By DAVID NICHOL
T-H Staff Writer
Sometimes, wishes do come true.
It was a complete surprise. Students at Forrest City High School, including an unsuspecting senior, Whitney Tracy, filed out for what was supposed to be a disaster drill. It was anything but a disaster.
As everyone got outside at the front of the school, Whitney noticed that her folks, Wanda and Larry Tracy, were there. Then she met Saba Koja, with the Make-A-Wish Foundation of the Mid-South.
Speaking over a P.A. system, Koja explained what Make-A-Wish was all about -- granting wishes to children with life threatening conditions -- and then asked Whitney if she had such a condition. Whitney agreed that she did.
"And what did you wish for?" Koja asked.
"A car (actually a Mustang)," Whitney said, her eyes beginning to widen.
"What color?" Koja asked.
"Yellow," Whitney said as the truth slowly dawned on her.
At that moment, to cheers and applause from students and teachers, a bright yellow Mustang pulled into the front drive of the high school.
A diagnosis of papillary carcinoma (thyroid cancer) in January of 2003 certainly wasn't on Tracy's wish list. But a Mustang was. A yellow Mustang.
Wanda Tracy said her daughter has always wanted a Mustang.
"This has been a dream ever since Whitney has been able to drive -- 'I would love to have a Mustang.' This will be the top of the list. This will be a special thing for her."
The conversation turned serious when Whitney's life-threatening disease was discussed.
"It's an adult disease, and usually children do not have it," Wanda said.
Although her disease is serious, neither 17-year-old Whitney nor her family are giving up. But some encouragement is always welcome.
That is where the Make A Wish Foundation of the Mid-South comes in, along with David and Marsha Cohn and Forrest City Grocery Co.
The foundation exists, according to Renee Burks, program service director, "not only to grant a wish but to bring hope, strength and joy into the life of every medically eligible child."
The Cohns made a donation large enough to make the wish possible.
"They donated the money so that we would be able to grant her wish," said Koja.
The Mustang has been completely reworked by David Davis, including the new yellow paint job, new bumper, new tires and tire rims, new stereo, new upholstered seats, a DVD system and more.
There was a stack of other gifts, including a car cover, CD case, and other items.
Wanda said that as soon as Whitney graduates, she will be going to a special treatment center in Houston, Texas.
"We're not giving up," she said. "We'll keep on going until it's over. Until we say 'cancer free.' We're looking at quite a number of years to go to get this resolved."
According to Koja, the Mid-South Chapter of the Make-A-Wish Foundation, which includes west Tennessee, north Mississippi and the entire state of Arkansas, is trying to provide wishes for 280 kids this year. All their funding comes from individuals, organizations and corporations, she said. No money comes from the government.
There was another gift, one which didn't have to do with Make-A-Wish Foundation and didn't go to Whitney. This one went to Whitney's sister, Brittney, who, her mom jokingly said, "is 11, soon to be 12, going on 22. She wants to drive just like her sister."
Brittney got a yellow go-cart to go with her sister's Mustang. Wanda said the family didn't want Brittney to be left out.
"We've got two children, not just one," she said. "And we try to let both know that we love one as much as the other."
By ALAN SMITH
T-H Staff Writer
The Forrest City Advertising and Promotion Commission is waiting to hear from Forrest City Mayor Larry Bryant on the fate of a proposal to give the body more say in Forrest City Civic Center operations.
Commissioner Mark Turner, who presented the proposal to the Forrest City City Council on March 16, spoke about the progress, or lack thereof, for the offer.
"It was my understanding that the council would get back to us on our proposal. I haven't heard anything back. From what I am reading (in the Times-Herald), the mayor doesn't want to consider the A and P (as an option to replace the current Forrest City Civic Center Commission) due to his lack of control (of the commission). But he won't sit down with us and talk to us."
According to Commissioner Cecil Twillie, Bryant was invited to attend Tuesday's meeting. City council members Louise Fields and Brent Ponders were both in attendance, but Bryant was not. According to Fields, Bryant's absence was due to illness. "You have to excuse him if he is ill," added Twillie, "but I really wish he could have attended today."
"In my opinion, this is a plus-plus situation for the city and the A and P," continued Turner. "We, as business people, could run the center and have it operating in the green instead of the red. We want to be hands-on, not in control. We want to offer recommendations to the council to help improve the center and how it is promoted and operated."
A&P Chairman Kem Merrill said, "Out intentions are not to take anybody's job away. We want to help bring in more out-of-town visitors and raise the revenues (of the Civic Center)."
Merrill addressed the amount of money the commission pays and has paid for the center. "When people say that we don't give anything to the center, they don't think about the $10,000 we give the bank each month for repayment of the bond account, and the $850,000 we spent of that $1 million bond to put the addition on and remodeling of the center. We have supported the Civic Center and want it to better serve our area."
According to Merrill, the remodeling was completed in 1999 and was funded by the $1 million bond. Sheila Lieblong, A and P secretary, confirmed that regular payments of over $10,000 are made each month to Union Planters Bank on the bond, and that funds are distributed through Union Planters to the four banks that are involved with the bond.
"Maybe we didn't make our intentions as clear as we could have to the mayor," added Merrill. "If Mark (Turner) and a few of us make an appointment to talk to the mayor, and we both can compromise, maybe we can find out better what the problems are."
The commission agreed to speak to Bryant, and to pursue a larger role in the operations of the Civic Center through the mayor and city council.
By ALAN SMITH
T-H Staff Writer
Citing possible legal issues, the Forrest City Advertising and Promotions Commission on Tuesday denied funding for the promotion of a concert to be held next month to benefit a new performing arts center at East Arkansas Community College.
Dr. Dale Morris, chairman of the capital campaign for the new EACC Center for Fine and Performing Arts, and a member of the EACC Board of Trustees, asked commissioners to help fund advertising to promote a Beach Boys concert scheduled for Wednesday, May 26, at the Forrest City Junior High School auditorium.
"As you know, Mr. David Cohn has made an offer to us to bring the Beach Boys in to do a concert to benefit the new center, and we have accepted," said Morris. "The concert will bring people into the area, and we are asking for the amount of $32,984 to promote the event." That money would be spent on local, regional and statewide advertising.
"This new center will be a place that we can hold lectures and Broadway plays," continued Morris. "The only promotion that we have done so far is speeches at the Rotary and Lions Clubs, and we have already sold half the tickets for the event."
A&P Chairman Kem Merrill said he supports the center, but feels there was one legal problem with them funding the promotion of the concert. "Our biggest problem in giving funding for the event is how it is billed," said Merrill. "It is billed 'David Cohn and Forrest City Grocery Company,' and I don't think legally we can promote that. It would be opening up a problem for us in promoting something from an individual business. We have the city attorney (Alan Cline) looking into it right now, but it looks like a direct donation or contribution would be something we could do."
Commissioner Bill Ellis agreed. "In my opinion, we should let them fund the promotion of the concert. And, maybe we can donate $50,000 a year to the center."
Merrill added that while EACC has the commission's support for the new center, the legal issues must be cleared up first. Morris stated that he would be happy with any help the commission could give, and added that the $50,000 per year of funding (which would be over the five-year period that the center is expected to be completed) was more than they were asking and they were grateful.
The issue was tabled.
In other business, Shelia Lieblong, the A and P secretary, told commissioners of an effort that would put more bite into an ordinance that deals with business owners not paying local taxes.
"I talked with Alan (Cline)," said Lieblong. "We have had a big problem finding the owners of some businesses that haven't paid their taxes. Many live out of town, and we can't find them to serve warrants. Alan is looking into amending the current ordinance to close these businesses down until the taxes are paid."
Commissioners voiced unanimous support of the amendment, but said they want businesses to be made aware of the new penalty so they could be prepared. Letters will be sent out as a form of notification.
Kathi Martin, a local artist who has been commissioned by the A and P to do several murals, offered an update. "Jim Taylor (owner of the empty lot across the street from the St. Francis County Museum on Izard street.) is ready to sign a lease (to allow a stand-alone mural to be placed on the property)," stated Martin. "The lease is open-ended, and the location will be perfect. I have plans for the (American) flag mural that will be on the side of Brady's Barber Shop (Hill Street). Another mural will be on the side of Vaccaro Lumber (Front Street), but I haven't decided on whether it will be an agricultural scene or something more modern.
"The Brady's mural will just be painted on brick, and the cost estimate is $6,500," continued Martin. "The mural on the Vaccaro building will have the copper border material on it like the mural on Broadway. The cost estimate is $7,500 for the Vaccaro mural."
The members agreed to fund the Brady's mural in the amount of $6,500 and tabled the issue of the Vaccaro mural.
Before adjourning, commissioners approved $2,400 for the St. Francis County Museum to cover the annual fee for their website.
By DAVID NICHOL
T-H Staff Writer
The St. Francis County Conservation District recently signed an agreement with the Arkansas Soil and Water Conservation Commission to administer the Lower L'Anguille Watershed Cost-Share Project for St. Francis and Lee counties.
A meeting on the watershed project was to be held today at the University of Arkansas Pine Tree Experiment Station.
The watershed is in an area that reaches from Crowley's Ridge to just west of Palestine.
According to Patricia Perry, Administrator for the district, the meeting is important for farmers and landowners in the affected area.
"The EPA declared the L'Anguille River impaired by sediment from crop erosion, about three years ago," Perry said. "This is an ongoing effort to reduce that. And this project will provide some cost-share to farmers to assist them in putting in the best management practices to reduce erosion from cropland."
She said more and more dollars are becoming available to address the sediment problem in the L'Anguille Watershed.
This particular project is valued at more than $200,000. It will help farm operators and land owners to install and use conservation practices on their farms.
Some of the practices for which assistance can be received include pipe drops to stop gully erosion, water control pipes or flash board risers, ponds, irrigation water conveyance, pasture establishment, critical area treatment, water and sediment control structures, stream bank stabilization and tree establishment.
Structural practices will receive a 40 percent cost share up to a maximum of $5,000 per person. No-till planting will be cost shared at $8 an acre for highly erodible land and $4 per acre for non-highly erodible land.
Anyone interested in applying for cost-share can apply immediately at the Conservation District Office, at 623 Division in Forrest City, or call Perry at 870-633-3055, extension 101 for more information.
Two Forrest City men are still recovering at the Med in Memphis after an early morning train accident on Wednesday.
Melvin Bogard, 48, and Jose Juan Ramirez, age not available, were injured when the 1993 Ford pick-up they were traveling in was struck on St. Francis County Road 219 in the Beck Spur community about 7:30 a.m.
Ramirez, who was airlifted from the scene, was listed in good condition this morning. Bogard was taken to Baptist Memorial Hospital-Forrest City originally, but was airlifted later the Med. He is in fair condition.
The recent Easter dinners served at local churches under the auspices of the St. Francis County Food Pantry resulted in 648 dinners being served, according to Catherine Freeman.
"We thank everybody who participated in the Easter dinner," said Freeman.
She also said she is asking for contributions to the Food Pantry to be made as a birthday present to her.
"April 19 is my 94th birthday," she said, "and I'm asking all churches, organizations, businesses and individuals to -- as a birthday gift -- make a tax deductible gift to the Pantry.
"The Food Pantry will be 22 years old on May 22," she said.
Checks may be made out to the St. Francis County Food Pantry and mailed to 122 S. Water Street.
A Forrest City man is charged with two counts of second-degree battery after allegedly attacking paramedics who were called to his sister's home Wednesday afternoon.
The Forrest City Police Department reported Tommy Hoskins, 40, 1347 N. Izard, became combative when the two Baptist Memorial Hospital-Forrest City EMTs arrived at the scene just before 5 p.m.
According to the report, Hoskins' sister, Diane Volpe, called for an ambulance because she said the subject was under the influence of drugs and hallucinating. When paramedics arrived, Hoskins, who was thought to be inside the home with children, answered the door, but slammed it back and locked it before anyone could get inside.
At the request of Volpe, paramedics broke the door open, and when they did, Hoskins allegedly attacked them. When police arrived, Hoskins had been restrained and was placed in the ambulance.
Inside the home, police found two marijuana roaches in an ashtray, 16 blue pills and about 2.5 grams of cocaine.
Hoskins was arrested at BMH-FC on two counts of second-degree battery. He was released to the St. Francis County Jail, and was scheduled to be arraigned this afternoon.