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Alan Rolen
TUESDAY, February 7, 2017 / Vol. 3 Issue 6 / 75 cents
The founders and early members of the Van Buren County Rescue Squad were recognized at Saturday's dinner. More photos, Page 6.
'We don't say thanks enough,' Hooper tells dinner crowd More than 170 people gathered Saturday evening to remember a devastating time in Van Buren County history and to say thank you to those who helped the county through it. County Judge Roger Hooper said simply, "We don't say thanks enough," as he did just that to the heroes -- law enforcement officers, firefighters, EMTs, volunteers with chainsaws and others -- who rallied to the rescue on the night of Feb. 5, 2008, when an EF-4 tornado ripped a path through the county and left three people dead and millions of dollars in damage. Less than three months later, a second torna-
do roared through leaving more devastation in its wake. The first responders and the volunteers were there to help once again. They also were there when one of the worst ice storms in the county's history left some without power for weeks, driving on nearly impassable roads to check on folks who couldn't get out of their houses, to make sure they had water, food and firewood. They also are there when a fire breaks out at a stranger's home at 2 a.m. on a winter night, or a car rolls down an embankment and the driver is trapped inside until "the Jaws of Life" can get him out. Taking the lead
What's Going On Last chance
Feb. 9 is the last day to enter The Voice's Valentine contest. Just send us a photo of your favorite Valentine, be it a person, pet or couple, and if we draw your name you will win a prize. Grand prize is a bouquet of flowers from Main Street Florist and dinner for two from L'Attitude Bistro. E-mail those photos to thevoice@artelco. com or bring them by our downtown Clinton office.
Holiday closing
We'll be here, but the post office will be closed Feb. 20 for Presidents Day, so your Voice newspaper will arrive a day later than usual. If you usually get your paper on Tuesday, look for it Wednesday. The newspaper office will be open its usual hours for business.
Meetings
The Clinton City Council held a special meeting last week. The only item on the agenda concerned an employee's vacation time. The regular meeting is scheduled for this Thursday, Feb. 9, 2017, at 6:30 p.m. the Clinton Municipal Airport. It is open to the public. The Van Buren County Quorum Court is scheduled to meet at 6 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 16, at the Courthouse Annex on Highway 65 in Clinton. The meeting is open to the public.
Business
The Southern Hibachi Express has pulled into town. We spotted it late last week on Highway 65 South, across from Mister Lube. Still unsure on when it opens. Send items of interest to voiceeditor@ artelco.com.
on showing gratitude for the county's amazing corps of first responders and volunteers is a group of 10 people called the Independent Order of Odd Fellows (Aaron Lodge No. 4). The group's Millard Wagner knows first-hand the importance of those first responders. He and his wife, Debbie, have lived through four tornadoes that hit their homes. Asked if she felt they have a target on their roof, she acknowledges that she gets nervous when temperatures start to climb into the 70s in the middle of winter. Millard Wagner told the Voice that it is impossible to describe how a victim feels when the sirens get close and you
100 days ofOnschool January 24th,
South Side kindergartners celebrated 100 days of school. To celebrate, they dressed up as “100 year old� folks, and paraded through the hallways of the South Side Elementary and High School buildings as older students cheered them on. The kindergartners were led by teachers Christy Barger and Elizabeth Boyce, also disguised as elderly citizens. (Photos and information from Pierce Grissen/ student journalist)
know help is almost at hand. It is important to him that first responders know just how much they are appreciated. This year's dinner featured chili, hamburgers, hot dogs and desserts made by a couple of the county EH Clubs (see some of their recipes on Page 8). There were a few speakers, all of whom kept their talks short. "We're running way ahead of schedule," mistress of ceremonies Jeana Williams announced at one point. Included in the event was the presentation of a plaque of appreciation to the families of three law enforcement officers who died in 2016. The widower
Millard Wagner and the Odd Fellows have organized the Emergency Responders Dinner each year since 2009. Wagner and his wife Debbie have had four homes damaged or destroyed by tornadoes, the first time in the mid-1990s. He says it's hard to explain what the sound of a siren means when a tornado has hit and you know help is about to arrive. of corrections officer Lisa Mauldin of Miller County was there to accept a plaque presented by Sheriff Scott Bradley.
Fairfield Bay Mayor Paul Wellenberger spoke about See Dinner on page 7