By DAVID NICHOL
T-H Staff Writer
Members of the Forrest City Fire Department are learning to use some new software that Fire Chief Dan Curtner said will make the department's operations more efficient.
"This is a new computer program, called Firehouse Software," said Curtner, adding that almost everything that goes on with the Fire Department will be accessed easily.
"We've started, for example, a fire hydrant maintenance thing, where we're checking hydrants and painting them. And this program allows us to keep up with it," Curtner said. "It also allows us to do pre-fire planning, keep our personnel records, gives us a system where we can file our reports to the state. It has a mapping system in it which shows where the plugs are. It's just a major program for the fire service."
Greg Gray, a firefighter who has been working with the system, said the Fire Department got the program about two months ago.
"I've been busy trying to put in all the basic information about all the firefighters and trucks," said Gray.
John Riter with Firehouse Software was at the Fire Department yesterday, giving firefighters a rundown on how to use the system.
"What we're doing is, we've got a few guys off each shift, coming in and learning how to operate it," said Gray. "The biggest thing right now for them is operating the National Fire Incident Reporting System. We are required to send in to the state. It used to be a bunch of paper forms, but now everything is done electronically."
Maintenance schedules for each vehicle, each piece of fire hose, etc. will be entered into the system.
The National Fire Incident Reporting System can also help identify fire hazards in consumer products. Gray gave an incident in which a certain model of clothes dryer caused a fire in Forrest City several years ago. When the report was put into the national system (it was done with paperwork then), it was found that numerous fires had been caused nationwide by the same model.
"We were only having one incident, so we weren't catching it," said Gray. "But nationwide, they were catching it."
Curtner said paperwork would be simplified.
"Oil changes and everything like that -- we'll be able to put it in the computer every time something goes on, so we'll have documentation for such as that," said Curtner. "If something goes wrong we have proof that we have done regular maintenance," he said. "You'll be able to pull that up instead of having to dig for it.
"When we ever get to the point where we ask for a new fire rating, this will really help, because you have the paperwork and records and everything right there, so it's a good benefit to the Fire Department," he said.
By TAMARA JOHNSON
Managing Editor
A first-grader crossing a busy highway Monday afternoon was the fifth child to be hit by a vehicle in the Forrest City area within the past two weeks.
Details surrounding the Monday accident are sketchy as officials with Arkansas State Police Troop D say they are still investigating the accident, and the trooper filing the report is at a murder trial in Mississippi today.
However, according to several other sources, seven-year-old Jarvis Lay had just gotten off a Forrest City School District bus near the Village Gate Mobile Home park on Highway 1 North when he tried to cross the busy four-lane highway to get to his mother who works at the Kids for the Future facility located on the east side of the highway.
Monday was the last day of school in the FCSD, and according to Superintendent Lee Vent, Lay had just completed the first grade at Caldwell Elementary School.
The bus driver reportedly drove away after dropping the child off at the bus stop, and the boy was struck by a northbound van as he attempted to cross Highway 1 about 2:30 p.m. According to Vent, the child's mother normally met the boy at the bus stop to escort him across the highway, but was not there on Monday.
Information regarding the name of the van's driver and the name of the bus driver are not currently available.
Lay was taken to Baptist Memorial Hospital-Forrest City where he was treated and transferred by helicopter to Arkansas Children's Hospital in Little Rock. He is being treated in the pediatric intensive care unit at ACH, but according to Belinda Headley, the director of Kids for the Future, his condition is good and he is improving.
Although state police are continuing the investigation into the accident, Vent said FCSD transportation officials are also conducting an investigation into what happened.
The rash of children being struck by vehicles began on May 22 when two-year-old Cody Lyn Hand died after being backed over by a car driven by his mother at their home at 616 Westview Dr., Forrest City.
On May 27, two-year-old Spenser Lewis, 413 E. St. Andrews, Forrest City, was struck by a car on the parking lot of the north branch of First National Bank of Eastern Arkansas on North Washington. He was treated and released at BMH-FC.
On May 30, Raphael Beech, a 15-year-old Forrest City teenager was pinned underneath a truck after the driver lost control of it and struck him while he was walking on a sidewalk on Highway 1 South near the Lake Street intersection. Beech was taken by Med Flight to the Elvis Presley Trauma Center in Memphis where he remains a patient.
On June 1, a 19-month old child, Ja'Terrion Brown, 913 Mann St., Apt. 119, Forrest City, ran into the path of a car on Division Street. He was airlifted to ACH, but his condition was unavailable.
By ALAN SMITH
T-H Staff Writer
Crowley's Ridge Technical Institute came another step closer to achieving accreditation from the Council of Occupational Education (COE) Monday night as they welcomed the five-person team that will decide if the school is in compliance with the COE's guidelines.
COE, headquartered in Atlanta, Ga., provides accreditation to over 1,200 technical schools across the country and in Puerto Rico. The team will evaluate the school in 10 standards spelled out by the COE for consideration. The reception kicked off a four-day visit by the team, after which they will make their recommendation to the council as to whether or not CRTI should be considered for accreditation by the COE.
Darrell Rodriguez, the COE team leader from Louisiana, said that the group's goal is not to judge. "Our purpose is not to be judgmental. We are here to check and be the eyes and ears of the council, to make sure the school is meeting our 10 standards. We are going to look at the education programs first (on Tuesday) and then we will look at the other nine standards on Wednesday."
Rodriguez then introduced the other four members of the team. They are: Bob Sullivan of Tennessee, Doris Southern of Florida, Bobby McCool of Kentucky and Pat Gray of Louisiana.
Southern commented on her impression of the Eastern Arkansas area. "The hospitality here has been great," said Southern. "We have been welcomed with open arms and the people have been so nice."
Rodriguez said that he and the rest of the COE team are looking forward to getting down to work. "We hope to enjoy the week we are here and help the school become COE accredited."
Lieblong shared his thoughts on the welcoming event. "I was pleased with the turnout we had, even with the rain. We had all of our board members in attendance, as well as several county judges, Mayor Larry Bryant and Sen. Steve Higginbotham. Many of the team members have talked about all the hospitality they have experienced and are busy at work today on their evaluation."
By DAVID NICHOL
T-H Staff Writer
The Forrest City Airport Commission has been asked to reconsider the fees it charges for agriculture flights from the airport.
Joe R. Perry, with the Daggett, Donovan, Perry and Flowers law firm in Marianna, was at Monday night's regular commission meeting, representing Ray Dawson Jr., and the North Hughes Flying Service.
Dawson was objecting to the charge of $350 per plane, per day, which ag flying operations are charged for using the airport.
At issue is whether that is fair, because Hutcherson Flying Service is not charged.
Commission member Homer Jacobs said Hutcherson is not charged because that company manages the airport. Perry argued that it creates a conflict of interest, and was against Federal Aviation Administration rules.
Gil Gilbreath, representing Hutcherson, argued that there were exceptions, and said he did not believe any rules were being broken.
Jacobs also said that Hutcherson Flying Service not only manages the airport, but spends a lot of its own money on airport maintenance and improvements. He said many other airports are not as well maintained as the Forrest City facility. He also claimed that some ag planes gross at least $1,000 an hour.
Perry said other airports in the area charge much less, and said it doesn't take $350 a day to mow the grass. He asked that the charge at least be reduced. Perry said the issue needed to be settled quickly, because of the flying season.
A motion to take the matter under advisement died for lack of a second. Commission Chairman Bill Hays also commented that the fee request could have been brought up sooner, before the flying season, without causing a rush.
After Perry left, attorney Alan Cline advised the board that, with or without a motion, the members should study the issue and acquaint themselves with it.
Hays agreed, and said the commission should do its own survey of surrounding airports. Perry had given several examples, but Hays said Perry didn't mention all the area airports. He said they should get a complete picture.
On another matter, the airport's non-directional beacon was discussed. According to a recent letter from engineer Dan Clinton, the present beacon has been damaged by lightning several times and is not reliable. Replacing the transmitter part of the NDB would cost an estimated $7,000 with another $1,000 installation fee. The commission agreed to look into the matter.
Gilbreath told the commission members that replacing the transmitter will not solve all the problems.