By ALAN SMITH
T-H Staff Writer
Last week was National Fire Prevention Week, and the Forrest City Fire Department put special emphasis on educating children in the area about fire safety and prevention. According to Fire Safety Coordinator Jimmy Sandage, over 2,000 children were visited by the FCFD.
"We spoke to about 2,200 children ranging from day care age through fifth grade. We have been doing the programs on National Fire Safety Week for around 10 years and it is part of our effort to make the city safer."
"The number one benefit of the visits is to develop a relationship between the children and the firefighters," said FCFD Chief Dan Curtner. "It teaches the children not to be afraid of the firefighters and about what they do."
The lessons the kids learn go beyond just them, added Curtner. "When we teach the kids about escape routes from the home and fire safety, it gets back to their parents and the children teach them. The program with the children is a major benefit to improving the fire safety in the city."
Fire safety presentations are not limited to one week a year.
Both Curtner and Sandage estimated that the FCFD does anywhere between 125 to 150 presentations during the course of a year. Sandage stated that some of those visits could be the same school more than once, but they try to talk to a different group of students during each visit. He also added that a plan for adults will begin soon, dealing with the holidays.
"We are planning a Holiday Safety program for adults. It will deal with safety with things like Christmas lights, live Christmas trees, wrapping paper, candles and electric outlets. Also, December is the start of fire season."
Sandage stated that fire season runs from December to March each year. "That is when people are using space heaters and gas heaters because of cold weather. The risk of house fires is higher at that time.
"Also, we are starting a voluntary safety check of homes," added Sandage. "People can call us at the station to set up a time for us to come out and do a safety check on their home." Sandage stated that anyone interested in having the FCFD speak to a school class, church group or civic group may also call the department at 633-2414 and ask to speak to him or one of the captains.
Sandage also thanked the teachers and principals for allowing the firefighters to visit their schools and give presentations. "They are helping us in our effort to make the community safer."
A ceremony will be held in the Wynne High School auditorium on Tuesday, Oct. 21, to announce that Eakas Corp. will locate a factory in Wynne.
The announcement was made in a news report in the Wynne Progress.
Wynne and Brownsville, Tenn. have been the two finalists in a competition for the Japanese-owned injection molding plant, which is closely associated with the automotive industry. The plastic moldings are used for rearview and exterior mirror housings on new vehicles.
The company, which has its United States base in Peru, Ill., will build at a site south of Wynne, and will create 120 full time jobs initially, which will be expanded by another 120 jobs within the first three years of operation, according to the Progress.
Eakas began its site search with several communities in Arkansas and Tennessee, and narrowed its final two choices to Wynne and Brownsville before the final decision was made.
According to the article, Eakas officials mentioned the look of the town and the widening of Ark. Highway 1 as factors in their decision to pick Wynne.
Some of the clients served by Eakas include Toyota, Nissan, Mitsubishi, Buick, Daimler-Chrysler and others.
The ceremony will be held at 2 p.m. Tuesday. Gov. Mike Huckabee is expected to attend, as is Jim Pickens, executive director of the Arkansas Department of Economic Development.
The article stated that local officials, while saying they are excited, were withholding comments until the Tuesday event, when specific details of the project will be discussed.
Two local men have been elected to three-year terms on the board of directors of the Arkansas State Chamber of Commerce.
Dr. Coy Grace is president of East Arkansas Community College in Forrest City, and Oral Edwards is owner of GES Inc./Food Giant in Forrest City.
The state Chamber works to enhance the economic climate in Arkansas and to be an advocate for the business community.
The Forrest City Public Library Board will seek applications for a second shelving position after accepting the resignation of one employee Thursday during a called meeting.
Board members voted to fill the full-time position and continue to seek a temporary employee to fill a position vacated by an employee on maternity leave. According to board member Brad Beavers, applications for both positions will be accepted and reviewed for either position.
Several public meetings are scheduled for next week.
The Palestine-Wheatley School Board will meet in regular session Monday, Oct. 20, at 6:30 p.m. at the Palestine-Wheatley Jr. High Library.
Among the agenda items are welcoming a new board member and election of officers.
The Forrest City Water Commission will meet at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 21, at the Water Utility Office.
A meeting of the special committee appointed by Mayor Larry Bryant regarding a dispute between Sanyo Mfg. and King Disposal will take place at 6 p.m. Tuesday at city hall, followed by the regular Forrest City City Council meeting at 7.
Agenda items for the city council meeting include RFQ's (Request for Qualifications) from architects for the multi-purpose center, and a resolution proposing a 21st century tax base.