By DEBORAH HORN
Leader staff writer
There are published reports of hangings, a suicide and a death in a dumbwaiter, of a loud bang and a scream at midnight and an early morning ghost sighting by a well-respected and beloved Lonoke County journalist, law- enforcement officers and other residents.
Still, the county judge remains skeptical of ghosts roaming the halls of the Lonoke County Courthouse, but there are others who claim to have heard strange noises and witnessed flickering lights, an old man whose presence can’t be explained but who seems to have the ability to appear or disappear in an instant, and there are unusual office machinery malfunctions that can’t be explained.
For years, rumors of ghosts have swirled around the building that’s nearing it 88th birthday, but the grounds where it was built has a much longer, more colorful history dating to before the Civil War.
FIRST HAND ACCOUNTS
Just a few feet from Lonoke County Judge Doug Erwin’s office, his assistant, Leigh Kennedy claims her adding machine starts clicking at odd moments and when no one else is around.
“It’s always zeros,” Kennedy says about the key that acts up. She believes the ghost’s fascination with the adding machine means the ghost is a woman.
Her office mate, Jenny Nelson, nods in agreement, but otherwise, she says, she’s seen “nothing strange.”
The judge muses that perhaps Kennedy needs a new calculator.
Two floors above, Margaret Uzzell, court assistant to Circuit Court Judge Sandy Huckabee, has heard her share of noises, including the slamming doors — ones that were open only moments earlier, she says.
“I’ve never seen a ghost but have heard doors shutting and open in the morning before other people have gotten here and in the evening after everyone is gone.”
She tells the story of a prisoner who got stuck in the dumbwaiter and died.
Erwin says, “I’ve heard that story before.”
Uzzell says about the third floor, located just below the old jail, “I just don’t know, but there are things that I can’t explain.”
OFFICIAL REPORT
While Lonoke County Sheriff John Staley says he’s heard stories, Deputy Keith Sorrells, who serves at the courthouse, claims to have heard and seen “things” he can’t explain.
While locking up for the evening, Sorrells says there are strange noises and “lights going on and off” for no reason.
Staley says, “I’ve heard of the (old man) ghost” firsthand and from a trusted source.
Sorrells has heard the same story from others as well.
LONG HISTORY
A few blocks away at the Lonoke County Museum, its director, Sherryl Miller, says the Lonoke County government has a colored past that predates the Civil War and its first courthouse at Brownsville.
The first courthouse was a wooden structure, built in 1847, that burned down about seven years later. The next courthouse and the county jail were built in 1854 but were later torn down by the Union Army.
She says the brick was moved to DeValls Bluff, and it was used to construct ovens to bake bread needed to feed Union soldiers.
The cells and doors from the original jail were saved and used by a local Brownsville farmer as a corn crib.
The county seat was moved from Brownsville to Lonoke in 1873, and the courthouse at Brownsville was dismantled and moved to Lonoke.
In 1928, a new four-story brick courthouse with the county jail on the fourth floor was built. The original jail doors from the Brownsville jail were again recycled and used to secure prisoners on the fourth floor. There are 20 cells, 18 for men and two for women, and the jail opens to the roof, where prisoners could get a little exercise and fresh air.
The original door still hangs on the old jail.
The Lonoke County Courthouse is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
“It’s a beautiful courthouse,” Miller says.
HANGINGS AND SUICIDE
While Miller has no firsthand experience with ghosts at the courthouse, she says deaths have occurred at the building.
Before construction of the present day courthouse, Miller says, “Henry Burnett was hanged Thursday (Sept. 3, 1885) in the presence of 4,000 people,” according to a newspaper report.
She believes it probably happened on the courthouse lawn as was the tradition at that time.
Tragically in 1893, Lonoke County Judge H.T. Bradford’s son entered the nearby jail and with a gun he found there, he “took his own life,” whether accidentally or on purpose.
He was in the fifth grade.
Erwin tells the tale of a prisoner jumping off the fourth floor’s exercise yard on the roof to the ground below.
He didn’t die but broke both legs.
At one point, coffins for paupers were made onsite.
There’s also an Oct. 27, 1999 article, written by Ed Galucki for the Lonoke Democrat. The now retired reporter turned ghost hunter spent the night at the courthouse with his wife, Sue.
They were awakened at midnight by a gunshot or slamming door and a scream, but Galucki also reported seeing a vanishing old man and an overturned potted plant, among other unexplained events.
In retrospect, Galucki says, “I never did go back, though I wanted to. And yes, I think there is something there.”
He says he has tried to find someone to talk about the old man — perhaps the same one he saw — but, he adds, “I found no one willing to speak for print. They were worried about being thought a little crazy.”
BREATHING NEW LIFE INTO OLD JAIL
Whether ghosts roam these halls or not, Erwin says he wants to give the old jail new life.
“All it needs is a facelift,” that, Erwin says, includes a good cleaning and a new coat of paint.
Currently, it remains off-limits to the public because it’s filled with decades of court papers — already mountains of papers are being moved to the old county jail at 301 Court St. that was replaced by the new Lonoke County Sheriff Detention Center at 440 Dee Dee Lane.
Each county department gets its own cell for storage, he says.
Erwin believes he could do the work on the cheap, and the old jail with its 162-year-old door and other hardware, as well as the building, could potentially draw tourists to the courthouse, he said.
Friday, October 28, 2016
Wednesday, October 26, 2016
SPORTS STORY >> Grizzly QB a concern for Panthers
By RAY BENTON
Leader sports editor
The Cabot Panthers continue to struggle as they enter the final two weeks of the regular season against the current top two teams in the 7A-Central.
This Friday the Panthers host second-place Fort Smith Northside, who just lost its first conference game of the year to first-place North Little Rock, 35-28.
It was the Grizzlies first loss since falling 33-25 to Greenwood 33-25 in the season opener Sept. 2.
Senior Tre Norwood, who is committed to the University of Louisville as a cornerback, led Northside at quarterback last week.
He hasn’t played quarterback most of the season, however. He filled in for regular starter Max Frazier, and it would suit Cabot coach Mike Malham just fine if Norwood were back on defense this Friday.
“They had another kid playing quarterback that was injured,” said Malham. “Norwood is a good runner, throws it pretty good, too. He’s a lot like that quarterback from Pine Bluff that gave us so much trouble. I kind of hope the other one comes back to be honest with you.”
Cabot has had its own quarterback injury problems the last three games. Razorback commit Jarrod Barnes suffered a high ankle sprain three weeks ago on the first play of the second half against Conway. The Wampus Cats scored 23 unanswered points after that injury and won the game 37-14.
The following week, Cabot (6-2, 3-2) edged by last place Little Rock Central 23-20, before getting drummed 48-20 by Bryant last Friday.
It was Cabot’s pass defense that suffered in last week’s game. The Panthers gave uponly 40 yards on the ground, but Bryant threw for more than 300 yards. Some of that had to do with missing one starting defensive back and another playing with a nagging injury.
Malham expects the defense to be back at full strength this week.
“That should help some, but we just didn’t cover anybody,” Malham said. “Our run defense was strong. We should have (starting safety Evan) Hooper back, and (Dylan) Smith should be back to pretty close to 100 percent. So hopefully that’ll help.”
Cody Skinner threw 13 passes at quarterback for Cabot last week.
He completed eight of them, seven to Barnes, who decided on Friday he felt good enough to take the field.
“He didn’t practice all week,” Malham said of Barnes. “He told us Friday he felt about 80-85 percent, so we decided to put him out there on an island, kind of keep him away where he wouldn’t have to get all the contact.”
As of Tuesday, it still wasn’t determined whether Barnes would remain at wide receiver, or return to quarterback for this week’s game.
“As soon as he gets 100 percent, he’ll be back handling the ball on every play,” Malham said. “We just don’t know when that will be right now.”
Barnes had 96 receiving yards and two touchdowns last week.
Northside (5-2, 4-1) has played one less game than most teams. It’s final nonconference game against Pine Bluff was canceled because of storms, but the Grizzlies and Panthers share four opponents in conference play. Most of the results seem to favor Northside.
The Grizzlies beat both teams that beat Cabot. They manhandled Bryant 29-0 in the league opener at Bryant on Sept. 23, and also got a road win over Conway, 28-21.
Northside beat Central 19-0. The Grizzlies skirted by Catholic 26-19 while Cabot beat the Rockets 35-14.
Kickoff at Panther Stadium is scheduled for 7 p.m.
Leader sports editor
The Cabot Panthers continue to struggle as they enter the final two weeks of the regular season against the current top two teams in the 7A-Central.
This Friday the Panthers host second-place Fort Smith Northside, who just lost its first conference game of the year to first-place North Little Rock, 35-28.
It was the Grizzlies first loss since falling 33-25 to Greenwood 33-25 in the season opener Sept. 2.
Senior Tre Norwood, who is committed to the University of Louisville as a cornerback, led Northside at quarterback last week.
He hasn’t played quarterback most of the season, however. He filled in for regular starter Max Frazier, and it would suit Cabot coach Mike Malham just fine if Norwood were back on defense this Friday.
“They had another kid playing quarterback that was injured,” said Malham. “Norwood is a good runner, throws it pretty good, too. He’s a lot like that quarterback from Pine Bluff that gave us so much trouble. I kind of hope the other one comes back to be honest with you.”
Cabot has had its own quarterback injury problems the last three games. Razorback commit Jarrod Barnes suffered a high ankle sprain three weeks ago on the first play of the second half against Conway. The Wampus Cats scored 23 unanswered points after that injury and won the game 37-14.
The following week, Cabot (6-2, 3-2) edged by last place Little Rock Central 23-20, before getting drummed 48-20 by Bryant last Friday.
It was Cabot’s pass defense that suffered in last week’s game. The Panthers gave uponly 40 yards on the ground, but Bryant threw for more than 300 yards. Some of that had to do with missing one starting defensive back and another playing with a nagging injury.
Malham expects the defense to be back at full strength this week.
“That should help some, but we just didn’t cover anybody,” Malham said. “Our run defense was strong. We should have (starting safety Evan) Hooper back, and (Dylan) Smith should be back to pretty close to 100 percent. So hopefully that’ll help.”
Cody Skinner threw 13 passes at quarterback for Cabot last week.
He completed eight of them, seven to Barnes, who decided on Friday he felt good enough to take the field.
“He didn’t practice all week,” Malham said of Barnes. “He told us Friday he felt about 80-85 percent, so we decided to put him out there on an island, kind of keep him away where he wouldn’t have to get all the contact.”
As of Tuesday, it still wasn’t determined whether Barnes would remain at wide receiver, or return to quarterback for this week’s game.
“As soon as he gets 100 percent, he’ll be back handling the ball on every play,” Malham said. “We just don’t know when that will be right now.”
Barnes had 96 receiving yards and two touchdowns last week.
Northside (5-2, 4-1) has played one less game than most teams. It’s final nonconference game against Pine Bluff was canceled because of storms, but the Grizzlies and Panthers share four opponents in conference play. Most of the results seem to favor Northside.
The Grizzlies beat both teams that beat Cabot. They manhandled Bryant 29-0 in the league opener at Bryant on Sept. 23, and also got a road win over Conway, 28-21.
Northside beat Central 19-0. The Grizzlies skirted by Catholic 26-19 while Cabot beat the Rockets 35-14.
Kickoff at Panther Stadium is scheduled for 7 p.m.
SPORTS STORY >> Lighthouse after state in first year
By RAY BENTON
Leader sports editor
The Jacksonville Lighthouse Charter Wolves have high expectations for this basketball season, the first one in which the school will be eligible to compete as an officially sanctioned team.
The Wolves move up to Class 2A this season, and though they lose one key starter, they have enough returning to go with some key additions, that the state’s highest prize is their final goal.
“We’re moving up, we aren’t even worried about it,” said Lighthouse coach Kelvin Parker. “Conferences are all messed up, mixing 1A and 2A. None of that matters to us. We won’t be satisfied unless we win the whole thing.”
The returning starters include 6-foot-5 senior Zack Bobo, 6-foot-3 guard/forward Cameron Shaffer, 5-8 point guard Chris Mims and 6-3 forward Courtney Jefferson. Senior Dior Cox and junior Jakalon Simuel also saw ample playing time last season.
Even with all that experience returning, the Wolves’ offense will revolve around two freshmen that led the team in scoring in its unofficial exhibition game last week.
Gerald Doakes is one of the highest rated prospects in his class in the entire state. The 6-2 guard, Parker says, is a pure scorer.
“He can flat fill it up,” Parker said. “We’re working on his defense. He doesn’t play too much defense right now, but you got to let a kid like that do what he can do. The defense will come along.”
Doakes scored 28 in last week’s 83-50 win over the Saline County Home School team. The second-leading scorer was another freshman, Davonte Davis, who dropped in 18 points.
“We have a lot of guys that can score,” Parker said. “Bobo, Shaffer and Mims probably all led us in scoring at times last season. Doakes will probably lead us most games this year, but it’s not like you’ll just be able to shut him down and you got us beat. That’s why I’m so optimistic about this team.”
Eric Childs is a junior who has worked himself into the starting rotation this season, and 6-foot-4 McClellan transfer Troy Spivey adds even more athleticism to the squad.
“I don’t really say we have a starting five,” Parker said. “I have about 10 guys I feel like are starters. They know they’ve got to practice to earn that time in a game.”
Bobo averaged a double-double last season while Mims and Shaffer scored near or above 20 several times.
The Wolves were not eligible for postseason in Class 1A last year, but did put together a good season for as long as it lasted. After Christmas when other teams began their conference schedule, the Jacksonville Lighthouse Charter School didn’t have many more games, but it did win first place at the Conway Christian tournament, lost a competitive game to Jacksonville High and beat North Pulaski in the Red Devil Classic, and also beat Class 6A Russellville in a tournament last December.
The Wolves are back in the Jacksonville tournament this year, and slated to take on defending Class 7A state champion Cabot in the first game Dec. 19.
“I told the kids about that game and they’re pumped,” Parker said. “They feel like they can compete with anybody. If we’ll get our defense going like we need to, and that’s what we’ve been working on, I think we can, too.” JLCS’ first official game is this Friday at Pangburn.
Leader sports editor
The Jacksonville Lighthouse Charter Wolves have high expectations for this basketball season, the first one in which the school will be eligible to compete as an officially sanctioned team.
The Wolves move up to Class 2A this season, and though they lose one key starter, they have enough returning to go with some key additions, that the state’s highest prize is their final goal.
“We’re moving up, we aren’t even worried about it,” said Lighthouse coach Kelvin Parker. “Conferences are all messed up, mixing 1A and 2A. None of that matters to us. We won’t be satisfied unless we win the whole thing.”
The returning starters include 6-foot-5 senior Zack Bobo, 6-foot-3 guard/forward Cameron Shaffer, 5-8 point guard Chris Mims and 6-3 forward Courtney Jefferson. Senior Dior Cox and junior Jakalon Simuel also saw ample playing time last season.
Even with all that experience returning, the Wolves’ offense will revolve around two freshmen that led the team in scoring in its unofficial exhibition game last week.
Gerald Doakes is one of the highest rated prospects in his class in the entire state. The 6-2 guard, Parker says, is a pure scorer.
“He can flat fill it up,” Parker said. “We’re working on his defense. He doesn’t play too much defense right now, but you got to let a kid like that do what he can do. The defense will come along.”
Doakes scored 28 in last week’s 83-50 win over the Saline County Home School team. The second-leading scorer was another freshman, Davonte Davis, who dropped in 18 points.
“We have a lot of guys that can score,” Parker said. “Bobo, Shaffer and Mims probably all led us in scoring at times last season. Doakes will probably lead us most games this year, but it’s not like you’ll just be able to shut him down and you got us beat. That’s why I’m so optimistic about this team.”
Eric Childs is a junior who has worked himself into the starting rotation this season, and 6-foot-4 McClellan transfer Troy Spivey adds even more athleticism to the squad.
“I don’t really say we have a starting five,” Parker said. “I have about 10 guys I feel like are starters. They know they’ve got to practice to earn that time in a game.”
Bobo averaged a double-double last season while Mims and Shaffer scored near or above 20 several times.
The Wolves were not eligible for postseason in Class 1A last year, but did put together a good season for as long as it lasted. After Christmas when other teams began their conference schedule, the Jacksonville Lighthouse Charter School didn’t have many more games, but it did win first place at the Conway Christian tournament, lost a competitive game to Jacksonville High and beat North Pulaski in the Red Devil Classic, and also beat Class 6A Russellville in a tournament last December.
The Wolves are back in the Jacksonville tournament this year, and slated to take on defending Class 7A state champion Cabot in the first game Dec. 19.
“I told the kids about that game and they’re pumped,” Parker said. “They feel like they can compete with anybody. If we’ll get our defense going like we need to, and that’s what we’ve been working on, I think we can, too.” JLCS’ first official game is this Friday at Pangburn.
SPORTS STORY >> Lonoke rolls in first round
By RAY BENTON
Leader sports editor
The Lonoke volleyball team has been a 15-year mainstay in the state tournament, but wins have been hard to come by. That changed Tuesday when the Lady Jackrabbits swept Pocahontas 3-0 in first round of the 2016 Class 4A State Tournament it is hosting.
Even though Lonoke has been in the state tournament every year since 2002, it’s the first tournament win for the Lady Jackrabbits since 2006, and the ultimate goal is three more and a state championship.
Scores in Tuesday’s win over the Lady Redskins were 25-17, 25-14 and 25-22. Lonoke’s front line was solid defensively, making life very hard for Pocahontas’ big hitters.
“Our front row was really strong,” said Lonoke coach Laura Park. “That’s been a strength of ours all year. We’ve got some tall girls up there and good jumping ability with our height. We’re a pretty athletic team so that should be a strength for us.”
Lonoke wasn’t quite as aggressive as Park would have liked, and certainly didn’t play as cleanly as it will have to in order to continue advancing through the tournament.
“We hit too many out of bounds and too many serves into the net,” Park said. “I thought we were more aggressive than we were in our loss in district finals. I thought we were way too timid in that one. We were a little better today, but not as aggressive I want us to be. So those are two things I think we can improve upon. But our goal is the same as it’s always been, and that’s to win state. We took one more step towards that goal today so overall I’m pleased.”
Lonoke scored first in every set on the court-two match. The Lady Jackrabbits relinquished the big arena floor to Berryville and Booneville, and faced Pocahontas in the old gym.
Game one was tight. Lonoke’s Lindsey McFadden took serve with the host teamleading 11-8. She served one ace, followed by a stuff block by Madelyn Sherrill and kill down the line by Keiunna Walker that made it 14-8 and forced Pocahontas to call its first timeout.
The Lady Redskins broke serve out of the timeout, The two teams traded side outs until Sherrill served four-straight for Lonoke. Walker added two more kills and Kennedy White drove home another, making the score 20-10 and forcing another timeout.
Pocahontas scored six-straight out of that break, but never got any closer. Mikayla Kirk got three-consecutive kills during the rally, but Lonoke broke before Kayla Shelton added a pair of kills down the line for a 23-16 Lonoke lead. Lonoke won game point on an unforced error.
The Lady Jackrabbits opened game two with a Walker kill right into the face of Pocahontas setter Macy Matlock and it set the tone for the entire game. Lonoke jumped out to an 11-5 advantage before Pocahontas rallied back to within one point.
Shelton took serve for Lonoke and put up four-straight points, including an ace that made it 16-10 and forced a timeout.
Again, Pocahontas (16-10) broke out of the timeout and pulled to within 16-12, but after Lonoke broke serve, White served up an ace to start another four-point rally that left Pocahontas in too large of a hole to dig out.
Lonoke took control of game three as well, but lost a handle on it late in the game. Lindsey McFadden took serve for the Lady Jackrabbits with her team leading 9-7. After a kill by Walker, and block by Sherrill and three long hits by Pocahontas, Lonoke led 14-7 and the visiting team needed another break.
The two teams traded side outs to 19-12 before Poca-hontas had its best run of the match. The Lady Redskins got two kills apiece from Kirk and Serena Crisco. Those went along with a pair of Lonoke unforced errors that made it 19-18. Pocahontas finally served long to go down 20-18, but got right back to within one on a net serve by Lonoke.
Pocahontas then served long again, and Lonoke scored two-straight for a 23-20 lead. The Lady Jackrabbits thought they had point 24 on a tip by Walker, but a net violation gave Pocahontas the point and serve trailing 23-21.
On the ensuing serve, a near ace by Pocahontas turned into a point for Lonoke. McFadden made a diving dig of the serve. The ball caromed over the net, where the Lady Redskins failed to react properly, and ended up four-balling into the net to set up match point.
It took one more side out, but Pocahontas missed its 14th serve on match point to give Lonoke the victory.
Walker and Kirk led their respective teams with 12 kills apiece. White had nine kills and six blocks for Lonoke while Shelton had seven kills for the Lady Jackrabbits. Sherrill had four kills and four blocks while Emily Armstrong led Lonoke with nine points on serve.
Shelton and Gracie Mason had eight service points each.
Serena Crisco added nine kills for Pocahontas.
The Lady Jackrabbits (35-4-1) will face defending state runners-up Mena in today’s quarterfinal. Mena (27-7) knocked Lonoke out of the 2015 state tournament last season. The Lady Bearcats, the 4A-West District champions, beat West Fork in straight sets in Tuesday’s first round. Scores in that match were 25-11, 25-19 and 25-16.
Leader sports editor
The Lonoke volleyball team has been a 15-year mainstay in the state tournament, but wins have been hard to come by. That changed Tuesday when the Lady Jackrabbits swept Pocahontas 3-0 in first round of the 2016 Class 4A State Tournament it is hosting.
Even though Lonoke has been in the state tournament every year since 2002, it’s the first tournament win for the Lady Jackrabbits since 2006, and the ultimate goal is three more and a state championship.
Scores in Tuesday’s win over the Lady Redskins were 25-17, 25-14 and 25-22. Lonoke’s front line was solid defensively, making life very hard for Pocahontas’ big hitters.
“Our front row was really strong,” said Lonoke coach Laura Park. “That’s been a strength of ours all year. We’ve got some tall girls up there and good jumping ability with our height. We’re a pretty athletic team so that should be a strength for us.”
Lonoke wasn’t quite as aggressive as Park would have liked, and certainly didn’t play as cleanly as it will have to in order to continue advancing through the tournament.
“We hit too many out of bounds and too many serves into the net,” Park said. “I thought we were more aggressive than we were in our loss in district finals. I thought we were way too timid in that one. We were a little better today, but not as aggressive I want us to be. So those are two things I think we can improve upon. But our goal is the same as it’s always been, and that’s to win state. We took one more step towards that goal today so overall I’m pleased.”
Lonoke scored first in every set on the court-two match. The Lady Jackrabbits relinquished the big arena floor to Berryville and Booneville, and faced Pocahontas in the old gym.
Game one was tight. Lonoke’s Lindsey McFadden took serve with the host teamleading 11-8. She served one ace, followed by a stuff block by Madelyn Sherrill and kill down the line by Keiunna Walker that made it 14-8 and forced Pocahontas to call its first timeout.
The Lady Redskins broke serve out of the timeout, The two teams traded side outs until Sherrill served four-straight for Lonoke. Walker added two more kills and Kennedy White drove home another, making the score 20-10 and forcing another timeout.
Pocahontas scored six-straight out of that break, but never got any closer. Mikayla Kirk got three-consecutive kills during the rally, but Lonoke broke before Kayla Shelton added a pair of kills down the line for a 23-16 Lonoke lead. Lonoke won game point on an unforced error.
The Lady Jackrabbits opened game two with a Walker kill right into the face of Pocahontas setter Macy Matlock and it set the tone for the entire game. Lonoke jumped out to an 11-5 advantage before Pocahontas rallied back to within one point.
Shelton took serve for Lonoke and put up four-straight points, including an ace that made it 16-10 and forced a timeout.
Again, Pocahontas (16-10) broke out of the timeout and pulled to within 16-12, but after Lonoke broke serve, White served up an ace to start another four-point rally that left Pocahontas in too large of a hole to dig out.
Lonoke took control of game three as well, but lost a handle on it late in the game. Lindsey McFadden took serve for the Lady Jackrabbits with her team leading 9-7. After a kill by Walker, and block by Sherrill and three long hits by Pocahontas, Lonoke led 14-7 and the visiting team needed another break.
The two teams traded side outs to 19-12 before Poca-hontas had its best run of the match. The Lady Redskins got two kills apiece from Kirk and Serena Crisco. Those went along with a pair of Lonoke unforced errors that made it 19-18. Pocahontas finally served long to go down 20-18, but got right back to within one on a net serve by Lonoke.
Pocahontas then served long again, and Lonoke scored two-straight for a 23-20 lead. The Lady Jackrabbits thought they had point 24 on a tip by Walker, but a net violation gave Pocahontas the point and serve trailing 23-21.
On the ensuing serve, a near ace by Pocahontas turned into a point for Lonoke. McFadden made a diving dig of the serve. The ball caromed over the net, where the Lady Redskins failed to react properly, and ended up four-balling into the net to set up match point.
It took one more side out, but Pocahontas missed its 14th serve on match point to give Lonoke the victory.
Walker and Kirk led their respective teams with 12 kills apiece. White had nine kills and six blocks for Lonoke while Shelton had seven kills for the Lady Jackrabbits. Sherrill had four kills and four blocks while Emily Armstrong led Lonoke with nine points on serve.
Shelton and Gracie Mason had eight service points each.
Serena Crisco added nine kills for Pocahontas.
The Lady Jackrabbits (35-4-1) will face defending state runners-up Mena in today’s quarterfinal. Mena (27-7) knocked Lonoke out of the 2015 state tournament last season. The Lady Bearcats, the 4A-West District champions, beat West Fork in straight sets in Tuesday’s first round. Scores in that match were 25-11, 25-19 and 25-16.
TOP STORY >> New Lonoke Senior Center
By DEBORAH HORN
Leader staff writer
If all goes as planned, 2017 will be a busy year for Lonoke County Council on Aging. In addition to the recently announced refitting of the old Cabot library at 506 N. Grant St. to serve as the future Cabot Senior Center, the LCCA announced this week the construction of a new Lonoke Senior Center.
“We’re pleased with this development,” LCCA executive director Buster Lackey said Monday.
Also, the LCCA plans to start preparing the meals it serves to seniors within the next few weeks.
A BIG YEAR AHEAD
The next 18 months or so will be demanding as his staff tackle two major construction projects, he said.
Renovations at the Cabot Senior Center should begin by Jan. 1 and will be done in two phases ending in late 2017.
“It doubles the space,” Lackey said. The new Cabot Senior Center will be about 8,000 square feet.
LONOKE SENIOR CENTER
Concurrently, the groundbreaking and construction will begin on the $700,000 Lonoke Senior Center on 1.5 acres on the corner of Hwy. 70 and West Academy Street.
Robert M. Schelle of Cabot is the architect on the Lonoke project.
The 5,517 square-foot senior center will be on the lot where the Lonoke Community Center’s soccer fields are now located, adjacent to the Community Center.
“We’re not taking the kids’ soccer fields away,” Lackey stressed. Instead, the soccer fields are being moved to the other side of the Community Center and this will give the kids more area to play.
The city donated the land for construction of the senior center, saving the LCCA about $20,000 and will help with site prep work, which will save another $150,000, Lackey said.
“It was a big deal,” he said about the city’s help.
TWO PHASES
“We’re building it (the Lonoke Senior Center) in two phases,” Lackey said.
Phase I will include the construction of the three offices and a conference room, storage space, a dining hall and activity center. Phase II includes a commercial kitchen and more storage.
The conference hall will be rented out for meetings, parties, family reunions and other events.
Phase I will be paid for in part by a $200,000 Arkansas Economic Development Community Grant, plus a $350,000 USDA low-interest, fixed-rate 40-year loan.
“That gets us started,” he said, but in order to pay for Phase II, expected to cost approximately $150,000, LCCA staff will start looking for grants.
Once the kitchen is completed, he said they might consider building a greenhouse and raised beds for gardening for their members.
Lackey said if a potential and large donator is interested in naming rights to the new facility, to give him a call.
Phase I should be completed by the end of 2017.
A GROWING NEED
Lackey said that as the number of seniors continues to increase, the need for services becomes more vital.
Annual numbers for 2015, included serving 32,954 Meal on Wheels’ meals, in-center meals totaled 17,422 and adults transported to medical appointments, shopping and day trips numbered 4,887.
Without services such as those provided by LCCA, Lackey said seniors have little choice but to enter into a care facility or move close to their children.
Leader staff writer
If all goes as planned, 2017 will be a busy year for Lonoke County Council on Aging. In addition to the recently announced refitting of the old Cabot library at 506 N. Grant St. to serve as the future Cabot Senior Center, the LCCA announced this week the construction of a new Lonoke Senior Center.
“We’re pleased with this development,” LCCA executive director Buster Lackey said Monday.
Also, the LCCA plans to start preparing the meals it serves to seniors within the next few weeks.
A BIG YEAR AHEAD
The next 18 months or so will be demanding as his staff tackle two major construction projects, he said.
Renovations at the Cabot Senior Center should begin by Jan. 1 and will be done in two phases ending in late 2017.
“It doubles the space,” Lackey said. The new Cabot Senior Center will be about 8,000 square feet.
LONOKE SENIOR CENTER
Concurrently, the groundbreaking and construction will begin on the $700,000 Lonoke Senior Center on 1.5 acres on the corner of Hwy. 70 and West Academy Street.
Robert M. Schelle of Cabot is the architect on the Lonoke project.
The 5,517 square-foot senior center will be on the lot where the Lonoke Community Center’s soccer fields are now located, adjacent to the Community Center.
“We’re not taking the kids’ soccer fields away,” Lackey stressed. Instead, the soccer fields are being moved to the other side of the Community Center and this will give the kids more area to play.
The city donated the land for construction of the senior center, saving the LCCA about $20,000 and will help with site prep work, which will save another $150,000, Lackey said.
“It was a big deal,” he said about the city’s help.
TWO PHASES
“We’re building it (the Lonoke Senior Center) in two phases,” Lackey said.
Phase I will include the construction of the three offices and a conference room, storage space, a dining hall and activity center. Phase II includes a commercial kitchen and more storage.
The conference hall will be rented out for meetings, parties, family reunions and other events.
Phase I will be paid for in part by a $200,000 Arkansas Economic Development Community Grant, plus a $350,000 USDA low-interest, fixed-rate 40-year loan.
“That gets us started,” he said, but in order to pay for Phase II, expected to cost approximately $150,000, LCCA staff will start looking for grants.
Once the kitchen is completed, he said they might consider building a greenhouse and raised beds for gardening for their members.
Lackey said if a potential and large donator is interested in naming rights to the new facility, to give him a call.
Phase I should be completed by the end of 2017.
A GROWING NEED
Lackey said that as the number of seniors continues to increase, the need for services becomes more vital.
Annual numbers for 2015, included serving 32,954 Meal on Wheels’ meals, in-center meals totaled 17,422 and adults transported to medical appointments, shopping and day trips numbered 4,887.
Without services such as those provided by LCCA, Lackey said seniors have little choice but to enter into a care facility or move close to their children.
TOP STORY >> Early voting is underway
Early voting started Monday in Arkansas.
As of 6 p.m. Tuesday, 6,331 early votes were cast in Pulaski County on the second day of voting. That brings the total number of votes cast in this election to 12,471.
White County had 1,662 early votes cast as of 4 p.m. Tuesday.
Lonoke County had 1,570 early votes on Monday. They did not have today’s numbers.
Broken down by polling location:
Cabot 800; Lonoke 350; Ward 234; England 101, and Carlisle 85.
Early voting will be held until Nov. 7 at the Lonoke Community Center 1344 W. Front St., and at the Cabot old projects building, 802 N. Second St., across from Harp’s grocery store.
Polling places will be open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday.
Early voting is being held this week in Ward at the chamber of commerce building, 80 W. Second St.
Hours are 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. through Friday and from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday.
Early voting will also be held through Saturday, Nov. 5 at the Jacksonville Community Center, 5 Municipal Drive, and at the Sherwood Senior Citizens Center, 2301 Thornhill Drive.
Hours at both locations are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday.
Pulaski County residents can also vote early at the Pulaski County Regional Building, 501 Markham St. in Little Rock from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays Monday, Oct. 24 through Saturday, Nov. 5, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturdays.
On Monday, Nov. 7, voting there will run from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Offsite early voting will run 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays through Nov. 4 and 10 am. to 4 p.m. on Saturdays.
Early voting will be held in Searcy in the White County Courthouse lobby and at the Carmichael Community Center, 801 S. Elm St.
The locations will be open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. through Nov. 4.
They will open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 29 and Saturday, Nov. 5.
They will be open on Monday, Nov. 7 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Besides local, state and national candidates, five issues are on the ballot, including medical marijuana. Issue 1 asks voters to extend terms of county officials to four years.
Issue 2 extends the authority of governors when they are out of state. Issue 3 would allow more incentives to businesses.
As of 6 p.m. Tuesday, 6,331 early votes were cast in Pulaski County on the second day of voting. That brings the total number of votes cast in this election to 12,471.
White County had 1,662 early votes cast as of 4 p.m. Tuesday.
Lonoke County had 1,570 early votes on Monday. They did not have today’s numbers.
Broken down by polling location:
Cabot 800; Lonoke 350; Ward 234; England 101, and Carlisle 85.
Early voting will be held until Nov. 7 at the Lonoke Community Center 1344 W. Front St., and at the Cabot old projects building, 802 N. Second St., across from Harp’s grocery store.
Polling places will be open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday.
Early voting is being held this week in Ward at the chamber of commerce building, 80 W. Second St.
Hours are 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. through Friday and from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday.
Early voting will also be held through Saturday, Nov. 5 at the Jacksonville Community Center, 5 Municipal Drive, and at the Sherwood Senior Citizens Center, 2301 Thornhill Drive.
Hours at both locations are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday.
Pulaski County residents can also vote early at the Pulaski County Regional Building, 501 Markham St. in Little Rock from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays Monday, Oct. 24 through Saturday, Nov. 5, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturdays.
On Monday, Nov. 7, voting there will run from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Offsite early voting will run 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays through Nov. 4 and 10 am. to 4 p.m. on Saturdays.
Early voting will be held in Searcy in the White County Courthouse lobby and at the Carmichael Community Center, 801 S. Elm St.
The locations will be open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. through Nov. 4.
They will open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 29 and Saturday, Nov. 5.
They will be open on Monday, Nov. 7 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Besides local, state and national candidates, five issues are on the ballot, including medical marijuana. Issue 1 asks voters to extend terms of county officials to four years.
Issue 2 extends the authority of governors when they are out of state. Issue 3 would allow more incentives to businesses.
TOP STORY >> Dr. Holmes’ legacy on display
By DEBORAH HORN
Leader staff writer
For more than 60 years, Dr. Byron Eugene “Gene” Holmes was an important part of the Lonoke community. First as a doctor, but he also donated his time and intellect to making the small town a better place to live and work.
Holmes died on Oct. 2 at the age of 90.
In addition to a medical office on 305 Southwest Front St. in Lonoke, he was the kind of old-fashioned doctor who made house calls.
According to his children, their father improved the community’s quality of life through his public service that included 21 years as a school board member and a 25 years as a city alderman.
Holmes was a member of the Lonoke County Medical Society, Arkansas Medical Society and the American Medical Association.
At some point in his career, he was Lonoke County health officer and county coroner, and he was a church elder at First Presbyterian Church.
In 1982, Holmes was named Lonoke’s Man of the Year, and 20 years later he was presented the Lifetime Achievement Award by the Lonoke Chamber of Commerce. That same year, he received a Presidential Citation for his community service.
Now the city is further paying tribute to Holmes’ contributions with his own display room at the Lonoke County Museum and Research Center.
“We tried to make it just like walking into his office,” says Sherryl Miller, Lonoke County Museum director about their newly opened permanent Dr. Holmes Exhibit.
It includes numerous pieces from Holmes’ office, including examining tables, scales, cabinets and equipment.
This, Miller says, pointing to a large bag, its bottom wider than the top, was the bag Holmes carried when making house calls, Miller says.
“It’s my favorite,” she adds.
She also points out a microscope — it’s one of four on display — that came from Holmes’ collection.
In addition to his own instruments, he had collected a number of pieces from other physicians through the years, Miller says.
Holmes’ children donated the pieces to the museum, and his son, Lee Holmes of Fayetteville, has seen the exhibit.
He said he liked what he saw, and he and his siblings felt the museum was the “right place” to donate the mementoes to.
“It was nice to see his equipment on display. The museum was the right place…It’s like stepping back in time,” Lee Holmes says.
Holmes’ namesake, Byron E. Holmes Jr. of Forrest City, says about his father, “He was a big community supporter and gave to it in so many ways.”
Like Holmes’ contributions, his children felt the exhibit should remain part of the community and help educate future generations.
“It’s a good exhibit and museums are a fantastic way of keeping the past alive,” Bryon E. Holmes Jr. says.
His daughter, Amelia Muse of Lonoke, is also delighted with the exhibit.
“There are things he had since the beginning of his practice, which he started in 1950 and retired in 2011 at the age of 86, and “We wanted the community to see it.”
She says there are a few more pieces the family plans to donate to the museum.
“He was a big part of Lonoke and everyone loved him…People would always remember going to him as a child,” she recalls. Muse says about the exhibit, “They did a great job.”
The museum is staffed entirely by volunteers and operates on about $500 a month. It receives no city, county, state or federal funding.
For more information, call the Lonoke County Museum and Research Center at 501-676-6750.
The museum is located at 215 East Front St. in Lonoke. It is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m., and Saturday from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m.
Leader staff writer
For more than 60 years, Dr. Byron Eugene “Gene” Holmes was an important part of the Lonoke community. First as a doctor, but he also donated his time and intellect to making the small town a better place to live and work.
Holmes died on Oct. 2 at the age of 90.
In addition to a medical office on 305 Southwest Front St. in Lonoke, he was the kind of old-fashioned doctor who made house calls.
According to his children, their father improved the community’s quality of life through his public service that included 21 years as a school board member and a 25 years as a city alderman.
Holmes was a member of the Lonoke County Medical Society, Arkansas Medical Society and the American Medical Association.
At some point in his career, he was Lonoke County health officer and county coroner, and he was a church elder at First Presbyterian Church.
In 1982, Holmes was named Lonoke’s Man of the Year, and 20 years later he was presented the Lifetime Achievement Award by the Lonoke Chamber of Commerce. That same year, he received a Presidential Citation for his community service.
Now the city is further paying tribute to Holmes’ contributions with his own display room at the Lonoke County Museum and Research Center.
“We tried to make it just like walking into his office,” says Sherryl Miller, Lonoke County Museum director about their newly opened permanent Dr. Holmes Exhibit.
It includes numerous pieces from Holmes’ office, including examining tables, scales, cabinets and equipment.
This, Miller says, pointing to a large bag, its bottom wider than the top, was the bag Holmes carried when making house calls, Miller says.
“It’s my favorite,” she adds.
She also points out a microscope — it’s one of four on display — that came from Holmes’ collection.
In addition to his own instruments, he had collected a number of pieces from other physicians through the years, Miller says.
Holmes’ children donated the pieces to the museum, and his son, Lee Holmes of Fayetteville, has seen the exhibit.
He said he liked what he saw, and he and his siblings felt the museum was the “right place” to donate the mementoes to.
“It was nice to see his equipment on display. The museum was the right place…It’s like stepping back in time,” Lee Holmes says.
Holmes’ namesake, Byron E. Holmes Jr. of Forrest City, says about his father, “He was a big community supporter and gave to it in so many ways.”
Like Holmes’ contributions, his children felt the exhibit should remain part of the community and help educate future generations.
“It’s a good exhibit and museums are a fantastic way of keeping the past alive,” Bryon E. Holmes Jr. says.
His daughter, Amelia Muse of Lonoke, is also delighted with the exhibit.
“There are things he had since the beginning of his practice, which he started in 1950 and retired in 2011 at the age of 86, and “We wanted the community to see it.”
She says there are a few more pieces the family plans to donate to the museum.
“He was a big part of Lonoke and everyone loved him…People would always remember going to him as a child,” she recalls. Muse says about the exhibit, “They did a great job.”
The museum is staffed entirely by volunteers and operates on about $500 a month. It receives no city, county, state or federal funding.
For more information, call the Lonoke County Museum and Research Center at 501-676-6750.
The museum is located at 215 East Front St. in Lonoke. It is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m., and Saturday from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m.
Saturday, October 22, 2016
SPORTS STORY >> Lady Panthers edged out by Wildcats
By RAY BENTON
Leader sports editor
The Cabot Lady Panthers lost their regular-season finale at home Tuesday against North Little Rock, but the match still left the team and head coach Kham Chanthaphasouk optimistic about the state tournament that begins Tuesday in Springdale.
Cabot (17-15, 5-9) took 7A-Central Conference co-champions North Little Rock (21-7, 12-2) to the wire before falling 3-2 and snapping a three-match win streak.
Scores in the match were 25-23, 23-25, 25-22, 24-26 and 15-10 for the Charging Lady Wildcats.
“It would’ve been a lot nicer to hang on for the win, but we’re definitely playing better right now than we have all year,” said Chanthaphasouk. “If we could have started better we would have won. We gave away too many points in the first game and still almost came back to win it. We played really well after that. North Little Rock is so athletic. They have so many different players capable of big hits, and they have a really good setter that places the ball for them really well. We didn’t win this time, but it shows us that we are capable of beating the very best teams. It helps our confidence going to state.”
The first game was Cabot’s worst. The Lady Panthers had 10 unforced errors and missed five serves, giving the Lady Wildcats 15 points it didn’t have to work for in the opening game.
Game one was tied at 16 when the visiting team scored three-straight points. The margin stayed two or three until 24-21 when Cabot scored two straight to get within one point. North Little Rock’s Iman’I Jackson ended the game with a tip over the Cabot blockers into a hole in the defense.
Cabot took control early in game two and then had to hold off a furious NLR charge late. The Lady Panthers scored five-straight points, including two aces by Kaelee Simmons and three kills by Taylor Bell to take a 9-4 lead. That grew to as much as 19-13 before NLR began its comeback bid.
The Lady Wildcats tied the game at 22 after a long rally in which the NLR defense dug out two huge kill attempts by Cabot kill leader Maddie Brown. NLR’s Mya Thompson ended the rally with a massive hit from the back-row.
Cabot broke back instantly on a kill by Brown, and Hannah Freeman made it a two-point lead with an ace on the ensuing serve.
NLR broke, but Brown ended game two just as Jackson ended game one, with a tip into the middle of the defense that tied the match at one game apiece.
The visiting team controlled most of game three before Cabot rallied too little too late. NLR led 24-17 when Cabot put together a five-point rally on Regan Campbell’s serve. But the athletic Robinson ended that with another game-ending back-row kill.
Except for a brief period early, game four was neck and neck the entire way. Cabot suffered a brief lapse of three-straight unforced errors that gave NLR a 9-5 lead, but Lady Panther Mollie Johnson served four-straight points to knot the game up again.
Neither team led by more than one point the rest of the way until Cabot scored two-straight kills by Bell and Brown ended the game at 26-24.
Cabot then scored the first two points of the tiebreaker set, but a key mistake set off a series of three more that put NLR in control.
Simmons laid out flat on the floor to dig a huge hit by Robinson, but the rest of the team watched each other as the ball fell between them in the middle of the defense. That mistake gave NLR a 7-6 lead, and set off a series of five-straight unforced Cabot errors that left the visiting team with an 11-6 advantage that Cabot could not recover from.
“For the most part I’m pleased that we played better and I think it’s going to help us in the state tournament,” Chanthaphasouk said. “We had two major lapses, one in the first game and one in the last, but I think we proved to ourselves if nobody else, that if we can stay focused and avoid those, we can beat anybody.”
Brown led all players with 31 kills while Bell added 19 for Cabot. NLR had six players with at least five kills, and Robinson led them all with 22, and added 21 digs.
Simmons had 26 digs for Cabot while Brown added 16. NLR’s Taylor Greenwell led all players with 30 digs.
Brown, Freeman and Greenwell each served two aces in the match.
Cabot will be the six seed from the 7A-Central and will face 7A-West three seed Bentonville at 8 p.m. Tuesday at Har-Ber High School. A win in that match will mean a rematch with North Little Rock at 8 p.m. Wednesday.
Other first round matches include West four seed Rogers taking on Central five seed Mount St. Mary. Central three seed Fort Smith Southside will face 7A-West six seed Bentonville West, and Central four Northside faces West five Van Buren.
Central co-champs Conway and North Little Rock received a bye, with Conway getting the one seed by tiebreaker rules. West champion Fayetteville and second-place Har-Ber also await the second round.
Leader sports editor
The Cabot Lady Panthers lost their regular-season finale at home Tuesday against North Little Rock, but the match still left the team and head coach Kham Chanthaphasouk optimistic about the state tournament that begins Tuesday in Springdale.
Cabot (17-15, 5-9) took 7A-Central Conference co-champions North Little Rock (21-7, 12-2) to the wire before falling 3-2 and snapping a three-match win streak.
Scores in the match were 25-23, 23-25, 25-22, 24-26 and 15-10 for the Charging Lady Wildcats.
“It would’ve been a lot nicer to hang on for the win, but we’re definitely playing better right now than we have all year,” said Chanthaphasouk. “If we could have started better we would have won. We gave away too many points in the first game and still almost came back to win it. We played really well after that. North Little Rock is so athletic. They have so many different players capable of big hits, and they have a really good setter that places the ball for them really well. We didn’t win this time, but it shows us that we are capable of beating the very best teams. It helps our confidence going to state.”
The first game was Cabot’s worst. The Lady Panthers had 10 unforced errors and missed five serves, giving the Lady Wildcats 15 points it didn’t have to work for in the opening game.
Game one was tied at 16 when the visiting team scored three-straight points. The margin stayed two or three until 24-21 when Cabot scored two straight to get within one point. North Little Rock’s Iman’I Jackson ended the game with a tip over the Cabot blockers into a hole in the defense.
Cabot took control early in game two and then had to hold off a furious NLR charge late. The Lady Panthers scored five-straight points, including two aces by Kaelee Simmons and three kills by Taylor Bell to take a 9-4 lead. That grew to as much as 19-13 before NLR began its comeback bid.
The Lady Wildcats tied the game at 22 after a long rally in which the NLR defense dug out two huge kill attempts by Cabot kill leader Maddie Brown. NLR’s Mya Thompson ended the rally with a massive hit from the back-row.
Cabot broke back instantly on a kill by Brown, and Hannah Freeman made it a two-point lead with an ace on the ensuing serve.
NLR broke, but Brown ended game two just as Jackson ended game one, with a tip into the middle of the defense that tied the match at one game apiece.
The visiting team controlled most of game three before Cabot rallied too little too late. NLR led 24-17 when Cabot put together a five-point rally on Regan Campbell’s serve. But the athletic Robinson ended that with another game-ending back-row kill.
Except for a brief period early, game four was neck and neck the entire way. Cabot suffered a brief lapse of three-straight unforced errors that gave NLR a 9-5 lead, but Lady Panther Mollie Johnson served four-straight points to knot the game up again.
Neither team led by more than one point the rest of the way until Cabot scored two-straight kills by Bell and Brown ended the game at 26-24.
Cabot then scored the first two points of the tiebreaker set, but a key mistake set off a series of three more that put NLR in control.
Simmons laid out flat on the floor to dig a huge hit by Robinson, but the rest of the team watched each other as the ball fell between them in the middle of the defense. That mistake gave NLR a 7-6 lead, and set off a series of five-straight unforced Cabot errors that left the visiting team with an 11-6 advantage that Cabot could not recover from.
“For the most part I’m pleased that we played better and I think it’s going to help us in the state tournament,” Chanthaphasouk said. “We had two major lapses, one in the first game and one in the last, but I think we proved to ourselves if nobody else, that if we can stay focused and avoid those, we can beat anybody.”
Brown led all players with 31 kills while Bell added 19 for Cabot. NLR had six players with at least five kills, and Robinson led them all with 22, and added 21 digs.
Simmons had 26 digs for Cabot while Brown added 16. NLR’s Taylor Greenwell led all players with 30 digs.
Brown, Freeman and Greenwell each served two aces in the match.
Cabot will be the six seed from the 7A-Central and will face 7A-West three seed Bentonville at 8 p.m. Tuesday at Har-Ber High School. A win in that match will mean a rematch with North Little Rock at 8 p.m. Wednesday.
Other first round matches include West four seed Rogers taking on Central five seed Mount St. Mary. Central three seed Fort Smith Southside will face 7A-West six seed Bentonville West, and Central four Northside faces West five Van Buren.
Central co-champs Conway and North Little Rock received a bye, with Conway getting the one seed by tiebreaker rules. West champion Fayetteville and second-place Har-Ber also await the second round.
SPORTS STORY >> Devils get another victory at Jan Crow
By RAY BENTON
Leader sports editor
Jacksonville scored first, but a series of mistakes on kickoffs, costly penalties and a linearly challenged official conspired to give the West Memphis Blue Devils 28-straight first half points on its way to a 54-7 victory Friday at Jan Crow Stadium.
Jacksonville took an early lead on its second possession when quarterback Harderrious Martin started Friday’s game the same way he ended last week’s game, with a touchdown pass to Jonathan Hall, only last night’s pass was much deeper.
Martin scrambled to his right and unleashed a throw from the 50-yard line just before taking a hit. The ball hit Hall in stride at the back of the end zone and Darrel Kimble-Brooks added the extra point, giving Jacksonville a 7-0 lead with 5:41 left in the first quarter.
West Memphis responded with its own big play. On the fifth play of the ensuing drive, quarterback Amarius Stinnett hit Kordell Fenner 15 yards downfield. Fenner then raced the rest of the way for a 71-yard scoring strike that tied the game with 2:42 left in the first.
That’s when things really started going wrong for Jacksonville.
The Titans fumbled the ensuing kickoff and West Memphis covered it at the 14-yard line. It was the only kick return of the first half that the Titans lost, but they fumbled all of them.
Two Stinnett runs and 18 seconds after the turnover, West Memphis led 14-7.
A fumble for a loss of 3 yards and a penalty forced a three-and-out series for Jacksonville. West Memphis took over on its own 34 and marched down the field.
The drive took 14 plays and ended with a 10-yard draw play to Devontae Dean. With 6:38 to go in the half, the Blue Devils led 21-7.
Another flubbed kick meant a -12 yard return and Jacksonville started at its own 20.
The Titans were driving, going 42 yards in five plays, but a sack and two penalties moved them backwards and forced a punt from near midfield.
West Memphis took over at its own 22 with 2:15 left in the half, but 30 yards in penalties on Jacksonville helped the Devils down the field.
The first penalty came on second and 12 after an 18-yard gain. That play plus the penalty moved the ball from the West Memphis 30 to the Jacksonville 37.
Jacksonville’s Kendrick Rhynes then stuffed Dean for a 2-yard loss. Time was running out on the Blue Devils after a pass went for just 4 yards, but Jacksonville defensive coordinator Bryan Eagle was called for interfering with the line judge. The official did run into the JHS coach, but Eagle was behind his boundary. The official veered off the sideline and into Eagle, but the call stood.
The penalty stopped the clock with 35 seconds left, moved the ball to the Titan 18 and turned what would have been third and 8 and a moving clock into first down.
On the next play, Dean made an 18-yard touchdown reception for a 28-7 Blue Devil lead.
The second half played out much like the first. It took West Memphis until nearly the end of the third quarter to score again, but touchdowns came frequently in the fourth.
A 60-yard run by Martavis Thomas set up a first down at the 15. West Memphis had to convert a fourth and 9 and did so with a 10-yard run by Stinnett. Thomas got the last 2 with 1:53 left in the third quarter.
Another miscue on a kickoff left Jacksonville pinned inside its own 10, and the Titans ended up punting from 34.
Fenner then made his second long touchdown reception with 11:13 left in the game. The extra point was no good, leaving the score 41-7.
On the ensuing drive, Martin fumbled the shotgun snap and Blue Devil Darius Hodges picked the ball up and ran 20 yards for another score with 9:29 to go.
The next West Memphis drive started at the Jacksonville 29 after a dropped pass on fourth down by the Titans.
Quincy Marshall then ran 16 yards on the fifth play for the final touchdown of the game with 2:58 remaining and another missed PAT left the score 54-7.
West Memphis finished with 480 yards of offense to just 196 for Jacksonville. Shawn Ellis led the Titans with 84 rushing yards in 17 carries.
Leader sports editor
Jacksonville scored first, but a series of mistakes on kickoffs, costly penalties and a linearly challenged official conspired to give the West Memphis Blue Devils 28-straight first half points on its way to a 54-7 victory Friday at Jan Crow Stadium.
Jacksonville took an early lead on its second possession when quarterback Harderrious Martin started Friday’s game the same way he ended last week’s game, with a touchdown pass to Jonathan Hall, only last night’s pass was much deeper.
Martin scrambled to his right and unleashed a throw from the 50-yard line just before taking a hit. The ball hit Hall in stride at the back of the end zone and Darrel Kimble-Brooks added the extra point, giving Jacksonville a 7-0 lead with 5:41 left in the first quarter.
West Memphis responded with its own big play. On the fifth play of the ensuing drive, quarterback Amarius Stinnett hit Kordell Fenner 15 yards downfield. Fenner then raced the rest of the way for a 71-yard scoring strike that tied the game with 2:42 left in the first.
That’s when things really started going wrong for Jacksonville.
The Titans fumbled the ensuing kickoff and West Memphis covered it at the 14-yard line. It was the only kick return of the first half that the Titans lost, but they fumbled all of them.
Two Stinnett runs and 18 seconds after the turnover, West Memphis led 14-7.
A fumble for a loss of 3 yards and a penalty forced a three-and-out series for Jacksonville. West Memphis took over on its own 34 and marched down the field.
The drive took 14 plays and ended with a 10-yard draw play to Devontae Dean. With 6:38 to go in the half, the Blue Devils led 21-7.
Another flubbed kick meant a -12 yard return and Jacksonville started at its own 20.
The Titans were driving, going 42 yards in five plays, but a sack and two penalties moved them backwards and forced a punt from near midfield.
West Memphis took over at its own 22 with 2:15 left in the half, but 30 yards in penalties on Jacksonville helped the Devils down the field.
The first penalty came on second and 12 after an 18-yard gain. That play plus the penalty moved the ball from the West Memphis 30 to the Jacksonville 37.
Jacksonville’s Kendrick Rhynes then stuffed Dean for a 2-yard loss. Time was running out on the Blue Devils after a pass went for just 4 yards, but Jacksonville defensive coordinator Bryan Eagle was called for interfering with the line judge. The official did run into the JHS coach, but Eagle was behind his boundary. The official veered off the sideline and into Eagle, but the call stood.
The penalty stopped the clock with 35 seconds left, moved the ball to the Titan 18 and turned what would have been third and 8 and a moving clock into first down.
On the next play, Dean made an 18-yard touchdown reception for a 28-7 Blue Devil lead.
The second half played out much like the first. It took West Memphis until nearly the end of the third quarter to score again, but touchdowns came frequently in the fourth.
A 60-yard run by Martavis Thomas set up a first down at the 15. West Memphis had to convert a fourth and 9 and did so with a 10-yard run by Stinnett. Thomas got the last 2 with 1:53 left in the third quarter.
Another miscue on a kickoff left Jacksonville pinned inside its own 10, and the Titans ended up punting from 34.
Fenner then made his second long touchdown reception with 11:13 left in the game. The extra point was no good, leaving the score 41-7.
On the ensuing drive, Martin fumbled the shotgun snap and Blue Devil Darius Hodges picked the ball up and ran 20 yards for another score with 9:29 to go.
The next West Memphis drive started at the Jacksonville 29 after a dropped pass on fourth down by the Titans.
Quincy Marshall then ran 16 yards on the fifth play for the final touchdown of the game with 2:58 remaining and another missed PAT left the score 54-7.
West Memphis finished with 480 yards of offense to just 196 for Jacksonville. Shawn Ellis led the Titans with 84 rushing yards in 17 carries.
SPORTS STORY >> Bryant rips through Panthers’ D
By RICK KRON
Leader staff writer
Cabot was no match Friday night for Bryant’s no-huddle, fast-paced passing game as the Hornets more than doubled up on the Panthers, 48-20. It was the most lopsided Bryant victory over the Panthers since it beat Cabot 38-14 in 2007, despite the fact that Razorback commitment Jarrod Barnes was back on the field after missing just one game with a high ankle sprain.
Barnes was not in at quarterback, but did catch several passes as a wideout, which is his most likely position in college.
The Hornets and Panthers traded a pair of touchdowns early in the first half before the Hornets pulled ahead 28-14 at the half and never looked back.
Surprisingly both teams were almost even in the passing department through the first two quarters, with Hornets’ Ren Hefley passing for 159 yards, and Cabot’s Cody Skinner throwing for 140 yards.
But by the end of the game Skinner’s favorite passing targets were Barnes and the Bryant defense as Skinner threw three interceptions.
Despite the interceptions and three face-masking calls against Cabot – two on one series of plays – and resulting in touchdowns, the Panthers had some bright moments.
Barnes scored on a touchdown pass, grabbing it one-handed between defensive players. He also stayed focus and caught another pass that bounced off a Hornet player.
Halfback Braxton Burton broke through for two long runs and ended up with more than 75 rushing yards.
Neither team scored the first quarter, but Bryant scored twice in the last three minutes of the first half to take a two-touchdown lead.
Cabot tied the game at about the three-minute mark as Skinner hit Barnes on a 16-yard “highlight film” TD. Another Mason Martin PAT and the score was tied again.
Bryant went ahead on a 26-yard touchdown run by Landon Smith.
As Cabot tried to counter, Skinner threw an interception that was grabbed by Bryant’s Collin Welch.
Two plays later with less than 18 seconds left in the half, the Hornets scored on a pass play from Hefley to Recce Coates, making it 28-14 at halftime.
Cabot got on the board one more time near the end of the third quarter as Skinner hit Barnes again on a 28-yard pass play for the score.
The Panthers missed the extra point try and the fourth quarter was all Bryant until the last ditch try by Cabot’s Seidl to score after time had expired.
Cabot is now 6-2 overall and 3-2 in the 7A-Central with the top two teams in the league left. The Panthers will host Fort Smith Northside next week. The Grizzlies lost 35-28 to North Little Rock on Friday.
Leader staff writer
Cabot was no match Friday night for Bryant’s no-huddle, fast-paced passing game as the Hornets more than doubled up on the Panthers, 48-20. It was the most lopsided Bryant victory over the Panthers since it beat Cabot 38-14 in 2007, despite the fact that Razorback commitment Jarrod Barnes was back on the field after missing just one game with a high ankle sprain.
Barnes was not in at quarterback, but did catch several passes as a wideout, which is his most likely position in college.
The Hornets and Panthers traded a pair of touchdowns early in the first half before the Hornets pulled ahead 28-14 at the half and never looked back.
Surprisingly both teams were almost even in the passing department through the first two quarters, with Hornets’ Ren Hefley passing for 159 yards, and Cabot’s Cody Skinner throwing for 140 yards.
But by the end of the game Skinner’s favorite passing targets were Barnes and the Bryant defense as Skinner threw three interceptions.
Despite the interceptions and three face-masking calls against Cabot – two on one series of plays – and resulting in touchdowns, the Panthers had some bright moments.
Barnes scored on a touchdown pass, grabbing it one-handed between defensive players. He also stayed focus and caught another pass that bounced off a Hornet player.
Halfback Braxton Burton broke through for two long runs and ended up with more than 75 rushing yards.
Neither team scored the first quarter, but Bryant scored twice in the last three minutes of the first half to take a two-touchdown lead.
Cabot tied the game at about the three-minute mark as Skinner hit Barnes on a 16-yard “highlight film” TD. Another Mason Martin PAT and the score was tied again.
Bryant went ahead on a 26-yard touchdown run by Landon Smith.
As Cabot tried to counter, Skinner threw an interception that was grabbed by Bryant’s Collin Welch.
Two plays later with less than 18 seconds left in the half, the Hornets scored on a pass play from Hefley to Recce Coates, making it 28-14 at halftime.
Cabot got on the board one more time near the end of the third quarter as Skinner hit Barnes again on a 28-yard pass play for the score.
The Panthers missed the extra point try and the fourth quarter was all Bryant until the last ditch try by Cabot’s Seidl to score after time had expired.
Cabot is now 6-2 overall and 3-2 in the 7A-Central with the top two teams in the league left. The Panthers will host Fort Smith Northside next week. The Grizzlies lost 35-28 to North Little Rock on Friday.
SPORTS STORY >> Bears, Eagles finished early
By ANN THARP
Special to The Leader
The Sylvan Hills Bears dominated the J.A. Fair War Eagles Friday night at Bill Blackwood Field.
The Bears (7-1, 4-1)scored 21 points before the Eagles touched the ball, and the two teams agreed to start the mercy rule clock early in the second quarter with Sylvan Hills leading 37-0.
“Trying to keep getting better till we get to the playoffs,” said Sylvan Hills coach Jim Withrow. “We tried to emphasize that. We had kind of a tough week because we had such a disappointing loss last week, but we’re just trying to get better each week.”
Sylvan Hills had the first possession of the game and started from their own 27-yard line. On fourth and eight from the 29, quarterback Jordan Washington connected with Ryan Lumpkin for 13 yards and the first down. Washington was then complete to Deon Youngblood for 14 and another first down. Youngblood then ran for two consecutive first downs, followed by Washington to Lumpkin for 19 yards and first and goal on the 4-yard line. Ty Compton took it from there into the end zone for the score. Wesley Smith added the extra point for the 7-0 early lead with 9:28 to go in the opening quarter.
Fair failed to cover the ensuing kick off by Tito Mendoza, and it was recovered by Anthony Duncan for the Bears. It only took three plays to reach the end zone again, with Washington carrying for 27 yards to the 1-yard line, and then in for the touchdown. Smith was good with point after, and the lead was 14-0 with 8:01 in the quarter.
Again, the kick off was recovered by Duncan and Sylvan Hills had the ball on the War Eagle 49-yard line. This time, Washington finished the drive with a 28-yard touchdown reception to Youngblood. Again, the extra point was successful by Smith and the lead grew to 21-0, still in the first quarter with 6:35 remaining.
The Bear defense added a safety when Davien Farr tackled Datrick Johnson in the end zone to up the lead to 23-0.
After the safety, Daelyn Fairrow ran 27 yards before Washington took it the last 10 for the touchdown on the two-play drive. Smith was good again and the score was 30-0 with 5:30 still remaining in the quarter.
Fair started their drive on their 37-yard line and moved to the Bear 48-yard line before being forced to punt. The snap was fumbled and recovered by a War Eagle, but the ball went over on downs to the Bears on the Fair 40-yard line. Washington had runs of 9 and 11 and Fairrow runs of 15 and 3 before the touchdown was scored by Jamar Porter from 2 yards out. With Smith’s extra point, the score was 37-0 just six plays into the second quarter. That’s when the teams agreed to start the mercy-rule clock.
Fair immediately fumbled the ball again, Tylan Harris covered it for Sylvan Hills. On the very next play, Washington found Jamar Lane for a 14-yard touchdown pass, and the score was 43-0 with 11:42 in the second quarter. This time the point after was not successful.
Sylvan Hills blocked a Fair punt to start the second half, and from the War Eagle 31-yard line, scored the only points of the last two quarters. Lumpkin had a 10-yard completion to Lane for first and goal at the 4-yard line. Porter scored from there. Simon Nagora came in to kick the successful point after to set the final score.
The Bears finished with 301 yards of offense. Washington was 5 of 7 passing for 86 yards and two touchdowns, and rushed six times for 65 yards and two touchdowns. Fairrow had six carries for 53 yards.
Sylvan Hills will host Parkview next Friday.
Special to The Leader
The Sylvan Hills Bears dominated the J.A. Fair War Eagles Friday night at Bill Blackwood Field.
The Bears (7-1, 4-1)scored 21 points before the Eagles touched the ball, and the two teams agreed to start the mercy rule clock early in the second quarter with Sylvan Hills leading 37-0.
“Trying to keep getting better till we get to the playoffs,” said Sylvan Hills coach Jim Withrow. “We tried to emphasize that. We had kind of a tough week because we had such a disappointing loss last week, but we’re just trying to get better each week.”
Sylvan Hills had the first possession of the game and started from their own 27-yard line. On fourth and eight from the 29, quarterback Jordan Washington connected with Ryan Lumpkin for 13 yards and the first down. Washington was then complete to Deon Youngblood for 14 and another first down. Youngblood then ran for two consecutive first downs, followed by Washington to Lumpkin for 19 yards and first and goal on the 4-yard line. Ty Compton took it from there into the end zone for the score. Wesley Smith added the extra point for the 7-0 early lead with 9:28 to go in the opening quarter.
Fair failed to cover the ensuing kick off by Tito Mendoza, and it was recovered by Anthony Duncan for the Bears. It only took three plays to reach the end zone again, with Washington carrying for 27 yards to the 1-yard line, and then in for the touchdown. Smith was good with point after, and the lead was 14-0 with 8:01 in the quarter.
Again, the kick off was recovered by Duncan and Sylvan Hills had the ball on the War Eagle 49-yard line. This time, Washington finished the drive with a 28-yard touchdown reception to Youngblood. Again, the extra point was successful by Smith and the lead grew to 21-0, still in the first quarter with 6:35 remaining.
The Bear defense added a safety when Davien Farr tackled Datrick Johnson in the end zone to up the lead to 23-0.
After the safety, Daelyn Fairrow ran 27 yards before Washington took it the last 10 for the touchdown on the two-play drive. Smith was good again and the score was 30-0 with 5:30 still remaining in the quarter.
Fair started their drive on their 37-yard line and moved to the Bear 48-yard line before being forced to punt. The snap was fumbled and recovered by a War Eagle, but the ball went over on downs to the Bears on the Fair 40-yard line. Washington had runs of 9 and 11 and Fairrow runs of 15 and 3 before the touchdown was scored by Jamar Porter from 2 yards out. With Smith’s extra point, the score was 37-0 just six plays into the second quarter. That’s when the teams agreed to start the mercy-rule clock.
Fair immediately fumbled the ball again, Tylan Harris covered it for Sylvan Hills. On the very next play, Washington found Jamar Lane for a 14-yard touchdown pass, and the score was 43-0 with 11:42 in the second quarter. This time the point after was not successful.
Sylvan Hills blocked a Fair punt to start the second half, and from the War Eagle 31-yard line, scored the only points of the last two quarters. Lumpkin had a 10-yard completion to Lane for first and goal at the 4-yard line. Porter scored from there. Simon Nagora came in to kick the successful point after to set the final score.
The Bears finished with 301 yards of offense. Washington was 5 of 7 passing for 86 yards and two touchdowns, and rushed six times for 65 yards and two touchdowns. Fairrow had six carries for 53 yards.
Sylvan Hills will host Parkview next Friday.
Friday, October 21, 2016
EDITORIAL >> Be cautious on Issue 3
Who could object to a constitutional amendment “concerning job creation, job expansion and economic development,” which is the condensed title for Issue No. 3 for Arkansas voters on Nov. 8?
Invoking “jobs” is how you sell anything nowadays, whether it’s casino gambling, legalized marijuana, tax cuts, deficit spending, gas fracking, coal burning or a border wall.
But what if the title of Issue 3 read “an amendment to allow government to raise unlimited taxes and spend them to help businessmen and industrialists turn a profit and to reward those who help them”? Might taxpayers take a jaundiced view of the proposition?
The second is actually a fair description of the amendment, which the Republican state legislature, with some Democratic help, put on the ballot. But there will be no money spent to tell voting taxpayers what the amendment would do to their pocketbooks and how it would control the way their tax dollars are spent.
The amendment is flying as a noncontroversial proposition rather than the treasury raid that it is. Corporate welfare is the new definition of conservatism. There was little courage in the legislature to risk being called job killers by voting against the referral of Issue 3. Twenty-seven legislators voted “no” and another eight ducked the roll call.
Issue 3 has four components, only one of which is relatively benign. It would allow cities and counties to issue bonds for anything that could be called “economic development,” not just a factory. They could borrow money in the taxpayers’ name for a call center or corporate offices.
The other provisions erase the old limits in the Constitution on levying taxes and incurring government debt to support industries and other commercial enterprises and on spending taxpayers’ funds for almost any business purpose. Technically, the legislature could spend all the revenues of the state to assist businesses, leaving nothing for highways, colleges, prisons, health care, fish and wildlife programs and the rest of government.
No one would expect the legislature to ever do such a thing, but Issue 3 would at least allow them to throw fiscal caution to the winds.
In the interest of full disclosure, I have to reveal that the amendment’s first objective is to reverse a court order in a lawsuit that I instigated in 2013 as a director of the Arkansas Public Law Center. Article 12 of the Constitution prohibits cities and counties from appropriating money to private corporations and associations, a provision the drafters put in the charter in 1874 to stop cities from turning over their meager incomes to the railroads.
In the 1990s, the state Chamber of Commerce told local chambers they should ask their local government to give them an operating grant every year because the chambers helped economic development. Dozens of cities, including Little Rock and North Little Rock, began doing it. Pulaski Circuit Judge Mackie Pierce ruled last year in Lynch v. Stodola that Article 12 had to be interpreted literally. Appropriating tax money to the chambers was illegal.
Issue 3, using the ruse of “amending” the provision, actually would repeal that constitutional law and allow cities and counties not only to fund chambers of commerce but to finance whole “economic development projects” with tax funds, including furnishing land, improvements, buildings, infrastructure, job training and environmental mitigation for almost any kind of commercial venture. Anything.
But all that is minor stuff. The amendment would clear the way for cities and counties to levy any kind of taxes to support new industries and businesses, not just the 5 mills of property taxes that are now allowed, and remove all the restrictions on financing superprojects that were imposed in constitutional amendments in 2004 and 2010, which allowed the state to go deeply into debt to finance infrastructure and other aids for large manufacturing projects, like the Mississippi County steel mill.
Now, the legislature cannot borrow more for a new industry than 5 percent of the state’s general revenues the previous year, which would be $268 million. If voters ratify Issue 3, the lawmakers could ring up a state debt of $268 billion. If you want to be silly but still technical, $268 trillion, which is 14 times the current national debt. All of it, remember, would be to enhance business profits, not national defense, health care and education, the principal purposes of the national debt.
If you have serene confidence in the sanity and probity of all future legislatures, Issue 3 may still be for you. — Ernie Dumas
Invoking “jobs” is how you sell anything nowadays, whether it’s casino gambling, legalized marijuana, tax cuts, deficit spending, gas fracking, coal burning or a border wall.
But what if the title of Issue 3 read “an amendment to allow government to raise unlimited taxes and spend them to help businessmen and industrialists turn a profit and to reward those who help them”? Might taxpayers take a jaundiced view of the proposition?
The second is actually a fair description of the amendment, which the Republican state legislature, with some Democratic help, put on the ballot. But there will be no money spent to tell voting taxpayers what the amendment would do to their pocketbooks and how it would control the way their tax dollars are spent.
The amendment is flying as a noncontroversial proposition rather than the treasury raid that it is. Corporate welfare is the new definition of conservatism. There was little courage in the legislature to risk being called job killers by voting against the referral of Issue 3. Twenty-seven legislators voted “no” and another eight ducked the roll call.
Issue 3 has four components, only one of which is relatively benign. It would allow cities and counties to issue bonds for anything that could be called “economic development,” not just a factory. They could borrow money in the taxpayers’ name for a call center or corporate offices.
The other provisions erase the old limits in the Constitution on levying taxes and incurring government debt to support industries and other commercial enterprises and on spending taxpayers’ funds for almost any business purpose. Technically, the legislature could spend all the revenues of the state to assist businesses, leaving nothing for highways, colleges, prisons, health care, fish and wildlife programs and the rest of government.
No one would expect the legislature to ever do such a thing, but Issue 3 would at least allow them to throw fiscal caution to the winds.
In the interest of full disclosure, I have to reveal that the amendment’s first objective is to reverse a court order in a lawsuit that I instigated in 2013 as a director of the Arkansas Public Law Center. Article 12 of the Constitution prohibits cities and counties from appropriating money to private corporations and associations, a provision the drafters put in the charter in 1874 to stop cities from turning over their meager incomes to the railroads.
In the 1990s, the state Chamber of Commerce told local chambers they should ask their local government to give them an operating grant every year because the chambers helped economic development. Dozens of cities, including Little Rock and North Little Rock, began doing it. Pulaski Circuit Judge Mackie Pierce ruled last year in Lynch v. Stodola that Article 12 had to be interpreted literally. Appropriating tax money to the chambers was illegal.
Issue 3, using the ruse of “amending” the provision, actually would repeal that constitutional law and allow cities and counties not only to fund chambers of commerce but to finance whole “economic development projects” with tax funds, including furnishing land, improvements, buildings, infrastructure, job training and environmental mitigation for almost any kind of commercial venture. Anything.
But all that is minor stuff. The amendment would clear the way for cities and counties to levy any kind of taxes to support new industries and businesses, not just the 5 mills of property taxes that are now allowed, and remove all the restrictions on financing superprojects that were imposed in constitutional amendments in 2004 and 2010, which allowed the state to go deeply into debt to finance infrastructure and other aids for large manufacturing projects, like the Mississippi County steel mill.
Now, the legislature cannot borrow more for a new industry than 5 percent of the state’s general revenues the previous year, which would be $268 million. If voters ratify Issue 3, the lawmakers could ring up a state debt of $268 billion. If you want to be silly but still technical, $268 trillion, which is 14 times the current national debt. All of it, remember, would be to enhance business profits, not national defense, health care and education, the principal purposes of the national debt.
If you have serene confidence in the sanity and probity of all future legislatures, Issue 3 may still be for you. — Ernie Dumas
TOP STORY >> Cabot hopefuls share views
By JEFFREY SMITH
Leader staff writer
Cabot Alderman Jon Moore is seeking re-election to represent Ward 2, Position 2 on the city council. He is being challenged by Damon Bivins. The general election is on Tuesday, Nov. 8. Early voting starts on Monday.
Jon Moore, 37, and his wife, Kerri, have been married 17 years. They have six children. He is an Arkansas native and has lived in Cabot for 17 years. He is a liaison engineer at Dassault Falcon Jet. He has been on the city council for eight years.
Damon Bivins, 47, and his wife, Jennifer, have been married 21 years. They have two sons. Bivins has lived in Cabot for 14 years. He is Centennial Bank’s business development officer for the Cabot region.
Moore graduated with a bachelor’s degree in finance from Mississippi State Univer-sity in 1992.
Why do you want to serve as alderman for Cabot?
Moore: I enjoy being an advocate for people. In the eight years that I’ve served on the city council I have met some amazing people. Many of them felt they didn’t have a voice or someone that would stand beside them when needed. This is when I would step in; I like being that voice for people who feel they do not have one.
Bivins: I love my city. I want Cabot to be a place where I want to retire and my kids come back to start their families. I don’t want to be the person in the back of the group that has an opinion of what should be done with our city.
I want to be part of the leadership team that will make it happen. I want to be part of the team to stimulate the economic growth of Cabot by bringing in better paying jobs for our residents to have access to them. I would like to work with the businesses here in Cabot now to make it a reason for them to stay here in Cabot.
It’s common knowledge that Cabot is a bedroom community to Little Rock and North Little Rock; that if you want something or need something you have to leave Cabot. One day in the very near future, I would like to know Cabot is a one-stop shop for all your needs.
What do you think qualifies you for this position?
Moore: I have served on the city council for the last eight years and have the experience to effectively serve as alderman for Ward 2, Position 2. I have served as co-chairman for the Public Works, Budget and Fire and Police Committees. As well as on the advisory board for the Arkansas Municipal League for the large first class cities and public safety and health. I received the Adrian White Municipal Leadership award for my service with the Municipal League.
Bivins: I have served the residents of Cabot for 12 years. I have tried to serve in all areas of Cabot. Many would tell you I have a problem saying “no.” In Cabot Public Schools: homeroom dad, car rider line, reader for classrooms and libraries, empowerment program, mentor program, hallway heroes and mock interviewer for high school kids.
I have coached in different sports within Cabot Parks and Recreation. I served the past four years as chairman of the CabotFest committee, serve at the annual Cabot City Beautiful clean-up day. I serve at the annual Cabot Christmas night to meet Santa.
I am a serving board member for the Cabot Chamber of Commerce, Lonoke County Court Appointed Special Advocates and was on the Cabot Rotary board. I am a member, deacon and Sunday school teacher at First Baptist Church.
What do you see as Cabot’s strengths and weaknesses?
Moore: The greatest strength of Cabot is the people. We live in an age where people don’t look out for one another. This is not the case in Cabot. If you don’t believe that we are not a strong community then come out to a Cabot High School football game. It will show you the unity that is within this community.
Bivins: Strengths are the median age of population is early 30s. Meaning we have young families that have energy. We have some of the best schools in the state of Arkansas. We are within 20 minutes to two military bases. We have a very strong sports community. We are a faith base community. We have a public library that is one of the best in the state.
Weaknesses are jobs that can support a family and a lack of restaurants and shopping.
If elected, what would be your top three priorities?
Moore: 1. Work on road expansion and better traffic flow. 2. Continue to find ways to stretch the budget as well as reduce if needed. 3. Work on making our Parks and Recreational facilities more handicap accessible; with hopes of a future “Miracle Field.”
Bivins: A voice for Ward 2, Position 2, while running for this position the common theme was the people did not know their council person. I would like to change that.
Economic Development. I would like to bring in the type of jobs that will provide the income to support a family. I would like to bring in the stores and restaurants that keep our dollars in Cabot.
Provide more for our police and fire departments. With the economic development, we can provide better salary and benefits for our men and women in these departments to keep them here. Currently, the city is stretched thin to provide improvements for salary, benefits and retirement; and this in many cases forces employment to go elsewhere.
Why should residents vote for you and not the other candidate?
Moore: I think that my opponent is a worthy candidate. However, I have a track record of making a difference on the city council and hope to be able to continue to do so.
I believe in God, my family and my country. Kerri and I have six kids, two of which we adopted. We are foster parents and are an open foster home and have been for the past seven years. I am a member of New Life Church and sing in the choir. I am a board member for the Panther flag football organization and have coached my sons’ flag football teams for the past five years. I am a graduate of the Lonoke County Leadership Training.
Bivins: I have 12 years of proven experience serving the residents of Cabot. I enjoy living and serving Cabot. Please take the time and vote for me.
Leader staff writer
Cabot Alderman Jon Moore is seeking re-election to represent Ward 2, Position 2 on the city council. He is being challenged by Damon Bivins. The general election is on Tuesday, Nov. 8. Early voting starts on Monday.
Jon Moore, 37, and his wife, Kerri, have been married 17 years. They have six children. He is an Arkansas native and has lived in Cabot for 17 years. He is a liaison engineer at Dassault Falcon Jet. He has been on the city council for eight years.
Damon Bivins, 47, and his wife, Jennifer, have been married 21 years. They have two sons. Bivins has lived in Cabot for 14 years. He is Centennial Bank’s business development officer for the Cabot region.
Moore graduated with a bachelor’s degree in finance from Mississippi State Univer-sity in 1992.
Why do you want to serve as alderman for Cabot?
Moore: I enjoy being an advocate for people. In the eight years that I’ve served on the city council I have met some amazing people. Many of them felt they didn’t have a voice or someone that would stand beside them when needed. This is when I would step in; I like being that voice for people who feel they do not have one.
Bivins: I love my city. I want Cabot to be a place where I want to retire and my kids come back to start their families. I don’t want to be the person in the back of the group that has an opinion of what should be done with our city.
I want to be part of the leadership team that will make it happen. I want to be part of the team to stimulate the economic growth of Cabot by bringing in better paying jobs for our residents to have access to them. I would like to work with the businesses here in Cabot now to make it a reason for them to stay here in Cabot.
It’s common knowledge that Cabot is a bedroom community to Little Rock and North Little Rock; that if you want something or need something you have to leave Cabot. One day in the very near future, I would like to know Cabot is a one-stop shop for all your needs.
What do you think qualifies you for this position?
Moore: I have served on the city council for the last eight years and have the experience to effectively serve as alderman for Ward 2, Position 2. I have served as co-chairman for the Public Works, Budget and Fire and Police Committees. As well as on the advisory board for the Arkansas Municipal League for the large first class cities and public safety and health. I received the Adrian White Municipal Leadership award for my service with the Municipal League.
Bivins: I have served the residents of Cabot for 12 years. I have tried to serve in all areas of Cabot. Many would tell you I have a problem saying “no.” In Cabot Public Schools: homeroom dad, car rider line, reader for classrooms and libraries, empowerment program, mentor program, hallway heroes and mock interviewer for high school kids.
I have coached in different sports within Cabot Parks and Recreation. I served the past four years as chairman of the CabotFest committee, serve at the annual Cabot City Beautiful clean-up day. I serve at the annual Cabot Christmas night to meet Santa.
I am a serving board member for the Cabot Chamber of Commerce, Lonoke County Court Appointed Special Advocates and was on the Cabot Rotary board. I am a member, deacon and Sunday school teacher at First Baptist Church.
What do you see as Cabot’s strengths and weaknesses?
Moore: The greatest strength of Cabot is the people. We live in an age where people don’t look out for one another. This is not the case in Cabot. If you don’t believe that we are not a strong community then come out to a Cabot High School football game. It will show you the unity that is within this community.
Bivins: Strengths are the median age of population is early 30s. Meaning we have young families that have energy. We have some of the best schools in the state of Arkansas. We are within 20 minutes to two military bases. We have a very strong sports community. We are a faith base community. We have a public library that is one of the best in the state.
Weaknesses are jobs that can support a family and a lack of restaurants and shopping.
If elected, what would be your top three priorities?
Moore: 1. Work on road expansion and better traffic flow. 2. Continue to find ways to stretch the budget as well as reduce if needed. 3. Work on making our Parks and Recreational facilities more handicap accessible; with hopes of a future “Miracle Field.”
Bivins: A voice for Ward 2, Position 2, while running for this position the common theme was the people did not know their council person. I would like to change that.
Economic Development. I would like to bring in the type of jobs that will provide the income to support a family. I would like to bring in the stores and restaurants that keep our dollars in Cabot.
Provide more for our police and fire departments. With the economic development, we can provide better salary and benefits for our men and women in these departments to keep them here. Currently, the city is stretched thin to provide improvements for salary, benefits and retirement; and this in many cases forces employment to go elsewhere.
Why should residents vote for you and not the other candidate?
Moore: I think that my opponent is a worthy candidate. However, I have a track record of making a difference on the city council and hope to be able to continue to do so.
I believe in God, my family and my country. Kerri and I have six kids, two of which we adopted. We are foster parents and are an open foster home and have been for the past seven years. I am a member of New Life Church and sing in the choir. I am a board member for the Panther flag football organization and have coached my sons’ flag football teams for the past five years. I am a graduate of the Lonoke County Leadership Training.
Bivins: I have 12 years of proven experience serving the residents of Cabot. I enjoy living and serving Cabot. Please take the time and vote for me.
TOP STORY >> Beebe council race Q&A
By JEFFREY SMITH
Leader staff writer
Beebe Alderman Tracy Lightfoot is seeking re-election to Ward 2, Position 2 on the city council. He is being challenged by retired airman Donald Lewis. The general election is Tuesday, Nov. 8. Early voting starts on Monday in the White County Courthouse lobby in Searcy and at the Carmichael Community Center, 801 S. Elm St. There are no early voting sites in Beebe.
Tracy Lightfoot, 46, has been on the city council for four terms. Lightfoot is from a fourth-generation Beebe family. A life-long resident, Lightfoot graduated from Beebe High School in 1988. He graduated from the Commonwealth College of Funeral Service in 1990. Lightfoot has worked for Smith-Westbrook Funeral Home for 28 years, where he is a funeral director and embalmer.
Donald Lewis, 49, and his wife, Jene, have been married for 30 years. They have two grown children. He has lived in Beebe for 15 years and has been employed with AT&T for the past eight years. Lewis is a retired Air Force veteran. He retired after 22 years of service as a master sergeant, working in fuel- system repair. Lewis has an associate’s of applied science in aviation maintenance technology.
He is an active member of Open Arms Assembly of God and Beebe American Legion Post 91
Why do you want to serve as alderman for Beebe?
Lightfoot: Beebe has always been very good to me and the sense of community drives my passion to give back. I am in the community every day listening to the needs and wants of its residents. I know most of the population and that makes me a strong candidate to do the right thing. Helping Beebe be the best it can be is in my best interest and helping people is my strength as I have been in this role for four terms.
Lewis: The reason I want to serve as an alderman for Beebe is to be the voice of the people in our community. I believe that every person living in Beebe deserves to have their concerns heard and considered when making decisions for our city. I feel by partnering with the citizens, we can work together to continue making Beebe our “Dream Hometown.”
What do you think qualifies you for this position?
Lightfoot: I have been in leadership for many years which include, three terms as Beebe Chamber of Commerce president, 12 years on the Planning and Zoning Commission, Fall Festival chairman for multiple years, eight years as current alderman and was chosen Citizen of the Year by the Beebe Chamber of Commerce for 2016.
Lewis: I think the military leadership courses I have attended and positions held during my service in the Air Force is what best qualifies me for the position of alderman. I’ve managed accounts and large groups of people and have learned that through hard work, dedication and teamwork, you can achieve the task at hand.
What do you see as Beebe’s strengths and weaknesses?
Lightfoot: We have a very strong education system which includes great facilities, teachers and staff. The schools continue to be up-to-date for the betterment of the students. ASU-Beebe campus allows local youth to be able to transition into college right out of high school without the costly expenses of out-of-town tuitions. We are centrally located and have a great hometown feel for those who have to commute. We have also been named one of the fastest growing communities.
Seeing as we are one of the fastest growing communities we lack the tax revenue to handle the needs to build an effective infrastructure. Due to the growth we are lacking in commercial businesses to fulfill the needs of the people.
Lewis: I believe Beebe’s greatest strength is the people that live and work here. Their hospitality and sense of community are inspiring and is what makes Beebe a great place to live. Along with the people, our schools, Beebe School District and Arkansas State University at Beebe, are some of the best in the state. I believe an area that our city could see continued improvements is the width and condition of some of the streets in our city.
If elected what would be your top three priorities?
Lightfoot: I would work hard to add more first responders to health care needs which would include police and firefighters. Continue infrastructure enhancements already in place based on city needs from growth. Main priority is street paving.
Add more programs and activities for our youth.
Lewis: My number one priority as an alderman is to be the voice of the people of our community. This should be the most important job of any elected official. Second, I want to ensure that we have a plan for our future growth because our city is growing at a rapid pace. I believe the leadership of our city needs to have a plan to assure that our city’s foundation, which is the police, fire, EMT, street and water departments, grow with the city. My third priority would be to improve the conditions of our some of our city’s streets.
Why should residents vote for you and not the other candidates?
Lightfoot: My opponent is a very well-respected man in the community but lacks the political experience I have. I have attended many hours of municipal league meetings in which I have learned what it takes to run a city. I am the senior council member that has the knowledge of the past and present issues which will help educate the two new members that are incoming.
During my time on the council we have accomplished many things which include a new library, new animal shelter, new fire station on Hwy. 64 West, upgraded our parks which includes the new amphitheater, new fleet for the police department, a new fire truck, paving of streets, began the Fourth of July Celebration, a third Beebe exit and worked closely with Walmart’s opening. I ask for your trust and support by re-electing me so that I may continue making Beebe a better place to live.
Lewis: I believe the residents of Beebe should vote for me because I live by honor, integrity and service before self. I am trustworthy, dependable and just a man who loves people and believes in doing the right thing.
I have no previous political experience, but I think that is a strength and not a weakness. I have no preconceived agendas, only to listen to the concerns of the citizens of our city and make them known at the meetings. As alderman I would serve with honor and integrity, always putting the needs and desires of the people above my own.
I was not born and raised in Beebe, but rather chose to live and raise my family here. I want to be the leader that listens to the people and does it right. I would appreciate your vote.
Leader staff writer
Beebe Alderman Tracy Lightfoot is seeking re-election to Ward 2, Position 2 on the city council. He is being challenged by retired airman Donald Lewis. The general election is Tuesday, Nov. 8. Early voting starts on Monday in the White County Courthouse lobby in Searcy and at the Carmichael Community Center, 801 S. Elm St. There are no early voting sites in Beebe.
Tracy Lightfoot, 46, has been on the city council for four terms. Lightfoot is from a fourth-generation Beebe family. A life-long resident, Lightfoot graduated from Beebe High School in 1988. He graduated from the Commonwealth College of Funeral Service in 1990. Lightfoot has worked for Smith-Westbrook Funeral Home for 28 years, where he is a funeral director and embalmer.
Donald Lewis, 49, and his wife, Jene, have been married for 30 years. They have two grown children. He has lived in Beebe for 15 years and has been employed with AT&T for the past eight years. Lewis is a retired Air Force veteran. He retired after 22 years of service as a master sergeant, working in fuel- system repair. Lewis has an associate’s of applied science in aviation maintenance technology.
He is an active member of Open Arms Assembly of God and Beebe American Legion Post 91
Why do you want to serve as alderman for Beebe?
Lightfoot: Beebe has always been very good to me and the sense of community drives my passion to give back. I am in the community every day listening to the needs and wants of its residents. I know most of the population and that makes me a strong candidate to do the right thing. Helping Beebe be the best it can be is in my best interest and helping people is my strength as I have been in this role for four terms.
Lewis: The reason I want to serve as an alderman for Beebe is to be the voice of the people in our community. I believe that every person living in Beebe deserves to have their concerns heard and considered when making decisions for our city. I feel by partnering with the citizens, we can work together to continue making Beebe our “Dream Hometown.”
What do you think qualifies you for this position?
Lightfoot: I have been in leadership for many years which include, three terms as Beebe Chamber of Commerce president, 12 years on the Planning and Zoning Commission, Fall Festival chairman for multiple years, eight years as current alderman and was chosen Citizen of the Year by the Beebe Chamber of Commerce for 2016.
Lewis: I think the military leadership courses I have attended and positions held during my service in the Air Force is what best qualifies me for the position of alderman. I’ve managed accounts and large groups of people and have learned that through hard work, dedication and teamwork, you can achieve the task at hand.
What do you see as Beebe’s strengths and weaknesses?
Lightfoot: We have a very strong education system which includes great facilities, teachers and staff. The schools continue to be up-to-date for the betterment of the students. ASU-Beebe campus allows local youth to be able to transition into college right out of high school without the costly expenses of out-of-town tuitions. We are centrally located and have a great hometown feel for those who have to commute. We have also been named one of the fastest growing communities.
Seeing as we are one of the fastest growing communities we lack the tax revenue to handle the needs to build an effective infrastructure. Due to the growth we are lacking in commercial businesses to fulfill the needs of the people.
Lewis: I believe Beebe’s greatest strength is the people that live and work here. Their hospitality and sense of community are inspiring and is what makes Beebe a great place to live. Along with the people, our schools, Beebe School District and Arkansas State University at Beebe, are some of the best in the state. I believe an area that our city could see continued improvements is the width and condition of some of the streets in our city.
If elected what would be your top three priorities?
Lightfoot: I would work hard to add more first responders to health care needs which would include police and firefighters. Continue infrastructure enhancements already in place based on city needs from growth. Main priority is street paving.
Add more programs and activities for our youth.
Lewis: My number one priority as an alderman is to be the voice of the people of our community. This should be the most important job of any elected official. Second, I want to ensure that we have a plan for our future growth because our city is growing at a rapid pace. I believe the leadership of our city needs to have a plan to assure that our city’s foundation, which is the police, fire, EMT, street and water departments, grow with the city. My third priority would be to improve the conditions of our some of our city’s streets.
Why should residents vote for you and not the other candidates?
Lightfoot: My opponent is a very well-respected man in the community but lacks the political experience I have. I have attended many hours of municipal league meetings in which I have learned what it takes to run a city. I am the senior council member that has the knowledge of the past and present issues which will help educate the two new members that are incoming.
During my time on the council we have accomplished many things which include a new library, new animal shelter, new fire station on Hwy. 64 West, upgraded our parks which includes the new amphitheater, new fleet for the police department, a new fire truck, paving of streets, began the Fourth of July Celebration, a third Beebe exit and worked closely with Walmart’s opening. I ask for your trust and support by re-electing me so that I may continue making Beebe a better place to live.
Lewis: I believe the residents of Beebe should vote for me because I live by honor, integrity and service before self. I am trustworthy, dependable and just a man who loves people and believes in doing the right thing.
I have no previous political experience, but I think that is a strength and not a weakness. I have no preconceived agendas, only to listen to the concerns of the citizens of our city and make them known at the meetings. As alderman I would serve with honor and integrity, always putting the needs and desires of the people above my own.
I was not born and raised in Beebe, but rather chose to live and raise my family here. I want to be the leader that listens to the people and does it right. I would appreciate your vote.
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