over the workers sent there. "They would have authority to accept or reject anyone for work here. I think the jobs they had in mind are things like cleaning out the basement or raking leaves, not putting books back on the shelves.
"I don't think that you would have to supervise them as much as younger people," added Beavers. "These people are looked at very carefully for the program. They are people who they feel are first and last-time offenders. They are watched everyday by their probation officers, and they know that if they want to stay out of jail, they have to keep their probation officer happy. That means they have to make you happy."
While no formal vote was taken on the issue, the board agreed to keep the possibility of accepting community service workers from the drug court in mind.
Tomorrow (Wednesday, Dec. 17) is the deadline for getting in Santa letters to be published in the Times-Herald.
The letters will be published on Dec. 23 and 24. Letters arriving late will not be published, but will be forwarded straight to the North Pole.
A Forrest City man was pistol-whipped outside his home Monday evening, according to a report on file at the Forrest City Police Department.
Emergency room officials at Baptist Memorial Hospital-Forrest City requested a police officer when Allen W. Jennings, 38, arrived for treatment.
Jennings told police two black males confronted him outside his home at 777 Graham St., about 8:30 p.m. and began talking to him about a female subject. Jennings alleged the two men began beating him in the head and face with a handgun. Police reported Jennings suffered cuts above his left eye and lacerations to his left jaw and head. He was treated and released at BMH-FC.
According to the report, Jennings was unable to provide a description of the suspects to police.
Police are investigating a burglary at Forrest City High School in which over $3,000 in computer equipment being used on the school yearbook was stolen.
According to the police report, the crime took place between Friday, Dec. 12, and Monday, Dec. 15.
A window was broken out of a classroom window on the southeast part of the building, to gain entry to one of the rooms. The room is used for yearbook work.
Taken were a Gateway computer, a Kodak printer, a Kodak digital camera, a charging cradle and memory cards.
FCHS Principal Abbie Robinson said this morning that the theft would cause some problems for the school's yearbook staff, but the problems would not be insurmountable.
"We have already sent in quite a bit of things to the yearbook company," Robinson said. "We'll have to do some make-up work, but it should not cause a major delay."
She said she was sure the company would work with the school under the circumstances.
"We have already turned in, I would say, one-half of what we needed to turn in," Robinson said. "We have another deadline of Friday morning to turn in some more. But I would say we've lost less than a fourth of what we need."
Police fingerprinted the room, and the investigation is continuing.