Sheriff Montgomery and Senator Flippo at odds over bill
Senate Bill 102, a bill which would lower the fines, fees and costs potentially incurred for violating the mandatory seat belt law, is scheduled to go before the House Judiciary Committee Tuesday. It moved forward with a vote of 29 in favor and zero against it.
Baxter County Sheriff Montgomery is opposed to the bill for a couple of reasons. He thinks it may lead to people refusing to wear their seatbelt.
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The Sheriff says compared to other states in the nation Arkansas already rates low in regard to seatbelt usage.
Senator Scott Flippo says the fines associated with a seatbelt violation in Baxter County are around $80 to $100. He says the bill wasn’t supposed to be higher than $25 when it was created.
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Flippo says although he appreciates Sheriff Montgomery’s opinion, he believes most people will wear their seatbelts not because of a threat of a fine, but because it’s a good idea to do so.
Sheriff Montgomery says the second reason he opposes the bill is due to the loss of revenue.
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Senator Flippo questions if it is a good practice to issue tickets to individuals based upon the precept of gaining revenue, saying it blurs the line between a public safety issue and revenues for a municipality or a county.
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The House Committee is scheduled to meet at 10 Tuesday morning.
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Cap Wildfire in Leatherwoods Wilderness 75 percent contained
Firefighters from the National Forest Service continue to battle a wildfire in the Leatherwood Wilderness near Big Flat. C. J. Norvell, a spokesperson with the forest service, says the Cap Wildfire, originally reported as being in Stone County near Fifty-Six, is primarily in Searcy and Baxter counties with a small portion in Marion County. The 821 acre fire is 75 percent contained, according to Norvell with no structures or private property threatened by the fire.
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Twenty-five firefighters, include a crew of specially trained “hotshots” from the Cherokee National Forest, are fighting the fire with a helicopter flying reconnaissance. The command post for the fire crews is located east of Big Flat in Fifty-six.
Residents near the fire, which is 20 miles northwest of Mountain View and 38 miles south of Mountain Home, may notice smoke, depending on wind conditions.
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Mild winter weather, warmer temperatures and windy conditions, which are believed to have contributed to the Cap Wildfire, could spark more blazes, says Norvell.
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The fire is bounded on the south by Rand Road, on the north by South Prong Middle Creek and equestrian trails on the east and west sides.
Rand Road is currently closed to all but local traffic. Equestrians with reservations at the Caney Horse Camp, located north of the wildfire, will be escorted by forest service personnel who are advising equestrians planning to ride in the Leatherwood Wilderness to stay north of SOuth Prong Middle Creek for the foreseeable future.
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Gainesville Superintendent’s contract not extended
Superintendent Joe Donley of the Gainesville School District will not have his contract extended after it expires through the 2018 school year. According to the Ozark County Times, the Gainesville School Board members voted four to three against the renewal.
Donley has been the district Superintendent four four-and-a-half years. Prior to the position he served as principal of Gainesville High School for seven years and was a teacher and coach for five
Donley says he was naturally disappointed about the board’s decision, but would continue to serve in his current capacity through the end of his term. He appreciates the outpouring of community support when an estimated 40 to 50 people attended last week’s school board meeting.
Board President Corey Hillhouse says, in a phone conversation with KTLO, Classic Hits and The Boot News, he voted in favor of extending Donley’s contract because he felt he was doing an good job. Those also voting in favor were Vice-President Marti Warden and member Jerry Kiger.
Board members Billy Pippin and Heather Bushner, who voted not to extend the contract, say they have no comment on their decision. The other two board members voting against Donley’s contract renewal are Wes Uchtman and Robby Walwrath. A call to Uchtman went unanswered and a voicemail left for Walrath was not returned.
In response to the vote, Gainesville resident Jodi Leeker has started an online petition, asking the board to reconsider it’s actions and extend Donley’s contract. She says she plans to present the petition to the board at it’s February meeting.
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Arrest made in Ozark Co. in connection with stolen vehicle in Mtn. Home
An Ozark County man, alledged to have stolen a pick up truck in Mountain Home, will be transported from Ozark County to Mountain Home where he will face felony theft of property charges. Mountain Home Police Chief Carry Manuel says 34 year old Dustin Hudspeth was arrested Wednesday night by the Ozark County Sheriff following a welfare check at his residence where a vehicle, stolen in Mountain Home, was discovered.
According to the police chief, his department received a complaint shortly before 8 Wednesday evening that Hudspeth had been dropped off near a church and fitness center in Mountain Home. It was reported he was traveling on foot and was impaired from the use of meth and bath salts.
Nearly a half hour later, Mountain Home Police officers responded to the fitness center were a 1999 Ford F150 pickup truck with a go-cart in the truck’s bed was reported stolen.
Later the same evening, deputies from the Ozark County Sheriff’s Office went to Hudspeth
s residence for a welfare check. Upon arrival, the sheriff’s deputy saw the truck with the go-cart, which had not yet been entered as stolen. When the sheriff’s office received information of the stolen vehicle several hours later, they returned to Hudspeth’s residence, where they confirmed the vehicle was the stolen pick-up truck and took Hudspeth into custody.
Chief Manuel says Dustin Hudspeth will soon be transported to Mountain Home where he will be held in the Baxter County jail.
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Suspects in vehicle pursuit escape on foot
Two suspects escaped on foot after a high speed pursuit beginning on fourth street in Mountain Home just before midnight Sunday evening. According to a report from the Baxter County Sheriff’s Office, Corporal Rockie Morrell was on routine patrol when he noticed a white Honda Civic with tail lights covered that had a black tint. When he tried to pull the vehicle over the driver refused to stop. The report states two suspects wearing black hoodies were in the vehicle.
Morrell says they blew through several stop signs, reaching speeds of up to 67 miles per hour at one point at the intersection of Bryant and 9th Street. The chase continued westbound on the Sheid Hopper Bypass. By the time the suspect’s vehicle got to Rossi Road smoke began to come from the engine. The Sheriff’s officer was able to pull next to the vehicle and block the driver’s side of the door. There was so much smoke he was unable to see the occupants. By the time he got around to the passenger side of the vehicle the two suspects managed to escape on foot.
During a search of the vehicle an identification card was found, along with an orange ski mask, black gloves, large duffel bag with two bolt cutters and binoculars.
Investigators have developed one suspect in the case. The owner of the vehicle couldn’t be contacted due to a change of address.
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