By DAVID NICHOL
T-H Staff Writer
Final enrollment at East Arkansas Community College will is expected to be up considerably from last fall's numbers, the EACC board learned Thursday.
Director of Student Affairs Catherine Coleman gave the report. She said that as of Thursday, enrollment stood at around 1,600. She said there was still some "cleaning up" to do (students dropping out, etc.), but enrollment would almost certainly top last fall's "cleaned up" enrollment of 1,498.
On another matter, EACC President Dr. Coy Grace gave an update on improvements around the campus. He said security cameras are in the process of being installed in the parking lots, the computer center and some other locations. He also said the renovation of Classroom Building 3 is progressing, and commented on the new parking lot, which is almost completed.
Other improvements to the campus' appearance include the on-going replacement of railroad ties, which were used for landscaping, with brick dividers. Several umbrella tables and benches have also been installed.
Public Information Director Beth Loeb gave a pictorial presentation of improvements around the campus.
One proposed improvement needed approval. There have been plans to expand the building which currently houses the gym, for storage space. Grace told the board several things have happened. One is the increased price of steel. Another is the school's need to find classroom space for the expanding technology programs. He proposed the addition be made larger than was originally planned. He said the cost, instead of the original $43,000 estimate, would be more like $150,000.
After some discussion, the board approved the recommendation.
On a different subject, Grace acknowledged the donation of several pieces of equipment to the Allied Health Science Department from Baptist Memorial Hospital-Forrest City and Baptist Health Systems. One of the biggest donations was some radiology equipment.
He also reported that the Secondary Career Center has three school districts -- Palestine-Wheatley, Cross County and Lee -- participating with 43 students working toward joint high school and college credit.
He also reported that the plans for the education center in Wynne are almost finalized.
By DAVID NICHOL
T-H Staff Writer
Four schools in the Forrest City School District have been listed as academically troubled, but Superintendent Lee Vent said there is actually some good news behind the obvious concern.
The four schools -- Forrest City Junior High, Forrest City High School, Caldwell Elementary and Forrest Hills Elementary -- were among 328 public schools around the state which were cited for low scores on state Benchmark and End-of-Course exams.
Schools on the list must allow students the opportunity to transfer to other, higher-achieving schools within the district.
However, the Junior High and Caldwell Elementary, as shown on the list, have improved to the point that they have scored at or above the minimum standards for one year. If they continue the good showing, they will be taken off the list.
Vent said Caldwell will no longer be on the list anyway, because it has been absorbed by Stewart Elementary.
"And if there are no schools to transfer to (such as the case of Forrest City High School, the only high school in the district) we need to work on improvement within the system," said Vent.
Forrest Hills Elementary has been on the academically troubled list for three years now, according to the list, "But they showed considerable improvement last year," said Vent. "So we are anxious to see how they do with the Benchmark this year. They are making good strides at Forrest Hills."
He continued, "Of course, we have strategies now in place, working with these schools (on the list), and in fact working district wide to improve instruction."
Also in St. Francis County, Hughes Elementary and High School both were listed for being academically troubled for three years.
Throughout the state, the Lucilla Wood Elementary School in the Elaine School District had the worst performance, being ranked academically troubled for each of the last five years. Elaine officials must consult with state officials and take steps which could include replacing the staff at the school or removing its administrators.
According to the Associated Press, the identified schools are in 138 of the state's 254 school districts. They enroll 141,000 students out of a total of 450,000 public school students in the state.
By DAVID NICHOL
T-H Staff Writer
Mayor Larry Bryant took a walk down Cherry Street Thursday, only it wasn't for his health.
He was accompanied by several city officials, namely Police Chief Clarence McNeary, Fire Chief Dan Curtner, Public Works Director Leslie McMillin, Street Department Director Clovis Macon, Code Enforcement Officer Chester Crossen and Animal Control Officer George Cochran.
Bryant said his office has received numerous complaints about the appearance of Cherry Street, from trash to unmowed lawns to stop signs that need painting. He said there have also been complaints about other areas.
"What we're going to start doing is, to have some staff meetings out in the communities, look at the communities," said Bryant. "And if there are some bad conditions, I want the staff to be on the spot, to see it and correct it, one community at a time, one street at a time. We're going to clean up a whole lot of the conditions that are deplorable in this town."
This particular walk was down Cherry Street, between Buford and Cook Streets. However, Bryant said the efforts would not be concentrated on that stretch alone.
"Everywhere we get complaints from people, we're going to try to fix it, one step at a time," he said. "And we would hope that the people in the various communities will help us by cleaning up their fence rows and picking up the paper when they see it in their yards."
Bryant said it can be discouraging for people who are keeping their yards neat "on one side of the street and then look at the other side," he said, pointing out an unkempt yard. "We're going to try to get these here folks to clean up."
He pointed out one place where some trees and shrubs had not been tended and had produced a mini-jungle of tangled growth.
"Look at this," he said. "This don't make it. Now if it was in a wilderness area, it would be one thing. But it's right next to a house. It's not on a ditch bank, nothing. How can we kill mosquitoes when we've got this kind of garbage?"
Bryant pointed out several places to the city employees.
"Guys, all I want is results," he said. "We weren't talking about crime today, but cleaning up."
A truck stolen from inside a fenced area at the Forrest City City Shop Thursday night was recovered a short time later outside a public housing facility.
A city employee who drives the mosquito truck at night told officers with the Forrest City Police Department that when he returned to the city shop on Farr Street about 10:30 p.m., he noticed a damaged gate. Further investigation revealed a 1989 Chevrolet pickup had been stolen, and the fenced was damaged when the suspects reportedly drove the truck through it.
The abandoned truck was recovered about 11:15 p.m. in the Turner Circle housing area by police responding to calls of a reckless driver. According to the police report, the steering column on the truck had not been broken because the keys had been left inside the vehicle. However, police said the suspects removed the keys when they abandoned the truck.
A fence at Turner Circle received an estimated $800 damage in the incident, along with about $500 in damage reported to the fence at the city shop. The truck bed and bumper were also reportedly damaged.
Also on Thursday, an 18-wheeler loaded with soybeans was stolen from a farm shop in Hughes, but found broken down on a highway near Lula, Miss.
Jack Lofton, a farmer at Hughes, told the St. Francis County Sheriff's Department that he had loaded the truck with about 1,200 bushels of soybeans on Wednesday night and had planned to take it to a storage facility Thursday morning, but when he returned to his shop on Highway 38, the truck was gone.
A short time later, county officials were notified the truck has been found at the intersection of Highways 49 and 61 in Lula.
By KENDALL OWENS
T-H Staff Writer
With two months left before the November General Election, members of the State Board of Election Commissioners officially appointed a list of third members to county election commissions across the state Wednesday.
Susie Stormes, director of the SBEC, said the move is standard procedure prior to the general election.
"The third member of each county's election commission is selected by the state commission from a list of five names submitted to our offices," Stormes said. "Those members have to be appointed 60 days prior to the general election, which is why we made the appointments Wednesday."
According to Stormes, each county commission normally consists of the county chair of the majority party and the county chair of the minority party along with the third member. The majority party is allowed to submit five names with their primary choice listed first.
"The county Democratic Central Committee chairperson is automatically placed on the commission and the same process is used by the Republican Commission, with their chair automatically appointed," Stormes said. "If either of those people decide they do not wish to serve, then the party can select a replacement to serve on the commission.
"The third person is chosen from a list of five names submitted by the majority party, and the state board generally accepts the first name on the list as the party's top selection," Stormes said.
While some may believe the five names submitted have to come from the majority party, Stormes said state law does not mandate that.
"There is no rule that says that the third person on the commission has to be either a member of the Democratic Central Committee or the Republican Committee. That third party can be selected from any five voters in the county, regardless of their political affiliation," Stormes said.
The appointments on Wednesday by the SBEC do not directly affect St. Francis County.
Those appointments were made following a two-hour meeting between the SBEC and St. Francis County election officials over irregularities found in the May 18 Primary election.
The SFC Election Commission consists of DCC chairperson Bettye Proctor, Republican representative Florence Brown and DCC member Joe Young, who angrily resigned following the May Primary when county officials closed the County Election Commission's office at the courthouse. Young was reappointed to the commission in August.
Colt Pioneer Days will be held tonight and Saturday at the historic William Stone House in Colt.
Friday activities will be from 5-8 p.m. with food and gospel singing.
On Saturday, booths will be set up at 9 a.m. and music will start at 10 a.m. There will be lots of food as well.
The Arkansas State Conference of Branches of the NAACP is holding its annual convention today and tomorrow at the Forrest City Civic Center.
Workshops will be going on throughout the day today, climaxed with a gospel extravaganza at 7 p.m. The highlight of the convention will be the annual Dr. Jerry D. Jewell Freedom Fund Banquet at 7 p.m. Saturday. Joye Carter of Memphis, board certified forensic pathologist, will be the guest speaker.
The roar of engines is expected to be heard Sunday morning at the Forrest City Wal-Mart Supercenter as local motorcycle enthusiasts roll in for the annual Bikers for Babies ride to Toad Suck Park near Conway.
More than 3,500 bikers from across the state are expected to participate in this year's 10th anniversary ride with starting points located across the state. Registration for the event will be held from 6 a.m. to 8 a.m. in the Wal-Mart parking lot.
Following the ride, a celebration which will include a picnic, music by the Swinging Johnsons and an awards ceremony will be held at noon.
The Forrest City Municipal Airport will be closed Monday, Sept. 13 from 7 a.m.. until 7 p.m., while work is being done near the runway.
A stolen firearm was recovered during a routine traffic stop just after midnight today.
The St. Francis County Sheriff's Department stopped a 1999 GMC driven by Jeffrey C. Mitchell, 30, of Cherry Valley after a deputy observed Mitchell driving across the center line on County Road 255.
When the deputy approached the vehicle, he observed drug paraphernalia in the seat, and a further search of the vehicle revealed a .357 handgun in a pocket on a door.
A computer check through the Arkansas Crime Information Center revealed the weapon had been reported stolen from the Marianna Police Department. The Federal Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms reported that the weapon was one of 18 stolen firearms.
Mitchell is charged with driving left of center, theft by receiving (firearm) and possession of an instrument of crime.