By DAVID NICHOL
T-H Staff Writer
The East Arkansas Community College Board of Trustees on Thursday gave its approval to several new certificates and associate degrees.
The new programs still have to be approved by the state.
They include: Technical Certificate in Business Systems; Technical Certificate in Microcomputer Maintenance/Repair; Certificate of Proficiency and Technical Certificate in Microcomputer Systems Administration; AAS Degree, Technical Certificate and Certificates of Proficiency in Environmental Health and Safety Technology.
"The work here has been done," said Dr. Coy Grace, president of EACC. "We'll submit this to the Department of Higher Education, which will present it to the Higher Education Coordinating Board, hopefully resulting in its approval."
The programs were all approved unanimously.
On another matter, the board heard from Alan Burns and Tiffany Morelock, two of the students who participated in an exchange program between EACC and Norton Radstock College in Bath, England.
The students prepared a multimedia presentation on their trip. Jan Haven, vice president for Academic Affairs at EACC, told the board that the students were excellent representatives.
"I just want to brag on them a little bit," she said. "They prepared this (presentation) when they returned. They were just wonderful ambassadors for our college."
She added that not anyone can get into the exchange program.
"Let's just say they applied to go," said Haven. "They had to write a 500-word essay. They had to have at least a 3.0 grade point average, and they were interviewed."
Grace also informed the board that the most recent audit reported no findings.
"That's three out of the last four years," Grace said. "I'm glad to report that."
Grace joked, "I take no responsibility for it," and then added seriously, "We have good people in the business office and student services area who are able to keep the records that matter, according to the regulations, so we did not have any findings. So they are to be commended."
It was reported that the Summer II enrollment stood at 366 as of Thursday.
Terry Crawford, who is working with the college's capital improvement project, reported that the recent school production of "The Fantasticks" had raised $12,450, and another recent event, a Beach Boys concert raised around $142,500 in all. The figures are gross receipts.
The board was also informed of the resignation of Jeanette
Moore, custodian, and the retirement of Jauwiece McGuire, music/education
instructor.
By ALAN SMITH
T-H Staff Writer
Preparations for the 2005 school year have already begun at schools in St. Francis County with some registrations for fall beginning next week.
Crowley's Ridge Technical Institute will begin registering students on Monday, July 12, from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Early registration is encouraged since most programs are limited to 20 students, according to CRTI officials. Classes at that campus will begin on Aug. 17.
At East Arkansas Community College, students may begin registering for classes and meeting with advisors on Wednesday, Aug., 11, and continue through Tuesday, Aug. 17. Faculty advisors will be in their offices beginning on Monday, Aug. 16. The period for dropping a class, adding a class or for late registration will run from Wednesday, Aug. 18, through Tuesday, Aug. 24. Additionally, there will new student orientation on Tuesday, Aug. 10, and Wednesday, Aug. 11.
The four area high schools also have plans for student registration.
At Forrest City High School, a fee of $5 for a lock is due at registration and all fines must be paid, according to school officials. Students registering after Aug. 13 will be assessed a $10 fee. All 10th grade students should be prepared to take a student ID picture at the time of registration.
The registration date for sophomores is Wednesday, Aug. 4, from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Juniors and Seniors will be allowed to register on Thursday, Aug. 5, from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and on Friday, Aug. 6, from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
In the Palestine-Wheatley School District, parents must register their child in person at the high school between 7 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. for all grades.
Seniors with last names beginning with A through H only, will register on Monday, July 12. On Tuesday, July 13, registration will be held for seniors with names beginning with I through Z only.
PWHS juniors whose last names begin with A through H may register on Monday, July 19, and those with last names beginning with I through Z should register on Tuesday, July 20.
Sophomores with last names beginning with A through H will register on Monday, July 26, with the remainder of sophomores registering on Tuesday, July 27.
The Hughes School District is encouraging parents to attend registration with their child because the district is trying to provide free lunches for all students, and in order to do this, the parents must complete a form.
Registration will be held for all grades on Tuesday, Aug. 3, from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m.; on Wednesday, Aug. 4, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and on Thursday, Aug. 5, 12 p.m. to 7 p.m.
At Calvary Christian High School, registration is currently under way Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 12 noon at the elementary school office located at 1611 North Washington.
By ALAN SMITH
T-H Staff Writer
Grant funding to improve the kitchen at the Wheatley Civic Center and to purchase a new mosquito fogger were discussed during the Wheatley City Council meeting Thursday evening.
Mayor Larry Nash told councilmen of a matching grant the city might be eligible for through Arkansas Rural Development. "There is a matching grant of up to $15,000 that we can apply for through rural development," said Nash. "With the match from the state, it could be $30,000 that we could have to improve the civic center kitchen. I would like to get a new stove, refrigerator and ice machine for the center. I don't have any estimates on how much it would cost, but I don't think that it would cost $15,000.
"The grant can be used for things like parks and community buildings," commented Nash. "I thought about having the park landscaped, but we are doing okay with that. Our other centers seem to be doing fine also. The civic center could stand the remodeling."
Councilmen gave Nash permission to get cost estimates on the project and to pursue the matching grant.
Nash then discussed another grant that the city has received from the East Arkansas Enterprise Community of $2,700. He told councilmen that he feels the money would be best used to purchase a new mosquito fogger.
"I would like to get a new fogger for the city with the EAEC grant money," stated Nash. "Our old one is about 20 years old and it does do a good job, but it has problems and a new one should work better."
Several council members questioned if the spraying for mosquitoes was doing any good. "I feel that it is," Nash responded. "It does some good because after he sprays at night, you can tell a difference the next day. But if its rains like it has so much here recently, nothing is going to do much."
Nash said he would like to purchase an 18-horsepower fogger that costs $7,500. He suggested that the difference, $4,800, could be paid out of the city's portion of the county sales tax revenue.
The members unanimously agreed with Nash and voted to purchase the new fogger.
A former used car salesman has been sentenced to 10 years in prison on drug charges.
Rickey L. Steward, 44, 537 SFC 333, Forrest City, on Thursday pled guilty to charges stemming from arrests in February and May of this year.
In February, agents with the First and Third Judicial District Drug Task Force arrested Steward for simultaneous possession of drugs and firearms, possession of drug paraphernalia with intent to manufacture methamphetamine, possession of a controlled substance, methamphetamine, possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of anhydrous ammonia in an unlawful container. He was released on a $25,000 bond.
On that arrest, the charge of simultaneous possession of drugs and firearms was reduced to a Class C felony, and the remaining charges were merged into one for which Steward pled guilty and was sentenced to 10 years in the Arkansas Department of Corrections.
In May, Steward was arrested again on drug charges. This time he was charged with possession with intent, methamphetamine; drug paraphernalia and simultaneous possession of firearms and drugs. The charges were also reduced to Class C felonies to which Steward pled guilty. He was given another 10 year ADC sentence, but it is set to run concurrently with the sentence on the February charges.
According to DTF information, Steward's May arrest followed a lengthy undercover investigation during which the suspect bought methamphetamine from a DTF agent.
Another case involving Steward stemmed from a January arrest after Steward had called 911 claiming that he was being followed by someone who had hit him. A county deputy responding to the call stopped both vehicles, after which Steward failed a field sobriety test and was arrested for DWI on a controlled substance and refusing to be tested. On a motion by the state, those charges were nolle prosequi.
The East Arkansas/Forrest City Chapter of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) will host a basketball camp, July 12-14, at two locations -- First Baptist Church and First United Methodist Church in Forrest City.
Registration will be held at First Baptist Church, beginning at 8 a.m., Monday, July 12.
The cost per camper is $25 or $45 for two from the same family and $60 for three from the same family.
The basketball camp is open to all students entering the third through eighth grades in the fall and will run from 9 a.m. until 12 noon each of the three days.
Forrest City native and longtime Hendrix College (Conway) men's basketball coach Cliff Garrison, who is being inducted into the Forrest City Athletic Hall of Fame in September, will hold the camp, which will also include former Forrest City Lady Mustang standout Caronica Randle, who is attending UCA.
For more information about the camp, call Dante Wright at 870-882-9112.
Eleven Forrest City juveniles will have their day in court soon after two sets of arrests by the Forrest City Police Department Thursday.
According to a report from the FCPD, seven teenage boys between the ages of 14 and 16 were arrested on charges of disorderly conduct in connection with an argument that occurred at 114 W. Buford Street.
According to the juvenile affidavits, the teens were cursing and attempting to provoke a fist fight. When officers attempted to intervene, several of the teens allegedly continued cursing and all involved were then arrested. There were two 14-year-olds, including one picked up on a separate charge of disorderly conduct; three 15-year-olds and two 16-year-olds involved in the incident.
Police officers also arrested four juveniles on Thursday in connection with the theft of several bicycles from the Forrest City Wal-Mart last month.
According to the affidavit from the FCPD, officials with Wal-Mart noticed the thefts on June 19 as security personnel checked surveillance tapes. Four boys, one 11-year old; two 12-year-olds and a 13-year-old, were charged with delinquency after taking four bicycles out a door on the east side of the building. Three of the boys admitted to their parts in the theft, while the 11-year-old did not. One of the 12-year-olds involved also admitted to returning to the store the following day and stealing a chain and lock for the stolen bike.