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Joyce Hartmann
TUESDAY, September 18, 2018 / Vol. 4 Issue 38 / 75 cents
Department heads report storm damage Flooding and storms have taken a toll on Clinton’s infrastructure in recent weeks, the City Council heard last Thursday. Almost every department reported weather-related damage. Chief John Willoughby reported that
the Clinton Police lost a squad car, a 2008 Dodge Charger, to flooding. The council removed the car from the department’s inventory at Thursday’s meeting. The Kiddie Park needed a lot of cleanup and some repairs after flooding, Parks Department head
Charles Wilson reported. Wilson, who doubles as head of the Street Department, also reported flooding-related road problems and said the stoplight in Choctaw was hit by lightning on Labor Day weekend. Water Department manager Richard Hink said there was storm
damage in places from Highway 110 to Choctaw caused by the weather. The department’s budget will take a “big lick” from the damage, he said. On a brighter note, Hink said work is complete on the Highway 65B water lines and the Gary Street sewer project is progressing.
In business from last month, the second reading of an ordinance addressing removal of yard waste was unanimously approved and should become law, with some amendments, after next month’s reading. In new business, Mayor Richard McCormac proposed an
ordinance leaving the millage rate at its current level of 2.9. It was unanimously approved on its first reading. Also at last week’s meeting the council agreed to move Halloween in downtown Clinton to Tuesday, Oct. 30, instead of Wednesday, Oct. 31.
Poultry chain auction Saturday By Danny Griffin UA Extension agent
Clinton 48, CAC 28 - Weston Amos hands off to Ethen Drake in the Yellow Jacket win over Central Arkansas Christian Friday night. More about the game, Pages 6-7. (Photo by Robert R. Gaut)
The month of September in Van Buren County always brings one of the most anticipated events of the year especially for the county’s 4-H youth. The Van Buren County Fair and Livestock Show starts, and for the 4-H youth this is the beginning of the final leg of the year-long journey where they can exhibit all the hard work and effort they have put into the projects they have chosen. One such project that will be on display is the “Poultry Chain Project.” The project is designed to expose youth to the adventure of rearing 1-day-old egg laying-type chicks (commercial layer type) from commercial clean stock. This year the 4-Her’s are raising
Fake name adds charge
Check mix-up straightened out A $1,500 check from the Shirley School District for the use of city ball fields was not stolen or missing but was accidentally given to the Ball Association, the City Council was told week. Recorder/Treasurer Melissa Worthing presented a receipt dated 4/14/2018 for the City General Fund showing the check going to the City General Fund, but not connected to any deposit into the General Fund. After speaking with the Ball Association, she was told the check has been included in the envelope containing the check for the remaining funds from the City’s Baseball/Softball fund. There was no question raised by the association, as the ball association had a contractual agreement with the Shirley School District stating that the district agrees to pay $1,000 for the use of the park fields for the year. This agreement has been in effect since 2006. Following some further research, Worthing located the contract and further determined the amount had been increased to $1,500 instead of $1,000 following the request of then-Superintendent Jack Robinson that the field rental be issued on a statement to the school for record purposes in May 2010.
The only reference to the city of Shirley retaining the school field usage check was for the 2017 check in the new association’s contract with the city dated April 12, 2017 for the provision of the Shirley/Fairfield Bay Baseball/Softball Association to provide and govern the summer league ball program. Mayor Lisa Hackett noted that she had told the Ball Association that the city would purchase some boards to fix the bleachers at the lower field if the association purchased the rest. She said the association did do some of that repair, but the boards not used had been left on the ground. Councilman David Cook stated that the city had incurred the expense for the reconstruction of the big field bleachers this year, and the check from the school should come to the city. He stated that the agreement needed to be revised specifically stating the usage of the funds received from the school. Hackett suggested that the money from the school should come to the city and the association could request funds from the city when needed. Cook said he would draft a revised resolution or ordinance on the matter.
Hyline Browns. These are brown egg layers. The chicks are now 2022 weeks old. Each of the 4-Hers enrolled in this project will pick their three best birds as their pen to enter into the fair. These pens will be judged September 21 with the judge picking the Grand Champion and Reserve Grand Champion pen of pullets. The pens will be offered for auction at the Poultry and Rabbits barn on the Van Buren County Fairgrounds following the Junior Livestock Premium Auction on Saturday, Sept. 22. The Premium Sale Auction will start at 10 a.m. with the poultry auction starting approximately at noon. Buyers should bring their own cages. Funds raised in the auction go back to assist in buying chickens for the project.
Recent rain had a waterfall cascading into the lake at Choctaw. (Photo by Mary Johnson)
A Scotland woman’s attempt to fool Clinton police failed when her son revealed her true identity, according to an affidavit for arrest. On Sept. 9, Ross Clinton officers arrived at Wal-mart after a tip that a woman they were looking for to serve a felony warrant was there. Outside the store, police spotted a female matching the description of Valerie Ross. Asked to identify herself, the woman said her name was Deborah Smith, according to the report. She said she did not have any identification with her and said she did not know who Valerie Ross was, the report states. She told officers that she looks like a lot of people. Police dispatch could find nobody by the name of Deborah Smith. Just then, her son showed up and an officer asked him his mother’s name. He responded that her name was Valerie, according to the report. Ross was placed under arrest for the warrant and on a charge of obstruction of governmental operations. She told her son to get her medication out of her purse, but a deputy stopped him and got the pills, the report states. The deputy also found a pill bottle containing a crystal-like powder substance believed to be meth, according to the affidavit. Ross, 56, has been charged with possession, less than 2 grams, meth, a Class D felony, and obstructing governmental operations, a misdemeanor.