Couples looking to tie the knot have only two more weeks before a new law increases the cost of getting married in the state of Arkansas.
An act passed by the Arkansas Legislature earlier this year increased the costs of marriage licenses by $13 statewide. In St. Francis County, the new fee, as of July 16, will be $59, up from the current $46 fee.
The additional funding according to Act 1029 of 2003, will be used to fund a domestic peace fund which will help pay for assistance to victims of domestic violence with $11 going to state coffers and $2 going to each county's general fund to be used exclusively for the operation of the office of the county clerk.
The new license fee will be joined on July 16 by measures to ban human cloning in Arkansas and to set uniform statewide early-voting hours.
On Tuesday, state government will get the go-ahead to spend $12 billion in state and federal money over the next two years, including $100 million in new taxes.
Act 55 of this spring's special session sets state spending priorities for fiscal years 2004, which begins Tuesday, and 2005, and hundreds of separate appropriation bills passed between January and May authorize agencies to spend the money.
Aside from appropriations bills that take affect on the first day of the new fiscal year, most major legislation from the regular and special sessions contained emergency clauses that allowed the measures to go into effect immediately after they were signed into law or were allowed to become law without Gov. Mike Huckabee's signature.
Among the appropriations that go into effect Tuesday is the $1.8 billion Public School Fund, which almost certainly will be supplemented when the Legislature meets in special session this fall to consider court-mandated education reforms.
Legislators generally agree that educational improvements will cost at least several hundreds of millions of dollars more. Huckabee has said he would support a 1-cent state sales tax increase, but only for substantial change, including consolidation.
New laws also will begin the flow of $41 million in state money from the embattled General Improvement Funds. Many of the projects are local, from sidewalks to civic centers.
On Tuesday, a new law will authorize the Department of Correction to spend $6.4 million to operate a 948-bed institution at Malvern and a 400-bed addition to the Grimes Unit at Newport.
Another new law could generate up to $7 million a year to help pay for winterizing the homes of poor families and fund alternative fuels research.
The measure allows public utilities to add up to a $1 surcharge to customers' bills to fund the programs, with 70 percent going to the weatherization program and 30 percent to the alternative fuels program. Only Entergy Arkansas has committed to the program.
Among the legislation that goes into effect July 16 are measures
to ban human cloning in Arkansas and to set uniform statewide
early-voting hours.
Arkansans who are already on the state's Do Not Call List will not have to register for the new national list.
They will be added automatically, according to state Attorney General Mike Beebe. He announced Friday that the names of Arkansans on the state list will be incorporated into the national list, launched recently by the Federal Trade Commission.
"This is a win-win situation for Arkansas consumers," Beebe said. "Telemarketers who violate Do Not Call laws will now be targeted by both our Consumer Protection Division and by the federal government."
Future additions to the Arkansas list will also be added to the FTC's database.
The federal Do Not Call List is free. The state Do Not Call List carries a $5 charge, down from the $10 fee charged when the system was originally implemented.
"I hope that Arkansans will take advantage of this opportunity," Beebe stated. "Our Do Not Call List has helped free the state's consumers from intrusive calls since 1999."
Consumers can register on the new national list by calling 1-888-382-1222, or on the Internet at www.donotcall.gov. This address is nearly identical to the Arkansas list, at www.donotcall.org. The phone number for the Arkansas list is 1-877-866-8225.
A warrant has been issued for a man who allegedly ran over a deputy's foot and then dragged him a short distance on a four-wheeler during a vehicle safety check.
According to the report, at about 5:45 p.m. on Saturday, the safety check was being conducted at the intersection of SFC 236 and SFC 239. Officers were standing in the intersection with blue lights running on their vehicles.
A four-wheeler was spotted, approaching at a high rate of speed. The driver was signaled to stop, and did stop. However, when deputy Gene Wingo approached and told the driver to turn off the engine, the driver instead took off, running over Wingo's foot. Wingo attempted to stop the ATV by grabbing the handle bar, and was dragged briefly before he let go.
The four-wheeler was pursued, and went into a cotton field. It was later abandoned, and was impounded.
A warrant has been issued for James K. Rice, 25, of Colt, for assault and fleeing. Wingo did not require medical attention.
A Forrest City Juvenile was arrested on school property Saturday after he allegedly attempted to swallow some marijuana he was carrying.
According to the police report, at about 2:05 a.m., officers saw the juvenile on a bike, riding between the Forrest City High School building and the gym.
The juvenile was stopped and told he was in violation of the city's curfew. When the youth was told to put his hands on the patrol car, he allegedly pushed the officer and tried to run. During a struggle, he juvenile allegedly attempted to swallow a substance identified as marijuana.
The youth, 17, was taken into custody and charged with curfew violation, refusal to submit to arrest, tampering with physical evidence and misdemeanor possession.
Citizens of St. Francis County will have to put their trash out one day early as King Disposal has adjusted its garbage pick-up schedule to observe the Fourth of July holiday.
According to a press release from King Disposal, trash pickup in the county will run one day earlier than normal. Forrest City residents with Friday pickup will be the only city residents affected and their garbage will be picked up on Thursday, July 3.
The Forrest City City Council will meet in regular session at 7 p.m. Tuesday at city hall.
Councilmen will hear third reading and vote on an ordinance to authorize the expenditure of $2,120,000 for capital improvement, economic development, business, housing and quality of life projects.
The second reading of an ordinance to amend purchase ordinances to define publication requirements in competitive bidding.
Three items on the agenda involve an expansion at the Easley, Hicky and Hudson Law Firm at 510 E. Cross St.
Councilmen will oversee a public hearing regarding the vacating of an alley behind the business, hold first reading of an ordinance to vacate the alley and hear two variance requests for the property.
Under new business, the council will hear a request from James Woodard regarding a setback to allow for the construction of a garage at his home, and also hear from Ronnie Mitchusson regarding Sanyo waste disposal.
Also on Tuesday, the Delta Regional Airport Authority will meet at 6 p.m. in the Colt Community Center.
The Forrest City School Board is scheduled to meet at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, July 1, in the administration building.
In unfinished business, board members will hear from Jack Truemper, of Stephens Inc., the district's fiscal agent, regarding a millage request in the September school election. The board will also hear an update on the construction of the new junior high school and consider change orders for the project.
Under new business, the board will discuss student athletic insurance and a resolution regarding Act 1272.