News

DISTRICT TO DISCUSS DRESS CODE CONTROVERSY

BY THE COMMERCIAL STAFF
Monday, October 9, 2006 8:45 AM CDT

The Watson Chapel School District board will meet at 7 p.m. today and the district’s controversial dress code will be on the meeting agenda, Superintendent Danny Knight said.

“The board will have a special meeting immediately afterward to listen to parental concerns,” Knight said, adding the board will conduct a customary review of the uniform policy “toward the end of the current school year” and consider any possible changes at that time.

Fewer than 35 students wore black armbands Friday to protest the district’s dress code. Knight estimated 20 pupils were suspended for the day, while the others were given warnings.

The American Civil Liberties Union of Arkansas threatened the district with First Amendment lawsuits if it disallowed the students’ protest.

One month budgets for both the adult jail and juvenile detention center will be on the agenda for the Jefferson County Quorum Court when they meet today at 5:30 p.m.

The justices of the peace are also expected to approve a resolution declaring a vacancy that was created by the resignation of former JP Richard Hall.

Also this week:

Today is the deadline to register to vote in the November general election. Citizens who want to register to vote in the Nov. 7 election may do so during regular hours at the county clerk’s office at the Jefferson County Courthouse.

Applications which are mailed in must also be postmarked by Monday, the county clerk’s office added.

To be eligible to vote in Arkansas, an applicant must be a U.S. citizen residing in Arkansas who will be 18 years of age on or before election day.

Applications are available at state revenue and county clerk’s offices, public libraries, and public assistance agencies.

Arkansas residents have until Tuesday pay personal and real estate taxes without penalty. After Tuesday, late payers will be assessed a 10 percent penalty.

Those who haven’t paid by November will be assessed additional fees to pay the cost to publish their names in an area publications.

The Pine Bluff Civil Service Commission will meet Tuesday at 6 p.m. in the council chambers at City Hall for their regular monthly meeting.

The holiday foods and crafts workshop sponsored by the Jefferson County Extension Homemakers Council will be held Tuesday and Wednesday at the Jefferson County Cooperative Extension Service office, 500 Idaho St.

The times for the event will be 6 p.m. Tuesday and 10 a.m. Wednesday. The workshop will provide recipes and craft ideas for the upcoming holidays. Jo Ann Carr is the chairman and Marnette Reed the co-chairman.

The cost is $5 per person and includes a recipe-and-craft booklet and a tasting party after the workshop. Pre-registration is required and can be completed by calling 534-1033.

The annual Sulphur Springs Living History Weekend has been scheduled for Saturday and Sunday at the Sulphur Springs Cemetery and Park on Luckwood Road off Arkansas 54 in the Sulphur Springs community.

Camps will be set up beginning Friday and on Saturday, the public will enjoy an encampment, talks on history of the area and demonstrations of early crafts. A candlelight tour of the area is also planned at dark on Saturday.

A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday.

Details: Call Mark Kalkbrenner at 247-2394 or Dee Lawrence at 534-1909.

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