REV. LONNIE AUTRY, 74
Rev. Lonnie D. Autry, 74, of Sherwood, passed away Feb. 26, 2006. He was the pastor of Berea Baptist Church of Jacksonville and retired from the Corp of Engineers. Rev. Autry was a sergeant in the Air Force during the Korean War and past treasurer of the North Pulaski Baptist Association.
He is survived by his wife, Verdarose Adkins Autry; daughter, Mariell A. “Dee Dee” Autry of Sherwood; sisters, Emily Ewing and Ann He-ron and husband Kenneth all of Jacksonville, Belle Gregory and husband Lloyd of Bon-nerdale; bro-ther, Doyle Autry and wife Mary Beth of Van Buren; sisters-in-law, Christine Autry of North Little Rock and Jo Autry of Cabot. Rev. Autry was preceded in death by his parents, Garner S. Autry, Sr. and Mary Etta Hayes Autry; brothers, Garner and Aubrey Autry.
Memorials may be made to Berea Baptist Church, 104 E. Valentine, Jacksonville, Arkansas 72076 or Arkansas Hospice, 5600 W. 12th St., Little Rock, Ark. 72204.
Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday at North Little Rock Funeral Home Chapel. Burial will be in Rest Hills Memorial Park. The family will receive friends from 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesday at North Little Rock Funeral Home, 1921 Main St., North Little Rock.
JERRY JUSTICE, JR., 34
Jerry Stephenson Justice, Jr., 34, died as a result of an automobile accident Feb. 23.
He was a commissioned officer at Arkansas Children’s Hospital and a full-time journalism student at UALR.
Survivors include his wife, Monica Maples Justice of Ward; three daughters, Hayley Nicole Justice, Kourtney Raiann Justice, and Laura Kaitlin Justice all of Ward; his mother, Patricia Harrison Justice, and sister, Terry Lynn Justice both of Ward; several nieces, nephews and other relatives.
He was preceded in death by his father, Jerry S. Justice Sr.
Graveside services will be 11 a.m. Saturday in Hicks Cemetery, Lonoke.
The family will receive friends Friday from 6 to 8 pm at Boyd Funeral Home in Lonoke.
CAROLYN JOLLEY, 61
Carolyn (Su) Jolley, 61, of North Little Rock, passed away Feb. 25. She was born June 27, 1944 to Nolice Warren and Thelma Bowen in Huntington, W. Va. Su was a Baptist, an Avon representative and a Beanie Baby entrepreneur. She was a loving wife, mother and MiMi who lived for her grandkids. She was preceded in death by her father.
Mrs. Jolley is survived by her husband, John V. "Jack" Jolley of North Little Rock; one son, Jason and daughter-in-law, Tammy Jolley of Cabot; one daughter, Amy and son-in-law, Cliff Childress of Lonoke; mother and step-father Thelma and Willie McCallister of Huntington, W.Va.; one sister, Phyllis Thompson of Huntington, W.Va.; four grandchildren: Sarah Childress, Colt Childress, Rebecca Jolley and Jackson Jolley.
Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday at Moore's Jacksonville Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Paul McClung officiating. Interment will follow in Chapel Hill Memorial Park.
LESLIE FARVOUR
Leslie Mae Farvour, of Cabot, passed away Feb. 23. She was born Feb. 23, 2006 to Joseph and Jennifer Farvour in Jacksonville.
She is survived by her parents; one sister, Amy Farvour; one brother, Alyn Farvour; grandparents, James and Loretta Schmidt of Wayland, Mo., Bettina Hahn of Cabot, Wilbur Farvour of Keokuk, Iowa and a host of family and friends.
Funeral services were Tuesday, at Moore's Jacksonville Funeral Home Chapel in Jacksonville. Bu-rial was at Chapel Hill Memorial Park.
LUCILLE RAY, 93
Lucille Elizabeth Heriot Ray, 93, of Cabot, went to celebrate her life with the Lord on Monday, Feb. 27. Lucille was born Oct. 3, 1912. One of the many highlights of Lucy’s life was going to her sons dealership, Ray Chevrolet, everyday and visiting with customers. She loved being on the go, especially to tailgate parties and any kind of sports. Best of all, she loved being with her family.
She will be missed dearly by her family and many friends.
Lucille is preceded in death by her husband, James Marvin “Skipper” Ray and one daughter, Elizabeth Ann Ray Jewett.
She is survived by her two sons: Gerald “Jerry” Ray and daughter-in-law, Judy Ray, Cary Ray and daughter-in-law, Roylane Ray; two grandchildren: James Skipper Ray and Ann Elizabeth Martin and her husband Todd; two great-grandchildren: Margaret “Maggie” Elizabeth Martin and Mason Ray Jewett Martin.
Memorial services will be held at Moore’s Jacksonville Funeral Home at 10 a.m., on Wednesday, with Dr. Jon M. Taylor and Rev. Johnny Glaze officiating.
Memorials may be made to Arkansas Hospice, 5600 West 12th Street, Little Rock, Ark., 72204 and Central Arkansas Radiation The-rapy Institute (CARTI).
The family would like to thank her special caregivers, Sue Harris and Sandra Chapman and her hairdresser, Ann Gilliam.
A special thanks to Springhill Baptist, Dr. Darren Clark and Cabot Nursing and Rehabilitation Center.
MATTHEW WHITLEY, 27
Matthew Dallas Whitley, 27, of Beebe, died Feb. 23. He had attended ASU Beebe. He is survived by his parents, Rick and Ann Whitley; his brother, Michael Whitley, all of Beebe; grandparents, John and Nancy Whitley of Benton; and several uncles, aunts and cousins.
Funeral services were Tuesday, at Westbrook Funeral Home.
Memorials may be made to Lions World Services for the Blind, 2811 Fair Park Blvd., Little Rock, AR 72204.
MILTON PRUITT, 81
Milton L. Pruitt of Antioch, born in 1924 at Antioch to Charlie and Mamie McCall Pruitt. He died Feb. 26, at the age of 81. Milton was an Army veteran of World War II.
He served in Germany and was awarded three Bronze Stars for service. He was also a retired dairy farmer.
Milton is survived by his wife of 59 years, Vera Maxine Pruitt; two sons, Bill Pruitt and wife Linda of Searcy and Bobby Pruitt and wife Kim of Beebe; six grandchildren, Jason, Brook and Bryce Pruitt, Amy Pruitt McDuffie, Tisha Ham-ilton and Robby Boland; two great-granddaughters, Tori McDuffie and McKenna Hamilton.
Survivors also include a sister, Mildred Secrest of Pasadena, Texas and a sister-in-law, Aline Pruitt of Beebe and many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents and five siblings, Delton, Helen, Jack and Russell Pruitt and Christine Wisdom.
Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday at Antioch Com-munity Church at Antioch in White County. Burial will be in Antioch Cemetery.
Memorials may be made to Arkansas Hospice, 2200 Fort Roots Drive, North Little Rock, Ark., 72114 or Antioch Community Church, 2062 Hwy. 31 North, Beebe, Ark., 72012.
Wednesday, March 01, 2006
SAT 3-1-6 EDITORIAL >> Oklahoma vs. Arkansas
Arkansas lost another battle in the great border war with Oklahoma over chicken litter this week when the U. S. Supreme Court refused to settle the dispute itself. But let us be more precise. Poultry companies and Attorney General Mike Beebe lost the battle. Arkansas could even be a winner.
The two states — rather, their attorneys general — have been arguing for at least four years over the pollution of the Illinois River, which drains big swaths of Washington and Benton counties and then courses into Oklahoma, where it is a source of drinking water. The river is the source for Tenkiller Lake, the water supply for Tahlequah, Okla.
The dispute is akin to our own quarrels in central Arkansas with Deltic Timber Corp., which wants to develop an expensive subdivision on the slopes above Lake Maumelle, from whence comes our pristine water. So we may feel some kinship with Oklahomans who want their water protected just like we do. The problem is that a state line separates them from the largest source of the problem, the refuse from chicken growers that is spread on the slopes of northwest Arkansas to make hay and other animal feed crops grow more lushly. The runoff from excess litter sends heavy amounts of phosphorous and other compounds into creeks and into the Illinois River. The fertilizer causes heavy algae growth in the streams and the lake into which they run, depleting oxygen, killing aquatic life and polluting water supplies.
Oklahoma Attorney General Drew Edmondson, who we are led to believe by Arkansas officials and industry people likes to play to the peanut gallery, sued eight poultry companies, including the giant Tyson Foods, Inc., in federal district court in Oklahoma. He maintains that the big companies and their growers are violating federal and state pollution laws and wants the federal court to restrain them. The big companies and the growers claim that Oklahoma wants to put them out of business.
Gov. Huckabee and Attorney General Beebe have entered the lists for the industry. Beebe maintains that he represents the farmers and the people of Arkansas, not the industry. Well, of course. He’s fighting to save the Arkansas economy and to protect the “sovereignty” of Arkansas. The issue of state sovereignty has had a tainted history from its use to protect slavery and our own peculiar apartheid.
Beebe pursued a novel remedy. He asked the Supreme Court to block the Oklahoma lawsuit by using its power to resolve disputes between two states by conducting the trial itself. The court unanimously declined.
We are saps for the home team as much as anyone. We pull for the Arkansas teams and try to be philosophical about the peccadilloes of Arkansas politicians when they seek national office, including Mike Huckabee. But it is an embarrassment that our own laws and our regulatory agencies are far more tolerant of abuse of our land, water and air than those of other states.
Edmond’s suit should go to trial and let us see what evidence he can adduce that the companies are imperiling the health of Oklahomans. If they are, an injunction is proper, and the companies are not going to move their operations to other states. Where, pray tell? More likely, the Supreme Court’s denial of certiorari will force Oklahoma and the industry to negotiate a settlement that will save the day for Oklahomans and Arkansas farmers.
The two states — rather, their attorneys general — have been arguing for at least four years over the pollution of the Illinois River, which drains big swaths of Washington and Benton counties and then courses into Oklahoma, where it is a source of drinking water. The river is the source for Tenkiller Lake, the water supply for Tahlequah, Okla.
The dispute is akin to our own quarrels in central Arkansas with Deltic Timber Corp., which wants to develop an expensive subdivision on the slopes above Lake Maumelle, from whence comes our pristine water. So we may feel some kinship with Oklahomans who want their water protected just like we do. The problem is that a state line separates them from the largest source of the problem, the refuse from chicken growers that is spread on the slopes of northwest Arkansas to make hay and other animal feed crops grow more lushly. The runoff from excess litter sends heavy amounts of phosphorous and other compounds into creeks and into the Illinois River. The fertilizer causes heavy algae growth in the streams and the lake into which they run, depleting oxygen, killing aquatic life and polluting water supplies.
Oklahoma Attorney General Drew Edmondson, who we are led to believe by Arkansas officials and industry people likes to play to the peanut gallery, sued eight poultry companies, including the giant Tyson Foods, Inc., in federal district court in Oklahoma. He maintains that the big companies and their growers are violating federal and state pollution laws and wants the federal court to restrain them. The big companies and the growers claim that Oklahoma wants to put them out of business.
Gov. Huckabee and Attorney General Beebe have entered the lists for the industry. Beebe maintains that he represents the farmers and the people of Arkansas, not the industry. Well, of course. He’s fighting to save the Arkansas economy and to protect the “sovereignty” of Arkansas. The issue of state sovereignty has had a tainted history from its use to protect slavery and our own peculiar apartheid.
Beebe pursued a novel remedy. He asked the Supreme Court to block the Oklahoma lawsuit by using its power to resolve disputes between two states by conducting the trial itself. The court unanimously declined.
We are saps for the home team as much as anyone. We pull for the Arkansas teams and try to be philosophical about the peccadilloes of Arkansas politicians when they seek national office, including Mike Huckabee. But it is an embarrassment that our own laws and our regulatory agencies are far more tolerant of abuse of our land, water and air than those of other states.
Edmond’s suit should go to trial and let us see what evidence he can adduce that the companies are imperiling the health of Oklahomans. If they are, an injunction is proper, and the companies are not going to move their operations to other states. Where, pray tell? More likely, the Supreme Court’s denial of certiorari will force Oklahoma and the industry to negotiate a settlement that will save the day for Oklahomans and Arkansas farmers.
SAT 3-1-6 EDITORIAL >> ‘Not just NO, but HELL NO’
When you first heard that the U.S. has hired a company owned by the United Arab Emirates to help run some of our nation’s ports, a couple of thoughts probably crossed your mind: Why can’t a superpower watch its own ports without foreign help, and where is the United Arab Emirates located, anyway?
Right there on the eastern tip of the Arabian peninsula, where the U.S. Air Force has had a strong presence for years. That’s why President Bush says the UAE is a close ally of the U.S. and still favors the deal: Our military is all over the place in the emirates and hopes to stay a while longer, unless we’re tossed out over the controversy.
The Bush administration had hoped to show the emirates its appreciation for letting the U.S. launch military operations in the desert kingdom — not to mention its $100 million aid to Katrina victims — but the symbolism of an Arab nation having a say on how our ports are run is too much for most Americans to accept. As Rep. Sue Myrick (R-N.C.) put it in a letter to President Bush this week, “Dear Mr. President: In regards to selling American ports to the United Arab Emirates, not just NO but HELL NO!”
No wonder the deal is now on hold and may be scrapped as opposition from both political parties increases every day. The Bush administration is clearly on the defensive as it tries to answer critics who point out that several 9/11 hijackers were from the UAE, which also once recognized the Taliban government in Afghanistan.
Besides its spotty record on terrorism, the UAE is an authoritarian country that is hardly qualified to run our nation’s ports or profit from their operation. The port deal may be questionable, but the emirates have their supporters in this country, particularly Treasury Secretary John Snow, who once headed the company that owned the port operations business before the UAE purchased it as part of a multinational deal.
Although the President didn’t know about the deal until a few days ago, the Bush administration had consented to the port transfer as a way of thanking the emirates for letting the U.S. use their airfields and ports, especially for refueling. C-130s from Little Rock Air Force Base have landed in the area for many years, while KC-10s used the emirates for refueling planes that enforced the southern no-flight zone over Iraq before Saddam was overthrown.
If the deal is scrapped, the United Arab Emirates might tell us to take our ships and planes elsewhere, but that might be a small price to pay if we can keep our nation’s ports in American hands, as we must.
Right there on the eastern tip of the Arabian peninsula, where the U.S. Air Force has had a strong presence for years. That’s why President Bush says the UAE is a close ally of the U.S. and still favors the deal: Our military is all over the place in the emirates and hopes to stay a while longer, unless we’re tossed out over the controversy.
The Bush administration had hoped to show the emirates its appreciation for letting the U.S. launch military operations in the desert kingdom — not to mention its $100 million aid to Katrina victims — but the symbolism of an Arab nation having a say on how our ports are run is too much for most Americans to accept. As Rep. Sue Myrick (R-N.C.) put it in a letter to President Bush this week, “Dear Mr. President: In regards to selling American ports to the United Arab Emirates, not just NO but HELL NO!”
No wonder the deal is now on hold and may be scrapped as opposition from both political parties increases every day. The Bush administration is clearly on the defensive as it tries to answer critics who point out that several 9/11 hijackers were from the UAE, which also once recognized the Taliban government in Afghanistan.
Besides its spotty record on terrorism, the UAE is an authoritarian country that is hardly qualified to run our nation’s ports or profit from their operation. The port deal may be questionable, but the emirates have their supporters in this country, particularly Treasury Secretary John Snow, who once headed the company that owned the port operations business before the UAE purchased it as part of a multinational deal.
Although the President didn’t know about the deal until a few days ago, the Bush administration had consented to the port transfer as a way of thanking the emirates for letting the U.S. use their airfields and ports, especially for refueling. C-130s from Little Rock Air Force Base have landed in the area for many years, while KC-10s used the emirates for refueling planes that enforced the southern no-flight zone over Iraq before Saddam was overthrown.
If the deal is scrapped, the United Arab Emirates might tell us to take our ships and planes elsewhere, but that might be a small price to pay if we can keep our nation’s ports in American hands, as we must.
WED 3-1-6 EDITORIAL >> Would UAE let us run their ports?
President Bush picked a fine time to worry about ethnic profiling: when the safety of the nation’s ports is in peril. The man who has inflamed Arab passions against the West more than anyone since Pope Urban II and Peter the Hermit organized the First Crusade is terribly afraid that not allowing the sheik of Dubai to run major U.S. ports will cause Muslims to distrust us and not want to do business with American corporations. Bush’s trade representative is trying to negotiate a trade agreement with the United Arab Emirates, which is keenly wanted by major businesses.
We have no idea the degree of risk that the government is taking when it rents the operation of the ports to Dubai Ports World, a company owned by the Dubai government. No matter how many assurances of future security cooperation that the sheik’s men give to the Bush administration, it really can have little confidence either.
Perhaps, as the president says, it really makes no difference since the U.S. Coast Guard and other U.S. agencies will be in charge of security, not the Arab dictator’s agents, and our men are on the scene and fully up to the job. But do you trust those assurances?
What has the Bush administration done to shore up port security, identified three years ago as a matter of grave danger? Nothing. The Coast Guard estimated after 9/11 that it would take $5.4 billion to raise security to the level required by the Maritime Transportation Security Act. The administration requested only $46 million last year, less than before 9/11. Congress raised it to $175 million. Even now, less than 5 percent of cargo unloaded in U.S. ports is carefully inspected. But even that does not reach the real worry. Unloaded cargo is not the issue. A nuclear explosion aboard a ship in the harbor would cripple a city and the nation for years.
The president is right to worry about Arab feelings of slight and discrimination, but we have been told that the threat of terrorism overrides everything, even the Constitution. Last week, the government agreed to pay $300,000 to settle claims by an Egyptian restaurant owner in New York City who was swept up along with many other people of Arab descent by federal agents after 9/11, beaten, jailed incommunicado for many months before officials acknowledged his complete innocence and deported him. The suits of hundreds of others are pending. Bush said the government could take no chances that one might have designs against the country.
The Dubai government, as the president says, has been helpful to the United States in the war against Iraq and terrorists from time to time, letting us base planes and warships there. But is Dubai a lesser risk than, say, Ehab Elmaghraby, that New York restaurateur who ladled splendid moussaka at his Times Square cafe before the government jailed and deported him?
Remember, Dubai was the transfer port for the spread of nuclear technology to tyrant regimes by the Pakistani Abdul Qadeer Khan’s network. Remember also that, according to the 9/11 Commission, at least two 9/11 hijackers were from the Emirates and operated from safe houses and bank accounts in Dubai, and that when President Clinton ordered an air strike on Osama bin Laden in Afghanistan’s hills in 1999, the CIA unilaterally called it off upon learning that some Dubai royals were in bin Laden’s hunting camp.
It is not as if the sheiks would return the favor. An American company would not be allowed to operate the Dubai port. No business can operate there without majority U.A.E. ownership. Free speech and commerce are not allowed there. Americans cannot own land.
Approval of the port sale to the Dubai company deserves special attention for another reason: the peculiar associations within the administration. We don’t mean the president’s claimed personal friendship with the Emirates’ dictators.
Treasury Secretary John Snow, whose department chaired the federal panel that signed off on the port sale to Dubai, was chairman of a rail firm that sold its own operations to Dubai in 2004 for $1.15 billion. Last month, President Bush appointed David Sanborn, who runs Dubai Port’s American and European operations, to run the U.S. Maritime Administration.
This deal may be as safe as the country can arrange, but it deserves to be scrutinized by skeptics, not cheerleaders.
We have no idea the degree of risk that the government is taking when it rents the operation of the ports to Dubai Ports World, a company owned by the Dubai government. No matter how many assurances of future security cooperation that the sheik’s men give to the Bush administration, it really can have little confidence either.
Perhaps, as the president says, it really makes no difference since the U.S. Coast Guard and other U.S. agencies will be in charge of security, not the Arab dictator’s agents, and our men are on the scene and fully up to the job. But do you trust those assurances?
What has the Bush administration done to shore up port security, identified three years ago as a matter of grave danger? Nothing. The Coast Guard estimated after 9/11 that it would take $5.4 billion to raise security to the level required by the Maritime Transportation Security Act. The administration requested only $46 million last year, less than before 9/11. Congress raised it to $175 million. Even now, less than 5 percent of cargo unloaded in U.S. ports is carefully inspected. But even that does not reach the real worry. Unloaded cargo is not the issue. A nuclear explosion aboard a ship in the harbor would cripple a city and the nation for years.
The president is right to worry about Arab feelings of slight and discrimination, but we have been told that the threat of terrorism overrides everything, even the Constitution. Last week, the government agreed to pay $300,000 to settle claims by an Egyptian restaurant owner in New York City who was swept up along with many other people of Arab descent by federal agents after 9/11, beaten, jailed incommunicado for many months before officials acknowledged his complete innocence and deported him. The suits of hundreds of others are pending. Bush said the government could take no chances that one might have designs against the country.
The Dubai government, as the president says, has been helpful to the United States in the war against Iraq and terrorists from time to time, letting us base planes and warships there. But is Dubai a lesser risk than, say, Ehab Elmaghraby, that New York restaurateur who ladled splendid moussaka at his Times Square cafe before the government jailed and deported him?
Remember, Dubai was the transfer port for the spread of nuclear technology to tyrant regimes by the Pakistani Abdul Qadeer Khan’s network. Remember also that, according to the 9/11 Commission, at least two 9/11 hijackers were from the Emirates and operated from safe houses and bank accounts in Dubai, and that when President Clinton ordered an air strike on Osama bin Laden in Afghanistan’s hills in 1999, the CIA unilaterally called it off upon learning that some Dubai royals were in bin Laden’s hunting camp.
It is not as if the sheiks would return the favor. An American company would not be allowed to operate the Dubai port. No business can operate there without majority U.A.E. ownership. Free speech and commerce are not allowed there. Americans cannot own land.
Approval of the port sale to the Dubai company deserves special attention for another reason: the peculiar associations within the administration. We don’t mean the president’s claimed personal friendship with the Emirates’ dictators.
Treasury Secretary John Snow, whose department chaired the federal panel that signed off on the port sale to Dubai, was chairman of a rail firm that sold its own operations to Dubai in 2004 for $1.15 billion. Last month, President Bush appointed David Sanborn, who runs Dubai Port’s American and European operations, to run the U.S. Maritime Administration.
This deal may be as safe as the country can arrange, but it deserves to be scrutinized by skeptics, not cheerleaders.
SPORTS >> HA ladies knock off Carlisle in title game
By JASON KING
Leader sports writer
The Harding Academy Lady Wildcats won the AA Region 6 tournament with an upset over the Carlisle Lady Bison 37-31 in Augusta on Saturday. After losing twice to the Lady Bison during the conference regular season, the Lady Wildcats used a match-up zone to contain Carlisle in the defensive struggle.
“We defended every pass, and every shot,” Lady Wildcats assistant coach Rusty Garner said. “We also rebounded well all night. The biggest difference was the press. When they used it on us this time, it didn’t bother us, we didn’t panic. We told them they didn’t have to be better than (Carlisle) all year; they just had to be better than them tonight.”
Carlisle took the advantage in the early going with a 5-0 lead. The Lady ‘Cats fought back to take over with a 9-7 lead at the end of the first quarter. Harding Academy extended its lead in the second, with a 21-15 advantage at the half.
Although the Lady Wildcats maintained their lead in the third, the Lady Bison closed in on them to trail by one, 27-26 heading into the final frame. Carlisle took the lead for the first time since the first quarter with a three-point shot in the early moments of the fourth to go ahead 29-28.
Harding Academy answered with a home run pass on the in- bounds to senior Liz Ashley, who was all alone under the goal for the easy basket to give the Lady ‘Cats the lead once again.
Harding held off the Lady Bison from that point on, claiming their fifth regional title in as many years.
It also marks the second consecutive year that the Lady Wildcats have failed to beat Carlisle in the regular season, but overtook them in the regional finals.
Liz Ashley led Harding Academy in scoring with 12 points. Jessica Stevens was the leading rebounder for the Lady Wildcats with 10.
With the win, Harding Academy will now face Arkansas Baptist in the first round of the AA state tournament today, as opposed to Carlisle’s opening round opponent Jessieville.
The Lady Wildcats easily beat Baptist in the regular season. An opening-round win would put Harding Academy in the quarter- finals of the state tourney on Friday.
Academy boys fall to Hughes
AUGUSTA – If moral victories counted, the Harding Academy Wildcats would be heading to the Class AA state tournament. The Wildcats put up a valiant effort on Friday night against Hughes but fell, 44-37, in the semifinal round of the Region 6 tournament.
Hughes punched its ticket to the state event while Harding Academy finished its season at 14-12. The Blue Devils will now face Altheimer, a 69-39 winner Friday night over Palestine-Wheatley, in tonight’s regional final.
“We’ve had a tough week,” Hughes coach Jason Carmichael said afterward. “We finished up our district on Tuesday, then we’ve had to play against some contrasting styles. Harding Academy really played a high-IQ game against us, like I knew they would.”
The Wildcats trailed just 24-22 at the half and led the game as late as midway through the third quarter when Alex Beene, who had 11 points for Harding Academy, scored on a drive with 4:09 left. Hughes guard Ken Smith put the Blue Devils back on top, matching Beene’s bucket with one of his own. Seconds later, Lance Carr, who led the Wildcats with 12 points, hit 1-of-2 from the free-throw line to knot the game at 32 with 3:18 left in the quarter.
Hughes standout Marcus Washington then scored the most spectacular of his game-high 16 points, converting a steal in the backcourt into a crowd-pleasing dunk and the Blue Devils never trailed again. Hughes led 35-32 after three quarters.
The Blue Devils pulled the ball out and ran time off the clock to begin the fourth period. Kevin Brown hit a free throw and Washington connected on a pair to give Hughes its largest lead of the game at 40-32 with 3:47 left. Beene responded, though, by drilling a long 3-pointer. After two more Washington freebies, James Kee sank two free throws to pull HA back to within five at 42-37 with 1:59 left.
Hughes did just enough from the line from there, connecting on 2-of-4 to seal the victory.
“I never thought we’d be holding the ball against Harding Academy in the fourth quarter,” Carmichael said.
“They really scouted us well. They shut down Kevin Brown inside by just sagging, sagging, sagging. They took him away from us.”
Brown finished with seven points.
Harding Academy led just briefly in the first half. Hughes shook off some cold shooting to open an 8-2 lead. Harding Academy pulled to within 21-20 on Nick Beene’s 3-pointer and took the lead with 1:46 until halftime on Alex Beene’s floater in the lane. Two free throws by Michael Darnell gave Hughes its 24-22 halftime lead.
In the girls bracket, Harding Academy advanced to the state tournament and the regional finals with a 48-39 win over 2AA-South foe England. The Lady Lions led HA, 23-21, at the half. Treys by Sara Montgomery and Loghan Lowery in the third quarter put the Lady Wildcats ahead to stay.
Lowery, who led Harding Academy with 15 points, knocked down four consecutive free throws in the final period. The Lady Wildcats connected on 9-of-12 from the line in the final period.
Jessica Stevens added nine points for Harding Academy, which improved to 21-9.
The Lady Bison advanced with an easy 66-37 victory over Augusta in Friday’s late semifinal.
The Leader’s Rick Butler contributed to this story.
Leader sports writer
The Harding Academy Lady Wildcats won the AA Region 6 tournament with an upset over the Carlisle Lady Bison 37-31 in Augusta on Saturday. After losing twice to the Lady Bison during the conference regular season, the Lady Wildcats used a match-up zone to contain Carlisle in the defensive struggle.
“We defended every pass, and every shot,” Lady Wildcats assistant coach Rusty Garner said. “We also rebounded well all night. The biggest difference was the press. When they used it on us this time, it didn’t bother us, we didn’t panic. We told them they didn’t have to be better than (Carlisle) all year; they just had to be better than them tonight.”
Carlisle took the advantage in the early going with a 5-0 lead. The Lady ‘Cats fought back to take over with a 9-7 lead at the end of the first quarter. Harding Academy extended its lead in the second, with a 21-15 advantage at the half.
Although the Lady Wildcats maintained their lead in the third, the Lady Bison closed in on them to trail by one, 27-26 heading into the final frame. Carlisle took the lead for the first time since the first quarter with a three-point shot in the early moments of the fourth to go ahead 29-28.
Harding Academy answered with a home run pass on the in- bounds to senior Liz Ashley, who was all alone under the goal for the easy basket to give the Lady ‘Cats the lead once again.
Harding held off the Lady Bison from that point on, claiming their fifth regional title in as many years.
It also marks the second consecutive year that the Lady Wildcats have failed to beat Carlisle in the regular season, but overtook them in the regional finals.
Liz Ashley led Harding Academy in scoring with 12 points. Jessica Stevens was the leading rebounder for the Lady Wildcats with 10.
With the win, Harding Academy will now face Arkansas Baptist in the first round of the AA state tournament today, as opposed to Carlisle’s opening round opponent Jessieville.
The Lady Wildcats easily beat Baptist in the regular season. An opening-round win would put Harding Academy in the quarter- finals of the state tourney on Friday.
Academy boys fall to Hughes
AUGUSTA – If moral victories counted, the Harding Academy Wildcats would be heading to the Class AA state tournament. The Wildcats put up a valiant effort on Friday night against Hughes but fell, 44-37, in the semifinal round of the Region 6 tournament.
Hughes punched its ticket to the state event while Harding Academy finished its season at 14-12. The Blue Devils will now face Altheimer, a 69-39 winner Friday night over Palestine-Wheatley, in tonight’s regional final.
“We’ve had a tough week,” Hughes coach Jason Carmichael said afterward. “We finished up our district on Tuesday, then we’ve had to play against some contrasting styles. Harding Academy really played a high-IQ game against us, like I knew they would.”
The Wildcats trailed just 24-22 at the half and led the game as late as midway through the third quarter when Alex Beene, who had 11 points for Harding Academy, scored on a drive with 4:09 left. Hughes guard Ken Smith put the Blue Devils back on top, matching Beene’s bucket with one of his own. Seconds later, Lance Carr, who led the Wildcats with 12 points, hit 1-of-2 from the free-throw line to knot the game at 32 with 3:18 left in the quarter.
Hughes standout Marcus Washington then scored the most spectacular of his game-high 16 points, converting a steal in the backcourt into a crowd-pleasing dunk and the Blue Devils never trailed again. Hughes led 35-32 after three quarters.
The Blue Devils pulled the ball out and ran time off the clock to begin the fourth period. Kevin Brown hit a free throw and Washington connected on a pair to give Hughes its largest lead of the game at 40-32 with 3:47 left. Beene responded, though, by drilling a long 3-pointer. After two more Washington freebies, James Kee sank two free throws to pull HA back to within five at 42-37 with 1:59 left.
Hughes did just enough from the line from there, connecting on 2-of-4 to seal the victory.
“I never thought we’d be holding the ball against Harding Academy in the fourth quarter,” Carmichael said.
“They really scouted us well. They shut down Kevin Brown inside by just sagging, sagging, sagging. They took him away from us.”
Brown finished with seven points.
Harding Academy led just briefly in the first half. Hughes shook off some cold shooting to open an 8-2 lead. Harding Academy pulled to within 21-20 on Nick Beene’s 3-pointer and took the lead with 1:46 until halftime on Alex Beene’s floater in the lane. Two free throws by Michael Darnell gave Hughes its 24-22 halftime lead.
In the girls bracket, Harding Academy advanced to the state tournament and the regional finals with a 48-39 win over 2AA-South foe England. The Lady Lions led HA, 23-21, at the half. Treys by Sara Montgomery and Loghan Lowery in the third quarter put the Lady Wildcats ahead to stay.
Lowery, who led Harding Academy with 15 points, knocked down four consecutive free throws in the final period. The Lady Wildcats connected on 9-of-12 from the line in the final period.
Jessica Stevens added nine points for Harding Academy, which improved to 21-9.
The Lady Bison advanced with an easy 66-37 victory over Augusta in Friday’s late semifinal.
The Leader’s Rick Butler contributed to this story.
SPORTS >> Cabot survives early scare
By RAY BENTON
Leader sports editor
The Cabot Lady Panthers fought off a strong fourth-quarter attack Tuesday night to defeat Conway 62-57 in the opening game of the class AAAAA state tournament at UALR’s Stephens Center.
The Lady Panthers led by 13 at halftime and 48-38 at the end of the third quarter, but Conway came storming back to make it an exciting game at the end. The Lady Wampus Cats scored the first eight points of the fourth quarter, and took the lead at 54-53 with 1:32 remaining before the Lady Panthers regained control.
Cabot coach Carla Crowder would have liked for the win to have been easier, but was happy to get into the next round.
“They’ve got a good team and played real hard,” Crowder said. “We didn’t play well in spots, but we made some plays at the end. Hopefully this won’t happen to us again.”
Wyvonne Hawkins’ driving layup and subsequent free throw, her first points of the game, put Conway up for the first time in the game at the 1:32 mark.
Lauren Daniels answered with a minute remaining off an assist by Cabot senior Kim Sitzmann.
Conway’s Caroline Powell walked on the next possession, and Maddie Helms hit two free throws for Cabot to make it 57-54.
Powell missed a three at the other end.
Teammate Shabhree Maxfield got the rebound, but missed a short jumper amid heavy traffic. Sitzmann got that rebound and was fouled. She hit both free throws with 25 seconds left, but Conway still wasn’t finished rallying.
Hawkins hit a three pointer with 17 seconds remaining. It was the first and only three of the game for Conway in 10 attempts.
Conway almost forced a turnover after timeout, but junior Jamie Sterrenberg saved the ball from going out of bounds and hit Sitzmann in the middle of the court. Sitzmann was fouled and hit both free throws with 11 seconds to go to seal the victory.
Maddie Helms added one more free throw with two seconds remaining to set the final margin.
Conway knocked Cabot out of the tournament last year, and that fact was not forgotten. If it was, Sitzmann made sure to bring it back to her teammates attention.
“I had to bring that up,” Sitzmann said. “We were ready to take care of them.”
The Lady Panthers started fast, running out to an 8-2 lead in the first three minutes, including a 6-0 run after a 2-2 start. Conway battled back and tied the game at eight apiece with 3:45 left in the first, but it was all Cabot from there.
Junior Lindsey Watts check-ed into the game and immediately hit back-to-back three pointers to put the Lady Panthers up 18-10.
After a couple of Conway free throws, Sitzmann closed the quarter with a three at the buzzer to make it 21-12 at the end of one.
Cabot didn’t score for over two minutes of the second quarter while committing three straight turnovers, but little damage was done. Conway only scored four points before Sitzmann added two free throws to make it 23-16 with 5:45 left in the second quarter. Lauren Daniels gave the Lady Panthers their first field goal of the quarter with 5:10 left.
Conway’s Chanel Irvin got a bucket and foul to make it 25-19, but after a Jamie Sterrenberg bucket, Sitzmann got a steal and layup to put the Lady Panthers up by 10 for the first time in the game.
Irvin kept getting offensive rebounds and free throws, but Helms made it an 11-point game with 1:38 left in the half with a driving layup and a free throw.
Cabot developed the dropsies again at the start of the second half, but damage was minimal until the fourth quarter as stone-cold shooting prevented the Lady ’Cats from getting any closer than seven points.
Sophomore Leah Watts drilled a three pointer from about 23 feet to put Cabot back up by double digits with 5:26 left in the third.
Sitzmann finished with 24 points to lead all scorers. Helms added 13 for the Lady Panthers.
Irvin led Conway with 15 points while Chelsea Sublett and Maxfield added 14 each.
Conway dominated the boards, finishing with a 37-18 rebounding advantage.
The win puts Cabot into a 1 p.m. matchup Friday against tonight’s Rogers-Lake Hamilton winner.
Leader sports editor
The Cabot Lady Panthers fought off a strong fourth-quarter attack Tuesday night to defeat Conway 62-57 in the opening game of the class AAAAA state tournament at UALR’s Stephens Center.
The Lady Panthers led by 13 at halftime and 48-38 at the end of the third quarter, but Conway came storming back to make it an exciting game at the end. The Lady Wampus Cats scored the first eight points of the fourth quarter, and took the lead at 54-53 with 1:32 remaining before the Lady Panthers regained control.
Cabot coach Carla Crowder would have liked for the win to have been easier, but was happy to get into the next round.
“They’ve got a good team and played real hard,” Crowder said. “We didn’t play well in spots, but we made some plays at the end. Hopefully this won’t happen to us again.”
Wyvonne Hawkins’ driving layup and subsequent free throw, her first points of the game, put Conway up for the first time in the game at the 1:32 mark.
Lauren Daniels answered with a minute remaining off an assist by Cabot senior Kim Sitzmann.
Conway’s Caroline Powell walked on the next possession, and Maddie Helms hit two free throws for Cabot to make it 57-54.
Powell missed a three at the other end.
Teammate Shabhree Maxfield got the rebound, but missed a short jumper amid heavy traffic. Sitzmann got that rebound and was fouled. She hit both free throws with 25 seconds left, but Conway still wasn’t finished rallying.
Hawkins hit a three pointer with 17 seconds remaining. It was the first and only three of the game for Conway in 10 attempts.
Conway almost forced a turnover after timeout, but junior Jamie Sterrenberg saved the ball from going out of bounds and hit Sitzmann in the middle of the court. Sitzmann was fouled and hit both free throws with 11 seconds to go to seal the victory.
Maddie Helms added one more free throw with two seconds remaining to set the final margin.
Conway knocked Cabot out of the tournament last year, and that fact was not forgotten. If it was, Sitzmann made sure to bring it back to her teammates attention.
“I had to bring that up,” Sitzmann said. “We were ready to take care of them.”
The Lady Panthers started fast, running out to an 8-2 lead in the first three minutes, including a 6-0 run after a 2-2 start. Conway battled back and tied the game at eight apiece with 3:45 left in the first, but it was all Cabot from there.
Junior Lindsey Watts check-ed into the game and immediately hit back-to-back three pointers to put the Lady Panthers up 18-10.
After a couple of Conway free throws, Sitzmann closed the quarter with a three at the buzzer to make it 21-12 at the end of one.
Cabot didn’t score for over two minutes of the second quarter while committing three straight turnovers, but little damage was done. Conway only scored four points before Sitzmann added two free throws to make it 23-16 with 5:45 left in the second quarter. Lauren Daniels gave the Lady Panthers their first field goal of the quarter with 5:10 left.
Conway’s Chanel Irvin got a bucket and foul to make it 25-19, but after a Jamie Sterrenberg bucket, Sitzmann got a steal and layup to put the Lady Panthers up by 10 for the first time in the game.
Irvin kept getting offensive rebounds and free throws, but Helms made it an 11-point game with 1:38 left in the half with a driving layup and a free throw.
Cabot developed the dropsies again at the start of the second half, but damage was minimal until the fourth quarter as stone-cold shooting prevented the Lady ’Cats from getting any closer than seven points.
Sophomore Leah Watts drilled a three pointer from about 23 feet to put Cabot back up by double digits with 5:26 left in the third.
Sitzmann finished with 24 points to lead all scorers. Helms added 13 for the Lady Panthers.
Irvin led Conway with 15 points while Chelsea Sublett and Maxfield added 14 each.
Conway dominated the boards, finishing with a 37-18 rebounding advantage.
The win puts Cabot into a 1 p.m. matchup Friday against tonight’s Rogers-Lake Hamilton winner.
NEIGHBORS >> Knight’s celebrates 35 years
By GARRICK FELDMAN
Leader Publisher
Knight’s in business since 70s
A long time ago, Warren and Sandra Knight had a dream of owning their own business. In 1971, they bought a store in Cabot, which was a sleepy little town, and renamed their business Knight’s Dollar Saver at 302 E. Main at the corner of Grant.
The store, which had 5,000 square feet, did well from the very beginning. Sandra and Warren worked closely together, and as their sons grew, so did their responsibilities at the store.
Knight’s quickly expanded to a full-service supermaket and then opened stores in Beebe and Jacksonville with a total of 157,000 square feet.
The chain has expanded their stores and even rebuilt after a fire at the South Pine location.
Warren Knight passed away last year, but Knight’s remains a family-owned business and hopes to serve the community for a long time.
To celebrate its 35th anniversary, Knight’s is giving away a 60-inch high-definition TV and many other prizes. Drawings will be held at all stores on Saturday, March 25.
In memoriam: Tribute to grocery chain’s founder
This column first appeared on March 2, 2005, and is a tribute to Warren Knight, who passed away on Feb. 27, 2005.
A gentle rain fell Sunday evening only hours after Warren Knight passed away in his sleep at the age of 71 in his Cabot home.
Somebody said the sky was crying as friends and relatives reminisced about this extraordinary man’s life.
He and his wife, Sandra, had founded a chain of supermarkets with a little store in downtown Cabot in 1971, when the city’s population was about a tenth of what it is today.
Warren Knight had hoped his business would grow enough so his three sons would one day own their own homes, his oldest son Keith recalled Sunday.
The family patriarch had passed away early Sunday morning, apparently of a heart attack. His middle son, Kent, who lives next door, had raced over to his parents’ home when his mother told him Warren was unconscious. Paramedics rushed to the home, but they could not revive him.
Warren and Sandra were married for 52 years. She’d dated him when she was just 15. They were from Memphis and were contemporaries of Elvis — Warren a couple of years older and Sandra about the same age.
The Knights married in 1952 and were determined to make a success of themselves despite their modest circumstances.
Memphis, often called the capital of the South, has always had a can-do spirit. Peter Guralnick, Elvis’ biographer says, “Memphis, after all, is a town that has never been prone to self-doubt; civic pride has always held that a city which gave birth to Piggly Wiggly, the Holiday Inn, Elvis Presley and the blues … was somehow touched by magic.”
Guralnick hails “the triumph of the independent spirit, something no Memphian could fail to understand or appreciate,” and he might as well have been thinking of the Knights, who were touched by magic.
They raised a family in Memphis, where Warren worked for the A&P supermarket chain. They eventually moved in Pine Bluff, where Warren worked for Weingarten’s, a Houston-based grocery chain with several stores in Arkansas.
Warren became Weingarten’s Arkansas manager but quit in 1971, taking his family to Cabot, where they bought Thompson’s Dollar Saver, turning it into a success almost immediately with $10,000 in sales the first week, a tremendous amount of money 34 years ago.
The four Knight’s stores gross as much as $1 million a week. He was a smart grocer who understood good food and how it should be presented.
“He wanted his customers to be satisfied,” his wife recalled Sunday.
When a customer complained about some steaks she had bought for a party, Warren took some steaks over to her home and cooked dinner for everybody, cutting up a watermelon for everybody while they waited for dinner. He listened to his customers and valued their opinions. He and Sandra and their three sons helped build the business into a chain of stores in Cabot, Beebe and Jacksonville (which was once a Weingarten’s).
Knight was our only printing customer when we bought our first press more than 15 years ago. He took a chance on us, but since then we’ve printed more than 20 million Knight’s circulars that go into homes from North Little Rock to Searcy.
Warren had health problems in the last few years, but everyone expected him to pull through because he was a strong personality. He’d had a lot of close scrapes, but Sandra and his doctors managed to keep him going.
Warren was a successful businessman, but he never forgot his roots. He helped hundreds of people along the way. He helped people go into business for themselves, lending them money and his invaluable advice.
When you told him you’re buying a printing press, he stuck with you even as you struggled to get the business off the ground.
He helped people survive hard times, and he lifted them out of the abyss. People straightened out their lives and made something of themselves because of Warren.
The Talmud says if you save one life, it’s as if you have saved the whole world.
That was Warren Knight.
Leader Publisher
Knight’s in business since 70s
A long time ago, Warren and Sandra Knight had a dream of owning their own business. In 1971, they bought a store in Cabot, which was a sleepy little town, and renamed their business Knight’s Dollar Saver at 302 E. Main at the corner of Grant.
The store, which had 5,000 square feet, did well from the very beginning. Sandra and Warren worked closely together, and as their sons grew, so did their responsibilities at the store.
Knight’s quickly expanded to a full-service supermaket and then opened stores in Beebe and Jacksonville with a total of 157,000 square feet.
The chain has expanded their stores and even rebuilt after a fire at the South Pine location.
Warren Knight passed away last year, but Knight’s remains a family-owned business and hopes to serve the community for a long time.
To celebrate its 35th anniversary, Knight’s is giving away a 60-inch high-definition TV and many other prizes. Drawings will be held at all stores on Saturday, March 25.
In memoriam: Tribute to grocery chain’s founder
This column first appeared on March 2, 2005, and is a tribute to Warren Knight, who passed away on Feb. 27, 2005.
A gentle rain fell Sunday evening only hours after Warren Knight passed away in his sleep at the age of 71 in his Cabot home.
Somebody said the sky was crying as friends and relatives reminisced about this extraordinary man’s life.
He and his wife, Sandra, had founded a chain of supermarkets with a little store in downtown Cabot in 1971, when the city’s population was about a tenth of what it is today.
Warren Knight had hoped his business would grow enough so his three sons would one day own their own homes, his oldest son Keith recalled Sunday.
The family patriarch had passed away early Sunday morning, apparently of a heart attack. His middle son, Kent, who lives next door, had raced over to his parents’ home when his mother told him Warren was unconscious. Paramedics rushed to the home, but they could not revive him.
Warren and Sandra were married for 52 years. She’d dated him when she was just 15. They were from Memphis and were contemporaries of Elvis — Warren a couple of years older and Sandra about the same age.
The Knights married in 1952 and were determined to make a success of themselves despite their modest circumstances.
Memphis, often called the capital of the South, has always had a can-do spirit. Peter Guralnick, Elvis’ biographer says, “Memphis, after all, is a town that has never been prone to self-doubt; civic pride has always held that a city which gave birth to Piggly Wiggly, the Holiday Inn, Elvis Presley and the blues … was somehow touched by magic.”
Guralnick hails “the triumph of the independent spirit, something no Memphian could fail to understand or appreciate,” and he might as well have been thinking of the Knights, who were touched by magic.
They raised a family in Memphis, where Warren worked for the A&P supermarket chain. They eventually moved in Pine Bluff, where Warren worked for Weingarten’s, a Houston-based grocery chain with several stores in Arkansas.
Warren became Weingarten’s Arkansas manager but quit in 1971, taking his family to Cabot, where they bought Thompson’s Dollar Saver, turning it into a success almost immediately with $10,000 in sales the first week, a tremendous amount of money 34 years ago.
The four Knight’s stores gross as much as $1 million a week. He was a smart grocer who understood good food and how it should be presented.
“He wanted his customers to be satisfied,” his wife recalled Sunday.
When a customer complained about some steaks she had bought for a party, Warren took some steaks over to her home and cooked dinner for everybody, cutting up a watermelon for everybody while they waited for dinner. He listened to his customers and valued their opinions. He and Sandra and their three sons helped build the business into a chain of stores in Cabot, Beebe and Jacksonville (which was once a Weingarten’s).
Knight was our only printing customer when we bought our first press more than 15 years ago. He took a chance on us, but since then we’ve printed more than 20 million Knight’s circulars that go into homes from North Little Rock to Searcy.
Warren had health problems in the last few years, but everyone expected him to pull through because he was a strong personality. He’d had a lot of close scrapes, but Sandra and his doctors managed to keep him going.
Warren was a successful businessman, but he never forgot his roots. He helped hundreds of people along the way. He helped people go into business for themselves, lending them money and his invaluable advice.
When you told him you’re buying a printing press, he stuck with you even as you struggled to get the business off the ground.
He helped people survive hard times, and he lifted them out of the abyss. People straightened out their lives and made something of themselves because of Warren.
The Talmud says if you save one life, it’s as if you have saved the whole world.
That was Warren Knight.
TOP STORY >> Newspaper starts its 20th year
The Leader begins 20 years of publication and invites readers to take advantage of an anniversary special.
The Leader is starting its 20th year. To celebrate, start a new subscription or extend your subscription for just $5 a year. That’s two issues a week, 104 issues a year, for less than a nickel per paper.
This offer ends at the end of the week, so mail it in or bring in your coupon today. This spectacular offer is our way of showing our appreciation to this community, which has allowed us to grow from a small newspaper to the largest paid non-daily in Arkansas.
The Leader, which started on March 2, 1987, has more than doubled its circulation in the past two decades.
We’re looking to double our circulation again in the next couple of years.
So start enjoying The Leader, an award-winning newspaper known for its coverage of local news, sports, commentary, features and colorful TV guide.
The Leader is starting its 20th year. To celebrate, start a new subscription or extend your subscription for just $5 a year. That’s two issues a week, 104 issues a year, for less than a nickel per paper.
This offer ends at the end of the week, so mail it in or bring in your coupon today. This spectacular offer is our way of showing our appreciation to this community, which has allowed us to grow from a small newspaper to the largest paid non-daily in Arkansas.
The Leader, which started on March 2, 1987, has more than doubled its circulation in the past two decades.
We’re looking to double our circulation again in the next couple of years.
So start enjoying The Leader, an award-winning newspaper known for its coverage of local news, sports, commentary, features and colorful TV guide.
TOP STORY >> Sherwood mayor will retire
By JOHN HOFHEIMER
Leader staff writer
“This is my last state of the city address,” Sherwood Mayor Bill Harmon, 80, announced Monday night at the conclusion of the address brimming with good news about the town’s finances and growth.
Although there had been speculation that Harmon would step down at the end of his fourth term, this first confirmation had Alderman Dan Sted-man hastily scribbling “I will be a candidate for the position of Sherwood mayor” on the back of his business cards, slipping one to each reporter at the end of the meeting.
“Andrew Carnegie said you can take away my steel mills and take away my railroads but leave me my people and I’ll have them all again in two or three years,” said Harmon in tribute to the job city department heads and personnel had done over the years.
Harmon said that city revenues were recovering quickly from the relocation of Wal-Mart and Best Buy to North Little Rock in no small part because of businesses recently opened in the town, businesses such as Gander Mountain, Academy Sports and others, such as Kohls.
He said income had not quite replaced the losses from Wal-Mart and Best Buy, but that while the city had budgeted $3,200,000 from city taxes, it raised $3,400,000.
Harmon said city revenues for 2005 were $493,500 more than expenses.
“We just received the December tax money and it’s $73,000 more than the previous month and $55,000 more than it was last year.
“We came in $600,000 under budget, thanks to the department heads and the council,” he said.
Harmon wasn’t done with the good news, however. A FTD call center had hired 300 people and a Cardinal Health call center would soon begin hiring 500 people.
“Our land use plan has been revised to provide more commercial property in the (undeveloped) north part of the city,” he said.
About 110 acres of new residential and commercial development are slated for the intersection of Brocking-ton Road and Hwy. 107, he said.
Developers have bought 800 more acres they want to annex into the city.
“Growth will come,” he said.
The council unanimously approved in one sitting an ordinance requiring and allowing pawnbrokers within Sherwood to list information about daily transactions on line, making it easier for law enforcement to track stolen property.
Little Rock and North Little Rock have the system and Benton, Pine Bluff, Jonesboro and Hot Springs either have the system or are looking into it.
The ordinance requires electronic recordkeeping by not only pawnshop operators but dealers in secondhand goods.
In other action, the council tabled declaring two parcels as public nuisance until confusion over the addresses of those properties was resolved.
The council did declare a mobile home at Royal Oaks Mobile Home Park a public nuisance and also finding the triplex at 607 Sherer Plave Drive to constitute a public nuisance.
The council also confirmed Harmon’s appointments of Carolyn Chalmers to the civil service commission and of Arnie Bergquist to the personnel commission.
Leader staff writer
“This is my last state of the city address,” Sherwood Mayor Bill Harmon, 80, announced Monday night at the conclusion of the address brimming with good news about the town’s finances and growth.
Although there had been speculation that Harmon would step down at the end of his fourth term, this first confirmation had Alderman Dan Sted-man hastily scribbling “I will be a candidate for the position of Sherwood mayor” on the back of his business cards, slipping one to each reporter at the end of the meeting.
“Andrew Carnegie said you can take away my steel mills and take away my railroads but leave me my people and I’ll have them all again in two or three years,” said Harmon in tribute to the job city department heads and personnel had done over the years.
Harmon said that city revenues were recovering quickly from the relocation of Wal-Mart and Best Buy to North Little Rock in no small part because of businesses recently opened in the town, businesses such as Gander Mountain, Academy Sports and others, such as Kohls.
He said income had not quite replaced the losses from Wal-Mart and Best Buy, but that while the city had budgeted $3,200,000 from city taxes, it raised $3,400,000.
Harmon said city revenues for 2005 were $493,500 more than expenses.
“We just received the December tax money and it’s $73,000 more than the previous month and $55,000 more than it was last year.
“We came in $600,000 under budget, thanks to the department heads and the council,” he said.
Harmon wasn’t done with the good news, however. A FTD call center had hired 300 people and a Cardinal Health call center would soon begin hiring 500 people.
“Our land use plan has been revised to provide more commercial property in the (undeveloped) north part of the city,” he said.
About 110 acres of new residential and commercial development are slated for the intersection of Brocking-ton Road and Hwy. 107, he said.
Developers have bought 800 more acres they want to annex into the city.
“Growth will come,” he said.
The council unanimously approved in one sitting an ordinance requiring and allowing pawnbrokers within Sherwood to list information about daily transactions on line, making it easier for law enforcement to track stolen property.
Little Rock and North Little Rock have the system and Benton, Pine Bluff, Jonesboro and Hot Springs either have the system or are looking into it.
The ordinance requires electronic recordkeeping by not only pawnshop operators but dealers in secondhand goods.
In other action, the council tabled declaring two parcels as public nuisance until confusion over the addresses of those properties was resolved.
The council did declare a mobile home at Royal Oaks Mobile Home Park a public nuisance and also finding the triplex at 607 Sherer Plave Drive to constitute a public nuisance.
The council also confirmed Harmon’s appointments of Carolyn Chalmers to the civil service commission and of Arnie Bergquist to the personnel commission.
TOP STORY >> Annexation would add on to Cabot
By SARA GREENE
Leader staff writer
The Cabot School District is working with residents in the area of Campground and Stagecoach roads to have the area annexed into the city limits in order for sewer lines to be extended to the proposed site of a new $6 million elementary school. Cabot will not extend sewer services beyond the city limits.
The district’s plan to spend $200,000 to purchase 20.1 acres from Harlan and Carolyn Sanders is contingent on neighboring property owners agreeing to be annexed into the city limits.
“The residents in that area are aware of the advantages of being in the city such as water, sewer, police and fire services,” said Jim Dalton, assistant superintendent for the district. “We’re putting together information on what restrictions they would face in the city limits. None of them have said ‘no’ but we won’t approach the city for sewer services until we file the annexation papers.”
The district currently has seven elementary schools, two middle schools, two junior highs and a nearly completed $13 million high school.
Based on enrollment trends from the past five years, the district, which now has a student population of 8,400, is projected to grow to 10,902, according to Dalton.
In other school business, the district is seeking a $1 million grant from the Arkansas De-partment of Education for an Early Childhood education program at Northside Elementary.
If approved, the grant will be used to fund classes for 4-year-olds as well as before- and after-school programs.
The district already has early childhood education programs in place at Westside Elementary and Ward Central Elementary such as playgroups for 3- to 5-year-olds, computer instruction, library access and tutoring in math, literacy and science. Board members Brooks Nash and Wendel Msall were recognized for receiving their certification from the Arkansas School Board Association (ASBA).
The ASBA requires that all school board members have at least nine hours of training. Msall and Nash have completed more than 15 hours of training.
Leader staff writer
The Cabot School District is working with residents in the area of Campground and Stagecoach roads to have the area annexed into the city limits in order for sewer lines to be extended to the proposed site of a new $6 million elementary school. Cabot will not extend sewer services beyond the city limits.
The district’s plan to spend $200,000 to purchase 20.1 acres from Harlan and Carolyn Sanders is contingent on neighboring property owners agreeing to be annexed into the city limits.
“The residents in that area are aware of the advantages of being in the city such as water, sewer, police and fire services,” said Jim Dalton, assistant superintendent for the district. “We’re putting together information on what restrictions they would face in the city limits. None of them have said ‘no’ but we won’t approach the city for sewer services until we file the annexation papers.”
The district currently has seven elementary schools, two middle schools, two junior highs and a nearly completed $13 million high school.
Based on enrollment trends from the past five years, the district, which now has a student population of 8,400, is projected to grow to 10,902, according to Dalton.
In other school business, the district is seeking a $1 million grant from the Arkansas De-partment of Education for an Early Childhood education program at Northside Elementary.
If approved, the grant will be used to fund classes for 4-year-olds as well as before- and after-school programs.
The district already has early childhood education programs in place at Westside Elementary and Ward Central Elementary such as playgroups for 3- to 5-year-olds, computer instruction, library access and tutoring in math, literacy and science. Board members Brooks Nash and Wendel Msall were recognized for receiving their certification from the Arkansas School Board Association (ASBA).
The ASBA requires that all school board members have at least nine hours of training. Msall and Nash have completed more than 15 hours of training.
TOP STORY >> Tax base small for separate districts
By JOHN HOFHEIMER
Leader staff writer
There may not be sufficient tax revenue north of the Arkansas River to support separate school districts for both Jacksonville and North Little Rock, a consultant hired to sort out Pulaski County’s public school mess told a meeting of county mayors and the county judge Tuesday.
Thanks to special language inserted into the state Education Department’s budget by state Rep. Will Bond, D-Jack-sonville, the state has hired William Gordon Associates of Saluda, N.C., for $244,120 to study realignment of public school districts in Pulaski County, which are inextricably joined by a 20-year-old school de-segregation agreement.
Meeting with mayors Tommy Swaim of Jack-sonville, Burch Johnson of Maumelle, Pat Hayes of North Little Rock, and Jim Daily of Little Rock and with County Judge Buddy Villines, Gordon Tuesday morning said it was too early to know what his group would recommend, but he eliminated the idea of one district for the entire county.
Gordon said that the desegregation agreement was the gorilla in the room when considering best ways to realign school districts in the county.
Gordon said that the Little Rock School District had met most of the requirements to be released by Judge Bill Wilson from the agreement, but that releasing one district before the others would throw the desegregation case “into chaos.”
“The desegregation agreement is a can of worms,” said Gordon. “You have three systems in different stages of unitary status.”
Gordon said he was surprised that neither the North Little Rock District nor the Pulaski County Special School District had filed for unitary school status to either get released from the agreement or find out what additional work they needed to do first.
“I’m not convinced that desegregation is improving the quality of education,” said Swaim.
Swaim disputed the notion that people in his area would not support a millage increase to support the schools.
“PCSSD has never shown us we could get enough benefit,” he said.
But he noted that Jacksonville-area residents have approved several bond issues and tax increases in the past few years, after they were shown how they would benefit—taxes for a new library, to promote tourism and for the military museum, for instance.
Gordon agreed that there did seem to be a disparity, with PCSSD schools south of the river in better condition than north of the river.
“Jacksonville High School needs help,” he said.
Jacksonville has been working toward its own school district since 1976 and Swaim said they had commissioned an extensive study and that they were “very confident we’ll have sufficient funds.”
Hays said that if the county’s schools were eventually reconfigured into two districts, one north of the river, one south, the north district would have to be “a true merger,” not just tacking Jacksonville, Sherwood and Maumelle on to the existing North Little Rock District.
Rounded off, North Little Rock has 60,000 residents, which is actually less than the combined populations of Jacksonville (30,000), Sherwood (22,000) and Maumelle (15,000.)
Gordon Associates, which specializes in desegregation agreements and problems, must make recommendations to the state General Assembly by June 30 on realignment and on getting out from under federal courts’ desegregation supervision.
Hays suggested one money-saving device would be to transport students by Central Arkansas Transit Authority instead of a huge, inefficient fleet of school buses, and Gordon replied that had been done successfully in some places.
Gordon Associates will meet Wednesday night with the PCSSD board and Thursday morning with the Jacksonville Chamber of Com-merce Education Committee, which includes some of the activists trying for a stand-alone district.
Gordon said he and his associates needed more travel money to continue the rest of their study. He expects to return to Pulaski County twice in April, once in May and then come back in June.
Leader staff writer
There may not be sufficient tax revenue north of the Arkansas River to support separate school districts for both Jacksonville and North Little Rock, a consultant hired to sort out Pulaski County’s public school mess told a meeting of county mayors and the county judge Tuesday.
Thanks to special language inserted into the state Education Department’s budget by state Rep. Will Bond, D-Jack-sonville, the state has hired William Gordon Associates of Saluda, N.C., for $244,120 to study realignment of public school districts in Pulaski County, which are inextricably joined by a 20-year-old school de-segregation agreement.
Meeting with mayors Tommy Swaim of Jack-sonville, Burch Johnson of Maumelle, Pat Hayes of North Little Rock, and Jim Daily of Little Rock and with County Judge Buddy Villines, Gordon Tuesday morning said it was too early to know what his group would recommend, but he eliminated the idea of one district for the entire county.
Gordon said that the desegregation agreement was the gorilla in the room when considering best ways to realign school districts in the county.
Gordon said that the Little Rock School District had met most of the requirements to be released by Judge Bill Wilson from the agreement, but that releasing one district before the others would throw the desegregation case “into chaos.”
“The desegregation agreement is a can of worms,” said Gordon. “You have three systems in different stages of unitary status.”
Gordon said he was surprised that neither the North Little Rock District nor the Pulaski County Special School District had filed for unitary school status to either get released from the agreement or find out what additional work they needed to do first.
“I’m not convinced that desegregation is improving the quality of education,” said Swaim.
Swaim disputed the notion that people in his area would not support a millage increase to support the schools.
“PCSSD has never shown us we could get enough benefit,” he said.
But he noted that Jacksonville-area residents have approved several bond issues and tax increases in the past few years, after they were shown how they would benefit—taxes for a new library, to promote tourism and for the military museum, for instance.
Gordon agreed that there did seem to be a disparity, with PCSSD schools south of the river in better condition than north of the river.
“Jacksonville High School needs help,” he said.
Jacksonville has been working toward its own school district since 1976 and Swaim said they had commissioned an extensive study and that they were “very confident we’ll have sufficient funds.”
Hays said that if the county’s schools were eventually reconfigured into two districts, one north of the river, one south, the north district would have to be “a true merger,” not just tacking Jacksonville, Sherwood and Maumelle on to the existing North Little Rock District.
Rounded off, North Little Rock has 60,000 residents, which is actually less than the combined populations of Jacksonville (30,000), Sherwood (22,000) and Maumelle (15,000.)
Gordon Associates, which specializes in desegregation agreements and problems, must make recommendations to the state General Assembly by June 30 on realignment and on getting out from under federal courts’ desegregation supervision.
Hays suggested one money-saving device would be to transport students by Central Arkansas Transit Authority instead of a huge, inefficient fleet of school buses, and Gordon replied that had been done successfully in some places.
Gordon Associates will meet Wednesday night with the PCSSD board and Thursday morning with the Jacksonville Chamber of Com-merce Education Committee, which includes some of the activists trying for a stand-alone district.
Gordon said he and his associates needed more travel money to continue the rest of their study. He expects to return to Pulaski County twice in April, once in May and then come back in June.
TOP STORY >> Cabot council is close to deal
By JOAN MCCOY
Leader staff writer
The transfer of authority over Cabot’s water and sewer systems from the mayor and council to a new commission approved by voters more than a year ago is one major step closer to completion.
After months of talking about getting together for a roundtable discussion, the two groups finally did that Monday night with all members from both groups present. They dissected the is-sues that have kept the transfer from being completed – such as real estate, personal property contracts and a franchise – and suggested solutions that could be acted upon during an official council meeting. The consensus at the end of the two-hour meeting was that it had been productive.
“I think we’ve got some things resolved. I hope,” commission chairman J.M. Park said.
The most pressing issue was Mayor Stubby Stumbaugh’s veto of a document called an “assignment and assumption agreement,” which would have turned contracts made by the city over to the Water and Wastewater Commission. Those contracts were as inconsequential as uniform service and as weighty as the engineering contracts for major water and sewer projects and contracts to buy water.
Without the agreement, the other parties to the contracts would not necessarily recognize the commission’s authority.
“We probably need this one settled more than any one on the list,” Park said.
But tucked into the assignment and assumption agreement was a reference to deeds.
The mayor also vetoed legislation that would give the commission control of property owned by water and sewer and he said since he vetoed that he had no choice about vetoing the assignment and assumption agreement because of its reference to deeds.
If the commission would take that out, he would not veto it again, he said.
The agreement passed the council 8-0.
Six votes would override the veto, but Park said he would rather present it again without the language the mayor objected to instead of asking the council to override.
“I have absolutely no problem with y’all assuming those controls,” Stumbaugh said. “If y’all have the money, y’all should have the control (a reference to the commission already assuming control of the bank ac-counts for water and wastewater).”
The council was amenable to deeding the commission assets such as equipment, but only after a thorough inventory, which the mayor said could take most of the year.
The council further agreed to consider giving real property such as the water-well field and the old post office that now houses Cabot Public Works on a case-by-case basis.
Alderman David Polantz said those as-sets really don’t belong to the city because they were paid for with water revenue.
But elected council members not appointed commissioners should have control over them.
The franchise agreement the mayor vetoed could be back under a new name because some council members fear that a franchise fee might be added in the future.
“We won’t call it a franchise agreement,” said Tad Bohannon, counsel for the commission. “We’ll call it an agreement of operation and understanding… I’m not wedded to the term franchise. It’s just what you usually see.”
But regardless of the name, several members of the council want some provisions changed.
Alderman Jerry Ste-phens said he objected to the commission ex-tending sewer service outside city limits when some city residents have been waiting for the service for 30 years.
Aldermen David Po-lantz and Odis Way-mack agreed.
The city’s policy has always been that anyone who wants sewer must agree to be annexed.
Don Keesee, vice chairman of the commission, pointed out that such a policy would prevent the city from extending sewer service to a new elementary school proposed for Campground Road.
It can’t be annexed because it doesn’t abut the city limits.
But the council members stood their ground and the commission conceded to give final authority on that issue to the council.
Leader staff writer
The transfer of authority over Cabot’s water and sewer systems from the mayor and council to a new commission approved by voters more than a year ago is one major step closer to completion.
After months of talking about getting together for a roundtable discussion, the two groups finally did that Monday night with all members from both groups present. They dissected the is-sues that have kept the transfer from being completed – such as real estate, personal property contracts and a franchise – and suggested solutions that could be acted upon during an official council meeting. The consensus at the end of the two-hour meeting was that it had been productive.
“I think we’ve got some things resolved. I hope,” commission chairman J.M. Park said.
The most pressing issue was Mayor Stubby Stumbaugh’s veto of a document called an “assignment and assumption agreement,” which would have turned contracts made by the city over to the Water and Wastewater Commission. Those contracts were as inconsequential as uniform service and as weighty as the engineering contracts for major water and sewer projects and contracts to buy water.
Without the agreement, the other parties to the contracts would not necessarily recognize the commission’s authority.
“We probably need this one settled more than any one on the list,” Park said.
But tucked into the assignment and assumption agreement was a reference to deeds.
The mayor also vetoed legislation that would give the commission control of property owned by water and sewer and he said since he vetoed that he had no choice about vetoing the assignment and assumption agreement because of its reference to deeds.
If the commission would take that out, he would not veto it again, he said.
The agreement passed the council 8-0.
Six votes would override the veto, but Park said he would rather present it again without the language the mayor objected to instead of asking the council to override.
“I have absolutely no problem with y’all assuming those controls,” Stumbaugh said. “If y’all have the money, y’all should have the control (a reference to the commission already assuming control of the bank ac-counts for water and wastewater).”
The council was amenable to deeding the commission assets such as equipment, but only after a thorough inventory, which the mayor said could take most of the year.
The council further agreed to consider giving real property such as the water-well field and the old post office that now houses Cabot Public Works on a case-by-case basis.
Alderman David Polantz said those as-sets really don’t belong to the city because they were paid for with water revenue.
But elected council members not appointed commissioners should have control over them.
The franchise agreement the mayor vetoed could be back under a new name because some council members fear that a franchise fee might be added in the future.
“We won’t call it a franchise agreement,” said Tad Bohannon, counsel for the commission. “We’ll call it an agreement of operation and understanding… I’m not wedded to the term franchise. It’s just what you usually see.”
But regardless of the name, several members of the council want some provisions changed.
Alderman Jerry Ste-phens said he objected to the commission ex-tending sewer service outside city limits when some city residents have been waiting for the service for 30 years.
Aldermen David Po-lantz and Odis Way-mack agreed.
The city’s policy has always been that anyone who wants sewer must agree to be annexed.
Don Keesee, vice chairman of the commission, pointed out that such a policy would prevent the city from extending sewer service to a new elementary school proposed for Campground Road.
It can’t be annexed because it doesn’t abut the city limits.
But the council members stood their ground and the commission conceded to give final authority on that issue to the council.
TOP STORY >> Unsafe at any speed?
By JOHN HOFHEIMER
Leader staff writer
Truck driver in fatal crash is identified
Donald Watkins, 35, of Bald Knob has been identified as the driver of the loaded gravel truck that apparently started the six-vehicle, chain-reaction accident that resulted in the death of Jerry S. Justice, Jr., of Ward, and the hospitalization of four other people Thursday, according to State Police reports.
State Police had not previously released the driver’s name.
Justice, of 22 Geraldine Court, the driver of a black 1995 Ford pickup truck, was pronounced dead at the scene from injuries sustained when the Burns Trucking Freightliner dump truck hauling gravel from Bald Knob to North Little Rock came upon stopped traffic on the Hwy. 67/167 overpass at Main Street in Jacksonville, and swerved into the right lane, slamming the two smaller trucks off the overpass and plunging with them down to Main Street below.
Three other vehicles involved in the accident stayed on the overpass and the occupants were not hospitalized, according to the report.
The overpass does not meet modern specifications and could be upgraded to meet standards.
“The accident is still under investigation, according to Capt. Gloria Weakland, Troop A commander.
The investigation would be forwarded to the Pulaski County Prosecutor’s office. She said that’s because it was a fatality accident with special circumstances, such as starting on a state highway and ending on a Jacksonville city Street.
Prosecutor Larry Jegley’s office confirmed Tuesday that it had not received the report.
Justice’s wife, Monica Justice, was still in stable condition at St. Vincent Medical Center Tuesday afternoon.
Justice’s mother, Patricia Jus-tice, also of Ward, is in stable condition in the Rebsamen Medical Center ICU Tuesday, according to a spokesman, and Danny Craw-ford was transferred to Baptist Medical Center in Little Rock Monday.
In the same 1990 GMC pickup truck with Crawford, 29, of Romance, was Tommy Simpson, 32, of Mt. Vernon.
Baptist Hospital said it could not release any information on Simpson, a patient since Thurs-day.
The accident stripped several concrete posts and guardrails from the inside southbound lane of Hwy. 67/167, but by Tuesday morning state Highway Depart-ment workers were restoring the railing, according to a Highway Department spokesman.
He said the repairs should be completed by early next week.
The overpass was built in 1960 to then-prevailing design standards, but could not be built that way today.
As per the 1960 standards, the two-lane overpass is 28 feet wide, built with guardrail attached to reinforced concrete posts.
The same overpass built today would be 40 feet wide.
Visitation for Justice will be from 6 until 8 p.m. Friday at Boyd Funeral Home, 202 E. Second Street in Lonoke, according to a funeral home representative. Graveside services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday at Hicks Ceme-tery on Mt. Tabor Road (off Hwy. 31 North) in Lonoke County.
Justice was a security guard at Arkansas Children’s Hospital for the past six years, according to a hospital spokesman.
“Jerry was an outstanding officer, devoted to his family, a very dedicated employee,” according to Dan McFadden, spokesman for Children’s Hospital.
“He was customer friendly and always willing to go the extra mile for patients and their families,” said McFadden, “as well as ACH employees and fellow officers. He will definitely be missed by us all at ACH.”
McFadden said Justice’s fellow security guards would serve as pall- bearers at the funeral and a hospital memorial would be set at the family’s convenience.
Leader staff writer
Truck driver in fatal crash is identified
Donald Watkins, 35, of Bald Knob has been identified as the driver of the loaded gravel truck that apparently started the six-vehicle, chain-reaction accident that resulted in the death of Jerry S. Justice, Jr., of Ward, and the hospitalization of four other people Thursday, according to State Police reports.
State Police had not previously released the driver’s name.
Justice, of 22 Geraldine Court, the driver of a black 1995 Ford pickup truck, was pronounced dead at the scene from injuries sustained when the Burns Trucking Freightliner dump truck hauling gravel from Bald Knob to North Little Rock came upon stopped traffic on the Hwy. 67/167 overpass at Main Street in Jacksonville, and swerved into the right lane, slamming the two smaller trucks off the overpass and plunging with them down to Main Street below.
Three other vehicles involved in the accident stayed on the overpass and the occupants were not hospitalized, according to the report.
The overpass does not meet modern specifications and could be upgraded to meet standards.
“The accident is still under investigation, according to Capt. Gloria Weakland, Troop A commander.
The investigation would be forwarded to the Pulaski County Prosecutor’s office. She said that’s because it was a fatality accident with special circumstances, such as starting on a state highway and ending on a Jacksonville city Street.
Prosecutor Larry Jegley’s office confirmed Tuesday that it had not received the report.
Justice’s wife, Monica Justice, was still in stable condition at St. Vincent Medical Center Tuesday afternoon.
Justice’s mother, Patricia Jus-tice, also of Ward, is in stable condition in the Rebsamen Medical Center ICU Tuesday, according to a spokesman, and Danny Craw-ford was transferred to Baptist Medical Center in Little Rock Monday.
In the same 1990 GMC pickup truck with Crawford, 29, of Romance, was Tommy Simpson, 32, of Mt. Vernon.
Baptist Hospital said it could not release any information on Simpson, a patient since Thurs-day.
The accident stripped several concrete posts and guardrails from the inside southbound lane of Hwy. 67/167, but by Tuesday morning state Highway Depart-ment workers were restoring the railing, according to a Highway Department spokesman.
He said the repairs should be completed by early next week.
The overpass was built in 1960 to then-prevailing design standards, but could not be built that way today.
As per the 1960 standards, the two-lane overpass is 28 feet wide, built with guardrail attached to reinforced concrete posts.
The same overpass built today would be 40 feet wide.
Visitation for Justice will be from 6 until 8 p.m. Friday at Boyd Funeral Home, 202 E. Second Street in Lonoke, according to a funeral home representative. Graveside services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday at Hicks Ceme-tery on Mt. Tabor Road (off Hwy. 31 North) in Lonoke County.
Justice was a security guard at Arkansas Children’s Hospital for the past six years, according to a hospital spokesman.
“Jerry was an outstanding officer, devoted to his family, a very dedicated employee,” according to Dan McFadden, spokesman for Children’s Hospital.
“He was customer friendly and always willing to go the extra mile for patients and their families,” said McFadden, “as well as ACH employees and fellow officers. He will definitely be missed by us all at ACH.”
McFadden said Justice’s fellow security guards would serve as pall- bearers at the funeral and a hospital memorial would be set at the family’s convenience.
Wednesday, February 22, 2006
OBITUARIES >> 2-22-06
HELEN COCHRAN, 85
Helen Louise Parnell Cochran, 85, died Feb. 17. She was a member of Hamilton Baptist Church.
Survivors include her husband of 69 years, John R. Cochran (Bob); one son, Butch Cochran (Theresa) of North Little Rock; two daughters, Roberta Daniels and Esther Matthews of Sherwood; six grandchildren, David , Donny and Billy Daniels of Sherwood , Christie Johnson of North Little Rock, Pamela Lott of Jacksonville and Matthew Cochran of Maumelle; seven great-grandchildren and one great great-grandchild; two sisters, Gracie Cochran and Carolyn Reaves of Carlisle; one brother, Roy Matlock of California and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents John Ed and Daisy Parnell.
Funeral services were Tuesday at Hamilton Baptist Church with interment in Hamilton Cemetery, arrangements by Boyd Funeral Home, Lonoke.
Memorials may be made to Hamilton Baptist Church or Cemetery.
JAMES WILKINS, 85
James Hoyt Wilkins, 85, formerly of North Little Rock, died Jan. 14 in the Carolina House of Buffton, S.C.
He was born in McGee on Nov. 11, 1920, and was the son of Hoyt Jefferson Wilkins and Isabell Abbot Wilkins.
He was a member of First Baptist Church of Bluffton, S.C.; a 32nd degree Mason, Rotarian and past president, Baptist deacon and Sunday school teacher, served on the city council of DeSoto, Mo., graduate of North Little Rock High School, officer and superintendent of shops for Union Pacific Railroad in DeSoto, Mo., and served in the Navy during WWII.
At the time of his death, he was survived by his wife, Frances Petty Wilkins of Bluffton, S.C.; his son, Rev. J. Dennis and wife Marsha Wilkins of Bluffton, S.C.; his sisters Marjorie Herman of San Francisco, and Emmy Dunlap of Whiteoak, Texas; four grandchildren James Sallis, Laura Phipps, Jayne Green-wood, Meredith Turner and five great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his daughter Nancy Caroline Sallis, one brother Aubrey Wilkins and one sister Irene Haney.
Funeral services were held Tuesday at Griffin Leggett Rest Hills Funeral Home chapel. Interment followed at Sumner Cemetery.
JAMES ZERILLI, 76
James “Jimmy” Anthony Zerilli, 76, of Jacksonville, died Thursday at Rebsamen Medical Center in Jacksonville. He was born Dec. 5, 1929 in Detroit, Mich., to the late Nick and Christine Bommarito Zerilli. He served in the Army during WWII. On Oct. 28, 1995 he married Charlene Roberts in Hamtramck, Michigan. Mr. Zerilli was preceded in death by his son, Jackie Zerilli.
Mr. Zerilli is survived by his wife, Charlene of Jacksonville, four children, Joseph Anthony Zerilli of Las Vegas, Nevada, Phillip and Nick Zerilli both of St. Claire Shores, Mich., Christine VanCow-enberge of McComb Township, Mich.; four stepchildren: Christine McCarary of Taylor, Michigan, James Dye, Robert Dye and Michael Dye, all of Roosevelt, Michigan: 10 grandchildren: Daria Zerilli, Antoinette Zerilli, Michael Van Cowenberge, Jimmy Van-Cowenberge, Johnny Van Cow-enberge, Tiffany McCarary, Tyler McCarary, Damien Dye, Brianna Dye and Bridgette Dye.
Funeral services were Tuesday, at Wujek-Calcaterra Funeral Home in Sterling Heights, Mich. with Father Ron Essman officiating. Interment will follow at Mount Olivet Cemetery in Detroit, Mich. Local funeral arrangements are under the direction of Moore’s Jacksonville Funeral Home.
LELAND DAILEY, 82
Leland Leslie Dailey, 82, of Cabot died Feb. 17. He was born June 15, 1923, to the late Leslie and Mimmie Koerth Daily. He was a retired Church of God minister and carpenter. He served in the Army during WW II where he was a medic and fought in the Battle of the Bulge. Leland was preceded in death by his parents; a son, Lendell Dailey and a sister, Melcenia Phoenix.
He is survived by his wife, Violet Oressa Stone Dailey of Cabot; son John Leslie Dailey of Pine Bluff; daughter, Sherry Joan Wilkins of Cabot; two sisters Dorothy Carpenter of Fort Smith, Leona Underwood of Perkinston, Miss.; four grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.
Funeral services were held Monday at Moore’s Cabot Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. A. Davis officiating. Burial will follow at Mt. Carmel Cemetery in Cabot. Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Moore’s Cabot Funeral Home.
LOIS BROWN, 85
Lois Evatt Stewart Brown, 85, of Jacksonville, died Feb. 17, 2006.
She was born May 24, 1920 to the late Dr. John and Rose Brewer Evatt in Furlow. She was a homemaker and a member of Zion Hill Baptist Church as well as a past member of the Eastern Star. She was the youngest of 13 children and a poet as well as a self-taught pianist and the family historian.
She was preceded in death by her parents, 12 brothers and sisters and two husbands, Otis Stewart, Sr. and Tom F. Brown.
Mrs. Brown is survived by her son, Otis Stewart, Jr. and two daughters, Carolyn Holt and her husband Billy and Barbara Fox Green who was her primary caregiver, all of Jacksonville. Eight grandchildren: Matthew Stewart of Searcy, Sandra Hammons and her husband mark of Cabot, Scott Stewart and his wife Merika of Oklahoma, Clay Stewart of Gentry, Cynthia Jeffers of Jacksonville, Melissa Thower and her husband Shawn of Jacksonville, Kenneth Fox and his wife Mary of Jack-sonville and David Fox and his wife Kristi of Little Rock as well as 22 great grandchildren and one great great grandchild.
Funeral service was Monday in the chapel of Moore’s Jacksonville Funeral Home with Brothers Cliff Hutchins and Terry Fortner officiating. Burial will follow in Concord Cemetery in Furlow.
MARY MORSE
Mary M. Morse, age 56, of Little Rock, passed away Feb. 19, 2006 and was preceded in death by parents Ralph and Grace Morse.
Survived by one brother, Ralph Tigre; two sisters and special friends, JC May of Heber Springs and Sandy McMath of Little Rock.
Private services scheduled at Arkansas State Veteran’s Ceme-tery. Arrangements by Thomas Funeral Service in Cabot.
NAOMA BANKS, 71
Naoma Grace Hill Banks, 71, of Cabot, passed away Feb. 19. She was born Dec. 15, 1934, to Shirley and Lola Hill in Lincoln, Neb.
Banks was preceded in death by her husband, Henry Austin Banks and one grandson, Rodney Spence.
She is survived by two sons, Garry and wife Patti Banks of Cabot, Sherman and wife Tammy of Cabot; one daughter, Sharon and husband Michael Spence of Austin; one sister, three brothers, four grandchildren, Todd Banks, Angela Cooper, Tylor Banks and Courtney Banks; three great-grandchildren Kendall Scott, Landon Cooper and Treavor Banks.
Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesday at Moore’s Cabot Funeral Home in Cabot.
Services will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home chapel with Jim Edwards and Melborne Hill officiating.
Arrangements by Moore’s Cabot Funeral Home.
RAY HYLTON, 98
Ray L. Hylton 98, of Jack-sonville died Sunday, Feb. 19, 2006 at V.A. Hospital in Little Rock. He was born Oct. 30, 1907, in Barry, Ill., to Lafayette and Lucille Leonard Hylton. Mr. Hylton served in the Army during WWII and Korean War.
He retired from the armed services after 30 years. In 1957, Mr. Hylton began a 44-year career as a security guard with the Pinkerton Agency until he retired in 2001. He was a lifetime member of Amer-ican Legion #1 in Little Rock and a lifetime member of V.F.W. Post #4548. Mr. Hylton was preceded in death by his three wives, Freida, Ethel and Beatrice and a granddaughter, Christine Watkins.
He is survived by four children, Michael Hylton of Kansas City, Mo., Everett, Johnny Lee and Jimmy Hylton of Joplin, Mo., Betty Jean Watkins of Humans-ville, Mo.; 12 grandchildren and several great-grandchildren; niece, Patsy and her husband, Don Reynolds of Jacksonville; great nephew, Don Reynolds Jr. of Cabot.
Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. Friday at Moore’s Jackson-ville Funeral Chapel. Visitation will be from 6-8 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home. The family would like to express their heartfelt appreciation to Everette Hodge, his caregiver for the last three years and to the V.A. Home Health Care Program.
Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Moore’s Jacksonville Funeral Home.
SANDRA BALDWIN, 62
Sandra K. Baldwin, 62, of Cabot, passed away at her home on Saturday, Feb. 18, 2006. She was born on Sept. 19, 1943 in Marion, Ind., and was a graduate of Dun-kirk High School in Dunkirk, Ind.
Her father, Willard Singer preceded her in death. Mrs. Baldwin was a loving daughter, mother, grandmother and wife who loved to watch her grandchildren participate in their many activities and she will be deeply missed.
She is survived by her husband of 43 years, Col. David L. Baldwin; daughter, Diana Baldwin Jacobsen of Conway; son Chris Baldwin and wife Michelle of Cabot; mother, Roberta Singer Bastian and step-father Ben Bastian of Cabot; three grandchildren, Christopher Jacob-sen, Ashley and Jessie Baldwin.
Funeral services will be at 4 p.m. Wednesday at Moore’s Jack-sonville Funeral Home Chapel with Brother Jerold Posey officiating. Funeral arrangements by Moore’s Jacksonville Funeral Home.
SUSAN SLAUGHTER, 64
Susan M. Greene Slaughter, 64, of Jacksonville died Sunday, Feb. 19, 2006. She was born August 2, 1941 to the late Howard S. and Mary I. Wenger Greene. Mrs. Slaughter was a member of St. Jude’s Catholic Church as well as the Retired Air Force Veteran’s Wives Club. She was a sales associate at Wal-Mart as well as a homemaker.
Mrs. Slaughter was preceded in death by her husband, Larry L. Slaughter.
Surviving Mrs. Slaughter are three children: Michael Slaughter of Jacksonville, Kathy Stallings and her husband David of Cabot and Roxann Hollingshead of North Little Rock. Her sister, Judy Sellers and her husband Dr. Bob Sellers of Council Bluffs, Iowa as well as eight grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren also survive her.
The family will receive friends from 5 to 8 p.m. Wednesday. The funeral service will be at 2 p.m. Thursday in the chapel of Moore’s Jacksonville Funeral Home with Blake Martin officiating. Burial will follow at Chapel Hill Memorial Park.
TANYA HAYDEN-HOGGE, 39
Tanya Danielle Hayden-Hogge of Elizabethtown, Ky., formerly of Jacksonville died Friday, Feb. 17, 2006 at her home where she fought a long and courageous battle against cancer. She was 39 years young. She was born at Maxwell Air Force Base in Montgomery Ala. on May 27, 1966.
She leaves behind a husband of 15 years, Robert Wayne Hogge; three daughters, Andrea Michelle, Erica Marie, and Rachel Leigh; her parents, Richard and Marie Hayden of Jacksonville; sister and brother in law,Tamara Denise and Brett Swenson of Defiance, Ohio; nephew and niece Anthony and Morgan Swenson; mother and father-in-law, Janet and Robert Janet Hogge of Poquoson, Va.; sister and brother-in-law, Susan and Shane Zasimowich and their son, Shane all of Poquoson, Va.
Tanya graduated from Jack-sonville High School in 1984. She also graduated from the University of Idaho at Mosow in 1989 with a B.S. degree in music. Following graduation she entered the Army where she served five years with the 62nd Army Band in El Paso, Texas. and the 14th Army Band in Anniston, Ala. She met her husband, Robert Hogge in the 62nd Army where he was also a band member. They were married in El Paso, Texas, in 1990. After leaving the Army in 1994, she went back to college where she enrolled in computer technology studies. In 1999 she went to work for UPS Air Service. She was devoted to her job and her friends at UPS and loved them and her time there. Her daughters were her heart and she loved them deeply. Tanya was loved by many and her life mattered. She will always and forever be loved and missed by her family and friends.
Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. on Wednesday at Moore’s Jacksonville Funeral Chapel. Burial will follow at Chapel Hill Memorial Park. Please sign the on-line guest book at www.mooresjacksonvillefuneralhome.com.
Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Moore’s Jacksonville Funeral Home.
Helen Louise Parnell Cochran, 85, died Feb. 17. She was a member of Hamilton Baptist Church.
Survivors include her husband of 69 years, John R. Cochran (Bob); one son, Butch Cochran (Theresa) of North Little Rock; two daughters, Roberta Daniels and Esther Matthews of Sherwood; six grandchildren, David , Donny and Billy Daniels of Sherwood , Christie Johnson of North Little Rock, Pamela Lott of Jacksonville and Matthew Cochran of Maumelle; seven great-grandchildren and one great great-grandchild; two sisters, Gracie Cochran and Carolyn Reaves of Carlisle; one brother, Roy Matlock of California and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents John Ed and Daisy Parnell.
Funeral services were Tuesday at Hamilton Baptist Church with interment in Hamilton Cemetery, arrangements by Boyd Funeral Home, Lonoke.
Memorials may be made to Hamilton Baptist Church or Cemetery.
JAMES WILKINS, 85
James Hoyt Wilkins, 85, formerly of North Little Rock, died Jan. 14 in the Carolina House of Buffton, S.C.
He was born in McGee on Nov. 11, 1920, and was the son of Hoyt Jefferson Wilkins and Isabell Abbot Wilkins.
He was a member of First Baptist Church of Bluffton, S.C.; a 32nd degree Mason, Rotarian and past president, Baptist deacon and Sunday school teacher, served on the city council of DeSoto, Mo., graduate of North Little Rock High School, officer and superintendent of shops for Union Pacific Railroad in DeSoto, Mo., and served in the Navy during WWII.
At the time of his death, he was survived by his wife, Frances Petty Wilkins of Bluffton, S.C.; his son, Rev. J. Dennis and wife Marsha Wilkins of Bluffton, S.C.; his sisters Marjorie Herman of San Francisco, and Emmy Dunlap of Whiteoak, Texas; four grandchildren James Sallis, Laura Phipps, Jayne Green-wood, Meredith Turner and five great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his daughter Nancy Caroline Sallis, one brother Aubrey Wilkins and one sister Irene Haney.
Funeral services were held Tuesday at Griffin Leggett Rest Hills Funeral Home chapel. Interment followed at Sumner Cemetery.
JAMES ZERILLI, 76
James “Jimmy” Anthony Zerilli, 76, of Jacksonville, died Thursday at Rebsamen Medical Center in Jacksonville. He was born Dec. 5, 1929 in Detroit, Mich., to the late Nick and Christine Bommarito Zerilli. He served in the Army during WWII. On Oct. 28, 1995 he married Charlene Roberts in Hamtramck, Michigan. Mr. Zerilli was preceded in death by his son, Jackie Zerilli.
Mr. Zerilli is survived by his wife, Charlene of Jacksonville, four children, Joseph Anthony Zerilli of Las Vegas, Nevada, Phillip and Nick Zerilli both of St. Claire Shores, Mich., Christine VanCow-enberge of McComb Township, Mich.; four stepchildren: Christine McCarary of Taylor, Michigan, James Dye, Robert Dye and Michael Dye, all of Roosevelt, Michigan: 10 grandchildren: Daria Zerilli, Antoinette Zerilli, Michael Van Cowenberge, Jimmy Van-Cowenberge, Johnny Van Cow-enberge, Tiffany McCarary, Tyler McCarary, Damien Dye, Brianna Dye and Bridgette Dye.
Funeral services were Tuesday, at Wujek-Calcaterra Funeral Home in Sterling Heights, Mich. with Father Ron Essman officiating. Interment will follow at Mount Olivet Cemetery in Detroit, Mich. Local funeral arrangements are under the direction of Moore’s Jacksonville Funeral Home.
LELAND DAILEY, 82
Leland Leslie Dailey, 82, of Cabot died Feb. 17. He was born June 15, 1923, to the late Leslie and Mimmie Koerth Daily. He was a retired Church of God minister and carpenter. He served in the Army during WW II where he was a medic and fought in the Battle of the Bulge. Leland was preceded in death by his parents; a son, Lendell Dailey and a sister, Melcenia Phoenix.
He is survived by his wife, Violet Oressa Stone Dailey of Cabot; son John Leslie Dailey of Pine Bluff; daughter, Sherry Joan Wilkins of Cabot; two sisters Dorothy Carpenter of Fort Smith, Leona Underwood of Perkinston, Miss.; four grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.
Funeral services were held Monday at Moore’s Cabot Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. A. Davis officiating. Burial will follow at Mt. Carmel Cemetery in Cabot. Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Moore’s Cabot Funeral Home.
LOIS BROWN, 85
Lois Evatt Stewart Brown, 85, of Jacksonville, died Feb. 17, 2006.
She was born May 24, 1920 to the late Dr. John and Rose Brewer Evatt in Furlow. She was a homemaker and a member of Zion Hill Baptist Church as well as a past member of the Eastern Star. She was the youngest of 13 children and a poet as well as a self-taught pianist and the family historian.
She was preceded in death by her parents, 12 brothers and sisters and two husbands, Otis Stewart, Sr. and Tom F. Brown.
Mrs. Brown is survived by her son, Otis Stewart, Jr. and two daughters, Carolyn Holt and her husband Billy and Barbara Fox Green who was her primary caregiver, all of Jacksonville. Eight grandchildren: Matthew Stewart of Searcy, Sandra Hammons and her husband mark of Cabot, Scott Stewart and his wife Merika of Oklahoma, Clay Stewart of Gentry, Cynthia Jeffers of Jacksonville, Melissa Thower and her husband Shawn of Jacksonville, Kenneth Fox and his wife Mary of Jack-sonville and David Fox and his wife Kristi of Little Rock as well as 22 great grandchildren and one great great grandchild.
Funeral service was Monday in the chapel of Moore’s Jacksonville Funeral Home with Brothers Cliff Hutchins and Terry Fortner officiating. Burial will follow in Concord Cemetery in Furlow.
MARY MORSE
Mary M. Morse, age 56, of Little Rock, passed away Feb. 19, 2006 and was preceded in death by parents Ralph and Grace Morse.
Survived by one brother, Ralph Tigre; two sisters and special friends, JC May of Heber Springs and Sandy McMath of Little Rock.
Private services scheduled at Arkansas State Veteran’s Ceme-tery. Arrangements by Thomas Funeral Service in Cabot.
NAOMA BANKS, 71
Naoma Grace Hill Banks, 71, of Cabot, passed away Feb. 19. She was born Dec. 15, 1934, to Shirley and Lola Hill in Lincoln, Neb.
Banks was preceded in death by her husband, Henry Austin Banks and one grandson, Rodney Spence.
She is survived by two sons, Garry and wife Patti Banks of Cabot, Sherman and wife Tammy of Cabot; one daughter, Sharon and husband Michael Spence of Austin; one sister, three brothers, four grandchildren, Todd Banks, Angela Cooper, Tylor Banks and Courtney Banks; three great-grandchildren Kendall Scott, Landon Cooper and Treavor Banks.
Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesday at Moore’s Cabot Funeral Home in Cabot.
Services will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home chapel with Jim Edwards and Melborne Hill officiating.
Arrangements by Moore’s Cabot Funeral Home.
RAY HYLTON, 98
Ray L. Hylton 98, of Jack-sonville died Sunday, Feb. 19, 2006 at V.A. Hospital in Little Rock. He was born Oct. 30, 1907, in Barry, Ill., to Lafayette and Lucille Leonard Hylton. Mr. Hylton served in the Army during WWII and Korean War.
He retired from the armed services after 30 years. In 1957, Mr. Hylton began a 44-year career as a security guard with the Pinkerton Agency until he retired in 2001. He was a lifetime member of Amer-ican Legion #1 in Little Rock and a lifetime member of V.F.W. Post #4548. Mr. Hylton was preceded in death by his three wives, Freida, Ethel and Beatrice and a granddaughter, Christine Watkins.
He is survived by four children, Michael Hylton of Kansas City, Mo., Everett, Johnny Lee and Jimmy Hylton of Joplin, Mo., Betty Jean Watkins of Humans-ville, Mo.; 12 grandchildren and several great-grandchildren; niece, Patsy and her husband, Don Reynolds of Jacksonville; great nephew, Don Reynolds Jr. of Cabot.
Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. Friday at Moore’s Jackson-ville Funeral Chapel. Visitation will be from 6-8 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home. The family would like to express their heartfelt appreciation to Everette Hodge, his caregiver for the last three years and to the V.A. Home Health Care Program.
Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Moore’s Jacksonville Funeral Home.
SANDRA BALDWIN, 62
Sandra K. Baldwin, 62, of Cabot, passed away at her home on Saturday, Feb. 18, 2006. She was born on Sept. 19, 1943 in Marion, Ind., and was a graduate of Dun-kirk High School in Dunkirk, Ind.
Her father, Willard Singer preceded her in death. Mrs. Baldwin was a loving daughter, mother, grandmother and wife who loved to watch her grandchildren participate in their many activities and she will be deeply missed.
She is survived by her husband of 43 years, Col. David L. Baldwin; daughter, Diana Baldwin Jacobsen of Conway; son Chris Baldwin and wife Michelle of Cabot; mother, Roberta Singer Bastian and step-father Ben Bastian of Cabot; three grandchildren, Christopher Jacob-sen, Ashley and Jessie Baldwin.
Funeral services will be at 4 p.m. Wednesday at Moore’s Jack-sonville Funeral Home Chapel with Brother Jerold Posey officiating. Funeral arrangements by Moore’s Jacksonville Funeral Home.
SUSAN SLAUGHTER, 64
Susan M. Greene Slaughter, 64, of Jacksonville died Sunday, Feb. 19, 2006. She was born August 2, 1941 to the late Howard S. and Mary I. Wenger Greene. Mrs. Slaughter was a member of St. Jude’s Catholic Church as well as the Retired Air Force Veteran’s Wives Club. She was a sales associate at Wal-Mart as well as a homemaker.
Mrs. Slaughter was preceded in death by her husband, Larry L. Slaughter.
Surviving Mrs. Slaughter are three children: Michael Slaughter of Jacksonville, Kathy Stallings and her husband David of Cabot and Roxann Hollingshead of North Little Rock. Her sister, Judy Sellers and her husband Dr. Bob Sellers of Council Bluffs, Iowa as well as eight grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren also survive her.
The family will receive friends from 5 to 8 p.m. Wednesday. The funeral service will be at 2 p.m. Thursday in the chapel of Moore’s Jacksonville Funeral Home with Blake Martin officiating. Burial will follow at Chapel Hill Memorial Park.
TANYA HAYDEN-HOGGE, 39
Tanya Danielle Hayden-Hogge of Elizabethtown, Ky., formerly of Jacksonville died Friday, Feb. 17, 2006 at her home where she fought a long and courageous battle against cancer. She was 39 years young. She was born at Maxwell Air Force Base in Montgomery Ala. on May 27, 1966.
She leaves behind a husband of 15 years, Robert Wayne Hogge; three daughters, Andrea Michelle, Erica Marie, and Rachel Leigh; her parents, Richard and Marie Hayden of Jacksonville; sister and brother in law,Tamara Denise and Brett Swenson of Defiance, Ohio; nephew and niece Anthony and Morgan Swenson; mother and father-in-law, Janet and Robert Janet Hogge of Poquoson, Va.; sister and brother-in-law, Susan and Shane Zasimowich and their son, Shane all of Poquoson, Va.
Tanya graduated from Jack-sonville High School in 1984. She also graduated from the University of Idaho at Mosow in 1989 with a B.S. degree in music. Following graduation she entered the Army where she served five years with the 62nd Army Band in El Paso, Texas. and the 14th Army Band in Anniston, Ala. She met her husband, Robert Hogge in the 62nd Army where he was also a band member. They were married in El Paso, Texas, in 1990. After leaving the Army in 1994, she went back to college where she enrolled in computer technology studies. In 1999 she went to work for UPS Air Service. She was devoted to her job and her friends at UPS and loved them and her time there. Her daughters were her heart and she loved them deeply. Tanya was loved by many and her life mattered. She will always and forever be loved and missed by her family and friends.
Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. on Wednesday at Moore’s Jacksonville Funeral Chapel. Burial will follow at Chapel Hill Memorial Park. Please sign the on-line guest book at www.mooresjacksonvillefuneralhome.com.
Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Moore’s Jacksonville Funeral Home.
SAT 2-18-06 EDITORIAL >> Don’t buy off Industries
For once, we have to agree with Asa Hutchinson’s reflexive criticism of one of Mike Beebe’s ideas. The attorney general says if he is elected governor he will ask the legislature to appropriate $50 million every two years that he could use to close the deal on a new plant in Arkansas or to pay a company not to leave Arkansas. Hutchinson, the certain Republican candidate for governor, said Beebe’s idea was backward.
It is at least not fresh. Many other states, mostly in the South and Midwest, have ways of bribing industries to situate new plants within their boundaries. One of them is a pot of money to offer companies that are looking around for a plant site. Such funds invariably get used, which then becomes prima-facie evidence that the incentive actually works and produces new jobs for the state.
But empirical evidence that state giveaways to corporations add payrolls is much slimmer. Corporations with a long view do not make site decisions based on a one-time gift or instant emoluments. They move or build based on the proximity to raw materials, product markets, abundant and inexpensive energy, water, transportation and trained workforces. A gift of a few million dollars is little incentive if those other factors make its products less competitive over the long haul. State and local taxes are very small factors because the differentiation in tax rates is rendered minuscule by the deductibility of key state and local taxes on federal returns.
If the state appropriates $50 million of taxpayers’ money every two years, though, you can be sure that businesses will line up at the governor’s door to take it. Businesses that expect to build or expand a plant in Arkansas will play hard to get. They can talk about picking up stakes and going somewhere else. The game has been going on for 50 years and the states keep ratcheting up the stakes with the hard-earned dimes of taxpayers.
When Toyota picked West Texas as the site for a new truck plant rather than Crittenden County, Ark., and sites in Mississippi and Tennessee, Arkansas industrial-development officials mourned that Arkansas just couldn’t match Texas’s rich package of incentives. But Toyota officials let it out that they could not afford to go anyplace but Texas because that was the heart of the light-truck market that it was trying to penetrate. Energy costs in east Arkansas also are a trifle non-competitive.
Ambient air-quality standards also were a problem. A $50 million piggy bank would not have brought the plant to Arkansas.
Arkansas has a pretty broad array of incentives already, including a new one, adopted by the voters two years ago, to issue bonds, amortized by tax receipts, to enlist a big corporation. But that process would take a few weeks. Beebe says the governor needs a pot of money that he could give away immediately to close a deal when time was of essence.
The appeal was that it would be a substitute to the legislative pork barrel that is the now-scandalous General Improvement Fund. Legislators last year gave themselves $52 million for little projects in their districts that would buy political support for the next campaign. We’re not sure even that Beebe’s is a better idea than that. At least you have a hunch that most of these little projects would not be done without the state money. You could never be sure of the bribe to a business to come or stay.
Hutchinson instead offered a variation. He would take the $50 million every two years and send it to state universities for research and workforce education. It is a mildly better approach to economic development though barely more promising of results if the goal is a big workforce expansion.
If the issue is how spend $50 million or so of surplus money that the state discovers from time to time when it underbudgets, there is a far more urgent need, one that the Arkansas Supreme Court unanimously said the state was obligated by its own Constitution to fulfill: replacing and repairing the crumbling public schools. Wouldn’t it be refreshing if a candidate simply promised to use every dime the state could spare to give children a safe and modern learning environment? It is too simple. Anyone could think of that.
It is at least not fresh. Many other states, mostly in the South and Midwest, have ways of bribing industries to situate new plants within their boundaries. One of them is a pot of money to offer companies that are looking around for a plant site. Such funds invariably get used, which then becomes prima-facie evidence that the incentive actually works and produces new jobs for the state.
But empirical evidence that state giveaways to corporations add payrolls is much slimmer. Corporations with a long view do not make site decisions based on a one-time gift or instant emoluments. They move or build based on the proximity to raw materials, product markets, abundant and inexpensive energy, water, transportation and trained workforces. A gift of a few million dollars is little incentive if those other factors make its products less competitive over the long haul. State and local taxes are very small factors because the differentiation in tax rates is rendered minuscule by the deductibility of key state and local taxes on federal returns.
If the state appropriates $50 million of taxpayers’ money every two years, though, you can be sure that businesses will line up at the governor’s door to take it. Businesses that expect to build or expand a plant in Arkansas will play hard to get. They can talk about picking up stakes and going somewhere else. The game has been going on for 50 years and the states keep ratcheting up the stakes with the hard-earned dimes of taxpayers.
When Toyota picked West Texas as the site for a new truck plant rather than Crittenden County, Ark., and sites in Mississippi and Tennessee, Arkansas industrial-development officials mourned that Arkansas just couldn’t match Texas’s rich package of incentives. But Toyota officials let it out that they could not afford to go anyplace but Texas because that was the heart of the light-truck market that it was trying to penetrate. Energy costs in east Arkansas also are a trifle non-competitive.
Ambient air-quality standards also were a problem. A $50 million piggy bank would not have brought the plant to Arkansas.
Arkansas has a pretty broad array of incentives already, including a new one, adopted by the voters two years ago, to issue bonds, amortized by tax receipts, to enlist a big corporation. But that process would take a few weeks. Beebe says the governor needs a pot of money that he could give away immediately to close a deal when time was of essence.
The appeal was that it would be a substitute to the legislative pork barrel that is the now-scandalous General Improvement Fund. Legislators last year gave themselves $52 million for little projects in their districts that would buy political support for the next campaign. We’re not sure even that Beebe’s is a better idea than that. At least you have a hunch that most of these little projects would not be done without the state money. You could never be sure of the bribe to a business to come or stay.
Hutchinson instead offered a variation. He would take the $50 million every two years and send it to state universities for research and workforce education. It is a mildly better approach to economic development though barely more promising of results if the goal is a big workforce expansion.
If the issue is how spend $50 million or so of surplus money that the state discovers from time to time when it underbudgets, there is a far more urgent need, one that the Arkansas Supreme Court unanimously said the state was obligated by its own Constitution to fulfill: replacing and repairing the crumbling public schools. Wouldn’t it be refreshing if a candidate simply promised to use every dime the state could spare to give children a safe and modern learning environment? It is too simple. Anyone could think of that.
WED 2-22-06 EDITORIAL >> Rewriting History
Eager to establish his credentials as a tax-cutter and economic wizard, Asa Hutchinson got a little crossways with history last week. Hutchinson, the expectant Republican nominee for governor, told the North Little Rock Rotary Club that he arrived in Congress in January 1997 just in time to help the Republicans repair the federal fiscal system, turn the nation away from bloated budget deficits and head it toward balanced budgets and surpluses.
Anyone who could do that makes a good argument for being governor of Arkansas, although the state government does not have a problem with deficits. The state government never runs deficits because it can’t. But we could use that kind of savvy in the chief executive’s office, couldn’t we?
The trouble is, Hutchinson’s ac-count doesn’t square with history.
Here, exactly, is what he said, according to the account in the Arkansas Democrat Gazette:
“When I went to Congress in 1997, we had a $200 billion deficit. We had deficits as far as you could see in the future and we hadn’t had tax cuts in 16 years. Well, we wanted to enact tax cuts to spur our economy on, to put more trust and confidence and money in the entrepreneurs of our country. We did that, and people said you’ll never be able to pay for the needs and address the problems of the deficit. Well, we enacted tax cuts and balanced the budget three years ahead of time and reduced that $200 billion and balanced the budget.”
The Rotarians surely wondered: “Wait, balanced budgets? Isn’t the country running mammoth deficits now, and aren’t they projected for ‘as far as you can see in the future’? And haven’t the same Republicans been in charge of government?”
But we’re getting ahead of ourselves. Hutchinson’s first error was claiming that the United States ran a $200 billion deficit in 1997. The deficit that year was only $21.9 billion, the smallest one since 1974. The tax cuts that Hutchinson spoke of were enacted at the end of July, two months before the fiscal year ended. The deficits, which peaked at $290 billion in President George H.W. Bush’s last year, had been going down by big leaps every year afterward, starting after the tough budget package (spending cuts and tax increases for the well-to-do) that President Clinton pushed through Congress in the spring of 1993. By July 1997, the government had finally turned the corner and was running in the black. Fiscal 1998, which began Oct. 1, 1997, produced the first surplus since 1969 and the largest one in history. By 2000, Clinton’s last year as president, the surplus hit $236 billion.
Hutchinson later said he was not saying that the deficit was exactly $200 billion in 1997. He meant that there were forecasts back then that all the deficits combined over the next five years could total $200 billion.
His point, nevertheless, was that the tax cuts the Republicans put through in 1997 ended deficit spending and caused a big economic surge that produced balanced budgets and surpluses. Supply-side theorists may believe that, but it is nonsense. The tax cuts for the wealthy were phased in over several years and their full impact was not supposed to occur until 2002.
The package also included smaller tax cuts for the middle class that Clinton insisted upon, major non-defense spending cuts and a costly new children’s health-insurance program that Clinton demanded. By 2002, President Bush and Hutchinson and his colleagues had adopted a new tax-cut program and the nation was running annual deficits again that dwarfed those of the halcyon Reagan-Bush days.
If easing taxes on investors’ earnings a little in 1997 produced such wonders, why did even bigger tax cuts for the same people in 2001, 2002 and 2003 lead to staggering deficits, job losses and a sluggish economy? And can we expect the tax cuts that he promises as governor (he has mentioned one: a tax loophole for energy-using manufacturers) to be as fruitful?
He will get to those questions maybe if the Rotarians will invite him back.
Anyone who could do that makes a good argument for being governor of Arkansas, although the state government does not have a problem with deficits. The state government never runs deficits because it can’t. But we could use that kind of savvy in the chief executive’s office, couldn’t we?
The trouble is, Hutchinson’s ac-count doesn’t square with history.
Here, exactly, is what he said, according to the account in the Arkansas Democrat Gazette:
“When I went to Congress in 1997, we had a $200 billion deficit. We had deficits as far as you could see in the future and we hadn’t had tax cuts in 16 years. Well, we wanted to enact tax cuts to spur our economy on, to put more trust and confidence and money in the entrepreneurs of our country. We did that, and people said you’ll never be able to pay for the needs and address the problems of the deficit. Well, we enacted tax cuts and balanced the budget three years ahead of time and reduced that $200 billion and balanced the budget.”
The Rotarians surely wondered: “Wait, balanced budgets? Isn’t the country running mammoth deficits now, and aren’t they projected for ‘as far as you can see in the future’? And haven’t the same Republicans been in charge of government?”
But we’re getting ahead of ourselves. Hutchinson’s first error was claiming that the United States ran a $200 billion deficit in 1997. The deficit that year was only $21.9 billion, the smallest one since 1974. The tax cuts that Hutchinson spoke of were enacted at the end of July, two months before the fiscal year ended. The deficits, which peaked at $290 billion in President George H.W. Bush’s last year, had been going down by big leaps every year afterward, starting after the tough budget package (spending cuts and tax increases for the well-to-do) that President Clinton pushed through Congress in the spring of 1993. By July 1997, the government had finally turned the corner and was running in the black. Fiscal 1998, which began Oct. 1, 1997, produced the first surplus since 1969 and the largest one in history. By 2000, Clinton’s last year as president, the surplus hit $236 billion.
Hutchinson later said he was not saying that the deficit was exactly $200 billion in 1997. He meant that there were forecasts back then that all the deficits combined over the next five years could total $200 billion.
His point, nevertheless, was that the tax cuts the Republicans put through in 1997 ended deficit spending and caused a big economic surge that produced balanced budgets and surpluses. Supply-side theorists may believe that, but it is nonsense. The tax cuts for the wealthy were phased in over several years and their full impact was not supposed to occur until 2002.
The package also included smaller tax cuts for the middle class that Clinton insisted upon, major non-defense spending cuts and a costly new children’s health-insurance program that Clinton demanded. By 2002, President Bush and Hutchinson and his colleagues had adopted a new tax-cut program and the nation was running annual deficits again that dwarfed those of the halcyon Reagan-Bush days.
If easing taxes on investors’ earnings a little in 1997 produced such wonders, why did even bigger tax cuts for the same people in 2001, 2002 and 2003 lead to staggering deficits, job losses and a sluggish economy? And can we expect the tax cuts that he promises as governor (he has mentioned one: a tax loophole for energy-using manufacturers) to be as fruitful?
He will get to those questions maybe if the Rotarians will invite him back.
SPORTS >> Lonoke gets good draw for regional
By RAY BENTON
Leader sports editor
The Lonoke boys and girls basketball teams begin play tonight in the Class AAA Region 3 tournament in Clinton. They are part of the four teams from the 6AAA that meet up with the top four finishers in the 5AAA conference’s district tournament. That event didn’t finish until last night after Leader deadlines. Regard-less of the outcome of that tournament, things worked out about as well as possible for the Lonoke boys.
The Jackrabbits got into the regional by upsetting DeWitt in the second round of the 6AAA district tournament, and will face the winner of tonight’s matchup between Clarksville and Pottsville in the finals of the 5AAA district.
The reason that’s good for Lonoke is because Atkins and Dardanelle were the top-two finishers in the conference regular season, but were both upset in the semifinals of district.
Clarksville pulled the ball out of play and lulled Atkins to sleep for a 25-19 victory. The score at halftime in that game was 2-0 Clarksville. The score after three quarters was 6-3 Clarksville. Pottsville upset an athletic Dardanelle team by packing the middle and forcing the Sandlizards to shoot outside, which they did poorly en route to the loss.
Lonoke coach Wes Swift admits that Lonoke got a good draw in the first round, but stops far short of saying it means chalking up a win in tonight’s 8:30 p.m. matchup in Clinton.
“We match up better with them because neither team is going to dominate us inside,” Swift said.
“That can happen with a small team like ours at times, but I don’t see either of those teams doing that. That doesn’t mean it’s going to be an easy win. We’re still going to have to bust our butts to beat either team. We’re not good enough not to. We can’t coast and beat anybody. Both teams have things that they do well, and we’re going to have to be ready for it.”
Despite what happened in the Atkins game, Clarksville is the more up-tempo team of the two teams in the final. The Panthers play man and run-and-jump most of the time.
Point guard Calvin Simms is the centerpiece of the offense, and he’s a dangerous slasher and streaky shooter.
Pottsville plays mostly 2-3 zone, and dares teams to shoot from outside.
“Monday we practiced for Pottsville, today we’re going to practice like we’re going to play Clarksville,” Swift said Tuesday morning.
“I know this, Wednes-day night is going to be the most intense shoot-around you’ve ever seen.”
Pulaski Academy’s upset of top-ranked Little Rock Christian in the final of the 6AAA tournament means the Jackrabbits will likely have to face the Warriors for a fourth time in the second round. LRCA’s size presents the biggest matchup problem for Lonoke of any team in the tournament.
The Lady Jackrabbits also don’t know who they are playing, but it will be either Dover or Clarksville.
The Lonoke ladies are in that position because of an upset loss to PA in the semifinals that forced them to accept the No. 3 seed.
Dover won the conference, but Lonoke girls coach Nathan Morris isn’t sure they are the best team. The Lady Pirates and Panthers split during the regular season, but Clarksville surprisingly lost to Pottsville in the season finale, giving Dover the top seed in the district tournament.
“Most of the coaches I’ve talked to say that Clarksville is the harder team to beat,” Morris said.
“They’re more athletic and they have the best post player in the conference. They’ve also got three shooters around her. Dover plays awfully well and they’re extremely patient. Some would call it stalling, but I call what they do just being extremely patient. They’re looking for the best shot available, and they’ll take it whenever it comes.”
Regardless of who his team plays, Morris says his strategy will be similar.
“We’re going to go out and try to put pressure on the ball and get it inside,” Morris said.
“Our size makes us a matchup problem for either team, especially Dover, and if we can get it in the middle, they’re going to have to foul us or let us score. We just have to execute, which is something we didn’t do in our last game. So hopefully we’ll play a lot better than we did then.”
The Lady ‘Rabbits will play at 7 p.m. tonight. A win means another likely matchup with CAC, who faces the 5AAA No.4 seed Atkins in the first round. That game will be at 7 p.m. Friday.
The region’s final round begins at 1 p.m. Saturday with the girls third-place game.
The boys third-place game will be at 2:30.
The girls championship game is set for 7 p.m. and the boys will start shortly thereafter.
Leader sports editor
The Lonoke boys and girls basketball teams begin play tonight in the Class AAA Region 3 tournament in Clinton. They are part of the four teams from the 6AAA that meet up with the top four finishers in the 5AAA conference’s district tournament. That event didn’t finish until last night after Leader deadlines. Regard-less of the outcome of that tournament, things worked out about as well as possible for the Lonoke boys.
The Jackrabbits got into the regional by upsetting DeWitt in the second round of the 6AAA district tournament, and will face the winner of tonight’s matchup between Clarksville and Pottsville in the finals of the 5AAA district.
The reason that’s good for Lonoke is because Atkins and Dardanelle were the top-two finishers in the conference regular season, but were both upset in the semifinals of district.
Clarksville pulled the ball out of play and lulled Atkins to sleep for a 25-19 victory. The score at halftime in that game was 2-0 Clarksville. The score after three quarters was 6-3 Clarksville. Pottsville upset an athletic Dardanelle team by packing the middle and forcing the Sandlizards to shoot outside, which they did poorly en route to the loss.
Lonoke coach Wes Swift admits that Lonoke got a good draw in the first round, but stops far short of saying it means chalking up a win in tonight’s 8:30 p.m. matchup in Clinton.
“We match up better with them because neither team is going to dominate us inside,” Swift said.
“That can happen with a small team like ours at times, but I don’t see either of those teams doing that. That doesn’t mean it’s going to be an easy win. We’re still going to have to bust our butts to beat either team. We’re not good enough not to. We can’t coast and beat anybody. Both teams have things that they do well, and we’re going to have to be ready for it.”
Despite what happened in the Atkins game, Clarksville is the more up-tempo team of the two teams in the final. The Panthers play man and run-and-jump most of the time.
Point guard Calvin Simms is the centerpiece of the offense, and he’s a dangerous slasher and streaky shooter.
Pottsville plays mostly 2-3 zone, and dares teams to shoot from outside.
“Monday we practiced for Pottsville, today we’re going to practice like we’re going to play Clarksville,” Swift said Tuesday morning.
“I know this, Wednes-day night is going to be the most intense shoot-around you’ve ever seen.”
Pulaski Academy’s upset of top-ranked Little Rock Christian in the final of the 6AAA tournament means the Jackrabbits will likely have to face the Warriors for a fourth time in the second round. LRCA’s size presents the biggest matchup problem for Lonoke of any team in the tournament.
The Lady Jackrabbits also don’t know who they are playing, but it will be either Dover or Clarksville.
The Lonoke ladies are in that position because of an upset loss to PA in the semifinals that forced them to accept the No. 3 seed.
Dover won the conference, but Lonoke girls coach Nathan Morris isn’t sure they are the best team. The Lady Pirates and Panthers split during the regular season, but Clarksville surprisingly lost to Pottsville in the season finale, giving Dover the top seed in the district tournament.
“Most of the coaches I’ve talked to say that Clarksville is the harder team to beat,” Morris said.
“They’re more athletic and they have the best post player in the conference. They’ve also got three shooters around her. Dover plays awfully well and they’re extremely patient. Some would call it stalling, but I call what they do just being extremely patient. They’re looking for the best shot available, and they’ll take it whenever it comes.”
Regardless of who his team plays, Morris says his strategy will be similar.
“We’re going to go out and try to put pressure on the ball and get it inside,” Morris said.
“Our size makes us a matchup problem for either team, especially Dover, and if we can get it in the middle, they’re going to have to foul us or let us score. We just have to execute, which is something we didn’t do in our last game. So hopefully we’ll play a lot better than we did then.”
The Lady ‘Rabbits will play at 7 p.m. tonight. A win means another likely matchup with CAC, who faces the 5AAA No.4 seed Atkins in the first round. That game will be at 7 p.m. Friday.
The region’s final round begins at 1 p.m. Saturday with the girls third-place game.
The boys third-place game will be at 2:30.
The girls championship game is set for 7 p.m. and the boys will start shortly thereafter.
SPORTS >> Panthers beat FC, remain in East race
By JASON KING
Leader sports writer
Forrest City did not hit a shot from the floor during the first 11:59 of the contest, as Cabot upset the second-ranked Mustangs 56-42 Friday night at CHS. The Lady Panthers kept their conference record perfect with a 71-49 win over the Lady Mustangs.
The visiting Mustangs’ shooting percentage in the first half was a dreadful three for 22, including 1 of 6 three-point attempts. The Panthers held Forrest City to only four points in the first quarter, all of which came from foul shots. Cabot took a 10-point lead at the end of one, and never let the Mustangs get any closer than within five points the remainder of the game.
“We’re giving ourselves a fighting chance here,” Panthers coach Jerry Bridges said. “We’re going to go play hard and see what happens. We’ll see if we can sneak in a spot; we’ve still got a chance.” Bridges added.
Josh Whatley and Chad Glover got Cabot out to the early lead with strong moves to the basket inside. Guard Justin Haas added a three pointer, and Cabot rushed out to a 7-0 advantage by the 4:03 mark of the opening frame.
To add to Forrest City’s troubles hitting the mark, they were also being out-rebounded by the Panthers, particularly Whatley. Whatley pulled down five boards in the opening period alone, and would go on to grab a game-high 10 rebounds by game’s end.
A pair of free throws from Marcus Britt and Stephan Weaver were the only points for the Mustangs in the first quarter, giving the Panthers a 14-4 lead heading into the second.
Forrest City finally got a goal with 4:01 left in the first half, off a basket from Kelsey Stewart. The Mustangs managed more offense in the second stage, but still shot poorly from the floor, hitting 3 of 11 shots. One of the shots was a three pointer from Weaver with less than two minutes remaining in the half to pull Forrest City to within nine, 23-14 at halftime.
While Cabot used the outside shooting of Haas to help build the lead in the first half, the Panthers went almost exclusively inside in the final half.
Glover got several good looks underneath the basket, scoring six points in the fourth quarter. Matt Shinn, Whatley and Michael Lowery also worked easy jumpers inside, as Cabot went on to secure the huge conference win.
“They are good shooters, they had a bad shooting game,” Bridges said.
“It was a combination, they could have shot better, but we also played good defense. We just didn’t give them many free ones.”
Bridges also thought the student section made a difference in the game, and was complimentary of them and their job on senior night.
“Our student body is the best cheering for any team I have ever had. They give us a lot of energy, and we want them to know we appreciate them.” Haas led the Panthers with 16 points and five assists. Glover added 10 points for Cabot. Forrest City was led by Stewart with 13 points, followed by Britt with 11. The win gives Cabot a 6-7 conference record.
The Lady Panthers had it tougher than the boys on Friday, at least for one half.
Forrest City threatened to end Cabot’s undefeated reign at the top of the East standings in the first two quarters, taking a 32-30 lead at the half.
The Lady Mustangs continued to hold the lead until Jamie Sterrenberg hit a three pointer at the 6:07 mark of the third quarter to tie the score at 34-34. Kim Sitzmann gave the Lady Panthers the lead for the first time since the opening five minutes of the contest with a pair of free throws moments later. Sitzmann then added two more with a steal and lay up to put Cabot up 38-34. Forrest City tied the score one more time in the third, but Cabot went on a 14-3 run in the final 3:28 of the quarter on their way to another conference win.
Sitzmann led the Lady Panthers with 30 points, eight rebounds, six steals and three assists.
Maddie Helms added 12 points for Cabot. Forrest City was led by Cassandra Jackson with 27 points, nine rebounds, seven steals and one blocked shot. With the win, Cabot improves to 22-3 overall on the season and 13-0 in the conference.
Leader sports writer
Forrest City did not hit a shot from the floor during the first 11:59 of the contest, as Cabot upset the second-ranked Mustangs 56-42 Friday night at CHS. The Lady Panthers kept their conference record perfect with a 71-49 win over the Lady Mustangs.
The visiting Mustangs’ shooting percentage in the first half was a dreadful three for 22, including 1 of 6 three-point attempts. The Panthers held Forrest City to only four points in the first quarter, all of which came from foul shots. Cabot took a 10-point lead at the end of one, and never let the Mustangs get any closer than within five points the remainder of the game.
“We’re giving ourselves a fighting chance here,” Panthers coach Jerry Bridges said. “We’re going to go play hard and see what happens. We’ll see if we can sneak in a spot; we’ve still got a chance.” Bridges added.
Josh Whatley and Chad Glover got Cabot out to the early lead with strong moves to the basket inside. Guard Justin Haas added a three pointer, and Cabot rushed out to a 7-0 advantage by the 4:03 mark of the opening frame.
To add to Forrest City’s troubles hitting the mark, they were also being out-rebounded by the Panthers, particularly Whatley. Whatley pulled down five boards in the opening period alone, and would go on to grab a game-high 10 rebounds by game’s end.
A pair of free throws from Marcus Britt and Stephan Weaver were the only points for the Mustangs in the first quarter, giving the Panthers a 14-4 lead heading into the second.
Forrest City finally got a goal with 4:01 left in the first half, off a basket from Kelsey Stewart. The Mustangs managed more offense in the second stage, but still shot poorly from the floor, hitting 3 of 11 shots. One of the shots was a three pointer from Weaver with less than two minutes remaining in the half to pull Forrest City to within nine, 23-14 at halftime.
While Cabot used the outside shooting of Haas to help build the lead in the first half, the Panthers went almost exclusively inside in the final half.
Glover got several good looks underneath the basket, scoring six points in the fourth quarter. Matt Shinn, Whatley and Michael Lowery also worked easy jumpers inside, as Cabot went on to secure the huge conference win.
“They are good shooters, they had a bad shooting game,” Bridges said.
“It was a combination, they could have shot better, but we also played good defense. We just didn’t give them many free ones.”
Bridges also thought the student section made a difference in the game, and was complimentary of them and their job on senior night.
“Our student body is the best cheering for any team I have ever had. They give us a lot of energy, and we want them to know we appreciate them.” Haas led the Panthers with 16 points and five assists. Glover added 10 points for Cabot. Forrest City was led by Stewart with 13 points, followed by Britt with 11. The win gives Cabot a 6-7 conference record.
The Lady Panthers had it tougher than the boys on Friday, at least for one half.
Forrest City threatened to end Cabot’s undefeated reign at the top of the East standings in the first two quarters, taking a 32-30 lead at the half.
The Lady Mustangs continued to hold the lead until Jamie Sterrenberg hit a three pointer at the 6:07 mark of the third quarter to tie the score at 34-34. Kim Sitzmann gave the Lady Panthers the lead for the first time since the opening five minutes of the contest with a pair of free throws moments later. Sitzmann then added two more with a steal and lay up to put Cabot up 38-34. Forrest City tied the score one more time in the third, but Cabot went on a 14-3 run in the final 3:28 of the quarter on their way to another conference win.
Sitzmann led the Lady Panthers with 30 points, eight rebounds, six steals and three assists.
Maddie Helms added 12 points for Cabot. Forrest City was led by Cassandra Jackson with 27 points, nine rebounds, seven steals and one blocked shot. With the win, Cabot improves to 22-3 overall on the season and 13-0 in the conference.
NEIGHBORS >> Published Poetry
By SARA GREENE
Leader staff writer
Poetry written by a dozen students and two teachers at Cabot High School has been published in “Anthology 2005” published by the Arkansas Council of Teachers of English and Language Arts.
“Last year when I started teaching the unit on poetry, I could see some of the students were really struggling with it so we started out with refrigerator-magnet poetry,” said Kelly Dollarhide, an English teacher at Cabot.
According to magneticpoetry.com, Dave Kapell, who founded Magnetic Poetry in 1991, was suffering from writer’s block while trying to compose song lyrics. Kapell wrote down interesting words on pieces of paper and glued them to magnets he placed on his refrigerator.
Before long he noticed that when friends were over they would move the magnets around to create poems. Kapell made kits with words on magnets to sell at a craft fair and since then Magnetic Poetry has sold more than three million poetry kits. The original kit contain 440 magnets. Now there are kits for romantic poems, erotic poems, pet poems and more.
Dollarhide entered poetry by her students, short poems as ‘fillers’ to go between essays and longer poems in the anthology, paying the $5 entry fee for each submission out of her own pocket. English teacher Cyndie Sebourn also entered her students’ work in the anthology and both teachers entered their own poems.
“Students fear being condemned for expressing themselves about something they feel passionate about,” Dollarhide said. “I was walking in the clouds when I found out they had been published a couple of weeks ago.”
The students from Cabot High published in “Anthology 2005” include Ally Cagle, Osker Campbell, Jack Spells, Lee Harrison, Jessica Seat, Corey Jackman, Daryl Murphy, Daniel Charlton, Jared Walls, Joey Coaley and Steven Davis.
“I’m so proud of our students,” Dollarhide added.
Another student published from Cabot Middle School North is Dollarhide’s daughter Abby.
“It’s nice to have mom and daughter published in the same book,” Dollarhide said.
Leader staff writer
Poetry written by a dozen students and two teachers at Cabot High School has been published in “Anthology 2005” published by the Arkansas Council of Teachers of English and Language Arts.
“Last year when I started teaching the unit on poetry, I could see some of the students were really struggling with it so we started out with refrigerator-magnet poetry,” said Kelly Dollarhide, an English teacher at Cabot.
According to magneticpoetry.com, Dave Kapell, who founded Magnetic Poetry in 1991, was suffering from writer’s block while trying to compose song lyrics. Kapell wrote down interesting words on pieces of paper and glued them to magnets he placed on his refrigerator.
Before long he noticed that when friends were over they would move the magnets around to create poems. Kapell made kits with words on magnets to sell at a craft fair and since then Magnetic Poetry has sold more than three million poetry kits. The original kit contain 440 magnets. Now there are kits for romantic poems, erotic poems, pet poems and more.
Dollarhide entered poetry by her students, short poems as ‘fillers’ to go between essays and longer poems in the anthology, paying the $5 entry fee for each submission out of her own pocket. English teacher Cyndie Sebourn also entered her students’ work in the anthology and both teachers entered their own poems.
“Students fear being condemned for expressing themselves about something they feel passionate about,” Dollarhide said. “I was walking in the clouds when I found out they had been published a couple of weeks ago.”
The students from Cabot High published in “Anthology 2005” include Ally Cagle, Osker Campbell, Jack Spells, Lee Harrison, Jessica Seat, Corey Jackman, Daryl Murphy, Daniel Charlton, Jared Walls, Joey Coaley and Steven Davis.
“I’m so proud of our students,” Dollarhide added.
Another student published from Cabot Middle School North is Dollarhide’s daughter Abby.
“It’s nice to have mom and daughter published in the same book,” Dollarhide said.
FROM THE PUBLISHER >> Pizza shop forced out for on-ramp
Virgil and Leigh Wilson have spent more than a decade building their pizza business on T.P. White Drive in Jacksonville, but the state Highway Department has told them they must vacate the premises and start all over again someplace else.
The Highway Department will put in an on-ramp at Hwy. 67/167 on the site where the Wilsons’ Pizza Company restaurant now stands on the north part of town.
At most, the Wilsons might get $20,000 for relocation expenses, but they think that’s not nearly enough. It will take them years to re-establish themselves elsewhere, and they will lose thousands of dollars before they get back on their feet even if they find a suitable location.
The Wilsons don’t own the building — the Highway Department will negotiate with the owner separately — but the couple had hoped to sell the business in a few years and retire.
But now they can’t afford to retire. Virgil Wilson, who is 62, might have to work another 10 years before he can sell out.
Randy Ort, a spokesman for the Highway Department, says the state isn’t trying to hurt anybody’s business, but the Pizza Company happens unfortunately to be in the middle of the planned northbound on-ramp, which will accommodate traffic coming from both directions on T.P. White Drive.
Federal law sets limits on compensating businesses, and since federal funds will pay for the ramp, the state cannot pay more than the $20,000 maximum.
The Wilsons have nothing against progress, but they’re unhappy at the way the Highway Department is pushing them out and, as far as they’re concerned, offering them only token compensation.
“They’ll hire movers to move the equipment,” he says. “They’ll pay for electricians to put in three-phase electricity. They might pay for a new sign.”
“They haven’t changed the funding formula since 1987,” Wilson says, referring to the way the state figures small businesses should be compensated.
In other words, the formula hasn’t changed in almost 20 years. Any reasonable person would think the Wilsons have built a business worth at least $50,000, but Ort says there’s no way the couple will ever get that much money from the state.
“I’m not asking to get rich,” Wilson says. “I’m asking them to be fair about it.”
“The thing that bugs me is that we’re going to have downtime before we can reopen someplace else,” Wilson continues. “They won’t pay for that. We’ve got key employees we’ll have to keep paying before we find a location. It’ll cost me $40,000 to $50,000.”
Wilson still works 80 hours a week, and his wife about 50 hours. He himself makes 200 pizzas a week and gives a lot of them away to Little League teams, schools and newly arrived airmen.
Although others have tried and failed running a restaurant there, only the Wilsons have succeeded at that location. But they don’t own the building, so they have nothing to show for their hard work except an eviction notice from the state.
“I fought for this country,” says Wilson, an Army veteran. “I’ve been shot at. I even have a Bronze Star.”
Yet the state will not recognize the sweat and equity the Wilsons have poured into their business. Corporations get millions of dollars in incentives to come to Arkansas, but small businesses seldom get more than a pat on the back for creating jobs, paying taxes and helping the community.
“If you’re going to move me after 11 years, there should be some compensation. The governor spends $400,000 on his airplane, and we get almost nothing,” Wilson says.
The Highway Department will put in an on-ramp at Hwy. 67/167 on the site where the Wilsons’ Pizza Company restaurant now stands on the north part of town.
At most, the Wilsons might get $20,000 for relocation expenses, but they think that’s not nearly enough. It will take them years to re-establish themselves elsewhere, and they will lose thousands of dollars before they get back on their feet even if they find a suitable location.
The Wilsons don’t own the building — the Highway Department will negotiate with the owner separately — but the couple had hoped to sell the business in a few years and retire.
But now they can’t afford to retire. Virgil Wilson, who is 62, might have to work another 10 years before he can sell out.
Randy Ort, a spokesman for the Highway Department, says the state isn’t trying to hurt anybody’s business, but the Pizza Company happens unfortunately to be in the middle of the planned northbound on-ramp, which will accommodate traffic coming from both directions on T.P. White Drive.
Federal law sets limits on compensating businesses, and since federal funds will pay for the ramp, the state cannot pay more than the $20,000 maximum.
The Wilsons have nothing against progress, but they’re unhappy at the way the Highway Department is pushing them out and, as far as they’re concerned, offering them only token compensation.
“They’ll hire movers to move the equipment,” he says. “They’ll pay for electricians to put in three-phase electricity. They might pay for a new sign.”
“They haven’t changed the funding formula since 1987,” Wilson says, referring to the way the state figures small businesses should be compensated.
In other words, the formula hasn’t changed in almost 20 years. Any reasonable person would think the Wilsons have built a business worth at least $50,000, but Ort says there’s no way the couple will ever get that much money from the state.
“I’m not asking to get rich,” Wilson says. “I’m asking them to be fair about it.”
“The thing that bugs me is that we’re going to have downtime before we can reopen someplace else,” Wilson continues. “They won’t pay for that. We’ve got key employees we’ll have to keep paying before we find a location. It’ll cost me $40,000 to $50,000.”
Wilson still works 80 hours a week, and his wife about 50 hours. He himself makes 200 pizzas a week and gives a lot of them away to Little League teams, schools and newly arrived airmen.
Although others have tried and failed running a restaurant there, only the Wilsons have succeeded at that location. But they don’t own the building, so they have nothing to show for their hard work except an eviction notice from the state.
“I fought for this country,” says Wilson, an Army veteran. “I’ve been shot at. I even have a Bronze Star.”
Yet the state will not recognize the sweat and equity the Wilsons have poured into their business. Corporations get millions of dollars in incentives to come to Arkansas, but small businesses seldom get more than a pat on the back for creating jobs, paying taxes and helping the community.
“If you’re going to move me after 11 years, there should be some compensation. The governor spends $400,000 on his airplane, and we get almost nothing,” Wilson says.
TOP STORY >> PCSSD’s plan causes concerns
By JOHN HOFHEIMER
Leader staff writer
No one seems to like the idea, but athletics, cheerleading, dance and some other extracurricular activities will become after-school activities for at least one year at Pulaski County Special School District junior high and high schools, part of the price of extricating the district from its fiscal distress.
Students, coaches and parents will just have to bite the bullet next year, Superintendent James Sharpe told district school athletic directors at a Friday meeting. Choir and band are unaffected.
“We’re planning for the worst, but hoping to do something to ease the pain,” said Sharpe Tuesday evening. “We are continually working to ease the impact.”
Parents, teachers and athletes had asked the school board to reconsider its action, but unless the district can turn around its failing finances by the end of the next school year, the state Education Commission may take extraordinary action, perhaps having the state take over the district.
The district’s fiscal-distress recovery plan, accepted by the state Department of Education, cuts about $5 million a year from expenses. Of that amount, moving the activities to after school is projected to save the district about $829,000.
Because it’s part of the official recovery plan accepted by the Ed-ucation Department, the board is powerless to reverse that action without approval and that would require cutting $829,000 from elsewhere from a budget already stripped bare, according to Julie Thompson, department spokes-man.
She said the district had inquired about changing the plan, but had not followed up, apparently resigned to the situation for now.
Sharpe told district athletic directors that he understood their frustration and the problems generated by the imposition of after-school athletics, but that nothing could be done about the problem for at least the 2006-2007 school year.
Sharpe said that if money somehow became available at the end of this fiscal year, he would try to bring those extra-curricular activities back into the school day, according to Jacksonville High School athletic director Jerry Wilson.
“We’re going to suck it up for a year,” said Wilson, “but we’re going to lose kids and we’re going to lose coaches over this.”
Thompson said Tuesday that it was possible that the school district could escape fiscal distress designation by the end of the next school year, meaning the board could put athletics, cheerleading and the other electives back into the school day without approval of the state.
The biggest problem is caused by the lack of facilities, Wilson said. Competing for after-school time and space in the gymnasiums and fields will be cheer and dance squads, ninth-grade girls and boys teams, and girls and boys teams for grades 10-12.
If one team was practicing from 4 to 5:30 p.m., one from 5:30 to 7 p.m. and yet another from 7 to 8:30 p.m., students could be at school for a long time, said Wilson. Providing supervision could be a problem, he said.
He also wondered how the late-staying students would be fed.
That’s among the problems we don’t have answers for yet, Sharpe said Tuesday.
“We’re told it’s a one-year deal,” said Denny Tipton, Sylvan Hills High School athletic director. “The bottom line is the kids.”
If the district and the schools want to improve test scores, keeping students as late as 10 p.m. before sending them home to do homework may not be the answer, he said. It is unrealistic to think teenagers would use the afternoon and evening time not spent practicing hitting the books, he added.
Tipton said that when Little Rock and North Little Rock tried after-school activities, participation dropped off. “After one year, they had to change back,” he said.
It’s also going to be tough on coaches, many of whom will get to school at 7:30 a.m. and leave after 10 p.m. He said some coaches could move on to less-demanding districts.
“Ours will be the only programs within 100 miles of Little Rock without an athletic period,” Tipton said. “That will make it hard to compete.
“Nobody’s happy,” he added. “We’re hoping that it all will be worked out.”
He joined Wilson in saying the schools and coaches would do the best job they could, remain positive and hope for the best.
Leader staff writer
No one seems to like the idea, but athletics, cheerleading, dance and some other extracurricular activities will become after-school activities for at least one year at Pulaski County Special School District junior high and high schools, part of the price of extricating the district from its fiscal distress.
Students, coaches and parents will just have to bite the bullet next year, Superintendent James Sharpe told district school athletic directors at a Friday meeting. Choir and band are unaffected.
“We’re planning for the worst, but hoping to do something to ease the pain,” said Sharpe Tuesday evening. “We are continually working to ease the impact.”
Parents, teachers and athletes had asked the school board to reconsider its action, but unless the district can turn around its failing finances by the end of the next school year, the state Education Commission may take extraordinary action, perhaps having the state take over the district.
The district’s fiscal-distress recovery plan, accepted by the state Department of Education, cuts about $5 million a year from expenses. Of that amount, moving the activities to after school is projected to save the district about $829,000.
Because it’s part of the official recovery plan accepted by the Ed-ucation Department, the board is powerless to reverse that action without approval and that would require cutting $829,000 from elsewhere from a budget already stripped bare, according to Julie Thompson, department spokes-man.
She said the district had inquired about changing the plan, but had not followed up, apparently resigned to the situation for now.
Sharpe told district athletic directors that he understood their frustration and the problems generated by the imposition of after-school athletics, but that nothing could be done about the problem for at least the 2006-2007 school year.
Sharpe said that if money somehow became available at the end of this fiscal year, he would try to bring those extra-curricular activities back into the school day, according to Jacksonville High School athletic director Jerry Wilson.
“We’re going to suck it up for a year,” said Wilson, “but we’re going to lose kids and we’re going to lose coaches over this.”
Thompson said Tuesday that it was possible that the school district could escape fiscal distress designation by the end of the next school year, meaning the board could put athletics, cheerleading and the other electives back into the school day without approval of the state.
The biggest problem is caused by the lack of facilities, Wilson said. Competing for after-school time and space in the gymnasiums and fields will be cheer and dance squads, ninth-grade girls and boys teams, and girls and boys teams for grades 10-12.
If one team was practicing from 4 to 5:30 p.m., one from 5:30 to 7 p.m. and yet another from 7 to 8:30 p.m., students could be at school for a long time, said Wilson. Providing supervision could be a problem, he said.
He also wondered how the late-staying students would be fed.
That’s among the problems we don’t have answers for yet, Sharpe said Tuesday.
“We’re told it’s a one-year deal,” said Denny Tipton, Sylvan Hills High School athletic director. “The bottom line is the kids.”
If the district and the schools want to improve test scores, keeping students as late as 10 p.m. before sending them home to do homework may not be the answer, he said. It is unrealistic to think teenagers would use the afternoon and evening time not spent practicing hitting the books, he added.
Tipton said that when Little Rock and North Little Rock tried after-school activities, participation dropped off. “After one year, they had to change back,” he said.
It’s also going to be tough on coaches, many of whom will get to school at 7:30 a.m. and leave after 10 p.m. He said some coaches could move on to less-demanding districts.
“Ours will be the only programs within 100 miles of Little Rock without an athletic period,” Tipton said. “That will make it hard to compete.
“Nobody’s happy,” he added. “We’re hoping that it all will be worked out.”
He joined Wilson in saying the schools and coaches would do the best job they could, remain positive and hope for the best.
TOP STORY >> Icy storm threat falls short
By JOAN MCCOY AND JEREMY PEPPAS
Leader staff writers
The much-anticipated winter storm didn’t materialize. While extra help was ready to go, hospitals, wrecker services and utility companies didn’t have the problems they anticipated.
“It was not nearly as bad as we expected,” said Billy Hall of Ivy Hall Wrecker. “We were still busy, about twice as busy as we normally are.”
For the most part, people spent this past weekend at home as the power, and, more importantly, the heat, stayed on.
James Thompson, a spokesman for En-tergy Arkansas, said Tuesday that his company started planning for the storm five days before it was supposed to hit. Crews all over the state and in Texas were on standby. A command center was ready to go.
And contractors who clear away tree limbs were on notice that their services might be needed. There were a few outages around Hel-ena and Pine Bluff, Thompson said, but considering that Entergy has 673,000 customers across the state, it could have been a lot worse if the storm had been as bad as predicted.
“We plan for the worst and hope for the best,” he said. “This one just turned out thankfully to not be an outage event.”
Thompson said no one was really worried about snow and sleet. It’s the wind that tangles lines covered with ice and brings down tree limbs that rip them from the poles.
In 2000, back-to-back ice storms in December required crews from all over the country to help restore power, he said. The cost associated with that undertaking which including feeding and lodging all those workers was staggering.
But this time, the storm was expected to hit all over the state, so crews stayed at home and waited to see if and where they would be needed. So the only extra expense it caused was the overtime for the employees who put together the plan, he said.
“Our numbers were not elevated at all,” said Kristen James, the marketing coordinator for Reb-samen Medical Center in Jack-sonville, who said extra personnel were ready to go. “They didn’t call in any of the extra staff and they didn’t see anymore car accidents than normal.”
Most people, it seemed, used the storm as an excuse to stay in.
“I think everybody stayed at home,” Larry James of Jacksonville Starter and Alternator said. “And they didn’t do anything.”
James added that his wrecker service wasn’t, “busy at all.”
Around the state, driving conditions overall were much improved after two days of snow, sleet and single-digit wind-chill temperatures, Highway Dept. spokesman Randy Ort said. Three traffic fatalities were blamed on the weekend storm.
“Things are getting a whole lot better,’’ Ort said Monday. “We’re not totally out of the woods, but temperatures are rising and that’s helping a lot.’’
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Leader staff writers
The much-anticipated winter storm didn’t materialize. While extra help was ready to go, hospitals, wrecker services and utility companies didn’t have the problems they anticipated.
“It was not nearly as bad as we expected,” said Billy Hall of Ivy Hall Wrecker. “We were still busy, about twice as busy as we normally are.”
For the most part, people spent this past weekend at home as the power, and, more importantly, the heat, stayed on.
James Thompson, a spokesman for En-tergy Arkansas, said Tuesday that his company started planning for the storm five days before it was supposed to hit. Crews all over the state and in Texas were on standby. A command center was ready to go.
And contractors who clear away tree limbs were on notice that their services might be needed. There were a few outages around Hel-ena and Pine Bluff, Thompson said, but considering that Entergy has 673,000 customers across the state, it could have been a lot worse if the storm had been as bad as predicted.
“We plan for the worst and hope for the best,” he said. “This one just turned out thankfully to not be an outage event.”
Thompson said no one was really worried about snow and sleet. It’s the wind that tangles lines covered with ice and brings down tree limbs that rip them from the poles.
In 2000, back-to-back ice storms in December required crews from all over the country to help restore power, he said. The cost associated with that undertaking which including feeding and lodging all those workers was staggering.
But this time, the storm was expected to hit all over the state, so crews stayed at home and waited to see if and where they would be needed. So the only extra expense it caused was the overtime for the employees who put together the plan, he said.
“Our numbers were not elevated at all,” said Kristen James, the marketing coordinator for Reb-samen Medical Center in Jack-sonville, who said extra personnel were ready to go. “They didn’t call in any of the extra staff and they didn’t see anymore car accidents than normal.”
Most people, it seemed, used the storm as an excuse to stay in.
“I think everybody stayed at home,” Larry James of Jacksonville Starter and Alternator said. “And they didn’t do anything.”
James added that his wrecker service wasn’t, “busy at all.”
Around the state, driving conditions overall were much improved after two days of snow, sleet and single-digit wind-chill temperatures, Highway Dept. spokesman Randy Ort said. Three traffic fatalities were blamed on the weekend storm.
“Things are getting a whole lot better,’’ Ort said Monday. “We’re not totally out of the woods, but temperatures are rising and that’s helping a lot.’’
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
TOP STORY >> Suspect is arrested in weekend’s homicide
By RICK KRON
Leader staff writer
A suspect in Saturday’s deadly shooting at a Jacksonville apartment turned himself in to the Jacksonville police Tuesday.
Tavoris M. Bone, 25, of 3711 Henderson Road, came to the police station early Tuesday with his lawyer. Bone was charged with first-degree murder and first-degree criminal attempt to commit murder and is being held in the Pulaski County Jail.
The murder was the first of 2006 in Jacksonville.
The police were also talking to Shanga Ridgeway of Jacksonville as a “person of interest” in the shooting, but he was not charged with any crime as of late Tuesday.
According to police, the shooting occurred in the Manor House Apartments, Apt. 24, 1705 Redmond Road.
The dead man was identified as Anthony Parker, 20, of that address. A friend of his, who was also at the apartment, Cameo Simmons, was shot once below the ear and was alive when police responded.
Capt. Charles Jenkins, with the Jacksonville Police Department, called the wound to Simmons serious, but not life-threatening. He was transported to Rebsamen Medical Center and has since been released.
Police responded to the apartments, after a woman called 911 and said police “needed to get someone over on Redmond Road.” As police were trying to get an exact location from the caller, another call came in about a shooting at the apartments.
Police made contact with Sharonda Stevenson, of 213 Belluvue Circle, at the apartments, who said that two people were involved.
Although the murder is the first one of the year in Jacksonville, it is the second one in six months.
In October 2005, a 5-year-old girl died when a ocal man took her and others hostage in a Jacksonville apartment.
Howard Neal Jr., 23, was charged in December with capital murder, kidnapping and first-degree battery in the smothering death of the 5-year-old girl in October 2005.
Jasmine Peoples, the 5-year-old North Little Rock girl, was discovered dead under a pile of heavy furniture in a Jacksonville apartment after Jacksonville police ended an unsuccessful 45-minute negotiation by breaking into the home of Neal’s sister, Crystal Pickens, at 314 Elm St., and arresting him.
Peoples apparently suffocated, but it was unclear at the time whether it was accidental or on purpose. Neal also allegedly attacked Ronald Redden, 29, of Whatley Loop with a screwdriver during the incident. Redden escaped over a fence and across the railroad tracks, where he was discovered bleeding from the head and was transported to Rebsamen Medical Center and then airlifted to the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences in Little Rock, where he was treated and released.
Leader staff writer
A suspect in Saturday’s deadly shooting at a Jacksonville apartment turned himself in to the Jacksonville police Tuesday.
Tavoris M. Bone, 25, of 3711 Henderson Road, came to the police station early Tuesday with his lawyer. Bone was charged with first-degree murder and first-degree criminal attempt to commit murder and is being held in the Pulaski County Jail.
The murder was the first of 2006 in Jacksonville.
The police were also talking to Shanga Ridgeway of Jacksonville as a “person of interest” in the shooting, but he was not charged with any crime as of late Tuesday.
According to police, the shooting occurred in the Manor House Apartments, Apt. 24, 1705 Redmond Road.
The dead man was identified as Anthony Parker, 20, of that address. A friend of his, who was also at the apartment, Cameo Simmons, was shot once below the ear and was alive when police responded.
Capt. Charles Jenkins, with the Jacksonville Police Department, called the wound to Simmons serious, but not life-threatening. He was transported to Rebsamen Medical Center and has since been released.
Police responded to the apartments, after a woman called 911 and said police “needed to get someone over on Redmond Road.” As police were trying to get an exact location from the caller, another call came in about a shooting at the apartments.
Police made contact with Sharonda Stevenson, of 213 Belluvue Circle, at the apartments, who said that two people were involved.
Although the murder is the first one of the year in Jacksonville, it is the second one in six months.
In October 2005, a 5-year-old girl died when a ocal man took her and others hostage in a Jacksonville apartment.
Howard Neal Jr., 23, was charged in December with capital murder, kidnapping and first-degree battery in the smothering death of the 5-year-old girl in October 2005.
Jasmine Peoples, the 5-year-old North Little Rock girl, was discovered dead under a pile of heavy furniture in a Jacksonville apartment after Jacksonville police ended an unsuccessful 45-minute negotiation by breaking into the home of Neal’s sister, Crystal Pickens, at 314 Elm St., and arresting him.
Peoples apparently suffocated, but it was unclear at the time whether it was accidental or on purpose. Neal also allegedly attacked Ronald Redden, 29, of Whatley Loop with a screwdriver during the incident. Redden escaped over a fence and across the railroad tracks, where he was discovered bleeding from the head and was transported to Rebsamen Medical Center and then airlifted to the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences in Little Rock, where he was treated and released.
TOP STORY >> Developer abandons Cabot project
By SARA GREENE & JOAN MCCOY
Leader staff writers
The Rockwood Heights Commer-cial Subdivision in Cabot is “dead,” according to John Moore of Little Rock’s Blue Cube Development LLC after the Cabot City Council voted 5-1 on Monday night against rezoning 11.15 acres along Hwy. 89 and Rock-wood Road owned by J.B. and Gladys Smith from residential to commercial.
“We don’t think we’re going to be doing anything with that property,” Moore told The Leader on Tuesday. “We think there’s a lot of potential in Cabot, but we’d probably be shy about developing there after this.”
The matter is now dead for at least a year unless the Smiths decide to develop it as a residential subdivision before it is again eligible for rezoning. The rezoning turned controversial when about 100 Rockwood residents showed up for the December council meeting to protest the rezoning that had been recommended for app-roval two weeks earlier by the planning commission.
The residents told the council they didn’t even know the rezoning was a possibility until it went before the commission. More than 170 homeowners organized to fight it by forming the Rockwood Residents and Property Owners Association and hiring Stephen R. Giles, a Little Rock real estate attorney.
“They listened,” Jerald Garner, president of the association, said of the council vote on the rezoning that failed. “To me, that was city government at its best.”
Alderman Odis Waymack, who said during an earlier meeting that no one could stop the commercial development along Highway 89, voted for the rezoning.
“The city has reached a point where it can no longer serve just a few persons’ interests at the exclusion of the majority of its citizens,” said state Rep. Susan Schulte (R-Cabot), who lives in the area of the proposed development.
The Monday night council vote means that for a while the residents won’t have to worry about any businesses sprouting up at the entrance to their subdivision.
“No one should take credit for stopping it,” Garner said. “It should be put down in the books as government working for the people.”
Garner said he believes the advantage to organizing is that there are more eyes to keep a watch over their community. If zoned commercial, the property is estimated to be worth $2 million.
Garner says he is sure that the property will come up for rezoning again, and he knows that the city needs to grow commercially for the tax revenue.
But the residents didn’t know what would go on the site and that was what concerned them the most, he said.
The developers told the residents that they had one commitment to the proposed subdivision, a 12,000-square-foot Crye-Leike Realtors office, but they didn’t have buyers for the other lots.
“It’s rezoning 11-plus acres at the corner of a local street and a state highway only because the developer says ‘I’ve got a user for one lot,’” Giles said.
Garner told the council that residents still had concerns about traffic, light pollution at night and noise caused by a commercial development.
“We’re not against the betterment of Cabot. What we are not for is doing a C2 zoning without taking care of the already congested and horrific traffic that is going on there,” Garner said.
Moore told council members Blue Cube was planning a 15-foot natural buffer zone of trees along with a six-foot tall privacy fence around the development for privacy and a bill of assurance to be signed by any business in the commercial subdivision.
“The (Rockwood) housing association was arguing details but at the end of the day they just didn’t want the development,” Moore said.
In other business, the city council voted not to enter into eminent domain proceedings to take about a quarter acre from Larry Nipper so the city can widen and straighten Elm Street as a way to alleviate traffic off Hwy. 89.
“I have a hard time taking a man’s property and not giving him what he’s asking for it,” said Alderman Jerry Stephens.
The land appraised at $18,600 as residential property, but Nipper had it rezoned commercial. The city had the property appraised for $60,000. The city council offered Nipper $66,000 for the property which is the appraised value plus 10 percent.
At a previous council meeting, Nipper said two different appraisers told him it was not enough and he was asking $85,000 for the property.
Nipper respectfully declined the offer.
“I felt the price they were offering is not in line with the other commercial property being sold in Cabot,” Nipper said. “I was surprised. I thought they were going to take my land.”
Leader staff writers
The Rockwood Heights Commer-cial Subdivision in Cabot is “dead,” according to John Moore of Little Rock’s Blue Cube Development LLC after the Cabot City Council voted 5-1 on Monday night against rezoning 11.15 acres along Hwy. 89 and Rock-wood Road owned by J.B. and Gladys Smith from residential to commercial.
“We don’t think we’re going to be doing anything with that property,” Moore told The Leader on Tuesday. “We think there’s a lot of potential in Cabot, but we’d probably be shy about developing there after this.”
The matter is now dead for at least a year unless the Smiths decide to develop it as a residential subdivision before it is again eligible for rezoning. The rezoning turned controversial when about 100 Rockwood residents showed up for the December council meeting to protest the rezoning that had been recommended for app-roval two weeks earlier by the planning commission.
The residents told the council they didn’t even know the rezoning was a possibility until it went before the commission. More than 170 homeowners organized to fight it by forming the Rockwood Residents and Property Owners Association and hiring Stephen R. Giles, a Little Rock real estate attorney.
“They listened,” Jerald Garner, president of the association, said of the council vote on the rezoning that failed. “To me, that was city government at its best.”
Alderman Odis Waymack, who said during an earlier meeting that no one could stop the commercial development along Highway 89, voted for the rezoning.
“The city has reached a point where it can no longer serve just a few persons’ interests at the exclusion of the majority of its citizens,” said state Rep. Susan Schulte (R-Cabot), who lives in the area of the proposed development.
The Monday night council vote means that for a while the residents won’t have to worry about any businesses sprouting up at the entrance to their subdivision.
“No one should take credit for stopping it,” Garner said. “It should be put down in the books as government working for the people.”
Garner said he believes the advantage to organizing is that there are more eyes to keep a watch over their community. If zoned commercial, the property is estimated to be worth $2 million.
Garner says he is sure that the property will come up for rezoning again, and he knows that the city needs to grow commercially for the tax revenue.
But the residents didn’t know what would go on the site and that was what concerned them the most, he said.
The developers told the residents that they had one commitment to the proposed subdivision, a 12,000-square-foot Crye-Leike Realtors office, but they didn’t have buyers for the other lots.
“It’s rezoning 11-plus acres at the corner of a local street and a state highway only because the developer says ‘I’ve got a user for one lot,’” Giles said.
Garner told the council that residents still had concerns about traffic, light pollution at night and noise caused by a commercial development.
“We’re not against the betterment of Cabot. What we are not for is doing a C2 zoning without taking care of the already congested and horrific traffic that is going on there,” Garner said.
Moore told council members Blue Cube was planning a 15-foot natural buffer zone of trees along with a six-foot tall privacy fence around the development for privacy and a bill of assurance to be signed by any business in the commercial subdivision.
“The (Rockwood) housing association was arguing details but at the end of the day they just didn’t want the development,” Moore said.
In other business, the city council voted not to enter into eminent domain proceedings to take about a quarter acre from Larry Nipper so the city can widen and straighten Elm Street as a way to alleviate traffic off Hwy. 89.
“I have a hard time taking a man’s property and not giving him what he’s asking for it,” said Alderman Jerry Stephens.
The land appraised at $18,600 as residential property, but Nipper had it rezoned commercial. The city had the property appraised for $60,000. The city council offered Nipper $66,000 for the property which is the appraised value plus 10 percent.
At a previous council meeting, Nipper said two different appraisers told him it was not enough and he was asking $85,000 for the property.
Nipper respectfully declined the offer.
“I felt the price they were offering is not in line with the other commercial property being sold in Cabot,” Nipper said. “I was surprised. I thought they were going to take my land.”
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