By KENDALL OWENS
T-H Staff Writer
The Palestine-Wheatley School Board on Monday voted to eliminate pay for in-district travel for school personnel.
By a margin of 5-2, with Ronnie Crider and Dorothy Smith voting against the move, the board approved the measure which will immediately affect nine teachers in the district.
"I just want to make sure of a couple of things before I vote," said Crider prior to the board's decision.
"I have a problem with the phrase unilateral in this measure because if we pass this, then next year, you (Superintendent John Manning) could have a teacher who was hired to teach in Palestine being told on any day that they would have to teach in Wheatley, and they would have to do so without pay for the wear and tear that they put on their personal vehicle," Crider said. "I've got a problem if this district is in such bad shape that we can't pay teachers for the damage they put on their vehicle doing the job that they're told to do. With the price of gas where it is, the individual teachers would only be making about $8 per week each for their travel, and we can't do that." Crider said.
Smith also objected to the change in policy. "This is the Palestine-Wheatley consolidated school district, and when these teachers travel from the Palestine campus to the Wheatley campus in their own vehicles, then they really should be paid for this," Smith said.
According to the proposal submitted by Manning, reimbursement for travel will only be paid for out-of-district travel expenses incurred as a requirement of the job. Any travel outside of the district will also have to be approved by Manning and the employee's immediate supervisor. The out-of-district pay for travel will be at a rate of 30 cents per mile.
The personnel committee's recommendation called for payment for travel expenses incurred as a requirement of an individual's job. It also called for prior approval for travel. This recommendation was not discussed by the board.
In other business, the board approved a recommendation from Manning limiting meal reimbursement. The meal reimbursement will be determined by length of absence in accordance with the legislative joint audit guidelines. The policy calls for $5 reimbursement for breakfast; $8 for lunch and $10 for dinner. Board members unanimously approved the recommendation from Manning.
The board also unanimously approved the renewal of the contracts for the district's four principals and extended Manning's contract for an additional year to 2007. Manning also updated the board on a $50,000 grant the district is receiving for instructional-based improvements at Palestine-Wheatley Junior High School.
"Thanks to Mrs. (Dionne) Britton, we've received a $50,000 instructional based improvement grant at the junior high school, and we've also been told that the grant will be extended for another two years, giving the district a total of $150,000 in grants for instructional based improvements at the junior high," Manning said.
By DAVID NICHOL
T-H Staff Writer
After several days of testimony, a trial involving people claiming to have been injured by an explosion at a chemical plant in West Helena in 1997 has been continued.
Circuit Judge L.T. Simes made the announcement this morning in the St. Francis County Courthouse, where the trial is being held.
"The court has to take care of other court business, which is going to require that this case be continued until April 12, 13, 14 and 15," Simes told the jury. Court will convene at 9 a.m.
Simes admonished the 12 jurors and three alternates, "This is going to be an extended recess. So I again remind you of the instructions I have given you repeatedly throughout this trial."
He reminded jurors that they are not to discuss the case with anyone. "That includes your fellow jurors. That includes members of your family, people involved in the trial or anyone else."
Simes said if anyone tries to talk to them about the case or even tries to discuss it in their presence, they should report it immediately. He said they are also not to read or listen to any media reports about the trial.
"Ladies and gentlemen, it is important that we do justice in this case," he said. "This case has to be decided on the testimony you hear in this courtroom."
After court dismissed, Simes said he didn't want to discuss the reasons for the continuance any further, except to say, "All parties were agreeable to the rescheduling of the case."
The suit, which includes numerous plaintiffs, is against BPS, Inc., Bartlo Packaging Co, Inc., Micro Flo Co. Inc., BASF Corp. Allen Bartlo, president of Bartlo Packaging and Steve Groves, employee of BPS.
The explosion in question took place on May 8, 1997 at BPS Inc. in West Helena. Three firefighters from the West Helena Fire Department were killed at the site.
The suit claims that the explosion and fire produced smoke and other materials which contained toxic materials.
According to the suit, the EPA and OSHA conducted an investigation, which concluded the incident probably occurred because a decomposing bag of a particular insecticide was placed close to a hot compressor discharge pipe.
The suit claims negligence. It further claims that the plaintiffs were harmed by the discharge of toxic chemicals. The suit also claims that the dangers were misrepresented to firefighters.
The plaintiffs are seeking relief for permanent partial impairment, past and future medical expense, pain and suffering, mental anguish, loss of ability to earn and past and future lost wages. There is no specific amount in the request.
An elderly Heth woman was robbed Monday afternoon as she got into her car outside a local bank.
The Forrest City Police Department reported Bernabin Beasley, 86, had just exited the main office of the First National Bank of Eastern Arkansas at 101 N. Washington when the incident occurred about 3:44 p.m.
Beasley told police that when she got into her car, which was parked in a handicapped zone, a black male entered on the passenger side and took her purse, which contained her wallet. According to police, a weapon was not used in the theft, and Beasley was not injured.
A bank employee told police she had noticed a suspicious black male subject in the bank's parking lot when she returned from lunch about 1:30 p.m. The suspect is described as a black male, six feet tall and weighing about 195 pounds. He was wearing khaki pants, a long-sleeve shirt and a cap.
The FNBEA is offering a $1,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person responsible for the theft. In addition, anyone with information may contact Forrest City Crimestoppers at 261-1499. All information will remain anonymous.
The Forrest City Police Department will once again host illusionist Jim Princeton for an evening of family fun and education on Friday, Feb. 27 at the Forrest City Civic Center.
The doors will open at 6 p.m. There is no charge.
Also appearing will be David Silverman and his Amazing Birds and Robby the Robot.
The family-oriented program will not only entertain, but touch on subjects such as the dangers of drugs, alcohol and violence.
There will also be health and education booths set up around the building with material on health, wellness and seat belt safety.
Any organization that would like a booth should call Lt. Eddie Adamson at 870-633-3434 so arrangements can be made.
This program is being paid for in part by a Juvenile Justice Grant from the Arkansas Department of Human Services-Division of Youth Services.
The board of the Forrest City Housing Authority will meet at 5 today at 805 Mann St.
The Palestine City Council is scheduled to meet at 7 tonight at city hall.
On Wednesday, the St. Francis County Democratic Central Committee will meet at 2 p.m. to set the filing fees for the May Primary.