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Dean Housley
TUESDAY, March 26, 2019 / Vol. 5 Issue 13 / 75 cents
Chief moves to dissolve fire department The Holley Mountain Airpark Volunteer Fire Department is moving toward dissolution. The department, which once carried an ISO rating of 1 the highest attainable - was one of only a few in the nation to achieve that. Now, Chief Tom Westfall told the Van Buren County Quorum Court last week, they have only eight fire-
fighters, five of whom don’t even live in the fire district. The Holley Mountain district is one square mile with 29 households. From 2012-2018, there were only five callouts, 40 assists and 45 emergency calls. He said the district took in $95,000 from state money and fire dues. That breaks down to a cost of $2,131.64 per emergency call, he
said. The Burnt Ridge Fire Department is willing and able to absorb the Holley Mountain district, Westfall said. At its meeting in January, the board voted to start the process to consolidate the department with Burnt Ridge under Chief Jerry Pico. Westfall said one reason for the decision is lack of firefight-
er participation. The airpark is a small, aging district with “no new blood moving in,” he said. He said when he was out of town recently, there was a vehicle fire at the airpark and only one Holley Mountain firefighter was able to respond. He had to take a brush truck because it takes two to operate a pumper. The Burnt Ridge department arrived with six firefight-
ers to assist. Consolidation would benefit the area and increase the surrounding rural area’s ISO rating to a 5 from the current 10, he said. Holley Mountain currently is rated a 3. Westfall said he fears for the safety of his firefighters and district residents. Currently, the district does not meet the standards to be a fire department, he said.
Holley Mountain would turn over its equipment to the Burnt Ridge department. He hopes that the consolidation might lead to a grant to build a station at Holley Mountain. Westfall asked that one of the justices of the peace sponsor an ordinance to dissolve the department. JP Brian Tatum said he will look at the legalities and try to work it out.
U.S. senator pays a visit to the county
U.S. Sen. John Boozman takes a tour with the Nature Conservancy along the upper Little Red River last week.
U.S. Senator John Boozman visited Van Buren County on Wednesday, March 20 and Thursday, March 21. He visited with the Nature Conservancy and saw the conservation projects along the upper Little Red River and heard how federal programs help protect
Greers Ferry Lake. On Thursday, he visited with members of the Clinton Chamber of Commerce. They discussed veterans issues, how the Small Business Administration can help the community and services provided by the senator’s office.
JPs decrease pay for extra meetings The Quorum Court is taking a pay cut. Justices of the peace are paid $300 per regular monthly meeting. Previously, they were paid $100 per special meeting, which added up over the course of the year as committees, especially the budget committee, held special sessions. Under an ordinance approved last week, pay for special meetings now will be $25 per meeting.
JP Dell Holt was behind the ordinance. “It’s just a money thing,” he said. Last year, “we almost broke the bank.” The vote to approve the ordinance reducing pay was 7-1 with Brian Tatum casting the dissenting vote. JPs Gary Linn and John Bradford were absent. Also at the meeting, County Judge Dale James said road crews have been busy replacing culverts, do-
ing ditch work and getting rights-of-way cleared out. He said he has found a rock crusher for the county to purchase at a cost of $550,000. The county should be producing its own gravel by May, he said. He also said the county will purchase another grader, instead of leasing one, from John Deere. In the sheriff’s office report, Sheriff Lucas Emberton said his
Water loss up for February New Water Department Manager Will Hinchey addressed the Clinton City Council at its meeting last week. He said water loss for the month was up with losses of 35 percent in Dennard; 50 percent in Burnt Ridge; and 45 percent in Clinton. He also reported that Stage 1 work at the Pole Yard tank is nearly completed. In other news from the City Council, it was announced that Farrell Weaver would replace Justin Bintliff on the zoning commission. From the animal shelter, Lori Treat of SNYP Arkansas, said there are current-
ly 10 cats and 31 dogs on the premises. She said 15 dogs will head North with a rescue group on April 8. The shelter also had to replace a grinder pump at a cost of $1,350. The Police Department said it is purchasing a 2017 Ford Explorer from the Van Buren County sheriff’s office. The vehicle has 16,000 miles on it and the city will pay $20,000 and throw in a 2011 Dodge Charger in trade. The council meeting is generally held the second Thursday of each month. This month’s meeting was delayed until March 21.
department is in negotiations with Searcy County for a third dog. Having three dogs was Emberton’s goal during the campaign for sheriff. He said handlers will be deputies Ethan Ward, Sonny Clifford and Curtis Holliman. In his report, Emberton said deputies had 1,142 contacts with the public in February and CID handled 85 cases. He said the county jail currently is holding 18 federal prison-
ers and has asked for an increase for housing them from $53 per day to $62 per day. It was left to Emberton to explain the department’s legislative audit, which found several deficiencies. Emberton was quick to remind the Quorum Court that he was not sheriff at the time, but he said the problems, mostly bank reconciliations, have been taken care of. James said no significant deficiencies
were found in any of the other county offices. Offering a brief report from Fairfield Bay was Mayor Paul Wellenbergger, who said the city held its first ever job fair March 1-2; the new hotel should open at the end of April; there was a “flawless” transition to the new 911 system with no down time; and this year’s fireworks shows are well coordinated with displays in the area on July 4, 5 and 6.
Disturbance call leads to charge
Governor comes to town Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson was guest speaker at last week’s Clinton Area Chamber of Commerce dinner. (Photo from Facebook)
Morgan Dowell, 43, of Clinton was arrested March 18, 2019, after a Clinton police officer answered a disturbance call at 158 Cedar Crest Lane. The officer found that there was an active arrest warrant out for Dowell, After placing him in custody, the officer located a small plastic bag containing approximately 1 gram of a white crystal-like substance in Dowell’s pocket, according to an arrest affidavit. The substance tested positive for methamphetamine in a field test, the report states. Dowell has been charged with possession of a controlled substance-Schedule I/II, meth or cocaine, less than 2 grams, a Class D felony. A warrant was issued for his arrest on March 20. In some other arrests by the sheriff’s of-
fice this month: - Tasha Burgess, 34, of Clinton was arrested March 9 and has been charged with possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia and furnishing/possessing/or using prohibited articles. - Kendra E. Bramlett, 31, of Clinton was arrested March 9 on charges of public intoxication and domestic battery-III. Christena R. Goodpaster, 32, of Higden was arrested on March 11 and has been charged with domestic battery-II and residential burglary. - Ashley M. Rollins, 44, of Fairfield Bay has been charged with possession drug paraphernalia ingest, possession controlled substance VI and endangering the welfare of a minor. She was arrested by deputies on
Dowell March 2. - Karen R. Norris, 50, of Shirley was arrested March 1 and charged with domestic battery-third degree. - Chad A. Pearce of Mabelvale was arrested by deputies March 1 and has been charged with possession of a controlled substance, driving on suspended license, no liability insurance and expired tags. All arrests are made on evidence obtained by deputies. Suspects are innocent until proven guilty.