IN SHORT: A $4 prescription drug program Wal-Mart tested in the Tampa, Fla., area expands to Arkansas and 13 other states, but many competitors say they’ll match the program.
By JOAN MCCOY AND SARA GREENE
Leader staff writers
Some local pharmacists will compete with Wal-Mart’s lower prices for generic drugs, although at least one chain — Walgreens — said it will leave prices as they are.
On Thursday, Wal-Mart ex-panded a program offering $4 prescriptions for some generic drugs to 14 more states including Ar-kansas, two weeks after rolling out the low-cost program in Florida.
Wal-Mart first launched the program in the Tampa, Fla., area two months ago and expanded it to all of Florida two weeks ago in what it called an effort to save working Americans money on health care.
‘PREDATORY PRICING’
Wanda Burton, a pharmacist at Fred’s Discount Store, 428 S. James St. in Jacksonville, said she was not worried by Wal-Mart’s latest offer.
“A lot of people like us for our quick service and our convenient drive-through,” Burton said. The Wal-Mart Supercenter at 2000 John Harden Dr. does not have a drive-through pharmacy.
Fred’s is implementing a $4 generic prescription program at five of its stores in Tennessee. The company has 283 pharmacies throughout the South.
Longtime Beebe resident Becky Short said insurance provider Humana covers only a fraction of the cost of her prescriptions each month. If any of the medicines she takes are among the generics on Mal-Mart’s list, she will buy them there and save some money.
“If they have got any of the ones I buy, yes, I would use it,” Short said. “I’d go once a month.”
Pharmacist Lisa Self with The Medicine Shoppe in Cabot has mixed views on Wal-Mart’s new prescription plan.
“It will serve a need for patients who have no other resources for medications (because of price), but for others looking for more personalized service, they may not find it there,” Self said.
Pharmacists in Beebe were reluctant to talk openly about Wal-Mart’s new program that could cut into their business, but one pharmacist, who asked for anonymity, listed several possible problems for customers who leave the pharmacist who knows them for the cheaper generic drugs now available at Wal-Mart.
The pharmacist said customers who take a lot of prescription medicine, especially older customers, become accustomed to the appearance of the pills they take. The drugs selling for $4 at Wal-Mart could look different from what they take now and that could be confusing to some.
Also a concern is the possibility that a volume dealer like Wal-Mart might not be aware of all the different drugs a customer has purchased, increasing the chances of problems from drug interactions, the pharmacist said.
The pharmacist called the new program “predatory pricing” and said the motive is greed, not philanthropy.
Customers might go to Wal-Mart for the generic drugs that are possibly manufactured in China or India, the pharmacist said. But chances are they will shop while they wait.
“They didn’t become the world’s largest retailer by selling things at a loss,” the pharmacist said.
SENIOR SAVINGS
Critics, including rival non-chain pharmacies, say the plan covers only a fraction of a prescription drug market that includes about 8,700 generics approved by the Food and Drug Administration.
Wal-Mart’s plan covers a month’s supply of 143 drugs in a variety of dosages and solid or liquid forms. There are 24 categories of medication on the list to treat diabetes, cholesterol, asthma and colds. There are also anti-psychotic drugs and anti-depressant medicines found on the list. The company says the drugs represent 25 percent of prescriptions that it currently dispenses nationwide.
A 30-day supply of medication is the amount the doctor prescribes. For example if a doctor recommends taking a pill three times a day, a 30-day supply would include 90 pills.
The news of the $4 generic pharmaceuticals spread fast as Wal-Mart officials touted savings not only to their pharmacy customers but also to those states’ Medicaid programs, although Dan Vogelman, a Wal-Mart spokesman, had no projected estimates as to the savings.
“It’s a constant price,” Vogelman said. The program will be permanent, he added.
The savings could immediately affect more than 470,000 uninsured Arkansans. For example, a $75-prescription for a 30-day supply of a medication would only be $4, if it were one of the 314 generic drugs included on the Wal-Mart and Sam’s Club Prescription Program list.
Asked why the prescription program did not begin in Wal-Mart’s home state, Vogelman responded, “Tampa had the population demographics, including senior citizens obviously and the uninsured. It was a really good laboratory test site.”
Senior citizens factored heavily into Wal-Mart’s new prescription program. Vogelman says many of them fall into the “doughnut hole” found in Medicaid Part D.
“They’re covered for prescription costs up to $2,250, but between $2,250 and $5,100, seniors may have to pay 100 percent for prescriptions,” Vogelman said.
FOLLOW THE LEADER
Kmart already offers a 90-day supply of selected generic prescriptions for $15 at its 1,100 pharmacies nationwide. By getting a 90-day supply, customers are saving time and money by not having to visit the store every 30 days for a refill, a Kmart spokesman said. At the time of the Florida announcement, Minneapolis-based Target Corp., the country’s No. 2 discounter behind Wal-Mart, said it would match its rival’s lower prices in Florida.
CVS Corp., based in Woonsocket, R.I., referred to a statement it issued when Wal-Mart began the Tampa trial. CVS said at that time that co-pays for most generics were already low and that the chain “has always provided its customers with very competitive pricing.”
Union-backed WakeUpWal-Mart.com said Wal-Mart was just trying to deflect attention from criticism that it provides skimpy health care plans for its more than 1.3 million employees.
MORE REACTION
“This is a public relations stunt meant to drive foot traffic. Most people will find their prescriptions do not fall under the $4 plan,” said Charlie Sewell, senior vice president of government affairs at the National Community Pharmacists Association. The NCPA says it represents about 24,000 non-chain pharmacies.
In response to Wal-Mart’s plan, Walgreens Drug Store issued a press release stating that it “will not” match Wal-Mart’s prescription plan based upon several reasons.
A press release at Walgreens’ website referred to Wal-Mart’s pricing as a “limited price promotion” in response to the “increasing number” of senior citizens choosing their stores to frequent.
Wal-Mart’s program was extended to Arkansas and the following states: Alaska, Arizona, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Texas and Vermont.
(Peggy Kenyon of The Leader and The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
Saturday, October 21, 2006
Wednesday, October 18, 2006
SPORTS >>HA Wildcats playing for league crown
By JASON KING
Leader sportswriter
Don’t tell Yellville-Summit that Friday’s game with Harding Academy is for the conference title; they are treating it like just another game. There is still an outside chance for Mayflower to end up as champions, but it would take Yellville-Summit beating HA, and then Mayflower beating Yellville to create a three-way tie that would be broken by conference points earned.
Both teams enter Friday’s contest at First Security Stadium in Searcy with undefeated conference records. The final two games on the schedule for Harding Academy are snoozers, along with the makeup game with Cave City that was postponed because of lightning a few weeks back.
The Panthers still have to face a tough Mayflower team, a team that Harding Academy had to come from behind late in the fourth quarter to get past. Panthers head coach Calvin Mallett knows his team is in for a tough fight, but says they will treat the Wildcats like any other opponent this year.
“I don’t think we’ve faced a team this year that can throw the ball as good as they do or have the kind of athletes they do,” Mallett said. “Even if you’re in their hip pocket, they are throw a drop out on you. We’ve got our work cut out for us if we’re going to stop them.
“Mayflower may have a lot to say about who wins the conference, obviously they are rooting for us to win this Friday, so they can try to beat us next Friday to create a three-way tie, so we just have to do what we have done all year and treat this just like another game.” It will be a game of very contrasting offenses on Friday. Harding Academy is well known as a spread team, and Yellville-Summit runs out of the tricky double wing-T formation. Mallett says senior quarterback Tim Murray is the heart and soul of the Panthers offense. Murray is just 15 yards shy of 1,000 yards rushing with three games still left to go in the season.
“We pretty much just put it in our quarterback’s hands and let him call the play at the line,” Mallett said. “He is pretty good at reading defenses, and adjusting wherever he needs to.” Along with a quarterback that can control things play-wise, the Panthers also have a big advantage over the Wildcats in terms of depth. With a 40 player roster, Yellville-Summit has no two-way players. The offense and defense each has 11 separate starters, something that could prove to be a huge factor late in the game.
The Wildcats and Panthers will fight it out for the title Friday in Searcy with kickoff at 7:30 p.m.
Leader sportswriter
Don’t tell Yellville-Summit that Friday’s game with Harding Academy is for the conference title; they are treating it like just another game. There is still an outside chance for Mayflower to end up as champions, but it would take Yellville-Summit beating HA, and then Mayflower beating Yellville to create a three-way tie that would be broken by conference points earned.
Both teams enter Friday’s contest at First Security Stadium in Searcy with undefeated conference records. The final two games on the schedule for Harding Academy are snoozers, along with the makeup game with Cave City that was postponed because of lightning a few weeks back.
The Panthers still have to face a tough Mayflower team, a team that Harding Academy had to come from behind late in the fourth quarter to get past. Panthers head coach Calvin Mallett knows his team is in for a tough fight, but says they will treat the Wildcats like any other opponent this year.
“I don’t think we’ve faced a team this year that can throw the ball as good as they do or have the kind of athletes they do,” Mallett said. “Even if you’re in their hip pocket, they are throw a drop out on you. We’ve got our work cut out for us if we’re going to stop them.
“Mayflower may have a lot to say about who wins the conference, obviously they are rooting for us to win this Friday, so they can try to beat us next Friday to create a three-way tie, so we just have to do what we have done all year and treat this just like another game.” It will be a game of very contrasting offenses on Friday. Harding Academy is well known as a spread team, and Yellville-Summit runs out of the tricky double wing-T formation. Mallett says senior quarterback Tim Murray is the heart and soul of the Panthers offense. Murray is just 15 yards shy of 1,000 yards rushing with three games still left to go in the season.
“We pretty much just put it in our quarterback’s hands and let him call the play at the line,” Mallett said. “He is pretty good at reading defenses, and adjusting wherever he needs to.” Along with a quarterback that can control things play-wise, the Panthers also have a big advantage over the Wildcats in terms of depth. With a 40 player roster, Yellville-Summit has no two-way players. The offense and defense each has 11 separate starters, something that could prove to be a huge factor late in the game.
The Wildcats and Panthers will fight it out for the title Friday in Searcy with kickoff at 7:30 p.m.
SPORTS >>Lonoke will battle with Trojans for higher seed
By JASON KING
Leader sportswriter
Friday’s game between Lonoke and Marianna at Abraham field in Lonoke has serious playoff implications for both teams. Both teams are mathematically still alive for a shot at the conference title, but neither have faced powerhouse Stuttgart.
The Ricebirds will be highly favored over both teams this year, which makes this Friday’s game between Jeff Jones’ Jack-rabbits and Trojans a likely battle for the No. 2 seed for the 4A-2 Conference.
Marianna is still undefeated in the conference with a 4-0 league record, one better than Lonoke’s 3-1 record. The Rabbits’ only conference loss was a close one in the 4A-2 opener against Heber Springs. Marianna beat Heber two weeks later, which makes the post-season scenario between the three teams that much more complicated.
Trojans head coach Billy Saia says Lonoke’s 4-3 record is a very misleading one. The head Trojan says the Jackrabbits appear to be one of the most athletic teams his squad will face at this point in the season. “I don’t know that we’ve seen anyone with as much speed as they have,” Saia said. “We played Newport, and they had a lot of speed, but Lonoke has more overall kids who are pretty fast. They have a tailback named Scales who has a lot of speed, and their quarterback Cash is athletic.
Defensively, they fly to the ball. To tell you the truth, I am very surprised that they are 4-3; it surprises me that they have lost a game at all.” Marianna has its share of quick players as well. Senior tailback Cameron Greer has led the team with 1150 yards rushing so far this season. Senior qaurterback Shannon Hardin has very balanced numbers for the year. His 930 all-purpose offensive yards are made up of 450 yards passing and 480 yards rushing. The Trojans also have a stout big man in the backfield with junior fullback Derrick Hill.
The Trojans started the season off with a loss to HWHC, but since then have clicked off five straight wins. Saia says his team has taken the success in stride so far, and hopes that the progress will continue. “We’ve done the things we needed to do to win,” Saia said. “We still have a lot of work to do. We have some young kids that have moved up, and right now we are still progressing with them, but we have the opportunity to be a very good team.”
Saia says that it is not personnel or play schemes that concern him the most going into Lonoke, but tradition. He says it is one advantage the Jackrabbits have against his team hands down. “It’s been a surprising year for us,” Saia said. “We have just gelled together; we have had a lot of strong senior leadership. We don’t have a lot of tradition, which is something that concerns me. You need some tradition when you get into big, close ballgames like the one we will probably be in on Friday to help push you through.”
Leader sportswriter
Friday’s game between Lonoke and Marianna at Abraham field in Lonoke has serious playoff implications for both teams. Both teams are mathematically still alive for a shot at the conference title, but neither have faced powerhouse Stuttgart.
The Ricebirds will be highly favored over both teams this year, which makes this Friday’s game between Jeff Jones’ Jack-rabbits and Trojans a likely battle for the No. 2 seed for the 4A-2 Conference.
Marianna is still undefeated in the conference with a 4-0 league record, one better than Lonoke’s 3-1 record. The Rabbits’ only conference loss was a close one in the 4A-2 opener against Heber Springs. Marianna beat Heber two weeks later, which makes the post-season scenario between the three teams that much more complicated.
Trojans head coach Billy Saia says Lonoke’s 4-3 record is a very misleading one. The head Trojan says the Jackrabbits appear to be one of the most athletic teams his squad will face at this point in the season. “I don’t know that we’ve seen anyone with as much speed as they have,” Saia said. “We played Newport, and they had a lot of speed, but Lonoke has more overall kids who are pretty fast. They have a tailback named Scales who has a lot of speed, and their quarterback Cash is athletic.
Defensively, they fly to the ball. To tell you the truth, I am very surprised that they are 4-3; it surprises me that they have lost a game at all.” Marianna has its share of quick players as well. Senior tailback Cameron Greer has led the team with 1150 yards rushing so far this season. Senior qaurterback Shannon Hardin has very balanced numbers for the year. His 930 all-purpose offensive yards are made up of 450 yards passing and 480 yards rushing. The Trojans also have a stout big man in the backfield with junior fullback Derrick Hill.
The Trojans started the season off with a loss to HWHC, but since then have clicked off five straight wins. Saia says his team has taken the success in stride so far, and hopes that the progress will continue. “We’ve done the things we needed to do to win,” Saia said. “We still have a lot of work to do. We have some young kids that have moved up, and right now we are still progressing with them, but we have the opportunity to be a very good team.”
Saia says that it is not personnel or play schemes that concern him the most going into Lonoke, but tradition. He says it is one advantage the Jackrabbits have against his team hands down. “It’s been a surprising year for us,” Saia said. “We have just gelled together; we have had a lot of strong senior leadership. We don’t have a lot of tradition, which is something that concerns me. You need some tradition when you get into big, close ballgames like the one we will probably be in on Friday to help push you through.”
SPORTS >>Sylvan Hills riding high; Patriots get players back
By RAY BENTON
Leader sports editor
Sylvan Hills and Marion are two teams that seem to be catching each other at just the wrong time. The Bears just went to Forrest City and got their first conference win. It was a game that they needed not just to stay in the playoff race, but to build some confidence for the postseason chase that is the final three weeks of the year.
The Patriots suffered a big loss last week to Mountain Home, but they will have star running back Darcel Johnston back at full speed for this week’s matchup. In the preseason, Johnston was labeled one of the top running backs in the state, and his return is very important to the Patriots, who are 2-2 and in a three-way tie for third place in the 6A-East standings.
“I think we’re pretty much going to have him ready to go this week,” Marion coach Mark Uhiren said. “He hasn’t played a whole game since week one against Wynne. He missed a few weeks there and he’s played in spots since then, but he hasn’t been full speed. I think he’ll be ready this week. We’re going to bank on that.”
Sylvan Hills fullback Davon Neal has been hampered with injury this year too. Neal wasn’t the prospect that Johnston was at the start of the season, but he’s a major concern for Uhiren. “Of course everybody worries about their quarterback, and rightfully so, but that little fullback they’ve got is a good hand,” Uhiren said. “He’s not real flashy, but he’s strong, he runs strong and makes good decisions. He’s a very good back and you have to be ready for him.”
Uhiren also notices the team speed the Bears possess, but his team has seen speed before. “Assuming we play smart on defense, we ought to be right there with them on speed,” Uhiren said. “Any team with the kind of speed Sylvan Hills has concerns you, but we’ve seen a lot of it this year. Mills was an exceptionally fast team. Wynne is always fast and even Rogers was very fast compared to what they usually have. But Sylvan Hills is fast too. They’re probably just as athletic as any team we’ve seen, and we’re going to have to play smart. If you don’t, you’ll get burned.”
While Neal is one type of threat, the players that line up at wide receiver for the Bears are breakaway threats. That also has Uhiren’s attention. “That’s where playing smart comes in. Their receivers are very good. Of course you have to have a quarterback that can get it to them, and they definitely have that. They’re playing well right now so we better be ready to play.”
Johnston and a few other players will return for Uhiren this week, but getting them on the field is just one aspect of recovering from injury. The Marion staff will just have to wait and see how ready they are to hit and be hit.
“We’re getting some back, but you know once you get them back, you got to get ‘em back in the groove of playing football,” Uhiren said. “We’re battling that right now, some of them aren’t in good football shape. Hopefully we’ll be ready when Friday comes.”
Leader sports editor
Sylvan Hills and Marion are two teams that seem to be catching each other at just the wrong time. The Bears just went to Forrest City and got their first conference win. It was a game that they needed not just to stay in the playoff race, but to build some confidence for the postseason chase that is the final three weeks of the year.
The Patriots suffered a big loss last week to Mountain Home, but they will have star running back Darcel Johnston back at full speed for this week’s matchup. In the preseason, Johnston was labeled one of the top running backs in the state, and his return is very important to the Patriots, who are 2-2 and in a three-way tie for third place in the 6A-East standings.
“I think we’re pretty much going to have him ready to go this week,” Marion coach Mark Uhiren said. “He hasn’t played a whole game since week one against Wynne. He missed a few weeks there and he’s played in spots since then, but he hasn’t been full speed. I think he’ll be ready this week. We’re going to bank on that.”
Sylvan Hills fullback Davon Neal has been hampered with injury this year too. Neal wasn’t the prospect that Johnston was at the start of the season, but he’s a major concern for Uhiren. “Of course everybody worries about their quarterback, and rightfully so, but that little fullback they’ve got is a good hand,” Uhiren said. “He’s not real flashy, but he’s strong, he runs strong and makes good decisions. He’s a very good back and you have to be ready for him.”
Uhiren also notices the team speed the Bears possess, but his team has seen speed before. “Assuming we play smart on defense, we ought to be right there with them on speed,” Uhiren said. “Any team with the kind of speed Sylvan Hills has concerns you, but we’ve seen a lot of it this year. Mills was an exceptionally fast team. Wynne is always fast and even Rogers was very fast compared to what they usually have. But Sylvan Hills is fast too. They’re probably just as athletic as any team we’ve seen, and we’re going to have to play smart. If you don’t, you’ll get burned.”
While Neal is one type of threat, the players that line up at wide receiver for the Bears are breakaway threats. That also has Uhiren’s attention. “That’s where playing smart comes in. Their receivers are very good. Of course you have to have a quarterback that can get it to them, and they definitely have that. They’re playing well right now so we better be ready to play.”
Johnston and a few other players will return for Uhiren this week, but getting them on the field is just one aspect of recovering from injury. The Marion staff will just have to wait and see how ready they are to hit and be hit.
“We’re getting some back, but you know once you get them back, you got to get ‘em back in the groove of playing football,” Uhiren said. “We’re battling that right now, some of them aren’t in good football shape. Hopefully we’ll be ready when Friday comes.”
SPORTS >>Red Devils worrisome for Reed
By RAY BENTON
Leader sports editor
In its last two games, Jacksonville has started showing signs of the potent offense that was expected at the beginning of the season. When they kick off this week in Forrest City, they will be taking on a Mustang team that has begun to struggle in recent weeks.
Both teams played opponents that were winless in conference play heading into last Friday. Jacksonville dominated Searcy while Forrest City saw Sylvan Hills slip out of their home stadium with its first league win. Both teams played most of the game without their best offensive weapons. When Jacksonville’s Justin Akins left his game in the first quarter after hitting the asphalt of the long jump ramp at the end of a run, teammate Lee Rob-inson stepped right in and the Red Devil offense didn’t miss a beat.
Forrest City quarterback Wilson Parker played sparingly for the first time in three weeks, but couldn’t go full speed and didn’t play much at all in the second half. His reserve, Nakier Barton, didn’t move the team as effectively. Forrest City coach Scott Reed didn’t blame the play of his backup quarterback. He was disappointed in the entire effort.
“Individually Nakier played pretty well,” Reed said. “He ran it well and made the right reads. Our problem was the overall team play wasn’t very good at all. It was pretty bad.” Reed is a Jacksonville graduate and former teammate of Jacksonville coach Mark Whatley. Reed led his Mustangs to a big win over Jacksonville in his first trip back to Jan Crow Stadium last season. That win helped lift the Mustangs to a higher seed in the playoffs, and this game has equal postseason implications. Jacksonville is 3-1 and alone in second place in the conference, while Forrest City is 2-2 and in a three-way tie for third. Reed, though, didn’t want to discuss that aspect of the upcoming game with his former school.
“Right now we’ve got to fix a lot of things and play a lot better before we talk about anything like making the playoffs,” Reed said. The head Mustang isn’t just worried about his offense, Reed is also concerned with the problems Jacksonville presents for his defense. Whatley’s goal is for his offense to be balanced between the run and the pass. The last two games have seen his team progressing towards that goal, and being successful, although the team is still having more success keeping it on the ground.
Despite that, Reed believes his team will have to be prepared for anything, especially with Jacksonville’s progress in the passing game. “The can do either one,” Reed said. “This is their second year in that system and they look to be a lot more comfortable. They’ve got a lot of weapons, a lot of speed all over the field. You can’t just focus on one thing defensively. If you do, they’ll burn you with the other one. They give you a lot to prepare for.”
Akins will be back and at least very close to full speed this week. Parker is still questionable with his ankle injury. “It’s still just day to day,” Reed said of his quarterback. “He played a little bit last Friday, but he couldn’t go very much. He wasn’t very mobile. If it improves he could be out there a lot, but we just don’t know.”
Leader sports editor
In its last two games, Jacksonville has started showing signs of the potent offense that was expected at the beginning of the season. When they kick off this week in Forrest City, they will be taking on a Mustang team that has begun to struggle in recent weeks.
Both teams played opponents that were winless in conference play heading into last Friday. Jacksonville dominated Searcy while Forrest City saw Sylvan Hills slip out of their home stadium with its first league win. Both teams played most of the game without their best offensive weapons. When Jacksonville’s Justin Akins left his game in the first quarter after hitting the asphalt of the long jump ramp at the end of a run, teammate Lee Rob-inson stepped right in and the Red Devil offense didn’t miss a beat.
Forrest City quarterback Wilson Parker played sparingly for the first time in three weeks, but couldn’t go full speed and didn’t play much at all in the second half. His reserve, Nakier Barton, didn’t move the team as effectively. Forrest City coach Scott Reed didn’t blame the play of his backup quarterback. He was disappointed in the entire effort.
“Individually Nakier played pretty well,” Reed said. “He ran it well and made the right reads. Our problem was the overall team play wasn’t very good at all. It was pretty bad.” Reed is a Jacksonville graduate and former teammate of Jacksonville coach Mark Whatley. Reed led his Mustangs to a big win over Jacksonville in his first trip back to Jan Crow Stadium last season. That win helped lift the Mustangs to a higher seed in the playoffs, and this game has equal postseason implications. Jacksonville is 3-1 and alone in second place in the conference, while Forrest City is 2-2 and in a three-way tie for third. Reed, though, didn’t want to discuss that aspect of the upcoming game with his former school.
“Right now we’ve got to fix a lot of things and play a lot better before we talk about anything like making the playoffs,” Reed said. The head Mustang isn’t just worried about his offense, Reed is also concerned with the problems Jacksonville presents for his defense. Whatley’s goal is for his offense to be balanced between the run and the pass. The last two games have seen his team progressing towards that goal, and being successful, although the team is still having more success keeping it on the ground.
Despite that, Reed believes his team will have to be prepared for anything, especially with Jacksonville’s progress in the passing game. “The can do either one,” Reed said. “This is their second year in that system and they look to be a lot more comfortable. They’ve got a lot of weapons, a lot of speed all over the field. You can’t just focus on one thing defensively. If you do, they’ll burn you with the other one. They give you a lot to prepare for.”
Akins will be back and at least very close to full speed this week. Parker is still questionable with his ankle injury. “It’s still just day to day,” Reed said of his quarterback. “He played a little bit last Friday, but he couldn’t go very much. He wasn’t very mobile. If it improves he could be out there a lot, but we just don’t know.”
FROM THE PUBLISHER >>Attack Iran by air, says general
Thousands of Arkansans in the military who serve in Iraq and Afghanistan may see action in two other trouble spots in the not too distant future. Threats of UN sanctions won’t stop North Korea and Iraq from pursuing their nuclear ambitions. North Korea continues to test its nuclear weapons and Iran forges ahead with its own nuclear program.
Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice says the U.S. has no plans to attack North Korea (for now), but at least one former Air Force general believes war against Iran is inevitable. Ret. Lt. Gen. Thomas McInerney, a former pilot and a strategic commander for 35 years, said in an interview recently that Iran should be attacked next fall if it doesn’t abandon its nuclear program.
He favors a combined air, land and sea attack against some 1,500 targets within 24 to 36 hours, which would knock out Iran’s nuclear program for at least five years and depose the ayatollahs, leading the way to democracy. A rosy scenario? Perhaps, but with better planning, a war against a country with real weapons of mass destruction would make more sense than attacking Iraq, which, we now know, was only bluffing about its nuclear capabilities. McInerney would send in waves of spy planes, bombers, cruise missiles, refueling aircraft and probably cargo planes to land troops on the ground.
It’s a tall order, which would still leave North Korea’s nuclear ambitions unchallenged. Assuming UN sanctions will lead nowhere, would the U.S. take on a third rogue nation and bring on regime change? Although the Iraq will remain a huge burden to the U.S. military, it would not surprise if President Bush’s inner circle, seeking vindication against the axis of evil, will go for a knockout punch before the presidential elections.
Bush wants to improve his standing before the American public and in the history books, and he might go after Iran’s rulers next and then perhaps North Korea. When a retired Air Force general thinks that’s the direction to go, policy makers must be listening. After all, the Air Force did its job well in Iraq, knocking out Saddam in a matter of days.
It’s the ground forces that need better leadership to finish the task at hand.
Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice says the U.S. has no plans to attack North Korea (for now), but at least one former Air Force general believes war against Iran is inevitable. Ret. Lt. Gen. Thomas McInerney, a former pilot and a strategic commander for 35 years, said in an interview recently that Iran should be attacked next fall if it doesn’t abandon its nuclear program.
He favors a combined air, land and sea attack against some 1,500 targets within 24 to 36 hours, which would knock out Iran’s nuclear program for at least five years and depose the ayatollahs, leading the way to democracy. A rosy scenario? Perhaps, but with better planning, a war against a country with real weapons of mass destruction would make more sense than attacking Iraq, which, we now know, was only bluffing about its nuclear capabilities. McInerney would send in waves of spy planes, bombers, cruise missiles, refueling aircraft and probably cargo planes to land troops on the ground.
It’s a tall order, which would still leave North Korea’s nuclear ambitions unchallenged. Assuming UN sanctions will lead nowhere, would the U.S. take on a third rogue nation and bring on regime change? Although the Iraq will remain a huge burden to the U.S. military, it would not surprise if President Bush’s inner circle, seeking vindication against the axis of evil, will go for a knockout punch before the presidential elections.
Bush wants to improve his standing before the American public and in the history books, and he might go after Iran’s rulers next and then perhaps North Korea. When a retired Air Force general thinks that’s the direction to go, policy makers must be listening. After all, the Air Force did its job well in Iraq, knocking out Saddam in a matter of days.
It’s the ground forces that need better leadership to finish the task at hand.
OBITUARIES >> 10-18-06
JIMMIE BOWLAN
Jimmie Keith Bowlan, Sr., 49, of Carlisle departed this life Oct. 14.
His parents, Tom and Ruby Bowlan, preceded him in death. He is survived by his loving wife of 23 years, Mary; children, Jimmie Bowlan, Jr. and Ashley Bowlan all of Carlisle; his brothers, Tommie Lee of Mansfield, Ronnie and Dannie of Carlisle; two sisters; Louise Snider of Hazen and Bonnie Kay of Floyd, and many nieces and nephews.
He was an avid hunter and fisherman. When he was on the lake or out in the woods, he was happy. He worked for the Lonoke County Road Department for 23 years. Jimmie leaves behind to cherish his memory his family, friends and co-workers.
Funeral services were held Oct. 17 at Boyd Funeral Home in Lonoke with burial in Hamilton Cemetery.
WAYNE COCHRAN
Wayne Cochran, 77, of Cabot passed away Oct. 15.
He was born Sept. 29, 1929 in Bearden to the late Tom Henry and Myrtle Marie Cochran. He was preceded in death by his parents and one brother. Survivors include his wife, Melba Cochran of the home; two sons, Steve Cochran of Little Rock and David Cochran of Cabot; one daughter, Cindy Cochran of Atlanta, Ga.; one sister, Eloise Landis of Grapevine, Texas; nine grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
Visitation will be from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 18 at Thomas Funeral Service at Cabot. Graveside services will be at 1 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 19 in Mt. Carmel Cemetery at Cabot officiated by Bruce Tucker, minister of Southside Church of Christ.
Family requests memorials be made to Southside Church of Christ; Arkansas Hospice Foundation or the Alzheimer’s Founda-tion of America.
MELANIE COX
Melanie Dawn Cox, 20, of Cabot passed away October 10 in Searcy.
She was born July 20, 1986 in Blytheville. Melanie was a member of Southside Church of Christ in Cabot. She received a liver transplant in 2002. She was a 2004 graduate from Cabot High School, where she participated in band and junior high basketball.
She was preceded in death by her grandmother, Janiece Smithson, and grandfather, Douglas Fairley; great-grandparents, Martha Abbott, Mr. and Mrs. Paul Fairley, and Mr. and Mrs. Doyle V. Bradsher. Melanie is survived by her mother, Maleah Smithson of Cabot; stepfather, Michael Smithson of Austin; two sisters, Malorie and Melissa Smithson both of the home; grandparents, Ron and Billie Finley of Searcy, J.W. Smithson of Trumann, and Rosa Cox of Tenn.; great grandparent, Ira Abbott of Trumann; aunts and uncles, Trey and Paige Talley, Shane Fairley, Debbie Smithson, and Dana Ferguson.
Services were Friday, Oct. 13, at Southside Church of Christ with Bruce Tucker officiating. Burial was in Mississippi County Memorial Gardens in Osceola.
Pallbearers were Mike Fortson, Hal Reper, Jonathan Walthall, Josh Henson, Matt Straschinski, John Minard, Jonathan Taylor, Lindsey Fairley, Shane Fairley, Derrick Smithson, Doyle Bradsher, David Bufford, and Trey Talley.
Memorials may be made to the Cabot Schools band program and to any organ-recipient association. The family would like to encourage others to have an awareness of the importance of organ donation. Arrangements were under the direction of Moore’s Cabot Funeral Home.
BETTY GIBBS
Betty Anne Gibbs, 60, passed away Oct. 9.
She was a member of Mountain View Baptist Church in Wolverton Mountain, and was a loving wife, mother and grandmother.
Survivors include her husband, Don Gibbs of the home; one son, Tim Gibbs and his wife Derenda and two grandchildren, Blake Gibbs and Seth Gibbs, all of East End; her mother, Betty Marie Howard of Heber Springs; two brothers, Jimmy Burris of North Little Rock and Daryl Wilds of Mayflower; two sisters, Charlene Wilds of Quitman and Jeanelle Verser of Prim.
Funeral services were Oct. 12 at Boyd Funeral Home in Lonoke with burial in Lonoke Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Hospice Home Care, Inc. of Conway, 821 North Creek Dr., Conway, Ark. 72032.
B.A. GRIFFITH
B.A. “Buck” Griffith, 81, of McRae died Oct. 14. He was born March 20, 1925, to the late Lee and Elsie Osborne Griffith.
He was baptized in the Methodist Church and a member of McRae United Methodist for many years. He served three years in the Navy in the South Pacific during World War II, two years in the Korean War, four years in Naval Reserve and four years in the Air Force Reserve.
Buck served 20 years with the Little Rock Police Department, retiring as a lieutenant. He worked for Arkansas Trailer Manufacturing for six years as vice president and sales manager. Later, he was employed at Baker Leasing Corporation for seven years, also as vice president and sales manager.
He was preceded in death by his mother and father; a sister, Pauline Griffith; two brothers, James H. and Paul F. “Cub” Griffith; two nephews, Mike and Jim. Buck is survived by his loving wife, Peggy Self Griffith; two sons, Danny Griffith and wife Liz and Jacque Griffith, all of Little Rock; one grandson, Scott Griffith and wife Melody; one great-grandson, Zac, all of Little Rock, and a host of nieces and nephews and wonderful friends.
Donations may be made to the McRae Veterans Memorial c/o McRae City Hall, 115 South Grand, McRae, Ark. 72102, which Buck and numerous others were instrumental in establishing. Funeral was Oct. 17, at Westbrook Funeral Home with burial in Meadowbrook Memorial Gardens in Beebe.
DAVID KIGHT
David Houston Kight, 40, of Cabot passed away on Thursday, Oct. 12. He was a welder and member of Boiler Makers Union Local 66. He is survived by his wife, Kimberly Blucker Kight and one son, Ian Tyler Kight, both of Cabot; mother, Margrett Kight; a brother, Heath Arlen Kight; father and mother-in-law, Wayne and Joyce Blucker; sister-in-law, Linda Blucker, all of Jacksonville and his best friend, Buddy.
He was preceded in death by his father, David Arlen Kight; grandparents, Gilbert Houston and Willie Pearl Kight and Edward L. and Natella Childs. Funeral services were Oct. 17 at North Little Rock Funeral Home Chapel. Burial was in Bethel Cemetery.
ELVEN SLAVENS
Elven DeLos Slavens, 69, of Jacksonville went to be with the Lord Oct. 15 in North Little Rock.
He was born July 19, 1937 in Napa, Calif., to the late Cameron Elven Slavens and Ruby Evelyn Craig. He was also preceded in death by his step-mother, Genela Slavens and sister-in-law, Esther Crowder. He served in the Army, was a carpenter by trade, a manufacturing engineer for IBM and a member of two bowling leagues at Sherwood Lanes. He was a Christian.
Survivors include his wife, Marlene Slavens of Jacksonville; children, Kandy and her husband Steve Sager of Tucson, Ariz., Frank Slavens and his wife Marsha of Bowling Green, South Carolina, Steve and his wife Libby Slavens of Harlingen, Texas, and Jacqueline and her husband Douglas Zender of Loveland, Col.; stepfather, James T. Crowder, Sr. of Col., brothers James T. Crowder, Jr. and his wife Linda of Longmont, Col. and David Alan Crowder of Col.; sister, Lois Ann Tatum and her husband Lynn of Jacksonville; sister-in-law, Joyce Kandra-Bell of Salt Lake, Utah; grandchildren, Cember Slavens, LaRee Slavens, Crystal Slavens, Heidi Meador, Rochelle and Jeremy Roden, Cameron Slavens, Craig Slavens, Phillip Slavens, Christopher Mercer, Jonathan and Shea Slavens, SSGT Elizabeth A. Jones, and Jeremy Zender; great-grandchild, Haley Roden; nieces and nephews, Debbie and Dan Sedelmeier, Kathy and Bruce Tenenbaum and Mark and Annette Tatum; other family, Paul A. Jones and Shelly Page- Slavens.
Memorial services will be at 2 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 19, in Moore’s Funeral Home Chapel at Jacksonville. In lieu of flowers, please plant a tree somewhere in his honor.
MILDREN WARREN
Mildred Harleston Warren, 91, a long time resident of Beebe passed away Oct. 15.
She was residing at Autumn Leaves of Carrollton, at Carrollton, Texas. She was born on May 11, 1915, in Hazen. She is survived by one daughter, Rosalie Alexander and husband Ron of Highland Village, Texas, and one son, Dr. Robert Hughes Warren and wife Tommie of Little Rock; four grandchildren, Ann Marie Warren, Mark Richard Warren and wife Mandy, Robert Vera, and John Vera.; two great-grandchildren, Madison and Megan; two sisters; Rosalie Hassell and Jane Stephens of Judsonia.
Her husband, Robert Lee Warren, preceded her in death in 1990. She spent many years as an elementary school teacher. She also taught piano and organ lessons and served as a church organist at both First Baptist Church and First Methodist Church in Beebe. During her career she was a director of public school music at Beebe High School, music education instructor at the Arkansas Children’s Colony, and was the developer of the first public school program for the educable mentally retarded in the Beebe school system. She was active in the community and shared her love of music with many by playing for community functions and special occasions. She was named one of the remarkable women in Arkansas in 1977.
Even with an active career, she always put her family first. Her greatest joy was her grandchildren, always reminding them that she loved them more than the last number. She was a true example of a person who put God first, family second, and others third. She was loved by many and will be greatly missed.
Memorial service will be at 11 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 19, at First United Methodist Church in Beebe. Memorials may be made to: Castle Hills Baptist Church Choir, 4561 N. Josey Lane, Carrollton, Texas 75010.
Jimmie Keith Bowlan, Sr., 49, of Carlisle departed this life Oct. 14.
His parents, Tom and Ruby Bowlan, preceded him in death. He is survived by his loving wife of 23 years, Mary; children, Jimmie Bowlan, Jr. and Ashley Bowlan all of Carlisle; his brothers, Tommie Lee of Mansfield, Ronnie and Dannie of Carlisle; two sisters; Louise Snider of Hazen and Bonnie Kay of Floyd, and many nieces and nephews.
He was an avid hunter and fisherman. When he was on the lake or out in the woods, he was happy. He worked for the Lonoke County Road Department for 23 years. Jimmie leaves behind to cherish his memory his family, friends and co-workers.
Funeral services were held Oct. 17 at Boyd Funeral Home in Lonoke with burial in Hamilton Cemetery.
WAYNE COCHRAN
Wayne Cochran, 77, of Cabot passed away Oct. 15.
He was born Sept. 29, 1929 in Bearden to the late Tom Henry and Myrtle Marie Cochran. He was preceded in death by his parents and one brother. Survivors include his wife, Melba Cochran of the home; two sons, Steve Cochran of Little Rock and David Cochran of Cabot; one daughter, Cindy Cochran of Atlanta, Ga.; one sister, Eloise Landis of Grapevine, Texas; nine grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
Visitation will be from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 18 at Thomas Funeral Service at Cabot. Graveside services will be at 1 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 19 in Mt. Carmel Cemetery at Cabot officiated by Bruce Tucker, minister of Southside Church of Christ.
Family requests memorials be made to Southside Church of Christ; Arkansas Hospice Foundation or the Alzheimer’s Founda-tion of America.
MELANIE COX
Melanie Dawn Cox, 20, of Cabot passed away October 10 in Searcy.
She was born July 20, 1986 in Blytheville. Melanie was a member of Southside Church of Christ in Cabot. She received a liver transplant in 2002. She was a 2004 graduate from Cabot High School, where she participated in band and junior high basketball.
She was preceded in death by her grandmother, Janiece Smithson, and grandfather, Douglas Fairley; great-grandparents, Martha Abbott, Mr. and Mrs. Paul Fairley, and Mr. and Mrs. Doyle V. Bradsher. Melanie is survived by her mother, Maleah Smithson of Cabot; stepfather, Michael Smithson of Austin; two sisters, Malorie and Melissa Smithson both of the home; grandparents, Ron and Billie Finley of Searcy, J.W. Smithson of Trumann, and Rosa Cox of Tenn.; great grandparent, Ira Abbott of Trumann; aunts and uncles, Trey and Paige Talley, Shane Fairley, Debbie Smithson, and Dana Ferguson.
Services were Friday, Oct. 13, at Southside Church of Christ with Bruce Tucker officiating. Burial was in Mississippi County Memorial Gardens in Osceola.
Pallbearers were Mike Fortson, Hal Reper, Jonathan Walthall, Josh Henson, Matt Straschinski, John Minard, Jonathan Taylor, Lindsey Fairley, Shane Fairley, Derrick Smithson, Doyle Bradsher, David Bufford, and Trey Talley.
Memorials may be made to the Cabot Schools band program and to any organ-recipient association. The family would like to encourage others to have an awareness of the importance of organ donation. Arrangements were under the direction of Moore’s Cabot Funeral Home.
BETTY GIBBS
Betty Anne Gibbs, 60, passed away Oct. 9.
She was a member of Mountain View Baptist Church in Wolverton Mountain, and was a loving wife, mother and grandmother.
Survivors include her husband, Don Gibbs of the home; one son, Tim Gibbs and his wife Derenda and two grandchildren, Blake Gibbs and Seth Gibbs, all of East End; her mother, Betty Marie Howard of Heber Springs; two brothers, Jimmy Burris of North Little Rock and Daryl Wilds of Mayflower; two sisters, Charlene Wilds of Quitman and Jeanelle Verser of Prim.
Funeral services were Oct. 12 at Boyd Funeral Home in Lonoke with burial in Lonoke Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Hospice Home Care, Inc. of Conway, 821 North Creek Dr., Conway, Ark. 72032.
B.A. GRIFFITH
B.A. “Buck” Griffith, 81, of McRae died Oct. 14. He was born March 20, 1925, to the late Lee and Elsie Osborne Griffith.
He was baptized in the Methodist Church and a member of McRae United Methodist for many years. He served three years in the Navy in the South Pacific during World War II, two years in the Korean War, four years in Naval Reserve and four years in the Air Force Reserve.
Buck served 20 years with the Little Rock Police Department, retiring as a lieutenant. He worked for Arkansas Trailer Manufacturing for six years as vice president and sales manager. Later, he was employed at Baker Leasing Corporation for seven years, also as vice president and sales manager.
He was preceded in death by his mother and father; a sister, Pauline Griffith; two brothers, James H. and Paul F. “Cub” Griffith; two nephews, Mike and Jim. Buck is survived by his loving wife, Peggy Self Griffith; two sons, Danny Griffith and wife Liz and Jacque Griffith, all of Little Rock; one grandson, Scott Griffith and wife Melody; one great-grandson, Zac, all of Little Rock, and a host of nieces and nephews and wonderful friends.
Donations may be made to the McRae Veterans Memorial c/o McRae City Hall, 115 South Grand, McRae, Ark. 72102, which Buck and numerous others were instrumental in establishing. Funeral was Oct. 17, at Westbrook Funeral Home with burial in Meadowbrook Memorial Gardens in Beebe.
DAVID KIGHT
David Houston Kight, 40, of Cabot passed away on Thursday, Oct. 12. He was a welder and member of Boiler Makers Union Local 66. He is survived by his wife, Kimberly Blucker Kight and one son, Ian Tyler Kight, both of Cabot; mother, Margrett Kight; a brother, Heath Arlen Kight; father and mother-in-law, Wayne and Joyce Blucker; sister-in-law, Linda Blucker, all of Jacksonville and his best friend, Buddy.
He was preceded in death by his father, David Arlen Kight; grandparents, Gilbert Houston and Willie Pearl Kight and Edward L. and Natella Childs. Funeral services were Oct. 17 at North Little Rock Funeral Home Chapel. Burial was in Bethel Cemetery.
ELVEN SLAVENS
Elven DeLos Slavens, 69, of Jacksonville went to be with the Lord Oct. 15 in North Little Rock.
He was born July 19, 1937 in Napa, Calif., to the late Cameron Elven Slavens and Ruby Evelyn Craig. He was also preceded in death by his step-mother, Genela Slavens and sister-in-law, Esther Crowder. He served in the Army, was a carpenter by trade, a manufacturing engineer for IBM and a member of two bowling leagues at Sherwood Lanes. He was a Christian.
Survivors include his wife, Marlene Slavens of Jacksonville; children, Kandy and her husband Steve Sager of Tucson, Ariz., Frank Slavens and his wife Marsha of Bowling Green, South Carolina, Steve and his wife Libby Slavens of Harlingen, Texas, and Jacqueline and her husband Douglas Zender of Loveland, Col.; stepfather, James T. Crowder, Sr. of Col., brothers James T. Crowder, Jr. and his wife Linda of Longmont, Col. and David Alan Crowder of Col.; sister, Lois Ann Tatum and her husband Lynn of Jacksonville; sister-in-law, Joyce Kandra-Bell of Salt Lake, Utah; grandchildren, Cember Slavens, LaRee Slavens, Crystal Slavens, Heidi Meador, Rochelle and Jeremy Roden, Cameron Slavens, Craig Slavens, Phillip Slavens, Christopher Mercer, Jonathan and Shea Slavens, SSGT Elizabeth A. Jones, and Jeremy Zender; great-grandchild, Haley Roden; nieces and nephews, Debbie and Dan Sedelmeier, Kathy and Bruce Tenenbaum and Mark and Annette Tatum; other family, Paul A. Jones and Shelly Page- Slavens.
Memorial services will be at 2 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 19, in Moore’s Funeral Home Chapel at Jacksonville. In lieu of flowers, please plant a tree somewhere in his honor.
MILDREN WARREN
Mildred Harleston Warren, 91, a long time resident of Beebe passed away Oct. 15.
She was residing at Autumn Leaves of Carrollton, at Carrollton, Texas. She was born on May 11, 1915, in Hazen. She is survived by one daughter, Rosalie Alexander and husband Ron of Highland Village, Texas, and one son, Dr. Robert Hughes Warren and wife Tommie of Little Rock; four grandchildren, Ann Marie Warren, Mark Richard Warren and wife Mandy, Robert Vera, and John Vera.; two great-grandchildren, Madison and Megan; two sisters; Rosalie Hassell and Jane Stephens of Judsonia.
Her husband, Robert Lee Warren, preceded her in death in 1990. She spent many years as an elementary school teacher. She also taught piano and organ lessons and served as a church organist at both First Baptist Church and First Methodist Church in Beebe. During her career she was a director of public school music at Beebe High School, music education instructor at the Arkansas Children’s Colony, and was the developer of the first public school program for the educable mentally retarded in the Beebe school system. She was active in the community and shared her love of music with many by playing for community functions and special occasions. She was named one of the remarkable women in Arkansas in 1977.
Even with an active career, she always put her family first. Her greatest joy was her grandchildren, always reminding them that she loved them more than the last number. She was a true example of a person who put God first, family second, and others third. She was loved by many and will be greatly missed.
Memorial service will be at 11 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 19, at First United Methodist Church in Beebe. Memorials may be made to: Castle Hills Baptist Church Choir, 4561 N. Josey Lane, Carrollton, Texas 75010.
EDITORIAL>>Huck makes Sooners mad
Gov. Huckabee’s brief sojourn in Oklahoma last week to campaign for local Republican candidates explains better than anything else why he will never get far in the stakes for the presidential nomination of the Republican Party. He has an irresistible impulse for oafish, intemperate and embarrassing remarks when he crosses the border and escapes the becalming influence of the Arkansas public.
That weakness was first detected when he went to New York in 2000 to be on the Don Imus nationally broadcast radio show and referred to his state as “The Banana Republic of Arkansas” because its people were insensitive to election fraud. Huckabee said the motto in Arkansas was “Vote Early and Vote Often.” Imus did not get around to the obvious question: Aren’t those the same people who elected you?
Someone was around to ask the obvious questions when Huckabee went to Tulsa last week and attacked that state’s attorney general and the state’s environmental protections, which he said were entirely too strong. Arkansas’ government is much kinder to polluters, and the governor implied that Sooners would be well advised to take their cues from us. He suggested that Arkansas just might dam the Illinois River in Washington County and prevent its waters from flowing into Oklahoma if the state didn’t shape up and be kinder to polluting industries in Arkansas.
However much we deserved them, Huckabee’s remarks were an embarrassment for Arkansas, and they must have sent the Oklahoma Republicans whom he was there to help running for cover. The man sometimes just does not think before he opens his mouth.
Huckabee and Oklahoma’s Democratic attorney general, Drew Edmondson, had exchanged barbs before. Edmondson is suing poultry producers in Arkansas and Missouri because the chicken litter that the big commercial chicken farms use for pasture fertilizer fills the Illinois River with phosphorus and makes the stream unfit for municipal water supplies when it crosses from Arkansas near Siloam Springs into Oklahoma, where it gums up Lake Frances and Lake Tenkiller with algae.
Huckabee and Arkansas Attorney General Mike Beebe have defended the big poultry companies and Arkansas’ pollution standards. According to the Tulsa World, Huckabee said Edmondson’s suit was politically motivated and that his criticism of the poultry industry and the Arkansas government’s laissez-faire attitude toward its depredations on the environment were unfair and offensive.
Huckabee said the stream standards established by the Oklahoma Water Resources Board in 2002 and approved by the federal Environ-mental Protection Agency — George W. Bush’s EPA found them acceptable! — were unattainable. The World took it that he was saying that Arkansas would never try to reach such standards.
The newspaper’s conservative editorial page said Huckabee couldn’t resist “sticking his foot in his mouth.” But let the World explain it: “[Huckabee] threatened that if Oklahoma persisted in the lawsuit, Arkansas might dam up the Illinois before it crosses the border. ‘You won’t have any dirty water, but you won’t have any water,’ he said, apparently admitting that the water flowing out of Arkansas is indeed dirty.
We’ll just divert it. We can live with it. Can Oklahoma live without any of it?’” “First of all, does Huckabee not realize that damming the river would cut off water to Oklahoma only until the reservoir behind the dam filled up? Does the Keystone Dam cut off the flow of the Arkansas River into Arkansas? “Second, Huckabee’s threat might actually be good for Oklahoma. A dam on the Illinois might trap a lot of the Arkansas chicken poop that flows into Oklahoma.
“Third, why is a guy who hopes to run for president making such intemperate and parochial statements? “Huckabee’s line of baloney might sell in his home state, but it’s difficult to imagine that it helps the Oklahoma candidates for whom he is stumping. Most Oklahomans, after all, like the idea of clear, clean water in their state.”
Well, so do most Arkansans. And, as near as 18 months ago, so did a narrow majority of one house of the Arkansas Legislature, which thwarted commercial development that would pollute Lake Maumelle, central Arkansas’ major drinking-water source.
But the poultry industry in Arkansas is like the oil and gas industry in Oklahoma. The government and the leading politicians are at its service. Arkansas people understand that, too. But most of them would like their goodwill ambassador not to rub it in their faces when he goes forth from their bourn to enlarge his career. Try to make us look good, governor, or else just ignore your native state and talk about what you know best, body fat and gay marriage.
That weakness was first detected when he went to New York in 2000 to be on the Don Imus nationally broadcast radio show and referred to his state as “The Banana Republic of Arkansas” because its people were insensitive to election fraud. Huckabee said the motto in Arkansas was “Vote Early and Vote Often.” Imus did not get around to the obvious question: Aren’t those the same people who elected you?
Someone was around to ask the obvious questions when Huckabee went to Tulsa last week and attacked that state’s attorney general and the state’s environmental protections, which he said were entirely too strong. Arkansas’ government is much kinder to polluters, and the governor implied that Sooners would be well advised to take their cues from us. He suggested that Arkansas just might dam the Illinois River in Washington County and prevent its waters from flowing into Oklahoma if the state didn’t shape up and be kinder to polluting industries in Arkansas.
However much we deserved them, Huckabee’s remarks were an embarrassment for Arkansas, and they must have sent the Oklahoma Republicans whom he was there to help running for cover. The man sometimes just does not think before he opens his mouth.
Huckabee and Oklahoma’s Democratic attorney general, Drew Edmondson, had exchanged barbs before. Edmondson is suing poultry producers in Arkansas and Missouri because the chicken litter that the big commercial chicken farms use for pasture fertilizer fills the Illinois River with phosphorus and makes the stream unfit for municipal water supplies when it crosses from Arkansas near Siloam Springs into Oklahoma, where it gums up Lake Frances and Lake Tenkiller with algae.
Huckabee and Arkansas Attorney General Mike Beebe have defended the big poultry companies and Arkansas’ pollution standards. According to the Tulsa World, Huckabee said Edmondson’s suit was politically motivated and that his criticism of the poultry industry and the Arkansas government’s laissez-faire attitude toward its depredations on the environment were unfair and offensive.
Huckabee said the stream standards established by the Oklahoma Water Resources Board in 2002 and approved by the federal Environ-mental Protection Agency — George W. Bush’s EPA found them acceptable! — were unattainable. The World took it that he was saying that Arkansas would never try to reach such standards.
The newspaper’s conservative editorial page said Huckabee couldn’t resist “sticking his foot in his mouth.” But let the World explain it: “[Huckabee] threatened that if Oklahoma persisted in the lawsuit, Arkansas might dam up the Illinois before it crosses the border. ‘You won’t have any dirty water, but you won’t have any water,’ he said, apparently admitting that the water flowing out of Arkansas is indeed dirty.
We’ll just divert it. We can live with it. Can Oklahoma live without any of it?’” “First of all, does Huckabee not realize that damming the river would cut off water to Oklahoma only until the reservoir behind the dam filled up? Does the Keystone Dam cut off the flow of the Arkansas River into Arkansas? “Second, Huckabee’s threat might actually be good for Oklahoma. A dam on the Illinois might trap a lot of the Arkansas chicken poop that flows into Oklahoma.
“Third, why is a guy who hopes to run for president making such intemperate and parochial statements? “Huckabee’s line of baloney might sell in his home state, but it’s difficult to imagine that it helps the Oklahoma candidates for whom he is stumping. Most Oklahomans, after all, like the idea of clear, clean water in their state.”
Well, so do most Arkansans. And, as near as 18 months ago, so did a narrow majority of one house of the Arkansas Legislature, which thwarted commercial development that would pollute Lake Maumelle, central Arkansas’ major drinking-water source.
But the poultry industry in Arkansas is like the oil and gas industry in Oklahoma. The government and the leading politicians are at its service. Arkansas people understand that, too. But most of them would like their goodwill ambassador not to rub it in their faces when he goes forth from their bourn to enlarge his career. Try to make us look good, governor, or else just ignore your native state and talk about what you know best, body fat and gay marriage.
FRONT PAGE STORY>>Beebe likes pre-K class during visit
By HEATHER HARTSELL
Leader staff writer
With a platform of improving education in the state, Attorney Gen. Mike Beebe, the Democratic candidate for governor, Monday visited Ward Central Elementary School’s pre-kindergarten program that he hopes to implement statewide. According to principal Michele French, it was a chance for lawmakers and school board members to look at the school’s pre-K classes and see how it helps youngsters get their start in school.
“It was a chance for us to spotlight our program and what we do for kids,” French said. “We are proud of what we do and the kids are great.” Beebe’s education program includes a fully funded quality pre-kindergarten program for all 3- and 4-year-olds, and after watching pre-K teachers at Ward Central, Beebe said he was glad he had seen it in action. “It lets me see what I’ve talked about and how effective it is,” Beebe said. “I see it in practice.”
There are 11 pre-K classes in the Cabot School District; seven at Ward Central, two at Westside Elementary, and two at Northside Elementary. After a tour of the pre-K program, including stops in numerous classrooms, Beebe said it was “a great system.” He described his look at Ward’s pre-k program as “a wonderful implementation of a quality program,” stating that school board and parent involvement are indicative of a quality school system.
“Pre-k programs elevate the academic quality of our students,” Beebe said. “Nobody does it any better.” Beebe believes that continuous learning starts early; pre-kindergarten is vital for future learning, school readiness and success in the job market, he said.
“It’s a validation of what I’ve been saying,” Beebe added. “They (Ward Central) are a first class school and are really committed.” Ward Central’s pre-K program is part of the Early Childhood Environmental Rating Scale (ECERS) program, which is designed to assess group programs for children of preschool through kindergarten, ages 2 ? through 5.
A science lesson on metamorphosis was being taught in one class when Beebe looked in, using tadpoles as an example.
“Metamorphosis?” Beebe asked, surprised that an eight-grade science topic was being taught to three- and four-year olds.
“This is where we’ve got to go,” Beebe said of the school’s program.
Ward Central’s pre-kindergarten program is grant funded, with money coming from both the Arkansas Better Chance for School Success (ABCSS) and the 21st Century Community Learning Center (21stCCLC). The 21stCCLC funding is used for Ward Central’s afterschool programs. The 220 pre-kindergarten students at Ward Central attend full school days, and go once a week to art, library, music, physical education and science lab activity classes.
Leader staff writer
With a platform of improving education in the state, Attorney Gen. Mike Beebe, the Democratic candidate for governor, Monday visited Ward Central Elementary School’s pre-kindergarten program that he hopes to implement statewide. According to principal Michele French, it was a chance for lawmakers and school board members to look at the school’s pre-K classes and see how it helps youngsters get their start in school.
“It was a chance for us to spotlight our program and what we do for kids,” French said. “We are proud of what we do and the kids are great.” Beebe’s education program includes a fully funded quality pre-kindergarten program for all 3- and 4-year-olds, and after watching pre-K teachers at Ward Central, Beebe said he was glad he had seen it in action. “It lets me see what I’ve talked about and how effective it is,” Beebe said. “I see it in practice.”
There are 11 pre-K classes in the Cabot School District; seven at Ward Central, two at Westside Elementary, and two at Northside Elementary. After a tour of the pre-K program, including stops in numerous classrooms, Beebe said it was “a great system.” He described his look at Ward’s pre-k program as “a wonderful implementation of a quality program,” stating that school board and parent involvement are indicative of a quality school system.
“Pre-k programs elevate the academic quality of our students,” Beebe said. “Nobody does it any better.” Beebe believes that continuous learning starts early; pre-kindergarten is vital for future learning, school readiness and success in the job market, he said.
“It’s a validation of what I’ve been saying,” Beebe added. “They (Ward Central) are a first class school and are really committed.” Ward Central’s pre-K program is part of the Early Childhood Environmental Rating Scale (ECERS) program, which is designed to assess group programs for children of preschool through kindergarten, ages 2 ? through 5.
A science lesson on metamorphosis was being taught in one class when Beebe looked in, using tadpoles as an example.
“Metamorphosis?” Beebe asked, surprised that an eight-grade science topic was being taught to three- and four-year olds.
“This is where we’ve got to go,” Beebe said of the school’s program.
Ward Central’s pre-kindergarten program is grant funded, with money coming from both the Arkansas Better Chance for School Success (ABCSS) and the 21st Century Community Learning Center (21stCCLC). The 21stCCLC funding is used for Ward Central’s afterschool programs. The 220 pre-kindergarten students at Ward Central attend full school days, and go once a week to art, library, music, physical education and science lab activity classes.
FRONT PAGE STORY>>Council still votes to allow rezoning
By JOAN MCCOY
Leader staff writer
Commercial development will continue for now on Main Street in Cabot west of Highway 67-167 over the objections of residents in that area who say traffic is becoming unbearable. The Cabot City Council voted 6-2 Monday night in favor of a commercial rezoning that will allow Crye-Leike, a real estate company, to locate there on 1.3 acres adjacent to Stephen Blackwood’s real estate office.
Five of the city’s eight council members are not running for reelection, and two of the three who are running have opposition. So it is conceivable that the council’s position could change in January with potentially seven new members on board. Aldermen Jerry Stephens and David Polantz voted against the rezoning which was part of an 11-acre rezoning request the council turned down earlier this year. Polantz said the rule against applying for a rezone more than once in a 12-month period should have been upheld. Stephens said the council should consider a moratorium on all commercial development in the area until traffic issues are addressed.
“It should not have come before us until the year is passed,” Polantz said. Stephens told the council he was concerned that continued commercial development will make it difficult for residents to get to work in the morning and back home in the afternoon.
But Mayor Stubby Stumbaugh said commercial development is crucial to the city’s stability. Without commercial tax revenue, the city will never be able to pay its fire fighters and police officers enough to keep them, the mayor said. Cabot will be nothing but a training ground.
“If we start putting a moratorium on commercial building, you’re going to see this town dry up and blow away,” he said.
Bill Staggs, who lives in the area that was rezoned said the council is opening the door for more commercial rezoning of the 11 acres it refused to rezone in February.
“You’re just going to domino one acre into another and before long you’re back to where we started,” Staggs said. Mike Smith, owner of the property, said he would eventually ask for more to be rezoned commercial because commercial is the “highest and best use.”
“We tried to bring it in as a controlled development of the whole 11 acres but that didn’t seem to work,” he said, calling attention to what was apparent to both the council and the residents, that by turning down the controlled development, the city left him with no option except to develop piecemeal.
In other business, the council approved borrowing up to $355,000 from Community Bank to furnish the new community center which is supposed to open in two weeks. Alderman David Polantz voted against the resolution approving the loan, saying that instead of applying for the loan online with every bank in town, the city should have advertised for bids in a newspaper as it does for other services.
City Clerk Marva Verkler said the city always advertises for banking services by contacting all the local banks. City Attorney Clint McGue said there was no state law that required bidding banking services. Polantz appeared incredulous at the mayor’s assertion that he was trying to delay the opening of the community center, scheduled for Nov. 1.
“I’m not trying to stall the opening. Is that what you just said?” he asked. “That’s exactly what you’re going to do,” Stumbaugh answered. Jim Towe, the city’s director of public works, said in a later interview, that barring unforeseen problems like heavy rain that would slow the paving of the parking lot, the community center will be completed by Nov. 1. However, the furnishing that will be purchased with the loan the council approved can’t be moved in until after the building is completed.
Carroll Astin, parks director, never intended to have the building ready to open until Nov. 15, Towe said. The council also approved the low bid of $31,905.70 from Lasiter Construction, Inc., of Little Rock, to pave the parking lot at the new animal shelter.
After a disagreement with other council members about whether the city could pay for a sidewalk linking the new community center to the senior citizens’ center with money borrowed to furnish the community center, Polantz pulled his resolution asking the mayor to supply the council with an estimated cost of laying the sidewalk.
Polantz said since the loan would be for $355,000 and Astin thinks the cost of furnishings will be $260,000, there would be enough to pay the estimated $13,000 for the sidewalks. Other council members and the city attorney said sidewalks fell outside the parameter of the resolution for the loan.
The council also approved paying $18,150 for three handheld radios and two mobile radios and $60,000 for 10 cameras for the police department.
Leader staff writer
Commercial development will continue for now on Main Street in Cabot west of Highway 67-167 over the objections of residents in that area who say traffic is becoming unbearable. The Cabot City Council voted 6-2 Monday night in favor of a commercial rezoning that will allow Crye-Leike, a real estate company, to locate there on 1.3 acres adjacent to Stephen Blackwood’s real estate office.
Five of the city’s eight council members are not running for reelection, and two of the three who are running have opposition. So it is conceivable that the council’s position could change in January with potentially seven new members on board. Aldermen Jerry Stephens and David Polantz voted against the rezoning which was part of an 11-acre rezoning request the council turned down earlier this year. Polantz said the rule against applying for a rezone more than once in a 12-month period should have been upheld. Stephens said the council should consider a moratorium on all commercial development in the area until traffic issues are addressed.
“It should not have come before us until the year is passed,” Polantz said. Stephens told the council he was concerned that continued commercial development will make it difficult for residents to get to work in the morning and back home in the afternoon.
But Mayor Stubby Stumbaugh said commercial development is crucial to the city’s stability. Without commercial tax revenue, the city will never be able to pay its fire fighters and police officers enough to keep them, the mayor said. Cabot will be nothing but a training ground.
“If we start putting a moratorium on commercial building, you’re going to see this town dry up and blow away,” he said.
Bill Staggs, who lives in the area that was rezoned said the council is opening the door for more commercial rezoning of the 11 acres it refused to rezone in February.
“You’re just going to domino one acre into another and before long you’re back to where we started,” Staggs said. Mike Smith, owner of the property, said he would eventually ask for more to be rezoned commercial because commercial is the “highest and best use.”
“We tried to bring it in as a controlled development of the whole 11 acres but that didn’t seem to work,” he said, calling attention to what was apparent to both the council and the residents, that by turning down the controlled development, the city left him with no option except to develop piecemeal.
In other business, the council approved borrowing up to $355,000 from Community Bank to furnish the new community center which is supposed to open in two weeks. Alderman David Polantz voted against the resolution approving the loan, saying that instead of applying for the loan online with every bank in town, the city should have advertised for bids in a newspaper as it does for other services.
City Clerk Marva Verkler said the city always advertises for banking services by contacting all the local banks. City Attorney Clint McGue said there was no state law that required bidding banking services. Polantz appeared incredulous at the mayor’s assertion that he was trying to delay the opening of the community center, scheduled for Nov. 1.
“I’m not trying to stall the opening. Is that what you just said?” he asked. “That’s exactly what you’re going to do,” Stumbaugh answered. Jim Towe, the city’s director of public works, said in a later interview, that barring unforeseen problems like heavy rain that would slow the paving of the parking lot, the community center will be completed by Nov. 1. However, the furnishing that will be purchased with the loan the council approved can’t be moved in until after the building is completed.
Carroll Astin, parks director, never intended to have the building ready to open until Nov. 15, Towe said. The council also approved the low bid of $31,905.70 from Lasiter Construction, Inc., of Little Rock, to pave the parking lot at the new animal shelter.
After a disagreement with other council members about whether the city could pay for a sidewalk linking the new community center to the senior citizens’ center with money borrowed to furnish the community center, Polantz pulled his resolution asking the mayor to supply the council with an estimated cost of laying the sidewalk.
Polantz said since the loan would be for $355,000 and Astin thinks the cost of furnishings will be $260,000, there would be enough to pay the estimated $13,000 for the sidewalks. Other council members and the city attorney said sidewalks fell outside the parameter of the resolution for the loan.
The council also approved paying $18,150 for three handheld radios and two mobile radios and $60,000 for 10 cameras for the police department.
FRONT PAGE STORY>>Candidates debate before farmers
By JOHN HOFHEIMER
Leader staff writer
Lonoke County Farm Bureau members witnessed a clash of both style and substance Monday night when Cong. Marion Berry, D-Gillett, countered challenger Mickey “Stubby” Stumbaugh’s passionate and pointed attack on his record with a calm, low-key appeal for farmers’ votes based on his past performance and his prominence on farm-related House committees.
Republican Stumbaugh’s standard stump speech received enthusiastic reception from some in the room, while Berry—a farmer speaking to farmers—received a heartier response and partial standing ovation.
STUMBAUGH
Stumbaugh, currently the Cabot mayor, is known for his humor and his straight-ahead style. He charged that Berry had not brought home enough benefits for First District constituents and “wants to be a pawn of the Democrats.”
“The truth is not in him,” said Stumbaugh. “I want to lower EPA standards and invest in alternative fuels.” “Illegal immigration will be the downfall of the nation,” he insisted. He said the First District is among the poorest per capita and is losing jobs, has big drug problems and hasn’t gotten its share of highway money under Berry.
Stumbaugh promised to make President Bush’s tax cuts, benefiting some businesses and mostly the wealthy, permanent. He said he would work to eliminate the estate tax. He called Berry the King of Pork and said he helped earmark $300,000 to preserve habitat for the ivory-billed woodpecker—“which may or may not exist,” but not doing enough to help small businesses and keep the economy afloat. He charged that Berry voted against health care, tax relief for small businesses and accelerating tax cuts to help spur the economy. Stumbaugh said he favored price supports for farmers until there is a true free market for their products.
BERRY
Following Stumbaugh’s attack, Berry, the First District congressman since 1997 and a former Clinton White House appointee, told farmers, “I’m perfectly willing to let my record stand on its own. If you have confidence in me, I hope you will vote for me.”
He reported that the commanding general of the Army Corps of Engineers last week signed off on the Bayou Meto irrigation project, designed to pump irrigation water from the Arkansas River and deliver it to area farmers. “The civilian chief said he would sign it,” said Berry.
“I hope that within a few years we’ll be able to take water out of the river and spread it across the (area).” He reported that rice prices seemed to be recovering after falling off when genetic contamination was recently announced.
“Biofuels will increase the prosperity of the farmer,” he said. “It will increase the value of your land, create prosperity and clean up the air all at the same time.” “This election will bring change in health care,” Berry predicted, “so that all can afford health care and drugs.”
He said he would be the No. 2 ranking member of the House agriculture committee when it comes time to write the 2007 farm bill. “This administration has made no secret — they will trade away our subsidies or cut them with the farm bill,” Berry charged.
AWARDS
Dereck Schafer and Jason Fortner, both of Lonoke, and both seniors majoring in agri business at Arkansas State University at Jonesboro, each was awarded a $1,000 Gordon R. Brown Scholarship, according to Mike Freeze, outgoing president of the Lonoke County Farm Bureau.
The membership voted unanimously for those nominated for officers for the next year. They were, Woody Bryant, president; Bill Sandage, vice president; Blake Swears, secretary, and Dow Brantley, treasurer. A slate of 27 men were accepted to serve on the next board of directors.
Leader staff writer
Lonoke County Farm Bureau members witnessed a clash of both style and substance Monday night when Cong. Marion Berry, D-Gillett, countered challenger Mickey “Stubby” Stumbaugh’s passionate and pointed attack on his record with a calm, low-key appeal for farmers’ votes based on his past performance and his prominence on farm-related House committees.
Republican Stumbaugh’s standard stump speech received enthusiastic reception from some in the room, while Berry—a farmer speaking to farmers—received a heartier response and partial standing ovation.
STUMBAUGH
Stumbaugh, currently the Cabot mayor, is known for his humor and his straight-ahead style. He charged that Berry had not brought home enough benefits for First District constituents and “wants to be a pawn of the Democrats.”
“The truth is not in him,” said Stumbaugh. “I want to lower EPA standards and invest in alternative fuels.” “Illegal immigration will be the downfall of the nation,” he insisted. He said the First District is among the poorest per capita and is losing jobs, has big drug problems and hasn’t gotten its share of highway money under Berry.
Stumbaugh promised to make President Bush’s tax cuts, benefiting some businesses and mostly the wealthy, permanent. He said he would work to eliminate the estate tax. He called Berry the King of Pork and said he helped earmark $300,000 to preserve habitat for the ivory-billed woodpecker—“which may or may not exist,” but not doing enough to help small businesses and keep the economy afloat. He charged that Berry voted against health care, tax relief for small businesses and accelerating tax cuts to help spur the economy. Stumbaugh said he favored price supports for farmers until there is a true free market for their products.
BERRY
Following Stumbaugh’s attack, Berry, the First District congressman since 1997 and a former Clinton White House appointee, told farmers, “I’m perfectly willing to let my record stand on its own. If you have confidence in me, I hope you will vote for me.”
He reported that the commanding general of the Army Corps of Engineers last week signed off on the Bayou Meto irrigation project, designed to pump irrigation water from the Arkansas River and deliver it to area farmers. “The civilian chief said he would sign it,” said Berry.
“I hope that within a few years we’ll be able to take water out of the river and spread it across the (area).” He reported that rice prices seemed to be recovering after falling off when genetic contamination was recently announced.
“Biofuels will increase the prosperity of the farmer,” he said. “It will increase the value of your land, create prosperity and clean up the air all at the same time.” “This election will bring change in health care,” Berry predicted, “so that all can afford health care and drugs.”
He said he would be the No. 2 ranking member of the House agriculture committee when it comes time to write the 2007 farm bill. “This administration has made no secret — they will trade away our subsidies or cut them with the farm bill,” Berry charged.
AWARDS
Dereck Schafer and Jason Fortner, both of Lonoke, and both seniors majoring in agri business at Arkansas State University at Jonesboro, each was awarded a $1,000 Gordon R. Brown Scholarship, according to Mike Freeze, outgoing president of the Lonoke County Farm Bureau.
The membership voted unanimously for those nominated for officers for the next year. They were, Woody Bryant, president; Bill Sandage, vice president; Blake Swears, secretary, and Dow Brantley, treasurer. A slate of 27 men were accepted to serve on the next board of directors.
FRONT PAGE STORY>>Townhouse plan splits city council
E-mails have been sent back and forth between Jacksonville planning commissioners over a controversial rezoning issue that would allow 35 townhouses to be built on west Main Street. The commission turned down the request, but the developer appealed the decision to the council, which has approved the request twice over the past two meetings.
The rezoning must get three approvals to be valid. It will come before the Jacksonville City Council on Thursday for the third and final time, and the vote may cost the city a planning commissioner. Commissioner Emma Knight told the council Oct. 4 that the commission had already turned down the rezoning request. She said she would resign if the measured passed through the council.
“I sell upscale homes,” she said. “These townhouses are not upscale. I don’t think this is the best plan for Jacksonville. We do not need these.” “I will resign, mayor, if this passes,” she said. Since that meeting, planning commissioner Mark Stroud has e-mailed Knight and the other commissioners to ask permission to speak at Thursday’s council meeting “to clarify misunderstandings around our discussion and vote taken at our July meeting and approved in our minutes at the August meeting.”
Stroud states that the media had left an impression that is inaccurate. Commissioner Bart Gray, who has served as chairman of the panel in past years, told Stroud in an e-mail that “I believe the Planning Commission records speak for themselves. The council has been active in this issue and I believe they are an informed body.”
Gray went on to write that he believed Knight had the right to represent her personal viewpoint at the council meeting “in the same manner that Bob Stroud (Mark’s father and an alderman) had the right to come to the Planning Commission meeting and represent his personal view.”
Knight told Stroud in an e-mail that he certainly has her “permission to speak…and you probably should speak to the city council and explain to them the minutes that they have read.” In a recent interview with The Leader, Knight said she stands by her plans to resign. She calls it a trust issue. “The council entrusted us to make decisions, and now they don’t trust us.” She said when “you don’t trust someone you should replace them or have them go away.”
She plans to go away. “I’ve got too many other meetings and commitments,” she added. Knight said that the commission covered all the issues involved or connected with this rezoning—traffic, wetlands, drainage, flooding density of dwellings, along with the number of local residents demanding “that we protect them.”
“It was not a hard decision, not a close decision,” she said. The commission turned down the rezoning request by a 5 to 1 vote at the commission’s September meeting. The developer, Tim McClurg, then immediately appealed the commission’s decision to the council. The request to approve three acres on the south side of West Main, just west of Emma Street, was approved on first reading in late September by the council and then approved again Oct. 4.
At both meetings, the chamber was packed with residents in opposition to the rezoning. “I’ve been on the council for 26 years and have always supported the Planning Commission and I don’t plan to stop tonight,” Alderman Marshall Smith said at the Oct. 4 council meeting. Smith was one of four aldermen who voted against the rezoning request. Also voting against the request were aldermen Terry Sansing, Gary Fletcher and Avis Twitty. The remaining six aldermen—Kenny Elliott, Kevin McCleary, Reedie Ray, Linda Rinker, Bill Howard and Bob Stroud—voted for the rezoning.
The issue was brought before the council in late September after the Planning Commission turned it down. “We need this type of upscale housing,” Alderman Stroud said at the Oct. 4 meeting, before introducing the ordinance for its second reading. Fletcher, a contractor by trade, said, “Starter homes sell for $150,000 to $160,000. These townhouses are not upscale homes.”
The developer has said that 1,500-square-foot townhouses would sell for about $166,000. Sansing, who is against the project for a host of reasons, including that two other townhouse projects in the area did not pan out and have become rental property, said that the council needed to listen to the people.
Also on the council agenda:
•Fire Chief John Vanderhoof and Mayor Tommy Swaim will discuss a federal grant for the fire department.
•Aldermen will vote whether or not to waive competitive bidding on janitorial services for the community center.
•The council will vote to appoint Addie Gibson to fill the unexpired term of Fred West on the Jacksonville Housing Authority.
The rezoning must get three approvals to be valid. It will come before the Jacksonville City Council on Thursday for the third and final time, and the vote may cost the city a planning commissioner. Commissioner Emma Knight told the council Oct. 4 that the commission had already turned down the rezoning request. She said she would resign if the measured passed through the council.
“I sell upscale homes,” she said. “These townhouses are not upscale. I don’t think this is the best plan for Jacksonville. We do not need these.” “I will resign, mayor, if this passes,” she said. Since that meeting, planning commissioner Mark Stroud has e-mailed Knight and the other commissioners to ask permission to speak at Thursday’s council meeting “to clarify misunderstandings around our discussion and vote taken at our July meeting and approved in our minutes at the August meeting.”
Stroud states that the media had left an impression that is inaccurate. Commissioner Bart Gray, who has served as chairman of the panel in past years, told Stroud in an e-mail that “I believe the Planning Commission records speak for themselves. The council has been active in this issue and I believe they are an informed body.”
Gray went on to write that he believed Knight had the right to represent her personal viewpoint at the council meeting “in the same manner that Bob Stroud (Mark’s father and an alderman) had the right to come to the Planning Commission meeting and represent his personal view.”
Knight told Stroud in an e-mail that he certainly has her “permission to speak…and you probably should speak to the city council and explain to them the minutes that they have read.” In a recent interview with The Leader, Knight said she stands by her plans to resign. She calls it a trust issue. “The council entrusted us to make decisions, and now they don’t trust us.” She said when “you don’t trust someone you should replace them or have them go away.”
She plans to go away. “I’ve got too many other meetings and commitments,” she added. Knight said that the commission covered all the issues involved or connected with this rezoning—traffic, wetlands, drainage, flooding density of dwellings, along with the number of local residents demanding “that we protect them.”
“It was not a hard decision, not a close decision,” she said. The commission turned down the rezoning request by a 5 to 1 vote at the commission’s September meeting. The developer, Tim McClurg, then immediately appealed the commission’s decision to the council. The request to approve three acres on the south side of West Main, just west of Emma Street, was approved on first reading in late September by the council and then approved again Oct. 4.
At both meetings, the chamber was packed with residents in opposition to the rezoning. “I’ve been on the council for 26 years and have always supported the Planning Commission and I don’t plan to stop tonight,” Alderman Marshall Smith said at the Oct. 4 council meeting. Smith was one of four aldermen who voted against the rezoning request. Also voting against the request were aldermen Terry Sansing, Gary Fletcher and Avis Twitty. The remaining six aldermen—Kenny Elliott, Kevin McCleary, Reedie Ray, Linda Rinker, Bill Howard and Bob Stroud—voted for the rezoning.
The issue was brought before the council in late September after the Planning Commission turned it down. “We need this type of upscale housing,” Alderman Stroud said at the Oct. 4 meeting, before introducing the ordinance for its second reading. Fletcher, a contractor by trade, said, “Starter homes sell for $150,000 to $160,000. These townhouses are not upscale homes.”
The developer has said that 1,500-square-foot townhouses would sell for about $166,000. Sansing, who is against the project for a host of reasons, including that two other townhouse projects in the area did not pan out and have become rental property, said that the council needed to listen to the people.
Also on the council agenda:
•Fire Chief John Vanderhoof and Mayor Tommy Swaim will discuss a federal grant for the fire department.
•Aldermen will vote whether or not to waive competitive bidding on janitorial services for the community center.
•The council will vote to appoint Addie Gibson to fill the unexpired term of Fred West on the Jacksonville Housing Authority.
TOP STORY >>Prosecutor: More sordid acts tied to Campbells
By JOHN HOFHEIMER
Leader staff writer
Former Lonoke Police Chief Jay Campbell beat up suspects and coerced them into selling drugs for him, and his wife Kelly Campbell had sex not only with inmates, as previously alleged, but also with a 16-year-old male student when she worked as a computer-lab teacher for the Lonoke School Dis-trict, Prosecutor Lona McCastlain alleged Oct. 6 in documents filed with the Lonoke County Circuit Court.
No additional charges have been filed against the Campbells and the two bail bondsmen, all charged with participating in an ongoing criminal enterprise, but after McCastlain filed the new documents requested by defense attorneys and ordered by the court, Special Judge John Cole ruled in favor of Larry Benca’s motion to postpone the trial.
Benca is Jay Campbell’s lawyer. The Campbells and the bail bondsmen all are being tried together. Cole last week moved the trial date from Nov. 8 to Feb. 19, McCastlain said Monday. The pretrial hearings have been moved to Jan. 5 and February 2, she said.
Campbell and bail bondsmen Larry Norwood and Bobby Junior Cox are charged with conspiracy to manufacture methamphetamine. The Campbells are charged with numerous counts of stealing prescription drugs, money or jewelry from the homes or businesses of friends, and Kelly Campbell is charged with having sex numerous times with two of her husband’s inmates and providing them with prohibited items, such as alcohol, drugs and a cellular telephone.
Jay Campbell is charged with running an ongoing criminal enterprise, while the other three are charged with participating in that enterprise.
The most recent allegations came about as defense attorneys asked to know exactly what crimes were being alleged in support of the criminal enterprise charges. Such charges require commission of two other felonies—“bad acts”—either violent or committed for financial gain.
Using only initials to designate individuals in the supplemental bill or particulars, McCastlain’s new allegations hold that Jay Campbell: Grabbed a robbery suspect by the collar, hit him several times in the face and kneed him in the groin, resulting in a trip to the hospital. Arrested another suspect for delivery of a controlled substance, confiscated $1,200 and two ounces of marijuana and seized his truck. The suspect told the prosecutor that he got only $200 of that money back when he bonded out.
Arrested another man—24 years ago—when Campbell worked for the Pulaski County Sheriff’s Office, slapped and hit him until he agreed to work as an informant for $20-$30 a week and later was paid by Campbell with marijuana. He said he also received sexual favors from women provided by Campbell.
Another man served time for possession with intent to deliver. When released in December 2004, Campbell gave him the choice of going back to the pen or selling drugs for him. In other cases, the former chief is alleged to have bought the drug Ecstasy on several occasions.
McCastlain alleged that Norwood and Cox mistreated Lloyd Crews at a North Little Rock Motel 6 while searching for two bond jumpers and previous incidents involving Crews in Saline County. Lonoke County Deputy Jimmy Don Slaydon arrested Norwood in January 2003 for coercion.
Leader staff writer
Former Lonoke Police Chief Jay Campbell beat up suspects and coerced them into selling drugs for him, and his wife Kelly Campbell had sex not only with inmates, as previously alleged, but also with a 16-year-old male student when she worked as a computer-lab teacher for the Lonoke School Dis-trict, Prosecutor Lona McCastlain alleged Oct. 6 in documents filed with the Lonoke County Circuit Court.
No additional charges have been filed against the Campbells and the two bail bondsmen, all charged with participating in an ongoing criminal enterprise, but after McCastlain filed the new documents requested by defense attorneys and ordered by the court, Special Judge John Cole ruled in favor of Larry Benca’s motion to postpone the trial.
Benca is Jay Campbell’s lawyer. The Campbells and the bail bondsmen all are being tried together. Cole last week moved the trial date from Nov. 8 to Feb. 19, McCastlain said Monday. The pretrial hearings have been moved to Jan. 5 and February 2, she said.
Campbell and bail bondsmen Larry Norwood and Bobby Junior Cox are charged with conspiracy to manufacture methamphetamine. The Campbells are charged with numerous counts of stealing prescription drugs, money or jewelry from the homes or businesses of friends, and Kelly Campbell is charged with having sex numerous times with two of her husband’s inmates and providing them with prohibited items, such as alcohol, drugs and a cellular telephone.
Jay Campbell is charged with running an ongoing criminal enterprise, while the other three are charged with participating in that enterprise.
The most recent allegations came about as defense attorneys asked to know exactly what crimes were being alleged in support of the criminal enterprise charges. Such charges require commission of two other felonies—“bad acts”—either violent or committed for financial gain.
Using only initials to designate individuals in the supplemental bill or particulars, McCastlain’s new allegations hold that Jay Campbell: Grabbed a robbery suspect by the collar, hit him several times in the face and kneed him in the groin, resulting in a trip to the hospital. Arrested another suspect for delivery of a controlled substance, confiscated $1,200 and two ounces of marijuana and seized his truck. The suspect told the prosecutor that he got only $200 of that money back when he bonded out.
Arrested another man—24 years ago—when Campbell worked for the Pulaski County Sheriff’s Office, slapped and hit him until he agreed to work as an informant for $20-$30 a week and later was paid by Campbell with marijuana. He said he also received sexual favors from women provided by Campbell.
Another man served time for possession with intent to deliver. When released in December 2004, Campbell gave him the choice of going back to the pen or selling drugs for him. In other cases, the former chief is alleged to have bought the drug Ecstasy on several occasions.
McCastlain alleged that Norwood and Cox mistreated Lloyd Crews at a North Little Rock Motel 6 while searching for two bond jumpers and previous incidents involving Crews in Saline County. Lonoke County Deputy Jimmy Don Slaydon arrested Norwood in January 2003 for coercion.
Monday, October 16, 2006
SPORTS >>SH ladies lock up state bid, top Devils
By JASON KING
Leader sportswriter
For the second time this year, the Sylvan Hills Lady Bears defeated Jacksonville in straight games, 25-14, 25-10 and 25-18. The Lady Bears had already swept the Lady Red Devils in their first 6A-East Conference two weeks back in Jack-sonville, and backed that win up with Tuesday’s sweep at the Sherwood Sports Complex.
Sylvan Hills coach Lara Allred stated that just as in the first game between the two schools, her squad’s improvements on court errors made the biggest difference in the match. “We had been pretty high on our team errors,” Allred said. “ But we cut them in half for the Jacksonville match. It seems like we played our best matches both times against Jacksonville, I guess because we think of them as somewhat of a rival with us just down the road from them.”
The Lady Bears outscored the Lady Devils in the three games with a total of 28 team kills. Senior hitter Meagan Gwatney led the team in kills with 13, followed by Courtney Luth with six kills. Sylvan Hills offense was solid throughout the entire contest, although Allred said that blocking was an issue for the team at times.
The Lady Bears traveled to Jonesboro two days later to attempt two conference wins a row, but lost to the Lady Hurricane in four games Thursday night at Jonesboro. Sylvan Hills gave up the first two games in routs, 8-25 and 9-25 to the Lady Hurricane, but claimed the third game with a 25-19 comeback. A 13-25 loss in the fourth game gave the match to Jonesboro, and ended Sylvan Hills’ chances of a No. 2 ranking in the 6A-East Conference.
The win improved Sylvan Hills’ overall record to 6-9 and 3-4 in the 6A-East Conference. Although it was recently announced that all eight East teams would make it in to the upcoming state volleyball tournament, the Lady Bears would have made it in the old fashioned way, with a top-four seed in the final conference standings. Unbeaten Marion has clinched the 6A-East crown, but No. 2 through No. 4 is still wide open with only one week of regular season matches remaining.
Jonesboro has the best shot of wrapping up the No. 2 seed, but still has to face the tough Lady Patriots one more time before their season is done. Mountain Home and Sylvan Hills are still undecided for who will end up third, but the Lady Bombers have winless Jacksonville remaining as one of their must-win games.
The Jonesboro match completed the conference schedule for Sylvan Hills this year. The Lady Bears will face Lonoke at home Monday in a non-conference match before finishing out their schedule with Greenbrier and North Little Rock.
Leader sportswriter
For the second time this year, the Sylvan Hills Lady Bears defeated Jacksonville in straight games, 25-14, 25-10 and 25-18. The Lady Bears had already swept the Lady Red Devils in their first 6A-East Conference two weeks back in Jack-sonville, and backed that win up with Tuesday’s sweep at the Sherwood Sports Complex.
Sylvan Hills coach Lara Allred stated that just as in the first game between the two schools, her squad’s improvements on court errors made the biggest difference in the match. “We had been pretty high on our team errors,” Allred said. “ But we cut them in half for the Jacksonville match. It seems like we played our best matches both times against Jacksonville, I guess because we think of them as somewhat of a rival with us just down the road from them.”
The Lady Bears outscored the Lady Devils in the three games with a total of 28 team kills. Senior hitter Meagan Gwatney led the team in kills with 13, followed by Courtney Luth with six kills. Sylvan Hills offense was solid throughout the entire contest, although Allred said that blocking was an issue for the team at times.
The Lady Bears traveled to Jonesboro two days later to attempt two conference wins a row, but lost to the Lady Hurricane in four games Thursday night at Jonesboro. Sylvan Hills gave up the first two games in routs, 8-25 and 9-25 to the Lady Hurricane, but claimed the third game with a 25-19 comeback. A 13-25 loss in the fourth game gave the match to Jonesboro, and ended Sylvan Hills’ chances of a No. 2 ranking in the 6A-East Conference.
The win improved Sylvan Hills’ overall record to 6-9 and 3-4 in the 6A-East Conference. Although it was recently announced that all eight East teams would make it in to the upcoming state volleyball tournament, the Lady Bears would have made it in the old fashioned way, with a top-four seed in the final conference standings. Unbeaten Marion has clinched the 6A-East crown, but No. 2 through No. 4 is still wide open with only one week of regular season matches remaining.
Jonesboro has the best shot of wrapping up the No. 2 seed, but still has to face the tough Lady Patriots one more time before their season is done. Mountain Home and Sylvan Hills are still undecided for who will end up third, but the Lady Bombers have winless Jacksonville remaining as one of their must-win games.
The Jonesboro match completed the conference schedule for Sylvan Hills this year. The Lady Bears will face Lonoke at home Monday in a non-conference match before finishing out their schedule with Greenbrier and North Little Rock.
SPORTS >>Devils cruise on homecoming
By JASON KING
Leader sportswriter
In their most complete offensive effort all season, the Jacksonville Red Devils topped Searcy on homecoming night 41-15 at Jan Crow Stadium Friday night to boost their record to 5-2 overall and 3-1 in the 6A-East conference.
Both teams moved the ball well throughout the game; Searcy finished with 350 yards to Jacksonville’s 388 yards. The difference in the game was Searcy turnovers during critical moments in the first half and also in the second. The Lions were driving to tie the game in the second quarter after the Red Devils scored early on, but a pass from Justin Rowden intended for Matt Cramblett was intercepted by Red Devils junior linebacker Cameron Hood. Hood returned the ball all the way to the Searcy 12-yard line, setting up the second Jacksonville touchdown of the night.
Searcy’s last gasp was a drive that began with 2:28 left in the third quarter and went 14 seconds into the fourth. The Lions drove from their own 29-yard line to the Red Devils 12 in less than three minutes. A face mask call against Jacksonville gave Searcy a first down in the Red Devils red zone, but Rowden panicked under pressure during the next play, throwing into a gaggle of Jacksonville defenders in the end zone. Senior Eric Berry grabbed the pass to give the Red Devils a touchback with possession at their own 20.
Neither team displayed much offense from that point on, save for a 64-yard touchdown run for Lee Robinson with 4:12 left in the game to set the final margin for Jacksonville. For Jacksonville head coach Mark Whatley, it was a performance he expected from the defense, and a performance he had hoped to see offensively.
That’s something we’ve been lacking and needed to do,” Whatley said. “But once again, our offense scores and then (Cameron) Hood comes away with a big pick for us, and swings the momentum back our way. Our defense has created turnovers for us all year. Hopefully, they will continue to do it; it’s that time of the year, but we are glad to be in the position that we are in.”
Searcy coach Bart McFarland was upbeat after the loss, and praised the performance of wounded starting quarterback Justin Rowden. Rowden played the entire game with a separated shoulder, an injury that has kept him off the practice field for over a month and out of last week’s game against West Memphis.
“It’s a gutsy performance for a kid that’s playing with a separated shoulder,” McFarland said. “I wish we could’ve had all of our guns, but we didn’t. Jacksonville has a very potent offense, and that puts a lot of pressure on your defense. We were just going to make it as long a game as possible; I thought we did a pretty good job against a very good team. We had a couple of missed plays here and there, but we have to forget about it and keep on fighting.”
Jacksonville did not make it out of the game unscathed. Standout senior tailback Justin Akins was injured during a play in the second quarter, and was taken to the hospital for tests. Lee Robinson took up the slack for Akins, racking up 240 all-purpose yards. The senior running back finished with 13 carries for 133 yards rushing, and had four receptions for another 107 yards. In all, Robinson crossed the goal line on three different occasions for the Red Devils to lead offensively in the game.
Jacksonville scored in the first two minutes of the game. Devils QB Daniel Hubbard found a wide-open Terrell L’Herisse from 25 yards out for the score on an in-route pass dead center of the hashes at the 10:08 mark of the first quarter. Manuel Alvidrez connected on the extra-point to give Jacksonville an early 7-0 lead.
Hood’s interception put the Red Devils on the Searcy 12-yard line, and in need of only three plays to bust through the goal line again. It was Akins who plowed in from two-yards out for the score. Another kick from Alvidrez made it 14-0 and put Searcy on the spot for a score to stay in contention.
That score would come at the 2:06 mark of the second quarter on a 14-yard pass from Rowden to Adam Robertson up the middle. Will Gibbs added the extra point to close the Jacksonville lead to 14-7, but the Red Devils were not content to go into the locker room with a mere seven-point lead.
It only took 57 seconds for Jacksonville to answer, on a six-play, 65-yard drive that ended with a 28 yard TD pass from Hubbard to Robinson with 1:09 left in the half. That would put the Devils up at halftime 21-7.
Robinson scored again to start the second half, on a 13-yard run for six points at the 6:15 mark of the third quarter. Alvidrez’ extra point attempt was blocked by John Moore, and the score stayed at 27 -7. Searcy’s final score of the game occurred with 4:42 left in the third quarter on a screen from Rowden to DeMarco Brown on the left side. Brown scrambled 14-yards for the touchdown, and a fake extra point in which holder Matt Cramblett threw to Brown for two points made it 27-15.
As with the earlier Searcy score, the Red Devils answered, this time with a 75-yard drive that only took six plays and 2:14 of time. Hubbard finished off the drive with a sneak from two-yards out, but Robinson handled the bulk of the yardage on the drive. A long pass from Hubbard to Robinson was good for 42 yards to start out the drive, and Robinson then moved it into the Searcy red zone off a screen pass that he took 22 yards down to the Lions 5-yard line.
Hubbard was 12 for 25 passing for 214 yards, two touchdowns and an interception. Rowden finished 21 for 42 passing for 228 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions for Searcy. The loss keeps Searcy’s record winless at 0-7 overall and 0-4 in conference.
Jacksonville will travel to Forrest City next week, while the Lions will host Jonesboro.
Leader sportswriter
In their most complete offensive effort all season, the Jacksonville Red Devils topped Searcy on homecoming night 41-15 at Jan Crow Stadium Friday night to boost their record to 5-2 overall and 3-1 in the 6A-East conference.
Both teams moved the ball well throughout the game; Searcy finished with 350 yards to Jacksonville’s 388 yards. The difference in the game was Searcy turnovers during critical moments in the first half and also in the second. The Lions were driving to tie the game in the second quarter after the Red Devils scored early on, but a pass from Justin Rowden intended for Matt Cramblett was intercepted by Red Devils junior linebacker Cameron Hood. Hood returned the ball all the way to the Searcy 12-yard line, setting up the second Jacksonville touchdown of the night.
Searcy’s last gasp was a drive that began with 2:28 left in the third quarter and went 14 seconds into the fourth. The Lions drove from their own 29-yard line to the Red Devils 12 in less than three minutes. A face mask call against Jacksonville gave Searcy a first down in the Red Devils red zone, but Rowden panicked under pressure during the next play, throwing into a gaggle of Jacksonville defenders in the end zone. Senior Eric Berry grabbed the pass to give the Red Devils a touchback with possession at their own 20.
Neither team displayed much offense from that point on, save for a 64-yard touchdown run for Lee Robinson with 4:12 left in the game to set the final margin for Jacksonville. For Jacksonville head coach Mark Whatley, it was a performance he expected from the defense, and a performance he had hoped to see offensively.
That’s something we’ve been lacking and needed to do,” Whatley said. “But once again, our offense scores and then (Cameron) Hood comes away with a big pick for us, and swings the momentum back our way. Our defense has created turnovers for us all year. Hopefully, they will continue to do it; it’s that time of the year, but we are glad to be in the position that we are in.”
Searcy coach Bart McFarland was upbeat after the loss, and praised the performance of wounded starting quarterback Justin Rowden. Rowden played the entire game with a separated shoulder, an injury that has kept him off the practice field for over a month and out of last week’s game against West Memphis.
“It’s a gutsy performance for a kid that’s playing with a separated shoulder,” McFarland said. “I wish we could’ve had all of our guns, but we didn’t. Jacksonville has a very potent offense, and that puts a lot of pressure on your defense. We were just going to make it as long a game as possible; I thought we did a pretty good job against a very good team. We had a couple of missed plays here and there, but we have to forget about it and keep on fighting.”
Jacksonville did not make it out of the game unscathed. Standout senior tailback Justin Akins was injured during a play in the second quarter, and was taken to the hospital for tests. Lee Robinson took up the slack for Akins, racking up 240 all-purpose yards. The senior running back finished with 13 carries for 133 yards rushing, and had four receptions for another 107 yards. In all, Robinson crossed the goal line on three different occasions for the Red Devils to lead offensively in the game.
Jacksonville scored in the first two minutes of the game. Devils QB Daniel Hubbard found a wide-open Terrell L’Herisse from 25 yards out for the score on an in-route pass dead center of the hashes at the 10:08 mark of the first quarter. Manuel Alvidrez connected on the extra-point to give Jacksonville an early 7-0 lead.
Hood’s interception put the Red Devils on the Searcy 12-yard line, and in need of only three plays to bust through the goal line again. It was Akins who plowed in from two-yards out for the score. Another kick from Alvidrez made it 14-0 and put Searcy on the spot for a score to stay in contention.
That score would come at the 2:06 mark of the second quarter on a 14-yard pass from Rowden to Adam Robertson up the middle. Will Gibbs added the extra point to close the Jacksonville lead to 14-7, but the Red Devils were not content to go into the locker room with a mere seven-point lead.
It only took 57 seconds for Jacksonville to answer, on a six-play, 65-yard drive that ended with a 28 yard TD pass from Hubbard to Robinson with 1:09 left in the half. That would put the Devils up at halftime 21-7.
Robinson scored again to start the second half, on a 13-yard run for six points at the 6:15 mark of the third quarter. Alvidrez’ extra point attempt was blocked by John Moore, and the score stayed at 27 -7. Searcy’s final score of the game occurred with 4:42 left in the third quarter on a screen from Rowden to DeMarco Brown on the left side. Brown scrambled 14-yards for the touchdown, and a fake extra point in which holder Matt Cramblett threw to Brown for two points made it 27-15.
As with the earlier Searcy score, the Red Devils answered, this time with a 75-yard drive that only took six plays and 2:14 of time. Hubbard finished off the drive with a sneak from two-yards out, but Robinson handled the bulk of the yardage on the drive. A long pass from Hubbard to Robinson was good for 42 yards to start out the drive, and Robinson then moved it into the Searcy red zone off a screen pass that he took 22 yards down to the Lions 5-yard line.
Hubbard was 12 for 25 passing for 214 yards, two touchdowns and an interception. Rowden finished 21 for 42 passing for 228 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions for Searcy. The loss keeps Searcy’s record winless at 0-7 overall and 0-4 in conference.
Jacksonville will travel to Forrest City next week, while the Lions will host Jonesboro.
SPORTS >>Panthers dominate line, come up short
By RAY BENTON
Leader sports editor
The Cabot Panthers did almost everything they needed to pull off the biggest upset of the year, but something else went wrong, special teams. The Panthers missed an extra point, a two-point conversion and a field goal and fell 14-12 to the undefeated Central Tigers Friday night at Quigley Stadium in Little Rock.
Penalties also did a number on the Panthers, who came up empty at the end of a long drive early in the first quarter because of two penalties after getting to the Central 11. The Tigers scored on big plays. The first was a 20-yard reception by Charles Clay, the second an 80-yard run by Clay that put the Tigers up 14-6. Cabot coach Mike Malham was pleased with his team’s effort, especially the offensive line, but knows his team is in a tough spot now that it sits 1-3 in conference play.
“Well we’ve got to win out,” Malham said. “That’s what we’re left with. I thought we played well. They hadn’t given up much of anything to anybody all year, and we moved the ball on them. We missed that extra point and it put us behind. We just couldn’t overcome that one little play.”
Central coach Bernie Cox gave Cabot credit, but was very displeased with the way his team was handled on the front line.
“We were able to break a couple of plays and score just enough to win, but we didn’t do the things we worked on all week, and that’s a concern,” Cox said. “Cabot controlled the line. It makes you wonder about our preparation and if we’re doing the things it takes to win games down the line.”
Trailing 14-6, Cabot took possession on its own 27 with 57 seconds left in the third quarter. After a false start penalty, the fifth of the game against Cabot, the Panthers started its third impressive drive of the game. They failed to get a first down in three plays after the penalty, but a daring fake punt on fourth and 6 from their own 33 worked perfectly. The direct snap went to up-back Vince Aguilar, who was initially hit about a yard short of the first, but kept his balance and picked up several more yards to the 43. Another 15 yards was tacked on for a personal foul at the end of the play, giving Cabot first down at the Central 42.
From there the drive was easy. The Panthers bit chunks of yards at a time before Colin Fuller scored his second touchdown on a 1-yard run with 6:24 left in the game. The Cabot defense came up big on Central’s next drive. Stopping quarterback Randy Rankin on fourth and inches on the Cabot 19 with 2:!4 to go, but Cabot quarterback Cory Wade threw an interception on the next play, and Central ran out the clock.
Cabot got the first break of the game when Central receiver Genessis Cole lost the ball in the open field on a reverse on the Tigers’ opening drive. Cabot’s Raul Gault covered at the Panther 38. Cabot went on a long drive that took the ball to the Central 11, but a false start penalty on first down made it first and 15. After picking up 8 yards on two plays, the Panthers were called for holding that moved it back to the 20. The drive ended with #35 missing a 36-yard field goal attempt with 2:02 left in the first quarter.
The Panthers forced a three and out after the miss, but Central’s Rob James boomed a 52-yard punt that pinned Cabot on its own 18 to start the next drive.
The big kick only meant it would take longer for Cabot to score. The Panthers went on another long drive, with senior fullback Colin Fuller carrying the load. The Panthers drove 82 yards in 17 plays and used up nearly eight minutes of clock. The drive ended in an exciting way, with Fuller bulldozing in from 2 yards out on fourth and goal.
The extra point was low and blocked, leaving the score 6-0 with 4:49 left in the half. Central then put together its best drive of the game, and got a little luck to keep it alive. The Panthers had the drive stopped when a gang of defenders converged on Central quarterback Randy Rankin on third and five from the Cabot 36. But the pursuit over ran Rankin and left clear sailing for a 12-yard pickup and a first down.
It was on another third and long situation that Central eventually scored. On third and six, A 20-yard pass to the corner of the end zone was complete to Central tailback Charles Clay. Rankin simply lofted the ball high in the air for the 6-foot-3 Clay, who easily out-jumped 5-foot-7 defender Cory Wade for the touchdown. The extra point was good and put the Tigers up 7-6. That score held until intermission.
Cabot went for thye surprise on-side kick to start the second half. It caught Central off guard and Cabot covered, but Central was called off-side, wihich is a dead ball foul, and Cabot was forced to re-kick. The Tigers had already been administered a delay penalty after the band took too long to get off the field, and Cabot kicked the second time form the 50. They tried another on-side, but the ball didn’t travel 10 yards and Central started on its own 43.
From there Central got two first downs, but a high pass sailed over Rankins’ intended receiver and into the hands of Fuller.
That gave Cabot possession at its own 28, but the Panthers went three and out and punted back to Central. A good return was negated by a penalty, but it didn’t matter.
The big play bug bit Cabot again the next play. Clay went off right tackle for 80 yards and the score. The PAT made it 14-6 Central with 7:04 left in the third quarter. Central finished with 269 total yards while Cabot totaled 249.
Both team’s offenses were dominated by the big backs. Clay led everyone with 177 yards on 22 carries and a touchdown. He also had the one catch for 20 yards and a score. Fuller led the Panthers with 35 carries for 166 yards and two touchdowns. He also caught one pass for 12 yards.
The Panthers, (4-3, 1-3) will host Bryant next Friday at Panther Stadium.
Leader sports editor
The Cabot Panthers did almost everything they needed to pull off the biggest upset of the year, but something else went wrong, special teams. The Panthers missed an extra point, a two-point conversion and a field goal and fell 14-12 to the undefeated Central Tigers Friday night at Quigley Stadium in Little Rock.
Penalties also did a number on the Panthers, who came up empty at the end of a long drive early in the first quarter because of two penalties after getting to the Central 11. The Tigers scored on big plays. The first was a 20-yard reception by Charles Clay, the second an 80-yard run by Clay that put the Tigers up 14-6. Cabot coach Mike Malham was pleased with his team’s effort, especially the offensive line, but knows his team is in a tough spot now that it sits 1-3 in conference play.
“Well we’ve got to win out,” Malham said. “That’s what we’re left with. I thought we played well. They hadn’t given up much of anything to anybody all year, and we moved the ball on them. We missed that extra point and it put us behind. We just couldn’t overcome that one little play.”
Central coach Bernie Cox gave Cabot credit, but was very displeased with the way his team was handled on the front line.
“We were able to break a couple of plays and score just enough to win, but we didn’t do the things we worked on all week, and that’s a concern,” Cox said. “Cabot controlled the line. It makes you wonder about our preparation and if we’re doing the things it takes to win games down the line.”
Trailing 14-6, Cabot took possession on its own 27 with 57 seconds left in the third quarter. After a false start penalty, the fifth of the game against Cabot, the Panthers started its third impressive drive of the game. They failed to get a first down in three plays after the penalty, but a daring fake punt on fourth and 6 from their own 33 worked perfectly. The direct snap went to up-back Vince Aguilar, who was initially hit about a yard short of the first, but kept his balance and picked up several more yards to the 43. Another 15 yards was tacked on for a personal foul at the end of the play, giving Cabot first down at the Central 42.
From there the drive was easy. The Panthers bit chunks of yards at a time before Colin Fuller scored his second touchdown on a 1-yard run with 6:24 left in the game. The Cabot defense came up big on Central’s next drive. Stopping quarterback Randy Rankin on fourth and inches on the Cabot 19 with 2:!4 to go, but Cabot quarterback Cory Wade threw an interception on the next play, and Central ran out the clock.
Cabot got the first break of the game when Central receiver Genessis Cole lost the ball in the open field on a reverse on the Tigers’ opening drive. Cabot’s Raul Gault covered at the Panther 38. Cabot went on a long drive that took the ball to the Central 11, but a false start penalty on first down made it first and 15. After picking up 8 yards on two plays, the Panthers were called for holding that moved it back to the 20. The drive ended with #35 missing a 36-yard field goal attempt with 2:02 left in the first quarter.
The Panthers forced a three and out after the miss, but Central’s Rob James boomed a 52-yard punt that pinned Cabot on its own 18 to start the next drive.
The big kick only meant it would take longer for Cabot to score. The Panthers went on another long drive, with senior fullback Colin Fuller carrying the load. The Panthers drove 82 yards in 17 plays and used up nearly eight minutes of clock. The drive ended in an exciting way, with Fuller bulldozing in from 2 yards out on fourth and goal.
The extra point was low and blocked, leaving the score 6-0 with 4:49 left in the half. Central then put together its best drive of the game, and got a little luck to keep it alive. The Panthers had the drive stopped when a gang of defenders converged on Central quarterback Randy Rankin on third and five from the Cabot 36. But the pursuit over ran Rankin and left clear sailing for a 12-yard pickup and a first down.
It was on another third and long situation that Central eventually scored. On third and six, A 20-yard pass to the corner of the end zone was complete to Central tailback Charles Clay. Rankin simply lofted the ball high in the air for the 6-foot-3 Clay, who easily out-jumped 5-foot-7 defender Cory Wade for the touchdown. The extra point was good and put the Tigers up 7-6. That score held until intermission.
Cabot went for thye surprise on-side kick to start the second half. It caught Central off guard and Cabot covered, but Central was called off-side, wihich is a dead ball foul, and Cabot was forced to re-kick. The Tigers had already been administered a delay penalty after the band took too long to get off the field, and Cabot kicked the second time form the 50. They tried another on-side, but the ball didn’t travel 10 yards and Central started on its own 43.
From there Central got two first downs, but a high pass sailed over Rankins’ intended receiver and into the hands of Fuller.
That gave Cabot possession at its own 28, but the Panthers went three and out and punted back to Central. A good return was negated by a penalty, but it didn’t matter.
The big play bug bit Cabot again the next play. Clay went off right tackle for 80 yards and the score. The PAT made it 14-6 Central with 7:04 left in the third quarter. Central finished with 269 total yards while Cabot totaled 249.
Both team’s offenses were dominated by the big backs. Clay led everyone with 177 yards on 22 carries and a touchdown. He also had the one catch for 20 yards and a score. Fuller led the Panthers with 35 carries for 166 yards and two touchdowns. He also caught one pass for 12 yards.
The Panthers, (4-3, 1-3) will host Bryant next Friday at Panther Stadium.
EDITORIAL>>Bring them to Arkansas
The swansongs of penitent congressmen caught up in the lobbying and page scandals would make a fine libretto for a modern opera. We need Kurt Weill or Bertolt Brecht to do it justice.
Rep. Randy “Duke” Cunningham, R-Calif., who resigned his seat 10 months ago after pleading guilty to tax evasion and taking more than $2 million in bribes in a conspiracy involving several defense contractors, uttered the most lachrymose farewell.
A ranking member of the Defense Appropriations Committee, Duke had gotten rich with rewards for pulling strings in the Bush administration to get lucrative war contracts for his benefactors. To cut his sentence, he agreed to give up his mansion, suburban Washington condo, his yacht and Rolls Royce.
“The truth is I broke the law, concealed my conduct and disgraced my office,” he said, choking back tears. “I know I will forfeit my reputation, my worldly possessions and, most importantly, the trust of my friends and family.” And he added: “I’m almost 65-years-old and I enter the twilight of my life. I intend to use the remaining time that God grants me to make amends, and I will.”
Majority Leader Tom DeLay, R-Texas, resigned in the face of indictments, but he has not so far been remorseful like his acolytes. But he has not yet been convicted either. Jack Abramoff, the lobbying kingpin who was DeLay’s private-world accomplice in the K Street enterprise, uttered the necessary remorseful words upon his guilty plea, but they were prosaic.
Yesterday, it was the turn of Rep. Robert W. Ney, R-Ohio, who after a year of insisting that he was cleaner than a hound’s tooth, pled guilty to bribery. He admitted performing official acts as a congressman in exchange for campaign contributions for himself and other Republicans, pricey meals, luxury travel and sports tickets for himself and his staff. He also accepted thousands of dollars in gambling chips from an international businessman for his intervention with the Bush State Department.
Ney was not only a key friend of Abramoff and other K Street agents but a favorite of DeLay, who made him chairman of the House Administration Committee. In what has become a ritual, Ney partly blamed alcoholism and checked into a treatment center.
Two weeks ago, Rep. Mark Foley, R-Fla., who is being investigated for harassing House pages for sex, resigned and went into alcohol rehabilitation. Foley yanked the Doric columns as he left the Capitol and the House is crashing around the leadership, who looked the other way during years of depredations.
But we like Ney’s departure better than the rest because he offered a cautionary sermon for all his fellow members of Congress and for public servants everywhere. It would not be a bad message for Arkansas lawmakers in the opening ceremonies of every legislative session.
“I never acted to enrich myself or get things I shouldn’t,” Ney said, “but over time I allowed myself to get too comfortable with the way things have been done in Washington for too long. I accepted things I shouldn’t have accepted with the result that Jack Abramoff used my name to advance his own secret schemes of fraud and theft in ways I could never have imagined.”
Remember a year ago when Republicans as well as Democrats resolved to reform Congress to stop the influence peddling and the soft bribery of quid-pro-quo campaign gifts?
They never did. When the Abramoff investigation reaches the end of its string and all the malefactors resign or are defeated or else manage to save their hides with voters, Congress will still be no different.
Neither will the Arkansas Legislature, at least without duress. (We do not mean to pick on the ledge. Gov. Huckabee has been no better — no, he’s worse — at shunning luxurious gifts.) The federal judge sentencing Ney should add more leniency if he will testify at state legislatures for meaningful ethics laws, starting at Little Rock in January.
Rep. Randy “Duke” Cunningham, R-Calif., who resigned his seat 10 months ago after pleading guilty to tax evasion and taking more than $2 million in bribes in a conspiracy involving several defense contractors, uttered the most lachrymose farewell.
A ranking member of the Defense Appropriations Committee, Duke had gotten rich with rewards for pulling strings in the Bush administration to get lucrative war contracts for his benefactors. To cut his sentence, he agreed to give up his mansion, suburban Washington condo, his yacht and Rolls Royce.
“The truth is I broke the law, concealed my conduct and disgraced my office,” he said, choking back tears. “I know I will forfeit my reputation, my worldly possessions and, most importantly, the trust of my friends and family.” And he added: “I’m almost 65-years-old and I enter the twilight of my life. I intend to use the remaining time that God grants me to make amends, and I will.”
Majority Leader Tom DeLay, R-Texas, resigned in the face of indictments, but he has not so far been remorseful like his acolytes. But he has not yet been convicted either. Jack Abramoff, the lobbying kingpin who was DeLay’s private-world accomplice in the K Street enterprise, uttered the necessary remorseful words upon his guilty plea, but they were prosaic.
Yesterday, it was the turn of Rep. Robert W. Ney, R-Ohio, who after a year of insisting that he was cleaner than a hound’s tooth, pled guilty to bribery. He admitted performing official acts as a congressman in exchange for campaign contributions for himself and other Republicans, pricey meals, luxury travel and sports tickets for himself and his staff. He also accepted thousands of dollars in gambling chips from an international businessman for his intervention with the Bush State Department.
Ney was not only a key friend of Abramoff and other K Street agents but a favorite of DeLay, who made him chairman of the House Administration Committee. In what has become a ritual, Ney partly blamed alcoholism and checked into a treatment center.
Two weeks ago, Rep. Mark Foley, R-Fla., who is being investigated for harassing House pages for sex, resigned and went into alcohol rehabilitation. Foley yanked the Doric columns as he left the Capitol and the House is crashing around the leadership, who looked the other way during years of depredations.
But we like Ney’s departure better than the rest because he offered a cautionary sermon for all his fellow members of Congress and for public servants everywhere. It would not be a bad message for Arkansas lawmakers in the opening ceremonies of every legislative session.
“I never acted to enrich myself or get things I shouldn’t,” Ney said, “but over time I allowed myself to get too comfortable with the way things have been done in Washington for too long. I accepted things I shouldn’t have accepted with the result that Jack Abramoff used my name to advance his own secret schemes of fraud and theft in ways I could never have imagined.”
Remember a year ago when Republicans as well as Democrats resolved to reform Congress to stop the influence peddling and the soft bribery of quid-pro-quo campaign gifts?
They never did. When the Abramoff investigation reaches the end of its string and all the malefactors resign or are defeated or else manage to save their hides with voters, Congress will still be no different.
Neither will the Arkansas Legislature, at least without duress. (We do not mean to pick on the ledge. Gov. Huckabee has been no better — no, he’s worse — at shunning luxurious gifts.) The federal judge sentencing Ney should add more leniency if he will testify at state legislatures for meaningful ethics laws, starting at Little Rock in January.
OBITUARIES >> 10-14-06
LUCILLE WALTERS
Lucille M. Walters, 95, of Beebe died Oct. 12.
She was born July 6, 1911, at Butlerville, to William and Mary Gartrell Milner.
She is survived by one son, Charles Bass and wife Pauline; three grandchildren, Shirley Barnes, C. L. Bass and Diane Schlenker, all of Beebe; seven great-grandchildren, three great-great-grandchildren, and a host of nieces and nephews.
Funeral will be at 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 14, at Westbrook Funeral Home, with burial in Butlerville Cemetery.
MARVIN DOUGLAS
Marvin A. Douglas, 72, of Jacksonville passed away Oct. 11.
He is survived by his daughter, Teresa and husband David Montgomery of Huntsville, Ala.; two sons, Michael and wife Madeline Douglas of Jacksonville and Timothy and wife Susan Douglas of Bentonville; three brothers, Buster Douglas, Richard Douglas and Dwight Douglas; a sister, Nancy Sullivan; eight grandchildren and one great-granddaughter.
Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 14 at Chapel Hill Baptist Church. Burial will be in Arkansas Memorial Gardens. Arrangements are by North Little Rock Funeral Home.
JAMES STATON
James Daniel Staton, 98, went to his heavenly home Oct. 10. He was born July 30, 1908. He was preceded in death by his wife of 76 years, Daisy Lou Staton; one son, Fred Staton, and a grandson, James Derrick Measels.
He is survived by his children, P.D. Staton and his wife Joyce and Macel Lassiter and her husband Jew of Lonoke, Velma Hill and her husband Ted of Dumas and Mary Lou Measels and her husband Gerald of Searcy; 17 grandchildren; 51 great-grandchildren; 29 great great-grandchildren and a daughter-in-law, Virginia Staton of California.
Funeral service will be at 2:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 14, at Boyd Funeral Home Chapel in Lonoke with burial in Legate Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Legate Cemetery Fund.
ANNAH HARRISON
Annah Maye Harrison, 95, of Jacksonville passed away Oct. 12 at Woodland Hills Nursing Home. She was born Nov. 16, 1911 in Savannah, Tenn. She was preceded in death by five sisters and one brother.
She is survived by three nephews, William Harrison of Forrest City, Aubrey Copeland of Cave City and Royce Killough of Florida; four nieces, Mary Sue Morse of Caruthersville, Mo., June Walker of Little Rock, Ursula Pledger and Carolyn Christen, both of Jacksonville. She is also survived by many great and great-great nieces and nephews. Graveside service will be at 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 14 at Mt. Zion Cemetery in Steele, Mo.
Arrangements are by Griffin Leggett Rest Hills Funeral Home in North Little Rock.
BETTY GIBBS
Betty Anne Gibbs, 60, passed away Oct. 9.
She was a member of Mountain View Baptist Church of Wolverton Mountain, and was a loving wife, mother and grandmother.
Survivors include her husband Don Gibbs of the home; one son Tim Gibbs and wife Derenda and two grandchildren, Blake Gibbs and Seth Gibbs, all of East End; her mother Betty Marie Howard of Heber Springs; two brothers, Jimmy Burris of North Little Rock and Daryl Wilds of Mayflower; two sisters, Charlene Wilds of Quitman and Jeanelle Verser of Prim.
Funeral services were Oct. 12 at Boyd Funeral Home in Lonoke. Burial followed in Lonoke Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Hospice Home Care, Inc. of Conway, 821 North Creek Dr., Conway, AR 72032.
LINDA GOLDMAN
Linda Gail Goldman, 55, of Mabelvale, died Oct. 11.
She is preceded in death by her father, John Abner and brother, Jimmy Abner. She is survived by her husband, Larry D. Goldman, mother Evelyn Abner Balentine, two daughter, Michelle Milonas of Dallas, Texas, and Lisa Hooper of Damascus; one son, Justin Goldman of Mabelvale; three brothers, Billy from Jacksonville, Buddy from Florida and Randy from Cab ot; four sisters, Beth, Sue, Teresa and Janet and three grandchildren, Kristi Sullivan, Jackob Hooper and Rachelle Hooper.
Visitation will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 15 at Wood Funeral Home Chapel. Graveside will be held at 10 a.m. Monday, Oct. 16 in Chapel Hill Memorial Park at Jacksonville.
Lucille M. Walters, 95, of Beebe died Oct. 12.
She was born July 6, 1911, at Butlerville, to William and Mary Gartrell Milner.
She is survived by one son, Charles Bass and wife Pauline; three grandchildren, Shirley Barnes, C. L. Bass and Diane Schlenker, all of Beebe; seven great-grandchildren, three great-great-grandchildren, and a host of nieces and nephews.
Funeral will be at 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 14, at Westbrook Funeral Home, with burial in Butlerville Cemetery.
MARVIN DOUGLAS
Marvin A. Douglas, 72, of Jacksonville passed away Oct. 11.
He is survived by his daughter, Teresa and husband David Montgomery of Huntsville, Ala.; two sons, Michael and wife Madeline Douglas of Jacksonville and Timothy and wife Susan Douglas of Bentonville; three brothers, Buster Douglas, Richard Douglas and Dwight Douglas; a sister, Nancy Sullivan; eight grandchildren and one great-granddaughter.
Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 14 at Chapel Hill Baptist Church. Burial will be in Arkansas Memorial Gardens. Arrangements are by North Little Rock Funeral Home.
JAMES STATON
James Daniel Staton, 98, went to his heavenly home Oct. 10. He was born July 30, 1908. He was preceded in death by his wife of 76 years, Daisy Lou Staton; one son, Fred Staton, and a grandson, James Derrick Measels.
He is survived by his children, P.D. Staton and his wife Joyce and Macel Lassiter and her husband Jew of Lonoke, Velma Hill and her husband Ted of Dumas and Mary Lou Measels and her husband Gerald of Searcy; 17 grandchildren; 51 great-grandchildren; 29 great great-grandchildren and a daughter-in-law, Virginia Staton of California.
Funeral service will be at 2:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 14, at Boyd Funeral Home Chapel in Lonoke with burial in Legate Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Legate Cemetery Fund.
ANNAH HARRISON
Annah Maye Harrison, 95, of Jacksonville passed away Oct. 12 at Woodland Hills Nursing Home. She was born Nov. 16, 1911 in Savannah, Tenn. She was preceded in death by five sisters and one brother.
She is survived by three nephews, William Harrison of Forrest City, Aubrey Copeland of Cave City and Royce Killough of Florida; four nieces, Mary Sue Morse of Caruthersville, Mo., June Walker of Little Rock, Ursula Pledger and Carolyn Christen, both of Jacksonville. She is also survived by many great and great-great nieces and nephews. Graveside service will be at 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 14 at Mt. Zion Cemetery in Steele, Mo.
Arrangements are by Griffin Leggett Rest Hills Funeral Home in North Little Rock.
BETTY GIBBS
Betty Anne Gibbs, 60, passed away Oct. 9.
She was a member of Mountain View Baptist Church of Wolverton Mountain, and was a loving wife, mother and grandmother.
Survivors include her husband Don Gibbs of the home; one son Tim Gibbs and wife Derenda and two grandchildren, Blake Gibbs and Seth Gibbs, all of East End; her mother Betty Marie Howard of Heber Springs; two brothers, Jimmy Burris of North Little Rock and Daryl Wilds of Mayflower; two sisters, Charlene Wilds of Quitman and Jeanelle Verser of Prim.
Funeral services were Oct. 12 at Boyd Funeral Home in Lonoke. Burial followed in Lonoke Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Hospice Home Care, Inc. of Conway, 821 North Creek Dr., Conway, AR 72032.
LINDA GOLDMAN
Linda Gail Goldman, 55, of Mabelvale, died Oct. 11.
She is preceded in death by her father, John Abner and brother, Jimmy Abner. She is survived by her husband, Larry D. Goldman, mother Evelyn Abner Balentine, two daughter, Michelle Milonas of Dallas, Texas, and Lisa Hooper of Damascus; one son, Justin Goldman of Mabelvale; three brothers, Billy from Jacksonville, Buddy from Florida and Randy from Cab ot; four sisters, Beth, Sue, Teresa and Janet and three grandchildren, Kristi Sullivan, Jackob Hooper and Rachelle Hooper.
Visitation will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 15 at Wood Funeral Home Chapel. Graveside will be held at 10 a.m. Monday, Oct. 16 in Chapel Hill Memorial Park at Jacksonville.
FRONT PAGE STORY>>Cabot is not tapping into new water supply
By JOAN MCCOY
Leader staff writer
The Cabot Water and Wastewater Commission is not quite ready to follow Jacksonville’s lead and join a project to bring water to the area from Greers Ferry Lake. Commissioners Thursday evening listened to a proposal from the Lonoke/White Public Water Authority to pay a membership fee of $1 for each of its 8,600 water customers to become a part of the project, but said they will wait until their attorney has examined the offer more closely before they decide if they are willing to spend money on it.
LWPWA is a new entity born out of a failed attempt to build a water- intake site and treatment plant on the lake and bring water into Lonoke and White counties. For more than a decade, the project was run by Community Water System, which serves customers around the lake. But the project ran into financial trouble when Cabot pulled out in favor of buying water from Central Arkansas Water and some of the members that were left eventually sued CWS for control of the project.
Now, organized as LWPWA, the members are searching for new members to help pay for the project that would have cost about $30 million two years ago, but could cost considerably more now.
Tad Bohannon, attorney for the commission, said having a backup water supplier as LWPWA could be is always a good idea, but he pointed out that paying the $8,600 wouldn’t give the commission a vote on the LWPWA board.
Don Keesee, vice president of the commission, was the most outspoken about the proposal, saying that Greers Ferry Lake would almost certainly be tapped in the future, but he didn’t think LWPWA would do it. “Do we even have a pie-in-the- sky idea of what it’s going to cost…to run the pipe line here?” he asked.
The commission could buy into the project and get a seat on the board for about $350,000, but Keesee said paying that amount would be only the beginning and wouldn’t guarantee that the project would be completed. Ben Rice, attorney for LWPWA, told the commission that the main purpose in asking Jacksonville and Cabot to join is that their numbers are needed to secure a 6 million gallon a day water allocation in the lake from the U.S. Corps of Engineers.
At present, the lake can supply another 30 million gallons a day for water customers. The Mid Arkansas Water Alliance, led by CAW, has asked for the whole allocation, but will likely be limited to 15 million gallons a day, Rice said. That leaves 15 million gallons a day for everyone else.
“If we don’t get in there and request our fair share (of the allocation) it’s all going to go somewhere else,” Rice said.
The members of LWPWA together have about 10,000 water customers. With Jacksonville and Cabot, the customer base would triple in size and justify the need for 6 million gallons a day.
“The important thing is to help us get into a posture to get this allocation,” Rice said. Ward Mayor Art Brook, president of the LWPWA board also attended the meeting. After he and Rice left the commission discussed the offer briefly. J.M. Park, commission chairman, appeared inclined consider at least a small investment in the project.
“It’s just evidence of interest. That’s how I read it,” Park said. Bill Cypert, commission secretary, agreed. “If we back off and don’t pay that, we’re pretty much saying we’re not interested,” Cypert said. In other business, the board discussed replacing 6,900 feet of water line on Greystone Boulevard, which has broken 11 times in 2006.
Tim Joyner, general manager of Cabot WaterWorks, told the commission that he will need to buy about 2,000 feet of ductile iron pipe to replace the PVC pipe that has been breaking because it was not bedded properly. “In every case it goes back to a bedding issue,” Joyner said. “The original pipe was laid on jagged rock.” The commission approved the work but asked Joyner to provide them with a cost when the work is done.
Joyner also gave the commission a letter from the Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality concerning the poor performance of the sewer treatment plant. Even though a new plant is under construction, Joyner told the board that he is trying to correct violations at the old plant that could lead to fines.
“You can’t ignore it,” Joyner said. “ADEQ will not allow it. They want to see us take some corrective action.”
Leader staff writer
The Cabot Water and Wastewater Commission is not quite ready to follow Jacksonville’s lead and join a project to bring water to the area from Greers Ferry Lake. Commissioners Thursday evening listened to a proposal from the Lonoke/White Public Water Authority to pay a membership fee of $1 for each of its 8,600 water customers to become a part of the project, but said they will wait until their attorney has examined the offer more closely before they decide if they are willing to spend money on it.
LWPWA is a new entity born out of a failed attempt to build a water- intake site and treatment plant on the lake and bring water into Lonoke and White counties. For more than a decade, the project was run by Community Water System, which serves customers around the lake. But the project ran into financial trouble when Cabot pulled out in favor of buying water from Central Arkansas Water and some of the members that were left eventually sued CWS for control of the project.
Now, organized as LWPWA, the members are searching for new members to help pay for the project that would have cost about $30 million two years ago, but could cost considerably more now.
Tad Bohannon, attorney for the commission, said having a backup water supplier as LWPWA could be is always a good idea, but he pointed out that paying the $8,600 wouldn’t give the commission a vote on the LWPWA board.
Don Keesee, vice president of the commission, was the most outspoken about the proposal, saying that Greers Ferry Lake would almost certainly be tapped in the future, but he didn’t think LWPWA would do it. “Do we even have a pie-in-the- sky idea of what it’s going to cost…to run the pipe line here?” he asked.
The commission could buy into the project and get a seat on the board for about $350,000, but Keesee said paying that amount would be only the beginning and wouldn’t guarantee that the project would be completed. Ben Rice, attorney for LWPWA, told the commission that the main purpose in asking Jacksonville and Cabot to join is that their numbers are needed to secure a 6 million gallon a day water allocation in the lake from the U.S. Corps of Engineers.
At present, the lake can supply another 30 million gallons a day for water customers. The Mid Arkansas Water Alliance, led by CAW, has asked for the whole allocation, but will likely be limited to 15 million gallons a day, Rice said. That leaves 15 million gallons a day for everyone else.
“If we don’t get in there and request our fair share (of the allocation) it’s all going to go somewhere else,” Rice said.
The members of LWPWA together have about 10,000 water customers. With Jacksonville and Cabot, the customer base would triple in size and justify the need for 6 million gallons a day.
“The important thing is to help us get into a posture to get this allocation,” Rice said. Ward Mayor Art Brook, president of the LWPWA board also attended the meeting. After he and Rice left the commission discussed the offer briefly. J.M. Park, commission chairman, appeared inclined consider at least a small investment in the project.
“It’s just evidence of interest. That’s how I read it,” Park said. Bill Cypert, commission secretary, agreed. “If we back off and don’t pay that, we’re pretty much saying we’re not interested,” Cypert said. In other business, the board discussed replacing 6,900 feet of water line on Greystone Boulevard, which has broken 11 times in 2006.
Tim Joyner, general manager of Cabot WaterWorks, told the commission that he will need to buy about 2,000 feet of ductile iron pipe to replace the PVC pipe that has been breaking because it was not bedded properly. “In every case it goes back to a bedding issue,” Joyner said. “The original pipe was laid on jagged rock.” The commission approved the work but asked Joyner to provide them with a cost when the work is done.
Joyner also gave the commission a letter from the Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality concerning the poor performance of the sewer treatment plant. Even though a new plant is under construction, Joyner told the board that he is trying to correct violations at the old plant that could lead to fines.
“You can’t ignore it,” Joyner said. “ADEQ will not allow it. They want to see us take some corrective action.”
FRONT PAGE STORY>>Air base holds disaster drill
By SARA GREENE
Leader staff writer
A vintage P-51 Mustang aircraft from World War II crashed into a C-130 cargo plane parked on the tarmac at Little Rock Air Force Base Friday morning, killing the P-52’s pilot, the C-130 navigator and a paratrooper from the 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg, N.C., and injuring 13 others.
That was the scenario for LRAFB’s major accident response exercise (MARE) testing how the base would respond if there were a real plane crash during the Air Power Arkansas 2006 air show, scheduled for the weekend of Nov. 4-5 at the base.
The base holds MAREs quarterly to be ready for both natural and man-made disasters.
The MARE began with a briefing by Maj. Dan Halsted of the 314th Inspector General’s office. “We have more than 140 team members role-playing in today’s exercise, including about 60 Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps students from Beebe and Cabot,” Halsted told The Leader, which sent this reporter to participate in the exercise as herself.
“I’m hoping this will show we’re ready for anything that could happen at the air show,” Halsted said. Following the briefing, volunteers had mock injuries applied to them with a makeup process called moulage. “We actually take a class to teach you how to make people look injured,” said Tech Sgt. Jason Koppel of Cabot, a member of the 314th Medical Detachment Group.
Using synthetic skin, adhesive, wax and a lot of fake blood, Koppel gave volunteers cuts, burns and bruises.
“At my last duty station I actually split my forehead playing ball, and the emergency room there thought I was moulaging them,” Koppel said, sponging purple dye around a bruise on Capt. Al Neves, of the 62nd Airlift Squadron.
Alycia Mills, 16, of Cabot proudly showed off the six-inch long mock cut on her leg to Alex Hayden, 15. “Today is going to be so cool,” Mills said. After being moulaged, the volunteers were taken to their places around base and the victims were placed around a parked C-130 where orange cones represented flames. No fake smoke, just a simple announcement “there’s been a crash” catapulted base personnel into action.
Medical personnel had to perform triage on the wounded, seeing which injuries were most severe while the base fire department sprayed down the “flames.” On the day of the air show, a helicopter from Arkansas Children’s Hospital will be at the base in the event of a medical emergency.
In the event of an actual crash at the air show, the air show narrator would instruct the crowd. Depending on the type of accident, people may be asked to stay where they are or go to their vehicles to prepare to evacuate the base. During the exercise security forces had their hands full with crowd control, at one point having to chase, tackle and arrest onlooker Lance Williams, 15, of Cabot.
“Getting arrested wasn’t that bad. I got a scratch on my neck but that happens,” Williams said. Lt. Kelly George and other members of the 314th Strategic Information Command had their hands full corralling the media and disseminating information.
“If there was a crash, we’d have 250,000 people scared, not knowing what’s going on. It’s important to let them know what’s happening. Everyone has a different goal during the exercise. My goal is to help disseminate information. Their (Security Forces Squadron) goal is to keep us safe and the crash site secure,” George said.
Within an hour of the accident, a news release was passed out to the media and two hours later, Brig. Gen. Kip Self, commander of LRAFB, held a brief press conference at the Strategic Information Offices. “Our immediate goal is not to place blame. We want to take care of the families of the dead and injured first. Those names will not be released until 24-hours after the next-of-kin are notified,” Self said.
The exercise ended there for the volunteers, who were fed lunch at the LRAFB Community Center by the Pizza Company, 200 Hwy. 67/167 N in the Howard Johnson. “If we find any weaknesses when we review today’s exercise, we’ll have them fixed by the time the air show gets here,” Halsted said.
The Air Power Arkansas air show held the first weekend in November will be the last aerial demonstration at the base for two to five years, according to George. The Navy Blue Angels F-18 Hornet aerial demonstration team is the featured performance for the show, tentatively scheduled to fly at 2:45 p.m. both days. Other military aircraft performances include the F-15E Strike Eagle, the F-16 Viper and the Canadian Forces CF-18.
The Air Force Wings of Blue parachute demonstration team will feature 12 parachutists jumping from a C-130 cargo aircraft. About 250 paratroopers of the 82nd Airborne Division will jump from LRAFB’s C-130s during personnel drop demonstration.
A new addition to this year’s show a concert by the band Wide-Awake will follow the Blue Angels demonstration on Saturday, Nov. 4.
Leader staff writer
A vintage P-51 Mustang aircraft from World War II crashed into a C-130 cargo plane parked on the tarmac at Little Rock Air Force Base Friday morning, killing the P-52’s pilot, the C-130 navigator and a paratrooper from the 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg, N.C., and injuring 13 others.
That was the scenario for LRAFB’s major accident response exercise (MARE) testing how the base would respond if there were a real plane crash during the Air Power Arkansas 2006 air show, scheduled for the weekend of Nov. 4-5 at the base.
The base holds MAREs quarterly to be ready for both natural and man-made disasters.
The MARE began with a briefing by Maj. Dan Halsted of the 314th Inspector General’s office. “We have more than 140 team members role-playing in today’s exercise, including about 60 Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps students from Beebe and Cabot,” Halsted told The Leader, which sent this reporter to participate in the exercise as herself.
“I’m hoping this will show we’re ready for anything that could happen at the air show,” Halsted said. Following the briefing, volunteers had mock injuries applied to them with a makeup process called moulage. “We actually take a class to teach you how to make people look injured,” said Tech Sgt. Jason Koppel of Cabot, a member of the 314th Medical Detachment Group.
Using synthetic skin, adhesive, wax and a lot of fake blood, Koppel gave volunteers cuts, burns and bruises.
“At my last duty station I actually split my forehead playing ball, and the emergency room there thought I was moulaging them,” Koppel said, sponging purple dye around a bruise on Capt. Al Neves, of the 62nd Airlift Squadron.
Alycia Mills, 16, of Cabot proudly showed off the six-inch long mock cut on her leg to Alex Hayden, 15. “Today is going to be so cool,” Mills said. After being moulaged, the volunteers were taken to their places around base and the victims were placed around a parked C-130 where orange cones represented flames. No fake smoke, just a simple announcement “there’s been a crash” catapulted base personnel into action.
Medical personnel had to perform triage on the wounded, seeing which injuries were most severe while the base fire department sprayed down the “flames.” On the day of the air show, a helicopter from Arkansas Children’s Hospital will be at the base in the event of a medical emergency.
In the event of an actual crash at the air show, the air show narrator would instruct the crowd. Depending on the type of accident, people may be asked to stay where they are or go to their vehicles to prepare to evacuate the base. During the exercise security forces had their hands full with crowd control, at one point having to chase, tackle and arrest onlooker Lance Williams, 15, of Cabot.
“Getting arrested wasn’t that bad. I got a scratch on my neck but that happens,” Williams said. Lt. Kelly George and other members of the 314th Strategic Information Command had their hands full corralling the media and disseminating information.
“If there was a crash, we’d have 250,000 people scared, not knowing what’s going on. It’s important to let them know what’s happening. Everyone has a different goal during the exercise. My goal is to help disseminate information. Their (Security Forces Squadron) goal is to keep us safe and the crash site secure,” George said.
Within an hour of the accident, a news release was passed out to the media and two hours later, Brig. Gen. Kip Self, commander of LRAFB, held a brief press conference at the Strategic Information Offices. “Our immediate goal is not to place blame. We want to take care of the families of the dead and injured first. Those names will not be released until 24-hours after the next-of-kin are notified,” Self said.
The exercise ended there for the volunteers, who were fed lunch at the LRAFB Community Center by the Pizza Company, 200 Hwy. 67/167 N in the Howard Johnson. “If we find any weaknesses when we review today’s exercise, we’ll have them fixed by the time the air show gets here,” Halsted said.
The Air Power Arkansas air show held the first weekend in November will be the last aerial demonstration at the base for two to five years, according to George. The Navy Blue Angels F-18 Hornet aerial demonstration team is the featured performance for the show, tentatively scheduled to fly at 2:45 p.m. both days. Other military aircraft performances include the F-15E Strike Eagle, the F-16 Viper and the Canadian Forces CF-18.
The Air Force Wings of Blue parachute demonstration team will feature 12 parachutists jumping from a C-130 cargo aircraft. About 250 paratroopers of the 82nd Airborne Division will jump from LRAFB’s C-130s during personnel drop demonstration.
A new addition to this year’s show a concert by the band Wide-Awake will follow the Blue Angels demonstration on Saturday, Nov. 4.
TOP STORY >>Osprey lands at base for Refueling
By HEATHER HARTSELL
Leader staff writer
A CV-22 Osprey with the 71st Special Operations Squadron at Kirtland AFB, N.M., made a pit-stop at Little Rock Air Force Base Wednesday while en route to Andrews AFB, Maryland.
The four-man crew — two pilots and two flight engineers — stopped to refuel as they made their way to this weekend’s dedication ceremonies for the Air Force Memorial in Arlington, Va., where the aircraft will be part of the memorial ceremony’s static display exhibits.
Lt. Col. Mike McKinney, the Osprey’s pilot, gave The Leader a quick tour of the tilt-rotor aircraft while the group was at the air base. McKinney’s Osprey is one of only four the Air Force has in service; all are stationed at Kirtland AFB for operational testing and training. McKinney said the first operational squadron to get an Osprey would be the 16th Special Operations Wing at Hurlburt Field, Fla., which are scheduled for delivery beginning in fiscal year 2007. An initial operational capability will be established in fiscal year 2009 with six aircraft.
The Air Force’s Osprey is a modified version of the U.S. Marine Corps MV-22. “Ours is about 85 percent the same as the Marines’,” McKinney said. “We’ve added defense mechanisms such as weather and terrain radars.” The CV-22 has an advanced electronic warfare suite, a multi-mode radar that permits flight at very low altitude in zero visibility, and a retractable aerial refueling probe.
McKinney describes the Osprey as a modified C-130. “It can take-off and land like a helicopter, but can cruise like a C-130,” McKinney said. The Osprey can hover, and take off and land vertically, like a helicopter, and once airborne, the engine and prop-rotor group on each wing can rotate into a forward position, like the C-130.
“It can also fly two times faster than a helicopter,” McKinney said. The Osprey has a cruising speed of 277 miles per hour and a range three times greater than the MH-53J Pave Low helicopter, the largest, most powerful and technologically advanced helicopter in the Air Force inventory.
The Osprey is capable of flying 1,500 nautical miles with its internal auxiliary fuel tanks and no refueling, compared to the 600 nautical miles the Pave Low is capable of without refueling. More than 2,500 nautical miles are possible on the Osprey with one aerial refueling and the auxiliary tanks.
The Osprey offers increased speed and range over other rotary-wing aircraft and can perform missions that normally would require both fixed-wing and rotary-wing aircraft. “We love it and our having a great time,” McKinney said. “It flies great. I wouldn’t fly it if I thought it was unsafe.”
Leader staff writer
A CV-22 Osprey with the 71st Special Operations Squadron at Kirtland AFB, N.M., made a pit-stop at Little Rock Air Force Base Wednesday while en route to Andrews AFB, Maryland.
The four-man crew — two pilots and two flight engineers — stopped to refuel as they made their way to this weekend’s dedication ceremonies for the Air Force Memorial in Arlington, Va., where the aircraft will be part of the memorial ceremony’s static display exhibits.
Lt. Col. Mike McKinney, the Osprey’s pilot, gave The Leader a quick tour of the tilt-rotor aircraft while the group was at the air base. McKinney’s Osprey is one of only four the Air Force has in service; all are stationed at Kirtland AFB for operational testing and training. McKinney said the first operational squadron to get an Osprey would be the 16th Special Operations Wing at Hurlburt Field, Fla., which are scheduled for delivery beginning in fiscal year 2007. An initial operational capability will be established in fiscal year 2009 with six aircraft.
The Air Force’s Osprey is a modified version of the U.S. Marine Corps MV-22. “Ours is about 85 percent the same as the Marines’,” McKinney said. “We’ve added defense mechanisms such as weather and terrain radars.” The CV-22 has an advanced electronic warfare suite, a multi-mode radar that permits flight at very low altitude in zero visibility, and a retractable aerial refueling probe.
McKinney describes the Osprey as a modified C-130. “It can take-off and land like a helicopter, but can cruise like a C-130,” McKinney said. The Osprey can hover, and take off and land vertically, like a helicopter, and once airborne, the engine and prop-rotor group on each wing can rotate into a forward position, like the C-130.
“It can also fly two times faster than a helicopter,” McKinney said. The Osprey has a cruising speed of 277 miles per hour and a range three times greater than the MH-53J Pave Low helicopter, the largest, most powerful and technologically advanced helicopter in the Air Force inventory.
The Osprey is capable of flying 1,500 nautical miles with its internal auxiliary fuel tanks and no refueling, compared to the 600 nautical miles the Pave Low is capable of without refueling. More than 2,500 nautical miles are possible on the Osprey with one aerial refueling and the auxiliary tanks.
The Osprey offers increased speed and range over other rotary-wing aircraft and can perform missions that normally would require both fixed-wing and rotary-wing aircraft. “We love it and our having a great time,” McKinney said. “It flies great. I wouldn’t fly it if I thought it was unsafe.”
TOP STORY >>Survivors file suit in fatal truck accident
By JOHN HOFHEIMER
Leader staff writer
The widow of the Cabot man crushed and killed February 23 when a loaded gravel truck slammed into a line of stopped traffic on the Hwy. 67/167 Main Street overpass in Jacksonville sued in White County Wednesday for actual and punitive damages against the driver and his direct and indirect employers.
Jerry Justice, 34, of 22 Geraldine Court, Ward, was pronounced dead at the scene after the gravel truck, driven by Donald Ray Watkins, 35, slammed two pickup trucks through the overpass guardrail and plunged after them onto Main Street, about 20 feet below, dumping the gravel on the other vehicles, according to the state police account.
Monica Justice, his wife, was a passenger in his truck, and she said she filed suit in part because eight months later, prosecutors had not charged Watkins with anything. Monica Justice, 35, also of 22 Geraldine Court in Ward and Jerry Justice’s mother, Patricia Justice, 57, of 145 Crossroads Cove, Ward, both were hospitalized for their injuries.
Watkins, driving a Burns Truck and Excavating dump truck, had painkillers and Valium in his system at the time of the accident, according to a State Police toxicology screen. He was hauling pea gravel from Bald Knob to North Little Rock at the time of the accident.
“I’ve got three daughters, a mother-in-law, sister-in-law and family in Fayetteville—so many people that lost him and that he had so much to give,” Justice said. “I have massive brain damage, memory problems connected with the wreck,” she said. “His mom’s real bad. We all depended on him,” said Justice, who also has multiple sclerosis. “When I was in a wheel chair, I depended on him. We grew up together.”
“(Watkins) decided to take a bunch of drugs and get behind the wheel of a truck,” she said. Watkins had Diazepam, Nordiazpam and Trazodone in his blood, according to an April 4 state Crime Lab report, but no alcohol. The report noted that the quantities in the blood of Watkins were “consistent with values widely considered to be normal or therapeutic.”
The report did not say whether or not the quantities in question could have impaired Watkins driving and contributed to the accident.
A pharmacist who asked not to be identified said that Diazepam—a generic Valium—and Trazodone used together could be “really sedating,” and should not be taken at the same time. Each would carry a warning not to operate heavy equipment or machinery, the pharmacist said. The Nordiazepam was the Diazepam that had already been metabolized, said the pharmacist.
Monica Justice filed suit as administrator of the Jerry S. Justice Jr. estate, for herself and also for Patricia Justice. Defendants include Watkins, Burns trucking, Burns Excavating, Scurlock Aggregates, Inc., and others unnamed. In her complaint, filed by attorney Cheryl K. Maples of North Little Rock, Justice alleges that the gravel truck was overloaded, that Watkins was speeding or traveling too fast for existing conditions, and that he lost control, crashing into a 1995 Ford F-250 pickup owned and operated by Shirrell (Tommy) Simpson, which was then driven into the Justices’ vehicle.
Simpson and his wife Amanda filed a similar suit against Watson, Burns and Scurlock Aggregates for actual and punitive damages Sept. 22 in Pulaski County. Justice’s death left behind his disabled wife, Monica; disabled daughter, Haley N. Justice; two other daughters, a mother and a sister. The estate is suing for damages for pain and suffering sustained by Justice before he died, damages family members sustained due to the loss of his support and their mental anguish.
They want compensation for funeral expenses, damage to the destroyed vehicle and personal property. Monica Justice also is suing for punitive damages. She also wants compensation for permanent physical impairment and disfigurement, excruciating pain, extensive medical, mental and rehabilitation expenses as the result of injuries including complete degloving of the right side of her skull, with severe nerve damage; severe closed head injury, lacerations, clinical depression, three fractured vertebrae, a broken nose and other injuries.
Justice maintains that the defendants had a duty to the general public to exercise reasonable care in operating the motor vehicle. The Simpsons sued the same defendants, alleging that Tommy Simpson has required and continues to require medical care, treatment and rehabilitation likely for the remainder of his life for severe vertebrae and spinal cord injury. Amanda Simpson lost “consortium, society and aid” of her husband, the complaint alleges, including “loss of household services.”
Paul J. James of James and Carter in Little Rock represent the Simpsons.
Leader staff writer
The widow of the Cabot man crushed and killed February 23 when a loaded gravel truck slammed into a line of stopped traffic on the Hwy. 67/167 Main Street overpass in Jacksonville sued in White County Wednesday for actual and punitive damages against the driver and his direct and indirect employers.
Jerry Justice, 34, of 22 Geraldine Court, Ward, was pronounced dead at the scene after the gravel truck, driven by Donald Ray Watkins, 35, slammed two pickup trucks through the overpass guardrail and plunged after them onto Main Street, about 20 feet below, dumping the gravel on the other vehicles, according to the state police account.
Monica Justice, his wife, was a passenger in his truck, and she said she filed suit in part because eight months later, prosecutors had not charged Watkins with anything. Monica Justice, 35, also of 22 Geraldine Court in Ward and Jerry Justice’s mother, Patricia Justice, 57, of 145 Crossroads Cove, Ward, both were hospitalized for their injuries.
Watkins, driving a Burns Truck and Excavating dump truck, had painkillers and Valium in his system at the time of the accident, according to a State Police toxicology screen. He was hauling pea gravel from Bald Knob to North Little Rock at the time of the accident.
“I’ve got three daughters, a mother-in-law, sister-in-law and family in Fayetteville—so many people that lost him and that he had so much to give,” Justice said. “I have massive brain damage, memory problems connected with the wreck,” she said. “His mom’s real bad. We all depended on him,” said Justice, who also has multiple sclerosis. “When I was in a wheel chair, I depended on him. We grew up together.”
“(Watkins) decided to take a bunch of drugs and get behind the wheel of a truck,” she said. Watkins had Diazepam, Nordiazpam and Trazodone in his blood, according to an April 4 state Crime Lab report, but no alcohol. The report noted that the quantities in the blood of Watkins were “consistent with values widely considered to be normal or therapeutic.”
The report did not say whether or not the quantities in question could have impaired Watkins driving and contributed to the accident.
A pharmacist who asked not to be identified said that Diazepam—a generic Valium—and Trazodone used together could be “really sedating,” and should not be taken at the same time. Each would carry a warning not to operate heavy equipment or machinery, the pharmacist said. The Nordiazepam was the Diazepam that had already been metabolized, said the pharmacist.
Monica Justice filed suit as administrator of the Jerry S. Justice Jr. estate, for herself and also for Patricia Justice. Defendants include Watkins, Burns trucking, Burns Excavating, Scurlock Aggregates, Inc., and others unnamed. In her complaint, filed by attorney Cheryl K. Maples of North Little Rock, Justice alleges that the gravel truck was overloaded, that Watkins was speeding or traveling too fast for existing conditions, and that he lost control, crashing into a 1995 Ford F-250 pickup owned and operated by Shirrell (Tommy) Simpson, which was then driven into the Justices’ vehicle.
Simpson and his wife Amanda filed a similar suit against Watson, Burns and Scurlock Aggregates for actual and punitive damages Sept. 22 in Pulaski County. Justice’s death left behind his disabled wife, Monica; disabled daughter, Haley N. Justice; two other daughters, a mother and a sister. The estate is suing for damages for pain and suffering sustained by Justice before he died, damages family members sustained due to the loss of his support and their mental anguish.
They want compensation for funeral expenses, damage to the destroyed vehicle and personal property. Monica Justice also is suing for punitive damages. She also wants compensation for permanent physical impairment and disfigurement, excruciating pain, extensive medical, mental and rehabilitation expenses as the result of injuries including complete degloving of the right side of her skull, with severe nerve damage; severe closed head injury, lacerations, clinical depression, three fractured vertebrae, a broken nose and other injuries.
Justice maintains that the defendants had a duty to the general public to exercise reasonable care in operating the motor vehicle. The Simpsons sued the same defendants, alleging that Tommy Simpson has required and continues to require medical care, treatment and rehabilitation likely for the remainder of his life for severe vertebrae and spinal cord injury. Amanda Simpson lost “consortium, society and aid” of her husband, the complaint alleges, including “loss of household services.”
Paul J. James of James and Carter in Little Rock represent the Simpsons.
TOP STORY >>Celebrating Cabot rebirth
By HEATHER HARTSELLl
Leader staff writer
The 28th annual CabotFest that is being held today is a festival that has gone through many changes over the years.
Having started as a restoration celebration after a devastating tornado hit downtown Cabot in March 1976, CabotFest has grown into one of the city’s biggest events.
CabotFest, which is held in the downtown City Plaza area each October, has grown in popularity as the city’s population has grown dramatically since the tornado.
The first CabotFest, called “Cabot: We’re Back,” was held in 1978 after the town was rebuilt following the tornado.
During the rebuilding of the city, it was decided to build a new city hall, municipal courtroom, library (since relocated) and police station on the site of the debris-filled dividing point between the east and west sections of Main Street, creating City Plaza and the current Willie Ray Community Center.
Now in that tradition of growth, Cabot has just entered into a lease agreement to move the city hall offices into the old Community Bank building located next door. The new address for Cabot City Hall will be 1 City Plaza, but it won’t be called home until 2007.
When CabotFest began, it was a more low-key event, according to Betty Benedict, who has had a booth since 1979.
“It was more of a country community get together,” Benedict said. “At that time, only clubs and organizations had booths.”
Benedict said the event has really grown over the years, citing one big change being the cost of having a booth.
“When I started, it was $10 for a booth,” Benedict said. “Now it costs $75 for a booth, plus a $50 deposit that you don’t get back unless you stay from 9 a.m. until 6 p.m. Saturday.” Benedict also said former Cabot Chamber of Commerce director Mary Jane Sawyer added the carnival to CabotFest. Razorback Amusements has a dozen carnival rides set up for today’s festivities.
Other activities offered include live entertainment, a rock-climbing wall, an inflatable playground, a car show, a Nascar remote-control speedway and a motorcycle run. The Abate District 13 motorcycle group will be in attendance for the run.
First Security Bank is providing the children’s playground.
New to this year’s festivities is a 3-on-3 basketball tournament sponsored by the Arkansas Rim Rockers NBA development league. Players 5-years-old and up can compete. The tournament will culminate in a “Top Gun Blowout” featuring Arkansas basketball legends Kareem Reed and Scotty Thurman.
Leader staff writer
The 28th annual CabotFest that is being held today is a festival that has gone through many changes over the years.
Having started as a restoration celebration after a devastating tornado hit downtown Cabot in March 1976, CabotFest has grown into one of the city’s biggest events.
CabotFest, which is held in the downtown City Plaza area each October, has grown in popularity as the city’s population has grown dramatically since the tornado.
The first CabotFest, called “Cabot: We’re Back,” was held in 1978 after the town was rebuilt following the tornado.
During the rebuilding of the city, it was decided to build a new city hall, municipal courtroom, library (since relocated) and police station on the site of the debris-filled dividing point between the east and west sections of Main Street, creating City Plaza and the current Willie Ray Community Center.
Now in that tradition of growth, Cabot has just entered into a lease agreement to move the city hall offices into the old Community Bank building located next door. The new address for Cabot City Hall will be 1 City Plaza, but it won’t be called home until 2007.
When CabotFest began, it was a more low-key event, according to Betty Benedict, who has had a booth since 1979.
“It was more of a country community get together,” Benedict said. “At that time, only clubs and organizations had booths.”
Benedict said the event has really grown over the years, citing one big change being the cost of having a booth.
“When I started, it was $10 for a booth,” Benedict said. “Now it costs $75 for a booth, plus a $50 deposit that you don’t get back unless you stay from 9 a.m. until 6 p.m. Saturday.” Benedict also said former Cabot Chamber of Commerce director Mary Jane Sawyer added the carnival to CabotFest. Razorback Amusements has a dozen carnival rides set up for today’s festivities.
Other activities offered include live entertainment, a rock-climbing wall, an inflatable playground, a car show, a Nascar remote-control speedway and a motorcycle run. The Abate District 13 motorcycle group will be in attendance for the run.
First Security Bank is providing the children’s playground.
New to this year’s festivities is a 3-on-3 basketball tournament sponsored by the Arkansas Rim Rockers NBA development league. Players 5-years-old and up can compete. The tournament will culminate in a “Top Gun Blowout” featuring Arkansas basketball legends Kareem Reed and Scotty Thurman.
Wednesday, October 11, 2006
SPORTS >>Mustangs wary of winless Sylvan Hills
By RAY BENTON
Leader sports editor
Forrest City is 2-1 in conference play and Sylvan Hills is 0-3, but don’t expect the Mustangs to take the struggling Bears lightly. The two teams were in similar situations when last year’s meeting took place, and Forrest City barely escaped Sherwood with a one-point victory over the big underdogs.
Mustang coach Scott Reed remembers vividly that game, and says his team does too. “One thing we learned about them last year is that they’re going to fight no matter if they’re down or not or by how much,” Reed said. “They showed us a lot of character last year playing the way they did against us and ending the season like they did. Expecting an easy game won’t even cross our minds.”
Reed is aware of the weapons the Bears possess. Although Sylvan Hills has yet to duplicate its outstanding week-one performance, no one will forget it, especially the upcoming competition. “They’ve struggled for whatever reasons since then, but all you have to do to see what they’re capable of is look at that game against Catholic,” Reed said. “You can’t look at that game and think this is a team that can’t beat you. They have a lot of speed, a lot of good players.”
Reed even had a list of players he’s worried about. “Shod Neely is a good player. No. 70 and No. 82 are guys that look real strong on our film. Of course that quarterback is a double threat. They’ve got good running backs and a lot of speed at receiver. (Tyler) Roark is a kid that makes plays for them all the time. You just have to be on your toes are this team will hurt you.”
While Reed gave quite a scouting report on the Bears, he says it’s his own team that he’s concerned about the most. Reed’s Mustangs are in the process of revamping the offense to fit its new dual-quarterback system.
Forrest City was forced to resort to the new system when two-year starter ?? went down with an ankle injury against Searcy two weeks ago. ?? Barton and Lee Smith are alternating at quarterback now, but they are running a more-run-oriented system.
“They’re not as far along in our passing game so we’re changing some things to try and do what they are best at.” Reed said. “Anytime you lose a kid like ??, it does effect you, but we’re going to get better at what we’re doing.”
The new offense managed just 115 total yards in last week’s loss to Marion, but defensively it was FC’s best game so far.
“We are getting better on defense,” Reed said. “They played better than they have all year against Marion. They gave up a big play, and our offense didn’t help them, but they had a great game. I’m very pleased with the progress we’re making on that side of the ball. Hopefully the offense will improve and keep them off the field a little bit this week.”
Leader sports editor
Forrest City is 2-1 in conference play and Sylvan Hills is 0-3, but don’t expect the Mustangs to take the struggling Bears lightly. The two teams were in similar situations when last year’s meeting took place, and Forrest City barely escaped Sherwood with a one-point victory over the big underdogs.
Mustang coach Scott Reed remembers vividly that game, and says his team does too. “One thing we learned about them last year is that they’re going to fight no matter if they’re down or not or by how much,” Reed said. “They showed us a lot of character last year playing the way they did against us and ending the season like they did. Expecting an easy game won’t even cross our minds.”
Reed is aware of the weapons the Bears possess. Although Sylvan Hills has yet to duplicate its outstanding week-one performance, no one will forget it, especially the upcoming competition. “They’ve struggled for whatever reasons since then, but all you have to do to see what they’re capable of is look at that game against Catholic,” Reed said. “You can’t look at that game and think this is a team that can’t beat you. They have a lot of speed, a lot of good players.”
Reed even had a list of players he’s worried about. “Shod Neely is a good player. No. 70 and No. 82 are guys that look real strong on our film. Of course that quarterback is a double threat. They’ve got good running backs and a lot of speed at receiver. (Tyler) Roark is a kid that makes plays for them all the time. You just have to be on your toes are this team will hurt you.”
While Reed gave quite a scouting report on the Bears, he says it’s his own team that he’s concerned about the most. Reed’s Mustangs are in the process of revamping the offense to fit its new dual-quarterback system.
Forrest City was forced to resort to the new system when two-year starter ?? went down with an ankle injury against Searcy two weeks ago. ?? Barton and Lee Smith are alternating at quarterback now, but they are running a more-run-oriented system.
“They’re not as far along in our passing game so we’re changing some things to try and do what they are best at.” Reed said. “Anytime you lose a kid like ??, it does effect you, but we’re going to get better at what we’re doing.”
The new offense managed just 115 total yards in last week’s loss to Marion, but defensively it was FC’s best game so far.
“We are getting better on defense,” Reed said. “They played better than they have all year against Marion. They gave up a big play, and our offense didn’t help them, but they had a great game. I’m very pleased with the progress we’re making on that side of the ball. Hopefully the offense will improve and keep them off the field a little bit this week.”
SPORTS >>Cabot facing toughest opponent on the road
By RAY BENTON
Leader sports editor
Cabot’s offense moved the ball well against one of the best defenses in the state last week. Five turnovers went a long way in keeping the Panthers from converting all those yards they gained into points, but the mere fact that they moved the ball the way they did gives them hope heading into this week.
They’ll need all the confidence, all the execution and all the precision they can muster too, because this week they go from taking on one of the best defenses, to taking on the best defense when they travel to storied Quigley Stadium to take on undefeated Little Rock Central.
Stout defense has become synonymous with the Central Tigers the past few years. Even last year’s team that followed back-to-back state championship teams that failed to make the playoffs, still had one of the toughest defenses in the state.
This year, enough offense has been added to the stone fortress defense for the Tigers to be undefeated and in position for another conference championship.
Central has given up 21 points in six games, given up no more than seven points in any game, and held three opponents scoreless. Those are the same type of numbers the back-to-back state title teams put up. None of that is lost on Cabot coach Mike Malham. He is as much aware of how good Central’s defense has been the past few years as anyone. His Panthers are on an 0-3 streak to the Tigers over the past three years, only now it’s a conference game.
“They got a good defense there’s not question about that,” Malham said. “They sure haven’t given up much. They’re giving up three and a half points a game, they’ve got three shutouts. We’re just going to go in there and do what we do best. It’s going to be tough, but we’re going to shorten the game and try not to give up a big play.”
Central coach Bernie Cox doesn’t care much about Cabot’s 4-2 record or his team’s 6-0 record. He doesn’t care about his team’s three-game win streak against Cabot. He just cares about getting his team ready for the Panthers.
“They still bring that Cabot mystique into games and we’ve tried to make that point,” Cox said. “They better be ready because Cabot is never a team you can be unprepared for. No one runs what they run, and no one blocks like they block. They come off that line so low. We try to teach them to get the low pad, but that’s hard to do against Cabot. You at least have to be ready for that or they’ll push you up and down the field.”
Still, Cabot knows it has moved the ball well all season. It just haven’t stopped giving it away. If the Panthers can do that, they believe they will have a good chance this week. “We got away with those turnovers early in the year, but against these big teams we just can’t do that and expect to beat anybody,” Malham said. So the first thing we’ve got to do is hang onto the ball.”
Central has been on the other end of the turnover margin. They got six turnovers in week one to beat West Memphis, and got a few more in week two against Texarkana. The defense played well enough in those games to get the win while the offense improved. That culminated into a 33-0 win over Conway last week.
“We got six turnovers that first week or we never would have scored,” Cox said. “But our offense has improved to the point that I think last week’s game was our best, most complete game of the year. We’ve been very pleased, but there’s still a lot of things that we can do to get better. We haven’t been totally satisfied with everything.”
The injury situation isn’t good for Cabot either. Starters Josh Clem, Brian Frey, Logan Lucas and Jake Davis will all miss Friday’s game. That will leave the Cabot coaching staff with the task of shuffling the lineup, and playing a lot of sophomores.
“We’re probably going to end up play eight or nine sophomores,” Malham said. “We’re kind of a ragtag group right now, but we’re going there to win. We’re not going just to take a trip. If we do our thing, don’t put it on the ground, stay in position on defense, we might pull one out.”
Leader sports editor
Cabot’s offense moved the ball well against one of the best defenses in the state last week. Five turnovers went a long way in keeping the Panthers from converting all those yards they gained into points, but the mere fact that they moved the ball the way they did gives them hope heading into this week.
They’ll need all the confidence, all the execution and all the precision they can muster too, because this week they go from taking on one of the best defenses, to taking on the best defense when they travel to storied Quigley Stadium to take on undefeated Little Rock Central.
Stout defense has become synonymous with the Central Tigers the past few years. Even last year’s team that followed back-to-back state championship teams that failed to make the playoffs, still had one of the toughest defenses in the state.
This year, enough offense has been added to the stone fortress defense for the Tigers to be undefeated and in position for another conference championship.
Central has given up 21 points in six games, given up no more than seven points in any game, and held three opponents scoreless. Those are the same type of numbers the back-to-back state title teams put up. None of that is lost on Cabot coach Mike Malham. He is as much aware of how good Central’s defense has been the past few years as anyone. His Panthers are on an 0-3 streak to the Tigers over the past three years, only now it’s a conference game.
“They got a good defense there’s not question about that,” Malham said. “They sure haven’t given up much. They’re giving up three and a half points a game, they’ve got three shutouts. We’re just going to go in there and do what we do best. It’s going to be tough, but we’re going to shorten the game and try not to give up a big play.”
Central coach Bernie Cox doesn’t care much about Cabot’s 4-2 record or his team’s 6-0 record. He doesn’t care about his team’s three-game win streak against Cabot. He just cares about getting his team ready for the Panthers.
“They still bring that Cabot mystique into games and we’ve tried to make that point,” Cox said. “They better be ready because Cabot is never a team you can be unprepared for. No one runs what they run, and no one blocks like they block. They come off that line so low. We try to teach them to get the low pad, but that’s hard to do against Cabot. You at least have to be ready for that or they’ll push you up and down the field.”
Still, Cabot knows it has moved the ball well all season. It just haven’t stopped giving it away. If the Panthers can do that, they believe they will have a good chance this week. “We got away with those turnovers early in the year, but against these big teams we just can’t do that and expect to beat anybody,” Malham said. So the first thing we’ve got to do is hang onto the ball.”
Central has been on the other end of the turnover margin. They got six turnovers in week one to beat West Memphis, and got a few more in week two against Texarkana. The defense played well enough in those games to get the win while the offense improved. That culminated into a 33-0 win over Conway last week.
“We got six turnovers that first week or we never would have scored,” Cox said. “But our offense has improved to the point that I think last week’s game was our best, most complete game of the year. We’ve been very pleased, but there’s still a lot of things that we can do to get better. We haven’t been totally satisfied with everything.”
The injury situation isn’t good for Cabot either. Starters Josh Clem, Brian Frey, Logan Lucas and Jake Davis will all miss Friday’s game. That will leave the Cabot coaching staff with the task of shuffling the lineup, and playing a lot of sophomores.
“We’re probably going to end up play eight or nine sophomores,” Malham said. “We’re kind of a ragtag group right now, but we’re going there to win. We’re not going just to take a trip. If we do our thing, don’t put it on the ground, stay in position on defense, we might pull one out.”
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