By JOHN HOFHEIMER
Leader staff writer
Area legislators—all of whom were reelected without opposition Nov. 7—agree that Mike Beebe will be more of a hands-on governor than Gov. Mike Huckabee has been—and “hands-on” is the term they use nearly to a person.
All area representatives except Susan Schulte, R-Cabot, are Democrats, but they say the big difference when the General Assembly convenes in January won’t be that of working with a Democratic governor instead of a Republican, but rather attributable to Huckabee and Beebe’s contrasting styles of governance.
As a former state senator, they expect Attorney Gen. Beebe to roam the halls, stick his head into committee meetings and backslap and cajole legislators, massaging the process much in the style of former Gov. Bill Clinton. They described Huckabee as sticking pretty close to his office, keeping his distance from legislators. “There were times we didn’t get a tremendous lot of guidance on technical budget issues and technical policy matters,” says state Rep. Will Bond, D-Jacksonville. “I suspect Gov. Beebe will be more involved on a daily basis on budget and policy issues, more like Clinton than Huckabee.”
“Huckabee didn’t reach out to Democrats as a whole for ideas and feedback,” said state Rep. Jeff Wood, D-Sherwood. “He didn’t seek us out. Beebe’s going to be much different. He served in the legislature and knows how things work.” He said Beebe knows that by attending committee meetings he can better assure the approval of his agenda. “It’s real easy to vote against someone when it’s not eye-to-eye,” Wood said. Most say the top issues when the General Assembly reconvenes in January will be how to phase out the tax on groceries and what to do with the current $800 million state surplus.
Each has their own ideas on the big issues and issues that are important to them and their constituents. State Rep. Sandra Prater, D-Jacksonville, has advocated for healthcare-related issues since coming to the house and this year she’s promoting establishment of a traumatic brain injury commission to help tap in to any available money to help victims.
“I want to makes sure these families (and victims) have the resources to be as productive as possible,” Prater said. She also wants a centralized drug-testing registry for truck drivers to keep the highways safer and enhanced penalties for drugs or weapons at school bus stops. She said she wants additional money for biodiesel and bio fuel production and wants the state to spend money recruiting new industry.
“The federal highway bill will (provide) less money that before,” she said, suggesting that some of the surplus might be used for highway projects as well as for school facilities. Schulte, the Cabot Republican, says she’d like the state to help promote more biofuel production. “I hope it will help Arkansas farmers and reduce dependence on foreign oil.” As for the surplus, “It would be ice if some or all of it would go back as a tax rebate, but I don’t know what would be left if the grocery tax is repealed.”
Wood, a lawyer and Arkansas National Guardsman who helped pass legislation helpful to members of the military last session, says he’d like to revisit the state income-tax exemption for members of the military. Last session, the exemption was increased from $6,000 to $9,000 for enlisted mean and women. This year he’d like to include officers in that exemption.
Mark Pate, D-Bald Knob, wants to find more funding for the waiver program that would allow care outside of an institution for developmentally disable persons.
As for the $800 million surplus, Pate said, he wasn’t sure there was a surplus. “If we have a need, we don’t have a surplus,” he said, then mentioned several areas that could benefit from an infusion of one-time money. Those included education, school facilities, prisons and primary and secondary highways. “The counties and municipalities need more money for growth and infrastructure,” he said.
“I’m anxious to see, when we remove the food tax, how you’re going to replace that,” said state Rep. Lenville Evans, D-Lonoke. “I don’t want to take something off and then raise taxes down the line to replace it.” Evans said he was interested in Beebe’s economic development package and promoting the biofuel industry. He said the legislature was under court order to put more money into improving school facilities throughout the state.
State Sen. Bobby Glover, who is a long-time friend of Beebe’s, said he hopes to be a major sponsor of parts of the governor-elect’s agenda. “I’ve been for (eliminating) the grocery tax for years and sponsored a number of bills,” said Glover. “I hope to be one of the main sponsors.” He said the 6 percent tax should be phased out over four years, perhaps reduced by 1.5 percent each time.
“We can’t take a $200 million hit in one year’s time,” he said. Glover favors Beebe’s plan to provide tax relief for economic development, perhaps by deleting taxes on utilities. That would cut into state revenues by perhaps $50 million a year, he said. Glover also wants to help provide affordable health care for uninsured Arkansas. “It’s a hardship on them and secondly, a hardship on hospitals, particularly the emergency rooms around the state,” Glover added.
Like Beebe, Glover said he’d like to see pre kindergarten expanded and more scholarship money for those wanting to attend college. He also wants more money for the Department of Human Services because the federal government cut out a lot. He’d like to put more money in the prison system, higher education and school facilities. He wants to make sure legislators get “their fair share for general improvement funds.” Lonoke County already has asked for $300,000 toward enlarging the jail and finishing a county building to help with overcrowding in the courthouse.
Locally, Bond wants the legislature to help bring the school desegregation case to a close and help bring Jacksonville its own school district. Among the legislation being prepared are bills that assure the continued existence of the Pulaski County special School District if it pursues and cooperates in attaining unitary school status, he said. Overall, “The big issues are largely budgetary,” said Bond, “How to repeal the sales tax on food, whether or not to give manufactures credits or sales tax rebates on energy consumption at $50-60 million cost.”
Other things he’s interested in is possibly increasing the homestead exemption. “Issues in education will have to do with money,” he said. “How much increase will prekindergarten and K-12 get, plus money (for school) facilities. Bond said school facilities would be a good way to spend part of the $800 million surplus, since its one-time money. “If there’s one thing the (national) election showed us, folks want government to concentrate not so much on the things that divide us as on making government efficient and making good policy decisions that make a good impact on people’s lives.”
Bond said he’s interested in long-term Medicare issues—to see if we can find a way to help our seniors live out their lives in the least restrictive environment, protecting their assets.” State Sen. John Paul Capps is excited to have an active, “plugged-in” governor, particularly one he has worked so closely with in the past. “I know what his vision is and how he operates and I always thought he should run for governor,” Capps said.
For 20 years, Capps served as state representative for a district completely in Beebe’s senatorial district. They made it to all the same meetings, presentations and catfish dinners that are the staple of a politician. “We worked together on almost everything,” Capps said. “It was a close relationship.”
“I’m always big on tax reform,” Capps said. “We have an unfair tax system. We can nibble around the edges and have more equality, but…we have an antiquated constitution” that makes it difficult to enact new taxes like severance taxes on raw materials. A few lawmakers, representing special interests, can block such changes. Capps, who sits on the Highway Revenue Task Force, said his group was preparing some proposals for the new session.
Wednesday, November 15, 2006
Monday, November 13, 2006
SPORTS >>Lady Rabbits top Sheridan in close game
IN SHORT: The Lonoke girls basketball team defeated the Lady Yellowjackets in the second round of the RAPA tourney.
By JASON KING
Leader sports writer
The Lonoke Lady Jackrabbits are 1-1 through the first two rounds of the RAPA Roundball tournament being held at Little Rock Hall. The Lady ‘Rabbits lost their opener to Park-view 54-47, but came back with a close 33-32 win over Sheridan on Thursday in a defensive struggle.
Lonoke held a solid lead against Sheridan until the final minutes, when a Lady ‘Jacket rally in the final two minutes took the game from a 10-point Lonoke lead to one-point lead with seven seconds remaining. A long shot from Sheridan at the buzzer fell short, and the Lady Jackrabbits escaped with the narrow win.
“That’s what happens when you have underclassmen along with seniors out there,” Lonoke coach Nathan Morris said. “Our bench is thin, our underclassmen played well. All of the players out there with the exception of a couple of seniors are inexperienced at the high school level. It’s going to be fun to watch them grow up in front of us.”
Freshmen Michaela Brown and Asiah Scribner have not looked timid on the court in their first two games as Lady Jackrabbit starters. In fact, after senior Calisha Kirk’s 12 points against Sheridan, Scribner was the next high scorer with 10 points.
Brown has already earned starting point guard honors as the team’s best ball handler, and has also proved vital defensively, with four steals and several re-bounds against Sheridan despite her small 5’5” frame.
The seniors have had mixed results in their first two games back this season. Calisha Kirk and Kristy Shinn struggled with turn-overs in Wednesday’s opener with Parkview, but bounced back on Thursday showing great leadership down the stretch in the win against Sheridan. Senior post Jenny Evans played well against Parkview until an ankle injury took her out of the game late. Evans had just recovered from an ankle injury in the past month. Morris says the injury is not severe, but they will take every precaution to make sure the vital senior does not return too soon.
“The X-rays are negative,” Morris said. “So we’re hoping for a quick recovery, but we don’t want to go too quick, because we have to have her on the court come conference time.”
Although it was a losing effort, the second half of the Parkview game has been the Lady Jack-rabbits most solid offensive performance as of yet. After a shaky first half, Kirk found the basket much easier in the final frame, scoring eight of her total 12 points in the last 16 minutes to keep Lonoke in the game.
Junior Hayley O’Cain has also proven herself as a threat from the outside. O’Cain hit 4 of 8 attempts from behind the arc against Parkview to lead the team with 14 points.
Kirk went on a five-point scoring spree with three minutes left against Sheridan to put Lonoke ahead 30-21, but the Lady Yellow-jackets didn’t give up. After only hitting one shot from the field in the entire first half, Sheridan improved on the floor in the second half.
A free throw from Brown with 23 seconds remaining proved to be the difference in the contest. A three pointer from M’Leah Lindsey pulled the Lady ‘Jackets to within a point of Lonoke, but it would be as close as they would come.
The Lady Jackrabbits will face Cabot at 3 p.m. today in the fifth-place game of the tournament.
By JASON KING
Leader sports writer
The Lonoke Lady Jackrabbits are 1-1 through the first two rounds of the RAPA Roundball tournament being held at Little Rock Hall. The Lady ‘Rabbits lost their opener to Park-view 54-47, but came back with a close 33-32 win over Sheridan on Thursday in a defensive struggle.
Lonoke held a solid lead against Sheridan until the final minutes, when a Lady ‘Jacket rally in the final two minutes took the game from a 10-point Lonoke lead to one-point lead with seven seconds remaining. A long shot from Sheridan at the buzzer fell short, and the Lady Jackrabbits escaped with the narrow win.
“That’s what happens when you have underclassmen along with seniors out there,” Lonoke coach Nathan Morris said. “Our bench is thin, our underclassmen played well. All of the players out there with the exception of a couple of seniors are inexperienced at the high school level. It’s going to be fun to watch them grow up in front of us.”
Freshmen Michaela Brown and Asiah Scribner have not looked timid on the court in their first two games as Lady Jackrabbit starters. In fact, after senior Calisha Kirk’s 12 points against Sheridan, Scribner was the next high scorer with 10 points.
Brown has already earned starting point guard honors as the team’s best ball handler, and has also proved vital defensively, with four steals and several re-bounds against Sheridan despite her small 5’5” frame.
The seniors have had mixed results in their first two games back this season. Calisha Kirk and Kristy Shinn struggled with turn-overs in Wednesday’s opener with Parkview, but bounced back on Thursday showing great leadership down the stretch in the win against Sheridan. Senior post Jenny Evans played well against Parkview until an ankle injury took her out of the game late. Evans had just recovered from an ankle injury in the past month. Morris says the injury is not severe, but they will take every precaution to make sure the vital senior does not return too soon.
“The X-rays are negative,” Morris said. “So we’re hoping for a quick recovery, but we don’t want to go too quick, because we have to have her on the court come conference time.”
Although it was a losing effort, the second half of the Parkview game has been the Lady Jack-rabbits most solid offensive performance as of yet. After a shaky first half, Kirk found the basket much easier in the final frame, scoring eight of her total 12 points in the last 16 minutes to keep Lonoke in the game.
Junior Hayley O’Cain has also proven herself as a threat from the outside. O’Cain hit 4 of 8 attempts from behind the arc against Parkview to lead the team with 14 points.
Kirk went on a five-point scoring spree with three minutes left against Sheridan to put Lonoke ahead 30-21, but the Lady Yellow-jackets didn’t give up. After only hitting one shot from the field in the entire first half, Sheridan improved on the floor in the second half.
A free throw from Brown with 23 seconds remaining proved to be the difference in the contest. A three pointer from M’Leah Lindsey pulled the Lady ‘Jackets to within a point of Lonoke, but it would be as close as they would come.
The Lady Jackrabbits will face Cabot at 3 p.m. today in the fifth-place game of the tournament.
SPORTS >>Lonoke boys set bar high this season
IN SHORT: The Jackrabbits expect to get back to the state tournament after missing it for the first time in a while last year.
By RAY BENTON
Leader sports editor
The Lonoke Jackrabbits didn’t have a bad year last year, but it wasn’t what Lonoke typically expects from the basketball team.
It was the first time in many years that the Jackrabbits didn’t make the state tournament, but they only missed it by one game. Only one starter returns from that team, and he probably won’t start at the beginning of this season. That doesn’t mean the expectations aren’t still very lofty for the Jackrabbits.
“My goals are very high for this club,” Lonoke coach Wes Swift said. “To be honest, this is one of the most skilled basketball teams we’ve had since I’ve been here. We’ve got no experience, no big games to draw from or anything like that, but there’s tremendous up side. I’m very excited about this group.”
The team is young, but Swift will be able to go to his bench liberally this season, a luxury he hasn’t had recently.
“Luckily we’re going to be as deep as we’ve been in a while,” Swift said. “I don’t really know who the go-to people are going to be right now, but I got a lot of guys I like.”
Senior guard Kylon Boyd is the returning starter, but he missed most of summer ball and is playing his way back into the rotation. He is the team’s most athletic player, a good shooter and quick defender.
Senior Stanley Staggers and junior Bradley Spencer come back after playing lots of quality minutes last season. Spencer will be the point man most of the time. Staggers is a good ball handler and the team’s best on-the-ball defender.
“Stanley has done a great job all summer defending,” Swift said. “By far he’s our best defensive player and on the ball is where he really excels. He’ll guard our opponents’ best ball handler. He’s also done a great job of breaking down pressure with his ball handling.”
Tyrone Dobbins is a junior guardthat is aggressive with the ball and aggressive guarding it as well. He drew the assignment of covering Forrest City’s major prospect Stephon Weaver in a team camp this summer, and did a good job of slowing him down.
“He went in to guard Weaver when he was lighting us up and did a good job,” Swift said. He’s a slasher. He’s not afraid to take the ball to the basket, and we need guys like that. We’re working on his footwork but I’m pleased with where he’s at right now.”
Sammy Coleman yielded his point-guard duties and will play mostly at the two this season. His shot has come along nicely since the move, according to Swift.
Sophomore Clarence Harris will also play guard. He brings good size to the perimeter at 6-0.
“He slashes well and has a good set shot. We’re working on his court vision, but he’s somebody that can really score.”
On the inside, sophomore Jordan Lambert is the team’s biggest player. At 6-5 and still growing, Swift expects big things.
“They call him Juicy, but I told him we couldn’t call him that until he gets good,” Swift said. “He didn’t play until eighth grade and he sat the bench that year. So he’s really only got one season of experience. He’s got a ways to go as far as technique and all that, but he’s got tremendous potential. We’re looking for him to end up 6-7, or 6-8 and really be a dominant player.”
Senior Brock Clement will also help out on the inside, and can also step out some. Pat Smith is a 5-9 senior guard that will be counted on to break up zones.
“He’s a guy that’s going to have to play his role, but it’s going to be an important one at times,” Swift said. “When teams are really trying to fill up the lane, we’re going to need him to step out there and hit some threes. He’s really worked on his shot. He hit 4 of 4 in the jamboree last week, so we’re looking for that from him.”
Lonoke is in a new conference, but not necessarily an easier one since the old 6AAA, nicknamed the International League.
Top-five teams Heber Springs and Marianna are picked to fight for the top spot. Swift agrees with the prediction, but believes his team can compete.
“Those two definitely have the advantage,” Swift said. But our goal is to win it. Mountain View and Southside Batesville are big-time basketball schools. I heard Bald Knob went to Forrest City’s team camp and played really well. Newport always has athletes and now they’ve got a new coach that’s going to make them better. It’s a tough league, but I feel good about this team.”
By RAY BENTON
Leader sports editor
The Lonoke Jackrabbits didn’t have a bad year last year, but it wasn’t what Lonoke typically expects from the basketball team.
It was the first time in many years that the Jackrabbits didn’t make the state tournament, but they only missed it by one game. Only one starter returns from that team, and he probably won’t start at the beginning of this season. That doesn’t mean the expectations aren’t still very lofty for the Jackrabbits.
“My goals are very high for this club,” Lonoke coach Wes Swift said. “To be honest, this is one of the most skilled basketball teams we’ve had since I’ve been here. We’ve got no experience, no big games to draw from or anything like that, but there’s tremendous up side. I’m very excited about this group.”
The team is young, but Swift will be able to go to his bench liberally this season, a luxury he hasn’t had recently.
“Luckily we’re going to be as deep as we’ve been in a while,” Swift said. “I don’t really know who the go-to people are going to be right now, but I got a lot of guys I like.”
Senior guard Kylon Boyd is the returning starter, but he missed most of summer ball and is playing his way back into the rotation. He is the team’s most athletic player, a good shooter and quick defender.
Senior Stanley Staggers and junior Bradley Spencer come back after playing lots of quality minutes last season. Spencer will be the point man most of the time. Staggers is a good ball handler and the team’s best on-the-ball defender.
“Stanley has done a great job all summer defending,” Swift said. “By far he’s our best defensive player and on the ball is where he really excels. He’ll guard our opponents’ best ball handler. He’s also done a great job of breaking down pressure with his ball handling.”
Tyrone Dobbins is a junior guardthat is aggressive with the ball and aggressive guarding it as well. He drew the assignment of covering Forrest City’s major prospect Stephon Weaver in a team camp this summer, and did a good job of slowing him down.
“He went in to guard Weaver when he was lighting us up and did a good job,” Swift said. He’s a slasher. He’s not afraid to take the ball to the basket, and we need guys like that. We’re working on his footwork but I’m pleased with where he’s at right now.”
Sammy Coleman yielded his point-guard duties and will play mostly at the two this season. His shot has come along nicely since the move, according to Swift.
Sophomore Clarence Harris will also play guard. He brings good size to the perimeter at 6-0.
“He slashes well and has a good set shot. We’re working on his court vision, but he’s somebody that can really score.”
On the inside, sophomore Jordan Lambert is the team’s biggest player. At 6-5 and still growing, Swift expects big things.
“They call him Juicy, but I told him we couldn’t call him that until he gets good,” Swift said. “He didn’t play until eighth grade and he sat the bench that year. So he’s really only got one season of experience. He’s got a ways to go as far as technique and all that, but he’s got tremendous potential. We’re looking for him to end up 6-7, or 6-8 and really be a dominant player.”
Senior Brock Clement will also help out on the inside, and can also step out some. Pat Smith is a 5-9 senior guard that will be counted on to break up zones.
“He’s a guy that’s going to have to play his role, but it’s going to be an important one at times,” Swift said. “When teams are really trying to fill up the lane, we’re going to need him to step out there and hit some threes. He’s really worked on his shot. He hit 4 of 4 in the jamboree last week, so we’re looking for that from him.”
Lonoke is in a new conference, but not necessarily an easier one since the old 6AAA, nicknamed the International League.
Top-five teams Heber Springs and Marianna are picked to fight for the top spot. Swift agrees with the prediction, but believes his team can compete.
“Those two definitely have the advantage,” Swift said. But our goal is to win it. Mountain View and Southside Batesville are big-time basketball schools. I heard Bald Knob went to Forrest City’s team camp and played really well. Newport always has athletes and now they’ve got a new coach that’s going to make them better. It’s a tough league, but I feel good about this team.”
SPORTS >>Cabot ladies drill LR Hall in RAPA
IN SHORT: Cabot bounced back from an opening round loss to Pulaski Academy to pick up an easy victory.
By JASON KING
Leader sports writer
The Cabot Lady Panthers were put into the losers bracket of this year’s RAPA tournament with a 66-60 first round loss to Pul-aski Academy on Wed-nesday. They bounced back on Thursday to crush host team Little Rock Hall 60-19.
The win over Hall puts Cabot in the finals of the consolation bracket against cross-county rival Lonoke today. Panthers assistant coach Charles Ruple said the improvement from Wed-nesday to Thursday was much needed.
“We shot pretty well tonight,” Ruple said. “We didn’t shoot very well last night. It’s a pleasure to get a win in the books; that’s what it’s all about.” Cabot built up such a commanding lead over the Lady Warriors that they were able to clear the bench. All 18 players saw playing time in the second half of the mercy-ruled contest, but it was the young players that got Ruple’s attention.
“You see how they go out there, it’s like a dog on a bone,” Ruple said. “It doesn’t matter to them if we are ahead or behind, they are going out there to play as hard as they can play.”
One sophomore has already made her way into the starting lineup. There was a lot of curiosity concerning who would be able to step up and fill the enormous shoes left by UALR freshman Kim Sitzmann, but if the early games are any indication, Lady Panther fans will not have to look any further than sophomore Shelby Ashcraft. The six-foot youngster even dons Sitzmann’s old number (35), and led the team in scoring during both games.
Cabot trailed in the first half against Pulaski Academy until the last five minutes of the half. The Lady Panthers then went on a 20-6 rally to take command of the game by halftime 37-31 with the help of the three pointer by senior Maddie Helms just before the buzzer.
The Lady Bruins came out rejuvenated in the second half, and the Lady Panthers lost their inside game. Cabot missed six inside jumpers in the opening minutes of the half, allowing PA to overtake the lead. Once out in front, they would allow a full comeback from the Lady Panthers for the remainder of the contest.
Thursday’s game against Hall had a much different tone. The Lady Panthers tried the outside in the early going, but three missed three pointers forced them to move to the inside. Ashcraft got them on the board with a jumper and foul shot, and then Leah Watts found the outside touch with a three-point shot to put Cabot up 6-2. Cabot led 35-13 at the half, and was able to extend that lead in the second half, even with second and third string squads in against the Hall varsity team.
Hall only scored six points on the subs in the final half. Although the Lady Warriors were not the most precise shooting team, Cabot’s younger players showed a lot of defensive prowess, and great hustle. Ashcraft had 14 points against Pulaski Academy and 11 points against Hall.
Senior Jamie Sterrenberg had 10 points against PA and eight against Hall. Leah Watts added 10 points in Thursday’s win over the Lady Warriors.
Cabot will take on Lonoke today in the fifth-place game starting at 3 p.m.
By JASON KING
Leader sports writer
The Cabot Lady Panthers were put into the losers bracket of this year’s RAPA tournament with a 66-60 first round loss to Pul-aski Academy on Wed-nesday. They bounced back on Thursday to crush host team Little Rock Hall 60-19.
The win over Hall puts Cabot in the finals of the consolation bracket against cross-county rival Lonoke today. Panthers assistant coach Charles Ruple said the improvement from Wed-nesday to Thursday was much needed.
“We shot pretty well tonight,” Ruple said. “We didn’t shoot very well last night. It’s a pleasure to get a win in the books; that’s what it’s all about.” Cabot built up such a commanding lead over the Lady Warriors that they were able to clear the bench. All 18 players saw playing time in the second half of the mercy-ruled contest, but it was the young players that got Ruple’s attention.
“You see how they go out there, it’s like a dog on a bone,” Ruple said. “It doesn’t matter to them if we are ahead or behind, they are going out there to play as hard as they can play.”
One sophomore has already made her way into the starting lineup. There was a lot of curiosity concerning who would be able to step up and fill the enormous shoes left by UALR freshman Kim Sitzmann, but if the early games are any indication, Lady Panther fans will not have to look any further than sophomore Shelby Ashcraft. The six-foot youngster even dons Sitzmann’s old number (35), and led the team in scoring during both games.
Cabot trailed in the first half against Pulaski Academy until the last five minutes of the half. The Lady Panthers then went on a 20-6 rally to take command of the game by halftime 37-31 with the help of the three pointer by senior Maddie Helms just before the buzzer.
The Lady Bruins came out rejuvenated in the second half, and the Lady Panthers lost their inside game. Cabot missed six inside jumpers in the opening minutes of the half, allowing PA to overtake the lead. Once out in front, they would allow a full comeback from the Lady Panthers for the remainder of the contest.
Thursday’s game against Hall had a much different tone. The Lady Panthers tried the outside in the early going, but three missed three pointers forced them to move to the inside. Ashcraft got them on the board with a jumper and foul shot, and then Leah Watts found the outside touch with a three-point shot to put Cabot up 6-2. Cabot led 35-13 at the half, and was able to extend that lead in the second half, even with second and third string squads in against the Hall varsity team.
Hall only scored six points on the subs in the final half. Although the Lady Warriors were not the most precise shooting team, Cabot’s younger players showed a lot of defensive prowess, and great hustle. Ashcraft had 14 points against Pulaski Academy and 11 points against Hall.
Senior Jamie Sterrenberg had 10 points against PA and eight against Hall. Leah Watts added 10 points in Thursday’s win over the Lady Warriors.
Cabot will take on Lonoke today in the fifth-place game starting at 3 p.m.
SPORTS >>NP expects better play from ’06-07 hoopsters
IN SHORT: The North Pulaski basketball team believes it will be much improved from last season. The team has more depth and expects to be able to run the floor and push the tempo.
By RAY BENTON
Leader sports editor
North Pulaski boys basketball coach Raymond Cooper doesn’t know exactly what to expect from this team this year. After suffering through a bad season in his first year as the head Falcon, Cooper is understandably cautious in making predictions. He does expect a much better showing than the two-win season of a year ago.
“We’ve just got a little more to work with, we’ve got a year of experience and we’re not all learning a brand new system,” Cooper said. There’s a renewed focus with this team too. They’ve become good practice players. They’re working hard all the time and all that’s going to make us a better team this year.”
Only one starter returns from last year’s Falcons, but it’s a big one. Leading scorer and senior Quinn Cooper, 6-foot-1, will start at the point. He’ll be joined outside by fellow senior Tony Glass, 5-9, who would have started more last year if not slowed by injury for much of the season. Rod Banks, 6-1, is the other guard in the starting lineup.
The middle will be manned by youth. Sophomores Carlos Donley, 6-6, and Brandon Hudson, 6-2, will play the post positions, although Donley is the only true post player on the team.
“Really we’re going to put a center, a point guard, and three guys that pretty much do the same thing,” Cooper said. “We’re going to push the ball as much as we can this year. That’s my style and this year we have the personnel to do it with.”
Those five are the players that would start if NP played today. The Falcons don’t play until Nov. 21. Cooper’s varsity bench will go 12 deep, and he says he will use everybody.
“We’re going to have some depth that I feel like we can count on,” Cooper said. “I have 12 I’m putting on the varsity roster and they’re all going to play.”
Jordan Anderson and Stanley Appleby are sophomores that can come off the bench and run the point well. There will even be two freshmen playing varsity ball.
DaQuan Bryant is a guard-forward transfer from Ridge Road. Aaron Cooper is a 5-8 point guard that can score well also. Juniors Cliff Harrison, 6-2, Ridge Williams, 6-1 and 6-0 Wesley Louis will also see lots of playing time.
“We’re pretty good athletically,” Cooper said. “We’ve got speed. We don’t have a lot of size, but we’re not small. We all run between 5-10 and 6-2, with one bigger than that and a couple smaller. But we can all go pretty good.”
Donley was the only player that concerned Cooper in the speed and stamina department, but he says he is amazed at the amount of dedication and work that big sophomore has shown since last year.
“We’ve got good senior leadership this year, but I tell you I’m really surprised by what Carlos has done,” Cooper said. “We talked last year. I told him I have one big man. I can either slow 11 guys down for one, or he can work to play with those 11. Since then he’s been the first one on the floor, the last to leave. He’s put in extra conditioning work on his own. He’s got his grades up. He’s just been a great and he’s come 1000 miles from where he was as a freshman.”
Q. Cooper is still the man teams will key on, at least to start the season. Coach Cooper expects that to change.
“Last least year teams figured out he was the only guy we had that was a scorer,” Cooper said. “That’s not going to be the case this year. I can envision nights where nobody scores in double figures in a win. But his scoring may not drop that much overall. Teams are going to have to guard everybody this year, and he’s going to get better looks. Everybody will I hope.”
The Falcons will press a lot this year out of several different sets, which one will mostly depend on the opponent.
“We’ve worked on a lot of different variations of presses,” Cooper said. “We can go man or run zone traps. A lot of that will depend on the style that we’re up against. We’re going to press though. You can count on that.”
The Falcons join a different conference this year. The 5A-East is very strong at the top, but not as balanced from top to bottom as the old Southeast. Despite coming off a horrible season, Cooper says his team’s goal is to be at the top.
“Our goal is to win it,” Cooper said. “Greene County Tech is probably the class of the group right now. They got everybody back from a team that came really close to winning it all last year. Bly-theville is always good. They never have a down year. Batesville is big and I think Wynne is going to be right there. We hope, we’re planning on North Pulaski being right there too.”
By RAY BENTON
Leader sports editor
North Pulaski boys basketball coach Raymond Cooper doesn’t know exactly what to expect from this team this year. After suffering through a bad season in his first year as the head Falcon, Cooper is understandably cautious in making predictions. He does expect a much better showing than the two-win season of a year ago.
“We’ve just got a little more to work with, we’ve got a year of experience and we’re not all learning a brand new system,” Cooper said. There’s a renewed focus with this team too. They’ve become good practice players. They’re working hard all the time and all that’s going to make us a better team this year.”
Only one starter returns from last year’s Falcons, but it’s a big one. Leading scorer and senior Quinn Cooper, 6-foot-1, will start at the point. He’ll be joined outside by fellow senior Tony Glass, 5-9, who would have started more last year if not slowed by injury for much of the season. Rod Banks, 6-1, is the other guard in the starting lineup.
The middle will be manned by youth. Sophomores Carlos Donley, 6-6, and Brandon Hudson, 6-2, will play the post positions, although Donley is the only true post player on the team.
“Really we’re going to put a center, a point guard, and three guys that pretty much do the same thing,” Cooper said. “We’re going to push the ball as much as we can this year. That’s my style and this year we have the personnel to do it with.”
Those five are the players that would start if NP played today. The Falcons don’t play until Nov. 21. Cooper’s varsity bench will go 12 deep, and he says he will use everybody.
“We’re going to have some depth that I feel like we can count on,” Cooper said. “I have 12 I’m putting on the varsity roster and they’re all going to play.”
Jordan Anderson and Stanley Appleby are sophomores that can come off the bench and run the point well. There will even be two freshmen playing varsity ball.
DaQuan Bryant is a guard-forward transfer from Ridge Road. Aaron Cooper is a 5-8 point guard that can score well also. Juniors Cliff Harrison, 6-2, Ridge Williams, 6-1 and 6-0 Wesley Louis will also see lots of playing time.
“We’re pretty good athletically,” Cooper said. “We’ve got speed. We don’t have a lot of size, but we’re not small. We all run between 5-10 and 6-2, with one bigger than that and a couple smaller. But we can all go pretty good.”
Donley was the only player that concerned Cooper in the speed and stamina department, but he says he is amazed at the amount of dedication and work that big sophomore has shown since last year.
“We’ve got good senior leadership this year, but I tell you I’m really surprised by what Carlos has done,” Cooper said. “We talked last year. I told him I have one big man. I can either slow 11 guys down for one, or he can work to play with those 11. Since then he’s been the first one on the floor, the last to leave. He’s put in extra conditioning work on his own. He’s got his grades up. He’s just been a great and he’s come 1000 miles from where he was as a freshman.”
Q. Cooper is still the man teams will key on, at least to start the season. Coach Cooper expects that to change.
“Last least year teams figured out he was the only guy we had that was a scorer,” Cooper said. “That’s not going to be the case this year. I can envision nights where nobody scores in double figures in a win. But his scoring may not drop that much overall. Teams are going to have to guard everybody this year, and he’s going to get better looks. Everybody will I hope.”
The Falcons will press a lot this year out of several different sets, which one will mostly depend on the opponent.
“We’ve worked on a lot of different variations of presses,” Cooper said. “We can go man or run zone traps. A lot of that will depend on the style that we’re up against. We’re going to press though. You can count on that.”
The Falcons join a different conference this year. The 5A-East is very strong at the top, but not as balanced from top to bottom as the old Southeast. Despite coming off a horrible season, Cooper says his team’s goal is to be at the top.
“Our goal is to win it,” Cooper said. “Greene County Tech is probably the class of the group right now. They got everybody back from a team that came really close to winning it all last year. Bly-theville is always good. They never have a down year. Batesville is big and I think Wynne is going to be right there. We hope, we’re planning on North Pulaski being right there too.”
SPORTS >>Razorbacks roll Red Devils
IN SHORT: Texarkana took advantage of several Jacksonville turnovers to defeat the Red Devils in the opening round of state.
By JASON KING
Leader sports writer
Texarkana – Five Jacksonville turnovers was the major difference between victory and defeat against the Texarkana Razorbacks in a 40-6 blowout Friday night at Century 7 Stadium in the first round of the 6A state playoffs.
Senior quarterback Daniel Hubb-ard was picked off three times by the Razorback secondary, senior tailback Justin Akins fumbled on the second Red Devil drive of the night, and Senior receiver Norvel Gabriel had a completed pass break free from his grasp as he hit the turf early in the third quarter.
Hubbard’s interceptions were especially painful for Jacksonville. All three were returned into the Jack-sonville red zone, two of them inside the 5-yard line.
“You can’t make mistakes, you have to come out and execute,” Jacksonville head coach Mark Whatley said. “You have to play consistent football, and we didn’t do that.” Despite the disappointment of one sub-par game, Whatley was quick to recognize the tremendous effort from his team, in particular his seniors this season.
“I’m awfully proud of this football team,” Whatley said. “They have overcome tremendous odds and adversity. They have laid the groundwork for some things that we can build on. One day, when we look back on all of this, we can realize how much they overcame; more than a lot of people realize.”
Texarkana head coach Bill Keopple was more than pleased with his teams dynamic playoff performance.
“We’ve been a little bit spoiled, the way we’ve executed offensively,” Keopple said. “We didn’t convert after that first interception, which was frustrating, but aside from that, I thought the execution was good.”
Jacksonville’s only score came too little too late. Texarkana put the game into mercy-rule status with 4:36 left in the game.
A 5-yard touchdown run from Derrick Wesley made the score 40-0 when the Red Devils finally put together a complete drive. Both Hubbard and the senior receivers looked the best they had all night, refusing to succumb to a shut out.
Hubbard hit Blake Mattison for an 18 yard completion, followed by a another chunk to Mattison for 11 yards while the clock ticked down under two minutes. Marcus King then got his only reception of the night, good for 15 yards to give the Red Devils first and goal at the Razorback 6-yard line. Hubbard then closed the deal with a 6-yard scramble up the middle.
Hubbard, traditionally considered as more of a pure passer, put the juke on Texarkana linebacker Charles Hill, spinning around at the 1-yard line before making his way across the goal line with 17 seconds left in the game to set the final margin.
Texarkana struck early and often in the game, both offensively and defensively. After a touchdown run from junior tailback Dennis Johnson, the Razorbacks got the ball right back at the Jacksonville 36-yard line off an Akins fumble, and got to the end zone five plays later for the score with 4:24 left in the first quarter.
The second quarter was a wash for both clubs, and the Razor-backs took their 13-0 lead into the locker room at halftime.
The Red Devils looked like they were going to put themselves back in the game at the start of the third quarter, stopping Texarkana on the first drive of the second half. The offense took over at their own 21-yard line, and began to move the ball.
The second play of the drive would be the turning point of the game. Hubbard hit Gabriel up the middle for a 20 yard completion, but as Gabriel was brought to the ground, the ball popped right into the hands of Wesley, who took it down to the Jacksonville 3-yard line.
Another Hubbard pass was picked off by Ke’air Dennis at the Texarkana 2-yard line and returned 98 yards for the score with 3:18 left to go in the third quarter. The Razorbacks last two drives were on the ground, with Wesley punching in his second and third touchdowns of the night. His final run into the end zone with 4:36 remaining put Texarkana up by 40 points, and sent the clock rolling.
Hubbard was 14 of 31 passing for 180 yards and three interceptions. For Texarkana, Johnson rushed 25 times for 101 yards and a touchdown.
By JASON KING
Leader sports writer
Texarkana – Five Jacksonville turnovers was the major difference between victory and defeat against the Texarkana Razorbacks in a 40-6 blowout Friday night at Century 7 Stadium in the first round of the 6A state playoffs.
Senior quarterback Daniel Hubb-ard was picked off three times by the Razorback secondary, senior tailback Justin Akins fumbled on the second Red Devil drive of the night, and Senior receiver Norvel Gabriel had a completed pass break free from his grasp as he hit the turf early in the third quarter.
Hubbard’s interceptions were especially painful for Jacksonville. All three were returned into the Jack-sonville red zone, two of them inside the 5-yard line.
“You can’t make mistakes, you have to come out and execute,” Jacksonville head coach Mark Whatley said. “You have to play consistent football, and we didn’t do that.” Despite the disappointment of one sub-par game, Whatley was quick to recognize the tremendous effort from his team, in particular his seniors this season.
“I’m awfully proud of this football team,” Whatley said. “They have overcome tremendous odds and adversity. They have laid the groundwork for some things that we can build on. One day, when we look back on all of this, we can realize how much they overcame; more than a lot of people realize.”
Texarkana head coach Bill Keopple was more than pleased with his teams dynamic playoff performance.
“We’ve been a little bit spoiled, the way we’ve executed offensively,” Keopple said. “We didn’t convert after that first interception, which was frustrating, but aside from that, I thought the execution was good.”
Jacksonville’s only score came too little too late. Texarkana put the game into mercy-rule status with 4:36 left in the game.
A 5-yard touchdown run from Derrick Wesley made the score 40-0 when the Red Devils finally put together a complete drive. Both Hubbard and the senior receivers looked the best they had all night, refusing to succumb to a shut out.
Hubbard hit Blake Mattison for an 18 yard completion, followed by a another chunk to Mattison for 11 yards while the clock ticked down under two minutes. Marcus King then got his only reception of the night, good for 15 yards to give the Red Devils first and goal at the Razorback 6-yard line. Hubbard then closed the deal with a 6-yard scramble up the middle.
Hubbard, traditionally considered as more of a pure passer, put the juke on Texarkana linebacker Charles Hill, spinning around at the 1-yard line before making his way across the goal line with 17 seconds left in the game to set the final margin.
Texarkana struck early and often in the game, both offensively and defensively. After a touchdown run from junior tailback Dennis Johnson, the Razorbacks got the ball right back at the Jacksonville 36-yard line off an Akins fumble, and got to the end zone five plays later for the score with 4:24 left in the first quarter.
The second quarter was a wash for both clubs, and the Razor-backs took their 13-0 lead into the locker room at halftime.
The Red Devils looked like they were going to put themselves back in the game at the start of the third quarter, stopping Texarkana on the first drive of the second half. The offense took over at their own 21-yard line, and began to move the ball.
The second play of the drive would be the turning point of the game. Hubbard hit Gabriel up the middle for a 20 yard completion, but as Gabriel was brought to the ground, the ball popped right into the hands of Wesley, who took it down to the Jacksonville 3-yard line.
Another Hubbard pass was picked off by Ke’air Dennis at the Texarkana 2-yard line and returned 98 yards for the score with 3:18 left to go in the third quarter. The Razorbacks last two drives were on the ground, with Wesley punching in his second and third touchdowns of the night. His final run into the end zone with 4:36 remaining put Texarkana up by 40 points, and sent the clock rolling.
Hubbard was 14 of 31 passing for 180 yards and three interceptions. For Texarkana, Johnson rushed 25 times for 101 yards and a touchdown.
OBITUARIES >> 11-11-06
Opal Terry
Opal Holden Clay Terry, 88, of Jacksonville died Nov. 9 in Beebe.
She was born February 11, 1918 in Joy to Joe and Janie Patterson Holden. In 1934 she married Eirvin Clay in Joy. He preceded her in death.
Mrs. Terry was a real estate broker and a member of the Baptist faith. She moved to Jacksonville in 1985.
Mrs. Terry was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Homer Terry; three brothers, Ray Holden, Max Holden, and Floyd Holden; and a sister, Moline Barnett.
She is survived by a daughter and son-in-law, Barbara and Don Hill of Jacksonville; three sons and daughters-in-law, Wayne and Pam Clay of Crossett; C. Leon and Shirley Clay of Searcy; James and Virginia Clay of Canton, Ohio; several grandchildren and great-grandchildren; six siblings and their spouses, Verdie Vest of Searcy; Mary and Claude Waters of Searcy; Betty and Gerald Barker of Joy; Marshall Holden of Searcy; Nelson and Audrie Holden of Searcy; and Gerald Holden of Joy.
Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 11 at Mt. Hebron Baptist Church in Joy with Reverend Terry Fortner officiating.
Visitation will be an hour prior to services. Burial will follow at Mt. Hebron Cemetery.
Billy Dobson
Billy Joe Dobson, 75, of Jacksonville joined his savior Nov. 8, at his home.
He was born on July 18, 1931, in Brazil, Ind., to the late Ernest and Martha Anderson Dobson. He was also preceded in death by four brothers and five sisters.
He proudly served his country in the Air Force where he served during the Korean War and fought in Vietnam before retiring as a CMSGT.
Bill then followed his calling to the Lord and served as pastor for many churches, retiring from Stanfill Baptist Church.
Survivors include his loving wife, Juanita, of the home; two sons, James Dobson and wife Doris of Longview, Texas; and Brandon Dobson and wife Tina of Mansfield, Texas; one daughter, Nancy Gregg and husband Danny of Jacksonville; one brother, Wilford Dobson of Noblesville, Ind.; four grandchildren, Kelly, Jaime, Jake and Kenzie, as well as two nieces.
Graveside funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Monday, Nov. 13 at the Arkansas State Veteran’s Cemetery in North Little Rock, with Rev. Dale Scott and Rev. Don Sawyer officiating.
Visitation will be at Moore’s Jacksonville Funeral Home from 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday.
Johnny Castera, Jr.
Johnny Carol Castera, Jr., 59, of McRae passed from this life Nov. 7.
Born Nov. 21, 1946, he was a disabled veteran and very proud to have served his country.
He was extremely dedicated to his family, friends, the McRae COP, McRae Fire Department and the well-being of everyone he knew.
Johnny was preceded in death by his father, Johnny Castera; mother, Ruth Williams, and one sister, Rebecca Castera.
He is survived by his wife of 23 years, Wanda Castera; six children and their families, Donna Knapp and her husband Robert; Buddy Sims and his wife Ann; Sherrie Hite and her husband Rick; Tabatha Denney and her husband Scott; Jerry Morris; David Castera and his wife Jennifer; 22 grandchildren who were the loves of his life; two brothers, James Castera of Beebe and Danny Castera of South Carolina, and three special sisters, Kathy Armstrong, Jeannie Coninger and Barbara Diemer.
The funeral was Nov. 10 at Westbrook Funeral Home with burial in Lebanon Cemetery in McRae.
Landon Kleffner
Landon Matthew Kleffner, 5 months, of North Charleston, S.C., passed away in his sleep Nov. 4.
He is survived by his parents, Ashlee and Frankie Vanderhoof; father, Kevin Kleffner; brother, Christian; grandparents, Don and Linda Moring, and John and Patricia Van-derhoof of Jackson-ville; and many aunts, uncles and cousins.
He was loved by all and will always be in our hearts.
Graveside services were Friday at Chapel Hill Memorial Park Cemetery in Jacksonville.
Arrangements were by Moore’s Jacksonville Funeral Home.
Opal Holden Clay Terry, 88, of Jacksonville died Nov. 9 in Beebe.
She was born February 11, 1918 in Joy to Joe and Janie Patterson Holden. In 1934 she married Eirvin Clay in Joy. He preceded her in death.
Mrs. Terry was a real estate broker and a member of the Baptist faith. She moved to Jacksonville in 1985.
Mrs. Terry was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Homer Terry; three brothers, Ray Holden, Max Holden, and Floyd Holden; and a sister, Moline Barnett.
She is survived by a daughter and son-in-law, Barbara and Don Hill of Jacksonville; three sons and daughters-in-law, Wayne and Pam Clay of Crossett; C. Leon and Shirley Clay of Searcy; James and Virginia Clay of Canton, Ohio; several grandchildren and great-grandchildren; six siblings and their spouses, Verdie Vest of Searcy; Mary and Claude Waters of Searcy; Betty and Gerald Barker of Joy; Marshall Holden of Searcy; Nelson and Audrie Holden of Searcy; and Gerald Holden of Joy.
Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 11 at Mt. Hebron Baptist Church in Joy with Reverend Terry Fortner officiating.
Visitation will be an hour prior to services. Burial will follow at Mt. Hebron Cemetery.
Billy Dobson
Billy Joe Dobson, 75, of Jacksonville joined his savior Nov. 8, at his home.
He was born on July 18, 1931, in Brazil, Ind., to the late Ernest and Martha Anderson Dobson. He was also preceded in death by four brothers and five sisters.
He proudly served his country in the Air Force where he served during the Korean War and fought in Vietnam before retiring as a CMSGT.
Bill then followed his calling to the Lord and served as pastor for many churches, retiring from Stanfill Baptist Church.
Survivors include his loving wife, Juanita, of the home; two sons, James Dobson and wife Doris of Longview, Texas; and Brandon Dobson and wife Tina of Mansfield, Texas; one daughter, Nancy Gregg and husband Danny of Jacksonville; one brother, Wilford Dobson of Noblesville, Ind.; four grandchildren, Kelly, Jaime, Jake and Kenzie, as well as two nieces.
Graveside funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Monday, Nov. 13 at the Arkansas State Veteran’s Cemetery in North Little Rock, with Rev. Dale Scott and Rev. Don Sawyer officiating.
Visitation will be at Moore’s Jacksonville Funeral Home from 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday.
Johnny Castera, Jr.
Johnny Carol Castera, Jr., 59, of McRae passed from this life Nov. 7.
Born Nov. 21, 1946, he was a disabled veteran and very proud to have served his country.
He was extremely dedicated to his family, friends, the McRae COP, McRae Fire Department and the well-being of everyone he knew.
Johnny was preceded in death by his father, Johnny Castera; mother, Ruth Williams, and one sister, Rebecca Castera.
He is survived by his wife of 23 years, Wanda Castera; six children and their families, Donna Knapp and her husband Robert; Buddy Sims and his wife Ann; Sherrie Hite and her husband Rick; Tabatha Denney and her husband Scott; Jerry Morris; David Castera and his wife Jennifer; 22 grandchildren who were the loves of his life; two brothers, James Castera of Beebe and Danny Castera of South Carolina, and three special sisters, Kathy Armstrong, Jeannie Coninger and Barbara Diemer.
The funeral was Nov. 10 at Westbrook Funeral Home with burial in Lebanon Cemetery in McRae.
Landon Kleffner
Landon Matthew Kleffner, 5 months, of North Charleston, S.C., passed away in his sleep Nov. 4.
He is survived by his parents, Ashlee and Frankie Vanderhoof; father, Kevin Kleffner; brother, Christian; grandparents, Don and Linda Moring, and John and Patricia Van-derhoof of Jackson-ville; and many aunts, uncles and cousins.
He was loved by all and will always be in our hearts.
Graveside services were Friday at Chapel Hill Memorial Park Cemetery in Jacksonville.
Arrangements were by Moore’s Jacksonville Funeral Home.
EVENTS>>Fall 2006
YANA, a support group for parents of special needs children will meet at 7 p.m. Monday, Nov. 13, at the First Baptist Church in Cabot. Speakers will be members of the Arkansas Special Education Mediation Project of the University of Arkansas at Little Rock’s Bowen School of Law. There will be sampling of toys appropriate for special needs children.
There will a public hearing to discuss the architectural design of the new Jacksonville library at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday at Esther D. Nixon Public Library, 308 W. Main St. in Jacksonville. For more information call 982-5533.
Central Arkansas Development Council will distribute commodities at 9 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 15 at the following locations: Cabot Church of Christ, Ward Chamber of Commerce, Austin City Hall, England Old Fire Station, Carlisle Old Gym, Lonoke County Fairgrounds, Allport City Hall and Humnoke City Hall. For information on income requirements for eligibility, call 676-0019.
The Ward Public Library, 1000 Owens St., will be holding fine free week Monday, Nov. 13 through Saturday, Nov. 18. All late fees will be waived for all materials.
There will a public hearing to discuss the architectural design of the new Jacksonville library at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday at Esther D. Nixon Public Library, 308 W. Main St. in Jacksonville. For more information call 982-5533.
Central Arkansas Development Council will distribute commodities at 9 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 15 at the following locations: Cabot Church of Christ, Ward Chamber of Commerce, Austin City Hall, England Old Fire Station, Carlisle Old Gym, Lonoke County Fairgrounds, Allport City Hall and Humnoke City Hall. For information on income requirements for eligibility, call 676-0019.
The Ward Public Library, 1000 Owens St., will be holding fine free week Monday, Nov. 13 through Saturday, Nov. 18. All late fees will be waived for all materials.
EDITORIALS>>Winners and losers
Republicans took a beating at the polls Tuesday in Arkansas and the nation. Gov. Huckabee calls it “a whooping,” and with good reason: Democrats captured all the constitutional offices in the state and even gained some seats in the Legislature.
For decades, Arkansas had resisted the Republican tide in the South, electing just one Republican governor, congressman and senator in recent years, but Arkansas is now pretty much where it was 30 years ago: Democrats in charge of state government and dominating the congressional delegation, which has just one lone Republican from northwest Arkansas.
That’s exactly how it was in the 1970s.
The election does seem like deja-vu all over again — but instead of Bill Clinton in the saddle, we have his longtime protégé, Attorney General Mike Beebe, trouncing Asa Hutchinson in the governor’s race. Hutchinson’s campaign was named one of the worst in the nation, and there were plenty of them this year.
There will be a bunch of familiar old faces in the Beebe administration. Beebe has appointed his old buddy Morril Harriman, a former state senator and current lobbyist for the Arkansas Poultry Federation, as his chief of staff. Let’s hope they won’t pollute our streams with chicken litter.
Local Republicans did reasonably well, especially in Lonoke County, where they re-elected Rep. Susan Schulte (she was unopposed), Prosecuting Attorney Lona McCastlain (barely), Sheriff Jim Roberson (easily) and several quorum court members.
Former Cabot Alderman Eddie Joe Williams, another Republican, was elected the city’s new mayor from a crowded field, avoiding a runoff with more than 50 percent of the vote.
Williams, who will have an almost brand-new council to work with, succeeds Stubby Stumbaugh, also a Republican, who was swept away in the Democratic tide in his long-shot quest to unseat First District Cong. Marion Berry. Stumbaugh received just 31 percent of the vote, which was less than Andy Mayberry’s 39 percent against Second District Cong. Vic Snyder.
Local Republicans also did well in White County, where they elected Michael Lincoln the new county judge and Ricky Shourd the new sheriff. Republican Dale Brewer edged out Searcy Mayor Belinda LaForce, but because it was a three-way race, there will be a runoff on Nov. 28. (Austin Mayor Bernie Chamberlain is also in a runoff against Barry Weathers III.)
Several other mayoral races were decided in the area on Tuesday: Mike Robertson won in Beebe and Tommy Swaim was re-elected to a sixth term in Jacksonville (both were unopposed), and Dan Stedman will succeed Sherwood Mayor Bill Harmon, who is retiring.
There were several spirited contests in our area, but, amazingly, none in Jacksonville, which makes you wonder why we’re trying to spread democracy abroad when it doesn’t always thrive here. While candidates duked it out in every other community around us, no one challenged the incumbents in Jacksonville.
To paraphrase the late Chicago Alderman Paddy Bauler, Jacksonville ain’t ready for change.
For decades, Arkansas had resisted the Republican tide in the South, electing just one Republican governor, congressman and senator in recent years, but Arkansas is now pretty much where it was 30 years ago: Democrats in charge of state government and dominating the congressional delegation, which has just one lone Republican from northwest Arkansas.
That’s exactly how it was in the 1970s.
The election does seem like deja-vu all over again — but instead of Bill Clinton in the saddle, we have his longtime protégé, Attorney General Mike Beebe, trouncing Asa Hutchinson in the governor’s race. Hutchinson’s campaign was named one of the worst in the nation, and there were plenty of them this year.
There will be a bunch of familiar old faces in the Beebe administration. Beebe has appointed his old buddy Morril Harriman, a former state senator and current lobbyist for the Arkansas Poultry Federation, as his chief of staff. Let’s hope they won’t pollute our streams with chicken litter.
Local Republicans did reasonably well, especially in Lonoke County, where they re-elected Rep. Susan Schulte (she was unopposed), Prosecuting Attorney Lona McCastlain (barely), Sheriff Jim Roberson (easily) and several quorum court members.
Former Cabot Alderman Eddie Joe Williams, another Republican, was elected the city’s new mayor from a crowded field, avoiding a runoff with more than 50 percent of the vote.
Williams, who will have an almost brand-new council to work with, succeeds Stubby Stumbaugh, also a Republican, who was swept away in the Democratic tide in his long-shot quest to unseat First District Cong. Marion Berry. Stumbaugh received just 31 percent of the vote, which was less than Andy Mayberry’s 39 percent against Second District Cong. Vic Snyder.
Local Republicans also did well in White County, where they elected Michael Lincoln the new county judge and Ricky Shourd the new sheriff. Republican Dale Brewer edged out Searcy Mayor Belinda LaForce, but because it was a three-way race, there will be a runoff on Nov. 28. (Austin Mayor Bernie Chamberlain is also in a runoff against Barry Weathers III.)
Several other mayoral races were decided in the area on Tuesday: Mike Robertson won in Beebe and Tommy Swaim was re-elected to a sixth term in Jacksonville (both were unopposed), and Dan Stedman will succeed Sherwood Mayor Bill Harmon, who is retiring.
There were several spirited contests in our area, but, amazingly, none in Jacksonville, which makes you wonder why we’re trying to spread democracy abroad when it doesn’t always thrive here. While candidates duked it out in every other community around us, no one challenged the incumbents in Jacksonville.
To paraphrase the late Chicago Alderman Paddy Bauler, Jacksonville ain’t ready for change.
TOP STORY >> Three runoffs in Lonoke County
IN SHORT: Alderman, mayor and constable races won’t be settled until Nov. 28, when a runoff will take place to decide the winners.
By JOHN HOFHEIMER
Leader staff writer
Early voting starts Monday in three Lonoke County races that won’t be settled until after the Nov. 28 runoff election, according to Jean McCanliss, chairman of the county election commission.
In the race for Lonoke’s District 4 alderman, Kenneth Pasley, the Democrat, and independent Wendell Walker will resolve a virtual dead heat. Pasley received 64 votes (35 percent), Walker got 63 votes (34 percent) and Republican Robert Bob Combs got 58 votes.
Austin Mayor Bernie Chamberlain got 105 votes in a three-way race, but at 44 percent of the votes cast, she faces a runoff against Barry D. Weathers II, who got 85 votes, or 35 percent. Jeremy C. Reed got 51 votes.
In the constable’s race for Ward Township, Mike Reveley-R received 284 votes, Michael E. Kindall-D got 259 votes and independent James W. Williams Sr. got 117 votes.
Samuel Smith was voted county surveyor, not coroner as previously reported.
Early voting will be possible only at the Lonoke County Courthouse and on election day, there will be one polling place open in Austin, Lonoke and in Ward Township, McCanliss said.
All early voting will be at the Lonoke County Courthouse from 8 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. weekdays through Nov. 27, but closed Nov. 23-26 for Thanksgiving, McCanliss said.
Voting on Nov. 28 will be from 7:30 a.m. until 7:30 p.m. at the following three locations:
- The Austin Station Baptist Church, 1482 E. Main St., Austin.
- The Lonoke Depot, 102 front St., Lonoke.
- The Ward Chamber of Commerce, 80 W. 2nd. St., Ward.
By JOHN HOFHEIMER
Leader staff writer
Early voting starts Monday in three Lonoke County races that won’t be settled until after the Nov. 28 runoff election, according to Jean McCanliss, chairman of the county election commission.
In the race for Lonoke’s District 4 alderman, Kenneth Pasley, the Democrat, and independent Wendell Walker will resolve a virtual dead heat. Pasley received 64 votes (35 percent), Walker got 63 votes (34 percent) and Republican Robert Bob Combs got 58 votes.
Austin Mayor Bernie Chamberlain got 105 votes in a three-way race, but at 44 percent of the votes cast, she faces a runoff against Barry D. Weathers II, who got 85 votes, or 35 percent. Jeremy C. Reed got 51 votes.
In the constable’s race for Ward Township, Mike Reveley-R received 284 votes, Michael E. Kindall-D got 259 votes and independent James W. Williams Sr. got 117 votes.
Samuel Smith was voted county surveyor, not coroner as previously reported.
Early voting will be possible only at the Lonoke County Courthouse and on election day, there will be one polling place open in Austin, Lonoke and in Ward Township, McCanliss said.
All early voting will be at the Lonoke County Courthouse from 8 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. weekdays through Nov. 27, but closed Nov. 23-26 for Thanksgiving, McCanliss said.
Voting on Nov. 28 will be from 7:30 a.m. until 7:30 p.m. at the following three locations:
- The Austin Station Baptist Church, 1482 E. Main St., Austin.
- The Lonoke Depot, 102 front St., Lonoke.
- The Ward Chamber of Commerce, 80 W. 2nd. St., Ward.
TOP STORY >>Another vote set Nov. 28
IN SHORT: Several posts in White County, including county judge, will be settled in a runoff.
By SARA GREENE
Leader staff writer
White County voters will pick a county judge when they return to the polls Tuesday, Nov. 28 or start Monday if they prefer to vote early.
Dennis Gilliam, an independent, and Republican Michael Lincoln face off in the runoff for the county judge’s seat while several municipalities pick mayors, constables and aldermen.
Lincoln led Tuesday’s White County judge’s race with 36.9 percent of the ballots cast followed by Gilliam’s 32 percent. A third candidate, Democrat Waylon Heathscott, got 31 percent of the votes.
Most prominent among those races, incumbent Belinda LaForce and former Alderman Dale Brewer will settle the Searcy mayor’s race.
Early voting for the runoff will be from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. weekdays beginning Monday at the White County Courthouse. There will be no early voting Thursday, Nov. 23 and Friday, Nov. 24 due to Thanksgiving.
Voter turnout in White County was strong during Tuesday’s general election with 21,540 ballots being cast, a little less than half of the county’s 43,166 registered voters. Lincoln said he wasn’t surprised by the outcome in Tuesday’s election.
“I knew there were three strong candidates and that it would end in a runoff. Typically people don’t get out and vote during a runoff but I think the Searcy mayor’s race is going to help; I had a strong voter base in Searcy,” Lincoln said.
While the campaigning goes on for two-and-a-half more weeks, Lincoln says he plans to canvass the county in hopes of picking up votes from the Heathscott side.
“I think I can pick up a few votes from Heathscott supporters in the high Democrat areas of Bald Knob, Judsonia and Beebe,” Lincoln said.
Lincoln serves as the executive director of Camp Wyldewood, a Christian camp and retreat center just north of Searcy. Both candidates say county roads, the sheriff’s department and economic development are the key points in the judge’s race.
“I think Mr. Lincoln got all the votes he’s going to get. I’m going to continue to define the difference between us. I’m progressive leadership without partisan politics,” Gillam said.
“We have a new sheriff in the county and I think he needs to be able to run that department without interference. The county judge should protect the rural area by funding the sheriff’s department without interefering in the daily operations of it,” Gillam said, referring to public disputes between White County Judge Bob Parish and Sheriff Pat Garrett. Garrett was defeated in Tuesday’s election by Republican Ricky Shourd.
“A county judge is like the chief executive officer of the county, handling the finances fairly regardless of party affiliations and leading without partisan politics,” Gillam said. Gillam was the Craighead county judge from 1976 to 1980.
In the Searcy mayor’s race, Brewer, a Republican, led with 43.6 percent of the votes followed closely by LaForce, a Democrat, getting 42.4 percent. A third candidate, Philip Williams got 14 percent running as an independent.
Pangburn voters will also be picking their mayor in the runoff, choosing between independents Farris Wood and James H. Williams. Wood got 44 percent of the vote in Tuesday’s general election followed by Williams with 38.5 percent. Another independent, Gary F. Sharp got 17 percent of the vote.
Other local races in White County include the Bradford alderman runoff between independents Renee Barron who got 40 percent and Russ Durham who got 31.5 percent of the vote. A third candidate, Jimmy R. Edens received 28 percent of the vote.
Rose Bud voters will choose between two women for the Position 2 alderman race.
Independents Lisa Baldridge Wolf and Debbie Gorham each got 40.6 percent of the vote in the general election. The third candidate, J. Tim Barley got 18.8 percent of the vote.
South of Searcy, voters in Gum Springs Township can go to the polls to pick a constable during the runoff.
In Tuesday’s election, Democrat Wayne McKown got 41.7 percent of the vote and Republican Bruce Pearson got 37.5 percent. An independent candidate Steven Stray-horn got 20.8 percent of the vote.
By SARA GREENE
Leader staff writer
White County voters will pick a county judge when they return to the polls Tuesday, Nov. 28 or start Monday if they prefer to vote early.
Dennis Gilliam, an independent, and Republican Michael Lincoln face off in the runoff for the county judge’s seat while several municipalities pick mayors, constables and aldermen.
Lincoln led Tuesday’s White County judge’s race with 36.9 percent of the ballots cast followed by Gilliam’s 32 percent. A third candidate, Democrat Waylon Heathscott, got 31 percent of the votes.
Most prominent among those races, incumbent Belinda LaForce and former Alderman Dale Brewer will settle the Searcy mayor’s race.
Early voting for the runoff will be from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. weekdays beginning Monday at the White County Courthouse. There will be no early voting Thursday, Nov. 23 and Friday, Nov. 24 due to Thanksgiving.
Voter turnout in White County was strong during Tuesday’s general election with 21,540 ballots being cast, a little less than half of the county’s 43,166 registered voters. Lincoln said he wasn’t surprised by the outcome in Tuesday’s election.
“I knew there were three strong candidates and that it would end in a runoff. Typically people don’t get out and vote during a runoff but I think the Searcy mayor’s race is going to help; I had a strong voter base in Searcy,” Lincoln said.
While the campaigning goes on for two-and-a-half more weeks, Lincoln says he plans to canvass the county in hopes of picking up votes from the Heathscott side.
“I think I can pick up a few votes from Heathscott supporters in the high Democrat areas of Bald Knob, Judsonia and Beebe,” Lincoln said.
Lincoln serves as the executive director of Camp Wyldewood, a Christian camp and retreat center just north of Searcy. Both candidates say county roads, the sheriff’s department and economic development are the key points in the judge’s race.
“I think Mr. Lincoln got all the votes he’s going to get. I’m going to continue to define the difference between us. I’m progressive leadership without partisan politics,” Gillam said.
“We have a new sheriff in the county and I think he needs to be able to run that department without interference. The county judge should protect the rural area by funding the sheriff’s department without interefering in the daily operations of it,” Gillam said, referring to public disputes between White County Judge Bob Parish and Sheriff Pat Garrett. Garrett was defeated in Tuesday’s election by Republican Ricky Shourd.
“A county judge is like the chief executive officer of the county, handling the finances fairly regardless of party affiliations and leading without partisan politics,” Gillam said. Gillam was the Craighead county judge from 1976 to 1980.
In the Searcy mayor’s race, Brewer, a Republican, led with 43.6 percent of the votes followed closely by LaForce, a Democrat, getting 42.4 percent. A third candidate, Philip Williams got 14 percent running as an independent.
Pangburn voters will also be picking their mayor in the runoff, choosing between independents Farris Wood and James H. Williams. Wood got 44 percent of the vote in Tuesday’s general election followed by Williams with 38.5 percent. Another independent, Gary F. Sharp got 17 percent of the vote.
Other local races in White County include the Bradford alderman runoff between independents Renee Barron who got 40 percent and Russ Durham who got 31.5 percent of the vote. A third candidate, Jimmy R. Edens received 28 percent of the vote.
Rose Bud voters will choose between two women for the Position 2 alderman race.
Independents Lisa Baldridge Wolf and Debbie Gorham each got 40.6 percent of the vote in the general election. The third candidate, J. Tim Barley got 18.8 percent of the vote.
South of Searcy, voters in Gum Springs Township can go to the polls to pick a constable during the runoff.
In Tuesday’s election, Democrat Wayne McKown got 41.7 percent of the vote and Republican Bruce Pearson got 37.5 percent. An independent candidate Steven Stray-horn got 20.8 percent of the vote.
TOP STORY >>With elections over, officials look ahead
IN SHORT: In Jacksonville it’s the library and useable land, while Sherwood will have a new mayor and looks to ease its traffic woes.
By RICK KRON
Leader staff writer
Even though the political season was very quiet in Jacksonville—all the aldermen ran unopposed—and Sherwood had just a little bit of action, voting in a new mayor and one new alderman, both cities are gearing up for the future.
For both cities, the election meant the start of staggered four-year terms for aldermen.
Aldermen in Position 1 seats were elected to four-year terms, while those in Position 2 seats will serve two-year terms.
In Jacksonville, Kenny Elliott, Reedie Ray, Gary Fletcher and Avis Twitty hold the Position 1 seats. Marshall Smith, Terry Sansing, Linda Rinker, Bob Stroud and Bill Howard occupy Position 2 seats.
In Sherwood, Position 1 aldermen include Becki Vassar, Butch Davis, Sheila Sulcer and Keith Rankin. Position 2 aldermen include Charlie Harmon, David Henry, Marina Brooks and Steve Fender.
In the 2008 presidential election, only aldermen in the Position 2 seats will be running for election, and those winning will serve four-year terms.
Jacksonville’s Howard, finishing up his 10th year on the council, is looking forward to the next term.
“I’m ready to get started on our new library, and then after that our community college. We need both of those,” he said, and added, “In the long term, we still need to get our own school district. When I graduated from high school here in 1959, the buildings were in great shape, but here it is 2006 and we still have some of those same school buildings being used.”
Howard said the city was in great shape and financially sound, but hoped they would be no lingering bad feelings from a recent townhouse rezoning issue which deeply divided the council.
Sansing, reelected for another two years, said Jacksonville has to reevaluate what it is.
“We are not going to be that industrial center that many think. We are a bedroom community for Little Rock and the Air Force base. The quicker we accept that, the better we’ll be. Sherwood and Cabot are growing because they have embraced what they are. We haven’t.”
In that vein, Sansing says he’d like to see the city release some of the industrial land it is sitting on for residential developments. “We are sitting not only on too much land, but prime land, forcing developers to try to come up with plans for undesirable land. We are too inflexible,” he said.
Once the council is sworn in it will have to deal with a vacant seat. Kevin McCleary was appointed earlier this year to fill the Ward 2, Position 1 seat after the death of longtime Alderman Robert Lewis. He or someone else will have to be reappointed to fill that seat for the next four years.
In Sherwood, Alderman Dan Stedman will be replacing retiring Mayor Bill Harmon in January. Stedman defeated Mike Presson for the job of running the city. Even though Harmon is retiring, there will still be a Harmon in Sherwood city politics as Harmon’s youngest son Charlie defeated Greg Chastine for the open Ward 1, Position 2 seat being vacated by Stedman. In the only other contested Sherwood race, veteran alderman Becki Vassar defeated Robert Walla. In January, Vassar will start her 15th term in office.
“I’m looking forward to serving the people of Sherwood. I believe in teamwork and with teamwork, we’ll bring Sherwood to new heights,” Vassar said.
Stedman said his number one concern is traffic flow, especially on Brockington, Maryland and Highway 107. “We need to widen Brockington and plan to work on our infrastructure in advance of our growth.”
Stedman also wants to bring residents, business owners and others together to strategically plan for the city’s future. Vassar, in her 28th year, said after her win, “I guess this makes me the dinosaur. But I’m as excited about this term as I was my first one. I see a bright future for Sherwood.”
By RICK KRON
Leader staff writer
Even though the political season was very quiet in Jacksonville—all the aldermen ran unopposed—and Sherwood had just a little bit of action, voting in a new mayor and one new alderman, both cities are gearing up for the future.
For both cities, the election meant the start of staggered four-year terms for aldermen.
Aldermen in Position 1 seats were elected to four-year terms, while those in Position 2 seats will serve two-year terms.
In Jacksonville, Kenny Elliott, Reedie Ray, Gary Fletcher and Avis Twitty hold the Position 1 seats. Marshall Smith, Terry Sansing, Linda Rinker, Bob Stroud and Bill Howard occupy Position 2 seats.
In Sherwood, Position 1 aldermen include Becki Vassar, Butch Davis, Sheila Sulcer and Keith Rankin. Position 2 aldermen include Charlie Harmon, David Henry, Marina Brooks and Steve Fender.
In the 2008 presidential election, only aldermen in the Position 2 seats will be running for election, and those winning will serve four-year terms.
Jacksonville’s Howard, finishing up his 10th year on the council, is looking forward to the next term.
“I’m ready to get started on our new library, and then after that our community college. We need both of those,” he said, and added, “In the long term, we still need to get our own school district. When I graduated from high school here in 1959, the buildings were in great shape, but here it is 2006 and we still have some of those same school buildings being used.”
Howard said the city was in great shape and financially sound, but hoped they would be no lingering bad feelings from a recent townhouse rezoning issue which deeply divided the council.
Sansing, reelected for another two years, said Jacksonville has to reevaluate what it is.
“We are not going to be that industrial center that many think. We are a bedroom community for Little Rock and the Air Force base. The quicker we accept that, the better we’ll be. Sherwood and Cabot are growing because they have embraced what they are. We haven’t.”
In that vein, Sansing says he’d like to see the city release some of the industrial land it is sitting on for residential developments. “We are sitting not only on too much land, but prime land, forcing developers to try to come up with plans for undesirable land. We are too inflexible,” he said.
Once the council is sworn in it will have to deal with a vacant seat. Kevin McCleary was appointed earlier this year to fill the Ward 2, Position 1 seat after the death of longtime Alderman Robert Lewis. He or someone else will have to be reappointed to fill that seat for the next four years.
In Sherwood, Alderman Dan Stedman will be replacing retiring Mayor Bill Harmon in January. Stedman defeated Mike Presson for the job of running the city. Even though Harmon is retiring, there will still be a Harmon in Sherwood city politics as Harmon’s youngest son Charlie defeated Greg Chastine for the open Ward 1, Position 2 seat being vacated by Stedman. In the only other contested Sherwood race, veteran alderman Becki Vassar defeated Robert Walla. In January, Vassar will start her 15th term in office.
“I’m looking forward to serving the people of Sherwood. I believe in teamwork and with teamwork, we’ll bring Sherwood to new heights,” Vassar said.
Stedman said his number one concern is traffic flow, especially on Brockington, Maryland and Highway 107. “We need to widen Brockington and plan to work on our infrastructure in advance of our growth.”
Stedman also wants to bring residents, business owners and others together to strategically plan for the city’s future. Vassar, in her 28th year, said after her win, “I guess this makes me the dinosaur. But I’m as excited about this term as I was my first one. I see a bright future for Sherwood.”
TOP STORY >>With elections over, officials look ahead
IN SHORT: In Jacksonville it’s the library and useable land, while Sherwood will have a new mayor and looks to ease its traffic woes.
By RICK KRON
Leader staff writer
Even though the political season was very quiet in Jacksonville—all the aldermen ran unopposed—and Sherwood had just a little bit of action, voting in a new mayor and one new alderman, both cities are gearing up for the future.
For both cities, the election meant the start of staggered four-year terms for aldermen.
Aldermen in Position 1 seats were elected to four-year terms, while those in Position 2 seats will serve two-year terms.
In Jacksonville, Kenny Elliott, Reedie Ray, Gary Fletcher and Avis Twitty hold the Position 1 seats. Marshall Smith, Terry Sansing, Linda Rinker, Bob Stroud and Bill Howard occupy Position 2 seats.
In Sherwood, Position 1 aldermen include Becki Vassar, Butch Davis, Sheila Sulcer and Keith Rankin. Position 2 aldermen include Charlie Harmon, David Henry, Marina Brooks and Steve Fender.
In the 2008 presidential election, only aldermen in the Position 2 seats will be running for election, and those winning will serve four-year terms.
Jacksonville’s Howard, finishing up his 10th year on the council, is looking forward to the next term.
“I’m ready to get started on our new library, and then after that our community college. We need both of those,” he said, and added, “In the long term, we still need to get our own school district. When I graduated from high school here in 1959, the buildings were in great shape, but here it is 2006 and we still have some of those same school buildings being used.”
Howard said the city was in great shape and financially sound, but hoped they would be no lingering bad feelings from a recent townhouse rezoning issue which deeply divided the council.
Sansing, reelected for another two years, said Jacksonville has to reevaluate what it is.
“We are not going to be that industrial center that many think. We are a bedroom community for Little Rock and the Air Force base. The quicker we accept that, the better we’ll be. Sherwood and Cabot are growing because they have embraced what they are. We haven’t.”
In that vein, Sansing says he’d like to see the city release some of the industrial land it is sitting on for residential developments. “We are sitting not only on too much land, but prime land, forcing developers to try to come up with plans for undesirable land. We are too inflexible,” he said.
Once the council is sworn in it will have to deal with a vacant seat. Kevin McCleary was appointed earlier this year to fill the Ward 2, Position 1 seat after the death of longtime Alderman Robert Lewis. He or someone else will have to be reappointed to fill that seat for the next four years.
In Sherwood, Alderman Dan Stedman will be replacing retiring Mayor Bill Harmon in January. Stedman defeated Mike Presson for the job of running the city. Even though Harmon is retiring, there will still be a Harmon in Sherwood city politics as Harmon’s youngest son Charlie defeated Greg Chastine for the open Ward 1, Position 2 seat being vacated by Stedman. In the only other contested Sherwood race, veteran alderman Becki Vassar defeated Robert Walla. In January, Vassar will start her 15th term in office.
“I’m looking forward to serving the people of Sherwood. I believe in teamwork and with teamwork, we’ll bring Sherwood to new heights,” Vassar said.
Stedman said his number one concern is traffic flow, especially on Brockington, Maryland and Highway 107. “We need to widen Brockington and plan to work on our infrastructure in advance of our growth.”
Stedman also wants to bring residents, business owners and others together to strategically plan for the city’s future. Vassar, in her 28th year, said after her win, “I guess this makes me the dinosaur. But I’m as excited about this term as I was my first one. I see a bright future for Sherwood.”
By RICK KRON
Leader staff writer
Even though the political season was very quiet in Jacksonville—all the aldermen ran unopposed—and Sherwood had just a little bit of action, voting in a new mayor and one new alderman, both cities are gearing up for the future.
For both cities, the election meant the start of staggered four-year terms for aldermen.
Aldermen in Position 1 seats were elected to four-year terms, while those in Position 2 seats will serve two-year terms.
In Jacksonville, Kenny Elliott, Reedie Ray, Gary Fletcher and Avis Twitty hold the Position 1 seats. Marshall Smith, Terry Sansing, Linda Rinker, Bob Stroud and Bill Howard occupy Position 2 seats.
In Sherwood, Position 1 aldermen include Becki Vassar, Butch Davis, Sheila Sulcer and Keith Rankin. Position 2 aldermen include Charlie Harmon, David Henry, Marina Brooks and Steve Fender.
In the 2008 presidential election, only aldermen in the Position 2 seats will be running for election, and those winning will serve four-year terms.
Jacksonville’s Howard, finishing up his 10th year on the council, is looking forward to the next term.
“I’m ready to get started on our new library, and then after that our community college. We need both of those,” he said, and added, “In the long term, we still need to get our own school district. When I graduated from high school here in 1959, the buildings were in great shape, but here it is 2006 and we still have some of those same school buildings being used.”
Howard said the city was in great shape and financially sound, but hoped they would be no lingering bad feelings from a recent townhouse rezoning issue which deeply divided the council.
Sansing, reelected for another two years, said Jacksonville has to reevaluate what it is.
“We are not going to be that industrial center that many think. We are a bedroom community for Little Rock and the Air Force base. The quicker we accept that, the better we’ll be. Sherwood and Cabot are growing because they have embraced what they are. We haven’t.”
In that vein, Sansing says he’d like to see the city release some of the industrial land it is sitting on for residential developments. “We are sitting not only on too much land, but prime land, forcing developers to try to come up with plans for undesirable land. We are too inflexible,” he said.
Once the council is sworn in it will have to deal with a vacant seat. Kevin McCleary was appointed earlier this year to fill the Ward 2, Position 1 seat after the death of longtime Alderman Robert Lewis. He or someone else will have to be reappointed to fill that seat for the next four years.
In Sherwood, Alderman Dan Stedman will be replacing retiring Mayor Bill Harmon in January. Stedman defeated Mike Presson for the job of running the city. Even though Harmon is retiring, there will still be a Harmon in Sherwood city politics as Harmon’s youngest son Charlie defeated Greg Chastine for the open Ward 1, Position 2 seat being vacated by Stedman. In the only other contested Sherwood race, veteran alderman Becki Vassar defeated Robert Walla. In January, Vassar will start her 15th term in office.
“I’m looking forward to serving the people of Sherwood. I believe in teamwork and with teamwork, we’ll bring Sherwood to new heights,” Vassar said.
Stedman said his number one concern is traffic flow, especially on Brockington, Maryland and Highway 107. “We need to widen Brockington and plan to work on our infrastructure in advance of our growth.”
Stedman also wants to bring residents, business owners and others together to strategically plan for the city’s future. Vassar, in her 28th year, said after her win, “I guess this makes me the dinosaur. But I’m as excited about this term as I was my first one. I see a bright future for Sherwood.”
TOP STORY >>Outgoing mayor is hunting new job
By JOAN MCCOY
Leader staff writer
Cabot Mayor Stubby Stumbaugh will need a new job Jan. 1, and he says he’s looking for one that pays a little more than he is accustomed to earning.
“I’ve been a public servant most of my life,” he said. “I’m going to try to find something that pays better.”
He isn’t ruling out anything, he said, with the exception of returning to the Little Rock Police Department, where he worked before he was elected mayor, but he says there are other opportunities for people with his background and experience.
Stumbaugh, a Republican, was in the third year of his first term as mayor when he announced he was running against First District Congressman Marion Berry, the Democrat who had held the seat nine years.
He said two days after he lost the election to Berry 82,914 to 36,895, that because of the war in the Middle East, Republicans couldn’t get elected for national office this year. With his background in law enforcement he could move into private investigation, a growing field in the central part of the state, he said. He isn’t ruling out a future in the Republican Party, though he said that is not a real consideration at this time.
He owns a home in Cabot and has no plans to leave, but that too is subject to change.
“There could be opportunities outside the state,” he said.
He said he didn’t want to dwell on the things he wished he had done differently. But he is proud of his accomplishments while in office. He was instrumental in building a much needed animal shelter and community center.
Both buildings were made possible in part by the continuation of a one-cent tax, which he opposed, but they were started at his urging.
Stumbaugh asked the council to create the positions of public works director, finance director and operations director shortly after he took office. Eddie Joe Williams, the Republican candidate who won 52 percent of the vote in a four-man race for mayor, could ask the council to do away with them when he takes office in January. But Stumbaugh says he counts the creation of the positions among his accomplishments because now there are people who are keeping up with where the money is going as well as the status of various city projects.
Early in his administration, Stumbaugh limited access to city employees. A memo to employees said they should not talk to the press. Later, council members were asked to not waste employees’ time. If they needed information they could come to him, he told them.
But even though he limited access to his employees, this reporter can attest that he always returned phone calls even when the topics he was asked to discuss were controversial or unflattering to his administration. And he never failed to provide access to those key employees who might have more answers than he could provide.
Stumbaugh won his first political race four years ago when he took the job away from two-term Mayor Joe Allman. He said Allman gave him virtually no access to the people and records he would need to do the job, but he will do better by his successor. Stumbaugh said he will submit his budget as required by law, but it will be only a working document for Williams and the seven new members of the eight-member council who will be responsible for running the city in 2007.
Williams confirmed Friday morning that Stumbaugh has given him access to everything he needs to begin setting up his administration.
Leader staff writer
Cabot Mayor Stubby Stumbaugh will need a new job Jan. 1, and he says he’s looking for one that pays a little more than he is accustomed to earning.
“I’ve been a public servant most of my life,” he said. “I’m going to try to find something that pays better.”
He isn’t ruling out anything, he said, with the exception of returning to the Little Rock Police Department, where he worked before he was elected mayor, but he says there are other opportunities for people with his background and experience.
Stumbaugh, a Republican, was in the third year of his first term as mayor when he announced he was running against First District Congressman Marion Berry, the Democrat who had held the seat nine years.
He said two days after he lost the election to Berry 82,914 to 36,895, that because of the war in the Middle East, Republicans couldn’t get elected for national office this year. With his background in law enforcement he could move into private investigation, a growing field in the central part of the state, he said. He isn’t ruling out a future in the Republican Party, though he said that is not a real consideration at this time.
He owns a home in Cabot and has no plans to leave, but that too is subject to change.
“There could be opportunities outside the state,” he said.
He said he didn’t want to dwell on the things he wished he had done differently. But he is proud of his accomplishments while in office. He was instrumental in building a much needed animal shelter and community center.
Both buildings were made possible in part by the continuation of a one-cent tax, which he opposed, but they were started at his urging.
Stumbaugh asked the council to create the positions of public works director, finance director and operations director shortly after he took office. Eddie Joe Williams, the Republican candidate who won 52 percent of the vote in a four-man race for mayor, could ask the council to do away with them when he takes office in January. But Stumbaugh says he counts the creation of the positions among his accomplishments because now there are people who are keeping up with where the money is going as well as the status of various city projects.
Early in his administration, Stumbaugh limited access to city employees. A memo to employees said they should not talk to the press. Later, council members were asked to not waste employees’ time. If they needed information they could come to him, he told them.
But even though he limited access to his employees, this reporter can attest that he always returned phone calls even when the topics he was asked to discuss were controversial or unflattering to his administration. And he never failed to provide access to those key employees who might have more answers than he could provide.
Stumbaugh won his first political race four years ago when he took the job away from two-term Mayor Joe Allman. He said Allman gave him virtually no access to the people and records he would need to do the job, but he will do better by his successor. Stumbaugh said he will submit his budget as required by law, but it will be only a working document for Williams and the seven new members of the eight-member council who will be responsible for running the city in 2007.
Williams confirmed Friday morning that Stumbaugh has given him access to everything he needs to begin setting up his administration.
TOP STORY >>Cabot City Council given an overhaul with six new faces
IN SHORT: Only one incumbent lost his position, two were retained, but open seats bringing on new aldermen to work with a new mayor.
By JOAN MCCOY
Leader staff writer
Only one incumbent lost his race for the Cabot City Council Tuesday, but the eight-member council will still have six new members on Jan. 1.
It’s not a riddle, but a fact that becomes even stranger when this bit of trivia is thrown into the mix: Of the nine elected officials who will soon take their seats at the council table, three have been elected before. The new mayor, who will sit in the middle of the table, was once on the city council.
One new council member is a former city attorney and one former council member is returning after a two-year absence.
Even more confusing, three of the nine at the table are named Eddie, including Mayor-elect Eddie Joe Williams who won his four-man race with 52 percent of the votes. And two are named Williams.
The loss was Alderman Odis Waymack’s, an independent candidate, who is completing his third two-year term on the council. The Ward 4, Position 1 seat he holds will go to Becky Lemaster, also an independent, who defeated Waymack by 101 votes, 2,280 to 2,179.
The council has had no women for two years, but Lemaster is one of three who won seats on Tuesday.
The returning council members are Eddie Cook, who is completing his first two-year term in Ward 1 Position 2 and ran unopposed for a second, and Ward 3, Position 1 Alderman Tom Armstrong who is in his second term. Armstrong won over Ernie Ernst 2,767 to 1,444. Armstrong and Ernst both ran as independents.
Two of the current council members, David Polantz and James Glenn, didn’t run for reelection because they filed for the mayor’s position instead against Williams, a former council member and Kenny Ridgeway, a former member of the Lonoke County Quorum Court. The count Tuesday night was Williams, 2,574; Ridgeway, 1,089; Polantz, 887; and Glenn, 390. Williams is a Republican. The other candidates are independents.
The seats held by Polantz and Glenn will go to former Alderman Eddie Long, and Lisa Brickell. Long, also called Ed, lost his Ward 1, Position 2 seat two years ago to Eddie Cook, but easily won the Ward 1, Position 1 seat Polantz is vacating over John Johnson 2,414 to 1,842. Both ran as independents.
Brickell won Glenn’s Ward 4, Position 1 seat over two other candidates. The vote was Brickell 2,559, Robert Helton 1,108 and Thomas Standley 653. The candidates ran as independents. Bob Duke, who has held his Ward 3 Position 2 seat for 30 years, did not seek reelection. Neither did Jerry Stephens, who has held his Ward 2 Position 2 seat for one term.
Former City Attorney Ken Williams filed as a Republican for Stephens’ seat and ran unopposed.
Duke’s seat will be filled by Teri Meissner, a Republican, won over independent candidate Nancy Cohea 2,712 to 1,838. The Ward 2, Position 1 seat currently filled by Alderman Patrick Hutton, who lost his bid for the Lonoke County Quorum Court during the Republican Primary, will go to Virgil Teague, a Republican, who won over independent candidate Michael Burton 2,627 to 2,004.
The mayor-elect said Friday that outgoing Mayor Stubby Stumbaugh is making the transition a smooth one. The new council members are invited to sit in on budget sessions and Stumbaugh is providing a place in the bank building next to city hall that he city is buying for the finance director and city clerk to talk to the new members about the budgeting process.
By JOAN MCCOY
Leader staff writer
Only one incumbent lost his race for the Cabot City Council Tuesday, but the eight-member council will still have six new members on Jan. 1.
It’s not a riddle, but a fact that becomes even stranger when this bit of trivia is thrown into the mix: Of the nine elected officials who will soon take their seats at the council table, three have been elected before. The new mayor, who will sit in the middle of the table, was once on the city council.
One new council member is a former city attorney and one former council member is returning after a two-year absence.
Even more confusing, three of the nine at the table are named Eddie, including Mayor-elect Eddie Joe Williams who won his four-man race with 52 percent of the votes. And two are named Williams.
The loss was Alderman Odis Waymack’s, an independent candidate, who is completing his third two-year term on the council. The Ward 4, Position 1 seat he holds will go to Becky Lemaster, also an independent, who defeated Waymack by 101 votes, 2,280 to 2,179.
The council has had no women for two years, but Lemaster is one of three who won seats on Tuesday.
The returning council members are Eddie Cook, who is completing his first two-year term in Ward 1 Position 2 and ran unopposed for a second, and Ward 3, Position 1 Alderman Tom Armstrong who is in his second term. Armstrong won over Ernie Ernst 2,767 to 1,444. Armstrong and Ernst both ran as independents.
Two of the current council members, David Polantz and James Glenn, didn’t run for reelection because they filed for the mayor’s position instead against Williams, a former council member and Kenny Ridgeway, a former member of the Lonoke County Quorum Court. The count Tuesday night was Williams, 2,574; Ridgeway, 1,089; Polantz, 887; and Glenn, 390. Williams is a Republican. The other candidates are independents.
The seats held by Polantz and Glenn will go to former Alderman Eddie Long, and Lisa Brickell. Long, also called Ed, lost his Ward 1, Position 2 seat two years ago to Eddie Cook, but easily won the Ward 1, Position 1 seat Polantz is vacating over John Johnson 2,414 to 1,842. Both ran as independents.
Brickell won Glenn’s Ward 4, Position 1 seat over two other candidates. The vote was Brickell 2,559, Robert Helton 1,108 and Thomas Standley 653. The candidates ran as independents. Bob Duke, who has held his Ward 3 Position 2 seat for 30 years, did not seek reelection. Neither did Jerry Stephens, who has held his Ward 2 Position 2 seat for one term.
Former City Attorney Ken Williams filed as a Republican for Stephens’ seat and ran unopposed.
Duke’s seat will be filled by Teri Meissner, a Republican, won over independent candidate Nancy Cohea 2,712 to 1,838. The Ward 2, Position 1 seat currently filled by Alderman Patrick Hutton, who lost his bid for the Lonoke County Quorum Court during the Republican Primary, will go to Virgil Teague, a Republican, who won over independent candidate Michael Burton 2,627 to 2,004.
The mayor-elect said Friday that outgoing Mayor Stubby Stumbaugh is making the transition a smooth one. The new council members are invited to sit in on budget sessions and Stumbaugh is providing a place in the bank building next to city hall that he city is buying for the finance director and city clerk to talk to the new members about the budgeting process.
Wednesday, November 08, 2006
EDITORIAL>>Huck fails honesty test
Minnesota has a law that mandates punishment for politicians who lie provably when they are running for office. Arkansas could emulate the Gopher State but, alas, a politician in Arkansas may lie with complete impunity unless the voters catch on and defeat him.
This election season has been particularly low on truth telling, but it reached its nadir when Gov. Huckabee entered the lists in the final days to campaign for Asa Hutchinson, his old enemy but a member of his own party. For all his good traits, Huckabee has a tendency to rewrite history in his own favor. Everyone remembers his claims to have opposed parole for the rapist Wayne Dumond, whom he had arranged to release from prison in time to kill two women in Missouri.
Huckabee was only misleading last week when he insinuated that Attorney General Mike Beebe was not a genuine supporter of repealing the sales tax on groceries. Beebe voted consistently to remove the tax in his years in the state Senate. Huckabee might have truthfully recalled that he had himself opposed removal of the tax not once but twice during his 10 years as governor after saying publicly that he favored removing it.
But the governor was not merely deceptive in the days before the election when he tried to paint Beebe as a consort of Nick Wilson, the Pocahontas senator who spent a spell in the federal penitentiary for conniving to enrich himself with state funds earmarked for legal assistance for children in divorce disputes. Huckabee was flatly untruthful.
Hutchinson had stretched the Wilson-Beebe connection as far as he could by suggesting that Beebe, although he was Wilson’s mortal enemy in the Senate, had not tried to expel Wilson from the Senate before he could resign after his conviction.
Huckabee said that Beebe and other senators all knew in 1997 that Wilson would use a bill to create the attorney-ad-litem program to enrich himself and his cronies. That is why he vetoed the bill, Huckabee said. Then Beebe and the other senators passed the bill again over his veto, setting the stage for Wilson’s thievery. Thus Huckabee characterized himself as the hero in the episode.
Everyone else connected with the events, including his own chief cabinet member, disputes Huckabee’s account, and so do the public records. The Republican leader of the Senate said the governor was wrong. He said the bill was a good one and that no one had an inkling that Wilson would abuse the program. Richard Weiss, the director of the Department of Finance and Administration, the governor’s chief fiscal adviser, recalled the events in detail and his memory does not match the governor’s account. They do match the official records.
First, the bill was an appropriation for the operations of the Administrative Office of the Courts, which is under the supervision of the Arkansas Supreme Court. Huckabee did not veto the bill, and it included money for the children’s legal program. Huckabee vetoed only Section 15, which funded the Administrative Office and its programs from the state Central Services Fund, one of many accounts in the state treasury.
Weiss recalled how it happened. Sen. Wilson sidled over to him in budget hearings one day and asked if the Governor’s Mansion Fund was funded through the Central Services Fund. Weiss replied that it was, and Wilson walked away. Knowing Nick Wilson, Weiss was suspicious. Wilson and others were miffed at the governor’s misspending from the mansion fund, using it for personal items for himself and his wife.
Sure enough, Wilson had the appropriation for the Administrative Office of the Courts amended so that it would be funded from the same fund as the governor’s mansion expenses. Weiss thought Wilson was trying to reduce funding for the mansion by piling other government expenses on the Central Services Fund. He told Huckabee that and advised him to veto that section and force the legislature to appropriate money for Wilson’s ad-litem program from another fund. Huckabee vetoed the little section but left the whole program intact. Instead of funding it from another account, the legislature overrode Huckabee’s veto. As it turned out, it did not jeopardize mansion funding.
That reveals Huckabee not as a watchdog against skullduggery but as a man looking out only for his own pecuniary interest, a fat account for operating his official home. Weiss’ account is plausible and his boss’s is not because the official ledger on SB 286 in the secretary of state’s office shows that the governor vetoed only the section that directed spending on the children’s legal program from the Central Services Fund. He left Wilson’s legal program and its $4.8 million biennial appropriation intact. The governor’s short veto message verifies that, too.
All of this is complicated and baffling, which is why the governor knew that he could get away with fudging about his own actions as well as Beebe’s in the moil of a confounding election’s last days. Gov. Huckabee was not on the ballot yesterday, which is why the media largely gave him a pass.
If Huckabee were governor of Minnesota, the state ethics commission would be conducting an investigation, and a censure and a fine would be forthcoming. People in Minnesota apparently take their elections and the truth seriously.
Don’t you wish we did?
This election season has been particularly low on truth telling, but it reached its nadir when Gov. Huckabee entered the lists in the final days to campaign for Asa Hutchinson, his old enemy but a member of his own party. For all his good traits, Huckabee has a tendency to rewrite history in his own favor. Everyone remembers his claims to have opposed parole for the rapist Wayne Dumond, whom he had arranged to release from prison in time to kill two women in Missouri.
Huckabee was only misleading last week when he insinuated that Attorney General Mike Beebe was not a genuine supporter of repealing the sales tax on groceries. Beebe voted consistently to remove the tax in his years in the state Senate. Huckabee might have truthfully recalled that he had himself opposed removal of the tax not once but twice during his 10 years as governor after saying publicly that he favored removing it.
But the governor was not merely deceptive in the days before the election when he tried to paint Beebe as a consort of Nick Wilson, the Pocahontas senator who spent a spell in the federal penitentiary for conniving to enrich himself with state funds earmarked for legal assistance for children in divorce disputes. Huckabee was flatly untruthful.
Hutchinson had stretched the Wilson-Beebe connection as far as he could by suggesting that Beebe, although he was Wilson’s mortal enemy in the Senate, had not tried to expel Wilson from the Senate before he could resign after his conviction.
Huckabee said that Beebe and other senators all knew in 1997 that Wilson would use a bill to create the attorney-ad-litem program to enrich himself and his cronies. That is why he vetoed the bill, Huckabee said. Then Beebe and the other senators passed the bill again over his veto, setting the stage for Wilson’s thievery. Thus Huckabee characterized himself as the hero in the episode.
Everyone else connected with the events, including his own chief cabinet member, disputes Huckabee’s account, and so do the public records. The Republican leader of the Senate said the governor was wrong. He said the bill was a good one and that no one had an inkling that Wilson would abuse the program. Richard Weiss, the director of the Department of Finance and Administration, the governor’s chief fiscal adviser, recalled the events in detail and his memory does not match the governor’s account. They do match the official records.
First, the bill was an appropriation for the operations of the Administrative Office of the Courts, which is under the supervision of the Arkansas Supreme Court. Huckabee did not veto the bill, and it included money for the children’s legal program. Huckabee vetoed only Section 15, which funded the Administrative Office and its programs from the state Central Services Fund, one of many accounts in the state treasury.
Weiss recalled how it happened. Sen. Wilson sidled over to him in budget hearings one day and asked if the Governor’s Mansion Fund was funded through the Central Services Fund. Weiss replied that it was, and Wilson walked away. Knowing Nick Wilson, Weiss was suspicious. Wilson and others were miffed at the governor’s misspending from the mansion fund, using it for personal items for himself and his wife.
Sure enough, Wilson had the appropriation for the Administrative Office of the Courts amended so that it would be funded from the same fund as the governor’s mansion expenses. Weiss thought Wilson was trying to reduce funding for the mansion by piling other government expenses on the Central Services Fund. He told Huckabee that and advised him to veto that section and force the legislature to appropriate money for Wilson’s ad-litem program from another fund. Huckabee vetoed the little section but left the whole program intact. Instead of funding it from another account, the legislature overrode Huckabee’s veto. As it turned out, it did not jeopardize mansion funding.
That reveals Huckabee not as a watchdog against skullduggery but as a man looking out only for his own pecuniary interest, a fat account for operating his official home. Weiss’ account is plausible and his boss’s is not because the official ledger on SB 286 in the secretary of state’s office shows that the governor vetoed only the section that directed spending on the children’s legal program from the Central Services Fund. He left Wilson’s legal program and its $4.8 million biennial appropriation intact. The governor’s short veto message verifies that, too.
All of this is complicated and baffling, which is why the governor knew that he could get away with fudging about his own actions as well as Beebe’s in the moil of a confounding election’s last days. Gov. Huckabee was not on the ballot yesterday, which is why the media largely gave him a pass.
If Huckabee were governor of Minnesota, the state ethics commission would be conducting an investigation, and a censure and a fine would be forthcoming. People in Minnesota apparently take their elections and the truth seriously.
Don’t you wish we did?
SPORTS >>Red Devil intensity needs to rise
By RAY BENTON
Leader sports editor
The Jacksonville Red Devils lost most of their offense from last year’s team that advanced to the state playoffs for the first time in several years and sent three players to college. They head into this season with only one returning starter, and he is out with a broken hand for at least the first few games. That leaves Red Devil coach Vic Joyner with the task of finding players to fill gaps and put points on the board this season.
The team’s top two scorers graduated and signed college scholarships. Only senior Kajuan Watson returns as a starter, but there are some quality players back that saw a lot of minutes last season. Most are big and bulky, and the Red Devils will try to utlize that strength.
“We’re not going to have any problems with size,” Joyner said. “We don’t have anybody that’s going to tower over people, but we’re going to have some bulk and a lot of strength down on that block. We got some big kids.” Gerron Riddles and Norvel Gabriel, who is still with the football team, provide most of the returning experience down low. Both are strong players, and will be helped by fellow seniors Marcus King and Ryan Gooden. King is also in football, and Gooden has performed extremely well when he does what Joyner asks of him.”
“He dominates practice when he’ll stay down low and not pop out on the perimeter,” Joyner said. “He just wants to keep doing that and that’s he and I clash. He’s going to play the post when I say or he’s going to be passing out water bottles.”
Sophomores Antwain Lockhart and Cortrell Eskridge, as well as junior Damian Akins, will also provide a lift on the low block. Both are in the 6-foot-3 range, and both have good strength for their age.
“We should be solid inside if we can ever get everybody playing hard,” Joyner said. “Right now that’s our main problem. We were pretty pitiful in the jamboree because we didn’t hustle, and we’ve got too much inexperience not to hustle.” The Red Devils made a lot of mistakes in their half-games against Little Rock Parkview and Little Rock Central, but that’s not what had the head Red Devil upset.
“We’re not really a young team, but we don’t have but a couple of guys with much court experience at this level,” Joyner said. “When you’re as inexperienced as we are, you’ve got to hustle. We’re going to make mistakes and go through some growing pains. I know that. We’re just going to have to hustle and scrap and make up for those mistakes. We didn’t do that and we’re going to get killed in this league if we don’t start doing that.”
Joyner lost two outstanding shooters from last year, but feels he has a better overall shooting team this season. That starts with sophomore guard Antonio Washington. He will play point most of the time, and will share those duties with junior Terrell Eskridge. The starting two guard is projected as senior Antwain Robinson, who transferred back to Jacksonville this year after a year at Mills.
“Washington is a point guard that can score,” Joyner said. “Terrell is a kid that I should have played more on varsity last year. He’s steady and he’ll get the offense going. Robinson is on the cusp of becoming the player I’ve been waiting for him to become. He’s lagging on defense and that’s why he’s not high on my list like he wants to be, but if he’ll pick up the effort and intensity level, he can break out.”
Joyner wouldn’t begin to predict who would win the brutal 6A-East conference. He, as most have, said it starts with Forrest City. The Mustangs have three Division I prospects on their roster, two of whom are seniors. “Forrest City’s lineup is frightening,” Joyner said. “West Memphis is wounded because they didn’t make the playoffs last year. You don’t looking at them anyway, and now they’re playing like a wounded animal. They’re hungry and Bray you know is going to have them ready. Jonesboro got almost everybody back. Sylvan Hills always has talent. Searcy has everybody back and one of the best coaches around. This whole conference is loaded with coaches that you just have to be on your game against. They make changes mid-stride and you have to be ready to adjust. I don’t know much about Marion, but everything I hear is that the coach down there is poised to take over everything. There’s just not any breathing room in this league.”
That’s precisely why Joyner is worried about his team’s inexperience. “Watson is the only one that really went through that war last year,” Joyner said. “I don’t know, actually I do know, that most of these kids don’t really understand right now what this league is like. They don’t understand that they can’t let up, not even in practice. You’ve got to have your hard hat on every day or you’re going to get your head handed to you. I’m trying to drive that point home right now. We’ve got a long way to go though.”
Leader sports editor
The Jacksonville Red Devils lost most of their offense from last year’s team that advanced to the state playoffs for the first time in several years and sent three players to college. They head into this season with only one returning starter, and he is out with a broken hand for at least the first few games. That leaves Red Devil coach Vic Joyner with the task of finding players to fill gaps and put points on the board this season.
The team’s top two scorers graduated and signed college scholarships. Only senior Kajuan Watson returns as a starter, but there are some quality players back that saw a lot of minutes last season. Most are big and bulky, and the Red Devils will try to utlize that strength.
“We’re not going to have any problems with size,” Joyner said. “We don’t have anybody that’s going to tower over people, but we’re going to have some bulk and a lot of strength down on that block. We got some big kids.” Gerron Riddles and Norvel Gabriel, who is still with the football team, provide most of the returning experience down low. Both are strong players, and will be helped by fellow seniors Marcus King and Ryan Gooden. King is also in football, and Gooden has performed extremely well when he does what Joyner asks of him.”
“He dominates practice when he’ll stay down low and not pop out on the perimeter,” Joyner said. “He just wants to keep doing that and that’s he and I clash. He’s going to play the post when I say or he’s going to be passing out water bottles.”
Sophomores Antwain Lockhart and Cortrell Eskridge, as well as junior Damian Akins, will also provide a lift on the low block. Both are in the 6-foot-3 range, and both have good strength for their age.
“We should be solid inside if we can ever get everybody playing hard,” Joyner said. “Right now that’s our main problem. We were pretty pitiful in the jamboree because we didn’t hustle, and we’ve got too much inexperience not to hustle.” The Red Devils made a lot of mistakes in their half-games against Little Rock Parkview and Little Rock Central, but that’s not what had the head Red Devil upset.
“We’re not really a young team, but we don’t have but a couple of guys with much court experience at this level,” Joyner said. “When you’re as inexperienced as we are, you’ve got to hustle. We’re going to make mistakes and go through some growing pains. I know that. We’re just going to have to hustle and scrap and make up for those mistakes. We didn’t do that and we’re going to get killed in this league if we don’t start doing that.”
Joyner lost two outstanding shooters from last year, but feels he has a better overall shooting team this season. That starts with sophomore guard Antonio Washington. He will play point most of the time, and will share those duties with junior Terrell Eskridge. The starting two guard is projected as senior Antwain Robinson, who transferred back to Jacksonville this year after a year at Mills.
“Washington is a point guard that can score,” Joyner said. “Terrell is a kid that I should have played more on varsity last year. He’s steady and he’ll get the offense going. Robinson is on the cusp of becoming the player I’ve been waiting for him to become. He’s lagging on defense and that’s why he’s not high on my list like he wants to be, but if he’ll pick up the effort and intensity level, he can break out.”
Joyner wouldn’t begin to predict who would win the brutal 6A-East conference. He, as most have, said it starts with Forrest City. The Mustangs have three Division I prospects on their roster, two of whom are seniors. “Forrest City’s lineup is frightening,” Joyner said. “West Memphis is wounded because they didn’t make the playoffs last year. You don’t looking at them anyway, and now they’re playing like a wounded animal. They’re hungry and Bray you know is going to have them ready. Jonesboro got almost everybody back. Sylvan Hills always has talent. Searcy has everybody back and one of the best coaches around. This whole conference is loaded with coaches that you just have to be on your game against. They make changes mid-stride and you have to be ready to adjust. I don’t know much about Marion, but everything I hear is that the coach down there is poised to take over everything. There’s just not any breathing room in this league.”
That’s precisely why Joyner is worried about his team’s inexperience. “Watson is the only one that really went through that war last year,” Joyner said. “I don’t know, actually I do know, that most of these kids don’t really understand right now what this league is like. They don’t understand that they can’t let up, not even in practice. You’ve got to have your hard hat on every day or you’re going to get your head handed to you. I’m trying to drive that point home right now. We’ve got a long way to go though.”
SPORTS >>Cabot putting youth on floor in new league
By RAY BENTON
Leader sports editor
The Cabot boys basketball team has a new look this year, a completely new look. The Panthers are coming off their first winning season in many years, but they’re doing it without a single starter returning. There are a few familiar faces in seniors Alex Sharp, Justin Haas and Jacob Trammell. Haas started a few games at the two guard, and the other two played several key minutes off the bench all season, but that doesn’t change the fact that this year’s Panthers are young.
In last night’s Jamboree matchups against Mills and Little Rock Christian at Mills, Cabot started Sharp, Tramel, junior Sam Bates and sophomores Adam Sterrenberg and Austin Johnson. Haas was, and will be most of the time, the first player off the bench.
I feel really good about our top six,” Cabot coach Jerry Bridges said. “Justin is really like a starter, we just feel like we need Austin’s height in there to start with. Justin is a good ball handler and can shoot it well, and he’s a steady player and a leader. So the top six are all like starters and I’m real comfortable with them.”
Trammell and Haas are 5-foot-9 guards, while the rest of the lineup features very good size. The Panthers won’t have a 6-10 on the block like they’ve had the last few years, but Sharp is listed at 6-8 this year, and will provide some bulk and strength that has been missing. Bates, at 6-4, will play the other post position. “I feel like Alex is going to have a breakthrough year this year,” Bridges said. “He’s an outstanding young man and he’s worked hard since I got here. And I think Bates is going to compliment him very well down low.”
The forward spots will be manned by the sophomores. Sterrenberg, 6-2, and Johnson, 6-6, were scoring machines for Cabot North and Cabot South last year. Each average above 25 points per game, and will bring that offense to the varsity this year.
“I feel like we’re going to be able to score this year,” Bridges said. “The sophomores bring a lot of offensive ability, Haas was our best shooter last year, Trammell’s shot is looking good right now. Sharp and Bates are playing well. We’re just going to have to get better on defense. Last year we played excellent defense all year long, we just couldn’t throw it in the ocean.This year it looks like the opposite. I feel really good about our ability to score, but we’ve got a long way to go on defense.”
Cabot’s conference is a new one, and a welcome one according to Bridges. Dropping the old 5A-East schedule for the new 7A-Central doesn’t hurt the head Panther’s feelings at all.
“I’m not going to lie to you, I’m not going to miss West Memphis, Forrest City and Jonesboro at all,” Bridges said. “Jacksonville is building a powerhouse over there too, and Sylvan Hills is always right there. That’s more teams that could make the playoffs right there, so what can you do? Honestly though, there’s so much parity out there right now, you’re going to have to earn it no matter where you play. I think this conference will be a better fit for us though.”
Bridges gives the nod as favorite to Pine Bluff. The Zebras are always a state title contender, and have won it twice in the past six years. “I think you have to tag Pine Bluff because they’re a perennial power,” Bridges said. “I really don’t know a whole lot about all these teams, but you can never leave out North Little Rock, and I think Conway is going to be very good this year.”
The rest of Cabot’s new conference is made up of Little Rock Catholic, Little Rock Central, Bryant and Russellville.
That’s a tough schedule in its own right, but Bridges’ team has set high goals for the season.
“We want to build off what we did last year,” Bridges said. “Last we had our first winning season in a while, this year we want two winning seasons. We want to win 20 games. That’s our goal. I don’t know if it’s realistic or not, but that’s what we’re shooting for. We feel like that will have us in place to maybe win a conference championship and get us to the playoffs playing for the state championship. Right now though, we’re going to have to get better on defense. I’m getting scared to death to be honest because we’re so young, but I’m excited too. We’ve got some kids that can create off the dribble and make things happen that we haven’t had. If the defense comes along, I think we’re going to be pretty darn good. Defense is our Achilles heel right now, but that’s our job as coaches to teach ‘em and get them better.”
Leader sports editor
The Cabot boys basketball team has a new look this year, a completely new look. The Panthers are coming off their first winning season in many years, but they’re doing it without a single starter returning. There are a few familiar faces in seniors Alex Sharp, Justin Haas and Jacob Trammell. Haas started a few games at the two guard, and the other two played several key minutes off the bench all season, but that doesn’t change the fact that this year’s Panthers are young.
In last night’s Jamboree matchups against Mills and Little Rock Christian at Mills, Cabot started Sharp, Tramel, junior Sam Bates and sophomores Adam Sterrenberg and Austin Johnson. Haas was, and will be most of the time, the first player off the bench.
I feel really good about our top six,” Cabot coach Jerry Bridges said. “Justin is really like a starter, we just feel like we need Austin’s height in there to start with. Justin is a good ball handler and can shoot it well, and he’s a steady player and a leader. So the top six are all like starters and I’m real comfortable with them.”
Trammell and Haas are 5-foot-9 guards, while the rest of the lineup features very good size. The Panthers won’t have a 6-10 on the block like they’ve had the last few years, but Sharp is listed at 6-8 this year, and will provide some bulk and strength that has been missing. Bates, at 6-4, will play the other post position. “I feel like Alex is going to have a breakthrough year this year,” Bridges said. “He’s an outstanding young man and he’s worked hard since I got here. And I think Bates is going to compliment him very well down low.”
The forward spots will be manned by the sophomores. Sterrenberg, 6-2, and Johnson, 6-6, were scoring machines for Cabot North and Cabot South last year. Each average above 25 points per game, and will bring that offense to the varsity this year.
“I feel like we’re going to be able to score this year,” Bridges said. “The sophomores bring a lot of offensive ability, Haas was our best shooter last year, Trammell’s shot is looking good right now. Sharp and Bates are playing well. We’re just going to have to get better on defense. Last year we played excellent defense all year long, we just couldn’t throw it in the ocean.This year it looks like the opposite. I feel really good about our ability to score, but we’ve got a long way to go on defense.”
Cabot’s conference is a new one, and a welcome one according to Bridges. Dropping the old 5A-East schedule for the new 7A-Central doesn’t hurt the head Panther’s feelings at all.
“I’m not going to lie to you, I’m not going to miss West Memphis, Forrest City and Jonesboro at all,” Bridges said. “Jacksonville is building a powerhouse over there too, and Sylvan Hills is always right there. That’s more teams that could make the playoffs right there, so what can you do? Honestly though, there’s so much parity out there right now, you’re going to have to earn it no matter where you play. I think this conference will be a better fit for us though.”
Bridges gives the nod as favorite to Pine Bluff. The Zebras are always a state title contender, and have won it twice in the past six years. “I think you have to tag Pine Bluff because they’re a perennial power,” Bridges said. “I really don’t know a whole lot about all these teams, but you can never leave out North Little Rock, and I think Conway is going to be very good this year.”
The rest of Cabot’s new conference is made up of Little Rock Catholic, Little Rock Central, Bryant and Russellville.
That’s a tough schedule in its own right, but Bridges’ team has set high goals for the season.
“We want to build off what we did last year,” Bridges said. “Last we had our first winning season in a while, this year we want two winning seasons. We want to win 20 games. That’s our goal. I don’t know if it’s realistic or not, but that’s what we’re shooting for. We feel like that will have us in place to maybe win a conference championship and get us to the playoffs playing for the state championship. Right now though, we’re going to have to get better on defense. I’m getting scared to death to be honest because we’re so young, but I’m excited too. We’ve got some kids that can create off the dribble and make things happen that we haven’t had. If the defense comes along, I think we’re going to be pretty darn good. Defense is our Achilles heel right now, but that’s our job as coaches to teach ‘em and get them better.”
SPORTS >>Wildcats have to wait for playoffs
By JASON KING
Leader sportswriter
The Harding Academy Wildcats are entering familiar territory as an undefeated No. 1 seed in the state playoffs. Harding Academy went into the quarterfinals last year after an unbeaten regular season, but lost to Junction City after a late-game rally by the Dragons.
Wildcats coach Tommy Shoemaker hopes that history won’t repeat itself in the quarterfinals this year, that is, if his team gets there. “Every year is different, every team is different,” Shoemaker said. “As long as we go out and play well, I think we will be in good shape. I think we probably should have won our final game last year, so hopefully we can go back this year and get further along.”
After wrapping up the No. 1 seed as the 2-3A Conference champions, Harding Academy has been given a by-week as the lower seeds fight it out in the opening week of the post season. With no real injuries to speak of in need of healing time, Shoemaker sees the off-week as both an advantage and disadvantage.
“I’ll tell you in three weeks whether or not it’s a good thing or bad thing,” Shoemaker said. “We were really on a good roll, and I hate to give that up, but we are going to use this time to put a few new wrinkles into our strategy on both sides of the ball and come out with some things that no one has seen us do yet this year. It would definitely be an advantage if we knew for sure who we will be playing, but without knowing who’s coming up next, there is no way to prepare for any one specific team.”
The Wildcats will await the winner of this week’s game between Hector and Corning, a pair of No. 3 seeds from their respective conferences. With the unique bracket for the 3A playoffs, the Wildcats find themselves as the only No. 1 seed on their side of the bracket. Shoemaker says that seed rankings mean very little at this point, however. It’s what each team does from here on out that will count.
“There aren’t any other No. 1 seeds, but there are still a lot of quality teams,” Shoemaker said. “If you just go by name recognition, you have Barton. Coach Sane?? Has come in and replaced coach McClelland and as done a great job. Those guys are having a great year this year. Some of the other teams we’re not familiar with, and don’t know much about them, but if they are in the playoffs, they have to have something going for them.”
Confidence and momentum are two important factors for any team trying to make a run at the state title. Shoemaker says the players are confident, but hopes that the momentum they have carried all year will continue, even with a Friday off. “I think that playing well and winning our conference with a 10-0 record has given us some confidence,” Shoemaker said. “It’s a different situation for us to have a week off, but we’re going to use that as an extra week to prepare.”
The Wildcats will enjoy the weekend off this Friday before hosting the winner of the Corning/Hector game next Friday night at First Security Stadium in Searcy.
Leader sportswriter
The Harding Academy Wildcats are entering familiar territory as an undefeated No. 1 seed in the state playoffs. Harding Academy went into the quarterfinals last year after an unbeaten regular season, but lost to Junction City after a late-game rally by the Dragons.
Wildcats coach Tommy Shoemaker hopes that history won’t repeat itself in the quarterfinals this year, that is, if his team gets there. “Every year is different, every team is different,” Shoemaker said. “As long as we go out and play well, I think we will be in good shape. I think we probably should have won our final game last year, so hopefully we can go back this year and get further along.”
After wrapping up the No. 1 seed as the 2-3A Conference champions, Harding Academy has been given a by-week as the lower seeds fight it out in the opening week of the post season. With no real injuries to speak of in need of healing time, Shoemaker sees the off-week as both an advantage and disadvantage.
“I’ll tell you in three weeks whether or not it’s a good thing or bad thing,” Shoemaker said. “We were really on a good roll, and I hate to give that up, but we are going to use this time to put a few new wrinkles into our strategy on both sides of the ball and come out with some things that no one has seen us do yet this year. It would definitely be an advantage if we knew for sure who we will be playing, but without knowing who’s coming up next, there is no way to prepare for any one specific team.”
The Wildcats will await the winner of this week’s game between Hector and Corning, a pair of No. 3 seeds from their respective conferences. With the unique bracket for the 3A playoffs, the Wildcats find themselves as the only No. 1 seed on their side of the bracket. Shoemaker says that seed rankings mean very little at this point, however. It’s what each team does from here on out that will count.
“There aren’t any other No. 1 seeds, but there are still a lot of quality teams,” Shoemaker said. “If you just go by name recognition, you have Barton. Coach Sane?? Has come in and replaced coach McClelland and as done a great job. Those guys are having a great year this year. Some of the other teams we’re not familiar with, and don’t know much about them, but if they are in the playoffs, they have to have something going for them.”
Confidence and momentum are two important factors for any team trying to make a run at the state title. Shoemaker says the players are confident, but hopes that the momentum they have carried all year will continue, even with a Friday off. “I think that playing well and winning our conference with a 10-0 record has given us some confidence,” Shoemaker said. “It’s a different situation for us to have a week off, but we’re going to use that as an extra week to prepare.”
The Wildcats will enjoy the weekend off this Friday before hosting the winner of the Corning/Hector game next Friday night at First Security Stadium in Searcy.
SPORTS >>Devils up for tough game at Texarkana
By RAY BENTON
Leader sports editor
It isn’t the matchup that everyone invisioned for Jacksonville in the first round of the class 6A football state playoffs, but it isn’t exactly what Texarkana had invisioned either. By at least one ranking, the third game down the bracket’s first round features the No. 1 and No. 2 ranked teams in the state. While Texarkana coach Bill Keopple wouldn’t have minded a different visitor for his first round, he takes a logical attitude into the game.
“You’re going to have to play the best sooner or later anyway,” Keoplle said. “That’s the way it’s set up and that’s the way it ought to be I guess. We’ll just take ‘em one at a time.” The story line for this game is driven by the contrasting conferences the two teams represent. Both teams are conference champions, but Mark Whatley’s Red Devils tied with three other teams, and by rule, had to accept the four seed. Texarkana is the outright, undisputed supreme team from the 6A-South. However, even Keoplle admits that his league wasn’t quite as strong as the East.
“ I think there’s a lot of talent in this league,” Keoplle said of the South. “For whatever reasons, we have a bunch of teams that never could get it all together and they sort of underachieved a little bit. Whether we had something to do with that or not, that’s hard to tell. I’d like to think we did. We’ll find out because Jacksonville has played in a lot of tough ball games.”
The fact that Texarkana coasted through its conference, including five mercy-rule victories of its seven league opponents, is looked at in opposite ways by the opposing coaches.
“I think it’s a plus for us actually,” Keopple said. “We had some key injuries early and those big wins let us get our main guys off the field and rested. We have a lot of confidence heading into the playoffs. We’re healthy, fresh and eager to get in there and get after it.”
Jacksonville coach Mark Whatley looks at it a different way. “My team is battle tested,” Whatley said. “I know my team, and I know my kids will fight through any adversity they come across. I don’t know if he knows that about his team. We’ve been busted in the mouth and we’ve fought back. They haven’t faced that yet, so they don’t know just how they’re going to react when it happens.”
Jacksonville runs an offense similar to some of the teams in the South, so it won’t be anything new for the Razorbacks to prepare for. The difficulty the Hogs face is the personnel Jacksonville will take to the southern border. “We’ve seen the offense, but we haven’t seen anyone run it with the kind of tools Jacksonville has to run it with,” Keopple said. “The quarterback is big, has good footwork and can deliver the ball. And we sure don’t have anyone in our league with the receivers they’ve got, especially the King kid. He’s a specimen.”
Keopple is also impressed with Jacksonville’s running back tandem of Justin Akins and Lee Robinson. He readily admits it’s the best duo his team has faced since playing Texarkana, Tex. In week one, but also believes he has the single best back in the state, and a pretty tandem himself. “Dennis Johnson is a major division 1 talent,” Keopple said. “He got hurt against Central and missed our first three conference games, and that really helped us as a team I believe. It gave us a chance to get Derek Wesley in there, and he really played well. He came over from Texas High, and he’s speedster. They’ve got Akins though, and he’s right there with my two in the speed department. You have to know where he is.”
Whatley agrees that those two backs will be tough to stop, but again, sees the scenario differently. “I know his kid is talented, but I don’t know his kid,” Whatley said. “I know mine, and I’d take mine.” Whatley is just as, if not more concerned with the Razorback defense. His offense still has not played as consistently as he wants, but his defense has made necessary stops all season long.
“What stands out to me as that they can all run,” Whatley said. “As a whole, that defense can fly to the football. They are fast, fast, fast. Their defensive end is powerful and fast. He has the best bull rush we’ve seen all year and they move him around a lot. We’re going to have to be more consistent if we want to move the ball on this team. They’ve put up some phenomenal numbers and they get games in control in a hurry. We’d better be on our game.”
Leader sports editor
It isn’t the matchup that everyone invisioned for Jacksonville in the first round of the class 6A football state playoffs, but it isn’t exactly what Texarkana had invisioned either. By at least one ranking, the third game down the bracket’s first round features the No. 1 and No. 2 ranked teams in the state. While Texarkana coach Bill Keopple wouldn’t have minded a different visitor for his first round, he takes a logical attitude into the game.
“You’re going to have to play the best sooner or later anyway,” Keoplle said. “That’s the way it’s set up and that’s the way it ought to be I guess. We’ll just take ‘em one at a time.” The story line for this game is driven by the contrasting conferences the two teams represent. Both teams are conference champions, but Mark Whatley’s Red Devils tied with three other teams, and by rule, had to accept the four seed. Texarkana is the outright, undisputed supreme team from the 6A-South. However, even Keoplle admits that his league wasn’t quite as strong as the East.
“ I think there’s a lot of talent in this league,” Keoplle said of the South. “For whatever reasons, we have a bunch of teams that never could get it all together and they sort of underachieved a little bit. Whether we had something to do with that or not, that’s hard to tell. I’d like to think we did. We’ll find out because Jacksonville has played in a lot of tough ball games.”
The fact that Texarkana coasted through its conference, including five mercy-rule victories of its seven league opponents, is looked at in opposite ways by the opposing coaches.
“I think it’s a plus for us actually,” Keopple said. “We had some key injuries early and those big wins let us get our main guys off the field and rested. We have a lot of confidence heading into the playoffs. We’re healthy, fresh and eager to get in there and get after it.”
Jacksonville coach Mark Whatley looks at it a different way. “My team is battle tested,” Whatley said. “I know my team, and I know my kids will fight through any adversity they come across. I don’t know if he knows that about his team. We’ve been busted in the mouth and we’ve fought back. They haven’t faced that yet, so they don’t know just how they’re going to react when it happens.”
Jacksonville runs an offense similar to some of the teams in the South, so it won’t be anything new for the Razorbacks to prepare for. The difficulty the Hogs face is the personnel Jacksonville will take to the southern border. “We’ve seen the offense, but we haven’t seen anyone run it with the kind of tools Jacksonville has to run it with,” Keopple said. “The quarterback is big, has good footwork and can deliver the ball. And we sure don’t have anyone in our league with the receivers they’ve got, especially the King kid. He’s a specimen.”
Keopple is also impressed with Jacksonville’s running back tandem of Justin Akins and Lee Robinson. He readily admits it’s the best duo his team has faced since playing Texarkana, Tex. In week one, but also believes he has the single best back in the state, and a pretty tandem himself. “Dennis Johnson is a major division 1 talent,” Keopple said. “He got hurt against Central and missed our first three conference games, and that really helped us as a team I believe. It gave us a chance to get Derek Wesley in there, and he really played well. He came over from Texas High, and he’s speedster. They’ve got Akins though, and he’s right there with my two in the speed department. You have to know where he is.”
Whatley agrees that those two backs will be tough to stop, but again, sees the scenario differently. “I know his kid is talented, but I don’t know his kid,” Whatley said. “I know mine, and I’d take mine.” Whatley is just as, if not more concerned with the Razorback defense. His offense still has not played as consistently as he wants, but his defense has made necessary stops all season long.
“What stands out to me as that they can all run,” Whatley said. “As a whole, that defense can fly to the football. They are fast, fast, fast. Their defensive end is powerful and fast. He has the best bull rush we’ve seen all year and they move him around a lot. We’re going to have to be more consistent if we want to move the ball on this team. They’ve put up some phenomenal numbers and they get games in control in a hurry. We’d better be on our game.”
OBITUARIES >> 11-08-06
JOHN SHIRLEY
John Harrison Shirley, 52, of Lonoke died on Nov. 6. He was preceded in death by his parents, James W. and Orie Jean Shirley.
He is survived by his children, Jeremy and Brenda Shirley of Holland, Mich., and Michelle and Benny Riegel, Jr. of Lonoke, six brothers, James Shirley, Mark Shirley, William Shirley of Lonoke, Larry Shirley of Michigan, Paul Shirley of Ward and Terry Shirley of Beebe, and sister, Vickie Rhein of Lonoke.
The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 8 at Boyd Funeral Home in Lonoke. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 9 at Boyd Funeral Home Chapel with interment in Concord Cemetery.
CARL RICKETTS
Carl W. Ricketts, 73, of Conway died Nov. 5. He was born October 18, 1933 in Clarksville to the late Homer D. Ricketts and Bertha Hurst Ricketts. He was retired from Wal-Mart Distribution Center and an Army veteran of the Korean Conflict.
He is survived by five sisters, Norma Boen of Kansas City, Mo., Alice Treadway of Cabot, Jeannie Smith of Lamar, Barbara Freeling of North Little Rock and Georgia Hale of Bald Knob, and one brother, Robert Ricketts of Fort Smith, and many nephews and nieces.
He was preceded in death by two sisters, Vernell Blakslee and Jane Bradley, and two brothers, Lawrence and Bill Ricketts.
Memorial services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 11 at Cabin Creek Baptist Church in Clarksville. Cremation arrangements by Roller McNutt Funeral Home in Conway.
GERALDINE COX
Geraldine Sentell Cox of Ward passed away Nov. 4 in her home following months battling a series of strokes. Geraldine, 78, was preceded in death in 1997 by her husband of 52 years, John E. Cox. Both were life long residents of Ward. Geraldine and her husband were retired dairy farmers, cattle farmers, business owners, business operators and business investors. Together they owned and operated the John Cox Roller Rink of Ward/Jacksonville from 1951 to 1962. John Cox Farms remains in operation today.
Geraldine was preceded in death by a baby daughter, her mother, Hettie Sentell of Ward, her father Allie (Ruth) Sentell of Ward, a sister, Allie Mae Sentell (Dewitt) Freeling of Jacksonville, three brothers-in-law and two sisters-in-law. Geraldine is survived by her son, Frankie John and wife Pat Cox of Ward, her daughter, Francis Jean Cox and husband Joe Stocks of the residence, five grandchildren, Christopher Bradley (Trish) Cox of Cabot, Veronica Glover of Ward, Frankie Patrick (Esther) Cox of Ward, April (Dan) Devore of Ward, and Kim (Allan) Sol Cruz of Dallas, Texas, and six great grandchildren, Kayla, Hayley, Taylor, Ashley, Brooke and Alyssa.
Geraldine is also survived by two brothers, James and wife Clara Sentell of Beebe, and Donald and wife Pat House of North Little Rock, a sister, Darlene Sentell and husband Rev. Paul Graves of Sherwood, sisters-in-law, Mrs. Bernard Cox of Royal Oak, Mich., Mrs. Lloyd Cox of Mobile, Ala., Geraldine Cox and husband Jim Morris of Ward, and eight nieces and 16 nephews.
Geraldine was an active member of Ward United Methodist Church and the Auxillary of The Gideons International, Cabot Camp since 1980.
A very special “thank you” is extended to our churches, our families, our friends and our neighbors that provided spiritual and emotional support. A “thank you” is extended to Miss Sue for private home health care assistance during her latter months, and in the early months another special “thank you” to physical therapists, Donna and David with White County Home Health, the physical therapy staff of Reliance Rehabilitation Center in Beebe and McAfee Medical Clinic in Beebe.
Family received friends Nov. 6 at Westbrook Funeral Home in Beebe. Funeral services were Nov. 7 at Ward United Methodist Church with Rev. Wes Howard and Rev. Paul Graves officiating with musical arrangements by Mrs. Paul Graves. Burial was in Sixteenth Section Cemetery in Lonoke County. Pallbearers were Jerry Russell, Richard Bradshaw, Ronald Gross, Wayne Guess, Jim Martin and Mayes Scott. Honorary pallbearers were The Gideons International.
DANNY ROWLETT
Danny Rowlett, 53, of Conway died Saturday Nov. 4. He was an avid outdoorsman, devoted family man and grandfather. He looked forward every year to bringing his family together for his annual fish fry. He worked for SnapOn tools for 33 years and was a member of Oak Bowery Baptist Church. He is survived by his wife, Judy, two sons, Danny Jr. and Jeremy Rowlett, both of Austin, two grandchildren, Christian and Brianna Rowlett of Austin, three brothers, Presley Rowlett of Waynesville, Mo., Larry Rowlett of Quitman and Randy Rowlett of Searcy, four sisters, Jonell Burroughs of Donaldson, Vicki Burnett of Conway, Gail Orvis of Floyd, and Debbie Finley of Austin, parents-in-law, Bead and Wanda Griffith, and many nieces and nephews.
Family received friends Nov. 7 at Westbrook Funeral home.
Funeral service will be 10 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 8 at Beryl Baptist Church in Vilonia, with burial in Dunkard Cemetery at Austin.
CHARLENE GRIFFIN
Charlene Cotner Griffin, 74, of Vivian, La., passed away Oct. 31 in Vivian. She was born Aug. 29, 1932 to the late Jake and Mary Jane Cassinger Cotner in Henrietta, Okla. She was also preceded in death by her brother, Charles Cotner and a grandson, Larry Dorn. Survivors include her daughters, Jeannie Roberts of Cabot and Wanda Redding of Conway, sisters, Wanda Holbrook of Shreveport, La., and Glenda Vance of Russellville, a brother, Ron Cotner of Moss Point, Miss., as well as six grandchildren, 18 great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild.
Funeral services were Nov. 3 at Moore’s Jacksonville Funeral Home Chapel with Bro. Larry Burton officiating. Burial followed in Bayou Meto Cemetery in Jacksonville.
RUTH TUCKER
Ruth Lillian Jackson Tucker, 87, departed this life Nov. 3 to join her Savior and heavenly family. Ruth was born December 28, 1919 in Cadiz, Ky., to David and Elizabeth (Jefferson) Jackson. She was a caregiver to her parents for many years and was proud of her Jefferson and Jackson heritage. Ruth was a loving wife, mom, big momma, grandma, and mimi. She was a charter member of Victory Baptist Church in Cabot and she loved her church family very much. Ruth was preceded in death by her parents, eight siblings, and her husband of fifty years, Thurman Tucker, as well as a daughter, Betty Burkhalter.
Ruth is survived by her children, Bill Tucker and Rex Tucker of Searcy, Ruth Ann Bush (Ed) of Benton and Peggy Taylor (James) of Beebe; grandchildren Herschell Burkhalter Jr., Kathy Burks (Paul), Bill Burkhalter (Rhonda), Billy Tucker (Tonya), David Tucker (Sissy), Charlie Tucker (Kelly), Reggie Tucker, Zoe Ann Abraham, Regina Turner (Jack), Leah Collins (Dale), Phil Filiatreau (LouAnn), SSgt. Corey Taylor (Misty), Jenni Richbourg (Dustin), and Tammy Taylor; great-grandchildren Trey Burkhalter, Jeremy Burkhalter, Kevin Burks (Esmerelda), Keith Burks, Beth Burkhalter, Brandi Burkhalter, Spc. Katrina Tucker (Brian), Laura Tucker, PFC Lance Tucker, Amy Tucker, Katy Tucker, Amanda Holland, Aaron Abraham, David Michael Key, Cambrin Collins (Jennifer), Canaan Collins, Austin Filiatreau (Amanda), Tommy Filiatreau, Raven Taylor and Lexi Taylor; great-greatgrandchildren, Jacob Burks, Avery Mills, Kierra Tucker, Katilyn Holland, Kyle Holland, Chase Abraham, Kayleb Key, Luke Collins, and the children of her heart, Herschell and Joyce Burkhalter, Howard and Charlene Burton, Martha Tucker, and a nephew, W.A. Tucker (Phyllis) and his family.
Family received friends Nov. 7 at Westbrook Funeral Home in Beebe. A celebration of her life and home going will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 8 at Victory Baptist Church in Cabot with burial to follow in Meadowbrook Memorial Gardens in Beebe.
John Harrison Shirley, 52, of Lonoke died on Nov. 6. He was preceded in death by his parents, James W. and Orie Jean Shirley.
He is survived by his children, Jeremy and Brenda Shirley of Holland, Mich., and Michelle and Benny Riegel, Jr. of Lonoke, six brothers, James Shirley, Mark Shirley, William Shirley of Lonoke, Larry Shirley of Michigan, Paul Shirley of Ward and Terry Shirley of Beebe, and sister, Vickie Rhein of Lonoke.
The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 8 at Boyd Funeral Home in Lonoke. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 9 at Boyd Funeral Home Chapel with interment in Concord Cemetery.
CARL RICKETTS
Carl W. Ricketts, 73, of Conway died Nov. 5. He was born October 18, 1933 in Clarksville to the late Homer D. Ricketts and Bertha Hurst Ricketts. He was retired from Wal-Mart Distribution Center and an Army veteran of the Korean Conflict.
He is survived by five sisters, Norma Boen of Kansas City, Mo., Alice Treadway of Cabot, Jeannie Smith of Lamar, Barbara Freeling of North Little Rock and Georgia Hale of Bald Knob, and one brother, Robert Ricketts of Fort Smith, and many nephews and nieces.
He was preceded in death by two sisters, Vernell Blakslee and Jane Bradley, and two brothers, Lawrence and Bill Ricketts.
Memorial services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 11 at Cabin Creek Baptist Church in Clarksville. Cremation arrangements by Roller McNutt Funeral Home in Conway.
GERALDINE COX
Geraldine Sentell Cox of Ward passed away Nov. 4 in her home following months battling a series of strokes. Geraldine, 78, was preceded in death in 1997 by her husband of 52 years, John E. Cox. Both were life long residents of Ward. Geraldine and her husband were retired dairy farmers, cattle farmers, business owners, business operators and business investors. Together they owned and operated the John Cox Roller Rink of Ward/Jacksonville from 1951 to 1962. John Cox Farms remains in operation today.
Geraldine was preceded in death by a baby daughter, her mother, Hettie Sentell of Ward, her father Allie (Ruth) Sentell of Ward, a sister, Allie Mae Sentell (Dewitt) Freeling of Jacksonville, three brothers-in-law and two sisters-in-law. Geraldine is survived by her son, Frankie John and wife Pat Cox of Ward, her daughter, Francis Jean Cox and husband Joe Stocks of the residence, five grandchildren, Christopher Bradley (Trish) Cox of Cabot, Veronica Glover of Ward, Frankie Patrick (Esther) Cox of Ward, April (Dan) Devore of Ward, and Kim (Allan) Sol Cruz of Dallas, Texas, and six great grandchildren, Kayla, Hayley, Taylor, Ashley, Brooke and Alyssa.
Geraldine is also survived by two brothers, James and wife Clara Sentell of Beebe, and Donald and wife Pat House of North Little Rock, a sister, Darlene Sentell and husband Rev. Paul Graves of Sherwood, sisters-in-law, Mrs. Bernard Cox of Royal Oak, Mich., Mrs. Lloyd Cox of Mobile, Ala., Geraldine Cox and husband Jim Morris of Ward, and eight nieces and 16 nephews.
Geraldine was an active member of Ward United Methodist Church and the Auxillary of The Gideons International, Cabot Camp since 1980.
A very special “thank you” is extended to our churches, our families, our friends and our neighbors that provided spiritual and emotional support. A “thank you” is extended to Miss Sue for private home health care assistance during her latter months, and in the early months another special “thank you” to physical therapists, Donna and David with White County Home Health, the physical therapy staff of Reliance Rehabilitation Center in Beebe and McAfee Medical Clinic in Beebe.
Family received friends Nov. 6 at Westbrook Funeral Home in Beebe. Funeral services were Nov. 7 at Ward United Methodist Church with Rev. Wes Howard and Rev. Paul Graves officiating with musical arrangements by Mrs. Paul Graves. Burial was in Sixteenth Section Cemetery in Lonoke County. Pallbearers were Jerry Russell, Richard Bradshaw, Ronald Gross, Wayne Guess, Jim Martin and Mayes Scott. Honorary pallbearers were The Gideons International.
DANNY ROWLETT
Danny Rowlett, 53, of Conway died Saturday Nov. 4. He was an avid outdoorsman, devoted family man and grandfather. He looked forward every year to bringing his family together for his annual fish fry. He worked for SnapOn tools for 33 years and was a member of Oak Bowery Baptist Church. He is survived by his wife, Judy, two sons, Danny Jr. and Jeremy Rowlett, both of Austin, two grandchildren, Christian and Brianna Rowlett of Austin, three brothers, Presley Rowlett of Waynesville, Mo., Larry Rowlett of Quitman and Randy Rowlett of Searcy, four sisters, Jonell Burroughs of Donaldson, Vicki Burnett of Conway, Gail Orvis of Floyd, and Debbie Finley of Austin, parents-in-law, Bead and Wanda Griffith, and many nieces and nephews.
Family received friends Nov. 7 at Westbrook Funeral home.
Funeral service will be 10 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 8 at Beryl Baptist Church in Vilonia, with burial in Dunkard Cemetery at Austin.
CHARLENE GRIFFIN
Charlene Cotner Griffin, 74, of Vivian, La., passed away Oct. 31 in Vivian. She was born Aug. 29, 1932 to the late Jake and Mary Jane Cassinger Cotner in Henrietta, Okla. She was also preceded in death by her brother, Charles Cotner and a grandson, Larry Dorn. Survivors include her daughters, Jeannie Roberts of Cabot and Wanda Redding of Conway, sisters, Wanda Holbrook of Shreveport, La., and Glenda Vance of Russellville, a brother, Ron Cotner of Moss Point, Miss., as well as six grandchildren, 18 great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild.
Funeral services were Nov. 3 at Moore’s Jacksonville Funeral Home Chapel with Bro. Larry Burton officiating. Burial followed in Bayou Meto Cemetery in Jacksonville.
RUTH TUCKER
Ruth Lillian Jackson Tucker, 87, departed this life Nov. 3 to join her Savior and heavenly family. Ruth was born December 28, 1919 in Cadiz, Ky., to David and Elizabeth (Jefferson) Jackson. She was a caregiver to her parents for many years and was proud of her Jefferson and Jackson heritage. Ruth was a loving wife, mom, big momma, grandma, and mimi. She was a charter member of Victory Baptist Church in Cabot and she loved her church family very much. Ruth was preceded in death by her parents, eight siblings, and her husband of fifty years, Thurman Tucker, as well as a daughter, Betty Burkhalter.
Ruth is survived by her children, Bill Tucker and Rex Tucker of Searcy, Ruth Ann Bush (Ed) of Benton and Peggy Taylor (James) of Beebe; grandchildren Herschell Burkhalter Jr., Kathy Burks (Paul), Bill Burkhalter (Rhonda), Billy Tucker (Tonya), David Tucker (Sissy), Charlie Tucker (Kelly), Reggie Tucker, Zoe Ann Abraham, Regina Turner (Jack), Leah Collins (Dale), Phil Filiatreau (LouAnn), SSgt. Corey Taylor (Misty), Jenni Richbourg (Dustin), and Tammy Taylor; great-grandchildren Trey Burkhalter, Jeremy Burkhalter, Kevin Burks (Esmerelda), Keith Burks, Beth Burkhalter, Brandi Burkhalter, Spc. Katrina Tucker (Brian), Laura Tucker, PFC Lance Tucker, Amy Tucker, Katy Tucker, Amanda Holland, Aaron Abraham, David Michael Key, Cambrin Collins (Jennifer), Canaan Collins, Austin Filiatreau (Amanda), Tommy Filiatreau, Raven Taylor and Lexi Taylor; great-greatgrandchildren, Jacob Burks, Avery Mills, Kierra Tucker, Katilyn Holland, Kyle Holland, Chase Abraham, Kayleb Key, Luke Collins, and the children of her heart, Herschell and Joyce Burkhalter, Howard and Charlene Burton, Martha Tucker, and a nephew, W.A. Tucker (Phyllis) and his family.
Family received friends Nov. 7 at Westbrook Funeral Home in Beebe. A celebration of her life and home going will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 8 at Victory Baptist Church in Cabot with burial to follow in Meadowbrook Memorial Gardens in Beebe.
FROM THE PUBLISHER >>Vote count disaster for Bush, GOP
Few Republicans expected this year’s mid-term elections would go their way, but Tuesday’s results are worse than any of the polls had predicted. Add to that the Democrats’ sweep of all the constitutional offices in Arkansas, including the Governor’s Mansion being vacated by Mike Huckabee after a decade, and you can see why Democrats are singing, “Oh, what a night.”
“I dreaded this possibility,” said Dick Armey, the former Republican majority leader in the House who’d predicted a difficult time for the GOP this November, but not a disaster of this magnitude.
Sure, the Democrats had a good shot at the U.S. House of Representatives — that was a foregone conclusion weeks before the election — but Democrats captured more House seats than most analysts had expected and are within a whisker of taking control of the Senate, where some major Republican figures were ousted, and which seemed way beyond reach just a week ago.
The country also has more Democrats as governors than the Republicans (who were supposed to take over most of the country because of their vaunted management skills), and you find the Grand Old Party dispirited and in disarray. What happened? The electorate turned in a protest vote against the war in Iraq and the associated spin and smoke and mirrors that are the mother tongue of Washington.
In a word: Corruption. As Armey put it last night, “The party got off track. Earmark excesses. Personal problems. The war. A lot of chickens are coming home to roost.” Arkansas is about where it was 35 years ago: A Democratic governor, two Democratic senators and three Democratic congressmen, with one Republican congressman representing northwest Arkansas apparently holding on to his seat. The more things change, the more things stay the same. Well, not exactly: The state Legislature has more Republicans, while there were almost none in 1971, but the Democratic tide is unmistakable.
Do you remember term limits? That was the Republicans’ mantra a decade ago, and it took root in Arkansas when that was the trendy thing to do, but when Republicans took power in Washington, they dropped the whole idea of term limits. They liked power so much that candidates who had pledged to serve no more than three terms in Congress said, “Never mind. Washington is too much fun. We’ll stick around 20 years.”
Many of those double-crossing politicians lost last night, and they lost badly, which is why the Democrats have regained the House today. But they’ll get used to power again and one day they may take the White House, too, and when they’re too comfortable and full of themselves, the voters will kick them out again. That’s the genius of American democracy. May it long prevail.
“I dreaded this possibility,” said Dick Armey, the former Republican majority leader in the House who’d predicted a difficult time for the GOP this November, but not a disaster of this magnitude.
Sure, the Democrats had a good shot at the U.S. House of Representatives — that was a foregone conclusion weeks before the election — but Democrats captured more House seats than most analysts had expected and are within a whisker of taking control of the Senate, where some major Republican figures were ousted, and which seemed way beyond reach just a week ago.
The country also has more Democrats as governors than the Republicans (who were supposed to take over most of the country because of their vaunted management skills), and you find the Grand Old Party dispirited and in disarray. What happened? The electorate turned in a protest vote against the war in Iraq and the associated spin and smoke and mirrors that are the mother tongue of Washington.
In a word: Corruption. As Armey put it last night, “The party got off track. Earmark excesses. Personal problems. The war. A lot of chickens are coming home to roost.” Arkansas is about where it was 35 years ago: A Democratic governor, two Democratic senators and three Democratic congressmen, with one Republican congressman representing northwest Arkansas apparently holding on to his seat. The more things change, the more things stay the same. Well, not exactly: The state Legislature has more Republicans, while there were almost none in 1971, but the Democratic tide is unmistakable.
Do you remember term limits? That was the Republicans’ mantra a decade ago, and it took root in Arkansas when that was the trendy thing to do, but when Republicans took power in Washington, they dropped the whole idea of term limits. They liked power so much that candidates who had pledged to serve no more than three terms in Congress said, “Never mind. Washington is too much fun. We’ll stick around 20 years.”
Many of those double-crossing politicians lost last night, and they lost badly, which is why the Democrats have regained the House today. But they’ll get used to power again and one day they may take the White House, too, and when they’re too comfortable and full of themselves, the voters will kick them out again. That’s the genius of American democracy. May it long prevail.
TOP STORY >>Record attendance at show
By HEATHER HARTSELL
Leader staff writer
More than 200,000 aircraft enthusiasts — a record — visited Little Rock Air Force Base over the weekend for the 2006 Airpower Arkansas air show. Unfortunately, they won’t be seeing anything but C-130s in the skies over LRAFB for three more years, when the next air show is scheduled to occur. AirPower Arkansas 2006 will be the last air show for at least three years, according to Brig. Gen. Kip Self, commander of Little Rock Air Force Base.
Deputy chief of the 314th Airlift Wing’s Strategic Information Flight, 2nd Lt. Kelly George confirmed that, as of now, the next air show will be in 2009 because of budget restraints and the stress placed on the base for an air show. But that didn’t keep more than 200,000 people from enjoying this year’s show. “We had 165,000 the first day alone,” George said. “Attendance last year was 150,000 for both days; we broke a record. The air show went great; all the feedback we’ve received was that everyone had a great time.”
Young and old alike meandered through the 46 aircraft parked on the flight line, many taking the time to wait in long lines to see the cockpit of numerous planes. Photo opportunities were plentiful this year both with the aerial demonstrations and the static displays. “My father-in-law probably took 140 pictures,” Danielle Pelletier of Austin said. “We walked through the C-130s and took pictures because that’s what my husband flies on. We took pictures in the Chinook helicopter because my brother-in-law flies them.”
The first time to LRAFB’s air show, Pelletier said her family loved it, and her two boys, ages three and four, had to go through every plane there. There were small planes, like the BT-13 World War II aircraft; big planes, like the C-130s; and really-really big planes, like the gigantic C-5 Galaxy; the Air Force even had little one-seater battery operated planes being driven around to help promote the Air Force.
The Army, Navy, Marines and Coast Guard were also all on hand at this year’s show helping to promote their unique services.
Children, and adults too, were awed by the speed of the jets and the precision of the U.S. Navy Blue Angels. “Wow” and “that’s loud” were heard numerous times from the mouths of children during the aerial performances.
“I like the jets the best,” Tammy Stark of Ward, who attends the air show every year, said. “Their speed is just amazing.” The LRAFB 314th Airlift Wing Public Affairs office reported that rumors of a major incident occurring Saturday during the air show were completely false. “There was no such incident,” George said. “We had an asthma attack Saturday near the end of the show, but no major incidents.” While some might have had a long wait getting off base, George said the traffic flow ran smoothly and most people had a relatively short wait.
“It took us two hours to get off base,” Pelletier said. “We sat in one spot for an hour and a half; if it hadn’t been for the fire trucks and ambulances being called, it wouldn’t have taken us long to get off base.” Stark also had delays getting off base, but for different reasons. “We couldn’t find our car when we went to leave, it took us 30 minutes to find where we had parked,” Ashley Holder, who rode with Stark to the air show, said.
Leader staff writer
More than 200,000 aircraft enthusiasts — a record — visited Little Rock Air Force Base over the weekend for the 2006 Airpower Arkansas air show. Unfortunately, they won’t be seeing anything but C-130s in the skies over LRAFB for three more years, when the next air show is scheduled to occur. AirPower Arkansas 2006 will be the last air show for at least three years, according to Brig. Gen. Kip Self, commander of Little Rock Air Force Base.
Deputy chief of the 314th Airlift Wing’s Strategic Information Flight, 2nd Lt. Kelly George confirmed that, as of now, the next air show will be in 2009 because of budget restraints and the stress placed on the base for an air show. But that didn’t keep more than 200,000 people from enjoying this year’s show. “We had 165,000 the first day alone,” George said. “Attendance last year was 150,000 for both days; we broke a record. The air show went great; all the feedback we’ve received was that everyone had a great time.”
Young and old alike meandered through the 46 aircraft parked on the flight line, many taking the time to wait in long lines to see the cockpit of numerous planes. Photo opportunities were plentiful this year both with the aerial demonstrations and the static displays. “My father-in-law probably took 140 pictures,” Danielle Pelletier of Austin said. “We walked through the C-130s and took pictures because that’s what my husband flies on. We took pictures in the Chinook helicopter because my brother-in-law flies them.”
The first time to LRAFB’s air show, Pelletier said her family loved it, and her two boys, ages three and four, had to go through every plane there. There were small planes, like the BT-13 World War II aircraft; big planes, like the C-130s; and really-really big planes, like the gigantic C-5 Galaxy; the Air Force even had little one-seater battery operated planes being driven around to help promote the Air Force.
The Army, Navy, Marines and Coast Guard were also all on hand at this year’s show helping to promote their unique services.
Children, and adults too, were awed by the speed of the jets and the precision of the U.S. Navy Blue Angels. “Wow” and “that’s loud” were heard numerous times from the mouths of children during the aerial performances.
“I like the jets the best,” Tammy Stark of Ward, who attends the air show every year, said. “Their speed is just amazing.” The LRAFB 314th Airlift Wing Public Affairs office reported that rumors of a major incident occurring Saturday during the air show were completely false. “There was no such incident,” George said. “We had an asthma attack Saturday near the end of the show, but no major incidents.” While some might have had a long wait getting off base, George said the traffic flow ran smoothly and most people had a relatively short wait.
“It took us two hours to get off base,” Pelletier said. “We sat in one spot for an hour and a half; if it hadn’t been for the fire trucks and ambulances being called, it wouldn’t have taken us long to get off base.” Stark also had delays getting off base, but for different reasons. “We couldn’t find our car when we went to leave, it took us 30 minutes to find where we had parked,” Ashley Holder, who rode with Stark to the air show, said.
TOP STORY >>Cabot, Beebe see enrollment go up in school districts
Area school enrollment figures are in: Cabot and Beebe school districts increasing enrollment, while the Pulaski County Special School District and Lonoke School District experinces slight declines. These fall figures are reported nationally, but the enrollment figures upon which state minimum foundation aid—the money that follows each student—are taken about three-quarters of the way through the school year, according to Julie Thompson, spokesman for the state Department of Education
Cabot’s enrollment increased by at least 450 students, while Beebe saw an increase of almost 200 students. PCSSD lost 187 students—about 1 percent—and Lonoke enrollment decreased by 16 students.
PCSSD
Enrollment in the Pulaski County Special School District is down to 17,756 from 17,943 a year ago, according to figures provided by the district and the state Department of Education. In the long run, the district’s enrollment is pretty stable, according to Brenda Bowles, director of equity, and the decline may be largely due to the exodus of many of the students who fled Hurricane Katrina last year and attended schools here.
Enrollment is down at all three Sylvan Hills schools and Bowles said many of those students are transferring to North Little Rock schools. White students from both the high school and the middle school in Jacksonville also have transferred to North Little Rock, Bowles said. In addition, about 1,000 area students are being home schooled and yet others are attending charter schools in Maumelle and downtown Little Rock. For the last four or five years, some growth was from majority to minority transfers from Little Rock, she said. “We’re now losing instead of gaining. Some schools are full or at capacity.”
Students who would have attended Homer Atkins were reassigned to Murrell Taylor Elementary, Jacksonville Elementary and Harris Elementary, with some of them transferring to Dupree Elementary, Bowles said. Homer Adkins last year had 221 students as an elementary school. This year, reconfigured as a pre-kindergarten-only school, it has 112 students.
The decline at Arnold Drive Elementary School is at least partially attributable to families moving off Little Rock Air Force Base while on-base housing is privatized and razed or rehabilitated. Here’s how enrollment breaks down for local schools:
Elementary
Arnold Drive Elementary, 216 students, a decrease of 39 students.
Bayou Meto Elementary, 394 students, down from 410.
Cato Elementary, 329 students, a decrease of nine.
Harris Elementary, 271 students, an increase of 37.
Jacksonville Elementary, 552, an increase of 16 students.
Murrell Taylor Elementary, 430 students, up 73 students.
Pinewood Elementary, 404 students, down 25.
Scott Elementary, 130 students, an increase of 15 from last year.
Sherwood Elementary, 400 students, up eight from last year.
Sylvan Hills Elementary, 359 students, down 47 students.
Tolleson Elementary, 297 students, an increase of 25.
Warren Dupree Elementary, 322 students, an increase of 45 students.
Middle School
Northwood Middle School, 654 students, down 14.
Sylvan Hills Middle School, 653 students, a decrease of 60 students.
Jacksonville Middle School—last year, both the boys and the girls middle schools were combined, with a total of 892 students.
This year, they are considered separate schools, with an enrollment of 426 on the boys campus and 440 students on the girls campus. Combined, they have 26 fewer students than last year.
High School
Jacksonville High School, 1,114 students, down 15 students.
Sylvan Hills High School, 955 students, down from 972.
North Pulaski High School, 913 students, an increase of 16.
CABOT
The Cabot Public School District showed an enrollment of 9,006 students as of the Sept. 21 school board meeting, reported by superintendent Frank Holmanan increase in enrollment by 518 students from last year. Monday’s current figures from each campus however show enrollment at 8,944 students, that’s 9,171 students when including the 227 pre-kindergarteners, an increase of 456 students from last year’s 8,488.
“We are shocked as well as pleased with the increase we’ve had since last year,” said Pam Carter, data systems manager for the district . Carter said classrooms have been made in every available room in the schools to allow for the increased student population. Magness Creek Elementary added five to seven classes for this school year and Ward Central Elementary is still using the classes they added last year.
Enrollment at Cabot’s 13 campuses for the 2006-2007 are:
Cabot High School, 1,727 students, an increase of 48.
Cabot Junior High South, 983 students, an increase of 43.
Cabot Junior High North, 1,071 students, up 66 from last year.
Cabot Middle School, 676 students, an increase of 62.
Cabot Middle School North’s enrollment remained steady at 730.
Academic Center for Excellence (ACE), Cabot’s conversion charter school, 119, down 35 from last year.
Ward Central Elementary has 472 kindergarten through fourth graders, down nine from last year. Ward Central also has 137 pre-kindergarten students enrolled.
Central Elementary enrollment went up to 495, a gain of 37 students.
Eastside Elementary, 550, a drop of 28 students.
Magness Creek Elementary enrollment boomed to 605 students this year, a gain of 106.
Northside Elementary, 475 students, a gain of 20 students. The school also has 20 pre-kindergarten students.
Southside Elementary, gained 43 students for a total of 550.
Westside Elementary saw a similar increase, with430 students, 42 more than last year and 70 pre-kindergarten students.
According to the ADE, for the 2005-2006 school year, Cabot Public Schools had a total enrollment of 8,488, which does not include the pre-kindergarten programs. David Hipp, president of the Cabot Board of Education, credited the city of Cabot’s housing growth spurt the last several years as the reason for the increase of students. “People are moving to Cabot. I feel that one of the things drawing people here is the good school system,” Hipp said. “We have anywhere from a 300-500 student increase every year; if you look at the housing areas started here in Cabot, that doesn’t take long.”
BEEBE
The Beebe School District has 3,093 students in grades K-12, with 30 in the pre-kindergarten classrooms.
That’s an increase in enrollment of 194 students since last school year, when Beebe had a total enrollment of 2,899 for the 2005-2006 year, not including the pre-kindergarten program. Superintendent Belinda Shook said the district saw a larger increase than normal this year because of a larger kindergarten class.
According to Shook the district usually increases anywhere from 70 to 90 students per year.
Beebe School District’s current enrollment figures per campus are:
Beebe Primary Elementary, 780 students, a gain of 93.
Beebe Intermediate, 460 students, a gain of38.
Beebe Middle, 466, a gain of 13 students
Beebe Junior High School, 467, a loss of seven students compared to last year.
Beebe High School has 911, an increase of 48 students.
Shook believes Beebe’s proximity to Little Rock and Searcy is one reason for the district’s increased enrollment.
“Beebe is growing as a community; we have a good school system and a good community,” Shook said. “People want to move here. They like that we are not a huge district, but at the same time, that we aren’t a small district either.”
Shook also cites the variety of programs offered both in the curriculum and in extra-curricular activities as a reason for higher enrollment figures, including the district’s before- and after-school programs, which she sees as a “big plus for us.”
Sheena Williamson, principal at Beebe High School, said one reason for current enrollment figures is because all the campuses are in one location. “Parents can drop off all their children at one location, not numerous ones throughout town,” Williamson said. “Older siblings are also able to look out for younger ones with the campuses all together.”
LONOKE
The Lonoke School District lost 16 students this year in grades K-12, with a total enrollment of 1,839. That’s down from 1,855 a year ago. “I’d characterize this as normal ebb and flow of enrollment,” said John Tackett, assistant superintendent.
“We’ve seen some growth in the long run. We have increased enrollment over the last five years. What we’d like to see is to have it start at the primary level and move through the system.” He said the new middle school, slated to open after Christmas break, could encourage some students to stay in school or attract and keep new students.
“Facilities are important, but secondary to the programs inside the facilities,” Tackett said Primary school enrollment is up 13 students to 439, according to figures provided by the district. Elementary school enrollment dipped from 436 last year to 417 this year; middle school is up eight students to 416 and High School dropped 18 students to 567 students. These are not the totals used to figure state aid to the Lonoke School District—those are determined after the third nine-week period, but if they hold, the district’s state foundation aid revenues will be down about $90,000, based on state aid of $5,662 per student.
Earlier this year, Lonoke Superintendent Sharron Havens had told the board that the district could lose as much as $300,000 in state foundation aid this year if enrollment the first week was any indication, so that’s actually good news.
Lonoke also has 97 pre-K students.
Cabot’s enrollment increased by at least 450 students, while Beebe saw an increase of almost 200 students. PCSSD lost 187 students—about 1 percent—and Lonoke enrollment decreased by 16 students.
PCSSD
Enrollment in the Pulaski County Special School District is down to 17,756 from 17,943 a year ago, according to figures provided by the district and the state Department of Education. In the long run, the district’s enrollment is pretty stable, according to Brenda Bowles, director of equity, and the decline may be largely due to the exodus of many of the students who fled Hurricane Katrina last year and attended schools here.
Enrollment is down at all three Sylvan Hills schools and Bowles said many of those students are transferring to North Little Rock schools. White students from both the high school and the middle school in Jacksonville also have transferred to North Little Rock, Bowles said. In addition, about 1,000 area students are being home schooled and yet others are attending charter schools in Maumelle and downtown Little Rock. For the last four or five years, some growth was from majority to minority transfers from Little Rock, she said. “We’re now losing instead of gaining. Some schools are full or at capacity.”
Students who would have attended Homer Atkins were reassigned to Murrell Taylor Elementary, Jacksonville Elementary and Harris Elementary, with some of them transferring to Dupree Elementary, Bowles said. Homer Adkins last year had 221 students as an elementary school. This year, reconfigured as a pre-kindergarten-only school, it has 112 students.
The decline at Arnold Drive Elementary School is at least partially attributable to families moving off Little Rock Air Force Base while on-base housing is privatized and razed or rehabilitated. Here’s how enrollment breaks down for local schools:
Elementary
Arnold Drive Elementary, 216 students, a decrease of 39 students.
Bayou Meto Elementary, 394 students, down from 410.
Cato Elementary, 329 students, a decrease of nine.
Harris Elementary, 271 students, an increase of 37.
Jacksonville Elementary, 552, an increase of 16 students.
Murrell Taylor Elementary, 430 students, up 73 students.
Pinewood Elementary, 404 students, down 25.
Scott Elementary, 130 students, an increase of 15 from last year.
Sherwood Elementary, 400 students, up eight from last year.
Sylvan Hills Elementary, 359 students, down 47 students.
Tolleson Elementary, 297 students, an increase of 25.
Warren Dupree Elementary, 322 students, an increase of 45 students.
Middle School
Northwood Middle School, 654 students, down 14.
Sylvan Hills Middle School, 653 students, a decrease of 60 students.
Jacksonville Middle School—last year, both the boys and the girls middle schools were combined, with a total of 892 students.
This year, they are considered separate schools, with an enrollment of 426 on the boys campus and 440 students on the girls campus. Combined, they have 26 fewer students than last year.
High School
Jacksonville High School, 1,114 students, down 15 students.
Sylvan Hills High School, 955 students, down from 972.
North Pulaski High School, 913 students, an increase of 16.
CABOT
The Cabot Public School District showed an enrollment of 9,006 students as of the Sept. 21 school board meeting, reported by superintendent Frank Holmanan increase in enrollment by 518 students from last year. Monday’s current figures from each campus however show enrollment at 8,944 students, that’s 9,171 students when including the 227 pre-kindergarteners, an increase of 456 students from last year’s 8,488.
“We are shocked as well as pleased with the increase we’ve had since last year,” said Pam Carter, data systems manager for the district . Carter said classrooms have been made in every available room in the schools to allow for the increased student population. Magness Creek Elementary added five to seven classes for this school year and Ward Central Elementary is still using the classes they added last year.
Enrollment at Cabot’s 13 campuses for the 2006-2007 are:
Cabot High School, 1,727 students, an increase of 48.
Cabot Junior High South, 983 students, an increase of 43.
Cabot Junior High North, 1,071 students, up 66 from last year.
Cabot Middle School, 676 students, an increase of 62.
Cabot Middle School North’s enrollment remained steady at 730.
Academic Center for Excellence (ACE), Cabot’s conversion charter school, 119, down 35 from last year.
Ward Central Elementary has 472 kindergarten through fourth graders, down nine from last year. Ward Central also has 137 pre-kindergarten students enrolled.
Central Elementary enrollment went up to 495, a gain of 37 students.
Eastside Elementary, 550, a drop of 28 students.
Magness Creek Elementary enrollment boomed to 605 students this year, a gain of 106.
Northside Elementary, 475 students, a gain of 20 students. The school also has 20 pre-kindergarten students.
Southside Elementary, gained 43 students for a total of 550.
Westside Elementary saw a similar increase, with430 students, 42 more than last year and 70 pre-kindergarten students.
According to the ADE, for the 2005-2006 school year, Cabot Public Schools had a total enrollment of 8,488, which does not include the pre-kindergarten programs. David Hipp, president of the Cabot Board of Education, credited the city of Cabot’s housing growth spurt the last several years as the reason for the increase of students. “People are moving to Cabot. I feel that one of the things drawing people here is the good school system,” Hipp said. “We have anywhere from a 300-500 student increase every year; if you look at the housing areas started here in Cabot, that doesn’t take long.”
BEEBE
The Beebe School District has 3,093 students in grades K-12, with 30 in the pre-kindergarten classrooms.
That’s an increase in enrollment of 194 students since last school year, when Beebe had a total enrollment of 2,899 for the 2005-2006 year, not including the pre-kindergarten program. Superintendent Belinda Shook said the district saw a larger increase than normal this year because of a larger kindergarten class.
According to Shook the district usually increases anywhere from 70 to 90 students per year.
Beebe School District’s current enrollment figures per campus are:
Beebe Primary Elementary, 780 students, a gain of 93.
Beebe Intermediate, 460 students, a gain of38.
Beebe Middle, 466, a gain of 13 students
Beebe Junior High School, 467, a loss of seven students compared to last year.
Beebe High School has 911, an increase of 48 students.
Shook believes Beebe’s proximity to Little Rock and Searcy is one reason for the district’s increased enrollment.
“Beebe is growing as a community; we have a good school system and a good community,” Shook said. “People want to move here. They like that we are not a huge district, but at the same time, that we aren’t a small district either.”
Shook also cites the variety of programs offered both in the curriculum and in extra-curricular activities as a reason for higher enrollment figures, including the district’s before- and after-school programs, which she sees as a “big plus for us.”
Sheena Williamson, principal at Beebe High School, said one reason for current enrollment figures is because all the campuses are in one location. “Parents can drop off all their children at one location, not numerous ones throughout town,” Williamson said. “Older siblings are also able to look out for younger ones with the campuses all together.”
LONOKE
The Lonoke School District lost 16 students this year in grades K-12, with a total enrollment of 1,839. That’s down from 1,855 a year ago. “I’d characterize this as normal ebb and flow of enrollment,” said John Tackett, assistant superintendent.
“We’ve seen some growth in the long run. We have increased enrollment over the last five years. What we’d like to see is to have it start at the primary level and move through the system.” He said the new middle school, slated to open after Christmas break, could encourage some students to stay in school or attract and keep new students.
“Facilities are important, but secondary to the programs inside the facilities,” Tackett said Primary school enrollment is up 13 students to 439, according to figures provided by the district. Elementary school enrollment dipped from 436 last year to 417 this year; middle school is up eight students to 416 and High School dropped 18 students to 567 students. These are not the totals used to figure state aid to the Lonoke School District—those are determined after the third nine-week period, but if they hold, the district’s state foundation aid revenues will be down about $90,000, based on state aid of $5,662 per student.
Earlier this year, Lonoke Superintendent Sharron Havens had told the board that the district could lose as much as $300,000 in state foundation aid this year if enrollment the first week was any indication, so that’s actually good news.
Lonoke also has 97 pre-K students.
TOP STORY >>New sheriff is elected
Ricky Shourd, a Searcy police officer, will be the new White County sheriff, but the area his deputies will have to patrol will be a little smaller than his predecessor’s since the Beebe annexation on the ballot that took in county land to more than double the size of the city won overwhelmingly.
Shourd, a Republican, won easily over Pat Garrett, the Democratic incumbent in the three-man race that also included independent candidate Edward Thornton. The unofficial results in that race were Shourd, 11,791; Garrett, 7,501, and Thornton, 1,590. Inside Beebe, the vote for annexation was 920 to 510. Outside the city, the vote was 38 to 143 for a total of 958 for annexation and 548 against.
The race for White County judge is not over. None of the three candidates took more than 50 percent of the votes, though Michael Lincoln, the Republican candidate and the only one who is new to politics came out ahead. He will face Independent candidate Dennis Gillam in the runoff election Nov. 28.
“I’m pleased I got the most votes in the general. That’s a good lead going into the runoff,” Lincoln said. The count in that race was Lincoln 7,723; Gillam, 6,676, and Waylon Heathscott, D., 6,509. Former Beebe Mayor Mike Robertson got his old job back, but he ran unopposed since Mayor Donald Ward decided to retire. Ward had defeated previously defeated Robertson, who later became an alderman.
In other Beebe election contests, Carol Crump-Westergren defeated Estela Gomez for clerk / treasurer, 866 to 531. Crump is a banker and a former member of the city council. Gomez is an assistant to the current clerk / treasurer. There will be a runoff for the Ward 3, Position 1 seat on the city council between John D. Johnson and Garland Kirkpatrick. In that three-way race, Johnson received the most votes, while Hermon Blackmon came in third. The vote in that race was Johnson 501; Kirkpatrick, 481, and Blackmon, 412.
The mayor of McRae gets to keep his job. Robert “Bob” Sullivan defeated David Newman, 175 to 43. Searcy Mayor Belinda LaForce’s future is not so secure. LaForce, the Democrat in the three-way race, received 42.38 percent of the votes, coming in second to Dale Brewer, who received 43.57 percent. The vote was LaForce, 2,494; Brewer, 2,564, and Philip R. Williams, 827.
Shourd, a Republican, won easily over Pat Garrett, the Democratic incumbent in the three-man race that also included independent candidate Edward Thornton. The unofficial results in that race were Shourd, 11,791; Garrett, 7,501, and Thornton, 1,590. Inside Beebe, the vote for annexation was 920 to 510. Outside the city, the vote was 38 to 143 for a total of 958 for annexation and 548 against.
The race for White County judge is not over. None of the three candidates took more than 50 percent of the votes, though Michael Lincoln, the Republican candidate and the only one who is new to politics came out ahead. He will face Independent candidate Dennis Gillam in the runoff election Nov. 28.
“I’m pleased I got the most votes in the general. That’s a good lead going into the runoff,” Lincoln said. The count in that race was Lincoln 7,723; Gillam, 6,676, and Waylon Heathscott, D., 6,509. Former Beebe Mayor Mike Robertson got his old job back, but he ran unopposed since Mayor Donald Ward decided to retire. Ward had defeated previously defeated Robertson, who later became an alderman.
In other Beebe election contests, Carol Crump-Westergren defeated Estela Gomez for clerk / treasurer, 866 to 531. Crump is a banker and a former member of the city council. Gomez is an assistant to the current clerk / treasurer. There will be a runoff for the Ward 3, Position 1 seat on the city council between John D. Johnson and Garland Kirkpatrick. In that three-way race, Johnson received the most votes, while Hermon Blackmon came in third. The vote in that race was Johnson 501; Kirkpatrick, 481, and Blackmon, 412.
The mayor of McRae gets to keep his job. Robert “Bob” Sullivan defeated David Newman, 175 to 43. Searcy Mayor Belinda LaForce’s future is not so secure. LaForce, the Democrat in the three-way race, received 42.38 percent of the votes, coming in second to Dale Brewer, who received 43.57 percent. The vote was LaForce, 2,494; Brewer, 2,564, and Philip R. Williams, 827.
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