By DAVID NICHOL
T-H Staff Writer
An advisory committee formed to help give feedback on the needs of city parks has given its backing to the building of a multi-purpose center in Forrest City.
Although some members of the Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee said they would like to see more details, all the members attending a meeting Monday night agreed that the center is needed and should be pursued.
An ordinance will be introduced at tonight's city council meeting, to appropriate $1.8 million for the multi-purpose center.
The ordinance will also include proposed appropriations for several other items in a "Quality of Life" package. Mayor Larry Bryant has said all the projects together will cost about $2.15 million this fiscal year and $635,000 next fiscal year. He says the city has more than $8 million in the bank currently.
"We've got plenty of money to do all those kinds of things, and the city will still be financially better than it has ever been in its history," Bryant told the committee, before he had to leave for another meeting. "If I can get a recommendation that we need something along those lines, then we can go forward."
He said his main priority is for the multi-purpose center, but things like drainage projects, an animal shelter, a fire substation and economic development are also important.
Along with the items in Bryant's Quality of Life package, the
members discussed some problems at the Municipal Ball Park. It
was remarked that one of the scoreboards has so many lights out
that it's difficult to read. The members agreed to meet at the
park soon.
By TAMARA JOHNSON
Managing Editor
In an effort to suppress illegal drug activity, the Forrest City Police Department has begun conducting special operations in areas where drugs are known to exist.
Three people were arrested on drug charges Monday night after police increased patrols in areas ranging from outside downtown businesses to local neighborhoods.
According to a report from the FCPD, officers patrolling the 100 block of North Grant Street observed a group of subjects walking along the sidewalk, and when officers stopped, one of the subjects began stuffing items into his mouth.
Officers spoke with Tarence T. Crawford, 24, 1220 N. Rosser St., Forrest City. Police said Crawford, also known as "T-Money," was found in possession of 20 individually-wrapped bags of suspected crack cocaine, with an estimated weight of 3.7 grams, and one bag of marijuana, weighing about 1.2 grams.
During the investigation, officers also arrested Kenny Jones, 39, 176 Gregory St., after he was found in possession of 11 rocks of suspected crack cocaine, weighing 1.2 grams, and 17 individually-wrapped bags of suspected marijuana, weighing just over 20 grams. Also arrested was Bryan "Chico" Key, 34, 889 Sherwood Dr., Forrest City, who was found in possession of powdered cocaine weighing two-tenths of a gram.
A fourth person, Robert Haggins Jr., 23, 37 Grobmyer Circle, Forrest City, was served a failure to appear warrant out of St. Francis County District Court and released. Another person in the group was checked and released without charges, according to police.
Crawford and Jones are each charged with possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver near certain facilities, crack cocaine, and possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver near certain facilities, marijuana.
Key is charged with possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver near certain facilities, cocaine.
All three subjects are being held in the St. Francis County
Jail, pending their first court appearance, which is scheduled
for Wednesday.
By TAMARA JOHNSON
Managing Editor
Authorities are looking for an older model truck that witnesses say was occupied by two subjects who allegedly shot out windows at two locations Monday night.
The vehicle is described by the Forrest City Police Department as an older model Ford pickup, dark in color, maybe blue or black, with "FORD" written across the tailgate in white letters. The truck also has loud exhaust on it, possibly glass packs, police said.
According to an FCPD press release, windows were shot out at Parker Furniture on Monday night, adding to a growing list of businesses that have reported windows being shot out over the past couple of weeks.
A living room window was also shot out at a home in Virginia Circle Monday night, the first time a window at a residence has been shot at in this most recent series of window vandalism, according to police.
FCPD Criminal Investigation Division Lt. Dwight Duch said damage to the numerous windows that have been shot with either a BB gun or a pellet gun has stretched into the thousands of dollars.
Crime Stoppers is offering a reward of up to $1,000 leading to the arrest and conviction of the person(s) responsible for the damage being done to the local businesses, according to the press release. All calls remain confidential and anonymous. Police ask anyone with information on these incidents to call Crime Stoppers at 870-261-1499.
Duch said that although several suspects have been questioned
in the case, the investigation is continuing.
By KENDALL OWENS
T-H Staff Writer
In an abbreviated meeting Monday, the Palestine-Wheatley School Board accepted resignations from four employees and welcomed two new employees into the district.
By a 6-0 margin, members of the school board voted last night to accept the resignations of Emily McNair, Shirley Williams, Tameka Tomlin and Jaime Thomas. Board members also voted without question to hire Sheril Spears, who was a seventh and eighth grade math instructor in Marianna this year, to teach math at the junior high level in the PWSB.
Board members also voted to hire Alfonso Hernandez, who currently teaches in the Searcy School District, to teach high school Spanish and possibly math. According to Palestine-Wheatley High School principal Jen Huckaba, Hernandez is currently non-traditionally certified in Spanish, and is considering seeking his math certification.
"Mr. Hernandez is nontraditionally certified to teach Spanish, and that's he primary reason for recommending him. He is a native of Mexico and also has a master's degree in engineering. He has expressed a desire to also teach math. I think he would be a wonderful addition to our district," Huckaba said.
In other business, board members agreed to purchase new district
superintendent John Manning a vehicle from Delta Motor Company.
Delta submitted a low bid of $20,661.
St. Francis County had an unemployment rate in April of 8.6 percent, down from the 10.5 percent recorded in March, and slightly down from the 8.7 percent recorded in April of last year.
The rate gave St. Francis County the 12th highest unemployment in the state. According to the figures from the Arkansas Employment Security Department, during April St. Francis County had a civilian labor force of 12,250, with 11,300 working and 1,050 not working.
The state's highest unemployment during April was 12.1, in Mississippi County. Four counties had unemployment rates of 10 percent or higher.
The lowest unemployment, in Benton County, was 2.2 percent for April. Fifteen counties had unemployment rates of 4 percent or lower.
Unemployment rates in surrounding counties during April were as follows: Cross, 8.1 percent; Crittenden, 6.6 percent; Lee, 10 percent; Phillips, 8.5 percent; Monroe, 7 percent; and Woodruff, 6.6 percent.
Statewide, the unemployment was 5.3 percent, up three-tenths of a percent from March.