By RAY BENTON
Leader sports editor
A disastrous first quarter never got any better for Lonoke, and Beebe was the benefactor as the Badgers hammered the Jackrabbits 32-7 Friday night at James B. Abraham Stadium in Lonoke.
The Jackrabbits fumbled the ball away on their first play of the game, but it was only the first of nine turnovers the team would commit.
Beebe coach John Shannon recognized that his team got the breaks, but was still pleased with the effort and improvement his team showed.
“We got lucky a few times when they dropped the ball,” Shannon said. “I was worried about their speed all week, but the defense did a great job for us. They flew to the football. They had that one big mistake when they scored, but overall I think the defense played outstanding.”
The first turnover came on the end of an 11-yard run by Brandon Smith when Smith fumbled and the Badgers covered at the 50-yard line.
Beebe lined up in the dead T and pushed the ball down the field, using nine plays to cover the distance and take a 6-0 lead. The first of five failed conversions followed, leaving the Badgers’ lead at six points.
Lonoke didn’t even get to snap the ball before committing its second turnover. This one came on a handoff attempt on the kickoff. It fell to the ground and Beebe’s Ethan Quick covered it at the Lonoke 20.
It only took Beebe fullback Sammy Williams two plays to pick up that distance, rumbling up the middle for the final seven yards for the score with 7:04 left in the first quarter. The two-point conversion was stuffed leaving it 12-0 Beebe.
Lonoke didn’t turn it over on its next possession. The Jackrabbits picked up four yards and punted on fourth and six, but the punt bounced off the up back and traveled backwards nine yards, where Beebe took over at the Lonoke 30.
The Badgers lost a yard on their next possession, but even when things went good for Lonoke, they went bad.
Beebe went for it on fourth and 11 from the 31. A deep pass was off the mark of its intended target and right to Rabbit defensive back Lance Jackson. Jackson picked off the pass and was tackled at the six, which turned out to be as good as a punt for the Badgers.
Lonoke gained just two yards and was forced to punt when disaster struck again. A high snap out of the back of the end zone went for a safety and gave Beebe a 14-0 lead with 2:18 left in the opening quarter.
Beebe took the ensuing kickoff all the way to the Lonoke 36, where it began its third scoring drive. The big play of the drive was a 24-yard option keeper by quarterback Charlie Spakes on fourth and nine. Beebe faced fourth down again on the next set of downs, but scored on fourth and four from the 5-yard line. Sammy Williams again punched it in and the extra point was no good, giving Beebe a 20-0 lead with 10:31 left in the half.
Lonoke went three and out again, and got a big 56-yard punt by Elam that pinned the Badgers on their own 1-yard line. They made it out to the 24 before a bad option pitch on third down lost 12 yards and left Beebe with fourth and 19.
Lonoke got a good run back and started on the Badger 34. Three plays left fourth and seven, and another high snap busted the fourth-down attempt, and Beebe took over on its own 30.
The Badgers again went three and out and punted back to Lonoke, who finally got something going offensively. After an 8-yard run by Clarence Harris on first down, Elam hooked up with wide receiver Michael Howard for 61 yards and a touchdown. The play worked to perfection, with Howard beating the Badger defensive backs deep, and Elams pass hitting him in stride for the easy score. The extra point was good and got Lonoke back into the game with 1:46 left in the half.
Beebe threatened the nullify the score and steal the momentum when a 40-yard reception by James Anderson gave Beebe first and goal at the 4-yard line with 16 seconds left. Spakes then fumbled when he was pressured out of the pocket. The Badgers covered the fumble, but had no timeouts left to stop the clock before time expired.
Somehow, things got worse for Lonoke in the second half. Until their final possession began with 2:23 left in the game, the Jackrabbits had almost as many turnovers in the second half as they had snaps. There five turnovers to six snaps to that point. There was also a mental lapse that was just as bad as a turnover when no one covered a short kickoff.
Beebe went three and out to start the half, but Lonoke mishandled the punt and Beebe covered at the Lonoke 3. Three plays later, Kyle Williams scored to give Beebe a 26-7 lead.
The Jackrabbits then watched as a high sideline kick landed amidst a slew of purple jerseys, and Beebe covered at the Lonoke 37.
It took the Badgers 12 plays to cover the short distance. Sammy Williams ended the drive with his third touchdown of the night to set the final margin.
Lonoke did not snap the ball in the second half until only 58 seconds remained in the third quarter. The first snap was an interception by Josh Turner. The fourth snap was an interception by Roger Glaude. The fifth snap was an interception by Brandon Purcell, and the sixth snap of the half was over Elam’s head and recovered by Beebe’s Dillon Jones.
The Badgers converted only one first down off all four turnovers, and fumbled it back to Lonoke twice.
Again, it took until the final drive of the half for Lonoke to see any positive yardage. Smith picked up 26 yards on two carries. Morgan Linton caught a pass for a 15-yard gain and Harris got 11 yards on one carry before time expired.
Beebe capitalized on the first two to set the final margin with 1:06 left in the third quarter.
Beebe totaled 281 yards while Lonoke gained 111.
Badger fullback Sammy Williams carried 29 times for 104 yards and three touchdowns. The two teams combined for 11 turnovers, with the Jackrabbits committing eight. Beebe ran 75 plays to just 31 for Lonoke. The Badgers held the ball for
The 2-0 Badgers will host Vilonia next week while Lonoke visits North Pulaski.
Monday, September 10, 2007
SPORTS >>Panthers escape from Bears
By JASON KING
Leader sportswriter
Cabot’s traditional creed of three yards and a cloud of dust was modified to six yards and a splatter of mud Friday night, as the Panthers rolled their way to a 23-8 win over the Sylvan Hills Bears at Bill Blackwood Field. The Bears had no answer for Cabot sophomore halfback Michael James. The stats on James list him as 5’11”, 185 lbs., but the youngster plowed his way through the SH defensive line like a 210-plus back in the first half.
James scored both of the touchdowns for Cabot in the first two quarters, along with a 28-yard field goal from senior kicker Steve Lamb for a 17-0 lead.
To the Bears’ credit, their second-half adjustments made it a game, as they rallied to score against the brutal Panthers’ defense for the first time all season. Sylvan Hills had three other trips to the red zone in the contest, but mistakes, combined with a steel beam of a defensive line for Cabot, held Bears senior quarterback Hunter Miller at bay whenever the dual-threat piloted the SH offense anywhere close to the Panthers end zone.
Panthers coach Mike Malham was pleased with the second strong game from his oversized defense, but was also complimentary of Miller and the Bears offense.
“The defense did good, but that Miller kid is tough,” Malham said. “He broke one a couple of times; he’s a threat. It makes you hold your breath every time he touches it. We gave up our first score of the year, but they have some talent over there too. Offensively, we did pretty good, we ate up a lot of time and controlled the ball in the first half. The second half, I don’t think we even had the ball that much. In the third quarter, we only had about three plays. They came back out and played tough in that second half.”
To be exact, it was 1:44 and four plays that the Panthers actually had possession in the third quarter, as Miller and company ate up almost seven minutes off the clock during the first possession of the second half.
It wasn’t a passing fan’s game for sure, but Miller did land a nice one during the opening second half drive on a play that nearly started out as a turnover. Another tricky snap had Miller juggling the ball with Cabot defenders closing in, but Miller somehow rifled it down the right side to wide receiver Deonte Davis for a 44-yard gain into Panther territory.
The Bears moved all the way down to the Cabot 8-yard line, but a 25-yard field goal attempt by Stephan Kettle was blocked by senior defensive tackle L.D. Tarrant and scooped up by Ethan Coffee. Coffee took off like a shot after picking up the free ball, scrambling all the way down to the Sylvan Hills 43-yard line.
The Bears stiffened up defensively to make their only stop on Cabot in the third quarter. Quarterback Seth Bloomberg handed off to Jordan Carlisle on fourth and two from the SH 36, but the Bears held him just short of the markers. The officials worked the yard markers hard, and when they signaled Bears football, a vocal number of the Cabot faithful cried foul.
The Bears never conceded defeat, and were even more determined to avoid being shut out. Sylvan Hills marched downfield on a seven play, 65-yard drive that resulted in the end of six quarters of scoreless football for the Cabot defense.
Miller started out the drive with a big run, going up the middle and cutting left as he crossed midfield. Cabot defender Joe Bryant finally dragged Miller down, but not after a 45-yard gain down to the Panthers 26-yard line.
Lawrence Hodges finally punched it in for Sylvan Hills on the second play of the fourth quarter for the score, and a faked extra-point attempt was converted into two points with a pass from SH backup quarterback and holder Casey Cerrato to Mark Turpin. That would make it a game at 17-8, but Chris Bayles’ second run of the second half on the ensuing Cabot possession would put it out of reach for good.
The Panthers were faced with fourth and one at the Sylvan Hills 33-yard line, but Bayles made moving the sticks unnecessary with a run down the right side all the way in for the score. Lamb’s extra-point attempt went wide right, keeping the score at 23-8.
Despite some difficulty in the second half, Malham was happy with the push up front offensively in the first half.
“Our offensive line has the potential to be one of the best around,” Malham said. “They’re all a bunch of young kids, most of them are juniors. The best thing about is that they’re all back (next year). They’re getting better, we have some more size, and that makes a huge difference. We’re just happy to get out of here with a win, it wasn’t an easy game.”
The momentum was much more cut and dry for the Panthers in the first half, as three possessions resulted in three scores for Cabot. The opening drive went 65 yards in 12 plays, highlighted with strong runs from Jordan Carlisle and James. The longest run of the drive would be a nine-yarder for James, and the shortest a three-yarder for Carlisle. James would punch it in from five yards out at the 7:22 mark, with the point-after from Lamb to make it 7-0.
The Panthers settled for three on their next possession, but James would strike again before the half. This time, it was a 19-yard run off tackle on the left side for the score with 2:49 left in the first half.
The drive was set up with a Sylvan Hills turnover when Miller, who struggled to bring down snaps in the second quarter, bobbled the first snap of the drive, and defensive end Callen Boris pounced on the ball for the Panthers at the SH 28-yard line.
James led the Panthers with 19 carries for 104 yards and two touchdowns. Carlisle carried 16 times for 58 yards, and Bayles had 15 rushes for 91 yards and a touchdown. Cabot finished with 279 yards of total offense, with six penalties for 45 yards.
For Sylvan Hills, Miller completed 7 of 12 passing attempts for 97 yards and two fumbles. He carried 14 times for 62 yards after no rushing yards in the first half. Hodges carried eight times for 32 yards and a touchdown, and Deonte Davis had three receptions for 67 yards. In total, the Bears had 202 yards of offense, and was penalized four times for 20 yards.
The grandedios non-conference schedule for the Bears continues next week with an away game at North Little Rock, while the Panthers will face Searcy, a 28-20 loser to Batesville on Friday, at home.
Leader sportswriter
Cabot’s traditional creed of three yards and a cloud of dust was modified to six yards and a splatter of mud Friday night, as the Panthers rolled their way to a 23-8 win over the Sylvan Hills Bears at Bill Blackwood Field. The Bears had no answer for Cabot sophomore halfback Michael James. The stats on James list him as 5’11”, 185 lbs., but the youngster plowed his way through the SH defensive line like a 210-plus back in the first half.
James scored both of the touchdowns for Cabot in the first two quarters, along with a 28-yard field goal from senior kicker Steve Lamb for a 17-0 lead.
To the Bears’ credit, their second-half adjustments made it a game, as they rallied to score against the brutal Panthers’ defense for the first time all season. Sylvan Hills had three other trips to the red zone in the contest, but mistakes, combined with a steel beam of a defensive line for Cabot, held Bears senior quarterback Hunter Miller at bay whenever the dual-threat piloted the SH offense anywhere close to the Panthers end zone.
Panthers coach Mike Malham was pleased with the second strong game from his oversized defense, but was also complimentary of Miller and the Bears offense.
“The defense did good, but that Miller kid is tough,” Malham said. “He broke one a couple of times; he’s a threat. It makes you hold your breath every time he touches it. We gave up our first score of the year, but they have some talent over there too. Offensively, we did pretty good, we ate up a lot of time and controlled the ball in the first half. The second half, I don’t think we even had the ball that much. In the third quarter, we only had about three plays. They came back out and played tough in that second half.”
To be exact, it was 1:44 and four plays that the Panthers actually had possession in the third quarter, as Miller and company ate up almost seven minutes off the clock during the first possession of the second half.
It wasn’t a passing fan’s game for sure, but Miller did land a nice one during the opening second half drive on a play that nearly started out as a turnover. Another tricky snap had Miller juggling the ball with Cabot defenders closing in, but Miller somehow rifled it down the right side to wide receiver Deonte Davis for a 44-yard gain into Panther territory.
The Bears moved all the way down to the Cabot 8-yard line, but a 25-yard field goal attempt by Stephan Kettle was blocked by senior defensive tackle L.D. Tarrant and scooped up by Ethan Coffee. Coffee took off like a shot after picking up the free ball, scrambling all the way down to the Sylvan Hills 43-yard line.
The Bears stiffened up defensively to make their only stop on Cabot in the third quarter. Quarterback Seth Bloomberg handed off to Jordan Carlisle on fourth and two from the SH 36, but the Bears held him just short of the markers. The officials worked the yard markers hard, and when they signaled Bears football, a vocal number of the Cabot faithful cried foul.
The Bears never conceded defeat, and were even more determined to avoid being shut out. Sylvan Hills marched downfield on a seven play, 65-yard drive that resulted in the end of six quarters of scoreless football for the Cabot defense.
Miller started out the drive with a big run, going up the middle and cutting left as he crossed midfield. Cabot defender Joe Bryant finally dragged Miller down, but not after a 45-yard gain down to the Panthers 26-yard line.
Lawrence Hodges finally punched it in for Sylvan Hills on the second play of the fourth quarter for the score, and a faked extra-point attempt was converted into two points with a pass from SH backup quarterback and holder Casey Cerrato to Mark Turpin. That would make it a game at 17-8, but Chris Bayles’ second run of the second half on the ensuing Cabot possession would put it out of reach for good.
The Panthers were faced with fourth and one at the Sylvan Hills 33-yard line, but Bayles made moving the sticks unnecessary with a run down the right side all the way in for the score. Lamb’s extra-point attempt went wide right, keeping the score at 23-8.
Despite some difficulty in the second half, Malham was happy with the push up front offensively in the first half.
“Our offensive line has the potential to be one of the best around,” Malham said. “They’re all a bunch of young kids, most of them are juniors. The best thing about is that they’re all back (next year). They’re getting better, we have some more size, and that makes a huge difference. We’re just happy to get out of here with a win, it wasn’t an easy game.”
The momentum was much more cut and dry for the Panthers in the first half, as three possessions resulted in three scores for Cabot. The opening drive went 65 yards in 12 plays, highlighted with strong runs from Jordan Carlisle and James. The longest run of the drive would be a nine-yarder for James, and the shortest a three-yarder for Carlisle. James would punch it in from five yards out at the 7:22 mark, with the point-after from Lamb to make it 7-0.
The Panthers settled for three on their next possession, but James would strike again before the half. This time, it was a 19-yard run off tackle on the left side for the score with 2:49 left in the first half.
The drive was set up with a Sylvan Hills turnover when Miller, who struggled to bring down snaps in the second quarter, bobbled the first snap of the drive, and defensive end Callen Boris pounced on the ball for the Panthers at the SH 28-yard line.
James led the Panthers with 19 carries for 104 yards and two touchdowns. Carlisle carried 16 times for 58 yards, and Bayles had 15 rushes for 91 yards and a touchdown. Cabot finished with 279 yards of total offense, with six penalties for 45 yards.
For Sylvan Hills, Miller completed 7 of 12 passing attempts for 97 yards and two fumbles. He carried 14 times for 62 yards after no rushing yards in the first half. Hodges carried eight times for 32 yards and a touchdown, and Deonte Davis had three receptions for 67 yards. In total, the Bears had 202 yards of offense, and was penalized four times for 20 yards.
The grandedios non-conference schedule for the Bears continues next week with an away game at North Little Rock, while the Panthers will face Searcy, a 28-20 loser to Batesville on Friday, at home.
EDITORIALS>>Hillary vs. Huckabee?
Fantasizing about a race for president against Sen. Hillary Clinton, Mike Huckabee said on ABC’s “This Week with George Stephanopoulos” that he would be the Republicans’ best candidate because his record contrasted the most sharply with hers.
Half of his equation could be right.
Our former governor might be the GOP’s best candidate against Sen. Clinton, at least among the present and forthcoming challengers, but his strength would be that he is closest to, not farthest from, Sen. Clinton on the issues and their records. Better than the others, he might carve into the middle ground of independent voters who would otherwise tilt toward the Democrat.
We noticed that he was not very specific on their contrasts. It was strange that he vaguely mentioned two comparisons: education and health care. It would be hard to separate the former Arkansas governor and the former Arkansas first lady on those issues, based on their Arkansas records. It was on education and health care that as Arkansas first lady she made a lasting imprint.
She was the author of the higher school standards that were approved in 1983 over her husband’s imprimatur, and she worked to expand children’s health-care initiatives, founding the Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families. Huckabee claims education and children’s health care as his best innovations.
So what is the contrast? You will remember that ArKids First, the great expansion of government-paid health insurance for children, was Arkansas Advocates’ suggestion to the newly sworn in Gov. Huckabee in 1996. He eagerly embraced it and calls it even today his proudest achievement. Sen. Clinton’s husband, as president, brought it about on the national level a few months afterward.
We presume that Huckabee, alone among the GOP presidential candidates, favors expanding the national children’s health initiative, which Sen. Clinton and all the Democratic members of the congressional delegation favor.
As governor, Huckabee sought and won a federal waiver for a plan to have the federal government — that’s you — subsidize health insurance for poor adult workers. Other Republicans, including President Bush, are opposing that remedy as creeping socialism.
Education affords the best comparison. Huckabee likes to lump the Clintons together as a unit, which is fair. So how do they stack up? Hillary’s tough school standards in 1983 forced some gradual school consolidation as school districts failed to measure up to the standards over five years.
Huckabee demanded wholesale and immediate school consolidation and abolished more than 50 of them in one swoop. He wanted more than 100 other school districts consolidated but the legislature balked. Does he dare boast about that?
Taxes? Huckabee raised them considerably more in 10 years than Clinton did in 12. Clinton vetoed a 4-cent-a-gallon gasoline tax, and it passed over his veto.
Huckabee fathered a 4-cent increase in gasoline and diesel taxes. He claims before conservative audiences that the voters, not he, approved those taxes, but that is not true. Debt? The Clinton regime produced a small increase in general state indebtedness, to fund water projects and college construction.
Huckabee accounted for bigger increase in general state debt — the kind that taxpayers are obliged to service — than all previous Arkansas governors combined. Sen. Clinton is nailing down union endorsements in the Democratic primary. Huckabee is the only Republican candidate to seek them.
One dramatic contrast occurs to us. Gov. Clinton — we don’t know how his wife felt about it — was wary of granting pardons and commutations to convicts after his return to office in 1983.
Huckabee was unusually liberal with them, helping the famous rapist Wayne Dumond gain his freedom. Huckabee will have to decide how much attention to call to that difference. In the unlikely scenario that Huckabee and Clinton do square off in the 2008 general election, their records will be compared minutely, but Huckabee will not get to characterize or mischaracterize them with impunity.
The records will be there for all to see and voters will want to see them. We think the governor’s moderate-to-liberal record would not hurt him, but he does not want Republican voters in Iowa, South Carolina and New Hampshire to get wind of it now.
Half of his equation could be right.
Our former governor might be the GOP’s best candidate against Sen. Clinton, at least among the present and forthcoming challengers, but his strength would be that he is closest to, not farthest from, Sen. Clinton on the issues and their records. Better than the others, he might carve into the middle ground of independent voters who would otherwise tilt toward the Democrat.
We noticed that he was not very specific on their contrasts. It was strange that he vaguely mentioned two comparisons: education and health care. It would be hard to separate the former Arkansas governor and the former Arkansas first lady on those issues, based on their Arkansas records. It was on education and health care that as Arkansas first lady she made a lasting imprint.
She was the author of the higher school standards that were approved in 1983 over her husband’s imprimatur, and she worked to expand children’s health-care initiatives, founding the Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families. Huckabee claims education and children’s health care as his best innovations.
So what is the contrast? You will remember that ArKids First, the great expansion of government-paid health insurance for children, was Arkansas Advocates’ suggestion to the newly sworn in Gov. Huckabee in 1996. He eagerly embraced it and calls it even today his proudest achievement. Sen. Clinton’s husband, as president, brought it about on the national level a few months afterward.
We presume that Huckabee, alone among the GOP presidential candidates, favors expanding the national children’s health initiative, which Sen. Clinton and all the Democratic members of the congressional delegation favor.
As governor, Huckabee sought and won a federal waiver for a plan to have the federal government — that’s you — subsidize health insurance for poor adult workers. Other Republicans, including President Bush, are opposing that remedy as creeping socialism.
Education affords the best comparison. Huckabee likes to lump the Clintons together as a unit, which is fair. So how do they stack up? Hillary’s tough school standards in 1983 forced some gradual school consolidation as school districts failed to measure up to the standards over five years.
Huckabee demanded wholesale and immediate school consolidation and abolished more than 50 of them in one swoop. He wanted more than 100 other school districts consolidated but the legislature balked. Does he dare boast about that?
Taxes? Huckabee raised them considerably more in 10 years than Clinton did in 12. Clinton vetoed a 4-cent-a-gallon gasoline tax, and it passed over his veto.
Huckabee fathered a 4-cent increase in gasoline and diesel taxes. He claims before conservative audiences that the voters, not he, approved those taxes, but that is not true. Debt? The Clinton regime produced a small increase in general state indebtedness, to fund water projects and college construction.
Huckabee accounted for bigger increase in general state debt — the kind that taxpayers are obliged to service — than all previous Arkansas governors combined. Sen. Clinton is nailing down union endorsements in the Democratic primary. Huckabee is the only Republican candidate to seek them.
One dramatic contrast occurs to us. Gov. Clinton — we don’t know how his wife felt about it — was wary of granting pardons and commutations to convicts after his return to office in 1983.
Huckabee was unusually liberal with them, helping the famous rapist Wayne Dumond gain his freedom. Huckabee will have to decide how much attention to call to that difference. In the unlikely scenario that Huckabee and Clinton do square off in the 2008 general election, their records will be compared minutely, but Huckabee will not get to characterize or mischaracterize them with impunity.
The records will be there for all to see and voters will want to see them. We think the governor’s moderate-to-liberal record would not hurt him, but he does not want Republican voters in Iowa, South Carolina and New Hampshire to get wind of it now.
OBITUARIES >> 09-08-07
John Delp
John Matthew Delp, 20, of Cabot passed away Sept. 1.
He was born May 15, 1987 in Little Rock.
He is survived by his mother, Terri Torres of North Little Rock; one sister, Shantell Elaine Buckner and husband Chad; two nephews, Christopher and Gavin and one niece, Katherine, all of Austin; grandparents, Max and Margaret Pruett of Cabot; great-grandmothers, Betty Pruett and Lorriett Mitchell; aunts, Kerri, Sherri, Eva, Judy, Pat, Wanda, Rhonda, Belinda; uncles, Michael, John, Butch, Mick, Jack, Charles, Herkey, Sonny, Skip; along with numerous cousins, loved ones and friends.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 8, at Victory Baptist Church in Cabot. Funeral arrangement will be by Thomas Funeral Service.
Brenda Uribe
Brenda Joyce Uribe, 62, of Beebe lost a long battle with cancer Sept. 5, and has gone to be with her Lord. She was born in Pangburn to Homer and Eva Williams on July 25, 1945.
She is survived by two sons, Tony Brandon and wife Kathy, Scott Brandon; four grandchildren, Heather, Justin, Chris and Dakota, all of Beebe; four sisters, Myrtle Casey, Louise Houston, Sarah Shaw and Nancy Bellinger and two brothers, Nathan and Reed Williams.
Family will receive friends from 2 to 4 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 8 at the home of Tony and Kathy Brandon, 121 Sandy Ford Road, Beebe. Cremation arrangements will be by Westbrook Funeral Home of Beebe.
Lillie Barrett
Lillie Frances Barrett, 88, of Cabot passed away Sept. 5.
She was a registered nurse in the Army during the Second World War and served in Italy and Africa. She retired from Ft.Roots Veterans Administration after 16 years of service.
She is survived by three sons, J. Philip Barrett of North Little Rock, Harry D. Barrett and wife B.J., of Cabot and Robert “Bob” L. Barrett of Maumelle; daughter, Linda Barrett Hrynyk of Cabot; six grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
She was recently preceded in death by her husband of 59 years, Jim Barrett.
Memorials may be made to Arkansas Hospice, 5600 W. 12th Street, Little Rock, AR, 72204 or St. Jude’s Catholic Church, 2403 McArthur Drive, Jacksonville, AR, 72076. Mass of Christian burial will be held at 10 a.m. Monday, Sept. 10 at St. Jude’s Catholic Church. Entombment will be in Calvary Cemetery Mausoleum.
The family will receive friends from 5 to 7 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 9 at St. Jude’s Catholic Church with the Rosary to follow at 7 p.m.
Funeral arrangements will be by North Little Rock Funeral Home.
George Binderim
George F. Binderim, 84, of Cabot lost his battle with cancer but won the war against Satan Sept. 6.
He was born Jan. 3, 1923 in Oklahoma City, Okla., to the late George and Miriam Matthews Binderim.
He was a member of Cabot Church of Christ. His passion was helping the needy. In 1989, his dream was realized when he established “Friends House” at his church where five days a week a hot meal is provided. He was awarded the 2004 Citizen of the Year by the Cabot Chamber of Commerce and on Jan. 30, 2005. The Mayor signed a proclamation making that day “Binderim Day.”
In June 2005, KARK awarded him a Community Service award and a year later, a Certificate of Recognition. In February 2007 he was recognized by Legislative Proclamation presented by Representative Susan Shulte and recognized for Random Acts of Kindness by Mayor Eddie Joe Williams. In April of this year he was given a certificate of appreciation for all his work by the Cabot Church of Christ.
He is survived by his wife Marian Binderim; three children, Yvonne Hill and husband James of Carlisle, Kay Jensen and husband Al of Jacksonville, and Karl Binderim of Jacksonville; five grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. Monday, Sept. 10 at the Cabot Funeral Home. Burial will follow at Arkansas State Veterans’ Cemetery in North Little Rock.
Visitation will be from 2 to 5 p.m., Sunday, Sept. 9 at the funeral home. Memorials may be made to Friends House at Cabot Church of Christ.
Herbert Colvert
Herbert Colvert, Jr., 70, of Jacksonville entered the gates of heaven Tuesday, Sept. 4.
He was born Nov. 18, 1936, in Kilgore, Texas to the late Herbert L. Colvert, Sr. and Theola Colvert.
He attended Jacksonville High School, was a member of First Baptist Church of Jacksonville and was a Mason with the Cabot Mason Lodge. He was in the Air Force in his younger years and was a switch operator for GTE until he retired.
After his military service, he played semi-pro football. He was an owner-trainer of thoroughbred race horses and was an avid sportsman and hunting enthusiast and he enjoyed working with the youth of Jacksonville.
He was preceded in death by a daughter Kay Ruelle of Ann Arbor, Michigan.
He is survived by his wife of 30 years, Patsy Mae Colvert; brother, Frankie Colvert and wife Veronica of Texas; brother, Larry Colvert and wife Sissy of Jacksonville; sons, Herbert Morgan Colvert and wife Kelley of Lonoke, John Daniel of Canada; daughters, Sarah Williams of Benton, Johnna Yates and husband Bill of Cabot, Sylvia Jones and husband Chris of Texas; 15 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
The Colvert family would like to thank the many blessed people at the Veterans Administration — Arkansas Hospice facility in North Little Rock.
A graveside service was held Sept. 7 at Chapel Hill Memorial Park in Jacksonville. Funeral arrangements were by Moore’s Jacksonville Funeral Home.
John Matthew Delp, 20, of Cabot passed away Sept. 1.
He was born May 15, 1987 in Little Rock.
He is survived by his mother, Terri Torres of North Little Rock; one sister, Shantell Elaine Buckner and husband Chad; two nephews, Christopher and Gavin and one niece, Katherine, all of Austin; grandparents, Max and Margaret Pruett of Cabot; great-grandmothers, Betty Pruett and Lorriett Mitchell; aunts, Kerri, Sherri, Eva, Judy, Pat, Wanda, Rhonda, Belinda; uncles, Michael, John, Butch, Mick, Jack, Charles, Herkey, Sonny, Skip; along with numerous cousins, loved ones and friends.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 8, at Victory Baptist Church in Cabot. Funeral arrangement will be by Thomas Funeral Service.
Brenda Uribe
Brenda Joyce Uribe, 62, of Beebe lost a long battle with cancer Sept. 5, and has gone to be with her Lord. She was born in Pangburn to Homer and Eva Williams on July 25, 1945.
She is survived by two sons, Tony Brandon and wife Kathy, Scott Brandon; four grandchildren, Heather, Justin, Chris and Dakota, all of Beebe; four sisters, Myrtle Casey, Louise Houston, Sarah Shaw and Nancy Bellinger and two brothers, Nathan and Reed Williams.
Family will receive friends from 2 to 4 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 8 at the home of Tony and Kathy Brandon, 121 Sandy Ford Road, Beebe. Cremation arrangements will be by Westbrook Funeral Home of Beebe.
Lillie Barrett
Lillie Frances Barrett, 88, of Cabot passed away Sept. 5.
She was a registered nurse in the Army during the Second World War and served in Italy and Africa. She retired from Ft.Roots Veterans Administration after 16 years of service.
She is survived by three sons, J. Philip Barrett of North Little Rock, Harry D. Barrett and wife B.J., of Cabot and Robert “Bob” L. Barrett of Maumelle; daughter, Linda Barrett Hrynyk of Cabot; six grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
She was recently preceded in death by her husband of 59 years, Jim Barrett.
Memorials may be made to Arkansas Hospice, 5600 W. 12th Street, Little Rock, AR, 72204 or St. Jude’s Catholic Church, 2403 McArthur Drive, Jacksonville, AR, 72076. Mass of Christian burial will be held at 10 a.m. Monday, Sept. 10 at St. Jude’s Catholic Church. Entombment will be in Calvary Cemetery Mausoleum.
The family will receive friends from 5 to 7 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 9 at St. Jude’s Catholic Church with the Rosary to follow at 7 p.m.
Funeral arrangements will be by North Little Rock Funeral Home.
George Binderim
George F. Binderim, 84, of Cabot lost his battle with cancer but won the war against Satan Sept. 6.
He was born Jan. 3, 1923 in Oklahoma City, Okla., to the late George and Miriam Matthews Binderim.
He was a member of Cabot Church of Christ. His passion was helping the needy. In 1989, his dream was realized when he established “Friends House” at his church where five days a week a hot meal is provided. He was awarded the 2004 Citizen of the Year by the Cabot Chamber of Commerce and on Jan. 30, 2005. The Mayor signed a proclamation making that day “Binderim Day.”
In June 2005, KARK awarded him a Community Service award and a year later, a Certificate of Recognition. In February 2007 he was recognized by Legislative Proclamation presented by Representative Susan Shulte and recognized for Random Acts of Kindness by Mayor Eddie Joe Williams. In April of this year he was given a certificate of appreciation for all his work by the Cabot Church of Christ.
He is survived by his wife Marian Binderim; three children, Yvonne Hill and husband James of Carlisle, Kay Jensen and husband Al of Jacksonville, and Karl Binderim of Jacksonville; five grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. Monday, Sept. 10 at the Cabot Funeral Home. Burial will follow at Arkansas State Veterans’ Cemetery in North Little Rock.
Visitation will be from 2 to 5 p.m., Sunday, Sept. 9 at the funeral home. Memorials may be made to Friends House at Cabot Church of Christ.
Herbert Colvert
Herbert Colvert, Jr., 70, of Jacksonville entered the gates of heaven Tuesday, Sept. 4.
He was born Nov. 18, 1936, in Kilgore, Texas to the late Herbert L. Colvert, Sr. and Theola Colvert.
He attended Jacksonville High School, was a member of First Baptist Church of Jacksonville and was a Mason with the Cabot Mason Lodge. He was in the Air Force in his younger years and was a switch operator for GTE until he retired.
After his military service, he played semi-pro football. He was an owner-trainer of thoroughbred race horses and was an avid sportsman and hunting enthusiast and he enjoyed working with the youth of Jacksonville.
He was preceded in death by a daughter Kay Ruelle of Ann Arbor, Michigan.
He is survived by his wife of 30 years, Patsy Mae Colvert; brother, Frankie Colvert and wife Veronica of Texas; brother, Larry Colvert and wife Sissy of Jacksonville; sons, Herbert Morgan Colvert and wife Kelley of Lonoke, John Daniel of Canada; daughters, Sarah Williams of Benton, Johnna Yates and husband Bill of Cabot, Sylvia Jones and husband Chris of Texas; 15 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
The Colvert family would like to thank the many blessed people at the Veterans Administration — Arkansas Hospice facility in North Little Rock.
A graveside service was held Sept. 7 at Chapel Hill Memorial Park in Jacksonville. Funeral arrangements were by Moore’s Jacksonville Funeral Home.
TOP STORY >>Cabot roads will be repaired with $1.5M bond
By JOAN MCCOY
Leader staff writer
Jerrel Maxwell, Cabot’s director or public works, told city residents Thursday night that he would take the $1.5 million left from a $2 million bond issue and make it go as far as possible toward improving city streets.
Top of the list, but not yet in any particular order, are widening Highway 89 West and Locust Street, extending Elm Street, repairing Greystone Boulevard and repairing Dietrich Lane.
But he also said his street department workers would repair Cleveland Street, where residents from apartments run by the Lonoke County Housing Authority said water stands all but about three months of the year.
One elderly resident from the Cleveland Street area who attended the meeting called to get input from residents, told Maxwell that the water stands for so long that tadpoles grow into frogs there. And even letters to city officials inviting them to go frog gigging have not led to any improvements.
“I was pleased with the comments we got,” Maxwell said after the meeting.
Voters passed a one-cent tax in September 2005 which supports the $2 million in bonds for street improvement. City Attorney Jim Taylor confirmed Thursday night during the meeting that all the money must be spent by September 2008, or by law, it will have to be returned.
Alderman Ken Williams, who attended the meeting, pointed out that since the special census in 2006, the city is now collecting about $30,000 more in state turnback than previously, and all that money must be used for streets.
“That’s not chicken feed. It’s a lot of money and a heck of a lot more than we had before,” Williams said, adding that the city should do as much as possible with the $1.5 million in bond money then develop a plan for upgrading streets with the $30,000 a month that is going to the street fund now.
Lonoke County Judge Charlie Troutman, who also attended the meeting, said in response to questions from Maxwell that it costs about $70,000 to pave a mile of road.
“A million and a half won’t go far,” Troutman said.
From the $2 million, the city has already paid $175,000 for the right-of-way to extend Elm Street and $250,000 to complete S. Rockwood, which connects Highway 5 to Wal-Mart.
Maxwell said after the meeting that Bond Engineering is already working on plans to widen Highway 89 West from Wal-Mart to Arena Road, about a half mile. Troutman, who has provided labor and equipment for other city street projects this year, has not yet said yes to helping with Highway 89, Maxwell said.
But Troutman has said that what is good for Cabot is good for Lonoke County.
Alderman Eddie Cook said widening Locust Street is essential because it will be the route many will take to get to the freeway after the new overpass is completed in about 18 months.
Alderman Becky Lemaster pointed out that acquiring right-of-way to widen that street will be problematic because of the many houses in the area. Cook told Maxwell during the council committee meeting that followed the public meeting to prepare a prioritized list for the committee to consider next month when it meets.
Leader staff writer
Jerrel Maxwell, Cabot’s director or public works, told city residents Thursday night that he would take the $1.5 million left from a $2 million bond issue and make it go as far as possible toward improving city streets.
Top of the list, but not yet in any particular order, are widening Highway 89 West and Locust Street, extending Elm Street, repairing Greystone Boulevard and repairing Dietrich Lane.
But he also said his street department workers would repair Cleveland Street, where residents from apartments run by the Lonoke County Housing Authority said water stands all but about three months of the year.
One elderly resident from the Cleveland Street area who attended the meeting called to get input from residents, told Maxwell that the water stands for so long that tadpoles grow into frogs there. And even letters to city officials inviting them to go frog gigging have not led to any improvements.
“I was pleased with the comments we got,” Maxwell said after the meeting.
Voters passed a one-cent tax in September 2005 which supports the $2 million in bonds for street improvement. City Attorney Jim Taylor confirmed Thursday night during the meeting that all the money must be spent by September 2008, or by law, it will have to be returned.
Alderman Ken Williams, who attended the meeting, pointed out that since the special census in 2006, the city is now collecting about $30,000 more in state turnback than previously, and all that money must be used for streets.
“That’s not chicken feed. It’s a lot of money and a heck of a lot more than we had before,” Williams said, adding that the city should do as much as possible with the $1.5 million in bond money then develop a plan for upgrading streets with the $30,000 a month that is going to the street fund now.
Lonoke County Judge Charlie Troutman, who also attended the meeting, said in response to questions from Maxwell that it costs about $70,000 to pave a mile of road.
“A million and a half won’t go far,” Troutman said.
From the $2 million, the city has already paid $175,000 for the right-of-way to extend Elm Street and $250,000 to complete S. Rockwood, which connects Highway 5 to Wal-Mart.
Maxwell said after the meeting that Bond Engineering is already working on plans to widen Highway 89 West from Wal-Mart to Arena Road, about a half mile. Troutman, who has provided labor and equipment for other city street projects this year, has not yet said yes to helping with Highway 89, Maxwell said.
But Troutman has said that what is good for Cabot is good for Lonoke County.
Alderman Eddie Cook said widening Locust Street is essential because it will be the route many will take to get to the freeway after the new overpass is completed in about 18 months.
Alderman Becky Lemaster pointed out that acquiring right-of-way to widen that street will be problematic because of the many houses in the area. Cook told Maxwell during the council committee meeting that followed the public meeting to prepare a prioritized list for the committee to consider next month when it meets.
TOP STORY >>State sends $205,000 back to Jacksonville
By RICK KRON
Leader staff writer
Jacksonville has received a $205,000 check from the state and may use it to develop a farmers market.
The money is a return of part of the state’s $800 million surplus from last year. The state legislature opted to give some of the extra funds back to cities—about $6.75 per person—to use as needed.
“This is one-time money,” Mayor Tommy Swaim told the city council Thursday night, “and cannot be spent on reoccurring expenses.”
Swaim told the council that some possibilities that have been suggested include developing a farmer’s market, expanding the parking lot for the municipal court, improving park landscaping, building a bridge in Dupree Park or an extra fire siren for the fire department.
The idea of the farmer’s market received the most enthusiasm from the council, although no action was taken.
The mayor said the bridge would cost too much, and the fire department said the siren would be good to have, but that the city is currently covered. The council will continue to discuss its options at its next meeting. Sherwood, which is receiving about $145,000, is looking at using the money to replace and update its storm sirens.
In other council business:
Aldermen agreed to waive competitive bidding for the installation of an electric ventilation system at the Jacksonville Community Center. The city wants to hire Howell Utilities of Little Rock because the firm has worked on the building before.
The council voted to spend $51,000 to purchase a diesel tractor with a boom loader.
Aldermen passed a resolution “expressing a willingness of the city to utilize federal aid monies” in the construction of a Stonewall Park walking and jogging trail.
The resolution was necessary for the city to obtain a federal grant for the project. The grant requires the city to cover 20 percent of the cost. The total cost of the project was not listed in the resolution.
The council passed a resolution that gives a tax break to the AGL Corp., 2202 Redmond Road.
The resolution endorses the company’s participation in the tax-back program in exchange for expanding its local operations.
In his monthly report to the council, Fire Chief John Vanderhoof said his department responded to 95 rescue calls, 36 still alarms, 24 general alarms and had 191 am-bulance runs during July.
He said estimated fire loss for the month was $13,000, while fire savings was placed at $217,000.
In its monthly report, the engineering department said it issued 29 building permits and 10 business licenses during August. The department also performed more than 300 inspections and sent out nearly 500 letters to residents and businesses for trashy or unkempt yards.
Leader staff writer
Jacksonville has received a $205,000 check from the state and may use it to develop a farmers market.
The money is a return of part of the state’s $800 million surplus from last year. The state legislature opted to give some of the extra funds back to cities—about $6.75 per person—to use as needed.
“This is one-time money,” Mayor Tommy Swaim told the city council Thursday night, “and cannot be spent on reoccurring expenses.”
Swaim told the council that some possibilities that have been suggested include developing a farmer’s market, expanding the parking lot for the municipal court, improving park landscaping, building a bridge in Dupree Park or an extra fire siren for the fire department.
The idea of the farmer’s market received the most enthusiasm from the council, although no action was taken.
The mayor said the bridge would cost too much, and the fire department said the siren would be good to have, but that the city is currently covered. The council will continue to discuss its options at its next meeting. Sherwood, which is receiving about $145,000, is looking at using the money to replace and update its storm sirens.
In other council business:
Aldermen agreed to waive competitive bidding for the installation of an electric ventilation system at the Jacksonville Community Center. The city wants to hire Howell Utilities of Little Rock because the firm has worked on the building before.
The council voted to spend $51,000 to purchase a diesel tractor with a boom loader.
Aldermen passed a resolution “expressing a willingness of the city to utilize federal aid monies” in the construction of a Stonewall Park walking and jogging trail.
The resolution was necessary for the city to obtain a federal grant for the project. The grant requires the city to cover 20 percent of the cost. The total cost of the project was not listed in the resolution.
The council passed a resolution that gives a tax break to the AGL Corp., 2202 Redmond Road.
The resolution endorses the company’s participation in the tax-back program in exchange for expanding its local operations.
In his monthly report to the council, Fire Chief John Vanderhoof said his department responded to 95 rescue calls, 36 still alarms, 24 general alarms and had 191 am-bulance runs during July.
He said estimated fire loss for the month was $13,000, while fire savings was placed at $217,000.
In its monthly report, the engineering department said it issued 29 building permits and 10 business licenses during August. The department also performed more than 300 inspections and sent out nearly 500 letters to residents and businesses for trashy or unkempt yards.
TOP STORY >>Migrant children receive benefits
By HEATHER HARTSELL
Leader staff writer
During harvest season, many children in migrant families move from school to school while their parents search for work. Some may not know it, but that makes them eligible for educational, health and family services provided through Arkansas Migrant Education cooperatives across the state.
Because these services are offered only to families that move seeking agricultural, fishing-related and some forestry jobs,
not a large number
of students in area schools use the program, Beth McCarty, director of the Northeast Arkansas Migrant Education Cooperative, said.
Cabot schools have four migrant students this year. Beebe had about 20 last year and Lonoke had four.
Not many Pulaski County Special School District students use the services because, according to McCarty, the parents are in construction, yard maintenance or restaurant work and those types of jobs do not qualify.
Sue Spainhouer, director of the Southeast Migrant Cooperative, which covers the Lonoke area, said Wednesday the cooperative is trying to find out how many migrant students are in Lonoke.
All Arkansas students, age 3-22, who have moved with their families across school-district lines in the last three years to obtain temporary or seasonal employment in agricultural or fishing work are eligible for migrant-education program services.
The number of students using the services varies, because unless they move again, a student is eligible only for three years, McCarty said.
Once identified as migrant students, they are eligible for free school meals, limited medical and vision services and extended learning opportunities, among others.
Health services include vision/hearing screenings, wellness checkups, blood pressure, dental ($100 limit), eyeglasses ($144 limit), doctor’s visits ($60 limit) and prescriptions ($40 limit).
“A lot of times students who come across the border have never seen a doctor,” Spainhouer said. “They may have broken their arm years ago and it never got set. It (medical services) is a need we see with a lot of our students,” she said.
Extended learning opportunities include a PASS course, free independent study courses designed specifically for mobile migrant students in grades 9-12 to allow the student to stay on track for graduation, and Moving Up Arkansas, a three-week residential school at the Lyon College campus that allows qualified high school migrant students the opportunity to work on credit accrual, leading toward graduation.
There is also a college-assistance migrant program (CAMP) that provides grant money for first-year college expenses, along with an academic-tutoring program.
“Kids in every area of the state are helped with the secondary programs,” McCarty said.
Leader staff writer
During harvest season, many children in migrant families move from school to school while their parents search for work. Some may not know it, but that makes them eligible for educational, health and family services provided through Arkansas Migrant Education cooperatives across the state.
Because these services are offered only to families that move seeking agricultural, fishing-related and some forestry jobs,
not a large number
of students in area schools use the program, Beth McCarty, director of the Northeast Arkansas Migrant Education Cooperative, said.
Cabot schools have four migrant students this year. Beebe had about 20 last year and Lonoke had four.
Not many Pulaski County Special School District students use the services because, according to McCarty, the parents are in construction, yard maintenance or restaurant work and those types of jobs do not qualify.
Sue Spainhouer, director of the Southeast Migrant Cooperative, which covers the Lonoke area, said Wednesday the cooperative is trying to find out how many migrant students are in Lonoke.
All Arkansas students, age 3-22, who have moved with their families across school-district lines in the last three years to obtain temporary or seasonal employment in agricultural or fishing work are eligible for migrant-education program services.
The number of students using the services varies, because unless they move again, a student is eligible only for three years, McCarty said.
Once identified as migrant students, they are eligible for free school meals, limited medical and vision services and extended learning opportunities, among others.
Health services include vision/hearing screenings, wellness checkups, blood pressure, dental ($100 limit), eyeglasses ($144 limit), doctor’s visits ($60 limit) and prescriptions ($40 limit).
“A lot of times students who come across the border have never seen a doctor,” Spainhouer said. “They may have broken their arm years ago and it never got set. It (medical services) is a need we see with a lot of our students,” she said.
Extended learning opportunities include a PASS course, free independent study courses designed specifically for mobile migrant students in grades 9-12 to allow the student to stay on track for graduation, and Moving Up Arkansas, a three-week residential school at the Lyon College campus that allows qualified high school migrant students the opportunity to work on credit accrual, leading toward graduation.
There is also a college-assistance migrant program (CAMP) that provides grant money for first-year college expenses, along with an academic-tutoring program.
“Kids in every area of the state are helped with the secondary programs,” McCarty said.
TOP STORY >>No child is left behind when it comes to food
By HEATHER HARTSELL
Leader staff writer
No child will be left behind when it comes to eating at school, at least that’s what area school districts say.
Although every district faces the challenges of students not having their lunch money and the difficulty of collecting owed money, students in Pulaski County Special, Cabot, Lonoke and Beebe schools won’t be missing lunch anytime soon because of it.
“I don’t know of any time we have turned a student away from their meal because they couldn’t pay and I’ve been doing this for almost 29 years,” Michael Harvey, director of PCSSD’s student nutrition division, said. “We don’t deny students a meal. If they don’t qualify for free lunch and don’t have the money for a reduced or regular priced meal, it is recorded as a charge and we notify the parents to pay,” he said.
Students also do not get alternative meals like sandwiches or cheese and crackers. “Students get the same meal as everyone else,” Harvey said, adding, “I get very upset when I hear other districts take food away and give an alternative meal – those babies can’t help it.”
He said the toughest issue is collecting the money owed from the parents, but he’ll work out payment plans with them if needed.
“I’ll bend over backwards to work out what they owe us. There’s no way in the world I would ever want to embarrass or hurt the kids in our schools (because they can’t pay),” Harvey said. “We’re going to feed them, and if money is owed, we’ll visit with the parents and get it collected.”
At the middle and high school level, students are allowed up to three charges and after that, they must see the cafeteria manager.
Harvey said the students have to sign a sheet saying they had to charge lunch, which then puts some of the responsibility of paying the owed money on the student, because at that grade, the students are supposed to be old enough to accept some of the responsibility.
“It’s harder to get money from secondary students than elementary parents,” Harvey added.
The Arkansas Department of Education’s Child Nutrition Guidelines require schools be reimbursed for every meal served; if a student can’t pay, the money comes from the district’s operating fund, which officials hope will be paid back by the parents.
Lonoke secondary students can charge as often as three times before parents are called about money owed, but those students won’t go hungry even if it means eating a subsidized meal.
“We’ll usually just give them the same meal as the other students and then try to get money from parents,” Sue Roedel, food service director of Lonoke schools, said.
Lonoke primary and elementary students will always be allowed to eat, regardless of ability to pay.
“We would never deny them a meal and would never separate them out,” Roedel said, adding, “They are so young, it might scar them for life.”
She said she is most concerned about those students who fall through the cracks, the ones who don’t qualify for the free or reduced meals but still face a financial hardship.
“I wish Congress would do something to provide free meals across the board. It would be better for the education systems, and I think if would make all the difference,” Roedel said.
In Lonoke, some owed accounts are carried over yearly. Roedel said it might be the student’s senior year before the district gets the money back.
“For the most part, the accounts are paid off at the end of the year, even if we have to use the district’s operational fund to balance out at the end of the year, but the money is still owed by the parent and when we get it in, it goes back into the operational fund,” she said.
And just like any bill, if it comes down to it, Roedel said the district will turn the matter over to the prosecuting attorney’s office and collect the owed money that way.
“We had some accounts last year that owed over $100. We told the parents they had three days to make arrangements with us to either pay in full or in installments, but after the three days we had no choice but to turn it over to the prosecuting attorney,” she said.
In Cabot, kindergarten through sixth-grade students are allowed to charge up to $17.50, but no charging is allowed for seventh- through 12th-graders.
“When their account reaches $17.50, the principal is notified and they contact the parent,” Erin Hartz, Cabot’s director of food services, said. “The parent is asked to either pay on the account or to pack their child’s lunch until the account is paid.
“However, the student is still allowed to eat if the account is not paid or the child doesn’t bring lunch,” Hartz said.
Once students reach the junior high and high school level, if they don’t have money to eat, they must seek approval from personnel on duty in the cafeteria.
The Cabot district has approximately $5,000 in owed lunches that has not been collected from last school year, Hartz said.
“However, payment arrangements have been made with all of these families to eliminate their charges,” she said.
Lists of unpaid charges are sent to school principals, who then make contact with the parents.
“Parents are encouraged to submit an application for free and reduced meals if they are having financial difficulties,” Hartz said. “We want to make sure that we are supportive of our parents and students.”
In White County, Beebe students eat the same lunch regardless of their money situation and grade level.
Jackie Rowe, director of child nutrition, said for pre-kindergarten through fourth-grade students, there is no limit on the number of times the child is allowed to charge; the official policy for fifth- through eight-graders, per the district’s handbook, is only three charges, and ninth- through 12th-graders are not allowed to charge at all.
Even though the policy states only three charges, that’s usually not the case.
“Fifth- and sixth-graders are allowed to keep charging and we let the parent know they are above the charge limit,” Rowe said. “For seventh- and eighth-graders, after three charges they have to go talk with the principal, who then sends them back to the cafeteria to eat lunch.”
At the high school level (ninth- through 12th-grade), Rowe said if students do not have money to eat, they must see the cafeteria manager.
“The cafeteria manager keeps a student-loan fund, which we (cafeteria employees) add to regularly, and the student is allowed to borrow from that account. The students sign a log acknowledging they borrowed money from the fund, and most of the time they pay us back,” Rowe said.
Once charges reach a set limit, charge slips are sent home weekly with the students notifying parents of the amount their child owes. Each school building also sends letters, and the principals get in touch with parents in an effort to collect the money.
If the money has not been collected by the end of the year, Rowe said calls continue to be made to parents during the summer.
“We don’t collect all the (owed) money by far,” she said, and because the accounts must still be paid, each building has to use their activity funds to get the accounts out of the red for the end of the year.
“Some buildings have to use $1,300 to $1,400 from their activity funds,” Rowe said. “The principals continue to call parents so their funds are reimbursed, but for the most part, it’s not collected.”
Leader staff writer
No child will be left behind when it comes to eating at school, at least that’s what area school districts say.
Although every district faces the challenges of students not having their lunch money and the difficulty of collecting owed money, students in Pulaski County Special, Cabot, Lonoke and Beebe schools won’t be missing lunch anytime soon because of it.
“I don’t know of any time we have turned a student away from their meal because they couldn’t pay and I’ve been doing this for almost 29 years,” Michael Harvey, director of PCSSD’s student nutrition division, said. “We don’t deny students a meal. If they don’t qualify for free lunch and don’t have the money for a reduced or regular priced meal, it is recorded as a charge and we notify the parents to pay,” he said.
Students also do not get alternative meals like sandwiches or cheese and crackers. “Students get the same meal as everyone else,” Harvey said, adding, “I get very upset when I hear other districts take food away and give an alternative meal – those babies can’t help it.”
He said the toughest issue is collecting the money owed from the parents, but he’ll work out payment plans with them if needed.
“I’ll bend over backwards to work out what they owe us. There’s no way in the world I would ever want to embarrass or hurt the kids in our schools (because they can’t pay),” Harvey said. “We’re going to feed them, and if money is owed, we’ll visit with the parents and get it collected.”
At the middle and high school level, students are allowed up to three charges and after that, they must see the cafeteria manager.
Harvey said the students have to sign a sheet saying they had to charge lunch, which then puts some of the responsibility of paying the owed money on the student, because at that grade, the students are supposed to be old enough to accept some of the responsibility.
“It’s harder to get money from secondary students than elementary parents,” Harvey added.
The Arkansas Department of Education’s Child Nutrition Guidelines require schools be reimbursed for every meal served; if a student can’t pay, the money comes from the district’s operating fund, which officials hope will be paid back by the parents.
Lonoke secondary students can charge as often as three times before parents are called about money owed, but those students won’t go hungry even if it means eating a subsidized meal.
“We’ll usually just give them the same meal as the other students and then try to get money from parents,” Sue Roedel, food service director of Lonoke schools, said.
Lonoke primary and elementary students will always be allowed to eat, regardless of ability to pay.
“We would never deny them a meal and would never separate them out,” Roedel said, adding, “They are so young, it might scar them for life.”
She said she is most concerned about those students who fall through the cracks, the ones who don’t qualify for the free or reduced meals but still face a financial hardship.
“I wish Congress would do something to provide free meals across the board. It would be better for the education systems, and I think if would make all the difference,” Roedel said.
In Lonoke, some owed accounts are carried over yearly. Roedel said it might be the student’s senior year before the district gets the money back.
“For the most part, the accounts are paid off at the end of the year, even if we have to use the district’s operational fund to balance out at the end of the year, but the money is still owed by the parent and when we get it in, it goes back into the operational fund,” she said.
And just like any bill, if it comes down to it, Roedel said the district will turn the matter over to the prosecuting attorney’s office and collect the owed money that way.
“We had some accounts last year that owed over $100. We told the parents they had three days to make arrangements with us to either pay in full or in installments, but after the three days we had no choice but to turn it over to the prosecuting attorney,” she said.
In Cabot, kindergarten through sixth-grade students are allowed to charge up to $17.50, but no charging is allowed for seventh- through 12th-graders.
“When their account reaches $17.50, the principal is notified and they contact the parent,” Erin Hartz, Cabot’s director of food services, said. “The parent is asked to either pay on the account or to pack their child’s lunch until the account is paid.
“However, the student is still allowed to eat if the account is not paid or the child doesn’t bring lunch,” Hartz said.
Once students reach the junior high and high school level, if they don’t have money to eat, they must seek approval from personnel on duty in the cafeteria.
The Cabot district has approximately $5,000 in owed lunches that has not been collected from last school year, Hartz said.
“However, payment arrangements have been made with all of these families to eliminate their charges,” she said.
Lists of unpaid charges are sent to school principals, who then make contact with the parents.
“Parents are encouraged to submit an application for free and reduced meals if they are having financial difficulties,” Hartz said. “We want to make sure that we are supportive of our parents and students.”
In White County, Beebe students eat the same lunch regardless of their money situation and grade level.
Jackie Rowe, director of child nutrition, said for pre-kindergarten through fourth-grade students, there is no limit on the number of times the child is allowed to charge; the official policy for fifth- through eight-graders, per the district’s handbook, is only three charges, and ninth- through 12th-graders are not allowed to charge at all.
Even though the policy states only three charges, that’s usually not the case.
“Fifth- and sixth-graders are allowed to keep charging and we let the parent know they are above the charge limit,” Rowe said. “For seventh- and eighth-graders, after three charges they have to go talk with the principal, who then sends them back to the cafeteria to eat lunch.”
At the high school level (ninth- through 12th-grade), Rowe said if students do not have money to eat, they must see the cafeteria manager.
“The cafeteria manager keeps a student-loan fund, which we (cafeteria employees) add to regularly, and the student is allowed to borrow from that account. The students sign a log acknowledging they borrowed money from the fund, and most of the time they pay us back,” Rowe said.
Once charges reach a set limit, charge slips are sent home weekly with the students notifying parents of the amount their child owes. Each school building also sends letters, and the principals get in touch with parents in an effort to collect the money.
If the money has not been collected by the end of the year, Rowe said calls continue to be made to parents during the summer.
“We don’t collect all the (owed) money by far,” she said, and because the accounts must still be paid, each building has to use their activity funds to get the accounts out of the red for the end of the year.
“Some buildings have to use $1,300 to $1,400 from their activity funds,” Rowe said. “The principals continue to call parents so their funds are reimbursed, but for the most part, it’s not collected.”
TOP STORY >>Flightline funds are approved for LRAFB
By HEATHER HARTSELL
Leader staff writer
Little Rock Air Force Base has secured $9.8 million to upgrade its 50-year-old flightline, but money for the joint education center at the base is still questionable.
The base will also get $2.8 million to modernize its aerospace ground equipment and engine facility.
Senators Mark Pryor and Blanche Lincoln announced Thursday that the Senate had approved nearly $80 million for construction projects at LRAFB, Camp Robinson, Fort Chaffee and Arkadelphia through the $109.2 billion fiscal year 2008 military construction and veterans affairs appropriations bill devoted to military construction, military family housing and veterans affairs programs.
“We appreciate the strong support the Arkansas congressional delegation continues to provide Little Rock Air Force Base. This money will ensure that Little Rock is fully able to support the combat airlift mission around the world well into the future,” Col. Mark Vlahos, 314th Airlift Wing vice commander, said Friday.
“The 314th Airlift Wing’s C-130 training mission and the 463rd Airlift Group’s combat mission here directly correlates to taking convoys off the roads in Afghanistan and Iraq,” Vlahos said. “Ensuring we have a fully functional runway here means saving lives in our global war on terrorism.”
Pryor and Lincoln said they were pleased to secure funding for the runway to ensure the 314th Airlift Wing has a fully functional airfield to support mission-essential flying training.
“Little Rock Air Force Base has proven itself over and over again to be one of the nation’s top-notch training facilities,” Pryor said. “I’m determined to keep it that way. These airfield upgrades are expensive but necessary to our missions around the globe.”
The base needs the money to replace runways worn by the relentless take-offs and landings at the nation’s premiere C-130 center.
The airfield was built in 1955 and is in a state of deterioration, which could hinder combat readiness and may endanger the lives of aircrews and their aircraft.
The funding allows the base to repair the deteriorated runway and shoulder pavements, remove or eliminate airfield obstructions, replace runway lighting, and reorganize instrument guidance and navigation systems.
Lincoln believes investing in the nation’s military installments and strategic operations is essential for the “safety and security of our citizens and our homeland.”
She praised service members for carrying on the state’s long military tradition.
Education center
Senate and House conferees will negotiate the differences between the two versions of the joint education center bill, which was approved in the House but not in the Senate.
Pryor and Lincoln said they are committed to working with Cong. Vic Snyder, D-Little Rock, to include an additional $9.8 million for the base’s education facility.
The Senate Armed Services subcommittee had stripped money for the center from the bill. Snyder said the Arkansas congressional delegation has “strong support for the center, but it is an expensive project.”
The Jacksonville-LRAFB education center, a first-of-its-kind collaboration between a community and a base, is expected to cost about $15 million.
Jacksonville residents in 2003 passed a two-year penny sales tax and already have their share, $5 million, in the bank.
Snyder and the delegation hope to restore the Air Force’s share of the project either on the Senate floor or in the joint conference committee.
The joint education center, to be constructed on the civilian side of the base perimeter – outside the fence, but on the base – is authorized as a multi-purpose educational facility that meets Air Force standards for distance learning, video teleconferencing and seminar needs.
Currently, the education center is housed in two inadequate converted dormitories that provide a limited scope of academic offerings due to space constraints and distance from the base library, according to Nancy Shefflette, director of the ASU-Beebe LRAFB Degree Center and former colonel at LRAFB.
The idea for the joint education center, which will be 50,000 square-feet, grew out of the 9/11 terrorist attacks and the problem of making the classes more assessable to civilians at times of high alert, Shefflette said.
Other construction
Camp Robinson will receive $5.5 million to improve its ammunition supply point, providing specially designed anti-terrorism force protection upgrades, improvements to parking, fencing, outside lighting, access road improvements, perimeter fence installation and key card control access.
Camp Robinson’s Professional Education Center (PEC) will receive $18.4 million to build a new complex for the GED Plus program.
The facility, housed on 4.5 acres, will include barracks, classrooms, a dining area and administrative offices.
The PEC is the national training center for the Army National Guard and hosts more than 20,000 conferees annually from the National Guard, Army Reserve, active Army, Department of Defense, state and federal agencies.
As a result of the 2005 Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) process, Arkansas is also slated to receive $31.3 million to build a joint force vehicle maintenance facility at Ft. Chaffee and $12.2 million to build an Armed Forces Reserve Center building in Arkadelphia.
Leader staff writer
Little Rock Air Force Base has secured $9.8 million to upgrade its 50-year-old flightline, but money for the joint education center at the base is still questionable.
The base will also get $2.8 million to modernize its aerospace ground equipment and engine facility.
Senators Mark Pryor and Blanche Lincoln announced Thursday that the Senate had approved nearly $80 million for construction projects at LRAFB, Camp Robinson, Fort Chaffee and Arkadelphia through the $109.2 billion fiscal year 2008 military construction and veterans affairs appropriations bill devoted to military construction, military family housing and veterans affairs programs.
“We appreciate the strong support the Arkansas congressional delegation continues to provide Little Rock Air Force Base. This money will ensure that Little Rock is fully able to support the combat airlift mission around the world well into the future,” Col. Mark Vlahos, 314th Airlift Wing vice commander, said Friday.
“The 314th Airlift Wing’s C-130 training mission and the 463rd Airlift Group’s combat mission here directly correlates to taking convoys off the roads in Afghanistan and Iraq,” Vlahos said. “Ensuring we have a fully functional runway here means saving lives in our global war on terrorism.”
Pryor and Lincoln said they were pleased to secure funding for the runway to ensure the 314th Airlift Wing has a fully functional airfield to support mission-essential flying training.
“Little Rock Air Force Base has proven itself over and over again to be one of the nation’s top-notch training facilities,” Pryor said. “I’m determined to keep it that way. These airfield upgrades are expensive but necessary to our missions around the globe.”
The base needs the money to replace runways worn by the relentless take-offs and landings at the nation’s premiere C-130 center.
The airfield was built in 1955 and is in a state of deterioration, which could hinder combat readiness and may endanger the lives of aircrews and their aircraft.
The funding allows the base to repair the deteriorated runway and shoulder pavements, remove or eliminate airfield obstructions, replace runway lighting, and reorganize instrument guidance and navigation systems.
Lincoln believes investing in the nation’s military installments and strategic operations is essential for the “safety and security of our citizens and our homeland.”
She praised service members for carrying on the state’s long military tradition.
Education center
Senate and House conferees will negotiate the differences between the two versions of the joint education center bill, which was approved in the House but not in the Senate.
Pryor and Lincoln said they are committed to working with Cong. Vic Snyder, D-Little Rock, to include an additional $9.8 million for the base’s education facility.
The Senate Armed Services subcommittee had stripped money for the center from the bill. Snyder said the Arkansas congressional delegation has “strong support for the center, but it is an expensive project.”
The Jacksonville-LRAFB education center, a first-of-its-kind collaboration between a community and a base, is expected to cost about $15 million.
Jacksonville residents in 2003 passed a two-year penny sales tax and already have their share, $5 million, in the bank.
Snyder and the delegation hope to restore the Air Force’s share of the project either on the Senate floor or in the joint conference committee.
The joint education center, to be constructed on the civilian side of the base perimeter – outside the fence, but on the base – is authorized as a multi-purpose educational facility that meets Air Force standards for distance learning, video teleconferencing and seminar needs.
Currently, the education center is housed in two inadequate converted dormitories that provide a limited scope of academic offerings due to space constraints and distance from the base library, according to Nancy Shefflette, director of the ASU-Beebe LRAFB Degree Center and former colonel at LRAFB.
The idea for the joint education center, which will be 50,000 square-feet, grew out of the 9/11 terrorist attacks and the problem of making the classes more assessable to civilians at times of high alert, Shefflette said.
Other construction
Camp Robinson will receive $5.5 million to improve its ammunition supply point, providing specially designed anti-terrorism force protection upgrades, improvements to parking, fencing, outside lighting, access road improvements, perimeter fence installation and key card control access.
Camp Robinson’s Professional Education Center (PEC) will receive $18.4 million to build a new complex for the GED Plus program.
The facility, housed on 4.5 acres, will include barracks, classrooms, a dining area and administrative offices.
The PEC is the national training center for the Army National Guard and hosts more than 20,000 conferees annually from the National Guard, Army Reserve, active Army, Department of Defense, state and federal agencies.
As a result of the 2005 Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) process, Arkansas is also slated to receive $31.3 million to build a joint force vehicle maintenance facility at Ft. Chaffee and $12.2 million to build an Armed Forces Reserve Center building in Arkadelphia.
Wednesday, September 05, 2007
SPORTS >>Rivalry game brings electricity to Lonoke
By RAY BENTON
Leader sports editor
Beebe and Lonoke meet up this week at LHS’s James B. Abraham Field after experiencing very different opening games. The Badgers pounced on Greenbrier and won a 21-0 shutout. Lonoke pounced on Hot Springs and led 21-7 at halftime, but gave up a big Trojan comebck and lost 36-35 when Hot Springs converted a two-point attempt with 23 seconds remaining.
Regardless of what happened in week one, this rivalry game is almost always an exciting event. Last season, the Badgers beat the Jackrabbits very similarly to how Hot Springs beat them last week. After last year’s game, former Beebe coach Cam Prock accurately commented that “this game always seems to come down to the last play.”
That’s the sort of series that turns into a rivalry, and it’s a rivalry that current Badger coach John Shannon, a former Badger, knows well.
“Well when I was a senior we moved out of their conference and didn’t even play them, but my first two years it was a big rivalry,” Shannon said. “I think it still is. Listening to our kids this week, they were talking about it. They were calling some of their kids by name. It’s a case of us being so close, our kids know their kids. I think it’s a pretty good rivalry.”
Of course the Badgers were excited when they returned to practice after their season-opening shutout. Shannon was also very pleased, but realizes that some things need correcting, and that Lonoke presents a whole different set of problems as Greenbrier.
“Greenbrier was a lot bigger than we though they were going to be,” Shannon said. “They were real physical. I thought we were pretty physical with them in the first half, but I think they matched us in the second half. They made some adjustments and we didn’t and we didn’t do a good job of adjusting to Greenbrier’s changes.”
The Jackrabbits won’t be as big as the Panthers, but they do present a different problem, one that is a concern for Shannon and the Badger coaching staff.
“They have lots of speed,” Shannon said. “We were pretty equal with Greenbrier in the speed department, but Lonoke has tons of it.”
Shannon mentioned Jackrabbit receiver Clarence Harris as being a key player to stop.
“Their number one (Harris) is a tall kid that can run really well,” Shannon said. “They’re going to try to get the ball in his hands a lot of different ways. We’re going to have to play smart and contain him because we can’t afford to let him get loose. I don’t know if we have anybody that can keep up with him if he does get loose.”
A key to Beebe containing Lonoke’s speed will be more good performances by key defensive players.
Linebacker Kyle Williams recorded 11 tackles last week. Kyle Vaughn had two sacks and Joe Berrick covered two Panther fumbles.
“Those guys really stood out for us defensively,” Shannon said. “We’re going to need to keep that kind of play up, because Lonoke’s offense can score points if you aren’t ready.”
Shannon couldn’t say for certain of Lonoke would be as physical as Greenbrier, but believes history indicates that it will.
“It’s hard to tell on film whether or not they’re physical because they run that spread,” Shannon said. “I do know that typically in the past, Lonoke has always been a real physical team.”
The Badgers and Jackrabbits kickoff Friday night at 7:30 p.m.
Leader sports editor
Beebe and Lonoke meet up this week at LHS’s James B. Abraham Field after experiencing very different opening games. The Badgers pounced on Greenbrier and won a 21-0 shutout. Lonoke pounced on Hot Springs and led 21-7 at halftime, but gave up a big Trojan comebck and lost 36-35 when Hot Springs converted a two-point attempt with 23 seconds remaining.
Regardless of what happened in week one, this rivalry game is almost always an exciting event. Last season, the Badgers beat the Jackrabbits very similarly to how Hot Springs beat them last week. After last year’s game, former Beebe coach Cam Prock accurately commented that “this game always seems to come down to the last play.”
That’s the sort of series that turns into a rivalry, and it’s a rivalry that current Badger coach John Shannon, a former Badger, knows well.
“Well when I was a senior we moved out of their conference and didn’t even play them, but my first two years it was a big rivalry,” Shannon said. “I think it still is. Listening to our kids this week, they were talking about it. They were calling some of their kids by name. It’s a case of us being so close, our kids know their kids. I think it’s a pretty good rivalry.”
Of course the Badgers were excited when they returned to practice after their season-opening shutout. Shannon was also very pleased, but realizes that some things need correcting, and that Lonoke presents a whole different set of problems as Greenbrier.
“Greenbrier was a lot bigger than we though they were going to be,” Shannon said. “They were real physical. I thought we were pretty physical with them in the first half, but I think they matched us in the second half. They made some adjustments and we didn’t and we didn’t do a good job of adjusting to Greenbrier’s changes.”
The Jackrabbits won’t be as big as the Panthers, but they do present a different problem, one that is a concern for Shannon and the Badger coaching staff.
“They have lots of speed,” Shannon said. “We were pretty equal with Greenbrier in the speed department, but Lonoke has tons of it.”
Shannon mentioned Jackrabbit receiver Clarence Harris as being a key player to stop.
“Their number one (Harris) is a tall kid that can run really well,” Shannon said. “They’re going to try to get the ball in his hands a lot of different ways. We’re going to have to play smart and contain him because we can’t afford to let him get loose. I don’t know if we have anybody that can keep up with him if he does get loose.”
A key to Beebe containing Lonoke’s speed will be more good performances by key defensive players.
Linebacker Kyle Williams recorded 11 tackles last week. Kyle Vaughn had two sacks and Joe Berrick covered two Panther fumbles.
“Those guys really stood out for us defensively,” Shannon said. “We’re going to need to keep that kind of play up, because Lonoke’s offense can score points if you aren’t ready.”
Shannon couldn’t say for certain of Lonoke would be as physical as Greenbrier, but believes history indicates that it will.
“It’s hard to tell on film whether or not they’re physical because they run that spread,” Shannon said. “I do know that typically in the past, Lonoke has always been a real physical team.”
The Badgers and Jackrabbits kickoff Friday night at 7:30 p.m.
SPORTS >>Panthers expecting one Bear of a game
By RAY BENTON AND JASON KING
Leader sports staff
Cabot will make the short journey south this Friday to face former conference mates Sylvan Hills at Bill Blackwood Field. The series between the Bears and Panthers may not have all the natural elements that make up a rivalry like Cabot and Jacksonville, or Cabot and Conway, but make no mistake about the history between the two schools. This game has been as heated of a rivalry as almost any other in the state over the years.
The Panthers are coming off of one of their biggest opening-week wins in several years against Jacksonville, downing their interstate rivals in a 42-0 runaway. The Bears will enter 0-1 after a disappointing loss last Wednesday to Little Rock Catholic after outplaying their larger opponent for much of the first half.
Cabot coach Mike Malham couldn’t find much to complain about from his team’s performance last week, but hopes the easy win doesn’t satisfy his players.
“There’s always things to work on,” Malham said. “The potential is there with this bunch if they want to work at it and get better. If they want to be happy with the one game and think they can just show up and win, we won’t accomplish much. If they want to work hard, we might be someone to contend with later in the season.”
Depth would be deciding factor in the SH loss to the Rockets, and looks to be a strong consideration for this Friday’s Bears-Panthers contest. With a roster that goes some 35 players deeper than that of Sylvan Hills, longtime Panthers coach Mike Malham and company look to be sitting in the catbird’s seat for the second week in a row.
“They’ve got a bunch of good kids,” Malham said. “They’re playing a lot of them both ways and I think that hurt ‘em in the end against Catholic. They’ve got some athletes though and we’re going to have to play smart.”
The obvious issue of depth, Withrow says, is one that is beyond his or his team’s control when it comes to Cabot.
“It’s just one of those deals,” Withrow said. “You just have to move your guys around to some different spots from where they normally play. We’re in great shape, we just don’t have enough bodies. They will have most of their guys only going one way, and a lot of our guys will go both ways. It makes it tough; we will definitely have our hands full.”
For the Bears, learning against top-notch opponents is the name of the game during the first three weeks of the season. The Catholic game, combined with this week’s showdown with Cabot and a week three meeting against North Little Rock, makes the Sylvan Hills pre-conference schedule one of the least envied in the state. For first-year Bears coach Jim Withrow, however, the unenviable schedule now is believed to lead to a more envious position during the final weeks of the conference season.
“What’s positive about these games,” Withrow said, “is that we will be a lot better football team after seeing those teams. There won’t be any plays off; anybody can score against you on any given play.”
Giving up zero points in week one was a good accomplishment for Cabot, but Malham knows how difficult a shutout is, and how quickly things can change on one play.
“The defense didn’t play bad,” Malham said. “When you throw a goose egg out there you’ve done pretty good. They did break one, but little (senior cornerback Hunter) Hess chased him down, and that was a big play. That would have put them right back in the game. I think it would have tied it 7-7. Momentum plays a big role and if Hess don’t make that play, it could be a whole different ballgame.
First on Cabot’s agenda for this week is stopping Sylvan Hills quarterback Hunter Miller. Miller broke a 40-yard touchdown run on fourth down against Cabot last season, and Malham believes he looks just as dangerous this year.
“They’ve got one good quarterback that’s for sure,” Malham said. “He broke one against us last year and he broke a couple on Catholic. He’s not the only one they’ve got though. They’ve got a few kids that have some speed that we’re going to have to be ready for.”
The Panthers and Bears kickoff at 7 p.m. Friday evening.
Leader sports staff
Cabot will make the short journey south this Friday to face former conference mates Sylvan Hills at Bill Blackwood Field. The series between the Bears and Panthers may not have all the natural elements that make up a rivalry like Cabot and Jacksonville, or Cabot and Conway, but make no mistake about the history between the two schools. This game has been as heated of a rivalry as almost any other in the state over the years.
The Panthers are coming off of one of their biggest opening-week wins in several years against Jacksonville, downing their interstate rivals in a 42-0 runaway. The Bears will enter 0-1 after a disappointing loss last Wednesday to Little Rock Catholic after outplaying their larger opponent for much of the first half.
Cabot coach Mike Malham couldn’t find much to complain about from his team’s performance last week, but hopes the easy win doesn’t satisfy his players.
“There’s always things to work on,” Malham said. “The potential is there with this bunch if they want to work at it and get better. If they want to be happy with the one game and think they can just show up and win, we won’t accomplish much. If they want to work hard, we might be someone to contend with later in the season.”
Depth would be deciding factor in the SH loss to the Rockets, and looks to be a strong consideration for this Friday’s Bears-Panthers contest. With a roster that goes some 35 players deeper than that of Sylvan Hills, longtime Panthers coach Mike Malham and company look to be sitting in the catbird’s seat for the second week in a row.
“They’ve got a bunch of good kids,” Malham said. “They’re playing a lot of them both ways and I think that hurt ‘em in the end against Catholic. They’ve got some athletes though and we’re going to have to play smart.”
The obvious issue of depth, Withrow says, is one that is beyond his or his team’s control when it comes to Cabot.
“It’s just one of those deals,” Withrow said. “You just have to move your guys around to some different spots from where they normally play. We’re in great shape, we just don’t have enough bodies. They will have most of their guys only going one way, and a lot of our guys will go both ways. It makes it tough; we will definitely have our hands full.”
For the Bears, learning against top-notch opponents is the name of the game during the first three weeks of the season. The Catholic game, combined with this week’s showdown with Cabot and a week three meeting against North Little Rock, makes the Sylvan Hills pre-conference schedule one of the least envied in the state. For first-year Bears coach Jim Withrow, however, the unenviable schedule now is believed to lead to a more envious position during the final weeks of the conference season.
“What’s positive about these games,” Withrow said, “is that we will be a lot better football team after seeing those teams. There won’t be any plays off; anybody can score against you on any given play.”
Giving up zero points in week one was a good accomplishment for Cabot, but Malham knows how difficult a shutout is, and how quickly things can change on one play.
“The defense didn’t play bad,” Malham said. “When you throw a goose egg out there you’ve done pretty good. They did break one, but little (senior cornerback Hunter) Hess chased him down, and that was a big play. That would have put them right back in the game. I think it would have tied it 7-7. Momentum plays a big role and if Hess don’t make that play, it could be a whole different ballgame.
First on Cabot’s agenda for this week is stopping Sylvan Hills quarterback Hunter Miller. Miller broke a 40-yard touchdown run on fourth down against Cabot last season, and Malham believes he looks just as dangerous this year.
“They’ve got one good quarterback that’s for sure,” Malham said. “He broke one against us last year and he broke a couple on Catholic. He’s not the only one they’ve got though. They’ve got a few kids that have some speed that we’re going to have to be ready for.”
The Panthers and Bears kickoff at 7 p.m. Friday evening.
SPORTS >>Devils, Falcons try to turn tides
By RAY BENTON
Leader sports editor
This week’s crosstown matchup between Jacksonville and North Pulaski will be the last for an indefinite amount of time. The two teams won’t meet again after this Friday for at least two seasons, but neither team comes into this game worrying too much about the other.
Both teams were shut out and lost by six touchdowns in last Friday’s season opener, and both are more concerned with fixing their own problems than with what their opponent may or may not do.
North Pulaski, which lost 43-0 on the road at Dumas, will be trying to correct the poor tackling that plagued the team in last week’s loss.
“We just didn’t tackle well,” North Pulaski coach Tony Bohannon said. “We were in the right places, but didn’t tackle. There’s also some things offensively we need to work on. We didn’t block well in the first half. We got that fixed a little bit in the second and blocked a little better. But overall we have to improve there too.”
Jacksonville, which fell 42-0 at Cabot, would be in much better shape by simply holding on to the football.
The Red Devils turned it over four times against the Panthers, including three times in the first half when they fell behind 35-0.
“You’re not going to beat Pickles Gap if you turn the ball over that many times,” Jacksonville coach Mark Whatley said. And you’re sure not going to beat Cabot. They’re a good football team, they force you to play a nearly perfect game, and we didn’t even come close to doing that.”
The loss was especially disappointing coming on the heels of a very good outing against North Little Rock in the preseason scrimmage game.
“We did just as much wrong this past Friday, as we did right the Friday before,” Whatley said.
Jacksonville did have a few possessions in which it moved the ball down the field. One ended in a turnover, another stalled on downs inside the Cabot 10-yard line. Those drives were important to look at this week and see that good things can happen for this Red Devil offense.
“That’s the bright spot,” Whatley said. “When we don’t play within our system, we don’t get anything done. When we do, we’re capable of moving the football, and we got to see that last week.”
North Pulaski may try to rearrange some of its personnel for Friday’s game. Bohannon wasn’t totally pleased with some of the positions were played.
“We saw a little more movement we need to make with players,” Bohannon said. “We’re probably going to try some folks in some different positions. We didn’t get the effort we wanted in certain spots, so we might move some things around.”
With Jacksonville, the head Red Devil keeps going back to the system.
“We’ve got to go back to doing things within the system on both sides of the football,” Whatley said. “The little bitty things can kill, but there were times when we didn’t even do the main things. I’m talking about technique, progression reads and things like that. When we rolled our own, it blew up on us. When we played within the system, it was successful.”
Even with the poor play, Whatley was not dissatisfied with his team’s effort.
“This is a team that plays with a passion for the game,” Whatley said. “I can’t fault their desire. I can fault our execution.”
Jacksonville and North Pulaski kickoff at 7 p.m. Friday night at Falcon Stadium.
Leader sports editor
This week’s crosstown matchup between Jacksonville and North Pulaski will be the last for an indefinite amount of time. The two teams won’t meet again after this Friday for at least two seasons, but neither team comes into this game worrying too much about the other.
Both teams were shut out and lost by six touchdowns in last Friday’s season opener, and both are more concerned with fixing their own problems than with what their opponent may or may not do.
North Pulaski, which lost 43-0 on the road at Dumas, will be trying to correct the poor tackling that plagued the team in last week’s loss.
“We just didn’t tackle well,” North Pulaski coach Tony Bohannon said. “We were in the right places, but didn’t tackle. There’s also some things offensively we need to work on. We didn’t block well in the first half. We got that fixed a little bit in the second and blocked a little better. But overall we have to improve there too.”
Jacksonville, which fell 42-0 at Cabot, would be in much better shape by simply holding on to the football.
The Red Devils turned it over four times against the Panthers, including three times in the first half when they fell behind 35-0.
“You’re not going to beat Pickles Gap if you turn the ball over that many times,” Jacksonville coach Mark Whatley said. And you’re sure not going to beat Cabot. They’re a good football team, they force you to play a nearly perfect game, and we didn’t even come close to doing that.”
The loss was especially disappointing coming on the heels of a very good outing against North Little Rock in the preseason scrimmage game.
“We did just as much wrong this past Friday, as we did right the Friday before,” Whatley said.
Jacksonville did have a few possessions in which it moved the ball down the field. One ended in a turnover, another stalled on downs inside the Cabot 10-yard line. Those drives were important to look at this week and see that good things can happen for this Red Devil offense.
“That’s the bright spot,” Whatley said. “When we don’t play within our system, we don’t get anything done. When we do, we’re capable of moving the football, and we got to see that last week.”
North Pulaski may try to rearrange some of its personnel for Friday’s game. Bohannon wasn’t totally pleased with some of the positions were played.
“We saw a little more movement we need to make with players,” Bohannon said. “We’re probably going to try some folks in some different positions. We didn’t get the effort we wanted in certain spots, so we might move some things around.”
With Jacksonville, the head Red Devil keeps going back to the system.
“We’ve got to go back to doing things within the system on both sides of the football,” Whatley said. “The little bitty things can kill, but there were times when we didn’t even do the main things. I’m talking about technique, progression reads and things like that. When we rolled our own, it blew up on us. When we played within the system, it was successful.”
Even with the poor play, Whatley was not dissatisfied with his team’s effort.
“This is a team that plays with a passion for the game,” Whatley said. “I can’t fault their desire. I can fault our execution.”
Jacksonville and North Pulaski kickoff at 7 p.m. Friday night at Falcon Stadium.
OBITUARIES >> 09-05-07
Johnny Fraley
Johnny Leon Fraley, 48, of Jacksonville went to be with the Lord Sept. 3.
He was born March 13, 1959.
He was a member of Morrison Chapel Baptist Church in North Little Rock and was employed by Precision Auto in Jacksonville.
Johnny is survived by his wife Randie; daughter, Michelle Taylor and husband Brandon; son, Kenneth Fraley and wife Susanne, Matt Robinson (who was like a son) and wife Brandy; and one granddaughter, Kristi Fraley, all of Jacksonville; his mother and father, Loyce and Ken Chambers of Jacksonville; father and mother, Gilbert and Leann Fraley of Jacksonville; four sisters, Pam Vasquez and Rhonda Shellito, both of Jacksonville, Christy Free of Searcy, Colleen Branco of New Jersey; three brothers, Chad Fraley, Mitchell Fraley, both of Jacksonville and Bruce Chambers of Georgia.
Johnny also leaves behind numerous nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles and friends.
Johnny was preceded in death by one granddaughter, Jennifer Fraley.
Funeral services will be at noon Friday, Sept. 7 in the chapel of Moore’s Jacksonville Funeral Home.
Pallbearers will be Steve Brewer, Joe Roberson, Stephen Capps, Randy Glover, Larry James and Jake Fraley. Honorary pallbearers will be Calvin McIntire and Junior Howard.
Visitation will be at the funeral home from 6 to 8 pm. Thursday, Sept. 6.
Carolyn Parker
Carolyn Jean Parker, 59, of Carlisle passed away Sept. 3.
She was born March 7, 1948 on Holly Mountain near Clinton.
She was a Christian woman, caring housewife, mother, grandmother and friend.
She was devoted to raising her family and enjoying her grandchildren.
Carolyn was very giving and thought of family and others first. Her hobbies included tending to her flowerbeds, working in her yard and caring for her home.
Later in life, she enjoyed traveling with her husband and sisters.
She was never far from her dog Allie.
She graduated from Clinton High School in 1966. She attended Arkansas State Teachers College in Conway.
She married Gary O’Dell Parker in 1969 and was married for 37 years. They made their home on a rice farm near Carlisle. Carolyn was a dedicated farmer’s wife and she will be greatly missed.
She is survived by her husband, Gary Parker; her three children, Brandon Parker and wife Beverly of Lonoke, Ashley Parker and wife Amy of Nashville and Rachel Parker of Bryant; two grandchildren, Gage and Preston; two brothers, Lindsey Harness of Mountain View and Wayne Harness of Cabot; two sisters, Faye Nixon of Bee Branch and Shirlene Ward of Clinton.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Auzzie and Effie Harness.
Funeral services will be at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 6 at Hamilton Methodist Church, south of Carlisle with interment in Hamilton Cemetery. Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 5 at Boyd Funeral Home in Lonoke.
Joan Russell
Joan Russell, 67, of Cabot passed away Sep. 1.
She retired after 21 years of service with the Cabot School District Food Service Program.
Joan was a member at First Baptist Church of Cabot.
She will be remembered as a kind and caring person.
Survivors include her husband of 31 years, Roy Russell, who is retired from the Union Pacific Railroad; and her five children, Glenda Wilson and husband Harry of Cabot, Karen Vocque and husband Lance of Cabot, Mark Russell and wife Lyn of Pickton, Texas, Charmin Brooks and husband Scott of Abilene, Texas, Christy Lustig and husband Gary of Okinawa, Japan; and 12 grandchildren, Meagan Wilson, Kyle and Connor Vocque, Erika, Morgan and Carrie Russell, Hunter, Madison and Mason Brooks, Lauren, Jacob, and Dain Lustig.
She is also survived by four sisters and four brothers, Nola Rees and husband Noble of Austin, Bernell Wilson and husband Ray of Vilonia, Ruthie Burlison and Sandra Weatherly, both of Austin, Horace Weatherly and wife Lorene of Beebe, J.R. Weatherly and wife Ann of Cabot, Truman Weatherly of Austin, Dearl Weatherly and wife Jackie of Beebe and many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Joe and Mattie Weatherly; brothers, Willis Weatherly, Joe Weatherly Jr., Russell Weatherly and Carroll Weatherly; infant twins, Raye and Faye Weatherly and one granddaughter, Wiley Nicole Russell.
Family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, Sept. 7 at Westbrook Funeral Home in Beebe. Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 8 at First Baptist Church of Cabot.
Associate Pastor Dick Avey will officiate.
Burial will be in Mt. Carmel Cemetery in Cabot.
Memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society, P.O. Box 22718, Oklahoma City, Okla. 73123-1718.
Burnette Harrison
Burnette Harrison, 78, of Beebe died Sept. 2 at Central Arkansas Hospice Center.
He was born Dec. 26, 1929 to Dewitt and Helen Galloway Harrison.
He was a 28-year veteran of the Navy retiring as a lieutenant commander. He then worked for the NCR Corporation for 15 years.
He was a member of Antioch Community Methodist Church, past master and secretary Treasurer of Beebe Masonic Lodge 145, a 32nd degree Mason and member of the Scottish Rite Knight Command Court of Honor. He also served as a volunteer at Central Arkansas Hospital for 15 years.
He is survived by his wife of 54 years, Eileen Harrison; two sons, Michael and wife Annette and Tim and wife Alicia of Jacksonville, Florida; two grandchildren, Shawn and Christina and one great grandchild, Ian; two brothers, Bob Harrison and wife Shirley of Poway, Calif., and Don Harrison and wife Kay of Morrilton.
Burnette was a kind and gentle man who had a host of friends who loved him and he always had a big smile for everybody.
Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday at Westbrook Funeral Home in Beebe with burial in Antioch Cemetery.
Funeral arrangements will be by Westbrook Funeral Home of Beebe. Memorials may be made to Antioch Methodist Church c/o Joe T. Belew at 535 Louie Pruitt Road, Beebe, Ark. 72012 or Central Arkansas Hospice Center at 1200 Main Street, Searcy, Ark. 72043.
Delena Tarver
Delena M. Davis Tarver, 66, of North Little Rock went to be with the Lord Sept. 1.
She was born on August 5, 1931.
She worked at Timex for many years and loved bowling, and was good enough to play with the pros.
She left behind two sons, Roger Davis of North Little Rock and Bobby Davis and wife Annette of Ward; one stepson, Carl H. Tarver, III of North Little Rock; five grandchildren; and 10 great-grandchildren.
Funeral services were Sept. 4 at North Little Rock Funeral Home chapel. Burial was in Arkansas State Veterans Cemetery.
The family would like to thank everyone from Baptist Hospice and everyone from her church, North Little Rock Church of God.
Bennie White
Bennie Mae White, 79, formerly of Lonoke County died August 31.
Survivors include two daughters, Bonnie Evans of Redfield and Linda Myers of Cato; a son, James Copeland of North Little Rock; 10 grandchildren, 15 great-grandchildren, one great-great-grandchild; many nieces, nephews and other relatives.
Funeral services were Sept. 4 at Boyd Funeral Home in Lonoke with burial in Mt. Pleasant Cemetery.
John Pearson
John Leslie Pearson, Jr., 81, died August 30.
His parents, John and Jenny Pearson; four sisters, Grace, Jenny Mae, Marjorie and Adeline preceded him in death.
He is survived by his wife Dorothea Pearson; children, Sam Pearson and wife Donna of Vinegrove, Ky., Judy Bragg and husband Rick of Carlisle, Karen Hooper of Jacksonville, Carolyn Parr and husband Jimmy of Hazen and David Lane of Lamar; grandchildren, Leslie, Joanna, Kellee, Holly, Lee, Stephanie, Rodney and Joshua; nine great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.
Funeral services were Sept. 2 at New Testament Baptist Church with interment in New Hope Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, make memorials to New Hope Cemetery. Funeral arrangements were by Boyd Funeral Home in Lonoke.
Johnny Leon Fraley, 48, of Jacksonville went to be with the Lord Sept. 3.
He was born March 13, 1959.
He was a member of Morrison Chapel Baptist Church in North Little Rock and was employed by Precision Auto in Jacksonville.
Johnny is survived by his wife Randie; daughter, Michelle Taylor and husband Brandon; son, Kenneth Fraley and wife Susanne, Matt Robinson (who was like a son) and wife Brandy; and one granddaughter, Kristi Fraley, all of Jacksonville; his mother and father, Loyce and Ken Chambers of Jacksonville; father and mother, Gilbert and Leann Fraley of Jacksonville; four sisters, Pam Vasquez and Rhonda Shellito, both of Jacksonville, Christy Free of Searcy, Colleen Branco of New Jersey; three brothers, Chad Fraley, Mitchell Fraley, both of Jacksonville and Bruce Chambers of Georgia.
Johnny also leaves behind numerous nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles and friends.
Johnny was preceded in death by one granddaughter, Jennifer Fraley.
Funeral services will be at noon Friday, Sept. 7 in the chapel of Moore’s Jacksonville Funeral Home.
Pallbearers will be Steve Brewer, Joe Roberson, Stephen Capps, Randy Glover, Larry James and Jake Fraley. Honorary pallbearers will be Calvin McIntire and Junior Howard.
Visitation will be at the funeral home from 6 to 8 pm. Thursday, Sept. 6.
Carolyn Parker
Carolyn Jean Parker, 59, of Carlisle passed away Sept. 3.
She was born March 7, 1948 on Holly Mountain near Clinton.
She was a Christian woman, caring housewife, mother, grandmother and friend.
She was devoted to raising her family and enjoying her grandchildren.
Carolyn was very giving and thought of family and others first. Her hobbies included tending to her flowerbeds, working in her yard and caring for her home.
Later in life, she enjoyed traveling with her husband and sisters.
She was never far from her dog Allie.
She graduated from Clinton High School in 1966. She attended Arkansas State Teachers College in Conway.
She married Gary O’Dell Parker in 1969 and was married for 37 years. They made their home on a rice farm near Carlisle. Carolyn was a dedicated farmer’s wife and she will be greatly missed.
She is survived by her husband, Gary Parker; her three children, Brandon Parker and wife Beverly of Lonoke, Ashley Parker and wife Amy of Nashville and Rachel Parker of Bryant; two grandchildren, Gage and Preston; two brothers, Lindsey Harness of Mountain View and Wayne Harness of Cabot; two sisters, Faye Nixon of Bee Branch and Shirlene Ward of Clinton.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Auzzie and Effie Harness.
Funeral services will be at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 6 at Hamilton Methodist Church, south of Carlisle with interment in Hamilton Cemetery. Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 5 at Boyd Funeral Home in Lonoke.
Joan Russell
Joan Russell, 67, of Cabot passed away Sep. 1.
She retired after 21 years of service with the Cabot School District Food Service Program.
Joan was a member at First Baptist Church of Cabot.
She will be remembered as a kind and caring person.
Survivors include her husband of 31 years, Roy Russell, who is retired from the Union Pacific Railroad; and her five children, Glenda Wilson and husband Harry of Cabot, Karen Vocque and husband Lance of Cabot, Mark Russell and wife Lyn of Pickton, Texas, Charmin Brooks and husband Scott of Abilene, Texas, Christy Lustig and husband Gary of Okinawa, Japan; and 12 grandchildren, Meagan Wilson, Kyle and Connor Vocque, Erika, Morgan and Carrie Russell, Hunter, Madison and Mason Brooks, Lauren, Jacob, and Dain Lustig.
She is also survived by four sisters and four brothers, Nola Rees and husband Noble of Austin, Bernell Wilson and husband Ray of Vilonia, Ruthie Burlison and Sandra Weatherly, both of Austin, Horace Weatherly and wife Lorene of Beebe, J.R. Weatherly and wife Ann of Cabot, Truman Weatherly of Austin, Dearl Weatherly and wife Jackie of Beebe and many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Joe and Mattie Weatherly; brothers, Willis Weatherly, Joe Weatherly Jr., Russell Weatherly and Carroll Weatherly; infant twins, Raye and Faye Weatherly and one granddaughter, Wiley Nicole Russell.
Family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, Sept. 7 at Westbrook Funeral Home in Beebe. Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 8 at First Baptist Church of Cabot.
Associate Pastor Dick Avey will officiate.
Burial will be in Mt. Carmel Cemetery in Cabot.
Memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society, P.O. Box 22718, Oklahoma City, Okla. 73123-1718.
Burnette Harrison
Burnette Harrison, 78, of Beebe died Sept. 2 at Central Arkansas Hospice Center.
He was born Dec. 26, 1929 to Dewitt and Helen Galloway Harrison.
He was a 28-year veteran of the Navy retiring as a lieutenant commander. He then worked for the NCR Corporation for 15 years.
He was a member of Antioch Community Methodist Church, past master and secretary Treasurer of Beebe Masonic Lodge 145, a 32nd degree Mason and member of the Scottish Rite Knight Command Court of Honor. He also served as a volunteer at Central Arkansas Hospital for 15 years.
He is survived by his wife of 54 years, Eileen Harrison; two sons, Michael and wife Annette and Tim and wife Alicia of Jacksonville, Florida; two grandchildren, Shawn and Christina and one great grandchild, Ian; two brothers, Bob Harrison and wife Shirley of Poway, Calif., and Don Harrison and wife Kay of Morrilton.
Burnette was a kind and gentle man who had a host of friends who loved him and he always had a big smile for everybody.
Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday at Westbrook Funeral Home in Beebe with burial in Antioch Cemetery.
Funeral arrangements will be by Westbrook Funeral Home of Beebe. Memorials may be made to Antioch Methodist Church c/o Joe T. Belew at 535 Louie Pruitt Road, Beebe, Ark. 72012 or Central Arkansas Hospice Center at 1200 Main Street, Searcy, Ark. 72043.
Delena Tarver
Delena M. Davis Tarver, 66, of North Little Rock went to be with the Lord Sept. 1.
She was born on August 5, 1931.
She worked at Timex for many years and loved bowling, and was good enough to play with the pros.
She left behind two sons, Roger Davis of North Little Rock and Bobby Davis and wife Annette of Ward; one stepson, Carl H. Tarver, III of North Little Rock; five grandchildren; and 10 great-grandchildren.
Funeral services were Sept. 4 at North Little Rock Funeral Home chapel. Burial was in Arkansas State Veterans Cemetery.
The family would like to thank everyone from Baptist Hospice and everyone from her church, North Little Rock Church of God.
Bennie White
Bennie Mae White, 79, formerly of Lonoke County died August 31.
Survivors include two daughters, Bonnie Evans of Redfield and Linda Myers of Cato; a son, James Copeland of North Little Rock; 10 grandchildren, 15 great-grandchildren, one great-great-grandchild; many nieces, nephews and other relatives.
Funeral services were Sept. 4 at Boyd Funeral Home in Lonoke with burial in Mt. Pleasant Cemetery.
John Pearson
John Leslie Pearson, Jr., 81, died August 30.
His parents, John and Jenny Pearson; four sisters, Grace, Jenny Mae, Marjorie and Adeline preceded him in death.
He is survived by his wife Dorothea Pearson; children, Sam Pearson and wife Donna of Vinegrove, Ky., Judy Bragg and husband Rick of Carlisle, Karen Hooper of Jacksonville, Carolyn Parr and husband Jimmy of Hazen and David Lane of Lamar; grandchildren, Leslie, Joanna, Kellee, Holly, Lee, Stephanie, Rodney and Joshua; nine great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.
Funeral services were Sept. 2 at New Testament Baptist Church with interment in New Hope Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, make memorials to New Hope Cemetery. Funeral arrangements were by Boyd Funeral Home in Lonoke.
EDITORIALS>>Hurry up with gas tax
With every utterance Gov. Beebe becomes a stronger champion of a tax on the natural gas that is piped to the big markets north and east of Arkansas. Now it is something that desperately needs to be done, and he promises that he will get it done, although maybe not until 2011.
We are rather proud of him, but the governor has progress yet to make. If it will be in the public interest in 2011, it is worth doing much sooner — 2008 would be a good year.
Beebe said last week that he did not propose a gas severance tax this year because there was too much else to do in his first legislative session and there was little support for it. Now, with the vast exploration of the Fayetteville shale-gas play, a consensus is building for it, he said, and he has invited the big out-of-state drilling companies to help him develop a tax bill for the 2009 regular legislative session. If they fail to agree on an adequate tax or if the legislature defeats it, he will lead a petition drive to put the issue before the voters in the 2010 general election. The tax then would take effect in 2011.
Stung by the suggestion that he was asking the industries to come up with a little tax that would suit them, Beebe said it would be his bill, not the companies’, and that he would ask them to join him. Well, we hope so. He would use the taxes to revive the moribund highway program.
Mike Beebe’s powers of persuasion are epic, compared at least with his predecessor’s, but getting a good gas severance tax through the Arkansas General Assembly is a dubious proposition. Sen. Mary Anne Salmon of North Little Rock asked the Legislative Council to study the issue and she has promised to sponsor a good bill. But Sen. Bob Johnson of Bigelow, the new pro tempore of the Senate, is the boss there and he has vowed to kill any tax on the gas companies. Johnson does the bidding of big industry, including the Stephens interests, who built one of the South’s great fortunes on tax-free gas production. Johnson follows the Leona Helmsley theory of taxes: Only little people should pay them.
Even if he did not control the votes of half or more of the Senate, Johnson would have no trouble keeping his promise. The common wisdom is that it takes a three-fourths vote in each house to raise the severance tax, which means that a mere nine senators of the 35 could block the tax. Gov. Bill Clinton tried and failed in 1983.
Our research suggests that a modest tax can be passed with a simple majority. The state now levies a tax of three-tenths of a penny on each thousand cubic feet of gas, a virtually invisible tax that has been on the books for 50 years. For 10 years before that, it was an infinitesimal three-twentieths of a penny. It raises only about $650,000 a year. Other gas-rich states tax gas at hundreds of times that rate. Only Arkansas has adopted the position that commercial interests owe nothing to the public for taking and making a giant profit on an irreplaceable natural resource.
Here is our reasoning for the majority vote: The state Constitution says that it takes a three-fourths vote of each house to raise the rate of a tax that existed in 1934. At that time, the tax rate on gas was 2.6 percent of its wellhead value, not three-tenths of a penny. So a simple majority of the legislature ought to be able to raise it to 2.6 percent again although it would take a three-fourths vote to raise it higher.
While a tax of 2.6 percent would not be chump change, it would be only half to a third of what other states collect on their dwindling natural resources. Neighboring Texas collects 7.5 percent. (Oh, the energy companies cry, Texas does not make them pay a state income tax like Arkansas does. True, but Texas assesses a big corporate franchise tax and other special taxes that Arkansas does not levy.)
Sen. Johnson said he did not buy the argument that the gas companies ought to pay higher taxes to rebuild and repair the roads damaged by the exploration rigs. Roads are built for businesses to destroy in the name of economic growth, Johnson said. You get to pay for their road damage with higher gasoline taxes and vehicle licenses.
There will be an unavoidable demand for a special legislative session sometime in the next year, and the governor should prepare a severance tax for the occasion. Whether he uses it to eliminate the sales tax on groceries or to build roads, the needs do not wait for 2011. He should prepare the act for the petition campaign — in November 2008, not 2010 — that will follow its inevitable legislative defeat.
We are rather proud of him, but the governor has progress yet to make. If it will be in the public interest in 2011, it is worth doing much sooner — 2008 would be a good year.
Beebe said last week that he did not propose a gas severance tax this year because there was too much else to do in his first legislative session and there was little support for it. Now, with the vast exploration of the Fayetteville shale-gas play, a consensus is building for it, he said, and he has invited the big out-of-state drilling companies to help him develop a tax bill for the 2009 regular legislative session. If they fail to agree on an adequate tax or if the legislature defeats it, he will lead a petition drive to put the issue before the voters in the 2010 general election. The tax then would take effect in 2011.
Stung by the suggestion that he was asking the industries to come up with a little tax that would suit them, Beebe said it would be his bill, not the companies’, and that he would ask them to join him. Well, we hope so. He would use the taxes to revive the moribund highway program.
Mike Beebe’s powers of persuasion are epic, compared at least with his predecessor’s, but getting a good gas severance tax through the Arkansas General Assembly is a dubious proposition. Sen. Mary Anne Salmon of North Little Rock asked the Legislative Council to study the issue and she has promised to sponsor a good bill. But Sen. Bob Johnson of Bigelow, the new pro tempore of the Senate, is the boss there and he has vowed to kill any tax on the gas companies. Johnson does the bidding of big industry, including the Stephens interests, who built one of the South’s great fortunes on tax-free gas production. Johnson follows the Leona Helmsley theory of taxes: Only little people should pay them.
Even if he did not control the votes of half or more of the Senate, Johnson would have no trouble keeping his promise. The common wisdom is that it takes a three-fourths vote in each house to raise the severance tax, which means that a mere nine senators of the 35 could block the tax. Gov. Bill Clinton tried and failed in 1983.
Our research suggests that a modest tax can be passed with a simple majority. The state now levies a tax of three-tenths of a penny on each thousand cubic feet of gas, a virtually invisible tax that has been on the books for 50 years. For 10 years before that, it was an infinitesimal three-twentieths of a penny. It raises only about $650,000 a year. Other gas-rich states tax gas at hundreds of times that rate. Only Arkansas has adopted the position that commercial interests owe nothing to the public for taking and making a giant profit on an irreplaceable natural resource.
Here is our reasoning for the majority vote: The state Constitution says that it takes a three-fourths vote of each house to raise the rate of a tax that existed in 1934. At that time, the tax rate on gas was 2.6 percent of its wellhead value, not three-tenths of a penny. So a simple majority of the legislature ought to be able to raise it to 2.6 percent again although it would take a three-fourths vote to raise it higher.
While a tax of 2.6 percent would not be chump change, it would be only half to a third of what other states collect on their dwindling natural resources. Neighboring Texas collects 7.5 percent. (Oh, the energy companies cry, Texas does not make them pay a state income tax like Arkansas does. True, but Texas assesses a big corporate franchise tax and other special taxes that Arkansas does not levy.)
Sen. Johnson said he did not buy the argument that the gas companies ought to pay higher taxes to rebuild and repair the roads damaged by the exploration rigs. Roads are built for businesses to destroy in the name of economic growth, Johnson said. You get to pay for their road damage with higher gasoline taxes and vehicle licenses.
There will be an unavoidable demand for a special legislative session sometime in the next year, and the governor should prepare a severance tax for the occasion. Whether he uses it to eliminate the sales tax on groceries or to build roads, the needs do not wait for 2011. He should prepare the act for the petition campaign — in November 2008, not 2010 — that will follow its inevitable legislative defeat.
TOP STORY >>Soldier knows Iraq area
By SGT. MIKE PRYOR
82nd Airborne Div. Public Affiars
BAGHDAD — It’s not déjà vu all over again.
Staff Sgt. Christopher Grimm gets that feeling a lot, except in his case, it’s not déjà vu. His life really is repeating itself.
Grimm, 35, is spending his third deployment to Iraq patrolling the exact same Baghdad streets that he did on his first deployment.
The Adhamiyah neighborhood in the Iraqi capital has been Grimm’s area of operations for two out of three deployments.
Meaning that in a country the size of California, the Cabot native has spent most of his time in a neighborhood only two-and-a half square miles in size.
He was based in the same northern section of the city from 2004-2005 with the Arkansas National Guard, and just recently returned with the 3rd Squadron, 7th Cavalry Regiment, 3rd infantry Division.
“Being back here again, it is a lot like déjà vu,” Grimm said. “Just rolling up and down these streets, it brings back a lot of memories.”
Grimm said not much has changed in Adhamiyah since his previous deployment. Even Coalition Outpost Apache, his old base, is the same, except for a slight name change.
“We called it Fort Apache back then,” he said.
For Grimm, there’s hardly a corner of the neighborhood that doesn’t come with a memory. Some places call to mind incidents he’d rather not be reminded of, such as the firefight with insurgents in 2004 that earned him a Purple Heart. Others are more pleasant, such as when he rediscovered a chicken shack he ate at on his first tour. It was still in business.
“That guy still knows how to cook chicken,” he said.
As one of only a handful of soldiers in his unit who know the area, Grimm has tried to use his experience as an asset.
“When I first heard we might be headed to Adhamiyah, I went up to the commander and said, ‘Sir, what do you want to know?’” Grimm said.
As a member of his troop commander’s personal security detail, Grimm’s knowledge of the area has come in handy during regular movements throughout the area. He knows all the shortcuts and back streets, he said
While Grimm’s knowledge of the area has been valuable for his unit, it has come at a price for his family. Because of multiple deployments, he calculates he has spent only a month and a half with his family in the past four years. But rather than get frustrated, Grimm tries to keep a positive outlook, he said.
“As much as I love my wife and kids, I love my job, and I hope that’s something my three girls will eventually understand,” he said.
Even being back in Adhamiyah again hasn’t dampened his spirits. Just because the streets are not completely peaceful, that doesn’t mean the mission is hopeless, Grimm said. It just means taking a long-term view of success.
“It’s going to take time. We’re going to be here a long while,” Grimm said.
Which is why Grimm looks to the small, incremental signs of progress he sees every day to keep him motivated.
“Getting out in the streets to see the changes we’re making is the biggest thing that keeps me going,” he said.
“People will come up and thank us for helping their community. That really gives you a sense of pride,” Grimm said.
82nd Airborne Div. Public Affiars
BAGHDAD — It’s not déjà vu all over again.
Staff Sgt. Christopher Grimm gets that feeling a lot, except in his case, it’s not déjà vu. His life really is repeating itself.
Grimm, 35, is spending his third deployment to Iraq patrolling the exact same Baghdad streets that he did on his first deployment.
The Adhamiyah neighborhood in the Iraqi capital has been Grimm’s area of operations for two out of three deployments.
Meaning that in a country the size of California, the Cabot native has spent most of his time in a neighborhood only two-and-a half square miles in size.
He was based in the same northern section of the city from 2004-2005 with the Arkansas National Guard, and just recently returned with the 3rd Squadron, 7th Cavalry Regiment, 3rd infantry Division.
“Being back here again, it is a lot like déjà vu,” Grimm said. “Just rolling up and down these streets, it brings back a lot of memories.”
Grimm said not much has changed in Adhamiyah since his previous deployment. Even Coalition Outpost Apache, his old base, is the same, except for a slight name change.
“We called it Fort Apache back then,” he said.
For Grimm, there’s hardly a corner of the neighborhood that doesn’t come with a memory. Some places call to mind incidents he’d rather not be reminded of, such as the firefight with insurgents in 2004 that earned him a Purple Heart. Others are more pleasant, such as when he rediscovered a chicken shack he ate at on his first tour. It was still in business.
“That guy still knows how to cook chicken,” he said.
As one of only a handful of soldiers in his unit who know the area, Grimm has tried to use his experience as an asset.
“When I first heard we might be headed to Adhamiyah, I went up to the commander and said, ‘Sir, what do you want to know?’” Grimm said.
As a member of his troop commander’s personal security detail, Grimm’s knowledge of the area has come in handy during regular movements throughout the area. He knows all the shortcuts and back streets, he said
While Grimm’s knowledge of the area has been valuable for his unit, it has come at a price for his family. Because of multiple deployments, he calculates he has spent only a month and a half with his family in the past four years. But rather than get frustrated, Grimm tries to keep a positive outlook, he said.
“As much as I love my wife and kids, I love my job, and I hope that’s something my three girls will eventually understand,” he said.
Even being back in Adhamiyah again hasn’t dampened his spirits. Just because the streets are not completely peaceful, that doesn’t mean the mission is hopeless, Grimm said. It just means taking a long-term view of success.
“It’s going to take time. We’re going to be here a long while,” Grimm said.
Which is why Grimm looks to the small, incremental signs of progress he sees every day to keep him motivated.
“Getting out in the streets to see the changes we’re making is the biggest thing that keeps me going,” he said.
“People will come up and thank us for helping their community. That really gives you a sense of pride,” Grimm said.
TOP STORY >>Sunnyside up with cleanup set Saturday
By RICK KRON
Leader staff writer
“Bring anything that cuts, trims or prunes,” says Alderman Kevin McCleary, “and be at Galloway Park at 8 a.m. Saturday.”
McCleary is spearheading a Sunnyside Addition cleanup that is a combined project of Keep Jacksonville Beautiful and the Jack-sonville Community Grant Program.
The Sunnyside cleanup is this year’s kickoff for the Keep Arkansas Beautiful campaign.
“We will focus on at least 20 properties in the area, but we plan to clean up, pick up, trim and cut anything that needs it,” McCleary said. McCleary hopes volunteers will come from all parts of the city too, not just Sunnyside.
“I want the whole city to put their arms around this project,” he said. “This time Sunnyside needs our help, next time it might be another part of the city,” McCleary added.
As an enticement, McCleary said all volunteers will get a free lunch at the end of the work session, about noon, at Evangelistic Ministries at 101 N. Elm.
“Well you know it’s not really a free lunch. All the volunteers will have worked up a couple of hours worth of appetite before getting over there,” McCleary said.
Alderman Bill Howard, who remembers when Sunnyside was the center of activity for Jacksonville, hopes the cleanup drive helps put pride back into the area.
Alderman Bob Stroud is also hoping the cleanup will take a bite out of crime.
“Police tells us that the overgrowth of shrubbery makes it difficult for them to see what is going on. We trim the bushes back and that will help the police and the neighborhood,” Stroud said.
When Stroud and McCleary went through Sunnyside delivering fliers about the cleanup, Stroud said he noticed just a lot of litter. “Old tires and general trash that we can pick up on Saturday and make the area look better,” he said.
The city will be placing dumpsters in the area Saturday and the Public Works Department will have trucks out picking up large items.
“We are hoping for a good turnout of volunteers,” Howard added. “And a good cleanup.”
Along with Saturday’s cleanup efforts, the Main Street overpass that leads into the Sunnyside area will be dedicated in honor of the late Alderman Robert Lewis at 6 p.m. Thursday. Lewis, a Sunnyside resident, who served on the council for over 20 years, died in 2005 after a long battle with cancer.
Leader staff writer
“Bring anything that cuts, trims or prunes,” says Alderman Kevin McCleary, “and be at Galloway Park at 8 a.m. Saturday.”
McCleary is spearheading a Sunnyside Addition cleanup that is a combined project of Keep Jacksonville Beautiful and the Jack-sonville Community Grant Program.
The Sunnyside cleanup is this year’s kickoff for the Keep Arkansas Beautiful campaign.
“We will focus on at least 20 properties in the area, but we plan to clean up, pick up, trim and cut anything that needs it,” McCleary said. McCleary hopes volunteers will come from all parts of the city too, not just Sunnyside.
“I want the whole city to put their arms around this project,” he said. “This time Sunnyside needs our help, next time it might be another part of the city,” McCleary added.
As an enticement, McCleary said all volunteers will get a free lunch at the end of the work session, about noon, at Evangelistic Ministries at 101 N. Elm.
“Well you know it’s not really a free lunch. All the volunteers will have worked up a couple of hours worth of appetite before getting over there,” McCleary said.
Alderman Bill Howard, who remembers when Sunnyside was the center of activity for Jacksonville, hopes the cleanup drive helps put pride back into the area.
Alderman Bob Stroud is also hoping the cleanup will take a bite out of crime.
“Police tells us that the overgrowth of shrubbery makes it difficult for them to see what is going on. We trim the bushes back and that will help the police and the neighborhood,” Stroud said.
When Stroud and McCleary went through Sunnyside delivering fliers about the cleanup, Stroud said he noticed just a lot of litter. “Old tires and general trash that we can pick up on Saturday and make the area look better,” he said.
The city will be placing dumpsters in the area Saturday and the Public Works Department will have trucks out picking up large items.
“We are hoping for a good turnout of volunteers,” Howard added. “And a good cleanup.”
Along with Saturday’s cleanup efforts, the Main Street overpass that leads into the Sunnyside area will be dedicated in honor of the late Alderman Robert Lewis at 6 p.m. Thursday. Lewis, a Sunnyside resident, who served on the council for over 20 years, died in 2005 after a long battle with cancer.
FROM THE PUBLISHER >>Recognizing others who were there
Gene Bowman of Jacksonville is one of about 4,500 people who’ve received invitations to a ceremony Sept. 25 commemorating the 50th anniversary of the integration crisis at Central High School in Little Rock.
Bowman, who is a Shelter Insurance agent here, was born in Little Rock and was a sophomore when nine black students attempted to enter the school but were refused entry by the Arkansas National Guard, under orders of Gov. Orval Faubus.
Three weeks later, President Eisenhower sent in the 101st Airborne Division and federalized the National Guard, which escorted the black students into Central.
Bowman was watching history unfold and talks about those days as if they’d happened yesterday.
He hopes white kids and their teachers get a little recognition at the anniversary ceremony for acting honorably in those dark days. Most students wanted to learn and did not taunt the black students, and most teachers disciplined student troublemakers and wouldn’t let the mob outside stop them from doing their jobs.
The following year, when Faubus closed Central, teachers still went to work — and were paid just for showing up — even though classes were empty.
“The sad part is those nine black kids were mistreated by a few people,” Bowman recalled the other day. “But the way it comes out is that everybody was not nice to them. There are statues for the Little Rock Nine, but white kids also deserve statues.”
Bowman arrived on the opening day of the historic school year on Sept. 3 — 50 years ago last Monday — all by himself.
“I rode a motorcycle to class,” he said.
The Little Rock Nine didn’t show up till the following day, when a mob formed outside the school. The troops blocked the black students from getting in, but they did get in on Sept. 23, when federal troops were stationed in the halls and outside the school.
Bowman admits a friend of his did something stupid and probably regretted it for the rest of his life.
“One of my best friends,” he says, “poured soup on Minnijean Brown,” one of the Little Rock Nine. “The Army people carried him out. He was expelled from school and never finished high school. He died a couple of years ago.”
Brown was also expelled after she threw food at the students who had taunted her.
When Faubus and his supporters shut the Little Rock schools down a year later, Bowman scrambled to find a school he could go to.
He signed up for the waiting list at Mabelvale High School, and when enough kids were expelled, he started attending classes there, which was closer to his home than Central.
He car pooled with Fallon Davis, the starting quarterback at Central, which played football even though the school was closed.
Next summer, Bowman took junior algebra since he couldn’t get into that class at Mabelvale. He was glad Central reopened in 1959, and so were his teachers.
“The happiest day was when they had students again,” Bowman said.
A little recognition for them and the students would be nice, he said.
Maybe a statue of a group of white kids alongside the statue of the Little Rock Nine would add a touch of class to the celebration.
Bowman, who is a Shelter Insurance agent here, was born in Little Rock and was a sophomore when nine black students attempted to enter the school but were refused entry by the Arkansas National Guard, under orders of Gov. Orval Faubus.
Three weeks later, President Eisenhower sent in the 101st Airborne Division and federalized the National Guard, which escorted the black students into Central.
Bowman was watching history unfold and talks about those days as if they’d happened yesterday.
He hopes white kids and their teachers get a little recognition at the anniversary ceremony for acting honorably in those dark days. Most students wanted to learn and did not taunt the black students, and most teachers disciplined student troublemakers and wouldn’t let the mob outside stop them from doing their jobs.
The following year, when Faubus closed Central, teachers still went to work — and were paid just for showing up — even though classes were empty.
“The sad part is those nine black kids were mistreated by a few people,” Bowman recalled the other day. “But the way it comes out is that everybody was not nice to them. There are statues for the Little Rock Nine, but white kids also deserve statues.”
Bowman arrived on the opening day of the historic school year on Sept. 3 — 50 years ago last Monday — all by himself.
“I rode a motorcycle to class,” he said.
The Little Rock Nine didn’t show up till the following day, when a mob formed outside the school. The troops blocked the black students from getting in, but they did get in on Sept. 23, when federal troops were stationed in the halls and outside the school.
Bowman admits a friend of his did something stupid and probably regretted it for the rest of his life.
“One of my best friends,” he says, “poured soup on Minnijean Brown,” one of the Little Rock Nine. “The Army people carried him out. He was expelled from school and never finished high school. He died a couple of years ago.”
Brown was also expelled after she threw food at the students who had taunted her.
When Faubus and his supporters shut the Little Rock schools down a year later, Bowman scrambled to find a school he could go to.
He signed up for the waiting list at Mabelvale High School, and when enough kids were expelled, he started attending classes there, which was closer to his home than Central.
He car pooled with Fallon Davis, the starting quarterback at Central, which played football even though the school was closed.
Next summer, Bowman took junior algebra since he couldn’t get into that class at Mabelvale. He was glad Central reopened in 1959, and so were his teachers.
“The happiest day was when they had students again,” Bowman said.
A little recognition for them and the students would be nice, he said.
Maybe a statue of a group of white kids alongside the statue of the Little Rock Nine would add a touch of class to the celebration.
TOP STORY >>Bingo fever just keeps spreading
By JEFFREY SMITH
Leader staff writer
Bingo fever keeps growing ever since the state allowed legalized charitable bingo games the first week of August.
On Aug. 2, 125 bingo and raffling permits were issued by the state. That number has grown to 240 statewide, with two new bingo gaming permits issued in the area, according to the Department of Finance and Administration’s listing of bingo and raffle permit accounts.
At Sherwood’s Moose Lodge bingo hall, “Every day the lodge is getting phone calls every 15 to 20 minutes about when and which days the games are played,” said Becky West, cashier.
She continued, “Thursday night we had 170 people. Players were buying extra cards. There is still a lot of interest.”
Using bingo to fund nonprofit organizations is becoming more popular.
The Jacksonville Senior Center, 100 Victory Circle, is hosting its first official bingo games 6 to 8 p.m. Monday, Sept. 17.
The center plans to host games on the first and third Mondays of the month.
On Friday, the center will have a practice run of bingo operations for senior center members. Small prizes instead of money will be awarded during the games.
The center has installed additional electrical outlets for the bingo hall and will add drapes to hide the bingo board when it’s not in use.
“The events are to help provide extra income to help with senior activities,” said David Adamson, Jacksonville Senior Center activities director.
Adamson also said the bingo hall will help assist with overhead costs at the center, which hosts an arts and crafts show and receives grants from organizations such as the United Way.
He said the center assists and helps promote independent living for seniors and delivers Meals on Wheels and serves lunches at the center, all are expensive.
With several bingo halls in the area, players have many choices of where to play.
“I was told people are shopping around at the different bingo halls, seeing which one they like better,” said Kennneth Fraley, vice president of the South Bend Firefighters Association.
Bingo is played only at 7 p.m. Friday at the South Bend Volunteer Fire Station.
Fraley said, “Everything is running smoothly. We are averaging 55 to 70 each night.”
The King’s Outreach, a non-profit organization helping the homeless and the needy with its two thrift stores in Cabot and Jacksonville, opened a bingo hall in Gravel Ridge.
Business is “pretty good. We are maintaining our crowd, with the same people coming in since the first night,” said Jacki Klatt, operator.
Thursdays seem to be drawing the larger crowds and he said he’s determined to offer the number- one bingo service in the area.
Leader staff writer
Bingo fever keeps growing ever since the state allowed legalized charitable bingo games the first week of August.
On Aug. 2, 125 bingo and raffling permits were issued by the state. That number has grown to 240 statewide, with two new bingo gaming permits issued in the area, according to the Department of Finance and Administration’s listing of bingo and raffle permit accounts.
At Sherwood’s Moose Lodge bingo hall, “Every day the lodge is getting phone calls every 15 to 20 minutes about when and which days the games are played,” said Becky West, cashier.
She continued, “Thursday night we had 170 people. Players were buying extra cards. There is still a lot of interest.”
Using bingo to fund nonprofit organizations is becoming more popular.
The Jacksonville Senior Center, 100 Victory Circle, is hosting its first official bingo games 6 to 8 p.m. Monday, Sept. 17.
The center plans to host games on the first and third Mondays of the month.
On Friday, the center will have a practice run of bingo operations for senior center members. Small prizes instead of money will be awarded during the games.
The center has installed additional electrical outlets for the bingo hall and will add drapes to hide the bingo board when it’s not in use.
“The events are to help provide extra income to help with senior activities,” said David Adamson, Jacksonville Senior Center activities director.
Adamson also said the bingo hall will help assist with overhead costs at the center, which hosts an arts and crafts show and receives grants from organizations such as the United Way.
He said the center assists and helps promote independent living for seniors and delivers Meals on Wheels and serves lunches at the center, all are expensive.
With several bingo halls in the area, players have many choices of where to play.
“I was told people are shopping around at the different bingo halls, seeing which one they like better,” said Kennneth Fraley, vice president of the South Bend Firefighters Association.
Bingo is played only at 7 p.m. Friday at the South Bend Volunteer Fire Station.
Fraley said, “Everything is running smoothly. We are averaging 55 to 70 each night.”
The King’s Outreach, a non-profit organization helping the homeless and the needy with its two thrift stores in Cabot and Jacksonville, opened a bingo hall in Gravel Ridge.
Business is “pretty good. We are maintaining our crowd, with the same people coming in since the first night,” said Jacki Klatt, operator.
Thursdays seem to be drawing the larger crowds and he said he’s determined to offer the number- one bingo service in the area.
TOP STORY >>McDaniel reports progress
By JOHN HOFHEIMER
Leader senior staff writer
With the leadership of first-term Gov. Mike Beebe and support of the attorney general’s office, the state is free for the first time in decades from the Lake View school-funding decision and court oversight, Attorney Gen. Dustin McDaniel told Cabot Rotarians Tuesday, just moments into his address.
“We took a totally new approach,” said McDaniel. “We decided to win on the merits.”
And after the legislature put hundreds of millions of dollars into school facilities, teacher salaries and pre-kindergarten programs, the special masters released the state from oversight.
“We put unprecedented dedication into education,” he said. “It’s a new day.”
“The largest tax cut in state history was coupled with the largest increase in educational funding,” he said.
Arkansas’ dedication to funding pre-kindergarten was now the model, with future students better prepared to learn and to compete in the marketplace.
“Every dollar we spend on pre-kindergarten is a dollar we won’t have to spend on jails in the future,” he said.
McDaniel said he was amazed daily by the lengths some people will go to prey upon their fellow man “with no soul at all.”
He said his office had successfully protected Arkansas ratepayers before the Public Service Commission from a $150 million a year rate hike proposed by Entergy. In fact, he said, the PSC ordered a $6 million a year decrease beginning next month.
“So for some families, twenty, thirty, forty dollars a month makes a huge difference,” he said.
Addressing some of the popular scams defrauding people of hundreds and thousands of dollars, McDaniel warned, “Nobody in Zimbabwe wants to email you $10 million.”
He said his office has filed suit in Jonesboro against a company advertising in Spanish and charging $150 for an “international driver’s license,” which is particularly attractive to immigrants seeking some sort of legal documentation. “The drivers’ licenses include holograms and magnetic strips and look very professional, but signify nothing,” he said.
He told of one Arkansas resident who bought two nonexistent jet skis on eBay for $10,000 and his office’s quick response, which had the money back in her account in days.
McDaniel said he and Beebe had decided to join 10 other states paying a private law firm to represent them in a suit against the manufacturer of Zyprexia for psychotics—people howling at the moon from under a bridge—but which was represented to physicians as appropriate for children and senior citizens with attention- deficit disorder or dementia.
Not only was it not approved for such use, but also the side effects can include great weight gain.
He said one 9-year-old boy gained 160 pounds in months and as a result developed Type II diabetes.
McDaniel said the states had negotiated the law firm’s take down to 15 percent, much lower than most contingency rates.
He said the law firm would bring hundreds of lawyers to the fight, something that his office couldn’t do and he warned that the pharmaceutical industry would produce misleading advertisements trying to erode support for the suit.
Paraphrasing federal District Judge Bill Wilson, McDaniel said going to work at the state attorney general’s office is “like getting paid to eat ice cream.” He said he is paid to do good things, just like schoolteachers and ministers.
“Serving is what God expects,” he said.
Leader senior staff writer
With the leadership of first-term Gov. Mike Beebe and support of the attorney general’s office, the state is free for the first time in decades from the Lake View school-funding decision and court oversight, Attorney Gen. Dustin McDaniel told Cabot Rotarians Tuesday, just moments into his address.
“We took a totally new approach,” said McDaniel. “We decided to win on the merits.”
And after the legislature put hundreds of millions of dollars into school facilities, teacher salaries and pre-kindergarten programs, the special masters released the state from oversight.
“We put unprecedented dedication into education,” he said. “It’s a new day.”
“The largest tax cut in state history was coupled with the largest increase in educational funding,” he said.
Arkansas’ dedication to funding pre-kindergarten was now the model, with future students better prepared to learn and to compete in the marketplace.
“Every dollar we spend on pre-kindergarten is a dollar we won’t have to spend on jails in the future,” he said.
McDaniel said he was amazed daily by the lengths some people will go to prey upon their fellow man “with no soul at all.”
He said his office had successfully protected Arkansas ratepayers before the Public Service Commission from a $150 million a year rate hike proposed by Entergy. In fact, he said, the PSC ordered a $6 million a year decrease beginning next month.
“So for some families, twenty, thirty, forty dollars a month makes a huge difference,” he said.
Addressing some of the popular scams defrauding people of hundreds and thousands of dollars, McDaniel warned, “Nobody in Zimbabwe wants to email you $10 million.”
He said his office has filed suit in Jonesboro against a company advertising in Spanish and charging $150 for an “international driver’s license,” which is particularly attractive to immigrants seeking some sort of legal documentation. “The drivers’ licenses include holograms and magnetic strips and look very professional, but signify nothing,” he said.
He told of one Arkansas resident who bought two nonexistent jet skis on eBay for $10,000 and his office’s quick response, which had the money back in her account in days.
McDaniel said he and Beebe had decided to join 10 other states paying a private law firm to represent them in a suit against the manufacturer of Zyprexia for psychotics—people howling at the moon from under a bridge—but which was represented to physicians as appropriate for children and senior citizens with attention- deficit disorder or dementia.
Not only was it not approved for such use, but also the side effects can include great weight gain.
He said one 9-year-old boy gained 160 pounds in months and as a result developed Type II diabetes.
McDaniel said the states had negotiated the law firm’s take down to 15 percent, much lower than most contingency rates.
He said the law firm would bring hundreds of lawyers to the fight, something that his office couldn’t do and he warned that the pharmaceutical industry would produce misleading advertisements trying to erode support for the suit.
Paraphrasing federal District Judge Bill Wilson, McDaniel said going to work at the state attorney general’s office is “like getting paid to eat ice cream.” He said he is paid to do good things, just like schoolteachers and ministers.
“Serving is what God expects,” he said.
TOP STORY >>Law gives borrowers lower-rate alternative
By JOHN HOFHEIMER
Leader senior staff writer
With a new federal law poised to limit to 36 percent annually the interest that can be charged members of the military, Arkansas Federal Credit Union will introduce a new consumer loan to replace the predatory loans currently available by so-called payday lenders and check cashers.
Payday lenders in Arkansas typically make say a $300 loan for two weeks with a payback of $350, charging hundreds of percent interest when figured as an annual percentage, but the new law takes effect by October 1.
Not coincidentally, Arkansas Federal Credit Union—which has taken a leadership position for several years in opposing the payday lending industry—will begin offering military appreciation loans at 18 percent annual interest, according to Terry Vick, vice president of lending for the credit union.
The loan is intended to help the troops get out of payday difficulties, Vick says.
“We’ll lend up to $750 and (also) help build a $375 savings account,” he said.
The money in the savings account is placed on hold until the entire loan is paid off over the course of a single year.
Essentially, the borrower is getting $1,125 for $115 interest, instead of paying $50 to borrow $300 for two weeks.
Vick said the loan and savings would help the borrowers out of current difficulties, with money in the bank to face the next emergency.
He said those attending a sergeants’ meeting at Little Rock Air Force Base had warmly received the proposal. Arkansas Federal Credit Union is located just outside the base’s Vandenberg gate.
Vick said if the loan product is well received and works, it might be made available to other credit union customers, probably by employee grouping.
“It’s not (going to be) a money maker for us,” said Vick.
In North Little Rock, where there are twice as many payday lenders and check cashers per capita as in the entire county, the city council has approved the first two readings of an ordinance placing a two-year moratorium on new payday lenders and check cashers.
Throughout all of Pulaski County, there is one such lender per 10,000 population, but in North Little Rock—home of Camp Robinson — the ratio is one lender per 5,000 population. In Jacksonville, home of Little Rock Air Force Base, the ratio is one lender per 6,000 residents.
Attorney General Dustin McDaniel said Tuesday that he is against payday lenders, but that it’s tricky to write legislation that limits their activities without affecting banks, which charge $25 or more per check in overdraft protection—amounts that sometimes figure higher than payday loans.
He said the North Little Rock moratorium could help limit payday lenders but he believes the answer might be for banks to make small, short-term loans available to consumers at interest rates lower than the state’s usury cap.
That’s what the credit union is doing with its military loans.
Leader senior staff writer
With a new federal law poised to limit to 36 percent annually the interest that can be charged members of the military, Arkansas Federal Credit Union will introduce a new consumer loan to replace the predatory loans currently available by so-called payday lenders and check cashers.
Payday lenders in Arkansas typically make say a $300 loan for two weeks with a payback of $350, charging hundreds of percent interest when figured as an annual percentage, but the new law takes effect by October 1.
Not coincidentally, Arkansas Federal Credit Union—which has taken a leadership position for several years in opposing the payday lending industry—will begin offering military appreciation loans at 18 percent annual interest, according to Terry Vick, vice president of lending for the credit union.
The loan is intended to help the troops get out of payday difficulties, Vick says.
“We’ll lend up to $750 and (also) help build a $375 savings account,” he said.
The money in the savings account is placed on hold until the entire loan is paid off over the course of a single year.
Essentially, the borrower is getting $1,125 for $115 interest, instead of paying $50 to borrow $300 for two weeks.
Vick said the loan and savings would help the borrowers out of current difficulties, with money in the bank to face the next emergency.
He said those attending a sergeants’ meeting at Little Rock Air Force Base had warmly received the proposal. Arkansas Federal Credit Union is located just outside the base’s Vandenberg gate.
Vick said if the loan product is well received and works, it might be made available to other credit union customers, probably by employee grouping.
“It’s not (going to be) a money maker for us,” said Vick.
In North Little Rock, where there are twice as many payday lenders and check cashers per capita as in the entire county, the city council has approved the first two readings of an ordinance placing a two-year moratorium on new payday lenders and check cashers.
Throughout all of Pulaski County, there is one such lender per 10,000 population, but in North Little Rock—home of Camp Robinson — the ratio is one lender per 5,000 population. In Jacksonville, home of Little Rock Air Force Base, the ratio is one lender per 6,000 residents.
Attorney General Dustin McDaniel said Tuesday that he is against payday lenders, but that it’s tricky to write legislation that limits their activities without affecting banks, which charge $25 or more per check in overdraft protection—amounts that sometimes figure higher than payday loans.
He said the North Little Rock moratorium could help limit payday lenders but he believes the answer might be for banks to make small, short-term loans available to consumers at interest rates lower than the state’s usury cap.
That’s what the credit union is doing with its military loans.
Tuesday, September 04, 2007
LEADER JOBS>>9-05-07
Positions available at The Leader newspaper in Jacksonville.
If there are no positions available for the position you would like, please feel free to email your resume to: efeldman@arkansasleader.com
GENERAL ASSIGNMENT staff reporter needed for a variety of beats which may include education, politics, local government, police. Photography experience helpful but not necessary. Experience a must. Full-time position with benefits. Email resume to efeldman@arkansasleader.com. For more information, call Eileen at 501-982-9421. EOC employer.
HELP WANTED: A position has opened at The Leader for a graphic artist experienced in InDesign, Quark Photoshop and MultiAd. Newspaper experience a plus. Good pay. Full array of benefits available. Primarily daytime hours. Flex schedule could be available for the right candidate. Email resume to efeldman@arkansasleader.com or send by fax to 501-985-0026. For more information, call Clay at 501-982-9421.*
If there are no positions available for the position you would like, please feel free to email your resume to: efeldman@arkansasleader.com
GENERAL ASSIGNMENT staff reporter needed for a variety of beats which may include education, politics, local government, police. Photography experience helpful but not necessary. Experience a must. Full-time position with benefits. Email resume to efeldman@arkansasleader.com. For more information, call Eileen at 501-982-9421. EOC employer.
HELP WANTED: A position has opened at The Leader for a graphic artist experienced in InDesign, Quark Photoshop and MultiAd. Newspaper experience a plus. Good pay. Full array of benefits available. Primarily daytime hours. Flex schedule could be available for the right candidate. Email resume to efeldman@arkansasleader.com or send by fax to 501-985-0026. For more information, call Clay at 501-982-9421.*
SPORTS >>Lonoke falters in second, loses late
By JASON KING
Leader sportswriter
Hot Springs’ no-guts-no-glory approach in the final moments of the game stripped Lonoke of a hard-fought contest, as the Trojans scored on a two-point conversion with 29 seconds left to claim a 36-35 win Friday night at James B. Abraham Stadium in Lonoke.
The Jackrabbits scored what would have been the game-winning touchdown under normal circumstances just three minutes earlier, but the constant yellow laundry and turnovers turned game momentum into a sporadic occurrence for both teams.
Lonoke junior quarterback Rollins Elam snuck in from one-yard out at the 3:15 mark of the fourth quarter to hand the lead back to Lonoke after the Trojans battled back from a 21-7 halftime deficit. Brandon Smith added the two-point conversion to put the ‘Rabbits up by a full-score at 35-28.
The best tale of the tape was penalties. Hot Springs was penalized 11 times for 100 yards; Lonoke had the same amount of flags for 105 yards. The most painful of penalties for Lonoke came at the 7:38 mark of the fourth quarter with the ‘Rabbits trailing the Trojans 28-27.
Hot Springs had just taken its first lead of the game moments earlier with an 18-yard touchdown run by super Trojan Jeremiah Maglero on a reverse handoff from quarterback Desha Willis at the 11:02 mark. Clarence Harris took the handoff from Elam in for a touchdown from 20-yards out, but an illegal block penalty on the ‘Rabbits offensive line brought the play back.
This would give Lonoke a fourth and five situation at the Hot Springs’ 23-yard line, forcing the Jackrabbits to go for it on fourth down. Harris took the direct snap, but was stopped at the line of scrimmage by Trojan linebackers Xzavier Montgomery and Jonathon Seymour.
This gave the Trojans the ball at their own 21-yard line, but another penalty for a face mask set them back at the 6-yard line. Another flag for a false start moments later gave them fourth and 17 to force a punt. The punt shanked, and Lonoke ended up with excellent field position at the Trojans’ 49-yard line.
The air generated all three Lonoke scores in the first half, as Elam went 8 for 13 passing for 128 yards and three touchdowns. The numbers in the second half didn’t quite match up at 3 for 7 for 78 yards and an interception.
The best pass play for Lonoke in the second half that wasn’t brought back for one penalty or another came on the final scoring drive for the ‘Rabbits, as Elam started the drive at the Hot Springs 49-yard line with a pass to Michael Howard.
Howard started on the left side, beating two defenders to the middle of the field at the spot, pulling Elam’s toss for a 44-yard gain that set Lonoke up with first and goal from the 5-yard line.
Three minutes proved to be more than enough time for Hot Springs to respond, as Maglero started the drive with a 20-yard run down the left side. Another run on the right side gave the Trojans first and 10 at the Lonoke 27-yard line.
Willis kept for an 11-yard run on third and four to set up Hot Springs with first and goal from the 8-yard line. Brandon Turner then closed the deal for the Trojans, pulling down a Willis’ hurl from five yards out for the score.
The score pulled the Trojans to within a point, 35-34. The Trojans went against all logic and lined up for a two-point conversion, and put it in the hands of the player who did the most damage for Hot Springs all night.
Maglero took the handoff up the middle, and bulldozed his way through the Lonoke line to put up the final points of the night in the shootout.
Lonoke had a much easier time in the first half. After a scoreless first quarter, the Jackrabbits found success in their passing game. Elam got the first of his three touchdown passes at the 9:30 mark of the second quarter with a 19-yard pass to Daniel Smith up the middle. Smith then added the extra point, giving the ‘Rabbits the first lead of the game at 7-0.
The Lonoke defense then gave good field position back to the offense with a sack on Willis. Joel Harris wrapped up Willis for the sack, jarring the ball loose in the process. Brad Harvey fell on the ball for Lonoke, setting up first down at the Hot Springs 45-yard line.
It only took two plays from there for the next ‘Rabbit touchdown. Harris started the brief drive with a 25-yard run, followed by a pass from Elam to Howard for the score. Another Smith extra-point put Lonoke up 14-0.
The second touchdown pass from Elam to Smith put the Jackrabbits in a seemingly comfortable position with a 21-0 lead, but Maglero put the Trojans on the board for the first time just before the end of the first half with an 11-yard touchdown reception from Willis.
Elam finished the game with 11 completions on 20 attempts for 206 yards, three touchdowns and an interception. Trojans QB Willis had 16 completions on 22 attempts for 216 yards and one touchdown. 10 of those completions came in the second half for 157 yards.
Tyler Crow finished with seven carries for 87 yards. For Hot Springs, Maglero had 10 carries for 60 yards and two rushing touchdowns, along with nine receptions for 172 yards and two touchdowns.
Lonoke will host Beebe, a 21-0 winner over Greenbrier, next Friday at Abraham Stadium. The Trojans will host Sheridan, a 14-48 loser to Warren, next week in their home opener.
Leader sportswriter
Hot Springs’ no-guts-no-glory approach in the final moments of the game stripped Lonoke of a hard-fought contest, as the Trojans scored on a two-point conversion with 29 seconds left to claim a 36-35 win Friday night at James B. Abraham Stadium in Lonoke.
The Jackrabbits scored what would have been the game-winning touchdown under normal circumstances just three minutes earlier, but the constant yellow laundry and turnovers turned game momentum into a sporadic occurrence for both teams.
Lonoke junior quarterback Rollins Elam snuck in from one-yard out at the 3:15 mark of the fourth quarter to hand the lead back to Lonoke after the Trojans battled back from a 21-7 halftime deficit. Brandon Smith added the two-point conversion to put the ‘Rabbits up by a full-score at 35-28.
The best tale of the tape was penalties. Hot Springs was penalized 11 times for 100 yards; Lonoke had the same amount of flags for 105 yards. The most painful of penalties for Lonoke came at the 7:38 mark of the fourth quarter with the ‘Rabbits trailing the Trojans 28-27.
Hot Springs had just taken its first lead of the game moments earlier with an 18-yard touchdown run by super Trojan Jeremiah Maglero on a reverse handoff from quarterback Desha Willis at the 11:02 mark. Clarence Harris took the handoff from Elam in for a touchdown from 20-yards out, but an illegal block penalty on the ‘Rabbits offensive line brought the play back.
This would give Lonoke a fourth and five situation at the Hot Springs’ 23-yard line, forcing the Jackrabbits to go for it on fourth down. Harris took the direct snap, but was stopped at the line of scrimmage by Trojan linebackers Xzavier Montgomery and Jonathon Seymour.
This gave the Trojans the ball at their own 21-yard line, but another penalty for a face mask set them back at the 6-yard line. Another flag for a false start moments later gave them fourth and 17 to force a punt. The punt shanked, and Lonoke ended up with excellent field position at the Trojans’ 49-yard line.
The air generated all three Lonoke scores in the first half, as Elam went 8 for 13 passing for 128 yards and three touchdowns. The numbers in the second half didn’t quite match up at 3 for 7 for 78 yards and an interception.
The best pass play for Lonoke in the second half that wasn’t brought back for one penalty or another came on the final scoring drive for the ‘Rabbits, as Elam started the drive at the Hot Springs 49-yard line with a pass to Michael Howard.
Howard started on the left side, beating two defenders to the middle of the field at the spot, pulling Elam’s toss for a 44-yard gain that set Lonoke up with first and goal from the 5-yard line.
Three minutes proved to be more than enough time for Hot Springs to respond, as Maglero started the drive with a 20-yard run down the left side. Another run on the right side gave the Trojans first and 10 at the Lonoke 27-yard line.
Willis kept for an 11-yard run on third and four to set up Hot Springs with first and goal from the 8-yard line. Brandon Turner then closed the deal for the Trojans, pulling down a Willis’ hurl from five yards out for the score.
The score pulled the Trojans to within a point, 35-34. The Trojans went against all logic and lined up for a two-point conversion, and put it in the hands of the player who did the most damage for Hot Springs all night.
Maglero took the handoff up the middle, and bulldozed his way through the Lonoke line to put up the final points of the night in the shootout.
Lonoke had a much easier time in the first half. After a scoreless first quarter, the Jackrabbits found success in their passing game. Elam got the first of his three touchdown passes at the 9:30 mark of the second quarter with a 19-yard pass to Daniel Smith up the middle. Smith then added the extra point, giving the ‘Rabbits the first lead of the game at 7-0.
The Lonoke defense then gave good field position back to the offense with a sack on Willis. Joel Harris wrapped up Willis for the sack, jarring the ball loose in the process. Brad Harvey fell on the ball for Lonoke, setting up first down at the Hot Springs 45-yard line.
It only took two plays from there for the next ‘Rabbit touchdown. Harris started the brief drive with a 25-yard run, followed by a pass from Elam to Howard for the score. Another Smith extra-point put Lonoke up 14-0.
The second touchdown pass from Elam to Smith put the Jackrabbits in a seemingly comfortable position with a 21-0 lead, but Maglero put the Trojans on the board for the first time just before the end of the first half with an 11-yard touchdown reception from Willis.
Elam finished the game with 11 completions on 20 attempts for 206 yards, three touchdowns and an interception. Trojans QB Willis had 16 completions on 22 attempts for 216 yards and one touchdown. 10 of those completions came in the second half for 157 yards.
Tyler Crow finished with seven carries for 87 yards. For Hot Springs, Maglero had 10 carries for 60 yards and two rushing touchdowns, along with nine receptions for 172 yards and two touchdowns.
Lonoke will host Beebe, a 21-0 winner over Greenbrier, next Friday at Abraham Stadium. The Trojans will host Sheridan, a 14-48 loser to Warren, next week in their home opener.
SPORTS >>Beebe wins in shut out
By JOHNNY RAY LAKE
Leader football writer
There is a sense of excitement building in Beebe. And you have to look no further than the head coach to see it.
The Beebe Badgers defeated the visiting Panthers of Greenbriar Friday night 21-0 under new head coach John Shannon. The new dead- T offense implemented by Shannon may have been the topic of discussion since spring, but it was the Badger defense that claimed the spotlight in the Badger’s home opener.
The Badger defense held the Panthers to 89 total yards, including five sacks, in recording the shutout. The Panthers rushed 28 times for a total of 21 net yards. Beebe also kept the Panther passing game in check by allowing only eight completions out of 26 attempts, with most of those coming in the second half as Greenbriar tried to make a comeback.
“It was a win, but an ugly win,” Shannon said shortly after the game. “But a win is a win, and it feels great to start the season this way.”
The offense did their part as well, as the Badgers went into the locker room at halftime with the lead. A seven-yard touchdown pass form senior quarterback Charlie Spakes to Josh Turner on fourth down with 56 seconds remaining in the first half gave the Badgers a 14-0 cushion just before the half.
On fourth and eight from the Panther 13 yard line, Shannon chose to go for the touchdown rather than attempt a field goal. Spakes found Turner open in the right corner of the end zone to put the Badgers up 7-0 in the second quarter.
“We feel converting fourth and short situations is much better than giving the opposing team the ball,” Shannon said. “We didn’t go for any in the second half because we were pinned up pretty deep on our side of the field.” The offense converted 5 of 5 fourth down conversions in the first half, scoring touchdowns on two of them
The Panther opened the game with a long drive down to the Badger 18-yard line, but a missed 35-yard field goal gabe possesion to Beebe. The Badgers responded with their own clock-killing drive in which they drove 82 yards in just under eight minutes to put the first points on the board in the second quarter. Beebe converted two first down conversions to sustain the long drive.
A fumble on the opening drive in the second half by Beebe gave the Panthers good field position and a chance to get back in the game. But the Badger defense forced an incomplete pass on fourth and five, and the offense took over on their own 33-yard line.
After a fumble on the ensuing possession, Greenbrier again had good field position near midfield. But on fourth and goal from the Badger 14, the defense came through again by forcing the Panthers to come up short on a run up the middle. The Panthers were unsuccessful in three fourth down attempts for the game.
With just over two minutes left in the fourth quarter, Beebe put the game away on a one-yd run by running back James Anderson, giving the Badgers a 21-0 shutout victory.
Running back Sammy Williams led all rushers with 161 yards on 18 carries. Spakes was 4-8 passing with 64 yards and two touchdowns, both to Turner. The Badgers gained 198 total yards for the game, and would have had more if not for six untimely penalties; one which negated a 25-yard run by James Anderson.
“This first win feels great,” said Shannon. “Our defense played great, and we will study the film this week to see what areas we can work to improve on offensively and defensively”. “We definitely need to cut down on our turnovers and penalties,” he added.
Shannon and the Badgers travel to Lonoke next week to take on the Lonoke Jackrabbits, who lost a last-second heartbreaker to Hot Springs 36-35.
Leader football writer
There is a sense of excitement building in Beebe. And you have to look no further than the head coach to see it.
The Beebe Badgers defeated the visiting Panthers of Greenbriar Friday night 21-0 under new head coach John Shannon. The new dead- T offense implemented by Shannon may have been the topic of discussion since spring, but it was the Badger defense that claimed the spotlight in the Badger’s home opener.
The Badger defense held the Panthers to 89 total yards, including five sacks, in recording the shutout. The Panthers rushed 28 times for a total of 21 net yards. Beebe also kept the Panther passing game in check by allowing only eight completions out of 26 attempts, with most of those coming in the second half as Greenbriar tried to make a comeback.
“It was a win, but an ugly win,” Shannon said shortly after the game. “But a win is a win, and it feels great to start the season this way.”
The offense did their part as well, as the Badgers went into the locker room at halftime with the lead. A seven-yard touchdown pass form senior quarterback Charlie Spakes to Josh Turner on fourth down with 56 seconds remaining in the first half gave the Badgers a 14-0 cushion just before the half.
On fourth and eight from the Panther 13 yard line, Shannon chose to go for the touchdown rather than attempt a field goal. Spakes found Turner open in the right corner of the end zone to put the Badgers up 7-0 in the second quarter.
“We feel converting fourth and short situations is much better than giving the opposing team the ball,” Shannon said. “We didn’t go for any in the second half because we were pinned up pretty deep on our side of the field.” The offense converted 5 of 5 fourth down conversions in the first half, scoring touchdowns on two of them
The Panther opened the game with a long drive down to the Badger 18-yard line, but a missed 35-yard field goal gabe possesion to Beebe. The Badgers responded with their own clock-killing drive in which they drove 82 yards in just under eight minutes to put the first points on the board in the second quarter. Beebe converted two first down conversions to sustain the long drive.
A fumble on the opening drive in the second half by Beebe gave the Panthers good field position and a chance to get back in the game. But the Badger defense forced an incomplete pass on fourth and five, and the offense took over on their own 33-yard line.
After a fumble on the ensuing possession, Greenbrier again had good field position near midfield. But on fourth and goal from the Badger 14, the defense came through again by forcing the Panthers to come up short on a run up the middle. The Panthers were unsuccessful in three fourth down attempts for the game.
With just over two minutes left in the fourth quarter, Beebe put the game away on a one-yd run by running back James Anderson, giving the Badgers a 21-0 shutout victory.
Running back Sammy Williams led all rushers with 161 yards on 18 carries. Spakes was 4-8 passing with 64 yards and two touchdowns, both to Turner. The Badgers gained 198 total yards for the game, and would have had more if not for six untimely penalties; one which negated a 25-yard run by James Anderson.
“This first win feels great,” said Shannon. “Our defense played great, and we will study the film this week to see what areas we can work to improve on offensively and defensively”. “We definitely need to cut down on our turnovers and penalties,” he added.
Shannon and the Badgers travel to Lonoke next week to take on the Lonoke Jackrabbits, who lost a last-second heartbreaker to Hot Springs 36-35.
SPORTS >>Cabot drives over Devils
By RAY BENTON
Leader sports editor
Cabot was favored to beat Jacksonville at home Friday night to open the 2007 high-school football season, but not the way it did. The Panthers plowed through the Red Devils for 35 first-half points en route to a 42-0 victory.
The Panther offensive line dominated the line of scrimmage, and Cabot coach Mike Malham couldn’t find much to complain about.
“You didn’t see very many mistakes,” Malham said. “I’m sure there were a lot in there, but the offensive line played really good tonight. We finally have some size down there. We’ve been playing with miniature linemen for the last few years. It’s nice to have some bigger guys up front for a change.”
The Panthers enjoyed a good scoring percentage in the first half. The offense got the ball five times, and scored just that many touchdowns Friday night in an easy season opening victory over Jacksonville.
They got a lot of help from the visiting Red Devils. Jacksonville committed three turnovers in the first half, and stalled on another drive inside the Panther 10-yard line.
Jacksonville got the ball first, and got a first down on the opening play of the season when quarterback Cameron Hood hit receiver Terrell L’Hrisse for a 12-yard gain. After an incomplete pass, a deep pass was overthrown and picked off by Hunter Hess at the Cabot 30-yard line.
The Panthers took over with just 30 seconds gone in the game, and marched the 70 yards needed for the score in 10 plays, consuming four minutes of clock. Sophomore fullback Michael James got the final carry, a nine-yard run up the middle with 7:19 on the clock.
Jacksonville’s next drive started better than the first. This time it was running back Patrick Geans that took the handoff, juked his way into open field and scampered 50 yards to the Cabot 25. Hood saved a third and long by scrambling for a first down, but two incomplete passes and a run for no gain left fourth and 10. Jacksonville tried a quarterback draw, but Hood was hit by sophomore linebacker Spencer Neumann three yards short of the first down at the 8-yard line.
It took the Panthers 14 plays to score from there. They picked up six first downs and only had to convert two third downs. James took the honors of scoring the touchdown again, this time a one-yard plunge to put Cabot up by two scores with 11:56 left in the second quarter.
The Red Devils picked up 23 yards on three plays on their third drive, but the turnover bug bit again.
An out pattern failed to come together, and sophomore safety Joseph Bryant picked off the pass and returned it to the end zone. The touchdown was called back from a block in the back, but Cabot scored two plays later when sophomore quarterback Seth Bloomberg kept on the option for 10 yards and the touchdown.
Steve Lamb’s third extra point made it 21-0 with exactly 10:00 showing on the clock in the second quarter.
The third and final turnover of the half came three plays into Jacksonville’s next drive.
Sophomore nose guard T.J. Bertrand stripped the ball and junior Cody Myers covered at the Jacksonville 35. The Panthers needed just three plays and a 15-yard face mask penalty on the Devils to get into the end zone again. Halfback Jordan Carlisle took honors this time, taking it the final 10 yards with 7:31 left in the half.
Jacksonville got just one yard on its next drive. Hood entered the game to punt after yielding quarterback duties to Thomas Blade for the drive. Hood booted the ball 49 yards to pin Cabot on its own 19. This time the Panthers committed three penalties, but it was going to take more than that to stop the locomotive-type offense that was running the show.
The final scoring drive of the half took 11 plays, and featured Cabot’s only pass attempt of the night. On second and seven, Bloomberg rolled right and hit Bayles on a short screen pass. Bayles took it 23 yards to the Jacksonville 15. Earlier in the drive, Bayles had a 26-yard run. James carried it the final yard with 25 seconds left in the half for his third touchdown of the game.
The second half went by quickly. The Panther second string put together the longest drive of the game, but it came up empty. The drive lasted 16 plays and covered 57 yards, but stalled on downs at the Jacksonville 15.
The Red Devils took over, but committed their fourth turnover of the game on just the second play. Jake Todd covered the loose ball at the Jacksonville 21 with five minutes left in the game. It took eight plays to cover the short distance, and the game’s final score was a six-yard carry by sophomore Matt Bayles with 47 seconds left in the game.
The Panthers racked up 365 total yards with 280 of that coming in the first half. Jacksonville had 165 total yards, with 139 in the first half.
James led all rushers with 93 yards on 18 carries and three touchdowns. Bayles led all players in total yards. He carried 10 times for 88 yards and had the one catch for 23 yards to give him 111 total yards. Carlisle carried 10 times for 66 yards and a score.
Jacksonville’s Geans had 102 total yards.
Cabot will travel to Sylvan Hills, who lost 28-12 to Catholic on Wednesday, while Jacksonville will host its home opener against Lake Hamilton, a 48-6 winner over JA Fair.
Leader sports editor
Cabot was favored to beat Jacksonville at home Friday night to open the 2007 high-school football season, but not the way it did. The Panthers plowed through the Red Devils for 35 first-half points en route to a 42-0 victory.
The Panther offensive line dominated the line of scrimmage, and Cabot coach Mike Malham couldn’t find much to complain about.
“You didn’t see very many mistakes,” Malham said. “I’m sure there were a lot in there, but the offensive line played really good tonight. We finally have some size down there. We’ve been playing with miniature linemen for the last few years. It’s nice to have some bigger guys up front for a change.”
The Panthers enjoyed a good scoring percentage in the first half. The offense got the ball five times, and scored just that many touchdowns Friday night in an easy season opening victory over Jacksonville.
They got a lot of help from the visiting Red Devils. Jacksonville committed three turnovers in the first half, and stalled on another drive inside the Panther 10-yard line.
Jacksonville got the ball first, and got a first down on the opening play of the season when quarterback Cameron Hood hit receiver Terrell L’Hrisse for a 12-yard gain. After an incomplete pass, a deep pass was overthrown and picked off by Hunter Hess at the Cabot 30-yard line.
The Panthers took over with just 30 seconds gone in the game, and marched the 70 yards needed for the score in 10 plays, consuming four minutes of clock. Sophomore fullback Michael James got the final carry, a nine-yard run up the middle with 7:19 on the clock.
Jacksonville’s next drive started better than the first. This time it was running back Patrick Geans that took the handoff, juked his way into open field and scampered 50 yards to the Cabot 25. Hood saved a third and long by scrambling for a first down, but two incomplete passes and a run for no gain left fourth and 10. Jacksonville tried a quarterback draw, but Hood was hit by sophomore linebacker Spencer Neumann three yards short of the first down at the 8-yard line.
It took the Panthers 14 plays to score from there. They picked up six first downs and only had to convert two third downs. James took the honors of scoring the touchdown again, this time a one-yard plunge to put Cabot up by two scores with 11:56 left in the second quarter.
The Red Devils picked up 23 yards on three plays on their third drive, but the turnover bug bit again.
An out pattern failed to come together, and sophomore safety Joseph Bryant picked off the pass and returned it to the end zone. The touchdown was called back from a block in the back, but Cabot scored two plays later when sophomore quarterback Seth Bloomberg kept on the option for 10 yards and the touchdown.
Steve Lamb’s third extra point made it 21-0 with exactly 10:00 showing on the clock in the second quarter.
The third and final turnover of the half came three plays into Jacksonville’s next drive.
Sophomore nose guard T.J. Bertrand stripped the ball and junior Cody Myers covered at the Jacksonville 35. The Panthers needed just three plays and a 15-yard face mask penalty on the Devils to get into the end zone again. Halfback Jordan Carlisle took honors this time, taking it the final 10 yards with 7:31 left in the half.
Jacksonville got just one yard on its next drive. Hood entered the game to punt after yielding quarterback duties to Thomas Blade for the drive. Hood booted the ball 49 yards to pin Cabot on its own 19. This time the Panthers committed three penalties, but it was going to take more than that to stop the locomotive-type offense that was running the show.
The final scoring drive of the half took 11 plays, and featured Cabot’s only pass attempt of the night. On second and seven, Bloomberg rolled right and hit Bayles on a short screen pass. Bayles took it 23 yards to the Jacksonville 15. Earlier in the drive, Bayles had a 26-yard run. James carried it the final yard with 25 seconds left in the half for his third touchdown of the game.
The second half went by quickly. The Panther second string put together the longest drive of the game, but it came up empty. The drive lasted 16 plays and covered 57 yards, but stalled on downs at the Jacksonville 15.
The Red Devils took over, but committed their fourth turnover of the game on just the second play. Jake Todd covered the loose ball at the Jacksonville 21 with five minutes left in the game. It took eight plays to cover the short distance, and the game’s final score was a six-yard carry by sophomore Matt Bayles with 47 seconds left in the game.
The Panthers racked up 365 total yards with 280 of that coming in the first half. Jacksonville had 165 total yards, with 139 in the first half.
James led all rushers with 93 yards on 18 carries and three touchdowns. Bayles led all players in total yards. He carried 10 times for 88 yards and had the one catch for 23 yards to give him 111 total yards. Carlisle carried 10 times for 66 yards and a score.
Jacksonville’s Geans had 102 total yards.
Cabot will travel to Sylvan Hills, who lost 28-12 to Catholic on Wednesday, while Jacksonville will host its home opener against Lake Hamilton, a 48-6 winner over JA Fair.
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