The ballot positions for the November General Election are set after candidates drew for spots on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Several races are planned for seats on the Forrest City City Council.
Forrest City voters will see two incumbents listed first on election day after Roger Breeding and John Gadberry pulled the first position in each of their respective races. Breeding will face off against Bobby Woodard in the race for the Ward 4, Position 1 spot on the city council, and Gadberry is being challenged by former city council member Chris Oswalt for the Ward 4, Position 2 alderman position.
In other council races, Ward 1 will see challengers Henry E. Peacock and Clifton Avant listed first in their races. Peacock is challenging Roy Hancock for the Ward 1, Position 1 seat, while Avant challenges longtime council member Cecil Twillie for the Ward 1, Position 2 seat. In the race for Ward 2, Position 1, seat, George Wise is challenging Mary E. Jeffers, who currently holds the city council seat. Wise pulled the first position on the ballot.
In Widener, city clerk/ recorder Lillian Williams pulled the top spot in her race against Arvin Billingsley. Also in Widener, challenger Holly Sanders drew the lead position on the ballot against incumbent Versie Pitts in the race for alderman position 4, and Abron Pitts will hold the top position on the ballot for alderman position 1 in a race against Rodney Burgess.
In Caldwell, Isaac G. Wilburn will hold the first spot on the ballot in his race against Barbara Posey for the position 5 seat on the city council.
The race for clerk/recorder in Palestine will see challenger Cappi Vaughn listed first on the ballot with incumbent Charles Maness second.
In the race for St. Francis County Sheriff and Collector, challenger John Heckler drew the top spot on the ballot with incumbent Dave Parkman being listed second.
In the United States Senate race, challenger State Senator Jim Holt, Republican, drew the first position over incumbent U.S. Senator Blanche L. Lincoln, Democrat.
The United States Congress District 01 race will see challenger Vernon Humphrey, Republican, atop the ballot above incumbent Congressman Marion Berry, Democrat.
Judge Jim Gunter drew the first slot on the ballot, and Judge Collins Kilgore drew the second slot in the State Supreme Court Associate Justice Position 4 race.
Six candidates are on the ballot for the United States Presidential race. First on the ballot will be Michael Anthony Peroutka, Constitutional, followed by Michael Badnarik, Libertarian and David Cobb, Green Party of Arkansas. President George W. Bush, Republican and incumbent, will have the fourth slot, and Democratic challenger John F. Kerry will be fifth. Ralph Nader, Populist Party of Arkansas, will be listed last on the ballot.
By DAVID NICHOL
T-H Staff Writer
It's a problem that hasn't come up before -- at least, not in Lee Vent's memory.
However, as the Sept. 21 school elections approach, the superintendent of Forrest City Schools admitted this morning that there are some people in the school district who apparently are confused about their voting rights.
Namely, they don't think they can vote in the Forrest City school elections, because they don't live within the city limits of Forrest City.
"That's a concern," Vent said. "I was most surprised when I heard about it. But I had three parents in my office yesterday (Wednesday). They lived in Caldwell and thought they couldn't vote in the election."
The campus of Caldwell Elementary School was closed for this school year, but Caldwell is still within the Forrest City School District.
"This is a district-wide election," Vent said. "It is not just the city. The district is much larger than the city. It covers about 360 square miles."
He said the concerns of the parents concerned him, because it could indicate a wider problem.
"That's not the American way (for anyone in the district not to be allowed to vote). Anybody who registers can vote," he said.
There has also been concern expressed by some whose children attend private schools. If they live within the Forrest City district, they can vote in the school election, according to Vent.
Vent said he wasn't sure how the idea got started that some people living in the district could not vote.
"I told those parents to get out and get on the phone and let people know they can vote," he said.
He added, "And the polling places should be geographically located where there shouldn't be too much inconvenience for any voter."
Polling locations for the Forrest City School District appeared in an ad on Page 7 of Wednesday's Times-Herald.
The Forrest City School District cuts a large swath through the middle of St. Francis County, reaching from the Cross County line in the north to the Lee County Line in the south. To the west is the Palestine-Wheatley School District. The Hughes School District is to the east.
"It's about the middle two-thirds of the county," said Vent, about the Forrest City district.
Included in the district, besides Forrest City, are the cities of Caldwell, Colt, Madison and Widener, and a large unincorporated area of St. Francis County.
Early voting is also under way at the County Courthouse during regular office hours through Monday, Sept. 20.
No millage increase is being asked by Forrest City. There is one contested school board race.
A pair of new programs are on the way for students at Lincoln Middle School after the school received a $500,000 21st Century Community Learning Grant according to a press release from the Arkansas Department of Education.
The grant is part of the school's "Bridges to Success" 21st Century program which includes programs for language art and math tutoring along with various enrichment classes such as art, 4-H club and drama. The $500,000 grant will go towards the implementation of after-school and summer academic enrichment programs at LMS.
"We were elated when we received notification from the Arkansas Department of Education that we had been awarded this grant. Everyone worked so hard in putting this grant together, and fortunately it paid off," said program director Estella Shackelford.
"We plan to provide an intense, but highly engaging, math and literacy program, and we will attempt to hook the students in by providing a mix of academic, but fun, enrichment activities to compliment our language arts and math curriculum," she added.
According to the press release, several local entities assisted LMS with the grant application including, the Arkansas Land and Farm Development Commission, Workforce, Inc., Beth Salem M.B. Church, the Zachary Elder Foundation and Wal-Mart.
The after-school program is tentatively scheduled to begin in October pending approval by the Forrest City School Board.
By KENDALL OWENS
T-H Staff Writer
Repairs to the roofs at the St. Francis County Jail could begin soon.
St. Francis County Judge Carl Cisco told members of the county's building and improvement committee Tuesday that work could begin this week unless the weather forces a change.
"I spoke with both of our contractors and they plan to start as quickly as they can. They've both had other projects and should get to us this week unless the weather takes a turn," Cisco said.
One portion of the roof will be resurfaced using a foam procedure, and the other portion will include replacement of the existing roof on the eastern most portion of the jail.
Members of committee were also updated on attempts to sell property off of Lindauer Road, which formerly housed the St. Francis County Health Department and the St. Francis County Child Support Enforcement Unit. According to Cisco, an appraisal of the property has been completed by St. Francis County Assessor Craig Jones, and the county will discuss the property with area realtors.
"I plan to contact all the realtors in the area and start taking offers for the building, and maybe even the building and the property, which is included. The building just doesn't fit into our plans, and there is no way that it can be utilized by the county for office space," Cisco told the committee.
Cisco also said any funds generated by the sale of the space should be used to build more office space at the courthouse complex.
The 911 office has now been moved to the office at 618 E. Cross Street, across the street from the courthouse. According to Cisco, the move was made so that the office could have one centralized location.
"There were certain things that were needed by that office that we needed to put in one location. We had an office here at the courthouse, but we also had the drill press and signs out at the road department. Now we have enough room to do everything under one roof," Cisco said.
By ALAN SMITH
T-H Staff Writer
The Forrest City Advertising and Promotions Commission on Tuesday learned that the planned improvements for the St. Francis County Museum will soon begin.
Attorney Brad Beavers told commissioners that the project, which had been delayed by the United States Department of Transportation and the Arkansas Highway and Transportation Department since 1999, could begin as early as next week.
"The good news is that they have approved our low bid (from MACO of Monticello)," said Beavers. "They were the low bid last time. We had the pre-construction meeting this (Tuesday) morning, and repairs to the exterior of the building will begin on Monday, weather permitting. The construction will be done in such a way as to limit the interruption to the access to the museum. The construction schedule is that the project will be completed in 120 days, again barring weather problems.
"With the new bid, we do have one problem," continued Beavers. "The new bid leaves the museum with $2,514 in costs unfunded. The A and P has already committed $40,000 to the project. We are asking if you might be able to fund what we are lacking." The commissioners voted unanimously to give the additional $2,514 for the project.
Andrew Holliday, of XL Management Group in Memphis and the director of public relations of the annual Mightymite Triathlon, discussed expanding the annual event. Holliday was asked last month look into price estimates for a chicken cook-off, blues music and getting national flea market vendors to attend next year's event. He stated that he got mixed results while researching the move.
"I went out and talked to several triathletes and got some mixed feedback about the proposed events," Holliday said. "They cared more about additional athletic events, such as a cycling event and time trials. Cycling is very big in the area, especially in Tennessee. There are also cyclist clubs in Little Rock. They seemed to care more about those types of events.
"You could still have the festival, but it would bring in a different crowd," added Holliday. "Bands, flea markets and a food festival will bring some people in, but, just being honest, most of the athletes were not very interested in that. Those events cater to a different demographic than the athletes. Additional athletic events will give more of a focus on drawing more athletes from outside the area to participate in the Mightymite."
Holliday said that advertising for any additional athletic event would "tie right in" with the July race. He stated the next step in the process is to have logistical people scout sites for any possible events.
Holliday concluded his presentation with a cost estimate for his company to serve as an event coordinator for Forrest City. According to Holliday's information, $25,000 per year would be needed to cover up to 12 events. The price for more than 12 events would be charged at $1,500 per event. Included in that cost would be promotion of the events, soliciting events and acting as event director to manage and recruit new events for the city. Commissioners did not make a decision Holliday's presentations.
Before adjouring, the board reviewed a memo from the Arkansas Delta Byways. It stated that the Forrest City Advertising and Promotion Commission has been nominated for the Hospitality Award to be given out by the ADB at the their annual banquet to be held in Helena on Oct. 15 at Phillips County Community College.
Others from St. Francis County who are nominated for awards include: Dr. John Alderson for Tourism Person of the Year and Richard Benson of KXJK for the Media Support Award. Secretary Sheila Lieblong stated that the director of the museum Laura Mazzanti, who could not attend, was requesting $250 to purchase an item to place in the banquet silent auction and to purchase a table at the event for $175. The commissioners voted unanimously to fund a total of $425 toward the event.
Forrest City police have arrested a suspect in connection with the breaking and entering of several vehicles parked outside a local church last month.
Sylester Shundry Moore, 19, 304 E. South St., Forrest City, was arrested Wednesday on four counts of breaking or entering and theft over $500.
Police say Moore broke into four vehicles parked outside the First Baptist Church on North Rosser Street on Aug. 4. The victims told police that after church services, they noticed several windows to their vehicles had been broken out and a variety of items were stolen including a cell phone, cash and tools.
According to a press release, the police were able to develop a lead through a stolen cell phone that was used by Moore. Moore was arrested Wednesday at the St. Francis County Jail where he is being held on unrelated charges. He was scheduled to be arraigned in St. Francis County District Court this afternoon.
The FCPD reminds all citizens when leaving their vehicles unattended to not leave any valuables in the passenger areas.
Officials in the Forrest City School District are trying to determine how a kindergartner was left on a school bus Tuesday morning.
Chiquita Davis of Forrest City reported to the Forrest City Police Department Wednesday afternoon that her five-year-old son Jared Davis was found walking on Dawson Road near the school district's bus shop about noon Tuesday.
Davis told police her son got on the bus enroute to school Tuesday morning and was supposed to have changed buses at Lincoln Middle School, but he fell asleep on the bus. When the child awoke about noon, he exited the bus, which had been parked at the bus shop on Dawson Road.
Davis said her son walked out of the gate at the bus shop and had started walking north on Dawson Road when he was picked up by an employee with the Forrest City Housing Authority and returned to the bus shop.
FCSD Superintendent Lee Vent said Deputy Superintendent Dr. Alice Barnes was scheduled to meet today with the child's parents and district transportation employees.
Early voting is winding down for the annual school election.
Voters have Friday and Monday left to cast early ballots. So far, there have been 562 ballots cast in the three county school districts.
The election will be held on Tuesday, Sept. 21, with polls throughout the county opening at 7:30 a.m. and closing at 7:30 p.m.