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Lorraine Kendall
TUESDAY, January 19, 2021 / Vol. 7 Issue 3 / 75 cents
Alcohol Tax Ordinance receives first reading
City Attorney Chad Brown and Mayor Richard McCormac discussing Alcohol Tax Ordinance. by Adam Kuipers
At its regular January meeting, the Clinton City Council conducted the first reading of an ordinance that would levy permitting fees and a supplemental sales tax upon alcohol sale for on-premises consumption. As drafted, the ordinance would create new regulations for restaurants, hotels, motels, private clubs, off-premises caterers, and festival vendors that want to sell alcoholic beverages within the City of Clinton. Introducing the ordinance, City Attorney Chad Brown stated that Councillor Pistole had expressed to him that "pretty much the only thing" he was "concerned with" was that the City realized whatever revenue was available. The ordinance would require any en-
tity that sells alcohol for on-premises consumption to obtain a permit from the City of Clinton. Annual permits would be provided to restaurants, private clubs, hotels, and motels for $100, while the annual permit fee for off-premises caterers would be $50 under the proposal. Festival permits would be offered for $20 per event. Festival permit applications would be required to be made for specific events and would last a maximum duration of three consecutive days. Festival alcohol sales would only be permitted between the hours of 12:00 noon and 10:00 PM, with no sales allowed on Sunday. An entity that obtains a Festival permit would be required to provide and pay for security as required and approved by the Police Chief. In addition to an-
nual permitting fees, the City of Clinton proposes to levy a 5% supplemental sales tax on the gross receipts from the sale of these alcoholic beverages. The proposal requires this tax to be remitted directly to the City Recorder/Treasurer monthly or within 30 days following a festival event. The proposal provides that the City will have the right to inspect and examine the records of any entity that obtains a permit. Revenues received from the fees, taxes, and penalties created by this ordinance would be deposited into the City's general revenue fund and would be used for as yet unspecified "city purposes." The penalty for a person convicted of violating this ordinance's provisions would be a misde-
meanor conviction and a fine of up to $500. A continuous violation would be subject to a fine of $100 per day in which the violation occurred. The ordinance makes no provisions for retail sellers of sealed alcohol for off-premises consumption, such as grocery or convenience stores. The existing Clinton Municipal Code levys a supplemental tax upon private clubs "equal to the amount paid to the state." The State of Arkansas exacts 10% to 14% in supplemental tax upon alcohol sold for on-premises consumption depending upon the alcoholic beverage sold. City officials have stated that this existing chapter of the code is not enforced, and this tax is not collected from any private club within the City currently.
Coronavirus By the numbers January 17, 2020 State of Arkansas
• Total Covid Cases: 271,154 • Confirmed Cases: 218,968 • Recovered Cases: 241,926 • Total Test Reported: 2,585,360 • Total Deaths: 4311
Van Buren County
• Total Cumulative Cases: 971 • Total Active Cases: 134 • Active Confirmed Cases: 70 • Probable Cases: 297 • Total Deaths: 10
Covid-19 disease Water Chief Will Hinchey gives monthly report
New Water Meters working good but have a few hiccups Chief says by Warren Johnson
Water and Sewer Chief Will Hinchey reported a water loss of thirty-four percent from November to December. Hinchey stated the department had some billing issues with the new two-inch auto-read meters. He said it was caused by decimal points being different between the residential and commercial meters. The input error accounted for the customers with the larger meters not being charged for all the water they used. The error explains some of the perceived water loss. Hinchey told the group, "We are having some little hiccups
with the new meters. We are running into little things as we transition from the way we billed before to our new system." Hinchey said, "We are going to get more training in the office. Everyone working in the office, including myself, are going to be trained on the new program." The Eye on Water app is available in the app store and has already alerted customers to leaks in almost real-time. Except for nine meters in the Walnut Grove area, all the rest connect remotely to the office via the cell towers. The signal is not strong enough along that stretch of Highway 95 West, the Chief said.
by Dr. Jose Abiseid
A virus that’s main target organ is the respiratory system. Symptoms include fever, cough, runny nose, congestion, headache, shortness of breath, chest pain, loss of taste and/or smell, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. How to test is by obtaining a nasal/oral swab. There are two primary tests, a rapid and a PCR test. The rapid test can give an answer within an hour, and the PCR test may take a couple of days. If the rapid test is positive, it indicates Covid-19, but if negative in a patient with symptoms, they need to follow up with the PCR test. The PCR test is more sensitive and specific for Covid-19. Complications from Covid-19 can occur, such as pneumonia and blood clots,
which can affect the lungs, kidneys, heart, and extremities. Wearing a mask, social distancing, washing hands, avoiding crowds, and getting the vaccine are the most effective preventative measurements. If you suspect you are infected, contact your healthcare provider. There are currently two vaccines approved, the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccine. They are both over 90% effective when both shots are given in protecting against the virus. Pfizer is given twenty-one days apart, and Moderna is given twenty-eight days apart. More vaccines are on the way to approval in the coming months. You can log onto www. healthy.arkansas.gov to get more information on when the vaccines will be available for you.
Winter time in Van Buren County. Robbie Watts' Granddaughter enjoying a sunny day
Crystal substance found during a traffic stop by Warren Johnson
On January 11, 2021, an officer from the Clinton Police Department was patrolling on U.S. Highway 65 South when he observed a red passenger car traveling northbound. The officer noticed the passenger side headlight was not working; therefore, he turned around on the vehicle and initiated his overhead emergency lights, stopping the red Pontiac Grand Am at the Bigfoot Flea Market. The officer walked up to the driver and explained his reasoning for the traffic stop. He stated the driver, a caucasian female, appeared too nervous as she handed him her information. He ran her Arkansas driver's license through dispatch, and it returned to a Miss Jennifer Ann Henslee of Pearcy, Arkansas. Hensley, who is 49, returned validly and on probation with Mrs. Sally Sweeden. The officer asked Miss Henslee why she was on probation? She responded for the possession of methamphetamine in March 2020. The officer stated Miss Henslee continued to appear too nervous. He asked her when the last time she had used methamphetamine, to
which she responded last year. He questioned if she would consent to a search of her vehicle, and she agreed, stating, "Whatever it takes to make this traffic stopgo quicker." Upon searching the car, the officer noticed a small black bag sitting on the driver's side floorboard. Upon opening the bag and examining the contents, he located several small glass pipes with burnt residue on them. He then placed Miss Henslee in his custody and continued the vehicle search. He discovered a small pink bag tucked under the driver's seat. Inside this bag was another glass smoking device and a little amber container with a crystal-like substance. He noticed what appeared to be a D cell battery, but the top unscrewed upon further examination, and it contained more of the crystal substance. The Clinton officer transported Miss Henslee to the Van Buren County Detention Center, where officers took her fingerprints. She was charged with possession of a controlled substance and drug paraphernalia but was released due to Covid-19 restrictions at the Detention Center.