Of the people, By the people, For the people
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Daniel Norton
TUESDAY, November 20, 2018 / Vol. 4 Issue 47 / 75 cents
Holiday affairs
Hiring freeze lifted
Grace Church, 3793 Highway 65 South, Clinton, is hosting a Community Thanksgiving Outreach Dinner at 1:30 p.m., Thursday, Nov. 22. Everyone is welcome.
New workers needed
The annual Toy, Food Run and Christmas Parade is set for Saturday, Nov. 24, at Clinton City Park. Food and drink will be provided and all children 12 and under will receive a toy from Santa after the parade. The event is hosted by Flame Riders, CMA, Chapter 911. On Dec. 1, the Shirley Community Center is the site for the annual Shirley Community Christmas Party. Friends, family and neighbors will join together to bring in the holidays and Light Up Shirley.The event is free and everyone is invited. Santa will visit with toys and bikes to be given away. This is a potluck so bring your favorite holiday dish. For more information, call Lisa Hackett at 723-4848. Dec. 1 is Christmas at the Park: The official lighting of Archey Fork Park in Clinton will kick off early with free hot chocolate, caroling, old-fashioned hayrides, costume contest, bonfire, and more. Contact Gayla at 501253-1799 to get involved. Dec. 1 is the Scotland Community Christmas dinner starting at 6 p.m. at the community center. Ham and turkey will be provided, bring a side dish or dessert and join the party, Santa and his elf will arrive at 7 p.m. A Community Christmas Celebration will be held at the Highway 110 Volunteer Fire Department on Dec. 1. Call the department for more information.
Crash takes life ofA woman 63-year-old Clin-
ton woman was killed in a one-car accident last week. According to a report by the Arkansas State Police, Kandy Holubec was driving a 1993 Nissan west on Round Spring Road near state Highway 8 left the road to the right. It traveled off a bridge and landed on its top, coming to rest upside down in a creek, the report states. The wreck occurred about 5:30 p.m. Nov. 12. It was raining and road conditions were wet.
The Van Buren County Quorum Court rescinded its hiring freeze ordinance at its meeting Thursday. Justice of the Peace Dale James said departments can replace personnel but can’t create new positions. He noted that the new assessor Emma Smiley will need to replace Mistie Wilson, who was elected treasurer; and the new collector Laura Shannon will need to replace her own position for example. The hiring freeze “was a nice thought,” James said, but every hiring request was approved anyway. The JPS also agreed to wait until the next wave of elected officials possibly take office in 2022 before requiring.a professional audit of inventory. For now, they decided to have outgoing officials and incoming ones take stock of the inventory together and both sign off on it. Also at the meeting, Sheriff Randy Gurley said the department has gotten rid of all its old Crown Victoria vehicles and said he is now buying a Ford SUV with 4,000 miles on it for the jail administrator. The Quorum Court meets on the third Thursday of each month at 6 p.m. at the Courthouse Annex on Highway 65 in Clinton. The meetings are open to the public.
Change of season Just a few days ago, fall was at its most colorful, but that changed last week as parts of Van Buren County received a light blanket of snow. Although light, cold temperatures helped the snow last two days in shaded locations. The above photo was snapped on the bluff above Archey Fork at the Archey Road crossing. (Photos by Jeff Burgess)
City Councils hold meetings The Clinton City Council agreed to give all city employees a $150 bonus in lieu of a Christmas party this year. The entire package of bonuses will cost the city a little over $3,000, Mayor Richard McCormac said. The meeting had been postponed from its regular day and was rescheduled for the same time as the Quorum Court meeting last week. McCormac said the meeting was short, about 40 minutes, and only included a few items. Those included a second reading of an ordinance about the police handbook. McCormac said budget talks will begin after Thanksgiving. Meanwhile, at the Shirley City Council meeting earlier in the week, the talk again
was about the water system. Attorney Matt Gilmore asked if the city had obtained the required amount in value of signatures on the required petitions to hand over operations of the system. Treasurer/Record Melissa Worthing stated that about half of the signatures were received, and she was working on obtaining the rest. John Metrailer with PMI Engineers passed out copies of the project manual that outlined the procurement and contracting requirements to bid on the project. Metrailer also said a pre-bid meeting has been scheduled for 2 p.m. Dec. 3 at Shirley City Hall. Opening of any received bids is to be conducted at the Dec. 10 City Council meeting.
Season ends
John Riley Hinchey blocks for runner Sky Davidson in Friday’s game againt Prescott. Clinton fell short in the Round 2 Playoff game, ending a great season. More football, Pages 6-7. (Photo by Robert R. Gaut)