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Betty Thompson
TUESDAY, October 31, 2017 / Vol. 3 Issue 44 / 75 cents
Happy Halloween from The Voice
2 a.m. Sunday, Nov. 5
Pearl Mahaney in a 2015 Voice file photo on her 105th birthday.
Mahaney turns 107
Festival is Saturday
Pearl Mahaney will celebrate her 107th birthday on Tuesday, Oct. 31, 2017. Mrs. Mahaney is a native of Shirley and lived there most of her life until she became a resident of Ozark Health Nursing Center. Last year, County Judge Roger Hooper proclaimed Oct. 31 Pearl Mahaney Day. No word yet on that this year. Here’s wishing Mrs. Mahaney a very happy day.
Can you feel it in the air? It’s almost time for Pig Eye Daze in Scotland. The event, which aims to raise funds for a new roof on an old gym, has a lot to offer. There will be crafts and vendors, pioneer re-enactors, cook-offs, contests and races. For more information, visit the Scotland Page on Facebook or see the Calendar on Page 5.
12 ambulance services asked to make bids
Fall’s glory – In spite of the recent drought’s effect on fall color, this maple tree displays its brightly colored leaves on 16 West. (Photo by Jeff Burgess)
South Side hosted its third annual Red Ribbon Rally Oct. 23 in the Fine Arts Center. Shirley and Clinton High School students attended the rally as well. This year’s theme was "Real Heroes Don't Do Drugs." Guest speakers Included Mayor Richard McCormac of Clinton, Van Buren County Judge Hooper, District Judge Susan Weaver, and Brian Henderson of the TEA Coalition. Hooper declared Red Ribbon Week for Van Buren County and the three schools had a rap competition. The winner of the rap competition was South SideBee Branch. (Photo by Thomas Raymo)
Twelve ambulance services will receive RFPs (requests for proposals) from the Van Buren County ambulance committee next week. The companies are asked to reply by Dec. 5, according to Brian Tatum who is heading up the search process. He said he is expecting the current service, Southern Paramedic, to be among those submitting a proposal. Southern’s contract is up in November. Tatum said a new contract would likely be awarded in December and would take effect in January 2018. Seeking propos-
als from several ambulance services is “just good business,” Tatum said. Southern CEO Gary Padget said Friday that Southern would like to remain in the community. He noted that Southern has purchased vehicles from both local dealerships and made a half-million-dollar investment in property. “We have invested back into the community,” Padget said. “We are good neighbors and good community business partners.” “We put our money back into the community, and we offer a superb ambulance service,” he contin-
ued. Padget said the employees he has heard have been rude are no longer with the company. Southern is among only four out of more than 200 ambulance services in Arkansas to have received a certificate of accreditation from the national Commission of Ambulance Services. The county ambulance committee will meet sometime in December after the deadline, Tatum said. He said there likely will be some discussion at the next Quorum Court meeting, which is scheduled for 6 p.m. Nov. 16 at the Courthouse Annex in Clinton.
Going up fast – Construction of Casey’s convenience store seems to be coming along at a fast clip. The store, which sells fuel, convenience store items and food such as pastries and pizza, is scheduled to open Feb. 5, according to Clinton Zoning Director Phillip Ellis.