By DAVID NICHOL
T-H Staff Writer
The ice came, and most everything got coated with it, but most comparisons to the December 2000 ice storm stop there.
Although there have been some power outages, there haven't been the massive problems associated with the last major ice storm.
"We've had some outages down in the southern part of our network," said Mike Davis of Entergy.
He said the network, which includes Forrest City, extends southward to the Helena-Elaine area and north past Wynne.
"Down in the very south part, we have a few outages, but it's not what we call a major problem," Davis said. "We've had a very few outages around Forrest City, but no major impact. We haven't designated it a major problem. There are some outages, and we're responding to them."
Carl Horton of Woodruff Electric Cooperative said much of the same thing.
"We've had no major problems," Horton said. "We've had some scattered outages, but at this time we don't have any."
He said he had recently seen a weather forecast, and said it looked as if this area may get a break, with warmer temperatures.
"We had some trees fall on lines yesterday and last night," he continued. "And we had a truck run through a line on (U.S.) Highway 70. We don't know if the line was sagging from ice, or if the pole had already fallen. But we've got those folks back on."
Elsewhere in the state, the ice brought down some power lines. Between Entergy Arkansas and the Arkansas Electric Cooperatives, about 10,000 people in southern Arkansas were without power, spokesmen for the companies said.
Entergy spokesman James Thompson said the utility had 6,000 customers out in the El Dorado area and another 2,000 out in the Magnolia area. Most repairs were to be made by Thursday, though some would not have their lights back until Friday, he said.
The highway conditions are still hazardous this morning.
''I can't imagine worse conditions than what we have,'' state Highway and Transportation Department spokesman Randy Ort said. ''Stay in if at all possible.''
The Forrest City Police Department and the City of Forrest City will sponsor a free program of family entertainment, along with speakers who will tell about the dangers of drugs and violence. It will be presented Friday, March 7, at 7 p.m. in the Forrest City Civic Center.
This program is free, through a grant from the Arkansas Department of Health for Drug Free-Violence Free Education. These performers have traveled all over the United States performing their acts.
Included in the show is the Amazing Marlo & Hocus Pocus. Marlo the Magician and his rabbit side-kick Hocus Pocus will perform a show of magic and comedy for the entire audience.
The Amazing Marlo & Hocus Pocus are "Disney like" cartoon characters who come to life on stage, according to a press release. "They can even make the entire audience disappear. Marlo will also teach a child from the audience how to become the next 'World's Greatest Magician.' It is Marlo's goal to tell the kids to just say no to drugs, the press release continued.
Another featured performer will be master magician David Silverman with his exotic tropical bird productions. He will produce his large Macaws, white doves, a fuzzy rabbit and exotic animals.
Headlining the show will be award-winning master magician and illusionist Jim Princeton, who will perform entertaining illusions. He will bring someone from the audience on stage and levitate them in mid-air, and he will also present other tricks, according to the press release.
It's mainly an annoyance that happens now and then, but it's also dishonest. And it's happening again -- a map company contacting local businesses, claiming to be sponsored by the Forrest City Area Chamber of Commerce.
"There is a company from out of town, called DFW," Mary Beth Doler of the Chamber said this morning.
"It's a company that puts out maps. And they have been representing themselves as being chamber-sponsored. And they are not," she added.
She said that anyone who wants to buy an ad for the map being put together by DFW has every right to do so.
"That's fine. But we just don't want them to think it's a Chamber-sponsored map, the kind that we pass out here at the office," she said.
Anyone with questions may call the Chamber office at 633-1651, she added.
After a three-day break, it is uncertain whether Forrest City Schools will be back in session on Friday.
"Tomorrow had looked pretty promising," said Superintendent Lee Vent, referring to city streets. However, he said he went out onto some county roads this morning, and said they were still icy.
Vent said the situation would be closely monitored, and a decision would be announced later today.
Snow caused schools to close on Tuesday, and accumulating ice kept students home Wednesday and today.
A reception will be held for Glynn Carpenter, retiring president and CEO of Woodruff Electric Cooperative Corp., on Friday, Feb. 28, from 3 to 5 p.m. at the Forrest City Civic Center.
Carpenter has worked with electric cooperatives for 53 years, and has been with Woodruff since 1969. He said that from the beginning, "I was immediately impressed with the dedication and commitment to the community that was instilled in cooperative employees."
He said recently that he is looking forward to spending time with his family.