By KENDALL OWENS
T-H Staff Writer
Students and parents walked the halls of Forrest City High School Tuesday night as they visited with college recruiters during the annual College Night.
According to Forrest City High School Principal Abbie Robinson, over 200 people filled FCHS last night talking with representatives from over 30 colleges, financial institutions and the military.
"It was really a wonderful night. The sessions were very informative and the parents and students really seemed to take advantage the information that was available to them," Robinson said.
According to Robinson the number of organizations represented last night was an aid for parents.
"College night is a good tool for the parents as well
as the students because it gives them an opportunity to meet with
people from the different colleges and financial institutions
on their own terms. We haven't gotten the total number on how
many schools were here, but we had at least 30 different organizations
represented. I'm also proud of the number of parents that did
come out last night because it showed the parental involvement
that we have here," Robinson said.
East Arkansas Community College is receiving a major grant from the United States Department of Education's Title III Strengthening Institutions Program.
"The college has been notified that we have qualified and have been awarded more than $1,642,000 over the next five years," said Dr. Coy Grace, EACC President. "This grant will strengthen the technical education offerings at the college by leaps and bounds. The grant will provide funding for new programs in Environmental Science, Information Technology (IT) -- including four specialties, and Geospatial Information Systems or GIS.
"These three fields of study were selected because more high tech and science-based programs are needed to keep up with the educational and workforce demands of the 21st century," Grace continued. "EACC recognizes this need, and is also faced with state budget cuts and other constraints that make the creation of large technical programs difficult and costly. Our responsibility is to meet the needs of students that are faced with rapidly changing economic shifts in the Delta. Graduates of these three programs will be able to find employment in these technically-based fields."
Cathie Cline, EACC humanities faculty member, coordinated the grant writing process and directed the committee that submitted the grant to the U.S. Department of Education.
"In the fall semester 2002, EACC conducted a major survey of over 200 students, faculty and staff to identify needs at the college," said Jan Haven, EACC Vice President for Academic Affairs. "From that survey we determined that the number one goal was to develop new technical programs that result in two-year degrees or that could be transferred to universities and result in bachelor or four-year degrees. We wanted programs that could do both. With the receipt of this major grant, the College will have the funding to offer these high-tech programs locally, instead of students having to move from the Delta to pursue this type of educational opportunity."
The new programs at EACC will be developed using the DACUM (Designing a Curriculum) model to ensure that they are competency-based and will teach students the practical skills needed for employment and advancement in their respective fields.
The Environmental Science program relates directly to the management and improvement of air, soil and water. Technicians are employed to perform laboratory and field tests to monitor the environment to determine the presence of contaminants and sources of pollution. They work for state and local governments, research and testing services, engineering, agricultural and architectural firms.
Information Technology (IT) graduates join the nation's fastest growing industry. Graduates design, supply and manage computer hardware and software. The applications for IT are almost endless, given the expected demands in the computer-based field. With new technologies being developed and the demand for business to expand Internet use and electronic commerce, graduates of IT are expected to be in high demand.
Graduates of the Geospatial Information Systems program utilize computer systems used to store, display, analyze, and map information. Jobs for graduates include geographers, planners, land developers, real estate agents, and working with utility companies, transportation companies and municipalities. Farmers and agricultural firms, chemical companies, and the transportation industry, all rely upon the skills of a GIS graduate.
"All of these new programs address workforce needs right here in eastern Arkansas," said Grace. "We are proud that the College is the recipient of this innovative grant and we look forward to getting started on the development and implementation of each program."
By KENDALL OWENS
T-H Staff Writer
With one low bid in hand for roof repairs to the St. Francis County Courthouse and Jail, members of the Quorum Court's building and improvements committee decided Tuesday to seek more bids on the repairs, but this time using a different type of roofing system.
Last week, committee members decided to submit the low bid of $122,745 for repairs to the county jail roof, and $108,329 for repairs to the courthouse roof from Jonesboro Roofing Co., Inc., to the county's budget committee for financing. On Tuesday, justices decided to seek bids on a second type of roof after representatives from Top Choice Roofs, which is based in Memphis, made a presentation to the committee.
According to the representatives of Top Choice, the type of roof that they wish to bid on would include a level of insulation, a spray-on closed foam product which seals to the roof and any structures on the roof and two layers of protective sealant applied by spray. It differs from the system offered by Jonesboro Roofing, which also used the layer of insulation and a foam, but had a polyurethane sheet which would be heat sealed over the foam for protection.
During yesterday's meeting, Justice Regan Hill told committee members that the entire project would have to be rebid, but after meeting with St. Francis County Attorney Fletcher Long, Hill said this morning that bids would only have to be let on the second system. Hill said that after the second bids are opened, the full court would be presented with aspects from both Jonesboro Roofing on the first type of roof and whatever company is chosen on the second product.
"When we were first discussing our roof situation, I don't think any of us really knew what we were about to get into and what type of roof would be needed for this building. When we talked to some people and gathered some information, we found out that there was a company that had done three or four different flat roofs in Forrest City. We had them put together specifications and we bid the project and came up with a low bid. Since that time, this company has come into the picture and they've presented a totally different type of material from what was bid on. I think that it would be in the best interests of this county to take a look at this," said Hill.
In other business, the committee decided to purchase 22 car stops for the courthouse parking lot at the intersection of Izard and Cross streets. They also agreed to accept a bid of $2,000 from Jim Long to remove the carport from the county-owned house at 618 E. Davis Street.
Justices were also updated on work to be done to the parking lot located on Forrest Street.
According to committee chairman Sam Armstrong, the county is preparing to remove some concrete blocks which could present safety hazards, and once the work is completed, the city has agreed to work on the sidewalk in the area.
By KENDALL OWENS
T-H Staff Writer
Arkansas State University was the central topic at the Forrest City Civic Center Tuesday as Dr. Les Wyatt, the university's president, spoke to the Forrest City Rotary Club.
According to Wyatt, expansion of services as well as expanding campus sites have helped make many changes at ASU over the past few years. Wyatt also thanked Forrest Citian Florine Bingham, who serves on the ASU board, and her fellow Board of Trustee members.
"Thanks to Mrs. Bingham and the four other Board of Trustee members, we have been able to further develop our programs across the state, as well as on the Jonesboro campus," said Wyatt.
Part of the expansion of programs, according to Wyatt, is the collaborative program with two-year institutions such as East Arkansas Community College. According to Wyatt, the university recently expanded their services to both Searcy and Jacksonville through the ASU-Beebe campus.
"What we've tried to do is provide access for affordable education to Arkansans across every portion of the state. We now have bachelorette programs at two-year campuses which allow people that live in an area to receive their Associate of Arts degree then they complete the program at that same campus. We've seen some great success stories since we began the program, but it starts in places like here in Forrest City, which has an excellent educational base established with the Forrest City School District, East Arkansas Community College and Crowley's Ridge Technical Institute," said Wyatt.
Wyatt also told Rotary members of several changes occurring on the Jonesboro campus.
"We've seen a remarkable change at our Jonesboro campus, and it began with the closing of Caraway and Aggie Roads which eliminated driving directly through campus. We've also added four doctoral programs, and our workplace placement program is putting 98 percent of our students in careers after graduation. Our new student union building will consolidate our student activities in one central location, and we've have a great deal of input from the students," he said.
Wyatt also commented on the new student apartment complex and advances being made for married couples and single parents. According to Wyatt, the last of the trailers used for family housing will soon be moved out and the new housing will go into that area.
September is National Cholesterol Education Month, and Baptist Memorial Hospital-Forrest City is offering a second round of free cholesterol screenings in an effort to urge the community to remember that controlling cholesterol keeps hearts healthy.
As part of this health observance month, Baptist will also make an effort to educate the community about the dangers of cholesterol, according to spokesperson Tiffany Billingsley. This is part of a larger national effort, sponsored by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute and the National Cholesterol Education Program.
"Controlling your cholesterol is an important part of heart health for everyone -- from young adults to seniors," said Sudesh Banaji, MD. "This is an especially important choice for the residents in the Mid-South, where coronary heart disease is the No. 1 killer."
The buildup of cholesterol in arteries begins early in life -- often in adolescence -- and worsens over time. Research shows that young adults with the lowest cholesterol levels will live longer than those with higher cholesterol levels.
According to Dr.Banaji, there are great benefits to controlling blood cholesterol levels, and a person can achieve this by following a few simple steps: eat a healthy diet lower in saturated fat, total fat and cholesterol; be physically active; maintain a healthy weight; and, if necessary, take medication.
For more information on the screenings, contact BMH-FC.