By KENDALL OWENS
T-H Staff Writer
Residents in Forrest City and the surrounding area who have been under a boil order since Sunday can finally drink the water.
According to Forrest City Water Utility Manager Jim Beazley, the precautionary order was lifted this morning after samples were cleared by the Arkansas Department of Health.
"We were expecting to have everything cleared yesterday afternoon, but we didn't get the call until this morning. The Department of Health called us this morning and told us that every sample we had sent them was clean. If we would have had a bad sample in the bunch, then we would have had to start the process all over again and test for two consecutive days to get a clean sample. All in all, this worked out well," Beazley said.
The original precautionary order was issued at close to 11 p.m. Saturday night after a 12-inch water main burst in the industrial park. Beazley said earlier this week that the order was issued as a precautionary order after the pressure in one of the utility's tanks dropped to zero. According to officials with the ADH, anytime water pressure drops to zero, a precautionary boil order is necessary because water that leaks out of pipes on a normal basis can seep back into pipes possibly bringing contamination into the system.
"Basically, no system is 100-percent leak proof. There is always some leakage and when a system falls to zero pressure then some of that leakage can leak back into the system. We issued the order under the assumption that might have happened so that we could be safe," said Harold Seifert with ADH Monday.
At a meeting of the Forrest City Water Utility Commission Tuesday, Beazley told commissioners that one of the contributing factors to Saturday's problem was repair work that is being done on the city's 1.6 million gallon tank. Beazley also suggested that the utility add a 12-inch line that would run north and south so that water can feed in both directions.
More candidates have filed for positions at the St. Francis County Clerk's office.
Four incumbents have filed for reelection to positions on the quorum court. They are; B. McCollum Jr., for JP District 2; Jack B. Crumbly for JP District 3; Earlene McKissick Smith, for JP District 9; and Donald Cagle, for JP District 11.
In addition, a new candidate Gary L. Hughes, has filed for JP District 6 on the quorum court.
The position for constable of Madison Township has drawn three candidates. Billy Gene Ray and Willie Tinzie Jr. have filed, joining Robert Smith.
Other filings for constable include Danny L. Smith, Johnson Township and James Roberts, Prairie Township.
As the March 30 deadline approaches for candidates to file for political office, the deadline for getting announcements in the Times-Herald and East Arkansas Advertiser is also approaching.
"Announcements must be submitted by noon on March 31," said Tamara Johnson, managing editor of the Times-Herald. "If we are inundated with announcements near the deadline, we will run them as we have room after the deadline."
People wishing to announce their candidacy after noon on March 31 need to do so through the newspaper's advertising department.
A Madison man is facing several charges after being arrested this week by members of the St. Francis County Sheriff's Department.
According to a report from the SFCSD, Morris H. Perkins, 28, of Madison, has been charged with possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver, simultaneous possession of drugs and firearms, possession of a defaced firearm, three counts of endangering the welfare of a minor, possession of a controlled substance near a certain facility and felon in possession of a firearm in connection with the arrest Tuesday.
He was scheduled to appear in District Court this afternoon.
David Cohn and Forrest City Grocery Company are bringing the Beach Boys to Forrest City in an effort to raise money for a new fine and performing arts center at East Arkansas Community College.
The date is Wednesday, May 26. The event will begin with a dinner at the Forrest City Civic Center at 6 p.m., catered by Corky's. The Beach Boys concert will begin at 8 p.m., and be held at the new Forrest City Junior High auditorium.
"What a night we have planned," stated a press release. "This will be an event you will talk about for years."
People are urged to order tickets as soon as possible. VIP tickets ($200 each) are limited and can only be purchased through a committee member.
The committee includes:
*David & Marsha Cohn -- 633-1336.
*Beth Bridgforth -- bbridgforth@eacc.edu
*Beth Loeb -- eloeb@eacc.edu
*Terry Crawford -- 633-4480 ext. 214
*Dr. Dale Morris -- 633-8881
*Oral Edwards -- 633-4369
*Carol Dillahunty -- 339-2847
*Mary Ella Riley -- 238-2361
*Becca Baxter Whitehead -- 633-4480 ext. 201
*Alice Barnes -- 633-1485
*Buddy Billingsley -- 633-4941
*Chris Quinn -- 633-4146
All checks should be payable to EACC Foundation at 1700 Newcastle Road, Forrest City, Ark. 72335 (Attn. Terry Crawford).
All proceeds will go to the Fine Arts Building project at East Arkansas Community College in Forrest City.
VIP seats are $200.00 each and ensure a seat on the first eight rows. All other seats are $150.00 each. Dinner and the concert are included in the ticket price.
The Forrest City Jr. High auditorium only has 868 seats, so folks need to make their reservations quickly.
The St. Francis County Slimathon is drawing to a close with the final weigh out scheduled for Friday, March 19, 2004 at Baptist Forrest City from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.
This was sponsored by Baptist Memorial Hospital and the Farm Bureau Women's Committee with the goal of promoting optimal health and nutritional status among area residents. Both sponsors have encouraged weight loss through a balanced low-calorie diet and increased energy expenditure.
The weight lost during the event will be computed by percentage, rather than by total pounds lost, in order to keep the competition fair to all involved. Identification will be required in order to weigh out.
Any team member not weighing out will be figured in as zero. Results of the contest will be announced on Monday, March 22, 2004.