By DAVID NICHOL
T-H Staff Writer
His name is Gene Glasscock, and he rides a horse.
That is an oversimplification, because what Glasscock really is, is a long rider.
That is a special group of people who love to take long treks on horseback. They even have their own Web site, thelongridersguild.com. The Web site offers information on its members, and if any are on a trip at the time, it gives updates on the journey. It's a fascinating combination of horseback and high tech.
Glasscock, who has been on several long rides, like one from Alaska to South America, was in Forrest City Saturday. His current ride is meant to take him though every state capital in the continental United States.
His trip began Sept. 17 in Denver, Colo. He said plans have evolved as he made his trip, and he doesn't know exactly how long it will take, although he figures the trip will end in St. Paul, Minn.
Although he says he isn't an official representative of the school, he says he is encouraging people to send donations to he Philip Scholarship Fund at Pensacola Christian College, 250 Brent Lane, Pensacola, Fla.
By DAVID NICHOL
T-H Staff Writer
It comes around just about every year -- rumors or even discussions about the possible merger of community colleges and technical institutes.
Although five such mergers are up for approval by the state's Higher Education Coordinating Board, such a move still seems far away for East Arkansas Community College and Crowley's Ridge Technical Institute.
Responding to a story appearing in the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette over the weekend, Dr. Coy Grace said that while he was aware of the other proposed mergers, "I have not heard any official speculation regarding others, including here."
Grace did remark that if the five merger proposals are approved, that will leave just three vocational institutes in the state, plus the one at Grady which is associated with the Department of Correction (Riverside Vocational Technical School).
The three left would be Northwest Technical Institute at Springdale, Arkansas Valley Technical Institute at Ozark, and Crowley's Ridge Technical Institute at Forrest City.
Burl Lieblong, president of CRTI, has long been an opponent of forced merging.
"I think they found out last session how our supporters feel," Lieblong said this morning. He was referring to hearings in which a local merger was opposed vehemently, because he said it was felt the merger was being forced.
Lieblong said his concern would continue to be that if there was a merger, there would have to be some guarantees that courses of work would be continued, and that instructor salaries would be made equitable. He said there would also be expenses, such as making the two schools' computer systems compatible.
Lieblong said there is also a proposal to tie all community colleges and technical schools to universities.
"I would predict that within the next two, four or six years, we're all going to be tied to one or two major universities," he said.
In the meantime, Lieblong said he is looking closely at the governor's proposals for reorganizing state agencies. Part of that proposal is to abolish the Workforce Education Department, which oversees technical institutes.
Schools which have agreed to merge and are awaiting approval include: Cotton Boll Technical Insatiate and Mississippi County Community College in Burdette; Foothills Technical Instituted and Arkansas State Unverisity-Beebe in Searcy; Great Rivers Technical Institute and University of Arkansas at Monticello in McGehee; Forest Echoes Technical Institute and University of Arkansas at Monticello in Crossett; Quapaw Technical Institute and Garland County Community College in Hot Springs.
All the mergers, if approved, are to become effective on July 1.
By KENDALL OWENS
T-H Staff Writer
A grant for over $38,000 to the city of Madison will go to repairs to the city's oxidation ponds which were damaged after heavy rains last March.
According to a press release from the Arkansas Soil and Water Conservation Commission, the ASWCC recently approved a grant of $38,625 from the Water, Sewer and Solid Waste Fund. According to the press release, the funding will provide a 25-percent local match for further grants the city is seeking.
"This grant will go a long way towards helping us make repairs to the city's oxidation pond. We're also trying to get two more grants which will fund all the repairs," Madison Mayor James Brooks said.
A man who got mad because his girlfriend wouldn't bring him a beer damaged the interior of the apartment the two shared before breaking several windows out of her vehicle with a hammer during a domestic disturbance at the Indian Hills Apartment complex Friday night.
Kim Culpepper, 25, 1731 Indian Hills, Apt. 40, told the Forrest City Police Department that while she was at work, her live-in boyfriend, Douglas Lee Lewis, 23, who was babysitting her children, repeatedly called her, telling her to leave work and bring him a beer.
Culpepper said after several phone calls, Lewis allegedly threatened to harm the children if she did not honor his request.
According to the police report, when Culpepper arrived home, she noticed that Lewis had allegedly used a hammer to knock holes in the apartment walls and had also destroyed some electronic equipment. Culpepper told police Lewis also hit her in the head with the hammer and knocked at least three windows out of her vehicle with the weapon.
Once in police custody, Lewis reportedly threatened police officers.
Lewis is charged with second-degree domestic battery, first-degree criminal mischief, obstructing a governmental operation, disorderly conduct, resisting arrest, first-degree terroristic threatening and first-degree terroristic threatening against a police officer.
A full slate of meetings are planned for Tuesday in St. Francis County.
The Forrest City Water Commission is set to meet at 5 p.m. at the water department, and the St. Francis County Museum Board will meet at 5 p.m. at the museum. In addition, the Caldwell City Council is scheduled to meet at 5 p.m. at the Caldwell City Hall.
At 5:30 p.m., the Forrest City School Board will meet at the Caldwell Elementary School. Board members are expected to discuss change orders for the junior high building project and review a personnel policy committee proposal. Under new business, board members will be updated on the current legislative session and how it might influence school districts throughout the state.
The St. Francis County Quorum Court will meet at 6 p.m. at the courthouse. Justices will hear reports from elected officials and an update on county finances.
The Colt City Council will hold a special meeting at 6 p.m. at city hall.
At 7 p.m., the Forrest City City Council will meet at city hall. Councilmen are expected to grant permission for the city to advertise for bids for a street sweeper. Councilmen will also be asked to allow the city to purchase vehicles through the state contract, and a new computer system for the police department, also through the state contract.
The council will also consider the donation of a parcel of land connecting property at Christ Church to Martin Luther King Drive.
Mayor Larry Bryant is expected to present his annual State of the City address.
The Forrest City Community Voices Center will honor their Youth of the Year tonight at the Forrest City Civic Center at 6:30 p.m.
Elder James Jennings, with the Church of God in Little Rock, is the guest speaker. Tickets may be purchased by calling 633-8799, or at the door