By DAVID NICHOL
T-H Staff Writer
Things are looking good for a golf course and lodge at Village Creek State Park, the Forrest City Kiwanis Club was told Wednesday.
Bill Thomas of Wynne, with the Cross County Economic Development Corp., was a guest at the weekly meeting.
Thomas said a committee of the State Parks Commission had recommended last week to accept a lease with a developer with three contingencies: That the lease is approved by the attorney general; that the lease also goes through the Legislative Council; and that financing is arranged. The committee recommended that the state put in $7 million for the construction of the golf course part of the project, he said.
"This being a public-private venture and the first in the state of Arkansas, the legalities as to how to put the money in has some issues," said Thomas. "It can be done."
He said the commissioners were committed to building it, and reminded the audience that a golf course was included in the original plan for the park back in the 1970s.
He said the exact location of the golf course and lodge is not known yet. Some of the park sits in St. Francis County. "As you know, St. Francis County has the ability to issue certain kinds of bonds, because it's in an Enterprise Community, which allows the developer to take advantage of tax-exempt financing," he said.
At the same time, "Right now in the St. Francis County part of the park, there is not infrastructure -- there's no roads, no water, no sewers," he continued.
According to Thomas, an evaluation team will be arriving this Friday to tour the park and give a complete report.
"They will do a full analysis, dealing with the Old Military Road and the Trail of Tears, and the EZ bonds and what additional infrastructure monies we might possibly get for roads, sewers, etc....Where it's going to be built at this time -- Cross County, St. Francis County, both counties -- honestly I couldn't tell you. No one can tell you," Thomas said. "An evaluation will be made of what type of infrastructure is needed and how much of it they're (the developer) going to have to pay for."
Another thing that has to be done quickly is a topological survey. Thomas said the state has such a survey, but it isn't detailed enough.
"The developer needs a one-foot elevation topography, and it needs to get done before the leaves get on the trees" so the land can be overflown, he said. Thomas also said the state already has environmental studies from when the park was built, when cabins were installed and roads put in.
"There are certain parts of the park we have to stay away from," he said. "But the environmental impact statement has already been done."
When asked what his best guess would be, given a best-case scenario, with everything happening in a timely manner and no hang-ups, Thomas said, there could be ground broken, "in six to eight months."
Baptist Memorial Hospital-Forrest City recently began construction on a new Women's Center that will be located on the second floor of the hospital.
The center, which is scheduled to be complete in August, will feature new, private labor, delivery and recovery rooms equipped with advanced technology, an evaluation-triage area, a level II nursery, women's health education classrooms and many other amenities, according to a BMH-FC press release.
The Women's Center has been designed to meet the needs of women through every stage of life, and promote family centered care in Eastern Arkansas, according to BMH-FC Administrator and CEO Paul Cade.
"This is a very important expansion project that we have been anxious to begin for some time," said Cade.
"We have spent many months carefully planning this overhaul of our women's facility to meet our commitment to provide advanced care and services to women of all ages close to home," he added.
Baptist Forrest City also recently opened the Baptist Sleep Disorders Laboratory, located on the first floor of the hospital. The lab provides diagnostic and treatment services for sleep-related breathing disorders, such as obstructive sleep apnea, and offers all-night polysomnographic monitoring and daytime nap testing.
Baptist Memorial Hospital-Forrest City joined the Baptist network in 1983.
A year later, construction began on the 118-bed facility on its 55-acre site, and in 1986, Baptist Forrest City opened its doors to St. Francis County and surrounding areas.
In addition to the newly -pened sleep disorders lab, the hospital offers a geriatric behavioral unit, home care and hospice services, general surgery, internal medicine, pediatrics, obstetrics, gynecology, physical therapy, orthopedics, radiology and cardiology, according to Cade.
For more information, call (870) 261-0006 or visit www.baptistonline.org to see a rendering of a new room in the Women's Center.
By DAVID NICHOL
T-H Staff Writer
Filing fees for Democratic candidates in St. Francis County will remain the same as in the last election.
Meeting Wednesday afternoon at the county courthouse, the SFC Democratic Central Committee briefly discussed the filing fees. Chairman Betty Proctor said the fees are lower than many other counties, and have not been raised since 1998.
Joe Young, a member of the DCC, said as long as the fees were raising the necessary funds, they don't need to be increased.
The fees were approved with no dissenting votes. They are as follows: County Judge, $786; Sheriff/Collector, $786; County Clerk, $706; Circuit Clerk, $706; County Treasurer, $706; County Assessor, $706; County Coroner, $101; Justice of the Peace, $95; Constable, $36; Democratic Central Committee, $10; Mayor-Widener, $40; Alderman-Widener, $40.
The Democratic filing period will be from March 16 through noon on March 30.
"It's really a low sum, compared to other counties," said Proctor, "but I think we do a good job."
In other matters, the committee was reminded of the convention to be held March 6 in Hot Springs. There was also some discussion over a possible rally before the May 18 primary.
Criminals already given a second chance to pay on outstanding fines in First Judicial Circuit Court have just one more day to bring their fines current or paid in full. Failure to do so could result in jail time for some defendants as Circuit Court prepares to open on Monday.
According to St. Francis County Fine Collector Annie Washington, between 20 and 25 individuals have failed to take advantage of an extension granted last month to bring their court fines current.
"Last month, several people were granted extensions until Feb. 17, to bring any fines they had up to date. Due to a trial that was taking place, that date was pushed back to Feb. 27 (tomorrow). We still have somewhere between 20 and 25 people who have not taken advantage of the extension," Washington said. "Those who were ordered to pay their accounts in full will have until the 27th to pay them or a pick-up warrant will be issued. At that time, they will have to go before Judge (L.T.) Simes and explain why they didn't pay."
In Circuit Court on Friday, Simes will hear plea and arraignment cases before the 21-page docket begins on Monday.
Anyone needing more information on back fines may contact Washington's office at 261-1700.