By DAVID NICHOL
T-H Staff Writer
The Forrest City Airport Commission got an update on the new security fence and lighting currently being installed, and agreed to look into what improvements can be made next.
Dan Clinton, consulting engineer, said the fence work is coming along well.
"I had hoped they would be a little farther along, but they work every day," said Clinton. "It's close to two miles of fence, so it's not a small job."
He said he thought the job could be mainly completed by the end of this week.
The foundations have been poured for the new lights and cable has been run. Clinton said it might be another two weeks before the lights themselves are installed.
The commission members also agreed to contact the Federal Aviation Administration to see what other projects could proceed. Some of the airport's money has been given to the Delta Regional Airport Commission for studies on a possible regional airport between Forrest City and Wynne.
Some of the projects which the commission has wanted to go forward on include the construction of a parallel taxiway system, rebuilding some existing taxiways, a runway extension and runway widening.
The commission also discussed clearing some vegetation from the south end of the runway. Some of the land belongs to the county, and some is airport (city) property.
By DAVID NICHOL
T-H Staff Writer
The Forrest City Area Humane Society has stopped accepting dogs at its shelter on Farr Street for health reasons, and is hoping for quick action on a new humane shelter.
Meanwhile, Mayor Larry Bryant says he is concerned that some of the same problems may persist at a new shelter.
In a letter sent by the Humane Society to the Times-Herald, the mayor, city attorney and city council members, it is stated that a meeting was held recently to discuss problems at the existing shelter. As a result of the meeting, the group stated that it could not accept any more dogs at the shelter.
"We are terminating our Memorandum of Understanding dated March 17, 1999," the letter states, and then continues, "We will not longer clean the shelter, provide weekend coverage, provide holiday coverage, be responsible for feeding the puppies and the dogs, provide medical care, provide pet adoption services, respond to pet abuse and pet neglect cases, provide back-up for the animal control officers, and we will no longer provide free services of any type for the City of Forrest City."
Jeanne Guarr, president of the Humane Society, said the society had no choice but to take the action it has, because it can no longer guarantee the safety of animals at the shelter.
"What this is going to mean is, that until the new shelter is up and we can guarantee within reason the health and safety of the dogs in the city shelter, we're not doing anything with the (existing) shelter."
Guarr said several dogs adopted out over the summer died quickly.
"They came down with distemper, quickly enough that it was plain they caught it at the shelter," she said.
"So we treated -- we paid to treat -- several of the dogs," she said. "I believe two survived with aggressive vet care and a lot of luck. Naturally, this entailed expenses."
Guarr said Dr. Tom Rountree, one veterinarian who has worked with the Humane Society, has said the current shelter cannot be cleaned properly.
When contacted, Rountree agreed.
"That place is well-seeded with disease," he said. "With the current structure the way it is, it would be near impossible to get it clean. And also, with the lack of personnel, it would be impossible to keep it clean.
"It needs meticulous cleaning as well as supervision of intake and outtake of animals. I'm not being critical of the personnel. They just don't have the personnel they need," he concluded.
There was also an accident some time ago, in which a backhoe hit the building.
"That knocked the sewer out of kilter," said Guarr. "It's even in the soil underneath...We know how to disinfect. We've done it. We've done it with veterinarian recommended germicide and we've done it with bleach. It's just unstoppable."
The Forrest City City Council passed an ordinance in May, authorizing the construction of a new humane shelter. Mayor Larry Bryant vetoed it, after which the council overrode the veto.
Guarr stopped short of saying that Bryant was being uncooperative.
"I believe the mayor is just trying to keep costs down, but it's go the point where this thing has to be built," she said. "We're certainly not criticizing Mayor Bryant in his efforts to keep expenses under control. He's never been hard to deal with. But it's hard for somebody who doesn't go out there to clean and see.
"The mayor and council just may not realize that this is an emergency situation," Guarr continued. "Somebody's beloved pet may get out and be picked up, and that dog could then be infected the first day it's there (in the existing shelter). This could be somebody's $2,000 hunting dog."
Tom Loeb, a member of the Humane Society, called conditions at the shelter deplorable.
"It needs to be replaced as soon as possible," he said. "We're having to put dogs down unnecessarily. There is no way to sterilize it. The people have tried and tried. You just cannot clean it the way it needs to be cleaned. That's our main concern, that and the roof and the building itself."
Bryant, when contacted, expressed surprise that the Humane Society was pulling out.
"I was shocked when I got the letter," he said. "I thought we had a very productive discussion about two months ago. They left, and I thought everybody was happy and we were on our way to building a new facility. Then I get this letter that states 'We're not doing this and we're not doing that' I don't know how to make them happy. I don't think going to the newspaper is the way to do it."
He said some of the same problems might continue to exist, even with a new building.
"If a new shelter were built today, we would have the same basic personnel, unless someone is willing to step up to the plate," Bryant said.
Bryant termed the plans for the new building as "grandiose," and said $100,000 has been set aside to build the shelter.
"I told them to get their numbers together and make sure that $100,000 was enough. There was no way to start a project they couldn't finish," he said. "I thought they were trying to find ways to raise funds in order to put all the amenities they wanted."
He said that because of the location of the proposed new shelter, there would be the expenses of running utilities to the facility, as well as the expense of building the shelter and then staffing it properly.
Bryant said he wasn't sure how the Humane Society's letter would affect future plans.
"I don't understand the pulling out of our Memorandum of Understanding, and how this will effect the ordinance that was passed to build a new shelter west of town," he said. "Does this say they're going to do it on their own, or are they still wanting to use Forrest City's tax dollars, or are they going to meet in the middle somewhere and try to make the best out of a bad situation and try to make something positive? Whatever we do, we have to be able to do it and live within a budget."
By ALAN SMITH
T-H Staff Writer
New job descriptions were outlined Monday for employees at the Forrest City Public Library.
Following a brief executive session, FCPL board members named Sarah Jumper the library director and designated Deshaun Hill as a technical assistant. Arlissa Price was named circulation assistant, Candace Clay was named child services assistant/shelver and Carolyn Sanders was named a shelver.
In other business, the board was updated on the new parking lot that was recently paved just south of the library.
Board member Brad Beavers said the parking lot project will be completed under budget.
"The total price of the parking lot will be a little less than we anticipated," said Beavers. "The two reasons is that the gravel did not cost as much as we budgeted for and they (M&T Paving) used less material paving than they thought they needed. We don't know how much under budget it will be yet, but it will be a little under."
Beavers also requested approval for some cosmetic work to complete the parking lot.
"The painting of the stripes on the lot will cost between $400 and $500. I would like to have the permission of the board to go ahead with the painting and to get bids on the privacy fence that will be built on the south end of the lot." The board unanimously agreed to allow Beavers to pursue bids on the fencing and have the painting work done.
Board members also approved a bid of $1,960 from Rob Lemke to paint the exterior doors and windows at the library.
Two individuals and one organization in St. Francis County have been named finalists by the Arkansas Delta Byways (ADB) for awards to be announced at its annual banquet. This year, the banquet will be held on Friday, Oct. 15, in Helena at Phillips Community College, beginning at 6 p.m.
The ADB is a non-profit organization recognized by the Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism. They are the official tourism promotion association for 15 counties in Eastern Arkansas, and those counties, in addition to St. Francis, include: Arkansas, Chicot, Clay, Craighead, Crittenden, Cross, Desha, Drew, Greene, Lee, Mississippi, Monroe, Phillips and Poinsett.
The Forrest City Advertising and Promotion Commission is a finalist for the Arkansas Delta Byways Hospitality Award. The members of the A and P were nominated because they supported the 2003 Arkansas Delta Byways Banquet, which was held at the Forrest City Civic Center. The organization gave over $1,500 for the purchase of items for the silent auction and several members attended the event. In addition to last year's banquet, the commission also promotes such events as the Mightymite Triathlon and the Rumble on the Ridge basketball tournament. They have also contributed over $40,000 to help with the remodeling of the St. Francis County Museum.
Matt Townsend, a member of the A and P, said the commission is proud of the nomination. "We are definitely honored to be nominated," said Townsend. "Our desire at the A and P is to help Forrest City, St. Francis County and the area grow by promoting the events that happen in the area. That is also the goal of the Tourism Business Initiative (which Townsend is also a member of). We want to promote tourism in the area. We want to bring folks in and bring in revenue to the area."
Dr. John Alderson, of East Arkansas Community College, was nominated as one of three finalists for the Tourism Person of the Year Award. Alderson was nominated for developing a hospitality program at EACC to help students get involved with the tourism industry, and he chairs the Arkansas Communities of Excellence (ACE) Tourism Committee in Forrest City. The tourism committee is currently working on developing a tourism asset study as the first step towards improving tourism in Forrest City.
"I was quite honored and surprised," commented Alderson on being named a finalist. "The local area has some great opportunities to develop to sustain hospitality and the tourism industry. Two major events that are taking place right now will spotlight the area. One is the project at Village Creek State Park, the golf course, lodge, restaurant and meeting facilities that will be built in the next two years. The other is the Mississippi River State Park that will be partnered with the St. Francis Forest. This will be the only Arkansas State Park on the Mississippi River. They are upgrading Storm and Bear creeks' campsites. All of this work will make it one of the most interesting parks to visit.
"The college (EACC) is offering a program that will provide both high school and college students the training and education that they will need to fill jobs that will be created due to these projects," added Alderson. "This will help them be prepared for the opportunities that are coming in the near future."
Richard Benson, a radio personality with KBFC/KXJK radio, has been named a finalist for the Media Support Award. Benson was honored for hosting the KXJK Morning Show. According to information provided by Delta Byways, Benson has interviewed representatives from several area events, both large and small, promoting tourism in the area. He has given these guests, which have included Byways board members, an opportunity to discuss any of their activities, whether free or paid events, a press release said.
"I am absolutely honored to be a finalist," said
Benson. "We do interviews on our morning show with representatives
of the Arkansas Delta Byways and other people involved in tourism
in the Delta. Tourism in the Delta has become increasingly important
in the past few years. It brings in money to the area, and there
are a lot of people who are working very hard promoting tourism
in the Delta to bring that money to the area. We are always happy
to do whatever we can to help them promote tourism in the area,"
Benson said.
For the second straight week and for the third time in five weeks, Forrest City's Tiffany Billingsley has proven herself as the 2004 Professor Pigskin Queen by winning her third Pigskin of the year.
Billingsley missed just two of last week's selected games - best in the entry field - to pick up the $50 cash prize one more time.
This week's Professor Pigskin games can be found inside today's Times-Herald.
Village Creek State Park will host a star-gazing event on Saturday, Oct. 9, held by the Memphis Astronomical Society (MAS).
The event will begin at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday at the visitor center auditorium. The MAS will present programs on the constellations and other night sky sights. Following the programs, participants will be treated to telescope viewing.
There is no charge for the program and it is open to the public.
In case of rain, the event will be postponed until Saturday, Oct.
16. For more information, contact Village Creek State Park at
870-238-9406.
The Arkansas Secretary of State's Office expects more than 100,000 new voter registrations for the Nov. 2 general election, and St. Francis County is contributing to that figure.
Monday was the deadline for voters to register for the election and election officials reported thousands of last-minute registrations. SFC Clerk Elizabeth Smith said her office has been inundated with last-minute registrations.
"If we stacked them on top of one another, they'd at least be a foot high," Smith said this morning. "The last three days people have been coming in to register or to change their address."
Although Monday was the last day for those registering to vote to be eligible for the general election, Smith said those voters changing their address still have time. "They can change their address up until the time we print the books for the election," Smith said.
Voter registration drives by churches and different organizations are contributing factors in the registration increase, Smith said, adding about the new voters, "I hope they all go out to vote."
Smith said the final figures on the total number of registered voters in the county could be expected within a few days.
The St. Francis County Food Pantry served 338 families during September.
Those families included 426 adults and 237 children. In all, there were 13,923 meals served.
Dinners are also cooked for shut-ins on Saturdays and carry them frozen pot pies on Sunday. There were a total of 314 of these meals during September.