Drew Central hosts archery Local prep teams secure regional tournament spots in regional tourneys 1B 1C ADVANCE-MONTICELLONIAN 75¢ WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2017 SERVING DREW COUNTY SINCE 1870 Reinhart’s hearing Democrats rescheduled BY HAROLD COGGINS [email protected] nominate In November 2016, Monticello doctor Jeffrey Reinhart received an Emergency Order of Suspension of his Arkansas Medical License from the Arkansas State Medical Board. Anderson Immediately, Reinhart took leave BY HAROLD COGGINS further moved Anderson be elect- from his practice. [email protected] ed by acclamation. With no further His appearance was to have business, the special convention ad- come before the ASMB in its Feb- In what was likely the shortest journed. ruary meeting but, according to the meeting any of them could recall, However, before the members Board’s attorney, Kevin O’Dwyer, members of the Democratic Party dispersed, Anderson was given the Dr. Reinhart’s attorney requested a of Drew County nominated Interim opportunity to speak. continuance. The Monticello phy- Monticello Mayor David Anderson “I want to than the committee for sician’s hearing is now scheduled to be the party’s candidate in the your trust in me,” the Democratic for April 6-7. May 9 special mayoral election. mayoral candidate said. “I’ll do my The reason for the continuance Anderson and Independent Ron- best to see the city is run properly is unknown, O’Dwyer noted but ny Carr have now declared their and everybody will be treated equal- added that no agreement has been intentions to fi ll out Zack Tucker’s ly as long as I am mayor. I have the reached between Reinhart and the unexpired term. Tucker, who was experience and I think I can do a ASMB. The disciplinary hearing charged in late 2016 with abuse of good job.” is not Reinhert’s fi nal recourse, offi ce and tampering with public re- Should Anderson be elected on O’Dywer pointed out—even cords, resigned as Mayor in January May 9, he would simply continue though he will not appear before as part of a plea bargain. the work to which the Monticello the Board again. DPDC Chair Kathy Borchardt City Council appointed him to im- “If he has a hearing and the called the special convention to or- mediately after Tucker resigned. Board makes a fi nding and issues der Monday, and it took DPDC Sec- A former mayor, the 70-year-old an order,” O’Dwyer said of Dr. Re- retary Marsha Winkelpleck longer Anderson said after the convention inhart’s scheduled April apperance, to call the roll than it did to conduct he felt he had an obligation to the “it is fi nal, (but) he will then have the business for which the conven- people of Monticello to seek another the right to appeal that decision to tion was called. After the roll call, stay in the Mayor’s offi ce. Circuit Court.” Borchardt called for a motion to “I’m a lifelong resident,” he In November, the ASMB sus- open the fl oor to nominations and, smiled. “My mother was a lifelong pended Reinhart for “the habitual Harold Coggins/Advance-Monticellonian upon receiving such, James Ross resident. My grandmother was a life- use of alcohol to such an extent as ACCEPTING THE NOMINATION Interim Monticello Mayor David Anderson thanks those attending the special nominated Anderson. long resident. I’m a third-generation to render himself incapable of exer- county convention of the Democratic Party of Drew County for their confi dence in him after the convention nomi- DPDC Treasurer Ron Echols cising that degree of skill and judg- nated Anderson to run in the May 9 special mayoral election Monday night at the Drew County Courthouse. them moved nominations cease and See DEMS Page 6A ment in the care of his patients.” The license suspension meant that Reinhart’s license to practice medicine in Arkansas had been re- moved for a certain period of time due to the disciplinary action, ac- Election complaint against County Clerk dismissed cording to the Board’s defi nition. The ASMB is charged by the Gen- BY HAROLD COGGINS ballot and voters have the right to cast their ities, when and where the alleged activities Election did not begin until Oct. 24, 2016. eral Assembly to protect the health, [email protected] votes on these measures. Immediately, after occurred, and supporting facts surrounding Miller’s complaint states that Gulledge be- safety and welfare of the people of the hearing on October 10, Mrs. Gulledge the allegations.” gan making these comments about the ini- the state of Arkansas. The Board On the Friday before the November 2016 began telling voters who picked up sample The report went on to say the allegation tiatives on Oct. 10—and this was the only was established by the Medical General Election, a complaint was fi led by ballots to ‘ignore’ the 15 measures because that Gulledge infl uenced voters during early allegation pertaining to when the alleged Practices Act, Act 65 of 1955 and Drew County resident Nancy Miller against the votes would not be counted. She has also voting is essentially an allegation of elec- comments were made. Act 289 of 1957, from which the Drew County Clerk Lyna Gulledge. In a let- told some voters that they can cast a vote tioneering and that these statements would Board is empowered to license and The SBEC added that even if the Board ter dated Feb. 3, the State Board of Election or not because the votes are not going to be not be prohibited unless they fell within the regulate the practice of medicine. were to read the complaint as stating the The medical board consists of 14 Commissioners dismissed the complaint. counted. types of prohibited electioneering defi ned by comments were made from Oct. 10 through members appointed by the gover- The complaint read, “The Hon. Lyna “Comments such as theses, coming from Arkansas Code Annotated 7-1-103(a)(9). As the election, “the complaint still fails to state nor for six-year terms. Gulledge, Drew County Clerk, has been in- the County Clerk in her offi cial capacity, in- stated in Miller’s complaint, the SBEC ruled, that the comments were made in the court- According to Board records, fl uencing voters to not cast a vote on initia- fl uence voters to not cast a vote on the mea- the allegations do not articulate the necessary house or any other polling site.” Reinhart’s license was suspend- tives appearing on the General Election 2016 sures, which is unethical.” elements of prohibited electioneering under Although the SBEC report said the com- ed in 1994 because he was “being ballot. There were 15 local initiatives for the In a staff report of docket No. SBEC2016- Arkansas election law. plaint implied Gulledge’s comments were charged with a violation of Arkan- city of Monticello certifi ed to appear on the 023, which is Miller’s complaint, fi led on “This is because the statements were not made in the courthouse it does not clearly sas Code 17-93-409-(8), that is the November 8, 2016 ballot. A lawsuit was fi led Jan. 3, the State Board of Election Commis- clearly alleged to have been made in a poll- state the location of the alleged violation as habitual and intemperate or exces- against the initiatives and the judge ordered sioners stated that while the complaint met ing place and, even if they were, the state- required. The report pointed out that “even if sive use of scheduled narcotics or that the votes for the 15 initiatives would not all requirements with regard to form and ments did not regard a candidate or issue on the alleged statements were made in a poll- be counted. timeliness, “the complaint must clearly state the ballot,” the report read. See REINHART Page 6A See ELECTION Page 6A “However, all 15 initiatives remain on the the alleged election irregularities or illegal- Early voting for the November General Drew Central School Board DMH AUXILIARY HELPS LOCAL FOUNDATION Drew County conducts regular business highway bids BY ASHLEY FOREMAN tain criteria that had to be met are approved [email protected] including at least one loop. Stu- dents worked as teams to design In a regularly scheduled meet- and build the roller coasters. At Special to the Advance ing, the Drew Central School the end of the project, a marble The Arkansas State High- Board met to discuss the Middle was placed in the opening of the way Commission has ap- School Students of the Month, coaster and released. The goal proved a bid for improvements roller-coaster projects, Southeast was for the marble to stay in and to a roadway in Drew County, Arkansas Literacy Council win- ride the coaster until the end. according to Arkansas State ners, the local Veterans of For- SEARK Literacy Council Highway and Transportation eign Wars writing contest win- members met in January at the Department offi cials. ner and a potential new building DC Middle School library to The purpose of this project bond. present awards to local students is to resurface four miles of Middle School Principal Patti who won the Young Author’s U.S. Highway 425 between Smith presented to the board the Writing contests. The winners Arkansas Highway 172 and teachers’ picks for February Stu- from Drew Central were sixth Old Warren Road, near Mon- dent of the Month—fifth grade, graders Sabrina Day and Karlan Photo courtesy of Ember Davis ticello. Annabelle Glenn and Ty Bur- Bright.