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Commercial Editorial -- ARSENAL WORKERS WILL RECEIVE HELP -- SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 2009

Saturday, November 7, 2009 12:33 AM CST

Pine Bluff Chemical Disposal Facility officials should be commended for opening an employee transition office later this month as incineration of the stockpiled chemical weapons at the Pine Bluff Arsenal begins to wind down.

More than 1,000 skilled men and women at the arsenal have amassed a safety record unequaled for a task of this size and nature.

Fortunately, they have a number of options.

The Economic Development Alliance of Jefferson County is distributing a brochure that brags on the workers. “This is a good workforce with an admirable track record,” the pamphlet reads. “They have answered the call of an international initiative, tackled a world-class problem and have done their jobs with more than satisfactory results.

“They are well trained, highly skilled, drug tested, and have security clearances. Many carry special professional and occupational licenses and certifications. This is a premium workforce by any standard — and as of November 2010, they are looking for work. If you believe you are sensing opportunity here, you believe right.”

If the program continues on schedule, the last ton (container of mustard agent) should be disposed of in 12 to 13 months, Lt. Col. Nathaniel Farmer, commander of facility, told a Pine Bluff civic club Thursday. The workforce is to be reduced to 46 percent by July and the last worker gone by June 2012.

Some of the workers are expected to take early retirement, while others will be compensated for loss of their jobs. They can also sign up with the federal government’s Priority Placement Program to be eligible for federal jobs nationwide.

We owe them a debt of gratitude.

211 service ends

Arkansas 211’s call center, launched in mid-2008 to help individuals locate social service organizations 24/7 with one phone call, closed its doors Wednesday. However, the Web site remains online.

Based in Pine Bluff with a satellite office in Bentonville, the future of the service is in doubt. It was started with the aid of Arkansas United Way organizations.

John Nazzaro, the voluntary chair of the state association of the United Way, acknowledged he did not know whether the Arkansas 211 Web site would remain in operation.

United Way organizations, corporations and private donors kept Arkansas 211 operational with $1.9 million, but without government funding the future appeared bleak. The staff was reduced from 10 to six full-time employees in June, and operational hours were decreased.

While Arkansas 211 provided a needed service, supporters must find a more permanent source of financing.

Lottery votes

Lt. Gov. Bill Halter picked up some votes from seniors at three Jefferson County high schools this past week after telling them their class would be among the first to benefit from the state’s lottery scholarships. While some of those seniors might be too young to cast a ballot now, they may remember Halter as the man who launched the scholarship effort.

Halter anticipates 10,000 scholarships will be given out in the first year. Within four years, he said about 30,000 Arkansas students will have a scholarship at any given time.

If the lottery generates $100 million annually as projected, $5,000 scholarships will be available for students attending four-year schools and $2,500 for students attending two-year schools.

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