By KENDALL OWENS
T-H Staff Writer
The proposed golf course at Village Creek State Park took a major step forward Friday after members of the Arkansas Legislative Council approved a 25-year lease agreement between the Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism and the Wellington Group for 200 acres at Village Creek State Park.
The lease is a 25-year lease with a 25-year renewable contract. The $27 million facility will include a 124-room hotel and conference center with the Parks Department contributing $7 million for construction and management of the facility and Wellington covering the remaining $20 million.
"We suspended the normal rules on this and went ahead with the voting this morning, and we were able to get it passed. Now, we'll be able to move ahead," said Rep. Danny Ferguson who sits on the Legislative Council along with Rep. LeRoy Dangeau of Cross County.
Department of Parks and Tourism Director Greg Butts said this morning that state officials are excited about the most recent development.
"We're excited about this partnership and the potential tourism and economic benefits that will come from this venture. Once we get approval on the lease from the Attorney General's Office it will give Wellington the opportunity to work with the various financial agencies that they need to in order to finance this proposal," said Butts.
The decision as to where the course and lodge will be placed will be a joint decision between Parks and Tourism and Wellington officials. When asked about the potential location of the 27-hole golf course and 124-room lodge and conference center, Butts said, "That decision is yet to be made. In the original master plan for the park back in 1974, the golf course would have been in the open field area. We'll still need to get on the ground and look everything over and let Andy Dye (the course designer) get in here and see where he thinks everything should go. He's a master at this."
While this morning's decision is a step forward, the proposal still has to be approved by the Attorney General's office and the Arkansas Development Finance Authority. The partnership between Wellington and the state will be the first of its type.
"This is not the first partnership between the state and a private entity on some levels, but it is the first of it's type. We're taking this from a partnership on the design, development and operations level," said Butts.
"This is a win, win, win situation for everyone involved. It will help us to fulfill the master plan of the park from its original design. It will help with economics in the Delta area and it will help satisfy the need of a top-rate golf course for the golf enthusiasts as well as bringing more tourism to the area and the state," said Butts.
By ALAN SMITH
T-H Staff Writer
The Crowley's Ridge Technical Institute Board on Thursday appropriated money for the purchase of promotional items for the school.
During its quarterly meeting, the board also granted CRTI President Burl Lieblong permission to fill vacancies that should occur at the school prior to the board's next meeting, up to a $25,000 salary cap, without prior board approval.
The board agreed unanimously to pay $15,500 for advertising or promotional items that the school purchases annually. "This money is for the mugs, pens, shirts and other items that we put the school's name on to advertise the school," said Lieblong. "I'm asking that the board approve the amount to purchase these items."
Lieblong then discussed possible faculty vacancies. "I know of at least two positions that will become available after the school year due to retirements," he said. "We will be looking at candidates for the positions, and I am allowed to hire up to the amount of $25,000 (per year) plus cost of living increases without board approval. If I am hiring someone and their salary is going to exceed that, I need board approval.
"There are two ways that I see that we can do that. One way is to have a called meeting, and the other is to poll the board members by phone and have them confirm their vote at the next meeting, which is set for Thursday, Aug. 19. That way I can speak to you and explain why I feel that the salary should exceed the limit," Lieblong said.
Board member Mike Lawyer said he had no problem allowing the polling of the board by phone. "I don't see where that would be a problem," said Lawyer. "Sometimes when you have a candidate for a job, time is limited and they need to know where they stand with you." The rest of the board agreed and gave Lieblong permission to poll them by phone if needed.
In other news, Chairperson Glenda Caldwell discussed the recent open house that was held at CRTI for area school district superintendents. The event was designed to let the guests tour the facilities and speak with CRTI officials about how the institution could help the school districts in providing vocational classes.
"I have had many compliments about the open house," said Caldwell. "Many superintendents have spoken to me and had nothing but good things to say about the event."
Lieblong added that some schools have responded after the open house for help, but that many schools are still working on their schedules to provide the new required classes.
By DAVID NICHOL
T-H Staff Writer
A School Performance Report recently sent to parents in the Forrest City School District shows dramatic improvement in some areas, especially on the 2002-2003 Benchmark Exam.
(The 2003-2004 Benchmark was taken recently and results will not be available for months.)
"The Arkansas Benchmark Exam is the exam that the state Education Department is using now for school improvement," said Phyllis Russell, test coordinator at the Forrest City
School District. "The emphasis now is on the Benchmark exams."
She also explained that there are two Benchmark scores -- one for "general population" and one for "combined population."
General population means all students except special students. Combined population means all students including special students.
According to statistics provided by the school district, the most dramatic improvement was seen in reading and writing literacy for fourth grade students, in both the general and combined populations.
In the general population, 56 percent of Forrest City fourth graders scored at or above the proficient level in the reading and writing literacy portion of the 2002-2003 test. This was compared to 42 percent in the 2001-2002 test. It is also up from 21 percent in the 2000-2001 test.
There was also a marked improvement in the combined population test scores in reading and writing literacy. The fourth grade combined population had 50 percent scoring at or above the proficient level, up from 29 percent in 2001-2002 and also up from 16 percent in 2000-2001.
Fourth grade mathematics scores also showed great improvement. In the general population, 38 percent tested at or above the proficient level, compared to 29 percent in 2001-2002 and a mere 16 percent in 2000-2001. The combined population score for fourth grade mathematics showed 35 percent at or above proficient, compared to 25 percent in 2001-2002 and 15 percent in 2000-2001.
Eighth grade students, while not scoring high, nonetheless showed marked improvement In eighth grade reading and writing, the general population scored 24 percent at or above proficient, up from only 10 percent in 2001-2002, after slipping from 11 percent in 2000-2001. The combined population scored 21 at or above proficient, up from 9 percent in 2001-2002. having slipped from 10 percent in 2000-2001.
Eighth grade math scores were low, but still an improvement. The general population scored 11 percent at or above proficient, having scored a mere 2 percent in 2001-2002. The group scored 7 percent in 2000-2001. The combined population scored 10 percent, up from 2 percent in 2001-2002. The 2000-2001 score was 7 percent.
Sixth graders did not fare as well in 2002-2003. In literacy, the percentage of general population students scoring at proficient or better was 10 percent, and was the same in 2001-2202. Among the combined population, 9 percent were at or above proficient, the same as the previous year.
In math, the general population of sixth graders scored 11 percent at proficient or better, down from 13 percent in 2001-2002. For the combined population, the sixth grade math scores showed 10 percent at or above proficient, down from 11 percent in 2001-2002.
The search of an area of Edgewood in Forrest City resulted in a missing woman being found this morning and taken to the hospital.
According to the Forrest City Police, a call was received Thursday evening that Gretchen Beazley of 206 Summit Drive had been missing since about 4 p.m.
The Forrest City Police Department, assisted by the St. Francis County Sheriff's Department, the Forrest City Fire Department, the Arkansas Department of Corrections and the Memphis Police Department Air Patrol, began searching.
According to SFC Chief Deputy H.N. Green, Beazley was found later this morning and transported to Baptist Memorial Hospital-Forrest City. Her condition was not known as of press time.
By KENDALL OWENS
T-H Staff Writer
The citizens of Madison will soon have early warning in cases of emergency after the Arkansas Congressional delegation announced this week a $15,000 grant to assist the city with the purchase of a tornado early-warning system.
On Monday, members of the Madison City Council unanimously approved a resolution seeking a grant from the USDA-Rural Development Program. According to Mayor James Brooks the siren system was much needed for the area.
"We're glad that we're going to be getting it. This will be a big benefit for the citizens because now we'll have a way of notifying them in cases of danger. In the past, we've had to just keep our eyes on the sky and on the television to see if something was headed our way. Now the citizens will be able to get a warning if a tornado is coming," Brooks said.
Brooks told council members that the funding would purchase two sirens for the city with one located in the Crow Creek area and the second at city hall. According to Brooks, plans call for the system to be activated by radio or telephone.
"The plans call for radio and telephone notification, and that will be done by fire department and police department personnel. We may also have a couple of citizens who will also have access to alerting the system in cases where no one else is available to sound the siren," he said.
While Brooks was unsure of when the system would be up and running, he did say that he hopes everything will be complete within the next month.
"We aren't really sure when everything will be ready to go, but we've talked with the company and they've looked everything over and know where the sirens will be located. All we have to do now is get back in contact with them and hopefully it will be active in the next month or so," Brooks said.
The early warning system will cost approximately $20,000 with the grant paying three-fourths of the cost and the city paying the remaining $5,000.