By DAVID NICHOL
T-H Staff Writer
About 500 people got out their walking shoes Friday night and continued walking through Saturday morning as part of the Relay for Life. The annual event helps raise money for the fight against cancer.
The Relay, held at Sam Smith Stadium, had a goal of $25,000 this year. According to Kathy Meredith, one of the co-chairs, that goal was far exceeded. While all the figures aren't in, she said more than $40,000 was raised.
"It was wonderful," said Meredith. "We are so proud of how much we raised, and so proud of the support we got throughout the community. And without community support we could not have done it. We also appreciate all the publicity from the local media, and help by the school district, letting us use the football field. Everybody was just wonderfully supportive."
The Relay for Life began at 7 p.m. Friday and continued until 7 a.m. Saturday. Along with the walkers, there was food, other refreshments and face painting, with all proceeds going to the American Cancer Society.
The Forrest City High School's NJROTC color guard helped get the event started, presenting the colors as Sammy Hernandez sang the National Anthem. The traditional Survivor's Walk took place after that, followed by the different teams.
Every year, prizes are given in several categories. This year's winners were: Team Spirit -- Palestine-Wheatley High School Student Council; Walked All Night -- Gamma Theta Chapter, Beta Sigma Phi; Best Food; Mike Lawyer State Farm; Best Campsite -- Stewart School; Most Money Raised -- Delta Beta Sigma Sorority, $8,270.
By KENDALL OWENS
T-H Staff Writer
Municipal and county leaders in St. Francis County and across the Delta have been put on notice by the West Helena City Attorney to begin using the city's landfill or face possible lawsuits.
According to a letter from Andre K. Valley, attorney for the city of West Helena, area garbage disposal companies have been diverting waste that should be disposed of at the West Helena Regional Landfill to the Crittenden County Regional Landfill. The letter claims that any diversion of the waste is a breach of contract for which the municipal entities are responsible.
"The subcontractor represents you, and you are the party that is ultimately responsible to the City of West Helena to insure that all of your waste stream flows to the West Helena Regional Landfill for it to be disposed of the by the City of West Helena. When your waste stream is diverted from the West Helena Regional Landfill to the Crittenden County Landfill, not only may it be a breach of contract, it also has elements of fraud, deceit and theft," the letter claimed.
While the City of West Helena contends that garbage contractors have been violating East Arkansas Solid Waste District regulations, St. Francis County Judge Carl Cisco said that to his knowledge, carriers for the county and municipalities have followed the regulations regarding garbage disposal. According to Cisco, haulers have used the Crittenden County Landfill, but only under cases where weather has prohibited the companies from using the West Helena Landfill.
"As far as I can tell, the companies that operate here have been in compliance with the rules and regulations laid out by the EASWD last year. They've only been diverting waste when the weather has kept them from dumping in West Helena, and they've made the phone calls that they were required to make and followed the proper channels before diverting the garbage to Crittenden County," Cisco said.
"When it rains, it is difficult for them to get their equipment into the landfill in West Helena and the companies have had damage to their vehicles because they have to be towed into and out of the dump by backhoes and tractors. They were given permission to bypass the West Helena Landfill last year when the weather had made entering the landfill impassable," Cisco said.
According to Joe King with King Disposal, the garbage carrier for St. Francis County, and Mike Barkley with B&B Disposal, who also handles waste disposal for some cities in St. Francis County, each company has followed EASWD regulations.
"As far as I know, we're in compliance with the rules and regulations, and that's as much as I can say," said Barkley this morning.
"I have followed all of the stipulations set forth by the Solid Waste District and when I have had to use an alternate dumping facility, I have notified the County Judge's Office and the Solid Waste District and okayed it with them," King said.
The letter also alleges that in excess of $200,000 in disposal fees are past due and owed to the West Helena Regional Landfill. West Helena Mayor Johnny Weaver and Valley were unavailable for comment this morning.
Area mayors are pitching in to help bring prostate cancer awareness to St. Francis County with The Mayors' Prostate Cancer Campaign Kickoff on Tuesday, May 25, at the Forrest City Civic Center, beginning at 6 p.m.
According to a press release from the Arkansas Prostate Cancer Foundation, five counties were chosen to focus the Mayors' campaign. The counties were selected based on their high prostate cancer mortality rate, the percentage of medically underserved, demographics and race, rural designation, percent of population uninsured or on Medicaid, and access to care. The campaign is a two and one-half month campaign informing men of the risks and prevention of prostate cancer as well as encouraging men of appropriate age to get a prostate screening.
Participating mayors include Forrest City Mayor Larry Bryant, Palestine Mayor Willetta Carroll, Madison Mayor James Brooks, Colt Mayor Virgil Keeler, Wheatley Mayor Larry Nash, Widener Mayor Dot Halford, Hughes Mayor Donnie Mooney and Caldwell Mayor Gary Hughes.
A man was charged with aggravated assault and terroristic threatening after police were called twice to the residential care facility where he lives.
Police were first called to Forrest Hill Residential Care Facility at 1803 Lindauer on Friday, where it was reported that one of the patients was fighting with employees.
The patient, Jake Adam Petty, 36, was calm when police arrived, but according to the report, he became upset and was taken to Baptist Memorial Hospital for sedation.
The second report was Saturday at about 3 p.m. It was alleged that Petty was chasing workers with a steak knife and making threats.
This time, Petty was arrested and charged.
A teenager stopped at a stop sign in a residential neighborhood was robbed at gunpoint Sunday night.
Jay Brennan, 18, of Forrest City, told officers with the Forrest City Police Department that he was stopped at the intersection of North Forrest and Arkansas streets about 11 p.m. when he was approached by a black male subject.
Brennan reported the suspect pointed a small caliber handgun at his head and demanded his wallet, which contained about $100 and some personal items.
The suspect fled the scene on foot.
The investigation is continuing.
Several public meetings are scheduled to take place Tuesday.
The Forrest City Planning Commission will meet at 4 p.m. in the city hall. The agenda includes continuing discussions on defining landscape buffer vegetation. There are also two variances being requested.
The St. Francis County Museum Board meets at 5 p.m. at the museum.
The St. Francis County Quorum Court will meet at 5:30 in the county courthouse. The Forrest City Water Commission also meets at 5:30, in the Water Utility office.
The Board of Trustees of East Arkansas Community College will
meet at 7 p.m. in the Administration Building. There will be an
update on construction projects, and a special report on an "I
Can Learn" lab.
The annual Click It or Ticket program gets under way today throughout Arkansas.
The campaign is intended to encourage motorists to use seat belts more often.