By DAVID NICHOL
T-H Staff Writer
A former member of the Arkansas State Police at Troop D in Forrest City was sentenced today after pleading guilty to a reduced charge that he stole money from the Arkansas Special Olympics.
In return for the reduced charge, Howard Smith will also pay restitution to Special Olympics.
Smith, 51, was sentenced by Judge Harvey Yates to two years in the Arkansas Department of Corrections, to be followed by three years of unsupervised probation.
Smith had been charged with one count of theft of property and six counts of forgery in connection with his position as a volunteer with Special Olympics.
Smith had originally entered a plea of not guilty to the charges, which claimed he had converted $94,426.67 to his own use, from a bank account which he maintained for Special Olympics. At court this morning, it was revealed that an agreement had been worked out, involving a lesser plea and restitution.
This morning in St. Francis County Circuit Court, Smith, represented by Attorney Frank Morledge, withdrew his not guilty plea, instead agreeing to plead guilty to one count of theft of $2,500.
As a condition of the agreement, Smith agreed to pay $50,000 in restitution to Special Olympics. A civil suit has also been filed in Pulaski County by Special Olympics, seeking the rest of the money.
Smith was a 25-year veteran of the State Police with the rank of corporal when he resigned in January of 2003, after a State Police investigation began, based on allegations that he allegedly had pocketed money he collected in the name of Special Olympics, a state and national organization which helps children with disabilities.
Smith was formally charged with theft and forgery in February of 2003.
Smith was charged with irregularities which allegedly occurred between January 2000 and August 2002. Court records claim that $123,181.88 passed through the account at that time.
When the account was closed, Smith is alleged to have forwarded only $27,747.51 to Special Olympics. An affidavit prepared by Ricky Dickinson, a sergeant in the Criminal Investigation Division of the State Police, stated that Smith "was merely to be temporary custodian, or conduit for the funds." The affidavit also said that only about $1,007.70 could have been used by Smith as legitimate expenses.
The forgery charges stemmed from a variety of items believed to have been bought by Smith at local businesses. The items range from a shotgun and shells to restaurant receipts. Smith was accused of forging invoices or receipts for items never received by Special Olympics.
Each of the counts against Smith carried possible sentences of five to 20 years.
By KENDALL OWENS
T-H Staff Writer
Teachers and administrators in the Palestine-Wheatley School District could see the benefit of a raise as early as next month under a plan proposed by Superintendent John Manning during the school board's monthly meeting Monday.
According to Manning, funding from the National School Lunch program will allow the district to increase each certified employee's salary by $500 each. Classified employees will receive a 25 cent per hour raise. The raises will not affect the salaries of bus drivers or part-time employees.
"This is something that we want to do so that we can show appreciation to our staff. The bus drivers and part-time workers could see a raise next year, but we can't adjust their contracts at this time," Manning said. "This raise will be given to the employees beginning in July, unless the Personnel Policy Committee votes at their next meeting to ask for the raise now. If that happens, we'll cut a check for them next month as a sort of Christmas bonus."
Board member Dorothy Smith thanked Manning for his proposal, but said that district teachers deserve more and suggested a $1,000 raise.
"I understand that funds may be tight right now, but we've got some really good teachers and administrators in this district, and I believe that they deserve more than what is being offered. I don't understand why we can't give them $1,000 each right now," said Smith.
According to Manning, plans are to give a second raise in the spring once additional funding has come in. "I appreciate your comments and concerns, and I too would like to give a larger raise, but money is tight and this is all we can do right now. This is something that we're offering right now and we're hoping to do something additional later on in the spring," Manning said.
Board members voted 5-0 to approve the raise. Board members Randall Holman and Rodney Hicks did not attend the meeting.
In other business, board members agreed to the creation of a Vocational Advisory Committee so that the district can be in compliance with Workforce Education standards. According to Manning, the district had a committee which works on vocational matters, but the school board needed to create the committee in order for minutes and records to be kept and forwarded to the state.
Manning also updated the committee on the work of Bobbie Fingers. Fingers, who serves as Palestine-Wheatley Middle School, also works as the district's minority recruiter. "We have a great leader in Mrs. Fingers, and she does just a great job for us. She is always attending workshops and just does an excellent job," Manning said.
By DAVID NICHOL
T-H Staff Writer
The Widener City Council briefly discussed the condition of city streets on Monday, and Mayor Dot Halford told members that she is having a estimate done of how much street repairs might cost.
"I'm trying to get a grant," she said. In order to know how much to request, she said she would have to get the estimate.
She said some streets might simply need overlay, while others may need complete rebuilding.
There was also a discussion of what to do about the standing water around the community center and the police station, with hopes that there might be some help from the State Highway Department.
On another matter, City Attorney Marshall Wright said he had been contacted by a citizen who wanted to know the exact duties of city employees, including elected officials. He asked if there was a resolution addressing that. According to Wright, it might be a good idea to pass a resolution spelling out everyone's duties. He said he would check with the Arkansas Municipal League to see if there is a sample resolution.
The council also got into a discussion concerning an adult entertainment store which has opened at Widener Junction off Interstate 40. While the council members said they were not happy about the location of the store, the general consensus was that there wasn't anything they could do about it, since it was out of the city limits.
Katie Bernard of Forrest City became the newest winner of the Professor Pigskin football contest by only missing one of last week's selected high school, college and NFL games.
Bernard's only miss was the Penn State-Indiana game which gives her the $50 prize.
Through 11 weeks of the contest, nine of the weekly winners have been women.
Four entries missed just two games each.
This week's Professor Pigskin can be found inside today's Times-Herald.
A convicted felon who was on probation is headed back to the state penitentiary after being sentenced on new charges Monday in St. Francis County Circuit Court.
Sylvester Williams, 19, 2508 Teakwood, Forrest City, pled guilty to two counts of residential burglary during circuit court pleadings before Judge Harvey Yates. He was originally charged with two counts of residential burglary, theft over $500 and a probation violation.
Williams was arrested on Aug. 6 this year after breaking into a vehicle on Driftwood Street, near his home. After bonding out of jail, Williams was arrested several days later in connection with a residential burglary on North Izard Street.
He was sentenced to three years in the Arkansas Department of Corrections.
A Texas man was sentenced to five years in the ADC on drug charges.
Stevie Earl Richardson, 43, of Grand Prairie, Texas, was arrested in April last year after state police found two kilos of cocaine, with an estimated $200,000 street value, hidden inside the vehicle he was driving on Interstate 40 near Forrest City.
Richardson pled guilty to possession with intent to deliver, a Class C felony. His five-year ADC sentence is scheduled to run concurrently with a previous sentence he received in Federal District Court in Texas.
The St. Francis County Food Pantry will again be serving Thanksgiving dinners to the needy on Wednesday, Nov. 24.
Churches participating include: Lane Chapel, 821 W. Scott Street; Madison Light in Madison; Salem Baptist Church, 105 Haven Street; Prosperity Baptist Church, 6893 SFC 224; New Light Baptist Church, 126 W. Day Street; First Baptist Church, 306 East Cross Street.
In addition, the Food Pantry has issued its report for October. There were 224 children and 569 adults, making up 329 families served. There were also 350 sick and shut-ins served, for a total of 11,730 meals.