Marion County Sheriff Joan Vickers has been trying to solve a dilemma facing her deputies, how to patrol a northern section of Marion County bordering Missouri and Baxter County. In a story published by the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Marion County Sgt. Joe Batterton said it takes deputies more than an hour to reach some areas in the northernmost part of the county. That's because portions of the county are cut off from the rest of the county by Bull Shoals Lake, forcing deputies to drive into Missouri to reach the segregated areas.
The county usually has two deputies on duty and, according to Marion County Sgt. Batterton, if a deputy patrolling the south of the county is called to one of the northern portions of the county that is cut off by Bull Shoals Lake, it creates a "logistical nightmare".
The county used to have a deputy who lived in or around the Oakland area but, since the death of Deputy Dale McCracken in 2013, no deputy has lived there.
Sheriff Vickers brought the issue to the Marion County Quorum Court in August, but no action was taken. The position would have to be approved but there is enough money in the budget thanks to the new 0.25 sales tax voters approved in March. The tax is for jail operations and maintenance but, according to Justice of the Peace Mike Scrima, the tax frees money up elsewhere in the budget.
The Marion County Quorum Court will meet in regular session Tuesday evening at 6. There is no mention of hiring a new deputy on the meeting's agenda.
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