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Bobby Smith
TUESDAY, April 18, 2017 / Vol. 3 Issue 16 / 75 cents
Councilman: Can’t keep delaying water projects The Clinton Water Department is ready to attack the 10-year capital improvement plan. Water Department manager Richard Hink told the Clinton City Council last week that $500,000 has been budgeted in for 2017. Hink said he would propose ways to fund the projects at the next City Council meeting. Hink also reported that there was a 23 percent water loss for the month. He said a leak near the hospital was the cause because surgeries had been scheduled and the hospital had to have water. Councilman Timothy Barnes said the city must stop “kicking the can down the road” and take care of the problems in the water system. “We can’t drive the car forward by looking out the rear view mirror,” Barnes said. He noted that three engineering reports all say the same things about the 42-year-old water system and that the
city can’t wait another 10 or 15 years to do something. Also at the meeting: Mayor Richard McCormac told councilors he wants suggestions on how to proceed on a city business license ordinance by April 21 for consideration at the May meeting. The mayor said complaints about Media 3 cable seemed to be decreasing. City attorney Matt Gilmore noted that the city’s contract with the company is up in October 2018. Parks Department head Charles Wilson said the city needs a new mower for the ball fields at the school. The new playground equipment is almost ready for children, and it’s “super nice,” he said. Police Chief John Willoughby reported that accidents on Highway 65 in Clinton have decreased since officers have been “slowing them (drivSee Water on page 4
Arkansas Supreme Court Justices (from left) Josephine Hart, Karen Baker, John Dan Kemp, Courtney Goodson, Rhonda Wood and Shawn Womack hold court in Clinton on Thursday. Justice Robin Wynne was not present.
Supreme Court comes to town The Arkansas Supreme Court came to town last week, holding court at the Clinton Schools Auditorium. Students from Clinton, Shirley, South Side-Bee Branch, Nemo Vista and Marshall were in attendance as well as a handful of lawyers, businessmen and other townsfolk. Officers from the Clinton Police Department, Van Buren County sheriff’s office and Arkansas State Police also were present to provide security at the event.
After adjourning, the justices met with groups of students to answer questions and explain more about how the Supreme Court works. The case the justices were hearing was CV-16-545, Department of Arkansas State Police v. Keech Law Firm, involving the Freedom of Information law. Harding University Professor Ruby Lowery Stapleton was murdered in Searcy in 1963 and her slaying has never been solved. In
2013, Stapleton’s family requested that they be allowed to view the case file, but the State Police contend the investigation is ongoing and therefore they do not have to release the file. To complicate the case further, investigators did allow the family to see the file in 1993. The family appealed the 2013 decision, and after reviewing the file himself, Pulaski Circuit Judge Mackie Pierce ruled in Au-
gust 2014 that the case is not an open and ongoing investigation and the family should have access to the file. Arkansas State Police appealed to the Supreme Court. Chief Justice John Dan Kemp noted that the Arkansas court is one of the fastest in the nation to render its decisions, averaging about two weeks before handing down its rulings. The court reconvenes Thursday in Little Rock.
Brown
Brown wins coaching honor
On the lookout for eggs -- Clinton kindergarteners had an Easter egg hunt last week. They hunted down over a thousand eggs. The Easter bunny made a surprise visit to see the kids. (Photo by Cindy Bradley)
Library to show movie filmed in Scotland Next month marks 58 years since Meridian Productions of Kansas City came to Scotland, Arkansas, to make a movie. Local historian Mary Jean Hall wasn’t living there at the time, but she spent years collecting artifacts, clippings and memories of the movie-making experience, much of which is on display at the Van Buren County Library in Clinton. Sixteen minutes of the movie takes place in Scotland, and the town
already mostly had the look the filmmakers needed for their western. It originally was titled “Ordeal at Dry Red” and “Aces and Eights” before being released in 1962 as “Terror at Black Falls.” A few false fronts on the stores and signs like “Crowley’s Saloon” completed the look. A handful of locals, all deceased now, including Tom Jones, Albert Frye, G.Z. McCaslin, James Black, Clyde Haines and Earl Gardner, appeared as cowboys in
the movie alongside stars House Peters Jr. and Peter Mamakos. Peters remembered the experience in his autobiography, writing that he shared some moonshine with a Clinton druggist during his stay. The movie showed at the Clinton Theater in 1962 and again in 1964. At 2 p.m. April 29 you will have another chance to see it, this time at the county library. Space is limited, so call 745-2100 to reserve a seat. Admission is free.
Part of Scotland historian Mary Jean Hall’s memorabilia from “Terror at Black Falls” is on display at the Van Buren County Library in Clinton.
Shirley Blue Devils boys basketball coach Keith Brown has been named Coach of the Year for Class A boys. The award was announced Friday night at the Arkansas Basketball Coaches Association awards banquet at the Benton Event Center. Brown took his team to the Class A State championship game last month, the first time Shirley has made it to the finals. The team lost to the Guy-Perkins Thunderbirds. Guy standouts Jahcoree Ealy and Josh Ballard made the “Starting Five” team. Wes Smith, who led Jonesboro to an undefeated run to the 6A championship and earned a national Coach of the Year honor, was named Overall Boys Coach of the Year in Arkansas. Vic Rimmer, who led Fayetteville to the 7A girls state title, was voted Overall Girls Coach of the Year.