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COUNTY NEWS Baxter County SO now using inmates for cleanup projects


Although the Talburt Cemetery sits in the middle of a densely populated residential area of Mountain Home, its 40 identified graves had been abandoned, neglected, and completely overgrown for many years. Tat all changed in mid-November when a dozen Baxter County Jail inmates worked nearly three days trimming and cleaning, resulting in a completely trans- formed appearance. Tapping into discretionary funds collected


through jail fees, the Sheriff’s Office bought a new 16-foot tandem axle work trailer with a standing gang box to help with the ongoing clean-ups, along with new chainsaws and weed trimmers.


Cleanup included chainsaw work, weed-eat-


ing, mowing, raking leaves, picking up rocks, and burning leaves and debris. “Te old cem- etery was transformed from its sad, overgrown condition into an almost park-like appearance,” said Lewis. “Te inmates did a fantastic job on the project.” Jail inmates will be taken out for work


clean up details more frequently in the coming months, due in part to the availability of ad- ditional equipment that the Sheriff’s Office has acquired for that purpose. Lewis said that prior to getting the trailer and


new tools, “we were really limited in what we could do and how many prisoners we could get working at one time.” Now the department can have up to 13 inmates working on such clean- ups at one time. Te trailer will also be very use- ful following natural disasters such as the 2009 ice storm, he said. Work by the inmates is on a volunteer ba- sis, with prisoners accruing good time credit for their participation. Inmates later spent half a day clearing and cleaning up the Buzzard Roost/Tracy Cemetery, which was established in the early 1940’s when the Army Corps of Engineers moved about 40 graves to that site from other cemeteries that were going to be flooded when the Norfork Lake filled following construction of the Nor- fork Dam. Te Sheriff’s Office adopted a formal, written policy concerning the use of county jail inmates and county equipment for clean-up and other work projects of various kinds that will be un- dertaken in the coming months and years. “Tis policy conforms to the requirements for such use established by Arkansas law,” said Capt.


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Lewis. Reserve deputies are utilized when avail- able to transport and guard the inmates while they are working. Te projects have captured the attention of


the Baxter County Coordinator of the Arkansas Gravestones Project, Lynn Baker of Cotter, who is in contact with the other county coordinators and district coordinators throughout the state. “He has informed me that to the best of their knowledge, the Baxter County Sheriff’s Office is the only one in Arkansas that utilizes county jail inmates for clean-up of abandoned cemeteries, and they are excited about the continuation of the program,” Capt. Lewis added. Baker noted, however, the Izard County Judge’s Office assists in preparing signage for their cemeteries. Te earliest recorded burial in Talburt Cem-


etery – also known as Casey Cemetery – was in 1852. “From the dates, it is apparent that the cemetery pre-dates the Civil War,” said Capt. Lewis.


A couple of weeks later, four Baxter County Jail inmates supervised by two deputies spent


about three hours weed eating, mowing, and cleaning up the “New Buzzard Roost - Tracy Cemetery”.


Sheriff’s Office holds annual Open House


Te Baxter County Sheriff’s Office held its second annual Open House on Oct. 19 to al- low the community to tour the facilities, learn about new services and meet some of the Depu- ties and staff. About 250 citizens attended. Te menu for the event was beans, corn-


bread, and bologna – the department’s standard jail food. Hot dogs were also served. Staff members showed citizens around the


premises; helped them sign up for email alerts from the Sheriff’s Office; demonstrated the drug incinerator; and answered questions about the department helicopter and other equipment. –––––––


Te City of Mountain Home and Baxter County officials recently signed an agreement for the housing of City of Mountain Home prisoners in the Baxter County Detention Cen- ter.


Tis ended a long standing dispute over housing and compensation. Mountain Home City Mayor Dave Os-


man, Baxter County Judge Joe Bodenhamer and Sheriff John Montgomery reached the flat monthly rate agreement, valid through 2012, after several intense meetings.


COUNTY LINES, WINTER 2011


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