By KELLY FENTON
Leader sports editor
A couple of 7A powerhouses will try to keep their Central Conference title hopes alive on Friday night when North Little Rock visits Cabot for a 7 p.m. tilt.
Cabot will be trying to bounce back from its first loss of the season — a thrilling 35-28 setback to Little Rock Catholic last Friday night at Panther Stadium. The Panthers’ fourth-down play from the Rocket 6-yard line failed on the final play of the game.
“It was an exciting game to watch,” said Panther head coach Mike Malham. “It probably wasn’t so much fun for the Cabot side at the end. But the game (against North Little Rock) is a lot bigger now than before we lost.”
It’s big for the Charging Wildcats, as well. North Little Rock, which has proved to be a defensive dynamo this season, rebounded last week from its first loss of the season by hanging on for an 18-10 win over winless Conway. North Little Rock, boasting a fast and huge defense, has surrendered just 36 points all season, limited Conway to 129 total yards.
“They have more size than we do,” Malham said. “We’re going with a smaller lineup and we’re going to have to knock them off the ball. It’s going to be trench warfare, for sure.”
That Cabot offensive line had perhaps its best game of the season against Catholic, allowing Michael James to run for 114 yards and four touchdowns, while Chris Bayles added 89 yards.
“We were better offensively than we were against Conway (the previous week),” Malham said. “We’ve had nights where we’ve struggled. Hopefully, we’re getting more consistent. The offensive line definitely got off the ball better.”
Against North Little Rock, the Panthers will be facing a fast and big defense. None bigger than 355 pound nose-guard Darius Hudson, a transfer from Little Rock Central.
“Hudson moves as well as any guy that size I’ve ever coached,” said North Little Rock head coach Brad Bolding. “If he loses a little weight, he could play anywhere.”
They’ve also got a great defensive end in Anthony Rogers and linebackers and defensive backs that run extremely well. For Dead-T-dedicated Cabot, it may be a case of having to mix things up more than usual. The Panthers threw the ball effectively against Catholic.
As good as the Charging Wildcats have been defensively, their offense has been spotty at best. They’re putting up only 13 points per game in compiling a 4-1 overall record. But they have the weapons to do some damage, including four solid receivers in Darius Walton and Donald James, and a solid quarterback in David Hope. Hope threw for 175 yards against Conway.
North Little Rock likes to run a little more than it throws but only by a little. It is a very balanced offense.
“The offensive line is better this year, but not anywhere where we want it to be,” Bolding said.
The Wildcats got 259 yards of offense in a 17-14 Week 4 loss to Russellville and 285 yards last Friday. North Little Rock managed only 219 total yards in a 7-6 win over Sylvan Hills earlier in the season.
“Offensively, they haven’t scored a lot of points, but they have weapons,” Malham warned. “They’re balanced, a lot like Catholic and we’ve got to be able to cover it all. They can break one off at anytime. I just hope they don’t get it all together on Friday.”
Bolding said the added speed of Cabot this season makes them even more formidable.
“What Cabot does is unique,” Bolding said. “They’re tough to stop. You have to try to force them into second and long or third and long. But this year, they’ve shown they can throw the ball and they have a quarterback that can do it. It makes them even tougher to defend.”
For Malham, there were things to be happy about despite suffering the first loss of the season. He credited Catholic receivers with making exceptional plays, even with Cabot defensive backs being in good position.
“It’s a game that could have gone either way,” Malham said. “They just made some great catches. Catholic has two losses, but against two of the top teams in the state.
“Whoever comes out of our game Friday 1-2 is not going to be in very good shape. It never gets any easier in this conference.
I’ll be surprised if anybody goes undefeated.”
Tuesday, October 07, 2008
Monday, October 06, 2008
EDITORIAL >>Probe widens into firings
The U. S. Justice Department, in a remarkable bit of introspection, concluded this week that the White House had improperly directed the firing of the federal prosecutor in Arkansas so that it could put one of its political henchmen in the job.
Everyone knew that already, but it was refreshing that the Justice Department acknowledged the fact and got it off its chest.
The department’s inspector general recommended that a special prosecutor be appointed to continue to investigate the firing of Bud Cummins, the U. S. attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas, and at least two other U.S. attorneys who were fired in 2006 and 2007 because they were not sufficiently attentive to the needs of the Republican Party and the White House.
The special counsel will see if anyone should be prosecuted for corrupting the Justice Department. The job will fall to a U. S. attorney who has prosecuted government fraud in Connecticut.
The inspector general’s 400-page report examined the firing of nine Republican prosecutors by Attorney General Alberto Gonzales, the longtime Texas friend of President Bush whom Bush dispatched from the White House counsel’s office in 2005 to replace John Ashcroft, who had displeased the White House by not providing legal opinions that suited the president’s needs.
The Justice Department thereafter became a division of the White House political office, run by Karl Rove, and a number of district attorneys were deemed not abundantly helpful to the political aims of the White House and the party.
Cummins, a loyal Republican who was named by Bush in 2001, learned in 2006 that the Justice Department wanted his resignation by year’s end. He would discover that Rove wanted Timothy Griffin in the job. The 2008 elections were coming up and Griffin’s tricks in prior elections as a Republican campaign operator, especially in Florida in the 2004 presidential election, had earned him a big reputation.
Gonzales would appoint Griffin to Cummins’ job under a little-known provision of the Patriot Act that would allow him to escape confirmation by the Senate, but he was forced to resign after a few months.
Gonzales insisted at the outset that Cummins and the other dismissed attorneys were ousted owing to their poor job performances and nothing more. The inspector general could find no evidence of poor performance by seven attorneys and scant evidence by two others. Cummins had gotten nothing but good annual evaluations.
The inspector general said he was hamstrung in his investigation by the White House’s refusal to turn over records dealing with the cases and with the refusal of White House officials and Republican members of Congress to talk to the inspector general about the cases.
Nevertheless, he said the evidence was clear in the cases of Cummins and the U. S. attorneys in Missouri and New Mexico that they were fired for political reasons alone, in Cummins’ case solely so that Rove could place Griffin, a former subordinate in the White House political office, in the job.
The Justice Department, of all the agencies of government, is supposed to be non-partisan and non-political. It is where independence resides and impartial justice is dispensed. But in the congressional hearings over the firings, it was revealed that an assistant under Gonzales who screened career attorney hirings collected political views and activities and asked job applicants how they thought they could serve George W. Bush.
Their sworn duty was not to serve Bush but the country and the Constitution.
New U. S. attorneys are typically given the speech that Attorney General Robert H. Jackson gave new attorneys in the 1940s. He warned them that they were chosen by a political process but that politics could play no role in their work or justice would be betrayed.
Prosecutors have awesome power, he said, and they had to use it cautiously and without favor.
He warned them particularly about picking out a person to prosecute or investigate for political reasons. “It is here that law enforcement becomes personal, and the real crime becomes that of being unpopular with the predominant or governing group, being attached to the wrong political views....”
The fired prosecutors were not going after Democrats with enough vigor or else were prosecuting Republicans.Gonzales’ replacement, Michael Mukasey, says those days are over. The inspector general’s report is evidence of it. Now it remains for the special prosecutor to see that justice is actually done.
Everyone knew that already, but it was refreshing that the Justice Department acknowledged the fact and got it off its chest.
The department’s inspector general recommended that a special prosecutor be appointed to continue to investigate the firing of Bud Cummins, the U. S. attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas, and at least two other U.S. attorneys who were fired in 2006 and 2007 because they were not sufficiently attentive to the needs of the Republican Party and the White House.
The special counsel will see if anyone should be prosecuted for corrupting the Justice Department. The job will fall to a U. S. attorney who has prosecuted government fraud in Connecticut.
The inspector general’s 400-page report examined the firing of nine Republican prosecutors by Attorney General Alberto Gonzales, the longtime Texas friend of President Bush whom Bush dispatched from the White House counsel’s office in 2005 to replace John Ashcroft, who had displeased the White House by not providing legal opinions that suited the president’s needs.
The Justice Department thereafter became a division of the White House political office, run by Karl Rove, and a number of district attorneys were deemed not abundantly helpful to the political aims of the White House and the party.
Cummins, a loyal Republican who was named by Bush in 2001, learned in 2006 that the Justice Department wanted his resignation by year’s end. He would discover that Rove wanted Timothy Griffin in the job. The 2008 elections were coming up and Griffin’s tricks in prior elections as a Republican campaign operator, especially in Florida in the 2004 presidential election, had earned him a big reputation.
Gonzales would appoint Griffin to Cummins’ job under a little-known provision of the Patriot Act that would allow him to escape confirmation by the Senate, but he was forced to resign after a few months.
Gonzales insisted at the outset that Cummins and the other dismissed attorneys were ousted owing to their poor job performances and nothing more. The inspector general could find no evidence of poor performance by seven attorneys and scant evidence by two others. Cummins had gotten nothing but good annual evaluations.
The inspector general said he was hamstrung in his investigation by the White House’s refusal to turn over records dealing with the cases and with the refusal of White House officials and Republican members of Congress to talk to the inspector general about the cases.
Nevertheless, he said the evidence was clear in the cases of Cummins and the U. S. attorneys in Missouri and New Mexico that they were fired for political reasons alone, in Cummins’ case solely so that Rove could place Griffin, a former subordinate in the White House political office, in the job.
The Justice Department, of all the agencies of government, is supposed to be non-partisan and non-political. It is where independence resides and impartial justice is dispensed. But in the congressional hearings over the firings, it was revealed that an assistant under Gonzales who screened career attorney hirings collected political views and activities and asked job applicants how they thought they could serve George W. Bush.
Their sworn duty was not to serve Bush but the country and the Constitution.
New U. S. attorneys are typically given the speech that Attorney General Robert H. Jackson gave new attorneys in the 1940s. He warned them that they were chosen by a political process but that politics could play no role in their work or justice would be betrayed.
Prosecutors have awesome power, he said, and they had to use it cautiously and without favor.
He warned them particularly about picking out a person to prosecute or investigate for political reasons. “It is here that law enforcement becomes personal, and the real crime becomes that of being unpopular with the predominant or governing group, being attached to the wrong political views....”
The fired prosecutors were not going after Democrats with enough vigor or else were prosecuting Republicans.Gonzales’ replacement, Michael Mukasey, says those days are over. The inspector general’s report is evidence of it. Now it remains for the special prosecutor to see that justice is actually done.
EDITORIAL >>We’re read in Congress
We’re not sure if our Wednesday editorial, “Bailout plan must pass,” swayed any votes on Friday in the House of Representatives, which finally passed a $700 billion rescue bill to shore up an economy that’s been on the brink since summer.
Cong. Vic Snyder’s office tells us the editorial was passed around in Congress, along with a handful of others from the Dallas Morning News, Washington Post and Boston Herald that supported the bailout plan, which we favored only reluctantly as a necessary step toward preventing a deeper recession.
After the House voted down the bill on Monday, some 30 votes switched in support on Friday, allowing for easy passage of the bill, which was also overwhelmingly approved in the Senate two days earlier.
Those votes, if not our editorial, may have saved Main Street and the nation.
Cong. Vic Snyder’s office tells us the editorial was passed around in Congress, along with a handful of others from the Dallas Morning News, Washington Post and Boston Herald that supported the bailout plan, which we favored only reluctantly as a necessary step toward preventing a deeper recession.
After the House voted down the bill on Monday, some 30 votes switched in support on Friday, allowing for easy passage of the bill, which was also overwhelmingly approved in the Senate two days earlier.
Those votes, if not our editorial, may have saved Main Street and the nation.
TOP STORY >>City seeks to unload its hospital
By RICK KRON
Leader staff writer
“It’s very difficult to maintain a hospital these days,” Mayor Tommy Swaim told the city council Thursday night as he asked permission to make a change in the lease, making it easier for Jacksonville to unload its city-owned hospital, North Metro Medical Center.
The mayor said cities across the state are having difficulties. Two cities — Dardanelle and Stuttgart — recently worked agreements with other entities to take over their hospitals, while Lake Village and Malvern residents approved tax increases to keep their hospitals.
The mayor said a tax increase was out of the question. “It’s just not a viable solution,” Swaim said, “because of the closeness of other facilities.” So, instead, the city has been shopping the hospital to a variety of companies and entities.
“We have two entities that are interested. One is a for-profit group and the other is a nonprofit group,” the mayor said.
The current lease agreement with the city only allows a nonprofit group to take over the hospital.
The council voted to change the lease to allow a for-profit group to operate the hospital, which is now run by a management firm from Brentwood, Tenn.
The mayor said the city didn’t know which of the two prospects would take over the hospital, or if another group might come forward, but the change in the lease gives the city maximum opportunity to work out something positive for everyone, according to the mayor.
Before voting for the lease agreement change, Alderman Gary Fletcher expressed concerns about changes in the quality and services of the hospital. Fletcher, who spent time in the hospital recently with his ailing father, said the quality of care was excellent. “The word just hasn’t gotten out how good the hospital is,” he said. “I’m worried about any disruption of services,” Fletcher said.
The mayor said the purpose of North Metro was to provide medical care for the community. He said in the negotiations with the two entities it will be clear that the facility will be, as a minimum, an acute care hospital with an emergency room. “Whichever entity takes over the hospital may bring in other specialties to the hospital,” the mayor said.
The resolution, which the council unanimously approved, authorizes the mayor to negotiate and execute all the necessary paperwork in effort to secure a long term lease for the operation of the hospital “to continue meeting the medical needs and requirements of local residents and citizens.”
No timetable for signing over the hospital to another entity was announced.
In other council business:
*Aldermen approved spending$19,500 to replace about 2,000 square feet of roofing on the police department building.
*The council approved a resolution saying it would be happy to receive and use and federal money from the Safe Routes to School Program. The city has received these funds in the past and used the money to build sidewalks leading to and from schools within the city limits.
*Alderman approved an ordinance allowing the city clerk to destroy duplicate and old, unneeded records.
“By law,” the mayor explained, “we need to keep some records permanently, and others for three to seven years.” The city currently has some records dating back 35 years.
Leader staff writer
“It’s very difficult to maintain a hospital these days,” Mayor Tommy Swaim told the city council Thursday night as he asked permission to make a change in the lease, making it easier for Jacksonville to unload its city-owned hospital, North Metro Medical Center.
The mayor said cities across the state are having difficulties. Two cities — Dardanelle and Stuttgart — recently worked agreements with other entities to take over their hospitals, while Lake Village and Malvern residents approved tax increases to keep their hospitals.
The mayor said a tax increase was out of the question. “It’s just not a viable solution,” Swaim said, “because of the closeness of other facilities.” So, instead, the city has been shopping the hospital to a variety of companies and entities.
“We have two entities that are interested. One is a for-profit group and the other is a nonprofit group,” the mayor said.
The current lease agreement with the city only allows a nonprofit group to take over the hospital.
The council voted to change the lease to allow a for-profit group to operate the hospital, which is now run by a management firm from Brentwood, Tenn.
The mayor said the city didn’t know which of the two prospects would take over the hospital, or if another group might come forward, but the change in the lease gives the city maximum opportunity to work out something positive for everyone, according to the mayor.
Before voting for the lease agreement change, Alderman Gary Fletcher expressed concerns about changes in the quality and services of the hospital. Fletcher, who spent time in the hospital recently with his ailing father, said the quality of care was excellent. “The word just hasn’t gotten out how good the hospital is,” he said. “I’m worried about any disruption of services,” Fletcher said.
The mayor said the purpose of North Metro was to provide medical care for the community. He said in the negotiations with the two entities it will be clear that the facility will be, as a minimum, an acute care hospital with an emergency room. “Whichever entity takes over the hospital may bring in other specialties to the hospital,” the mayor said.
The resolution, which the council unanimously approved, authorizes the mayor to negotiate and execute all the necessary paperwork in effort to secure a long term lease for the operation of the hospital “to continue meeting the medical needs and requirements of local residents and citizens.”
No timetable for signing over the hospital to another entity was announced.
In other council business:
*Aldermen approved spending$19,500 to replace about 2,000 square feet of roofing on the police department building.
*The council approved a resolution saying it would be happy to receive and use and federal money from the Safe Routes to School Program. The city has received these funds in the past and used the money to build sidewalks leading to and from schools within the city limits.
*Alderman approved an ordinance allowing the city clerk to destroy duplicate and old, unneeded records.
“By law,” the mayor explained, “we need to keep some records permanently, and others for three to seven years.” The city currently has some records dating back 35 years.
TOP STORY >>Broader mission for air base
By JOHN HOFHEIMER
Leader senior staff writer
It was nothin’ but blue skies Wednesday at Little Rock Air Force Base as Brig. Gen. Rowayne Schatz, Jr. changed hats but not homes to become commanding officer of the newly minted 19th Airlift Wing, while remaining Little Rock Air Force Base commander.
“Although I’m handing over the flag, I’m not leaving,” Schatz said. He said he was glad he would still be working with many of the same airmen in his new command.
The 19th AW took operational control from the 314th Airlift Wing, which now becomes the tenant.
“Thanks to the community leaders,” he said. “We could not do what we do without your support.”
“The community will embrace the Hydes,” Schatz said. “Colonel, you are in for the ride of your life.”
Col. Charles Hyde took command of the 314th, Air Education and Training Wing, a vacancy created by Schatz’s new post as commander of the 19th Airlift Wing.
Schatz had commanded the 314th AW at Little Rock since May 2007.
Airmen in fatigues, flight suits, service dress blues and open-collar short-sleeved uniform as well as retirees, guests from the community, local mayors and representatives of the area’s congressional delegation were cooled by the breeze and warmed by the sun as the change of command ceremony took place on the tarmack against a back drop of C-130s and C-130Js. The Air Force Band of Mid America performed.
The 19th AW is an expeditionary wing and is charged with planning and executing airlift operations around the world, now hosts the base. But as the world’s primary C-130 schoolhouse, the 314th will continue its indispensable task of training virtually all C-130 and C-130J pilots, crews and maintainers for all U.S. Armed Forces and allies.
Units involved in base operations were formally transferred from the 314th to the new host, the 19th Airlift Wing, while those involved in training remained in the 314th.
“We must win today’s fight while preparing for the future,” said Maj. Gen. Windfield W. Scott III, Commander of the 18th Air Force, based at Scott Air Force Base in Illinois.
“Schotzie, you have a vital role as the Air Force moves forward with new ways of doing business,” Scott said. “Your leadership is key to their success.”
Hyde told his new command, “The one constant is change,” but he said they would “continue the mission of training the best and depending upon the strength and professionalism of the trainers.
The 463 Air Lift Wing, which had distinguished itself in extensive action in Iraq, Kuwait and Afghanistan, was deactivated during the ceremony, its flag—guidon—furled until perhaps some future time.
Hyde is a command pilot with more than 3,700 hours in both the C-130E and C-130H, as well as the T-37.
Hyde comes to Little Rock from Ali Al Salem, Kuwait, where he was the vice commander of the 386th Air Expeditionary Wing, the primary tactical airlift hub for resupply missions supporting coalition operations in Iraq and providing combat support to land-component forces throughout Kuwait and Iraq.
The 463 Air Lift Wing, based at Little Rock and which has seen extensive service in the Middle East was deactivated and it was replaced by the 19th Air Lift Wing.
Gen. Schatz led the 314th with distinction, training over 2,000 crew members and maintainers, said Major Gen. Gregory A. Feest, commander of the 19th Air Force, a training command based at Randolph Air Force Base in Texas.
Feest called Hyde “the perfect leader” for the 314th, noting he was a distinguished graduate of the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs.
“The 314th stands tall, he said, providing airlift support any time, anywhere, embodying the expeditionary sprit.”
He said the 314th had received the outstanding unit award for exceptional, meritorious service.”
At the ceremony’s end, three distant, northbound airborne C-130Js turned east for a low-altitude flyover.
Leader senior staff writer
It was nothin’ but blue skies Wednesday at Little Rock Air Force Base as Brig. Gen. Rowayne Schatz, Jr. changed hats but not homes to become commanding officer of the newly minted 19th Airlift Wing, while remaining Little Rock Air Force Base commander.
“Although I’m handing over the flag, I’m not leaving,” Schatz said. He said he was glad he would still be working with many of the same airmen in his new command.
The 19th AW took operational control from the 314th Airlift Wing, which now becomes the tenant.
“Thanks to the community leaders,” he said. “We could not do what we do without your support.”
“The community will embrace the Hydes,” Schatz said. “Colonel, you are in for the ride of your life.”
Col. Charles Hyde took command of the 314th, Air Education and Training Wing, a vacancy created by Schatz’s new post as commander of the 19th Airlift Wing.
Schatz had commanded the 314th AW at Little Rock since May 2007.
Airmen in fatigues, flight suits, service dress blues and open-collar short-sleeved uniform as well as retirees, guests from the community, local mayors and representatives of the area’s congressional delegation were cooled by the breeze and warmed by the sun as the change of command ceremony took place on the tarmack against a back drop of C-130s and C-130Js. The Air Force Band of Mid America performed.
The 19th AW is an expeditionary wing and is charged with planning and executing airlift operations around the world, now hosts the base. But as the world’s primary C-130 schoolhouse, the 314th will continue its indispensable task of training virtually all C-130 and C-130J pilots, crews and maintainers for all U.S. Armed Forces and allies.
Units involved in base operations were formally transferred from the 314th to the new host, the 19th Airlift Wing, while those involved in training remained in the 314th.
“We must win today’s fight while preparing for the future,” said Maj. Gen. Windfield W. Scott III, Commander of the 18th Air Force, based at Scott Air Force Base in Illinois.
“Schotzie, you have a vital role as the Air Force moves forward with new ways of doing business,” Scott said. “Your leadership is key to their success.”
Hyde told his new command, “The one constant is change,” but he said they would “continue the mission of training the best and depending upon the strength and professionalism of the trainers.
The 463 Air Lift Wing, which had distinguished itself in extensive action in Iraq, Kuwait and Afghanistan, was deactivated during the ceremony, its flag—guidon—furled until perhaps some future time.
Hyde is a command pilot with more than 3,700 hours in both the C-130E and C-130H, as well as the T-37.
Hyde comes to Little Rock from Ali Al Salem, Kuwait, where he was the vice commander of the 386th Air Expeditionary Wing, the primary tactical airlift hub for resupply missions supporting coalition operations in Iraq and providing combat support to land-component forces throughout Kuwait and Iraq.
The 463 Air Lift Wing, based at Little Rock and which has seen extensive service in the Middle East was deactivated and it was replaced by the 19th Air Lift Wing.
Gen. Schatz led the 314th with distinction, training over 2,000 crew members and maintainers, said Major Gen. Gregory A. Feest, commander of the 19th Air Force, a training command based at Randolph Air Force Base in Texas.
Feest called Hyde “the perfect leader” for the 314th, noting he was a distinguished graduate of the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs.
“The 314th stands tall, he said, providing airlift support any time, anywhere, embodying the expeditionary sprit.”
He said the 314th had received the outstanding unit award for exceptional, meritorious service.”
At the ceremony’s end, three distant, northbound airborne C-130Js turned east for a low-altitude flyover.
TOP STORY >>Bankers ride out financial turmoil
By JOHN HOFHEIMER
Leader senior staff writer
The $700 billion economic bailout President Bush signed into law Friday afternoon may have been necessary, according to hometown banker Larry Wilson, but so far none of the dire effects threatened by proponents have surfaced here, at least not in locally-owned community banks.
Wilson thinks the national media have contributed to a false notion that credit is frozen, businesses, home buyers and car buyers can’t get loans—that there has been a credit constriction.
“It seems to feed on itself,” he said.
Wilson, president of his family’s First Arkansas Bank and Trust, said his bank may have slightly tightened credit requirements on mortgages and various loans, but that there has been no constriction of credit here.
If people are having difficulty getting short-term credit—California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has asked U.S. Treasury Secretary Paulson to loan the state $7 billion for payroll and expenses—it hasn’t shown up in Arkansas, Wilson said.
“Our depositors are still depositing,” he added. We still have that money to lend.”
First Arkansas headquartered on Main Street Jacksonville, has 26 branch offices ranging from North Little Rock to Marshall.
“We have money available for loans like always,” Wilson said.
He said loan officers might pay a bit more attention to the job history of a mortgage applicant or the solvency of the applicant’s employer.
First Arkansas Bank and Trust originates about 500 to 600 mortgages a year, generally selling them to a secondary market.
By way of comparison, the bank wrote 35 home loans in September 2007 worth $4.4 million. In September of this year, the bank wrote 43 home loans worth $6.2 million. That’s more mortgages for more money.
He said there has been no change in the amount of money needed for down payment terms or in interest rates, he said.
“We were never involved with sub prime mortgages,” Wilson said. There is no deposit drain. Our bank is strongly capitalized.”
Mortgage initiators are required to buy back bad mortgages within one year, Wilson said. “In seven or eight years we’ve had to buy back one mortgage.”
“We are the largest bank with the highest capital-to-assets ratio.”
He said some larger banks with significant portfolios of sub prime mortgages might be short of capital.
“I suspect that locally owned banks in Arkansas aren’t having that problem.”
“All banks have a little more difficult time in an economic downturn,” Wilson said.
“Our banks are handling the economic downturn fairly well, holding our own,” Candace Franks said Friday afternoon. She is state Banking Commissioner, and her take was about the same as Wilson’s.
“I have a few banks that have problems, but a few do time to time. Profitability is down industry-wide. But we didn’t get into sub prime loans. Community banks are pretty conservative.”
She said the bailout would help with liquidity issues worldwide.
“I’m pleased to see the increase (from $100,000 to $250,000) in federal deposit insurance,” she said. “The Public had been concerned.”
“I’m fairly optimistic that we will do fairly well during the (economic) downturn,” Franks said. “We don’t have the peaks and valleys in Arkansas. Our banks tend to be pretty conservative, focused o their communities.”
“For our market and our customers, money’s available,” Wilson said. “For people with good credit, a good job and good income, they aren’t going to have trouble getting a loan.”
Leader senior staff writer
The $700 billion economic bailout President Bush signed into law Friday afternoon may have been necessary, according to hometown banker Larry Wilson, but so far none of the dire effects threatened by proponents have surfaced here, at least not in locally-owned community banks.
Wilson thinks the national media have contributed to a false notion that credit is frozen, businesses, home buyers and car buyers can’t get loans—that there has been a credit constriction.
“It seems to feed on itself,” he said.
Wilson, president of his family’s First Arkansas Bank and Trust, said his bank may have slightly tightened credit requirements on mortgages and various loans, but that there has been no constriction of credit here.
If people are having difficulty getting short-term credit—California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has asked U.S. Treasury Secretary Paulson to loan the state $7 billion for payroll and expenses—it hasn’t shown up in Arkansas, Wilson said.
“Our depositors are still depositing,” he added. We still have that money to lend.”
First Arkansas headquartered on Main Street Jacksonville, has 26 branch offices ranging from North Little Rock to Marshall.
“We have money available for loans like always,” Wilson said.
He said loan officers might pay a bit more attention to the job history of a mortgage applicant or the solvency of the applicant’s employer.
First Arkansas Bank and Trust originates about 500 to 600 mortgages a year, generally selling them to a secondary market.
By way of comparison, the bank wrote 35 home loans in September 2007 worth $4.4 million. In September of this year, the bank wrote 43 home loans worth $6.2 million. That’s more mortgages for more money.
He said there has been no change in the amount of money needed for down payment terms or in interest rates, he said.
“We were never involved with sub prime mortgages,” Wilson said. There is no deposit drain. Our bank is strongly capitalized.”
Mortgage initiators are required to buy back bad mortgages within one year, Wilson said. “In seven or eight years we’ve had to buy back one mortgage.”
“We are the largest bank with the highest capital-to-assets ratio.”
He said some larger banks with significant portfolios of sub prime mortgages might be short of capital.
“I suspect that locally owned banks in Arkansas aren’t having that problem.”
“All banks have a little more difficult time in an economic downturn,” Wilson said.
“Our banks are handling the economic downturn fairly well, holding our own,” Candace Franks said Friday afternoon. She is state Banking Commissioner, and her take was about the same as Wilson’s.
“I have a few banks that have problems, but a few do time to time. Profitability is down industry-wide. But we didn’t get into sub prime loans. Community banks are pretty conservative.”
She said the bailout would help with liquidity issues worldwide.
“I’m pleased to see the increase (from $100,000 to $250,000) in federal deposit insurance,” she said. “The Public had been concerned.”
“I’m fairly optimistic that we will do fairly well during the (economic) downturn,” Franks said. “We don’t have the peaks and valleys in Arkansas. Our banks tend to be pretty conservative, focused o their communities.”
“For our market and our customers, money’s available,” Wilson said. “For people with good credit, a good job and good income, they aren’t going to have trouble getting a loan.”
TOP STORY >>Agency supports North Belt Loop route
By JOHN HOFHEIMER
Leader senior staff writer
The Federal Highway Administra-tion has issued a record of decision setting the path that the North Belt Freeway will eventually take between the bean field at Hwy. 67/167 on the east and I-430 and I-40 at Crystal Hill on the west, according to Randy Ort, spokesman for the state Highway Department.
After years of study, public hearings and environmental-impact statements, then years more of the same, the city of Sherwood, Metroplan, the state Highway and Transportation Department and the federal high-way department all agree on the route in general. But the agreed-upon route is still 200-feet wide, and Highway Department engineers can move within that corridor to minimize the impact upon homeowners, the environment, costs or other considerations, Ort said.
The actual record of decision was issued Sept. 23, but only reached the Highway Department on Friday, he said.
“This will allow us to start sending survey crews out . . . to design a roadway,” Ort said.
“There is no money for construction, but we can continue to work on this project,” he said. “I don’t know when they will start.”
The 12.7-mile project will cost an estimated $347 million.
Of that, $320 million would be for construction, $14.8 million for right of way, $10.9 million for utilities and $1 million for relocation costs.
While no money has been identified to build the project, there is $4 million available to begin purchasing right of way, according to Jim McKenzie, director of Metroplan.
It would require conversion of 707 acres of right of way, according to the environmental impact statement.
The route east from I-40 at Crystal Hill was described like this:
From the western end of the proposed project at Interstate 40, the Preferred Alternative goes to the northeast through the Crystal Hill community to an interchange at Highway 365.
From there, it continues to the northeast into Camp Robinson, passing to the southeast of the Camp Robinson Army Airfield. Briefly turning to the southeast then east, the route passes to the north of Engineers Lake before turning to the northeast again to cross Batesville Pike just to the north of Maryland Avenue and the North Little Rock Municipal Airport.
Part of the route includes relocating a portion of Batesville Pike outside Camp
Robinson.
From the Batesville Pike Interchange the route continues northeast, to the west of Wayside Drive, and
Crosses Kellogg Acres Road just to the north of the intersection with Oakdale Road. It
Continues east just north of Oakdale Road and then southeast with an interchange proposed at
Highway 107. The Preferred Alternative turns to the northeast when crossing Fears Lake and
Back to the southeast, crossing Oneida Street before connecting with the Highway 67
Interchange.
Leader senior staff writer
The Federal Highway Administra-tion has issued a record of decision setting the path that the North Belt Freeway will eventually take between the bean field at Hwy. 67/167 on the east and I-430 and I-40 at Crystal Hill on the west, according to Randy Ort, spokesman for the state Highway Department.
After years of study, public hearings and environmental-impact statements, then years more of the same, the city of Sherwood, Metroplan, the state Highway and Transportation Department and the federal high-way department all agree on the route in general. But the agreed-upon route is still 200-feet wide, and Highway Department engineers can move within that corridor to minimize the impact upon homeowners, the environment, costs or other considerations, Ort said.
The actual record of decision was issued Sept. 23, but only reached the Highway Department on Friday, he said.
“This will allow us to start sending survey crews out . . . to design a roadway,” Ort said.
“There is no money for construction, but we can continue to work on this project,” he said. “I don’t know when they will start.”
The 12.7-mile project will cost an estimated $347 million.
Of that, $320 million would be for construction, $14.8 million for right of way, $10.9 million for utilities and $1 million for relocation costs.
While no money has been identified to build the project, there is $4 million available to begin purchasing right of way, according to Jim McKenzie, director of Metroplan.
It would require conversion of 707 acres of right of way, according to the environmental impact statement.
The route east from I-40 at Crystal Hill was described like this:
From the western end of the proposed project at Interstate 40, the Preferred Alternative goes to the northeast through the Crystal Hill community to an interchange at Highway 365.
From there, it continues to the northeast into Camp Robinson, passing to the southeast of the Camp Robinson Army Airfield. Briefly turning to the southeast then east, the route passes to the north of Engineers Lake before turning to the northeast again to cross Batesville Pike just to the north of Maryland Avenue and the North Little Rock Municipal Airport.
Part of the route includes relocating a portion of Batesville Pike outside Camp
Robinson.
From the Batesville Pike Interchange the route continues northeast, to the west of Wayside Drive, and
Crosses Kellogg Acres Road just to the north of the intersection with Oakdale Road. It
Continues east just north of Oakdale Road and then southeast with an interchange proposed at
Highway 107. The Preferred Alternative turns to the northeast when crossing Fears Lake and
Back to the southeast, crossing Oneida Street before connecting with the Highway 67
Interchange.
SPORTS >>Hurricane rages
By KELLY FENTON
Leader sports editor
The Jacksonville Red Devils surrendered 426 yards and 24 first downs to Jonesboro on Friday night, but it was the offense that had head coach Mark Whatley upset afterward.
Dropped passes, poor pass protection and a limited running game put the Red Devil defense in a huge hole all night long and the new-look Hurricane cashed in with a 31-13 victory at Jan Crow Field.
“We’ve got to go back to re-emphasizing catching the ball before we run with it,” said Whatley, whose Red Devils fell to 2-3 on the season and 1-1 in 6A-East play. “We made a couple of big plays, put a couple of good drives together. But we couldn’t make the big play when we need to.
“From an offensive standpoint, we didn’t block them and we didn’t catch the football.”
In fact, the Red Devils had a total of only seven possessions the entire evening and controlled the ball for just a little over 18 of the 48 minutes.
Jonesboro, under first-year head coach Randy Coleman, seems to have adapted quite well to the Spread offense, as quarterback Carter Callahan torched the Devil secondary for 25 of 36 passing for 259 yards, including three touchdowns.
What made the Hurricane so tough to defend, though, was the added dimension of running back Kowan Wright, who rumbled for 133 yards on 24 carries.
“It’s a pretty tough offense to stop,” Whatley said. “Especially on a night like tonight when we’re leaving the defense out on the field like we did.”
Jacksonville, meanwhile, showed flashes of effectiveness out of its multi-weaponed offense, but with the running attack suffering, the Joneboro front line teed off on sophomore quarterback Logan Perry, sacking him three times and keeping him mostly out of rhythm.
Callahan’s 35-yard field goal three-and-a-half minutes into the game staked the Hurricane (4-1, 2-0) to a 3-0 lead.
Jacksonville responded with a long 15-play, 77-yard drive to take a 7-3 lead on Patrick Geans’ 1-yard run with 2:30 left in the opening period.
But the Jonesboro offense answered right back with its own long drive. Callahan connected with A.J. Steele from two yards with 10:27 left in the first half and the Hurricane never trailed again.
The Red Devils escaped the first of their three turnovers on the night after fumbling the ensuing kickoff at the 19. But the defense stiffened and Callahan missed a 25-yard field goal.
But the Hurricane cashed in their next opportunity, mixing the pass and the run to go 64 yards in eight plays. Wright’s 3-yard run before half had Jonesboro in command, 17-7.
Jonesboro committed its only turnover of the night with a fumble two minutes into the second half. Cordero Shelton pounced on it at midfield, but the Red Devils ran out of downs at the 32.
Jonesboro then deflated the Devils by marching 68 yards on 14 plays, ending in Callahan’s 5-yard scoring strike to Steele and the Hurricane increased the lead to 24-7 midway though the third period.
Jacksonville came to life, if only briefly, when Perry hit Demetris Harris for 20 yards and the Red Devils reached the Jonesboro 28.
But the Hurricane all but put it away when Jake Ferguson stepped in front of a Perry pass at the 25 and returned it 40 yards to the Jacksonville 35.
With Callahan able to stand in the pocket and look for receivers, the Hurricane needed just six plays to make it 31-7. This time, Callahan hooked up with Daniel Rodely from five yards 28 seconds into the final period.
The Red Devils put together their second good drive of the night, converting an improbable third-and-14 on a 38-yard Logan-to-Geans pass, and an even more unlikely fourth-and-27 on a hook a lateral play from Perry to Stan Appleby to Harris. A face mask moved the ball to the 14 and two plays later, Harris hauled in a 7-yard touchdown pass from Perry.
Perry finished 19 of 33 for 193 yards and two interceptions. Geans carried eight times — all in the first half — for 22 yards. With three sacks totaling 26 yards in losses, the Red Devils managed just two yards on 15 carries on the night and 195 yards overall.
“They are very balanced and Coach Whatley does a great job of calling plays,” said Coleman, whose club surrendered 46 points a week ago to Parkview. “But we controlled both sides of the line and put a lot of pressure on their young quarterback. The great thing about this week is (Jacksonville) runs a lot of the same plays that we run so our defense has seen those plays since spring.”
Harris caught six passes for 63 yards, while Terrell Brown and Appleby each hauled in four passes.
The Red Devils will try to rebound when they visit Little Rock Hall next Friday.
Leader sports editor
The Jacksonville Red Devils surrendered 426 yards and 24 first downs to Jonesboro on Friday night, but it was the offense that had head coach Mark Whatley upset afterward.
Dropped passes, poor pass protection and a limited running game put the Red Devil defense in a huge hole all night long and the new-look Hurricane cashed in with a 31-13 victory at Jan Crow Field.
“We’ve got to go back to re-emphasizing catching the ball before we run with it,” said Whatley, whose Red Devils fell to 2-3 on the season and 1-1 in 6A-East play. “We made a couple of big plays, put a couple of good drives together. But we couldn’t make the big play when we need to.
“From an offensive standpoint, we didn’t block them and we didn’t catch the football.”
In fact, the Red Devils had a total of only seven possessions the entire evening and controlled the ball for just a little over 18 of the 48 minutes.
Jonesboro, under first-year head coach Randy Coleman, seems to have adapted quite well to the Spread offense, as quarterback Carter Callahan torched the Devil secondary for 25 of 36 passing for 259 yards, including three touchdowns.
What made the Hurricane so tough to defend, though, was the added dimension of running back Kowan Wright, who rumbled for 133 yards on 24 carries.
“It’s a pretty tough offense to stop,” Whatley said. “Especially on a night like tonight when we’re leaving the defense out on the field like we did.”
Jacksonville, meanwhile, showed flashes of effectiveness out of its multi-weaponed offense, but with the running attack suffering, the Joneboro front line teed off on sophomore quarterback Logan Perry, sacking him three times and keeping him mostly out of rhythm.
Callahan’s 35-yard field goal three-and-a-half minutes into the game staked the Hurricane (4-1, 2-0) to a 3-0 lead.
Jacksonville responded with a long 15-play, 77-yard drive to take a 7-3 lead on Patrick Geans’ 1-yard run with 2:30 left in the opening period.
But the Jonesboro offense answered right back with its own long drive. Callahan connected with A.J. Steele from two yards with 10:27 left in the first half and the Hurricane never trailed again.
The Red Devils escaped the first of their three turnovers on the night after fumbling the ensuing kickoff at the 19. But the defense stiffened and Callahan missed a 25-yard field goal.
But the Hurricane cashed in their next opportunity, mixing the pass and the run to go 64 yards in eight plays. Wright’s 3-yard run before half had Jonesboro in command, 17-7.
Jonesboro committed its only turnover of the night with a fumble two minutes into the second half. Cordero Shelton pounced on it at midfield, but the Red Devils ran out of downs at the 32.
Jonesboro then deflated the Devils by marching 68 yards on 14 plays, ending in Callahan’s 5-yard scoring strike to Steele and the Hurricane increased the lead to 24-7 midway though the third period.
Jacksonville came to life, if only briefly, when Perry hit Demetris Harris for 20 yards and the Red Devils reached the Jonesboro 28.
But the Hurricane all but put it away when Jake Ferguson stepped in front of a Perry pass at the 25 and returned it 40 yards to the Jacksonville 35.
With Callahan able to stand in the pocket and look for receivers, the Hurricane needed just six plays to make it 31-7. This time, Callahan hooked up with Daniel Rodely from five yards 28 seconds into the final period.
The Red Devils put together their second good drive of the night, converting an improbable third-and-14 on a 38-yard Logan-to-Geans pass, and an even more unlikely fourth-and-27 on a hook a lateral play from Perry to Stan Appleby to Harris. A face mask moved the ball to the 14 and two plays later, Harris hauled in a 7-yard touchdown pass from Perry.
Perry finished 19 of 33 for 193 yards and two interceptions. Geans carried eight times — all in the first half — for 22 yards. With three sacks totaling 26 yards in losses, the Red Devils managed just two yards on 15 carries on the night and 195 yards overall.
“They are very balanced and Coach Whatley does a great job of calling plays,” said Coleman, whose club surrendered 46 points a week ago to Parkview. “But we controlled both sides of the line and put a lot of pressure on their young quarterback. The great thing about this week is (Jacksonville) runs a lot of the same plays that we run so our defense has seen those plays since spring.”
Harris caught six passes for 63 yards, while Terrell Brown and Appleby each hauled in four passes.
The Red Devils will try to rebound when they visit Little Rock Hall next Friday.
SPORTS >>Rockets hold on to hand Panthers first loss
By JASON KING
Leader sportswriter
To the wire doesn’t even begin to describe Cabot’s tough 35-28 loss to Little Rock Catholic Friday night at Panther Stadium.
Seth Bloomberg had one final shot to tie the game for the Panthers in the final three seconds, but on fourth down from the Catholic 6, he was sacked and Catholic held on for the win.
The Panthers had burned up all of their timeouts before the final minute, which left them scrambling to the line as the clock ticked. Chris Bayles converted a first down to take the ball into Catholic territory with 1:48 remaining, trying to reach the sideline.
The Catholic secondary didn’t allow that to happen, forcing Cabot coach Mike Malham to burn his final timeout.
“It was a funny game,” Malham said. “We got off to a good start, but we helped them out a little bit in the first half. They have a good team, we knew that coming in. I thought our defense played great at times, and then we had some letdowns. We had a pretty good night. We moved the ball pretty good, did a good job, but it just came down to right there at the end and didn’t get it done.”
The Panthers avoided a turnover on downs when Bloomberg hit Justin Wortman for a 25-yard completion that put the ball at the Catholic 10. The defense stiffened from there, keeping Cabot inbounds and out of the end zone.
“This has got to be big – we’re 2-0 in the conference,” Catholic coach Ellis “Scooter” Register said after the game. “We’ve got to take care of business one week at a time. My defense did a great job. (Springer) got hurt Tuesday in practice. He dislocated his elbow. He told me he was going to play – I knew he would. He couldn’t even raise his arm on Wednesday. I don’t know what his stats are, but that’s a gamer.”
It would have been the second improbable comeback for Cabot. Trailing 28-21 with 7:45 left in the game, Nick McTague fell on a Rocket fumble to give the Panthers possession at the Catholic 36, and a personal foul penalty against the Rockets moved the ball to the 21-yard line.
Bayles and Michael James took it from there in four plays, with James busting through the Catholic defensive line on fourth and 2 for a 13-yard touchdown scramble. Logan Spry’s extra-point knotted it up at 28-all, but his ensuing kickoff sailed out of bounds, giving the Rockets good field position at their own 35 with 5:56 left in the game.
Catholic quarterback Taylor Bartlett wasted little time in finding John Dominic III on a 36-yard pass down the right side on the fifth play of the drive to put the ball at the Cabot 1-yard line, and it only took two sneak attempts for Bartlett to push across the game-winner.
Cabot’s only lead came on its opening possession. The drive lasted 12 plays, with James’ number being called for the final seven. His biggest run was only five yards, but two of them were good enough to convert first downs. He capped it off with a 1-yard rumble with 4:24 left in the first quarter, with Spry’s point-after making it 7-0.
The Cabot secondary had its hands full all night with the Rocket receivers, namely senior John Springer. Springer put the Rockets on the board for the first time with a 42-yard reception down the right side with 40 seconds left in the opening frame.
Garrett Uekman was Bartlett’s best target on the next Catholic drive. He pulled down a 27-yard toss from Bartlett to set up the next score before Bartlett began to find Springer again on the Rockets’ last touchdown of the first half. Springer had back-to-back completions of 28 and 35 yards to push the ball in the red zone, and Aaron Chwalinski capped off the drive with a 5-yard run with 2:46 left in the first half.
James was able to answer one of those scores for Cabot with 5:32 left in the second quarter. The junior fullback bulled his way in from 1-yard out for the second of his four touchdowns to tie it at 14-14.
James led the way for Cabot with 22 rushes for 114 yards and all four Panther scores. Bayles added 89 yards on 13 carries. The Panthers had 331 yards of total offense. Spencer Neumann led defensively with 10 tackles.
For Catholic, Bartlett was 22 of 30 passing for 336 yards and two touchdowns. The Rockets had 400 yards of total offense.
The Panthers will host North Little Rock, an 18-10 winner over Conway on Friday. Catholic will host Van Buren, a 28-13 loser to Bryant.
Leader sportswriter
To the wire doesn’t even begin to describe Cabot’s tough 35-28 loss to Little Rock Catholic Friday night at Panther Stadium.
Seth Bloomberg had one final shot to tie the game for the Panthers in the final three seconds, but on fourth down from the Catholic 6, he was sacked and Catholic held on for the win.
The Panthers had burned up all of their timeouts before the final minute, which left them scrambling to the line as the clock ticked. Chris Bayles converted a first down to take the ball into Catholic territory with 1:48 remaining, trying to reach the sideline.
The Catholic secondary didn’t allow that to happen, forcing Cabot coach Mike Malham to burn his final timeout.
“It was a funny game,” Malham said. “We got off to a good start, but we helped them out a little bit in the first half. They have a good team, we knew that coming in. I thought our defense played great at times, and then we had some letdowns. We had a pretty good night. We moved the ball pretty good, did a good job, but it just came down to right there at the end and didn’t get it done.”
The Panthers avoided a turnover on downs when Bloomberg hit Justin Wortman for a 25-yard completion that put the ball at the Catholic 10. The defense stiffened from there, keeping Cabot inbounds and out of the end zone.
“This has got to be big – we’re 2-0 in the conference,” Catholic coach Ellis “Scooter” Register said after the game. “We’ve got to take care of business one week at a time. My defense did a great job. (Springer) got hurt Tuesday in practice. He dislocated his elbow. He told me he was going to play – I knew he would. He couldn’t even raise his arm on Wednesday. I don’t know what his stats are, but that’s a gamer.”
It would have been the second improbable comeback for Cabot. Trailing 28-21 with 7:45 left in the game, Nick McTague fell on a Rocket fumble to give the Panthers possession at the Catholic 36, and a personal foul penalty against the Rockets moved the ball to the 21-yard line.
Bayles and Michael James took it from there in four plays, with James busting through the Catholic defensive line on fourth and 2 for a 13-yard touchdown scramble. Logan Spry’s extra-point knotted it up at 28-all, but his ensuing kickoff sailed out of bounds, giving the Rockets good field position at their own 35 with 5:56 left in the game.
Catholic quarterback Taylor Bartlett wasted little time in finding John Dominic III on a 36-yard pass down the right side on the fifth play of the drive to put the ball at the Cabot 1-yard line, and it only took two sneak attempts for Bartlett to push across the game-winner.
Cabot’s only lead came on its opening possession. The drive lasted 12 plays, with James’ number being called for the final seven. His biggest run was only five yards, but two of them were good enough to convert first downs. He capped it off with a 1-yard rumble with 4:24 left in the first quarter, with Spry’s point-after making it 7-0.
The Cabot secondary had its hands full all night with the Rocket receivers, namely senior John Springer. Springer put the Rockets on the board for the first time with a 42-yard reception down the right side with 40 seconds left in the opening frame.
Garrett Uekman was Bartlett’s best target on the next Catholic drive. He pulled down a 27-yard toss from Bartlett to set up the next score before Bartlett began to find Springer again on the Rockets’ last touchdown of the first half. Springer had back-to-back completions of 28 and 35 yards to push the ball in the red zone, and Aaron Chwalinski capped off the drive with a 5-yard run with 2:46 left in the first half.
James was able to answer one of those scores for Cabot with 5:32 left in the second quarter. The junior fullback bulled his way in from 1-yard out for the second of his four touchdowns to tie it at 14-14.
James led the way for Cabot with 22 rushes for 114 yards and all four Panther scores. Bayles added 89 yards on 13 carries. The Panthers had 331 yards of total offense. Spencer Neumann led defensively with 10 tackles.
For Catholic, Bartlett was 22 of 30 passing for 336 yards and two touchdowns. The Rockets had 400 yards of total offense.
The Panthers will host North Little Rock, an 18-10 winner over Conway on Friday. Catholic will host Van Buren, a 28-13 loser to Bryant.
SPORTS >>Cats strike early, often in easy win
By RICK BUTLER
Special to the Leader
SEARCY – Two teams headed in opposite directions refused to change courses here Friday night at First Security Stadium. Harding Academy quarterback Seth Keese was perfect in the first half as the Wildcats thumped 3A-2 Conference foe England, 45-6.
Harding Academy improved to 5-0 overall and 2-0 in league play. England remained winless on the season at 0-5.
Keese, a sophomore, completed all 11 of his passes for 205 yards and 4 touchdowns before tweaking his ankle late in the first half. Matt Lincoln, the Wildcats’ starter at quarterback last season, stepped in and tossed a touchdown pass of his own to give Harding Academy a 38-0 halftime lead.
With the 35-point Sportmanship Rule in effect and a running clock for the entirety of the second half, the Wildcats tacked on another score. Harding Academy’s reserves gave up a touchdown in the game’s final minute.
“We prepare to execute … that’s what we do,” Harding Academy coach Roddy Mote said afterward. “I didn’t know Seth was 11-11. That’s fantastic. We were able to get the ball into a lot of different people’s hands and that’s good. The offensive line worked hard tonight.”
England opened with its biggest bang of the night, recovering an onside kick to start the game. The Lions drove to the Harding Academy 31 before Demarcus Bunch fumbled and Braxton Bennett recovered for the Wildcats. A seven-play drive that took less than three minutes was capped by Keese’s first touchdown toss, a 4-yarder to tailback Ty Finley. Zach Medley booted the score to 7-0 with 7:26 left in the opening quarter.
The Lions coughed up the ball again on their next play and Keese hit Bennett on a screen for a 31-yard score. The Wildcats pushed the lead to 21-0 less than four minutes later when Keese connected with Tyler Gentry on a 63-yard catch-and-run off another screen pass.
England drove again to the Harding Academy 31, but quarterback Derrick Davis’ pass to Bunch was short of the first down and the Wildcats went back to work. A 20-yard completion from Keese to Lincoln and an 11-yarder to Gentry set up a 24-yard scoring toss from Keese to Lincoln. Finley ran for two points and HA led 29-0.
Gentry threatened another big play when he returned an England punt for what looked like an easy score but fumbled the ball away at the Lions’ 1. England’s Mark Hatton was stopped in the Lions’ end zone on the first play for a safety and a 31-0 Wildcat lead.
Harding Academy took the kick and used a 22-yard pass from Keese to Gentry to set up Lincoln’s TD pass.
Mote said after the game that Keese had rolled his ankle on a run before Lincoln took over.
Gentry opened the second half by picking off a Davis pass. On the Wildcats’ first play of the half, Finley galloped 35 yards for a 45-0 lead. Harding Academy’s reserves kept the ball nearly 11 minutes – with the running clock, before turning it over on downs at the England 11.
Davis connected with Matt Russell on a 70-yard pass to the HA 1 before Davis broke the shutout by plunging over the middle.
After running roughshod over its competition for the first five weeks, the Wildcats expect a challenge next Friday when they travel to meet unbeaten Barton. Though the Bears, a traditional power, were forced to cancel their season last year due to low numbers, Barton is sitting at 5-0.
“We’re just going to come out and get to work on Monday and start preparing,” Mote said.
The Wildcats had 383 total yards, compared to just 176 for the Lions. Seventy of that came on one play against HA reserves. Lincoln finished 3-of-6 passing for 40 yards. Seven different receivers caught passes for the Wildcats, led by Gentry’s four catches for 110 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Harding Academy ran for 138 yards. Finley had 59 on 7 carries and Keese had 6 carries for 47 yards.
Special to the Leader
SEARCY – Two teams headed in opposite directions refused to change courses here Friday night at First Security Stadium. Harding Academy quarterback Seth Keese was perfect in the first half as the Wildcats thumped 3A-2 Conference foe England, 45-6.
Harding Academy improved to 5-0 overall and 2-0 in league play. England remained winless on the season at 0-5.
Keese, a sophomore, completed all 11 of his passes for 205 yards and 4 touchdowns before tweaking his ankle late in the first half. Matt Lincoln, the Wildcats’ starter at quarterback last season, stepped in and tossed a touchdown pass of his own to give Harding Academy a 38-0 halftime lead.
With the 35-point Sportmanship Rule in effect and a running clock for the entirety of the second half, the Wildcats tacked on another score. Harding Academy’s reserves gave up a touchdown in the game’s final minute.
“We prepare to execute … that’s what we do,” Harding Academy coach Roddy Mote said afterward. “I didn’t know Seth was 11-11. That’s fantastic. We were able to get the ball into a lot of different people’s hands and that’s good. The offensive line worked hard tonight.”
England opened with its biggest bang of the night, recovering an onside kick to start the game. The Lions drove to the Harding Academy 31 before Demarcus Bunch fumbled and Braxton Bennett recovered for the Wildcats. A seven-play drive that took less than three minutes was capped by Keese’s first touchdown toss, a 4-yarder to tailback Ty Finley. Zach Medley booted the score to 7-0 with 7:26 left in the opening quarter.
The Lions coughed up the ball again on their next play and Keese hit Bennett on a screen for a 31-yard score. The Wildcats pushed the lead to 21-0 less than four minutes later when Keese connected with Tyler Gentry on a 63-yard catch-and-run off another screen pass.
England drove again to the Harding Academy 31, but quarterback Derrick Davis’ pass to Bunch was short of the first down and the Wildcats went back to work. A 20-yard completion from Keese to Lincoln and an 11-yarder to Gentry set up a 24-yard scoring toss from Keese to Lincoln. Finley ran for two points and HA led 29-0.
Gentry threatened another big play when he returned an England punt for what looked like an easy score but fumbled the ball away at the Lions’ 1. England’s Mark Hatton was stopped in the Lions’ end zone on the first play for a safety and a 31-0 Wildcat lead.
Harding Academy took the kick and used a 22-yard pass from Keese to Gentry to set up Lincoln’s TD pass.
Mote said after the game that Keese had rolled his ankle on a run before Lincoln took over.
Gentry opened the second half by picking off a Davis pass. On the Wildcats’ first play of the half, Finley galloped 35 yards for a 45-0 lead. Harding Academy’s reserves kept the ball nearly 11 minutes – with the running clock, before turning it over on downs at the England 11.
Davis connected with Matt Russell on a 70-yard pass to the HA 1 before Davis broke the shutout by plunging over the middle.
After running roughshod over its competition for the first five weeks, the Wildcats expect a challenge next Friday when they travel to meet unbeaten Barton. Though the Bears, a traditional power, were forced to cancel their season last year due to low numbers, Barton is sitting at 5-0.
“We’re just going to come out and get to work on Monday and start preparing,” Mote said.
The Wildcats had 383 total yards, compared to just 176 for the Lions. Seventy of that came on one play against HA reserves. Lincoln finished 3-of-6 passing for 40 yards. Seven different receivers caught passes for the Wildcats, led by Gentry’s four catches for 110 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Harding Academy ran for 138 yards. Finley had 59 on 7 carries and Keese had 6 carries for 47 yards.
SPORTS >>Jackrabbits ‘D’ leads the way
By JASON KING
Leader sportswriter
BALD KNOB — A great defensive effort led the way to Lonoke’s second-straight 2-4A Conference win of the season. The Jackrabbit defense pulled down five interceptions on the way to a 35-6 mercy-ruled win over Bald Knob at Heverling Stadium on Friday.
The ’Rabbits went up 28-0 at the half before a 10-yard touchdown pass from Rollins Elam to Brandon Harris with 10:13 left in the third quarter sent the clock rolling continually.
“We were really pleased with our defense tonight,” Lonoke coach Jeff Jones said. “They gave a tremendous effort. We had guys flying all over the field – they got in there and were really physical.”
Elam put the first score up at the 8:56 mark of the first quarter with a 20-yard toss to Michael Howard. Sam King added the extra-point to put the Jackrabbits up 7-0, and the rout was on from there.
Howard added six more for Lonoke with 9:44 left in the first half on a 10-yard run, and the ’Rabbits struck again just over a minute later on a 22-yard pass from Elam to Harris.
Smith ran it in from six yards out with at the 4:24 mark of the second quarter to set the margin at halftime.
The Bulldogs’ strategy of putting ace quarterback Chad Cates in the offensive backfield at halfback and junior receiver Nick Glaze under center didn’t work out as planned. Glaze was picked off repeatedly.
Eric Graydon and junior Todd Hobson each came away with two picks for Lonoke, with Lance Jackson pulling down another one. Elam’s only mishap of the night through the air in the first half gave Bald Knob great field position at the ’Rabbits 17-yard line, but the defense stood its ground to prevent the score.
The Bulldogs avoided the shutout late in the third quarter on a 30-yard touchdown pass from Glaze to Hunter Mason for the only Bald Knob score of the night.
“Our offense did what it had to do to win the game – we were a little sluggish at times,” Jones said. “Our receivers did an outstanding job of hauling in the tough catches. All in all, it was a good game for us, and we got our second conference win.”
The Jackrabbits are now 4-1 overall and 2-0 in the 2-4A Conference. They will host Southside Batesville next Friday. The Southerners are 1-4 on the season after dropping their second-straight conference game to Clinton on Friday, 20-56.
Leader sportswriter
BALD KNOB — A great defensive effort led the way to Lonoke’s second-straight 2-4A Conference win of the season. The Jackrabbit defense pulled down five interceptions on the way to a 35-6 mercy-ruled win over Bald Knob at Heverling Stadium on Friday.
The ’Rabbits went up 28-0 at the half before a 10-yard touchdown pass from Rollins Elam to Brandon Harris with 10:13 left in the third quarter sent the clock rolling continually.
“We were really pleased with our defense tonight,” Lonoke coach Jeff Jones said. “They gave a tremendous effort. We had guys flying all over the field – they got in there and were really physical.”
Elam put the first score up at the 8:56 mark of the first quarter with a 20-yard toss to Michael Howard. Sam King added the extra-point to put the Jackrabbits up 7-0, and the rout was on from there.
Howard added six more for Lonoke with 9:44 left in the first half on a 10-yard run, and the ’Rabbits struck again just over a minute later on a 22-yard pass from Elam to Harris.
Smith ran it in from six yards out with at the 4:24 mark of the second quarter to set the margin at halftime.
The Bulldogs’ strategy of putting ace quarterback Chad Cates in the offensive backfield at halfback and junior receiver Nick Glaze under center didn’t work out as planned. Glaze was picked off repeatedly.
Eric Graydon and junior Todd Hobson each came away with two picks for Lonoke, with Lance Jackson pulling down another one. Elam’s only mishap of the night through the air in the first half gave Bald Knob great field position at the ’Rabbits 17-yard line, but the defense stood its ground to prevent the score.
The Bulldogs avoided the shutout late in the third quarter on a 30-yard touchdown pass from Glaze to Hunter Mason for the only Bald Knob score of the night.
“Our offense did what it had to do to win the game – we were a little sluggish at times,” Jones said. “Our receivers did an outstanding job of hauling in the tough catches. All in all, it was a good game for us, and we got our second conference win.”
The Jackrabbits are now 4-1 overall and 2-0 in the 2-4A Conference. They will host Southside Batesville next Friday. The Southerners are 1-4 on the season after dropping their second-straight conference game to Clinton on Friday, 20-56.
SPORTS >>Falcons hang tough early, but Beebe prevails
By RAY BENTON
Special to the Leader
As quickly as North Pulaski captured the momentum, the Beebe Badgers ripped it away. Beebe came back from a late-first quarter deficit to defeat the hosting Falcons 40-13 Friday night in a 5A-Southeast matchup.
The Badgers got another strong performance from senior fullback Sammy Williams on Friday. He carried 28 times for 239 yards and three touchdowns, and added another score on special teams on a 94-yard kickoff return for 333 all-purpose yards.
The Falcons scored on its second drive of the game when a quick throw down the right sideline to receiver Jerald Blair turned into an 89-yard touchdown that gave the Falcons a 7-0 lead with 3:45 left in the opening frame.
Beebe didn’t have to run a play to make it up. Senior Sammy Williams took the ensuing kickoff 94 yards untouched to tie the score. From there, Beebe would score 21 more unanswered points with the help of a couple more Falcon breakdowns to take command of the game.
“We were able to start rushing the ball pretty effectively in the second quarter and a lot of good things happened for us,” Beebe coach John Shannon said. “We played pretty good defense except for a couple of mistakes. Their No. 5 (Blair) is probably the fastest kid in our conference, and we told them all week you’re going to have to tackle and keep him contained, and we didn’t do that on a couple of plays.
“My hats off to North Pulaski though. This is the best North Pulaski team I’ve seen in the 14 years I’ve been in this area, and they went toe-to-toe with us in the first and third quarters.”
After the kickoff return, Beebe forced a three and out by North Pulaski and took possession to start the second quarter with the game still tied at seven. Less than a minute into the second, Williams broke loose again, this time on a handoff up the middle for 39 yards and the score.
The Falcons got a pair of first downs on the next possession, but were forced to punt. Badger nose guard William Conley stuffed an NP running play for a 2-yard loss on third down. On fourth down, Badger senior Jacob Sullivan broke through the line and blocked the kick and Beebe took over on the Falcon 22.
On the very next play, Williams broke through three tackles and scored to make it 21-7 with 8:26 left in the half.
North Pulaski gained nine yards on its next possession and punted from its own 42.
The Badgers took over on their own 28 put together their best sustained drive of the half, going 67 yards in seven plays. The drive ended when quarterback Roger Glaude found his right halfback Luke Gardner on a rollout to the right from 11 yards out. Glaude added his fourth extra point to make it 28-7 with 3:29 left in the half.
The final three and a half minutes of the half took almost as long as the first 26. Each team had two possessions in that span, and the Falcons made the most of their last one.
After each team went three and out, NP got the ball back on its own 37. On the first play, quarterback A.J. Allen hit sophomore fullback Darius Cage on a screen pass that Cage turned into a 60-yard play with the help of two lead blockers.
It took three more plays for NP to get the final three yards, but it did when Cage barely stretched the ball over the goal line on third and one. The extra point was blocked and Beebe led 28-13 with 55 seconds left in the half. The Badgers almost scored again. A 42-yard return by junior Victor Howell set Beebe up at the Falcon 44. Two plays gained 10 yards before junior receiver Charles Latture was stopped on the 6-yard line on the final play of the half.
After playing to a 7-7 tie in the first quarter, the two teams played to a 0-0 stalemate in the third period. Beebe put a clamp on the game early in the fourth when Williams scored his third touchdown of the game, this time from three yards out with 10:44 left in the game. The drive was helped by a 15-yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalty on North Pulaski that turned a third down and five situation into first down at the Falcon 40.
“Those are the kinds of mistakes we can’t make,” North Pulaski coach Tony Bohannon said. “You take out the special teams’ breakdowns and it’s a different game, and you can’t give up penalties like that. Overall though I’m very proud of this team and the effort they’re giving. They went tooth and nail for most of the night with a very good football team.”
Beebe would add one more score with 7:12 remaining to set the final margin.
The Badgers had 435 yards of total offense. North Pulaski finished with 282 total yards.
The win lifts Beebe to 4-1 overall and 2-0 in league play. The Falcons fell to 1-4 and 0-2.
Both teams are at home next week. The Falcons will host White Hall while Beebe welcomes Monticello as homecoming guests next Friday.
Special to the Leader
As quickly as North Pulaski captured the momentum, the Beebe Badgers ripped it away. Beebe came back from a late-first quarter deficit to defeat the hosting Falcons 40-13 Friday night in a 5A-Southeast matchup.
The Badgers got another strong performance from senior fullback Sammy Williams on Friday. He carried 28 times for 239 yards and three touchdowns, and added another score on special teams on a 94-yard kickoff return for 333 all-purpose yards.
The Falcons scored on its second drive of the game when a quick throw down the right sideline to receiver Jerald Blair turned into an 89-yard touchdown that gave the Falcons a 7-0 lead with 3:45 left in the opening frame.
Beebe didn’t have to run a play to make it up. Senior Sammy Williams took the ensuing kickoff 94 yards untouched to tie the score. From there, Beebe would score 21 more unanswered points with the help of a couple more Falcon breakdowns to take command of the game.
“We were able to start rushing the ball pretty effectively in the second quarter and a lot of good things happened for us,” Beebe coach John Shannon said. “We played pretty good defense except for a couple of mistakes. Their No. 5 (Blair) is probably the fastest kid in our conference, and we told them all week you’re going to have to tackle and keep him contained, and we didn’t do that on a couple of plays.
“My hats off to North Pulaski though. This is the best North Pulaski team I’ve seen in the 14 years I’ve been in this area, and they went toe-to-toe with us in the first and third quarters.”
After the kickoff return, Beebe forced a three and out by North Pulaski and took possession to start the second quarter with the game still tied at seven. Less than a minute into the second, Williams broke loose again, this time on a handoff up the middle for 39 yards and the score.
The Falcons got a pair of first downs on the next possession, but were forced to punt. Badger nose guard William Conley stuffed an NP running play for a 2-yard loss on third down. On fourth down, Badger senior Jacob Sullivan broke through the line and blocked the kick and Beebe took over on the Falcon 22.
On the very next play, Williams broke through three tackles and scored to make it 21-7 with 8:26 left in the half.
North Pulaski gained nine yards on its next possession and punted from its own 42.
The Badgers took over on their own 28 put together their best sustained drive of the half, going 67 yards in seven plays. The drive ended when quarterback Roger Glaude found his right halfback Luke Gardner on a rollout to the right from 11 yards out. Glaude added his fourth extra point to make it 28-7 with 3:29 left in the half.
The final three and a half minutes of the half took almost as long as the first 26. Each team had two possessions in that span, and the Falcons made the most of their last one.
After each team went three and out, NP got the ball back on its own 37. On the first play, quarterback A.J. Allen hit sophomore fullback Darius Cage on a screen pass that Cage turned into a 60-yard play with the help of two lead blockers.
It took three more plays for NP to get the final three yards, but it did when Cage barely stretched the ball over the goal line on third and one. The extra point was blocked and Beebe led 28-13 with 55 seconds left in the half. The Badgers almost scored again. A 42-yard return by junior Victor Howell set Beebe up at the Falcon 44. Two plays gained 10 yards before junior receiver Charles Latture was stopped on the 6-yard line on the final play of the half.
After playing to a 7-7 tie in the first quarter, the two teams played to a 0-0 stalemate in the third period. Beebe put a clamp on the game early in the fourth when Williams scored his third touchdown of the game, this time from three yards out with 10:44 left in the game. The drive was helped by a 15-yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalty on North Pulaski that turned a third down and five situation into first down at the Falcon 40.
“Those are the kinds of mistakes we can’t make,” North Pulaski coach Tony Bohannon said. “You take out the special teams’ breakdowns and it’s a different game, and you can’t give up penalties like that. Overall though I’m very proud of this team and the effort they’re giving. They went tooth and nail for most of the night with a very good football team.”
Beebe would add one more score with 7:12 remaining to set the final margin.
The Badgers had 435 yards of total offense. North Pulaski finished with 282 total yards.
The win lifts Beebe to 4-1 overall and 2-0 in league play. The Falcons fell to 1-4 and 0-2.
Both teams are at home next week. The Falcons will host White Hall while Beebe welcomes Monticello as homecoming guests next Friday.
Wednesday, October 01, 2008
EDITORIAL >>Shielding Palin
We are inclined to be philosophical about Gov. Sarah Palin’s dearth of experience and knowledge if she can prove to the country that she is smart and honest, but secrecy and subterfuge are qualities that ought to be disqualifiers for the job of vice president or president.
So it was deeply troubling to see that Palin — or perhaps it was her new handlers in the John McCain organization — pulled the curtains over her administration’s personnel actions, specifically the efforts to fire a state policeman who used to be her brother-in-law.
Palin fired the public safety director after he refused repeated entreaties from Palin’s staff and her husband to get rid of the man, who was in a child-custody battle with the governor’s sister. A legislative committee dominated by members of her own party began an investigation to see if the trooper pressures violated the law. Palin welcomed it and said she and her staff would cooperate fully. Hold me accountable, she said.
That was before McCain picked her as his running mate. Now her husband and members of her staff are refusing to answer subpoenas and testify about what they did. Palin, or rather her spokespeople in the McCain campaign, say it is a Democratic witchhunt. The Alaska attorney general, appointed by Palin, says Palin’s husband and everyone in her administration should ignore the legal subpoenas. Can you do that in Alaska?
All questions about Palin’s activities and record as governor the past 20 months and as mayor of the town of Wasilla now are answered — though real answers are seldom forthcoming — by representatives of the McCain campaign. Palin staff members, including her press secretary, are now forbidden to answer any questions about what she did.
America does not need another vice president like that. Dick Cheney has stonewalled congressional inquiries about his conduct for nearly eight years. Now he is refusing to turn over documents that are required by a law governing executive branch records. Cheney maintains that, unlike the president, he is not a part of the executive branch of government and not subject to the laws.
John McCain has promised an open and accountable government. He disqualifies his running mate by cloning her in the image of Dick Cheney. He should let Sarah be Sarah so that Americans can decide whether she is suited to run the country.
So it was deeply troubling to see that Palin — or perhaps it was her new handlers in the John McCain organization — pulled the curtains over her administration’s personnel actions, specifically the efforts to fire a state policeman who used to be her brother-in-law.
Palin fired the public safety director after he refused repeated entreaties from Palin’s staff and her husband to get rid of the man, who was in a child-custody battle with the governor’s sister. A legislative committee dominated by members of her own party began an investigation to see if the trooper pressures violated the law. Palin welcomed it and said she and her staff would cooperate fully. Hold me accountable, she said.
That was before McCain picked her as his running mate. Now her husband and members of her staff are refusing to answer subpoenas and testify about what they did. Palin, or rather her spokespeople in the McCain campaign, say it is a Democratic witchhunt. The Alaska attorney general, appointed by Palin, says Palin’s husband and everyone in her administration should ignore the legal subpoenas. Can you do that in Alaska?
All questions about Palin’s activities and record as governor the past 20 months and as mayor of the town of Wasilla now are answered — though real answers are seldom forthcoming — by representatives of the McCain campaign. Palin staff members, including her press secretary, are now forbidden to answer any questions about what she did.
America does not need another vice president like that. Dick Cheney has stonewalled congressional inquiries about his conduct for nearly eight years. Now he is refusing to turn over documents that are required by a law governing executive branch records. Cheney maintains that, unlike the president, he is not a part of the executive branch of government and not subject to the laws.
John McCain has promised an open and accountable government. He disqualifies his running mate by cloning her in the image of Dick Cheney. He should let Sarah be Sarah so that Americans can decide whether she is suited to run the country.
EDITORIAL >>Bailout plan must pass
Congress this week confronts a dilemma none of us ever wants to face, a choice between two distasteful, unpopular and potentially ruinous courses. The House of Representatives on Monday took the riskiest and we believe the unwisest course when a majority defeated the Bush administration’s $700 billion bailout of troubled banks. It will have another chance tomorrow, and all of us should pray that courage prevails.
It is worth noting that Arkansas’ delegation in the House, a Republican and three Democrats, voted for the package and in a remarkable show of unity issued a joint statement. When has that ever happened?
No one can be even vaguely confident that the bailout will work — that is, that it will restore enough liquidity in the banking system to break up the thrombosis in the credit market. If it doesn’t, we are headed for deep trouble indeed, all of us. Without credit, the American economy will grind to a standstill and so perhaps will the major economies of the world, which have absorbed part of our bad debts. We have had global recessions before, and two global depressions, and we do not want to go there.
So a vote for the bailout is a huge political risk for members of Congress who are running for re-election in five weeks. All of us, conservative and liberal alike, have a not wholly irrational horror of using our tax dollars to rescue men and institutions whose greed and carelessness put the country in such peril. The politically safer course is to vote no and hope that the disorder does not visibly worsen by Nov. 4, election day. Every member of Sen. John McCain’s home-state delegation and nearly all from George W. Bush’s Texas took the safer route and voted against their leaders.
For once we are convinced that we elect sturdier sorts in Arkansas. Their constituents are no happier about a financial bailout than Texans and Arizonans, although it doubtless helps that none of the four here has a serious race on his hands.
Whatever the chances are that the massive government purchase of bad debts will work, they are odds that any patriotic lawmaker ought to take. If the chances were only one in three that credit would be unlocked, it would be worth the risk. Who, after all, would thoughtfully choose the odds for a global depression?
It is worth noting that Arkansas’ delegation in the House, a Republican and three Democrats, voted for the package and in a remarkable show of unity issued a joint statement. When has that ever happened?
No one can be even vaguely confident that the bailout will work — that is, that it will restore enough liquidity in the banking system to break up the thrombosis in the credit market. If it doesn’t, we are headed for deep trouble indeed, all of us. Without credit, the American economy will grind to a standstill and so perhaps will the major economies of the world, which have absorbed part of our bad debts. We have had global recessions before, and two global depressions, and we do not want to go there.
So a vote for the bailout is a huge political risk for members of Congress who are running for re-election in five weeks. All of us, conservative and liberal alike, have a not wholly irrational horror of using our tax dollars to rescue men and institutions whose greed and carelessness put the country in such peril. The politically safer course is to vote no and hope that the disorder does not visibly worsen by Nov. 4, election day. Every member of Sen. John McCain’s home-state delegation and nearly all from George W. Bush’s Texas took the safer route and voted against their leaders.
For once we are convinced that we elect sturdier sorts in Arkansas. Their constituents are no happier about a financial bailout than Texans and Arizonans, although it doubtless helps that none of the four here has a serious race on his hands.
Whatever the chances are that the massive government purchase of bad debts will work, they are odds that any patriotic lawmaker ought to take. If the chances were only one in three that credit would be unlocked, it would be worth the risk. Who, after all, would thoughtfully choose the odds for a global depression?
TOP STORY > >Hospital closes maternity unit
By NANCY DOCKTER
Leader staff writer
The birthing center of North Metro Medical Center closed its doors last night at midnight. Babies have been delivered at the hospital since it opened more than 50 years ago. The service is being discontinued because New Horizons for Women, the clinic providing the hospital’s obstetrical services, no longer has adequate physician staffing to do so.
About 100 women had already made plans to deliver at North Metro before the announcement in August about the closure.
With assistance from the clinic, all have made other arrangements with a different physician and hospital. This has been the most challenging for the 50 or so Medicaid recipients, because New Horizons for Women is the only obstetrics clinic in a wide geographic area that accepts Medicaid patients. Another quarter of the patients affected have commercial insurance or are self-pay, and the others have Tri-care insurance with the military.
“We were the only obstetricians in north Pulaski who would take Medicaid patients before they got a (Medicaid identification) number,” because of the bureaucratic red-tape and delays that are involved, Margie Litton, business manager for Horizons for Women, explained.
In the past, the clinic had five obstetricians – a sufficient number to share the unpredictable demands of delivering babies and other types of emergency ob-gyn care. But last year, physician Jesse Kane resigned, and recently Leasa Prince also left the practice. That left one full-time physician, Karen Grant, and two who work part-time, David Taylor and Renee Montgomery.
That was just not enough staffing, and the hospital chose to not step in and bring in another obstetrician, as it had with the hiring of Kane a few years ago.
“It is too hard to do obstetrics by yourself, to be on call weekend after weekend, and all the phone calls,” Litton said.
The clinic will remain open and continue to provide gynecological care, including annual exams, family planning, and infertility diagnostics. Grant is also contemplating a new service for teens – a consultation with a doctor to learn about gynecological health issues.
No hospital employee lost his or her job as a result of the discontinuing obstetrical services.
“We have not laid anyone off; everyone has been retained at the hospital,” Amy Arnone, hospital spokesperson, said. “A few of the women who wanted to continue working with women and babies, however, found a position elsewhere.”
No decision has been reached about how the hospital’s birthing center and nursery will be used, Pat Bond, member of the hospital’s board of directors, said.
The closure comes at a time in which the hospital administration and board are reviewing options to strengthen the fiscal position of the hospital, while maintaining services essential to the community, primarily the emergency room. Under consideration is elimination of some services that are not strong revenue generators and the possible addition of an after-hours clinic.
The board’s stance on the clinic concept is that plans are on hold for now, but “all of us want it,” Bond said. “We need more coverage, because things that are not emergencies put a drain on the ER; an emergency room is a huge cost to a hospital. This would be a great service and a great help.”
For “some months,” hospital leadership has been searching for a financial partner or buyer for the hospital. According to Bond, all potential investors have had “some Arkansas connection,” but no firm deal has emerged.
“We are continuing to talk to some folks, but everything tends to take longer than it is supposed to,” Bond said, agreeing that the current credit crisis is not helping matters. “But there are a lot of things going for the hospital – where it is located, a good service area – which can be very attractive. Hopefully, something will work out.”
To date, no services have been eliminated at the hospital out of financial necessity, nor have any layoffs have occurred, although rumors to the contrary have circulated for months in the community. The hospital board remains committed to keeping North Metro Medical Center opened to serve Jacksonville and the surrounding area.
“There are too many people in the community to not have services, so we will continue working on this,” Bond said.
Leader staff writer
The birthing center of North Metro Medical Center closed its doors last night at midnight. Babies have been delivered at the hospital since it opened more than 50 years ago. The service is being discontinued because New Horizons for Women, the clinic providing the hospital’s obstetrical services, no longer has adequate physician staffing to do so.
About 100 women had already made plans to deliver at North Metro before the announcement in August about the closure.
With assistance from the clinic, all have made other arrangements with a different physician and hospital. This has been the most challenging for the 50 or so Medicaid recipients, because New Horizons for Women is the only obstetrics clinic in a wide geographic area that accepts Medicaid patients. Another quarter of the patients affected have commercial insurance or are self-pay, and the others have Tri-care insurance with the military.
“We were the only obstetricians in north Pulaski who would take Medicaid patients before they got a (Medicaid identification) number,” because of the bureaucratic red-tape and delays that are involved, Margie Litton, business manager for Horizons for Women, explained.
In the past, the clinic had five obstetricians – a sufficient number to share the unpredictable demands of delivering babies and other types of emergency ob-gyn care. But last year, physician Jesse Kane resigned, and recently Leasa Prince also left the practice. That left one full-time physician, Karen Grant, and two who work part-time, David Taylor and Renee Montgomery.
That was just not enough staffing, and the hospital chose to not step in and bring in another obstetrician, as it had with the hiring of Kane a few years ago.
“It is too hard to do obstetrics by yourself, to be on call weekend after weekend, and all the phone calls,” Litton said.
The clinic will remain open and continue to provide gynecological care, including annual exams, family planning, and infertility diagnostics. Grant is also contemplating a new service for teens – a consultation with a doctor to learn about gynecological health issues.
No hospital employee lost his or her job as a result of the discontinuing obstetrical services.
“We have not laid anyone off; everyone has been retained at the hospital,” Amy Arnone, hospital spokesperson, said. “A few of the women who wanted to continue working with women and babies, however, found a position elsewhere.”
No decision has been reached about how the hospital’s birthing center and nursery will be used, Pat Bond, member of the hospital’s board of directors, said.
The closure comes at a time in which the hospital administration and board are reviewing options to strengthen the fiscal position of the hospital, while maintaining services essential to the community, primarily the emergency room. Under consideration is elimination of some services that are not strong revenue generators and the possible addition of an after-hours clinic.
The board’s stance on the clinic concept is that plans are on hold for now, but “all of us want it,” Bond said. “We need more coverage, because things that are not emergencies put a drain on the ER; an emergency room is a huge cost to a hospital. This would be a great service and a great help.”
For “some months,” hospital leadership has been searching for a financial partner or buyer for the hospital. According to Bond, all potential investors have had “some Arkansas connection,” but no firm deal has emerged.
“We are continuing to talk to some folks, but everything tends to take longer than it is supposed to,” Bond said, agreeing that the current credit crisis is not helping matters. “But there are a lot of things going for the hospital – where it is located, a good service area – which can be very attractive. Hopefully, something will work out.”
To date, no services have been eliminated at the hospital out of financial necessity, nor have any layoffs have occurred, although rumors to the contrary have circulated for months in the community. The hospital board remains committed to keeping North Metro Medical Center opened to serve Jacksonville and the surrounding area.
“There are too many people in the community to not have services, so we will continue working on this,” Bond said.
TOP STORY > >Drug abuse: Who is most at risk?
By NANCY DOCKTER
Leader staff writer
A child who gets through age 21 without smoking, abusing alcohol or using illegal drugs is virtually certain never to do so.
– Joseph A. Califano Jr., former U.S. Surgeon General.
Could keeping a teenager drug free be as simple as regularly sitting down to dinner as a family? Yes, say researchers who monitor patterns of family life and substance abuse.
Since 2002, the National Center on Addiction and Sub-stance Abuse (CASA) has studied the relationship between family dinners and substance abuse.
The results are striking. Compared with youngsters who have family dinners five or more times per week, those having fewer than three family dinners per week are three and a half times more likely to abuse prescription drugs or use marijuana or illegal drugs, and are also more likely to drink alcohol or smoke tobacco.
Teens who eat dinner often with family also have a more positive outlook about a drug-free future: 62 percent say they will never do drugs compared to 43 percent among those who infrequently have dinner with their families.
The surprising thing is, the vast majority of teens – 84 percent – say they prefer having dinner with their families rather than eating alone, shattering a stereotype held by many adults that teens loathe having to join them at the dinner table. For those kids who regularly have family meals, the percentage is even higher – 92 percent. Even 16- and 17-year-olds would rather eat with family than by themselves.
A high percentage of teens, 47 percent, feel that dinner is the best time to talk with parents about something important to them.
So, do these findings by researchers necessarily prove that family dinners reduce youth substance abuse or do they simply help describe families in which teen drug use and drinking is less likely?
According to mental health professionals who help teens with addiction problems, positive parental involvement is paramount to preventing the problem in the first place.
Teens most at risk of substance abuse are those who lack parental supervision and nurturing, are having difficulties in school, lack social skills or are anti-social or have aggressive tendencies, according to Rob Cunningham, director of Horizon Treatment Program, a counseling and guidance center in Fort Smith. Regular family meals are a way to connect with kids and them navigate daily stresses that otherwise may set them up for accepting pills, a drink or cigarette from a friend.
So, how do parents protect their children from harmful influences without clamping down on their lives so harshly that trust is destroyed and kids rebel?
Parents need to communicate clear standards and rules against use of tobacco, alcohol, and drug use. And they need to set a positive example by not using illegal drugs, alcohol, or tobacco and by being “judicious in the use of prescription and over-the-counter drugs,” says Cunningham.
Teens less likely to abuse drugs have parents “who know and communicate with their youth’s peers and the parents of peers,” Cunningham said. Parents must be able to “answer the questions of who, when, where and what of their children’s activities.”
Tony Thurman, superintendent of Cabot Public Schools, agrees. “It is imperative that parents stay involved and know exactly who their child is friends with no matter how old they are.” But, he observes, staying up on the social life of a teen is trickier these days, because some of it is happening in cyberspace.
“Social networking sites such as Facebook and MySpace have made it even more challenging and dangerous since teens can now connect with negative influences without ever making personal contact,” Thurman notes. “It is my opinion that these networking sites have become a dangerous and negative outlet for many teenagers.”
Thurman cautions parents about how they discipline kids who experiment with alcohol, drugs, or tobacco.
“I highly recommend that parents be very careful about removing activities such as band, athletics, forensics, dance or other activities as a punitive measure,” he said.
“It is extremely important for students to find that supportive and positive peer group in which to interact and identify.”
Parents who fail to keep tabs on their teens’ school night socializing with friends add to the risk of their drinking, smoking or using drugs.
The risk increases with how late kids stay out. When kids stay out until after 10 p.m. on a school night, the presence of alcohol, marijuana or other drugs is likely, say 46 percent of teens surveyed by CASA. For kids home by 8 p.m., the likelihood is 29 percent.
But hanging out at a friend’s house is no guarantee that alcohol or drugs won’t be present. A quarter of teens surveyed by CASA said they know a parent of a peer who uses marijuana; 10 percent said that they know a peer’s parent who smokes marijuana with teens.
Rena Kinney, a recent high school graduate, says her parents’ approach helped her steer clear of alcohol, drugs, and drinking.
They set high expectations for her behavior, but allowed her some freedom to chart her own course.
“My parents are very, very strong Christians – it’s, ‘You don’t do drugs, you don’t drink.’ They told me, ‘You can try it, but you won’t like it. We can’t stop you from doing it.’ That they did not try to enforce it on me made it a lot easier. They never told me, ‘You can’t.’ Instead, they said, ‘We prefer that you don’t do that.’ Saying you can’t do something, to a teenager, you know, that just makes you be rebellious.”
As a result, Kinney avoided crowds that had a reputation for that kind of thing. “I tried to stay away from that – I was raised differently,” she said. “You could tell the kids who were doing drugs; it messed them up and I didn’t want that happening to me.”
Leader staff writer
A child who gets through age 21 without smoking, abusing alcohol or using illegal drugs is virtually certain never to do so.
– Joseph A. Califano Jr., former U.S. Surgeon General.
Could keeping a teenager drug free be as simple as regularly sitting down to dinner as a family? Yes, say researchers who monitor patterns of family life and substance abuse.
Since 2002, the National Center on Addiction and Sub-stance Abuse (CASA) has studied the relationship between family dinners and substance abuse.
The results are striking. Compared with youngsters who have family dinners five or more times per week, those having fewer than three family dinners per week are three and a half times more likely to abuse prescription drugs or use marijuana or illegal drugs, and are also more likely to drink alcohol or smoke tobacco.
Teens who eat dinner often with family also have a more positive outlook about a drug-free future: 62 percent say they will never do drugs compared to 43 percent among those who infrequently have dinner with their families.
The surprising thing is, the vast majority of teens – 84 percent – say they prefer having dinner with their families rather than eating alone, shattering a stereotype held by many adults that teens loathe having to join them at the dinner table. For those kids who regularly have family meals, the percentage is even higher – 92 percent. Even 16- and 17-year-olds would rather eat with family than by themselves.
A high percentage of teens, 47 percent, feel that dinner is the best time to talk with parents about something important to them.
So, do these findings by researchers necessarily prove that family dinners reduce youth substance abuse or do they simply help describe families in which teen drug use and drinking is less likely?
According to mental health professionals who help teens with addiction problems, positive parental involvement is paramount to preventing the problem in the first place.
Teens most at risk of substance abuse are those who lack parental supervision and nurturing, are having difficulties in school, lack social skills or are anti-social or have aggressive tendencies, according to Rob Cunningham, director of Horizon Treatment Program, a counseling and guidance center in Fort Smith. Regular family meals are a way to connect with kids and them navigate daily stresses that otherwise may set them up for accepting pills, a drink or cigarette from a friend.
So, how do parents protect their children from harmful influences without clamping down on their lives so harshly that trust is destroyed and kids rebel?
Parents need to communicate clear standards and rules against use of tobacco, alcohol, and drug use. And they need to set a positive example by not using illegal drugs, alcohol, or tobacco and by being “judicious in the use of prescription and over-the-counter drugs,” says Cunningham.
Teens less likely to abuse drugs have parents “who know and communicate with their youth’s peers and the parents of peers,” Cunningham said. Parents must be able to “answer the questions of who, when, where and what of their children’s activities.”
Tony Thurman, superintendent of Cabot Public Schools, agrees. “It is imperative that parents stay involved and know exactly who their child is friends with no matter how old they are.” But, he observes, staying up on the social life of a teen is trickier these days, because some of it is happening in cyberspace.
“Social networking sites such as Facebook and MySpace have made it even more challenging and dangerous since teens can now connect with negative influences without ever making personal contact,” Thurman notes. “It is my opinion that these networking sites have become a dangerous and negative outlet for many teenagers.”
Thurman cautions parents about how they discipline kids who experiment with alcohol, drugs, or tobacco.
“I highly recommend that parents be very careful about removing activities such as band, athletics, forensics, dance or other activities as a punitive measure,” he said.
“It is extremely important for students to find that supportive and positive peer group in which to interact and identify.”
Parents who fail to keep tabs on their teens’ school night socializing with friends add to the risk of their drinking, smoking or using drugs.
The risk increases with how late kids stay out. When kids stay out until after 10 p.m. on a school night, the presence of alcohol, marijuana or other drugs is likely, say 46 percent of teens surveyed by CASA. For kids home by 8 p.m., the likelihood is 29 percent.
But hanging out at a friend’s house is no guarantee that alcohol or drugs won’t be present. A quarter of teens surveyed by CASA said they know a parent of a peer who uses marijuana; 10 percent said that they know a peer’s parent who smokes marijuana with teens.
Rena Kinney, a recent high school graduate, says her parents’ approach helped her steer clear of alcohol, drugs, and drinking.
They set high expectations for her behavior, but allowed her some freedom to chart her own course.
“My parents are very, very strong Christians – it’s, ‘You don’t do drugs, you don’t drink.’ They told me, ‘You can try it, but you won’t like it. We can’t stop you from doing it.’ That they did not try to enforce it on me made it a lot easier. They never told me, ‘You can’t.’ Instead, they said, ‘We prefer that you don’t do that.’ Saying you can’t do something, to a teenager, you know, that just makes you be rebellious.”
As a result, Kinney avoided crowds that had a reputation for that kind of thing. “I tried to stay away from that – I was raised differently,” she said. “You could tell the kids who were doing drugs; it messed them up and I didn’t want that happening to me.”
TOP STORY > >Adding 19th Air Wing enhances combat readiness
By HEATHER HARTSELL
Leader staff writer
Little Rock Air Force Base today becomes the most important C-130 component in the U.S. military as the 19th Airlift Wing, part of Air Mobility Command, is to be reactivated as the base’s host wing and takes on operational control from the 314th Airlift Wing and Air Education and Training Command.
The 314th Airlift Wing will continue to train C-130 air crews as a tenant wing at the Jacksonville air base.
Brig. Gen. Rowayne Schatz assumes command of the 19th AW during the change of command ceremonies this morning, relinquishing control of the 314th AW to Col. Charles Hyde, a command pilot with more than 3,700 hours in both the C-130E and C-130H, as well as the T-37.
Hyde comes to Little Rock from Ali Al Salem, Kuwait, where he was the vice commander of the 386th Air Expeditionary Wing, the primary tactical airlift hub for resupply missions supporting coalition operations in Iraq and providing combat support to land-component forces throughout Kuwait and Iraq.
According to senior leaders in the Air Force, an AMC airlift wing at LRAFB was the best way that the Air Force would meet today’s mission requirements.
As a result, a series of realignments took place on base and numerous aircraft and units were also reassigned, which shifted the wing’s mission focus from student training to mobility employment.
This shift means a deployment increase for the men and women of The Rock as they fulfill the mission of AMC — to deliver maximum war-fighting and humanitarian effects for America through rapid and precise global air mobility.
“(My wife) Jodie and I are excited to be a part of Team Little Rock — the Home of Combat Airlift,” said Hyde, the former squadron commander at Dyess Air Force Base, Texas.
“My grandfather worked on the C-130 assembly line many years ago, and I’m thrilled to be a part of an organization dedicated to training the world’s best combat airlifters in the mighty Herk,” the colonel said.
“Our mission is important; we are a nation at war, and the 314th Airlift Wing provides the foundation of tactical skills and combat airlift ethos essential for success in the war against terrorism and success in future combat or humanitarian missions,” Hyde said.
While serving as Little Rock’s host wing, the 314th AW supported both AMC’s 463rd Airlift Group and the Arkansas Air National Guard’s 189th Airlift Wing. As AMC activates the 19th AW, it will inherit the mission and tradition of excellence of the 314th Airlift Wing, including base operating support responsibilities such as maintenance, medical services, and mission support.
Col. James Johnson is the 19th Airlift Wing vice commander while Col. Mark Vlahos remains 314th Airlift Wing vice commander.
Johnson comes to Little Rock from MacDill Air Force Base, Florida, where he was a liaison for U.S. Transportation Command, the single entity charged with directing and supervising execution of the strategic distribution system for the Department of Defense in peace and war.
A former airlift navigator in the C-141, he was the liaison to Central Command, the U.S. military authority responsible for U.S. security interests in 25 nations stretching from the Horn of Africa through the Arabian Gulf region, into Central Asia, overseeing both Operations Enduring and Iraqi Freedom, with over 190,000 U.S. troops across the region.
He was also the liaison to Special Operations Command, the command of more than 45,000 Army, Navy, Marine, and Air Force Special Operations forces given the mandate to lead, plan, synchronize, and as directed, execute global operations for the Department of Defense against terrorist networks. As a liaison he facilitated and shaped the timely understanding of worldwide transportation and distribution requirements, capabilities, and processes.
Chief Master Sgt. Anthony Brinkley is the 19th Airlift Wing command chief and Chief Master Sgt. Richard Turcotte Jr. is the new command chief for the 314th Airlift Wing.
The 19th Airlift Wing dates back to 1927 when the U.S. Army Air Corps created the unit as the 19th Observation Group.
Previously known as the 19th Air Refueling Group, stationed at Robins Air Force Base, Georgia, the group was inactivated in May 2008 as part of the 2005 Base Realignment and Closure Commission.
Leader staff writer
Little Rock Air Force Base today becomes the most important C-130 component in the U.S. military as the 19th Airlift Wing, part of Air Mobility Command, is to be reactivated as the base’s host wing and takes on operational control from the 314th Airlift Wing and Air Education and Training Command.
The 314th Airlift Wing will continue to train C-130 air crews as a tenant wing at the Jacksonville air base.
Brig. Gen. Rowayne Schatz assumes command of the 19th AW during the change of command ceremonies this morning, relinquishing control of the 314th AW to Col. Charles Hyde, a command pilot with more than 3,700 hours in both the C-130E and C-130H, as well as the T-37.
Hyde comes to Little Rock from Ali Al Salem, Kuwait, where he was the vice commander of the 386th Air Expeditionary Wing, the primary tactical airlift hub for resupply missions supporting coalition operations in Iraq and providing combat support to land-component forces throughout Kuwait and Iraq.
According to senior leaders in the Air Force, an AMC airlift wing at LRAFB was the best way that the Air Force would meet today’s mission requirements.
As a result, a series of realignments took place on base and numerous aircraft and units were also reassigned, which shifted the wing’s mission focus from student training to mobility employment.
This shift means a deployment increase for the men and women of The Rock as they fulfill the mission of AMC — to deliver maximum war-fighting and humanitarian effects for America through rapid and precise global air mobility.
“(My wife) Jodie and I are excited to be a part of Team Little Rock — the Home of Combat Airlift,” said Hyde, the former squadron commander at Dyess Air Force Base, Texas.
“My grandfather worked on the C-130 assembly line many years ago, and I’m thrilled to be a part of an organization dedicated to training the world’s best combat airlifters in the mighty Herk,” the colonel said.
“Our mission is important; we are a nation at war, and the 314th Airlift Wing provides the foundation of tactical skills and combat airlift ethos essential for success in the war against terrorism and success in future combat or humanitarian missions,” Hyde said.
While serving as Little Rock’s host wing, the 314th AW supported both AMC’s 463rd Airlift Group and the Arkansas Air National Guard’s 189th Airlift Wing. As AMC activates the 19th AW, it will inherit the mission and tradition of excellence of the 314th Airlift Wing, including base operating support responsibilities such as maintenance, medical services, and mission support.
Col. James Johnson is the 19th Airlift Wing vice commander while Col. Mark Vlahos remains 314th Airlift Wing vice commander.
Johnson comes to Little Rock from MacDill Air Force Base, Florida, where he was a liaison for U.S. Transportation Command, the single entity charged with directing and supervising execution of the strategic distribution system for the Department of Defense in peace and war.
A former airlift navigator in the C-141, he was the liaison to Central Command, the U.S. military authority responsible for U.S. security interests in 25 nations stretching from the Horn of Africa through the Arabian Gulf region, into Central Asia, overseeing both Operations Enduring and Iraqi Freedom, with over 190,000 U.S. troops across the region.
He was also the liaison to Special Operations Command, the command of more than 45,000 Army, Navy, Marine, and Air Force Special Operations forces given the mandate to lead, plan, synchronize, and as directed, execute global operations for the Department of Defense against terrorist networks. As a liaison he facilitated and shaped the timely understanding of worldwide transportation and distribution requirements, capabilities, and processes.
Chief Master Sgt. Anthony Brinkley is the 19th Airlift Wing command chief and Chief Master Sgt. Richard Turcotte Jr. is the new command chief for the 314th Airlift Wing.
The 19th Airlift Wing dates back to 1927 when the U.S. Army Air Corps created the unit as the 19th Observation Group.
Previously known as the 19th Air Refueling Group, stationed at Robins Air Force Base, Georgia, the group was inactivated in May 2008 as part of the 2005 Base Realignment and Closure Commission.
TOP STORY > >Probe continues to focus on trio for mass killings
By JOHN HOFHEIMER
Leader senior staff writer
Maj. Andy Shock of the Faulkner County Sheriff’s Office refused Tuesday to confirm that Ronald Dean Charles, formerly of Jacksonville and Cabot, was the informant and person who told investigators he killed 15 people in three states and led to another man’s arrest last week.
If Shock couldn’t confirm it, neither could he deny it.
“I can’t confirm or deny anything,” said Shock, spokesman for the Faulkner County Sheriff’s Office, when asked if he could deny that Charles was the informant and the man who had confessed.
A source familiar with the situation has identified Charles, 31, as the man who led Jacksonville Police to the remains of a woman on the property of Wright’s Cabinets on Cory Road and who identified George Alan Smith, 31, in connection with the woman’s death.
Smith, a former employee at Wright’s Cabinets, was arrested by Jacksonville Police and is currently in the Pulaski County Detention Center in lieu of a $250,000 bond.
Charles is currently awaiting trial with Troy Crook, 29, of Jacksonville, charged with killing cousins Bobby Don Brock, 45, and Lonnie Franklin Brock, 62, near Vilonia last spring, according to documents on file at the Faulkner County Courthouse.
Both Charles and Crook had been in the Faulkner County Jail, but Charles was moved to the Clinton Jail last week.
Although they think they know the identity of the woman whose body was found near the cabinet shop, they won’t identify her until her remains have been positively identified by the state Medical Examiner’s Office, according to April Kiser, a public information officer.
Kiser also refused to say what the suspected murder weapon or weapons were and where police found them.
Charles is believed to have led police not only to the body, but also to the suspected murder weapons.
She said Jacksonville police are not looking for any other bodies.
The Pulaski County Sheriff’s Office, which spent about two days looking for a second body in northern Pulaski County near Jacksonville, have called off their search and don’t expect to continue unless new evidence is discovered, according to spokesman John Rehrauer.
For the Brock killings, Charles and Crook are charged with two counts each of capital murder, two counts of aggravated robbery, two counts of theft of property and two counts of being felons in possession of a firearm in connection with the deaths of the Brock cousins.
Firearms were among items allegedly stolen by the pair during commission of the crimes, according to the felony information on file with the Faulkner County Circuit Clerk.
Leader senior staff writer
Maj. Andy Shock of the Faulkner County Sheriff’s Office refused Tuesday to confirm that Ronald Dean Charles, formerly of Jacksonville and Cabot, was the informant and person who told investigators he killed 15 people in three states and led to another man’s arrest last week.
If Shock couldn’t confirm it, neither could he deny it.
“I can’t confirm or deny anything,” said Shock, spokesman for the Faulkner County Sheriff’s Office, when asked if he could deny that Charles was the informant and the man who had confessed.
A source familiar with the situation has identified Charles, 31, as the man who led Jacksonville Police to the remains of a woman on the property of Wright’s Cabinets on Cory Road and who identified George Alan Smith, 31, in connection with the woman’s death.
Smith, a former employee at Wright’s Cabinets, was arrested by Jacksonville Police and is currently in the Pulaski County Detention Center in lieu of a $250,000 bond.
Charles is currently awaiting trial with Troy Crook, 29, of Jacksonville, charged with killing cousins Bobby Don Brock, 45, and Lonnie Franklin Brock, 62, near Vilonia last spring, according to documents on file at the Faulkner County Courthouse.
Both Charles and Crook had been in the Faulkner County Jail, but Charles was moved to the Clinton Jail last week.
Although they think they know the identity of the woman whose body was found near the cabinet shop, they won’t identify her until her remains have been positively identified by the state Medical Examiner’s Office, according to April Kiser, a public information officer.
Kiser also refused to say what the suspected murder weapon or weapons were and where police found them.
Charles is believed to have led police not only to the body, but also to the suspected murder weapons.
She said Jacksonville police are not looking for any other bodies.
The Pulaski County Sheriff’s Office, which spent about two days looking for a second body in northern Pulaski County near Jacksonville, have called off their search and don’t expect to continue unless new evidence is discovered, according to spokesman John Rehrauer.
For the Brock killings, Charles and Crook are charged with two counts each of capital murder, two counts of aggravated robbery, two counts of theft of property and two counts of being felons in possession of a firearm in connection with the deaths of the Brock cousins.
Firearms were among items allegedly stolen by the pair during commission of the crimes, according to the felony information on file with the Faulkner County Circuit Clerk.
TOP STORY > >Best little music fest in state
By GARRICK FELDMAN
Leader editor
Saturday’s Jacksonville Wing Ding Festival at Dupree Park could be the best little music festival in the state.
Headliners will include blues artists Willie Cobbs of Smale (Monroe County), Robert Bilbo Walker of Clarksdale, Miss., and Maurice John Vaughn of Chicago. Vaughn and his group have played at the festival for the last couple of years.
Several more musical acts will perform on the city’s new portable stage sponsored by Arkansas Federal Credit Union.
Starting off the music will be Contemporary Christian bands Altering Aphelion of North Little Rock and Latitude 31 from Benton. They will be followed by Luster, a rock-and-roll band, and the pop group Pricecrew, both from Jacksonville.
Kiddos, a husband-and-wife group from Siloam Springs, will present children’s music.
Cobbs is a harmonica wizard and soul-blues singer who was born in Smale and is a gentleman farmer there. He told us in a telephone interview, “I’m looking forward to playing so close to home.”
He wrote “You Don’t Love Me,” a blues standard that was recorded by the Allman Brothers, Albert King, Booker T. and the MGs, Grateful Dead, Sonny and Cher, Otis Rush, John Mayall and others.
The reggae star Dawn Penn recorded it as “You Don’t Love Me (No, No, No),” helping Cobbs build up his royalty checks.
He says modestly that he has made “several hundred thousand dollars” letting other people record his song.
Cobbs, who is still going strong at 76, spent several years in Chicago, where he played with many of the blues greats before moving back to Arkansas to take care of his ailing mother.
He says he likes to compose his songs in his back yard, finding inspiration in his rural surroundings.
He leases out 500 acres of farm land in Monroe County and grows his own vegetables, including collard greens, sweet corn, potatoes, okra, peas. and more.
Cobbs was heading out into his garden when we called him. He says he grows enough vegetables to share them with people in the area if they get hungry in these hard times.
His CDs include “Pay or Do 11 Months and 29 Days” (Wilco), “Down to Earth” (Rooster Blues) and “Jukin’” (Bullseye). He’ll have several of his CDs for sale at the festival.
Appearing with Cobbs will be Maurice Jon Vaughan, a multi-instrumentalist who has recorded with several veteran Chicago blues musicians, including Eddie Boyd.
The festival will also feature the flamboyant Bilbo Walker, who will probably be decked out in his trademark white suit, looking much like a performer in Las Vegas or a flashy country star.
There is a touch of country in his music, but mostly it’s down-home blues with a serving of rock and soul and a powerful guitar.
He’s a lot like Chuck Berry: They both do the duckwalk, but Bilbo can walk forward and back.
“Chuck Berry can’t walk backward,” Walker told us.
He’ll have his CD “Rompin’ and Stompin’” (Fedora) for sale.
Joining Walker and the band will be his daughter, Estelle Taylor, who sings better than he does, said her proud dad. “She puts on such a beautiful show,” Walker said.
Leader editor
Saturday’s Jacksonville Wing Ding Festival at Dupree Park could be the best little music festival in the state.
Headliners will include blues artists Willie Cobbs of Smale (Monroe County), Robert Bilbo Walker of Clarksdale, Miss., and Maurice John Vaughn of Chicago. Vaughn and his group have played at the festival for the last couple of years.
Several more musical acts will perform on the city’s new portable stage sponsored by Arkansas Federal Credit Union.
Starting off the music will be Contemporary Christian bands Altering Aphelion of North Little Rock and Latitude 31 from Benton. They will be followed by Luster, a rock-and-roll band, and the pop group Pricecrew, both from Jacksonville.
Kiddos, a husband-and-wife group from Siloam Springs, will present children’s music.
Cobbs is a harmonica wizard and soul-blues singer who was born in Smale and is a gentleman farmer there. He told us in a telephone interview, “I’m looking forward to playing so close to home.”
He wrote “You Don’t Love Me,” a blues standard that was recorded by the Allman Brothers, Albert King, Booker T. and the MGs, Grateful Dead, Sonny and Cher, Otis Rush, John Mayall and others.
The reggae star Dawn Penn recorded it as “You Don’t Love Me (No, No, No),” helping Cobbs build up his royalty checks.
He says modestly that he has made “several hundred thousand dollars” letting other people record his song.
Cobbs, who is still going strong at 76, spent several years in Chicago, where he played with many of the blues greats before moving back to Arkansas to take care of his ailing mother.
He says he likes to compose his songs in his back yard, finding inspiration in his rural surroundings.
He leases out 500 acres of farm land in Monroe County and grows his own vegetables, including collard greens, sweet corn, potatoes, okra, peas. and more.
Cobbs was heading out into his garden when we called him. He says he grows enough vegetables to share them with people in the area if they get hungry in these hard times.
His CDs include “Pay or Do 11 Months and 29 Days” (Wilco), “Down to Earth” (Rooster Blues) and “Jukin’” (Bullseye). He’ll have several of his CDs for sale at the festival.
Appearing with Cobbs will be Maurice Jon Vaughan, a multi-instrumentalist who has recorded with several veteran Chicago blues musicians, including Eddie Boyd.
The festival will also feature the flamboyant Bilbo Walker, who will probably be decked out in his trademark white suit, looking much like a performer in Las Vegas or a flashy country star.
There is a touch of country in his music, but mostly it’s down-home blues with a serving of rock and soul and a powerful guitar.
He’s a lot like Chuck Berry: They both do the duckwalk, but Bilbo can walk forward and back.
“Chuck Berry can’t walk backward,” Walker told us.
He’ll have his CD “Rompin’ and Stompin’” (Fedora) for sale.
Joining Walker and the band will be his daughter, Estelle Taylor, who sings better than he does, said her proud dad. “She puts on such a beautiful show,” Walker said.
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
TOP STORY > >Armory gets funding from House; Bush will sign bill
By JOAN MCCOY and JOHN HOFHEIMER
Leader staff writers
The Defense Department’s $10.8 million share of a new Cabot National Guard Readiness Center — they used to be called armories — is on its way to the president’s desk, part of a $600 billion continuing defense resolution.
Cabot Mayor Eddie Joe Williams, who was in Washington last week trying to get support for a north interchange when funding for the armory was approved, pointed out that the project is moving much faster than anyone predicted it would. It should have taken up to five years, but in one year, the land was purchased and money for engineering appropriated. Now, the federal money to build it has been approved.
“It’s hard work paying off,” Williams said. “On big projects like this, you have to stay focused and maintain relationships. It takes perseverance.”
Nearly $1 billion of the $1.98 billion worth of projects and construction in Arkansas headed for the president’s desk is for rearming the military with rockets, mortars and missiles manufactured in Camden, East Camden and Texarkana, but about $14.8 million was earmarked for Arkansas National Guard projects in Cabot and in Jacksonville.
Representatives Vic Snyder, Marion Berry and Sen-ators Blanche Lincoln and Mark Pryor helped secure funding for the 38,000 square-foot Arkansas National Guard readiness center in Cabot.
“Our men and women in uniform protect and defend this country with honor,” said Berry. “This funding will further their mission through university research, equipment purchases and facilities construction. We must ensure that the armed forces are the best equipped and trained in the world.”
The readiness center will include an assembly area, administrative office space, supply and storage areas, classrooms, latrines, kitchen, military parking and a maintenance training bay.
“Right now, we don’t show it to be constructed within the next five years,” said Capt. Chris Heathscott, public information officer for the Arkansas National Guard.
Heathscott said Little Rock architects Lewis, Elliott, McMorran and Vaden were recently awarded the architectural bid. He said the same firm did the design work for the Cabot and Beebe school systems.
“This is listed as the number one priority for long-range construction for the Arkansas National Guard,” he said.
The bill also contains $4 million for a properly sized and configured engine inspection and maintenance facility for the 189th Air Wing of the Arkansas Air National Guard at Little Rock Air Force Base in Jacksonville.
It is intended to better support the maintenance and training mission of the 189th Airlift Wing in support of its nine C-130J aircraft.
The facility will include aircraft engine inspection space, maintenance areas, tool and equipment storage as well as appropriate office, bathroom and locker space.
“It is important for Congress to support these worthwhile military projects,” Snyder said.
These projects have been approved by both the Senate and the House of Representatives and lack only the president’s signature, said a spokesman for Berry, a Gillette Democrat.
Williams said those who started working on the project in 2001 included Jason Carter, Fred Campbell, Moose Cullins, David Hipp, former Mayor Joe Allman, former school superintendent Don Elliott, Charles George, Bill Devoss and Gary McMillian.
The readiness center will replace the temporary facility that opened in the industrial park on Hwy. 367 late in 2006.
Currently, 137 National Guard members are from the Cabot area, though not all are members of Cabot’s Foxtrot Company, which is the part of the 39th Support Battalion.
But that large number was one of the reasons Cabot was a desirable location for a new armory, Lt. Col. Shillcut said.
The local match, provided by the city and state contributed, about $400,000 for the purchase of 15.5 acres for the new center.
“Arkansas’ military installations, universities and companies play a critical role in our national security,” said Pryor. “This funding will ensure our men and women serving in the military have the resources they need to accomplish their missions and meet emerging threats.”
“A strong national defense requires the very best in military training, equipment, and technology, and Arkansas’s military installations and growing defense industry are key to achieving America’s national security goals,” said Lincoln. “These state and local priorities will boost our state’s economy and allow Arkansans to continue to play a critical role in strengthening the U.S. military.”
Leader staff writers
The Defense Department’s $10.8 million share of a new Cabot National Guard Readiness Center — they used to be called armories — is on its way to the president’s desk, part of a $600 billion continuing defense resolution.
Cabot Mayor Eddie Joe Williams, who was in Washington last week trying to get support for a north interchange when funding for the armory was approved, pointed out that the project is moving much faster than anyone predicted it would. It should have taken up to five years, but in one year, the land was purchased and money for engineering appropriated. Now, the federal money to build it has been approved.
“It’s hard work paying off,” Williams said. “On big projects like this, you have to stay focused and maintain relationships. It takes perseverance.”
Nearly $1 billion of the $1.98 billion worth of projects and construction in Arkansas headed for the president’s desk is for rearming the military with rockets, mortars and missiles manufactured in Camden, East Camden and Texarkana, but about $14.8 million was earmarked for Arkansas National Guard projects in Cabot and in Jacksonville.
Representatives Vic Snyder, Marion Berry and Sen-ators Blanche Lincoln and Mark Pryor helped secure funding for the 38,000 square-foot Arkansas National Guard readiness center in Cabot.
“Our men and women in uniform protect and defend this country with honor,” said Berry. “This funding will further their mission through university research, equipment purchases and facilities construction. We must ensure that the armed forces are the best equipped and trained in the world.”
The readiness center will include an assembly area, administrative office space, supply and storage areas, classrooms, latrines, kitchen, military parking and a maintenance training bay.
“Right now, we don’t show it to be constructed within the next five years,” said Capt. Chris Heathscott, public information officer for the Arkansas National Guard.
Heathscott said Little Rock architects Lewis, Elliott, McMorran and Vaden were recently awarded the architectural bid. He said the same firm did the design work for the Cabot and Beebe school systems.
“This is listed as the number one priority for long-range construction for the Arkansas National Guard,” he said.
The bill also contains $4 million for a properly sized and configured engine inspection and maintenance facility for the 189th Air Wing of the Arkansas Air National Guard at Little Rock Air Force Base in Jacksonville.
It is intended to better support the maintenance and training mission of the 189th Airlift Wing in support of its nine C-130J aircraft.
The facility will include aircraft engine inspection space, maintenance areas, tool and equipment storage as well as appropriate office, bathroom and locker space.
“It is important for Congress to support these worthwhile military projects,” Snyder said.
These projects have been approved by both the Senate and the House of Representatives and lack only the president’s signature, said a spokesman for Berry, a Gillette Democrat.
Williams said those who started working on the project in 2001 included Jason Carter, Fred Campbell, Moose Cullins, David Hipp, former Mayor Joe Allman, former school superintendent Don Elliott, Charles George, Bill Devoss and Gary McMillian.
The readiness center will replace the temporary facility that opened in the industrial park on Hwy. 367 late in 2006.
Currently, 137 National Guard members are from the Cabot area, though not all are members of Cabot’s Foxtrot Company, which is the part of the 39th Support Battalion.
But that large number was one of the reasons Cabot was a desirable location for a new armory, Lt. Col. Shillcut said.
The local match, provided by the city and state contributed, about $400,000 for the purchase of 15.5 acres for the new center.
“Arkansas’ military installations, universities and companies play a critical role in our national security,” said Pryor. “This funding will ensure our men and women serving in the military have the resources they need to accomplish their missions and meet emerging threats.”
“A strong national defense requires the very best in military training, equipment, and technology, and Arkansas’s military installations and growing defense industry are key to achieving America’s national security goals,” said Lincoln. “These state and local priorities will boost our state’s economy and allow Arkansans to continue to play a critical role in strengthening the U.S. military.”
SPORTS>>Red Devils should get past ’Cane ... barely
By JASON KING
Leader sportswriter
It’s hard to believe that the 2008 season has already completed its first month. We were oh-so-close to a perfect mark for the first time last week until those darned Bulldogs from White Hall knocked off Sylvan Hills. The upside was that our 8-1 record gave our numbers for the season a good boost up to 23-8.
There are some extra hard picks for Week 4. The Badgers, Jackrabbits and Wildcats all have good chances at dominating wins, but most of the other local games are toss-ups.
JONESBORO AT JACKSONVILLE
This is a vital 6A-East matchup that features two teams which opened league play with wins last weekend. Fourth-year Jacksonville coach Mark Whatley has a young football squad, but also has an upperclassman in Patrick Geans, who might just be one of the most underrated running backs in the state.
Randy Coleman’s success at Jonesboro has been immediate with a 3-1 record so far. Coleman’s hurry-up style offense is a drastically different look from former coach Jim DeVazier’s slot I set.
The defensive line appears to be the major strength of the Golden Hurricane, which could pose a problem for a young quarterback like Red Devil sophomore Logan Perry. Perry had an outstanding performance against Mountain Home last Friday, but may have to rely more on his backfield than his arm this week.
Jacksonville 25, Jonesboro 21
CATHOLIC AT CABOT
This series has proven quite dynamic over Cabot’s first two seasons in the 7A-Central.
The Panthers got their conference season off on the right foot with a win over Conway, and now look to make it 2-0 in Central play with their first conference home game. The buzz is loud over in that part of Lonoke County right now, which will mean an even bigger crowd than normal.
It will be another close one, but the Panthers will be too pumped up by the crowd to let it slip.
Cabot 21, Catholic 17
BEEBE AT NORTH PULASKI
Badger fullback Sammy Williams has flirted with 200 yards since the first game of the season, and this could be the week. This battle of full-house offenses doesn’t look very lopsided on paper. In fact, the numbers on North Pulaski’s offensive line are somewhat larger than Beebe’s in a few spots, but the biggest difference between these two clubs is the level of execution.
Beebe will pick up its first conference road win as they prepare next week for what very well could be an early 5A-Southeast Conference title game against Monticello. It’s the start of a two-game home stand for the Falcons, who will host White Hall next week.
Beebe 35, NP 7
SYLVAN HILLS AT MILLS
This one might be the hardest pick to date, but here goes.
The Sylvan Hills defense has been mostly solid, but the offense has not put up a lot of big numbers so far. Mills is practically in the same boat, not counting the unexpected beating it handed Jacksonville two weeks ago.
Both teams lost their openers last week, so the loser of this one will be pretty far back in terms of getting to the playoffs. The Comets appear to have a few more weapons at their disposal while the SH arsenal is still trying to reload after losing their Swiss Army Knife of a quarterback from last year.
Junior Jordan Spears is still young at the quarterback spot for the Bears this year, while the Comets have experienced and quick senior Bentrell Cobbs.
Mills 18, Sylvan Hills 14
LONOKE AT BALD KNOB
The Bulldogs have a terrific quarterback in Chad Cates, but unfortunately for them, they lack the physical line to stave off the fast and physical Lonoke defense. Heber Springs spent the entire second half running away from Joel Harris and company, and featured more team speed than what Bald Knob will present.
Bald Knob coach Paul Johnson has said that intelligence and field awareness can make up for shortcomings in athleticism and size at certain spots on his defense, but the biggest thing the ’Dogs will probably end up being aware of is how difficult it is to catch Michael Howard and the Jackrabbit receivers.
Rollins Elam will take this quarterbacks’ duel, hands down.
Lonoke 55, Bald Knob 23
HARDING ACADEMY VS. ENGLAND
The Mike Morrison-coached Lions are one of few 2-3A teams expected to give much of a challenge to Harding Academy this year. England now runs out of the double-slot after finding themselves dissatisfied with last year’s 4-7 showing in their former conference.
The Wildcats have not missed a beat in switching from the Shoemaker to the Mote era, and should come away with win number five this week.
Harding Academy 45, England 26
RIVERVIEW AT ROSE BUD
The Raiders have to start building their tradition somewhere, and in the first few years, a lot of that will depend on getting wins against fellow upstart teams such as this week’s Ramblers.
Basketball is tops at both of these White County schools, but we believe that Riverview will eventually be a school known for being good in all sports. Rose Bud does have the advantage of having two years of varsity play already under its belt, but many of its skill players have just as limited experience as the Raiders.
Riverview made history in its season-opening win over Marked Tree at home, and will get their first-ever 2-3A Conference win on the road this Friday.
Riverview 38, Rose Bud 32
SEARCY AT PARKVIEW
Now that six seeds will go to the playoffs for both conferences in Class 6A, a game like this now takes on more meaning than ever. Both teams have really tough games ahead of them next week (Parkview at Marion, Searcy hosts West Memphis), so a win here for either team will be big. The Patriots have had a slightly better showing than Searcy to date, and should be able to rebound from last week’s heartbreaking 47-46 loss to Jonesboro.
Parkview 31, Searcy 22
Leader sportswriter
It’s hard to believe that the 2008 season has already completed its first month. We were oh-so-close to a perfect mark for the first time last week until those darned Bulldogs from White Hall knocked off Sylvan Hills. The upside was that our 8-1 record gave our numbers for the season a good boost up to 23-8.
There are some extra hard picks for Week 4. The Badgers, Jackrabbits and Wildcats all have good chances at dominating wins, but most of the other local games are toss-ups.
JONESBORO AT JACKSONVILLE
This is a vital 6A-East matchup that features two teams which opened league play with wins last weekend. Fourth-year Jacksonville coach Mark Whatley has a young football squad, but also has an upperclassman in Patrick Geans, who might just be one of the most underrated running backs in the state.
Randy Coleman’s success at Jonesboro has been immediate with a 3-1 record so far. Coleman’s hurry-up style offense is a drastically different look from former coach Jim DeVazier’s slot I set.
The defensive line appears to be the major strength of the Golden Hurricane, which could pose a problem for a young quarterback like Red Devil sophomore Logan Perry. Perry had an outstanding performance against Mountain Home last Friday, but may have to rely more on his backfield than his arm this week.
Jacksonville 25, Jonesboro 21
CATHOLIC AT CABOT
This series has proven quite dynamic over Cabot’s first two seasons in the 7A-Central.
The Panthers got their conference season off on the right foot with a win over Conway, and now look to make it 2-0 in Central play with their first conference home game. The buzz is loud over in that part of Lonoke County right now, which will mean an even bigger crowd than normal.
It will be another close one, but the Panthers will be too pumped up by the crowd to let it slip.
Cabot 21, Catholic 17
BEEBE AT NORTH PULASKI
Badger fullback Sammy Williams has flirted with 200 yards since the first game of the season, and this could be the week. This battle of full-house offenses doesn’t look very lopsided on paper. In fact, the numbers on North Pulaski’s offensive line are somewhat larger than Beebe’s in a few spots, but the biggest difference between these two clubs is the level of execution.
Beebe will pick up its first conference road win as they prepare next week for what very well could be an early 5A-Southeast Conference title game against Monticello. It’s the start of a two-game home stand for the Falcons, who will host White Hall next week.
Beebe 35, NP 7
SYLVAN HILLS AT MILLS
This one might be the hardest pick to date, but here goes.
The Sylvan Hills defense has been mostly solid, but the offense has not put up a lot of big numbers so far. Mills is practically in the same boat, not counting the unexpected beating it handed Jacksonville two weeks ago.
Both teams lost their openers last week, so the loser of this one will be pretty far back in terms of getting to the playoffs. The Comets appear to have a few more weapons at their disposal while the SH arsenal is still trying to reload after losing their Swiss Army Knife of a quarterback from last year.
Junior Jordan Spears is still young at the quarterback spot for the Bears this year, while the Comets have experienced and quick senior Bentrell Cobbs.
Mills 18, Sylvan Hills 14
LONOKE AT BALD KNOB
The Bulldogs have a terrific quarterback in Chad Cates, but unfortunately for them, they lack the physical line to stave off the fast and physical Lonoke defense. Heber Springs spent the entire second half running away from Joel Harris and company, and featured more team speed than what Bald Knob will present.
Bald Knob coach Paul Johnson has said that intelligence and field awareness can make up for shortcomings in athleticism and size at certain spots on his defense, but the biggest thing the ’Dogs will probably end up being aware of is how difficult it is to catch Michael Howard and the Jackrabbit receivers.
Rollins Elam will take this quarterbacks’ duel, hands down.
Lonoke 55, Bald Knob 23
HARDING ACADEMY VS. ENGLAND
The Mike Morrison-coached Lions are one of few 2-3A teams expected to give much of a challenge to Harding Academy this year. England now runs out of the double-slot after finding themselves dissatisfied with last year’s 4-7 showing in their former conference.
The Wildcats have not missed a beat in switching from the Shoemaker to the Mote era, and should come away with win number five this week.
Harding Academy 45, England 26
RIVERVIEW AT ROSE BUD
The Raiders have to start building their tradition somewhere, and in the first few years, a lot of that will depend on getting wins against fellow upstart teams such as this week’s Ramblers.
Basketball is tops at both of these White County schools, but we believe that Riverview will eventually be a school known for being good in all sports. Rose Bud does have the advantage of having two years of varsity play already under its belt, but many of its skill players have just as limited experience as the Raiders.
Riverview made history in its season-opening win over Marked Tree at home, and will get their first-ever 2-3A Conference win on the road this Friday.
Riverview 38, Rose Bud 32
SEARCY AT PARKVIEW
Now that six seeds will go to the playoffs for both conferences in Class 6A, a game like this now takes on more meaning than ever. Both teams have really tough games ahead of them next week (Parkview at Marion, Searcy hosts West Memphis), so a win here for either team will be big. The Patriots have had a slightly better showing than Searcy to date, and should be able to rebound from last week’s heartbreaking 47-46 loss to Jonesboro.
Parkview 31, Searcy 22
SPORTS>>Falcons will try to rebound from disappointing setback
By KELLY FENTON
Leader sports editor
One team is coming off what its coach terms one of the most disappointing in seven years. The other one just played its best, most complete game of the year.
When Beebe travels to North Pulaski to take on the reeling Falcons this Friday, all the cards would seem to be stacked in the Badgers’ favor. Beebe (3-1 and 1-0 in the 5A-Southeast) put it all together in a 42-27 cruise past Crossett last Friday night.
North Pulaski, on the other hand, let one slip away in a 22-15 loss at McClellan.
“It’s still getting to me,” North Pulaski coach Tony Bohannon said on Monday. “I was proud of the way we came back in the second half, but you can’t just play one half. “The first game at Searcy, we played the first half but didn’t come out the second half.”
The Falcons fell to 1-3 and 0-1 last Friday when they allowed McClellan to twice escape long-yardage situations in the final five minutes while clinging to a 1-point lead. The Lions then torched North Pulaski for a 48-yard pass to the 3 to set up the winning touchdown.
Other than that pass play and a 63-yard run in the first quarter, the Falcon defense was stellar all night, limiting the Lions to 240 total yards.
“We had a good defensive game plan and we stuck with it,” Bohannon said. “We got beat on a long pass and a long run. But the defense and the special teams got it back for us and gave us a chance.”
Unfortunately, the Falcon offense didn’t pitch in. After a pretty good showing the week before in a lopsided loss to Little Rock Christian, the Falcons could get almost nothing going on offense against McClellan, especially in the first half, when 26 plays netted 30 yards.
But the Falcons rallied at halftime, stripped the ball on the opening kickoff of the second half and scored to cut the gap to 14-9. Jerald Blair’s interception and return to the 2 midway through the final period set up the go-ahead score.
“We hope what we did in the second half will carry over (to Friday),” Bohannon said. “But we just didn’t move the ball like we should have. That’s will be one of the things we really work on this week, maintaining possession. Beebe will keep the ball all night if we let them. That’s the way the (Wing T) works when you run it like your supposed to run it.”
The North Pulaski offensive line, which figured to be one of the strengths heading into the season, opened up precious few holes on Friday. What yardage Billy Barron, Bryan Colson and Darius Cage got came mostly from hard running. Bohannon chalks up the offensive line woes to the loss of Dylan Sheffield to injury in Week 2.
For Beebe head coach John Shannon, consistency on both sides of the ball had him especially pleased after some spotty early-season performances.
“We had a couple of good drives and then we’d sputter in the red zone,” he said. “We did that against Greenbrier and we did the same thing against Lonoke. Friday night, we were a lot more consistent. The defense tackled a lot better, the kids flew to the ball a lot better. It was kind of like we were finally starting to figure things out.”
Shannon isn’t so sure a disappointing loss to Vilonia the previous week wasn’t a good thing, and may have served to convince his team that it had to show up focused and ready every week.
With tailback Brandon Purcell on the sidelines with a turned ankle most of last Friday, Shannon was able to find another option to feature back Sammy Williams: the forward pass. It worked to perfection. Pound, pound, pound with Williams, who finished with 177 yards and three touchdowns, then play-action pass for big gains. Quarterback Roger Glaude made the most of his four pass attempts, completing three for 127 yards and 2 touchdowns.
Purcell is expected to return for Friday’s action. Shannon said he is not looking past North Pulaski’s 1-3 start and is concerned about their physical play.
“They haven’t been blown out by anybody,” Shannon said. “Their defense is playing a lot better. They got three huge guys on the line and a big ol’ fullback. They’re a dangerous team.”
For Bohannon, it’s become an issue of pride.
“The thing about football is, like life, you have to play to represent yourself,” he said. “That’s what we’re trying to get them to understand is that everybody has to represent themselves well. And that’s what they did in the second half.”
Leader sports editor
One team is coming off what its coach terms one of the most disappointing in seven years. The other one just played its best, most complete game of the year.
When Beebe travels to North Pulaski to take on the reeling Falcons this Friday, all the cards would seem to be stacked in the Badgers’ favor. Beebe (3-1 and 1-0 in the 5A-Southeast) put it all together in a 42-27 cruise past Crossett last Friday night.
North Pulaski, on the other hand, let one slip away in a 22-15 loss at McClellan.
“It’s still getting to me,” North Pulaski coach Tony Bohannon said on Monday. “I was proud of the way we came back in the second half, but you can’t just play one half. “The first game at Searcy, we played the first half but didn’t come out the second half.”
The Falcons fell to 1-3 and 0-1 last Friday when they allowed McClellan to twice escape long-yardage situations in the final five minutes while clinging to a 1-point lead. The Lions then torched North Pulaski for a 48-yard pass to the 3 to set up the winning touchdown.
Other than that pass play and a 63-yard run in the first quarter, the Falcon defense was stellar all night, limiting the Lions to 240 total yards.
“We had a good defensive game plan and we stuck with it,” Bohannon said. “We got beat on a long pass and a long run. But the defense and the special teams got it back for us and gave us a chance.”
Unfortunately, the Falcon offense didn’t pitch in. After a pretty good showing the week before in a lopsided loss to Little Rock Christian, the Falcons could get almost nothing going on offense against McClellan, especially in the first half, when 26 plays netted 30 yards.
But the Falcons rallied at halftime, stripped the ball on the opening kickoff of the second half and scored to cut the gap to 14-9. Jerald Blair’s interception and return to the 2 midway through the final period set up the go-ahead score.
“We hope what we did in the second half will carry over (to Friday),” Bohannon said. “But we just didn’t move the ball like we should have. That’s will be one of the things we really work on this week, maintaining possession. Beebe will keep the ball all night if we let them. That’s the way the (Wing T) works when you run it like your supposed to run it.”
The North Pulaski offensive line, which figured to be one of the strengths heading into the season, opened up precious few holes on Friday. What yardage Billy Barron, Bryan Colson and Darius Cage got came mostly from hard running. Bohannon chalks up the offensive line woes to the loss of Dylan Sheffield to injury in Week 2.
For Beebe head coach John Shannon, consistency on both sides of the ball had him especially pleased after some spotty early-season performances.
“We had a couple of good drives and then we’d sputter in the red zone,” he said. “We did that against Greenbrier and we did the same thing against Lonoke. Friday night, we were a lot more consistent. The defense tackled a lot better, the kids flew to the ball a lot better. It was kind of like we were finally starting to figure things out.”
Shannon isn’t so sure a disappointing loss to Vilonia the previous week wasn’t a good thing, and may have served to convince his team that it had to show up focused and ready every week.
With tailback Brandon Purcell on the sidelines with a turned ankle most of last Friday, Shannon was able to find another option to feature back Sammy Williams: the forward pass. It worked to perfection. Pound, pound, pound with Williams, who finished with 177 yards and three touchdowns, then play-action pass for big gains. Quarterback Roger Glaude made the most of his four pass attempts, completing three for 127 yards and 2 touchdowns.
Purcell is expected to return for Friday’s action. Shannon said he is not looking past North Pulaski’s 1-3 start and is concerned about their physical play.
“They haven’t been blown out by anybody,” Shannon said. “Their defense is playing a lot better. They got three huge guys on the line and a big ol’ fullback. They’re a dangerous team.”
For Bohannon, it’s become an issue of pride.
“The thing about football is, like life, you have to play to represent yourself,” he said. “That’s what we’re trying to get them to understand is that everybody has to represent themselves well. And that’s what they did in the second half.”
SPORTS>>Bears’ coach is preaching urgency after shaky start
By KELLY FENTON
Leader sports editor
Jim Withrow is as puzzled as he is frustrated.
And he’s plenty frustrated.
“After watching us at practice last Wednesday, if you’d have told me we’d only score seven points (last Friday against White Hall), I’d have thought you were crazy,” said the Sylvan Hills head coach.
But seven is all the Bears could muster in falling to 1-3 with a 21-7 loss to the Bulldogs. It was pretty much the same story for Sylvan Hills as it had been through the first three weeks of the season: The defense played well enough for the Bears to win, while the offense struggled to find a rhythm, or even an identity.
“We struggled as an entire team,” Withrow said. “The defense played well but not as well as it could play. And the offense was an uninspired mess. In my nine years as a head coach, I’ve never seen anything like it.
“But at the end of the day, it resides at my front door. It’s my fault.”
Whoever deserves the blame, a simple fact remains. The Bears need a win and they need one this Friday. After inspiring performances — at least defensively — against a couple of 7A schools in Cabot and North Little Rock, this Friday’s game at
Mills might have seemed like one you could pencil into the win column for Sylvan Hills.
But Mills’ eye-opening 31-19 win over Jacksonville in Week 3 and the Bears’ ongoing doldrums makes this one anything but a cruise for Sylvan Hills.
“It may be just one of those years where I don’t know if anybody is much better than anybody else,” said Withrow, who coached at Mills until coming to Sylvan Hills in 2007. “I mean, Jacksonville beats Vilonia, then gets beat by Mills, who got beat pretty bad by Monticello last week. And Monticello lost to Vilonia.”
In other words, you better show up every week. Mills features a three-pronged threat in fleet and shifty quarterback Bentrell Cobbs, bruising 225-pound fullback Tim Stigall and quick tailback Zae Jones. The trio combined for 329 rushing yards in that win over Jacksonville.
And the Mills’ defense limited a potent Red Devil offense to just 250 total yards.
“We hope it’s not a slugfest,” said Withrow. “If they decide to give it to (Stigall) 30 times, it looks like he can carry it 30 times.
Their quarterback can sling it a long way and he can run it too. And their tailback can make some moves. All three present a problem.”
Withrow figures if the Bears can get the offense going, things should take care of themselves. Sylvan Hills had some success against White Hall, but mistakes once again plagued them, ending drives and costing them points.
A bad snap resulted in a 42-yard loss and a recovery for a White Hall touchdown, and a dropped pass in the end zone cost the Bears seven more points. Add to that misreads and some poorly-run receiver routes and it all has Withrow scratching his head.
“It was shocking to me,” Withrow said, still reeling from the performance more than 48 hours later. “I felt like we were going to win that game. Lawrence Hodges broke off a big run (to put Sylvan Hills up 7-0) and we were kind of looking around like we were on our way. We never did anything after that. It blew me away, some of the stuff we did.”
The Bears did manage a couple of sustained drives in the final period, but couldn’t cash it in.
Withrow said the Bears will try to get back to a balanced attack and clean up the mistakes. He said he has talked to older coaches, who tell him it’s just a matter of running the plays over and over and, eventually, everything will click.
One thing that might just help the Bears’offense is, strangely enough, the return of linebacker Michael Robinson, who missed the first three weeks with an injury, and played sparingly last week. His return to full strength will mean fewer defensive reps for Hodges at linebacker and fresher legs at his fullback position.
Withrow is also hoping for the return of senior safety Casey Cerrato, who has been hurt since the season opener.
“We don’t know if he’ll be ready this week or not, but we hope so,” Withrow said. “Just his presence as a leader out there really helps you.”
Withrow said that, given the circumstances, the emotion of returning to the site of his former coaching reign will take a back seat to other considerations.
“It might seem a little odd to be dressing in the visitor’s dressing room or being on the other sideline,” he said. “But this is a game we need to win. There’s no need to panic, but there is a need to pick our game up. Using the phrase ‘We’re young’ has gotten old.”
Leader sports editor
Jim Withrow is as puzzled as he is frustrated.
And he’s plenty frustrated.
“After watching us at practice last Wednesday, if you’d have told me we’d only score seven points (last Friday against White Hall), I’d have thought you were crazy,” said the Sylvan Hills head coach.
But seven is all the Bears could muster in falling to 1-3 with a 21-7 loss to the Bulldogs. It was pretty much the same story for Sylvan Hills as it had been through the first three weeks of the season: The defense played well enough for the Bears to win, while the offense struggled to find a rhythm, or even an identity.
“We struggled as an entire team,” Withrow said. “The defense played well but not as well as it could play. And the offense was an uninspired mess. In my nine years as a head coach, I’ve never seen anything like it.
“But at the end of the day, it resides at my front door. It’s my fault.”
Whoever deserves the blame, a simple fact remains. The Bears need a win and they need one this Friday. After inspiring performances — at least defensively — against a couple of 7A schools in Cabot and North Little Rock, this Friday’s game at
Mills might have seemed like one you could pencil into the win column for Sylvan Hills.
But Mills’ eye-opening 31-19 win over Jacksonville in Week 3 and the Bears’ ongoing doldrums makes this one anything but a cruise for Sylvan Hills.
“It may be just one of those years where I don’t know if anybody is much better than anybody else,” said Withrow, who coached at Mills until coming to Sylvan Hills in 2007. “I mean, Jacksonville beats Vilonia, then gets beat by Mills, who got beat pretty bad by Monticello last week. And Monticello lost to Vilonia.”
In other words, you better show up every week. Mills features a three-pronged threat in fleet and shifty quarterback Bentrell Cobbs, bruising 225-pound fullback Tim Stigall and quick tailback Zae Jones. The trio combined for 329 rushing yards in that win over Jacksonville.
And the Mills’ defense limited a potent Red Devil offense to just 250 total yards.
“We hope it’s not a slugfest,” said Withrow. “If they decide to give it to (Stigall) 30 times, it looks like he can carry it 30 times.
Their quarterback can sling it a long way and he can run it too. And their tailback can make some moves. All three present a problem.”
Withrow figures if the Bears can get the offense going, things should take care of themselves. Sylvan Hills had some success against White Hall, but mistakes once again plagued them, ending drives and costing them points.
A bad snap resulted in a 42-yard loss and a recovery for a White Hall touchdown, and a dropped pass in the end zone cost the Bears seven more points. Add to that misreads and some poorly-run receiver routes and it all has Withrow scratching his head.
“It was shocking to me,” Withrow said, still reeling from the performance more than 48 hours later. “I felt like we were going to win that game. Lawrence Hodges broke off a big run (to put Sylvan Hills up 7-0) and we were kind of looking around like we were on our way. We never did anything after that. It blew me away, some of the stuff we did.”
The Bears did manage a couple of sustained drives in the final period, but couldn’t cash it in.
Withrow said the Bears will try to get back to a balanced attack and clean up the mistakes. He said he has talked to older coaches, who tell him it’s just a matter of running the plays over and over and, eventually, everything will click.
One thing that might just help the Bears’offense is, strangely enough, the return of linebacker Michael Robinson, who missed the first three weeks with an injury, and played sparingly last week. His return to full strength will mean fewer defensive reps for Hodges at linebacker and fresher legs at his fullback position.
Withrow is also hoping for the return of senior safety Casey Cerrato, who has been hurt since the season opener.
“We don’t know if he’ll be ready this week or not, but we hope so,” Withrow said. “Just his presence as a leader out there really helps you.”
Withrow said that, given the circumstances, the emotion of returning to the site of his former coaching reign will take a back seat to other considerations.
“It might seem a little odd to be dressing in the visitor’s dressing room or being on the other sideline,” he said. “But this is a game we need to win. There’s no need to panic, but there is a need to pick our game up. Using the phrase ‘We’re young’ has gotten old.”
SPORTS>>Surprising Rockets invade Cabot
By JASON KING
Leader sportswriter
What Cabot coach Mike Malham likes to describe as trench warfare will be on full display at Panther Stadium this Friday when Catholic High School visits for Week 2 of the 7A-Central Conference season to face the unbeaten Panthers.
Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.
The Rockets (2-2, 1-0 conf.) have faced the toughest competition in the state so far, with close losses to top-ranked Fort Smith Southside as well as Northside in non-conference play, and wins over 6A Benton in Week 2 and last week’s league opening victory over Bryant.
“Catholic does a little bit of everything,” Cabot coach Mike Malham said. “It’s going to be our biggest test to date.
They’ve played some good competition. They’ve taken Northside and Southside down to the wire. It won’t be easy. Nothing’s going to be from here on out. It’s only going to get tougher every week.”
The Catholic offense has benefited from the strong play of junior quarterback Taylor Bartlett over the first month of the season. Bartlett led the charge during the Rockets’ big comeback over Bryant last week, finishing 19 of 23 for 239 yards and three touchdowns.
Meanwhile, Malham is looking for answers from his own offense. The numbers have been respectable, if sometimes ineffective. Last week, the Panther offense moved the chains consistently with 18 first downs and over 350 yards of total offense, but that translated into only three scores in a 21-7 win at Conway.
“We moved it well between the 20s,” Malham said. “We just weren’t producing scores. We had to settle for a field goal on one trip, and we had to have a fake punt just to keep another drive going. I don’t know that our offense is as good this year as what it was last year, and that’s a shame. We’ve got veteran linemen and eight of our starters back from last year. It’s a shame, because in this league, you’re going to have to score some points. There are a lot of good offenses out there.”
It’s not time to hit the panic button for Malham, but bringing in younger personnel at the interior is not out of the question.
“We’re not going to abandon ship,” Malham said. “But if some of those guys don’t start grading out better, we may go with some of our sophomores in those spots.
“It was kind of funny, because I didn’t think we moved the ball that much until I went back and looked at the film and said ‘golly’. We drove the ball, but then we had a holding penalty on one drive that hurt us. Another drive, we had fourth-and-nine and didn’t do anything. It was blown assignments, and several other mistakes. You have to have points to show for it when you move the ball like that. We’re just not happy with that situation right now.”
The saving grace for the Panthers so far this season has been their defense. Jacksonville scored a pair of touchdowns in Week 1, but every other opponent has been held to one score or less.
“We’re confident that our secondary can do well,” Malham said. “Right now, our offense has been hot and cold up to this point.
We had a couple of games where we didn’t even have to punt, and other games where we slowed down, but our defense has been pretty solid every week.”
Ethan Coffee and Justin Wortman were two Panther defenders who came up big last week. Coffee fell on an early Conway fumble that helped give the Panthers early momentum, and Wortman ended the Wampus Cats’ last-ditch effort with an interception that led to an insurance score.
The Panthers held Conway to only four first downs last Friday.
Since joining the 7A-Central Conference in 2006, Cabot has split with Catholic.
“Catholic has been a good series up to this point,” Malham said. “It’s probably pretty even. I don’t know the exact record, but we played them for many years non-conference up until about five or six years ago.”
Leader sportswriter
What Cabot coach Mike Malham likes to describe as trench warfare will be on full display at Panther Stadium this Friday when Catholic High School visits for Week 2 of the 7A-Central Conference season to face the unbeaten Panthers.
Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.
The Rockets (2-2, 1-0 conf.) have faced the toughest competition in the state so far, with close losses to top-ranked Fort Smith Southside as well as Northside in non-conference play, and wins over 6A Benton in Week 2 and last week’s league opening victory over Bryant.
“Catholic does a little bit of everything,” Cabot coach Mike Malham said. “It’s going to be our biggest test to date.
They’ve played some good competition. They’ve taken Northside and Southside down to the wire. It won’t be easy. Nothing’s going to be from here on out. It’s only going to get tougher every week.”
The Catholic offense has benefited from the strong play of junior quarterback Taylor Bartlett over the first month of the season. Bartlett led the charge during the Rockets’ big comeback over Bryant last week, finishing 19 of 23 for 239 yards and three touchdowns.
Meanwhile, Malham is looking for answers from his own offense. The numbers have been respectable, if sometimes ineffective. Last week, the Panther offense moved the chains consistently with 18 first downs and over 350 yards of total offense, but that translated into only three scores in a 21-7 win at Conway.
“We moved it well between the 20s,” Malham said. “We just weren’t producing scores. We had to settle for a field goal on one trip, and we had to have a fake punt just to keep another drive going. I don’t know that our offense is as good this year as what it was last year, and that’s a shame. We’ve got veteran linemen and eight of our starters back from last year. It’s a shame, because in this league, you’re going to have to score some points. There are a lot of good offenses out there.”
It’s not time to hit the panic button for Malham, but bringing in younger personnel at the interior is not out of the question.
“We’re not going to abandon ship,” Malham said. “But if some of those guys don’t start grading out better, we may go with some of our sophomores in those spots.
“It was kind of funny, because I didn’t think we moved the ball that much until I went back and looked at the film and said ‘golly’. We drove the ball, but then we had a holding penalty on one drive that hurt us. Another drive, we had fourth-and-nine and didn’t do anything. It was blown assignments, and several other mistakes. You have to have points to show for it when you move the ball like that. We’re just not happy with that situation right now.”
The saving grace for the Panthers so far this season has been their defense. Jacksonville scored a pair of touchdowns in Week 1, but every other opponent has been held to one score or less.
“We’re confident that our secondary can do well,” Malham said. “Right now, our offense has been hot and cold up to this point.
We had a couple of games where we didn’t even have to punt, and other games where we slowed down, but our defense has been pretty solid every week.”
Ethan Coffee and Justin Wortman were two Panther defenders who came up big last week. Coffee fell on an early Conway fumble that helped give the Panthers early momentum, and Wortman ended the Wampus Cats’ last-ditch effort with an interception that led to an insurance score.
The Panthers held Conway to only four first downs last Friday.
Since joining the 7A-Central Conference in 2006, Cabot has split with Catholic.
“Catholic has been a good series up to this point,” Malham said. “It’s probably pretty even. I don’t know the exact record, but we played them for many years non-conference up until about five or six years ago.”
SPORTS>>Arkansas-Arkansas State matchup long overdue
By JASON KING
Leader sportswriter
Intrastate rivalries are one of the best traditions in college football … unless you happen to live in Arkansas.
You can go back to 1911, when the Arkansas State University Aggies first fielded a football team, and scan their media guide year by year, and you will find only one game against the Arkansas Razorbacks. It was the 1944 season finale, with the Hogs taking a 41-0 win, although ASU did not play a complete season that year.
Actually, you have to look in the Razorback media guide for that, because ASU did not keep records from 1942-44.
What you will mostly find in the earlier years are games against Arkansas College, Arkansas Teachers, Arkansas A&M, and a few in-state schools that still exist.
For years, ASU fans have understood that a game with the Razorbacks would not take place with iron-fisted University of Arkansas athletic director Frank Broyles at the helm. His fear of casting a state spotlight on someone other than himself and the Hogs simply made it a non-option.
But the old man is finally gone.
He may still be an advisor, and he may still have a plush office in that corporate-sponsored football heaven named after him, but Broyles no longer pulls the strings. With former Pitt AD Jeff Long now calling the shots on the Hill, it’s time for the Indians … er … Red Wolves and Razorbacks to take to the field against one another.
The most ironic thing about the whole matter is that Arkansas would most certainly have dominated the series had it ever come to fruition. ASU may have given them a good tussle back in its early-70s heyday, but the Hogs had the superior team for the most part throughout the years.
It would have been a lopsided series, in other words. But the thought of even one loss to another in-state school was too much for old Frank’s fragile ego to consider.
Now ASU fans and alumni are more serious than ever about seeing a Hogs–Wolves matchup.
Yes, the fact that ASU has one of its best offenses in school history while the Hogs are rebuilding from the ground up has made the cries all the louder. But the desire has been there all along, and will continue to be long after Bobby Petrino has built the Razorbacks back up to the SEC-contending level they were at a few years back.
The stakes have changed over the years. The Red Wolves are no longer an inferior NCAA Division II school in an obscure conference. They now have the same DI status as the University of Arkansas, and are proud members of the up-and-coming Sun Belt Conference.
Just for kicks and grins, let’s list some other premier in-state matchups. Let’s see, well there’s Florida vs. Florida State, Ohio vs. Ohio State, Georgia vs. Georgia Tech, Virginia vs. Virginia Tech, Missouri vs. Southeast Missouri State, Iowa vs. Iowa State, Temple vs. Penn State, UNLV vs. Nevada-Reno, Colorado vs. Colorado State, New Mexico vs. New Mexico State, among others.
And I’m sure Nebraska wouldn’t back down from playing another Nebraska school if only there was one.
Maybe it’s the promise of a new era in Fayetteville, the excitement over now having a brand new nickname, or just the fact that ASU quarterback Corey Leonard would absolutely smoke Casey Dick in a showdown, but Wolves fans have never been more determined to make this happen.
But given the politics and the economics behind these matters, Red Wolf nation will continue to hold its breath until it actually comes to pass.
And if it does, we could even pay tribute to the great Mr. Broyles by featuring a traveling trophy depicting a small bronze man with a football in one hand and an enormous pile of cash in the other.
Leader sportswriter
Intrastate rivalries are one of the best traditions in college football … unless you happen to live in Arkansas.
You can go back to 1911, when the Arkansas State University Aggies first fielded a football team, and scan their media guide year by year, and you will find only one game against the Arkansas Razorbacks. It was the 1944 season finale, with the Hogs taking a 41-0 win, although ASU did not play a complete season that year.
Actually, you have to look in the Razorback media guide for that, because ASU did not keep records from 1942-44.
What you will mostly find in the earlier years are games against Arkansas College, Arkansas Teachers, Arkansas A&M, and a few in-state schools that still exist.
For years, ASU fans have understood that a game with the Razorbacks would not take place with iron-fisted University of Arkansas athletic director Frank Broyles at the helm. His fear of casting a state spotlight on someone other than himself and the Hogs simply made it a non-option.
But the old man is finally gone.
He may still be an advisor, and he may still have a plush office in that corporate-sponsored football heaven named after him, but Broyles no longer pulls the strings. With former Pitt AD Jeff Long now calling the shots on the Hill, it’s time for the Indians … er … Red Wolves and Razorbacks to take to the field against one another.
The most ironic thing about the whole matter is that Arkansas would most certainly have dominated the series had it ever come to fruition. ASU may have given them a good tussle back in its early-70s heyday, but the Hogs had the superior team for the most part throughout the years.
It would have been a lopsided series, in other words. But the thought of even one loss to another in-state school was too much for old Frank’s fragile ego to consider.
Now ASU fans and alumni are more serious than ever about seeing a Hogs–Wolves matchup.
Yes, the fact that ASU has one of its best offenses in school history while the Hogs are rebuilding from the ground up has made the cries all the louder. But the desire has been there all along, and will continue to be long after Bobby Petrino has built the Razorbacks back up to the SEC-contending level they were at a few years back.
The stakes have changed over the years. The Red Wolves are no longer an inferior NCAA Division II school in an obscure conference. They now have the same DI status as the University of Arkansas, and are proud members of the up-and-coming Sun Belt Conference.
Just for kicks and grins, let’s list some other premier in-state matchups. Let’s see, well there’s Florida vs. Florida State, Ohio vs. Ohio State, Georgia vs. Georgia Tech, Virginia vs. Virginia Tech, Missouri vs. Southeast Missouri State, Iowa vs. Iowa State, Temple vs. Penn State, UNLV vs. Nevada-Reno, Colorado vs. Colorado State, New Mexico vs. New Mexico State, among others.
And I’m sure Nebraska wouldn’t back down from playing another Nebraska school if only there was one.
Maybe it’s the promise of a new era in Fayetteville, the excitement over now having a brand new nickname, or just the fact that ASU quarterback Corey Leonard would absolutely smoke Casey Dick in a showdown, but Wolves fans have never been more determined to make this happen.
But given the politics and the economics behind these matters, Red Wolf nation will continue to hold its breath until it actually comes to pass.
And if it does, we could even pay tribute to the great Mr. Broyles by featuring a traveling trophy depicting a small bronze man with a football in one hand and an enormous pile of cash in the other.
SPORTS>>Devils looking for shootout
By JASON KING
Leader sportswriter
This week’s battle at Jan Crow Stadium will feature two teams that could very easily end up in the mix for the 6A-East title.
Jacksonville and Jonesboro are both coming off big wins to start off the conference season. One of those teams will take their first blemish in league play on Friday when the Hurricane visit at 7 p.m.
Jonesboro (3-1, 1-0) needed a late comeback to overtake a surprisingly stout Parkview team in a 47-46 thriller, while the Red Devils (2-2, 1-0) recovered from a Week 3 embarrassment at Mills to thump Mountain Home 42-17 behind a 14-of-15, 4-touchdown performance by sophomore quarterback Logan Perry.
Jonesboro coach and alum Randy Coleman said he would like to see a little less drama this week.
“It was a game that had it all,” Coleman said. “We had a 13-0 lead, they come back and go up 32-13, and we had to scratch and claw our way back. It was a fun game. The game went on past 10 o’clock, and we weren’t planning on being on the field that late. That’s when the sprinklers came on. Every drama you could possibly have was there.”
However dramatic the win may have been, the physicality of the game took a toll on Coleman’s defensive depth chart. Starting free safety Chris Robinson suffered a concussion during the game, and is doubtful for Friday. His backup was ejected, and outside linebacker Tarus Green went down for the year with a torn ACL.
Slot linebacker Cedric Washington also suffered a head and neck injury, and will most likely miss a couple of games, according to Coleman. Anotherlinebacker also came away with a serious concussion at the completion of the Parkview game.
“A week ago, I would have told you we were okay,” Coleman said. “But we took a hit with all the injuries we had against Parkview. We could have done without the injuries. We hope the doctor’s report on Chris comes back in our favor. It’s kind of a 50-50 deal at this point, but it’s a possibility that we’re going to need some other people to step up.”
The good news for the Red Devils is that they have gone through the first month of the season virtually unscathed. Head coach Mark Whatley said everyone is okay up to this point in terms of injuries.
One of Whatley’s larger concerns for this week is how the Jonesboro secondary will react to his explosive receiving corps, in particular senior Demetris Harris. Harris hauled in six passes, four of which went for touchdowns last week against the Bombers.
“Football is kind of a funny sport,” Whatley offered. “One week, you’ll have a guy step up when someone else is cold, and then the next week, someone else will step up and make the big plays.
“Whether or not they double up on Demetris remains to be seen, but we feel like we have plenty of other people who can be effective. Stan Appleby had a really big game up at Vilonia.”
Stopping Jonesboro receiver A.J. Steele (6-1, 207) will be a vital key defensively for Jackson-ville this week, according to Whatley. His concern is Steele’s ability to turn short passes into big gains.
“They have been putting up big numbers,” Whatley said. “Their quarterback is throwing very well, and taking what’s there. ( A.J. Steele) is a concern for us, and his yards after the catch.”
Coleman said he expects a shootout on Friday.
“These teams are evenly matched,” Coleman said. “Both teams will have chances to score quickly, Jacksonville probably a little more so than us. They have an explosive defense, so if we don’t get in there and compete, it could be a long game for us.”
Leader sportswriter
This week’s battle at Jan Crow Stadium will feature two teams that could very easily end up in the mix for the 6A-East title.
Jacksonville and Jonesboro are both coming off big wins to start off the conference season. One of those teams will take their first blemish in league play on Friday when the Hurricane visit at 7 p.m.
Jonesboro (3-1, 1-0) needed a late comeback to overtake a surprisingly stout Parkview team in a 47-46 thriller, while the Red Devils (2-2, 1-0) recovered from a Week 3 embarrassment at Mills to thump Mountain Home 42-17 behind a 14-of-15, 4-touchdown performance by sophomore quarterback Logan Perry.
Jonesboro coach and alum Randy Coleman said he would like to see a little less drama this week.
“It was a game that had it all,” Coleman said. “We had a 13-0 lead, they come back and go up 32-13, and we had to scratch and claw our way back. It was a fun game. The game went on past 10 o’clock, and we weren’t planning on being on the field that late. That’s when the sprinklers came on. Every drama you could possibly have was there.”
However dramatic the win may have been, the physicality of the game took a toll on Coleman’s defensive depth chart. Starting free safety Chris Robinson suffered a concussion during the game, and is doubtful for Friday. His backup was ejected, and outside linebacker Tarus Green went down for the year with a torn ACL.
Slot linebacker Cedric Washington also suffered a head and neck injury, and will most likely miss a couple of games, according to Coleman. Anotherlinebacker also came away with a serious concussion at the completion of the Parkview game.
“A week ago, I would have told you we were okay,” Coleman said. “But we took a hit with all the injuries we had against Parkview. We could have done without the injuries. We hope the doctor’s report on Chris comes back in our favor. It’s kind of a 50-50 deal at this point, but it’s a possibility that we’re going to need some other people to step up.”
The good news for the Red Devils is that they have gone through the first month of the season virtually unscathed. Head coach Mark Whatley said everyone is okay up to this point in terms of injuries.
One of Whatley’s larger concerns for this week is how the Jonesboro secondary will react to his explosive receiving corps, in particular senior Demetris Harris. Harris hauled in six passes, four of which went for touchdowns last week against the Bombers.
“Football is kind of a funny sport,” Whatley offered. “One week, you’ll have a guy step up when someone else is cold, and then the next week, someone else will step up and make the big plays.
“Whether or not they double up on Demetris remains to be seen, but we feel like we have plenty of other people who can be effective. Stan Appleby had a really big game up at Vilonia.”
Stopping Jonesboro receiver A.J. Steele (6-1, 207) will be a vital key defensively for Jackson-ville this week, according to Whatley. His concern is Steele’s ability to turn short passes into big gains.
“They have been putting up big numbers,” Whatley said. “Their quarterback is throwing very well, and taking what’s there. ( A.J. Steele) is a concern for us, and his yards after the catch.”
Coleman said he expects a shootout on Friday.
“These teams are evenly matched,” Coleman said. “Both teams will have chances to score quickly, Jacksonville probably a little more so than us. They have an explosive defense, so if we don’t get in there and compete, it could be a long game for us.”
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