A treasury surplus of between $700 million and $800 million supplies candidates for governor with a cornucopia of opportunities to indulge large blocs of voters, and Mike Beebe and Asa Hutchinson have not been timid. Beebe offered a new wrinkle this week that will not have much gut appeal to voters but deserves some inspection.
Beebe would take $250 million to $300 million of the surplus and pay off that amount of the state’s debt, which was accumulated by long-term bond issues for this or that construction program. By retiring the principal on bonds and preventing the future accumulation of interest, Beebe explained, a sizable part of the future revenue stream from the collection of taxes would be freed, and that would allow him to phase out the sales tax on groceries without jeopardizing other state services.
That makes good sense. We all do that (or want to do it) with our credit-card debt. But there are pitfalls, and General Beebe did not carry the thought far enough.
Richard Weiss, the director of the state Finance and Administration Department for many years and almost certainly the director under a Gov. Beebe, said it was a good idea and he gave an example. If Beebe were to pay off the state’s $100 million or so of outstanding college savings bonds, $24 million a year of taxes that are used to retire those bonds would be freed. It would offset part of the revenue loss from repealing the grocery tax.
But that’s not such a good idea. Those bond indentures were written to protect the investors from just such an economical impulse by the state. If the state retires those bonds early it must pay the investors all the interest that they would receive in the future if the bonds remained outstanding to the end. So the state would be saving no future interest by retiring the bonds now. But it would be a bonanza for the bondhbolders.
But here’s the better point: If protecting the state from future debt interest is a good thing, why not prevent it at the outset? Gov. Huckabee has directed that the voters be asked again in November to approve a $250 million bond issue that will retire those college bonds along with all the future accumulated interest and then issue new ones to consume Mr. Weiss’ $24 million a year for another 25 years or so. Beebe, like Huckabee, supported the issue a year ago when voters turned it down.
Now Beebe could recommend that voters defeat that measure, and then he could see that the legislature this winter met the colleges’ construction needs from the surplus. There is plenty there to do that and to meet the other vital capital needs, such as public school improvements. It would achieve precisely what Beebe proposes, and those savings would be real.
Wednesday, September 27, 2006
TOP STORY >>Beebe pushes health care plan
By SARA GREENE
Leader staff writer
Attorney General Mike Beebe told doctors and administrators at Reb-samen Medical Center in Jacksonville Monday that if he is elected governor in November, his blueprint for Arkansas health care will bring insurance to more Arkansans, improve services for seniors and direct more federal and state money to school clinics and nursing programs.
Beebe says only one in four small businesses statewide can afford health insurance for employees. The Arkansas Safety Net Benefit Program, a state and federal partnership to help small businesses with fewer than 50 employees provide insurance, is now enrolling members.
Both Beebe and his Republican opponent, Asa Hutchinson vow to expand the program if it proves successful.
“By pooling small businesses’ purchasing power, we can broaden the base of people who are able to pay for their health care,” Beebe told The Leader.
Providing health care for uninured and underinsured patients cost Rebsamen Medical Center $7.7 million in 2005, a slight increase over the $7.5 million spent in 2004. Some of these patients have no insurance at all, while the underinsured have insurance, but can’t afford the deductible or co-pay, the initial out-of-pocket payment re-quired to go to an insurer’s primary care provider.
No patient is turned away from Rebsamen Medical Center based on inability to pay for medical care. Patients who cannot pay are asked to fill out a charity care form to help the hospital keep track of expense. The uninsured and underinsured make up about 35 percent of Rebsamen’s patients.
About 25 percent of the patients pay either with insurance or out of pocket and 6 percent of patients pay for medical care using TRICARE, the insurance benefit for military personnel and their families. The rest of the patients pay for medical care using Medicare or Medicaid. The underinsured or uninsured make up about 41 percent of the hospital’s emergency room patients and there were 23,200 emergency room visits at Rebsamen in 2005.
NOT ENOUGH NURSES
Just getting health care is a challenge for many Arkansans. Beebe estimates six in 10 Arkansans live in medically undeserved areas and the problem is getting worse. “One problem we’re facing as a state is nursing instructors are leaving teaching to go to the clinical side at the same time a large number of the state’s nurses are nearing retirement age,” Beebe said.
In 2004, 793 new registered nurses graduated and were licensed in Arkansas, compared to a need for 1,925 each year.
While Beebe calls for more medical personnel, Hutchinson’s health plan promises more rural health clinics, mobile health clinics to reach underserved areas and non-profit health care coverage programs.
ELDER CARE
The confusion experienced by millions of elderly people nationwide over the Medicare Part D prescription drug program prompted Beebe to include in his plan medical education and training advocates to help the growing geriatric population navigate the increasingly complex world of health care.
By 2025, Arkansas is projected to have the fifth highest number of seniors in the nation. Faced by the staggering costs, both financial and emotional, of putting family members in long-term care facilities such as nursing homes, Beebe said more and more Arkansans are choosing to take care of their loved ones at home.
“Family caregivers for seniors face the challenges of balancing work, personal matters and their role as caregiver,” Beebe said. “By implementing a senior caregiver education program through the Arkansas Centers on Aging, senior caregivers will learn to manage their time, resources and learn how to cope with the needs of an aging family member,” Beebe said. Another part of Beebe’s plan is expanding preventative health care in schools for the state’s 452,000 students by increasing the state funding formula per pupil, which would make the schools eligible for matching federal funds through Medicaid.
OTHER DIFFERENCES
Hutchinson’s plan differs from Beebe’s in several ways including creating a govenor’s council on affordable health care and a Surgeon General position by selecting someone currently within the Arkansas Department of Health and Human Services.
In 2003, Michigan became the first state to establish an office of Surgeon General and has seen positive results in health care reform there, according to Hutchinson’s Web site.
Campaigning mostly on the weekends, such as attending Saturday’s Donkey Day Dinner at Cabot Middle School North hosted by Lonoke County Democrats, Beebe is working to get his health care plan out to voters citing 10 years of experience serving on the Central Arkansas Hospital board of directors in Searcy, before it was purchased by White County Medical Center last year.
Leader staff writer
Attorney General Mike Beebe told doctors and administrators at Reb-samen Medical Center in Jacksonville Monday that if he is elected governor in November, his blueprint for Arkansas health care will bring insurance to more Arkansans, improve services for seniors and direct more federal and state money to school clinics and nursing programs.
Beebe says only one in four small businesses statewide can afford health insurance for employees. The Arkansas Safety Net Benefit Program, a state and federal partnership to help small businesses with fewer than 50 employees provide insurance, is now enrolling members.
Both Beebe and his Republican opponent, Asa Hutchinson vow to expand the program if it proves successful.
“By pooling small businesses’ purchasing power, we can broaden the base of people who are able to pay for their health care,” Beebe told The Leader.
Providing health care for uninured and underinsured patients cost Rebsamen Medical Center $7.7 million in 2005, a slight increase over the $7.5 million spent in 2004. Some of these patients have no insurance at all, while the underinsured have insurance, but can’t afford the deductible or co-pay, the initial out-of-pocket payment re-quired to go to an insurer’s primary care provider.
No patient is turned away from Rebsamen Medical Center based on inability to pay for medical care. Patients who cannot pay are asked to fill out a charity care form to help the hospital keep track of expense. The uninsured and underinsured make up about 35 percent of Rebsamen’s patients.
About 25 percent of the patients pay either with insurance or out of pocket and 6 percent of patients pay for medical care using TRICARE, the insurance benefit for military personnel and their families. The rest of the patients pay for medical care using Medicare or Medicaid. The underinsured or uninsured make up about 41 percent of the hospital’s emergency room patients and there were 23,200 emergency room visits at Rebsamen in 2005.
NOT ENOUGH NURSES
Just getting health care is a challenge for many Arkansans. Beebe estimates six in 10 Arkansans live in medically undeserved areas and the problem is getting worse. “One problem we’re facing as a state is nursing instructors are leaving teaching to go to the clinical side at the same time a large number of the state’s nurses are nearing retirement age,” Beebe said.
In 2004, 793 new registered nurses graduated and were licensed in Arkansas, compared to a need for 1,925 each year.
While Beebe calls for more medical personnel, Hutchinson’s health plan promises more rural health clinics, mobile health clinics to reach underserved areas and non-profit health care coverage programs.
ELDER CARE
The confusion experienced by millions of elderly people nationwide over the Medicare Part D prescription drug program prompted Beebe to include in his plan medical education and training advocates to help the growing geriatric population navigate the increasingly complex world of health care.
By 2025, Arkansas is projected to have the fifth highest number of seniors in the nation. Faced by the staggering costs, both financial and emotional, of putting family members in long-term care facilities such as nursing homes, Beebe said more and more Arkansans are choosing to take care of their loved ones at home.
“Family caregivers for seniors face the challenges of balancing work, personal matters and their role as caregiver,” Beebe said. “By implementing a senior caregiver education program through the Arkansas Centers on Aging, senior caregivers will learn to manage their time, resources and learn how to cope with the needs of an aging family member,” Beebe said. Another part of Beebe’s plan is expanding preventative health care in schools for the state’s 452,000 students by increasing the state funding formula per pupil, which would make the schools eligible for matching federal funds through Medicaid.
OTHER DIFFERENCES
Hutchinson’s plan differs from Beebe’s in several ways including creating a govenor’s council on affordable health care and a Surgeon General position by selecting someone currently within the Arkansas Department of Health and Human Services.
In 2003, Michigan became the first state to establish an office of Surgeon General and has seen positive results in health care reform there, according to Hutchinson’s Web site.
Campaigning mostly on the weekends, such as attending Saturday’s Donkey Day Dinner at Cabot Middle School North hosted by Lonoke County Democrats, Beebe is working to get his health care plan out to voters citing 10 years of experience serving on the Central Arkansas Hospital board of directors in Searcy, before it was purchased by White County Medical Center last year.
TOP STORY >>Jacksonville homes often go to renters
By RICK KRON
Leader staff writer
Jacksonville has more renters than homeowners, according to a presentation by the chamber of commerce to the city council Thursday night. The entire statistical presentation painted a surprising picture for Jacksonville. Not only does the city have more renters than home owners, its housing has a lower value than its neighbors, income is lower, and contrary to popular belief, the city actually has more young people than older established families.
In her PowerPoint display, Bonita Rownd, executive director of the chamber, told the city council that 52 percent of all Jacksonville housing was renter-occupied, leaving 48 percent owner-occupied. That means Jacksonville was about 20 percent more renters than the national average, 22 percent more than the state average and about 14 percent more than the county average.
Compared to immediate neighboring cities, Jacksonville’s rental percentage was almost double that of Cabot’s and about 20 percent higher than Sherwood. Not only does Jacksonville have more rentals than any other city in the area, but also the rental rate is lower.
The average low rate is just under $400 in Jacksonville, but it’s $440 in Cabot and $550 in Sherwood. At the high end, Jacksonville’s average is $450, but it’s $100 more in Cabot and another $100 more in Sherwood. The data collected through the U.S. Census and other sources also showed that Jacksonville had the cheapest housing values in the area.
About 60 percent of Jacksonville’s homes are valued at less than $100,000, compared to about 32 percent for Cabot and 37 percent for Sherwood. Jacksonville also has fewer homes in the coveted $100,000 to $199,000 range. Just 33 percent of the city’s homes are in this range, compared to 55 percent in Cabot and Sherwood. Proponents of the proposed townhouses on West Main jumped on this point at the council meeting, saying that the townhouses meet the need for homes in this coveted range as they would sell for $160,000 or more.
Jacksonville also has fewer $200,000-plus homes than Cabot or Sherwood. Along with the lower housing values, the city’s housing is also older than Cabot’s or Sherwood’s. Nearly 80 percent of Jacksonville’s homes are 17 years old or older, compared to about 35 percent for Cabot and about 65 percent for Sherwood.
Alderman Gary Fletcher said this figure was skewed because of all the homes in the Sunnyside Addition, which are 40 years old and older. “That’s about 500 homes right there,” he said. Just 9 percent of the city’s homes are less than seven years old, compared to 34 percent for Cabot and 18 percent for Sherwood. Nearly 40 percent of Jacksonville’s population is under the age of 24 and another 37 percent are between the ages of 25 and 49. Only Conway has a larger young population, but it also has three colleges.
Alderman Terry Sansing said it surprised him that the developers of the proposed townhouses were pushing the plan for the seniors when in fact it would be younger people moving in, bringing more children and more traffic to the area. In direct relation to the cheaper housing and the larger number of renters, the city’s education level is correspondingly lower than the neighboring cities.
Jacksonville has more non-high school graduates living in the city than Cabot or Sherwood, and has less college-degreed residents than the neighboring cities. This correlates to an average household income of about $48,000, well below the national and county averages, and about $4,000 below the state average.
The average household income for Cabot and Sherwood is $60,000 or more.
Leader staff writer
Jacksonville has more renters than homeowners, according to a presentation by the chamber of commerce to the city council Thursday night. The entire statistical presentation painted a surprising picture for Jacksonville. Not only does the city have more renters than home owners, its housing has a lower value than its neighbors, income is lower, and contrary to popular belief, the city actually has more young people than older established families.
In her PowerPoint display, Bonita Rownd, executive director of the chamber, told the city council that 52 percent of all Jacksonville housing was renter-occupied, leaving 48 percent owner-occupied. That means Jacksonville was about 20 percent more renters than the national average, 22 percent more than the state average and about 14 percent more than the county average.
Compared to immediate neighboring cities, Jacksonville’s rental percentage was almost double that of Cabot’s and about 20 percent higher than Sherwood. Not only does Jacksonville have more rentals than any other city in the area, but also the rental rate is lower.
The average low rate is just under $400 in Jacksonville, but it’s $440 in Cabot and $550 in Sherwood. At the high end, Jacksonville’s average is $450, but it’s $100 more in Cabot and another $100 more in Sherwood. The data collected through the U.S. Census and other sources also showed that Jacksonville had the cheapest housing values in the area.
About 60 percent of Jacksonville’s homes are valued at less than $100,000, compared to about 32 percent for Cabot and 37 percent for Sherwood. Jacksonville also has fewer homes in the coveted $100,000 to $199,000 range. Just 33 percent of the city’s homes are in this range, compared to 55 percent in Cabot and Sherwood. Proponents of the proposed townhouses on West Main jumped on this point at the council meeting, saying that the townhouses meet the need for homes in this coveted range as they would sell for $160,000 or more.
Jacksonville also has fewer $200,000-plus homes than Cabot or Sherwood. Along with the lower housing values, the city’s housing is also older than Cabot’s or Sherwood’s. Nearly 80 percent of Jacksonville’s homes are 17 years old or older, compared to about 35 percent for Cabot and about 65 percent for Sherwood.
Alderman Gary Fletcher said this figure was skewed because of all the homes in the Sunnyside Addition, which are 40 years old and older. “That’s about 500 homes right there,” he said. Just 9 percent of the city’s homes are less than seven years old, compared to 34 percent for Cabot and 18 percent for Sherwood. Nearly 40 percent of Jacksonville’s population is under the age of 24 and another 37 percent are between the ages of 25 and 49. Only Conway has a larger young population, but it also has three colleges.
Alderman Terry Sansing said it surprised him that the developers of the proposed townhouses were pushing the plan for the seniors when in fact it would be younger people moving in, bringing more children and more traffic to the area. In direct relation to the cheaper housing and the larger number of renters, the city’s education level is correspondingly lower than the neighboring cities.
Jacksonville has more non-high school graduates living in the city than Cabot or Sherwood, and has less college-degreed residents than the neighboring cities. This correlates to an average household income of about $48,000, well below the national and county averages, and about $4,000 below the state average.
The average household income for Cabot and Sherwood is $60,000 or more.
TOP STORY >>Prosecutor won't indict code officer
By JOAN MCCOY
Leader staff writer
Lonoke County Prosecutor Lona McCastlain says Cabot police found no criminal activity during a three-week investigation into complaints that a code enforcement officer had illegally removed property from vacated houses.
McCastlain said the file she received from the police last week contained several hundred pages, which she will review, but not right now. She said the police told her they found evidence of civil violations that could be the basis of lawsuits, but no evidence that would support criminal charges.
Although the investigating officer told The Leader when he sent the file to McCastlain that he had not recommended charges but would instead leave that decision entirely to her. McCastlain said, “Cabot recommended no charges.” The subject of the investigation was Jack McNally, a friend of Mayor Stubby Stumbaugh and his campaign manager when he ran for mayor.
The investigation started after Alderman Odis Waymack filed a freedom of information request with the city for all paperwork dealing with McNally. Waymack, who is known for being a stickler for the letter of the law, was looking for information about a boat and car that he had heard McNally had removed from a vacant house on St. John’s Street. Instead, what he found was a July police report about McNally allegedly cleaning out the fenced backyard of a house on Chad Court (taking lawnmowers, barbeque grills and a child’s swing set) so the tall grass could be mowed.
Cabot has an ordinance against tall grass and clutter but there are no provisions in the ordinance for hauling off anyone’s possessions so the grass can be mowed. Police Chief Jackie Davis said he was not aware of the incident report until Waymack’s freedom of information request. Also, among the paperwork Waymack received was a statement from McNally about an earlier incident dated March 15, 2005, in which McNally said he “removed two chainsaws from the bed of a white pickup truck parked in a parking lot on Glenwood in Cabot.”
Police Chief Jackie Davis said that case was closed because the victim, who reported the chainsaws stolen, would not come back to the station to sign the complaint. Waymack, who learned Tuesday from The Leader that the police were recommending that criminal charges not be filed against McNally, said he was surprised and disappointed.
“The laws are not as important in Cabot and Lonoke County as who you know,” Waymack said. “From Brenda’s Portable Toilets dumping into Cabot’s sewer, West Tree Service using the old city dump to illegally dump brush and chips, to code enforcement officers taking items including vehicles from people’s property without proper authority, it’s all about who you know.”
Stumbaugh said he has purposely steered clear of the investigation so the integrity of the police department could not be questioned because of his relationship with McNally. He told the chief to conduct the investigation as he would any other, he said, adding that he would never stand in the way of a police investigation regardless of who was being investigated.
“I think if Mr. Waymack wants to make that statement, then public opinion of him that is already at an all-time low will fall even lower,” the mayor said.
He called his police department “top of the line.” After the investigation started, the owners of the boat and car came forward to report to police that they had been taken. That report should be included in the file McCastlain has received from Cabot police. Also included should be information that Waymack provided police about McNally hiring several residential yards mowed without the proper documentation that the owners had been notified that the yards were overgrown.
Waymack said he believes the unauthorized yard work constitutes fraud and he wants McCastlain to review the case file soon.
Leader staff writer
Lonoke County Prosecutor Lona McCastlain says Cabot police found no criminal activity during a three-week investigation into complaints that a code enforcement officer had illegally removed property from vacated houses.
McCastlain said the file she received from the police last week contained several hundred pages, which she will review, but not right now. She said the police told her they found evidence of civil violations that could be the basis of lawsuits, but no evidence that would support criminal charges.
Although the investigating officer told The Leader when he sent the file to McCastlain that he had not recommended charges but would instead leave that decision entirely to her. McCastlain said, “Cabot recommended no charges.” The subject of the investigation was Jack McNally, a friend of Mayor Stubby Stumbaugh and his campaign manager when he ran for mayor.
The investigation started after Alderman Odis Waymack filed a freedom of information request with the city for all paperwork dealing with McNally. Waymack, who is known for being a stickler for the letter of the law, was looking for information about a boat and car that he had heard McNally had removed from a vacant house on St. John’s Street. Instead, what he found was a July police report about McNally allegedly cleaning out the fenced backyard of a house on Chad Court (taking lawnmowers, barbeque grills and a child’s swing set) so the tall grass could be mowed.
Cabot has an ordinance against tall grass and clutter but there are no provisions in the ordinance for hauling off anyone’s possessions so the grass can be mowed. Police Chief Jackie Davis said he was not aware of the incident report until Waymack’s freedom of information request. Also, among the paperwork Waymack received was a statement from McNally about an earlier incident dated March 15, 2005, in which McNally said he “removed two chainsaws from the bed of a white pickup truck parked in a parking lot on Glenwood in Cabot.”
Police Chief Jackie Davis said that case was closed because the victim, who reported the chainsaws stolen, would not come back to the station to sign the complaint. Waymack, who learned Tuesday from The Leader that the police were recommending that criminal charges not be filed against McNally, said he was surprised and disappointed.
“The laws are not as important in Cabot and Lonoke County as who you know,” Waymack said. “From Brenda’s Portable Toilets dumping into Cabot’s sewer, West Tree Service using the old city dump to illegally dump brush and chips, to code enforcement officers taking items including vehicles from people’s property without proper authority, it’s all about who you know.”
Stumbaugh said he has purposely steered clear of the investigation so the integrity of the police department could not be questioned because of his relationship with McNally. He told the chief to conduct the investigation as he would any other, he said, adding that he would never stand in the way of a police investigation regardless of who was being investigated.
“I think if Mr. Waymack wants to make that statement, then public opinion of him that is already at an all-time low will fall even lower,” the mayor said.
He called his police department “top of the line.” After the investigation started, the owners of the boat and car came forward to report to police that they had been taken. That report should be included in the file McCastlain has received from Cabot police. Also included should be information that Waymack provided police about McNally hiring several residential yards mowed without the proper documentation that the owners had been notified that the yards were overgrown.
Waymack said he believes the unauthorized yard work constitutes fraud and he wants McCastlain to review the case file soon.
TOP STORY >>Rapists of kids get long jail time
By JOHN HOFHEIMER
Leader staff writer
Area courts sent a strong message to rapists last week, with Lonoke County judges sentencing one child rapist to 30 years in prison and another to 60 years. Meanwhile, a Jacksonville man was convicted in Pulaski County Circuit Court Friday for the brutal rape of a woman who lived with him and Monday a jury of seven men and five women sentenced him to 10 years for rape and five years for kidnapping.
In Lonoke County, Johnny Wayne Crossland, 42, of 44 Candy Lane in Austin was sentenced for raping a youngster at a relative’s house, after asking the boy if he wanted to watch cartoons. When a neighbor drove up, Crossland told the child he would kill him if he told about the rape, then threw the child a $5 bill.
Crossland must serve 42 of the 60 years before becoming eligible for parole. Edward Erwin, 24, of 541 Main St. in Coy pled guilty to two charges of rape and terrorist threatening for the rape of a 12-year-old girl. Erwin, a friend of the family, raped the child March 4 and threatened to kill her if she told anyone.
The Jacksonville rapist, who was convicted of raping a woman he lived with, will remain in jail pending an appeal, Circuit Judge Willard Proctor ruled Monday. Joe Francis Rounsaville, then of 209 N. Bailey St.—scene of the rape—could have received a life sentence without the chance of parole, or 10 to 40 years.
“I don’t sleep,” said the victim testifying in the sentencing phase of the trial Monday, “and when I do, I hear his voice. I wake up crying. I’m afraid I won’t ever be able to trust anyone again ever.” After the sentence was an-nounced, the victim said she was satisfied. “Any time (received) is fine, just so long as he realizes what he did was wrong,” she said.
Rounsaville apparently became angry at the 51-year-old woman last Dec. 14, tightly bound her wrists, then raped her anally and vaginally, beat her and urinated on her. A friend testified that she looked as if she had been in a bad car wreck.
Prosecutor Jenna Notto Sherrill and the victim both told the jury that Rounsaville also tried to strangle her with a plastic tie and held a pillow over her face, telling her he would “help her die.”
In sentencing Rounsaville to 10 years, the lightest prison term possible—the jury signaled that the mandatory seven years he’ll spend in prison is sufficient. That’s when he’ll become eligible for parole. Jurors may have been influenced by the fact that after reporting the attack to the police, the victim moved back in with him two weeks later and tried to have charges dropped.
Sherrill said the woman returned because she was an alcoholic with low esteem and no place else to live. Rounsaville said the incident was nothing more than rough sex between consenting adults.
Bailiffs kept a tight rein on Proctor’s courtroom Monday, confiscating a cell phone that rang during court, removing two women from the gallery for loud whispered disapproval of the sentencing of a loved one, ordering one man to stop reading a newspaper during court and scolding two other women who remained seated after the bailiff asked all in the courtroom to stand for the judge—all that in the space of about one hour.
Leader staff writer
Area courts sent a strong message to rapists last week, with Lonoke County judges sentencing one child rapist to 30 years in prison and another to 60 years. Meanwhile, a Jacksonville man was convicted in Pulaski County Circuit Court Friday for the brutal rape of a woman who lived with him and Monday a jury of seven men and five women sentenced him to 10 years for rape and five years for kidnapping.
In Lonoke County, Johnny Wayne Crossland, 42, of 44 Candy Lane in Austin was sentenced for raping a youngster at a relative’s house, after asking the boy if he wanted to watch cartoons. When a neighbor drove up, Crossland told the child he would kill him if he told about the rape, then threw the child a $5 bill.
Crossland must serve 42 of the 60 years before becoming eligible for parole. Edward Erwin, 24, of 541 Main St. in Coy pled guilty to two charges of rape and terrorist threatening for the rape of a 12-year-old girl. Erwin, a friend of the family, raped the child March 4 and threatened to kill her if she told anyone.
The Jacksonville rapist, who was convicted of raping a woman he lived with, will remain in jail pending an appeal, Circuit Judge Willard Proctor ruled Monday. Joe Francis Rounsaville, then of 209 N. Bailey St.—scene of the rape—could have received a life sentence without the chance of parole, or 10 to 40 years.
“I don’t sleep,” said the victim testifying in the sentencing phase of the trial Monday, “and when I do, I hear his voice. I wake up crying. I’m afraid I won’t ever be able to trust anyone again ever.” After the sentence was an-nounced, the victim said she was satisfied. “Any time (received) is fine, just so long as he realizes what he did was wrong,” she said.
Rounsaville apparently became angry at the 51-year-old woman last Dec. 14, tightly bound her wrists, then raped her anally and vaginally, beat her and urinated on her. A friend testified that she looked as if she had been in a bad car wreck.
Prosecutor Jenna Notto Sherrill and the victim both told the jury that Rounsaville also tried to strangle her with a plastic tie and held a pillow over her face, telling her he would “help her die.”
In sentencing Rounsaville to 10 years, the lightest prison term possible—the jury signaled that the mandatory seven years he’ll spend in prison is sufficient. That’s when he’ll become eligible for parole. Jurors may have been influenced by the fact that after reporting the attack to the police, the victim moved back in with him two weeks later and tried to have charges dropped.
Sherrill said the woman returned because she was an alcoholic with low esteem and no place else to live. Rounsaville said the incident was nothing more than rough sex between consenting adults.
Bailiffs kept a tight rein on Proctor’s courtroom Monday, confiscating a cell phone that rang during court, removing two women from the gallery for loud whispered disapproval of the sentencing of a loved one, ordering one man to stop reading a newspaper during court and scolding two other women who remained seated after the bailiff asked all in the courtroom to stand for the judge—all that in the space of about one hour.
TOP STORY >>Titan missile crisis
By HEATHER HARTSELL
Leader staff writer
It was Sept. 19, 1980, a day the 308th Titan II Strategic Missile Wing will never forget.
At 6:30 p.m., after a 16-hour day, an eight-and three-quarter-pound socket fell from its wrench at a missile silo in Damascus, 40 miles northwest of Little Rock Air Force Base.
At 3 a.m., BOOM! That fallen socket led to the explosion of Titan 374-7, a 350,000-pound missile with a nine-and-a-half-megaton thermonuclear warhead attached. Flames shot into the air; two- to three-inch-thick pieces of steel, the size of a table, sliced through the air; and the 750-ton missile silo door was found a quarter-of-a-mile away.
Sr. Airman David L. Livingston died in the explosion; 21 people were injured, and Damascus residents experienced ill effects from the fumes. “It was one tremendous explosion,” said retired Col. Jimmie D. Gray, former vice-wing commander at Little Rock Air Force Base. Twenty-six years later, three retired 308th Strategic Missile Wing officers on Thursday discussed “The Damascus Accident” as part of the “War Stories Lecture Series” presented by the Jacksonville Museum of Military History.
To discuss one of the worst mishaps in the 25 years of the 308th’s existence at LRAFB, Gray was joined by retired Maj. Vincent Maes, with missile maintenance, and retired Lt. Col. William Stockton, Security Police Squadron commander at LRAFB.
“It should in no way detract from the outstanding contributions thousands of men and women of the 308th organization made over a 25-year period. Their dedication and sacrifice ensured a lasting peace through nuclear deterrents,” Gray said.
“We were an outstanding unit, and we’re presenting our worst side, but there are lessons to be learned,” Gray said.
Stockton shared the overall view of the Titan II missile and its relation to the Cold War, with the nation’s biggest threat being Russia.
“It was a period of the Cold War. Things were very difficult between the U.S. and Russia and our diplomatic relations,” Stockton said.
The Titan II missile was used as a nuclear deterrent during the Cold War. It was the most powerful missile in the U.S. arsenal, 110 feet long by 10 feet wide. It carried a nine-and-a-half-megaton warhead; one megaton is equivalent to one million tons of dynamite.
The thermonuclear bomb on the Titan was 1,700 times more powerful than the bomb dropped on Hiroshima at the end of the Second World War. Collectively, the 18 Titan missiles in Arkan-sas had more destructive power than all the wars in human history until that time.
Davis-Monthan AFB in Arizona and McConnell AFB in Kansas each had 18 missiles. Maes, who worked in missile maintenance and operation at Davis-Monthan AFB, explained the mission system details of the Titan II missile and how maintenance was performed on it.
The control center was manned by a four-person crew that monitored the status of the missile; this was also where the missile was launched. “It took two keys to launch, and once you turned both keys, it took less than a minute to launch,” Maes said.
Jack Meadows, who was on the original 1963 crew and also in attendance at the presentation, told The Leader that he was never worried about the possibility of having to launch the missile, but he was worried there was no recall switch.
“There was no destruct factor. Once it was launched, it was gone,” Meadows said.
“If it was launched by mistake, there was nothing we could do about it,” Meadows added. Also in attendance was retired Chief MSgt. Bill Johnson, the last senior enlisted adviser for the 308th, who told The Leader that he too was not worried about having to launch the Titan.
“We just hoped that nobody else launched theirs either,” Johnson said. The missile was housed in a silo within a silo that consisted of eight levels. Maintenance crews were working on level two when the accident happened. Attached to the hydraulic standing platforms was a rubberized boot that flipped over between the missile and the platform to prevent anything from falling through if dropped.
The day missile 374-7 exploded, the boot didn’t keep the socket from falling. At 6:30 p.m., maintenance crews entered the silo to begin work after being delayed due to various unrelated equipment malfunctions. The eight- and three-quarter-pound socket fell, hit the standing platform and bounced toward the missile.
The boot had become too pliable through the years, and the socket fell 70 feet down the silo, hit the thrust mount and bounced into the side of the stage one fuel tank. The 100,000-gallon fuel tank emptied into the bottom of the silo. The fuels interacted and generated heat, which in turn increased the pressure on the tanks. At 8 p.m., the wing made the decision to evacuate the control center.
“When we did that, we had no readings and no way of telling what was going on out there,” Gray said. “We lost all readings,” Gray added.
Many attempts were made to get into the control center to see the readings, according to Gray. At 3 a.m., two people, Living-ston and Sgt. Jack Kennedy, made it into the complex. “When they made it in and had to back out because the fuel was so concentrated they couldn’t see, there was some controversy on who told them to turn on exhaust fan 105,” Gray said.
What that did, according to Gray, was pull the heavy concentration of fuel into the equipment area with all the electrical pumps.
“And automatically, boom!” Gray said. “The fire flashed back into the silo, which already had tremendous heat in there, and when the fire flashed back, the stage one oxidizer tank that was already very, very high in pressure, erupted.”
Within one hour of the accident, Gray found the nuclear warhead intact. “It was cracked, but it pegged out on the radio-activity scanner,” Gray said.
Media of the time reported that the warhead was missing. “The rumor of us losing the nuclear weapon prevailed for years after,” Gray said.
Lessons learned from this accident brought about security improvements near nuclear weapons. Security measures to prevent accidents include: all workers wearing a belt with lanyards to attach tools to, a cloth on the platform to reduce the chance of tools bouncing off the platform if they do fall and a renovation of the platforms.
Also included in the changes was the realization that training and qualification should never be compromised; communication and coordination with local authorities are needed; and that no weapon system is totally safe because of the chance of personal error.
Leader staff writer
It was Sept. 19, 1980, a day the 308th Titan II Strategic Missile Wing will never forget.
At 6:30 p.m., after a 16-hour day, an eight-and three-quarter-pound socket fell from its wrench at a missile silo in Damascus, 40 miles northwest of Little Rock Air Force Base.
At 3 a.m., BOOM! That fallen socket led to the explosion of Titan 374-7, a 350,000-pound missile with a nine-and-a-half-megaton thermonuclear warhead attached. Flames shot into the air; two- to three-inch-thick pieces of steel, the size of a table, sliced through the air; and the 750-ton missile silo door was found a quarter-of-a-mile away.
Sr. Airman David L. Livingston died in the explosion; 21 people were injured, and Damascus residents experienced ill effects from the fumes. “It was one tremendous explosion,” said retired Col. Jimmie D. Gray, former vice-wing commander at Little Rock Air Force Base. Twenty-six years later, three retired 308th Strategic Missile Wing officers on Thursday discussed “The Damascus Accident” as part of the “War Stories Lecture Series” presented by the Jacksonville Museum of Military History.
To discuss one of the worst mishaps in the 25 years of the 308th’s existence at LRAFB, Gray was joined by retired Maj. Vincent Maes, with missile maintenance, and retired Lt. Col. William Stockton, Security Police Squadron commander at LRAFB.
“It should in no way detract from the outstanding contributions thousands of men and women of the 308th organization made over a 25-year period. Their dedication and sacrifice ensured a lasting peace through nuclear deterrents,” Gray said.
“We were an outstanding unit, and we’re presenting our worst side, but there are lessons to be learned,” Gray said.
Stockton shared the overall view of the Titan II missile and its relation to the Cold War, with the nation’s biggest threat being Russia.
“It was a period of the Cold War. Things were very difficult between the U.S. and Russia and our diplomatic relations,” Stockton said.
The Titan II missile was used as a nuclear deterrent during the Cold War. It was the most powerful missile in the U.S. arsenal, 110 feet long by 10 feet wide. It carried a nine-and-a-half-megaton warhead; one megaton is equivalent to one million tons of dynamite.
The thermonuclear bomb on the Titan was 1,700 times more powerful than the bomb dropped on Hiroshima at the end of the Second World War. Collectively, the 18 Titan missiles in Arkan-sas had more destructive power than all the wars in human history until that time.
Davis-Monthan AFB in Arizona and McConnell AFB in Kansas each had 18 missiles. Maes, who worked in missile maintenance and operation at Davis-Monthan AFB, explained the mission system details of the Titan II missile and how maintenance was performed on it.
The control center was manned by a four-person crew that monitored the status of the missile; this was also where the missile was launched. “It took two keys to launch, and once you turned both keys, it took less than a minute to launch,” Maes said.
Jack Meadows, who was on the original 1963 crew and also in attendance at the presentation, told The Leader that he was never worried about the possibility of having to launch the missile, but he was worried there was no recall switch.
“There was no destruct factor. Once it was launched, it was gone,” Meadows said.
“If it was launched by mistake, there was nothing we could do about it,” Meadows added. Also in attendance was retired Chief MSgt. Bill Johnson, the last senior enlisted adviser for the 308th, who told The Leader that he too was not worried about having to launch the Titan.
“We just hoped that nobody else launched theirs either,” Johnson said. The missile was housed in a silo within a silo that consisted of eight levels. Maintenance crews were working on level two when the accident happened. Attached to the hydraulic standing platforms was a rubberized boot that flipped over between the missile and the platform to prevent anything from falling through if dropped.
The day missile 374-7 exploded, the boot didn’t keep the socket from falling. At 6:30 p.m., maintenance crews entered the silo to begin work after being delayed due to various unrelated equipment malfunctions. The eight- and three-quarter-pound socket fell, hit the standing platform and bounced toward the missile.
The boot had become too pliable through the years, and the socket fell 70 feet down the silo, hit the thrust mount and bounced into the side of the stage one fuel tank. The 100,000-gallon fuel tank emptied into the bottom of the silo. The fuels interacted and generated heat, which in turn increased the pressure on the tanks. At 8 p.m., the wing made the decision to evacuate the control center.
“When we did that, we had no readings and no way of telling what was going on out there,” Gray said. “We lost all readings,” Gray added.
Many attempts were made to get into the control center to see the readings, according to Gray. At 3 a.m., two people, Living-ston and Sgt. Jack Kennedy, made it into the complex. “When they made it in and had to back out because the fuel was so concentrated they couldn’t see, there was some controversy on who told them to turn on exhaust fan 105,” Gray said.
What that did, according to Gray, was pull the heavy concentration of fuel into the equipment area with all the electrical pumps.
“And automatically, boom!” Gray said. “The fire flashed back into the silo, which already had tremendous heat in there, and when the fire flashed back, the stage one oxidizer tank that was already very, very high in pressure, erupted.”
Within one hour of the accident, Gray found the nuclear warhead intact. “It was cracked, but it pegged out on the radio-activity scanner,” Gray said.
Media of the time reported that the warhead was missing. “The rumor of us losing the nuclear weapon prevailed for years after,” Gray said.
Lessons learned from this accident brought about security improvements near nuclear weapons. Security measures to prevent accidents include: all workers wearing a belt with lanyards to attach tools to, a cloth on the platform to reduce the chance of tools bouncing off the platform if they do fall and a renovation of the platforms.
Also included in the changes was the realization that training and qualification should never be compromised; communication and coordination with local authorities are needed; and that no weapon system is totally safe because of the chance of personal error.
TOP STORY >>Auditors discover financial shortfall
BY JOAN MCCOY
Leader staff writer
Allen Ridings, Beebe’s former code enforcement officer, came under fire in the recently completed state audit, but that information did not come from Mayor Donald Ward, who would not talk openly about the report during the Monday night council meeting and refused to release the audit report to The Leader.
Ward spoke in vague terms at the council meeting concerning the audit, which found money was missing. He said the information in the audit report was “of a sensitive nature,” adding, “I do not wish to go into all that.” After the meeting, Ward told this reporter that the audit report was not available for public inspection because he had called for a state police investigation that is still ongoing.
Ward added that he is not willing to risk being sued for releasing negative information if that investigation shows no illegal activity. Ward did offer to release the report with the sensitive parts blacked out. Despite the mayor’s reservations, the entire audit report is available to the public and can be found on the Arkansas Legislative Audit Web site.
Here in its entirety is the section the mayor wanted withheld: “Utility permit inspection fee receipts of $3,370 were not properly remitted to the City Treasurer for the period January 1, 2004 through June 19, 2006.
“Former Code Enforcement Officer Allen Ridings was responsible for collecting and remitting permit fees to the City Treasurer. Also, Mr. Ridings stated he improperly destroyed permit records evidencing receipt of City revenue prior to September 2005.
“The city reimbursed Mr. Ridings $8,282 for personal vehicle mileage documented by expense claims reporting 19,870 consecutive city-related business miles driven without any allowance for personal and commuting miles, during the period of January 1, 2004 through June 19, 2006.
“Mr. Ridings was unable to determine the correct mileage for which he should have been reimbursed for conducting city business. Internal controls relating to inspection fees and mileage reimbursements should be strengthened. “We recommend the city seek reimbursement for the un-deposited inspection fees and for non-business mileage reimbursements improperly received by Mr. Ridings.
“City management has responded that policies and procedures have been implemented to strengthen internal controls relating to inspection fees and mileage reimbursements.” Alderman Mike Robertson, who was mayor before Ward and will be the next mayor since he is running unopposed, said after the meeting that he didn’t agree with Ward that the audit should be withheld from the public.
It is clearly subject to the state’s Freedom of Information law, he said. Though Ward did not speak about any of the negative parts of the audit report and did not mention Ridings’ name, Robertson asked during the meeting if the problem with mileage had been resolved.
Ward answered that there had never been a clearcut policy before, but now city employees can’t collect mileage without turning in odometer readings to show the actual miles driven. Ridings was suspended of his duties June 19 while the state auditor was still going over city records. He was replaced June 21 by Leonard Forte, who was code officer for many years before Ridings was hired. Forte succeeded Monday night in getting the city council to change the city inspection fees to a square footage-based formula instead of cost of construction.
Forte told the council that if they would agree to 10 cents a square foot for inspections (half the amount Searcy charges), he would “make sure the correct amount was collected.”
“If we go by square foot, I’ll go out there and stick a tape on it and everybody will pay by the square foot,” Forte told the council. He said in a later interview that there was no way to know under the old formula whether the correct amount had been collected.
Most houses cost $50,000 or $60,000 on paper, he said, adding that it was highly unlikely that there would be almost no variation. Last year, 27 houses in the same area built by different contractors all cost $60,000, he said.
The new fees will cost builders more, but Cayne Orman, who builds homes all over the city, told the council he did not object to the increase.
Forte said the average house built in Beebe is 1,500 square feet. Under the new fee structure, builders will have to pay $150 for inspections. Under the old system, the cost was $97.50, he said.
Leader staff writer
Allen Ridings, Beebe’s former code enforcement officer, came under fire in the recently completed state audit, but that information did not come from Mayor Donald Ward, who would not talk openly about the report during the Monday night council meeting and refused to release the audit report to The Leader.
Ward spoke in vague terms at the council meeting concerning the audit, which found money was missing. He said the information in the audit report was “of a sensitive nature,” adding, “I do not wish to go into all that.” After the meeting, Ward told this reporter that the audit report was not available for public inspection because he had called for a state police investigation that is still ongoing.
Ward added that he is not willing to risk being sued for releasing negative information if that investigation shows no illegal activity. Ward did offer to release the report with the sensitive parts blacked out. Despite the mayor’s reservations, the entire audit report is available to the public and can be found on the Arkansas Legislative Audit Web site.
Here in its entirety is the section the mayor wanted withheld: “Utility permit inspection fee receipts of $3,370 were not properly remitted to the City Treasurer for the period January 1, 2004 through June 19, 2006.
“Former Code Enforcement Officer Allen Ridings was responsible for collecting and remitting permit fees to the City Treasurer. Also, Mr. Ridings stated he improperly destroyed permit records evidencing receipt of City revenue prior to September 2005.
“The city reimbursed Mr. Ridings $8,282 for personal vehicle mileage documented by expense claims reporting 19,870 consecutive city-related business miles driven without any allowance for personal and commuting miles, during the period of January 1, 2004 through June 19, 2006.
“Mr. Ridings was unable to determine the correct mileage for which he should have been reimbursed for conducting city business. Internal controls relating to inspection fees and mileage reimbursements should be strengthened. “We recommend the city seek reimbursement for the un-deposited inspection fees and for non-business mileage reimbursements improperly received by Mr. Ridings.
“City management has responded that policies and procedures have been implemented to strengthen internal controls relating to inspection fees and mileage reimbursements.” Alderman Mike Robertson, who was mayor before Ward and will be the next mayor since he is running unopposed, said after the meeting that he didn’t agree with Ward that the audit should be withheld from the public.
It is clearly subject to the state’s Freedom of Information law, he said. Though Ward did not speak about any of the negative parts of the audit report and did not mention Ridings’ name, Robertson asked during the meeting if the problem with mileage had been resolved.
Ward answered that there had never been a clearcut policy before, but now city employees can’t collect mileage without turning in odometer readings to show the actual miles driven. Ridings was suspended of his duties June 19 while the state auditor was still going over city records. He was replaced June 21 by Leonard Forte, who was code officer for many years before Ridings was hired. Forte succeeded Monday night in getting the city council to change the city inspection fees to a square footage-based formula instead of cost of construction.
Forte told the council that if they would agree to 10 cents a square foot for inspections (half the amount Searcy charges), he would “make sure the correct amount was collected.”
“If we go by square foot, I’ll go out there and stick a tape on it and everybody will pay by the square foot,” Forte told the council. He said in a later interview that there was no way to know under the old formula whether the correct amount had been collected.
Most houses cost $50,000 or $60,000 on paper, he said, adding that it was highly unlikely that there would be almost no variation. Last year, 27 houses in the same area built by different contractors all cost $60,000, he said.
The new fees will cost builders more, but Cayne Orman, who builds homes all over the city, told the council he did not object to the increase.
Forte said the average house built in Beebe is 1,500 square feet. Under the new fee structure, builders will have to pay $150 for inspections. Under the old system, the cost was $97.50, he said.
OBITUARIES >> 09-27-06
WALTER F. KEEFE AND LILLIAN KEEFE
Walter F. Keefe, Jr., 77, and Lillian A. Keefe, 76, both of Jacksonville, passed away only days apart, Mr. Keefe on Sept. 20, and Mrs. Keefe on Sept. 22, both of natural causes.
Mr. Keefe was born June 6, 1929, in Brooklyn, N. Y,. to the late Walter F. and Florence Kelley Keefe, Sr. Mrs. Keefe was born January 11, 1930, in the Bronx, N. Y., to the late Godfrey and Lillian McGuire Tabler.
A daughter, Teresa Keefe-Bailey, precedes them in death as well as Mr. Keefe’s brothers, Raymond and Gerard Keefe; and Mrs. Keefe’s brothers, Godfrey “Bud” and Harold Tabler as well as a sister, Elinor Oerding. Walter was a retired senior master sergeant in the Air Force who served in the Second World War, the Korean War and Vietnam. He also retired from the post office after more than 20 years of service.
Lillian was a devout Catholic who lived her life in service to the Lord. She was active in St. Jude Catholic Church, the Holy Family Parish at LRAFB as well as having been a Prayer Warrior.
Survivors include their children, John Keefe and wife Bonnie of Jacksonville; Kathleen Stimson and husband George of Berryville; Linda Tucker and husband Cecil of Jacksonville; Walter Francis Keefe III and wife Dianne of East End; Karen Keefe of Jacksonville; and Kevin Keefe and wife Darlene of Cabot; grandchildren, Lani Mc-Gloflin; Jodi Dress; Kerri Keefe; Jay Purifoy; Donna, James, Jeff and Virginia Stimson; Justin and Devin Drysdale; Benjamin Tucker; Jennifer Burgin; Hollie and Adam Bailey; Carl Williams, and Pete Moore; great-grandchildren, Brit-ney and Katie McGloflin; McKenna Dress; Amberly, Colin and Damien Stimson; and Ashton and Madeline Purifoy. Lillian is also survived by a sister, Dorothy Brown of Norfolk, Virg. Many friends and other family also survive them.
A joint funeral mass will be held at 10 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 27 at St. Jude the Apostle Catholic Church in Jacksonville with Father Les Farley officiating. Burial will follow in Chapel Hill Memorial Park at Jacksonville. In lieu of flowers please make donations to one of the following charities: Mercy Corp International, Heifer Project International or Arkansas Children’s Hospital. Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Moore’s Jacksonville Funeral Home.
CONNIE EUBANKS
Connie Eubanks, 41, of North Little Rock passed away on Sept. 20. She was born March 28, 1965 to the late Fred and Georgia Ives.
She was also preceded in death by one sister, Gladys.
Survivors include a daughter, Mary Sue Ives and grandson Matthew Ives, both of North Little Rock; one sister, Barbara Campbell of Ward; and three brothers, David Ives, Bobby and Wendy Wright and Gary Wright, all of North Little Rock.
Visitation will be from 9 a.m. to noon Wednesday, Sept. 27. At the families request services and interment will be private. Arrangements by Thomas Funeral Service in Cabot.
GARY HILBURN
Gary Hilburn, 59, of Camden died Sept. 21, in Little Rock. He was born Aug. 25, 1947, in Pelam, Ga., to the late Willis and Margaret McDowell Hilburn.
He served in the United States Army, was a truck driver and loved the deer woods. Survivors include his children, Shawn Hilburn of Cabot, Phillip Hilburn of Jacksonville, and Jesse Black of St. Petersburg, Flor.; brother, James Hilburn of Cedar Springs, Ga.; sister, Ginger Schultz of Ocola, Flor.; six grandchildren and three nieces and nephews.
Graveside service will be at 1 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 27 at Arkansas State Veterans Cemetery in North Little Rock. Arrange-ments were under the direction of Moore’s Jacksonville Funeral Home.
HERB BRILL
Herb Brill, 75, of Ward died Sept. 18. He was born February 14, 1931, at Bethlehem, Pa., to the late William and Maria Graff Brill.
An Army veteran of the Korean and Vietnam wars, he served his country for twenty-six years. He loved the outdoors and was a very dedicated and loving father and husband.He is survived by his wife, Irene Shaver Brill; four sons, Herbert W. Brill, II of Bakersfield, Calif.; Jonathan M. and Kay Brill of Little Rock; Christopher Q. and Shirley Brill of Greenbrier; and Michael D. and Vanessa Brill of Orlando, Fl.; two daughters, Melanie M. Brill of Orlando and Deborah A. Brill of Cabot; ten grandchildren; one great-grandchild; and one sister, Charlotte Brill of Ward.
Graveside services were held Sept. 22 at Arkansas State Veterans Cemetery in North Little Rock. Memorials may be made to U.S. Army Wounded Warrior Program, 200 Stovall Street, Alexandria, Virg., 22332. Arrangements were by Westbrook Funeral Home of Beebe.
DAVID WHITE
David Stanley White, 58, of Cabot passed away Sept. 23, at his home. He was born on Oct. 24, 1947, to the late William ‘Buster’ and Mae Howerton White in Little Rock.
He was a loving and devoted husband and father. He was the owner and operator of Affordable Custom Weed Control.
He is survived by his wife, Sharon White of Cabot; two daughters, one step daughter, two step sons, one sister, 13 grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
Funeral services were held Sept. 26 in the chapel at Cabot Funeral Home with the Rev. James Stanley officiating. Burial was in Hicks Cemetery in Cabot. Arrangements were under the direction of Moore’s Cabot Funeral Home.
EDWARD PENKALA
Edward E. Madru Penkala, 29, of Portage, Ind., passed away Sept. 20.
He was preceded in death by his grandfathers, the late Emanuel Penkala and the late Thomas Madru. He was a sales associate at Guitar Center. He enjoyed music as a drummer and he also enjoyed the outdoors.
He is survived by his father, Edward Penkala and his wife Diana of Schererville; mother Rose Madru Penkala; brother Kenneth Reeder and his wife Jennifer of Dyer; grandmother, Antoinette Madru of Jacksonville; grandmother, Maria Penkala of East Chicago; aunts and uncles, Shirley Mark and her husband Ken; Peggy Smith and her husband Jerry; Thomas Madru and his wife Lu; Nancy McClendon and her husband Stan; Theresa Kaminski and her husband Chris; Linda Arnold and her husband John; Phillip Jensen and his wife Michelle; nephew, Ryan Reeder and godchild Hailey Ewing.
Funeral services were Sept. 26 at Moore’s Jacksonville Funeral Home.
DOROTHY HOWARD
Dorothy “Dot” Ann Howard, 67, of Jacksonville passed away Sept. 19. She was born July 18, 1939 in Birmingham, England to the late William and Annie Walsh Bolin.
She worked for over 20 years for Maybelline as a quality control inspector. She was also preceded in death by her husband, Norman Howard and a brother, William Bolin.
Survivors include one daughter, Tracey Curtis Rhodes and husband Chris of Ward; three sons, Todd Howard and wife Pam of Cabot; Troy Howard and wife Daniece of Jacksonville; and Tony Howard and wife Rhoda Sullivan of Jacksonville; ten grandchildren, Ciera Curtis, Blake Howard, Angel Howard, Eric Moore, Brandy Howard, Bradley Howard, Alesha Hiner, Jacob Goolsby, Joshua Goolsby and Justin Goolsby. Graveside services were held Sept. 22 at Arkansas State Veterans Cemetery.
MELVIN EICHBRECHT
Melvin Charles Wilhelm Eichbrecht, 76 of Ward died Sept. 23 in Jacksonville. He was born July 31, 1930, in Ray Township, Mich. to Ferdinand and Mable Klusendorf Eichbrecht.
On May 25, 1951, he married Theodora Smith in Gulfport, Miss. He served 23 years with the United States Air Force in hospital administration. Following retirement from the USAF, he began a 29-year career as an electrical machine technician for T.R.W. in Little Rock. He retired in 1992. He was a member of Our Shepherd Lutheran Church in Searcy.
He was preceded in death by a daughter, Maurie Christine Eichbrecht in 1997.
Survivors include his wife, Theodora Eichbrecht of Ward; children, Michael Eichbrecht of Viney Grove, Ken.; Claire Wilkinson of Flagstaff, Ariz.; and Cyd Simmons of Cabot; two sisters, Joyce Eichbrecht and Mary Ann Means, both of Sterling Heights, Mich.; 10 grandchildren, two step-grandchildren, one great-grandson and three step-great-grandchildren.
Funeral services were Sept. 26, at Our Shepherd Lutheran Church in Searcy with Pastor Steve Miguet officiating. Burial was in Chapel Hill Memorial Park at Jacksonville. Arrangements were by Moore’s Jacksonville Funeral Home.
MARY GOODWIN
Mary Elizabeth Goodwin, 72, of Rose Bud died Sept. 21. She was born Sept. 22, 1933, in Pitt County, N. C., to the late George and Nannie Whitley Wade.
Before retirement, she was a nurse at White County Medical Center. She was preceded in death by her daughter, Susan Dianne Wilson.
She is survived by three sons, Roy Bennett of Billings, Mo.; Michael Fuller and wife Lynn of Hernando, Miss.; and Alan Bennett and wife Tally of Phoenix, Ariz.; one daughter, Donna Babb of Memphis, Tenn.; seven grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; and brother, Jim Wade of Sumter, S. C. Funeral services were Sept. 26at Westbrook Funeral Home in Beebe. Burial was in Apple Hill Cemetery.
LETA ROGERS
Leta Rogers, 78, of McRae died Sept. 24. She was born May 31, 1928, at Alba, Texas, to Garlan and Jessie Wright Sadler.
She was a retired bookkeeper and switchboard operator and a Baptist.
She is survived by her son, Larry Eden of Rosebud; three brothers, Bill Sadler of Winslow, Ariz.; Jerry Sadler of Romance; and Dwain Sadler of Haughton, Louis.; four sisters, Janell Payne of McRae; Marcella Hobbs of Olney, Texas; Gerlene Douglass of Houston, Texas and Linda Swafford of McRae. She was preceded in death by her husband, Carl Rogers and one infant son.
Family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 27 at Westbrook Funeral Home in Beebe. Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 28 at West-brook Funeral Home with burial in Lebanon Cemetery.
Walter F. Keefe, Jr., 77, and Lillian A. Keefe, 76, both of Jacksonville, passed away only days apart, Mr. Keefe on Sept. 20, and Mrs. Keefe on Sept. 22, both of natural causes.
Mr. Keefe was born June 6, 1929, in Brooklyn, N. Y,. to the late Walter F. and Florence Kelley Keefe, Sr. Mrs. Keefe was born January 11, 1930, in the Bronx, N. Y., to the late Godfrey and Lillian McGuire Tabler.
A daughter, Teresa Keefe-Bailey, precedes them in death as well as Mr. Keefe’s brothers, Raymond and Gerard Keefe; and Mrs. Keefe’s brothers, Godfrey “Bud” and Harold Tabler as well as a sister, Elinor Oerding. Walter was a retired senior master sergeant in the Air Force who served in the Second World War, the Korean War and Vietnam. He also retired from the post office after more than 20 years of service.
Lillian was a devout Catholic who lived her life in service to the Lord. She was active in St. Jude Catholic Church, the Holy Family Parish at LRAFB as well as having been a Prayer Warrior.
Survivors include their children, John Keefe and wife Bonnie of Jacksonville; Kathleen Stimson and husband George of Berryville; Linda Tucker and husband Cecil of Jacksonville; Walter Francis Keefe III and wife Dianne of East End; Karen Keefe of Jacksonville; and Kevin Keefe and wife Darlene of Cabot; grandchildren, Lani Mc-Gloflin; Jodi Dress; Kerri Keefe; Jay Purifoy; Donna, James, Jeff and Virginia Stimson; Justin and Devin Drysdale; Benjamin Tucker; Jennifer Burgin; Hollie and Adam Bailey; Carl Williams, and Pete Moore; great-grandchildren, Brit-ney and Katie McGloflin; McKenna Dress; Amberly, Colin and Damien Stimson; and Ashton and Madeline Purifoy. Lillian is also survived by a sister, Dorothy Brown of Norfolk, Virg. Many friends and other family also survive them.
A joint funeral mass will be held at 10 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 27 at St. Jude the Apostle Catholic Church in Jacksonville with Father Les Farley officiating. Burial will follow in Chapel Hill Memorial Park at Jacksonville. In lieu of flowers please make donations to one of the following charities: Mercy Corp International, Heifer Project International or Arkansas Children’s Hospital. Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Moore’s Jacksonville Funeral Home.
CONNIE EUBANKS
Connie Eubanks, 41, of North Little Rock passed away on Sept. 20. She was born March 28, 1965 to the late Fred and Georgia Ives.
She was also preceded in death by one sister, Gladys.
Survivors include a daughter, Mary Sue Ives and grandson Matthew Ives, both of North Little Rock; one sister, Barbara Campbell of Ward; and three brothers, David Ives, Bobby and Wendy Wright and Gary Wright, all of North Little Rock.
Visitation will be from 9 a.m. to noon Wednesday, Sept. 27. At the families request services and interment will be private. Arrangements by Thomas Funeral Service in Cabot.
GARY HILBURN
Gary Hilburn, 59, of Camden died Sept. 21, in Little Rock. He was born Aug. 25, 1947, in Pelam, Ga., to the late Willis and Margaret McDowell Hilburn.
He served in the United States Army, was a truck driver and loved the deer woods. Survivors include his children, Shawn Hilburn of Cabot, Phillip Hilburn of Jacksonville, and Jesse Black of St. Petersburg, Flor.; brother, James Hilburn of Cedar Springs, Ga.; sister, Ginger Schultz of Ocola, Flor.; six grandchildren and three nieces and nephews.
Graveside service will be at 1 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 27 at Arkansas State Veterans Cemetery in North Little Rock. Arrange-ments were under the direction of Moore’s Jacksonville Funeral Home.
HERB BRILL
Herb Brill, 75, of Ward died Sept. 18. He was born February 14, 1931, at Bethlehem, Pa., to the late William and Maria Graff Brill.
An Army veteran of the Korean and Vietnam wars, he served his country for twenty-six years. He loved the outdoors and was a very dedicated and loving father and husband.He is survived by his wife, Irene Shaver Brill; four sons, Herbert W. Brill, II of Bakersfield, Calif.; Jonathan M. and Kay Brill of Little Rock; Christopher Q. and Shirley Brill of Greenbrier; and Michael D. and Vanessa Brill of Orlando, Fl.; two daughters, Melanie M. Brill of Orlando and Deborah A. Brill of Cabot; ten grandchildren; one great-grandchild; and one sister, Charlotte Brill of Ward.
Graveside services were held Sept. 22 at Arkansas State Veterans Cemetery in North Little Rock. Memorials may be made to U.S. Army Wounded Warrior Program, 200 Stovall Street, Alexandria, Virg., 22332. Arrangements were by Westbrook Funeral Home of Beebe.
DAVID WHITE
David Stanley White, 58, of Cabot passed away Sept. 23, at his home. He was born on Oct. 24, 1947, to the late William ‘Buster’ and Mae Howerton White in Little Rock.
He was a loving and devoted husband and father. He was the owner and operator of Affordable Custom Weed Control.
He is survived by his wife, Sharon White of Cabot; two daughters, one step daughter, two step sons, one sister, 13 grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
Funeral services were held Sept. 26 in the chapel at Cabot Funeral Home with the Rev. James Stanley officiating. Burial was in Hicks Cemetery in Cabot. Arrangements were under the direction of Moore’s Cabot Funeral Home.
EDWARD PENKALA
Edward E. Madru Penkala, 29, of Portage, Ind., passed away Sept. 20.
He was preceded in death by his grandfathers, the late Emanuel Penkala and the late Thomas Madru. He was a sales associate at Guitar Center. He enjoyed music as a drummer and he also enjoyed the outdoors.
He is survived by his father, Edward Penkala and his wife Diana of Schererville; mother Rose Madru Penkala; brother Kenneth Reeder and his wife Jennifer of Dyer; grandmother, Antoinette Madru of Jacksonville; grandmother, Maria Penkala of East Chicago; aunts and uncles, Shirley Mark and her husband Ken; Peggy Smith and her husband Jerry; Thomas Madru and his wife Lu; Nancy McClendon and her husband Stan; Theresa Kaminski and her husband Chris; Linda Arnold and her husband John; Phillip Jensen and his wife Michelle; nephew, Ryan Reeder and godchild Hailey Ewing.
Funeral services were Sept. 26 at Moore’s Jacksonville Funeral Home.
DOROTHY HOWARD
Dorothy “Dot” Ann Howard, 67, of Jacksonville passed away Sept. 19. She was born July 18, 1939 in Birmingham, England to the late William and Annie Walsh Bolin.
She worked for over 20 years for Maybelline as a quality control inspector. She was also preceded in death by her husband, Norman Howard and a brother, William Bolin.
Survivors include one daughter, Tracey Curtis Rhodes and husband Chris of Ward; three sons, Todd Howard and wife Pam of Cabot; Troy Howard and wife Daniece of Jacksonville; and Tony Howard and wife Rhoda Sullivan of Jacksonville; ten grandchildren, Ciera Curtis, Blake Howard, Angel Howard, Eric Moore, Brandy Howard, Bradley Howard, Alesha Hiner, Jacob Goolsby, Joshua Goolsby and Justin Goolsby. Graveside services were held Sept. 22 at Arkansas State Veterans Cemetery.
MELVIN EICHBRECHT
Melvin Charles Wilhelm Eichbrecht, 76 of Ward died Sept. 23 in Jacksonville. He was born July 31, 1930, in Ray Township, Mich. to Ferdinand and Mable Klusendorf Eichbrecht.
On May 25, 1951, he married Theodora Smith in Gulfport, Miss. He served 23 years with the United States Air Force in hospital administration. Following retirement from the USAF, he began a 29-year career as an electrical machine technician for T.R.W. in Little Rock. He retired in 1992. He was a member of Our Shepherd Lutheran Church in Searcy.
He was preceded in death by a daughter, Maurie Christine Eichbrecht in 1997.
Survivors include his wife, Theodora Eichbrecht of Ward; children, Michael Eichbrecht of Viney Grove, Ken.; Claire Wilkinson of Flagstaff, Ariz.; and Cyd Simmons of Cabot; two sisters, Joyce Eichbrecht and Mary Ann Means, both of Sterling Heights, Mich.; 10 grandchildren, two step-grandchildren, one great-grandson and three step-great-grandchildren.
Funeral services were Sept. 26, at Our Shepherd Lutheran Church in Searcy with Pastor Steve Miguet officiating. Burial was in Chapel Hill Memorial Park at Jacksonville. Arrangements were by Moore’s Jacksonville Funeral Home.
MARY GOODWIN
Mary Elizabeth Goodwin, 72, of Rose Bud died Sept. 21. She was born Sept. 22, 1933, in Pitt County, N. C., to the late George and Nannie Whitley Wade.
Before retirement, she was a nurse at White County Medical Center. She was preceded in death by her daughter, Susan Dianne Wilson.
She is survived by three sons, Roy Bennett of Billings, Mo.; Michael Fuller and wife Lynn of Hernando, Miss.; and Alan Bennett and wife Tally of Phoenix, Ariz.; one daughter, Donna Babb of Memphis, Tenn.; seven grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; and brother, Jim Wade of Sumter, S. C. Funeral services were Sept. 26at Westbrook Funeral Home in Beebe. Burial was in Apple Hill Cemetery.
LETA ROGERS
Leta Rogers, 78, of McRae died Sept. 24. She was born May 31, 1928, at Alba, Texas, to Garlan and Jessie Wright Sadler.
She was a retired bookkeeper and switchboard operator and a Baptist.
She is survived by her son, Larry Eden of Rosebud; three brothers, Bill Sadler of Winslow, Ariz.; Jerry Sadler of Romance; and Dwain Sadler of Haughton, Louis.; four sisters, Janell Payne of McRae; Marcella Hobbs of Olney, Texas; Gerlene Douglass of Houston, Texas and Linda Swafford of McRae. She was preceded in death by her husband, Carl Rogers and one infant son.
Family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 27 at Westbrook Funeral Home in Beebe. Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 28 at West-brook Funeral Home with burial in Lebanon Cemetery.
Monday, September 25, 2006
EDITORIAL>>Looking at their records
By Ernie Dumas
Leader editorial writer
Having a long record in public office is a political advantage on the day that you announce for higher office because voters are supposed to put a premium on wisdom that flows from experience.
After the announcement, a long record becomes problematical. Asa Hutchinson, the Republican candidate for governor, has been hammering Attorney General Mike Beebe over his long record in the state Senate and his legendary ability to get things done.
If Beebe was such a powerhouse lawmaker, Hutchinson keeps asking, why was he never able to repeal the sales tax on groceries? Hutchinson implies that it is because Beebe secretly supported the tax.
Beebe says he will see to it that the tax is repealed or phased out if he is elected governor. Beebe answers Hutchinson’s taunts by citing all his votes to repeal the tax over 20 years in the Senate.
Hutchinson notes that Beebe never sponsored the repealer himself.
And Beebe’s answer to that is that he insisted that Bud Canada of Hot Springs, who fought for the repeal single-mindedly in a long career in the Senate, be the sole sponsor of the bill so that he would not have to share the credit.
Beebe pointed out that he engineered passage of Canada’s bill in the Senate three times only to see it defeated each time in the House of Representatives. Who knows how the issue shakes out with voters?
Meantime, Hutchinson is running on his long record, too, mainly the years from 2001 to 2005 when he was running the Drug Enforcement Administration in the Bush administration and serving as the deputy secretary in the Department of Homeland Security.
That is proving to be more of a handicap than Beebe’s ten thousand votes in the state Senate.
When Hutchinson an-nounced a program this week to go after illegal immigrants and methamphetamine makers and dealers, Beebe’s campaign said Hutchinson had a chance to do something about drugs and immigration and blew it.
He should not be given a second chance, the Beebe handlers said. As it invariably happens, there is evidence from the Bush administration itself that Hutchinson blew it, if you can believe President Bush’s Office of Management and Budget.
Its report is part of Hutchinson’s record, too.
Federal statistics show that drug use among youth went up significantly when Hutchinson became the national drug czar and then went back down after he left the office for Homeland Security 18 months later.
A report from the Bush OMB said pointedly that the office had failed to achieve success against illegal drugs in Hutchinson’s tenure. Hutchinson says the OMB needs to better define the word “success.”
The conservative Washington Times (edited by the racist Arkie Wesley Pruden Jr.) carried an article in 2003 quoting un-named agents under Hutchinson as saying that Hutchinson had provided no leadership at DEA and used his position instead to promote himself while enforcement declined and morale sagged.
Sometimes, it’s better to say that you’re utterly inexperienced and as clueless as a newborn lamb.
Leader editorial writer
Having a long record in public office is a political advantage on the day that you announce for higher office because voters are supposed to put a premium on wisdom that flows from experience.
After the announcement, a long record becomes problematical. Asa Hutchinson, the Republican candidate for governor, has been hammering Attorney General Mike Beebe over his long record in the state Senate and his legendary ability to get things done.
If Beebe was such a powerhouse lawmaker, Hutchinson keeps asking, why was he never able to repeal the sales tax on groceries? Hutchinson implies that it is because Beebe secretly supported the tax.
Beebe says he will see to it that the tax is repealed or phased out if he is elected governor. Beebe answers Hutchinson’s taunts by citing all his votes to repeal the tax over 20 years in the Senate.
Hutchinson notes that Beebe never sponsored the repealer himself.
And Beebe’s answer to that is that he insisted that Bud Canada of Hot Springs, who fought for the repeal single-mindedly in a long career in the Senate, be the sole sponsor of the bill so that he would not have to share the credit.
Beebe pointed out that he engineered passage of Canada’s bill in the Senate three times only to see it defeated each time in the House of Representatives. Who knows how the issue shakes out with voters?
Meantime, Hutchinson is running on his long record, too, mainly the years from 2001 to 2005 when he was running the Drug Enforcement Administration in the Bush administration and serving as the deputy secretary in the Department of Homeland Security.
That is proving to be more of a handicap than Beebe’s ten thousand votes in the state Senate.
When Hutchinson an-nounced a program this week to go after illegal immigrants and methamphetamine makers and dealers, Beebe’s campaign said Hutchinson had a chance to do something about drugs and immigration and blew it.
He should not be given a second chance, the Beebe handlers said. As it invariably happens, there is evidence from the Bush administration itself that Hutchinson blew it, if you can believe President Bush’s Office of Management and Budget.
Its report is part of Hutchinson’s record, too.
Federal statistics show that drug use among youth went up significantly when Hutchinson became the national drug czar and then went back down after he left the office for Homeland Security 18 months later.
A report from the Bush OMB said pointedly that the office had failed to achieve success against illegal drugs in Hutchinson’s tenure. Hutchinson says the OMB needs to better define the word “success.”
The conservative Washington Times (edited by the racist Arkie Wesley Pruden Jr.) carried an article in 2003 quoting un-named agents under Hutchinson as saying that Hutchinson had provided no leadership at DEA and used his position instead to promote himself while enforcement declined and morale sagged.
Sometimes, it’s better to say that you’re utterly inexperienced and as clueless as a newborn lamb.
EVENTS>>Fall 2006
The 12th annual Governor’s Trophy Marching Band Contest will begin at 3:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 10 at Bro. Erwin Stadium at the Beebe Public School campus. Trophies will be presented to the top-scoring band in each category at 9 p.m.
Refreshments available. Admission is free.
Autism and Developmental Disabilities Support of Searcy will hold its monthly meeting on at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 10 at Simmons First Bank on Main Street in Searcy. Gina Vaness, CPA and tax director at Moore, Stephens, Frost, PLC, will be presenting — Ins and Outs of Tax Deductible Medical Expenses. Everyone is welcome.
For more information, contact Suzanne Modlin at 593-5399 or aaddsos@gmail.com.
The Jacksonville Chapter 1597 of the National Active and Retired Federal Employees will meet at 11:30 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 12 at the Bar-B-Que Shack, 1000 Hwy. 161 S. in Jacksonville. The speaker will be Becky Griffith from Blue Cross and Blue Shield.
Republican Gubernatorial Candidate Asa Hutchison’s campaign bus will stop off at the Jacksonville Community Center at 1:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 19, according to local campaign director Otis Stewart.
Hutchinson will stop at Sherwood at 3 p.m., Stewart said.
The Mount Tabor United Methodist Women’s fall style show and mother/daughter luncheon will be held at noon Saturday, Oct. 21 at the church, 4100 Hwy. 89 S. in Cabot.
Deadline for reservations is Oct. 18. Reservations can be made by calling 843-1084 and leaving a message. The style show is sponsored by Unique Creations and features local models. The luncheon will be prepared and served by the men of the church. A $5 donation will be accepted at the door.
Donations are being accepted for the Reynolds family of Highland Court in Cabot. The family lost their home and 77-year-old grandmother Velma Metcalf in a fire last week. Donations can be made at any Bank of the Ozarks to the Jannie Reynolds Fire Fund.
Arkansas is preparing for Breast Cancer Awareness month coming up in October. To further breast cancer education and awareness, the Faith Support Ministry at Faith Baptist Church in Cabot is hosting a Brunch at 10 a.m. Saturday. All women in the community and surrounding areas are invited to attend.
This year’s program will focus on education. Sandra Bennett, BSN, RN, an Instruction Development Specialist with the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, will present the latest information from the Komen Foundation and the American Cancer Society regarding risk factors and early detection. Certified by the Komen Foundation, Bennett will also instruct proper methods for self-breast exams.
Entertainment will be provided by local vocalist, Lis Geoghegan.
Statistics indicate one in seven women will be diagnosed with breast cancer during her lifetime. An estimated 2,000 women in Arkansas will be diagnosed this year.
Who is at risk? You, your sister, your daughter, your neighbor, your mother, your niece are at risk. Women as young as 14 up to senior ladies in their 70’s or 80’s all need to be aware.
The Komen Mission is to eradicate breast cancer as a life threatening disease by advancing research, education, screening and treatment.
Plan to attend this community event and participate in the mission. There is no cost to attend, but reserve a seat by calling Faith Baptist Church at 843-5291 or e-mailing elaine@faithcabot.org.
As part of the special centennial celebration this year, the Carlisle High School Alumni Association is having a focus on several individual groups during homecoming weekend this year. These include football, basketball, cheerleaders, and band. So many alumni have special memories relating to activities with these groups and the association is in need of help in developing really great presentations about each of these for homecoming weekend. Specifically, the association is searching for things like pictures, programs, uniforms, patches, documents, etc. Any type of item relating to these area would help make an interesting presentation and display.
The association will gladly accept any item that an individual would like to contribute. Items can either be donated to the historical collection of the association or loaned to the association for the weekend. Please contact the following individuals who are heading up each area. Football: Bob Hillman ‘62, 870-552-3152, sandrfarms@centurytel.net; Basketball: Marla Ward Cunningham ‘84, 870-552-3897, marlac@cashionco.com; Cheerleaders: Sharon Jackson Hillman ‘63, 870-552-3152,sandrfarms@centurytel.net; Band/Majorettes/Flags/Rifles, etc:, Mike Calvert ‘84, 501-519-1202, mcalvert@carlislealumni.org.
Called the “Patriot’s Pen,” this Veterans of Foreign Wars Ladies Auxiliary program is an essay contest for students in sixth through eighth grade, and also home schooled students. The program offers students the opportunity to express their opinion on a patriotic theme and improve their writing skills while competing for prizes. Prizes are awarded at the local, state and national levels. The first place national winner will receive a $10,000 U.S. Savings Bond during the VFW/Ladies Auxiliary Community Service Conference in Washington, D.C. in March.
The theme for 2006-07 is “Citizenship in America.” The essay needs to be between 300-400 words. The deadline for students to submit an entry for local judging is Nov. 1. Information and entry forms should be available at the middle schools, or can be downloaded from the VFW website, www.vfw.org.
The Arlene Cherry Memorial Library resumes its preschool storytime program on Wednesday and will run it every Wednesday and Thursday at 10:30 a.m. from then on. Storytime includes fingerplays, songs, games and craft time. Daycare and other groups are welcome to schedule separate storytimes. Questions? Call the library at 843-7661.
FaithWeaver Friends is a mid-week Christian education opportunity at Cabot United Methodist Church for children 2-years-old to 6th grade. “Friends” will be held every Wednesday during the school year, beginning Sept. 6 from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Children will learn to grow in their faith through Bible study, music, crafts, puppets and much more. The 5th and 6th graders are “Mission Maniacs” during the same time and are involved in different service projects in our church and community, as well as their own Bible study. The cost is $20 for the year. For more information or to sign up, contact the church office 501-843-3541.
Saturday, October 21ST
Sherwood Fest
8:00 A.M. - 5:00 P.M.
Sherwood Forest
1111 W. Maryland Ave
Arts & Crafts Show, Children’s Fun Activities
All Day, Chamber of Commerce Pancake
Breakfast, Pony Rides, Cute Kids Contest
Tuesday, October 31ST
City of Sherwood
Halloween Carnival
6:30 P.M. - 8:30 P.M.
Sherwood Forest
1111 W. Maryland Ave
Carnival Games, Costume Contest
December 1ST-30TH
Enchanted Forest
Holiday Trail of Lights
6:00 P.M. - 9:30 P.M.
Sherwood Forest
1111 W. Maryland Ave
(501) 835-8909
Friday, December 1ST
Children's
Christmas Party
6:00 P.M. - 8:00 P.M.
Duran Youth Center
508 Sherwood Ave.
Sunday, December 3RD
Sherwood
Christmas
Parade
2:00 P.M.
Chamber of Commerce Event
Saturday, December 9TH
Breakfast
With Santa
8:00 A.M. - 10:00 A.M.
Sherwood Forest
1111 W. Maryland Ave
(501) 835-8909
White County Junior Miss Program will be held at 7 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 11 in the Searcy High School auditorium. College bound seniors with a 2.5 grade point average are encouraged to enter. Each contestant is evaluated in the areas of scholastic achievement, fitness, poise, interview and talent. For more information contact Cindy Dixon at 230-6084, Robin Pratt, at 593-1461 or Nancy Thompson at 268-6292.
The Beebe Shepherd’s Center conducts classes each Wednesday at College and Cherry streets. A new program in “Adventures in Learning” will be held Thursday, Sept. 7 through Wednesday, Oct. 25. Senior adults take classes for fun or learning. Class times will be from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Volunteers are needed to share their knowledge or hobbies with others. For more information, Paul Ramsey, director at 501-882-0243.
Refreshments available. Admission is free.
Autism and Developmental Disabilities Support of Searcy will hold its monthly meeting on at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 10 at Simmons First Bank on Main Street in Searcy. Gina Vaness, CPA and tax director at Moore, Stephens, Frost, PLC, will be presenting — Ins and Outs of Tax Deductible Medical Expenses. Everyone is welcome.
For more information, contact Suzanne Modlin at 593-5399 or aaddsos@gmail.com.
The Jacksonville Chapter 1597 of the National Active and Retired Federal Employees will meet at 11:30 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 12 at the Bar-B-Que Shack, 1000 Hwy. 161 S. in Jacksonville. The speaker will be Becky Griffith from Blue Cross and Blue Shield.
Republican Gubernatorial Candidate Asa Hutchison’s campaign bus will stop off at the Jacksonville Community Center at 1:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 19, according to local campaign director Otis Stewart.
Hutchinson will stop at Sherwood at 3 p.m., Stewart said.
The Mount Tabor United Methodist Women’s fall style show and mother/daughter luncheon will be held at noon Saturday, Oct. 21 at the church, 4100 Hwy. 89 S. in Cabot.
Deadline for reservations is Oct. 18. Reservations can be made by calling 843-1084 and leaving a message. The style show is sponsored by Unique Creations and features local models. The luncheon will be prepared and served by the men of the church. A $5 donation will be accepted at the door.
Donations are being accepted for the Reynolds family of Highland Court in Cabot. The family lost their home and 77-year-old grandmother Velma Metcalf in a fire last week. Donations can be made at any Bank of the Ozarks to the Jannie Reynolds Fire Fund.
Arkansas is preparing for Breast Cancer Awareness month coming up in October. To further breast cancer education and awareness, the Faith Support Ministry at Faith Baptist Church in Cabot is hosting a Brunch at 10 a.m. Saturday. All women in the community and surrounding areas are invited to attend.
This year’s program will focus on education. Sandra Bennett, BSN, RN, an Instruction Development Specialist with the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, will present the latest information from the Komen Foundation and the American Cancer Society regarding risk factors and early detection. Certified by the Komen Foundation, Bennett will also instruct proper methods for self-breast exams.
Entertainment will be provided by local vocalist, Lis Geoghegan.
Statistics indicate one in seven women will be diagnosed with breast cancer during her lifetime. An estimated 2,000 women in Arkansas will be diagnosed this year.
Who is at risk? You, your sister, your daughter, your neighbor, your mother, your niece are at risk. Women as young as 14 up to senior ladies in their 70’s or 80’s all need to be aware.
The Komen Mission is to eradicate breast cancer as a life threatening disease by advancing research, education, screening and treatment.
Plan to attend this community event and participate in the mission. There is no cost to attend, but reserve a seat by calling Faith Baptist Church at 843-5291 or e-mailing elaine@faithcabot.org.
As part of the special centennial celebration this year, the Carlisle High School Alumni Association is having a focus on several individual groups during homecoming weekend this year. These include football, basketball, cheerleaders, and band. So many alumni have special memories relating to activities with these groups and the association is in need of help in developing really great presentations about each of these for homecoming weekend. Specifically, the association is searching for things like pictures, programs, uniforms, patches, documents, etc. Any type of item relating to these area would help make an interesting presentation and display.
The association will gladly accept any item that an individual would like to contribute. Items can either be donated to the historical collection of the association or loaned to the association for the weekend. Please contact the following individuals who are heading up each area. Football: Bob Hillman ‘62, 870-552-3152, sandrfarms@centurytel.net; Basketball: Marla Ward Cunningham ‘84, 870-552-3897, marlac@cashionco.com; Cheerleaders: Sharon Jackson Hillman ‘63, 870-552-3152,sandrfarms@centurytel.net; Band/Majorettes/Flags/Rifles, etc:, Mike Calvert ‘84, 501-519-1202, mcalvert@carlislealumni.org.
Called the “Patriot’s Pen,” this Veterans of Foreign Wars Ladies Auxiliary program is an essay contest for students in sixth through eighth grade, and also home schooled students. The program offers students the opportunity to express their opinion on a patriotic theme and improve their writing skills while competing for prizes. Prizes are awarded at the local, state and national levels. The first place national winner will receive a $10,000 U.S. Savings Bond during the VFW/Ladies Auxiliary Community Service Conference in Washington, D.C. in March.
The theme for 2006-07 is “Citizenship in America.” The essay needs to be between 300-400 words. The deadline for students to submit an entry for local judging is Nov. 1. Information and entry forms should be available at the middle schools, or can be downloaded from the VFW website, www.vfw.org.
The Arlene Cherry Memorial Library resumes its preschool storytime program on Wednesday and will run it every Wednesday and Thursday at 10:30 a.m. from then on. Storytime includes fingerplays, songs, games and craft time. Daycare and other groups are welcome to schedule separate storytimes. Questions? Call the library at 843-7661.
FaithWeaver Friends is a mid-week Christian education opportunity at Cabot United Methodist Church for children 2-years-old to 6th grade. “Friends” will be held every Wednesday during the school year, beginning Sept. 6 from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Children will learn to grow in their faith through Bible study, music, crafts, puppets and much more. The 5th and 6th graders are “Mission Maniacs” during the same time and are involved in different service projects in our church and community, as well as their own Bible study. The cost is $20 for the year. For more information or to sign up, contact the church office 501-843-3541.
Saturday, October 21ST
Sherwood Fest
8:00 A.M. - 5:00 P.M.
Sherwood Forest
1111 W. Maryland Ave
Arts & Crafts Show, Children’s Fun Activities
All Day, Chamber of Commerce Pancake
Breakfast, Pony Rides, Cute Kids Contest
Tuesday, October 31ST
City of Sherwood
Halloween Carnival
6:30 P.M. - 8:30 P.M.
Sherwood Forest
1111 W. Maryland Ave
Carnival Games, Costume Contest
December 1ST-30TH
Enchanted Forest
Holiday Trail of Lights
6:00 P.M. - 9:30 P.M.
Sherwood Forest
1111 W. Maryland Ave
(501) 835-8909
Friday, December 1ST
Children's
Christmas Party
6:00 P.M. - 8:00 P.M.
Duran Youth Center
508 Sherwood Ave.
Sunday, December 3RD
Sherwood
Christmas
Parade
2:00 P.M.
Chamber of Commerce Event
Saturday, December 9TH
Breakfast
With Santa
8:00 A.M. - 10:00 A.M.
Sherwood Forest
1111 W. Maryland Ave
(501) 835-8909
White County Junior Miss Program will be held at 7 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 11 in the Searcy High School auditorium. College bound seniors with a 2.5 grade point average are encouraged to enter. Each contestant is evaluated in the areas of scholastic achievement, fitness, poise, interview and talent. For more information contact Cindy Dixon at 230-6084, Robin Pratt, at 593-1461 or Nancy Thompson at 268-6292.
The Beebe Shepherd’s Center conducts classes each Wednesday at College and Cherry streets. A new program in “Adventures in Learning” will be held Thursday, Sept. 7 through Wednesday, Oct. 25. Senior adults take classes for fun or learning. Class times will be from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Volunteers are needed to share their knowledge or hobbies with others. For more information, Paul Ramsey, director at 501-882-0243.
EDITORIALS>>A poverty of the mind
Here is a statistic that both encourages and depresses us: The parents of about 10 percent of seventh and eighth grade students in Arkansas sign waivers every year so that their children will not be required to take the core curriculum for secondary school.
We were surprised that the percentage was so low; we were disappointed that it was not zero.
The core curriculum, which the state Education Department calls the Smart Core, requires students to take four standard courses in both English and mathematics and three units each of science and social studies. You would guess that taking a fairly rigorous curriculum would cause students to score better on the standardized tests that now measure success in everything educational and that it would improve their chances of going to college and of having success there. We now know that it does all those things. There is evidence, too, that those who do not go to college at all or do not graduate still benefit socially and economically from having taken the courses that prepare one for college.
But the parents of one of every 10 children either do not have confidence that their youngster can do that level of work or else they simply do not want them to take the harder courses because they think college and the knowledge itself that comes from formal education beyond the basics are superfluous in the real world into which their kids will matriculate. More than almost any state in the union, Arkansas has always suffered from a poverty of the mind — a notion that education is really not all that important — and the Education Department statistic suggests that we have not altogether shed that attitude yet.
When the Arkansas legislature actually mandated the core curriculum, it was a signal that we had got beyond that attitude.
The legislature is a pretty good reflection of the public. But lawmakers inserted an opt-out provision in the act. Youngsters would not be subjected to the core curriculum and could pile up “career” or homemaking courses instead if their parents signed a waiver.
Ken James, the director of the department, thinks the legislature should now revisit that issue. Gov. Huckabee, whose conversion to progressive school doctrine has been one of the most important developments of the decade, seems to agree. He said this week that it was “immoral” — strong word! — to assign lower expectations to some students owing to where they live, their race or their parents’ money. He should have added “or the low expectations of their parents.”
Huckabee leaves office in January and cannot influence that change. Often there has been a chasm between Huckabee’s policy pronouncements and his actions, but not in education, lately. As with the consolidation of small, underperforming schools, he has been bold, and we think he would be here, too. What would Mike Beebe or Asa Hutchinson do?
The legislature should repeal the weak-curriculum option or else modify it to permit children to opt out in only extreme cases. Unlike controlling the nation’s borders, here is an issue that actually involves something that falls within the purview of the governor’s power.
We were surprised that the percentage was so low; we were disappointed that it was not zero.
The core curriculum, which the state Education Department calls the Smart Core, requires students to take four standard courses in both English and mathematics and three units each of science and social studies. You would guess that taking a fairly rigorous curriculum would cause students to score better on the standardized tests that now measure success in everything educational and that it would improve their chances of going to college and of having success there. We now know that it does all those things. There is evidence, too, that those who do not go to college at all or do not graduate still benefit socially and economically from having taken the courses that prepare one for college.
But the parents of one of every 10 children either do not have confidence that their youngster can do that level of work or else they simply do not want them to take the harder courses because they think college and the knowledge itself that comes from formal education beyond the basics are superfluous in the real world into which their kids will matriculate. More than almost any state in the union, Arkansas has always suffered from a poverty of the mind — a notion that education is really not all that important — and the Education Department statistic suggests that we have not altogether shed that attitude yet.
When the Arkansas legislature actually mandated the core curriculum, it was a signal that we had got beyond that attitude.
The legislature is a pretty good reflection of the public. But lawmakers inserted an opt-out provision in the act. Youngsters would not be subjected to the core curriculum and could pile up “career” or homemaking courses instead if their parents signed a waiver.
Ken James, the director of the department, thinks the legislature should now revisit that issue. Gov. Huckabee, whose conversion to progressive school doctrine has been one of the most important developments of the decade, seems to agree. He said this week that it was “immoral” — strong word! — to assign lower expectations to some students owing to where they live, their race or their parents’ money. He should have added “or the low expectations of their parents.”
Huckabee leaves office in January and cannot influence that change. Often there has been a chasm between Huckabee’s policy pronouncements and his actions, but not in education, lately. As with the consolidation of small, underperforming schools, he has been bold, and we think he would be here, too. What would Mike Beebe or Asa Hutchinson do?
The legislature should repeal the weak-curriculum option or else modify it to permit children to opt out in only extreme cases. Unlike controlling the nation’s borders, here is an issue that actually involves something that falls within the purview of the governor’s power.
OBITUARIES >> 09-23-06
Carlee Howell
Carlee “Bo” Howell, 74, of Mayflower, died Sept. 19 in Little Rock.
He was born May 6, 1932, at Sylvania.
He was a retired Army Chief Warrant Officer II after 30 years and was an avid hunter and fisherman.
He was preceded in death by his parents, John Herbert and Maggie Mae Howell and his wife of over 50 years, Janice Claribel “Clara” Howell, and brother Henry Howell.
He is survived by his present wife, Donna Lee Howell, and a blended family of eight children, Mike and Marsha Howell, Joe and Patty Howell Meador, Carla Howell, Gene and Debbie Howell, Danny and Pam Howell Miley, Carrie Howell Wood, John and Joanie Howell, and Paul and Melissa Howell Eldried; a brother, James Herbert Howell; 15 grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren, and many wonderful friends.
Family will receive friends from 4 to 8 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 23 at Westbrook Funeral Home in Beebe.
Graveside services will be at 2 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 24 in Sylvania Cemetery in Ward.
Robert Redd III
Robert Harold Redd, III, 33, of Sherwood, passed away Sept. 18, 2006. He was born May 9, 1973 in Little Rock to Robert Harold Redd, II and Pamala Jo McMillion.
He was a graduate of Pulaski Tech and Oak Grove High School.
He was a senior radio/television major at UALR and due to graduate this December.
He was preceded in death by his grandmother Peggy McMillion, and both of his grandfathers, Robert Harold Redd and Dr. Stephen McMillion, and an aunt, Cissy Madison.
He is survived by his parents, Pam Salmon and Bob and Paige Redd; a brother, Jamie Redd; a grandmother, Faye Grogan Redd; an uncle, Steve McMillion; an aunt, Karen Redd; cousins, Jay Lytle and Shayla Madison; his “little man” Patrick Carpenter and his step-family; grandparents Peggy and Travis Yielding; aunt Pamela Hamby and uncle Trav Yielding.
Memorial service is at 11 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 23 at Moore Jacksonville Funeral Home in Jacksonville.
Robert Owen
Robert Dixon Owen, 76, of Little Rock died in Hospice Home Care Center following complications from cancer.
He was born Aug. 27, 1930 at Stillwell, Okla., and grew up as a preacher’s kid in Beebe, where he graduated from high school and Beebe Junior College, now ASU-Beebe.
He was a member of the Arkansas National Guard, and was an employee of the Coca-Cola Bottling Company in Little Rock for 40 years.
He served as a deacon at Grace Presbyterian Church, where he was a charter member. In retirement, he was an active magician in Logan Pritchett Ring 29.
Survivors include Janie, his wife of 56 years; his daughter, Lisa Turner; and grandchildren, Leigh and Lane Turner of Tulsa, Okla.; a sister, Doris Owen Ward of Haines, Alaska, and several nieces and nephews.
A graveside service will be held at 10 a.m. Monday, Sept. 25, at Antioch Cemetery directed by the Rev. Charles McDonald.
A memorial service will follow at Grace Presbyterian Church in Little Rock at 1 p.m.
Memorials may be made to Grace Presbyterian Church.
Harry Thompson
Harry L. Thompson, 71, of Lonoke died Sept. 21.
He was a retired electrician and an Army veteran.
He was preceded in death by his parents, William J. and Blanche Thompson, and a brother, Billy Thompson.
He is survived by his wife, Ramona; a daughter, Donna; two grandchildren, Noah and Haley; a brother, Jerry Thompson, and a sister, Sharon Clark.
The family would like to thank all the doctors and nurses on 6-C at the Veterans Hospital for their love and support and special thanks to Odyssey Hospice for their help.
Family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 24 at Westbrook Funeral Home in Beebe. Funeral will be at 2 p.m. Monday, Sept. 25, at the funeral home with burial in Hester Cemetery.
Steven Payne
Steven Craig Payne, 54, of Cabot went to join the Lord’s Church on Sept. 22.
He was born Dec. 21, 1951, in Albuquerque, N.M., to Ralph and Frances Ess Payne.
He was preceded in death by his father, Ralph Cary Payne.
Survivors include his loving wife, Carolyn Sue Garland Payne; four daughters and their husbands, Sommer and Kevin Scar-berough, Tommie and Philip Davidson and Delilah Payne, all of Cabot, Rosie and Jeff Gallagher of Brimerton, Wash.; two sons, Toby Payne of Cabot and John and his wife, Renada Payne of Jackson-ville; his mother, Frances Jane Payne of Cabot; three sisters and their husbands, Linda and Hank Pankey of Titusville, Fla., Cathy Payne of El Paso and Cyndi and Robert Bell of Broken Arrow, Okla..; one brother, Danny and and his wife Donna Payne of Cabot, and 13 grandchildren.
Visitation will be from 1 to 9 p.m. Monday, Sept. 25, with the family receiving friends from 6 to 8 pm. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 26, at Austin Station Baptist Church in Austin with burial following in Arkansas State Veteran’s Cemetery.
Lucille Stone
Lucille Ann Stone, 84, of Beebe died Sept. 22. She was born July 24, 1922, at Eugene, Oregon, to Jim and Esther Smith Caven.
She was an avid gardener, and in her younger years her passion was thoroughbreds.
She was preceded in death by her husband, William E., her parents and her siblings.
She is survived by her son, William E. Stone III and his wife, Trish, of California; her daughter, Georgianna Shelton and her husband Clark of Beebe; six grandchildren, and 11 great-grandchildren.
Family will receive friends from 4 to 6 p.m. today at the home of Stephanie Smith, 102 Cordell Road, Beebe.
Carlee “Bo” Howell, 74, of Mayflower, died Sept. 19 in Little Rock.
He was born May 6, 1932, at Sylvania.
He was a retired Army Chief Warrant Officer II after 30 years and was an avid hunter and fisherman.
He was preceded in death by his parents, John Herbert and Maggie Mae Howell and his wife of over 50 years, Janice Claribel “Clara” Howell, and brother Henry Howell.
He is survived by his present wife, Donna Lee Howell, and a blended family of eight children, Mike and Marsha Howell, Joe and Patty Howell Meador, Carla Howell, Gene and Debbie Howell, Danny and Pam Howell Miley, Carrie Howell Wood, John and Joanie Howell, and Paul and Melissa Howell Eldried; a brother, James Herbert Howell; 15 grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren, and many wonderful friends.
Family will receive friends from 4 to 8 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 23 at Westbrook Funeral Home in Beebe.
Graveside services will be at 2 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 24 in Sylvania Cemetery in Ward.
Robert Redd III
Robert Harold Redd, III, 33, of Sherwood, passed away Sept. 18, 2006. He was born May 9, 1973 in Little Rock to Robert Harold Redd, II and Pamala Jo McMillion.
He was a graduate of Pulaski Tech and Oak Grove High School.
He was a senior radio/television major at UALR and due to graduate this December.
He was preceded in death by his grandmother Peggy McMillion, and both of his grandfathers, Robert Harold Redd and Dr. Stephen McMillion, and an aunt, Cissy Madison.
He is survived by his parents, Pam Salmon and Bob and Paige Redd; a brother, Jamie Redd; a grandmother, Faye Grogan Redd; an uncle, Steve McMillion; an aunt, Karen Redd; cousins, Jay Lytle and Shayla Madison; his “little man” Patrick Carpenter and his step-family; grandparents Peggy and Travis Yielding; aunt Pamela Hamby and uncle Trav Yielding.
Memorial service is at 11 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 23 at Moore Jacksonville Funeral Home in Jacksonville.
Robert Owen
Robert Dixon Owen, 76, of Little Rock died in Hospice Home Care Center following complications from cancer.
He was born Aug. 27, 1930 at Stillwell, Okla., and grew up as a preacher’s kid in Beebe, where he graduated from high school and Beebe Junior College, now ASU-Beebe.
He was a member of the Arkansas National Guard, and was an employee of the Coca-Cola Bottling Company in Little Rock for 40 years.
He served as a deacon at Grace Presbyterian Church, where he was a charter member. In retirement, he was an active magician in Logan Pritchett Ring 29.
Survivors include Janie, his wife of 56 years; his daughter, Lisa Turner; and grandchildren, Leigh and Lane Turner of Tulsa, Okla.; a sister, Doris Owen Ward of Haines, Alaska, and several nieces and nephews.
A graveside service will be held at 10 a.m. Monday, Sept. 25, at Antioch Cemetery directed by the Rev. Charles McDonald.
A memorial service will follow at Grace Presbyterian Church in Little Rock at 1 p.m.
Memorials may be made to Grace Presbyterian Church.
Harry Thompson
Harry L. Thompson, 71, of Lonoke died Sept. 21.
He was a retired electrician and an Army veteran.
He was preceded in death by his parents, William J. and Blanche Thompson, and a brother, Billy Thompson.
He is survived by his wife, Ramona; a daughter, Donna; two grandchildren, Noah and Haley; a brother, Jerry Thompson, and a sister, Sharon Clark.
The family would like to thank all the doctors and nurses on 6-C at the Veterans Hospital for their love and support and special thanks to Odyssey Hospice for their help.
Family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 24 at Westbrook Funeral Home in Beebe. Funeral will be at 2 p.m. Monday, Sept. 25, at the funeral home with burial in Hester Cemetery.
Steven Payne
Steven Craig Payne, 54, of Cabot went to join the Lord’s Church on Sept. 22.
He was born Dec. 21, 1951, in Albuquerque, N.M., to Ralph and Frances Ess Payne.
He was preceded in death by his father, Ralph Cary Payne.
Survivors include his loving wife, Carolyn Sue Garland Payne; four daughters and their husbands, Sommer and Kevin Scar-berough, Tommie and Philip Davidson and Delilah Payne, all of Cabot, Rosie and Jeff Gallagher of Brimerton, Wash.; two sons, Toby Payne of Cabot and John and his wife, Renada Payne of Jackson-ville; his mother, Frances Jane Payne of Cabot; three sisters and their husbands, Linda and Hank Pankey of Titusville, Fla., Cathy Payne of El Paso and Cyndi and Robert Bell of Broken Arrow, Okla..; one brother, Danny and and his wife Donna Payne of Cabot, and 13 grandchildren.
Visitation will be from 1 to 9 p.m. Monday, Sept. 25, with the family receiving friends from 6 to 8 pm. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 26, at Austin Station Baptist Church in Austin with burial following in Arkansas State Veteran’s Cemetery.
Lucille Stone
Lucille Ann Stone, 84, of Beebe died Sept. 22. She was born July 24, 1922, at Eugene, Oregon, to Jim and Esther Smith Caven.
She was an avid gardener, and in her younger years her passion was thoroughbreds.
She was preceded in death by her husband, William E., her parents and her siblings.
She is survived by her son, William E. Stone III and his wife, Trish, of California; her daughter, Georgianna Shelton and her husband Clark of Beebe; six grandchildren, and 11 great-grandchildren.
Family will receive friends from 4 to 6 p.m. today at the home of Stephanie Smith, 102 Cordell Road, Beebe.
TOP STORY>>School board races continue into October
IN SHORT: Winners to be certified next Friday for Pulaski County Special School District, but runoffs for Lonoke County positions are set for Oct. 10.
By SARA GREENE
Leader staff writer
Days after the election, it’s still too close to call the winner of the Pulaski County Special School District’s School Board race between incumbent Ronnie Calva and challenger Charlie Wood of Sherwood.
In addition, school board races in Lonoke and Cabot are headed for runoffs Tuesday, Oct. 10.
According to the Pulaski County Election Commission, Wood still leads Calva by a single vote, 260 to 259. The results won’t be official until next Friday, when the Pulaski County Election Commission counts overseas ballots.
“It’s not over yet,” said Election Commission director Susan Inman. “No winner has been determined because of the (10) outstanding military ballots from that zone.”
She said the ballots had to have been voted by election day and her office must receive them within 10 days of the election.
Until then, the vote will not be certified and it would be too early for anyone to have asked for a recount.
Depending on what, if any ballots, are returned, either man could win or it could be a tie, which would result a run-off election in their zone. Calva was appointed last year to finish Don Baker’s term.
Danny Gililland ran unopposed for PCSSD’s Zone 5 seat vacated by Carol Burgett.
Two Lonoke County races won’t be decided until the Oct. 10 runoff election.
Cabot School Board president David M. Hipp fell two votes shy of winning outright a four-person race for his seat in Cabot.
“You hate to have to be in a runoff because it’s an extra cost to have another election.”
Also running for that seat were Joyce Bender, who received 46 votes and Arthur Evans with 20 votes. There were also five write-in votes. Fred Campbell ran unopposed for Cabot School Board’s Position 6 seat.
In the six-person race for Zone 3, Position 6 for the Lonoke School Board, Cindy Burns lead with 66 votes and Darrell Park had 65 votes. Roger Lynch garnered 35 votes, Janice Perkins received 23 votes, Rudy Kurz got 12 and Shannon Holman got nine.
Burns and Park are in the run-off on Oct. 10.
Also in Lonoke, incumbent Michael Linton ran unopposed for the Zone 2, Position 7 board seat.
Early voting for the Cabot and Lonoke school board run-offs starts 8 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. this Monday through Tuesday, Oct. 10 at the Lonoke County Courthouse.
Polls will open 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Oct. 10.
Early voting will be closed on Monday, Oct. 9 due to Columbus Day.
Uncontested races this week included Robert Jenkins for an at-large position on the Beebe School Board, C. K. Parker Jr., for Position 2, District 3 in Carlisle and Judy Dillow ran unopposed for the Zone 4 seat in the England School District.
Local voters also approved maintaining millage rates for their districts.
By SARA GREENE
Leader staff writer
Days after the election, it’s still too close to call the winner of the Pulaski County Special School District’s School Board race between incumbent Ronnie Calva and challenger Charlie Wood of Sherwood.
In addition, school board races in Lonoke and Cabot are headed for runoffs Tuesday, Oct. 10.
According to the Pulaski County Election Commission, Wood still leads Calva by a single vote, 260 to 259. The results won’t be official until next Friday, when the Pulaski County Election Commission counts overseas ballots.
“It’s not over yet,” said Election Commission director Susan Inman. “No winner has been determined because of the (10) outstanding military ballots from that zone.”
She said the ballots had to have been voted by election day and her office must receive them within 10 days of the election.
Until then, the vote will not be certified and it would be too early for anyone to have asked for a recount.
Depending on what, if any ballots, are returned, either man could win or it could be a tie, which would result a run-off election in their zone. Calva was appointed last year to finish Don Baker’s term.
Danny Gililland ran unopposed for PCSSD’s Zone 5 seat vacated by Carol Burgett.
Two Lonoke County races won’t be decided until the Oct. 10 runoff election.
Cabot School Board president David M. Hipp fell two votes shy of winning outright a four-person race for his seat in Cabot.
“You hate to have to be in a runoff because it’s an extra cost to have another election.”
Also running for that seat were Joyce Bender, who received 46 votes and Arthur Evans with 20 votes. There were also five write-in votes. Fred Campbell ran unopposed for Cabot School Board’s Position 6 seat.
In the six-person race for Zone 3, Position 6 for the Lonoke School Board, Cindy Burns lead with 66 votes and Darrell Park had 65 votes. Roger Lynch garnered 35 votes, Janice Perkins received 23 votes, Rudy Kurz got 12 and Shannon Holman got nine.
Burns and Park are in the run-off on Oct. 10.
Also in Lonoke, incumbent Michael Linton ran unopposed for the Zone 2, Position 7 board seat.
Early voting for the Cabot and Lonoke school board run-offs starts 8 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. this Monday through Tuesday, Oct. 10 at the Lonoke County Courthouse.
Polls will open 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Oct. 10.
Early voting will be closed on Monday, Oct. 9 due to Columbus Day.
Uncontested races this week included Robert Jenkins for an at-large position on the Beebe School Board, C. K. Parker Jr., for Position 2, District 3 in Carlisle and Judy Dillow ran unopposed for the Zone 4 seat in the England School District.
Local voters also approved maintaining millage rates for their districts.
TOP STORY>>Beebe town festival gets underway
By JOAN MCCOY
Leader staff writer
Downtown Beebe is roped off today for Fallfest, an old festival that was revived about five years ago.
The owner and employees of Cool 104, a Searcy radio station, have organized the event for the second year in a row. They say 5,000 people attended last year and they hope the rain holds off so attendance will reach at least that number again.
Scheduled events include the Beebe Idol talent contest, set for noon, where vocal groups and vocal soloists will compete for $50 cash prizes. Ken Madden, station owner, said the contest was a hit last year with 30 contestants performing for more than two hours. It is scheduled for noon on the Community Bank stage.
Local bands will perform on the Simmons Bank stage. Madden said his staff has made every effort to use local entertainers. There will be entertainment for the kids, craft booths and food booths, including sub sandwiches and funnel cakes.
This year, a new category has been added to the beauty pageant in the Community Room at city hall. Little boys, up to three years old will be competing for the Fall Prince title. The pageant is from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. A pet show will start at 10 a.m. To register, go to the Cool 104 booth by 9:45 and pay the $5 entry fee. Pets of all varieties will compete for the titles cutest pet, ugliest pet and judge’s favorite.
Cool 104 volunteered to organize the event when interest of downtown merchants began to wane. The city council unanimously agreed to turn it over to the radio station after all members agreed they didn’t want the job.
However, the city does help with the event by roping off downtown and providing security. Parking is on side streets and admission is free.
Leader staff writer
Downtown Beebe is roped off today for Fallfest, an old festival that was revived about five years ago.
The owner and employees of Cool 104, a Searcy radio station, have organized the event for the second year in a row. They say 5,000 people attended last year and they hope the rain holds off so attendance will reach at least that number again.
Scheduled events include the Beebe Idol talent contest, set for noon, where vocal groups and vocal soloists will compete for $50 cash prizes. Ken Madden, station owner, said the contest was a hit last year with 30 contestants performing for more than two hours. It is scheduled for noon on the Community Bank stage.
Local bands will perform on the Simmons Bank stage. Madden said his staff has made every effort to use local entertainers. There will be entertainment for the kids, craft booths and food booths, including sub sandwiches and funnel cakes.
This year, a new category has been added to the beauty pageant in the Community Room at city hall. Little boys, up to three years old will be competing for the Fall Prince title. The pageant is from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. A pet show will start at 10 a.m. To register, go to the Cool 104 booth by 9:45 and pay the $5 entry fee. Pets of all varieties will compete for the titles cutest pet, ugliest pet and judge’s favorite.
Cool 104 volunteered to organize the event when interest of downtown merchants began to wane. The city council unanimously agreed to turn it over to the radio station after all members agreed they didn’t want the job.
However, the city does help with the event by roping off downtown and providing security. Parking is on side streets and admission is free.
TOP STORY>>Townhouses given rezoning approval
IN SHORT: The Jacksonville City Council overrules the planning commission and gives the multi-residential development its approval.
By RICK KRON
Leader staff writer
Once-rejected plans for townhouses on Jacksonville’s West Main Street are still alive.
The city council Thursday night, in a 5-4 vote, approved the first reading on a new ordinance that would rezone three acres of land at Main and Emma streets for the purpose of building 35 townhouses.
“Is it right to favor the desire of a few over the decision of the planning commission and the desire of present area homeowners?” asked Lucian Shockey, a spokesman for residents against the rezoning.
The vote, taken after nearly an hour of lively, but respectable debate, brought a smattering of boos from the 100 or more residents at the meeting, prompting Mayor Tommy Swaim to announce, “That’s showing your character.”
To become law, the ordinance must pass three readings.
Swaim explained that if two-thirds of the aldermen had requested it, the council could have had a second and third reading at Thursday’s meeting. “It was clear the votes were not there, so we will have the second reading at our next meeting, Oct.
5,” Swaim said. “It’ll then be up to the council if we have the third reading that night or wait until the meeting after that.”
It is possible that council members could change their vote between the readings, but that doesn’t appear likely. Those for the rezoning and townhouses seemed pretty solid in their stance as did those opposing the idea.
Voting for the rezoning were Aldermen Kenny Elliott, Kevin McCleary, Reedie Ray, Bob Stroud and Bill Howard.
Opposing the rezoning were Aldermen Marshall Smith, Terry Sansing, Gary Fletcher and Avis Twitty.
Alderman Linda Rinker was absent.
Although planning commissioners liked the idea of townhouses, they felt this was neither the time nor the place for them, and clearly rejected the plans at their September meeting.
The builder Tim McClurg then got Alderman Stroud, who spoke for the plan at the planning commission, to appeal the commission’s decision at the council meeting.
Armed with his lawyer, engineer and architect, McClurg presented the plan to the council.
Architect Chad Young, a former planning commissioner, told the council that Jacksonville needed upscale homes like these townhouses as he presented drawings of a typical seven-unit townhouse.
Shockey, the spokesman for the large group of residents against the rezoning, reminded the council that 180 area neighbors had signed a petition against the rezoning.
“These signers live in all the subdivisions bordering West Main from Western Hills on the east to Tara Mount and Penn-pointe to the west,” Shockey said.
“This proposal and an earlier proposal, both to allow high density housing at this location have been rejected by the planning commission. We are all aware that there is a lot of real estate knowledge and experience vested in the commission and they take their work serious.”
So he had a hard time understanding why the council would consider overruling the commission.
Shockey also said that the townhouses would double the amount of traffic coming in and out of Main Street within a short space between two curves.
Shockey called West Main Street the “best-kept secret in Pulaski County” and said if this appeal was approved, “you would be approving a three-acre island in a large sea zoned R-0 (single family homes). If you approve this, then where is the incentive for current residents to talk up Jacksonville and invite others to locate here when zoning may likely change?”
Shockey asked the aldermen to think about three questions before voting on the issue: “Is it right to favor the desire of a few over the decision of the planning commission and the desire of present area owners? Will the next island created be next to me? If good government is responsive to the people, how is my vote addressing that enduring principle?”
Both Aldermen Gary Fletcher and Terry Sansing expressed concerns about the duty to represent the people.
“I got elected to represent the people and should be more ears than voice,” Fletcher said.
Sansing, agreeing, said, “It seems we give more consideration to the people that might move here rather than to the ones already here.”
But Alderman Kenny Elliott looked at the situation differently. “I’ve got to make the best decision for the growth and development of Jacksonville. Without tough decisions we will not grow. We won’t make everyone happy, but we have to look at the future of the city,” he said.
By RICK KRON
Leader staff writer
Once-rejected plans for townhouses on Jacksonville’s West Main Street are still alive.
The city council Thursday night, in a 5-4 vote, approved the first reading on a new ordinance that would rezone three acres of land at Main and Emma streets for the purpose of building 35 townhouses.
“Is it right to favor the desire of a few over the decision of the planning commission and the desire of present area homeowners?” asked Lucian Shockey, a spokesman for residents against the rezoning.
The vote, taken after nearly an hour of lively, but respectable debate, brought a smattering of boos from the 100 or more residents at the meeting, prompting Mayor Tommy Swaim to announce, “That’s showing your character.”
To become law, the ordinance must pass three readings.
Swaim explained that if two-thirds of the aldermen had requested it, the council could have had a second and third reading at Thursday’s meeting. “It was clear the votes were not there, so we will have the second reading at our next meeting, Oct.
5,” Swaim said. “It’ll then be up to the council if we have the third reading that night or wait until the meeting after that.”
It is possible that council members could change their vote between the readings, but that doesn’t appear likely. Those for the rezoning and townhouses seemed pretty solid in their stance as did those opposing the idea.
Voting for the rezoning were Aldermen Kenny Elliott, Kevin McCleary, Reedie Ray, Bob Stroud and Bill Howard.
Opposing the rezoning were Aldermen Marshall Smith, Terry Sansing, Gary Fletcher and Avis Twitty.
Alderman Linda Rinker was absent.
Although planning commissioners liked the idea of townhouses, they felt this was neither the time nor the place for them, and clearly rejected the plans at their September meeting.
The builder Tim McClurg then got Alderman Stroud, who spoke for the plan at the planning commission, to appeal the commission’s decision at the council meeting.
Armed with his lawyer, engineer and architect, McClurg presented the plan to the council.
Architect Chad Young, a former planning commissioner, told the council that Jacksonville needed upscale homes like these townhouses as he presented drawings of a typical seven-unit townhouse.
Shockey, the spokesman for the large group of residents against the rezoning, reminded the council that 180 area neighbors had signed a petition against the rezoning.
“These signers live in all the subdivisions bordering West Main from Western Hills on the east to Tara Mount and Penn-pointe to the west,” Shockey said.
“This proposal and an earlier proposal, both to allow high density housing at this location have been rejected by the planning commission. We are all aware that there is a lot of real estate knowledge and experience vested in the commission and they take their work serious.”
So he had a hard time understanding why the council would consider overruling the commission.
Shockey also said that the townhouses would double the amount of traffic coming in and out of Main Street within a short space between two curves.
Shockey called West Main Street the “best-kept secret in Pulaski County” and said if this appeal was approved, “you would be approving a three-acre island in a large sea zoned R-0 (single family homes). If you approve this, then where is the incentive for current residents to talk up Jacksonville and invite others to locate here when zoning may likely change?”
Shockey asked the aldermen to think about three questions before voting on the issue: “Is it right to favor the desire of a few over the decision of the planning commission and the desire of present area owners? Will the next island created be next to me? If good government is responsive to the people, how is my vote addressing that enduring principle?”
Both Aldermen Gary Fletcher and Terry Sansing expressed concerns about the duty to represent the people.
“I got elected to represent the people and should be more ears than voice,” Fletcher said.
Sansing, agreeing, said, “It seems we give more consideration to the people that might move here rather than to the ones already here.”
But Alderman Kenny Elliott looked at the situation differently. “I’ve got to make the best decision for the growth and development of Jacksonville. Without tough decisions we will not grow. We won’t make everyone happy, but we have to look at the future of the city,” he said.
TOP STORY>>Deer season won’t postpone trial
IN SHORT: Lonoke County prosecutor must show lawyers which incidents support criminal-enterprise charges, judge says.
By JOHN HOFHEIMER
Leader staff writer
Special Judge John Cole Thursday denied a motion to delay until after deer season a high-profile criminal trial at Lonoke, in effect telling a defense attorney “that dog won’t hunt.”
“But I sure do like the way you dress,” Cole told Bobby Junior Cox’s lawyer, John Wesley Hall. Hall, who contended that 21 percent of eligible Lonoke County jurors are hunters and might be either unavailable or unable to give the month-long case the attention it deserves, wore a deer-themed shirt under his sport coat, accessorized by hunter orange tie and pocket handkerchief.
“It was worth a shot,” Hall said.
“I haven’t missed opening day of deer season since 1967,” said Cole, pinch-hitting for Circuit Judge Lance Hanshaw, who has recused. “But sometimes people must give up pleasure they seek for duty to the community.”
Former Lonoke Police Chief Jay Campbell is the marquee name in this sprawling 78-count indictment that includes charges against his wife, Kelly Harrison Campbell, and bail bondsmen Cox and Larry Norwood.
She alleges that Campbell masterminded a continuing criminal organization or enterprise that stole drugs and money, influenced inmates with drugs and sexual favors, conspired to manufacture methamphetamines, burgled homes and beat and intimidated witnesses between October 2002 and December 2005.
The criminal-enterprise charges are especially important, because if the defendants were found guilty of those charges, sentences for some other convictions would be enhanced and the overriding charge would be punishable by the stiffest sentence.
In addition, former police department dispatcher Amy Staley has been charged with having sex with inmates and Lonoke Mayor Thomas Privett faces a single misdemeanor charge of theft of services for having Act 309 inmates fix his air conditioner and hang his Christmas lights. Each of them will be tried separately.
Campbell, Cox and Norwood are charged with conspiracy to manufacture methamphetamine.
The Campbells are charged with theft of property, including drugs, jewelry and money, and Kelly Campbell is charged with having sex about two dozen times with inmates in her husband’s jail and elsewhere.
In order to establish an ongoing or continuous criminal enterprise, the state must show that at least three people must have been involved and that there must be at least two crimes of violence or for financial gain.
On a motion by Norwood’s lawyer, Jeff Rosenzweig, Cole ruled that the prosecution must be more specific about which incidents, out of 3,000 pages of interviews and evidence, support the criminal enterprise charges, who was involved in those incidents and what law was allegedly broken.
Prosecutor Lona McCastlain argued that all the pertinent facts were included in the disclosure, but Cole ordered her to provide attorneys with the specific information she alleges supports the criminal enterprise charge.
McCastlain didn’t charge Cox and Norwood with an incident in which they got into a Pulaski County motel room under false pretenses to find a bond jumper, but is she saying this supports the criminal enterprise charge, Rosenzweig asked.
“What’s the crime?” he asked.
“Aggravated robbery, battery and theft of property,” said Chief Deputy Prosecutor Stuart Cleary.
“We need that in writing,” Rosenzweig responded.
“His goal is to box the state in,” McCastlain said.
This was the first victory for defense attorneys.
Cole previously overruled motions to dismiss the criminal enterprise charges and also refused to sever the trials of the four defendants.
Cole had also asked that any motion for change of venue be heard Thursday, but no one pursued the issue. Pretrial hearings for the Nov. 8 trial are set for 9 a.m., Oct. 23 and 9 a.m. Nov. 2.
By JOHN HOFHEIMER
Leader staff writer
Special Judge John Cole Thursday denied a motion to delay until after deer season a high-profile criminal trial at Lonoke, in effect telling a defense attorney “that dog won’t hunt.”
“But I sure do like the way you dress,” Cole told Bobby Junior Cox’s lawyer, John Wesley Hall. Hall, who contended that 21 percent of eligible Lonoke County jurors are hunters and might be either unavailable or unable to give the month-long case the attention it deserves, wore a deer-themed shirt under his sport coat, accessorized by hunter orange tie and pocket handkerchief.
“It was worth a shot,” Hall said.
“I haven’t missed opening day of deer season since 1967,” said Cole, pinch-hitting for Circuit Judge Lance Hanshaw, who has recused. “But sometimes people must give up pleasure they seek for duty to the community.”
Former Lonoke Police Chief Jay Campbell is the marquee name in this sprawling 78-count indictment that includes charges against his wife, Kelly Harrison Campbell, and bail bondsmen Cox and Larry Norwood.
She alleges that Campbell masterminded a continuing criminal organization or enterprise that stole drugs and money, influenced inmates with drugs and sexual favors, conspired to manufacture methamphetamines, burgled homes and beat and intimidated witnesses between October 2002 and December 2005.
The criminal-enterprise charges are especially important, because if the defendants were found guilty of those charges, sentences for some other convictions would be enhanced and the overriding charge would be punishable by the stiffest sentence.
In addition, former police department dispatcher Amy Staley has been charged with having sex with inmates and Lonoke Mayor Thomas Privett faces a single misdemeanor charge of theft of services for having Act 309 inmates fix his air conditioner and hang his Christmas lights. Each of them will be tried separately.
Campbell, Cox and Norwood are charged with conspiracy to manufacture methamphetamine.
The Campbells are charged with theft of property, including drugs, jewelry and money, and Kelly Campbell is charged with having sex about two dozen times with inmates in her husband’s jail and elsewhere.
In order to establish an ongoing or continuous criminal enterprise, the state must show that at least three people must have been involved and that there must be at least two crimes of violence or for financial gain.
On a motion by Norwood’s lawyer, Jeff Rosenzweig, Cole ruled that the prosecution must be more specific about which incidents, out of 3,000 pages of interviews and evidence, support the criminal enterprise charges, who was involved in those incidents and what law was allegedly broken.
Prosecutor Lona McCastlain argued that all the pertinent facts were included in the disclosure, but Cole ordered her to provide attorneys with the specific information she alleges supports the criminal enterprise charge.
McCastlain didn’t charge Cox and Norwood with an incident in which they got into a Pulaski County motel room under false pretenses to find a bond jumper, but is she saying this supports the criminal enterprise charge, Rosenzweig asked.
“What’s the crime?” he asked.
“Aggravated robbery, battery and theft of property,” said Chief Deputy Prosecutor Stuart Cleary.
“We need that in writing,” Rosenzweig responded.
“His goal is to box the state in,” McCastlain said.
This was the first victory for defense attorneys.
Cole previously overruled motions to dismiss the criminal enterprise charges and also refused to sever the trials of the four defendants.
Cole had also asked that any motion for change of venue be heard Thursday, but no one pursued the issue. Pretrial hearings for the Nov. 8 trial are set for 9 a.m., Oct. 23 and 9 a.m. Nov. 2.
TOP STORY>>Housing agency aims to improve
IN SHORT: New board members name Durham their chairman as they seek to fill job of departing executive director, who resigned.
By PEG KENYON
Leader staff writer
The newly appointed Jacksonville Housing Authority Board of Commissioners is seeking a new executive director who will improve the lives of low-income people and take the time to apply for federal grants that will pay for such necessities as air-conditioning for tenants who usually have to buy their own units.
A recent federal audit found previous management did not file necessary paperwork to obtain funding or keep up with technological advances in record keeping. The board also wants to change the authority’s hiring practices. In the past, for example, the authority hired a security officer with little to do besides background checks of housing applicants, although the officer told the board he has done more when he was asked.
During its first meeting Thursday, the new JHA Board approved placing advertising for a new executive director. The commissioners also requested that applicants go through Jacksonville’s Human Resources Department.
Jacksonville Mayor Tommy Swaim, who was present at the meeting, accepted the board’s request for assistance in seeking a new executive director for the beleaguered JHA.
“You need someone to think outside of the box,” said Mary Boyd, interim executive director of the JHA since July who quit the temporary position during the board meeting.
This summer, Virginia Simmons resigned as executive director for about 14 years. Simmons was paid $53,000 annually, Boyd told Marilyn Canon, Mike Wilkinson, Jon Johnson and Jim Durham, all of the new JHA Board commissioners.
At the first meeting for newly appointed members of the JHA board, it was disclosed that tenants were expected to pay for their own window air-conditioners in the past. The JHA board had previously purchased four window air-conditioning units because the commissioners felt sorry for the people who did not have any, Boyd revealed.
Changes are already taking place at the authority. Under Boyd’s instructions, a bid procedure to install air-conditioning units throughout the Max Howell Apartments is underway.
According to Boyd, who is also the executive director for the Conway Federal Housing facility, the operating subsidy at JHA is $106,000, while CHA has $212,000 to operate with. More money means more improvement projects, she said.
“To me, the greatest failure is not going after the many grants out there,” Durham, the board’s new chairman, said about the findings of HUD review. Tens of thousands of dollars may have gone by the wayside due to this failure.
Durham wants the JHA to go after grant money to fund rehabilitation projects of houses in Jacksonville so some of the tenants can become homeowners in the future. At the beginning of the meeting, Boyd also told the new JHA board, “This is my last day.”
But she will be only a phone call away if needed because board members chose to allow her to keep a cell phone until a new executive director could be selected.
Through a Freedom of Information request, The Leader obtained the initial findings of the HUD review of the JHA, which oversees the Max Howell Place apartment complex and disbursement of rent vouchers.
The review revealed Simmons admitted to fraud in letting contracts.
In mid-June, the federal agency asked for records of contracts and work orders for more than $132,000 spent by the housing authority. HUD officials wanted to scrutinize all contracts and purchase orders. They also requested those documents to be pulled and made available for June 28. On June 27, a JHA employee informed HUD that Simmons had directed her to create four contracts and to call contractors to come to the office and sign the contracts.
On the same day, Simmons “admitted to Mr. Jesse Westover, Public Housing director, Little Rock Field Office, that she had falsely reported program obligation under the FY 2003 Capital Fund Program on Sept. 15, 2005 in the amount of $132,788.11,” according to the HUD review, which found that no application had been made for the grant, making the authority ineligible for the grant.
HUD officials concluded that these actions were taken in an attempt on the part of the then JHA executive director to document evidence to support contracts had legitimately been entered into before the obligation deadline of Sept. 16, 2005.
The review also alleges that the housing authority “did not properly advertise for bids in the excess of $25,000” or adequately keep documentation of solicitations. Swaim previously indicated there could be ramifications stemming from bid letting.
The new board briefly discussed one of the duplexes at the Max Howell Place rental complex. Durham brought up possible plans to demolish one of the duplex units, which has been vacant for about two years after it was a site of a meth lab bust. Demolition is necessary since it is uninhabitable.
From this site, a new building would be constructed in hopes of attracting a police officer to live in one side while seeking grants for a possible computer lab for youth living at the Max Howell complex.
Commissioners like the idea of making changes at the complex.
Canon brought up the security officer issue cited in the HUD review, which pointed out that a security officer was allegedly “seldom seen” on the premises. The security officer is paid a salary whether or not he reviews background reports of new tenants or does anything else, the document revealed.
The security officer was not providing a weekly report of services he supposedly performed, and the review team noted seeing “several messages between three to 10 days old” left for him by applicants. Employees also reported that the security officer was only seen in the office when he signed his time sheets and picked up his paycheck.
In a letter dated Sept. 19, Jim Potter said he was the security officer mentioned in the HUD review. He said Simmons contacted him in either 1997 or 1998 after she was unsuccessful in hiring a Jacksonville police officer to assist with housing-related problems and background checks of potential tenants.
Potter’s letter states, “I’ve been called to the Housing Authority in the middle of the night to fires and assisted with many problem tenants who were moved over.
In 1998, a severe ice storm struck Pulaski County and left many elderly and other tenants without other means, stranded to ride out the storm and devastation left afterward.
“I was called and told of the stranded tenants and arranged for the Red Cross to open a shelter in Jacksonville and in North Little Rock for Jacksonville tenants. I also arranged for Central Arkansas Transit to come to the site and pick up the many tenants and their belongings for transport to the shelters. I’ve played catch with kids and played chase and ‘cops and robbers’ with felons and drug dealers in Max Howell Place in my years at Jacksonville Housing Authority.”
Potter, who was paid $11,308 for part-time work last year, explained that he was unaware of the agency’s problems, but he read the articles in The Leader about the HUD review.
“They are absolutely true,” the letter reads.
The letter went on, “Up until the HUD review that began recently, I was specifically told by the executive director that my duties did not include the patrolling of the site….In short, my duties were to conduct background checks.”
Potter alleges that since the HUD review, Simmons “amended” his duties to include the “regular patrol of the site” and submitting bi-weekly reports.
Before Durham was named board chairman, he said Fred West, who was the last remaining member as well as chairman of the old JHA board, had said he would resign due to health issues.
Coinciding with a HUD review getting underway, three members — Ferrell Gray, Robert Colford and Robert Whatley — of the old JHA board followed in Simmons’ footsteps by resigning. A fourth member, Johnny Moory, had previously resigned due to an illness in his family. Moory’s resignation came before the review was initiated.
By PEG KENYON
Leader staff writer
The newly appointed Jacksonville Housing Authority Board of Commissioners is seeking a new executive director who will improve the lives of low-income people and take the time to apply for federal grants that will pay for such necessities as air-conditioning for tenants who usually have to buy their own units.
A recent federal audit found previous management did not file necessary paperwork to obtain funding or keep up with technological advances in record keeping. The board also wants to change the authority’s hiring practices. In the past, for example, the authority hired a security officer with little to do besides background checks of housing applicants, although the officer told the board he has done more when he was asked.
During its first meeting Thursday, the new JHA Board approved placing advertising for a new executive director. The commissioners also requested that applicants go through Jacksonville’s Human Resources Department.
Jacksonville Mayor Tommy Swaim, who was present at the meeting, accepted the board’s request for assistance in seeking a new executive director for the beleaguered JHA.
“You need someone to think outside of the box,” said Mary Boyd, interim executive director of the JHA since July who quit the temporary position during the board meeting.
This summer, Virginia Simmons resigned as executive director for about 14 years. Simmons was paid $53,000 annually, Boyd told Marilyn Canon, Mike Wilkinson, Jon Johnson and Jim Durham, all of the new JHA Board commissioners.
At the first meeting for newly appointed members of the JHA board, it was disclosed that tenants were expected to pay for their own window air-conditioners in the past. The JHA board had previously purchased four window air-conditioning units because the commissioners felt sorry for the people who did not have any, Boyd revealed.
Changes are already taking place at the authority. Under Boyd’s instructions, a bid procedure to install air-conditioning units throughout the Max Howell Apartments is underway.
According to Boyd, who is also the executive director for the Conway Federal Housing facility, the operating subsidy at JHA is $106,000, while CHA has $212,000 to operate with. More money means more improvement projects, she said.
“To me, the greatest failure is not going after the many grants out there,” Durham, the board’s new chairman, said about the findings of HUD review. Tens of thousands of dollars may have gone by the wayside due to this failure.
Durham wants the JHA to go after grant money to fund rehabilitation projects of houses in Jacksonville so some of the tenants can become homeowners in the future. At the beginning of the meeting, Boyd also told the new JHA board, “This is my last day.”
But she will be only a phone call away if needed because board members chose to allow her to keep a cell phone until a new executive director could be selected.
Through a Freedom of Information request, The Leader obtained the initial findings of the HUD review of the JHA, which oversees the Max Howell Place apartment complex and disbursement of rent vouchers.
The review revealed Simmons admitted to fraud in letting contracts.
In mid-June, the federal agency asked for records of contracts and work orders for more than $132,000 spent by the housing authority. HUD officials wanted to scrutinize all contracts and purchase orders. They also requested those documents to be pulled and made available for June 28. On June 27, a JHA employee informed HUD that Simmons had directed her to create four contracts and to call contractors to come to the office and sign the contracts.
On the same day, Simmons “admitted to Mr. Jesse Westover, Public Housing director, Little Rock Field Office, that she had falsely reported program obligation under the FY 2003 Capital Fund Program on Sept. 15, 2005 in the amount of $132,788.11,” according to the HUD review, which found that no application had been made for the grant, making the authority ineligible for the grant.
HUD officials concluded that these actions were taken in an attempt on the part of the then JHA executive director to document evidence to support contracts had legitimately been entered into before the obligation deadline of Sept. 16, 2005.
The review also alleges that the housing authority “did not properly advertise for bids in the excess of $25,000” or adequately keep documentation of solicitations. Swaim previously indicated there could be ramifications stemming from bid letting.
The new board briefly discussed one of the duplexes at the Max Howell Place rental complex. Durham brought up possible plans to demolish one of the duplex units, which has been vacant for about two years after it was a site of a meth lab bust. Demolition is necessary since it is uninhabitable.
From this site, a new building would be constructed in hopes of attracting a police officer to live in one side while seeking grants for a possible computer lab for youth living at the Max Howell complex.
Commissioners like the idea of making changes at the complex.
Canon brought up the security officer issue cited in the HUD review, which pointed out that a security officer was allegedly “seldom seen” on the premises. The security officer is paid a salary whether or not he reviews background reports of new tenants or does anything else, the document revealed.
The security officer was not providing a weekly report of services he supposedly performed, and the review team noted seeing “several messages between three to 10 days old” left for him by applicants. Employees also reported that the security officer was only seen in the office when he signed his time sheets and picked up his paycheck.
In a letter dated Sept. 19, Jim Potter said he was the security officer mentioned in the HUD review. He said Simmons contacted him in either 1997 or 1998 after she was unsuccessful in hiring a Jacksonville police officer to assist with housing-related problems and background checks of potential tenants.
Potter’s letter states, “I’ve been called to the Housing Authority in the middle of the night to fires and assisted with many problem tenants who were moved over.
In 1998, a severe ice storm struck Pulaski County and left many elderly and other tenants without other means, stranded to ride out the storm and devastation left afterward.
“I was called and told of the stranded tenants and arranged for the Red Cross to open a shelter in Jacksonville and in North Little Rock for Jacksonville tenants. I also arranged for Central Arkansas Transit to come to the site and pick up the many tenants and their belongings for transport to the shelters. I’ve played catch with kids and played chase and ‘cops and robbers’ with felons and drug dealers in Max Howell Place in my years at Jacksonville Housing Authority.”
Potter, who was paid $11,308 for part-time work last year, explained that he was unaware of the agency’s problems, but he read the articles in The Leader about the HUD review.
“They are absolutely true,” the letter reads.
The letter went on, “Up until the HUD review that began recently, I was specifically told by the executive director that my duties did not include the patrolling of the site….In short, my duties were to conduct background checks.”
Potter alleges that since the HUD review, Simmons “amended” his duties to include the “regular patrol of the site” and submitting bi-weekly reports.
Before Durham was named board chairman, he said Fred West, who was the last remaining member as well as chairman of the old JHA board, had said he would resign due to health issues.
Coinciding with a HUD review getting underway, three members — Ferrell Gray, Robert Colford and Robert Whatley — of the old JHA board followed in Simmons’ footsteps by resigning. A fourth member, Johnny Moory, had previously resigned due to an illness in his family. Moory’s resignation came before the review was initiated.
SPORTS >>Wampus Cats dismantle Cabot
IN SHORT: Conway ruined the perfect season Cabot had going with a 30-14 win over the Panthers to open play in the 7A-Central conference Friday in Conway.
By RAY BENTON
Leader sports editor
The game started a few minutes early, but by the time Cabot scored it was too late. The Panthers dropped their first game of the season Friday night 30-7 to Conway to open play in the 7A-Central Conference.
Thanks to Cabot turnovers, Conway got a short field and was up 14-0 by the midway point of the first quarter and never trailed.
The Panthers got into the game in the second quarter. Their first touchdown drive almost ended quickly, but sophomore fullback Vince Aguilar got just enough on fourth and two to keep the drive alive.
The Panthers went to the air after that. A 2-yard pass to Clem was followed by another catch by the senior tight end. This time it went for 71 yards and a touchdown as the Conway defender broke late on the ball and left Clem alone downfield for an easy touchdown.
That made it 14-7 with 5:07 left in the half.
Conway went three and out again, but Cabot did the same, only the Panthers were even more generous on the punt attempt. After an intentional grounding penalty backed Cabot up to its own 19, the punt snap sailed high over Fuller’s head and out of the end zone for a safety.
That gave Conway a 16-7 lead with 1:58 left in the half.
Fuller blasted the punt from the 20-yard line that left Conway with the ball at the 35. After a 16-yard pickup by Jackson, Cooper hit Jackson for 33 yards, but it was called back.
It didn’t matter. Cooper scrambled for 21 on the next play, and hit Pruett for a 31-yard touchdown strike to give the Cats a 23-7 lead heading into intermission.
Cabot put together a very nice drive in the third quarter that went 13 plays from the 35 to the Conway 13, but went backwards three yards from there and missed a 33-yard field goal to come up with nothing for its efforts.
Cabot got one last chance to get into the game with 5:12 left when Conway fumbled again on the Panther 34. The Panthers got a pair of first downs, but the drive stalled when Fuller came up inches short on fourth and two on the Conway 45.
The Wampus Cats sealed and delivered on the ensuing possession. On the back of Baker, who carried five times for all 55 yards of the drive, Conway went up 30-7 with 3:14 remaining.
The Panthers added one more score with 35 seconds left when Wade hit Fuller from 19 yards out to set the final margin.
Cabot committed the first major mistake of the game on the opening drive. After picking up one first down, the Panthers faced third and seven and quarterback Cory Wade threw into coverage. The ball was tipped high in the air and brought down by Conway senior Chris Wardlow.
The Wampus Cats made the Panthers pay, driving 46 yards in just three plays with the help of two Cabot penalties. Isiah Jackson capped the drive with a juking 18-yard jaunt up the middle to give the Wampus Cats the lead with 8:19 left in the first quarter.
Cabot went three and out and punted, but Conway coughed it up for the first time on its next possession, giving the Panthers possession at their own 35.
Two runs gave Cabot third and five when Jake Davis broke wide open 10 yards behind the Conway defense, but the throw was long and Cabot was again forced to punt.
Conway got big yardage early in its next drive when junior fullback Jacob Baker barrelled up the middle for 23 yards on first down.
After another first down, Conway was faced with fourth and four when receiver Lance Amos fumbled on third down.
On fourth down, a quick throw down the line of scrimmage was called, and Cabot’s Jordan Sperry broke in front of the receiver, but missed the ball. Conway’s Luke Pruett made the catch and had clear sailing into the end zone for an 18-yard touchdown reception.
The extra point by Chris Knight was good and Conway led 14-0 with 19 seconds left in the first quarter.
Cabot put together its best drive of the game on the ensuing possession, but fumbled it away again after getting inside the Conway 35.
The fumble came on a pitch from Wade to halfback Jordan Carlisle, and lost seven yards.
Conway took over on the Cabot 43, but was unable to convert a first down and punted the ball away, pinning the Panthers on their own 17-yard line.
Baker led all players with 160 yards on 25 carries. Pruett had three catches for 66 yards and two touchdowns for Conway.
Cooper ran six times for 59 yards and completed 7 of 9 passes for 105 yards and three scores.
Wade led the Panthers with 78 yards on 14 carries. Aguilar finished with 76 yards on 22 rushes.
The Panthers, now 3-1, 0-1, will host Little Rock Catholic next week. The Rockets lost 26-10 to Bryant Friday night. Conway will travel to North Little Rock next Friday. The Charging Wildcats beat Russellville Friday by the same score of 30-14.
By RAY BENTON
Leader sports editor
The game started a few minutes early, but by the time Cabot scored it was too late. The Panthers dropped their first game of the season Friday night 30-7 to Conway to open play in the 7A-Central Conference.
Thanks to Cabot turnovers, Conway got a short field and was up 14-0 by the midway point of the first quarter and never trailed.
The Panthers got into the game in the second quarter. Their first touchdown drive almost ended quickly, but sophomore fullback Vince Aguilar got just enough on fourth and two to keep the drive alive.
The Panthers went to the air after that. A 2-yard pass to Clem was followed by another catch by the senior tight end. This time it went for 71 yards and a touchdown as the Conway defender broke late on the ball and left Clem alone downfield for an easy touchdown.
That made it 14-7 with 5:07 left in the half.
Conway went three and out again, but Cabot did the same, only the Panthers were even more generous on the punt attempt. After an intentional grounding penalty backed Cabot up to its own 19, the punt snap sailed high over Fuller’s head and out of the end zone for a safety.
That gave Conway a 16-7 lead with 1:58 left in the half.
Fuller blasted the punt from the 20-yard line that left Conway with the ball at the 35. After a 16-yard pickup by Jackson, Cooper hit Jackson for 33 yards, but it was called back.
It didn’t matter. Cooper scrambled for 21 on the next play, and hit Pruett for a 31-yard touchdown strike to give the Cats a 23-7 lead heading into intermission.
Cabot put together a very nice drive in the third quarter that went 13 plays from the 35 to the Conway 13, but went backwards three yards from there and missed a 33-yard field goal to come up with nothing for its efforts.
Cabot got one last chance to get into the game with 5:12 left when Conway fumbled again on the Panther 34. The Panthers got a pair of first downs, but the drive stalled when Fuller came up inches short on fourth and two on the Conway 45.
The Wampus Cats sealed and delivered on the ensuing possession. On the back of Baker, who carried five times for all 55 yards of the drive, Conway went up 30-7 with 3:14 remaining.
The Panthers added one more score with 35 seconds left when Wade hit Fuller from 19 yards out to set the final margin.
Cabot committed the first major mistake of the game on the opening drive. After picking up one first down, the Panthers faced third and seven and quarterback Cory Wade threw into coverage. The ball was tipped high in the air and brought down by Conway senior Chris Wardlow.
The Wampus Cats made the Panthers pay, driving 46 yards in just three plays with the help of two Cabot penalties. Isiah Jackson capped the drive with a juking 18-yard jaunt up the middle to give the Wampus Cats the lead with 8:19 left in the first quarter.
Cabot went three and out and punted, but Conway coughed it up for the first time on its next possession, giving the Panthers possession at their own 35.
Two runs gave Cabot third and five when Jake Davis broke wide open 10 yards behind the Conway defense, but the throw was long and Cabot was again forced to punt.
Conway got big yardage early in its next drive when junior fullback Jacob Baker barrelled up the middle for 23 yards on first down.
After another first down, Conway was faced with fourth and four when receiver Lance Amos fumbled on third down.
On fourth down, a quick throw down the line of scrimmage was called, and Cabot’s Jordan Sperry broke in front of the receiver, but missed the ball. Conway’s Luke Pruett made the catch and had clear sailing into the end zone for an 18-yard touchdown reception.
The extra point by Chris Knight was good and Conway led 14-0 with 19 seconds left in the first quarter.
Cabot put together its best drive of the game on the ensuing possession, but fumbled it away again after getting inside the Conway 35.
The fumble came on a pitch from Wade to halfback Jordan Carlisle, and lost seven yards.
Conway took over on the Cabot 43, but was unable to convert a first down and punted the ball away, pinning the Panthers on their own 17-yard line.
Baker led all players with 160 yards on 25 carries. Pruett had three catches for 66 yards and two touchdowns for Conway.
Cooper ran six times for 59 yards and completed 7 of 9 passes for 105 yards and three scores.
Wade led the Panthers with 78 yards on 14 carries. Aguilar finished with 76 yards on 22 rushes.
The Panthers, now 3-1, 0-1, will host Little Rock Catholic next week. The Rockets lost 26-10 to Bryant Friday night. Conway will travel to North Little Rock next Friday. The Charging Wildcats beat Russellville Friday by the same score of 30-14.
SPORTS >>Lady Falcons hold off Beebe in East match
IN SHORT: North Pulaski survived a conference road match Thursday night by holding off the hosting Lady Badgers in three hard-fought sets at Beebe High.
By RAY BENTON
Leader sports editor
North Pulaski picked up a conference win Thursday night on the road at Beebe. The Lady Falcons beat the Lady Badgers 3-0, but were given a major tussle through the first two games.
The turning point of the match was late in game two. Beebe led throughout most of the game, but never by more than two points. The Lady Badgers took their biggest lead of the match when three straight points on serve by Mykia Cox gave them a 20-17 lead.
North Pulaski called timeout, and Beebe committed several unforced errors the remainder of the game. The Lady Falcons outscored Beebe 8-2 the rest of the way to win the game 25-22. Beebe fell behind early in game three and couldn’t fully recover despite rallying at the midway point of the final game.
Scores in the match were 25-22, 25-22 and 25-19.
North Pulaski ran out to a 10-6 lead in game three, but Beebe rallied to tie it at 16-16. The Lady Falcons then extended the lead again on the serve of senior Taylor Barrow and held on for the game and match.
North Pulaski never trailed in game one. The Lady Falcons built their biggest lead of the entire match at 19-12, but the Lady Badgers rallied on Cox’s serve and the help of strong inside hitting by Emily Rogers. The Lady Badgers cut the margin to as little as 22-20, but could get no closer.
Beebe took its first lead of the match at 3-2 in game two, and didn’t trail until the very end when the Lady Falcons went up 23-22. North Pulaski finished off the game on two straight points on serve by Tauneishia Ridgeway.
Beebe’s Rogers and North Pulaski junior Samantha Barrow tied for game-high honors in kills. Each player finished with 11 kills. Samantha Barrow also led the Lady Falcons in points on serve with eight. Cox finished with nine points on serve and five kills for Beebe. The Lady Falcons improved to 3-5 and 2-4 in conference. Beebe fell to 2-6 and 1-5.
By RAY BENTON
Leader sports editor
North Pulaski picked up a conference win Thursday night on the road at Beebe. The Lady Falcons beat the Lady Badgers 3-0, but were given a major tussle through the first two games.
The turning point of the match was late in game two. Beebe led throughout most of the game, but never by more than two points. The Lady Badgers took their biggest lead of the match when three straight points on serve by Mykia Cox gave them a 20-17 lead.
North Pulaski called timeout, and Beebe committed several unforced errors the remainder of the game. The Lady Falcons outscored Beebe 8-2 the rest of the way to win the game 25-22. Beebe fell behind early in game three and couldn’t fully recover despite rallying at the midway point of the final game.
Scores in the match were 25-22, 25-22 and 25-19.
North Pulaski ran out to a 10-6 lead in game three, but Beebe rallied to tie it at 16-16. The Lady Falcons then extended the lead again on the serve of senior Taylor Barrow and held on for the game and match.
North Pulaski never trailed in game one. The Lady Falcons built their biggest lead of the entire match at 19-12, but the Lady Badgers rallied on Cox’s serve and the help of strong inside hitting by Emily Rogers. The Lady Badgers cut the margin to as little as 22-20, but could get no closer.
Beebe took its first lead of the match at 3-2 in game two, and didn’t trail until the very end when the Lady Falcons went up 23-22. North Pulaski finished off the game on two straight points on serve by Tauneishia Ridgeway.
Beebe’s Rogers and North Pulaski junior Samantha Barrow tied for game-high honors in kills. Each player finished with 11 kills. Samantha Barrow also led the Lady Falcons in points on serve with eight. Cox finished with nine points on serve and five kills for Beebe. The Lady Falcons improved to 3-5 and 2-4 in conference. Beebe fell to 2-6 and 1-5.
SPORTS >>Devils claw way to win
IN SHORT: Jacksonville came back from a 12-0 halftime deficit to score 22 unanswered points to defeat Mountain Home 22-12 Friday to open 6A-East play.
By JOHNNY RAY LAKE
Special to the Leader
Two defensive touchdowns on Mountain Home turnovers lifted the Red Devils over the Bombers 22-12 Friday night. Shawn Alexander returned a fumble for Jacksonville 30 yards just under five minutes left in the fourth quarter to give the Red Devils their first lead of the game. Three minutes later, with Mountain Home driving from their own 10-yard line, Lee Robinson intercepted a pass from Mountain Home quarterback Zach Hawthorne and returned it 30 yards to give Jacksonville a 10-point lead with 1:49 left in the game.
The visiting Bombers seemed to have control of the game going into the fourth quarter leading 12-0. On fourth down and four at the Bomber 26, Jacksonville failed to convert, and the Bombers took over with 6:30 left in the game. But three plays later, Bomber running back Jim Houser fumbled and Alexander returned it for a touchdown. Daniel Hubbard passed to Norvel Gabriel for the two-point conversion to give Jacksonville a 15-12 lead. The Bomber sideline was upset about the score, as they felt that Houser was down before the fumble occurred. Mountain Home was unsettled at this point, as on their very next offensive play, Jacksonville’s defense caused another fumble by running back Jacob Hanson. But Mountain Home held and forced Jacksonville to punt with 2:41 left in the game with the Red Devils holding a three- point lead. And four plays later, Jacksonville put the game away with the Robinson interception returned for a touchdown.
The first half belonged to Mountain Home, as they controlled the clock and pounded the running game at Jacksonville, calling 31 running plays to only one passing play in the first two quarters. The Bombers took a 6-0 lead with 3:15 left in the first quarter capping a 14-play, 66-yard drive with their first possession that ended in a Hawthorne sneak from the one. Jake Young’s extra-point attempt was no good as it sailed wide left. After stopping Jacksonville on fourth down and three from the Bomber 24-yard line, the two teams exchanged punts. With 6:24 left in the first half, the Bombers took over at their own 15 yard line.
A 15-yard unsportsmanlike penalty on Jacksonville gave the Bombers first and 10 from the Red Devil 44-yard line. William Dyer took a handoff up the middle for a 44-yard scamper for the touchdown, and after failing on the two-point conversion, Mountain Home led 12-0.
On the very next offensive play, Jacksonville quarterback found Marcus King for a 50-yard pass play setting up first and ten from the Bomber 25 with less than four minutes remaining in the first half. After an incomplete pass on first down, Justin Akins ran 21 yards down to the Bomber 4-yard line, setting up first and goal.
Jacksonville stumbled, however, as a loss of two yards on a quarterback keeper, an offsides penalty on the Red Devils, and two incomplete pass attempts in the end zone kept the Red Devils trailing at the half 12-0.
Mountain Home returned the kickoff in the second half out to their own 41-yard line. On fourth and eight from the Jacksonville 36, the Bombers gambled and took a five-yard delay penalty to give their punter more room to pin Jacksonville deep.
The gamble paid off as Jacksonville started their first drive of the second half from their own 1-yard line. The Red Devils drove to the Bomber 40-yard line before a sack stalled the drive and forced Jacksonville to punt. The Jacksonville defense began their second half domination as a three-and-out forced the Bombers to punt on their next possession. Jacksonville then drove 56 yards down to the Bomber 8-yard line to end the third quarter.
On the first play of the fourth quarter, Justin Akins rumbled for an eight-yard touchdown run to get the Red Devils on the board for their first points of the game.
The extra point was good and Jacksonville trailed by five early in the final period. The Jacksonville defense, led by senior Alexander, forced three and out on the next Bomber possession.
After failing on fourth and four on the Bomber 26-yard line, the defense caused three turnovers in the next nine Bomber offensive plays, returning two for touchdowns to complete the comeback win for the Red Devils.
Jacksonville head coach Mark Whatley was quick to give credit to his defense as well as his defensive coaches.
“Coach Russell and coach Burrows have done a phenomenal job with the defense the last two weeks,” he said. “The defense took over in the second half pure and simple, and continue to come up with big plays,” he added.
When asked if he was surprised that Mountain Home came out running after they had passed so much in their last game, he responded “Not really. Teams hang their hat on their philosophy, and last week Mountain Home seemed to be searching for their identity. But we knew that coming in here for their first conference game, they would get back to their philosophy, which is the running game.” Coach Whatley added that in preparation for next week’s game against Jonesboro, his team would “have to get back to the basics.” We can’t continue to live and die by the big play,” he said.
Akins led the Red Devils with 150 yards and one score on 21 carries. Hubbard was 12 out of 24 passing with 144 yards. Jacksonville finished the game with 335 total yards, and 191 came on the ground.
Dyer led the Bombers with 145 yards rushing on 19 carries, but was held to 45 yards in the second half as the Red Devil defense clamped down. The Bombers finished with three turnovers, all of which came in the last five minutes of the contest. Jacksonville did not turn the ball over in the game.
The Red Devils will host the Hurricane next Friday.
By JOHNNY RAY LAKE
Special to the Leader
Two defensive touchdowns on Mountain Home turnovers lifted the Red Devils over the Bombers 22-12 Friday night. Shawn Alexander returned a fumble for Jacksonville 30 yards just under five minutes left in the fourth quarter to give the Red Devils their first lead of the game. Three minutes later, with Mountain Home driving from their own 10-yard line, Lee Robinson intercepted a pass from Mountain Home quarterback Zach Hawthorne and returned it 30 yards to give Jacksonville a 10-point lead with 1:49 left in the game.
The visiting Bombers seemed to have control of the game going into the fourth quarter leading 12-0. On fourth down and four at the Bomber 26, Jacksonville failed to convert, and the Bombers took over with 6:30 left in the game. But three plays later, Bomber running back Jim Houser fumbled and Alexander returned it for a touchdown. Daniel Hubbard passed to Norvel Gabriel for the two-point conversion to give Jacksonville a 15-12 lead. The Bomber sideline was upset about the score, as they felt that Houser was down before the fumble occurred. Mountain Home was unsettled at this point, as on their very next offensive play, Jacksonville’s defense caused another fumble by running back Jacob Hanson. But Mountain Home held and forced Jacksonville to punt with 2:41 left in the game with the Red Devils holding a three- point lead. And four plays later, Jacksonville put the game away with the Robinson interception returned for a touchdown.
The first half belonged to Mountain Home, as they controlled the clock and pounded the running game at Jacksonville, calling 31 running plays to only one passing play in the first two quarters. The Bombers took a 6-0 lead with 3:15 left in the first quarter capping a 14-play, 66-yard drive with their first possession that ended in a Hawthorne sneak from the one. Jake Young’s extra-point attempt was no good as it sailed wide left. After stopping Jacksonville on fourth down and three from the Bomber 24-yard line, the two teams exchanged punts. With 6:24 left in the first half, the Bombers took over at their own 15 yard line.
A 15-yard unsportsmanlike penalty on Jacksonville gave the Bombers first and 10 from the Red Devil 44-yard line. William Dyer took a handoff up the middle for a 44-yard scamper for the touchdown, and after failing on the two-point conversion, Mountain Home led 12-0.
On the very next offensive play, Jacksonville quarterback found Marcus King for a 50-yard pass play setting up first and ten from the Bomber 25 with less than four minutes remaining in the first half. After an incomplete pass on first down, Justin Akins ran 21 yards down to the Bomber 4-yard line, setting up first and goal.
Jacksonville stumbled, however, as a loss of two yards on a quarterback keeper, an offsides penalty on the Red Devils, and two incomplete pass attempts in the end zone kept the Red Devils trailing at the half 12-0.
Mountain Home returned the kickoff in the second half out to their own 41-yard line. On fourth and eight from the Jacksonville 36, the Bombers gambled and took a five-yard delay penalty to give their punter more room to pin Jacksonville deep.
The gamble paid off as Jacksonville started their first drive of the second half from their own 1-yard line. The Red Devils drove to the Bomber 40-yard line before a sack stalled the drive and forced Jacksonville to punt. The Jacksonville defense began their second half domination as a three-and-out forced the Bombers to punt on their next possession. Jacksonville then drove 56 yards down to the Bomber 8-yard line to end the third quarter.
On the first play of the fourth quarter, Justin Akins rumbled for an eight-yard touchdown run to get the Red Devils on the board for their first points of the game.
The extra point was good and Jacksonville trailed by five early in the final period. The Jacksonville defense, led by senior Alexander, forced three and out on the next Bomber possession.
After failing on fourth and four on the Bomber 26-yard line, the defense caused three turnovers in the next nine Bomber offensive plays, returning two for touchdowns to complete the comeback win for the Red Devils.
Jacksonville head coach Mark Whatley was quick to give credit to his defense as well as his defensive coaches.
“Coach Russell and coach Burrows have done a phenomenal job with the defense the last two weeks,” he said. “The defense took over in the second half pure and simple, and continue to come up with big plays,” he added.
When asked if he was surprised that Mountain Home came out running after they had passed so much in their last game, he responded “Not really. Teams hang their hat on their philosophy, and last week Mountain Home seemed to be searching for their identity. But we knew that coming in here for their first conference game, they would get back to their philosophy, which is the running game.” Coach Whatley added that in preparation for next week’s game against Jonesboro, his team would “have to get back to the basics.” We can’t continue to live and die by the big play,” he said.
Akins led the Red Devils with 150 yards and one score on 21 carries. Hubbard was 12 out of 24 passing with 144 yards. Jacksonville finished the game with 335 total yards, and 191 came on the ground.
Dyer led the Bombers with 145 yards rushing on 19 carries, but was held to 45 yards in the second half as the Red Devil defense clamped down. The Bombers finished with three turnovers, all of which came in the last five minutes of the contest. Jacksonville did not turn the ball over in the game.
The Red Devils will host the Hurricane next Friday.
SPORTS >> Bears sweep Lady Devils
IN SHORT: The Sylvan Hills volleyball team beat Jacksonville in straight sets Thursday night.
By JASON KING
Leader sports writer
The Lady Red Devils mounted strong comebacks to take over the lead from Sylvan Hills in the second and third games Thursday at the Devils Den; they just did it too soon.
Sylvan Hills (4-6, 2-1) swept Jacksonville (3-8, 0-2) in straight games, 25-13, 25-17 and 25-20 for a 3-0 decision in the match. Although the first game was a blowout for the Lady Bears as indicated by the score, the last two games were closer than what the final margins indicate.
The Lady Bears duo of Megan Gwatney and Emily Nichols proved too much for Jacksonville when on the front line. Sophomore Tyra Terry was the only Lady Devil getting good attacks on a consistent basis at the front for Jacksonville.
“That was our best match of the season by far,” Lady Bears coach Lara Allred said. “We cut our team errors in half from our previous games. The passing was incredible; it helped our setters to not have to work as hard.”
Gwatney didn’t get going until the closing moments of the opening game. Her first kill of the match put the Lady Bears up 15-8. Another kill for Gwatney moments later put Sylvan Hills up 19-9.
The second game was when she really came alive. Gwatney dominated the net through the second frame, recording nine of her total 19 kills, and blocking three attempts from the Lady Devlis.
Despite Gwatney’s hot hand, the Lady Devils kept things close in the second game until the halfway point. Sylvan Hills started out strong in the game, quickly marching out to a 4-0 lead. Terry and big Maria Livings kept Jacksonville in the game with kills from Terry, and Livings used her extreme height advantage to come away with a pair of blocks. The Lady Red Devils caught up to tie the game at 10-10 before the momentum switched yet again.
Two straight aces from Nichols put Sylvan Hills back up by three. While Gwatney dazzled everyone early in the game with a one-woman show, the Lady Bears used a team effort to close out the frame. Senior Leah Vest’s kill put Sylvan Hills up by five, and an ace for Joanna Persson gave SH an 18-11 advantage. Gwatney came from the back line for Sylvan Hills to put the game away with a kill for the 25-17 decision.
The final game was almost a repeat of the second game. An early advantage for Sylvan Hills was erased by Jacksonville. The Lady Red Devils overtook SH to go up 8-7 off a kill by Marieka Bell.
Livings helped keep Jacks-onville out front for several minutes, finally using her size to record two straight kills. That would put the Lady Red Devils up 12-10, and Sylvan Hills took a time out to talk things over.
The Lady Bears apparently talked themselves into preventing a fourth game during their break. A kill from Gwatney, followed by an ace from Vest and a kill for Nichols tied the game at 13 all.
Jacksonville fought hard to prevent the Lady Bears from stealing the momentum, taking the lead back 16-15 on a kill by Livings that was awkward, but effective. The first two Lady Devils’ hits during the rally were off the mark, and Livings punched the ball to simply keep it live. The ball took a wicked spiral off her knuckle, spinning just over the net and onto the floor on the SH side to give Jacksonville the go-ahead point.
It would be the last time Jacksonville saw the lead in the match. Sylvan Hills proved their closing skills once again in the final game, holding the Lady Devils to only four more points in the game while adding 10 of their own for the win .
Gwatney led all players with 19 kills and four blocks. Nichols finished with five blocks and three aces. For Jacksonville, Terry had nine kills and an ace.
By JASON KING
Leader sports writer
The Lady Red Devils mounted strong comebacks to take over the lead from Sylvan Hills in the second and third games Thursday at the Devils Den; they just did it too soon.
Sylvan Hills (4-6, 2-1) swept Jacksonville (3-8, 0-2) in straight games, 25-13, 25-17 and 25-20 for a 3-0 decision in the match. Although the first game was a blowout for the Lady Bears as indicated by the score, the last two games were closer than what the final margins indicate.
The Lady Bears duo of Megan Gwatney and Emily Nichols proved too much for Jacksonville when on the front line. Sophomore Tyra Terry was the only Lady Devil getting good attacks on a consistent basis at the front for Jacksonville.
“That was our best match of the season by far,” Lady Bears coach Lara Allred said. “We cut our team errors in half from our previous games. The passing was incredible; it helped our setters to not have to work as hard.”
Gwatney didn’t get going until the closing moments of the opening game. Her first kill of the match put the Lady Bears up 15-8. Another kill for Gwatney moments later put Sylvan Hills up 19-9.
The second game was when she really came alive. Gwatney dominated the net through the second frame, recording nine of her total 19 kills, and blocking three attempts from the Lady Devlis.
Despite Gwatney’s hot hand, the Lady Devils kept things close in the second game until the halfway point. Sylvan Hills started out strong in the game, quickly marching out to a 4-0 lead. Terry and big Maria Livings kept Jacksonville in the game with kills from Terry, and Livings used her extreme height advantage to come away with a pair of blocks. The Lady Red Devils caught up to tie the game at 10-10 before the momentum switched yet again.
Two straight aces from Nichols put Sylvan Hills back up by three. While Gwatney dazzled everyone early in the game with a one-woman show, the Lady Bears used a team effort to close out the frame. Senior Leah Vest’s kill put Sylvan Hills up by five, and an ace for Joanna Persson gave SH an 18-11 advantage. Gwatney came from the back line for Sylvan Hills to put the game away with a kill for the 25-17 decision.
The final game was almost a repeat of the second game. An early advantage for Sylvan Hills was erased by Jacksonville. The Lady Red Devils overtook SH to go up 8-7 off a kill by Marieka Bell.
Livings helped keep Jacks-onville out front for several minutes, finally using her size to record two straight kills. That would put the Lady Red Devils up 12-10, and Sylvan Hills took a time out to talk things over.
The Lady Bears apparently talked themselves into preventing a fourth game during their break. A kill from Gwatney, followed by an ace from Vest and a kill for Nichols tied the game at 13 all.
Jacksonville fought hard to prevent the Lady Bears from stealing the momentum, taking the lead back 16-15 on a kill by Livings that was awkward, but effective. The first two Lady Devils’ hits during the rally were off the mark, and Livings punched the ball to simply keep it live. The ball took a wicked spiral off her knuckle, spinning just over the net and onto the floor on the SH side to give Jacksonville the go-ahead point.
It would be the last time Jacksonville saw the lead in the match. Sylvan Hills proved their closing skills once again in the final game, holding the Lady Devils to only four more points in the game while adding 10 of their own for the win .
Gwatney led all players with 19 kills and four blocks. Nichols finished with five blocks and three aces. For Jacksonville, Terry had nine kills and an ace.
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