By KENDALL OWENS
T-H Staff Writer
Work on a new facility for the Regional Child Support Office boosted building permits for the month of November to over $850,000.
According to figures provided by the Forrest City City Hall, permits were issued for $868,600 in new construction last month. Construction at 3945 N. Washington on the new child support office totaled $619,000.
Ann Laidlaw, with the Arkansas Building Services Department-Land Purchases Division, said the new building is expected to be completed by spring.
"Right now, we don't have a target date, but we're expecting to open the doors in the spring. The contractor has gotten all of his permits and started work and we're looking forward to moving into the new building," Laidlaw said.
In December of 2002, officials with the state severed ties on a new child support building being constructed on South Washington Street, when the owners, Scott and Johnnie Nell Carroll, who were representing the estate of Herman Young, failed to complete the project. According to Laidlaw, the current project has been running well under Frazier Construction of Helena, who was the next lowest bidder on the original project in 2001.
"Everything is really going great. Jim Frazier was willing to honor his original bid, and once we hammered out all of the preliminary matters, he was able to get started," Laidlaw said.
The new office will handle cases for St. Francis, Cross, Lee and Monroe counties.
The second largest project for last month was a $130,000 office building which will house the law offices of Preston Hickey and Jennifer Hickey Collins. According to office personnel, the new facility is expected to open in February.
Two other commercial permits were also issued last month totaling $50,400. Pizza Hut at 2023 N. Washington had $30,400 in remodeling work done, and Rosie Stewart purchased a permit for $20,000 in roof work.
In residential work, $69,200 in construction permits were issued with a new home at 145 Bomber carrying much of the load at $67,000. Second on the list of residential work was a portable building valued at $1,400 for a residence on Oak Street.
By ALAN SMITH
T-H Staff Writer
Many traveling this holiday season will stop for overnight stays in motels throughout the area. But people in some areas of St. Francis County, who might want to rent a room in Forrest City, will find some motels have policies that restrict them from renting rooms.
Of the 11 motels in Forrest City, six stated they had no special restrictions to which local people had to adhere. The front desk clerks were asked if they had a policy regarding renting to citizens of Forrest City, Caldwell, Colt or Madison. Those businesses were the Arden-Ann Lodge, the Texas Motel, the Save Inn, the Regency Inn, Super 8 and Luxury Inn.
The manager at Super 8, who asked to remain anonymous, said that every person who asks to rent a room is judged on a case-by-case basis.
"If you come in here and you act right, I will rent to you," she said. "If you come in here acting drunk or high, we won't rent a room to you no matter where you are from. We are trying to avoid problems if we can. I have been here for seven years, and we have had very few problems. The few times that we have had problems, the (Forrest City) police have been very good about getting here quickly," she said. "Also, we are an indoor facility, so we see who comes in and where they go. If several people come in in a group, I ask them who is staying and keep an eye on the room. I will even call the room to check on them. It is just common sense."
Four of the motels stated that only under certain circumstances would rooms be rented to people who reside in area cities. Three of the motels, Best Western/Colony Inn, the Holiday Inn and Hampton Inn officials said rooms could be rented to local residents in emergencies, such as a disaster to a person's home.
Best Western/Colony Inn officials said they would rent to people from the area who might be wanting to stay at the motel for an anniversary. The Econo Lodge stated that their policy is that a release form must be signed which lists a set of rules hat must be followed. Days Inn could not be reached for any comment on any policy they may or may not have.
Several attempts were made to contact the managers of all the motels regarding policies that restrict renting locally. Several messages were left for the managers, but only one manager could be contacted.
Bert Patel, who manages the Hampton Inn, said their policy of not renting to people living within a "50-mile radius" of their building was enacted because of past problems.
"We have had a lot of problems with local people in the past," said Patel. "We have had bad experiences with people having parties here. At our hotel, we offer 100 percent satisfaction, and if you are staying here and trying to sleep, that (noise) causes a problem. That is the reason for the policy. I don't want to lose the business, but I have to tell my front desk people not to rent locally because of things that have happened."
Patel also said that while the front desk is instructed to not rent to people in that radius, there are exceptions. "We rented (to local people) during the (2000) ice storm, and if people have lost their home to a fire, we will rent to them. I have no problem renting to them."
A Forrest City attorney has been reprimanded and fined for alleged misconduct that caused a client to lose the right to appeal a case.
According to an article in the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Vandell Bland Jr. received the reprimand and $1,000 fine, based on an appeal Bland handled in the juvenile division of Washington County Circuit Court.
His client, Teresa Davis, was appealing a circuit court judgment in favor of Corliss Williamson. The article stated that the notice of appeal was filed in a timely fashion, but incorrectly stated that he was representing Williamson. He also served Davis' trial counsel with the notice of appeal instead of serving Williamson's lawyer.
Bland later filed an amended notice of appeal, and also filed a motion for extension of time to file a transcript of the trial court proceedings. He did not participate in a telephone conference regarding the motion, although he allegedly was aware of the scheduled conference
Bland's filing took place on the 90th day following the filing of the first notice of appeal. The signed order granting the extension was not filed until the 91st day. Such orders must be filed within 90 days.
According to a written order by the state Supreme Court's Committee on Professional Conduct, "Mr. Bland took no steps to be certain that the order was filed in a timely fashion. According to Mr. Bland, neither he nor opposing counsel were aware that the order was not timely filed until the Supreme Court clerk refused to file the record.
The committee found that Bland violated attorney conduct rules that require lawyers to provide competent representation to a client and several other rules including to act with reasonable diligence in representing a client.
Rujay Burke today announces his candidacy for the State Representative District 51 seat to replace Rep. Danny Ferguson, whose term is expiring.
"I want to continue the fine representation provided by Rep. Danny Ferguson, who is term-limited and cannot seek re-election. I would like to take this opportunity to thank those who encouraged me to participate in the upcoming election," Burke said.
Burke is a fourth-generation resident of Eastern Arkansas, and a graduate of Forrest City High School. He and his wife of 31 years, Sandra, have one daughter, Amy, who is also a FCHS graduate. His wife has taught 28 years in the public school system, and the family attends the First United Methodist Church.
"My entire career has been spent in Eastern Arkansas, with the last 20 years of my career being in the highway construction business," Burke said. "Additionally, I have been quite active in civic affairs."
Burke has served on the board of directors and as president of the Forrest City Area Chamber of Commerce. He currently serves on the board of directors of the Associated General Contractors, Arkansas Good Roads, and has been a board member of the Arkansas Asphalt Paving Association.
"Through my involvement with these groups, I have been able to work on many projects that have bettered our community, some of which require me to work with the Arkansas General Assembly in Little Rock, as well as our elected officials in Washington, D.C. With term limits, we need someone with this experience to represent our district at the Capitol.
"I feel our most important issue is education. We must have adequate schools to educate our children to prepare them for life. I recognize the problems that we are facing. Solutions will not be easy, but I am prepared to make the tough decisions required," Burke said.
"Industrial development and job opportunities will be the focus of my candidacy and service, should I be elected. Creating and maintaining better jobs is a very high priority because this will help keep our children in this area," Burke said. "Transportation, infrastructure and better farm-to-market roads are also keys to improving the quality of our lives, and I feel my 20 years in the highway industry will help accomplish this.
"Education, job opportunities and adequate health care are the most serious problems facing our area. I ask for your help and support so, together, we can improve the quality of life for all of our people. Again, I don't have all the answers, but with your input and thoughts, and the help of God, I feel I can do a great job as the State Representative for District 51 and the residents of St. Francis, Lee, Monroe and Woodruff counties who make up this district."
Three Forrest Citians were entered into the county's drug court program this week.
The drug court program is an alternative to prison, in which non-violent drug offenders receive intensive counseling over an extended period of time.
Those entering the program included Kenneth Howk, 38, of 240 St. Francis Heights; Mary Beth Stultz, 29, of 418 SFC 328; and Richard Thomas, 39, of 602 SFC 730.
The drug court program was recently implemented. It is one of several pilot programs around the state, and may eventually be expanded to all 75 counties.
The Forrest City School Board is scheduled to meet at 5:30 p.m. Monday, Dec. 8, in the library at Stewart Elementary School.
Board members will hear a report on the progress of the construction at the new junior high school, appoint an interim board member and set guidelines for school libraries.
Under new business, board members will review an insurance proposal for buildings, contents and vehicles, and discuss a board retreat.
Also on Monday, the Forrest City Public Library Board is scheduled to meet at 4 p.m. at the library.
Three city councils are scheduled to meet on Monday. The Widener council will meet at 6 p.m., and the Madison and Hughes city councils will each meet at 7 p.m. The meetings will be held in each city's city hall.