By RAY BENTONLeader sports editor
The Cabot Panthers dominated the first half and took a 21-3 lead into the locker room against the No. 1 ranked team in the state, but a disastrous second half led to a 28-27 loss at North Little Rock High School on Friday.
In a half where anything that could go wrong did for Cabot, even North Little Rock’s mistakes turned into good fortune, and ultimately led to its victory.
When the Charging Wildcats scored the go-ahead touchdown and took a 23-21 lead with 4:54 remaining in the game, they fumbled the extra-point snap.
Holder and starting quarterback Trey Cox picked it up and ran backwards several yards before heaving the ball towards the end zone, where Wynton Ruth came down with it for a two-point conversion that made it a four-point lead..
Cabot’s Austin Morse then fumbled the ensuing kickoff and North Little Rock covered it at the 24-yard line. After a three plays, place kicker Savana Melton made her third field goal of the night, this one from 40 yards out to give the Wildcats a 28-21 lead with 2:40 remaining.
Cabot (6-4, 3-4) put together a 65-yard drive with the help of a pass interference penalty on third and 10 that gave the Panthers a first down at the 50. Quarterback Jarrod Barnes found Morse for 9-, and then 15-yard pass plays to the 26. He then dropped a perfectly placed pass in Colin Thames arms on a wheel route for a 26-yard touchdown with 1:16 to go.
The Panthers went for the win, but Morse was dropped for a 2-yard loss on a counter.
The Wildcats covered Cabot’s onside kick attempt and kneeled twice to seal the win.
Cabot coach Mike Malham was pleased with the effort his team gave, but lamented the onslaught of bad breaks in the last two quarters.
“Boy we had them on the ropes and then it seemed like everything just went wrong,” said Malham. “They fumbled that snap on the extra point and got two out of it, and that turned out to be the difference in the game. If they kick that thing they’re only up six. All we have to do is kick our extra point and get a stop on defense. But we competed. I’m proud of them. Defense played really well and everybody left it out there tonight. If we get a win next week we get to come back here and try it again.”
The Panther defense was tenacious in the first half. The vaunted North Little Rock offense that has averaged almost 50 points per game, did not manage a single first down in seven possessions.
North Little Rock coach Jamie Mitchell had no answer for why his offense was totally stifled in the first half.
“That’s a good question,” Mitchell said. “That was all Cabot. I’m not sure. I just know we couldn’t find any room anywhere. We were finally able to get a little something working in the second half and got some things going our way. But they made it tough.”
Cabot took the opening kickoff of the game and drove 77 yards in nine plays, marching methodically down the field. Barnes picked up 21 yards from the 34 to the 45. Adam Flores then broke a pair of tackles in the backfield to turn it into an 11-yard gain. Two plays later, Morse scampered around the left side for 22 yards and the score with 9:27 left in the first quarter.
That’s how it stayed until a fumbled snap resulted in North Little Rock taking possession at the Cabot 19. The defense held, and Melton nailed a 36-yard field goal to make it 7-3 with 5:58 to go in the first half.
The Wildcats then tried an onside kick, but Eric Larsen snatched it out of the air and returned it 15 yards to the NLR 40. Cabot went backwards 8 yards on the next two plays, but Barnes kept on the option right and ran 48 yards for the score. Mason Martin’s extra point made it 14-3 with 4:26 left in the half.
NLR (10-0, 7-0) then went three and out, including two incomplete passes and only ran 62 seconds off the clock. Cabot took over on its 37 after a punt and had all three timeouts remaining.
Almost all the yards came on two plays. Flores pulled down a 22-yard reception with a defender all over him to set up first down at the 38. Barnes then ran 23 yards to the 15.
Flores got another hard-fought and crucial 6 yards on third and 5 to set up first and goal at the 4. It took three more plays and two timeouts from there, but Barnes sneaked it in up the middle on fourth and goal at the 1 with one second left in the half.
The second half wasn’t as much all NLR as it was Cabot misfortune. The Wildcats’ first big break was when a deflected pass turned flew right into hands of Erion Cooney, who caught it in stride and raced to the Cabot 8-yard line.
The rest of the half included three more turnovers, including two safeties on a blocked punt and a high punt snap.
Cabot finished with 283 yards of offense while NLR had 209. The Panthers out gained NLR 224 to 11 in the first half. NLR out gained Cabot 198 to 59 in the second half.
The Panthers, the five seed from the 7A-Central, will travel to 7A-West four seed Bentonville West on Thursday for its first-round playoff game. The game was moved to Thursday because West shares a field with Bentonville High, who got the benefit of playing on the regularly-scheduled Friday night by winning a co-conference championship and earning the higher three seed.
The winner of that game goes to North Little Rock the following Friday.
Saturday, November 05, 2016
SPORTS STORY >> Bison suffer heartbreak to McCrory
By ANN THARP
Special to The Leader
The Carlisle Bison were unable to defeat the McCrory Jaguars Thursday night at Fred C. Hardke Field to secure the number two seed in the upcoming 2A playoffs, losing 16-14 to draw the number three seed instead. The Bison (6-4,5-3) led at the half, but McCrory scored the only touchdown and two-point conversion of the second half for the victory. Palestine-Wheatley’s loss to Hazen dropped them to the four seed. Carlisle will host Quitman in the first playoff round Friday night.
Carlisle took a 14-8 lead late in the second quarter, and that’s how the score remained for most of the second half. McCrory started its game-winning drive on its own 15-yard line with 5:30 left on the game clock. Yards were hard-fought throughout the game for both teams, but the Jags were able to move the chains four times before busting their biggest play of the game.
Running back Tyler Hall escaped for a 37-yard touchdown run to tie the game at 14-14. The two-point conversion was good, and McCrory took a 16-14 lead with only 1:56 left in the contest.
The Bison started their final drive on their own 31-yard line. On fourth and fourteen, a facemask penalty resulted in a first down. Golleher ran 18 yards for another first down, but the Bison were unable to pick up another and turned the ball over on downs with three seconds remaining.
“We didn’t get as lucky that time,” said Carlisle coach Mark Uhiren. “McCrory brought it out the second half, and they earned it, so they got it. Senior night, you don’t ever want to lose it, but we were really wanting to win that game, just for winning the game. That’s a good one to go out on though. It was a good, hard-fought game.”
McCrory had the game’s first possession and moved quickly down the field to score. The Jags picked up three consecutive first downs before quarterback Ken Dewitt took the ball in from ten yards out on a third and one. The two-point conversion was good by Tyler Hall for the early 8-0 lead with 9:37 remaining in the opening quarter.
The Bison responded with a more methodical march down the field on their own 73-yard, 15-play scoring drive. Quarterback Carson Cunningham completed a pass to Ty Golleher for 20 yards early in the drive, and it was Golleher who scored on an 11-yard touchdown run. The two-point conversion was no good, and the score was 8-6 with 2:20 to go in the quarter.
The Bison defense forced two punts, and the offense turned the ball over on downs before either team was able to score again. The second McCrory punt pinned Carlisle back on its own 11-yard line. Devon Kendrick carried the ball four yards to the 15-yard line, and on the next play, Golleher broke free and out-ran everyone for an 85-yard touchdown scamper. Golleher was also good for the two-point conversion to give the Bison the 14-8 lead with 2:57 remaining until intermission.
Carlisle was forced to punt on the first possession of the second half. A sack of Dewitt by Kendrick caused a Jaguar fumble. McCrory recovered, but for a big loss. On the ensuing punt, an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty gave the Bison good field position on their own 45-yard line. Carlisle moved the ball very close to a first down, but the measurement was just short, and the ball went over on downs.
Carlisle ended the night with 321 yards of offense, while the Bison defense held McCrory to just 206 total yards. Golleher led the Bison with 31 carries for 188 yards, two touchdowns, and one two-point conversion. Kendrick rushed ten times for 96 yards.
Special to The Leader
The Carlisle Bison were unable to defeat the McCrory Jaguars Thursday night at Fred C. Hardke Field to secure the number two seed in the upcoming 2A playoffs, losing 16-14 to draw the number three seed instead. The Bison (6-4,5-3) led at the half, but McCrory scored the only touchdown and two-point conversion of the second half for the victory. Palestine-Wheatley’s loss to Hazen dropped them to the four seed. Carlisle will host Quitman in the first playoff round Friday night.
Carlisle took a 14-8 lead late in the second quarter, and that’s how the score remained for most of the second half. McCrory started its game-winning drive on its own 15-yard line with 5:30 left on the game clock. Yards were hard-fought throughout the game for both teams, but the Jags were able to move the chains four times before busting their biggest play of the game.
Running back Tyler Hall escaped for a 37-yard touchdown run to tie the game at 14-14. The two-point conversion was good, and McCrory took a 16-14 lead with only 1:56 left in the contest.
The Bison started their final drive on their own 31-yard line. On fourth and fourteen, a facemask penalty resulted in a first down. Golleher ran 18 yards for another first down, but the Bison were unable to pick up another and turned the ball over on downs with three seconds remaining.
“We didn’t get as lucky that time,” said Carlisle coach Mark Uhiren. “McCrory brought it out the second half, and they earned it, so they got it. Senior night, you don’t ever want to lose it, but we were really wanting to win that game, just for winning the game. That’s a good one to go out on though. It was a good, hard-fought game.”
McCrory had the game’s first possession and moved quickly down the field to score. The Jags picked up three consecutive first downs before quarterback Ken Dewitt took the ball in from ten yards out on a third and one. The two-point conversion was good by Tyler Hall for the early 8-0 lead with 9:37 remaining in the opening quarter.
The Bison responded with a more methodical march down the field on their own 73-yard, 15-play scoring drive. Quarterback Carson Cunningham completed a pass to Ty Golleher for 20 yards early in the drive, and it was Golleher who scored on an 11-yard touchdown run. The two-point conversion was no good, and the score was 8-6 with 2:20 to go in the quarter.
The Bison defense forced two punts, and the offense turned the ball over on downs before either team was able to score again. The second McCrory punt pinned Carlisle back on its own 11-yard line. Devon Kendrick carried the ball four yards to the 15-yard line, and on the next play, Golleher broke free and out-ran everyone for an 85-yard touchdown scamper. Golleher was also good for the two-point conversion to give the Bison the 14-8 lead with 2:57 remaining until intermission.
Carlisle was forced to punt on the first possession of the second half. A sack of Dewitt by Kendrick caused a Jaguar fumble. McCrory recovered, but for a big loss. On the ensuing punt, an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty gave the Bison good field position on their own 45-yard line. Carlisle moved the ball very close to a first down, but the measurement was just short, and the ball went over on downs.
Carlisle ended the night with 321 yards of offense, while the Bison defense held McCrory to just 206 total yards. Golleher led the Bison with 31 carries for 188 yards, two touchdowns, and one two-point conversion. Kendrick rushed ten times for 96 yards.
SPORTS STORY >> Bears beat Badgers in third
By RAY BENTON
Leader sports editor
or a little more than a half, but the No. 3 ranked Sylvan Hills Bears finally pulled away from the Beebe Badgers for a 42-14 win at Bro Erwin Stadium on Thursday.
Neither team had much to play for, and Sylvan Hills coach Jim Withrow’s concerns about a lack of focus seemed to bear out early in the game.
“We actually had a pretty good week of practice, but we were just so lethargic coming in here tonight,” said Withrow, who vented his frustration at the team during pregame warm-ups. “You saw it. Even in pregame our heads just weren’t there. Beebe has some talent and they’ve whipped us the last two years in a row. I was worried about it. But we finally woke up, and the defense played great.”
Beebe was able to exploit Sylvan Hills’ defensive strategy in the very early going. After the Badger defense stopped the Bears on downs, Beebe took over on its own 45-yard line. Sylvan Hills stacked 11 in the box to try and stuff Beebe’s Dead-T, run-oriented offense, but on the fourth play, running back Connor Bieker popped through the line of scrimmage and ran 39 yards up the middle for a touchdown. The extra point made it 7-0 with 7:17 left in the first quarter.
Sylvan Hills failed to score in the first quarter for the first time this year, but it scored on six of its next seven possessions the rest of the game. The only time it had the ball and didn’t score was when it ran two plays and tried a 49-yard field goal before time expired in the first half.
On its first possession of the second quarter, the Bears went 70 yards in eight plays, facing just one third down. The key play of the drive was a 27-yard hookup from quarterback Jordan Washington to Jamar Lane that gave the Bears first down at the Badger 14. Washington carried 4 yards from there, and Andre Collins got three-straight carries, the last one for 3 yards and the score. The PAT tied the game with 10:13 to go in the half.
Beebe was stopped on downs on its next possession and the Bears started at their own 46. This time it was yards in chunks. Deon Youngblood got 8 yards on the first play. Daelyn Fairrow had a 7-yard run and a 7-yard reception. Jamar Porter had runs of 6 and 8 yards and Youngblood finished the drive with a 16-yard scamper around the right side for the score with 5:47 left in the half.
That’s how the half ended after Beebe turned it over on downs again and Tito Mendoza was short on the Bears’ long field-goal attempt.
Less than a minute into the second half, the game was tied. Beebe quarterback Mason Walker was hurt on the first play of the half on a keeper for a 2-yard loss. Backup quarterback C.J. Cauldwell came in and the Bears stacked the box again. Again it led to a big play.
Cauldwell faked the handoff as halfback Taylor Boyce slipped by the entire Sylvan Hills defense and was running all alone down the middle of the field for a 72-yard touchdown reception that tied the game with 11:19 to go in the third quarter.
It was about the last good thing to happen to Beebe in the game.
Sylvan Hills answered with a nine-play, 55-yard scoring drive after covering an onside kick attempt.
The Bears kept the drive going when Washington scrambled for 6 yards on fourth and 4 to the Badger 18. Two plays later, Washington kept on the zone read for 10 yards to give the Bears back the lead with 7:28 left in the third.
The Sylvan Hills defense stiffened up and forced a three-and-out by Beebe. This time the Bears’ offense took over on its own 39, and needed just a little more than two minutes to go that distance in seven plays.
They faced fourth and 3 after three plays, but Beebe jumped off sides to give them a first down. On the very next play, tailback Jamar Porter broke loose for a 30-yard gain up the middle to the 18-yard line. Three plays later on first and goal, Washington hit Ty Compton with a 7-yard touchdown pass and a 28-14 lead with 3:12 left in the third.
Beebe had a nice drive going on the ensuing possession, picking up 22 yards in four plays, but the fifth play was a fumble that gave Sylvan Hills possession at the Beebe 37.
On the very next play, Washington found Lane again, this time for 37 yards and another touchdown. The PAT capped the 21-point blitz with 14 seconds to go in the third quarter.
After another turnover on downs by Beebe, Sylvan Hills went 70 yards in eight plays to set the final margin.
The Bears started behind the chains after a 15-yard penalty on first down brought back a 55-yard touchdown pass from Washington to Youngblood. They got 19 of it back in three plays, and Collins picked up 3 yards on fourth and 1 to keep the drive alive.
After a 2-yard loss on first down, Washington and Lane hooked up again, this time for 43 yards for first and goal at the 2. After another 2-yard loss, Washington kept for the score and the PAT made it 42-14 with 5:46 remaining.
Beebe coach John Shannon knew his team was a big underdog coming into the contest, and was able to take some positives out of the game for his young team that finishes the year with a 4-6 record.
“We’re young but the kids played hard,” said Shannon. “It was a tie ballgame in the third quarter and things just got away from us. Sylvan Hills is extremely talented and that defense is 10 times better than any other one I’ve ever seen them have. That makes it tough, but I was proud of the kids for continuing to fight. I think we have some really good young talent. We have to have a really good offseason, get them a little bigger and a little stronger, and I think this bunch has a chance to be pretty successful.”
Washington started the game completing just two of his first eight pass attempts, but completed his last seven straight to finish 9 of 15 for 140 yards and two touchdowns through the air. He also ran 17 times for 104 yards and a score.
Lane caught four passes for 11 yards and one touchdown.
Sylvan Hills (9-1, 6-1) will carry the two seed from the 5A-Central into next Friday’s home playoff game at Blackwood Field in Sherwood.
Leader sports editor
or a little more than a half, but the No. 3 ranked Sylvan Hills Bears finally pulled away from the Beebe Badgers for a 42-14 win at Bro Erwin Stadium on Thursday.
Neither team had much to play for, and Sylvan Hills coach Jim Withrow’s concerns about a lack of focus seemed to bear out early in the game.
“We actually had a pretty good week of practice, but we were just so lethargic coming in here tonight,” said Withrow, who vented his frustration at the team during pregame warm-ups. “You saw it. Even in pregame our heads just weren’t there. Beebe has some talent and they’ve whipped us the last two years in a row. I was worried about it. But we finally woke up, and the defense played great.”
Beebe was able to exploit Sylvan Hills’ defensive strategy in the very early going. After the Badger defense stopped the Bears on downs, Beebe took over on its own 45-yard line. Sylvan Hills stacked 11 in the box to try and stuff Beebe’s Dead-T, run-oriented offense, but on the fourth play, running back Connor Bieker popped through the line of scrimmage and ran 39 yards up the middle for a touchdown. The extra point made it 7-0 with 7:17 left in the first quarter.
Sylvan Hills failed to score in the first quarter for the first time this year, but it scored on six of its next seven possessions the rest of the game. The only time it had the ball and didn’t score was when it ran two plays and tried a 49-yard field goal before time expired in the first half.
On its first possession of the second quarter, the Bears went 70 yards in eight plays, facing just one third down. The key play of the drive was a 27-yard hookup from quarterback Jordan Washington to Jamar Lane that gave the Bears first down at the Badger 14. Washington carried 4 yards from there, and Andre Collins got three-straight carries, the last one for 3 yards and the score. The PAT tied the game with 10:13 to go in the half.
Beebe was stopped on downs on its next possession and the Bears started at their own 46. This time it was yards in chunks. Deon Youngblood got 8 yards on the first play. Daelyn Fairrow had a 7-yard run and a 7-yard reception. Jamar Porter had runs of 6 and 8 yards and Youngblood finished the drive with a 16-yard scamper around the right side for the score with 5:47 left in the half.
That’s how the half ended after Beebe turned it over on downs again and Tito Mendoza was short on the Bears’ long field-goal attempt.
Less than a minute into the second half, the game was tied. Beebe quarterback Mason Walker was hurt on the first play of the half on a keeper for a 2-yard loss. Backup quarterback C.J. Cauldwell came in and the Bears stacked the box again. Again it led to a big play.
Cauldwell faked the handoff as halfback Taylor Boyce slipped by the entire Sylvan Hills defense and was running all alone down the middle of the field for a 72-yard touchdown reception that tied the game with 11:19 to go in the third quarter.
It was about the last good thing to happen to Beebe in the game.
Sylvan Hills answered with a nine-play, 55-yard scoring drive after covering an onside kick attempt.
The Bears kept the drive going when Washington scrambled for 6 yards on fourth and 4 to the Badger 18. Two plays later, Washington kept on the zone read for 10 yards to give the Bears back the lead with 7:28 left in the third.
The Sylvan Hills defense stiffened up and forced a three-and-out by Beebe. This time the Bears’ offense took over on its own 39, and needed just a little more than two minutes to go that distance in seven plays.
They faced fourth and 3 after three plays, but Beebe jumped off sides to give them a first down. On the very next play, tailback Jamar Porter broke loose for a 30-yard gain up the middle to the 18-yard line. Three plays later on first and goal, Washington hit Ty Compton with a 7-yard touchdown pass and a 28-14 lead with 3:12 left in the third.
Beebe had a nice drive going on the ensuing possession, picking up 22 yards in four plays, but the fifth play was a fumble that gave Sylvan Hills possession at the Beebe 37.
On the very next play, Washington found Lane again, this time for 37 yards and another touchdown. The PAT capped the 21-point blitz with 14 seconds to go in the third quarter.
After another turnover on downs by Beebe, Sylvan Hills went 70 yards in eight plays to set the final margin.
The Bears started behind the chains after a 15-yard penalty on first down brought back a 55-yard touchdown pass from Washington to Youngblood. They got 19 of it back in three plays, and Collins picked up 3 yards on fourth and 1 to keep the drive alive.
After a 2-yard loss on first down, Washington and Lane hooked up again, this time for 43 yards for first and goal at the 2. After another 2-yard loss, Washington kept for the score and the PAT made it 42-14 with 5:46 remaining.
Beebe coach John Shannon knew his team was a big underdog coming into the contest, and was able to take some positives out of the game for his young team that finishes the year with a 4-6 record.
“We’re young but the kids played hard,” said Shannon. “It was a tie ballgame in the third quarter and things just got away from us. Sylvan Hills is extremely talented and that defense is 10 times better than any other one I’ve ever seen them have. That makes it tough, but I was proud of the kids for continuing to fight. I think we have some really good young talent. We have to have a really good offseason, get them a little bigger and a little stronger, and I think this bunch has a chance to be pretty successful.”
Washington started the game completing just two of his first eight pass attempts, but completed his last seven straight to finish 9 of 15 for 140 yards and two touchdowns through the air. He also ran 17 times for 104 yards and a score.
Lane caught four passes for 11 yards and one touchdown.
Sylvan Hills (9-1, 6-1) will carry the two seed from the 5A-Central into next Friday’s home playoff game at Blackwood Field in Sherwood.
Friday, November 04, 2016
EDITORIAL >> North Metro still unstable
Distortion, lies, conspiracy, an ax to grind and putting patients’ lives in danger – all accusations made by Dr. Tracey Phillips, North Metro Medical Center’s chief medical officer, in a text to our reporter at 1 a.m. Thursday after this newspaper ran an article (“Hospital sued by doctor,” Nov. 2) about a recent lawsuit against the hospital.
Phillips is one of four defendants in the lawsuit filed by North Metro’s former Chief of Staff Dr. Marvin Ashford, a cardiologist who now works for St. Vincent’s Arkansas Heart Hospital in North Little Rock. The lawsuit claims North Metro didn’t follow its own written procedures in dealing with dismissals and suspensions of medical staff.
The lawsuit has nothing to do with patient care at the hospital, but highlights North Metro’s continuing turmoil with top administrators.
In the tired and emotional late-night text to Leader staff writer Rick Kron, Phillips’ said Kron had “not checked your sources and printed just plain bull*****.” He also threatened to sue our reporter.
The information in the article came from Dr. Ashford’s publicly available 13-page complaint filed with the lawsuit and was attributed to him. Is it possible that Ashford has a wrong or different take on the situation than Phillips, certainly?
Phillips and the other defendants — Dr. Renee Montgomery, Allegiance Health Management and Allegiance Hospital of North Little Rock, which is the name of the company operating North Metro — have 30 days from notice of the suit to respond to Ashford’s allegations.
Once those answers have been filed with the court, they will be publicly available and The Leader will publish an article rerpoting what the defendants have to say.
Will Dr. Ashford then fire off a double-screen text screaming that it’s all lies and he should sue the reporter? Unlikely.
Phillips apparently is upset because statements about Ashford being a “rogue physician” by the state medical board were not in the article. That statement was not in Ashford’s filings, but could be part of Phillips’ answer to the complaint, and then will be printed by this newspaper.
But what was also not in Ashford’s complaint was the allegations against Phillips that brought about the medical board hearing to begin with.
That information was not reprinted in Kron’s article about the lawsuit because they are not germane to Ashford’s case about bylaws not being followed.
But in order to explain how one member of the state medical board criticized Ashford’s letter recommending Phillips be non-renewed, this newspaper, in fairness, would have to revisit previous allegations against Phillips. This paper, because it doesn’t have an axe to grind and is not part of a conspiracy against the hospital (as Phillips claims) chose not to remind readers of those claims when the article went to press.
Our articles about the hospital over the past three years, which Phillips deems detrimental, have been mostly about the management and administration problems at the hospital, not the quality of patient care by its staff.
Dr. Phillips stated in his text that our reporter was sitting in the state medical board’s hearing where concerns about him were discussed and dismissed, but Ashford’s suit is not about Phillips, it is about procedures — procedures that someone at or connected with the hospital may have ignored.
Let’s ask the last three North Metro CEOs — Cindy Stafford, state Rep. Joe Farrer (R-Ark.) and Mike Randle — if administrative procedures have been properly followed in the past.
Farrer, afraid for patients’ safety, resigned last year after Allegiance executives overruled his firing of Phillips, who was accused of having alcohol on the job and other misconduct.
In Phillips’ late-night text, he did not mention that Randle, North Metro’s latest CEO, was recently let go, raising questions about who is in charge of the hospital now, and by extension, its long-term viability.
Phillips and the others should be less concerned about this procedural lawsuit and more about the money the hospital owes: More than $500,000 in taxes to the state, millions more to the IRS, and yet has money to run TV commercials boasting the high-quality of care it provides patients.
North Metro’s poor financial state, especially the back taxes it owes, will affect patient care in the long run, not newspaper articles.
Dr. Phillips ended his text by stating, “Congratulations you’ve done it again. Put people’s lives in danger!”
To the contrary, it is North Metro’s unstable administrative leadership and shadowy owners who appear to be driving the hospital to the brink.
The community deserves a first-rate hospital.
Phillips is one of four defendants in the lawsuit filed by North Metro’s former Chief of Staff Dr. Marvin Ashford, a cardiologist who now works for St. Vincent’s Arkansas Heart Hospital in North Little Rock. The lawsuit claims North Metro didn’t follow its own written procedures in dealing with dismissals and suspensions of medical staff.
The lawsuit has nothing to do with patient care at the hospital, but highlights North Metro’s continuing turmoil with top administrators.
In the tired and emotional late-night text to Leader staff writer Rick Kron, Phillips’ said Kron had “not checked your sources and printed just plain bull*****.” He also threatened to sue our reporter.
The information in the article came from Dr. Ashford’s publicly available 13-page complaint filed with the lawsuit and was attributed to him. Is it possible that Ashford has a wrong or different take on the situation than Phillips, certainly?
Phillips and the other defendants — Dr. Renee Montgomery, Allegiance Health Management and Allegiance Hospital of North Little Rock, which is the name of the company operating North Metro — have 30 days from notice of the suit to respond to Ashford’s allegations.
Once those answers have been filed with the court, they will be publicly available and The Leader will publish an article rerpoting what the defendants have to say.
Will Dr. Ashford then fire off a double-screen text screaming that it’s all lies and he should sue the reporter? Unlikely.
Phillips apparently is upset because statements about Ashford being a “rogue physician” by the state medical board were not in the article. That statement was not in Ashford’s filings, but could be part of Phillips’ answer to the complaint, and then will be printed by this newspaper.
But what was also not in Ashford’s complaint was the allegations against Phillips that brought about the medical board hearing to begin with.
That information was not reprinted in Kron’s article about the lawsuit because they are not germane to Ashford’s case about bylaws not being followed.
But in order to explain how one member of the state medical board criticized Ashford’s letter recommending Phillips be non-renewed, this newspaper, in fairness, would have to revisit previous allegations against Phillips. This paper, because it doesn’t have an axe to grind and is not part of a conspiracy against the hospital (as Phillips claims) chose not to remind readers of those claims when the article went to press.
Our articles about the hospital over the past three years, which Phillips deems detrimental, have been mostly about the management and administration problems at the hospital, not the quality of patient care by its staff.
Dr. Phillips stated in his text that our reporter was sitting in the state medical board’s hearing where concerns about him were discussed and dismissed, but Ashford’s suit is not about Phillips, it is about procedures — procedures that someone at or connected with the hospital may have ignored.
Let’s ask the last three North Metro CEOs — Cindy Stafford, state Rep. Joe Farrer (R-Ark.) and Mike Randle — if administrative procedures have been properly followed in the past.
Farrer, afraid for patients’ safety, resigned last year after Allegiance executives overruled his firing of Phillips, who was accused of having alcohol on the job and other misconduct.
In Phillips’ late-night text, he did not mention that Randle, North Metro’s latest CEO, was recently let go, raising questions about who is in charge of the hospital now, and by extension, its long-term viability.
Phillips and the others should be less concerned about this procedural lawsuit and more about the money the hospital owes: More than $500,000 in taxes to the state, millions more to the IRS, and yet has money to run TV commercials boasting the high-quality of care it provides patients.
North Metro’s poor financial state, especially the back taxes it owes, will affect patient care in the long run, not newspaper articles.
Dr. Phillips ended his text by stating, “Congratulations you’ve done it again. Put people’s lives in danger!”
To the contrary, it is North Metro’s unstable administrative leadership and shadowy owners who appear to be driving the hospital to the brink.
The community deserves a first-rate hospital.
TOP STORY >> Library’s local history fair
By JEFFREY SMITH
Leader staff writer
The Cabot Public Library held a free local history fair last Saturday. It was its second history fair this year.
“I wished this happened 40 years ago. There would have been more people alive to fill in the blanks,” Gerald Spence said.
Civil War re-enactors First Michigan Battery G brought a cannon and set up an encampment in the library courtyard.
Local historians Rusty Eisenhower and R.D. Keever brought a display of Civil War bullets and relics they have recovered at military camps near Camp Nelson Confederate Cemetery in Cabot.
Eisenhower and Keever continue their work to preserve the once-forgotten Old Austin Pioneer Cemetery. The oldest engraved headstone dates to 1831. This month they uncovered four additional markers and two footstone markers.
Archaeologist Robert Scott with the University of Arkansas Archaeological Survey had pottery shards dating back to thousands of years ago.
The Cabot Public School’s Museum of American History displayed a soldier’s uniform from the First World War. The museum is seeking artifacts, photos and information from WWI to keep soldiers from being forgotten.
Representatives of the Major Jacob Gray Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution and the Genealogy and Research Center at the Lonoke County Museum explained to people how to research their ancestry.
Ken McCleod of Cabot is a volunteer with Arkansas Inland Maritime Museum in North Little Rock. McCleod gave a lecture on the attack on Pearl Harbor and about how to construct a diorama. It has a 10-by-12 feet model on the Pearl Harbor attack.
“It was informative. I enjoyed all the presentation,” McCleod said.
Cabot Public Library genealogist and reference librarian Leisa Horness said 125 people attended the history fair. “People seemed to enjoy the fair. The level of interest was good. The Civil War re-enactors made apple crisp at the encampment. I was pleased to learn of Pearl Harbor and the Old Austin cemetery,” Horness said.
Leader staff writer
The Cabot Public Library held a free local history fair last Saturday. It was its second history fair this year.
“I wished this happened 40 years ago. There would have been more people alive to fill in the blanks,” Gerald Spence said.
Civil War re-enactors First Michigan Battery G brought a cannon and set up an encampment in the library courtyard.
Local historians Rusty Eisenhower and R.D. Keever brought a display of Civil War bullets and relics they have recovered at military camps near Camp Nelson Confederate Cemetery in Cabot.
Eisenhower and Keever continue their work to preserve the once-forgotten Old Austin Pioneer Cemetery. The oldest engraved headstone dates to 1831. This month they uncovered four additional markers and two footstone markers.
Archaeologist Robert Scott with the University of Arkansas Archaeological Survey had pottery shards dating back to thousands of years ago.
The Cabot Public School’s Museum of American History displayed a soldier’s uniform from the First World War. The museum is seeking artifacts, photos and information from WWI to keep soldiers from being forgotten.
Representatives of the Major Jacob Gray Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution and the Genealogy and Research Center at the Lonoke County Museum explained to people how to research their ancestry.
Ken McCleod of Cabot is a volunteer with Arkansas Inland Maritime Museum in North Little Rock. McCleod gave a lecture on the attack on Pearl Harbor and about how to construct a diorama. It has a 10-by-12 feet model on the Pearl Harbor attack.
“It was informative. I enjoyed all the presentation,” McCleod said.
Cabot Public Library genealogist and reference librarian Leisa Horness said 125 people attended the history fair. “People seemed to enjoy the fair. The level of interest was good. The Civil War re-enactors made apple crisp at the encampment. I was pleased to learn of Pearl Harbor and the Old Austin cemetery,” Horness said.
TOP STORY >> WWI quilt in Cabot
Beginning Veterans Day on Friday, the Museum of American History in Cabot will display one of its most unique and rare artifacts — a handmade quilt made by local women in an effort to support America’s war effort almost 100 years ago.
The quilt, which measures approximately 8 feet by 8 feet, has the names of more than 50 local World War I soldiers embroidered on it. During the war, raffle tickets were sold to raise money for the war. The winner of the raffle, Pledger Monk, won the quilt. Over the years, the quilt was handed down in the family.
Mrs. Pat Marshall, a longtime resident of Cabot, whose mother, Mary Monk, was instrumental in making the quilt, cared for the quilt for many years. Her father’s name, T.B. Monk, is one of the many names on the quilt.
At one time the quilt was in the possession of the Cabot Library and then the Lonoke County Museum. When Mike Polston, director of the Museum of American History, learned of the existence of the quilt sought to return it to Cabot.
The staff of the Lonoke County Museum was happy to see the quilt returned to the city, and Mrs. Marshall donated it to the Museum of American History.
The quilt will be on display until the end of the year. The museum, which is free and open to the public, is at 114 S. First St. and is open from 10 a.m. till 2 p.m. Friday and Saturday.
The quilt, which measures approximately 8 feet by 8 feet, has the names of more than 50 local World War I soldiers embroidered on it. During the war, raffle tickets were sold to raise money for the war. The winner of the raffle, Pledger Monk, won the quilt. Over the years, the quilt was handed down in the family.
Mrs. Pat Marshall, a longtime resident of Cabot, whose mother, Mary Monk, was instrumental in making the quilt, cared for the quilt for many years. Her father’s name, T.B. Monk, is one of the many names on the quilt.
At one time the quilt was in the possession of the Cabot Library and then the Lonoke County Museum. When Mike Polston, director of the Museum of American History, learned of the existence of the quilt sought to return it to Cabot.
The staff of the Lonoke County Museum was happy to see the quilt returned to the city, and Mrs. Marshall donated it to the Museum of American History.
The quilt will be on display until the end of the year. The museum, which is free and open to the public, is at 114 S. First St. and is open from 10 a.m. till 2 p.m. Friday and Saturday.
TOP STORY >> Early voting continues today in Cabot, Lonoke, Little Rock and Searcy
Election Day is Tuesday. Polls will be open from 7:30 a.m. until 7:30 p.m. Meanwhile, early voting continues through today in Jacksonville, Sherwood, Cabot, Lonoke, Little Rock and Searcy, and on Monday in Cabot, Lonoke, Little Rock and Searcy.
The presidential race between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump will top off the ballot and be followed by several state and local races and four ballot measures, although three more will still appear after being disqualified by the state Supreme Court but not in time to be removed from the ballot.
The Leader will report all the results on Wednesday.
Sen. John Boozman, a Republican, is up for re-election against Democrat Conner Eldridge, a Lonoke native and a former U.S. attorney, and Libertarian Frank Gilbert.
In the Second District, Rep. French Hill (R-Little Rock) has a Democratic challenger, Diane Curry, as well as a libertarian opponent, Chris Hayes.
State Sen. Jane English (R-North Little Rock) and Democrat Joe Woodson, a North Little Rock attorney, are facing off in Dist. 34, which includes North Little Rock, Sherwood and Jacksonville.
There are three competitive state House races in the area: Dist. 42 Rep. Bob Johnson (D-Jacksonville) is being challenged by Patrick Thomas, and Rep. Camille Bennett (D-Lonoke) is up against Lonoke County Justice of the Peace Roger Lynch.
In Dist. 38, Democrat Victoria Leigh and Republican Carlton Wing, both of North Little Rock, are vying for the seat vacated by Rep. Donnie Copeland, who lost to English in the Republican Senate primary in March. District 38 includes North Little Rock and about half of Sherwood.
Also in Sherwood, voters will decide two Pulaski County Special School Board races: Gloria Lawrence and Linda Remele in Zone 3, and Shelby Thomas and Cori Burgett Fetters in Zone 4.
Sherwood residents are additionally being asked to approve a measure that will improve parks and give the city flexibility to get the work done faster and cheaper without raising taxes.
Cabot has three competitive aldermen races. Alderman Jon Moore is facing Damon Bivens for the Ward 2, Position 2 seat. Alderman Doyle Tullos has two opponents for his Ward 3, Position 1 seat, Norma Naquin and Wendell Gibson. Alderman Rick Prentice is challenged by Tom Koller in Ward 3, Position 2.
The runoff for the Cabot district judge race will also be decided this election with Judge Joe O’Bryan facing Ward City Attorney Clint McGue, who finished first in the March vote, but fell short of the required 50 percent to avoid a runoff. The third candidate, John Flynn, has endorsed McGue.
Beebe Alderman Tracy Lightfoot and Donald Lewis are competing for Ward 2, Position 2.
Here’s a rundown of the ballot issues:
Issue 1 asks voters to extend the terms of county judges, county court clerks and county surveyors from two years to four years.
Issue 2 seeks to let Arkansas governors retain their authority when out of the state.
Issue 3 will ask voters to vastly expand the state’s offerings of incentives to businesses looking to open here. Now, the state can only spend $259 million annually to entice businesses. Issue 3 has been touted as a major economic plan that would create jobs and bring major corporations to Arkansas. It has been criticized as a boondoggle that will add to the state’s debt.
Issue 6 asks to legalize marijuana use for 17 medical conditions and create cannabis dispensaries to be managed by the state Alcoholic Beverage Control.
The disqualified measures were Issues 4, 5 and 7. Any votes cast for them will not be counted.
Issue 4 intended to limit financial awards for medical-malpractice lawsuits.
Issue 5 had hoped to allow casinos to open in Boone, Miller and Washington counties.
Issue 7 was another medical marijuana proposal, more extensive than Issue 6, that would have extended its use to people with dozens of conditions and allowed them to grow cannabis if they lived too far from dispensaries.
There will also be several uncontested races listed on ballots throughout the area. Most of those races were settled in the Republican primary in March.
The presidential race between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump will top off the ballot and be followed by several state and local races and four ballot measures, although three more will still appear after being disqualified by the state Supreme Court but not in time to be removed from the ballot.
The Leader will report all the results on Wednesday.
Sen. John Boozman, a Republican, is up for re-election against Democrat Conner Eldridge, a Lonoke native and a former U.S. attorney, and Libertarian Frank Gilbert.
In the Second District, Rep. French Hill (R-Little Rock) has a Democratic challenger, Diane Curry, as well as a libertarian opponent, Chris Hayes.
State Sen. Jane English (R-North Little Rock) and Democrat Joe Woodson, a North Little Rock attorney, are facing off in Dist. 34, which includes North Little Rock, Sherwood and Jacksonville.
There are three competitive state House races in the area: Dist. 42 Rep. Bob Johnson (D-Jacksonville) is being challenged by Patrick Thomas, and Rep. Camille Bennett (D-Lonoke) is up against Lonoke County Justice of the Peace Roger Lynch.
In Dist. 38, Democrat Victoria Leigh and Republican Carlton Wing, both of North Little Rock, are vying for the seat vacated by Rep. Donnie Copeland, who lost to English in the Republican Senate primary in March. District 38 includes North Little Rock and about half of Sherwood.
Also in Sherwood, voters will decide two Pulaski County Special School Board races: Gloria Lawrence and Linda Remele in Zone 3, and Shelby Thomas and Cori Burgett Fetters in Zone 4.
Sherwood residents are additionally being asked to approve a measure that will improve parks and give the city flexibility to get the work done faster and cheaper without raising taxes.
Cabot has three competitive aldermen races. Alderman Jon Moore is facing Damon Bivens for the Ward 2, Position 2 seat. Alderman Doyle Tullos has two opponents for his Ward 3, Position 1 seat, Norma Naquin and Wendell Gibson. Alderman Rick Prentice is challenged by Tom Koller in Ward 3, Position 2.
The runoff for the Cabot district judge race will also be decided this election with Judge Joe O’Bryan facing Ward City Attorney Clint McGue, who finished first in the March vote, but fell short of the required 50 percent to avoid a runoff. The third candidate, John Flynn, has endorsed McGue.
Beebe Alderman Tracy Lightfoot and Donald Lewis are competing for Ward 2, Position 2.
Here’s a rundown of the ballot issues:
Issue 1 asks voters to extend the terms of county judges, county court clerks and county surveyors from two years to four years.
Issue 2 seeks to let Arkansas governors retain their authority when out of the state.
Issue 3 will ask voters to vastly expand the state’s offerings of incentives to businesses looking to open here. Now, the state can only spend $259 million annually to entice businesses. Issue 3 has been touted as a major economic plan that would create jobs and bring major corporations to Arkansas. It has been criticized as a boondoggle that will add to the state’s debt.
Issue 6 asks to legalize marijuana use for 17 medical conditions and create cannabis dispensaries to be managed by the state Alcoholic Beverage Control.
The disqualified measures were Issues 4, 5 and 7. Any votes cast for them will not be counted.
Issue 4 intended to limit financial awards for medical-malpractice lawsuits.
Issue 5 had hoped to allow casinos to open in Boone, Miller and Washington counties.
Issue 7 was another medical marijuana proposal, more extensive than Issue 6, that would have extended its use to people with dozens of conditions and allowed them to grow cannabis if they lived too far from dispensaries.
There will also be several uncontested races listed on ballots throughout the area. Most of those races were settled in the Republican primary in March.
Wednesday, November 02, 2016
SPORTS STORY >> Panthers going for upset of NLR
By RAY BENTON
Leader sports editor
Cabot closes the regular season on the road this Friday against the number one team in the state, North Little Rock. The Panthers can do no better than fourth place in the 7A-Central, and needs to win Friday in order to get that.
While the difference between finishing fourth and fifth may not seem like much to play for, it means the difference between playing at home or probably going all the way to Bentonville for its first-round playoff game.
Even with the win, Cabot (3-3) needs Bryant (4-2) to beat Conway (3-3), in order to get the home playoff game. If Conway and Cabot win, it creates a three-way tie for third place, and Cabot drops to five by virtue of having lost to both Bryant and Conway.
The Wildcats seem to have less to play for as far as the playoffs are concerned, but that’s not the case. They have already sewn up at least a share of the 7A-Central Conference championship, a number one seed and a first-round bye in the playoffs. But they haven’t secured an outright league title and are one game away from a perfect regular season.
Perhaps more importantly for North Little Rock, it has a chance to avenge its last regular-season loss.
The Charging Wildcats have not lost a regular-season game since getting crushed 34-3 by Cabot in week four of last season. They lost 28-21 to Bentonville in the playoff semifinals last year. That’s 15-straight regular-season wins, and 16 wins in the last 17 games.
“We’re playing the number one team in the state,” said Cabot coach Mike Malham. “Undefeated, number one, that’s a good challenge for us. It’d be nice for us to get our act together and pull off a big upset, get some momentum and get back to the playoffs.”
Cabot lost 35-21 to Fort Smith Northside last week. Malham made some changes on offense that seemed to improve the Panthers’ ability to move the football, but turnovers continued to be a major problem. Cabot has committed nine turnovers in its two previous losses. There were four interceptions against Bryant, which Cabot played without starting quarterback Jarrod Barnes in his usual position. There were five more turnovers of all varieties in last week’s loss to Northside.
If Cabot can keep possession, the addition of 6-foot-1, 247-pound Easton Seidl to the offensive backfield could take some of the focus off Barnes, whom Malham says should be back at quarterback this week.
It’s Seidl’s third position this year after starting a linebacker and then moving to defensive tackle.
“Putting Seidl at fullback helped our inside game,” Malham said. “We have some speed but we don’t have a very big offensive line and none of our backs are very big either. Easton gives us a little something we haven’t had. Hopefully that’ll help our inside run a little bit and take some of the defensive focus off the outside where Jarrod and our other backs can have some room to run.”
North Little Rock, however, is the best team on Cabot’s schedule. Not only are the Wildcats undefeated, only one team has played them within four touchdowns. That was Northside on Oct. 21, a game that ended 35-28.
“They’re just talented,” Malham said. “They got talent everywhere, only now they’re a lot more disciplined. Coach (Jamie) Mitchell is one of those old school, hard-nose types, and it didn’t take him long to get it going. But we’re looking to have a good week of practice and go give the number one team a good challenge.”
Leader sports editor
Cabot closes the regular season on the road this Friday against the number one team in the state, North Little Rock. The Panthers can do no better than fourth place in the 7A-Central, and needs to win Friday in order to get that.
While the difference between finishing fourth and fifth may not seem like much to play for, it means the difference between playing at home or probably going all the way to Bentonville for its first-round playoff game.
Even with the win, Cabot (3-3) needs Bryant (4-2) to beat Conway (3-3), in order to get the home playoff game. If Conway and Cabot win, it creates a three-way tie for third place, and Cabot drops to five by virtue of having lost to both Bryant and Conway.
The Wildcats seem to have less to play for as far as the playoffs are concerned, but that’s not the case. They have already sewn up at least a share of the 7A-Central Conference championship, a number one seed and a first-round bye in the playoffs. But they haven’t secured an outright league title and are one game away from a perfect regular season.
Perhaps more importantly for North Little Rock, it has a chance to avenge its last regular-season loss.
The Charging Wildcats have not lost a regular-season game since getting crushed 34-3 by Cabot in week four of last season. They lost 28-21 to Bentonville in the playoff semifinals last year. That’s 15-straight regular-season wins, and 16 wins in the last 17 games.
“We’re playing the number one team in the state,” said Cabot coach Mike Malham. “Undefeated, number one, that’s a good challenge for us. It’d be nice for us to get our act together and pull off a big upset, get some momentum and get back to the playoffs.”
Cabot lost 35-21 to Fort Smith Northside last week. Malham made some changes on offense that seemed to improve the Panthers’ ability to move the football, but turnovers continued to be a major problem. Cabot has committed nine turnovers in its two previous losses. There were four interceptions against Bryant, which Cabot played without starting quarterback Jarrod Barnes in his usual position. There were five more turnovers of all varieties in last week’s loss to Northside.
If Cabot can keep possession, the addition of 6-foot-1, 247-pound Easton Seidl to the offensive backfield could take some of the focus off Barnes, whom Malham says should be back at quarterback this week.
It’s Seidl’s third position this year after starting a linebacker and then moving to defensive tackle.
“Putting Seidl at fullback helped our inside game,” Malham said. “We have some speed but we don’t have a very big offensive line and none of our backs are very big either. Easton gives us a little something we haven’t had. Hopefully that’ll help our inside run a little bit and take some of the defensive focus off the outside where Jarrod and our other backs can have some room to run.”
North Little Rock, however, is the best team on Cabot’s schedule. Not only are the Wildcats undefeated, only one team has played them within four touchdowns. That was Northside on Oct. 21, a game that ended 35-28.
“They’re just talented,” Malham said. “They got talent everywhere, only now they’re a lot more disciplined. Coach (Jamie) Mitchell is one of those old school, hard-nose types, and it didn’t take him long to get it going. But we’re looking to have a good week of practice and go give the number one team a good challenge.”
SPORTS STORY >> Wolves shoot 30 outside, pull away
By RAY BENTON
Leader sports editor
The Jacksonville Lighthouse Charter Wolves won its first regular-season basketball game on Friday, going on the road to defeat Pangburn 95-80 in its first game as an Arkansas High School Activities Association sanctioned team.
The Wolves struggled with the talented and tall Tigers for a while, but began to pull away in the second quarter when outside shots started to fall and Pangburn made no adjustments.
Lighthouse hit 13 of 30 3-point attempts, shooting over Pangburn’s 2-3-zone defense.
“He never came out of that zone even when we started hitting,” said JLCS coach Kelvin Parker. “So I said, OK. If you’re going to stay back, we’re just going to keep firing. We fired up a lot.”
Pangburn (2-2) led 24-23 at the end of a fast-paced first quarter. Tiger center Nick Lukas hit a bucket at the buzzer to give the home team the lead, but the Wolves outscored them 50-30 in the second and third periods. They took a 46-39 lead into intermission, and a defensive adjustment at halftime helped them to take command of the game in the third.
“We switched some things up to try to stop their big kid in the middle,” Parker said. “He (Lukas) was the one hurting us offensively. He had 18 points in the first half, but he didn’t score at all in the third quarter and we got out on them pretty good.”
Senior Zack Bobo led JLCS with 22 points while freshman Gerald Doakes added 20 and Davonte Davis 16. Lukas led Pangburn with 23.
Lighthouse and Pangburn are in the same district and will play in the same postseason conference tournament, but Friday’s game was not a conference matchup because of the blended regular-season leagues the AHSAA has put together for at least this season and next.
“That’s why I scheduled them and a few others,” Parker said. “We only have one team we play in our regular season conference games that’s going to be in our postseason conference tournament. It doesn’t make any sense to me, but I wanted a chance to see as many as I could before going into that, so I scheduled them as nonconference games. It benefits them, too.”
The Lady Wolves were not as successful, falling 68-24 to the Pangburn. Dathonia Powell led JLCS (0-1) with 15 points. Tylar Vernon of Pangburn led all scorers with 17.
Hannah Bourgeois added 13 and Macie Hopkins 12 for the Lady Tigers (2-2).
Lighthouse boys and girls played Academic Charter Plus at Oak Grove last night after Leader deadlines. They will travel to Nevada on Friday.
Leader sports editor
The Jacksonville Lighthouse Charter Wolves won its first regular-season basketball game on Friday, going on the road to defeat Pangburn 95-80 in its first game as an Arkansas High School Activities Association sanctioned team.
The Wolves struggled with the talented and tall Tigers for a while, but began to pull away in the second quarter when outside shots started to fall and Pangburn made no adjustments.
Lighthouse hit 13 of 30 3-point attempts, shooting over Pangburn’s 2-3-zone defense.
“He never came out of that zone even when we started hitting,” said JLCS coach Kelvin Parker. “So I said, OK. If you’re going to stay back, we’re just going to keep firing. We fired up a lot.”
Pangburn (2-2) led 24-23 at the end of a fast-paced first quarter. Tiger center Nick Lukas hit a bucket at the buzzer to give the home team the lead, but the Wolves outscored them 50-30 in the second and third periods. They took a 46-39 lead into intermission, and a defensive adjustment at halftime helped them to take command of the game in the third.
“We switched some things up to try to stop their big kid in the middle,” Parker said. “He (Lukas) was the one hurting us offensively. He had 18 points in the first half, but he didn’t score at all in the third quarter and we got out on them pretty good.”
Senior Zack Bobo led JLCS with 22 points while freshman Gerald Doakes added 20 and Davonte Davis 16. Lukas led Pangburn with 23.
Lighthouse and Pangburn are in the same district and will play in the same postseason conference tournament, but Friday’s game was not a conference matchup because of the blended regular-season leagues the AHSAA has put together for at least this season and next.
“That’s why I scheduled them and a few others,” Parker said. “We only have one team we play in our regular season conference games that’s going to be in our postseason conference tournament. It doesn’t make any sense to me, but I wanted a chance to see as many as I could before going into that, so I scheduled them as nonconference games. It benefits them, too.”
The Lady Wolves were not as successful, falling 68-24 to the Pangburn. Dathonia Powell led JLCS (0-1) with 15 points. Tylar Vernon of Pangburn led all scorers with 17.
Hannah Bourgeois added 13 and Macie Hopkins 12 for the Lady Tigers (2-2).
Lighthouse boys and girls played Academic Charter Plus at Oak Grove last night after Leader deadlines. They will travel to Nevada on Friday.
SPORTS STORY >> Bears wary of underdog Beebe team
By RAY BENTON
Leader sports editor
The 8-1 Sylvan Hills Bears will be the big favorites when they travel tomorrow to take on the Beebe Badgers at A.S. Bro Erwin Stadium, but that hasn’t meant much recently.
The Bears have been the favorites going into their games with Beebe the last two seasons, and things haven’t worked out for them either time.
Sylvan Hills is already a lock to finish second in the 7A-Central, while Beebe is practically (though not mathematically) eliminated from playoff contention.
That means neither team is playing for anything tangible, and that’s a concern for both coaches. The Badgers technically still have playoff hopes, but would not only need its own upset win, but also a veritable miracle win by winless J.A. Fair over Little Rock Christian Academy.
Sylvan Hills coach Jim Withrow knows his team can’t gain or lose anything no matter the outcome Thursday, but he still wasn’t entirely pleased with his team’s focus at practice on Monday.
“I think it’s not bad, but I don’t know if I’d go much further than that,” said Withrow. “I thought for the most part we were into it, but not like we should be, or have been other Mondays.”
The Bears (9-1, 5-1) and Badgers (4-5, 3-3) have played two exciting games that went down to the wire the last two seasons. Beebe won both, winning 41-37 at Sylvan Hills in 2014, and 28-21 at Beebe last year. The Badgers had its all-time leading rusher, Trip Smith, for those games, but the 2016 graduate is now gone, as well as the rest of the starting offensive backfield of the last two seasons.
“I think they’re just young, but I think they’re talented,” Withrow said of the Badgers. “They play a lot of sophomores and they’ve made some sophomore mistakes at times that have hurt them. You can tell, I think next year they’re going to be that team that nobody expects anything out of, that’s going to turn out pretty good. What bugs you about that is, what if this is the game they really put it together and get everything out of them. And we’ve not had a lot of success with them, so that’s a concern.”
Beebe coach John Shannon knows his team has won as underdogs the last two years, but also knows the hill to climb this year is a little steeper. Sylvan Hills’ offense has been a force the last two seasons, but Shannon thinks the biggest difference in this year’s SH squad is the defense.
“One thing about going in as underdogs the last couple of years is both times we felt really good about our ability to go in there and move the football,” Shannon said. “Figuring out how to stop them was always a major concern, and now we have to figure how to deal with a really good defense as well. They’ve improved tremendously, I think, especially at linebacker.
“But I think they’re going to have to make some mistakes and we’re going to have to play perfect football. If we can put together long drives, eat the clock, keep that offense off the field and maybe frustrate them that way, we can give ourselves a chance.”
The Bears have been far from a one-trick pony this year, but Shannon still believes slowing down quarterback Jordan Washington is the key to any chance of slowing down the Bears’ offense.
“The quarterback is their best player,” Shannon said. “We have to keep him from reading that zone and taking off up the middle on us. But they put a lot of pressure on you because you have to cover the whole field to deal with all those other talented backs and receivers they’ve got. You hope to put them in third and long and get them a little uncomfortable, but they’re almost as dangerous even then because you drop back to cover and (Washington) takes off running. So I don’t know if there’s any particular down we have to win. It’s just going to take a perfect game on our part.”
Shannon isn’t being subjective in his assessment of Sylvan Hills’ defense. The Bears are better. After nine games last season, Sylvan Hills was 7-2 and had given up 288 points. This year through nine games, it has only given up 171.
Leader sports editor
The 8-1 Sylvan Hills Bears will be the big favorites when they travel tomorrow to take on the Beebe Badgers at A.S. Bro Erwin Stadium, but that hasn’t meant much recently.
The Bears have been the favorites going into their games with Beebe the last two seasons, and things haven’t worked out for them either time.
Sylvan Hills is already a lock to finish second in the 7A-Central, while Beebe is practically (though not mathematically) eliminated from playoff contention.
That means neither team is playing for anything tangible, and that’s a concern for both coaches. The Badgers technically still have playoff hopes, but would not only need its own upset win, but also a veritable miracle win by winless J.A. Fair over Little Rock Christian Academy.
Sylvan Hills coach Jim Withrow knows his team can’t gain or lose anything no matter the outcome Thursday, but he still wasn’t entirely pleased with his team’s focus at practice on Monday.
“I think it’s not bad, but I don’t know if I’d go much further than that,” said Withrow. “I thought for the most part we were into it, but not like we should be, or have been other Mondays.”
The Bears (9-1, 5-1) and Badgers (4-5, 3-3) have played two exciting games that went down to the wire the last two seasons. Beebe won both, winning 41-37 at Sylvan Hills in 2014, and 28-21 at Beebe last year. The Badgers had its all-time leading rusher, Trip Smith, for those games, but the 2016 graduate is now gone, as well as the rest of the starting offensive backfield of the last two seasons.
“I think they’re just young, but I think they’re talented,” Withrow said of the Badgers. “They play a lot of sophomores and they’ve made some sophomore mistakes at times that have hurt them. You can tell, I think next year they’re going to be that team that nobody expects anything out of, that’s going to turn out pretty good. What bugs you about that is, what if this is the game they really put it together and get everything out of them. And we’ve not had a lot of success with them, so that’s a concern.”
Beebe coach John Shannon knows his team has won as underdogs the last two years, but also knows the hill to climb this year is a little steeper. Sylvan Hills’ offense has been a force the last two seasons, but Shannon thinks the biggest difference in this year’s SH squad is the defense.
“One thing about going in as underdogs the last couple of years is both times we felt really good about our ability to go in there and move the football,” Shannon said. “Figuring out how to stop them was always a major concern, and now we have to figure how to deal with a really good defense as well. They’ve improved tremendously, I think, especially at linebacker.
“But I think they’re going to have to make some mistakes and we’re going to have to play perfect football. If we can put together long drives, eat the clock, keep that offense off the field and maybe frustrate them that way, we can give ourselves a chance.”
The Bears have been far from a one-trick pony this year, but Shannon still believes slowing down quarterback Jordan Washington is the key to any chance of slowing down the Bears’ offense.
“The quarterback is their best player,” Shannon said. “We have to keep him from reading that zone and taking off up the middle on us. But they put a lot of pressure on you because you have to cover the whole field to deal with all those other talented backs and receivers they’ve got. You hope to put them in third and long and get them a little uncomfortable, but they’re almost as dangerous even then because you drop back to cover and (Washington) takes off running. So I don’t know if there’s any particular down we have to win. It’s just going to take a perfect game on our part.”
Shannon isn’t being subjective in his assessment of Sylvan Hills’ defense. The Bears are better. After nine games last season, Sylvan Hills was 7-2 and had given up 288 points. This year through nine games, it has only given up 171.
Tuesday, November 01, 2016
EDITORIAL >> Election Day is Tuesday
Election Day is Tuesday. Polls will be open from 7:30 a.m. until 7:30 p.m.
Early voting continues through Saturday in Jacksonville, Sherwood, Cabot, Lonoke, Little Rock and Searcy, and on Monday in Cabot, Lonoke, Little Rock and Searcy.
The ballot is jam-packed.
The long presidential race between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump will be settled, assuming there are no contested outcomes, and we will know who will be inaugurated Friday, Jan. 20 as our country’s 45th president.
Arkansas voters will decide several state and local races and four ballot measures, although three more will still appear after being disqualified by the state Supreme Court but too late to be removed from the ballot.
Issue 1 asks voters to extend the terms of county judges, county court clerks and county surveyors from two years to four years.
Issue 2 seeks to let Arkansas governors retain their authority when out of the state.
Issue 3 will ask voters to vastly expand the state’s offerings of incentives to businesses looking to open here. Now, the state can only spend $259 million annually to entice businesses. Issue 3 has been touted as a major economic plan that would create jobs and bring major corporations to Arkansas. It has been criticized as a boondoggle that will add to the state’s debt.
Issue 6 asks to legalize marijuana use for 17 medical conditions and create cannabis dispensaries to be managed by the state Alcoholic Beverage Control.
The disqualified measures were Issues 4, 5 and 7, so voters can save their time and skip over them at the ballot box. Votes cast for them will not be counted.
Issue 4 intended to limit financial awards for medical-malpractice lawsuits.
Issue 5 had hoped to allow casinos to open in Boone, Miller and Washington counties.
Issue 7 was another medical marijuana proposal, more extensive than Issue 6, that would have extended its use to people with dozens of conditions and allowed them to grow their own cannabis if they lived too far from dispensaries.
Sen. John Boozman, a Republican, is up for re-election against Democrat Conner Eldridge, Lonoke native and a former U.S. attorney, and Libertarian Frank Gilbert.
In the Second District, Rep. French Hill (R-Little Rock) has a Democratic challenger, Diane Curry, as well as a libertarian opponent, Chris Hayes.
Locally, state Sen. Jane English (R-North Little Rock) and Democrat Joe Woodson, a North Little Rock attorney, are facing off in Dist. 34, which includes North Little Rock, Sherwood and Jacksonville.
There are three competitive state House races in the area: Dist. 42 Rep. Bob Johnson (D-Jacksonville) is being challenged by Patrick Thomas, and Rep. Camille Bennett (D-Lonoke) is up against Lonoke County Justice of the Peace Roger Lynch.
The Lonoke Chamber of Commerce will host a candidates forum during its luncheon at noon Thursday with Bennett and Lynch, who will have about 10 minutes to introduce themselves, followed by a question-and-answer session.
In Dist. 38, Democrat Victoria Leigh and Republican Carlton Wing, both of North Little Rock, are vying for the seat vacated by Rep. Donnie Copeland, who lost to English in the Republican Senate primary in March. District 38 includes North Little Rock and about half of Sherwood.
Also in Sherwood, voters will decide two Pulaski County Special School Board races: Gloria Lawrence and Linda Remele in Zone 3, and Shelby Thomas and Cori Burgett Fetters in Zone 4.
Sherwood residents are additionally being asked to approve a measure that will improve parks and give the city flexibility to get the work done faster and cheaper without raising taxes.
Cabot has three competitive aldermen races. Alderman Jon Moore is facing Damon Bivens for the Ward 2, Position 2 seat. Alderman Doyle Tullos has two opponents for his Ward 3, Position 1 seat, Norma Naquin and Wendell Gibson. Alderman Rick Prentice is challenged by Tom Koller in Ward 3, Position 2.
The runoff for the Cabot district judge race will also be decided this election. Judge Joe O’Bryan hopes to fend off Ward City Attorney Clint McGue, who finished first in the March vote, but fell short of the required 50 percent to avoid a runoff. The third candidate, John Flynn, has endorsed McGue.
Beebe Alderman Tracy Lightfoot and Donald Lewis are competing for Ward 2, Position 2.
There will also be several uncontested races listed on ballots throughout the area.
The Leader will report all the results in our edition next Wednesday. Happy voting.
Early voting continues through Saturday in Jacksonville, Sherwood, Cabot, Lonoke, Little Rock and Searcy, and on Monday in Cabot, Lonoke, Little Rock and Searcy.
The ballot is jam-packed.
The long presidential race between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump will be settled, assuming there are no contested outcomes, and we will know who will be inaugurated Friday, Jan. 20 as our country’s 45th president.
Arkansas voters will decide several state and local races and four ballot measures, although three more will still appear after being disqualified by the state Supreme Court but too late to be removed from the ballot.
Issue 1 asks voters to extend the terms of county judges, county court clerks and county surveyors from two years to four years.
Issue 2 seeks to let Arkansas governors retain their authority when out of the state.
Issue 3 will ask voters to vastly expand the state’s offerings of incentives to businesses looking to open here. Now, the state can only spend $259 million annually to entice businesses. Issue 3 has been touted as a major economic plan that would create jobs and bring major corporations to Arkansas. It has been criticized as a boondoggle that will add to the state’s debt.
Issue 6 asks to legalize marijuana use for 17 medical conditions and create cannabis dispensaries to be managed by the state Alcoholic Beverage Control.
The disqualified measures were Issues 4, 5 and 7, so voters can save their time and skip over them at the ballot box. Votes cast for them will not be counted.
Issue 4 intended to limit financial awards for medical-malpractice lawsuits.
Issue 5 had hoped to allow casinos to open in Boone, Miller and Washington counties.
Issue 7 was another medical marijuana proposal, more extensive than Issue 6, that would have extended its use to people with dozens of conditions and allowed them to grow their own cannabis if they lived too far from dispensaries.
Sen. John Boozman, a Republican, is up for re-election against Democrat Conner Eldridge, Lonoke native and a former U.S. attorney, and Libertarian Frank Gilbert.
In the Second District, Rep. French Hill (R-Little Rock) has a Democratic challenger, Diane Curry, as well as a libertarian opponent, Chris Hayes.
Locally, state Sen. Jane English (R-North Little Rock) and Democrat Joe Woodson, a North Little Rock attorney, are facing off in Dist. 34, which includes North Little Rock, Sherwood and Jacksonville.
There are three competitive state House races in the area: Dist. 42 Rep. Bob Johnson (D-Jacksonville) is being challenged by Patrick Thomas, and Rep. Camille Bennett (D-Lonoke) is up against Lonoke County Justice of the Peace Roger Lynch.
The Lonoke Chamber of Commerce will host a candidates forum during its luncheon at noon Thursday with Bennett and Lynch, who will have about 10 minutes to introduce themselves, followed by a question-and-answer session.
In Dist. 38, Democrat Victoria Leigh and Republican Carlton Wing, both of North Little Rock, are vying for the seat vacated by Rep. Donnie Copeland, who lost to English in the Republican Senate primary in March. District 38 includes North Little Rock and about half of Sherwood.
Also in Sherwood, voters will decide two Pulaski County Special School Board races: Gloria Lawrence and Linda Remele in Zone 3, and Shelby Thomas and Cori Burgett Fetters in Zone 4.
Sherwood residents are additionally being asked to approve a measure that will improve parks and give the city flexibility to get the work done faster and cheaper without raising taxes.
Cabot has three competitive aldermen races. Alderman Jon Moore is facing Damon Bivens for the Ward 2, Position 2 seat. Alderman Doyle Tullos has two opponents for his Ward 3, Position 1 seat, Norma Naquin and Wendell Gibson. Alderman Rick Prentice is challenged by Tom Koller in Ward 3, Position 2.
The runoff for the Cabot district judge race will also be decided this election. Judge Joe O’Bryan hopes to fend off Ward City Attorney Clint McGue, who finished first in the March vote, but fell short of the required 50 percent to avoid a runoff. The third candidate, John Flynn, has endorsed McGue.
Beebe Alderman Tracy Lightfoot and Donald Lewis are competing for Ward 2, Position 2.
There will also be several uncontested races listed on ballots throughout the area.
The Leader will report all the results in our edition next Wednesday. Happy voting.
TOP STORY >> Namesake of hardware store dies
By JEFFREY SMITH
Leader staff writer
Jack Lowman passed away last Wednesday at the age of 87. He was a successful businessman and an icon of the Cabot community.
Lowman was born March 30, 1929, and was a lifelong resident of Cabot.
In 1946, he played in the first Cabot High School football game after the end of the Second World War. Cabot played Lonoke.
Lowman graduated from Cabot High in 1947 with a class of 22 people.
He attended Ouachita Baptist University in Arkadelphia, graduating in 1951 with a degree in business and physical-education. He played football there for one year.
Lowman was a big supporter of Cabot schools and Panther football and basketball.
Football coach Mike Malham said when Lowman was able, he was always at the games.
Lowman worked more than 60 years in his family’s business, Lowman and Lowman. The business, at its location on North First Street, was originally started by his father and grandfather as a general mercantile, grocery and hardware store in the early 1890s.
He and his brother, Jake, later ran the business.
Jack Lowman retired from Lowman and Lowman Hardware in 2000. Three generations of Lowmans ran the business for more than 100 years. The original building was destroyed by the 1976 tornado and they rebuilt at the same location.
“Four generations bought groceries here. He really enjoyed people, interested in their lives and kids and what was going on. He said he would rather work than to eat,” his son Mark Lowman said.
Lowman and Lowman Hardware was sold in 2001 to David Cochran and renamed Cabot Handy Hardware and Gifts. Coincidentally, Jack Lowman died the same week as the store closed.
Cochran said Lowman filled-in for him and continued to come to the store until his health prevented that.
“He was a one-of-kind person, an icon of the community. He knew everybody and would do anything for you. He joked around with people. He liked to call people by their maiden name,” Cochran said.
“Jack was a frugal man. For example, he walked to the post office instead of getting in his car and driving over. But he did a lot behind the scenes. He helped a lot kids go to college,” Cochran added.
“He loved his family and took care of his employees,” Cochran said.
One former employee was Harold Bibbs. As a 19 year old, he worked in the grocery’s meat department in 1963 during the summer while in college.
“It was fun to go to work being around Jack and Jake. He was humorous. He never met a stranger. He never made you feel like you were just an employee or a child. The store gave a lot of kids around here part-time jobs back then,” Bibbs said.
Bibbs said Lowman was a successful businessman and he and his wife Pat were successful parents.
Mayor Bill Cypert said Lowman and his family were pillars of the community who helped Cabot become the thriving community that it is today.
Lowman served on the first Cabot Planning Commission after the 1976 tornado.
“He was humble, godly and an honorable person. He had a unique sense of humor that was entertaining at times. I enjoyed sitting down on a stool, drinking a Coke and visiting with him during the day,” Cypert said.
Lowman was a member of First Baptist Church of Cabot, where he served as a deacon, Sunday school teacher and as a much-loved youth leader.
Dearl Dixon was a friend who bird hunted with Lowman.
“He was a Christian man who lived it. He was dedicated to his family. He is going to be missed in the community,” Dixon said.
Lowman was proud of the Bank of Cabot, now Centennial Bank, which was started by his grandfather and others in 1902 to help local farmers and businesses. He was on the board for 42 years. Five generations of his family were stockholders and many were board members. The bank at 300 W. Main St. has a community room named in honor of Jack Lowman.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Jake and Lillian Lowman, and an older brother, Jake Lowman. He is survived by his wife, Patsy Lowman, and his children, Mitchell, Mark and Jacque Lowman. The funeral was held Saturday at First Baptist Church of Cabot with burial in Mount Carmel Cemetery.
Leader staff writer
Jack Lowman passed away last Wednesday at the age of 87. He was a successful businessman and an icon of the Cabot community.
Lowman was born March 30, 1929, and was a lifelong resident of Cabot.
In 1946, he played in the first Cabot High School football game after the end of the Second World War. Cabot played Lonoke.
Lowman graduated from Cabot High in 1947 with a class of 22 people.
He attended Ouachita Baptist University in Arkadelphia, graduating in 1951 with a degree in business and physical-education. He played football there for one year.
Lowman was a big supporter of Cabot schools and Panther football and basketball.
Football coach Mike Malham said when Lowman was able, he was always at the games.
Lowman worked more than 60 years in his family’s business, Lowman and Lowman. The business, at its location on North First Street, was originally started by his father and grandfather as a general mercantile, grocery and hardware store in the early 1890s.
He and his brother, Jake, later ran the business.
Jack Lowman retired from Lowman and Lowman Hardware in 2000. Three generations of Lowmans ran the business for more than 100 years. The original building was destroyed by the 1976 tornado and they rebuilt at the same location.
“Four generations bought groceries here. He really enjoyed people, interested in their lives and kids and what was going on. He said he would rather work than to eat,” his son Mark Lowman said.
Lowman and Lowman Hardware was sold in 2001 to David Cochran and renamed Cabot Handy Hardware and Gifts. Coincidentally, Jack Lowman died the same week as the store closed.
Cochran said Lowman filled-in for him and continued to come to the store until his health prevented that.
“He was a one-of-kind person, an icon of the community. He knew everybody and would do anything for you. He joked around with people. He liked to call people by their maiden name,” Cochran said.
“Jack was a frugal man. For example, he walked to the post office instead of getting in his car and driving over. But he did a lot behind the scenes. He helped a lot kids go to college,” Cochran added.
“He loved his family and took care of his employees,” Cochran said.
One former employee was Harold Bibbs. As a 19 year old, he worked in the grocery’s meat department in 1963 during the summer while in college.
“It was fun to go to work being around Jack and Jake. He was humorous. He never met a stranger. He never made you feel like you were just an employee or a child. The store gave a lot of kids around here part-time jobs back then,” Bibbs said.
Bibbs said Lowman was a successful businessman and he and his wife Pat were successful parents.
Mayor Bill Cypert said Lowman and his family were pillars of the community who helped Cabot become the thriving community that it is today.
Lowman served on the first Cabot Planning Commission after the 1976 tornado.
“He was humble, godly and an honorable person. He had a unique sense of humor that was entertaining at times. I enjoyed sitting down on a stool, drinking a Coke and visiting with him during the day,” Cypert said.
Lowman was a member of First Baptist Church of Cabot, where he served as a deacon, Sunday school teacher and as a much-loved youth leader.
Dearl Dixon was a friend who bird hunted with Lowman.
“He was a Christian man who lived it. He was dedicated to his family. He is going to be missed in the community,” Dixon said.
Lowman was proud of the Bank of Cabot, now Centennial Bank, which was started by his grandfather and others in 1902 to help local farmers and businesses. He was on the board for 42 years. Five generations of his family were stockholders and many were board members. The bank at 300 W. Main St. has a community room named in honor of Jack Lowman.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Jake and Lillian Lowman, and an older brother, Jake Lowman. He is survived by his wife, Patsy Lowman, and his children, Mitchell, Mark and Jacque Lowman. The funeral was held Saturday at First Baptist Church of Cabot with burial in Mount Carmel Cemetery.
TOP STORY >> Johnson touts Endorsements
Rep. Bob Johnson (D- Jacksonville) has received endorsements from several key political action committees, including those of the Arkansas Education Association, Arkansas Realtors, Arkansas State Employees Association, Arkansas Trial Lawyers Association and others.
The AEA’s political action committee voted to recommend Johnson’s candidacy to its members and gave him $500 in his re-election effort.
“We value your opinions and ideas of public education in Arkansas,” the AEA said in a letter to Johnson, who supports pre-kindergarten education in public schools.
Johnson is opposed by Republican Patrick Thomas of Jacksonville.
The trial lawyers, representing 1,000 attorneys in the state, contributed $1,000 to Johnson’s re-election, saying he stands up for the Seventh Amendment to the Constitution, which guarantees the right to jury trials.
The PAC praised his “strong belief in the preservation of the Seventh Amendment, who support(s) the ability of a local jury to reflect the values of their own communities and who values(s) protection of our constitutional right to access to justice for individuals with legitimate lawsuits, despite taking on the most powerful interests.”
The Arkansas Realtors Political Action Committee gave Johnson a $500 contribution.
The State Employees of Arkansas Political Action Committee has also endorsed Johnson and contributed $200.
“The Arkansas State Employees Association is proud to announce that SEAPAC is endorsing your candidacy,” wrote John Bridges, SEAPAC liaison and ASEA assistant director.
The political action committee of Arkansas Manufactured Housing Association has also endorsed Johnson.
The International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers also endorsed Johnson and gave him $500.
The SMART transportation division represents railroad, bus, sheet metal and airline members in the United States and Canada. The organization’s predecessor, the United Transportation Union, was founded in Hot Springs in 1969. It represents 1,100 active and more than 2,000 retired railroad conductors, trainmen and engineers in Arkansas.
The AEA’s political action committee voted to recommend Johnson’s candidacy to its members and gave him $500 in his re-election effort.
“We value your opinions and ideas of public education in Arkansas,” the AEA said in a letter to Johnson, who supports pre-kindergarten education in public schools.
Johnson is opposed by Republican Patrick Thomas of Jacksonville.
The trial lawyers, representing 1,000 attorneys in the state, contributed $1,000 to Johnson’s re-election, saying he stands up for the Seventh Amendment to the Constitution, which guarantees the right to jury trials.
The PAC praised his “strong belief in the preservation of the Seventh Amendment, who support(s) the ability of a local jury to reflect the values of their own communities and who values(s) protection of our constitutional right to access to justice for individuals with legitimate lawsuits, despite taking on the most powerful interests.”
The Arkansas Realtors Political Action Committee gave Johnson a $500 contribution.
The State Employees of Arkansas Political Action Committee has also endorsed Johnson and contributed $200.
“The Arkansas State Employees Association is proud to announce that SEAPAC is endorsing your candidacy,” wrote John Bridges, SEAPAC liaison and ASEA assistant director.
The political action committee of Arkansas Manufactured Housing Association has also endorsed Johnson.
The International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers also endorsed Johnson and gave him $500.
The SMART transportation division represents railroad, bus, sheet metal and airline members in the United States and Canada. The organization’s predecessor, the United Transportation Union, was founded in Hot Springs in 1969. It represents 1,100 active and more than 2,000 retired railroad conductors, trainmen and engineers in Arkansas.
TOP STORY >> Judge rules state grants aren’t illegal
By JOHN HOFHEIMER
Leader senior staff writer
Circuit Judge Chris Piazza on Tuesday ruled against former state Rep. Mike Wilson’s suit seeking to prohibit the Central Arkansas Planning and Developing District from approving General Improvement grants and cutting checks to local groups at the direction of lawmakers.
Piazza said, “I find that it is constitutional.”
Wilson said he would appeal to the state Supreme Court.
CAPDD hasn’t approved applications nor written checks since Wilson filed his suit in February, saying the grants violated the state constitution, which prohibits funding local projects with state money.
It wasn’t immediately clear when CAPDD would resume distributing state funds again.
Wilson, a Jacksonville businessman and lawyer, won a similar suit in 2007, upheld by the state Supreme Court, and has charged that lawmakers have since begun laundering the GIF money through the state treasurer’s office and then through the planning and development districts.
But after a 90-minute hearing on competing motions for summary judgment, Piazza ruled the awarding of grants designated by lawmakers under current law is constitutional.
In the suit in which Wilson prevailed in 2007, individual appropriations were written to fund local libraries, Boys and Girls Clubs, buy equipment for volunteer fire departments and for other local uses. While Wilson said they often are for good causes, they are nonetheless illegal.
Defendants in Wilson’s suit are Larry Walther, director of the Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration, Andrea Lea, state auditor and Dennis Milligan, state treasurer and Central Arkansas Planning and Development District, Inc.
He seeks to recover the money for the state.
Each lawmaker would have an equal share of the general improvement funds from which to make appropriations.
Under what Wilson calls “a work-around,” the General Assembly decided that each representative could endorse $70,000 worth of grants through the planning and development district and each state senator, $285,000.
But Assistant Attorney General Colin Jorgensen argued that the uses of the money and the details of CAPDD’s awarding GIF grants were not material to the case.
Sam Jones, representing CAPDD and its director, Rodney Larsen, said the General Assembly had to change the process for distributing GIF funds after Wilson won his case in 2007.
The issue is whether or not the actions of the state and the CAPDD comply with the statutes that currently control expenditure of GIF funds, Jones said.
The new method of distributing “excess” state revenues through grants administered by the CAPDD is constitutional, Piazza said.
Jorgensen has written an order for the judge, and Wilson and his attorney John Ogles are currently assessing it.
Judd Deere, spokesman for the attorney general’s office, said once all the attorneys have approved it, Piazza would sign it, probably Wednesday afternoon.
Larsen said he’d like to recover about $40,000 in attorney’s fees from the plaintiff.
Leader senior staff writer
Circuit Judge Chris Piazza on Tuesday ruled against former state Rep. Mike Wilson’s suit seeking to prohibit the Central Arkansas Planning and Developing District from approving General Improvement grants and cutting checks to local groups at the direction of lawmakers.
Piazza said, “I find that it is constitutional.”
Wilson said he would appeal to the state Supreme Court.
CAPDD hasn’t approved applications nor written checks since Wilson filed his suit in February, saying the grants violated the state constitution, which prohibits funding local projects with state money.
It wasn’t immediately clear when CAPDD would resume distributing state funds again.
Wilson, a Jacksonville businessman and lawyer, won a similar suit in 2007, upheld by the state Supreme Court, and has charged that lawmakers have since begun laundering the GIF money through the state treasurer’s office and then through the planning and development districts.
But after a 90-minute hearing on competing motions for summary judgment, Piazza ruled the awarding of grants designated by lawmakers under current law is constitutional.
In the suit in which Wilson prevailed in 2007, individual appropriations were written to fund local libraries, Boys and Girls Clubs, buy equipment for volunteer fire departments and for other local uses. While Wilson said they often are for good causes, they are nonetheless illegal.
Defendants in Wilson’s suit are Larry Walther, director of the Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration, Andrea Lea, state auditor and Dennis Milligan, state treasurer and Central Arkansas Planning and Development District, Inc.
He seeks to recover the money for the state.
Each lawmaker would have an equal share of the general improvement funds from which to make appropriations.
Under what Wilson calls “a work-around,” the General Assembly decided that each representative could endorse $70,000 worth of grants through the planning and development district and each state senator, $285,000.
But Assistant Attorney General Colin Jorgensen argued that the uses of the money and the details of CAPDD’s awarding GIF grants were not material to the case.
Sam Jones, representing CAPDD and its director, Rodney Larsen, said the General Assembly had to change the process for distributing GIF funds after Wilson won his case in 2007.
The issue is whether or not the actions of the state and the CAPDD comply with the statutes that currently control expenditure of GIF funds, Jones said.
The new method of distributing “excess” state revenues through grants administered by the CAPDD is constitutional, Piazza said.
Jorgensen has written an order for the judge, and Wilson and his attorney John Ogles are currently assessing it.
Judd Deere, spokesman for the attorney general’s office, said once all the attorneys have approved it, Piazza would sign it, probably Wednesday afternoon.
Larsen said he’d like to recover about $40,000 in attorney’s fees from the plaintiff.
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