IN SHORT>> The couple who lost their son after a child predator molested him and dozens of children have honored their son’s memory with the opening of the Wade Knox Child Advocacy Center in Lonoke.
BY BRIAN RODRIGUEZ
Leader Staff writer
The parents of a young man who committed suicide after years of sexual abuse by an uncle are honoring their son’s memory with a child advocacy center that will help abused children get counseling.
Karen and Charlie Knox of Lonoke, whose son Wade committed suicide in 2003, had been wondering how to help other families avoid what their son went through. Then they got a call from the prosecutor’s office about using Wade Knox’s name for the child advocacy center.
The Knoxes donated office space at 1524 N. Center St., Lonoke, and utilities for two years to get the Wade Knox Child Advocacy Center started.
“We just feel like this is the least we can do to help children and to help our community,” said Karen Knox.
She said she has been impressed with the help community members have had in putting together the center, which will be a gathering place for professionals who will pull their resources together as they help youngsters with problems.
Norene Smith, a former Lonoke County deputy prosecutor, said the idea of creating a center began in October 2003 and that she was parents trusted enough to be their children’s guardian in the event of their deaths, a long-time Boy Scout leader and the son of a prominent attorney who became a respected county judge.
Walls’ good standing in the community helped hide his secret life as a sexual predator: He had sexually abused Wade Knox for about 10 years and several other Lonoke County boys over 30 years.
“Tell them how you screwed up my life,” Wade Knox was reported saying as he held a gun to Walls in front of his parents, Karen and Charlie Knox.
“It’s all true,” Walls admitted.
Despite the admission, Karen Knox said she didn’t know what “it” was — that Walls had sexually abused not only Wade Knox, but countless others as well.
Her husband, Charlie, spent his evenings talking to the boys for about a month. He started with the ones they thought might have been Walls’ victims, she said. Then, those boys pointed him to other victims.
By the time he stopped searching for victims, Knox had found about 30 boys, who all told him the same stories about how Walls won their confidence, molested them, then kept them quiet with threats.
He gave them alcohol, pornography and the services of prostitutes. But always there was the threat that his ever-present guns could be used on them. He told them he would kill them, and they didn’t doubt it.
Karen Knox had said he had been the man who could reach her sons when she and her husband could not. Walls had stood with her in church to pray. They had shared family meals. He was the one she wanted to raise her children if anything ever happened to her and her husband.
“We took care of his girls while he was raping our boys,” she said.
The police investigation that followed produced about 30 victims in addition to the first 30 Charlie found. Authorities suspect there might have been many more.
Heath Stocks, 28, one of Walls’ last victims, said he killed his father, mother and younger sister to protect Walls. His mother caught them in bed together, and he and Walls feared she would tell the authorities.
Stocks is serving a life sentence without parole for capital murder. He began his sentence June 6, 1997, and is being held at the Maximum Security Unit in Tucker.
According to speculation on the Heath Stocks web site, www.heathstocks.com, the actual number of victims may be closer to 150 because the first incident reportedly happened when Walls was only 22. According to the web site, arrangements were made for him to join the military and do a stint in Vietnam to escape investigators.
Walls is serving three life terms, plus three 40-year terms, for six counts of rape. He began his sentence Feb. 4, 1998, and is being held at the Eastern Arkansas Regional Unit in Brickeys.
He was charged with only six counts of rape because of the Arkansas statute of limitations.
Wednesday, March 30, 2005
OBITUARIES
WAYNE LOFTIN
Wayne Loftin, 69, died March 28. He was born Jan. 8, 1936, in McRae. He retired from Affiliated Foods after 27 years of service. He was previously employed by Central Arkansas Milk Producers Associa-tion and Associated Milk Producers Association for many years.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Gaines and Pauline Loftin. He is survived by his wife of 39 years, Bobbie Neal; son Doug Loftin and wife Cindy of Bryant; daughters Charlotte of Cut Bank, Montana and Tonya Alkire and husband David Pike of Pangburn; three grandchildren, Wesley and wife Shelly of Alexander, Aaron of Bryant and Alison Alkire of Pangburn; brothers, Hiram “Junior” and wife Roberta of Memphis, Tenn., Ron and wife Fran of Homestead, Fla.; sisters Jamell Short and husband Bill of Conway, Willa Dean Hill and husband Dean of Silafee, Texas; several nieces and nephews and numerous friends and family.
Visitation begins at noon Wednesday at Westbrook Funeral Home, Beebe, with family receiving friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. Thursday at Westbrook Funeral Home, with burial in Antioch Cemetery. Charles Curlie, Travis Hall, Larry Reynolds, Raysel Bradberry, Preston Roberts and Jimmy Rogers will serve as pallbearers. In lieu of flowers, family requests memorials be made to American Heart Association or the American Cancer Society.
JULIUS SMITH
Julius Smith, 81, of Sherwood was born on Jan. 2, 1924, in rural Lonoke County and died March 26.
He was the fourth of 12 children born to Burl and Edith Smith. He served with the 8th Air Force 457th Bomber Group in World War II and flew 29 missions over Germany including D-Day. He was a member of the Eaker Chapter of the Distin-guished Flying Cross Society. Post-war he farmed and worked in sales. He started the Department of Public Safety at UALR in 1969 and retired in 1986. He was a member of Victory Missionary Baptist Church in Sherwood.
He leaves his wife of 61 years, Clara; two sons, Larone and wife Pat of North Little Rock, Danny and wife Ginger of Russellville; three grandsons, Michael Smith and wife Leigh of Fayetteville, Jason Smith and wife Jennifer of Russellville and Brian Smith of Jonesboro; one granddaughter, Kimberly Furhman and husband Chad of Fayetteville; four great-grandsons, Aidan, Isaac and Samuel Smith of Fayetteville and Noah Fuhrman of Fayetteville; four sisters, Lottie Stubbs of Little Rock, Dorothy Dube of Sherwood, Adlee Stratton of Cordova, Tenn., and Sharon Bass of Beebe; four brothers, J. B. Smith of Marianna, Sammy Smith of Ward, Gene Smith and Gary Smith, both of Cabot, and a large extended family.
He was preceded in death by his parents; two brothers, Alvin and Jimmy Smith and one sister, Madge King. Funeral services were held Monday at Victory Missionary Baptist Church in Sherwood, with burial in Butlerville Cemetery.
LOUISE POWELL
Louise (Lucy) Huber Powell, 64, of Austin was born June 18, 1940, at Pine Bluff to the late Edward W. and Margaret L. Huber, and she died March 26 after a courageous battle against lung cancer. Louise was also preceded in death by her husband of 23 years, Bobby W. Powell. She and Bob were members of 16th Section United Methodist Church at Austin. A 1957 graduate of Stuttgart High School, Louise retired from U.S. Postal Service.
She is survived by a son, Paul Christian of Dallas, Texas; two daughters, Wendy Nilsson of Rich-ardson, Texas and Lisa Buckner of Fayetteville; three sisters, Margie Martin of Kyle, Texas, Crystal Hu-ber of North Little Rock and Laura Huber of Maumelle; nine grandchildren; two great-grandchildren and many other relatives and friends. A special thanks to Arkansas Oncology Associates, CARTI, Dr. Sauer and the staff at Hospice Home Care.
Funeral services were Tuesday at 16th Section United Methodist Church at Austin with burial in 16th Section Cemetery by Westbrook Funeral Home, Beebe. Family requests donations be made to Arkansas Children’s Hospital or Beebe Humane Society, 707 Hwy 64 West, Beebe, Ark. 72012.
ESTHER FIELDS
Esther May “Bratcher” Fields, 88 of Jacksonville, passed away on March 26. She was a member of Marshall Road Baptist Church of Jacksonville.
Survivors are five daughters, Linda Hicks of Ohio, Sharon Teel and Betty Roe, both of Hector, and Joyce Mullins and Becky Fields, both of Jacksonville; three sons, Ray Fields of Judsonia, J.R. Fields of North Little Rock, and Billy Fields of Jacksonville; one brother, Mearl Bratcher of Missouri; 25 grandchildren; 38 great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild. Funeral services were held Tuesday at Marshall Road Baptist Church. Burial followed in Shady Grove Cemetery in Bald Knob.
PAULINE FOLEY
Pauline Estelle Robicheaux Foley, 85, of Jacksonville passed away March 25. She was born Sept. 5, 1919 to H.J. Gill and Ressie Dowell. She was a member of First Baptist Church in Gravel Ridge. She loved to collect coins and stamps. She was known for loving to cook and won many awards for her cooking. She is preceded in death by both her husbands, Wilma L. Robicheaux and Joe Foley.
Her sisters, Delores Witcher and Nancy Clark also preceded her in death. She is survived by her son, Leigh Robicheaux; grandchildren, Brandon Robicheaux and Aimee Milligan; great grandchildren Chloe and Cierra; five nieces, Judy Hodges and DeeAnn Davis, Amy Jo Dixon, Michelle O’Donnell and Deanna Harris; a nephew Joe Witcher; and an aunt, Vera Begnaud.
Funeral services were held Tuesday at First Baptist Church of Gravel Ridge. Interment followed at Rest Hills Memorial Park.
Arrangements are by Griffin-Leggett Rest Hills Funeral Home.
Wayne Loftin, 69, died March 28. He was born Jan. 8, 1936, in McRae. He retired from Affiliated Foods after 27 years of service. He was previously employed by Central Arkansas Milk Producers Associa-tion and Associated Milk Producers Association for many years.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Gaines and Pauline Loftin. He is survived by his wife of 39 years, Bobbie Neal; son Doug Loftin and wife Cindy of Bryant; daughters Charlotte of Cut Bank, Montana and Tonya Alkire and husband David Pike of Pangburn; three grandchildren, Wesley and wife Shelly of Alexander, Aaron of Bryant and Alison Alkire of Pangburn; brothers, Hiram “Junior” and wife Roberta of Memphis, Tenn., Ron and wife Fran of Homestead, Fla.; sisters Jamell Short and husband Bill of Conway, Willa Dean Hill and husband Dean of Silafee, Texas; several nieces and nephews and numerous friends and family.
Visitation begins at noon Wednesday at Westbrook Funeral Home, Beebe, with family receiving friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. Thursday at Westbrook Funeral Home, with burial in Antioch Cemetery. Charles Curlie, Travis Hall, Larry Reynolds, Raysel Bradberry, Preston Roberts and Jimmy Rogers will serve as pallbearers. In lieu of flowers, family requests memorials be made to American Heart Association or the American Cancer Society.
JULIUS SMITH
Julius Smith, 81, of Sherwood was born on Jan. 2, 1924, in rural Lonoke County and died March 26.
He was the fourth of 12 children born to Burl and Edith Smith. He served with the 8th Air Force 457th Bomber Group in World War II and flew 29 missions over Germany including D-Day. He was a member of the Eaker Chapter of the Distin-guished Flying Cross Society. Post-war he farmed and worked in sales. He started the Department of Public Safety at UALR in 1969 and retired in 1986. He was a member of Victory Missionary Baptist Church in Sherwood.
He leaves his wife of 61 years, Clara; two sons, Larone and wife Pat of North Little Rock, Danny and wife Ginger of Russellville; three grandsons, Michael Smith and wife Leigh of Fayetteville, Jason Smith and wife Jennifer of Russellville and Brian Smith of Jonesboro; one granddaughter, Kimberly Furhman and husband Chad of Fayetteville; four great-grandsons, Aidan, Isaac and Samuel Smith of Fayetteville and Noah Fuhrman of Fayetteville; four sisters, Lottie Stubbs of Little Rock, Dorothy Dube of Sherwood, Adlee Stratton of Cordova, Tenn., and Sharon Bass of Beebe; four brothers, J. B. Smith of Marianna, Sammy Smith of Ward, Gene Smith and Gary Smith, both of Cabot, and a large extended family.
He was preceded in death by his parents; two brothers, Alvin and Jimmy Smith and one sister, Madge King. Funeral services were held Monday at Victory Missionary Baptist Church in Sherwood, with burial in Butlerville Cemetery.
LOUISE POWELL
Louise (Lucy) Huber Powell, 64, of Austin was born June 18, 1940, at Pine Bluff to the late Edward W. and Margaret L. Huber, and she died March 26 after a courageous battle against lung cancer. Louise was also preceded in death by her husband of 23 years, Bobby W. Powell. She and Bob were members of 16th Section United Methodist Church at Austin. A 1957 graduate of Stuttgart High School, Louise retired from U.S. Postal Service.
She is survived by a son, Paul Christian of Dallas, Texas; two daughters, Wendy Nilsson of Rich-ardson, Texas and Lisa Buckner of Fayetteville; three sisters, Margie Martin of Kyle, Texas, Crystal Hu-ber of North Little Rock and Laura Huber of Maumelle; nine grandchildren; two great-grandchildren and many other relatives and friends. A special thanks to Arkansas Oncology Associates, CARTI, Dr. Sauer and the staff at Hospice Home Care.
Funeral services were Tuesday at 16th Section United Methodist Church at Austin with burial in 16th Section Cemetery by Westbrook Funeral Home, Beebe. Family requests donations be made to Arkansas Children’s Hospital or Beebe Humane Society, 707 Hwy 64 West, Beebe, Ark. 72012.
ESTHER FIELDS
Esther May “Bratcher” Fields, 88 of Jacksonville, passed away on March 26. She was a member of Marshall Road Baptist Church of Jacksonville.
Survivors are five daughters, Linda Hicks of Ohio, Sharon Teel and Betty Roe, both of Hector, and Joyce Mullins and Becky Fields, both of Jacksonville; three sons, Ray Fields of Judsonia, J.R. Fields of North Little Rock, and Billy Fields of Jacksonville; one brother, Mearl Bratcher of Missouri; 25 grandchildren; 38 great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild. Funeral services were held Tuesday at Marshall Road Baptist Church. Burial followed in Shady Grove Cemetery in Bald Knob.
PAULINE FOLEY
Pauline Estelle Robicheaux Foley, 85, of Jacksonville passed away March 25. She was born Sept. 5, 1919 to H.J. Gill and Ressie Dowell. She was a member of First Baptist Church in Gravel Ridge. She loved to collect coins and stamps. She was known for loving to cook and won many awards for her cooking. She is preceded in death by both her husbands, Wilma L. Robicheaux and Joe Foley.
Her sisters, Delores Witcher and Nancy Clark also preceded her in death. She is survived by her son, Leigh Robicheaux; grandchildren, Brandon Robicheaux and Aimee Milligan; great grandchildren Chloe and Cierra; five nieces, Judy Hodges and DeeAnn Davis, Amy Jo Dixon, Michelle O’Donnell and Deanna Harris; a nephew Joe Witcher; and an aunt, Vera Begnaud.
Funeral services were held Tuesday at First Baptist Church of Gravel Ridge. Interment followed at Rest Hills Memorial Park.
Arrangements are by Griffin-Leggett Rest Hills Funeral Home.
SPORTS >> Colleges taking notice
Cabot’s Kim Sitzmann has become one of Arkansas’ premier hoopsters
By Ray Benton
Leader sports editor
The Cabot girls basketball program will have a Division I signee for the second straight year next season. The University of Arkan-sas-Little Rock extended an official scholarship offer to junior Lady Panther forward Kimberly Sitzmann last week.
Sitzmann has visited the campus and the coaching staff, and leans very heavily towards the Lady Trojans, although she’s waiting to see what else comes her way in the future before making a final decision.
“I really think I’d enjoy it there,” Sitzmann said. “They offered me a full scholarship and lots of other great stuff. They are building a new arena and all that fun stuff. Unless something a whole lot better comes along, I could see myself playing there.”
Lady Panther senior Ashley Anderson signed with Arkansas State University at the beginning of the season, and would become a rival of Sitzmann’s if she decides to become a Lady Trojan.
UALR is the only Division I school to extend an offer so far, but since her junior season just ended, it’s still very early in Sitzmann’s recruiting process.
The University of Arkansas, the University of Colorado, Tulsa University and Oral Roberts University have also contacted Sitzmann and shown serious interest in her.
Sitzmann is likely to get more calls in the near future after last week’s trip to Springdale for the Arkansas Athletes Outreach invitational basketball camp.
Sitzmann was one of 73 juniors and sophomores, as well as a couple of freshmen, invited to the camp and each player competed in six games with various teams.
At the end of the six games, an all-star team was selected by coaches and evaluators and Sitzmann was one of the all-stars.
She’ll take her basketball talents on the road this summer to compete with the Arkansas Mavericks’ 16-under AAU team. The Mavericks’ roster looks like a who’s who list of Arkansas girls basketball players.
They get their AAU season underway this weekend, but Sitzmann will also take part in team camps with her high-school team. The Lady Panthers will travel to Indiana for a camp in July.
But basketball is not the only sport at which Sitzmann excels. She is also a star soccer player.
She has already scored nine goals in just five games this spring for the Cabot high school team.
In junior high and ninth grade, Sitzmann thought soccer would be her ticket to college.
She began receiving interest from colleges her freshman year. But after a taste of the competitiveness of high-school basketball, Sitzmann found a new love, which she accredited for changing her focus.
“It was just the love of the game,” Sitzmann said. “I love how competitive it is and how aggressive it can be. I like playing that way and just love playing basketball.”
With straight A’s, a 3.8 GPA, a ACT score of 22 and plans of getting it even higher, Sitzmann has a third way to punch her ticket to college, even without athletics.
Strong-willed, focused and goal-oriented, Sitzmann already knows what course of study she wants to pursue in college.
“First I’m just going to get my basics out of the way while I play, but after that I want to study medicine. I want to major in pharmacy.”
Sitzmann is enrolled in Cabot’s MACH I medical academy to get a head start in the study of medicine and medicinal science. In need of more immediate attention, however, is her immediate future. As the summer and the AAU season progresses, and more coaches see her, more and more offers are likely to come. But Sitzmann doesn’t plan on letting it distract her during her final high-school season.
“I’m going to commit by November,” Sitzmann said. “I want to get all that out of the way and focus on my senior year.”
By Ray Benton
Leader sports editor
The Cabot girls basketball program will have a Division I signee for the second straight year next season. The University of Arkan-sas-Little Rock extended an official scholarship offer to junior Lady Panther forward Kimberly Sitzmann last week.
Sitzmann has visited the campus and the coaching staff, and leans very heavily towards the Lady Trojans, although she’s waiting to see what else comes her way in the future before making a final decision.
“I really think I’d enjoy it there,” Sitzmann said. “They offered me a full scholarship and lots of other great stuff. They are building a new arena and all that fun stuff. Unless something a whole lot better comes along, I could see myself playing there.”
Lady Panther senior Ashley Anderson signed with Arkansas State University at the beginning of the season, and would become a rival of Sitzmann’s if she decides to become a Lady Trojan.
UALR is the only Division I school to extend an offer so far, but since her junior season just ended, it’s still very early in Sitzmann’s recruiting process.
The University of Arkansas, the University of Colorado, Tulsa University and Oral Roberts University have also contacted Sitzmann and shown serious interest in her.
Sitzmann is likely to get more calls in the near future after last week’s trip to Springdale for the Arkansas Athletes Outreach invitational basketball camp.
Sitzmann was one of 73 juniors and sophomores, as well as a couple of freshmen, invited to the camp and each player competed in six games with various teams.
At the end of the six games, an all-star team was selected by coaches and evaluators and Sitzmann was one of the all-stars.
She’ll take her basketball talents on the road this summer to compete with the Arkansas Mavericks’ 16-under AAU team. The Mavericks’ roster looks like a who’s who list of Arkansas girls basketball players.
They get their AAU season underway this weekend, but Sitzmann will also take part in team camps with her high-school team. The Lady Panthers will travel to Indiana for a camp in July.
But basketball is not the only sport at which Sitzmann excels. She is also a star soccer player.
She has already scored nine goals in just five games this spring for the Cabot high school team.
In junior high and ninth grade, Sitzmann thought soccer would be her ticket to college.
She began receiving interest from colleges her freshman year. But after a taste of the competitiveness of high-school basketball, Sitzmann found a new love, which she accredited for changing her focus.
“It was just the love of the game,” Sitzmann said. “I love how competitive it is and how aggressive it can be. I like playing that way and just love playing basketball.”
With straight A’s, a 3.8 GPA, a ACT score of 22 and plans of getting it even higher, Sitzmann has a third way to punch her ticket to college, even without athletics.
Strong-willed, focused and goal-oriented, Sitzmann already knows what course of study she wants to pursue in college.
“First I’m just going to get my basics out of the way while I play, but after that I want to study medicine. I want to major in pharmacy.”
Sitzmann is enrolled in Cabot’s MACH I medical academy to get a head start in the study of medicine and medicinal science. In need of more immediate attention, however, is her immediate future. As the summer and the AAU season progresses, and more coaches see her, more and more offers are likely to come. But Sitzmann doesn’t plan on letting it distract her during her final high-school season.
“I’m going to commit by November,” Sitzmann said. “I want to get all that out of the way and focus on my senior year.”
SPORTS>> Sylvan Hills takes two from Devils
Bears stay atop standings with route of Jacksonville
By Ray Benton
Leader sports editor
First-place Sylvan Hills took advantage of shorthanded and last place Jacksonville in a AAAAA-East doubleheader Tuesday afternoon at the Sherwood sports complex.
The Bears got to play a scheduled road series at home and swept both games from the Red Devils to remain undefeated in conference play. Sylvan Hills won game one 15-5 and prevailed 11-0 in game two.
The double dip was scheduled to take place at Jacksonville on Monday, but weekend rains forced the game to Tuesday. Hickingbotham Field never dried and the decision was made to move it to Sherwood.
Jacksonville also played without four starters, including senior Zach Darr, who is first in Jacksonville’s pitching rotation for game one of doubleheaders.
Tuesday, that duty fell to sophomore Eric Berry, who gave up 10 runs in two-and-a-third innings before leaving the mound.
Sylvan Hills’ bats were hot from beginning to end of game one as the Bears scored in every inning of the run-rule-shortened game two.
Chase Elder, who started in the outfield and left after the third inning to prepare to take the mound in game two, got things rolling in the first inning with a flare single to left field.
Brandon Eller followed with a walk, but Elder was thrown out when pitcher Matt Presson hit into a fielder’s choice. Cody Sanders hit a deep fly to centerfield that was misplayed, allowing both base runners to score on the play.
Presson stepped to the mound in the bottom of the first and sat the Red Devils down in order.
Trey Enis led off the second inning with a single to left field and scored two batters later on a single by Shawn Bybee. Bybee’s single was the first of four straight by Sylvan Hills. Hayden Miller, Elder and Eller provided the next three, with Elder and Eller each picking up an RBI.
Presson grounded out to second base to score the final run of the inning as the Bears took a 5-0 lead after one and a half.
Jacksonville went three up, three down again in the bottom of the second, and Sylvan Hills made it 10-0 in the third.
Baker singled to lead off the inning and the next two batters flew out to centerfield. That paved the way for some two-out Bear longball. Bybee and Miller hit back-to-back doubles, with each gathering an RBI, and Elder and Eller followed with the fireworks. The lefty Elder hit a two-run home run down the right-field line. Eller, who bats right-handed, went opposite field over the fence in right on the next at bat to make it 10-0.
Jacksonville finally got something going offensively when Eller flubbed the throw to first on a grounder by Jeremy Williams. A passed ball and a wild pitch got Williams to third, and freshman Cameron Hood singled to right field to score Williams. Blake Mattison walked and Hood stole third base. Another passed ball allowed Hood to take home and make it 10-2. The rest of the game was mostly played by reserves.
Sylvan Hills scored four runs in the fourth and another in the top of the fifth inning. Jacksonville rallied in the bottom of the fifth and almost closed the margin to within the run-rule limit, but a pop up to shortstop by Jake Ussery ended the rally with the bases loaded.
Chase Elder turned in the best offensive performance of the game, going 3 for 3 with a double, a home run and three RBIs.
Sylvan Hills is now 6-0 in conference play while Jackson-ville falls to 0-6.
Sylvan Hills will take part in the Conway tournament this weekend before coming back to take on Forrest City on April 5. Jacksonville is off until April 5. They play at Mountain Home.
By Ray Benton
Leader sports editor
First-place Sylvan Hills took advantage of shorthanded and last place Jacksonville in a AAAAA-East doubleheader Tuesday afternoon at the Sherwood sports complex.
The Bears got to play a scheduled road series at home and swept both games from the Red Devils to remain undefeated in conference play. Sylvan Hills won game one 15-5 and prevailed 11-0 in game two.
The double dip was scheduled to take place at Jacksonville on Monday, but weekend rains forced the game to Tuesday. Hickingbotham Field never dried and the decision was made to move it to Sherwood.
Jacksonville also played without four starters, including senior Zach Darr, who is first in Jacksonville’s pitching rotation for game one of doubleheaders.
Tuesday, that duty fell to sophomore Eric Berry, who gave up 10 runs in two-and-a-third innings before leaving the mound.
Sylvan Hills’ bats were hot from beginning to end of game one as the Bears scored in every inning of the run-rule-shortened game two.
Chase Elder, who started in the outfield and left after the third inning to prepare to take the mound in game two, got things rolling in the first inning with a flare single to left field.
Brandon Eller followed with a walk, but Elder was thrown out when pitcher Matt Presson hit into a fielder’s choice. Cody Sanders hit a deep fly to centerfield that was misplayed, allowing both base runners to score on the play.
Presson stepped to the mound in the bottom of the first and sat the Red Devils down in order.
Trey Enis led off the second inning with a single to left field and scored two batters later on a single by Shawn Bybee. Bybee’s single was the first of four straight by Sylvan Hills. Hayden Miller, Elder and Eller provided the next three, with Elder and Eller each picking up an RBI.
Presson grounded out to second base to score the final run of the inning as the Bears took a 5-0 lead after one and a half.
Jacksonville went three up, three down again in the bottom of the second, and Sylvan Hills made it 10-0 in the third.
Baker singled to lead off the inning and the next two batters flew out to centerfield. That paved the way for some two-out Bear longball. Bybee and Miller hit back-to-back doubles, with each gathering an RBI, and Elder and Eller followed with the fireworks. The lefty Elder hit a two-run home run down the right-field line. Eller, who bats right-handed, went opposite field over the fence in right on the next at bat to make it 10-0.
Jacksonville finally got something going offensively when Eller flubbed the throw to first on a grounder by Jeremy Williams. A passed ball and a wild pitch got Williams to third, and freshman Cameron Hood singled to right field to score Williams. Blake Mattison walked and Hood stole third base. Another passed ball allowed Hood to take home and make it 10-2. The rest of the game was mostly played by reserves.
Sylvan Hills scored four runs in the fourth and another in the top of the fifth inning. Jacksonville rallied in the bottom of the fifth and almost closed the margin to within the run-rule limit, but a pop up to shortstop by Jake Ussery ended the rally with the bases loaded.
Chase Elder turned in the best offensive performance of the game, going 3 for 3 with a double, a home run and three RBIs.
Sylvan Hills is now 6-0 in conference play while Jackson-ville falls to 0-6.
Sylvan Hills will take part in the Conway tournament this weekend before coming back to take on Forrest City on April 5. Jacksonville is off until April 5. They play at Mountain Home.
EDITORIAL>> Clinton named first in poll
File this for the next presidential election. If your interest is a robust national economy, pay no attention to those who promise to spur the economy by tax cuts for business and the investor class. Modern history suggests that those are not the ones who will deliver.
Forbes, the financial magazine run by Steve Forbes, the conservative wannabe president, produced a formula for measuring the economic success of modern presidents. The magazine plugged in the figures for growth of the gross national product, per-capita income growth, employment gains, reduction in the unemployment rate, inflation reduction and federal-deficit reduction.
Guess who was the greatest economic president in the modern era? It was none other than Arkansas’ own Bill Clinton. He came out well ahead of all the others, owing to phenomenal job numbers, historically low unemployment, the first budget surpluses since 1968 and big gains in per-capita income.
President Lyndon B. Johnson, the last previous president to produce a budget surplus, was second and John F. Kennedy third. Kennedy inherited a recession and produced robust economic growth.
Ronald Reagan? He was fourth. Reagan enjoyed a fast-growing economy in his second term. His first term, which began with big tax cuts for corporations and high-income individuals, was battered by a long and steep recession and double-digit unemployment that followed the tax cuts.
He blamed it on residual effects of the policies of his predecessor, Jimmy Carter.
Forbes credited Carter (1977-81) with the greatest record of job growth in the nation’s history. But Carter’s record was marred by an oil-price spike and other factors that produced record high interest rates.
Forbes didn’t factor President George W. Bush, but unless there is an extraordinary turnaround in the next three years that no economist is now predicting, he will go the bottom, below even the elder Bush.
Arkansas did not do so badly when Bill Clinton was governor either. For a period in the late 1980s and early 1990s, Arkansas was among the leading states in percentage job growth and, amazingly, was one of the few states adding manufacturing jobs.
Liberals are supposed to be bad for the economy and conservatives good for it. Go figure.
Forbes, the financial magazine run by Steve Forbes, the conservative wannabe president, produced a formula for measuring the economic success of modern presidents. The magazine plugged in the figures for growth of the gross national product, per-capita income growth, employment gains, reduction in the unemployment rate, inflation reduction and federal-deficit reduction.
Guess who was the greatest economic president in the modern era? It was none other than Arkansas’ own Bill Clinton. He came out well ahead of all the others, owing to phenomenal job numbers, historically low unemployment, the first budget surpluses since 1968 and big gains in per-capita income.
President Lyndon B. Johnson, the last previous president to produce a budget surplus, was second and John F. Kennedy third. Kennedy inherited a recession and produced robust economic growth.
Ronald Reagan? He was fourth. Reagan enjoyed a fast-growing economy in his second term. His first term, which began with big tax cuts for corporations and high-income individuals, was battered by a long and steep recession and double-digit unemployment that followed the tax cuts.
He blamed it on residual effects of the policies of his predecessor, Jimmy Carter.
Forbes credited Carter (1977-81) with the greatest record of job growth in the nation’s history. But Carter’s record was marred by an oil-price spike and other factors that produced record high interest rates.
Forbes didn’t factor President George W. Bush, but unless there is an extraordinary turnaround in the next three years that no economist is now predicting, he will go the bottom, below even the elder Bush.
Arkansas did not do so badly when Bill Clinton was governor either. For a period in the late 1980s and early 1990s, Arkansas was among the leading states in percentage job growth and, amazingly, was one of the few states adding manufacturing jobs.
Liberals are supposed to be bad for the economy and conservatives good for it. Go figure.
EDITORIAL>> People win, Deltic loses
Intense lobbying by one of Arkansas’ largest industries could not persuade a House committee on Wednesday to approve a bill that would have polluted Lake Maumelle.
Had the bill slipped through the committee, following easy passage in the Senate last month, the utility that provides much of the water for this area would have been barred from keeping developers out of the Lake Maumelle watershed, leading to pollution and reducing the availability of safe drinking water.
Deltic Timber, which poured thousands of dollars into a public-relations campaign that went nowhere, will have a much harder time convincing the courts that it’s in the public interest to build $1 million homes overlooking the lake that taxpayers’ money had developed to provide pure drinking water for central Arkansas. Deltic thinks it should have the right to destroy what took decades to build.
Deltic’s proposed development is the equivalent of allowing a pig farm inside your city limits. The stink and pollution are unbearable at these pig farms, and Deltic’s plan was no less appalling. It’s a good thing the Ledge buried the proposal at least until the next session.
If the committee had turned the bill loose to the House, which would probably have approved the proposal, passage almost certainly would have stopped the court proceedings against the development on the north shore. Now the judge can rule in that condemnation case prohibiting developers from moving into the watershed.
The committee’s burial of the Deltic bill presumably kills the issue for a good while, and we can also presume that CAW commissioner Jane Dickey’s willingness to compromise with Deltic is also dead at the water board, which can now move expeditiously to protect the lake and provide us with more water in the future.
The City, County and Local Affairs Committee, chaired by Rep. Will Bond, D-Jacksonville, preserved some honor for this legislature by rejecting this special-interest grab. Speaker Bill Stovall of Quitman, who helped kill the bill, deserves a special pat on the back, too.
Stovall and Bond, along with nearly the entire committee, fought the good fight that ended as a victory for the people and good government. Central Arkansas Water, the utility that fought Deltic Timber, will, at least for now, preserve the right of eminent domain, allowing it to control development along the lake. The power of eminent domain works for the public good and keeps polluters in check, outfits like Deltic that paint the rosiest of scenarios with no concern for the rest of us.
Rep. Bond, along with most area legislators, came out against Deltic and the polluters.
Speaker Stovall was strong in his opposition since he knows the importance of expanding the supply of fresh water. Stovall’s district is relying on Greers Ferry Lake for the area’s growing water needs, and pollution along any lake jeopardizes the health and welfare of the entire state.
Almost no one else in the legislature outside the Central Arkansas Water area showed any interest in this fight, so Stovall’s brave stance in support of the metropolitan area is especially satisfying. It was also a pleasure to see Sen. Jodie Mahony, D-El Dorado, one of the bill’s sponsors, flee the committee hearing room when he realized his proposal had no chance of getting out of committee.
Mahony, who has had a long and distinguished career, represents the area where Murphy Oil, Deltic’s parent company, is based, but he has lost his credibility in the legislature on account of his slavish devotion to his paymasters.
It was good to see him squirm. The people won this round.
Had the bill slipped through the committee, following easy passage in the Senate last month, the utility that provides much of the water for this area would have been barred from keeping developers out of the Lake Maumelle watershed, leading to pollution and reducing the availability of safe drinking water.
Deltic Timber, which poured thousands of dollars into a public-relations campaign that went nowhere, will have a much harder time convincing the courts that it’s in the public interest to build $1 million homes overlooking the lake that taxpayers’ money had developed to provide pure drinking water for central Arkansas. Deltic thinks it should have the right to destroy what took decades to build.
Deltic’s proposed development is the equivalent of allowing a pig farm inside your city limits. The stink and pollution are unbearable at these pig farms, and Deltic’s plan was no less appalling. It’s a good thing the Ledge buried the proposal at least until the next session.
If the committee had turned the bill loose to the House, which would probably have approved the proposal, passage almost certainly would have stopped the court proceedings against the development on the north shore. Now the judge can rule in that condemnation case prohibiting developers from moving into the watershed.
The committee’s burial of the Deltic bill presumably kills the issue for a good while, and we can also presume that CAW commissioner Jane Dickey’s willingness to compromise with Deltic is also dead at the water board, which can now move expeditiously to protect the lake and provide us with more water in the future.
The City, County and Local Affairs Committee, chaired by Rep. Will Bond, D-Jacksonville, preserved some honor for this legislature by rejecting this special-interest grab. Speaker Bill Stovall of Quitman, who helped kill the bill, deserves a special pat on the back, too.
Stovall and Bond, along with nearly the entire committee, fought the good fight that ended as a victory for the people and good government. Central Arkansas Water, the utility that fought Deltic Timber, will, at least for now, preserve the right of eminent domain, allowing it to control development along the lake. The power of eminent domain works for the public good and keeps polluters in check, outfits like Deltic that paint the rosiest of scenarios with no concern for the rest of us.
Rep. Bond, along with most area legislators, came out against Deltic and the polluters.
Speaker Stovall was strong in his opposition since he knows the importance of expanding the supply of fresh water. Stovall’s district is relying on Greers Ferry Lake for the area’s growing water needs, and pollution along any lake jeopardizes the health and welfare of the entire state.
Almost no one else in the legislature outside the Central Arkansas Water area showed any interest in this fight, so Stovall’s brave stance in support of the metropolitan area is especially satisfying. It was also a pleasure to see Sen. Jodie Mahony, D-El Dorado, one of the bill’s sponsors, flee the committee hearing room when he realized his proposal had no chance of getting out of committee.
Mahony, who has had a long and distinguished career, represents the area where Murphy Oil, Deltic’s parent company, is based, but he has lost his credibility in the legislature on account of his slavish devotion to his paymasters.
It was good to see him squirm. The people won this round.
EDITORIAL>> Stop giveaways to corporations
Another day at the legislature, another batch of special interests are relieved of having to pay taxes that the rest of us bear: One day last week it was Arkansas companies with payrolls greater than $50,000 and millionaires — no, make it billionaires — who want to set up their own private art museum in northwest Arkansas. They’ll get a break on sales or income taxes. It goes on and on, but someday someone is going to have to pick up the slack and pay for the government everyone wants.
We have a few candidates.
We nominate big multistate corporations that decided a few years ago they didn’t want to pay much, if any, taxes anymore on their profits in Arkansas. They’re too big to pay taxes to a rinky-dink place like Arkansas, so their accountants and tax lawyers set it up so they wouldn’t.
State Rep. Phil Jackson of Berryville, a Republican businessman, has introduced a bill (HB 2686) to make them pay once again. He thinks that if it becomes law it would net the state another $30 million a year to pay for schools, highways and all the other needs the legislature has at least recognized. His guess is probably very low.
But that is idle talk. HB 2686 will not become law; Jackson is not apt to even get it out of the House Revenue and Taxation Committee, although he is the chairman. The Arkansas State Chamber of Commerce and other corporate lobbyists will see to it that it doesn’t get a vote in the House.
Two years ago, when Jackson offered the same bill, the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, a multilayered and multistate corporation itself, editorially denounced the bill as the worst of the entire legislative session. We think it may be the best. It certainly is the fairest.
The Council on State Taxation, a trade group of some 570 multistate corporations and their accounting firms and tax lawyers, is out to protect state tax loopholes they created in the 1990s. State chambers do their lobbying on the ground.
Jackson’s bill, which has become law in 17 other states, would require corporations operating in many states to file unitary tax returns. They would have to combine income and losses from all their subsidiaries and the state would tax it proportionately. It is called combined reporting.
Corporations like the major oil companies, General Electric, big multistate banks, SBC Communications and Kmart maneuver their profits from a state like Arkansas to special subsidiaries set up in states that do not have corporate income taxes or else have low tax rates or give companies special treatment.
Oil companies, for example, will have an exploration subsidiary in one state and assess their distribution operations in a state like Arkansas with very high wholesale prices for gasoline. Thus profits in Arkansas are almost nonexistent. All the profits are in the state where they will not be taxed.
Or take the now famous example of the national chain Toys R Us. A Delaware subsidiary owns the rights to the logo with the backward “R” and the trademark giraffe Geoffrey. Operating stores in Arkansas and other states are charged exorbitant royalties for using the logo and the giraffe and thus show few taxable profits. The Delaware subsidiary that owns Geoffrey and the logo has all the profits and pays no state tax. One postoffice box in Delaware may be the tax home of 90 corporations. A small office in Las Vegas or Reno, Nev., may be the tax home of hundreds of companies.
Most of the giant companies compete in some way with Arkansas businesses — independent gasoline stations, clothing stores, hardware stores, grocers — that pay their state income taxes. It is simple fairness that the big boys pay, too. The top rate is 6.5 percent and they get to deduct the state tax from their federal taxes.
Since the early 1990s, when Price Waterhouse and the other big accounting companies began developing these schemes, the state corporate income tax has plummeted as a share of state taxes even while corporate profits have soared. You’ve picked up the slack for them, most recently by another 7/8ths of a percent of sales taxes and a 3 percent income tax surcharge.
Legislators won’t get that message. They’ll hear the chamber lobbyists say that if Jackson’s bill passes it will make Arkansas antibusiness and dry up industrial development. What an outrage. But it works.
We have a few candidates.
We nominate big multistate corporations that decided a few years ago they didn’t want to pay much, if any, taxes anymore on their profits in Arkansas. They’re too big to pay taxes to a rinky-dink place like Arkansas, so their accountants and tax lawyers set it up so they wouldn’t.
State Rep. Phil Jackson of Berryville, a Republican businessman, has introduced a bill (HB 2686) to make them pay once again. He thinks that if it becomes law it would net the state another $30 million a year to pay for schools, highways and all the other needs the legislature has at least recognized. His guess is probably very low.
But that is idle talk. HB 2686 will not become law; Jackson is not apt to even get it out of the House Revenue and Taxation Committee, although he is the chairman. The Arkansas State Chamber of Commerce and other corporate lobbyists will see to it that it doesn’t get a vote in the House.
Two years ago, when Jackson offered the same bill, the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, a multilayered and multistate corporation itself, editorially denounced the bill as the worst of the entire legislative session. We think it may be the best. It certainly is the fairest.
The Council on State Taxation, a trade group of some 570 multistate corporations and their accounting firms and tax lawyers, is out to protect state tax loopholes they created in the 1990s. State chambers do their lobbying on the ground.
Jackson’s bill, which has become law in 17 other states, would require corporations operating in many states to file unitary tax returns. They would have to combine income and losses from all their subsidiaries and the state would tax it proportionately. It is called combined reporting.
Corporations like the major oil companies, General Electric, big multistate banks, SBC Communications and Kmart maneuver their profits from a state like Arkansas to special subsidiaries set up in states that do not have corporate income taxes or else have low tax rates or give companies special treatment.
Oil companies, for example, will have an exploration subsidiary in one state and assess their distribution operations in a state like Arkansas with very high wholesale prices for gasoline. Thus profits in Arkansas are almost nonexistent. All the profits are in the state where they will not be taxed.
Or take the now famous example of the national chain Toys R Us. A Delaware subsidiary owns the rights to the logo with the backward “R” and the trademark giraffe Geoffrey. Operating stores in Arkansas and other states are charged exorbitant royalties for using the logo and the giraffe and thus show few taxable profits. The Delaware subsidiary that owns Geoffrey and the logo has all the profits and pays no state tax. One postoffice box in Delaware may be the tax home of 90 corporations. A small office in Las Vegas or Reno, Nev., may be the tax home of hundreds of companies.
Most of the giant companies compete in some way with Arkansas businesses — independent gasoline stations, clothing stores, hardware stores, grocers — that pay their state income taxes. It is simple fairness that the big boys pay, too. The top rate is 6.5 percent and they get to deduct the state tax from their federal taxes.
Since the early 1990s, when Price Waterhouse and the other big accounting companies began developing these schemes, the state corporate income tax has plummeted as a share of state taxes even while corporate profits have soared. You’ve picked up the slack for them, most recently by another 7/8ths of a percent of sales taxes and a 3 percent income tax surcharge.
Legislators won’t get that message. They’ll hear the chamber lobbyists say that if Jackson’s bill passes it will make Arkansas antibusiness and dry up industrial development. What an outrage. But it works.
NEIGHBORS>> CHS mock Disaster
Drill prepares Cabot medical academy students for crisis
By Sara Greene
Leader staff writer
"Where’s my son? I heard there was an explosion! Where is he?” screamed a hysterical mother.
That was the scene as the Medical Academy at Cabot High-I (MACH-I) conducted two mock disaster drills Friday to help students get a feel for working during a crisis.
MACH-I used White County Medical Center’s Career and Medical Profession (CAMP) program. It is a six-day program requiring five days of classroom training. On the sixth day, the disaster drill allows students to work in tandem with Cabot’s emergency service and medical personnel from White County Medical Center.
Students in MACH-I are already certified in basic first aid, cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and use of automated external defibrillators (AEDs).
“Several years ago we developed this program to get junior high school students interested in the health profession. Our program today is a little more advanced,” said Todd Wolfe, education coordinator at White County Medical Center.
Both disaster drills revolved around a mock explosion in the cafeteria. In the morning exercise, students shadowing the emergency response personnel found 17 “wounded” MACH-I students sprawled among overturned chairs in the cafeteria.
“We had the drama department help us out with the make-up for the injuries, the blood and gore,” said Randy Granderson, assistant principal and MACH-I director.
“We sent out notes with all the students and alerted our local law enforcement. We didn’t want passerbys to panic if they see the injured students and the ambulance. This is important for our students, but they can have fun with it too.”
The injuries included burns, spinal injuries, broken bones, cuts, bruises and shock. The emergency services students inventoried and assessed the wounded. Some of the victims moaned painfully while others giggled, unable to maintain an injured persona. The seriously injured were stabilized and taken by stretcher to the “hospital” in the Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps building. The less injured walked to the hospital.
Student administrators filled out forms and triage students ordered patients to radiology, lab/pharmacy, trauma, surgery or the waiting room. The entire building buzzed with the controlled chaos of an actual emergency room.
Granderson had some surprises in store for students participating in the morning disaster drill.
The trauma students were busy dealing with a seriously wounded patient when a hysterical woman came in screaming for her son.
Some stopped to stare and were encouraged to focus on their jobs by White County Medical Center emergency room staff. Students in hospital administration called codes for security to escort the woman, Mandee Carmical, a biology teacher at Cabot, from the area.
Moments later, Granderson feigned a heart attack and confusion ensued as both triage and trauma teams worked on him while more wounded arrived.
“It’s been fun, especially when Mrs. Carmical came in screaming like that,” said victim No. 10, holding a gauze pad on her facial laceration.
The entire disaster drill lasted about 45 minutes. Afterwards, students peeled off their bandages and wounds to participate in a brief question-and-answer session. The discussion focused on the variety of careers available in healthcare including accounting, administration and lab work.
“We’ve got CAMP copyrighted and we’ve received calls from all over, including California,” said Pam Williams, human resource director at White County Medical Center.
“There aren’t many programs like this. I’m enthusiastic about it. It shows students there’s more to the healthcare profession than just nursing,” she added.
By Sara Greene
Leader staff writer
"Where’s my son? I heard there was an explosion! Where is he?” screamed a hysterical mother.
That was the scene as the Medical Academy at Cabot High-I (MACH-I) conducted two mock disaster drills Friday to help students get a feel for working during a crisis.
MACH-I used White County Medical Center’s Career and Medical Profession (CAMP) program. It is a six-day program requiring five days of classroom training. On the sixth day, the disaster drill allows students to work in tandem with Cabot’s emergency service and medical personnel from White County Medical Center.
Students in MACH-I are already certified in basic first aid, cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and use of automated external defibrillators (AEDs).
“Several years ago we developed this program to get junior high school students interested in the health profession. Our program today is a little more advanced,” said Todd Wolfe, education coordinator at White County Medical Center.
Both disaster drills revolved around a mock explosion in the cafeteria. In the morning exercise, students shadowing the emergency response personnel found 17 “wounded” MACH-I students sprawled among overturned chairs in the cafeteria.
“We had the drama department help us out with the make-up for the injuries, the blood and gore,” said Randy Granderson, assistant principal and MACH-I director.
“We sent out notes with all the students and alerted our local law enforcement. We didn’t want passerbys to panic if they see the injured students and the ambulance. This is important for our students, but they can have fun with it too.”
The injuries included burns, spinal injuries, broken bones, cuts, bruises and shock. The emergency services students inventoried and assessed the wounded. Some of the victims moaned painfully while others giggled, unable to maintain an injured persona. The seriously injured were stabilized and taken by stretcher to the “hospital” in the Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps building. The less injured walked to the hospital.
Student administrators filled out forms and triage students ordered patients to radiology, lab/pharmacy, trauma, surgery or the waiting room. The entire building buzzed with the controlled chaos of an actual emergency room.
Granderson had some surprises in store for students participating in the morning disaster drill.
The trauma students were busy dealing with a seriously wounded patient when a hysterical woman came in screaming for her son.
Some stopped to stare and were encouraged to focus on their jobs by White County Medical Center emergency room staff. Students in hospital administration called codes for security to escort the woman, Mandee Carmical, a biology teacher at Cabot, from the area.
Moments later, Granderson feigned a heart attack and confusion ensued as both triage and trauma teams worked on him while more wounded arrived.
“It’s been fun, especially when Mrs. Carmical came in screaming like that,” said victim No. 10, holding a gauze pad on her facial laceration.
The entire disaster drill lasted about 45 minutes. Afterwards, students peeled off their bandages and wounds to participate in a brief question-and-answer session. The discussion focused on the variety of careers available in healthcare including accounting, administration and lab work.
“We’ve got CAMP copyrighted and we’ve received calls from all over, including California,” said Pam Williams, human resource director at White County Medical Center.
“There aren’t many programs like this. I’m enthusiastic about it. It shows students there’s more to the healthcare profession than just nursing,” she added.
TOP STORY>> Metroplan could decide on overpass
IN SHORT: Cabot has to raise funds to get railroad bridge built early or wait several more years.
By Joan McCoy
Leader staff writer
The board of Metroplan, the agency that distributes federal highway money, meets today in Little Rock and could decide what steps Cabot must take toward construction of a railroad overpass this year.
The proposed Polk Street overpass is touted as the only means of keeping school buses off the railroad tracks and as the first step in a north interchange that would connect Highway 38 to Highway 5.
If the board decides the project will be considered for funding three years ahead of schedule, the city would need to raise about $700,000 for its 20 percent match for the $5 million project before contracts are signed with the state Highway Department, possibly in October.
The city’s alternative to raising the needed cash by fall is to set aside about $230,000 a year for the next three years and build the overpass in 2008, the original construction date. The city has set aside $260,000 since the project started about six years ago. The railroad also has agreed to pay about $75,000 for the actual bridge.
Mayor Stubby Stumbaugh says the overpass is a priority, but the city simply doesn’t have the money and he is opposed to raising taxes to pay for it.
Moving up the construction of the Cabot overpass was discussed during the February Metroplan meeting and since then two prospective candidates for mayor have gone public with their opinions about it.
Former Alderman Eddie Joe Williams, who announced his intention to run for mayor shortly after Stumbaugh took office, says the city should make every effort to build the overpass now. He criticized Stumbaugh during the March council meeting, saying the mayor is prepared to abandon the project over a feud with local developers.
The developers chose to annex into Austin rather than pay for infrastructure required by Cabot. The mayor denies that he used the overpass as leverage to keep Austin from annexing the upscale, 600-home subdivision, but says he believes that if part of the overpass is inside Austin city limits, Austin should pay for part of it.
Darren Waymack, one of the owners of the subdivision, said last week that a section of commercial property separates the residential subdivision from the proposed overpass.
Alderman David Polantz has not announced his candidacy, though Stumbaugh says Polantz intends to run for mayor. Polantz says only that several city residents have told him he should run.
Polantz has called a meeting for Monday of the council’s finance committee to discuss increasing the city millage from 3.5 to 4.5 to pay for the overpass and to build the community center. The center was budgeted at $3.5 million, including $500,000 for the dirt work. But the low bid for construction came in $1.2 million over budget.
Polantz says he wants to take the millage increase and 20-year bonds for the overpass and community center to the voters for approval.
If the millage increase is not approved, the city should save toward building the overpass in 2008 and downsize the community center to fit the $3 million available to build it, he said.
If the millage is approved it would not be collected until 2006. The city could use the $260,000 set aside to build the overpass to make payments until revenue from the increased millage comes in, he said. The increased millage would raise about $160,000 a year, he said.
Once allies, Stumbaugh now criticizes Polantz for making too many demands on city employees’ time and for trying to pass legislation that would diminish his control at city hall.
The mayor said Tuesday that he was aware that Polantz had called a finance committee meeting, but if Metroplan says Cabot might be in the running for project funding this year, he intends to call a meeting of the full council instead for the same time, 7 p.m. Monday.
He wants all eight council members involved in the discussion, he said.
Jim McKenzie, Metroplan executive director, apologized for the uproar that followed the announcement that the overpass could be funded this year.
McKenzie said Tuesday that nothing is certain until the end of August when the federal fiscal year ends. At that time it will be known definitely whether projects in Little Rock that are ahead of Cabot’s will be ready for construction.
If they aren’t, then the Cabot overpass could be next in line because it appears ready to go. The engineering has been completed. The public hearings have been held and the rights-of-way have been acquired at a total cost of about $450,000 with Cabot paying about $90,000.
But McKenzie emphasized that nothing is certain at this point. He said Metroplan staff is constantly monitoring progress on Little Rock projects that have been in the works for a decade and that at this point all he can do is recommend to Cabot to get ready in case those other projects are held up.
“This stuff is so soft, it would be hard to give a hard answer on it,” McKenzie said of the availability of federal funds this year for the Cabot overpass.
By Joan McCoy
Leader staff writer
The board of Metroplan, the agency that distributes federal highway money, meets today in Little Rock and could decide what steps Cabot must take toward construction of a railroad overpass this year.
The proposed Polk Street overpass is touted as the only means of keeping school buses off the railroad tracks and as the first step in a north interchange that would connect Highway 38 to Highway 5.
If the board decides the project will be considered for funding three years ahead of schedule, the city would need to raise about $700,000 for its 20 percent match for the $5 million project before contracts are signed with the state Highway Department, possibly in October.
The city’s alternative to raising the needed cash by fall is to set aside about $230,000 a year for the next three years and build the overpass in 2008, the original construction date. The city has set aside $260,000 since the project started about six years ago. The railroad also has agreed to pay about $75,000 for the actual bridge.
Mayor Stubby Stumbaugh says the overpass is a priority, but the city simply doesn’t have the money and he is opposed to raising taxes to pay for it.
Moving up the construction of the Cabot overpass was discussed during the February Metroplan meeting and since then two prospective candidates for mayor have gone public with their opinions about it.
Former Alderman Eddie Joe Williams, who announced his intention to run for mayor shortly after Stumbaugh took office, says the city should make every effort to build the overpass now. He criticized Stumbaugh during the March council meeting, saying the mayor is prepared to abandon the project over a feud with local developers.
The developers chose to annex into Austin rather than pay for infrastructure required by Cabot. The mayor denies that he used the overpass as leverage to keep Austin from annexing the upscale, 600-home subdivision, but says he believes that if part of the overpass is inside Austin city limits, Austin should pay for part of it.
Darren Waymack, one of the owners of the subdivision, said last week that a section of commercial property separates the residential subdivision from the proposed overpass.
Alderman David Polantz has not announced his candidacy, though Stumbaugh says Polantz intends to run for mayor. Polantz says only that several city residents have told him he should run.
Polantz has called a meeting for Monday of the council’s finance committee to discuss increasing the city millage from 3.5 to 4.5 to pay for the overpass and to build the community center. The center was budgeted at $3.5 million, including $500,000 for the dirt work. But the low bid for construction came in $1.2 million over budget.
Polantz says he wants to take the millage increase and 20-year bonds for the overpass and community center to the voters for approval.
If the millage increase is not approved, the city should save toward building the overpass in 2008 and downsize the community center to fit the $3 million available to build it, he said.
If the millage is approved it would not be collected until 2006. The city could use the $260,000 set aside to build the overpass to make payments until revenue from the increased millage comes in, he said. The increased millage would raise about $160,000 a year, he said.
Once allies, Stumbaugh now criticizes Polantz for making too many demands on city employees’ time and for trying to pass legislation that would diminish his control at city hall.
The mayor said Tuesday that he was aware that Polantz had called a finance committee meeting, but if Metroplan says Cabot might be in the running for project funding this year, he intends to call a meeting of the full council instead for the same time, 7 p.m. Monday.
He wants all eight council members involved in the discussion, he said.
Jim McKenzie, Metroplan executive director, apologized for the uproar that followed the announcement that the overpass could be funded this year.
McKenzie said Tuesday that nothing is certain until the end of August when the federal fiscal year ends. At that time it will be known definitely whether projects in Little Rock that are ahead of Cabot’s will be ready for construction.
If they aren’t, then the Cabot overpass could be next in line because it appears ready to go. The engineering has been completed. The public hearings have been held and the rights-of-way have been acquired at a total cost of about $450,000 with Cabot paying about $90,000.
But McKenzie emphasized that nothing is certain at this point. He said Metroplan staff is constantly monitoring progress on Little Rock projects that have been in the works for a decade and that at this point all he can do is recommend to Cabot to get ready in case those other projects are held up.
“This stuff is so soft, it would be hard to give a hard answer on it,” McKenzie said of the availability of federal funds this year for the Cabot overpass.
TOP STORY>> Metroplan could decide on overpass
IN SHORT: Cabot has to raise funds to get railroad bridge built early or wait several more years.
By Joan McCoy
Leader staff writer
The board of Metroplan, the agency that distributes federal highway money, meets today in Little Rock and could decide what steps Cabot must take toward construction of a railroad overpass this year.
The proposed Polk Street overpass is touted as the only means of keeping school buses off the railroad tracks and as the first step in a north interchange that would connect Highway 38 to Highway 5.
If the board decides the project will be considered for funding three years ahead of schedule, the city would need to raise about $700,000 for its 20 percent match for the $5 million project before contracts are signed with the state Highway Department, possibly in October.
The city’s alternative to raising the needed cash by fall is to set aside about $230,000 a year for the next three years and build the overpass in 2008, the original construction date. The city has set aside $260,000 since the project started about six years ago. The railroad also has agreed to pay about $75,000 for the actual bridge.
Mayor Stubby Stumbaugh says the overpass is a priority, but the city simply doesn’t have the money and he is opposed to raising taxes to pay for it.
Moving up the construction of the Cabot overpass was discussed during the February Metroplan meeting and since then two prospective candidates for mayor have gone public with their opinions about it.
Former Alderman Eddie Joe Williams, who announced his intention to run for mayor shortly after Stumbaugh took office, says the city should make every effort to build the overpass now. He criticized Stumbaugh during the March council meeting, saying the mayor is prepared to abandon the project over a feud with local developers.
The developers chose to annex into Austin rather than pay for infrastructure required by Cabot. The mayor denies that he used the overpass as leverage to keep Austin from annexing the upscale, 600-home subdivision, but says he believes that if part of the overpass is inside Austin city limits, Austin should pay for part of it.
Darren Waymack, one of the owners of the subdivision, said last week that a section of commercial property separates the residential subdivision from the proposed overpass.
Alderman David Polantz has not announced his candidacy, though Stumbaugh says Polantz intends to run for mayor. Polantz says only that several city residents have told him he should run.
Polantz has called a meeting for Monday of the council’s finance committee to discuss increasing the city millage from 3.5 to 4.5 to pay for the overpass and to build the community center. The center was budgeted at $3.5 million, including $500,000 for the dirt work. But the low bid for construction came in $1.2 million over budget.
Polantz says he wants to take the millage increase and 20-year bonds for the overpass and community center to the voters for approval.
If the millage increase is not approved, the city should save toward building the overpass in 2008 and downsize the community center to fit the $3 million available to build it, he said.
If the millage is approved it would not be collected until 2006. The city could use the $260,000 set aside to build the overpass to make payments until revenue from the increased millage comes in, he said. The increased millage would raise about $160,000 a year, he said.
Once allies, Stumbaugh now criticizes Polantz for making too many demands on city employees’ time and for trying to pass legislation that would diminish his control at city hall.
The mayor said Tuesday that he was aware that Polantz had called a finance committee meeting, but if Metroplan says Cabot might be in the running for project funding this year, he intends to call a meeting of the full council instead for the same time, 7 p.m. Monday.
He wants all eight council members involved in the discussion, he said.
Jim McKenzie, Metroplan executive director, apologized for the uproar that followed the announcement that the overpass could be funded this year.
McKenzie said Tuesday that nothing is certain until the end of August when the federal fiscal year ends. At that time it will be known definitely whether projects in Little Rock that are ahead of Cabot’s will be ready for construction.
If they aren’t, then the Cabot overpass could be next in line because it appears ready to go. The engineering has been completed. The public hearings have been held and the rights-of-way have been acquired at a total cost of about $450,000 with Cabot paying about $90,000.
But McKenzie emphasized that nothing is certain at this point. He said Metroplan staff is constantly monitoring progress on Little Rock projects that have been in the works for a decade and that at this point all he can do is recommend to Cabot to get ready in case those other projects are held up.
“This stuff is so soft, it would be hard to give a hard answer on it,” McKenzie said of the availability of federal funds this year for the Cabot overpass.
By Joan McCoy
Leader staff writer
The board of Metroplan, the agency that distributes federal highway money, meets today in Little Rock and could decide what steps Cabot must take toward construction of a railroad overpass this year.
The proposed Polk Street overpass is touted as the only means of keeping school buses off the railroad tracks and as the first step in a north interchange that would connect Highway 38 to Highway 5.
If the board decides the project will be considered for funding three years ahead of schedule, the city would need to raise about $700,000 for its 20 percent match for the $5 million project before contracts are signed with the state Highway Department, possibly in October.
The city’s alternative to raising the needed cash by fall is to set aside about $230,000 a year for the next three years and build the overpass in 2008, the original construction date. The city has set aside $260,000 since the project started about six years ago. The railroad also has agreed to pay about $75,000 for the actual bridge.
Mayor Stubby Stumbaugh says the overpass is a priority, but the city simply doesn’t have the money and he is opposed to raising taxes to pay for it.
Moving up the construction of the Cabot overpass was discussed during the February Metroplan meeting and since then two prospective candidates for mayor have gone public with their opinions about it.
Former Alderman Eddie Joe Williams, who announced his intention to run for mayor shortly after Stumbaugh took office, says the city should make every effort to build the overpass now. He criticized Stumbaugh during the March council meeting, saying the mayor is prepared to abandon the project over a feud with local developers.
The developers chose to annex into Austin rather than pay for infrastructure required by Cabot. The mayor denies that he used the overpass as leverage to keep Austin from annexing the upscale, 600-home subdivision, but says he believes that if part of the overpass is inside Austin city limits, Austin should pay for part of it.
Darren Waymack, one of the owners of the subdivision, said last week that a section of commercial property separates the residential subdivision from the proposed overpass.
Alderman David Polantz has not announced his candidacy, though Stumbaugh says Polantz intends to run for mayor. Polantz says only that several city residents have told him he should run.
Polantz has called a meeting for Monday of the council’s finance committee to discuss increasing the city millage from 3.5 to 4.5 to pay for the overpass and to build the community center. The center was budgeted at $3.5 million, including $500,000 for the dirt work. But the low bid for construction came in $1.2 million over budget.
Polantz says he wants to take the millage increase and 20-year bonds for the overpass and community center to the voters for approval.
If the millage increase is not approved, the city should save toward building the overpass in 2008 and downsize the community center to fit the $3 million available to build it, he said.
If the millage is approved it would not be collected until 2006. The city could use the $260,000 set aside to build the overpass to make payments until revenue from the increased millage comes in, he said. The increased millage would raise about $160,000 a year, he said.
Once allies, Stumbaugh now criticizes Polantz for making too many demands on city employees’ time and for trying to pass legislation that would diminish his control at city hall.
The mayor said Tuesday that he was aware that Polantz had called a finance committee meeting, but if Metroplan says Cabot might be in the running for project funding this year, he intends to call a meeting of the full council instead for the same time, 7 p.m. Monday.
He wants all eight council members involved in the discussion, he said.
Jim McKenzie, Metroplan executive director, apologized for the uproar that followed the announcement that the overpass could be funded this year.
McKenzie said Tuesday that nothing is certain until the end of August when the federal fiscal year ends. At that time it will be known definitely whether projects in Little Rock that are ahead of Cabot’s will be ready for construction.
If they aren’t, then the Cabot overpass could be next in line because it appears ready to go. The engineering has been completed. The public hearings have been held and the rights-of-way have been acquired at a total cost of about $450,000 with Cabot paying about $90,000.
But McKenzie emphasized that nothing is certain at this point. He said Metroplan staff is constantly monitoring progress on Little Rock projects that have been in the works for a decade and that at this point all he can do is recommend to Cabot to get ready in case those other projects are held up.
“This stuff is so soft, it would be hard to give a hard answer on it,” McKenzie said of the availability of federal funds this year for the Cabot overpass.
TOP STORY >> Cabot is seeking more for schools
IN SHORT: Proposed funding plan would mean an $800,000 cut, but Beebe would get more.
increase.
By Sara Greene
Leader staff writer
Cabot School Superintendent Frank Holman is appealing to district residents to call legislators and ask them to vote against House Bills 2508 and 2509 and companion Senate Bill 970, which would reduce funding for Cabot Schools.
Holman said the facilities funding formula in the bills will take away $800,000 from Cabot Public Schools.
In a mass e-mail sent Monday from the Cabot Chamber of Commerce, Holman urged residents to call state Reps. Susan Shulte, Lenville Evans and state Sen. Bobby Glover to stop the bills from passing.
The current facilities funding formula uses a wealth-index to determine how much the state would distribute to the districts.
“This is a political method of redistributing facilities funding to powerful legislator’s districts without consideration of equity, adequacy and fairness. We will definitely be back to the Supreme Court as a result of these bills passing,” Holman said in the e-mail.
“I can’t support that bill,” said Sen. Glover. “The sponsors of those bills have turned the tables on schools like Cabot and Alma. The bill takes money away from poorer schools.”
“There’s been talk of a lawsuit if they pass the bill because what is in that bill now is not what the federal government instructed our state to do. All the calls I’ve received about this funding formula have been negative,” Glover said.
Holman is asking Glover to propose an impact study of all the districts in Arkansas to see how the bills would affect current and future debt payments.
But Beebe Public Schools would benefit from the bills being considered, but officials don’t how much yet.
“We would actually gain from the current bills and we’re among some of the poorest districts in the state,” said Belinda Shook, assistant superintendent at Beebe Public Schools who will become superintendent in July.
increase.
By Sara Greene
Leader staff writer
Cabot School Superintendent Frank Holman is appealing to district residents to call legislators and ask them to vote against House Bills 2508 and 2509 and companion Senate Bill 970, which would reduce funding for Cabot Schools.
Holman said the facilities funding formula in the bills will take away $800,000 from Cabot Public Schools.
In a mass e-mail sent Monday from the Cabot Chamber of Commerce, Holman urged residents to call state Reps. Susan Shulte, Lenville Evans and state Sen. Bobby Glover to stop the bills from passing.
The current facilities funding formula uses a wealth-index to determine how much the state would distribute to the districts.
“This is a political method of redistributing facilities funding to powerful legislator’s districts without consideration of equity, adequacy and fairness. We will definitely be back to the Supreme Court as a result of these bills passing,” Holman said in the e-mail.
“I can’t support that bill,” said Sen. Glover. “The sponsors of those bills have turned the tables on schools like Cabot and Alma. The bill takes money away from poorer schools.”
“There’s been talk of a lawsuit if they pass the bill because what is in that bill now is not what the federal government instructed our state to do. All the calls I’ve received about this funding formula have been negative,” Glover said.
Holman is asking Glover to propose an impact study of all the districts in Arkansas to see how the bills would affect current and future debt payments.
But Beebe Public Schools would benefit from the bills being considered, but officials don’t how much yet.
“We would actually gain from the current bills and we’re among some of the poorest districts in the state,” said Belinda Shook, assistant superintendent at Beebe Public Schools who will become superintendent in July.
TOP STORY>> Soldiers glad to leave war zone in Iraq
By SARA GREENE
Leader staff writer
LIFE “OVER THERE”
Most of the soldiers returning from Iraq talk about the sand, but Spc. Hudson Hendricks remembers the water.
His living quarters were in a basement of a guardhouse at one of Uday Hussein’s abandoned palaces near the Tigress River. It flooded five times during Hendricks’ year-long tour. At one point, the floor had six inches of standing water in it for over a week.
“It was in pretty bad shape. We spent a lot of money to fix it up,” he said.
Hendricks arrived back in Searcy on Saturday, after a week of debriefing at Fort Sill, Okla.
Hendricks is a member of the 39th Infantry Brigade and was stationed with 120 soldiers at Fort Apache in the Al-Adhamiya district of old Bahgdad. Their mission was daily peacekeeping patrols in the area.
“There was a little while I didn’t really expect to come home. There’d be rumors that we’d be extended and the rumors would really drive you crazy. You had to not listen because very few of them were ever true,” Hendricks said.
Despite the flooding problems with his quarters, the sand still found its way into everything. He said when soldiers finished with their electronic games, CD and DVD players, they wrapped them up in towels to save them from the ubiquitous sand.
Like many other members of the 39th, Hendricks missed his American diet. Some of the older and larger camps in Iraq have post exchanges and fast-food outlets. There’s a Burger King at Camp Taji, where many members of the 39th were stationed.
Hendricks and the others at Fort Apache lived off Meals Ready to Eat (MREs) for more than two months. Eventually they were able to coordinate traveling to a neighboring military post 20 minutes away to bring back one hot meal a day.
A local vendor was allowed to sell the soldiers of Fort Apache snacks and drinks.
“Ali sold us sodas, but no Dr. Pepper whatsoever, and chips nobody had ever heard of. When we were leaving and I got to the chow hall in Kuwait, I ate pancakes everyday, I missed them and I missed McDonald’s,” he said.
Hendricks was an apprentice brick mason when he left for Iraq. Now he plans to go to college at either University of Central Arkansas in Conway or Arkansas State University in Jonesboro.
“Being back hasn’t really sunk in yet. When I drive, I have to remind myself to not drive down the middle of the road like we do over there,” he said.
ARRIVING HOME
Hog calls and Razorback-style welcomes have greeted the Arkansas troops arriving at Fort Sill.
When the group of 39th Infantry Brigade soldiers marched onto the floor of the Rinehart Physical Fitness Center at Fort Sill over two weeks ago, they were met with a roaring welcome from family and friends in the bleachers.
“It was the same reaction you get at a Razorback football game when the team takes the field. It was quite an emotional event,” said Steve Teague of Jacksonville.
Teague and his wife, Vicki, drove to Fort Sill to welcome home their son SSgt. Chris Teague, among the first group of returning soldiers from the 39th Infantry Brigade. Vicki Teague’s parents, Jack and Pat Boyd and Ray and Betty Pennington, also made the trip, eager to see their grandson.
“It was very emotional to see him. He had grown a moustache and it made him look older, more mature,” Steve Teague said. “We got to see him quite a bit of the total seven days he was there and we went out to eat a lot.”
During the days when SSgt. Teague was busy, his family toured the military museum at Fort Sill and went sightseeing locally. They also waited while he caught up on sleep and visited with fellow soldiers.
“The bond between soldiers is strong, they really become buddies. In my opinion those soldiers probably ran on adrenaline for the past year working 12-14 hour days,” said his father.
Teague’s grandparents June and Larry Bonham were among family members eagerly waiting when the Teagues brought Chris back to Jacksonville the following week.
“The weather was just too rainy for a party, so I told him and his cousin I’ll take them all over to Western Sizzlin to eat out for steak night,” June Bonham said.
STILL WAITING
Most soldiers stay at Fort Sill a week for debriefing, but some soldiers, like Sgt. Michelle Franks of Jacksonville, have stayed longer in Fort Sill for additional training and briefings.
“She’s still there. She had to go to some extra classes, but she’ll be home about April 7,” said Michael Franks.
Michael Franks traveled to Fort Sill to see his wife when she arrived there with the first group of soldiers. Sgt. Franks is a medic with the 39th Infantry Brigade and was stationed at Camp Taji.
Leader staff writer
LIFE “OVER THERE”
Most of the soldiers returning from Iraq talk about the sand, but Spc. Hudson Hendricks remembers the water.
His living quarters were in a basement of a guardhouse at one of Uday Hussein’s abandoned palaces near the Tigress River. It flooded five times during Hendricks’ year-long tour. At one point, the floor had six inches of standing water in it for over a week.
“It was in pretty bad shape. We spent a lot of money to fix it up,” he said.
Hendricks arrived back in Searcy on Saturday, after a week of debriefing at Fort Sill, Okla.
Hendricks is a member of the 39th Infantry Brigade and was stationed with 120 soldiers at Fort Apache in the Al-Adhamiya district of old Bahgdad. Their mission was daily peacekeeping patrols in the area.
“There was a little while I didn’t really expect to come home. There’d be rumors that we’d be extended and the rumors would really drive you crazy. You had to not listen because very few of them were ever true,” Hendricks said.
Despite the flooding problems with his quarters, the sand still found its way into everything. He said when soldiers finished with their electronic games, CD and DVD players, they wrapped them up in towels to save them from the ubiquitous sand.
Like many other members of the 39th, Hendricks missed his American diet. Some of the older and larger camps in Iraq have post exchanges and fast-food outlets. There’s a Burger King at Camp Taji, where many members of the 39th were stationed.
Hendricks and the others at Fort Apache lived off Meals Ready to Eat (MREs) for more than two months. Eventually they were able to coordinate traveling to a neighboring military post 20 minutes away to bring back one hot meal a day.
A local vendor was allowed to sell the soldiers of Fort Apache snacks and drinks.
“Ali sold us sodas, but no Dr. Pepper whatsoever, and chips nobody had ever heard of. When we were leaving and I got to the chow hall in Kuwait, I ate pancakes everyday, I missed them and I missed McDonald’s,” he said.
Hendricks was an apprentice brick mason when he left for Iraq. Now he plans to go to college at either University of Central Arkansas in Conway or Arkansas State University in Jonesboro.
“Being back hasn’t really sunk in yet. When I drive, I have to remind myself to not drive down the middle of the road like we do over there,” he said.
ARRIVING HOME
Hog calls and Razorback-style welcomes have greeted the Arkansas troops arriving at Fort Sill.
When the group of 39th Infantry Brigade soldiers marched onto the floor of the Rinehart Physical Fitness Center at Fort Sill over two weeks ago, they were met with a roaring welcome from family and friends in the bleachers.
“It was the same reaction you get at a Razorback football game when the team takes the field. It was quite an emotional event,” said Steve Teague of Jacksonville.
Teague and his wife, Vicki, drove to Fort Sill to welcome home their son SSgt. Chris Teague, among the first group of returning soldiers from the 39th Infantry Brigade. Vicki Teague’s parents, Jack and Pat Boyd and Ray and Betty Pennington, also made the trip, eager to see their grandson.
“It was very emotional to see him. He had grown a moustache and it made him look older, more mature,” Steve Teague said. “We got to see him quite a bit of the total seven days he was there and we went out to eat a lot.”
During the days when SSgt. Teague was busy, his family toured the military museum at Fort Sill and went sightseeing locally. They also waited while he caught up on sleep and visited with fellow soldiers.
“The bond between soldiers is strong, they really become buddies. In my opinion those soldiers probably ran on adrenaline for the past year working 12-14 hour days,” said his father.
Teague’s grandparents June and Larry Bonham were among family members eagerly waiting when the Teagues brought Chris back to Jacksonville the following week.
“The weather was just too rainy for a party, so I told him and his cousin I’ll take them all over to Western Sizzlin to eat out for steak night,” June Bonham said.
STILL WAITING
Most soldiers stay at Fort Sill a week for debriefing, but some soldiers, like Sgt. Michelle Franks of Jacksonville, have stayed longer in Fort Sill for additional training and briefings.
“She’s still there. She had to go to some extra classes, but she’ll be home about April 7,” said Michael Franks.
Michael Franks traveled to Fort Sill to see his wife when she arrived there with the first group of soldiers. Sgt. Franks is a medic with the 39th Infantry Brigade and was stationed at Camp Taji.
TOP STORY >> General to fly new C-130J to air base
IN SHORT: Despite defense cuts, LRAFB will get its second new plane, with more scheduled for May, June, October, November and December.
By John Hofheimer
Leader staff writer
With Lt. Gen. John R. Baker, vice commander of the Air Mobility Command, at the stick, Little Rock Air Force Base’s second C-130J should touch down on Tuesday, with five more to follow before the end of the year, according to 2nd Lt. Jon Quinlan.
Additional planes are scheduled to arrive in May, June, October, November and December, he said.
Currently the base has one J-model of its own and two on loan from reserve units.
The U.S. military already has received 50 of the 117 planes in the original order with Lockheed- Martin, but the proposed Pentagon budget would pull the plug on most of the rest, diverting about $5 billion in alleged savings to the Army, according to Cong. Vic Snyder.
Published reports put the cost of each plane between $63 million and $83 million
The Defense Department submitted a 2006 budget that phased out C-130J purchases, but the fleet of C-130s is aging without a suitable substitute in sight. Thirty of the older planes were grounded last month and another 60 were put on restricted duty.
Adding to the uncertainty, the Defense Department this week took over major acquisition responsibilities—temporarily, it said—from the Air Force.
Neither Snyder, D-Little Rock, nor Sen. Mark Pryor, D-Little Rock, would speculate what effect that change would have upon the C-130J acquisition program.
The Defense Department has scrutinized Air Force acquisitions since procurement chief Darleen A. Druyan showed Boeing favoritism, then took a job with the defense contractor. Air Force Secretary James G. Roche and acquisitions chief Marvin R. Sambur resigned over a rigged Boeing air tanker contract last year.
Then Undersecretary Peter B. Teets—the acting secretary—retired last week.
Asked if this were a power grab by the Defense Department or a way to derail Air Force acquisitions the Pentagon didn’t like, a spokes-man for Pryor said that was one of several possibilities.
“One (reason) could very well be their dislike of some of these programs,” said Rodell Mollineau, a Pryor spokesman. “Another is (that the takeover is) a response to the way the Air Force handled the Boeing tanker incident.”
“The Air Force is without several of its top civilian leaders, and oversight has to come from somewhere,” he added.
“At this point, we take the Department of Defense at its word when they say this is a temporary takeover, and we urge the president to nominate a new secretary of the Air Force quickly so that the Air Force may resume its acquistion oversight role,” Mollineau said.
Snyder said he didn’t know why the Defense Department took the step. But he doesn’t think it bodes ill for the C-130J.
“I’m very optimistic that it’s going to be retained," said Snyder. “Secretary (Donald) Rumsfeld has said very clearly that he’s revisiting the decision to cut the program.”
Snyder said several top Air Force generals had made very strong statements about the C-130J. They’ve apparently been given more the latitude to keep the plane.
“I’m confident that the J is an important part of the future of moving people and materials in the wars of the future,” Snyder said.
The Department of Defense announced March 25 “that to ensure continuity of program oversight during this time of transition with a new acting secretary of the Air Force, Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technolo-gy and Logistics Michael Wynne has designated all major defense acquisition programs managed by the Air Force and designated ACAT (acquisition category) 1C programs to temporarily be placed under his authority.”
Wynne will work with acting Secretary of the Air Force Michael L. Dominguez until oversight of these programs is returned to the Air Force.
Initial concern that a freeze on a new C-130J simulator for Little Rock Air Force Base foreshadowed the end of the program has eased with the knowledge that all unawarded construction contracts throughout the military apparently have been put on hold until the next round of base closings is completed, according to Snyder.
He said it was reasonable to stop spending for construction on bases until Congress decides which bases will be closed this year.
By John Hofheimer
Leader staff writer
With Lt. Gen. John R. Baker, vice commander of the Air Mobility Command, at the stick, Little Rock Air Force Base’s second C-130J should touch down on Tuesday, with five more to follow before the end of the year, according to 2nd Lt. Jon Quinlan.
Additional planes are scheduled to arrive in May, June, October, November and December, he said.
Currently the base has one J-model of its own and two on loan from reserve units.
The U.S. military already has received 50 of the 117 planes in the original order with Lockheed- Martin, but the proposed Pentagon budget would pull the plug on most of the rest, diverting about $5 billion in alleged savings to the Army, according to Cong. Vic Snyder.
Published reports put the cost of each plane between $63 million and $83 million
The Defense Department submitted a 2006 budget that phased out C-130J purchases, but the fleet of C-130s is aging without a suitable substitute in sight. Thirty of the older planes were grounded last month and another 60 were put on restricted duty.
Adding to the uncertainty, the Defense Department this week took over major acquisition responsibilities—temporarily, it said—from the Air Force.
Neither Snyder, D-Little Rock, nor Sen. Mark Pryor, D-Little Rock, would speculate what effect that change would have upon the C-130J acquisition program.
The Defense Department has scrutinized Air Force acquisitions since procurement chief Darleen A. Druyan showed Boeing favoritism, then took a job with the defense contractor. Air Force Secretary James G. Roche and acquisitions chief Marvin R. Sambur resigned over a rigged Boeing air tanker contract last year.
Then Undersecretary Peter B. Teets—the acting secretary—retired last week.
Asked if this were a power grab by the Defense Department or a way to derail Air Force acquisitions the Pentagon didn’t like, a spokes-man for Pryor said that was one of several possibilities.
“One (reason) could very well be their dislike of some of these programs,” said Rodell Mollineau, a Pryor spokesman. “Another is (that the takeover is) a response to the way the Air Force handled the Boeing tanker incident.”
“The Air Force is without several of its top civilian leaders, and oversight has to come from somewhere,” he added.
“At this point, we take the Department of Defense at its word when they say this is a temporary takeover, and we urge the president to nominate a new secretary of the Air Force quickly so that the Air Force may resume its acquistion oversight role,” Mollineau said.
Snyder said he didn’t know why the Defense Department took the step. But he doesn’t think it bodes ill for the C-130J.
“I’m very optimistic that it’s going to be retained," said Snyder. “Secretary (Donald) Rumsfeld has said very clearly that he’s revisiting the decision to cut the program.”
Snyder said several top Air Force generals had made very strong statements about the C-130J. They’ve apparently been given more the latitude to keep the plane.
“I’m confident that the J is an important part of the future of moving people and materials in the wars of the future,” Snyder said.
The Department of Defense announced March 25 “that to ensure continuity of program oversight during this time of transition with a new acting secretary of the Air Force, Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technolo-gy and Logistics Michael Wynne has designated all major defense acquisition programs managed by the Air Force and designated ACAT (acquisition category) 1C programs to temporarily be placed under his authority.”
Wynne will work with acting Secretary of the Air Force Michael L. Dominguez until oversight of these programs is returned to the Air Force.
Initial concern that a freeze on a new C-130J simulator for Little Rock Air Force Base foreshadowed the end of the program has eased with the knowledge that all unawarded construction contracts throughout the military apparently have been put on hold until the next round of base closings is completed, according to Snyder.
He said it was reasonable to stop spending for construction on bases until Congress decides which bases will be closed this year.
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