By JOHN HOFHEIMER
Leader senior staff writer
The private-option healthcare alternative to Medicaid expansion passed the Senate Friday morning.
Although the bill enabling private-option health insurance for 250,000 working class Arkansans passed 24-9 in the Senate, it may be in trouble. While that vote is sufficient to pass the enabling legislation on to the House, it would not meet the three-quarters threshold to pass an appropriations bill to fund it.
The appropriations bill must be approved by 27 of the 35 senators and 75 of the 100 state representatives.
Among those voting against the bill were Senators Jane English (R-North Little Rock) and Eddie Joe Williams (R-Cabot). All Senate Democrats voted for the bill, sponsored by Sen. Jonathan Dismang (R-Searcy) and supported by the governor.
So unless three more votes can be found in the Senate, private option healthcare insurance may not pass this session.
It is possible that arms could be twisted, or that voting against the enabling legislation would give political cover to those Republicans who could claim at the next general election to have voted against the bill, while still authorizing the appropriation. Or some may be using their votes for leverage on tax cut proposals they favor.
NO HORSE TRADES
Asked Friday afternoon about the chances of passing the appropriations bill for the private option Dismang said, “I’m not going to try to handicap how folks will vote. I don’t horse trade.”
“I gave them as much information as possible. I’ve not asked for votes on this bill, we’ve discussed the impacts on the state.
“We’ll be considering the identical House bill about next week,” said state Rep. Mark Perry, D-Jacksonville. He said that there might be some senators holding out until they get a couple of bills passed they want in a tax package.
Perry said the House would consider an identical house bill HB1143 “probably next week.”
“We’re going to have a compromise on a package of tax cuts in exchange for the (private) option,” Perry said. “We’re working on that right now.”
“The biggest hurdle for this expanded insurance coverage is the passage of a bill allowing us to spend the federal money for the private option in Arkansas,” Beebe said in his weekly radio address.
“That type of appropriation measure requires 75-percent approval from both houses of the General Assembly. It is not an easy threshold to reach, and we continue to share information and work to convince more and more of our lawmakers that this is the best option for our working poor. In order to take full advantage of the money made available to us, this decision must occur in these final weeks of the legislative session.”
The bill allows the state Department of Human Services to set up a program to use federal Medicaid expansion dollars to pay for private health care coverage under the federal government’s Affordable Care Act, often called Obamacare.
A LOT OF E-MAIL
“I’ve been answering a lot of e-mail from 9 p.m. until 3 this morning,” according to Rep. Douglas House (R-North Little Rock). Private option is “the lesser of evils,” he said.
By going the private route instead of just expanding Medicaid, the state can cut out a lot of fraud, waste and cruelty. He called the existing Medicaid program “a walking disaster.”
Rural and small town hospitals — including North Metro at Jacksonville — are faced with going under unless Medicaid expansion or the private option go into effect.
“North Metro is comfortable either way,” he said. “Rural hospitals are telling us they will go bankrupt within a year,” without some sort of help, House said.
Hospitals in Searcy, Conway, Batesville, Fort Smith and Jonesboro have said that without help, they will have to merge or close.
“Obamacare is like a bad disease we’ve inherited,” he said. “Let’s make the best of a bad situation.
He said the current private-option proposal is a testimony to bipartisan cooperation. “It’s so encouraging. Gov. Beebe has been magnificent.”
“I read the proposal,” said state Rep. Patti Julian (D-North Little Rock). “It’s pretty much what you’d expect…very dry.”
She said the bill was includes a lot of definitions and authority, but no money.
“It’s up to the insurance department to set up the policies,” she said. “We’re just moving forward with the framework.”
SHRINKS MEDICAID
“I voted against the measure because of concerns about the long-term costs and because many of my constituents oppose it,” Sen. Williams said Friday.
Arkansas would be the first state in the union to propose a private option model for the uninsured. The option would provide them private health insurance rather than adding them to government Medicaid rolls.
However, rather than simply expand the Medicaid program, the Senate voted to use federal funds to pay for private health insurance for low-income families.
“The Arkansas Medicaid program will shrink because SB 1020 will transfer low-income families and others covered by government Medicaid to a private insurance carrier,” Williams said.
Meanwhile, this week, tax cut legislation advanced in both chambers of the General Assembly.
The House Committee on Revenue and Taxation advanced HB 1585 to reduce state income taxes. It would cut the state’s 7 percent income tax rate to 6.875 percent on taxable income of $44,000 and above. The 7 percent rate now applies to taxable income of $34,000 and up.
The current 6 percent rate applies to taxable income from $20,400 to $33,999 and HB 1585 would apply it to taxable incomes of $20,400 to $43,999. It would become effective for tax year 2014.
The bill would reduce state general revenue by $28.6 million in fiscal year 2014 and $57.2 million in fiscal 2015, according to the state Department of Financial Administration.
Also, the committee advanced HB 1966 to lower capital gains taxes. It would create a 70 percent exemption for any net capital gains and Arkansas-based businesses after Jan. 1, 2014.
Monday, April 08, 2013
TOP STORY >> City defends demolition
By SARAH CAMPBELL
Leader staff writer
Jacksonville resident Berthena Nunn is lashing out at city officials after a dilapidated rental home she owned at 300 N. Elm St. was demolished Thursday.
Code enforcement officer Charles Jenkins said she was warned several times. Nunn claims the city didn’t give her enough notice and Jenkins didn’t tell her exactly what needed to be fixed. Nunn also claimed she is out the $45,000 to $50,000 she spent on improvements.
When The Leader called to speak to Nunn, she said her attorney would answer any questions and promptly hung up. A second phone call made to ask who her attorney is went to a message stating that Nunn’s voicemail had not been set up.
That is the same message Jenkins claimed he was directed to several times when he called Nunn to speak with her about the condemnation.
This isn’t the first time the city has been threatened with a lawsuit. Jacksonville has often settled out of court to avoid expensive legal battles.
Nunn was involved in a 2010 discrimination lawsuit against the Department of Human Services and is currently suing one of her tenants for $35,000 plus court costs and attorney fees. According to a complaint filed in February, the tenant removed two vehicles from the mobile home lot she owned and didn’t return them.
Jacksonville has asked her to pay for the demolition.
Jenkins said, “We did all the steps that were required. We actually did more than was required.”
The house was vacant for more than a year and there were complaints about drug activity going on there, he added.
Jenkins also said the city loses money when it demolishes a home. That is because placing a lien on the property is often Jacksonville’s only option to recoup the cost of the demolition. If the property is never sold, Jacksonville doesn’t get reimbursed, Jenkins said. He noted that the code enforcement office always prefers to work with property owners.
The city council demonstrated that attitude at its meeting Thursday when the aldermen removed 119 Roosevelt Road from the condemnation list because the owner’s father had come to a previous meeting to request an extension. The council praised him for bringing the property up to code in a timely fashion.
Jenkins first spoke with Nunn in person on Sept. 25, 2012. He and Police Chief Gary Sipes also met with her at the police department on Jan. 9.
According his report, Jenkins received a complaint about the house on March 28, 2012. He found boarded-up windows, open electrical sockets, water damage and foundation damage at the house. In July, Jenkins tried to reach Nunn by visiting one of her listed addresses, 6600 W. Main St., sending a letter to her post office box and by e-mailing her.
District Judge Robert Batton signed a search warrant in August 2012. Jenkins noted the following additional code violations in his reports: a broken window, a rusted, corroded and improperly vented hot water heater, a kitchen floor that was giving way, rodent holes in various rooms and rodent droppings indicating there was an infestation at the house.
A public nuisance notice was posted at the house on Aug. 13, 2012, according to Jenkins’ report. A public nuisance letter was also mailed to Nunn in September.
Nunn told Jenkins at their first meeting later that month she wanted to renovate the property, according to the report. Nunn was told she had seven days to give code enforcement a timeline for the renovation, including when she expected to finish the work.
Nunn didn’t do that, according to Jenkins’ report. He received the timeline three weeks later and tried to contact Nunn to discuss it. Jenkins checked the house on Oct. 31, 2012, and saw that the front porch add-on had been painted.
The city council condemned the property at its Nov. 15, 2012, meeting. A final notice was sent mailed on Nov. 20, 2012.
On Dec. 12, 2012, according to Jenkins’ report, he went to the house and found that plumbing, electrical wiring, painting and foundation work had been done. But, the code enforcement officer said, the improvements had not been inspected and no building permits were issued to Nunn. That is when and why a cease-and- desist order was issued to her.
Jenkins said the police chief informed Nunn about the procedure for appealing the condemnation during their meeting in January.
Jenkins added that he and Sipes delayed the demolition Thursday, even though they weren’t required to do so, to allow Nunn to remove items from the house.
Leader staff writer
Jacksonville resident Berthena Nunn is lashing out at city officials after a dilapidated rental home she owned at 300 N. Elm St. was demolished Thursday.
Code enforcement officer Charles Jenkins said she was warned several times. Nunn claims the city didn’t give her enough notice and Jenkins didn’t tell her exactly what needed to be fixed. Nunn also claimed she is out the $45,000 to $50,000 she spent on improvements.
When The Leader called to speak to Nunn, she said her attorney would answer any questions and promptly hung up. A second phone call made to ask who her attorney is went to a message stating that Nunn’s voicemail had not been set up.
That is the same message Jenkins claimed he was directed to several times when he called Nunn to speak with her about the condemnation.
This isn’t the first time the city has been threatened with a lawsuit. Jacksonville has often settled out of court to avoid expensive legal battles.
Nunn was involved in a 2010 discrimination lawsuit against the Department of Human Services and is currently suing one of her tenants for $35,000 plus court costs and attorney fees. According to a complaint filed in February, the tenant removed two vehicles from the mobile home lot she owned and didn’t return them.
Jacksonville has asked her to pay for the demolition.
Jenkins said, “We did all the steps that were required. We actually did more than was required.”
The house was vacant for more than a year and there were complaints about drug activity going on there, he added.
Jenkins also said the city loses money when it demolishes a home. That is because placing a lien on the property is often Jacksonville’s only option to recoup the cost of the demolition. If the property is never sold, Jacksonville doesn’t get reimbursed, Jenkins said. He noted that the code enforcement office always prefers to work with property owners.
The city council demonstrated that attitude at its meeting Thursday when the aldermen removed 119 Roosevelt Road from the condemnation list because the owner’s father had come to a previous meeting to request an extension. The council praised him for bringing the property up to code in a timely fashion.
Jenkins first spoke with Nunn in person on Sept. 25, 2012. He and Police Chief Gary Sipes also met with her at the police department on Jan. 9.
According his report, Jenkins received a complaint about the house on March 28, 2012. He found boarded-up windows, open electrical sockets, water damage and foundation damage at the house. In July, Jenkins tried to reach Nunn by visiting one of her listed addresses, 6600 W. Main St., sending a letter to her post office box and by e-mailing her.
District Judge Robert Batton signed a search warrant in August 2012. Jenkins noted the following additional code violations in his reports: a broken window, a rusted, corroded and improperly vented hot water heater, a kitchen floor that was giving way, rodent holes in various rooms and rodent droppings indicating there was an infestation at the house.
A public nuisance notice was posted at the house on Aug. 13, 2012, according to Jenkins’ report. A public nuisance letter was also mailed to Nunn in September.
Nunn told Jenkins at their first meeting later that month she wanted to renovate the property, according to the report. Nunn was told she had seven days to give code enforcement a timeline for the renovation, including when she expected to finish the work.
Nunn didn’t do that, according to Jenkins’ report. He received the timeline three weeks later and tried to contact Nunn to discuss it. Jenkins checked the house on Oct. 31, 2012, and saw that the front porch add-on had been painted.
The city council condemned the property at its Nov. 15, 2012, meeting. A final notice was sent mailed on Nov. 20, 2012.
On Dec. 12, 2012, according to Jenkins’ report, he went to the house and found that plumbing, electrical wiring, painting and foundation work had been done. But, the code enforcement officer said, the improvements had not been inspected and no building permits were issued to Nunn. That is when and why a cease-and- desist order was issued to her.
Jenkins said the police chief informed Nunn about the procedure for appealing the condemnation during their meeting in January.
Jenkins added that he and Sipes delayed the demolition Thursday, even though they weren’t required to do so, to allow Nunn to remove items from the house.
TOP STORY >> Beebe speaks on issues
By RICK KRON
Leader staff writer
“It’s a no-brainer,” Gov. Mike Beebe said Thursday evening in Cabot about the state joining the federal Medicaid expansion.
Beebe was in Cabot as the keynote speaker for the Open Arms Shelter fundraising dinner, where he talked about being raised by a single mom.
He told The Leader that if the state doesn’t join the Medicaid expansion, “we still have to pay for it. That’s like telling the federal government we want our transportation money sent to California.”
Even though he said the issue is a no-brainer, he added that it will be difficult to get legislative approval.
“We need a three-fourths vote and that’s tough to get even for motherhood and apple pie,” he quipped.
“There is no reason not to do this the way we have it structured,” he said, adding, “We don’t pay, if we can’t afford it.”
The Affordable Care Act expands Medicaid eligibility levels so states can cover low-income adults between 19 and 64 years old and increases the eligibility level to 138 percent of the federal poverty level.
The U.S. Supreme Court upheld the constitutionality of the expansion in June 2012 but said it had to be offered to the states as an option, not a mandate.
The Arkansas plan calls for expanding Medicaid by utilizing the private sector to provide health insurance for low-income Arkansans.
The state option would enroll the newly eligible in private insurance plans. Between 200,000 and 250,000 more Arkansans would be covered. The cost of covering these premiums would be covered by the federal government from 2014 to 2016. After that, the federal share would decrease and the state would pick up 10 percent of that cost.
On Friday morning, the state Senate approved taking advantage of federal Medicaid expansion through the private option system of moving eligible people from conventional Medicaid to coverage under the new private insurance offered by health exchanges.
The measure was approved by the Senate 24-9. The enabling legislation needs only a simple majority, but the appropriation to follow will need 3/4ths support, or 27 votes.
The House must also approve both the measures to accept the program and the appropriation bill.
In voting for the expansion Friday, Republican Sen. Jonathan Dismang (R- Searcy), who will be the next Senate leader, said, “What’s inside this bill is the right direction for us to move forward with health care in Arkansas.”
Republican Sens. Jane English (R-North Little Rock) and Eddie Jo Williams (R-Cabot) voted against the bill.
Williams was at the Open Arms event Thursday night, along with House Speaker Davy Carter (R-Cabot). They were recognized by the governor for their hard work.
“It’s been a tough time and they’ve worked long hours, and I’m ready for them to go home,” Beebe joked.
The governor said lawmakers’ attendance at the dinner after long hours spent at the Legislature shoes their commitment toward preventing child abuse.
Beebe said Carter has shown a lot of “great leadership.” He said speaker of the House was a tough job and “Carter had handled it with grace and wisdom. He is a first class person.”
Before his Open Arms speech, the governor touched on a two other issues with The Leader.
On having his vetoes overridden three times — twice on abortion legislation he didn’t agree with and once on a voter ID bill — the governor said this was the first time Republicans had control of the Legislature since Reconstruction.
Beebe said Southern states have a rather easy time vetoing governors. “It goes back to Reconstruction when there wasn’t a lot of trust in the government. The law just requires a 51 percent vote, a simple majority,” he explained.
The governor added that it was part of the job and there was no animosity.
Leader staff writer
“It’s a no-brainer,” Gov. Mike Beebe said Thursday evening in Cabot about the state joining the federal Medicaid expansion.
Beebe was in Cabot as the keynote speaker for the Open Arms Shelter fundraising dinner, where he talked about being raised by a single mom.
He told The Leader that if the state doesn’t join the Medicaid expansion, “we still have to pay for it. That’s like telling the federal government we want our transportation money sent to California.”
Even though he said the issue is a no-brainer, he added that it will be difficult to get legislative approval.
“We need a three-fourths vote and that’s tough to get even for motherhood and apple pie,” he quipped.
“There is no reason not to do this the way we have it structured,” he said, adding, “We don’t pay, if we can’t afford it.”
The Affordable Care Act expands Medicaid eligibility levels so states can cover low-income adults between 19 and 64 years old and increases the eligibility level to 138 percent of the federal poverty level.
The U.S. Supreme Court upheld the constitutionality of the expansion in June 2012 but said it had to be offered to the states as an option, not a mandate.
The Arkansas plan calls for expanding Medicaid by utilizing the private sector to provide health insurance for low-income Arkansans.
The state option would enroll the newly eligible in private insurance plans. Between 200,000 and 250,000 more Arkansans would be covered. The cost of covering these premiums would be covered by the federal government from 2014 to 2016. After that, the federal share would decrease and the state would pick up 10 percent of that cost.
On Friday morning, the state Senate approved taking advantage of federal Medicaid expansion through the private option system of moving eligible people from conventional Medicaid to coverage under the new private insurance offered by health exchanges.
The measure was approved by the Senate 24-9. The enabling legislation needs only a simple majority, but the appropriation to follow will need 3/4ths support, or 27 votes.
The House must also approve both the measures to accept the program and the appropriation bill.
In voting for the expansion Friday, Republican Sen. Jonathan Dismang (R- Searcy), who will be the next Senate leader, said, “What’s inside this bill is the right direction for us to move forward with health care in Arkansas.”
Republican Sens. Jane English (R-North Little Rock) and Eddie Jo Williams (R-Cabot) voted against the bill.
Williams was at the Open Arms event Thursday night, along with House Speaker Davy Carter (R-Cabot). They were recognized by the governor for their hard work.
“It’s been a tough time and they’ve worked long hours, and I’m ready for them to go home,” Beebe joked.
The governor said lawmakers’ attendance at the dinner after long hours spent at the Legislature shoes their commitment toward preventing child abuse.
Beebe said Carter has shown a lot of “great leadership.” He said speaker of the House was a tough job and “Carter had handled it with grace and wisdom. He is a first class person.”
Before his Open Arms speech, the governor touched on a two other issues with The Leader.
On having his vetoes overridden three times — twice on abortion legislation he didn’t agree with and once on a voter ID bill — the governor said this was the first time Republicans had control of the Legislature since Reconstruction.
Beebe said Southern states have a rather easy time vetoing governors. “It goes back to Reconstruction when there wasn’t a lot of trust in the government. The law just requires a 51 percent vote, a simple majority,” he explained.
The governor added that it was part of the job and there was no animosity.
SPORTS STORY >> Bombers steal two at home
By RAY BENTON
Leader sports editor
The Cabot Panther baseball team dropped a pair of tough conference losses at Mountain Home on Wednesday, losing 1-0 and 3-2 and dropping to 2-4 in the 7A/6A East Conference.
“Our pitching and defense was outstanding, we just couldn’t get the bats going,” Cabot coach Jay Fitch said. “Their left hander (Matt House) is really good and he threw an outstanding game. Game two we missed so many opportunities by hitting into double plays. I think we hit into four double plays in that game.”
Mountain Home’s lone run came in the bottom of the last inning on a wild pitch with the bases loaded.
Logan threw six and two-thirds innings, giving up just five hits while striking out eight.
He worked out of a jam in the second inning when the Bombers got three of their five base hits.
With one out in the seventh inning, Michael Weh-meyer doubled to centerfield and Stetson Adams walked. A wild pitch allowed the runners to advance, prompting Fitch to call for an intentional walk to load the bases, setting up a force at any base and a potential double play. Instead, another wild pitch allowed the game-winning run.
“Ryan pitched another great game,” Fitch said. “We just have to find a way to score runs. We’d been seeing the bats really coming around recently, but we went a little backwards in this one. It’s not a good feeling to drive that far and lose two like we lost them. But we’re still in it. There’s a lot of baseball left to be played and there’s no reason we can’t get back to hitting the ball like we had been. We just have to move forward.”
House went the distance for the Bombers, giving up four hits and fanning seven. Cabot got runners in scoring position in four innings but failed to get the timely base hit.
Logan got to work at the plate in game two, hitting an RBI single to right field for a quick Cabot lead in the bottom of the first inning. Conner Vocque was hit by a pitch to start the inning and stole second base to set up Logan’s RBI.
The lead didn’t last long. In the top of the second, Mountain Home’s Cole Anderson hit a solo home run to knot the score at one.
Cabot left two runners in scoring position in the third inning, but got the lead back in the fourth. Kason Kimbrell hit a single to left-centerfield that scored Riley Knudsen, who had reached on a leadoff double. But just like the first run, Mountain Home answered in the very next half inning, this time with two runs that proved to be the decisive ones.
Mountain Home got one earned and one unearned run in the top of the fifth.
Cabot was at the top of the order in the bottom of the fifth, and the trio of Vocque, Logan and Casey Vaughan all reached base, Vocque drew a walk while Logan and Vaughan got base hits. That loaded the bases with no outs, but a hard ground ball turned into a rare 3-2-3 double play that left first base open. Mountain Home filled that gap by intentionally walking Coleman McAtee. Scott Burnett then grounded into a fielder’s choice at third base that ended the promising inning without a run scored.
Cabot flew out to centerfield three times in the seventh inning.
The Panthers host an important conference doubleheader on Tuesday against Little Rock Central.
Leader sports editor
The Cabot Panther baseball team dropped a pair of tough conference losses at Mountain Home on Wednesday, losing 1-0 and 3-2 and dropping to 2-4 in the 7A/6A East Conference.
“Our pitching and defense was outstanding, we just couldn’t get the bats going,” Cabot coach Jay Fitch said. “Their left hander (Matt House) is really good and he threw an outstanding game. Game two we missed so many opportunities by hitting into double plays. I think we hit into four double plays in that game.”
Mountain Home’s lone run came in the bottom of the last inning on a wild pitch with the bases loaded.
Logan threw six and two-thirds innings, giving up just five hits while striking out eight.
He worked out of a jam in the second inning when the Bombers got three of their five base hits.
With one out in the seventh inning, Michael Weh-meyer doubled to centerfield and Stetson Adams walked. A wild pitch allowed the runners to advance, prompting Fitch to call for an intentional walk to load the bases, setting up a force at any base and a potential double play. Instead, another wild pitch allowed the game-winning run.
“Ryan pitched another great game,” Fitch said. “We just have to find a way to score runs. We’d been seeing the bats really coming around recently, but we went a little backwards in this one. It’s not a good feeling to drive that far and lose two like we lost them. But we’re still in it. There’s a lot of baseball left to be played and there’s no reason we can’t get back to hitting the ball like we had been. We just have to move forward.”
House went the distance for the Bombers, giving up four hits and fanning seven. Cabot got runners in scoring position in four innings but failed to get the timely base hit.
Logan got to work at the plate in game two, hitting an RBI single to right field for a quick Cabot lead in the bottom of the first inning. Conner Vocque was hit by a pitch to start the inning and stole second base to set up Logan’s RBI.
The lead didn’t last long. In the top of the second, Mountain Home’s Cole Anderson hit a solo home run to knot the score at one.
Cabot left two runners in scoring position in the third inning, but got the lead back in the fourth. Kason Kimbrell hit a single to left-centerfield that scored Riley Knudsen, who had reached on a leadoff double. But just like the first run, Mountain Home answered in the very next half inning, this time with two runs that proved to be the decisive ones.
Mountain Home got one earned and one unearned run in the top of the fifth.
Cabot was at the top of the order in the bottom of the fifth, and the trio of Vocque, Logan and Casey Vaughan all reached base, Vocque drew a walk while Logan and Vaughan got base hits. That loaded the bases with no outs, but a hard ground ball turned into a rare 3-2-3 double play that left first base open. Mountain Home filled that gap by intentionally walking Coleman McAtee. Scott Burnett then grounded into a fielder’s choice at third base that ended the promising inning without a run scored.
Cabot flew out to centerfield three times in the seventh inning.
The Panthers host an important conference doubleheader on Tuesday against Little Rock Central.
SPORTS STORY >> Mt. Home gets sweep of Panthers
By RAY BENTON
Leader sports editor
The Cabot Lady Panthers fell twice after a long road trip to Baxter County on Wednesday. Playing a doubleheader originally scheduled for the day before, the Lady Panthers lost 4-0 and 7-4 to Mountain Home at Keller Park.
Cabot created a good scoring opportunity in the first inning but left two runners stranded in scoring position. That opened the door for Mountain Home, (12-7, 8-0) who got two runs in the first inning and one in the fourth and sixth innings.
After failing to score with runners on second and third with one out, the Lady Bombers got three hits in the bottom of the same inning to get the early lead. The Lady Panthers got runners in scoring position twice more in the game, but never got another opportunity like in the first inning.
It wasn’t for a lack of putting the ball in play. Cabot struck out only twice in the game, but couldn’t find the gaps and finished with just four base hits.
Conversely, Mountain Home got just five base hits, but three came with runners in scoring position for RBIs. The final Bomber run was the only one that wasn’t the result of an RBI base hit. It came after Lauren Adams tripled to start the sixth. She scored on a sacrifice grounder on the next at bat.
Kaitlyn Thompson took the loss on the mound, giving up five hits while striking out three Lady Bombers.
Mountain Home took a quick 4-0 lead in game two with one run in the first and three in the second inning. Cabot finally got a hit with a runner in scoring position in the third inning of game two. Thompson doubled and Heather Hill singled on the next at bat to drive in the run.
After another Mountain Home run in the fourth, Cabot got two in the fifth to make it 5-3.
Hill got her second RBI in the inning, this time driving in Taylor Anderson who had singled earlier. Hill scored on a sacrifice grounder and another groundout ended the Lady Panthers’ rally.
Mountain Home scored two unearned runs in the top of the seventh to make it 7-3. Cabot’s Hill got her third base hit and third RBI, this time driving in Lane Justus, but there was no further rally.
Cabot got 10 base hits in game two, but again left several runners stranded.
The Lady Panthers host a dual-site tournament today with the Beebe Badgers. Play begins at 10 a.m. with the Lady Panthers hosting Jonesboro-Westside on the bottom half of the bracket while Beebe hosts Dardanelle at BHS at the top.
Cabot’s side of the bracket also includes Farmington versus Nettleton while the top half features Trumann taking on Jacksonville.
The championship game will be played at 5:30 at Beebe while Cabot will host the final of the losers’ bracket at the same time.
Leader sports editor
The Cabot Lady Panthers fell twice after a long road trip to Baxter County on Wednesday. Playing a doubleheader originally scheduled for the day before, the Lady Panthers lost 4-0 and 7-4 to Mountain Home at Keller Park.
Cabot created a good scoring opportunity in the first inning but left two runners stranded in scoring position. That opened the door for Mountain Home, (12-7, 8-0) who got two runs in the first inning and one in the fourth and sixth innings.
After failing to score with runners on second and third with one out, the Lady Bombers got three hits in the bottom of the same inning to get the early lead. The Lady Panthers got runners in scoring position twice more in the game, but never got another opportunity like in the first inning.
It wasn’t for a lack of putting the ball in play. Cabot struck out only twice in the game, but couldn’t find the gaps and finished with just four base hits.
Conversely, Mountain Home got just five base hits, but three came with runners in scoring position for RBIs. The final Bomber run was the only one that wasn’t the result of an RBI base hit. It came after Lauren Adams tripled to start the sixth. She scored on a sacrifice grounder on the next at bat.
Kaitlyn Thompson took the loss on the mound, giving up five hits while striking out three Lady Bombers.
Mountain Home took a quick 4-0 lead in game two with one run in the first and three in the second inning. Cabot finally got a hit with a runner in scoring position in the third inning of game two. Thompson doubled and Heather Hill singled on the next at bat to drive in the run.
After another Mountain Home run in the fourth, Cabot got two in the fifth to make it 5-3.
Hill got her second RBI in the inning, this time driving in Taylor Anderson who had singled earlier. Hill scored on a sacrifice grounder and another groundout ended the Lady Panthers’ rally.
Mountain Home scored two unearned runs in the top of the seventh to make it 7-3. Cabot’s Hill got her third base hit and third RBI, this time driving in Lane Justus, but there was no further rally.
Cabot got 10 base hits in game two, but again left several runners stranded.
The Lady Panthers host a dual-site tournament today with the Beebe Badgers. Play begins at 10 a.m. with the Lady Panthers hosting Jonesboro-Westside on the bottom half of the bracket while Beebe hosts Dardanelle at BHS at the top.
Cabot’s side of the bracket also includes Farmington versus Nettleton while the top half features Trumann taking on Jacksonville.
The championship game will be played at 5:30 at Beebe while Cabot will host the final of the losers’ bracket at the same time.
SPORTS STORY >> Cabot girls get league victory
By JASON KING
Leader sportswriter
The lead-up to a potential 7A/6A East Conference title shootout at the end of the season is still intact for Cabot as the Lady Panthers knocked off Mountain Home 3-1 on the road Tuesday to get past one of the biggest obstacles in their quest.
The Lady Panthers (6-1-4, 3-0) gave up an early goal by Mountain Home in the first two minutes, but personnel adjustments after that allowed the defense to tighten up and hold off any major threats for the duration.
Junior standout Jessica Souza scored one goal and assisted on two more as Cabot made the most of its first-half opportunities.
“We started possessing so well,” Lady Panthers coach Kerry Castillo said. “I was so pleased. We even had several parents come up after the game and comment on our ball control. We did a good job of keeping it on the ground. We may have had a couple of goals where their goalkeeper spilled it, and you might call that a product of the weather that day, but when we had chances, we executed.”
The Lady Bombers went up 1-0 when their offense got behind Cabot’s midfield, but the Lady Panthers quickly answered when Souza crossed it to freshman Sydney Farquharson to tie the game at 1-1.
Souza was the beneficiary of a crossing shot and spill on the next Cabot score as she took an assist from freshman Braxton Reed and beat the goalkeeper to give the Lady Panthers their first lead at 2-1. Souza got her second assist and helped set the final margin late in the first half when she found Reed on a through ball, as Reed took advantage of another GK error by Mountain Home.
Castillo also noted the outstanding play of junior goalkeeper Hana Cooper, who essentially played over 75 minutes of shutout soccer against one of the premier soccer programs in the state.
“We made some adjustments, and they never really threatened again,” Castillo said. “I was real pleased with how we performed. That was a big one for us. The girls know how important it is for us to be able to continue this level of play. They know the situation in conference, and know we pretty much have to win out from here if we want it to come down for a chance to win it all.”
The Lady Panthers are eyeing a potential showdown against Searcy on April 30, which will also be senior night at Panther Stadium for the final 7A/6A East game of the season, but must first get past other strong league contenders in the form of Little Rock Central and Jonesboro.
“We’re growing as a team,” Castillo said. “We’ve got some players who are developing well. Hopefully, it will put us in a situation where we can be a No. 1 or No. 2 seed. We’re also hosting the playoffs, we don’t have to travel at all for it, so hopefully, we can go deep into the playoffs.”
The Panthers boys’ team was not as fortunate and fell to the Bombers in overtime on Tuesday after regulation ended in a scoreless tie.
Leader sportswriter
The lead-up to a potential 7A/6A East Conference title shootout at the end of the season is still intact for Cabot as the Lady Panthers knocked off Mountain Home 3-1 on the road Tuesday to get past one of the biggest obstacles in their quest.
The Lady Panthers (6-1-4, 3-0) gave up an early goal by Mountain Home in the first two minutes, but personnel adjustments after that allowed the defense to tighten up and hold off any major threats for the duration.
Junior standout Jessica Souza scored one goal and assisted on two more as Cabot made the most of its first-half opportunities.
“We started possessing so well,” Lady Panthers coach Kerry Castillo said. “I was so pleased. We even had several parents come up after the game and comment on our ball control. We did a good job of keeping it on the ground. We may have had a couple of goals where their goalkeeper spilled it, and you might call that a product of the weather that day, but when we had chances, we executed.”
The Lady Bombers went up 1-0 when their offense got behind Cabot’s midfield, but the Lady Panthers quickly answered when Souza crossed it to freshman Sydney Farquharson to tie the game at 1-1.
Souza was the beneficiary of a crossing shot and spill on the next Cabot score as she took an assist from freshman Braxton Reed and beat the goalkeeper to give the Lady Panthers their first lead at 2-1. Souza got her second assist and helped set the final margin late in the first half when she found Reed on a through ball, as Reed took advantage of another GK error by Mountain Home.
Castillo also noted the outstanding play of junior goalkeeper Hana Cooper, who essentially played over 75 minutes of shutout soccer against one of the premier soccer programs in the state.
“We made some adjustments, and they never really threatened again,” Castillo said. “I was real pleased with how we performed. That was a big one for us. The girls know how important it is for us to be able to continue this level of play. They know the situation in conference, and know we pretty much have to win out from here if we want it to come down for a chance to win it all.”
The Lady Panthers are eyeing a potential showdown against Searcy on April 30, which will also be senior night at Panther Stadium for the final 7A/6A East game of the season, but must first get past other strong league contenders in the form of Little Rock Central and Jonesboro.
“We’re growing as a team,” Castillo said. “We’ve got some players who are developing well. Hopefully, it will put us in a situation where we can be a No. 1 or No. 2 seed. We’re also hosting the playoffs, we don’t have to travel at all for it, so hopefully, we can go deep into the playoffs.”
The Panthers boys’ team was not as fortunate and fell to the Bombers in overtime on Tuesday after regulation ended in a scoreless tie.
SPORTS STORY >> Coach backs Goodwin on NBA
By RAY BENTON
Leader sports editor
After just one tumultuous season at the University of Kentucky, former Sylvan Hills star Archie Goodwin announced Sunday that he will make himself eligible for the NBA draft that takes place on June 27. His coach agrees with him.
Statistically, Goodwin had a good freshman season as a Wildcat. He led the team in scoring, averaging 14 points per game, and steals, was twice named Southeastern Conference Freshman of the Week, once named SEC Player of the Week and was named to the SEC All-Freshmen team at the end of the season.
Goodwin’s high school coach Kevin Davis has been in touch with Goodwin all season, and says the 6-foot-5 two guard is very excited about his future.
“He’s really pumped,” Davis said. “I think this has been his goal the whole time. He said when he signed it was a business decision. In his mind, he’s been a one-and-done player all along. He felt like Kentucky is where you go to get the most exposure, and this was his plan.”
Even with all the individual accolades, Goodwin found himself the target of public criticism on at least two occasions by Kentucky coach John Calipari. By Kentucky standards, the team’s season was a failure.
The defending national champion Wildcats did not make the 68-team field of the NCAA tournament, finishing 21-12 overall and 12-6 in SEC play. They lost four of their last five games, with a road game at Fayetteville kick starting the downward spiral that ended Kentucky’s season.
During that losing streak, Calipari was overheard during a game telling Goodwin as he walked off the floor, “I can’t coach you.” In another incident, Calipari, in a midseason post-game press conference, said that he wasn’t pleased with some player’s unwillingness to stay within the coaching staff’s game plan. It was widely believed he was referring to Goodwin.
Even with the seemingly strained relationship between coach and player, Calipari said Monday that he wanted Goodwin to stay, but added, “I fully support him choosing to pursue his dreams.”
Davis takes Calipari at his word, saying the relationship wasn’t as bad as it appeared.
“What he said during the game was a heat of the moment thing,” Davis said. “He came back the next day and explained that. And the other comment he made at the press conference, I really believe he was talking about a couple of other guys. Archie is the kind of guy that’s going to worry you at times, but you’ve got to let a player like that have a few of those moments in order to get the great moments, which are far more frequent.”
With the way the season ended, Goodwin’s draft projection dropped from early teens and a potential lottery pick, to late first round. Davis admitted to beginning to wonder if it would be in Goodwin’s best interest to leave this year, and said even Goodwin did too.
“There was a little doubt, but you come out of all that and the bad ending, and you’re still up there in the first round projections, I think he saw that and he believes in his own ability, he just decided it was still what he wanted to do. And I agree with that.”
Davis, who coached Good-win from 2009-12, said the style that Kentucky played this year wasn’t the best fit for Goodwin’s game. Goodwin’s freshmen classmates consisted of dominant post players, and Calipari tried to build the team around that strength, while Goodwin’s game is strongest in the open floor.
“He put those two big seven footers out there, and other teams would counter that,” Davis said. “That basically meant a lane full of at least four great big bodies, and you’re not going to drive in there too often. Nobody is. So I don’t think people got much of a chance to see what he’s capable of. If he can get on with a team that’s committed to fastbreak basketball, he’s going to flourish. There are things he can do you just can’t teach.”
The two biggest concerns scouts have about Goodwin is his ability to play defense and his shooting percentage. Davis says hard work can fix those things.
“There are definitely some things he can work to improve,” Davis said. “But there are a lot of things he does naturally that are very difficult to coach. The things he’s not doing right now are easy to coach. You can improve your shooting percentage by getting in the gym and working on your shot. They don’t let you play help defense so you have to be able to hold your own there, but those things you can teach a great athlete like Archie. His up side so huge and he works so hard, I believe he’s going to succeed and become an NBA player.”
Pre-draft workouts begin in earnest in May and last up until days before the draft. Those workouts will also play a big role in Goodwin’s future projections.
“If he can get himself back up in the top 15, you’re talking a million a year for four years of guaranteed money. You look at the guards that Kentucky has coming in, and you’re looking at sharing playing time. It’s in his best interest to go ahead and go after that. I think he made a good decision.”
Leader sports editor
After just one tumultuous season at the University of Kentucky, former Sylvan Hills star Archie Goodwin announced Sunday that he will make himself eligible for the NBA draft that takes place on June 27. His coach agrees with him.
Statistically, Goodwin had a good freshman season as a Wildcat. He led the team in scoring, averaging 14 points per game, and steals, was twice named Southeastern Conference Freshman of the Week, once named SEC Player of the Week and was named to the SEC All-Freshmen team at the end of the season.
Goodwin’s high school coach Kevin Davis has been in touch with Goodwin all season, and says the 6-foot-5 two guard is very excited about his future.
“He’s really pumped,” Davis said. “I think this has been his goal the whole time. He said when he signed it was a business decision. In his mind, he’s been a one-and-done player all along. He felt like Kentucky is where you go to get the most exposure, and this was his plan.”
Even with all the individual accolades, Goodwin found himself the target of public criticism on at least two occasions by Kentucky coach John Calipari. By Kentucky standards, the team’s season was a failure.
The defending national champion Wildcats did not make the 68-team field of the NCAA tournament, finishing 21-12 overall and 12-6 in SEC play. They lost four of their last five games, with a road game at Fayetteville kick starting the downward spiral that ended Kentucky’s season.
During that losing streak, Calipari was overheard during a game telling Goodwin as he walked off the floor, “I can’t coach you.” In another incident, Calipari, in a midseason post-game press conference, said that he wasn’t pleased with some player’s unwillingness to stay within the coaching staff’s game plan. It was widely believed he was referring to Goodwin.
Even with the seemingly strained relationship between coach and player, Calipari said Monday that he wanted Goodwin to stay, but added, “I fully support him choosing to pursue his dreams.”
Davis takes Calipari at his word, saying the relationship wasn’t as bad as it appeared.
“What he said during the game was a heat of the moment thing,” Davis said. “He came back the next day and explained that. And the other comment he made at the press conference, I really believe he was talking about a couple of other guys. Archie is the kind of guy that’s going to worry you at times, but you’ve got to let a player like that have a few of those moments in order to get the great moments, which are far more frequent.”
With the way the season ended, Goodwin’s draft projection dropped from early teens and a potential lottery pick, to late first round. Davis admitted to beginning to wonder if it would be in Goodwin’s best interest to leave this year, and said even Goodwin did too.
“There was a little doubt, but you come out of all that and the bad ending, and you’re still up there in the first round projections, I think he saw that and he believes in his own ability, he just decided it was still what he wanted to do. And I agree with that.”
Davis, who coached Good-win from 2009-12, said the style that Kentucky played this year wasn’t the best fit for Goodwin’s game. Goodwin’s freshmen classmates consisted of dominant post players, and Calipari tried to build the team around that strength, while Goodwin’s game is strongest in the open floor.
“He put those two big seven footers out there, and other teams would counter that,” Davis said. “That basically meant a lane full of at least four great big bodies, and you’re not going to drive in there too often. Nobody is. So I don’t think people got much of a chance to see what he’s capable of. If he can get on with a team that’s committed to fastbreak basketball, he’s going to flourish. There are things he can do you just can’t teach.”
The two biggest concerns scouts have about Goodwin is his ability to play defense and his shooting percentage. Davis says hard work can fix those things.
“There are definitely some things he can work to improve,” Davis said. “But there are a lot of things he does naturally that are very difficult to coach. The things he’s not doing right now are easy to coach. You can improve your shooting percentage by getting in the gym and working on your shot. They don’t let you play help defense so you have to be able to hold your own there, but those things you can teach a great athlete like Archie. His up side so huge and he works so hard, I believe he’s going to succeed and become an NBA player.”
Pre-draft workouts begin in earnest in May and last up until days before the draft. Those workouts will also play a big role in Goodwin’s future projections.
“If he can get himself back up in the top 15, you’re talking a million a year for four years of guaranteed money. You look at the guards that Kentucky has coming in, and you’re looking at sharing playing time. It’s in his best interest to go ahead and go after that. I think he made a good decision.”
EDITORIAL >> We support tax extension
Early voting started Tuesday in Cabot for a sales tax extension that supporters say is the remedy to some of the problems that have prevented the city from being the biggest and best bedroom community it can be.
By extending the existing one-cent sales tax, residents will get a new library; a new baseball park with an outdoor pool so nice it was initially described as a water park; a new freeway interchange between Cabot and Austin, and additions to the community center that will finally give Cabot a space for large banquets as well as an adequate fitness area.
Those are the parts of the tax extension that will be the most visible. But Mayor Bill Cypert has always contended that the part that won’t be seen, the improved sewer collection system (especially the part planned for the area around Highway 5 where the city still has room to grow) is the most important part.
That is the part that will do the most for economic development, the part that will allow more stores and restaurants to locate in Cabot. The other parts – the library, ballparks and interchange – will make living in Cabot more convenient and more attractive to potential residents and even businesses. But without an improved sewer system, real growth isn’t possible.
So the question becomes: Do you want Cabot to grow?
Some say no. But the mayor says what those people are missing is that growth means more revenue for improvements like street repairs all over Cabot.
And that logic seems sound to us, especially considering that although Cabot’s growth slowed with the downturn in the economy, it never stopped. The people are still coming because they want Cabot’s schools. So why wouldn’t Cabot residents vote “yes” to extend the same one-cent sales tax they’ve been paying for the past 12 years to make life better for themselves and their families and at the same time attract more people and businesses to help pay for those new amenities?
We recommend that they vote yes. Election Day is Tuesday.
By extending the existing one-cent sales tax, residents will get a new library; a new baseball park with an outdoor pool so nice it was initially described as a water park; a new freeway interchange between Cabot and Austin, and additions to the community center that will finally give Cabot a space for large banquets as well as an adequate fitness area.
Those are the parts of the tax extension that will be the most visible. But Mayor Bill Cypert has always contended that the part that won’t be seen, the improved sewer collection system (especially the part planned for the area around Highway 5 where the city still has room to grow) is the most important part.
That is the part that will do the most for economic development, the part that will allow more stores and restaurants to locate in Cabot. The other parts – the library, ballparks and interchange – will make living in Cabot more convenient and more attractive to potential residents and even businesses. But without an improved sewer system, real growth isn’t possible.
So the question becomes: Do you want Cabot to grow?
Some say no. But the mayor says what those people are missing is that growth means more revenue for improvements like street repairs all over Cabot.
And that logic seems sound to us, especially considering that although Cabot’s growth slowed with the downturn in the economy, it never stopped. The people are still coming because they want Cabot’s schools. So why wouldn’t Cabot residents vote “yes” to extend the same one-cent sales tax they’ve been paying for the past 12 years to make life better for themselves and their families and at the same time attract more people and businesses to help pay for those new amenities?
We recommend that they vote yes. Election Day is Tuesday.
Wednesday, April 03, 2013
SPORTS STORY >> Cabot playing its best softball as tournament nears
By JASON KING
Leader sportswriter
The busy season is here for the Cabot Lady Panther softball team after a third-place finish at the Harrison Invitational tournament over the weekend and the Cabot/Beebe Invitational tournament coming up this Saturday.
The Lady Panthers got off to a slow start to the season with a number of error-prone games, but a 3-1 performance last week that included a 6-1 home nonconference victory over Conway showed tremendous growth, both offensively and defensively. Cabot defeated Harding Academy and Pea Ridge with a second-round loss to Paragould at the Harrison tourney.
“We were averaging four errors a game before spring break,” first-year Lady Panthers coach Chris Cope said. “Now, we’ve cut that back to two. Our defense has picked up. We’ve finally found the right position for a lot of the girls to play, and we’ve had some good individual performances. The bats picking up have also helped us out; we’re finally scoring some runs.”
That defensive improvement was evident in the win over Conway, as the Lady Wampus Cats were unable to answer an early Cabot turn that produced three runs in the bottom of the second inning. Solid defense, along with a dominant performance from Lady Panthers pitcher Kaitlyn Thompson, allowed few opportunities for the guests.
Conway did manage a solo home run in the top of the second, but the three Cabot scores in the bottom of the frame, along with three more in the bottom of the fourth, kept momentum in the Lady Panthers’ favor throughout.
The Harrison tournament started for Cabot on Friday night with a 4-3 win over Harding Academy. The Lady Panthers got out to a 4-0 lead on hits by Heather Hill and Brandyn Vines, with Thompson taking the win in the pitchers’ circle despite a late comeback by the Lady Wildcats.
Cabot was not as fortunate in an 8-4 loss to Paragould in the early Saturday game. The Lady Rams got away early with an 8-0 lead before Cabot started coming back in the final two innings. Hill and Vines once again got the Lady Panthers’ bats going, with the help of a RBI by Kristen Sumler.
Macee Abbott and Rachel Allgood also came away with big hits, but the tournament time limit caught Cabot in the middle of its rally and relegated them to the consolation bracket and a third-place game against Pea Ridge.
Thomson got pitching relief from Kaitlyn Felder, who pitched two innings of shutout softball during the Lady Panthers’ 8-2 victory to secure third place in the tournament. Anderson contributed at the plate with a game-high three hits for Cabot.
The Lady Panthers are now 6-6 overall and 1-2 in the 7A/6A East Conference.
The top half of the bracket for the Beebe/Cabot tournament this weekend consists of games to be played at both schools. The host Lady Badgers take on Dardanelle at 10 a.m., followed by Trumann against Jacksonville at 11:30 a.m. At the same time, Cabot will host Jonesboro Westside with Nettleton-Farmington following at 11:30 a.m.
“Overall, I think it’s going to be a pretty good little tournament,” Cope said. “We heard from Jonesboro Westside, they may not be coming, so we’re trying to find someone else. It may be Forrest City. Farmington is a good 4A program, and they’re usually in the mix, and Nettleton is another team out of that tough 5A East Conference with Beebe.
“On their side, you’ve got Dardanelle, which is another good 4A school. Trumann can get in the mix, and I’m not sure what Jacksonville has this year.”
With the bulk of their East schedule remaining and an eye toward postseason play, the Lady Panthers are looking to gain more experience from back-to-back weekends of invitational tournaments and a different mix of opponents from 4A to 7A.
“It’s always good when you can see teams that are not in your conference, different competition and different pitching,” Cope said. “Right now, you have teams peaking or trying to peak, and it’s always good to get ready for the state tournament. Especially 4A teams because they have regional tournaments, so that’s good for them to see 7A teams to get them ready for that.”
Cabot was scheduled to play a varsity doubleheader at Mountain Home last night depending on the weather, and will host Jonesboro on Thursday.
Leader sportswriter
The busy season is here for the Cabot Lady Panther softball team after a third-place finish at the Harrison Invitational tournament over the weekend and the Cabot/Beebe Invitational tournament coming up this Saturday.
The Lady Panthers got off to a slow start to the season with a number of error-prone games, but a 3-1 performance last week that included a 6-1 home nonconference victory over Conway showed tremendous growth, both offensively and defensively. Cabot defeated Harding Academy and Pea Ridge with a second-round loss to Paragould at the Harrison tourney.
“We were averaging four errors a game before spring break,” first-year Lady Panthers coach Chris Cope said. “Now, we’ve cut that back to two. Our defense has picked up. We’ve finally found the right position for a lot of the girls to play, and we’ve had some good individual performances. The bats picking up have also helped us out; we’re finally scoring some runs.”
That defensive improvement was evident in the win over Conway, as the Lady Wampus Cats were unable to answer an early Cabot turn that produced three runs in the bottom of the second inning. Solid defense, along with a dominant performance from Lady Panthers pitcher Kaitlyn Thompson, allowed few opportunities for the guests.
Conway did manage a solo home run in the top of the second, but the three Cabot scores in the bottom of the frame, along with three more in the bottom of the fourth, kept momentum in the Lady Panthers’ favor throughout.
The Harrison tournament started for Cabot on Friday night with a 4-3 win over Harding Academy. The Lady Panthers got out to a 4-0 lead on hits by Heather Hill and Brandyn Vines, with Thompson taking the win in the pitchers’ circle despite a late comeback by the Lady Wildcats.
Cabot was not as fortunate in an 8-4 loss to Paragould in the early Saturday game. The Lady Rams got away early with an 8-0 lead before Cabot started coming back in the final two innings. Hill and Vines once again got the Lady Panthers’ bats going, with the help of a RBI by Kristen Sumler.
Macee Abbott and Rachel Allgood also came away with big hits, but the tournament time limit caught Cabot in the middle of its rally and relegated them to the consolation bracket and a third-place game against Pea Ridge.
Thomson got pitching relief from Kaitlyn Felder, who pitched two innings of shutout softball during the Lady Panthers’ 8-2 victory to secure third place in the tournament. Anderson contributed at the plate with a game-high three hits for Cabot.
The Lady Panthers are now 6-6 overall and 1-2 in the 7A/6A East Conference.
The top half of the bracket for the Beebe/Cabot tournament this weekend consists of games to be played at both schools. The host Lady Badgers take on Dardanelle at 10 a.m., followed by Trumann against Jacksonville at 11:30 a.m. At the same time, Cabot will host Jonesboro Westside with Nettleton-Farmington following at 11:30 a.m.
“Overall, I think it’s going to be a pretty good little tournament,” Cope said. “We heard from Jonesboro Westside, they may not be coming, so we’re trying to find someone else. It may be Forrest City. Farmington is a good 4A program, and they’re usually in the mix, and Nettleton is another team out of that tough 5A East Conference with Beebe.
“On their side, you’ve got Dardanelle, which is another good 4A school. Trumann can get in the mix, and I’m not sure what Jacksonville has this year.”
With the bulk of their East schedule remaining and an eye toward postseason play, the Lady Panthers are looking to gain more experience from back-to-back weekends of invitational tournaments and a different mix of opponents from 4A to 7A.
“It’s always good when you can see teams that are not in your conference, different competition and different pitching,” Cope said. “Right now, you have teams peaking or trying to peak, and it’s always good to get ready for the state tournament. Especially 4A teams because they have regional tournaments, so that’s good for them to see 7A teams to get them ready for that.”
Cabot was scheduled to play a varsity doubleheader at Mountain Home last night depending on the weather, and will host Jonesboro on Thursday.
SPORTS STORY >> Lonoke roughs up on Cardinals
By RAY BENTON
Leader sports editor
The Lonoke baseball team stayed in first place in the 4A-2 Conference race with a 10-1 win over Dollarway on Monday. Starting pitcher Zack Risner left the game after throwing five innings of no-hit ball. He walked a runner in the second and Dollarway reached on an error in the fifth inning for the only two Cardinal base runners of the first five innings. Risner struck out eight to go with the one walk.
Blake Gooden took the mound in the sixth inning and after recording two quick outs, gave up back-to-back base hits and Dollarway’s only run of the game. He struck out the next batter for the last out of the sixth, then fanned the side in order to end the game with four Ks in just two innings of work.
Lonoke got eight base hits, walked five times and had six batters hit by pitches. The Jackrabbits had just two runs after three innings, and added a single run in the fourth for a 3-0 lead. They finally blew things open with five runs in the fifth and added two more in the sixth to set the final margin.
Two-hole hitter Christian James was the only player in the game with multiple hits. The second baseman went 3 for 4 with two RBIs. He also reached once on a hit batsman and scored one run.
Lonoke’s first run was unearned. Gooden reached on a two-out error and moved to second when Guy Halbert was hit by a pitch. Madison James then singled to drive Gooden home.
Garrett Spears walked to lead off the second inning and moved into scoring position when Nick Graves was hit by a pitch. A grounder by Shane Pepper advanced the runners and a groundout by Christian James scored Spears.
Graves walked to lead off the fourth inning and stole second base. Pepper was hit by a pitch and a single by James loaded the bases. Graves then scored when Dollarway committed another error off the bat of Gooden.
The big fifth inning started with a single by Risner. Spears walked with one out and Graves singled to drive in Risner’s courtesy runner Cody Martin. Pepper then hit into a fielder’s choice where the throw went home, but the catcher dropped the ball, leaving Spears safe for the fifth run of the game. Christian James then singled to score Graves and Halbert doubled to drive in Pepper and James and make the score 8-0.
After a scoreless sixth, Graves led off the top of the seventh by again getting hit by a pitch. Pepper singled and two passed balls moved him to third and scored Graves. Christian James was hit and Pepper scored on a sacrifice fly by Gooden to set the final margin.
The Jackrabbits, 11-5, are scheduled to host a nonconference game against class 6A Sheridan on Thursday.
SPORTS STORY >> Cabot girls win meet at Vilonia
By RAY BENTON
Leader sports editor
The Cabot Lady Panthers won the Vilonia Eagle Invitational track meet on Thursday. Their score of 83 narrowly edged out conference mate North Little Rock by nine points. Nettleton was a distant third with 59 points while Jonesboro, 48, and Conway, 45, rounded out the top five.
North Little Rock also finished second in the boys’ meet, scoring 87 points and also finishing nine points behind the host school Vilonia. Heber Springs, 72, Conway, 64, and Little Rock Christian Academy, 46, rounded out the top five. The Cabot boys finished seventh with 31 points while Beebe scored 20 and Sylvan Hills and North Pulaski scoring six points each.
The Cabot girls have the potential to score in every area, and are emerging as the favorite to repeat as conference champions this year.
“Our girls are pretty strong and we’ve set one of our goals to winning conference,” Cabot assistant coach Chris Beavert said. “Anything can happen so we need to be at our best. For state, right now on paper it looks like Bryant is going to be hard to beat, but we’re going in trying to win it. You never can tell what will happen.”
Cabot junior Micah Huckabee won the 800-meter run with a personal best time of 2:26.67, almost a full five seconds ahead of second-place Tory Sanders of Searcy. Huckabee was second in the 1600 and teammate Marlene Sheehan picked up a point by finishing eighth. Her better event was the 3200, in which she took fourth place, while teammate Megan Duncan was eighth and North Little Rock’s Irenia Ball was fifth.
Cabot sophomores Tori and Lexi Weeks swept the top two spots in the pole vault. Tori cleared 11 feet, six inches while Lexi went 10-6. Lexi Weeks was also fifth in the long jump. Thursday’s vaults don’t approach what either is capable of. Tori has cleared 12-6 this and Lexi 12-5 this season.
“They’ve got the top two spots in the state right now and they’re even nationally ranked with their heights,” Cabot head coach Leon White said.
North Little Rock’s Malika Monk won the long jump with a leap of 17-7. Beebe’s Madison Richey was second at 16-11. Monk also won the triple jump and took second in the high jump and fourth in 100-meter dash.
Richey took third in the triple jump and was fourth in the high jump. Also scoring in the triple jump was North Little Rock’s Lagradia Nelson, who finished fourth, and Cabot’s Rochelle Mallory finished sixth.
Monk’s teammate Lagradia Nelson took second in 200-meter dash, finishing .43 seconds behind Forrest City’s Nikirah McKinney’s winning time of 26.37. Lexi Weeks was third and Cabot’s Ladaysha Evans fifth.
Lady Wildcat Shadeanna Gatlin won the grueling 300-meter hurdles with a time of 52.20. She just beat out Mallory, who finished in 52.57. Beebe’s Jamie Jackson was fifth at 53.49. Gatlin also took second in the 100-meter hurdles behind CAC’s Logan Talbert.
Cabot’s Haley Buford finished second in the discus and fourth in the shot put. North Little Rock’s Tashika Harris was fifth in the shot.
North Little Rock’s Brandi Hughes, Makayla Daniel, Ashleigh Taylor and Nelson won the 4x100-meter relay while the Cabot team took fifth and Beebe seventh.
Cabot won the 4x400 relay with the combination of Huckabee, Evans and the Weeks sisters. North Little Rock was third and Beebe sixth in that event. Beebe beat out the local competition in the 4x800, with the team of Cecily Brock, Katie and Taylor McGraw and Rachel Treece finishing third behind LRCA and Conway.
The Cabot boys are stronger than usual in sprints this year, and put both of its entries in the top six on Thursday. Jordan Burke took second place while Alley Layton placed for the first time this year in sixth. Layton’s time of 11.67 was a personal best and makes him the fifth Cabot sprinter to earn points this season.
“He’s our alternate for the relay team, but he’s worked really hard and gotten better,” Beavert said. “With him coming on like he has, we feel comfortable with any of the five guys on that relay team. We think they have a chance to break a school record.”
The CHS record of 43.5 in the 4x100 relay was set in 1984. This team, consisting of Burke, Seth Hoggard, Zach Launius and Chris Henry, ran a 43.9 at Vilonia, which was good for second place behind North Little Rock’s Kavin Alexander, Martinez Butler, Rodney Bryson and Altee Tenpenny. Their winning time was 43.4.
The top eight in the 100-meter dash was loaded with local coverage area runners. North Little Rock’s Altee Tenpenny was fourth and Fabian Lewis was eighth. Sylvan Hills’ Quincey Flowers was fifth and Keyundra Hardimon was seventh. Conway’s Brandon Cox won the event with a time of 10.98 and Forrest City’s John Williams was third.
Alexander won the 200-meter dash with a time of 22.61.
Leader sports editor
The Cabot Lady Panthers won the Vilonia Eagle Invitational track meet on Thursday. Their score of 83 narrowly edged out conference mate North Little Rock by nine points. Nettleton was a distant third with 59 points while Jonesboro, 48, and Conway, 45, rounded out the top five.
North Little Rock also finished second in the boys’ meet, scoring 87 points and also finishing nine points behind the host school Vilonia. Heber Springs, 72, Conway, 64, and Little Rock Christian Academy, 46, rounded out the top five. The Cabot boys finished seventh with 31 points while Beebe scored 20 and Sylvan Hills and North Pulaski scoring six points each.
The Cabot girls have the potential to score in every area, and are emerging as the favorite to repeat as conference champions this year.
“Our girls are pretty strong and we’ve set one of our goals to winning conference,” Cabot assistant coach Chris Beavert said. “Anything can happen so we need to be at our best. For state, right now on paper it looks like Bryant is going to be hard to beat, but we’re going in trying to win it. You never can tell what will happen.”
Cabot junior Micah Huckabee won the 800-meter run with a personal best time of 2:26.67, almost a full five seconds ahead of second-place Tory Sanders of Searcy. Huckabee was second in the 1600 and teammate Marlene Sheehan picked up a point by finishing eighth. Her better event was the 3200, in which she took fourth place, while teammate Megan Duncan was eighth and North Little Rock’s Irenia Ball was fifth.
Cabot sophomores Tori and Lexi Weeks swept the top two spots in the pole vault. Tori cleared 11 feet, six inches while Lexi went 10-6. Lexi Weeks was also fifth in the long jump. Thursday’s vaults don’t approach what either is capable of. Tori has cleared 12-6 this and Lexi 12-5 this season.
“They’ve got the top two spots in the state right now and they’re even nationally ranked with their heights,” Cabot head coach Leon White said.
North Little Rock’s Malika Monk won the long jump with a leap of 17-7. Beebe’s Madison Richey was second at 16-11. Monk also won the triple jump and took second in the high jump and fourth in 100-meter dash.
Richey took third in the triple jump and was fourth in the high jump. Also scoring in the triple jump was North Little Rock’s Lagradia Nelson, who finished fourth, and Cabot’s Rochelle Mallory finished sixth.
Monk’s teammate Lagradia Nelson took second in 200-meter dash, finishing .43 seconds behind Forrest City’s Nikirah McKinney’s winning time of 26.37. Lexi Weeks was third and Cabot’s Ladaysha Evans fifth.
Lady Wildcat Shadeanna Gatlin won the grueling 300-meter hurdles with a time of 52.20. She just beat out Mallory, who finished in 52.57. Beebe’s Jamie Jackson was fifth at 53.49. Gatlin also took second in the 100-meter hurdles behind CAC’s Logan Talbert.
Cabot’s Haley Buford finished second in the discus and fourth in the shot put. North Little Rock’s Tashika Harris was fifth in the shot.
North Little Rock’s Brandi Hughes, Makayla Daniel, Ashleigh Taylor and Nelson won the 4x100-meter relay while the Cabot team took fifth and Beebe seventh.
Cabot won the 4x400 relay with the combination of Huckabee, Evans and the Weeks sisters. North Little Rock was third and Beebe sixth in that event. Beebe beat out the local competition in the 4x800, with the team of Cecily Brock, Katie and Taylor McGraw and Rachel Treece finishing third behind LRCA and Conway.
The Cabot boys are stronger than usual in sprints this year, and put both of its entries in the top six on Thursday. Jordan Burke took second place while Alley Layton placed for the first time this year in sixth. Layton’s time of 11.67 was a personal best and makes him the fifth Cabot sprinter to earn points this season.
“He’s our alternate for the relay team, but he’s worked really hard and gotten better,” Beavert said. “With him coming on like he has, we feel comfortable with any of the five guys on that relay team. We think they have a chance to break a school record.”
The CHS record of 43.5 in the 4x100 relay was set in 1984. This team, consisting of Burke, Seth Hoggard, Zach Launius and Chris Henry, ran a 43.9 at Vilonia, which was good for second place behind North Little Rock’s Kavin Alexander, Martinez Butler, Rodney Bryson and Altee Tenpenny. Their winning time was 43.4.
The top eight in the 100-meter dash was loaded with local coverage area runners. North Little Rock’s Altee Tenpenny was fourth and Fabian Lewis was eighth. Sylvan Hills’ Quincey Flowers was fifth and Keyundra Hardimon was seventh. Conway’s Brandon Cox won the event with a time of 10.98 and Forrest City’s John Williams was third.
Alexander won the 200-meter dash with a time of 22.61.
SPORTS STORY >> Appleby shining at LA Tech
By RAY BENTON
Leader sports editor
Of all the dozens of former Jacksonville Red Devil basketball players to move up and play college basketball in recent years, none have experienced the kind of success that Louisiana Tech guard Raheem Appleby has experienced in his first two years at the Conference USA school. Appleby returned to Jacksonville High School on Friday to take part in a benefit game to raise money for state championship rings earned by the JHS boys and girls teams. Appleby’s younger sister, sophomore Shakyla Hill, was the starting point guard for the Lady Red Devils. Appleby was on Jacksonville’s title team in 2010.
“It’s real special for both of us to have a championship now,” Appleby said. “I’m very proud of her and what her and that team has been able to accomplish.”
He worked himself into the starting lineup just a few games into his freshman year at Louisiana Tech, and was the team’s leading scorer this season as a sophomore. He averaged 14.9 points per game and scored 30 or more twice this year. In his lone visit back to central Arkansas, he hit the game-winning shot to beat UALR at Jack Stephens Center.
By all accounts, Appleby had a great freshman year, but the Bulldog coaching staff saw room for improvement. They wanted to make a drastic change that Appleby wasn’t entirely comfortable with at first.
“They told me I needed to change my shot,” Appleby said. “They said I shoot too much of a set shot and that I needed to get elevation. It was hard at first but I did it and I think it’s helped me.”
A willingness to take coaching has helped Appleby throughout his career. It’s a skill players either have, or develop, while playing for Jacksonville High School’s demanding coach Vic Joyner. Appleby believes coming from such a program helped him be more successful earlier than many other freshmen.
“Everybody in this level is really good, as far as talent,” Appleby said. “Some guys adjust to it better than others. I think there are a lot of factors, but the program they come from is definitely one of them. It’s a lot more physically demanding in college. Practices are a lot harder with a lot more conditioning. Some guys can adjust to it and they get better. But it is a lot of hard work.”
Appleby has kept up in the classroom and is on pace academically to be a junior next year. He says the toll on the players to keep up with class work is not as difficult as it’s sometimes made out to be.
“If you do your schedule right you can work it out where you’ve got time to get stuff done you need to get done,” Appleby said. “They have people that help you with that. After that you just have to do it. It’s just up to you.”
Appleby is majoring in sociology but is thinking about changing majors before his upperclassman years begin and work towards majors starts in earnest.
On the court, the Bulldogs finished 27-7 and went undefeated, 14-0, at home. They claimed the season’s second-longest winning streak at 18 games and appeared to be on their way to an NCAA tournament berth when that 18th consecutive win left them 26-3 and unbeaten in conference play. But things fell apart from there. Tech lost its last two regular-season games against conference co-champ Denver and second-place New Mexico State. Tech then fell in the first round of the conference tournament.
“We thought we had a chance to get in even after losing those last two,” Appleby said. “But we didn’t play well in that tournament game and that cost us.”
The Bulldogs shined on their biggest stage of the season in the first round of the NIT, beating the ACC’s Florida State 71-66, and Appleby shining brightest by scoring 27 points.
The season came to an end in round two with a 63-52 loss to Southern Miss, but the future looks bright for the Bulldogs. They only lose two seniors who averaged 19 and 10 minutes per game. Everyone else returns, including the entire starting five and the first four off the bench.
“We improved a lot from last year to this year, and if we can keep on improving we have a chance to be a really good team next year.”
Leader sports editor
Of all the dozens of former Jacksonville Red Devil basketball players to move up and play college basketball in recent years, none have experienced the kind of success that Louisiana Tech guard Raheem Appleby has experienced in his first two years at the Conference USA school. Appleby returned to Jacksonville High School on Friday to take part in a benefit game to raise money for state championship rings earned by the JHS boys and girls teams. Appleby’s younger sister, sophomore Shakyla Hill, was the starting point guard for the Lady Red Devils. Appleby was on Jacksonville’s title team in 2010.
“It’s real special for both of us to have a championship now,” Appleby said. “I’m very proud of her and what her and that team has been able to accomplish.”
He worked himself into the starting lineup just a few games into his freshman year at Louisiana Tech, and was the team’s leading scorer this season as a sophomore. He averaged 14.9 points per game and scored 30 or more twice this year. In his lone visit back to central Arkansas, he hit the game-winning shot to beat UALR at Jack Stephens Center.
By all accounts, Appleby had a great freshman year, but the Bulldog coaching staff saw room for improvement. They wanted to make a drastic change that Appleby wasn’t entirely comfortable with at first.
“They told me I needed to change my shot,” Appleby said. “They said I shoot too much of a set shot and that I needed to get elevation. It was hard at first but I did it and I think it’s helped me.”
A willingness to take coaching has helped Appleby throughout his career. It’s a skill players either have, or develop, while playing for Jacksonville High School’s demanding coach Vic Joyner. Appleby believes coming from such a program helped him be more successful earlier than many other freshmen.
“Everybody in this level is really good, as far as talent,” Appleby said. “Some guys adjust to it better than others. I think there are a lot of factors, but the program they come from is definitely one of them. It’s a lot more physically demanding in college. Practices are a lot harder with a lot more conditioning. Some guys can adjust to it and they get better. But it is a lot of hard work.”
Appleby has kept up in the classroom and is on pace academically to be a junior next year. He says the toll on the players to keep up with class work is not as difficult as it’s sometimes made out to be.
“If you do your schedule right you can work it out where you’ve got time to get stuff done you need to get done,” Appleby said. “They have people that help you with that. After that you just have to do it. It’s just up to you.”
Appleby is majoring in sociology but is thinking about changing majors before his upperclassman years begin and work towards majors starts in earnest.
On the court, the Bulldogs finished 27-7 and went undefeated, 14-0, at home. They claimed the season’s second-longest winning streak at 18 games and appeared to be on their way to an NCAA tournament berth when that 18th consecutive win left them 26-3 and unbeaten in conference play. But things fell apart from there. Tech lost its last two regular-season games against conference co-champ Denver and second-place New Mexico State. Tech then fell in the first round of the conference tournament.
“We thought we had a chance to get in even after losing those last two,” Appleby said. “But we didn’t play well in that tournament game and that cost us.”
The Bulldogs shined on their biggest stage of the season in the first round of the NIT, beating the ACC’s Florida State 71-66, and Appleby shining brightest by scoring 27 points.
The season came to an end in round two with a 63-52 loss to Southern Miss, but the future looks bright for the Bulldogs. They only lose two seniors who averaged 19 and 10 minutes per game. Everyone else returns, including the entire starting five and the first four off the bench.
“We improved a lot from last year to this year, and if we can keep on improving we have a chance to be a really good team next year.”
Tuesday, April 02, 2013
TOP STORY >> Jacksonville parks get 2 awards
By SARAH CAMPBELL
Leader staff writer
Jacksonville made quite a splash recently when two of its water-related activities earned prestigious awards from the Arkansas Parks and Recreation Association.
The city’s parks and recreation department was named Therapeutic Recreation Pro-gram of the Year for the swimming lessons it offers to people from all walks of life and Natural Resources Program of the Year for its youth fishing derby.
Jacksonville’s swim program stood out from others across the state because it includes classes for individuals with special needs. Last year, three swim instructors have branched out to include private lessons for people with disabilities.
Aquatics manager and instructor Diane Novotny said the program has served people with disabilities since the community center at 5 Municipal Drive opened, which was in 1995.
The swim lessons are taught privately or in a small group setting depending on the needs of each participant. The classes range from 30 to 40 minutes long, but they can last as long as necessary to meet the needs of each student.
Novotny said that while 10 to 15 years ago she was teaching children diagnosed with Down syndrome how to swim, many of her current students have been diagnosed with autism.
According to autismspeaks.org, autism is a general term for a group of complex disorders involving brain development that are characterized by difficulties in social interaction, verbal and nonverbal communication and repetitive behaviors.
“Children with autism have significant sensory difficulties. They tend to overreact or under react to stimuli and have strong reactions to some textures,” Novotny explained.
She said the water provides a safe environment that calms and soothes the sensory input autistic children crave.
About the award, Novotny said, “I was really, really pleased for my instructors. It’s nice to see that we’re not only looked at for swim lessons but for the therapeutic benefit of the swim lessons.”
Eighty-five children, those with special needs and many without, have signed up for April classes, which are full, she said.
To sign up for classes in May, visit the community center.
An average of 100 people take swim lessons at the center each month, Novotny noted.
Classes are not held in December or August. Morning classes are offered in June and July. Evening classes are held January through July, in October and in November.
The swim lessons are just one drop in the bucket of the parks and recreation department’s success.
The other award winner, the youth fishing derby, was established — in partnership with the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission and other community sponsors — in 1997 as a way to introduce youth to fishing and as an opportunity for families to spend time together outside.
Recreation Coordinator Dana Rozenski said the program is important because “I think so many times families get caught up in TVs and video games, iPhones and electronics. We need to be outside. We need to be exposed to nature.”
The derby is an annual event held at Dupree Park Lake, 1700 Redmond Road, on a Saturday in June.
The Game and Fish Commission stocks the lake with about 400 catfish the week before the event, according to Rozenski.
Between 125 and 150 children, ages 15 and under, usually sign up to compete.
The operating budget for the derby is $800, which covers the prizes and other expenses. Donations from local businesses and the Game and Fish Commission are also used for prizes.
In 2012, the event had 116 registered participants and many more who showed up without registering.
The parks and recreation department provided six paid staff members, including two of the maintenance staff, who watched the lake after it was stocked. Two volunteers were also on hand to help.
The youth fishing derby has been a standalone event in the past, but that will change this year, Rozenski said.
The city’s last Wing Ding Festival was held in 2011.
The event is being replaced this year with Jacksonville’s first FestiVille, which will be held June 21-22 at Dupree Park.
Ashland Chemical hosted a free fishing derby every year during the Wing Ding Festival.
Rather than having the youth fishing derby and another fishing derby at the festival, Rozenski said the company would host a fishing derby for all ages during FestiVille.
Details about registration are still being worked out, she noted, but the derby will be held at Dupree Park Lake on June 22 during FestiVille.
Other upcoming parks and recreation events include:
• Park of the Month from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, April 13 at North Lake Park, 1 Tennis Court. The event is free.
• CPR Challenge from 8 a.m. to noon Saturday, May 11 at the community center. The cost is $50.
• Park of the Month from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, May 11 at Paradise Park, 1 Paradise Park Road. The event is free.
• School Out Celebration and Movie in the Park at 5 p.m. Friday, May 24 at Splash Zone, 201 W. Martin St. Admission is $5.
• Park of the Month from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, June 1 at Jimmie White Park at 115 Cheyenne Trail. The event is free.
• Pool Side Cutie Contest from 9 to 11 a.m. Saturday, June 8 at Splash Zone.
Leader staff writer
Jacksonville made quite a splash recently when two of its water-related activities earned prestigious awards from the Arkansas Parks and Recreation Association.
The city’s parks and recreation department was named Therapeutic Recreation Pro-gram of the Year for the swimming lessons it offers to people from all walks of life and Natural Resources Program of the Year for its youth fishing derby.
Jacksonville’s swim program stood out from others across the state because it includes classes for individuals with special needs. Last year, three swim instructors have branched out to include private lessons for people with disabilities.
Aquatics manager and instructor Diane Novotny said the program has served people with disabilities since the community center at 5 Municipal Drive opened, which was in 1995.
The swim lessons are taught privately or in a small group setting depending on the needs of each participant. The classes range from 30 to 40 minutes long, but they can last as long as necessary to meet the needs of each student.
Novotny said that while 10 to 15 years ago she was teaching children diagnosed with Down syndrome how to swim, many of her current students have been diagnosed with autism.
According to autismspeaks.org, autism is a general term for a group of complex disorders involving brain development that are characterized by difficulties in social interaction, verbal and nonverbal communication and repetitive behaviors.
“Children with autism have significant sensory difficulties. They tend to overreact or under react to stimuli and have strong reactions to some textures,” Novotny explained.
She said the water provides a safe environment that calms and soothes the sensory input autistic children crave.
About the award, Novotny said, “I was really, really pleased for my instructors. It’s nice to see that we’re not only looked at for swim lessons but for the therapeutic benefit of the swim lessons.”
Eighty-five children, those with special needs and many without, have signed up for April classes, which are full, she said.
To sign up for classes in May, visit the community center.
An average of 100 people take swim lessons at the center each month, Novotny noted.
Classes are not held in December or August. Morning classes are offered in June and July. Evening classes are held January through July, in October and in November.
The swim lessons are just one drop in the bucket of the parks and recreation department’s success.
The other award winner, the youth fishing derby, was established — in partnership with the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission and other community sponsors — in 1997 as a way to introduce youth to fishing and as an opportunity for families to spend time together outside.
Recreation Coordinator Dana Rozenski said the program is important because “I think so many times families get caught up in TVs and video games, iPhones and electronics. We need to be outside. We need to be exposed to nature.”
The derby is an annual event held at Dupree Park Lake, 1700 Redmond Road, on a Saturday in June.
The Game and Fish Commission stocks the lake with about 400 catfish the week before the event, according to Rozenski.
Between 125 and 150 children, ages 15 and under, usually sign up to compete.
The operating budget for the derby is $800, which covers the prizes and other expenses. Donations from local businesses and the Game and Fish Commission are also used for prizes.
In 2012, the event had 116 registered participants and many more who showed up without registering.
The parks and recreation department provided six paid staff members, including two of the maintenance staff, who watched the lake after it was stocked. Two volunteers were also on hand to help.
The youth fishing derby has been a standalone event in the past, but that will change this year, Rozenski said.
The city’s last Wing Ding Festival was held in 2011.
The event is being replaced this year with Jacksonville’s first FestiVille, which will be held June 21-22 at Dupree Park.
Ashland Chemical hosted a free fishing derby every year during the Wing Ding Festival.
Rather than having the youth fishing derby and another fishing derby at the festival, Rozenski said the company would host a fishing derby for all ages during FestiVille.
Details about registration are still being worked out, she noted, but the derby will be held at Dupree Park Lake on June 22 during FestiVille.
Other upcoming parks and recreation events include:
• Park of the Month from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, April 13 at North Lake Park, 1 Tennis Court. The event is free.
• CPR Challenge from 8 a.m. to noon Saturday, May 11 at the community center. The cost is $50.
• Park of the Month from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, May 11 at Paradise Park, 1 Paradise Park Road. The event is free.
• School Out Celebration and Movie in the Park at 5 p.m. Friday, May 24 at Splash Zone, 201 W. Martin St. Admission is $5.
• Park of the Month from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, June 1 at Jimmie White Park at 115 Cheyenne Trail. The event is free.
• Pool Side Cutie Contest from 9 to 11 a.m. Saturday, June 8 at Splash Zone.
TOP STORY >> Option is closer on Medicaid
By JOHN HOFHEIMER
Leader senior staff writer
A quarter of a million working poor in Arkansas are a little closer to getting health-care insurance after an endorsement Monday by the speaker of the House and the Senate president pro tem—both Republicans.
And 500 Mississippi County area residents are a little closer to high-paying jobs as the Senate passed, by a vote of 26-6, SB 820, authorizing millions of dollars in state bonds for the $1.1 billion Big River steel plant.
Sen. Eddie Joe Williams (R-Cabot) voted against the plant. Now it goes to the House Agriculture and Economic Development Committee.
On Tuesday, Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, in a short letter to Gov. Mike Beebe, wrote that Arkansas’ proposed private option health-insurance plan appeared to be consistent with the federal Medicaid expansion statute requirements.
In a Monday news conference, Speaker Davy Carter, R-Cabot, and Senate President Pro Tempore Michael Lamou-reaux, R-Russellville, endorsed the private option for health care expansion, and, late Tuesday, Republicans released their version of the in-lieu-of-Medicaid expansion with some caveats.
In part because of the skepticism of Republican lawmakers over Medicaid expansion -— part of what they call Obamacare — the state has opted for another route generally known as private option, although it will still be Medicaid funded.
Democrats were waiting to see the Republican plan late Tuesday, Rep. Mark Perry, D-Jacksonville, said.
“I like it,” Perry said about Sebelius’ letter. “It gives us the green light to implement the Medicaid expansion.”
He said Democrats would review the Republican plan, agree on some things and get it done.
“We’re ready to get it resolved and do what’s best for the citizens of Arkansas,” Perry said.
Legislative leaders are in the final stages of preparing bill language to accompany the required supermajority vote to use the federal funding.
Although Beebe said Sebelius’ response was positive when he raised the issue in February as governors traveled to Washington, members of the General Assembly have awaited written confirmation that the federal government would fund private option here in lieu of Medicaid expansion.
While far from a done deal, private option seems to appeal to Republicans because it operates through private enterprise and it seems distanced from Obamacare while still providing health insurance for the working poor. Democrats tend to like it because expansion is funded by Medicaid and the end result is the same, although the cost is not necessarily the same.
In her April 1 letter — a response to a March 13 memo from Beebe seeking her blessing for the plan — Sebelius expressed support for the private option concept, according to Beebe.
“On behalf of the administration, I would like to express our interest in the innovative approach to further expanding access to health insurance coverage through plans participating in the Health Insurance Marketplace that Arkansas is considering,” the secretary wrote. “The concept in the memo appears to be generally consistent with the requirements of the Medicaid statute; we look forward to reviewing your demonstration proposal.”
Sebelius wrote, “Recognizing the decisions facing your General Assembly and the impact on your Health Insurance Marketplace, let me assure you that we will work with you on this innovative approach for Arkansas. To that end, on Friday I released additional guidance I hope will help inform states like Arkansas as you work to finalize your plan.”
Beebe said, “This is the written confirmation we’ve anticipated after our February meeting in Washington, D.C. Now it’s time for action in Arkansas.
He continued, “Members of the General Assembly and my administration have built a model that will provide working Arkansans with greater access to health care through private-sector insurance companies. Our innovative approach can create a national example of a state using Medicaid premium-assistance funds in an insurance marketplace that best serves its citizens.”
Beebe remains cautiously optimistic that support for the Arkansas private option continues to build, according to a Tuesday press release.
While most lawmakers expressed support for some version of extended health care, some have expressed a desire for consideration either at a special session or at next year’s financial legislative session.
Rep. Patti Julian, D-North Little Rock, said Tuesday, “Let’s move forward during the current session. Some want to wait until next year. I’d like to see us deal with it now.”
She said Sebelius’ letter will make it easier to pass a health care insurance bill, especially since a recent study by the Department of Human Services suggests the costs will not be as great as initially anticipated.
Meanwhile, nearly all of the tax-cut bill is being held in committee awaiting consensus, according to Julian. She said lawmakers are waiting to figure out how much they can afford to cut.
“We passed through a lot of bills (Monday),” she said. “We suspended the ruling requiring 48 hours between passing a bill out of committee and considering it on the House floor.”
Now it can emerge from a committee with a do-pass recommendation one day and be considered on the floor the next.
“I suspect we will work long hours and perhaps Saturdays to ensure we get business done before April 19,” Julian said.
Julian, who is on the House Transportation Committee, says the bill to move hundreds of millions of dollars a year from the state’s general fund to finance roads and highways failed by a single vote to get out of committee.
She said she originally liked the idea of moving sales taxes from vehicles, tires, batteries and auto parts, but she realized that those hundreds of millions of dollars would be at the expense of higher education and other programs funded by general revenues, including a lot of programs that benefit cities in her district.
Leader senior staff writer
A quarter of a million working poor in Arkansas are a little closer to getting health-care insurance after an endorsement Monday by the speaker of the House and the Senate president pro tem—both Republicans.
And 500 Mississippi County area residents are a little closer to high-paying jobs as the Senate passed, by a vote of 26-6, SB 820, authorizing millions of dollars in state bonds for the $1.1 billion Big River steel plant.
Sen. Eddie Joe Williams (R-Cabot) voted against the plant. Now it goes to the House Agriculture and Economic Development Committee.
On Tuesday, Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, in a short letter to Gov. Mike Beebe, wrote that Arkansas’ proposed private option health-insurance plan appeared to be consistent with the federal Medicaid expansion statute requirements.
In a Monday news conference, Speaker Davy Carter, R-Cabot, and Senate President Pro Tempore Michael Lamou-reaux, R-Russellville, endorsed the private option for health care expansion, and, late Tuesday, Republicans released their version of the in-lieu-of-Medicaid expansion with some caveats.
In part because of the skepticism of Republican lawmakers over Medicaid expansion -— part of what they call Obamacare — the state has opted for another route generally known as private option, although it will still be Medicaid funded.
Democrats were waiting to see the Republican plan late Tuesday, Rep. Mark Perry, D-Jacksonville, said.
“I like it,” Perry said about Sebelius’ letter. “It gives us the green light to implement the Medicaid expansion.”
He said Democrats would review the Republican plan, agree on some things and get it done.
“We’re ready to get it resolved and do what’s best for the citizens of Arkansas,” Perry said.
Legislative leaders are in the final stages of preparing bill language to accompany the required supermajority vote to use the federal funding.
Although Beebe said Sebelius’ response was positive when he raised the issue in February as governors traveled to Washington, members of the General Assembly have awaited written confirmation that the federal government would fund private option here in lieu of Medicaid expansion.
While far from a done deal, private option seems to appeal to Republicans because it operates through private enterprise and it seems distanced from Obamacare while still providing health insurance for the working poor. Democrats tend to like it because expansion is funded by Medicaid and the end result is the same, although the cost is not necessarily the same.
In her April 1 letter — a response to a March 13 memo from Beebe seeking her blessing for the plan — Sebelius expressed support for the private option concept, according to Beebe.
“On behalf of the administration, I would like to express our interest in the innovative approach to further expanding access to health insurance coverage through plans participating in the Health Insurance Marketplace that Arkansas is considering,” the secretary wrote. “The concept in the memo appears to be generally consistent with the requirements of the Medicaid statute; we look forward to reviewing your demonstration proposal.”
Sebelius wrote, “Recognizing the decisions facing your General Assembly and the impact on your Health Insurance Marketplace, let me assure you that we will work with you on this innovative approach for Arkansas. To that end, on Friday I released additional guidance I hope will help inform states like Arkansas as you work to finalize your plan.”
Beebe said, “This is the written confirmation we’ve anticipated after our February meeting in Washington, D.C. Now it’s time for action in Arkansas.
He continued, “Members of the General Assembly and my administration have built a model that will provide working Arkansans with greater access to health care through private-sector insurance companies. Our innovative approach can create a national example of a state using Medicaid premium-assistance funds in an insurance marketplace that best serves its citizens.”
Beebe remains cautiously optimistic that support for the Arkansas private option continues to build, according to a Tuesday press release.
While most lawmakers expressed support for some version of extended health care, some have expressed a desire for consideration either at a special session or at next year’s financial legislative session.
Rep. Patti Julian, D-North Little Rock, said Tuesday, “Let’s move forward during the current session. Some want to wait until next year. I’d like to see us deal with it now.”
She said Sebelius’ letter will make it easier to pass a health care insurance bill, especially since a recent study by the Department of Human Services suggests the costs will not be as great as initially anticipated.
Meanwhile, nearly all of the tax-cut bill is being held in committee awaiting consensus, according to Julian. She said lawmakers are waiting to figure out how much they can afford to cut.
“We passed through a lot of bills (Monday),” she said. “We suspended the ruling requiring 48 hours between passing a bill out of committee and considering it on the House floor.”
Now it can emerge from a committee with a do-pass recommendation one day and be considered on the floor the next.
“I suspect we will work long hours and perhaps Saturdays to ensure we get business done before April 19,” Julian said.
Julian, who is on the House Transportation Committee, says the bill to move hundreds of millions of dollars a year from the state’s general fund to finance roads and highways failed by a single vote to get out of committee.
She said she originally liked the idea of moving sales taxes from vehicles, tires, batteries and auto parts, but she realized that those hundreds of millions of dollars would be at the expense of higher education and other programs funded by general revenues, including a lot of programs that benefit cities in her district.
TOP STORY >> Date closer for kickoff of new district
By RICK KRON
Leader staff writer
The time is right for Jacksonville to have its own district as soon as this fall. That was the message that Dr. Walter Simpson, Daniel Gray and members of the Jacksonville/North Pulaski Education Corps delivered to more than 200 people who attended a Tuesday night meeting at the community center.
The local education group had Simpson brief the crowd on his 55-page feasibility study of Jacksonville breaking away from the Pulaski County Special School District and his study that echoed what five other previous studies have said: Jacksonville has the community support, the tax base, and revenue to support its own school district without upsetting any of the desegregation issues being monitored by the federal court.
Starting off his presentation, Simpson said he worked in PCSSD as a teacher in 1966 and the district was in disarray then. (See editorial, p. 6A.)
Gray asked the residents to sign a petition and to also help gather signatures showing the state school board that Jacksonville was ready, willing and able.
According to state requirements, the city has to present petitions with at least 2,000 signatures (10 percent of the registered voters within the boundaries of the new district). The petition will ask the state board in June to go before federal Judge D. Price Marshall and ask him to give Jacksonville the approval to hold a special election.
Former Pulaski County Clerk Pat O’Brien, who is a member of the local education group pushing for the district, explained that the steps sound convoluted but because the Pulaski County Special School District is under federal monitoring, the federal courts must give approval.
O’Brien said the city was at this point back in 2003, but the PCSSD board was against the city and took the city to court, where the judge said no to an election, even though the city was just weeks away from voting.
“This time we are going to the judge before setting the election in motion,” O’Brien explained.
Once the judge says the city can hold an election, the question on the ballot will be a simple “yes or no” question: Does the city want its own school district?
Gray said it is the education group’s hope that there will be enough signatures on the petition to present it to the state Board of Education at its June meeting.
The feasibility study is geared toward 2013-14 being a transition year for the new Jacksonville school district, which would be fully operational for the 2014-15 school year.
Two concerns expressed by the crowd were about payments for the new Maumelle High School and Sylvan Hills Middle School.
Ivory Tillman said it wouldn’t be fair for the proposed Jacksonville school district to be saddled with debts for those two schools.
Gray said the education group’s lawyer is verifying what is in the bond paperwork. He explained that a resolution approved by the PCSSD school board in 2009 said any new Jacksonville school district would not be saddled with the debt. The bond agents are on record agreeing with that and saying, if that isn’t in the legal paperwork, it should be clarified.
Another parent had heard that both Maumelle and Sher-wood are looking at forming their own districts. She was afraid that the efforts by those cities would hurt Jacksonville’s effort.
O’Brien said there was nothing to worry about — that those cities would not get their own districts anytime soon.
“PCSSD just built brand new, elite schools in Maumelle and Sherwood. The courts are not going to let them break away,” he said. He added after the meeting that Maumelle could not comply with federal desegregation requirements—it would be too white.
The state law that allows Jacksonville to break away states any new district must have at least 4,000 students and the district it is breaking away from must have at least 4,000 students. Neither Sherwood nor Maumelle has 4,000 students.
Simpson has calculated Jacksonville’s numbers three different ways, and the student numbers run from 4,300 to 4,700. PCSSD would be left with about 13,200 students.
According to the study, PCSSD is currently 43 percent black. Once Jacksonville breaks away, PCSSD would be 41.6 percent black and the Jacksonville district would be 46.7 percent black. Both would be within the acceptable federal range for desegregation.
Other concerns expressed by the audience were about staffing and Bayou Meto Elementary.
Martha Whatley with the local education group said there is a precedent for staffing because, many years ago, Little Rock took over parts of PCSSD.
She said the teachers and staff were given the option to stay at the school under the rules of the new district or transfer to a school in PCSSD. She expected something similar would happen in Jacksonville.
A parent was worried about Bayou Meto, explaining that half the school’s students filter into Jacksonville Middle School and half into Northwood Middle School. Northwood would not be a part of the new district.
Gray said, based on the boundaries approved by PCSSD, all Bayou Meto students would be part of the new district.
Simpson made it clear that Jacksonville’s new district would not be without challenges.
He said the number one problem for the proposed district would be the condition of the schools.
The new district would take in 10 operational schools and two closed schools. Out of the 10 open schools, five are in such poor shape that the state would probably recommend they be replaced instead of being remodeled to be brought up to state standards. Simpson said, based on historical data, the state should fund about 48 percent of the new schools, but certainly would not be able to do all of them at once.
The proposed Jacksonville district would encompass 100 square miles and include all of Jacksonville and north Pulaski County. PCSSD encompasses more than 700 square miles.
Leader staff writer
The time is right for Jacksonville to have its own district as soon as this fall. That was the message that Dr. Walter Simpson, Daniel Gray and members of the Jacksonville/North Pulaski Education Corps delivered to more than 200 people who attended a Tuesday night meeting at the community center.
The local education group had Simpson brief the crowd on his 55-page feasibility study of Jacksonville breaking away from the Pulaski County Special School District and his study that echoed what five other previous studies have said: Jacksonville has the community support, the tax base, and revenue to support its own school district without upsetting any of the desegregation issues being monitored by the federal court.
Starting off his presentation, Simpson said he worked in PCSSD as a teacher in 1966 and the district was in disarray then. (See editorial, p. 6A.)
Gray asked the residents to sign a petition and to also help gather signatures showing the state school board that Jacksonville was ready, willing and able.
According to state requirements, the city has to present petitions with at least 2,000 signatures (10 percent of the registered voters within the boundaries of the new district). The petition will ask the state board in June to go before federal Judge D. Price Marshall and ask him to give Jacksonville the approval to hold a special election.
Former Pulaski County Clerk Pat O’Brien, who is a member of the local education group pushing for the district, explained that the steps sound convoluted but because the Pulaski County Special School District is under federal monitoring, the federal courts must give approval.
O’Brien said the city was at this point back in 2003, but the PCSSD board was against the city and took the city to court, where the judge said no to an election, even though the city was just weeks away from voting.
“This time we are going to the judge before setting the election in motion,” O’Brien explained.
Once the judge says the city can hold an election, the question on the ballot will be a simple “yes or no” question: Does the city want its own school district?
Gray said it is the education group’s hope that there will be enough signatures on the petition to present it to the state Board of Education at its June meeting.
The feasibility study is geared toward 2013-14 being a transition year for the new Jacksonville school district, which would be fully operational for the 2014-15 school year.
Two concerns expressed by the crowd were about payments for the new Maumelle High School and Sylvan Hills Middle School.
Ivory Tillman said it wouldn’t be fair for the proposed Jacksonville school district to be saddled with debts for those two schools.
Gray said the education group’s lawyer is verifying what is in the bond paperwork. He explained that a resolution approved by the PCSSD school board in 2009 said any new Jacksonville school district would not be saddled with the debt. The bond agents are on record agreeing with that and saying, if that isn’t in the legal paperwork, it should be clarified.
Another parent had heard that both Maumelle and Sher-wood are looking at forming their own districts. She was afraid that the efforts by those cities would hurt Jacksonville’s effort.
O’Brien said there was nothing to worry about — that those cities would not get their own districts anytime soon.
“PCSSD just built brand new, elite schools in Maumelle and Sherwood. The courts are not going to let them break away,” he said. He added after the meeting that Maumelle could not comply with federal desegregation requirements—it would be too white.
The state law that allows Jacksonville to break away states any new district must have at least 4,000 students and the district it is breaking away from must have at least 4,000 students. Neither Sherwood nor Maumelle has 4,000 students.
Simpson has calculated Jacksonville’s numbers three different ways, and the student numbers run from 4,300 to 4,700. PCSSD would be left with about 13,200 students.
According to the study, PCSSD is currently 43 percent black. Once Jacksonville breaks away, PCSSD would be 41.6 percent black and the Jacksonville district would be 46.7 percent black. Both would be within the acceptable federal range for desegregation.
Other concerns expressed by the audience were about staffing and Bayou Meto Elementary.
Martha Whatley with the local education group said there is a precedent for staffing because, many years ago, Little Rock took over parts of PCSSD.
She said the teachers and staff were given the option to stay at the school under the rules of the new district or transfer to a school in PCSSD. She expected something similar would happen in Jacksonville.
A parent was worried about Bayou Meto, explaining that half the school’s students filter into Jacksonville Middle School and half into Northwood Middle School. Northwood would not be a part of the new district.
Gray said, based on the boundaries approved by PCSSD, all Bayou Meto students would be part of the new district.
Simpson made it clear that Jacksonville’s new district would not be without challenges.
He said the number one problem for the proposed district would be the condition of the schools.
The new district would take in 10 operational schools and two closed schools. Out of the 10 open schools, five are in such poor shape that the state would probably recommend they be replaced instead of being remodeled to be brought up to state standards. Simpson said, based on historical data, the state should fund about 48 percent of the new schools, but certainly would not be able to do all of them at once.
The proposed Jacksonville district would encompass 100 square miles and include all of Jacksonville and north Pulaski County. PCSSD encompasses more than 700 square miles.
Saturday, March 30, 2013
TOP STORY >> Vaquero’s willing to give back
By SARAH CAMPBELL
Leader staff writer
Vaquero’s Mexican Grill next to AllFam Bowling in Cabot is serving up “More Mex than Tex” dishes with a side of family fun and Christian values.
Owners Thomas Whitten-burg and Shane Hamilton are proud to contribute to local charities while offering their customers the freshest of ingredients.
When a church group eats at their restaurant, 10 percent of the sales go back to the church. Vaquero’s has also donated gift cards to fundraisers for Little Rock Air Force Base organizations and youth groups.
Seniors and military families enjoy a 10 percent discount. Kids eat free on Tuesday nights.
Whittenburg said, “We saw the restaurant as a way to grow, in our eyes, the kingdom, to win souls. As such, it’s doing really well.”
But, he continued, “What really makes us so different is the style of food we have.”
Whittenburg touted the quality of the ingredients used in Vaquero’s $7 to $10 offerings.
“The chicken I buy (from Sanders farms) is slaughtered on Friday and in the restaurant on Sunday night. Buy it fresh and you get a better texture and flavor,” he said.
Vaquero’s also has a machine that makes tortillas from scratch.
The restaurant will be introducing a new menu with new flavors and healthier side items this year.
Whittenburg said he is also expanding its catering service.
The owner added that he is looking at opening new locations in the Little Rock area and out of state. Franchise opportunities are available.
The restaurant’s diverse menu and friendly atmosphere earned it first place as best Mexican eatery in KATV’s Little Rock A-List.
For more information, including contests and specials, visit the restaurant’s Facebook page, www.facebook.com/Vaquerosmoremex, website, Moremex.com, or sign up for its texting or e-mail service.
Leader staff writer
Vaquero’s Mexican Grill next to AllFam Bowling in Cabot is serving up “More Mex than Tex” dishes with a side of family fun and Christian values.
Owners Thomas Whitten-burg and Shane Hamilton are proud to contribute to local charities while offering their customers the freshest of ingredients.
When a church group eats at their restaurant, 10 percent of the sales go back to the church. Vaquero’s has also donated gift cards to fundraisers for Little Rock Air Force Base organizations and youth groups.
Seniors and military families enjoy a 10 percent discount. Kids eat free on Tuesday nights.
Whittenburg said, “We saw the restaurant as a way to grow, in our eyes, the kingdom, to win souls. As such, it’s doing really well.”
But, he continued, “What really makes us so different is the style of food we have.”
Whittenburg touted the quality of the ingredients used in Vaquero’s $7 to $10 offerings.
“The chicken I buy (from Sanders farms) is slaughtered on Friday and in the restaurant on Sunday night. Buy it fresh and you get a better texture and flavor,” he said.
Vaquero’s also has a machine that makes tortillas from scratch.
The restaurant will be introducing a new menu with new flavors and healthier side items this year.
Whittenburg said he is also expanding its catering service.
The owner added that he is looking at opening new locations in the Little Rock area and out of state. Franchise opportunities are available.
The restaurant’s diverse menu and friendly atmosphere earned it first place as best Mexican eatery in KATV’s Little Rock A-List.
For more information, including contests and specials, visit the restaurant’s Facebook page, www.facebook.com/Vaquerosmoremex, website, Moremex.com, or sign up for its texting or e-mail service.
TOP STORY >> Jacksonville schools meeting set
By RICK KRON
Leader staff writer
Six studies over the past 35 years all say the same thing: Jacksonville can support its own school district without upsetting the required black-white ratio for either Jacksonville or the Pulaski County Special School District.
The Jacksonville/North Pulaski Education Corps will host a public meeting at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday at the community center to highlight the latest report, which was released earlier this week.
This study, prepared by Dr. Winston Simpson, echoes the same conclusion from studies done in 1978, 2002, 2006, 2008 and 2010 that Jacksonville can operate its own school district.
Mayor Gary Fletcher has said that the lack of a local school district has been a detriment to the city’s economic growth.
The push for an independent local school district started in the 1960s. It has gained momentum ever since because part of the newest Jacksonville school is 40 years old and the perception, if not reality, is that tax money from Jacksonville was going to support county schools and construction south of the city.
There was also the long-term leadership disarray in the district, which resulted in the state taking it over in 2011.
The latest study shows the proposed Jacksonville school district would encompass 100 square miles all within the confines of the city and have 4,000 students and 11 schools – Adkins Pre K Center, Arnold Drive, Bayou Meto, Murrell Taylor, Pinewood, Tolleson and Warren Dupree elementary schools, Jacksonville Middle School and North Pulaski and Jacksonville high schools — all sliced from PCSSD.
Two other closed school buildings would be included: Jacksonville Elementary and Jacksonville Girls Middle School.
The study, using 2012 enrollment figures, shows that the new district “would have minimal effect on the racial makeup of the remaining PCSSD and that the racial makeup of the new district would include a slightly higher percent of black students than currently exists in the current PCSSD. The new Jacksonville district would be 48.1 percent black. PCSSD is 44.2 percent black.
The county district collects 40.7 mills in property taxes, which comes to almost $96 million. If Jacksonville gets its own district, the taxation rate would remain at 40.7 mills, but could be voted higher.
Splitting PCSSD into two would give Jacksonville $13.8 million of the tax levy and the smaller PCSSD would still get $83 million. Both districts would also receive desegregation money as long as the state continues to make those types of payments. Currently that would be $3.9 million for the Jacksonville district and $16 million for the decreased county district.
Daniel Gray, a spokesman for the local education group, is happy with the study’s results, but added that it was “pretty much as expected. Previous feasibility studies have shown an independent Jacksonville/North Pulaski School District were plausible, and this latest study continues to support that position.”
Gray also said, “The latest study goes into more detail in a variety of areas and makes the strongest case year to support our efforts.”
The study backs up what Jacksonville and the school board said they knew in 2009 — that city schools and the district would be better off if Jacksonville split from PCSSD. That was before the state came in and dissolved PCSSD.
The district passed a resolution last year in support of a new Jacksonville school district. The city must now petition the state Education Department to take the issue before the federal court monitoring PCSSD on desegregation issues. The court could give the city permission to hold a special election on forming the new Jacksonville district.
State Rep. Mark Perry, who is also a member of the local coalition, said, “There’s light at the end of the tunnel. We need the people of Jacksonville and North Pulaski to show up and get these signatures gathered so we can get this issue before Judge Marshall and make this district a reality.”
Leader staff writer
Six studies over the past 35 years all say the same thing: Jacksonville can support its own school district without upsetting the required black-white ratio for either Jacksonville or the Pulaski County Special School District.
The Jacksonville/North Pulaski Education Corps will host a public meeting at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday at the community center to highlight the latest report, which was released earlier this week.
This study, prepared by Dr. Winston Simpson, echoes the same conclusion from studies done in 1978, 2002, 2006, 2008 and 2010 that Jacksonville can operate its own school district.
Mayor Gary Fletcher has said that the lack of a local school district has been a detriment to the city’s economic growth.
The push for an independent local school district started in the 1960s. It has gained momentum ever since because part of the newest Jacksonville school is 40 years old and the perception, if not reality, is that tax money from Jacksonville was going to support county schools and construction south of the city.
There was also the long-term leadership disarray in the district, which resulted in the state taking it over in 2011.
The latest study shows the proposed Jacksonville school district would encompass 100 square miles all within the confines of the city and have 4,000 students and 11 schools – Adkins Pre K Center, Arnold Drive, Bayou Meto, Murrell Taylor, Pinewood, Tolleson and Warren Dupree elementary schools, Jacksonville Middle School and North Pulaski and Jacksonville high schools — all sliced from PCSSD.
Two other closed school buildings would be included: Jacksonville Elementary and Jacksonville Girls Middle School.
The study, using 2012 enrollment figures, shows that the new district “would have minimal effect on the racial makeup of the remaining PCSSD and that the racial makeup of the new district would include a slightly higher percent of black students than currently exists in the current PCSSD. The new Jacksonville district would be 48.1 percent black. PCSSD is 44.2 percent black.
The county district collects 40.7 mills in property taxes, which comes to almost $96 million. If Jacksonville gets its own district, the taxation rate would remain at 40.7 mills, but could be voted higher.
Splitting PCSSD into two would give Jacksonville $13.8 million of the tax levy and the smaller PCSSD would still get $83 million. Both districts would also receive desegregation money as long as the state continues to make those types of payments. Currently that would be $3.9 million for the Jacksonville district and $16 million for the decreased county district.
Daniel Gray, a spokesman for the local education group, is happy with the study’s results, but added that it was “pretty much as expected. Previous feasibility studies have shown an independent Jacksonville/North Pulaski School District were plausible, and this latest study continues to support that position.”
Gray also said, “The latest study goes into more detail in a variety of areas and makes the strongest case year to support our efforts.”
The study backs up what Jacksonville and the school board said they knew in 2009 — that city schools and the district would be better off if Jacksonville split from PCSSD. That was before the state came in and dissolved PCSSD.
The district passed a resolution last year in support of a new Jacksonville school district. The city must now petition the state Education Department to take the issue before the federal court monitoring PCSSD on desegregation issues. The court could give the city permission to hold a special election on forming the new Jacksonville district.
State Rep. Mark Perry, who is also a member of the local coalition, said, “There’s light at the end of the tunnel. We need the people of Jacksonville and North Pulaski to show up and get these signatures gathered so we can get this issue before Judge Marshall and make this district a reality.”
TOP STORY >> School chief backs effort for sales tax
By JOAN McCOY
Leader staff writer
Cabot’s superintendent thinks residents should vote “yes” in the upcoming sales tax extension election.
Early voting begins Tues-day on the one-cent sales tax that would pay for $40 million in projects.
The head of schools spoke as a community member and not officially for the district.
“The needs of our community are great and it is my opinion that we are putting ourselves at a disadvantage if we do not move forward,” Tony Thurman said in an e-mail to The Leader. The newspaper asked for his position on the proposed extension that would pay for a baseball field and outdoor swimming pool complex off Hwy. 321, sewer improvements in the Hwy. 5 area to help attract businesses, a new library in the old Knight’s building on Main Street, the north interchange, expansion of the community center and a drainage project in the Highlands area.
“This is a great time to consider such an option because (interest) rates are so low and funds can be stretched further,” Thurman said.
“We need a library that can adequately accommodate our community. We have worked with the library board and there is a willingness to offer more programming for children and adults. Unfortunately, they are unable to provide many of the services offered in other communities simply because our facility is inadequate. We need a location that is centrally located with adequate parking that has the space to provide the library resources being provided in neighboring communities,” Thurman explained.
“We have an opportunity to do great things in our parks and recreation department. My children are involved in our community youth programs, so I know firsthand where we stand in comparison to our neighbors. We are woefully behind providing facilities that provide enough space for our children to participate in activities. We cannot host top quality baseball and softball tournaments that would bring untold numbers of fans to Cabot because we do not have adequate facilities to even be considered for such large scale possibilities.”
Cabot’s Allman/Bevis Sports Complex — the city’s ballparks — is located at 3001 S. First St.
Thurman continued, “I encourage anyone who hasn’t seen our community pool in a few years to drive past the location on Richie Road. I would also encourage them to drive past locations in Jacksonville, Searcy, Maumelle, Conway and Bryant and compare facilities.
“We should not be satisfied with the recreational facility we are offering for our families. We want people to remain in our community and spend locally, yet we aren’t offering the facilities to make that a reality. Cabot is about kids and family and we do not have an adequate pool and recreational facility to provide an affordable place for families to spend time together without leaving the area,” Thurman said.
Cabot has an indoor pool at its Veterans Park Community Center, 508 N. Lincoln St. Jacksonville has an indoor pool at its community center, 5 Municipal Drive, and Splash Zone, it water complex on Martin Street.
“This is a great opportunity for us to take a giant step forward in our community without the need to add an additional tax to our patrons. The sales tax being considered has been collected for years and everyone, regardless of where they live, will contribute to our progress each time they make a purchase in our community.”
Early voting starts Tuesday and continues through April 8. Election day is Tuesday, April 9.
Voters will be asked to approve $9.5 million to build a north interchange; $2.6 million to turn the old Knight’s building on Main Street into a library; $5.46 million to expand and renovate the community center; $13.5 million for a baseball and swimming pool complex as well as two new softball fields on Hwy. 321; $8.2 million to improve the wastewater collection system, and $500,000 to improve drainage in the Highlands subdivision.
Proponents of the baseball project say the city has needed new fields for many years. The commission that runs parks has been asking the parents of the children who use city parks to register and vote for the tax extension.
Thurman said, “Our school system is rated as one of the highest performing and considered one of the most progressive districts in Arkansas. We have great families that want to be a part of our community and our school system. These same families that we want to join our community have options on where they will purchase a home and they research and visit communities before deciding where they will call home.”
The district’s 2011-12 enrollment for all of its 15 schools was 10,121 and still growing.
“Though our school system can compete with any districts in central Arkansas in terms of overall quality, these families also seek a community that provides the total package for children and adults. This includes a great parks and recreation program with varied offerings being implemented in nice facilities. They want a nice, affordable, family-oriented place to swim with their children on beautiful days without driving to Jacksonville, Maumelle or Little Rock. They want a library system that offers programs and resources for adults and children.
“Many choose to work in the metropolitan area but live in areas such as Cabot. The commute can be long and frustrating some days, but it is worth it for many people to have their children and grandchildren attend school in a quality system and live in a great community with an emphasis on family and children.
“We need to provide the same opportunities not only for potential families but for our existing families that deserve the same resources afforded to other communities.
“This is not only about attracting new families,” he said, but also about providing “our existing families with the amenities that should be a part of a family-oriented community like Cabot.”
As for the sewer part of the tax extension, he said, “There are obvious benefits to the sewer upgrades. Basically, the system needs work and it will be paid for either by supporting this tax extension or applying it to current rates.”
Leader staff writer
Cabot’s superintendent thinks residents should vote “yes” in the upcoming sales tax extension election.
Early voting begins Tues-day on the one-cent sales tax that would pay for $40 million in projects.
The head of schools spoke as a community member and not officially for the district.
“The needs of our community are great and it is my opinion that we are putting ourselves at a disadvantage if we do not move forward,” Tony Thurman said in an e-mail to The Leader. The newspaper asked for his position on the proposed extension that would pay for a baseball field and outdoor swimming pool complex off Hwy. 321, sewer improvements in the Hwy. 5 area to help attract businesses, a new library in the old Knight’s building on Main Street, the north interchange, expansion of the community center and a drainage project in the Highlands area.
“This is a great time to consider such an option because (interest) rates are so low and funds can be stretched further,” Thurman said.
“We need a library that can adequately accommodate our community. We have worked with the library board and there is a willingness to offer more programming for children and adults. Unfortunately, they are unable to provide many of the services offered in other communities simply because our facility is inadequate. We need a location that is centrally located with adequate parking that has the space to provide the library resources being provided in neighboring communities,” Thurman explained.
“We have an opportunity to do great things in our parks and recreation department. My children are involved in our community youth programs, so I know firsthand where we stand in comparison to our neighbors. We are woefully behind providing facilities that provide enough space for our children to participate in activities. We cannot host top quality baseball and softball tournaments that would bring untold numbers of fans to Cabot because we do not have adequate facilities to even be considered for such large scale possibilities.”
Cabot’s Allman/Bevis Sports Complex — the city’s ballparks — is located at 3001 S. First St.
Thurman continued, “I encourage anyone who hasn’t seen our community pool in a few years to drive past the location on Richie Road. I would also encourage them to drive past locations in Jacksonville, Searcy, Maumelle, Conway and Bryant and compare facilities.
“We should not be satisfied with the recreational facility we are offering for our families. We want people to remain in our community and spend locally, yet we aren’t offering the facilities to make that a reality. Cabot is about kids and family and we do not have an adequate pool and recreational facility to provide an affordable place for families to spend time together without leaving the area,” Thurman said.
Cabot has an indoor pool at its Veterans Park Community Center, 508 N. Lincoln St. Jacksonville has an indoor pool at its community center, 5 Municipal Drive, and Splash Zone, it water complex on Martin Street.
“This is a great opportunity for us to take a giant step forward in our community without the need to add an additional tax to our patrons. The sales tax being considered has been collected for years and everyone, regardless of where they live, will contribute to our progress each time they make a purchase in our community.”
Early voting starts Tuesday and continues through April 8. Election day is Tuesday, April 9.
Voters will be asked to approve $9.5 million to build a north interchange; $2.6 million to turn the old Knight’s building on Main Street into a library; $5.46 million to expand and renovate the community center; $13.5 million for a baseball and swimming pool complex as well as two new softball fields on Hwy. 321; $8.2 million to improve the wastewater collection system, and $500,000 to improve drainage in the Highlands subdivision.
Proponents of the baseball project say the city has needed new fields for many years. The commission that runs parks has been asking the parents of the children who use city parks to register and vote for the tax extension.
Thurman said, “Our school system is rated as one of the highest performing and considered one of the most progressive districts in Arkansas. We have great families that want to be a part of our community and our school system. These same families that we want to join our community have options on where they will purchase a home and they research and visit communities before deciding where they will call home.”
The district’s 2011-12 enrollment for all of its 15 schools was 10,121 and still growing.
“Though our school system can compete with any districts in central Arkansas in terms of overall quality, these families also seek a community that provides the total package for children and adults. This includes a great parks and recreation program with varied offerings being implemented in nice facilities. They want a nice, affordable, family-oriented place to swim with their children on beautiful days without driving to Jacksonville, Maumelle or Little Rock. They want a library system that offers programs and resources for adults and children.
“Many choose to work in the metropolitan area but live in areas such as Cabot. The commute can be long and frustrating some days, but it is worth it for many people to have their children and grandchildren attend school in a quality system and live in a great community with an emphasis on family and children.
“We need to provide the same opportunities not only for potential families but for our existing families that deserve the same resources afforded to other communities.
“This is not only about attracting new families,” he said, but also about providing “our existing families with the amenities that should be a part of a family-oriented community like Cabot.”
As for the sewer part of the tax extension, he said, “There are obvious benefits to the sewer upgrades. Basically, the system needs work and it will be paid for either by supporting this tax extension or applying it to current rates.”
Friday, March 29, 2013
SPORTS STORY >> Lonoke takes second in home relays
By GRAHAM POWELL
Leader sportswriter
Nine schools participated in Thursday’s Lonoke Jackrabbit Relays, and the Lonoke boys totaled 115 points for second place, which was nine points shy of Maumelle’s 126. Maumelle also won the girls’ division, dominating the competition with 171 points, which was nearly 100 points more than second-place Stuttgart’s 82.
The Lonoke girls tallied 40 points in the competition, which was good for fifth place behind fourth-place Riverview. Haiden Jeter played a big role in helping Lonoke take fifth place according to coach Nathan Morris.
Jeter is steadily getting better in all events as the track season gets underway. She finished second in the 800-meter run Thursday, bettering her fifth-place finish in the event last week at Heber Springs.
Jeter also placed third in the high jump, second in the triple jump, and was part of the 1600-meter relay team that finished third along with Savannah Holman, Janice Chapman and Samaria James.
“She’s a pretty talented runner,” Morris said of Jeter. “She finished second in the 800 tonight and she finished fifth last week at Heber Springs, and she’s just now getting back into race shape. We feel like she can really do something at district in the 800.”
Holman, who’s a first-year participant, placed fifth in the high jump, sixth in the 100-meter hurdles, and fifth in the 300-meter hurdles. Chapman placed fifth in the shot put and sixth in the 100-meter dash. James also placed in the triple jump, finishing fourth.
The Lonoke boys had three first-place finishes Thursday. Chris Smith won the pole vault event. Jeffrey Norwood won the 800-meter run, and the 400-meter relay team of Eric Williams, D.J. Burton, Brent Sims and Blake Mack took first as well, which was no surprise to coach Tim Scarborough.
“That’s probably our best race throughout the track meet,” Scarborough said of his relay sprint team. “These guys made it to state last year. We’re looking to repeat there, but we’re looking to have a better showing at state. Although we made the finals, I think we got seventh in the state. So we’re looking to do a little bit better than that this year.”
Williams finished a nose-shy of first place in the 100-meter dash with a time of 11.43, which was easily enough for second. Mack and Burton provided Lonoke’s points in the high jump. Mack took fourth place and Burton finished just behind him at fifth.
Dylan Goforth had a solid showing in the field events as he placed third in both the shot put and discus throw. The 3200-meter relay team of Norwood, Tykel Gray, Robert Buchanan and Levi Ward took second place, while the 1600-meter team of Mack, Ward, Caleb Bailey and Stephon Carthron also finished second.
Gray finished third in the 1600-meter run, while Buchanan finished sixth. Dylan Walker took sixth in the 110-meter hurdles, and fourth in the 300-meter hurdles. Smith also placed in the 800-meter run, finishing fourth.
Carlisle was also at the event, and although it didn’t have enough participants to make a big impact in the overall team points standings, the participants it did have made a strong showing. John Reynolds won both the shot put and discus throw, and his sister Erica won the discus and placed third in the shot put.
John Reynolds also placed in the 800-meter run, finishing fifth. First-year participant Tim Pershbacher also provided the Bison with some points as he placed sixth in the 3200-meter run. John Reynolds’ solid day came as no surprise to coach Brandon Barbaree.
“Well John, he’s just a competitor,” Barbaree said. “He competed last year in the decathlon, and he almost placed at state in the discus last year. So I knew he’d do well in this meet and he’ll have a chance to place at state this year.”
Both Lonoke and Carlisle will compete in meets next week. Lonoke will be at Beebe on Thursday for the annual Badger Relays, while Carlisle will travel to DeWitt for the Dragon Relays.
Leader sportswriter
Nine schools participated in Thursday’s Lonoke Jackrabbit Relays, and the Lonoke boys totaled 115 points for second place, which was nine points shy of Maumelle’s 126. Maumelle also won the girls’ division, dominating the competition with 171 points, which was nearly 100 points more than second-place Stuttgart’s 82.
The Lonoke girls tallied 40 points in the competition, which was good for fifth place behind fourth-place Riverview. Haiden Jeter played a big role in helping Lonoke take fifth place according to coach Nathan Morris.
Jeter is steadily getting better in all events as the track season gets underway. She finished second in the 800-meter run Thursday, bettering her fifth-place finish in the event last week at Heber Springs.
Jeter also placed third in the high jump, second in the triple jump, and was part of the 1600-meter relay team that finished third along with Savannah Holman, Janice Chapman and Samaria James.
“She’s a pretty talented runner,” Morris said of Jeter. “She finished second in the 800 tonight and she finished fifth last week at Heber Springs, and she’s just now getting back into race shape. We feel like she can really do something at district in the 800.”
Holman, who’s a first-year participant, placed fifth in the high jump, sixth in the 100-meter hurdles, and fifth in the 300-meter hurdles. Chapman placed fifth in the shot put and sixth in the 100-meter dash. James also placed in the triple jump, finishing fourth.
The Lonoke boys had three first-place finishes Thursday. Chris Smith won the pole vault event. Jeffrey Norwood won the 800-meter run, and the 400-meter relay team of Eric Williams, D.J. Burton, Brent Sims and Blake Mack took first as well, which was no surprise to coach Tim Scarborough.
“That’s probably our best race throughout the track meet,” Scarborough said of his relay sprint team. “These guys made it to state last year. We’re looking to repeat there, but we’re looking to have a better showing at state. Although we made the finals, I think we got seventh in the state. So we’re looking to do a little bit better than that this year.”
Williams finished a nose-shy of first place in the 100-meter dash with a time of 11.43, which was easily enough for second. Mack and Burton provided Lonoke’s points in the high jump. Mack took fourth place and Burton finished just behind him at fifth.
Dylan Goforth had a solid showing in the field events as he placed third in both the shot put and discus throw. The 3200-meter relay team of Norwood, Tykel Gray, Robert Buchanan and Levi Ward took second place, while the 1600-meter team of Mack, Ward, Caleb Bailey and Stephon Carthron also finished second.
Gray finished third in the 1600-meter run, while Buchanan finished sixth. Dylan Walker took sixth in the 110-meter hurdles, and fourth in the 300-meter hurdles. Smith also placed in the 800-meter run, finishing fourth.
Carlisle was also at the event, and although it didn’t have enough participants to make a big impact in the overall team points standings, the participants it did have made a strong showing. John Reynolds won both the shot put and discus throw, and his sister Erica won the discus and placed third in the shot put.
John Reynolds also placed in the 800-meter run, finishing fifth. First-year participant Tim Pershbacher also provided the Bison with some points as he placed sixth in the 3200-meter run. John Reynolds’ solid day came as no surprise to coach Brandon Barbaree.
“Well John, he’s just a competitor,” Barbaree said. “He competed last year in the decathlon, and he almost placed at state in the discus last year. So I knew he’d do well in this meet and he’ll have a chance to place at state this year.”
Both Lonoke and Carlisle will compete in meets next week. Lonoke will be at Beebe on Thursday for the annual Badger Relays, while Carlisle will travel to DeWitt for the Dragon Relays.
SPORTS STORY >> Lady Devils dominate
By RAY BENTON
Leader sports editor
The young Jacksonville softball team got a pair of easy wins Tuesday, hammering Little Rock McCellan in both games of a 5A-Central doubleheader. Jacksonville blasted through the Lady Lions 17-0 in game one, then made it even worse in game two, winning that matchup 21-0.
Freshman pitcher Kimberly House threw two no hitters to pick up both wins on the mound. She also got three base hits, including two doubles and four runs batted in to lead the way at the plate in game one.
Emily Lovercheck had two base hits and drove in three runs while Bailey Jones also picked up a pair of singles. The Lady Devils put game one away quickly, scoring 12 runs in the bottom of the first inning. They added five more in the second and those were the only two at bats the team needed.
Game two was even worse, as a number of Lady Red Devils got two base hits each. House and Jones added another pair of hits two their totals. Senior Mailani Walker got two hits, including a bases-clearing triple. Freshman Kinley Burrows got a pair of hits with a double. Alexis Goodman reached base on every at bat with two hits and two hit batsmen, and freshman Zylah Richardson got two base hits. Junior speedster Sacha Richardson played the role of House’s courtesy runner, and finished with nine stolen bases in the two games combined.
Jacksonville coach Barry Hickingbotham was pleased with the performance. While uncompetitive games such as these many times do little to help a good team, Hickingbotham says that’s not the case for his squad, whose lineup of 15 players consists of 10 freshmen and sophomores.
“It’s confidence,” Hickingbotham said. “We tried to work on executing situations and we did that pretty well. You can use these kinds of games to teach a young team and I thought we learned a little bit tonight.”
Jacksonville (6-3, 4-0) started play in the Jae Lynn Russell tournament yesterday at Dupree Park, and will continue today. That tournament championship game is slated for 5:30 p.m. next week, Jacksonville has a big early conference showdown with preseason favorite Sylvan Hills. That game is set for 4:30 p.m. Tuesday at Dupree Park.
Leader sports editor
The young Jacksonville softball team got a pair of easy wins Tuesday, hammering Little Rock McCellan in both games of a 5A-Central doubleheader. Jacksonville blasted through the Lady Lions 17-0 in game one, then made it even worse in game two, winning that matchup 21-0.
Freshman pitcher Kimberly House threw two no hitters to pick up both wins on the mound. She also got three base hits, including two doubles and four runs batted in to lead the way at the plate in game one.
Emily Lovercheck had two base hits and drove in three runs while Bailey Jones also picked up a pair of singles. The Lady Devils put game one away quickly, scoring 12 runs in the bottom of the first inning. They added five more in the second and those were the only two at bats the team needed.
Game two was even worse, as a number of Lady Red Devils got two base hits each. House and Jones added another pair of hits two their totals. Senior Mailani Walker got two hits, including a bases-clearing triple. Freshman Kinley Burrows got a pair of hits with a double. Alexis Goodman reached base on every at bat with two hits and two hit batsmen, and freshman Zylah Richardson got two base hits. Junior speedster Sacha Richardson played the role of House’s courtesy runner, and finished with nine stolen bases in the two games combined.
Jacksonville coach Barry Hickingbotham was pleased with the performance. While uncompetitive games such as these many times do little to help a good team, Hickingbotham says that’s not the case for his squad, whose lineup of 15 players consists of 10 freshmen and sophomores.
“It’s confidence,” Hickingbotham said. “We tried to work on executing situations and we did that pretty well. You can use these kinds of games to teach a young team and I thought we learned a little bit tonight.”
Jacksonville (6-3, 4-0) started play in the Jae Lynn Russell tournament yesterday at Dupree Park, and will continue today. That tournament championship game is slated for 5:30 p.m. next week, Jacksonville has a big early conference showdown with preseason favorite Sylvan Hills. That game is set for 4:30 p.m. Tuesday at Dupree Park.
SPORTS STORY >> Badgers earn easy sweep of Mustangs
By RAY BENTON
Leader sports editor
Senior pitchers Jared Aschbrenner and Brandon Stane led the way for Beebe in a pair of 5A East Conference shutout victories over visiting Forrest City on Tuesday as the Badgers routed the Mustangs 17-0 in the first game and got by with a 4-0 win in the nightcap of a league twin bill at Gillam Fields.
Aschbrenner and Stane, both signed to play college baseball next year, delivered one hitters against a Mustangs team that struggled tremendously at the plate throughout the evening. Beebe (7-4, 2-2) run ruled the Mustangs after four innings of the opener, but inconsistencies at the plate in the second game made the score appear closer than the actual game.
“We got 13 guys to the plate in the first inning,” Beebe coach Mark Crafton said. “One reason was because of poor defensive play on Forrest City’s part. We took advantage of some fastballs and balls in the dirt to take some extra bases, steals. You add some hits in here and there, it can get away from you in a hurry. The second game was a totally different story. We had too many guys left on base; I think we left 11 guys stranded. We had men in scoring position and just didn’t perform, didn’t execute plays.
“It wasn’t that we were overpowered pitching wise, we were just trying to push too much doing things we weren’t capable of doing. A win is still a win, we just didn’t do the things we needed to do.”
Aschbrenner struck out five batters while giving up one walk and one hit, and allowed another FC batter to first with a hit-by-pitch in the top of the third inning.
“He was effectively wild in that first game,” Crafton said of Aschbrenner. “It’s been a while since he’s had conference action, but he was a little wild, but he was effective, got his groundouts and strikeouts, pop ups. He got the job done. Of course Brandon Stane in the second game, he was overpowering for the Forrest City bats and was able to keep them at bay.”
Senior Than Kersey led off with a triple in the bottom of the first inning of the first game before Stane reached on an outfield error, and both runners scored on a single grounder to left field by Aschbrenner. Senior first baseman and future Lyon College player Cody Reaves also benefitted from an FC error to reach first and send Aschbrenner home for a 3-0 Beebe lead.
Reaves advanced two batters later when Pete Drennan walked and scored on another error off of Angus Denton’s infield grounder. A walk for Byers Halford loaded the bases, with Drennan and Denton scoring off another Mustangs error on an infield hopper by Tyler Burge from the bottom of the lineup.
That gave the Badgers a 6-0 lead, and another hit for Kersey, this one a single, sent courtesy runner Gus Wisdom in for Halford to make it 7-0 before Burge came in on a groundout by Stane.
Beebe added two more scores in the bottom of the second before batting around the lineup again in the third inning for seven more runs.
Justin Browning and Aschbrenner doubled while Denton singled with the rest of the Badgers’ scores coming courtesy of walks and errors by Forrest City.
Kersey was 2 for 3 with a double and an RBI while Aschbrenner was 2 for 4 with a double and 4 RBIs.
“We just need to see improvement in consistency with the bats,” Crafton said of the first month of the season. “Especially with runners in scoring position, that’s the biggest key right now. Defense, we have our good days and bad days, but for the most part, we play solid defensively.”
Leader sports editor
Senior pitchers Jared Aschbrenner and Brandon Stane led the way for Beebe in a pair of 5A East Conference shutout victories over visiting Forrest City on Tuesday as the Badgers routed the Mustangs 17-0 in the first game and got by with a 4-0 win in the nightcap of a league twin bill at Gillam Fields.
Aschbrenner and Stane, both signed to play college baseball next year, delivered one hitters against a Mustangs team that struggled tremendously at the plate throughout the evening. Beebe (7-4, 2-2) run ruled the Mustangs after four innings of the opener, but inconsistencies at the plate in the second game made the score appear closer than the actual game.
“We got 13 guys to the plate in the first inning,” Beebe coach Mark Crafton said. “One reason was because of poor defensive play on Forrest City’s part. We took advantage of some fastballs and balls in the dirt to take some extra bases, steals. You add some hits in here and there, it can get away from you in a hurry. The second game was a totally different story. We had too many guys left on base; I think we left 11 guys stranded. We had men in scoring position and just didn’t perform, didn’t execute plays.
“It wasn’t that we were overpowered pitching wise, we were just trying to push too much doing things we weren’t capable of doing. A win is still a win, we just didn’t do the things we needed to do.”
Aschbrenner struck out five batters while giving up one walk and one hit, and allowed another FC batter to first with a hit-by-pitch in the top of the third inning.
“He was effectively wild in that first game,” Crafton said of Aschbrenner. “It’s been a while since he’s had conference action, but he was a little wild, but he was effective, got his groundouts and strikeouts, pop ups. He got the job done. Of course Brandon Stane in the second game, he was overpowering for the Forrest City bats and was able to keep them at bay.”
Senior Than Kersey led off with a triple in the bottom of the first inning of the first game before Stane reached on an outfield error, and both runners scored on a single grounder to left field by Aschbrenner. Senior first baseman and future Lyon College player Cody Reaves also benefitted from an FC error to reach first and send Aschbrenner home for a 3-0 Beebe lead.
Reaves advanced two batters later when Pete Drennan walked and scored on another error off of Angus Denton’s infield grounder. A walk for Byers Halford loaded the bases, with Drennan and Denton scoring off another Mustangs error on an infield hopper by Tyler Burge from the bottom of the lineup.
That gave the Badgers a 6-0 lead, and another hit for Kersey, this one a single, sent courtesy runner Gus Wisdom in for Halford to make it 7-0 before Burge came in on a groundout by Stane.
Beebe added two more scores in the bottom of the second before batting around the lineup again in the third inning for seven more runs.
Justin Browning and Aschbrenner doubled while Denton singled with the rest of the Badgers’ scores coming courtesy of walks and errors by Forrest City.
Kersey was 2 for 3 with a double and an RBI while Aschbrenner was 2 for 4 with a double and 4 RBIs.
“We just need to see improvement in consistency with the bats,” Crafton said of the first month of the season. “Especially with runners in scoring position, that’s the biggest key right now. Defense, we have our good days and bad days, but for the most part, we play solid defensively.”
SPORTS STORY >> Cabot boys win, girls tie with Central
By JASON KING
Leader sportswriter
A pair of second-half goals by junior forward Trevor Reed made the difference for Cabot as the Panthers defeated Little Rock Central 3-1 at Panther Stadium on Thursday.
Reed broke a 1-1 tie in the fourth minute of the second half with a straight-ahead dribbler that gave the Panthers (2-4-1, 1-1) a 2-1 lead, and finished off the Tigers with an identical strike with less than eight minutes remaining in what was essentially a nonconference matchup between two 7A/6A East Conference teams.
“Two great individual efforts from Trevor Reed was the difference,” Panthers coach Steve Porter said. “But I think we squandered a bunch of other chances, especially towards the end once we kind of established the lead. I thought it was not one of our better games overall. Previous games, we’ve played much better and lost. It’s good to get the win and prepare to play Mountain Home on Tuesday.
“We’ve played well, and now we’re starting to win. Hopefully, we can continue to play well and win in the future.”
The Panthers took an early 1-0 lead when Blakelyn Devore cross-assisted Evan Wilson, who got past the Central goalkeeper in the second minute. The Tigers answered during the 35th minute to tie the score 1-1 at the half.
“Soccer can be so much about inches and luck,” Porter said. “In other games, we controlled possession better than the opponents, created just as many chances and just not scored. You take your victories when you can, and we’re happy to win, but we need to play better in the future.”
Reed created his own opportunities on each of his second-half goals, dribbling in from the side and charging the goal to catch Central’s goalkeeper out of position each time.
“I think he’s one of the best juniors in the state,” Porter said. “He has the potential to go on and play at the college level and do really well. He works hard, is a really great kid. He’s everything a coach would want, but, as a coach, I don’t want us to be overly reliant on one player. We have some other good players on the team who can contribute and do well, and they need to.”
The Lady Panthers have become experts at avoiding losses, but for the fourth time this season, could not find a way to get the advantage on the scoreboard as they tied Little Rock Central in a scoreless 0-0 defensive struggle. Although Cabot (5-2-4) and Central are both expected to be contenders in the 7A/6A East Conference this season, Thursday’s matchup was not the one that counted towards conference as the new policy is for all league teams to meet only once instead of two times as in previous seasons. That meant no penalty-kick shootout when the clock expired and no score for either club.
“This is the one that was not on the original schedule set by the A.D.s” Lady Panthers coach Kerry Castillo said. “We just decided to play each other to get a harder competition game. We really didn’t do some of the things I would have liked to see us do. Our style of play was a little different. We just wanted to test the waters a little to see what they brought.”
Castillo did not show his entire hand during the contest, holding breakout scorer Jessica Souza to primarily a defensive role at the center midfield, while the Tigers seemed to do the same with some of their personnel.
“Didn’t want to show all of our cards just yet,” Castillo said. “It was a very athletic up-and-down game. I thought we played pretty well as far as defensively and our organization, we just boomed the ball up and down too much, that’s just not our style of play. Our back line had a really good game, Devin Patterson, Codee Park, Melody Sampson, Kristen Oitker, all four played really well, and smart.”
NORTH LITTLE ROCK ROUTS DEVILS
The North Little Rock Lady Wildcats got on the winning side of things in 7A/6A East Conference play on Tuesday with a 7-0 shutout victory over West Memphis to improve to 2-5 overall and 1-1 in league play. Senior standout Katie Van Pelt led the way with four goals, while fellow senior Jordan Toler scored one goal and had two assists.
“It was definitely good to get that first conference win,” Lady Wildcats coach Justin Musick said. “We had been on a losing skid, but it feels like maybe we’re starting to turn things around and head back in the right direction. Hopefully, it will continue into more of our conference games.
The Wildcats boys team had an equally easy time with the Blue Devils in an 8-0 shutout. Jack Fleming led the way for North Little Rock with three goals while Cole Purtle scored two goals. Hobbs Knowlton, Sammy Covarrubios and Morgan Jackson all scored a goal each for the Wildcats. The win improved North Little Rock’s record to 5-0-2 overall and 2-0 in the 7A/6A East Conference.
“Overall Jack Fleming has been a good goal scorer and creator,” Wildcats coach Marc Gill said. “Cole Purtle and Ashton Miller are constantly running the sidelines and causing problems. Peyton Land has been playing really well as a stopper and has stepped up as a sophomore.”
Leader sportswriter
A pair of second-half goals by junior forward Trevor Reed made the difference for Cabot as the Panthers defeated Little Rock Central 3-1 at Panther Stadium on Thursday.
Reed broke a 1-1 tie in the fourth minute of the second half with a straight-ahead dribbler that gave the Panthers (2-4-1, 1-1) a 2-1 lead, and finished off the Tigers with an identical strike with less than eight minutes remaining in what was essentially a nonconference matchup between two 7A/6A East Conference teams.
“Two great individual efforts from Trevor Reed was the difference,” Panthers coach Steve Porter said. “But I think we squandered a bunch of other chances, especially towards the end once we kind of established the lead. I thought it was not one of our better games overall. Previous games, we’ve played much better and lost. It’s good to get the win and prepare to play Mountain Home on Tuesday.
“We’ve played well, and now we’re starting to win. Hopefully, we can continue to play well and win in the future.”
The Panthers took an early 1-0 lead when Blakelyn Devore cross-assisted Evan Wilson, who got past the Central goalkeeper in the second minute. The Tigers answered during the 35th minute to tie the score 1-1 at the half.
“Soccer can be so much about inches and luck,” Porter said. “In other games, we controlled possession better than the opponents, created just as many chances and just not scored. You take your victories when you can, and we’re happy to win, but we need to play better in the future.”
Reed created his own opportunities on each of his second-half goals, dribbling in from the side and charging the goal to catch Central’s goalkeeper out of position each time.
“I think he’s one of the best juniors in the state,” Porter said. “He has the potential to go on and play at the college level and do really well. He works hard, is a really great kid. He’s everything a coach would want, but, as a coach, I don’t want us to be overly reliant on one player. We have some other good players on the team who can contribute and do well, and they need to.”
The Lady Panthers have become experts at avoiding losses, but for the fourth time this season, could not find a way to get the advantage on the scoreboard as they tied Little Rock Central in a scoreless 0-0 defensive struggle. Although Cabot (5-2-4) and Central are both expected to be contenders in the 7A/6A East Conference this season, Thursday’s matchup was not the one that counted towards conference as the new policy is for all league teams to meet only once instead of two times as in previous seasons. That meant no penalty-kick shootout when the clock expired and no score for either club.
“This is the one that was not on the original schedule set by the A.D.s” Lady Panthers coach Kerry Castillo said. “We just decided to play each other to get a harder competition game. We really didn’t do some of the things I would have liked to see us do. Our style of play was a little different. We just wanted to test the waters a little to see what they brought.”
Castillo did not show his entire hand during the contest, holding breakout scorer Jessica Souza to primarily a defensive role at the center midfield, while the Tigers seemed to do the same with some of their personnel.
“Didn’t want to show all of our cards just yet,” Castillo said. “It was a very athletic up-and-down game. I thought we played pretty well as far as defensively and our organization, we just boomed the ball up and down too much, that’s just not our style of play. Our back line had a really good game, Devin Patterson, Codee Park, Melody Sampson, Kristen Oitker, all four played really well, and smart.”
NORTH LITTLE ROCK ROUTS DEVILS
The North Little Rock Lady Wildcats got on the winning side of things in 7A/6A East Conference play on Tuesday with a 7-0 shutout victory over West Memphis to improve to 2-5 overall and 1-1 in league play. Senior standout Katie Van Pelt led the way with four goals, while fellow senior Jordan Toler scored one goal and had two assists.
“It was definitely good to get that first conference win,” Lady Wildcats coach Justin Musick said. “We had been on a losing skid, but it feels like maybe we’re starting to turn things around and head back in the right direction. Hopefully, it will continue into more of our conference games.
The Wildcats boys team had an equally easy time with the Blue Devils in an 8-0 shutout. Jack Fleming led the way for North Little Rock with three goals while Cole Purtle scored two goals. Hobbs Knowlton, Sammy Covarrubios and Morgan Jackson all scored a goal each for the Wildcats. The win improved North Little Rock’s record to 5-0-2 overall and 2-0 in the 7A/6A East Conference.
“Overall Jack Fleming has been a good goal scorer and creator,” Wildcats coach Marc Gill said. “Cole Purtle and Ashton Miller are constantly running the sidelines and causing problems. Peyton Land has been playing really well as a stopper and has stepped up as a sophomore.”
SPORTS STORY >> Panther baseball on a roll
By RAY BENTON
Leader sports editor
Recent games suggested a tough night for Cabot baseball on Tuesday, but the Panthers put forth their best effort of the season in easily dispatching Marion for an important doubleheader sweep at CHS. Cabot swept the early 7A/6A East Conference matchup by scores of 7-1 and 12-2, and they did it without one of their top two pitchers.
“We beat Jacksonville twice and we barely got by them both times,” Cabot coach Jay Fitch said. “Then Marion smoked them pretty good up at the Jonesboro tournament. So we were a little worried about their hitting coming in here, especially with one of our starting pitchers. We figured out pretty early they struggled a little bit with the breaking stuff, and that’s right down Ryan Logan’s alley.”
Logan started game one on the mound for Cabot and dominated the Patriots’ lineup. He gave up just three hits and one unearned run. He only struck out three and walked two, but Cabot got out of every jam by turning four double plays.
“I don’t know if we’ve turned four double plays all season,” Fitch said. “We had one error the whole night and turned I think five double plays total. So our defensive execution was as good as it’s been all year.”
Zach Patterson took the mound in game two and got stronger as the game wore on. He also gave up three hits and got into a little trouble in the third inning, but otherwise dominated the Patriots. He finished with 10 strikeouts and just three walks.
“I was a little worried about Zach against this team because they hit the fastball so well,” Fitch said. “Zach is our hardest thrower, but this team likes that. Tonight he had his curveball working pretty good too and when he does that, he can be phenomenal. We need to see more consistency from him, but tonight was a great start. If he can start giving us that on a more consistent basis, he can be outstanding.”
Neither team scored in the first two innings of game two, but Cabot jumped on Marion for five in the top of the third. Catcher Brent Dean started the inning by getting plunked by a pitch, but his courtesy runner was thrown out on a force play at third base.
Cole Thomas, who singled, and leadoff hitter Conner Vocque, who reached on the fielder’s choice that put out Dean, both scored on a two-RBI single by Logan. Casey Vaughan followed that with a double in the gap to left-centerfield that scored Logan. Riley Knudsen walked and Coleman McAtee drove in Vaughan with a single to left. Knudsen scored the fifth run of the frame when Kason Kimbrell’s pop up to shallow right field was dropped.
Marion put together a two-out, two-run rally in the bottom of the third. Leadoff hitter Zach Morris and Caleb Marconi drew back-to-back walks. Drake Knowton then singled to score Morris and moved to second when the throw from the outfield went to home plate.
Cleanup hitter Bailey Burford also singled to centerfield to score Marconi. Knowton also tried to score on the play, but Vaughan’s throw to home plate got him for the third out.
Thomas got another five-run rally going for Cabot in the top of the fourth by singling to right field. Vocque and Logan followed with singles and Vaughan walked to score Thomas. Knudsen flew out to right field, but his shot was deep enough to score Vocque from third. McAtee walked to load the bases. Kimbrell then hit a comebacker to the pitcher that got Logan thrown out on a force play at home for the second out. Grason Cole then singled down the right field line to drive in two runs, and Dean doubled to score Kimbrell and make the score 10-2.
Patterson’s last two innings were identical, a groundout followed by two strikeouts. Meanwhile Cabot added the two runs needed to end the game early, one in the fifth and one in the sixth. Logan doubled down the left-field line with one out and moved to third on a grounder to first by Vaughan. He then scored on a wild pitch.
The last run came when Vocque singled to drive in Cole, who beat out a grounder to shortstop for a single.
On Thursday, Cabot knocked off Pulaski Academy 4-3. Sophomore Gavin Tillery started the game and threw well for three innings. He left with the score tied and got a no decision. Knudsen pitched the final three innings and picked up the win.
The three wins this week runs Cabot’s winning streak to four games, and leaves them 8-5 overall and 2-2 in league play. The Panthers travel to Mountain Home for another conference doubleheader on Tuesday.
Leader sports editor
Recent games suggested a tough night for Cabot baseball on Tuesday, but the Panthers put forth their best effort of the season in easily dispatching Marion for an important doubleheader sweep at CHS. Cabot swept the early 7A/6A East Conference matchup by scores of 7-1 and 12-2, and they did it without one of their top two pitchers.
“We beat Jacksonville twice and we barely got by them both times,” Cabot coach Jay Fitch said. “Then Marion smoked them pretty good up at the Jonesboro tournament. So we were a little worried about their hitting coming in here, especially with one of our starting pitchers. We figured out pretty early they struggled a little bit with the breaking stuff, and that’s right down Ryan Logan’s alley.”
Logan started game one on the mound for Cabot and dominated the Patriots’ lineup. He gave up just three hits and one unearned run. He only struck out three and walked two, but Cabot got out of every jam by turning four double plays.
“I don’t know if we’ve turned four double plays all season,” Fitch said. “We had one error the whole night and turned I think five double plays total. So our defensive execution was as good as it’s been all year.”
Zach Patterson took the mound in game two and got stronger as the game wore on. He also gave up three hits and got into a little trouble in the third inning, but otherwise dominated the Patriots. He finished with 10 strikeouts and just three walks.
“I was a little worried about Zach against this team because they hit the fastball so well,” Fitch said. “Zach is our hardest thrower, but this team likes that. Tonight he had his curveball working pretty good too and when he does that, he can be phenomenal. We need to see more consistency from him, but tonight was a great start. If he can start giving us that on a more consistent basis, he can be outstanding.”
Neither team scored in the first two innings of game two, but Cabot jumped on Marion for five in the top of the third. Catcher Brent Dean started the inning by getting plunked by a pitch, but his courtesy runner was thrown out on a force play at third base.
Cole Thomas, who singled, and leadoff hitter Conner Vocque, who reached on the fielder’s choice that put out Dean, both scored on a two-RBI single by Logan. Casey Vaughan followed that with a double in the gap to left-centerfield that scored Logan. Riley Knudsen walked and Coleman McAtee drove in Vaughan with a single to left. Knudsen scored the fifth run of the frame when Kason Kimbrell’s pop up to shallow right field was dropped.
Marion put together a two-out, two-run rally in the bottom of the third. Leadoff hitter Zach Morris and Caleb Marconi drew back-to-back walks. Drake Knowton then singled to score Morris and moved to second when the throw from the outfield went to home plate.
Cleanup hitter Bailey Burford also singled to centerfield to score Marconi. Knowton also tried to score on the play, but Vaughan’s throw to home plate got him for the third out.
Thomas got another five-run rally going for Cabot in the top of the fourth by singling to right field. Vocque and Logan followed with singles and Vaughan walked to score Thomas. Knudsen flew out to right field, but his shot was deep enough to score Vocque from third. McAtee walked to load the bases. Kimbrell then hit a comebacker to the pitcher that got Logan thrown out on a force play at home for the second out. Grason Cole then singled down the right field line to drive in two runs, and Dean doubled to score Kimbrell and make the score 10-2.
Patterson’s last two innings were identical, a groundout followed by two strikeouts. Meanwhile Cabot added the two runs needed to end the game early, one in the fifth and one in the sixth. Logan doubled down the left-field line with one out and moved to third on a grounder to first by Vaughan. He then scored on a wild pitch.
The last run came when Vocque singled to drive in Cole, who beat out a grounder to shortstop for a single.
On Thursday, Cabot knocked off Pulaski Academy 4-3. Sophomore Gavin Tillery started the game and threw well for three innings. He left with the score tied and got a no decision. Knudsen pitched the final three innings and picked up the win.
The three wins this week runs Cabot’s winning streak to four games, and leaves them 8-5 overall and 2-2 in league play. The Panthers travel to Mountain Home for another conference doubleheader on Tuesday.
Thursday, March 28, 2013
GUEST OPINION >> Senate helping payday lenders
By HANK KLEIN
Special to The Leader
Arkansas voters in approving Amendment 89 to our state’s Constitution in 2010 voted to voluntarily raise the interest rate charged on consumer loans. Senate Bill 900 would override the will of the voters and, based on recent history, ultimately pave the way for out-of-state lenders to set up shop in Arkansas and roll back hard-won consumer protections.
SB900 provides that interest rates on consumer loans, currently capped at 17 percent annual percentage rate under Amendment 89, would be instead be set “as defined” by the Arkansas General Assembly. A famous quote from Spanish philosopher George Santayana crystallizes the danger posed to consumers by SB900: “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.”
In the case of SB900, remembering the recent past is critically important. From 1999-2009, hundreds of payday lenders operated in Arkansas, flouting our state’s Constitution by charging triple-digit interest rates on loans and ensnaring consumers in long-term debt traps. Payday lenders set up shop in Arkansas thanks to a 1999 state law in which payday loan costs were defined as “fees” instead of interest.
The last payday lender closed its doors in Arkansas in August 2009, following a 2008 Arkansas Supreme Court ruling that threw out the 1999 law, a pro-consumer crackdown by the Arkansas Attorney General Dustin McDaniel and consumer education efforts by the Arkansans Against Abusive Payday Lending coalition, of which AARP Arkansas is a founding member.
Out-of-state lenders during the 2011 legislative session attempted to secure passage of legislation similar to SB900 that would have overridden the interest-rate protections in Amendment 89 and enabled these lenders to set up shop in Arkansas, offering high-interest loans with terms very similar to payday loans. The 2011 legislation allowed add-on fees that increased the effective interest rate paid by consumers. AAAPL, AARP and the Arkansas Attorney General strongly opposed the 2011 legislation and the sponsors withdrew it from consideration.
Amendment 89 increased the maximum lawful rate of interest on consumer loans from a sliding scale to a flat 17 percent interest rate. This increase opened many additional lending opportunities while still protecting the citizens of Arkansas from high-cost predatory loans.
Section 12 of Amendment 89 authorizes the Arkansas General Assembly “by a three-fourths vote of each house” to “amend the provisions of this amendment so long as the amendments are germane to this amendment and consistent with its policy and purposes.”
SB900, backed by some of the same proponents of the 2011 legislation, would be the first step toward giving high-cost lenders a foot in the door, by authorizing the Legislature to “define” interest rates for consumer loans. SB900 as currently drafted states that the loan APR “would not exceed” 17 percent annually.
However, the effective interest rate paid by consumers would all depend on how the Legislature decided to “define” interest. No legislation is necessary to charge up to 17 percent interest on consumer loans, so the only logical reason behind SB900 is to ultimately authorize a higher effective rate, likely through add-on fees. This frankly doesn’t seem very “germane” to the intent of voters who already agreed to raise loan interest rates less than three years ago.
A second bill, which would require only a simple majority to pass, could then authorize the higher effective rate, opening the door for a repeat of Arkansas’ long payday lending nightmare. SB900 includes an “emergency clause” in which it would take effect immediately if adopted, meaning the higher effective rate could be passed during this very same legislative session.
The bottom line for Arkansas consumers is frighteningly simple: SB900 will unlock the door nailed shut for less than four years and once again expose Arkansas to the abuses of predatory lending. It took nearly 10 years for payday lenders to be driven out of our state. Arkansas does not need to repeat this unfortunate period in our state’s history.
Arkansans already increased the state’s interest rate cap in 2010. If another increase is sought, lenders and others supporting higher-interest loans should be upfront, transparent and seek a specific constitutional amendment to achieve this. The voters and consumers of Arkansas deserve no less.
H.C. “Hank” Klein of North Little Rock is the former president and chief executive officer of the Arkansas Federal Credit Union, an AARP Arkansas Leadership volunteer for financial issues and founder of Arkansans Against Abusive Payday Lending.
Special to The Leader
Arkansas voters in approving Amendment 89 to our state’s Constitution in 2010 voted to voluntarily raise the interest rate charged on consumer loans. Senate Bill 900 would override the will of the voters and, based on recent history, ultimately pave the way for out-of-state lenders to set up shop in Arkansas and roll back hard-won consumer protections.
SB900 provides that interest rates on consumer loans, currently capped at 17 percent annual percentage rate under Amendment 89, would be instead be set “as defined” by the Arkansas General Assembly. A famous quote from Spanish philosopher George Santayana crystallizes the danger posed to consumers by SB900: “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.”
In the case of SB900, remembering the recent past is critically important. From 1999-2009, hundreds of payday lenders operated in Arkansas, flouting our state’s Constitution by charging triple-digit interest rates on loans and ensnaring consumers in long-term debt traps. Payday lenders set up shop in Arkansas thanks to a 1999 state law in which payday loan costs were defined as “fees” instead of interest.
The last payday lender closed its doors in Arkansas in August 2009, following a 2008 Arkansas Supreme Court ruling that threw out the 1999 law, a pro-consumer crackdown by the Arkansas Attorney General Dustin McDaniel and consumer education efforts by the Arkansans Against Abusive Payday Lending coalition, of which AARP Arkansas is a founding member.
Out-of-state lenders during the 2011 legislative session attempted to secure passage of legislation similar to SB900 that would have overridden the interest-rate protections in Amendment 89 and enabled these lenders to set up shop in Arkansas, offering high-interest loans with terms very similar to payday loans. The 2011 legislation allowed add-on fees that increased the effective interest rate paid by consumers. AAAPL, AARP and the Arkansas Attorney General strongly opposed the 2011 legislation and the sponsors withdrew it from consideration.
Amendment 89 increased the maximum lawful rate of interest on consumer loans from a sliding scale to a flat 17 percent interest rate. This increase opened many additional lending opportunities while still protecting the citizens of Arkansas from high-cost predatory loans.
Section 12 of Amendment 89 authorizes the Arkansas General Assembly “by a three-fourths vote of each house” to “amend the provisions of this amendment so long as the amendments are germane to this amendment and consistent with its policy and purposes.”
SB900, backed by some of the same proponents of the 2011 legislation, would be the first step toward giving high-cost lenders a foot in the door, by authorizing the Legislature to “define” interest rates for consumer loans. SB900 as currently drafted states that the loan APR “would not exceed” 17 percent annually.
However, the effective interest rate paid by consumers would all depend on how the Legislature decided to “define” interest. No legislation is necessary to charge up to 17 percent interest on consumer loans, so the only logical reason behind SB900 is to ultimately authorize a higher effective rate, likely through add-on fees. This frankly doesn’t seem very “germane” to the intent of voters who already agreed to raise loan interest rates less than three years ago.
A second bill, which would require only a simple majority to pass, could then authorize the higher effective rate, opening the door for a repeat of Arkansas’ long payday lending nightmare. SB900 includes an “emergency clause” in which it would take effect immediately if adopted, meaning the higher effective rate could be passed during this very same legislative session.
The bottom line for Arkansas consumers is frighteningly simple: SB900 will unlock the door nailed shut for less than four years and once again expose Arkansas to the abuses of predatory lending. It took nearly 10 years for payday lenders to be driven out of our state. Arkansas does not need to repeat this unfortunate period in our state’s history.
Arkansans already increased the state’s interest rate cap in 2010. If another increase is sought, lenders and others supporting higher-interest loans should be upfront, transparent and seek a specific constitutional amendment to achieve this. The voters and consumers of Arkansas deserve no less.
H.C. “Hank” Klein of North Little Rock is the former president and chief executive officer of the Arkansas Federal Credit Union, an AARP Arkansas Leadership volunteer for financial issues and founder of Arkansans Against Abusive Payday Lending.
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