By DAVID NICHOL
T-H Staff Writer
An ongoing program in the St. Francis County Public Housing Agency has received the necessary funding to continue.
According to a joint press release from the offices of U.S. Rep. Marion Berry and U.S. Senators Blanche Lincoln and Mark Pryor, the local authority will receive $53,086.
Gary Chapman, director of the housing agency, admitted that the grant's name is a mouthful: Renewal of Rental Certificate/Housing Choice Voucher Family Self Sufficiency. He said the program itself is generally referred to as FSS, for Family Self Sufficiency.
The money is for the coordinator and also to facilitate the program.
"It is for our FSS program," said Chapman. "And what that does, it helps people in a transformation from rental assistance to self sufficiency. We have almost 25 people on this program right now. We encourage people who want to wean themselves from welfare to join the program so they can become self sufficient and purchase their own property."
Judy Triggs, an agency employee for about 11 years, has been the FSS coordinator for four years. Her job is to know what to do, who to contact, how to get things done for people who want to improve their lives, but don't know how.
"She helps overcome any roadblocks people may encounter in becoming self sufficient," said Chapman. "If they need to finish their education -- if they need to know how to get into college or get their GED -- she'll help. Or if a person has no transportation, she will work with them and other agencies to make sure they get back and forth to work or to school."
There is more. According to Chapman, when someone gets a job, who has been getting a subsidy for housing through the county agency, that person's subsidy normally is reduced.
However, when someone enters the FSS program, some of the money by which the subsidy is reduced is put into an escrow account, which the person can later use as the down payment on a home.
Chapman said it's a good deal.
"If I was in Section 8 housing, I'd want to be on the program," he said, "so I could get on my feet and buy a house. So many of these people are folks who want to work, but they don't know how to get around the obstacles, so Judy is a facilitator to help them get around those obstacles.
Sometimes all a person needs is a little help."
Chapman insisted that FSS is not a freebie. Family Self Sufficiency is a five-year program, and participants have to agree that at the end of that five years, they will be off all rental assistance and welfare programs. He said several families currently in the county's public housing are about ready to graduate from the FSS program.
By KENDALL OWENS
T-H Staff Writer
Members of National Guard Company C were given a show of support Monday as citizens and elected officials turned out at the Forrest City National Guard Armory to bid them farewell.
The program, which featured Congressman Marion Berry, also included several St. Francis County elected officials as well as songs from First Judicial District Judge L.T. Simes III and Rev. Alan Smith with First Baptist Church.
Berry spoke briefly to the troops encouraging them and encouraging those stateside to continue their support for the soldiers in Iraq.
"We all greet this occasion with mixed emotions. We greet this with a level of pride for our loved ones who are leaving to defend our country, but it is also a somber occasion because we realize that those loved ones are placing themselves in harms way to defend our country," Berry said.
"Company C honors this nation and state and community, and our job is to honor these men and women and support them and their families in every way possible. America and Arkansas commits to you that we will do our best to honor our commitment to you, just as you will do your best to honor your commitment to this country," said Berry.
In a written statement, Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee also commended the soldiers for their commitment.
"It is my pleasure to commend you for your willingness to serve our state and our country in the Arkansas National Guard. I wish you all the best as your unit leaves for deployment. Your willingness to serve your country is a testament to your strength of character and honor. I am so pleased to offer you my thanks and appreciation for your courage to serve during these uncertain time," said Huckabee.
For the wives and children of soldiers, while they see their husbands duty to the country with honor, they also realize the absence they will face during the 14-month deployment.
"It's really going to be hard for us, even though we realize that it's his duty. It's especially going to be hard because of the time he'll miss with his son. I just pray that he come back safely," said one of the wives.
The deployment is also going to be difficult for many of the soldiers who spent time away from their families two years ago when they were deployed to Egypt.
"It's really hard to describe how you feel at a time like this," said Guardsman Tony Ford. "I went to Egypt on the peacekeeping mission, but this time you know that you're going into a different situation and into a hostile environment. For many of us we just want to make sure that we're prepared so we can come back home to our families safely."
The community event was spearheaded by St. Francis County Treasurer Ann Harbin and her assistant Kelly Lewis, with help from the Forrest City Area Chamber of Commerce. Many local businesses also chipped in, assisting with refreshments as well as 500-minute telephone cards for the members of Troop C. Local schools also participated with the Forrest City High School Naval Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps Color Guard presenting the colors, Eagle Scout T.J. Drake leading the Pledge of Allegiance, and cheers from the Palestine-Wheatley Patriot cheerleaders.
By KENDALL OWENS
T-H Staff Writer
Two quorum court justices will approach the county's budget committee with a proposal to repay Forrest City close to $80,000 for dispatchers.
St. Francis County Justices Leodis Williams and Regan Hill agreed Monday, with the blessing of Forrest City council members Steve Hollowell and Mary Jeffers, during a meeting of the joint 911 committee, to make the recommendation.
According to Williams, moves need to be made during the 2004 budget year which will repay the city after the county used more than $158,000 for paying dispatchers from the 911 fund. Originally it was agreed that any funds used in the account would be split between the city and county equally.
"I think for us to move forward in other areas, we need to rectify the situation with the $78,000 or $79,000 that we owe to the city. If that can be done in the next budget year, then I think the county should take care of that," said Williams.
In other business, Hill voiced some concerns on the procedure used to file citizen complaints over 911.
"I don't think that anyone in this county, if they have a problem with a 911 call, would know who to get in contact with. I received a complaint this weekend, and I didn't know who to forward the complaint to. People need to know that," Hill said.
According to Lt. Eddie Adamson with the Forrest City Police Department, complaints on city dispatchers can be forwarded to himself or to Police Chief Clarence McNeary. Linda Thweatt told committee members that complaints on the county level would need to be filed with St. Francis County Sheriff Dave Parkman.
Thweatt also updated the committee on plans to upgrade both the city and county systems to use the global positioning system. According to Thweatt, once a mapping system to upgrade the county 911 system is completed, the GPS system will be added allowing for better information for emergency services. Thweatt told committee members that Forrest City would also have to incorporate the mapping and GPS would be added.
The committee also agreed to increase continuing education at both the city and county level for all dispatchers.
By ALAN SMITH
T-H Staff Writer
The St. Francis County Museum will hold its fourth annual Haunted History Tours on Thursday, during which some of St. Francis County's spookier history will be brought to life.
Laura Mazzanti, the SFC Museum Director, said that the stories that will be told are based on county history. "We tell stories about the county's past, but with a scary twist," said Mazzanti. "They are based on actual events and legends. Sometimes facts are stranger than fiction. We are going to focus this year on the history of the house (the historic Rush-Gates House where the museum is located).
"This is such a good, creepy house, and it has lots of stories. One story is about a man who died on the front porch. He was hit by a train near the house and people brought him to Dr. J.O. Rush's door. Dr. Rush was not able to save him. We have several scary stories involving the house and former residents.
"The tours will be given through the house by lantern light," said Mazzanti. "We will decorate the museum, and guests will portray some of the former residents. The tours will last about 30 minutes and candy for the children will be included with the tour."
Mazzanti added that while they want to invite everyone who is interested to come and take a tour, parents should use caution when bringing younger children to the event. "I'd say that children school age (five-years-old) and up shouldn't have a problem (getting too scared). If your child doesn't get scared easily, then they should be OK taking the tour."
Admission for the event is 50 cents for children and $1 for adults. The tours will be given on Thursday, Oct. 30, from 7 to 9 p.m. Refreshments, including funnel cakes, will be on sale. According to Mazzanti, all proceeds raised during this event will be used to cover the expenses of the event. For more information on the Haunted History Tours, call the SFC Museum at 870-261-1744.
As hard as the Professor tried last week to make the Pigskin Contest as difficult as possible, three Times-Herald readers had no part of it.
Mrs. Kenneth Leiting, of Forrest City, had the winning entry after missing just one of the 20 selected football games and then holding off two other entries -- John Scott Carroll, of Forrest City and P.E. Pickett of Little Rock in the tie-breaker.
Carroll and Pickett each missed just one game but picked Arkansas to win in the tie-breaker while Leiting correctly picked Ole Miss over the Razorbacks.
Ole Miss defeated the Razorbacks 19-7 Saturday.
Leiting missed only the Forrest City-Jacksonville game, picking the Red Devils over the Mustangs. Forrest City won that matchup played Friday.
Carroll and Pickett each missed the Hope-Little Rock Fair game, won by Fair.
For her efforts, Leiting picks up the $50 cash prize.
This week's selection of Pigskin games can be found inside today's Times-Herald.
Flu shots are now available at the St. Francis County Health Department.
According to Tammy Lawson with the health department, the influenza vaccine arrived Monday and is ready for distribution this week.
"We got our vaccine yesterday and we didn't turn anyone away yesterday," said Lawson. "We started our regular schedule today, and the vaccine is now available."
Shots will be available from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., during the health department's regular office hours. The shot is recommended for people 50 years of age or older; residents of long-term care facilities housing persons with chronic medical conditions; people with long-term health problems; people with weakened immune systems; children ages six months to 18 years of age on long-term aspirin treatment; pregnant women who will be past their third month of pregnancy during the flu season and physicians, nurses, family members or anyone else coming in close contact with people at risk of serious influenza, according to Lawson.
The shot is also encouraged for healthy children ages six months to 23 months; household contacts and out-of-home caretakers of infants; people who provide essential community services; people at high risk for flu complications who travel to the Southern hemisphere between April and September; people living in dormitories or under other crowded conditions, to prevent outbreaks and anyone who wants to reduce their chance of catching influenza, Lawson added.
The cost for the shot is $15, and Medicare and Medicaid are both accepted by the health department.