By KENDALL OWENS
T-H Staff Writer
With the general election only three weeks away and the St. Francis County Election Commission down to only one member, some people may have reservations regarding the Nov. 2 election; however, officials with the State Board of Election Commissioners are not worried.
Susie Stormes, director of the State Election Commission, said moves made prior to Wednesday's resignation of Democratic and longtime St. Francis County Election commissioners Joe Young and Bettye Proctor, may allow for a smooth transition to a new county commission.
"We've been contacted about the resignations, and we've been told that they have done most of the work that is necessary for the preparation for the election," said Stormes.
According to state law, the commission must consist of the chairman of the majority party, or a representative of the party's choosing, the chairman of the minority party, or a representative of that party's choosing, and a person selected from a list of five names by the state commission. In June, the DCC submitted a list to the state which included, Freeman, Young, Ed Chauvin, Dexter Freeman and Maceo Hawkins as possible appointees to the commission. According to Stormes, a replacement for Young could be chosen as early as today.
"We have scheduled a telephone poll with the members of the board, and we are planning to make a decision on the third member of the commission today," Stormes said.
Currently, Freeman is the only member of the commission after the resignation of Republican party member Florence Brown last month.
The county commission has been under fire since the May Primary Election after several allegations were made to the state commission. In September the county commission met with the state Board of Election Commissioners and were notified of 24 violations of election laws and eight more possible violations.
On Wednesday, Proctor told members of the DCC that the majority of the preparation for the upcoming election has been completed and reiterated that this morning.
"We had everything in place from the polling places and precincts to the workers and the delivery of the ballots. We weren't going to leave the new commission hanging out to dry, and I've told Frederick that I will be available to assist him in any way that he needed me to because I love this county, and I want to see a smooth election," Proctor said.
By DAVID NICHOL
T-H Staff Writer
The Nov. 2 general election has generated enough interest to cause more people to register to vote locally.
St. Francis County Clerk Elizabeth Smith said that there had been quite a jump over a short period of time.
The period to register to vote in the general election ended Oct. 4, but the clerk's office was so inundated with new registrations that a final count wasn't ready then. This morning, Smith said the number of registered voters had grown from 17,647 to 18,926.
"That's an increase of almost 1,300," she said.
She further stated that the new number takes into account those taken off the voting lists.
"We got a lot of cancellations from other counties, death notices and changes of address," she said. Changes of address were allowed to continue after the registration deadline. "You can take the number of new voters and increase it about three times, and get about how many pieces of paper we've processed (since registration ended)."
Smith said she just hoped that all those who registered, plus those who were already registered, would actually vote.
"The way I see it, I don't mind all the extra work if people will get out and vote. It would be wonderful," she said.
The Arkansas Secretary of State's office has said it expects more than 10,000 new voters statewide.
Nationally, voters will elect a president. Statewide there is one U.S. Senate race. In St. Francis County, there is a race for sheriff, and there are several alderman races throughout the county.
In the meantime, early voting is scheduled to begin on Monday, Oct. 18, for the November general election at the St. Francis County Clerk's office in the SFC Courthouse. According to representatives of the clerk's office this morning, ballots had not arrived as of this morning, but were expected in today.
Early voting will be held from 8 a.m. until 6 p.m., Monday through Friday, in the vault in the clerk's office. Voting will also be held on two Saturdays, Oct. 23 and 30, from 1 to 4 p.m. The last day to early vote will be Monday, Nov. 1, which is the day before the election.
Baptist Memorial Hospital-Forrest City will host a grand opening ceremony for its new Women's Center, located on the second floor of the hospital, on Tuesday, Oct. 19, from 4 to 6 p.m.
The new Women's Center provides advanced care and services to women through all stages of life, offering leading-edge technology and featuring a staff dedicated to providing individualized patient care.
"This amazing facility will allow us to better meet the needs of women of all ages and to promote family-centered care in Eastern Arkansas," said Jerry Pope, administrator and CEO at Baptist-Forrest City. "Much careful preparation and planning have gone into this center with the hope that all women will have positive experiences in this comfortable environment. This opening is just one more step in our commitment to continually providing quality, advanced care and services close to home."
The new center offers greater comfort for mothers and babies, featuring new, private labor, delivery and recovery suites equipped with advanced technology, evaluation-triage areas and a level II nursery with a high-quality security system, new fetal monitoring equipment, warmers for close observation of newborn and sick babies, infant cardiac monitors and special equipment for premature babies. Women of all ages can receive gynecological care, diagnostic and surgical services in the center, according to Pope.
"The center also offers prenatal care, prepared childbirth classes, infant safety/CPR classes, breastfeeding classes and support and the Beautiful Beginnings continuing education program," Pope continued.
BMH-FC joined the Baptist network in 1983. A year later, construction began on a new 118-bed facility on a 55-acre site, and in 1986, Baptist Forrest City opened its doors to St. Francis County and surrounding areas. In addition to the newly opened Women's Center, the hospital offers a new sleep disorders lab, a geriatric behavioral unit, home care and hospice services, general surgery, internal medicine, pediatrics, obstetrics, orthopedics, urology, radiology and cardiology.
For more information about Baptist Forrest City's Women's Center or to schedule a tour, call (870) 261-0420 or visit forrestcity.baptistonline.org.
A Thursday raid by the Forrest City Police Department at a residence on Choctaw Street led to the arrest of three Forrest Citians on drug charges and the arrest of a 65-year old man on multiple counts of violation of the Arkansas hot check law.
According to a press release from the FCPD, a search warrant was executed Thursday at 626 Choctaw Street. Officers were searching the residence for illegal drugs. When officers entered the building, 29-year old Donta Jones of the residence attempted to escape out the back door of the building but was captured by officers. As Jones was attempting to leave, officers saw him dropping bags of marijuana.
Officers recovered more than 50 grams of marijuana, and after being advised of his Miranda Rights, Jones admitted that the narcotics were his. Officers also arrested Tamikia Ann Thompson, 25, 808 Laughrun Dr., Forrest City, after a marijuana blunt was recovered off of her person.
A second Forrest City man, Larry Jones, 38, 128 E. Sharp St., is facing a charge of possession of drug paraphernalia after a crack pipe he was found in the house with a crack pipe. James Lane Jr., 65, of the 626 Choctaw St., was also arrested during the raid and has been charged with 29 violations of the Arkansas hot check law. He is being held on a $10,000 bond.
Jones who was treated and released at Baptist Memorial Hospital-Forrest City for possible injuries to his ankle, is being held in the St. Francis County Jail without bond for parole violation. He has been charged with possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver near certain facilities and possession of drug paraphernalia along with parole violation.
The annual Eastern Arkansas Heart Walk, to benefit the American Heart Association, will be held Saturday, Oct. 16, at Baptist Memorial Hospital-Forrest City.
Registration for the annual fundraiser will take place at 8 a.m. After brief opening ceremonies, the walk will begin at 9 a.m., led off by "Red Caps," who are heart disease survivors.
Wheatley City councilmen heard several updates Thursday night during a brief meeting.
City attorney Marshall Wright told councilmen of a changes to the flood plain. "FEMA (the Federal Emergency Management Agency) has redrawn the flood plain in the area," said Wright. "This amounts to pretty much nothing except that we need to adopt an ordinance approving the new plain for insurance purposes. They were supposed to have sent me a sample ordinance for us to pass, but I haven't received it yet. I hope to have the ordinance at next month's meeting."
Mayor Larry Nash told councilman a grant applied for by the city has been approved. "We received word that the grant has been approved for the renovation of the civic center kitchen," stated Nash. "We will receive the check soon, and we hope to start on the project at the first of the year."
In other news, the city council received a letter from the city of Cotton Plant thanking them for the donation of Wheatley's old mosquito sprayer.
The council was also reminded that starting with the November meeting the council will meet at 7 p.m.
The Forrest City City Council is scheduled to meet at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 19, at city hall.
Under old business, councilmen will discuss a fuel surcharge for King Disposal Inc., the humane shelter and the civic center catering contract.
In new business, the council will consider an ordinance amending the curfew hours; a resolution authorizing the city to contract with the Forrest City Area Chamber of Commerce for industrial recruitment; and a resolution allowing the city to apply for a law enforcement block grant.
Also on Tuesday, the Forrest City Water Commission will meet at 5:30 p.m. at the water department.
The St. Francis County Museum Board is scheduled to meet at 5 p.m., at the museum, and the SFC Quorum Court is scheduled to meet at 6 p.m. at the courthouse.