Of the people, By the people, For the people
Santa Letters, 1B
TUESDAY, December 20, 2016 / Vol. 2 Issue 48 / 75 cents
Merry Christmas
Santa Claus lives in each of us By Shannon Belonie
Lately I have read about breaking the news of Santa Claus to kids. I am a little personally invested in this topic. For many years now, I have seen Santa Claus. Today, I want to tell you just how real he is. My kids know who Santa Claus is. I am not talking about a mystical being that lives, hidden away, in the Northern Polar region. I am talking a real flesh and blood relationship, that exists within us all. I see him every November, peeking at me from behind my eyes, as I look into the mirror. How can they not know Santa as a material being when they have sat upon my lap, and told me their wish-
es. How can they deny his existence when they hug me and thank God for the blessings we are given. Santa is real. Santa does not ride in a sleigh, hop down chimneys, or make Christmas miracles happen. But Santa is real. I have stood in freezing weather, but felt the warmth of this community as we ask for help with the Angel Tree. The community’s efforts ride on the sleigh of hope that these children will wake up to gifts on Christmas Day. Unselfish love travels past locked doors, sealed windows and down lit chimneys. Even in the bleakest of times, I have witnessed Christmas mir-
Geneva Gates has been recognized for 40 years of service. (Photo courtesy of the National
Weather Service)
acles, just because a stranger gave their spare change. Pennies become quarters and change becomes dollars, until each child has a toy for Christmas. They get clothes, shoes and needed items, too, but a toy – a small respite in a world of stress and economic trouble, is a miracle. We as a community, we are Santa Claus. Why does Santa bring some kids more expensive toys? Because we are Santa and we don't always have the luxury of buying the new game systems or technological gadgets. But we bring love and caring to those who have very little. We are able to help a worried mother, father or grandparent have the chance to
hear the words, "Santa came!" Together, we are able to give new clothes, hand made blankets and a reasonable toy, which proves Santa exists. Does Santa reach everyone? Even in our stories and movies, we know he doesn't. Santa is not God who sees all and knows all. Even the "Naughty List" gets ignored from time to time, for kids who were just being kids. However, the fact that we try to fulfill the wishes of our children and help each other in this community, is the living truth of being Santa. So I say again, Santa Claus is real. If you give, to any program, you have my See Santa on page 8
Isaiah Leonard scored his first goal on Dec. 9. (Photo courtesy of South Side School)#
Botkinburg woman Boy scores goal with keeps eye on the sky help from friends
In 1975, Geneva Gates started taking measure – of rainfall, that is. And she hasn’t stopped for 41 years. Mrs. Gates called the Voice office on an unrelated matter recently and was asked if she used to be a weather watcher. “I still am,” she said. In fact, Mrs. Gates said, somebody from the weather Taylor Holland, a Senior at South SideBee Branch High School, signed a celebratory letter of intent last week with the University of the Ozarks College in Clarksville, Arkansas, to join the Collegiate Shooting Sports Team. Taylor, an honor student, will join the team next fall. Her parents are Greg and Kim Holland and her grandparents are Jim and Sherry Holland of Bee Branch and Dwane and Jo Lockard of Shirley.
service had just been to her house in Botkinburg to give her an award. On Monday, Dec. 5, 2016, at 11 a.m. (the National Weather Service does like to be specific, you know), Gates was presented a 40-year award of apSee Gates on page 8
A South Side Hornets seventh-grader playing team basketball for the first time this season has scored his first 2 points. In a game Friday, Dec. 9, a teammate passed the ball to Isaiah Leonard to take a shot under the goal, but Isaiah missed, and a Heber Springs player got the rebound.
Instead of heading to the opposite end of the court, the Heber Springs player passed the ball back to Isaiah, who has Down syndrome. He shoots, he scores! Both sides of the gym erupted in applause. See Leonard on page 8
Kallie finds a good spot to watch what’s happening. She belongs to Justin Young of Clinton. (Photo by Jodie Young)
County to shed shelter by July The Van Buren County Quorum Court voted last week to turn the animal shelter over to a non-profit organization next July. The vote was 8-1, with Justice of the Peace Randy Story voting against it. Story had introduced an ordinance in November to close the facility down altogether. That ordinance, which was scheduled to receive a third reading and be voted on Thursday, died due to lack of a second for Story’s motion. A third ordinance concerning animal control spelled out fines and penalties for violations such as dumping an animal or having animals “at large.” It failed on a 5-4 vote. A lengthy animal control ordinance was repealed a couple of years ago when the county turned over the facility’s operations to a board, and no laws on dumping or containing animals have been in place since. JP Wes Newland argued Thursday night that there already were state laws governing animal treatment so a county law was redundant. JP Todd Burgess added that the county has “a million dollars worth of fines (we) already can’t collect, so why add to it?” Before Newland’s ordinance allowing the shelter to be taken over by a non-profit was approved, he questioned a $15,000 expense
added to the department’s budget. That money would be given to the non-profit to help out after June 30, when the county steps away from the shelter, County Judge Roger Hooper said. Hooper said that was part of the negotiations, and that a lot of work had been put into the agreement. It also was pointed out that the Clinton City Council has included funds for the facility in the budget it approved Dec. 14. The city will pay $17,500 for the first six months of 2017. The county will continue to pay the salary for an animal control officer, who will be under the sheriff’s office, and for a truck to be used by the department. The non-profit that is apparently going to take over the shelter is SNYP Arkansas (Spay and Neuter Your Pet), run by Lori Treat. The organization has had its non-profit status since 2015. It has all the equipment it needs, according to Treat, but has been in need of a place to run a clinic. Before the vote, Newland said he was still getting calls from constituents saying whenever they called the shelter for help, they were told it was full. Treat made clear at a special meeting earlier this month that hers See Shelter on page 8
See you next year! This is the final issue of 2016 for The Voice of Van Buren County. Thank you for making this year a pleasure and a success. We’ll be back in the office Dec. 28 and back with the first issue of 2017 on Jan. 3. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!