By KENDALL OWENS
T-H Staff Writer
"It's been a long time coming," was a common quote this morning after officials with the Arkansas Highway and Transportation Department announced that the first leg of the Highway 1 bypass would open next week.
Officials with the AHTD said state officials, as well as county elected officials and district commissioner Buddy Benefield, would be on hand at 11 a.m. Wednesday to open the southern leg of the bypass from U.S. Highway 70 to Hwy. 1, near the Bonair Curve area.
"It's really been a long time coming, and we're just glad that we're going to be able to open this portion of the bypass now," said Ray Woodruff with the AHTD.
Both Forrest City Mayor Larry Bryant and St. Francis County Judge Carl Cisco praised the efforts to open the southern leg, and looked forward to the benefits of the future of the entire bypass.
"We've been waiting for this for quite awhile, and it's great to hear that the first leg is going to open. As the bypass progresses, so too will Forrest City. With this, we can now look forward to the rest of the bypass being opened and to future progress on the northern end which will pass near our industrial park," said Bryant.
"I think that this will relieve some of the traffic on the south end of Hwy. 1, and it sets us up for the opening of the entire thing which will benefit the county and the city immensely," said Cisco.
Bryant also said that efforts have been under way to attempt to extend Deaderick Road to the future bypass.
"We have been in discussion for the past three years in regards to the property out there, and it's basically a matter of what the property owners want to do. It's really a matter of the right of way out there, and if those rights of way are granted, then the city can seek funding from the state or find other means of financing the project to extend the road," Bryant said.
According to Woodruff, the entire bypass could open by the Summer of 2004, if weather permits.
By ALAN SMITH
T-H Staff Writer
The final plat for a new subdivision on Highway 70 East was approved Tuesday afternoon by the Forrest City Planning Commission.
The group also considered a preliminary plat for commercial property near the northern leg of the new bypass and a sign variance for a new facility on Highway 1 North.
Paul Gunn, a local engineer, presented commissioners the final plat for the East Oak Subdivision Phase II. "The streets and utilities are in place," said Gunn. "And we have met the city specs with those."
Commission Chairman Danny Capps discussed some issues that were of concern when the project was first brought to the commission three years ago. "There were some issues with the fire department and city about the turn radius and sidewalks on the plat."
Gunn responded to both concerns. "The fire department has approved the turn-around, and the owner has agreed to the sidewalks that meet city specs. The owners' only request is that they (sidewalks) be done at the same time as the other building is being done."
Another issue three years ago concerning the Highway 70 East location was drainage. It was asked if drainage was going to be routed to a ditch near the road. "They (the state) won't let us route the drainage into the ditch. They (state officials) said they want it to run off of the road and that is it."
The commission voted unanimously to recommend the final plat be approved by the city council.
A preliminary plat for 13 acres of commercial property on Highway 1 North near the new Forrest City bypass was also unanimously approved.
Jean Sales, owner of property, presented the plat to commissioners, saying the area is already zoned commercial and she wants it to remain that way.
"We are proposing to take the 13 acres that we own and split the lot, making a 10-acre lot and a three-acre lot. We are planning to sell the three-acre lot."
Capps asked what utilities are currently available to the lots. "I have a letter from Jim Beazley (manager of the Forrest City Water Utility)," said Sales. "It states that we have an eight-inch water main that runs through the east side of the property. Water is available and gas also." Sales stated that a sewer line was not available, but the potential buyer of the property attended the meeting and said they are aware of the sewer problem.
Capps voiced another concern. "I think the city might require one or two fire hydrants on the property."
Forrest City Fire Chief Dan Curtner added, "It might. We would have to look at what is being built to see how many (hydrants) and where they would be located."
Sales agreed to have a hydrant placed on the property and to have more placed as needed as the 10 acre portion is developed.
In other business, architect Mark Cahoon, representing Counseling Services of Eastern Arkansas, requested a variance for a new sign being built at the facility's new location at 4451 North Washington. Cahoon requested the facility use a 20-foot setback for the sign instead of the city-required 25-foot setback.
Cahoon presented exhibits showing the proposed sign placement. "The pictures show the sign traveling from the north and south. From the crown of the road, the sign stands about four feet tall. The overall length of the sign is 16 feet. It is also 30 feet away from the parking area of the building. I have driven by there, and I don't see any hindrance in seeing down the road because of the sign where it is located now. I am asking for the variance so that we can complete the sign."
The commission unanimously approved the request.
All three issues will be presented for final approval to the Forrest City City Council at the group's next meeting, on Tuesday, Nov. 4, at 7 p.m.
By ALAN SMITH
T-H Staff Writer
The St. Francis County Museum Board did not have a quorum on Tuesday, but those who did attend the meeting discussed some topics and upcoming events at the museum.
Chairperson Rush Beavers offered some updates. "We have sent an invitation to bid to the local newspapers for the renovation work that will be done on the building. It will be near Thanksgiving when we will be ready to accept a bid. After that, we can get started.
"We are also needing volunteers for the Halloween Tours on Friday. If you, or anyone you know, is interested in volunteering, contact Laura (Mazzanti, director of the museum)." The phone number to the museum is 261-1744.
Beavers also suggested that since there was no quorum, the tentatively planned fundraiser that was to be held in November be canceled because plans could not be finalized. Fundraiser ideas will be discussed at the next meeting.
Before concluding the informal meeting, Mazzanti talked about a new event planned for Christmas. "This year, we will have an event called a Beary Merry Christmas. We will invite children to come by and bring their favorite stuffed animals for refreshments and tours. We are going to decorate the museum with teddy bears for the event.
Mazzanti also said that the event would help a good cause. "We are asking that churches, individuals and other organizations dress a bear up and donate it to us. We are going to donate those bears to the Toys for Tots."
By ALAN SMITH
T-H Staff Writer
Taxes collected in St. Francis County this year show an increase over last year's figures, according to information released by the St. Francis County Tax Collector's office.
According to the report, in 2001, $7,219,282.19 was collected in total taxes (including personal, real estate and homestead taxes). The total taxes collected for 2002 is $7,434,210.00, an increase of $214,927.81. Emily Holley, SFC Chief Deputy Collector, said that in her opinion, collections increased because of the three-year reappraisal.
"I think that the increase was due to the reappraisal, especially the real estate taxes (which increased from $3,664,251.89 in 2001 to $3,859,915.70 in 2002)," said Holley.
According to the SFC Appraiser Craig Jones, the three-year reappraisal did cause an increase in tax collections. "Anytime you place more value and raise taxes, your collections will increase. The three-year reappraisal has ended, but we are now in a five-year reappraisal. But, that is a major reason for the increase."
Homestead taxes also increased by $31,900.63 for 2002, making a total of $1,295,326.09, which is up from $1,263,425.46 in 2001.
"That might be that more people are applying for Homestead," Holley said. "Maybe word is getting out more about the program, and people are taking advantage of it."
Of the three tax categories that are collected by the office, one saw a slight decrease in 2002 collections.
Personal taxes decreased from $2,291,604.84 in 2001 to $2,278,968.21 a drop of $12,636.63. Holley said economy might be to blame for the small drop. "Unemployment can cause that. When more people are out of work, they don't have money to pay their taxes. We have had many plants shut-down or lay-off employees, so that might have something to do with it."
Holley added the taxes collected by the SFC Collector's office go towards many necessary programs and services in the county. "The majority of the collections go to schools, but other services are funded by the taxes as well. Police and fire pensions, roads, the community college (EACC), the library and county general all get some of the money collected in taxes."
A load of marijuana reportedly enroute to a neighboring state was confiscated by Arkansas State Police during a routine traffic stop Tuesday evening near Forrest City.
ASP Troop D in Forrest City reported an estimated 60 pounds of marijuana was found inside a PVC pipe placed inside the gas tank of an eastbound 1992 Chevrolet Blazer that was stopped near the 241 Interstate 40 mile marker about 6:30 last night. The state trooper reported the vehicle was stopped after he observed the driver cross the center line and swerve onto the Forrest City exit.
The driver, Benito Rangel Torres, 60, of Weslaco, Texas, told police he did not have a driver's license nor insurance papers on the vehicle, which was owned by a passenger, Yolanda Gomez, 38, also of Weslaco, Texas. Gomez gave the trooper permission to search the vehicle.
According to the arrest report, Torres allegedly told the trooper the marijuana was his and he was taking it to Nashville.
A third passenger, Jose Guadalvae Garza, 47, of Mercedes, Texas, and a two-month old baby were also in the vehicle.
Torres, Gomez and Garza are each charged with possession of marijuana with intent to deliver, possession of drug paraphernalia and endangering the welfare of a minor. Torres is also charged with no driver's license and no vehicle insurance. In addition, Garza is charged with criminal impersonation and is being held for U.S. Border Patrol agents.