By DAVID NICHOL
T-H Staff Writer
The full city council will be asked to give its approval to the final form of a proposed contract to be bid out for a caterer at the Forrest City Civic Center.
The next meeting of the Forrest City City Council will be Tuesday, Aug. 17.
A special meeting was called Thursday evening to discuss the contract. It was attended by Mayor Larry Bryant, City Attorney Alan Cline, City Clerk Marie Todd, and a bare quorum including Cecil Twillie, Mary Jeffers, Louise Fields, Brent Ponder and Steve Hollowell.
The aldermen were asked if they had any questions or changes concerning the contract. After some discussion, several changes were incorporated into the contract.
The first change had to do with an occupational license. The contract as written, while requiring references, a history of experience, adequate financial resources and sample menus and prices, did not specifically require that the caterer have an occupational license. That requirement will be included.
There was also some discussion over the Civic Center Commission, although the commission wasn't on the agenda. The contract states, "The Commission at its sole discretion shall determine the extent to which proposers meet the qualifications to provide food and beverage services in the Civic Center."
In answer to a question, both Cline and Bryant agreed that the wording of the contract gives the commission final say. That is what prompted the discussion.
There has been some concern over poorly attended meetings of the Civic Center Commission. It was asked how long a commissioner's term was, and without having the figures in front of him, Mayor Larry Bryant said he wasn't sure but thought it was five or seven years (According to Ordinance 1158 of 1966, the term of a Civic Center commissioner is seven years).
Jeffers asked what is supposed to happen if a commissioner doesn't attend meetings. According to the ordinance that created the commission, a commissioner may be removed "for cause" by a two-thirds vote of the city council.
Bryant said that was an issue the council needed to tackle "as soon as we get over this hurdle" of approving a contract.
An ordinance to abolish the Civic Center Commission altogether had been introduced by Hollowell, but tabled earlier this year.
Ponder said he didn't really want to abolish anything, but "I'd like to at least get some commissioners there who are able and willing to attend."
Another subject which wasn't on the special meeting's agenda is the subject of one or more warming rooms. Ponder brought it up, but was told not only was it not on the agenda, but was a different issue from the caterer.
There was some discussion of the amount of the fee a caterer would pay to the city, and was finally decided that the fee would be an individual bid item for each candidate for the job.
There was also a slight change in wording under the "Cleaning and Maintenance" portion of the contract. Originally, it stated that the contractor will "utilize the services of a rendering company." The words, "solid waste" were inserted before "company."
By ALAN SMITH
T-H Staff Writer
The second annual St. Francis County Cancer Expo will be held next week, and will feature a wealth of information for those who have cancer. In addition, the American Cancer Society (ACS) will offer a free program during the expo that proves the latest cancer treatments aren't always prescribed by doctors.
The Look Good, Feel Better program will be part of the expo planned for Saturday, Aug. 21, from 10 a.m. to 12 noon at the Forrest City Civic Center. The program teaches beauty techniques, skin care, makeup and nail care to women who are actively undergoing cancer treatment. According to Sherrie Mitchell, the ACS Community Program Representative for Northeast Arkansas, the free program is designed to help women in cancer treatment deal with problems they face due to their therapy.
"The cosmetologists have been trained to teach women with cancer to deal with blemishes, blotches and other skin problems that occur due to cancer treatments," said Mitchell. "The skin becomes very sensitive due to treatment. Most women are not familiar with putting sunscreen on the top of their heads. Women with cancer need to know these things since treatment leaves them more sensitive to illness and infection. A small cut from a manicure or eyebrow waxing can become infected and cause problems for them."
A common side effect to cancer medicine is loss of hair. Mitchell stated that the program will offer tips for how to deal with this.
"Many women undergoing cancer treatment wear wigs," said Mitchell. "But many of them don't know that a wig can be styled. The cosmetologists will teach them about styling wigs like they would their own hair. There will be tips given on turbans and scarf tying." Mitchell also said that wigs would be available on the day of the program and would be available for ordering.
A bonus of the event is to get women to meet others with cancer that they don't know. "It helps them know that they are not alone," added Mitchell. "It develops an emotional support system. We have many women who have signed up for the program in other areas that don't really need the beauty tips, they are there to meet and help support other women who have cancer."
And those who register will get a free makeup kit valued at $200. "The products will be from companies like Cliniqué," Mitchell stated. "Women who are interested in the program need to register for the program to ensure that we will have enough kits for everybody. Any woman who is currently receiving cancer treatment is eligible for the program. They may bring a support person, such as a sister, mother or friend, but they will not receive a kit. I want any woman in the area who is eligible for the program to feel free to register."
To register for the Look Good, Feel Better program, contact Tiffany Billingsley at Baptist Memorial Hospital-Forrest City at 870-261-0420.
Mitchell also stated that while she has cosmetologists for this year, next year she will need more trained individuals to help with this program. "We usually do four cancer expos in each county and we need help. This expo will be the third in St. Francis County, and we are having another in October. After the first of the year, we will need two cosmetologists. We will take more than two, but right now we only expect to need two."
For more information, contact Mitchell at 870-934-0001.
By ALAN SMITH
T-H Staff Writer
The Wheatley City Council will seek a grant from Arkansas Rural Development to improve the city's civic center.
By a unanimous vote Thursday night, councilmen passed a resolution authorizing the city to request the funding.
A public hearing regarding what the grant money could be used for preceded the regular city council meeting. According to Mayor Larry Nash, the funds could be used for improvements to city buildings, landscaping, parks and recreation, and for the fire department to purchase equipment. He also stated that the city's fire rating was too high for the grant to be used on fire equipment, so that was not an option.
Nash offered a brief explanation of the grant to which no one voiced opposition.
"We have looked at all of the things we want to do to the center, and we came up with a figure of $16,000 to get it done," said Nash. "This is a 50/50 matching grant, so the city would have to pay $8,000 for the renovation. Since no one is opposed to the idea, the council can pass a resolution to apply for the grant."
During the regular council meeting, Nash told members of two items of new business that concern services in Wheatley.
The first was an announcement that the Head Start program will close in the city on Aug. 31. "We have a letter from the Head Start," stated Nash. "They say that while they thank us for our support, there are not enough children here for the program to stay open. We aren't the only ones that will be closed. I've heard that they are closing in Parkin and Hughes."
Another change will directly impact Wheatley residents who use the water system. "Brinkley is cleaning their tanks, and on Monday, Aug. 16, there is a boil order issued to begin at 8 a.m. The order will continue until they get clear readings from their system. They are not sure how long it will take, but I don't think it will take more than a few days."
In other business, the council unanimously voted to keep the city millage rate a five mills. No discussion was offered on the issue.
By KENDALL OWENS
T-H Staff Writer
The citizens of Colt now have a new mayor after members of the Colt City Council voted Thursday night to replace resigning mayor Virgil Keeler with current council member Joe Kerr.
In a letter dated July 28, Keeler announced his resignation after taking a job with the Arkansas Highway and Transportation Department. According to Keeler's letter to the council, AHTD regulations prohibit employees from holding the office of mayor. Kerr was elected by a unanimous council vote and will serve out the remainder of Keeler's tenure, which would have ended in December of 2006.
"I think that Virgil has done a very good job as the mayor of Colt, and this city has seen a lot of change and improvement under his leadership. We just want you to know that we realize and appreciate the job that you have done as mayor," Kerr said.
With Kerr accepting the appointment as mayor, it was necessary that he step down as a member of the city council. The remaining council members voted unanimously to accept a recommendation from Kerr to appoint Tim Hamilton to the Ward 2 Position 2 spot for the remainder of Kerr's tenure, which ends in December. In December, council members can re-appoint Hamilton to the position because Kerr was the lone candidate to file for the seat to be decided in the November general election.
In other business, Keeler, along with city attorney Steve Routon notified council members that they had received a letter in regards to a complaint filed with the council last month against the Colt Police Officer. According to Routon, no merit was found in the complaint.
Council members also decided to change an ordinance creating limits on itinerant vendors. Discussion of the ordinance centered around a local man who sells barbecue from a tent near his home. Council members made the decision to change a section of the ordinance to exclude the sale of food products which had previously been listed as produce. While the change in the ordinance was made, council members also decided that the barbecue vendor would have to purchase a $25 annual business permit to continue to operate his business.
"I can understand why you're considering excluding him from the ordinance, but as it stands I think that he should have to purchase a business permit if he wants to continue to do business. All of the other restaurants in town had to purchase a permit and he is operating a food producing business and it would only be fair to them if he was required to purchase a permit as well," said Colt City Manager Bobby Clarkson.
Clarkson also requested a change in an ordinance passed earlier this year which requires all Colt restaurants to install grease traps. Clarkson requested that the ordinance be changed to allow him to determine whether a grease trap was necessary at restaurants.
"You all passed the earlier ordinance because we were getting a lot of grease in the sewer from one restaurant in particular. The ordinance requires all food producing businesses to have grease traps, but if you're not using a lot of grease, then I don't feel like it's a necessity. If at some point a restaurant begins using more grease, and we can tell that through our normal checks of the sewer, then I can go in and tell them that they're going to have to install a grease trap," Clarkson said.
Routon agreed to make the changes to the ordinance which will be presented at next month's meeting.
The lack of an additional bay at the Colt Fire Department is causing one CFD vehicle to deteriorate due to the weather and Colt Fire Chief Jim Haynes spoke to the council on the issue Thursday. According to Haynes, the department is currently housing four vehicles in three bays in its current building which forces them to leave one of the department's trucks fenced in outside.
"Right now, we've got a truck that we really can't use most of the time, and it's just sitting outside deteriorating. We are in desperate need of an additional bay, and something needs to be done because if not, it's going to have to spend another winter outside," Haynes said.
According to minutes from a meeting earlier this year, an unnamed benefactor has promised the department that he would donate a concrete slab to the efforts to build the new bay. According to Haynes, while the promise of a donation was appreciated, the department needs to see action.
"I appreciate the gentleman that offered the slab, but nothing has come from that yet and we need to see something happen soon or that truck is going to be ruined," Haynes said.
Clarkson told council members that one of the hold-ups in the slab has been determining whether the building would be constructed using red-iron beams or a pole barn system. Clarkson agreed to contact the gentleman offering the slab and council members gave Haynes authorization to seek prices for construction of the building using the two different systems.
One of three men allegedly driving recklessly on motorcycles near Caldwell Thursday night was arrested, while the other two subjects remain at large.
Deputies with the St. Francis County Sheriff's Department arrested Eldrick Wright, 27, of Colt on charges of reckless driving, fleeing and no motorcycle operator's license.
According to Wright's arrest information, deputies observed three motorcycles traveling north on Highway 1 near Caldwell at 87 mph in a 50 mph zone. When the deputy attempted to stop the motorcycles, he said all three fled, and he was only able to stop Wright's motorcycle.
The investigation is continuing.
The last opportunity for Forrest City High School students to register for classes will be during open house on Wednesday, Aug. 18, from 4 to 6 p.m.
A $5 fee will be due at the time of registration. After Aug. 18, students will be assessed a $10 last registration fee.
The Forrest City School District encourages all parents to visit the schools in which their children will be attending classes during open house on Wednesday.
A registered sex offender was arrested this morning on felony warrants for failing to comply with the sex offender registration, as required by the state.
Larry Millbrooks, 37, 411 E. Davis St., was arrested after he failed to comply with his sex offender registration by not reporting his whereabouts to local authorities and not returning required documentation. He was also arrested on four counts of failure to appear out of St. Francis County District Court.
According to a Forrest City Police Department press release, Millbrooks, according to documentation, has not reported in since Sept. 2003. All sex offenders are required to return a verification of residency letter to the police department in person. These letters are sent from the Arkansas Crime Information Center about every six months to the registered sex offender's residence. Failure to comply with this mandate is a felony in Arkansas Criminal Code, according to the FCPD.
Millbrooks is being held in the St. Francis County Jail on a $10,000 bond on the felony charge, and on an additional cash bond for the four counts of failure to appear in District Court.
The Widener City Council is scheduled to meet at 6 p.m. Monday, Aug. 16, at city hall.
The meeting is open to the public.