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Maxine Bramlett
TUESDAY, July 26, 2016 / Vol. 2 Issue 28 / 75 cents
Landowner threatens lawsuit after county tears down fences
The dancers are Aurora Warden, Laney Marsh, Addison Starnes, Spencer Sugg, Audrey Starnes, Addyson Jarvis, Peyton Jarvis, Reese McDonald, Katie Bennett, Savannah Stout, Avery Marsh, Peyton Loeschner, Joscelyn Boggs, Emma Coward, Maddie Marsh, Brooke Bradford, Caitlyn Speer, Cameron Jones and Lauren Bane. Dancing at Disney -- On July 27. 2016, the Judi King Dancers from the Judi King School of Dance in Clinton and Heber Springs entertained the guests of Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Florida. Twenty dancers ranging in age from 5 to 21 performed a 30-minute 50’s themed show in Disney Springs. The dancers sent in an audition tape in September and received their acceptance letter in October. The dancers spent countless hours preparing for their performance. For more information on the studio call 362-3107.
Shirley man charged after 'controlled buys' Controlled buys by drug task force agents led to the arrest of a 55-year-old Shirley man. Agents from the 20th Judicial District Drug Crime Task Force, assisted by Van Buren County sheriff's deputies, arrested Richard Miller on July 15, 2016. After a confidential informant made three buys from Miller, agents, armed with a warrant, searched his residence on Fenwood and found illegal drugs and drug paraphernalia, according to a news release from the sheriff's office. In all three instances, the drug allegedly sold to the
Notes Meeting
Remember the Town Hall meeting at 6 p.m. Tuesday, July 26, at the Clinton Senior Center on Yellowjacket Lane in Clinton. The topic is the Water Department and proposals to increase water rates.
Sound-off
Starting next month is a rare chance to say what you think about issues, politics and politicians on a local, state and national level -- anonymously. We usually don’t encourage political letters, and we certainly don't allow anonymity, but for the months of August and September, we want you to tell us
informant was marijuana, according to court documents. The price paid for the marijuana was $100 on two occasions and $75 on one buy, the papers show. Money from the drug task force's "confidential buy fund" was used to make the purchases. The items found in the residence included, according to the paperwork, approximately 1 ounce of marijuana, a digital scale, several zip lock bags, rolling papers, an Imperial .22 pistol, a deer bone smoking device with burnt residue and "numerous other items of drug paraphernalia."
Miller has been charged with three counts of d e l i v e r y Miller of a controlled substance, a Class D felony. Those buys occurred June 2, June 24, and July 6, according to court documents. He also has been charged with possession of drug paraphernalia, a Class D felony; maintaining a drug premise, a Class C felony; and misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia. His plea and arraignment is set for Aug. 22 in Van Buren County Circuit Court. His bond was set at $2,500.
what you think. Don't hold back. We have to know who the letters are from, but we won’t print your name – this is for the political sound-off letters in August and September only. No slander, and we do reserve the right to edit them without changing the context, and to reject them at the editor's discretion. It's not one-sided, though, in October we offer the politicians their turn to respond to anything that has been written about them and to make their case as to why they deserve your support. So, com on, Van Buren County – sound off!
ton City Park begin at dark Aug. 5 with Ant Man. The rest of the lineup is: Aug. 12, Nut Job; Aug. 19, Zootopia; Aug. 26, Pixels. Admission is free; concessions are available.
Free movies
The Clinton Fire Department's Friday night movies at Clin-
Christmas gifts
We know it's the hottest part of summer, but here at The Voice, we're thinking about Christmas. First, we are looking for volunteers. This holiday season, we want to shower gifts on one special person who goes above and beyond the call of duty for his or her fellow man. For the next several weeks, The Voice will feature Van Buren County volunteers, so send your suggestions to us at voiceeditor@artelco.com or call 745-8040. In
Last week's Van Buren County Quorum Court meeting was dominated by talk of a disagreement over a road in Shirley. Judy Smoke of Saline County claims the county tore down fences on North Forty Road and cut down some of trees on property that was owned by her recently deceased father, Danny Green. Smoke is his only child. She has retained Clinton attorney Kent Tester. Tester has filed a draft complaint "regarding a recent trespass on her property by county employees." He wrote that the letter was an attempt to give the county the opportunity to negotiate with Smoke to settle the case before filing the complaint. There are seven houses on North Forty Road and both sides agree the county has maintained the road for years, maybe as many as 20. Addressing the Quorum Court Thursday, Tester said Smoke discovered a couple of months ago that a county road crew had taken out sections of her fence on both sides of the road, cut down several trees and cleaned it all up. "It looks like the beginning of work to widen the road," he said. Tester said the road is not a county road and the county has made no legal moves to make it one. County Judge Roger Hooper said the county crews clear brush on sides December, readers will decide who they want to see honored. Another decision we'll be calling on readers to make later this year is to pick a teacher from one of our county schools to receive a passel of holiday gifts. We're asking teachers and school staff to submit articles and/or photographs exclusively to The Voice, and those who do will be on our ballot for readers to choose from this December. The items must be published only in The Voice from August through November.
Contest
Don't forget about our photography contest. It winds up Friday, July 29, and our panel of judges will be picking a winner shortly after that.
Sheriff goes over finances
Sheriff Scott Bradley told justices of the peace last week that the sheriff's office is on track to make quite a bit of money this year. Bradley said that in 2015, holding federal inmates in Van Buren County brought in $306,730. So far this year, that figure is $199,990. In 2015, he said, circuit court fines for felony convictions were $132,272. In 2016, the fines have so far added up to $82,930. "We're on track for more money," he said. For misdemeanor fines, $561,264 was collected in 2015. This year it has been $272,977 so far. The county gets a portion of that See Finances on page 2
of roads and that the trees were dead. Road Supervisor Craig Clute said it wasn't really a fence, just an old belt. Tester disputed that, saying at least two of the trees were marketable, and that the belt was a cover for barbed-wire fencing to keep horses from hurting themselves. There is no easement on record for the road, Tester said. The county, he said, can only operate within the boundar-
ies of a road, it can't take down people's fences. "What's it going to do to our property rights if you don't know when the county might come along and take down your fence?" Tester said. County attorney Chad Brown said the county's position is that it has been maintaining the road a long time and must have the right to maintain the easement. Brown noted that the county had offered to put a fence back. Tester acknowledged that was true, but said the county wasn't going to put it back exactly where it was. Smoke, he said, would lose some of her property. Tester said Smoke wants her fence back, and compensation for timber and trees. She's trying to sell the property and would like the issue resolved. Justice of the Peace Dale James asked what her price tag was, and Tester said he didn't know exactly. According to Tester's letter, Smoke will seeks "damages including attorney's fees and costs in excess of $20,000." JP Wes Newland said if the county took Smoke's fence down "we ought to pay her for a fence." He said she could put it back herself wherever she wants to. As far as the road, he said, stop maintaining it and let her neighbors petition to make it a county road. See Lawsuit on page 2
It's a circus around here! -- Rudy Roo Roo the Kangaroo visited The Voice office last Thursday afternoon. The 2-year-old kangaroo is part of Cockrill's Country Critters from Cabot, owned by Janice Cockrill and Jim Roberson. Everyone who touched the fullgrown marsupial was struck by the softness of his fur. Rudy visits nursing homes, makes public appearances and visits parties and events across the state. His claim to fame was his escape earlier this year during a visit to Oaklawn Park in Hot Springs.