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Jim Marple
TUESDAY, November 21, 2017 / Vol. 3 Issue 47 / 75 cents
Jail Standards rep urges forming panel Dear Readers, As we reflect this week on what we are thankful for, we realize it is you, our readers and supporters. A little more than two years ago, we brought you the first locally owned, locally operated and locally staffed newspaper this county has had since the Jacksons sold their paper 20 years ago. We offered you a newspaper that isn’t owned by a giant Japanese firm, isn’t controlled by folks in Little Rock or New York, that isn’t written and edited by people
who don’t live here, whose children didn’t go to school here, whose roots are not here. We offered you a newspaper where you can spend your advertising dollars and the money stays here. We offered you a newspaper that celebrates you, your birthdays, your stories, your accomplishments no matter how big or small. You embraced us. And we are thankful. Here is wishing you our best this Thanksgiving. May peace and love be with you. – Terry & Anita
The Van Buren County Quorum Court heard last week from a representative of the Arkansas Jail Standards office. Sterling Penix encouraged the county to form a local criminal justice coordinating committee to offer advice on the detention center. He talked about how different jails are from each other and said the old joke is, “If you’ve seen one county jail, you’ve seen one county jail.” He said the main goal is to keep everyone – jailers and prisoners – safe at the jail. Also at the meeting, County Judge Roger Hooper honored the EH Clubs with a proclamation. This year is the 100th anniversary of EH
Thelma Murray (from left), Linda Headley and Torrie Caston accept County Judge Roger Hooper’s proclamation in honor of the county EH Clubs. Clubs in Van Buren County. Sheriff Randy Gurley didn’t have much to report, saying that he is meeting each week with his lieutenants to discuss
their investigations. Gurley was fresh from a visit the night before with the Clinton City Council where he asked the city for a total of $55,000 a year to cover coun-
ty’s services to the city. The council also was asked for $25,000 from 911 for dispatching city calls. The council is working on its budget.
Correction
Christmas lights
a bucket truck. New lights would be needed to replace the old ones, which would be mostly burned out by now, if the decision was made to put them back. The A&P Commission might be persuaded to buy new lights, but the decision to decorate the Courthouse is up to the county. It sure was a beautiful sight.
The Drug Task Force agent assigned to Van Buren County is Todd Hudspeth. The Voice reported an incorrect name in last week’s edition.
Closed
Undefeated – Caleb Bowman runs for one of his four touchdowns Friday night in the second round playoff game. Read more about the Yellow Jackets on Pages 8-9.
Driver leads police on 100 mph chase A driver led law enforcement officers on a 100 mph chase from Botkinburg to just south of Lefler Estate apartments earlier this month. A Van Buren County deputy was running radar in Botkinburg on Nov. 8 when he clocked a red SUV driving 80 mph in a 55 mph zone. He turned on his blue lights and got behind the vehicle, but it did not stop. As they got close to Steven’s Stone, the SUV pass an 18-wheeler on a double yellow line in a blind curve, the affidavit states. It continued south at more than 100 mph and passed another vehicle on a double yellow line, the report states. The deputy radioed the chase in and two Clinton police officers were standing by just north of Highway 16 East. As they approached the intersection, the vehicle was traveling in the oncoming inside lane and swerved back to the right at the last second narrowly missing the concrete median, the re-
port states. The vehicle then crossed the first bridge and crossed over the turn lane, passing another vehicle on the double yellow line. The vehicle continued to flee through town at over 100 mph, slowing only slight on some curves, the report states. As they approached the sharp curve before going up old Walmart hill, the vehicle slowed to about 58 mph and the deputy was able to get in front of the SUV. One Clinton police officer pulled up on the left and the other pulled along the right side as they attempted to do a rolling road block. The SUV swerved toward the police cars and they had to swerve, the report states. The police vehicles continued the rolling road block until they got the SUV stopped, the report states. The three law officers converged on the vehicle at gunpoint and pulled the driver from the vehicle, placed her on the ground and hand-
Haviland cuffed her. Once at the detention center, an officer found two needles and a small plastic bag of what appeared to be marijuana, the report states. A check of the vehicle found that it had been reported stolen in Springfield, Missouri. Ashley Denise Haviland, 34, of Oklahoma has been charged with aggravated assault upon a certified law enforcement officer, a Class D felony, fleeing, a Class D felony, theft by receiving, a Class C felony, furnishing, possessing or using prohibited articles, a Class B felony, and a couple of misdemeanors. Her plea and arraignment are scheduled for Dec. 15.
In observance of Thanksgiving, the Voice of Van Buren County office will close at noon Wednesday, Nov. 22, and be closed Thursday, Nov. 23. We will reopen Friday morning, Nov. 24. Happy Thanksgiving.
Play time
The 20th annual Live Nativity, “Behold the Lamb” will be held Tuesday, Nov. 28-Saturday, Dec. 2, at the Van Buren County Fairgrounds on Highway 16 East. The show stars local children and animals and admission is free. Cocoa and coffee will be served. Dress for the weather. The Nelsons will sing between performances, which are at 6 p.m. and 7 p.m. Call Paul Rhoda at 745-8377 or Tamie at 745-8255 for more information.
Dwight Wilson, former Clinton Zoning chief and head of the Advertising and Promotion Commission, explains what happened to the Courthouse Christmas lights. He said the A&P Commission bought the lights, which cost about $2,000, and paid Ozark Construction to put a cable on the Courthouse roof to hang them from. A group of volunteers went on the roof to hang the lights. I remember watching from across the street as the lights came cascading down the side of the building. During renovations a few years ago, the Courthouse got a new roof and the cable was taken down. He said the county then refused to put up another cable or let volunteers on the rooftop for fear of damaging it. The lights were then used in City Park. Wilson says a cable could be put around the roof and light hung without having to go on the roof at all by using
Christmas help
Applications for the Angel Tree will be accepted until Dec. 1, 2017. Paperwork must be done by a person who lives in the household and has an ID. Applications may be picked up and dropped off at the Clinton Chamber of Commerce, 290 Main St., Clinton, 745-6500 or Bud’s Appliance Center, 218 Griggs St., Clinton, 745-2839. Shop With a Cop is taking applications from Van Buren County residents only until Nov. 27, 2017. Applications are available at the sheriff’s office. If you are selected, you will be notified by Dec. 1.
Mobile unit visits – (From left) Glen Griggs, Jerry Bennett and Fred Price visit with Thomas Norman as the Veterans Administration mobile unit visits Clinton last week. The outreach program assists veterans with a wide variety of counseling and administrative needs