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Of the people, By the people, For the people
Brian & Sandra Berry
TUESDAY, October 9, 2018 / Vol. 4 Issue 41 / 75 cents
5 ballot issues to be decided in Nov. 6 vote
The crowd hams it up for the cameras Friday morning. (Photo by Robert R. Gaut)
Busy days in October It was a busy weekend in Van Buren County. The kickoff was early Friday when a crowd turned out at Jim Tumlison Field in Clinton to meet the Daybreak crew from Channel 7 in Little Rock. Friday night’s game was canceled, but that didn’t dampen spirits. (Story, Pages 6-7) Saturday, there were almost too many events to count. The Choctaw Fire Department held an open house at its Barrens Community station to show members their equipment. The Highway 110 Fire Department held a pie auction that after-
noon. At Shirley there was a car show during the Harvest Festival. Old Chevys, Fords and more were in the spotlight. Fairfield Bay held its annual Oktoberfest and drew a crowd to sample authentic German food and maybe hoist a beer or two. The county EH Council found great success with its Trinkets and Treasures sale, offering bargains from scores of vendors and crafters. Events this weekend include Karaoke in the Park (see ad on Page 14 for details) and Dogtoberfest.
This 1956 Mercury Montclair, owned by Larry Meyers, was one of the car show winners at Shirley on Saturday. (Photo by Kay Weaver)
Survival Flight out of Russellville visited the Choctaw Fire Department’s open house Saturday. (Photo by Ken Brown)
The deadline to register to vote in the Nov. 6 General Election is Tuesday, Oct. 9, 2018. If you haven’t registered yet, don’t delay. Early voting begins on Oct. 22, 2018, and runs through Nov. 5. As the date approaches, many voters are still unsure about the ballot issues they will be deciding. Issue 1 is an amendment concerning civil lawsuits and the powers of the General Assembly and Supreme Court to adopt court rules. It is currently being challenged in court. The proposed amendment will appear on the ballot, but votes may or may not count, depending on a ruling from the Arkansas Supreme Court. A Pulaski County Circuit judge ruled that the various provisions in Issue 1 -- including limitations on attorney fees and certain types of lawsuit damages, as well as a reworking of the judiciary's rule-making process -"reasonably germane" to one another, a violation of the Arkansas Constitution. The issue was approved by the state Legislature in 2017. This amendment asks voters to approve changes to four parts of Arkansas Constitution. 1. It proposes to add a section regarding contingency fees to Article 7 (Judicial Department). This section would: • Prohibit attorneys from collecting a contingency fee that is more than 1/3 of the net amount of money a client receives in a civil lawsuit. • Require the state Legislature in
South Side to host Inmate charged in jail ruckus Red Ribbon rally South Side School District will host the 4th Annual Van Buren County Red Ribbon Rally at 9 a.m. October 23 in the school’s Fine Arts Building. Several area officials will speak as well as special guest speaker, Taylor Hughes, wellknown magician, comedian, and motivational speaker. Hughes is a featured act on the television series “Masters of Illusion” and was recently presented the awards for “Best Illusion,” “Best Comedy Magic,” and “Best Showmanship” by the Society of American Magician’s in Los Angeles. All ninth-12th grade
students from Clinton, Shirley, and Nemo Vista have been invited to join South Side’s students for this celebration of the movement to have drug-free lives. Hughes will also be speaking to all K-8th-grade students at 1 p.m. at the Clinton School District’s Auditorium. Elected officials from Clinton, Damascus, Bee Branch, Shirley, and South Side have also been invited to attend as well as superintendents and school board members from each school. This year’s county-wide theme is “Follow Your Dreams: Live Drug Free.”
An inmate at the Van Buren County Detention Center faces additional charges after a recent disturbance. Dylan J. Hovick, 23, of Shirley began breaking the safety glass from the door in his cell about 4 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 29, according to an arrest affidavit. The report states that Hovick also broke light fixtures in the ceiling. He was placed in a segregation cell where he could more easily be supervised, the report states. Jail administrator Tracy Sutterfield ordered two jailers to remove Hovick’s clothing due to threats Hovick had made, according to the affidavit. When Hovick was told to
Hovick hand over his pants, he clinched his fists and advised the jailer that he would have to taser him to get his pants, the report states. As jailers forcibly removed the inmate’s clothing, Hovick grabbed a jailer’s leg and threatened to break it, the report states. A third jailer, this one a female, entered
the room to check the status of everyone, the report states, and Hovick threatened to kill her, “even if it gets me a life sentence.” At that point, all three jailers backed away and left the cell, the report states. Once he was alone, Hovick began kicking the door and was placed in a restraint chair, the report states. Hovick managed to free his legs and again began kicking the door, according to the report. He calmed down after a few minutes and jailers brought his supper tray to him. They freed his right hand so he could eat and left him. The inmate threw his tray across the room and both jailers returned to put Hovick
2019 to pass laws implementing the section, which would also include establishing penalties for collecting fees higher than allowed and defining terms such as “net amount of recovery.” 2. To make changes to Section 32 (Workmen’s Compensation Laws – Actions for Personal Injuries). This section would: • Define the terms “non-economic damages” and “punitive damages.” • Establish a maximum amount of money a person receives as punitive damages in a lawsuit related to injuries resulting in death, or injuries to person or property. The maximum amount would be the greater of $500,000 or three times the compensatory damages awarded. • Establish a $500,000 maximum limit that an injured person or his/her beneficiaries combined can receive as non-economic damages in a lawsuit related to injuries resulting in death, or injuries to person or property. • Give legislators the authority to increase maximum amounts for non-economic and punitive damages in the future with 2/3 vote. • Require the state Legislature in 2019 to pass laws creating a procedure to adjust the limits in future years for inflation or deflation. 3. To change Section 3 (Rules of Pleading, Practice, and Procedure) of Amendment 80 (Qualifications of Justice and Judges). This section would: • Allow the state See Ballot on page 8 back in restraints, the report states. Hovick began swinging his head around and hit one of the jailer’s head with his own, the report states. While the two were tightening the restraints, Hovick told one of them he would “not live to see another day because I am going to put a hit out on you,” the report states. After he was back in restraints, Hovick told one of the jailers he was going to kill himself, the report states. Human resources was contacted for a mental evaluation, the report states. Hovick was charged with two counts of terroristic threatening, Class D felonies, battery, a misdemeanor, and criminal mischief, also a misdemeanor.