By DAVID NICHOL
T-H Staff Writer
Proclaiming that "What was a dream a few years ago has come to fruition," Superintendent Lee Vent on Sunday led an "official" ribbon cutting and open house at the new Forrest City Junior High School.
The school is already in use, but the open house was delayed until all the work was finished.
The ribbon cutting was held out of doors, in front of the Division Street entrance. A crowd of between 200 and 300 gathered around, Division Street was blocked off, and the junior high NJROTC color guard presented the colors in the middle of the street, for the Pledge of Allegiance. Junior high principal Billy Ferguson held the scissors for the ribbon cutting, which included school board members, Chamber of Commerce Greencoats and elected officials.
After the ribbon cutting, the gathering adjourned to the school's auditorium.
Vent told the crowd that the new school Is something to be proud of.
"We're very pleased to be in this very fine facility," he said. "And I certainly think it speaks volumes for the future of our community and the fine education we are willing to provide for our children."
Vent also recounted some of the new building's history, which began with a millage request and a rededication of some millage.
"We were able to generate the necessary $7.2 million which was the total cost of this fine facility," said Vent. "We're very pleased to have it officially opened, although we did open it, on a very tight schedule, back in August."
Ground was officially broken on Dec. 11, 2001. "And since that time, a lot of hard work has gone into this place," he said. He paid special tribute to architects Bob Beavers and Dave Hodges, and general contractor Gary Kennedy.
Vent also said the junior high isn't the only project going on.
"This building, actually, completes about a $14 million capital improvement project, beginning all the way back with the construction of the new high school cafeteria, the Mustang Arena, the indoor practice facility and the gymnasium on the Lincoln campus," he said.
Aubrey Jayroe, president of the school board, said a project like the new junior high school requires cooperation.
"It doesn't just happen," he said. "It takes the cooperation, the efforts, of everybody...We want a better education for our students. We want a better facility, all across the school district. And this is one that all of us can be proud of and be thankful for."
He continued, "We want this to be a better place. Forrest City is a great community. I don't mind saying that, and I'll tell it anywhere I go. We've got great people here. Sure there's negatives. But there are negatives anywhere...But altogether, we will continue to make this a better place for our students, our children, and future generations."
Mayor Larry Bryant said it was a great day. And said the facility would help Forrest City get even better.
"And congratulations to all of you because you all helped make this day possible," Bryant said.
Randy Pearson, president of the Forrest City Area Chamber of Commerce, said he was asked how a new school could help industrial recruitment.
"Times have changed, but the need for quality education has not changed," he said. "When the last election was held to build this school, one person said 'I don't have any kids. Why should I vote for it?' Well, when industrial prospects look at a community. One of the top questions that is asked...is about education...When someone is looking to move into our community, they want to look at our schools."
Ferguson also spoke, and thanked everyone involved.
"I probably could tell you a little bit about the struggle to get the millage passed. But, no, you know about that. Maybe I could tell you a little bit about moving, when we had to go to two different campuses. I could tell you about the heartbreak, I could tell you about the humor and the good times we had. Maybe I could tell you about the ninth grade in the trailers, and that it got named 'Northside Trailer Park,'" he said, getting laughter.
"I thought maybe I'd just tell you about moving back in, and how happy and how elated we were to be able to come back into this building. Maybe I can tell you how we should not let it stop here, that Forrest City Junior High should not be the last improvement we make. That we should go on and do better and better. But in the end, the only thing I need to tell you, from the bottom of the hearts of all the students, all the staff and faculty and the entire school district, is thank you."
The junior high band and choir also performed for the crowd in the auditorium. After the program, there were refreshments and tours.
By KENDALL OWENS
T-H Staff Writer
The ballots for the May primary election in St. Francis County are being prepared, but may not be back in time for the start of early voting on Monday, May 3.
St. Francis County Election Commission member Bettye Proctor delivered that news during a recent meeting of the commission at the St. Francis County Courthouse.
According to Proctor, the form outlining the ballot was mailed to the printer last week and could be back on time, but the window for receiving them is narrow.
"It's going to be tight getting those ballots back before the start of early voting. Judy (Armstrong, election coordinator) got everything from the state, and she got everything in the mail to the printer last week. That will give them just over two weeks to get everything completed, so it's going to be close," said Proctor.
In other business, commissioners agreed to table discussions over poll workers until their next meeting, scheduled for April 28, at 1:30 p.m. The decision was tabled so that another poll workers' class could be held before workers were designated. Proctor also made an effort to ensure that past poll workers were given first choice when the decision was made.
"We have folks that have been with us for years when this paid a little of nothing. Now people are seeing that they can get $100 for working that day, and they're interested in working the polls. I think that we should give first priority to those folks who have been with us for awhile," Proctor said.
Proctor also told commissioners that repairs would have to be made to plumbing at a pair of polling locations before the May 18, election. According to Proctor, repairs will be made at both the Wesley Chapel Methodist Church and Black Fish polling sites. Proctor also said that the commission has received four new metal boxes, 25 stub boxes and 23 packets and she expects to receive the remainder of the supplies the group ordered shortly.
Commissioners also discussed how poll workers who work the early voting period will be compensated. A new state law allows workers on election day who have taken the poll worker training course to be paid as much as $100 for their election day duties. Discussion concerned how those working the early voting polls will be paid.
According to Proctor, the workers are currently scheduled to be paid $7.50 per hour for 10 hours a day through the week and four hours on Saturday. Commission Chairman Joe Young said that he feels the two women working early voting should be paid the normal hourly pay for early voting and the additional $25 for working on election day. Proctor said that she would check with the state to determine what procedure should be followed.
By KENDALL OWENS
T-H Staff Writer
Complaints over loud music in the city of Colt prompted that city's council to authorize the issuance of disorderly conduct tickets to individuals who fail to lower their stereos.
Council members discussed the complaints Thursday during the city council's monthly meeting after Mayor Virgil Keeler mentioned of the problem.
"Something needs to be done about these folks driving around with the loud music blaring out of their stereos. I've been getting a lot of calls on it, and I don't know if the council needs to pass an ordinance on it or what, but something has to get done," said Keeler.
According to city attorney Steve Routon, a provision in state law on disorderly conduct covers loud and annoying sounds, giving the Colt Police Department the authority to issue disorderly conduct citations.
In other business, council members called for an ordinance to be drawn up which would rezone an area near Arkansas Highway 1 as commercial. In February, council members tabled a request to rezone property owned by Roger Davidson as commercial until a legal description of the property could be presented to the council. On Thursday, Davidson appeared before the council with his request and a survey of the property. Council members asked Routon to draft an ordinance rezoning the property after agreeing that one-third of the property was already zoned commercial.
The council also agreed on a testing policy for the city's new early warning system. The system, which was recently installed, will be tested on Sunday afternoons at 1 p.m. when there is no inclement weather in the area. The council agreed to the day and time so that sounding the system would not interfere with business at a nearby restaurant.
City manager Bobby Clarkson also updated the council on efforts to find a program which will give retirement benefits to city employees and the city's volunteer firefighters.
Several items, some of them controversial, will be on the agenda when the Forrest City City Council meets in regular session Tuesday, April 20, at 7 p.m. at city hall.
Two of the items will be Mayor Larry Bryant's veto of the city's 2004 amended budget, and his proposed 2004 budget figures.
The contract of the Forrest City Civic Center caterer will also be discussed. There is no mention on the published agenda of the ordinance to abolish the Civic Center Commission. That ordinance was tabled at the last meeting.
There is also an ordinance scheduled authorizing the construction of a Forrest City Humane Society Animal Shelter, in an area which is outside the city limits.
Water rates will soon increase for residents in Wheatley.
During a recent meeting, councilmen unanimously adopted an ordinance to increase the minimum water and sewer rates from $6 to $7.
In other business, councilmen continued to discuss an ordinance that would allow city police officers to charge drivers with inattentive driving for minor traffic offenses.
The charge, according to city attorney Marshall Wright and Wheatley Police Chief Dallas Brogdon, would return more of the money from fines to the city because it would be a city ordinance and the state would not get its normal 40 percent from fines.
Two readings of the ordinance to change the city's law were held and approved by the council, but the third and final reading is set for the May council meeting. A copy of the ordinance is available for the public to view at the Wheatley City Hall.
The 2002 Legislative Audit for St. Francis County took another step toward completion last week as county officials met with auditors for exit conferences.
According to officials with the Arkansas Division of Legislative Audit, the results of the audit and responses by officials may not be official for a couple of months.
"I really cannot give you an accurate date because the posting of that information is scheduled in Little Rock," said Bob Boylls, regional manager of the Audit Division in Jonesboro.
"I can say that it won't be ready for our May meeting because we have yet to receive the information in this office, and because of that I don't think that we can get the information to them in enough time for them to have it ready before the June meeting," Boylls said.