By KENDALL OWENS
T-H Staff Writer
The end of summer may bring with it the long-awaited opening of the new Highway 1 bypass in Forrest City.
Construction on the project is expected to resume at full force next week, and projections could see the thoroughfare open around the Labor Day holiday, according to an official with the Arkansas Highway and Transportation Department.
Progress this spring has been slow, but according to AHTD District Engineer Ray Woodruff with AHTD, that should change soon.
"The progress on the bypass hasn't been much here of late, but we're expecting that to change within the next week. The crews should be back out and started full force next week, and that will leave us with maybe three months to get the majority of the work completed," Woodruff said.
"Once the major work is completed, we may be able to open the bypass by Labor Day," he said.
According to Woodruff, the stop light at the intersection of the bypass and Hwy. 1 north near Caldwell, will give area residents an idea when the opening of the roadway is near.
"The light out there at the intersection won't be activated until the bypass is ready to open. What we will do, is set the light to flashing mode about a week before we actually open the intersection. That will give drivers notice that the light is about to be fully activated, which will happen when the bypass is opened," Woodruff said.
Elsewhere across the district, work is about to begin on another portion of Hwy. 1, as crews get started on the bridge work and widening of Hwy. 1 near Wynne. According to Woodruff, construction crews will begin work on the bridges next week before dirt work on the road project can begin.
"We're expecting the work on Hwy. 1 to start back next week. The bridge work is really getting close to completion, and once that is done, people will start seeing more dirt work done and more actual work to widen the road," he said.
Work is also progressing on Interstate 40 where crews have been paving and replacing a pair of bridges west of the Parkin exit.
"We're virtually finished with the pavement, and that went really well. Now, they are concentrating on that westbound bridge," said Woodruff.
The district is also seeing one new project about to begin with the replacement of a bridge on Hwy. 50 south of Round Pond. Last week, AHTD officials accepted a bid of $2.1 million to replace the bridge from Plains Bridge Contracting of Yukon, Oklahoma. The bridge crosses the Burnt Cane Creek on Hwy. 50.
By DAVID NICHOL
T-H Staff Writer
The St. Francis County Election Commission on Wednesday certified a recent recount of the May 18 primary. The commission also decided on fewer polling locations for an upcoming Aug. 3 special election.
The recount was done last Thursday.
"We felt like we needed to do it over and we did," said Joe Young, the commission chairman. He said there was an error in one computer chip which kept one precinct from being counted, and also seven uncounted ballots were found.
"It changed no outcome to any of the elections," Young said. "The tallies on the extra votes ran in the same percentage as the former votes. It just added a few numbers on the vote. Anyhow, we have to certify that count, and that's what we're here for today."
Young said it was hoped that the problem with the computer chip could be corrected quickly.
"Also, we feel like we need a computer hooked to our system here so we can get our precincts segregated like we want them to be, and I'm going to ask the Quorum Court to let us buy one," Young continued. "We've had this problem in the last two elections. We didn't really get all of our precincts in our boxes segregated so we knew how each one voted. Whether it's a computer chip or we've got to have another computer, whatever, we've got to have it, and we've got to have it straight by the next election."
In other action, the commission agreed to use fewer voting locations for the Aug. 3 special election, because a light turnout is expected.
"It's going to be a lonely, lonely day" at the polls, Young predicted.
The election will decide whether to allow Forrest City to over a four-year period. Although the vote will affect Forrest City only, the tax itself is county-wide, meaning the entire county must vote on the issue.
Early voting will be handled again at the County Clerk's office.
The other voting locations will be as follows:
All Forrest City wards, plus Courthouse East and West, will vote at the civic center.
Hughes City and Country, Rawlison, Heth and Blackfish will vote at the Hughes Community Center.
Madison, Widener, Mosley and Round Pond will vote at the Colt Community Center.
Colt, Caldwell and Pine Tree will vote at the Colt Community Center.
Palestine, Wheatley and Goodwin will vote at Twin Assembly Church in Palestine.
Commission member Bettye Proctor said the ballots for the Aug. 3 election have already been ordered and should arrive in plenty of time.
A Marianna man was arrested in Forrest City Wednesday night on drug charges stemming from a month-long investigation by the First and Third Judicial District Drug Task Forces.
An undercover narcotics investigator reportedly purchased crack cocaine on three separate occasions during the past month from Rayvon Thomas, 33. Thomas' address is listed as Marianna, but he was allegedly selling the crack cocaine from a room at the Arden-Ann Lodge on East Broadway, according to the arrest report.
Thomas was arrested just before midnight Wednesday on four counts of delivery of a controlled substance.
He is scheduled to be arraigned in St. Francis County District Court on Monday, June 7.
The DTF also reported the arrests of three individuals on drug charges just after midnight today, but the details of those arrests are sketchy.
According to records at the St. Francis County Sheriff's Department, DTF officers arrested Donald Glen Williams, 21, 620 S. Rosser St.; Antione Wilson, 26, 207 Dogwood St., and Sampson D. Cunningham, 24, 2117 Crawford, all of Forrest City.
Williams is charged with possession of a controlled substance with intent, crack cocaine and criminal conspiracy to deliver a controlled substance.
Wilson is charged with delivery of a controlled substance, crack cocaine.
Cunningham is charged with possession with intent, resisting arrest and three counts of delivery of a controlled substance. He is also being held on outstanding failure to appear warrants for the Forrest City Police Department.
By ALAN SMITH
T-H Staff Writer
Local artist Beatrice McEwen and the St. Francis County Museum will offer a six-week course called the "Drawing for Fun Camp" to children ages eight and older this summer. The hope is that local children will develop a love for drawing and art through the program which begins Monday.
McEwen has had her art featured since 2000 at the museum each February in honor of Black History Month, along with other local artists. She also participates in the art contest at the St. Francis County Fair, has had her works featured at East Arkansas Community College, Arkansas State University in Jonesboro and in West Memphis,
"For some of the children, this will be a new introduction to drawing," said McEwen. "For others, this will be a chance for them to refine their skills and develop a stronger base in drawing. No previous art experience is necessary, and the six different weekly camps will explore a variety of drawing skills that are applicable to all skill levels.
"The reason that we are having six different classes is so that it can be worked around people's vacation plans," stated McEwen. "Each week we will offer something different. To start, we will draw to emphasize that drawing is fun to do. Then we will begin drawing things in nature and focus on history and culture. Since we are holding the classes in the museum, it seemed like a great opportunity to focus on the historical and cultural objects that are there."
There will be an open house for the program on Friday from 12 to 4 p.m. at the museum. According to McEwen, she will be on to answer questions. "The children and their parents can talk to me about the program, meet the museum staff and get a supply list. There will be small door prizes and some of the craft items that will be made during the camps will be on display.
"I am also looking for volunteers," continued McEwen. "Especially teenagers. I'm looking for teenagers who have an interest in art and like dealing with children. If you are interested, please come and speak to me at one of the open house events."
The price per student is $75 per week for each camp. While the museum was trying to secure funding for one-week scholarships for the program, no responses have been received. According to Museum Director Laura Mazzanti, anyone interested in sponsoring a scholarship or for information on eligibility for a scholarship, should contact the St. Francis County Museum at 870-261-1744.
The program will run from Monday, June 7, through Friday, July 23, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday at the museum. The price per week excludes materials for the camps. Space is limited to 12 students per week and will be assigned on a first come, first served basis.
McEwen encourages all those who are interested in the program or to be a volunteer to visit her at the open house event. "This is a way that I can meet the children and parents, and get feedback on what they are looking to get from the program," added McEwen. "The Drawing for Fun Camp is another way for parents to give their children something constructive to do and keep them out of the streets this summer."
A new business, M&M Quick Lube, will open soon in the old Goodyear building, at the corner of Washington and Garland streets in Forrest City.
According to Mike Lawrence, the owner, a grand opening will be held, probably right after July 4.
The business will deal mostly at first with oil changes and lube jobs, "for people who are just looking for some place to get their oil changed quickly, at a decent price," said Lawrence, who added that he has been in the car service business since 1997.
Eventually the business also plans to offer tires and rims, detailing and automotive air conditioning service.