By DAVID NICHOL
T-H Staff Writer
Early voting for the upcoming primary elections began Saturday at the St. Francis County Courthouse, almost a week later than it started for most counties in the state.
Early voting was to have begun on Monday, May 3.
Early voting is being held in the County Clerk's office. The times will be Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. until 6 p.m. There will also be early voting on Saturdays, from 1 p.m. until 4 p.m.
The last day for early voting will be Monday, May 17. The primary election will be held Tuesday, May 18.
Absentee ballots are also available at the clerk's office, although there has been a change in the number of ballots a person can carry out. The number has been reduced to two. Previously, a person could pick up as many as five absentee ballots.
The arrival of the ballots was seen as good news and a relief.
"The ballots got here Saturday, and they all look okay," said Joe Young, chairman of the county election commission. "The voting started at 1 o'clock and went very smoothly.
"We were glad to be able to start some early voting Saturday. They were there waiting for the ballots in the clerk's office," Young continued. "I'm really relieved. It was a lot of pressure, and I hope it doesn't happen again."
A representative from Election Systems and Software had said late last week that the ballots were expected to be on hand Saturday.
St. Francis County was one of four counties out of 75 in the state to experience delays in early voting, according to the Associated Press. A computer glitch was blamed in Phillips County. In Craighead County, it was claimed that the delay occurred because election commissioners did not have time to meet. In Clark County, officials blamed the printing company.
In St. Francis County, there was some finger-pointing between officials and ES&S, with each blaming the other for the ballot problems. The company claimed that it received the information for the ballots late. ES&S also claimed that of the counties for which it prints ballots, St. Francis County was the only one which experienced delays.
Locally, officials blamed computer problems with the company. One complaint was that the ballot used in St. Francis County was not compatible with the printing company's program.
St. Francis County Judge Carl Cisco said Friday said that there had been ballot delays for three consecutive elections, and stated that he is looking into the option of employing a person who would have elections as his or her primary job. Currently Judy Armstrong is in charge of the elections, but is not full-time.
In Phillips County, the delay prompted a lawsuit by a quorum court member, seeking additional early voting time to make up for the time lost.
The Forrest City School Board will meet tonight in regular session, preceded by a public meeting on a much-debated proposal to close the Caldwell campus and possibly reorganize the Madison elementary school. campus.
The public hearing will begin at 5:30 p.m., and will take place in the library of the junior high.
Under the plan, students currently attending Caldwell School would attend classes at the old Stewart Elementary building, starting with the 2004-2005 school year. Portable buildings would also be used for some elementary classes on the old Stewart campus.
The campus at Madison currently houses fewer than 100 kindergarten and first grade students.
That school would become a preschool-only facility and the current students would be absorbed into other elementary classes in the school district, according to Superintendent Lee Vent's proposal.
The regular school board meeting is scheduled to begin at 6:30 p.m. The school district reorganization plan is also on the agenda for discussion at this meeting.
Other items on the board's agenda include personnel policy change recommendations for both certified and classified employees, and a review of changes to the student handbook.
The St. Francis County Sheriff's Department is trying to determine how a county jail inmate working as a trusty ended up with marijuana.
The trusty was working with two other inmates on the courthouse lawn when the drugs were discovered.
SFCSD Chief Investigator Glenn Ramsey said the trusty was observed picking up a small aluminum foil package from the street, and the marijuana was discovered when police opened the package.
The investigation is continuing.
Two more independents have filed for city positions, one in Forrest City and one in Wheatley.
Clifton Avant has filed for Forrest City Alderman from Ward 1, Position 2.
John L. Clifton has filed for alderman in District 7, Position 3 in Wheatley.
The independent filing period ends May 17.
Police are investigating an alleged robbery over the weekend at Audy's Used Cars at 909 W. Broadway.
According to the police report, Audy Williamson reported that about 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, a man came to the door and said he wanted to look at a vehicle on the lot. William said he unlocked the office door and let the subject in. The subject then allegedly demanded money and threw Williams to the floor.
The man allegedly took $8 from Williamson's billfold and about $4 in change from his pocket. The man then fled on foot.
Williamson was not reported injured.
The Forrest City Civic Center Commission is scheduled to meet at 5 o'clock this evening at the Civic Center.
The Madison City Council meets at 7 tonight, and the Hughes City Council will meet at 7:30 p.m. Each meeting will be held at each city's city hall.
On Tuesday, the Forrest City Advertising and Promotions Commission will meet at 2 p.m. at the Forrest City Area Chamber of Commerce office.
Two city councils will meet at 7 p.m. Tuesday. The Palestine City Council and the Caldwell City Council will each convene at the city halls in those cities.
On Thursday, the Colt City Council is scheduled to meet at 6 p.m. at city hall, and the Wheatley City Council is scheduled to meet at 8 p.m. at city hall.
All meetings are open to the public.