By DAVID NICHOL
T-H Staff Writer
The filing period ended Tuesday, with several county-wide races coming up, most of them in the May 18 Democratic Primary.
St. Francis County Judge Carl E. Cisco will face a primary challenge from Author B. Witherspoon.
There are three candidates for St. Francis County Sheriff and Collector. Incumbent Dave Parkman and challenger George L. Cochran Sr. will face off in the primary. The winner will go against an Independent, John Heckler, in November.
County Clerk Elizabeth Smith is being challenged in the primary by Paul Spears. Also, Ann Harbin, the county treasurer, has a primary opponent in Tammy Talley.
Circuit Clerk Bette S. Green, County Assessor Craig Jones and County Corner James T. Meredith, M.D., are unopposed for reelection. Sitting Judge Steve Routon is unopposed in a non-partisan election for District Court Judge.
Two races have developed for JP positions on the Quorum Court. Incumbent Sam L. Armstrong is being challenged by Luther H. Lieblong in District 4. Incumbent Donald Cage faces a challenge from Ronnie E. Crider in District 11.
The rest of the JP's are unchallenged, including Charles Jones, of District 1, B. McCollum Jr. of District 2, Jack B. Crumbly of District 3, Evans Seawood Jr. of District 5, Gary L. Hughes (new candidate) of District 6; Regan Hill of District 7, O.J. Gandy of District 8, Earlene McKissick Smith of District 9 and Leodis Williams of District 10.
On Widener city council, incumbent Carl Winters is being challenged by Abron Pitts for Position 1.
Three people have filed for constable of Franks Township. They are Hoyt Parham, Harry "Junior" Mathes and Thomas Barnes. Two have filed for constable of Garland Township -- L.T. Gardner and Vester L. Steele. Two people -- Odell Lucas Sr. and Jimmy McKee -- have filed for constable of L'Anguille Township.
A total of four people have filed for constable of Madison Township, including Robert Smith, Billy Gene Ray, Willie Tinzie Jr. and Tony Jenkins. Two filed for constable of Telico Township -- Billy Pillow and James L. Thomas. The rest of the constable positions are unchallenged.
Numerous people also filed for positions on the St. Francis
County Democratic Central Committee.
By DAVID NICHOL
T-H Staff Writer
The Forrest City Rotary Club heard a report on efforts to finance a Fine Arts Center at East Arkansas Community College -- particularly an upcoming concert by the Beach Boys.
Dr. Coy Grace, president of EACC, introduced David Cohn, who along with Forrest City Grocery Co., is bringing the Beach Boys to Forrest City.
"Most of you know, that for a long period of time now, we've been discussing and planning for the building of a Fine Arts Center on our campus," Grace said. "That is going to happen. It's just a question of exactly when it's going to happen....(Cohn) is going to talk a little bit about the Beach Boys, and we're thankful to him for bringing them to Forrest City."
Cohn said he first met the Beach Boys about 20 years ago.
"I was at a concert and got an opportunity to go backstage. And one of the Wilson boys -- Carl -- was there at the time," said Cohn. "And I went backstage and hung out with those guys a while and we just hit it off. And one particular member of the two that are still active was Bruce Johnson (and Mike Love). Bruce and I have stayed in contact probably on an every other week or monthly basis for the last 20 years. We've agreed to do a lot of business around the country. He's always thinking and planning."
Cohn said during many of their talks through the years, he has said he wished he could get them to come to Forrest City.
"We talked on and talked on, and about a year ago I said, 'Bruce, we've got to get you guys down here. I've got an idea. I want to do a fundraiser, and I don't know how to tie it together," he said.
"I just knew it would be something that would be fun and exciting and big for this town," he said. "Well, one day Dr. Grace and some other gentlemen came to see me and they were talking about the future of this Fine Arts Center. And just instantly, it came to mind -- Fine Arts Center, how do we kick it off, how do we raise? I told them I'd think about it. So I thought about it, and got with the guys in the band and threw the idea out at them. And got back with Dr. Grace. So as you've probably heard, May 26, myself and my company are sponsoring and paying for bringing the Beach Boys into Forrest City."
It will be on a Wednesday. There will be a dinner, catered by Corky's at the Forrest City Civic Center. Then everyone will move to the new junior high auditorium, which seats about 850 people for a Beach Boys concert.
Tickets will be $200 per person for VIP seating (in the front eight or so rows), and $150 for regular seating.
Cohn announced that 307 tickets had already been sold. A sellout will raise around $120,000.
"I don't know if any of you have seen them (the Beach Boys)," he said. "It is the most fun, fantastic music, it will relate to all ages. They are popular with everyone."
Grace then told the Rotarians, "What David didn't tell you is, we had a meeting one afternoon and this came up. By the next morning he called us. He had the food, he had the room, he had the band. He had done all that. David is the kind of person who gets things done."
Also speaking was Dr. Dale Morris, telling about another event coming up sooner. Don and Ellen Edmondson are underwriting a performance of "The Fantasticks," one of the most popular musicals of all time. The show will be locally produced by the EACC Drama and Music Departments.
There will be three productions of "The Fantasticks," on April 23, 24 and 25. On Saturday, April 24, there will be a special dinner theater performance at the Civic Center, at $50 a head. This will also go to help the Fine Arts Center. The other two performances will be at the EACC Lecture Hall.
"It has been performed in every state in the Union, and in 67 countries," said Morris.
The Fine Arts Center, when complete, will seat around 1,100
people. It will be fully equipped for stage productions.
By KENDALL OWENS
T-H Staff Writer
The St. Francis County Democratic Central Committee agreed Tuesday afternoon to hold a rally next month at the Forrest City Civic Center for political candidates in the May 18 primary election.
Members of the DCC voted to hold the rally on Saturday, April 17, at 6 p.m. at the Forrest City Civic Center.
"This is something that we always do for the candidates, and we have to try to keep it away from the last week before the election because that's when they are busy campaigning. The last time we did it we had a good turnout," said DCC chairman Bettye Proctor.
The DCC agreed to spend $1,500 on the rally which will be held in the auditorium at the civic center.
The committee also agreed Tuesday, to place $2,000 of the $9,748 collected in filing fees for the primary election, into the committee's savings account. According to Proctor, the move was made to increase the balance in the account to over $5,000 which is where the balance was when she became chairman.
Committee member Ed Chauvin also discussed next week's poll worker training classes which will be held in the quorum court room at the St. Francis County Courthouse on Monday and Tuesday from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
According to Chauvin, poll workers who attend the classes will receive $100 in pay for working the May 18, primary, while those who don't will receive $75. Chauvin also said that the pay for the primary election will be reimbursed to the county by the state, which will pay for six poll workers at each of the county's polls. Chauvin raised some concerns over who could work at the polls. According to Chauvin, questions have been asked over family members of candidates working in connection with the election.
"This is an area that we have to be really careful with. Spouses and children of candidates are not supposed to be working elections, but there are some questions even about that. That's what this class next week is going to help clarify. I do know that candidates have 10 days before the election to file a grievance over who the poll workers are going to be," Chauvin said.
Committee member Joe Young suggested that a list of all poll
workers be published in the newspaper prior to the election allowing
candidates the opportunity to see who would be working the polls.
Elizabeth Smith today announced she is a Democratic candidate for a third term as County Clerk of St. Francis County, subject to the Democratic Primary that will be held on May 18.
Smith has over 36 years experience in the county clerk's office, with four and a half of those years as clerk. She began her years of service during the tenure of Dorothy Bernard. When Bernard died in 1985, Smith was appointed to complete the remainder of Bernard's term, serving 15 months as clerk. At the end of that term, she returned to the position of chief deputy clerk where she served until December of 1999. Smith was elected county clerk in May 2000 and took office on Jan. 1, 2001.
The county clerk is responsible for personnel records and payroll for the county, accounts payable, marriage licenses, monthly tax distributions, final tax settlement, voter registration and passport applications. The county clerk also serves as Ex-officio Probate Clerk, which includes decedent's estates, guardianships, adoptions, trusts, commitments and small estates.
Smith is certified under the Arkansas County Clerk's Continuing Education Program and attends classes annually for updates and changes in the laws that govern her office.
"I enjoy working with people, and I am very pleased when I have helped someone to solve a problem or have steered them in the right direction," said Smith. "As my campaign slogan has been, and is, I am committed to good service for all. My office works closely with the quorum court, as the secretary to the court. The clerk is also the secretary to the equalization board. I work closely with each elected official in preparing financial and budget records for the county and look forward to continuing a good working relationship with each and everyone. My staff and I continue to serve the public in a courteous and efficient manner. I ask for your vote and support on May 18."
Smith is a member of Ragland Memorial Presbyterian Church where she serves as secretary/treasuer, pianist and Sunday School superintendent. She is a member of the Forrest City Lions Club and presently serves as their first vice-president. She is a member of the East Arkansas Gospel Music Association and sings with The Harmony Trio.
Smith has two sons, John E. "Johnny" Smith Jr. and
James Ray Smith. John and his wife, Pattie have a daughter, Angie
Ingold; a son, Wesley Jackson and four grandchildren, Trey and
Chris Colvin, and Katie and Allison Jackson. James and his wife
Marveta also have a daughter, Debby Smith and a son Jay Smith.
Smith's sons and their families live in St. Francis County.
Quorum Court Justice Earlene McKissick Smith announced today her candidacy for reelection to the St. Francis County Quorum Court as a Democratic candidate.
Smith states that the knowledge and experience she has gained in the last six years as a quorum court justice has been rewarding as far as making sound decisions to move the county forward.
Smith is currently serving as chairperson of the personnel committee, a position she has held since 1998. She also serves on the steering committee for the St. Francis County Boys and Girls Club, which she said will hopefully open this summer. Smith is a member of the NAACP and a member of the National Association of Blacks in Criminal Justice. Also, she has attended the Arkansas State University Leadership School in Jonesboro and participated in a government forum in Washington D.C., as one of the representatives of the county and sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce.
Smith is a graduate of the University of Memphis, receiving degrees in business and paralegal law. Additionally, she and her husband, Douglass, are the owners of Affordable Insurance, D&E Fashion and the Tax Center of America.
Smith asks voters in JP District 9 for their continued support,
and adds, "If you need to reach me, I'm only a phone call
away."
The first of two classes for designated poll workers will be held on Monday, April 5, from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. in the quorum court room at the St. Francis County Courthouse.
All poll workers must attend either the class on Monday, or a second class on Tuesday, April 6, from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. in order to receive an extra stipend for working the primary election on Tuesday, May 18.
Attendees to the session will also receive a booklet relating to conducting an election in accordance with federal and state laws. There will be no testing at the sessions.