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Marge Koone
TUESDAY, January 26 2016 / Vol. 2 Issue 4 / 75 cents
Winter flexes muscles
After a mild December, Mother Nature gave us an icy reminder last week that it is winter in Van Buren County after all. Sleet and ice made driving hazardous for several days last week. Clinton and Shirley schools were closed while South Side-Bee Branch students got to sleep in a couple of days as school opened two hours late. Many were excited about forecasts early in the week that called for the area to receive up to 7 inches of snow Thursday night and Friday, but excitement waned as the professional weather watchers decreased that estimate to as little as 0.5 inches as the time grew closer. Residents awakened Friday to just a dusting, if anything, on cars and porches, and the news that the snow we were expecting had fallen to the east and south of the county. Forecasts are calling for temperatures into the 60s by the end of the week. But don't give up on building a snowman yet, it's only January.
Southwestern cuts 267 jobs
in Damascus Because of a continued slump in natural gas prices, Southwestern Energy on Thursday laid off 267 employees in Damascus. The layoffs at the site, 1408 Highway 124 E., Damascus, are permanent, the gas and oil company said in a letter to Van Buren County Judge Roger Hooper dated Jan. 21, 2016. Hooper said Thursday that those affected are drillers, those on fracking crews, yard workers and support groups. Southwestern will still employ 236 at its Damascus site to maintain the wells, he said. Their last day of employment will be March 22, 2016, the letter states. Overall, the company is laying off
1,100 employees, 600 of them in Arkansas. The company is not planning on closing any of its approximately 4,000 wells located across six counties in northern Arkansas. The company noted in a statement that natural gas prices have continued to fall over the past year. Southwestern Energy began operations in the Fayetteville Shale 11 years ago. After the layoffs, the company expects to have about 560 employees working on the operation. Southwestern Energy said in a statement that it would provide severance, outplacement services and other benefits to employees affected by the layoffs.
Snow and ice made road conditions difficult last week during the winter weather that blew through the county. This was the scene on 16 West near Crabtree. (Photo by Jeff Burgess)
Fake bills buy truck Couple say woman gave them $650 in counterfeit money A Clinton couple who listed their truck for sale online ended up with a fist full of worthless bills last week. Kimberlee Taylor told Clinton Police Officer Jennifer Miller that she and her husband, Shelby Pruitt, were contacted by a woman who said she was from Morrilton and would like to buy the truck. Taylor stated that they met outside the NAPA auto parts store in Clinton and that the buyer got out of a white van, which
then drove away. Taylor told police that the woman counted out $750 in
counterfeit marker. With the exception of one $100 bill, all of the money was
With the exception of one $100 bill, all of the money was fake cash and said she was in a hurry and did not need a bill of sale. Taylor and Pruitt took the money to a nearby gasoline station to use their
fake, Taylor said. When the couple returned to the NAPA parking lot, their truck and the woman were gone. Miller said in her report that there is a
suspect in the case. She also said the investigation has been turned over to the Van Buren County sheriff's office, which already is looking into counterfeit money passed at a local restaurant. The sheriff's office said Friday the case is under investigation.
For more crime and court news, see Flying high Page 5 This majestic American Bald Eagle was spotted by the Fairfield Bay Garden Club during a tour recently. Story, Page 6
JPs change office hours, send weapons ordinance to 2nd reading The Van Buren County Quorum Court approved four ordinances and one resolution at its meeting last week. A fifth ordinance
is on tap for a second reading next month. That proposal concerns carrying concealed weapons on county property. The ordinance comes on
the heels of Act 1259 approved during the 2015 Legislative session. The ordinance gives certain individuals and elected officials the "ability to
defend themselves" with a concealed weapon. The county's version excludes certain departments and areas from the or-
dinance, including the Courthouse, detention center, sheriff's office, education center and roads and solid waste departments.
Justice of the Peace Dale James asked why the roads and solid waste departments were exSee JPs Page 5