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Betty Thompson
TUESDAY, March 20, 2018 / Vol. 4 Issue 12 / 75 cents Clinton faculty gets training
By Audra Stewart
Teachers, staff, and administration at Clinton Schools spent Friday, March 16, learning more about how to prepare for and react in an active shooter situation. David Hess, Clinton Schools resource officer, and Andrew Vining, superintendent, coordinated with Josh McMillian to provide this training. McMillian is the chief of police at Arkansas Tech University and an Active Shooter trainer. His training in "Civilian Response to Active Shooter Events" provided staff with training and information about how to avoid, deny, and defend against an active shooter. In-class training was followed by active shooter scenarios involving an active shooter. McMillian and other local law enforcement guided teachers in assessing their classrooms' safety. McMillian explained that this training is not meant to scare staff or cause them to live in fear, but to help make them aware of what they can do. Other local law enforcement that assisted with the training included officers from Van Buren County sheriff's office, Clinton Police Department, Arkansas Game and Fish, as well as the Shirley School Resource Officer Clayton Borecky.
Deputy asks for funds for response team The night before active shooter training for the Clinton School District, the deputy trying to put together a swift response team for the county was asking the Quorum Court for money to finance it. CID Lt. Wesley Potts told justices of the peace Thursday he has toured all three county schools and met with the superintendents. He said he made some re c o m m e n d a t i o n s for first responders and said the schools have all agreed to equip their school resource officers. Potts said he still needs $30,000 to equip his six-man SRT members. JP Mary Philips had a question for Potts and Chief Deputy Max Young, who was filling in for Sheriff Randy Gurley: “What are you willing to trade out” for the money? She asked if they would be willing to give up one of the new vehicles the sheriff’s office was
Those taking part in active shooter training for Clinton faculty last week were (from left) Clinton Sgt. Jay Murdock, Deputy Justin Thurman, Resource Officer David Hess, trainer Josh McMillan and Shirley Resource Officer Clayton Borecky. requesting that night. Both Potts and Young said that was not their decision to make. JP Todd Burgess said before he would give them the money he would like to have
an accounting of all weapons in the sheriff’s office’s possession. JP Kevin Housley suggested the sheriff’s office hold an auction of all the items it has confis-
cated to raise some of the money. Potts was told to come back to the next meeting and there would likely be an ordinance to provide the money. Also at the meet-
The results
The Voice’s totally unscientific sheriff’s race poll closed last Tuesday and the results are in. The question was “If the sheriff’s race was today, who would you vote for?” Sixty-six votes were cast in all. The results: No. 1 Lucas Emberton No. 2 Eric Koonce No. 3 Kenny Dunham No. 4 Allen Roberson No. 5 - (tie) Max Young and Paul Rice
Walkout
Blooming show off - This early flowering Okame cherry tree was showing off recently in front of the Department of Motor Vehicles in Clinton. It and the surrounding bed was a Master Gardener project.
Several students in Van Buren County schools participated in the National Walkout Day by students over gun violence. At South Side, about 50 students walked out of class and went to an area designated on
ing, JPs approved an ordinance agreeing to a $267,448 loan from First Security Bank to purchase seven new vehicles for the sheriff’s office.
campus, then returned to their classes in 17 minutes. At Clinton, about 15-20 students walked out for 17 minutes. A Shirley, no one walked out, but a moment of silence was observed and the students gathered around the flagpole at lunch to pray.
New boss
We don’t like to do this, but we could not reach South Side schools by e-mail or telephone Friday. The School Board met Thursday night to announce its new superintendent. We could not be there because of the Quorum Court meeting. We were told by a very reliable source that the choice was Aaron Hosman, currently with the Harrison School District.