By JASON KING
Leader sportswriter
The Lady Falcons needed the miracle foul that did not come in the closing moments against Little Rock Christian during their first-round game of the Robinson Invitational at PRHS on Monday afternoon. Trailing 50-47 with nine seconds left in the game, North Pulaski bet against its struggling outside game with a drive into the lane by Neisha Rigdeway. Instead, Quanita Hale’s follow-up move to the basket went uncontested by the Lady Warriors, and the shot fell as time expired to give LRCA the narrowest of wins at 50-49.
Despite the final score, the Lady Falcons owned the entire second half. A slow chipping into the Lady Warriors’ lead in the early stages of the third quarter switched to a full-on assualt on LRCA by the Lady Falcons in the final minute of the quarter.
North Pulaski got the most out of its efforts on the full court press that began at the 1:03 mark of the third quarter. In that minute, the Lady Falcons quickly closed LRCA’s 44-33 lead down to a 46-40 advantage heading into the final quarter. It took most of the final eight minutes to erase that interval before time ran out on North Pulaski’s momentum-stealing efforts.
For Lady Falcons coach Todd Romaine, the loss was a bad end result, but the solid performance in the second half meant more than an early season W.
“That’s not the play we drew up in the huddle,” Romaine said of the final shot. “We had a three-point shot drawn up, but she took it inside. She felt pretty bad about the whole thing, and she apoligized to her teammates for that and the free throws.”
The apology for the free throws was in reference to Ridgeway’s 0 for 8 performance at the line in the second half. She was not alone, as Ashlyn Corney was the only Lady Falcon to convert a free throw in the final two periods. In all, 1 for 13 at the foul line in the second half was the only thing that kept North Pulaski from the winners bracket.
Romaine says the drudgery of the first half has become a calling card for his team, one he hoped to break before league play in the 5A-East Conference.
“We start out slow” Romaine said. “Once we get our legs under us, we’re competitive. I think our quickness helps. I think they played their hearts out for us tonight, but they are just now beginning to realize the importance of working on shooting. We don’t have a really stong scoring threat, but they rebound well and are good defenders. They definately don’t have any quit, and I think they proved that just now. By the time conference rolls around, I think we can be contenders.”
The near-comeback was even more impressive when you consider that the Lady Falcons’ strongest rebounder was forced to sit out of the game.
Sophomore post Laura Dortch suffered a twisted ankle during last week’s game against Jacksonville, but the NP reserves did a solid job of outrebounding the Lady Warriors, particularly on the defensive side.
Even with some late struggles, Ridgeway’s performance overall had the same heroic moments the Lady Falcon faithful have come to expect from the senior during the second half, including the first points of the third quarter. Ridgeway’s three pointer at the 6:22 mark began the slow erasure of LRCA’s 32-20 halftime lead back into single digits.
A shot by Jae Tucker pushed the Lady Warriors’ lead back to 11, and a layup by Megan Baker moments later pushed the lead back up to 13 at 36-23.
Little Rock Christian held on by 11 until the 1:03 mark, when a three pointer by Brittney Crutchfield sparked a Lady Falcon rally that would change the entire mood of the game. The Lady Warriors responded badly to the NP press with four-straight turnovers in the final minute.
This led to another pair of baskets for Crutchfield, and the final steal by Ridgeway in the last 10 seconds was almost converted as well. Ridgeway got the ball out to Crutchfield for a wide-open shot under the basket, but the buzzer sounded just before release.
Bianca Harper led the Lady Falcons with 14 points, with 13 pionts from Crutchfield. Jae Tucker led LRCA with 12 points. The Lady Falsons are now 1-5 on the season, and will take on Joe T. Thursday night. The Lady Warriors are 3-2 on the year.
Wednesday, December 05, 2007
SPORTS >>Panthers escape ‘Jungle’
By JASON KING
Leader sportswriter
The Panthers weathered the storm from host team Searcy to come away with a 50-49 win Sat-urday in the consolation finals of the Searcy Bank Classic. Cabot led the entire way, but never by more than six points.
The closest of quarters would come at the very end, when the Lions fought back to tie the game in the final 12 seconds before Cabot junior Adam Sterrenberg made the game-winning move during the final second of the game.
Sterrenberg took the inbounds pass from Austin Johnson and quickly drove inside, hoping to draw a cheap foul. That foul came in the form of an arm slap by Searcy’s Aaron Coleman, sending one of the Panthers’ most solid free throw shooters to the line with virtually no time remaining.
Sterrenberg hit the front end, but the second shot bounced off the rim. Coleman pulled down the rebound and let off a desperation shot behind the half-court line that fell short.
“We just can’t seem to learn how to put people away,” Panthers coach Jerry Bridges said. “We got up on them and then let them come back on us. I thought we did a good job of holding them there at the end when they had all that momentum. Austin (Johnson) had some nice shots in the paint for us at the end when we needed it.”
The Panthers made a little bit of room for themselves early in the fourth quarter when a Sterrenberg jumper gave Cabot a 38-33 lead with 6:10 remaining. He would score again on the next trip down court when he put back his own miss to extend the lead to 40-33.
The Lions came back as ferocious as their name implies in the final five minutes. A sky shot by Jordan Evans pulled Searcy back to within five at 40-35, but a pair of free throws by Sterrenberg extended the advantage for Cabot once again. Evans answered for Searcy off an assist by Logan English, and converted another jumper with 3:39 left to play to pull the Lions to within four at 43-39.
Junior post Anthony Harniss pulled the Lions to within a single score with a pair of free throws after he drew the foul from Cabot guard Trey Rosel. Harness would then tie the game with an inside jumper at the 2:57 mark to make it 43-43.
The Panthers didn’t panic, they just went to the inside. Cabot took the lead back on its next possession with a shot inside by Miles Monroe wtih 2:37 left in the game, but Nathan Williams pulled Searcy even again with two free throws after being fouled by Sterrenberg.
Junior forward Austin Johnson finished with just six points in the game, but four of those points could not have come at a more crucial time. Johnson had two shots from the lane in the final two minutes, the first of which put Cabot out front 47-45, and the second followed a Harniss basket for Searcy to put the Panthers up 49-47 with exactly one minute remaining.
The Lions were set to hold for the final shot, but English found the lane he was looking for early, and drove hard to the basket to tie the game with 12 seconds remaining.
Sam Bates stepped up to take the final shot for the Panthers, but Harniss blocked his attempt. A loose-ball scramble ensued, and Coleman touched the ball just as it rolled out to give possesion to the Panthers on their side of the court with 1.9 seconds left on the clock. The attempt to draw the foul by Sterrenberg worked, and the front end shot secured the win.
For Searcy coach Jim Summers, three losses for the week was not the desired result, but the progress shown by his young squad througout the three tourney games gave him promise.
“We’re getting a definate rotation lined out,” Summers said. “I thought each game, we came out and played better and better. Sure, its’ hard to lose three at home like that, but the improvement has shown.”
Sterrenberg led the Panthers with 17 points. Monroe finished with nine points, while Derek Clarkson added eight points.
Johnson rounded out high scorers with six points. For Searcy, Evans led with 15 points, while Harniss and English each added 10. The Panthers improved to 4-2 on the season with the win, while the Lions fell to 2-4.
Leader sportswriter
The Panthers weathered the storm from host team Searcy to come away with a 50-49 win Sat-urday in the consolation finals of the Searcy Bank Classic. Cabot led the entire way, but never by more than six points.
The closest of quarters would come at the very end, when the Lions fought back to tie the game in the final 12 seconds before Cabot junior Adam Sterrenberg made the game-winning move during the final second of the game.
Sterrenberg took the inbounds pass from Austin Johnson and quickly drove inside, hoping to draw a cheap foul. That foul came in the form of an arm slap by Searcy’s Aaron Coleman, sending one of the Panthers’ most solid free throw shooters to the line with virtually no time remaining.
Sterrenberg hit the front end, but the second shot bounced off the rim. Coleman pulled down the rebound and let off a desperation shot behind the half-court line that fell short.
“We just can’t seem to learn how to put people away,” Panthers coach Jerry Bridges said. “We got up on them and then let them come back on us. I thought we did a good job of holding them there at the end when they had all that momentum. Austin (Johnson) had some nice shots in the paint for us at the end when we needed it.”
The Panthers made a little bit of room for themselves early in the fourth quarter when a Sterrenberg jumper gave Cabot a 38-33 lead with 6:10 remaining. He would score again on the next trip down court when he put back his own miss to extend the lead to 40-33.
The Lions came back as ferocious as their name implies in the final five minutes. A sky shot by Jordan Evans pulled Searcy back to within five at 40-35, but a pair of free throws by Sterrenberg extended the advantage for Cabot once again. Evans answered for Searcy off an assist by Logan English, and converted another jumper with 3:39 left to play to pull the Lions to within four at 43-39.
Junior post Anthony Harniss pulled the Lions to within a single score with a pair of free throws after he drew the foul from Cabot guard Trey Rosel. Harness would then tie the game with an inside jumper at the 2:57 mark to make it 43-43.
The Panthers didn’t panic, they just went to the inside. Cabot took the lead back on its next possession with a shot inside by Miles Monroe wtih 2:37 left in the game, but Nathan Williams pulled Searcy even again with two free throws after being fouled by Sterrenberg.
Junior forward Austin Johnson finished with just six points in the game, but four of those points could not have come at a more crucial time. Johnson had two shots from the lane in the final two minutes, the first of which put Cabot out front 47-45, and the second followed a Harniss basket for Searcy to put the Panthers up 49-47 with exactly one minute remaining.
The Lions were set to hold for the final shot, but English found the lane he was looking for early, and drove hard to the basket to tie the game with 12 seconds remaining.
Sam Bates stepped up to take the final shot for the Panthers, but Harniss blocked his attempt. A loose-ball scramble ensued, and Coleman touched the ball just as it rolled out to give possesion to the Panthers on their side of the court with 1.9 seconds left on the clock. The attempt to draw the foul by Sterrenberg worked, and the front end shot secured the win.
For Searcy coach Jim Summers, three losses for the week was not the desired result, but the progress shown by his young squad througout the three tourney games gave him promise.
“We’re getting a definate rotation lined out,” Summers said. “I thought each game, we came out and played better and better. Sure, its’ hard to lose three at home like that, but the improvement has shown.”
Sterrenberg led the Panthers with 17 points. Monroe finished with nine points, while Derek Clarkson added eight points.
Johnson rounded out high scorers with six points. For Searcy, Evans led with 15 points, while Harniss and English each added 10. The Panthers improved to 4-2 on the season with the win, while the Lions fell to 2-4.
SPORTS >>Owls outlast Oak Grove in double OT
By RAY BENTON
Leader sports editor
Abundant Life won in exciting fashion last Friday night just up the road at Oak Grove. The Owls and Hornets scrapped through regulation and two overtimes, with the visiting team coming out on top 71-66.
The game became a two-man show between Abundant Life senior guard Colby Woolverton and Oak Grove sophomore guard Cedrick Williams.Woolverton finished with a game-high 38 points while Williams led the Hornets with 35.
“That kid can play,” Oak Grove head coach Wayne Herren said. “It was a battle. We just missed shots in the end.”
The Hornets had two shots to win it in regulation. After a missed shot, Brandon Hudson got a point-blank putback attempt, but missed it, sending it to the extra period.
The first overtime saw little action. Oak Grove pulled the ball out to halfcourt and held it. Abundant Life was content to let them hold it, and the two teams stood around for the rest of the extra frame. The Hornets scored with 30 seconds left, but Abundant Life answered with a bucket after being trapped at halfcourt. The Hornets bailed the Owls out after successfully executing the halfcourt trap by fouling.
“Their 1-2-2 zone gave us trouble all night, so I just pulled it out to see if they would come and get us,” Herring said. “They didn’t so we just held it. I thought we might be able to capitalize on our quickness if we could get some space, but give them credit. They didn’t go for it.”
Tied at 63 to start the second extra period, action stayed slow. Not a single bucket was scored. All eight of Abundant Life’s points were scored at the foul line, as well as all three of Oak Grove’s points.
Woolverton hit six of those eight while Keathley nailed the other two to put the Owls in front to stay.
Abundant Life took command of the game early and maintained it through three quarters. The Owls jumped out to a 17-9 lead, and took a 32-21 lead into halftime.
The lead continued to grow in the third, with Abundant Life carrying a 45-32 advantage in the final quarter of regulation.
Oak Grove then went off for 29 points in the fourth, led by Williams until he fouled out with a little over a minute to play.
Keathley added 11 total points to supplement Woolverton’s 38. Dane Lottner added 10 for the Owls.
Brandon Hudson and Corderrell Harris each scored 12 for the Hornets.
Abundant Life hit 29 of 41 foul shots, including a 17 of 21 effort by Woolverton.
Oak Grove made 23 of 30 from the line, but hit just one of 17 from beyond three-point range.
Abundant Life opened conference play on the road last night against defending conference and state champion Riverview.
Look for details of that encounter in Saturday’s edition of The Leader.
Leader sports editor
Abundant Life won in exciting fashion last Friday night just up the road at Oak Grove. The Owls and Hornets scrapped through regulation and two overtimes, with the visiting team coming out on top 71-66.
The game became a two-man show between Abundant Life senior guard Colby Woolverton and Oak Grove sophomore guard Cedrick Williams.Woolverton finished with a game-high 38 points while Williams led the Hornets with 35.
“That kid can play,” Oak Grove head coach Wayne Herren said. “It was a battle. We just missed shots in the end.”
The Hornets had two shots to win it in regulation. After a missed shot, Brandon Hudson got a point-blank putback attempt, but missed it, sending it to the extra period.
The first overtime saw little action. Oak Grove pulled the ball out to halfcourt and held it. Abundant Life was content to let them hold it, and the two teams stood around for the rest of the extra frame. The Hornets scored with 30 seconds left, but Abundant Life answered with a bucket after being trapped at halfcourt. The Hornets bailed the Owls out after successfully executing the halfcourt trap by fouling.
“Their 1-2-2 zone gave us trouble all night, so I just pulled it out to see if they would come and get us,” Herring said. “They didn’t so we just held it. I thought we might be able to capitalize on our quickness if we could get some space, but give them credit. They didn’t go for it.”
Tied at 63 to start the second extra period, action stayed slow. Not a single bucket was scored. All eight of Abundant Life’s points were scored at the foul line, as well as all three of Oak Grove’s points.
Woolverton hit six of those eight while Keathley nailed the other two to put the Owls in front to stay.
Abundant Life took command of the game early and maintained it through three quarters. The Owls jumped out to a 17-9 lead, and took a 32-21 lead into halftime.
The lead continued to grow in the third, with Abundant Life carrying a 45-32 advantage in the final quarter of regulation.
Oak Grove then went off for 29 points in the fourth, led by Williams until he fouled out with a little over a minute to play.
Keathley added 11 total points to supplement Woolverton’s 38. Dane Lottner added 10 for the Owls.
Brandon Hudson and Corderrell Harris each scored 12 for the Hornets.
Abundant Life hit 29 of 41 foul shots, including a 17 of 21 effort by Woolverton.
Oak Grove made 23 of 30 from the line, but hit just one of 17 from beyond three-point range.
Abundant Life opened conference play on the road last night against defending conference and state champion Riverview.
Look for details of that encounter in Saturday’s edition of The Leader.
EVENTS>> Fall 2007
Animal shelter to offer pet Christmas photos
The Jacksonville Animal Shelter will be offering Christmas photos with Santa from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday. Bring your animal friends and take family photos with Santa. Kids and families are welcome.
Proceeds will go to to volunteer group Pet Angels for the purchase of items for animals confined to the shelter.
Items needed include blankets, feeding bowls, leashes, dog and cat toys. The group also provides vaccinations and spaying and neutering for shelter cats and dogs. An adopt-a-thon will also be held at the same time. The shelter is located at 217 Redmond Road.
Call 982-2916 for more information.
Baptist Church offering free photos with Santa
Landmark Baptist Church at 1701 General Samuels Road in Jacksonville will offer free pictures with Santa from 2 to 4 p.m. this Sunday. Call 982-8226 for more information.
Groups seek Christmas gifts for veterans in need
The Jacksonville Museum of Military History and Mt. Tabor Methodist Church are sponsoring Christmas Care for Veterans, and collecting items the two organizations will be giving to the Little Rock Veterans Retirement Home.
The groups are asking for donations of new sweat suits, slippers, white cotton t-shirts, pajama pants, socks or flannel pajamas of all different sizes (including large and X-large) no later than Sunday, Dec. 16.
The items may be dropped off during regular business hours at the Jacksonville Museum of Military History, 100 Veterans Circle, Jacksonville or Mt. Tabor Methodist Church, Hwy. 89 South in Cabot.
Please do not purchase any toiletries. For more information, contact the museum at 241-1943 or the church at 843-1084.
Military Order of the World Wars will meet today
The Central Arkansas Chapter of the Military Order of the World Wars will meet at 11:30 a.m. today at Western Sizzlin’ in Jacksonville.
Garrick Feldman, editor and publisher of The Leader, will be the guest speaker. Three local high school students who recently graduated from the Youth Leadership Conference at the Space and Rocket center in Huntsville, Ala., will also be in attendance.
Visitors are welcome. For more information, call Carter Burwell at 247-9181, Stanley Warrick at 868-8211 or Jim Elmer at 771-4106 or e-mail jimelmer@swbell.net.
Nixon Library offering free events to the public
Nixon Library in Jacksonville is offering free events to the public throughout December. Tyke Tales, for ages 3-5, will be held at 10:30 a.m. today and Wednesday, Dec. 12. The library’s after-school program, Book Bunch, will also meet today and Dec. 12 at 3:45 p.m.
Merry Moppets, for little readers ages 1-and-a-half- to 3-years-old, will meet at 10:30 a.m. this Friday and also on Friday, Dec. 14.
On Tuesday, Dec. 11, book lovers are invited to a book chat at 2 p.m. to share the books they have read over the past month.
Children’s story times are also scheduled throughout the month.
For more information, contact the library at 982-5533.
LRAFB Spouses’ Club to hold holiday luncheon
Please join the Little Rock Air Force Base Spouses’ Club for a holiday luncheon Thursday, Dec. 13 at the LRAFB Chapel Annex.
All spouses of active duty, Guard, Reserve, retiree and DOD employees are invited. Social and childcare begin at 10:30 a.m. and the function at 11 a.m.
A pot-luck lunch will be provided with a $2 donation. Please bring a holiday item for the drawing and receive 10 free tickets; additional tickets will be available for purchase at the event.
Melissa Matus from the Junior Auxiliary of Jacksonville will be our guest speaker. Children’s Playgroup will be available at the TCAC for $4 per child. For more information and to RSVP visit www.littlerockspouses.com or contact Rachel Kreps at 501-765-0316.
An RSVP is required by 5 p.m. Monday, Dec. 10.
The Jacksonville Animal Shelter will be offering Christmas photos with Santa from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday. Bring your animal friends and take family photos with Santa. Kids and families are welcome.
Proceeds will go to to volunteer group Pet Angels for the purchase of items for animals confined to the shelter.
Items needed include blankets, feeding bowls, leashes, dog and cat toys. The group also provides vaccinations and spaying and neutering for shelter cats and dogs. An adopt-a-thon will also be held at the same time. The shelter is located at 217 Redmond Road.
Call 982-2916 for more information.
Baptist Church offering free photos with Santa
Landmark Baptist Church at 1701 General Samuels Road in Jacksonville will offer free pictures with Santa from 2 to 4 p.m. this Sunday. Call 982-8226 for more information.
Groups seek Christmas gifts for veterans in need
The Jacksonville Museum of Military History and Mt. Tabor Methodist Church are sponsoring Christmas Care for Veterans, and collecting items the two organizations will be giving to the Little Rock Veterans Retirement Home.
The groups are asking for donations of new sweat suits, slippers, white cotton t-shirts, pajama pants, socks or flannel pajamas of all different sizes (including large and X-large) no later than Sunday, Dec. 16.
The items may be dropped off during regular business hours at the Jacksonville Museum of Military History, 100 Veterans Circle, Jacksonville or Mt. Tabor Methodist Church, Hwy. 89 South in Cabot.
Please do not purchase any toiletries. For more information, contact the museum at 241-1943 or the church at 843-1084.
Military Order of the World Wars will meet today
The Central Arkansas Chapter of the Military Order of the World Wars will meet at 11:30 a.m. today at Western Sizzlin’ in Jacksonville.
Garrick Feldman, editor and publisher of The Leader, will be the guest speaker. Three local high school students who recently graduated from the Youth Leadership Conference at the Space and Rocket center in Huntsville, Ala., will also be in attendance.
Visitors are welcome. For more information, call Carter Burwell at 247-9181, Stanley Warrick at 868-8211 or Jim Elmer at 771-4106 or e-mail jimelmer@swbell.net.
Nixon Library offering free events to the public
Nixon Library in Jacksonville is offering free events to the public throughout December. Tyke Tales, for ages 3-5, will be held at 10:30 a.m. today and Wednesday, Dec. 12. The library’s after-school program, Book Bunch, will also meet today and Dec. 12 at 3:45 p.m.
Merry Moppets, for little readers ages 1-and-a-half- to 3-years-old, will meet at 10:30 a.m. this Friday and also on Friday, Dec. 14.
On Tuesday, Dec. 11, book lovers are invited to a book chat at 2 p.m. to share the books they have read over the past month.
Children’s story times are also scheduled throughout the month.
For more information, contact the library at 982-5533.
LRAFB Spouses’ Club to hold holiday luncheon
Please join the Little Rock Air Force Base Spouses’ Club for a holiday luncheon Thursday, Dec. 13 at the LRAFB Chapel Annex.
All spouses of active duty, Guard, Reserve, retiree and DOD employees are invited. Social and childcare begin at 10:30 a.m. and the function at 11 a.m.
A pot-luck lunch will be provided with a $2 donation. Please bring a holiday item for the drawing and receive 10 free tickets; additional tickets will be available for purchase at the event.
Melissa Matus from the Junior Auxiliary of Jacksonville will be our guest speaker. Children’s Playgroup will be available at the TCAC for $4 per child. For more information and to RSVP visit www.littlerockspouses.com or contact Rachel Kreps at 501-765-0316.
An RSVP is required by 5 p.m. Monday, Dec. 10.
OBITUARIES >> 12-05-07
Donna Bailey
Donna Jean “D.J.” Bailey, 30, of Cabot, passed away Dec. 1.
She was born Feb. 26, 1977 in Searcy to James and Donna Tozer.
She was preceded in death by her father, James Tozer and one brother, Steven Walters.
Survivors include her husband Ronnie C. Bailey of Cabot; mother, Donna Tozer of Ward; two sisters, Melissa Corsini and husband Andrew of Tavernier, Fla., and Debra Jones and LeAndre of Chicago, Ill.; two brothers, Adam Walters and wife Danielle of Texas and Jamie Tozer of Ward; along with many other family members and friends.
A time of visitation is scheduled for 1 to 9 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 5 with the family receiving friends from 5 to 9 p.m. at Thomas Funeral Service. Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 6 at Mt. Springs Baptist Church with burial following at Mt. Springs Cemetery.
Wilma Vanderhoof
Wilma Agella Vanderhoof, 91, of Jacksonville went to be with the Lord Dec. 3.
She was born April 30, 1916 in Lonoke County to the late Melton and Emma Kaylor Odom.
She was a member of First Baptist Church of Jacksonville and a devoted wife to her late husband, Onie Vanderhoof.
Survivors include her son, John Vanderhoof and wife Pat of Jacksonville; brothers, Arden Odom and wife Ann of Mayflower, Gutherie Odom of Cabot; seven grandchildren, 17 great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild; as well as many nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 6 in the chapel of Moore’s Jacksonville Funeral Home with Chaplain Joe Bratton officiating. Burial will follow in Chapel Hill Memorial Park. Visitation will be at the funeral home on Wednesday, Dec. 5 from 6 to 8 p.m.
Ruebel Holmes
Ruebel V. Holmes, 64, of Bryant passed away Dec. 2.
He was a member of First Pentecostal Church of North Little Rock.
He is survived by his son, Ruebel Vaiden Holmes, Jr., and wife Karen of Conway; daughter, Sheila Harrison and husband, David of Bryant; mother, Agnes Holmes of Sherwood; brother, Rev. Joel Holmes of Sherwood; four sisters, Juanita Beall of North Little Rock, Arlene Smith of Benton, Faith Cavin of Sherwood and Sharon Brewer of Sherwood; six grandchildren, Candice Hill, Kelli Holmes, Ashley Harrison, Ruebel Vaiden and husband Trey Holmes III, Kaci Holmes and Vaiden Holmes; and his extended family at Countrywood Village.
Memorials may be made to Hospice Home Care, Inc., 2200 S. Bowman Road, Little Rock, Ark. 72211 or Calvary Academy, 1401 Calvary, North Little Rock, Ark., 72116.
Funeral services will be held at 7:30 p.m., Wednesday, Dec. 5 at First Pentecostal Church of North Little Rock with a visitation before the service from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Entombment will be at 10 a.m., Thursday, Dec. 6 at Rest Hills Memorial Park Mausoleum.
Pallbearers will be Nick Neeley, Kenny Harper, Paul Eller, Eddie Harrison, Justin Brewer and Joey Brewer. Honorary pallbearers will be Norman Clifton, Bill Harrison, Don Terry, Wendell Flemister, Dr. Gene Howard, Ben Lonsdale and Slim Clements.
Amilee Haynes
Amilee Haynes, 88, of Jacksonville died Dec. 2.
She was born July 12, 1919 in Jones County Texas to the late John and Rachel Griffith.
Amilee was a member of the McArthur Drive Church of Christ in Jacksonville.
She is also preceded in death by her husband, William; sister, Lena Henderson and two brothers, James W. Griffith and Earl Griffith.
She is survived by her children, William H. Haynes and wife Joy of Jacksonville, and Linda Haynes of Ashville, N.C.; her sisters, Mary Shute of Mesquite, Texas, Faye Pickle of Austin, Texas, and Billie Quinn of Alexander NY; and grandchildren, Nathan Haynes, Matthew Haynes and Scott Haynes.
Graveside services will be held at 10 a.m. Friday, Dec. 7 at Little Rock National Cemetery. Funeral arrangements are under direction of Moore’s Jacksonville Funeral Home.
Donna Stage
Donna Renee Stage, 43, of Ward went to be with her Lord Nov. 30. She was born Nov. 15, 1964 in San Jose, Calif., to Bill and Paulette Hay Allen.
She fought a valiant battle with cancer for nine years, but never let it define her life. She said it best, when she said “I can’t control what the cancer will do to my body, but it will never touch my spirit or my will to live a full life.”
She was a devout Christian and a member of First Baptist Church in Cabot.
She worked as a dental hygienist and homemaker. She enjoyed scrap booking leaving a legacy of memories for Tyler.
She is survived by her husband, Patrick Stage; son, Tyler Stage of Ward; parents, Bill and Paulette Allen of Newport; and brother, Brad Allen of Judsonia.
Funeral services were Dec. 3 at First Baptist Church in Cabot. Arrangements were by Moore’s Cabot Funeral Home.
Mason Blackall
Mason Stone Blackall, 4, of Austin, passed away Nov. 28.
He was born Oct. 2, 2003 in Searcy to Michael and Christina Blackall of Austin.
“As a mother comforts her child so I shall comfort you…” Isaiah 66:13.
Mason is survived by his parents, Michael and Christina Blackall; four siblings, Anthony, Michael, Summer and Shelby Blackall, grandparents, Don and Rebecca Blackall of Lewisburg, Tenn., Katherine Stone of Thayer, Mo., Marybeth Macomber of Cabot, and Harrell Stone of Ward.
Graveside services were Dec. 3 at Mt. Carmel Cemetery in Cabot.
Funeral arrangements were under the direction of Moore’s Jacksonville Funeral Home.
Donations may be made to the Ronald McDonald House.
Donna Jean “D.J.” Bailey, 30, of Cabot, passed away Dec. 1.
She was born Feb. 26, 1977 in Searcy to James and Donna Tozer.
She was preceded in death by her father, James Tozer and one brother, Steven Walters.
Survivors include her husband Ronnie C. Bailey of Cabot; mother, Donna Tozer of Ward; two sisters, Melissa Corsini and husband Andrew of Tavernier, Fla., and Debra Jones and LeAndre of Chicago, Ill.; two brothers, Adam Walters and wife Danielle of Texas and Jamie Tozer of Ward; along with many other family members and friends.
A time of visitation is scheduled for 1 to 9 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 5 with the family receiving friends from 5 to 9 p.m. at Thomas Funeral Service. Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 6 at Mt. Springs Baptist Church with burial following at Mt. Springs Cemetery.
Wilma Vanderhoof
Wilma Agella Vanderhoof, 91, of Jacksonville went to be with the Lord Dec. 3.
She was born April 30, 1916 in Lonoke County to the late Melton and Emma Kaylor Odom.
She was a member of First Baptist Church of Jacksonville and a devoted wife to her late husband, Onie Vanderhoof.
Survivors include her son, John Vanderhoof and wife Pat of Jacksonville; brothers, Arden Odom and wife Ann of Mayflower, Gutherie Odom of Cabot; seven grandchildren, 17 great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild; as well as many nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 6 in the chapel of Moore’s Jacksonville Funeral Home with Chaplain Joe Bratton officiating. Burial will follow in Chapel Hill Memorial Park. Visitation will be at the funeral home on Wednesday, Dec. 5 from 6 to 8 p.m.
Ruebel Holmes
Ruebel V. Holmes, 64, of Bryant passed away Dec. 2.
He was a member of First Pentecostal Church of North Little Rock.
He is survived by his son, Ruebel Vaiden Holmes, Jr., and wife Karen of Conway; daughter, Sheila Harrison and husband, David of Bryant; mother, Agnes Holmes of Sherwood; brother, Rev. Joel Holmes of Sherwood; four sisters, Juanita Beall of North Little Rock, Arlene Smith of Benton, Faith Cavin of Sherwood and Sharon Brewer of Sherwood; six grandchildren, Candice Hill, Kelli Holmes, Ashley Harrison, Ruebel Vaiden and husband Trey Holmes III, Kaci Holmes and Vaiden Holmes; and his extended family at Countrywood Village.
Memorials may be made to Hospice Home Care, Inc., 2200 S. Bowman Road, Little Rock, Ark. 72211 or Calvary Academy, 1401 Calvary, North Little Rock, Ark., 72116.
Funeral services will be held at 7:30 p.m., Wednesday, Dec. 5 at First Pentecostal Church of North Little Rock with a visitation before the service from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Entombment will be at 10 a.m., Thursday, Dec. 6 at Rest Hills Memorial Park Mausoleum.
Pallbearers will be Nick Neeley, Kenny Harper, Paul Eller, Eddie Harrison, Justin Brewer and Joey Brewer. Honorary pallbearers will be Norman Clifton, Bill Harrison, Don Terry, Wendell Flemister, Dr. Gene Howard, Ben Lonsdale and Slim Clements.
Amilee Haynes
Amilee Haynes, 88, of Jacksonville died Dec. 2.
She was born July 12, 1919 in Jones County Texas to the late John and Rachel Griffith.
Amilee was a member of the McArthur Drive Church of Christ in Jacksonville.
She is also preceded in death by her husband, William; sister, Lena Henderson and two brothers, James W. Griffith and Earl Griffith.
She is survived by her children, William H. Haynes and wife Joy of Jacksonville, and Linda Haynes of Ashville, N.C.; her sisters, Mary Shute of Mesquite, Texas, Faye Pickle of Austin, Texas, and Billie Quinn of Alexander NY; and grandchildren, Nathan Haynes, Matthew Haynes and Scott Haynes.
Graveside services will be held at 10 a.m. Friday, Dec. 7 at Little Rock National Cemetery. Funeral arrangements are under direction of Moore’s Jacksonville Funeral Home.
Donna Stage
Donna Renee Stage, 43, of Ward went to be with her Lord Nov. 30. She was born Nov. 15, 1964 in San Jose, Calif., to Bill and Paulette Hay Allen.
She fought a valiant battle with cancer for nine years, but never let it define her life. She said it best, when she said “I can’t control what the cancer will do to my body, but it will never touch my spirit or my will to live a full life.”
She was a devout Christian and a member of First Baptist Church in Cabot.
She worked as a dental hygienist and homemaker. She enjoyed scrap booking leaving a legacy of memories for Tyler.
She is survived by her husband, Patrick Stage; son, Tyler Stage of Ward; parents, Bill and Paulette Allen of Newport; and brother, Brad Allen of Judsonia.
Funeral services were Dec. 3 at First Baptist Church in Cabot. Arrangements were by Moore’s Cabot Funeral Home.
Mason Blackall
Mason Stone Blackall, 4, of Austin, passed away Nov. 28.
He was born Oct. 2, 2003 in Searcy to Michael and Christina Blackall of Austin.
“As a mother comforts her child so I shall comfort you…” Isaiah 66:13.
Mason is survived by his parents, Michael and Christina Blackall; four siblings, Anthony, Michael, Summer and Shelby Blackall, grandparents, Don and Rebecca Blackall of Lewisburg, Tenn., Katherine Stone of Thayer, Mo., Marybeth Macomber of Cabot, and Harrell Stone of Ward.
Graveside services were Dec. 3 at Mt. Carmel Cemetery in Cabot.
Funeral arrangements were under the direction of Moore’s Jacksonville Funeral Home.
Donations may be made to the Ronald McDonald House.
TOP STORY >>Civil War battlefield site grows
By ALIYA FELDMAN
Leader staff writer
Civil War enthusiasts committed to preserving Jacksonville’s battle site have managed to add to it even as they look for increased funding.
Reed’s Bridge Battlefield Preservation Society president Tommy Dupree said the restaurant tax, popularly known as a “hamburger tax,” enacted earlier this year to fund potential tourist destinations such as Reed’s Bridge on Hwy. 161 South has not yet materialized.
“We just hadn’t gotten any of it yet,” he said, but he expects $12,000 from the Advertising and Promotion Commission.
The Reed’s Bridge Society has secured funds from the city of Jacksonville and other sources.
The Arkansas Humanities Council helped finance five new historical panels dedicated Saturday and the city did dirt work and put gravel down. Dupree said the county is also going to put down gravel and asphalt.
Ninety-one visitors came to Saturday’s dedication.
The Daughters of the American Revolution furnished one panel on Maj. Jacob Gray, a veteran of the Revolutionary War who traveled up Bayou Meto in 1820 and settled in the area that has since become Jacksonville.
Dupree said the city has agreed to pay $20,000 for two more lots to add to the historic site, which have been appraised for $30,000.
“I hope it will happen soon,” Dupree said and added the deal is “ready to close.”
Dupree said more money is needed before any more land can be bought and included in the historic site. “There’s more land available,” he said. “You can’t buy it all today because some people don’t want to sell.” Dupree said buying all the land to preserve the Civil War battle site would cost about $2 million.
Other panels dedicated Saturday commemorate when Military Road was created by Congress in 1824, the Indian removal from 1831-1838 and the Civil War troop movement on Aug. 27, 1863.
On that day, Union soldiers advanced along Military Road toward Little Rock when 6,000 men under Gen. John Wayne Davidson’s command attempted to cross Reed’s Bridge. A Confederate force of 4,000 soldiers under the command of Gen. John Marmaduke burned the bridge and defended the crossing under heavy fire throughout the day.
Several attempts by Union soldiers to cross failed and they withdrew by day’s end. Two days later, they crossed the Bayou Meto five miles south of Reed’s bridge.
It was the last Confederate victory before the Union troops captured Little Rock on September 10.
Re-enactors from the 1st and 6th Arkansas infantry bivouacked at the Reed’s Bridge site over the weekend.
The public was invited to visit the site and interact with the re-enactors and experience what it was like to be a Confederate soldier during the Civil War.
All the land acquired so far for the site has been deeded over to the city, and the society shares upkeep duties with the city.
Along with the Arkansas Humanities Council and the city, the Department of Arkansas Heritage, the Arkansas Historic Preservation program, the Prescott-Nevada County Economic Development Office and the Southwest Arkansas Civil War Heritage Trail also supported the project.
The Battlefield Preservation Society is planning a re-enactment in August, near the anniversary of the Reed’s Bridge battle.
Leader staff writer
Civil War enthusiasts committed to preserving Jacksonville’s battle site have managed to add to it even as they look for increased funding.
Reed’s Bridge Battlefield Preservation Society president Tommy Dupree said the restaurant tax, popularly known as a “hamburger tax,” enacted earlier this year to fund potential tourist destinations such as Reed’s Bridge on Hwy. 161 South has not yet materialized.
“We just hadn’t gotten any of it yet,” he said, but he expects $12,000 from the Advertising and Promotion Commission.
The Reed’s Bridge Society has secured funds from the city of Jacksonville and other sources.
The Arkansas Humanities Council helped finance five new historical panels dedicated Saturday and the city did dirt work and put gravel down. Dupree said the county is also going to put down gravel and asphalt.
Ninety-one visitors came to Saturday’s dedication.
The Daughters of the American Revolution furnished one panel on Maj. Jacob Gray, a veteran of the Revolutionary War who traveled up Bayou Meto in 1820 and settled in the area that has since become Jacksonville.
Dupree said the city has agreed to pay $20,000 for two more lots to add to the historic site, which have been appraised for $30,000.
“I hope it will happen soon,” Dupree said and added the deal is “ready to close.”
Dupree said more money is needed before any more land can be bought and included in the historic site. “There’s more land available,” he said. “You can’t buy it all today because some people don’t want to sell.” Dupree said buying all the land to preserve the Civil War battle site would cost about $2 million.
Other panels dedicated Saturday commemorate when Military Road was created by Congress in 1824, the Indian removal from 1831-1838 and the Civil War troop movement on Aug. 27, 1863.
On that day, Union soldiers advanced along Military Road toward Little Rock when 6,000 men under Gen. John Wayne Davidson’s command attempted to cross Reed’s Bridge. A Confederate force of 4,000 soldiers under the command of Gen. John Marmaduke burned the bridge and defended the crossing under heavy fire throughout the day.
Several attempts by Union soldiers to cross failed and they withdrew by day’s end. Two days later, they crossed the Bayou Meto five miles south of Reed’s bridge.
It was the last Confederate victory before the Union troops captured Little Rock on September 10.
Re-enactors from the 1st and 6th Arkansas infantry bivouacked at the Reed’s Bridge site over the weekend.
The public was invited to visit the site and interact with the re-enactors and experience what it was like to be a Confederate soldier during the Civil War.
All the land acquired so far for the site has been deeded over to the city, and the society shares upkeep duties with the city.
Along with the Arkansas Humanities Council and the city, the Department of Arkansas Heritage, the Arkansas Historic Preservation program, the Prescott-Nevada County Economic Development Office and the Southwest Arkansas Civil War Heritage Trail also supported the project.
The Battlefield Preservation Society is planning a re-enactment in August, near the anniversary of the Reed’s Bridge battle.
TOP STORY >>Gravel Ridge has doubts on being annexed
By HEATHER HARTSELL
Leader staff writer
Several Gravel Ridge business owners don’t like the possibility of being annexed into the Jacksonville city limits in a special election on Feb. 5.
Sherwood officials aren’t too crazy about the idea, either, and will hold a March annexation referendum. Gravel Ridge residents would have the final say on which city they want to join, with Sherwood apparently enjoying an edge.
According to Sherwood Mayor Virginia Hillman, the Sherwood City Council will discuss annexing the area during the next council meeting on Dec. 17.
Hillman said a March special election has already been scheduled.
Hillman says that the results of Jacksonville’s vote would be put on hold until Sherwood’s election, and if both cities approve the annexation, then Gravel Ridge residents would vote to determine where the area would go.
“Sherwood has amenities that would be attractive to them (Gravel Ridge) and we would serve them well,” Hillman said.
Jacksonvillle Mayor Tommy Swaim feels the same way about his city.
“There are things we can offer,” the mayor said.
But he still has some convincing to do.
“I don’t really care to be part of Jacksonville,” Ronald Wallace, owner of Gravel Ridge Small Engine on 7900 Jacksonville Cut-off, said.
“I’d just be paying more taxes, and I have police protection right across the street (with the Pulaski County Sheriff’s Office substation),” Wallace added.
Fellow business owner Scott Helmbeck of Helmbeck Brothers Body Shop echoed Wallace’s sentiments.
“I kind of like it the way it is now and would prefer it remain the same,” said Helmbeck, who opened his business at 14717 Hwy. 107 in 1997. “If it’s going to happen, I’d prefer it be to Sherwood,” he added.
If voters in Jacksonville and Gravel Ridge approve the annexation, 2,500 acres of the unincorporated Gravel Ridge area will become part of Jacksonville 30 days later. But Sherwood’s annexation moves would probably put those plans on hold.
Swaim said he didn’t blame business owners for not wanting to be annexed into Jacksonville but Gravel Ridge will eventually end up as part of some municipality if it stays unincorporated.
“I don’t expect everyone in business in that area to want to be part of any municipality,” Swaim added.
According to the ordinance passed by the Jacksonville City Council last week, if the annexation is approved, the city would take over police protection of the area from Pulaski County immediately and would immediately coordinate and supplement fire protection with the volunteer fire department in Gravel Ridge.
Sewer services already in the area would immediately be brought under Jacksonville’s control. The city already provides a portion of the area with sewer and other utility services.
Jacksonville would pick up the sanitation service within six months of the election.
Sherwood annexed an area of 2,000 acres just north of Gravel Ridge last year. Jacksonville tried to stop that annexation at the county level and lost, then appealed to circuit court and lost. That annexation issue is now before the state Supreme Court; a decision is expected early next year.
Swaim said the idea to annex Gravel Ridge, a natural growth area for the city, into Jacksonville had been discussed for many years, but the timing hadn’t been right.
“At this point, with reasonable growth in the west, it’s important to work with the people of Gravel Ridge to annex them in,” he explained.
“The big advantage for us is to be involved in the growth of the area,” Swaim added.
The general area sought for annexation into Jacksonville, according to City Administrator Jay Whisker, runs from the western city limits to west of Highway 107, south of Kellogg Creek and north to Bayou Meto.
Both cities have been at odds over the 1,950 acres of land that lies basically north of Sherwood and west of Jacksonville, running up to and along part of Little Rock Air Force ever since the four owners of the acreage petitioned to be annexed into the city of Sherwood in 2006.
The four owners of the acreage—Greg Heslep, Byron McKimmey, Metropolitan Realty and Lilac LLC—volunteered to come into Sherwood. For the city to accept a voluntary petition, it must be signed by at least 51 percent of the landowners, controlling at least 51 percent of the land.
In this case, the voluntary petition was signed by 100 percent of the landowners, controlling 100 percent of the land.
The Sherwood City Council approved the annexation, but because the land was county land, the annexation needed the approval of the Pulaski County Quorum Court Judge.
Jacksonville voiced its objections to Villines. When Villines ruled in favor of Sherwood in August 2006, Jacksonville appealed and the case was sent to Pulaski County Circuit Court.
The circuit court also ruled in favor of Sherwood. Jacksonville has appealed the decision to the state supreme court.
A decision is expected early next year.
Leader staff writer
Several Gravel Ridge business owners don’t like the possibility of being annexed into the Jacksonville city limits in a special election on Feb. 5.
Sherwood officials aren’t too crazy about the idea, either, and will hold a March annexation referendum. Gravel Ridge residents would have the final say on which city they want to join, with Sherwood apparently enjoying an edge.
According to Sherwood Mayor Virginia Hillman, the Sherwood City Council will discuss annexing the area during the next council meeting on Dec. 17.
Hillman said a March special election has already been scheduled.
Hillman says that the results of Jacksonville’s vote would be put on hold until Sherwood’s election, and if both cities approve the annexation, then Gravel Ridge residents would vote to determine where the area would go.
“Sherwood has amenities that would be attractive to them (Gravel Ridge) and we would serve them well,” Hillman said.
Jacksonvillle Mayor Tommy Swaim feels the same way about his city.
“There are things we can offer,” the mayor said.
But he still has some convincing to do.
“I don’t really care to be part of Jacksonville,” Ronald Wallace, owner of Gravel Ridge Small Engine on 7900 Jacksonville Cut-off, said.
“I’d just be paying more taxes, and I have police protection right across the street (with the Pulaski County Sheriff’s Office substation),” Wallace added.
Fellow business owner Scott Helmbeck of Helmbeck Brothers Body Shop echoed Wallace’s sentiments.
“I kind of like it the way it is now and would prefer it remain the same,” said Helmbeck, who opened his business at 14717 Hwy. 107 in 1997. “If it’s going to happen, I’d prefer it be to Sherwood,” he added.
If voters in Jacksonville and Gravel Ridge approve the annexation, 2,500 acres of the unincorporated Gravel Ridge area will become part of Jacksonville 30 days later. But Sherwood’s annexation moves would probably put those plans on hold.
Swaim said he didn’t blame business owners for not wanting to be annexed into Jacksonville but Gravel Ridge will eventually end up as part of some municipality if it stays unincorporated.
“I don’t expect everyone in business in that area to want to be part of any municipality,” Swaim added.
According to the ordinance passed by the Jacksonville City Council last week, if the annexation is approved, the city would take over police protection of the area from Pulaski County immediately and would immediately coordinate and supplement fire protection with the volunteer fire department in Gravel Ridge.
Sewer services already in the area would immediately be brought under Jacksonville’s control. The city already provides a portion of the area with sewer and other utility services.
Jacksonville would pick up the sanitation service within six months of the election.
Sherwood annexed an area of 2,000 acres just north of Gravel Ridge last year. Jacksonville tried to stop that annexation at the county level and lost, then appealed to circuit court and lost. That annexation issue is now before the state Supreme Court; a decision is expected early next year.
Swaim said the idea to annex Gravel Ridge, a natural growth area for the city, into Jacksonville had been discussed for many years, but the timing hadn’t been right.
“At this point, with reasonable growth in the west, it’s important to work with the people of Gravel Ridge to annex them in,” he explained.
“The big advantage for us is to be involved in the growth of the area,” Swaim added.
The general area sought for annexation into Jacksonville, according to City Administrator Jay Whisker, runs from the western city limits to west of Highway 107, south of Kellogg Creek and north to Bayou Meto.
Both cities have been at odds over the 1,950 acres of land that lies basically north of Sherwood and west of Jacksonville, running up to and along part of Little Rock Air Force ever since the four owners of the acreage petitioned to be annexed into the city of Sherwood in 2006.
The four owners of the acreage—Greg Heslep, Byron McKimmey, Metropolitan Realty and Lilac LLC—volunteered to come into Sherwood. For the city to accept a voluntary petition, it must be signed by at least 51 percent of the landowners, controlling at least 51 percent of the land.
In this case, the voluntary petition was signed by 100 percent of the landowners, controlling 100 percent of the land.
The Sherwood City Council approved the annexation, but because the land was county land, the annexation needed the approval of the Pulaski County Quorum Court Judge.
Jacksonville voiced its objections to Villines. When Villines ruled in favor of Sherwood in August 2006, Jacksonville appealed and the case was sent to Pulaski County Circuit Court.
The circuit court also ruled in favor of Sherwood. Jacksonville has appealed the decision to the state supreme court.
A decision is expected early next year.
TOP STORY >>Wanted man turns himself in for murder
By SHERRY HALL
Leader staff writer
Xavier Butler, wanted for murder at a Jacksonville motel, walked into the Lonoke County Sheriff’s Office on Monday to pay some outstanding fines and then told officers, “Oh, by the way, I am wanted in Pulaski County,” according to Lt. Jim Kulesa of the Lonoke County Sheriff’s Office.
Lonoke County Chief Deputy Dean White immediately took Butler, 27, into custody and then contacted the Jacksonville Police Department. Kulesa said Jacksonville sent an officer to pick up Butler immediately.
Butler was then taken to the Pulaski County Jail, where he awaited a district court appearance Tuesday morning to face two counts of capital murder charges, possession of a firearm and first-degree terroristic threatening, according to Lt. Martin Cass, public information officer for the Jacksonville Police Department.
Butler pleaded not guilty to all charges Tuesday morning and is being held without bond during the court appearance before Judge Tjuana Byrd.
Butler is accused of shooting three black men in the parking lot at America’s Best Value Inn and Suites on John Harden Drive in Jacksonville in September.
Butler is believed to have been carrying a .45-caliber handgun after the shooting incident. He had been seen driving a blue 1984 Chevrolet Caprice.
Two of the victims, Daryl Wiggins, 23, of North Little Rock and Brian Washington, 18, of Jacksonville had been seriously injured, according to Cass.
Washington was flown by Med Flight to UAMS, where he died, Cass said.
“The other (Wiggins) was transported by Jacksonville Fire Department ambulance to Rebsamen Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead.”
The third victim, Michael Jenkins, 22, was transported to St. Vincent Hospital North in Sherwood, where he was treated and released for a gunshot wound to a foot.
Wiggins and Washington died from injuries to the head and chest area, according the Cass.
Wiggins and Washington had gone to the motel, along with Jenkins, after Jenkins got a call from a woman asking him to meet her there.
Just before the shooting, the three men were in Wiggins’ car at the motel.
Wiggins was talking to a woman who had approached the driver’s side door.
Butler drove by, got out and challenged the men about how they had looked at him, police said.
He then went in his motel room, came out with a handgun and fired shots through the windshield, according to Cass.
Butler then fled in the Caprice. He had been missing until he turned himself in Monday.
Gary Patel, general manager at the motel, said Butler had been a guest for about four weeks in room 133.
“He appeared to be a regular guest, not a problem,” Patel said. “He would pay his bill on time.”
Patel said the shooting occurred in the back parking lot of the motel and that the victims had not been staying at the motel.
“I don’t know who they were and we do make it a practice to check everyone’s identification before renting to them,” Patel said.
At the Lonoke County Sheriff’s office the jailer said he didn’t know if Butler actually had outstanding fines or paid them while at the sheriff’s office.
He said he didn’t know if Butler was a county resident either.
Butler will appear in court again at 1:30 p.m. today before Special Judge Robert Bamburg on a bond and review hearing.
Since Butler faces felony charges, his case will be reviewed by the Pulaski County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office and be set for trial in circuit court, according to a Jacksonville district court clerk.
Leader staff writer
Xavier Butler, wanted for murder at a Jacksonville motel, walked into the Lonoke County Sheriff’s Office on Monday to pay some outstanding fines and then told officers, “Oh, by the way, I am wanted in Pulaski County,” according to Lt. Jim Kulesa of the Lonoke County Sheriff’s Office.
Lonoke County Chief Deputy Dean White immediately took Butler, 27, into custody and then contacted the Jacksonville Police Department. Kulesa said Jacksonville sent an officer to pick up Butler immediately.
Butler was then taken to the Pulaski County Jail, where he awaited a district court appearance Tuesday morning to face two counts of capital murder charges, possession of a firearm and first-degree terroristic threatening, according to Lt. Martin Cass, public information officer for the Jacksonville Police Department.
Butler pleaded not guilty to all charges Tuesday morning and is being held without bond during the court appearance before Judge Tjuana Byrd.
Butler is accused of shooting three black men in the parking lot at America’s Best Value Inn and Suites on John Harden Drive in Jacksonville in September.
Butler is believed to have been carrying a .45-caliber handgun after the shooting incident. He had been seen driving a blue 1984 Chevrolet Caprice.
Two of the victims, Daryl Wiggins, 23, of North Little Rock and Brian Washington, 18, of Jacksonville had been seriously injured, according to Cass.
Washington was flown by Med Flight to UAMS, where he died, Cass said.
“The other (Wiggins) was transported by Jacksonville Fire Department ambulance to Rebsamen Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead.”
The third victim, Michael Jenkins, 22, was transported to St. Vincent Hospital North in Sherwood, where he was treated and released for a gunshot wound to a foot.
Wiggins and Washington died from injuries to the head and chest area, according the Cass.
Wiggins and Washington had gone to the motel, along with Jenkins, after Jenkins got a call from a woman asking him to meet her there.
Just before the shooting, the three men were in Wiggins’ car at the motel.
Wiggins was talking to a woman who had approached the driver’s side door.
Butler drove by, got out and challenged the men about how they had looked at him, police said.
He then went in his motel room, came out with a handgun and fired shots through the windshield, according to Cass.
Butler then fled in the Caprice. He had been missing until he turned himself in Monday.
Gary Patel, general manager at the motel, said Butler had been a guest for about four weeks in room 133.
“He appeared to be a regular guest, not a problem,” Patel said. “He would pay his bill on time.”
Patel said the shooting occurred in the back parking lot of the motel and that the victims had not been staying at the motel.
“I don’t know who they were and we do make it a practice to check everyone’s identification before renting to them,” Patel said.
At the Lonoke County Sheriff’s office the jailer said he didn’t know if Butler actually had outstanding fines or paid them while at the sheriff’s office.
He said he didn’t know if Butler was a county resident either.
Butler will appear in court again at 1:30 p.m. today before Special Judge Robert Bamburg on a bond and review hearing.
Since Butler faces felony charges, his case will be reviewed by the Pulaski County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office and be set for trial in circuit court, according to a Jacksonville district court clerk.
TOP STORY >>Lawmakers are split on Huckabee's tax record
By JOHN HOFHEIMER
Leader senior staff writer
Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, suddenly a serious candidate for the Republican presidential nomination, is “the biggest RINO I know,” according to former state Rep. Randy Minton.
A RINO is a “Republican In Name Only,” says Minton, who has announced his own candidacy to succeed state Rep. Susan Schulte, a Cabot Republican retiring because of term limits.
According to the latest polls, Huckabee has pulled ahead of former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney or else is in a dead heat to win the Iowa Republican caucus Jan. 3, essentially the first primary to determine candidates for the November 2008 presidential election.
Both are well ahead of former New York Mayor Rudi Giuliani and Arizona Sen. John McCain in Iowa.
Romney has outspent Huckabee 21 to 1.
Illinois Sen. Barack Obama has gained great support in recent weeks, showing a slight polling edge over New York Sen. Hillary Clinton and former Sen. John Edwards of North Carolina in a statistical deadheat to win Iowa’s Democratic caucus.
“I call (Huckabee) a pro-life, pro-gun liberal,” says Minton, who says he himself belongs to “the Republican wing of the Republican Party.”
Minton says he is philosophically aligned with the anti-tax Club for Growth, which has begun running political ads attacking Huckabee as “Tax Hike Mike.”
Minton said he supports actor and former Senator Fred Thompson of Tennessee for the nomination.
While several Democratic Arkansas lawmakers say Huckabee didn’t propose a lot of taxes, neither did he work against them, veto them or even threaten to veto them.
The largest of the tax increases was $400 million, mandated by the state Supreme Court in the Lake View decision, which held that the state was responsible for making public-school facilities equal and adequate.
But Minton is not mollified.
“He supported the gas and diesel tax in 1999, when redoing the interstate highways. We could have worked the highways without a tax increase if he had committed part of the General Improvement Funds,” said Minton, who was in the Arkansas House at the time.
Minton said that during Huckabee’s 10-year term as governor, net taxes increased $505 million and state spending increased 7.4 percent, about triple the consumer-price index.
He said Huckabee added about 10,000 state jobs, even as the number of federal jobs was decreasing.
Huckabee’s policy concerning the tobacco tax was not fiscally conservative, according to Minton.
“He says he’s pro-family. If you’re raising taxes on the families of Arkansas, causing wives to go out and get jobs to make ends meet, that’s not pro-family,” Minton said.
Huckabee was steadfastly against taking the sales tax off groceries, Minton said, which was a top priority of new Gov. Mike Beebe.
Not surprisingly, Democratic lawmakers, who helped pass those taxes, have a kinder assessment than Minton, saying tax increases were needed to fund adequate education and repair state roads.
Arkansans, with the grudging support of nursing home owners, approved a $5.25-per-day per bed tax on nursing-home beds because otherwise the state would not have its share of matching money to qualify for Medicare funds, according to state Sen. Bobby Glover, D-Carlisle. Glover, who owns a nursing home, voted for the measure.
Glover, with 20 years as a state representative and eight years as a state senator, had been a legislator during Huckabee’s entire 10-year tenure as governor.
Of the tax increase to fund educational adequacy after the Lake View decision, Glover said, “The truth of the matter is that he didn’t offer a lot of leadership during the time we had to come up with $400 million (because of the Lake View court decision). (The General Assembly) took responsibility for that on our own. He didn’t oppose it or veto it.”
Glover, who described himself as fiscally conservative, said he would vote for the eventual Democratic nominees, although they are likely to be liberal. “Time has come for a change,” he said.
Among Huckabee’s assets in his unlikely run for the presidency is his experience as governor of a state.
“A lot of our presidents were previously governors,” he said.
“I have a 90 percent voting record with him,” said Glover, “but I did disagree with him on his liberal policy on the clemencies he granted.
“He signed off on more clemencies than all surrounding states together,” Glover said, noting that Huckabee pardoned convicted rapist Wayne DuMond, who raped and killed a Missouri woman a short time later.
Glover and The Leader provided leadership in forcing the governor to revise his freewheeling policy of commuting sentences and granting clemencies to killers and others, particularly those undergoing jailhouse conversions to Jesus.
“As (Huckabee’s) poll numbers increase and he becomes a rival candidate, they are beginning to really look at his record,” said state Sen. John Paul Capps, D-Searcy.
“He outshines (other Republican hopefuls) with his glibness and ability to speak,” Capps said.
“He’s quick with answers and leaves a good impression. In the past, he blamed Democrats for raising taxes,” Capps said.
“We voted for them, but he proposed them,” he added.
He said as Huckabee’s record gets closer scrutiny, he’s going to lose some strength in some segments of the electorate.
State Sen. Sandra Prater, D-Jacksonville, said the governor and the legislature raised sales taxes for prisons, Medicaid and for the schools, things she believed in. State Rep. Will Bond, D-Jacksonville, who served in the legislature from 2003, said Huckabee “never embraced a fiscal policy,” that his policy was “a little up and down.”
He said the governor’s approach could be pragmatic, as evidenced by tax hikes for education.
Bond, who will vote for the Democratic nominee, said Huckabee had been faced by stagnant growth of the economy and drastic budget cuts.
“I thought he was correct in thinking he needed additional revenues.”
Until the General Assembly, under the leadership of Beebe and Glover, rolled back half of the grocery tax, Arkansas’ sales tax was among the 10 highest in the nation, at the very bottom in real estate taxes and in the middle with income taxes.
What kind of governor was Huckabee?
Bond said Huckabee didn’t have a mastery of the budget. “He’s good at communicating with people, good at setting few goals, but he didn’t get bogged down in details.
“He’s not a real policy wonk,” said Bond. He praised Huckabee for running his national campaign headquartered in Arkansas.
Leader senior staff writer
Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, suddenly a serious candidate for the Republican presidential nomination, is “the biggest RINO I know,” according to former state Rep. Randy Minton.
A RINO is a “Republican In Name Only,” says Minton, who has announced his own candidacy to succeed state Rep. Susan Schulte, a Cabot Republican retiring because of term limits.
According to the latest polls, Huckabee has pulled ahead of former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney or else is in a dead heat to win the Iowa Republican caucus Jan. 3, essentially the first primary to determine candidates for the November 2008 presidential election.
Both are well ahead of former New York Mayor Rudi Giuliani and Arizona Sen. John McCain in Iowa.
Romney has outspent Huckabee 21 to 1.
Illinois Sen. Barack Obama has gained great support in recent weeks, showing a slight polling edge over New York Sen. Hillary Clinton and former Sen. John Edwards of North Carolina in a statistical deadheat to win Iowa’s Democratic caucus.
“I call (Huckabee) a pro-life, pro-gun liberal,” says Minton, who says he himself belongs to “the Republican wing of the Republican Party.”
Minton says he is philosophically aligned with the anti-tax Club for Growth, which has begun running political ads attacking Huckabee as “Tax Hike Mike.”
Minton said he supports actor and former Senator Fred Thompson of Tennessee for the nomination.
While several Democratic Arkansas lawmakers say Huckabee didn’t propose a lot of taxes, neither did he work against them, veto them or even threaten to veto them.
The largest of the tax increases was $400 million, mandated by the state Supreme Court in the Lake View decision, which held that the state was responsible for making public-school facilities equal and adequate.
But Minton is not mollified.
“He supported the gas and diesel tax in 1999, when redoing the interstate highways. We could have worked the highways without a tax increase if he had committed part of the General Improvement Funds,” said Minton, who was in the Arkansas House at the time.
Minton said that during Huckabee’s 10-year term as governor, net taxes increased $505 million and state spending increased 7.4 percent, about triple the consumer-price index.
He said Huckabee added about 10,000 state jobs, even as the number of federal jobs was decreasing.
Huckabee’s policy concerning the tobacco tax was not fiscally conservative, according to Minton.
“He says he’s pro-family. If you’re raising taxes on the families of Arkansas, causing wives to go out and get jobs to make ends meet, that’s not pro-family,” Minton said.
Huckabee was steadfastly against taking the sales tax off groceries, Minton said, which was a top priority of new Gov. Mike Beebe.
Not surprisingly, Democratic lawmakers, who helped pass those taxes, have a kinder assessment than Minton, saying tax increases were needed to fund adequate education and repair state roads.
Arkansans, with the grudging support of nursing home owners, approved a $5.25-per-day per bed tax on nursing-home beds because otherwise the state would not have its share of matching money to qualify for Medicare funds, according to state Sen. Bobby Glover, D-Carlisle. Glover, who owns a nursing home, voted for the measure.
Glover, with 20 years as a state representative and eight years as a state senator, had been a legislator during Huckabee’s entire 10-year tenure as governor.
Of the tax increase to fund educational adequacy after the Lake View decision, Glover said, “The truth of the matter is that he didn’t offer a lot of leadership during the time we had to come up with $400 million (because of the Lake View court decision). (The General Assembly) took responsibility for that on our own. He didn’t oppose it or veto it.”
Glover, who described himself as fiscally conservative, said he would vote for the eventual Democratic nominees, although they are likely to be liberal. “Time has come for a change,” he said.
Among Huckabee’s assets in his unlikely run for the presidency is his experience as governor of a state.
“A lot of our presidents were previously governors,” he said.
“I have a 90 percent voting record with him,” said Glover, “but I did disagree with him on his liberal policy on the clemencies he granted.
“He signed off on more clemencies than all surrounding states together,” Glover said, noting that Huckabee pardoned convicted rapist Wayne DuMond, who raped and killed a Missouri woman a short time later.
Glover and The Leader provided leadership in forcing the governor to revise his freewheeling policy of commuting sentences and granting clemencies to killers and others, particularly those undergoing jailhouse conversions to Jesus.
“As (Huckabee’s) poll numbers increase and he becomes a rival candidate, they are beginning to really look at his record,” said state Sen. John Paul Capps, D-Searcy.
“He outshines (other Republican hopefuls) with his glibness and ability to speak,” Capps said.
“He’s quick with answers and leaves a good impression. In the past, he blamed Democrats for raising taxes,” Capps said.
“We voted for them, but he proposed them,” he added.
He said as Huckabee’s record gets closer scrutiny, he’s going to lose some strength in some segments of the electorate.
State Sen. Sandra Prater, D-Jacksonville, said the governor and the legislature raised sales taxes for prisons, Medicaid and for the schools, things she believed in. State Rep. Will Bond, D-Jacksonville, who served in the legislature from 2003, said Huckabee “never embraced a fiscal policy,” that his policy was “a little up and down.”
He said the governor’s approach could be pragmatic, as evidenced by tax hikes for education.
Bond, who will vote for the Democratic nominee, said Huckabee had been faced by stagnant growth of the economy and drastic budget cuts.
“I thought he was correct in thinking he needed additional revenues.”
Until the General Assembly, under the leadership of Beebe and Glover, rolled back half of the grocery tax, Arkansas’ sales tax was among the 10 highest in the nation, at the very bottom in real estate taxes and in the middle with income taxes.
What kind of governor was Huckabee?
Bond said Huckabee didn’t have a mastery of the budget. “He’s good at communicating with people, good at setting few goals, but he didn’t get bogged down in details.
“He’s not a real policy wonk,” said Bond. He praised Huckabee for running his national campaign headquartered in Arkansas.
Tuesday, December 04, 2007
TOP STORY >>Lawmakers are split on Huckabee's tax record
IN SHORT: Once a fringe candidate for the White House, Huckabee is scrutinized for his tax record and leadership style while he was governor.
By JOHN HOFHEIMER
Leader senior staff writer
Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, suddenly a serious candidate for the Republican presidential nomination, is “the biggest RINO I know,” according to former state Rep. Randy Minton.
A RINO is a “Republican In Name Only,” says Minton, who has announced his own candidacy to succeed state Rep. Susan Schulte, a Cabot Republican retiring because of term limits.
According to the latest polls, Huckabee has pulled ahead of former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney or else is in a dead heat to win the Iowa Republican caucus Jan. 3, essentially the first primary to determine candidates for the November 2008 presidential election.
Both are well ahead of former New York Mayor Rudi Giuliani and Arizona Sen. John McCain in Iowa.
Romney has outspent Huckabee 21 to 1.
Illinois Sen. Barack Obama has gained great support in recent weeks, showing a slight polling edge over New York Sen. Hillary Clinton and former Sen. John Edwards of North Carolina in a statistical deadheat to win Iowa’s Democratic caucus.
“I call (Huckabee) a pro-life, pro-gun liberal,” says Minton, who says he himself belongs to “the Re-publican wing of the Republican Party.”
Minton says he is philosophically aligned with the anti-tax Club for Growth, which has begun running political ads attacking Huckabee as “Tax Hike Mike.”
Minton said he supports actor and former Senator Fred Thompson of Tennessee for the nomination.
While several Dem-ocratic Arkansas lawmakers say Huckabee didn’t propose a lot of taxes, neither did he work against them, veto them or even threaten to veto them.
The largest of the tax increases was $400 million, mandated by the state Supreme Court in the Lake View decision, which held that the state was responsible for making public-school facilities equal and adequate.
But Minton is not mollified.
“He supported the gas and diesel tax in 1999, when redoing the interstate highways. We could have worked the highways without a tax increase if he had committed part of the General Improvement Funds,” said Minton, who was in the Arkansas House at the time.
Minton said that during Huckabee’s 10-year term as governor, net taxes increased $505 million and state spending increased 7.4 percent, about triple the consumer-price index.
He said Huckabee added about 10,000 state jobs, even as the number of federal jobs was decreasing.
Huckabee’s policy concerning the tobacco tax was not fiscally conservative, according to Minton.
“He says he’s pro-family. If you’re raising taxes on the families of Arkansas, causing wives to go out and get jobs to make ends meet, that’s not pro-family,” Minton said.
Huckabee was steadfastly against taking the sales tax off groceries, Minton said, which was a top priority of new Gov. Mike Beebe.
Not surprisingly, Democratic lawmakers, who helped pass those taxes, have a kinder assessment than Minton, saying tax increases were needed to fund adequate education and repair state roads.
Arkansans, with the grudging support of nursing home owners, approved a $5.25-per-day per bed tax on nursing-home beds because otherwise the state would not have its share of matching money to qualify for Medicare funds, according to state Sen. Bobby Glover, D-Carlisle. Glover, who owns a nursing home, voted for the measure.
Glover, with 20 years as a state representative and eight years as a state senator, had been a legislator during Huckabee’s entire 10-year tenure as governor.
Of the tax increase to fund educational adequacy after the Lake View decision, Glover said, “The truth of the matter is that he didn’t offer a lot of leadership during the time we had to come up with $400 million (because of the Lake View court decision). (The General Assembly) took responsibility for that on our own. He didn’t oppose it or veto it.”
Glover, who described himself as fiscally conservative, said he would vote for the eventual Democratic nominees, although they are likely to be liberal. “Time has come for a change,” he said.
Among Huckabee’s assets in his unlikely run for the presidency is his experience as governor of a state.
“A lot of our presidents were previously governors,” he said.
“I have a 90 percent voting record with him,” said Glover, “but I did disagree with him on his liberal policy on the clemencies he granted.
“He signed off on more clemencies than all surrounding states together,” Glover said, noting that Huckabee pardoned convicted rapist Wayne DuMond, who raped and killed a Missouri woman a short time later.
Glover and The Leader provided leadership in forcing the governor to revise his freewheeling policy of commuting sentences and granting clemencies to killers and others, particularly those undergoing jailhouse conversions to Jesus.
“As (Huckabee’s) poll numbers increase and he becomes a rival candidate, they are beginning to really look at his record,” said state Sen. John Paul Capps, D-Searcy.
“He outshines (other Republican hopefuls) with his glibness and ability to speak,” Capps said.
“He’s quick with answers and leaves a good impression. In the past, he blamed Democrats for raising taxes,” Capps said.
“We voted for them, but he proposed them,” he added.
He said as Huckabee’s record gets closer scrutiny, he’s going to lose some strength in some segments of the electorate.
State Sen. Sandra Prater, D-Jacksonville, said the governor and the legislature raised sales taxes for prisons, Medicaid and for the schools, things she believed in. State Rep. Will Bond, D-Jacksonville, who served in the legislature from 2003, said Huckabee “never embraced a fiscal policy,” that his policy was “a little up and down.”
He said the governor’s approach could be pragmatic, as evidenced by tax hikes for education.
Bond, who will vote for the Democratic nominee, said Huckabee had been faced by stagnant growth of the economy and drastic budget cuts.
“I thought he was correct in thinking he needed additional revenues.”
Until the General Assembly, under the leadership of Beebe and Glover, rolled back half of the grocery tax, Arkansas’ sales tax was among the 10 highest in the nation, at the very bottom in real estate taxes and in the middle with income taxes.
What kind of governor was Huckabee?
Bond said Huckabee didn’t have a mastery of the budget. “He’s good at communicating with people, good at setting few goals, but he didn’t get bogged down in details.
“He’s not a real policy wonk,” said Bond. He praised Huckabee for running his national campaign headquartered in Arkansas.
By JOHN HOFHEIMER
Leader senior staff writer
Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, suddenly a serious candidate for the Republican presidential nomination, is “the biggest RINO I know,” according to former state Rep. Randy Minton.
A RINO is a “Republican In Name Only,” says Minton, who has announced his own candidacy to succeed state Rep. Susan Schulte, a Cabot Republican retiring because of term limits.
According to the latest polls, Huckabee has pulled ahead of former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney or else is in a dead heat to win the Iowa Republican caucus Jan. 3, essentially the first primary to determine candidates for the November 2008 presidential election.
Both are well ahead of former New York Mayor Rudi Giuliani and Arizona Sen. John McCain in Iowa.
Romney has outspent Huckabee 21 to 1.
Illinois Sen. Barack Obama has gained great support in recent weeks, showing a slight polling edge over New York Sen. Hillary Clinton and former Sen. John Edwards of North Carolina in a statistical deadheat to win Iowa’s Democratic caucus.
“I call (Huckabee) a pro-life, pro-gun liberal,” says Minton, who says he himself belongs to “the Re-publican wing of the Republican Party.”
Minton says he is philosophically aligned with the anti-tax Club for Growth, which has begun running political ads attacking Huckabee as “Tax Hike Mike.”
Minton said he supports actor and former Senator Fred Thompson of Tennessee for the nomination.
While several Dem-ocratic Arkansas lawmakers say Huckabee didn’t propose a lot of taxes, neither did he work against them, veto them or even threaten to veto them.
The largest of the tax increases was $400 million, mandated by the state Supreme Court in the Lake View decision, which held that the state was responsible for making public-school facilities equal and adequate.
But Minton is not mollified.
“He supported the gas and diesel tax in 1999, when redoing the interstate highways. We could have worked the highways without a tax increase if he had committed part of the General Improvement Funds,” said Minton, who was in the Arkansas House at the time.
Minton said that during Huckabee’s 10-year term as governor, net taxes increased $505 million and state spending increased 7.4 percent, about triple the consumer-price index.
He said Huckabee added about 10,000 state jobs, even as the number of federal jobs was decreasing.
Huckabee’s policy concerning the tobacco tax was not fiscally conservative, according to Minton.
“He says he’s pro-family. If you’re raising taxes on the families of Arkansas, causing wives to go out and get jobs to make ends meet, that’s not pro-family,” Minton said.
Huckabee was steadfastly against taking the sales tax off groceries, Minton said, which was a top priority of new Gov. Mike Beebe.
Not surprisingly, Democratic lawmakers, who helped pass those taxes, have a kinder assessment than Minton, saying tax increases were needed to fund adequate education and repair state roads.
Arkansans, with the grudging support of nursing home owners, approved a $5.25-per-day per bed tax on nursing-home beds because otherwise the state would not have its share of matching money to qualify for Medicare funds, according to state Sen. Bobby Glover, D-Carlisle. Glover, who owns a nursing home, voted for the measure.
Glover, with 20 years as a state representative and eight years as a state senator, had been a legislator during Huckabee’s entire 10-year tenure as governor.
Of the tax increase to fund educational adequacy after the Lake View decision, Glover said, “The truth of the matter is that he didn’t offer a lot of leadership during the time we had to come up with $400 million (because of the Lake View court decision). (The General Assembly) took responsibility for that on our own. He didn’t oppose it or veto it.”
Glover, who described himself as fiscally conservative, said he would vote for the eventual Democratic nominees, although they are likely to be liberal. “Time has come for a change,” he said.
Among Huckabee’s assets in his unlikely run for the presidency is his experience as governor of a state.
“A lot of our presidents were previously governors,” he said.
“I have a 90 percent voting record with him,” said Glover, “but I did disagree with him on his liberal policy on the clemencies he granted.
“He signed off on more clemencies than all surrounding states together,” Glover said, noting that Huckabee pardoned convicted rapist Wayne DuMond, who raped and killed a Missouri woman a short time later.
Glover and The Leader provided leadership in forcing the governor to revise his freewheeling policy of commuting sentences and granting clemencies to killers and others, particularly those undergoing jailhouse conversions to Jesus.
“As (Huckabee’s) poll numbers increase and he becomes a rival candidate, they are beginning to really look at his record,” said state Sen. John Paul Capps, D-Searcy.
“He outshines (other Republican hopefuls) with his glibness and ability to speak,” Capps said.
“He’s quick with answers and leaves a good impression. In the past, he blamed Democrats for raising taxes,” Capps said.
“We voted for them, but he proposed them,” he added.
He said as Huckabee’s record gets closer scrutiny, he’s going to lose some strength in some segments of the electorate.
State Sen. Sandra Prater, D-Jacksonville, said the governor and the legislature raised sales taxes for prisons, Medicaid and for the schools, things she believed in. State Rep. Will Bond, D-Jacksonville, who served in the legislature from 2003, said Huckabee “never embraced a fiscal policy,” that his policy was “a little up and down.”
He said the governor’s approach could be pragmatic, as evidenced by tax hikes for education.
Bond, who will vote for the Democratic nominee, said Huckabee had been faced by stagnant growth of the economy and drastic budget cuts.
“I thought he was correct in thinking he needed additional revenues.”
Until the General Assembly, under the leadership of Beebe and Glover, rolled back half of the grocery tax, Arkansas’ sales tax was among the 10 highest in the nation, at the very bottom in real estate taxes and in the middle with income taxes.
What kind of governor was Huckabee?
Bond said Huckabee didn’t have a mastery of the budget. “He’s good at communicating with people, good at setting few goals, but he didn’t get bogged down in details.
“He’s not a real policy wonk,” said Bond. He praised Huckabee for running his national campaign headquartered in Arkansas.
EDITORIALS>>Huck's taxes - addendum
The long list of tax increases that became law during Mike Huckabee’s 10-year reign as governor, which The Leader published here Saturday, left out one important tax of that era: the infamous “bed tax.” Officially, it was not called a tax but a Quality Assurance Fee.
It was in 2001 amid complaints about the quality of care in Arkansas nursing homes and the low government reimbursement for long-term Medicaid patients in nursing homes that Gov. Huckabee embraced the so-called “bed tax.” The state would collect a tax of 6 percent of the gross receipts of nursing homes. For the families whose loved ones were on Medicaid, it was no burden but the tax was passed on to private-pay patients, for whom it was a shock.
Last year, Huckabee’s last, the tax brought in $54 million — a fairly substantial tax by Arkansas standards. Anyway, if there were any doubt, the tax made Huckabee a bigger taxer in 10 years than Bill Clinton was in 12. We had speculated as much in an editorial several months ago but skeptics wanted documentation.
We apologize for the omission.
It was in 2001 amid complaints about the quality of care in Arkansas nursing homes and the low government reimbursement for long-term Medicaid patients in nursing homes that Gov. Huckabee embraced the so-called “bed tax.” The state would collect a tax of 6 percent of the gross receipts of nursing homes. For the families whose loved ones were on Medicaid, it was no burden but the tax was passed on to private-pay patients, for whom it was a shock.
Last year, Huckabee’s last, the tax brought in $54 million — a fairly substantial tax by Arkansas standards. Anyway, if there were any doubt, the tax made Huckabee a bigger taxer in 10 years than Bill Clinton was in 12. We had speculated as much in an editorial several months ago but skeptics wanted documentation.
We apologize for the omission.
EDITORIALS>>No nukes in Iran
Americans awoke yesterday to a morning that was as cloudless figuratively as it was literally. That ominous thunderhead that forecast war with Iran had dissipated overnight almost miraculously.
The government declassified the summary of a new national intelligence estimate that concludes definitively that Iran halted its program to develop nuclear weapons more than four years ago and never restarted it.
That was the conclusion of the government’s 16 spy agencies — yes, we have 16 separate agencies engaged in foreign intelligence work — and it flies in the face of the administration’s increasingly frantic warnings that the Iranians are on the verge of producing nuclear warheads that could imperil western Europe if not the United States. Vice President Dick Cheney has been systematically building the case for a pre-emptive strike to prevent Iran’s becoming a nuclear power. Only last month President Bush warned that if Iran were permitted to build a nuclear bomb, World War III and a holocaust could be around the corner.
That is over although an obviously demoralized Bush insisted yesterday morning that Iran remained a grave danger to Middle East and our own security. But barring an incident of Machiavellian design the threat of a third war front in the Middle East is over for a time. There will not be another congressional vote that would give some cover for an invasion or an aerial attack like the resolution declaring Iran’s Revolutionary Guard a terrorist organization. At least in the presidential race, that resolution and specifically Sen. Hillary Clinton’s support for it have been characterized as a figleaf for an attack. Even our own Sen. Mark Pryor, who voted for it, will not lend his imprimatur again.
Preventing the nuclear breakthrough was the foreign-policy cornerstone of the president’s final year in office. A full-blown invasion or even a blitz of Iran’s nuclear-enrichment sites seemed illogical given the nation’s overextended military commitments in Afghanistan and Iraq and its faltering prestige in the Arab world, but it was also hard to see the administration’s heated rhetoric leading anywhere else.
The new NIE, which concluded that a 2005 intelligence report claiming just the opposite was spurious, will not advance the country’s efforts to construct new global economic pressures on Iran to forsake nuclear enrichment and open its facilities to international inspections, including United Nations sanctions, but perhaps it will persuade the administration to open direct diplomatic channels itself as, for example, even our own Mike Huckabee has suggested.
Neither will it increase national or international confidence in American intelligence, so badly shaken by the historic failures on Iraq. An NIE in 2002 said Iraq had an ongoing nuclear-weapons program and that it was on the verge of producing warheads and delivery systems.
That persuaded Congress to pass the fatal resolution that Bush used to invade Iraq. It turned out that the chief American inspector in Iraq in the late 1990s and the UN inspection team were right all along. Iraq’s rudimentary weapons program had been destroyed by 1996 and the regime had abandoned it. Now a consensus estimate by all U. S. spy agencies agrees that both the international atomic energy agency and the government of Iran have been right all along. The enhanced-enrichment program since 2003 has been for electricity purposes and not, at least so far, with any design to build weapons.
The president Tuesday morning had a different spin. The estimate should not further undermine his administration’s credibility, he said. It did assert that Iran once had a rude weapons-research program (no credible person ever disputed that) and then gave it up, so it could easily undertake it again, he said. Besides, Mr. Bush said, owing to the demonstrable failures on Iraq, he had reformed the intelligence system and now it produces a fine and reliable estimate that all of us can rely on.
We can only trust that he is right.
The government declassified the summary of a new national intelligence estimate that concludes definitively that Iran halted its program to develop nuclear weapons more than four years ago and never restarted it.
That was the conclusion of the government’s 16 spy agencies — yes, we have 16 separate agencies engaged in foreign intelligence work — and it flies in the face of the administration’s increasingly frantic warnings that the Iranians are on the verge of producing nuclear warheads that could imperil western Europe if not the United States. Vice President Dick Cheney has been systematically building the case for a pre-emptive strike to prevent Iran’s becoming a nuclear power. Only last month President Bush warned that if Iran were permitted to build a nuclear bomb, World War III and a holocaust could be around the corner.
That is over although an obviously demoralized Bush insisted yesterday morning that Iran remained a grave danger to Middle East and our own security. But barring an incident of Machiavellian design the threat of a third war front in the Middle East is over for a time. There will not be another congressional vote that would give some cover for an invasion or an aerial attack like the resolution declaring Iran’s Revolutionary Guard a terrorist organization. At least in the presidential race, that resolution and specifically Sen. Hillary Clinton’s support for it have been characterized as a figleaf for an attack. Even our own Sen. Mark Pryor, who voted for it, will not lend his imprimatur again.
Preventing the nuclear breakthrough was the foreign-policy cornerstone of the president’s final year in office. A full-blown invasion or even a blitz of Iran’s nuclear-enrichment sites seemed illogical given the nation’s overextended military commitments in Afghanistan and Iraq and its faltering prestige in the Arab world, but it was also hard to see the administration’s heated rhetoric leading anywhere else.
The new NIE, which concluded that a 2005 intelligence report claiming just the opposite was spurious, will not advance the country’s efforts to construct new global economic pressures on Iran to forsake nuclear enrichment and open its facilities to international inspections, including United Nations sanctions, but perhaps it will persuade the administration to open direct diplomatic channels itself as, for example, even our own Mike Huckabee has suggested.
Neither will it increase national or international confidence in American intelligence, so badly shaken by the historic failures on Iraq. An NIE in 2002 said Iraq had an ongoing nuclear-weapons program and that it was on the verge of producing warheads and delivery systems.
That persuaded Congress to pass the fatal resolution that Bush used to invade Iraq. It turned out that the chief American inspector in Iraq in the late 1990s and the UN inspection team were right all along. Iraq’s rudimentary weapons program had been destroyed by 1996 and the regime had abandoned it. Now a consensus estimate by all U. S. spy agencies agrees that both the international atomic energy agency and the government of Iran have been right all along. The enhanced-enrichment program since 2003 has been for electricity purposes and not, at least so far, with any design to build weapons.
The president Tuesday morning had a different spin. The estimate should not further undermine his administration’s credibility, he said. It did assert that Iran once had a rude weapons-research program (no credible person ever disputed that) and then gave it up, so it could easily undertake it again, he said. Besides, Mr. Bush said, owing to the demonstrable failures on Iraq, he had reformed the intelligence system and now it produces a fine and reliable estimate that all of us can rely on.
We can only trust that he is right.
Monday, December 03, 2007
SPORTS >>Lonoke runs away from Searcy
By JASON KING
Leader sports writer
There were plenty of brand-name juniors and seniors on the court for the Jackrabbits, but the winning spark was generated by a freshman post player Thursday afternoon during Lonoke’s 68-58 win over host team Searcy in the consolation-bracket semifinal game of the Searcy Bank Classic. Myles Taylor came off the bench for 11 points and nine rebounds for Lonoke, with only a stunning 19-point performance by senior guard Tyrone Dobbins topping him in the scoring department.
The Lions struggled to keep pace with the ’Rabbits for most of the contest, but did manage to erase a 52-37 deficit heading into the fourth quarter with a late surge that eventually got them to within five points of Lonoke in the final minute. The Jackrabbits shook a dreadful performance at the free- throw line in the third quarter to hit seven of their final eight attempts in the closing seconds to secure the win.
For Lonoke coach Wes Swift, the win was earned with the solid surge made in the first half, according to the head ’Rabbit.
“I thought we made a good push there,” Swift said. “Teams that are not as deep as us — we’re trying to wear them down. Most teams will be able to handle our kind of pressure early until they get fatigued. We knew they were going to make a push there at the end, and I thought we handled that pressure well.”
As for the youngster Taylor, Swift said his early prowess was not only expected, but needed by his team during the game.
“That’s a 14-year-old freshman right there,” Swift said. “We moved him up for a reason. He’s a kid that has a lot of skill; he has nice hands. We’re happy with the way he has been playing and the way he’s improving. I thought he was a big part of this win tonight, and he was big during our win over South Side (Batesville) Tuesday night as well.”
While Taylor’s dominant performance inside may have been somewhat surprising for such a young player, senior Dobbins’ game-leading performance was far from the unexpected. Dobbins put the first eight points on the board for Lonoke, including a three pointer at the 3:38 mark of the first quarter to give the Jackrabbits a 10-6 lead.
The only sign of weakness displayed by the Jackrabbits was at the foul line. Lonoke finished the game 19 of 33 at the stripe, but a slump of six straight missed free throws beginning at the 2:10 mark of the third quarter until the 1:46 mark of the fourth quarter could not have come at a worse time. The Lions took advantage of those struggles to close the gap from a 50-35 Lonoke lead late in the third down to a 56-49 advantage by the time junior Michael Howard finally shook the monkey at the charity stripe with a pair of shots to put Lonoke back up by nine with less than two minutes remaining.
The Lions were not without their tough performances, including a tremendous performance outside from senior guard Aaron Coleman. Coleman led Searcy in scoring with 18 points, 12 of which that were converted on first-half three pointers for the 5’9” standout. The Lions matched Lonoke nearly point for point in the first eight minutes, but when the Jackrabbits picked up the pace in the second quarter after near-endless substitutions early, Searcy found moving the ball in man coverage a bit difficult.
A total of eight turnovers for Searcy in the second quarter allowed the Jackrabbits to build a solid lead. Dobbins picked back up on his early heroics with a steal that he took coast to coast for a lay up at the 5:13 mark that gave Lonoke a 22-16 lead.
He then followed a Howard basket with a jumper in the paint to put the Jackrabbits up by 10 for the first time in the game.
Coleman came out strong for Searcy to start the second half with five quick points, and added another three pointer
moments later to pull the Lions to within nine at 38-29, but Howard found Bradley Spencer with a perfectly-executed delay pass into the lane for an easy lay up with 4:47 left in the first half to put the Jackrabbits back to a double-digit advantage.
Lonoke improved its record to 3-1 on the season with the win over Searcy and a 54-37 conference win over South Side Batesville Tuesday night. Howard led the Jackrabbits with 15 points in the South Side game with 10 points added by Clarence Harris. The ’Rabbits will take on the winner of last night’s game between Cabot and Wynne in the fifth-place consolation game today at 1:30 pm.
Searcy falls to 2-3 with the loss, and will play the in the first boys consolation game today at 10:30 a.m.
Leader sports writer
There were plenty of brand-name juniors and seniors on the court for the Jackrabbits, but the winning spark was generated by a freshman post player Thursday afternoon during Lonoke’s 68-58 win over host team Searcy in the consolation-bracket semifinal game of the Searcy Bank Classic. Myles Taylor came off the bench for 11 points and nine rebounds for Lonoke, with only a stunning 19-point performance by senior guard Tyrone Dobbins topping him in the scoring department.
The Lions struggled to keep pace with the ’Rabbits for most of the contest, but did manage to erase a 52-37 deficit heading into the fourth quarter with a late surge that eventually got them to within five points of Lonoke in the final minute. The Jackrabbits shook a dreadful performance at the free- throw line in the third quarter to hit seven of their final eight attempts in the closing seconds to secure the win.
For Lonoke coach Wes Swift, the win was earned with the solid surge made in the first half, according to the head ’Rabbit.
“I thought we made a good push there,” Swift said. “Teams that are not as deep as us — we’re trying to wear them down. Most teams will be able to handle our kind of pressure early until they get fatigued. We knew they were going to make a push there at the end, and I thought we handled that pressure well.”
As for the youngster Taylor, Swift said his early prowess was not only expected, but needed by his team during the game.
“That’s a 14-year-old freshman right there,” Swift said. “We moved him up for a reason. He’s a kid that has a lot of skill; he has nice hands. We’re happy with the way he has been playing and the way he’s improving. I thought he was a big part of this win tonight, and he was big during our win over South Side (Batesville) Tuesday night as well.”
While Taylor’s dominant performance inside may have been somewhat surprising for such a young player, senior Dobbins’ game-leading performance was far from the unexpected. Dobbins put the first eight points on the board for Lonoke, including a three pointer at the 3:38 mark of the first quarter to give the Jackrabbits a 10-6 lead.
The only sign of weakness displayed by the Jackrabbits was at the foul line. Lonoke finished the game 19 of 33 at the stripe, but a slump of six straight missed free throws beginning at the 2:10 mark of the third quarter until the 1:46 mark of the fourth quarter could not have come at a worse time. The Lions took advantage of those struggles to close the gap from a 50-35 Lonoke lead late in the third down to a 56-49 advantage by the time junior Michael Howard finally shook the monkey at the charity stripe with a pair of shots to put Lonoke back up by nine with less than two minutes remaining.
The Lions were not without their tough performances, including a tremendous performance outside from senior guard Aaron Coleman. Coleman led Searcy in scoring with 18 points, 12 of which that were converted on first-half three pointers for the 5’9” standout. The Lions matched Lonoke nearly point for point in the first eight minutes, but when the Jackrabbits picked up the pace in the second quarter after near-endless substitutions early, Searcy found moving the ball in man coverage a bit difficult.
A total of eight turnovers for Searcy in the second quarter allowed the Jackrabbits to build a solid lead. Dobbins picked back up on his early heroics with a steal that he took coast to coast for a lay up at the 5:13 mark that gave Lonoke a 22-16 lead.
He then followed a Howard basket with a jumper in the paint to put the Jackrabbits up by 10 for the first time in the game.
Coleman came out strong for Searcy to start the second half with five quick points, and added another three pointer
moments later to pull the Lions to within nine at 38-29, but Howard found Bradley Spencer with a perfectly-executed delay pass into the lane for an easy lay up with 4:47 left in the first half to put the Jackrabbits back to a double-digit advantage.
Lonoke improved its record to 3-1 on the season with the win over Searcy and a 54-37 conference win over South Side Batesville Tuesday night. Howard led the Jackrabbits with 15 points in the South Side game with 10 points added by Clarence Harris. The ’Rabbits will take on the winner of last night’s game between Cabot and Wynne in the fifth-place consolation game today at 1:30 pm.
Searcy falls to 2-3 with the loss, and will play the in the first boys consolation game today at 10:30 a.m.
SPORTS >>Red Devils still have big goals
By RAY BENTON
Leader sports editor
As far as wins and losses go, the Jacksonville boys basketball team has not fared too well so far this season. The Red Devils are currently 0-3, and suffered their worst setback Tuesday night, losing 80-76 at North Pulaski in a game that wasn’t that close until the very end of the fourth quarter.
The two previous losses were nailbiters to two of the most storied basketball programs in the state, LR Hall and LR Central. Both of those games went down to the wire with Jacksonville losing each by two points.
Tuesday night could have worked like a coming out party of sorts. The opponent was a smaller school with some very obvious disadvantages in size. The result though, was the home team out-working, out-hustling and out-executing their bigger guests.
Even with the disappointment of the first three games, Jacksonville coach Victor Joyner doesn’t see any reason for his squad, or its fans, to being worrying.
Jacksonville most definitely on a slower pace this year than any previous Joyner-coached team has even been on.
After last season, when many underclassmen became lackadaisical in class and discipline problems on and off the floor, Joyner instituted a more rigorous “character plan” that he has before.
For years, dating back to his days at North Pulaski, Joyner has had a plan in place that allows his to keep a close watch over his players when they are away from basketball.
That plan never got in the way of practice until this year, but Joyner isn’t regretful of the sacrifice.
“We’ve only practice between 45 minutes to about an hour and fifteen minutes,” Joyner said. “We’re behind where we would normally be. We’ve spent most of that time working on offense because we’ve got so many players that have never been out there before at this level.”
While it has slowed the process of producing a great basketball team, it has helped the process for which it was intended.
Team grade-point average is up while discipline problems are down, way down, in and out of school.
“That’s why we put this in place and the kids have responded to it,” Joyner said. “There hasn’t been any complaining or whining and crying about it. They’ve got their grades up and their acting like people who are representing this school and community should act. I’m more proud of that than I am upset about losing three games by a combined eight points.”
The team just began serious, intense defensive work this week. Joyner also says it will take some time for this group of players to come together as a team.
“This group has never played together before as a unit,” Joyner said. “We’ve got kids moved in from three places, kids in different grades trying to work together for the first time. Chemistry is something that usually takes time. They don’t all know each other real well, they don’t know each others’ styles or tendencies. It’s just going to take some time. I said over the summer it may take eight or nine games for us to even start playing like I hope we will.”
Despite the slow start, Joyner believes his team will be ready by the time it starts to count.
“The basketball aspect is secondary right now,” Joyner said. “Some people may be concerned about that, but I know the bigger picture, and that is we’re going to get them there. I’ve been 0-7 before made it deep in the state tournament. We’re going to get there.”
Leader sports editor
As far as wins and losses go, the Jacksonville boys basketball team has not fared too well so far this season. The Red Devils are currently 0-3, and suffered their worst setback Tuesday night, losing 80-76 at North Pulaski in a game that wasn’t that close until the very end of the fourth quarter.
The two previous losses were nailbiters to two of the most storied basketball programs in the state, LR Hall and LR Central. Both of those games went down to the wire with Jacksonville losing each by two points.
Tuesday night could have worked like a coming out party of sorts. The opponent was a smaller school with some very obvious disadvantages in size. The result though, was the home team out-working, out-hustling and out-executing their bigger guests.
Even with the disappointment of the first three games, Jacksonville coach Victor Joyner doesn’t see any reason for his squad, or its fans, to being worrying.
Jacksonville most definitely on a slower pace this year than any previous Joyner-coached team has even been on.
After last season, when many underclassmen became lackadaisical in class and discipline problems on and off the floor, Joyner instituted a more rigorous “character plan” that he has before.
For years, dating back to his days at North Pulaski, Joyner has had a plan in place that allows his to keep a close watch over his players when they are away from basketball.
That plan never got in the way of practice until this year, but Joyner isn’t regretful of the sacrifice.
“We’ve only practice between 45 minutes to about an hour and fifteen minutes,” Joyner said. “We’re behind where we would normally be. We’ve spent most of that time working on offense because we’ve got so many players that have never been out there before at this level.”
While it has slowed the process of producing a great basketball team, it has helped the process for which it was intended.
Team grade-point average is up while discipline problems are down, way down, in and out of school.
“That’s why we put this in place and the kids have responded to it,” Joyner said. “There hasn’t been any complaining or whining and crying about it. They’ve got their grades up and their acting like people who are representing this school and community should act. I’m more proud of that than I am upset about losing three games by a combined eight points.”
The team just began serious, intense defensive work this week. Joyner also says it will take some time for this group of players to come together as a team.
“This group has never played together before as a unit,” Joyner said. “We’ve got kids moved in from three places, kids in different grades trying to work together for the first time. Chemistry is something that usually takes time. They don’t all know each other real well, they don’t know each others’ styles or tendencies. It’s just going to take some time. I said over the summer it may take eight or nine games for us to even start playing like I hope we will.”
Despite the slow start, Joyner believes his team will be ready by the time it starts to count.
“The basketball aspect is secondary right now,” Joyner said. “Some people may be concerned about that, but I know the bigger picture, and that is we’re going to get them there. I’ve been 0-7 before made it deep in the state tournament. We’re going to get there.”
SPORTS >>Lady Lions ease past Wynne in first round
By JASON KING
Leader sports writer
There were many surprises during the first round of the Searcy Bank Classic, but this was not one of them. The Searcy Lady Lions coasted to a 47-25 win over Wynne on Tuesday night at The Jungle to advance to the semifinal round of the annual tournament, and kept their early season record perfect at 7-0. The Lady Yellowjackets had virtually no answers for the strength of Searcy’s senior-dominated front five, as the Lady Lions held them to only nine points in the first half on their way to securing a massive 41-12 lead through three quarters of play.
Wynne led the first three minutes of the game, but once the Lady Lions got warmed up, the rout was on. A three pointer by guard Anna Minor at the 3:10 mark of the first quarter gave Searcy its first lead of the game at 9-6, and the Lady Lions would increase that lead with solid displays on both sides of the court. Defensively, they would only allow three points through the final 12 minutes of the first half, and increased their lead with a high-percentage performance under the Wynne basket.
Searcy added goals by Taylor Clark and Kristen Celsor before the end of the opening frame to take a 13-7 lead into the second quarter, and the period that followed was one of the most difficult of the early season for the now 1-1 Lady Yellowjackets.
Sophomore post Lauren Harrison started things off with an inside shot to increase Searcy’s lead to 16-7, and a steal by Clark led to another Celsor goal. Clark got the pick at mid court and fed to Celsor, who was all alone in the lane for the easy two. Celsor then hit another lay up at the 6:07 mark to put the Lady Lions ahead 20-7, and senior all-purpose player Shantel Neely finally got in on the action with a steal that she converted into points with 4:47 left in the first half.
The bleeding for Wynne continued until the 2:16 mark, when junior Tiffany Davis finally got the Lady ’Jackets on the board with a jumper that made it 26-9. Celsor answered that with a second-chance jumper in the paint, and nailed a free throw before the break to give the Lady Lions a 29-9 lead at half time.
The effortless scoring Searcy enjoyed in the second quarter did not carry over into the third quarter, but the stellar defensive play did. The Lady Lions backed up their strong efforts of the second frame by only allowing three more points by Wynne in the third quarter. The first points from either team didn’t occur until the 6:17 mark, when Taylor hit a basket and converted a free throw for an old-fashioned three-point play to give Searcy a 31-9 lead.
The Lady Lions pushed it to a 41-11 lead with 2:38 still left in the third quarter before pulling out all the starters for the remainder of the game.
Celsor led the Lady Lions with 14 points, while Clark added 10 for Searcy. The Lady Lions took on Pine Bluff in the semifinals last night after Leader deadlines to determine who would play Vilonia/Jonesboro in the Bank Classic finals Saturday night.
Leader sports writer
There were many surprises during the first round of the Searcy Bank Classic, but this was not one of them. The Searcy Lady Lions coasted to a 47-25 win over Wynne on Tuesday night at The Jungle to advance to the semifinal round of the annual tournament, and kept their early season record perfect at 7-0. The Lady Yellowjackets had virtually no answers for the strength of Searcy’s senior-dominated front five, as the Lady Lions held them to only nine points in the first half on their way to securing a massive 41-12 lead through three quarters of play.
Wynne led the first three minutes of the game, but once the Lady Lions got warmed up, the rout was on. A three pointer by guard Anna Minor at the 3:10 mark of the first quarter gave Searcy its first lead of the game at 9-6, and the Lady Lions would increase that lead with solid displays on both sides of the court. Defensively, they would only allow three points through the final 12 minutes of the first half, and increased their lead with a high-percentage performance under the Wynne basket.
Searcy added goals by Taylor Clark and Kristen Celsor before the end of the opening frame to take a 13-7 lead into the second quarter, and the period that followed was one of the most difficult of the early season for the now 1-1 Lady Yellowjackets.
Sophomore post Lauren Harrison started things off with an inside shot to increase Searcy’s lead to 16-7, and a steal by Clark led to another Celsor goal. Clark got the pick at mid court and fed to Celsor, who was all alone in the lane for the easy two. Celsor then hit another lay up at the 6:07 mark to put the Lady Lions ahead 20-7, and senior all-purpose player Shantel Neely finally got in on the action with a steal that she converted into points with 4:47 left in the first half.
The bleeding for Wynne continued until the 2:16 mark, when junior Tiffany Davis finally got the Lady ’Jackets on the board with a jumper that made it 26-9. Celsor answered that with a second-chance jumper in the paint, and nailed a free throw before the break to give the Lady Lions a 29-9 lead at half time.
The effortless scoring Searcy enjoyed in the second quarter did not carry over into the third quarter, but the stellar defensive play did. The Lady Lions backed up their strong efforts of the second frame by only allowing three more points by Wynne in the third quarter. The first points from either team didn’t occur until the 6:17 mark, when Taylor hit a basket and converted a free throw for an old-fashioned three-point play to give Searcy a 31-9 lead.
The Lady Lions pushed it to a 41-11 lead with 2:38 still left in the third quarter before pulling out all the starters for the remainder of the game.
Celsor led the Lady Lions with 14 points, while Clark added 10 for Searcy. The Lady Lions took on Pine Bluff in the semifinals last night after Leader deadlines to determine who would play Vilonia/Jonesboro in the Bank Classic finals Saturday night.
SPORTS >>Panthers nip Bruins late
By JASON KING
Leader sports writer
Cabot recovered from a rematch loss to Vilonia earlier in the week to take a close 57-55 win over Pulaski Academy Thursday night at the CHS gymnasium. The Panthers built up a lead a high as 14 points in the third quarter, but had to hold off a late surge by the Bruins in the final eight minutes to pull out the narrow win.
Cabot coach Jerry Bridges believes the strong effort all the way through on Thursday was a product of some shame felt by his team after they watched themselves give up a 13 point lead to Vilonia on tape from two days earlier.
“We watched the film,” Bridges said. “I think the kids were pretty disappointed with what they saw. We played terrible that night, and I don’t think they realized exactly how terrible it was until they actually saw it. We had a good effort, and most importantly, it was a complete 32-minute effort.”
Adam Sterrenberg led the Panthers with 18 points, including 10 of 10 from the free throw line. Sam Bates added 14 points and nine rebounds.
Miles Monroe had eight points and nine rebounds, with seven points from Austin Johnson. The Panthers improved to 3-1 on the season.
The Panthers accumulated themselves a solid 31-18 lead over Vilonia through one half of play, but watched hopelessly as the Eagles turned the entire second half into one big rally. Vilonia ended up with a 48-42 win in the re match between the two teams during the opening round of the Searcy Bank Classic tournament at SHS.
The Eagles generated half of their total points in the fourth quarter alone, rolling off 24 points, eight of which came from the charity stripe against the Panthers to take control of the scoreboard down the stretch.
“You have to play like you practice,” Bridges said. “In games like that, you have to bring it for the whole 32 minutes, and we just didn’t do that in the second half. I thought we played well in the first half, but we quit making shots in the second half.
The thing I’m disappointed most about is the fact that we stopped playing good defense in the second half. Coach (Mike) Tucker and myself have been trying to stress to these guys that you have to play strong for two halves and not just one, but it’s still early, and we think we have a lot of great potential on this team.”
Scoring was not a problem for the Panthers in the first half, but six turnovers during the third quarter brought all of the early momentum to a halt, as Vilonia relied on a 10-0 run in the middle of the frame to narrow the gap to 35-32 heading into the final eight minutes. Cabot ended up with a mere four points during the entire third frame, as the Eagles sealed off the inside threat from junior post Miles Monroe, while simultaneously containing the outside prowess of shooting guard Adam Sterrenberg.
Bridges was happy with the 6 of 7 floor performance from NLR junior transfer post player Monroe, but hopes that the team will call his number more in future games.
“He had a great first half, and the kids just forgot about him,” Bridges said. “When he’s on like that, we need to be getting the ball to him more. I thought he showed some flashes of what he’s capable of.”
Sterrenberg ignited a huge run for the Panthers in the second quarter with 11 of his game-high 17 points, but an injury in the opening minutes of the fourth quarter took Cabot’s best all-purpose scoring threat off the floor for nearly five minutes. In the meantime, Vilonia overturned what was a 37-34 deficit at the time Sterrenberg left the court to a 42-38 lead by the time junior was able to re-enter the game with 2:13 remaining.
A Sterrenberg jumper at the 6:27 mark of the third quarter answered an early basket by Vilonia’s Jacob Moore to make the score 33-20, and from there, the wheels fell off for the Panthers. The Eagles proceeded to click off 10 unanswered points to pull to within three at 33-30 before a pair of free throws by Monroe finally stopped the bleeding for Cabot. That made it 35-30, but Vilonia would answer once again before the buzzer with two foul shots by Luke Bartlett to pull the Eagles to within one possesion heading into the fourth quarter.
A stream of turnovers prevented much scoring for either team during the first two minutes of the fourth quarter. A basket by Bartlett at the 4:35 mark finally completed the comeback for Vilonia with a 38-38 tie, and it didn’t take long for them to top the Panthers on the scoreboard from there.
Riley hit a pair of free throws to give the Eagles the lead at 40-38, but the turnover bug bit for both teams again from there. Nathan Paul picked off two passes from Panthers point guard Trey Rosel in between a steal by Cabot’s Sam Bates. The Panthers finally retained possesion on their side, but a three-point attempt by Austin Johnson fell short, and Vilonia grabbed the rebound.
Riley ended up at the charity stripe once again for the Eagles on the ensuing possession, and converted both ends to put Vilonia up by four at 42-38. Riley ended up 6 for 6 from the line in the fourth quarter to make up the exact difference in the final margin.
Sterrenberg led the Panthers with 17 points, while Monroe added 15 points for Cabot. For Vilonia, Luke Bartlett led all scorers with 19 points, and Jordan Riley added 15 points for the Eagles. Cabot falls to 1-1 on the year, and took on Wynne in the consolation bracket Friday. Vilonia improves to 2-1 with the win, and played Mountain Home in the semifinals Friday night after Leader deadlines.
Leader sports writer
Cabot recovered from a rematch loss to Vilonia earlier in the week to take a close 57-55 win over Pulaski Academy Thursday night at the CHS gymnasium. The Panthers built up a lead a high as 14 points in the third quarter, but had to hold off a late surge by the Bruins in the final eight minutes to pull out the narrow win.
Cabot coach Jerry Bridges believes the strong effort all the way through on Thursday was a product of some shame felt by his team after they watched themselves give up a 13 point lead to Vilonia on tape from two days earlier.
“We watched the film,” Bridges said. “I think the kids were pretty disappointed with what they saw. We played terrible that night, and I don’t think they realized exactly how terrible it was until they actually saw it. We had a good effort, and most importantly, it was a complete 32-minute effort.”
Adam Sterrenberg led the Panthers with 18 points, including 10 of 10 from the free throw line. Sam Bates added 14 points and nine rebounds.
Miles Monroe had eight points and nine rebounds, with seven points from Austin Johnson. The Panthers improved to 3-1 on the season.
The Panthers accumulated themselves a solid 31-18 lead over Vilonia through one half of play, but watched hopelessly as the Eagles turned the entire second half into one big rally. Vilonia ended up with a 48-42 win in the re match between the two teams during the opening round of the Searcy Bank Classic tournament at SHS.
The Eagles generated half of their total points in the fourth quarter alone, rolling off 24 points, eight of which came from the charity stripe against the Panthers to take control of the scoreboard down the stretch.
“You have to play like you practice,” Bridges said. “In games like that, you have to bring it for the whole 32 minutes, and we just didn’t do that in the second half. I thought we played well in the first half, but we quit making shots in the second half.
The thing I’m disappointed most about is the fact that we stopped playing good defense in the second half. Coach (Mike) Tucker and myself have been trying to stress to these guys that you have to play strong for two halves and not just one, but it’s still early, and we think we have a lot of great potential on this team.”
Scoring was not a problem for the Panthers in the first half, but six turnovers during the third quarter brought all of the early momentum to a halt, as Vilonia relied on a 10-0 run in the middle of the frame to narrow the gap to 35-32 heading into the final eight minutes. Cabot ended up with a mere four points during the entire third frame, as the Eagles sealed off the inside threat from junior post Miles Monroe, while simultaneously containing the outside prowess of shooting guard Adam Sterrenberg.
Bridges was happy with the 6 of 7 floor performance from NLR junior transfer post player Monroe, but hopes that the team will call his number more in future games.
“He had a great first half, and the kids just forgot about him,” Bridges said. “When he’s on like that, we need to be getting the ball to him more. I thought he showed some flashes of what he’s capable of.”
Sterrenberg ignited a huge run for the Panthers in the second quarter with 11 of his game-high 17 points, but an injury in the opening minutes of the fourth quarter took Cabot’s best all-purpose scoring threat off the floor for nearly five minutes. In the meantime, Vilonia overturned what was a 37-34 deficit at the time Sterrenberg left the court to a 42-38 lead by the time junior was able to re-enter the game with 2:13 remaining.
A Sterrenberg jumper at the 6:27 mark of the third quarter answered an early basket by Vilonia’s Jacob Moore to make the score 33-20, and from there, the wheels fell off for the Panthers. The Eagles proceeded to click off 10 unanswered points to pull to within three at 33-30 before a pair of free throws by Monroe finally stopped the bleeding for Cabot. That made it 35-30, but Vilonia would answer once again before the buzzer with two foul shots by Luke Bartlett to pull the Eagles to within one possesion heading into the fourth quarter.
A stream of turnovers prevented much scoring for either team during the first two minutes of the fourth quarter. A basket by Bartlett at the 4:35 mark finally completed the comeback for Vilonia with a 38-38 tie, and it didn’t take long for them to top the Panthers on the scoreboard from there.
Riley hit a pair of free throws to give the Eagles the lead at 40-38, but the turnover bug bit for both teams again from there. Nathan Paul picked off two passes from Panthers point guard Trey Rosel in between a steal by Cabot’s Sam Bates. The Panthers finally retained possesion on their side, but a three-point attempt by Austin Johnson fell short, and Vilonia grabbed the rebound.
Riley ended up at the charity stripe once again for the Eagles on the ensuing possession, and converted both ends to put Vilonia up by four at 42-38. Riley ended up 6 for 6 from the line in the fourth quarter to make up the exact difference in the final margin.
Sterrenberg led the Panthers with 17 points, while Monroe added 15 points for Cabot. For Vilonia, Luke Bartlett led all scorers with 19 points, and Jordan Riley added 15 points for the Eagles. Cabot falls to 1-1 on the year, and took on Wynne in the consolation bracket Friday. Vilonia improves to 2-1 with the win, and played Mountain Home in the semifinals Friday night after Leader deadlines.
EDITORIALS>>Who’s biggest tax raiser?
Ernie Dumas writes: Mike Huckabee raised more taxes in 10 years in office than Bill Clinton did in his 12 years.
Clinton tax increases
Increased the general sales tax from 3 percent to 4 per- cent (Act 63 of special session of 1983)
Increased sales tax by half of 1 percent and extended the tax to used vehicles (Act 3 of 1991)
Increased the corporate income tax from 6 to 6.5 percent for corporations with net incomes greater than $100,000 (Act 1052 of 1991)
Levied a 16 percent tax on snuff (yes, there are a few people who still dip snuff) (Act 628 of 1987)
Levied a 25-cent tax on each pack of cigarette papers (yes, there are people who still roll their own) (Act 1045 of 1987)
Increased the cigarette tax from 17.75 cents a pack to 21 cents a pack (Act 399 of 1983)
Increased the cigarette tax by a penny a pack (Act 1211 of 1991)
Levied a 2 percent tax on certain tourism items like admission to theme parks (Act 38 of 1989)
Increased excise taxes on mixed drinks sold for on-premises consumption (not wine or beer) (Act 844 of 1983 and Act 908 of 1989)
Increased motor fuel taxes by 1 cent a gallon (1979)
Increased motor fuel taxes by 4 cents a gallon (Act 456 of 1985) (Clinton vetoed the bill but the legislature overrode his veto.)
Increased the tax on motor fuels by 5 cents a gallon
Increased motor vehicle registration fees, 1979 (subsequently repealed)
Huckabee tax increases
Imposed an income tax surcharge of 3 percent on tax liabilities of individuals and domestic and foreign corporations (Act 38, 1st special session of 2003). (It was temporary until revenues improved. The legislature repealed it in 2005.)
Increased the sales tax by 1/8 of one percent by initiated act (but it was a personal campaign by Huckabee, who campaigned across the state for it and took a celebrated bass boat trip for 4 days down the Arkansas River holding press conferences in each river city to urge passage of the act)
Increased the sales tax by one-half of 1 percent (Act 1492 of 1999)
Increased the sales tax by 7/8ths of 1 percent and expand the sales tax to many services previously exempt from the tax (Act 107, 2nd special session of 2003)
Collected a 2 percent tax on chewing tobacco, cigars, package tobacco, cigarette papers and snuff (Act 434 of 1997)
Levied an additional excise tax of 7 percent on tobacco (Act 38 of 1st special session of 2003)
Increased the tax on cigarette and tobacco permits (Act 1337 of 1997)
Increased the tax on cigarette and tobacco – cigarettes by $1.25 per thousand cigarettes and 2 percent of the manufacturers’ selling price on tobacco products (Act 434 of 1997)
Increased the tax on cigarettes by 25 cents a pack (Act 38, 1st special session of 2003)
Levied a 3 percent excise tax on all retail sales of beer (Act 1841 of 2001 and extended by Act 272 of 2003 and Act 2188 of 2005)
Revived the 4 percent mixed drink tax of 1989 and added a 4 percent tax on private clubs (Act 1274 of 2005)
Increased the tax on gasoline by 3 cents a gallon (Act 1028 of 1999)
Increased the tax on diesel by 4 cents a gallon (Act 1028 of 1999) Note: Contrary to what Huckabee has said repeatedly in debates, speeches and TV shows, the 1999 gasoline and diesel taxes were not submitted to the voters and approved by 80 per cent of them. It was never submitted to a vote. It was the governor’s bill and it became law without a vote of the people.
What the voters did approve in 1999 was a bond issue for interstate highway reconstruction but it did not involve a tax increase. Existing taxes and federal receipts were pledged to retire the bonds.
Increased the driver’s license by $6 a person, from $14 to $20 (Act 1500 of 2001)
So which raised taxes more? It is hard to quantify. If you measured the increases in the revenue stream, the Huckabee tax cuts far exceeded Clinton’s but that would be unfair because the economy had grown and the same penny of tax would produce far more under Huckabee.
But if you look at the major taxes, I see the aggregate Huckabee taxes as greater, especially if you deduct the 4 cent gasoline and diesel taxes that Clinton vetoed in 1985 and that the legislature enacted over his veto.
Anyway, the sales tax is the big revenue producer. Both raised it by 1.5 cents on the dollar and both expanded it to cover a myriad of services. Clinton raised motor fuel taxes a little more, Huckabee cigarette taxes a lot more.
A further note: Huckabee claims credit for a major tax cut in 1997, saying it was the first tax cut in Arkansas history (there had been many prior to that) and that he forced the Democratic legislature to curtail its impulse to always raise taxes.
The facts: The omnibus income tax cut bill of 1997 was proposed by Gov. Jim Guy Tucker in the spring of 1996. It had multiple (7) features, all aimed at relief for middle-class families or the elderly. He asked interim legislative committees to expand on his plan. Tucker then resigned before the legislature convened after his conviction on Whitewater-related charges, and Huckabee took office.
At the legislative session that followed, the Democratic caucus of the House (88 of the 100 members) made the Tucker tax cuts its chief program. The bill was introduced with 83 sponsors (all Democrats) and all Democrats voted for it. It was unopposed. Huckabee’s tax cut was to give each taxpayer a check for $25 each fall, saying it would help offset the burden of sales taxes on groceries (the repeal of which he repeatedly opposed). The legislature rejected Huckabee’s plan and passed the Tucker bill. Huckabee signed it into law.
The 94 tax cuts that he said he fathered are similarly misleading. The vast majority of those were the usual exemptions and modifications of various taxes and fees that the legislature enacts every time it meets. They were not a part of Huckabee’s program with a few exceptions. Rather, Democratic legislators sponsored them, usually at the behest of whatever special interest benefited, and Huckabee signed them when they hit his desk. If you did a similar summary of Clinton’s years he could claim probably well over 100 tax cuts. Every Arkansas governor since World War II could claim dozens each.
If you counted all the tax benefits extended to corporations under the incentives enacted by the legislature under Clinton — and they were part of his programs, especially in 1983, 1985 and 1989 — the tax cuts would dwarf those under Huckabee.
Clinton tax increases
Increased the general sales tax from 3 percent to 4 per- cent (Act 63 of special session of 1983)
Increased sales tax by half of 1 percent and extended the tax to used vehicles (Act 3 of 1991)
Increased the corporate income tax from 6 to 6.5 percent for corporations with net incomes greater than $100,000 (Act 1052 of 1991)
Levied a 16 percent tax on snuff (yes, there are a few people who still dip snuff) (Act 628 of 1987)
Levied a 25-cent tax on each pack of cigarette papers (yes, there are people who still roll their own) (Act 1045 of 1987)
Increased the cigarette tax from 17.75 cents a pack to 21 cents a pack (Act 399 of 1983)
Increased the cigarette tax by a penny a pack (Act 1211 of 1991)
Levied a 2 percent tax on certain tourism items like admission to theme parks (Act 38 of 1989)
Increased excise taxes on mixed drinks sold for on-premises consumption (not wine or beer) (Act 844 of 1983 and Act 908 of 1989)
Increased motor fuel taxes by 1 cent a gallon (1979)
Increased motor fuel taxes by 4 cents a gallon (Act 456 of 1985) (Clinton vetoed the bill but the legislature overrode his veto.)
Increased the tax on motor fuels by 5 cents a gallon
Increased motor vehicle registration fees, 1979 (subsequently repealed)
Huckabee tax increases
Imposed an income tax surcharge of 3 percent on tax liabilities of individuals and domestic and foreign corporations (Act 38, 1st special session of 2003). (It was temporary until revenues improved. The legislature repealed it in 2005.)
Increased the sales tax by 1/8 of one percent by initiated act (but it was a personal campaign by Huckabee, who campaigned across the state for it and took a celebrated bass boat trip for 4 days down the Arkansas River holding press conferences in each river city to urge passage of the act)
Increased the sales tax by one-half of 1 percent (Act 1492 of 1999)
Increased the sales tax by 7/8ths of 1 percent and expand the sales tax to many services previously exempt from the tax (Act 107, 2nd special session of 2003)
Collected a 2 percent tax on chewing tobacco, cigars, package tobacco, cigarette papers and snuff (Act 434 of 1997)
Levied an additional excise tax of 7 percent on tobacco (Act 38 of 1st special session of 2003)
Increased the tax on cigarette and tobacco permits (Act 1337 of 1997)
Increased the tax on cigarette and tobacco – cigarettes by $1.25 per thousand cigarettes and 2 percent of the manufacturers’ selling price on tobacco products (Act 434 of 1997)
Increased the tax on cigarettes by 25 cents a pack (Act 38, 1st special session of 2003)
Levied a 3 percent excise tax on all retail sales of beer (Act 1841 of 2001 and extended by Act 272 of 2003 and Act 2188 of 2005)
Revived the 4 percent mixed drink tax of 1989 and added a 4 percent tax on private clubs (Act 1274 of 2005)
Increased the tax on gasoline by 3 cents a gallon (Act 1028 of 1999)
Increased the tax on diesel by 4 cents a gallon (Act 1028 of 1999) Note: Contrary to what Huckabee has said repeatedly in debates, speeches and TV shows, the 1999 gasoline and diesel taxes were not submitted to the voters and approved by 80 per cent of them. It was never submitted to a vote. It was the governor’s bill and it became law without a vote of the people.
What the voters did approve in 1999 was a bond issue for interstate highway reconstruction but it did not involve a tax increase. Existing taxes and federal receipts were pledged to retire the bonds.
Increased the driver’s license by $6 a person, from $14 to $20 (Act 1500 of 2001)
So which raised taxes more? It is hard to quantify. If you measured the increases in the revenue stream, the Huckabee tax cuts far exceeded Clinton’s but that would be unfair because the economy had grown and the same penny of tax would produce far more under Huckabee.
But if you look at the major taxes, I see the aggregate Huckabee taxes as greater, especially if you deduct the 4 cent gasoline and diesel taxes that Clinton vetoed in 1985 and that the legislature enacted over his veto.
Anyway, the sales tax is the big revenue producer. Both raised it by 1.5 cents on the dollar and both expanded it to cover a myriad of services. Clinton raised motor fuel taxes a little more, Huckabee cigarette taxes a lot more.
A further note: Huckabee claims credit for a major tax cut in 1997, saying it was the first tax cut in Arkansas history (there had been many prior to that) and that he forced the Democratic legislature to curtail its impulse to always raise taxes.
The facts: The omnibus income tax cut bill of 1997 was proposed by Gov. Jim Guy Tucker in the spring of 1996. It had multiple (7) features, all aimed at relief for middle-class families or the elderly. He asked interim legislative committees to expand on his plan. Tucker then resigned before the legislature convened after his conviction on Whitewater-related charges, and Huckabee took office.
At the legislative session that followed, the Democratic caucus of the House (88 of the 100 members) made the Tucker tax cuts its chief program. The bill was introduced with 83 sponsors (all Democrats) and all Democrats voted for it. It was unopposed. Huckabee’s tax cut was to give each taxpayer a check for $25 each fall, saying it would help offset the burden of sales taxes on groceries (the repeal of which he repeatedly opposed). The legislature rejected Huckabee’s plan and passed the Tucker bill. Huckabee signed it into law.
The 94 tax cuts that he said he fathered are similarly misleading. The vast majority of those were the usual exemptions and modifications of various taxes and fees that the legislature enacts every time it meets. They were not a part of Huckabee’s program with a few exceptions. Rather, Democratic legislators sponsored them, usually at the behest of whatever special interest benefited, and Huckabee signed them when they hit his desk. If you did a similar summary of Clinton’s years he could claim probably well over 100 tax cuts. Every Arkansas governor since World War II could claim dozens each.
If you counted all the tax benefits extended to corporations under the incentives enacted by the legislature under Clinton — and they were part of his programs, especially in 1983, 1985 and 1989 — the tax cuts would dwarf those under Huckabee.
EVENTS>> Fall 2007
The Jacksonville Fire Department will test the city’s fire hydrants Monday through Friday, Dec. 21. The area east of Highway 67/167 and south of Main Street will be affected.
The testing is necessary to maintain and improve current Insurance Service Organization ratings, which determine insurance rates for businesses and homeowners. Hydrant testing also allows the fire department to pre-plan for better fire suppression. This testing could cause the unsettling of sediment that collects in the water mains. The sediment will cause discoloration of the water and can stain clothing in the wash. However unsightly the water may be, it is does not have bacteriological risks.
The Jacksonville Fire Department and Jacksonville Water Works urges citizens to check for discolored water before doing laundry to avoid staining clothing during the testing period. The fire department apologizes for any inconvenience the testing causes but says it is necessary in order to keep insurance rates lower and make Jacksonville a safer city.
Sherwood church observes World Aids Day today
A ceremony to commemorate the annual observance of World AIDS Day will be held at Open Door Community Church at 709 W. Lee Ave. in Sherwood at 6:30 p.m. this evening to remember love ones who have been lost and celebrate those living with HIV and AIDS today.
A reception will immediately follow the ceremony. For more information or to submit the name of someone to be remembered, contact arkansasworldaidsday@sbc.global.net. The event is free to the public. Any donations will benefit the Arkansas AIDS Foundation.
Collections for homeless retired veterans needed
The Jacksonville Museum of Military History and Mt. Tabor Methodist Church present Christmas Care for Veterans, a collection of items the two organizations will be giving to the Little Rock Veterans Retirement Home. People are asked to bring only new sweat suits, slippers, white cotton t-shirts, pajama pants, socks or flannel pajamas of all different sizes (large and X-large, too) no later than Dec. 16.
The items are to be dropped off during regular business hours to
the Jacksonville Museum of Military History, 100 Veterans Circle, Jacksonville or Mt. Tabor Methodist Church, Hwy. 89 S., Cabot.
Please do not purchase any toiletries. For more information, contact the museum at (501) 241-1943 or the church at (501) 843-1084.
Reed’s Bridge Society holds panel dedication
The Reed’s Bridge Society announces the dedication of five new historical panels today. The panel dedication will take place at 11 a.m. at the corner of Trickey Lane and Military Road (Hwy. 294) in Jacksonville.
Re-enactors from the First and Sixth Arkansas Infantry will bivouac at the Reed’s Bridge site over the weekend. The public is invited to visit the Reed’s Bridge site to walk among the reenactors and learn what it was like to be a Confederate soldier during the Civil War. For more information contact Tommy Dupree at (501) 766-1527.
Ward Animal Shelter holds annual chili cook-off
The Ward Animal Shelter will hold its third annual chili cook-off at 5 p.m. today, following the city’s Christmas parade and tree lighting.
Area businesses and citizens will have pots of their secret recipe chili available to be judged by the public. The top three competitors will receive trophies. The cost is $5 for adults and $3 for children 10 and under. Everyone is invited to come out and join the shelter for a night of fun, complete with a cake walk, silent auction, pictures with Santa, coloring contest and Aunt Blueberry the clown.
All proceeds will go to the Ward Animal Shelter for its various needs.
Cabot Parks and Recreation holds public hearing
Cabot Parks and Recreation will hold public hearings Tuesday for the proposed North Lonoke County Regional Park off Willie Ray Drive.
The hearings will be from 4 to 8 p.m. at the Veterans Park Community Center, 508 N. Lincoln, in the meeting room on the second floor. The meeting groups are as follows: from 4 - 4:45 p.m., civic groups, city departments, elected officials, school district officials, Chamber of Commerce members and church officials; from 5 - 5:45 p.m., sport association board members; from 6 - 6:45 p.m., extreme sports participants, skateboarders, bicyclists, campers and scouts; and from 7 to 7:45 p.m., general public input.
For more information, contact Cabot Parks and Recreation at 501-605-1506.
Jacksonville will test fire hydrants on Dec. 21
“Jacksonville’s Golden Christmas,” the city’s 50th annual parade, will be held at 1 p.m. today starting at Sharp and Main, down Main to Second. Brig. Gen. Rowayne Schatz will marshal the event.
Beebe’s annual parade will be held at 6 p.m. today the theme is “Christmas Melodies’, and floats will line up at Beebe Public Schools at 5 p.m.
Sherwood’s parade, “A Child’s Magical Christmas,” will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday on Kiehl Ave. from Lantrip to Oakbrook St.
Cabot’s parade will be held at 3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 9.
The testing is necessary to maintain and improve current Insurance Service Organization ratings, which determine insurance rates for businesses and homeowners. Hydrant testing also allows the fire department to pre-plan for better fire suppression. This testing could cause the unsettling of sediment that collects in the water mains. The sediment will cause discoloration of the water and can stain clothing in the wash. However unsightly the water may be, it is does not have bacteriological risks.
The Jacksonville Fire Department and Jacksonville Water Works urges citizens to check for discolored water before doing laundry to avoid staining clothing during the testing period. The fire department apologizes for any inconvenience the testing causes but says it is necessary in order to keep insurance rates lower and make Jacksonville a safer city.
Sherwood church observes World Aids Day today
A ceremony to commemorate the annual observance of World AIDS Day will be held at Open Door Community Church at 709 W. Lee Ave. in Sherwood at 6:30 p.m. this evening to remember love ones who have been lost and celebrate those living with HIV and AIDS today.
A reception will immediately follow the ceremony. For more information or to submit the name of someone to be remembered, contact arkansasworldaidsday@sbc.global.net. The event is free to the public. Any donations will benefit the Arkansas AIDS Foundation.
Collections for homeless retired veterans needed
The Jacksonville Museum of Military History and Mt. Tabor Methodist Church present Christmas Care for Veterans, a collection of items the two organizations will be giving to the Little Rock Veterans Retirement Home. People are asked to bring only new sweat suits, slippers, white cotton t-shirts, pajama pants, socks or flannel pajamas of all different sizes (large and X-large, too) no later than Dec. 16.
The items are to be dropped off during regular business hours to
the Jacksonville Museum of Military History, 100 Veterans Circle, Jacksonville or Mt. Tabor Methodist Church, Hwy. 89 S., Cabot.
Please do not purchase any toiletries. For more information, contact the museum at (501) 241-1943 or the church at (501) 843-1084.
Reed’s Bridge Society holds panel dedication
The Reed’s Bridge Society announces the dedication of five new historical panels today. The panel dedication will take place at 11 a.m. at the corner of Trickey Lane and Military Road (Hwy. 294) in Jacksonville.
Re-enactors from the First and Sixth Arkansas Infantry will bivouac at the Reed’s Bridge site over the weekend. The public is invited to visit the Reed’s Bridge site to walk among the reenactors and learn what it was like to be a Confederate soldier during the Civil War. For more information contact Tommy Dupree at (501) 766-1527.
Ward Animal Shelter holds annual chili cook-off
The Ward Animal Shelter will hold its third annual chili cook-off at 5 p.m. today, following the city’s Christmas parade and tree lighting.
Area businesses and citizens will have pots of their secret recipe chili available to be judged by the public. The top three competitors will receive trophies. The cost is $5 for adults and $3 for children 10 and under. Everyone is invited to come out and join the shelter for a night of fun, complete with a cake walk, silent auction, pictures with Santa, coloring contest and Aunt Blueberry the clown.
All proceeds will go to the Ward Animal Shelter for its various needs.
Cabot Parks and Recreation holds public hearing
Cabot Parks and Recreation will hold public hearings Tuesday for the proposed North Lonoke County Regional Park off Willie Ray Drive.
The hearings will be from 4 to 8 p.m. at the Veterans Park Community Center, 508 N. Lincoln, in the meeting room on the second floor. The meeting groups are as follows: from 4 - 4:45 p.m., civic groups, city departments, elected officials, school district officials, Chamber of Commerce members and church officials; from 5 - 5:45 p.m., sport association board members; from 6 - 6:45 p.m., extreme sports participants, skateboarders, bicyclists, campers and scouts; and from 7 to 7:45 p.m., general public input.
For more information, contact Cabot Parks and Recreation at 501-605-1506.
Jacksonville will test fire hydrants on Dec. 21
“Jacksonville’s Golden Christmas,” the city’s 50th annual parade, will be held at 1 p.m. today starting at Sharp and Main, down Main to Second. Brig. Gen. Rowayne Schatz will marshal the event.
Beebe’s annual parade will be held at 6 p.m. today the theme is “Christmas Melodies’, and floats will line up at Beebe Public Schools at 5 p.m.
Sherwood’s parade, “A Child’s Magical Christmas,” will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday on Kiehl Ave. from Lantrip to Oakbrook St.
Cabot’s parade will be held at 3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 9.
TOP STORY >>Treatment plant ready to open in Cabot area
By JOAN MCCOY
Leader staff writer
The $15 million wastewater treatment plant that Cabot residents are paying for with a one-cent sales tax is scheduled to open Dec. 10.
The 20-year-old plant it will replace has never performed well and was frequently out of compliance with state and ederal standards. Tim Joyner, head of Cabot WaterWorks, told the water and wastewater commission Thursday night that all the concrete work and 98 percent of the mechanical and electrical of the new plant is completed and it is now being filled with partially processed water from a polishing pond that is part of the old system.
When it is full, it will be “seeded” with sludge from a wastewater treatment plant in Jacksonville that contains the microorganisms needed for breaking down the wastes that will be pumped in.
The sludge from Jacksonville is free, but it will cost $500 to hire a company permitted to haul it by the Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality.
Although the cutover from the old plant to the new is less than two weeks away, the grand opening won’t be held until all the work is completed.
“It’s going to be well into the summer before that thing is cleaned up and looking good,” said Cabot Water and Wastewater Commission Chairman J.M. Park.
Joyner told the commission that it would be summer before the roads are built and the old plant is demolished.
In other business, Joyner told the commission that right-of-way acquisition for the waterline to Gravel Ridge that will connect Cabot to Central Arkansas Water has hit a snag.
About a dozen residents whose property is adjacent to the Little Rock Air Force Base are opposed to the line running beside the fence that separates them from the base.
Joyner said they are concerned because noise from the base is already a problem and they fear that cutting trees to lay the waterline will make the noise worse.
“One property owner has called everybody she can find,” Joyner told the commission. “They are all grouped together and they are very hot.”
Although Cabot will be allowed to continue pumping from its well field for many years, eventually all the water for the city will come from lakes. Connecting to CAW will ensure a good supply of water for decades to come.
Bruce Brown, finance director for Cabot WaterWorks, told the commission that revenue for 2007 is 7 percent lower than expected because growth in the city did not meet expectations.
The commission is currently working on a budget for 2008, and Gary Walker, commission vice chairman, told Joyner to try to keep expenses down next year.
The commission met Thursday with only three members: Cary Hobbs, Park and Walker.
Since banker Don Keesee took a position several months ago in northwest Arkansas, the commission has been down one member. But Bill Cypert, commission secretary, was also absent.
He sustained relatively minor injuries earlier this week in a vehicle accident.
He said Friday morning that doctors say he will recover without treatment and he expects to be able to attend the Dec. 13 commission meeting.
Leader staff writer
The $15 million wastewater treatment plant that Cabot residents are paying for with a one-cent sales tax is scheduled to open Dec. 10.
The 20-year-old plant it will replace has never performed well and was frequently out of compliance with state and ederal standards. Tim Joyner, head of Cabot WaterWorks, told the water and wastewater commission Thursday night that all the concrete work and 98 percent of the mechanical and electrical of the new plant is completed and it is now being filled with partially processed water from a polishing pond that is part of the old system.
When it is full, it will be “seeded” with sludge from a wastewater treatment plant in Jacksonville that contains the microorganisms needed for breaking down the wastes that will be pumped in.
The sludge from Jacksonville is free, but it will cost $500 to hire a company permitted to haul it by the Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality.
Although the cutover from the old plant to the new is less than two weeks away, the grand opening won’t be held until all the work is completed.
“It’s going to be well into the summer before that thing is cleaned up and looking good,” said Cabot Water and Wastewater Commission Chairman J.M. Park.
Joyner told the commission that it would be summer before the roads are built and the old plant is demolished.
In other business, Joyner told the commission that right-of-way acquisition for the waterline to Gravel Ridge that will connect Cabot to Central Arkansas Water has hit a snag.
About a dozen residents whose property is adjacent to the Little Rock Air Force Base are opposed to the line running beside the fence that separates them from the base.
Joyner said they are concerned because noise from the base is already a problem and they fear that cutting trees to lay the waterline will make the noise worse.
“One property owner has called everybody she can find,” Joyner told the commission. “They are all grouped together and they are very hot.”
Although Cabot will be allowed to continue pumping from its well field for many years, eventually all the water for the city will come from lakes. Connecting to CAW will ensure a good supply of water for decades to come.
Bruce Brown, finance director for Cabot WaterWorks, told the commission that revenue for 2007 is 7 percent lower than expected because growth in the city did not meet expectations.
The commission is currently working on a budget for 2008, and Gary Walker, commission vice chairman, told Joyner to try to keep expenses down next year.
The commission met Thursday with only three members: Cary Hobbs, Park and Walker.
Since banker Don Keesee took a position several months ago in northwest Arkansas, the commission has been down one member. But Bill Cypert, commission secretary, was also absent.
He sustained relatively minor injuries earlier this week in a vehicle accident.
He said Friday morning that doctors say he will recover without treatment and he expects to be able to attend the Dec. 13 commission meeting.
TOP STORY >>Glover: Getting department’s attention
By JOAN MCCOY
Leader staff writer
State Sen. Bobby Glover, D-Carlisle, was instrumental in getting state money to buy the land on Hwy. 367 in Cabot where an $8 million federally funded armory is supposed to be built within the next few years. And that, according to the mayor, is one of the reasons he is considered a good friend to Cabot.
But the Cabot residents who fight traffic at least twice a day, five days a week as they make their way from home to work and back, should also know that the senator is trying to make their daily trips less exasperating and a little safer.
Although it would be misleading to imply that his most recent efforts have been fruitful, letters from the Arkansas Highway Department show that he has at least gotten their attention.
The Highway Department has widened Hwy. 5 to four lanes from U.S. Hwy. 67-167 to Hwy. 89. Glover has asked for the widening to be continued from Hwy. 89 all the way to Hwy. 319, a distance of about five and a half miles at a cost of roughly $5.5 million.
The letter he received in June in response to his request said essentially that the idea is a good one that is already on the Highway Department’s radar.
But Glen Bolick, a spokesman for the Highway Department, said that like many good proposals across the state, there isn’t money at this time to fund it.
That project is further along than a lot of others that could also be considered worthy of he state and federal money needed for construction, Bolick said.
It has been included in the draft 2006 Arkansas State Highway Needs Study and Highway Improvement Plan and has been assigned a job number.
But it hasn’t been approved for funding and isn’t ready for construction.
“This particular job still has environmental work to be done. It still has design work to be done,” he said.
The senator also asked the Highway Department about the possibility of installing a cable to separate the northbound and southbound lanes of U.S. Hwy. 67-167 between Cabot and Jacksonville to stop crashes that occur when cars cross the median.
The response he received earlier this month indicated that Highway Department officials researched the crashes in that five-mile area of the freeway and concluded that his proposal has merit.
“From the results of our analysis, it appears that the installation of a median cable barrier in this section of Hwy. 67 would be beneficial and would qualify for federal-aid safety funds,” Dan Flowers, Highway Department director, said in a letter to Glover.
“The department will consider this project as we develop our next Statewide Transportation Improvement Program (STIP), which will cover federal fiscal years 2010 through 2013.”
Asked to break down that seemingly hopeful proclamation into words that are comprehensible to the average person, Bolick said that the cable Glover wants will likely be in the planning stages beginning in 2010 and might be funded by 2013 or a little later.
But if the number of head-on crashes from vehicles crossing the median increased tremendously, that nebulous schedule could change and the cable could become a priority, Bolick said.
In the Highway Department, circumstances can change schedules, he said.
Bolick said elected officials writing letters about the projects they want done for their constituents is routine.
“Sen. Glover has always been a friend of the Highway Department and he’s never been afraid to ask for what he wants,” he said.
But does it do any good?
“It’s never going to hurt for a local elected official to continue to inquire about projects,” Bolick said.
Leader staff writer
State Sen. Bobby Glover, D-Carlisle, was instrumental in getting state money to buy the land on Hwy. 367 in Cabot where an $8 million federally funded armory is supposed to be built within the next few years. And that, according to the mayor, is one of the reasons he is considered a good friend to Cabot.
But the Cabot residents who fight traffic at least twice a day, five days a week as they make their way from home to work and back, should also know that the senator is trying to make their daily trips less exasperating and a little safer.
Although it would be misleading to imply that his most recent efforts have been fruitful, letters from the Arkansas Highway Department show that he has at least gotten their attention.
The Highway Department has widened Hwy. 5 to four lanes from U.S. Hwy. 67-167 to Hwy. 89. Glover has asked for the widening to be continued from Hwy. 89 all the way to Hwy. 319, a distance of about five and a half miles at a cost of roughly $5.5 million.
The letter he received in June in response to his request said essentially that the idea is a good one that is already on the Highway Department’s radar.
But Glen Bolick, a spokesman for the Highway Department, said that like many good proposals across the state, there isn’t money at this time to fund it.
That project is further along than a lot of others that could also be considered worthy of he state and federal money needed for construction, Bolick said.
It has been included in the draft 2006 Arkansas State Highway Needs Study and Highway Improvement Plan and has been assigned a job number.
But it hasn’t been approved for funding and isn’t ready for construction.
“This particular job still has environmental work to be done. It still has design work to be done,” he said.
The senator also asked the Highway Department about the possibility of installing a cable to separate the northbound and southbound lanes of U.S. Hwy. 67-167 between Cabot and Jacksonville to stop crashes that occur when cars cross the median.
The response he received earlier this month indicated that Highway Department officials researched the crashes in that five-mile area of the freeway and concluded that his proposal has merit.
“From the results of our analysis, it appears that the installation of a median cable barrier in this section of Hwy. 67 would be beneficial and would qualify for federal-aid safety funds,” Dan Flowers, Highway Department director, said in a letter to Glover.
“The department will consider this project as we develop our next Statewide Transportation Improvement Program (STIP), which will cover federal fiscal years 2010 through 2013.”
Asked to break down that seemingly hopeful proclamation into words that are comprehensible to the average person, Bolick said that the cable Glover wants will likely be in the planning stages beginning in 2010 and might be funded by 2013 or a little later.
But if the number of head-on crashes from vehicles crossing the median increased tremendously, that nebulous schedule could change and the cable could become a priority, Bolick said.
In the Highway Department, circumstances can change schedules, he said.
Bolick said elected officials writing letters about the projects they want done for their constituents is routine.
“Sen. Glover has always been a friend of the Highway Department and he’s never been afraid to ask for what he wants,” he said.
But does it do any good?
“It’s never going to hurt for a local elected official to continue to inquire about projects,” Bolick said.
TOP STORY >>District is seeking community input
By HEATHER HARTSELL
Leader staff writer
The Cabot School District is seeking suggestions from parents, students and community members as it prepares for an accreditation review in March.
The goal of accreditation is to evaluate, verify and improve a school’s quality, and Superintendent Dr. Tony Thurman feels input is an important part of the process.
A community-parent survey, assessabled on the district’s Web site (http://cabot.k12.ar.us/) until Dec. 14 or via a hard copy, was developed to provide feedback to measure the district’s progress, identify areas that need attention and strengthen the bond between the district and the community.
“District accreditation encompasses the entire perspective,” Thurman said Tuesday during the school board meeting.
“The team will visit with a sample of parents, teachers and administrators from the district. A survey in which everyone can participate allows the accreditation team to get the big picture in terms of where our patrons, parents, teachers and students believe we are in the district.”
Thurman was recently part of the accreditation review team for the Nettleton School District. June Elliott, the district’s director of federal programs, has served on two review teams in the past.
Having staff members serve on a review team provides the district with insight into exactly what the team will be attempting to gain from its March visit.
“The entire four-day process is very intensive and will require a tremendous amount of preparation by the district,” Thurman said. “This is a great opportunity to have an outside review team take an in-depth look at our district and provide commendations, suggestions and recommendations for improvement,” he added.
The visit will also provide recommendations to the district in terms of the overall organization and systematic approach to operating the district, something Thurman says is crucial to Cabot schools as the district moves from a relatively small district to one of the largest in the state.
“It’s a great opportunity with the changes for our district to get refocused on the next steps for our district,” Thurman said, adding, “It is rigorous and time-consuming, but very good for the district.”
The AdvancED accreditation standards serve as the foundation for the accreditation process. The seven standards – vision and purpose, governance and leadership, teaching and learning, documenting and using results, resources and support systems, stakeholder communications and relationships, and commitment to continuous improvement – are tired directly to the research on factors that impact student learning.
Accredited schools adhere to the standards and use them as a tool for ongoing self-assessment.
To receive a copy of the survey, contact June Elliott at 501-843-3363 or email her at june.elliott@cps.k12.ar.us.
Parents will also be notified of the survey via their students’ school. A note will be sent home with students in grades k-4 and a postcard will be mailed to parents of fifth- through 12-graders.
A sample of 50 students in grades 4-12 will also be surveyed to gather their responses.
In other business, assistant superintendent Jim Dalton told the school board the district’s 10-year master plan will be completed within the next one to two weeks.
But instead of focusing on 10 years down the road, Cabot is focusing on five years due to recent growth.
“It’s the only way to project with any kind of accuracy,” Dalton said.
The student population in Cabot schools is projected to be at 10,590 in five years (2011-2012), an increase of 1,343 students from the current enrollment of 9,247.
In no particular order or priority level, the main items of focus include: new elementary classrooms at Westside; installing heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems in the district’s K-6 activity buildings; new secondary classrooms; a new elementary school in the north zone; and a health, physical education and recreation complex at the high school attached to a new cafeteria/student center.
Dalton also updated the board on the progress of rebuilding Cabot Junior High North.
The bus drive, located at the rear of the campus, has been curbed and guttered and the gravel is down. The foundation is stacked and once it dries out, will be poured; pipes and conduit will also be down soon.
Certified and classified staff were approved pay increases. Certified personnel will see a base salary increase of $500, raising the starting teacher salary to $35,400.
All classified staff (custodians, food services staff, interpreters, maintenance staff, nurses, clerical/office staff, paraprofessionals and technology staff) will receive a pay
Leader staff writer
The Cabot School District is seeking suggestions from parents, students and community members as it prepares for an accreditation review in March.
The goal of accreditation is to evaluate, verify and improve a school’s quality, and Superintendent Dr. Tony Thurman feels input is an important part of the process.
A community-parent survey, assessabled on the district’s Web site (http://cabot.k12.ar.us/) until Dec. 14 or via a hard copy, was developed to provide feedback to measure the district’s progress, identify areas that need attention and strengthen the bond between the district and the community.
“District accreditation encompasses the entire perspective,” Thurman said Tuesday during the school board meeting.
“The team will visit with a sample of parents, teachers and administrators from the district. A survey in which everyone can participate allows the accreditation team to get the big picture in terms of where our patrons, parents, teachers and students believe we are in the district.”
Thurman was recently part of the accreditation review team for the Nettleton School District. June Elliott, the district’s director of federal programs, has served on two review teams in the past.
Having staff members serve on a review team provides the district with insight into exactly what the team will be attempting to gain from its March visit.
“The entire four-day process is very intensive and will require a tremendous amount of preparation by the district,” Thurman said. “This is a great opportunity to have an outside review team take an in-depth look at our district and provide commendations, suggestions and recommendations for improvement,” he added.
The visit will also provide recommendations to the district in terms of the overall organization and systematic approach to operating the district, something Thurman says is crucial to Cabot schools as the district moves from a relatively small district to one of the largest in the state.
“It’s a great opportunity with the changes for our district to get refocused on the next steps for our district,” Thurman said, adding, “It is rigorous and time-consuming, but very good for the district.”
The AdvancED accreditation standards serve as the foundation for the accreditation process. The seven standards – vision and purpose, governance and leadership, teaching and learning, documenting and using results, resources and support systems, stakeholder communications and relationships, and commitment to continuous improvement – are tired directly to the research on factors that impact student learning.
Accredited schools adhere to the standards and use them as a tool for ongoing self-assessment.
To receive a copy of the survey, contact June Elliott at 501-843-3363 or email her at june.elliott@cps.k12.ar.us.
Parents will also be notified of the survey via their students’ school. A note will be sent home with students in grades k-4 and a postcard will be mailed to parents of fifth- through 12-graders.
A sample of 50 students in grades 4-12 will also be surveyed to gather their responses.
In other business, assistant superintendent Jim Dalton told the school board the district’s 10-year master plan will be completed within the next one to two weeks.
But instead of focusing on 10 years down the road, Cabot is focusing on five years due to recent growth.
“It’s the only way to project with any kind of accuracy,” Dalton said.
The student population in Cabot schools is projected to be at 10,590 in five years (2011-2012), an increase of 1,343 students from the current enrollment of 9,247.
In no particular order or priority level, the main items of focus include: new elementary classrooms at Westside; installing heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems in the district’s K-6 activity buildings; new secondary classrooms; a new elementary school in the north zone; and a health, physical education and recreation complex at the high school attached to a new cafeteria/student center.
Dalton also updated the board on the progress of rebuilding Cabot Junior High North.
The bus drive, located at the rear of the campus, has been curbed and guttered and the gravel is down. The foundation is stacked and once it dries out, will be poured; pipes and conduit will also be down soon.
Certified and classified staff were approved pay increases. Certified personnel will see a base salary increase of $500, raising the starting teacher salary to $35,400.
All classified staff (custodians, food services staff, interpreters, maintenance staff, nurses, clerical/office staff, paraprofessionals and technology staff) will receive a pay
TOP STORY >>Strained funds could hinder local projects
By JOHN HOFHEIMER
Leader senior staff writer
The state Highway and Transportation Department is studying several projects important to area residents, but lack of money is among the obstacles, director Dan Flowers told the Jacksonville Chamber of Commerce at a reception Tuesday.
Statewide, the department has identified nearly $20 billion worth of needs over the next 10 years, but only about $4.5 billion worth of anticipated revenue. Tax revenues are flat, but highway construction costs have increased as much as 30 percent in one year, according to Flowers, in large part tied to increasing oil prices and competition for steel, concrete and asphalt with emerging countries like China and India.
NEEDS GREAT
“Our needs are great,” said Highway Commission chairman Jonathan Barnett, “to help this community and others with economic development, to reduce congestion and increase safety.
“We’ve had no increase on fuel taxes since 1999,” Barnett told the group.
“Building infrastructure takes time,” Barnett continued. “Give us the resources, we can’t do it alone.”
Flowers said he favored Gov. Mike Beebe’s plan to put a severance tax on natural gas taken from the Fayetteville Shale, a tax that could generate $100 million a year.
“One hundred million dollars annually is significant,” he said.
That would be $1 billion over 10 years.
NORTH BELT DECISION
Flowers said that toll roads were unlikely to pay for themselves, or for the North Belt Loop, but that new, regional fuel taxes could generate money to pay for many of central Arkansas’ needs, should residents decide to raise their own fuel taxes.
Except for fine-tuning a Sherwood interchange, the long-disputed route for the North Belt loop from Hwy. 440 through Sherwood and Camp Robinson to I-430 is pretty well settled now said Flowers. But money to pay for it has not been identified.
That final 13 miles are expected to cost between $270 million and $340 million, Flowers said.
“We have the final environmental impact statement and expect a record of decision by 2008 and can then start as soon as the money is available,” Flowers said.
“It will have to be done in stages.”
The Jacksonville chamber holds a reception for the state highway commissioners and officials annually to have a conversation about the hopes and needs of the community, according to Mayor Tommy Swaim.
JAMES STREET STUDY
A study to widen Hwy. 67/167 between the James Street overpass and Vandenberg Boulevard is completed, but neither the engineering nor a source of revenues for the job is in hand, Flowers said.
That project would also make the frontage roads one way between those two interchanges, widen the James Street overpass and create turnarounds at each end, turning the frontage roads into a one-way counterclockwise loop.
The Highway Department is moving forward in efforts to make Hwy. 107 four lanes all the way to the back gate at Little Rock Air Force Base, he said.
Beginning early next year, work will begin to four-lane Hwy. 107 from Bear Paw Drive to Brockington Road.
VANDENBERG EXITS
Having completed the major work for a northbound exit from Hwy. 67/167 onto T.P. White Drive north of Vandenberg, the department has begun studying, at the request of the chamber, a northbound entrance ramp from T.P. White Drive north of Vandenberg onto Hwy. 67/167.
Flowers said progress continues on the six-laning of Hwy. 67/167 from I-40 to Redmond Road, but that lack of money could prevent continuing the widening to Cabot.
Construction is underway to widen the northbound corridor, including a new, expensive bridge of Bayou Meto.
GRAHAM ROAD WIDENING
The widening of Graham Road from Oak Street to Loop Road, to be paid for with funds through Metroplan, is expected to cost about $6 million, he said.
The first right of way could be purchased in 2008 and some construction could begin in 2009.
The department expects work to start by 2009 to widen Hwy. 107 from Jacksonville Cato Road to Bayou Meto, Flowers said.
“The portion from General Samuels to the west entrance has not been programmed yet,” Flowers added.
WISH LIST
On the wish list presented by Swaim were:
Complete the North Belt Loop, with the section between Hwy. 67/167 and Hwy. 107 first.
Study of the need for an interchange at Coffelt Road, south of state Hwy. 5.
Widen Hwy. 67/167 from Redmond Road to Hwy. 5.
Four lane Hwy. 161 from Second Street to Rixey Road.
Straighten and widen West Main Street to four lanes from Redmond Road to Hwy. 107.
Leader senior staff writer
The state Highway and Transportation Department is studying several projects important to area residents, but lack of money is among the obstacles, director Dan Flowers told the Jacksonville Chamber of Commerce at a reception Tuesday.
Statewide, the department has identified nearly $20 billion worth of needs over the next 10 years, but only about $4.5 billion worth of anticipated revenue. Tax revenues are flat, but highway construction costs have increased as much as 30 percent in one year, according to Flowers, in large part tied to increasing oil prices and competition for steel, concrete and asphalt with emerging countries like China and India.
NEEDS GREAT
“Our needs are great,” said Highway Commission chairman Jonathan Barnett, “to help this community and others with economic development, to reduce congestion and increase safety.
“We’ve had no increase on fuel taxes since 1999,” Barnett told the group.
“Building infrastructure takes time,” Barnett continued. “Give us the resources, we can’t do it alone.”
Flowers said he favored Gov. Mike Beebe’s plan to put a severance tax on natural gas taken from the Fayetteville Shale, a tax that could generate $100 million a year.
“One hundred million dollars annually is significant,” he said.
That would be $1 billion over 10 years.
NORTH BELT DECISION
Flowers said that toll roads were unlikely to pay for themselves, or for the North Belt Loop, but that new, regional fuel taxes could generate money to pay for many of central Arkansas’ needs, should residents decide to raise their own fuel taxes.
Except for fine-tuning a Sherwood interchange, the long-disputed route for the North Belt loop from Hwy. 440 through Sherwood and Camp Robinson to I-430 is pretty well settled now said Flowers. But money to pay for it has not been identified.
That final 13 miles are expected to cost between $270 million and $340 million, Flowers said.
“We have the final environmental impact statement and expect a record of decision by 2008 and can then start as soon as the money is available,” Flowers said.
“It will have to be done in stages.”
The Jacksonville chamber holds a reception for the state highway commissioners and officials annually to have a conversation about the hopes and needs of the community, according to Mayor Tommy Swaim.
JAMES STREET STUDY
A study to widen Hwy. 67/167 between the James Street overpass and Vandenberg Boulevard is completed, but neither the engineering nor a source of revenues for the job is in hand, Flowers said.
That project would also make the frontage roads one way between those two interchanges, widen the James Street overpass and create turnarounds at each end, turning the frontage roads into a one-way counterclockwise loop.
The Highway Department is moving forward in efforts to make Hwy. 107 four lanes all the way to the back gate at Little Rock Air Force Base, he said.
Beginning early next year, work will begin to four-lane Hwy. 107 from Bear Paw Drive to Brockington Road.
VANDENBERG EXITS
Having completed the major work for a northbound exit from Hwy. 67/167 onto T.P. White Drive north of Vandenberg, the department has begun studying, at the request of the chamber, a northbound entrance ramp from T.P. White Drive north of Vandenberg onto Hwy. 67/167.
Flowers said progress continues on the six-laning of Hwy. 67/167 from I-40 to Redmond Road, but that lack of money could prevent continuing the widening to Cabot.
Construction is underway to widen the northbound corridor, including a new, expensive bridge of Bayou Meto.
GRAHAM ROAD WIDENING
The widening of Graham Road from Oak Street to Loop Road, to be paid for with funds through Metroplan, is expected to cost about $6 million, he said.
The first right of way could be purchased in 2008 and some construction could begin in 2009.
The department expects work to start by 2009 to widen Hwy. 107 from Jacksonville Cato Road to Bayou Meto, Flowers said.
“The portion from General Samuels to the west entrance has not been programmed yet,” Flowers added.
WISH LIST
On the wish list presented by Swaim were:
Complete the North Belt Loop, with the section between Hwy. 67/167 and Hwy. 107 first.
Study of the need for an interchange at Coffelt Road, south of state Hwy. 5.
Widen Hwy. 67/167 from Redmond Road to Hwy. 5.
Four lane Hwy. 161 from Second Street to Rixey Road.
Straighten and widen West Main Street to four lanes from Redmond Road to Hwy. 107.
TOP STORY >>Contractor at air base promising payments
By JOHN HOFHEIMER
Leader senior staff writer
Under the harsh glare of national and congressional scrutiny, American Eagle Communities LLC on Wednesday suddenly an-nounced that it would pay about $778,000 of the $2.4 million the company allegedly owes contractors and suppliers for its now-abandoned housing-privatization contract at Little Rock Air Force Base, according to Sen. Mark Pryor, D-Arkansas.
“I’ll believe it when I see the check,” said Jack Sullivan, an officer in JR Construction of Cabot, one of the contractors awaiting back pay.
Pryor and Sen. Saxby Chambliss, R-Georgia, had just completed a teleconference with the national press about the failings of Carabetta Enterprises Inc., the Meriden, Conn., developer that has defaulted on four Air Force housing-privatization contracts, when he met with local reporters at the base.
Contractors here have been trying to get paid by American Eagle or by the surety bond company since at least last January, and some have now filed suit in Federal District Court.
American Eagle, which hasn’t paid a nickel since early 2007, announced the decision to pay some debts just before a national press conference on the issue.
The Leader first broke this story in April, when reports surfaced that Carabetta Enterprises, which was managing partner of American Eagle Communities, Little Rock Family Housing, owed contractors perhaps hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Work on building 468 new housing units and remodeling 732 existing units at Little Rock stopped May 7 when the lenders pulled the plug on funding the project, already two years behind schedule.
Work has ceased at Magnolia Family Housing at Moody Air Force Base in Georgia, at Patrick Air Force Base in Florida and at Hanscom Air Force Base in Massachusetts.
Lenders, the Air Force and American Eagle are negotiating with two companies to take over scaled-down projects from Carabetta at all four bases.
One scenario calls for grouping all four projects, another for separating out the project at Moody Air Force Base, according to Staff Sgt. Kati Garcia.
Each contract called for the Carabettas and their partners and subsidiaries to demolish and build some homes, remodel others, manage the military housing and own the housing units for 50 years.
American Eagle has sold its interest in nearly 3,000 Puget Sound, Wash., homes to the Forest City Company of Cleveland. Forest is one of two developers currently negotiating to take over the four failed Air Force jobs, according to Brig. Gen. Rowayne Schatz.
The other is Pinnacle and Hughes.
A new contract to revitalize the project could be signed by mid January, according to the general.
At LRAFB, American Eagle launched the project with great fanfare and quickly completed a “town hall,” but three years into the project, the developers were already two years behind, Schatz said.
“We have a lot of questions about how a company with a history of bankruptcy, defaulting on government contracts and not paying subcontractors landed four Air Force base housing- privatization contracts, Pryor told assembled press on base against the desolate backdrop of vacant concrete slabs behind locked gates at the corner of Minnesota Circle and Texas Boulevard.
Pryor and Chambliss have called for an investigation to determine how a developer with a checkered past was awarded six military housing privatization contracts, how to get the jobs back on track and how to make sure this doesn’t happen again in the future.
“We’re waiting for (Carabetta) to perform and for the Air Force and the Department of Defense to push the contract through,” Pryor said. “We want to see it done.”
“The taxpayer is left holding the bag and one of the real problems is the number of local contractors and subcontractors not paid,” the senator added.
“We’re going to birddog this,” Pryor said.
“I’m concerned that at the end of the day, we won’t see the housing we expected and will get it slower,” the senator said.
“Gen. Schatz here at the base has been amazing,” said Pryor, “but he can’t make bricks without straw.”
Pryor said he and Chambliss would draft legislation to prohibit companies with bad track records from getting additional contracts.
A Cabot contractor, JR Construction, is owed $136,000, according to its lawyer, Davy Carter of Cabot.
“He’s a crook,” Carter said of developer Salvatore Carabetta. He was equally upset with Arch Insurance, holder of the surety bond, which he said had “drawn a white line” and refused to honor any of the claims made by contractors.
Carter said the developers or Arch owed Southeastern Stud, an out-of-state company, “probably a million dollars.”
Central Arkansas Plumbing of Cabot and Jason Ferguson are among the 21 or more subcontractors and suppliers owed on this job, Carter said.
“The hardships caused by American Eagle should never have happened. They cheated the government in the past, they’ve been bankrupt.”
“We’ve made a demand in the past and had to file a lawsuit,” Carter said. The case is in the court of Judge Jay Moody.
“Who signed off on this deal with a company that’s been bankrupt and defrauded the government,” Carter asked.
The Carabettas claim that the Air Force mislead them when discussing base housing occupancy rates for the four Air Force bases where the developer and its partner, Shaw Infrastructures, won privatization contracts.
Leader senior staff writer
Under the harsh glare of national and congressional scrutiny, American Eagle Communities LLC on Wednesday suddenly an-nounced that it would pay about $778,000 of the $2.4 million the company allegedly owes contractors and suppliers for its now-abandoned housing-privatization contract at Little Rock Air Force Base, according to Sen. Mark Pryor, D-Arkansas.
“I’ll believe it when I see the check,” said Jack Sullivan, an officer in JR Construction of Cabot, one of the contractors awaiting back pay.
Pryor and Sen. Saxby Chambliss, R-Georgia, had just completed a teleconference with the national press about the failings of Carabetta Enterprises Inc., the Meriden, Conn., developer that has defaulted on four Air Force housing-privatization contracts, when he met with local reporters at the base.
Contractors here have been trying to get paid by American Eagle or by the surety bond company since at least last January, and some have now filed suit in Federal District Court.
American Eagle, which hasn’t paid a nickel since early 2007, announced the decision to pay some debts just before a national press conference on the issue.
The Leader first broke this story in April, when reports surfaced that Carabetta Enterprises, which was managing partner of American Eagle Communities, Little Rock Family Housing, owed contractors perhaps hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Work on building 468 new housing units and remodeling 732 existing units at Little Rock stopped May 7 when the lenders pulled the plug on funding the project, already two years behind schedule.
Work has ceased at Magnolia Family Housing at Moody Air Force Base in Georgia, at Patrick Air Force Base in Florida and at Hanscom Air Force Base in Massachusetts.
Lenders, the Air Force and American Eagle are negotiating with two companies to take over scaled-down projects from Carabetta at all four bases.
One scenario calls for grouping all four projects, another for separating out the project at Moody Air Force Base, according to Staff Sgt. Kati Garcia.
Each contract called for the Carabettas and their partners and subsidiaries to demolish and build some homes, remodel others, manage the military housing and own the housing units for 50 years.
American Eagle has sold its interest in nearly 3,000 Puget Sound, Wash., homes to the Forest City Company of Cleveland. Forest is one of two developers currently negotiating to take over the four failed Air Force jobs, according to Brig. Gen. Rowayne Schatz.
The other is Pinnacle and Hughes.
A new contract to revitalize the project could be signed by mid January, according to the general.
At LRAFB, American Eagle launched the project with great fanfare and quickly completed a “town hall,” but three years into the project, the developers were already two years behind, Schatz said.
“We have a lot of questions about how a company with a history of bankruptcy, defaulting on government contracts and not paying subcontractors landed four Air Force base housing- privatization contracts, Pryor told assembled press on base against the desolate backdrop of vacant concrete slabs behind locked gates at the corner of Minnesota Circle and Texas Boulevard.
Pryor and Chambliss have called for an investigation to determine how a developer with a checkered past was awarded six military housing privatization contracts, how to get the jobs back on track and how to make sure this doesn’t happen again in the future.
“We’re waiting for (Carabetta) to perform and for the Air Force and the Department of Defense to push the contract through,” Pryor said. “We want to see it done.”
“The taxpayer is left holding the bag and one of the real problems is the number of local contractors and subcontractors not paid,” the senator added.
“We’re going to birddog this,” Pryor said.
“I’m concerned that at the end of the day, we won’t see the housing we expected and will get it slower,” the senator said.
“Gen. Schatz here at the base has been amazing,” said Pryor, “but he can’t make bricks without straw.”
Pryor said he and Chambliss would draft legislation to prohibit companies with bad track records from getting additional contracts.
A Cabot contractor, JR Construction, is owed $136,000, according to its lawyer, Davy Carter of Cabot.
“He’s a crook,” Carter said of developer Salvatore Carabetta. He was equally upset with Arch Insurance, holder of the surety bond, which he said had “drawn a white line” and refused to honor any of the claims made by contractors.
Carter said the developers or Arch owed Southeastern Stud, an out-of-state company, “probably a million dollars.”
Central Arkansas Plumbing of Cabot and Jason Ferguson are among the 21 or more subcontractors and suppliers owed on this job, Carter said.
“The hardships caused by American Eagle should never have happened. They cheated the government in the past, they’ve been bankrupt.”
“We’ve made a demand in the past and had to file a lawsuit,” Carter said. The case is in the court of Judge Jay Moody.
“Who signed off on this deal with a company that’s been bankrupt and defrauded the government,” Carter asked.
The Carabettas claim that the Air Force mislead them when discussing base housing occupancy rates for the four Air Force bases where the developer and its partner, Shaw Infrastructures, won privatization contracts.
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