By DAVID NICHOL
T-H Staff Writer
Members of the Arkansas National Guard and Reserves received a special Veteran's Day gift from East Arkansas Community College Thursday -- a complete waiver of tuition.
Dr. Coy Grace, president of EACC, read a resolution to that effect at Thursday's meeting of the Board of Trustees. He said the resolution had been passed by the House Interim Committee on Aging, Children and Youth and the Senate Interim Committee on Children and Youth. It encourages schools to grant the waiver. There was no opposition voiced at Thursday's meeting.
Grace explained that the tuition of active duty military personnel is already covered 100 percent. However, National Guard and Reserves were only receiving a 75 percent tuition waiver. The action taken Thursday waives the other 25 percent.
Grace was asked this morning if the resolution affected all members of the Arkansas National Guard and Reserves or just those who have been overseas. He said that was left up to the individual schools, but he believed that it should cover all members.
"That's the way we interpret it," he said.
He also said there is no particular time limit on the waiver.
On another matter, prospective students at EACC can now get a catalog the traditional way -- in a book -- or on the Internet or on a disc.
Board members were given a glimpse of three discs which are now available at the school. One is a full catalog on disc, one is a presentation on the campus and the history of EACC, and one is a recruiting disc aimed toward high school students.
"It's a lot easier to carry 50 of these around with you than it is to carry 50 books," said Elizabeth Loeb, director of public relations, holding up one of the discs.
While the traditional catalogs will still be available, Loeb said the school needs to reach out in new directions.
"We're going to have to reach students who might access information a little differently than we did when we were in college," she said.
Grace also gave a report on enrollment for the fall semester. He said the final number stands at 1,569, which is an increase of 4.5 percent over the fall of 2003. He said that number represents a 35.5 percent increase over the fall of 1999, when enrollment was 1,028.
"We've had ups and downs," he said, but added that the school is generally moving forward.
He also said the school is currently offering 353 courses, which includes 252 day and 101 evening classes. In addition, nine of the classes offered are distance learning courses.
A report was given on new hires. They include Betty Jenkins as Custodian I, Soon Lim as Computer Systems programmer and Rickey Roberson as Student Activities clerk.
Grace also reminded the board's nominating committee that it
was time to start working on a slate of officers to be voted on
in January. The nominating committee is made up of Steve Hollowell,
Marsha Cohn and John Stipe.
By ALAN SMITH
T-H Staff Writer
Employee bonuses for Christmas were approved last night at the regular meeting of the Wheatley City Council.
Mayor Larry Nash proposed a 4 percent bonus based on the base pay of each city employee.
"We didn't get to give the employees a raise this year because of the general fund," said Nash. "I have been thinking that we could give the employees a 4 percent bonus for Christmas. That 4 percent would be based on each employee's pay before taxes are taken out. It would be different for each employee. That is my suggestion on bonuses this year. Now this does not mean that we won't consider raises after the first of the year. If we can give a raise next year, we will do it. I know that our employees need and deserve a raise, but we will have to take a closer look at our budget after the first of the year.
"If we passed this next month, we could have the checks out by Dec. 16," added Nash. "That way everyone would get their bonus before Christmas so that they can do some shopping."
The council agreed that the 4 percent bonuses would be given, and decided after a short discussion to approve the bonuses last night so that the employees would get the money sooner.
City attorney Marshall Wright presented the council with an ordinance to change the city's flood plain. Last month, Wright told councilmen of a changes to the flood plain that the Federal Emergency Management Agency had made.
"I have an ordinance that has been used in other cities," said Wright. "This is something that doesn't mean much, but we have to have the ordinance on the books so that people can get their flood insurance. I suggest that each councilman take a copy home with them and review the ordinance before the council adopts it. This is not an emergency situation, so I don't suggest adopting this tonight."
Wright also stated that the proposed ordinance will be available for anyone who would like to read it. Those who are interested can read a copy at Wheatley City Hall.
In other business, the council was presented the proposed budget for 2005. "We can amend this if we need to," Nash told the council. "But we need to have it passed this month." The council unanimously passed the budget with little discussion.
Before adjourning, the council agreed to bring in an additional dumpster after the first of the year and the council was reminded that the annual Wheatley Volunteer Fire Department steak supper will be held on Saturday, Dec. 4, at 6 p.m., at the Wheatley Civic Center.
A man already on probation for previous burglaries was arrested again on Thursday in connection with a burglary the night before at a downtown business.
Fredrick A. Allen, 36, was arrested at his residence in a Lindauer Road apartment complex during a Forrest City Police Department investigation into the Wednesday night burglary at the Bargain Center at 111 S. Rosser Street.
Allen, who police said is also known as Bear, is charged with commercial burglary and theft of property over $500 after detectives with the FCPD's Criminal Investigation Division recovered some of the items that had been stolen from the store in Allen's apartment complex. Officers also learned during the investigation that some of the clothing items had been moved or sold from Allen's apartment.
In addition, Allen is also charged with warrants out of Cross County. Allen is currently on two separate probation sentences out of St. Francis County Circuit Court that he received in August this year from charges of burglary and forgery.
According to the police report, other suspects have been implicated in this burglary and the investigation is continuing.
The police department asks that anyone who has purchased or received clothing items from Allen to turn them in to the Forrest City Police Department so they can be returned to the owner. According to a press release, anyone surrendering the stolen property to the police department will not be prosecuted for having possession of stolen property.
Anyone with information may call the FCPD at 633-3434 or the Forrest City Crime Stoppers tip line at 261-1499.
A St. Francis County jury recently awarded $60,000 to a woman who claimed her child had been spanked excessively four years ago at Hughes Elementary School.
Debra Alexander filed the suit on behalf of her son, Brandon Alexander. The suit claimed that on Sept. 19, 2000, Brandon, who was 11 at the time, was paddled at the school. The suit claimed that he received bruises and abrasions to his buttocks, which required medical care.
The suit claimed that Brandon was treated at the emergency room of Crittenden Memorial Hospital, and missed four days of school.
According to the suit, Debra Alexander had signed a statement with the school district to permit corporal punishment, but claimed the paddling he received on Sept. 19, 2000 was abusive and beyond the scope of the consent.
Named as defendants were the school district, Randy Crowder, the superintendent; Janice Base, principal; and the Hughes School Board members.
A robber got away with an undetermined amount of cash after holding up the Phillips 66 on Holiday Drive early this morning.
According to a report from the Forrest City Police Department, an employee of the convenience store told officers that a black male entered the store carrying a shoulder bag at approximately 4 a.m. and ordered the clerk to empty the cash register.
According to the clerk's statement, the subject had one of his hands inside the bag at all times as if he were holding a weapon. After emptying a second register in the store, the subject told the clerk to go into the bathroom and lie on the floor as he made his escape. The report also said that the robber had entered the store approximately one hour before the robbery and made a purchase.
The robber was described as a polite, light complexioned black male approximately six feet tall and weighing between 135 and 140 pounds.