White river journal, nov 12, 2015

Page 1

75¢

“Pledge of Allegiance” before start of Quorum Court Meeting Tuesday night, Nov. 10

1 SECTION - 14 PAGES V OLUME 109 (14TH WEEK OF 109TH YEAR - 5,649 TOTAL WEEKS SINCE 1907)

“A F REE P RESS AND A F REE P EOPLE - A N U NBEATABLE T EAM ” D ES A RC , A RKANSAS (C OUNTY S EAT ) P RAIRIE C OUNTY

Quorum Court’s plate is full, with 2016 budget, employees The Court learned from for a “Secretariat” who will Jordan Smith, Apprentice substitute for the duly electInformation Systems of ed clerk, Vanessa Peters, Rogers/Little Rock, that an who has been restricted additional $17,036 would from fulfilling her duties have to be billed the County while awaiting trial on for installed software in the felony charges. In meanCounty Clerk’s office. This time, she doesn’t intend to would bring AIS’s total digi- resign from her office. tal update cost to approximately $78,000, excluding annual maintenance costs. Several ordinances received their initial required readings, and are expected to be voted on at the December meeting. The Court’s Budget Committee is currently evaluating the various department Rick Hickman of Hazen budgets submitted for next is proud to announce his year, which will have to incandidacy for the office of clude extra employee costs Prairie County Sheriff. in the County Clerk’s office His career in law enforcement began in 1981 when Sheriff Mike Grady gave him the opportunity CTIVITIES to pursue his chosen profession. He later served ALENDAR with the police departments in Hazen and DeFRI., NOV. 12, 7 PM Valls Bluff. First Playoff Game Hickman retired from Walnut Ridge Here the Arkansas State Police in June of 2012 after having SATS., NOV. 14, 21, 7 AM served both as a member of Cross Roads the Arkansas Highway PoDeer Breakfast lice and as an Arkansas SAT., NOV. 14, 9 TO 2 State Trooper. Arnold Foundation His creditentials inHosting”Secret Church” clude: Certified Law EnDeValls Bluff Center forcement officer for 33 MON., NOV. 16, 6 PM years; Intermediate certifiFinancial Aid Night cate in law enforcement Des Arc High School with 1542 hours with the Arkansas law enforcement TUES., NOV. 17, 7 PM standards division. City Council Meeting Hickman resides in Des Arc City Hall Hazen and is married to WED., NOV. 18, 10:30 AM the former April McMullen. Alzheimer's Support Group Lower White River Museum State Park in Des Arc.

Jordan Smith

Rick Hickman announces his candidacy for Prairie County Sheriff

A C

WED., NOV. 18, 6:30 PM “Feed the Funnel” Party Gospel Mission Church THURS., NOV. 19, 6 PM Pee Wee Football Banquet Elementary Cafetorium Bring football equipment SUN., NOV. 22, 6 PM Union Thanksgiving Worship Service Gospel Mission Church MON, NOV. 23. 7 PM Des Arc School Board Meets in Supt’s Office

SAT., NOV. 28, 6 PM DAHS Alumni Association Meeting/Banquet Des Arc Elementary SAT., DEC. 5, 4:00 P.M. Chamber Christmas Parade Line-up at 3:00 p.m. Old Acco Bldg. to City Park

SUN., DEC. 6, 2 PM Sand Hill Cemetery Ass’n Sand Hill Missionary Baptist Church

FRI., DEC. 11, 6 PM Christmas Parade Cotton Plant - Cash Prizes Line-up 5:30 Old High School

Obituaries Pgs. 3 & 7

Rene Bradshaw, 55, Little Rock Jack Burroughs, 77, Biscoe Hettie Butcher, 98, Cotton Plant Bristy Churchwell, 38, Searcy Clair Harrolle, 95, Conway Michael C. Hellyer, 62, Missouri Stephen Palsa, 74, Carlisle Earl Rhein, 100, Little Rock Donna Ray Snead, 60, Des Arc Katherine Trullinger, 84, Stuttgart Mary Vest, 81, Carlisle James Whitehead, 84,Little Rock Malinda Whitaker, 83, Des Arc Vernon Woodle, 83, Quitman

They have two adult children and four grandchildren. Hickman said, “I am asking for your vote and support. Hopefully, I will get to meet and talk with as many of you as possible during the campaign. It would be an honor to serve you as your next Prairie County Sheriff”.

The week-long filing period for candidates seeking election or re-electon in Prairie County this year ended at noon on Monday, Nov. 9, with only two constitutional offices unopposed. Prairie County Judge Mike Skarda and Tax Assessor Jeannie Lott do not have opposition in the primary. Prairie County Sheriff Gary Burnett, who has been in that office for 10 years, is not seeking re-election and Treasurer Judy Burnett is retiring thus opening up these offices for some aspiring candidates. Three candidates have filed for each of these openings. County Clerk Vanessa Peters is seeking re-election along with three other candidates who have filed for this office. Candidates who have filed for county office including Justice of the Peace positions and party pledged are listed below:

Prairie County Clerk Gaylon Hale - D Phillip Mapps - R Rhonda Cheshier - R Vanessa Peters - D Prairie County Assessor Jeannie Lott - D Prairie County Treasurer Tamara Dabney - D Donna Jean McIntosh - R Becky Johnson - D

Assessor Jeannie Lott announces re-election bid Jeannie Lott announces her candidacy for re-election to the office of Prairie County Assessor. Lott was elected to the assessor’s office in 2010 and has served in the office since January 2011. In making her announcement, Lott said, “I am honored that the citizens of Prairie County have given me the opportunity to serve another term. I will serve Prairie County to the best of my ability. My continued staff includes Chief Deputy Sherry Kerr who works in real estate and Deputy Donita McDonald who works the business and personal. “These two staff members are very good in their positions. My staff and I are continually learning the updates my software provider A.C.T. provides in real estate and personal assessments and also updates the State requires us to keep up with. With all the updates, it helps us to continually provide more adequate information about real estate and personal taxes. “Since I have been in this office, I have added the website www.actdatascout.com which is free and has the real estate and personal tax information

Candidate Sex offenders arrested for non-compliance filings for county offices

Prairie County Judge Mike Skarda - D

Rick Hickman

available to all citizens with computers on-line. When you call our office to assess personal taxes and we enter the deed information filed with the county clerk’s office after they give us a copy. “Everything that is assessed in this office provides funds for the schools, Prairie County, the cities and library. With that being said, this is one of the reasons our office has so many updates. Using our website, you can go to Prairie and look at your real estate or assess your personal taxes or to check previous assessments. “We will soon be assessing for the year 2016. From January 1, 2016 through May 31, 2016, you can assess without an asessment penalty. The next mandated fiveyear re-appraisal will begin January 1, 2016 and continue through December 31, 2020, according to Assessor Lott, with Arkansas CAMA Technology doing the work. “They have been here for about 17 years and have an office in DeValls Bluff. They have done an excellent job in the past and we look forward to working with them during the next five years,” said Assessor Lott.

P U B L IS HE D E A C H T H U R S D A Y S I N C E 1 9 0 7 TH UR SDAY, NOVE MBE R 12, 2015

Prairie County Sheriff and Collector James “Jim” Hamric - D Bruce Sutton - R Rick Hickman - D JP - Dist. 1 Ronnie Eans - D Robert Lynn Hatcher - R JP - Dist. 2 Lawrence Holloway - D Darrell Saul III - R JP - Dist. 3 Mary Sue Roe - D Judy Hinson - D JP - Dist. 4 Dennis Tipton - D JP - Dist. 5 Gary King - R JP - Dist. 6 None JP - Dist. 7 Matt Sterling - R JP - Dist. 8 Bobby Willeford - D Chris Hall - R JP - Dist. 9 Doyle Sullins - D Constable Wattensaw Twp. City April Anderson - I Constable - Hickory Plains Michael Tenison - I Constable Wattensaw Township Lynn Wilson - I Constable Des Arc Township Michael McIntosh -I Constable White River Township Ronald D. Eans - I Scott Barnes - I Prairie County Coroner Byrum Kelly - D D: Democrat R: Republican I: Independent

On Friday October 30th Michael C Anderson, a convicted level two sex offender, was arrested and charged with three counts of Failure to Comply with registration and reporting requirements, according to James Medlin, detective with the Prairie Conty Sheriff’s Department. Detective Medlin advised, “During an investigation of Anderson it was determined that he was not living at the residence to which he was registered and was in fact, living in Cross County where he was also working and failed to report the changes as required by Arkansas law.” By law registered sex offenders are required to report any change of address, employment, or enrollment of any kind to higher education facilities. Anderson is being held

at the Prairie County Detention facility on a $30,000.00 bond and a no bond parole violation warrant. He is to appear in court in November at the Prairie County Southern District Circuit Courthouse in DeValls Bluff. Detective Medlin also reports that on Monday November 2, Anthony K. Saxton, a convicted level three sex offender, was arrested on a felony warrant for Failure to Comply with reporting and registration requirements. A warrant was signed in October of 2015 for the arrest of Saxton who had not registered his address. Saxton is being held at the Prairie County Detention Facility on a $20,000.00 bond and another warrant for Petition for Revocation of Probation with an additional $20,000.00 bond.

Sheriff Gary Burnett will not seek re-election Sheriff Gary Burnett has announced he will not seek re-election to the office of Prairie County Sheriff. “I want to express my appreciation to all the citizens in Prairie County for your continued support in the past and letting me serve as your Sheriff and Collector since 2007,” said Sheriff Burnett. “I have enjoyed my five terms in office and have made numerous accomplishments in making the sheriff’s depatment a better department with newer equipment and expanding the county jail and technology that was much needed.

If it was not for the support of the citizens of Prairie County, this would not have been possible,” stated Burnett. Burnett continued, “I have enjoyed working with the people of Prairie County and also working with the Quorum Court that has suppported me all the way in making these accomplishments. I look forward to serving you one more year and as always, if anyone needs anything from me, just let me know and I will do what I can to help you. “Again, thank you Prairie County and be safe.”

Deputy Treasurer Becky Johnson announces for County Treasurer Deputy Treasurer Becky Johnson of Des Arc is announcing her candidacy for Prairie County Treasurer. Johnson stated, “I began working in the Treasurer’s office July 2014 and am very excited to be a candidate for the office.” Prior to the Treasurer’s Office, Johnson was employed at Des Arc Pre-K. She worked several years at West End Grocery and provided child care in her home. She is married to Dennis Johnson, who is a 23 year employee of Coca-Cola Refreshments and has two children, Jordan Malone and Emilee Johnson and three step-daughters. Jordan is attending college at ASU to become a coach and has interned the last two years with the Des Arc High School Football program. Emilee is an eighth grade student at Des Arc School. She also has one granddaughter and three grandsons. Johnson and family are members of Lakeside Missionary Baptist Church where they are very involved with church activities. Becky teaches a Sunday School Class, VBS, and

Becky Johnson helps with AWANA/Discovery programs along with being a choir member. She is also an active member of the PEP Club and the Band Booster Club for the Des Arc School. Becky is the daughter of Elmer Floyd and the late Frankie Floyd of Hazen and Ann & Curt Gonnerman of Sandwich, Illinois. “I have enjoyed being in the treasurer’s office and learning how county government works. Working with the current treasurer has given me the experience and knowledge needed to serve in this position. It would be an honor to serve as your county treasurer. I appreciate your consideration and your vote.”

The Jour nal w elcom es y our input (c omments , s ugges tions , pers onal new s, photos , etc )

New/Renewed Journal Subscribers . . . Jill Sampson, Jacksonvlle, AR & Contact Us: Email: wrjnews1@centurytel.net

Carthel Keathley, Fair Lawn, N. J.

Mail: PO Box 1051, Des Arc, Ar 72040

Tel: 870-256-4254


Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.
White river journal, nov 12, 2015 by charles walls - Issuu