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Bill Bonds
TUESDAY, January 10, 2017 / Vol. 3 Issue 2 / 75 cents
Snow takes toll on roadways; 2 die in wreck
Austin and Abram Wells enjoy their snow day Friday in Alread. (Photo by Nikole Wells)
Snow early Friday morning caused a wreck on U.S. 65 in Bee Branch that resulted in the deaths of two people. According to a report from the Arkansas State Police, about 8:10 a.m. Friday, a northbound 2006 Dodge driven by Amanda McKinnon, 40, of Damascus slid into the southbound lane of traffic and stopped. A 2015 Freightliner traveling south on Highway 65 could not
stop in time to avoid the collision, hitting McKinnon’s vehicle on the right side. McKinnon died as a result of her injuries. Also killed was her son Shane Ward, 17. Her 19-year-old son, Austin Ward, was also in the vehicle and was seriously injured. The snow caused several other accidents in Van Buren County Friday. A multiple-vehiSee Snow on page 2
Winter wonderland in Crabtree.
A snow-covered field in Shirley. (Photo by Denise Burgess)
(Photo by Jeff Burgess)
Charges filed after deputy, suspect fight Sheriff’s office investigates threats On December 29, 2016, the Van Buren County sheriff’s office received information that threats had been made against a person or people by someone in the Shirley area who possessed bomb-making material, according to a news release from the sheriff’s office. The Arkansas State Police assisted in an immediate and thorough investigation of this inci-
dent, the news release states. It said no bomb making material was discovered nor was any evidence gathered that there was such a plot to make any explosives. Due to speculation that this threat involved Shirley School, investigators met with school officials on Tuesday, January 3, 2017, to explain that there had See Threats on page 2
Casey A 74-year-old Shirley man faces aggravated assault charges after fighting with a deputy on New Year’s Day. Van Buren County Sgt. Randy HooWWI journalist -When William Emery Pennington was called to serve in World War I, he vowed to write in his journal every day that he was away from his Morganton home. Read more of his story on Page 7.
ten answered a disturbance call at a residence on Highway 330 South shortly after 5 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 1. The caller said her husband had a gun and said he was going to kill their son-inlaw, who was sitting at a table with three children, according to an arrest report. Jackie Casey said she got between the men and was able to get the gun from her husband, Ruel Casey, according to the report.
She told the deputy her husband then tried to hit their sonin-law, but the younger man grabbed his fist and said he knew Casey really did not want to hurt him, the report states. Ruel Casey took off walking, according to the report, and encountered Hooten at the end of the driveway. Hooten was soon heard to radio, “Get help here now!” He radioed again a couple of minutes later saying he had Casey in cus-
What’s going on Property assessment
Van Buren County taxpayers can now assess personal property online, according to Tax Assessor Trina Jones. Go online to CountyService.net and navigate to the online assess box and follow the prompts to complete the assessment. Jones says you
will be able to print your assessment when completed and once processed in the assessor’s office you will receive an e-mail confirmation letting you know it is complete. You can then renew your vehicle renewal online at your leisure. “Our office is so excited to be able to offer this to our taxpayers and hope that
tody, according to the report. According to the report, Hooten was bleeding from his right hand and said Casey punched him in the side of the head several times. Casey has been charged with aggravated assault and aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer, both Class D felonies, three misdemeanor counts of endangering the welfare of a minor, and resisting arrest with injury, a misdemeanor.
this will make things more streamline and convenient for everyone,” Jones states in a news release. For more information or questions, call 745-2464.
On the move
Backyard Antiques and Treats has opened its new digs in Choctaw, at the corner of Highways 65 and 9. Many of the See Businesses on page 2