By DAVID NICHOL
T-H Staff Writer
The Forrest City School Board is being asked to consider a major reorganization of the school district, which could involve the complete closing of two campuses and going to grade-level schools.
Superintendent Lee Vent confirmed this morning that he has sent a memo to school board members suggesting the changes.
"The proposal that I included in the memo includes closing Caldwell, Forrest Hills and Madison schools." said Vent.
Madison, however would remain open to serve as a pre-school center, along with the ABC school.
The remaining schools would be grade-level, meaning all the classes of a particular grade would be at one location.
Under Vent's proposal, which he stressed is a rough draft, grades 9-12 would meet at the high school. Grades 6, 7 and 8 would meet at the junior high; grades 4 and 5 would meet at Lincoln; Stewart would house grades 2 and 3 and Central would handle kindergarten and first grade.
"Madison would be a pre-school, and we would absorb Caldwell and Forrest Hills," he said.
"Grade level buildings would certainly enhance staff development," he continued. "It would be nice to have all the same grade level teachers in the same building. It would also totally integrate the district."
He said the reorganization, if it is eventually adopted in part or in whole, would not be done in a rush.
"No decisions have been made, but we here in the central office have been ooking at this," said Vent. "There are pros and there are cons to the idea. We will probably have a public hearing to look at some proposals. In fact, I recommended a public hearing in my memo to the school board. But we do need to start thinking about it."
Vent said the proposals would save the district money on transportation and maintenance. But he said he also believes it would help the school district in adjusting to new standards and in complying with the No Child Left Behind Act.
"The overall idea behind it is that we need to start improving the delivery system," he said.
When asked if there would be any crowding problems or metal buildings used, he said the only possible problem he sees would be at Stewart.
"The only place we would have a problem would be at (new) Stewart, and perhaps we could work with the old Stewart campus temporarily. And I believe that would include moving one metal Chapter I building from the Lincoln Campus to the old Stewart building."
The changes would put ninth graders back in the high school building. Currently the junior high building houses grades 8 and 9.
"It's been that way since the fire in 1998," said Vent. "When we had the fire (which destroyed a gym and cafeteria along with some classrooms) we had to reorganize."
He said, "This is basically food for thought. But we need to start looking at some serious reorganization in the district."
By TAMARA JOHNSON
Managing Editor
A lieutenant with the Forrest City Police Department has been suspended as the result of his January arrest for driving while intoxicated. In the meantime, his case is being appealed to circuit court.
Following a meeting Friday with FCPD Chief Clarence McNeary and Executive Lt. Bobby Carter, Lt. Frank Frymire was suspended for 30 days without pay, after which he is expected to resume his normal duties as a police officer.
Frymire was officially charged with DWI and reckless driving on Jan. 21, after a near head-on collision Dec. 29 on Highway 1 North near Caldwell. Frymire's blood alcohol level registered at .22, almost three times the legal limit of .08.
Frymire was scheduled to return to work today from a two-week vacation that began the week his attorney, Frank Morledge, entered the plea of nolo contendere to the charge on Frymire's behalf in St. Francis County District Court on March 15.
First Judicial District Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Chris Morledge said Frymire was not required to appear in court on the charge because it is a misdemeanor, and defendants are not required to appear on misdemeanors.
According to state law, "a plea of nolo contendere shall be received only from the defendant himself in open court, except that counsel may enter a plea of guilty on behalf of a defendant in misdemeanor cases where only a fine is imposed by the court." However, Frymire was not required to appear at the March 15 hearing, nor did he ever appear before a judge on the charges prior to the plea being entered.
A $1,000 appeal bond was set immediately following the nolo contendere plea, meaning the case will now continue in circuit court, and is expected to be on the docket for the term beginning April 26.
"He is scheduled to be reinstated the first week of May," McNeary said of Frymire's suspension. "He was scheduled to return to work today from a two-week vacation, but he started serving his disciplinary action this morning."
McNeary also said the 30-day suspension is all of the disciplinary action that is going to be imposed in the case. "This is the extent of the punishment," McNeary said.
By TAMARA JOHNSON
Managing Editor
The autopsy has been completed on the body of a Forrest City man found last week in the St. Francis River, but crime lab technicians are awaiting final test results before making an official ruling in the case.
Search and rescue officials found the body of James "Jamie" Paul Clark downstream from the Big Eddie Hill bridge near the Newcastle community last Wednesday afternoon.
Clark, 30, had been missing since Tuesday, March 16, when he was last spotted on the river levee near Widener by a state trooper. After running a routine check on the license plate of Clark's 1994 pickup, the trooper reportedly discovered Clark's driver's license was suspended and drove back to Widener where he reportedly began looking for the truck and driver. Clark's abandoned truck was located less than an hour later near the bridge.
"I have been advised by the State Medical Examiner's office that there are no signs of trauma to the body," said St. Francis County Chief Investigator Glenn Ramsey. "The autopsy has been completed, but the lab is awaiting the results of toxicology tests. They are waiting until they get all of the evidence before they make an official ruling."
By DAVID NICHOL
T-H Staff Writer
A Little Rock woman died in a collision Sunday morning on Interstate 40 near Palestine.
Stephanie Ann Self, 32 was killed when a vehicle crossed the median and struck her vehicle.
According to Cpl. Kelvin Stewart of the Arkansas State Police Troop D, headquartered in Forrest City, the accident took place at about 9:40 a.m. near the 228 mile marker.
A 1992 Ford Taurus, driven by Lisa Doane, 18, of Colt, was traveling west on I-40, when her vehicle crossed the median and struck a 1998 Honda Civic driven by Self.
Both vehicles spun around and landed in a ditch. Stewart reported that Self was trapped in the vehicle and had to be extricated. The Forrest City and Palestine Fire Rescue units were called to the scene to assist state police.
Two other people were injured. It was reported that one passenger in the Doane Vehicle, 18-month-old Charlie Partain, of Colt, was transported to Memphis.
There was no information as of press time on the hospital to which he was taken or his condition.
A passenger in the Self vehicle, David Michael Self, age unknown, of Little Rock, was treated and released at Baptist Memorial Hospital-Forrest City.
Lisa Doane reportedly refused treatment at the scene. Other passengers in the Doane vehicle were not injured. They included Alan Doane, 24, Cada Partain, 3 and Sierra Partain, 2. All are from Colt.
Stewart said the accident is still under investigation.
The Arkansas Municipal League has released county and municipal sales tax receipts for February.
St. Francis County government received $143,035.52. Also receiving shares of the county sales tax were: Hughes, $28,348.98; Forrest City, $224,331.94; Wheatley, $5,648.54; Palestine, $11,251.52; Madison, $14,986.84; Caldwell, $7,060.68; Colt, $5,587.80 and Widener, $5,086.70.
Towns in the county that have their own sales taxes recorded receipts of: Forrest City, $168,217; Hughes, $7,792.73; Madison, $2,093.97; Palestine, $4,570.61 and Wheatley, $4,580.28.
Four more St. Francis County residents threw their hats in the ring for political office Friday in filings reported by the St. Francis County Clerk's Office.
District Court Judge Steve Routon filed for reelection to the position of District Court Judge as a non-partisan candidate. Joining Routon in filing for the May 18, election were a pair of constable candidates, Tony Jenkins, who filed for the position in Madison Township and Jimmy McKee who filed in the L'Anguille Township. Jennie Hartman also filed Friday and is seeking a spot on the Democratic Central Committee.
The deadline for filing in the May primary election is tomorrow, Tuesday, March 30, at noon in the St. Francis County Clerk's Office. Early voting is slated to begin on Monday, May 3, from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday in the Clerk's Office and on Saturdays from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
The Forrest City School District will hold a kindergarten and preschool registration roundup on Friday, April 2, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Mustang Arena on the campus of Forrest City High School.
Parents must bring a current shot record, the registering child's birth certificate, social security card and a physical exam record from a doctor. To enter kindergarten, children must be five years old on/or before Sept. 15. For students entering the preschool program at the ABC School or Madison preschool, children must be four years old on/or before Sept. 15., and children entering the three year old program at the ABC School must be three years old on/or before Sept. 15.
Prizes will be given to all children whose parents complete and return kindergarten applications at the roundup and the St. Francis County Health Department will be open to administer shots from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.