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Delores Haney
TUESDAY, December 13, 2016 / Vol. 2 Issue 47 / 75 cents
3 animal ordinances to be considered When the Van Buren County Quorum Court meets this week, it will be considering three ordinances regarding animals. One of those is a third reading of an ordinance proposed by Justice of the Peace Randy Story to close
the animal shelter as of June 30, 2017. That ordinance would immediately halt taking animals in and would euthanize any remaining there when the shelter closes. The ordinance was read at the November meeting then a second time at a special meeting
last week. The JPs will vote on the ordinance after the third reading. At the special meeting, a woman offered to take over the shelter, but not the animal control director or the office’s truck. Lori Treat said she already has a 501(c)(3) and would add a low-
cost spay and neuter clinic at the building, if the county and city of Clinton would rent it to her for a nominal fee. A second ordinance on the agenda for Thursday is sponsored by JP Wes Newland and calls for the county to cease funding for the shelter
as of June 30, 2017, disband the shelter board and seek an individual or organization to take over the facility. There also is an ordinance, sponsored by JP Dale James, on fines and penalties for animal control violations, such as “dump-
ing” animals and not having them on a leash or contained. The regular Quorum Court meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 15, at the Courthouse Annex on Highway 65 in Clinton. It is open to the public.
Manager: All good in water department
Singing songs of Christmas - Shirley students visited residents of Indian Rock Village on Friday December 9, 2016, singing Christmas carols, and handing out hand-made ornaments and cards. The students were led by teachers Layna Jones, Brooke Loter and Jeff Mannon.
Notes Closing
The Van Buren County Museum will be closed for the holidays from Dec. 15, 2016, until Jan. 3, 2017.
Taking the oath
Judge Charles Clawson will swear in Van Buren County’s elected officials at 9 a.m. Sunday, Jan. 1, 2017, at the Van Buren County Courthouse.
In the spotlight
Brendan Greeley, a reporter from Baltimore, Maryland, who writes for Businessweek, was in town interviewing some folks last week. Accord-
ing to Clinton Mayor Richard McCormac, Greeley is writing a story about areas with a high number of residents living on Social Security disability, and Van Buren County is in the Top 20 counties per capita in the nation. We are interested in seeing how we are portrayed.
Christmas Notes
Dearest Santa Claus, We've been very safe! Your reindeer are cute! Mason would like Quick Shadow. Alex wants an Air Patroller. Tripp's request is a Hot Wheels with different kinds of tracks (the blue, and red, and yellow). Lyla will take a pony helmet.
Paisley would like a big dollhouse. Tyler wants Blaze. Brylin's request is a pink bicycle. Emily will take a pink baby doll. Stella would like for you to bring her a Mario backpack. Jayce wants a big playhouse. Thank you very much for all of our presents! Love, Mrs. Shannon's Class Mainstreet Kids (Shirley)
The Voice of Van Buren County’s final issue for 2016 will publish on Dec. 20. The office will be closed Dec. 21-27. We’ll be back on Dec. 28 and our first issue for 2017 will publish on Jan. 3. Happiest of holidays to you all.
Dear teachers,
New kitty
Please get your kindergartners' and first-graders' letters to Santa to The Voice this week. We need them by Thursday, Dec. 14, to get them in the paper on December 20. Bring them by our downtown
Clinton office or e-mail them to voiceeditor@artelco. com.
Holiday plans
We are adding a cat to our family at The Voice. She is a gray calico from the animal shelter and will be joining us this week. We think Skeeter will welcome her, and we know we will.
In a change of pace from most of 2016, the Clinton Water Department reported at last week’s City Council meeting that “everything is good.” Department Manager Richard “Dicky” Hink said the Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality just reissued the department’s permits for five years. He said ADEQ has been inspecting everything and that issuing the permits for that length of time is a good sign. Mayor Richard McCormac said he wanted to move forward with appointing a water commission, and chose Hink as the board chairman. The vote was 4-0 to approve the choice. Counselors Timothy Barnes and Nina Baker were not at the meeting. Also Thursday, the council approved Jeff Barnes, who manages Best Western hotel, to join the Advertising and Promotion Board to replace Baker. Her term as a city councilwoman ends Dec. 31, 2016. The council also heard from Police Chief John Willough-
by who said the department has hired two police officers, David Merriott and Derek Sandford. Merriott is a former Van Buren County deputy and Sandford has worked in law enforcement in Searcy County for several years. It also was announced that Terri Hicks was hired to replace administrative assistant Kathy Barger who is retiring at the end of the year. Hicks has worked in the prosecutor’s office and the district court office. The council also voted to give $150 net Christmas bonuses to full-time city workers and $75 for part-time police officers. Those newly hired in the police department will not receive the bonus. Thursday was the final regular council meeting for longtime Alderman Johnny Moore. “I’ve seen a lot of good improvements over the last 12 years, and I want to see that continue,” he said. After the meeting, the council held a budget meeting. They have until February to approve a 2017 budget.
Man gets 6 years for escape A Clinton man who escaped from jail in July has pleaded guilty to the charge. Taylor Coats, 25, fled the Van Buren County Detention Center on July 1, 2016, then stole an ambulance from Southern Paramedic Service, according to court records. He was captured within hours at a residence in Clinton. Coats pleaded guilty Dec. 6 to
theft of property over $25,000, a Class B felony, and third-degree escape, a Class C felony. He was sentenced to 72 months in the Department of Correction on the escape charge, and 120 months suspended imposition of sentence on the theft charge, with the sentences to run concurrently. He will receive credit for 135 days already spent in jail.
Turn on the lights - This house on Highway 95 West is all dressed up in its Christmas finery. (Photo by Robert Snyder/for The Voice)