By JOHN HOFHEIMER
Leader senior staff writer
Pulaski County will advertise for proposals from architects and engineers within a few days to design a new, more secure 200-bed jail for nonviolent offenders within the fenced perimeter of the Pulaski County Detention Center, Judge Buddy Villines said Monday afternoon.
The county has not determined how it would pay for either the construction or the operation of that new facility, Villines said, but the cost can’t be determined “until you get a full design and know where it’s going to be located,” he said.
Meanwhile, the county will proceed with the $1 million renovations of pods A and B of the old jail, not currently being used, Sheriff Doc Holladay told the Jacksonville Rotary earlier in the day.
That would move 160 inmates from the work-release center into the old jail, which is more secure.
That’s step one of the four-step plan Holladay has to raise the number of available jail beds from 880 to 1,530.
Although the jail is approved for an inmate population of 880, so far this year it has averaged 941 inmates, according to the sheriff.
In addition to work on the old jail, his plan includes, not necessarily in this order:
Building a 200-bed warehouse-style facility within the fenced perimeter of the new jail to housethe nonviolent felons. Detention center capacity would increase to 1,080 prisoners. Construction costs are estimated at $4 million, with annual maintenance and operation of $1.5 million.
Reopening the work center to house 250 misdemeanor inmates who could help offset their cost to the county by performing work. Jail capacity would then be 1,330. It would require no new construction cost, but annual maintenance and operation is $3 million.
Building a 200-bed secure wing—bricks and mortar—connected to the new jail for violent felons. Implementation would bring total inmate capacity to 1,530. This wing could cost $6 million to $8 million and cost about $1.6 million a year to operate.
Jacksonville JP Bob Johnson has said he supports Holladay’s jail plan.
Work already has begun on the roof, and the county will be able to put more money into that renovation thanks to a deal struck with Siemens Controls last week to install new heating, air conditioning, plumbing and electricity in several old county buildings.
Siemens will lend the county $6.1 million at 3.75 percent interest to update the systems in those buildings, including the old jail, Villines said. All work should be completed before the end of this calendar year, and Siemens guarantees that the loan installments will be made up from energy savings to the county.
Holladay had planned to spend about $400,000 from the public- safety fund to fix the room, get rid of wet ceiling tiles and mold and to repaint. Now with Siemens committed to finance and install the various utility systems, paid for out of future energy savings, Holladay said he hoped he could move 160 prisoners into the old jail from the work-release center sometime this year.
Holladay said Monday he would like the county to pay operation and maintenance to keep the work-release center open for a net gain of 200 beds and begin building the new 200-bed jail for about $4 million.
Villines said he doesn’t know where the money would come from to staff and operate the work center after the prisoners currently housed there move to the old jail, and said until the new jail was designed, there was no way to reliably estimate its cost.
Once the county’s current loan to pay for remodeling the prosecuting attorney’s building and another building for county use are paid off over the next two years, the money used to pay those loans could be directed toward the 200-bed medium-security building, Villines said when asked where the county could get the money to build.
Holladay said that when the interlocal agreement expires in either 2010 or 2014—there is some dispute—cities will have to pay their share of housing inmates and he speculated that they are in for a rude awakening.
Tuesday, March 04, 2008
TOP STORY > >Sherwood to vote on annexing neighbor
By RICK KRON
Leader staff writer
“We are the alternative,” Sherwood Mayor Virginia Hillman keeps telling the people of Gravel Ridge as the annexation vote looms closer.
The question that Sherwood and Gravel Ridge residents will be voting on Tuesday is whether or not Gravel Ridge should become part of Sherwood.
But what the vote will really decide is whether Gravel Ridge residents get to vote again April 1 or do they become part of Jacksonville. Early voting started Monday and ends Friday in Sherwood. Early voting ends Monday at the Pulaski County Courthouse.
Jacksonville, which also wants the 2,500-acre rural community of 3,500, voted, along with Gravel Ridge residents on whether or not the community should become part of Jacksonville back on Feb. 5. About 75 percent of Jacksonville residents said yes, along with about 30 percent from Gravel Ridge, which together worked out to a majority vote for annexation.
But because Sherwood also wants the community, Gravel Ridge was not taken in by Jacksonville after that vote. Jacksonville must wait.
Now if Tuesday’s vote shows a majority saying yes to coming into Sherwood, then just Gravel Ridge residents will vote April 1 to decide which city they want to join.
If the majority vote on Tuesday is against coming into Sherwood, then the community would be-come part of Jacksonville.
Hillman naturally feels Sher-wood is the better fit. “I just think Sherwood and Gravel Ridge have a lot in common,” she said.
“Sherwood is a great place and Gravel Ridge would be a great addition.”
Hillman said Sherwood is committed to providing the same services to the residents of Gravel Ridge as those that are available to current Sherwood residents, including police, fire, ambulance, weekly trash pickup, which also includes bulk items picked up on a weekly basis that are not considered household garbage.
Sherwood Police Chief Kel Nicholson has said that his patrol units had already received maps of the areas and were studying the street locations.
“Once Gravel Ridge becomes part of Sherwood it would take about a week for the 911 calls to be switched to Sherwood, but during that time, calls would go to the county and it’ll take them just a few seconds to send it to us,” the chief said.
He explained that Gravel Ridge would be designated a patrol district and would have at least five officers assigned.
“We would have Gravel Ridge covered 24/7.”
He said that Sherwood police would share the sheriff’s substation on Highway 107.
Fire Chief Frank Hill also said that the community would not lose its fire station by becoming part of Sherwood. “We would strengthen it by adding three fulltime paid positions out here.”
Hill said he and the Gravel Ridge chief had already met numerous times and felt there would be no problems in the two departments working together.
Hillman said if Gravel Ridge comes into Sherwood, that community would see lower property taxes as well as a lower sales tax.
Currently the millage and sales tax rates are higher in Jacksonville than in Sherwood and Gravel Ridge, Hillman said. The property millage rate is the same in Sherwood as Gravel Ridge. “This will mean no increase on property tax bills,” she said.
But residents will see an in-crease on prepared foods as Sherwood, like Jacksonville, has a hamburger tax that is currently not charged in Gravel Ridge.
Doris Anderson, a former mayoral candidate, said, “Put us down for annexation. It’s vital that Sherwood residents get out and vote yes to give Gravel Ridge a choice.”
Her husband Mike said Sher-wood and Gravel Ridge have a natural tie with Hwy. 107 and Brockington Road.
“Gravel Ridge traffic comes through Sherwood. They are a part of our daily lives. If Gravel Ridge was part of Sherwood, then they would have a big say about the roads that they use,” he said.
Sherwood and Gravel Ridge residents may vote early from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. through Friday at Sherwood’s senior center, or at the Pulaski County Clerk’s Office in Little Rock from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. through Friday and again Monday.
Voting sites for Tuesday’s election include:
Kellogg Valley Baptist Church 9516 Bamboo Lane, North Little Rock.
Sylvan Hills United Methodist Church, 9921 Sylvan Hills Hwy., Sherwood.
First Baptist Church of Gravel Ridge, 14322 Hwy. 107.
Brockington Road Church of the Nazarene, 9860 Brockington Road, Sherwood.
Sylvan Hills Community Church, 8019 Hwy. 107, Sher-wood.
Jack Evans Senior Citizens Center, 2301 Thornhill Drive, Sherwood.
First Baptist Church of Sherwood, 701 Country Club.
Cornerstone Bible Fellowship Church, 7351 Warden Road, Sherwood.
Indianhead Lake Baptist Church, 8601 Indianhead Drive, Sherwood.
Cornerstone Bible Fellowship Church, 7351 Warden Road, Sherwood.
Sherwood Youth Center, 508 Sherwood Ave.
Polls will be open from 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Leader staff writer
“We are the alternative,” Sherwood Mayor Virginia Hillman keeps telling the people of Gravel Ridge as the annexation vote looms closer.
The question that Sherwood and Gravel Ridge residents will be voting on Tuesday is whether or not Gravel Ridge should become part of Sherwood.
But what the vote will really decide is whether Gravel Ridge residents get to vote again April 1 or do they become part of Jacksonville. Early voting started Monday and ends Friday in Sherwood. Early voting ends Monday at the Pulaski County Courthouse.
Jacksonville, which also wants the 2,500-acre rural community of 3,500, voted, along with Gravel Ridge residents on whether or not the community should become part of Jacksonville back on Feb. 5. About 75 percent of Jacksonville residents said yes, along with about 30 percent from Gravel Ridge, which together worked out to a majority vote for annexation.
But because Sherwood also wants the community, Gravel Ridge was not taken in by Jacksonville after that vote. Jacksonville must wait.
Now if Tuesday’s vote shows a majority saying yes to coming into Sherwood, then just Gravel Ridge residents will vote April 1 to decide which city they want to join.
If the majority vote on Tuesday is against coming into Sherwood, then the community would be-come part of Jacksonville.
Hillman naturally feels Sher-wood is the better fit. “I just think Sherwood and Gravel Ridge have a lot in common,” she said.
“Sherwood is a great place and Gravel Ridge would be a great addition.”
Hillman said Sherwood is committed to providing the same services to the residents of Gravel Ridge as those that are available to current Sherwood residents, including police, fire, ambulance, weekly trash pickup, which also includes bulk items picked up on a weekly basis that are not considered household garbage.
Sherwood Police Chief Kel Nicholson has said that his patrol units had already received maps of the areas and were studying the street locations.
“Once Gravel Ridge becomes part of Sherwood it would take about a week for the 911 calls to be switched to Sherwood, but during that time, calls would go to the county and it’ll take them just a few seconds to send it to us,” the chief said.
He explained that Gravel Ridge would be designated a patrol district and would have at least five officers assigned.
“We would have Gravel Ridge covered 24/7.”
He said that Sherwood police would share the sheriff’s substation on Highway 107.
Fire Chief Frank Hill also said that the community would not lose its fire station by becoming part of Sherwood. “We would strengthen it by adding three fulltime paid positions out here.”
Hill said he and the Gravel Ridge chief had already met numerous times and felt there would be no problems in the two departments working together.
Hillman said if Gravel Ridge comes into Sherwood, that community would see lower property taxes as well as a lower sales tax.
Currently the millage and sales tax rates are higher in Jacksonville than in Sherwood and Gravel Ridge, Hillman said. The property millage rate is the same in Sherwood as Gravel Ridge. “This will mean no increase on property tax bills,” she said.
But residents will see an in-crease on prepared foods as Sherwood, like Jacksonville, has a hamburger tax that is currently not charged in Gravel Ridge.
Doris Anderson, a former mayoral candidate, said, “Put us down for annexation. It’s vital that Sherwood residents get out and vote yes to give Gravel Ridge a choice.”
Her husband Mike said Sher-wood and Gravel Ridge have a natural tie with Hwy. 107 and Brockington Road.
“Gravel Ridge traffic comes through Sherwood. They are a part of our daily lives. If Gravel Ridge was part of Sherwood, then they would have a big say about the roads that they use,” he said.
Sherwood and Gravel Ridge residents may vote early from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. through Friday at Sherwood’s senior center, or at the Pulaski County Clerk’s Office in Little Rock from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. through Friday and again Monday.
Voting sites for Tuesday’s election include:
Kellogg Valley Baptist Church 9516 Bamboo Lane, North Little Rock.
Sylvan Hills United Methodist Church, 9921 Sylvan Hills Hwy., Sherwood.
First Baptist Church of Gravel Ridge, 14322 Hwy. 107.
Brockington Road Church of the Nazarene, 9860 Brockington Road, Sherwood.
Sylvan Hills Community Church, 8019 Hwy. 107, Sher-wood.
Jack Evans Senior Citizens Center, 2301 Thornhill Drive, Sherwood.
First Baptist Church of Sherwood, 701 Country Club.
Cornerstone Bible Fellowship Church, 7351 Warden Road, Sherwood.
Indianhead Lake Baptist Church, 8601 Indianhead Drive, Sherwood.
Cornerstone Bible Fellowship Church, 7351 Warden Road, Sherwood.
Sherwood Youth Center, 508 Sherwood Ave.
Polls will be open from 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.
TOP STORY > >Candidates filing
By JOAN MCCOY
Leader staff writer
Candidates are filing for office this week, and there are several contested races in Lonoke and White counties.
In Lonoke County, John W. Staley of Austin, a Republican, has filed against Sheriff Jim Roberson of Cabot, another Republican, who is in his sixth year as sheriff.
Roberson, who has not filed yet, said this week that running for re-election is always stressful, but not so much of a concern that he can’t keep doing his job.
“We’re going to keep doing what we’re doing,” he said. “We’re solving thefts and arresting drug dealers. We’ve got a good bunch of deputies. It’s working.”
Sam Chamberlain of Austin, a Democrat, said he will also run for Lonoke County sheriff.
LEGISLATURE
In the legislative races, Walls Mc-Crary, Democrat of Lonoke, has filed for House Dist. 15, which takes in part of Lonoke
County and part of Pulaski.
Kieth Williams, Democrat of Beebe, has filed for House Dist. 49 in White County. In House Dist. 50, which takes in Searcy, Kyle Reeves has filed as a Republican and Monty Betts has filed as a Democrat. Both are from Searcy.
Three Democrats have filed for House Dist. 58, which takes in part of White County and part of Jackson County: Jody Dickinson of Newport; L.J. Bryant of Newport and Jamie Darling of Tuckerman.
Rep. Lance Reynolds, D-Quitman, has filed for his seat in House Dist. 59, which takes in part of White and part of Cleburne County.
LONOKE COUNTY
Candidates have also filed for office in Lonoke County: Jennifer Stuart, non-partisan Lonoke District Court judge; Deborah
Oglesby, Democrat, circuit clerk; Dawn Porterfield, Democrat, county clerk; Susan Denise Brown, Republican, circuit clerk; Sherry Stracener, Democrat, coroner; Patricia McCallie, Democrat, tax collector; Karol Depriest, Democrat, county treasurer.
Quorum court candidates are Robert Morey, Democrat, JP Dis. 9; Roger Dale Lynch, Democrat, JP Dist. 8; Larry Odom, Republican, JP Dist. 3; Mark Edwards, Republican, JP Dist. 13; Mike Dolan, Democrat, JP Dist. 11; Adam Sims, Democrat, JP Dist. 7; Ronald Evans, Democrat, JP Dist. 10; Wes Clement, Democrat, JP Dist. 10, and Lynn Weeks Clark, Republican, JP Dist. 5.
CIRCUIT JUDGE
Lonoke and White Counties have three contested races for circuit judge. In Dist. 23, Lonoke County, Lance Hanshaw is retiring, leaving his Division 1 seat up for grabs. In Dist., 17, White and Prairie counties, Judge Bill Mills is stepping down from his
Division 1 seat.
In Dist. 23, Division 3, Judge Barbara Elmore and Assistant Prosecutor Chuck Graham have filed for Division 1.
Prosecutor Lona McCastlain and Division 2 Judge Phillip Whiteaker have filed for Division 2 and Sandy Huckabee has filed for Division 3.
In Dist. 17, Mark Derrick and Tom Hughes have filed for Division 1, while Division 2 Judge Robert Edwards and Division 3 Judge Craig Hannah so far are unopposed.
WHITE COUNTY
In White County races, there will be a rematch for county judge between Dennis Gillam, Democrat Judsonia, and Michael Lincoln, Republican-Searcy, who defeated Gillam in 2006. Valentine Huffman of Searcy also has filed in that race as an independent.
All other elected White County officials are expected to run unopposed.
Leader staff writer
Candidates are filing for office this week, and there are several contested races in Lonoke and White counties.
In Lonoke County, John W. Staley of Austin, a Republican, has filed against Sheriff Jim Roberson of Cabot, another Republican, who is in his sixth year as sheriff.
Roberson, who has not filed yet, said this week that running for re-election is always stressful, but not so much of a concern that he can’t keep doing his job.
“We’re going to keep doing what we’re doing,” he said. “We’re solving thefts and arresting drug dealers. We’ve got a good bunch of deputies. It’s working.”
Sam Chamberlain of Austin, a Democrat, said he will also run for Lonoke County sheriff.
LEGISLATURE
In the legislative races, Walls Mc-Crary, Democrat of Lonoke, has filed for House Dist. 15, which takes in part of Lonoke
County and part of Pulaski.
Kieth Williams, Democrat of Beebe, has filed for House Dist. 49 in White County. In House Dist. 50, which takes in Searcy, Kyle Reeves has filed as a Republican and Monty Betts has filed as a Democrat. Both are from Searcy.
Three Democrats have filed for House Dist. 58, which takes in part of White County and part of Jackson County: Jody Dickinson of Newport; L.J. Bryant of Newport and Jamie Darling of Tuckerman.
Rep. Lance Reynolds, D-Quitman, has filed for his seat in House Dist. 59, which takes in part of White and part of Cleburne County.
LONOKE COUNTY
Candidates have also filed for office in Lonoke County: Jennifer Stuart, non-partisan Lonoke District Court judge; Deborah
Oglesby, Democrat, circuit clerk; Dawn Porterfield, Democrat, county clerk; Susan Denise Brown, Republican, circuit clerk; Sherry Stracener, Democrat, coroner; Patricia McCallie, Democrat, tax collector; Karol Depriest, Democrat, county treasurer.
Quorum court candidates are Robert Morey, Democrat, JP Dis. 9; Roger Dale Lynch, Democrat, JP Dist. 8; Larry Odom, Republican, JP Dist. 3; Mark Edwards, Republican, JP Dist. 13; Mike Dolan, Democrat, JP Dist. 11; Adam Sims, Democrat, JP Dist. 7; Ronald Evans, Democrat, JP Dist. 10; Wes Clement, Democrat, JP Dist. 10, and Lynn Weeks Clark, Republican, JP Dist. 5.
CIRCUIT JUDGE
Lonoke and White Counties have three contested races for circuit judge. In Dist. 23, Lonoke County, Lance Hanshaw is retiring, leaving his Division 1 seat up for grabs. In Dist., 17, White and Prairie counties, Judge Bill Mills is stepping down from his
Division 1 seat.
In Dist. 23, Division 3, Judge Barbara Elmore and Assistant Prosecutor Chuck Graham have filed for Division 1.
Prosecutor Lona McCastlain and Division 2 Judge Phillip Whiteaker have filed for Division 2 and Sandy Huckabee has filed for Division 3.
In Dist. 17, Mark Derrick and Tom Hughes have filed for Division 1, while Division 2 Judge Robert Edwards and Division 3 Judge Craig Hannah so far are unopposed.
WHITE COUNTY
In White County races, there will be a rematch for county judge between Dennis Gillam, Democrat Judsonia, and Michael Lincoln, Republican-Searcy, who defeated Gillam in 2006. Valentine Huffman of Searcy also has filed in that race as an independent.
All other elected White County officials are expected to run unopposed.
Saturday, March 01, 2008
SPORTS EVENTS >> 4-9-08
HERSHEY TRACK AND FIELD GAMES HERE APRIL 16
The Hershey Track and Field Games will take place in Jacksonville on April 24 at Jacksonville High School.
The deadline for entry is April 17.
Winners in the Jacksonville meet will advance to the state meet on June 21. State meet winners do not automatically advance to the North American Final. They are entered into a pool and become eligible for selection to a Regional Team, which will travel to Hershey, Pa. for the Final.
For more information and to find out how to register your child, contact Kristen Griggs at (501) 982-4171 or e-mail to kristendgriggs@yahoo.com.
CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL CHARITY GOLF TOURNEY IN APRIL
Greystone Country Club in Cabot will host a charity golf tournament benefitting Arkansas Children’s Hospital.
The tourney is set for April 24 and will be a 4 Man Scramble. Registration is 11 a.m. the day of the tournament with a 1 p.m. shotgun start. Lunch will be provided by Outback Steakhouse. BMW of Little Rock will sponsor a Hole-in-One contest.
The entry fee is $400 per team. Interested people may sponsor a hole for $150 or a team and a hole for $500.
For more information, contact Denise Goforth at (501) 533-2251.
CABOT DUCKS UNLIMITED DINNER SET FOR APRILl 17
The Annual Cabot Ducks Unlimited membership dinner will be held April 17 at 7 p.m. at the Old Alford’s Furniture building, located at 909 West Main Street in Cabot.
Ticket prices are $40 per single, $60 per couple, or $20 per Green Wing.
Doors open at 6 p.m. Dinner, provided by Outback Steakhouse, will be at 7, with an auction to follow at 8.
Corportate tables are available starting at $250 for two tickets, $500 for six tickets, and $1,000 for 12 tickets. To purchase tickets, call Arkansas Ducks Unlimited District 10 Zone Chairman Matt Robinson at (501) 412-8055, Arkansas Ducks Unlimited District 10 Chairman Allen Higginbotham at (501) 554-5734, or Arkansas Ducks Unlimited Regional Director Bob Butler at (501) 837-1530.
SHERWOOD SHARKS HOLDING REGISTRATION THIS MONTH
The Sherwood Sharks Swim Team is holding registration on April 12-13 and April 19-20 at the Harmon Recreation Center at 51 Shelby Road from 2-4 p.m.
The cost for the season is $65 for the first swimmer, $55 for the second, and $50 for the third in each family.
If you need more information, contact Joy Scott at 758-8895 or Mary Jo Heye at 834-2086, or visit the Web site at www.eteams.com/sherwoodsharks.
The Hershey Track and Field Games will take place in Jacksonville on April 24 at Jacksonville High School.
The deadline for entry is April 17.
Winners in the Jacksonville meet will advance to the state meet on June 21. State meet winners do not automatically advance to the North American Final. They are entered into a pool and become eligible for selection to a Regional Team, which will travel to Hershey, Pa. for the Final.
For more information and to find out how to register your child, contact Kristen Griggs at (501) 982-4171 or e-mail to kristendgriggs@yahoo.com.
CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL CHARITY GOLF TOURNEY IN APRIL
Greystone Country Club in Cabot will host a charity golf tournament benefitting Arkansas Children’s Hospital.
The tourney is set for April 24 and will be a 4 Man Scramble. Registration is 11 a.m. the day of the tournament with a 1 p.m. shotgun start. Lunch will be provided by Outback Steakhouse. BMW of Little Rock will sponsor a Hole-in-One contest.
The entry fee is $400 per team. Interested people may sponsor a hole for $150 or a team and a hole for $500.
For more information, contact Denise Goforth at (501) 533-2251.
CABOT DUCKS UNLIMITED DINNER SET FOR APRILl 17
The Annual Cabot Ducks Unlimited membership dinner will be held April 17 at 7 p.m. at the Old Alford’s Furniture building, located at 909 West Main Street in Cabot.
Ticket prices are $40 per single, $60 per couple, or $20 per Green Wing.
Doors open at 6 p.m. Dinner, provided by Outback Steakhouse, will be at 7, with an auction to follow at 8.
Corportate tables are available starting at $250 for two tickets, $500 for six tickets, and $1,000 for 12 tickets. To purchase tickets, call Arkansas Ducks Unlimited District 10 Zone Chairman Matt Robinson at (501) 412-8055, Arkansas Ducks Unlimited District 10 Chairman Allen Higginbotham at (501) 554-5734, or Arkansas Ducks Unlimited Regional Director Bob Butler at (501) 837-1530.
SHERWOOD SHARKS HOLDING REGISTRATION THIS MONTH
The Sherwood Sharks Swim Team is holding registration on April 12-13 and April 19-20 at the Harmon Recreation Center at 51 Shelby Road from 2-4 p.m.
The cost for the season is $65 for the first swimmer, $55 for the second, and $50 for the third in each family.
If you need more information, contact Joy Scott at 758-8895 or Mary Jo Heye at 834-2086, or visit the Web site at www.eteams.com/sherwoodsharks.
SPORTS >> Owls post first-ever state win by beating West Fork
By JASON KING
Leader sportswriter
CAVE CITY — It may not have been as pretty as Abundant Life coach Tim Ballard may have wanted, but the Owls advanced through the opening round of the 3A state tournament with a 43-34 win over West Fork at Caveman Arena on Thursday night.
The Owls took on Bergman last night in the quarterfinals in a game played after Leader deadlines.
As expected, much of West Fork’s defensive attention focused on guards Colby Woolverton and Dane Lottner. The high-octane duo was held to 16 points combined, but the AL post players were able to contribute 20 points. Nelson Boren, Garrett Southerland and Dustin Keathley may not have been able to dominate against the bigger Tigers, but more aggressive play from the Owls in the secondhalf allowed them to control the tempo.
“They played a jump man-to-man on Dane and Colby,” Ballard said, “and a zone on the other three. They overplayed them and tried to contain them some. They were a humongous team; they had tall guards and big, thick post players. They played really physical in the first half, but we were able to get in there and be more aggressive in the second half and outrebound them.”
The defensive struggle led to a 23-18 lead for Abundant Life at halftime. Rather than push the issue in the second half, the Owls were content to work on clock management, which went a long way towards preventing a West Fork run in the closing stages.
“It’s hard for your posts to respond when they pack three guys under the goal,” Ballard said. “They started fouling, so we were getting most of our points from lay-ups or free throws.”
The trips to the line for the Owls could have put the game away a bit earlier, but five straight misses at the stripe kept West Fork in the game until the final minutes.
Lottner led the Owls with 10 points. Boren added eight points, with seven points from Southerland. Woolverton finished with six points, and Keathley rounded it out with five points. The win improved the Owls’ to 33-8 on the season/
Bergman entered State as the No. 1 seed out of Region 3, and came into the tourney on a 20-plus game winning streak.
Ballard says it will be a tough, but winnable game.
“They have two great scorers at guard — we have two great scorers at guard,” Ballard said. “They also have a big kid inside that is a good defender. It’s going to be interesting; they haven’t lost a game since the first week of December. They are playing some really good basketball right now.”
It was the Owls’ first-ever state playoff game, making Thursday’s win a historic one for Abundant Life Schools. Ballard likes his team’s chances the rest of the way, but also says the week has been a good reward for a year of hard work, and half a decade of near misses.
“All those teams that put us out in regionals every year were always top-three teams,” Ballard said. “Every time, we had to go up against one of the hottest teams in the state. We always felt like if we could catch a break during regionals, that we could make some noise once we got to state.”
Leader sportswriter
CAVE CITY — It may not have been as pretty as Abundant Life coach Tim Ballard may have wanted, but the Owls advanced through the opening round of the 3A state tournament with a 43-34 win over West Fork at Caveman Arena on Thursday night.
The Owls took on Bergman last night in the quarterfinals in a game played after Leader deadlines.
As expected, much of West Fork’s defensive attention focused on guards Colby Woolverton and Dane Lottner. The high-octane duo was held to 16 points combined, but the AL post players were able to contribute 20 points. Nelson Boren, Garrett Southerland and Dustin Keathley may not have been able to dominate against the bigger Tigers, but more aggressive play from the Owls in the secondhalf allowed them to control the tempo.
“They played a jump man-to-man on Dane and Colby,” Ballard said, “and a zone on the other three. They overplayed them and tried to contain them some. They were a humongous team; they had tall guards and big, thick post players. They played really physical in the first half, but we were able to get in there and be more aggressive in the second half and outrebound them.”
The defensive struggle led to a 23-18 lead for Abundant Life at halftime. Rather than push the issue in the second half, the Owls were content to work on clock management, which went a long way towards preventing a West Fork run in the closing stages.
“It’s hard for your posts to respond when they pack three guys under the goal,” Ballard said. “They started fouling, so we were getting most of our points from lay-ups or free throws.”
The trips to the line for the Owls could have put the game away a bit earlier, but five straight misses at the stripe kept West Fork in the game until the final minutes.
Lottner led the Owls with 10 points. Boren added eight points, with seven points from Southerland. Woolverton finished with six points, and Keathley rounded it out with five points. The win improved the Owls’ to 33-8 on the season/
Bergman entered State as the No. 1 seed out of Region 3, and came into the tourney on a 20-plus game winning streak.
Ballard says it will be a tough, but winnable game.
“They have two great scorers at guard — we have two great scorers at guard,” Ballard said. “They also have a big kid inside that is a good defender. It’s going to be interesting; they haven’t lost a game since the first week of December. They are playing some really good basketball right now.”
It was the Owls’ first-ever state playoff game, making Thursday’s win a historic one for Abundant Life Schools. Ballard likes his team’s chances the rest of the way, but also says the week has been a good reward for a year of hard work, and half a decade of near misses.
“All those teams that put us out in regionals every year were always top-three teams,” Ballard said. “Every time, we had to go up against one of the hottest teams in the state. We always felt like if we could catch a break during regionals, that we could make some noise once we got to state.”
SPORTS >> Lonoke girls extend year with OT win
By JASON KING
Leader sportswriter
DUMAS — It took much longer than expected, but Lonoke finally came up victorious in the quarterfinals of the 4A State tournament with a 56-49 double overtime win over Prairie Grove on Friday night.
The Lady Jackrabbits improved to 25-8 on the season, and played the winner of last night’s game between Dumas and Dardenelle in the semifinals. Prairie Grove finished with a final record of 23-8.
“It was exciting; it’s what state tournament basketball is all about,” Lonoke coach Nathan Morris said. “It’s supposed to be this way. We struggled in the firsthalf, because Prairie Grove is such a tenacious team, but all of us did a better job in the second half.”
Hayley O’Cain and Prairie Grove’s Ashton Abahier traded three-pointers to start the second overtime, but it was Asiah Scribner’s put-back at the 2:34 mark that gave the Lady ‘Rabbits the lead for the final time.
Strong free throw shooting by sophomores Michaela Brown and Ashiegh Himstedt down the stretch kept Lonoke out front, as the Lady Tigers finally ran out of rallies.
The Lady Jackrabbits appeared to have the game in hand with 3:51 left in regulation. A free throw by Michaela Brown lifted Lonoke to a 40-32 lead, but the Lady Tigers got it to a one-possession game with 1:35 left in the fourth quarter.
The pivotal moment for Prairie Grove came with 10 seconds left in regulation, when post player Carrie Mitchell blocked a shot by Kendra Koyle, but was called for a foul. Koyle went down on the play, and senior sub Tara Cate came in to shoot the foul shots. She hit both ends, and a last-second attempt for Lonoke by Neighbors was well off the mark.
The Lady Jackrabbits came out a bit sluggish offensively to start the game, but freshman Cara Neighbors provided the initial spark at the 1:21 mark when she took a steal the length of the court for a layup, also drawing the foul from Elysia Clement. She missed the free throw, but Asiah Scribner was there for the rebound and putback, giving Lonoke a 12-8 lead.
Chelsea Glasscock narrowed it back to two for the Lady Tigers before the end of the period with a pair of free throws, but the Lady ‘Rabbits went on to own the next frame.
How tough was Lonoke’s defense in the second quarter? That question was best left to Prairie Grove sophomore post Julie Rutherford, who had to be taken out of the game due to hyperventalition with 3:28 left to go in the first half. Scribner had just handed the Lady ‘Rabbits their biggest lead of the first half at 23-14 off an inside shot assisted by Lauren Harper, which capped off an 11-2 run for Lonoke. Senior guard Hayley O’Cain started the run at the 7:03 mark with a three-point basket.
Rutherford did not return in the first half, but the Lady Tigers were able to control furhter damage. Jessie Van Wyhe hit two free throws that made it 23-16, but Carrie Mitchell began to find decent looks from the inside for Lonoke.
Her first goal was set up by an assist from O’Cain at the 2:28 mark, and she followed a three pointer for Prairie Grove with another jumper in the lane, this time assisted by Michaela Brown. It was 27-19 at the half.
Scribner led Lonoke with 16 points, with 14 points for Neighbors. Brown added 10 points for the Lady ‘Rabbits. For Prairie Grove, Ashton Abshier led all scorers with 24 points, 18 of which came off three-point baskets.
Leader sportswriter
DUMAS — It took much longer than expected, but Lonoke finally came up victorious in the quarterfinals of the 4A State tournament with a 56-49 double overtime win over Prairie Grove on Friday night.
The Lady Jackrabbits improved to 25-8 on the season, and played the winner of last night’s game between Dumas and Dardenelle in the semifinals. Prairie Grove finished with a final record of 23-8.
“It was exciting; it’s what state tournament basketball is all about,” Lonoke coach Nathan Morris said. “It’s supposed to be this way. We struggled in the firsthalf, because Prairie Grove is such a tenacious team, but all of us did a better job in the second half.”
Hayley O’Cain and Prairie Grove’s Ashton Abahier traded three-pointers to start the second overtime, but it was Asiah Scribner’s put-back at the 2:34 mark that gave the Lady ‘Rabbits the lead for the final time.
Strong free throw shooting by sophomores Michaela Brown and Ashiegh Himstedt down the stretch kept Lonoke out front, as the Lady Tigers finally ran out of rallies.
The Lady Jackrabbits appeared to have the game in hand with 3:51 left in regulation. A free throw by Michaela Brown lifted Lonoke to a 40-32 lead, but the Lady Tigers got it to a one-possession game with 1:35 left in the fourth quarter.
The pivotal moment for Prairie Grove came with 10 seconds left in regulation, when post player Carrie Mitchell blocked a shot by Kendra Koyle, but was called for a foul. Koyle went down on the play, and senior sub Tara Cate came in to shoot the foul shots. She hit both ends, and a last-second attempt for Lonoke by Neighbors was well off the mark.
The Lady Jackrabbits came out a bit sluggish offensively to start the game, but freshman Cara Neighbors provided the initial spark at the 1:21 mark when she took a steal the length of the court for a layup, also drawing the foul from Elysia Clement. She missed the free throw, but Asiah Scribner was there for the rebound and putback, giving Lonoke a 12-8 lead.
Chelsea Glasscock narrowed it back to two for the Lady Tigers before the end of the period with a pair of free throws, but the Lady ‘Rabbits went on to own the next frame.
How tough was Lonoke’s defense in the second quarter? That question was best left to Prairie Grove sophomore post Julie Rutherford, who had to be taken out of the game due to hyperventalition with 3:28 left to go in the first half. Scribner had just handed the Lady ‘Rabbits their biggest lead of the first half at 23-14 off an inside shot assisted by Lauren Harper, which capped off an 11-2 run for Lonoke. Senior guard Hayley O’Cain started the run at the 7:03 mark with a three-point basket.
Rutherford did not return in the first half, but the Lady Tigers were able to control furhter damage. Jessie Van Wyhe hit two free throws that made it 23-16, but Carrie Mitchell began to find decent looks from the inside for Lonoke.
Her first goal was set up by an assist from O’Cain at the 2:28 mark, and she followed a three pointer for Prairie Grove with another jumper in the lane, this time assisted by Michaela Brown. It was 27-19 at the half.
Scribner led Lonoke with 16 points, with 14 points for Neighbors. Brown added 10 points for the Lady ‘Rabbits. For Prairie Grove, Ashton Abshier led all scorers with 24 points, 18 of which came off three-point baskets.
SPORTS >> Jackrabbits head into semifinals
By JASON KING
Leader sportswriter
DUMAS — A fan of slow-paced defensive struggles may have found it difficult to enjoy Friday night’s quarterfinal game between Lonoke and McGehee. The Jackrabbits held on for a 72-63 win in the high-octane contest to advance to today’s semifinals.
Lonoke improved to 28-5 on the year with the win, and moved into today’s semifinal round against the winner of last night’s late game between Arkansas Baptist and Newport.
Both halves were parallels, as Lonoke jumped out to sizeable leads in the first and third quarters, only to watch them dissapate during big Owl rallies in the second and fourth quarters.
Both teams’ high profiles players managed to cancel each other out for the most part, as Lonoke’s Bradley Spencer and McGehee’s Jesse Barnes went toe to toe for almost the duration. Each managed to contain the other fairly well, until the Owls were forced to foul Spencer late in the game to stop the clock.
Spencer finished with only two field goals, but went 10-of-15 at the foul line in the fourth quarter, and went 12-of-17 overall at the line to finish with 16 points.
“If anyone paid attention to that game, they would know that when Bradley was on number 30 (Barnes), he couldn’t score at all,” Lonoke coach Wes Swift said. “It’s been a week since we’ve played, but I thought we did a much better job offensively than defensively. We missed 22 free throws, which I’m not thrilled about, and we didn’t block out for rebounds well. I’m happy to win, and happy to be moving on to tomorrow.”
A basket by Clarence Harris at with 3:49 left to play gave the ’Rabbits their biggest lead of the game at 57-44, but the Owls renewed the three-point assault they seemed to have lost at intermission. Back-to-back goals by by Michael Curry cut the lead to seven by the 3:15 mark, and three pointers for Wille Hansburg and Josh Cheney in between trips to the line for Spencer kept it close until the final 15 seconds.
“We may have shot well in the first quarter,” Swift said, “but we have good guards, juniors and seniors. I will attribute some of our defensive breakdowns to being off for a week.”
Juniors Michael Nelson and Harris got the Jackrabbits off to a roaring start. The two combined for 14 points in the first quarter alone, including a pair of threes for Nelson, with three pointers by Harris and Tony Jackson to start the game.
Nelson’s trey at the 1:48 mark put Lonoke up 19-8, but The Owls took over to start the second quarter.
McGehee Sophomore Michael Curry almost single-handedly took the early momentum away from Lonoke starting at the 5:34 mark of the second quarter. Harris had just put in a third-try basket for the ‘Rabbits to make it 22-13 when Curry began his run. It started with a basket and free throw, followed by a steal that he took all the way for a layup at the 4:30 mark that cut Lonoke’s lead to four.
The Jackrabbits went nearly three minutes without a score during the middle stages of the second frame. In that time, Glenn Marshall pulled the Owls to within a single score, taking advantage of a backcourt violation by Spencer to score in the lane to make it a 22-20 game.
Myles Taylor finally broke the drought for Lonoke with a basket and free throw, and Spencer got his first points of the game at the 2:25 mark on a putback of his own miss to extend the lead back to five.
The Owls actually pulled back to within one, but a 32-footer by Howard in the final minute gave the ‘Rabbits a 30-26 lead at the half.
Howard led the Jackrabbits with 18 points. Spencer and Harris each added 16 points for Lonoke.
Leader sportswriter
DUMAS — A fan of slow-paced defensive struggles may have found it difficult to enjoy Friday night’s quarterfinal game between Lonoke and McGehee. The Jackrabbits held on for a 72-63 win in the high-octane contest to advance to today’s semifinals.
Lonoke improved to 28-5 on the year with the win, and moved into today’s semifinal round against the winner of last night’s late game between Arkansas Baptist and Newport.
Both halves were parallels, as Lonoke jumped out to sizeable leads in the first and third quarters, only to watch them dissapate during big Owl rallies in the second and fourth quarters.
Both teams’ high profiles players managed to cancel each other out for the most part, as Lonoke’s Bradley Spencer and McGehee’s Jesse Barnes went toe to toe for almost the duration. Each managed to contain the other fairly well, until the Owls were forced to foul Spencer late in the game to stop the clock.
Spencer finished with only two field goals, but went 10-of-15 at the foul line in the fourth quarter, and went 12-of-17 overall at the line to finish with 16 points.
“If anyone paid attention to that game, they would know that when Bradley was on number 30 (Barnes), he couldn’t score at all,” Lonoke coach Wes Swift said. “It’s been a week since we’ve played, but I thought we did a much better job offensively than defensively. We missed 22 free throws, which I’m not thrilled about, and we didn’t block out for rebounds well. I’m happy to win, and happy to be moving on to tomorrow.”
A basket by Clarence Harris at with 3:49 left to play gave the ’Rabbits their biggest lead of the game at 57-44, but the Owls renewed the three-point assault they seemed to have lost at intermission. Back-to-back goals by by Michael Curry cut the lead to seven by the 3:15 mark, and three pointers for Wille Hansburg and Josh Cheney in between trips to the line for Spencer kept it close until the final 15 seconds.
“We may have shot well in the first quarter,” Swift said, “but we have good guards, juniors and seniors. I will attribute some of our defensive breakdowns to being off for a week.”
Juniors Michael Nelson and Harris got the Jackrabbits off to a roaring start. The two combined for 14 points in the first quarter alone, including a pair of threes for Nelson, with three pointers by Harris and Tony Jackson to start the game.
Nelson’s trey at the 1:48 mark put Lonoke up 19-8, but The Owls took over to start the second quarter.
McGehee Sophomore Michael Curry almost single-handedly took the early momentum away from Lonoke starting at the 5:34 mark of the second quarter. Harris had just put in a third-try basket for the ‘Rabbits to make it 22-13 when Curry began his run. It started with a basket and free throw, followed by a steal that he took all the way for a layup at the 4:30 mark that cut Lonoke’s lead to four.
The Jackrabbits went nearly three minutes without a score during the middle stages of the second frame. In that time, Glenn Marshall pulled the Owls to within a single score, taking advantage of a backcourt violation by Spencer to score in the lane to make it a 22-20 game.
Myles Taylor finally broke the drought for Lonoke with a basket and free throw, and Spencer got his first points of the game at the 2:25 mark on a putback of his own miss to extend the lead back to five.
The Owls actually pulled back to within one, but a 32-footer by Howard in the final minute gave the ‘Rabbits a 30-26 lead at the half.
Howard led the Jackrabbits with 18 points. Spencer and Harris each added 16 points for Lonoke.
SPORTS >> Panthers march on
By JASON KING
Leader sportswriter
CONWAY — It took them 31 years just to get an invitation. Now that they’ve gotten through the door, they aren’t in any hurry to leave.
The Cabot Panthers picked up their biggest win ever on Friday night with a 64-50 win over Little Rock Central at Conway High School to reach the 7A state semifinals for the first time in school history. Adam Sterrenberg scored 30 points to lead the Panthers.
Cabot was last in the state tournament in 1977.
“I told the guys, in case it takes us another 30 years to get back, let’s dance a while this week,” said exuberant and emotional Cabot head coach Jerry Bridges afterward. “I’m so proud of these kids. They play with a lot of grit and heart.”
Cabot will take on Friday night’s Forth Smith Northside-Conway winner tonight at 7:30 for a chance to play for the state title next weekend at Hot Springs.
Cabot won the season series from Central, which captured the 7A Central regular season and entered the tournament as a No. 1 seed. The Panthers beat Central at Panther Pavilion, but lost 66-65 to the Tigers on the road earlierthis month. That loss came in the middle of a remarkable seven-game streak for Cabot during which every contest was decided by two points or less.
Unlike in the last meeting between the two teams, Cabot took care of business at the free-throw line on Friday night, and controlled the flow of the game. The Panthers made 26-of-32 from the line, including 17-of-20 by Sterrenberg.
“When they beat us by one point at their place, we went 10-of-21 at the line, and we gave up a lot of breakaway baskets,” Bridges said. “I thought if we could take care of those two things, and control the tempo, we had a chance to win.”
Cabot never trailed in the second half after taking a 24-23 lead into the locker room. Austin Johnson got the second half started with runner in the lane, and the Panthers opened up their biggest lead to that point when Sam Bates’ spin move in the lane put Cabot up 30-24. That was as close as the Tigers would be the rest of the way.
Though the Tigers dominated the offensive glass, the Panthers got a couple of big second-chance buckets themselves in the third period. Derek Clarkson chased down an errant three-pointer in the right corner and hit a 12-footer on the baseline to push the lead to 10 at the 2:13 mark. As time expired in the third quarter, Mile Monroe collected a wild miss in the left corner and drilled a 14-footer to give Cabot a 42-30 lead heading into the final period.
The Tigers stayed in the game by getting four rebound baskets in the second half. Cabot hit 6-of-10 free throws over the first three minute of the final period to eventually push the lead to 13, but Central scored six straight to narrow the margin to 48-41, still with 4:00 remaining.
But Cabot all but put it away when Sterrenberg hit a pair of free throws, Monroe made a circle drive from the top of the circle for a lay-up, and Bates added a lay-up to open up a 54-41 lead at the 2:20 mark. The Tigers got as close to nine with 51 seconds left.
“That last quarter lasted forever,” said Bridges. “Even with a minute to go and up 10, I said, guys, this ain’t over. Just keep playing. And that’s what they did.”
The Tigers came out firing from the perimeter, knocking down three threes in the first quarter, including Erick Brooks’ buzzer-beating 30-foot runner. But Central made just one more three-pointer the rest of the way.
“I thought if we came out in the third quarter and get a bit of a run, we’d be OK, because the quick shot,” Bridges said. “If you’re hitting that, that’s fine. But if you’re not, you have a chance to build on that lead.
“And we’re long in our 1-3-1 zone,” he added. “We push people farther out on their threes than they’re used to shooting it.”
Central was decidedly not hitting their perimeter shots on Friday, making only 4-of-20, and only 16-of-52 shots overall.
Cabot, meanwhile, took good care of the basketball and showed great patience on offense. The Panthers took only seven three-pointers, and made 18-of-38 shots overall.
“One thing we wanted to do was control the tempo,” Bridges said. “We didn’t do that at their place. I told our guys, if the break is there, push. If not, let’s control the tempo and work the clock.”
Monroe added 13 points, while Johnson scored 10 and Bates six. Sterrenberg led Cabot with six rebounds, while Monroe pulled down five.
Central out-rebounded Cabot by only six, but pulled down 24 offensive boards. Erick Brooks led Central with 17 points.
“We’ve been in close games all year,” Bridges said. “The key is to remain calm under fire. The other night against Southside [an overtime win for Cabot on Thursday], we could have folded our tent when they took the lead. But we remained calm and pulled it out.
“It was a total team effort tonight.”
Leader sportswriter
CONWAY — It took them 31 years just to get an invitation. Now that they’ve gotten through the door, they aren’t in any hurry to leave.
The Cabot Panthers picked up their biggest win ever on Friday night with a 64-50 win over Little Rock Central at Conway High School to reach the 7A state semifinals for the first time in school history. Adam Sterrenberg scored 30 points to lead the Panthers.
Cabot was last in the state tournament in 1977.
“I told the guys, in case it takes us another 30 years to get back, let’s dance a while this week,” said exuberant and emotional Cabot head coach Jerry Bridges afterward. “I’m so proud of these kids. They play with a lot of grit and heart.”
Cabot will take on Friday night’s Forth Smith Northside-Conway winner tonight at 7:30 for a chance to play for the state title next weekend at Hot Springs.
Cabot won the season series from Central, which captured the 7A Central regular season and entered the tournament as a No. 1 seed. The Panthers beat Central at Panther Pavilion, but lost 66-65 to the Tigers on the road earlierthis month. That loss came in the middle of a remarkable seven-game streak for Cabot during which every contest was decided by two points or less.
Unlike in the last meeting between the two teams, Cabot took care of business at the free-throw line on Friday night, and controlled the flow of the game. The Panthers made 26-of-32 from the line, including 17-of-20 by Sterrenberg.
“When they beat us by one point at their place, we went 10-of-21 at the line, and we gave up a lot of breakaway baskets,” Bridges said. “I thought if we could take care of those two things, and control the tempo, we had a chance to win.”
Cabot never trailed in the second half after taking a 24-23 lead into the locker room. Austin Johnson got the second half started with runner in the lane, and the Panthers opened up their biggest lead to that point when Sam Bates’ spin move in the lane put Cabot up 30-24. That was as close as the Tigers would be the rest of the way.
Though the Tigers dominated the offensive glass, the Panthers got a couple of big second-chance buckets themselves in the third period. Derek Clarkson chased down an errant three-pointer in the right corner and hit a 12-footer on the baseline to push the lead to 10 at the 2:13 mark. As time expired in the third quarter, Mile Monroe collected a wild miss in the left corner and drilled a 14-footer to give Cabot a 42-30 lead heading into the final period.
The Tigers stayed in the game by getting four rebound baskets in the second half. Cabot hit 6-of-10 free throws over the first three minute of the final period to eventually push the lead to 13, but Central scored six straight to narrow the margin to 48-41, still with 4:00 remaining.
But Cabot all but put it away when Sterrenberg hit a pair of free throws, Monroe made a circle drive from the top of the circle for a lay-up, and Bates added a lay-up to open up a 54-41 lead at the 2:20 mark. The Tigers got as close to nine with 51 seconds left.
“That last quarter lasted forever,” said Bridges. “Even with a minute to go and up 10, I said, guys, this ain’t over. Just keep playing. And that’s what they did.”
The Tigers came out firing from the perimeter, knocking down three threes in the first quarter, including Erick Brooks’ buzzer-beating 30-foot runner. But Central made just one more three-pointer the rest of the way.
“I thought if we came out in the third quarter and get a bit of a run, we’d be OK, because the quick shot,” Bridges said. “If you’re hitting that, that’s fine. But if you’re not, you have a chance to build on that lead.
“And we’re long in our 1-3-1 zone,” he added. “We push people farther out on their threes than they’re used to shooting it.”
Central was decidedly not hitting their perimeter shots on Friday, making only 4-of-20, and only 16-of-52 shots overall.
Cabot, meanwhile, took good care of the basketball and showed great patience on offense. The Panthers took only seven three-pointers, and made 18-of-38 shots overall.
“One thing we wanted to do was control the tempo,” Bridges said. “We didn’t do that at their place. I told our guys, if the break is there, push. If not, let’s control the tempo and work the clock.”
Monroe added 13 points, while Johnson scored 10 and Bates six. Sterrenberg led Cabot with six rebounds, while Monroe pulled down five.
Central out-rebounded Cabot by only six, but pulled down 24 offensive boards. Erick Brooks led Central with 17 points.
“We’ve been in close games all year,” Bridges said. “The key is to remain calm under fire. The other night against Southside [an overtime win for Cabot on Thursday], we could have folded our tent when they took the lead. But we remained calm and pulled it out.
“It was a total team effort tonight.”
SPORTS >> Cabot girls fall flat in quarterfinals
By JASON KING
Leader sportswriter
CONWAY — The only thing more tenacious than the Lady Bulldogs’ offense was their stifling defense.
In what was up to that point a letdown for the West Conference in both boys and girls brackets during the opening round of the 7A state tournament, Fayetteville backed up its No. 1 seeding with a 68-36 blowout win over Cabot in the quarterfinals on Thursday afternoon at Wampus Cat Arena. The Lady Bulldogs finished with three players in double figures, while containing Cabot’s offense both inside and out.
The Lady Panthers shot 45 percent from the floor, but converted only 1-of-11 three-point attempts, tried everything in the book to find an advantage. That included a post-heavy lineup featuring juniors Shelby Ashcraft and Stephanie Glover, along with 6-2 sophomore center Sara Moore midway through the opening period.
What Fayetteville lacked in height, however, it made up for in hustle and aggressiveness. It was speed, not size, that made the difference on the boards, as the Lady ’Dogs outrebounded Cabot 34-23.
“The kids played hard, we just couldn’t do anything,” said Cabot head coach Carla Crowder. “They kicked our butts, basically. We didn’t play any kind of defense; we were really out of sync, and couldn’t get it back.”
The game stayed reasonably close through the first half, but cold hands for senior shooters Lauren Walker and Leah Watts was a bad omen early. Watts had shot the lights out of Conway’s new state-of-the-art facility the day before during a 12-point win over Bentonville, but that magic had disappeared by Thursday afternoon.
Watts did convert the only three-pointer of the game for Cabot with 32 seconds remaining in the third quarter, but by that time, the Lady Bulldogs had built themselves a comfortable 41-28 lead. Fayetteville senior post Chantlee Nash added two of her game-high 20 points before the third quarter buzzer to push the score to 43-28 entering the final frame.
“Our inside players played well and shot well,” Fayetteville coach Bobby Smith said. “For them, it wasn’t one of their best shooting nights. It’s amazing to beat one of Carla’s teams like this; she’s a historical figure. I mean that in terms of how many games she’s won and titles she has — not her age.”
It ended up as a swan song for Walker, Watts and Morgan Verkler, but juniors Stephanie Glover and Jenna Bailey willbe back to help lead the Lady Panthers during their ’08-’09 campaign.
“When you get in a rhythm like we’ve been in, you start thinking you can go all the way,” Bailey said. “We just need more focus if we get the chance to come back next year.” Glover all but stated that the tough loss added fuel to the fire.
“For me, it just makes me want to go out and start practicing for next year tomorrow,” Glover said.
Walker led the Lady Panthers with 10 points and seven rebounds, with nine points and seven rebounds for Ashcraft. Watts ended her career as a Lady Panther with seven points, and Glover finished with six points. Cabot finished 18-11.
For Fayetteville, Nash led all scorers with 20 points and 17 rebounds, along with two blocks. The Lady Bulldogs improved to 24-4 on the season, and will play Fort Smith Northside in the semifinals today at noon.
Leader sportswriter
CONWAY — The only thing more tenacious than the Lady Bulldogs’ offense was their stifling defense.
In what was up to that point a letdown for the West Conference in both boys and girls brackets during the opening round of the 7A state tournament, Fayetteville backed up its No. 1 seeding with a 68-36 blowout win over Cabot in the quarterfinals on Thursday afternoon at Wampus Cat Arena. The Lady Bulldogs finished with three players in double figures, while containing Cabot’s offense both inside and out.
The Lady Panthers shot 45 percent from the floor, but converted only 1-of-11 three-point attempts, tried everything in the book to find an advantage. That included a post-heavy lineup featuring juniors Shelby Ashcraft and Stephanie Glover, along with 6-2 sophomore center Sara Moore midway through the opening period.
What Fayetteville lacked in height, however, it made up for in hustle and aggressiveness. It was speed, not size, that made the difference on the boards, as the Lady ’Dogs outrebounded Cabot 34-23.
“The kids played hard, we just couldn’t do anything,” said Cabot head coach Carla Crowder. “They kicked our butts, basically. We didn’t play any kind of defense; we were really out of sync, and couldn’t get it back.”
The game stayed reasonably close through the first half, but cold hands for senior shooters Lauren Walker and Leah Watts was a bad omen early. Watts had shot the lights out of Conway’s new state-of-the-art facility the day before during a 12-point win over Bentonville, but that magic had disappeared by Thursday afternoon.
Watts did convert the only three-pointer of the game for Cabot with 32 seconds remaining in the third quarter, but by that time, the Lady Bulldogs had built themselves a comfortable 41-28 lead. Fayetteville senior post Chantlee Nash added two of her game-high 20 points before the third quarter buzzer to push the score to 43-28 entering the final frame.
“Our inside players played well and shot well,” Fayetteville coach Bobby Smith said. “For them, it wasn’t one of their best shooting nights. It’s amazing to beat one of Carla’s teams like this; she’s a historical figure. I mean that in terms of how many games she’s won and titles she has — not her age.”
It ended up as a swan song for Walker, Watts and Morgan Verkler, but juniors Stephanie Glover and Jenna Bailey willbe back to help lead the Lady Panthers during their ’08-’09 campaign.
“When you get in a rhythm like we’ve been in, you start thinking you can go all the way,” Bailey said. “We just need more focus if we get the chance to come back next year.” Glover all but stated that the tough loss added fuel to the fire.
“For me, it just makes me want to go out and start practicing for next year tomorrow,” Glover said.
Walker led the Lady Panthers with 10 points and seven rebounds, with nine points and seven rebounds for Ashcraft. Watts ended her career as a Lady Panther with seven points, and Glover finished with six points. Cabot finished 18-11.
For Fayetteville, Nash led all scorers with 20 points and 17 rebounds, along with two blocks. The Lady Bulldogs improved to 24-4 on the season, and will play Fort Smith Northside in the semifinals today at noon.
SPORTS >>Devils in a rout
By KELLY FENTON
Leader sports editor
Even after Jacksonville followed up its impressive win over defending champion Jonesboro last Friday with a nearly flawless performance in the opening round of the 6A state tournament on Thursday, head coach Vic Joyner wasn’t ready to say whether or not his team was peaking at the right time.
“You can hope so,” Joyner said after the Red Devils turned a remarkably balanced performance into a 73-44 romp over Texarkana in the state quarterfinals at Little Rock Hall on Thursday. “It’s not in my hands, it’s in God’s hands. These kids just have to get out and play hard and if they win, they win. We just want them to go out there and have fun playing basketball and representing the city of Jacksonville.”
It had to be plenty of fun on Thursday when the Razorbacks, the six seed out of the 6A South, offered little resistance on the defensive end, while making it easy on the Jacksonville defense by firing up quick, perimeter shots most of the afternoon.
The Red Devils made 9-of-10 shots in the third quarter to put away any lingering doubt by expanding a 15-point halftime lead into a 58-32 margin after three. Jacksonville found its way inside against the Razorback 3-2 zone time and again for easy buckets on the blocks, led by LaQuinton Miles’ 14 points. Eight players scored five or more points for the Red Devils.
“We needed a game like that, because we’re going to be playing a very good team that’s rested,” Joyner said of last night’s quarterfinal matchup with Benton in a game played after Leader deadlines. “It was good to be able to keep those guys on the bench and not have them burn a whole lot of energy.”
Even on the court, the Red Devils were never forced to expend much energy as the Razorbacks allowed Jacksonville to have its way on the offensive end from the midway point of the first quarter on. Texarkana’s only highlight — other than senior James Parker’s 24-point performance— was a 7-0 run that gave them their only lead of the game at 7-5 at the 3:35 mark of the first quarter.
That sparked a 14-0 Jackson-ville run, capped off by three-pointers from reserves Darius Morant and Stan Appleby that put the Red Devils comfortably ahead 19-7 after one.
Parker’s reverse lay-up narrowed the gap to single digits briefly before the Red Devils closed out the half with an 8-2 run to push the lead to 15 at halftime. Miles closed out that run with a fast break lay-up off a feed from Terrell Eskridge, followed by an end-to-end drive for a scoop bucket.
Eskridge didn’t score in the game, but dished out five of Jacksonville’s 20 assists. Antonio Roy, Miles and Deshone McClure each handed out three assists as well.
“We’ve been that way all year,” Joyner said of his team’s unselfish play. “Nobody’s out there worrying about points. They get out there and play together. That’s kind of based on all that stuff we went through earlier in the year [when Jacksonville lost nine of its first 12 games].
“We had a lock-in and had them stay all night together. They bonded together, and all those things have paid off.”
In addition to torrid shooting (28-of-52, 4-of-9 from three) and the unselfish play, Jacksonville dominated on the boards, out-rebounding the Razorbacks, 44-24. Demetrius Harris turned in yet another sterling rebounding performance, grabbing nine boards to go along with his eight points. Cortrell Eskridge added seven boards, and Lockhart had six.
“They couldn’t box us out in the 3-2 zone,” Joyner said. “That zone is really designed to stop guards. And one of our strengths is inside. So [Texarkana] kind of did what we needed them to do.”
Lockhart had 10 points, while McClure and Cortrell Eskridge added nine, Harris and Morant eight, Roy six and Appleby five.
The Red Devil defense limited Texarkana to 18-of-52 shooting, including 4-of-16 from beyond the arc.
“That first one’s the hardest one,” Joyner said of the opening round games at the state tournament. “Especially when you’ve only got one kid back that has any kind of experience.
“They’ve been pretty laid back. We haven’t overly emphasized anything in practice; the routine has stayed the same. They weren’t overly excited. They were just ready to play.”
Leader sports editor
Even after Jacksonville followed up its impressive win over defending champion Jonesboro last Friday with a nearly flawless performance in the opening round of the 6A state tournament on Thursday, head coach Vic Joyner wasn’t ready to say whether or not his team was peaking at the right time.
“You can hope so,” Joyner said after the Red Devils turned a remarkably balanced performance into a 73-44 romp over Texarkana in the state quarterfinals at Little Rock Hall on Thursday. “It’s not in my hands, it’s in God’s hands. These kids just have to get out and play hard and if they win, they win. We just want them to go out there and have fun playing basketball and representing the city of Jacksonville.”
It had to be plenty of fun on Thursday when the Razorbacks, the six seed out of the 6A South, offered little resistance on the defensive end, while making it easy on the Jacksonville defense by firing up quick, perimeter shots most of the afternoon.
The Red Devils made 9-of-10 shots in the third quarter to put away any lingering doubt by expanding a 15-point halftime lead into a 58-32 margin after three. Jacksonville found its way inside against the Razorback 3-2 zone time and again for easy buckets on the blocks, led by LaQuinton Miles’ 14 points. Eight players scored five or more points for the Red Devils.
“We needed a game like that, because we’re going to be playing a very good team that’s rested,” Joyner said of last night’s quarterfinal matchup with Benton in a game played after Leader deadlines. “It was good to be able to keep those guys on the bench and not have them burn a whole lot of energy.”
Even on the court, the Red Devils were never forced to expend much energy as the Razorbacks allowed Jacksonville to have its way on the offensive end from the midway point of the first quarter on. Texarkana’s only highlight — other than senior James Parker’s 24-point performance— was a 7-0 run that gave them their only lead of the game at 7-5 at the 3:35 mark of the first quarter.
That sparked a 14-0 Jackson-ville run, capped off by three-pointers from reserves Darius Morant and Stan Appleby that put the Red Devils comfortably ahead 19-7 after one.
Parker’s reverse lay-up narrowed the gap to single digits briefly before the Red Devils closed out the half with an 8-2 run to push the lead to 15 at halftime. Miles closed out that run with a fast break lay-up off a feed from Terrell Eskridge, followed by an end-to-end drive for a scoop bucket.
Eskridge didn’t score in the game, but dished out five of Jacksonville’s 20 assists. Antonio Roy, Miles and Deshone McClure each handed out three assists as well.
“We’ve been that way all year,” Joyner said of his team’s unselfish play. “Nobody’s out there worrying about points. They get out there and play together. That’s kind of based on all that stuff we went through earlier in the year [when Jacksonville lost nine of its first 12 games].
“We had a lock-in and had them stay all night together. They bonded together, and all those things have paid off.”
In addition to torrid shooting (28-of-52, 4-of-9 from three) and the unselfish play, Jacksonville dominated on the boards, out-rebounding the Razorbacks, 44-24. Demetrius Harris turned in yet another sterling rebounding performance, grabbing nine boards to go along with his eight points. Cortrell Eskridge added seven boards, and Lockhart had six.
“They couldn’t box us out in the 3-2 zone,” Joyner said. “That zone is really designed to stop guards. And one of our strengths is inside. So [Texarkana] kind of did what we needed them to do.”
Lockhart had 10 points, while McClure and Cortrell Eskridge added nine, Harris and Morant eight, Roy six and Appleby five.
The Red Devil defense limited Texarkana to 18-of-52 shooting, including 4-of-16 from beyond the arc.
“That first one’s the hardest one,” Joyner said of the opening round games at the state tournament. “Especially when you’ve only got one kid back that has any kind of experience.
“They’ve been pretty laid back. We haven’t overly emphasized anything in practice; the routine has stayed the same. They weren’t overly excited. They were just ready to play.”
EDITORIAL >>Ledge must act on tax
Gov. Beebe is reported to be ready to summon the legislature to Little Rock to raise the severance tax on natural gas. It will be far harder to do than the weak arguments against it suggest. A handful of lawmakers in either house —nine in the Senate or 26 in the House of Representatives — can stop the legislation.
The opposition to the initiated proposal by former gasman Sheffield Nelson, a flat 7-percent tax based upon the market price of the gas, suggests what Beebe will face as well. There are two big objections, one that is simply ridiculous and the other requiring a suspension of disbelief.
Several Republican legislators warn that the gas producers would pass the tax on to consumers, which would raise your monthly gas bill. If you are a customer of Centerpoint Energy, the former Arkla Gas, you would see your heating bill shoot up a few dollars every month.
This is one that you need not worry about. It can’t happen. Natural gas is priced and sold like any other commodity. Centerpoint does not buy its gas from individual wells or from producers. It gets it from the pipeline, and whether gas produced in Arkansas is taxed at three-tenths of a penny per thousand cubic feet as the law now requires ,or at 7 percent of the wellhead value as Nelson proposes, makes not a whit of difference in the cost of gas to Centerpoint or to you. The exploration companies and their working partners will pay the higher tax and they will pass on part of the cost on to the state and federal governments by expensing the tax and thus lower their federal and state income tax liabilities.
The more serious objection, raised by Rep. Johnny Key in an op-ed article in The Leader and by others, is that the tax will kill the goose that laid the golden egg, to use the hoary phrase. The big Texas and Oklahoma exploration companies would just stop drilling if they have to pay a tax to Arkansas comparable to what they are paying in other states.
Businesses do not make decisions based upon whether they are sore about a particular government action, but upon questions of profitability. National demand for gas is rising and will rise as far into the future as anyone can calculate. Gas in the Fayetteville shale play across much of Arkansas is abundant and now easily accessible. There is almost no risk in the shale explorations. Unless there is a mechanical breakdown, like a shaft collapsing, every drilling exercise produces a working well. Last week, the Arkansas Oil and Gas Commission issued 26 drilling permits and reported another 26 wells completed, a ratio that suggests the minimal risk in shale drilling.
Profits from exploration are enormous, so fat that the little Arkansas tax would hardly be noticed in the dividend checks of gas stockholders. If you have any doubt, Southwestern Energy Corp. of Houston, the biggest player in the Arkansas shale, yesterday reported that its fourth-quarter profits doubled and it announced a 2-for-1 stock split. Fabulous profits from its booming Arkansas exploration accounted for much of it. Any severance tax that Arkansas is likely to levy, even if it were Texas’ base rate of 7.5 percent, would not slow the company’s activity or any other’s.
There is a third issue, even more trifling. Beebe plans to use the tax to pay for highway repair and construction. Instead of the almost continuous spiking of gas prices — the wellhead price reached $9 a thousand cubic feet this week — what if the market fell back to the levels of the 1990s and tax collections slumped, too? What in the world would happen to the highway program?
The same thing that happens now when highway-user taxes or general-fund taxes slump, as both are starting to do. You don’t build as many highways and you hold down expenditures on other services. The state has been doing that since 1948.
The opposition to the initiated proposal by former gasman Sheffield Nelson, a flat 7-percent tax based upon the market price of the gas, suggests what Beebe will face as well. There are two big objections, one that is simply ridiculous and the other requiring a suspension of disbelief.
Several Republican legislators warn that the gas producers would pass the tax on to consumers, which would raise your monthly gas bill. If you are a customer of Centerpoint Energy, the former Arkla Gas, you would see your heating bill shoot up a few dollars every month.
This is one that you need not worry about. It can’t happen. Natural gas is priced and sold like any other commodity. Centerpoint does not buy its gas from individual wells or from producers. It gets it from the pipeline, and whether gas produced in Arkansas is taxed at three-tenths of a penny per thousand cubic feet as the law now requires ,or at 7 percent of the wellhead value as Nelson proposes, makes not a whit of difference in the cost of gas to Centerpoint or to you. The exploration companies and their working partners will pay the higher tax and they will pass on part of the cost on to the state and federal governments by expensing the tax and thus lower their federal and state income tax liabilities.
The more serious objection, raised by Rep. Johnny Key in an op-ed article in The Leader and by others, is that the tax will kill the goose that laid the golden egg, to use the hoary phrase. The big Texas and Oklahoma exploration companies would just stop drilling if they have to pay a tax to Arkansas comparable to what they are paying in other states.
Businesses do not make decisions based upon whether they are sore about a particular government action, but upon questions of profitability. National demand for gas is rising and will rise as far into the future as anyone can calculate. Gas in the Fayetteville shale play across much of Arkansas is abundant and now easily accessible. There is almost no risk in the shale explorations. Unless there is a mechanical breakdown, like a shaft collapsing, every drilling exercise produces a working well. Last week, the Arkansas Oil and Gas Commission issued 26 drilling permits and reported another 26 wells completed, a ratio that suggests the minimal risk in shale drilling.
Profits from exploration are enormous, so fat that the little Arkansas tax would hardly be noticed in the dividend checks of gas stockholders. If you have any doubt, Southwestern Energy Corp. of Houston, the biggest player in the Arkansas shale, yesterday reported that its fourth-quarter profits doubled and it announced a 2-for-1 stock split. Fabulous profits from its booming Arkansas exploration accounted for much of it. Any severance tax that Arkansas is likely to levy, even if it were Texas’ base rate of 7.5 percent, would not slow the company’s activity or any other’s.
There is a third issue, even more trifling. Beebe plans to use the tax to pay for highway repair and construction. Instead of the almost continuous spiking of gas prices — the wellhead price reached $9 a thousand cubic feet this week — what if the market fell back to the levels of the 1990s and tax collections slumped, too? What in the world would happen to the highway program?
The same thing that happens now when highway-user taxes or general-fund taxes slump, as both are starting to do. You don’t build as many highways and you hold down expenditures on other services. The state has been doing that since 1948.
TOP STORY > >Officials find funds missing in Beebe audit
By RICK KRON
Leader staff writer
Missing money in the police drug-buy fund, unprepared budgets for special revenue funds and temporary checks not properly numbered were some of the problems uncovered in a state audit of Beebe’s 2006 city financial statements.
The nearly $5,000 in missing money is the subject of a state police investigation.
Jacksonville, on the other hand, received the highest ratings possible from the auditors of its 2006 financial statements and received an award for the 10th year in a row for its outstanding financial reporting.
State auditors found problems with Cabot’s financial statements, while Jacksonville and Sherwood passed without concerns.
A letter prepared by deputy legislative auditorJune Barron states that accounting records for the police drug-buy fund, maintained as a “cash” fund, indicated a balance of $3,292, but no cash was on hand.
Another $652 identified as seized by the Beebe Police Department was not on hand. Also a $150 rebate check, payable to the Beebe Police Department, was cashed by then Police Chief Don Inns, but not remitted to the city for deposit.
The letter states, “These missing funds, totaling $4,727 during the period January 1, 2006 through August 7, 2007, are under investigation by the Arkansas State Police.”
According to the auditors, “lack of management oversight involving cash transactions contributed to these unaccounted funds. We recommend management monitor cash transactions on a periodic basis.”
In the mayor’s office, the auditors said that the mayor did not prepare a budget for certain special revenue funds, including intoxi-meter, fire protection, radio equipment repair and replacement, drug control and court automation as required by state law.
Auditors also cited the clerk/treasurer’s office for issuing 59 temporary checks valued at a total of $47,715 that were not prenumbered as required by state law. Auditors also said that fixed assets records were not updated for the current year.
In another letter released by the legislative joint auditing committee, auditor Roger Norman said the city’s financial statements “do not present fairly…the financial position of the City of Beebe…or the changes in its financial position…or its cash flows.”
The auditors also said Beebe’s water and sewer fund statements did not disclose “all the required information concerning deposit risks.” The omissions, in the opinion of the auditors, are why the financial statements do not present a fair and proper picture of Beebe’s finances.
The auditors believe there was a deficiency in the city’s internal control of fund management.
A control deficiency exists, according to the audit, when the design or operations of a control does not allow management or employees to prevent or detect misstatements in a timely fashion.
Auditors said that to ensure the proper safeguarding of assets, financial accounting duties relating to initiating, receipting, depositing, disbursing and recording cash transactions should be distributed among appropriate employees. Auditors felt this was not being done in Beebe.
In an audit of Cabot’s 2006 financial statements, auditors found noncompliance with state law and accepted accounting practices in the office of the clerk/treasurer.
According to Barron, five items that were considered capitol expenditures were not listed on the city’s inventory record, and four items on the city’s fixed asset records had been sold, but were still on the city’s inventory list.
Auditors also found errors or omissions in the city’s financial records.
According to the letter issued by Barron, when the city converted to a new accounting system in July 2006, the beginning general fund account balances under the new system was different then the ending balances under the old system. “These differences in the financial records were not reconciled,” wrote Barron.
Also cash and investments in the amounts of $82,112 and $205,863, along with receipts and disbursements of $301,699 and $278,064 were not recorded “due to a failure of the city to record investment and loan activity.”
The city’s aggregate financials contained what Barron called “misstatements for receipts and disbursements in the amount of $220,807 and $2,164,236 due to the city not recording receipt and disbursement activity in the debt service construction funds.”
“Misstatements” for cash and investments in the amounts of $19,528 and $30,379 were discovered “primarily due to the lack of record-keeping for investments.”
Barron called these findings “a significant control deficiency in the process of preparing financialrecords.
Leader staff writer
Missing money in the police drug-buy fund, unprepared budgets for special revenue funds and temporary checks not properly numbered were some of the problems uncovered in a state audit of Beebe’s 2006 city financial statements.
The nearly $5,000 in missing money is the subject of a state police investigation.
Jacksonville, on the other hand, received the highest ratings possible from the auditors of its 2006 financial statements and received an award for the 10th year in a row for its outstanding financial reporting.
State auditors found problems with Cabot’s financial statements, while Jacksonville and Sherwood passed without concerns.
A letter prepared by deputy legislative auditorJune Barron states that accounting records for the police drug-buy fund, maintained as a “cash” fund, indicated a balance of $3,292, but no cash was on hand.
Another $652 identified as seized by the Beebe Police Department was not on hand. Also a $150 rebate check, payable to the Beebe Police Department, was cashed by then Police Chief Don Inns, but not remitted to the city for deposit.
The letter states, “These missing funds, totaling $4,727 during the period January 1, 2006 through August 7, 2007, are under investigation by the Arkansas State Police.”
According to the auditors, “lack of management oversight involving cash transactions contributed to these unaccounted funds. We recommend management monitor cash transactions on a periodic basis.”
In the mayor’s office, the auditors said that the mayor did not prepare a budget for certain special revenue funds, including intoxi-meter, fire protection, radio equipment repair and replacement, drug control and court automation as required by state law.
Auditors also cited the clerk/treasurer’s office for issuing 59 temporary checks valued at a total of $47,715 that were not prenumbered as required by state law. Auditors also said that fixed assets records were not updated for the current year.
In another letter released by the legislative joint auditing committee, auditor Roger Norman said the city’s financial statements “do not present fairly…the financial position of the City of Beebe…or the changes in its financial position…or its cash flows.”
The auditors also said Beebe’s water and sewer fund statements did not disclose “all the required information concerning deposit risks.” The omissions, in the opinion of the auditors, are why the financial statements do not present a fair and proper picture of Beebe’s finances.
The auditors believe there was a deficiency in the city’s internal control of fund management.
A control deficiency exists, according to the audit, when the design or operations of a control does not allow management or employees to prevent or detect misstatements in a timely fashion.
Auditors said that to ensure the proper safeguarding of assets, financial accounting duties relating to initiating, receipting, depositing, disbursing and recording cash transactions should be distributed among appropriate employees. Auditors felt this was not being done in Beebe.
In an audit of Cabot’s 2006 financial statements, auditors found noncompliance with state law and accepted accounting practices in the office of the clerk/treasurer.
According to Barron, five items that were considered capitol expenditures were not listed on the city’s inventory record, and four items on the city’s fixed asset records had been sold, but were still on the city’s inventory list.
Auditors also found errors or omissions in the city’s financial records.
According to the letter issued by Barron, when the city converted to a new accounting system in July 2006, the beginning general fund account balances under the new system was different then the ending balances under the old system. “These differences in the financial records were not reconciled,” wrote Barron.
Also cash and investments in the amounts of $82,112 and $205,863, along with receipts and disbursements of $301,699 and $278,064 were not recorded “due to a failure of the city to record investment and loan activity.”
The city’s aggregate financials contained what Barron called “misstatements for receipts and disbursements in the amount of $220,807 and $2,164,236 due to the city not recording receipt and disbursement activity in the debt service construction funds.”
“Misstatements” for cash and investments in the amounts of $19,528 and $30,379 were discovered “primarily due to the lack of record-keeping for investments.”
Barron called these findings “a significant control deficiency in the process of preparing financialrecords.
TOP STORY > >Low-cost program provides loans for airmen
By JOHN HOFHEIMER
Leader senior staff writer
Since the beginning of the year, payday lenders have been prohibited from making high-interest loans to active members of the military, but beginning Monday, Little Rock Air Force Base airmen and spouses with power of attorney who are in need of quick, small, interest-free loans can go directly to the Air Force Aid Society, according to Phil Thierry, LRAFB Airman and Family Readiness flight chief.
“The Falcon loan program officially kicks off March 3,” Thierry said. Airmen can get a loan of as much as $500 without first getting approval from their first sergeant or commander, according to the Air Force. The loans can be used for emergency needs such as rent, utilities, food, car repairs, emergency travel or otherapproved needs, according tot he Air Force.
“We believe the Falcon Loan will help airmen in a critical financial bind with legitimate reason, without burdening them with interest rates which can potentially jeopardize their financial stability,” a base spokesman said. “We are excited to see how this program will work to help our hard-working airmen here at Team Little Rock.”
Airmen can apply for the loan at the Airman and Family Readiness Flight (A&FRF), Bldg. 668, from 7:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday,” Thierry said.
“When applying, airmen need to inform us of the reason they need to use the loan,” the spokesman said. “They understand the loan must be paid back in monthly payments of $50, until it is paid off.”
Similar to Army and Navy loan programs already in place, this is yet another blow to the payday loan/check cashing industry, which has suffered recent setbacks in Arkansas courts, according to Hank Klein, speaking for Arkansans Against Abusive Payday Lending.
Twice since the beginning of the year, the Arkansas Supreme Court has ruled that interest rates charged by payday lenders constitute deceptive trade practices and that the bonding companies that insure them are liable to pay fines and judgments when the payday companies don’t.
Klein says that as a result of these rulings, bonding companies are likely to stop insuring those lenders and by Arkansas law, they must be bonded.
Payday lenders typically charge more than 300 percent interest on their loans, while Arkansas has 17 percent interest cap. Anything over that is considered usurious. Klein said payday lenders are three times more likely to locate near a military base.
Because of changes in the Federal Insurance Deposit Corporation regulations, Arkansas payday lenders can no longer “import” and operate under bank rules from other states.
Klein said he hoped the payday lenders and check cashers “see the handwriting on the wall and pull out of the state,” but he noted that they had proven formidable in reformulating their products to circumvent laws, decisions and regulations in the past.
Klein said that was because “they are making so much money by putting consumers in a debt trap, but it appears the attorney general is getting pretty serious about this.”
Attorney General Dustin McDaniel, whose office in the past has represented the state Collection Agency Board—and thus the high-interest lenders-will instead now work to make these companies comply with the state’s17 percent interest cap. The collection agency board is the regulatory agency over payday lenders.
McDaniel said last week that this office would begin taking action against Arkansas payday lenders. He said he would first notify them in writing to notify them of the court’s decision. If necessary, he could file lawsuits, he said.
“Officials streamed lined the Falcon loan application process to ensure interested airmen can get immediate access to the money once they apply at the readiness center,” according to Jim Delaney, Air Force Aid Society’s chief operating officer.
All they need to do is to download an application from the Air Force Aid Society website, fill it out, get an ID and current leave and earnings statement and take them to the base Airman and Family Readiness Center.
Airmen can have as long as 10 months to repay the loan. Those eligible include active duty airmen and reservists and Air National Guardsmen activated on Title 10 orders at the time of application, Delaney said.
Getting a Falcon loan does not disqualify airmen from participating in the AFAS standard emergency loan/grant program, he said.
Leader senior staff writer
Since the beginning of the year, payday lenders have been prohibited from making high-interest loans to active members of the military, but beginning Monday, Little Rock Air Force Base airmen and spouses with power of attorney who are in need of quick, small, interest-free loans can go directly to the Air Force Aid Society, according to Phil Thierry, LRAFB Airman and Family Readiness flight chief.
“The Falcon loan program officially kicks off March 3,” Thierry said. Airmen can get a loan of as much as $500 without first getting approval from their first sergeant or commander, according to the Air Force. The loans can be used for emergency needs such as rent, utilities, food, car repairs, emergency travel or otherapproved needs, according tot he Air Force.
“We believe the Falcon Loan will help airmen in a critical financial bind with legitimate reason, without burdening them with interest rates which can potentially jeopardize their financial stability,” a base spokesman said. “We are excited to see how this program will work to help our hard-working airmen here at Team Little Rock.”
Airmen can apply for the loan at the Airman and Family Readiness Flight (A&FRF), Bldg. 668, from 7:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday,” Thierry said.
“When applying, airmen need to inform us of the reason they need to use the loan,” the spokesman said. “They understand the loan must be paid back in monthly payments of $50, until it is paid off.”
Similar to Army and Navy loan programs already in place, this is yet another blow to the payday loan/check cashing industry, which has suffered recent setbacks in Arkansas courts, according to Hank Klein, speaking for Arkansans Against Abusive Payday Lending.
Twice since the beginning of the year, the Arkansas Supreme Court has ruled that interest rates charged by payday lenders constitute deceptive trade practices and that the bonding companies that insure them are liable to pay fines and judgments when the payday companies don’t.
Klein says that as a result of these rulings, bonding companies are likely to stop insuring those lenders and by Arkansas law, they must be bonded.
Payday lenders typically charge more than 300 percent interest on their loans, while Arkansas has 17 percent interest cap. Anything over that is considered usurious. Klein said payday lenders are three times more likely to locate near a military base.
Because of changes in the Federal Insurance Deposit Corporation regulations, Arkansas payday lenders can no longer “import” and operate under bank rules from other states.
Klein said he hoped the payday lenders and check cashers “see the handwriting on the wall and pull out of the state,” but he noted that they had proven formidable in reformulating their products to circumvent laws, decisions and regulations in the past.
Klein said that was because “they are making so much money by putting consumers in a debt trap, but it appears the attorney general is getting pretty serious about this.”
Attorney General Dustin McDaniel, whose office in the past has represented the state Collection Agency Board—and thus the high-interest lenders-will instead now work to make these companies comply with the state’s17 percent interest cap. The collection agency board is the regulatory agency over payday lenders.
McDaniel said last week that this office would begin taking action against Arkansas payday lenders. He said he would first notify them in writing to notify them of the court’s decision. If necessary, he could file lawsuits, he said.
“Officials streamed lined the Falcon loan application process to ensure interested airmen can get immediate access to the money once they apply at the readiness center,” according to Jim Delaney, Air Force Aid Society’s chief operating officer.
All they need to do is to download an application from the Air Force Aid Society website, fill it out, get an ID and current leave and earnings statement and take them to the base Airman and Family Readiness Center.
Airmen can have as long as 10 months to repay the loan. Those eligible include active duty airmen and reservists and Air National Guardsmen activated on Title 10 orders at the time of application, Delaney said.
Getting a Falcon loan does not disqualify airmen from participating in the AFAS standard emergency loan/grant program, he said.
TOP STORY > >Baptist Health opens inside Ward City Hall
By HEATHER HARTSELL
Leader staff writer
Ward area residents now have a health resource close to home with the grand opening of the Baptist Health Community Wellness Center located inside Ward City Hall.
The center held its open house Wednesday.
Open from 10:30 a.m. until 12:30 p.m. on the second Tuesday of each month beginning March 11, the center is designed to help area residents prevent common health problems through screenings and education for early detection and treatment.
Free health screenings, such as blood pressure and blood sugar, are also offered.
Mayor Art Brooke said it was a good thing for residents.
“The services they provide are at no cost. It feels good to be able to provide this here in Ward,” he said.
Brooke said as the program grows, the center, located adjacent to the city hall cafeteria, will move into a FEMA trailer the city purchased and will be located behind the gym.
“I hope it grows and more people take advantage of it,” Brooke said.
In the works since October of last year, Wednesday marked the third month residents have had access to the center.
“The first time there were only three people, the last time there were 17, and today there was probably 30 people,” Brooke said.
The Ward Wellness Center is one ofseveral in the surrounding area; Cabot also has one. Harrison Dean, senior vice-president and administrator of Baptist Health Medical Center-North Little Rock, described the wellness centers as an investment.
“This is just another way that we are making an investment in the communities we serve by bringing the very best in quality healthcare to individuals and families where they live,” Dean said.
Leader staff writer
Ward area residents now have a health resource close to home with the grand opening of the Baptist Health Community Wellness Center located inside Ward City Hall.
The center held its open house Wednesday.
Open from 10:30 a.m. until 12:30 p.m. on the second Tuesday of each month beginning March 11, the center is designed to help area residents prevent common health problems through screenings and education for early detection and treatment.
Free health screenings, such as blood pressure and blood sugar, are also offered.
Mayor Art Brooke said it was a good thing for residents.
“The services they provide are at no cost. It feels good to be able to provide this here in Ward,” he said.
Brooke said as the program grows, the center, located adjacent to the city hall cafeteria, will move into a FEMA trailer the city purchased and will be located behind the gym.
“I hope it grows and more people take advantage of it,” Brooke said.
In the works since October of last year, Wednesday marked the third month residents have had access to the center.
“The first time there were only three people, the last time there were 17, and today there was probably 30 people,” Brooke said.
The Ward Wellness Center is one ofseveral in the surrounding area; Cabot also has one. Harrison Dean, senior vice-president and administrator of Baptist Health Medical Center-North Little Rock, described the wellness centers as an investment.
“This is just another way that we are making an investment in the communities we serve by bringing the very best in quality healthcare to individuals and families where they live,” Dean said.
TOP STORY > >Prosecutor’s husband promoted in Iraq
By RAY BENTON
Leader managing editor
Lonoke County Prosecutor Lona McCastlain is running for Second Division circuit judge against Judge Phil Whiteaker, so when she spoke to the Cabot Rotary Club on Tuesday at Colton’s Steakhouse, she wasn’t supposed to campaign at the meeting.
Instead, she spoke mostly about herself and her family, including her husband Bruce, a lieutenant colonel in the Army National Guard who is serving in Iraq as commander of the 871st Troop Command from North Little Rock’s Fisher Armory.
McCastlain said her husband had recently made the colonels’ list and will be pinned full bird in a ceremony soon.
The prosecutor became emotional when talking about her husband’s absence and cut that portion of her speech short. But in a telephone interview from Iraq, Col. McCastlain was happy to talk with The Leader about his experiences since he arrived in Iraq last summer.
Col. McCastlain is commander of an installation called COB (Contingency Operation Base) Adder in Tallil in southern Iraq. It’s an installation with a population of about 11,000, and McCastlain likens his duties to that of a small-town mayor.
“That’s to put it in a nutshell,” he said. “We do fire protection, police, infrastructure. We have road projects and building projects, zoning and planning. We coordinate and plan everything from sewage, to water to electricity services.”
Tallil doesn’t see a lot of combat. McCastlain’s command has not had to go out and engage the enemy. While that is a relief to the prosecutor and the couple’s 6-year-old son, it’s still difficult and worrisome back home.
“You can’t even imagine the feeling at that moment of separation,” Lona McCastlain told the Rotary Club. With a cracking voice she continued, “It’s absolutely excruciating.”
The colonel also talked with The Leader about his recent promotion.
“I guess if you get right down to it, it’s been in the works for about 22 years,” Col. McCastlain said of the time it took to make colonel.
He has been a lieutenant for four years, long enough to apply for consideration for colonel.
“You enter your packet after you’ve been a lieutenant colonel for so long. The board meets and they evaluate your packet against everyone else of the same date of rank and see how it stacks up.”
McCastlain found out a week ago he made the list.
“I’ve sort of been walking around on clouds since then,” he said. “I’m about to split my lip from grinning so much.”
Col. McCastlain credited others for his promotion and spoke openly about his faith, something his wife also did on Tuesday.
“God is everything to me,” Col. McCastlain said. “Our faith in God is first for me and my family. It’s first and foremost in everything I do. I understand where my blessings come from, and I understand there are trials and struggles in all of it, but we never stop being thankful to the Lord.”
He also gave credit to his team.
“I’ve been very fortunate with my team I’ve got over here with me,” he said. “We all work hard, put in some long hours and everybody has done a superb job. That’s just another area where God has blessed me. I can’t be successful at anything unless I’m surrounded by people who know what they’re doing and will work hard. And I’ve had an outstanding team. They make my job easy as commander, they really do.”
Col. McCastlain’s command received orders in May and mobilized to Camp Shelby, Miss., on June 9. After two months there, it went to Kuwait for a week before entering Iraq. He expects his command will be home sometime in late April.
“I can’t say for certain because how long it takes to get home once our deployment is complete is based on a number of factors,” Col. McCastlain said. “I suspect I’ll have a good month of campaigning to do once I get home though.”
Col. McCastlain said he couldn’t discuss his wife’s campaign for judge while he was on duty, but he added, “As soon as I get home and out of this uniform, I’ll be right back to being her biggest advocate and biggest fan. “
“I’m very proud of her and everything she has accomplished,” he said.
Leader managing editor
Lonoke County Prosecutor Lona McCastlain is running for Second Division circuit judge against Judge Phil Whiteaker, so when she spoke to the Cabot Rotary Club on Tuesday at Colton’s Steakhouse, she wasn’t supposed to campaign at the meeting.
Instead, she spoke mostly about herself and her family, including her husband Bruce, a lieutenant colonel in the Army National Guard who is serving in Iraq as commander of the 871st Troop Command from North Little Rock’s Fisher Armory.
McCastlain said her husband had recently made the colonels’ list and will be pinned full bird in a ceremony soon.
The prosecutor became emotional when talking about her husband’s absence and cut that portion of her speech short. But in a telephone interview from Iraq, Col. McCastlain was happy to talk with The Leader about his experiences since he arrived in Iraq last summer.
Col. McCastlain is commander of an installation called COB (Contingency Operation Base) Adder in Tallil in southern Iraq. It’s an installation with a population of about 11,000, and McCastlain likens his duties to that of a small-town mayor.
“That’s to put it in a nutshell,” he said. “We do fire protection, police, infrastructure. We have road projects and building projects, zoning and planning. We coordinate and plan everything from sewage, to water to electricity services.”
Tallil doesn’t see a lot of combat. McCastlain’s command has not had to go out and engage the enemy. While that is a relief to the prosecutor and the couple’s 6-year-old son, it’s still difficult and worrisome back home.
“You can’t even imagine the feeling at that moment of separation,” Lona McCastlain told the Rotary Club. With a cracking voice she continued, “It’s absolutely excruciating.”
The colonel also talked with The Leader about his recent promotion.
“I guess if you get right down to it, it’s been in the works for about 22 years,” Col. McCastlain said of the time it took to make colonel.
He has been a lieutenant for four years, long enough to apply for consideration for colonel.
“You enter your packet after you’ve been a lieutenant colonel for so long. The board meets and they evaluate your packet against everyone else of the same date of rank and see how it stacks up.”
McCastlain found out a week ago he made the list.
“I’ve sort of been walking around on clouds since then,” he said. “I’m about to split my lip from grinning so much.”
Col. McCastlain credited others for his promotion and spoke openly about his faith, something his wife also did on Tuesday.
“God is everything to me,” Col. McCastlain said. “Our faith in God is first for me and my family. It’s first and foremost in everything I do. I understand where my blessings come from, and I understand there are trials and struggles in all of it, but we never stop being thankful to the Lord.”
He also gave credit to his team.
“I’ve been very fortunate with my team I’ve got over here with me,” he said. “We all work hard, put in some long hours and everybody has done a superb job. That’s just another area where God has blessed me. I can’t be successful at anything unless I’m surrounded by people who know what they’re doing and will work hard. And I’ve had an outstanding team. They make my job easy as commander, they really do.”
Col. McCastlain’s command received orders in May and mobilized to Camp Shelby, Miss., on June 9. After two months there, it went to Kuwait for a week before entering Iraq. He expects his command will be home sometime in late April.
“I can’t say for certain because how long it takes to get home once our deployment is complete is based on a number of factors,” Col. McCastlain said. “I suspect I’ll have a good month of campaigning to do once I get home though.”
Col. McCastlain said he couldn’t discuss his wife’s campaign for judge while he was on duty, but he added, “As soon as I get home and out of this uniform, I’ll be right back to being her biggest advocate and biggest fan. “
“I’m very proud of her and everything she has accomplished,” he said.
TOP STORY > >Petition drive falls short
By RICK KRON
Leader staff writer
A petition drive to recall the ordinance that allowed the city to take over the North Hills golf course through eminent domain has fallen short – for now.
The petition, which is asking that Sherwood set a vote for the people to decide whether or not the city should buy the golf course, was due in the city clerk’s office Tuesday with at least 1,250 signatures.
“We fell short on the signatures,” said Julann Carney, one of the Sherwood residents pushing to recall the ordinance. “But an attorney general’s decision allows us an extra 10 days. So we have until (next) Friday to reach our goal,” she said.
Back in January, the Sherwood City Council voted to condemn and take control of the defunct 106-acre North Hills County Club to prevent it from being developed into a subdivision, which could be costly to the city and to keep a green space presence.
In voting for the use of eminent domain, the council took over the acreage and will soon have to pay for its upkeep and maintenance, and later a jury will decide what is fair market price and the city will have to pay that amount. That amount could be as much as $3 million or more.
Whatever amount the court decides on will be funded through the city’s facilities board, which would go out and get the loan for the court determined cost, which may also include the current owner’s expenses and legal fees, and the city would make monthly mortgage payments on that amount.
“Our group of concerned citizens,” Carney said, “is attempting to allow the voters of Sherwood to decide the fate of the former North Hills property. A great many of us feel very strongly that the city council should have followed the leadership and advice of Mayor Hillman and allowed a public vote on this issue.”
In campaigning for the position of mayor last summer, Hillman said she would love for the city to have the acreage, but only if the citizens wanted it. She felt the residents should vote on the issue, but as a mayor she does not have veto power of the council vote, and in fact may only vote when there is a tie.
Carney said, “Since the condemnation action was voted on by the city council, the only avenue to affect change in this issue is to allow voters to approve or deny condemnation of the property.”
“We’ve had 30 to 45 canvassers who are Sherwood residents actively seeking registered voters’ signatures on this referendum petition drive and will continue to do so through Friday. Our canvassers are at the senior citizens center, nursing homes, area restaurants and businesses, the recreation center, library, and in many neighborhoods,” Carney said.
Alderman Charlie Harmon, who lives near the golf course, has made it clear that a vote was unnecessary and it even usurped the powers and duties of the council.
“We make these tough decisions and are elected by the people to make them. We would go broke if we held special elections all the time,” he said.
Alderman Becki Vassar, who lives near the golf course, called the condemnation vote great for the city. She said that using eminent domain and condemning the property was the “fastest, most economical and most beneficial for all of Sherwood if we were going to have to spend the money anyway.”
“This way we are not looking at 203 homes on the property, but probably not a golf course either, but desired green space. We just need to save it,” the council member said.
Carney and other residents had problems with Harmon, Vassar and others voting on the ordinance.
“The public should be given a voice on this volatile issue instead a handful of politicians whose votes left us with the perception that their motivations were not above board. Every single vote by any governing body should be above reproach and have unimpeachable motivations,” Carney said.
“As a businesswoman, a property owner and real estate investor, I respectfully disagree with usingeminent domain and condemnation proceedings in order to acquire this property. Our group is not attempting to do anything dishonorable or to create controversy. We are exercising our right to referendum afforded to us in Arkansas’ Constitution,” she added.
Leader staff writer
A petition drive to recall the ordinance that allowed the city to take over the North Hills golf course through eminent domain has fallen short – for now.
The petition, which is asking that Sherwood set a vote for the people to decide whether or not the city should buy the golf course, was due in the city clerk’s office Tuesday with at least 1,250 signatures.
“We fell short on the signatures,” said Julann Carney, one of the Sherwood residents pushing to recall the ordinance. “But an attorney general’s decision allows us an extra 10 days. So we have until (next) Friday to reach our goal,” she said.
Back in January, the Sherwood City Council voted to condemn and take control of the defunct 106-acre North Hills County Club to prevent it from being developed into a subdivision, which could be costly to the city and to keep a green space presence.
In voting for the use of eminent domain, the council took over the acreage and will soon have to pay for its upkeep and maintenance, and later a jury will decide what is fair market price and the city will have to pay that amount. That amount could be as much as $3 million or more.
Whatever amount the court decides on will be funded through the city’s facilities board, which would go out and get the loan for the court determined cost, which may also include the current owner’s expenses and legal fees, and the city would make monthly mortgage payments on that amount.
“Our group of concerned citizens,” Carney said, “is attempting to allow the voters of Sherwood to decide the fate of the former North Hills property. A great many of us feel very strongly that the city council should have followed the leadership and advice of Mayor Hillman and allowed a public vote on this issue.”
In campaigning for the position of mayor last summer, Hillman said she would love for the city to have the acreage, but only if the citizens wanted it. She felt the residents should vote on the issue, but as a mayor she does not have veto power of the council vote, and in fact may only vote when there is a tie.
Carney said, “Since the condemnation action was voted on by the city council, the only avenue to affect change in this issue is to allow voters to approve or deny condemnation of the property.”
“We’ve had 30 to 45 canvassers who are Sherwood residents actively seeking registered voters’ signatures on this referendum petition drive and will continue to do so through Friday. Our canvassers are at the senior citizens center, nursing homes, area restaurants and businesses, the recreation center, library, and in many neighborhoods,” Carney said.
Alderman Charlie Harmon, who lives near the golf course, has made it clear that a vote was unnecessary and it even usurped the powers and duties of the council.
“We make these tough decisions and are elected by the people to make them. We would go broke if we held special elections all the time,” he said.
Alderman Becki Vassar, who lives near the golf course, called the condemnation vote great for the city. She said that using eminent domain and condemning the property was the “fastest, most economical and most beneficial for all of Sherwood if we were going to have to spend the money anyway.”
“This way we are not looking at 203 homes on the property, but probably not a golf course either, but desired green space. We just need to save it,” the council member said.
Carney and other residents had problems with Harmon, Vassar and others voting on the ordinance.
“The public should be given a voice on this volatile issue instead a handful of politicians whose votes left us with the perception that their motivations were not above board. Every single vote by any governing body should be above reproach and have unimpeachable motivations,” Carney said.
“As a businesswoman, a property owner and real estate investor, I respectfully disagree with usingeminent domain and condemnation proceedings in order to acquire this property. Our group is not attempting to do anything dishonorable or to create controversy. We are exercising our right to referendum afforded to us in Arkansas’ Constitution,” she added.
TOP STORY > >Inmates to build jail, JPs decide
By JOHN HOFHEIMER
Leader senior staff writer
In a special meeting Thursday, the Lonoke County Quorum Court voted unanimously to pursue a new, 140-bed, inmate-built jail and to put a one-year, one-penny sales tax increase before the voters on the May primary election ballot to pay for it.
The jail would be modeled on the one constructed by state prisoners in Fordyce several years ago for about $1.5 million, according to Larry Odom, chairman of Lonoke County’s building and jail committees.
“I want to build a twin to the Dallas County Jail,” he said.
Although he couldn’t promise that filling empty beds with inmates from other counties, the federal government and the Immigration Service would be a money maker, he noted that the Dallas County Jail last year netted nearly $500,000 from such activity.
Odom has been active for several years trying to solve the county’s jail problem and was the driving force behind the inmate-built jail and on deciding how to pay for it Thursday.
“I want to vote tonight,” he said.
“It was a very functional operation for (in today’s dollars) $3 million to $3.5 million,” said County Judge Charlie Troutman, who visited the Dallas County Jail. “It’s a bargain.”
“I like the simplicity and the idea of giving back to the taxpayers the sweat of these boys,” Odom said of the jail and the inmate labor.
Following a contentious debate over whether to raise property taxes or sales taxes, it was clear that there was not sufficient support for the property-tax increase, so all members present voted toput the sunset, sales tax increase before voters.
If the tax increase is approved, it is expected to raise about $3.5 million over its one-year life, which should be more than enough to build the jail with inmate help. The Dallas County Sheriff, himself a contractor, estimated that it would cost up to $2.5 million to replicate his jail, Odom said.
Court members said any money over what is needed should still be used for the jail.
“I’m voting for it, but I want you to know that I don’t have any warm fuzzies about this,” said JP Lynn Clarke.
The court will have to revisit the tax increase question at the March meeting in an ordinance that includes the formal ballot title. That would still allow the issue to be forwarded to the secretary of state’s office 50 days before the election, as required by law, Clarke figured.
Before voting to pursue the inmate-built jail, the quorum court rejected the stripped down, $499,000 version of a jail expansion, with most saying that was too much money to put into the decrepit, current jail.
In addition to rejecting the jail expansion, quorum court members also rejected the ideas of:
doing nothing;
adding 20 beds for $100,000 by expanding into the open space between two parallel wings of the existing jail;
a new turnkey, 92-bed contractor-built jail for $4.5 million;
buying four pre-constructed, modular jail units for $1.5 million to $2.5 million, then adding cooking facilities, concrete pads and renting a large crane.
The big problem is funding a new jail, said Troutman. “Give me $6 million and I’ll build you a jail,” he said. “Give me $3.5 million and I’ll build you a jail.”
Odom told the other justices that it would be their job between now and the May primary election to go to the people in their districts, explain the need for a new jail and encourage them to vote for it.
Justices also argued over whether to have a special election or put it on the primary ballot. Not only would a special election cost more, but it would also be more likely to pass.
“We need a new jail, but we don’t want to be perceived as sneaking and underhanded,” said JP Mark Edwards, objecting to a special election, where only a small number of people would turn out to vote.
“I’ve always said I’d never vote for a millage increase, said JP Richard Kyzer. He said that requires landowners to pay for the whole thing, which could be particularly hard on fixed income elderly, and lets renters off the hook.
The current jail is 30 to 40 years old, with a capacity of 62, but which has held as many as 110, with a recent high of 75, Odom said. There is no central control for cell doors, a “poor, poor” camera monitoring system and poor electrical and plumbing condition and fair heat and air conditioning.
In addition to getting a tax increase, the new jail would have to have a contractor to oversee the construction; blueprints that would pass the state Jail Standards Committee and a building permit from the city of Lonoke.
The new jail would require five additional jailer positions to cover it 24 hours a day, seven days a week, according to Sheriff Jim Roberson, including benefits. That would total about $200,000 a year for additional staffing.
Roberson said he favored the type jail approved by the court Thursday.
Leader senior staff writer
In a special meeting Thursday, the Lonoke County Quorum Court voted unanimously to pursue a new, 140-bed, inmate-built jail and to put a one-year, one-penny sales tax increase before the voters on the May primary election ballot to pay for it.
The jail would be modeled on the one constructed by state prisoners in Fordyce several years ago for about $1.5 million, according to Larry Odom, chairman of Lonoke County’s building and jail committees.
“I want to build a twin to the Dallas County Jail,” he said.
Although he couldn’t promise that filling empty beds with inmates from other counties, the federal government and the Immigration Service would be a money maker, he noted that the Dallas County Jail last year netted nearly $500,000 from such activity.
Odom has been active for several years trying to solve the county’s jail problem and was the driving force behind the inmate-built jail and on deciding how to pay for it Thursday.
“I want to vote tonight,” he said.
“It was a very functional operation for (in today’s dollars) $3 million to $3.5 million,” said County Judge Charlie Troutman, who visited the Dallas County Jail. “It’s a bargain.”
“I like the simplicity and the idea of giving back to the taxpayers the sweat of these boys,” Odom said of the jail and the inmate labor.
Following a contentious debate over whether to raise property taxes or sales taxes, it was clear that there was not sufficient support for the property-tax increase, so all members present voted toput the sunset, sales tax increase before voters.
If the tax increase is approved, it is expected to raise about $3.5 million over its one-year life, which should be more than enough to build the jail with inmate help. The Dallas County Sheriff, himself a contractor, estimated that it would cost up to $2.5 million to replicate his jail, Odom said.
Court members said any money over what is needed should still be used for the jail.
“I’m voting for it, but I want you to know that I don’t have any warm fuzzies about this,” said JP Lynn Clarke.
The court will have to revisit the tax increase question at the March meeting in an ordinance that includes the formal ballot title. That would still allow the issue to be forwarded to the secretary of state’s office 50 days before the election, as required by law, Clarke figured.
Before voting to pursue the inmate-built jail, the quorum court rejected the stripped down, $499,000 version of a jail expansion, with most saying that was too much money to put into the decrepit, current jail.
In addition to rejecting the jail expansion, quorum court members also rejected the ideas of:
doing nothing;
adding 20 beds for $100,000 by expanding into the open space between two parallel wings of the existing jail;
a new turnkey, 92-bed contractor-built jail for $4.5 million;
buying four pre-constructed, modular jail units for $1.5 million to $2.5 million, then adding cooking facilities, concrete pads and renting a large crane.
The big problem is funding a new jail, said Troutman. “Give me $6 million and I’ll build you a jail,” he said. “Give me $3.5 million and I’ll build you a jail.”
Odom told the other justices that it would be their job between now and the May primary election to go to the people in their districts, explain the need for a new jail and encourage them to vote for it.
Justices also argued over whether to have a special election or put it on the primary ballot. Not only would a special election cost more, but it would also be more likely to pass.
“We need a new jail, but we don’t want to be perceived as sneaking and underhanded,” said JP Mark Edwards, objecting to a special election, where only a small number of people would turn out to vote.
“I’ve always said I’d never vote for a millage increase, said JP Richard Kyzer. He said that requires landowners to pay for the whole thing, which could be particularly hard on fixed income elderly, and lets renters off the hook.
The current jail is 30 to 40 years old, with a capacity of 62, but which has held as many as 110, with a recent high of 75, Odom said. There is no central control for cell doors, a “poor, poor” camera monitoring system and poor electrical and plumbing condition and fair heat and air conditioning.
In addition to getting a tax increase, the new jail would have to have a contractor to oversee the construction; blueprints that would pass the state Jail Standards Committee and a building permit from the city of Lonoke.
The new jail would require five additional jailer positions to cover it 24 hours a day, seven days a week, according to Sheriff Jim Roberson, including benefits. That would total about $200,000 a year for additional staffing.
Roberson said he favored the type jail approved by the court Thursday.
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
EDITORIAL >>ADEQ friend of polluters
We confess to a vague uneasiness over the comments made by officials of the Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality when it comes to pollution in the state. The department is not concerned at all about the proposed expansion of the Two Pine Landfill in Jacksonville, which will encroach on the homes of hundreds of nearby residents and create an unsightly mess and a possible health hazard near Hwy. 67/167 and the North Belt Freeway.
If approved, the landfill would process almost twice as much garbage as the current dump and move within a few yards of Dupree Park, where children play every day. Ball games are played there every summer, and it would be a true disservice to children who will have to breathe the odor and polluted air that tons of additional trash will be sure to create.
Landfill drainage already gathers in Five Mile Creek and Bayou Meto, and ADEQ has found wastewater could become an even bigger problem. If the landfill grows, so will the drainage that enters Bayou Meto. That water floods Dupree Park often.
Members of the Jacksonville City Council expressed their outrage last week over plans to expand the landfill on the north side of the North Belt Freeway. Perhaps even more shocking, some council members were not even aware of the landfill operator’s plans to add more trash at Jacksonville’s entrance.
If not for a group of concerned citizens who care about Jacksonville and its surrounding communities, the expansion could have been pushed through ADEQ’s consideration process quietly and without notice.
The landfill has greeted drivers at Jacksonville’s north entrance since the 1970s, but much of it was hidden from view. It has only taken on such an overpowering, unsightly presence in the past few years, since trees blocking it from the highway were cut down to make way for the North Belt Loop. The landscaping ADEQ requires to block the landfill from the highway is nonexistent.
Every effort must be made to stop Waste Management, the landfill owner, from moving even closer into the city’s neighborhoods.
The bureaucrats who run the Department of Environmental Quality appear ready to give the green light to the trash hauler’s expansion plans. This is a pattern we see around the state, where industry has a license to pollute.
At a forum on coal power this week at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, ADEQ officials did not hide their sympathies for polluters. The department must soon make a monumental decision on whether to issue an air permit for a new 600-megawatt coal-fired generating plant near the poor communities of Fulton and McNab in Hempstead County.
Mike Bates, chief of the air division of the department, said whether burning coal to generate electricity was “the best thing or not so good” would not be a factor in the department’s decision. Rather, the department will simply determine whether American Electric Power Co. and its subsidiary, Southwestern Electric Power Co., met the regulatory requirements for a permit. If they did, the permit will be issued.
Meriting the public trust involves more than seeing that a company that could cause grave and permanent harm to the land and streams and to generations of Arkansans and people around the world crosses every “t” and dots every “i” in its application.
We are quite sure that Swepco’s legion of attorneys and technocrats has managed to do that, as have the attorneys for Waste Management. We are not so sure of the accuracy of scientific “studies” that they have submitted to the department. Swepco has also gone to the state Public Service Commission, which voted 2 to 1 to grant a permit for the company to build the big plant near one of the most environmentally valuable and sensitive habitats in the region.
Whether burning coal to generate power is good or not so good is the very heart of the public health issue that the Department of Environmental Quality should be evaluating. Everyone, even the company’s executives, lawyers and hired scientists, acknowledges that carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide, nitric acid, mercury and coal dust are not good for the environment and the public health, but the advocates of the plant say the pollution would be within a tolerable range.
It is true that technology has dramatically reduced sulfur dioxide, the acid rain that was once thought to be the most dangerous particulate from coal plants, but now we know that the most sinister pollutant is carbon dioxide, the odorless and unseen gas that rises into the atmosphere, where it stays from 50 to 200 years. It is the principal cause of global warming.
The Turk plant at McNab will puff more than 5 million tons a year into the atmosphere, which will be added to some 30 million tons a year generated by the existing three coal plants in the state. Would it be appropriate for the Department of Environmental Quality to say that 30 million tons is all that Arkansas air should tolerate? If not, what is the point of regulation?
What’s more, how can a state agency claim it’s concerned about environmental quality and allow a landfill near a children’s playground?
The Department of Environmental Quality needs a director with backbone. Gov. Mike Beebe should find someone who will stand up for the people and not cater to the needs of industry. The agency continues to fill its historical role, serving the interests of industry. We thought it might be different once Mike Huckabee’s hack director was ousted, but it’s still protecting polluters and ignoring public safety.
If approved, the landfill would process almost twice as much garbage as the current dump and move within a few yards of Dupree Park, where children play every day. Ball games are played there every summer, and it would be a true disservice to children who will have to breathe the odor and polluted air that tons of additional trash will be sure to create.
Landfill drainage already gathers in Five Mile Creek and Bayou Meto, and ADEQ has found wastewater could become an even bigger problem. If the landfill grows, so will the drainage that enters Bayou Meto. That water floods Dupree Park often.
Members of the Jacksonville City Council expressed their outrage last week over plans to expand the landfill on the north side of the North Belt Freeway. Perhaps even more shocking, some council members were not even aware of the landfill operator’s plans to add more trash at Jacksonville’s entrance.
If not for a group of concerned citizens who care about Jacksonville and its surrounding communities, the expansion could have been pushed through ADEQ’s consideration process quietly and without notice.
The landfill has greeted drivers at Jacksonville’s north entrance since the 1970s, but much of it was hidden from view. It has only taken on such an overpowering, unsightly presence in the past few years, since trees blocking it from the highway were cut down to make way for the North Belt Loop. The landscaping ADEQ requires to block the landfill from the highway is nonexistent.
Every effort must be made to stop Waste Management, the landfill owner, from moving even closer into the city’s neighborhoods.
The bureaucrats who run the Department of Environmental Quality appear ready to give the green light to the trash hauler’s expansion plans. This is a pattern we see around the state, where industry has a license to pollute.
At a forum on coal power this week at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, ADEQ officials did not hide their sympathies for polluters. The department must soon make a monumental decision on whether to issue an air permit for a new 600-megawatt coal-fired generating plant near the poor communities of Fulton and McNab in Hempstead County.
Mike Bates, chief of the air division of the department, said whether burning coal to generate electricity was “the best thing or not so good” would not be a factor in the department’s decision. Rather, the department will simply determine whether American Electric Power Co. and its subsidiary, Southwestern Electric Power Co., met the regulatory requirements for a permit. If they did, the permit will be issued.
Meriting the public trust involves more than seeing that a company that could cause grave and permanent harm to the land and streams and to generations of Arkansans and people around the world crosses every “t” and dots every “i” in its application.
We are quite sure that Swepco’s legion of attorneys and technocrats has managed to do that, as have the attorneys for Waste Management. We are not so sure of the accuracy of scientific “studies” that they have submitted to the department. Swepco has also gone to the state Public Service Commission, which voted 2 to 1 to grant a permit for the company to build the big plant near one of the most environmentally valuable and sensitive habitats in the region.
Whether burning coal to generate power is good or not so good is the very heart of the public health issue that the Department of Environmental Quality should be evaluating. Everyone, even the company’s executives, lawyers and hired scientists, acknowledges that carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide, nitric acid, mercury and coal dust are not good for the environment and the public health, but the advocates of the plant say the pollution would be within a tolerable range.
It is true that technology has dramatically reduced sulfur dioxide, the acid rain that was once thought to be the most dangerous particulate from coal plants, but now we know that the most sinister pollutant is carbon dioxide, the odorless and unseen gas that rises into the atmosphere, where it stays from 50 to 200 years. It is the principal cause of global warming.
The Turk plant at McNab will puff more than 5 million tons a year into the atmosphere, which will be added to some 30 million tons a year generated by the existing three coal plants in the state. Would it be appropriate for the Department of Environmental Quality to say that 30 million tons is all that Arkansas air should tolerate? If not, what is the point of regulation?
What’s more, how can a state agency claim it’s concerned about environmental quality and allow a landfill near a children’s playground?
The Department of Environmental Quality needs a director with backbone. Gov. Mike Beebe should find someone who will stand up for the people and not cater to the needs of industry. The agency continues to fill its historical role, serving the interests of industry. We thought it might be different once Mike Huckabee’s hack director was ousted, but it’s still protecting polluters and ignoring public safety.
TOP STORY > >City still has no answers about fee
By JOAN MCCOY
Leader staff writer
A committee that will advise the Cabot City Council either to keep the impact fee on new construction and try to collect enough money for some of the city’s needs, or do away with the fee and perhaps reverse the building slump that could threaten the city’s growth, met for the second time Monday evening and decided on questions that must be answered before it makes its recommendation.
“How much do we think we need and where are we going to get it from? We’ve got to get our arms around that or otherwise we’re spitting in the wind,” banker Larry Biernacki told the other members of the committee.
How much the city needs to provide a quality of living that will make the city thrive is a question that Mayor Eddie Joe Williams is supposed to answer, or at least provide the committee with a ballpark figure.
The impact fee could be used to help pay for construction of a fire station somewhere in the vicinity of Greystone and Magness Creek, where the lack of a nearby station threatens to more than double some homeowners’ insurance premiums.
Traffic congestion is a problem and the impact fee can be used to add capacity to the streets. Within the next few years, the city could need at least $2 million for its share of the cost of building a north interchange, the mayor said. The impact fee could also be used to expand the library.
Realtor and developer Bill O’Brien told fellow committee members that since the city has grown to more than 22,000, the tax revenue from the businesses that are moving to Cabot will take the place of the impact fee.
“Chili’s wouldn’t be looking at Cabot if the city couldn’t support it,” O’Brien said.
To date, Chili’s has not applied for a building permit, so as far as the staff at public works is concerned, it is only a rumor.
However, Goody’s in the old Wal-Mart building will open soon, and Tuesday Morning, which will be located beside Goody’s, has applied for a building permit.
Such businesses could potentially keep Cabot diners and shoppers at home.
In November, the city council declared a six-month moratorium on the impact fee to see if not paying the fee would slow construction of houses in Ward and Austin. So far this year, only eight building permits have been sold in Cabot. But construction also is down in Ward and Austin. Builders say the weather is a contributing factor.
A portion of the impact fee goes to Cabot WaterWorks for sewer. But since the commission that runs that utility has said it can do without the money, the committee could recommend keeping the impact fee but dropping sewer.
O’Brien asked if the city council could change the ordinance that created the fee by itself, or would the experts who were paid about $150,000 to prepare the ordinance have to be called in again.
The mayor said he would ask City Attorney Jim Taylor to find the answer to that question for the committee, which will meet again at 6:30 p.m. March 24.
Leader staff writer
A committee that will advise the Cabot City Council either to keep the impact fee on new construction and try to collect enough money for some of the city’s needs, or do away with the fee and perhaps reverse the building slump that could threaten the city’s growth, met for the second time Monday evening and decided on questions that must be answered before it makes its recommendation.
“How much do we think we need and where are we going to get it from? We’ve got to get our arms around that or otherwise we’re spitting in the wind,” banker Larry Biernacki told the other members of the committee.
How much the city needs to provide a quality of living that will make the city thrive is a question that Mayor Eddie Joe Williams is supposed to answer, or at least provide the committee with a ballpark figure.
The impact fee could be used to help pay for construction of a fire station somewhere in the vicinity of Greystone and Magness Creek, where the lack of a nearby station threatens to more than double some homeowners’ insurance premiums.
Traffic congestion is a problem and the impact fee can be used to add capacity to the streets. Within the next few years, the city could need at least $2 million for its share of the cost of building a north interchange, the mayor said. The impact fee could also be used to expand the library.
Realtor and developer Bill O’Brien told fellow committee members that since the city has grown to more than 22,000, the tax revenue from the businesses that are moving to Cabot will take the place of the impact fee.
“Chili’s wouldn’t be looking at Cabot if the city couldn’t support it,” O’Brien said.
To date, Chili’s has not applied for a building permit, so as far as the staff at public works is concerned, it is only a rumor.
However, Goody’s in the old Wal-Mart building will open soon, and Tuesday Morning, which will be located beside Goody’s, has applied for a building permit.
Such businesses could potentially keep Cabot diners and shoppers at home.
In November, the city council declared a six-month moratorium on the impact fee to see if not paying the fee would slow construction of houses in Ward and Austin. So far this year, only eight building permits have been sold in Cabot. But construction also is down in Ward and Austin. Builders say the weather is a contributing factor.
A portion of the impact fee goes to Cabot WaterWorks for sewer. But since the commission that runs that utility has said it can do without the money, the committee could recommend keeping the impact fee but dropping sewer.
O’Brien asked if the city council could change the ordinance that created the fee by itself, or would the experts who were paid about $150,000 to prepare the ordinance have to be called in again.
The mayor said he would ask City Attorney Jim Taylor to find the answer to that question for the committee, which will meet again at 6:30 p.m. March 24.
TOP STORY > >Ex-worker accused of theft from city parks
By JOAN MCCOY
Leader staff writer
A former employee of Cabot Parks and Recreation has been arrested for embezzlement and the county prosecutor has called for a State Police investigation to determine if problems in that department run any deeper.
Lonoke County Prosecutor Lona McCastlain said Cabot Police Chief Jackie Davis initiated the investigation that led to the arrest of Sarah Michelle Rye, a bookkeeper who admitted to embezzling $8,063 over a two-year period by writing herself duplicate paychecks.
McCastlain said she asked the State Police to continue the investigation to avoid any conflict.
“Without an investigation, I don’t know if there is anything else,” McCastlain said. “If there is something else, city employees may have been witnesses.”
Rye, 26, of 144 Spring Valley Road, Cabot, turned herself in to Cabot Police on Jan. 21 and was released immediately on a $5,000 bond.
Questioned by Lt. Scott Steely on Jan. 17, Rye said she wrote herself 19 duplicate paychecks in 2005 totaling $3,987.22 and 12 duplicate paychecks in 2006 totaling $4,076.22. Those figures indicate that Rye’s take-home pay increased $120 a paycheck from 2005 to 2006. She left the parks department in 2007.
Sources say police began their investigation after an audit of the park books for 2006 showed the discrepancy in the payroll.The police report said the duplicate checks were either cashed or deposited at Community Bank and Bank of the Ozarks.
McCastlain said she asked for the State Police investigation about two weeks ago. Last week, the commission that runs Cabot
Parks and Recreation met in executive session to discuss personnel. At press time, a second meeting to discuss personnel was planned.
By state law, executive session may be used only to discuss hiring, firing or disciplinary action against an employee, and officials must make public their decisions on matters discussed in executive session.
Mike Brannon, commission chairman, said part of the time in executive session last week was used to update the members on the investigation.
“We’ve got seven members, and every one had heard a different story,” Brannon said.
The parks and recreation department was over budget $100,000 in 2007. Parks director Carroll Astin told the council that he underestimated the cost of operating the now year-old community center.
He also said the parks department paid too much for ball tournaments and full-time employees, such as the fitness instructor who was laid off in the middle of 2007.
Astin told the council that the department also employed too many young people with questionable work ethics and that in 2008 he would pay more for older, more reliable workers.
Leader staff writer
A former employee of Cabot Parks and Recreation has been arrested for embezzlement and the county prosecutor has called for a State Police investigation to determine if problems in that department run any deeper.
Lonoke County Prosecutor Lona McCastlain said Cabot Police Chief Jackie Davis initiated the investigation that led to the arrest of Sarah Michelle Rye, a bookkeeper who admitted to embezzling $8,063 over a two-year period by writing herself duplicate paychecks.
McCastlain said she asked the State Police to continue the investigation to avoid any conflict.
“Without an investigation, I don’t know if there is anything else,” McCastlain said. “If there is something else, city employees may have been witnesses.”
Rye, 26, of 144 Spring Valley Road, Cabot, turned herself in to Cabot Police on Jan. 21 and was released immediately on a $5,000 bond.
Questioned by Lt. Scott Steely on Jan. 17, Rye said she wrote herself 19 duplicate paychecks in 2005 totaling $3,987.22 and 12 duplicate paychecks in 2006 totaling $4,076.22. Those figures indicate that Rye’s take-home pay increased $120 a paycheck from 2005 to 2006. She left the parks department in 2007.
Sources say police began their investigation after an audit of the park books for 2006 showed the discrepancy in the payroll.The police report said the duplicate checks were either cashed or deposited at Community Bank and Bank of the Ozarks.
McCastlain said she asked for the State Police investigation about two weeks ago. Last week, the commission that runs Cabot
Parks and Recreation met in executive session to discuss personnel. At press time, a second meeting to discuss personnel was planned.
By state law, executive session may be used only to discuss hiring, firing or disciplinary action against an employee, and officials must make public their decisions on matters discussed in executive session.
Mike Brannon, commission chairman, said part of the time in executive session last week was used to update the members on the investigation.
“We’ve got seven members, and every one had heard a different story,” Brannon said.
The parks and recreation department was over budget $100,000 in 2007. Parks director Carroll Astin told the council that he underestimated the cost of operating the now year-old community center.
He also said the parks department paid too much for ball tournaments and full-time employees, such as the fitness instructor who was laid off in the middle of 2007.
Astin told the council that the department also employed too many young people with questionable work ethics and that in 2008 he would pay more for older, more reliable workers.
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