Of the people,
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By the people,
Wilma Miller
For the people
TUESDAY, January 19 2016 / Vol. 2 Issue 3 / 75 cents
$2.099 million budget gets council approval
Coach Laura Tucker, Tori Johnson and her parents Melissa and Chris Johnson on signing day.
The Clinton City Council unanimously approved a $2.099 million budget for the city for 2016. The budget for each department is: • Fire - $104,250 • Police - $633,315 • Parks - $110,710 • Streets - $448,250 • Recycling - $30.382 • Zoning - $64,200 • Administration $637,790 Additionally $53,000 was budget-
ed for baseball/softball and $20,000 for animal control. Mayor Richard McCormac said if all goes as budgeted the city should be $53,000 in the black at the end of 2016. The councilors approved the budget unanimously at its Jan. 14 regular meeting; Johnny Moore was absent. The Water and Sewer Department
budget is separate. The council heard a report from the engineer working on the department's capital improvement plan. Oren Noble said the plan has been extended to 15 years instead of 10. He also suggested the city work on getting a grant to help See Budget on page 5
Senior signs to play
college softball Clinton athletic standout Tori Johnson has agreed to play softball for the Lady Eagles of Williams Baptist College next season. Johnson signed a letter of intent earlier this month. The 18-year-old senior began her soft-
ball career at the age of 5 when she started playing T-ball and the rest, as they say, is history. She is a three-time All Conference pick and a twotime All State player. "Tori really is the 'whole package,' a great person, student and athlete," says
Lady Eagles Coach Laura Tucker. "She has an excellent work ethic, which has allowed her to be so successful in all that she does." Tucker says John-
Briefs
'Hand' not real
Camry was struck by a southbound 2012 Lincoln. The Lincoln was driven by Ruben Carter, 67, of Ringgold, Louisiana. No injuries were reported. The report does not say if any citations were issued.
Store closings
Two area stores have announced that they are closing. In Damascus, the Neighborhood Walmart is one of the 269 stores the retail giant is closing worldwide. The store opened a year ago. It will close on Jan. 28, the company announced last week. In Bee Branch, Caldwell Feeds is closing. No further details were available at press time.
Counterfeit bills
Local law enforcement is working on a counterfeit money case. Phony $20 bills were reported by a Clinton restaurant. No other details were available by press time.
Rumors swirled earlier this month about a human hand being found at the Highway 65 road widening construction site in Bee Branch. The item was not a human hand, just a decoration or part of a costume. Though wires were visible in the "hand," the Van Buren County sheriff's office, in an abundance of caution, had the item X-rayed at the local hospital.
Mayor has wreck
Clinton Mayor Richard McCormac, 50, was involved in a two-car accident on Jan. 4, 2016, in downtown Clinton. According to a report from the Clinton Police Department, McCormac was turning from Highway 65 onto Main Street from the turn lane when his 1997 Toyota
See Softball on page 3
Shirley OKs budget
The Shirley City Council unanimously approved the 2016 budget at its meeting earlier this month. Re c orde r/Tre a surer Melissa Worthing noted that a slight change would have to be made to the budget to reflect the current minimum wage. The council also unanimously approved an ordinance on procedure for condemning and removing houses, buildings and structures constituting a nuisance within the corporate limits.
That's far enough Recent heavy rains have pushed the open water up the roadway on Highway 330 in Choctaw. This week's forecast calls for rain Thursday with highs in the mid-40s to lower 50s. Lows should be in the 20s and 30s.
Proposal allows concealed weapons at county offices The Van Buren County Quorum Court has a lot on its plate this week. According to the agenda six ordinances and 15 budget transfers will be considered. Among the ordinances scheduled
to be considered is one that would allow the possession of a concealed handgun on county property by certain individuals. The ordinance would allow elected officials to carry concealed weapons with the proper
permits. The weapons would not be allowed in courtrooms or at the sheriff's office or jail. Also to be decided is an ordinance to repeal ordinance 2015-31 levying a voluntary tax on real property to help pay
for furnishings at the new library. This proposed ordinance adds to that a 1 mill voluntary tax on personal property. It would be a 1 mill tax on real property and a 1 mill tax on personal property; the tax is voluntary.
Another ordinance would change office hours for county government on Mondays. Currently offices are open until 5 p.m. on Mondays. This ordinance would allow offices to close at 4:30 on Mondays
as they do the rest of the weekdays. The Quorum Court meeting is 7 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 21, at the Courthouse Annex. It is open to the public.