IN SHORT: Being in the Air Force doesn’t stop her from taking part in other interests.
By SARA GREENE
Leader staff writer
Lt. Kelly George is not your typical airman. Neither is she your typical beauty queen.
Miss Air Force 2003, George, 24, of the 314th Airlift Wing’s Strategic Information Command, will compete in the Miss Arkansas USA pageant Saturday night in the Reynolds Performance Hall at the University of Central Arkansas in Conway.
A surfer raised in Mission Viejo, Calif., George entered her first pageant as a senior at Trabuco Hills High School, earning a spot among the top 25 in Miss Teenage California and getting $1,000 for being voted ‘Most Likely to Succeed’ among the contestants.
In the 20 or so pageants she’s competed in, George estimates she’s won about $25,000 in scholarship money to pay for her education at the University of Maryland.
George was in her freshman year at University of Maryland during the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Not long afterward, she joined the Air Force.
“I guess I’m idealistic. I wanted to do something to make a difference,” George said.
While earning her bachelor’s of communication, she interned at the Pentagon, escorting media for Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld.
After graduating in May 2005, she moved to her first duty station, Little Rock Air Force Base.
“Last summer when we (Little Rock Air Force Base) were the hub for international aid for Hurricane Katrina relief, I had only been on base for a couple of months so I really had to hit the ground running,” George said.
With all the media attention focused on the supplies being flown out of LRAFB, George, like many airmen, found herself getting by on a couple hours of sleep every couple of days.
“One night I did a phone interview with the BBC (British Broadcasting Company) while I was in my pajamas. I hadn’t had any official training yet,” George said. She is now pursing a master’s of art in interpersonal and organizational communications from the Univer-sity of Arkansas at Little Rock.
She doubts if her sisters, Karyn 21, and Kristen, 19, both attending college in California, will follow her in to the Air Force.
“My family is always a little nervous for my safety but they know how much I enjoy it,” George said. Even with a short time in the service, George has already witnessed the change that each generation of airmen bring with them.
“My fellow airmen are so bright and have such fresh, new ideas on how to do things and make improvements. It’s satisfying to watch their achievements get recognized and shared,” George said.
“I like that I get to find out about other people’s jobs as part of my job and I enjoy knowing how someone’s story fits into the bigger picture of the Air Force,” George said.
Being a spokesman for the military has prepared her for being a spokesman for the state as Miss Arkansas USA and both are great ways to be a role model for young women, George said. “You might not look like the girl next to you but you have something unique to offer. It’s not about being cocky, it’s about being comfortable,” George said.
The winner of Miss Arkansas USA will compete in the Miss USA pageant, a qualifier for Miss Universe.
Thursday, October 26, 2006
Wednesday, October 25, 2006
SPORTS >>Lonoke still eyeing title, Stuttgart in the way
By JASON KING
Leader sportswriter
Lonoke will face its toughest opponent all season this week when they travel to Stuttgart on Friday to battle the undefeated Ricebirds. The Jackrabbits are coming off a difficult loss against Marianna in a game that went down to the wire and was decided in the final minute by a failed two-point attempt.
Although the Jackrabbits have lost four games this season, the losses have been by a combined margin of only 15 points. A win on the road against Stuttgart will be difficult, but Lonoke does have a good chance to play the Ricebirds closer than any other opponent they have faced so far this season.
Stuttgart has dramatically outscored its opponents 305-67 through seven games. The Ricebirds have won every game by at least three scores, with a 34-14 win over Joe T. during week two standing as the closest game for them all season. Stuttgart coach Bobby Bolding says there is no threat of overconfidence from his team this week. The Ricebirds have had the luxury of an unscheduled off-week due to the cancellation of Mountain View’s season.
Stuttgart received a forfeit win last week. Bolding hopes the rest will help some of his starters mend the common bumps and bruises that occur at this point in the season. “We did some good things in practice last week,” Bolding said. “We were able to run some of our young kids and let some of the old guys heal up. I hope this week off will help us out against Lonoke.
“I think (Lonoke) keeps getting better and better every week. Coach Jones has a great program started down there. They give you looks you don’t see every day with their form of the spread and the 3-1-1 look they have defensively. They have talented skill people. They are kind of difficult to prepare for because of the things you don’t see all the time. I’m glad we’ve had this extra week to get ready.”
Stuttgart’s skill players have also had a solid year so far. Senior receiver Nico Hobbs has 25 receptions for 450 yards and six touchdowns in the first seven games, and tailback Tim Raines has 921 yards through six games. Raines has averaged almost 10 yards per carry after sitting out one game earlier in the year.
Stuttgart’s biggest game of the year will be next week against Marianna, but Bolding says his team doesn’t have time right now to worry about the potential conference-title game. “We really haven’t even looked at Marianna,” Bolding said. “We have been focused on Lonoke. They have more than enough to concern us this week, we will worry about that game when and if we get by this week.”
Leader sportswriter
Lonoke will face its toughest opponent all season this week when they travel to Stuttgart on Friday to battle the undefeated Ricebirds. The Jackrabbits are coming off a difficult loss against Marianna in a game that went down to the wire and was decided in the final minute by a failed two-point attempt.
Although the Jackrabbits have lost four games this season, the losses have been by a combined margin of only 15 points. A win on the road against Stuttgart will be difficult, but Lonoke does have a good chance to play the Ricebirds closer than any other opponent they have faced so far this season.
Stuttgart has dramatically outscored its opponents 305-67 through seven games. The Ricebirds have won every game by at least three scores, with a 34-14 win over Joe T. during week two standing as the closest game for them all season. Stuttgart coach Bobby Bolding says there is no threat of overconfidence from his team this week. The Ricebirds have had the luxury of an unscheduled off-week due to the cancellation of Mountain View’s season.
Stuttgart received a forfeit win last week. Bolding hopes the rest will help some of his starters mend the common bumps and bruises that occur at this point in the season. “We did some good things in practice last week,” Bolding said. “We were able to run some of our young kids and let some of the old guys heal up. I hope this week off will help us out against Lonoke.
“I think (Lonoke) keeps getting better and better every week. Coach Jones has a great program started down there. They give you looks you don’t see every day with their form of the spread and the 3-1-1 look they have defensively. They have talented skill people. They are kind of difficult to prepare for because of the things you don’t see all the time. I’m glad we’ve had this extra week to get ready.”
Stuttgart’s skill players have also had a solid year so far. Senior receiver Nico Hobbs has 25 receptions for 450 yards and six touchdowns in the first seven games, and tailback Tim Raines has 921 yards through six games. Raines has averaged almost 10 yards per carry after sitting out one game earlier in the year.
Stuttgart’s biggest game of the year will be next week against Marianna, but Bolding says his team doesn’t have time right now to worry about the potential conference-title game. “We really haven’t even looked at Marianna,” Bolding said. “We have been focused on Lonoke. They have more than enough to concern us this week, we will worry about that game when and if we get by this week.”
SPORTS >>Red Devils vying for top spot in 6A East
By RAY BENTON
Leader sports editor
Jacksonville is in a good situation, but not an easy one. The Red Devils meet up with the West Memphis Blue Devils this week at Jan Crow Stadium as the only two teams in the 6A-East Conference that hold their own destinies in their hands. Each team is in the same situation, win out and win the outright conference championship, or lose, and look for help from elsewhere.
Jacksonville closes on the road against Marion while West Memphis hosts Forrest City in week 10. None of that matters much to either team. They both know that the team in front of them now is the one that stands in the way of a league title. Jacksonville’s coaching staff is well aware of what West Memphis brings to the table. It’s something its team didn’t stop much a year ago, but no one in Jacksonville is focusing on last year’s 50-14 Loss at West Memphis.
“That was a year ago, two completely different teams, different set of circumstances,” Jacksonville coach Mark Whatley said.
While it’s apparent to all that Jacksonville’s offense is better this year, the second under the guidance of Whatley, it’s still not where he wants it to be.
“We still haven’t played as well as I think we can,” Whatley said. “We’re still dropping balls, still getting penalties that hurt drives. We’ve got to get to a new mindset. If you run on first down and get stuffed, that seems ok. It seems like if we drop back to pass on first down and it’s incomplete, it’s the end of the world. We’ve just got to have a short memory. When you throw it as much as we do, you’re going to drop some and you’re going to miss some. We just have to get back and run another play like we’re capable of.”
For all the mistakes Whatley says is hurting productivity, his team is still finding ways to win games. Whatley believes that’s a testament to the team’s effort. “They’ve played hard all season,” Whatley said. “Hadn’t always played smart, but they’ve played hard all year. We lost our composure out there against Jonesboro, and I think the team learned from that and grew because of it.”
One of the concerns for Jacksonville will be West Memphis’ mindset coming into the game. The Blue Devils just lost to Mountain Home last week. It was the first conference loss for the team since week four of 2004 and it snapped a 17-game conference winning streak.
Jacksonville could be hosting an angry bunch of Blue Devils this week. “We’re catching teams when they’re healthy, we’re catching teams when they’re mad. We seem to be catching everybody at just the wrong time. So far we’ve still found ways to win games.”
West Memphis is also one of the only teams in the classification with comparable talent to Jacksonville in the skill positions. The offense is led by running back Teddy Stackhouse. Whatley has other people to be concerned with as well. “That No. 5 (Denarius Jones) is a crackerjack too. They’re talented as can be. But I wouldn’t for one second think about trading ‘em for this bunch.”
Leader sports editor
Jacksonville is in a good situation, but not an easy one. The Red Devils meet up with the West Memphis Blue Devils this week at Jan Crow Stadium as the only two teams in the 6A-East Conference that hold their own destinies in their hands. Each team is in the same situation, win out and win the outright conference championship, or lose, and look for help from elsewhere.
Jacksonville closes on the road against Marion while West Memphis hosts Forrest City in week 10. None of that matters much to either team. They both know that the team in front of them now is the one that stands in the way of a league title. Jacksonville’s coaching staff is well aware of what West Memphis brings to the table. It’s something its team didn’t stop much a year ago, but no one in Jacksonville is focusing on last year’s 50-14 Loss at West Memphis.
“That was a year ago, two completely different teams, different set of circumstances,” Jacksonville coach Mark Whatley said.
While it’s apparent to all that Jacksonville’s offense is better this year, the second under the guidance of Whatley, it’s still not where he wants it to be.
“We still haven’t played as well as I think we can,” Whatley said. “We’re still dropping balls, still getting penalties that hurt drives. We’ve got to get to a new mindset. If you run on first down and get stuffed, that seems ok. It seems like if we drop back to pass on first down and it’s incomplete, it’s the end of the world. We’ve just got to have a short memory. When you throw it as much as we do, you’re going to drop some and you’re going to miss some. We just have to get back and run another play like we’re capable of.”
For all the mistakes Whatley says is hurting productivity, his team is still finding ways to win games. Whatley believes that’s a testament to the team’s effort. “They’ve played hard all season,” Whatley said. “Hadn’t always played smart, but they’ve played hard all year. We lost our composure out there against Jonesboro, and I think the team learned from that and grew because of it.”
One of the concerns for Jacksonville will be West Memphis’ mindset coming into the game. The Blue Devils just lost to Mountain Home last week. It was the first conference loss for the team since week four of 2004 and it snapped a 17-game conference winning streak.
Jacksonville could be hosting an angry bunch of Blue Devils this week. “We’re catching teams when they’re healthy, we’re catching teams when they’re mad. We seem to be catching everybody at just the wrong time. So far we’ve still found ways to win games.”
West Memphis is also one of the only teams in the classification with comparable talent to Jacksonville in the skill positions. The offense is led by running back Teddy Stackhouse. Whatley has other people to be concerned with as well. “That No. 5 (Denarius Jones) is a crackerjack too. They’re talented as can be. But I wouldn’t for one second think about trading ‘em for this bunch.”
SPORTS >>Winning a must now for Badgers
By JASON KING
Leader sportswriter
This week’s game between Beebe and Nettleton is a potential battle for the No. 3 seed in the 5A-East Conference, but for Badgers head coach Cam Prock, it’s just another tough game. Beebe prevailed last week in another come from behind win against Greene County Tech. The Eagles went ahead by two scores early on, but the Badgers were able to shut them out in the second half, while scoring 31 unanswered points in the process.
Prock says there is no method to the rallying madness that has come to define his explosive squad. He says above all, his kids simply refuse to quit when falling behind. “It’s kind of been typical of our offense this year,” Prock said. “They will sputter and sputter; sometimes they will take off and sometimes they won’t. I thought our defense played really well last week. They were able to get 14 points on us early, but even at that time, I thought we were playing well. We made a few adjustments as far as who would pick up what assignment, but it’s really no big secret that it usually just comes down to kids playing harder and making plays.”
Nettleton is easily the most improved team this season. The losing teams of the past few years have been replaced with a playoff-hungry team this year. Prock says that if his team is going to have success against the Raiders this Friday, the defensive line will have to control things against their offensive interior. That and try to stop standout tailback ??? Lawson.
“They have a good offensive line,” Prock said. “They block extremely well, and they have a good running back. He is one of those guys that is a strong runner and carries a lot of speed. It will be a good test for our defense.”
This time of the year finds many coaches crunching numbers to see what needs to happen in order for their teams to clinch a particular seed for the playoffs, but not Prock. He says all he is concerned about is his team playing at the top of its ability, and worry about the state brackets once the season is done.
“We have to go out and compete every down, it’s as simple as that,” Prock said. “When you start looking at what team is ranked where, it can become a distraction. You still have to go out and face the same competition either way. We are just going to compete hard and let everybody else do the math on all of that, we just want to win out.”
Leader sportswriter
This week’s game between Beebe and Nettleton is a potential battle for the No. 3 seed in the 5A-East Conference, but for Badgers head coach Cam Prock, it’s just another tough game. Beebe prevailed last week in another come from behind win against Greene County Tech. The Eagles went ahead by two scores early on, but the Badgers were able to shut them out in the second half, while scoring 31 unanswered points in the process.
Prock says there is no method to the rallying madness that has come to define his explosive squad. He says above all, his kids simply refuse to quit when falling behind. “It’s kind of been typical of our offense this year,” Prock said. “They will sputter and sputter; sometimes they will take off and sometimes they won’t. I thought our defense played really well last week. They were able to get 14 points on us early, but even at that time, I thought we were playing well. We made a few adjustments as far as who would pick up what assignment, but it’s really no big secret that it usually just comes down to kids playing harder and making plays.”
Nettleton is easily the most improved team this season. The losing teams of the past few years have been replaced with a playoff-hungry team this year. Prock says that if his team is going to have success against the Raiders this Friday, the defensive line will have to control things against their offensive interior. That and try to stop standout tailback ??? Lawson.
“They have a good offensive line,” Prock said. “They block extremely well, and they have a good running back. He is one of those guys that is a strong runner and carries a lot of speed. It will be a good test for our defense.”
This time of the year finds many coaches crunching numbers to see what needs to happen in order for their teams to clinch a particular seed for the playoffs, but not Prock. He says all he is concerned about is his team playing at the top of its ability, and worry about the state brackets once the season is done.
“We have to go out and compete every down, it’s as simple as that,” Prock said. “When you start looking at what team is ranked where, it can become a distraction. You still have to go out and face the same competition either way. We are just going to compete hard and let everybody else do the math on all of that, we just want to win out.”
SPORTS >>Panthers' hopes still alive
By RAY BENTON
Leader sports editor
Cabot is coming off a tough loss last week that saw the offense put up its worst output of the season. All appearances suggest they are getting a break after three straight weeks against conference unbeatens, but Cabot coach Mike Malham and the Panthers aren’t looking at this Friday’s trip to Pine Bluff in that way.
The Zebras are 1-7 overall and 1-4 in conference play, but have shown signs of being a dangerous team. Malham says they still have the same kind of athletes that have made them one of the most storied programs in the state. Things just haven’t gone well for them. “They’re 1-7 but they don’t look like they should be,” Malham said. “They’ve got everything. They’ve got all the ingredients, they just hadn’t put everything together for some reason.”
Malham points to their dominating win over Little Rock Catholic as evidence that the Zebras are dangerous when they play well. The Zebras beat Catholic 20-12 with a potent ground game. Cabot needed overtime to get past the Rockets in week five. That was also the Panthers’ last win. “They looked good against Catholic when they just ran their wishbone and the I and just pounded it at them,” Malham said. “With our luck they’ll play their best game of the year this week.”
Pine Bluff also had a 14-0 lead against Russellville, and led 14-12 in the fourth quarter before a major collapse allowed the Cyclones to escape with a 34-14 win. “They were doing the same thing to Russellville, but then just mistaked their way to a loss in that one. We can’t count on people making mistakes. You have to prepare for their best.”
Cabot’s offense moved the ball at times during its 7-0 loss to Bryant, despite only picking up 140 total yards. Lack of offensive firepower had more to do with eight offensive penalties than with an inability to move the ball. “I think that was the worst we’ve looked on offense in a long, long time,” Malham said. “I don’t think we had the ball one time that we didn’t get a penalty. You just can’t play like that. We’ve got six guys that were starters for us at the start of the year that aren’t playing now because of injury. So we’re shuffling people around, playing a lot of sophomores and playing people in places they hadn’t played before. It catches up to you sometimes, so I guess it just caught up to us.”
The defense played very well against an offense that had put up a lot of points in recent weeks. Malham hopes he continues to get that kind of effort in the last two weeks. “The defense played pretty good. We gave up some ground in the middle of the field, but we kept them out of the end zone. We just didn’t help ourselves any on offense.”
Cabot still has an outside shot at making the playoffs. The Panthers will need to win out against Pine Bluff and Russellville, and hope that Conway loses out to Russellville and Catholic. Little Rock Central, North Little Rock and Bryant have already secured three of the 7A-Central’s four playoff spots.
Leader sports editor
Cabot is coming off a tough loss last week that saw the offense put up its worst output of the season. All appearances suggest they are getting a break after three straight weeks against conference unbeatens, but Cabot coach Mike Malham and the Panthers aren’t looking at this Friday’s trip to Pine Bluff in that way.
The Zebras are 1-7 overall and 1-4 in conference play, but have shown signs of being a dangerous team. Malham says they still have the same kind of athletes that have made them one of the most storied programs in the state. Things just haven’t gone well for them. “They’re 1-7 but they don’t look like they should be,” Malham said. “They’ve got everything. They’ve got all the ingredients, they just hadn’t put everything together for some reason.”
Malham points to their dominating win over Little Rock Catholic as evidence that the Zebras are dangerous when they play well. The Zebras beat Catholic 20-12 with a potent ground game. Cabot needed overtime to get past the Rockets in week five. That was also the Panthers’ last win. “They looked good against Catholic when they just ran their wishbone and the I and just pounded it at them,” Malham said. “With our luck they’ll play their best game of the year this week.”
Pine Bluff also had a 14-0 lead against Russellville, and led 14-12 in the fourth quarter before a major collapse allowed the Cyclones to escape with a 34-14 win. “They were doing the same thing to Russellville, but then just mistaked their way to a loss in that one. We can’t count on people making mistakes. You have to prepare for their best.”
Cabot’s offense moved the ball at times during its 7-0 loss to Bryant, despite only picking up 140 total yards. Lack of offensive firepower had more to do with eight offensive penalties than with an inability to move the ball. “I think that was the worst we’ve looked on offense in a long, long time,” Malham said. “I don’t think we had the ball one time that we didn’t get a penalty. You just can’t play like that. We’ve got six guys that were starters for us at the start of the year that aren’t playing now because of injury. So we’re shuffling people around, playing a lot of sophomores and playing people in places they hadn’t played before. It catches up to you sometimes, so I guess it just caught up to us.”
The defense played very well against an offense that had put up a lot of points in recent weeks. Malham hopes he continues to get that kind of effort in the last two weeks. “The defense played pretty good. We gave up some ground in the middle of the field, but we kept them out of the end zone. We just didn’t help ourselves any on offense.”
Cabot still has an outside shot at making the playoffs. The Panthers will need to win out against Pine Bluff and Russellville, and hope that Conway loses out to Russellville and Catholic. Little Rock Central, North Little Rock and Bryant have already secured three of the 7A-Central’s four playoff spots.
EDITORIAL>>Snyder is the choice
No one as far as we know ever accused U. S. Rep. Vic Snyder of holding a wet finger to the winds before he voted or took a stand on a hot issue in a political campaign. No lawmaker in our memory ever cast more votes that seemed calculated to get him defeated. That was true in two terms in the Arkansas Senate and five terms in the U. S. House of Representatives.
Former U.S. Sen. Dale Bumpers once said that he knew of no politician to whom principle counted more and politics less.
Snyder has sometimes been found voting all alone in the 435-member House against a meaningless proposition that was intended to set up members of his party for defeat. When party leaders told him he would be casting a needlessly dangerous vote, he said it was a stupid position and he would vote no, knowing that it would be used against him in the next election. It was.
That sort of courage and honor is only one reason we support Snyder’s re-election. He is what someone once called “an undemagogue.” We also think he is uncommonly wise and frugal. If a majority of his colleagues voted with him, the United States would not be running a mammoth budget deficit and we would be spending our taxes more wisely and helpfully for the American people.
Snyder’s opponent this year is Andy Mayberry, whose campaign is calculated to take advantage of the happenstance of his name, which is supposed to remind people of the mythical television town of Mayberry. Otherwise, his campaign is known for a few bizarre stands. Here is one: He wants every school to have government-enforced prayer.
The prayer that children heard each day would be the one prescribed by the predominant religion in the neighborhood: Catholic, Baptist, Muslim, Mormon, Lutheran, Jewish, whatever. Vic Snyder is the choice in Congressional District Two.
Former U.S. Sen. Dale Bumpers once said that he knew of no politician to whom principle counted more and politics less.
Snyder has sometimes been found voting all alone in the 435-member House against a meaningless proposition that was intended to set up members of his party for defeat. When party leaders told him he would be casting a needlessly dangerous vote, he said it was a stupid position and he would vote no, knowing that it would be used against him in the next election. It was.
That sort of courage and honor is only one reason we support Snyder’s re-election. He is what someone once called “an undemagogue.” We also think he is uncommonly wise and frugal. If a majority of his colleagues voted with him, the United States would not be running a mammoth budget deficit and we would be spending our taxes more wisely and helpfully for the American people.
Snyder’s opponent this year is Andy Mayberry, whose campaign is calculated to take advantage of the happenstance of his name, which is supposed to remind people of the mythical television town of Mayberry. Otherwise, his campaign is known for a few bizarre stands. Here is one: He wants every school to have government-enforced prayer.
The prayer that children heard each day would be the one prescribed by the predominant religion in the neighborhood: Catholic, Baptist, Muslim, Mormon, Lutheran, Jewish, whatever. Vic Snyder is the choice in Congressional District Two.
EDITORIAL>>Using kids in attack ads
Politicians always feign shock and disbelief at the depths to which their opponents will sink in their television advertising, but Mike Beebe has a point when he complains that Asa Hutchinson’s latest ads exploit children for political advantage.
The commercials may not produce the advantage that Hutchinson intends. It must be vaguely unsettling to voters to see children spouting mean political slogans about a man they do not know and may never have heard of. Beebe said he had heard from two women who were so offended by the ads that they had changed their minds and were going to vote for him.
Beebe, the Democratic candidate for governor, asked Hutchinson to cancel the advertising campaign, knowing that Hutchinson would not. The Republican candidate said the advertisements were “lighthearted” and “fun” and that, besides, “In the spirit of politics, it’s a tough campaign.”
In a tough campaign, a candidate does what he has to do. Hutchinson is not the first candidate to exploit the appeal of children. Beebe himself often appears with children in his own ads, although he says he’s careful to make them positive. They are not attacking his opponent or even supporting Beebe.
In the Hutchinson ad, the children embrace the cynical view of politics and politicians. One begins, “When I grow up. . .” and then another continues “. . . I want to be a politician.” Other children in succession repeat a series of negative characteristics of politicians, all of which are labels Hutchinson has tried to pin on Beebe: “flip-flopper,” “backslapper,” “tell voters what they want to hear” and “raise taxes whenever I want.”
Then two children repeat in succession “. . . just like Mike Beebe.” Finally, another child laughs. Those are standard lines in political ads and stump speeches, and voters many years ago became urbane in the ways of advertising. They know that “plain citizens” who appear in commercials attacking the character of an opposing politician or endorsing a product are usually actors, often paid for their lines and their feigned sincerity, and not unsolicited critics or admirers.
Hutchinson or any other candidate does not have much credence when he calls an opponent a flip-flopper or a taxer-and-spender, but from the mouths of innocent children we are supposed to expect sincerity if not wisdom. Hutchinson explained that the children’s voices “broke through the clutter” of political advertising.
There is not much honesty in political advertising, and there is no honesty in these ads. What do even the most precocious children know of a state senator’s long record on tax and appropriation votes or the nuances of his stands on the multiple issues of a long campaign? Hutchinson could find few adults knowledgeable enough to make such judgments.
Does Hutchinson’s campaign cross the line in trading on the trust and naïveté of children? We have an idea, a faith, that viewers will decide that in a way that will not help Asa Hutchinson.
The commercials may not produce the advantage that Hutchinson intends. It must be vaguely unsettling to voters to see children spouting mean political slogans about a man they do not know and may never have heard of. Beebe said he had heard from two women who were so offended by the ads that they had changed their minds and were going to vote for him.
Beebe, the Democratic candidate for governor, asked Hutchinson to cancel the advertising campaign, knowing that Hutchinson would not. The Republican candidate said the advertisements were “lighthearted” and “fun” and that, besides, “In the spirit of politics, it’s a tough campaign.”
In a tough campaign, a candidate does what he has to do. Hutchinson is not the first candidate to exploit the appeal of children. Beebe himself often appears with children in his own ads, although he says he’s careful to make them positive. They are not attacking his opponent or even supporting Beebe.
In the Hutchinson ad, the children embrace the cynical view of politics and politicians. One begins, “When I grow up. . .” and then another continues “. . . I want to be a politician.” Other children in succession repeat a series of negative characteristics of politicians, all of which are labels Hutchinson has tried to pin on Beebe: “flip-flopper,” “backslapper,” “tell voters what they want to hear” and “raise taxes whenever I want.”
Then two children repeat in succession “. . . just like Mike Beebe.” Finally, another child laughs. Those are standard lines in political ads and stump speeches, and voters many years ago became urbane in the ways of advertising. They know that “plain citizens” who appear in commercials attacking the character of an opposing politician or endorsing a product are usually actors, often paid for their lines and their feigned sincerity, and not unsolicited critics or admirers.
Hutchinson or any other candidate does not have much credence when he calls an opponent a flip-flopper or a taxer-and-spender, but from the mouths of innocent children we are supposed to expect sincerity if not wisdom. Hutchinson explained that the children’s voices “broke through the clutter” of political advertising.
There is not much honesty in political advertising, and there is no honesty in these ads. What do even the most precocious children know of a state senator’s long record on tax and appropriation votes or the nuances of his stands on the multiple issues of a long campaign? Hutchinson could find few adults knowledgeable enough to make such judgments.
Does Hutchinson’s campaign cross the line in trading on the trust and naïveté of children? We have an idea, a faith, that viewers will decide that in a way that will not help Asa Hutchinson.
OBITUARIES >> 10-25-06
SHELBA BAKER
Shelba J. Baker, 70, of Jacksonville went to be with the Lord Oct. 23, in Little Rock. She was born to the late Jesse and Inez Tatum Powell on June 4, 1936 in Almond. She was a dance instructor as a young woman and more recently a member of the Nail Benders and a member of Grannies on the Go, helping to provide lap rugs and wheelchair caddies to nursing home residents.
Survivors include her husband, Joe W. Baker of Jacksonville; her children, James Baker, Sheila Greishiemer and husband Tom-my, David Baker and wife Lisa, all of Memphis, Tenn., and Carol Smith and husband Darryl of Cabot; brother, Roger Powell and wife Carlie of Watson Chapel; sister, Roberta Gill and husband Jeff of Clarksville; and stepfather, R.C. Hughes of Clarksville; 12 grandchildren; 15 great-grandchildren as well as loving aunts, uncles, cousins and other friends and family.
Funeral services will be held at 9:30 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 25 at Moore’s Jacksonville Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Bill Elliot officiating.
Burial will follow in the Arkansas State Veterans Cemetery in North Little Rock.
CHARITY JOHNSON
Charity Lynn Johnson, 25, passed away Oct. 21, at Jacksonville’s Rebsamen Medical Center. She was preceded in death by her grandfather, Ronald Hasley. She leaves behind a loving husband Jeremy and twin daughters, Ariana and Keeley all of Ward; mother and stepfather, Brenda and Robert Childers of Lonoke; father, Carol Castleberry of North Little Rock; brother, Eric Castleberry of Lonoke; sister, Chastity Castleberry of Little Rock; grandmothers, Elizabeth Hasley of Carlisle and Ova Lee Castleberry of England; a nephew, and a host of aunts, uncles and cousins.
Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 25 at Boyd Funeral Home in Lonoke.
CARRIE CURRY
Carrie Lee Charlotte Saunders Curry of Jacksonville departed this world, entering Heaven on Oct. 22, at her home. Carrie was born in Dayton, Ohio, to the late William Henry Saunders and Celestine Davis. She confessed Christ at an early age and at-tended Little Rock Air Force Base Chapel. She was a faithful wife, mother and friend. Her youngest brother Frederick Saunders preceded her in death.
Her life will be remembered and celebrated by her husband of 48 years, Dewitt Curry; her daughters, Barbara J. Quinlan and husband Albert of Carson, Calif., Fanchette C. Vickers and husband Calvin of Jacksonville, Alda P. Stamps and husband Emerson of Topeka, Kan., and Shirley A. Wallace and husband Ozeia of Jonesboro, Ga.; brother, James Saunders and wife Merdis of Phoenix City, Ala.; sister, Ever Saunders of Columbus, Ga.; 10 grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren and a host of friends world-wide will cherish her memory. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m., Thursday, Oct. 26, at Moore’s Jacksonville Funeral Home Chapel with Chaplin Tony Wade officiating. Burial will follow in Chapel Hill Memorial Park.
The family will receive friends at the funeral home from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 25.
MILDRED GOAD
Mildred Linn Goad, 93, of Benton passed away in Cabot on Oct. 23.
She was born Oct. 29, 1912 in Quitman to the late James Asa Linn and Mary Ida Carter Linn. Mildred was a member of the First Baptist Church of Benton and a homemaker. She lived in Benton for 45 years before moving to Andover Place in Little Rock. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband of 59 years, Denis Goad; an infant daughter; four brothers; and three sisters. Survivors include her sons, Scott and wife Sharon Goad of Cabot, and Edwin and wife Janice Goad of Houston, Texas; seven grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild.
Visitation will be from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Oct. 26 at Ashby Funeral Home in Benton. Graveside services will be at 3 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 26 at New Rosemont Cemetery with Bro. Curtis Kyle officiating.
ALINE HARRELL
Aline Harrell, 86, of Beebe, was released to the Lord on Oct. 22. She was born Sept. 15, 1920, at Beebe, to John Francis and Mary Beth Becton Ervin. Aline spent most of her adult life living and traveling throughout the world as the devoted wife of a career military man. After SMSGT Harrell’s retirement in 1967, she was instrumental in creating the Fred A. Harrell VFW Post 7769 in Beebe.
During the post-retirement years, her labors of love were gardening and serving the VFW Post. She was preceded in death by her husband, Fred Harrell; her parents; and two brothers, Charles Dewey Ervin and Donald Wayne Ervin. She is survived by one son, Fred Joseph Soncini of Hot Springs; one daughter, Sheila Kemp and husband Larry of Mason, Texas; two grandchildren, Heather Dickinson of Leander, Texas and Joshua Kemp of Austin, Texas; two great-grandchildren, Elijah Dickinson and Shiloh Dickinson; and one sister, Mary Frances Hubbard of Beebe.
Family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 26 at Westbrook Funeral Home in Beebe. The funeral service will be at 10 a.m. Friday, Oct. 27, at the funeral home with the Rev. Joe Hellums presiding. Burial will be in Lebanon Cemetery at McRae, with the active members and non-members of VFW Post 7769 serving as pallbearers.
LUCILLE VANPELT
Lucille VanPelt, 82, of Beebe, died Oct. 21. She was a housewife and a member of Beebe Church of Christ. She is survived by one brother, Denzle and wife Ada Mathis of Beebe, and several nieces and nephews. Funeral services were held Oct. 23 at Westbrook Funeral Home. Burial was in Beebe Cemetery.
TOMMY SHORES
Tommy Shores, 72, of Austin, passed away Oct. 21. He was born July 17, 1934 at Stuttgart, a son of Velma and William Shores. He was a Baptist. Tommy retired from CenturyTel after more than 41 years. He spent two years in the Army.
He is survived by his wife, Betty Shores of Ward; three children, Donna and husband Gary Eirhart of Laughlin, Nev., Thomas Shores of Memphis, Tenn., and Scott Shores of Griffithville; three grandchildren, Britteny Eirhart of Laughlin, Nev., Magen and Devon Shores, both of Cabot; three brothers; several nieces, nephews and a host of friends and extended family.
Tommy was a very casual and loving man.
Funeral services were held Oct. 24 at Westbrook Funeral Home with burial in Memorial Gardens at Beebe.
MARTHA PAPPALARDO
Martha Jane Pappalardo, 68, of Jacksonville (formerly of New Platz, N.Y.) died Oct. 21. She was born in Pleasant Valley, N.Y. on Sept. 7, 1938. She was preceded in death by her mother, Catherine Lewis; step-father, Thomas Lewis, and father, Walter Hay. She is survived by her husband of 45 years, Carmelo Pappalardo; her sons, Sal Pappalardo and his wife, Janeice of Jacksonville and Carl and Patrick Pappalardo and his wife Christina of New York; her grandchildren, Brian, Ariana, Carina, Patrick and Leslie; her sisters, Shirley Pierce and Lydia Zeleznik; brothers, Joseph Lewis, John Hay, Tommy Lewis and Christopher Lewis, and many nieces and nephews.
Martha became a born again Christian in 1999 and was an active church member. She leaves behind many who loved her and will miss her deeply. Funeral services were held Oct. 24 at Bayou Meto Baptist Church with Rev. Jim Edwards officiating. Burial was in Sumner Cemetery. Memorials may be made to Heifer International and The Gideons International.
Funeral arrangements were by Moore’s Jacksonville Funeral Home.
HELEN BRYANT
Helen May Bryant, age 75, of Ward passed away Oct. 21. She was a loving wife, mother, grandmother and friend to all who knew her. She was born and raised in Arizona. She was preceded in death by her parents, Carl and Margaret Hanes and sister Betty Redfearn. She is survived by her husband of 57 years, V. Eldon Bryant; one daughter Vel’ Donna R. Troup of Ward; two sons, Jimmie E. Bryant of Jacksonville and John W. Bryant of England; three brothers, Oris Hanes, George Hanes and William Hanes, all of Arizona; nine grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.
Burial will be in Prescott, Ariz. at a later date. Donations may be made in her name to St. Jude’s Childrens Hospital or the American Cancer Society. Arrangements are by Westbrook Funeral Home.
Shelba J. Baker, 70, of Jacksonville went to be with the Lord Oct. 23, in Little Rock. She was born to the late Jesse and Inez Tatum Powell on June 4, 1936 in Almond. She was a dance instructor as a young woman and more recently a member of the Nail Benders and a member of Grannies on the Go, helping to provide lap rugs and wheelchair caddies to nursing home residents.
Survivors include her husband, Joe W. Baker of Jacksonville; her children, James Baker, Sheila Greishiemer and husband Tom-my, David Baker and wife Lisa, all of Memphis, Tenn., and Carol Smith and husband Darryl of Cabot; brother, Roger Powell and wife Carlie of Watson Chapel; sister, Roberta Gill and husband Jeff of Clarksville; and stepfather, R.C. Hughes of Clarksville; 12 grandchildren; 15 great-grandchildren as well as loving aunts, uncles, cousins and other friends and family.
Funeral services will be held at 9:30 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 25 at Moore’s Jacksonville Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Bill Elliot officiating.
Burial will follow in the Arkansas State Veterans Cemetery in North Little Rock.
CHARITY JOHNSON
Charity Lynn Johnson, 25, passed away Oct. 21, at Jacksonville’s Rebsamen Medical Center. She was preceded in death by her grandfather, Ronald Hasley. She leaves behind a loving husband Jeremy and twin daughters, Ariana and Keeley all of Ward; mother and stepfather, Brenda and Robert Childers of Lonoke; father, Carol Castleberry of North Little Rock; brother, Eric Castleberry of Lonoke; sister, Chastity Castleberry of Little Rock; grandmothers, Elizabeth Hasley of Carlisle and Ova Lee Castleberry of England; a nephew, and a host of aunts, uncles and cousins.
Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 25 at Boyd Funeral Home in Lonoke.
CARRIE CURRY
Carrie Lee Charlotte Saunders Curry of Jacksonville departed this world, entering Heaven on Oct. 22, at her home. Carrie was born in Dayton, Ohio, to the late William Henry Saunders and Celestine Davis. She confessed Christ at an early age and at-tended Little Rock Air Force Base Chapel. She was a faithful wife, mother and friend. Her youngest brother Frederick Saunders preceded her in death.
Her life will be remembered and celebrated by her husband of 48 years, Dewitt Curry; her daughters, Barbara J. Quinlan and husband Albert of Carson, Calif., Fanchette C. Vickers and husband Calvin of Jacksonville, Alda P. Stamps and husband Emerson of Topeka, Kan., and Shirley A. Wallace and husband Ozeia of Jonesboro, Ga.; brother, James Saunders and wife Merdis of Phoenix City, Ala.; sister, Ever Saunders of Columbus, Ga.; 10 grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren and a host of friends world-wide will cherish her memory. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m., Thursday, Oct. 26, at Moore’s Jacksonville Funeral Home Chapel with Chaplin Tony Wade officiating. Burial will follow in Chapel Hill Memorial Park.
The family will receive friends at the funeral home from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 25.
MILDRED GOAD
Mildred Linn Goad, 93, of Benton passed away in Cabot on Oct. 23.
She was born Oct. 29, 1912 in Quitman to the late James Asa Linn and Mary Ida Carter Linn. Mildred was a member of the First Baptist Church of Benton and a homemaker. She lived in Benton for 45 years before moving to Andover Place in Little Rock. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband of 59 years, Denis Goad; an infant daughter; four brothers; and three sisters. Survivors include her sons, Scott and wife Sharon Goad of Cabot, and Edwin and wife Janice Goad of Houston, Texas; seven grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild.
Visitation will be from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Oct. 26 at Ashby Funeral Home in Benton. Graveside services will be at 3 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 26 at New Rosemont Cemetery with Bro. Curtis Kyle officiating.
ALINE HARRELL
Aline Harrell, 86, of Beebe, was released to the Lord on Oct. 22. She was born Sept. 15, 1920, at Beebe, to John Francis and Mary Beth Becton Ervin. Aline spent most of her adult life living and traveling throughout the world as the devoted wife of a career military man. After SMSGT Harrell’s retirement in 1967, she was instrumental in creating the Fred A. Harrell VFW Post 7769 in Beebe.
During the post-retirement years, her labors of love were gardening and serving the VFW Post. She was preceded in death by her husband, Fred Harrell; her parents; and two brothers, Charles Dewey Ervin and Donald Wayne Ervin. She is survived by one son, Fred Joseph Soncini of Hot Springs; one daughter, Sheila Kemp and husband Larry of Mason, Texas; two grandchildren, Heather Dickinson of Leander, Texas and Joshua Kemp of Austin, Texas; two great-grandchildren, Elijah Dickinson and Shiloh Dickinson; and one sister, Mary Frances Hubbard of Beebe.
Family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 26 at Westbrook Funeral Home in Beebe. The funeral service will be at 10 a.m. Friday, Oct. 27, at the funeral home with the Rev. Joe Hellums presiding. Burial will be in Lebanon Cemetery at McRae, with the active members and non-members of VFW Post 7769 serving as pallbearers.
LUCILLE VANPELT
Lucille VanPelt, 82, of Beebe, died Oct. 21. She was a housewife and a member of Beebe Church of Christ. She is survived by one brother, Denzle and wife Ada Mathis of Beebe, and several nieces and nephews. Funeral services were held Oct. 23 at Westbrook Funeral Home. Burial was in Beebe Cemetery.
TOMMY SHORES
Tommy Shores, 72, of Austin, passed away Oct. 21. He was born July 17, 1934 at Stuttgart, a son of Velma and William Shores. He was a Baptist. Tommy retired from CenturyTel after more than 41 years. He spent two years in the Army.
He is survived by his wife, Betty Shores of Ward; three children, Donna and husband Gary Eirhart of Laughlin, Nev., Thomas Shores of Memphis, Tenn., and Scott Shores of Griffithville; three grandchildren, Britteny Eirhart of Laughlin, Nev., Magen and Devon Shores, both of Cabot; three brothers; several nieces, nephews and a host of friends and extended family.
Tommy was a very casual and loving man.
Funeral services were held Oct. 24 at Westbrook Funeral Home with burial in Memorial Gardens at Beebe.
MARTHA PAPPALARDO
Martha Jane Pappalardo, 68, of Jacksonville (formerly of New Platz, N.Y.) died Oct. 21. She was born in Pleasant Valley, N.Y. on Sept. 7, 1938. She was preceded in death by her mother, Catherine Lewis; step-father, Thomas Lewis, and father, Walter Hay. She is survived by her husband of 45 years, Carmelo Pappalardo; her sons, Sal Pappalardo and his wife, Janeice of Jacksonville and Carl and Patrick Pappalardo and his wife Christina of New York; her grandchildren, Brian, Ariana, Carina, Patrick and Leslie; her sisters, Shirley Pierce and Lydia Zeleznik; brothers, Joseph Lewis, John Hay, Tommy Lewis and Christopher Lewis, and many nieces and nephews.
Martha became a born again Christian in 1999 and was an active church member. She leaves behind many who loved her and will miss her deeply. Funeral services were held Oct. 24 at Bayou Meto Baptist Church with Rev. Jim Edwards officiating. Burial was in Sumner Cemetery. Memorials may be made to Heifer International and The Gideons International.
Funeral arrangements were by Moore’s Jacksonville Funeral Home.
HELEN BRYANT
Helen May Bryant, age 75, of Ward passed away Oct. 21. She was a loving wife, mother, grandmother and friend to all who knew her. She was born and raised in Arizona. She was preceded in death by her parents, Carl and Margaret Hanes and sister Betty Redfearn. She is survived by her husband of 57 years, V. Eldon Bryant; one daughter Vel’ Donna R. Troup of Ward; two sons, Jimmie E. Bryant of Jacksonville and John W. Bryant of England; three brothers, Oris Hanes, George Hanes and William Hanes, all of Arizona; nine grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.
Burial will be in Prescott, Ariz. at a later date. Donations may be made in her name to St. Jude’s Childrens Hospital or the American Cancer Society. Arrangements are by Westbrook Funeral Home.
FROM THE PUBLISHER >>Eyewitness to uprising in Hungary
I’m going to write this week about an eyewitness to the Hungarian revolution — me.
This week marks the 50th anniversary of the uprising, although there’s not much celebrating in Hungary,
where people died for freedom, because violent demonstrations are taking place against the government.
But the uprising on Oct. 23, 1956, although it was crushed a couple of weeks later with Soviet tanks, eventually
helped destroy the communist empire.
Hundreds of thousands of people who were trapped inside the Soviet empire rose up against communism,
but receiving no help from the West, they had no chance of winning as Soviet tanks rolled into Hungary with
some 30,000 Red Army soldiers. The U.S. stood by and allowed the Kremlin to reassert its control over
the captive nations in eastern Europe. Talk about another intelligence failure. If the U.S. had sent CIA agents
into Hungary, they would have known that Hungarians overwhelmingly opposed the foreign occupiers,
who would have retreated behind their borders with a little shove from the U.S.
But America had no idea of what was going on in Hungary — the U.S. had just one Hungarian-speaking
agent in place during the revolution. America decided to do nothing even after the Kremlin’s puppets were on the run and a coalition government made up of Hungarian patriots gained control in much of the country. But outgunned and crushed, some 200,000 Hungarians fled abroad, most of them to the U.S., where they became productive citizens and founded companies like Intel and other enterprises, some even in Arkansas.
After my family fled across the border into neutral Austria and arrived in America, I found out that Secretary of State John Foster Dulles didn’t think the U.S. could risk a showdown with the Kremlin in an area that was under its sphere of influence after the Yalta Agreement at the end of the Second World War. Sure, Radio Free Europe promised help was on the way during the fighting, but the U.S., distracted by the Suez crisis and wary of confronting the Soviets, stood by as Budapest burned.
A couple of C-130s landing in the capital city with a dozen jeeps and 100 airmen and some U.S. flags and a few rifles would have kept the Soviets out. They wouldn’t have risked a nuclear war over Hungary, but the U.S. gave the Kremlin the green light in eastern Europe, putting off communism’s demise by some 30 years.
I was just a child, but the Soviets didn’t seem that tough to me. Perhaps that’s why I still have a kid’s view of the fighting: Maybe it’s childish of me to believe that the U.S. could have helped bring democracy to eastern Europe three decades sooner.
The U.S. would have been welcomed as liberators, but maybe that’s just a kid talking 50 years after the fact.
I watched those Soviet tanks rumble into our town, but seeing a picture of a puny Soviet-era tank on display in Budapest this week (and hijacked by some crazed demonstrators), you wonder if the Kremlin would have had the stomach for a fight if the U.S. had dropped just a few weapons into Hungary. The Red Army had seen better days, having defeated the Nazis a decade earlier, but its soldiers weren’t eager to fight ordinary citizens wanting their independence.
(Decades later, the Russians lost badly in Afghanistan against the mujahadeen, whom we armed with shoulder-mounted rockets, which, much to our regret, they later turned on us when they evolved into al-Qaeda, but that’s a history lesson for another day.) I keep coming back to our intelligence failures. We do not have the experts who know what’s going on in trouble spots around the world — or if those experts do exist, they’re often ignored.
Just as we knew little about revolutionary Hungary — even though there had been popular uprisings earlier in East Germany and Poland, where thousands of people were also willing to die for freedom — our government’s position was that we couldn’t help them, even though they looked to America for leadership. Because of an absence of human intelligence on the ground, we often stay out of conflicts that cry out for our support, yet we get bogged down in wars that are hardly worth fighting.
This week marks the 50th anniversary of the uprising, although there’s not much celebrating in Hungary,
where people died for freedom, because violent demonstrations are taking place against the government.
But the uprising on Oct. 23, 1956, although it was crushed a couple of weeks later with Soviet tanks, eventually
helped destroy the communist empire.
Hundreds of thousands of people who were trapped inside the Soviet empire rose up against communism,
but receiving no help from the West, they had no chance of winning as Soviet tanks rolled into Hungary with
some 30,000 Red Army soldiers. The U.S. stood by and allowed the Kremlin to reassert its control over
the captive nations in eastern Europe. Talk about another intelligence failure. If the U.S. had sent CIA agents
into Hungary, they would have known that Hungarians overwhelmingly opposed the foreign occupiers,
who would have retreated behind their borders with a little shove from the U.S.
But America had no idea of what was going on in Hungary — the U.S. had just one Hungarian-speaking
agent in place during the revolution. America decided to do nothing even after the Kremlin’s puppets were on the run and a coalition government made up of Hungarian patriots gained control in much of the country. But outgunned and crushed, some 200,000 Hungarians fled abroad, most of them to the U.S., where they became productive citizens and founded companies like Intel and other enterprises, some even in Arkansas.
After my family fled across the border into neutral Austria and arrived in America, I found out that Secretary of State John Foster Dulles didn’t think the U.S. could risk a showdown with the Kremlin in an area that was under its sphere of influence after the Yalta Agreement at the end of the Second World War. Sure, Radio Free Europe promised help was on the way during the fighting, but the U.S., distracted by the Suez crisis and wary of confronting the Soviets, stood by as Budapest burned.
A couple of C-130s landing in the capital city with a dozen jeeps and 100 airmen and some U.S. flags and a few rifles would have kept the Soviets out. They wouldn’t have risked a nuclear war over Hungary, but the U.S. gave the Kremlin the green light in eastern Europe, putting off communism’s demise by some 30 years.
I was just a child, but the Soviets didn’t seem that tough to me. Perhaps that’s why I still have a kid’s view of the fighting: Maybe it’s childish of me to believe that the U.S. could have helped bring democracy to eastern Europe three decades sooner.
The U.S. would have been welcomed as liberators, but maybe that’s just a kid talking 50 years after the fact.
I watched those Soviet tanks rumble into our town, but seeing a picture of a puny Soviet-era tank on display in Budapest this week (and hijacked by some crazed demonstrators), you wonder if the Kremlin would have had the stomach for a fight if the U.S. had dropped just a few weapons into Hungary. The Red Army had seen better days, having defeated the Nazis a decade earlier, but its soldiers weren’t eager to fight ordinary citizens wanting their independence.
(Decades later, the Russians lost badly in Afghanistan against the mujahadeen, whom we armed with shoulder-mounted rockets, which, much to our regret, they later turned on us when they evolved into al-Qaeda, but that’s a history lesson for another day.) I keep coming back to our intelligence failures. We do not have the experts who know what’s going on in trouble spots around the world — or if those experts do exist, they’re often ignored.
Just as we knew little about revolutionary Hungary — even though there had been popular uprisings earlier in East Germany and Poland, where thousands of people were also willing to die for freedom — our government’s position was that we couldn’t help them, even though they looked to America for leadership. Because of an absence of human intelligence on the ground, we often stay out of conflicts that cry out for our support, yet we get bogged down in wars that are hardly worth fighting.
TOP STORY >>White County voters go to Searcy
By SARA GREENE
Leader staff writer
The Democratic gubernatorial candidate Mike Beebe and his wife Ginger were among more than 280 voters who cast
electronic ballots during early voting Monday at the White County Courthouse at Searcy.
The couple left the campaign trail Tuesday after a death in the family. A Searcy resident, Beebe is facing off
against Republican Asa Hutchinson, former undersecretary for the Department of Homeland Security during the general
election Tuesday, Nov. 7. Early voting continues for White County residents from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday until Monday, Nov. 6, when early voting stops at 5 p.m. and is available from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday Oct. 28 and Saturday, Nov. 4.
WHITE COUNTY RACES
There is a three-way battle for county judge between independent candidate Dennis Gillam, Democrat Waylon Heathscott
and Republican Michael Lincoln. Republican Ricky Shourd and independent candidate Edward Thronton are
in a three-way race with incumbent White County Sheriff Pat Garrett, a Democrat. The only other contested county race is
for tax assessor between incumbent Debra Akers Lang-D and her Republican challenger Shane Sellers. Incumbents running
unopposed are Circuit Clerk Tami King, County Clerk Tanya Burleson, County Treasurer Janet Hibbitts and Coroner
David Powell — all Republicans along with Democrat Sue Liles for collector
QUORUM COURT
In contested races for White County Quorum Court are Horace Taylor-D and Jerry Sites-R for District 1; incumbent
Terry Adams-D and challenger Billy Young-R for District 4; incumbent Johney Young-R for District 4; incumbent Johney Gibson-D and challenger Danny Thomas-R for District 6, and incumbent Mike Cleveland-R and Jimmy Dale Smith, an independent for District 9. In uncontested races are Larry Fisher-R, District 2; Cameron Cooper-R, District 3; Jimmy L. House-D, District 5; Kenneth Horton-D, District 7; Layne “Boss” Vaughn-D, District 8; Bobby Quattlebaum-R, District 10; Ed Land-R, District 11; George “Bud” Osborne-D, District 12 and Bill Pierce-R, District 13.
BEEBE OFFICES
As in most city elections, Beebe’s are nonpartisan.
Mike Robertson is running un-opposed for mayor, replacing Donald Ward. Carol Crump-Westergren and Estela Gomez are competing for city clerk/ treasurer and three are running for the Ward 3, Position 1 alderman spot on the city council. The candidates are John D. Johnson, Hermon Black-mon and Garland Kirkpatrick.
Uncontested races for Beebe include Harold Welch, Ward 1, Position 1; Janice Petray, Ward 1, Positon 2; Becky Short, Ward 2, Position 1; Tracy Lightfoot, Ward 2, Position 1, and Les Cossey, Ward 3, Position2.
MCRAE OFFICES
In McRae voters will choose between incumbent mayor Robert “Bob” Sullivan or David Newman. The only contested race for McRae city council is between independents Cecil “Mack” Davis and Shirley Cox for the Ward 1, Position 2 seat. Twyla Turner for Ward 1, Position 2; Lela Strange for Ward 2, Position 1 and Bobby Crisco for Ward 2, Position 2 are running unopposed.
SEARCY OFFICES
In Searcy, there is a three-way race for mayor between incumbent Belinda LaForce-D, former alderman Dale Brewer-R and Phillip R. Williams, an independent candidate. Incumbent City Clerk and Treasurer Tommy Gowen-D, and incumbent City Attorney Buck C. Gibson-D, are running uncontested. There are races for three seats on the Searcy City Council.
JoAnn Ramsey-D, and Mike Chalenburg-R, are vying for the Ward 4, Position 2, alderman seat.
Ward 3, Position 1, incumbent Dale English-D, is facing off against challenger Cindy Erwin-Barker-R, and incumbent Jackie Liles-R, is running against Dale Ellis-D. Uncontested alderman races include Carl Nutter-R, Ward 1, Position 1; Mary Ann Arnett-R, Ward 1, Position 2; Jim Dixon-R, Ward 2, Position, Kyle Reeves-R, Ward 2, Position 2, and Mark Derrick-R, Ward 4, Position 1.
Leader staff writer
The Democratic gubernatorial candidate Mike Beebe and his wife Ginger were among more than 280 voters who cast
electronic ballots during early voting Monday at the White County Courthouse at Searcy.
The couple left the campaign trail Tuesday after a death in the family. A Searcy resident, Beebe is facing off
against Republican Asa Hutchinson, former undersecretary for the Department of Homeland Security during the general
election Tuesday, Nov. 7. Early voting continues for White County residents from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday until Monday, Nov. 6, when early voting stops at 5 p.m. and is available from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday Oct. 28 and Saturday, Nov. 4.
WHITE COUNTY RACES
There is a three-way battle for county judge between independent candidate Dennis Gillam, Democrat Waylon Heathscott
and Republican Michael Lincoln. Republican Ricky Shourd and independent candidate Edward Thronton are
in a three-way race with incumbent White County Sheriff Pat Garrett, a Democrat. The only other contested county race is
for tax assessor between incumbent Debra Akers Lang-D and her Republican challenger Shane Sellers. Incumbents running
unopposed are Circuit Clerk Tami King, County Clerk Tanya Burleson, County Treasurer Janet Hibbitts and Coroner
David Powell — all Republicans along with Democrat Sue Liles for collector
QUORUM COURT
In contested races for White County Quorum Court are Horace Taylor-D and Jerry Sites-R for District 1; incumbent
Terry Adams-D and challenger Billy Young-R for District 4; incumbent Johney Young-R for District 4; incumbent Johney Gibson-D and challenger Danny Thomas-R for District 6, and incumbent Mike Cleveland-R and Jimmy Dale Smith, an independent for District 9. In uncontested races are Larry Fisher-R, District 2; Cameron Cooper-R, District 3; Jimmy L. House-D, District 5; Kenneth Horton-D, District 7; Layne “Boss” Vaughn-D, District 8; Bobby Quattlebaum-R, District 10; Ed Land-R, District 11; George “Bud” Osborne-D, District 12 and Bill Pierce-R, District 13.
BEEBE OFFICES
As in most city elections, Beebe’s are nonpartisan.
Mike Robertson is running un-opposed for mayor, replacing Donald Ward. Carol Crump-Westergren and Estela Gomez are competing for city clerk/ treasurer and three are running for the Ward 3, Position 1 alderman spot on the city council. The candidates are John D. Johnson, Hermon Black-mon and Garland Kirkpatrick.
Uncontested races for Beebe include Harold Welch, Ward 1, Position 1; Janice Petray, Ward 1, Positon 2; Becky Short, Ward 2, Position 1; Tracy Lightfoot, Ward 2, Position 1, and Les Cossey, Ward 3, Position2.
MCRAE OFFICES
In McRae voters will choose between incumbent mayor Robert “Bob” Sullivan or David Newman. The only contested race for McRae city council is between independents Cecil “Mack” Davis and Shirley Cox for the Ward 1, Position 2 seat. Twyla Turner for Ward 1, Position 2; Lela Strange for Ward 2, Position 1 and Bobby Crisco for Ward 2, Position 2 are running unopposed.
SEARCY OFFICES
In Searcy, there is a three-way race for mayor between incumbent Belinda LaForce-D, former alderman Dale Brewer-R and Phillip R. Williams, an independent candidate. Incumbent City Clerk and Treasurer Tommy Gowen-D, and incumbent City Attorney Buck C. Gibson-D, are running uncontested. There are races for three seats on the Searcy City Council.
JoAnn Ramsey-D, and Mike Chalenburg-R, are vying for the Ward 4, Position 2, alderman seat.
Ward 3, Position 1, incumbent Dale English-D, is facing off against challenger Cindy Erwin-Barker-R, and incumbent Jackie Liles-R, is running against Dale Ellis-D. Uncontested alderman races include Carl Nutter-R, Ward 1, Position 1; Mary Ann Arnett-R, Ward 1, Position 2; Jim Dixon-R, Ward 2, Position, Kyle Reeves-R, Ward 2, Position 2, and Mark Derrick-R, Ward 4, Position 1.
TOP STORY >>County jail a hot issue as voters go to polls
By JOHN HOFHEIMER
Leader staff writer
North Pulaski County voters have only two contested local races Nov. 7, plus the statewide constitutional offices and a nominal challenge to the congressional incumbent. In Pulaski County, voters will choose between First Dist. Cong. Vic Snyder, D-Little Rock, and Andy Mayberry, a Republican. (The district also includes Beebe.) Snyder, a lawyer, physician and Vietnam-era Marine, was a state representative before going to Congress in 1996. In the Jacksonville area he is known for helping grow Little Rock Air Force Base and for his support of the community/Air Force base education Center. He serves on the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs and house armed services committee. Mayberry, who has never held elected office, is a state employee related to Gov. Mike Huckabee.
PULASKI COUNTY JUDGE
County Judge Buddy Villines, a Democrat, is seeking his ninth term at the head of county government. His challenger, Buddy York, a Republican, is a North Little Rock bail bondsman. The biggest issue is the county jail and money to run it. York says bail bondsmen are the key to operating the jail efficiently. Bondsmen are losing business because so many people arrested know there’s no room for them in the jail, thus no need to post bond. Previously, Villines, a lawyer, was Little Rock mayor. He worked hard in September in a failed effort to get a dedicated quarter-cent sales tax approved to expand and run the county lockup.
PULASKI CO. SHERIFF
Democrat Doc Holladay and DeWayne Graham, a Republican, face off in a contest to re-place Sheriff Randy Johnson, who is retiring. Again, expanding and running the jail is the biggest issue, with media-savvy Graham—a former television reporter—bringing a controversial Arizona sheriff to endorse him and setting up a tent across from the Pulaski County Detention Center to call attention to his campaign. Graham says he’ll house non-violent inmates in large tents, he says.
Holladay, a long-time Little Rock Police Department information officer, has worked in the professional-standards unit of the Pulaski County Sheriff’s Department since June 2004.
SHERWOOD
Mayor—Alderman Dan Steadman is running against Mike Presson, a restaurant owner, to succeed Bill Harmon, retiring after 15 years as mayor. City Clerk/Treasurer Virginia Hillman, who has served in that position since 2001, faces a challenge from Sharon McMinn. In Ward I, Position 1, Robert Wallace, a firefighter, is challenging incumbent Becky Vassar.
Greg Chastain and Charlie Harmon seek the Ward I, Position 2 aldermanic seat being vacated by Steadman.
Chastain, who lost a bid for a council seat two years ago, cut his political teeth on the successful grassroots effort to prevent the North Belt Freeway from cutting through several Sherwood subdivisions. Harmon, the son of the current mayor, is a lawyer in the Dillards real estate division.
JACKSONVILLE
There are no contested Jacksonville races.
GOVERNOR
Four candidates square off in the first gubernatorial race without an incumbent in many years. In order of appearance on the Pulaski County ballot, they are Asa Hutchinson, Rob Bryan, Atty. Gen. Mike Beebe and Jim Lindall. Hutchinson, the Republican, is former deputy director of Homeland Security and as an Arkansas congressman, was the prosecutor when Congress impeached President Bill Clinton.
Bryan, an independent, works in a restaurant, commutes by bicycle and is a musician. Beebe, a Democrat, was a state representative and a state senator before election to his current office. Lindall, the bearded Mr. Natural-look-alike, having served four terms as a state representative, keeps on truckin’. Lindall works as a nurse practitioner and introduced legislation several times to repeal the grocery tax—an idea all four candidates now embrace.
LT. GOVERNOR
Running for lieutenant governor are state Sen. Jim Holt, a Republican, and Bill Halter, a Democrat. Holt was the lone state senator to vote against raising the minimum wage, calling it “Soviet-style communism.” He served one term in the Arkansas House of Representatives and one in the state Senate. He worked for the National Security Agency, according to his Website, which doesn’t list any employment for the father of eight.
Halter was a deputy director of Social Security under President Clinton. He owns several high-tech businesses. He dropped out of the race for governor to seek this position.
SECRETARY OF STATE
Incumbent Charlie Daniels, a Democrat, faces Republican Jim LaGrone and Green Party Candidate Ralph “Marty” Scully.
LaGrone has attacked Daniels for hiring his son and daughter-in-law, but Daniels said his son worked in the secretary of state’s office for years before he was elected, and his daughter-in-law worked elsewhere in state government.
LaGrone, a Baptist preacher and evangelist, served on the Bryant School Board. Scully, a 59-year-old retiree from Consolidated Freightways, lives in Mountain Home. He is a lifelong labor supporter and was a member of the Teamsters for 30 years.
ATTORNEY GENERAL
Gunner DeLay, Rebekah Kennedy and state Rep. Dustin McDaniel are competing for the job being vacated by Mike Beebe, who hopes to be governor come January. Delay, a Republican, has served two terms as a state representative and one as a state senator. He lost a special election in 2001 to John Boozman to fill the 3rd Congressional District seat Hutchinson left to work for the Drug Enforcement Agency. Kennedy, the Green Party candidate, is a 27-year-old Fort Smith attorney. McDaniel, a state Representative and a lawyer, is a former Jonesboro patrolman. He’ll work to lower prescription drug prices, he says.
STATE TREASURER
Martha A. Shoffner, a Democrat from Newport, Brock Carpenter of the Green Party, and Chris Morris, a Republican, seek the position currently held by Gus Wingfield. Shoffner, a three-term state representative, served as chairman of the State Agencies and Governmental Affairs Committee. She is a real estate agent. Carpenter is a Hendrix student.
Morris is an aide to Gov. Mike Huckabee.
STATE AUDITOR
Green Party Candidate Joseph Bolzenius is the only challenger against state Auditor Jim Wood. Wood, a Democrat, is a farmer with 16 years service in the state General Assembly. He has served as auditor since January 2003. Bolzenius, 27, is currently completing work on his degree in political science and history at UALR and works in classified advertising for a local newspaper.
LAND COMMISSIONER
Green Party candidate R. David Lewis, a Little Rock attorney, is challenging Democrat Mark Wilcox, the incumbent. Wilcox has served since January 2003. Prior to that, he served as justice of the peace and tax collector in Faulkner County.
BALLOT ISSUES
Voters will decide whether or not to issue $250 million in general-obligation bonds with the money earmarked for institutions of higher learning and whether or not to amend the state Constitution to allow certain nonprofit organizations to conduct lotteries and bingo.
Both Referred Question No. 1 and Proposed Constitutional Amendment No. 1 were referred to the people by the General Assembly. Referred Question No. 1, with the popular name “Arkansas Higher Education Technology and Facility Improvement Act of 2005,” would allow the state to issue the bonds to finance developing technology and facility projects for state institutions of higher education. The constitutional amendment requires that the organizations must have been in existence for five years and the proceeds must be used for charitable or philanthropic purposes.
Leader staff writer
North Pulaski County voters have only two contested local races Nov. 7, plus the statewide constitutional offices and a nominal challenge to the congressional incumbent. In Pulaski County, voters will choose between First Dist. Cong. Vic Snyder, D-Little Rock, and Andy Mayberry, a Republican. (The district also includes Beebe.) Snyder, a lawyer, physician and Vietnam-era Marine, was a state representative before going to Congress in 1996. In the Jacksonville area he is known for helping grow Little Rock Air Force Base and for his support of the community/Air Force base education Center. He serves on the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs and house armed services committee. Mayberry, who has never held elected office, is a state employee related to Gov. Mike Huckabee.
PULASKI COUNTY JUDGE
County Judge Buddy Villines, a Democrat, is seeking his ninth term at the head of county government. His challenger, Buddy York, a Republican, is a North Little Rock bail bondsman. The biggest issue is the county jail and money to run it. York says bail bondsmen are the key to operating the jail efficiently. Bondsmen are losing business because so many people arrested know there’s no room for them in the jail, thus no need to post bond. Previously, Villines, a lawyer, was Little Rock mayor. He worked hard in September in a failed effort to get a dedicated quarter-cent sales tax approved to expand and run the county lockup.
PULASKI CO. SHERIFF
Democrat Doc Holladay and DeWayne Graham, a Republican, face off in a contest to re-place Sheriff Randy Johnson, who is retiring. Again, expanding and running the jail is the biggest issue, with media-savvy Graham—a former television reporter—bringing a controversial Arizona sheriff to endorse him and setting up a tent across from the Pulaski County Detention Center to call attention to his campaign. Graham says he’ll house non-violent inmates in large tents, he says.
Holladay, a long-time Little Rock Police Department information officer, has worked in the professional-standards unit of the Pulaski County Sheriff’s Department since June 2004.
SHERWOOD
Mayor—Alderman Dan Steadman is running against Mike Presson, a restaurant owner, to succeed Bill Harmon, retiring after 15 years as mayor. City Clerk/Treasurer Virginia Hillman, who has served in that position since 2001, faces a challenge from Sharon McMinn. In Ward I, Position 1, Robert Wallace, a firefighter, is challenging incumbent Becky Vassar.
Greg Chastain and Charlie Harmon seek the Ward I, Position 2 aldermanic seat being vacated by Steadman.
Chastain, who lost a bid for a council seat two years ago, cut his political teeth on the successful grassroots effort to prevent the North Belt Freeway from cutting through several Sherwood subdivisions. Harmon, the son of the current mayor, is a lawyer in the Dillards real estate division.
JACKSONVILLE
There are no contested Jacksonville races.
GOVERNOR
Four candidates square off in the first gubernatorial race without an incumbent in many years. In order of appearance on the Pulaski County ballot, they are Asa Hutchinson, Rob Bryan, Atty. Gen. Mike Beebe and Jim Lindall. Hutchinson, the Republican, is former deputy director of Homeland Security and as an Arkansas congressman, was the prosecutor when Congress impeached President Bill Clinton.
Bryan, an independent, works in a restaurant, commutes by bicycle and is a musician. Beebe, a Democrat, was a state representative and a state senator before election to his current office. Lindall, the bearded Mr. Natural-look-alike, having served four terms as a state representative, keeps on truckin’. Lindall works as a nurse practitioner and introduced legislation several times to repeal the grocery tax—an idea all four candidates now embrace.
LT. GOVERNOR
Running for lieutenant governor are state Sen. Jim Holt, a Republican, and Bill Halter, a Democrat. Holt was the lone state senator to vote against raising the minimum wage, calling it “Soviet-style communism.” He served one term in the Arkansas House of Representatives and one in the state Senate. He worked for the National Security Agency, according to his Website, which doesn’t list any employment for the father of eight.
Halter was a deputy director of Social Security under President Clinton. He owns several high-tech businesses. He dropped out of the race for governor to seek this position.
SECRETARY OF STATE
Incumbent Charlie Daniels, a Democrat, faces Republican Jim LaGrone and Green Party Candidate Ralph “Marty” Scully.
LaGrone has attacked Daniels for hiring his son and daughter-in-law, but Daniels said his son worked in the secretary of state’s office for years before he was elected, and his daughter-in-law worked elsewhere in state government.
LaGrone, a Baptist preacher and evangelist, served on the Bryant School Board. Scully, a 59-year-old retiree from Consolidated Freightways, lives in Mountain Home. He is a lifelong labor supporter and was a member of the Teamsters for 30 years.
ATTORNEY GENERAL
Gunner DeLay, Rebekah Kennedy and state Rep. Dustin McDaniel are competing for the job being vacated by Mike Beebe, who hopes to be governor come January. Delay, a Republican, has served two terms as a state representative and one as a state senator. He lost a special election in 2001 to John Boozman to fill the 3rd Congressional District seat Hutchinson left to work for the Drug Enforcement Agency. Kennedy, the Green Party candidate, is a 27-year-old Fort Smith attorney. McDaniel, a state Representative and a lawyer, is a former Jonesboro patrolman. He’ll work to lower prescription drug prices, he says.
STATE TREASURER
Martha A. Shoffner, a Democrat from Newport, Brock Carpenter of the Green Party, and Chris Morris, a Republican, seek the position currently held by Gus Wingfield. Shoffner, a three-term state representative, served as chairman of the State Agencies and Governmental Affairs Committee. She is a real estate agent. Carpenter is a Hendrix student.
Morris is an aide to Gov. Mike Huckabee.
STATE AUDITOR
Green Party Candidate Joseph Bolzenius is the only challenger against state Auditor Jim Wood. Wood, a Democrat, is a farmer with 16 years service in the state General Assembly. He has served as auditor since January 2003. Bolzenius, 27, is currently completing work on his degree in political science and history at UALR and works in classified advertising for a local newspaper.
LAND COMMISSIONER
Green Party candidate R. David Lewis, a Little Rock attorney, is challenging Democrat Mark Wilcox, the incumbent. Wilcox has served since January 2003. Prior to that, he served as justice of the peace and tax collector in Faulkner County.
BALLOT ISSUES
Voters will decide whether or not to issue $250 million in general-obligation bonds with the money earmarked for institutions of higher learning and whether or not to amend the state Constitution to allow certain nonprofit organizations to conduct lotteries and bingo.
Both Referred Question No. 1 and Proposed Constitutional Amendment No. 1 were referred to the people by the General Assembly. Referred Question No. 1, with the popular name “Arkansas Higher Education Technology and Facility Improvement Act of 2005,” would allow the state to issue the bonds to finance developing technology and facility projects for state institutions of higher education. The constitutional amendment requires that the organizations must have been in existence for five years and the proceeds must be used for charitable or philanthropic purposes.
TOP STORY >>Big early-voting turnout
By HEATHER HARTSELL
Leader staff writer
Early voting started for the first time Monday in Cabot. Registered Lonoke County voters can cast
their ballots early for the November general election at the Community Bank building
downtown next to city hall. The last day for voters to cast theirs early is Monday, Nov. 6.
Early voting has also started at the Lonoke County Courthouse, where voters have been
casting their ballots early for years. Several hundred voters have cast their ballots
at both locations, poll workers said. The polls in Cabot will be open from 10
a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays and from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 28 and Nov. 4.
Voters can cast their ballot at the Lonoke County Courthouse from 8 a.m. until 6 p.m.
weekdays through Nov. 3; from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 28 and Nov. 4; and from
8 a.m. until 5 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 6.
“People have always wanted one, and now we have it,” Carolyn Miller, a Cabot election official said, referring to the new early-voting location. “It’s handy to have it in Cabot.” In the past, voters living in Cabot and surrounding
areas have had to drive to the Lonoke County Courthouse to vote in the early elections. In most counties, the county clerk’s office serves as the early voting site, but the law also permits county boards of election commissioners to offer additional sites outside the courthouse.
Cabot resident Wade Ahart, who usually casts his vote in the early elections, said driving to Lonoke to vote wasn’t convenient.
“It’s much more convenient now in Cabot,” Ahart, who lives about a mile from the voting site, said. “I’ll be sending my wife to early vote. She never does it because it wasn’t convenient.” The first day of early voting had 94 voters going to the Cabot location to cast their electronic ballot. “We’ve done more here than we would have in Lonoke,” Martha Gatley, polling site sheriff, said.
This is also the first time Cabot area voters have used the ES&S iVotronic electronic, touch-screen voting system for a general election. According to Carolyn Sanders, an election official for Cabot, voters had a choice of using a paper or electronic ballot at the last election, but this year, voters do not have a choice. Casting a ballot with the electronic system is easy.
After providing identification and signing the precinct voter registration list, an election official directs the voter to a voting machine and activates the electronic ballot. Voters then use their fingertip to touch the names of the candidates and issues they would like to select; they review their choices and press the vote button.
“It’s interesting,” Susan Moore of Cabot said after casting her vote. This was the first time Moore and her husband Richard used the electronic ballot. Any qualified voter in Arkansas can opt to vote early, beginning 15 days before any election.
As of July, according to the secretary of state’s website, there are 32,120 registered voters in Lonoke County, a slight decrease from 2004’s 33,281 registered voters.
Leader staff writer
Early voting started for the first time Monday in Cabot. Registered Lonoke County voters can cast
their ballots early for the November general election at the Community Bank building
downtown next to city hall. The last day for voters to cast theirs early is Monday, Nov. 6.
Early voting has also started at the Lonoke County Courthouse, where voters have been
casting their ballots early for years. Several hundred voters have cast their ballots
at both locations, poll workers said. The polls in Cabot will be open from 10
a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays and from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 28 and Nov. 4.
Voters can cast their ballot at the Lonoke County Courthouse from 8 a.m. until 6 p.m.
weekdays through Nov. 3; from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 28 and Nov. 4; and from
8 a.m. until 5 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 6.
“People have always wanted one, and now we have it,” Carolyn Miller, a Cabot election official said, referring to the new early-voting location. “It’s handy to have it in Cabot.” In the past, voters living in Cabot and surrounding
areas have had to drive to the Lonoke County Courthouse to vote in the early elections. In most counties, the county clerk’s office serves as the early voting site, but the law also permits county boards of election commissioners to offer additional sites outside the courthouse.
Cabot resident Wade Ahart, who usually casts his vote in the early elections, said driving to Lonoke to vote wasn’t convenient.
“It’s much more convenient now in Cabot,” Ahart, who lives about a mile from the voting site, said. “I’ll be sending my wife to early vote. She never does it because it wasn’t convenient.” The first day of early voting had 94 voters going to the Cabot location to cast their electronic ballot. “We’ve done more here than we would have in Lonoke,” Martha Gatley, polling site sheriff, said.
This is also the first time Cabot area voters have used the ES&S iVotronic electronic, touch-screen voting system for a general election. According to Carolyn Sanders, an election official for Cabot, voters had a choice of using a paper or electronic ballot at the last election, but this year, voters do not have a choice. Casting a ballot with the electronic system is easy.
After providing identification and signing the precinct voter registration list, an election official directs the voter to a voting machine and activates the electronic ballot. Voters then use their fingertip to touch the names of the candidates and issues they would like to select; they review their choices and press the vote button.
“It’s interesting,” Susan Moore of Cabot said after casting her vote. This was the first time Moore and her husband Richard used the electronic ballot. Any qualified voter in Arkansas can opt to vote early, beginning 15 days before any election.
As of July, according to the secretary of state’s website, there are 32,120 registered voters in Lonoke County, a slight decrease from 2004’s 33,281 registered voters.
Saturday, October 21, 2006
SPORTS >>Bryant defense stuffs Cabot, earns shutout
IN SHORT: Cabot was called for nine penalties and failed to score in a 7A-Central loss to Bryant Friday.
By RAY BENTON
Leader sports editor
The Cabot defense turned in one of its best performances of the season Friday night at Pan-ther Stadium, but the offense turned in its worst as Cabot fell 7-0 to the potent Bryant Hornets to fall to 4-4 overall and 1-4 in conference play.
Bryant, which had been averaging almost 40 points per game, was held to one score and just 243 total yards by the Cabot defense, but the offense was abysmal.
If the offense didn’t commit a penalty right off the bat, it would commit one at a different crucial juncture. In all, Cabot finished with just 140 total yards, but netted only 90 when factoring in the nine penalties for 50 yards. Cabot was called for false starts five times, most of the time at very critical moments.
The Panther defense was solid. It gave up one long drive and a score after a controversial call benefited the visitors to the tune of about 13 yards.
The defense sacked elusive Hornet quarterback Matt Schrader four times, and stuffed the Hornets eight times for losses.
With the Cabot offense sputtering, all Bryant needed was one score, and it got it with 2:12 left in the first quarter.
The Hornet drive started at their own 26 took 10 plays to go the 74 yards.
The key play was on first down at the Cabot 16. Cabot sophomore Ben Ford got to Schrader and was dragging him down for a 13-yard loss. Schrader flung the ball forward as he was going down, and it landed about four yards downfield at a Bryant lineman’s feet.
When no flag for grounding came, Cabot coach Mike Malham vehemently protested, but the Hornets still got the ball back at the 16-yard line for second and 10.
On the next play, Schrader hit receiver Jake Jackson on a little short pattern over the middle. One Cabot defender whiffed as Jackson caught the ball, the junior wideout broke another tackle and scampered the rest of the way into the end zone for the go-ahead, and ultimately, winning score. Cabot only ventured into Bryant territory once the entire game. That was on its first drive of the second half, and even it only got to the Hornet 42 before a false-start penalty and a four- yard loss left the Panthers with third and 19.
Panther quarterback Cory Wade hit Colin Fuller for an 11-yard gain to the 40, and that was as close as Cabot got to the end zone all night.
Cabot got the ball moving well on its next drive, taking it from the 16 to the 42 in seven plays, but two more false start penalties on the next set of downs left the Panthers in another third and very long situation that they couldn’t overcome.
The Panthers made a big stop on Bryant’s next drive to take over on downs on their own 29, but got a holding penalty on the first play to dig another hole. A Fuller run and two incompletions forced Cabot to punt.
Cabot’s last stand started on its own 7-yard line with 3:09 left. After a 16-yard completion, a sack and another false start infraction made it second and 22.
A four-yard run and another incompletion made it fourth and 18, and Wade’s pass deep downfield was picked off by Bryant’s Trent Daniel to seal the win.
The Hornets improved to 7-1 overall and 5-0 in the 7A-East. The Panthers will travel to Pine Bluff next week.
By RAY BENTON
Leader sports editor
The Cabot defense turned in one of its best performances of the season Friday night at Pan-ther Stadium, but the offense turned in its worst as Cabot fell 7-0 to the potent Bryant Hornets to fall to 4-4 overall and 1-4 in conference play.
Bryant, which had been averaging almost 40 points per game, was held to one score and just 243 total yards by the Cabot defense, but the offense was abysmal.
If the offense didn’t commit a penalty right off the bat, it would commit one at a different crucial juncture. In all, Cabot finished with just 140 total yards, but netted only 90 when factoring in the nine penalties for 50 yards. Cabot was called for false starts five times, most of the time at very critical moments.
The Panther defense was solid. It gave up one long drive and a score after a controversial call benefited the visitors to the tune of about 13 yards.
The defense sacked elusive Hornet quarterback Matt Schrader four times, and stuffed the Hornets eight times for losses.
With the Cabot offense sputtering, all Bryant needed was one score, and it got it with 2:12 left in the first quarter.
The Hornet drive started at their own 26 took 10 plays to go the 74 yards.
The key play was on first down at the Cabot 16. Cabot sophomore Ben Ford got to Schrader and was dragging him down for a 13-yard loss. Schrader flung the ball forward as he was going down, and it landed about four yards downfield at a Bryant lineman’s feet.
When no flag for grounding came, Cabot coach Mike Malham vehemently protested, but the Hornets still got the ball back at the 16-yard line for second and 10.
On the next play, Schrader hit receiver Jake Jackson on a little short pattern over the middle. One Cabot defender whiffed as Jackson caught the ball, the junior wideout broke another tackle and scampered the rest of the way into the end zone for the go-ahead, and ultimately, winning score. Cabot only ventured into Bryant territory once the entire game. That was on its first drive of the second half, and even it only got to the Hornet 42 before a false-start penalty and a four- yard loss left the Panthers with third and 19.
Panther quarterback Cory Wade hit Colin Fuller for an 11-yard gain to the 40, and that was as close as Cabot got to the end zone all night.
Cabot got the ball moving well on its next drive, taking it from the 16 to the 42 in seven plays, but two more false start penalties on the next set of downs left the Panthers in another third and very long situation that they couldn’t overcome.
The Panthers made a big stop on Bryant’s next drive to take over on downs on their own 29, but got a holding penalty on the first play to dig another hole. A Fuller run and two incompletions forced Cabot to punt.
Cabot’s last stand started on its own 7-yard line with 3:09 left. After a 16-yard completion, a sack and another false start infraction made it second and 22.
A four-yard run and another incompletion made it fourth and 18, and Wade’s pass deep downfield was picked off by Bryant’s Trent Daniel to seal the win.
The Hornets improved to 7-1 overall and 5-0 in the 7A-East. The Panthers will travel to Pine Bluff next week.
SPORTS >>Harding Academy cruises
IN SHORT: The Wildcats easily handled their biggest game to date by beating Y-S at home.
By RICK BUTLER
Special to the Leader
SEARCY – The Harding Academy defense took away any of the dramatics on Friday night at First Security Stadium as the Wildcats remained unbeaten in the 2-3A Conference with a 28-14 victory over Yellville-Summit.
Thanks to the Wildcats’ defense, the final score became quite deceptive.
Harding Academy, now 6-0 overall and 4-0 in conference play, nearly pitched a shutout of the previously explosive Panthers’ offense. Y-S avoided being blanked for the first time this season when Brandon Evans plunged over from six yards out with 5:38 to play against Harding Academy reserves.
The Panthers, who had won four consecutive games coming in, then took advantage of a Harding Academy turnover in the final minute to tack on another score.
Despite a sluggish first half on the offensive side, the Wildcats dominated the first 43 minutes of the game. They led just 7-0 at the half after Luke Tribble connected with Chris Pack on a 13-yard touchdown pass with five minutes left in the second quarter.
Harding Academy managed just 140 total yards in the first two quarters, mostly due to Yellville-Summit’s ball-control offense eating up the clock.
The second half was a different story.
Tribble capped the Wildcats’ first possession of the third quarter by hitting Pack again with a three-yard scoring pass.
Tribble’s extra-point kick made it 14-0 with 9:50 left in the third. Six minutes later, J.T. Fisher scored on a five-yard run to make it 21-0.
Fisher took a middle screen from Tribble 50 yards for Harding Academy’s final tally early in the final quarter.
Harding Academy coach Tommy Shoemaker claimed no adjustments at halftime, despite his team’s slow start on offense.
“We made no adjustments, we didn’t do anything different offensively in the second half except that we started executing,” he said. “Part of the problem in the first half, of course, was that they did a good job not letting us have the ball.”
Yellville-Summit quarterback Tim Murray – averaging 10.5 yards per carry entering the game – was held at bay by the stingy HA defense. Murray kept the ball 27 times against the Wildcats but managed just 99 yards.
“We did a good job of controlling a pretty good offense tonight,” Shoemaker said. “Compared to what they’ve been doing to other teams, we really played them well. The thing about the ball-control style they play … if you don’t play a perfect game, it makes it tough on an offense.”
Harding Academy’s offense had its chances early in the game but failed to capitalize. The Wildcats lost yardage and were forced into a punt on their first series, despite starting at the Y-S 25 after tackling the Panthers’ punter for a loss.
The Wildcats got the ball back moments later at their own 48 and, after a couple first downs moved the ball to the Y-S 22, turned the ball over on downs.
“We had some shots there early that we should have taken advantage of,” Shoemaker said. “I’m just glad we were able to come out and play better the second half.”
Tribble, playing on an ankle injury suffered late in the first quarter, came back strong the second half and finished 16-of-23 passing for 293 yards. Fisher had four catches for 100 yards while Pack caught 6 of 99 and a pair of scores.
The Wildcats are now in the odd position of having to turn around and play another conference game on Monday, a makeup of their postponed game at Cave City from Sept. 23.
“The only real good thing about it is that Cave City is in the same boat,” Shoemaker said. “It’s not ideal by any means. We got some kids banged up tonight and we’ll probably hold a few out on Monday.
“We’re planning a walk-through on Sunday afternoon, though, and we’ll be ready to go on Monday night.”
Cave City is a first-year program still in search of its first conference victory.
By RICK BUTLER
Special to the Leader
SEARCY – The Harding Academy defense took away any of the dramatics on Friday night at First Security Stadium as the Wildcats remained unbeaten in the 2-3A Conference with a 28-14 victory over Yellville-Summit.
Thanks to the Wildcats’ defense, the final score became quite deceptive.
Harding Academy, now 6-0 overall and 4-0 in conference play, nearly pitched a shutout of the previously explosive Panthers’ offense. Y-S avoided being blanked for the first time this season when Brandon Evans plunged over from six yards out with 5:38 to play against Harding Academy reserves.
The Panthers, who had won four consecutive games coming in, then took advantage of a Harding Academy turnover in the final minute to tack on another score.
Despite a sluggish first half on the offensive side, the Wildcats dominated the first 43 minutes of the game. They led just 7-0 at the half after Luke Tribble connected with Chris Pack on a 13-yard touchdown pass with five minutes left in the second quarter.
Harding Academy managed just 140 total yards in the first two quarters, mostly due to Yellville-Summit’s ball-control offense eating up the clock.
The second half was a different story.
Tribble capped the Wildcats’ first possession of the third quarter by hitting Pack again with a three-yard scoring pass.
Tribble’s extra-point kick made it 14-0 with 9:50 left in the third. Six minutes later, J.T. Fisher scored on a five-yard run to make it 21-0.
Fisher took a middle screen from Tribble 50 yards for Harding Academy’s final tally early in the final quarter.
Harding Academy coach Tommy Shoemaker claimed no adjustments at halftime, despite his team’s slow start on offense.
“We made no adjustments, we didn’t do anything different offensively in the second half except that we started executing,” he said. “Part of the problem in the first half, of course, was that they did a good job not letting us have the ball.”
Yellville-Summit quarterback Tim Murray – averaging 10.5 yards per carry entering the game – was held at bay by the stingy HA defense. Murray kept the ball 27 times against the Wildcats but managed just 99 yards.
“We did a good job of controlling a pretty good offense tonight,” Shoemaker said. “Compared to what they’ve been doing to other teams, we really played them well. The thing about the ball-control style they play … if you don’t play a perfect game, it makes it tough on an offense.”
Harding Academy’s offense had its chances early in the game but failed to capitalize. The Wildcats lost yardage and were forced into a punt on their first series, despite starting at the Y-S 25 after tackling the Panthers’ punter for a loss.
The Wildcats got the ball back moments later at their own 48 and, after a couple first downs moved the ball to the Y-S 22, turned the ball over on downs.
“We had some shots there early that we should have taken advantage of,” Shoemaker said. “I’m just glad we were able to come out and play better the second half.”
Tribble, playing on an ankle injury suffered late in the first quarter, came back strong the second half and finished 16-of-23 passing for 293 yards. Fisher had four catches for 100 yards while Pack caught 6 of 99 and a pair of scores.
The Wildcats are now in the odd position of having to turn around and play another conference game on Monday, a makeup of their postponed game at Cave City from Sept. 23.
“The only real good thing about it is that Cave City is in the same boat,” Shoemaker said. “It’s not ideal by any means. We got some kids banged up tonight and we’ll probably hold a few out on Monday.
“We’re planning a walk-through on Sunday afternoon, though, and we’ll be ready to go on Monday night.”
Cave City is a first-year program still in search of its first conference victory.
SPORTS >>Belles get win over Cabot in 7A finale
IN SHORT: The Lady Panthers’ visit to MSM Academy resulted in a sweep by the Belles over Cabot in the final conference match.
By RAY BENTON
Leader sports editor
It wasn’t the ending to the 7A-Central Conference season that the Lady Panthers had hoped for, as Mt. Saint Mary’s defeated Cabot in straight games, 25-25, 25-17 and 25-8 Thursday night in Little Rock at Mt. Saint Mary’s Academy.
The Lady Panthers (11-12, 4-8 conf.) took their turn holding the momentum over Mt. Saint Mary’s (26-7, 9-2 conf.) early in the first two games, but turned out their poorest performance all season in the third game, going scoreless in the frame until after the 12th point was scored by the Belles.
Junior outside hitter Katie Mantione kept the Lady Pan-thers in conten-tion early in the opening game with two kills that put Cabot up 3-1.
The Belles also committed a couple of early errors to give the Lady Panthers the initial advantage, but once MSM got completely warmed up, the momentum quickly changed. Mt. Saint Mary’s went from a two-point deficit to a five-point lead with seven straight points.
The Belles’ lead kept increasing from there, reaching double digits by the end of the frame to take the opening game by 10.
It was Mt. Saint Mary’s that took the initial lead in the second game, but the Lady Panthers quickly rallied to take 6-5 lead moments later. Mantione came away with another early kill, and also got help this time from sophomore hitter Tori Hendrix. Hendrix had two kills off of three attempts during the first six points to give Cabot its only lead for the remainder of the contest.
Just as in the opening game, the Belles overtook the momentum from Cabot and ran up the score. The Lady Panthers did manage to close to within four points with a brief run late, making the score 20-16, but Mt. Saint Mary’s then took five of the last six points to take a 2-0 lead in the match.
The third set was all Belles. Senior Chyna Davenport started the game off behind the service line, and clicked off 12 straight points on serve including four aces. The ace that put MSM up by 10 landed in the middle of the court on Cabot’s side, with no attempt of a return by the Lady Panthers. Cabot coach Terry Williams called a timeout at that point to rally the troops, which seemed to shake off much of the lethargy.
The offensive highlights were few and far between for the Lady Panthers in the third and final game, although four Cabot players did get at least one kill. Hendrix led the way with two kills and a block, with Kelli Lowry, Erika McCaghren and Cody Smith all getting a kill as well. McCaghren also had a block late in the game, and Smith served up an ace to get the Lady Panthers’ second point of the game.
Hendrix led Cabot in scoring with six kills and three blocks. Mantione added four kills for the Lady Panthers. For Mt. Saint Mary’s, Ashley Spaulding and Katie Rowen each had five kills, and Davenport had eight aces.
Cabot will finish the season out on Monday with a non-conference match against Jonesboro Westside. The final outcome of state tournament qualification will be determined on Wednesday. As of last Wednesday, the Lady Panthers were fifth in the conference standings before the match with MSM.
By RAY BENTON
Leader sports editor
It wasn’t the ending to the 7A-Central Conference season that the Lady Panthers had hoped for, as Mt. Saint Mary’s defeated Cabot in straight games, 25-25, 25-17 and 25-8 Thursday night in Little Rock at Mt. Saint Mary’s Academy.
The Lady Panthers (11-12, 4-8 conf.) took their turn holding the momentum over Mt. Saint Mary’s (26-7, 9-2 conf.) early in the first two games, but turned out their poorest performance all season in the third game, going scoreless in the frame until after the 12th point was scored by the Belles.
Junior outside hitter Katie Mantione kept the Lady Pan-thers in conten-tion early in the opening game with two kills that put Cabot up 3-1.
The Belles also committed a couple of early errors to give the Lady Panthers the initial advantage, but once MSM got completely warmed up, the momentum quickly changed. Mt. Saint Mary’s went from a two-point deficit to a five-point lead with seven straight points.
The Belles’ lead kept increasing from there, reaching double digits by the end of the frame to take the opening game by 10.
It was Mt. Saint Mary’s that took the initial lead in the second game, but the Lady Panthers quickly rallied to take 6-5 lead moments later. Mantione came away with another early kill, and also got help this time from sophomore hitter Tori Hendrix. Hendrix had two kills off of three attempts during the first six points to give Cabot its only lead for the remainder of the contest.
Just as in the opening game, the Belles overtook the momentum from Cabot and ran up the score. The Lady Panthers did manage to close to within four points with a brief run late, making the score 20-16, but Mt. Saint Mary’s then took five of the last six points to take a 2-0 lead in the match.
The third set was all Belles. Senior Chyna Davenport started the game off behind the service line, and clicked off 12 straight points on serve including four aces. The ace that put MSM up by 10 landed in the middle of the court on Cabot’s side, with no attempt of a return by the Lady Panthers. Cabot coach Terry Williams called a timeout at that point to rally the troops, which seemed to shake off much of the lethargy.
The offensive highlights were few and far between for the Lady Panthers in the third and final game, although four Cabot players did get at least one kill. Hendrix led the way with two kills and a block, with Kelli Lowry, Erika McCaghren and Cody Smith all getting a kill as well. McCaghren also had a block late in the game, and Smith served up an ace to get the Lady Panthers’ second point of the game.
Hendrix led Cabot in scoring with six kills and three blocks. Mantione added four kills for the Lady Panthers. For Mt. Saint Mary’s, Ashley Spaulding and Katie Rowen each had five kills, and Davenport had eight aces.
Cabot will finish the season out on Monday with a non-conference match against Jonesboro Westside. The final outcome of state tournament qualification will be determined on Wednesday. As of last Wednesday, the Lady Panthers were fifth in the conference standings before the match with MSM.
SPORTS >>Incomplete two-point conversion costs ’Rabs
IN SHORT: Lonoke fell just short pulling out the win over Marianna Friday night at Abraham Field in a 42-40 loss to the Trojans.
By JASON KING
Leader staff writer
It was an offensive shootout, but the Jackrabbits needed just one more round of ammo Friday night to pull out the win over Marianna at Abraham Field in Lonoke. The ‘Rabbits pulled to within two off of a one-yard touchdown run from Clarence Harris with 1:09 left in the game, but quarterback Alex Cash’s pass to Rollins Elam in the end zone on the two-point conversion attempt fell just short, and Marianna barely held on in the final minute to claim a 42-40 win.
Turnovers were a huge part of the outcome on Friday. Lonoke committed fewer than the Trojans, but the ‘Rabbits’ gifts came at more vital stages of the game, and carried larger consequences.
Lonoke was on the good side of the turnover spectrum during the first 24 minutes, taking advantage of two fumbles from Marianna’s standout tailback Cameron Greer. Greer cleared over 100 yards rushing in the first half, but his two fumbles gave the Jackrabbits good field position.
Harris recovered the first fumble at the Marianna 35-yard line at the 2:12 mark of the first quarter, but the ‘Rabbits went three and out before punting back to the Trojans. Marianna took over at its own 7, but two runs from Greer quickly brought it out to the 30-yard line. Greer’s number was called a third time, and he coughed it up once again. This time, senior linebacker Amir Fleming fell on the ball for Lonoke to give the ‘Rabbits possession at the Trojans’ 29-yard line.
Lonoke made good on the opportunity this time with a 19-yard touchdown run from tailback Wendall Scales two plays into the second quarter. The two-point attempt was unsuccessful, leaving the score 14-8 in favor of Lonoke.
The turnover factor was an issue right from the start of the second half, but this time it was Lonoke giving away the ball. The Jackrabbits retained possession to start out the third quarter, but a fumble from junior running back Tyler Crow was scooped up by Marianna linebacker Channin Hardin and run back 35 yards for the score. The two-point attempt was unsuccessful, and the score remained tied at 20-20.
Scales scored again for Lonoke with 7:52 left in the game to put the ‘Rabbits up by eight, but Marianna refused to give up.
Not even a fumble by Greer on the Lonoke 5-yard line caused the Trojans to lose momentum. Glenn Evans recovered the fourth Greer fumble for the ‘Rabbits, but they went backwards on the ensuing drive. Brock Clement was forced to punt standing directly in front of the goal post, giving Marianna good field position once again at the Lonoke 32-yard line.
Greer held on to it this time, running on four of the six plays of the drive, including the touchdown run from four yards out with 4:42 left in the game. QB Hardin kept on the two-point attempt, and ran over Lonoke defender Josh Martin to cross the goal line and tie the score at 34 all.
The most vital turnover of the game occurred on Lonoke’s next possession. With the Jackrabbits driving into Trojan territory, Cash threw into coverage, and Hardin picked it off. Hardin took the ball all the way down to the Lonoke 3-yard line, where Greer ran it in for another score two plays later. Hardin kept once again for the two-point attempt, running it in to give the Trojans an eight-point lead.
Lonoke answered right back with a nine-play drive, highlighted by two big passes from Cash. The first one was to Clement on third and 10 at the Lonoke 36. Clement grabbed it at the Marianna 36 before being pushed out of bounds. Cash then found Ryan Hobson two plays later on a 22-yard pass play that gave the ‘Rabbits first and goal at the 10. Cash kept twice to get to the 1-yard line before giving it to Harris for the score. Lonoke went for the game-tying play on the two-point conversion, but the Trojans’ coverage was solid in the end zone, and Elam couldn’t come up with the toss from Cash.
Poor time management from Marianna gave Lonoke one last shot on a Trojans’ punt with eight seconds left in the game.
Alvin Farmer pulled down the squibbed punt from Hardin at the Lonoke 46 and returned it all the way to Marianna’s 12-yard line. Farmer’s run was stopped after the horn sounded with a shove out of bounds from Hardin to end the dramatic game.
Both teams scored on their opening drives to set the tone in the shootout. Marianna took first possession and went 64 yards on 10 plays, most of them runs from Greer. Hardin kept for the score from one yard out with 7:09 left in the opening quarter.
Lonoke quickly answered with an eight-play, 72-yard drive that was capped off with a 20-yard touchdown pass from Cash to Hobson on the left side at the 5:17 mark of the first quarter.
With Lonoke leading 20-14 with less than a minute left in the first half, Farmer prevented the tie with an interception in the end zone on a pass intended for Anthony Allison. The ‘Rabbits ran out the remaining 22 seconds left on the clock to take the six-point halftime lead.
Cash completed 14 of 28 pass attempts for 188 yards and one touchdown, along with one interception. He also carried 11 times for 36 yards and one rushing touchdown. Harris finished with 11 carries for 53 yards and a touchdown, and Scales had 12 carries for 64 yards and three touchdowns. For Marianna, Greer had 30 carries for 185 yards, two touchdowns and three fumbles, giving him over 1,330 yards so far on the season.
The win improves Marianna’s record to 6-1 overall and 5-0 in the 4A-2 Conference. Lonoke’s record now moves to 4-4 overall and 3-2 in conference. The Jackrabbits will travel to Stuttgart to face the undefeated Ricebirds next week.
By JASON KING
Leader staff writer
It was an offensive shootout, but the Jackrabbits needed just one more round of ammo Friday night to pull out the win over Marianna at Abraham Field in Lonoke. The ‘Rabbits pulled to within two off of a one-yard touchdown run from Clarence Harris with 1:09 left in the game, but quarterback Alex Cash’s pass to Rollins Elam in the end zone on the two-point conversion attempt fell just short, and Marianna barely held on in the final minute to claim a 42-40 win.
Turnovers were a huge part of the outcome on Friday. Lonoke committed fewer than the Trojans, but the ‘Rabbits’ gifts came at more vital stages of the game, and carried larger consequences.
Lonoke was on the good side of the turnover spectrum during the first 24 minutes, taking advantage of two fumbles from Marianna’s standout tailback Cameron Greer. Greer cleared over 100 yards rushing in the first half, but his two fumbles gave the Jackrabbits good field position.
Harris recovered the first fumble at the Marianna 35-yard line at the 2:12 mark of the first quarter, but the ‘Rabbits went three and out before punting back to the Trojans. Marianna took over at its own 7, but two runs from Greer quickly brought it out to the 30-yard line. Greer’s number was called a third time, and he coughed it up once again. This time, senior linebacker Amir Fleming fell on the ball for Lonoke to give the ‘Rabbits possession at the Trojans’ 29-yard line.
Lonoke made good on the opportunity this time with a 19-yard touchdown run from tailback Wendall Scales two plays into the second quarter. The two-point attempt was unsuccessful, leaving the score 14-8 in favor of Lonoke.
The turnover factor was an issue right from the start of the second half, but this time it was Lonoke giving away the ball. The Jackrabbits retained possession to start out the third quarter, but a fumble from junior running back Tyler Crow was scooped up by Marianna linebacker Channin Hardin and run back 35 yards for the score. The two-point attempt was unsuccessful, and the score remained tied at 20-20.
Scales scored again for Lonoke with 7:52 left in the game to put the ‘Rabbits up by eight, but Marianna refused to give up.
Not even a fumble by Greer on the Lonoke 5-yard line caused the Trojans to lose momentum. Glenn Evans recovered the fourth Greer fumble for the ‘Rabbits, but they went backwards on the ensuing drive. Brock Clement was forced to punt standing directly in front of the goal post, giving Marianna good field position once again at the Lonoke 32-yard line.
Greer held on to it this time, running on four of the six plays of the drive, including the touchdown run from four yards out with 4:42 left in the game. QB Hardin kept on the two-point attempt, and ran over Lonoke defender Josh Martin to cross the goal line and tie the score at 34 all.
The most vital turnover of the game occurred on Lonoke’s next possession. With the Jackrabbits driving into Trojan territory, Cash threw into coverage, and Hardin picked it off. Hardin took the ball all the way down to the Lonoke 3-yard line, where Greer ran it in for another score two plays later. Hardin kept once again for the two-point attempt, running it in to give the Trojans an eight-point lead.
Lonoke answered right back with a nine-play drive, highlighted by two big passes from Cash. The first one was to Clement on third and 10 at the Lonoke 36. Clement grabbed it at the Marianna 36 before being pushed out of bounds. Cash then found Ryan Hobson two plays later on a 22-yard pass play that gave the ‘Rabbits first and goal at the 10. Cash kept twice to get to the 1-yard line before giving it to Harris for the score. Lonoke went for the game-tying play on the two-point conversion, but the Trojans’ coverage was solid in the end zone, and Elam couldn’t come up with the toss from Cash.
Poor time management from Marianna gave Lonoke one last shot on a Trojans’ punt with eight seconds left in the game.
Alvin Farmer pulled down the squibbed punt from Hardin at the Lonoke 46 and returned it all the way to Marianna’s 12-yard line. Farmer’s run was stopped after the horn sounded with a shove out of bounds from Hardin to end the dramatic game.
Both teams scored on their opening drives to set the tone in the shootout. Marianna took first possession and went 64 yards on 10 plays, most of them runs from Greer. Hardin kept for the score from one yard out with 7:09 left in the opening quarter.
Lonoke quickly answered with an eight-play, 72-yard drive that was capped off with a 20-yard touchdown pass from Cash to Hobson on the left side at the 5:17 mark of the first quarter.
With Lonoke leading 20-14 with less than a minute left in the first half, Farmer prevented the tie with an interception in the end zone on a pass intended for Anthony Allison. The ‘Rabbits ran out the remaining 22 seconds left on the clock to take the six-point halftime lead.
Cash completed 14 of 28 pass attempts for 188 yards and one touchdown, along with one interception. He also carried 11 times for 36 yards and one rushing touchdown. Harris finished with 11 carries for 53 yards and a touchdown, and Scales had 12 carries for 64 yards and three touchdowns. For Marianna, Greer had 30 carries for 185 yards, two touchdowns and three fumbles, giving him over 1,330 yards so far on the season.
The win improves Marianna’s record to 6-1 overall and 5-0 in the 4A-2 Conference. Lonoke’s record now moves to 4-4 overall and 3-2 in conference. The Jackrabbits will travel to Stuttgart to face the undefeated Ricebirds next week.
SPORTS >>Red Devils prevail
IN SHORT: Jacksonville moved into a tie for first place in the 6A-East Conference Friday night by beating Forrest City 23-20 in overtime. The win lifts the Red Devils to 6-2 overall and 4-1 in conference play.
By FRED CONLEY
Forrest City Times-Herald
Forrest City thought they had won the game in overtime on Niko Walker’s 26-yard field goal.
Jacksonville quarterback Daniel Hubbard knew he had won the game with his 10-yard run one play after Walker’s field goal.
Hubbard’s overtime touchdown gave the Red Devils a 23-20 win over the Mustangs, and combined with West Memphis’ 17-7 loss to Mountain Home, vaulted Jacksonville into a tie for first place in the 6A-East Conference Friday night.
Both West Memphis and Jacksonville are 4-1 in the conference. Jonesboro, a 31-10 winner over Searcy, Marion a 28-6 winner over Sylvan Hills and Mountain Home are tied for second at 3-2. Forrest City slips to 2-3 while Sylvan Hills is 1-4 and Searcy remains winless at 0-5.
Friday’s loss left Forrest City reeling in the wake of their third straight conference loss.
“Our kids played as hard as they could,” said Forrest City coach Scott Reed. “It was a tough way to lose a ball game.”
Jacksonville led 17-10 at the half but Forrest City took the second half kickoff and used seven plays to tie the game when John Washington scored from two yards out with 9:16 to play in the quarter. Walker’s kick made it 17-17 which held through the second half.
Jacksonville had its chances to regain the lead. Manuel Alvidrez missed a 26-yard field goal try wide left with 3:55 to play in the third. Lee Robinson was stopped at the one-yard line by a tremendous Forrest City goal line stand that ended a Jacksonville possession that started with 37 seconds left in the third quarter and ended 19 plays later using up more than eight minutes.
Forrest City reached midfield with 16 seconds to play in the fourth quarter but punted and both teams opted for overtime as regulation ended in a 17-17 tie.
The Mustangs called on Walker for the 23-yard field goal on fourth and four from the Jacksonville 6. The kick was good and Forrest City celebrated the 20-17 lead.
The joy was short-lived as Hubbard took the snap and tip-toed his way just inside the right pilon and into the end zone on a called bootleg play.
Forrest City drew first blood after intercepting a Hubbard pass on the third play of the game.
The Mustangs needed only three plays from the Jacksonville 38 to take a 7-0 lead when Washington scored on a 30-yard run and Walker added the point-after kick.
Jacksonville tied the game at 7-7 after blocking a Forrest City punt and starting at the Forrest City 3-yard line. Justin Akins scored on the three-yard run with 6:08 to play in the first quarter and Alvidrez added the kick.
Jacksonville took a 14-7 lead with 3:57 left in the first quarter when Marcus King hauled in a 53-yard touchdown pass from Hubbard and Alvidrez once again added the kick.
Jacksonville’s Eric Berry picked off a Forrest City passing attempt by senior quarterback Wilson Parker which set the Red Devils up at the Mustang 35. Alvidrez’s fourth down 21-yard field goal attempt was blocked by Forrest City’s Chris Tripp and the Mustangs took over at their own 20.
Barrett Beshear’s fumble gave the ball back to Jacksonville, which promptly turned it over when Hubbard’s pass was tipped and intercepted by Washington.
The Forrest City possession stalled and Jacksonville started from their own 48 with 4:48 to play in the second quarter.
After Jacksonville drove to the Forrest City 22 in 10 plays, Alvidrez connected on a 39-yard field goal with 59 seconds left to put Jacksonville in front 17-7.
Walker made it 17-10 when his 42-yard field goal just cleared the upright as time expired.
Jacksonville finished with 305 total yards – 198 on the ground and 107 passing.
Hubbard completed 7-of-19 attempts with two interceptions and one touchdown pass.
Akins finished with 103 yards on 19 carries and one touchdown while Robinson had 73 yards on 13 carries.
Forrest City rang up 237 total yards with 163 of that coming on the ground. Parker completed 7 of 24 passing attempts and suffered one interception.
Washington finished with 152 rushing yards on 25 carries and two touchdowns.
Forrest City plays at Mountain Home this coming week while Jacksonville will battle it out at home against West Memphis. That game will be for sole possession of first place in the 6A-East Conference.
By FRED CONLEY
Forrest City Times-Herald
Forrest City thought they had won the game in overtime on Niko Walker’s 26-yard field goal.
Jacksonville quarterback Daniel Hubbard knew he had won the game with his 10-yard run one play after Walker’s field goal.
Hubbard’s overtime touchdown gave the Red Devils a 23-20 win over the Mustangs, and combined with West Memphis’ 17-7 loss to Mountain Home, vaulted Jacksonville into a tie for first place in the 6A-East Conference Friday night.
Both West Memphis and Jacksonville are 4-1 in the conference. Jonesboro, a 31-10 winner over Searcy, Marion a 28-6 winner over Sylvan Hills and Mountain Home are tied for second at 3-2. Forrest City slips to 2-3 while Sylvan Hills is 1-4 and Searcy remains winless at 0-5.
Friday’s loss left Forrest City reeling in the wake of their third straight conference loss.
“Our kids played as hard as they could,” said Forrest City coach Scott Reed. “It was a tough way to lose a ball game.”
Jacksonville led 17-10 at the half but Forrest City took the second half kickoff and used seven plays to tie the game when John Washington scored from two yards out with 9:16 to play in the quarter. Walker’s kick made it 17-17 which held through the second half.
Jacksonville had its chances to regain the lead. Manuel Alvidrez missed a 26-yard field goal try wide left with 3:55 to play in the third. Lee Robinson was stopped at the one-yard line by a tremendous Forrest City goal line stand that ended a Jacksonville possession that started with 37 seconds left in the third quarter and ended 19 plays later using up more than eight minutes.
Forrest City reached midfield with 16 seconds to play in the fourth quarter but punted and both teams opted for overtime as regulation ended in a 17-17 tie.
The Mustangs called on Walker for the 23-yard field goal on fourth and four from the Jacksonville 6. The kick was good and Forrest City celebrated the 20-17 lead.
The joy was short-lived as Hubbard took the snap and tip-toed his way just inside the right pilon and into the end zone on a called bootleg play.
Forrest City drew first blood after intercepting a Hubbard pass on the third play of the game.
The Mustangs needed only three plays from the Jacksonville 38 to take a 7-0 lead when Washington scored on a 30-yard run and Walker added the point-after kick.
Jacksonville tied the game at 7-7 after blocking a Forrest City punt and starting at the Forrest City 3-yard line. Justin Akins scored on the three-yard run with 6:08 to play in the first quarter and Alvidrez added the kick.
Jacksonville took a 14-7 lead with 3:57 left in the first quarter when Marcus King hauled in a 53-yard touchdown pass from Hubbard and Alvidrez once again added the kick.
Jacksonville’s Eric Berry picked off a Forrest City passing attempt by senior quarterback Wilson Parker which set the Red Devils up at the Mustang 35. Alvidrez’s fourth down 21-yard field goal attempt was blocked by Forrest City’s Chris Tripp and the Mustangs took over at their own 20.
Barrett Beshear’s fumble gave the ball back to Jacksonville, which promptly turned it over when Hubbard’s pass was tipped and intercepted by Washington.
The Forrest City possession stalled and Jacksonville started from their own 48 with 4:48 to play in the second quarter.
After Jacksonville drove to the Forrest City 22 in 10 plays, Alvidrez connected on a 39-yard field goal with 59 seconds left to put Jacksonville in front 17-7.
Walker made it 17-10 when his 42-yard field goal just cleared the upright as time expired.
Jacksonville finished with 305 total yards – 198 on the ground and 107 passing.
Hubbard completed 7-of-19 attempts with two interceptions and one touchdown pass.
Akins finished with 103 yards on 19 carries and one touchdown while Robinson had 73 yards on 13 carries.
Forrest City rang up 237 total yards with 163 of that coming on the ground. Parker completed 7 of 24 passing attempts and suffered one interception.
Washington finished with 152 rushing yards on 25 carries and two touchdowns.
Forrest City plays at Mountain Home this coming week while Jacksonville will battle it out at home against West Memphis. That game will be for sole possession of first place in the 6A-East Conference.
EVENTS>>Fall 2006
There will be a training session for Pulaski County poll workers from 9 a.m. until noon, today at the quorum court meeting room on the fourth floor of the Pulaski County administration building. This training seminar is for people who want to be poll workers for the general election Tuesday, Nov. 7. Poll assignments will be made after the seminar. Poll workers are paid $75 to work on Election Day and $37.50 for working a half-day. For more information, call the Pulaski County Election Commission at 340-8383.
The Great Safety Adventure, a free nonprofit interactive children’s exhibit, will be at the Lowe’s Home Improvement Warehouse in Jacksonville from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. today. The 1,000 square foot animated home educates children and parents about home safety.
Lonoke County Safe Haven sponsors the Silent Witness project from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. today outside the Wal-Mart in Lonoke. Life-sized red wooden figures represent women who were murdered by their domestic partners in the past year. For more information visit www.silentwitness.net.
The public hearing to discuss the new Jacksonville library today at the Central Arkansas Library System, 100 Rock St. in Little Rock has been cancelled. It will be rescheduled.
The first annual Lonoke County Wade Knox Child advocacy Center Charity Gold Tournament is slated for October 23 at Cabot’s Rolling Hills County Club, according to Blake Fletcher, chairman.
The entry fee is $300 per four-person scramble. Hole sponsorships are $200 or sponsor a hole and enter a team for $450. Lunch begins at 11 a.m., with a shotgun start at noon. Prizes will be awarded for closest to the hole, longest drive and most accurate drive. Entry checks should be payable to the Wade Knox Child Advocacy Center, 1524 N. Center Street, Lonoke AR 72086. For further information, contact Fletcher at (501) 259-8454.
Our Savior Lutheran Church of Cabot is hosting a hog roast plate-lunch fund-raiser starting 3:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct.21. The cost is $5.50 and includes sandwich, salad, drink and dessert. The church is raising funds to purchase medical equipment for a church member with lymphoedmea, which causes debilitating fluid build-up in the body.
The Arkansas State Firefighters Association central district meeting will be 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 26 at First Electric Cooperative, 1000 J. P. Wright Loop Rd. in Jacksonville. For more information, please call Hubert Chapman at 676-6693.
There will be a going away party for children’s librarian Amy Mille at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 25 at the Esther D. Nixon Library, 308 W. Main St. in Jacksonville.
The Fear Factory haunted house will be in the old Pet Quarters building on Hwy. 70 E. in Lonoke this Friday and Saturday as well as Oct. 27, 28, 30 and 31. Admission is $7.
Monday, Oct. 23 is the deadline to register for the Ward Great Pumpkin Hunt at 4:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 28. Children who register will get to search for plastic eggs containing candy and prizes. The hunt will be followed by the Ward Fall Festival from 5 to 7 p.m. at the municipal complex. To register for the Great Pumpkin Hunt or the costume contest, contact the Ward Water Office at 843-7686. All carnival games will be one ticket. Tickets are a quarter each or five for $1 and are available at the door. There will also be fall portraits available for $3. All proceeds from the event will go towards the Ward Annual Egg Hunt.
The Great Safety Adventure, a free nonprofit interactive children’s exhibit, will be at the Lowe’s Home Improvement Warehouse in Jacksonville from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. today. The 1,000 square foot animated home educates children and parents about home safety.
Lonoke County Safe Haven sponsors the Silent Witness project from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. today outside the Wal-Mart in Lonoke. Life-sized red wooden figures represent women who were murdered by their domestic partners in the past year. For more information visit www.silentwitness.net.
The public hearing to discuss the new Jacksonville library today at the Central Arkansas Library System, 100 Rock St. in Little Rock has been cancelled. It will be rescheduled.
The first annual Lonoke County Wade Knox Child advocacy Center Charity Gold Tournament is slated for October 23 at Cabot’s Rolling Hills County Club, according to Blake Fletcher, chairman.
The entry fee is $300 per four-person scramble. Hole sponsorships are $200 or sponsor a hole and enter a team for $450. Lunch begins at 11 a.m., with a shotgun start at noon. Prizes will be awarded for closest to the hole, longest drive and most accurate drive. Entry checks should be payable to the Wade Knox Child Advocacy Center, 1524 N. Center Street, Lonoke AR 72086. For further information, contact Fletcher at (501) 259-8454.
Our Savior Lutheran Church of Cabot is hosting a hog roast plate-lunch fund-raiser starting 3:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct.21. The cost is $5.50 and includes sandwich, salad, drink and dessert. The church is raising funds to purchase medical equipment for a church member with lymphoedmea, which causes debilitating fluid build-up in the body.
The Arkansas State Firefighters Association central district meeting will be 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 26 at First Electric Cooperative, 1000 J. P. Wright Loop Rd. in Jacksonville. For more information, please call Hubert Chapman at 676-6693.
There will be a going away party for children’s librarian Amy Mille at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 25 at the Esther D. Nixon Library, 308 W. Main St. in Jacksonville.
The Fear Factory haunted house will be in the old Pet Quarters building on Hwy. 70 E. in Lonoke this Friday and Saturday as well as Oct. 27, 28, 30 and 31. Admission is $7.
Monday, Oct. 23 is the deadline to register for the Ward Great Pumpkin Hunt at 4:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 28. Children who register will get to search for plastic eggs containing candy and prizes. The hunt will be followed by the Ward Fall Festival from 5 to 7 p.m. at the municipal complex. To register for the Great Pumpkin Hunt or the costume contest, contact the Ward Water Office at 843-7686. All carnival games will be one ticket. Tickets are a quarter each or five for $1 and are available at the door. There will also be fall portraits available for $3. All proceeds from the event will go towards the Ward Annual Egg Hunt.
OBITUARIES >> 10-21-06
Mark Kaiser
Mark Melvin Kaiser, 49, of Ward passed away Oct. 12 in Little Rock.
He was born Aug. 17, 1957 in St. Paul, Minn., to Lois Kaiser and the late Melvin Kaiser.
He retired from the Army as a sergeant first class after serving 28 years.
He was also preceded in death by one daughter, Danaca Kaiser, on Oct. 21, 2004.
Survivors include his loving wife, Corinne Frans Kaiser of Ward; one daughter, Marissa Kaiser of Ward; three sons, Adam and his wife Andrea Wahlgren of North Carolina, Ian Wahlgren of Minnesota and Nathan Wahlgren of Connecticut; his mother, Lois Kaiser of Cabot; three brothers, Thomas and his wife Anne Kaiser, James Kaiser and Joseph Kaiser, all of Minnesota; three sisters, Suzanne and her husband Robert Amaro of Nevada and Jeana and Tanya Kaiser of Minnesota, along with many other family and friends.
Funeral services were Oct.17 at Cabot United Methodist Church with the Rev. Richard Lancaster officiating. Burial with full military honors followed in Old Austin Cemetery at Ward.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to the Marissa Kaiser College Scholarship Fund at Bank of America, 101 Gregory Place Jacksonville, Ark. 72076.
Funeral arrangements were by Thomas Funeral Service of Cabot.
Seth Stracener
Seth Edward Stracener, 16, of Kingsport, Tenn., was called home on Thursday, Oct. 12, from injuries sustained in an automobile accident.
He was a member of Tri-Cities Baptist Youth Group and was actively involved with the church. Seth was a junior at Sullivan South High School where he was a member of the musical theater. On Friday nights Seth could be found leading the student section at Sullivan South High School football games.
He loved life and he loved football. Seth had a big heart and was very accepting and loving of all people. Seth lived life out loud. He was employed at Ingles in Colonial Heights.
Surviving are his parents, Steve and Sheree Stracener; sister, Stephanie Stracener; and brother, Spencer Stracener, all of Kingsport, Tenn.; grandparents, Marvin and Nell Stracener and Ray, of Cabot and Pat Minor; great grandparents Hershel and Louise Webb of Beebe; aunts and uncles, Scott and Michelle Stracener, Stan and Stacy Stracener; four cousins, Ashley, Baylee, Cole, and Brooklyn Stracener, all of Cabot, Arkansas; and many dear friends at Tri-Cities Baptist Church and Sullivan South High School.
Services were Oct. 15 at Tri-Cities Baptist Church with Pastor Arden Taylor and the staff of Tri-Cities Baptist Church officiating. Graveside services were Oct. 16 at Washington County Memory Gardens.
Pallbearers were J. T. Lyons, Houston Martin, Stephen Owen-by, Josh Reed, Nick Cantrell, Brandon Bragg, Taylor Trent, Matt Crawford, Justin Zurn and Kurt Phillips.
Honorary pallbearers were Nick Arredondo, Joel Mermilliod, Jessie Black, T. J. Overbeek, Paul Mermilliod, Josh Mermilliod, Ryan Salyer, Andrew Oliphant and Chris Farthing.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggest memorial contributions be made to: Tri-Cities Baptist Church Youth Group, 171 Promise Land Drive, Gray, TN 37615 which was a passionate part of Seth’s life.
Hamlett-Dobson Funeral Home served the family.
Raymond Lovett
Raymond Lovett, 73, of Ward died Oct. 16.
He was born Nov. 30, 1933, at North Little Rock, to Clarence McKinley and Mamie Cook Lovett.
He was a retired construction worker and a U.S. Army veteran.
He was preceded in death by his parents; a brother, Clarence and a granddaughter, Angel Marie Judd.
He is survived by his wife, Carol Lovett of Ward; three sons, Michael Lovett of Ward, Raymond Mark Lovett and Clarence J. Lovett, both of Searcy; two daughters, Kathleen Burge of North Little Rock and Flora Gretchen Judd of Ward; 10 grandchildren; four step-grandchildren; two sisters, Mary Horne of Little Rock and Virginia Jones of Bald Knob.
Graveside service were Thursday, Oct. 19 at Mt. Springs Cemetery. Arrangements were by Westbrook Funeral Home at Beebe.
Larry Walker
Larry “Tony” Walker, 48, of Jacksonville passed away Oct. 15.
He was born June 20, 1958 in Smyrna, Tenn. to the late L.T. and Lois Beakley Walker.
Survivors include his wife, Pam Walker; daughter, Chelsea Megan Walker; step-daughter, Tiffanie N. Tarrow and her husband Richie, all of Jacksonville; his dog, Juvenile; sister, Pam Shields and her husband Ric of Cabot; nephew, Ryan Shields; two grandchildren, Gavin and Paige Tarrow; and a host of aunts, uncles and cousins in Tennessee.
Memorial services will be casual or blue jean dress Monday, Oct. 23, at 1pm at Calvary Missionary Baptist Church, 8012 Hwy. 161 S., Jacksonville, with Pastor Roy Polk officiating.
Funeral arrangements are under direction of Moore’s Jacksonville Funeral Home.
Braxton and Christopher Woodell
Braxton Michael Woodell and Christopher Dale Woodell, 8 week old twin sons of Chris and Ryann Woodell of Beebe, became God’s angels October 17.
Other survivors are their grandparents, Angie Payne of Ward, Tabitha Craig and Jim Stevens of West Memphis, Barney Craig, Jr. of Beebe; great-grandparents, L.D. and Christine Folkner of Beebe; great-great-grandmother, Pauline Nosler of McRae; and a host of aunts, uncles and cousins.
Funeral services were Friday, Oct. 20 at Westbrook Funeral Home in Beebe with burial in Meadowbrook Memorial Gardens.
Mark Melvin Kaiser, 49, of Ward passed away Oct. 12 in Little Rock.
He was born Aug. 17, 1957 in St. Paul, Minn., to Lois Kaiser and the late Melvin Kaiser.
He retired from the Army as a sergeant first class after serving 28 years.
He was also preceded in death by one daughter, Danaca Kaiser, on Oct. 21, 2004.
Survivors include his loving wife, Corinne Frans Kaiser of Ward; one daughter, Marissa Kaiser of Ward; three sons, Adam and his wife Andrea Wahlgren of North Carolina, Ian Wahlgren of Minnesota and Nathan Wahlgren of Connecticut; his mother, Lois Kaiser of Cabot; three brothers, Thomas and his wife Anne Kaiser, James Kaiser and Joseph Kaiser, all of Minnesota; three sisters, Suzanne and her husband Robert Amaro of Nevada and Jeana and Tanya Kaiser of Minnesota, along with many other family and friends.
Funeral services were Oct.17 at Cabot United Methodist Church with the Rev. Richard Lancaster officiating. Burial with full military honors followed in Old Austin Cemetery at Ward.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to the Marissa Kaiser College Scholarship Fund at Bank of America, 101 Gregory Place Jacksonville, Ark. 72076.
Funeral arrangements were by Thomas Funeral Service of Cabot.
Seth Stracener
Seth Edward Stracener, 16, of Kingsport, Tenn., was called home on Thursday, Oct. 12, from injuries sustained in an automobile accident.
He was a member of Tri-Cities Baptist Youth Group and was actively involved with the church. Seth was a junior at Sullivan South High School where he was a member of the musical theater. On Friday nights Seth could be found leading the student section at Sullivan South High School football games.
He loved life and he loved football. Seth had a big heart and was very accepting and loving of all people. Seth lived life out loud. He was employed at Ingles in Colonial Heights.
Surviving are his parents, Steve and Sheree Stracener; sister, Stephanie Stracener; and brother, Spencer Stracener, all of Kingsport, Tenn.; grandparents, Marvin and Nell Stracener and Ray, of Cabot and Pat Minor; great grandparents Hershel and Louise Webb of Beebe; aunts and uncles, Scott and Michelle Stracener, Stan and Stacy Stracener; four cousins, Ashley, Baylee, Cole, and Brooklyn Stracener, all of Cabot, Arkansas; and many dear friends at Tri-Cities Baptist Church and Sullivan South High School.
Services were Oct. 15 at Tri-Cities Baptist Church with Pastor Arden Taylor and the staff of Tri-Cities Baptist Church officiating. Graveside services were Oct. 16 at Washington County Memory Gardens.
Pallbearers were J. T. Lyons, Houston Martin, Stephen Owen-by, Josh Reed, Nick Cantrell, Brandon Bragg, Taylor Trent, Matt Crawford, Justin Zurn and Kurt Phillips.
Honorary pallbearers were Nick Arredondo, Joel Mermilliod, Jessie Black, T. J. Overbeek, Paul Mermilliod, Josh Mermilliod, Ryan Salyer, Andrew Oliphant and Chris Farthing.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggest memorial contributions be made to: Tri-Cities Baptist Church Youth Group, 171 Promise Land Drive, Gray, TN 37615 which was a passionate part of Seth’s life.
Hamlett-Dobson Funeral Home served the family.
Raymond Lovett
Raymond Lovett, 73, of Ward died Oct. 16.
He was born Nov. 30, 1933, at North Little Rock, to Clarence McKinley and Mamie Cook Lovett.
He was a retired construction worker and a U.S. Army veteran.
He was preceded in death by his parents; a brother, Clarence and a granddaughter, Angel Marie Judd.
He is survived by his wife, Carol Lovett of Ward; three sons, Michael Lovett of Ward, Raymond Mark Lovett and Clarence J. Lovett, both of Searcy; two daughters, Kathleen Burge of North Little Rock and Flora Gretchen Judd of Ward; 10 grandchildren; four step-grandchildren; two sisters, Mary Horne of Little Rock and Virginia Jones of Bald Knob.
Graveside service were Thursday, Oct. 19 at Mt. Springs Cemetery. Arrangements were by Westbrook Funeral Home at Beebe.
Larry Walker
Larry “Tony” Walker, 48, of Jacksonville passed away Oct. 15.
He was born June 20, 1958 in Smyrna, Tenn. to the late L.T. and Lois Beakley Walker.
Survivors include his wife, Pam Walker; daughter, Chelsea Megan Walker; step-daughter, Tiffanie N. Tarrow and her husband Richie, all of Jacksonville; his dog, Juvenile; sister, Pam Shields and her husband Ric of Cabot; nephew, Ryan Shields; two grandchildren, Gavin and Paige Tarrow; and a host of aunts, uncles and cousins in Tennessee.
Memorial services will be casual or blue jean dress Monday, Oct. 23, at 1pm at Calvary Missionary Baptist Church, 8012 Hwy. 161 S., Jacksonville, with Pastor Roy Polk officiating.
Funeral arrangements are under direction of Moore’s Jacksonville Funeral Home.
Braxton and Christopher Woodell
Braxton Michael Woodell and Christopher Dale Woodell, 8 week old twin sons of Chris and Ryann Woodell of Beebe, became God’s angels October 17.
Other survivors are their grandparents, Angie Payne of Ward, Tabitha Craig and Jim Stevens of West Memphis, Barney Craig, Jr. of Beebe; great-grandparents, L.D. and Christine Folkner of Beebe; great-great-grandmother, Pauline Nosler of McRae; and a host of aunts, uncles and cousins.
Funeral services were Friday, Oct. 20 at Westbrook Funeral Home in Beebe with burial in Meadowbrook Memorial Gardens.
EDITORIALS>>Debates over, so you decide
The televised debates among the statewide candidates have come to a close, making hardly a ripple in the opinion polls since the debates were followed mostly by political junkies who made up their minds long ago.
Tuesday’s debate between Attorney General Mike Beebe, the Democratic candidate for governor, and Asa Hutchinson, his Republican opponent, was more spirited than most of the televised slugfests.
Hutchinson, who’s behind in the polls, hit Beebe at his most vulnerable — illegal immigrants and social issues important to conservatives — but this year’s elections are more a referendum on the Bush administration and less on so-called hot-button issues that made a difference in the past.
The other day, we noticed a yard sign for Jim Holt, the Republican candidate for lieutenant governor, and it played up his pro-life stance, but even Holt spends little time talking about abortion and hammers away at illegals in Arkansas — which is speaking volumes about Gov. Huckabee, a fellow Republican who is not at all concerned about illegal immigation.
But the issue could propel him into office, even if there’s not much Holt can do about the problem.
Watching a debate between candidates for lieutenant governor requires a willing suspension of disbelief. These guys cannot be running for lieutenant governor but for governor, at least, or president.
Bill Halter, the Democrat, and state Sen. Jim Holt, the Republican, consumed an hour of public television time promising bold action to solve the state’s manifold problems if voters give them the chance by electing them lieutenant governor.
It was livelier and more pointed than the deadly gubernatorial debates. Holt is going to cut taxes, reduce government spending and send illegal immigrants back to their native countries. Halter is going to “improve education from pre-kindergarten to graduate school” with a comprehensive education program, which includes a little extra cash from a state lottery.
You wonder momentarily: Has the state Constitution been amended or reinterpreted to invest the lieutenant governor with heretofore unmentionable powers? No, it hasn’t.
The Constitution gives the lieutenant governor two functions, and from the office’s beginning in 1927 until now the occupant has never exercised any other power.
He is to preside over sessions of the Senate when he wants to, and if the governor goes out of state or becomes so disabled that he cannot function he is to be the acting governor until the real governor comes home or his disability ends. And while he presides over the Senate he is expected to be an impartial servant of the senators.
He should not be taking sides, making speeches advocating some action on bills that are before the Senate or pushing his own program.
It would be entirely legal for him to do any of those things — the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution protects the speech of lieutenant governors, too — but it would violate the courtesy of senators, who would in short order curtail the lieutenant governor’s prerogatives. Already, as it happens, there is talk of amending the Constitution to abolish the office and let the senators choose their own presiding officer, as the House of Representatives does. Halter and Holt repeat the refrain from many previous lieutenant governor campaigns that they will go out and recruit industry for Arkansas. It is the only plausible way to embroider on the narrow constitutional powers that the office has.
But no lieutenant governor has ever actually done that, not even the late beloved Win Paul Rockefeller. He wanted to and tried to, but industrial recruitment is the job of professionals in the state agency with a multimillion-dollar appropriation to do it.
If political clout is needed, only the governor can deliver that. So is all of Halter’s and Holt’s posturing pointless? Not if they were candid about it. There is a remote chance that the winner will become governor if the governor should die, resign or be removed from office with a long time left in his term.
It has happened three times in 80 years. Voters need to know something about the philosophy and leadership potential of the person who is a heartbeat away from governor. It would be refreshing if the candidates put their ideas into that context.
Even without that candor, the candidates make that choice easy for voters. Holt acknowledged in the debate that he was a pariah in the Senate, even among members of his own party. Gov. Huckabee, the titular head of his party, found his ideas revolting and said worse of him than he ever did a Democrat. Holt chalked it up to his own independence and stern principle.
But if senators absolutely don’t want him, how good a governor could he be if the job was thrust upon him or, for that matter, what kind of lieutenant governor?
Tuesday’s debate between Attorney General Mike Beebe, the Democratic candidate for governor, and Asa Hutchinson, his Republican opponent, was more spirited than most of the televised slugfests.
Hutchinson, who’s behind in the polls, hit Beebe at his most vulnerable — illegal immigrants and social issues important to conservatives — but this year’s elections are more a referendum on the Bush administration and less on so-called hot-button issues that made a difference in the past.
The other day, we noticed a yard sign for Jim Holt, the Republican candidate for lieutenant governor, and it played up his pro-life stance, but even Holt spends little time talking about abortion and hammers away at illegals in Arkansas — which is speaking volumes about Gov. Huckabee, a fellow Republican who is not at all concerned about illegal immigation.
But the issue could propel him into office, even if there’s not much Holt can do about the problem.
Watching a debate between candidates for lieutenant governor requires a willing suspension of disbelief. These guys cannot be running for lieutenant governor but for governor, at least, or president.
Bill Halter, the Democrat, and state Sen. Jim Holt, the Republican, consumed an hour of public television time promising bold action to solve the state’s manifold problems if voters give them the chance by electing them lieutenant governor.
It was livelier and more pointed than the deadly gubernatorial debates. Holt is going to cut taxes, reduce government spending and send illegal immigrants back to their native countries. Halter is going to “improve education from pre-kindergarten to graduate school” with a comprehensive education program, which includes a little extra cash from a state lottery.
You wonder momentarily: Has the state Constitution been amended or reinterpreted to invest the lieutenant governor with heretofore unmentionable powers? No, it hasn’t.
The Constitution gives the lieutenant governor two functions, and from the office’s beginning in 1927 until now the occupant has never exercised any other power.
He is to preside over sessions of the Senate when he wants to, and if the governor goes out of state or becomes so disabled that he cannot function he is to be the acting governor until the real governor comes home or his disability ends. And while he presides over the Senate he is expected to be an impartial servant of the senators.
He should not be taking sides, making speeches advocating some action on bills that are before the Senate or pushing his own program.
It would be entirely legal for him to do any of those things — the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution protects the speech of lieutenant governors, too — but it would violate the courtesy of senators, who would in short order curtail the lieutenant governor’s prerogatives. Already, as it happens, there is talk of amending the Constitution to abolish the office and let the senators choose their own presiding officer, as the House of Representatives does. Halter and Holt repeat the refrain from many previous lieutenant governor campaigns that they will go out and recruit industry for Arkansas. It is the only plausible way to embroider on the narrow constitutional powers that the office has.
But no lieutenant governor has ever actually done that, not even the late beloved Win Paul Rockefeller. He wanted to and tried to, but industrial recruitment is the job of professionals in the state agency with a multimillion-dollar appropriation to do it.
If political clout is needed, only the governor can deliver that. So is all of Halter’s and Holt’s posturing pointless? Not if they were candid about it. There is a remote chance that the winner will become governor if the governor should die, resign or be removed from office with a long time left in his term.
It has happened three times in 80 years. Voters need to know something about the philosophy and leadership potential of the person who is a heartbeat away from governor. It would be refreshing if the candidates put their ideas into that context.
Even without that candor, the candidates make that choice easy for voters. Holt acknowledged in the debate that he was a pariah in the Senate, even among members of his own party. Gov. Huckabee, the titular head of his party, found his ideas revolting and said worse of him than he ever did a Democrat. Holt chalked it up to his own independence and stern principle.
But if senators absolutely don’t want him, how good a governor could he be if the job was thrust upon him or, for that matter, what kind of lieutenant governor?
TOP STORY >>Get ready for Halloween
IN SHORT: Pirate costumes are most popular this year as residents enjoy haunted houses, festivals.
By HEATHER HARTSELL AND RICK KRON
Leader staff writers
Pirate costumes top the list for the most sought-after Halloween costumes for this year’s festivities Tuesday, Oct. 31, thanks in part to the popularity of the Disney movie “Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest” in theaters earlier this year.
“We’ve ordered twice as many pirate costumes and accessories than we normally do, and we’re still running out,” Teresa Dow, Party City manager in North Little Rock, said.
Halloween Express-North Little Rock manager Jaunita Horn said they too are selling lots of pirate costumes.
“We sell a great number of different priced costumes, and even in our nicer costumes, Leg Avenue, we’re selling a lot of pirates,” Horn said.
Men, young and old alike, have flocked to the costume stores wanting to be Disney’s Capt. Jack Sparrow and if not for a variation of the pirate theme, it’s for anything else Disney.
Top costumes for girls, if not choosing the pirate route, are Disney princesses like Snow White and Cinderella and any sort of fairy.
For babies, ladybugs are the most popular costumes. Pet owners are buying devil horn headbands for cats and dressing dogs up as Yoda, from the popular science-fiction movie series “Star Wars.”
There’s plenty to do before Halloween, starting with Sherwood’s Fall Fest this Saturday. Three of the most popular haunted houses are in Austin, Lonoke and Jacksonville.
Austin’s haunted house will produce scares at 103 Hendricks St. It opened Friday and is sponsored by the fire department. It will stay open each night from 7:30 until the last victim goes through. The cost is $5.
Jacksonville’s haunted house will be “boo-ing” the night away now through Oct. 31 at 618 W. Main in the old theater.
The frights start at 6 p.m. The cost is $12 for adults and $8 for children.
Lonoke Department of Health and Human Service’s Fear Factory also opens Friday inside the former Pet Quarters building on east Highway 70.
It will open this weekend and next Friday and Saturday, as well as Oct. 30-31. Admission is $7.
Other area festivities include:
- Sherwood Halloween Carnival at Sherwood Forest, at 1111 W. Maryland Ave., Oct. 31 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. It is free to the public.
- Ward Annual Fall Festival at the Ward Municipal Complex, from 5 to 7 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 28. Carnival games will cost 25 cent each and fall pictures will be available for $3.
- The 15th Annual Boo at the Zoo at the Little Rock Zoo, this Friday and Sunday, then Oct.26, 27, 29 and 31 from 6 to 9 p.m. The cost is $5 per person and parking is free.
- Campus Halloween Party at the Arkansas State University-Beebe on Dewitt Henry Drive, Oct. 31 at 3:30 p.m.
You can visit two area pumpkin patches — the Barnhill patch at 277 Sandhill Road, Lonoke, which is open daily until 7 p.m., and Hidden Valley Farm, 719 Ferncliff in Little Rock, which is open daily 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. until Oct. 30.
By HEATHER HARTSELL AND RICK KRON
Leader staff writers
Pirate costumes top the list for the most sought-after Halloween costumes for this year’s festivities Tuesday, Oct. 31, thanks in part to the popularity of the Disney movie “Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest” in theaters earlier this year.
“We’ve ordered twice as many pirate costumes and accessories than we normally do, and we’re still running out,” Teresa Dow, Party City manager in North Little Rock, said.
Halloween Express-North Little Rock manager Jaunita Horn said they too are selling lots of pirate costumes.
“We sell a great number of different priced costumes, and even in our nicer costumes, Leg Avenue, we’re selling a lot of pirates,” Horn said.
Men, young and old alike, have flocked to the costume stores wanting to be Disney’s Capt. Jack Sparrow and if not for a variation of the pirate theme, it’s for anything else Disney.
Top costumes for girls, if not choosing the pirate route, are Disney princesses like Snow White and Cinderella and any sort of fairy.
For babies, ladybugs are the most popular costumes. Pet owners are buying devil horn headbands for cats and dressing dogs up as Yoda, from the popular science-fiction movie series “Star Wars.”
There’s plenty to do before Halloween, starting with Sherwood’s Fall Fest this Saturday. Three of the most popular haunted houses are in Austin, Lonoke and Jacksonville.
Austin’s haunted house will produce scares at 103 Hendricks St. It opened Friday and is sponsored by the fire department. It will stay open each night from 7:30 until the last victim goes through. The cost is $5.
Jacksonville’s haunted house will be “boo-ing” the night away now through Oct. 31 at 618 W. Main in the old theater.
The frights start at 6 p.m. The cost is $12 for adults and $8 for children.
Lonoke Department of Health and Human Service’s Fear Factory also opens Friday inside the former Pet Quarters building on east Highway 70.
It will open this weekend and next Friday and Saturday, as well as Oct. 30-31. Admission is $7.
Other area festivities include:
- Sherwood Halloween Carnival at Sherwood Forest, at 1111 W. Maryland Ave., Oct. 31 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. It is free to the public.
- Ward Annual Fall Festival at the Ward Municipal Complex, from 5 to 7 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 28. Carnival games will cost 25 cent each and fall pictures will be available for $3.
- The 15th Annual Boo at the Zoo at the Little Rock Zoo, this Friday and Sunday, then Oct.26, 27, 29 and 31 from 6 to 9 p.m. The cost is $5 per person and parking is free.
- Campus Halloween Party at the Arkansas State University-Beebe on Dewitt Henry Drive, Oct. 31 at 3:30 p.m.
You can visit two area pumpkin patches — the Barnhill patch at 277 Sandhill Road, Lonoke, which is open daily until 7 p.m., and Hidden Valley Farm, 719 Ferncliff in Little Rock, which is open daily 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. until Oct. 30.
TOP STORY >>Candidates square off for Nov. 7
IN SHORT: Roberson will face former Sheriff Martin for the third time as spirited races include contests for quorum court, mayor of Cabot, Lonoke, Ward, Austin and elsewhere.
By JOHN HOFHEIMER
Leader staff writer
The marquee election in Lonoke County this year will be a rematch, with former Sheriff Charlie Martin challenging Sheriff Jim Roberson on Nov. 7. Roberson, a Republican, took the office from Martin, a Democrat, in 2002 and turned back Martin’s challenge in 2004.
In 2002, Roberson wrested the job from Martin by 8,646 to 7,515 after Martin and some members of his department were cited by the Bureau of Legislative Audit for improper use of money in the weapons and uniforms fund.
He later pled guilty to one count of falsifying a business record, was sentenced to one year probation and required to make restitution, with his misdemeanor charge expunged from his record.
In November 2004, Roberson beat Martin 11,582 to 7,660.
Roberson and Prosecutor Lona McCastlain are currently the only countywide Republican officeholders in Lonoke County. McCastlain is challenged this year by Tim Blair, a Cabot Democrat.
Democrat Dawn Porterfield faces a challenge from Republican Cassandra Pitts to fill the seat vacated after eight years by County Clerk Prudie Percefull. Percefull has worked in county government for nearly 30 years. In the only other contested countywide election, Republican incumbent Surveyor Samuel E. Smith is defending his seat against Democrat William “Randy” Gipson.
Running unopposed for countywide office are County Judge Charlie Troutman, Circuit Clerk Deborah Oglesby, Assessor Jerry D. Adams, Treasurer Karol DePriest and Coroner Sherry Stracener—all incumbents and Democrats, and Democrat Patricia McCallie, for collector.
Two Republican incumbents are being challenged on the Lonoke County Quorum Court. Democrat Larry Ridgeway, who lost his District 2 seat to Republican Jannette Minton two years ago, wants it back. Alexis Mal-ham, a Re-publican, faces a challenge from Democrat Chris R. Skinner and from Harry Roderick, an independent for her district 6 seat. Casey VanBuskirk, who beat Gina Burton in the Republican primary, faces Patty Knox, a Democrat.
Unopposed are incumbents Larry A. Odom-R, Donna Peder-son-R, Lynn Weeks Clarke-R, Richard Kyzer-D, Robert “Sonny” Moery-D. and Mike Dolan-D.
Also unchallenged are Demo-crats Jodie Grisham Troutman, Roger D. Lynch and Kyle E. Lackie, who defeated Norman Walker in the primary. Also unopposed is Mark Edwards, a Republican.
LONOKE CITY
Lonoke will have a new mayor and at least three new aldermen come the first of the year, with the only contested races in the November General election pitting incumbent Democrat Phillip Howell against Independent challenger Shane Whitehurst.
Robert (Bob) Combs-R, Wendell Walker-I and Kenneth Pasley-R, will face off in the only other contested city council race.
Wayne McGee won a four-way Democratic Primary and the runoff against Alderman Jim Parks and runs unopposed for mayor.
He’ll replace Mayor Thomas Privett, whose record of progress on several fronts could not stave off his support of former Police Chief Jay Campbell and his own misdemeanor charge growing out of work done for him by Act 309 inmates.
City Clerk Billie U. Uzzell-D, and Treasurer Jack Walls McCrary-D, are running unopposed, as are incumbent Democrats aldermen Pat Howell, Efrem Z. Jones, Raymond Hatton and Michael Florence.
Jane Derning, running unopposed for the seat vacated by McGee when he ran for mayor, will be the first woman on the council in several years.
Woody Evans, who left his quorum court seat to run for alderman, runs unopposed after defeating incumbent Jackie Moore in the primary.
AUSTIN
Like all city elections excluding Cabot, Lonoke and England, Austin has nonpartisian elections, with Mayor Bernie Chamberlain facing challengers Barry D. Weathers II and Jeremy C. Reed.
No incumbents are running for aldermen.
In Ward 2, Position 2, Chris-topher L. Dawson faces Michawn David and in Ward 2, Position 5, Tammy Williams faces Sandra Kay Chambers.
Running unopposed are Rusty Eisenhower, Ward 3, Position 1 and Randy Ryan, Ward 3, Position 4.
WARD
A four-way mayoral race has developed in Ward, where all elections are nonpartisan, with the incumbent Art Brooke challenged by Bill Boyd, former Alderman Donnie Rouse, and J.S. “Buford” McClendon.
Incumbents are challenged for half of the six city council, with Ginger Tarno trying to hold off Don Harris, Marrice Jackson facing a challenge by John B. Harris and Jeff Shaver trying to beat back a challenge by Murriel Seymour.
CABOT
Familiar names are vying for the position Mayor Stubby Stumbaugh will relinquish in his bid to beat Marion Berry for Congress.
They are Republican Eddie Joe Williams and independents James R. Glenn, Da-vid Polantz and Kenny Ridgeway. Only City Treasurer Marva Verkler and aldermen Eddie Cook and Kenneth Williams are assured election, with all other positions contested.
Independent Clinton D. McGue and Republican Jimmy Taylor are vying for city attorney.
In the races for alderman, here’s who is running:
Ward 1, Position 1, John W. Johnson and Eddie Long, both independents.
Ward 2, Position 1, Michael A. Burton, an independent, and Republican Virgil O. Teague, Jr.
Ward 3, Position 1, incumbent Tom Armstrong is challenged by Bruce L. “Ernie” Ernst. Both men are independents.
Ward 3, Position 2, independent Nancy Cohea is running against Teri Miessner, a Republican.
Ward 4, Position 1, incumbent Odis Way-mack faces Becky Lem-aster. Both are independents.
Ward 2, Position 2, Robert L. Helton, Lisa Brickell and Thomas Standley face off in a three-way race. All are independents.
CARLISLE
In a three way race for mayor, independents Ron (Yank) Wanne-macker, Harold D. Reed and Ray Glover seek the seat vacated by Bob McCallie.
Curtis Moody faces Leo Orton for Ward 1, Position 2 in the only other contested race in Carlisle.
Running unopposed for reelection are City Clerk Trudy D. Drye, City Attorney J. Michael Stuart and aldermen Mike Walker, William H. Kittlar, Eddie Moore and Brent Doney. Also unopposed is Windell Scales Sr.
ALLPORT
With no contested races in Allport, Mayor Ulyssis Ingram and Recorder-Treasurer Rita Ingram will be returned to office, along with incumbent alderman Robert Dockery. New aldermen will fill the four other aldermanic slots. They are Freddie Lee Coleman, Louis Trimble, Eddie M. Robinson and Natishia Reed.
COY
Ralph Jones is running unopposed for reelection as mayor. There is no opposition for any of the other seats, including Carolyn Jones for Recorder/treasurer and Mike Hale, Tony Edmonson, Dennis Webb, Ricky Hatfield and Jerry Pettit.
ENGLAND
In England, Danny L. Maynard Sr. is unopposed in his bid to replace Jimmy Wallace as Mayor. Newcomer Peggy D. Baker is unopposed for alderman Ward 3, Position 1. Also unopposed are incumbents Rick Douglas, Mike Mashburn, Annette Cothren, Bill Newton, Bob Collins and Dearl Frizzell.
HUMNOKE
Mayor Harold “Bill” Morris faces a challenge from Roger Oliver.
KEO
All races unopposed, including Mayor Nancy Cobb Tardy.
Gloria A. Stachurski is running unopposed for recorder-treasurer and Tommy Anderson, David Lane-hart, James Vincent Cole and Jeffrey Robinson are unopposed running for alderman seats.
CONSTABLES
Constable seats are unopposed with the following exceptions: Carlisle Township, Todd Turner-D and write-in Jimmie Bowlan Jr.; Caroline Township, William “Doc” Klink-D against Jerry Gray-R; Furlow Township, Jimmy Pawlowki-R against Daryl W. Clement-D; Magness Township, incumbent Bill Peckat-D challenged by Jesse Bear-R; York Township, John Sukeforth-D against Todd Kerley-R and Ward Township Michael E. Kindall-D and Mike Reveley-R want to unseat James W. Williams Sr., an independent.
By JOHN HOFHEIMER
Leader staff writer
The marquee election in Lonoke County this year will be a rematch, with former Sheriff Charlie Martin challenging Sheriff Jim Roberson on Nov. 7. Roberson, a Republican, took the office from Martin, a Democrat, in 2002 and turned back Martin’s challenge in 2004.
In 2002, Roberson wrested the job from Martin by 8,646 to 7,515 after Martin and some members of his department were cited by the Bureau of Legislative Audit for improper use of money in the weapons and uniforms fund.
He later pled guilty to one count of falsifying a business record, was sentenced to one year probation and required to make restitution, with his misdemeanor charge expunged from his record.
In November 2004, Roberson beat Martin 11,582 to 7,660.
Roberson and Prosecutor Lona McCastlain are currently the only countywide Republican officeholders in Lonoke County. McCastlain is challenged this year by Tim Blair, a Cabot Democrat.
Democrat Dawn Porterfield faces a challenge from Republican Cassandra Pitts to fill the seat vacated after eight years by County Clerk Prudie Percefull. Percefull has worked in county government for nearly 30 years. In the only other contested countywide election, Republican incumbent Surveyor Samuel E. Smith is defending his seat against Democrat William “Randy” Gipson.
Running unopposed for countywide office are County Judge Charlie Troutman, Circuit Clerk Deborah Oglesby, Assessor Jerry D. Adams, Treasurer Karol DePriest and Coroner Sherry Stracener—all incumbents and Democrats, and Democrat Patricia McCallie, for collector.
Two Republican incumbents are being challenged on the Lonoke County Quorum Court. Democrat Larry Ridgeway, who lost his District 2 seat to Republican Jannette Minton two years ago, wants it back. Alexis Mal-ham, a Re-publican, faces a challenge from Democrat Chris R. Skinner and from Harry Roderick, an independent for her district 6 seat. Casey VanBuskirk, who beat Gina Burton in the Republican primary, faces Patty Knox, a Democrat.
Unopposed are incumbents Larry A. Odom-R, Donna Peder-son-R, Lynn Weeks Clarke-R, Richard Kyzer-D, Robert “Sonny” Moery-D. and Mike Dolan-D.
Also unchallenged are Demo-crats Jodie Grisham Troutman, Roger D. Lynch and Kyle E. Lackie, who defeated Norman Walker in the primary. Also unopposed is Mark Edwards, a Republican.
LONOKE CITY
Lonoke will have a new mayor and at least three new aldermen come the first of the year, with the only contested races in the November General election pitting incumbent Democrat Phillip Howell against Independent challenger Shane Whitehurst.
Robert (Bob) Combs-R, Wendell Walker-I and Kenneth Pasley-R, will face off in the only other contested city council race.
Wayne McGee won a four-way Democratic Primary and the runoff against Alderman Jim Parks and runs unopposed for mayor.
He’ll replace Mayor Thomas Privett, whose record of progress on several fronts could not stave off his support of former Police Chief Jay Campbell and his own misdemeanor charge growing out of work done for him by Act 309 inmates.
City Clerk Billie U. Uzzell-D, and Treasurer Jack Walls McCrary-D, are running unopposed, as are incumbent Democrats aldermen Pat Howell, Efrem Z. Jones, Raymond Hatton and Michael Florence.
Jane Derning, running unopposed for the seat vacated by McGee when he ran for mayor, will be the first woman on the council in several years.
Woody Evans, who left his quorum court seat to run for alderman, runs unopposed after defeating incumbent Jackie Moore in the primary.
AUSTIN
Like all city elections excluding Cabot, Lonoke and England, Austin has nonpartisian elections, with Mayor Bernie Chamberlain facing challengers Barry D. Weathers II and Jeremy C. Reed.
No incumbents are running for aldermen.
In Ward 2, Position 2, Chris-topher L. Dawson faces Michawn David and in Ward 2, Position 5, Tammy Williams faces Sandra Kay Chambers.
Running unopposed are Rusty Eisenhower, Ward 3, Position 1 and Randy Ryan, Ward 3, Position 4.
WARD
A four-way mayoral race has developed in Ward, where all elections are nonpartisan, with the incumbent Art Brooke challenged by Bill Boyd, former Alderman Donnie Rouse, and J.S. “Buford” McClendon.
Incumbents are challenged for half of the six city council, with Ginger Tarno trying to hold off Don Harris, Marrice Jackson facing a challenge by John B. Harris and Jeff Shaver trying to beat back a challenge by Murriel Seymour.
CABOT
Familiar names are vying for the position Mayor Stubby Stumbaugh will relinquish in his bid to beat Marion Berry for Congress.
They are Republican Eddie Joe Williams and independents James R. Glenn, Da-vid Polantz and Kenny Ridgeway. Only City Treasurer Marva Verkler and aldermen Eddie Cook and Kenneth Williams are assured election, with all other positions contested.
Independent Clinton D. McGue and Republican Jimmy Taylor are vying for city attorney.
In the races for alderman, here’s who is running:
Ward 1, Position 1, John W. Johnson and Eddie Long, both independents.
Ward 2, Position 1, Michael A. Burton, an independent, and Republican Virgil O. Teague, Jr.
Ward 3, Position 1, incumbent Tom Armstrong is challenged by Bruce L. “Ernie” Ernst. Both men are independents.
Ward 3, Position 2, independent Nancy Cohea is running against Teri Miessner, a Republican.
Ward 4, Position 1, incumbent Odis Way-mack faces Becky Lem-aster. Both are independents.
Ward 2, Position 2, Robert L. Helton, Lisa Brickell and Thomas Standley face off in a three-way race. All are independents.
CARLISLE
In a three way race for mayor, independents Ron (Yank) Wanne-macker, Harold D. Reed and Ray Glover seek the seat vacated by Bob McCallie.
Curtis Moody faces Leo Orton for Ward 1, Position 2 in the only other contested race in Carlisle.
Running unopposed for reelection are City Clerk Trudy D. Drye, City Attorney J. Michael Stuart and aldermen Mike Walker, William H. Kittlar, Eddie Moore and Brent Doney. Also unopposed is Windell Scales Sr.
ALLPORT
With no contested races in Allport, Mayor Ulyssis Ingram and Recorder-Treasurer Rita Ingram will be returned to office, along with incumbent alderman Robert Dockery. New aldermen will fill the four other aldermanic slots. They are Freddie Lee Coleman, Louis Trimble, Eddie M. Robinson and Natishia Reed.
COY
Ralph Jones is running unopposed for reelection as mayor. There is no opposition for any of the other seats, including Carolyn Jones for Recorder/treasurer and Mike Hale, Tony Edmonson, Dennis Webb, Ricky Hatfield and Jerry Pettit.
ENGLAND
In England, Danny L. Maynard Sr. is unopposed in his bid to replace Jimmy Wallace as Mayor. Newcomer Peggy D. Baker is unopposed for alderman Ward 3, Position 1. Also unopposed are incumbents Rick Douglas, Mike Mashburn, Annette Cothren, Bill Newton, Bob Collins and Dearl Frizzell.
HUMNOKE
Mayor Harold “Bill” Morris faces a challenge from Roger Oliver.
KEO
All races unopposed, including Mayor Nancy Cobb Tardy.
Gloria A. Stachurski is running unopposed for recorder-treasurer and Tommy Anderson, David Lane-hart, James Vincent Cole and Jeffrey Robinson are unopposed running for alderman seats.
CONSTABLES
Constable seats are unopposed with the following exceptions: Carlisle Township, Todd Turner-D and write-in Jimmie Bowlan Jr.; Caroline Township, William “Doc” Klink-D against Jerry Gray-R; Furlow Township, Jimmy Pawlowki-R against Daryl W. Clement-D; Magness Township, incumbent Bill Peckat-D challenged by Jesse Bear-R; York Township, John Sukeforth-D against Todd Kerley-R and Ward Township Michael E. Kindall-D and Mike Reveley-R want to unseat James W. Williams Sr., an independent.
TOP STORY >>Jacksonville council pulls rezoning issue as votes aren't there
IN SHORT: Alderman Bob Stroud, sponsor of the ordinance, will decide when it will have its third and final reading.
By RICK KRON
Leader staff writer
“Corrupt government,” a resident hollered out Thursday at the end of the Jacksonville City Council meeting that saw the third and final reading of a rezoning ordinance pulled from the agenda.
The ordinance would allow developer Tim McClurg to build 35 townhouses on three acres of land south of west Main Street and west of Emma.
Alderman Gary Fletcher asked the mayor and the council why it was pulled.
“It was pulled according to the rules of order,” Mayor Tommy Swaim explained, meaning that it was pulled by the sponsor of the ordinance, Alderman Bob Stroud.
Fletcher asked again, looking for more of an answer. “Can’t I ask why?” he said.
Stroud replied that Fletcher could ask, “but I don’t have to answer.”
Alderman Terry Sansing be-lieves the ordinance was pulled because it didn’t have the votes to pass Thursday night, as two aldermen who were for the rezoning—Linda Rinker and Reedie Ray—were absent.
The ordinance should be on the agenda for the council’s first November meeting, but it’ll be Stroud’s decision as to when it comes back up, and he was out of town Friday and unavailable for comment. The planning commission in September turned down the controversial rezoning request, but McClurg appealed the decision to the council.
Stroud sponsored the ordinance to repeal the commission’s decision and approve the rezoning. For an ordinance to become law it must pass three readings.
In late September, the council passed the rezoning ordinance 5-4 (Rinker was absent). It passed the second reading on Oct. 4 by a 6-4 vote, and was on Thursday’s agenda for the third reading.
Planning 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.
Knight recently told the Leader that 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.
Looking out at the large crowd of residents Thursday, which t has shown up at each council meeting to oppose the issue, Fletcher said that he was concerned about the fairness of pulling the ordinance. “These people out here have expended their valuable time to be here,” he said.
In the first two readings, Sansing and Fletcher, along with Aldermen Marshall Smith and Avis Twitty have voted against the rezoning. The remaining six aldermen—Kenny Elliott, Kevin McCleary, Reedie Ray, Linda Rinker (she missed the first vote), Bill Howard and Bob Stroud—voted for the rezoning.
Stroud has pointed out that the developer could, under the current zoning, build cheap 900-square-foot homes, without seeking the commission’s or the council’s approval.
“But he’s not doing that, Stroud said, he wants to build upscale 1,500-square foot townhouses that will sell for about $166,000.
“We need this type of upscale housing,” 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.”
In other council business:
- In his monthly report, Fire Chief John Vanderhoof said that his department responded to 114 rescue calls, 47 still alarms, 17 general alarms and had 214 ambulance runs during September.
- Public Works Director Jim Oakley told the council that the animal shelter received 130 dogs and 87 cats during September. Forty dogs and six cats were returned to their owners, while dogs and 39 cats were adopted. Shelter officials euthanized 34 dogs and 39 cats.
- In his monthly report, Police Chief Robert Baker said they responded to 2,494 complaint calls and made 358 adult arrests.
By RICK KRON
Leader staff writer
“Corrupt government,” a resident hollered out Thursday at the end of the Jacksonville City Council meeting that saw the third and final reading of a rezoning ordinance pulled from the agenda.
The ordinance would allow developer Tim McClurg to build 35 townhouses on three acres of land south of west Main Street and west of Emma.
Alderman Gary Fletcher asked the mayor and the council why it was pulled.
“It was pulled according to the rules of order,” Mayor Tommy Swaim explained, meaning that it was pulled by the sponsor of the ordinance, Alderman Bob Stroud.
Fletcher asked again, looking for more of an answer. “Can’t I ask why?” he said.
Stroud replied that Fletcher could ask, “but I don’t have to answer.”
Alderman Terry Sansing be-lieves the ordinance was pulled because it didn’t have the votes to pass Thursday night, as two aldermen who were for the rezoning—Linda Rinker and Reedie Ray—were absent.
The ordinance should be on the agenda for the council’s first November meeting, but it’ll be Stroud’s decision as to when it comes back up, and he was out of town Friday and unavailable for comment. The planning commission in September turned down the controversial rezoning request, but McClurg appealed the decision to the council.
Stroud sponsored the ordinance to repeal the commission’s decision and approve the rezoning. For an ordinance to become law it must pass three readings.
In late September, the council passed the rezoning ordinance 5-4 (Rinker was absent). It passed the second reading on Oct. 4 by a 6-4 vote, and was on Thursday’s agenda for the third reading.
Planning 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.
Knight recently told the Leader that 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.
Looking out at the large crowd of residents Thursday, which t has shown up at each council meeting to oppose the issue, Fletcher said that he was concerned about the fairness of pulling the ordinance. “These people out here have expended their valuable time to be here,” he said.
In the first two readings, Sansing and Fletcher, along with Aldermen Marshall Smith and Avis Twitty have voted against the rezoning. The remaining six aldermen—Kenny Elliott, Kevin McCleary, Reedie Ray, Linda Rinker (she missed the first vote), Bill Howard and Bob Stroud—voted for the rezoning.
Stroud has pointed out that the developer could, under the current zoning, build cheap 900-square-foot homes, without seeking the commission’s or the council’s approval.
“But he’s not doing that, Stroud said, he wants to build upscale 1,500-square foot townhouses that will sell for about $166,000.
“We need this type of upscale housing,” 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.”
In other council business:
- In his monthly report, Fire Chief John Vanderhoof said that his department responded to 114 rescue calls, 47 still alarms, 17 general alarms and had 214 ambulance runs during September.
- Public Works Director Jim Oakley told the council that the animal shelter received 130 dogs and 87 cats during September. Forty dogs and six cats were returned to their owners, while dogs and 39 cats were adopted. Shelter officials euthanized 34 dogs and 39 cats.
- In his monthly report, Police Chief Robert Baker said they responded to 2,494 complaint calls and made 358 adult arrests.
TOP STORY >>Cabot’s ISO rating drops
IN SHORT: A decline after a recent inspection and analysis may cause some residents to pay higher premiums.
By JOAN MCCOY
Leader staff writer
Cabot has outgrown its fire protection and several hundred residents could have to pay more for insurance until the situation is corrected.
Fire Chief Phil Robinson said this week that affected homes will be in Greystone and Magness Creek off Highway 5. The solution to the problem is a fully staffed and equipped fire station in that area, but right now the city has neither the land to put it on nor the money to pay for it.
So Robinson said he is looking at stopgap measures like a temporary fire station and bringing in Mountain Springs Volunteer Fire Department to cover the area. But whether either plan is feasible or will accomplish the goal of keeping insurance premiums down is not known, he said.
Previously, the city’s fire rating from Insurance Services Office (ISO) was a Class 3, but after ISO completed an inspection and analysis of the city’s fire-suppression system this summer, the rating dropped to Class 3 / 9.
With ISO ratings, the lower the number, the higher the rating and the less insurance is likely to cost.
A letter from ISO to Mayor Stubby Stumbaugh dated Sept. 27, 2006, tells the mayor that the rating has dropped for property that is more than five road-miles from the nearest responding fire station or within five road-miles of the nearest responding fire station but more than 1,000 feet from a fire hydrant. The former is now a Class 10, the lowest possible, and the latter is a Class 9.
Several city council members, contacted about the change in fire rating, said they had not been notified. Robinson said this week that all houses beyond 903 Greystone Blvd. are a Class 10. That includes these subdivisions: Mystery Lake, Southern Hills, Georgetown, Signature and Kensington.
In Magness Creek North subdivision, the 11 streets beyond 61 Lakeland are Class 10, Robinson said. Robinson said several houses in the subdivisions are under construction and several lots have not been sold, so it is not possible to determine how many residents are affected by the drop in ISO rating.
Robinson said the city is looking at land for the new fire station across Highway 5 from Greystone and he has applied for a grant for a $750,000 ladder truck from the Department of Homeland Security. A ladder truck would serve the area better than a fire engine because many of the buildings are tall, he said. However, a fire engine would cost $500,000 less than a ladder truck.
Whether the new station will be built anytime soon is not known.
“We’re working now to see if it would fit into next year’s budget for capital expenditures,” Robinson said. “If I had my way, we’d build it now.”
By JOAN MCCOY
Leader staff writer
Cabot has outgrown its fire protection and several hundred residents could have to pay more for insurance until the situation is corrected.
Fire Chief Phil Robinson said this week that affected homes will be in Greystone and Magness Creek off Highway 5. The solution to the problem is a fully staffed and equipped fire station in that area, but right now the city has neither the land to put it on nor the money to pay for it.
So Robinson said he is looking at stopgap measures like a temporary fire station and bringing in Mountain Springs Volunteer Fire Department to cover the area. But whether either plan is feasible or will accomplish the goal of keeping insurance premiums down is not known, he said.
Previously, the city’s fire rating from Insurance Services Office (ISO) was a Class 3, but after ISO completed an inspection and analysis of the city’s fire-suppression system this summer, the rating dropped to Class 3 / 9.
With ISO ratings, the lower the number, the higher the rating and the less insurance is likely to cost.
A letter from ISO to Mayor Stubby Stumbaugh dated Sept. 27, 2006, tells the mayor that the rating has dropped for property that is more than five road-miles from the nearest responding fire station or within five road-miles of the nearest responding fire station but more than 1,000 feet from a fire hydrant. The former is now a Class 10, the lowest possible, and the latter is a Class 9.
Several city council members, contacted about the change in fire rating, said they had not been notified. Robinson said this week that all houses beyond 903 Greystone Blvd. are a Class 10. That includes these subdivisions: Mystery Lake, Southern Hills, Georgetown, Signature and Kensington.
In Magness Creek North subdivision, the 11 streets beyond 61 Lakeland are Class 10, Robinson said. Robinson said several houses in the subdivisions are under construction and several lots have not been sold, so it is not possible to determine how many residents are affected by the drop in ISO rating.
Robinson said the city is looking at land for the new fire station across Highway 5 from Greystone and he has applied for a grant for a $750,000 ladder truck from the Department of Homeland Security. A ladder truck would serve the area better than a fire engine because many of the buildings are tall, he said. However, a fire engine would cost $500,000 less than a ladder truck.
Whether the new station will be built anytime soon is not known.
“We’re working now to see if it would fit into next year’s budget for capital expenditures,” Robinson said. “If I had my way, we’d build it now.”
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