White river journal, oct 29, 2015

Page 1

75¢

Halloween pumpkins photographed at home of Kevin and Lora Smith, 1st & Curran

Daylight Savings Time ends this Sunday, Nov. 1 at 2:00 am

Happy Halloween

1 SECTION - 14 PAGES V OLUME 109 (12TH WEEK OF 109TH YEAR - 5,647 TOTAL WEEKS SINCE 1907)

ACTIVITIES CALENDAR THURS., OCT. 29, 5:30 PM Jr. Eagles vs Palestine-Wheatley FRI., OCT. 30, 7 PM Senior Eagles at Palestine-Wheatley SAT., OCT. 31 Des Arc Pee Wee Eagles 1-2 vs Beebe at DeWitt for league championship SAT., OCT. 31, 6 - 8 PM Fall Festival First Baptist Church in Des Arc SUN., NOV. 1, 2 AM Daylight Savings Time Ends - Fall Back 1 Hour NOV. 2, 12 NOON, NOV. 9 Filing Period Candidates for Office FRI., NOV. 6, 4:30 PM Green & White Alumni Basketball SAT., NOV. 7, 10 AM Miss Merry Christmas Pageant - Methodist Church Christian Life Center SAT., NOV. 7, 10-3 Gourd Workshop Museum in Des Arc WED., NOV. 11 Veterans Day Federal Holiday SATS., NOV. 14, 21, 7 AM Cross Roads Deer Breakfast SAT., NOV. 14, 9 TO 2 Arnold Foundation Hosting Secret Church SAT., NOV. 28, 6 PM DAHS Alumni Association Meeting/Banquet Elementary School

In an “emergency” called meeting of the Quorum Court Monday night, Oct. 26, Judge Mike Skarda read a statement officially announcing that a criminal charge had been made against County & Circuit Clerk Vanessa Peters - and of his intent to petition the Circuit Court for an order suspending her from functioning in that office until the “criminal charges against her and the cloud over that office are resolved”. He reminded the Court that Mrs. Peters, who was in attendance and in her normal seat Monday night (but did not speak), is “considered innocent of all charges unless and until she is proven guilty”. If the Circuit Court approves the petition, the Quorum Court will appoint a temporary replacement with the authority to fulfill all of the duties of the Clerk - until a new clerk is elected in 2016 and assumes office Jan. 1, 2017. An appointment is expected by the Quorum Court at its next regular meeting Tuesday evening, Nov. 10. When Mrs. Peters is suspended and her replacement appointed, Mrs. Peters will officially remain County Clerk and continue to collect her full salary of $37,703 until she either resigns, her term ends 1/1/17, or she is convicted and removed from office. (meaning the County will have to pay two salaries in the interim). Judge Skarda called Monday night’s meeting specifically to provide the Justices an opportunity to examine the public documents filed in this matter and become informed of the facts instead of relying on hearsay - and to ask questions of the prosecutor’s office. Those documents included: 1. “Cover Sheet” showing Prairie County Case #CR-2015-39, State of Arkansas vs Vanessa Peters filed 10/22/2015 and assigned to Judge Thomas Hughes (arrest date 10/21/2015). 2. “Information” provided by Prosecuting Attorney Rebecca Reed (McCoy) accused the defendant, Vanessa Peters of furnishing a cellular telephone to Ark. Dept of Corrections (ADC) 309 inmate Jason Thresher during December

2014, a Class B Felony, punishable by imprisonment of not less than 5 years nor more than 20 years - and/or a fine not exceeding $15,000. Thresher’s last imprisonment, in 2006, was 20 years for delivery of a controlled substance. He has been transferred from the Prairie County Jail to the Quachita River Correctional Unit Jason Thresher, 45 near Malvern. 3. “Affidavit for Warrant of Arrest” by State Police Special Agent David Moss: swearing alleJudge Skarda reads statement explaining the single gations stemming from his 40 minute purpose of Monday night’s Quorum Court meeting interview with Mrs. Peters 9/22/15 in her office and a statement signed by trial could require up to a year. her on same date, to be true. “Other than the Judge Skarda advised the Journal Wednesday phone, which I paid approximately $40 for at the Searcy Walmart, I only bought him food”, afternoon that the Circuit Court’s order to suspend Mrs. Peters from functioning as County according to her statement. Clerk has been processed and now awaits the The initial Circuit Court hearing will be Nov. signature of Judge Thomas Hughes. 17 at Des Arc County Courthouse at 9:00 am. A

Primary protagonists, from left: Clerk Vanessa Peters, Judge Mike Skarda, Deputy Pros. Atty. Tim Isaac (File photo: Quorum Court meeting May 12, 2015)

Tamara Dabney of Hazen announces candidacy for County/Circuit Clerk

Wanda Swaim of Des Arc was the lucky winner of $50,000 by purchasing a $20.00 scratch-off Arkansas Scholarship lottery ticket at Ringlo’s in Des Arc. Wanda said she was going to pay bills and save the rest.

Pgs. 3 & 4 Clay Askins, 66, Biscoe Dennis Brill, 79, Des Arc Houston Butler, 95, Searcy Mary Covington, 73, Augusta Lloyd Cox, Jr., 75, Stuttgart Gary Criner, 41, Butlerville Oma Dobson, 80, Brinkley Carolyn Doepel, 80, Stuttgart Max Henderson, 80, N. L. Rock George McGee, 64, Des Arc Dolphie Ricks, 95, Hazen W.H. West, 60, Stuttgart Frances Wilcox, 90, Stuttgart Edith Young, 83, Stuttgart

Tamara Forrester Dabney, of Hazen is announcing her candidacy for office this week, saying, “I am excited to announce my candidacy for the office of Prairie County Circuit & County Clerk.”

Hwy 323 sink hole south of levee deepens; road closed Wed. afternoon

Week’s Weather - Pg 2 “KEEP HATS ON” (See Pg 15 for latest Journal delivery results)

P U B L I S HE D E A C H T H U R S D A Y S I N C E 1 9 0 7 THUR SDAY, OCTO BER 29, 2015

Judge Mike Skarda requests County Clerk to cease work; Clerk obliges for one day . . . returns to office Oct. 28

WINNER

Obituaries

“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

View north toward levee at Des Arc City Limits (additional photo Pg 14)

Dabney said, “Prairie County is my home. I graduated from Hazen High School and received a business degree from Draughon’s Business College in Little Rock.” She has served as Deputy Tax Collector for the Arkansas County Sheriff and Collector for 12 years. During that time, she earned continuing education credit hours from the Association of Arkansas Counties. Among her different work career positions, Dabney was Administrative Assistant for the Stuttgart Chamber of Commerce, loan secretary at Farmers and Merchants Bank and Manager of Merle Norman Cosmetics in Stuttgart. Dabney stated, “I enjoy meeting and serving the public, and I believe that my experience and abilities qualify me for the Clerk’s position. It would be an honor to serve the people of Prairie County, and I

Tamara Forrester Dabney plan to meet everyone during the months prior to the coming elections.” She and husband of 23 years, Johnny Dabney, live in Hazen. He works as a millwright. Their daughter, Jade, is married to Kris Bunnell, and they are grandparents of “two of the most precious grandbabies, Kaden and Bryson.” They also have a son, Morgan, a senior at Hazen High School.

F I N A L N O T I C E J o u r n a l S u b s c r ib e r s Nov. 1 is Deadline to renew expired subscriptions without paper being stopped ! Please check your subscription expiration date on the mailing label at top of this page. The day-month-year are shown on the second line with six numerals, thusly: 00-00-00. As much as the Journal prefers not to lose subscribers, all subscriptions which expired before August 15, 2015 will be deactivated and paper stopped, if full subscription payment isn’t received by Nov. 1, 2015. Subscriptions expiring Aug. 15 thru month of October will be allowed a “grace period” of 30 days - or until Nov. 1, whichever period is longer. To continue receiving paper, expired subscriptions must be extended at last one year (minimally until Nov. 1, 2015).

R ATES : In County: $15, $29 (1-2 yrs);

In Arkansas (out of county): $25, $48 (1-2 yrs);

Out of State: $30, $55 (1-2 yrs)

Also, beginning Nov. 1, subscriptions must be kept paid in advance - and will be deactivated (on a weekly basis), 30 days after expiration. To help subscribers keep aware of nearing or expired subscriptions, the Journal may choose (or not choose) to “selectively” mail postcard reminders. We sincerely thank you for your continued loyalty and look forward to serving you in the future. If you have any questions, please contact us:

Email: wrjnews1@centurytel.net

The Publisher

Mail: PO Box 1051, Des Arc, Ar 72040

Tel: 870-256-4254


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