Monthly Archives: April 2024

Paragould School District seeks bond restructure vote

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District hopes bond will help to improve existing facilities

Delta Digital News Service

Monday, April 29, 2024

By Shelby Russom | Contributor

PARAGOULD, ARK – Paragould School District is seeking approval for a bond restructure to improve its existing facilities as well as new add ons. 

The bond restructure will be on the March 2024 ballot, and if approved, the district will use the funds to finance projects within the “Master Facility Plan.” This plan includes various projects such as building a new arena, HVAC projects, baseball/softball complex improvements, a potential renovation of the main high school campus, and parking lot improvements.

Jimmy C. Dodd, Jr. of the Paragould Rams Sports Network said he believes this is the most significant opportunity the district has had in a long time. He said this would benefit both the students and the community. Dodd said the district has this opportunity because of their excellent stewardship.

“It’s because of that that we have the opportunity to do this without a millage increase,” He said. “That’s a really big statement about accountability and using taxpayer money well.” 

In a public forum held by the Paragould School District on Feb. 9, the superintendent, Nick Jankoviak, said it is essential for the community to know the bond restructuring will not cause an increase in the tax rate. He said it is similar to getting a loan on a home. 

“We are extending our home loan, but by doing that, we can generate funds that can be used for construction projects,” Jankoviak said. 

Jankoviak said the construction projects involve building a new arena just east of the current arena, Doc Paynter Court, which the school has outgrown. 

“The reality is, it’s no longer adequate for the students, for the coaches,” he said. “The reality is that we can do something better.” 

Jankoviak said the plan does not involve tearing down Doc Paynter Court, seeing how the building is special to the district. 

Paragould School District media coordinator Danielle Honeycutt said she thinks building a new arena will help the students build new memories they will cherish the way her family, who graduated from PHS, do. 

“We’re like a family, and we’ve outgrown the house we’re living in.” She said. 

 Doc Paynter Court currently has a capacity of 851, but the new arena will hold 1,400. 

Voters can find Photos and a virtual tour of what the new arena will look like, a frequently asked questions section, a survey, and the official ballot question on the Paragould School District website. 

Jankoviak said the ballot question can be confusing because the district could not change all of the language on the question. The district was only able to change one sentence at the top of the ballot, which reads,

 “The total proposed school tax levy of 37.62 mills represents the same tax rate presently being collected.” 

The options listed are “for tax” and “against tax,” which Jankoviak said may be confusing, but the district is not asking for an increase in the tax rate. 

The community will vote on the bond restructure on March 5.

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Shelby Russom

Shelby Russom is a senior in the School of Media and Journalism at Arkansas State University. She can be reached at shelby.thompson1@smail.astate.edu

Craighead County Deputy PAO releases annual report on Hot Check Program

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JP Barbara Weinstock (District 5) announces retirement after 27 years

Delta Digital News Service

Brayden Morse | Contributor

Monday, April 29, 2024

JONESBORO, Ark. – The Hot Check Program from the Craighead County Deputy Prosecuting Attorney’s office in accordance with ACA 16-21-120(c) presented the 2023 annual report of attorney fees and restitution fees on Feb. 12.

The Hot Check program was terminated in April 2021. Keith Chrestman, former Craighead County prosecuting attorney, terminated the program when realizing few people write checks anymore. It was costing Chrestman more than he was getting out of it. 

Charlene Davidson, Managing Deputy Prosecuting Attorney for Craighead County, presented the 2023 annual report. 

“During the 2023 calendar year, our office received $13,011.21 from the Craighead County Sheriff’s Office to be entered as payments received from the defendants in the Hot Check Program,” Davidson said. 

“During the 2023 calendar year, our office received $13,011.21 from the Craighead County Sheriff’s Office to be entered as payments received from the defendants in the Hot Check Program.”

Craighead County Managing Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Charlene Davidson

The Craighead County Prosecutor’s Office disbursed $32,991.73 towards victim restitution and $11,813.25 towards merchant fees that defendants were charged for the hot checks. The office also disbursed $8,259.09 in prosecuting attorneys fees. 

The prosecuting attorney fees are entitled to the prosecuting attorneys by statute for managing the Hot Check program. 

Davidson shared that money is still coming in despite termination of the program, when a committee member asked about the money situation and how it works. 

“There is money still coming in. The defendants pleaded guilty and got on a payment plan. Some of them pay and some do not. Sheriff Marty Boyd has been really good about getting their tax refunds. We get money that has been owed for 10-15-20 years. There is still money coming in that needs to go out to the victims. I think money will come in for quite some time,” she said. 

Once a defendant is found guilty of violating the hot check law, they enter a guilty plea. The defendant is ordered to pay restitution. The collection of restitution fees is managed by the Sheriff’s office. 

“Until it is paid in full, it is still owed. It will continue to come in even though we are no longer prosecuting those types of cases,” Davidson said. 

Now that the program does not exist, if someone sees suspicion of a hot check, they will present them to the law enforcement agency for investigation. 

If the law enforcement agency finds probable cause for an arrest, they will forward it to the Craighead County Prosecutor’s Office. 

In other business, Craighead County Judge Marvin Day announced Barbara Weinstock’s retirement after 27 years as Justice of the Peace for District Five at the Craighead County Quorum Court meeting on Monday. 

Weinstock was responsible for $30,549,485 of grants of free money, helping people of Craighead County. The grants were used for mental health courts, veteran’s courts, drug courts, etc. 

Weinstock shared her thoughts on her appreciation of the committee and her time as part of the Justice of the Peace. 

“I’ve learned a lot, I really have. Thank you, it has been a pleasure,” Weinstock said. 

“I’ve learned a lot, I really have. Thank you, it has been a pleasure,”

District 5 JP Barbara Weinstock

Judge Day said Weinstock would retire Friday but continue to help. He also shared his appreciation of Weinstock and the future of her replacement. 

“We are looking for a replacement. We are excited for her,” Day said. 

Craighead County quorum court will meet again Feb. 26.

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Brayden Morse

Brayden Morse is a junior in the multimedia journalism program in the School of Media and Journalism at Arkansas State University in Jonesboro. He can be reached at brayden.morse@smail.astate.edu.

NOTE: Featured photo by Money Knack on Unsplash