Ferman High named Green Forest Person of the Year

Ferman High, at right, received a plaque as Green Forest Person of the Year at the Chamber of Commerce banquet Saturday evening. Chamber President Rob Kerby made the presentation. Mike Ellis / Carroll County News [Order this photo]

GREEN FOREST -- Speaking at the annual Chamber of Commerce banquet, President Rob Kerby said, "Good things are happening in Green Forest!"

A large crowd filled the school cafeteria Saturday night to honor Ferman High as Green Forest Person of the Year.

High, a 1950 graduate of Green Forest High School, was born in Oak Grove, and has been very active in the American Legion and a volunteer throughout the community, including service with the fire department.

The annual Hero of the Year award was split between three groups working to feed the hungry. The Beth'El Baptist Church, the Ministerial Alliance, and the Angel Food Ministries at the Green Forest United Methodist Church were recognized for their charity work.

Keynote speech

Keynote speaker State Rep. Bryan King looked back on the recent legislative session, and said it was much more contentious than his first session in 2007.

"This session was intense," he said. "My first session was a vacation." 

King described some of the biggest issues from the session, including a tax increase on tobacco. King opposed the increase, because other states have found diminishing returns as smokers quit or cut down in the face of higher prices.

The tax increase was originally justified as a way of funding a trauma center in Arkansas. King said he would have preferred higher fines for DWI and domestic violence, both of which contribute to the need for a trauma center.

A bill introduced by King to ban domestic partnership registries in the state became a "very controversial" issue during the session. "I learned a little more about how government works, unfortunately," King said, as he described the tactics of opponents who failed to show up for the vote that would have brought his bill back out of committee.

King said he also supported a bill to allow those with concealed weapons permits to bring guns into churches. He said some pastors deal with marriage counseling, or with troubled youth, and the decision to allow guns into a church should rest with individual churches.

King concluded by saying, "I enjoy representing a very diverse district." 

State of the City

Mayor Richard Deweese said he was proud of the way the city handled the ice storm. Referring to economic troubles across the country, he said Green Forest continues to thrive.

"Unemployment here is only for the unwilling or the unable," he said.

The mayor said continuing infrastructure improvements will lead to new industries and more housing.

"Times have never been easy here, but we've always persevered," he said, as he encouraged continued investment in the community.

State of the school

Supt. Jeff Williams gave a brief address on the school district. He said plans for the new middle school have been submitted to state agencies for approval, and he hopes construction will begin in June and the new building will be completed by July 2010.

He also said Green Forest is one of 23 schools in Arkansas to receive an Ames Grant, which adds more rigor to the curriculum, and will encourage more students to take advanced placement and pre-AP courses.

Other highlights

Brent Spurlock discussed the procedure for Chamber members to receive a free Web page on the chamber site.

The evening included performances by the Green Forest High School Band, the Seventh Grade Choir, and the Intermediate School Honor Choir.

Reigning Miss Carroll County Olivia Foster addressed the crowd, and Keylen Bell closed the evening with a song.