By DAVID NICHOL
T-H Staff Writer
The City of Forrest City has a budget for 2004, but it isn't the budget that has been discussed and argued over since early December.
Faced with a deadline of Feb. 1, by state law, to have a working budget in place, the council met in special session on Thursday and adopted a budget using the same figures as the 2003 budget, with an eye toward amending them later. The vote was unanimous.
Mayor Larry Bryant was not present, and council member Cecil Twillie acted as mayor pro tem.
The council's actions will delay, but not do away with, the pay raises which were part of the proposed 2004 budget. These salary increases included a 3 percent, across-the-board raise, while some selected positions -- such as the heads of the Public Works and Street departments -- were to receive more than 3 percent.
Other adjustments had been included in the proposed budget, such as more pay for umpires in the city's baseball and softball program, and adjustments in starting salaries after a probationary period.
A committee charged with bringing Forrest City's salaries in line with other cities of similar size had earlier come up with some suggestions for uniformed employees. However, the members agreed that there is still a lot of work to do concerning non-uniformed positions.
Alderman Brent Ponder, who serves on the committee, explained what was happening.
"The parity committee decided to leave the salaries as-is, without the 3 percent (or any other) increase at the moment, until the committee completes (looking at the salaries of) the other employees of the city, and adjusts everything accordingly."
He said the salary increases would then be made retroactive to Jan. 1 of this year.
"And at that time we will give employees at least their 3 percent increase," Ponder continued. "And we plan to have this resolved by the second meeting in February."
That would be the regular scheduled meeting on Tuesday, Feb. 17.
Alderman Roger Breeding said it was necessary for the city to pass some kind of budget to be in compliance with state law.
City Attorney Alan Cline said that revenues and expenditures other than salaries are not a problem, but adopting the 2003 numbers will give the city a working document. As for amending the budget later, he said, in effect, that it is almost a matter of course.
"There's nothing wrong with amending a budget," said Cline.
"It happens all the time."
"Every year," Breeding agreed.
The council had failed Tuesday, on a 4-4 vote, to pass a budget which had included some of the raises. Bryant wanted to go ahead and pass the budget, but some council members balked, saying there was too much unsettled.
The 2003 budget figures, which were adopted as the 2004 figures and will be amended later, called for expenditures of $8,806,574. The original proposed 2004 budget, which was set aside, called for expenditures of $8,987,200.
Forrest City Bank has announced that Sherry Eason, a 15-year employee with the bank, has been named to the FCB Board of Directors.
Eason, who also serves as vice president of administration and corporate secretary for FCB, has 19 years of experience in banking, and has lived in Forrest City for 24 years.
She is a graduate of the Barret School of Banking.
In addition to her banking work, Eason is a member of the Lindauer Road Church of Christ. She has been a volunteer for the American Heart Association for many years, and has served on the East Arkansas AHA Committee for the past five years. She has served on the St. Francis County and Forrest City drug prevention program committees.
She is married to Roger Eason, who is director of the University of Arkansas Pine Tree Experiment Station. They have four children.
"I am certainly gratified personally that she has been selected for the board," said John Stipe, president and chairman of the bank. "Our stockholders, our other directors and employees and our customers are all fortunate to have a person such as Sherry Eason to serve the bank in this capacity as well as being vice president of administration and corporate secretary."
Stipe continued, "Her education in banking, plus her experience, will add needed depth to the board."
"It's an honor to be asked to serve on the Board of Forrest City Bank," said Eason, "and I'm grateful for the opportunity. Our customers are our family, and I enjoy being a part of our hometown bank team."
By ALAN SMITH
T-H Staff Writer
Representatives of several Delta cities and organizations met Thursday afternoon in Hughes to begin discussing ways to help revitalize the city.
Hughes Mayor Donnie Mooney began the meeting by saying, "What we are all here for today is to start a revitalization program in Hughes. We have decided to have Mr. (Ed) Snider (with Arkansas Business Consultants of Arkadelphia) help us make a plan for our revitalization. We (in Hughes) are concerned with our housing, our water and sewer, and several other problems."
Among those in attendance were St. Francis County Sheriff Dave Parkman, Turrell Mayor Franklin Lockhart and the Widener Police Chief Shelly Beiber. Mooney said the reasons these men were invited is because they serve small communities and are familiar with the problems Hughes is facing.
Snider discussed some of the problems cities in the Delta have. "I work to try and develop Arkansas. I grew up here. Billy Bunn of Bunn Builders has asked me to help him with the projects that he has in Hughes." According to Snider, Bunn has several housing development projects in the area, and is wanting to begin another, a 24-unit complex called Hughes Meadows Apartments.
"Today, we want to get some traction on what we have in Hughes. The truth is, Eastern Arkansas is losing a lot. We are talking about an uphill challenge, and it is a difficult one. It is a common fact that if you ask anyone about their hometown they will say that they like it the way it is and they don't want it to change. I will say that more businesses have closed in Hughes in the past 20 years than are here now. I will also say that there are more people who are buried here than live here. And it's not just here. We are talking about not just helping Hughes, but all of St. Francis County, Phillips County, Crittenden County, etc. It takes time to get to where we need to be."
Jay Robinson of the Arkansas Department of Economic Development (ADED)spoke to the group about the Arkansas Community of Excellence (ACE) program.
"In the ACE program, you hold public meetings to identify your city's strengths and weaknesses," said Robinson. He then asked for five strengths and five weaknesses as examples. The group listed city leadership, the ability to get along, education, police protection and churches as strengths. Weaknesses listed were under-developed areas, lack of infrastructure, lack of jobs, housing and lack of economic opportunities.
After the discussion, Robinson continued, "We have to use our strengths to improve our weaknesses. One small thing that can be done is how the area looks. Clean things up. It shows people that we care about where we live. With that, and some housing, people from outside our community might choose to move here to the Delta."
Snider spoke about several projects that are in the works to improve Hughes. "The mayor says that Hughes needs a library. I may be able to help with that. Billy Bunn said that if he gets the new project, he would be willing to put some shelves in an existing building for a library. The mayor says he has a person who is willing to come in and run the library.
"Another possibility is to have college courses taught by satellite hook-up at the community room in the proposed apartment complex. The University of Arkansas at Monticello has a grant of over $1 million to spend in the Delta for classes for an Associate of Arts degree through Internet classes or distance learning. They also have scholarships."
Snider addressed another possible solution to a major problem in Hughes unemployment.
"If you were a young man or woman and able-bodied, would you catch a bus in Hughes to go to a good job in Memphis? Maybe you would catch a bus for $4 a day for five days a week to go to work. I have spoken to a number of businesses in Memphis and they say that they would hire workers from Eastern Arkansas, but many of those workers have transportation problems. What I am talking about can work." Snider added that $4 a day was an estimate for the bus rides.
Snider also said questionnaires will soon be mailed to Hughes residents in their water bills. The questionnaires will ask who lives there, are they looking for a job, what skills they have and do they need transportation.
Snider cautioned the group to not rush things. "We are not talking about having this all done by July 1. We may be dead and buried when it happens, but we want to plant a seed for future generations. Revitalization will come in three steps. The first is the ACE program, second is transportation for people in Hughes who want to work in Memphis and third is bringing jobs to the area."
A community meeting on the ACE program will be held Tuesday, Feb. 17, at 6 p.m., at the Hughes Community Center. Mooney requested Hughes residents send recommendations for city-wide improvements to his office by Tuesday, Feb. 10, to be included in the meeting.
By KENDALL OWENS
T-H Staff Writer
A Forrest City man already facing charges of first-degree murder and battery involving the death of a Forrest City woman last year, was arrested Thursday after allegedly assaulting a couple on St. Francis County Road 204.
According to a report at the St. Francis County Sheriff's Department, deputies were called to the residence of Raymond and Charlene Ellis after Justin Busby, 24, 5114 Highway 70 West, allegedly shoved Raymond Ellis into an entertainment center. According to the report Charlene Ellis told deputies that when Busby left the residence and entered the yard, he pulled a handgun and threatened her with it.
Busby was arrested at the home of Donnie R. Jarrett, 5114 Hwy. 70 West and charged with criminal trespassing, third-degree battery and aggravated assault. During the arrest, drugs were found in the Jarrett home. Jarrett, 42, turned himself in to authorities Thursday night after members of the First Judicial District Drug Task Force found methamphetamine at the residence. According to Lt. Randy Julian, director of the DTF, the team was dispatched originally to assist county deputies in apprehending Busby.
"We were called in just to assist the county with Mr. Busby, and while we were there, we received a limited consent to search the premises. At that time, we spotted several items used in the manufacture of methamphetamine and then got a search warrant for the property," said Julian.
Busby is currently being held in the St. Francis County Jail on his most recent charges. He is scheduled to appear in circuit court in May on charges of first-degree murder, first-degree battery and leaving the scene of an accident after the death of Tonya Baker in March of last year. Scott Wright, 33, is also charged in connection with that death.
According to police reports, Baker and her brother, Jason Taylor, 28, both of Forrest City, were driving a 1988 Plymouth van along with their mother, Dena Rains, Baker's husband Clarence and Steven Wilkins when they allegedly drove to Scott Wright's residence on Highway 70, stopped on the side of the road and started cursing and yelling at Busby.
Deputies reported Busby and Wright, got into Busby's 2003 Ford pickup and started following the van which drove to the intersection of County Roads 204 and 221 where it stopped and everyone but Wilkins got out of the van. The county roads intersect just behind Casteel Cemetery on Highway 70 West near the Hamilton-Moses Steam Electric plant.
According to the report, when Busby drove by the van, the group allegedly began cursing, hollering and throwing rocks at Busby's pickup. Witnesses told police that Busby drove down the road for a short distance, stopped and watched as Scott Wright allegedly motioned with his hand for him to begin backing up. Deputies reported Busby was looking out the back window of his pickup as he drove backward "very fast." The right rear side of Busby's pickup struck Taylor on his legs before the truck hit Baker. Baker was carried backwards on the tailgate until she was pinned between the truck and the van. Baker died at the Med Center in Memphis a short time later.