By GARRICK FELDMAN
Leader editor-in-chief
(This column, which appeared here on Jan. 17, 2008, won first prize in the Arkansas Press Association’s Better Newspaper contest. It placed second in the National Newspaper Association’s contest.)
Mike Huckabee’s most formidable opponent is not running for president.
Her name is Lois Davidson, and she could knock him out of the running faster than any of his rivals for the Republican presidential nomination.
Davidson is the Missouri woman who says — truthfully — that Huckabee is responsible for her daughter’s death because he let Wayne Dumond out of prison and let him move to Missouri, where he raped and murdered Davidson’s daughter, Carol Sue Shields. Dumond, who was convicted in the Shields case, almost certainly raped and murdered another woman, but he died in prison before he could be tried for that case.
Davidson appears in a TV commercial being aired in primary states — but apparently not in Arkansas — criticizing Huckabee for favoring Dumond’s release, and that has upset the former governor. He says he’s “appalled” that she went public with her grief and that she is being “exploited” by his opponents who’ve distorted his role in the case.
Huckabee, who never bothered to read the trial proceedings, has tried to hide his complicity in the Dumond fiasco for years, but Davidson wouldn’t let him insult the memory of her precious daughter.
“I assure you, Mr. Huckabee, I am not being exploited,” she answered back. “I am fully aware of the actions I have taken in attempting to inform the public of your role in my daughter’s rape and murder. I have spent over seven years thinking about this. I am not a dupe. But you, Gov. Huckabee, were duped time and again by convicted felons who once released from prison by you began hurting people again.”
The facts are these: Huckabee thought Dumond was railroaded by the Clinton “machine” and lobbied publicly and behind the scenes on Dumond’s behalf.
Former Governor Jim Guy Tucker had reduced Dumond’s sentence from life to 39 years, but Huckabee thought that was still excessive.
At a highly unusual meeting with the parole board — no other governor had made an appearance there in recent memory — Huck said Dumond had gotten a raw deal and pushed for his earliest release, saying Dumond had been in prison too long.
Parole board member Charles Chastain disagreed, telling the governor, “That’s what happens when you rape a cheerleader in a small town.”
As far as Huckabee was concerned, Dumond was the victim, not the woman who claimed she was raped.
Huckabee believed Dumond deserved a new start in Missouri and convinced the parole board to let him go. Only Chastain voted no.
Huckabee thought justice had been served. Lois Davidson doesn’t think so. Addressing Huckabee, she said her daughter was “raped and murdered by a serial rapist that you wanted freed from prison. Please be honest about the role you played in releasing my daughter’s killer.”
Although Huckabee may have felt let down when his man was arrested again, no ambitious politician will admit he has blood on his hands — unless he still believes in Dumond’s innocence.
Maybe he thinks Dumond was unfairly convicted in Missouri, too, a victim of another political machine that had spread from Arkansas into Missouri.
But any sensible jury would reach this verdict on Huckabee: Guilty as charged.
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
EDITORIAL >> Already hitting the jackpot
A lottery is all about making dreams come true, right? The Arkansas Lottery hasn’t sold a single scratch-off or Powerball ticket but it’s making the wildest dreams come true almost every day. Monday it was the turn of Sheriff Lance Huey of Sheridan, the hometown of the state Lottery Commission chairman, Ray Thornton.
The sheriff of little Grant County landed a job with the state lottery for a $70,000 raise. He will make $115,644 a year to be in charge of security at the lottery offices at Little Rock. He will be the highest paid law-enforcement person in Arkansas history.
Here’s a comparison that a reporter made Monday. Huey’s salary will exceed that of the director of the State Police, who directs the work of almost a thousand people who investigate criminal activity from border to border and patrol the highways of the state. The State Police director got a raise last week and will earn $108,083 if the State Police Commission gave him the maximum allowed by the appropriation, $7,000 less than Sheriff Huey.
Ernie Passailaigue, the $324,000-a-year director of the lottery, had an explanation for paying his man so much more than the State Police chief or any other law-enforcement official in the state. The State Police director has hundreds of well-trained troopers to help him enforce the laws across the state, Passailaigue said. Huey will have to police the lottery by himself. He won’t be just a security guard but he will be the person who makes sure that convenience store owners and other lottery vendors don’t cheat the state out of its share of lottery receipts and that people don’t work scams on the lottery. The guy is going to have to work so hard the next six months, by Passailaigue’s account, that people ought to feel sorry for him.
Last week, Passailaigue hired two assistants from South Carolina at $225,000 each and a couple of young lawyers who had associations with legislators, Lottery Chairman Thornton or the state attorney general at salaries of $105,000, far above their old state pay grades. His first hire as public relations, legislative and commission liaison director (she polishes relations with legislators and key politicians) was a former aide to the retired Thornton. Her salary is $105,000.
The constitutional amendment that voters approved last year frees the lottery from the normal restrictions on compensation and hiring that apply to the other 100,000 or so state and local government workers in Arkansas. It can pay as many people as it wants as much as it wants, if the Lottery Commission approves. We now see why that little proviso was included.
The lottery has about 80 more jobs to go. You must presume that all of them will go at rates far above the prevailing compensation for similar government work in Arkansas. If you have a connection with one of the lottery commissioners or a legislator, go for it. This lottery is a party like Arkansas has never seen. You miss out on it at your regret.
Ernie Dumas writes editorials for The Leader.
The sheriff of little Grant County landed a job with the state lottery for a $70,000 raise. He will make $115,644 a year to be in charge of security at the lottery offices at Little Rock. He will be the highest paid law-enforcement person in Arkansas history.
Here’s a comparison that a reporter made Monday. Huey’s salary will exceed that of the director of the State Police, who directs the work of almost a thousand people who investigate criminal activity from border to border and patrol the highways of the state. The State Police director got a raise last week and will earn $108,083 if the State Police Commission gave him the maximum allowed by the appropriation, $7,000 less than Sheriff Huey.
Ernie Passailaigue, the $324,000-a-year director of the lottery, had an explanation for paying his man so much more than the State Police chief or any other law-enforcement official in the state. The State Police director has hundreds of well-trained troopers to help him enforce the laws across the state, Passailaigue said. Huey will have to police the lottery by himself. He won’t be just a security guard but he will be the person who makes sure that convenience store owners and other lottery vendors don’t cheat the state out of its share of lottery receipts and that people don’t work scams on the lottery. The guy is going to have to work so hard the next six months, by Passailaigue’s account, that people ought to feel sorry for him.
Last week, Passailaigue hired two assistants from South Carolina at $225,000 each and a couple of young lawyers who had associations with legislators, Lottery Chairman Thornton or the state attorney general at salaries of $105,000, far above their old state pay grades. His first hire as public relations, legislative and commission liaison director (she polishes relations with legislators and key politicians) was a former aide to the retired Thornton. Her salary is $105,000.
The constitutional amendment that voters approved last year frees the lottery from the normal restrictions on compensation and hiring that apply to the other 100,000 or so state and local government workers in Arkansas. It can pay as many people as it wants as much as it wants, if the Lottery Commission approves. We now see why that little proviso was included.
The lottery has about 80 more jobs to go. You must presume that all of them will go at rates far above the prevailing compensation for similar government work in Arkansas. If you have a connection with one of the lottery commissioners or a legislator, go for it. This lottery is a party like Arkansas has never seen. You miss out on it at your regret.
Ernie Dumas writes editorials for The Leader.
EDITORIAL >> PCSSD vs. Nellums
One or more members of the Pulaski County Special School District Board went ballistic when Michael Nellums and Kim Forrest accused them of having a vendetta against Nellums.
So for the second time since the beginning of the year, certain members of this temperamental, erratic and thin-skinned board are having interim Superintendent Rob McGill investigate Nellums again.
Those who run afoul of the majority on this board quickly find themselves reassigned, passed over or investigated.
A lesser man, or perhaps a less stubborn man, would have thrown in the towel long ago, long before the first “investigation” into remarks he allegedly made earlier this year.
That investigation, which came up with no actionable behavior on his part, cost the district more than $10,000, billed over the course of a month by the district’s attorney, Jay Bequette.
That didn’t include the time that Bill Barnes, director of secondary education, or Debbie Coley, director of human resources, spent interrogating various other principals or teachers who might have heard an alleged slander.
Now Nellums and Forrest are being investigated because of the following sentences that appeared in a May 20 Leader article about the combining of the boys and girls middle schools in Jacksonville: “Forrest said she thought the combining of the schools was part of a vendetta against Nellums. Nellums said Tuesday he has no doubt that the combining of the schools grew out of just such a vendetta.”
Nellums’ troubles began when he refused to cave in to PACT, the district’s powerful teachers union — and increased as PACT added Tim Clark and Jacksonville board member Bill Vasquez to the board, where they had earlier placed Gwen Williams.
Forrest’s troubles began when she was appointed principal of the newly coeducational Jacksonville middle school for next year and spoke out asking for another year of single-gender education. She angered the special-interest groups by siding with Nellums.
Now Nellums is under investigation again and his attorneys, reportedly considering legal action against some members of the board, have directed him not to discuss the situation.
We think Nellums and Forrest have courageously fought for what they believed was best for their students. They’ve been able principals with a clear vision. The district needs more like them.
So for the second time since the beginning of the year, certain members of this temperamental, erratic and thin-skinned board are having interim Superintendent Rob McGill investigate Nellums again.
Those who run afoul of the majority on this board quickly find themselves reassigned, passed over or investigated.
A lesser man, or perhaps a less stubborn man, would have thrown in the towel long ago, long before the first “investigation” into remarks he allegedly made earlier this year.
That investigation, which came up with no actionable behavior on his part, cost the district more than $10,000, billed over the course of a month by the district’s attorney, Jay Bequette.
That didn’t include the time that Bill Barnes, director of secondary education, or Debbie Coley, director of human resources, spent interrogating various other principals or teachers who might have heard an alleged slander.
Now Nellums and Forrest are being investigated because of the following sentences that appeared in a May 20 Leader article about the combining of the boys and girls middle schools in Jacksonville: “Forrest said she thought the combining of the schools was part of a vendetta against Nellums. Nellums said Tuesday he has no doubt that the combining of the schools grew out of just such a vendetta.”
Nellums’ troubles began when he refused to cave in to PACT, the district’s powerful teachers union — and increased as PACT added Tim Clark and Jacksonville board member Bill Vasquez to the board, where they had earlier placed Gwen Williams.
Forrest’s troubles began when she was appointed principal of the newly coeducational Jacksonville middle school for next year and spoke out asking for another year of single-gender education. She angered the special-interest groups by siding with Nellums.
Now Nellums is under investigation again and his attorneys, reportedly considering legal action against some members of the board, have directed him not to discuss the situation.
We think Nellums and Forrest have courageously fought for what they believed was best for their students. They’ve been able principals with a clear vision. The district needs more like them.
TOP STORY >> Job seekers swarming libraries
By JEFFREY SMITH
Leader staff writer
Local libraries are seeing an upswing in patrons using public computers as a resource for job searches and résumé writing.
Head librarian Christine Williams of the Arlene Cherry Memorial Library in Cabot said, “We have noticed an upsurge of computer usage to make résumés, run job searches and to complete online applications for available jobs.
“We are glad to have so many public computers available for their use in their job search,” Williams said.
There are 15 computers available at the Cabot library. Besides computers, the library has a section of books available for job seekers. The books have information on how to write a résumé, how to compose a cover letter and tips on interviewing.
Joshua Brown, 21, of Cabot was using the computers at the library to connect to the Internet and search for job openings.
“It is really helpful to see what is available. I have been going around business to business. A lot of them tell me they are not hiring or they are on a hiring freeze,” Brown said.
A library user from Austin said she has been looking for new job for about a month. She is trying to find a job to satisfy her family needs and that uses her qualifications in a business administration or accounting position.
She said she does not want to settle for less.
“Using the library has helped, especially the Internet. I have had three to six interviews a week, especially in the Little Rock area. It is hard to find a job locally in the suburban towns,” she said.
The Cabot library is open 8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays. On Fridays the library is open from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. and on Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Venessa Ford, librarian of the Ward Public Library, said the computer usage at the library has increased. Some of the increase is due to patrons filling out job applications online.
Ford said the library has books on how to develop a résumé.
“We have pulled books for patrons to look at,” she said.
The Ward Public Library is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays, Tuesdays and Fridays. On Wednesdays, the library is open an hour later until 6 p.m. Thursday the library is open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The library is closed from noon to 1 p.m. every day for lunch.
There has been an increase in the number of visitors to the Beebe Public Library, a branch of the White County Regional Library System.
Branch manager Kathy Rodgers said library usage has increased due in part to job searching. Visitors to the library can also check out books about résumé writing
“There are résumé programs on our public-access computers,” Rodgers said.
The Beebe Public Library is open Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from noon to 6 p.m. The library is open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Tuesdays and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturdays. It is closed on Fridays.
Jacksonville’s Esther D. Nixon branch has seen an increase in job-hunting Internet use.
“Quite often people will ask for assistance filling out applications or ask questions about résumés. These sorts of questions seem to have increased in recent months,” branch manager Kathy Seymour said.
“We’ve also seen more people viewing the classifieds in the newspapers along with faxing applications and résumés within the past three months or so,” Seymour said.
In March, the library held a job-search program focused on tactics for getting a job in the tough economy. However, no such program is currently in place.
Kim Hackett, the assistant manager of Sherwood’s Amy Sanders Library, says that the branch has also seen increased computer use.
“Since the spring, there have been quite a few more people coming in to use computers. I don’t know for a fact what specifically people use the computers for because Internet use is privacy protected, but I assume most Internet use is job-related.
“A lot more people have been asking for help with Word Wizard, a program that has résumé formatting capabilities, in recent months. Job hunting books have also been checked out more frequently,” Hackett said.
Though the Sherwood branch does not host job search programs, the Central Arkansas Library System’s main branch, located at 100 Rock St. in Little Rock, regularly hosts computer classes and recently held a class specific to résumé formatting. Contact the main library at 501-918-3000.
(Julia Hofheimer contributed to this report.)
Leader staff writer
Local libraries are seeing an upswing in patrons using public computers as a resource for job searches and résumé writing.
Head librarian Christine Williams of the Arlene Cherry Memorial Library in Cabot said, “We have noticed an upsurge of computer usage to make résumés, run job searches and to complete online applications for available jobs.
“We are glad to have so many public computers available for their use in their job search,” Williams said.
There are 15 computers available at the Cabot library. Besides computers, the library has a section of books available for job seekers. The books have information on how to write a résumé, how to compose a cover letter and tips on interviewing.
Joshua Brown, 21, of Cabot was using the computers at the library to connect to the Internet and search for job openings.
“It is really helpful to see what is available. I have been going around business to business. A lot of them tell me they are not hiring or they are on a hiring freeze,” Brown said.
A library user from Austin said she has been looking for new job for about a month. She is trying to find a job to satisfy her family needs and that uses her qualifications in a business administration or accounting position.
She said she does not want to settle for less.
“Using the library has helped, especially the Internet. I have had three to six interviews a week, especially in the Little Rock area. It is hard to find a job locally in the suburban towns,” she said.
The Cabot library is open 8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays. On Fridays the library is open from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. and on Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Venessa Ford, librarian of the Ward Public Library, said the computer usage at the library has increased. Some of the increase is due to patrons filling out job applications online.
Ford said the library has books on how to develop a résumé.
“We have pulled books for patrons to look at,” she said.
The Ward Public Library is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays, Tuesdays and Fridays. On Wednesdays, the library is open an hour later until 6 p.m. Thursday the library is open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The library is closed from noon to 1 p.m. every day for lunch.
There has been an increase in the number of visitors to the Beebe Public Library, a branch of the White County Regional Library System.
Branch manager Kathy Rodgers said library usage has increased due in part to job searching. Visitors to the library can also check out books about résumé writing
“There are résumé programs on our public-access computers,” Rodgers said.
The Beebe Public Library is open Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from noon to 6 p.m. The library is open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Tuesdays and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturdays. It is closed on Fridays.
Jacksonville’s Esther D. Nixon branch has seen an increase in job-hunting Internet use.
“Quite often people will ask for assistance filling out applications or ask questions about résumés. These sorts of questions seem to have increased in recent months,” branch manager Kathy Seymour said.
“We’ve also seen more people viewing the classifieds in the newspapers along with faxing applications and résumés within the past three months or so,” Seymour said.
In March, the library held a job-search program focused on tactics for getting a job in the tough economy. However, no such program is currently in place.
Kim Hackett, the assistant manager of Sherwood’s Amy Sanders Library, says that the branch has also seen increased computer use.
“Since the spring, there have been quite a few more people coming in to use computers. I don’t know for a fact what specifically people use the computers for because Internet use is privacy protected, but I assume most Internet use is job-related.
“A lot more people have been asking for help with Word Wizard, a program that has résumé formatting capabilities, in recent months. Job hunting books have also been checked out more frequently,” Hackett said.
Though the Sherwood branch does not host job search programs, the Central Arkansas Library System’s main branch, located at 100 Rock St. in Little Rock, regularly hosts computer classes and recently held a class specific to résumé formatting. Contact the main library at 501-918-3000.
(Julia Hofheimer contributed to this report.)
TOP STORY >> Newspaper honored as state’s best
The Leader has won the General Excellence Award for two years in a row in the Arkansas Press Association’s Better Newspaper contest.
The APA named The Leader the state’s best large weekly newspaper after it received 17 awards, including first place for best news story, best front page, best special issue, as well as top honors for investigative reporting, news and political column, sports column and sports feature photo.
The awards were announced at the APA’s annual convention Saturday in Rogers. The Leader also won three awards from the National Newspaper Association.
The APA named “Violent end brings pall over subdivision” by Jonathan Feldman and Garrick Feldman the best news article in a large weekly. The father-son team described a standoff last August between the Jacksonville police and a mentally disturbed man who was shooting at neighbors and police at a home in the Foxwood subdivision.
A police sharpshooter later shot the man through a kitchen window.
For the second time, John Hofheimer won for his series of exclusive reports on the housing-privatization program at Little Rock Air Force Base. His reporting has received national recognition and led to the dismissal of the previous contractor for failing to build or remodel homes on the air base or pay subcontractors.
New contractors have been hired and have resumed work on the housing project.
Garrick Feldman’s column, “Huck’s main adversary not running,” was judged best news/political column. It placed second in the National Newspaper Association contest. The column described a mother’s anguish after her daughter was murdered in Missouri by Wayne Dumond, a convicted Arkansas rapist who was paroled after then-Gov. Mike Huckabee had intervened on his behalf. (The column is reprinted on page 1A.)
Jonathan Feldman, Rick Kron and David Scolli won second place from the National Newspaper Association for their coverage of the Reed’s Bridge Civil War battle reenactment. Aliya Feldman, another Feldman offspring, won honorable mention from the NNA for her environmental reporting on the expanded Two Pine Landfill in Jacksonville.
At the Arkansas Press convention, The Leader won for best special issue on last year’s storms.
Design editor Christy Hendricks finished first for best front page. Sports editor Kelly Fenton won first place for his column, “Baseball brings pain.” He won second place for his feature, “Double jeopardy” and honorable mention for his feature, “Going to Kansas City” and for his article, “No excuses needed.” He finished third for a humorous column, “Bob’s your uncle.”
Sportswriter Jason King won honorable mention for his articles, “Panthers grind way to title” and “Trey’s legacy.”
David Scolli took first place for his sports feature photo, “Panther cheerleaders.”
David Parker and Christy Hendricks won second place for “Memorial Day” in the picture page/photo essay category.
Hendricks and The Leader staff took second for a feature page.
Nancy Dockter and John Hofheimer won second place for coverage of business and agriculture.
Jonathan Feldman, Rick Kron, Jeffrey Smith and Hofheimer placed second for their coverage of tourism.
“Winning 21 awards in the state and national contests is a record for The Leader,” publisher Garrick Feldman said. “The contest is very competitive with hundreds of outstanding submissions. We appreciate the special recognition, not only for the newspaper and our talented staff, but also for the communities that have supported The Leader for more than 20 years.”
The APA named The Leader the state’s best large weekly newspaper after it received 17 awards, including first place for best news story, best front page, best special issue, as well as top honors for investigative reporting, news and political column, sports column and sports feature photo.
The awards were announced at the APA’s annual convention Saturday in Rogers. The Leader also won three awards from the National Newspaper Association.
The APA named “Violent end brings pall over subdivision” by Jonathan Feldman and Garrick Feldman the best news article in a large weekly. The father-son team described a standoff last August between the Jacksonville police and a mentally disturbed man who was shooting at neighbors and police at a home in the Foxwood subdivision.
A police sharpshooter later shot the man through a kitchen window.
For the second time, John Hofheimer won for his series of exclusive reports on the housing-privatization program at Little Rock Air Force Base. His reporting has received national recognition and led to the dismissal of the previous contractor for failing to build or remodel homes on the air base or pay subcontractors.
New contractors have been hired and have resumed work on the housing project.
Garrick Feldman’s column, “Huck’s main adversary not running,” was judged best news/political column. It placed second in the National Newspaper Association contest. The column described a mother’s anguish after her daughter was murdered in Missouri by Wayne Dumond, a convicted Arkansas rapist who was paroled after then-Gov. Mike Huckabee had intervened on his behalf. (The column is reprinted on page 1A.)
Jonathan Feldman, Rick Kron and David Scolli won second place from the National Newspaper Association for their coverage of the Reed’s Bridge Civil War battle reenactment. Aliya Feldman, another Feldman offspring, won honorable mention from the NNA for her environmental reporting on the expanded Two Pine Landfill in Jacksonville.
At the Arkansas Press convention, The Leader won for best special issue on last year’s storms.
Design editor Christy Hendricks finished first for best front page. Sports editor Kelly Fenton won first place for his column, “Baseball brings pain.” He won second place for his feature, “Double jeopardy” and honorable mention for his feature, “Going to Kansas City” and for his article, “No excuses needed.” He finished third for a humorous column, “Bob’s your uncle.”
Sportswriter Jason King won honorable mention for his articles, “Panthers grind way to title” and “Trey’s legacy.”
David Scolli took first place for his sports feature photo, “Panther cheerleaders.”
David Parker and Christy Hendricks won second place for “Memorial Day” in the picture page/photo essay category.
Hendricks and The Leader staff took second for a feature page.
Nancy Dockter and John Hofheimer won second place for coverage of business and agriculture.
Jonathan Feldman, Rick Kron, Jeffrey Smith and Hofheimer placed second for their coverage of tourism.
“Winning 21 awards in the state and national contests is a record for The Leader,” publisher Garrick Feldman said. “The contest is very competitive with hundreds of outstanding submissions. We appreciate the special recognition, not only for the newspaper and our talented staff, but also for the communities that have supported The Leader for more than 20 years.”
TOP STORY >> A key test in schools indicating progress
By RICK KRON
Leader staff writer
Pupils at Magness Creek and Stagecoach in Cabot and Arnold Drive elementary schools at the air base are among the top in the state based on recently released benchmark scores.
Almost all Magness Creek third-graders scored proficient or advanced in math on the annual assessment. Because percentages are rounded, the school did have a few students, less than six, score basic and none scored below basic.
If a student scores advanced, it means he is more than ready to move up to the next grade, proficient implies the student is also ready to move up, but may need a little help here and there, a basic student needs a lot of help to complete work at his grade level and will have difficulty at the next grade level, and a below basic student doesn’t have all the skills to move up to the next grade.
Among the top scores in the region were third-graders at Stagecoach Elementary, with 95 percent of them scoring proficient or advanced and 92 percent of the fourth- graders scoring proficient or better. Also, 90 percent of Southside Elementary third and fourth-graders made the grade.
At Arnold Drive Elementary in Jacksonville, 97 percent of the third graders, 94 percent of the fourth-graders scored proficient or better in math and 91 percent of the fifth-graders scored well in math.
These same third and fourth-graders scored 91 and 97 percent, respectively, in literacy. Also, 93 percent of Oakbrooke Elementary third-graders in Sherwood made the cut in literacy.
Ninety-five percent of Sidney Deener Elementary School third-graders in Searcy scored proficient or better in math, and 93 percent of the third-graders at Searcy’s Westside Elementary did the same, while the fourth-graders had a 92 percent pass rate. The sixth-graders at Searcy’s Southwest Middle School had a 90 percent pass rate in math, while among Ahlf Junior High eighth-graders, 91 percent scored well in literacy.
State Education Department figures show, for the first time, more than 60 percent of students at each grade level scored proficient or advanced on both mathematics and literacy on the Arkansas Augmented Benchmark Exams.
Generally, students did better in math than in literacy. the younger students did better than the older students.
The exams, given in April to 209,000 third through eighth grade students, are recognized as some of the most rigorous in the country, according to Julie Thompson, spokesman for the Education Department.
Diana Julian, interim commissioner for the Arkansas Department of Education, said, “It’s a great day when a state can report that more than two-thirds of its students are achieving proficiency, especially when those results reflect continued academic growth at each grade level.”
The No Child Left Behind Act requires all students be proficient or advanced at their grade level by the end of the 2013-2014 school year.
The state considers an annual school increase of about seven percentage points as making adequate progress toward that goal. This means any school that has less than 70 percent of its students proficient or advanced is in jeopardy of reaching that 100 percent goal in time.
BEEBE
At Beebe Intermediate, 87 percent of the third-graders scored proficient or advanced in math and 73 percent did as well in literacy. Among the fourth-graders, 85 percent were proficient or better in math and 84 percent made the cut in literacy.
At Beebe Middle School, 71 percent of the fifth-graders were either proficient or advanced and 75 percent scored proficient or better in literacy. Among the sixth-graders, 86 percent were proficient or better in math and 74 percent did equally well in literacy.
At Beebe Junior High, 71 percent of the seventh-graders scored proficient or better and 68 percent did the same in literacy.
Among eighth-graders, 67 percent were proficient or advanced in math and 81 percent in literacy did the same.
CABOT
At Westside Elementary, 79 percent of the third-graders scored proficient or better in math and 77 percent did the same in literacy. At the fourth-grade level, 77 percent scored proficient or advanced in math and literacy.
Central Elementary had 83 percent of its third-graders score proficient or advanced in math and 73 percent did the same in literacy. Among fourth-graders, 87 percent scored well in math and 81 percent scored proficient or better in literacy.
At Magness Creek, 100 percent of its third-graders scored proficient or advanced in math and 86 percent did equally well in literacy. The school’s fourth-graders had an 88 percent pass rate in math and an 89 percent proficient or better rate in literacy.
At Stagecoach, 95 percent of the third-graders scored proficient or better in math and 88 percent did the same in literacy.
Among the fourth-graders, 92 percent made the cut in math and 83 percent scored proficient or advanced in literacy.
Among Northside third-graders, 86 percent scored proficient or better in math and 76 percent did the same in literacy. At the fourth-grade level, 85 percent scored well in math and 83 percent scored proficient or advanced in literacy.
At Eastside Elementary, 86 percent of third-graders were proficient or advanced in math and 73 percent did equally well in literacy. Eighty-six percent of the fourth-graders also scored proficient or advanced in math, while 81 percent did the same in literacy.
At Ward Central, 78 percent of the third-graders scored proficient or advanced in math, but only 63 percent did so in literacy.
At the fourth-grade level, 80 percent made the cut in math and 78 percent scored proficient or better in literacy.
At Southside Elementary, 90 percent of the third-graders scored proficient or better in math and 80 percent did so in literacy.
Among the fourth-graders, 90 percent made the grade in math and 84 percent were proficient or better in literacy.
For fifth-graders at Cabot Middle School North, 82 percent scored proficient or advanced in math and 81 did the same in literacy. At the sixth-grade level, 88 percent made the cut in math and 83 percent did so in literacy.
At Cabot Middle School South, 83 percent of the fifth-graders scored proficient or better in math and 81 percent were proficient or advanced in literacy. Among sixth-graders, 88 percent were proficient or better in math and 84 percent did the same in literacy.
At Cabot Junior High North, 72 percent of the seventh-graders scored proficient or better in math, but that fell to 65 percent in literacy. At the eighth-grade level, 71 were proficient or better in math and 77 percent did the same in literacy.
Among the seventh-graders at Cabot Junior High South, 78 percent scored proficient or better in math and 76 percent scored equally well in literacy. At the eighth-grade level, 71 percent scored proficient or advanced in math and that jumped to 79 percent in literacy.
LONOKE
At the third-grade level, 75 percent of the students were proficient or advanced in math and 64 percent did equally well in literacy. Among fourth-graders, 81 percent were proficient or better in math and 73 percent were proficient or better in literacy. At the fifth-grade level, 76 percent of the students were proficient or better in math and 72 percent made the cut in literacy.
At Lonoke Middle School, 83 percent of the sixth-graders scored proficient or advanced in math and 72 percent were proficient or better in literacy. Among seventh-graders, 75 percent were proficient or better in math, but that dropped to 58 percent in literacy. At the eighth-grade level, 70 percent were proficient or advanced in math and 75 percent made the cut in literacy.
PULASKI COUNTY
At Oakbrooke Elementary in Sherwood, 76 percent of the third-graders were proficient or advanced in math, but that fell to 61 percent in literacy. At the fourth-grade level, 78 percent scored well in math, but that jumped up to 93 percent proficient or better in literacy. Among fifth-graders, 63 percent scored proficient or better in math and 67 percent did as well in literacy.
At Sherwood Elementary, 70 percent of the third-graders scored proficient or better in math and 66 percent did equally well in literacy. Among fourth-graders, 73 percent made the cut in math and 68 percent scored proficient or advanced in literacy. At the fifth-grade level, 72 percent scored proficient or better in math and 62 percent did the same in literacy.
At Sylvan Hills Elementary in Sherwood, 76 percent of the third-graders scored proficient or better in math, but that slipped to 62 percent in literacy. At the fourth-grade level, 73 percent scored proficient or better in math and 69 percent did the same in literacy. Among fifth-graders, just 42 percent are proficient or advanced in math and 51 percent are in literacy.
Sherwood’s Clinton Elementary had 65 percent of its third-graders score proficient or advanced in math and 63 percent did the same in literacy. At the fourth-grade level, 73 percent made the cut in math and 71 percent scored proficient or better in literacy. Among the fifth-graders, 62 percent scored proficient or better in math and 58 percent did the same in literacy.
Pinewood Elementary in Jacksonville had 76 percent of its third-graders score proficient or better in math, but that fell to 47 percent making the cut in literacy. Among the fourth-graders, 76 percent made the grade in math and 69 percent scored proficient or better in literacy. At the fifth-grade level, 68 percent scored proficient or better in math and 61 did the same in literacy.
At Bayou Meto Elementary, 85 percent of third-graders made the grade in math, but that fell to 65 percent in literacy. Among the fourth-graders, 89 percent achieved proficiency or better in math and 80 percent did equally well in literacy. At the fifth-grade level, 79 percent scored proficient or better in math and 75 percent did the same in literacy.
At Tolleson Elementary, 81 percent of the third-graders scored proficient or better in math, but that fell to 67 percent of students for literacy. At the fourth-grade level, 80 percent scored proficient or advanced in math and 76 percent did the same in literacy. Among the fifth-graders, 60 percent scored well in math and 66 percent did the same in literacy.
Cato Elementary had 85 of its third-graders score proficient or advanced in math and that fell to 59 percent in literacy. Among fourth-graders, 79 percent scored well in math and 77 percent scored proficient or better in literacy. At the fifth-grade level, 59 percent of the students scored well in math and 60 percent in literacy.
At Murrell Taylor Elementary, 69 percent of the third-graders made the cut in math and 60 percent scored proficient or better in literacy. At the fourth-grade level, just 40 percent of the students were proficient or better in math, but that jumped to 76 percent in literacy. Among the fifth-graders, 50 percent made the cut in math and 44 percent scored proficient or better in literacy.
At Jacksonville Elementary, 59 percent of the third-graders scored proficient or better in math and 40 percent did the same in literacy. Among fourth-graders, 53 percent made the cut in math and 45 percent scored proficient or better in literacy. At the fifth-grade level, just 31 percent made the required grade in math and 48 percent scored proficient or better in literacy.
Arnold Drive Elementary had some of the better scores in the county district. Among its third-graders, 97 percent scored proficient or advanced in math and 91 percent did the same in literacy. At the fourth-grade level, 94 percent made the cut in math and 97 percent scored proficient or better in literacy. Among fifth-graders, 91 percent scored well in math and 86 percent did equally well in literacy.
At Warren Dupree Elementary, 60 percent of its third-graders made the cut in math and 40 percent scored proficient or better in literacy. At the fourth-grade level, 81 percent scored well in math and 69 percent scored proficient or better in literacy.
Among fifth-graders, 65 percent scored well in math and 79 percent made the cut in literacy.
At Harris Elementary, 53 percent of the third-graders scored proficient or better in math and 42 percent did equally well in literacy. Among fourth-graders, 48 percent scored well in math and 42 percent made the cut in literacy. At the fifth-grade level, it was 42 percent making the cut in math and 48 percent scored proficient or better in literacy.
At Jacksonville Middle School Girls’ campus, 55 percent of the sixth-graders scored proficient or better in math and 56 percent did the same in literacy. At the seventh-grade level, 41 percent scored proficient or better in math and that jumped to 59 percent in literacy. Among the eighth-graders, 35 percent scored proficient or better in math and 65 percent made the cut in literacy.
At the boys’ campus, 68 percent of sixth-graders scored well in math, while 43 percent scored proficient or better in literacy.
At the seventh-grade level, the numbers fell to 43 percent proficient or better in math and down to 23 percent making the cut in literacy. In eighth grade, 52 percent of the students scored well in math and 56 percent scored proficient or better in literacy.
Among Sylvan Hills Middle School sixth-graders, 69 percent scored proficient or advanced in math and 54 percent made the cut in literacy. Forty-eight percent of the seventh-graders scored proficient or better in math and that edged up to 56 percent making the grade in literacy. At the eighth-grade level, 38 percent scored well in math and 59 percent scored proficient or better in literacy.
At Northwood Middle School, 77 percent of sixth-graders scored proficient or better in math and 55 percent scored well in literacy. At the seventh-grade level, 59 percent scored well in math and 72 percent were proficient or better in literacy. Among eighth-graders, 63 percent scored proficient or better in math and 74 percent did well in literacy.
SEARCY
At Sidney Deener Elementary, 95 percent of the third-graders scored proficient or advanced in math and 87 percent did the same in literacy. At the fourth-grade level, 87 percent scored proficient or better in math and 76 percent did equally well in literacy.
At Westside Elementary, 93 percent of the third-graders scored proficient or better and 89 percent made the cut in literacy.
Among the fourth-graders, 92 percent scored proficient or advanced in math and 85 percent scored proficient or better in literacy.
At McRae Elementary, 83 percent of the third-graders were proficient or better in math and 75 percent did the same in literacy. Among the fourth-graders, 83 percent made the cut in math and 76 percent made the grade in literacy.
At Southwest Middle School, 81 percent of the fifth-graders scored proficient or better in math and 87 percent did the same in literacy. At the sixth-grade level, 90 percent of the students scored proficient or advanced in math and 88 percent made the cut in literacy.
For seventh-graders at Ahlf Junior High, 78 percent scored well in math and 80 percent were proficient or advanced in literacy. Among the eighth-graders, 79 percent made the cut in math and 91 percent scored proficient or advanced in literacy.
Leader staff writer
Pupils at Magness Creek and Stagecoach in Cabot and Arnold Drive elementary schools at the air base are among the top in the state based on recently released benchmark scores.
Almost all Magness Creek third-graders scored proficient or advanced in math on the annual assessment. Because percentages are rounded, the school did have a few students, less than six, score basic and none scored below basic.
If a student scores advanced, it means he is more than ready to move up to the next grade, proficient implies the student is also ready to move up, but may need a little help here and there, a basic student needs a lot of help to complete work at his grade level and will have difficulty at the next grade level, and a below basic student doesn’t have all the skills to move up to the next grade.
Among the top scores in the region were third-graders at Stagecoach Elementary, with 95 percent of them scoring proficient or advanced and 92 percent of the fourth- graders scoring proficient or better. Also, 90 percent of Southside Elementary third and fourth-graders made the grade.
At Arnold Drive Elementary in Jacksonville, 97 percent of the third graders, 94 percent of the fourth-graders scored proficient or better in math and 91 percent of the fifth-graders scored well in math.
These same third and fourth-graders scored 91 and 97 percent, respectively, in literacy. Also, 93 percent of Oakbrooke Elementary third-graders in Sherwood made the cut in literacy.
Ninety-five percent of Sidney Deener Elementary School third-graders in Searcy scored proficient or better in math, and 93 percent of the third-graders at Searcy’s Westside Elementary did the same, while the fourth-graders had a 92 percent pass rate. The sixth-graders at Searcy’s Southwest Middle School had a 90 percent pass rate in math, while among Ahlf Junior High eighth-graders, 91 percent scored well in literacy.
State Education Department figures show, for the first time, more than 60 percent of students at each grade level scored proficient or advanced on both mathematics and literacy on the Arkansas Augmented Benchmark Exams.
Generally, students did better in math than in literacy. the younger students did better than the older students.
The exams, given in April to 209,000 third through eighth grade students, are recognized as some of the most rigorous in the country, according to Julie Thompson, spokesman for the Education Department.
Diana Julian, interim commissioner for the Arkansas Department of Education, said, “It’s a great day when a state can report that more than two-thirds of its students are achieving proficiency, especially when those results reflect continued academic growth at each grade level.”
The No Child Left Behind Act requires all students be proficient or advanced at their grade level by the end of the 2013-2014 school year.
The state considers an annual school increase of about seven percentage points as making adequate progress toward that goal. This means any school that has less than 70 percent of its students proficient or advanced is in jeopardy of reaching that 100 percent goal in time.
BEEBE
At Beebe Intermediate, 87 percent of the third-graders scored proficient or advanced in math and 73 percent did as well in literacy. Among the fourth-graders, 85 percent were proficient or better in math and 84 percent made the cut in literacy.
At Beebe Middle School, 71 percent of the fifth-graders were either proficient or advanced and 75 percent scored proficient or better in literacy. Among the sixth-graders, 86 percent were proficient or better in math and 74 percent did equally well in literacy.
At Beebe Junior High, 71 percent of the seventh-graders scored proficient or better and 68 percent did the same in literacy.
Among eighth-graders, 67 percent were proficient or advanced in math and 81 percent in literacy did the same.
CABOT
At Westside Elementary, 79 percent of the third-graders scored proficient or better in math and 77 percent did the same in literacy. At the fourth-grade level, 77 percent scored proficient or advanced in math and literacy.
Central Elementary had 83 percent of its third-graders score proficient or advanced in math and 73 percent did the same in literacy. Among fourth-graders, 87 percent scored well in math and 81 percent scored proficient or better in literacy.
At Magness Creek, 100 percent of its third-graders scored proficient or advanced in math and 86 percent did equally well in literacy. The school’s fourth-graders had an 88 percent pass rate in math and an 89 percent proficient or better rate in literacy.
At Stagecoach, 95 percent of the third-graders scored proficient or better in math and 88 percent did the same in literacy.
Among the fourth-graders, 92 percent made the cut in math and 83 percent scored proficient or advanced in literacy.
Among Northside third-graders, 86 percent scored proficient or better in math and 76 percent did the same in literacy. At the fourth-grade level, 85 percent scored well in math and 83 percent scored proficient or advanced in literacy.
At Eastside Elementary, 86 percent of third-graders were proficient or advanced in math and 73 percent did equally well in literacy. Eighty-six percent of the fourth-graders also scored proficient or advanced in math, while 81 percent did the same in literacy.
At Ward Central, 78 percent of the third-graders scored proficient or advanced in math, but only 63 percent did so in literacy.
At the fourth-grade level, 80 percent made the cut in math and 78 percent scored proficient or better in literacy.
At Southside Elementary, 90 percent of the third-graders scored proficient or better in math and 80 percent did so in literacy.
Among the fourth-graders, 90 percent made the grade in math and 84 percent were proficient or better in literacy.
For fifth-graders at Cabot Middle School North, 82 percent scored proficient or advanced in math and 81 did the same in literacy. At the sixth-grade level, 88 percent made the cut in math and 83 percent did so in literacy.
At Cabot Middle School South, 83 percent of the fifth-graders scored proficient or better in math and 81 percent were proficient or advanced in literacy. Among sixth-graders, 88 percent were proficient or better in math and 84 percent did the same in literacy.
At Cabot Junior High North, 72 percent of the seventh-graders scored proficient or better in math, but that fell to 65 percent in literacy. At the eighth-grade level, 71 were proficient or better in math and 77 percent did the same in literacy.
Among the seventh-graders at Cabot Junior High South, 78 percent scored proficient or better in math and 76 percent scored equally well in literacy. At the eighth-grade level, 71 percent scored proficient or advanced in math and that jumped to 79 percent in literacy.
LONOKE
At the third-grade level, 75 percent of the students were proficient or advanced in math and 64 percent did equally well in literacy. Among fourth-graders, 81 percent were proficient or better in math and 73 percent were proficient or better in literacy. At the fifth-grade level, 76 percent of the students were proficient or better in math and 72 percent made the cut in literacy.
At Lonoke Middle School, 83 percent of the sixth-graders scored proficient or advanced in math and 72 percent were proficient or better in literacy. Among seventh-graders, 75 percent were proficient or better in math, but that dropped to 58 percent in literacy. At the eighth-grade level, 70 percent were proficient or advanced in math and 75 percent made the cut in literacy.
PULASKI COUNTY
At Oakbrooke Elementary in Sherwood, 76 percent of the third-graders were proficient or advanced in math, but that fell to 61 percent in literacy. At the fourth-grade level, 78 percent scored well in math, but that jumped up to 93 percent proficient or better in literacy. Among fifth-graders, 63 percent scored proficient or better in math and 67 percent did as well in literacy.
At Sherwood Elementary, 70 percent of the third-graders scored proficient or better in math and 66 percent did equally well in literacy. Among fourth-graders, 73 percent made the cut in math and 68 percent scored proficient or advanced in literacy. At the fifth-grade level, 72 percent scored proficient or better in math and 62 percent did the same in literacy.
At Sylvan Hills Elementary in Sherwood, 76 percent of the third-graders scored proficient or better in math, but that slipped to 62 percent in literacy. At the fourth-grade level, 73 percent scored proficient or better in math and 69 percent did the same in literacy. Among fifth-graders, just 42 percent are proficient or advanced in math and 51 percent are in literacy.
Sherwood’s Clinton Elementary had 65 percent of its third-graders score proficient or advanced in math and 63 percent did the same in literacy. At the fourth-grade level, 73 percent made the cut in math and 71 percent scored proficient or better in literacy. Among the fifth-graders, 62 percent scored proficient or better in math and 58 percent did the same in literacy.
Pinewood Elementary in Jacksonville had 76 percent of its third-graders score proficient or better in math, but that fell to 47 percent making the cut in literacy. Among the fourth-graders, 76 percent made the grade in math and 69 percent scored proficient or better in literacy. At the fifth-grade level, 68 percent scored proficient or better in math and 61 did the same in literacy.
At Bayou Meto Elementary, 85 percent of third-graders made the grade in math, but that fell to 65 percent in literacy. Among the fourth-graders, 89 percent achieved proficiency or better in math and 80 percent did equally well in literacy. At the fifth-grade level, 79 percent scored proficient or better in math and 75 percent did the same in literacy.
At Tolleson Elementary, 81 percent of the third-graders scored proficient or better in math, but that fell to 67 percent of students for literacy. At the fourth-grade level, 80 percent scored proficient or advanced in math and 76 percent did the same in literacy. Among the fifth-graders, 60 percent scored well in math and 66 percent did the same in literacy.
Cato Elementary had 85 of its third-graders score proficient or advanced in math and that fell to 59 percent in literacy. Among fourth-graders, 79 percent scored well in math and 77 percent scored proficient or better in literacy. At the fifth-grade level, 59 percent of the students scored well in math and 60 percent in literacy.
At Murrell Taylor Elementary, 69 percent of the third-graders made the cut in math and 60 percent scored proficient or better in literacy. At the fourth-grade level, just 40 percent of the students were proficient or better in math, but that jumped to 76 percent in literacy. Among the fifth-graders, 50 percent made the cut in math and 44 percent scored proficient or better in literacy.
At Jacksonville Elementary, 59 percent of the third-graders scored proficient or better in math and 40 percent did the same in literacy. Among fourth-graders, 53 percent made the cut in math and 45 percent scored proficient or better in literacy. At the fifth-grade level, just 31 percent made the required grade in math and 48 percent scored proficient or better in literacy.
Arnold Drive Elementary had some of the better scores in the county district. Among its third-graders, 97 percent scored proficient or advanced in math and 91 percent did the same in literacy. At the fourth-grade level, 94 percent made the cut in math and 97 percent scored proficient or better in literacy. Among fifth-graders, 91 percent scored well in math and 86 percent did equally well in literacy.
At Warren Dupree Elementary, 60 percent of its third-graders made the cut in math and 40 percent scored proficient or better in literacy. At the fourth-grade level, 81 percent scored well in math and 69 percent scored proficient or better in literacy.
Among fifth-graders, 65 percent scored well in math and 79 percent made the cut in literacy.
At Harris Elementary, 53 percent of the third-graders scored proficient or better in math and 42 percent did equally well in literacy. Among fourth-graders, 48 percent scored well in math and 42 percent made the cut in literacy. At the fifth-grade level, it was 42 percent making the cut in math and 48 percent scored proficient or better in literacy.
At Jacksonville Middle School Girls’ campus, 55 percent of the sixth-graders scored proficient or better in math and 56 percent did the same in literacy. At the seventh-grade level, 41 percent scored proficient or better in math and that jumped to 59 percent in literacy. Among the eighth-graders, 35 percent scored proficient or better in math and 65 percent made the cut in literacy.
At the boys’ campus, 68 percent of sixth-graders scored well in math, while 43 percent scored proficient or better in literacy.
At the seventh-grade level, the numbers fell to 43 percent proficient or better in math and down to 23 percent making the cut in literacy. In eighth grade, 52 percent of the students scored well in math and 56 percent scored proficient or better in literacy.
Among Sylvan Hills Middle School sixth-graders, 69 percent scored proficient or advanced in math and 54 percent made the cut in literacy. Forty-eight percent of the seventh-graders scored proficient or better in math and that edged up to 56 percent making the grade in literacy. At the eighth-grade level, 38 percent scored well in math and 59 percent scored proficient or better in literacy.
At Northwood Middle School, 77 percent of sixth-graders scored proficient or better in math and 55 percent scored well in literacy. At the seventh-grade level, 59 percent scored well in math and 72 percent were proficient or better in literacy. Among eighth-graders, 63 percent scored proficient or better in math and 74 percent did well in literacy.
SEARCY
At Sidney Deener Elementary, 95 percent of the third-graders scored proficient or advanced in math and 87 percent did the same in literacy. At the fourth-grade level, 87 percent scored proficient or better in math and 76 percent did equally well in literacy.
At Westside Elementary, 93 percent of the third-graders scored proficient or better and 89 percent made the cut in literacy.
Among the fourth-graders, 92 percent scored proficient or advanced in math and 85 percent scored proficient or better in literacy.
At McRae Elementary, 83 percent of the third-graders were proficient or better in math and 75 percent did the same in literacy. Among the fourth-graders, 83 percent made the cut in math and 76 percent made the grade in literacy.
At Southwest Middle School, 81 percent of the fifth-graders scored proficient or better in math and 87 percent did the same in literacy. At the sixth-grade level, 90 percent of the students scored proficient or advanced in math and 88 percent made the cut in literacy.
For seventh-graders at Ahlf Junior High, 78 percent scored well in math and 80 percent were proficient or advanced in literacy. Among the eighth-graders, 79 percent made the cut in math and 91 percent scored proficient or advanced in literacy.
TOP STORY >> Air base heading to rodeo with high hopes
By GARRICK FELDMAN
Leader editor-in-chief
Little Rock Air Force Base, which has the largest C-130 fleet in the world, is sending four planes and some 140 airmen to the air rodeo competition at McChord Air Force Base in Washington state.
These are the men and women who fly C-130s, deliver military personnel and supplies around the world on short notice, and they will compete for the title of best airlifters in the world.
Air Mobility Command’s premier mobility competition will take place Saturday through Friday, July 24.
Col. Gregory S. Otey, commander of the 19th Airlift Wing at Little Rock Air Force Base, and Col. Charles K. Hyde, commander of the 314th Airlift Wing, will lead their teams to McChord on Friday.
Among those going on the trip are Cabot Mayor Eddie Joe Williams, former Jacksonville Mayor Tommy Swaim, Larry Bernake of Arkansas Federal Credit Union and Larry Wilson of First Arkansas Bank and Trust.
The three surviving members of the original nine Doolittle Raiders, who were the first to bomb a Japanese island during the Second World War, will be the special guests of Gen. Arthur J. Lichte, the commander of Air Mobility Command.
The air rodeo, held every two years, tests the mobility of C-130 crews. The competition features more than 40 aircraft participating in airdrops, aerial refueling and other aerial events.
Additional events will showcase the wide-ranging capabilities of military security forces and aerial port, maintenance and aeromedical-evacuation personnel.
More than 100 teams and 2,500 people from the Air Force, Air Force Reserve and Air National Guard, as well as allies from 25 nations, are expected to participate.
The last biennial competition took place in July 2007 at McChord AFB.
“The return on investment from rodeo is huge because it tests, improves and impacts the entire worldwide mobility machine,” Otey said. “This one week allows us to measure our combat airlift skills against the best of the best mobility aircrews from around the world.
“Airlift rodeo allows all of us to share tactics, techniques and procedures and increases the velocity and precision of combat airlift. That increase in efficiency in combat airlift velocity and precision directly affects our war-fighters on the front lines,” Otey said.
Hyde, who is going to his first rodeo, is also enthusiastic about the upcoming competition. He said the rodeo “tests the whole system” of air mobility. “It challenges everybody to be better and work together better. We learn from each other.”
Hyde’s grandfather built C-130s in the 1960s at the Lockheed assembly plant in Marietta, Ga., where he grew up. He said his grandfather probably helped build many of the planes at Little Rock Air Force Base.
Hyde is a veteran of Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan and Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Otey, a graduate of the Virginia Military Institute, was a weapons officer at the C-130 Weapons School at the air base from 1995 through 1997.
Hyde, who is an Air Force Academy graduate, trained here and was a flight instructor in 1992.
The 314th Airlift Wing trains C-130 crews for the Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard and several allied nations. The wing is part of the Education and Training Command.
The 19th Airlift Wing is the premier combat airlift unit and reports to Air Mobility Command.
“Rodeo showcases AMC’s best of the best and allows us to train and learn through spirited competition,” said Maj. Gen. Brooks Bash, AMC director of operations and Rodeo 2009 commander.
“Not only does this world-class competition train mobility forces for the fight, it provides a forum for airmen and our international partners to share the best of tactics and techniques,” Brooks added.
According to the Air Force, an important long-term benefit of this event is increased cooperation between air mobility forces among participating nations. Collectively, the ultimate goal of the competition is to develop and improve techniques and procedures that enhance air mobility operations.
According to AMC officials, the command provides the nation global mobility combined with rapid response.
Air Mobility Command not only plays a crucial role in Iraq and Afghanistan through its airlift, tanker and aeromedical-evacuation capabilities but also provides humanitarian support around the world. Its extensive daily flying operations average an aircraft takeoff every 90 seconds.
Capt. Allison Stephens of Little Rock Air Force Base public affairs contributed to this report.
Leader editor-in-chief
Little Rock Air Force Base, which has the largest C-130 fleet in the world, is sending four planes and some 140 airmen to the air rodeo competition at McChord Air Force Base in Washington state.
These are the men and women who fly C-130s, deliver military personnel and supplies around the world on short notice, and they will compete for the title of best airlifters in the world.
Air Mobility Command’s premier mobility competition will take place Saturday through Friday, July 24.
Col. Gregory S. Otey, commander of the 19th Airlift Wing at Little Rock Air Force Base, and Col. Charles K. Hyde, commander of the 314th Airlift Wing, will lead their teams to McChord on Friday.
Among those going on the trip are Cabot Mayor Eddie Joe Williams, former Jacksonville Mayor Tommy Swaim, Larry Bernake of Arkansas Federal Credit Union and Larry Wilson of First Arkansas Bank and Trust.
The three surviving members of the original nine Doolittle Raiders, who were the first to bomb a Japanese island during the Second World War, will be the special guests of Gen. Arthur J. Lichte, the commander of Air Mobility Command.
The air rodeo, held every two years, tests the mobility of C-130 crews. The competition features more than 40 aircraft participating in airdrops, aerial refueling and other aerial events.
Additional events will showcase the wide-ranging capabilities of military security forces and aerial port, maintenance and aeromedical-evacuation personnel.
More than 100 teams and 2,500 people from the Air Force, Air Force Reserve and Air National Guard, as well as allies from 25 nations, are expected to participate.
The last biennial competition took place in July 2007 at McChord AFB.
“The return on investment from rodeo is huge because it tests, improves and impacts the entire worldwide mobility machine,” Otey said. “This one week allows us to measure our combat airlift skills against the best of the best mobility aircrews from around the world.
“Airlift rodeo allows all of us to share tactics, techniques and procedures and increases the velocity and precision of combat airlift. That increase in efficiency in combat airlift velocity and precision directly affects our war-fighters on the front lines,” Otey said.
Hyde, who is going to his first rodeo, is also enthusiastic about the upcoming competition. He said the rodeo “tests the whole system” of air mobility. “It challenges everybody to be better and work together better. We learn from each other.”
Hyde’s grandfather built C-130s in the 1960s at the Lockheed assembly plant in Marietta, Ga., where he grew up. He said his grandfather probably helped build many of the planes at Little Rock Air Force Base.
Hyde is a veteran of Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan and Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Otey, a graduate of the Virginia Military Institute, was a weapons officer at the C-130 Weapons School at the air base from 1995 through 1997.
Hyde, who is an Air Force Academy graduate, trained here and was a flight instructor in 1992.
The 314th Airlift Wing trains C-130 crews for the Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard and several allied nations. The wing is part of the Education and Training Command.
The 19th Airlift Wing is the premier combat airlift unit and reports to Air Mobility Command.
“Rodeo showcases AMC’s best of the best and allows us to train and learn through spirited competition,” said Maj. Gen. Brooks Bash, AMC director of operations and Rodeo 2009 commander.
“Not only does this world-class competition train mobility forces for the fight, it provides a forum for airmen and our international partners to share the best of tactics and techniques,” Brooks added.
According to the Air Force, an important long-term benefit of this event is increased cooperation between air mobility forces among participating nations. Collectively, the ultimate goal of the competition is to develop and improve techniques and procedures that enhance air mobility operations.
According to AMC officials, the command provides the nation global mobility combined with rapid response.
Air Mobility Command not only plays a crucial role in Iraq and Afghanistan through its airlift, tanker and aeromedical-evacuation capabilities but also provides humanitarian support around the world. Its extensive daily flying operations average an aircraft takeoff every 90 seconds.
Capt. Allison Stephens of Little Rock Air Force Base public affairs contributed to this report.
SPORTS >> Cabot seniors go to bat on Searcy
By KELLY FENTON
Leader sports editor
The Cabot Centennial Bank seniors improved to 12-8 with a 10-0 cruise past Searcy on Sunday at Brian Wade Conrade Field.
Sam Bates led the way with two hits and three RBI, including a home run, and lifted his average to .482.
Drew Burks went 3 of 4 and raised his batting mark to .396, while Ben Wainwright continues to climb out of an early season slump with three hits that moved his average up to .293.
Andrew Reynolds and Ty Steele each had two hits as Centennial Bank totaled 16. Matt Turner ran his team-leading RBI total to 21 with two more on Sunday.
Cole Nicholson tossed a five-hit shutout to improve to 4-1 and drop his ERA to 1.20. Nicholson struck out five, walked one and hit a batter over seven innings.
Cabot will take on Maumelle or North Little Rock on Friday night in the opening round of the zone tournament at Burns Park.
Leader sports editor
The Cabot Centennial Bank seniors improved to 12-8 with a 10-0 cruise past Searcy on Sunday at Brian Wade Conrade Field.
Sam Bates led the way with two hits and three RBI, including a home run, and lifted his average to .482.
Drew Burks went 3 of 4 and raised his batting mark to .396, while Ben Wainwright continues to climb out of an early season slump with three hits that moved his average up to .293.
Andrew Reynolds and Ty Steele each had two hits as Centennial Bank totaled 16. Matt Turner ran his team-leading RBI total to 21 with two more on Sunday.
Cole Nicholson tossed a five-hit shutout to improve to 4-1 and drop his ERA to 1.20. Nicholson struck out five, walked one and hit a batter over seven innings.
Cabot will take on Maumelle or North Little Rock on Friday night in the opening round of the zone tournament at Burns Park.
SPORTS >> Whatley says televised football provides great chance to showcase city
By KELLY FENTON
Leader sports editor
Jacksonville Red Devil head football coach Mark Whatley took on a variety of topics when he spoke to the Rotary Club on Monday — from private schools to a proposed classification realignment to education standards at his program.
The big items, though, were the televised football game with Cabot that opens the season on Sept. 1 and the introduction of new defensive coordinator Derek Moore, who is awaiting the approval of the Pulaski County Special School District board.
Whatley, who will be starting his fifth season at the Red Devil helm, touted KARK/Fearless Friday’s televised football package, which was unveiled last month and will launch with the Jacksonville-Cabot game.
“Those guys have done a great job putting this together,” Whatley said before adding with a laugh, “Now I have my own thoughts about those blogs and message board sites (Fearless Friday offers a forum for fans to discuss statewide sports topics). I don’t read those because it can upset you sometimes.
“But this is a great chance to show people what we have here in Jacksonville. And we would like to try to get that traveling (Jacksonville-Cabot game) trophy back.”
Whatley said his 2009 Red Devils should benefit from having as many as eight incoming junior defensive players who either started or saw plenty of action last fall.
Jacksonville lost long-time defensive coordinator Rick Russell, who took over the head coaching job at North Pulaski. When Whatley went in search for a replacement for Russell, he said he had in mind an older guy with lots of experience. Warren head coach Bo Hembree urged him to think young, Whatley said.
“It seemed like every time Warren lost a game, Bo would fire a defensive coordinator,” Whatley joked. “So I called him and he said to stay away from the old guys. He told me that defense was about attitude, energy and flying to the football. Find someone young who has learned under great coaches.”
Hembree also pointed out that computers have started to play a key role in coaching and that younger coaches are much more computer-savvy. Hembree mentioned Moore, a former Arkansas Razorback defensive end and student assistant under defensive coordinator Reggie Herring, as a perfect candidate.
“So I called Reggie and he told me, ‘You better get him. You better get him right now,’” Whatley said.
Whatley got the same recommendation from new Arkansas head coach Bobby Petrino and defensive coordinator Willy Robinson.
“It’s a big jump for me,” said Moore, who was introduced as the prospective Red Devil defensive coordinator at the Rotary Club gathering. “But I’ve learned under two really good defensive coaches and I got a feeling for coaching high school football under
Coach (Barry Lunney) at Fort Smith Southside.”
Whatley listed defensive experience, junior quarterback Logan Perry and deep offensive and defensive lines as the strengths of his 2009 squad. Those lines will benefit significantly from the move-in of a Batesville senior transfer who clocks in at 6-feet, 5-inches and 270 pounds.
“Last year, we just didn’t have much depth up front and we had to play some guys both ways on the line,” Whatley said. “This year, we’ll be stretched a little thin with the skill people.”
Whatley was asked about the controversial matter of private programs, which have now been relegated to their own conference after allegations of recruiting and complaints that they enjoyed unfair advantages over public schools.
“I think sometimes people don’t recognize the things that successful programs are doing right,” Whatley said. “Successful programs have accountability, long-range plans and are committed to what they are doing.
“I mean, yeah, I want a level playing field, but I think we need to find the best thing out there and try to level it that way.”
Whatley wouldn’t speculate on the allegations of recruiting but stressed that he’d much rather be able to just keep Jacksonville kids home, rather than rely on move-ins.
“I just want to get the ones we have here (in Jacksonville),” he said. “I want these kids walking the halls together and developing that chemistry and sense of community. We would all really benefit if those kids (in the Jacksonville youth football programs) would stay in our feeder schools and we wouldn’t lose them to different schools along the way.”
Whatley also stressed that academic performance would continue to be a top priority in his program, employing the phrase “books before ball.” While the requirement for player eligibility is a 2.0 grade point average, Whatley suggested that wasn’t high enough.
“You have to have a 2.5 to play at a Division I school,” he said. “We need to send a better message to these kids about academics.”
Jacksonville will continue to scrimmage Little Rock Catholic and Vilonia every Thursday at 5 p.m. through July at Jan Crow Stadium.
Leader sports editor
Jacksonville Red Devil head football coach Mark Whatley took on a variety of topics when he spoke to the Rotary Club on Monday — from private schools to a proposed classification realignment to education standards at his program.
The big items, though, were the televised football game with Cabot that opens the season on Sept. 1 and the introduction of new defensive coordinator Derek Moore, who is awaiting the approval of the Pulaski County Special School District board.
Whatley, who will be starting his fifth season at the Red Devil helm, touted KARK/Fearless Friday’s televised football package, which was unveiled last month and will launch with the Jacksonville-Cabot game.
“Those guys have done a great job putting this together,” Whatley said before adding with a laugh, “Now I have my own thoughts about those blogs and message board sites (Fearless Friday offers a forum for fans to discuss statewide sports topics). I don’t read those because it can upset you sometimes.
“But this is a great chance to show people what we have here in Jacksonville. And we would like to try to get that traveling (Jacksonville-Cabot game) trophy back.”
Whatley said his 2009 Red Devils should benefit from having as many as eight incoming junior defensive players who either started or saw plenty of action last fall.
Jacksonville lost long-time defensive coordinator Rick Russell, who took over the head coaching job at North Pulaski. When Whatley went in search for a replacement for Russell, he said he had in mind an older guy with lots of experience. Warren head coach Bo Hembree urged him to think young, Whatley said.
“It seemed like every time Warren lost a game, Bo would fire a defensive coordinator,” Whatley joked. “So I called him and he said to stay away from the old guys. He told me that defense was about attitude, energy and flying to the football. Find someone young who has learned under great coaches.”
Hembree also pointed out that computers have started to play a key role in coaching and that younger coaches are much more computer-savvy. Hembree mentioned Moore, a former Arkansas Razorback defensive end and student assistant under defensive coordinator Reggie Herring, as a perfect candidate.
“So I called Reggie and he told me, ‘You better get him. You better get him right now,’” Whatley said.
Whatley got the same recommendation from new Arkansas head coach Bobby Petrino and defensive coordinator Willy Robinson.
“It’s a big jump for me,” said Moore, who was introduced as the prospective Red Devil defensive coordinator at the Rotary Club gathering. “But I’ve learned under two really good defensive coaches and I got a feeling for coaching high school football under
Coach (Barry Lunney) at Fort Smith Southside.”
Whatley listed defensive experience, junior quarterback Logan Perry and deep offensive and defensive lines as the strengths of his 2009 squad. Those lines will benefit significantly from the move-in of a Batesville senior transfer who clocks in at 6-feet, 5-inches and 270 pounds.
“Last year, we just didn’t have much depth up front and we had to play some guys both ways on the line,” Whatley said. “This year, we’ll be stretched a little thin with the skill people.”
Whatley was asked about the controversial matter of private programs, which have now been relegated to their own conference after allegations of recruiting and complaints that they enjoyed unfair advantages over public schools.
“I think sometimes people don’t recognize the things that successful programs are doing right,” Whatley said. “Successful programs have accountability, long-range plans and are committed to what they are doing.
“I mean, yeah, I want a level playing field, but I think we need to find the best thing out there and try to level it that way.”
Whatley wouldn’t speculate on the allegations of recruiting but stressed that he’d much rather be able to just keep Jacksonville kids home, rather than rely on move-ins.
“I just want to get the ones we have here (in Jacksonville),” he said. “I want these kids walking the halls together and developing that chemistry and sense of community. We would all really benefit if those kids (in the Jacksonville youth football programs) would stay in our feeder schools and we wouldn’t lose them to different schools along the way.”
Whatley also stressed that academic performance would continue to be a top priority in his program, employing the phrase “books before ball.” While the requirement for player eligibility is a 2.0 grade point average, Whatley suggested that wasn’t high enough.
“You have to have a 2.5 to play at a Division I school,” he said. “We need to send a better message to these kids about academics.”
Jacksonville will continue to scrimmage Little Rock Catholic and Vilonia every Thursday at 5 p.m. through July at Jan Crow Stadium.
SPORTS >> Bruins falter in state tournament
By KELLY FENTON
Leader sports editor
A season that began slowly before gathering momentum midway through ended with a fairly loud thud at the American Legion junior state tournament last weekend.
The Sylvan Hills Optimist Club Bruins lost both games at the Sheridan Sports Complex by a combined 25-1, falling 14-0 to Sheridan in the opening round, then getting eliminated 11-1 by Bryant on Saturday afternoon.
The Bruins finish the season 20-8.
The table was set early on Friday night, when Sheridan’s Kurt Stamper belted a first-inning grand slam for a quick 4-0 lead.
The Bruins gave themselves only one opportunity to get back into the contest when they loaded the bases in the second but came up empty.
Sylvan Hills starter Justin Cook gave up a single and a walk to open the game, but looked as though he might escape after a pair of strikeouts. Tyler Lathan, though, battled for a walk and Stamper lined a 2-2 pitch over the fence in left for a 4-0 Sheridan lead.
The Bruins collected one of their two hits in the game when Austin Spears beat out a high bouncer past the mound to open the second. Sheridan hurler Tyler Lathan hit Michael Lock with one out and James Pepin with two outs to load the bases. But Will Carter hit a bouncer to first for an unassisted out and the Bruins managed only two more base runners the rest of the way.
Cook fooled a lot of Sheridan hitters with his curve ball on his way to seven strikeouts. But the ones that weren’t fooled hit him pretty hard. A typical inning was the third, when Cook struck out two of the first four he faced, but hit a batter and gave up a single to the other two. Another single followed to make it 5-0.
In the fourth, two singles and an error scored two more runs. Then, following his sixth and seventh strikeouts to open the fifth, Cook surrendered back-to-back doubles by Nick Ware and Landon Moore. Moore had four of Sheridan’s 11 hits.
With a possibility of as many as six games between Friday and Tuesday, Sylvan Hills coach Jim Fink left Cook on the mound through the fifth inning. Sheridan struck for six more in the sixth on three hits, six walks and a sacrifice fly.
Pinch hitter Zach Russenberger picked up Sylvan Hills’ only other hit when he grounded a single up the middle with two outs in the final inning.
Sheridan was slated to take on Texarkana yesterday in the state championship.
Leader sports editor
A season that began slowly before gathering momentum midway through ended with a fairly loud thud at the American Legion junior state tournament last weekend.
The Sylvan Hills Optimist Club Bruins lost both games at the Sheridan Sports Complex by a combined 25-1, falling 14-0 to Sheridan in the opening round, then getting eliminated 11-1 by Bryant on Saturday afternoon.
The Bruins finish the season 20-8.
The table was set early on Friday night, when Sheridan’s Kurt Stamper belted a first-inning grand slam for a quick 4-0 lead.
The Bruins gave themselves only one opportunity to get back into the contest when they loaded the bases in the second but came up empty.
Sylvan Hills starter Justin Cook gave up a single and a walk to open the game, but looked as though he might escape after a pair of strikeouts. Tyler Lathan, though, battled for a walk and Stamper lined a 2-2 pitch over the fence in left for a 4-0 Sheridan lead.
The Bruins collected one of their two hits in the game when Austin Spears beat out a high bouncer past the mound to open the second. Sheridan hurler Tyler Lathan hit Michael Lock with one out and James Pepin with two outs to load the bases. But Will Carter hit a bouncer to first for an unassisted out and the Bruins managed only two more base runners the rest of the way.
Cook fooled a lot of Sheridan hitters with his curve ball on his way to seven strikeouts. But the ones that weren’t fooled hit him pretty hard. A typical inning was the third, when Cook struck out two of the first four he faced, but hit a batter and gave up a single to the other two. Another single followed to make it 5-0.
In the fourth, two singles and an error scored two more runs. Then, following his sixth and seventh strikeouts to open the fifth, Cook surrendered back-to-back doubles by Nick Ware and Landon Moore. Moore had four of Sheridan’s 11 hits.
With a possibility of as many as six games between Friday and Tuesday, Sylvan Hills coach Jim Fink left Cook on the mound through the fifth inning. Sheridan struck for six more in the sixth on three hits, six walks and a sacrifice fly.
Pinch hitter Zach Russenberger picked up Sylvan Hills’ only other hit when he grounded a single up the middle with two outs in the final inning.
Sheridan was slated to take on Texarkana yesterday in the state championship.
SPORTS >> Rhinos roll ’Cats
Holding the Arkansas Wildcats to only 33 yards of offense in the second half was key for the Arkansas Rhinos in their home opener at Bob Hill Memorial Field on Saturday.
Tough defense compensated for an offense that killed itself with penalties in a 13-0 win as the Rhinos improved to 2-0 in front of more than 400 fans, which included Jacksonville Mayor Gary Fletcher.
The Rhinos were penalized 13 times for 100 yards. Most of the field laundry came at inopportune times to stall out promising drives in the second half.
The Rhinos moved the ball consistently throughout the game, but the constant penalties forced them to resort to gadgetry late in the game when their best drive of the second half stalled at the Wildcat 40-yard line.
Kicker James Bellar was sent out to attempt a long 54-yard field goal, but holder Daniel Brown took the snap and sprinted down the left side to score with 3:39 left in the game to all but put the game away. Brown bobbled the snap on the extra-point attempt, which set the final margin at 13-0.
The other Rhinos’ score at the start of the second quarter was set up by two powerful rushes from running back Jerald Marshall. They were his only two carries of the first half, but were enough to take the Rhinos from their own 39-yard line to the Wildcat 14. Marshall broke three tackles on his first carry for 16 yards, and used up most of the field on his second carry of 31 yards.
Anton Williams took it in for the score two plays later on a 12-yard touchdown run off left tackle with 10:01 left in the half. Bellar added the point-after to give the Rhinos a 7-0 lead.
But Williams did most of his damage on the defensive side from his linebacker slot, leading the Rhinos with eight tackles.
Safety Tyler Knight did most of the denying in the backfield. Knight finished with three tackles, but it was his five pass break-ups and one near-interception in the first quarter that had Wildcat quarterback Marlon Trumble trying to look somewhere else for most of the game.
Veteran Rhinos linebacker Enrico Wilkens kept busy with five tackles, but it was his blitz and sack of Trumble on third and 10 with nine minutes left to play that deflated what little air the Wildcat offense had left. The stuff resulted in a seven-yard loss, and a fake punt by the Wildcats on fourth and 17 was quickly sniffed out by Williams and defensive end Ronnie Marshall.
It would have given the Rhinos the ball in Wildcat territory, but an unsportsmanlike-conduct penalty pushed it back across midfield to the Rhinos 45.
Rhinos quarterback Jeremiah Crouch had a good second half after a shaky first half in which he went 1 of 4 for 19 yards and one interception. His efforts in the second half lifted him to 7 of 18 for 106 yards for the game. He also benefited from a little bit of luck as three potential interceptions were dropped by Wildcat defenders.
Time of possession was another area in which the Rhinos dominated. They kept the ball for 38:01, limiting the Wildcats’ time of possession to just under 22 minutes.
The Rhinos finished with 194 yards of offense. The Wildcats had 133 yards of total offense, 100 of which came in the first half.
They fell to 4-2 on the season with the loss.
Along with the mayor, Jacksonville Director of Administration Jim Durham was on hand, and flipped the coin to begin the game.
“The mayor and I were really impressed with the turnout and hope for continued success for the Rhinos,” Durham said. “It’s great for the city of Jacksonville.”
The Rhinos will play on the road against the St. Louis Bulldogs this Saturday, and will return home on July 25 against the Arkansas Jaguars.
Tough defense compensated for an offense that killed itself with penalties in a 13-0 win as the Rhinos improved to 2-0 in front of more than 400 fans, which included Jacksonville Mayor Gary Fletcher.
The Rhinos were penalized 13 times for 100 yards. Most of the field laundry came at inopportune times to stall out promising drives in the second half.
The Rhinos moved the ball consistently throughout the game, but the constant penalties forced them to resort to gadgetry late in the game when their best drive of the second half stalled at the Wildcat 40-yard line.
Kicker James Bellar was sent out to attempt a long 54-yard field goal, but holder Daniel Brown took the snap and sprinted down the left side to score with 3:39 left in the game to all but put the game away. Brown bobbled the snap on the extra-point attempt, which set the final margin at 13-0.
The other Rhinos’ score at the start of the second quarter was set up by two powerful rushes from running back Jerald Marshall. They were his only two carries of the first half, but were enough to take the Rhinos from their own 39-yard line to the Wildcat 14. Marshall broke three tackles on his first carry for 16 yards, and used up most of the field on his second carry of 31 yards.
Anton Williams took it in for the score two plays later on a 12-yard touchdown run off left tackle with 10:01 left in the half. Bellar added the point-after to give the Rhinos a 7-0 lead.
But Williams did most of his damage on the defensive side from his linebacker slot, leading the Rhinos with eight tackles.
Safety Tyler Knight did most of the denying in the backfield. Knight finished with three tackles, but it was his five pass break-ups and one near-interception in the first quarter that had Wildcat quarterback Marlon Trumble trying to look somewhere else for most of the game.
Veteran Rhinos linebacker Enrico Wilkens kept busy with five tackles, but it was his blitz and sack of Trumble on third and 10 with nine minutes left to play that deflated what little air the Wildcat offense had left. The stuff resulted in a seven-yard loss, and a fake punt by the Wildcats on fourth and 17 was quickly sniffed out by Williams and defensive end Ronnie Marshall.
It would have given the Rhinos the ball in Wildcat territory, but an unsportsmanlike-conduct penalty pushed it back across midfield to the Rhinos 45.
Rhinos quarterback Jeremiah Crouch had a good second half after a shaky first half in which he went 1 of 4 for 19 yards and one interception. His efforts in the second half lifted him to 7 of 18 for 106 yards for the game. He also benefited from a little bit of luck as three potential interceptions were dropped by Wildcat defenders.
Time of possession was another area in which the Rhinos dominated. They kept the ball for 38:01, limiting the Wildcats’ time of possession to just under 22 minutes.
The Rhinos finished with 194 yards of offense. The Wildcats had 133 yards of total offense, 100 of which came in the first half.
They fell to 4-2 on the season with the loss.
Along with the mayor, Jacksonville Director of Administration Jim Durham was on hand, and flipped the coin to begin the game.
“The mayor and I were really impressed with the turnout and hope for continued success for the Rhinos,” Durham said. “It’s great for the city of Jacksonville.”
The Rhinos will play on the road against the St. Louis Bulldogs this Saturday, and will return home on July 25 against the Arkansas Jaguars.
Monday, July 13, 2009
TOP STORY >> Jacksonville parks director named
By JEFFREY SMITH
Leader staff writer
A familiar face was chosen to lead the Jacksonville Parks and Recreation Department. Kristen Griggs, who was serving as interim director, was hired on Thursday as director.
Jacksonville Mayor Gary Fletcher surprised Griggs with the announcement under the guise of a second interview.
Fletcher said there were 22 applicants for the director position. Of those, four were selected to be interviewed. The interview panel consisted of the mayor, city human resources director Jill Ross and Bobby Altom, Parks and Recreation Commission chairman.
“We had good interviews with everybody. The decision was a unanimous choice,” Fletcher said. “I stand behind the decision.”
The mayor said he had concerns with Griggs, 27, being young. But he said she more than compensated for her youth with her enthusiasm, vision and a deep passion for the department.
“She was futuristic in her plans for the department. She expressed ideas on how to make the department grow. She wants to carry it to a new level and has a desire to make it the best in the state,” Fletcher continued.
The mayor said Griggs has ideas for the department. She now has the ability to apply for grants. In college, Griggs wrote a thesis on how to generate revenue specifically for the Jacksonville Parks and Recreation Department.
Altom said, “I am excited about it. Under her leadership we are on our way of becoming the premier parks and recreation department in the state. That is due not only to her capabilities, but the excellent staff that is already on board.”
For the past two months Griggs has served as interim parks and recreation director. Former director George Biggs resigned from the position in April after city officials learned that he is a convicted felon.
Griggs will oversee 44 full-time and part-time employees and 20 seasonal employees. The parks and recreation department has 12 parks, the community center, the Martin Street Youth Center and Splash Zone water park.
Griggs is a lifelong resident of Jacksonville. She graduated from Jacksonville High School in 2000.
She grew up playing T-ball, fast-pitch softball and volleyball. Her late father, Dr. Donald Griggs, a dentist, was on the Parks and Recreation Commission for 10 years. He passed away three years ago.
Griggs said as a child she would go with her father to the city’s parks. She went to the Marshall Street Youth Center and attended special events including the Easter egg hunts.
“I saw every park in the city,” she said.
After high school Griggs attended the University of Central Arkansas in Conway to study early childhood education. After completing her freshman year, Griggs worked during the summer at the Martin Street Youth Center.
She was an activities monitor working under program services manager Cathy Brand, who oversaw programs and special events.
“I fell in love with parks and recreation after working that summer,” Griggs said.
She changed schools and her focus of study. Griggs went to Henderson State University in Arkadelphia, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in community and sports recreation. She recently completed her master’s degree in sports administration in May.
Griggs said Biggs was a mentor through college and when she became a full-time employee at the parks and recreation department.
Griggs was a fitness specialist for parks and recreation from August 2005 to April 2007. She then became program services manager in April 2007, when Brand retired. Griggs said she’s achieved a longtime goal.
“My ultimate goal was to be the director of the Jacksonville Parks and Recreation Department. Everything I have done is to prepare myself for this position,” Griggs explained.
She said the parks and recreation department will eventually provide something for everyone.
“Parks is not just sports or the community center. There are a wide variety of activities, events, programs and facilities that we could offer. Mayor Fletcher and I are forward thinkers, always looking for ways to improve our park system,” she said.
Griggs continued, “I am very passionate about parks and recreation and I am passionate about Jacksonville. Those two things I feel make me ideal for this position.
“I want to see our department grow. I want the department to work as a team and working towards a goal. That is what motivates people,” she said.
Looking toward the future, Griggs said the parks and recreation department is about to do a feasibility study for rebuilding the Martin Street Youth Center.
She is looking toward specialty classes to generate revenue for the parks and recreation department from registration and facilities use. Griggs gave cake decorating, martial arts and Spanish lessons as examples of possible classes.
Griggs and parks and recreation marketing manager Marlo Jackson have been working together applying for a land acquisition and development grant.
The goal is to acquire land to move the skate park from its temporary site beside the community center to the wooded area near the playground off Redmond Road near Dupree Park.
A farmers market and a walking track are planned to be built near the skateboard park.
Leader staff writer
A familiar face was chosen to lead the Jacksonville Parks and Recreation Department. Kristen Griggs, who was serving as interim director, was hired on Thursday as director.
Jacksonville Mayor Gary Fletcher surprised Griggs with the announcement under the guise of a second interview.
Fletcher said there were 22 applicants for the director position. Of those, four were selected to be interviewed. The interview panel consisted of the mayor, city human resources director Jill Ross and Bobby Altom, Parks and Recreation Commission chairman.
“We had good interviews with everybody. The decision was a unanimous choice,” Fletcher said. “I stand behind the decision.”
The mayor said he had concerns with Griggs, 27, being young. But he said she more than compensated for her youth with her enthusiasm, vision and a deep passion for the department.
“She was futuristic in her plans for the department. She expressed ideas on how to make the department grow. She wants to carry it to a new level and has a desire to make it the best in the state,” Fletcher continued.
The mayor said Griggs has ideas for the department. She now has the ability to apply for grants. In college, Griggs wrote a thesis on how to generate revenue specifically for the Jacksonville Parks and Recreation Department.
Altom said, “I am excited about it. Under her leadership we are on our way of becoming the premier parks and recreation department in the state. That is due not only to her capabilities, but the excellent staff that is already on board.”
For the past two months Griggs has served as interim parks and recreation director. Former director George Biggs resigned from the position in April after city officials learned that he is a convicted felon.
Griggs will oversee 44 full-time and part-time employees and 20 seasonal employees. The parks and recreation department has 12 parks, the community center, the Martin Street Youth Center and Splash Zone water park.
Griggs is a lifelong resident of Jacksonville. She graduated from Jacksonville High School in 2000.
She grew up playing T-ball, fast-pitch softball and volleyball. Her late father, Dr. Donald Griggs, a dentist, was on the Parks and Recreation Commission for 10 years. He passed away three years ago.
Griggs said as a child she would go with her father to the city’s parks. She went to the Marshall Street Youth Center and attended special events including the Easter egg hunts.
“I saw every park in the city,” she said.
After high school Griggs attended the University of Central Arkansas in Conway to study early childhood education. After completing her freshman year, Griggs worked during the summer at the Martin Street Youth Center.
She was an activities monitor working under program services manager Cathy Brand, who oversaw programs and special events.
“I fell in love with parks and recreation after working that summer,” Griggs said.
She changed schools and her focus of study. Griggs went to Henderson State University in Arkadelphia, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in community and sports recreation. She recently completed her master’s degree in sports administration in May.
Griggs said Biggs was a mentor through college and when she became a full-time employee at the parks and recreation department.
Griggs was a fitness specialist for parks and recreation from August 2005 to April 2007. She then became program services manager in April 2007, when Brand retired. Griggs said she’s achieved a longtime goal.
“My ultimate goal was to be the director of the Jacksonville Parks and Recreation Department. Everything I have done is to prepare myself for this position,” Griggs explained.
She said the parks and recreation department will eventually provide something for everyone.
“Parks is not just sports or the community center. There are a wide variety of activities, events, programs and facilities that we could offer. Mayor Fletcher and I are forward thinkers, always looking for ways to improve our park system,” she said.
Griggs continued, “I am very passionate about parks and recreation and I am passionate about Jacksonville. Those two things I feel make me ideal for this position.
“I want to see our department grow. I want the department to work as a team and working towards a goal. That is what motivates people,” she said.
Looking toward the future, Griggs said the parks and recreation department is about to do a feasibility study for rebuilding the Martin Street Youth Center.
She is looking toward specialty classes to generate revenue for the parks and recreation department from registration and facilities use. Griggs gave cake decorating, martial arts and Spanish lessons as examples of possible classes.
Griggs and parks and recreation marketing manager Marlo Jackson have been working together applying for a land acquisition and development grant.
The goal is to acquire land to move the skate park from its temporary site beside the community center to the wooded area near the playground off Redmond Road near Dupree Park.
A farmers market and a walking track are planned to be built near the skateboard park.
TOP STORY >> Meeting at Bayou Meto will decide boundaries
By JOHN HOFHEIMER
Leader senior staff writer
A public hearing is set for 6:30 p.m. Thursday, July 23 at the Bayou Meto Elementary School cafeteria to help determine where patrons in the Bayou Meto attendance zone would want to send their children if the Jacksonville area gets its standalone district.
Breaking bread together at the Western Sizzlin’ Steakhouse on Wednesday evening were Pulaski County Special School District representatives, Jacksonville’s new mayor, lawyers for a proposed Jacksonville-area school district and the PCSSD, and the man who did the study that found both the proposed and existing districts sustainable.
By all accounts, the meeting was productive and cordial, and it resulted in the decision to hold the public hearing or town meeting.
There was further talk of a board workshop sometime after the meeting to discuss Bayou Meto and the boundaries.
While the likely boundaries for a Jacksonville-area district have been pretty well set, there are at least two options regarding the Bayou Meto attendance zone.
Jacksonville district proponents have figured the Bayou Meto zone into their district for purposes of anticipating student enrollment, expenses and revenues. Some on the PCSSD board and others would like Hwy. 107 to be the line of demarcation. Those on the west — about 40 percent of the total — would stay with PCSSD, while those on the east would be in the Jacksonville zone.
Consultant Don Stewart’s financial report, submitted last September, included those in the Bayou Meto attendance zone in the Jacksonville proposal.
Jacksonville proponents had hoped to resolve the boundary question at Tuesday’s meeting, according to Daniel Gray, vice president of the Jacksonville World Class Education Organization, but “we have no problem (with the change).”
Gray, who was not at the Wednesday meeting, said it was important to move on with setting the boundaries because the PCSSD board has so many other important issues to resolve — teacher contract negotiations, for instance — and “that could put this on the back burner.”
The supper meeting was the idea of new Jacksonville Mayor Gary Fletcher.
“I took this on trying to build relationships with school board members,” he said afterward. “I hadn’t met with (Superintendent Rob) McGill until (the dinner meeting). I think you can get a lot more done if you know people.”
“We found we could disagree, but it didn’t get ugly,” Fletcher added. “I learned that the school district wants to work with us to bring this to a resolution.”
The meeting was private and arranged to not violate the state Freedom of Information Act.
“You’re limited to what you can say on a public meeting,” the mayor said.
McGill said Thursday that he was trying to get as much information as possible for the board to make an informed decision.
Others at the meeting included school board president Tim Clark, PCSSD desegregation attorney Sam Jones, Jacksonville Education Foundation attorney Patrick Wilson and Stewart, the consultant.
The Jacksonville-area district proponents favor the following boundaries, which seemed to be agreed to in principle by the board last August: Bounded by Sherwood and Faulkner County on the west, Faulkner County on the north, Lonoke County on the east and the southern boundary is Jacksonville’s southern city limit and Wooten Road to Lonoke County.
The proposed new district would consist of the following schools:
Arnold Drive Elementary, Bayou Meto Elementary, Homer Adkins Pre-K, Jacksonville Elementary, Murrell Taylor Elementary and Pinewood Ele-mentary.
Also, Tolleson Elementary, Warren Dupree Elementary, Jacksonville Middle School, North Pulaski High School and Jacksonville High School.
Using those boundaries, Stewart’s feasibility study explored projected revenues, tax rates, facilities needs and teacher salaries, among other data, and concluded that the detachment from PCSSD would benefit both districts.
“I’m optimistic a deal can be reached this summer,” Fletcher said. “I’m encouraged by this meeting. Jacksonville’s future will be secured with its own schools. There’s no logical reason for Jacksonville not to get its own district.”
Leader senior staff writer
A public hearing is set for 6:30 p.m. Thursday, July 23 at the Bayou Meto Elementary School cafeteria to help determine where patrons in the Bayou Meto attendance zone would want to send their children if the Jacksonville area gets its standalone district.
Breaking bread together at the Western Sizzlin’ Steakhouse on Wednesday evening were Pulaski County Special School District representatives, Jacksonville’s new mayor, lawyers for a proposed Jacksonville-area school district and the PCSSD, and the man who did the study that found both the proposed and existing districts sustainable.
By all accounts, the meeting was productive and cordial, and it resulted in the decision to hold the public hearing or town meeting.
There was further talk of a board workshop sometime after the meeting to discuss Bayou Meto and the boundaries.
While the likely boundaries for a Jacksonville-area district have been pretty well set, there are at least two options regarding the Bayou Meto attendance zone.
Jacksonville district proponents have figured the Bayou Meto zone into their district for purposes of anticipating student enrollment, expenses and revenues. Some on the PCSSD board and others would like Hwy. 107 to be the line of demarcation. Those on the west — about 40 percent of the total — would stay with PCSSD, while those on the east would be in the Jacksonville zone.
Consultant Don Stewart’s financial report, submitted last September, included those in the Bayou Meto attendance zone in the Jacksonville proposal.
Jacksonville proponents had hoped to resolve the boundary question at Tuesday’s meeting, according to Daniel Gray, vice president of the Jacksonville World Class Education Organization, but “we have no problem (with the change).”
Gray, who was not at the Wednesday meeting, said it was important to move on with setting the boundaries because the PCSSD board has so many other important issues to resolve — teacher contract negotiations, for instance — and “that could put this on the back burner.”
The supper meeting was the idea of new Jacksonville Mayor Gary Fletcher.
“I took this on trying to build relationships with school board members,” he said afterward. “I hadn’t met with (Superintendent Rob) McGill until (the dinner meeting). I think you can get a lot more done if you know people.”
“We found we could disagree, but it didn’t get ugly,” Fletcher added. “I learned that the school district wants to work with us to bring this to a resolution.”
The meeting was private and arranged to not violate the state Freedom of Information Act.
“You’re limited to what you can say on a public meeting,” the mayor said.
McGill said Thursday that he was trying to get as much information as possible for the board to make an informed decision.
Others at the meeting included school board president Tim Clark, PCSSD desegregation attorney Sam Jones, Jacksonville Education Foundation attorney Patrick Wilson and Stewart, the consultant.
The Jacksonville-area district proponents favor the following boundaries, which seemed to be agreed to in principle by the board last August: Bounded by Sherwood and Faulkner County on the west, Faulkner County on the north, Lonoke County on the east and the southern boundary is Jacksonville’s southern city limit and Wooten Road to Lonoke County.
The proposed new district would consist of the following schools:
Arnold Drive Elementary, Bayou Meto Elementary, Homer Adkins Pre-K, Jacksonville Elementary, Murrell Taylor Elementary and Pinewood Ele-mentary.
Also, Tolleson Elementary, Warren Dupree Elementary, Jacksonville Middle School, North Pulaski High School and Jacksonville High School.
Using those boundaries, Stewart’s feasibility study explored projected revenues, tax rates, facilities needs and teacher salaries, among other data, and concluded that the detachment from PCSSD would benefit both districts.
“I’m optimistic a deal can be reached this summer,” Fletcher said. “I’m encouraged by this meeting. Jacksonville’s future will be secured with its own schools. There’s no logical reason for Jacksonville not to get its own district.”
TOP STORY >> Another delay for overpass in Cabot
By JEFFREY SMITH
Leader staff writer
A ribbon cutting was held Friday atop the soon-to-be open railroad overpass in Cabot connecting Hwy. 367 to Hwy. 38.
The overpass should be ready for traffic by the end of next week. Road crews are working on finishing the bridge. To complete the project, another layer of asphalt is being laid on the roadbed. The new road also needs the lanes striped.
Cabot Mayor Eddie Joe Williams said there will be access to both ends of Polk Street. The railroad will be responsible for closing the rail crossing. When the overpass is open for traffic, the Polk Street crossing will close. It is the second railroad overpass in Cabot.
“My hope is that this is just the beginning of a north interchange,” Williams said.
Construction of the $7.2 million overpass has been ongoing for nearly two years. The bridge, which was supposed to open Friday, was built with federal funds and nearly $1 million from the city.
Austin Mayor Bernie Chamberlain said she was glad to see the overpass open. She said it will help everybody, and it is good for safety. She said it will help Austin residents when the trains stop and block the railroad crossing in Austin.
Cabot Alderman Eddie Cook said, “It shows the dedication of the council to help traffic in the city. We will continue to push forward to achieving a north interchange and to improve traffic in general.”
The railroad overpass is the first part of the planned north interchange. The interchange will help divert nearly 5,000 cars out of downtown Cabot driving to Hwy. 67/167.
Cabot Alderman Rick Prentice said it was about time the overpass was completed. He said it was amazing what concrete and steel can do to help in traffic safety.
“I think it is going to help Austin. It will put more traffic and growth in the area. I know we will see growth when we get the interchange. It is a big deal for this end of the county. It has been a long time coming,” Cabot Alderman Eddie Long said.
Some residents living along Polk Street had mixed emotions about the closing of the railroad crossing.
James Ashley said, “I think it is great. It needs to be a dead end. People drive fast down the road. When you drive over the railroad crossing now, it beats you to death.”
“I wish they would keep it open. It is easier for me to get to work. I use Hwy. 367 to cut to the freeway. Instead, I’ll have to go all around,” Sammy Chamberlain said.
Leader staff writer
A ribbon cutting was held Friday atop the soon-to-be open railroad overpass in Cabot connecting Hwy. 367 to Hwy. 38.
The overpass should be ready for traffic by the end of next week. Road crews are working on finishing the bridge. To complete the project, another layer of asphalt is being laid on the roadbed. The new road also needs the lanes striped.
Cabot Mayor Eddie Joe Williams said there will be access to both ends of Polk Street. The railroad will be responsible for closing the rail crossing. When the overpass is open for traffic, the Polk Street crossing will close. It is the second railroad overpass in Cabot.
“My hope is that this is just the beginning of a north interchange,” Williams said.
Construction of the $7.2 million overpass has been ongoing for nearly two years. The bridge, which was supposed to open Friday, was built with federal funds and nearly $1 million from the city.
Austin Mayor Bernie Chamberlain said she was glad to see the overpass open. She said it will help everybody, and it is good for safety. She said it will help Austin residents when the trains stop and block the railroad crossing in Austin.
Cabot Alderman Eddie Cook said, “It shows the dedication of the council to help traffic in the city. We will continue to push forward to achieving a north interchange and to improve traffic in general.”
The railroad overpass is the first part of the planned north interchange. The interchange will help divert nearly 5,000 cars out of downtown Cabot driving to Hwy. 67/167.
Cabot Alderman Rick Prentice said it was about time the overpass was completed. He said it was amazing what concrete and steel can do to help in traffic safety.
“I think it is going to help Austin. It will put more traffic and growth in the area. I know we will see growth when we get the interchange. It is a big deal for this end of the county. It has been a long time coming,” Cabot Alderman Eddie Long said.
Some residents living along Polk Street had mixed emotions about the closing of the railroad crossing.
James Ashley said, “I think it is great. It needs to be a dead end. People drive fast down the road. When you drive over the railroad crossing now, it beats you to death.”
“I wish they would keep it open. It is easier for me to get to work. I use Hwy. 367 to cut to the freeway. Instead, I’ll have to go all around,” Sammy Chamberlain said.
Friday, July 10, 2009
EDITORIAL >> Get senators off the fence
When you take pains to define yourself as a middle-of-the-roader and a compromiser, as Arkansas’ two U. S. senators have done, there is bad that comes with the good. Hardly anyone despises you, and everyone cherishes a fond hope that you will finally land on his side on the burning issues. That is the nice part.
Like no other tandem in the Senate, Blanche Lincoln and Mark Pryor now appreciate the distressing side of the carefully crafted “moderate” image. In an evenly divided Congress that is confronting issues of biblical consequence, most of the weight of the national striving lands squarely on you. The pressure groups from all sides focus their efforts on you and, even more perilously, your voters.
When the issue arose whether to re-balance the scales between management and unhappy employees to make it easier for workers to bargain with the company through a union, business and union groups waged big campaigns to persuade Arkansans that Pryor and Lincoln would either destroy or guarantee worker rights by their votes, both sides claiming the honorable side of protecting rights. Both senators switched to favor business and the union card-check legislation died, although management groups are still running anti-union ads in Arkansas to be sure that the labor bill stays buried.
Now, far more is at stake with health-care reform. Because she is a swing member of the Senate Finance Committee, one of five congressional committees working to carry out President Obama’s promise of universal health insurance, Lincoln is at the center of the national struggle. The insurance industry and medical-provider groups are keeping up a media blitz to pressure Lincoln and Pryor to oppose a public option to private health insurance plans. Though on a far smaller scale, the interests supporting a public, or government-sponsored, plan are trying to generate public pressure on the two senators.
So where will they come down? Their public comments have been generally unremarkable, leaving every side with some expectations of getting the senators’ support. We have found ourselves increasingly optimistic that Sen. Lincoln will support a package of reforms that will guarantee medical coverage for everyone in this health-poor state.
She said that was her expectation: that every Arkansan and every American will have access to affordable health insurance. Her biggest supporters, the Walmart company and family, came out recently for the president’s idea of mandatory employer participation, and she said that helped and that she would favor it, too.
An op-ed article signed by Lincoln that appeared in Arkansas newspapers last week said she favored having either a government plan alongside private insurance plans or else nonprofit cooperatives that would offer competing plans to the insurance industry’s. She had seemed earlier to lean toward the cooperatives, but last week she expressed no preference between the government and nonprofit option. That is at least hopeful.
If she is deliberate and objective, she will conclude that the two do not offer the same prospect of healthy competition. The idea of the government plan is that it would compete with the insurance oligopoly and drive down prices. That is why both the handful of insurers and some medical interests oppose it. They fear that the government health plans would maintain the low hospital and physician rates paid now by Medicare. If they were to compete for individual and group coverage with the low-cost government plan, the companies would have to lower reimbursement rates, trim their profits or find big administrative savings. The ballooning cost of health insurance would level off (the cost of insurance in Arkansas rose 66 percent between 2001 and 2007, more than five times the rate of income increase).
The question is, would an amalgam of cooperatives that could spring up around the country under the other scenario offer rates low enough that the low-to-middle-income insured in Arkansas could afford it? Without the bargaining power of a central public plan, could they force lower expenses? Could they compete at all?
History is not encouraging. The federal Farm Security Administration encouraged health cooperatives in the 1930s and 1940s but, small and under-capitalized, they fizzled. Blue Cross and Blue Shield, now one of the giants in the industry, began as community nonprofit plans. Now mutual companies, they are indistinguishable from the other commercial carriers. Some of the most profitable and high-cost companies in the country are former Blue plans.
Sen. Kent Conrad (D-N.D), the leading exponent of cooperatives, has suggested an alternative that might work, though not as well as a government plan. Instead of a hodgepodge of state and community coops, it would be a single national cooperative, independent of the government but chartered by Congress and operating under some congressional rules — something like the social-insurance funds in Germany and some other western European countries.
Conceivably, it might be little different from a government-sponsored plan modeled on Medicare, but it would give Lincoln and Pryor some ideological cover.
Like no other tandem in the Senate, Blanche Lincoln and Mark Pryor now appreciate the distressing side of the carefully crafted “moderate” image. In an evenly divided Congress that is confronting issues of biblical consequence, most of the weight of the national striving lands squarely on you. The pressure groups from all sides focus their efforts on you and, even more perilously, your voters.
When the issue arose whether to re-balance the scales between management and unhappy employees to make it easier for workers to bargain with the company through a union, business and union groups waged big campaigns to persuade Arkansans that Pryor and Lincoln would either destroy or guarantee worker rights by their votes, both sides claiming the honorable side of protecting rights. Both senators switched to favor business and the union card-check legislation died, although management groups are still running anti-union ads in Arkansas to be sure that the labor bill stays buried.
Now, far more is at stake with health-care reform. Because she is a swing member of the Senate Finance Committee, one of five congressional committees working to carry out President Obama’s promise of universal health insurance, Lincoln is at the center of the national struggle. The insurance industry and medical-provider groups are keeping up a media blitz to pressure Lincoln and Pryor to oppose a public option to private health insurance plans. Though on a far smaller scale, the interests supporting a public, or government-sponsored, plan are trying to generate public pressure on the two senators.
So where will they come down? Their public comments have been generally unremarkable, leaving every side with some expectations of getting the senators’ support. We have found ourselves increasingly optimistic that Sen. Lincoln will support a package of reforms that will guarantee medical coverage for everyone in this health-poor state.
She said that was her expectation: that every Arkansan and every American will have access to affordable health insurance. Her biggest supporters, the Walmart company and family, came out recently for the president’s idea of mandatory employer participation, and she said that helped and that she would favor it, too.
An op-ed article signed by Lincoln that appeared in Arkansas newspapers last week said she favored having either a government plan alongside private insurance plans or else nonprofit cooperatives that would offer competing plans to the insurance industry’s. She had seemed earlier to lean toward the cooperatives, but last week she expressed no preference between the government and nonprofit option. That is at least hopeful.
If she is deliberate and objective, she will conclude that the two do not offer the same prospect of healthy competition. The idea of the government plan is that it would compete with the insurance oligopoly and drive down prices. That is why both the handful of insurers and some medical interests oppose it. They fear that the government health plans would maintain the low hospital and physician rates paid now by Medicare. If they were to compete for individual and group coverage with the low-cost government plan, the companies would have to lower reimbursement rates, trim their profits or find big administrative savings. The ballooning cost of health insurance would level off (the cost of insurance in Arkansas rose 66 percent between 2001 and 2007, more than five times the rate of income increase).
The question is, would an amalgam of cooperatives that could spring up around the country under the other scenario offer rates low enough that the low-to-middle-income insured in Arkansas could afford it? Without the bargaining power of a central public plan, could they force lower expenses? Could they compete at all?
History is not encouraging. The federal Farm Security Administration encouraged health cooperatives in the 1930s and 1940s but, small and under-capitalized, they fizzled. Blue Cross and Blue Shield, now one of the giants in the industry, began as community nonprofit plans. Now mutual companies, they are indistinguishable from the other commercial carriers. Some of the most profitable and high-cost companies in the country are former Blue plans.
Sen. Kent Conrad (D-N.D), the leading exponent of cooperatives, has suggested an alternative that might work, though not as well as a government plan. Instead of a hodgepodge of state and community coops, it would be a single national cooperative, independent of the government but chartered by Congress and operating under some congressional rules — something like the social-insurance funds in Germany and some other western European countries.
Conceivably, it might be little different from a government-sponsored plan modeled on Medicare, but it would give Lincoln and Pryor some ideological cover.
TOP STORY >> Children’s book celebrates C-130s
Since 1953, Lockheed Martin has cranked out 2,330 C-130 Hercules airplanes from its Marietta, Ga., plant. The cargo plane is the longest-running production military aircraft in aviation history and is beloved by aircraft enthusiasts — so much so that Beth Mahoney of Little Rock has written a self-published children’s book on the C-130 titled, “Meet Robby the C-130.” It focuses on explaining military deployment to children, especially those whose parents are in the military.
On Thursday morning, Mahoney and her family were given a special tour of Marietta’s Lockheed plant, where the C-130 goes through final assembly.
Beth Mahoney’s husband, Air Force Master Sgt. C.J. Mahoney, is a C-130 flight engineer stationed at Little Rock Air Force Base.
They have three children, Rachel, 6, Alex, 7, and the book’s namesake, Robby, 9.
The long partnership between Lockheed and the military inspired her to write the book, Beth Mahoney said.
“It was basically a comfort zone for kids whose parents were deployed,” she said of writing the book. “They’re very familiar with the C-130 in all branches of the service that have to deal with the C-130.”
The colorful book, with illustrations by Zachary Porter, tells the story of Robby, a C-130 airplane, who informs readers what he does during deployments.
He also tells of the importance of his work and explains the job of soldiers. The book is geared toward children in pre-kindergarten through fourth grade.
The author, who runs her own nonprofit group for military children called Kids of America’s Heroes, said the C-130 is an icon for children whose parents work in the military and for Lockheed.
“All of them seem to have this love of the C-130,” she said. “It actually looks like a happy-go-lucky aircraft. For instance, the F-16 has this fear about it. (The C-130) doesn’t look too threatening.”
Lockheed spokesman Peter Simmons said the company has been pleased with the book.
“Lockheed Martin is delighted that Beth Mahoney took one of our company’s iconic programs, the C-130 Hercules, as the basis for her book,” Simmons said. “We wish Beth every success with this and any subsequent books.”
The Mahoneys’ son Robby is “infatuated” with aircrafts, which explains why the book was named after him.
“He gets a lot of recognition at school,” Beth Mahoney said.
The third-grader and his siblings were fascinated watching the large C-130s being assembled inside Lockheed’s massive 76-acre plant, where about 700 employees work on the cargo plane.
Lockheed plans to make 14 C-130s this year, said Greg Ulmer, deputy C-130 program manager. Each takes 10 months to assemble in their final stages in Marietta and a total of 36 months from start to finish.
“Day by day, there is a list of instructions that tell the mechanics what they have to do and the sequence they have to do them in,” Ulmer said to the kids.
Beth Mahoney said her husband and her father, a 22-year Air Force veteran, were her biggest help in researching the book.
She said she has traveled to schools and military bases promoting the book and said there are plans to create a series of such stories for kids.
“It actually went over so well with the children that we’re looking at making Robby a stuffed animal and a cartoon character,” she said.
Courtesy of Marcus E. Howard.www.mdjonline.com
On Thursday morning, Mahoney and her family were given a special tour of Marietta’s Lockheed plant, where the C-130 goes through final assembly.
Beth Mahoney’s husband, Air Force Master Sgt. C.J. Mahoney, is a C-130 flight engineer stationed at Little Rock Air Force Base.
They have three children, Rachel, 6, Alex, 7, and the book’s namesake, Robby, 9.
The long partnership between Lockheed and the military inspired her to write the book, Beth Mahoney said.
“It was basically a comfort zone for kids whose parents were deployed,” she said of writing the book. “They’re very familiar with the C-130 in all branches of the service that have to deal with the C-130.”
The colorful book, with illustrations by Zachary Porter, tells the story of Robby, a C-130 airplane, who informs readers what he does during deployments.
He also tells of the importance of his work and explains the job of soldiers. The book is geared toward children in pre-kindergarten through fourth grade.
The author, who runs her own nonprofit group for military children called Kids of America’s Heroes, said the C-130 is an icon for children whose parents work in the military and for Lockheed.
“All of them seem to have this love of the C-130,” she said. “It actually looks like a happy-go-lucky aircraft. For instance, the F-16 has this fear about it. (The C-130) doesn’t look too threatening.”
Lockheed spokesman Peter Simmons said the company has been pleased with the book.
“Lockheed Martin is delighted that Beth Mahoney took one of our company’s iconic programs, the C-130 Hercules, as the basis for her book,” Simmons said. “We wish Beth every success with this and any subsequent books.”
The Mahoneys’ son Robby is “infatuated” with aircrafts, which explains why the book was named after him.
“He gets a lot of recognition at school,” Beth Mahoney said.
The third-grader and his siblings were fascinated watching the large C-130s being assembled inside Lockheed’s massive 76-acre plant, where about 700 employees work on the cargo plane.
Lockheed plans to make 14 C-130s this year, said Greg Ulmer, deputy C-130 program manager. Each takes 10 months to assemble in their final stages in Marietta and a total of 36 months from start to finish.
“Day by day, there is a list of instructions that tell the mechanics what they have to do and the sequence they have to do them in,” Ulmer said to the kids.
Beth Mahoney said her husband and her father, a 22-year Air Force veteran, were her biggest help in researching the book.
She said she has traveled to schools and military bases promoting the book and said there are plans to create a series of such stories for kids.
“It actually went over so well with the children that we’re looking at making Robby a stuffed animal and a cartoon character,” she said.
Courtesy of Marcus E. Howard.www.mdjonline.com
TOP STORY >> Deadly kidnapping, chase stun area
By JOAN McCOY
Leader staff writer
The search for a young woman kidnapped from Ward ended early Friday morning after a Garland County Sheriff’s Department sniper killed her abductor after he allegedly shot and killed her.
The 18-year-old Hot Springs woman was visiting Ward relatives when Todd Bostian, 32, her ex-boyfriend, abducted her Wednesday evening.
Sheriff’s deputy Judy Daniels said that although it is believed that Bostian, who was from the Hot Springs area, shot Kasey Meyers, as well as Ronda Keck, they can’t say for certain how Meyers died until ballistic tests are finished. Preliminary reports should be available in about a week, she said.
“We want to make sure that’s how it happened,” she said. “Let’s don’t say he did all this until we know for sure.”
Deputies exchanged fire with Bostian when he came out of the Keck home at Lake Hamilton, using the two women as shields.
He’d been hiding out with Meyers at the Kecks’ home.
Daniels said Bostian was in Lake Hamilton when he was shot. Divers recovered the bullet-proof vest he was wearing when he went into the water, she said.
Keck’s husband, Mike, reportedly met Bostian at the racetrack and was only a casual acquaintance. Neighbors alerted the sheriff’s department that Bostian was at the Keck home when they saw the stolen Ford Mustang he was reported to be driving.
Mrs. Keck was shot in the leg.
The deaths were the culmination of a two-day crime spree that began early Wednesday morning and included house break-ins and multiple car thefts.
Bostian was reportedly in Ward Wednesday evening when he pulled a gun on a man who lived near the mobile home where Myers was staying, after the man confronted him for being on his property. Bostian reportedly left after the man’s wife began to cry.
The intensive manhunt after Bostian kidnapped Meyers, who had reportedly known Bostian for only a short time and was five months pregnant with another man’s baby, involved several local law enforcement agencies, the state police, federal marshals and the FBI.
Chief Dean White of the Lonoke County Sheriff’s Department said several local agencies including Cabot, Beebe and the sheriff’s department helped search for Bostian Wednesday evening. Witnesses said he intended to take Myers to a motel, so police from Beebe and Cabot searched the motels there while the sheriff’s department searched in secluded rural areas where Bostian could have gone to be alone with Myers.
Ward Police Chief Charlie Martin said Myers had been at her aunt’s house on Emily Circle for two days when Bostian apparently forced her to leave. But reports on Thursday indicated that she did not attempt escape while Bostian bought a cell phone at Walmart with a credit card stolen from a North Little Rock woman during a home-intrusion robbery where he locked the elderly woman in a closet.
“He got into the truck on the passenger side,” Martin said.
The hunt for Bostian started Wednesday morning before daybreak when Sherwood police began pursuing three suspects who had broken into two homes in the Woodruff Creek subdivision.
For those crimes, Jimmy Sykes, 19, and Adam Whittaker, 25, were arrested in a Cadillac reportedly stolen in Little Rock.
Sherwood police recovered a stolen Honda Element and spotted Bostian at a restaurant around noon Wednesday.
Bostian reportedly fled in a stolen blue Dodge pickup and caused a minor wreck in the McCain Mall parking lot. He abandoned the pickup in the North Hills area, where he then stole a Buick from a resident, leaving her locked in the closet.
He was seen leaving Walmart as a passenger in a green Dodge pickup with a ball hitch on the back and trash in the bed.
Leader staff writer
The search for a young woman kidnapped from Ward ended early Friday morning after a Garland County Sheriff’s Department sniper killed her abductor after he allegedly shot and killed her.
The 18-year-old Hot Springs woman was visiting Ward relatives when Todd Bostian, 32, her ex-boyfriend, abducted her Wednesday evening.
Sheriff’s deputy Judy Daniels said that although it is believed that Bostian, who was from the Hot Springs area, shot Kasey Meyers, as well as Ronda Keck, they can’t say for certain how Meyers died until ballistic tests are finished. Preliminary reports should be available in about a week, she said.
“We want to make sure that’s how it happened,” she said. “Let’s don’t say he did all this until we know for sure.”
Deputies exchanged fire with Bostian when he came out of the Keck home at Lake Hamilton, using the two women as shields.
He’d been hiding out with Meyers at the Kecks’ home.
Daniels said Bostian was in Lake Hamilton when he was shot. Divers recovered the bullet-proof vest he was wearing when he went into the water, she said.
Keck’s husband, Mike, reportedly met Bostian at the racetrack and was only a casual acquaintance. Neighbors alerted the sheriff’s department that Bostian was at the Keck home when they saw the stolen Ford Mustang he was reported to be driving.
Mrs. Keck was shot in the leg.
The deaths were the culmination of a two-day crime spree that began early Wednesday morning and included house break-ins and multiple car thefts.
Bostian was reportedly in Ward Wednesday evening when he pulled a gun on a man who lived near the mobile home where Myers was staying, after the man confronted him for being on his property. Bostian reportedly left after the man’s wife began to cry.
The intensive manhunt after Bostian kidnapped Meyers, who had reportedly known Bostian for only a short time and was five months pregnant with another man’s baby, involved several local law enforcement agencies, the state police, federal marshals and the FBI.
Chief Dean White of the Lonoke County Sheriff’s Department said several local agencies including Cabot, Beebe and the sheriff’s department helped search for Bostian Wednesday evening. Witnesses said he intended to take Myers to a motel, so police from Beebe and Cabot searched the motels there while the sheriff’s department searched in secluded rural areas where Bostian could have gone to be alone with Myers.
Ward Police Chief Charlie Martin said Myers had been at her aunt’s house on Emily Circle for two days when Bostian apparently forced her to leave. But reports on Thursday indicated that she did not attempt escape while Bostian bought a cell phone at Walmart with a credit card stolen from a North Little Rock woman during a home-intrusion robbery where he locked the elderly woman in a closet.
“He got into the truck on the passenger side,” Martin said.
The hunt for Bostian started Wednesday morning before daybreak when Sherwood police began pursuing three suspects who had broken into two homes in the Woodruff Creek subdivision.
For those crimes, Jimmy Sykes, 19, and Adam Whittaker, 25, were arrested in a Cadillac reportedly stolen in Little Rock.
Sherwood police recovered a stolen Honda Element and spotted Bostian at a restaurant around noon Wednesday.
Bostian reportedly fled in a stolen blue Dodge pickup and caused a minor wreck in the McCain Mall parking lot. He abandoned the pickup in the North Hills area, where he then stole a Buick from a resident, leaving her locked in the closet.
He was seen leaving Walmart as a passenger in a green Dodge pickup with a ball hitch on the back and trash in the bed.
SPORTS >> Bruins no-hit by Russellville hurler
By KELLY FENTON
Leader sports editor
It turns out those five errors that led to nine unearned runs were the least of Sylvan Hills’ problems on Thursday night.
The bigger problem was Russellville hurler Danny Parker, who tossed a six-inning no-hitter and limited the Bruins to two base runners in Sylvan Hills Optimist Club’s 11-0 loss at Kevin McReynolds Field in American Legion senior action.
Parker set down the final 11 Bruins and allowed only one base runner to reach second base, when Jake Dillon walked and moved over on a passed ball in the third. Korey Arnold was the only other Bruin to reach when he drew a walk in the first inning.
Offensively, Madison Beard and Mack Pickering did most of the damage for Russellville off Sylvan Hills starter Hunter Miller.
Pickering cracked a solo home run in the third and Beard delivered a three-run double in a nine-run sixth that put the game away.
Singles by Che McGee, Pickering and Erick Sanchez staked Russellville to a 1-0 lead after one. Miller was solid through the first five innings for Optimist Club, giving up only a first-inning run and Pickering’s home run in the third and pitching around errors in the fourth and fifth innings to keep the deficit at 2-0.
But the wheels came off in the sixth and, with a call Miller clearly felt he should have received, the score entering the bottom of the inning would have remained 2-0. After Derrick Pledger reached on an error to begin the inning, Miller set down the next two Russellville hitters. But Matt Jones walked and Zach Ward singled to load the bases.
A 1-2 pitch to Bobby Clark appeared to be right down Central, and had Miller halfway to the dugout before he realized it had been called a ball. Clark then reached safely on an error to make it 3-0 and McGee drew a walk to score another.
Even then, the 4-0 deficit seemed manageable, even with Parker dealing as he was. But Pickering was safe at first after striking out on a wild pitch as Ward came home and Beard delivered the big blow with a bases-clearing double into right center.
Singles by Pledger, Sanchez and Lucas Kemling produced three more runs as Russellville totaled nine – all unearned – in the inning after sending 13 batters to the plate.
Parker fanned two batters each in the first through fourth innings on his way to nine strikeouts. He got three harmless ground balls in the sixth to complete the no-hitter. The only Bruins to hit the ball hard were Austin Spears, who flied out to deep left-center in the fourth, and Geno Jameson, who hit a solid grounder to Clark at second in the fifth.
Russellville finished with 10 hits and was flawless in the field. Pickering, Beard and Sanchez had two hits apiece. Miller struck out eight for Sylvan Hills.
Leader sports editor
It turns out those five errors that led to nine unearned runs were the least of Sylvan Hills’ problems on Thursday night.
The bigger problem was Russellville hurler Danny Parker, who tossed a six-inning no-hitter and limited the Bruins to two base runners in Sylvan Hills Optimist Club’s 11-0 loss at Kevin McReynolds Field in American Legion senior action.
Parker set down the final 11 Bruins and allowed only one base runner to reach second base, when Jake Dillon walked and moved over on a passed ball in the third. Korey Arnold was the only other Bruin to reach when he drew a walk in the first inning.
Offensively, Madison Beard and Mack Pickering did most of the damage for Russellville off Sylvan Hills starter Hunter Miller.
Pickering cracked a solo home run in the third and Beard delivered a three-run double in a nine-run sixth that put the game away.
Singles by Che McGee, Pickering and Erick Sanchez staked Russellville to a 1-0 lead after one. Miller was solid through the first five innings for Optimist Club, giving up only a first-inning run and Pickering’s home run in the third and pitching around errors in the fourth and fifth innings to keep the deficit at 2-0.
But the wheels came off in the sixth and, with a call Miller clearly felt he should have received, the score entering the bottom of the inning would have remained 2-0. After Derrick Pledger reached on an error to begin the inning, Miller set down the next two Russellville hitters. But Matt Jones walked and Zach Ward singled to load the bases.
A 1-2 pitch to Bobby Clark appeared to be right down Central, and had Miller halfway to the dugout before he realized it had been called a ball. Clark then reached safely on an error to make it 3-0 and McGee drew a walk to score another.
Even then, the 4-0 deficit seemed manageable, even with Parker dealing as he was. But Pickering was safe at first after striking out on a wild pitch as Ward came home and Beard delivered the big blow with a bases-clearing double into right center.
Singles by Pledger, Sanchez and Lucas Kemling produced three more runs as Russellville totaled nine – all unearned – in the inning after sending 13 batters to the plate.
Parker fanned two batters each in the first through fourth innings on his way to nine strikeouts. He got three harmless ground balls in the sixth to complete the no-hitter. The only Bruins to hit the ball hard were Austin Spears, who flied out to deep left-center in the fourth, and Geno Jameson, who hit a solid grounder to Clark at second in the fifth.
Russellville finished with 10 hits and was flawless in the field. Pickering, Beard and Sanchez had two hits apiece. Miller struck out eight for Sylvan Hills.
SPORTS >> Big fifth inning lifts Continental past Centennial
By JASON KING
Leader sportswriter
The good news for Cabot Centennial Bank was that they held Little Rock Continental Express scoreless for six innings on Tuesday. The bad news was that in that one other inning, Team CEI put up a big number.
Little Rock took a 7-3 win in American Legion senior play at Brian Wade Conrade Memorial Baseball Field. Team CEI scored all seven runs in the top of the fifth inning, breaking open what had been a pitcher’s duel up to that point.
Cabot starter Tyler Erickson gave up only one hit and fanned six through the first four frames until Little Rock got him for four hits in the top of the fifth. Erickson also gave up a walk that led to another score.
Continental Express starter Lance Black earned the win, allowing three hits and two earned runs and striking out five. Clint Green closed the final two innings for Little Rock, and gave up a single by Cabot catcher Ben Wainwright in the bottom of the sixth inning before striking out four of the final six batters he faced.
Chase Beasley took over for Erickson when things got sticky in the top of the fifth, and gave way to C.J. Jacoby in the seventh.
Beasley gave up a single in the top of the fifth and a double in the sixth before striking out two and picking off a runner at first to retire the side, while Jacoby gave up a double to the CEI cleanup man before retiring the final three.
But even with the solid defensive effort by Centennial Bank, their bats could not make up the difference.
Ty Steele set up the first Cabot score in the bottom of the fourth when he tripled to right field, and scored on Sam Bates’ line single to right. That put Centennial Bank up 1-0, but Little Rock’s next turn made that lead short-lived.
The top six of Continental Express’ order scored in the top of the fifth.
After its opening score, Little Rock loaded the bases with a pair of singles and a hit-batsman. Jim Manney’s triple to the fence in right scored all three to put Team CEI up 4-1.
Cabot added two more runs in the fifth. Wainwright and Chase Thompson were hit by a tiring Black to put runners at first and second. Leadoff batter Joe Bryant scored Wainwright with a fielder’s choice, and Thompson came in moments later on an error to set the final margin.
Drew Burks got the first hit for Cabot in the bottom of the second inning with one out, but a strikeout and a groundout left him stranded. Wainwright singled with two outs in the sixth but was also left standing on the path.
Continental Express finished with eight hits while Centennial Bank had four.
Leader sportswriter
The good news for Cabot Centennial Bank was that they held Little Rock Continental Express scoreless for six innings on Tuesday. The bad news was that in that one other inning, Team CEI put up a big number.
Little Rock took a 7-3 win in American Legion senior play at Brian Wade Conrade Memorial Baseball Field. Team CEI scored all seven runs in the top of the fifth inning, breaking open what had been a pitcher’s duel up to that point.
Cabot starter Tyler Erickson gave up only one hit and fanned six through the first four frames until Little Rock got him for four hits in the top of the fifth. Erickson also gave up a walk that led to another score.
Continental Express starter Lance Black earned the win, allowing three hits and two earned runs and striking out five. Clint Green closed the final two innings for Little Rock, and gave up a single by Cabot catcher Ben Wainwright in the bottom of the sixth inning before striking out four of the final six batters he faced.
Chase Beasley took over for Erickson when things got sticky in the top of the fifth, and gave way to C.J. Jacoby in the seventh.
Beasley gave up a single in the top of the fifth and a double in the sixth before striking out two and picking off a runner at first to retire the side, while Jacoby gave up a double to the CEI cleanup man before retiring the final three.
But even with the solid defensive effort by Centennial Bank, their bats could not make up the difference.
Ty Steele set up the first Cabot score in the bottom of the fourth when he tripled to right field, and scored on Sam Bates’ line single to right. That put Centennial Bank up 1-0, but Little Rock’s next turn made that lead short-lived.
The top six of Continental Express’ order scored in the top of the fifth.
After its opening score, Little Rock loaded the bases with a pair of singles and a hit-batsman. Jim Manney’s triple to the fence in right scored all three to put Team CEI up 4-1.
Cabot added two more runs in the fifth. Wainwright and Chase Thompson were hit by a tiring Black to put runners at first and second. Leadoff batter Joe Bryant scored Wainwright with a fielder’s choice, and Thompson came in moments later on an error to set the final margin.
Drew Burks got the first hit for Cabot in the bottom of the second inning with one out, but a strikeout and a groundout left him stranded. Wainwright singled with two outs in the sixth but was also left standing on the path.
Continental Express finished with eight hits while Centennial Bank had four.
SPORTS >> Like them or not, Williams sisters are simply remarkable
By KELLY FENTON
Leader sports editor
There have been countless sets that came before them, from the DiMaggios to the Niekros to the Alous to the Mannings.
None of those sports siblings, however, have came close to achieving what Venus and Serena Williams have achieved — and that’s even taking into account Peyton and Eli Manning’s back-to-back Super Bowl rings.
The Williams sisters are in a class by themselves when it comes to brother or sister acts. The numbers say it all, but there is also the fact that they are racking up those numbers contemporaneously in an individual sport which one or the other has dominated for most of the past nine years, often earning their crowns at the other’s expense.
First the numbers: 18 Grand Slam singles titles (11 for Serena); nine Grand Slam doubles championships together, including four at Wimbledon; eight of the past 10 Wimbledon singles titles between them; Olympic gold for the sisters in doubles in 2008 and a gold medal in singles for Serena in 2000.
Last weekend in England, Venus and Serena delivered the total package, reaching the singles finals — Serena won — and capturing the doubles championship together. Really, what more could they have done?
And yet, given the remarkable story that is the Williams sisters, they seem not to receive the recognition and the accolades that that story and their remarkable accomplishments merit, either from the media or the fans.
Yes, it is perhaps understandable that what they did last week was eclipsed by Roger Federer’s record-setting 15th Grand Slam in a one-for-the-ages win over American Andy Roddick. But, really, should what the Williamses did be relegated to a Wimbledon afterthought?
I think there are several reasons that go beyond the race issue for the fans’ reluctance to fully embrace the sisters, though I am not discounting the idea that being supremely accomplished African-American athletes in a mostly Caucasian, if thoroughly international, sport engenders some resentment. And yet Tiger Woods seems to be beloved by a majority of golf fans who are overwhelmingly white.
No, I think the matter of the Williamses’ cool, if polite, reception from the sports world has more to do with their personalities, their style and the game of tennis itself.
From the outset, Serena and Venus adopted an us-against-the-world demeanor, which set the stage for icy relationships with fellow players, several of whom were openly critical of what they perceived as the sisters’ smugness. They were reported to be aloof and apparently didn’t feel the need to develop any camaraderie in the locker room.
With the media, both could seem petulant and neither was particularly gracious in suffering defeats early in their careers.
(Today, their offerings to the media seem rehearsed, strained and not genuine).
For that, they can blame their father, a man who also deserves enormous praise for guiding his young daughters through a mine-filled childhood in violent Compton, California. Richard Williams was undoubtedly instrumental in developing that us-against-the-world mentality in his daughters, but he is also responsible for that singleness of purpose that has served them so well.
From early on, he set their sights on the prizes they have gone on to accumulate at such a remarkable level.
But being home-schooled Jehova’s Witnesses certainly couldn’t have done the girls’ any favors in terms of socialization and must only have added to their sense of being unique and isolated.
They have also been criticized — I think, unfairly — by former greats Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova, among others — for not dedicating themselves exclusively to the sport. Serena and Venus have both branched off into other pursuits, including modeling and clothing design.
The fact that they seem able to take time off, and then can so effortlessly return to dominate again, has to be a source of frustration and resentment for the other players on the tour. Those other pursuits surely add to the perception of aloofness, as well.
Yet, in some ways, it is admirable that they have other interests, that despite their father’s iron-fisted drive and single-mindedness, they have discovered a world beyond the rigors and grind of professional tennis.
Add to all of that the fact that the overpowering, somewhat graceless game of Serena’s is not exactly a crowd-pleaser. Venus has the more graceful game, but Serena is the more media-savvy these days.
Finally, the sport itself is in decline, thanks primarily to brackets filled with indistinguishable names that all seem to end in –ova. The sisters and the sport would benefit from either another American rival — though none seem to be on the horizon — or from the return to form of Maria Sharapova.
One gets the sense that the Williams sisters themselves aren’t particularly concerned with how they are received — a fact both admirable and at the same time reinforcing of their aloof reputations.
Whatever your feelings about Serena and Venus Williams, their presence is no less eclipsing than Tiger’s. We should probably all step back and relish the singularity of their accomplishments while they’re still playing the game.
Leader sports editor
There have been countless sets that came before them, from the DiMaggios to the Niekros to the Alous to the Mannings.
None of those sports siblings, however, have came close to achieving what Venus and Serena Williams have achieved — and that’s even taking into account Peyton and Eli Manning’s back-to-back Super Bowl rings.
The Williams sisters are in a class by themselves when it comes to brother or sister acts. The numbers say it all, but there is also the fact that they are racking up those numbers contemporaneously in an individual sport which one or the other has dominated for most of the past nine years, often earning their crowns at the other’s expense.
First the numbers: 18 Grand Slam singles titles (11 for Serena); nine Grand Slam doubles championships together, including four at Wimbledon; eight of the past 10 Wimbledon singles titles between them; Olympic gold for the sisters in doubles in 2008 and a gold medal in singles for Serena in 2000.
Last weekend in England, Venus and Serena delivered the total package, reaching the singles finals — Serena won — and capturing the doubles championship together. Really, what more could they have done?
And yet, given the remarkable story that is the Williams sisters, they seem not to receive the recognition and the accolades that that story and their remarkable accomplishments merit, either from the media or the fans.
Yes, it is perhaps understandable that what they did last week was eclipsed by Roger Federer’s record-setting 15th Grand Slam in a one-for-the-ages win over American Andy Roddick. But, really, should what the Williamses did be relegated to a Wimbledon afterthought?
I think there are several reasons that go beyond the race issue for the fans’ reluctance to fully embrace the sisters, though I am not discounting the idea that being supremely accomplished African-American athletes in a mostly Caucasian, if thoroughly international, sport engenders some resentment. And yet Tiger Woods seems to be beloved by a majority of golf fans who are overwhelmingly white.
No, I think the matter of the Williamses’ cool, if polite, reception from the sports world has more to do with their personalities, their style and the game of tennis itself.
From the outset, Serena and Venus adopted an us-against-the-world demeanor, which set the stage for icy relationships with fellow players, several of whom were openly critical of what they perceived as the sisters’ smugness. They were reported to be aloof and apparently didn’t feel the need to develop any camaraderie in the locker room.
With the media, both could seem petulant and neither was particularly gracious in suffering defeats early in their careers.
(Today, their offerings to the media seem rehearsed, strained and not genuine).
For that, they can blame their father, a man who also deserves enormous praise for guiding his young daughters through a mine-filled childhood in violent Compton, California. Richard Williams was undoubtedly instrumental in developing that us-against-the-world mentality in his daughters, but he is also responsible for that singleness of purpose that has served them so well.
From early on, he set their sights on the prizes they have gone on to accumulate at such a remarkable level.
But being home-schooled Jehova’s Witnesses certainly couldn’t have done the girls’ any favors in terms of socialization and must only have added to their sense of being unique and isolated.
They have also been criticized — I think, unfairly — by former greats Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova, among others — for not dedicating themselves exclusively to the sport. Serena and Venus have both branched off into other pursuits, including modeling and clothing design.
The fact that they seem able to take time off, and then can so effortlessly return to dominate again, has to be a source of frustration and resentment for the other players on the tour. Those other pursuits surely add to the perception of aloofness, as well.
Yet, in some ways, it is admirable that they have other interests, that despite their father’s iron-fisted drive and single-mindedness, they have discovered a world beyond the rigors and grind of professional tennis.
Add to all of that the fact that the overpowering, somewhat graceless game of Serena’s is not exactly a crowd-pleaser. Venus has the more graceful game, but Serena is the more media-savvy these days.
Finally, the sport itself is in decline, thanks primarily to brackets filled with indistinguishable names that all seem to end in –ova. The sisters and the sport would benefit from either another American rival — though none seem to be on the horizon — or from the return to form of Maria Sharapova.
One gets the sense that the Williams sisters themselves aren’t particularly concerned with how they are received — a fact both admirable and at the same time reinforcing of their aloof reputations.
Whatever your feelings about Serena and Venus Williams, their presence is no less eclipsing than Tiger’s. We should probably all step back and relish the singularity of their accomplishments while they’re still playing the game.
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