By JEFFREY SMITH
Leader staff writer
Newcomers Charles Hunter and Ross Moore are vying for the Zone 2, Position 1 seat on the Lonoke School Board.
Early voting is from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Tuesday through Monday, Sept. 14. Election Day is Tuesday, Sept. 15, with polls set to be open from 7:30 a.m. until 7:30 p.m. at the Lonoke County Courthouse Annex, 210 N. Center St.
Hunter, 41, has lived in the district for 25 years. He is a senior claims adjuster with Farm Bureau Insurance Company. He has worked for the company for 16 years.
Hunter and his wife, Tiffany, have been married for 11 years. They have two sons.
Charles, 9, is a fourth grader at Lonoke Elementary School. Chase, 5, is a kindergartner at Lonoke Primary School.
Moore, 61, is a lifelong Lonoke resident. He and his wife, Brenda, are both retired educators. They have two married sons, Josh and Jordan. They attended Lonoke Public Schools from kindergarten through graduation.
Moore retired two years ago after 37 years of working in the Lonoke School District.
Moore received his bachelor’s degree from University of Central Arkansas in Conway and his master’s degree in administration from the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville.
What do you think the job of the school board is and are they doing that?
Hunter: I think that the school board’s job is to implement school policy and procedures, ensure that the district’s financials are in line with current policy, review the superintendent’s job performance and to be a voice for the community.
I believe that the current school board has been effective with keeping our school district headed in the right direction.
Moore: The job of any school board is to ensure a quality education for the students who live in the district, to hire and retain quality staff, to be a check and balance on the spending of funds received by the district to run the schools, and ensure policies and procedures are in place to make the district run smoothly.
What do you bring to the school board and to the district?
Hunter: I will bring a willingness to face tough decisions head on and the ability to resolve any issues at hand in a professional and courteous manner.
If elected to the school board, I feel that it will be important for me to go into our schools and get to know the staff and students who ultimately will be affected by the decisions that I help make.
I have a sincere concern for all of the students in our district, and my No. 1 goal will always be to put our children and their education first.
Moore: I bring 37 years of experience as an educator. Thirty-one of those years were spent as a principal in the Lonoke School District. I have worked with principals at each of the schools in our district, with seven superintendents, have made presentations to school boards and attended school board meetings.
I have worked with primary school students, middle school students and high school students. I know and have successfully worked with many of the students, parents and staff members in the Lonoke School District.
These experiences have made me aware of the types of things that must be considered when making decisions that affect students, parents and staff members.
My heart is in Lonoke Public Schools. I would like to be able to contribute more to make our school system the best that it can be and hope the people in Zone 2 will give me the opportunity to do just that.
What are the strengths and weaknesses of the district?
Hunter: The Lonoke School District is making advances in our student’s education by increasing technology in the classroom, providing more choices in educational offerings at the secondary level and making student safety a top concern.
Lonoke has the advantage over larger districts by being community centered, but, in saying that, the district seems to struggle in getting the support from parents of children who are the most at risk.
Moore: The strengths of Lonoke School District are staffs that care about kids, our facilities, our students, good parental/community support and virtual technology.
The weaknesses of Lonoke School District are salaries for classified and certified need to be increased, no one-to-one technology and having to share staff between schools.
On a larger scale, what is right and/or wrong with education today?
Hunter: State testing requirements and uncertainty with how our state will test Common Core has caused a lot of stress on our teachers and administrators. Over-testing as a tool for effective teaching appears to have created what I would call a “gotcha mentality” for both teachers and students instead of improving teaching and thereby improving student success.
Moore: Education presents a myriad of challenges for schools today.
In the Primary School grades, the core areas of reading, writing and math must be stressed. Curriculums for these grades are including science and social studies. This has taken time that teachers need to ensure that students have the reading, writing and math skills necessary to be successful throughout life.
Keeping up with technology is of the utmost importance. This is a challenge for smaller school districts.
Schools must be willing to try new approaches and must constantly look for ways to meet the needs of students. What works well for our students might not work well in another school district.
What are your thoughts on Common Core?
Hunter: When looking at Common Core compared to the old Arkansas state standards, I think that Common Core is the best opportunity our kids have of learning the skills they need to move to the next level, whether that’s the workforce, technical schools or universities.
Common Core will keep our students aligned and competitive with the rest of the country so our children aren’t falling behind and can remain competitive when vying for scholarship and job opportunities.
Moore: Common Core was meant to provide curriculum which would be “common” to all public schools. The math part of Common Core was not ready for implementation.
Too much supplemental material has to be added to ensure the necessary student learning is occurring. Gaps in the math had to be supplemented by teachers we knew were familiar with best practices.
Common Core in the lower grades takes too much time away from reading, writing and math. These three areas must be the main part of the curriculum in the lower grades.
Friday, September 04, 2015
TOP STORY >> Q&A with Lonoke School Board candidates
By JEFFREY SMITH
Leader staff writer
Ahead of the Lonoke School Board election, The Leader asked the candidates about their goals and vision for the school district.
Early voting is from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Tuesday through Monday, Sept. 14. Election Day is Tuesday, Sept. 15, with polls set to be open from 7:30 a.m. until 7:30 p.m. at the Lonoke County Courthouse Annex, 210 N. Center St.
Candidates for Zone 4, Position 5 are Melissa Swint and Matt Boyles. He now represents Zone 2, Position 7, but is running for a new seat because he and his family recently moved.
Boyles, 36, is a lifelong resident of the Lonoke School District.
Boyles was elected to the school board in 2011. He is a GenWealth financial advisor with offices in Lonoke and Stuttgart. Boyles has been in the finance and accounting field for 14 years.
Boyles and his wife, Janette, have been married 13 years. They have three children, Matthew, 9, a third grader at Lonoke Elementary School; Caroline, 6, a first grader at Lonoke Primary School; and Andrew, a 3-year-old.
Swint is 38 and has lived in Zone 4 of the Lonoke School District for more than nine years. She is a stay-at-home mom but works part-time at M and M Florist in Lonoke.
Swint earned an education degree in 2001 from Arkansas State University in Jonesboro. After graduation, she began working at Marvell Public Schools (Phillips County) as a librarian and teacher. She then began working as a family support specialist for the Arkansas Department of Human Services.
What do you think the job of the school board is, and are they doing that?
Boyles: The job of the Lonoke School District school board, in my eyes, is to review the financials of the district to the best of the board’s ability to make sure they are in line with current policy, review the policies of the school district to make sure they are being followed and in line with current laws, review and monitor the strategic plan of the school district to make sure the district is going in the right direction for the education of our community’s children and review the superintendent’s job performance on an annual basis.
Swint: I believe the job of the school board is to use available public funds to ensure that the best public education possible is being provided to all of its students, regardless of their ability or socioeconomic background.
As elected representatives of the community, the school board members should always be accessible and accountable to the public.
What do you bring to the school board and to the district?
Boyles: I believe I bring a passion to the school board for the community of Lonoke. I want to see the children of Lonoke School District strive to be the very best that they can be. I don’t want to ever see them settle for less than their dreams and goals.
I want to equip the students with the resources that they need to have the opportunity to succeed on the highest level. I also believe that, with my education and work background, I bring experience in finance and accounting to the board. This helps bring insight to the board meetings when discussing the monthly financials, future plans, legislative audit, etc.
Swint: I bring a unique point of view. It was developed through interaction with students, parents and school administration during my time as a public school educator, while working with Lonoke County families from all backgrounds during my time at DHS and as I’ve raised my daughter.
Special education is very important to my family and me. Raising a special needs child presents its own challenges. Navigating our district’s special education department shouldn’t be one of them.
What are the strengths and weaknesses of the district?
Boyles: I feel that we have a dedicated and determined administrative team at Lonoke School District to take us to places of the highest achievement with our students in all areas of the district.
I have personally seen the current administration team begin to bond together better than I have in the last four years I have been on the board. I see a desire to educate our children so that they can compete in college or the workplace, whichever they chose upon graduation.
I also believe that we as a board and a community have built the infrastructure of a school that we can be proud of and call a great strength of our community.
I believe our weakness could be that sometimes we don’t communicate with the public as best as we could. I want to encourage the parents and community members of our district to attend the town hall meetings that we will continue to have over this school year and the coming years.
Come out to these meetings and meet your school district’s administration team and get the right information so that you can help inform.
Swint: One of the strengths of our district is our size. We are small enough that students in our classrooms aren’t just a number, but big enough to offer a variety of educational opportunities for our children. Another strength is the district’s strong presence in our community.
However, both of these strengths can present challenges, especially for new or less well-known families in our district. I would like to see these families actively recruited to become involved in our district community.
Our school district needs to focus on what’s best for our students — not the bottom line. Children first!
On a larger scale, what is right and/or wrong with education today?
Boyles: I believe that there is a disconnect with the communities and the local school boards on what can and can’t be done by the school board. I have so often had people comment to me “you can fix that” when the answer is “no, I cannot.” I am no one without the other six members of the board, and, even then, the school board is limited to (its) functions.
Beyond the disconnect between the school board and the community is the disconnect between the federal and state government in what is actually needed in the local school districts to help kids with their education. I believe this to be a major problem with public education today.
Swint: Education standards and practices change frequently. While not always a negative thing, parents and families can sometimes feel lost because they aren’t educated on the changes.
What do you think about Common Core?
Boyles: Common Core in itself is just a way to teach our children. I don’t think there has been enough time to say if it’s wrong or if it’s right, but I can tell you a story about doing homework with my third grader.
Matthew came home with math problems and I expected to go over in repetition with him and get him through his math facts the way I learned it.
He proceeded to tell me that, “Dad, we don’t do it that way.” I thought OK, I have a degree in finance in accounting and you’re telling me I don’t know how to teach you math. The real deal is that they are teaching them to be critical thinkers, not regurgitators. He got the right answer, but he had to reason out how he got the answer.
This is just one example of how Common Core is a little different than the old style of teaching. The real issue seems to be in how we test the kids at the end of the year. If we are teaching critical thinking and the students are behind in factoids, then maybe our test scores suffer.
Again, there is a disconnect with the government on how they decide that we should teach and test. This is where the local school board can inform the public and be their voice.
Swint: I believe it is a good thing to have a set of standards for our educational system to follow.
However, I also believe parts of Common Core need to be re-addressed and better explained in order to be more effective and beneficial to students, teachers and parents.
Leader staff writer
Ahead of the Lonoke School Board election, The Leader asked the candidates about their goals and vision for the school district.
Early voting is from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Tuesday through Monday, Sept. 14. Election Day is Tuesday, Sept. 15, with polls set to be open from 7:30 a.m. until 7:30 p.m. at the Lonoke County Courthouse Annex, 210 N. Center St.
Candidates for Zone 4, Position 5 are Melissa Swint and Matt Boyles. He now represents Zone 2, Position 7, but is running for a new seat because he and his family recently moved.
Boyles, 36, is a lifelong resident of the Lonoke School District.
Boyles was elected to the school board in 2011. He is a GenWealth financial advisor with offices in Lonoke and Stuttgart. Boyles has been in the finance and accounting field for 14 years.
Boyles and his wife, Janette, have been married 13 years. They have three children, Matthew, 9, a third grader at Lonoke Elementary School; Caroline, 6, a first grader at Lonoke Primary School; and Andrew, a 3-year-old.
Swint is 38 and has lived in Zone 4 of the Lonoke School District for more than nine years. She is a stay-at-home mom but works part-time at M and M Florist in Lonoke.
Swint earned an education degree in 2001 from Arkansas State University in Jonesboro. After graduation, she began working at Marvell Public Schools (Phillips County) as a librarian and teacher. She then began working as a family support specialist for the Arkansas Department of Human Services.
What do you think the job of the school board is, and are they doing that?
Boyles: The job of the Lonoke School District school board, in my eyes, is to review the financials of the district to the best of the board’s ability to make sure they are in line with current policy, review the policies of the school district to make sure they are being followed and in line with current laws, review and monitor the strategic plan of the school district to make sure the district is going in the right direction for the education of our community’s children and review the superintendent’s job performance on an annual basis.
Swint: I believe the job of the school board is to use available public funds to ensure that the best public education possible is being provided to all of its students, regardless of their ability or socioeconomic background.
As elected representatives of the community, the school board members should always be accessible and accountable to the public.
What do you bring to the school board and to the district?
Boyles: I believe I bring a passion to the school board for the community of Lonoke. I want to see the children of Lonoke School District strive to be the very best that they can be. I don’t want to ever see them settle for less than their dreams and goals.
I want to equip the students with the resources that they need to have the opportunity to succeed on the highest level. I also believe that, with my education and work background, I bring experience in finance and accounting to the board. This helps bring insight to the board meetings when discussing the monthly financials, future plans, legislative audit, etc.
Swint: I bring a unique point of view. It was developed through interaction with students, parents and school administration during my time as a public school educator, while working with Lonoke County families from all backgrounds during my time at DHS and as I’ve raised my daughter.
Special education is very important to my family and me. Raising a special needs child presents its own challenges. Navigating our district’s special education department shouldn’t be one of them.
What are the strengths and weaknesses of the district?
Boyles: I feel that we have a dedicated and determined administrative team at Lonoke School District to take us to places of the highest achievement with our students in all areas of the district.
I have personally seen the current administration team begin to bond together better than I have in the last four years I have been on the board. I see a desire to educate our children so that they can compete in college or the workplace, whichever they chose upon graduation.
I also believe that we as a board and a community have built the infrastructure of a school that we can be proud of and call a great strength of our community.
I believe our weakness could be that sometimes we don’t communicate with the public as best as we could. I want to encourage the parents and community members of our district to attend the town hall meetings that we will continue to have over this school year and the coming years.
Come out to these meetings and meet your school district’s administration team and get the right information so that you can help inform.
Swint: One of the strengths of our district is our size. We are small enough that students in our classrooms aren’t just a number, but big enough to offer a variety of educational opportunities for our children. Another strength is the district’s strong presence in our community.
However, both of these strengths can present challenges, especially for new or less well-known families in our district. I would like to see these families actively recruited to become involved in our district community.
Our school district needs to focus on what’s best for our students — not the bottom line. Children first!
On a larger scale, what is right and/or wrong with education today?
Boyles: I believe that there is a disconnect with the communities and the local school boards on what can and can’t be done by the school board. I have so often had people comment to me “you can fix that” when the answer is “no, I cannot.” I am no one without the other six members of the board, and, even then, the school board is limited to (its) functions.
Beyond the disconnect between the school board and the community is the disconnect between the federal and state government in what is actually needed in the local school districts to help kids with their education. I believe this to be a major problem with public education today.
Swint: Education standards and practices change frequently. While not always a negative thing, parents and families can sometimes feel lost because they aren’t educated on the changes.
What do you think about Common Core?
Boyles: Common Core in itself is just a way to teach our children. I don’t think there has been enough time to say if it’s wrong or if it’s right, but I can tell you a story about doing homework with my third grader.
Matthew came home with math problems and I expected to go over in repetition with him and get him through his math facts the way I learned it.
He proceeded to tell me that, “Dad, we don’t do it that way.” I thought OK, I have a degree in finance in accounting and you’re telling me I don’t know how to teach you math. The real deal is that they are teaching them to be critical thinkers, not regurgitators. He got the right answer, but he had to reason out how he got the answer.
This is just one example of how Common Core is a little different than the old style of teaching. The real issue seems to be in how we test the kids at the end of the year. If we are teaching critical thinking and the students are behind in factoids, then maybe our test scores suffer.
Again, there is a disconnect with the government on how they decide that we should teach and test. This is where the local school board can inform the public and be their voice.
Swint: I believe it is a good thing to have a set of standards for our educational system to follow.
However, I also believe parts of Common Core need to be re-addressed and better explained in order to be more effective and beneficial to students, teachers and parents.
TOP STORY >> Moore, Reichenbach, Roper for Zone 3
By JOHN HOFHEIMER
Leader senior staff writer
Three men, none on the appointed board, have filed for the Jacksonville-North Pulaski School District Zone 3 seat. One — Barry Roper — is a write-in whose name will not actually appear on the Sept. 15 ballot. Early voting is Tuesday through Monday, Sept. 14.
Jim Moore, 68, has worked as a human resource manager for 26 years in the Air Force, then, after retirement, for two companies, he said. He is currently director of Christian education, including children and youth ministries, for his church.
“I also taught at Beebe in the in-school suspension program,” Moore said. “I made sure they got their lessons and homework.”
Moore said he earned a bachelor’s degree in social psychology at Park University at the Base Joint Education University and also an Air Force degree in human resources management.
He has also served as president of the Stonewall Subdivision Homeowners’ Association since 1995.
Jerry Reichenbach, 72, said he worked in the Title I and Title II programs for the Pulaski County Special School District for 10 years and put all five of his kids through that school system.
Reichenbach retired after 26 years in the Air Force. He has some technical college credits and graduated from Air Force leadership schools.
“I was an aircraft welder and civil engineer,” he said, and performed flight-simulator maintenance with the C-130 School House at Little Rock Air Force Base.
Roper, 57, the write-in, is in his fourth year of substitute teaching. Last year, that took him to seven different high schools and five middle schools in four different school districts.
“I’ve taught everything,” Roper said, including band, choir and AP chemistry.
Roper has a bachelor’s in marketing from the University of Central Arkansas in Conway.
WHY RUNNING
Moore said he’s running because he has two grandchildren in the system, one in middle school and one in elementary school.
“I want to ensure that our children receive a world-class education, which they really need in today’s environment,” Moore said. “I want to make sure we have quality facilities for them to obtain a great education.”
He noted that Pinewood Elementary still had open classrooms, which provide too many distractions for students.He also wants to improve playgrounds by making them safer.
Moore is chairman of the Jacksonville Planning Commission, too.
He continued, “I want to make sure we have quality teachers and that they are paid very well, whether they have five years or 20 years experience.
“I want to work as a team player with the rest of the board members to make sure we do have world-class education and facilities.”
As for the board/superintendent balance, he said the board doesn’t run schools; the superintendent runs schools.
Moore also said he had applied for appointment to the interim board currently making decisions for the district.
Reichenbach says he’s running because “It’s time for new people.”
“Even though I’m past having kids in the system, it’s just time for new blood.” He said he wants to make a difference from the old standbys. “I had experience on how the Title I program worked. None of the others running have that.”
As a board member, Reichenbach said he’d “ensure that we have a quality teaching force” and do not let children fall behind no matter what grade they were in.
He said he worked in the petition drive to get the new district on the ballot and voted for it.
SUBSTITUTE TEACHER
Roper said he had not only worked in several districts over the past four years, but he graduated from Jacksonville High School in 1976 and his wife and children also graduated from PCSSD schools.
“I’ve seen strong points and areas we need to improve upon,” he said. “I’d like for us to be a competitive school district and to help us get stronger where we are weak.”
As a board member, Roper said he’d help the district become more competitive and would encourage buy-in from the community.
He’d like to see speakers in district schools from within the community — successful business people, people from the air base. He’d have them available for all grade levels. “There are positive things in the community,” he said, “We need to publicize good things.”
Roper said it was important for Jacksonville to have its own district. In the past, “We were tied by county regulations and guidelines, everything from teaching math and English to internal rules,” he said. “We’ve been handcuffed. We need to adopt our policies to our community.”
Roper said it was imperative to bring schools up to standards and, “the community needs to understand and buy in. Our facilities are poor in some cases, non existent in others...We need to get them to understand how new and improved schools benefit community in the long run.”
RAISES WHEN POSSIBLE
Roper said he thought salary should be increased for more experienced teachers as money becomes available. The salary schedule that goes into effect next school year tops out at about $55,000 — as much as $20,000 less than the most experienced, educated PCSSD teachers earn.
“We don’t have a lot of the facilities others do,” he said. “All we have to offer is money, but don’t have the resources. Initially, we may not be able to match what they are used to.”
Reichenbach said the Jacksonville area needs its own district and that the proof is in the history — things were done south of the river, new schools and new systems “while Jacksonville continued the old grind.”
He said he’d prefer not to have to pass a property tax increase but “I think it’s going to be needed. Money only goes so far.”
He said he favors the millage increase even though he doesn’t have children in the system.
As for the salary schedule, which shorts the most experienced teachers compared to what they do or would earn at PCSSD, Reichenbach said, “There’s only so much money to pay so many people. The pay is equitable, given the money available.”
SMALLER SCHOOLS BETTER EDUCATION
Moore said that, as a former Air Force recruiter dealing with various high schools, he found that the smaller school districts could create a better education for the students, which helps grow the community.
“People have told me that once we get our (district) up and running, they are going to bring their children back to Jacksonville,” Moore said. That will bring in economic and population growth, he noted.
He said, if the board voted to support a millage increase, he wouldn’t have a problem with that. “We’d have to do that to fund schools properly,” he said. “You can’t do it with fundraisers.” He said a property tax increase is the best way to raise the needed money, along with grants.
REVISIT SALARY SCHEDULE
Moore said the new board would have to revisit the salary schedule after the election, and consider the number of students who would be enrolled in the district and the amount of money from the state.
“If you want quality education, you have to hire and pay teachers. They’ve gone through a lot to get degrees and continuing education. Come February or March, we’ll have a better idea.”
Moore said his experience in various areas, including human resources, makes him the best candidate for the job.
He said there are certain procedures for dealing with “people problems and human resources.” He said his years in the Air Force, dealing with Social Security and working with children, youth and adults at his church, made him best qualified.
He said, as a board member, it would be his responsibility to support the superintendent and assistant superintendent.
SUPERINTENDENT IS BOSS
Reichenbach said he’d be an interested board member. “The board is the advisor to the superintendent,” he said. “He’s the CEO, the man at the top. He makes decisions depending on input from his board.”
Roper said he liked the way the board is set up now, with five zones and two at-large positions. “It needs to be fluid,” he said. “Reviewed every year.”
“Nobody on the board now has been in as many classrooms, schools and districts as I,” said Roper. “I see what’s important and what’s window dressing,” he said, adding that he had worked in sales for 31 years and understood setting, planning and attaining goals.
He said he was “Very comfortable with (Tony Wood) the superintendent we hired. He’s more than competent, his heart’s in the right place, and he has the best interest in the school and the schools’ place in the community.”
As the write-in candidate, “My name will not appear in the ballot,” Roper said. “It will be listed among candidates on the information page.”
That’s because he didn’t decide to run until the last minute. “I haven’t run for anything since high school,” he said, but “It’s important enough to try anyway.”
Leader senior staff writer
Three men, none on the appointed board, have filed for the Jacksonville-North Pulaski School District Zone 3 seat. One — Barry Roper — is a write-in whose name will not actually appear on the Sept. 15 ballot. Early voting is Tuesday through Monday, Sept. 14.
Jim Moore, 68, has worked as a human resource manager for 26 years in the Air Force, then, after retirement, for two companies, he said. He is currently director of Christian education, including children and youth ministries, for his church.
“I also taught at Beebe in the in-school suspension program,” Moore said. “I made sure they got their lessons and homework.”
Moore said he earned a bachelor’s degree in social psychology at Park University at the Base Joint Education University and also an Air Force degree in human resources management.
He has also served as president of the Stonewall Subdivision Homeowners’ Association since 1995.
Jerry Reichenbach, 72, said he worked in the Title I and Title II programs for the Pulaski County Special School District for 10 years and put all five of his kids through that school system.
Reichenbach retired after 26 years in the Air Force. He has some technical college credits and graduated from Air Force leadership schools.
“I was an aircraft welder and civil engineer,” he said, and performed flight-simulator maintenance with the C-130 School House at Little Rock Air Force Base.
Roper, 57, the write-in, is in his fourth year of substitute teaching. Last year, that took him to seven different high schools and five middle schools in four different school districts.
“I’ve taught everything,” Roper said, including band, choir and AP chemistry.
Roper has a bachelor’s in marketing from the University of Central Arkansas in Conway.
WHY RUNNING
Moore said he’s running because he has two grandchildren in the system, one in middle school and one in elementary school.
“I want to ensure that our children receive a world-class education, which they really need in today’s environment,” Moore said. “I want to make sure we have quality facilities for them to obtain a great education.”
He noted that Pinewood Elementary still had open classrooms, which provide too many distractions for students.He also wants to improve playgrounds by making them safer.
Moore is chairman of the Jacksonville Planning Commission, too.
He continued, “I want to make sure we have quality teachers and that they are paid very well, whether they have five years or 20 years experience.
“I want to work as a team player with the rest of the board members to make sure we do have world-class education and facilities.”
As for the board/superintendent balance, he said the board doesn’t run schools; the superintendent runs schools.
Moore also said he had applied for appointment to the interim board currently making decisions for the district.
Reichenbach says he’s running because “It’s time for new people.”
“Even though I’m past having kids in the system, it’s just time for new blood.” He said he wants to make a difference from the old standbys. “I had experience on how the Title I program worked. None of the others running have that.”
As a board member, Reichenbach said he’d “ensure that we have a quality teaching force” and do not let children fall behind no matter what grade they were in.
He said he worked in the petition drive to get the new district on the ballot and voted for it.
SUBSTITUTE TEACHER
Roper said he had not only worked in several districts over the past four years, but he graduated from Jacksonville High School in 1976 and his wife and children also graduated from PCSSD schools.
“I’ve seen strong points and areas we need to improve upon,” he said. “I’d like for us to be a competitive school district and to help us get stronger where we are weak.”
As a board member, Roper said he’d help the district become more competitive and would encourage buy-in from the community.
He’d like to see speakers in district schools from within the community — successful business people, people from the air base. He’d have them available for all grade levels. “There are positive things in the community,” he said, “We need to publicize good things.”
Roper said it was important for Jacksonville to have its own district. In the past, “We were tied by county regulations and guidelines, everything from teaching math and English to internal rules,” he said. “We’ve been handcuffed. We need to adopt our policies to our community.”
Roper said it was imperative to bring schools up to standards and, “the community needs to understand and buy in. Our facilities are poor in some cases, non existent in others...We need to get them to understand how new and improved schools benefit community in the long run.”
RAISES WHEN POSSIBLE
Roper said he thought salary should be increased for more experienced teachers as money becomes available. The salary schedule that goes into effect next school year tops out at about $55,000 — as much as $20,000 less than the most experienced, educated PCSSD teachers earn.
“We don’t have a lot of the facilities others do,” he said. “All we have to offer is money, but don’t have the resources. Initially, we may not be able to match what they are used to.”
Reichenbach said the Jacksonville area needs its own district and that the proof is in the history — things were done south of the river, new schools and new systems “while Jacksonville continued the old grind.”
He said he’d prefer not to have to pass a property tax increase but “I think it’s going to be needed. Money only goes so far.”
He said he favors the millage increase even though he doesn’t have children in the system.
As for the salary schedule, which shorts the most experienced teachers compared to what they do or would earn at PCSSD, Reichenbach said, “There’s only so much money to pay so many people. The pay is equitable, given the money available.”
SMALLER SCHOOLS BETTER EDUCATION
Moore said that, as a former Air Force recruiter dealing with various high schools, he found that the smaller school districts could create a better education for the students, which helps grow the community.
“People have told me that once we get our (district) up and running, they are going to bring their children back to Jacksonville,” Moore said. That will bring in economic and population growth, he noted.
He said, if the board voted to support a millage increase, he wouldn’t have a problem with that. “We’d have to do that to fund schools properly,” he said. “You can’t do it with fundraisers.” He said a property tax increase is the best way to raise the needed money, along with grants.
REVISIT SALARY SCHEDULE
Moore said the new board would have to revisit the salary schedule after the election, and consider the number of students who would be enrolled in the district and the amount of money from the state.
“If you want quality education, you have to hire and pay teachers. They’ve gone through a lot to get degrees and continuing education. Come February or March, we’ll have a better idea.”
Moore said his experience in various areas, including human resources, makes him the best candidate for the job.
He said there are certain procedures for dealing with “people problems and human resources.” He said his years in the Air Force, dealing with Social Security and working with children, youth and adults at his church, made him best qualified.
He said, as a board member, it would be his responsibility to support the superintendent and assistant superintendent.
SUPERINTENDENT IS BOSS
Reichenbach said he’d be an interested board member. “The board is the advisor to the superintendent,” he said. “He’s the CEO, the man at the top. He makes decisions depending on input from his board.”
Roper said he liked the way the board is set up now, with five zones and two at-large positions. “It needs to be fluid,” he said. “Reviewed every year.”
“Nobody on the board now has been in as many classrooms, schools and districts as I,” said Roper. “I see what’s important and what’s window dressing,” he said, adding that he had worked in sales for 31 years and understood setting, planning and attaining goals.
He said he was “Very comfortable with (Tony Wood) the superintendent we hired. He’s more than competent, his heart’s in the right place, and he has the best interest in the school and the schools’ place in the community.”
As the write-in candidate, “My name will not appear in the ballot,” Roper said. “It will be listed among candidates on the information page.”
That’s because he didn’t decide to run until the last minute. “I haven’t run for anything since high school,” he said, but “It’s important enough to try anyway.”
TOP STORY >> Lucille: mystery woman solved
Leader editor-in-chief
A marker at the Twist Plantation in Cross County commemorates a fire that broke out during a fight at a dance hall where B.B. King was playing with his band.
The fire started when two men fought over a woman and knocked over a barrel filled with kerosene that was used to heat the club.
The marker says King played there in the mid-1950s, but blues historians agree he was there several years earlier, before King became a star and still played in tiny juke joints not far from his home base in Memphis.
Now a Jacksonville woman confirms the incident occurred in December 1949, and it involved her in-laws — a jealous husband and his wife, Lucille, who was dancing with another man while her husband was gambling in the back of the club.
Maye Alice Banks, who recently moved to Jacksonville, says she’s sure Lucille Banks, her late mother-in-law from Helena, is the real Lucille.
Maye has the details on how the fight broke out between Lucille’s husband and the man who had asked her to dance with him.
“She was a beautiful lady,” her daughter-in-law recalled. “A mix of Indian and black.”
“I married her son, James, in 1974,” says Maye, who lives a few blocks from The Leader. “She told me the story when I married into the family.”
King, who died last May in Las Vegas at the age of 89, told the story many times in his long career of how he saved his guitar from the burning club in Twist and named it after Lucille.
He was never certain about Lucille’s last name, although several women over the years claimed they were Lucille.
Maye shows me a picture of her young mother-in-law, who was born in 1911 in Fordyce in south Arkansas: Lucille is well-dressed, with a hint of a Mona Lisa smile. She was more than a mix of black and Indian: She also had European features that would attract the attention of a lot of men out in the desolate Arkansas Delta.
Lucille was a light-skinned woman who looked a lot like Lena Horne, the singer and actress. Lucille could have been an actress or a black model if she had ever moved to the big city, but she never did.
“She was a homemaker and worked on the farm. She was also a midwife,” Maye says. “She worked hard to support her family.”
The Banks were living in Helena, but Henry was from Palestine in St. Francis County, which is the next county over from Twist. If the Banks were visiting his folks in Palestine that December, it would have been a short trip to Twist.
Lucille was 37 when the fight broke out. She and her husband went to Twist to hear good music, but it was also a chance for Henry to do a little gambling.
You could always gamble in juke joints like the one in Twist, and Lucille’s husband liked to gamble.
“Henry was gambling in the back,” Maye says, “when a man asked her to dance.”
Trouble started when someone told Henry that Lucille was on the dance floor with another man.
People out in the country liked to have a good time on Saturday night, and an innocent dance with a man maybe wasn’t a big deal to Lucille while her husband was shooting craps away from the ladies.
But it was a big deal to Henry. You could see why two men — a jealous husband and a fellow who was struck by her beauty — fought for her affections that night while B.B. King, all of 24, was working on becoming the greatest blues star in history.
Henry lunged at the other guy and they knocked over the barrel of burning kerosene.
Here’s King telling the story of that fight on his CD called “Lucille,” which he recorded in December 1967. It’s a 10-minute monologue as he gently plays his wailing guitar. You can almost see darkness fall on Twist as he tells the story of the fight.
“A lot of you want to know why I call my guitar Lucille,” King says. “Lucille practically saved my life two or three times. No kidding, it really has.
“The way I came by the name of Lucille, I was over in Twist, Arkansas,” King continues. “I know you never heard of that. And one night, the guys started brawling, you know what I mean. The guy that was mad at his old lady fell over on this gas tank that was burning for heat and the gas ran all over the floor, and when the gas ran all over the floor, the building caught on fire, and it almost burned me up trying to save Lucille,” King says.
“Oh, I imagine you’re still wondering why I call it Lucille. The lady that started the brawl that night was named Lucille. That’s been Lucille ever since to me,” says King and asks the studio engineer to let him play his beloved Lucille for another minute, which he does beautifully.
“Everyone dashed out of the burning building,” the marker at Twist says, “but King returned to find his guitar, narrowly escaping the flames. He later learned the fight resulted from a dispute over a woman named Lucille. Ever since, each of his Gibson guitars has been named Lucille as a reminder that he should never fight over a woman.”
And never go back inside a burning building, King said later. He was lucky to get out alive after he retrieved his $30 Gibson acoustic guitar before the place burned down. Two people may have died in the conflagration.
All that remains of the club is a concrete foundation where farm workers danced to the music of the future blues star, who traveled with his beloved Lucille for the next 65 years.
Lucille Banks passed away in February 2004 in Decatur, Ill., at the age of 92. She’s buried in Lexa near Helena.
She gets my vote as the Lucille who inspired B.B. King’s music and changed history forever.
Tuesday, September 01, 2015
SPORTS STORY >> Hogs shuffle linebackers before UTEP
By NATE ALLEN
Special to The Leader
FAYETTEVILLE – One surprise emerged from the Arkansas Razorbacks’ closed practices last week, unveiled on the depth chart released Monday for Saturday’s season opener against the Texas-El Paso Miners.
Junior Josh Williams, previously listed as the starting strongside Sam linebacker, a position in coordinator Robb Smith’s Arkansas defense often swapped for an extra defensive back against Spread offenses, will start at Mike middle linebacker in Saturday’s 2:30 p.m. ESPNU televised nonconference game at Reynolds Razorback Stadium.
Arkansas Coach Bret Bielema explained the move Monday noting that Khalia Hackett, the sophomore moved from Sam to first-team Mike last spring but falling behind sophomore Josh Harris at Mike during the August preseason, moves to first-team Sam while Harris backs up Williams in the middle.
Junior Brooks Ellis, the starting middle linebacker the last two years, remains the starting weak side Will linebacker, the spot from which Martrell Spaight, the 2014 Arkansas senior and current Washington Redskins linebacker, led the SEC in tackles last season.
True freshman Dre Greenlaw backs up fellow Fayetteville High grad Ellis at Will while sophomore Dwayne Eugene backs up Hackett at Sam.
Williams was the too large backup middle linebacker to Ellis last year upon transferring as a sophomore from Dodge City (Kan.) Community College.
“I had kind of pigeon holed Josh Williams into the LB that we got when we had signed him originally as a kid that had put on 35 pounds in his freshman year at JC came in and moved OK but didn’t move great, was really bulky and needed some flexibility,” Bielema said. “Now he is a guy who is really explosive, I think if you remember back to that first scrimmage he made a play down on the goal line that was pretty impressive kind of opened our eyes again as how much progress he’s made as an athlete.”
Defensive coordinator Smith was asked about that goal-line play.
“There was a play on the goal line where we actually lined him up at Mike linebacker,” Smith said. “He did a great job of keying and diagnosing what was going on. The ball broke out to the perimeter and it was … he looked like he was shot out of a cannon.”
UTEP, led by 1,321-yards rushing running back Aaron Jones, is a physical running team making Williams’ 6-1, 237 physicality “a great fit in the middle,” Smith said, and should require much Sam ‘backer time for Hackett.
A high school safety two years ago in Douglasville, Ga., Hackett apprenticed at outside linebacker last season while lettering on special teams. He was moved to the middle last spring.
Bielema said Hackett’s move to the middle was to capitalize on his athleticism. He’ll still be used in the middle at times but that “as we began to see it unfold he was a lot more comfortable outside,” Bielema said.
At only 5-10, 220, Josh Harris’ lack of height defending passes in the middle concerns Bielema, Smith and linebackers coach Willie Hargreaves, but there’s no denying that the second-team walk-on redshirt freshman from Watson Chapel either led or was among the leaders in tackles every spring scrimmage and the spring game and the two August scrimmages.
Harris has not been lost in the linebacker shuffle, Smith said.
“Josh Harris is going to play some Mike linebacker for us this Saturday,” Smith said. “He does an excellent job in a two-back setting. He’s smart and very instinctive. As coaches it is our job to put guys in the best position to be successful and we are certainly going to try to do that with Josh this weekend.”
In part of earning his way back on the team after being suspended by Bielema last spring and not reinstated until into the summer, redshirt freshman receiver Jojo Robinson will miss the first half of Saturday’s game against UTEP, Bielema said Monday.
Bielema said that penalty was decided before and kept intact even with Robinson posting an impressive August preseason.
Offensive coordinator Dan Enos on Monday replied “hopefully very hungry” regarding a question on Robinson’s hunger to play in Saturday’s second half.
“To lose some opportunities based off of poor decisions, I mean you really have no one but yourself to blame for that,” Enos said. “Really, if I was him I would be chomping at the bit to get out there just to play and starting to put some plays together and starting to earn more time and earn more opportunities.”
Because of “pretty boneheaded mistakes,” Bielema said, leading alcohol related arrests last weekend, freshman tight end C.J. O’Grady and freshman punter Blake Johnson are “removed from our program until we kind of set some things in motion for them to take part with the things the University does and the things I’ll mandate them to do as well.”
Special to The Leader
FAYETTEVILLE – One surprise emerged from the Arkansas Razorbacks’ closed practices last week, unveiled on the depth chart released Monday for Saturday’s season opener against the Texas-El Paso Miners.
Junior Josh Williams, previously listed as the starting strongside Sam linebacker, a position in coordinator Robb Smith’s Arkansas defense often swapped for an extra defensive back against Spread offenses, will start at Mike middle linebacker in Saturday’s 2:30 p.m. ESPNU televised nonconference game at Reynolds Razorback Stadium.
Arkansas Coach Bret Bielema explained the move Monday noting that Khalia Hackett, the sophomore moved from Sam to first-team Mike last spring but falling behind sophomore Josh Harris at Mike during the August preseason, moves to first-team Sam while Harris backs up Williams in the middle.
Junior Brooks Ellis, the starting middle linebacker the last two years, remains the starting weak side Will linebacker, the spot from which Martrell Spaight, the 2014 Arkansas senior and current Washington Redskins linebacker, led the SEC in tackles last season.
True freshman Dre Greenlaw backs up fellow Fayetteville High grad Ellis at Will while sophomore Dwayne Eugene backs up Hackett at Sam.
Williams was the too large backup middle linebacker to Ellis last year upon transferring as a sophomore from Dodge City (Kan.) Community College.
“I had kind of pigeon holed Josh Williams into the LB that we got when we had signed him originally as a kid that had put on 35 pounds in his freshman year at JC came in and moved OK but didn’t move great, was really bulky and needed some flexibility,” Bielema said. “Now he is a guy who is really explosive, I think if you remember back to that first scrimmage he made a play down on the goal line that was pretty impressive kind of opened our eyes again as how much progress he’s made as an athlete.”
Defensive coordinator Smith was asked about that goal-line play.
“There was a play on the goal line where we actually lined him up at Mike linebacker,” Smith said. “He did a great job of keying and diagnosing what was going on. The ball broke out to the perimeter and it was … he looked like he was shot out of a cannon.”
UTEP, led by 1,321-yards rushing running back Aaron Jones, is a physical running team making Williams’ 6-1, 237 physicality “a great fit in the middle,” Smith said, and should require much Sam ‘backer time for Hackett.
A high school safety two years ago in Douglasville, Ga., Hackett apprenticed at outside linebacker last season while lettering on special teams. He was moved to the middle last spring.
Bielema said Hackett’s move to the middle was to capitalize on his athleticism. He’ll still be used in the middle at times but that “as we began to see it unfold he was a lot more comfortable outside,” Bielema said.
At only 5-10, 220, Josh Harris’ lack of height defending passes in the middle concerns Bielema, Smith and linebackers coach Willie Hargreaves, but there’s no denying that the second-team walk-on redshirt freshman from Watson Chapel either led or was among the leaders in tackles every spring scrimmage and the spring game and the two August scrimmages.
Harris has not been lost in the linebacker shuffle, Smith said.
“Josh Harris is going to play some Mike linebacker for us this Saturday,” Smith said. “He does an excellent job in a two-back setting. He’s smart and very instinctive. As coaches it is our job to put guys in the best position to be successful and we are certainly going to try to do that with Josh this weekend.”
In part of earning his way back on the team after being suspended by Bielema last spring and not reinstated until into the summer, redshirt freshman receiver Jojo Robinson will miss the first half of Saturday’s game against UTEP, Bielema said Monday.
Bielema said that penalty was decided before and kept intact even with Robinson posting an impressive August preseason.
Offensive coordinator Dan Enos on Monday replied “hopefully very hungry” regarding a question on Robinson’s hunger to play in Saturday’s second half.
“To lose some opportunities based off of poor decisions, I mean you really have no one but yourself to blame for that,” Enos said. “Really, if I was him I would be chomping at the bit to get out there just to play and starting to put some plays together and starting to earn more time and earn more opportunities.”
Because of “pretty boneheaded mistakes,” Bielema said, leading alcohol related arrests last weekend, freshman tight end C.J. O’Grady and freshman punter Blake Johnson are “removed from our program until we kind of set some things in motion for them to take part with the things the University does and the things I’ll mandate them to do as well.”
SPORTS STORY >> Lady Devil volleyball gets sweep of Patriots
By GRAHAM POWELL
Leader sportswriter
After a fairly close first game, the Jacksonville High School volleyball team went on to comfortably sweep Little Rock Parkview in Monday’s nonconference match at the Devils’ Den by scores of 25-20, 25-8 and 25-15.
The final score of game one ended up being closer than the game itself actually was. Jacksonville jumped out to a 13-6 lead to start. Parkview closed the gap to 15-12 at one point, but that was as close as the Lady Patriots would get the rest of the way.
Jacksonville hit the 20-point mark in the first game on a well-placed tip by Emily Lovercheck, which made the score 20-13. The Lady Patriots made it to 20 points just before the Lady Red Devils got to 25, with the score 24-20, but the hosts ended the game the next volley on a kill by Alana Harris.
In game two, Jacksonville got off to an even better start. Lovercheck served the team to a 6-1 lead, and the Lady Devils pushed their lead to double digits for the first time at 15-5 on a kill by Terionna Stewart.
From there, Jacksonville coasted to victory by outscoring Parkview 10-3 down the stretch, which set the final score of game two and allowed the Lady Red Devils to take a 2-0 lead in the match.
“It took the girls a while to warm up,” said Jacksonville coach Whitney Abdullah. “That’s been our problem lately. They have to kind of get acclimated to the game, but once they wake up and concentrate, they really can do anything. They’ve worked hard all summer and they showed it tonight.”
Lovercheck started game three at the serving line, and she served consecutive aces before Parkview broke serve. The Lady Red Devils led 4-1, but the Lady Pats scored the next three points to tie the game at 4-4.
Jacksonville responded with a 9-1 run to gain a 13-5 advantage, forcing Parkview coach Lahoma Howard to call timeout. In that 9-1 run, Jacksonville had three ace serves by Kym House and two by Rebecca Brown.
The Lady Red Devils took a nine-point lead, 18-9, on an ace by Lovercheck, and shortly after, the hosts took a double-digit lead at 20-10. Parkview scored the next point, but Jacksonville scored again to push its lead back to 10.
Jacksonville’s lead grew to 11 on a corner kill by Brown. Lovercheck picked up an assist on that volley, which made the score 23-12. Brown set up game point with an ace on the next serve, but Parkview scored the next three points to make it a 24-15 game.
Stewart, though, ended the game and the match on the next volley with a kill at the middle of the net, set up by Lovercheck, who earned another assist. Making the right set and attacking at the net is something Jacksonville did well Monday, and it’s something the team’s been working hard on since summer.
“That’s something we hit hard this summer,” Abdullah said. “We broke down everything and really started from scratch. The girls have really stepped up to the plate and have really put the groundwork in and have really worked hard.”
Stewart and Brown led all players Monday with six kills. Brown also had a match-high five aces. Lovercheck had a match-high eight assists to go with her four aces. House also had four aces.
With Monday’s win, Jacksonville improved its record to 2-5 this season.
Leader sportswriter
After a fairly close first game, the Jacksonville High School volleyball team went on to comfortably sweep Little Rock Parkview in Monday’s nonconference match at the Devils’ Den by scores of 25-20, 25-8 and 25-15.
The final score of game one ended up being closer than the game itself actually was. Jacksonville jumped out to a 13-6 lead to start. Parkview closed the gap to 15-12 at one point, but that was as close as the Lady Patriots would get the rest of the way.
Jacksonville hit the 20-point mark in the first game on a well-placed tip by Emily Lovercheck, which made the score 20-13. The Lady Patriots made it to 20 points just before the Lady Red Devils got to 25, with the score 24-20, but the hosts ended the game the next volley on a kill by Alana Harris.
In game two, Jacksonville got off to an even better start. Lovercheck served the team to a 6-1 lead, and the Lady Devils pushed their lead to double digits for the first time at 15-5 on a kill by Terionna Stewart.
From there, Jacksonville coasted to victory by outscoring Parkview 10-3 down the stretch, which set the final score of game two and allowed the Lady Red Devils to take a 2-0 lead in the match.
“It took the girls a while to warm up,” said Jacksonville coach Whitney Abdullah. “That’s been our problem lately. They have to kind of get acclimated to the game, but once they wake up and concentrate, they really can do anything. They’ve worked hard all summer and they showed it tonight.”
Lovercheck started game three at the serving line, and she served consecutive aces before Parkview broke serve. The Lady Red Devils led 4-1, but the Lady Pats scored the next three points to tie the game at 4-4.
Jacksonville responded with a 9-1 run to gain a 13-5 advantage, forcing Parkview coach Lahoma Howard to call timeout. In that 9-1 run, Jacksonville had three ace serves by Kym House and two by Rebecca Brown.
The Lady Red Devils took a nine-point lead, 18-9, on an ace by Lovercheck, and shortly after, the hosts took a double-digit lead at 20-10. Parkview scored the next point, but Jacksonville scored again to push its lead back to 10.
Jacksonville’s lead grew to 11 on a corner kill by Brown. Lovercheck picked up an assist on that volley, which made the score 23-12. Brown set up game point with an ace on the next serve, but Parkview scored the next three points to make it a 24-15 game.
Stewart, though, ended the game and the match on the next volley with a kill at the middle of the net, set up by Lovercheck, who earned another assist. Making the right set and attacking at the net is something Jacksonville did well Monday, and it’s something the team’s been working hard on since summer.
“That’s something we hit hard this summer,” Abdullah said. “We broke down everything and really started from scratch. The girls have really stepped up to the plate and have really put the groundwork in and have really worked hard.”
Stewart and Brown led all players Monday with six kills. Brown also had a match-high five aces. Lovercheck had a match-high eight assists to go with her four aces. House also had four aces.
With Monday’s win, Jacksonville improved its record to 2-5 this season.
SPORTS STORY >> Cabot plays best match at Spikefest
By RAY BENTON
Leader sports editor
The Cabot Lady Panthers and the Beebe Lady Badgers played well enough in pool play of Saturday’s Spikefest Volleyball Classic to advance to the Gold level bracket, but both lost their first-round matches in the highest of the four eight-team tournaments.
The Lady Panthers played their pool at the Little Rock Christian auxiliary gym with Springdale and KIPP Delta. Little Rock McClellan was supposed to be in the pool but failed to show up. That meant each team got a forfeit win, and the other games were changed to three sets instead of the pre-established two, primarily to make up for the loss of games for the other three members of the pool.
Cabot opened against 7A-West Springdale and lost 2-1 to the Lady Bulldogs. Springdale won a competitive opening game 25-19 before Cabot rallied from a 19-10 deficit to win game two 25-22.
Things went poorly from that point for Cabot, as Springdale raced out to a 10-1 lead en route to an easy 25-12 deciding set.
Cabot beat Class 2A KIPP Delta, a charter school in Helena-West Helena, in three uncompetitive games. But the win wasn’t all good news. Junior outside hitter Maddie Brown tore her shoulder during the match and will likely be out until at least the middle of next week.
Cabot drew Conway, winner of its pool, in the opening round of the gold bracket, and lost 25-22 and 25-23.
“We didn’t beat Conway, but I thought that was the best volleyball we’ve played so far this year,” said Cabot coach Kham Chanthaphasouk. “Considering we didn’t have one of our returning starters, I was pretty pleased with how we finished. We battled with them the whole way.”
The second-year Cabot coach was trying to win, but also using the tournament to get an idea about the best lineups to use for conference play, which began this week.
“We were trying to get some stats compiled on everyone and giving everyone plenty of time to see who was going to be the most consistent while they’re out there,” Chanthaphasouk said. “We got to play six games in pool play and were able to go over some things. We stuck with a lineup most of the way against Conway and I think we found a group that did pretty well. We established our starting lineup today (Monday) and that’s what we’ll go with. Hopefully everyone will accept their roles and we’ll continue to get better as a team and individually.”
The Lady Badgers, playing in LRCA’s main gym, lost their first match to 7A North Little Rock 2-0. Beebe led until late in game one before falling 25-22. The Charging Lady Wildcats won game two a bit more easily 25-19. Beebe then hammered 5A-South Magnolia 25-16 and 25-8, then beat 5A-West Greenbrier in straight sets.
That advanced Beebe to face pool winner Bryant. Beebe won game one 25-19, but lost game two 25-22 and the deciding game three 25-19 to end its day.
Bryant went on to the semifinals, where it lost to the Little Rock Homeschool Flames. The other semifinal saw Valley View roll past Little Rock Christian Academy. The Lady Blazers then went on to beat the Homeschool team 2-0 to earn their second-consecutive Spikefest championship.
Leader sports editor
The Cabot Lady Panthers and the Beebe Lady Badgers played well enough in pool play of Saturday’s Spikefest Volleyball Classic to advance to the Gold level bracket, but both lost their first-round matches in the highest of the four eight-team tournaments.
The Lady Panthers played their pool at the Little Rock Christian auxiliary gym with Springdale and KIPP Delta. Little Rock McClellan was supposed to be in the pool but failed to show up. That meant each team got a forfeit win, and the other games were changed to three sets instead of the pre-established two, primarily to make up for the loss of games for the other three members of the pool.
Cabot opened against 7A-West Springdale and lost 2-1 to the Lady Bulldogs. Springdale won a competitive opening game 25-19 before Cabot rallied from a 19-10 deficit to win game two 25-22.
Things went poorly from that point for Cabot, as Springdale raced out to a 10-1 lead en route to an easy 25-12 deciding set.
Cabot beat Class 2A KIPP Delta, a charter school in Helena-West Helena, in three uncompetitive games. But the win wasn’t all good news. Junior outside hitter Maddie Brown tore her shoulder during the match and will likely be out until at least the middle of next week.
Cabot drew Conway, winner of its pool, in the opening round of the gold bracket, and lost 25-22 and 25-23.
“We didn’t beat Conway, but I thought that was the best volleyball we’ve played so far this year,” said Cabot coach Kham Chanthaphasouk. “Considering we didn’t have one of our returning starters, I was pretty pleased with how we finished. We battled with them the whole way.”
The second-year Cabot coach was trying to win, but also using the tournament to get an idea about the best lineups to use for conference play, which began this week.
“We were trying to get some stats compiled on everyone and giving everyone plenty of time to see who was going to be the most consistent while they’re out there,” Chanthaphasouk said. “We got to play six games in pool play and were able to go over some things. We stuck with a lineup most of the way against Conway and I think we found a group that did pretty well. We established our starting lineup today (Monday) and that’s what we’ll go with. Hopefully everyone will accept their roles and we’ll continue to get better as a team and individually.”
The Lady Badgers, playing in LRCA’s main gym, lost their first match to 7A North Little Rock 2-0. Beebe led until late in game one before falling 25-22. The Charging Lady Wildcats won game two a bit more easily 25-19. Beebe then hammered 5A-South Magnolia 25-16 and 25-8, then beat 5A-West Greenbrier in straight sets.
That advanced Beebe to face pool winner Bryant. Beebe won game one 25-19, but lost game two 25-22 and the deciding game three 25-19 to end its day.
Bryant went on to the semifinals, where it lost to the Little Rock Homeschool Flames. The other semifinal saw Valley View roll past Little Rock Christian Academy. The Lady Blazers then went on to beat the Homeschool team 2-0 to earn their second-consecutive Spikefest championship.
SPORTS STORY >> Bears put offensive doubts to rest
By RAY BENTON
Leader sports editor
Preseason concerns about a brand new offensive line were emphatically put to rest for Sylvan Hills on Monday. The Bears racked up a school record 657 yards of offense en route to a 62-28 blowout of Vilonia in the 103.7 The Buzz Kickoff Classic at War Memorial Stadium.
The Bears scored the first six times they had the ball, moving the football effortlessly against the Eagles’ defense. And they did it on the ground and through the air. Sylvan Hills provided a minor surprise by lining up with an empty backfield and five wide on the first play.
Quarterback Jordan Washington stood firm in the pocket in the face of an unblocked blitzer to deliver a 16-yard strike to Cameron Sharp for a first down.
Two plays later he kept for a 22-yard gain up the middle to set up first down at the Vilonia 27. After another first down, Sylvan Hills went backwards with a 3-yard loss and two incomplete passes. On fourth and 13, another pass play broke down, but Washington scrambled for the necessary yardage to set up first and goal at the 2.
Sophomore Ty Compton plunged it in from there, becoming the first of four sophomores to score touchdowns for the Bears in the first half.
“I told you early this summer that I liked our skill guys,” said Sylvan Hills coach Jim Withrow. “We’ve got some playmakers. The offensive line was a concern, but I think it’s a matter of these guys staying with the program and getting better every year. We’re not young up front, but we’re inexperienced. Those guys did a great job tonight.”
Vilonia managed two first downs before failing on fourth and 7 to give the Bears possession on their own 20. On third and 6, Washington hit sophomore receiver Ryan Lumpkin streaking down the right sideline for a 76-yard touchdown connection with 6:03 left in the first quarter. Tito Mendoza’s second extra point attempt was good, giving the Bears a 13-0 lead. Vilonia started at its own 24 and ran 12 plays down to the Bears’ 23, but another failed fourth-down conversion turned the ball over there.
Sylvan Hills sophomore Dion Youngblood busted loose up the middle for 51 yards on the first play of the drive, and got 11 more on the second play. Compton picked up 8 before Washington kept for the last 10 and another touchdown that made it 20-0 with 1:04 left in the first quarter.
The Eagles once again ran 10 plays to within the Sylvan Hills 30, but again turned the ball over on downs when quarterback Ty Gordon’s shotgun keeper picked up 2 yards on fourth and 3.
On the very next play, Washington connected with senior Brandon Bracely for 68 yards to the Vilonia 7-yard line. Two plays later, Youngblood bulled his way 5 yards into the end zone for a 27-0 lead with 9:33 remaining in the first half.
Vilonia went three and out on its next possession and punted. Sylvan Hills then went 63 yards in seven plays, highlighted by a 20-yard run by Youngblood to set up first and goal at the 1. Sophomore Daelyn Fairrow did the rest and a successful two-point conversion made it a mercy-rule margin of 35-0 with 5:33 left in the half.
But the mercy rule would never happen.
Vilonia faced third and 12 when Gordon found receiver Josh Greer well behind his man for a 52-yard touchdown pass with 3:21 left in the half.
Despite the time left, each team would get two more possessions as those final three minutes took 33 minutes to play.
Sylvan Hills went for it on fourth and 1 from its own 34 and lost a yard, but Vilonia also went four and out, giving it back to the Bears at the 34. After an illegal procedure penalty, Sylvan Hills caught a huge break.
Washington hit Lumpkin over the middle. He gained about 10 more yards after the catch before fumbling at the Vilonia 35-yard line. But the ball bounced straight to Bracely, who scooped it up and ran the rest of the way for the score. Mendoza’s extra point made it 42-7 with 47 seconds remaining in the first half.
But there would still be no mercy rule, thanks mostly to Sylvan Hills penalties. Vilonia went 70 yards in 10 plays, but 40 of those yards were the result of two unsportsmanlike conduct penalties and one pass interference against the Bears. Vilonia scored on the last play of the half to keep the mercy rule clock from running to start the second half.
“There are going to be things, when we watch film, that we should have done better,” Withrow said. “And that’s something right there. When you have a team mercy ruled, you need to go ahead and mercy rule them. They came real close to getting right back in it in the second half.”
Defenses dominated the third quarter as the first four possessions of the second half produced no points. Vilonia finally scored with 1:23 left in the third period, again thanks largely to Sylvan Hills penalties. A pass interference penalty gave Vilonia a first down on the Bears’ 15. After two plays gained just 2 yards and set up third and 8, back-to-back offsides penalties gave Vilonia first and goal at the 3. Wade Richards scored the touchdown and added the two-point conversion to make it 42-22.
Sylvan Hills went 28 yards in just three plays, but Washington fumbled after a 15-yard gain and Vilonia’s Jacob Otto picked it up and returned to the Sylvan Hills 37, but the Bears’ defense came up big.
Vilonia gained nothing in three plays. On fourth and 10, a counter run fooled most of the defense and initially looked like it would pick up the first down. Vilonia’s Nick Howard took the handoff with three blockers in front of him and only one Sylvan Hills defender in sight. But all three blockers ran inside of Payton Terry, who made a huge open-field tackle after just a 4-yard gain to save what would’ve been a big gain.
Washington went 0 for 3 through the air on the next three plays, but Vilonia fumbled the punt and Cameron Flippo covered it for the Bears at the Vilonia 30.
Bracely dragged defenders for the last 10 of a 26-yard gain on first down, and Washington kept for the last 4. Mendoza’s PAT made it 49-22 with 11:36 remaining.
Flippo intercepted Gordon on the third play of the ensuing drive, setting the Bears up at the Vilonia 19.
Sylvan Hills’ second-team offense took over with 10:07 remaining in the game and scored in four plays. Jamar Porter carried up the middle for the final 8 yards and the extra point made it 56-22 with 8:32 left.
After a 55-yard kickoff return set Vilonia up on the Bears’ 29, Vilonia scored in six plays against Sylvan Hills’ second-team defense.
The extra point was no good, leaving it 56-28 with 6:15 left.
Sylvan Hills’ last touchdown came on a 44-yard run by Fairrow with 3:57 remaining in the game, but Mendoza missed the extra point to keep the mercy rule clock from running.
Washington ran 11 times for 105 yards while Bracely carried eight times for 91 and Youngblood seven times for 75 yards. Washington only completed 6 of 14 pass attempts, but four of the eight incompletions were drops.
“We can catch the ball better than we did tonight,” Withrow said. “That’s another thing. But heck, you can’t complain when you score 62 points.”
Lumpkin had 112 yards receiving while Bracely had 104.
Vilonia’s rapid offense snapped the ball 81 times for 372 yards and 23 first downs. But the Eagles were just 3 for 16 on third down and 3 for 8 on fourth down tries.
Leader sports editor
Preseason concerns about a brand new offensive line were emphatically put to rest for Sylvan Hills on Monday. The Bears racked up a school record 657 yards of offense en route to a 62-28 blowout of Vilonia in the 103.7 The Buzz Kickoff Classic at War Memorial Stadium.
The Bears scored the first six times they had the ball, moving the football effortlessly against the Eagles’ defense. And they did it on the ground and through the air. Sylvan Hills provided a minor surprise by lining up with an empty backfield and five wide on the first play.
Quarterback Jordan Washington stood firm in the pocket in the face of an unblocked blitzer to deliver a 16-yard strike to Cameron Sharp for a first down.
Two plays later he kept for a 22-yard gain up the middle to set up first down at the Vilonia 27. After another first down, Sylvan Hills went backwards with a 3-yard loss and two incomplete passes. On fourth and 13, another pass play broke down, but Washington scrambled for the necessary yardage to set up first and goal at the 2.
Sophomore Ty Compton plunged it in from there, becoming the first of four sophomores to score touchdowns for the Bears in the first half.
“I told you early this summer that I liked our skill guys,” said Sylvan Hills coach Jim Withrow. “We’ve got some playmakers. The offensive line was a concern, but I think it’s a matter of these guys staying with the program and getting better every year. We’re not young up front, but we’re inexperienced. Those guys did a great job tonight.”
Vilonia managed two first downs before failing on fourth and 7 to give the Bears possession on their own 20. On third and 6, Washington hit sophomore receiver Ryan Lumpkin streaking down the right sideline for a 76-yard touchdown connection with 6:03 left in the first quarter. Tito Mendoza’s second extra point attempt was good, giving the Bears a 13-0 lead. Vilonia started at its own 24 and ran 12 plays down to the Bears’ 23, but another failed fourth-down conversion turned the ball over there.
Sylvan Hills sophomore Dion Youngblood busted loose up the middle for 51 yards on the first play of the drive, and got 11 more on the second play. Compton picked up 8 before Washington kept for the last 10 and another touchdown that made it 20-0 with 1:04 left in the first quarter.
The Eagles once again ran 10 plays to within the Sylvan Hills 30, but again turned the ball over on downs when quarterback Ty Gordon’s shotgun keeper picked up 2 yards on fourth and 3.
On the very next play, Washington connected with senior Brandon Bracely for 68 yards to the Vilonia 7-yard line. Two plays later, Youngblood bulled his way 5 yards into the end zone for a 27-0 lead with 9:33 remaining in the first half.
Vilonia went three and out on its next possession and punted. Sylvan Hills then went 63 yards in seven plays, highlighted by a 20-yard run by Youngblood to set up first and goal at the 1. Sophomore Daelyn Fairrow did the rest and a successful two-point conversion made it a mercy-rule margin of 35-0 with 5:33 left in the half.
But the mercy rule would never happen.
Vilonia faced third and 12 when Gordon found receiver Josh Greer well behind his man for a 52-yard touchdown pass with 3:21 left in the half.
Despite the time left, each team would get two more possessions as those final three minutes took 33 minutes to play.
Sylvan Hills went for it on fourth and 1 from its own 34 and lost a yard, but Vilonia also went four and out, giving it back to the Bears at the 34. After an illegal procedure penalty, Sylvan Hills caught a huge break.
Washington hit Lumpkin over the middle. He gained about 10 more yards after the catch before fumbling at the Vilonia 35-yard line. But the ball bounced straight to Bracely, who scooped it up and ran the rest of the way for the score. Mendoza’s extra point made it 42-7 with 47 seconds remaining in the first half.
But there would still be no mercy rule, thanks mostly to Sylvan Hills penalties. Vilonia went 70 yards in 10 plays, but 40 of those yards were the result of two unsportsmanlike conduct penalties and one pass interference against the Bears. Vilonia scored on the last play of the half to keep the mercy rule clock from running to start the second half.
“There are going to be things, when we watch film, that we should have done better,” Withrow said. “And that’s something right there. When you have a team mercy ruled, you need to go ahead and mercy rule them. They came real close to getting right back in it in the second half.”
Defenses dominated the third quarter as the first four possessions of the second half produced no points. Vilonia finally scored with 1:23 left in the third period, again thanks largely to Sylvan Hills penalties. A pass interference penalty gave Vilonia a first down on the Bears’ 15. After two plays gained just 2 yards and set up third and 8, back-to-back offsides penalties gave Vilonia first and goal at the 3. Wade Richards scored the touchdown and added the two-point conversion to make it 42-22.
Sylvan Hills went 28 yards in just three plays, but Washington fumbled after a 15-yard gain and Vilonia’s Jacob Otto picked it up and returned to the Sylvan Hills 37, but the Bears’ defense came up big.
Vilonia gained nothing in three plays. On fourth and 10, a counter run fooled most of the defense and initially looked like it would pick up the first down. Vilonia’s Nick Howard took the handoff with three blockers in front of him and only one Sylvan Hills defender in sight. But all three blockers ran inside of Payton Terry, who made a huge open-field tackle after just a 4-yard gain to save what would’ve been a big gain.
Washington went 0 for 3 through the air on the next three plays, but Vilonia fumbled the punt and Cameron Flippo covered it for the Bears at the Vilonia 30.
Bracely dragged defenders for the last 10 of a 26-yard gain on first down, and Washington kept for the last 4. Mendoza’s PAT made it 49-22 with 11:36 remaining.
Flippo intercepted Gordon on the third play of the ensuing drive, setting the Bears up at the Vilonia 19.
Sylvan Hills’ second-team offense took over with 10:07 remaining in the game and scored in four plays. Jamar Porter carried up the middle for the final 8 yards and the extra point made it 56-22 with 8:32 left.
After a 55-yard kickoff return set Vilonia up on the Bears’ 29, Vilonia scored in six plays against Sylvan Hills’ second-team defense.
The extra point was no good, leaving it 56-28 with 6:15 left.
Sylvan Hills’ last touchdown came on a 44-yard run by Fairrow with 3:57 remaining in the game, but Mendoza missed the extra point to keep the mercy rule clock from running.
Washington ran 11 times for 105 yards while Bracely carried eight times for 91 and Youngblood seven times for 75 yards. Washington only completed 6 of 14 pass attempts, but four of the eight incompletions were drops.
“We can catch the ball better than we did tonight,” Withrow said. “That’s another thing. But heck, you can’t complain when you score 62 points.”
Lumpkin had 112 yards receiving while Bracely had 104.
Vilonia’s rapid offense snapped the ball 81 times for 372 yards and 23 first downs. But the Eagles were just 3 for 16 on third down and 3 for 8 on fourth down tries.
EDITORIAL >> A good choice for high court
You expect governors to make political appointments whenever there is a vacancy in the electoral establishment, even when the vacancy is in the judicial branch, where independence from politics is a foundational principle. Just like his predecessors, Gov. Asa Hutchinson took the political route in his first six months in office, but not last week when he was faced with the task of replacing the venerable Chief Justice Jim Hannah, whose grave health problems forced his resignation.
Hutchinson appointed Howard Brill, a distinguished professor of law at the University of Arkansas who is this state’s and perhaps the nation’s leading authority on ethics in the courts and in the legal profession. Even his title at the university informs his credentials for being chief of the state’s highest court for the next 16 months: Vincent Foster Professor of Legal Ethics and Professional Responsibility.
Lots of lawyers and judges have the requisite experience and wisdom to be the chief justice, including many with deep political connections, but none fits the Supreme Court’s and the entire judiciary’s peculiar needs at this moment as well as Howard Brill. His book “Arkansas Professional and Judicial Ethics” is the bible that guides the Arkansas ethics commissions in enforcing the state rules for the conduct of judges and lawyers.
We like to think that the governor, who has spent his professional life working in the federal and state courts, recognized the desperate need for a chief judge who would bring a gold standard for independence and probity to the Supreme Court at this suddenly critical stage. Justice Hannah brought that standard to the court but found himself last year embroiled in internal strife over the court’s role and direction.
Can we refresh your memory? After several controversial decisions in the last decade, including two that declared provisions of the state’s “tort reform” law unconstitutional, a movement began to put up money to elect appellate judges who would make “better” political decisions — decisions more favorable to corporate interests. A huge pile of money from the owner of the state’s largest chain of nursing homes dumped into the campaign treasury of one Supreme Court candidate in 2014 drove away opposition, and she was elected without opposition. One candidate for the Court of Appeals in the same election, a friend and political ally of the new justice, dropped out of his race and pleaded guilty to taking a bribe after it was disclosed that he sharply reduced a jury verdict against the same nursing home owner when he dropped tens of thousands of dollars into the judge’s campaign.
Another candidate for the Supreme Court won last year after a Washington, D.C., front group with anonymous donors spent $400,000 in the closing days of the campaign attacking his opponent as a defender of sex perverts.
Then there was the same-sex marriage case, where the members of the Supreme Court dithered for almost a year to avoid making a decision that would anger thousands of people on one side or the other of the issue. This spring, Justice Hannah and another aging justice recused in a procedural part of the case to protest the machinations of three or four justices who wanted to dodge making a decision that would anger political supporters and voters.
Last fall, three justices voted in the court’s conference — decisions are made secretly until the decision is released — to uphold Pulaski Judge Chris Piazza’s order striking down the state law forbidding same-sex marriages, obviously so that they could control the case. They never released the decision. When two justices were replaced on Jan. 1, the three justices switched their votes, again in the closed conference, to reverse Judge Piazza rather than uphold him, but then never released that decision either.
When the U.S. Supreme Court ruled this June that such state laws were unconstitutional, the new majority on the Arkansas court simply declared the Arkansas case moot so that no one would ever know how they voted.
Judges everywhere are appointed or elected to make decisions in the lawsuits before them without regard to whether the decisions will be popular. The founding fathers crafted the Constitution with a view toward making the judiciary the one independent and nonpolitical branch. Public confidence in the courts’ independence and integrity — fearlessness, if you will — was essential to a democratic system of governance that was beholden to the rule of law.
We don’t want to put words into Gov.Hutchinson’s mouth, but we hope and believe that this was uppermost in his mind when he appointed a chief justice who had no known connection to his own campaigns for political office or his party.
He deserves everyone’s thanks.
Hutchinson appointed Howard Brill, a distinguished professor of law at the University of Arkansas who is this state’s and perhaps the nation’s leading authority on ethics in the courts and in the legal profession. Even his title at the university informs his credentials for being chief of the state’s highest court for the next 16 months: Vincent Foster Professor of Legal Ethics and Professional Responsibility.
Lots of lawyers and judges have the requisite experience and wisdom to be the chief justice, including many with deep political connections, but none fits the Supreme Court’s and the entire judiciary’s peculiar needs at this moment as well as Howard Brill. His book “Arkansas Professional and Judicial Ethics” is the bible that guides the Arkansas ethics commissions in enforcing the state rules for the conduct of judges and lawyers.
We like to think that the governor, who has spent his professional life working in the federal and state courts, recognized the desperate need for a chief judge who would bring a gold standard for independence and probity to the Supreme Court at this suddenly critical stage. Justice Hannah brought that standard to the court but found himself last year embroiled in internal strife over the court’s role and direction.
Can we refresh your memory? After several controversial decisions in the last decade, including two that declared provisions of the state’s “tort reform” law unconstitutional, a movement began to put up money to elect appellate judges who would make “better” political decisions — decisions more favorable to corporate interests. A huge pile of money from the owner of the state’s largest chain of nursing homes dumped into the campaign treasury of one Supreme Court candidate in 2014 drove away opposition, and she was elected without opposition. One candidate for the Court of Appeals in the same election, a friend and political ally of the new justice, dropped out of his race and pleaded guilty to taking a bribe after it was disclosed that he sharply reduced a jury verdict against the same nursing home owner when he dropped tens of thousands of dollars into the judge’s campaign.
Another candidate for the Supreme Court won last year after a Washington, D.C., front group with anonymous donors spent $400,000 in the closing days of the campaign attacking his opponent as a defender of sex perverts.
Then there was the same-sex marriage case, where the members of the Supreme Court dithered for almost a year to avoid making a decision that would anger thousands of people on one side or the other of the issue. This spring, Justice Hannah and another aging justice recused in a procedural part of the case to protest the machinations of three or four justices who wanted to dodge making a decision that would anger political supporters and voters.
Last fall, three justices voted in the court’s conference — decisions are made secretly until the decision is released — to uphold Pulaski Judge Chris Piazza’s order striking down the state law forbidding same-sex marriages, obviously so that they could control the case. They never released the decision. When two justices were replaced on Jan. 1, the three justices switched their votes, again in the closed conference, to reverse Judge Piazza rather than uphold him, but then never released that decision either.
When the U.S. Supreme Court ruled this June that such state laws were unconstitutional, the new majority on the Arkansas court simply declared the Arkansas case moot so that no one would ever know how they voted.
Judges everywhere are appointed or elected to make decisions in the lawsuits before them without regard to whether the decisions will be popular. The founding fathers crafted the Constitution with a view toward making the judiciary the one independent and nonpolitical branch. Public confidence in the courts’ independence and integrity — fearlessness, if you will — was essential to a democratic system of governance that was beholden to the rule of law.
We don’t want to put words into Gov.Hutchinson’s mouth, but we hope and believe that this was uppermost in his mind when he appointed a chief justice who had no known connection to his own campaigns for political office or his party.
He deserves everyone’s thanks.
TOP STORY >> New Cabot library doing well
By JEFFREY SMITH
Leader staff writer
The new $2.6 million Cabot Public Library that opened two weeks ago continues to attract visitors.
“It’s been great and very busy,” branch manager Tammie Evans told The Leader on Monday.
She was astonished by the number of patrons and the amount of positive support the community is giving to the branch.
The library at 909 W. Main St. was once a vacant Knight’s grocery store. Now, it has been turned into a showplace of books and technology.
The library saw 2,065 people come through its doors the first week the new building opened, compared to 1,496 people that same week in 2014 at the old location, 506 N. Grant St.
“The children’s department’s first storytime had 68 children, almost double the most we had in the past. We had to move it into the community room,” Evans said.
In the first 14 days of being open, a total of 6,917 items were checked out, compared to 3,592 items checked out during the same time last year.
The library issued 298 library cards in the first two weeks, compared to 67 cards issued during that time in 2014.
“We’ve heard nothing but positive feedback from the patrons that came in,” Evans continued.
“We believe that people are proud of our new library. It has a modern feel. A lot of people are impressed with the technology and services we are offering in here.
“Many are glad to know that we’ve partnered with ASU-Beebe in holding day classes,” she noted.
Three college classes are being held at the library. Evans said the program should grow next semester.
Twelve groups have signed up to reserve the community room in the past two weeks. On Monday, the senior center was using it for line dancing classes.
The coffee kiosk has also been a hit.
“We make a gallon of coffee a day,” Evans said.
She said the library is looking at starting a “Mug Club,” a coffee social where people can have their own cup when they are at the library.
The outdoor green space will be finished in October. Evans hopes to use the space before it gets too cold.
Leader staff writer
The new $2.6 million Cabot Public Library that opened two weeks ago continues to attract visitors.
“It’s been great and very busy,” branch manager Tammie Evans told The Leader on Monday.
She was astonished by the number of patrons and the amount of positive support the community is giving to the branch.
The library at 909 W. Main St. was once a vacant Knight’s grocery store. Now, it has been turned into a showplace of books and technology.
The library saw 2,065 people come through its doors the first week the new building opened, compared to 1,496 people that same week in 2014 at the old location, 506 N. Grant St.
“The children’s department’s first storytime had 68 children, almost double the most we had in the past. We had to move it into the community room,” Evans said.
In the first 14 days of being open, a total of 6,917 items were checked out, compared to 3,592 items checked out during the same time last year.
The library issued 298 library cards in the first two weeks, compared to 67 cards issued during that time in 2014.
“We’ve heard nothing but positive feedback from the patrons that came in,” Evans continued.
“We believe that people are proud of our new library. It has a modern feel. A lot of people are impressed with the technology and services we are offering in here.
“Many are glad to know that we’ve partnered with ASU-Beebe in holding day classes,” she noted.
Three college classes are being held at the library. Evans said the program should grow next semester.
Twelve groups have signed up to reserve the community room in the past two weeks. On Monday, the senior center was using it for line dancing classes.
The coffee kiosk has also been a hit.
“We make a gallon of coffee a day,” Evans said.
She said the library is looking at starting a “Mug Club,” a coffee social where people can have their own cup when they are at the library.
The outdoor green space will be finished in October. Evans hopes to use the space before it gets too cold.
TOP STORY >> Marker honors Civil War duel
A marker commemorating the Marmaduke-Walker Civil War duel was recently placed at Reed’s Bridge Battlefield in Jacksonville.
Although the duel was fought at the Godfrey LeFevre plantation in North Little Rock, not being supported in the 1863 battle that took place at Reed’s Bridge was the last straw for Confederate Gen. John Sappington Marmaduke, according to community outreach director Mark Christ of the Arkansas Historic Preservation Program.
Marmaduke also felt he didn’t receive support from his commanding officer, Gen. Lucius Marshall (Marsh) Walker, during battles at Helena and Brownsville earlier that year, Christ said.
According to an Encyclopedia of Arkansas article on the duel, Walker didn’t implement the planned operations and left Marmaduke and his troop unprotected.
After the Reed’s Bridge battle, Marmaduke asked to be removed from under Walker’s command, Christ said.
The article states Marmaduke attempted to meet with Walker to discuss battle strategy but that Walker wouldn’t leave his post.
Marmaduke threatened to retire from the military if he were not granted the requested transfer, it continues.
The transfer was approved, but the feud didn’t end because Marmaduke responded by letter to rumors that Walker had questioned his courage.
Christ said the staff working for both generals instigated the back-and-forth that ensued.
The article states that Walker’s friend and letter carrier, Col. Robert H. Crockett, challenged Marmaduke to the duel without consulting Walker.
Marmaduke’s friend and letter carrier was Capt. John C. Moore.
He and Crockett arranged terms of the duel and scheduled it without the generals present, the Encyclopedia of Arkansas article claims.
The marker reads that the generals met at dawn Sept. 6, 1863, armed with Navy Colts.
Both fired and missed, and then Marmaduke fatally wounded Walker.
Walker died the next day, after forgiving the other general for shooting him, the marker states.
According to the Encyclopedia of Arkansas article, a third general ordered the two men to stay at their posts in order to stop the duel, but Walker didn’t receive the order and Marmaduke ignored it.
The third general arrested Marmaduke after it because of an 1820 Arkansas law prohibiting duels. But he was released to keep the troops from becoming hostile or resentful, the article claims. Marmaduke was later appointed to major general and was elected as governor of Missouri in 1884. He died three years later.
According to the encyclopedia of Arkansas article, Marmaduke was from Missouri and a former governor’s son.
Walker was from Kentucky, and President James K. Polk was his uncle.
Both men graduated from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point.
Walker was transferred to Arkansas, where Marmaduke was stationed, after having trouble with his superiors.
The Arkansas Civil War Sesquicentennial Commission paid half the purchase price for the marker. It cost $2,040, Christ said.
He added that Dennis and Marsha Ward donated the rest.
The Reed’s Bridge Battlefield Preservation Society, the Arkansas Humanities Council’s Department of Arkansas Heritage and the Arkansas Historic Preservation Program also sponsored the marker.
Although the duel was fought at the Godfrey LeFevre plantation in North Little Rock, not being supported in the 1863 battle that took place at Reed’s Bridge was the last straw for Confederate Gen. John Sappington Marmaduke, according to community outreach director Mark Christ of the Arkansas Historic Preservation Program.
Marmaduke also felt he didn’t receive support from his commanding officer, Gen. Lucius Marshall (Marsh) Walker, during battles at Helena and Brownsville earlier that year, Christ said.
According to an Encyclopedia of Arkansas article on the duel, Walker didn’t implement the planned operations and left Marmaduke and his troop unprotected.
After the Reed’s Bridge battle, Marmaduke asked to be removed from under Walker’s command, Christ said.
The article states Marmaduke attempted to meet with Walker to discuss battle strategy but that Walker wouldn’t leave his post.
Marmaduke threatened to retire from the military if he were not granted the requested transfer, it continues.
The transfer was approved, but the feud didn’t end because Marmaduke responded by letter to rumors that Walker had questioned his courage.
Christ said the staff working for both generals instigated the back-and-forth that ensued.
The article states that Walker’s friend and letter carrier, Col. Robert H. Crockett, challenged Marmaduke to the duel without consulting Walker.
Marmaduke’s friend and letter carrier was Capt. John C. Moore.
He and Crockett arranged terms of the duel and scheduled it without the generals present, the Encyclopedia of Arkansas article claims.
The marker reads that the generals met at dawn Sept. 6, 1863, armed with Navy Colts.
Both fired and missed, and then Marmaduke fatally wounded Walker.
Walker died the next day, after forgiving the other general for shooting him, the marker states.
According to the Encyclopedia of Arkansas article, a third general ordered the two men to stay at their posts in order to stop the duel, but Walker didn’t receive the order and Marmaduke ignored it.
The third general arrested Marmaduke after it because of an 1820 Arkansas law prohibiting duels. But he was released to keep the troops from becoming hostile or resentful, the article claims. Marmaduke was later appointed to major general and was elected as governor of Missouri in 1884. He died three years later.
According to the encyclopedia of Arkansas article, Marmaduke was from Missouri and a former governor’s son.
Walker was from Kentucky, and President James K. Polk was his uncle.
Both men graduated from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point.
Walker was transferred to Arkansas, where Marmaduke was stationed, after having trouble with his superiors.
The Arkansas Civil War Sesquicentennial Commission paid half the purchase price for the marker. It cost $2,040, Christ said.
He added that Dennis and Marsha Ward donated the rest.
The Reed’s Bridge Battlefield Preservation Society, the Arkansas Humanities Council’s Department of Arkansas Heritage and the Arkansas Historic Preservation Program also sponsored the marker.
TOP STORY >> Districts to tackle rankings
By JOHN HOFHEIMER
Leader senior staff writer
Jacksonville High School, Jacksonville Middle School, Murrell Taylor Elementary and five other Pulaski County Special School District schools are among 151 Arkansas schools cited for chronically poor performance this week by the state Education Department.
Harris and Daisy Bates elementaries, Fuller and Maumelle middle schools and Wilbur D. Mills High School were also singled out for special attention due to poor test results in 2012 through 2014.
Cabot’s Academic Center of Excellence was also listed in the bottom 10 percent of schools.
The two Jacksonville secondary schools and Harris and Mills were determined to be among 46 priority schools in the bottom 5 percent of the schools in the state, while the others, using a different measure, were among the 105 “focus schools,” in the bottom 10 percent, cited for failure to meet the annual student achievement requirements.
These are problems the new Jacksonville school district and the state Education Department plan to address.
STATE WILL HELP
The state Education Department “will provide support and assistance to the focus and priority schools in accordance with the Arkansas (Elementary and Secondary Education Act) Flexibility request,” said state Education Commissioner Johnny Key.
Student performance on Benchmark exams for math and literacy in grades three through eight, Algebra I, geometry and grade 11 literacy from 2011-12, 2012-13 and 2013-14 were used to determine the newly identified priority and focus schools.
Although Jacksonville High School, Jacksonville Middle School and Merrill Taylor will be part of the new Jacksonville-North Pulaski School District next year, currently they remain part of PCSSD, which is making changes on the fly to address the problems.
ASSESSING TRUE DEFICIT
“We’re trying to make certain we’re looking at each student to see what true deficit they may have and give the assistance needed,” said Laura Bednar, PCSSD deputy superintendent. She said the biggest problem area was mathematics.
She said the remedies for priority schools and focus schools are pretty much the same. “The last three years are data rich,” Bednar said. “We’ve repurposed the learning services division, putting all we can in the priority schools to lend support.”
Bednar said about 10 central office personnel had been reassigned four days a week to teachers and administrators at those eight schools.
Jeremy Owoh, Jacksonville-North Pulaski Assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction, has been meeting with Bednar, according to Phyllis Stewart, JNP chief of staff.
SEE WHAT’S WORKING
Owoh has been going out into those Jacksonville-area schools, trying to see what’s working and what needs help, she said.
This year, PCSSD Deputy Superintendent John Tackett will be assisting at Jacksonville Middle School three days a week, with another PCSSD staffer there a fourth day, according to Stewart.
Pam Black, director of career technology education, will be at Jacksonville High School four days a week, working with the principal and other school leadership, Stewart said.
Susan Fletcher, an administrator for instructional technology, will work with the principal and the school leadership team at Murrell Taylor.
“They are there to help meet the mandates from the Department of Education,” Stewart said.
“They will provide ongoing support to administrators and teachers at the building level on the use of data to inform instructional practices to meet the needs of all students and to assist the school in disaggregation of student achievement data generated from formative and summative assessments to impact instruction,” she said.
Leader senior staff writer
Jacksonville High School, Jacksonville Middle School, Murrell Taylor Elementary and five other Pulaski County Special School District schools are among 151 Arkansas schools cited for chronically poor performance this week by the state Education Department.
Harris and Daisy Bates elementaries, Fuller and Maumelle middle schools and Wilbur D. Mills High School were also singled out for special attention due to poor test results in 2012 through 2014.
Cabot’s Academic Center of Excellence was also listed in the bottom 10 percent of schools.
The two Jacksonville secondary schools and Harris and Mills were determined to be among 46 priority schools in the bottom 5 percent of the schools in the state, while the others, using a different measure, were among the 105 “focus schools,” in the bottom 10 percent, cited for failure to meet the annual student achievement requirements.
These are problems the new Jacksonville school district and the state Education Department plan to address.
STATE WILL HELP
The state Education Department “will provide support and assistance to the focus and priority schools in accordance with the Arkansas (Elementary and Secondary Education Act) Flexibility request,” said state Education Commissioner Johnny Key.
Student performance on Benchmark exams for math and literacy in grades three through eight, Algebra I, geometry and grade 11 literacy from 2011-12, 2012-13 and 2013-14 were used to determine the newly identified priority and focus schools.
Although Jacksonville High School, Jacksonville Middle School and Merrill Taylor will be part of the new Jacksonville-North Pulaski School District next year, currently they remain part of PCSSD, which is making changes on the fly to address the problems.
ASSESSING TRUE DEFICIT
“We’re trying to make certain we’re looking at each student to see what true deficit they may have and give the assistance needed,” said Laura Bednar, PCSSD deputy superintendent. She said the biggest problem area was mathematics.
She said the remedies for priority schools and focus schools are pretty much the same. “The last three years are data rich,” Bednar said. “We’ve repurposed the learning services division, putting all we can in the priority schools to lend support.”
Bednar said about 10 central office personnel had been reassigned four days a week to teachers and administrators at those eight schools.
Jeremy Owoh, Jacksonville-North Pulaski Assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction, has been meeting with Bednar, according to Phyllis Stewart, JNP chief of staff.
SEE WHAT’S WORKING
Owoh has been going out into those Jacksonville-area schools, trying to see what’s working and what needs help, she said.
This year, PCSSD Deputy Superintendent John Tackett will be assisting at Jacksonville Middle School three days a week, with another PCSSD staffer there a fourth day, according to Stewart.
Pam Black, director of career technology education, will be at Jacksonville High School four days a week, working with the principal and other school leadership, Stewart said.
Susan Fletcher, an administrator for instructional technology, will work with the principal and the school leadership team at Murrell Taylor.
“They are there to help meet the mandates from the Department of Education,” Stewart said.
“They will provide ongoing support to administrators and teachers at the building level on the use of data to inform instructional practices to meet the needs of all students and to assist the school in disaggregation of student achievement data generated from formative and summative assessments to impact instruction,” she said.
Monday, August 31, 2015
TOP STORY >> Therapy dog is a banned breed
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| Ahmeah Simmons, who has Asperger’s syndrome, with her pit bull dog Edith, which is a banned breed in Jacksonville. Ahmeah’s mother ignored the city’s request to remove the dog from city limits, and said that the dog serves a therapeutic purpose to Ahmeah, helping her live a better life and communicate more. |
Leader staff writer
A Jacksonville mom says she did not move her pit bull outside Jacksonville city limits — after learning the breed was banned — because an Americans with Disabilities Act representative advised her not to. The dog was seized for the second time this month, is being held at the city’s animal shelter and may be sent to an out-of-state rescue group.
Amanda Simmons, a single mother of three, also said she’s locked into a lease until November and doesn’t have the money to move. She shared that she is on a limited income and doesn’t receive child support or any governmental assistance, aside from SNAP (food stamps).
Simmons explained that the dog, Edith, is her daughter Ahmeah’s only friend. The 11-year-old has been diagnosed with Asperger’s syndrome and had been prescribed the therapy dog by her doctor.
The mom wants Edith back before there is any “bad blood” because, she says, she understands the city’s animal control workers are just doing their jobs. “There shouldn’t be a reason why I can’t get her back.”
At the same time, Simmons claims she didn’t know a warrant was needed and that others with pit bulls in Jacksonville had told her requesting those is how they’ve kept their dogs from being seized.
She also said she wasn’t advised to obtain a lawyer during her January court case, the first time Edith was seized.
The Lancaster Law Firm has set up a page at https://www.gofundme.com/saveedith to collect donations that will “cover legal fees, fines, and whatever is needed to protect Edith from the ban.”
The dog, about 15 months old, is being held at the Jacksonville Animal Shelter pending the outcome of a trial, the page states.
City officials would not comment on the case because Simmons had hired an attorney, but the mayor’s office emailed several public documents to The Leader.
Simmons said she moved to Jacksonville from Minnesota in November and that the breed isn’t banned in the North.
The first time Edith was taken, she paid hundreds in fines to get the dog back and signed a form stating the pit bull would be sent outside city limits to 8407 Easy St. in North Little Rock, a city where that breed is also banned. The Easy Street address is actually in Sherwood. Pit bulls aren’t allowed there.
As for the ADA representative’s advice, according to www.ada.gov/service_animals_2010.htm, the law covers service dogs. “A service animal is a dog that is individually trained to do work or perform tasks for a person with a disability,” the website reads. It states, “Dogs whose sole function is to provide comfort or emotional support do not qualify as service animals under the ADA.”
Edith was registered through www.esaregistration.org as an emotional support animal (ESA) in July 2014, Simmons said.
The site’s frequently-asked questions note that an ESA “is not required to go through any specific training but they must have the same training that a typical pet would have to get along in society and not cause danger or harm to others.”
A letter of prescription is required from the handler’s physician. The website also offers “if you do not have your doctor’s letter yet, you can get one from our mental health professional” and a link to an evaluation form.
An ESA can accompany the handler on a plane or live in housing that would otherwise not allow pets, according to the FAQs.
There are exceptions to Jacksonville’s ban, but ESAs are not one of them. The city’s 2007 ordinance states “any animal used for law enforcement or other governmental purposes by the police department, military personnel, or other local, state or federal agency(ies) are exempt.” To own a service dog, one must qualify as disabled under the federal ADA.
Still, Simmons says, her daughter needs Edith.
“Ahmeah doesn’t make friends at school…She’s just quiet. She just doesn’t talk. You literally have to pull conversation out of her…Edith is like her sister,” the mom said.
“She really talks to her like she’s a person. She paints her toenails. She puts bows in her hair…This dog has literally slept with her every night.”
When the 11-year-old becomes upset, she’ll run to her room, cry and get under the covers, Simmons continued. “Edith will lean over her and protect her.”
The family is also worried about Edith’s health because she is on special food and her breed is “prone to getting Parvo,” a potentially fatal virus.
Simmons said, during her dog’s first week-and-a-half stint at the city shelter in January, “she wouldn’t eat, and she was choking up foam and had yellow diarrhea. When I got her back, her whole bottom was stained yellow.
“She was sick and shaken, and the pink of her skin, that’s supposed to be like a really pastel pink underneath her gray coat, was bright red. Her eyes were bloodshot. Her mouth was red…It killed me to see her like that.”
That is why the shelter released Edith even before Simmons’ January court date, the mom said.
Both times the dog was seized, she had not bitten, attacked anyone or caused any other problems, Simmons pointed out. People called on animal control to pick her up after they saw her in a yard.
This month, “the only reason she was outside (in a friend’s yard) is because we were getting our house sprayed, pest control, so she couldn’t be in the house…didn’t want to get her sick,” Simmons said. The friend tried to take the blame by saying Edith had been sold to her.
Then, the mom said, an animal control officer told her in front of her children — ages 7 to 11 — Edith would be put down in three days, which is what the ordinance says will happen on a second offense. “My kids all hit the floor.”
Simmons also told The Leader that city officials called her later in the week to say the dog would be sent to an out-of-state rescue group because she was not aggressive, after the mom had spoken with a local television station.
Simmons questioned, too, why Edith couldn’t go to nearby rescues or shelters, like those in Cabot or Sherwood. They can adopt her out to someone who lives in the county. Several groups across the state have offered to take Edith so she doesn’t have to be at the shelter until the case is resolved — a process that could take up to a year — Simmons noted. Then the family might be able to get their dog back, she said.
Simmons doesn’t agree with the Jacksonville ordinance, but commented that the shelter’s director is innocent in this. “If anything, you know, I disobeyed the law, quote, unquote. I should be punished, and I’m willing to accept that, not that I believe it’s right.
“But, in the meantime, (there are) criminals out here, there’s pedophiles and there’s rapists and there’s murderers that get a bond. When they get taken to jail, they can bond out for money. My dog didn’t even do anything, and she’s sitting in jail.”
Simmons called breed-specific bans “stupid” and a legal way to be “racist” that wouldn’t be acceptable if applied to people.
TOP STORY >> District hopefuls give credentials in school voting
By SARAH CAMPBELL
Leader staff writer
Richard Moss and Marcia Dornblaser are facing off in the race for the Zone 1 seat on the first elected Jacksonville-North Pulaski School Board.
One of them will be chosen Tuesday, Sept. 15.
Early voting is Tuesday, Sept. 8-Monday, Sept. 14.
Polls will be open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sept. 8-11 at the Jacksonville Community Center, 5 Municipal Drive, and William F. Laman Library, 2801 Orange St. in North Little Rock. They will be open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays at the Pulaski County Regional Building, 501 W. Markham St. in Little Rock.
Both candidates told The Leader that students would come first if they were elected.
Moss, a native of Arkadelphia, has lived in Jacksonville since 2005 – a year after his career in higher education began — and is a member of the interim, appointed JNP board. He is a student-success coach at Pulaski Technical College and hopes to be awarded a PhD in public education policy from the University of Arkansas this December.
Moss was a member of the Education Corps, the group that pushed for the area’s split from the Pulaski County Special School District.
Dornblaser has lived in Jacksonville since she was an elementary school student, about 49 years, and raised three children here. Her dad is a World War II and Korean War veteran who retired from a 27-year military career in 1966.
She has a degree in dental hygiene from the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences and has worked for 35 years in the office of Drs. Rodriquez and Pinney on Marshall Road.
Dornblaser says she has stayed informed, spoken with teachers, attended public meetings with her adult children during the breakaway efforts and applied to serve on the interim board.
Moss said he’s running to do what’s right by the kids. “I think it’s time for Jacksonville students to have all the rights and benefits that other students have. Students (come) first. We also must be able to provide them with top-notch educators” and “bridge the technology gap.”
He emphasized, “I want to make sure all our decisions are student-based...If we do what’s in the best interest of the students, then we’ll be OK.”
Dornblaser said, “No. 1, I think every decision that we make has got to be made on what’s best for the kids in the education system. There are going to be hard decisions, give-and-take in every situation. What it’s going to boil down to is doing what is best for kids.”
She remembers growing up when Jacksonville was a big player in the high school scene and people had pride in the education system here.
Asked why having an independent school district is important for the city, Moss responded, “It brings the community together. Not being spread out gives a sense of pride to the community and the students as well. It’s a rallying point for the community.”
Dornblaser said having a good education system attracts young families and keeps them here, raises property values and brings in new businesses. She believes the standalone district is the best chance to have good schools. “Failure is not an option.”
She added, “It’s very obvious Jacksonville schools have always been left out of any improvements” as part of PCSSD. “We’ve been neglected, and they’ve looked the other way with our schools for years.”
While Dornblaser said she would support a millage increase to build new campuses and there is “no way around it,” Moss said, “We’ll cross that bridge when we get to it…I will fully support it if that’s the route the board chooses.”
Moss also said he was the only “no” vote when the interim board approved a controversial salary schedule designed to attract new and innovative teachers. It gave big pay cuts to experienced teachers.
He would like to see a balance of new and older teachers, to continue increasing transparency and to build partnerships with colleges that would offer credits to students.
Dornblaser said the board did a lot of research on the salaries. “If anyone looks realistically at the situation, it has to happen…You can’t compare us to that huge district (PCSSD)…It’s impossible to meet the salary of experienced teachers there” because JNP is going to have around 4,000 kids. PCSSD has about 27,000.
“We would go bankrupt before we got started. We can’t pay what we don’ t have,” she continued. At the same time, the candidate hopes the board will increase pay for more experienced teachers when money becomes available.
Moss believes he should be elected because “I care about the students. I care about the teachers, and I care about the community. I would like to continue (the board’s) work. There are still things left undone.”
Dornblaser says residents should vote for her because no one is more passionate about Jacksonville. “I know what it used to be. I’ve been here through it all, and I want to give it my best, to give it positive change.”
The candidate added that she was on the parks and recreation commission for two terms, served as chairwoman for one, “planted the seed” for Splash Zone and worked on the funding campaign for the public safety building.
Both Moss and Dornblaser supported the 5-2 school board configuration that has been the topic of heated debate in desegregation hearings. Opponents believe the at-large zones disenfranchise minority voters.
The candidates also agreed the board’s job is to set policy while the superintendent handles day-to-day operations.
Leader staff writer
Richard Moss and Marcia Dornblaser are facing off in the race for the Zone 1 seat on the first elected Jacksonville-North Pulaski School Board.
One of them will be chosen Tuesday, Sept. 15.
Early voting is Tuesday, Sept. 8-Monday, Sept. 14.
Polls will be open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sept. 8-11 at the Jacksonville Community Center, 5 Municipal Drive, and William F. Laman Library, 2801 Orange St. in North Little Rock. They will be open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays at the Pulaski County Regional Building, 501 W. Markham St. in Little Rock.
Both candidates told The Leader that students would come first if they were elected.
Moss, a native of Arkadelphia, has lived in Jacksonville since 2005 – a year after his career in higher education began — and is a member of the interim, appointed JNP board. He is a student-success coach at Pulaski Technical College and hopes to be awarded a PhD in public education policy from the University of Arkansas this December.
Moss was a member of the Education Corps, the group that pushed for the area’s split from the Pulaski County Special School District.
Dornblaser has lived in Jacksonville since she was an elementary school student, about 49 years, and raised three children here. Her dad is a World War II and Korean War veteran who retired from a 27-year military career in 1966.
She has a degree in dental hygiene from the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences and has worked for 35 years in the office of Drs. Rodriquez and Pinney on Marshall Road.
Dornblaser says she has stayed informed, spoken with teachers, attended public meetings with her adult children during the breakaway efforts and applied to serve on the interim board.
Moss said he’s running to do what’s right by the kids. “I think it’s time for Jacksonville students to have all the rights and benefits that other students have. Students (come) first. We also must be able to provide them with top-notch educators” and “bridge the technology gap.”
He emphasized, “I want to make sure all our decisions are student-based...If we do what’s in the best interest of the students, then we’ll be OK.”
Dornblaser said, “No. 1, I think every decision that we make has got to be made on what’s best for the kids in the education system. There are going to be hard decisions, give-and-take in every situation. What it’s going to boil down to is doing what is best for kids.”
She remembers growing up when Jacksonville was a big player in the high school scene and people had pride in the education system here.
Asked why having an independent school district is important for the city, Moss responded, “It brings the community together. Not being spread out gives a sense of pride to the community and the students as well. It’s a rallying point for the community.”
Dornblaser said having a good education system attracts young families and keeps them here, raises property values and brings in new businesses. She believes the standalone district is the best chance to have good schools. “Failure is not an option.”
She added, “It’s very obvious Jacksonville schools have always been left out of any improvements” as part of PCSSD. “We’ve been neglected, and they’ve looked the other way with our schools for years.”
While Dornblaser said she would support a millage increase to build new campuses and there is “no way around it,” Moss said, “We’ll cross that bridge when we get to it…I will fully support it if that’s the route the board chooses.”
Moss also said he was the only “no” vote when the interim board approved a controversial salary schedule designed to attract new and innovative teachers. It gave big pay cuts to experienced teachers.
He would like to see a balance of new and older teachers, to continue increasing transparency and to build partnerships with colleges that would offer credits to students.
Dornblaser said the board did a lot of research on the salaries. “If anyone looks realistically at the situation, it has to happen…You can’t compare us to that huge district (PCSSD)…It’s impossible to meet the salary of experienced teachers there” because JNP is going to have around 4,000 kids. PCSSD has about 27,000.
“We would go bankrupt before we got started. We can’t pay what we don’ t have,” she continued. At the same time, the candidate hopes the board will increase pay for more experienced teachers when money becomes available.
Moss believes he should be elected because “I care about the students. I care about the teachers, and I care about the community. I would like to continue (the board’s) work. There are still things left undone.”
Dornblaser says residents should vote for her because no one is more passionate about Jacksonville. “I know what it used to be. I’ve been here through it all, and I want to give it my best, to give it positive change.”
The candidate added that she was on the parks and recreation commission for two terms, served as chairwoman for one, “planted the seed” for Splash Zone and worked on the funding campaign for the public safety building.
Both Moss and Dornblaser supported the 5-2 school board configuration that has been the topic of heated debate in desegregation hearings. Opponents believe the at-large zones disenfranchise minority voters.
The candidates also agreed the board’s job is to set policy while the superintendent handles day-to-day operations.
TOP STORY >> City patriarch T.P. White dies
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| T.P. White (seated) was honored for his long service with his own street sign at a recent ceremony at Jacksonville City Hall. With him are Mayor Gary Fletcher (left) and Public Works Director Jimmy Oakley. |
Leader executive editor
T.P. White, 94, who moved to Jacksonville after he helped demobilize Camp Robinson at the end of the Second World War, died Thursday.
The only place he could rent a home after the war was in Jacksonville, he told The Leader in 2012, and he stayed there for 70 years, helping to build a small community with the arrival of other veterans and Little Rock Air Force Base a few years later.
The air base will celebrate its 60th anniversary in October. White was one the last remaining city fathers who saw the construction of the air base in Jacksonville, where he was a longtime planning commission chairman and alderman.
He was a veteran of the Second World War and the Korean War.
White was born on Oct. 15, 1920, in Yeagar, Okla. He attended school there and at the University of Oklahoma.
He was preceded in death by his wife of 53 years, Pauline Brooks White, and a grandson, Tyler Cypress.
A retired car dealer, he was on the Jacksonville Planning Commission for 34 years. He helped plan new subdivisions and Hwy. 67/167, which was built in the 1960s.
The city named the access road along Hwy. 67/167 T.P. White Drive.
“Not many people have an access road named after them,” said Rep. Bob Johnson (D-Jacksonville), who praised White’s devotion to his adopted city.
“He cared about the people of Jacksonville,” Johnson said. “He was always about helping the town. He loved this city. We all looked up to him.”
When he first ran for the Pulaski County Quorum Court, Johnson said White told him, “Always serve the citizens of the county. You take care of the people, and they’ll take care of you.”
White opened a Buick dealership in his front yard in the early 1950s, Johnson said. White tried to sell his dad, Dr. Albert Johnson, a Buick, but the doctor said he liked Oldsmobiles better because they were faster.
White challenged Dr. John-son to a race on the flightline at Little Rock Air Force Base, when it was still being built and there was little security fence around the base. Dr. Johnson drove his Oldsmobile and White was in a new Buick.
“They raced three times,” Johnson said, laughing, “and T.P. won every time.” Dr. Johnson bought the Buick.
White had facial surgery three years ago to remove a cancerous tumor. Wearing a bandage on the left side of his face, he still met regularly with a group of other seniors at the
Jacksonville Walmart, where they reminisced about the old days over coffee in the corner McDonald’s near the store’s entrance.
White would talk about growing up in Oklahoma during the Dust Bowl and moving to California with his family when the war started. He went to work for Douglas Aircraft. He said his initials didn’t stand for anything, until Douglas insisted he needed a first name and called him Thomas.
A few of the McDonald’s crew shared their thoughts on Friday.
Dana Browning and Harold Olive called White a good friend.
Olive said, “He was really honest, a good man. He was a real nice fella. I don’t know of anybody that had anything bad to say about him.”
Browning and Olive agreed that was for a car dealer who had stayed in that trade for so long to come out of it with a good reputation.
Browning said, “He was a fair, honest guy” and Olive added, “A very trusted man...Never bothered nobody.”
Browning recalled White saying he was in the first 5,000 Reserve soldiers deployed to South Korea at the start of the Korean War. “What he used to tell me was that they got shipped to Korea in the middle of the winter and they didn’t have any winter uniforms for ’em. You know, in that day and time, the military had been cut from World War II.
“He said he was never so cold in his life...He said he thought he was going to absolutely freeze to death.” White escaped frost bite and didn’t lose any limbs, unlike many of his fellow servicemen.
Bob Hall, another member of the group, said, “I respected him very highly, and we’ll miss him...He was a real treasure for this community.”
He also joked, “We enjoyed solving the problems of the world, but there’s not much indication of it.”
Sharon Jolly said, “He was a good man. Had plenty of stories to tell. We all enjoyed him...Now we won’t know who to vote for” because White would also tell the group what he thought of the local politicians because he knew them and the old families of Jacksonville.
About 35 seniors belonged to the group when they first started meeting more than 20 years ago in the old Walmart across the highway.
Hall, the oldest, is 96, and the youngest is 78. The group includes veterans of three wars: the Second World War, Korea and Vietnam.
They used to celebrate their birthdays with cakes and candles, but they need so many candles now, they were a fire hazard, so no more cakes or candles.
White was past president of the Jacksonville Round-Up Club, the first booster club, as well as the Lions Club, Sertoma Club and the Employees Federal Credit Union.
In 1947, T.P. joined First Baptist Church in Jacksonville, where served as a deacon, Sunday school superintendent, member of the building committee and trustee.
In 1952, he helped start the Jacksonville City Planning Commission. He served for 34 years, under five different mayors, and was chairman for 21 years. He also served on Metroplan for many years. He helped found the Jacksonville Chamber of Commerce and was parade marshal of the annual Christmas parade for 25 years.
He was frustrated that the North Belt Freeway was never completed from the bean fields on Hwy. 67/167 in Jacksonville to I-40 in North Little Rock, although it was on the drawing board decades ago when he served on the planning commission.
White was chosen Sertoman of the Year in 1992 and helped start other Sertoma clubs. This year, Sertoma awarded a scholarship in his honor.
He also helped to found Foxwood Country Club and served as its president. He was a longtime member of Pathfinder and has a Pathfinder Services for the Disabled facility named in his honor in Haskell (Saline County).
There was a memorial service Aug. 29 at First Baptist Church led by Bro. Cliff Hutchins.
Sarah Campbell contributed to this report.
SPORTS >> Lady Bears open with nice victory
By RAY BENTON
Leader sports editor
Sylvan Hills got the volleyball season off to a good start Tuesday with a 3-1 win on the road at Maumelle.
The Lady Bears suffered a couple of lapses in intensity during the game, the first coming at the very beginning when Maumelle jumped out to a quick and sizeable lead.
“The nice thing about it was that we made a nice comeback in that first game and were really able to maintain that momentum into the next one,” said Sylvan Hills coach Harold Treadway. “The bad thing was, we didn’t really come out as focused as we should have.”
After falling behind 10-2 in game one and still trailing 20-15 late in the set, the Lady Bears went on a 10-1 run to take the opener.
Their dominance didn’t stop in game two, as Sylvan Hills scored the first six points en route to an easy 25-13 win. That game may have been too easy, because Treadway felt like his team suffered another lack of focus in game three.
“I thought we’re rolling now,” Treadway said of the game-two momentum. “Then we go out and lose the third game, just with a bunch of mental mistakes. In a game like this, those come from just a lack of focus.”
Treadway was able to get the team’s focus back during the break before game four, and Sylvan Hills avoided a game five on the road.
“Another good thing is I don’t think we ever weren’t playing hard,” Treadway said. “I thought we played hard, we just lost a little bit of focus at certain times and we’re still learning to play together.”
Treadway’s team features several sophomores and six players who transferred from North Pulaski over the summer. That many new people playing together for the first time makes team chemistry a focus during early practices, and is a cause for patience from the head coach.
“As far as attitudes and getting along, everybody is blending together very well,” Treadway said. “But we still haven’t found that leader on the court that’s going to step up and encourage everybody. Right now everybody’s doing a good job of encouraging everybody, but a team needs that one people look to. And not just when things are going good, but sometimes even when they’re not going so good. I think eventually we’re going to come around. Right now it’s just going to take a little time.”
Leader sports editor
Sylvan Hills got the volleyball season off to a good start Tuesday with a 3-1 win on the road at Maumelle.
The Lady Bears suffered a couple of lapses in intensity during the game, the first coming at the very beginning when Maumelle jumped out to a quick and sizeable lead.
“The nice thing about it was that we made a nice comeback in that first game and were really able to maintain that momentum into the next one,” said Sylvan Hills coach Harold Treadway. “The bad thing was, we didn’t really come out as focused as we should have.”
After falling behind 10-2 in game one and still trailing 20-15 late in the set, the Lady Bears went on a 10-1 run to take the opener.
Their dominance didn’t stop in game two, as Sylvan Hills scored the first six points en route to an easy 25-13 win. That game may have been too easy, because Treadway felt like his team suffered another lack of focus in game three.
“I thought we’re rolling now,” Treadway said of the game-two momentum. “Then we go out and lose the third game, just with a bunch of mental mistakes. In a game like this, those come from just a lack of focus.”
Treadway was able to get the team’s focus back during the break before game four, and Sylvan Hills avoided a game five on the road.
“Another good thing is I don’t think we ever weren’t playing hard,” Treadway said. “I thought we played hard, we just lost a little bit of focus at certain times and we’re still learning to play together.”
Treadway’s team features several sophomores and six players who transferred from North Pulaski over the summer. That many new people playing together for the first time makes team chemistry a focus during early practices, and is a cause for patience from the head coach.
“As far as attitudes and getting along, everybody is blending together very well,” Treadway said. “But we still haven’t found that leader on the court that’s going to step up and encourage everybody. Right now everybody’s doing a good job of encouraging everybody, but a team needs that one people look to. And not just when things are going good, but sometimes even when they’re not going so good. I think eventually we’re going to come around. Right now it’s just going to take a little time.”
SPORTS >> Flags stop offense in Red Devils’ scrimmage
By RAY BENTON
Leader sports editor
The Jacksonville football team made several good plays in its preseason scrimmage game against Mena on Monday, but also made several mistakes that will have to be corrected in order to have a successful season.
The key statistic of the game was numerous penalties that totaled almost 200 yards against the Red Devils. The format of the scrimmage featured a first half of controlled situations where each team traded drives that started on the other team’s end of the field. Offenses were allowed to take a little longer than the normal 25-second play clock to get a snap off.
The second half of the scrimmage featured about 17-minutes, or about a quarter and a half, of live action football. Though score wasn’t kept, all the scores added together in both halves of the event gave Mena a 24-21 advantage at the end.
Jacksonville got the ball first and things went badly right out of the gate. All three of the first three plays went backwards or for no gain, setting up a fourth and 12 from the Mena 42. Brandon Hickingbotham then connected with receiver Stevie Eskridge over the middle for a 14-yard gain and Jacksonville was on the move.
A strong run by senior Malcolm Crudup set the Red Devils up with first and goal at the 6, and sophomore Danny Smith barreled in from there. Tyler Hooper made the extra point for Jacksonville.
Mena also converted a fourth down on its first drive, though a much shorter one than Jacksonville faced. Quarterback Ryan Ozanich did most of the work for the Bearcats. Whether on a called option read or a designed pass play, Ozanich tucked and ran for most of Mena’s yardage.
The Bearcats, the 2014 Class 4A runners-up, also scored on a short run to end their first drive. The extra point failed for Mena, as did every other one the Bearcats attempted.
That was Mena’s only score of the first half of the competition. Mena managed just one first down on its next two possessions combined, as Jacksonville’s defense enjoyed its strongest segment of the scrimmage.
Jacksonville scored on its second possession, but not its third. The second score was also a short run by Smith.
Jacksonville’s third possession is when the penalties began to mount, and that carried over into the timed portion of the scrimmage.
Jacksonville was on the cusp of another touchdown after having reached the 8-yard line on first down. But three penalties and a sack backed them up almost to midfield before the drive ended.
Jacksonville scored once an added the extra point in three possessions of game-like action. Mena scored on all three drives, but failed every extra point to win the timed portion 18-7.
Jacksonville coach Barry Hickingbotham was not pleased with all the penalties, but was glad to have the practice game in order to identify potential weak spots that have to be addressed.
“It’s a great teaching tool for us,” said Hickingbotham. “That’s the good thing about it. We haven’t had one of these in a while. It gives a chance to go to the film room and point things out and get things corrected before it all starts to count.
“The penalties have to stop. You just can’t win with that many penalties. That was the most disappointing thing.”
There were some tangible things to be pleased with as well, and they weren’t lost on the head Red Devil.
“I thought the biggest positive out of the game was how our running backs ran the football,” Hickingbotham said. “I think we’re going to have some good depth there without any dropoff no matter who we put back there. I thought
“Defensively, I thought the secondary was the strong point. They weren’t able to do much in the passing game because our coverage was pretty good. And I thought Stevie Eskridge was our most consistent receiver out there. Overall we didn’t do a very good job of catching the ball, but Stevie was a reliable guy for us.”
Jacksonville opens the regular season against last year’s Class 6A runner-up Benton. Kickoff at Jan Crow Stadium is scheduled for 7 p.m.
Leader sports editor
The Jacksonville football team made several good plays in its preseason scrimmage game against Mena on Monday, but also made several mistakes that will have to be corrected in order to have a successful season.
The key statistic of the game was numerous penalties that totaled almost 200 yards against the Red Devils. The format of the scrimmage featured a first half of controlled situations where each team traded drives that started on the other team’s end of the field. Offenses were allowed to take a little longer than the normal 25-second play clock to get a snap off.
The second half of the scrimmage featured about 17-minutes, or about a quarter and a half, of live action football. Though score wasn’t kept, all the scores added together in both halves of the event gave Mena a 24-21 advantage at the end.
Jacksonville got the ball first and things went badly right out of the gate. All three of the first three plays went backwards or for no gain, setting up a fourth and 12 from the Mena 42. Brandon Hickingbotham then connected with receiver Stevie Eskridge over the middle for a 14-yard gain and Jacksonville was on the move.
A strong run by senior Malcolm Crudup set the Red Devils up with first and goal at the 6, and sophomore Danny Smith barreled in from there. Tyler Hooper made the extra point for Jacksonville.
Mena also converted a fourth down on its first drive, though a much shorter one than Jacksonville faced. Quarterback Ryan Ozanich did most of the work for the Bearcats. Whether on a called option read or a designed pass play, Ozanich tucked and ran for most of Mena’s yardage.
The Bearcats, the 2014 Class 4A runners-up, also scored on a short run to end their first drive. The extra point failed for Mena, as did every other one the Bearcats attempted.
That was Mena’s only score of the first half of the competition. Mena managed just one first down on its next two possessions combined, as Jacksonville’s defense enjoyed its strongest segment of the scrimmage.
Jacksonville scored on its second possession, but not its third. The second score was also a short run by Smith.
Jacksonville’s third possession is when the penalties began to mount, and that carried over into the timed portion of the scrimmage.
Jacksonville was on the cusp of another touchdown after having reached the 8-yard line on first down. But three penalties and a sack backed them up almost to midfield before the drive ended.
Jacksonville scored once an added the extra point in three possessions of game-like action. Mena scored on all three drives, but failed every extra point to win the timed portion 18-7.
Jacksonville coach Barry Hickingbotham was not pleased with all the penalties, but was glad to have the practice game in order to identify potential weak spots that have to be addressed.
“It’s a great teaching tool for us,” said Hickingbotham. “That’s the good thing about it. We haven’t had one of these in a while. It gives a chance to go to the film room and point things out and get things corrected before it all starts to count.
“The penalties have to stop. You just can’t win with that many penalties. That was the most disappointing thing.”
There were some tangible things to be pleased with as well, and they weren’t lost on the head Red Devil.
“I thought the biggest positive out of the game was how our running backs ran the football,” Hickingbotham said. “I think we’re going to have some good depth there without any dropoff no matter who we put back there. I thought
“Defensively, I thought the secondary was the strong point. They weren’t able to do much in the passing game because our coverage was pretty good. And I thought Stevie Eskridge was our most consistent receiver out there. Overall we didn’t do a very good job of catching the ball, but Stevie was a reliable guy for us.”
Jacksonville opens the regular season against last year’s Class 6A runner-up Benton. Kickoff at Jan Crow Stadium is scheduled for 7 p.m.
SPORTS >> Youthful Lady Rabs stumble out of gate
By GRAHAM POWELL
Leader sportswriter
The first week of volleyball play was a rough one for the Lonoke Lady Jackrabbits, as they went 0-3 in conference action, losing to Arkansas Baptist and Clinton before dropping a 3-0 match at Central Arkansas Christian on Thursday. Scores in Thursday’s match were 25-9, 25-21 and 25-17.
Lonoke played at Arkansas Baptist on Monday and at home against Clinton on Tuesday. The Lady Rabbits did beat Class 3A Jessieville on Wednesday, but it was a benefit game and doesn’t count as a regular season game.
Lady Rabbits coach Laura Park was hoping her team could go into today’s Spikefest Tournament with a win, but the Lady Mustangs, who improved to 2-0 overall and in conference play with Thursday’s win, didn’t let that happen.
“I did not expect to be 0-3,” said Park. “I knew it was going to be rough. Our first two matches we played were really close, but this one, we just started out in a whirlwind it seemed like. For some reason we couldn’t pass a ball tonight.”
The first game of Thursday’s match got out of hand in a hurry, as the Lady Mustangs jumped out to a 21-6 lead. Lonoke finally broke serve and Lady Rabbit sophomore Gracie Mason served consecutive aces before CAC took back serving rights.
CAC freshman Faith Elder then went to the serving line and served the final three points to set the final score of game one. Game two was much more competitive, and was the most competitive game of the three.
The Lady Mustangs jumped out to a 4-1 lead, but Lonoke battled back and took its first lead of the game at 10-9. CAC, though, regained serving rights on the next volley, and maintained the lead for the majority of that game, but didn’t get very much separation on the scoreboard till the end of the game.
Lonoke tied it up at 13-13, 14-14 and 17-17, and even took the lead at 18-17. But the Lady Mustangs retook the lead two points later, and pushed their lead to as much as 24-19.
The Lady Rabbits scored their final two points on the next two volleys, which came on a block and service point by senior Jarrelyn McCall. CAC broke serve the next volley and, in turn, scored its 25th point to end game two in its favor.
Lonoke got off to a solid start in the third game, jumping out to a 9-3 lead, but CAC came roaring back. The Lady Mustangs regained serving rights to make the score 9-4, and sophomore outside hitter Cicley Young served six-straight points before her next serve went too far and out of bounds. That made the score 10-10.
The two teams traded points to a 12-12 tie before CAC began to separate itself on the scoreboard. The Lady Mustangs scored nine-straight points to lead 21-12 before Lonoke broke serve on a corner kill by Kennedy White.
Mason then went to the serving line and served three-straight points, two of which were aces, to bring the Lady Rabbits within 21-16 of CAC’s lead. The Lady Mustangs responded by scoring the next three points before Lady Rabbit senior Ashlyn Allen scored Lonoke’s final point of the night with a corner kill.
The next point went to CAC, which ended the game and the match in the Lady Mustangs’ favor.
CAC’s Lauren Horton led all players with seven kills Thursday, and she and teammate Taylor Kittinger served four aces each. McCall led Lonoke with five kills Thursday. Mason had team-highs with four aces and five assists, and Daisha Edmonson had a team-high four blocks.
Lonoke will look to get its first official win of the season at the Spikefest Tournament in Little Rock today. The Lady Rabbits’ first game will be at 9 a.m. at Episcopal Collegiate School.
Lonoke plays next at Pulaski Robinson on Monday before resuming conference play at home against West Helena on Tuesday. Both varsity games Monday and Tuesday will begin at 6 p.m.
Leader sportswriter
The first week of volleyball play was a rough one for the Lonoke Lady Jackrabbits, as they went 0-3 in conference action, losing to Arkansas Baptist and Clinton before dropping a 3-0 match at Central Arkansas Christian on Thursday. Scores in Thursday’s match were 25-9, 25-21 and 25-17.
Lonoke played at Arkansas Baptist on Monday and at home against Clinton on Tuesday. The Lady Rabbits did beat Class 3A Jessieville on Wednesday, but it was a benefit game and doesn’t count as a regular season game.
Lady Rabbits coach Laura Park was hoping her team could go into today’s Spikefest Tournament with a win, but the Lady Mustangs, who improved to 2-0 overall and in conference play with Thursday’s win, didn’t let that happen.
“I did not expect to be 0-3,” said Park. “I knew it was going to be rough. Our first two matches we played were really close, but this one, we just started out in a whirlwind it seemed like. For some reason we couldn’t pass a ball tonight.”
The first game of Thursday’s match got out of hand in a hurry, as the Lady Mustangs jumped out to a 21-6 lead. Lonoke finally broke serve and Lady Rabbit sophomore Gracie Mason served consecutive aces before CAC took back serving rights.
CAC freshman Faith Elder then went to the serving line and served the final three points to set the final score of game one. Game two was much more competitive, and was the most competitive game of the three.
The Lady Mustangs jumped out to a 4-1 lead, but Lonoke battled back and took its first lead of the game at 10-9. CAC, though, regained serving rights on the next volley, and maintained the lead for the majority of that game, but didn’t get very much separation on the scoreboard till the end of the game.
Lonoke tied it up at 13-13, 14-14 and 17-17, and even took the lead at 18-17. But the Lady Mustangs retook the lead two points later, and pushed their lead to as much as 24-19.
The Lady Rabbits scored their final two points on the next two volleys, which came on a block and service point by senior Jarrelyn McCall. CAC broke serve the next volley and, in turn, scored its 25th point to end game two in its favor.
Lonoke got off to a solid start in the third game, jumping out to a 9-3 lead, but CAC came roaring back. The Lady Mustangs regained serving rights to make the score 9-4, and sophomore outside hitter Cicley Young served six-straight points before her next serve went too far and out of bounds. That made the score 10-10.
The two teams traded points to a 12-12 tie before CAC began to separate itself on the scoreboard. The Lady Mustangs scored nine-straight points to lead 21-12 before Lonoke broke serve on a corner kill by Kennedy White.
Mason then went to the serving line and served three-straight points, two of which were aces, to bring the Lady Rabbits within 21-16 of CAC’s lead. The Lady Mustangs responded by scoring the next three points before Lady Rabbit senior Ashlyn Allen scored Lonoke’s final point of the night with a corner kill.
The next point went to CAC, which ended the game and the match in the Lady Mustangs’ favor.
CAC’s Lauren Horton led all players with seven kills Thursday, and she and teammate Taylor Kittinger served four aces each. McCall led Lonoke with five kills Thursday. Mason had team-highs with four aces and five assists, and Daisha Edmonson had a team-high four blocks.
Lonoke will look to get its first official win of the season at the Spikefest Tournament in Little Rock today. The Lady Rabbits’ first game will be at 9 a.m. at Episcopal Collegiate School.
Lonoke plays next at Pulaski Robinson on Monday before resuming conference play at home against West Helena on Tuesday. Both varsity games Monday and Tuesday will begin at 6 p.m.
SPORTS >> Beebe overcomes bad start
By RAY BENTON
Leader sports editor
What started out as a nightmare turned into a pretty good performance in the Beebe football team’s benefit scrimmage game Tuesday at Harding Academy. The preseason practice game was a microcosm of the whole 2014 season for the Badgers, disastrous early due mostly to turnovers, before turning things around and dominating later on.
The two teams traded 12-play possessions, where each team gets 12 plays regardless of the outcome of a play or series during that time. Drives started at the 30-yard line, and Beebe took possession first, and it went south right away. Beebe fumbled the snap on the very first play but was able to cover. Fullback Trip Smith picked up nine yards on second down.
He then fumbled on second down, but the Badgers covered it 7 yards downfield for a first down. Beebe fumbled the snap again on the next play and the Wildcats covered it, forcing the Badgers to reset at the 30-yard line.
Smith then broke loose off tackle for a 70-yard touchdown run, and added the two-point conversion.
Starting again from the 30, two plays gained 11 yards for a first down, but the eighth play was the fourth fumble. This time the Wildcats scooped it up and scored. The next play was a mix up that resulted in a busted play and a 1-yard gain by Justin Burlison. Smith got 4 yards on the next play. On third and 7, the 11th play of the possession was another fumble return for a touchdown by the home team.
The final play of the possession was positive for the Badgers, as Smith picked up 14 yards up the middle.
“It looked like we never practiced a day in our life,” said Beebe coach John Shannon about the first possession. “You can’t spot teams 21 points and expect to win a lot of ball games. The second 12 (plays) I thought we looked a whole lot better. We scrimmaged four times, went to a bunch of team camps and I don’t remember one fumble. Then we come out here and fumble what, four times on the first eight plays? We feel like we can be pretty good, but if we turn the ball over like that we won’t beat anybody.”
Smith’s fumble down field was the result of a defender knocking the ball loose. Two fumbles were on the center exchange, and two came on the dive play.
“Some of it, I think, was just Burlison, being his first time to start at quarterback, was a little nervous,” Shannon said. “He wasn’t getting down the line. He was hesitating. They were blasting their tackles, and the halfbacks are taught when the tackles blast, to veer out. Burlison was stopping short and wasn’t getting out there and we were reaching to make those handoffs.
“I think we got the snap issue fixed and he did a lot better job on the second possession, and I thought we looked really good from that point on.
“Plus, you know, I don’t want to make excuses for him, but this is the first time he’s played in a week. He’s been out of practice with bronchitis. So that might’ve been part of it.”
Harding Academy scored on its first possession despite very little momentum. Two big fourth-down plays were the key to the drive. On fourth and 4 on its first set of downs, HA completed a 45-yard pass down the right sideline to the Beebe 21.
The next three plays gained just 1 yard, but the Wildcats connected for a 16-yard strike on fourth down to set up first and goal at the 4. Beebe then jumped off sides twice to move the ball to the 1, where HA scored on the next play.
That was about all the success the Wildcats would enjoy offensively the rest of the night.
Beebe’s second team offense overcame two 5-yard penalties to march down to the HA 24 before losing a fumble on the next-to-last play. The Badgers’ second-team defense dominated. HA converted just one first down on its last play of the possession.
Beebe’s first team offense started out much better on its second possession. Halfback Jo’Vaughn Wyrick scampered 70 yards untouched for a quick score. Two more plays resulted in a first down, but the next two lost 10 yards. On third and 20, Smith went 50 yards up the middle to the HA 20-yard line. Wyrick finished that off on the next play for another score.
After resetting, Wyrick caught a rollout pass for a 20-yard gain and Smith finished the possession with a 6-yard run.
HA’s first offense managed three first downs, but could not score on its second possession. Beebe’s second offense scored on a 45-yard run by Bo Smith.
Beebe opens the regular season in just three days. The Badgers will take on Greenbrier at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday at War Memorial Stadium.
Leader sports editor
What started out as a nightmare turned into a pretty good performance in the Beebe football team’s benefit scrimmage game Tuesday at Harding Academy. The preseason practice game was a microcosm of the whole 2014 season for the Badgers, disastrous early due mostly to turnovers, before turning things around and dominating later on.
The two teams traded 12-play possessions, where each team gets 12 plays regardless of the outcome of a play or series during that time. Drives started at the 30-yard line, and Beebe took possession first, and it went south right away. Beebe fumbled the snap on the very first play but was able to cover. Fullback Trip Smith picked up nine yards on second down.
He then fumbled on second down, but the Badgers covered it 7 yards downfield for a first down. Beebe fumbled the snap again on the next play and the Wildcats covered it, forcing the Badgers to reset at the 30-yard line.
Smith then broke loose off tackle for a 70-yard touchdown run, and added the two-point conversion.
Starting again from the 30, two plays gained 11 yards for a first down, but the eighth play was the fourth fumble. This time the Wildcats scooped it up and scored. The next play was a mix up that resulted in a busted play and a 1-yard gain by Justin Burlison. Smith got 4 yards on the next play. On third and 7, the 11th play of the possession was another fumble return for a touchdown by the home team.
The final play of the possession was positive for the Badgers, as Smith picked up 14 yards up the middle.
“It looked like we never practiced a day in our life,” said Beebe coach John Shannon about the first possession. “You can’t spot teams 21 points and expect to win a lot of ball games. The second 12 (plays) I thought we looked a whole lot better. We scrimmaged four times, went to a bunch of team camps and I don’t remember one fumble. Then we come out here and fumble what, four times on the first eight plays? We feel like we can be pretty good, but if we turn the ball over like that we won’t beat anybody.”
Smith’s fumble down field was the result of a defender knocking the ball loose. Two fumbles were on the center exchange, and two came on the dive play.
“Some of it, I think, was just Burlison, being his first time to start at quarterback, was a little nervous,” Shannon said. “He wasn’t getting down the line. He was hesitating. They were blasting their tackles, and the halfbacks are taught when the tackles blast, to veer out. Burlison was stopping short and wasn’t getting out there and we were reaching to make those handoffs.
“I think we got the snap issue fixed and he did a lot better job on the second possession, and I thought we looked really good from that point on.
“Plus, you know, I don’t want to make excuses for him, but this is the first time he’s played in a week. He’s been out of practice with bronchitis. So that might’ve been part of it.”
Harding Academy scored on its first possession despite very little momentum. Two big fourth-down plays were the key to the drive. On fourth and 4 on its first set of downs, HA completed a 45-yard pass down the right sideline to the Beebe 21.
The next three plays gained just 1 yard, but the Wildcats connected for a 16-yard strike on fourth down to set up first and goal at the 4. Beebe then jumped off sides twice to move the ball to the 1, where HA scored on the next play.
That was about all the success the Wildcats would enjoy offensively the rest of the night.
Beebe’s second team offense overcame two 5-yard penalties to march down to the HA 24 before losing a fumble on the next-to-last play. The Badgers’ second-team defense dominated. HA converted just one first down on its last play of the possession.
Beebe’s first team offense started out much better on its second possession. Halfback Jo’Vaughn Wyrick scampered 70 yards untouched for a quick score. Two more plays resulted in a first down, but the next two lost 10 yards. On third and 20, Smith went 50 yards up the middle to the HA 20-yard line. Wyrick finished that off on the next play for another score.
After resetting, Wyrick caught a rollout pass for a 20-yard gain and Smith finished the possession with a 6-yard run.
HA’s first offense managed three first downs, but could not score on its second possession. Beebe’s second offense scored on a 45-yard run by Bo Smith.
Beebe opens the regular season in just three days. The Badgers will take on Greenbrier at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday at War Memorial Stadium.
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