All’s almost well that ends almost well, as Shakespeare might have said about the rhubarb over state politicians’ personal use of government vehicles.
Attorney General Dustin McDaniel and state Treasurer Martha Shoffner made fools of themselves and no doubt will suffer some political consequences, but in the end they did what was right and apologized with unusual contrition. Even state Land Commissioner Mark Wilcox, whose chutzpah started the mess, seemed to be determined to finally do what was right.
It was an amazing spectacle — some of the state’s deftest politicians shooting themselves in both feet and uttering inanities that shocked their fondest supporters. In the end, it curbed a small abuse of the taxpayers.
For many years, the seven state constitutional officers — all except the current governor, Mike Beebe — have been provided a new car by the state for their personal use. It was one of the perks of offices that paid ridiculously small salaries — $10,000 for the governor, $6,000 for the attorney general, $2,500 for the lieutenant governor and $5,000 for the other four elected officials.
Those salaries were lifted in 1975, although they have remained among the lowest in the country and far below the salaries of their top aides, cabinet members and hundreds of other state employees. The free use of state cars continued.
An Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reporter back in May surveyed the seven officials on what they did with their state vehicles: how often they used them for personal travel, how they treated them for tax purposes, etc. Wilcox, who occupies the least of the offices, had not one but two state vehicles. One was kept at his farm for exclusively personal use. He refused to talk to the reporter about it and later fired the employee who supplied the information to the reporter.
One of the officials, Lt. Gov. Bill Halter, said he treated the state car and its expenses as income and paid federal and state taxes on it, as he believed federal and state law required.
That infuriated McDaniel, a political rival, who seemed to think that Halter had made him look bad by obeying the law. He denounced Halter for paying income taxes on the state’s gift and said it meant that Halter was violating the state ceiling on the lieutenant governor’s income.
The reaction was quick and merciless. McDaniel apologized for his silliness, begged Halter’s forgiveness and turned in the keys to his state car.
Shoffner was outraged at Gov. Beebe’s response. He had claimed the state car as income when he was attorney general and did not drive a state car as governor.
Like all previous governors for more than half a century, he is driven to work and to functions by a State Police security detail.
Shoffner, who seemed to think Beebe’s propriety made her look bad, ridiculed his use of “manservants” and said she was going to keep her state car and seemed to dare the IRS to audit her and make her pay.
All these people are Democrats.
By the weekend, Shoffner was apologizing to Beebe and the State Police. She and the other constitutional officers were either turning in their state cars, amending their tax returns to pay taxes on the benefits, reimbursing the state for their personal travel in government vehicles or all three.
The taxpayer benefits from this imbroglio may increase. Eugene Sayre, the illegal-exaction gadfly who has sued the state and local governments often and successfully for skirting tax laws, filed a lawsuit seeking to stop all state government officials and employees from using state vehicles for personal pursuits without reimbursing the state for the fuel and maintenance.
He contends that the free personal use of state property is an illegal exaction under the Constitution. He clearly is right. No one knows the extent of the abuse — some college presidents and other privileged officials have long enjoyed the use of state-supplied cars, a perk that is common in the corporate world — but it is apt to be considerable change.
It won’t be enough to salvage the state budget in hard times, but we will know that our government is a little leaner and cleaner.
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
TOP STORY > >Wood runs on record
NANCY DOCKTER REPORTS ON PCSSD RACE
Charlie Wood, who is running for re-election as Zone 4 representative to the Board of Education for the Pulaski County Special School District, says he and fellow board members have a lot to be proud of. His goals for a second term would build on those accomplishments, he says.
“My number one goal is to continue to build on the progress we have made, the steps we have taken with the union,” Wood said in an interview this week.
Wood led the effort to marshal a majority board vote to end recognition of the Pulaski Association of Classroom Teachers as the collective bargaining agent for district teachers. He is convinced the district will be better run once a personnel policies committee is up and running as the body representing teachers in policy making.
“How in the world are the other 300 or so districts in the state getting along without (the union) and people are thinking those districts are working better,” Wood said. “This is not a radical step, just common sense.”
Wood’s 2006 campaign brochure states: “These violations of stated policy border on the arrogance of a monarchy that is not to be questioned. In addition, there have also been blatant violations of contractual issues and agreements with teachers. Last year, the P.A.C.T. warned the District several times about obvious violations; but the District continued to turn a deaf ear. The outcome in court was so certain that we wonder at the District’s stubbornness?”
His critics say that he is guilty of the same behavior he campaigned against in 2006.
Wood, whose candidacy then had PACT’s endorsement, says he is not against a union’s right to organize, but does oppose a union – or management – when one side has too much power or demands too much. He says that in this case, it is PACT that is too demanding.
“I am not necessarily against the union, but the union has asked for more than most professionals in Arkansas,” Wood said.
“PACT is always trying to get more and I can’t see them ever making a substantial retreat from what they have been given in the past.”
Wood is particularly upset with the contract provision that allows teachers to carry over personal leave and vacation time from one year to the next.
One hundred and five teachers last year missed at least 30 days,” Wood said. “I don’t think that is acceptable, except in some horrible catastrophe, to miss that many days. When approached by their principals, the teachers said that contract allows it, and that is why I want the contract changed.”
Wood, an electrical engineer who has worked for Entergy for more than 30 years, says he can’t carry over his vacation time.
“I don’t see why teachers should be treated any differently and carry over their leave time forever,” he said.
Wood has been aggressive in his efforts to end union representation of district teachers.
His motion to do so at a special meeting of the school board on Dec. 8 successfully garnered the four votes needed, but Pulaski County Circuit Court Judge Tim Fox ruled in April that the vote was null and void because the district failed to follow state law in the process to establish a PPC. Wood initiated an effort to replace current personnel policies with new ones that would give principals more control of teacher responsibilities and their evaluations.
A second vote by the board to decertify was again thrown out last week because of failure to follow state statute. Teachers have the right by law to review all proposed personnel policies before they go into effect – something yet to happen with the new policies.
“I was disappointed,” Wood said of Fox’s ruling. “I thought we had a good case. I would hate to say that Judge Fox is running for office and doesn’t want to make people mad … I don’t know, but I feel that he did not consider all the deliberate hardships and purposeful hindrances by PACT in putting the PPC in place,” Wood said.
Wood went on to say that he had received reports of harassment of the teachers who organized the election for representatives to the PPC.
“Teachers who did that were subject to all kinds of e-mails, phone calls, ugly text messages; they were near tears,” he said.
Wood said one thing he feels particularly good about is the light that has been shined on district finances with a state audit and efforts to improve financial oversight.
“It was first my idea – I said that we needed to get the state to audit us, and to (Tim Clark’s) credit, he followed up on it when he became board president,” Wood said. “The audit uncovered a lot of bad things, but that is better than being blissfully ignorant.”
Wood says other things he hopes to pursue in a second term include renewing an emphasis on vocational training as an option for students who are not college bound, as well as more online college and advanced placement courses to attract high-achieving students back to the district. A physical-fitness advocate and longtime coach, Wood would also like to see more physical education in the school day.
Wood is proud of the board’s unanimous decision to hire Charles Hopson as superintendent.
“I think he will prove to be very capable and will do good things for the district,” Wood said.
Charlie Wood, who is running for re-election as Zone 4 representative to the Board of Education for the Pulaski County Special School District, says he and fellow board members have a lot to be proud of. His goals for a second term would build on those accomplishments, he says.
“My number one goal is to continue to build on the progress we have made, the steps we have taken with the union,” Wood said in an interview this week.
Wood led the effort to marshal a majority board vote to end recognition of the Pulaski Association of Classroom Teachers as the collective bargaining agent for district teachers. He is convinced the district will be better run once a personnel policies committee is up and running as the body representing teachers in policy making.
“How in the world are the other 300 or so districts in the state getting along without (the union) and people are thinking those districts are working better,” Wood said. “This is not a radical step, just common sense.”
Wood’s 2006 campaign brochure states: “These violations of stated policy border on the arrogance of a monarchy that is not to be questioned. In addition, there have also been blatant violations of contractual issues and agreements with teachers. Last year, the P.A.C.T. warned the District several times about obvious violations; but the District continued to turn a deaf ear. The outcome in court was so certain that we wonder at the District’s stubbornness?”
His critics say that he is guilty of the same behavior he campaigned against in 2006.
Wood, whose candidacy then had PACT’s endorsement, says he is not against a union’s right to organize, but does oppose a union – or management – when one side has too much power or demands too much. He says that in this case, it is PACT that is too demanding.
“I am not necessarily against the union, but the union has asked for more than most professionals in Arkansas,” Wood said.
“PACT is always trying to get more and I can’t see them ever making a substantial retreat from what they have been given in the past.”
Wood is particularly upset with the contract provision that allows teachers to carry over personal leave and vacation time from one year to the next.
One hundred and five teachers last year missed at least 30 days,” Wood said. “I don’t think that is acceptable, except in some horrible catastrophe, to miss that many days. When approached by their principals, the teachers said that contract allows it, and that is why I want the contract changed.”
Wood, an electrical engineer who has worked for Entergy for more than 30 years, says he can’t carry over his vacation time.
“I don’t see why teachers should be treated any differently and carry over their leave time forever,” he said.
Wood has been aggressive in his efforts to end union representation of district teachers.
His motion to do so at a special meeting of the school board on Dec. 8 successfully garnered the four votes needed, but Pulaski County Circuit Court Judge Tim Fox ruled in April that the vote was null and void because the district failed to follow state law in the process to establish a PPC. Wood initiated an effort to replace current personnel policies with new ones that would give principals more control of teacher responsibilities and their evaluations.
A second vote by the board to decertify was again thrown out last week because of failure to follow state statute. Teachers have the right by law to review all proposed personnel policies before they go into effect – something yet to happen with the new policies.
“I was disappointed,” Wood said of Fox’s ruling. “I thought we had a good case. I would hate to say that Judge Fox is running for office and doesn’t want to make people mad … I don’t know, but I feel that he did not consider all the deliberate hardships and purposeful hindrances by PACT in putting the PPC in place,” Wood said.
Wood went on to say that he had received reports of harassment of the teachers who organized the election for representatives to the PPC.
“Teachers who did that were subject to all kinds of e-mails, phone calls, ugly text messages; they were near tears,” he said.
Wood said one thing he feels particularly good about is the light that has been shined on district finances with a state audit and efforts to improve financial oversight.
“It was first my idea – I said that we needed to get the state to audit us, and to (Tim Clark’s) credit, he followed up on it when he became board president,” Wood said. “The audit uncovered a lot of bad things, but that is better than being blissfully ignorant.”
Wood says other things he hopes to pursue in a second term include renewing an emphasis on vocational training as an option for students who are not college bound, as well as more online college and advanced placement courses to attract high-achieving students back to the district. A physical-fitness advocate and longtime coach, Wood would also like to see more physical education in the school day.
Wood is proud of the board’s unanimous decision to hire Charles Hopson as superintendent.
“I think he will prove to be very capable and will do good things for the district,” Wood said.
TOP STORY > >Wood runs on record
NANCY DOCKTER REPORTS ON PCSSD RACE
Charlie Wood, who is running for re-election as Zone 4 representative to the Board of Education for the Pulaski County Special School District, says he and fellow board members have a lot to be proud of. His goals for a second term would build on those accomplishments, he says.
“My number one goal is to continue to build on the progress we have made, the steps we have taken with the union,” Wood said in an interview this week.
Wood led the effort to marshal a majority board vote to end recognition of the Pulaski Association of Classroom Teachers as the collective bargaining agent for district teachers. He is convinced the district will be better run once a personnel policies committee is up and running as the body representing teachers in policy making.
“How in the world are the other 300 or so districts in the state getting along without (the union) and people are thinking those districts are working better,” Wood said. “This is not a radical step, just common sense.”
Wood’s 2006 campaign brochure states: “These violations of stated policy border on the arrogance of a monarchy that is not to be questioned. In addition, there have also been blatant violations of contractual issues and agreements with teachers. Last year, the P.A.C.T. warned the District several times about obvious violations; but the District continued to turn a deaf ear. The outcome in court was so certain that we wonder at the District’s stubbornness?”
His critics say that he is guilty of the same behavior he campaigned against in 2006.
Wood, whose candidacy then had PACT’s endorsement, says he is not against a union’s right to organize, but does oppose a union – or management – when one side has too much power or demands too much. He says that in this case, it is PACT that is too demanding.
“I am not necessarily against the union, but the union has asked for more than most professionals in Arkansas,” Wood said.
“PACT is always trying to get more and I can’t see them ever making a substantial retreat from what they have been given in the past.”
Wood is particularly upset with the contract provision that allows teachers to carry over personal leave and vacation time from one year to the next.
One hundred and five teachers last year missed at least 30 days,” Wood said. “I don’t think that is acceptable, except in some horrible catastrophe, to miss that many days. When approached by their principals, the teachers said that contract allows it, and that is why I want the contract changed.”
Wood, an electrical engineer who has worked for Entergy for more than 30 years, says he can’t carry over his vacation time.
“I don’t see why teachers should be treated any differently and carry over their leave time forever,” he said.
Wood has been aggressive in his efforts to end union representation of district teachers.
His motion to do so at a special meeting of the school board on Dec. 8 successfully garnered the four votes needed, but Pulaski County Circuit Court Judge Tim Fox ruled in April that the vote was null and void because the district failed to follow state law in the process to establish a PPC. Wood initiated an effort to replace current personnel policies with new ones that would give principals more control of teacher responsibilities and their evaluations.
A second vote by the board to decertify was again thrown out last week because of failure to follow state statute. Teachers have the right by law to review all proposed personnel policies before they go into effect – something yet to happen with the new policies.
“I was disappointed,” Wood said of Fox’s ruling. “I thought we had a good case. I would hate to say that Judge Fox is running for office and doesn’t want to make people mad … I don’t know, but I feel that he did not consider all the deliberate hardships and purposeful hindrances by PACT in putting the PPC in place,” Wood said.
Wood went on to say that he had received reports of harassment of the teachers who organized the election for representatives to the PPC.
“Teachers who did that were subject to all kinds of e-mails, phone calls, ugly text messages; they were near tears,” he said.
Wood said one thing he feels particularly good about is the light that has been shined on district finances with a state audit and efforts to improve financial oversight.
“It was first my idea – I said that we needed to get the state to audit us, and to (Tim Clark’s) credit, he followed up on it when he became board president,” Wood said. “The audit uncovered a lot of bad things, but that is better than being blissfully ignorant.”
Wood says other things he hopes to pursue in a second term include renewing an emphasis on vocational training as an option for students who are not college bound, as well as more online college and advanced placement courses to attract high-achieving students back to the district. A physical-fitness advocate and longtime coach, Wood would also like to see more physical education in the school day.
Wood is proud of the board’s unanimous decision to hire Charles Hopson as superintendent.
“I think he will prove to be very capable and will do good things for the district,” Wood said.
Charlie Wood, who is running for re-election as Zone 4 representative to the Board of Education for the Pulaski County Special School District, says he and fellow board members have a lot to be proud of. His goals for a second term would build on those accomplishments, he says.
“My number one goal is to continue to build on the progress we have made, the steps we have taken with the union,” Wood said in an interview this week.
Wood led the effort to marshal a majority board vote to end recognition of the Pulaski Association of Classroom Teachers as the collective bargaining agent for district teachers. He is convinced the district will be better run once a personnel policies committee is up and running as the body representing teachers in policy making.
“How in the world are the other 300 or so districts in the state getting along without (the union) and people are thinking those districts are working better,” Wood said. “This is not a radical step, just common sense.”
Wood’s 2006 campaign brochure states: “These violations of stated policy border on the arrogance of a monarchy that is not to be questioned. In addition, there have also been blatant violations of contractual issues and agreements with teachers. Last year, the P.A.C.T. warned the District several times about obvious violations; but the District continued to turn a deaf ear. The outcome in court was so certain that we wonder at the District’s stubbornness?”
His critics say that he is guilty of the same behavior he campaigned against in 2006.
Wood, whose candidacy then had PACT’s endorsement, says he is not against a union’s right to organize, but does oppose a union – or management – when one side has too much power or demands too much. He says that in this case, it is PACT that is too demanding.
“I am not necessarily against the union, but the union has asked for more than most professionals in Arkansas,” Wood said.
“PACT is always trying to get more and I can’t see them ever making a substantial retreat from what they have been given in the past.”
Wood is particularly upset with the contract provision that allows teachers to carry over personal leave and vacation time from one year to the next.
One hundred and five teachers last year missed at least 30 days,” Wood said. “I don’t think that is acceptable, except in some horrible catastrophe, to miss that many days. When approached by their principals, the teachers said that contract allows it, and that is why I want the contract changed.”
Wood, an electrical engineer who has worked for Entergy for more than 30 years, says he can’t carry over his vacation time.
“I don’t see why teachers should be treated any differently and carry over their leave time forever,” he said.
Wood has been aggressive in his efforts to end union representation of district teachers.
His motion to do so at a special meeting of the school board on Dec. 8 successfully garnered the four votes needed, but Pulaski County Circuit Court Judge Tim Fox ruled in April that the vote was null and void because the district failed to follow state law in the process to establish a PPC. Wood initiated an effort to replace current personnel policies with new ones that would give principals more control of teacher responsibilities and their evaluations.
A second vote by the board to decertify was again thrown out last week because of failure to follow state statute. Teachers have the right by law to review all proposed personnel policies before they go into effect – something yet to happen with the new policies.
“I was disappointed,” Wood said of Fox’s ruling. “I thought we had a good case. I would hate to say that Judge Fox is running for office and doesn’t want to make people mad … I don’t know, but I feel that he did not consider all the deliberate hardships and purposeful hindrances by PACT in putting the PPC in place,” Wood said.
Wood went on to say that he had received reports of harassment of the teachers who organized the election for representatives to the PPC.
“Teachers who did that were subject to all kinds of e-mails, phone calls, ugly text messages; they were near tears,” he said.
Wood said one thing he feels particularly good about is the light that has been shined on district finances with a state audit and efforts to improve financial oversight.
“It was first my idea – I said that we needed to get the state to audit us, and to (Tim Clark’s) credit, he followed up on it when he became board president,” Wood said. “The audit uncovered a lot of bad things, but that is better than being blissfully ignorant.”
Wood says other things he hopes to pursue in a second term include renewing an emphasis on vocational training as an option for students who are not college bound, as well as more online college and advanced placement courses to attract high-achieving students back to the district. A physical-fitness advocate and longtime coach, Wood would also like to see more physical education in the school day.
Wood is proud of the board’s unanimous decision to hire Charles Hopson as superintendent.
“I think he will prove to be very capable and will do good things for the district,” Wood said.
TOP STORY > >Challenger ‘unhappy’
NANCY DOCKTER REPORTS ON PCSSD RACE
A retired teacher is challenging Charlie Wood for his seat on the Board of Education for the Pulaski County Special School District.
Gloria Lawrence, who retired in June after almost 29 years as a teacher and filed Monday as a candidate, says that she decided to seek the Zone 4 position because of concerns about the financial condition of the district and the board’s continued efforts to sever ties with the Pulaski Association of Classroom Teachers as the collective bargaining agent for the district’s teachers.
Lawrence retired this year after 23 years at Sylvan Hills Middle School, where she was a gifted and talented teacher and also instructed in geography, Arkansas history and world history. She holds a bachelor’s and master’s degree in education from Arkansas State University.
A Sherwood resident for 25 years, Lawrence is married to Jim Lawrence, a retired U.S. Army colonel. They have three grown children and six grandchildren, three of whom attend public schools in Sylvan Hills.
Lawrence, a longtime PACT member (her membership automatically ended when she retired), says that a year ago she had been considering retirement for family reasons, then the board vote Dec. 8 to decertify the union convinced her it was time.
As the board tried to move forward to establish a personnel-policies committee to replace the union as bargaining agent, she made up her mind to run.
“Of course, I am upset by all that has gone on, but it is also a way to serve the kids,” Lawrence said. “I look at things from a student’s perspective since I am fresh out of the classroom and the teacher’s point of view too. I have a lot of experience that I can bring to the table.”
Lawrence says she is troubled by the discord she has observed on the board and says it is time for a change. One of her top priorities, if elected, would be fostering and maintaining a positive relationship among all district stakeholders.
“There are a lot of hurt feelings, and we need some new faces to start working together,” Lawrence said. “I would like for us to come together as a team. You have to be able to agree to disagree and work together for what the board decides.”
As for healing the deep rift between PACT and the board, Lawrence said, “It is going to take both sides. Both have made mistakes.”
Lawrence said that she has heard complaints from parents that certain board members “have been talked down to and not listened to.”
“Some have contacted Tim Clark, others Charlie Wood – it’s not any one person,” Lawrence said. “I would serve the parents of Sherwood and be willing to listen.”
Lawrence questions some of the spending decisions made by the current board — $81 million for a new high school in Maumelle and paying Rob McGill $87,000 when his term ended as acting superintendent, as well as some hiring decisions by the district – for school-attendance secretaries, an interim liaison at Jacksonville High School and a New York lawyer to help fight PACT in court.
Besides the $440 per hour paid lawyer Lyle Zuckerman, what about his expenses – travel and lodging – when he comes here, Lawrence wonders. She expects the state Board of Education to place PCSSD back on the “fiscally distressed list.”
“I am really worried about all the money that is being spent,” Lawrence said, adding that the last few months of this past school year, markers, copy paper and other basic classroom supplies were totally depleted. She wants to see more schools equipped with computers. Her classroom at Sylvan Hills Middle School had no computers except for the six-year-old one on her desk.
“And we had one projector – that was all the technology I had in my room,” Lawrence said. “The math and literacy labs were busy all of the time. I was able to get into the math lab only once the entire year.”
Lawrence said at one point she sold ads in the yearbook to get the money to buy computers, but “after I got out of that, I had no means for getting computers.”
Lawrence says she supports the decision to build a new Sylvan Hills Middle School because the existing school is in such poor shape. As for the board’s budgeting of $81 million to construct a new high school in Maumelle, that does strike Lawrence as “reckless spending.”
“Maybe I don’t have enough information, but it seems to me that we could have three nice schools for $81 million,” Lawrence said.
“I am a taxpayer and have a dog in this fight too,” said Lawrence, whose three grandchildren attend PCSSD schools in Sherwood.
Other priorities for Lawrence are improving test scores, increasing district enrollment, more transparency in decision making, better facilities, safer schools and fewer discipline problems and an enhanced public image for the district. Lawrence says her phone has been “ringing off the wall” with calls offering support for her campaign. She is eager to get out and start knocking on doors.
“I have taught here so long and been here so long, I hope that my name carries a long ways,” Lawrence said.
First thing Tuesday morning, she got a phone call from a man saying he is upset about the school district.
It was her father, pulling a stunt, saying that she had better get ready for people calling her every 30 minutes.
Lawrence says she is temperamentally suited to handling hot-button situations.
“I am really easygoing and don’t get mad very easily,” Lawrence said. “I stay really calm, even in a bad situation. I don’t yell, holler and scream, even in the classroom. I learned a long time ago so that what people say just rolls off my back.”
A retired teacher is challenging Charlie Wood for his seat on the Board of Education for the Pulaski County Special School District.
Gloria Lawrence, who retired in June after almost 29 years as a teacher and filed Monday as a candidate, says that she decided to seek the Zone 4 position because of concerns about the financial condition of the district and the board’s continued efforts to sever ties with the Pulaski Association of Classroom Teachers as the collective bargaining agent for the district’s teachers.
Lawrence retired this year after 23 years at Sylvan Hills Middle School, where she was a gifted and talented teacher and also instructed in geography, Arkansas history and world history. She holds a bachelor’s and master’s degree in education from Arkansas State University.
A Sherwood resident for 25 years, Lawrence is married to Jim Lawrence, a retired U.S. Army colonel. They have three grown children and six grandchildren, three of whom attend public schools in Sylvan Hills.
Lawrence, a longtime PACT member (her membership automatically ended when she retired), says that a year ago she had been considering retirement for family reasons, then the board vote Dec. 8 to decertify the union convinced her it was time.
As the board tried to move forward to establish a personnel-policies committee to replace the union as bargaining agent, she made up her mind to run.
“Of course, I am upset by all that has gone on, but it is also a way to serve the kids,” Lawrence said. “I look at things from a student’s perspective since I am fresh out of the classroom and the teacher’s point of view too. I have a lot of experience that I can bring to the table.”
Lawrence says she is troubled by the discord she has observed on the board and says it is time for a change. One of her top priorities, if elected, would be fostering and maintaining a positive relationship among all district stakeholders.
“There are a lot of hurt feelings, and we need some new faces to start working together,” Lawrence said. “I would like for us to come together as a team. You have to be able to agree to disagree and work together for what the board decides.”
As for healing the deep rift between PACT and the board, Lawrence said, “It is going to take both sides. Both have made mistakes.”
Lawrence said that she has heard complaints from parents that certain board members “have been talked down to and not listened to.”
“Some have contacted Tim Clark, others Charlie Wood – it’s not any one person,” Lawrence said. “I would serve the parents of Sherwood and be willing to listen.”
Lawrence questions some of the spending decisions made by the current board — $81 million for a new high school in Maumelle and paying Rob McGill $87,000 when his term ended as acting superintendent, as well as some hiring decisions by the district – for school-attendance secretaries, an interim liaison at Jacksonville High School and a New York lawyer to help fight PACT in court.
Besides the $440 per hour paid lawyer Lyle Zuckerman, what about his expenses – travel and lodging – when he comes here, Lawrence wonders. She expects the state Board of Education to place PCSSD back on the “fiscally distressed list.”
“I am really worried about all the money that is being spent,” Lawrence said, adding that the last few months of this past school year, markers, copy paper and other basic classroom supplies were totally depleted. She wants to see more schools equipped with computers. Her classroom at Sylvan Hills Middle School had no computers except for the six-year-old one on her desk.
“And we had one projector – that was all the technology I had in my room,” Lawrence said. “The math and literacy labs were busy all of the time. I was able to get into the math lab only once the entire year.”
Lawrence said at one point she sold ads in the yearbook to get the money to buy computers, but “after I got out of that, I had no means for getting computers.”
Lawrence says she supports the decision to build a new Sylvan Hills Middle School because the existing school is in such poor shape. As for the board’s budgeting of $81 million to construct a new high school in Maumelle, that does strike Lawrence as “reckless spending.”
“Maybe I don’t have enough information, but it seems to me that we could have three nice schools for $81 million,” Lawrence said.
“I am a taxpayer and have a dog in this fight too,” said Lawrence, whose three grandchildren attend PCSSD schools in Sherwood.
Other priorities for Lawrence are improving test scores, increasing district enrollment, more transparency in decision making, better facilities, safer schools and fewer discipline problems and an enhanced public image for the district. Lawrence says her phone has been “ringing off the wall” with calls offering support for her campaign. She is eager to get out and start knocking on doors.
“I have taught here so long and been here so long, I hope that my name carries a long ways,” Lawrence said.
First thing Tuesday morning, she got a phone call from a man saying he is upset about the school district.
It was her father, pulling a stunt, saying that she had better get ready for people calling her every 30 minutes.
Lawrence says she is temperamentally suited to handling hot-button situations.
“I am really easygoing and don’t get mad very easily,” Lawrence said. “I stay really calm, even in a bad situation. I don’t yell, holler and scream, even in the classroom. I learned a long time ago so that what people say just rolls off my back.”
TOP STORY > >Missing mascot helps fight cancer
By JEFFREY SMITH
Leader staff writer
“Lucky,” a beloved pig statue at the Bar-B-Que Shack in Jacksonville, was taken away recently and is being held for ransom — donations — to raise money for breast-cancer research and awareness.
Gary and Pat Green, owners of the Bar-B-Que Shack, were told by the captors if they want to see Lucky again, they would have to come up with at least $5,000 in ransom money. The pig has been missing since June.
Pat Green said she is partial to Lucky. The last time she saw Lucky was on June 24 inside the restaurant.
“Lucky has been with us since 1997,” Green said.
“He was given to me as a gift from Georgia (Lewis), my sister,” she said.
In the past, the Greens have taken Lucky to Jacksonville’s Christmas parades and to the Jacksonville Business Expo. But his permanent residence is at the Bar-B-Que Shack. Green said he’s dressed up during Christmas in a Santa suit but he is usually spotted in his country cowboy outfit.
Lucky has been seen and photographed at several area businesses this month.
“We hope for a safe return for Lucky. He is a sentimental heirloom,” Green said.
If the Greens can come up with the ransom money, Lucky will be returned unharmed. The “pigknappers” agreed to donate the money collected to the Triple Negative Breast Cancer Foundation in Lewis’ name.
Lewis, 40, who lives in North Pulaski County is battling a breast cancer type known as triple negative. She said it is an aggressive cancer, named just a few years ago. It lacks the common cellular characteristics that fuel other forms of breast cancer, therefore it is a challenge for physicians to treat the cancer. It requires a combination of chemotherapy and radiation treatments.
Lewis said the cancer is found in young women. It is known to spead to the lungs, brain, bones, ovaries and GI track.
Tomorrow, Lewis will have her fourth chemotherapy treatment of five.
“I receive a three-week regimen of chemotherapy. It takes me down for two weeks, and for one week, I get to be me,” she said.
Lewis had a blood transfusion last week and said she felt fantastic.
“I have renewed faith in humanity. When I had chemo, I had 75 get-well or thinking-of- you cards. They allow me to remember that I’m not in this alone,” she said.
She discovered the tumor while she was getting ready for work and felt a lump on her left breast. Three weeks later, on Feb. 12, she was diagnosed with cancer. She had a lumpectomy in March.
She said after getting a call from her surgical oncologist, “All I could think of…life as I know it… would never be the same.”
Lewis said, “Today, I thank God every day, because I stopped doing things I did and refocused. I’m a better person because of it.”
After her final chemotherapy treatment in August, she will have six weeks of radiation.
“It’s been a long road. How-ever, you have to appreciate the journey. There is a spiritual growth, a time of reflection that brings you back to your core values,” Lewis said.
Lewis was manager of the Bar-B-Que Shack from 1998 to 2002 at its former West Main Street location. She went back to school and earned a bachelor’s degree in cytotechnology from UAMS in 2006.
She is a cell specialist. Lewis worked in marketing for home- infusion therapy service.
Patrick Thomas, owner of Arkansas Outdoor Power Equip-ment, is celebrating 10 years in business. He wanted a way to give back to the community to celebrate. Thomas said he was thinking about helping a charitable cause and was considering Arkansas Children’s Hospital.
While speaking with the Greens about ideas on a fundraiser, he learned about Lewis and her battle with breast cancer. From there the campaign to find Lucky was born.
So far $500 in ransom donation money has been collected.
If $20,000 is collected, Thomas will shave his head when Lucky is returned to the Bar-B-Que Shack.
An update on where Lucky has been recently spotted can be seen on the website www.arkansas-ope.com/HELP_FIND_LUCKY.html.
Cash contributions toward Lucky’s release from his captors can be made at these Jacksonville locations:
The Bar-B-Que Shack, 1000 S. Hwy 161; Kwik Kopy, 17 Crestview Plaza; Tax Shelter, 1310 John Harden Drive; Arkansas Outdoor Power Equipment, 617 S. First St. and Centennial Bank, 10 Crestview Drive.
Leader staff writer
“Lucky,” a beloved pig statue at the Bar-B-Que Shack in Jacksonville, was taken away recently and is being held for ransom — donations — to raise money for breast-cancer research and awareness.
Gary and Pat Green, owners of the Bar-B-Que Shack, were told by the captors if they want to see Lucky again, they would have to come up with at least $5,000 in ransom money. The pig has been missing since June.
Pat Green said she is partial to Lucky. The last time she saw Lucky was on June 24 inside the restaurant.
“Lucky has been with us since 1997,” Green said.
“He was given to me as a gift from Georgia (Lewis), my sister,” she said.
In the past, the Greens have taken Lucky to Jacksonville’s Christmas parades and to the Jacksonville Business Expo. But his permanent residence is at the Bar-B-Que Shack. Green said he’s dressed up during Christmas in a Santa suit but he is usually spotted in his country cowboy outfit.
Lucky has been seen and photographed at several area businesses this month.
“We hope for a safe return for Lucky. He is a sentimental heirloom,” Green said.
If the Greens can come up with the ransom money, Lucky will be returned unharmed. The “pigknappers” agreed to donate the money collected to the Triple Negative Breast Cancer Foundation in Lewis’ name.
Lewis, 40, who lives in North Pulaski County is battling a breast cancer type known as triple negative. She said it is an aggressive cancer, named just a few years ago. It lacks the common cellular characteristics that fuel other forms of breast cancer, therefore it is a challenge for physicians to treat the cancer. It requires a combination of chemotherapy and radiation treatments.
Lewis said the cancer is found in young women. It is known to spead to the lungs, brain, bones, ovaries and GI track.
Tomorrow, Lewis will have her fourth chemotherapy treatment of five.
“I receive a three-week regimen of chemotherapy. It takes me down for two weeks, and for one week, I get to be me,” she said.
Lewis had a blood transfusion last week and said she felt fantastic.
“I have renewed faith in humanity. When I had chemo, I had 75 get-well or thinking-of- you cards. They allow me to remember that I’m not in this alone,” she said.
She discovered the tumor while she was getting ready for work and felt a lump on her left breast. Three weeks later, on Feb. 12, she was diagnosed with cancer. She had a lumpectomy in March.
She said after getting a call from her surgical oncologist, “All I could think of…life as I know it… would never be the same.”
Lewis said, “Today, I thank God every day, because I stopped doing things I did and refocused. I’m a better person because of it.”
After her final chemotherapy treatment in August, she will have six weeks of radiation.
“It’s been a long road. How-ever, you have to appreciate the journey. There is a spiritual growth, a time of reflection that brings you back to your core values,” Lewis said.
Lewis was manager of the Bar-B-Que Shack from 1998 to 2002 at its former West Main Street location. She went back to school and earned a bachelor’s degree in cytotechnology from UAMS in 2006.
She is a cell specialist. Lewis worked in marketing for home- infusion therapy service.
Patrick Thomas, owner of Arkansas Outdoor Power Equip-ment, is celebrating 10 years in business. He wanted a way to give back to the community to celebrate. Thomas said he was thinking about helping a charitable cause and was considering Arkansas Children’s Hospital.
While speaking with the Greens about ideas on a fundraiser, he learned about Lewis and her battle with breast cancer. From there the campaign to find Lucky was born.
So far $500 in ransom donation money has been collected.
If $20,000 is collected, Thomas will shave his head when Lucky is returned to the Bar-B-Que Shack.
An update on where Lucky has been recently spotted can be seen on the website www.arkansas-ope.com/HELP_FIND_LUCKY.html.
Cash contributions toward Lucky’s release from his captors can be made at these Jacksonville locations:
The Bar-B-Que Shack, 1000 S. Hwy 161; Kwik Kopy, 17 Crestview Plaza; Tax Shelter, 1310 John Harden Drive; Arkansas Outdoor Power Equipment, 617 S. First St. and Centennial Bank, 10 Crestview Drive.
TOP STORY > >Missing mascot helps fight cancer
By JEFFREY SMITH
Leader staff writer
“Lucky,” a beloved pig statue at the Bar-B-Que Shack in Jacksonville, was taken away recently and is being held for ransom — donations — to raise money for breast-cancer research and awareness.
Gary and Pat Green, owners of the Bar-B-Que Shack, were told by the captors if they want to see Lucky again, they would have to come up with at least $5,000 in ransom money. The pig has been missing since June.
Pat Green said she is partial to Lucky. The last time she saw Lucky was on June 24 inside the restaurant.
“Lucky has been with us since 1997,” Green said.
“He was given to me as a gift from Georgia (Lewis), my sister,” she said.
In the past, the Greens have taken Lucky to Jacksonville’s Christmas parades and to the Jacksonville Business Expo. But his permanent residence is at the Bar-B-Que Shack. Green said he’s dressed up during Christmas in a Santa suit but he is usually spotted in his country cowboy outfit.
Lucky has been seen and photographed at several area businesses this month.
“We hope for a safe return for Lucky. He is a sentimental heirloom,” Green said.
If the Greens can come up with the ransom money, Lucky will be returned unharmed. The “pigknappers” agreed to donate the money collected to the Triple Negative Breast Cancer Foundation in Lewis’ name.
Lewis, 40, who lives in North Pulaski County is battling a breast cancer type known as triple negative. She said it is an aggressive cancer, named just a few years ago. It lacks the common cellular characteristics that fuel other forms of breast cancer, therefore it is a challenge for physicians to treat the cancer. It requires a combination of chemotherapy and radiation treatments.
Lewis said the cancer is found in young women. It is known to spead to the lungs, brain, bones, ovaries and GI track.
Tomorrow, Lewis will have her fourth chemotherapy treatment of five.
“I receive a three-week regimen of chemotherapy. It takes me down for two weeks, and for one week, I get to be me,” she said.
Lewis had a blood transfusion last week and said she felt fantastic.
“I have renewed faith in humanity. When I had chemo, I had 75 get-well or thinking-of- you cards. They allow me to remember that I’m not in this alone,” she said.
She discovered the tumor while she was getting ready for work and felt a lump on her left breast. Three weeks later, on Feb. 12, she was diagnosed with cancer. She had a lumpectomy in March.
She said after getting a call from her surgical oncologist, “All I could think of…life as I know it… would never be the same.”
Lewis said, “Today, I thank God every day, because I stopped doing things I did and refocused. I’m a better person because of it.”
After her final chemotherapy treatment in August, she will have six weeks of radiation.
“It’s been a long road. How-ever, you have to appreciate the journey. There is a spiritual growth, a time of reflection that brings you back to your core values,” Lewis said.
Lewis was manager of the Bar-B-Que Shack from 1998 to 2002 at its former West Main Street location. She went back to school and earned a bachelor’s degree in cytotechnology from UAMS in 2006.
She is a cell specialist. Lewis worked in marketing for home- infusion therapy service.
Patrick Thomas, owner of Arkansas Outdoor Power Equip-ment, is celebrating 10 years in business. He wanted a way to give back to the community to celebrate. Thomas said he was thinking about helping a charitable cause and was considering Arkansas Children’s Hospital.
While speaking with the Greens about ideas on a fundraiser, he learned about Lewis and her battle with breast cancer. From there the campaign to find Lucky was born.
So far $500 in ransom donation money has been collected.
If $20,000 is collected, Thomas will shave his head when Lucky is returned to the Bar-B-Que Shack.
An update on where Lucky has been recently spotted can be seen on the website www.arkansas-ope.com/HELP_FIND_LUCKY.html.
Cash contributions toward Lucky’s release from his captors can be made at these Jacksonville locations:
The Bar-B-Que Shack, 1000 S. Hwy 161; Kwik Kopy, 17 Crestview Plaza; Tax Shelter, 1310 John Harden Drive; Arkansas Outdoor Power Equipment, 617 S. First St. and Centennial Bank, 10 Crestview Drive.
Leader staff writer
“Lucky,” a beloved pig statue at the Bar-B-Que Shack in Jacksonville, was taken away recently and is being held for ransom — donations — to raise money for breast-cancer research and awareness.
Gary and Pat Green, owners of the Bar-B-Que Shack, were told by the captors if they want to see Lucky again, they would have to come up with at least $5,000 in ransom money. The pig has been missing since June.
Pat Green said she is partial to Lucky. The last time she saw Lucky was on June 24 inside the restaurant.
“Lucky has been with us since 1997,” Green said.
“He was given to me as a gift from Georgia (Lewis), my sister,” she said.
In the past, the Greens have taken Lucky to Jacksonville’s Christmas parades and to the Jacksonville Business Expo. But his permanent residence is at the Bar-B-Que Shack. Green said he’s dressed up during Christmas in a Santa suit but he is usually spotted in his country cowboy outfit.
Lucky has been seen and photographed at several area businesses this month.
“We hope for a safe return for Lucky. He is a sentimental heirloom,” Green said.
If the Greens can come up with the ransom money, Lucky will be returned unharmed. The “pigknappers” agreed to donate the money collected to the Triple Negative Breast Cancer Foundation in Lewis’ name.
Lewis, 40, who lives in North Pulaski County is battling a breast cancer type known as triple negative. She said it is an aggressive cancer, named just a few years ago. It lacks the common cellular characteristics that fuel other forms of breast cancer, therefore it is a challenge for physicians to treat the cancer. It requires a combination of chemotherapy and radiation treatments.
Lewis said the cancer is found in young women. It is known to spead to the lungs, brain, bones, ovaries and GI track.
Tomorrow, Lewis will have her fourth chemotherapy treatment of five.
“I receive a three-week regimen of chemotherapy. It takes me down for two weeks, and for one week, I get to be me,” she said.
Lewis had a blood transfusion last week and said she felt fantastic.
“I have renewed faith in humanity. When I had chemo, I had 75 get-well or thinking-of- you cards. They allow me to remember that I’m not in this alone,” she said.
She discovered the tumor while she was getting ready for work and felt a lump on her left breast. Three weeks later, on Feb. 12, she was diagnosed with cancer. She had a lumpectomy in March.
She said after getting a call from her surgical oncologist, “All I could think of…life as I know it… would never be the same.”
Lewis said, “Today, I thank God every day, because I stopped doing things I did and refocused. I’m a better person because of it.”
After her final chemotherapy treatment in August, she will have six weeks of radiation.
“It’s been a long road. How-ever, you have to appreciate the journey. There is a spiritual growth, a time of reflection that brings you back to your core values,” Lewis said.
Lewis was manager of the Bar-B-Que Shack from 1998 to 2002 at its former West Main Street location. She went back to school and earned a bachelor’s degree in cytotechnology from UAMS in 2006.
She is a cell specialist. Lewis worked in marketing for home- infusion therapy service.
Patrick Thomas, owner of Arkansas Outdoor Power Equip-ment, is celebrating 10 years in business. He wanted a way to give back to the community to celebrate. Thomas said he was thinking about helping a charitable cause and was considering Arkansas Children’s Hospital.
While speaking with the Greens about ideas on a fundraiser, he learned about Lewis and her battle with breast cancer. From there the campaign to find Lucky was born.
So far $500 in ransom donation money has been collected.
If $20,000 is collected, Thomas will shave his head when Lucky is returned to the Bar-B-Que Shack.
An update on where Lucky has been recently spotted can be seen on the website www.arkansas-ope.com/HELP_FIND_LUCKY.html.
Cash contributions toward Lucky’s release from his captors can be made at these Jacksonville locations:
The Bar-B-Que Shack, 1000 S. Hwy 161; Kwik Kopy, 17 Crestview Plaza; Tax Shelter, 1310 John Harden Drive; Arkansas Outdoor Power Equipment, 617 S. First St. and Centennial Bank, 10 Crestview Drive.
TOP STORY > >Auditor in Cabot hired by council
By JOAN McCOY
Leader staff writer
The Cabot City Council on Monday night waived advertising for requests for qualifications from certified public accountants and voted to hire Cal Aldridge to go over city books to get ready for the turnover that is coming in less than six months at city hall.
At the beginning of 2011, both the mayor and city clerk-treasurer will be new.
Although the council agenda called for discussion of a resolution asking for qualifications to hire a CPA, Aldridge was already on the job, and a resolution waiving the requirement had also been prepared for the meeting.
Mayor Eddie Joe Williams has been paying Aldridge with the salary that had gone to Karen Davis, the city’s director of operations. Davis resigned at the end of June for a position with the school district and her old job is being filled by an employee who was already working for the city.
The city needs someone to go over city books, correct problems and be available for the transition coming in January, the mayor said. He called the prospect of having new people in both offices “scary.”
“He’s more than qualified,” Williams said of Aldridge. “We’ve used him more than once in Parks and rec and A&P (the advertising and promotion commission) has used him too.”
Alderman Ed Long agreed.
“I think it’s a fantastic idea. I think it’s what the city needs,” Long said.
Alderman Eddie Cook, a candidate for mayor, has been supportive of Aldridge going over city books since he started a few weeks ago. Cook, who also serves on A&P, said Aldridge was “more than professional.”
In addition to Cook, former Mayor Stubby Stumbaugh and Bill Cypert, secretary and spokesman for the Cabot Water and Wastewater Commission, also are running for mayor.
So far, Norma Naquin, who runs the office at Cabot Public Works, has formally announced for clerk-treasurer. And Tammy Yocom, deputy city treasurer and office manager for the clerk-treasurer office, has said she will announce soon.
The resolution on the agenda said the city needed “an audit of the city clerk’s financial records.”
Clerk Marva-Verkler, speaking away from the microphone and in low tones, told the mayor that the resolution took her by surprise and that if her books need to be audited, the books at other departments such as fire and police also should be.
“It’s not just the city clerk’s books that need auditing,” she told Williams.
Williams assured her it wasn’t what it sounded like.
“He’s not performing a full-blown audit. We’re hiring him to make the transition,” the mayor said.
The books have always had glitches that have caused problems, he said, and Aldridge has already found and fixed a couple of them.
Besides, the mayor said, if Aldridge was allowed to conduct a full audit, the city would not be eligible for the free audit provided by the state.
Alderman Patrick Hutton was the only council member who voiced any concern over hiring Aldridge. Hutton wanted to know how much Aldridge would be paid and whether the amount would be more than the mayor’s $20,000 limit.
Williams responded that Aldridge is paid by the hour and that he wouldn’t allow the amount to exceed his spending limit.
In other business, the council passed a new sign ordinance and an ordinance banning hunting on city property. The ordinances become city law in 30 days.
The biggest change in the city sign law is with banners. Under the provisions of the new sign ordinance no business will be allowed more than one banner at a time.
The ordinance also bans some common signs like those on wire stakes that are stuck into the ground. It also bans handmade signs or banners attached to shrubbery, light poles and the like and signs attached to or painted on vehicles that are parked in the same spot for more than 48 hours.
Tattered banners were a leading contributor to the city aldermen deciding to overhaul the sign ordinance. Alderman Rick Prentice, chairman of the council subcommittee that worked on the new ordinance, said during a subcommittee meeting that all it took was a tour of the city to realize that something needed to be done.
Police Chief Jackie Davis asked in March for the ordinance banning hunting on city property. He told the council’s fire and police committee at that time that the new ordinance is needed because the city has no law against shooting bows and arrows and the 200-acre city park where the BMX track is located is full of deer and turkey. Hunting in the park is common but it hasn’t been a big problem, he said. However, the walking trails are now open and hunters could place walkers at risk.
Last year the committee considered an ordinance to ban shooting bows and arrows but didn’t pass it.
The new ordinance doesn’t include private property, so bow-hunting is still legal in Cabot except on city property. The fine for bowhunting on city property is $250.
Leader staff writer
The Cabot City Council on Monday night waived advertising for requests for qualifications from certified public accountants and voted to hire Cal Aldridge to go over city books to get ready for the turnover that is coming in less than six months at city hall.
At the beginning of 2011, both the mayor and city clerk-treasurer will be new.
Although the council agenda called for discussion of a resolution asking for qualifications to hire a CPA, Aldridge was already on the job, and a resolution waiving the requirement had also been prepared for the meeting.
Mayor Eddie Joe Williams has been paying Aldridge with the salary that had gone to Karen Davis, the city’s director of operations. Davis resigned at the end of June for a position with the school district and her old job is being filled by an employee who was already working for the city.
The city needs someone to go over city books, correct problems and be available for the transition coming in January, the mayor said. He called the prospect of having new people in both offices “scary.”
“He’s more than qualified,” Williams said of Aldridge. “We’ve used him more than once in Parks and rec and A&P (the advertising and promotion commission) has used him too.”
Alderman Ed Long agreed.
“I think it’s a fantastic idea. I think it’s what the city needs,” Long said.
Alderman Eddie Cook, a candidate for mayor, has been supportive of Aldridge going over city books since he started a few weeks ago. Cook, who also serves on A&P, said Aldridge was “more than professional.”
In addition to Cook, former Mayor Stubby Stumbaugh and Bill Cypert, secretary and spokesman for the Cabot Water and Wastewater Commission, also are running for mayor.
So far, Norma Naquin, who runs the office at Cabot Public Works, has formally announced for clerk-treasurer. And Tammy Yocom, deputy city treasurer and office manager for the clerk-treasurer office, has said she will announce soon.
The resolution on the agenda said the city needed “an audit of the city clerk’s financial records.”
Clerk Marva-Verkler, speaking away from the microphone and in low tones, told the mayor that the resolution took her by surprise and that if her books need to be audited, the books at other departments such as fire and police also should be.
“It’s not just the city clerk’s books that need auditing,” she told Williams.
Williams assured her it wasn’t what it sounded like.
“He’s not performing a full-blown audit. We’re hiring him to make the transition,” the mayor said.
The books have always had glitches that have caused problems, he said, and Aldridge has already found and fixed a couple of them.
Besides, the mayor said, if Aldridge was allowed to conduct a full audit, the city would not be eligible for the free audit provided by the state.
Alderman Patrick Hutton was the only council member who voiced any concern over hiring Aldridge. Hutton wanted to know how much Aldridge would be paid and whether the amount would be more than the mayor’s $20,000 limit.
Williams responded that Aldridge is paid by the hour and that he wouldn’t allow the amount to exceed his spending limit.
In other business, the council passed a new sign ordinance and an ordinance banning hunting on city property. The ordinances become city law in 30 days.
The biggest change in the city sign law is with banners. Under the provisions of the new sign ordinance no business will be allowed more than one banner at a time.
The ordinance also bans some common signs like those on wire stakes that are stuck into the ground. It also bans handmade signs or banners attached to shrubbery, light poles and the like and signs attached to or painted on vehicles that are parked in the same spot for more than 48 hours.
Tattered banners were a leading contributor to the city aldermen deciding to overhaul the sign ordinance. Alderman Rick Prentice, chairman of the council subcommittee that worked on the new ordinance, said during a subcommittee meeting that all it took was a tour of the city to realize that something needed to be done.
Police Chief Jackie Davis asked in March for the ordinance banning hunting on city property. He told the council’s fire and police committee at that time that the new ordinance is needed because the city has no law against shooting bows and arrows and the 200-acre city park where the BMX track is located is full of deer and turkey. Hunting in the park is common but it hasn’t been a big problem, he said. However, the walking trails are now open and hunters could place walkers at risk.
Last year the committee considered an ordinance to ban shooting bows and arrows but didn’t pass it.
The new ordinance doesn’t include private property, so bow-hunting is still legal in Cabot except on city property. The fine for bowhunting on city property is $250.
SPORTS>>Time short for Falcons to interview head coach
By TODD TRAUB
Leader sports editor
North Pulaski has decided to use a conventional, but accelerated, process to fill its vacant head football-coaching job.
The school will advertise the position and has opened it to applicants while hoping to have a decision made early next week.
“They are applying this week and there will be interviews on Friday and then hopefully by next week we’ll know something,” athletic director Tony Bohannon said Thursday morning.
The North Pulaski job was left open when Rick Russell departed after one season to take over as football coach at crosstown rival Jacksonville. Russell was on the Jacksonville staff for 14 years and left there last year for North Pulaski.
At Jacksonville, Russell is replacing Mark Whatley, who coached five years and is joining the Springdale High School staff as offensive coordinator.
With just over a week before practice begins, the Falcons were under pressure to name a coach quickly.
There was the option of promoting an assistant on an interim basis or taking some other stopgap measure, but Bohannon, who stepped aside as head coach to make way for Russell last year, said the North Pulaski administration decided to conduct a search for a long-term coach now.
“There’s several options you could look at but that’s what the administration decided to do,” Bohannon said.
The Falcons, who play in the 5A-Southeast Conference, were 1-9 under Russell last year with their victory coming in a conference game against Little Rock McClellan, which has since moved up a classification.
North Pulaski has won four games the past six years.
Leader sports editor
North Pulaski has decided to use a conventional, but accelerated, process to fill its vacant head football-coaching job.
The school will advertise the position and has opened it to applicants while hoping to have a decision made early next week.
“They are applying this week and there will be interviews on Friday and then hopefully by next week we’ll know something,” athletic director Tony Bohannon said Thursday morning.
The North Pulaski job was left open when Rick Russell departed after one season to take over as football coach at crosstown rival Jacksonville. Russell was on the Jacksonville staff for 14 years and left there last year for North Pulaski.
At Jacksonville, Russell is replacing Mark Whatley, who coached five years and is joining the Springdale High School staff as offensive coordinator.
With just over a week before practice begins, the Falcons were under pressure to name a coach quickly.
There was the option of promoting an assistant on an interim basis or taking some other stopgap measure, but Bohannon, who stepped aside as head coach to make way for Russell last year, said the North Pulaski administration decided to conduct a search for a long-term coach now.
“There’s several options you could look at but that’s what the administration decided to do,” Bohannon said.
The Falcons, who play in the 5A-Southeast Conference, were 1-9 under Russell last year with their victory coming in a conference game against Little Rock McClellan, which has since moved up a classification.
North Pulaski has won four games the past six years.
SPORTS>>Promoter hopes for sunny skies
By JASON KING
Leader sportswriter
Those who knew Scrapp Fox recall him as a guy with a sunny personality.
But there has been nothing sunny about the memorial race that bears the former local driver’s name.
The annual crown-jewel event for open-wheel modifieds at Beebe Speedway began in 2003 and has been rained out at least once every year since.
The 2004 race was rained out three times and the field for the 2005 race was lining up for the feature when flash flooding hit southwestern White County.
And little has changed since new promoter Harold Mahoney took over the track in late 2008. Last year’s eventwas originally scheduled for the middle of June, but was pushed back to July 3 because of rain.
“I think we’ve postponed it two or three times the last couple of years,” Mahoney said. “We’ve moved it back a little bit this year.
We usually see rain when we run this deal. It can rain Monday or Tuesday, but I don’t want to see any on Friday.”
Vilonia driver Curtis Cook won last year’s race after leading flag-to-flag in front of Dale Proctor and Jack Sullivan. Cook and four-time defending track champion Randy Weaver are the two previous winners of the event and are expected to be on hand Friday.
Andy Brown, winner of the inaugural event in 2003 and in 2005, has not competed at Beebe in over three years, while 2006 SFM champ Jared Landers now drives a late model in the North Carolina area for Sprint-Cup star Clint Bowyer.
Walt Butler and Peyton Taylor, Scrapp Fox champions in 2004 and 2007 respectively, have made sporadic appearances in recent months.
A handful of non-regular drivers showed up last week to shake down their machines for the Scrapp Fox Memorial, including Ben Waggoner, Tony Anglin, Brandon Hunter, Jacob Cooper, Sam Osman, Phillip James and Micah Gavin.
This is the third year for the race as a one-day event. From 2003-2007, it was a two-day event held with heats on Thursday and the feature on Friday.
The 2006 race also had a preliminary feature on Thursday night that set the first half of the A-main lineup.
This year’s race will have heats and inverted heats, which will be scored by passing points just as they have in the past. The purse is $2,000 to the winner and $300 to start.
Should the weather cooperate, the next obstacle is the summer heat. High temperatures cause the track to slick over at a faster pace, but Mahoney has gone with a different approach to track preparation in recent weeks and has been pleased with the results.
“I try to make it as smooth as I can,” Mahoney said. “But the biggest thing is trying to get as much water in it as I can. With the temperatures we’re having right now, it’s pretty hard to keep it from drying up. We do our best, but Mother Nature has a say in that.”
As a local promoter, Mahoney is a bit uncomfortable taking on the time-honored tradition of picking the winning driver for a crown-jewel event. He eventually chose Weaver when backed into a corner, but was also quick to point out Cook could be considered a favorite if the track becomes dry-slick.
Mahoney added that veteran driver Mike Bowers of North Little Rock is capable of winning regardless of track conditions.
Mahoney correctly predicted Cook to win last year’s race.
The statistics this season support Mahoney’s choice of Weaver, who leads with seven victories compared to three for Cook and two for Bowers.
“Weaver can run that top, Cook is good when it gets black, and Bowers, he’s tough no matter what the track does,” Mahoney said. “But the way it’s been going, I say it’s possible that Weaver could win if the track has that outside line he likes. If the track has an outside, he can give anyone a run for their money.”
Leader sportswriter
Those who knew Scrapp Fox recall him as a guy with a sunny personality.
But there has been nothing sunny about the memorial race that bears the former local driver’s name.
The annual crown-jewel event for open-wheel modifieds at Beebe Speedway began in 2003 and has been rained out at least once every year since.
The 2004 race was rained out three times and the field for the 2005 race was lining up for the feature when flash flooding hit southwestern White County.
And little has changed since new promoter Harold Mahoney took over the track in late 2008. Last year’s eventwas originally scheduled for the middle of June, but was pushed back to July 3 because of rain.
“I think we’ve postponed it two or three times the last couple of years,” Mahoney said. “We’ve moved it back a little bit this year.
We usually see rain when we run this deal. It can rain Monday or Tuesday, but I don’t want to see any on Friday.”
Vilonia driver Curtis Cook won last year’s race after leading flag-to-flag in front of Dale Proctor and Jack Sullivan. Cook and four-time defending track champion Randy Weaver are the two previous winners of the event and are expected to be on hand Friday.
Andy Brown, winner of the inaugural event in 2003 and in 2005, has not competed at Beebe in over three years, while 2006 SFM champ Jared Landers now drives a late model in the North Carolina area for Sprint-Cup star Clint Bowyer.
Walt Butler and Peyton Taylor, Scrapp Fox champions in 2004 and 2007 respectively, have made sporadic appearances in recent months.
A handful of non-regular drivers showed up last week to shake down their machines for the Scrapp Fox Memorial, including Ben Waggoner, Tony Anglin, Brandon Hunter, Jacob Cooper, Sam Osman, Phillip James and Micah Gavin.
This is the third year for the race as a one-day event. From 2003-2007, it was a two-day event held with heats on Thursday and the feature on Friday.
The 2006 race also had a preliminary feature on Thursday night that set the first half of the A-main lineup.
This year’s race will have heats and inverted heats, which will be scored by passing points just as they have in the past. The purse is $2,000 to the winner and $300 to start.
Should the weather cooperate, the next obstacle is the summer heat. High temperatures cause the track to slick over at a faster pace, but Mahoney has gone with a different approach to track preparation in recent weeks and has been pleased with the results.
“I try to make it as smooth as I can,” Mahoney said. “But the biggest thing is trying to get as much water in it as I can. With the temperatures we’re having right now, it’s pretty hard to keep it from drying up. We do our best, but Mother Nature has a say in that.”
As a local promoter, Mahoney is a bit uncomfortable taking on the time-honored tradition of picking the winning driver for a crown-jewel event. He eventually chose Weaver when backed into a corner, but was also quick to point out Cook could be considered a favorite if the track becomes dry-slick.
Mahoney added that veteran driver Mike Bowers of North Little Rock is capable of winning regardless of track conditions.
Mahoney correctly predicted Cook to win last year’s race.
The statistics this season support Mahoney’s choice of Weaver, who leads with seven victories compared to three for Cook and two for Bowers.
“Weaver can run that top, Cook is good when it gets black, and Bowers, he’s tough no matter what the track does,” Mahoney said. “But the way it’s been going, I say it’s possible that Weaver could win if the track has that outside line he likes. If the track has an outside, he can give anyone a run for their money.”
SPORTS>>Promoter hopes for sunny skies
By JASON KING
Leader sportswriter
Those who knew Scrapp Fox recall him as a guy with a sunny personality.
But there has been nothing sunny about the memorial race that bears the former local driver’s name.
The annual crown-jewel event for open-wheel modifieds at Beebe Speedway began in 2003 and has been rained out at least once every year since.
The 2004 race was rained out three times and the field for the 2005 race was lining up for the feature when flash flooding hit southwestern White County.
And little has changed since new promoter Harold Mahoney took over the track in late 2008. Last year’s eventwas originally scheduled for the middle of June, but was pushed back to July 3 because of rain.
“I think we’ve postponed it two or three times the last couple of years,” Mahoney said. “We’ve moved it back a little bit this year.
We usually see rain when we run this deal. It can rain Monday or Tuesday, but I don’t want to see any on Friday.”
Vilonia driver Curtis Cook won last year’s race after leading flag-to-flag in front of Dale Proctor and Jack Sullivan. Cook and four-time defending track champion Randy Weaver are the two previous winners of the event and are expected to be on hand Friday.
Andy Brown, winner of the inaugural event in 2003 and in 2005, has not competed at Beebe in over three years, while 2006 SFM champ Jared Landers now drives a late model in the North Carolina area for Sprint-Cup star Clint Bowyer.
Walt Butler and Peyton Taylor, Scrapp Fox champions in 2004 and 2007 respectively, have made sporadic appearances in recent months.
A handful of non-regular drivers showed up last week to shake down their machines for the Scrapp Fox Memorial, including Ben Waggoner, Tony Anglin, Brandon Hunter, Jacob Cooper, Sam Osman, Phillip James and Micah Gavin.
This is the third year for the race as a one-day event. From 2003-2007, it was a two-day event held with heats on Thursday and the feature on Friday.
The 2006 race also had a preliminary feature on Thursday night that set the first half of the A-main lineup.
This year’s race will have heats and inverted heats, which will be scored by passing points just as they have in the past. The purse is $2,000 to the winner and $300 to start.
Should the weather cooperate, the next obstacle is the summer heat. High temperatures cause the track to slick over at a faster pace, but Mahoney has gone with a different approach to track preparation in recent weeks and has been pleased with the results.
“I try to make it as smooth as I can,” Mahoney said. “But the biggest thing is trying to get as much water in it as I can. With the temperatures we’re having right now, it’s pretty hard to keep it from drying up. We do our best, but Mother Nature has a say in that.”
As a local promoter, Mahoney is a bit uncomfortable taking on the time-honored tradition of picking the winning driver for a crown-jewel event. He eventually chose Weaver when backed into a corner, but was also quick to point out Cook could be considered a favorite if the track becomes dry-slick.
Mahoney added that veteran driver Mike Bowers of North Little Rock is capable of winning regardless of track conditions.
Mahoney correctly predicted Cook to win last year’s race.
The statistics this season support Mahoney’s choice of Weaver, who leads with seven victories compared to three for Cook and two for Bowers.
“Weaver can run that top, Cook is good when it gets black, and Bowers, he’s tough no matter what the track does,” Mahoney said. “But the way it’s been going, I say it’s possible that Weaver could win if the track has that outside line he likes. If the track has an outside, he can give anyone a run for their money.”
Leader sportswriter
Those who knew Scrapp Fox recall him as a guy with a sunny personality.
But there has been nothing sunny about the memorial race that bears the former local driver’s name.
The annual crown-jewel event for open-wheel modifieds at Beebe Speedway began in 2003 and has been rained out at least once every year since.
The 2004 race was rained out three times and the field for the 2005 race was lining up for the feature when flash flooding hit southwestern White County.
And little has changed since new promoter Harold Mahoney took over the track in late 2008. Last year’s eventwas originally scheduled for the middle of June, but was pushed back to July 3 because of rain.
“I think we’ve postponed it two or three times the last couple of years,” Mahoney said. “We’ve moved it back a little bit this year.
We usually see rain when we run this deal. It can rain Monday or Tuesday, but I don’t want to see any on Friday.”
Vilonia driver Curtis Cook won last year’s race after leading flag-to-flag in front of Dale Proctor and Jack Sullivan. Cook and four-time defending track champion Randy Weaver are the two previous winners of the event and are expected to be on hand Friday.
Andy Brown, winner of the inaugural event in 2003 and in 2005, has not competed at Beebe in over three years, while 2006 SFM champ Jared Landers now drives a late model in the North Carolina area for Sprint-Cup star Clint Bowyer.
Walt Butler and Peyton Taylor, Scrapp Fox champions in 2004 and 2007 respectively, have made sporadic appearances in recent months.
A handful of non-regular drivers showed up last week to shake down their machines for the Scrapp Fox Memorial, including Ben Waggoner, Tony Anglin, Brandon Hunter, Jacob Cooper, Sam Osman, Phillip James and Micah Gavin.
This is the third year for the race as a one-day event. From 2003-2007, it was a two-day event held with heats on Thursday and the feature on Friday.
The 2006 race also had a preliminary feature on Thursday night that set the first half of the A-main lineup.
This year’s race will have heats and inverted heats, which will be scored by passing points just as they have in the past. The purse is $2,000 to the winner and $300 to start.
Should the weather cooperate, the next obstacle is the summer heat. High temperatures cause the track to slick over at a faster pace, but Mahoney has gone with a different approach to track preparation in recent weeks and has been pleased with the results.
“I try to make it as smooth as I can,” Mahoney said. “But the biggest thing is trying to get as much water in it as I can. With the temperatures we’re having right now, it’s pretty hard to keep it from drying up. We do our best, but Mother Nature has a say in that.”
As a local promoter, Mahoney is a bit uncomfortable taking on the time-honored tradition of picking the winning driver for a crown-jewel event. He eventually chose Weaver when backed into a corner, but was also quick to point out Cook could be considered a favorite if the track becomes dry-slick.
Mahoney added that veteran driver Mike Bowers of North Little Rock is capable of winning regardless of track conditions.
Mahoney correctly predicted Cook to win last year’s race.
The statistics this season support Mahoney’s choice of Weaver, who leads with seven victories compared to three for Cook and two for Bowers.
“Weaver can run that top, Cook is good when it gets black, and Bowers, he’s tough no matter what the track does,” Mahoney said. “But the way it’s been going, I say it’s possible that Weaver could win if the track has that outside line he likes. If the track has an outside, he can give anyone a run for their money.”
SPORTS>>Gwatney knocked out as NLR holds on
By TODD TRAUB
Leader sports editor
A complete game by starter Will Harris and some late offensive punch lifted the North Little Rock Colts past Jacksonville Gwatney Chevrolet in an elimination game at the Senior Legion Zone 3 District Tournament in North Little Rock on Saturday.
Harris pitched nine innings and North Little Rock hit two home runs on its way to 10-3 victory that knocked Jacksonville out of the tournament at Vince De Salvo Stadium in Burns Park.
“You better have some workhorses; you better have some guys with some guts,” North Little Rock coach Drew Rogers said of the nine-inning victory won in 95-degree heat and humidity.
Harris scattered 10 hits, walked one and struck out six, holding Gwatney scoreless after the fifth inning. Rogers said he was only hoping for five or six innings from Harris, but felt Harris was getting stronger as the game went on.
“He’s a horse, he’s been doing it all year,” Rogers said.
The Colts scored six runs in their final four at-bats and Cody Ward and Derek Houser homered in North Little Rock’s three-run fifth.
“That’s just what we’ve been working for this whole tournament,” Rogers said. “If these guys come out thinking about our approach at the plate they’ll be successful.”
Arm-weary Jacksonville used four pitchers, with starter Jared Toney taking the loss as he gave up four runs, three earned, in 3 1/3 innings.
“We got as far down as we could go, really,” Jacksonville coach Bob Hickingbotham said of his pitching staff. “We just didn’t get it done, that’s as simple as it is.”
Jesse Harbin doubled and scored on A.J. Allen’s single in the Jacksonville first. North Little Rock tied it in the bottom of the inning when John Edwards walked andscored on Ward’s single to right.
Jacksonville left fielder Xavier Brown hit a two-out single in the second, reached third on D’Vone McClure’s double to left and scored to make it 2-1 when Edwards mishandled the throw in to shortstop for an error.
North Little Rock had the bases loaded in the third, but Alex Gosser lined to first baseman Caleb Mitchell, who doubled off base runner Tyson Tacket to end the inning.
Nick Rodriguez was hit by a pitch to lead off the Jacksonville fourth and McClure was safe on a bunt up the line when he avoided first baseman Zach Ketchum’s tag.
Brown then popped up a bunt attempt and was between Houser, the catcher, and Ketchum as they tried to make the catch, with the ball coming down to hit Brown in foul ground.
Rogers argued without success for an interference call, but, after a long at-bat, Brown struck out and Houser threw out Rodriguez as he strayed too far off second. McClure then grounded out to end the threat.
“You get out of that with one or less runs, that’s really, really good,” Rogers said.
The missed scoring chance proved critical for Jacksonville.
Toney walked the bases full and Harbin came in from shortstop to relieve him with one out in the North Little Rock fourth.
Ketchum greeted Harbin with a two-run double to left and Edwards added an RBI groundout to make it 4-2.
Harbin singled and scored on Brooks Howard’s fielding error at third in the Jacksonville fifth, but North Little Rock came back with another three-run inning.
Ward, the designated hitter, hit his leadoff home run over the right-field wall and Houser hit a two-run shot to left that made it 7-3.
Houser hit a two-run double in the North Little Rock seventh and Cormier added an RBI single, and Ward singled and scored on a passed ball in the eighth to make it 10-3.
“We hit the ball decent in the last two or three innings,” Hickingbotham said. “We just couldn’t get two together.”
Leader sports editor
A complete game by starter Will Harris and some late offensive punch lifted the North Little Rock Colts past Jacksonville Gwatney Chevrolet in an elimination game at the Senior Legion Zone 3 District Tournament in North Little Rock on Saturday.
Harris pitched nine innings and North Little Rock hit two home runs on its way to 10-3 victory that knocked Jacksonville out of the tournament at Vince De Salvo Stadium in Burns Park.
“You better have some workhorses; you better have some guys with some guts,” North Little Rock coach Drew Rogers said of the nine-inning victory won in 95-degree heat and humidity.
Harris scattered 10 hits, walked one and struck out six, holding Gwatney scoreless after the fifth inning. Rogers said he was only hoping for five or six innings from Harris, but felt Harris was getting stronger as the game went on.
“He’s a horse, he’s been doing it all year,” Rogers said.
The Colts scored six runs in their final four at-bats and Cody Ward and Derek Houser homered in North Little Rock’s three-run fifth.
“That’s just what we’ve been working for this whole tournament,” Rogers said. “If these guys come out thinking about our approach at the plate they’ll be successful.”
Arm-weary Jacksonville used four pitchers, with starter Jared Toney taking the loss as he gave up four runs, three earned, in 3 1/3 innings.
“We got as far down as we could go, really,” Jacksonville coach Bob Hickingbotham said of his pitching staff. “We just didn’t get it done, that’s as simple as it is.”
Jesse Harbin doubled and scored on A.J. Allen’s single in the Jacksonville first. North Little Rock tied it in the bottom of the inning when John Edwards walked andscored on Ward’s single to right.
Jacksonville left fielder Xavier Brown hit a two-out single in the second, reached third on D’Vone McClure’s double to left and scored to make it 2-1 when Edwards mishandled the throw in to shortstop for an error.
North Little Rock had the bases loaded in the third, but Alex Gosser lined to first baseman Caleb Mitchell, who doubled off base runner Tyson Tacket to end the inning.
Nick Rodriguez was hit by a pitch to lead off the Jacksonville fourth and McClure was safe on a bunt up the line when he avoided first baseman Zach Ketchum’s tag.
Brown then popped up a bunt attempt and was between Houser, the catcher, and Ketchum as they tried to make the catch, with the ball coming down to hit Brown in foul ground.
Rogers argued without success for an interference call, but, after a long at-bat, Brown struck out and Houser threw out Rodriguez as he strayed too far off second. McClure then grounded out to end the threat.
“You get out of that with one or less runs, that’s really, really good,” Rogers said.
The missed scoring chance proved critical for Jacksonville.
Toney walked the bases full and Harbin came in from shortstop to relieve him with one out in the North Little Rock fourth.
Ketchum greeted Harbin with a two-run double to left and Edwards added an RBI groundout to make it 4-2.
Harbin singled and scored on Brooks Howard’s fielding error at third in the Jacksonville fifth, but North Little Rock came back with another three-run inning.
Ward, the designated hitter, hit his leadoff home run over the right-field wall and Houser hit a two-run shot to left that made it 7-3.
Houser hit a two-run double in the North Little Rock seventh and Cormier added an RBI single, and Ward singled and scored on a passed ball in the eighth to make it 10-3.
“We hit the ball decent in the last two or three innings,” Hickingbotham said. “We just couldn’t get two together.”
SPORTS>>Weaver picks up seventh victory
By JASON KING
Leader sportswriter
Randy Weaver is headed in the right direction, but the same could not be said for one of his competitors at Beebe Speedway on Friday night.
Weaver, the modified points leader, won his seventh feature race of the year while Jeff Porterfield picked up his eighth victory in hobby stocks.
The most bizarre moment of the night came on lap eight of the feature when Ricky Anderson and Cabot’s Kip Glaze spun in turn one while fighting for the ninth spot. Anderson had just surrendered eighth to Jody Jackson when contact with Glaze sent him spinning up into the pit entrance while Glaze’s No. 46 car came to a rest in the middle of the corner.
The accident happened behind the leader Weaver, but as Anderson re-fired his car, he drove down the front stretch the wrong way and approached Weaver’s F1 car, which was idling beneath the flag stand as track officials cleared the Glaze car in turn one.
Anderson pulled alongside Weaver and had words before storming off the track still in the wrong direction and entered the pits through the pit exit at a dangerously high rate of speed.
Anderson was disqualified from the event and given a two-week suspension.
But Weaver did not let the incident affect his control up front, as he led the remaining 12 laps in front of Cooper and Findley. He hit lap traffic by lap 17 and ended up with a straightaway advantage by race’s end.
Friday’s card featured a mix of continued dominant performances in some classes and resurgent front-runners in others.
Cabot drivers came up big as Todd Joslin took his second victory in the E-mod division and Mike Millwood won his fourth triumph of the year in mini stocks.
The factory feature came down to a duel between hometown drivers as Ricky Wilhite passed veteran Larry Wise on lap seven for his fourth victory.
The modified feature was a mix of track regulars and out-of-town drivers who showed up to shake down their machines for this week’s Scrapp Fox Memorial.
One of those non-regulars, Jacob Cooper, won his heat race and took fast qualifier for the 20-lap feature alongside northeast Arkansas driver Tony Anglin, with locals Weaver and Todd Greer in row two.
The early fast mover was Robert Baker, who quickly made his way from the fifth starting spot to challenge Cooper for the lead on lap one. But Baker’s was one of six cars involved in a lap-five pileup in the exit of turn four that also involved Mikey Bolding, Donnie Stringfellow, Tony Anglin and local drivers Jason Flory and Jody Jackson.
Bolding and Baker were done for the night. Anglin pitted and eventually returned while the other three cars were also able to continue.
Weaver worked the high side once he got up to Cooper’s rear bumper and assumed the point on lap six when he got the better run out of turn two.
Bryant driver Casey Findley fought his way from an eighth-place start into the top five by lap four and battled with Greer for the third spot for most of the remaining race. He eventually took the spot on lap 12 for his best finish at Beebe in a limited number of appearances this season.
Greer held on for fourth while Beebe’s Jackson was the hard charger with a fifth-place finish after starting 11th.
Mt. Vernon driver Ben Waggoner finished sixth and Chuck McGinty took seventh place. Stringfellow was eighth while Micah Gavin and Glaze rounded out the top 10.
Joslin’s victory in the E-mod feature was flag-to-flag in the caution-shortened event.
Flagman William Essex waved the yellow five times, which set up a green-white-checker finish on lap 12.
Joslin won the second heat and lined up on the outside pole alongside Lane Cullum for the feature. Joslin took the hole shot entering turn one on the initial start and never looked back while Cullum battled with Robert Woodard most of the way for second after an early challenge from Searcy driver Joey Gee.
Cullum held on for second in front of Woodard while Gee claimed fourth and McRae driver Blake Jones finished fifth.
Millwood also started from the outside pole in his dominant mini-stock victory. Millwood took the top spot over Shack Shackleford on the first lap and led the entire 15-lap distance. Shackleford finished second in front of Cabot’s Doyle Blankenship and Johnny Brown while Jim Atcheson completed the top five.
Leader sportswriter
Randy Weaver is headed in the right direction, but the same could not be said for one of his competitors at Beebe Speedway on Friday night.
Weaver, the modified points leader, won his seventh feature race of the year while Jeff Porterfield picked up his eighth victory in hobby stocks.
The most bizarre moment of the night came on lap eight of the feature when Ricky Anderson and Cabot’s Kip Glaze spun in turn one while fighting for the ninth spot. Anderson had just surrendered eighth to Jody Jackson when contact with Glaze sent him spinning up into the pit entrance while Glaze’s No. 46 car came to a rest in the middle of the corner.
The accident happened behind the leader Weaver, but as Anderson re-fired his car, he drove down the front stretch the wrong way and approached Weaver’s F1 car, which was idling beneath the flag stand as track officials cleared the Glaze car in turn one.
Anderson pulled alongside Weaver and had words before storming off the track still in the wrong direction and entered the pits through the pit exit at a dangerously high rate of speed.
Anderson was disqualified from the event and given a two-week suspension.
But Weaver did not let the incident affect his control up front, as he led the remaining 12 laps in front of Cooper and Findley. He hit lap traffic by lap 17 and ended up with a straightaway advantage by race’s end.
Friday’s card featured a mix of continued dominant performances in some classes and resurgent front-runners in others.
Cabot drivers came up big as Todd Joslin took his second victory in the E-mod division and Mike Millwood won his fourth triumph of the year in mini stocks.
The factory feature came down to a duel between hometown drivers as Ricky Wilhite passed veteran Larry Wise on lap seven for his fourth victory.
The modified feature was a mix of track regulars and out-of-town drivers who showed up to shake down their machines for this week’s Scrapp Fox Memorial.
One of those non-regulars, Jacob Cooper, won his heat race and took fast qualifier for the 20-lap feature alongside northeast Arkansas driver Tony Anglin, with locals Weaver and Todd Greer in row two.
The early fast mover was Robert Baker, who quickly made his way from the fifth starting spot to challenge Cooper for the lead on lap one. But Baker’s was one of six cars involved in a lap-five pileup in the exit of turn four that also involved Mikey Bolding, Donnie Stringfellow, Tony Anglin and local drivers Jason Flory and Jody Jackson.
Bolding and Baker were done for the night. Anglin pitted and eventually returned while the other three cars were also able to continue.
Weaver worked the high side once he got up to Cooper’s rear bumper and assumed the point on lap six when he got the better run out of turn two.
Bryant driver Casey Findley fought his way from an eighth-place start into the top five by lap four and battled with Greer for the third spot for most of the remaining race. He eventually took the spot on lap 12 for his best finish at Beebe in a limited number of appearances this season.
Greer held on for fourth while Beebe’s Jackson was the hard charger with a fifth-place finish after starting 11th.
Mt. Vernon driver Ben Waggoner finished sixth and Chuck McGinty took seventh place. Stringfellow was eighth while Micah Gavin and Glaze rounded out the top 10.
Joslin’s victory in the E-mod feature was flag-to-flag in the caution-shortened event.
Flagman William Essex waved the yellow five times, which set up a green-white-checker finish on lap 12.
Joslin won the second heat and lined up on the outside pole alongside Lane Cullum for the feature. Joslin took the hole shot entering turn one on the initial start and never looked back while Cullum battled with Robert Woodard most of the way for second after an early challenge from Searcy driver Joey Gee.
Cullum held on for second in front of Woodard while Gee claimed fourth and McRae driver Blake Jones finished fifth.
Millwood also started from the outside pole in his dominant mini-stock victory. Millwood took the top spot over Shack Shackleford on the first lap and led the entire 15-lap distance. Shackleford finished second in front of Cabot’s Doyle Blankenship and Johnny Brown while Jim Atcheson completed the top five.
SPORTS>>Cabot survives jams to win
By JASON KING
Leader sportswriter
Cabot Centennial Bank had one pitcher caught in a traffic jam, but the staff survived its other jams to limp to the finish a step ahead of the Sylvan Hills bullpen.
Cabot captured its first American Legion Senior Zone 3 District Tournament championship with a come-from-behind, 8-5 victory over the Bruins in the final at Burns Park on Monday night. With scheduled starter Chase Beasley running late because of traffic, Cabot’s short-handed and weary pitching staff kept the team in the game until Cabot rallied for three runs in the eighth to take the lead it held the rest of the way.
Cabot (22-11) will take on Benton in the first round of the state tournament at 10 a.m. Friday at Burns Park. North Little Rock claimed the No. 2 seed as tournament host.
Cabot’s unbeaten run through the double-elimination tourney was threatened before the game got under way when Beasley was caught in a lengthy delay on Interstate 40. A semi truck hauling diesel fuel overturned Monday afternoon, bringing traffic to a standstill for several hours.
Cabot coach Jay Darr tried to go with C.J. Jacoby, but Jacoby’s tender arm could not withstand another start and he was pulled after walking his first batter. That left Taylor McFarlin, listed as a catcher and second baseman on the roster, to take over.
“I can’t say enough about the job that Taylor did,” Darr said. “That kid has pitched about 1 2/3 innings all season long, and has had no at-bats. I told him to stickwith me, and when I called on him, it was going to be big. He deserves all the credit in the world for bringing us back.”
McFarlin did not allow an earned run until giving up two in the bottom of the fourth, when Powell Bryant relieved him. Bryant, primarily an outfielder, kept the Bruins scoreless until Korey Arnold belted a two-run home run over the center-field fence in the bottom of the seventh to give Sylvan Hills a 5-3 lead.
Tyler Erickson closed out the final two innings for Centennial Bank and gave up only one hit. That denied Sylvan Hills a chance to reclaim the lead after Cabot rallied in the top of the eighth to take its first lead of the game, 6-5.
“This is the first one Cabot has won to my knowledge,” Darr said of the zone title. “It’s especially hard in these senior brackets because of the way they’re formatted.
“We knew that if you can stay in the winner’s bracket, you give yourself a chance. I have to give Sylvan Hills a lot of credit for coming out of the losers bracket and playing as hard as they did — I know they were down on pitching, too. For our program, this is big.”
Sylvan Hills broke a 1-1 tie in the bottom of the fourth when Blake Rasdon singled to left and eventually scored when Greg Atchinson singled three batters later. Leadoff hitter Ty Van Schoyck then drove in Atchinson with a single to right, making it 3-1 Bruins.
That’s how it stayed until the top of the sixth when Cabot’s Matt Turner led off with a double off the left-center field wall. Matt Evans walked and Andrew Reynolds hit a single to score both runners and tie it 3-3.
Sylvan Hills had similar pitching problems. The Bruins got six strong innings from starter Aaron Sarna, but when Sarna’s arm tired, relievers Arnold and Michael Lock struggled with a Cabot team intent on rallying.
Arnold stopped Cabot’s first rally attempt in the top of the seventh. Joe Bryant doubled and advanced to third when Atchinson misplayed Ty Steele’s bouncer to shortstop. Steele quickly stole second to put the tying run in scoring position, but Arnold struck out Turner, Evans and Erickson in order.
But Arnold was not as fortunate the next inning. He walked Reynolds and Cole Nicholson to open the eighth, then retired two hitters to bring up the leadoff man Joe Bryant, who delivered a triple in the left-center field gap to tie it 5-5. Joe Bryant scored the go-ahead run when Rasdon misplayed Steele’s grounder at third for an error.
Evans and Erickson added insurance runs in the top of the ninth. Both singled, and Evans scored on Nicholson’s sacrifice and Erickson scored on a passed ball.
Joe Bryant was 3 for 5 with a triple, two RBI and two runs. The No. 7 hitter Nicholson was 2 for 4 with an RBI.
For Sylvan Hills, Van Schoyck was 2 for 3 with two runs and Arnold was 2 for 4 with a home run and two RBI.
Leader sportswriter
Cabot Centennial Bank had one pitcher caught in a traffic jam, but the staff survived its other jams to limp to the finish a step ahead of the Sylvan Hills bullpen.
Cabot captured its first American Legion Senior Zone 3 District Tournament championship with a come-from-behind, 8-5 victory over the Bruins in the final at Burns Park on Monday night. With scheduled starter Chase Beasley running late because of traffic, Cabot’s short-handed and weary pitching staff kept the team in the game until Cabot rallied for three runs in the eighth to take the lead it held the rest of the way.
Cabot (22-11) will take on Benton in the first round of the state tournament at 10 a.m. Friday at Burns Park. North Little Rock claimed the No. 2 seed as tournament host.
Cabot’s unbeaten run through the double-elimination tourney was threatened before the game got under way when Beasley was caught in a lengthy delay on Interstate 40. A semi truck hauling diesel fuel overturned Monday afternoon, bringing traffic to a standstill for several hours.
Cabot coach Jay Darr tried to go with C.J. Jacoby, but Jacoby’s tender arm could not withstand another start and he was pulled after walking his first batter. That left Taylor McFarlin, listed as a catcher and second baseman on the roster, to take over.
“I can’t say enough about the job that Taylor did,” Darr said. “That kid has pitched about 1 2/3 innings all season long, and has had no at-bats. I told him to stickwith me, and when I called on him, it was going to be big. He deserves all the credit in the world for bringing us back.”
McFarlin did not allow an earned run until giving up two in the bottom of the fourth, when Powell Bryant relieved him. Bryant, primarily an outfielder, kept the Bruins scoreless until Korey Arnold belted a two-run home run over the center-field fence in the bottom of the seventh to give Sylvan Hills a 5-3 lead.
Tyler Erickson closed out the final two innings for Centennial Bank and gave up only one hit. That denied Sylvan Hills a chance to reclaim the lead after Cabot rallied in the top of the eighth to take its first lead of the game, 6-5.
“This is the first one Cabot has won to my knowledge,” Darr said of the zone title. “It’s especially hard in these senior brackets because of the way they’re formatted.
“We knew that if you can stay in the winner’s bracket, you give yourself a chance. I have to give Sylvan Hills a lot of credit for coming out of the losers bracket and playing as hard as they did — I know they were down on pitching, too. For our program, this is big.”
Sylvan Hills broke a 1-1 tie in the bottom of the fourth when Blake Rasdon singled to left and eventually scored when Greg Atchinson singled three batters later. Leadoff hitter Ty Van Schoyck then drove in Atchinson with a single to right, making it 3-1 Bruins.
That’s how it stayed until the top of the sixth when Cabot’s Matt Turner led off with a double off the left-center field wall. Matt Evans walked and Andrew Reynolds hit a single to score both runners and tie it 3-3.
Sylvan Hills had similar pitching problems. The Bruins got six strong innings from starter Aaron Sarna, but when Sarna’s arm tired, relievers Arnold and Michael Lock struggled with a Cabot team intent on rallying.
Arnold stopped Cabot’s first rally attempt in the top of the seventh. Joe Bryant doubled and advanced to third when Atchinson misplayed Ty Steele’s bouncer to shortstop. Steele quickly stole second to put the tying run in scoring position, but Arnold struck out Turner, Evans and Erickson in order.
But Arnold was not as fortunate the next inning. He walked Reynolds and Cole Nicholson to open the eighth, then retired two hitters to bring up the leadoff man Joe Bryant, who delivered a triple in the left-center field gap to tie it 5-5. Joe Bryant scored the go-ahead run when Rasdon misplayed Steele’s grounder at third for an error.
Evans and Erickson added insurance runs in the top of the ninth. Both singled, and Evans scored on Nicholson’s sacrifice and Erickson scored on a passed ball.
Joe Bryant was 3 for 5 with a triple, two RBI and two runs. The No. 7 hitter Nicholson was 2 for 4 with an RBI.
For Sylvan Hills, Van Schoyck was 2 for 3 with two runs and Arnold was 2 for 4 with a home run and two RBI.
Saturday, July 17, 2010
SPORTS>>Hickingbotham to direct offense for Jacksonville
By TODD TRAUB
Leader sports editor
To move forward, Jacksonville is taking a few steps back to its past.
The Red Devils announced last week Rick Russell, 51, a 14-year veteran of the coaching staff, was leaving North Pulaski after one year to return to Jacksonville as head coach. In short order, Russell announced Barry Hickingbotham, a 1987 Jacksonville graduate, was moving up from middle school coaching to become high school offensive coordinator.
Hickingbotham was introduced at a team meeting Thursday.
“I’m just excited for the chance to turn something new here,” said Hickingbotham, 42, who coached the middle school for seven years.
He was on a Red Devils team that finished in a three-way tie for second in the conference and was the only team to beat eventual state champion Little Rock Central.
“I think our record was like 7-3 and the points system kept us out of the playoffs,” Hickingbotham said. “And Little Rock Central goes 13-1 and they have 10 guys with Division I scholarships that year and we beat them.”
Hickingbotham’s introduction coincided with an appearance by Jacksonville alumnus Clinton McDonald, a member of the NFL’s Cincinnati Bengals, as the high school program reaches back to some of the glory days of the past while trying to establish a winning attitude for the future.
“I’ve got a lot of passion for this football team, for this town, for this community to be successful,” Hickingbotham said. “My goal is to put a product out there that people will come to see.”
Jacksonville isn’t that far removed from some degree of football success. The Devils fell to 2-8 last season under Mark Whatley — who left after five years to become offensive coordinator at Springdale — after winning six games and reaching the playoffs in 2008.
The Devils won seven games and a 6A-East Conference championship in 2006.
Russell, Jacksonville’s one-time defensive coordinator, will call the defensive plays this year and brought in Hickingbotham to take the offensive coordinator’s job held by Whatley. Many of the seniors are players Hickingbotham coached as youngsters.
“This senior, 11th and 10th-grade group, when I had them over there we were 25-3 so my expectations are going to be high,” Hickingbotham said.
Out of necessity last year Jacksonville turned in a number of big plays, many on fourth and long, but the explosiveness came partly because the Red Devils frequently played from behind.
Hickingbotham said he would keep elements of the Spread used by Jacksonville last year, but was looking for more of a ball-control offense that, if the defense is on its game, will help the Red Devils control the clock and the tempo.
“We want to be a physical football team,” Hickingbotham said. “We want to establish the run and work some throwing in. We’re not going to be very finesse. We’re going try and be as physical as we can be. We’re going to lace them up and see what happens.”
Jacksonville, playing in the 6A/7A-East this year, opens the season against non-conference rival Cabot in the “Backyard Brawl” on Aug. 31, a Tuesday, at War Memorial Stadium. The first home game is against Mountain Home on Sept. 23, a Thursday, and will be televised statewide.
Leader sports editor
To move forward, Jacksonville is taking a few steps back to its past.
The Red Devils announced last week Rick Russell, 51, a 14-year veteran of the coaching staff, was leaving North Pulaski after one year to return to Jacksonville as head coach. In short order, Russell announced Barry Hickingbotham, a 1987 Jacksonville graduate, was moving up from middle school coaching to become high school offensive coordinator.
Hickingbotham was introduced at a team meeting Thursday.
“I’m just excited for the chance to turn something new here,” said Hickingbotham, 42, who coached the middle school for seven years.
He was on a Red Devils team that finished in a three-way tie for second in the conference and was the only team to beat eventual state champion Little Rock Central.
“I think our record was like 7-3 and the points system kept us out of the playoffs,” Hickingbotham said. “And Little Rock Central goes 13-1 and they have 10 guys with Division I scholarships that year and we beat them.”
Hickingbotham’s introduction coincided with an appearance by Jacksonville alumnus Clinton McDonald, a member of the NFL’s Cincinnati Bengals, as the high school program reaches back to some of the glory days of the past while trying to establish a winning attitude for the future.
“I’ve got a lot of passion for this football team, for this town, for this community to be successful,” Hickingbotham said. “My goal is to put a product out there that people will come to see.”
Jacksonville isn’t that far removed from some degree of football success. The Devils fell to 2-8 last season under Mark Whatley — who left after five years to become offensive coordinator at Springdale — after winning six games and reaching the playoffs in 2008.
The Devils won seven games and a 6A-East Conference championship in 2006.
Russell, Jacksonville’s one-time defensive coordinator, will call the defensive plays this year and brought in Hickingbotham to take the offensive coordinator’s job held by Whatley. Many of the seniors are players Hickingbotham coached as youngsters.
“This senior, 11th and 10th-grade group, when I had them over there we were 25-3 so my expectations are going to be high,” Hickingbotham said.
Out of necessity last year Jacksonville turned in a number of big plays, many on fourth and long, but the explosiveness came partly because the Red Devils frequently played from behind.
Hickingbotham said he would keep elements of the Spread used by Jacksonville last year, but was looking for more of a ball-control offense that, if the defense is on its game, will help the Red Devils control the clock and the tempo.
“We want to be a physical football team,” Hickingbotham said. “We want to establish the run and work some throwing in. We’re not going to be very finesse. We’re going try and be as physical as we can be. We’re going to lace them up and see what happens.”
Jacksonville, playing in the 6A/7A-East this year, opens the season against non-conference rival Cabot in the “Backyard Brawl” on Aug. 31, a Tuesday, at War Memorial Stadium. The first home game is against Mountain Home on Sept. 23, a Thursday, and will be televised statewide.
SPORTS>>Hickingbotham to direct offense for Jacksonville
By TODD TRAUB
Leader sports editor
To move forward, Jacksonville is taking a few steps back to its past.
The Red Devils announced last week Rick Russell, 51, a 14-year veteran of the coaching staff, was leaving North Pulaski after one year to return to Jacksonville as head coach. In short order, Russell announced Barry Hickingbotham, a 1987 Jacksonville graduate, was moving up from middle school coaching to become high school offensive coordinator.
Hickingbotham was introduced at a team meeting Thursday.
“I’m just excited for the chance to turn something new here,” said Hickingbotham, 42, who coached the middle school for seven years.
He was on a Red Devils team that finished in a three-way tie for second in the conference and was the only team to beat eventual state champion Little Rock Central.
“I think our record was like 7-3 and the points system kept us out of the playoffs,” Hickingbotham said. “And Little Rock Central goes 13-1 and they have 10 guys with Division I scholarships that year and we beat them.”
Hickingbotham’s introduction coincided with an appearance by Jacksonville alumnus Clinton McDonald, a member of the NFL’s Cincinnati Bengals, as the high school program reaches back to some of the glory days of the past while trying to establish a winning attitude for the future.
“I’ve got a lot of passion for this football team, for this town, for this community to be successful,” Hickingbotham said. “My goal is to put a product out there that people will come to see.”
Jacksonville isn’t that far removed from some degree of football success. The Devils fell to 2-8 last season under Mark Whatley — who left after five years to become offensive coordinator at Springdale — after winning six games and reaching the playoffs in 2008.
The Devils won seven games and a 6A-East Conference championship in 2006.
Russell, Jacksonville’s one-time defensive coordinator, will call the defensive plays this year and brought in Hickingbotham to take the offensive coordinator’s job held by Whatley. Many of the seniors are players Hickingbotham coached as youngsters.
“This senior, 11th and 10th-grade group, when I had them over there we were 25-3 so my expectations are going to be high,” Hickingbotham said.
Out of necessity last year Jacksonville turned in a number of big plays, many on fourth and long, but the explosiveness came partly because the Red Devils frequently played from behind.
Hickingbotham said he would keep elements of the Spread used by Jacksonville last year, but was looking for more of a ball-control offense that, if the defense is on its game, will help the Red Devils control the clock and the tempo.
“We want to be a physical football team,” Hickingbotham said. “We want to establish the run and work some throwing in. We’re not going to be very finesse. We’re going try and be as physical as we can be. We’re going to lace them up and see what happens.”
Jacksonville, playing in the 6A/7A-East this year, opens the season against non-conference rival Cabot in the “Backyard Brawl” on Aug. 31, a Tuesday, at War Memorial Stadium. The first home game is against Mountain Home on Sept. 23, a Thursday, and will be televised statewide.
Leader sports editor
To move forward, Jacksonville is taking a few steps back to its past.
The Red Devils announced last week Rick Russell, 51, a 14-year veteran of the coaching staff, was leaving North Pulaski after one year to return to Jacksonville as head coach. In short order, Russell announced Barry Hickingbotham, a 1987 Jacksonville graduate, was moving up from middle school coaching to become high school offensive coordinator.
Hickingbotham was introduced at a team meeting Thursday.
“I’m just excited for the chance to turn something new here,” said Hickingbotham, 42, who coached the middle school for seven years.
He was on a Red Devils team that finished in a three-way tie for second in the conference and was the only team to beat eventual state champion Little Rock Central.
“I think our record was like 7-3 and the points system kept us out of the playoffs,” Hickingbotham said. “And Little Rock Central goes 13-1 and they have 10 guys with Division I scholarships that year and we beat them.”
Hickingbotham’s introduction coincided with an appearance by Jacksonville alumnus Clinton McDonald, a member of the NFL’s Cincinnati Bengals, as the high school program reaches back to some of the glory days of the past while trying to establish a winning attitude for the future.
“I’ve got a lot of passion for this football team, for this town, for this community to be successful,” Hickingbotham said. “My goal is to put a product out there that people will come to see.”
Jacksonville isn’t that far removed from some degree of football success. The Devils fell to 2-8 last season under Mark Whatley — who left after five years to become offensive coordinator at Springdale — after winning six games and reaching the playoffs in 2008.
The Devils won seven games and a 6A-East Conference championship in 2006.
Russell, Jacksonville’s one-time defensive coordinator, will call the defensive plays this year and brought in Hickingbotham to take the offensive coordinator’s job held by Whatley. Many of the seniors are players Hickingbotham coached as youngsters.
“This senior, 11th and 10th-grade group, when I had them over there we were 25-3 so my expectations are going to be high,” Hickingbotham said.
Out of necessity last year Jacksonville turned in a number of big plays, many on fourth and long, but the explosiveness came partly because the Red Devils frequently played from behind.
Hickingbotham said he would keep elements of the Spread used by Jacksonville last year, but was looking for more of a ball-control offense that, if the defense is on its game, will help the Red Devils control the clock and the tempo.
“We want to be a physical football team,” Hickingbotham said. “We want to establish the run and work some throwing in. We’re not going to be very finesse. We’re going try and be as physical as we can be. We’re going to lace them up and see what happens.”
Jacksonville, playing in the 6A/7A-East this year, opens the season against non-conference rival Cabot in the “Backyard Brawl” on Aug. 31, a Tuesday, at War Memorial Stadium. The first home game is against Mountain Home on Sept. 23, a Thursday, and will be televised statewide.
SPORTS>>Travelers battle foes, rain, schedule
By TODD TRAUB
Leader sports editor
Not only did the Arkansas Travelers have trouble winning games in their recent homestand, they had trouble getting them started, playing them in regulation or ending them in a timely fashion.
A pregame boxing match, a long rain delay and extra innings played havoc with the schedule during the six-game homestand against the Midland RockHounds and Frisco RoughRiders.
The games marked the last time this year the Travelers, of the Texas League North, will play South Division members Midland and Frisco, much to ballpark employees’ relief.
Arkansas went 2-4 with one victory each over Midland and Frisco. The RockHounds opened the first series with a 6-1 victory in which they did all their scoring on home runs in the first three innings.
The time of game was three hours, five minutes, and that would be the shortest game the Travelers and RockHounds played.
On July 9, after UALR associate athletic director Gary Hogan beat former big leaguer Jose Canseco in the pregame boxing match, it took Arkansas 3:25 to scratch out a 6-5 victory that ended close to midnight.
Another home run gave Midland the early lead, but Arkansas’ Alexi Amarista drove in Tyson Auer with a ninth-inning single to win it.
Jeremy Moore, who has moved into the Texas League’s top 10 in batting, ran his hitting streak to 13 games with three base hits.
Moore made it 14 games with two hits Saturday, but Midland won 6-4 despite committing two errors and being outhit 11-6 in a game that lasted 3:40.
A one-hour, 36-minute rain delay greeted Frisco and Arkansas on Sunday, and the teams followed that with an 11-inning showdown the RoughRiders won when Guilder Rodriguez tripled in a run in the top of the 11th.
Monday’s game was rained out entirely, leading Arkansas general manager Pete Laven to schedule a series-ending doubleheader that began at 5 p.m. Tuesday instead of the standard, single-game start time of 7:10 p.m.
With the games reduced to seven-innings in the Texas League doubleheader format, Arkansas won the first, using a three-run sixth to overtake the RoughRiders. Moore, who extended his streak to 15 games, singled and scored when Julio Perez hit a two-run double and Efren Navarro scored on a sacrifice fly.
But the Travs were held to just three hits while the RoughRiders pounded out 16 in the second game that Frisco won 10-0.
Moore had the game off, preserving his streak, while Frisco’s Elio Sarmiento hit a two-run home run.
The home fans finally got an extended look at this year’s version of pitcher Trevor Reckling, the left-hander and Los Angeles Angels prospect who was reassigned from Class AAA Salt Lake to work on his fastball command after posting an ERA above 8.00.
Reckling, who faced just four hitters because of a biceps cramp in his first outing at Dickey-Stephens Park, went 7 1/3 strong innings but got no decision when he left Sunday’s game after giving up one unearned run, striking out two and walking two.
Reckling is 1-0 with the Travs thanks to a victory at Frisco.
Arkansas also welcomed infielder Ryan Mount back from the disabled list during the homestand. Mount, a second baseman expected to now play more at third, missed 18 games with a shoulder injury.
He hit .249 with seven homers and 28 RBI in 50 games before his injury. Mount was in the lineup for the first game of the doubleheader and was 2 for 3 with a run and two RBI. He was hitless as the designated hitter in the second game.
Arkansas dropped its series opener at Tulsa 17-2 on Thursday night.
Leader sports editor
Not only did the Arkansas Travelers have trouble winning games in their recent homestand, they had trouble getting them started, playing them in regulation or ending them in a timely fashion.
A pregame boxing match, a long rain delay and extra innings played havoc with the schedule during the six-game homestand against the Midland RockHounds and Frisco RoughRiders.
The games marked the last time this year the Travelers, of the Texas League North, will play South Division members Midland and Frisco, much to ballpark employees’ relief.
Arkansas went 2-4 with one victory each over Midland and Frisco. The RockHounds opened the first series with a 6-1 victory in which they did all their scoring on home runs in the first three innings.
The time of game was three hours, five minutes, and that would be the shortest game the Travelers and RockHounds played.
On July 9, after UALR associate athletic director Gary Hogan beat former big leaguer Jose Canseco in the pregame boxing match, it took Arkansas 3:25 to scratch out a 6-5 victory that ended close to midnight.
Another home run gave Midland the early lead, but Arkansas’ Alexi Amarista drove in Tyson Auer with a ninth-inning single to win it.
Jeremy Moore, who has moved into the Texas League’s top 10 in batting, ran his hitting streak to 13 games with three base hits.
Moore made it 14 games with two hits Saturday, but Midland won 6-4 despite committing two errors and being outhit 11-6 in a game that lasted 3:40.
A one-hour, 36-minute rain delay greeted Frisco and Arkansas on Sunday, and the teams followed that with an 11-inning showdown the RoughRiders won when Guilder Rodriguez tripled in a run in the top of the 11th.
Monday’s game was rained out entirely, leading Arkansas general manager Pete Laven to schedule a series-ending doubleheader that began at 5 p.m. Tuesday instead of the standard, single-game start time of 7:10 p.m.
With the games reduced to seven-innings in the Texas League doubleheader format, Arkansas won the first, using a three-run sixth to overtake the RoughRiders. Moore, who extended his streak to 15 games, singled and scored when Julio Perez hit a two-run double and Efren Navarro scored on a sacrifice fly.
But the Travs were held to just three hits while the RoughRiders pounded out 16 in the second game that Frisco won 10-0.
Moore had the game off, preserving his streak, while Frisco’s Elio Sarmiento hit a two-run home run.
The home fans finally got an extended look at this year’s version of pitcher Trevor Reckling, the left-hander and Los Angeles Angels prospect who was reassigned from Class AAA Salt Lake to work on his fastball command after posting an ERA above 8.00.
Reckling, who faced just four hitters because of a biceps cramp in his first outing at Dickey-Stephens Park, went 7 1/3 strong innings but got no decision when he left Sunday’s game after giving up one unearned run, striking out two and walking two.
Reckling is 1-0 with the Travs thanks to a victory at Frisco.
Arkansas also welcomed infielder Ryan Mount back from the disabled list during the homestand. Mount, a second baseman expected to now play more at third, missed 18 games with a shoulder injury.
He hit .249 with seven homers and 28 RBI in 50 games before his injury. Mount was in the lineup for the first game of the doubleheader and was 2 for 3 with a run and two RBI. He was hitless as the designated hitter in the second game.
Arkansas dropped its series opener at Tulsa 17-2 on Thursday night.
SPORTS>>McDonald helping out alma mater
By TODD TRAUB
Leader sports editor
New Jacksonville football coach Rick Russell doesn’t necessarily want his players to turn out like Clinton McDonald, though that would be nice.
It would simply be good enough if Russell’s Red Devils feel the way McDonald does about the program.
McDonald, the Jacksonville graduate currently with the NFL’s Cincinnati Bengals, gave the Russell era a shot in the arm with a pep talk to the Red Devils before Thursday’s conditioning workout.
“You guys can be the front runner of a new legacy, which is yours,” McDonald said in his remarks to the team in the Jacksonville film room.
McDonald, a defensive lineman who was a late draft pick by Cincinnati over a year ago, has been spending extended time at his alma mater recently to see what he can do to help out after Russell, his old defensive coach, moved from North Pulaski to take over at Jacksonville last week.
Russell is a 14-year veteran of the Jacksonville staff who left the school in the spring of 2009 to become North Pulaski’s head coach. In his return to Jacksonville, Russell was more than happy to accept McDonald’s help, which included McDonald voluntarily racking and organizing weights in the Red Devils’ indoor practice facility and plans for McDonald to hold a camp with fellow NFL players next year.
“One of the best linebackers I’ve ever coached,” Russell said. “One of the best student athletes I’ve ever coached and one of the best men I’ve ever called a friend.”
McDonald graduated Jacksonville in 2005 following a 2004 all-state season. He morphed from linebacker to defensive tackle at the University of Memphis, where he had 11.5 career sacks and was fourth in Conference USA with seven his senior year.
The Bengals drafted McDonald in the seventh round, 249th overall, last spring and he just missed making the active roster in training camp and spent last season on the practice squad, from where he is hoping to move up this year.
But McDonald, 6-2, 283 pounds, has always kept Jacksonville close to his heart and was glad to lend a hand, or his voice, to his old program.
In his remarks to the players Thursday, McDonald urged them to be accountable, responsible, to leave something behind for the next generation and have a sense of pride in place.
“The pride that I take in this place is like the pride I take in my house,” McDonald said, urging the Red Devils to be fierce defenders of their turf.
McDonald recalled a loss to Pine Bluff when he was a sophomore. He found himself in tears afterward, along with the upperclassmen, and knew he was heart and soul a Red Devil.
“I was crying because it meant so much to those guys,” McDonald said.
McDonald and his older brother Cleyton were teammates at Jacksonville, and Cleyton went on to play at Mississippi Valley State.
But it was Clinton who became Jacksonville’s first draft pick since Dan Hampton, a hall of famer with the Chicago Bears, was taken out of the University of Arkansas in 1979.
Jacksonville products Robert Thomas, Adrian Wilson and Chet Winters reached the NFL as free agents.
However far he goes in his career, McDonald said, he stands as evidence good things can begin in Jacksonville football.
“I had my time at Jacksonville High School,” McDonald said. “It’s all about making you guys better.”
Leader sports editor
New Jacksonville football coach Rick Russell doesn’t necessarily want his players to turn out like Clinton McDonald, though that would be nice.
It would simply be good enough if Russell’s Red Devils feel the way McDonald does about the program.
McDonald, the Jacksonville graduate currently with the NFL’s Cincinnati Bengals, gave the Russell era a shot in the arm with a pep talk to the Red Devils before Thursday’s conditioning workout.
“You guys can be the front runner of a new legacy, which is yours,” McDonald said in his remarks to the team in the Jacksonville film room.
McDonald, a defensive lineman who was a late draft pick by Cincinnati over a year ago, has been spending extended time at his alma mater recently to see what he can do to help out after Russell, his old defensive coach, moved from North Pulaski to take over at Jacksonville last week.
Russell is a 14-year veteran of the Jacksonville staff who left the school in the spring of 2009 to become North Pulaski’s head coach. In his return to Jacksonville, Russell was more than happy to accept McDonald’s help, which included McDonald voluntarily racking and organizing weights in the Red Devils’ indoor practice facility and plans for McDonald to hold a camp with fellow NFL players next year.
“One of the best linebackers I’ve ever coached,” Russell said. “One of the best student athletes I’ve ever coached and one of the best men I’ve ever called a friend.”
McDonald graduated Jacksonville in 2005 following a 2004 all-state season. He morphed from linebacker to defensive tackle at the University of Memphis, where he had 11.5 career sacks and was fourth in Conference USA with seven his senior year.
The Bengals drafted McDonald in the seventh round, 249th overall, last spring and he just missed making the active roster in training camp and spent last season on the practice squad, from where he is hoping to move up this year.
But McDonald, 6-2, 283 pounds, has always kept Jacksonville close to his heart and was glad to lend a hand, or his voice, to his old program.
In his remarks to the players Thursday, McDonald urged them to be accountable, responsible, to leave something behind for the next generation and have a sense of pride in place.
“The pride that I take in this place is like the pride I take in my house,” McDonald said, urging the Red Devils to be fierce defenders of their turf.
McDonald recalled a loss to Pine Bluff when he was a sophomore. He found himself in tears afterward, along with the upperclassmen, and knew he was heart and soul a Red Devil.
“I was crying because it meant so much to those guys,” McDonald said.
McDonald and his older brother Cleyton were teammates at Jacksonville, and Cleyton went on to play at Mississippi Valley State.
But it was Clinton who became Jacksonville’s first draft pick since Dan Hampton, a hall of famer with the Chicago Bears, was taken out of the University of Arkansas in 1979.
Jacksonville products Robert Thomas, Adrian Wilson and Chet Winters reached the NFL as free agents.
However far he goes in his career, McDonald said, he stands as evidence good things can begin in Jacksonville football.
“I had my time at Jacksonville High School,” McDonald said. “It’s all about making you guys better.”
SPORTS>>IKF umbrella harbors amateurs
Bring it on!
It’s a simple, yet catchy motto for what has become one of the largest martial arts sanctioning bodies in the world, particularly for amateurs.
The International Kickboxing Federation was founded by Dan Stell and Steve Fossum in summer 1992 and expanded into Europe by 1998. Stell left the organization in the mid 1990s. Fossum later went on to form the International Sport Combat Federation or ISCF, which became the first sanctioning body for Mixed Martial Arts.
Many of the top names in the world of MMA got started in the IKF, including Ultimate Fighting Championship legend Chuck
“The Iceman” Liddell, who won the IKF heavyweight title in 1996.
The IKF also hosts amateur kickboxing’s crown jewel event, the World Classic. The annual World Classic amateur kickboxing and Muay Thai championships will take place July 23-25 in Orlando, Fla., at the Orlando World Center Marriott Resort.
The event field has grown to over 300 fighters projected for this year’s event, and is all-inclusive with divisions for children and adults, male and female.
Barata MMA fighter Eli McGlothlin is a five-time champion of the World Classic and is going back to try and capture an unprecedented sixth title belt.
“This is definitely the hardest I’ve ever trained for a fight,” McGlothlin said.
Other local ties to IKF include Jacksonville’s Kayla Oudthone, who won the IKF junior amateur girls Central Regional Bantamweight title in March 2005 fighting out of her father’s Prathet Thai training dojo and held the belt until December 2008 when she retired from the amateur ranks.
There are six different styles of fighting under the IKF banner, including American, International, Muay Thai, San Shou, semi-contact and gladiator-style MMA.
IKF’s website encourages persistence by competitors and cites the life story of President Abraham Lincoln as an example of success through perseverance.
The five-star mission of the IKF is credibility through legitimate titles and rankings, fairness in the rules, recognition, support and assistance to IKF event promoters and unity throughout the kickboxing community.
It’s a simple, yet catchy motto for what has become one of the largest martial arts sanctioning bodies in the world, particularly for amateurs.
The International Kickboxing Federation was founded by Dan Stell and Steve Fossum in summer 1992 and expanded into Europe by 1998. Stell left the organization in the mid 1990s. Fossum later went on to form the International Sport Combat Federation or ISCF, which became the first sanctioning body for Mixed Martial Arts.
Many of the top names in the world of MMA got started in the IKF, including Ultimate Fighting Championship legend Chuck
“The Iceman” Liddell, who won the IKF heavyweight title in 1996.
The IKF also hosts amateur kickboxing’s crown jewel event, the World Classic. The annual World Classic amateur kickboxing and Muay Thai championships will take place July 23-25 in Orlando, Fla., at the Orlando World Center Marriott Resort.
The event field has grown to over 300 fighters projected for this year’s event, and is all-inclusive with divisions for children and adults, male and female.
Barata MMA fighter Eli McGlothlin is a five-time champion of the World Classic and is going back to try and capture an unprecedented sixth title belt.
“This is definitely the hardest I’ve ever trained for a fight,” McGlothlin said.
Other local ties to IKF include Jacksonville’s Kayla Oudthone, who won the IKF junior amateur girls Central Regional Bantamweight title in March 2005 fighting out of her father’s Prathet Thai training dojo and held the belt until December 2008 when she retired from the amateur ranks.
There are six different styles of fighting under the IKF banner, including American, International, Muay Thai, San Shou, semi-contact and gladiator-style MMA.
IKF’s website encourages persistence by competitors and cites the life story of President Abraham Lincoln as an example of success through perseverance.
The five-star mission of the IKF is credibility through legitimate titles and rankings, fairness in the rules, recognition, support and assistance to IKF event promoters and unity throughout the kickboxing community.
SPORTS>>IKF umbrella harbors amateurs
Bring it on!
It’s a simple, yet catchy motto for what has become one of the largest martial arts sanctioning bodies in the world, particularly for amateurs.
The International Kickboxing Federation was founded by Dan Stell and Steve Fossum in summer 1992 and expanded into Europe by 1998. Stell left the organization in the mid 1990s. Fossum later went on to form the International Sport Combat Federation or ISCF, which became the first sanctioning body for Mixed Martial Arts.
Many of the top names in the world of MMA got started in the IKF, including Ultimate Fighting Championship legend Chuck
“The Iceman” Liddell, who won the IKF heavyweight title in 1996.
The IKF also hosts amateur kickboxing’s crown jewel event, the World Classic. The annual World Classic amateur kickboxing and Muay Thai championships will take place July 23-25 in Orlando, Fla., at the Orlando World Center Marriott Resort.
The event field has grown to over 300 fighters projected for this year’s event, and is all-inclusive with divisions for children and adults, male and female.
Barata MMA fighter Eli McGlothlin is a five-time champion of the World Classic and is going back to try and capture an unprecedented sixth title belt.
“This is definitely the hardest I’ve ever trained for a fight,” McGlothlin said.
Other local ties to IKF include Jacksonville’s Kayla Oudthone, who won the IKF junior amateur girls Central Regional Bantamweight title in March 2005 fighting out of her father’s Prathet Thai training dojo and held the belt until December 2008 when she retired from the amateur ranks.
There are six different styles of fighting under the IKF banner, including American, International, Muay Thai, San Shou, semi-contact and gladiator-style MMA.
IKF’s website encourages persistence by competitors and cites the life story of President Abraham Lincoln as an example of success through perseverance.
The five-star mission of the IKF is credibility through legitimate titles and rankings, fairness in the rules, recognition, support and assistance to IKF event promoters and unity throughout the kickboxing community.
It’s a simple, yet catchy motto for what has become one of the largest martial arts sanctioning bodies in the world, particularly for amateurs.
The International Kickboxing Federation was founded by Dan Stell and Steve Fossum in summer 1992 and expanded into Europe by 1998. Stell left the organization in the mid 1990s. Fossum later went on to form the International Sport Combat Federation or ISCF, which became the first sanctioning body for Mixed Martial Arts.
Many of the top names in the world of MMA got started in the IKF, including Ultimate Fighting Championship legend Chuck
“The Iceman” Liddell, who won the IKF heavyweight title in 1996.
The IKF also hosts amateur kickboxing’s crown jewel event, the World Classic. The annual World Classic amateur kickboxing and Muay Thai championships will take place July 23-25 in Orlando, Fla., at the Orlando World Center Marriott Resort.
The event field has grown to over 300 fighters projected for this year’s event, and is all-inclusive with divisions for children and adults, male and female.
Barata MMA fighter Eli McGlothlin is a five-time champion of the World Classic and is going back to try and capture an unprecedented sixth title belt.
“This is definitely the hardest I’ve ever trained for a fight,” McGlothlin said.
Other local ties to IKF include Jacksonville’s Kayla Oudthone, who won the IKF junior amateur girls Central Regional Bantamweight title in March 2005 fighting out of her father’s Prathet Thai training dojo and held the belt until December 2008 when she retired from the amateur ranks.
There are six different styles of fighting under the IKF banner, including American, International, Muay Thai, San Shou, semi-contact and gladiator-style MMA.
IKF’s website encourages persistence by competitors and cites the life story of President Abraham Lincoln as an example of success through perseverance.
The five-star mission of the IKF is credibility through legitimate titles and rankings, fairness in the rules, recognition, support and assistance to IKF event promoters and unity throughout the kickboxing community.
SPORTS>>FIGHT CLUB
By Jason King
Leader sportswriter
The McGlothlin family really gets a kick out of Mixed Martial Arts.
So much so that William McGlothlin opened his own training facility in Cabot in early 2009, while his two teenage sons, Eli and Rudy, aspire to reach the professional MMA ranks.
The McGlothlins operate Barata MMA in Cabot and live near Bald Knob.
William has been involved with the sport for just over 11 years and reached pro status as a fighter. Eli, 18, is a five-time amateur kickboxing champion in the prestigious International Kickboxing Federation with a career record of 15-4, and Rudy, 15, has one title belt in his young career.
The family will head to Orlando, Fla., at the end of the week for the IKF World Classic amateur kickboxing and Muay Thai championships held July 23-25.
Eli has won five belts in five trips to the international event, and with possibly his final trip to Orlando as an amateur ahead, the only pressure he said he feels is from within.
“It’s just a big enjoyment in life,” Eli said. “I like to go out and challenge myself and try to see how hard I can push myself. It always feels great to overcome that goal that you set up for yourself and then to set up your next goal and try to get to it.”
Eli’s fast track to success has been an inspiration for 15-year-old Rudy McGlothlin.
Rudy won his first IKF title in his first trip in 2008 and finished runner-up last year. He has also been a champion on the NAGA grappling circuit.
Rudy said he does not want to simply follow in his older brother’s footsteps, but rather eclipse them.
However, Rudy, slightly taller and bulkier than Eli despite being three years younger, is also quick to point out that his dad and brother helped accelerate his progress.
“I’m going to try and beat him,” Rudy said of Eli’s accomplishments. “So I can have everybody look up to me instead of him as much. They help me out a lot.
“I look at what they’ve done or what they’re going to do, that way, I’ll know what to do if it comes down to it.”
William began what has become a family saga 11 years ago when he met David Swain, a registered nurse in the Searcy area who taught Brazilian Ju-jitsu on the side. William trained under Swain and became skilled enough to take part in a MMA event promoted by local martial arts legend Danny Dring, of Sherwood.
William started training under Dring full time when Swain moved away, and has been affiliated with Dring’s Living Defense martial arts ever since.
In his decade-plus of MMA training and instructing, William has had a front-row seat to the sport’s enormous growth.
“It’s growing consistently,” William said. “I’m going to say it’s misunderstood a lot of times. When people think of MMA and fighting, they think pretty thuggish. But if you come to my school and see, all of my people are very well mannered, respectful. I don’t accept that and I don’t tolerate it.”
William is a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and a second-degree black belt kickboxer under the Joe Lewis Fighting Systems. His original inspiration came as it has to many over the last decade, from watching televised Mixed Martial Arts on Ultimate Fighting Championship.
“I was 28 when I first started, but I always wanted to do something,” William said. “I never really had much interest in taekwondo and stuff like that. I found the grappling and Jiu-Jitsu, MMA part through watching UFC, and found a local instructor.”
Eli was 10 years old when he first competed in kickboxing, and began fighting MMA recently, just before his 18th birthday, and has built a 4-0 record. The Bald Knob High School graduate plans to attend Arkansas State University-Beebe in the fall while still finding enough time to pursue his fighting career.
He holds the 18-year-old record for most consecutive IKF titles at five, and with another successful trip to Orlando, could become the first six-time champion at age 18 in the IKF.
“Every single fight, I try to train harder and harder,” Eli said. “It doesn’t matter if it’s this big national event or coming to a local fight around here, anytime I go into a fight, I try to push it even harder each time. If training and fighting continues to go well, I would definitely love to take it to the next level.”
With all the training, the intensity and even the propensity for physical pain in the octagon, there are two more things that make it all worthwhile for Eli — family and fun.
“It definitely makes coming to training really fun, because we get to spend more time together that way,” Eli said. “I actually get to see them more here than at home, because I’m so busy working or studying that I’m either stuck in my bedroom or stuck at work.
“I love it. I get to see them, I get to hang out with them, and it’s also what they love doing, so we all have fun together.”
Leader sportswriter
The McGlothlin family really gets a kick out of Mixed Martial Arts.
So much so that William McGlothlin opened his own training facility in Cabot in early 2009, while his two teenage sons, Eli and Rudy, aspire to reach the professional MMA ranks.
The McGlothlins operate Barata MMA in Cabot and live near Bald Knob.
William has been involved with the sport for just over 11 years and reached pro status as a fighter. Eli, 18, is a five-time amateur kickboxing champion in the prestigious International Kickboxing Federation with a career record of 15-4, and Rudy, 15, has one title belt in his young career.
The family will head to Orlando, Fla., at the end of the week for the IKF World Classic amateur kickboxing and Muay Thai championships held July 23-25.
Eli has won five belts in five trips to the international event, and with possibly his final trip to Orlando as an amateur ahead, the only pressure he said he feels is from within.
“It’s just a big enjoyment in life,” Eli said. “I like to go out and challenge myself and try to see how hard I can push myself. It always feels great to overcome that goal that you set up for yourself and then to set up your next goal and try to get to it.”
Eli’s fast track to success has been an inspiration for 15-year-old Rudy McGlothlin.
Rudy won his first IKF title in his first trip in 2008 and finished runner-up last year. He has also been a champion on the NAGA grappling circuit.
Rudy said he does not want to simply follow in his older brother’s footsteps, but rather eclipse them.
However, Rudy, slightly taller and bulkier than Eli despite being three years younger, is also quick to point out that his dad and brother helped accelerate his progress.
“I’m going to try and beat him,” Rudy said of Eli’s accomplishments. “So I can have everybody look up to me instead of him as much. They help me out a lot.
“I look at what they’ve done or what they’re going to do, that way, I’ll know what to do if it comes down to it.”
William began what has become a family saga 11 years ago when he met David Swain, a registered nurse in the Searcy area who taught Brazilian Ju-jitsu on the side. William trained under Swain and became skilled enough to take part in a MMA event promoted by local martial arts legend Danny Dring, of Sherwood.
William started training under Dring full time when Swain moved away, and has been affiliated with Dring’s Living Defense martial arts ever since.
In his decade-plus of MMA training and instructing, William has had a front-row seat to the sport’s enormous growth.
“It’s growing consistently,” William said. “I’m going to say it’s misunderstood a lot of times. When people think of MMA and fighting, they think pretty thuggish. But if you come to my school and see, all of my people are very well mannered, respectful. I don’t accept that and I don’t tolerate it.”
William is a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and a second-degree black belt kickboxer under the Joe Lewis Fighting Systems. His original inspiration came as it has to many over the last decade, from watching televised Mixed Martial Arts on Ultimate Fighting Championship.
“I was 28 when I first started, but I always wanted to do something,” William said. “I never really had much interest in taekwondo and stuff like that. I found the grappling and Jiu-Jitsu, MMA part through watching UFC, and found a local instructor.”
Eli was 10 years old when he first competed in kickboxing, and began fighting MMA recently, just before his 18th birthday, and has built a 4-0 record. The Bald Knob High School graduate plans to attend Arkansas State University-Beebe in the fall while still finding enough time to pursue his fighting career.
He holds the 18-year-old record for most consecutive IKF titles at five, and with another successful trip to Orlando, could become the first six-time champion at age 18 in the IKF.
“Every single fight, I try to train harder and harder,” Eli said. “It doesn’t matter if it’s this big national event or coming to a local fight around here, anytime I go into a fight, I try to push it even harder each time. If training and fighting continues to go well, I would definitely love to take it to the next level.”
With all the training, the intensity and even the propensity for physical pain in the octagon, there are two more things that make it all worthwhile for Eli — family and fun.
“It definitely makes coming to training really fun, because we get to spend more time together that way,” Eli said. “I actually get to see them more here than at home, because I’m so busy working or studying that I’m either stuck in my bedroom or stuck at work.
“I love it. I get to see them, I get to hang out with them, and it’s also what they love doing, so we all have fun together.”
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