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Chris Martin
TUESDAY, July 25, 2017 / Vol. 3 Issue 30 / 75 cents
In ‘do-over’ vote, JPs OK ordinance
A little help when things are tight – Van Buren County Circuit Clerk Debbie Gray talks about the food pantry she had installed outside the Courthouse in downtown Clinton. She said she had been hearing about the boxes, which are designed for anyone who needs a little help to take what they need. Gray bought the supplies, Ferrell Weaver built the box and Gray’s husband Jeff installed it. Anyone wishing to leave food or hygiene items for the box can drop them off at Gray’s office in the Courthouse.
In an unusual turn of events, the Van Buren County Quorum Court failed to approve an ordinance regarding the school resource officer at Clinton, then decided to have a “do-over” and passed it. The ordinance concerned extra money that the Clinton School District plans to pay its new resource officer, Wesley Potts, beyond the $35,000 salary that was announced in June. The new salary is $23,600 for five months of work. That figure includes an extra $4,000 for classroom teaching. The total salary and benefits package for the position will now be about $56,600. Justice of the Peace Todd Burgess objected to the proposal saying it was “unfair to every other county employee we
have.” Burgess noted that the position of school resource officer is not a lateral move from the position of CID lieutenant, which was previously held by Potts, and that the pay scale is not the same. He noted that the amount would be more than the resource officers for Shirley and South Side schools make. All are county deputies. Clinton Superintendent Andrew Vining said his school is asking Potts to do more than the other schools ask of their resource officers. “A base salary employee is not what we want,” Vining said. He said Potts will be in a classroom teaching drug education. “We are not looking for just a patrolman,” he said. Though Potts is not
a certified teacher, Vining acknowledged to the Voice, he can still be a vocational instructor. When it came time to vote, Burgess was joined in a “no” vote by JPs Rick Sundelin and Kevin Housley and the ordinance failed. An emotional Dale James told his colleagues he has two children in Clinton schools and if something happened there, “I will blame you, and you, and you,” pointing at the three who voted against the ordinance. Murmuring began to “revote” the issue, and County Judge Roger Hooper called a break in the meeting. After the break, the JPs voted unanimously to approve
UACCM to handle Adult Ed in county
Open house, registration at schools Open houses and registration are about to get under way at Van Buren County Schools. All schools begin Aug. 14, 2017. At South Side, High School Registration is as follows: July 31 starting at 9 a.m. – 12th and 11th grades August 1 starting at 9 a.m. – 10th and 9th grades August 2 starting at 9 a.m. – 8th and 7th grades New students will register on August 7 between 9 a.m. and 2 pm. Seventh-grade students will need to bring their birth certificate, current shot record, and social security card when they register.
All new students must be accompanied by a parent or guardian and bring the following: birth certificate, social security card, current shot record, academic records, address of previous school, current mailing address, proof of residence, and phone number. High school registration forms can be downloaded from the school’s webpage under the community tab. Students will purchase lockers and parking permits at this time. Lockers will cost $3 and parking permits are $5. All students who drive to school must register their vehicle with the office. To regis-
ter your vehicle, you must bring the following: auto registration, proof of insurance, and driver’s license. If you have any questions, call the high school office at 501-654-2242, ext. 115. At Shirley Schools this year, school starts at 8 a.m. for elementary and high school students. Dismissal will be at 3:10 for high school and 3:05 for elementary. All students will meet in their home room or first period class to begin the day on Monday. The school will again participate in CEP for lunch and See Open House on page 14
County Judge Roger Hooper proclaimed Van Buren County a Purple Heart community at last week’s Quorum Court meeting. Charles Adkins Jr. of the Military Order of the Purple Heart Department of Arkansas said there are 42 Purple Heart recipients living in Van Buren County. Above he presents JP Dell Holt (left) and Hooper with a certificate. (Photo by Ingram Philips)
SNYP finding its feet
Music in the park – Tipsy Gypsy performs Saturday night at Archey Park in Clinton. The evening was hot and only about 40 people turned out to hear the rock-country-blues band put on a good show. One woman termed their performance “awesome.” Free music in the park continues Saturday with Lucky Rooster, a country band.
SNYP Arkansas got off to a less than stellar start as parvo struck the shelter just as the non-profit took over from the county the first of this month. The shelter reopened last week and has lots of kittens, cats and dogs ready for new homes. Currently, there is only one litter of pups and they are still a bit young for adoption, but will be ready soon, and a second dog should be having a litter soon. But the place is full with 33 dogs and 21 cats. SNYP director Lori Treat says the new shelter will take in surrenders, for a fee, but not right now. “Full means full,” she
See Vote on page 3
St. Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of animals, watches over SNYP Arkansas animal shelter. New paint is only the beginning of Lori Treat’s plans to spruce up the place. said. The shelter had a “fabulous day” last Tuesday, adopting out a dog and a cat, Treat said. Treat hopes to place 17 to 25 dogs a month with a Mas-
sachusetts rescue group. Adoption fee for all is $75. The shelter has a new bright blue colSee SNYP on page 14
The University of Arkansas Community College at Morrilton’s Adult Education program has been awarded the bid for a four-county service area comprising Van Buren, Conway, Faulkner and Perry counties. For over 30 years, adult education in Conway and Perry County has remained an integral part of UACCM’s mission, and administrators are excited to expand these services to Faulkner and Van Buren County. UACCM Adult Education services will continue to be offered free of charge. This announcement was made on March 31 after a nearly four-month period beginning Dec. 5, 2016, when the Arkansas Department of Career Education’s Adult Education Division held a competitive request for proposals process for all adult education centers in the state. The process was based on pre-determined service areas. This is a multi-year grant, having officially began on July 1, 2017, when UACCM merged with the Faulkner and Van Buren County facilities. This grant will conclude on June 30, 2019. UACCM’s Adult Education program includes courses in adult basic education, GED training, English Language Learners (ESL), and college prep.