Robert Bilbo Walker was performing New Year’s Eve at Sarah’s Kitchen, a small eatery in Clarksdale, Miss., playing many of his songs from his old Rooster Blues CDs, “Promised Land” and “Rock the Night: Live in Chicago.”
Wearing a wig and white tuxedo, the 70-year-old Walker is a showman who sounds a lot like Chuck Berry (Walker even does a duck walk). Walker is a fine guitar player and singer and mixes several musical styles into his repertoire: Fifties rock-and-roll he listened to on the radio, country blues he heard growing up in the Delta (he was born on a plantation outside Clarksdale), as well as urban blues he picked up in Chicago and country music he’s heard in Bakersfield, Calif., where he’s lived and worked most of his life.
“Promised Land” and “Rock the Night” were produced by Living Blues founder and impresario Jim O’Neal, and they capture the gritty music and spontaneity of juke-joint blues: It’s not slick or flashy blues, but it’s genuine and honest and never boring.
You could listen to Robert Walker all day and not get tired of him. (You might also want to check out another one of his CDs, “Rompin’ and Stompin’” from Fedora.)
Rooster Blues is still my son’s favorite record label (and mine too, come to think of it), which issued some 30 records that are all excellent and a joy to listen to.
Quite an achievement for a small label that is no more, although O’Neal has a new label, Stackhouse Records, which we reviewed last week.
When you listen to a Rooster CD, you get the real blues with a terrific sound that O’Neal creates in the studio or sometimes in a club. Rooster Blues recorded many of the greatest blues musicians of the last 25 years, from the late Larry Davis of Lonoke County to Lonnie Shields, formerly of Helena and now living in Philadelphia; from harmonica wizard Willie Cobbs (who wrote “You Don’t Love Me”) and who still lives in Monroe County) to Willie King, an Alabama bluesman who may be O’Neal’s greatest find.
England native Larry Davis’ “Funny Stuff” was produced by St. Louis musician Oliver Sain, who plays saxophone and organ on the CD, which is on at least one list of all-time great blues records — it’s that good.
Johnnie Johnson, Chuck Berry’s pianist, also appears on “Funny Stuff,” with Davis’ guitar playing and gritty singing dominating the proceedings.
O’Neal usually writes his own liner notes, which are the best in the business. He’s the Whitney Balliett of blues criticism. (Jazz critic Balliett, who treated musicians with the same respect O’Neal does, passed away recently.)
Rooster Blues covers are striking and the liner notes attractively laid out: The cover of Willie King’s “Living in a New World” (pictured here) is one of our favorites: It captures the music, which is best when played in a small juke joint, the dancers gathering around musicians who wear street clothes just like King does in his old knit shirt and baseball cap and jeans and sneakers.
When we asked O’Neal about his favorite Rooster Blues CD (which is like asking a parent about his favorite child), he said Willie King’s “Freedom Creek,” his debut CD that won a Handy Award for record of the year, would be on top of his list.
“I felt that the first Willie King album was the most important one, the one I was glad to have recorded if I had done nothing else,” O’Neal told us.
“But I usually felt that there was something important about each album,” he continued. “It was easier to maintain that sense by continually recording new artists rather than do the proper businesslike thing and record several albums apiece by a few artists, develop the name recognition . . . but I just wasn’t into that. I would just let them go on to another label if they felt I wasn’t keeping up with what they needed to do.”
O’Neal would make one or two records with his musicians, and they’d move on, but each record was carefully planned and executed, so obscure musicians like Roosevelt (Booba) Barnes, who made one CD called “The Heartbroken Man,” is a modern masterpiece.
Besides Larry Davis, Rooster recorded other Arkansas musicians, including Willie Cobbs’ “Down to Earth” and Lonnie Shields’ “Midnight Delight and “Portrait.” Terrific music.
There were a whole slew of other Rooster artists, most of them transplanted southerners living up North: Big Daddy Kinsey and Kinsey Report’s “Bad Situation,” D.C. Bellamy’s “Water to Wine,” Lady Bianca’s “Rollin’,” Eddie C. Campbell’s “Hopes and Dreams,” Otis Clay’s “Soul Man: Live in Japan” on a double LP.
Also Eddie Clearwater and Otis Rush’s “Filmdoozie,” Magic Slim’s “Grand Slam,” Lonnie Pitchford’s “All Around Man” (where he plays the didley bow, a single-string guitar), Philadelphia Jerry Ricks’ “Many Miles of Blues,” Eddie Shaw’s “In the Land of the Crossroads,” Valerie Wellington’s “Million Dollar Secret” and Arthur Williams’ “Midnight Blue.”
Although they’ve left the South (Big Daddy Kinsey is no longer alive), Super Chicken, who recorded “Blues Come Home to Roost,” which is his best CD, still lives in Clarksdale, while Johnny Rawls, who made “Can’t Sleep at Night” with L.C. Luckett, lives in Memphis. An all-star lineup.
Rooster also issued “And This Is Maxwell Street,” a three-CD box set of live recordings of blues musicians playing for tips in a Chicago neighborhood in 1964, including Helena’s Robert Nighthawk, whose son, the drummer Sam Carr, following in his father’s footsteps, appears on Robert Bilbo Walker’s live CD that was also made in Chicago.
What they all have in common is a talent for the blues, played brilliantly, brought together under one label by Jim O’Neal.
Here’s hoping he’ll record the next Otis Rush (one of O’Neal’s favorites) and share his discovery with us. Rooster Blues and Stackhouse CDs are available from www.bluesesoterica.com.
Friday, March 23, 2007
Wednesday, March 21, 2007
SPORTS>>Panthers survive 13-inning marathon
By RAY BENTON
Leader sports editor
Somewhere inside this state known as the Land of Opportunity is a little place called Wade Field that could just as easily be known as the land of missed oppotunity. At least that was the case last Friday night when the Cabot Panthers and North Little Rock Charging Wildcats refused to score through seven innings of play. It wasn’t, however, in the seven innings of regulation that no one could score, it was only the last two innings of regulation, along with the first five extra innings that saw Cabot and NLR deadlocked at three runs apiece. Finally, after over four hours of baseball, the Panthers pushed across a run in the bottom of the 13th inning to take a 4-3 victory.
“Winning that one was big,” Cabot coach Jay Fitch said. “When we blew that one big chance I was worried because things like that can be a big momentum shift. We did a good job of staying poised and we got out of a big jam ourselves.”
The Panthers put an end to the four-hour ordeal in the bottom of the 13th when a Shayne Burgan single scored Colin Fuller. Fuller reached on a walk with one out and advanced to third base on a single by Drew Burks. North Little Rock intentionally walked Sam Bates to set up a double play at any base before Burgan’s hit ended the game.
Both teams had plenty of opportunities to win the game before that.
North Little Rock put a runner on third with no outs in the ninth and couldn’t score, thanks greatly to an outstanding catch and throw by Logan Lucas. NLR’s Wes Coleman led off the inning by reaching on an error and stealing two bases. The next batter popped up to shortstop for one out. Hunter Benton then hit a high fly ball, moderately deep to left field. Lucas made the catch and threw a perfect strike on the fly to home plate, forcing Coleman to stop halfway home and retreat to third base. The next batter grounded out to third to end the threat.
The Panthers loaded the bases with no outs in the bottom of the 12th only to come away empty. Bates hit a leadoff triple to right-center field, forcing NLR to intentionally Burgan and Justin Haas to load the bases. Justin Free then popped up in the infield, Lucas missed two chances at a bunt before striking out, and Trey Rosell grounded into a 4-6 fielder’s choice to end the inning.
The Wildcats got on the board first with two runs in the top of the opening inning, and it stayed 2-0 until the bottom of the fourth. Burks and Burgan started things with back-to-back walks. Powell Bryant then doubled to drive in the two runners.
North Little Rock reclaimed the lead in the top of the fifth with a double by Clark Sims and an RBI single by Daniel Short. Cabot then tield it in the bottom of the sixth with an unearned run. Burgan reached on an error at third base, stole second and scored on a single by Free.
Justin Haas got the win after four innings of relief, but starting pitcher Colin Fuller threw an outstanding game. Fuller went eight innings and threw 126 pitches, while only giving up three hits and two earned runs.
Haas gave up two hits in four innings to get the win.
The win lifted the Panthers to 2-1 in league play, a game behind league-leading Conway. North Little Rock fell to 2-2.
The Panthers continued play through the weekend and Monday, winning two of three games in the Sheridan tournament. Cabot hammered the Warren Lumberjacks 21-7 in the early game Saturday. Later the same day, the Panthers lost 8-5 to Malvern, who was playing its first game of the day. On Monday, Cabot beat the hosting Yellowjackets 9-6. Sheridan then beat Malvern later that day. Malvern plays the last game of the tournament today. No team finished the even unbeaten, so the tournament champion will be decided after the outcome of the last game.
The Panthers, now 12-5 overall, played at Little Rock Central last night after Leader deadlines. Look for details of that game, along with a wrap up of Thursday’s matchup against Bryant in Saturday’s edition of The Leader.
Leader sports editor
Somewhere inside this state known as the Land of Opportunity is a little place called Wade Field that could just as easily be known as the land of missed oppotunity. At least that was the case last Friday night when the Cabot Panthers and North Little Rock Charging Wildcats refused to score through seven innings of play. It wasn’t, however, in the seven innings of regulation that no one could score, it was only the last two innings of regulation, along with the first five extra innings that saw Cabot and NLR deadlocked at three runs apiece. Finally, after over four hours of baseball, the Panthers pushed across a run in the bottom of the 13th inning to take a 4-3 victory.
“Winning that one was big,” Cabot coach Jay Fitch said. “When we blew that one big chance I was worried because things like that can be a big momentum shift. We did a good job of staying poised and we got out of a big jam ourselves.”
The Panthers put an end to the four-hour ordeal in the bottom of the 13th when a Shayne Burgan single scored Colin Fuller. Fuller reached on a walk with one out and advanced to third base on a single by Drew Burks. North Little Rock intentionally walked Sam Bates to set up a double play at any base before Burgan’s hit ended the game.
Both teams had plenty of opportunities to win the game before that.
North Little Rock put a runner on third with no outs in the ninth and couldn’t score, thanks greatly to an outstanding catch and throw by Logan Lucas. NLR’s Wes Coleman led off the inning by reaching on an error and stealing two bases. The next batter popped up to shortstop for one out. Hunter Benton then hit a high fly ball, moderately deep to left field. Lucas made the catch and threw a perfect strike on the fly to home plate, forcing Coleman to stop halfway home and retreat to third base. The next batter grounded out to third to end the threat.
The Panthers loaded the bases with no outs in the bottom of the 12th only to come away empty. Bates hit a leadoff triple to right-center field, forcing NLR to intentionally Burgan and Justin Haas to load the bases. Justin Free then popped up in the infield, Lucas missed two chances at a bunt before striking out, and Trey Rosell grounded into a 4-6 fielder’s choice to end the inning.
The Wildcats got on the board first with two runs in the top of the opening inning, and it stayed 2-0 until the bottom of the fourth. Burks and Burgan started things with back-to-back walks. Powell Bryant then doubled to drive in the two runners.
North Little Rock reclaimed the lead in the top of the fifth with a double by Clark Sims and an RBI single by Daniel Short. Cabot then tield it in the bottom of the sixth with an unearned run. Burgan reached on an error at third base, stole second and scored on a single by Free.
Justin Haas got the win after four innings of relief, but starting pitcher Colin Fuller threw an outstanding game. Fuller went eight innings and threw 126 pitches, while only giving up three hits and two earned runs.
Haas gave up two hits in four innings to get the win.
The win lifted the Panthers to 2-1 in league play, a game behind league-leading Conway. North Little Rock fell to 2-2.
The Panthers continued play through the weekend and Monday, winning two of three games in the Sheridan tournament. Cabot hammered the Warren Lumberjacks 21-7 in the early game Saturday. Later the same day, the Panthers lost 8-5 to Malvern, who was playing its first game of the day. On Monday, Cabot beat the hosting Yellowjackets 9-6. Sheridan then beat Malvern later that day. Malvern plays the last game of the tournament today. No team finished the even unbeaten, so the tournament champion will be decided after the outcome of the last game.
The Panthers, now 12-5 overall, played at Little Rock Central last night after Leader deadlines. Look for details of that game, along with a wrap up of Thursday’s matchup against Bryant in Saturday’s edition of The Leader.
SPORTS>>Dedication and life lessons
By JASON KING
Leader sportswriter
You won’t find Jacksonville senior Rochel Holder’s name at the top of any record books, but her contributions to the Red Devil athletic program far exceeds that of your typical student-athlete. Holder has been a volunteer for the athletic department since her sophomore year, keeping score books for both boys and girls varsity basketball, along with various other duties during her tenure.
That’s not to say that she is not a good athlete when it comes to actual performance on the court or field. Holder has been a starter on the varsity volleyball team for three years, earning All-Conference honors her junior and senior years. She is currently in her second year as a starting outfielder for the Lady Red Devils softball team.
Holder says while her senior year of volleyball was trying at times with herself as the only senior on the young squad, she is enjoying being part of the Lady Devils softball team, a team that has been heralded as a serious contender for not only the 6A-East Conference title, but the outright 6A state title.
“Volleyball was kind of difficult,” Holder said. “I was always used to having someone there who was older and more experienced, but I did it. It was a hard season, there were a bunch of young girls. Softball has been a lot of fun, though. There are so many good athletes on the team.”
As far as Jacksonville capturing state, Holder says the team’s unfinished business from last year will hopefully translate into a championship.
“There are a bunch of inexperienced players,” Holder said. “But I think we will be able to pull it off.”
Holder’s athletic career in two sports will most likely carry over into college. She is soon to sign with Lemoyne-Owen College, a black Christian institution in Memphis, where she will play on the softball and volleyball teams there as a Lady Magician.
Holder’s scholarship will officially be for softball, but a more inclusive scholarship package for softball makes it more of a formality. Holder’s highlight film sent to the school by Jacksonville coach Tanya Ganey was actually a volleyball tape, but the Magician athletic program saw in her what the JHS athletic program has enjoyed for the last three years.
“She’s a solid, quiet hero,” Jacksonville volleyball and softball coach Phil Bradley said. “She leads by example. She is an extremely hard worker; she works hard in the classroom, also. Whoever gets her is going to get a huge asset.”
Jacksonville athletic director Jerry Wilson also says that Holder’s contributions to the program have been immeasurable.
“She’s not just another mere person or mere volunteer,” Wilson said. “She has done community service, she has kept the clock and the book for us before at basketball games. She’s more than just a good student-athlete, she is a good citizen. If you are looking for someone that has dedicated her life to helping and serving their fellow man, that would be her. When she leaves us, man, that is going to be some tough shoes to fill.”
In keeping with her personality, Holder plans to go for a nursing degree while at Lemoyne-Owen. When asked about the desire to work in the medical field, she stated simply “I just like to help people.”
Holder has also done volunteer work at Jacksonville Elementary School, where she helped in the classroom as a teacher’s aid.
Summing up her tenure at Jacksonville High School, Holder says the comradery?SP among her classmates has made the last three years special.
“We have all grown up together,” Holder said. “It is a nice school, the people here are pretty nice. I have learned a lot being with the athletic program; working with others, and how to handle things when the going is bad.”
Leader sportswriter
You won’t find Jacksonville senior Rochel Holder’s name at the top of any record books, but her contributions to the Red Devil athletic program far exceeds that of your typical student-athlete. Holder has been a volunteer for the athletic department since her sophomore year, keeping score books for both boys and girls varsity basketball, along with various other duties during her tenure.
That’s not to say that she is not a good athlete when it comes to actual performance on the court or field. Holder has been a starter on the varsity volleyball team for three years, earning All-Conference honors her junior and senior years. She is currently in her second year as a starting outfielder for the Lady Red Devils softball team.
Holder says while her senior year of volleyball was trying at times with herself as the only senior on the young squad, she is enjoying being part of the Lady Devils softball team, a team that has been heralded as a serious contender for not only the 6A-East Conference title, but the outright 6A state title.
“Volleyball was kind of difficult,” Holder said. “I was always used to having someone there who was older and more experienced, but I did it. It was a hard season, there were a bunch of young girls. Softball has been a lot of fun, though. There are so many good athletes on the team.”
As far as Jacksonville capturing state, Holder says the team’s unfinished business from last year will hopefully translate into a championship.
“There are a bunch of inexperienced players,” Holder said. “But I think we will be able to pull it off.”
Holder’s athletic career in two sports will most likely carry over into college. She is soon to sign with Lemoyne-Owen College, a black Christian institution in Memphis, where she will play on the softball and volleyball teams there as a Lady Magician.
Holder’s scholarship will officially be for softball, but a more inclusive scholarship package for softball makes it more of a formality. Holder’s highlight film sent to the school by Jacksonville coach Tanya Ganey was actually a volleyball tape, but the Magician athletic program saw in her what the JHS athletic program has enjoyed for the last three years.
“She’s a solid, quiet hero,” Jacksonville volleyball and softball coach Phil Bradley said. “She leads by example. She is an extremely hard worker; she works hard in the classroom, also. Whoever gets her is going to get a huge asset.”
Jacksonville athletic director Jerry Wilson also says that Holder’s contributions to the program have been immeasurable.
“She’s not just another mere person or mere volunteer,” Wilson said. “She has done community service, she has kept the clock and the book for us before at basketball games. She’s more than just a good student-athlete, she is a good citizen. If you are looking for someone that has dedicated her life to helping and serving their fellow man, that would be her. When she leaves us, man, that is going to be some tough shoes to fill.”
In keeping with her personality, Holder plans to go for a nursing degree while at Lemoyne-Owen. When asked about the desire to work in the medical field, she stated simply “I just like to help people.”
Holder has also done volunteer work at Jacksonville Elementary School, where she helped in the classroom as a teacher’s aid.
Summing up her tenure at Jacksonville High School, Holder says the comradery?SP among her classmates has made the last three years special.
“We have all grown up together,” Holder said. “It is a nice school, the people here are pretty nice. I have learned a lot being with the athletic program; working with others, and how to handle things when the going is bad.”
SPORTS>>Cabot beats Lady Wildcats
By RAY BENTON
Leader sports editor
The Cabot Lady Panthers took a big conference win Friday night, beating the North Little Rock Charging Lady Wildcats 5-4 at Cabot High School. The win was the league opener for both teams and an early matchup of two of the leading title contenders.
The Lady Wildcats took the lead in the top of the first inning with an unearned run. Leadoff hitter Jennifer Johnson reached on an error. Two batters later Sara Springer singled to left, and an error in left allowed the runners to advance.
The middle innings belonged to Cabot, but North Little Rock charged back in the top of the seventh.
Cabot eight-hole hitter Crystal Cox led off the third with a single to right field and stole second base. She moved to third on a sacrifice grounder by Chelsea Conrade. Leadoff hitter Jamie Sterrenberg then singled to center to score Cox. Haley Dougan sacrificed to short to drive in Conrade and gave the Lady Panthers the lead.
After giving up a leadoff hit to Lady Wildcat Emily Guest and a sacrfice to Sarah Lapp, Cabot sophomore pitcher Cherie’ Barfield struck out the next two batters to pitch out of a minor jam in the top of the fourth.
The Lady Panthers added two more in the bottom of the same inning. Jessica Lanier led off with a double to left, and scored on a double to the same spot by Rachael Lamb. Two batters later, Cox singled again to right field to drive in Lamb and give the Lady Panthers a 4-1 lead.
North Little Rock drew closer with two runs in the sixth. Springer walked and cleanup hitter Farren Wright drove a triple to the wall in right-center to score the first run. Guest then hit a line drive to short, where Sterrenberg made the catch, but then committed an error that allowed Wright to score. Sterrenberg saw that Wright was caught off base after the line drive, and threw to third with no one there to catch the ball.
North Little Rock tied it in the seventh. Johnson tripled to right to lead off the inning,and scored two batters later on a sac grounder by Springer.
Sterrenberg atoned for her earlier mistake by forcing North Little Rock to commit the same one she made. The senior shortstop led off with a single and stole two bases. When she took off for the third base, no one covered, but the catcher made the throw, which sailed into left field and allowed Sterrenberg to trot home for the winning run.
Barfield went the distance for Cabot, giving up three earned runs on six hits while striking out four, walking two and hitting two batters.
Cabot picked up eight hits off two North Little Rock pitchers. Cox picked up three base hits in three at bats, scored a run and drove in another. Sterrenberg to two hits and scored two runs. Lanier and Lamb recorded doubles and Ashton Seidl picked up Cabot’s other base hit of the game.
The win lefted the Lady Panthers to 5-2 overall and 1-0 against 7A-Central competition.
Leader sports editor
The Cabot Lady Panthers took a big conference win Friday night, beating the North Little Rock Charging Lady Wildcats 5-4 at Cabot High School. The win was the league opener for both teams and an early matchup of two of the leading title contenders.
The Lady Wildcats took the lead in the top of the first inning with an unearned run. Leadoff hitter Jennifer Johnson reached on an error. Two batters later Sara Springer singled to left, and an error in left allowed the runners to advance.
The middle innings belonged to Cabot, but North Little Rock charged back in the top of the seventh.
Cabot eight-hole hitter Crystal Cox led off the third with a single to right field and stole second base. She moved to third on a sacrifice grounder by Chelsea Conrade. Leadoff hitter Jamie Sterrenberg then singled to center to score Cox. Haley Dougan sacrificed to short to drive in Conrade and gave the Lady Panthers the lead.
After giving up a leadoff hit to Lady Wildcat Emily Guest and a sacrfice to Sarah Lapp, Cabot sophomore pitcher Cherie’ Barfield struck out the next two batters to pitch out of a minor jam in the top of the fourth.
The Lady Panthers added two more in the bottom of the same inning. Jessica Lanier led off with a double to left, and scored on a double to the same spot by Rachael Lamb. Two batters later, Cox singled again to right field to drive in Lamb and give the Lady Panthers a 4-1 lead.
North Little Rock drew closer with two runs in the sixth. Springer walked and cleanup hitter Farren Wright drove a triple to the wall in right-center to score the first run. Guest then hit a line drive to short, where Sterrenberg made the catch, but then committed an error that allowed Wright to score. Sterrenberg saw that Wright was caught off base after the line drive, and threw to third with no one there to catch the ball.
North Little Rock tied it in the seventh. Johnson tripled to right to lead off the inning,and scored two batters later on a sac grounder by Springer.
Sterrenberg atoned for her earlier mistake by forcing North Little Rock to commit the same one she made. The senior shortstop led off with a single and stole two bases. When she took off for the third base, no one covered, but the catcher made the throw, which sailed into left field and allowed Sterrenberg to trot home for the winning run.
Barfield went the distance for Cabot, giving up three earned runs on six hits while striking out four, walking two and hitting two batters.
Cabot picked up eight hits off two North Little Rock pitchers. Cox picked up three base hits in three at bats, scored a run and drove in another. Sterrenberg to two hits and scored two runs. Lanier and Lamb recorded doubles and Ashton Seidl picked up Cabot’s other base hit of the game.
The win lefted the Lady Panthers to 5-2 overall and 1-0 against 7A-Central competition.
EDITORIALS>>Third parties get the shaft
Third parties, which corral the purists of liberal or conservative persuasions, are a nuisance to the major parties. They drain off the true believers at election time and sometimes change the election. Green Party votes shifted the presidential election to George W. Bush in 2000.
But for voters the occasional splinter parties are not a nuisance but the affirmation of a fundamental right to vote freely for their preference. A democracy owes it to people to guarantee that right within practical limits. The Arkansas Legislature disagrees.
The House of Representatives passed a bill last week to make it nearly impossible for third parties to get on the ballot. If the bill passes and Gov. Beebe signs it, the federal court in 2008 will strike it down, as Judge George E. Howard did the current law last fall. It will mean more legal expenses for taxpayers, but for the two major parties it will be worth the expense if they can curtail competition. Howard ruled that the state had to let a third party on the ballot on reasonable terms. It could not require more petition signatures than were required of independent candidates (10,000) and it had to allow a reasonable time to collect them, which he put at five months. The bill, by Rep. Dan Greenberg, R-Little Rock, would allow two months.
What the legislature needs is not more Republicans or more Democrats, but more democrats, which would mean fewer such antidemocratic laws.
But for voters the occasional splinter parties are not a nuisance but the affirmation of a fundamental right to vote freely for their preference. A democracy owes it to people to guarantee that right within practical limits. The Arkansas Legislature disagrees.
The House of Representatives passed a bill last week to make it nearly impossible for third parties to get on the ballot. If the bill passes and Gov. Beebe signs it, the federal court in 2008 will strike it down, as Judge George E. Howard did the current law last fall. It will mean more legal expenses for taxpayers, but for the two major parties it will be worth the expense if they can curtail competition. Howard ruled that the state had to let a third party on the ballot on reasonable terms. It could not require more petition signatures than were required of independent candidates (10,000) and it had to allow a reasonable time to collect them, which he put at five months. The bill, by Rep. Dan Greenberg, R-Little Rock, would allow two months.
What the legislature needs is not more Republicans or more Democrats, but more democrats, which would mean fewer such antidemocratic laws.
EDITORIALS>>Prosecutors in perspective
John Thurston writes from Cabot:
“Ernie Dumas went to great lengths describing the firing of eight federal prosecutors by the Bush Justice Dept. Unmentioned is the fact that upon taking office in 1993, Janet Reno, attorney general for President Clinton, fired all 93 federal prosecutors.
“Included were some investigating high Democrat officials like Dan Rostenkowski. “A Google search of ‘1993 + fired federal prosecutors’ will confirm that event.
“I don’t recall anyone getting overly excited about that. But we all know that Dumas is a Democrat hack from the get go.”
Every president replaces all the U.S. attorneys when he takes office. Ronald Reagan did. George W. Bush did in 2001. Clinton never fired one in midterm in his eight years in office. No other recent president has either. The problem is politicizing the criminal justice system by removing U.S. attorneys who resist the political pressure. As a matter of fact, the research shows that fewer U.S. attorneys left office for any reason — judgeships, death, resignations — in Clinton’s eight years than under Reagan, the four years of Bush the elder and George W. Bush.
Terms expire in January after election years and they sometimes continue to serve till the new administration gets all its ducks in a row. Paula Casey, the Democrat, had resigned and left when Bush took office, so there was a very short hiatus with an acting attorney before Bush installed Bud Cummins. All Clinton’s nominees were submitted to the Senate and confirmed every one by the Republican Senate.
It was Clinton’s U.S. attorney who indicted Dan Rostenkowski of Chicago on 17 counts and convicted him. It was Casey, the Democrat, who prosecuted Rep. Lloyd George, D-Danville, on the prison case and Nick Wilson, D-Pocahontas, and all his associates on the attorney ad litem cases. They were all Democrats.
But the only difference that counts is those who were fired recently were all Republicans appointed by Bush who were relieved for what the internal memo described as disloyalty to Bush and “chafing” at the White House agenda. And they were appointed without consultation with the Senate.
By the way, Clinton did fire one U.S. attorney in his eight years. Attorney General Reno called and personally fired the U.S. attorney in Florida after reports that he bit a stripper at a night club, or something like that.
“Ernie Dumas went to great lengths describing the firing of eight federal prosecutors by the Bush Justice Dept. Unmentioned is the fact that upon taking office in 1993, Janet Reno, attorney general for President Clinton, fired all 93 federal prosecutors.
“Included were some investigating high Democrat officials like Dan Rostenkowski. “A Google search of ‘1993 + fired federal prosecutors’ will confirm that event.
“I don’t recall anyone getting overly excited about that. But we all know that Dumas is a Democrat hack from the get go.”
Every president replaces all the U.S. attorneys when he takes office. Ronald Reagan did. George W. Bush did in 2001. Clinton never fired one in midterm in his eight years in office. No other recent president has either. The problem is politicizing the criminal justice system by removing U.S. attorneys who resist the political pressure. As a matter of fact, the research shows that fewer U.S. attorneys left office for any reason — judgeships, death, resignations — in Clinton’s eight years than under Reagan, the four years of Bush the elder and George W. Bush.
Terms expire in January after election years and they sometimes continue to serve till the new administration gets all its ducks in a row. Paula Casey, the Democrat, had resigned and left when Bush took office, so there was a very short hiatus with an acting attorney before Bush installed Bud Cummins. All Clinton’s nominees were submitted to the Senate and confirmed every one by the Republican Senate.
It was Clinton’s U.S. attorney who indicted Dan Rostenkowski of Chicago on 17 counts and convicted him. It was Casey, the Democrat, who prosecuted Rep. Lloyd George, D-Danville, on the prison case and Nick Wilson, D-Pocahontas, and all his associates on the attorney ad litem cases. They were all Democrats.
But the only difference that counts is those who were fired recently were all Republicans appointed by Bush who were relieved for what the internal memo described as disloyalty to Bush and “chafing” at the White House agenda. And they were appointed without consultation with the Senate.
By the way, Clinton did fire one U.S. attorney in his eight years. Attorney General Reno called and personally fired the U.S. attorney in Florida after reports that he bit a stripper at a night club, or something like that.
TOP STORY >>Soliciting ordinance is repealed
By HEATHER HARTSELL
Leader staff writer
At a meeting where all resolutions and ordinances were passed unanimously, the Cabot City Council Monday night voted to repeal last year’s ordinance regulating solicitors, peddlers and vendors within the city because the ordinance could not be enforced.
“The entire night the council passed items without opposition,” Mayor Eddie Joe Williams said. “It goes to show the hard work of the committees during committee meetings.”
In annulling last year’s ordinance, Williams said the city had received concerns from the different scout groups in town saying the ordinance placed too much of a burden on them.
“This year’s council thought the ordinance put an undo burden on the local organizations,” Williams said. The council ruled to table the resolution authorizing Williams and city clerk Marva Verkler to enter into a contract with the Mountain Springs Volunteer Fire Department.
The contract would have extended the city’s lease on a bay in Mt. Springs’ station from one year to three years to allow Cabot time to build a new fire station.
Williams said a special city council meeting would be held April 14 to discuss the location of Cabot’s future fire station. The city moved a fire engine into an empty bay at Mt. Springs’ station on Hwy. 5 in December to prevent homes in the area from receiving an Insurance Services Office (ISO) rating of 10 (no fire protection).
The city’s fire and police committee is looking at purchasing three acres on Hwy. 5 to house a new fire station that is needed to hold insurance premiums down for some residents on Hwy. 5.
The commercial property is located at West Mt. Springs Road and Hwy. 5 and has an existing two-bay shop, mobile home and storage building, located outside city limits with city water, electricity and no gas. The asking price is $295,000.
The council also adopted a wrecker rotation policy which will level the playing field between the three wrecker services in Cabot, making sure all are treated fairly and the same. “Some wrecker services had asked us to do this, so we got it done,” Williams said.
The policy will make all wrecker services within the city limits charge the same amounts for their service, have the same fees, and the same hours of operation. An ordinance to adopt storm water pollution prevention and erosion control standards was also approved.
Williams said the Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) had been enforcing the rules and regulations, but effective January 1, it was passed down from the state and now the city must enforce the standards.
The city will now be responsible for inspecting new residential and commercial construction for compliance of the standards.
George Binderim was recognized through a resolution for his generosity.
Williams said several council members led the effort to recognize Binderim for supplying thousands with hot meals.
“There were 50-plus people there in his honor and he received a standing ovation,” Williams said.
Dr. Eugene McKay of Arkansas State University-Beebe recognized Cabot during a proclamation celebrating ASU-Beebe’s 80th anniversary, saying the city produces the largest enrollment for ASU-Beebe than the rest of the state.
Williams said McKay thanked the city for its support during the college’s anniversary and for the city’s continued support.
Williams also said McKay asked him to speak at this year’s commencement ceremony.
Leader staff writer
At a meeting where all resolutions and ordinances were passed unanimously, the Cabot City Council Monday night voted to repeal last year’s ordinance regulating solicitors, peddlers and vendors within the city because the ordinance could not be enforced.
“The entire night the council passed items without opposition,” Mayor Eddie Joe Williams said. “It goes to show the hard work of the committees during committee meetings.”
In annulling last year’s ordinance, Williams said the city had received concerns from the different scout groups in town saying the ordinance placed too much of a burden on them.
“This year’s council thought the ordinance put an undo burden on the local organizations,” Williams said. The council ruled to table the resolution authorizing Williams and city clerk Marva Verkler to enter into a contract with the Mountain Springs Volunteer Fire Department.
The contract would have extended the city’s lease on a bay in Mt. Springs’ station from one year to three years to allow Cabot time to build a new fire station.
Williams said a special city council meeting would be held April 14 to discuss the location of Cabot’s future fire station. The city moved a fire engine into an empty bay at Mt. Springs’ station on Hwy. 5 in December to prevent homes in the area from receiving an Insurance Services Office (ISO) rating of 10 (no fire protection).
The city’s fire and police committee is looking at purchasing three acres on Hwy. 5 to house a new fire station that is needed to hold insurance premiums down for some residents on Hwy. 5.
The commercial property is located at West Mt. Springs Road and Hwy. 5 and has an existing two-bay shop, mobile home and storage building, located outside city limits with city water, electricity and no gas. The asking price is $295,000.
The council also adopted a wrecker rotation policy which will level the playing field between the three wrecker services in Cabot, making sure all are treated fairly and the same. “Some wrecker services had asked us to do this, so we got it done,” Williams said.
The policy will make all wrecker services within the city limits charge the same amounts for their service, have the same fees, and the same hours of operation. An ordinance to adopt storm water pollution prevention and erosion control standards was also approved.
Williams said the Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) had been enforcing the rules and regulations, but effective January 1, it was passed down from the state and now the city must enforce the standards.
The city will now be responsible for inspecting new residential and commercial construction for compliance of the standards.
George Binderim was recognized through a resolution for his generosity.
Williams said several council members led the effort to recognize Binderim for supplying thousands with hot meals.
“There were 50-plus people there in his honor and he received a standing ovation,” Williams said.
Dr. Eugene McKay of Arkansas State University-Beebe recognized Cabot during a proclamation celebrating ASU-Beebe’s 80th anniversary, saying the city produces the largest enrollment for ASU-Beebe than the rest of the state.
Williams said McKay thanked the city for its support during the college’s anniversary and for the city’s continued support.
Williams also said McKay asked him to speak at this year’s commencement ceremony.
TOP STORY >>Defendants showing stress at trial
By JOHN HOFHEIMER
Leader staff writer
The defense is expected to continue cross-examination Wednesday of Kelly Campbell’s alleged inmate lover, who testified Monday that he lied to her at every turn, and early on to investigators and officials as well.
The corruption, drug, theft and sex trial of Kelly Campbell, her husband, former Lonoke Police Chief Jay Campbell, and bail bondsman Bobby Junior Cox was in recess Tuesday because the Cabot courtroom was previously committed and court will be held across the hall in Cabot City Council chambers Wednesday and Thursday for the same reason.
Granted immunity, inmate Anthony Shane Scott, 31, had testified last Wednesday afternoon for Lonoke County Prosecutor Lona McCastlain that he had sex with Kelly Campbell numerous times in several places, including her husband’s office, the city park and a motel, and that her obsession with him became a distraction not only to him, but to city officials, police employees and townsfolk.
When court resumed Monday after a four-day recess, Scott continued, weaving a tale of sex, drugs and her infatuation that resulted first in the unraveling of Lonoke’s Act 309 prison trustee program, then to the State Police investigation that culminated in charges against the three.
Also charged, but to be tried separately are former Lonoke Mayor Thomas Privett, former dispatcher Amy Staley and bail bondsman Larry Norwood.
Privett is charged with having Act 309 inmates do some work around his house, Staley with having sex with Scott, and Norwood with conspiring with Cox and Jay Campbell to manufacture methamphetamine.
Scott was returned to the state Correction Department by Campbell’s second-in-command, Sean O’Nale in July 2005, and Kelly Campbell drove immediately to the Diagnostic Center at Pine Bluff, trying to bluff and bully her way in the front gate to visit with Scott. She drew great attention to herself and Scott was placed in solitary confinement as a result, he testified.
“She’s the reason I’m in trouble,” Scott told Mark Hampton, her attorney.
Scott said he believed O’Nale suddenly returned him to the prison on Jay Campbell’s orders to stop her relationship with Scott.
Scott testified that he threatened to stop writing and talking with her unless she got him some incriminating evidence with Jay Campbell’s DNA on it.
Among the more than 200 exhibits introduced so far is a drinking straw with her DNA, almost certainly his DNA, and reportedly, residue of methamphetamine.
“You were never in love with her?” asked Jay Campbell’s lawyer, Patrick Benca.
“No,” said Scott. “You strung her along?”
“That would be right,” said Scott.“On the phone, you professed love and said you wanted her to divorce Mr. Campbell,” said Benca. “All kinds of stuff,” said Scott.
Scott said that he began cooperating with prison officials when they began building a case against Jay Campbell. They started tape recording telephone conversations between Kelly Campbell and Scott and intercepting letters and cards when they began the investigation. Jay Campbell is charged with running a continuing criminal enterprise while Kelly Campbell and Cox are charged with participating in the enterprise. Such a charge not only carries its own penalties, but also can increase the sentencing and penalty range of the crimes committed under its umbrella.
The Campbells also face numerous charges of borrowing and stealing prescription painkillers from friends and acquaintances.
Jay Campbell, Cox and Norwood are also charged with conspiracy to manufacture methamphetamine in a far-flung scheme to find a bail jumper who left the bondsmen holding the bag for $130,000.
During cross examination on Monday, Hampton quizzed Scott on lies he had told her, lies he told various investigators during half-a-dozen interviews, and what Hampton called lies by omission, painting Scott before the jury as a liar at every opportunity.
Special Judge John Cole at one point limited the defense to asking Scott questions that could be answered “yes” or “no” after some of Scott’s answers threatened to veer into territory that could cause a mistrial. Hampton asked Scott if he had been promised immunity by the prosecution.
“Yes.”
Did he lie to Kelly Campbell about her other alleged inmate lover, Tim Ainsworth?
“Yes.”
Did he lie to her about his family life growing up?
“Yes.”
Did he lie to Act 309 trustee program director Bill Terry?
“Yes.”
Question after question, Hampton asked Scott whether he had lied or even mentioned various statements and allegations, chalking each lie up in red on a big white poster board labeled “Shane Scott, Full Immunity.”
Hampton wants to convince jurors that Scott is unreliable and that many features of his testimony—that Kelly Campbell got him a bottle of urine flush to clear his system of drugs prior to a possible urinalysis, gave him at least $200, or that she shared methamphetamine and ecstasy with him—may have been invented to please the prosecutor and keep himself out of trouble.
Also during cross examination, Benca asked Scott if he had ever seen the former chief either with drugs or taking them. Scott, who testified earlier that he suspected Campbell sometimes took drugs, said he neither saw Campbell use or with drugs. By playing recorded conversations for the jury, Benca sought to convince jurors that Jay Campbell didn’t know his wife’s relationship with Scott was sexual.
He elicited responses that the former chief was fair with inmates, tried to help them, and that he was a good father. Scott said he and Jay Campbell had talked a few times about the relationship, but that neither had acknowledged that it was sexual in nature.
Leader staff writer
The defense is expected to continue cross-examination Wednesday of Kelly Campbell’s alleged inmate lover, who testified Monday that he lied to her at every turn, and early on to investigators and officials as well.
The corruption, drug, theft and sex trial of Kelly Campbell, her husband, former Lonoke Police Chief Jay Campbell, and bail bondsman Bobby Junior Cox was in recess Tuesday because the Cabot courtroom was previously committed and court will be held across the hall in Cabot City Council chambers Wednesday and Thursday for the same reason.
Granted immunity, inmate Anthony Shane Scott, 31, had testified last Wednesday afternoon for Lonoke County Prosecutor Lona McCastlain that he had sex with Kelly Campbell numerous times in several places, including her husband’s office, the city park and a motel, and that her obsession with him became a distraction not only to him, but to city officials, police employees and townsfolk.
When court resumed Monday after a four-day recess, Scott continued, weaving a tale of sex, drugs and her infatuation that resulted first in the unraveling of Lonoke’s Act 309 prison trustee program, then to the State Police investigation that culminated in charges against the three.
Also charged, but to be tried separately are former Lonoke Mayor Thomas Privett, former dispatcher Amy Staley and bail bondsman Larry Norwood.
Privett is charged with having Act 309 inmates do some work around his house, Staley with having sex with Scott, and Norwood with conspiring with Cox and Jay Campbell to manufacture methamphetamine.
Scott was returned to the state Correction Department by Campbell’s second-in-command, Sean O’Nale in July 2005, and Kelly Campbell drove immediately to the Diagnostic Center at Pine Bluff, trying to bluff and bully her way in the front gate to visit with Scott. She drew great attention to herself and Scott was placed in solitary confinement as a result, he testified.
“She’s the reason I’m in trouble,” Scott told Mark Hampton, her attorney.
Scott said he believed O’Nale suddenly returned him to the prison on Jay Campbell’s orders to stop her relationship with Scott.
Scott testified that he threatened to stop writing and talking with her unless she got him some incriminating evidence with Jay Campbell’s DNA on it.
Among the more than 200 exhibits introduced so far is a drinking straw with her DNA, almost certainly his DNA, and reportedly, residue of methamphetamine.
“You were never in love with her?” asked Jay Campbell’s lawyer, Patrick Benca.
“No,” said Scott. “You strung her along?”
“That would be right,” said Scott.“On the phone, you professed love and said you wanted her to divorce Mr. Campbell,” said Benca. “All kinds of stuff,” said Scott.
Scott said that he began cooperating with prison officials when they began building a case against Jay Campbell. They started tape recording telephone conversations between Kelly Campbell and Scott and intercepting letters and cards when they began the investigation. Jay Campbell is charged with running a continuing criminal enterprise while Kelly Campbell and Cox are charged with participating in the enterprise. Such a charge not only carries its own penalties, but also can increase the sentencing and penalty range of the crimes committed under its umbrella.
The Campbells also face numerous charges of borrowing and stealing prescription painkillers from friends and acquaintances.
Jay Campbell, Cox and Norwood are also charged with conspiracy to manufacture methamphetamine in a far-flung scheme to find a bail jumper who left the bondsmen holding the bag for $130,000.
During cross examination on Monday, Hampton quizzed Scott on lies he had told her, lies he told various investigators during half-a-dozen interviews, and what Hampton called lies by omission, painting Scott before the jury as a liar at every opportunity.
Special Judge John Cole at one point limited the defense to asking Scott questions that could be answered “yes” or “no” after some of Scott’s answers threatened to veer into territory that could cause a mistrial. Hampton asked Scott if he had been promised immunity by the prosecution.
“Yes.”
Did he lie to Kelly Campbell about her other alleged inmate lover, Tim Ainsworth?
“Yes.”
Did he lie to her about his family life growing up?
“Yes.”
Did he lie to Act 309 trustee program director Bill Terry?
“Yes.”
Question after question, Hampton asked Scott whether he had lied or even mentioned various statements and allegations, chalking each lie up in red on a big white poster board labeled “Shane Scott, Full Immunity.”
Hampton wants to convince jurors that Scott is unreliable and that many features of his testimony—that Kelly Campbell got him a bottle of urine flush to clear his system of drugs prior to a possible urinalysis, gave him at least $200, or that she shared methamphetamine and ecstasy with him—may have been invented to please the prosecutor and keep himself out of trouble.
Also during cross examination, Benca asked Scott if he had ever seen the former chief either with drugs or taking them. Scott, who testified earlier that he suspected Campbell sometimes took drugs, said he neither saw Campbell use or with drugs. By playing recorded conversations for the jury, Benca sought to convince jurors that Jay Campbell didn’t know his wife’s relationship with Scott was sexual.
He elicited responses that the former chief was fair with inmates, tried to help them, and that he was a good father. Scott said he and Jay Campbell had talked a few times about the relationship, but that neither had acknowledged that it was sexual in nature.
TOP STORY >>Little opposition to North Belt
By JOHN HOFHEIMER
Leader staff writer
John Dreher and his wife built a large home in a small gated community near Kellogg Acres Road, nestled in a little valley with a wetlands out beyond their backyard. Now they and their neighbors wonder just how disruptive the state Highway and Transportation Department’s proposed route for the completion of the North Belt Loop will be of their tranquility. The Drehers and about 200 other people turned out Tuesday evening at the Church of the Nazarene on Brockington Road for the first of two public hearings on the proposed route.
The other meeting is tonight from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Cato Elementary School. Sherwood Mayor Dan Stedman said Tuesday that town officials believe the route, which runs east and west from Hwy. 67-167 through Camp Robinson and joins I-40 and I-430 near the Crystal Hill Exit, is the best available option. Stedman says the new route is within the larger area previ iously designated as acceptable by the city council and that it does not conflict with the city’s master street plan.
Sherwood Alderman Becky Vasser said she would introduce a resolution in support of the proposed route when the city council meets Monday.
In 2003, neighborhood activists in the Hidden Creek, Amber Oaks and Winridge subdivisions turned back a proposed route that threatened not only their neighborhoods, but the developing Miller Creek subdivision as well.
The current proposal would displace only 14 people, probably not enough to mount the same kind of grassroots campaign that stopped the first proposal in 2003. Highway Department spokesman Glenn Bolick said the proposed route is “bumped out” in two places to accommodate property owners, bumps that cut the number of relocated owners and tenants from 37 to 14. Bolick said that the U.S. Highway Department could make a decision on the route by the end of the year and if the money is available, the design and purchase of right-of-way could be underway in a year.
There is neither money to design nor to complete the North Belt Loop, but Highway commissioner Carl Rosenbaum says the final 12.7-mile, $276 million section could pay for itself with toll booths where it intersects Hwy. 67/167 and also Hwy. 107.
The Highway Department forecasts daily traffic on that section of the loop in excess of 30,000 vehicles a day.
Leader staff writer
John Dreher and his wife built a large home in a small gated community near Kellogg Acres Road, nestled in a little valley with a wetlands out beyond their backyard. Now they and their neighbors wonder just how disruptive the state Highway and Transportation Department’s proposed route for the completion of the North Belt Loop will be of their tranquility. The Drehers and about 200 other people turned out Tuesday evening at the Church of the Nazarene on Brockington Road for the first of two public hearings on the proposed route.
The other meeting is tonight from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Cato Elementary School. Sherwood Mayor Dan Stedman said Tuesday that town officials believe the route, which runs east and west from Hwy. 67-167 through Camp Robinson and joins I-40 and I-430 near the Crystal Hill Exit, is the best available option. Stedman says the new route is within the larger area previ iously designated as acceptable by the city council and that it does not conflict with the city’s master street plan.
Sherwood Alderman Becky Vasser said she would introduce a resolution in support of the proposed route when the city council meets Monday.
In 2003, neighborhood activists in the Hidden Creek, Amber Oaks and Winridge subdivisions turned back a proposed route that threatened not only their neighborhoods, but the developing Miller Creek subdivision as well.
The current proposal would displace only 14 people, probably not enough to mount the same kind of grassroots campaign that stopped the first proposal in 2003. Highway Department spokesman Glenn Bolick said the proposed route is “bumped out” in two places to accommodate property owners, bumps that cut the number of relocated owners and tenants from 37 to 14. Bolick said that the U.S. Highway Department could make a decision on the route by the end of the year and if the money is available, the design and purchase of right-of-way could be underway in a year.
There is neither money to design nor to complete the North Belt Loop, but Highway commissioner Carl Rosenbaum says the final 12.7-mile, $276 million section could pay for itself with toll booths where it intersects Hwy. 67/167 and also Hwy. 107.
The Highway Department forecasts daily traffic on that section of the loop in excess of 30,000 vehicles a day.
TOP STORY >>Jacksonville restaurant tax weighed
By RICK KRON
Leader staff writer
Is a two-cent hamburger tax in Jacksonville’s future?
It’s very possible. The chamber of commerce tourism committee has been working on the idea and presented it to the city’s advertising and promotion commission Monday night.
A two-cent tax would generate slightly more than a half-a-million dollars a year. A tax of up to three cents on prepared foods, commonly known as a hamburger tax, could be approved by the city council without a vote by residents.
Money from the tax would be funneled to the advertising and pro motion commission for their use to promote and market the city. The commission will discuss the idea at its next meeting at 6:30 p.m. on April 19 at city hall.
Mike Wilson, chairman of the chamber’s tourism committee, said Monday evening that the chamber group had been working on the proposal ever since a tourism study paid for by the advertising and promotion commission recommended ways of increasing the commission’s pool of money.
“We want to work with you, the commission, and the council, to develop a financing plan to bring more tourism into the city,” Wilson said. Alderman Marshall Smith, chairman of the advertising and promotion group, said, “It’s clear that your group has put a lot of hard work and effort into this.”
Under Wilson’s proposal, the two-cent tax would bring in almost $550,000 annually, coupled with the two-cent hotel tax, about $80,000 annually, the commission would have $630,000 to work with.
His committee suggests the commission keep about $100,000 for discretionary spending; Reed’s Bridge Civil War Battlefield, the military history museum, the city’s parks and recreation department would each get $109,000; and the newly created Keep Jacksonville Beautiful group would get $94,000.
About $61,000 would be spent by the chamber, the commission and the council on printed advertising, promotion and marketing. Other expenditures for the money include $31,400 in administrative costs, and $5,000 each to the Patriotic Spectacular and the Wingding Festival.
Alderman Bob Stroud, a longtime proponent of a hamburger tax, had his doubts. “When most people go out to eat, they don’t think about the tax, so that doesn’t bother me. But this looks like we are divvying up a slush fund,” he said.
Ironically, Wilson filed suit a few years ago to prevent the state legislature from divvying up general improvement funds.
“What do I tell the citizens?” Stroud said. “I do want to improve our city’s tourism, but what are we going to give the citizens for their money?” Stroud asked. Wilson responded, “It will be a hard sell.”
“We do need to sell it,” Stroud said, reminding the commission that the city spent a year “selling” the idea of the community center before going to the voters for funding.
Wilson said that his committee envisions this hamburger tax to be a joint effort between the chamber, the commission, and the council.
The commission took no official action on the proposal, but did vote to meet in April to discuss it further. The commission normally meets every three months.
Leader staff writer
Is a two-cent hamburger tax in Jacksonville’s future?
It’s very possible. The chamber of commerce tourism committee has been working on the idea and presented it to the city’s advertising and promotion commission Monday night.
A two-cent tax would generate slightly more than a half-a-million dollars a year. A tax of up to three cents on prepared foods, commonly known as a hamburger tax, could be approved by the city council without a vote by residents.
Money from the tax would be funneled to the advertising and pro motion commission for their use to promote and market the city. The commission will discuss the idea at its next meeting at 6:30 p.m. on April 19 at city hall.
Mike Wilson, chairman of the chamber’s tourism committee, said Monday evening that the chamber group had been working on the proposal ever since a tourism study paid for by the advertising and promotion commission recommended ways of increasing the commission’s pool of money.
“We want to work with you, the commission, and the council, to develop a financing plan to bring more tourism into the city,” Wilson said. Alderman Marshall Smith, chairman of the advertising and promotion group, said, “It’s clear that your group has put a lot of hard work and effort into this.”
Under Wilson’s proposal, the two-cent tax would bring in almost $550,000 annually, coupled with the two-cent hotel tax, about $80,000 annually, the commission would have $630,000 to work with.
His committee suggests the commission keep about $100,000 for discretionary spending; Reed’s Bridge Civil War Battlefield, the military history museum, the city’s parks and recreation department would each get $109,000; and the newly created Keep Jacksonville Beautiful group would get $94,000.
About $61,000 would be spent by the chamber, the commission and the council on printed advertising, promotion and marketing. Other expenditures for the money include $31,400 in administrative costs, and $5,000 each to the Patriotic Spectacular and the Wingding Festival.
Alderman Bob Stroud, a longtime proponent of a hamburger tax, had his doubts. “When most people go out to eat, they don’t think about the tax, so that doesn’t bother me. But this looks like we are divvying up a slush fund,” he said.
Ironically, Wilson filed suit a few years ago to prevent the state legislature from divvying up general improvement funds.
“What do I tell the citizens?” Stroud said. “I do want to improve our city’s tourism, but what are we going to give the citizens for their money?” Stroud asked. Wilson responded, “It will be a hard sell.”
“We do need to sell it,” Stroud said, reminding the commission that the city spent a year “selling” the idea of the community center before going to the voters for funding.
Wilson said that his committee envisions this hamburger tax to be a joint effort between the chamber, the commission, and the council.
The commission took no official action on the proposal, but did vote to meet in April to discuss it further. The commission normally meets every three months.
TOP STORY >>Petition drive is moving
By RICK KRON
Leader staff writer
As Sherwood Alderman Charlie Harmon pulled his proposed ordinance clarifying how the mayor would conduct hirings and firings, petitions continued to circulate through the city asking for a criminal investigation of the council.
At a specially called council meeting March 6, Harmon led the charge to revoke Mayor Dan Stedman’s hiring of Lee Church to head the city’s Public Works Department. The council overwhelmingly disallowed the appointment. Harmon, in his first term as alderman, is the son of former Mayor Bill Harmon, who retired Dec. 31 after 10 years of running the city.
Aldermen voted without any open discussion at the last council meeting, leading some residents to believe that prior discussion occurred in violation of the Freedom of Information Act. Stedman, who became mayor in January, called the council’s decision “government at its worst. Neither I as the mayor, nor Lee Church, have been given the opportunity to succeed or to fail.”
This is the same Lee Church that the council unanimously approved at a Jan. 22 board meeting to be the city’s representative to the regional Joint Emergency Medical Services Board, which oversees the ambulance services for Sherwood and other area communities.
“It’s a sad day for the city,” the mayor added.
As of Tuesday, about a dozen residents were taking petitions around the city asking for signatures. The petitions, which will be forwarded to the Pulaski County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office, ask for “a formal investigation; and if merits are found with our allegation, that charges be filed and pursued against each defendant named to the fullest extent of the law.”
Seven of the city’s eight aldermen are named in the complaint. The only one not in the petition is Alderman David Henry as he has been out of town and did not vote at the February meeting.
The grassroots effort to have the prosecuting attorney look into the council’s behavior is being spearheaded by residents Doris Anderson and Julann Carney.
Carney said the group is canvassing the city and getting a number of signatures on the petitions.
“Many are afraid to sign in fear of retribution, especially city employees,” said Carney, adding, “We are taking our time and doing this right.
“We are very steadfast in putting a stop to the way our council has been governing the city through phone calls, private meetings and even gathering at restaurants,” she said.
Anderson said she called some of the aldermen before the March 6 meeting to see what the problem was. “All I was told was ‘We have the votes and we’ll do what we want.’ How did they know they had the votes? Did they have an illegal meeting?” she asked.
Anderson is also concerned how the aldermen were notified to sign the letter calling for the March 6 meeting.
“Surely there was some discussion, which violates the FOI laws, unless they blindly signed the letter,” she said.
Carney said, “It’s not a vendetta, but government only works when it is out in the open.
“It is encouraging that the ordinance has been pulled, but are they (the council) going to play nice now? It only takes 35 percent of the people who voted to initiate a recall of aldermen,” she added.
Harmon delivered his proposed ordinance to the city clerk’s office on March 8 to be placed on the council agenda for its regular meeting next Monday. But this Monday, he asked the clerk to pull it from the agenda.
According to a letter he delivered to the mayor when he filed the ordinance, Harmon wrote, “I have attempted to draft this in such a way that does not infringe on your right to appoint or remove department heads as allowed under relevant statute, but only provides for reasonable notice to the city council after the fact when such appointments or removals are made.”
The proposed ordinance, which had been approved by the city attorney, would have required the mayor to notify each member of the council within three days of a hiring or firing of a department head.
The council would then have until its next meeting to either accept or reject the mayor’s appointment.
Any override would need six votes.
The ordinance states that the ordinance is necessary “to allow the Sherwood City Council its right of oversight…in order to ensure the proper and orderly growth of the city.”
In a March 5 letter signed by every alderman, the council called for the March 6 meeting and after listening to the mayor and a full room of residents who mostly supported him, aldermen quickly voted against the mayor without publicly offering any reason.
After that meeting some aldermen said the concern was that the person the mayor had hired to run the department was a problem in the city’s fire department and it wasn’t right to move a problem from one department to another.
Yet other council members were upset because they had not been consulted as they had been in the past when other mayors ran the city.
Leader staff writer
As Sherwood Alderman Charlie Harmon pulled his proposed ordinance clarifying how the mayor would conduct hirings and firings, petitions continued to circulate through the city asking for a criminal investigation of the council.
At a specially called council meeting March 6, Harmon led the charge to revoke Mayor Dan Stedman’s hiring of Lee Church to head the city’s Public Works Department. The council overwhelmingly disallowed the appointment. Harmon, in his first term as alderman, is the son of former Mayor Bill Harmon, who retired Dec. 31 after 10 years of running the city.
Aldermen voted without any open discussion at the last council meeting, leading some residents to believe that prior discussion occurred in violation of the Freedom of Information Act. Stedman, who became mayor in January, called the council’s decision “government at its worst. Neither I as the mayor, nor Lee Church, have been given the opportunity to succeed or to fail.”
This is the same Lee Church that the council unanimously approved at a Jan. 22 board meeting to be the city’s representative to the regional Joint Emergency Medical Services Board, which oversees the ambulance services for Sherwood and other area communities.
“It’s a sad day for the city,” the mayor added.
As of Tuesday, about a dozen residents were taking petitions around the city asking for signatures. The petitions, which will be forwarded to the Pulaski County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office, ask for “a formal investigation; and if merits are found with our allegation, that charges be filed and pursued against each defendant named to the fullest extent of the law.”
Seven of the city’s eight aldermen are named in the complaint. The only one not in the petition is Alderman David Henry as he has been out of town and did not vote at the February meeting.
The grassroots effort to have the prosecuting attorney look into the council’s behavior is being spearheaded by residents Doris Anderson and Julann Carney.
Carney said the group is canvassing the city and getting a number of signatures on the petitions.
“Many are afraid to sign in fear of retribution, especially city employees,” said Carney, adding, “We are taking our time and doing this right.
“We are very steadfast in putting a stop to the way our council has been governing the city through phone calls, private meetings and even gathering at restaurants,” she said.
Anderson said she called some of the aldermen before the March 6 meeting to see what the problem was. “All I was told was ‘We have the votes and we’ll do what we want.’ How did they know they had the votes? Did they have an illegal meeting?” she asked.
Anderson is also concerned how the aldermen were notified to sign the letter calling for the March 6 meeting.
“Surely there was some discussion, which violates the FOI laws, unless they blindly signed the letter,” she said.
Carney said, “It’s not a vendetta, but government only works when it is out in the open.
“It is encouraging that the ordinance has been pulled, but are they (the council) going to play nice now? It only takes 35 percent of the people who voted to initiate a recall of aldermen,” she added.
Harmon delivered his proposed ordinance to the city clerk’s office on March 8 to be placed on the council agenda for its regular meeting next Monday. But this Monday, he asked the clerk to pull it from the agenda.
According to a letter he delivered to the mayor when he filed the ordinance, Harmon wrote, “I have attempted to draft this in such a way that does not infringe on your right to appoint or remove department heads as allowed under relevant statute, but only provides for reasonable notice to the city council after the fact when such appointments or removals are made.”
The proposed ordinance, which had been approved by the city attorney, would have required the mayor to notify each member of the council within three days of a hiring or firing of a department head.
The council would then have until its next meeting to either accept or reject the mayor’s appointment.
Any override would need six votes.
The ordinance states that the ordinance is necessary “to allow the Sherwood City Council its right of oversight…in order to ensure the proper and orderly growth of the city.”
In a March 5 letter signed by every alderman, the council called for the March 6 meeting and after listening to the mayor and a full room of residents who mostly supported him, aldermen quickly voted against the mayor without publicly offering any reason.
After that meeting some aldermen said the concern was that the person the mayor had hired to run the department was a problem in the city’s fire department and it wasn’t right to move a problem from one department to another.
Yet other council members were upset because they had not been consulted as they had been in the past when other mayors ran the city.
TOP STORY >>Holman to leave district in Cabot
By HEATHER HARTSELL
Leader staff writer
Dr. Frank Holman, superintendent for Cabot schools for five years, submitted his resignation Tuesday evening during the Cabot School Board meeting. It is effective June 30, when he becomes superintendent of Lincoln Consolidated School District near Fayetteville.
“My plans are to move up there and take a position with Lincoln schools,” he said. “It was a tough decision and I didn’t make it until 4 o’clock this afternoon,” Holman told the board. Holman said he had an opportunity to go back to Lincoln, where he had worked for 16 years. Lincoln’s current superintendent will retire at the end of the year. Holman met with the Lincoln School Board last week and discussed the upcoming opening.
“If he’s interested in us, we’re interested in him,” said Lincoln School Board president Connie Meyer. “I had planned to work here (Cabot) a couple more years and retire, but I did get an opportunity to go back to Lincoln, which is kind of my hometown,” Holman said.
One of his daughters is in northwest Arkansas attending the University of Arkansas. Making the move means a substantial cut in pay for Holman, who makes more than $171,000 as the Cabot chief. The district is expected to seek a successor to Holman soon.
“The great opportunity I’ve had here is unbelievable; outstanding teachers, administrators and board. I think we’re doing some outstanding things for students,” Holman said.
“People that know me – I don’t have any hobbies, I don’t hunt, fish or play golf, so I’m going to be doing something with the school business, but I want to tell you how much I appreciate this board,” he said. “Helen (Teffer), Jim (Dalton), all of our administrators, you all have been great with me, and I want to tell you how much I appreciate you,” he added. “We have some of the best teachers I’ve been around, so thank you and I appreciate the opportunity here,” he said.
David Hipp, school board president, spoke on behalf of the board, saying the district will get its money’s worth before Holman leaves in June.
“We’re definitely going to miss you,” Hipp said. “We appreciate what you have done for us, and we’re going to get some more work out of you before you leave. It will be hard to replace you, but we wish you the best and we know you made your decision based on what your needs are. We appreciate that and wish you all the best.”
Holman was the highest paid superintendent in 2003. In 2006, he was named Arkansas Super-intendent of the Year. Before coming to Cabot, he was superintendent in Arkadelphia from 1998 to 2002.
He worked for the Lincoln School District from 1982 to 1998, starting as a teacher, then principal and then superintendent.
He was a teacher at Clinton from 1980 to 1982; and a teacher and coach at Belleville, now Western Yell School District, from 1976 to 1980. Holman graduated from Arkansas Tech University in 1971. He is married and has two daughters.
Leader staff writer
Dr. Frank Holman, superintendent for Cabot schools for five years, submitted his resignation Tuesday evening during the Cabot School Board meeting. It is effective June 30, when he becomes superintendent of Lincoln Consolidated School District near Fayetteville.
“My plans are to move up there and take a position with Lincoln schools,” he said. “It was a tough decision and I didn’t make it until 4 o’clock this afternoon,” Holman told the board. Holman said he had an opportunity to go back to Lincoln, where he had worked for 16 years. Lincoln’s current superintendent will retire at the end of the year. Holman met with the Lincoln School Board last week and discussed the upcoming opening.
“If he’s interested in us, we’re interested in him,” said Lincoln School Board president Connie Meyer. “I had planned to work here (Cabot) a couple more years and retire, but I did get an opportunity to go back to Lincoln, which is kind of my hometown,” Holman said.
One of his daughters is in northwest Arkansas attending the University of Arkansas. Making the move means a substantial cut in pay for Holman, who makes more than $171,000 as the Cabot chief. The district is expected to seek a successor to Holman soon.
“The great opportunity I’ve had here is unbelievable; outstanding teachers, administrators and board. I think we’re doing some outstanding things for students,” Holman said.
“People that know me – I don’t have any hobbies, I don’t hunt, fish or play golf, so I’m going to be doing something with the school business, but I want to tell you how much I appreciate this board,” he said. “Helen (Teffer), Jim (Dalton), all of our administrators, you all have been great with me, and I want to tell you how much I appreciate you,” he added. “We have some of the best teachers I’ve been around, so thank you and I appreciate the opportunity here,” he said.
David Hipp, school board president, spoke on behalf of the board, saying the district will get its money’s worth before Holman leaves in June.
“We’re definitely going to miss you,” Hipp said. “We appreciate what you have done for us, and we’re going to get some more work out of you before you leave. It will be hard to replace you, but we wish you the best and we know you made your decision based on what your needs are. We appreciate that and wish you all the best.”
Holman was the highest paid superintendent in 2003. In 2006, he was named Arkansas Super-intendent of the Year. Before coming to Cabot, he was superintendent in Arkadelphia from 1998 to 2002.
He worked for the Lincoln School District from 1982 to 1998, starting as a teacher, then principal and then superintendent.
He was a teacher at Clinton from 1980 to 1982; and a teacher and coach at Belleville, now Western Yell School District, from 1976 to 1980. Holman graduated from Arkansas Tech University in 1971. He is married and has two daughters.
TOP STORY >>Cabot road may open by May
By JOHN HOFHEIMER
Leader staff writer
With the installation of the new bridge, the $1 million, 2.5-mile frontage road between Hwy. 5 and Hwy. 89 in Cabot now lacks only blacktop, the bridge approach, a little curb and gutter and a little sidewalk, according to Cabot Mayor Eddie Joe Williams.
Thompson Construction of Pocahontas was low bidder at $150,000 for the pre-cast concrete bridge, which was finished last week.
“It took about three weeks,” said Lonoke County Judge Charlie Troutman. “On a $150,000 job, they don’t waste much time.
Cabot chipped in $250,000 toward the project.
Troutman, who paid for most of the job out of Lonoke County road funds and had his road crew clear the land, bulldozed and graded it and spread the gravel base.
Troutman said he hoped the road will be open by early May. He has said he hopes it will not only help traffic and alleviate congestion, but will funnel more people and thus more tax dollars to the new Cabot Wal-Mart Supercenter instead of the one nearby in Jacksonville.
Sales tax at the Jacksonville Wal-Mart goes to Pulaski County. “We’ve gotten 100 percent cooperation from Williams and Cabot,” he said. “It’s been a pleasure to work with this mayor and city council.”
Troutman said his road crew “took the first tree down” on Oct. 15, 2005. A May opening would mean the entire project was completed in 18 months.
Leader staff writer
With the installation of the new bridge, the $1 million, 2.5-mile frontage road between Hwy. 5 and Hwy. 89 in Cabot now lacks only blacktop, the bridge approach, a little curb and gutter and a little sidewalk, according to Cabot Mayor Eddie Joe Williams.
Thompson Construction of Pocahontas was low bidder at $150,000 for the pre-cast concrete bridge, which was finished last week.
“It took about three weeks,” said Lonoke County Judge Charlie Troutman. “On a $150,000 job, they don’t waste much time.
Cabot chipped in $250,000 toward the project.
Troutman, who paid for most of the job out of Lonoke County road funds and had his road crew clear the land, bulldozed and graded it and spread the gravel base.
Troutman said he hoped the road will be open by early May. He has said he hopes it will not only help traffic and alleviate congestion, but will funnel more people and thus more tax dollars to the new Cabot Wal-Mart Supercenter instead of the one nearby in Jacksonville.
Sales tax at the Jacksonville Wal-Mart goes to Pulaski County. “We’ve gotten 100 percent cooperation from Williams and Cabot,” he said. “It’s been a pleasure to work with this mayor and city council.”
Troutman said his road crew “took the first tree down” on Oct. 15, 2005. A May opening would mean the entire project was completed in 18 months.
OBITUARIES >> 3-21-07
DEANIE MAHON
Deanie Young Mahon, 63, left this world March 17. She was a loving mother and grandmother.
Survivors include a son, Ronnie Cotton and wife Sandra; grandchildren, Jasmine and Christian Cotton, all of Carlisle; son, Steven Mahon of Carlisle; four sisters; five brothers and other relatives. Services will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday, March 21 at Boyd Funeral Home in Lonoke with burial in Hamilton Cemetery.
MARY PAUL
Mary Ellen Paul, 56, of Romance passed away March 18. She was born June 28, 1950, at Lonoke, to Tony and Sylvia Ward.
She was employed by the Veterans Administration for 29 years. She was preceded in death by one sister, and her parents.
Survivors include her husband, Johnny Bush; two daughters, Melody Davidson and husband Phillip of Warner Robins, Ga., and Misty Woerner and husband Ryan of Abilene, Texas; three grandchildren, Richard and Morgan Davidson and Blake Woerner; three brothers, Art Ward and Bill Ward, both of Florida, and Jerry Ward of Washington; one sister, Mildred Lovelace of Arkansas; and her dog, Molly.
Graveside service will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday, March 21 at Meadowbrook Memorial Gardens. Funeral arrangements are by Westbrook Funeral Home of Beebe.
VIRGINIA ALEXANDER
Virginia Ligon Alexander, 93, of North Little Rock died March 15 after a lengthy illness. She was born in El Paso, Texas, later moving to North Little Rock, where she lived most of her life. She was preceded in death by her parents, Cordie Lee and Edward L. Ligon, and a daughter, Judy Alexander.
Survivors include her daughter, Norma A. Taliaferro and family, as well as nieces in Arkansas, Arizona, and Califonia.
Virginia retired from the Missouri Pacific Railroad, where she worked all her life. She is loved and will be missed.
Funeral services were March 19 at the Chapel of Moore’s Jacksonville Funeral Home. Burial followed in Rest Hills Cemetery in North Little Rock.
JACK BLANDIN
Jack “Junior” Blandin, 81, passed away March 17. He was born May 31, 1925, the oldest of 14 children.
He is survived by his loving wife of 50 years, Tiny Louise Blandin; four daughters, Donna and husband Mike Fannin of Newark, Texas, Rita Blandin, Jackie “Jack-Jack” and husband Robbie Sunderman, and Teresa Andrew, all of Jacksonville; three grandsons, Eric Burton, Bobby Fannin, and Ivan Sunderman; four granddaughters, Courtney Burton, Britney Burton, Neshanna Birch, and Victoria Sunderman; six great-grandchildren and a host of music friends.
Graveside services were at Chapel Hill Memorial Park March 19. Funeral arrangements were by Moore’s Jacksonville Funeral Home.
NICK MAHNICK
Nick Mahnick, 91, of North Little Rock passed away March 15 in Jacksonville.
He was born March 7, 1916 in Bentleyville, Pa., to the late Mike and Ann Grabania Machnyk. He was preceded in death by his first wife, Alma Johnson Mahnick and his second wife, Ruth; sister, Mary; and two brothers, Bill and Mike.
He spent 10 years in the Pennsylvania coal mines after which he joined the U.S. Air Force. He served in France and Germany during the Second World War and he was stationed near “Hamburger Hill” in the Korean War. Other military assignments included Morocco, Spain, Austria and on the Russian border. Mr. Mahnick also worked for 18 years with Winrock Farms, where his duties included personal security for Gov. Rockefeller.
He was a member of the American Legion, 37 years with the Veterans of Foriegn Wars, Disabled American Veterans, The Military Order of the “COOTIES”, he gave over 4500 hours of volunteer service to the VA hospital and served on the nominating committee of the Jacksonville AARP and was also a Boy Scout counselor.
Survivors include his son, Mike Mahnick of Shreveport, La.; a step-daughter, Sandy Brown of Sheridan; two sisters, Ann Victain and Rose Nwranski, both of Valencia, Pa.; two grandchildren, Michael and Lisa as well as two great-grandchildren, Rikki and Zachary; as well as several nieces and nephews.
Funeral services were March 18 at Moore’s Jacksonville Funeral Home with Chaplain Brad Phillips officiating. Burial will follow in Chapel Hill Memorial Park.
MARY JAMES
Mary Jane James, 80, of Jacksonville passed away March 15 in Jacksonville.
She was born Oct. 12, 1926 in Peoria, Ill., to the late Harold Buckingham and Florence Robbins Johnson. She was also preceded in death by her brother, Morgan Lee Buckingham. She was formerly active in the Girl Scouts, Methodist Hand Bell Choir, United Methodist Women – Wesleyan Circle and was an active member of First United Methodist Church in Jacksonville.
Survivors include her loving husband of 60 years, J.C. James of the home; son, Richard C. James of Rogers; daughter, Deborah J. Tennison and husband Dale of Bass; son, Joe A. James and wife Kanae of Waynesville, Mo.; daughter, Lisa Marie Hickingbotham and husband Barry of Jacksonville; daughter-in-law, Virginia James of Fayetteville; nine grandchildren, Jennifer, Richard, Jr., Brittany, David, Becky, Rachel, Haley, Brandon and Molly and five great-grandchildren, Hannah, Mackenzie, Dylan, Keeton and Payton.
Funeral services were March 19 at First United Methodist Church in Jacksonville with Rev. Wendell Dorman and Dr. Carol Goddard officiating. Burial followed in Alderbrook Cemetery in the Desha community near Batesville. Memorials may be made to the United Methodist Women.
Arrangements were by Moore’s Jacksonville Funeral Home.
Deanie Young Mahon, 63, left this world March 17. She was a loving mother and grandmother.
Survivors include a son, Ronnie Cotton and wife Sandra; grandchildren, Jasmine and Christian Cotton, all of Carlisle; son, Steven Mahon of Carlisle; four sisters; five brothers and other relatives. Services will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday, March 21 at Boyd Funeral Home in Lonoke with burial in Hamilton Cemetery.
MARY PAUL
Mary Ellen Paul, 56, of Romance passed away March 18. She was born June 28, 1950, at Lonoke, to Tony and Sylvia Ward.
She was employed by the Veterans Administration for 29 years. She was preceded in death by one sister, and her parents.
Survivors include her husband, Johnny Bush; two daughters, Melody Davidson and husband Phillip of Warner Robins, Ga., and Misty Woerner and husband Ryan of Abilene, Texas; three grandchildren, Richard and Morgan Davidson and Blake Woerner; three brothers, Art Ward and Bill Ward, both of Florida, and Jerry Ward of Washington; one sister, Mildred Lovelace of Arkansas; and her dog, Molly.
Graveside service will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday, March 21 at Meadowbrook Memorial Gardens. Funeral arrangements are by Westbrook Funeral Home of Beebe.
VIRGINIA ALEXANDER
Virginia Ligon Alexander, 93, of North Little Rock died March 15 after a lengthy illness. She was born in El Paso, Texas, later moving to North Little Rock, where she lived most of her life. She was preceded in death by her parents, Cordie Lee and Edward L. Ligon, and a daughter, Judy Alexander.
Survivors include her daughter, Norma A. Taliaferro and family, as well as nieces in Arkansas, Arizona, and Califonia.
Virginia retired from the Missouri Pacific Railroad, where she worked all her life. She is loved and will be missed.
Funeral services were March 19 at the Chapel of Moore’s Jacksonville Funeral Home. Burial followed in Rest Hills Cemetery in North Little Rock.
JACK BLANDIN
Jack “Junior” Blandin, 81, passed away March 17. He was born May 31, 1925, the oldest of 14 children.
He is survived by his loving wife of 50 years, Tiny Louise Blandin; four daughters, Donna and husband Mike Fannin of Newark, Texas, Rita Blandin, Jackie “Jack-Jack” and husband Robbie Sunderman, and Teresa Andrew, all of Jacksonville; three grandsons, Eric Burton, Bobby Fannin, and Ivan Sunderman; four granddaughters, Courtney Burton, Britney Burton, Neshanna Birch, and Victoria Sunderman; six great-grandchildren and a host of music friends.
Graveside services were at Chapel Hill Memorial Park March 19. Funeral arrangements were by Moore’s Jacksonville Funeral Home.
NICK MAHNICK
Nick Mahnick, 91, of North Little Rock passed away March 15 in Jacksonville.
He was born March 7, 1916 in Bentleyville, Pa., to the late Mike and Ann Grabania Machnyk. He was preceded in death by his first wife, Alma Johnson Mahnick and his second wife, Ruth; sister, Mary; and two brothers, Bill and Mike.
He spent 10 years in the Pennsylvania coal mines after which he joined the U.S. Air Force. He served in France and Germany during the Second World War and he was stationed near “Hamburger Hill” in the Korean War. Other military assignments included Morocco, Spain, Austria and on the Russian border. Mr. Mahnick also worked for 18 years with Winrock Farms, where his duties included personal security for Gov. Rockefeller.
He was a member of the American Legion, 37 years with the Veterans of Foriegn Wars, Disabled American Veterans, The Military Order of the “COOTIES”, he gave over 4500 hours of volunteer service to the VA hospital and served on the nominating committee of the Jacksonville AARP and was also a Boy Scout counselor.
Survivors include his son, Mike Mahnick of Shreveport, La.; a step-daughter, Sandy Brown of Sheridan; two sisters, Ann Victain and Rose Nwranski, both of Valencia, Pa.; two grandchildren, Michael and Lisa as well as two great-grandchildren, Rikki and Zachary; as well as several nieces and nephews.
Funeral services were March 18 at Moore’s Jacksonville Funeral Home with Chaplain Brad Phillips officiating. Burial will follow in Chapel Hill Memorial Park.
MARY JAMES
Mary Jane James, 80, of Jacksonville passed away March 15 in Jacksonville.
She was born Oct. 12, 1926 in Peoria, Ill., to the late Harold Buckingham and Florence Robbins Johnson. She was also preceded in death by her brother, Morgan Lee Buckingham. She was formerly active in the Girl Scouts, Methodist Hand Bell Choir, United Methodist Women – Wesleyan Circle and was an active member of First United Methodist Church in Jacksonville.
Survivors include her loving husband of 60 years, J.C. James of the home; son, Richard C. James of Rogers; daughter, Deborah J. Tennison and husband Dale of Bass; son, Joe A. James and wife Kanae of Waynesville, Mo.; daughter, Lisa Marie Hickingbotham and husband Barry of Jacksonville; daughter-in-law, Virginia James of Fayetteville; nine grandchildren, Jennifer, Richard, Jr., Brittany, David, Becky, Rachel, Haley, Brandon and Molly and five great-grandchildren, Hannah, Mackenzie, Dylan, Keeton and Payton.
Funeral services were March 19 at First United Methodist Church in Jacksonville with Rev. Wendell Dorman and Dr. Carol Goddard officiating. Burial followed in Alderbrook Cemetery in the Desha community near Batesville. Memorials may be made to the United Methodist Women.
Arrangements were by Moore’s Jacksonville Funeral Home.
Monday, March 19, 2007
OBITUARIES >> 03-17-07
Wilda Beal
Wilda E. Beal, 77, of Beebe passed away March 16.
She was born May 23, 1929, at Gravel Hill, to the late Levi and Nola Penrod.
She was a member of First United Methodist Church. She was a loving and proud mother, grandmother and great-grandmother.
Wilda was preceded in death by two brothers, Marshall Penrod and Carl Penrod.
She is survived by her husband of 38 years, Thomas L. Beal; four daughters, Dolores Norris and husband Lloyd, Belinda Armstrong and husband Zuriel, Sandy Allen and husband Bill and Pat Price, all of Beebe; three sons, James T. Dunn, Jr. and wife Theda of Orlando, Fl., John F. Dunn and wife Wendy of Little Rock and Tim Dunn of North Little Rock; 14 grandchildren, three great-grandchildren; three sisters, Janet Davis and husband Bob of Beebe, Valeria Beard of Cabot and Joan Jones and husband Gary of Little Rock; one sister-in-law, Mary Penrod of Greenville, Texas; numerous nieces and nephews and many, many friends.
Family will receive friends from 5 to 7 p.m. Saturday, March 17 at Westbrook Funeral Home in Beebe. Funeral will be at 2 p.m. Sunday, March 18, at Beebe First United Methodist Church, with burial in Meadowbrook Memorial Gardens.
Donald Carter
Donald Alfred Carter, 71, of Jacksonville passed away March 15. He was born Nov. 28, 1935 in Duncan, Okla., to the late Rolla Gano and Vermella Carpenter Carter.
Mr. Carter served in the Marine Corps from 1952 to 1972 and was involved in the Korean and Vietnam conflicts. After his military service, he was a barber and hairstylist in Cabot and Jacksonville. He was also an avid target shooter and won many awards in competition.
Mr. Carter was a member of the Church of God.
He is survived by his wife of 51 years, Earlys Verte Arindain Carter of Jacksonville and four children, Daniel Alfred Carter and wife Anita of Hot Springs, Diana M. Lendermon and husband Doug of Beebe, Donna A. Flynn and husband Gary of Cabot and Patrick M. Carter of Pensacola, Fl., as well as 10 grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.
Funeral services will be at 4 p.m. Sunday, March 18, in Moore’s Jacksonville Funeral Home Chapel. Visitation will be from 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday, March 18. Entombment will be in Chapel Oaks Mausoleum.
Gladys Cook
Gladys Faye Cook, 93, of McRae died March 14 at Jackson, Miss.
She was born Nov. 1, 1913, at Beebe to John and Rose Edwards Fisher. She was a housewife and a member of McRae First Baptist Church.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Ellery Cook; her parents, six brothers, three sisters and one great-grandson, Logan Terry.
Survivors are her daughter, Joyce Terry and her husband Don of Ridgeland, Miss.; three grandsons, Mike, Steve and Jeff Terry; four great-grandchildren, Alan, Nicholas, Jamie and Brian Terry; and one sister, Evelyn Thornton of Batesville.
Funeral will be at 10 a.m. Saturday, March 17, at McRae First Baptist Church with burial in Lebanon Cemetery. Memorials may be made to Lebanon Cemetery, c/o Val Valdez, 122 Hwy. 321, Beebe, Ark., 72012. Arrangements are by Westbrook Funeral Home of Beebe.
Daevion Jones
Daevion Amir Jones, 3, of Jacksonville passed away Monday in Little Rock. He was born Dec. 22, 2003 in Jacksonville, to Daud and Meloney Graham Jones.
He is survived by his parents; sister, Najae’ Jones; paternal grandmother, Debrah Carr; maternal grandparents, Pegi Graham, and Marlon Graham; paternal great-grandfather, Paul Carr; maternal great-grandfather, John Edward Graham; maternal great-grandparents, Loretta and Thomas McMahan; and a host of aunts, uncles and cousins.
Graveside services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday, March 17 at Chapel Hill Memorial Park. Visitation will be from 9 to 11 a.m. prior to service. Funeral arrangements are by Moore’s Jacksonville Funeral Home.
Teri McCarty
Teri L. McCarty, 47, of Cabot passed away March 8, in Kauai, Hawaii.
She was born Aug. 8, 1959 in St. Louis, Mo., to Shirley Westfall Richter and the late Russell Richter.
She was employed as a legal secretary for Quattlebaum, Grooms, Tull, and Burrow Law Offices and was of the Lutheran faith.
Survivors include her husband, James McCarty of Cabot; brothers, Stephen Richter and his wife Jo Ann of Cabot and Jeffrey Scott Richter and his wife Lynn of St. Louis, Mo.; nieces, Dana, Shelly, Jamie and Lindsey; nephews, Sean and Scott as well as many close friends.
Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. Monday, March 19, in the chapel of Moore’s Jacksonville Funeral Home with Rev. Kevin Conger officiating. Burial will follow in Chapel Hill Memorial Park at Jacksonville. Visitation will be at the funeral home from 6 to 8 p.m. Sunday, March 18.
Louvenia Williams
Louvenia Williams, 87, of Hickory Plains went to her final resting place March 14.
She was a member of Pleasant Ridge Baptist Church.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Hosea Williams, Sr.
Survivors are one son, Hosea K. and wife Peggy Williams, of Cabot; five daughters, Eddie Sumners of St. Louis, Patsy Williams of Little Rock, Charlene Nelson and Ola Mae Williams, both of Jacksonville and Joann and husband Ulysses Carter of Floyd; one brother, Leonard Ford of Mississippi; three sisters, Willie Harshaw of Hickory Plains, Alma Ford of Texas and Nancy and husband Otis Rollins of Iowa; 15 grandchildren, 27 great-grandchildren, two great-great-grandchildren and a host of nieces and nephews.
Funeral will be at 3 p.m. Saturday, March 17, at Westbrook Funeral Home in Beebe with burial in Pleasant Ridge Cemetery at Hickory Plains.
Gerlie Hogue
Gerlie Frances Reed Hogue, 82, formerly of Hamburg passed away March 13.
She is survived by her husband of 11 years, Russel Hogue; her son, Jimmy Wallace and wife Sheila of Lonoke, and their daughters, Jennifer Hale and husband Eric and Leah Palmer and husband Reagan; and a great-granddaughter, Anna Claire Hale. She is also survived by a step-son, David Hogue and wife Dana and their children, Robinson and Austin; step-daughter, Elizabeth Bell and husband Dwayne and their children, Josh and Amanda, Susan Manning and husband Roger and their children Mackenzie Barber and husband Kameron and Clay Manning and wife Jennifer, his seven grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
A memorial celebration was held at Lonoke Baptist Church March 15. There was a private burial. Memorials may be given to the church of your choice. Arrangements were by Boyd Funeral Home of Lonoke and Jones Funeral Home of Hamburg.
Wilda E. Beal, 77, of Beebe passed away March 16.
She was born May 23, 1929, at Gravel Hill, to the late Levi and Nola Penrod.
She was a member of First United Methodist Church. She was a loving and proud mother, grandmother and great-grandmother.
Wilda was preceded in death by two brothers, Marshall Penrod and Carl Penrod.
She is survived by her husband of 38 years, Thomas L. Beal; four daughters, Dolores Norris and husband Lloyd, Belinda Armstrong and husband Zuriel, Sandy Allen and husband Bill and Pat Price, all of Beebe; three sons, James T. Dunn, Jr. and wife Theda of Orlando, Fl., John F. Dunn and wife Wendy of Little Rock and Tim Dunn of North Little Rock; 14 grandchildren, three great-grandchildren; three sisters, Janet Davis and husband Bob of Beebe, Valeria Beard of Cabot and Joan Jones and husband Gary of Little Rock; one sister-in-law, Mary Penrod of Greenville, Texas; numerous nieces and nephews and many, many friends.
Family will receive friends from 5 to 7 p.m. Saturday, March 17 at Westbrook Funeral Home in Beebe. Funeral will be at 2 p.m. Sunday, March 18, at Beebe First United Methodist Church, with burial in Meadowbrook Memorial Gardens.
Donald Carter
Donald Alfred Carter, 71, of Jacksonville passed away March 15. He was born Nov. 28, 1935 in Duncan, Okla., to the late Rolla Gano and Vermella Carpenter Carter.
Mr. Carter served in the Marine Corps from 1952 to 1972 and was involved in the Korean and Vietnam conflicts. After his military service, he was a barber and hairstylist in Cabot and Jacksonville. He was also an avid target shooter and won many awards in competition.
Mr. Carter was a member of the Church of God.
He is survived by his wife of 51 years, Earlys Verte Arindain Carter of Jacksonville and four children, Daniel Alfred Carter and wife Anita of Hot Springs, Diana M. Lendermon and husband Doug of Beebe, Donna A. Flynn and husband Gary of Cabot and Patrick M. Carter of Pensacola, Fl., as well as 10 grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.
Funeral services will be at 4 p.m. Sunday, March 18, in Moore’s Jacksonville Funeral Home Chapel. Visitation will be from 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday, March 18. Entombment will be in Chapel Oaks Mausoleum.
Gladys Cook
Gladys Faye Cook, 93, of McRae died March 14 at Jackson, Miss.
She was born Nov. 1, 1913, at Beebe to John and Rose Edwards Fisher. She was a housewife and a member of McRae First Baptist Church.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Ellery Cook; her parents, six brothers, three sisters and one great-grandson, Logan Terry.
Survivors are her daughter, Joyce Terry and her husband Don of Ridgeland, Miss.; three grandsons, Mike, Steve and Jeff Terry; four great-grandchildren, Alan, Nicholas, Jamie and Brian Terry; and one sister, Evelyn Thornton of Batesville.
Funeral will be at 10 a.m. Saturday, March 17, at McRae First Baptist Church with burial in Lebanon Cemetery. Memorials may be made to Lebanon Cemetery, c/o Val Valdez, 122 Hwy. 321, Beebe, Ark., 72012. Arrangements are by Westbrook Funeral Home of Beebe.
Daevion Jones
Daevion Amir Jones, 3, of Jacksonville passed away Monday in Little Rock. He was born Dec. 22, 2003 in Jacksonville, to Daud and Meloney Graham Jones.
He is survived by his parents; sister, Najae’ Jones; paternal grandmother, Debrah Carr; maternal grandparents, Pegi Graham, and Marlon Graham; paternal great-grandfather, Paul Carr; maternal great-grandfather, John Edward Graham; maternal great-grandparents, Loretta and Thomas McMahan; and a host of aunts, uncles and cousins.
Graveside services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday, March 17 at Chapel Hill Memorial Park. Visitation will be from 9 to 11 a.m. prior to service. Funeral arrangements are by Moore’s Jacksonville Funeral Home.
Teri McCarty
Teri L. McCarty, 47, of Cabot passed away March 8, in Kauai, Hawaii.
She was born Aug. 8, 1959 in St. Louis, Mo., to Shirley Westfall Richter and the late Russell Richter.
She was employed as a legal secretary for Quattlebaum, Grooms, Tull, and Burrow Law Offices and was of the Lutheran faith.
Survivors include her husband, James McCarty of Cabot; brothers, Stephen Richter and his wife Jo Ann of Cabot and Jeffrey Scott Richter and his wife Lynn of St. Louis, Mo.; nieces, Dana, Shelly, Jamie and Lindsey; nephews, Sean and Scott as well as many close friends.
Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. Monday, March 19, in the chapel of Moore’s Jacksonville Funeral Home with Rev. Kevin Conger officiating. Burial will follow in Chapel Hill Memorial Park at Jacksonville. Visitation will be at the funeral home from 6 to 8 p.m. Sunday, March 18.
Louvenia Williams
Louvenia Williams, 87, of Hickory Plains went to her final resting place March 14.
She was a member of Pleasant Ridge Baptist Church.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Hosea Williams, Sr.
Survivors are one son, Hosea K. and wife Peggy Williams, of Cabot; five daughters, Eddie Sumners of St. Louis, Patsy Williams of Little Rock, Charlene Nelson and Ola Mae Williams, both of Jacksonville and Joann and husband Ulysses Carter of Floyd; one brother, Leonard Ford of Mississippi; three sisters, Willie Harshaw of Hickory Plains, Alma Ford of Texas and Nancy and husband Otis Rollins of Iowa; 15 grandchildren, 27 great-grandchildren, two great-great-grandchildren and a host of nieces and nephews.
Funeral will be at 3 p.m. Saturday, March 17, at Westbrook Funeral Home in Beebe with burial in Pleasant Ridge Cemetery at Hickory Plains.
Gerlie Hogue
Gerlie Frances Reed Hogue, 82, formerly of Hamburg passed away March 13.
She is survived by her husband of 11 years, Russel Hogue; her son, Jimmy Wallace and wife Sheila of Lonoke, and their daughters, Jennifer Hale and husband Eric and Leah Palmer and husband Reagan; and a great-granddaughter, Anna Claire Hale. She is also survived by a step-son, David Hogue and wife Dana and their children, Robinson and Austin; step-daughter, Elizabeth Bell and husband Dwayne and their children, Josh and Amanda, Susan Manning and husband Roger and their children Mackenzie Barber and husband Kameron and Clay Manning and wife Jennifer, his seven grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
A memorial celebration was held at Lonoke Baptist Church March 15. There was a private burial. Memorials may be given to the church of your choice. Arrangements were by Boyd Funeral Home of Lonoke and Jones Funeral Home of Hamburg.
EDITORIALS>>Disillusioned Republican
Harry E. “Bud” Cummins III was as hardy a Republican as you could find and probably still is although his career in the Grand Old Party is surely over. He carried the party’s banner in a tough race against U.S. Rep. Vic Snyder in 1996, worked for the slate in every election and was one of the six George W. Bush electors from Arkansas in 2000.
He was rewarded with the job of U.S. attorney in 2001. When they called from the Justice Department to fire him last June, Cummins quietly and graciously acceded, even to the Washington strategy of delaying his “voluntary” resignation until after Congress went into its winter recess so that President Bush could appoint his successor without having to get the Senate’s concurrence. When his and the firing of seven other district attorneys created a ruckus in December Cummins steadfastly defended the president’s prerogative to replace them even on a whim.
This week Bud Cummins is a chastened man, disillusioned that the leaders of his party would try to make legal justice a function of political loyalty. First a telephone call in February from the Justice Department warning of nasty consequences if the fired prosecutors did not lay low and then the release of a sheaf of memoranda between the Justice Department and the White House persuaded Cummins that he might have been too charitable about his bosses.
“This is the kind of thing you convince yourself only happens in the other party,” Cummins told a Memphis newspaper this week. “But the truth is, from time to time it is no longer a question of party, it is just a question of right or wrong.”
The emails among Attorney General Alberto Gonzales’ chief of staff and top White House aides, including the president’s secretary and chief counsel, Harriet Miers, indicated that Cummins and the other attorneys, all Republicans, were not sufficiently loyal or else “chafed” at the White House agenda.
They were not “loyal Bushies,” as one email described the better U.S. attorneys although the disloyalties of the eight were never identified. Most of the fired attorneys had been investigating Republican officials for public corruption and had gotten a conviction or two or else they did not nail Democratic officials in time to influence the election last year.
At first, those political failings did not seem to apply to Cummins, who had not prosecuted Republican officials in Arkansas and had prosecuted two minor Democrats, a couple of Pine Bluff aldermen. He tried and failed to convict a Tennessee state medical examiner of fraud in a bizarre case where the U.S. prosecutor was disqualified for a conflict of interest.
Cummins did not have the stunning record of his predecessor, Clinton appointee Paula Casey, who had sent senators, a representative, a prominent prosecuting attorney and other Democrats to prison or fined them for corruption. The whole phalanx of Clinton U.S. attorneys appointed in 1993 produced rafts of convictions. In Chicago, the new Democratic prosecutor expanded the investigation of the powerful Democratic chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee and indicted him on 17 counts.
But this week, after all the revelations, Cummins was not so sure that the White House’s desire to replace him with Tim Griffin, an aide who had been engaged in opposition research on Democrats for most of eight years, was not motivated by the same politics.
Early last year Cummins went to Missouri to supervise an investigation of government contracting under Republican officials. There were allegations that the Republican governor, Matt Blunt, had rewarded political supporters with lucrative contracts to run state drivers license offices, including the wife of a Republican U.S. attorney. Both U.S. attorneys recused because they had conflicts and Cummins was brought in to direct the investigation.
Cummins said Washington never asked him to whitewash Blunt in spite of a critical Senate race in that state. But he did get a call from the governor’s attorney asking about the investigation and wanting to put out a public announcement before the election that Gov. Blunt did nothing wrong and was not a target.
Following Justice Department policy, Cummins refused to discuss the investigation. Soon afterward, he got a call from the Justice Department telling him that the White House wanted him to quit later in the year. Now, he told the Kansas City Star this week, he is beginning to think the Blunt investigation was the reason.
Two weeks before the election, violating old Justice Department policy of keeping mum on investigations unless there is an indictment, Cummins issued a public statement exonerating Blunt. It made no difference.
On Dec. 15 the Justice Department appointed Griffin to his job under a provision of the Patriot Act giving the president powers to skip the Senate in emergencies. Cummins resigned the next day.
Cummins has not gone the next step and demanded that his successor, now so terribly tainted by the injection of politics into the prosecution of justice, resign. But that is the only way to restore confidence that justice will be administered impartially in the eastern district of Arkansas.
He was rewarded with the job of U.S. attorney in 2001. When they called from the Justice Department to fire him last June, Cummins quietly and graciously acceded, even to the Washington strategy of delaying his “voluntary” resignation until after Congress went into its winter recess so that President Bush could appoint his successor without having to get the Senate’s concurrence. When his and the firing of seven other district attorneys created a ruckus in December Cummins steadfastly defended the president’s prerogative to replace them even on a whim.
This week Bud Cummins is a chastened man, disillusioned that the leaders of his party would try to make legal justice a function of political loyalty. First a telephone call in February from the Justice Department warning of nasty consequences if the fired prosecutors did not lay low and then the release of a sheaf of memoranda between the Justice Department and the White House persuaded Cummins that he might have been too charitable about his bosses.
“This is the kind of thing you convince yourself only happens in the other party,” Cummins told a Memphis newspaper this week. “But the truth is, from time to time it is no longer a question of party, it is just a question of right or wrong.”
The emails among Attorney General Alberto Gonzales’ chief of staff and top White House aides, including the president’s secretary and chief counsel, Harriet Miers, indicated that Cummins and the other attorneys, all Republicans, were not sufficiently loyal or else “chafed” at the White House agenda.
They were not “loyal Bushies,” as one email described the better U.S. attorneys although the disloyalties of the eight were never identified. Most of the fired attorneys had been investigating Republican officials for public corruption and had gotten a conviction or two or else they did not nail Democratic officials in time to influence the election last year.
At first, those political failings did not seem to apply to Cummins, who had not prosecuted Republican officials in Arkansas and had prosecuted two minor Democrats, a couple of Pine Bluff aldermen. He tried and failed to convict a Tennessee state medical examiner of fraud in a bizarre case where the U.S. prosecutor was disqualified for a conflict of interest.
Cummins did not have the stunning record of his predecessor, Clinton appointee Paula Casey, who had sent senators, a representative, a prominent prosecuting attorney and other Democrats to prison or fined them for corruption. The whole phalanx of Clinton U.S. attorneys appointed in 1993 produced rafts of convictions. In Chicago, the new Democratic prosecutor expanded the investigation of the powerful Democratic chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee and indicted him on 17 counts.
But this week, after all the revelations, Cummins was not so sure that the White House’s desire to replace him with Tim Griffin, an aide who had been engaged in opposition research on Democrats for most of eight years, was not motivated by the same politics.
Early last year Cummins went to Missouri to supervise an investigation of government contracting under Republican officials. There were allegations that the Republican governor, Matt Blunt, had rewarded political supporters with lucrative contracts to run state drivers license offices, including the wife of a Republican U.S. attorney. Both U.S. attorneys recused because they had conflicts and Cummins was brought in to direct the investigation.
Cummins said Washington never asked him to whitewash Blunt in spite of a critical Senate race in that state. But he did get a call from the governor’s attorney asking about the investigation and wanting to put out a public announcement before the election that Gov. Blunt did nothing wrong and was not a target.
Following Justice Department policy, Cummins refused to discuss the investigation. Soon afterward, he got a call from the Justice Department telling him that the White House wanted him to quit later in the year. Now, he told the Kansas City Star this week, he is beginning to think the Blunt investigation was the reason.
Two weeks before the election, violating old Justice Department policy of keeping mum on investigations unless there is an indictment, Cummins issued a public statement exonerating Blunt. It made no difference.
On Dec. 15 the Justice Department appointed Griffin to his job under a provision of the Patriot Act giving the president powers to skip the Senate in emergencies. Cummins resigned the next day.
Cummins has not gone the next step and demanded that his successor, now so terribly tainted by the injection of politics into the prosecution of justice, resign. But that is the only way to restore confidence that justice will be administered impartially in the eastern district of Arkansas.
EVENTS>>Winter 2007
The annual Clean Up Jacksonville/Keep Jacksonville Beautiful event is scheduled for April 14. Teams from local businesses, civic clubs, churches, schools and base squadrons are forming to help spruce up our city.
Pre-register your group and your choice of area to clean by calling Jimmy Oakley, Jacksonville Public Works Coordinator, at 982-6071. Trash bags will be provided and can be picked up at 9 a.m. at the Chamber building at 200 Dupree Drive the day of the event.
Lonoke County residents wanting to learn how to save money for home ownership or improvement, expand a small business, or for post-secondary education are invited to the Central Arkansas Development Council (CADC) Individual Development Account (IDA) orientation meeting at 5 p.m. on Tuesday at the CADC Lonoke Office, 117 S. E. Street in Lonoke.
The meeting is open to the public. Angel Clingmon with CADC will be on hand to explain the IDA program and will hand out applications to interested parties. The program is designed to help low- to moderate-income persons become more financially self-sufficient.
The IDA programs helps a person start a savings plan and receive a match for a home, business, or to further an education.
Volunteers are needed for Cabot’s annual spring community-improvement effort on Saturday, March 24th beginning at 9 a.m. The cleanup is being held in conjunction with the Great American Cleanup, the annual spring nationwide community-improvement campaign presented by Keep America Beautiful (KAmB) and Keep Arkansas Beautiful (KAB), a state affiliate of KAmB.
Volunteers should meet at the Cabot Panther Stadium parking lot, at 9 a.m. and check-in at the big clean-up tent. Volunteers will be assigned routes not chosen earlier.
Orange safety vests and garbage bags will be available but participants are encouraged to bring sturdy work gloves. At noon, all volunteers should meet back at the Panther Stadium parking lot to enjoy some free food and drinks.
There will be a car wash, hot dog and bake sale from 10 a.m. until the last customer leaves at Auto Zone in Jacksonville Saturday, March 24 to raise funds for the Arkansas Heart Association Walk.
The Gospel Tones have partnered with the Jacksonville Senior Center for a fundraiser March 29 to benefit the senior center, 100 Victory Circle. The Gospel Tones will serve up wonderful music and the senior center will serve up the evening meal of chili and all the fixings. Tickets are $5; serving starts at 6 p.m. For more information call Barbara at 982-7531.
The Arkansas State University-Beebe Alumni Association will host the seventh annual 5K Race at 8:30 a.m. Saturday, March 31. Race proceeds provide student textbook scholarships.
Runners will compete in 15 age categories. Trophies will be awarded to the overall female and male winner runner and walker.
Registration fee is $18 in advance and $20 on race day. Race day registration will be from 7:15 to 8:15 a.m. The race will begin promptly at 8:30 a.m. More information on the alumni race and other upcoming events may be obtained by contacting the Office of Institutional Advancement at (501) 882-8255.
Arkansas State University-Searcy, a technical campus of ASU-Beebe, will conduct an Energy Training Council (E.T.C.) Safety Training on Saturday, March 31 for people interested in working for the gas drilling industry.
This 10-hour OSHA safety course, which is designed specifically for the gas drilling industry, will be held from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuition is $100, which includes training materials, book and certification fees.
This certification is required by the gas drilling industry to work on any job site or area that E.T.C is recognized. Pre-registration is required for this class and class size is limited. To pre-register contact Donna Yingling at (501) 207-4051 or via email at dyingling@searcy.asub.edu
“March for Meals” is a national annual campaign intended to increase public awareness, recruit new volunteers, and increase local fundraising. We are celebrating March for Meals on Tuesday with the help of Mayor Tommy Swaim, Alderman Bill Howard, Alderman Marshall Smith, Chief Vanderhoof and others. If you are interested in delivering meals on this day, please contact Barbara Seagle or Nikeba Davis at 982-7531.
An AARP driver safety course will be taught at Beebe Shepherd’s Center, 302 N. Main St., Beebe from 1 to 5 p.m. Friday, March 23. Cost is $10, payable to AARP. Call 501-882-0243 to register. John Barnett will teach the course. Individuals who take the course who are 55+ are entitled to a reduction in autmobile insurance.
Jacksonville Parks and Recreation Department will hold its annual Easter Egg Hunt March 31 at Excell Park located on the corner of Ray Road and Southeastern Ave. The hunt is for ages walking to ten.
Pre-register your group and your choice of area to clean by calling Jimmy Oakley, Jacksonville Public Works Coordinator, at 982-6071. Trash bags will be provided and can be picked up at 9 a.m. at the Chamber building at 200 Dupree Drive the day of the event.
Lonoke County residents wanting to learn how to save money for home ownership or improvement, expand a small business, or for post-secondary education are invited to the Central Arkansas Development Council (CADC) Individual Development Account (IDA) orientation meeting at 5 p.m. on Tuesday at the CADC Lonoke Office, 117 S. E. Street in Lonoke.
The meeting is open to the public. Angel Clingmon with CADC will be on hand to explain the IDA program and will hand out applications to interested parties. The program is designed to help low- to moderate-income persons become more financially self-sufficient.
The IDA programs helps a person start a savings plan and receive a match for a home, business, or to further an education.
Volunteers are needed for Cabot’s annual spring community-improvement effort on Saturday, March 24th beginning at 9 a.m. The cleanup is being held in conjunction with the Great American Cleanup, the annual spring nationwide community-improvement campaign presented by Keep America Beautiful (KAmB) and Keep Arkansas Beautiful (KAB), a state affiliate of KAmB.
Volunteers should meet at the Cabot Panther Stadium parking lot, at 9 a.m. and check-in at the big clean-up tent. Volunteers will be assigned routes not chosen earlier.
Orange safety vests and garbage bags will be available but participants are encouraged to bring sturdy work gloves. At noon, all volunteers should meet back at the Panther Stadium parking lot to enjoy some free food and drinks.
There will be a car wash, hot dog and bake sale from 10 a.m. until the last customer leaves at Auto Zone in Jacksonville Saturday, March 24 to raise funds for the Arkansas Heart Association Walk.
The Gospel Tones have partnered with the Jacksonville Senior Center for a fundraiser March 29 to benefit the senior center, 100 Victory Circle. The Gospel Tones will serve up wonderful music and the senior center will serve up the evening meal of chili and all the fixings. Tickets are $5; serving starts at 6 p.m. For more information call Barbara at 982-7531.
The Arkansas State University-Beebe Alumni Association will host the seventh annual 5K Race at 8:30 a.m. Saturday, March 31. Race proceeds provide student textbook scholarships.
Runners will compete in 15 age categories. Trophies will be awarded to the overall female and male winner runner and walker.
Registration fee is $18 in advance and $20 on race day. Race day registration will be from 7:15 to 8:15 a.m. The race will begin promptly at 8:30 a.m. More information on the alumni race and other upcoming events may be obtained by contacting the Office of Institutional Advancement at (501) 882-8255.
Arkansas State University-Searcy, a technical campus of ASU-Beebe, will conduct an Energy Training Council (E.T.C.) Safety Training on Saturday, March 31 for people interested in working for the gas drilling industry.
This 10-hour OSHA safety course, which is designed specifically for the gas drilling industry, will be held from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuition is $100, which includes training materials, book and certification fees.
This certification is required by the gas drilling industry to work on any job site or area that E.T.C is recognized. Pre-registration is required for this class and class size is limited. To pre-register contact Donna Yingling at (501) 207-4051 or via email at dyingling@searcy.asub.edu
“March for Meals” is a national annual campaign intended to increase public awareness, recruit new volunteers, and increase local fundraising. We are celebrating March for Meals on Tuesday with the help of Mayor Tommy Swaim, Alderman Bill Howard, Alderman Marshall Smith, Chief Vanderhoof and others. If you are interested in delivering meals on this day, please contact Barbara Seagle or Nikeba Davis at 982-7531.
An AARP driver safety course will be taught at Beebe Shepherd’s Center, 302 N. Main St., Beebe from 1 to 5 p.m. Friday, March 23. Cost is $10, payable to AARP. Call 501-882-0243 to register. John Barnett will teach the course. Individuals who take the course who are 55+ are entitled to a reduction in autmobile insurance.
Jacksonville Parks and Recreation Department will hold its annual Easter Egg Hunt March 31 at Excell Park located on the corner of Ray Road and Southeastern Ave. The hunt is for ages walking to ten.
EVENTS>>Winter 2007
The annual Clean Up Jacksonville/Keep Jacksonville Beautiful event is scheduled for April 14. Teams from local businesses, civic clubs, churches, schools and base squadrons are forming to help spruce up our city.
Pre-register your group and your choice of area to clean by calling Jimmy Oakley, Jacksonville Public Works Coordinator, at 982-6071. Trash bags will be provided and can be picked up at 9 a.m. at the Chamber building at 200 Dupree Drive the day of the event.
Lonoke County residents wanting to learn how to save money for home ownership or improvement, expand a small business, or for post-secondary education are invited to the Central Arkansas Development Council (CADC) Individual Development Account (IDA) orientation meeting at 5 p.m. on Tuesday at the CADC Lonoke Office, 117 S. E. Street in Lonoke.
The meeting is open to the public. Angel Clingmon with CADC will be on hand to explain the IDA program and will hand out applications to interested parties. The program is designed to help low- to moderate-income persons become more financially self-sufficient.
The IDA programs helps a person start a savings plan and receive a match for a home, business, or to further an education.
Volunteers are needed for Cabot’s annual spring community-improvement effort on Saturday, March 24th beginning at 9 a.m. The cleanup is being held in conjunction with the Great American Cleanup, the annual spring nationwide community-improvement campaign presented by Keep America Beautiful (KAmB) and Keep Arkansas Beautiful (KAB), a state affiliate of KAmB.
Volunteers should meet at the Cabot Panther Stadium parking lot, at 9 a.m. and check-in at the big clean-up tent. Volunteers will be assigned routes not chosen earlier.
Orange safety vests and garbage bags will be available but participants are encouraged to bring sturdy work gloves. At noon, all volunteers should meet back at the Panther Stadium parking lot to enjoy some free food and drinks.
There will be a car wash, hot dog and bake sale from 10 a.m. until the last customer leaves at Auto Zone in Jacksonville Saturday, March 24 to raise funds for the Arkansas Heart Association Walk.
The Gospel Tones have partnered with the Jacksonville Senior Center for a fundraiser March 29 to benefit the senior center, 100 Victory Circle. The Gospel Tones will serve up wonderful music and the senior center will serve up the evening meal of chili and all the fixings. Tickets are $5; serving starts at 6 p.m. For more information call Barbara at 982-7531.
The Arkansas State University-Beebe Alumni Association will host the seventh annual 5K Race at 8:30 a.m. Saturday, March 31. Race proceeds provide student textbook scholarships.
Runners will compete in 15 age categories. Trophies will be awarded to the overall female and male winner runner and walker.
Registration fee is $18 in advance and $20 on race day. Race day registration will be from 7:15 to 8:15 a.m. The race will begin promptly at 8:30 a.m. More information on the alumni race and other upcoming events may be obtained by contacting the Office of Institutional Advancement at (501) 882-8255.
Arkansas State University-Searcy, a technical campus of ASU-Beebe, will conduct an Energy Training Council (E.T.C.) Safety Training on Saturday, March 31 for people interested in working for the gas drilling industry.
This 10-hour OSHA safety course, which is designed specifically for the gas drilling industry, will be held from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuition is $100, which includes training materials, book and certification fees.
This certification is required by the gas drilling industry to work on any job site or area that E.T.C is recognized. Pre-registration is required for this class and class size is limited. To pre-register contact Donna Yingling at (501) 207-4051 or via email at dyingling@searcy.asub.edu
“March for Meals” is a national annual campaign intended to increase public awareness, recruit new volunteers, and increase local fundraising. We are celebrating March for Meals on Tuesday with the help of Mayor Tommy Swaim, Alderman Bill Howard, Alderman Marshall Smith, Chief Vanderhoof and others. If you are interested in delivering meals on this day, please contact Barbara Seagle or Nikeba Davis at 982-7531.
An AARP driver safety course will be taught at Beebe Shepherd’s Center, 302 N. Main St., Beebe from 1 to 5 p.m. Friday, March 23. Cost is $10, payable to AARP. Call 501-882-0243 to register. John Barnett will teach the course. Individuals who take the course who are 55+ are entitled to a reduction in autmobile insurance.
Jacksonville Parks and Recreation Department will hold its annual Easter Egg Hunt March 31 at Excell Park located on the corner of Ray Road and Southeastern Ave. The hunt is for ages walking to ten.
Pre-register your group and your choice of area to clean by calling Jimmy Oakley, Jacksonville Public Works Coordinator, at 982-6071. Trash bags will be provided and can be picked up at 9 a.m. at the Chamber building at 200 Dupree Drive the day of the event.
Lonoke County residents wanting to learn how to save money for home ownership or improvement, expand a small business, or for post-secondary education are invited to the Central Arkansas Development Council (CADC) Individual Development Account (IDA) orientation meeting at 5 p.m. on Tuesday at the CADC Lonoke Office, 117 S. E. Street in Lonoke.
The meeting is open to the public. Angel Clingmon with CADC will be on hand to explain the IDA program and will hand out applications to interested parties. The program is designed to help low- to moderate-income persons become more financially self-sufficient.
The IDA programs helps a person start a savings plan and receive a match for a home, business, or to further an education.
Volunteers are needed for Cabot’s annual spring community-improvement effort on Saturday, March 24th beginning at 9 a.m. The cleanup is being held in conjunction with the Great American Cleanup, the annual spring nationwide community-improvement campaign presented by Keep America Beautiful (KAmB) and Keep Arkansas Beautiful (KAB), a state affiliate of KAmB.
Volunteers should meet at the Cabot Panther Stadium parking lot, at 9 a.m. and check-in at the big clean-up tent. Volunteers will be assigned routes not chosen earlier.
Orange safety vests and garbage bags will be available but participants are encouraged to bring sturdy work gloves. At noon, all volunteers should meet back at the Panther Stadium parking lot to enjoy some free food and drinks.
There will be a car wash, hot dog and bake sale from 10 a.m. until the last customer leaves at Auto Zone in Jacksonville Saturday, March 24 to raise funds for the Arkansas Heart Association Walk.
The Gospel Tones have partnered with the Jacksonville Senior Center for a fundraiser March 29 to benefit the senior center, 100 Victory Circle. The Gospel Tones will serve up wonderful music and the senior center will serve up the evening meal of chili and all the fixings. Tickets are $5; serving starts at 6 p.m. For more information call Barbara at 982-7531.
The Arkansas State University-Beebe Alumni Association will host the seventh annual 5K Race at 8:30 a.m. Saturday, March 31. Race proceeds provide student textbook scholarships.
Runners will compete in 15 age categories. Trophies will be awarded to the overall female and male winner runner and walker.
Registration fee is $18 in advance and $20 on race day. Race day registration will be from 7:15 to 8:15 a.m. The race will begin promptly at 8:30 a.m. More information on the alumni race and other upcoming events may be obtained by contacting the Office of Institutional Advancement at (501) 882-8255.
Arkansas State University-Searcy, a technical campus of ASU-Beebe, will conduct an Energy Training Council (E.T.C.) Safety Training on Saturday, March 31 for people interested in working for the gas drilling industry.
This 10-hour OSHA safety course, which is designed specifically for the gas drilling industry, will be held from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuition is $100, which includes training materials, book and certification fees.
This certification is required by the gas drilling industry to work on any job site or area that E.T.C is recognized. Pre-registration is required for this class and class size is limited. To pre-register contact Donna Yingling at (501) 207-4051 or via email at dyingling@searcy.asub.edu
“March for Meals” is a national annual campaign intended to increase public awareness, recruit new volunteers, and increase local fundraising. We are celebrating March for Meals on Tuesday with the help of Mayor Tommy Swaim, Alderman Bill Howard, Alderman Marshall Smith, Chief Vanderhoof and others. If you are interested in delivering meals on this day, please contact Barbara Seagle or Nikeba Davis at 982-7531.
An AARP driver safety course will be taught at Beebe Shepherd’s Center, 302 N. Main St., Beebe from 1 to 5 p.m. Friday, March 23. Cost is $10, payable to AARP. Call 501-882-0243 to register. John Barnett will teach the course. Individuals who take the course who are 55+ are entitled to a reduction in autmobile insurance.
Jacksonville Parks and Recreation Department will hold its annual Easter Egg Hunt March 31 at Excell Park located on the corner of Ray Road and Southeastern Ave. The hunt is for ages walking to ten.
SPORTS >>Beebe ladies sweep Raiders
IN SHORT: Lady Badgers avenge last loss in 5A East play by sweeping Nettleton.
By JASON KING
Leader sportswriter
Nettleton pitcher Shelby Wise might as well have walked onto Gilliam Field in Beebe with a target painted on her back Thursday afternoon. The junior hurler was the biggest reason the Lady Badgers missed last year’s state finals, but found shutting out Beebe again next to impossible, as they swept both games of a 5A-East doubleheader 6-0 and 4-3 in the nightcap.
Beebe pitcher Callie Mahoney won the anticipated pitching showdown with ease, recording 13 strikeouts in the opener before relieving junior Ashley Watkins in the third inning of the second game. The Lady Raiders got their first two scores of the night off Watkins in the first two innings.
“One thing (Mahoney) is doing is not putting runners on the bases with walks,” Beebe coach Terry Flenor said. “Ashley is more of a location pitcher; it’s not to her advantage to pitch if she can’t get the calls on the corners.”
The Lady Badgers started their run in the bottom of the second inning of the opener, when Sara Flenor singled to put the first run on. Flenor was driven in one batter later off a double by Bailey Thomas. Emily Bass and Brandi Burkhalter also came away with RBI doubles in the frame to give Beebe a 3-0 advantage after two innings.
Two more runs would come in the bottom of the fifth, when Burkhalter was sent in by a double by Chelsea Sanders, after Burkhalter advanced into scoring position after her single on a sacrifice bunt by Laura Tucker.
Bass brought the final run across the plate in the bottom of the sixth courtesy of an RBI from Hayley Castleberry with a hopper to right field. Birkhalter led all batters in the opener, going 2 for 3 with an RBI and a double.
Nettleton struck first in the second game with a run from Brea Smith when Niki Sietz hit into a 1-3. Chelsea Sanders answered most decisively for Beebe in the bottom of the first with a high sailer over the right-field wall to tie the game at 1-1.
All four of Beebe’s runs came in the second inning. Singles for Mahoney and Flenor put runners at first and second, and Thomas’ line-drive single to centerfield scored Mahoney. A walk for Watkins loaded the bases for the Lady Badgers, and a double for Bass brought in Flenor’s run easily, but made for a close call at the plate when Thomas came in. Nettleton catcher Sietz had the tag on Thomas after the throw to the plate from second baseman Lonna Baker, but the ball squeaked out of her catcher’s mit directly after touching her, giving Thomas what would end up as the winning run.
The Lady Raiders answered with a run in the top of the second, and added one more after the switch at the mound for Beebe, when Mahoney gave up her only run of the night when she walked Wise to start out the third. An E6 on a throw to first after Sietz grounded to shortstop allowed Wise’s run to come in, making the score 4-3. Mahoney recovered after the early slip to strike out the final two batters of the frame.
Nettleton would threaten once more in the top of the seventh. The Lady Raiders put two on with only one out, but Mahoney forced a pop-up by Katie Collier and then struck out Baker to retire the stubborn Lady Raiders for good.
Mahoney finished game two with seven strikeouts, two walks and allowed only one hit in the final inning, moving her season record to 7-0. The Lady Badgers are now 8-1 overall, 4-0 in conference after two big wins over North Pulaski earlier in the week.
Beebe will travel to Greene County Tech High School next Friday for another 5A-East doubleheader against the Lady Eagles.
By JASON KING
Leader sportswriter
Nettleton pitcher Shelby Wise might as well have walked onto Gilliam Field in Beebe with a target painted on her back Thursday afternoon. The junior hurler was the biggest reason the Lady Badgers missed last year’s state finals, but found shutting out Beebe again next to impossible, as they swept both games of a 5A-East doubleheader 6-0 and 4-3 in the nightcap.
Beebe pitcher Callie Mahoney won the anticipated pitching showdown with ease, recording 13 strikeouts in the opener before relieving junior Ashley Watkins in the third inning of the second game. The Lady Raiders got their first two scores of the night off Watkins in the first two innings.
“One thing (Mahoney) is doing is not putting runners on the bases with walks,” Beebe coach Terry Flenor said. “Ashley is more of a location pitcher; it’s not to her advantage to pitch if she can’t get the calls on the corners.”
The Lady Badgers started their run in the bottom of the second inning of the opener, when Sara Flenor singled to put the first run on. Flenor was driven in one batter later off a double by Bailey Thomas. Emily Bass and Brandi Burkhalter also came away with RBI doubles in the frame to give Beebe a 3-0 advantage after two innings.
Two more runs would come in the bottom of the fifth, when Burkhalter was sent in by a double by Chelsea Sanders, after Burkhalter advanced into scoring position after her single on a sacrifice bunt by Laura Tucker.
Bass brought the final run across the plate in the bottom of the sixth courtesy of an RBI from Hayley Castleberry with a hopper to right field. Birkhalter led all batters in the opener, going 2 for 3 with an RBI and a double.
Nettleton struck first in the second game with a run from Brea Smith when Niki Sietz hit into a 1-3. Chelsea Sanders answered most decisively for Beebe in the bottom of the first with a high sailer over the right-field wall to tie the game at 1-1.
All four of Beebe’s runs came in the second inning. Singles for Mahoney and Flenor put runners at first and second, and Thomas’ line-drive single to centerfield scored Mahoney. A walk for Watkins loaded the bases for the Lady Badgers, and a double for Bass brought in Flenor’s run easily, but made for a close call at the plate when Thomas came in. Nettleton catcher Sietz had the tag on Thomas after the throw to the plate from second baseman Lonna Baker, but the ball squeaked out of her catcher’s mit directly after touching her, giving Thomas what would end up as the winning run.
The Lady Raiders answered with a run in the top of the second, and added one more after the switch at the mound for Beebe, when Mahoney gave up her only run of the night when she walked Wise to start out the third. An E6 on a throw to first after Sietz grounded to shortstop allowed Wise’s run to come in, making the score 4-3. Mahoney recovered after the early slip to strike out the final two batters of the frame.
Nettleton would threaten once more in the top of the seventh. The Lady Raiders put two on with only one out, but Mahoney forced a pop-up by Katie Collier and then struck out Baker to retire the stubborn Lady Raiders for good.
Mahoney finished game two with seven strikeouts, two walks and allowed only one hit in the final inning, moving her season record to 7-0. The Lady Badgers are now 8-1 overall, 4-0 in conference after two big wins over North Pulaski earlier in the week.
Beebe will travel to Greene County Tech High School next Friday for another 5A-East doubleheader against the Lady Eagles.
SPORTS >>Jacksonville drops two against Pats
IN SHORT: The Red Devil baseball team lost both ends of a 6A-East doubleheader Tuesday night, falling to Marion to start league play on a sour note.
By JASON KING
Leader sportswriter
Jacksonville started its conference schedule out with a bit of a slip, falling to Marion in straight games Tuesday in a 5A-East doubleheader at Marion High School. The Patriots took game one 10-2 before repeating in the nightcap with a 5-1 decision over the Red Devils.
“I thought our chances in conference were better this year until those two games,” Jacksonville coach Larry Burrows said. “Now, I’m not sure what to expect. I don’t know how you go from playing good baseball to playing bad baseball and making mistakes that you haven’t made all year.”
Marion stepped into the conference from 5A to replace Cabot, which left for the new 7A-East, but the Patriots don’t present any drop-off to the league’s toughness.
The offensive highlights were few and far between for the Red Devils on Tuesday. Junior Cameron Hood came away with the biggest play of the night for Jacksonville, with a single-run home run in the opening game.
Senior Ricky Tombolli grabbed the Devils’ other RBI in the opener with a squeeze bunt that drove in Tommy Sanders. Seth Tombolli took the loss on the mound in game one, and Sanders would end up as the losing pitcher in the twin game.
“We just didn’t play very hard,” Burrows said. “I wish I had an answer for why things went the way they did. “We had situations that we’ve faced in other games and did okay, but did something different for these games. If I had an answer, we could address it and correct it.”
The losses move Jacksonville’s record to 4-5 overall and 0-2 in the 6A-East Conference. The Red Devils will stay in league-play mode with a doubleheader this Tuesday in Mountain Home.
By JASON KING
Leader sportswriter
Jacksonville started its conference schedule out with a bit of a slip, falling to Marion in straight games Tuesday in a 5A-East doubleheader at Marion High School. The Patriots took game one 10-2 before repeating in the nightcap with a 5-1 decision over the Red Devils.
“I thought our chances in conference were better this year until those two games,” Jacksonville coach Larry Burrows said. “Now, I’m not sure what to expect. I don’t know how you go from playing good baseball to playing bad baseball and making mistakes that you haven’t made all year.”
Marion stepped into the conference from 5A to replace Cabot, which left for the new 7A-East, but the Patriots don’t present any drop-off to the league’s toughness.
The offensive highlights were few and far between for the Red Devils on Tuesday. Junior Cameron Hood came away with the biggest play of the night for Jacksonville, with a single-run home run in the opening game.
Senior Ricky Tombolli grabbed the Devils’ other RBI in the opener with a squeeze bunt that drove in Tommy Sanders. Seth Tombolli took the loss on the mound in game one, and Sanders would end up as the losing pitcher in the twin game.
“We just didn’t play very hard,” Burrows said. “I wish I had an answer for why things went the way they did. “We had situations that we’ve faced in other games and did okay, but did something different for these games. If I had an answer, we could address it and correct it.”
The losses move Jacksonville’s record to 4-5 overall and 0-2 in the 6A-East Conference. The Red Devils will stay in league-play mode with a doubleheader this Tuesday in Mountain Home.
SPORTS >>Cabot wins two straight
IN SHORT: The Panther baseball team beat Little Rock Catholic and Beebe to improve its overall record to 9-4.
By RAY BENTON
Leader sports editor
The Cabot baseball team beat Little Rock Catholic 7-1 Tuesday for its first conference win of the season. The win was a good rebound after suffering a big loss in its conference opener last Friday.
The Panthers jumped on the Rockets early with three runs in the first inning, and starting pitcher Justin Haas never let Catholic back into the game.
“That was big for us to come back and play well after playing so poorly Friday,” Cabot coach Jay Fitch said. “We hit the ball really well and we didn’t make mistakes. They had some opportunities to score, but we made plays when we needed to.”
Catholic’s first opportunity came right away. The Rocket leadoff hitter doubled to left-center to start the game, and moved to third on a sacrifice-bunt-turned single when no one covered first base. That put runners on the corners with no outs, but Haas got out of the jam.
The senior southpaw fanned the three hole, got a pop up to first base from the cleanup hitter, and struck out the five hole to leave the Rockets without a run.
“I was real proud of Haas after that,” Fitch said. “He could have pushed the panic button, but he showed some senior leadership and did a good job of making the pitches he needed to make. He’s got a lot of composure.
“I think it was a little bit of a momentum shift too. For them to start out with two on and no outs and not get any runs, it may have deflated them some. For us it fired us up a little bit.”
That was evident in the bottom of the first when Cabot’s bats came alive. Leadoff hitter Colin Fuller started things with a double. Burks moved him to third with a sacrifice bunt and Sam Bates singled to right for an RBI. Shayne Burgan then singled and Justin Free walked to load the bases.
Logan Lucas hit into a fielder’s choice that got Bates thrown out at home, but freshman Jonathan Parker doubled to left-center to drive in two runs and give Cabot a 3-0 lead.
The Panthers added three more in the second inning to take full command of the game.
Corey Wade led off at the nine hole with a single and Fuller followed with a single for his second hit in as many at bats. Burks then doubled to drive in Wade, and Bates picked up two more RBIs with a double for his second hit.
Cabot added one more run in the third, but missed an opportunity to blow it open.
Lucas singled, Parker walked and Murphy was hit by a pitch to load the bases with no outs. Wade then hit into a 4-6-3 double play that scored Lucas, but took away the threat for a big inning.
“I really thought we were about to have another big inning and maybe get an early night,” Fitch said. “That’s just the way this game goes.”
The Panthers also won a non-conference matchup at Beebe Thursday, beating the Badgers 12-0 in five innings.
Sean Clarkson threw a one hitter through four innings before yielding to Josh Brown who closed out the fifth. The Panthers led just 3-0 after three innings, but scored nine in the fourth to set the final margin. Wade and Fuller led off the big fourth with back-to-back home runs. Murphy would add a third dinger in the inning several batters later.
The two wins lift Cabot’s record to 9-4 overall. The Panthers were 1-1 in league play heading into last night’s game against North Little Rock.
Cabot’s busy week continues through the weekend. The Panthers will play two games today in the Sheridan tournament, then will be back at Sheridan Monday before resuming conference play Tuesday at Little Rock Central.
When Cabot finishes with Central on Tuesday, it will have played seven games in eight days.
The Panthers will host Bryant in a conference game next Thursday before finally getting a rest over spring break.
By RAY BENTON
Leader sports editor
The Cabot baseball team beat Little Rock Catholic 7-1 Tuesday for its first conference win of the season. The win was a good rebound after suffering a big loss in its conference opener last Friday.
The Panthers jumped on the Rockets early with three runs in the first inning, and starting pitcher Justin Haas never let Catholic back into the game.
“That was big for us to come back and play well after playing so poorly Friday,” Cabot coach Jay Fitch said. “We hit the ball really well and we didn’t make mistakes. They had some opportunities to score, but we made plays when we needed to.”
Catholic’s first opportunity came right away. The Rocket leadoff hitter doubled to left-center to start the game, and moved to third on a sacrifice-bunt-turned single when no one covered first base. That put runners on the corners with no outs, but Haas got out of the jam.
The senior southpaw fanned the three hole, got a pop up to first base from the cleanup hitter, and struck out the five hole to leave the Rockets without a run.
“I was real proud of Haas after that,” Fitch said. “He could have pushed the panic button, but he showed some senior leadership and did a good job of making the pitches he needed to make. He’s got a lot of composure.
“I think it was a little bit of a momentum shift too. For them to start out with two on and no outs and not get any runs, it may have deflated them some. For us it fired us up a little bit.”
That was evident in the bottom of the first when Cabot’s bats came alive. Leadoff hitter Colin Fuller started things with a double. Burks moved him to third with a sacrifice bunt and Sam Bates singled to right for an RBI. Shayne Burgan then singled and Justin Free walked to load the bases.
Logan Lucas hit into a fielder’s choice that got Bates thrown out at home, but freshman Jonathan Parker doubled to left-center to drive in two runs and give Cabot a 3-0 lead.
The Panthers added three more in the second inning to take full command of the game.
Corey Wade led off at the nine hole with a single and Fuller followed with a single for his second hit in as many at bats. Burks then doubled to drive in Wade, and Bates picked up two more RBIs with a double for his second hit.
Cabot added one more run in the third, but missed an opportunity to blow it open.
Lucas singled, Parker walked and Murphy was hit by a pitch to load the bases with no outs. Wade then hit into a 4-6-3 double play that scored Lucas, but took away the threat for a big inning.
“I really thought we were about to have another big inning and maybe get an early night,” Fitch said. “That’s just the way this game goes.”
The Panthers also won a non-conference matchup at Beebe Thursday, beating the Badgers 12-0 in five innings.
Sean Clarkson threw a one hitter through four innings before yielding to Josh Brown who closed out the fifth. The Panthers led just 3-0 after three innings, but scored nine in the fourth to set the final margin. Wade and Fuller led off the big fourth with back-to-back home runs. Murphy would add a third dinger in the inning several batters later.
The two wins lift Cabot’s record to 9-4 overall. The Panthers were 1-1 in league play heading into last night’s game against North Little Rock.
Cabot’s busy week continues through the weekend. The Panthers will play two games today in the Sheridan tournament, then will be back at Sheridan Monday before resuming conference play Tuesday at Little Rock Central.
When Cabot finishes with Central on Tuesday, it will have played seven games in eight days.
The Panthers will host Bryant in a conference game next Thursday before finally getting a rest over spring break.
TOP STORY >>Bill could lead way for Jacksonville district
IN SHORT: Legislators from the area helped pave the way for a bill that will split Jacksonville school district from PCSSD.
By JOHN HOFHEIMER
Leader staff writer
A bill aimed at ending nearly two decades of Pulaski County public school desegregation oversight, unanimously approved in the Senate Thursday, now lacks only the governor’s signature and $1.5 million in funding, according to state Rep. Will Bond, D-Jacksonville.
Bond, the bill’s author, credited Sen. John Paul Capps, D-Searcy, with House Bill 1829’s smooth course through the Senate.
“Sen. Capps did a great job shepherding this bill through the senate,” said Bond, calling it a testimony to Capps’ experience.
It passed the House 90-3.
While this bill does not create a stand-alone Jacksonville-area school district, it makes one possible.
“The bill is an attempt to move the desegregation case along until all three districts are declared unitary,” Bond said. The Little Rock district was declared unitary—sufficiently desegregated—and released from the agreement earlier this month.
Federal Judge Bill Wilson cited failure of the districts to achieve unitary status in his decision to disallow a vote on the issue of a stand-alone Jacksonville-area school district about three years ago.
“There hasn’t been any incentive or stick in the past to move toward unitary status and save on funding,” said Bond. The state supplemented funding to the three districts by about $58 million last school year, and the districts have become dependent upon that extra money. “Hopefully, this will do it,” Bond said. “But I don’t want to over-promise.”
The bill includes language that allows, but does not mandate, creation of an additional school district and it also prohibits dissolution of the Pulaski The bill would require the state Education Department to hire a qualified desegregation consultant by October 1 and to seek federal court review and determination of current unitary status and also to seek modification of the current consent decree so that the state could craft a post-unitary agreement, phasing out the desegregation funding until all such funds were spent by an agreed-upon date.
Bond’s companion bills, still in committee, would provide $500,000 to reimburse the attorney general’s office for legal fees spent seeking unitary status and $1 million to hire desegregation consultants.
Over the life of the decree, the state has supplemented the three districts to the tune of about $700 million, Bond said.
Bond said Jacksonville-area residents had been working for more than a decade to get their own school district. He said they were ready to make decisions for their kids.
Bond said that the districts have said they’ve met unitary, or desegregated, status but said the threat of losing extra state funding has created a “disincentive” from asking a federal judge to end monitoring. Currently the state kicks in about $60 million a year for desegregation-related expenses like busing. Pulaski County’s share of that is about $15 million—about 10 percent of the 18,000-student district’s annual budget.
Bond said Friday that he expected to have the funding mechanism nailed down by next Wednesday.
Overall, this has been a great session for the state’s students and school districts, he said.
“As much criticism as we’ve been under on educational funding, in six years we’ve increased funding more than any other legislature in history. We’ve done a lot of work toward making sure the public school system has a chance to be world class.
By JOHN HOFHEIMER
Leader staff writer
A bill aimed at ending nearly two decades of Pulaski County public school desegregation oversight, unanimously approved in the Senate Thursday, now lacks only the governor’s signature and $1.5 million in funding, according to state Rep. Will Bond, D-Jacksonville.
Bond, the bill’s author, credited Sen. John Paul Capps, D-Searcy, with House Bill 1829’s smooth course through the Senate.
“Sen. Capps did a great job shepherding this bill through the senate,” said Bond, calling it a testimony to Capps’ experience.
It passed the House 90-3.
While this bill does not create a stand-alone Jacksonville-area school district, it makes one possible.
“The bill is an attempt to move the desegregation case along until all three districts are declared unitary,” Bond said. The Little Rock district was declared unitary—sufficiently desegregated—and released from the agreement earlier this month.
Federal Judge Bill Wilson cited failure of the districts to achieve unitary status in his decision to disallow a vote on the issue of a stand-alone Jacksonville-area school district about three years ago.
“There hasn’t been any incentive or stick in the past to move toward unitary status and save on funding,” said Bond. The state supplemented funding to the three districts by about $58 million last school year, and the districts have become dependent upon that extra money. “Hopefully, this will do it,” Bond said. “But I don’t want to over-promise.”
The bill includes language that allows, but does not mandate, creation of an additional school district and it also prohibits dissolution of the Pulaski The bill would require the state Education Department to hire a qualified desegregation consultant by October 1 and to seek federal court review and determination of current unitary status and also to seek modification of the current consent decree so that the state could craft a post-unitary agreement, phasing out the desegregation funding until all such funds were spent by an agreed-upon date.
Bond’s companion bills, still in committee, would provide $500,000 to reimburse the attorney general’s office for legal fees spent seeking unitary status and $1 million to hire desegregation consultants.
Over the life of the decree, the state has supplemented the three districts to the tune of about $700 million, Bond said.
Bond said Jacksonville-area residents had been working for more than a decade to get their own school district. He said they were ready to make decisions for their kids.
Bond said that the districts have said they’ve met unitary, or desegregated, status but said the threat of losing extra state funding has created a “disincentive” from asking a federal judge to end monitoring. Currently the state kicks in about $60 million a year for desegregation-related expenses like busing. Pulaski County’s share of that is about $15 million—about 10 percent of the 18,000-student district’s annual budget.
Bond said Friday that he expected to have the funding mechanism nailed down by next Wednesday.
Overall, this has been a great session for the state’s students and school districts, he said.
“As much criticism as we’ve been under on educational funding, in six years we’ve increased funding more than any other legislature in history. We’ve done a lot of work toward making sure the public school system has a chance to be world class.
TOP STORY >>Cabot rearranging fire-fighting power
IN SHORT: Cabot fire chief wants to close Central Fire Station and open another at Hwy. 5 to secure a good insurance rating for residents there.
By JOAN MCCOY
Leader staff writer
Cabot firefighters toured a $12 million fire station at Little Rock Air Force Base Thursday on the lookout for design features that could be incorporated into a new station they hope to move into by the end of this decade.
“It’s the dream-in-the-sky sort of station for us,” Fire Chief Phil Robinson said of some of the stations more expensive features. But he knows a new, additional station is necessary to secure good insurance ratings for Cabot’s Hwy. 5 residents.
Robinson said he especially liked the family room with high chairs to accommodate visitors and the hallway lined with pictures of former fire chiefs. He was pleased to see that Station 3 and Station 4 in Cabot already have the combination parking bay and washing bay like the bays at the new station on the air base.
But he also said he realizes that, at least for a while, his firefighters might be living in a temporary mobile home set on three acres on Hwy. 5.
Of the 15 pieces of property he presented to the fire and police committee Wednesday evening, the parcel on Hwy. 5 seemed the most favorable.
And even though he would like a new station now, Robinson says with a few repairs the mobile home will be livable and the large concrete block building already on the site is adequate for a couple of fire trucks.
“I think our folks would be okay there for a year or two,” he said. “It’s a good building to start with.”
The handout Robinson gave the council members who sit on the fire and police committee described the property located at West Mt. Springs Road and Hwy. 5 as commercial property with an existing two-bay shop, mobile home and storage building, located outside city limits but with city water, electricity and no gas.
The asking price is $295,000, an amount that Mayor Eddie Joe Williams said the city can afford.
“You should see the budget,” Williams told the committee. “We’re working miracles.”
Alderman Becky Lemaster said during the committee meeting that the property sounded good to her because the city could use it now and sell it later to help pay for a new station.
Williams said the real cost of a fire station is the staff and equipment. Staffing alone requires about $500,000 a year, he said, and for now the only way to staff the new station that is needed to hold insurance premiums down for some residents on Hwy. 5 is to close one of the existing stations.
For now, Robinson is recommending closing Central Station located near the railroad tracks in downtown. Station 3 on Hwy. 89 and Station 4 on Highway 321 would remain open.
City officials learned last fall that some houses (fewer than 200) off Hwy. 5 were outside the five road-mile limit allowed by Insurance Services Office, which rates cities on fire protection for insurance purposes.
Those houses would have been given an IS0 rating of 10 (no fire protection) in December if the city hadn’t moved a fire engine into an empty bay at the station on Hwy. 5 owned by Mt. Springs Volunteer Fire Department. Depending upon the insurance company, premiums for those houses could have doubled or tripled.
The city council meets Monday and will likely pass a resolution giving the mayor and city clerk authority to extend the city’s lease on that bay from one year to three years to allow time to build a new station.
But Alderman Ken Williams, chairman of the fire and police committee, said if the city buys the three acres, extending the lease won’t be necessary. However, he said the council should still pass the resolution in case it is needed.
The fire chief said the mobile home is leased until the end of April and the property owner would honor the lease, so firefighters could not move in until after the current occupants move out and minor repairs are made.
If necessary, the storage building on the property could also be converted to living quarters, he said.
Robinson has been vocal about not putting firefighters in substandard quarters. But he said about the property the committee appears to favor, “I like the location. I like the fact that it is ready now.”
By JOAN MCCOY
Leader staff writer
Cabot firefighters toured a $12 million fire station at Little Rock Air Force Base Thursday on the lookout for design features that could be incorporated into a new station they hope to move into by the end of this decade.
“It’s the dream-in-the-sky sort of station for us,” Fire Chief Phil Robinson said of some of the stations more expensive features. But he knows a new, additional station is necessary to secure good insurance ratings for Cabot’s Hwy. 5 residents.
Robinson said he especially liked the family room with high chairs to accommodate visitors and the hallway lined with pictures of former fire chiefs. He was pleased to see that Station 3 and Station 4 in Cabot already have the combination parking bay and washing bay like the bays at the new station on the air base.
But he also said he realizes that, at least for a while, his firefighters might be living in a temporary mobile home set on three acres on Hwy. 5.
Of the 15 pieces of property he presented to the fire and police committee Wednesday evening, the parcel on Hwy. 5 seemed the most favorable.
And even though he would like a new station now, Robinson says with a few repairs the mobile home will be livable and the large concrete block building already on the site is adequate for a couple of fire trucks.
“I think our folks would be okay there for a year or two,” he said. “It’s a good building to start with.”
The handout Robinson gave the council members who sit on the fire and police committee described the property located at West Mt. Springs Road and Hwy. 5 as commercial property with an existing two-bay shop, mobile home and storage building, located outside city limits but with city water, electricity and no gas.
The asking price is $295,000, an amount that Mayor Eddie Joe Williams said the city can afford.
“You should see the budget,” Williams told the committee. “We’re working miracles.”
Alderman Becky Lemaster said during the committee meeting that the property sounded good to her because the city could use it now and sell it later to help pay for a new station.
Williams said the real cost of a fire station is the staff and equipment. Staffing alone requires about $500,000 a year, he said, and for now the only way to staff the new station that is needed to hold insurance premiums down for some residents on Hwy. 5 is to close one of the existing stations.
For now, Robinson is recommending closing Central Station located near the railroad tracks in downtown. Station 3 on Hwy. 89 and Station 4 on Highway 321 would remain open.
City officials learned last fall that some houses (fewer than 200) off Hwy. 5 were outside the five road-mile limit allowed by Insurance Services Office, which rates cities on fire protection for insurance purposes.
Those houses would have been given an IS0 rating of 10 (no fire protection) in December if the city hadn’t moved a fire engine into an empty bay at the station on Hwy. 5 owned by Mt. Springs Volunteer Fire Department. Depending upon the insurance company, premiums for those houses could have doubled or tripled.
The city council meets Monday and will likely pass a resolution giving the mayor and city clerk authority to extend the city’s lease on that bay from one year to three years to allow time to build a new station.
But Alderman Ken Williams, chairman of the fire and police committee, said if the city buys the three acres, extending the lease won’t be necessary. However, he said the council should still pass the resolution in case it is needed.
The fire chief said the mobile home is leased until the end of April and the property owner would honor the lease, so firefighters could not move in until after the current occupants move out and minor repairs are made.
If necessary, the storage building on the property could also be converted to living quarters, he said.
Robinson has been vocal about not putting firefighters in substandard quarters. But he said about the property the committee appears to favor, “I like the location. I like the fact that it is ready now.”
TOP STORY >>'Triple 7' missions save lives
IN SHORT: Daily C-130 flights, manned by members of the 463rd Airlift Group from LRAFB at Balad Air Base, Iraq help keep American soldiers alive.
By HEATHER HARTSELL
Leader staff writer
The 463rd Airlift Group at Little Rock Air Force Base celebrated when it reached the 5,000 mark last month for the number of convoy vehicles taken off the roads in Iraq thanks to C-130 airlift missions. Reducing the number of road convoys reduced injuries and deaths from improvised explosive devices (IEDs) that blow up on Iraq’s war-riddled highways.
Airmen from the 463rd AG carry a large part of the deployment load because of the busy C-130 mission of its deployed squadron, the 777th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron at Balad Air Base, Iraq.
The “Triple 7” flies about 25 to 30 sorties (flights) a day, carrying everything from passengers to supplies, to food and medical evacuations. The squadron, along with other elements of the 463rd, have been on a standing deployment for the past six years.
Their mission while deployed is three-fold: convoy mitigation – keep the convoys off the road with C-130 missions; communications support missions – flying overhead if convoys on the ground need support; and joint precision airdrop (JPAD) capabilities – the ability to drop cargo from higher altitudes with better accuracy.
Lieutenant Col. Mark Czelusta knows this mission well. Not only did he command the 777th from June to October 2006, he was a key player in establishing it.
“It was a total team effort, it was not anything any one person could do,” Czelusta said Friday concerning his command of the Air Force’s only hub and spoke airlift squadron in Iraq, for which he received a Bronze Star.
The hub and spoke works in the same fashion as any large commercial airport.
The larger planes bring the cargo (passengers) in and the smaller planes leave to carry the passengers or cargo to further, smaller airports.
Czelusta, the commander of the 463rd Operations Support Squadron at LRAFB, said the hub and spoke came about when trying to answer the question of how, by placing a small attachment of C-130s up and into Iraq, would the squadron’s cargo velocity increase.
“We set that up as a test, and it proved to be so successful that we worked to establish the first squadron,” Czelusta said.
“Triple Seven was not my brainchild, it was something the team came up with and something made real by the total team.
The total team wasn’t confined to the airlift group, it was confined to the whole prospect of LRAFB because you start flying C-130s at Little Rock,” Czelusta said.
“The skills ingrained from day one at the school house are refined and encouraged by squadrons; the operation arm is just one part of the whole puzzle,” he added.
The system works because Balad is large enough to handle the heavy C-17 and C-5 cargo airplanes and because the C-130s and their crews are capable of operating in austere locations.
“The C-130s have short landing capabilities, the crews are trained – starting here at Little Rock – to operate in austere environments,” Czelusta said. “From day one the crews are trained in that direction, the airplane is built to operate in an austere environment, it’s sturdy, can operate on rougher runways, and can operate on shorter, smaller runways,” he said.
And because smaller units at smaller outposts do not always need a C-17 load of cargo but only a C-130 load, the squadron fit the bill.
“The C-130 is so well suited to that. The crews are trained to be efficient on the ground, to get in and get out, to not get in the way of what is going on, but to still keep the troops supplied,” Czelusta said, adding, “the unique capacity of our fleet to operate with shorter legs and quick turns and time velocity is what really makes the 777th a unique squadron.
“I know that every time one of our airplanes pulled up, there were big happy, smiling faces on our Army troops,” he added.
The C-130 crews are trained to operate in hostile airspace, and the C-130s have the equipment on board to operate in it as well.
“Whether it’s the 1960s era C-130, the 1990s C-130H3, to now the J model, they’ve all got the equipment to be effective and survivable in that kind of hostile airspace,” the 18-year commissioned officer said.
The 777th also performed convoy communications support missions.
A command and control module was placed in the back of the airplane during flights to assist ground convoys with communications, whether it was calling in fire support, a medical evacuation, relaying messages, or a status check; the module also kept track of the convoys’ location.
“Sometimes the waves of communications are not good enough,” Czelusta said, “the vast majority of convoy status checks was ‘we’re a o.k. - good to go.’”
Czelusta said crews flew communication missions sometimes for more than 10 hours in the air for communications support, but the crews were also still flying the same number of cargo transport missions.
“The 777th in Balad is still doing that today,” he said.
About 15 months ago, Air Mobility Command began developing the joint precision airdrop and Czelusta said the 463rd AG jumped at the chance to be the lead unit.
“We are the only ones with unit level capability to put multiple airplanes in the air at the same time with JPAD capabilities; there are some with individual capability, but the 463rd’s 777th in Balad is the only one with unit level,” he said. The first time JPAD was used in combat was in Afghanistan in July and it was successful, bringing initial capability for JPAD to the theater three months before the Army’s goal.
Czelusta will leave LRAFB this summer for Senior Developmental Education, the air-war college equivalent, stationed in the Bavarian Alps of Germany focusing on European security.
By HEATHER HARTSELL
Leader staff writer
The 463rd Airlift Group at Little Rock Air Force Base celebrated when it reached the 5,000 mark last month for the number of convoy vehicles taken off the roads in Iraq thanks to C-130 airlift missions. Reducing the number of road convoys reduced injuries and deaths from improvised explosive devices (IEDs) that blow up on Iraq’s war-riddled highways.
Airmen from the 463rd AG carry a large part of the deployment load because of the busy C-130 mission of its deployed squadron, the 777th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron at Balad Air Base, Iraq.
The “Triple 7” flies about 25 to 30 sorties (flights) a day, carrying everything from passengers to supplies, to food and medical evacuations. The squadron, along with other elements of the 463rd, have been on a standing deployment for the past six years.
Their mission while deployed is three-fold: convoy mitigation – keep the convoys off the road with C-130 missions; communications support missions – flying overhead if convoys on the ground need support; and joint precision airdrop (JPAD) capabilities – the ability to drop cargo from higher altitudes with better accuracy.
Lieutenant Col. Mark Czelusta knows this mission well. Not only did he command the 777th from June to October 2006, he was a key player in establishing it.
“It was a total team effort, it was not anything any one person could do,” Czelusta said Friday concerning his command of the Air Force’s only hub and spoke airlift squadron in Iraq, for which he received a Bronze Star.
The hub and spoke works in the same fashion as any large commercial airport.
The larger planes bring the cargo (passengers) in and the smaller planes leave to carry the passengers or cargo to further, smaller airports.
Czelusta, the commander of the 463rd Operations Support Squadron at LRAFB, said the hub and spoke came about when trying to answer the question of how, by placing a small attachment of C-130s up and into Iraq, would the squadron’s cargo velocity increase.
“We set that up as a test, and it proved to be so successful that we worked to establish the first squadron,” Czelusta said.
“Triple Seven was not my brainchild, it was something the team came up with and something made real by the total team.
The total team wasn’t confined to the airlift group, it was confined to the whole prospect of LRAFB because you start flying C-130s at Little Rock,” Czelusta said.
“The skills ingrained from day one at the school house are refined and encouraged by squadrons; the operation arm is just one part of the whole puzzle,” he added.
The system works because Balad is large enough to handle the heavy C-17 and C-5 cargo airplanes and because the C-130s and their crews are capable of operating in austere locations.
“The C-130s have short landing capabilities, the crews are trained – starting here at Little Rock – to operate in austere environments,” Czelusta said. “From day one the crews are trained in that direction, the airplane is built to operate in an austere environment, it’s sturdy, can operate on rougher runways, and can operate on shorter, smaller runways,” he said.
And because smaller units at smaller outposts do not always need a C-17 load of cargo but only a C-130 load, the squadron fit the bill.
“The C-130 is so well suited to that. The crews are trained to be efficient on the ground, to get in and get out, to not get in the way of what is going on, but to still keep the troops supplied,” Czelusta said, adding, “the unique capacity of our fleet to operate with shorter legs and quick turns and time velocity is what really makes the 777th a unique squadron.
“I know that every time one of our airplanes pulled up, there were big happy, smiling faces on our Army troops,” he added.
The C-130 crews are trained to operate in hostile airspace, and the C-130s have the equipment on board to operate in it as well.
“Whether it’s the 1960s era C-130, the 1990s C-130H3, to now the J model, they’ve all got the equipment to be effective and survivable in that kind of hostile airspace,” the 18-year commissioned officer said.
The 777th also performed convoy communications support missions.
A command and control module was placed in the back of the airplane during flights to assist ground convoys with communications, whether it was calling in fire support, a medical evacuation, relaying messages, or a status check; the module also kept track of the convoys’ location.
“Sometimes the waves of communications are not good enough,” Czelusta said, “the vast majority of convoy status checks was ‘we’re a o.k. - good to go.’”
Czelusta said crews flew communication missions sometimes for more than 10 hours in the air for communications support, but the crews were also still flying the same number of cargo transport missions.
“The 777th in Balad is still doing that today,” he said.
About 15 months ago, Air Mobility Command began developing the joint precision airdrop and Czelusta said the 463rd AG jumped at the chance to be the lead unit.
“We are the only ones with unit level capability to put multiple airplanes in the air at the same time with JPAD capabilities; there are some with individual capability, but the 463rd’s 777th in Balad is the only one with unit level,” he said. The first time JPAD was used in combat was in Afghanistan in July and it was successful, bringing initial capability for JPAD to the theater three months before the Army’s goal.
Czelusta will leave LRAFB this summer for Senior Developmental Education, the air-war college equivalent, stationed in the Bavarian Alps of Germany focusing on European security.
TOP STORY >>Campbell trial: no sordid detail left out
IN SHORT: Mistrial is denied, inmate-lover will continue testimony Monday in Lonoke County trial of former city police chief, his wife and a bail bondsman.
By JOHN HOFHEIMER
Leader staff writer
Special Judge John Cole denied a defense motion for a mistrial Wednesday and Kelly Campbell’s alleged inmate-lover is expected to resume testimony Monday as the corruption, drug and theft trial of Campbell, her husband, former Lonoke Police Chief Jay Campbell, and bail bondsman Bobby Junior Cox enters the fourth week at Cabot.
Court was in recess from Wednesday afternoon until Monday morning because Cox’s attorney, John Wesley Hall, president-elect of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, is at the annual meeting in Chicago.
Court may also be in recess Tuesday owing to a conflict over the courtroom.
Among the state’s evidence is a short drinking straw reported to have residue of methamphetamine and also the DNA of Kelly Campbell and probably of Jay Campbell on it.
Kelly Campbell had allegedly given the straw to Anthony Shane Scott, the former inmate-lover, so that he would have leverage on Jay Campbell should he need it.
But Jay Campbell’s attorney, Patrick Benca, thought Cole had ruled previously that Scott could not say where he got the straw.
When Scott said of the straw, “I got it from Kelly,” Benca shot to his feet, seeking the mistrial. Prosecutor Lona McCastlain “keeps leading the witness,” said Benca. “This is extremely prejudicial to my client and she got it in testimony.”
Jay Campbell is not charged with using drugs, but he is charged with conspiracy to manufacture methamphetamine with Cox and his fellow bail bondsman, Larry Nor-wood.
The prosecution alleges that the meth was manufactured as part of a convoluted scheme to force one man to reveal the whereabouts of another man who jumped bail, leaving the bondsmen holding the bag for $130,000.
Scott, 32, a state Act 309 inmate trustee assigned to the Lonoke City Jail from June through January 2005, is the second inmate to testify before a jury of six men and six women that he had sexual intercourse with Kelly Campbell in several locations including her husband’s office, the city ball park, at the Campbell home and at a local motel.
Scott testified that at the motel, he and Kelly Campbell took Ecstasy, another drug, probably methamphetamine, drank beer and had a lot of sex.
Scott, granted immunity for his testimony, was sentenced to an additional 90 days for contempt of court Tuesday for refusal to testify, but facing a new contempt charge and another 90 days apparently had a change of heart Wednesday morning. Excluding the contempt charge, Scott, who is serving a 20-year-sentence for robbery out of Mississippi County, is eligible for parole after August 2008.
The Campbells between them are charged with about 70 crimes. Jay Campbell is charged with running a continuing criminal enterprise and his wife and Cox are charged with being participants in that enterprise.
So far, the state’s witnesses have included not only the two inmates who say Kelly Campbell had sex with a total of perhaps two dozen times and provided them with contraband including alcohol, drugs and cell phones, but also a dozen or more former friends who testified that the Campbells either borrowed prescription drugs from them or stole them, local pharmacists, and police department personnel who testified about Kelly Campbell’s unwarranted access to the jail and prisoners.
Also testifying are members of a Lonoke methamphetamine ring, one of whom says $15,000 he had when busted was never returned and never mentioned as seized.
Donna Moore, a former family friend, identified some stolen jewelry as hers and law enforcement officials testified that they found that jewelry when they arrested the Campbells and executed a search warrant at their home and car.
By JOHN HOFHEIMER
Leader staff writer
Special Judge John Cole denied a defense motion for a mistrial Wednesday and Kelly Campbell’s alleged inmate-lover is expected to resume testimony Monday as the corruption, drug and theft trial of Campbell, her husband, former Lonoke Police Chief Jay Campbell, and bail bondsman Bobby Junior Cox enters the fourth week at Cabot.
Court was in recess from Wednesday afternoon until Monday morning because Cox’s attorney, John Wesley Hall, president-elect of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, is at the annual meeting in Chicago.
Court may also be in recess Tuesday owing to a conflict over the courtroom.
Among the state’s evidence is a short drinking straw reported to have residue of methamphetamine and also the DNA of Kelly Campbell and probably of Jay Campbell on it.
Kelly Campbell had allegedly given the straw to Anthony Shane Scott, the former inmate-lover, so that he would have leverage on Jay Campbell should he need it.
But Jay Campbell’s attorney, Patrick Benca, thought Cole had ruled previously that Scott could not say where he got the straw.
When Scott said of the straw, “I got it from Kelly,” Benca shot to his feet, seeking the mistrial. Prosecutor Lona McCastlain “keeps leading the witness,” said Benca. “This is extremely prejudicial to my client and she got it in testimony.”
Jay Campbell is not charged with using drugs, but he is charged with conspiracy to manufacture methamphetamine with Cox and his fellow bail bondsman, Larry Nor-wood.
The prosecution alleges that the meth was manufactured as part of a convoluted scheme to force one man to reveal the whereabouts of another man who jumped bail, leaving the bondsmen holding the bag for $130,000.
Scott, 32, a state Act 309 inmate trustee assigned to the Lonoke City Jail from June through January 2005, is the second inmate to testify before a jury of six men and six women that he had sexual intercourse with Kelly Campbell in several locations including her husband’s office, the city ball park, at the Campbell home and at a local motel.
Scott testified that at the motel, he and Kelly Campbell took Ecstasy, another drug, probably methamphetamine, drank beer and had a lot of sex.
Scott, granted immunity for his testimony, was sentenced to an additional 90 days for contempt of court Tuesday for refusal to testify, but facing a new contempt charge and another 90 days apparently had a change of heart Wednesday morning. Excluding the contempt charge, Scott, who is serving a 20-year-sentence for robbery out of Mississippi County, is eligible for parole after August 2008.
The Campbells between them are charged with about 70 crimes. Jay Campbell is charged with running a continuing criminal enterprise and his wife and Cox are charged with being participants in that enterprise.
So far, the state’s witnesses have included not only the two inmates who say Kelly Campbell had sex with a total of perhaps two dozen times and provided them with contraband including alcohol, drugs and cell phones, but also a dozen or more former friends who testified that the Campbells either borrowed prescription drugs from them or stole them, local pharmacists, and police department personnel who testified about Kelly Campbell’s unwarranted access to the jail and prisoners.
Also testifying are members of a Lonoke methamphetamine ring, one of whom says $15,000 he had when busted was never returned and never mentioned as seized.
Donna Moore, a former family friend, identified some stolen jewelry as hers and law enforcement officials testified that they found that jewelry when they arrested the Campbells and executed a search warrant at their home and car.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)