By KENDALL OWENS
T-H Staff Writer
The loose ends are being tied up to allow for a major expansion at Forrest City's only hospital.
Attorneys representing St. Francis County and Baptist Memorial Hospital-Forrest City, Inc., have filed a lawsuit seeking a $1 million payment from the SFC's Indigent Care Trust Account to the county as part of an agreement to free up the ownership of the hospital for expansion purposes.
St. Francis County Attorney Fletcher Long said the complaint was filed to allow the funding, which is interest that has accrued on the account since its inception, and cannot be used by the board to pay for medical expenses.
"When the trust fund was created, Baptist placed $2 million into the account which was to be used to pay for medical charges for indigent care. Only 85 percent of the interest from that funding could be used and the account now stands at $3 million," Long said. "What this will do is allow the excess $1 million in interest to be turned over to the county as per the agreement from last year," Long said. The SFC Quorum Court approved the move in September last year, soon after the hospital expansion was announced.
According to Paul Cade, administrator at BMH-FC, the procedures being followed and the upcoming expansion is good for all of the parties involved.
"The main thing that we want to get across is that this is a win-win situation for everyone. Our main goal is to expand our services to enhance our women's services and to build another physicians office building. We're committed to providing the same level of indigent care that our patients have always had," Cade said.
According to Long, the lawsuit will also allow the Indigent Care Board to reformat the formula for the Trust so that adjustments in the financing of the Trust can be made.
Forrest City Attorney Brad Beavers said this morning that the Indigent Care Board members had not reviewed the suit, but planned to discuss the matter during a called meeting scheduled for Thursday, Feb. 20.
The expansion project is starting to move along quickly, with architects meeting regularly with members of the hospital's administration. According to Cade, the project could be completed before the end of the year.
"Things really are going great with the project. We're expecting for both aspects to be completed by the end of the year, even though an accurate time frame for the women's center is hard to target. We do expect the new physician's office to be completed within six months from the start of construction," Cade said.
According to Cade, the upgrades planned for the women's center will be delayed at times due to the hospital continuing to serve patients while construction is under way.
Estimates on the women's center are expected to come in close to $2.4 million while construction on the physician's office is expected to total around $750,000.
By KENDALL OWENS
T-H Staff Writer
Madison City Council members voted Monday night to overturn the hiring of former assistant Madison Police Chief Jerry Donaldson, after Mayor James Brooks recently rehired him.
By a unanimous vote, council members overturned the mayor's decision after being informed of Donaldson's hiring. Last month, council members voted to table Donaldson's rehiring as a parttime officer. According to Brooks, his decision to hire Donaldson was based on the police officer's experience with drug cases.
"I understand that there was a vote to table this last month, but his was an administrative move that I felt was beneficial to the citizens of Madison," Brooks said.
According to Brooks, two of Madison's existing three police officers were cut from 40 hours per week to 32 hours per week to accommodate Donaldson's hiring.
"Mayor, I said last month that I don't agree with taking hours from the officers that we have. If we have to cut their hours, then something isn't being done right. If we have to bring in a man to do one job, then maybe it's time to replace the ones that we have outright and not cut their hours. If they're doing the job, then let them do it fulltime," said council member Ocie Williams.
According to Brooks, officers had expressed concerns over the drug traffic in Madison when only one officer is on duty during a shift.
"It's dangerous to go out as one, lone officer to fight the problems with the drug dealers that we have. Some of the officers have come to me and discussed the fact that they are just one officer out there with many drug dealers. Donaldson was willing to take that chance with the dealers, and he wasn't afraid to go after them. That's what I wanted to bring back to our city," Brooks said.
Council members also objected to the cutting of hours from other city employees. According to Brooks, four other city employees saw their schedules trimmed from five days per week to four days per week. Council member Annie Winfrey objected to the move and the fact that it was not an across-the-board measure.
"I don't understand why you would take a day from all but three people if there is a budget problem instead of just giving across-the-board cuts. I thought we did all the work last month on the budget to make sure people didn't see any cuts, but you go and make cuts anyway without discussing this with anyone," Winfrey said.
According to Brooks, the move was made due to insufficient work for the employees that were laid off.
"This was another administrative move that was done because right now it's slow due to the weather and other factors. The three department heads are the only people who didn't see cuts, and that's because they need to be here. This was purely an administrative move that we've done in the past and will continue to do," Brooks said.
Over $38,000 in matching fund grants from the Soil and Water Conservation District could allow the city make repairs and additions at the city's oxidation pond. According to Brooks, the grant will be applied as the matching fund for a $100,000 grant from NRCS on the project.
Council members also tabled discussions on accumulated sick days after Brooks informed them that auditors had the information necessary to accurately tabulate the amount of days due to employees.
By ALAN SMITH
T-H Staff Writer
St. Francis County ranks near the middle in HIV cases reported in the state, based on statistics provided by the St. Francis County Health Unit. However, in gonorrhea cases, SFC ranks first in the state among all 75 counties.
According to the department, the 1999 case numbers are the most recent available for comparison, and those figures are always two to three years behind because of tracking done by the Center for Disease Control. The CDC tracks all cases reported by the county and reports cases found in other Arkansas counties and other states.
Of the 75 counties in Arkansas, SFC ranked 38th highest in HIV, and in AIDS cases, the county comes in at 57th highest. Melissa Ward, a registered nurse and Hometown Health Improvement Leader for the county, discussed the lower ranking of AIDS cases as opposed to the number of HIV cases.
"Since we are so close to Memphis, some of the people with HIV move there for care through Hospices and homes that help them care for themselves," said Ward. "Another reason is that the drugs to prevent AIDS are now more powerful and effective. You are required to contract two opportunistic diseases while you have HIV to be considered as having AIDS. These new medicines slow the development of AIDS, and that reduces the county ranking as well."
Another health issue is gonorrhea. Ward commented on circumstances that would contribute to this high number.
"There is a lot of unsafe sex practiced in this county. When this happens, there are more reports of STDs.
This also contributes to the HIV rank as well. The best way to avoid catching a STD is to use protection." The other factor is insurance.
According to provided statistics, SFC ranks second in the state in uninsured residents. Ward said this fact also helps make the STD category a problem.
"When people are uninsured, they make less visits to the doctor," explained Ward. "They are also less knowledgeable about their own health and when they need to see a doctor. Having yourself checked for STDs should be done if you have been practicing unsafe sex or start to develop signs of a disease."
The SFC Health Unit provides confidential testing for all STDs, including HIV and AIDS. There is a minimal fee, but if a patient cannot afford it, he or she will not be refused service, according to Ward. The unit is also available to speak to groups on health topics. For more information or to schedule a speaking date, contact the St. Francis County Health Department at 633-1340.
By ALAN SMITH
T-H Staff Writer
Several issues were debated before votes Monday night during the regular monthly meeting of the Hughes City Council.
Among those issues was a change in health insurance and a retirement plan for city employees.
Jeff Cagle, a representative of the Metropolitan Life Company, presented the council first with a proposal of a retirement plan for the city.
"The plan that I have is a one-to-one plan which means that the city will match up to 3 percent of what the employee puts in," explained Cagle. "Of the 13 current city employees, I have spoken to 12 of them about the plan and 10 said they would sign on. One of the employees I never had the opportunity to speak to, and the other two said that they had plans already.
"Another advantage to this plan is that if an employee leaves for some reason, they can take it with them to their new job. It is a very flexible plan." The members voted unanimously to offer the retirement plan, which is the first to be offered to city employees in the history of the city, according to city officials.
Cagle then presented two plans for health insurance for city employees. According to Mayor Donnie Mooney, the city advertised for bids for new insurance, and Cagle was the only insurance agent who attended the meeting.
"The first plan also includes dental and life insurance," said Cagle. "It is my understanding that the dental was a separate plan from the existing plan and that no life insurance was offered. This plan will save the city about $7,000 over the existing plan.
"The second plan offers what is currently offered, with just a few minor differences. It will save the city over $17,000," stated Cagle. The council voted unanimously to change the city's insurance provider to Cagle for the second plan he presented. The change will become effective on March 1.
In other news, the council was offered changes in the privilege tax by Mooney. According to Mooney, the tax is an annual tax that anyone wanting to do business in Hughes must pay for the "privilege" of operating a business. The ordinance lists 56 types of businesses and vendors, ranging from automobile dealerships to carnivals, and it lists the tax rate for each.
"We went through the current ordinance and tried to raise most of them," said Mooney. "The changes are just a recommendation. We can raise or lower or add businesses if you want. It is just one way we thought of to raise revenue further." After some discussion, the members voted to amend the current ordinance to include the new privilege tax rates.
In a topic that was briefly discussed and tabled in January, the council voted to amend the 2003 budget to include a 25-cent pay raise to all city employees.
The council went into executive session to discuss a personnel issue, after which, Mooney said a police officer, who had been suspended without pay for two days, would only be docked one day's pay.
The Forrest City School District is being sued over an accident involving a school bus over a year and a half ago.
Sarah Robinson of Forrest City has filed the lawsuit in St. Francis County Circuit Court over a Sept. 11, 2001, accident involving her vehicle and a bus driven by Gene Jumper.
The complaint, filed on behalf of Robinson and two children, alleges that Jumper struck the Robinson vehicle from behind. The complaint charges that Jumper was careless and negligent for allegedly driving too fast for conditions, failure to keep a proper lookout, failure to yield the right of way, failure to act reasonable under the circumstances, failure to comply with Arkansas statutes, creating a dangerous condition upon the roadway and failure to exercise ordinary care under the existing circumstances.
The complaint also said that Robinson is seeking payment of unspecified medical bills in the amount of $5,960 to a local chiropractor and an unspecified amount for compensatory damages, together with their costs expended and all other just and proper relief to which they may be entitled.
A second lawsuit involving an accident was also recently filed in the St. Francis County Circuit Clerk's office stemming from a wreck in 2000 on North Washington Street involving vehicles driven by Brenda and Roy Parker of St. Francis County and Pauline Watlington of the Wynne area.
According to the complaint, Watlington was driving a 1989 Chevrolet Cavalier and allegedly struck the Parker vehicle in the rear as it was attempting to turn left from Washington onto St. Andrews Street. The lawsuit alleges that Watlington failed to keep proper lookout, failed to keep her vehicle under proper control, failed to maintain, operate and drive her vehicle in a reasonable, proper and prudent manner at the time and place in light of the conditions existing, operated her vehicle in disregard for the rules of the road and laws of the state of Arkansas and ordinances of the city of Forrest City.
The Parker's suit is seeking $74,500 for compensatory damages for their personal injuries, present and future pain and suffering, medical and related expenses, loss of household services, punitive damages and for their costs and all other relief which they may be entitled.
Both lawsuits request trials by juries.
A 14-year-old who took on the adults in the dog show ring and won, will compete in the junior division today in the Westminster Dog Show in New York City.
Sunni Dunn, daughter of David and Lori Dunn of Forrest City, took first place in the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel category with her dog, Ch. Rattlebridge Adagio, or "Gio."
"He's the sweetest thing," said Dunn from New York, praising Gio's demeanor and showmanship.
Dunn and Gio beat out 35 other dogs and owners in the division.
As winner in the breed division, Sunni and Gio were able to compete in the Toy Dog division, which was held last night. They placed third.
Not only was Dunn the youngest human competitor, but Gio is only two years old, which is about the youngest that a dog can get into that level of competition.
Today, after competing against adults, she will be taking part in the junior division, showing a German Short-Haired Pointer.
She and her family will watch the Best of Show competition tonight and head for home tomorrow.
Dunn said Gio had to accumulate a certain number of points in recognized competitions in order to be eligible for competing at Westminster, considered the premier dog show in the United States.
Since her initial victory, she has been interviewed by CNN, the USA network and USA Today.
She has not been training dogs for very long. "I started in January, two years ago," she said.
She is an eighth-grade student at Lee Academy in Marianna.
Several meetings will take place tonight and Thursday in St. Francis County.
The Hughes School Board meets at 7 p.m. At 5 p.m., the Caldwell City Council will meet, and the Palestine City Council meets at 7 p.m.
The Wheatley and Colt City Councils will meet at 7 p.m. on Thursday.