5 charged in 2 city pool vandalism incidents
Five individuals have been arrested by Mountain Home Police in connection with two vandalism incidents at the city pool in Cooper Park.
Mountain Home Police Chief Carry Manual says three individuals have been arrested in connection with the latest vandalism incident on July 10. At that time, trash, a picnic table, and a lifeguard chair were found in the swimming pool. The incident caused the pool to be closed for
maintenance for the day. During their investigation into the incident, officers developed three suspects that were arrested Friday. Chief Manual says 19-year-old Matthew Chase Ohler of Gassville, 20-year-old Collin John Oxford and 20-year-old Preston Allen Groesbeck, both of Mountain Home, were charged with second degree criminal mischief and criminal trespassing.
In the earlier incident, Chief Manual says officials with the city’s parks department filed a vandalism, breaking or entering and theft of property report on June 30. The report was a result of pool furniture being thrown into the pool and damaged, the snack bar being entered and damaged, and food items being stolen.
During the investigation, officers received information on two suspects, a 17-year-old male juvenile and a 16-year-old male juvenile. The two have been charged with first degree criminal mischief, criminal trespassing and theft of property.
The case has been released to juvenile authorities following the arrests.
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Jail expansion special election date moved
The date for a special election for levying a sales and use tax for expansion and operation of the county jail has been moved. The action came Tuesday evening by the Baxter County Quorum Court.
With no discussion from the quorum court members or the audience, it took just 17 minutes for the court to move procedurally through four ordinances concerning the jail expansion and operation. Voters will consider levying a countywide one cent sales and use tax for eight months beginning March 1, 2018. Net proceeds from the tax would be used to expand the Baxter County Detention Center, as well as furnish and equip the new portion, and provide for the operation and maintenance of the jail. Voters will also be asked to consider levying a countywide one-quarter cent sales and use tax beginning November 1, 2018, following the expiration of the one cent sales and use tax. The one-quarter cent tax would be ongoing. The remaining two ordinances deal with the timing of the election, which was amended from October 10 to September 12 to coincide with an ordinance passed Thursday evening by the Mountain Home City Council calling for a levy of a 3/8 percent sales and use tax that would benefit the city’s fire and police departments.
Without the amended date, voters were set to go to the polls three times within 28 days, with the annual school election sandwiched between the two public safety referendums.
The court’s approval was unanimous, with justice Bill Lucas absent.
In other business, it was the court’s consideration of a resolution supporting the Marketplace Fairness and Remote Transactions Parity Act for the collection of sales tax from out-of-state online retailers that drew the most discussion from the court and failed to gain passage. County judges across the state have been requested to bring the resolution before their quorum courts to gather feedback. Questions and concerns included how will the collection process work, who will collect the funds, and how much is expected to be generated.
The measure failed to gain passage with just three justices, James Kerr, Neal Pendergrass and Lucy Soltysik, voting in favor.
The court also approved six resolutions in support of an effort by Midway Industries, a metal working shop located in the industrial park. Midway Industries employs 12 people and is proposing an expansion of almost $600,000 that could lead to 12 new positions. The expansion proposal calls for $355,000 in materials. With approved resolutions from the quorum court, Midway Industries could apply for the Arkansas Department of Economic Developments Tax Back Program. With state approval, Midway Industries would then be eligible for a refund from the sales and use taxes paid on the materials.
The county’s amended personnel policy manual was placed on the third and final reading and adopted unanimously.
The court approved an appropriation of over $10,000 in state grant funds to the Clarkridge Volunteer Fire Department that will be used for extrication equipment.
Transfer of $146,000 in funding for the 9-1-1 department budget was approved for technology upgrades.
A vacancy in the District Three JP seat was declared that will allow Governor Hutchinson to fill the opening.
Appointments of Mike Hunter and David McQueen were confirmed to the Hand Cove Fire Protection District Board of Commissioners, and Terry Buchman’s appointment to the Northeast Lakeside Fire Protection District Board of Commissioners was approved.
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Groundbreaking for MC jail held Friday
After over three years of planning, groundbreaking ceremonies for the new Marion County Law Enforcement Center were held Friday morning. The event was at the site for the new facility off Highway 202 at 221 Randolph Road west of Yellville.
The new enforcement center will replace an almost 40-year-old facility that has been under constant threat of closure for failure to meet minimum state standards.
Last November voters in Marion County approved a sales tax increase to pay for the construction of the new law enforcement center. Revenue generated by the tax hike will pay a bond issue funding the construction and equipping of the new facility to house the county jail, administrative offices of the sheriff’s department and a communications center.
Marion County Judge Terry Ott says the new facility will house approximately 62 inmates. The current jail holds 18-20 prisoners. Depending on the makeup of the jail population, the capacity could be as low as 12.
While the bond measure voters approved was roughly $8.1 million, Ott says bids have come in well under budget at about $1 million less than anticipated.
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Mollie Morgan recognized as ALE Teacher of the Year
Mollie Morgan, Career and Technical Education Teacher for the Mountain Home School District, has been recognized by Governor Asa Hutchinson with the Alternative Learning Environment Teacher of the Year award. The recognition is a result of her effort to incorporate Governor Asa Hutchinson’s computer-coding initiative into the curriculum at Guy Berry College and Career Academy.
The middle school’s faculty from Guy Berry attended the Arkansas Association of Alternative Educators’ conference July 9th, 10th and 11th. Morgan says she was caught off guard during the final session when Governor Hutchinson spoke about his initiative to provide computer coding classes to all Arkansas high schools.
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Morgan didn’t sit there long. Governor Hutchinson invited her up to receive her award, saying he previously visited Mountain Home, observed Morgan’s students and was impressed with their work.
Morgan says she felt the student’s work, not hers, should be recognized. When speaking with her however, it is apparent she contributes directly to their success.
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Jeff Kincade, Director of ALE at Guy Berry, says the award for Morgan is a well-deserved honor.
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Morgan says she works with incredible teachers who define Alternative Education as a way to teach, not as a label for students in the program.
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BRMC welcomes first neurosurgeon to the area
Baxter Regional Medical Center has achieved a milestone with the opening of the new BRMC Neurosurgery and Spine Clinic, led by Dr. Lucas Bradley. The clinic is set to open Monday, July 31st located at 301 Buttercup Drive, Suite A, in Mountain Home.
Dr. Bradley graduated High School in West Plains and graduated from the University of Missouri in Columbia with a degree in biology. After attending the University of Missouri School of Medicine, he completed a neurological surgery residency at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences.
Neurosurgery is the medical specialty for the treatment of brain and spine issues. Bradley says he anticipates a significant amount of spine treatment, specifically with the back and the neck.
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Bradley says the clinic will also work with pain management, including face pain and entrapment syndromes, which occur when a nerve is entrapped in the arms or in the hands. Brain stimulation will also be used to manage pain by placing electrodes under the skin or in the spinal canal to stimulate the nerves and prevent pain pathways.
The new clinic is a historical event for the Twin Lakes Area.
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Bradley’s clinic will offer some of the latest in technology for surgical procedures including navigation, a tool used to see inside the patient’s body.
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Bradley will also participate in telemedicine technology via the Arkansas Stroke Assistance through Virtual Emergency Support (AR SAVES). Vascular neurologists share call to provide consultation with each other. Each site is equipped with telemedicine technology, training for personnel, support for nurse facilitator and ongoing continuing education.
Bradley says he’ll participate in the stroke care if necessary, for case evaluation or for conferences. He says if a patient has to be transferred they will, however the ultimate goal is to keep people in the area if possible.
To schedule an appointment or for more information contact the clinic at 870-508-7080.
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