Summit woman’s marijuana proposal rejected by Attorney General
Arkansas Attorney General Leslie Rutledge has rejected a proposed constitutional amendment for the 2018 ballot that would legalize marijuana in the state.
The proposal by Mary Berry of Summit would allow for the cultivation, production, distribution, sale, possession and use of the cannabis plant and all products taken from the plant, including marijuana.
Berry said she’s more than dissapointed in Rutledges decision.
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Rutledge wrote in an opinion released Monday that the proposal is being rejected because of ambiguities in the text, including whether or not a license is required, whether taxes are allowed and whether a parent could provide medical marijuana to a minor child.
Rutledge in April approved a similar ballot proposal by Berry for the November 2016 election.
Rutledge spokesman Judd Deere said Monday’s rejection does not affect the 2016 proposal.
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Baxter County Quorum Court aims to halt overtime law
Members of the Baxter County Quorum Court voted to join an effort seeking to halt the Department of Labor from implementing changes in the overtime regulations for salaried employees that could possibly cost the county thousands of dollars in overtime pay.
The justices approved a resolution during their regular monthly meeting Tuesday that asks Arkansas Attorney General Leslie Rutledge to file suit against the U.S. Department of Labor to halt the implementation of the change until a complete review of its financial and operational impact can be completed.
The new change is set to be implemented December 1st. It will require that salaried employees making less than $47,476 be paid overtime for working more than 40-hours-per-week. Under the current regulations, employees making $23,660 or more are exempt.
It has been estimated that 18 county employees would be directly affected and County Judge Mickey Pendergrass said it was difficult at this time to quantify exactly how the county would be impacted both financially and operationally, but said there was little doubt that if the measure goes into effect,”we will take a big hit”.
The resolution received the unanimous approval of the courts Budget Committee on July 18th and the unanimous approval of the entire court Tuesday.
According to the resolution, the decision to change the rules was made without congressional participation and without an adequate study of the adverse impact on both employees and employers that will result from the change.
The rule change will result in either increased spending for overtime, or a change in job structures that could result in employee demotions and decreases in wages, according to the resolution.
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Bond issue to go before Marion County Quorum Court
Marion County is one step closer to having another bond issue to vote on this fall. During Tuesday’s meeting, the county’s Law Enforcement Committee decided to present to the Quorum Court a proposal to place the issue for a new county jail on the ballot for the general election to be held November 8th.
If approved, the bond issue would seek a half-cent sales tax increase to provide nearly $8.25 million, and that would allow the county to build a new detention center that would house approximately 60 beds. In the March primary, voters rejected a three-quarter cent sales tax to fund a new jail, but they did approve a quarter cent tax increase to fund the maintenance of the new jail. The current bond issue being proposed will ask for a smaller increase than in the spring, but Marion County Civil Attorney Sam Pasthing says it will still be a big issue for the voters if it makes the ballot.
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The Marion County Quorum Court will make its decision when it meets August 23rd.
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Sharp not retired for long, accepts superintendent position at Highland
Former Superintendent of Cotter School District, Don Sharp, didn’t stay retired for long. Tuesday, Sharp accepted the position of superintendent with the Highland School District.
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The Highland School Board voted unanimously to buy former Superintendent Tracy Webb out of her remaining contract during last week’s board meeting. Area Wide Media reports the buyout was at Webb’s request.
Sharp says, as of now, his position as Superintendent with Highland is only temporary.
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Sharp’s contract is for 11 months. It will run through the end of the 2016-2017 school year.
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Mtn. Home boy paralyzed in golf cart accident
A Mountain Home boy was seriously injured in a golf cart accident earlier this week. A go fund me account was established in his name.
The account reads, Jason Dupchak is an active 14 year old boy from Mountain Home, Arkansas. He and his friends were driving a golf cart through their neighborhood, when a terrible accident occurred on Tuesday, August 2, 2016. Because of the accident Jason suffered a fracture of the C5 vertebrae in the front and back which caused significant bruising and trauma to his spinal cord. This injury paralyzed Jason from the neck down instantly. He was air lifted to Arkansas Childrens Hospital and was taken to neuro-spinal surgery at UAMS. The surgeons were able to completely remove his C5 vertebrae and insert a cage and rod into his spine. The prognosis for Jason is still unknown, but he is making baby steps each day in PICU. His recovery and therapy will be lengthy and financial assistance for mom and dad will take one burden away from Jasons parents. Any donation amount will be greatly appreciated by Kerri and Jason.
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Twin Lakes Area sees record rainfall; senior center gets water damage
Friday night’s storms and heavy showers produced record rainfall in the Twin Lakes Area. At KTLO, Classic Hits and The Boot, 3.17 inches of rain fell in the evening and overnight hours. That more than doubled the previous record for August 6th of 1.54 inches set in 1993.
The Van Matre Senior Center experienced water damage after Friday night’s storms and heavy rainfall. As a result, its indoor flea market ended up being postponed.
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Over 350 students attend Back-to-School Bazaar
Students that have enrolled in Mountain Home Public Schools had the opportunity to attend Bridges of Mountain Homes Back to School Bazaar at Nelson-Wilks-Herron Elementary School that happened Friday evening. The event provided district students with free school supplies, backpacks, vision and dental screenings, haircuts, hot dogs and more.
Bridges facilitator Jill Czantskowski says the Bazaar had a high turnout.
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Superintendent Dr. Jake Long says the community stepped up to support the Bridges Back to School Bazaar.
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Czanstkowski talks about the Bridges program.
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She also tells what the purpose of the program.
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For more information on Bridges, contact the Bridges at 321-3998.
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