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Thelma Webb
TUESDAY, October 13, 2020 / Vol. 6 Issue 41 / 75 cents
Plans move forward for Scare on the Square
Swarming for a win - Clinton girls softball 6 and under Swarm took first place in Greenbriar in fall ball tournament. The team is coached by Kelby Bonds.
Coronavirus Cases, deaths climb
By the numbers - Oct. 11
On Sunday, 613 Covid-19 cases were added to the state’s total and 17 more deaths were announced, according to the Arkansas Department of Health. As of Sunday, there are 576 people hospitalized around the state due to the coronavirus, according to ADH. Ninety-nine people are currently on ventilators in Arkan-
Van Buren County • Total Cumulative Cases: 188 • Total Active Cases: 12 • Total Recovered Cases: 173 • Total Deaths: 3
Arkansas • New cases: 613 • Hospitalized: 576 • Ventilators: 99 • Total deaths: 1,425
sas due to the virus, ADH officials say. The counties with the most newly added cases are Pulaski County (96), Crawford County (29), Craighead County (25), Washington County (23) and Benton County (21). ADH officials say 9,245 PCR tests and 450 antigen tests were completed Saturday.
Scare on the Square will be held this year. Fire Chief DL Webb, who organizes the Halloween event, said at last week’s City Council meeting that there will be no hayrides or haunted houses but everything else will be “traditional.” The council voted unanimously to close the downtown Clinton streets at 5:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 31, until 10:30 p.m. When discussing the options for this year’s festivities, council member Shon Hastings spoke in favor of letting the kids roam the streets and not gather candy from their cars, saying, “Why dress up in costumes if you’re gonna sit in a car? Also, the council and audience gave a round of applause to Police Chief John Willoughby who is retiring on Oct. 21. Over the objection of council member Gayla Bradley, the city will give Willoughby his service revolver. Bradley noted it had not been done before and she didn’t want to spend city money to replace it. Mayor Richard McCormac said he would have no problem getting private funds to replace the weapon.
Sales tax revenues Clinton received $105,246 in revenue from its 1 percent sales tax, collected in August and reported in September. Shirley received $3,907 from its 1 percent tax, and Fairfield Bay got $33,407 from its 1.5 percent sales tax. Year ago figures were: Clinton - $104,733; Shirley - $2,920; and Fairfield Bay $42,242. Van Buren County has two 1 percent sales taxes, one for general revenue and one dedicated to construction bonds for the hospital.
Webb The council voted 5-1 to gift the revolver to Willoughby; Bradley cast the “no” vote. In his report, Water Department manager Will Hinchey said water loss for the month was 27 percent. He said chemical costs were 8 cents per gallon, down from 13 cents last month. He also said figures show that the Water Department took in $594,000 more than this point last year due to the rate increase. Also at the meeting, animal control officer Tim Pike said he answered six calls in the city and SNYP Arkansas director Lori Treat said 30 dogs have recently been sent to out of state rescues. Receiving a second reading was an ordinance to leave the millage rate as is. The nuisance or “cleanup” ordinance got a third reading and was unanimously adopted.
Clinton 35, LR Mills 40 A Yellow Jacket goes up to catch a pass during last Friday’s game against Little Rock Mills. More photos, Page 6
The general revenue tax is divided among the county and its four incorporated towns based on population. Those figures for the same period are: Van Buren County, $346,279 (includes both taxes); Clinton, $30,760; Damascus, $2,955; Fairfield Bay, $25,476; and Shirley, $3,440. Year ago figures were: Van Buren County - 362,696; Clinton - $32,218; Damascus - $3,096; Fairfield Bay $26,683; and Shirley $3,603. Figures are provided by the Arkansas Municipal League.
(Photo by Denise Geer Burgess)
Halloween Happenings This house on Highway 95 East in Clinton is all dressed up for Halloween. (Photo by Robert Snyder)
Halloween Spooktacular Pageant: 10 a.m. Oct. 31. This pageant is costumes only with no formal dress and all ages welcome to participate. The pageant will start with babies and youth on Halloween morning and finish with the adult division starting at 2 p.m. For more information contact Corrine at 501745-8100. Scare on the Square: On Halloween night, the Clinton Fire Department will host the region’s big-
gest trick-or-treat event in downtown Clinton. Masks are required, so be there with your most creative face coverings and costumes. There will be hand sanitizer stations set up. Streets on the square will be closed to traffic after 5:30 p.m., so come early for good parking. This year’s event will not have a hayride or haunted house. For more info, visit www. clintonark.com. South Side-Bee Branch FFA is host-
ing a pumpkin patch from noon-6 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 24. Meet at the school barn. Boo Bash Drivethrough will be help from 4-6 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 31, in downtown Shirley. Enter on Depot Road by The Mona Lisa cafe to talk part in this drive through event. No walking to trick or treat. Send your events to voiceeditor@artelco.com to be included in Halloween Happenings.