By NANCY DOCKTER
Leader staff writer
The joint-education center is ready for a 50 percent construction completion “walk-through” next week and is on schedule for occupancy in January 2011.
The 46,239-square-foot facility is being built adjacent to Little Rock Air Force Base with $9.9 million in federal funds. Another $5 million, raised through a sales tax approved by Jacksonville voters, will pay for other essentials to complete the center.
They include classroom desks, chairs and overheadprojectors; upgrades to parking lot security with lights, cameras and telephones; landscaping; construction of a frontage road off Vandenberg Drive, where the center is located, and lengthening of the turn lane coming from the base to ease traffic flow.
With the new facility’s capacity to simultaneously serve 800 students, “it is going to be a major traffic jam” at the entrance to the center off Vandenberg, said Nancy Shefflette, director of Arkansas State University-Beebe (ASU) at Little Rock Air Force Base.
The new facility will replace the existing joint-education center located on base, which became difficult to access after base security tightened following the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001. The old center had other problems that made it less than ideal as a teaching facility. Housed in an old dormitory, its classrooms were long and narrow, and hallways were cramped. And because it has not been brought up to compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, whenever a student enrolled who couldn’t walk the stairs, the class was moved to the ground floor.
Yet, the center has been serving 1,000 to 1,500 students at any one time, Shefflette said. Established to provide off-duty educational opportunities to active-duty airmen, the center’s priority is to them, but classes are also open to airmen’s spouses and dependents, retired military, civil servants who work on base and members of the community.
With 9/11, class enrollment dropped off considerably; ASU-Beebe lost two-thirds of its students, she said. With fewer students, course offerings have declined because of difficulties in meeting minimum-enrollment requirements.
Even though the new facility is going to be much smaller than the two dorms that comprise the existing center, Shefflette foresees enrollment increasing once it opens, because of ease of access as well as its better design. After all, she notes, it has been designed “from the ground up to be a higher -education facility, rather than re-purposed dorm rooms.”
The new center will have larger classrooms with proportions more fitting teaching than sleeping space so class sizes can almost double. There will be computer labs, as well as physical-science and life-science labs.
And, classes, now offered only on late afternoons, evenings and weekends, will expand to an all-day schedule if an adjunct faculty is available to teach during those hours, Shefflette said. “There will be more intensive use of the new facility.”
Because of the problems with the existing center, it was just a matter of time before there would have been a push to build a new one, but restricted base access after 9/11 “absolutely” is what jumpstarted the effort that led to Jacksonville voters deciding to tax themselves to raise money for construction of a new center off base, Shefflette said. It was the leadership of Gen. Paul Fletcher, former commander of the 314th Airlift Wing, and Tommy Swaim, former mayor of Jacksonville, that made that happen, she said.
“They put their heads together to build a facility to serve both types of students. Without their leadership, we would not be looking at this opportunity in 2010.”
The $5 million gift from the people of Jacksonville to the air base was unprecedented in the history of the Air Force. Because of the unique gift and other ways that the Jacksonville community supports Little Rock Air Force Base, the city was honored last week as a recipient to the prestigious Abilene Trophy from the Abilene (Texas) Chamber of Commerce. The award is made to recognize a community nationally that is most supportive of the Air Force’s Air Mobility Command.
“It was a new paradigm,” Shefflette said. “No community has made such a substantial donation to this type endeavor. It is because of the high value the people of Jacksonville place on education. This center is a really big deal for Jacksonville. People will be really happy with their investment.”
ASU-Beebe, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Southern Illinois University-Carbondale, Park University, University of Arkansas-Fayetteville and Webster University will offer classes at the center.
Friday, June 18, 2010
TOP STORY>>Charter school’s principal resigns
By NANCY DOCKTER
Leader staff writer
It is more than a week since the public schools let out for the summer, but school is still in full swing at Jacksonville Lighthouse Charter School.
Tuesday will mark the end of the first year for the school, which has drawn students not only from the immediate area but also Sherwood, Cabot, Ward and Beebe.
The school will have a new principal before the start of the next academic year.
On Thursday, it was evident the school year is drawing to a close. Promotion from kindergarten to first grade was being celebrated, and front-office workers were sorting through a pile of backpacks, coats and other items that had accumulated in the lost-and-found closet.
As names on identification labels were announced over the intercom, children neatly clad in blue uniforms came into the office to claim their things.
A poster of an architect’s drawing of the school with the inscription, “NothingLess Than Excellence,” hangs on the office wall.
Eight months after opening late due to weather-related construction setbacks, the building still faintly smells of new paint and varnish.
Jacksonville Lighthouse Char-ter School is one of 10 schools in five states founded and managed with the assistance of Lighthouse Academies, a nonprofit organization whose mission is to prepare students for college through a rigorous, arts-infused curriculum. Lighthouse charter schools serve historically under-served areas; 88 percent of its students nationally qualify for free- or reduced-price lunch. Regardless, all children are expected to excel in the program that emphasizes not only academics but good character and social skills.
The school has 344 students, kindergarten through sixth grade. Every year, a new grade is to be added through 12th grade.
Nigena Livingston, who has a track record with Lighthouse Academies and was brought in as principal to open the new school, will soon be saying her good-byes to its teachers and 344 students. Livingston, who has plans to marry, is moving back to her hometown, where her fiancé resides, Cleveland, Ohio.
PRINCIPAL WILL BE MISSED
Keri Urquhart, president of the school’s board of directors and whose daughter attended second grade at Lighthouse this year, says Livingston will be greatly missed.
“It truly has been a great year at the school, and Ms. Livingston obviously has been a huge part of that; she is top of the line,” Urquhart said. “As a mother I could not be more pleased. My daughter learned so much and had so much fun.”
The school year had not begun easily. With the building not ready for occupancy until late October, thankfully Second Baptist Church opened its doors to the school, and classes comprised mainly of students and staff, who were strangers to one another, crowded in.
“We’ve had some bumps in the road, having to transfer over from the church, but we got the school built in a year, and got 344 students from 20 schools all under one roof – that’s a huge undertaking,” Urquhart said.
Looking back over the first year at the school – and reflecting on state achievement test scores that were not as high as had been hoped, Livingston said that a lot of effort went into “learning logistics, putting processes in place, building relationships with families and learning to work together as a team.”
Next year, Livingston predicts, the focus will be “more on the mission of the school, differentiating instruction to meet the needs of the individual students and focusing on data to get every child to grow.”
As for the Benchmark exams, Livingston said the strong performance by the third-graders is proof of what can be accomplished. Eighty-percent scored proficient or above on the math and literacy tests, with only a “narrow gap” between white and black students. The school is about evenly divided between the two racial groups.
“They made huge growth,” Livingston said of the student body as a whole. “Obviously, we are not where we need to be, but we are pleased with the amount of success we’ve seen. The next step will be diving into the data with teachers and going forward.”
KEEPING KIDS ON TRACK
When a child misbehaves at Jacksonville Charter School, he or she may soon be in the office of Brad Burl, the director of school culture for a discussion about what went wrong and the conduct that is expected. A behavior plan is drawn up for the student, with teacher – and ideally the parents – providing direction in the follow-through.
A “student support team” of school administrators and teachers regularly meets to discuss individual students, hone in on problems and identify causes and solutions.
“They do fact-finding, make suggestions, draw up an action plan for the child and engage the parent and teacher,” Livingston said. “We keep parents involved, tell them ‘this behavior is unacceptable, your child can do better, we can help,’” Livingston said.
The kids at the beginning of the year who were chronically getting into trouble – dubbed “frequent flyers” – in time learned the error of their ways and “are not frequent flyers anymore,” Livingston said.
Indicators of the program’s effectiveness are the school’s 96 percent average daily attendance, a 5 percent suspension rate and zero expulsions are good indicators of the program.
“We don’t believe suspension fixes problems, but is only a punitive consequence,” Livingston said. “We are proactive, rather than reactive and are very deliberate and explicit about the behaviors we want to see. We don’t assume a child knows how to be polite or shoe respect.”
One such proactive move in the interest of civility was initiated by the fourth-grade teachers who saw a need for an upgrade in lunchroom etiquette among their charges. An etiquette coach was brought in, “we built it up and made a big deal out of it – and the kids loved it,” Livingston said.
NOT THE SCHOOL FOR EVERYONE
A high percentage of the school’s students will be returning in the fall. In February, 96 percent of the parents signed letters of intent saying to re-enroll their child. Yet, a “handful” of students, Livingston said, did leave during the school year for various reasons. Some moved away, for some the commute was too far, for some the school day – which ends at 5 p.m. – was too long.
For others, “the school was not a good fit,” Livingston said. “We ask a lot of our families and it was not what some expected.
We definitely want a partnership – if there are challenges, we expect them to problem-solve with us.”
Three of the 18-member teaching staff also departed during the school year.
“This is a very challenging environment,” Livingston said. “We put a lot on our teachers to come up with ways to help every child be successful.”
Several more teachers are not being invited back. Livingston declined to say how many, only that the majority of teachers will be returning.
The teachers not being re-hired were ones without state teaching credentials who failed to follow through on their promise to pursue them – or whose students did not make “significant” gains in learning this year.
“I am dedicated to finding the best teachers for our students,” Livingston said. “That is what our students deserve in the classroom.”
Educated in the public schools of Rochester, N.Y., Livingston said she had “phenomenal teachers.” But she still thinks about the ones who she feels let he down. “I still feel upset – I feel like they could have better prepared me. I think it is important to advocate for children having the best instructors. I am looking for teachers who are highly qualified and effective.”
EXCITED ABOUT NEXT YEAR
For teacher Nerinda Elliott, the school was a perfect fit. Fresh out of training at University of Arkansas at Ft. Smith, she was alerted to the prospect of teaching at the new charter school by her husband, Adam Elliott, also a teacher.
“The school is an example of everything we were taught in college,” she said. “This school actually does those things.”
Nerinda was hired to teach third grade, and Adam, kindergarten. Both will be back in the fall.
The arts-infused curriculum, one of the things that drew her to Lighthouse, really works, Elliott said. “The kids get a double dose of art and music compared to the public schools, and we have highly qualified specialists who come to the classroom.”
Multiplication tables were made easier put to song, and a geography lesson more meaningful with pictures drawn by the students.
“Students who usually sit back and don’t engage would step up and do their part,” Elliott said.
The school’s approach to discipline problems and building social skills is one of its strength, Elliott said. “It really builds a strong culture of positive relations – respect for one another, telling the truth.”
At the beginning of the school year, most of her students were strangers to one another. Now, Elliott watches with pride each morning, as students come into the classroom, “greet their neighbor, shake hands, look them in the eye and ask how they are and really mean it.”
Students are taught how to politely speak up for themselves or make a request when offended by a classmate. And when the tables are turned, and an apology is in order, students learn the difference between hollow and sincere words. A written apology that articulates how an action was hurtful is a common practice.
“This is to teach them how to carry through with a genuine apology,” Elliott said. “An apology letter is a very good way for the scholars to realize what they’ve done, when they put it in writing. We encourage stepping back and thinking, ‘how could you have acted,’ more than ‘don’t do that, stop that.’”
All teachers and students at Lighthouse will be together for another year. The practice, called “looping” provides continuity over two years. Elliott is excited about the prospect.
“I already know their names, what they are like, what they need to learn. The students are comfortable with me,” Elliott said.
“We won’t waste a month at the first of the school year. I love that.”
Leader staff writer
It is more than a week since the public schools let out for the summer, but school is still in full swing at Jacksonville Lighthouse Charter School.
Tuesday will mark the end of the first year for the school, which has drawn students not only from the immediate area but also Sherwood, Cabot, Ward and Beebe.
The school will have a new principal before the start of the next academic year.
On Thursday, it was evident the school year is drawing to a close. Promotion from kindergarten to first grade was being celebrated, and front-office workers were sorting through a pile of backpacks, coats and other items that had accumulated in the lost-and-found closet.
As names on identification labels were announced over the intercom, children neatly clad in blue uniforms came into the office to claim their things.
A poster of an architect’s drawing of the school with the inscription, “NothingLess Than Excellence,” hangs on the office wall.
Eight months after opening late due to weather-related construction setbacks, the building still faintly smells of new paint and varnish.
Jacksonville Lighthouse Char-ter School is one of 10 schools in five states founded and managed with the assistance of Lighthouse Academies, a nonprofit organization whose mission is to prepare students for college through a rigorous, arts-infused curriculum. Lighthouse charter schools serve historically under-served areas; 88 percent of its students nationally qualify for free- or reduced-price lunch. Regardless, all children are expected to excel in the program that emphasizes not only academics but good character and social skills.
The school has 344 students, kindergarten through sixth grade. Every year, a new grade is to be added through 12th grade.
Nigena Livingston, who has a track record with Lighthouse Academies and was brought in as principal to open the new school, will soon be saying her good-byes to its teachers and 344 students. Livingston, who has plans to marry, is moving back to her hometown, where her fiancé resides, Cleveland, Ohio.
PRINCIPAL WILL BE MISSED
Keri Urquhart, president of the school’s board of directors and whose daughter attended second grade at Lighthouse this year, says Livingston will be greatly missed.
“It truly has been a great year at the school, and Ms. Livingston obviously has been a huge part of that; she is top of the line,” Urquhart said. “As a mother I could not be more pleased. My daughter learned so much and had so much fun.”
The school year had not begun easily. With the building not ready for occupancy until late October, thankfully Second Baptist Church opened its doors to the school, and classes comprised mainly of students and staff, who were strangers to one another, crowded in.
“We’ve had some bumps in the road, having to transfer over from the church, but we got the school built in a year, and got 344 students from 20 schools all under one roof – that’s a huge undertaking,” Urquhart said.
Looking back over the first year at the school – and reflecting on state achievement test scores that were not as high as had been hoped, Livingston said that a lot of effort went into “learning logistics, putting processes in place, building relationships with families and learning to work together as a team.”
Next year, Livingston predicts, the focus will be “more on the mission of the school, differentiating instruction to meet the needs of the individual students and focusing on data to get every child to grow.”
As for the Benchmark exams, Livingston said the strong performance by the third-graders is proof of what can be accomplished. Eighty-percent scored proficient or above on the math and literacy tests, with only a “narrow gap” between white and black students. The school is about evenly divided between the two racial groups.
“They made huge growth,” Livingston said of the student body as a whole. “Obviously, we are not where we need to be, but we are pleased with the amount of success we’ve seen. The next step will be diving into the data with teachers and going forward.”
KEEPING KIDS ON TRACK
When a child misbehaves at Jacksonville Charter School, he or she may soon be in the office of Brad Burl, the director of school culture for a discussion about what went wrong and the conduct that is expected. A behavior plan is drawn up for the student, with teacher – and ideally the parents – providing direction in the follow-through.
A “student support team” of school administrators and teachers regularly meets to discuss individual students, hone in on problems and identify causes and solutions.
“They do fact-finding, make suggestions, draw up an action plan for the child and engage the parent and teacher,” Livingston said. “We keep parents involved, tell them ‘this behavior is unacceptable, your child can do better, we can help,’” Livingston said.
The kids at the beginning of the year who were chronically getting into trouble – dubbed “frequent flyers” – in time learned the error of their ways and “are not frequent flyers anymore,” Livingston said.
Indicators of the program’s effectiveness are the school’s 96 percent average daily attendance, a 5 percent suspension rate and zero expulsions are good indicators of the program.
“We don’t believe suspension fixes problems, but is only a punitive consequence,” Livingston said. “We are proactive, rather than reactive and are very deliberate and explicit about the behaviors we want to see. We don’t assume a child knows how to be polite or shoe respect.”
One such proactive move in the interest of civility was initiated by the fourth-grade teachers who saw a need for an upgrade in lunchroom etiquette among their charges. An etiquette coach was brought in, “we built it up and made a big deal out of it – and the kids loved it,” Livingston said.
NOT THE SCHOOL FOR EVERYONE
A high percentage of the school’s students will be returning in the fall. In February, 96 percent of the parents signed letters of intent saying to re-enroll their child. Yet, a “handful” of students, Livingston said, did leave during the school year for various reasons. Some moved away, for some the commute was too far, for some the school day – which ends at 5 p.m. – was too long.
For others, “the school was not a good fit,” Livingston said. “We ask a lot of our families and it was not what some expected.
We definitely want a partnership – if there are challenges, we expect them to problem-solve with us.”
Three of the 18-member teaching staff also departed during the school year.
“This is a very challenging environment,” Livingston said. “We put a lot on our teachers to come up with ways to help every child be successful.”
Several more teachers are not being invited back. Livingston declined to say how many, only that the majority of teachers will be returning.
The teachers not being re-hired were ones without state teaching credentials who failed to follow through on their promise to pursue them – or whose students did not make “significant” gains in learning this year.
“I am dedicated to finding the best teachers for our students,” Livingston said. “That is what our students deserve in the classroom.”
Educated in the public schools of Rochester, N.Y., Livingston said she had “phenomenal teachers.” But she still thinks about the ones who she feels let he down. “I still feel upset – I feel like they could have better prepared me. I think it is important to advocate for children having the best instructors. I am looking for teachers who are highly qualified and effective.”
EXCITED ABOUT NEXT YEAR
For teacher Nerinda Elliott, the school was a perfect fit. Fresh out of training at University of Arkansas at Ft. Smith, she was alerted to the prospect of teaching at the new charter school by her husband, Adam Elliott, also a teacher.
“The school is an example of everything we were taught in college,” she said. “This school actually does those things.”
Nerinda was hired to teach third grade, and Adam, kindergarten. Both will be back in the fall.
The arts-infused curriculum, one of the things that drew her to Lighthouse, really works, Elliott said. “The kids get a double dose of art and music compared to the public schools, and we have highly qualified specialists who come to the classroom.”
Multiplication tables were made easier put to song, and a geography lesson more meaningful with pictures drawn by the students.
“Students who usually sit back and don’t engage would step up and do their part,” Elliott said.
The school’s approach to discipline problems and building social skills is one of its strength, Elliott said. “It really builds a strong culture of positive relations – respect for one another, telling the truth.”
At the beginning of the school year, most of her students were strangers to one another. Now, Elliott watches with pride each morning, as students come into the classroom, “greet their neighbor, shake hands, look them in the eye and ask how they are and really mean it.”
Students are taught how to politely speak up for themselves or make a request when offended by a classmate. And when the tables are turned, and an apology is in order, students learn the difference between hollow and sincere words. A written apology that articulates how an action was hurtful is a common practice.
“This is to teach them how to carry through with a genuine apology,” Elliott said. “An apology letter is a very good way for the scholars to realize what they’ve done, when they put it in writing. We encourage stepping back and thinking, ‘how could you have acted,’ more than ‘don’t do that, stop that.’”
All teachers and students at Lighthouse will be together for another year. The practice, called “looping” provides continuity over two years. Elliott is excited about the prospect.
“I already know their names, what they are like, what they need to learn. The students are comfortable with me,” Elliott said.
“We won’t waste a month at the first of the school year. I love that.”
TOP STORY>>New school boosts Sherwood’s permits
By JOAN McCOY
Leader staff writer
A new $31 million middle school has jumped Sherwood’s permit values 900 percent over last year’s values.
Through May, Sherwood has issued 413 permits for a total value of $46.1 million compared to 235 permits for the first five months of 2009 worth just $5.6 million.
Ward and Austin are also seeing a good year so far. Jacksonville is treading water, falling slightly from last year’s figures and Cabot is down.
Asked this week about the state of the building industry in Cabot, public works Director Jerrel Maxwell had just one word to describe it – bad.
“We’ve got a lot of stuff on the drawing board, but nothing ready for permits,” Maxwell said.
Single-home permits are ahead of last year’s figures at this time, but commercial permits are down.
The assisted-living facility and nursing home that is supposed to be built across from Northside Elementary shouldbe ready for construction now that the plans for the storm-water retention pond are completed, Maxwell said.
The school district is getting ready to start a building for the ninth grade. And his office has the paperwork for a duplex and triplex on Cardinal Lane.
A dentist office and a dermatologist office are under construction, he said.
“But the housing industry is just about gone like everywhere else,” Maxwell said.
Karen Knebel, who keeps up with building permits at Cabot Public Works, said May wasn’t too bad with nine permits for new homes valued at $1,196,480 and three permits for finishing the inside of commercial buildings to the tenants’ specifications valued at $95,100.
But only three residential permits valued at $241,525, one of them a remodel, have been issued for June and the month is more than half-way through. For the year, 37 residential permits have been sold in Cabot.
Through May, Cabot has issued 37 single-family home permits with a total of $4.3 million. Through May of 2009, the city had also issued 37 permits worth $3.5 million. On the commercial side, the city has issued 13 permits for a total value of $4.7 million, compared to seven permits worth $6.6 million for the same time period in 2009.
Besides the single building permit issued in May valued at $31 million, Sherwood also issued five single-family home permits valued at a total of $1.13 million. The total value of the May permits was $32.9 million, compared to $2.13 million for May 2009.
In comparison to Cabot, Ward and Austin, which are both in the Cabot School District, are booming.
Records kept at Austin City Hall show no commercial permits this year, but 50 permits so far for residences. For May, five permits for houses valued at $800,000 were sold. So far in June, eight residential permits have been sold in Austin.
Records from Ward City Hall show 11 permits for houses valued at $793,500 were sold in May. No commercial permits were sold.
Jacksonville issued 23 building permits in May, valued at $946,000, down from the $1.18 million in May 2009. For the year, Jacksonville has issued $6.55 million in permits compared to $6.81 million issued for the same time period last year.
In Beebe, a total of five permits were sold in May. The largest was for Calvary Pentecostal Church, which is going up on the first big curve on Highway 64 at the very edge of the area annexed about three years ago. The church is valued at $300,000. The value of the four houses is $215,000.
Leader staff writer
A new $31 million middle school has jumped Sherwood’s permit values 900 percent over last year’s values.
Through May, Sherwood has issued 413 permits for a total value of $46.1 million compared to 235 permits for the first five months of 2009 worth just $5.6 million.
Ward and Austin are also seeing a good year so far. Jacksonville is treading water, falling slightly from last year’s figures and Cabot is down.
Asked this week about the state of the building industry in Cabot, public works Director Jerrel Maxwell had just one word to describe it – bad.
“We’ve got a lot of stuff on the drawing board, but nothing ready for permits,” Maxwell said.
Single-home permits are ahead of last year’s figures at this time, but commercial permits are down.
The assisted-living facility and nursing home that is supposed to be built across from Northside Elementary shouldbe ready for construction now that the plans for the storm-water retention pond are completed, Maxwell said.
The school district is getting ready to start a building for the ninth grade. And his office has the paperwork for a duplex and triplex on Cardinal Lane.
A dentist office and a dermatologist office are under construction, he said.
“But the housing industry is just about gone like everywhere else,” Maxwell said.
Karen Knebel, who keeps up with building permits at Cabot Public Works, said May wasn’t too bad with nine permits for new homes valued at $1,196,480 and three permits for finishing the inside of commercial buildings to the tenants’ specifications valued at $95,100.
But only three residential permits valued at $241,525, one of them a remodel, have been issued for June and the month is more than half-way through. For the year, 37 residential permits have been sold in Cabot.
Through May, Cabot has issued 37 single-family home permits with a total of $4.3 million. Through May of 2009, the city had also issued 37 permits worth $3.5 million. On the commercial side, the city has issued 13 permits for a total value of $4.7 million, compared to seven permits worth $6.6 million for the same time period in 2009.
Besides the single building permit issued in May valued at $31 million, Sherwood also issued five single-family home permits valued at a total of $1.13 million. The total value of the May permits was $32.9 million, compared to $2.13 million for May 2009.
In comparison to Cabot, Ward and Austin, which are both in the Cabot School District, are booming.
Records kept at Austin City Hall show no commercial permits this year, but 50 permits so far for residences. For May, five permits for houses valued at $800,000 were sold. So far in June, eight residential permits have been sold in Austin.
Records from Ward City Hall show 11 permits for houses valued at $793,500 were sold in May. No commercial permits were sold.
Jacksonville issued 23 building permits in May, valued at $946,000, down from the $1.18 million in May 2009. For the year, Jacksonville has issued $6.55 million in permits compared to $6.81 million issued for the same time period last year.
In Beebe, a total of five permits were sold in May. The largest was for Calvary Pentecostal Church, which is going up on the first big curve on Highway 64 at the very edge of the area annexed about three years ago. The church is valued at $300,000. The value of the four houses is $215,000.
TOP STORY>>Only half of PCSSD juniors read proficiently
By RICK KRON
Leader staff writer
Only 50 percent of high school juniors in the Pulaski County Special School District can read and write proficiently based on the just released Grade 11 Literacy Exam.
It’s even worse at Jacksonville High School, where just 37 percent of the juniors scored proficient or better on the literacy test, meaning that almost two-thirds of juniors did not have the grade- level skills to pass the test.
The school’s principal, Ken Clark, will be reassigned to assistant director of facilities management.
The 37 percent proficient rate at Jacksonville High School is the worst in the district. The 61 percent proficient rate by North Pulaski juniors was the best in the district, but that still means four out of 10 students didn’t make the grade.
Cabot High School was not only the top school in the area but was in the top 20 in the state. The school had 73 percent of its juniors score proficient or ad-vanced. But that still left one-fourth of the students underperforming.
Statewide, the best high school was the Arkansas School for Math, Science and the Arts in Hot Springs where 99 percent of the juniors scored proficient or advanced. Next was Haas Hall Academy where 98 percent of the juniors made the grade.
The state 2010 average was 62 percent scoring proficient or better and is almost a threefold improvement from the first year the test was given in 2001 when just 22 percent of juniors showed they could read and write at the appropriate level.
Beebe, Cabot, Lonoke and Searcy all beat the state average.
BEEBE
In Beebe, 195 juniors took the literacy test and had an average- scaled score of 208. That calculates to 68 percent of the juniors scoring proficient or advanced.
CABOT
The school district had 644 juniors take the mandated test of reading and writing skills and had an average-scaled score of 211. Overall, 72 percent of the juniors scored proficient or advanced.
At the high school, 619 juniors took the test, had an average- scaled score of 212 and 73 percent were proficient or advanced.
At the district’s Academic Center for Excellence, 25 students took the literacy test, had an average-scaled score of 201 and 56 percent scored proficient or better.
ENGLAND
At England High School, 61 juniors took the literacy test and had an average-scaled score of 190. Just 34 percent of the students passed the test and about two-thirds failed to make the grade.
LONOKE
In Lonoke, 111 juniors took the literacy test and had an average-scaled score of 205. Of the 111 students, 64 percent scored proficient or advanced on the exam.
PCSSD
Overall, 989 students took the literacy exam. The county students had an average-scaled score of 197 and just 50 percent were proficient or advanced.
At Jacksonville High School, 228 students took the exam, averaged a scaled score of 191 and just 37 percent were proficient or advanced.
Sylvan Hills had 215 juniors take the test and they averaged a scaled score of 196. Among the Sylvan Hills juniors, 49 percent passed the test, meaning more than half failed to score proficient or better in reading and writing at grade level.
North Pulaski had 192 juniors take the test, averaged a scaled score of 203 and had 61 percent pass the test. This tied the school for best in the district with Oak Grove High School, which also had 61 percent.
SEARCY
At Searcy High School, 244 juniors took the test and averaged a scaled score of 209, meaning 69 percent of the students scored proficient or better on the exam.
Leader staff writer
Only 50 percent of high school juniors in the Pulaski County Special School District can read and write proficiently based on the just released Grade 11 Literacy Exam.
It’s even worse at Jacksonville High School, where just 37 percent of the juniors scored proficient or better on the literacy test, meaning that almost two-thirds of juniors did not have the grade- level skills to pass the test.
The school’s principal, Ken Clark, will be reassigned to assistant director of facilities management.
The 37 percent proficient rate at Jacksonville High School is the worst in the district. The 61 percent proficient rate by North Pulaski juniors was the best in the district, but that still means four out of 10 students didn’t make the grade.
Cabot High School was not only the top school in the area but was in the top 20 in the state. The school had 73 percent of its juniors score proficient or ad-vanced. But that still left one-fourth of the students underperforming.
Statewide, the best high school was the Arkansas School for Math, Science and the Arts in Hot Springs where 99 percent of the juniors scored proficient or advanced. Next was Haas Hall Academy where 98 percent of the juniors made the grade.
The state 2010 average was 62 percent scoring proficient or better and is almost a threefold improvement from the first year the test was given in 2001 when just 22 percent of juniors showed they could read and write at the appropriate level.
Beebe, Cabot, Lonoke and Searcy all beat the state average.
BEEBE
In Beebe, 195 juniors took the literacy test and had an average- scaled score of 208. That calculates to 68 percent of the juniors scoring proficient or advanced.
CABOT
The school district had 644 juniors take the mandated test of reading and writing skills and had an average-scaled score of 211. Overall, 72 percent of the juniors scored proficient or advanced.
At the high school, 619 juniors took the test, had an average- scaled score of 212 and 73 percent were proficient or advanced.
At the district’s Academic Center for Excellence, 25 students took the literacy test, had an average-scaled score of 201 and 56 percent scored proficient or better.
ENGLAND
At England High School, 61 juniors took the literacy test and had an average-scaled score of 190. Just 34 percent of the students passed the test and about two-thirds failed to make the grade.
LONOKE
In Lonoke, 111 juniors took the literacy test and had an average-scaled score of 205. Of the 111 students, 64 percent scored proficient or advanced on the exam.
PCSSD
Overall, 989 students took the literacy exam. The county students had an average-scaled score of 197 and just 50 percent were proficient or advanced.
At Jacksonville High School, 228 students took the exam, averaged a scaled score of 191 and just 37 percent were proficient or advanced.
Sylvan Hills had 215 juniors take the test and they averaged a scaled score of 196. Among the Sylvan Hills juniors, 49 percent passed the test, meaning more than half failed to score proficient or better in reading and writing at grade level.
North Pulaski had 192 juniors take the test, averaged a scaled score of 203 and had 61 percent pass the test. This tied the school for best in the district with Oak Grove High School, which also had 61 percent.
SEARCY
At Searcy High School, 244 juniors took the test and averaged a scaled score of 209, meaning 69 percent of the students scored proficient or better on the exam.
SPORTS STORY >> One-time Falcon Pflasterer to sign
IN SHORT: North Pulaski product set to wrestle for Central Baptist College.
By Todd Traub
Leader sports editor
Former North Pulaski Falcons wrestler Jared Pflasterer will sign a letter of intent to compete for the Central Baptist College Mustangs in Conway.
Pflasterer will sign at the college at 11 a.m. today.
This is the first year for collegiate wrestling in Arkansas and Pflasterer is the first from the area to sign to wrestle at the next level.
Pflasterer is a product of the Tony Mongno-coached North Pulaski program that was state runner-up in the 1A-5A classification in 2009 with Pflasterer’s help. Pflasterer reached the final of the 285-pound division and lost in a fall to Gentry’s Connor Willett.
Central Arkansas Christian edged out North Pulaski by 26 points for the 2009 team championship but the Falcons were only able to fill eight of the 14 weight divisions.
By Todd Traub
Leader sports editor
Former North Pulaski Falcons wrestler Jared Pflasterer will sign a letter of intent to compete for the Central Baptist College Mustangs in Conway.
Pflasterer will sign at the college at 11 a.m. today.
This is the first year for collegiate wrestling in Arkansas and Pflasterer is the first from the area to sign to wrestle at the next level.
Pflasterer is a product of the Tony Mongno-coached North Pulaski program that was state runner-up in the 1A-5A classification in 2009 with Pflasterer’s help. Pflasterer reached the final of the 285-pound division and lost in a fall to Gentry’s Connor Willett.
Central Arkansas Christian edged out North Pulaski by 26 points for the 2009 team championship but the Falcons were only able to fill eight of the 14 weight divisions.
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
EDITORIAL >> Bill deserves senators’ vote
Arkansas’ senators are in the enviable position of voting on a hugely important bill in which their little state has less at stake than most other states. That means that they can vote on the “jobs and tax extenders bill,” as it is known, with little but the purest national interest at heart.
The national interest pleads for a vote for the bill, and we hope that’s what Mark Pryor and Blanche Lincoln do.
The bill continues several short-term tax breaks for businesses, extends some economic-stimulus aid to state and local governments and raises a little revenue to offset the business tax breaks by closing the unfairest tax loopholes for rich investment-fund managers and corporations that shift their profits offshore.
The intensely controversial part continues some fiscal relief to the states, which Republicans are opposing as a run on the federal treasury. It will, indeed, continue the enlarged federal deficit a while longer. But the major reason that the deficit has ballooned the past two years is the recession. The collapsed global demand for goods and services and accompanying unemployment shrank the nation’s revenues dramatically while increasing the demand for government assistance, which is the very definition of a recession.
Last year’s stimulus package and similar programs by developing nations kept the country from plunging into another depression. We know that it made a huge difference in Arkansas, which avoided the economic depths of most states. When the stimulus runs out, it will mean layoffs in education and other public services and reductions in medical and unemployment assistance because most states have not yet regained the ground lost since the recession began in 2007 and may not until well into the next fiscal year.
Arkansas, fortunately, is not in such bad shape. Its Medicaid budget, helped immensely by the 2009 stimulus act and some unexpected revenue relief, can survive without extended aid. But the extra relief would extend Medicaid’s health well into the future, until 2014, when the new national health-care reform law will bring even more relief.
That means only that Lincoln and Pryor can vote for the bill without the self-propelled urgency confronting their colleagues from, say, Alabama, Arizona and California, where the human wreckage will be real and immediate if the relief isn’t extended. We notice that Congressmen Vic Snyder, Mike Ross and Marion Berry did the right thing two weeks ago. Rep. John Boozman, of course, voted against it, as required by his party.
There are other good reasons to support the bill. It will make the tax system fairer, and that is good for Arkansas, too. It closes the carried-interest loophole, which allows many investment-fund managers to disguise part of their compensation as capital gains and enjoy a lower tax rate than everyone else pays on their income. It also would stop some corporations that have offshore income from using foreign tax credits to cleverly avoid taxes on their U. S. income.
Finally, it would close the “John Edwards loophole,” named for the philandering former senator and presidential candidate, which allows S corporations (those that subject earnings to personal income taxes instead of corporate income taxes) to avoid paying Social Security and Medicare taxes like other businesses and individuals. Edwards made the loophole famous by forming an S corporation for his law firm and claiming that the asset of his name rather than labor generated the law firm’s income, and thus he didn’t have to pay payroll taxes.
Our senators owe no obligations to John Edwards and we doubt that Walmart, Tyson Foods, Dillard’s, Murphy Corp. or the other titans that swing so much weight with Arkansas delegates have much at stake in the bill except their abiding interest in good government and the common good. Pryor and Lincoln can do the right thing.
The national interest pleads for a vote for the bill, and we hope that’s what Mark Pryor and Blanche Lincoln do.
The bill continues several short-term tax breaks for businesses, extends some economic-stimulus aid to state and local governments and raises a little revenue to offset the business tax breaks by closing the unfairest tax loopholes for rich investment-fund managers and corporations that shift their profits offshore.
The intensely controversial part continues some fiscal relief to the states, which Republicans are opposing as a run on the federal treasury. It will, indeed, continue the enlarged federal deficit a while longer. But the major reason that the deficit has ballooned the past two years is the recession. The collapsed global demand for goods and services and accompanying unemployment shrank the nation’s revenues dramatically while increasing the demand for government assistance, which is the very definition of a recession.
Last year’s stimulus package and similar programs by developing nations kept the country from plunging into another depression. We know that it made a huge difference in Arkansas, which avoided the economic depths of most states. When the stimulus runs out, it will mean layoffs in education and other public services and reductions in medical and unemployment assistance because most states have not yet regained the ground lost since the recession began in 2007 and may not until well into the next fiscal year.
Arkansas, fortunately, is not in such bad shape. Its Medicaid budget, helped immensely by the 2009 stimulus act and some unexpected revenue relief, can survive without extended aid. But the extra relief would extend Medicaid’s health well into the future, until 2014, when the new national health-care reform law will bring even more relief.
That means only that Lincoln and Pryor can vote for the bill without the self-propelled urgency confronting their colleagues from, say, Alabama, Arizona and California, where the human wreckage will be real and immediate if the relief isn’t extended. We notice that Congressmen Vic Snyder, Mike Ross and Marion Berry did the right thing two weeks ago. Rep. John Boozman, of course, voted against it, as required by his party.
There are other good reasons to support the bill. It will make the tax system fairer, and that is good for Arkansas, too. It closes the carried-interest loophole, which allows many investment-fund managers to disguise part of their compensation as capital gains and enjoy a lower tax rate than everyone else pays on their income. It also would stop some corporations that have offshore income from using foreign tax credits to cleverly avoid taxes on their U. S. income.
Finally, it would close the “John Edwards loophole,” named for the philandering former senator and presidential candidate, which allows S corporations (those that subject earnings to personal income taxes instead of corporate income taxes) to avoid paying Social Security and Medicare taxes like other businesses and individuals. Edwards made the loophole famous by forming an S corporation for his law firm and claiming that the asset of his name rather than labor generated the law firm’s income, and thus he didn’t have to pay payroll taxes.
Our senators owe no obligations to John Edwards and we doubt that Walmart, Tyson Foods, Dillard’s, Murphy Corp. or the other titans that swing so much weight with Arkansas delegates have much at stake in the bill except their abiding interest in good government and the common good. Pryor and Lincoln can do the right thing.
SPORTS EVENTS >>11-20-10
Coaches Call Us
The Arkansas Sabers are the newest team to join the semi-pro Alliance Football League, which has been in existence since 1999.
The Leader would like to hear from all coaches in all sports in our coverage area. Please e-mail results, statistics or information to leadersports.@arkansasleader.com or fax to
501-985-0026 or call 982-9421.
501-985-0026 or call 982-9421.
SEMI-PRO FOOTBALL TEAM FORMING FOR NEXT YEAR
The Arkansas Sabers are the newest team to join the semi-pro Alliance Football League, which has been in existence since 1999.
Owner/manager David Smith was previously with the disbanded Arkansas Rhinos and Central Arkansas Bonecrushers and many former players, with former members of the Arkansas Pirates, are joining the Sabers, who will open play next year.
Head coach Charles Reynolds has been with the semi-pro Abilene, Texas, Gladiators; Arena Football’s Abilene Ruff Riders and the Pirates. The Sabers are now interviewing for assistant coaches and volunteers for game-day operation, cheer coordinators and a public address, “voice of the Sabers” for all home games.
The Sabers are also seeking sponsors and donations to help with operational costs of the season. The team will hold an NFL-style tryout/combine in February for players 18 years and older. For information contact Smith at (501) 743-6326 or e-mail arkansassabers@yahoo.com.
Volleyball,basketball signups at jacksonville
Volleyball,basketball signups at jacksonville
Players can register for the men’s basketball and women’s volleyball leagues at the Jacksonville Community Center through Dec. 30.
The women’s volleyball league fees are $25 for members and $30 for non-members. The league is limited to the first 12 teams that sign up. Games will be played on Tuesday nights at 6:30 p.m., 7:15 p.m. and 8 p.m. Play begins Jan. 11.
Men’s basketball fees are $300 per team and the league is limited to the first 10 teams that sign up. Games will be played on Sundays from 2-6 p.m. Play begins Jan. 16.
The Jacksonville Community Center is located at #5 Municipal Drive, Jacksonville, AR, 72076. For information call (501) 982-4171.
SPORTS >> Life in baseball threw Valentine a few curveballs
IN SHORT: Former American League umpire is noted for being fired over efforts to unionize and has witnessed some of baseball’s most tragically memorable moments.
By Todd Traub
Leader sports editor
Notoriety comes the hard way sometimes.
No one knows that better than Bill Valentine.
The former Arkansas Travelers general manager and chief operating officer, who spent close to six years as an American League umpire in the 1960s, has seen firsthand the ways sports figures become household names.
It’s not always a pleasant process.
On June 2, American League umpire Jim Joyce made a safe call at first with one out to go to ruin a perfect game by Detroit Tigers’ pitcher Armando Galarraga. Replay showed Joyce blew the call and the remorseful umpire apologized to Galarraga.
“It was a terrible call,” Valentine said.
But Valentine said Galarraga, who forgave Joyce after the game, probably would be more famous for the classy way he handled his mishap.
If he had completed the perfect game, Galarraga would have been the 19th major leaguer to do so and the third this year, following Oakland’s Dallas Braden and Philadelphia’s Roy Halladay.
Instead of joining an admittedly select crowd, Galarraga, 28, has been on the Today show and cheered by fans and praised by managers and players for his professionalism, though he has said he wants to be remembered for more than a failed bid for perfection.
Valentine is no stranger to unwelcome fame himself.
Former Boston Red Sox manager and then-American League president Joe Cronin fired Valentine and fellow umpire Al Salerno in 1968 for their efforts to unionize the American League umpires.
Valentine is one of two umpires to have ejected Mickey Mantle, he was the youngest in his profession and he worked in Major League baseball’s last great heyday, yet he is still recognized for his being fired, Valentine said.
“I could have stayed in the big leagues 20 years and retired and no one would have ever known in a year or two who I was,” Valentine said. “So later on I started the union and got fired. Just a month or two ago I was in Tampa for a meeting and I was in the restaurant having a drink and someone introduces me and the guy said ‘You’re not the guy that started the umpires union are you?’
“I mean, 50 years later.”
Sometimes people simply find themselves in a marriage with fate that can’t be torn asunder.
If Valentine wasn’t known for being fired for forming a union, he might have been known as the umpire who witnessed one of baseball’s great tragedies.
Two actually.
Valentine was behind the plate in Boston on Aug. 18, 1967, when Los Angeles Angels pitcher Jack Hamilton shattered Tony Conigliaro’s cheekbone with an inside fastball.
The cheekbone healed, but Conigliaro missed all of the next season with a hole in his left retina.
He appeared to be making a miraculous comeback, with solid seasons in 1969 and 1970, before his deteriorating vision eventually forced him from the game in 1975.
Conigliaro died of a heart attack at age 45 in 1982.
“I was behind the plate when Conigliario got hit and two or three years ago ESPN came back on the anniversary or something because I was the guy behind the plate,” Valentine said.
Valentine was in the broadcast booth at North Little Rock’s Dickey-Stephens Park on July 22, 2007, when a foul ball struck and killed Tulsa first-base coach Mike Coolbaugh, leading to the rule that requires all professional base coaches to wear helmets.
The tragedy resurrected memories of Conigliario and in the course of questioning Valentine about Coolbaugh, writers and reporters brought up the Conigliario connection.
But when called on, Valentine doesn’t flinch from answering questions about some of the darker moments in baseball history.
He knows it comes with the territory.
And he is still unflinching in airing his opinions.
When Joyce drew praise for apologizing to Galarraga, Valentine said an umpire in his day would not have done so. And besides, Valentine said, the apology didn’t change anything.
“What good is an apology?” he said. “You shot my wife. ‘I’m sorry Bill, I didn’t know the gun was loaded.’ Okay, thank you but I’m still a widower.”
By Todd Traub
Leader sports editor
Notoriety comes the hard way sometimes.
No one knows that better than Bill Valentine.
The former Arkansas Travelers general manager and chief operating officer, who spent close to six years as an American League umpire in the 1960s, has seen firsthand the ways sports figures become household names.
It’s not always a pleasant process.
On June 2, American League umpire Jim Joyce made a safe call at first with one out to go to ruin a perfect game by Detroit Tigers’ pitcher Armando Galarraga. Replay showed Joyce blew the call and the remorseful umpire apologized to Galarraga.
“It was a terrible call,” Valentine said.
But Valentine said Galarraga, who forgave Joyce after the game, probably would be more famous for the classy way he handled his mishap.
If he had completed the perfect game, Galarraga would have been the 19th major leaguer to do so and the third this year, following Oakland’s Dallas Braden and Philadelphia’s Roy Halladay.
Instead of joining an admittedly select crowd, Galarraga, 28, has been on the Today show and cheered by fans and praised by managers and players for his professionalism, though he has said he wants to be remembered for more than a failed bid for perfection.
Valentine is no stranger to unwelcome fame himself.
Former Boston Red Sox manager and then-American League president Joe Cronin fired Valentine and fellow umpire Al Salerno in 1968 for their efforts to unionize the American League umpires.
Valentine is one of two umpires to have ejected Mickey Mantle, he was the youngest in his profession and he worked in Major League baseball’s last great heyday, yet he is still recognized for his being fired, Valentine said.
“I could have stayed in the big leagues 20 years and retired and no one would have ever known in a year or two who I was,” Valentine said. “So later on I started the union and got fired. Just a month or two ago I was in Tampa for a meeting and I was in the restaurant having a drink and someone introduces me and the guy said ‘You’re not the guy that started the umpires union are you?’
“I mean, 50 years later.”
Sometimes people simply find themselves in a marriage with fate that can’t be torn asunder.
If Valentine wasn’t known for being fired for forming a union, he might have been known as the umpire who witnessed one of baseball’s great tragedies.
Two actually.
Valentine was behind the plate in Boston on Aug. 18, 1967, when Los Angeles Angels pitcher Jack Hamilton shattered Tony Conigliaro’s cheekbone with an inside fastball.
The cheekbone healed, but Conigliaro missed all of the next season with a hole in his left retina.
He appeared to be making a miraculous comeback, with solid seasons in 1969 and 1970, before his deteriorating vision eventually forced him from the game in 1975.
Conigliaro died of a heart attack at age 45 in 1982.
“I was behind the plate when Conigliario got hit and two or three years ago ESPN came back on the anniversary or something because I was the guy behind the plate,” Valentine said.
Valentine was in the broadcast booth at North Little Rock’s Dickey-Stephens Park on July 22, 2007, when a foul ball struck and killed Tulsa first-base coach Mike Coolbaugh, leading to the rule that requires all professional base coaches to wear helmets.
The tragedy resurrected memories of Conigliario and in the course of questioning Valentine about Coolbaugh, writers and reporters brought up the Conigliario connection.
But when called on, Valentine doesn’t flinch from answering questions about some of the darker moments in baseball history.
He knows it comes with the territory.
And he is still unflinching in airing his opinions.
When Joyce drew praise for apologizing to Galarraga, Valentine said an umpire in his day would not have done so. And besides, Valentine said, the apology didn’t change anything.
“What good is an apology?” he said. “You shot my wife. ‘I’m sorry Bill, I didn’t know the gun was loaded.’ Okay, thank you but I’m still a widower.”
SPORTS >> Brown, defense carry Chevy Boys
IN SHORT: Gwatney gets error-free defense plus pitching in victory.
By Jason King
Leader sportswriter
Jacksonville Gwatney Chevrolet’s performance against North Little Rock didn’t need to be flashy.
The Chevy Boys played solid fundamental baseball on their way to a 5-1, junior American Legion victory over the Optimist Colts at Hickingbotham Field in Dupree Park on Tuesday.
Xavier Brown was the winning pitcher for Gwatney with five innings of work. Brown allowed six hits and one run before giving way to starting third baseman Zach Traylor in the top of the sixth.
Gwatney’s defense went error free and gave up only one run in the top of the second inning, while the offense placed some timely hits, especially in the bottom of the second.
The Colts took the lead in the top of the second when Brian Chastain singled and advanced on a walk to Paul Morris before Landon Gray drove him in with a single to left.
Jacksonville answered in the bottom of the inning. Brown led off with a bunt single, Alex Tucker walked and Traylor singled down the third-base line to load the bases.
Brown scored when Troy Allen’s liner to shortstop was mishandled for an error.
With two outs, Kenny Cummings bunted and the Colts committed another error that scored Tucker to make it 2-1.
Center fielder D’Vone McClure singled to right to bring in Traylor to give Gwatney a 3-1 lead.
Jacksonville’s Brandon Russell singled to lead off the fourth and scored when North Little Rock botched a double play on McClure’s infield hopper.
Brown retired the Colts in order in the third inning and gave up only one hit in the fourth before retiring the next three, but began to show some fatigue in the top of the fifth.
Gray led off with a single to left and took third on an infield single by Tyler Jaleel. But Brown struck out Blake Manning for the second out and Drew Denny grounded out to Traylor at third base to end the at-bat.
Brown walked to lead off the fifth but was forced out at second when Tucker hit into a fielder’s choice. Tucker tagged up and took second on a fly to right by Traylor and scored Gwatney’s final run when Allen doubled to left.
Traylor gave up three walks in the sixth and seventh innings combined, but allowed only one hit to Matthew Hinistedt, the first batter he faced in the top of the sixth.
The Colts tried to rally in the top of the seventh when Wesley Moore and Jaleel walked, but Traylor struck out Manning and got Denny to pop out to second, and then Hinistedt grounded to short for a game-ending fielder’s choice.
Brown also led Gwatney at the plate, going 2 for 2 with a double and a run. Tucker scored two runs and Allen finished with a double and two RBI.
For North Little Rock, Gray was 2 for 2 with an RBI and Hinistedt was 2 for 3.
By Jason King
Leader sportswriter
Jacksonville Gwatney Chevrolet’s performance against North Little Rock didn’t need to be flashy.
The Chevy Boys played solid fundamental baseball on their way to a 5-1, junior American Legion victory over the Optimist Colts at Hickingbotham Field in Dupree Park on Tuesday.
Xavier Brown was the winning pitcher for Gwatney with five innings of work. Brown allowed six hits and one run before giving way to starting third baseman Zach Traylor in the top of the sixth.
Gwatney’s defense went error free and gave up only one run in the top of the second inning, while the offense placed some timely hits, especially in the bottom of the second.
The Colts took the lead in the top of the second when Brian Chastain singled and advanced on a walk to Paul Morris before Landon Gray drove him in with a single to left.
Jacksonville answered in the bottom of the inning. Brown led off with a bunt single, Alex Tucker walked and Traylor singled down the third-base line to load the bases.
Brown scored when Troy Allen’s liner to shortstop was mishandled for an error.
With two outs, Kenny Cummings bunted and the Colts committed another error that scored Tucker to make it 2-1.
Center fielder D’Vone McClure singled to right to bring in Traylor to give Gwatney a 3-1 lead.
Jacksonville’s Brandon Russell singled to lead off the fourth and scored when North Little Rock botched a double play on McClure’s infield hopper.
Brown retired the Colts in order in the third inning and gave up only one hit in the fourth before retiring the next three, but began to show some fatigue in the top of the fifth.
Gray led off with a single to left and took third on an infield single by Tyler Jaleel. But Brown struck out Blake Manning for the second out and Drew Denny grounded out to Traylor at third base to end the at-bat.
Brown walked to lead off the fifth but was forced out at second when Tucker hit into a fielder’s choice. Tucker tagged up and took second on a fly to right by Traylor and scored Gwatney’s final run when Allen doubled to left.
Traylor gave up three walks in the sixth and seventh innings combined, but allowed only one hit to Matthew Hinistedt, the first batter he faced in the top of the sixth.
The Colts tried to rally in the top of the seventh when Wesley Moore and Jaleel walked, but Traylor struck out Manning and got Denny to pop out to second, and then Hinistedt grounded to short for a game-ending fielder’s choice.
Brown also led Gwatney at the plate, going 2 for 2 with a double and a run. Tucker scored two runs and Allen finished with a double and two RBI.
For North Little Rock, Gray was 2 for 2 with an RBI and Hinistedt was 2 for 3.
SPORTS >> Gwatney runs out of gas in loss
IN SHORT: Visiting North Little Rock overcomes 5-1 deficit to claim a victory at Dupree Park.
By JASON KING
Leader sportswriter
Jacksonville got all it could in the first inning, but couldn’t make it last.
Gwatney Chevrolet’s senior American Legion team watched a four-run lead evaporate, as North Little Rock rallied for a 7-5 victory at Dupree Park Tuesday.
Gwatney starting pitcher Jesse Harbin took a 5-1 lead into the third then got into trouble as the Optimist Colts reeled off four straight hits to pull within 5-4.
Reliever Michael Lamb gave up a walk and an RBI single that tied the game.
North Little Rock pulled ahead in the top of the fourth on an infield error by Gwatney that led to a run, and Tyson Tackett hit a home run to right to complete the scoring.
Gwatney had its way with North Little Rock starter Will Harris in the bottom of the first inning. The entire lineup batted, and it scored all five of its runs.
D’Vone McClure started things off with a line-drive single to left and advanced when Harris hit A.J. Allen.
Williams Baptist signee Caleb Mitchell grounded out before cleanup hitter Patrick Castleberry scored McClure and Allen with a double to left to put Jacksonville up 2-1.
Jared Toney singled to score Castleberry, and Kenny Cummings gave Gwatney the 5-1 lead when he hit a home run over the right-field fence.
The Colts scored their first run when leadoff man Cain Cormier led off the game with a walk and scored on a single by cleanup hitter Cody Ward.
Harbin and the Jacksonville defense made up for an error to start the second inning with a 5-4-3 double play to retire the side. But Gwatney Chevrolet was not as fortunate in the top of the third.
Things looked promising for Jacksonville as Cormier grounded out to third and Zach Ketchum popped up to right for two quick outs.
But a single to left by No. 3 hitter Brooks Howard started the rally that proved to be the difference.
Howard scored when Ward doubled to left, and Alex Gosser doubled to right to drive in Ward and make it 5-3 Jacksonville. Tackett then singled to right to drive in Gosser and cut Gwatney’s lead to one and force a change at the mound.
North Little Rock tied it when Derek Houser singled to score Tackett.
Comier reached to start the Colts’ fourth when Mitchell misplayed his grounder at third for an error. Ketchum followed with a triple to deep center field to give North Little Rock its first lead.
Lamb recovered to strike out the next two batters and gave up only one more hit through the final two innings, but the hit he surrendered was a big one.
Tackett stepped into Lamb’s first pitch of the fifth and sent it over the right-field fence to make it 7-5.
Gwatney had a chance to at least tie in the bottom of the sixth when Gosser hit Cummings with a pitch and Cummings advanced when Tucker singled to left. Brown’s squeeze-bunt attempt backfired as Colts first baseman David Stracner quickly fielded it and made the play at third.
That still left two on for Jacksonville, but McClure grounded to short to start a double play.
Toney was 2 for 3 with a RBI for Gwatney and Tucker was also 2 for 3.
McClure was 2 for 4 with a run scored.
For North Little Rock, Ward was 2 for 3 with two RBI and a double, while Tackett was 2 for 4 with a home run, 2 RBI and two runs scored.
By JASON KING
Leader sportswriter
Jacksonville got all it could in the first inning, but couldn’t make it last.
Gwatney Chevrolet’s senior American Legion team watched a four-run lead evaporate, as North Little Rock rallied for a 7-5 victory at Dupree Park Tuesday.
Gwatney starting pitcher Jesse Harbin took a 5-1 lead into the third then got into trouble as the Optimist Colts reeled off four straight hits to pull within 5-4.
Reliever Michael Lamb gave up a walk and an RBI single that tied the game.
North Little Rock pulled ahead in the top of the fourth on an infield error by Gwatney that led to a run, and Tyson Tackett hit a home run to right to complete the scoring.
Gwatney had its way with North Little Rock starter Will Harris in the bottom of the first inning. The entire lineup batted, and it scored all five of its runs.
D’Vone McClure started things off with a line-drive single to left and advanced when Harris hit A.J. Allen.
Williams Baptist signee Caleb Mitchell grounded out before cleanup hitter Patrick Castleberry scored McClure and Allen with a double to left to put Jacksonville up 2-1.
Jared Toney singled to score Castleberry, and Kenny Cummings gave Gwatney the 5-1 lead when he hit a home run over the right-field fence.
The Colts scored their first run when leadoff man Cain Cormier led off the game with a walk and scored on a single by cleanup hitter Cody Ward.
Harbin and the Jacksonville defense made up for an error to start the second inning with a 5-4-3 double play to retire the side. But Gwatney Chevrolet was not as fortunate in the top of the third.
Things looked promising for Jacksonville as Cormier grounded out to third and Zach Ketchum popped up to right for two quick outs.
But a single to left by No. 3 hitter Brooks Howard started the rally that proved to be the difference.
Howard scored when Ward doubled to left, and Alex Gosser doubled to right to drive in Ward and make it 5-3 Jacksonville. Tackett then singled to right to drive in Gosser and cut Gwatney’s lead to one and force a change at the mound.
North Little Rock tied it when Derek Houser singled to score Tackett.
Comier reached to start the Colts’ fourth when Mitchell misplayed his grounder at third for an error. Ketchum followed with a triple to deep center field to give North Little Rock its first lead.
Lamb recovered to strike out the next two batters and gave up only one more hit through the final two innings, but the hit he surrendered was a big one.
Tackett stepped into Lamb’s first pitch of the fifth and sent it over the right-field fence to make it 7-5.
Gwatney had a chance to at least tie in the bottom of the sixth when Gosser hit Cummings with a pitch and Cummings advanced when Tucker singled to left. Brown’s squeeze-bunt attempt backfired as Colts first baseman David Stracner quickly fielded it and made the play at third.
That still left two on for Jacksonville, but McClure grounded to short to start a double play.
Toney was 2 for 3 with a RBI for Gwatney and Tucker was also 2 for 3.
McClure was 2 for 4 with a run scored.
For North Little Rock, Ward was 2 for 3 with two RBI and a double, while Tackett was 2 for 4 with a home run, 2 RBI and two runs scored.
SPORTS >> Middle school gets turf
IN SHORT: Construction is nearly complete on Jacksonville Middle School field house booster project.
By TODD TRAUB
Leader sports editor
The grass is fake but the benefits should be real at Jacksonville Middle School’s new fieldhouse.
A community-wide effort came a step closer to completion last week with the installation of FieldTurf inside the fieldhouse.
The artificial turf came from Little Rock’s War Memorial Stadium, undergoing a renovation of its own, and Jacksonville booster club president and state representative Mark Perry said its installation makes Jacksonville one of the few middle schools in the state to have such an indoor surface.
“It looks awesome,” said Perry, who has joined local coaches to help push the middle school project.
Perry said the cost of the turf and its installation was $15,000, an improvement over the $50,000 a brand new surface would have cost. Now, Perry said, Jacksonville will have a facility available for multiple uses, from football practice to youth sports like Sertoma football.
“The high school has their own,” Perry said. “The middle school, we can use it for football, baseball, track if you really have to, the Sertoma organization.”
Perry, coach of the Jacksonville High School shooting team, said he even got to take his shooters indoors to practice with laser guns. “That was phenomenal,” he said.
The fieldhouse will have a weight room and an upstairs study area with computers. Final stages of construction include finishing the painting and installing sprinklers for fire prevention.
“We have determined to get this thing finished before football season starts,” Perry said.
Donations of labor and materials played a large part in the fieldhouse construction, Perry said. Pinnacle Structures in Cabot donated the building itself.
“It was built by the community for the community,” Perry said. “The city has helped us, the water department. Any person I’ve asked to contribute has answered the call.”
Perry said any facility in which young people can have supervised athletic activities and a place to study is bound to be good for the city overall.
“Anything that you can do to give them a place,” Perry said. “It’s win-win.”
FieldTurf first appeared in the late 1990s as a competitor to AstroTurf, which was frequently blamed for abrasions and knee injuries because the surface was too unyielding.
The FieldTurf surface is a blend of synthetic fibers that more resembles and feels like natural grass while the infill has layers of rubber and sand that provide a cushion for athletes as they plant their feet and pivot.
A spray of rubber bits during a football tackle even resembles flying dirt, Perry said.
A five-year study in the American Journal of Sports Medicine found injury rates were similar between natural grass and artificial surfaces like FieldTurf, though there were more skin injuries and muscle strains on the artificial surfaces and more concussions and ligament tears on natural grass.
Football players have praised FieldTurf and surfaces like it because they provide more cushion, are easier on the knees and joints and reduce turf burns. Stadium operators like it because of its durability and relatively low maintenance.
Most of the criticism of FieldTurf and its artificial-surface cousins has come from the professional soccer world.
High profile players like David Beckham have said natural grass should be used for all major soccer matches because the artificial surfaces take too much of a toll on players’ bodies and don’t play enough like real grass.
By TODD TRAUB
Leader sports editor
The grass is fake but the benefits should be real at Jacksonville Middle School’s new fieldhouse.
A community-wide effort came a step closer to completion last week with the installation of FieldTurf inside the fieldhouse.
The artificial turf came from Little Rock’s War Memorial Stadium, undergoing a renovation of its own, and Jacksonville booster club president and state representative Mark Perry said its installation makes Jacksonville one of the few middle schools in the state to have such an indoor surface.
“It looks awesome,” said Perry, who has joined local coaches to help push the middle school project.
Perry said the cost of the turf and its installation was $15,000, an improvement over the $50,000 a brand new surface would have cost. Now, Perry said, Jacksonville will have a facility available for multiple uses, from football practice to youth sports like Sertoma football.
“The high school has their own,” Perry said. “The middle school, we can use it for football, baseball, track if you really have to, the Sertoma organization.”
Perry, coach of the Jacksonville High School shooting team, said he even got to take his shooters indoors to practice with laser guns. “That was phenomenal,” he said.
The fieldhouse will have a weight room and an upstairs study area with computers. Final stages of construction include finishing the painting and installing sprinklers for fire prevention.
“We have determined to get this thing finished before football season starts,” Perry said.
Donations of labor and materials played a large part in the fieldhouse construction, Perry said. Pinnacle Structures in Cabot donated the building itself.
“It was built by the community for the community,” Perry said. “The city has helped us, the water department. Any person I’ve asked to contribute has answered the call.”
Perry said any facility in which young people can have supervised athletic activities and a place to study is bound to be good for the city overall.
“Anything that you can do to give them a place,” Perry said. “It’s win-win.”
FieldTurf first appeared in the late 1990s as a competitor to AstroTurf, which was frequently blamed for abrasions and knee injuries because the surface was too unyielding.
The FieldTurf surface is a blend of synthetic fibers that more resembles and feels like natural grass while the infill has layers of rubber and sand that provide a cushion for athletes as they plant their feet and pivot.
A spray of rubber bits during a football tackle even resembles flying dirt, Perry said.
A five-year study in the American Journal of Sports Medicine found injury rates were similar between natural grass and artificial surfaces like FieldTurf, though there were more skin injuries and muscle strains on the artificial surfaces and more concussions and ligament tears on natural grass.
Football players have praised FieldTurf and surfaces like it because they provide more cushion, are easier on the knees and joints and reduce turf burns. Stadium operators like it because of its durability and relatively low maintenance.
Most of the criticism of FieldTurf and its artificial-surface cousins has come from the professional soccer world.
High profile players like David Beckham have said natural grass should be used for all major soccer matches because the artificial surfaces take too much of a toll on players’ bodies and don’t play enough like real grass.
OBITUARIES >> 09-15-10
RUBY GOSHA
Ruby Christine “Granny” Gosha, 84, of Jacksonville died Sept. 11.
She was born Aug. 22, 1926, in Walnut Ridge to the late Jess Mitchell and Josie Maude Speck Fox.
Mrs. Gosha dedicated her life to her family and worked for Franklin Electric. She was also a member of North Jack-sonville Baptist Church.
In addition to her parents, Mrs. Gosha was preceded in death by her husband, George Gosha; a daughter, Charlotte Pennock; a grandson, Brent Ferguson Jr., and her brothers and sister, Kenneth Fox, Mitchell Fox, Ralph Fox, Russell Fox and Ruth Mayberry.
Mrs. Gosha is survived by her daughters, Barbara Sutton and her husband Don of Mayflower, Carol Besancon of Russellville, Nona Ferguson and her husband Brent of Jacksonville and and Sally Gosha of Jacksonville; a son-in-law, Robert Pennock Sr. of Lonoke; 14 grandchildren; 17 great-grandchildren and one great-great grandchild as well as sisters-in-law, Nell Fox and Kate Fox, both of Pontiac, Mich., and a brother-in-law Homer Mayberry of Helman, Mich.
The funeral will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 15 in the chapel of Moore’s Jacksonville Funeral Home with Rev. Lindon Whitledge officiating. Burial will follow at Arkansas Memorial Gardens under the direction of Moore’s Jacksonville Funeral Home.
Memorials may be made to Alzheimer’s Association National Office, 225 N. Michigan Ave., Floor 17, Chicago, Ill. 60601.
LAROSE LACKEY
LaRose Miles Lackey, 71, of Lonoke, known for her volunteerism and philanthropy, entered heaven’s gates on Sept. 12.
As a beloved teacher, mother, wife and community leader, LaRose will be deeply missed.
Born on Feb. 17, 1939, LaRose was a proud 1957 graduate of Lonoke High School. She was to be honored this year with the Lonoke High School Alumni Association’s Distinguished Alumnus award.
LaRose has always been the “go to” person in Lonoke where she served as the first director of the Relay for Life committee, which raised more than $52,000 for cancer research.
In 1995, LaRose was recognized as Lonoke’s Educator of the Year. She loved teaching and dedicated 45 years of service in public schools and the Lonoke County Adult Education Center.
As a member of Lonoke First United Methodist Church, LaRose took her talents to Juarez, Mexico, on mission trips helping to build houses. She was always ready to deliver her homemade chicken and dumplings to anyone in need.
You may remember her from Lonoke’s “Uptown Saturday Night” singing Sister Act, riding on a homecoming parade with the Class of ‘57, asking for donations for a local charity, working on a Lonoke beautification project, or volunteering at the Clinton
Library. LaRose loved her community like she loved her family.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Lottie Mae and Leland L. “Sport” Miles and her sister, Freida Miles.
She is survived by her husband, Ralph Lackey; and two children, Mike Burgess and his wife Karen of Lonoke, and Michelle Young and her husband Greg of Cabot.
LaRose adored her three grandchildren, Ashley Simpson, Whitney Burgess and Charl Young, and her great-grandchildren, Brooklyn and Barrett Simpson.
She lived life to the fullest and found pleasure in the simplest of things. It is quite likely that she is organizing an “event” in heaven and has already signed up for several committees.
A memorial service to celebrate a life well lived will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 15 at Lonoke First United Methodist Church.
In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to the Wade Knox Children’s Center, 1524 North Center, Lonoke, Ark. 72086, the Lonoke Scholarship Foundation, 221 Holly Lonoke, Ark. 72086 or the Lonoke County Museum, P.O. Box 873 Lonoke, Ark. 72086.
Arrangements are by Boyd Funeral Home in Lonoke.
LORIE DULANY
Lorie Gayle Dulany, 33, of Cabot passed away Sept. 13.
She was born Oct. 24, 1976, in Little Rock.
She was preceded in death by her father, Wayne Colbert.
She is survived by her loving husband Joe Dulany of the home; four children, Jeffery Feltner of Moberly, Mo., Sean Lackie of Cabot, Samantha Anthony of Ward and Joseph Feltner of El Paso, Texas; her mother and step-father, Tressia and Frank Wilhite of Lonoke; her father and step-mother, Floyd “Buddy” and Karen Walker of Jacksonville; three sisters, Zettie Eltrich of Jacksonville, Patricia Trejo-Trejo and Lindsey Colbert, both of Ward; her stepsister, Brenda McDonald of Ward; two step-brothers, William Young and Lewis Young, both of Jacksonville and a host of nieces and nephews, friends and loved ones.
Visitation will be held 2 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 15 with family receiving friends from 5 p.m. - 7 p.m. The funeral will be at 2 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 16 at First Freedom Baptist Church in Butlerville. Interment will be in Monk Cemetery.
Arrangements are by Thomas Funeral Service in Cabot.
GEORGE D. MCBRIDE
George D. McBride, 82, of Ward passed away Sept. 13.
He was born Jan. 1, 1928, in Lawtell, La.
George was a veteran who served his country in the Army and the Air Force.
He was a Catholic and a member of St. Judes Catholic Church.
He is survived by his wife, Kathleen; one daughter, Diane and her husband Gary Hollingshead; one son, Michael McBride; one brother, Thomas McBride of Florida; two grandchildren, Shawn and his wife Heather Hollingshead, and Brad and his wife Beth Hollingshead, and one great-granddaughter, Shelby Potter.
A Memorial Mass will be Saturday, Sept. 18 at St. Judes Catholic Church in Jacksonville.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to The Old Austin Baptist Church, 50 Old 38N, Austin, Ark. 72007.
Arrangements are by Wood Bean Family Memorial Center in Jacksonville.
JEFFREY WUELLING
Jeffrey Scott Wuelling, 45, of Bono, formerly of Jacksonville, died Sept. 14.
He was born Aug. 8, 1965 in Omaha, Neb. to Herbert and Phyllis Myers Wuelling.
He graduated from Jacksonville High School and worked at Quality Precast as a computer draftsman. He was a diehard Nebraska Cornhuskers fan and a musician.
He is survived by his wife, Nicole Hernandez Wuelling; his daughter, Ashley Cook and her husband William; son, Randall and his wife Kellie Wuelling; grandchild, Arleigh Wuelling, all of Jonesboro; his parents, Herbert and Phyllis Wuelling; siblings, Herbie Wuelling, Jr., Diana Edwards, Vicki Keck and her husband Chuck and Kim Dickens and Jerry Kamer, all from Jacksonville; nieces and nephews, Rachel Gibson, Sarah Wuelling, Candice Stephens and her husband Mike, Catherine Dickens, Chris Wuelling and Danielle McCollough and her husband Matt, all from Jacksonville; great nieces and nephews, Madison and Dakota Stephens, Zane Wuelling and Chance Christianson.
Visitation will be from 1-3 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 18 at Roller-Farmers Union Funeral Home in Jonesboro.
Ruby Christine “Granny” Gosha, 84, of Jacksonville died Sept. 11.
She was born Aug. 22, 1926, in Walnut Ridge to the late Jess Mitchell and Josie Maude Speck Fox.
Mrs. Gosha dedicated her life to her family and worked for Franklin Electric. She was also a member of North Jack-sonville Baptist Church.
In addition to her parents, Mrs. Gosha was preceded in death by her husband, George Gosha; a daughter, Charlotte Pennock; a grandson, Brent Ferguson Jr., and her brothers and sister, Kenneth Fox, Mitchell Fox, Ralph Fox, Russell Fox and Ruth Mayberry.
Mrs. Gosha is survived by her daughters, Barbara Sutton and her husband Don of Mayflower, Carol Besancon of Russellville, Nona Ferguson and her husband Brent of Jacksonville and and Sally Gosha of Jacksonville; a son-in-law, Robert Pennock Sr. of Lonoke; 14 grandchildren; 17 great-grandchildren and one great-great grandchild as well as sisters-in-law, Nell Fox and Kate Fox, both of Pontiac, Mich., and a brother-in-law Homer Mayberry of Helman, Mich.
The funeral will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 15 in the chapel of Moore’s Jacksonville Funeral Home with Rev. Lindon Whitledge officiating. Burial will follow at Arkansas Memorial Gardens under the direction of Moore’s Jacksonville Funeral Home.
Memorials may be made to Alzheimer’s Association National Office, 225 N. Michigan Ave., Floor 17, Chicago, Ill. 60601.
LAROSE LACKEY
LaRose Miles Lackey, 71, of Lonoke, known for her volunteerism and philanthropy, entered heaven’s gates on Sept. 12.
As a beloved teacher, mother, wife and community leader, LaRose will be deeply missed.
Born on Feb. 17, 1939, LaRose was a proud 1957 graduate of Lonoke High School. She was to be honored this year with the Lonoke High School Alumni Association’s Distinguished Alumnus award.
LaRose has always been the “go to” person in Lonoke where she served as the first director of the Relay for Life committee, which raised more than $52,000 for cancer research.
In 1995, LaRose was recognized as Lonoke’s Educator of the Year. She loved teaching and dedicated 45 years of service in public schools and the Lonoke County Adult Education Center.
As a member of Lonoke First United Methodist Church, LaRose took her talents to Juarez, Mexico, on mission trips helping to build houses. She was always ready to deliver her homemade chicken and dumplings to anyone in need.
You may remember her from Lonoke’s “Uptown Saturday Night” singing Sister Act, riding on a homecoming parade with the Class of ‘57, asking for donations for a local charity, working on a Lonoke beautification project, or volunteering at the Clinton
Library. LaRose loved her community like she loved her family.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Lottie Mae and Leland L. “Sport” Miles and her sister, Freida Miles.
She is survived by her husband, Ralph Lackey; and two children, Mike Burgess and his wife Karen of Lonoke, and Michelle Young and her husband Greg of Cabot.
LaRose adored her three grandchildren, Ashley Simpson, Whitney Burgess and Charl Young, and her great-grandchildren, Brooklyn and Barrett Simpson.
She lived life to the fullest and found pleasure in the simplest of things. It is quite likely that she is organizing an “event” in heaven and has already signed up for several committees.
A memorial service to celebrate a life well lived will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 15 at Lonoke First United Methodist Church.
In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to the Wade Knox Children’s Center, 1524 North Center, Lonoke, Ark. 72086, the Lonoke Scholarship Foundation, 221 Holly Lonoke, Ark. 72086 or the Lonoke County Museum, P.O. Box 873 Lonoke, Ark. 72086.
Arrangements are by Boyd Funeral Home in Lonoke.
LORIE DULANY
Lorie Gayle Dulany, 33, of Cabot passed away Sept. 13.
She was born Oct. 24, 1976, in Little Rock.
She was preceded in death by her father, Wayne Colbert.
She is survived by her loving husband Joe Dulany of the home; four children, Jeffery Feltner of Moberly, Mo., Sean Lackie of Cabot, Samantha Anthony of Ward and Joseph Feltner of El Paso, Texas; her mother and step-father, Tressia and Frank Wilhite of Lonoke; her father and step-mother, Floyd “Buddy” and Karen Walker of Jacksonville; three sisters, Zettie Eltrich of Jacksonville, Patricia Trejo-Trejo and Lindsey Colbert, both of Ward; her stepsister, Brenda McDonald of Ward; two step-brothers, William Young and Lewis Young, both of Jacksonville and a host of nieces and nephews, friends and loved ones.
Visitation will be held 2 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 15 with family receiving friends from 5 p.m. - 7 p.m. The funeral will be at 2 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 16 at First Freedom Baptist Church in Butlerville. Interment will be in Monk Cemetery.
Arrangements are by Thomas Funeral Service in Cabot.
GEORGE D. MCBRIDE
George D. McBride, 82, of Ward passed away Sept. 13.
He was born Jan. 1, 1928, in Lawtell, La.
George was a veteran who served his country in the Army and the Air Force.
He was a Catholic and a member of St. Judes Catholic Church.
He is survived by his wife, Kathleen; one daughter, Diane and her husband Gary Hollingshead; one son, Michael McBride; one brother, Thomas McBride of Florida; two grandchildren, Shawn and his wife Heather Hollingshead, and Brad and his wife Beth Hollingshead, and one great-granddaughter, Shelby Potter.
A Memorial Mass will be Saturday, Sept. 18 at St. Judes Catholic Church in Jacksonville.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to The Old Austin Baptist Church, 50 Old 38N, Austin, Ark. 72007.
Arrangements are by Wood Bean Family Memorial Center in Jacksonville.
JEFFREY WUELLING
Jeffrey Scott Wuelling, 45, of Bono, formerly of Jacksonville, died Sept. 14.
He was born Aug. 8, 1965 in Omaha, Neb. to Herbert and Phyllis Myers Wuelling.
He graduated from Jacksonville High School and worked at Quality Precast as a computer draftsman. He was a diehard Nebraska Cornhuskers fan and a musician.
He is survived by his wife, Nicole Hernandez Wuelling; his daughter, Ashley Cook and her husband William; son, Randall and his wife Kellie Wuelling; grandchild, Arleigh Wuelling, all of Jonesboro; his parents, Herbert and Phyllis Wuelling; siblings, Herbie Wuelling, Jr., Diana Edwards, Vicki Keck and her husband Chuck and Kim Dickens and Jerry Kamer, all from Jacksonville; nieces and nephews, Rachel Gibson, Sarah Wuelling, Candice Stephens and her husband Mike, Catherine Dickens, Chris Wuelling and Danielle McCollough and her husband Matt, all from Jacksonville; great nieces and nephews, Madison and Dakota Stephens, Zane Wuelling and Chance Christianson.
Visitation will be from 1-3 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 18 at Roller-Farmers Union Funeral Home in Jonesboro.
EVENTS >> 06-19-10
MOTORCYCLISTS RALLYING FOR POW/MIA TODAY
The seventh annual POW/MIA Awareness Poker Run is from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. today. The motorcycle run will begin at the Jacksonville Museum of Military History and end at VFW Post 4548. The cost is $20 per rider or $30 per couple.
A motorcycle show will be held from 1 to 3 p.m. at the VFW Post. The entry fee for the competition is $10.
For more information, call 501-413-772 or 501-590-6980.
VACATION BIBLE SCHOOLS IN JACKSONVILLE, WARD
First Landmark Missionary Baptist Church in Ward will hold its vacation Bible school 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Sunday through Thursday.
Bible stories, crafts, music and refreshments are planned. All age groups are welcome. For more information, call 501-941-5994. The church is located at Markham and Church streets.
First Baptist Church of Jacksonville, 401 North First St., will host its vacation Bible school from 9 a.m. to noon Monday through Friday. The program offers Bible study, memory verses, game time and missions study. Call 501-982-1519 to register or for more information.
CABOT BARBEQUE TO BENEFIT AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY
Grandpa’s Bar-B-Que will host a fundraiser for American Cancer Society from 5 to 10 p.m. Saturday, June 26 at Cabot High School Champs Hall’s parking lot.
Tickets are $15 in advance and $20 at the door.
Admission includes barbeque, drinks and live music of PLU and Fenix.
Kids 10 and under get in free and will get a free hot dog.
There will also be a raffle drawing for a 40” flat screen Samsung TV.
There will be bouncy houses and games for the kids.
The event will also include an amateur cookoff for a cash prize, trophy, and bragging rights for the best recipe in Lonoke County.
Call 501-413-7055 for more information.
SMALL-BUSINESS LUNCHEON TUESDAY IN JACKSONVILLE
The Jacksonville Chamber of Commerce will hold a free small-business roundtable luncheon at 11:30 p.m. Tuesday at Foxwood Golf Club.
Sean Cresswell of Centennial Bank will speak.
The event is open to small business owners or managers. You do not have to be a chamber member to attend.
The deadline to register is today; call 501-982-1511.
CHURCH WILL FEED LUNCH TO CHILDREN THROUGH AUG. 2
Emmanuel Bible Fellowship Church will provide free meals to Jacksonville children weekdays until Aug. 2 at the Jacksonville Boys and Girls Club, 1 Boys Club Drive from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.; Max Howell Place from 10:30 a.m. to noon, and Willow Bend Apartments, 300 Marshall Road, from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. No lunch will be provided on Monday, July 5. The program is funded by the USDA.
JACKSONVILLE AND CABOT TO HOLD JOINT-CHAMBER LUNCH
The Jacksonville and Cabot chambers of commerce will hold a joint-general membership lunch at 11:30 a.m Tuesday, June 29 at the Jacksonville Community Center. The guest speakers will be Cabot Mayor Eddie Joe Williams and Jacksonville Mayor Gary Fletcher.
The cost of the lunch is $12 per member and $15 for nonmembers. If reservations are not made before June 22, the cost is $15.
CHORIS FORMING FOR PATRIOTIC SPECTACULAR ON JULY 2
The Jacksonville Patriotic Spectacular is set for Friday, July 2.
Talented adults and children are needed for the patriotic adult and children’s choirs.
Adult and children’s choirs will perform “Because They Gave” with a spectacular firework finale. Anyone interested in joining the choirs should attend a rehearsal at 6:30 p.m. Thursday at First United Methodist Church, 220 W. Main St.
Call 501-680-3094 for more information.
CABOT POLICEMAN, FIREFIGHTERS HELP SPECIAL OLYMPICS
The Cabot Police and Fire departments will conduct a “Boots and Badges” fundraiser to benefit the Special Olympics from 1 to 8 p.m. today at the Cabot Walmart.
The state’s Arkansas law-enforcement community still needs to raise about $20,000 to meet its goal of $500,000.
HELP FORM A GOLD STAR MOTHERS CHAPTER IN ARKANSAS
Gold Star Mothers, an organization of mothers who have lost a child in combat, does not have an Arkansas chapter.
For more information about how to create one, e-mail Kei Torres at imtheirtexanmom@yahoo.com. Torres’ son, Corporal Jason K. LaFleur, was killed in action in Hawr Rajab, Iraq.
ALZHEIMER'S SUPPORT GROUP MEETS IN JACKSONVILLE
The Alzheimer’s Association offers an Alzheimer’s Support Group at 10 a.m. on the third Saturday of each month at Evangelistic Ministries Church, 101 N. Elm St. in Jacksonville. Call 501-265-0027 or 501-940-5271 for details.
NLR MOVIE SERIES CONTINUES THURSDAY WITH 'CORALINE'
North Little Rock’s River Flicks continues at 7 p.m. Thursday with “Coraline” at the River Walk Park. Admission is free. Bring lawn chairs or blankets. “The Lovely Bones” will be shown on Thursday, July 1.
The seventh annual POW/MIA Awareness Poker Run is from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. today. The motorcycle run will begin at the Jacksonville Museum of Military History and end at VFW Post 4548. The cost is $20 per rider or $30 per couple.
A motorcycle show will be held from 1 to 3 p.m. at the VFW Post. The entry fee for the competition is $10.
For more information, call 501-413-772 or 501-590-6980.
VACATION BIBLE SCHOOLS IN JACKSONVILLE, WARD
First Landmark Missionary Baptist Church in Ward will hold its vacation Bible school 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Sunday through Thursday.
Bible stories, crafts, music and refreshments are planned. All age groups are welcome. For more information, call 501-941-5994. The church is located at Markham and Church streets.
First Baptist Church of Jacksonville, 401 North First St., will host its vacation Bible school from 9 a.m. to noon Monday through Friday. The program offers Bible study, memory verses, game time and missions study. Call 501-982-1519 to register or for more information.
CABOT BARBEQUE TO BENEFIT AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY
Grandpa’s Bar-B-Que will host a fundraiser for American Cancer Society from 5 to 10 p.m. Saturday, June 26 at Cabot High School Champs Hall’s parking lot.
Tickets are $15 in advance and $20 at the door.
Admission includes barbeque, drinks and live music of PLU and Fenix.
Kids 10 and under get in free and will get a free hot dog.
There will also be a raffle drawing for a 40” flat screen Samsung TV.
There will be bouncy houses and games for the kids.
The event will also include an amateur cookoff for a cash prize, trophy, and bragging rights for the best recipe in Lonoke County.
Call 501-413-7055 for more information.
SMALL-BUSINESS LUNCHEON TUESDAY IN JACKSONVILLE
The Jacksonville Chamber of Commerce will hold a free small-business roundtable luncheon at 11:30 p.m. Tuesday at Foxwood Golf Club.
Sean Cresswell of Centennial Bank will speak.
The event is open to small business owners or managers. You do not have to be a chamber member to attend.
The deadline to register is today; call 501-982-1511.
CHURCH WILL FEED LUNCH TO CHILDREN THROUGH AUG. 2
Emmanuel Bible Fellowship Church will provide free meals to Jacksonville children weekdays until Aug. 2 at the Jacksonville Boys and Girls Club, 1 Boys Club Drive from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.; Max Howell Place from 10:30 a.m. to noon, and Willow Bend Apartments, 300 Marshall Road, from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. No lunch will be provided on Monday, July 5. The program is funded by the USDA.
JACKSONVILLE AND CABOT TO HOLD JOINT-CHAMBER LUNCH
The Jacksonville and Cabot chambers of commerce will hold a joint-general membership lunch at 11:30 a.m Tuesday, June 29 at the Jacksonville Community Center. The guest speakers will be Cabot Mayor Eddie Joe Williams and Jacksonville Mayor Gary Fletcher.
The cost of the lunch is $12 per member and $15 for nonmembers. If reservations are not made before June 22, the cost is $15.
CHORIS FORMING FOR PATRIOTIC SPECTACULAR ON JULY 2
The Jacksonville Patriotic Spectacular is set for Friday, July 2.
Talented adults and children are needed for the patriotic adult and children’s choirs.
Adult and children’s choirs will perform “Because They Gave” with a spectacular firework finale. Anyone interested in joining the choirs should attend a rehearsal at 6:30 p.m. Thursday at First United Methodist Church, 220 W. Main St.
Call 501-680-3094 for more information.
CABOT POLICEMAN, FIREFIGHTERS HELP SPECIAL OLYMPICS
The Cabot Police and Fire departments will conduct a “Boots and Badges” fundraiser to benefit the Special Olympics from 1 to 8 p.m. today at the Cabot Walmart.
The state’s Arkansas law-enforcement community still needs to raise about $20,000 to meet its goal of $500,000.
HELP FORM A GOLD STAR MOTHERS CHAPTER IN ARKANSAS
Gold Star Mothers, an organization of mothers who have lost a child in combat, does not have an Arkansas chapter.
For more information about how to create one, e-mail Kei Torres at imtheirtexanmom@yahoo.com. Torres’ son, Corporal Jason K. LaFleur, was killed in action in Hawr Rajab, Iraq.
ALZHEIMER'S SUPPORT GROUP MEETS IN JACKSONVILLE
The Alzheimer’s Association offers an Alzheimer’s Support Group at 10 a.m. on the third Saturday of each month at Evangelistic Ministries Church, 101 N. Elm St. in Jacksonville. Call 501-265-0027 or 501-940-5271 for details.
NLR MOVIE SERIES CONTINUES THURSDAY WITH 'CORALINE'
North Little Rock’s River Flicks continues at 7 p.m. Thursday with “Coraline” at the River Walk Park. Admission is free. Bring lawn chairs or blankets. “The Lovely Bones” will be shown on Thursday, July 1.
TOP STORY >> Lawyer pins hope on a new district
IN SHORT: Group will have a petition drive on Friday at Walmart.
By NANCY DOCKTER
Leader staff writer
A petition being circulated around Jacksonville is the latest strategy of proponents for a school district in Jacksonville and north Pulaski County, independent of Pulaski County Special School District.
Retired lawyer Ben Rice, who initiated the petition drive about a month ago, hopes a stack of signed petitions would win the backing of another lawyer, John Walker.
Walker is the attorney for Joshua Interveners, a group that for many years has advocated for educational equity for minority students in PCSSD as well as the two other school districts in Pulaski County.
Specifically, the petition supports the establishment of a separate district without the new district having to shoulder any of the debt for new school construction in Maumelle, Sherwood or Chenal, effective upon PCSSD achieving unitary status. The petition states that schools in PCSSD zone 6 (Jacksonville) and zone 5 (north Pulaski County) have been neglected by the district, alluding to research done this spring by Jacksonville High School seniors that showed that those two zones have been recipients of 2 percent and 1 percent, respectively, of all district capital improvement funding during the last 10 years. Those two zones contribute about a third of total property tax revenues collected for PCSSD, Rice told a gathering Thursday of members of the local chapter of the National Association of Retired and Active Federal Employees (NARAFE).
“That is not right. If you are sympathetic to our plight, please sign it,” Rice told the group as petition sheets were passed around. “We want to get a stack of them as thick as we can. If we can convince John Walker, that should pave the way for this thing to happen. But we will deliver this petition not only to Mr. Walker, but to the state Board of Education. I hope that they can read between the lines and give us a new school district.”
Rice said when he recently sat at a table in front of the Jacksonville Walmart asking for passersby to sign the petition, “African Americans were more ready to sign than Caucasians.”
The Jacksonville chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People is one of several groups in town working on the separate school district issue, said Rizelle Aaron, who attended the NARAFE meeting.
Aaron said that he was optimistic that Walker could be won over, but in order to do so, there must be community unity on the issue and an authorized spokesman who can say that a separate district is truly the will of the community.
“Mr. Walker wants to meet with people out here, but if we are not organized, he is likely to walk out and leave us sitting at the table,” Aaron said. “Unless we can come together and have one voice it will be difficult.”
More support from city government as well as civic organizations and churches would help the cause, Aaron said. “Otherwise, it doesn’t appear to be a cohesive group.”
Ivory Tillman, president of the local chapters of the NARAFE and as well as the NAACP, said, “This is not a political meeting, we want that understood. But our concern is to do all we possibly can to get a separate school district.”
Rice told the group that 14 of the 36 PCSSD school facilities are in Jacksonville and north Pulaski County. According to an assessment of conditions of Arkansas’ 1,129 school facilities, 12 of those 14 schools are among the 300 worst in the state. Eight are among the 200 worst, and four are among the 100 worst. The poor condition of Jacksonville schools is hurting the local economy, because people with school-age children are not choosing Jacksonville as their home, Rice said.
In the last 10 years, enrollment in schools in neighboring Cabot has increased 40 percent, while enrollment in Jacksonville schools has declined 23 percent, said Rice, citing statistics in the study by Jacksonville seniors on the impacts of conditions at their school on learning.
As he gathered petition signatures recently, Rice said, one couple from Cabot told him that they moved away from Jacksonville because they did not like the schools.
“They told me if Jacksonville gets its own district, they’d move back,” Rice said.
“Property values are being affected by the schools – that is a very important fact,” Rice said. “This can’t be allowed to limp along. This needs to be brought to a head.”
Rice said that the poor conditions of local schools would be a challenge that a newly formed school district would have to tackle. However, he pointed to two studies on the financial impacts of decoupling from PCSSD. Both concluded that there would be no added financial burden for PCSSD or the new district and in fact found that “it would be better for both to separate.”
Rice, along with Jacksonville Alderman Reedie Ray and state Rep. Mark Perry, D-Jacksonville, earlier this year filed a brief in federal court asking Judge Brian Miller to rule that Jacksonville and north Pulaski County are entitled to a separate school district. Miller has not yet ruled on that, nor has he issued his findings in the PCSSD desegregation case. In that case, the district is seeking a declaration from Miller that it has attained unity status and should be released from federal court oversight of its desegregation plan, which was instituted in 1989.
If Miller finds that PCSSD has indeed complied with its desegregation plan, that would improve the chances for a separate Jacksonville-north Pulaski County school district.
“There is still potential to have an independent district, even without Miller declaring the district is unitary,” asserted Aaron. “It is easy to get discouraged, but we are on the right track.”
Supporters of an independent school district will hold a petition drive at the Jacksonville Walmart from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday.
By NANCY DOCKTER
Leader staff writer
A petition being circulated around Jacksonville is the latest strategy of proponents for a school district in Jacksonville and north Pulaski County, independent of Pulaski County Special School District.
Retired lawyer Ben Rice, who initiated the petition drive about a month ago, hopes a stack of signed petitions would win the backing of another lawyer, John Walker.
Walker is the attorney for Joshua Interveners, a group that for many years has advocated for educational equity for minority students in PCSSD as well as the two other school districts in Pulaski County.
Specifically, the petition supports the establishment of a separate district without the new district having to shoulder any of the debt for new school construction in Maumelle, Sherwood or Chenal, effective upon PCSSD achieving unitary status. The petition states that schools in PCSSD zone 6 (Jacksonville) and zone 5 (north Pulaski County) have been neglected by the district, alluding to research done this spring by Jacksonville High School seniors that showed that those two zones have been recipients of 2 percent and 1 percent, respectively, of all district capital improvement funding during the last 10 years. Those two zones contribute about a third of total property tax revenues collected for PCSSD, Rice told a gathering Thursday of members of the local chapter of the National Association of Retired and Active Federal Employees (NARAFE).
“That is not right. If you are sympathetic to our plight, please sign it,” Rice told the group as petition sheets were passed around. “We want to get a stack of them as thick as we can. If we can convince John Walker, that should pave the way for this thing to happen. But we will deliver this petition not only to Mr. Walker, but to the state Board of Education. I hope that they can read between the lines and give us a new school district.”
Rice said when he recently sat at a table in front of the Jacksonville Walmart asking for passersby to sign the petition, “African Americans were more ready to sign than Caucasians.”
The Jacksonville chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People is one of several groups in town working on the separate school district issue, said Rizelle Aaron, who attended the NARAFE meeting.
Aaron said that he was optimistic that Walker could be won over, but in order to do so, there must be community unity on the issue and an authorized spokesman who can say that a separate district is truly the will of the community.
“Mr. Walker wants to meet with people out here, but if we are not organized, he is likely to walk out and leave us sitting at the table,” Aaron said. “Unless we can come together and have one voice it will be difficult.”
More support from city government as well as civic organizations and churches would help the cause, Aaron said. “Otherwise, it doesn’t appear to be a cohesive group.”
Ivory Tillman, president of the local chapters of the NARAFE and as well as the NAACP, said, “This is not a political meeting, we want that understood. But our concern is to do all we possibly can to get a separate school district.”
Rice told the group that 14 of the 36 PCSSD school facilities are in Jacksonville and north Pulaski County. According to an assessment of conditions of Arkansas’ 1,129 school facilities, 12 of those 14 schools are among the 300 worst in the state. Eight are among the 200 worst, and four are among the 100 worst. The poor condition of Jacksonville schools is hurting the local economy, because people with school-age children are not choosing Jacksonville as their home, Rice said.
In the last 10 years, enrollment in schools in neighboring Cabot has increased 40 percent, while enrollment in Jacksonville schools has declined 23 percent, said Rice, citing statistics in the study by Jacksonville seniors on the impacts of conditions at their school on learning.
As he gathered petition signatures recently, Rice said, one couple from Cabot told him that they moved away from Jacksonville because they did not like the schools.
“They told me if Jacksonville gets its own district, they’d move back,” Rice said.
“Property values are being affected by the schools – that is a very important fact,” Rice said. “This can’t be allowed to limp along. This needs to be brought to a head.”
Rice said that the poor conditions of local schools would be a challenge that a newly formed school district would have to tackle. However, he pointed to two studies on the financial impacts of decoupling from PCSSD. Both concluded that there would be no added financial burden for PCSSD or the new district and in fact found that “it would be better for both to separate.”
Rice, along with Jacksonville Alderman Reedie Ray and state Rep. Mark Perry, D-Jacksonville, earlier this year filed a brief in federal court asking Judge Brian Miller to rule that Jacksonville and north Pulaski County are entitled to a separate school district. Miller has not yet ruled on that, nor has he issued his findings in the PCSSD desegregation case. In that case, the district is seeking a declaration from Miller that it has attained unity status and should be released from federal court oversight of its desegregation plan, which was instituted in 1989.
If Miller finds that PCSSD has indeed complied with its desegregation plan, that would improve the chances for a separate Jacksonville-north Pulaski County school district.
“There is still potential to have an independent district, even without Miller declaring the district is unitary,” asserted Aaron. “It is easy to get discouraged, but we are on the right track.”
Supporters of an independent school district will hold a petition drive at the Jacksonville Walmart from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday.
TOP STORY >> Cabot outscores state average on Benchmark tests
IN SHORT: Lonoke and Beebe also do well on mandated examinations.
By Rick Kron
Leader staff writer
The state education commissioner Tom Kimbrell was pleased that state scores on the annually mandated Benchmark test went up, but the Cabot School Superintendent Tony Thurman is probably more proud that his district blew by all the state averages.
The annual testing measures students’ ability to accomplish grade-level work.
The No Child Left Behind Act requires all students to score proficient or advance in the areas of math and literacy by the end of the 2013-2014 school year.
To reach that goal, most schools need to be at or above what the state calls the adequate yearly progress rate, which is near 70 percent proficient or advanced.
Not only did Cabot do well, so did Beebe, Lonoke and the Lisa Academy North Charter School.
Jacksonville’s first new school in more than two decades, the Lighthouse Charter School, failed to beat the Pulaski County Special School District average in most grade levels, and all the PCSSD averages are below the state average (see related story at right).
Not only were the Cabot scores above the state average, but there wasn’t a big gap of scores between the schools like in some other area districts.
When the Benchmark scores were released Tuesday, Kimbrell said, “When you have the achievement gap closing while scores of each student subgroup improve, you know that the system is working together to produce the right results. You can’t ask for a much better trend than that.”
Beebe
On the math portion of the Benchmark exam, Badger and Beebe elementary school third-graders scored 84 percent proficient or advanced, one point above the state average of 83 percent.
In literacy, the state average was 71 percent and at Badger Elementary, third-graders were 66 percent proficient or better. At Beebe Elementary, 71 percent reached the goal of proficient or better.
Among fourth graders at Badger Elementary, 84 percent were proficient or better on the math portion and at Beebe Elementary, 90 percent made the grade. The state average was 80 percent.
In literacy, the Badger fourth- graders were 85 percent proficient or better and Beebe Elementary had 84 percent make the grade. The state average was 77 percent.
On the math test, fifth-graders at Beebe Middle School were 77 percent proficient or better. The state average was 74 percent.
In literacy, the fifth-graders were 83 percent proficient or better, nine points better than the state average.
Beebe Middle School sixth- graders were 82 percent proficient or better on the math portion of the Benchmark, compared to the state average of 75 percent. In literacy, the sixth-graders were 75 proficient or better. The state average was 71 percent.
Among seventh-graders, 77 percent were proficient or better on the math portion, which was two points higher than the statewide average. In literacy, 74 percent were proficient or advanced. The state average was 68 percent.
At Beebe Junior High, 66 percent of the eighth-graders were proficient or better in math and at the Badger Academy, just 17 percent made the cut. The state math average was 63 percent. In literacy, 77 percent made the cut at Beebe Junior High and 67 percent did so at Badger Academy. The state average in literacy was 76 percent.
Cabot
The district average for third- graders on the math portion of the Benchmark was 91 percent proficient of advanced, nine points above the state average. In literacy, 79 percent of the third-graders were proficient or better. Statewide, the average was 71 percent.
At Stagecoach, 95 percent of the third-graders were proficient or better in math and 84 percent did the same in literacy. Ward Central saw 86 percent of its students make the grade in math and 65 percent in literacy. At Magness Creek, 96 percent were proficient or better in math and 90 percent did the same in literacy.
Among Westside third-graders, 84 percent were proficient or better in math and 70 made the cut in literacy. Northside had 90 percent make the cut in math and 72 percent score proficient or better in literacy.
Eastside had 91 percent of its students score proficient or above in math and 82 percent did the same in literacy. At Southside, 94 percent made the cut in math and 83 percent did the same in literacy.
Central Elementary saw 90 percent of its students score proficient or higher in math and 86 percent also in literacy.
At the fourth-grade level, the district average in math was 89 percent, nine points higher than the state average, and in literacy it was 86 percent, again nine points higher than the state.
At Eastside, 86 percent of the fourth-graders scored proficient or advanced on the math portion of the benchmark and 80 percent did the same in literacy.
Among Northside students, 91 percent made the cut in math and 80 percent were proficient or better in literacy. At Magness Creek, 94 percent were proficient or above in math and 88 percent did the same in literacy. While at Central Elementary, 81 percent were proficient or better in math and 79 percent made the grade in literacy.
Among Westside fourth-graders, 85 percent were proficient or advanced in math and 86 percent did so in literacy. Ward Central had 76 percent of its students score proficient or better in math and 78 percent did the same in literacy.
Stagecoach saw 97 percent of its fourth-graders make the cut in math and 94 percent did so in literacy.
At Southside, 88 percent scored proficient or advanced in math and the same percent did so in literacy.
At the fifth-grade level, the state average was 74 percent proficient or better in math and 72 percent in literacy. Cabot averaged 84 percent in both math and literacy.
Among fifth-graders at Cabot Middle School South, 81 percent were proficient or advanced in math and 82 percent did the same in literacy. Middle School North had 85 percent of its fifth-graders make the cut in math and 86 percent scored proficient or advanced in literacy.
At the sixth-grade level, the district averaged 87 proficient or better in math, 12 points better than the state average. On the literacy portion of the test, the district average was 83 percent proficient or better, also 12 points better than the state.
At Cabot Middle School South, 85 percent of the sixth-graders scored proficient or better in math and 85 percent also did so in literacy.
Among Cabot Middle School North students, 88 percent made the cut in math and 82 percent did the same in literacy.
Among seventh-graders statewide, the average was 75 percent proficient or better in math and 68 percent did equally well in literacy. The district beat the state math average by four percentage points and the literacy average by 10 points.
Seventh-graders at Cabot Junior High South had 83 percent of its students score proficient or better in math and 76 percent do the same in literacy. At Cabot Junior High North, 78 percent made the grade in math and 79 percent were proficient or advanced in literacy. At the Academic Center for Excellence, 73 percent were proficient or better in math and 54 percent made the cut in literacy.
In eighth-grade, the district average for scoring proficient or advanced in math was 75 percent, 12 points better than the state average. In literacy, the district average was 89 percent, 14 points over the state average.
At Cabot Junior High North, 78 percent of the eighth-graders were proficient or better in math and 89 percent did the same in literacy. Among eighth-graders at Cabot Junior High South, 74 percent made the grade in math and 89 percent did so in literacy.
Lighthouse Charter
In its first year, the Jacksonville Lighthouse Charter School, which is in the Pulaski County Special School District attendance zone, did not do as well as the district average at most grade levels.
Among the school’s third-graders, 80 percent were proficient or advanced in math, compared to the PCSSD average of 81 percent. In literacy, 70 percent of the charter students were proficient or better. The district’s average was 66 percent.
In fourth-grade, 70 percent of the students were proficient or better in math. The district average was 77 percent. In literacy, 72 percent made the cut compared to 76 percent in PCSSD.
Among fifth-graders, 65 percent were proficient or advanced in math and 65 percent did the same in literacy. The district’s average was 66 percent in math and 73 percent in literacy.
On the sixth-grader math portion of the benchmark, 59 percent of the students were proficient or advanced. The district average was 63 percent. In literacy, 67 percent made the cut compared to the district average of 71 percent.
Lisa Academy North
Lisa Academy North is a charter school that occupies the old Best Buy off Hwy. 67/167 and Wildwood Avenue that is in the PCSSD attendance zone and did beat the district average at most grade levels.
Among the academy’s third- graders, 76 were proficient or advanced in math. The PCSSD average was 81 percent. In literacy, 88 percent were proficient or better, compared to a district average of 66 percent.
In fourth-grade, 92 percent of the students were proficient or better in math and 96 percent in literacy.
The averages were 77 percent in math and 76 percent in literacy.
On the math portion of the test, 80 percent of the fifth-graders made the cut, 14 points above the state average. In literacy, 80 percent were proficient or advanced. The district average was 73 percent.
Sixth-graders were 82 percent proficient or better on the math portion of the benchmark, 19 points above the district average. In literacy, 84 percent were proficient or better, compared to a district average of 71 percent.
Among seventh graders, 83 percent were proficient or better in math and 80 percent made the cut in literacy. The district average was 67 percent in math and 59 percent in literacy.
In the eighth-grade, 84 percent of the academy students scored proficient or better in math and 85 percent did as well in literacy. At the district level the averages were 49 percent in math and 67 percent in literacy.
Lonoke
Lonoke third-graders were 82 percent proficient or advanced on the math portion of the benchmark and scored 62 percent proficient or better in literacy. The state average was 83 percent in math and 71 percent in literacy.
Fourth-graders were 78 percent proficient or better on the math exam, compared to the state average of 80 percent. In literacy, 77 percent made the grade. The state average in literacy was also 77 percent.
Among fifth-graders in Lonoke, 77 percent were proficient or better in math and 84 percent did the same in literacy. The state average was 74 percent in both math and literacy.
On the math portion, sixth- graders were 79 percent proficient or advanced, four points over the state average. In literacy, 72 percent were proficient or better. The state average was 71 percent.
On the seventh-grade math portion, 75 percent of the students were proficient or better and 73 percent did the same in literacy. The state average in math was 75 percent and it was 68 percent in literacy.
Among eighth-graders, 68 percent were proficient or better in math.
The state average was 63 percent. In literacy the eighth-graders were 79 percent proficient or better. The state average was 76 percent.
By Rick Kron
Leader staff writer
The state education commissioner Tom Kimbrell was pleased that state scores on the annually mandated Benchmark test went up, but the Cabot School Superintendent Tony Thurman is probably more proud that his district blew by all the state averages.
The annual testing measures students’ ability to accomplish grade-level work.
The No Child Left Behind Act requires all students to score proficient or advance in the areas of math and literacy by the end of the 2013-2014 school year.
To reach that goal, most schools need to be at or above what the state calls the adequate yearly progress rate, which is near 70 percent proficient or advanced.
Not only did Cabot do well, so did Beebe, Lonoke and the Lisa Academy North Charter School.
Jacksonville’s first new school in more than two decades, the Lighthouse Charter School, failed to beat the Pulaski County Special School District average in most grade levels, and all the PCSSD averages are below the state average (see related story at right).
Not only were the Cabot scores above the state average, but there wasn’t a big gap of scores between the schools like in some other area districts.
When the Benchmark scores were released Tuesday, Kimbrell said, “When you have the achievement gap closing while scores of each student subgroup improve, you know that the system is working together to produce the right results. You can’t ask for a much better trend than that.”
Beebe
On the math portion of the Benchmark exam, Badger and Beebe elementary school third-graders scored 84 percent proficient or advanced, one point above the state average of 83 percent.
In literacy, the state average was 71 percent and at Badger Elementary, third-graders were 66 percent proficient or better. At Beebe Elementary, 71 percent reached the goal of proficient or better.
Among fourth graders at Badger Elementary, 84 percent were proficient or better on the math portion and at Beebe Elementary, 90 percent made the grade. The state average was 80 percent.
In literacy, the Badger fourth- graders were 85 percent proficient or better and Beebe Elementary had 84 percent make the grade. The state average was 77 percent.
On the math test, fifth-graders at Beebe Middle School were 77 percent proficient or better. The state average was 74 percent.
In literacy, the fifth-graders were 83 percent proficient or better, nine points better than the state average.
Beebe Middle School sixth- graders were 82 percent proficient or better on the math portion of the Benchmark, compared to the state average of 75 percent. In literacy, the sixth-graders were 75 proficient or better. The state average was 71 percent.
Among seventh-graders, 77 percent were proficient or better on the math portion, which was two points higher than the statewide average. In literacy, 74 percent were proficient or advanced. The state average was 68 percent.
At Beebe Junior High, 66 percent of the eighth-graders were proficient or better in math and at the Badger Academy, just 17 percent made the cut. The state math average was 63 percent. In literacy, 77 percent made the cut at Beebe Junior High and 67 percent did so at Badger Academy. The state average in literacy was 76 percent.
Cabot
The district average for third- graders on the math portion of the Benchmark was 91 percent proficient of advanced, nine points above the state average. In literacy, 79 percent of the third-graders were proficient or better. Statewide, the average was 71 percent.
At Stagecoach, 95 percent of the third-graders were proficient or better in math and 84 percent did the same in literacy. Ward Central saw 86 percent of its students make the grade in math and 65 percent in literacy. At Magness Creek, 96 percent were proficient or better in math and 90 percent did the same in literacy.
Among Westside third-graders, 84 percent were proficient or better in math and 70 made the cut in literacy. Northside had 90 percent make the cut in math and 72 percent score proficient or better in literacy.
Eastside had 91 percent of its students score proficient or above in math and 82 percent did the same in literacy. At Southside, 94 percent made the cut in math and 83 percent did the same in literacy.
Central Elementary saw 90 percent of its students score proficient or higher in math and 86 percent also in literacy.
At the fourth-grade level, the district average in math was 89 percent, nine points higher than the state average, and in literacy it was 86 percent, again nine points higher than the state.
At Eastside, 86 percent of the fourth-graders scored proficient or advanced on the math portion of the benchmark and 80 percent did the same in literacy.
Among Northside students, 91 percent made the cut in math and 80 percent were proficient or better in literacy. At Magness Creek, 94 percent were proficient or above in math and 88 percent did the same in literacy. While at Central Elementary, 81 percent were proficient or better in math and 79 percent made the grade in literacy.
Among Westside fourth-graders, 85 percent were proficient or advanced in math and 86 percent did so in literacy. Ward Central had 76 percent of its students score proficient or better in math and 78 percent did the same in literacy.
Stagecoach saw 97 percent of its fourth-graders make the cut in math and 94 percent did so in literacy.
At Southside, 88 percent scored proficient or advanced in math and the same percent did so in literacy.
At the fifth-grade level, the state average was 74 percent proficient or better in math and 72 percent in literacy. Cabot averaged 84 percent in both math and literacy.
Among fifth-graders at Cabot Middle School South, 81 percent were proficient or advanced in math and 82 percent did the same in literacy. Middle School North had 85 percent of its fifth-graders make the cut in math and 86 percent scored proficient or advanced in literacy.
At the sixth-grade level, the district averaged 87 proficient or better in math, 12 points better than the state average. On the literacy portion of the test, the district average was 83 percent proficient or better, also 12 points better than the state.
At Cabot Middle School South, 85 percent of the sixth-graders scored proficient or better in math and 85 percent also did so in literacy.
Among Cabot Middle School North students, 88 percent made the cut in math and 82 percent did the same in literacy.
Among seventh-graders statewide, the average was 75 percent proficient or better in math and 68 percent did equally well in literacy. The district beat the state math average by four percentage points and the literacy average by 10 points.
Seventh-graders at Cabot Junior High South had 83 percent of its students score proficient or better in math and 76 percent do the same in literacy. At Cabot Junior High North, 78 percent made the grade in math and 79 percent were proficient or advanced in literacy. At the Academic Center for Excellence, 73 percent were proficient or better in math and 54 percent made the cut in literacy.
In eighth-grade, the district average for scoring proficient or advanced in math was 75 percent, 12 points better than the state average. In literacy, the district average was 89 percent, 14 points over the state average.
At Cabot Junior High North, 78 percent of the eighth-graders were proficient or better in math and 89 percent did the same in literacy. Among eighth-graders at Cabot Junior High South, 74 percent made the grade in math and 89 percent did so in literacy.
Lighthouse Charter
In its first year, the Jacksonville Lighthouse Charter School, which is in the Pulaski County Special School District attendance zone, did not do as well as the district average at most grade levels.
Among the school’s third-graders, 80 percent were proficient or advanced in math, compared to the PCSSD average of 81 percent. In literacy, 70 percent of the charter students were proficient or better. The district’s average was 66 percent.
In fourth-grade, 70 percent of the students were proficient or better in math. The district average was 77 percent. In literacy, 72 percent made the cut compared to 76 percent in PCSSD.
Among fifth-graders, 65 percent were proficient or advanced in math and 65 percent did the same in literacy. The district’s average was 66 percent in math and 73 percent in literacy.
On the sixth-grader math portion of the benchmark, 59 percent of the students were proficient or advanced. The district average was 63 percent. In literacy, 67 percent made the cut compared to the district average of 71 percent.
Lisa Academy North
Lisa Academy North is a charter school that occupies the old Best Buy off Hwy. 67/167 and Wildwood Avenue that is in the PCSSD attendance zone and did beat the district average at most grade levels.
Among the academy’s third- graders, 76 were proficient or advanced in math. The PCSSD average was 81 percent. In literacy, 88 percent were proficient or better, compared to a district average of 66 percent.
In fourth-grade, 92 percent of the students were proficient or better in math and 96 percent in literacy.
The averages were 77 percent in math and 76 percent in literacy.
On the math portion of the test, 80 percent of the fifth-graders made the cut, 14 points above the state average. In literacy, 80 percent were proficient or advanced. The district average was 73 percent.
Sixth-graders were 82 percent proficient or better on the math portion of the benchmark, 19 points above the district average. In literacy, 84 percent were proficient or better, compared to a district average of 71 percent.
Among seventh graders, 83 percent were proficient or better in math and 80 percent made the cut in literacy. The district average was 67 percent in math and 59 percent in literacy.
In the eighth-grade, 84 percent of the academy students scored proficient or better in math and 85 percent did as well in literacy. At the district level the averages were 49 percent in math and 67 percent in literacy.
Lonoke
Lonoke third-graders were 82 percent proficient or advanced on the math portion of the benchmark and scored 62 percent proficient or better in literacy. The state average was 83 percent in math and 71 percent in literacy.
Fourth-graders were 78 percent proficient or better on the math exam, compared to the state average of 80 percent. In literacy, 77 percent made the grade. The state average in literacy was also 77 percent.
Among fifth-graders in Lonoke, 77 percent were proficient or better in math and 84 percent did the same in literacy. The state average was 74 percent in both math and literacy.
On the math portion, sixth- graders were 79 percent proficient or advanced, four points over the state average. In literacy, 72 percent were proficient or better. The state average was 71 percent.
On the seventh-grade math portion, 75 percent of the students were proficient or better and 73 percent did the same in literacy. The state average in math was 75 percent and it was 68 percent in literacy.
Among eighth-graders, 68 percent were proficient or better in math.
The state average was 63 percent. In literacy the eighth-graders were 79 percent proficient or better. The state average was 76 percent.
TOP STORY >> List of state fair finalists growing
IN SHORT: City’s bid for the event complicated by Saline County’s push to raise $60 million to build complex.
By Nancy Dockter
Leader staff writer
A vote by the Saline County Quorum Court to hold a special election on a 1 percent sales tax to raise up to $60 million to build facilities in hopes of luring the state fair to Benton has Jacksonville Mayor Gary Fletcher perplexed, but unruffled.
In a special election Aug. 10, Saline County voters will decide on two taxes amounting to one cent on the dollar to pay for improvements and maintenance of a former airport facility now used as the county fairgrounds.
The word last winter from the governing board of the Arkansas Livestock Show Association was that the original field of 19 potential sites for a new, improved and larger state fairgrounds had been whittled down to three south of Jacksonville and the current site in Little Rock. So, a news report last week that the Benton venue, if renovated, would be considered as a site for the state fair came as a surprise to Fletcher.
“It was a little disheartening because it had been narrowed down to three sites,” Fletcher said. “We had heard that the fair would not go there, so they need to tell people that.”
The state fair association is considering either making upgrades to the current Little Rock location or moving the fair to a spot that would provide easier access and better parking as well as more space to construct facilities for events year-round.
Ralph Shoptaw, manager of the State Fair, was unavailable for comment on Tuesday to confirm a report that he said last week the Benton site as well as the 18 others are still in the running as the new state fairgrounds location.
Fletcher went on to say he doubts the Benton location could beat what the Jacksonville site has to offer.
The city of Jacksonville has offered to acquire 445 acres which are southeast of town to the north of Interstate 40, give the land to the state fair association and provide utilities at no cost. Highway access would be from Wooten Road at the Highway 161 and I-440 interchange.
There are plans to raise up to $1 million to buy the land – taking it by eminent domain if necessary. There are nine owners of the land, including individuals and real estate investors. Fletcher said that title searches and efforts to acquire the various parcels are under way.
With the site’s proximity to I-40, it “will be able to draw from the Memphis area,” Fletcher said. “The Benton site is out of the way. I don’t think it lends itself to be a big, expansive project. It is harder to get to. You’ve got to get to it on frontage roads.”
The land being offered by Jacksonville is one of three sites, along with the current fairgrounds, reportedly making up the short list chosen last winter. There are shared boundaries among the three sites, all of which are north of I-40.
One site consists of 827 acres owned by Davidson Ranch, south of the land offered by the city. It carries a $2,995 per acre price tag. The site does not meet highway access criteria, according to an analysis of all 19 sites made last winter. Existing access is along a two-lane for almost two miles from the Galloway Road/ I-40 interchange.
The third site is the southernmost of the three. It consists of 632 acres with three owners. The price is $4,512 per acre. The tract is bounded by Ink Bayou to the east and I-440 to the west. The site does not meet access requirements, requiring travel for two miles from the Galloway Road/I-40 interchange.
State fair officials say that they might pick tracts from among the three sites to put together an ideal location for the fair. Still to come in the decision-making process are two studies – an economic- impact study to evaluate the benefits to state and local economies of the fair, were it moved to a new location, as well as a feasibility study that would analyze the income potential of various facilities considered for construction at the new site. The goal is to create a venue that offers year-round income generation rather than only during the two weeks each fall when the state fair happens.
The state fair association is in the process of raising the money for the two studies, which reportedly will cost about $60,000.
Fletcher said that the city has offered to cover the costs of the two studies “if they’d go ahead and select Jacksonville,” but the association did not accept.
“All we can do is make offers,” Fletcher said. “It is not moving as fast as we’d like, but Ralph Shoptaw is in the driver’s seat. They say that they need numbers before they can move forward, and these studies will provide those numbers. It will be later on this year.”
By Nancy Dockter
Leader staff writer
A vote by the Saline County Quorum Court to hold a special election on a 1 percent sales tax to raise up to $60 million to build facilities in hopes of luring the state fair to Benton has Jacksonville Mayor Gary Fletcher perplexed, but unruffled.
In a special election Aug. 10, Saline County voters will decide on two taxes amounting to one cent on the dollar to pay for improvements and maintenance of a former airport facility now used as the county fairgrounds.
The word last winter from the governing board of the Arkansas Livestock Show Association was that the original field of 19 potential sites for a new, improved and larger state fairgrounds had been whittled down to three south of Jacksonville and the current site in Little Rock. So, a news report last week that the Benton venue, if renovated, would be considered as a site for the state fair came as a surprise to Fletcher.
“It was a little disheartening because it had been narrowed down to three sites,” Fletcher said. “We had heard that the fair would not go there, so they need to tell people that.”
The state fair association is considering either making upgrades to the current Little Rock location or moving the fair to a spot that would provide easier access and better parking as well as more space to construct facilities for events year-round.
Ralph Shoptaw, manager of the State Fair, was unavailable for comment on Tuesday to confirm a report that he said last week the Benton site as well as the 18 others are still in the running as the new state fairgrounds location.
Fletcher went on to say he doubts the Benton location could beat what the Jacksonville site has to offer.
The city of Jacksonville has offered to acquire 445 acres which are southeast of town to the north of Interstate 40, give the land to the state fair association and provide utilities at no cost. Highway access would be from Wooten Road at the Highway 161 and I-440 interchange.
There are plans to raise up to $1 million to buy the land – taking it by eminent domain if necessary. There are nine owners of the land, including individuals and real estate investors. Fletcher said that title searches and efforts to acquire the various parcels are under way.
With the site’s proximity to I-40, it “will be able to draw from the Memphis area,” Fletcher said. “The Benton site is out of the way. I don’t think it lends itself to be a big, expansive project. It is harder to get to. You’ve got to get to it on frontage roads.”
The land being offered by Jacksonville is one of three sites, along with the current fairgrounds, reportedly making up the short list chosen last winter. There are shared boundaries among the three sites, all of which are north of I-40.
One site consists of 827 acres owned by Davidson Ranch, south of the land offered by the city. It carries a $2,995 per acre price tag. The site does not meet highway access criteria, according to an analysis of all 19 sites made last winter. Existing access is along a two-lane for almost two miles from the Galloway Road/ I-40 interchange.
The third site is the southernmost of the three. It consists of 632 acres with three owners. The price is $4,512 per acre. The tract is bounded by Ink Bayou to the east and I-440 to the west. The site does not meet access requirements, requiring travel for two miles from the Galloway Road/I-40 interchange.
State fair officials say that they might pick tracts from among the three sites to put together an ideal location for the fair. Still to come in the decision-making process are two studies – an economic- impact study to evaluate the benefits to state and local economies of the fair, were it moved to a new location, as well as a feasibility study that would analyze the income potential of various facilities considered for construction at the new site. The goal is to create a venue that offers year-round income generation rather than only during the two weeks each fall when the state fair happens.
The state fair association is in the process of raising the money for the two studies, which reportedly will cost about $60,000.
Fletcher said that the city has offered to cover the costs of the two studies “if they’d go ahead and select Jacksonville,” but the association did not accept.
“All we can do is make offers,” Fletcher said. “It is not moving as fast as we’d like, but Ralph Shoptaw is in the driver’s seat. They say that they need numbers before they can move forward, and these studies will provide those numbers. It will be later on this year.”
TOP STORY >> Community named best for support
IN SHORT: Prestigious Abilene Trophy presented to air base boosters.
By John Hofheimer
Leader senior staff writer
Gov. Mike Beebe was on hand Tuesday at the Little Rock Air Force Base Community Council meeting when members of the Abilene (Texas) Chamber of Commerce presented the prestigious Abilene Trophy to Jacksonville and its neighbors for being the Air Mobility Command’s most supportive community.
The award, a sculpted eagle, was presented to Col. Greg Otey and a flock of local mayors and representatives.
Mayors or their representatives were on hand from Ward, Austin, Cabot, Jacksonville, Sherwood, North Little Rock and Maumelle.
The Abilene Trophy is presented annually to a civilian community for outstanding support to a nearby AMC base and the winner is determined by a selection group of the Abilene Chamber of Commerce Military Affairs Committee with final approval by AMC.
The governor didn’t speak and left immediately after the presentation, but he had promised to make himself available for it whenever it occurred and he made good on that promise.
Otey credited not only the long history of good works done by the local community, centered at Jacksonville, but stretching from Cabot to Maumelle, but also Cindi Maddox, who put 4.25 inches worth of documentation into the three-inch application notebook.
Otey noted that community support ran all the way back to the base’s beginning, when local leaders raised $1.2 million to buy 6,600 acres to give the Air Force create 1955.
He said that three generations of some families—he named the Wilsons and the Grays—had been supportive of the base.
In an earlier letter to community council members, Otey said that among the community contributions to the base were:
• Jacksonville’s support of the new Joint Education Center. The residents of Jacksonville taxed themselves and raised $5 million toward the new center, currently under construction outside the gate but on the base.
• The mayor of Jacksonville briefs Little Rock AFB’s New-comers Orientation each week, so every new airman knows the local mayor.
• Airpower Arkansas, a subset of the Community Council consisting of local community members, raised funds for the base’s 2010 Air show, collecting over $50,000 from local businesses and individuals.
• Community members donated over $22,000 in support of the Little Rock AFB Rodeo teams. In addition to the outstanding financial support, many attended the pre-departure breakfast and the post-RODEO celebrations and a few community members even accompanied the Little Rock AFB Rodeo teams to the competition.
• Civic leaders sponsored base events including the Air Force Ball, the Annual Awards Ceremony, and the Black Knight Heritage Dinner enabling deep discounts for Airmen ticket prices. These leaders also made time on Thanksgiving and Christmas to serve meals to Airmen at the base dining facility.
• Community members sponsor the base’s quarterly deployed families dinner, resulting in an outstanding (and free) event for spouses and children of deployed members.
• Local concert and sporting event venues showed their support by not just offering military discounts, but scheduling one or two concerts or sporting events each month that are offered to military members at drastically reduced prices (or even free).
In turn, the base generates about $500 million in goods and services from the local communities.
Kristina Jones, a representative of the Abilene Chamber of Commerce, said the judges were very impressed by the Joint Education Center, which will house six different educational facilities to offer opportunities to young men and women on the base and also in the community.
The award is a sculpture of an Eagle, with its wingtip touching the representation of a rock.
It represents partnership between the Air Force and the community, she said, with the outstretched wings of the eagle representing the Air Force and all it does to extend freedoms across the world, and the base is a rock because the community is the foundation by which the eagle much be supported to take off into the air.
Otey led attendees in singing Happy Birthday to Jacksonville resident Gen. Dub Myers, calling him a long-time friend of the base.
Formally known as the Air Mobility Command Community Support Award, the Abilene Trophy has been awarded since its establishment in 1998. The award’s sponsor is the Abilene, Texas Chamber of Commerce. Abilene is home to Dyess Air Force Base, which has an AMC contingent, the 317th Airlift Group; however, the main host, the 7th Bomb Wing, is under the Air Combat Command, and thus Dyess would not be eligible for an award sponsored by its host city.
Charleston (Charleston Air Force Base) has won the award three times and Grand Forks (Grand Forks Air Force Base), Dover, (Dover Air Force Base) Spokane (Fairchild Air Force Base) and Tampa (McDill Air Force Base) have each won twice.
By John Hofheimer
Leader senior staff writer
Gov. Mike Beebe was on hand Tuesday at the Little Rock Air Force Base Community Council meeting when members of the Abilene (Texas) Chamber of Commerce presented the prestigious Abilene Trophy to Jacksonville and its neighbors for being the Air Mobility Command’s most supportive community.
The award, a sculpted eagle, was presented to Col. Greg Otey and a flock of local mayors and representatives.
Mayors or their representatives were on hand from Ward, Austin, Cabot, Jacksonville, Sherwood, North Little Rock and Maumelle.
The Abilene Trophy is presented annually to a civilian community for outstanding support to a nearby AMC base and the winner is determined by a selection group of the Abilene Chamber of Commerce Military Affairs Committee with final approval by AMC.
The governor didn’t speak and left immediately after the presentation, but he had promised to make himself available for it whenever it occurred and he made good on that promise.
Otey credited not only the long history of good works done by the local community, centered at Jacksonville, but stretching from Cabot to Maumelle, but also Cindi Maddox, who put 4.25 inches worth of documentation into the three-inch application notebook.
Otey noted that community support ran all the way back to the base’s beginning, when local leaders raised $1.2 million to buy 6,600 acres to give the Air Force create 1955.
He said that three generations of some families—he named the Wilsons and the Grays—had been supportive of the base.
In an earlier letter to community council members, Otey said that among the community contributions to the base were:
• Jacksonville’s support of the new Joint Education Center. The residents of Jacksonville taxed themselves and raised $5 million toward the new center, currently under construction outside the gate but on the base.
• The mayor of Jacksonville briefs Little Rock AFB’s New-comers Orientation each week, so every new airman knows the local mayor.
• Airpower Arkansas, a subset of the Community Council consisting of local community members, raised funds for the base’s 2010 Air show, collecting over $50,000 from local businesses and individuals.
• Community members donated over $22,000 in support of the Little Rock AFB Rodeo teams. In addition to the outstanding financial support, many attended the pre-departure breakfast and the post-RODEO celebrations and a few community members even accompanied the Little Rock AFB Rodeo teams to the competition.
• Civic leaders sponsored base events including the Air Force Ball, the Annual Awards Ceremony, and the Black Knight Heritage Dinner enabling deep discounts for Airmen ticket prices. These leaders also made time on Thanksgiving and Christmas to serve meals to Airmen at the base dining facility.
• Community members sponsor the base’s quarterly deployed families dinner, resulting in an outstanding (and free) event for spouses and children of deployed members.
• Local concert and sporting event venues showed their support by not just offering military discounts, but scheduling one or two concerts or sporting events each month that are offered to military members at drastically reduced prices (or even free).
In turn, the base generates about $500 million in goods and services from the local communities.
Kristina Jones, a representative of the Abilene Chamber of Commerce, said the judges were very impressed by the Joint Education Center, which will house six different educational facilities to offer opportunities to young men and women on the base and also in the community.
The award is a sculpture of an Eagle, with its wingtip touching the representation of a rock.
It represents partnership between the Air Force and the community, she said, with the outstretched wings of the eagle representing the Air Force and all it does to extend freedoms across the world, and the base is a rock because the community is the foundation by which the eagle much be supported to take off into the air.
Otey led attendees in singing Happy Birthday to Jacksonville resident Gen. Dub Myers, calling him a long-time friend of the base.
Formally known as the Air Mobility Command Community Support Award, the Abilene Trophy has been awarded since its establishment in 1998. The award’s sponsor is the Abilene, Texas Chamber of Commerce. Abilene is home to Dyess Air Force Base, which has an AMC contingent, the 317th Airlift Group; however, the main host, the 7th Bomb Wing, is under the Air Combat Command, and thus Dyess would not be eligible for an award sponsored by its host city.
Charleston (Charleston Air Force Base) has won the award three times and Grand Forks (Grand Forks Air Force Base), Dover, (Dover Air Force Base) Spokane (Fairchild Air Force Base) and Tampa (McDill Air Force Base) have each won twice.
Monday, June 14, 2010
SPORTS >> Gwatney cashes in on walks, miscues
IN SHORT: Jacksonville takes junior American Legion victory
as Sylvan Hills pitchers falter.
By Jason King
Leader sportswriter
It wasn’t the two second-inning hits by Jacksonville Gwatney Chevrolet that did the damage in a 15-5, junior American Legion victory Tuesday.
It was the seven walks given up by three Sylvan Hills pitchers and three untimely passed balls, led to eight runs Jacksonville runs on the way to a rout of Sylvan Hills at Kevin McReynolds Field.
D’Vone McClure hit a three-run home run in the top of the third inning, and Jacksonville scored four runs against the depleted Sylvan Hills staff in the top of the fifth to win by the run rule.
Bruins starter J.D. Miller looked strong in the first inning, but Trey Sims relieved him two batters into the second after Miller gave up back-to-back walks. Sims also struggled, giving up a single to Zach Traylor and three more walks before leaving the mound for Forrest Harrison.
Harrison issued a fourth-straight walk before finally getting McClure to pop up to center. Gwatney had already scored four runs at that point — two on passed balls, one on Traylor’s RBI grounder to right field and another on a bases-loaded walk
Jesse Harbin stretched Gwatney’s lead with a two-RBI single to left field that scored Brandon Whitmore and Troy Allen to give Jacksonville a 6-1 lead. Harbin added the final run of the inning when he scored on a fielder’s choice at first.
Harrison walked Brandon Russell to lead off the top of the third and hit Allen before McClure cleared the left field wall with his home run to make it 9-3.
Sylvan Hills took advantage of some erratic pitching and defense early when Sims was hit by a pitch to lead off the first and later scored on a passed ball. Aaron Sarna walked to open the second and advanced around the bases and scored on three straight passed balls by Gwatney.
Dalton Freeling had a similar trip when he was hit by a pitch and rounded the bases on passed balls to cut Jacksonville’s lead to 8-3.
McClure got the runs back for Gwatney with his homer in the third, and Jacksonville renewed its assault in the top of the fifth beginning with a walk to Troy Allen.
Kenny Cummings singled to advance Troy Allen and Austin Allen drove him in with a single to left. Chris McClendon walked and Cummings and Austin Allen scored on an error at third on Alex Tucker’s grounder.
McClendon added Jacksonville’s final run on a passed ball.
Sylvan Hills needed a 12-run miracle to tie in the bottom of the fifth as the game neared its two-hour time limit, but got only two. Greg Atchinson was hit by a pitch and later scored on an error at second, while Robert Brock reached on an error at first and scored on another error at first to set the final margin.
Tucker got the victory for Jacksonville after he relieved McClure in the bottom of the second with Sylvan Hills holding a 1-0 lead.
McClure hit four batters through 1 2/3 innings, but Tucker allowed only two hits the rest of the way.
Jacksonville had four errors, three in the bottom of the fifth.
Sylvan Hills pitchers walked 12 and gave up six hits. Though the Bruins had only one error, they had six passed balls.
as Sylvan Hills pitchers falter.
By Jason King
Leader sportswriter
It wasn’t the two second-inning hits by Jacksonville Gwatney Chevrolet that did the damage in a 15-5, junior American Legion victory Tuesday.
It was the seven walks given up by three Sylvan Hills pitchers and three untimely passed balls, led to eight runs Jacksonville runs on the way to a rout of Sylvan Hills at Kevin McReynolds Field.
D’Vone McClure hit a three-run home run in the top of the third inning, and Jacksonville scored four runs against the depleted Sylvan Hills staff in the top of the fifth to win by the run rule.
Bruins starter J.D. Miller looked strong in the first inning, but Trey Sims relieved him two batters into the second after Miller gave up back-to-back walks. Sims also struggled, giving up a single to Zach Traylor and three more walks before leaving the mound for Forrest Harrison.
Harrison issued a fourth-straight walk before finally getting McClure to pop up to center. Gwatney had already scored four runs at that point — two on passed balls, one on Traylor’s RBI grounder to right field and another on a bases-loaded walk
Jesse Harbin stretched Gwatney’s lead with a two-RBI single to left field that scored Brandon Whitmore and Troy Allen to give Jacksonville a 6-1 lead. Harbin added the final run of the inning when he scored on a fielder’s choice at first.
Harrison walked Brandon Russell to lead off the top of the third and hit Allen before McClure cleared the left field wall with his home run to make it 9-3.
Sylvan Hills took advantage of some erratic pitching and defense early when Sims was hit by a pitch to lead off the first and later scored on a passed ball. Aaron Sarna walked to open the second and advanced around the bases and scored on three straight passed balls by Gwatney.
Dalton Freeling had a similar trip when he was hit by a pitch and rounded the bases on passed balls to cut Jacksonville’s lead to 8-3.
McClure got the runs back for Gwatney with his homer in the third, and Jacksonville renewed its assault in the top of the fifth beginning with a walk to Troy Allen.
Kenny Cummings singled to advance Troy Allen and Austin Allen drove him in with a single to left. Chris McClendon walked and Cummings and Austin Allen scored on an error at third on Alex Tucker’s grounder.
McClendon added Jacksonville’s final run on a passed ball.
Sylvan Hills needed a 12-run miracle to tie in the bottom of the fifth as the game neared its two-hour time limit, but got only two. Greg Atchinson was hit by a pitch and later scored on an error at second, while Robert Brock reached on an error at first and scored on another error at first to set the final margin.
Tucker got the victory for Jacksonville after he relieved McClure in the bottom of the second with Sylvan Hills holding a 1-0 lead.
McClure hit four batters through 1 2/3 innings, but Tucker allowed only two hits the rest of the way.
Jacksonville had four errors, three in the bottom of the fifth.
Sylvan Hills pitchers walked 12 and gave up six hits. Though the Bruins had only one error, they had six passed balls.
SPORTS >> After one season, Beebe basketball coach moves on
IN SHORT: Parker lands with Midsouth Community College as Badgers begin search for replacement, hope to find continuity.
By Todd Traub
Leader sports editor
Beebe boys basketball coach Chris Parker has resigned after one season to take a job at Midsouth Community College in West Memphis.
The Badgers were 4-25 under Parker in his lone season after replacing Brian Martin, who left the previous year to coach his alma mater Greenwood.
“You take a chance but you try to plan around that,” said Beebe athletic director Jerry Jordan of the departures.
Jordan said the school would try to find Parker’s replacement as quickly as possible.
“Ideally it would be to fill it in the next couple of weeks, but we don’t know if that’s going to be realistic,” Jordan said.
Jordan said Beebe was advertising the vacancy in newspapers, online and through the Arkansas Activities Association.
“We’re in the process of bringing some candidates together to interview,” Jordan siad.
With Parker leaving after one year and his predecessor Martin leaving after two, Beebe, which last won a state boys basketball championship in 1941, is looking for someone wanting to make a long-term commitment as coach, Jordan said.
“I think what we have to have is someone who may want to settle in our community,” Jordan said. “It had been an issue to be honest. We’ve had some good coaches here. One was here two years but he left to go back to his hometown, you can’t blame a person for that.
“Coach Parker came to us and had a chance to go back to the college ranks, his first love.”
Jordan said it is hard to build a winning program without consistency at the top.
“Yes, it’s definitely been a disadvantage to our kids,” Jordan said. “One of the things we’re really hoping we can do is find someone who can add some stability to our program.”
But the ideal candidate also needs to be a quality coach and not just a Beebe homebody, Jordan said. The Badgers, who had no seniors last season and return four this year, will compete in the 5A-East Conference with Batesville, Blytheville, Forrest City, Greene Co. Tech, Nettleton, Paragould and Wynne.
“We want to try to find somebody that has some good experience because we’re in a tough league,” Jordan said. “Blytheville, Greene Co. Tech and Wynne, they’re state
contenders every year and we’ve got to have somebody that knows what they’re doing.”
Jordan said the rest of the basketball staff would handle duties like camps and sanctioned workouts until Parker’s replacement is found.
By Todd Traub
Leader sports editor
Beebe boys basketball coach Chris Parker has resigned after one season to take a job at Midsouth Community College in West Memphis.
The Badgers were 4-25 under Parker in his lone season after replacing Brian Martin, who left the previous year to coach his alma mater Greenwood.
“You take a chance but you try to plan around that,” said Beebe athletic director Jerry Jordan of the departures.
Jordan said the school would try to find Parker’s replacement as quickly as possible.
“Ideally it would be to fill it in the next couple of weeks, but we don’t know if that’s going to be realistic,” Jordan said.
Jordan said Beebe was advertising the vacancy in newspapers, online and through the Arkansas Activities Association.
“We’re in the process of bringing some candidates together to interview,” Jordan siad.
With Parker leaving after one year and his predecessor Martin leaving after two, Beebe, which last won a state boys basketball championship in 1941, is looking for someone wanting to make a long-term commitment as coach, Jordan said.
“I think what we have to have is someone who may want to settle in our community,” Jordan said. “It had been an issue to be honest. We’ve had some good coaches here. One was here two years but he left to go back to his hometown, you can’t blame a person for that.
“Coach Parker came to us and had a chance to go back to the college ranks, his first love.”
Jordan said it is hard to build a winning program without consistency at the top.
“Yes, it’s definitely been a disadvantage to our kids,” Jordan said. “One of the things we’re really hoping we can do is find someone who can add some stability to our program.”
But the ideal candidate also needs to be a quality coach and not just a Beebe homebody, Jordan said. The Badgers, who had no seniors last season and return four this year, will compete in the 5A-East Conference with Batesville, Blytheville, Forrest City, Greene Co. Tech, Nettleton, Paragould and Wynne.
“We want to try to find somebody that has some good experience because we’re in a tough league,” Jordan said. “Blytheville, Greene Co. Tech and Wynne, they’re state
contenders every year and we’ve got to have somebody that knows what they’re doing.”
Jordan said the rest of the basketball staff would handle duties like camps and sanctioned workouts until Parker’s replacement is found.
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