By KENDALL OWENS
T-H Staff Writer
The Circle of Friends Powwow will go on this weekend despite rumors that the event would be canceled or postponed due to budget issues that surfaced earlier in the week.
Officials with the Powwow and the St. Francis County Museum met with St. Francis County Judge Carl Cisco this morning, at which time it was determined that the event would take place without the sponsorship of the St. Francis County Museum.
According to Anita Widby, chairman of the museum's board of directors, the decision for the museum to step away from the event was made after the event's organizers, Frank and Cinda Brent, failed to complete contractual obligations for fundraising.
"The event will go on this weekend, and we wish them all the luck in the world with it. We just can't be involved as a sponsor because they were not able to fulfill their fundraising obligations for their budget," Widby said.
"Despite our budget woes, the event will go on this weekend and will go off without a hitch. Some of the performers and vendors are already here, and others are enroute, and we're expecting to have a good showing," said Frank Brent.
The museum stepping away from the Powwow will also cause funds raised under the auspices of the museum, to be returned. According to Museum Director Laura Mazzanti, all funds, including $1,000 in funding from the Forrest City Advertising and Promotions Committee, will be returned.
"We served as fiscal agent for the event, and with us stepping out, the board thought it would be best if the funding that was raised through us as a sponsor be returned," said Widby.
While the museum pulled its support, Cisco offered to attempt to help raise some funds to assist the Brents with the Powwow. According to Cisco, the county will also donate portable restrooms for the three-day event which will be held for the third consecutive year at the Wiley T. Jones Fairgrounds.
Although the museum removed its sponsorship for this year, Widby said that a similar event could be in the plans for the future. According to Widby, board members are planning to form a committee to look into the possibility of forming a Native American festival of some sort.
"We will be forming a committee to look into possibly forming a similar event because we can see great potential in the Powwow. We have several individuals in the area that would be great on the committee because of their Native American heritage, and we could always talk with the people over in Parkin at their park to get input," Widby said.
Widby also asked for the assistance of the Brents with the future event.
"Whatever we do in the future, we want to make sure that you're invited. We want the people in the Circle of Friends to be involved. We want to get input from you all. But this will be a museum event, and the museum will be in charge of all of the fundraising and the scheduling for the event," Widby said.
The Circle of Friends Powwow will be held Friday, Saturday and Sunday at the fairgrounds and will feature Native American crafts and demonstrations.
By ALAN SMITH
T-H Staff Writer
A new zone code for Forrest City was reviewed and passed by the Forrest City Planning Commission on Tuesday.
Chairman Danny Capps opened discussion of the new code, which is the first revision of the city zoning codes since 1996. "One of the things that I like about the new revision (which is dated Jan. 20, 2004, and was done by Urban Planning and Associates) is that it addresses the cell phone towers more indepthly.
"Also it addresses the issue of small lots," said Capps. "We have some very small lots in the city and with the restrictions of set-backs and other things, landowners can't build. I'm not sure what can be built on those lots, but this will help them."
Forrest City Code Enforcer Chester Crossen spoke of another major change that he hopes will clarify parking lot requirements. "We had a section of the zoning ordinance book that dealt with parking lot requirements. It was about 30 pages long. That was a headache looking through all of those pages and trying to determine what the ordinances were in regards to a business' particular needs. Now that section is simplified to two pages."
According to Crossen, the current book is called a "zone ordinance" book, and the proposed book is called a "zone code" book. This was discussed, and it was determined that while it was not called an ordinance, the codes will be law because the Forrest City City Council must adopt it through an ordinance.
Commissioner Ken Patterson asked Crossen about a more defined landscape buffer requirement, which is an area between commercial zones and residential zones that is required to be left vacant with landscaping.
"I would like a definition to what makes up landscaping," said Patterson. "Is it a tree, some bushes, or just grass? I would also like to change the ordinance. Should we have the same ordinance for a business that has big trucks loading and unloading all the time that we have for a doctor's office that is butting a residential zone?"
Crossen suggested that a change that would fit all businesses would be difficult to have written.
Capps then added that maybe Urban Planning and Associates could give the members a better idea of what other communities have as their landscape buffer requirements. The commission voted to accept the new zone code book with the condition that the landscape buffer be more and better defined by Urban Planning Associates.
The next step for the code book's approval will be through the Forrest City City Council.
George Cochran has announced that he is a candidate for St. Francis County Sheriff and Collector.
Cochran, a father of four, has been employed with the Forrest City Police Department for more than 15 years, serving as the animal control officer for 12 years. Cochran has also served as Madison Township Constable for 12 years and with Auxiliary Search and Rescue for six years.
Cochran, a life-long resident of St. Francis County, said he is running because "I am dedicated to serving the residents of St. Francis County. I believe my years in law enforcement have prepared me to serve the citizens as sheriff of this county."
Ann Gadberry Harbin has announced that she is a Democratic candidate for the office of St. Francis County Treasurer in the 2004 Democratic Primary to be held May 18.
Harbin is seeking reelection to her fifth term as County Treasurer.
A lifelong resident of St. Francis County, Harbin has been employed in the Treasurer's Office for 17 years, having served as Chief Deputy Treasurer for nine years, prior to being elected to the office of Treasurer in 1996.
"Knowledge and experience in the day-to-day operations are essential in carrying out the duties of the office to which I am seeking reelection. I am very knowledgeable of the laws that govern the Treasurer's Office," Harbin said.
"I enjoy working with people and will continue to be sympathetic to the people's needs and assist them in any way I can," she continued. "This job is very rewarding in that I am a servant to my community.
"I value the trust which was placed in me when elected in 1996, and I would appreciate your vote and support as I ask the voters of St. Francis County to reelect me to this office on May 18, so that I may continue to serve you," Harbin said.
Harbin has completed a financial management course and a quality management course. She has received the Treasurer's Certification program and several continuing education updates through Southern Arkansas University Tech in Camden.
A graduate of Forrest City High School, Harbin is an active member of First Baptist Church, where she teaches Sunday School for 2-year-olds.
She is a member of the Arkansas Treasurer's Association; an active member in the Forrest City Lions Club; serves on the Advisory Board for State Land Commissioner Mark Wilcox; a member of the Forrest City Area Chamber of Commerce; serves on the ACE Business and Industry Retention Committee; serves on the Steering Committee for the Boys and Girls Club of St. Francis County; and is also a board member for the St. Francis Literacy Council, where she serves as treasurer.
She is married to John Harbin. They have two children, John and Sarah, along with three grandchildren. She is the daughter of Ralph and Virginia Gadberry who are also lifelong residents of Forrest City and St. Francis County.
A Forrest City man was killed and three other people were seriously injured Tuesday in a three-way collision on Highway 1 south of Wynne.
According to the report by the Arkansas State Police, Freddie Willis, 49, of 210 E. Buford in Forrest City, was traveling south in a Nissan SUV, when he crossed the center line.
The Willis vehicle struck a northbound Toyota pickup head-on. The truck was driven by Nikki Rivas, 29, of Wynne. The impact caused the Rivas vehicle to turn and strike a Mercury driven by Darlene Perez, 31, of Colt.
Willis was killed in the crash. Rivas and Perez were airlifted to the Med in Memphis. No information on their conditions was available at press time.
Also in the Rivas vehicle was a 2-year-old male child, name unknown. The child was airlifted to LeBonheur Children's Hospital in Memphis, and his condition is unknown.
Several more people have filed as candidates in the May 18 Democratic Primary.
Ronnie E. Crider has filed for the St. Francis County Quorum Court in JP District 11. He is not an incumbent.
The following incumbents have also filed for Quorum Court positions: Charles Jones, JP District 1; Regan Hill, JP District 7; Leodis Williams, JP District 10.
There were two filings for positions on the Democratic Central Committee. Vance Beasley filed for JP District 2, Position 1, and Lamar Bridges filed for JP District 10, Position 1.
In addition, Vester L. Steele filed for constable of Garland Township.
Counterfeit $10 and $20 bills have been reported passed at two locations in Forrest City.
According to the report from the Forrest City Police Department, both incidents apparently happened Tuesday afternoon. One was reported at Northside Liquor, 304 Barrow Hill Road. An employee of the store, April Thompson, reported that she gave a customer change including a $10 bill. The customer came back later and said he had tried to use the $10 bill at a local restaurant and was told it was no good.
Thompson said the bill was in her register and she did not know it was counterfeit, and reported the incident.
In the second incident, Lisa Colvin Beltran, an employee at Taco Bell, was closing down the restaurant at about 1:05 this morning. She was counting the money in the cash drawers when she came across some 10s and 20s that didn't look right to her.
She reported checking the bills with a counterfeit pen, and two $20 bills and one $10 bill were counterfeit.
All the bills involved in both incidents have been submitted to the U.S. Secret Service.