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Jeff Beavers
TUESDAY, June 12, 2018 / Vol. 4 Issue 24 / 75 cents
Tick fever Pair arrested after home search seen in A pair of convicted turned up a loaded Woman charged felons have been ar- .22 rifle, scales, smokA 45-year-old Shircounty rested after drugs and ing devices, and two ley woman is facing Rocky Mountain spotted fever has sickened at least one person in Van Buren County this summer. Rocky Mountain spotted fever is a bacterial infection transmitted by a tick. Without prompt treatment, it can cause serious damage to internal organs, such as kidneys and heart. Early signs and symptoms of Rocky Mountain spotted fever include a severe headache, high fever, chills, muscle aches, nausea, vomiting, confusion and other neurological problems. A few days later, a rash usually appears on the wrists and ankles. It responds well to prompt treatment with antibiotics. Many people become ill within the first week after infection, but signs and symptoms may not appear for up to 14 days. If you have these symptoms, see a doctor immediately.
a firearm were discovered in their Bee Branch home, according to an affidavit. Teddy Converse, 30, and Melanie Shadell, 45, were arrested June 5 after officers with the Probation/Patrol Special Response Team discovered Converse, an absconder, was living at that address, according to court documents. A search of the home and vehicle
small bags with residue that field tested positive for methamphetamine. Converse is charged with possession of meth or cocaine with purpose to deliver, a Class C felony, possession of drug paraphernalia, a Class D felony, and possession of a firearm by certain persons, a Class D felony. Shadell also faces several charges.
several drug charges from a June 5 incident. Melinda Brooke is accused of trying to sell Xanex pills that witnesses said she had stolen from someone else, according to an affidavit for arrest. Brooke has been charged with one felony count and two misdemeanor counts of possession of a controlled substance.
Shadell
Brooke
Battery charge
A Clinton woman is facing a second-degree battery charge, a Class D felony, after a disturbance at her home. A Van Buren County deputy said Tina Keeling, 39, was charged after pushing a woman off Keeling’s porch in February, according to court pa-
Vote
Early voting starts Tuesday, June 12, for the Preferential Primary Runoff between Lucas Emberton and Kenny Dunhan for Van Buren County sheriff. Early voting is at the Van Buren County Courthouse Annex on Highway 65, Clinton, during regular business hours. Election Day is June 19 at your regular polling place from 7:30 a.m.-7:30 p.m. If you voted in the Republican Primary or not at all, you are eligible to vote in this election. Exercise your right to vote.
pers filed June 8. The two women got into an argument over foul language Keeling was using in front of a child, according to the affidavit. The victim said she was walking out the front door when See Arrests on page 6
Thursday is Flag Day
Scam
A reader tells us that scammers are calling once again saying folks have won the Publishers Clearinghouse sweepstakes. The reader said she was told she was the second place winner and would receive $825,000 as soon as she went to Walmart and sent $225 to them. She did not fall for the scam. Publishers Clearinghouse and no legitimate contest requires “winners” to send money first. If you have received such a call, report it to the Arkansas Attorney General’s office at 1-800-482-8982.
Converse
Shelby, Lacey, Sydney, Jared and Sam Standridge are Van Buren County’s Farm Family of the Year.
Farm family named Van Buren County’s Farm Family of the Year is the Standridge family of Dennard. The Standridge
family - Jared, Lacey and children Sydney, 13, Sam, 11. and Shelby, 9 - operate Standridge Ranch dba Hartsugg Cattle
Co. They operate 781 acres and have been ranching for 12 years. The family has more than 500 cattle. They also operate
S&P Insurance. The regional judging team will be at the Standridge ranch this week.
In the United States, Flag Day is celebrated on June 14. It commemorates the adoption of the flag of the United States, which happened on June 14, 1777, by resolution of the Second Continental Congress. In 1916, President Woodrow Wilson issued a proclamation that officially established June 14 as Flag Day; in August 1946, National Flag Day was established by an Act of Congress. Flag Day is not an official federal holiday, it is at the president's discretion to officially proclaim the observance.
Happy Flag Day.
DHS looking at rule changes By Neil Wilkins Director Van Buren County Special School/Lakeside Learning Center
The proposed DHS rule has become known as the "One Therapy Rule" and has been a very confusing issue that has been discussed at length. As of June 4, 2018 the Governor's Public Health Committee mostly voted yes to sending this issue to the Rules and Regulations for the next step in the proposed rule changes. Rep. Josh Miller from Heber Springs and Rep. Chris Ritchey from West Helena were the only members who voted no on the proposed DHS changes. Many DDTCS and CHMS providers along with families of potentially affected children and adults made
the long trip to the ASU campus in Jonesboro last week to attend and speak for or against the proposed rulings. Children's Health Management Services (CHMS) clinics are "For Profit" children's health services. Their core service eligibility is for children ages birth to 6 who must qualify for two therapies of either speech, occupational or physical therapy. Developmental Day Treatment Center Services (DDTCS) are "Non-Profit" children's health services and services for adults with disabilities similar to the Van Buren County Special School and Lakeside Learning Center. DDTCS serves children ages birth to 5 with core service eligibility under developmental therapy "only" but can, and does,
provide all disciplines of therapies just as the CHMS clinics do. Adult day habilitation services are for adults with disabilities who qualify under a number of disabling diagnosis. Developmental therapy for children is a maximum five hours per day Medicaid billable service. Speech therapy, occupational therapy and physical therapy are Medicaid billable in 15-minute units of service and must be prior approved if services are to exceed 90 minutes per week. Both CHMS and DDTCS clinics currently provide both services. The state is proposing a rule change and name change to combine CHMS and DDTCS services under one manual and one name called Early Intervention Developmental Treatment (EI-
DT). DDTCS providers have not been opposed to the combining of these two service models under one manual and one name. What DDTCS providers are opposed to is the "One Therapy Rule," which we believe will leave a number of disadvantaged children who the state says should be in Arkansas Better Chance and other Better Beginnings certified child care centers. These are all excellent quality centers and provide quality care and services but what they are not designed to deal with is children with behavior issues and autism who have difficulty integrating into programs with minimal staff to children ratios. Children with social/ emotional issues and or autism don't per-
form well in large classroom settings like ABC programs and daycares. Many DDTCS providers have multiple one on one staff with sensory rooms to help children who only qualify under developmental therapy but don't qualify for other therapies but need sensory rooms to help control their emotions and behavior. DDTCS providers contend the state is not prepared to handle the number of children and the social/emotional challenges they will bring to the public school ABC programs and other quality childcare centers. Time will tell as it appears these changes are coming soon. The referral process for children has already changed and will offiSee DHS on page 6