By ALAN SMITH
T-H Staff Writer
A countywide burn ban was issued this morning by St. Francis County Judge Carl Cisco after six grass fires occurred within two hours on Sunday.
The Forrest City Fire Department responded to three of those fire calls yesterday. The first two occurred almost simultaneously at 3:30 p.m. on Old Madison Road and at the 248 mile marker of Interstate 40 near Widener. The I-40 fire spread across 15 acres of land.
The third fire started about 4:30 p.m. in haybales located at 2106 Campbell Dr., in Forrest City. According to information on file at the Forrest City Fire Department, the haybales are owned by Tommy Holloway, 783 St. Francis County Road 430, Forrest City.
FCFD Chief Dan Curtner said days like yesterday are the reason for the burn ban. "It has been about two months since we have had a good rain," said Curtner. "Everything dries out, even the green grass, so it is a dangerous situation. The fire on I-40 and on Old Madison Road were both grass fires and spread very quickly since the ground is dry. We are not sure how the fires started, but we don't think they were intentionally set. The haybales most likely caught fire from the inside out, which happens sometimes when they are in the sun and heat up."
Curtner said there were also two fires in Caldwell and one in Palestine on Sunday. "The Caldwell, Colt, Palestine and Wheatley fire departments were running around all of yesterday too," he said.
"In the city, we have an ordinance against burning," stated Curtner. "But in the county, they don't. I think this ban is absolutely necessary. All six of the fires that happened yesterday occurred between 3:30 and 5:30 p.m. Six fires in two hours is a lot. Right now, some farmers are burning off their fields. With the condition the ground is in, there is no way one person can control a fire. Once its starts, it's gone. Once we have a good, slow rain for about two or three days, we should be in better shape and the ban could be lifted."
Cisco stated that he also feels that the lack of rainfall caused the need for the burn ban. "There have been so many fires that have been running out of control in the county," said Cisco. "They have had fire departments across the county and the sheriff's department running around everywhere. Until we can get a sufficient rainfall, a major rainfall, the ban will not be lifted."
Cisco did state, however, that some burns will be allowed, with restrictions. "You can get permission from my office to conduct a burn while the ban is in effect. You must have all of the proper safeguards in place because we do not want the fire spreading out of control and causing problems."
Cisco added that those who need permission for a burn should contact his office at the SFC Courthouse or call his office at 870-261-1700.
One ironic thing about the fires throughout the county on Sunday is that today is the first day of National Fire Prevention Week. Jimmy Sandage, the FCFD Fire Prevention Coordinator, stated that beginning today, the FCFD and Air Evac will be going to area schools, churches and civic groups speaking to people about safety and prevention. Anyone seeking more information about NFP Week should contact Sandage at 870-633-2414.
By KENDALL OWENS
T-H Staff Writer
Cloudy skies may have kept Forrest Citians from getting a first hand glimpse at the newly named City of Forrest City Arkansas Air National Guard C-130, but the cool weather and clouds did nothing to dampen the spirits of the contingent of students and adults present for the dedication at the Little Rock Air Force Base Saturday.
Several children from the Naval Junior Reserve Officer Training Corp and local 4-H clubs were treated, along with a group of adults, to the unveiling of the City of Forrest City this weekend. The renaming of the airplane was a part of an Arkansas Air National Guard program which reaches out to communities across the state in an effort to increase knowledge of the AANG statewide as well as enhancing community pride.
"We're your hometown Air Force, and we want people to know that. When most people think about the Little Rock Air Force Base, they think of only the Air Force, but this base also houses the Arkansas Air National Guard. We're Arkansas' Air Force and most of us were born here. I'm living in the state that I grew up in, the state that I love and the state that I still live in while defending our nation, and you can't beat that," said Col. Dwight Balch, Commander of the 189th Airlift Wing.
According to Balch, the program also serves as an opportunity for the AANG to enlighten young adults on the resources available through the Air National Guard.
"I'm excited to see the number of young people that we have in attendance. This is really a great tribute to the dedication of your community and your school system. This is a great opportunity for you young adults to learn about something that many people in this state just aren't familiar with. We have fulltime guys like myself in the Air National Guard, but we also have students who are able to earn a pretty decent living while they are in college, while at the same time serving their country on a part-time basis," he said.
Balch also explained the mission of the 189th. "We serve under the guise of two different Commanders in Chief, President George Bush and Gov. Mike Huckabee, but for the most part our biggest mission is our federal mission. We are a training facility, and we train students on the C-130. We train people from all four of the services as well as international students," he said.
According to press representative Tech Sgt. Bob Oldham, the Forrest City group had the best participation out of the four cities honored. Morrilton, Seacy and Cabot previously had C-130s named after their cities.
"We had a great turnout from the folks from Forrest City, and we were really excited about it. We were able to talk to a number of young people, and that's really what this program is about. But it really helped that the adults were as excited about the event as the children were. It was great to see the youth invigorated and excited, but to see the adults that came along also excited about the event helped get us excited about what we're doing. I think that it was a pleasant day for all of us in attendance, and the great thing was that we didn't have to clean up the plane when we got back because no one got sick. That was a first for us," Oldham said.
Forrest City Area Chamber of Commerce President Randy Pearson, who attended along with his son Chance, said that the entire event was great.
"I think it was a great experience for the kids because they got to see first hand, just a tiny bit of what our service people have to do. For them to be able to ride on a C-130 cargo plane and to be able to look out that back door when it opened was just great. My son asked me if I was sure that he needed to go, and I told him that I was 40 and had never been in one. This was a once-in-a-lifetime experience for many of us, and everyone seemed to enjoy themselves," Pearson said.
"And it's also great, not only for Forrest City, but for the Delta as a whole. When this plane flies anywhere people when people want to know where Forrest City is, they will look at the map and see the entire Delta," he said.
Chief Master Sgt. Normal Gilchrest, the highest ranking enlisted man in the AANG, who also serves as the Forrest City Postmaster, was also pleased with the turnout and the overall event.
"I think everything went great. It was a great opportunity for our kids. Col. Balch and Tech. Sgt. Oldham were both very pleased and really encouraged by the way that things went from the National Guard side of things. We have a slogan that says that we're the best kept secret in the state of Arkansas, and we're really working to put ourselves more on the forefront. I think that this is something that the City of Forrest City can be proud of and hang our hat on, and we really represented ourselves well," Gilchrest said.
According to Forrest City High School Principal Abbie Robinson, Saturday's trip has been the talk of the school for those students who attended.
"This has been a very positive experience for our students.
They had the opportunity to see and understand exactly what servitude
to our country is all about. They also were able to learn that
you can advance yourself and your career while at the same time
serving your country, and that was a positive. Add to that, the
whole experience of the flight was a positive, and it has been
the talk of the school this morning," Robinson said.
St. Francis County had an unemployment rate of 9 percent during August, giving it the ninth highest jobless rate in the state, although the rate was down from 10.3 percent in July and down even more, from 11 percent, in August of 2003.
According to the figures provided by Arkansas Workforce Labor Market Information, during August, St. Francis County had a civilian labor force of 12,675, with 11,525 working and 1,150 not working.
Four counties had unemployment higher than 10 percent. Woodruff and Mississippi counties tied for the highest, at 11.3 percent. Chicot County had an even 11 percent unemployment. Phillips County's unemployment was 10.6 percent.
The lowest unemployment rate in Arkansas was 2.2 percent, recorded in Benton County. Fourteen counties had rates lower than 4 percent.
Unemployment in surrounding counties was as follows: Cross, 9.6 percent; Crittenden, 7.6 percent; Lee, 9.5 percent; Phillips, 10.6 percent; Monroe, 6.9 percent; Woodruff, 11.3 percent.
The state's average unemployment during August was 5.4 percent, two-tenths of a percent lower than July. Nationally, the rate during August was also at 5.4 percent.
The city of Palestine is busy planning its annual L'Anguille River Festival and Barbecue Cookoff for Saturday, Oct. 30.
The Palestine High School Class of 1971 is planning to have breakfast beginning at 8 a.m. to help kick off the event. Also, graduates of all years are invited to an all-school reunion.
The booths will also open at 8 a.m., and so will the barbecue competition. Judging for the barbecue contest will be at 11:30 a.m., for ribs and butts. There is also a category entitled "anything else."
The pet parade, with awards for first, second and third place, will be at 9 a.m.
At 10 a.m. the archery contest will be held.
Also beginning at 10 a.m. will be a cake walk at the old fire department.
Bingo will be held in the old courtroom beginning at 11 a.m.
Also beginning at 11 and continuing until 2 p.m., will be gospel singing, featuring various groups.
Another event which has had a good response in the past is arm wrestling, and that will begin at noon, with first, second and third prizes in lightweight, middleweight and heavyweight divisions.
At 2 p.m. there will be a greased pig contest, followed at 3 p.m. by a duck-calling contest with awards given.
At 5 p.m. Gussie Michaelis will be on hand for her portrayal of Minnie Pearle.
A "Womanless Beauty Pageant" will be held from 6 until 8 p.m.
At 8 p.m., it will be time for the amateur hour.
At 9 p.m. the street dance will begin, with the Last Chance Band. There will also be some drawings.
The sign-up deadline for booths will be Friday, Oct. 22.
Some events may be subject to change. There is still room for some gospel groups.
The fees include:
*$15 for a booth.
*$15 to enter the barbecue cookoff.
*$15 to enter one car in the car show; $5 for each additional car.
*$10 for the arm wresting contest.
*$5 for the greased pig contest.
*$5 for the dog show.
Anyone gospel groups who are interested, or anyone who wants
to register for the talent contest, or who wants information of
any kind about the L'Anguille River Festival and Barbecue Cookoff,
may call Ross at 870-581-2166 or 870-581-2489.
A Forrest City man is in serious condition today at a Memphis hospital after accidentally dropping a lit cigarette into his shorts Sunday afternoon.
The Forrest City Police Department reports Joshua Tiswell, 62, was sitting on the front porch of his home at 927 Driftwood when the incident occurred about 1:45 p.m.
Tiswell's daughter, with whom he lives, told police her father was sitting outside when she gave him a cigarette before going back inside her home. The victim told police he dropped the cigarette into his shorts and the fire spread, causing second and third-degree burns from the left side of his abdomen to his knees.
Residents at the Tiswell home extinguished the fire with a water hose while waiting for an ambulance to arrive. Tiswell was taken by ambulance to the nearby Forrest City Sports Complex from where he was airlifted to the Med Center in Memphis.
The Forrest City Airport Commission is scheduled to meet at 6 tonight at the airport.
On Tuesday, the Forrest City City Council is scheduled to meet at city hall. According to the agenda, councilmen will consider a fuel surcharge proposed by King Disposal Inc.
Under new business, the council will consider a preliminary plat for a subdivision and a resolution authorizing the city to contract with the Forrest City Area Chamber of Commerce for industrial recruitment and economic development. A curfew ordinance will also be addressed at the meeting.
Also on Tuesday, the St. Francis County Transportation Commission has a called meeting set for 5 p.m. in the quorum court meeting room at the SFC Courthouse.
On Wednesday, the personnel committee of the SFC Quorum Court will meet at 6 p.m. at the courthouse.