By KENDALL OWENS
T-H Staff Writer
New construction near the interchange connecting the new Arkansas Highway 1 bypass to Interstate 40 will have to meet Forrest City infrastructure standards, but will actually be governed by St. Francis County.
Forrest City Mayor Larry Bryant said the connection, located just west of the Forrest City city limits, will have to meet several city standards regarding water lines, streets and other infrastructure standards, but will not have to meet any city codes on the types of businesses located outside of the city limits.
"That area was included in our recent efforts to annex a portion of the county, but it was later pulled off of the table for various reasons. By law, any new construction within a five mile radius of Forrest City has to meet our infrastructure codes so that the city, if annexation occurs, doesn't incur any added costs to replace or upgrade materials that weren't installed up to code. As far as businesses that go out there are concerned, anything that the county will allow to go out there can, and the city's only concerns are with the infrastructure," Bryant said.
According to St. Francis County Judge Carl Cisco, county officials are considering feasibility studies on both the impact of the connector and the businesses that will be allowed.
"We'll have to take a long look at what's going to go out there, since it is in the county, but we're also thinking about getting a feasibility study on how best to utilize the portions of the bypass that are located in the county," Cisco said.
The interchange connecting the bypass and U.S. Highway 70, unlike the interstate interchange, is inside of Forrest City and will have to meet all city standards. The bypass will begin just north of Forrest City, near Caldwell, and extend past the Federal Correctional Institution-Forrest City, before connecting to Hwy. 1 south of Forrest City.
Work is progressing on the project as construction crews recently installed girders on the overpass that crosses I-40. Construction on the bypass is expected to conclude late this year or early 2004.
By DAVID NICHOL
T-H Staff Writer
When the Arkansas Supreme Court declared the state's public education system as unconstitutional, it also struck down a law being used by most districts.
The striking of that law will probably cause most school districts in the state to seek millage increases.
That will be one of the topics of discussion at tonight's meeting of the Forrest City School Board. The word is at the moment that it's not as bad as it might be.
"We're scrambling," said Superintendent Lee Vent. "We are one of those 244 school districts that are short of the 25 mill minimum."
Amendment 74 of the Arkansas Constitution states that school districts must have 25 mills dedicated for maintenance and operation. According to Vent, it was a law passed in the 1994-95 school year which allowed school districts to use excess debt service revenue to count toward the required 25 mills. The Supreme Court decision struck down that provision.
Vent said this morning that he would be having discussions with representatives of the school district's fiscal agent, Stephens, Inc., this afternoon and making a report to the board tonight.
"Without any manipulation, we would have to ask for 7 mills," said Vent. "Stephens is working on a package that is going to take all of our existing bonds as well as issuing new bonds. We hope to come up with some kind of way to address the 25 mill minimum that will be palatable."
He said the Stephens plan will require less of an increase.
"At first blush, the response from Stephens is that by re-doing our entire portfolio, we would have to ask for 1.41 mills," said Vent. But that could be lower or could be higher. They are coming this afternoon with more precise information."
Vent said it is the Quorum Court's duty to set millage, "But I think it's fair that we ask the patrons to accept or reject whatever we need to do to reach 25 mills (for maintenance and operation)," he said.
By tonight's meeting, he said, he should have a better idea of how much will need to be requested.
"While I can't make a prediction, the board will be presented information as fresh as 3:30 this afternoon, so we can start preparing for the inevitable," Vent said.
By KENDALL OWENS
T-H Staff Writer
A program designed to stimulate economic development through community input in Forrest City and St. Francis County will make its debut later this week at a community forum at the Forrest City Civic Center.
On Thursday, at 6 p.m., a community forum will be held at the Civic Center in an effort to initiate the ACE program locally. Organizers are encouraging community members to attend the meeting and become an active agent of change in pursuing the future desired for Forrest City and St. Francis County, according to a press release.
Tiffany Billingsley, with Baptist Memorial Hospital-Forrest City, said the focus of Thursday's meeting is to get the entire community behind the economic development of Forrest City.
"A few citizens went to the Arkansas Department of Economic Development after we heard about the program, and they were very helpful in getting this started. A number of surrounding communities are already ACE members, and it's really working for them. We're looking to do the same things here, and Thursday will be the first stage of getting the program going," Billingsley said.
"This effort isn't the idea or the work of just one person, and it's important that the entire community has a hand in this for it to work. We're just hoping for a good turnout and looking forward to the future," Billingsley added.
According to Forrest City Mayor Larry Bryant, the ACE program has been in the works for close to four years, and in that time, Forrest City has seen Cross County and Wynne grow economically as opposed to Forrest City and St. Francis County.
"I've had the information on my desk for four years now, but there wasn't much interest in it back then. Some of the people in the community have changed their ideas, and now there's more interest. The ACE program will help here, and it will bring about a thought process which is inclusive instead of exclusive, and we can build one Forrest City. In the past four or five years, we've let Wynne and Cross County steal some of our thunder, and hopefully we'll be able to take some of that back," Bryant said.
Representatives from the Arkansas Department of Economic Development will be on hand to help
facilitate the forum and offer guidance. The ACE program is the cornerstone of the state's economic development partnerships with local communities. ACE helps communities of all sizes prepare for economic growth and community development in order to improve the area's overall quality of life. The ACE process focuses on planning. By helping communities recognize their assets and challenges, analyze alternatives, develop a plan and implement it, ACE enables communities to recognize opportunity and pursue business that offers economic prosperity, according to the press release. ACE also encourages communities to partner with other towns and state agencies to attain goals.
"This program will help us analyze our positives and our negatives so that we can work to better our community as a whole. It will give us the opportunity to aim high and hit some goals instead of aiming low and hitting none," Bryant said.
By KENDALL OWENS
T-H Staff Writer
Several Forrest City youth were honored Monday night, as the Community Voices Center held its fifth annual Youth of the Year banquet at the Forrest City Civic Center.
The banquet, which recognizes high school students from the Forrest City School District, praised the efforts of 10 young adults who have contributed through scholastic achievements as well as community work. Nominations were submitted by area churches and organizations.
According to Stephanie Bryant with Community Voices, the event was a success.
"We had approximately 100 people there last night, and that was really great for the kids, because the event was all about them. We've been doing this for five years now, and it's gotten bigger and better every year. We started out in the Community Voices Center, and we've had to use the Civic Center for the past three years. Next year, we're hoping to need the big room," Bryant said.
The event, which featured guest speaker Pastor James Jennings of Little Rock, also highlighted area youth talent with selections from the Miracles by Faith Praise Team, the Days Temple Church of God In Christ Dream Team and the Soldiers In Training from Christ Temple Pentecostal Church. Congressman Marion Berry was also on-hand for the event.
James Millbrooks, a senior at Forrest City High School, was named as the 2002 Youth of the Year and received a $500 scholarship. Marsha James was the first runner-up, and was the recipient of a $50 savings bond. The other nominees were Aleshia Carr, Latrina Edwards, Tony Jones Jr., Kevin Peacock, Caronica Randle, Monica Rolfe, Dominique Sinclair and LaRonna Williams.
The St. Francis County Museum will present the fourth annual African American Art Exhibit in celebration of Black History Month. The exhibit will highlight the works of local African American artists and will run the entire month of February. Featured in this year's exhibit will be the works of local artist Beatrice McEwen, Tony Goodman and Karen Taggart.
The exhibit is open to the public and artists of all ages who are interested in showcasing their art are welcome to participate. Interested artists may submit their exhibit ready artwork, utilizing any artistic medium, i.e., sketches, paintings, quilting, floral arrangements, doll making, etc., to the SFC Museum at 603 Front St., Forrest City. Art must be submitted by 12 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 31.
An opening reception is scheduled on Saturday, Feb. 1 from 12 p.m. until 2 p.m.
State police confiscated 20 pounds of marijuana during a traffic stop Friday afternoon on Interstate 40 near Forrest City.
Arkansas State Police Troop D in Forrest City reported today that two Illinois men were arrested after the drugs were found inside a garbage bag hidden in a spare tire inside their vehicle that was stopped because it had a broken windshield.
The stop occurred about 1:30 p.m. near the 247 mile marker. According to the arrest report, the drugs were packaged in 20 one-pound plastic bags.
Troopers arrested the driver, Linell L. Gaston, 32, of Carbondale, Ill., on charges of felony possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver, possession of drug paraphernalia and no insurance.
A passenger, Frank E. Thompson, 28, of Marion, Ill., is charged with felony possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver, possession of drug paraphernalia and misdemeanor possession of a controlled substance.