The news this Memorial Day Weekend was grim for 650 civilian employees at Little Rock Air Force Base. There will be 11 days of unpaid leave—furloughs—between July 8 and Oct. 14 at the base and throughout the military affecting 800,000 civilian employees, Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel announced recently.
That’s approximately a day off per week, or about a 20 percent reduction in the pay of nonessential civilian workers. That’s about 7,150 days of work not performed — and not paid for—at the base.
The news could have been worse. Originally, Defense Department civilian employees were to have been furloughed 22 days, beginning March 8, but Hagel asked for time to study the matter.
The furloughs were triggered by the inability of Congress to come to a budget agreement, which will cost the Defense Department an estimated $46 billion for the fiscal year. The Pentagon was $30 billion short for operations and maintenance, necessitating the furloughs and other cutbacks.
Since sequestration became law, Congress has allowed certain areas, such as the military, to shift funds around, and has restored funds for air-traffic controllers and food inspectors.
Sequestration cuts include reorganizing the four wings at the base to increase savings through efficiency in organizing, training and equipping airmen, according to Brig. Gen. (Select) Brian Robinson, 19th Airlift Wing commander.
The base has curtailed non-readiness or non-essential flying and travel, curtailed or stopped minor purchases such as furniture and information technology updates, implemented a civilian hiring freeze and decreased aircrew temporary duty travel. Even so, the base has gotten dozens of iPads to help guide pilots, eliminating tons of paper and saving thousands of gallons of fuel using the new tablets.
In addition, the 19th Airlift Wing is cutting flying hours by 35 percent. The Air Force, Air Force Reserve and Air National Guard have collaborated to reduce active-duty C-130s by 28 and both of the 19th Airlift Wing’s C-130H squadrons were proposed for reduction in 2014.
The news is not all bad. Increases in the Air Guard and Reserve airframes at the base will add eight planes. The base will continue to receive new C-130Js as originally scheduled to beef up its aging fleet of cargo planes. But in the meantime, civilians on base are paying a heavy price for the gridlock in Washington.
Wednesday, May 29, 2013
TOP STORY >> Sheriff Staley's teamwork recognized by city department
By JOAN McCOY
Leader staff writer
Two of the most recent press releases from the Lonoke County Sheriff’s Office give credit to city departments in Cabot for their assistance in solving four residential burglaries, a sign to anyone who has watched the interaction between the county and city that something has changed.
“I think everyone is working well together, especially since John took over,” Sgt. Keith Graham of the Cabot Police Department said about the subtle differences in the way the sheriff’s office announces its successes since John Staley took office in January.
“I think everyone is trying to do their best for the citizens of Lonoke County.”
To be clear, the sheriff’s office has always worked with the various city police departments. And the dive team from Cabot that recently recovered a stolen safe from a murky bayou is actually equipped by the county. So collaboration between the sheriff’s office and other agencies is not new. It’s the improved relationship and the reporting that is different.
Lt. Jim Kulesa, spokesman for the sheriff’s office, said he and the sheriff believe in giving credit where it is due.
Staley, who was on patrol when The Leader contacted him Tuesday morning, said he was working with the police departments from Ward and Austin on another case and expected it to be solved shortly.
“Our goal is to let everybody participate,” Staley said. “We’re all a team right now and we want to keep it that way.”
Kulesa reported in his most recent press release that the sheriff’s office has recovered more missing property from burglaries near the Confederate Cemetery including old coins and jewelry. Six firearms, a laptop computer and more jewelry are still missing.
The first report said the Cabot dive team recovered a stolen safe taken during the burglaries.
Both reports gave credit to Cabot police detectives and the dive team for their assistance in the investigation.
Staley said Tuesday that at least two juveniles and one 18-year-old boy will likely be arrested for the burglaries but right now, the goal is to recover the stolen property.
Leader staff writer
Two of the most recent press releases from the Lonoke County Sheriff’s Office give credit to city departments in Cabot for their assistance in solving four residential burglaries, a sign to anyone who has watched the interaction between the county and city that something has changed.
“I think everyone is working well together, especially since John took over,” Sgt. Keith Graham of the Cabot Police Department said about the subtle differences in the way the sheriff’s office announces its successes since John Staley took office in January.
“I think everyone is trying to do their best for the citizens of Lonoke County.”
To be clear, the sheriff’s office has always worked with the various city police departments. And the dive team from Cabot that recently recovered a stolen safe from a murky bayou is actually equipped by the county. So collaboration between the sheriff’s office and other agencies is not new. It’s the improved relationship and the reporting that is different.
Lt. Jim Kulesa, spokesman for the sheriff’s office, said he and the sheriff believe in giving credit where it is due.
Staley, who was on patrol when The Leader contacted him Tuesday morning, said he was working with the police departments from Ward and Austin on another case and expected it to be solved shortly.
“Our goal is to let everybody participate,” Staley said. “We’re all a team right now and we want to keep it that way.”
Kulesa reported in his most recent press release that the sheriff’s office has recovered more missing property from burglaries near the Confederate Cemetery including old coins and jewelry. Six firearms, a laptop computer and more jewelry are still missing.
The first report said the Cabot dive team recovered a stolen safe taken during the burglaries.
Both reports gave credit to Cabot police detectives and the dive team for their assistance in the investigation.
Staley said Tuesday that at least two juveniles and one 18-year-old boy will likely be arrested for the burglaries but right now, the goal is to recover the stolen property.
TOP STORY >> Vets honored at ceremony
By JEFFREY SMITH
Leader staff writer
Cabot’s American Legion Post 71 held a day of remembrance Monday at the Veterans Park Community Center for those who died in service to the nation.
The Legion also remembered the prisoners of war and those missing in action. The post’s honor guard later placed a wreath at the Cabot Veterans Memorial.
“Take a look at the wall out there. See the names of veterans that passed, veterans that wanted their names honored. They go down in posterity so people like us could see the importance of why we are gathered here today,” post commander Ron Bissett said.
He said they gave us “the right to do. The right to compete and the right to be able to walk down the streets. To be able to use a church they may not belong to but have a right to go into that church.”
Retired Lt. Col Steve Gray, an aide to Sen. John Boozman, said, “In an age where society seems to bury its memories and all of material pleasures its liberty bestows, we find both conflict and harmony with the world where information overload from computer technology overwhelms us. Reflection only occurs anymore when days like this bring us together.”
Gray said that, as he was preparing to speak during the Memorial Day ceremony, he found himself searching his mind and searching the Internet, reaching for history, emotion and images.
He spoke of seeing photos of families remembering loved ones by laying flowers on the graves who died in the battles of the Civil War.
Gray recalled looking at pictures of tombs and cemeteries where soldiers from the First World War and the Second World War were buried. He noted the sacrifices they made for America.
“For all that technology brings us, it cannot hurt, it cannot love, it cannot cherish and it cannot honor,” he said.
“God, given a choice between those two worlds, I choose this one,” Gray continued.
Bissett asked why people attending the ceremony should celebrate.
“Because we are meeting here as a free people,” he said.
Bissett thanked the servicemen who served in the military and to the families and wives who supported them with prayers and packages from home.
Leader staff writer
Cabot’s American Legion Post 71 held a day of remembrance Monday at the Veterans Park Community Center for those who died in service to the nation.
The Legion also remembered the prisoners of war and those missing in action. The post’s honor guard later placed a wreath at the Cabot Veterans Memorial.
“Take a look at the wall out there. See the names of veterans that passed, veterans that wanted their names honored. They go down in posterity so people like us could see the importance of why we are gathered here today,” post commander Ron Bissett said.
He said they gave us “the right to do. The right to compete and the right to be able to walk down the streets. To be able to use a church they may not belong to but have a right to go into that church.”
Retired Lt. Col Steve Gray, an aide to Sen. John Boozman, said, “In an age where society seems to bury its memories and all of material pleasures its liberty bestows, we find both conflict and harmony with the world where information overload from computer technology overwhelms us. Reflection only occurs anymore when days like this bring us together.”
Gray said that, as he was preparing to speak during the Memorial Day ceremony, he found himself searching his mind and searching the Internet, reaching for history, emotion and images.
He spoke of seeing photos of families remembering loved ones by laying flowers on the graves who died in the battles of the Civil War.
Gray recalled looking at pictures of tombs and cemeteries where soldiers from the First World War and the Second World War were buried. He noted the sacrifices they made for America.
“For all that technology brings us, it cannot hurt, it cannot love, it cannot cherish and it cannot honor,” he said.
“God, given a choice between those two worlds, I choose this one,” Gray continued.
Bissett asked why people attending the ceremony should celebrate.
“Because we are meeting here as a free people,” he said.
Bissett thanked the servicemen who served in the military and to the families and wives who supported them with prayers and packages from home.
TOP STORY >> A walk among giants
By SARAH CAMPBELL
Leader staff writer
Hundreds gathered Monday at the State Veterans Cemetery in North Little Rock to remember those who died serving our county and those who are still putting their lives at risk to preserve our freedoms.
Gov. Mike Beebe gave the Memorial Day address at the event. He said that while many would spend the day honoring former service members who returned home, “We’d be remiss to not acknowledge that our veterans stand on the shoulders of those who came before them. Traditions don’t just happen.”
Beebe told the crowd that all Americans owe a debt to servicemen that they couldn’t possibly pay. Those who come home often return to a broken family, with disabilities or with “inordinate stress” that will haunt them for the rest of their lives, he noted.
“The least we can do is provide love, honor, support and respect when they come home,” Beebe said. “Freedom is not free and someone has to pay for our rights and privileges. It only takes a minute, less than a minute, to shake their hands and thank them for their service.”
The governor stressed the importance of keeping military families in mind because they often make the ultimate sacrifice of losing a loved one. He said that we often pay the most attention to mothers and spouses.
“(But) we must never forget the children. Those who have to live the longest with the loss are the children,” Beebe said.
World War II veteran Harold Kindirck, 90, of North Little Rock said after the service that this was his first time to attend the annual event.
“This is beautiful here. It was all good,” he said.
Kindirck was a crew chief who enlisted at the age of 18. He served with the Army Air Corps and the 71st Infantry Division.
The veteran joked that he used to kick paratroopers out of planes. He still has shrapnel in one arm and one of his friends was buried just a few hundred feet from where the service was held.
Kindirck said he and his fellow servicemen helped the United States find 80 concentration camps. Many of them were in Austria, he said.
The veteran was proud to say he received one Silver Star and six Bronze Stars for his service.
Tuskegee Airman Milton Crenchaw, 94, also attended the Memorial Day event. Admirers who wanted to have their picture taken with him surrounded Crenchaw. He also visited with Brig. Gen. (Select) Brian Robinson, commander of the 19th Airlift Wing, who thanked Crenchaw for his service.
Crenchaw said, “Every good ceremony starts out with God. What a day, what a day.”
He commented on how the sunny weather and slight breeze was perfect for the outdoor festivities.
Among the many veterans who attended the event were six who agreed to represent comrades who paid the ultimate sacrifice, their lives.
The audience was silent as the following veterans were escorted to their seats:
• Yoeman 2nd Class Wayne Harris, who served in the Navy during World War II.
• Retired Lt. Col Robert Bird, who served in the Air Force during the Korean War.
• Retired Master Sgt. Frank Alterman, who served in the Air Force during the Vietnam War.
• Retired Maj. Randy Massanelli, who served in the Army during Operation Desert Storm.
• Chief Master Sgt. Margarita Overton, an airman who was deployed to Iraq.
• First Sgt. Eric Cayson, a Marine who was deployed to Afghanistan.
All veterans and current servicemen were asked to stand up during the ceremony. They received a robust round of applause.
A table was set to honor those who could not stand — prisoners of war and servicemen who are missing in action.
The master of ceremonies, Command Sgt. Gregory Galloway, explained that the table is round to show our everlasting concern for the missing men and the tablecloth is white to symbolize the purity of their motives when answering the call to duty.
He said the single red rose, displayed in a vase, reminds us of the life of each of the missing, and the loved ones and friends of those Americans who keep the faith, awaiting answers.
Galloway said the vase is tied with a red ribbon to symbolize our continued determination to account for our missing.
A slice of lemon on the bread plate is to remind us of the bitter fate of those captured and missing in a foreign land and pinch of salt symbolizes the tears endured by those missing and their families who seek answers, he said.
Galloway explained that the Bible represents the strength gained through faith to sustain those lost from our country, founded as one nation under God.
The glass is inverted to symbolize their inability to share in the event and the chairs are empty because they are missing, he said.
There were six places to represent each branch of the military. The Little Rock Air Force Base Honor Guard placed the caps that are part of each branch’s uniforms on the table to further emphasize that.
The event began with a welcome by Galloway, the presentation of colors by the color guard of the National Guard Bureau’s Professional Education Center, the national anthem and the reciting of the Pledge of Allegiance by Sen. Mark Pryor (D-Ark.).
Command Sgt. Maj. Steven Veazey of the Army National Guard reminded the audience in his invocation, “Freedom comes at a price.”
Jason Smedley, military liaison with the governor’s office, read Beebe’s proclamation naming Monday as Memorial Day in Arkansas.
Cissy Rucker, director of the state Department of Veterans Affairs, told the crowd, “Let’s keep memorial in Memorial Day. Teach your children what it means.”
She said people should stop at 3 p.m. Monday and take a moment of silence to honor soldiers who didn’t come home.
Rucker and Beebe placed the last memorial wreath at the ceremony.
Forest Harrell, past president of the Fleet Reserve Association for the South Central Region, read the names of 11 members of the Fleet Reserve Branch 282 in Little Rock who died in 1999, 2011, 2012 and 2013. Another Fleet Reserve representative tolled the bell for each name to honor the fallen servicemen.
Leader staff writer
Hundreds gathered Monday at the State Veterans Cemetery in North Little Rock to remember those who died serving our county and those who are still putting their lives at risk to preserve our freedoms.
Gov. Mike Beebe gave the Memorial Day address at the event. He said that while many would spend the day honoring former service members who returned home, “We’d be remiss to not acknowledge that our veterans stand on the shoulders of those who came before them. Traditions don’t just happen.”
Beebe told the crowd that all Americans owe a debt to servicemen that they couldn’t possibly pay. Those who come home often return to a broken family, with disabilities or with “inordinate stress” that will haunt them for the rest of their lives, he noted.
“The least we can do is provide love, honor, support and respect when they come home,” Beebe said. “Freedom is not free and someone has to pay for our rights and privileges. It only takes a minute, less than a minute, to shake their hands and thank them for their service.”
The governor stressed the importance of keeping military families in mind because they often make the ultimate sacrifice of losing a loved one. He said that we often pay the most attention to mothers and spouses.
“(But) we must never forget the children. Those who have to live the longest with the loss are the children,” Beebe said.
World War II veteran Harold Kindirck, 90, of North Little Rock said after the service that this was his first time to attend the annual event.
“This is beautiful here. It was all good,” he said.
Kindirck was a crew chief who enlisted at the age of 18. He served with the Army Air Corps and the 71st Infantry Division.
The veteran joked that he used to kick paratroopers out of planes. He still has shrapnel in one arm and one of his friends was buried just a few hundred feet from where the service was held.
Kindirck said he and his fellow servicemen helped the United States find 80 concentration camps. Many of them were in Austria, he said.
The veteran was proud to say he received one Silver Star and six Bronze Stars for his service.
Tuskegee Airman Milton Crenchaw, 94, also attended the Memorial Day event. Admirers who wanted to have their picture taken with him surrounded Crenchaw. He also visited with Brig. Gen. (Select) Brian Robinson, commander of the 19th Airlift Wing, who thanked Crenchaw for his service.
Crenchaw said, “Every good ceremony starts out with God. What a day, what a day.”
He commented on how the sunny weather and slight breeze was perfect for the outdoor festivities.
Among the many veterans who attended the event were six who agreed to represent comrades who paid the ultimate sacrifice, their lives.
The audience was silent as the following veterans were escorted to their seats:
• Yoeman 2nd Class Wayne Harris, who served in the Navy during World War II.
• Retired Lt. Col Robert Bird, who served in the Air Force during the Korean War.
• Retired Master Sgt. Frank Alterman, who served in the Air Force during the Vietnam War.
• Retired Maj. Randy Massanelli, who served in the Army during Operation Desert Storm.
• Chief Master Sgt. Margarita Overton, an airman who was deployed to Iraq.
• First Sgt. Eric Cayson, a Marine who was deployed to Afghanistan.
All veterans and current servicemen were asked to stand up during the ceremony. They received a robust round of applause.
A table was set to honor those who could not stand — prisoners of war and servicemen who are missing in action.
The master of ceremonies, Command Sgt. Gregory Galloway, explained that the table is round to show our everlasting concern for the missing men and the tablecloth is white to symbolize the purity of their motives when answering the call to duty.
He said the single red rose, displayed in a vase, reminds us of the life of each of the missing, and the loved ones and friends of those Americans who keep the faith, awaiting answers.
Galloway said the vase is tied with a red ribbon to symbolize our continued determination to account for our missing.
A slice of lemon on the bread plate is to remind us of the bitter fate of those captured and missing in a foreign land and pinch of salt symbolizes the tears endured by those missing and their families who seek answers, he said.
Galloway explained that the Bible represents the strength gained through faith to sustain those lost from our country, founded as one nation under God.
The glass is inverted to symbolize their inability to share in the event and the chairs are empty because they are missing, he said.
There were six places to represent each branch of the military. The Little Rock Air Force Base Honor Guard placed the caps that are part of each branch’s uniforms on the table to further emphasize that.
The event began with a welcome by Galloway, the presentation of colors by the color guard of the National Guard Bureau’s Professional Education Center, the national anthem and the reciting of the Pledge of Allegiance by Sen. Mark Pryor (D-Ark.).
Command Sgt. Maj. Steven Veazey of the Army National Guard reminded the audience in his invocation, “Freedom comes at a price.”
Jason Smedley, military liaison with the governor’s office, read Beebe’s proclamation naming Monday as Memorial Day in Arkansas.
Cissy Rucker, director of the state Department of Veterans Affairs, told the crowd, “Let’s keep memorial in Memorial Day. Teach your children what it means.”
She said people should stop at 3 p.m. Monday and take a moment of silence to honor soldiers who didn’t come home.
Rucker and Beebe placed the last memorial wreath at the ceremony.
Forest Harrell, past president of the Fleet Reserve Association for the South Central Region, read the names of 11 members of the Fleet Reserve Branch 282 in Little Rock who died in 1999, 2011, 2012 and 2013. Another Fleet Reserve representative tolled the bell for each name to honor the fallen servicemen.
SPORTS STORY >> Hogs visit Manhattan, face Bryant in regional
By NATE ALLEN
Special to The Leader
FAYETTEVILLE – Last year some smirked that Stony Brook sounded more like a day camp than a college baseball team.
The smirks were erased by respect when the Seawolves of South Hampton, N.Y. advanced all the way to the College World Series.
Barrett Astin, the Arkansas Razorbacks’ junior right-hander from Forrest City, bears Stony Brook in mind knowing he starts Arkansas’ Manhattan, Kan. regional opener against Bryant on Friday.
Bryant, Ark. is the Bryant that comes to mind for most in Arkansas.
But Bryant University of Smithfield, R.I., fields the Northeast Conference champion Bulldogs that just went 44-14-1 this season under third-year coach Steve Owens.
“Every team in the postseason is good,” Astin said. “You look at last year at Stony Brook – no one knew anything about them and they were one of the hottest teams in the country. It’s the same thing with Bryant. They can hit. They can pitch. They can field. They can be just as good as anybody.”
Arkansas head coach Dave Van Horn also respects the Bryant Bulldogs. That’s why he’s keeping the same rotation he used on SEC weekends. He will start Astin, 4-4, 1.94, in the opener against Bryant, with junior right-hander Ryne Stanek, 9-2, 1.40 ERA, pitching Saturday against either Kansas State or Wichita State, and senior lefty Randall Fant, 5-1, 1.92 pitching Sunday if the Hogs have won at least a game.
Some casual observers may think Van Horn glosses over Bryant by not starting Preseason All-American Stanek, but Van Horn has used the Astin-Stanek-Fant order most of the season.
“We’re not looking past Bryant by any means,” Van Horn said Monday. “If that was the case, I’d pick one of those relievers and start them and I don’t feel good about doing that at all. This is a team that is there for a reason. They scored a lot of runs in their conference tournament.”
Although Stanek made last week’s SEC Tournament team in Hoover, Ala. and Astin did not, Astin pitched well. He was solid in Wednesday’s five-hit, eight-inning no-decision in the 10-inning game that Arkansas won, 2-1 over Ole Miss. Stanek threw Thursday’s six-hitter for eight innings in the 4-1 victory over LSU.
In his final regular season start, Astin was charged with a 3-0 defeat despite yielding no earned runs.
“Astin’s last two outings have been outstanding,” Van Horn said Monday. “He had one little bad inning at Auburn and got through it and pitched us late in the game. He might have got a no-decision but that’s the way it goes. But his outing in the conference tournament has been as good as he’s been. He gave us eight innings, could have given us a ninth, but I pulled him after that. I think he had around 90 pitches or something. I feel good about him going out there. I know he’s going to throw strikes and he’s going to get us into the game.”
Astin was Arkansas’ best relief pitcher in 2011 and 2012, then moved to the SEC starting rotation since the second SEC series of the 2013 season.
“My second half of the season was a lot better than my first half. We are just trying to build off of that,” Astin said. “The weather is warming up and I am getting settled in as a starter. We are just rolling right now. I have had two good outings.”
Those two outings were not only good but great, though he had nothing but a loss and no-decision to show for them on his record.
“I don’t really worry about wins and losses for me,” Astin said. “As long as the team wins and puts us in a good position to win Friday night I am good with that.”
Special to The Leader
FAYETTEVILLE – Last year some smirked that Stony Brook sounded more like a day camp than a college baseball team.
The smirks were erased by respect when the Seawolves of South Hampton, N.Y. advanced all the way to the College World Series.
Barrett Astin, the Arkansas Razorbacks’ junior right-hander from Forrest City, bears Stony Brook in mind knowing he starts Arkansas’ Manhattan, Kan. regional opener against Bryant on Friday.
Bryant, Ark. is the Bryant that comes to mind for most in Arkansas.
But Bryant University of Smithfield, R.I., fields the Northeast Conference champion Bulldogs that just went 44-14-1 this season under third-year coach Steve Owens.
“Every team in the postseason is good,” Astin said. “You look at last year at Stony Brook – no one knew anything about them and they were one of the hottest teams in the country. It’s the same thing with Bryant. They can hit. They can pitch. They can field. They can be just as good as anybody.”
Arkansas head coach Dave Van Horn also respects the Bryant Bulldogs. That’s why he’s keeping the same rotation he used on SEC weekends. He will start Astin, 4-4, 1.94, in the opener against Bryant, with junior right-hander Ryne Stanek, 9-2, 1.40 ERA, pitching Saturday against either Kansas State or Wichita State, and senior lefty Randall Fant, 5-1, 1.92 pitching Sunday if the Hogs have won at least a game.
Some casual observers may think Van Horn glosses over Bryant by not starting Preseason All-American Stanek, but Van Horn has used the Astin-Stanek-Fant order most of the season.
“We’re not looking past Bryant by any means,” Van Horn said Monday. “If that was the case, I’d pick one of those relievers and start them and I don’t feel good about doing that at all. This is a team that is there for a reason. They scored a lot of runs in their conference tournament.”
Although Stanek made last week’s SEC Tournament team in Hoover, Ala. and Astin did not, Astin pitched well. He was solid in Wednesday’s five-hit, eight-inning no-decision in the 10-inning game that Arkansas won, 2-1 over Ole Miss. Stanek threw Thursday’s six-hitter for eight innings in the 4-1 victory over LSU.
In his final regular season start, Astin was charged with a 3-0 defeat despite yielding no earned runs.
“Astin’s last two outings have been outstanding,” Van Horn said Monday. “He had one little bad inning at Auburn and got through it and pitched us late in the game. He might have got a no-decision but that’s the way it goes. But his outing in the conference tournament has been as good as he’s been. He gave us eight innings, could have given us a ninth, but I pulled him after that. I think he had around 90 pitches or something. I feel good about him going out there. I know he’s going to throw strikes and he’s going to get us into the game.”
Astin was Arkansas’ best relief pitcher in 2011 and 2012, then moved to the SEC starting rotation since the second SEC series of the 2013 season.
“My second half of the season was a lot better than my first half. We are just trying to build off of that,” Astin said. “The weather is warming up and I am getting settled in as a starter. We are just rolling right now. I have had two good outings.”
Those two outings were not only good but great, though he had nothing but a loss and no-decision to show for them on his record.
“I don’t really worry about wins and losses for me,” Astin said. “As long as the team wins and puts us in a good position to win Friday night I am good with that.”
SPORTS STORY >> Colts second at tournament
By RAY BENTON
Leader sports editor
Three wins in pool play and a semifinal victory over Jacksonville got the North Little Rock Colts American Legion team in the championship game of its own Memorial Day tournament, but Pine Bluff Tigers’ pitcher Brandon Wade thwarted the Colts’ momentum.
Wade threw a complete-game three hitter as the Tigers (5-0) took the tournament championship with a 2-1 victory.
First batters faced was the only problem for North Little Rock pitchers.
North Little Rock starter Preston Oberling was just as impressive as Wade. He gave up just three hits in five innings of work and left with the score tied 1-1. The only damage he allowed was by the first batter of the game. Tirrell Moore ripped a line drive over the head of Colt right fielder Zane Vanetta for a standup triple. He scored two batters later on a wild pitch as Oberling struggled to find the strike zone in the first inning.
After giving up the triple and two walks in the first, Oberling dominated the next four innings. The Tigers managed just two infield singles as Oberling struck out five and walked none the rest of his time on the mound.
Jason Askins took the mound in the bottom of the sixth inning and faced three-hole hitter Jordan Stargell to start things off. It was also a disaster and proved to be the difference in the game. Stargell lived up to his famous baseball surname, ripping a line drive into the power alley in left-centerfield. Stargell made it an easy stand-up triple and actually stopped at third base, but after assessing how slowly the Colts were getting the ball back to the infield, headed for home and made it safely for an inside-the-park home run.
Wade, needing three outs to close the game with a win, struck out Jake Sandefur and Ty Houser, then got tournament MVP Lawson Dumon to pop up to shortstop.
Wade, who had thrown a one-hit shutout on Friday, was named the tournament’s outstanding pitcher after his seven-strikeout, three-walk performance against the Colts.
It wasn’t all bad news for North Little Rock (4-1) on Monday. The Colts came from behind to beat Jacksonville 5-4 in the semifinal game.
Most of the runs for both teams were unearned. North Little Rock stumbled out of the gate and gave up three runs in the top of the first inning. But tied it in the third.
Zach Rathbun singled to centerfield, but centerfielder Courtland McDonald mishandled the first hop, allowing Rathbun to sneak into second base. Ben Bailey moved Rathbun to third with a sacrifice grounder and Trey Kimbrell flew out to left field for the RBI.
Gwatney pitcher Jon Finley walked Jake Sandefur with two outs. Dumon then pinch hit for Dustin Blair. Finley put Dumon into an 0-2 hole, but the tournament MVP worked his way back to a full count. After fouling off a couple of curve balls, Finley served up a 3-2 fastball that Dumon was sitting on. He drilled it over the 375-foot sign in straightaway centerfield, despite a light breeze blowing straight inward from that direction.
The shot tied the score, but it didn’t stay that way for long.
Jacksonville regained the lead on a leadoff double by Blake Perry, followed by a two-out passed ball that allowed Perry to score.
That lead didn’t last long either. Dawson Burge took the mound for Gwatney in the fifth inning and got two groundouts to first base. Oberling then reached on an error by Derek St. Clair at shortstop. He stole second and scored on a single by Rathbun to tie the game for the second time.
North Little Rock won it with an unearned run with no outs in the bottom of the seventh. Colts’ leadoff hitter Danny Mitchell singled to star the rally. He then made it to second when Burge’s seventh pick-off throw was in the dirt and got by Deaundrey Harris.
Jacksonville intentionally walked Chandler Thompson to try to set up a force and got just what it wanted. Oberling hit another grounder to shortstop, but St. Clair’s throw to second was off the mark and pulled Ryan Mallison off the bag and forced him to make an off-balance throw to first that wasn’t in time.
With the bases loaded, Burge walked Rathbun to score the game-winning run.
Rathbun was the only player in the game to record more than one hit. He went 2 for 3 with two RBIs.
Leader sports editor
Three wins in pool play and a semifinal victory over Jacksonville got the North Little Rock Colts American Legion team in the championship game of its own Memorial Day tournament, but Pine Bluff Tigers’ pitcher Brandon Wade thwarted the Colts’ momentum.
Wade threw a complete-game three hitter as the Tigers (5-0) took the tournament championship with a 2-1 victory.
First batters faced was the only problem for North Little Rock pitchers.
North Little Rock starter Preston Oberling was just as impressive as Wade. He gave up just three hits in five innings of work and left with the score tied 1-1. The only damage he allowed was by the first batter of the game. Tirrell Moore ripped a line drive over the head of Colt right fielder Zane Vanetta for a standup triple. He scored two batters later on a wild pitch as Oberling struggled to find the strike zone in the first inning.
After giving up the triple and two walks in the first, Oberling dominated the next four innings. The Tigers managed just two infield singles as Oberling struck out five and walked none the rest of his time on the mound.
Jason Askins took the mound in the bottom of the sixth inning and faced three-hole hitter Jordan Stargell to start things off. It was also a disaster and proved to be the difference in the game. Stargell lived up to his famous baseball surname, ripping a line drive into the power alley in left-centerfield. Stargell made it an easy stand-up triple and actually stopped at third base, but after assessing how slowly the Colts were getting the ball back to the infield, headed for home and made it safely for an inside-the-park home run.
Wade, needing three outs to close the game with a win, struck out Jake Sandefur and Ty Houser, then got tournament MVP Lawson Dumon to pop up to shortstop.
Wade, who had thrown a one-hit shutout on Friday, was named the tournament’s outstanding pitcher after his seven-strikeout, three-walk performance against the Colts.
It wasn’t all bad news for North Little Rock (4-1) on Monday. The Colts came from behind to beat Jacksonville 5-4 in the semifinal game.
Most of the runs for both teams were unearned. North Little Rock stumbled out of the gate and gave up three runs in the top of the first inning. But tied it in the third.
Zach Rathbun singled to centerfield, but centerfielder Courtland McDonald mishandled the first hop, allowing Rathbun to sneak into second base. Ben Bailey moved Rathbun to third with a sacrifice grounder and Trey Kimbrell flew out to left field for the RBI.
Gwatney pitcher Jon Finley walked Jake Sandefur with two outs. Dumon then pinch hit for Dustin Blair. Finley put Dumon into an 0-2 hole, but the tournament MVP worked his way back to a full count. After fouling off a couple of curve balls, Finley served up a 3-2 fastball that Dumon was sitting on. He drilled it over the 375-foot sign in straightaway centerfield, despite a light breeze blowing straight inward from that direction.
The shot tied the score, but it didn’t stay that way for long.
Jacksonville regained the lead on a leadoff double by Blake Perry, followed by a two-out passed ball that allowed Perry to score.
That lead didn’t last long either. Dawson Burge took the mound for Gwatney in the fifth inning and got two groundouts to first base. Oberling then reached on an error by Derek St. Clair at shortstop. He stole second and scored on a single by Rathbun to tie the game for the second time.
North Little Rock won it with an unearned run with no outs in the bottom of the seventh. Colts’ leadoff hitter Danny Mitchell singled to star the rally. He then made it to second when Burge’s seventh pick-off throw was in the dirt and got by Deaundrey Harris.
Jacksonville intentionally walked Chandler Thompson to try to set up a force and got just what it wanted. Oberling hit another grounder to shortstop, but St. Clair’s throw to second was off the mark and pulled Ryan Mallison off the bag and forced him to make an off-balance throw to first that wasn’t in time.
With the bases loaded, Burge walked Rathbun to score the game-winning run.
Rathbun was the only player in the game to record more than one hit. He went 2 for 3 with two RBIs.
SPORTS STORY >> Cabot's Jr. Red picks up first win at Burns
By GRAHAM POWELL
Leader sportswriter
The Cabot Centennial Bank Red junior American Legion team earned its first win of the season on Friday, edging the Little Rock Pythons 5-4 in the first game of the North Little Rock Memorial Day tournament at Burns Park. Cabot couldn’t find any offense in the second day of the tournament as it was shutout 7-0 on Saturday against the Pine Bluff Tigers.
Mike Havard earned the win on the hill against Little Rock. Jacob Wamack got the start for Cabot Red (1-2) against Pine Bluff (1-0), a team full of 17-year olds, and held his own through four innings of work.
Wamack struck out two batters and gave up just three hits in his time on the mound. One of those hits was a clear foul ball down the third baseline in the first inning that was ruled fair, and two runs scored on the play. It was the only runs allowed by Wamack.
“Our pitching was decent,” said Cabot Red coach David Smith. “Wamack did a really good job shutting them down for four innings. He held them to two runs and those came off, in my opinion, a foul ball. It was a foot foul. His pitch count got up and, you know, we’ve been struggling with pitching. We’ve got to keep our pitches down, so we had to make a change.”
The score remained 2-0 after four innings of play. Cabot Red failed to get a single base hit off of Tigers’ pitcher Cameron Banks. Banks struck out eight Cabot batters and walked just two in the complete game effort. Cabot totaled just four base runners in the six innings played, and none of them ever advanced past first base.
Cabot tried to steal second base twice on Tigers’ catcher Brandon Starks, but Starks threw out both runners with relative ease on two near-perfect throws to second base. Even though Cabot couldn’t get any offense going, it was still a tight game through four innings as Wamack kept the Tigers’ lineup at bay.
However, with his pitch count high, Wamack was relieved after the fourth inning by Ethan Holland, and Holland struggled early with his control. Holland walked the first two batters he faced and Banks, the Tigers’ cleanup hitter, made him pay for it the next at bat with a hard-hit single to deep left-centerfield that scored both runners, giving Pine Bluff a 4-0 lead.
The next batter, Percy Arnold, walked, and J-Mar Johnson followed with a two-RBI double to right field to put the Tigers up 6-0. Starks was the next batter up and he set the final score with a double of his own, this one to left field, which allowed Johnson to cross home plate.
“Their pitcher was a decent pitcher,” Smith said of Banks. “All of those kids are 17 and we’re young. He had a tough fastball and we couldn’t get a hold of it. We had a few chances with runners on, but not enough.”
Leader sportswriter
The Cabot Centennial Bank Red junior American Legion team earned its first win of the season on Friday, edging the Little Rock Pythons 5-4 in the first game of the North Little Rock Memorial Day tournament at Burns Park. Cabot couldn’t find any offense in the second day of the tournament as it was shutout 7-0 on Saturday against the Pine Bluff Tigers.
Mike Havard earned the win on the hill against Little Rock. Jacob Wamack got the start for Cabot Red (1-2) against Pine Bluff (1-0), a team full of 17-year olds, and held his own through four innings of work.
Wamack struck out two batters and gave up just three hits in his time on the mound. One of those hits was a clear foul ball down the third baseline in the first inning that was ruled fair, and two runs scored on the play. It was the only runs allowed by Wamack.
“Our pitching was decent,” said Cabot Red coach David Smith. “Wamack did a really good job shutting them down for four innings. He held them to two runs and those came off, in my opinion, a foul ball. It was a foot foul. His pitch count got up and, you know, we’ve been struggling with pitching. We’ve got to keep our pitches down, so we had to make a change.”
The score remained 2-0 after four innings of play. Cabot Red failed to get a single base hit off of Tigers’ pitcher Cameron Banks. Banks struck out eight Cabot batters and walked just two in the complete game effort. Cabot totaled just four base runners in the six innings played, and none of them ever advanced past first base.
Cabot tried to steal second base twice on Tigers’ catcher Brandon Starks, but Starks threw out both runners with relative ease on two near-perfect throws to second base. Even though Cabot couldn’t get any offense going, it was still a tight game through four innings as Wamack kept the Tigers’ lineup at bay.
However, with his pitch count high, Wamack was relieved after the fourth inning by Ethan Holland, and Holland struggled early with his control. Holland walked the first two batters he faced and Banks, the Tigers’ cleanup hitter, made him pay for it the next at bat with a hard-hit single to deep left-centerfield that scored both runners, giving Pine Bluff a 4-0 lead.
The next batter, Percy Arnold, walked, and J-Mar Johnson followed with a two-RBI double to right field to put the Tigers up 6-0. Starks was the next batter up and he set the final score with a double of his own, this one to left field, which allowed Johnson to cross home plate.
“Their pitcher was a decent pitcher,” Smith said of Banks. “All of those kids are 17 and we’re young. He had a tough fastball and we couldn’t get a hold of it. We had a few chances with runners on, but not enough.”
SPORTS STORY >> Gwatney wins three straight
By RAY BENTON
Leader sports editor
The Gwatney Chevrolet junior American Legion team got the season off to a good start, winning its first three games in the North Little Rock Memorial Day tournament to win its pool and advance to Monday’s semifinals. Once there, the Jacksonville squad lost 5-4 to host North Little Rock and dropped to 3-1 on the young season.
“It was a pretty good tournament for us,” Jacksonville coach Bob Hickingbotham said. “We hadn’t had much time to prepare and get everything squared away, but we played about as well as can be expected. I’m pleased with it. It was a pretty good start anyway.”
The 17-under Chevy Boys opened the season with a 4-2 victory over the Little Rock Cobras Friday night on field two at Burns Park. Dawson Burge started on the mound and got the win. He gave up just three base hits while walking four and striking out six.
Leadoff hitter D.J. Scott put Jacksonville in the lead early. He singled to right field to start the game. Two batters later Blake Perry walked with one out. Catcher Greg Jones then grounded to shortstop, where the ball was mishandled, allowing Scott to score. Laderrious Perry then singled, but Ryan Mallison hit into a double play to end the rally.
Jacksonville took the lead for good with three runs in the bottom of the third after the Cobras tied the game.
All nine batters took a turn at the plate in the third for Gwatney, starting with shortstop Derek St. Clair. He led off with a single and stole second base. Blake Perry flew out to left field before Jones walked.
Laderrious Perry then ripped an RBI double to left field, putting runners at second and third for Mallison. The left-handed hitting second baseman came through with a two-RBI single down the right-field line to make it 4-1.
The Chevy Boys came back with a 7-0 win over Benton Sports Shop on Saturday morning. Blake Perry and Cord Simpson combined for a one-hitter, with Simpson giving up a base hit with no outs in the seventh inning to break up the no-no.
Perry threw four innings of perfect baseball, giving up no hits with no walks and no errors.
Courtland McDonald got a rally started in the second by taking a pitch to the hip with no outs. He moved to second on a groundout by Mallison. Deaundrey Harris walked and Trevor Ransom ripped a line drive to left field to score McDonald.
With two outs, Scott walked to load the bases and St. Clair singled to drive in a run. Another run scored when the ball was mishandled in the outfield.
Harris reached on an error at shortstop to start the fourth inning for Jacksonville. Ransom was hit by a pitch and Josh Cook walked to load the bases with no outs.
Scott hit into a 6-4 fielder’s choice to score one run. Blake Perry then singled to score another run and leave two in scoring position for Jones, who made the most of the opportunity with a two-RBI double to the wall in left-centerfield.
On Sunday James Tucker went the distance for a one-hitter in a 1-0 win over Benton-Everett GMC.
Tucker faced just 29 batters, giving up one bunt single and one walk while striking out eight batters.
The game’s lone run came in the bottom of the third inning. Harris was hit by a pitch to start the inning. He moved to third on a single by Mallison and scored on a wild pitch.
Leader sports editor
The Gwatney Chevrolet junior American Legion team got the season off to a good start, winning its first three games in the North Little Rock Memorial Day tournament to win its pool and advance to Monday’s semifinals. Once there, the Jacksonville squad lost 5-4 to host North Little Rock and dropped to 3-1 on the young season.
“It was a pretty good tournament for us,” Jacksonville coach Bob Hickingbotham said. “We hadn’t had much time to prepare and get everything squared away, but we played about as well as can be expected. I’m pleased with it. It was a pretty good start anyway.”
The 17-under Chevy Boys opened the season with a 4-2 victory over the Little Rock Cobras Friday night on field two at Burns Park. Dawson Burge started on the mound and got the win. He gave up just three base hits while walking four and striking out six.
Leadoff hitter D.J. Scott put Jacksonville in the lead early. He singled to right field to start the game. Two batters later Blake Perry walked with one out. Catcher Greg Jones then grounded to shortstop, where the ball was mishandled, allowing Scott to score. Laderrious Perry then singled, but Ryan Mallison hit into a double play to end the rally.
Jacksonville took the lead for good with three runs in the bottom of the third after the Cobras tied the game.
All nine batters took a turn at the plate in the third for Gwatney, starting with shortstop Derek St. Clair. He led off with a single and stole second base. Blake Perry flew out to left field before Jones walked.
Laderrious Perry then ripped an RBI double to left field, putting runners at second and third for Mallison. The left-handed hitting second baseman came through with a two-RBI single down the right-field line to make it 4-1.
The Chevy Boys came back with a 7-0 win over Benton Sports Shop on Saturday morning. Blake Perry and Cord Simpson combined for a one-hitter, with Simpson giving up a base hit with no outs in the seventh inning to break up the no-no.
Perry threw four innings of perfect baseball, giving up no hits with no walks and no errors.
Courtland McDonald got a rally started in the second by taking a pitch to the hip with no outs. He moved to second on a groundout by Mallison. Deaundrey Harris walked and Trevor Ransom ripped a line drive to left field to score McDonald.
With two outs, Scott walked to load the bases and St. Clair singled to drive in a run. Another run scored when the ball was mishandled in the outfield.
Harris reached on an error at shortstop to start the fourth inning for Jacksonville. Ransom was hit by a pitch and Josh Cook walked to load the bases with no outs.
Scott hit into a 6-4 fielder’s choice to score one run. Blake Perry then singled to score another run and leave two in scoring position for Jones, who made the most of the opportunity with a two-RBI double to the wall in left-centerfield.
On Sunday James Tucker went the distance for a one-hitter in a 1-0 win over Benton-Everett GMC.
Tucker faced just 29 batters, giving up one bunt single and one walk while striking out eight batters.
The game’s lone run came in the bottom of the third inning. Harris was hit by a pitch to start the inning. He moved to third on a single by Mallison and scored on a wild pitch.
Friday, May 24, 2013
SPORTS STORY >> City leaders turn out for Devils, ladies
By RAY BENTON
Leader sports editor
Celebrations of state titles linger for a while as community supporters organize events to honor their champions, but they can’t last forever. Thursday marked the final and best ceremony honoring Jacksonville’s two 2013 state basketball championship teams, the presentation of rings.
Jacksonville mayor Gary Fletcher and First Arkansas Bank and Trust President Larry Wilson were on hand at Southern Oaks Country Club to once again congratulate the boys and girls basketball teams and remind them that the hard work and dedication that earned them the championships would lead to similar success throughout their lives.
The Jacksonville boys went 26-4 overall and won the 5A Central Conference championship with a 13-1 record. They beat Alma 56-53 in the state championship game at Barton Coliseum on March 8.
The Lady Red Devils capped their campaign on the same day, relegating Paragould to bridesmaid status for the second consecutive year with a dominant 54-43 victory. The Jacksonville girls finished the season 25-4 and were a perfect 14-0 in conference play. They had just three wins compared to four losses two weeks into the season, but finished on a 22-game winning streak and didn’t lose a game after Dec. 8.
After a disappointing showing at the Fort Smith Tournament of Champions, where they Lady Devils went 1-2 and lost to Fort Smith Northside and CAC while shorthanded, the Jacksonville girls turned things around for good. With a 3-4 record, Jacksonville rebounded from that tournament with back-to-back wins over defending state champions Little Rock Parkview and Cabot.
“That really was the turning point in our season,” said Jacksonville coach Katrina Mimms in a recent interview.
“We knew we weren’t full strength for that tournament, but other people didn’t and they kind of started writing us off.”
There was also a surprise presentation for team volunteer Velma Warner. Certain team sponsors had already received autographed commemorative basketballs, and Jacksonville athletic director Jerry Wilson gave one to Warner on Thursday.
“There’s no one in the state of Arkansas who deserves one more than you,” Wilson said to Warner.
Warner has attended every Jacksonville basketball game for the last several years, and provides home-cooked food for a renowned hospitality room at all JHS home basketball games.
Leader sports editor
Celebrations of state titles linger for a while as community supporters organize events to honor their champions, but they can’t last forever. Thursday marked the final and best ceremony honoring Jacksonville’s two 2013 state basketball championship teams, the presentation of rings.
Jacksonville mayor Gary Fletcher and First Arkansas Bank and Trust President Larry Wilson were on hand at Southern Oaks Country Club to once again congratulate the boys and girls basketball teams and remind them that the hard work and dedication that earned them the championships would lead to similar success throughout their lives.
The Jacksonville boys went 26-4 overall and won the 5A Central Conference championship with a 13-1 record. They beat Alma 56-53 in the state championship game at Barton Coliseum on March 8.
The Lady Red Devils capped their campaign on the same day, relegating Paragould to bridesmaid status for the second consecutive year with a dominant 54-43 victory. The Jacksonville girls finished the season 25-4 and were a perfect 14-0 in conference play. They had just three wins compared to four losses two weeks into the season, but finished on a 22-game winning streak and didn’t lose a game after Dec. 8.
After a disappointing showing at the Fort Smith Tournament of Champions, where they Lady Devils went 1-2 and lost to Fort Smith Northside and CAC while shorthanded, the Jacksonville girls turned things around for good. With a 3-4 record, Jacksonville rebounded from that tournament with back-to-back wins over defending state champions Little Rock Parkview and Cabot.
“That really was the turning point in our season,” said Jacksonville coach Katrina Mimms in a recent interview.
“We knew we weren’t full strength for that tournament, but other people didn’t and they kind of started writing us off.”
There was also a surprise presentation for team volunteer Velma Warner. Certain team sponsors had already received autographed commemorative basketballs, and Jacksonville athletic director Jerry Wilson gave one to Warner on Thursday.
“There’s no one in the state of Arkansas who deserves one more than you,” Wilson said to Warner.
Warner has attended every Jacksonville basketball game for the last several years, and provides home-cooked food for a renowned hospitality room at all JHS home basketball games.
SPORTS STORY >> Panther trio makes college baseball plans
By RAY BENTON
Leader sports editor
Three Cabot baseball players made their college plans official on Thursday by signing letters of intent to continue their baseball careers. Left-handed pitcher Ryan Logan signed with the University of Central Arkansas, outfielder Casey Vaughan committed to Crowder College in Neosho, Mo., and right-handed pitcher Dustin “Chipper” Morris will attend Arkansas Baptist College in Little Rock.
The three seniors helped lead a dramatic turnaround from last season, a season in which head coach Jay Fitch suffered his only losing season. This year, Cabot won 20 games and got back to the state tournament.
Fitch said senior leadership had a lot to do with it.
“These three guys and my other three seniors all did a great job of stepping up and assuming leadership roles for this team,” Fitch said. “They adopted that role and were really vocal and active in getting this team to buy into hard work. The first day of practice this year I ran them nearly to death, so much I really thought I might’ve overdone it. But after practice Ryan and Casey came up to me and said, ‘coach, work us even harder.’ That was the attitude they brought from day one and they stuck with it.”
Logan took a visit to UCA and was invited back to play in a Sunday league for prospective players. His play in those games prompted the coaching staff to reserve a spot for him in the roster.
What made the decision even easier is that Logan’s ACT score of 35 meant no baseball money had to be used for Logan’s roster spot.
“Those grades and good scores make a huge difference, especially for those Division I schools like UCA,” Fitch said. “They only have like 12 or 13 scholarships to fill out a 25- to 30-man roster. When it comes down to a few guys who are pretty even, and one of them isn’t going to count against your scholarship limit, that’s a huge advantage.”
UCA is also becoming a force in college baseball. The Bears were ranked in the Top 25 for three weeks this season and notched two wins against SEC teams.
Logan has been a fixture in Cabot’s pitching rotation since his sophomore year and has been the No. 1 pitcher the last two seasons. He became a hitter this year as well. Logan finished with a .340 batting average, including six doubles and 14 RBIs as the No. 2 hitter in the lineup.
“He told me at the beginning of the year that he was going to hit this season,” Fitch said. “I said OK Ryan, we’ll see. And boy did he prove himself. He was outstanding for us this year.”
Logan always felt like he was a capable batter, and excelled so much that he not only got to hit in games he pitched, he became the designated hitter in games he didn’t.
“I never like having somebody hit for me,” Logan said. “Last year in legion ball is where I got to hit and got some confidence there. I knew then I could carry into high-school season.”
On the mound Logan finished with a solid 3.78 earned run average, though he only had a 3-6 record. That was largely due to Cabot’s slow start to the season.
The Panthers lost three games in which Logan allowed three runs or fewer before the bats came alive in midseason. Logan’s performance this season earned him a first-team All-Conference selection.
Vaughan is a three-year starter who hopes to follow in the footsteps of former Cabot, Crowder and University of Arkansas player Sam Bates. He led the Panthers in home runs, triples and stolen bases and finished with a .313 average.
He also won the team’s leadership award, a second-team All-Conference selection and received and invitation to the central Arkansas All-Star game.
Morris was a prospect many programs were taking a long look at after a great junior season on the mound. But he suffered a serious elbow injury during one of his best outings of the young season.
In a one-hit shutout of Springfield-Kickapoo in the Central Arkansas Invitational, Morris suffered an avulsion on his right elbow that sidelined him for almost the entire conference season.
“Of all the times to get an injury, your senior season is the worst, especially if you’re a prospect,” Fitch said. “But he came back for us and picked right up where he left off. He didn’t get to pitch nearly as much as we planned on using him, but when he did he was outstanding.”
Morris takes the bad luck in stride and is thankful for the chance to prove himself at the Little Rock junior college.
“They’ve taken a lot of Cabot players over the years and there’s a few there now,” Morris said. “That’s a plus for me. I just have to go down there and work hard to show that I can still get to the next level.”
Morris finished with a couple of no decisions during the early-season slump. He finished with a 1-1 record and an impressive 1.50 ERA. He will also play in the Central Arkansas All-Star game.
Leader sports editor
Three Cabot baseball players made their college plans official on Thursday by signing letters of intent to continue their baseball careers. Left-handed pitcher Ryan Logan signed with the University of Central Arkansas, outfielder Casey Vaughan committed to Crowder College in Neosho, Mo., and right-handed pitcher Dustin “Chipper” Morris will attend Arkansas Baptist College in Little Rock.
The three seniors helped lead a dramatic turnaround from last season, a season in which head coach Jay Fitch suffered his only losing season. This year, Cabot won 20 games and got back to the state tournament.
Fitch said senior leadership had a lot to do with it.
“These three guys and my other three seniors all did a great job of stepping up and assuming leadership roles for this team,” Fitch said. “They adopted that role and were really vocal and active in getting this team to buy into hard work. The first day of practice this year I ran them nearly to death, so much I really thought I might’ve overdone it. But after practice Ryan and Casey came up to me and said, ‘coach, work us even harder.’ That was the attitude they brought from day one and they stuck with it.”
Logan took a visit to UCA and was invited back to play in a Sunday league for prospective players. His play in those games prompted the coaching staff to reserve a spot for him in the roster.
What made the decision even easier is that Logan’s ACT score of 35 meant no baseball money had to be used for Logan’s roster spot.
“Those grades and good scores make a huge difference, especially for those Division I schools like UCA,” Fitch said. “They only have like 12 or 13 scholarships to fill out a 25- to 30-man roster. When it comes down to a few guys who are pretty even, and one of them isn’t going to count against your scholarship limit, that’s a huge advantage.”
UCA is also becoming a force in college baseball. The Bears were ranked in the Top 25 for three weeks this season and notched two wins against SEC teams.
Logan has been a fixture in Cabot’s pitching rotation since his sophomore year and has been the No. 1 pitcher the last two seasons. He became a hitter this year as well. Logan finished with a .340 batting average, including six doubles and 14 RBIs as the No. 2 hitter in the lineup.
“He told me at the beginning of the year that he was going to hit this season,” Fitch said. “I said OK Ryan, we’ll see. And boy did he prove himself. He was outstanding for us this year.”
Logan always felt like he was a capable batter, and excelled so much that he not only got to hit in games he pitched, he became the designated hitter in games he didn’t.
“I never like having somebody hit for me,” Logan said. “Last year in legion ball is where I got to hit and got some confidence there. I knew then I could carry into high-school season.”
On the mound Logan finished with a solid 3.78 earned run average, though he only had a 3-6 record. That was largely due to Cabot’s slow start to the season.
The Panthers lost three games in which Logan allowed three runs or fewer before the bats came alive in midseason. Logan’s performance this season earned him a first-team All-Conference selection.
Vaughan is a three-year starter who hopes to follow in the footsteps of former Cabot, Crowder and University of Arkansas player Sam Bates. He led the Panthers in home runs, triples and stolen bases and finished with a .313 average.
He also won the team’s leadership award, a second-team All-Conference selection and received and invitation to the central Arkansas All-Star game.
Morris was a prospect many programs were taking a long look at after a great junior season on the mound. But he suffered a serious elbow injury during one of his best outings of the young season.
In a one-hit shutout of Springfield-Kickapoo in the Central Arkansas Invitational, Morris suffered an avulsion on his right elbow that sidelined him for almost the entire conference season.
“Of all the times to get an injury, your senior season is the worst, especially if you’re a prospect,” Fitch said. “But he came back for us and picked right up where he left off. He didn’t get to pitch nearly as much as we planned on using him, but when he did he was outstanding.”
Morris takes the bad luck in stride and is thankful for the chance to prove himself at the Little Rock junior college.
“They’ve taken a lot of Cabot players over the years and there’s a few there now,” Morris said. “That’s a plus for me. I just have to go down there and work hard to show that I can still get to the next level.”
Morris finished with a couple of no decisions during the early-season slump. He finished with a 1-1 record and an impressive 1.50 ERA. He will also play in the Central Arkansas All-Star game.
SPORTS STORY >> Cabot White defeats Red
By GRAHAM POWELL
Leader sportswriter
Ten unanswered runs after the third inning helped the Cabot Centennial Bank White Junior American Legion team beat the Cabot Junior Centennial Bank Red team 17-7 in six innings of play Thursday at the Cabot baseball complex in the first American Legion game of the year for either team.
The game looked as if it could go in either direction as the two teams were knotted up at 7-7 after three innings of play, but once Adam Hicks took the mound for Cabot White in the top of fourth, Cabot Red (0-1) failed to put a single base runner on the bags, and Cabot White (1-0) took advantage from there.
“We finally started hitting the ball, putting it in play and making things happen,” said Cabot White assistant coach Justin Moore. “Any time you put the ball in play and make the defense work, good things will happen. We kind of got off to a slow start. We threw a lot of balls and walked a lot of guys.
“They didn’t really kill us hitting the ball, but when we finally started throwing strikes the kids kind of settled in a little bit. Adam Hicks came in and shut it down and that’s what we needed. The first two, three innings we gave up runs. Then we finally started getting zeros and building some momentum, and fed off of that.”
Hicks earned the win on the hill after relieving Jonathan Latture, who gave up just three hits in his three innings of work, but Latture walked six batters in that time, which helped Cabot Red score its seven runs. Hicks struck out four batters through three innings, and didn’t give up a single walk or hit.
Cabot White took the lead for good in the bottom of the fourth with a sacrifice fly to right field by Gavin Tillery. Hicks scored on the play after walking to start the inning.
Cabot White added five more runs in the fifth inning to gain a comfortable 13-7 advantage, and put the game away in the sixth with four runs.
Hicks drove in the first two runs of the inning with a one-out single to the left-field gap to put Cabot White up 15-7. A single to left-centerfield the next at bat by Latture, the team’s three-hole hitter, sent leadoff hitter Dylan Bowers across home plate to make it a nine-run game.
Shortly after, Dalten Hurst, who led all batters with three hits, drove in the game-ending run with a single to right field that allowed Hicks to score on the play. After Hicks crossed home plate, the game was called because of the 10-run after five innings sportsmanship rule.
“We are young,” said Cabot Red coach David Smith. “With them being young, a lot of them haven’t played a whole lot, and so you could tell with just some of the little things with the game of baseball they didn’t know. It’s going to come a little slower to them, but hopefully they can pick it up quick.
“The good thing is they came out and they fought. They came out here against an older veteran group and hung with them for three or four innings. They did a great job hitting it off of Latture, and when they brought in Hicks, Hicks shut it down. I was really impressed with them and they showed a lot of heart, but we’ve got a long ways to go.”
Cabot White outhit Cabot Red 12-3. After Hurst, Hicks and Latture were the only other players with multiple hits as they had two each.
Bowers, Tillery, Lee Sullivan, Tyler Tucker and Trent Frizzell had a hit apiece for Cabot White. Braden Jarnigan had two of Cabot Red’s hits. Wes Brown had the only other hit for Cabot Red.
Leader sportswriter
Ten unanswered runs after the third inning helped the Cabot Centennial Bank White Junior American Legion team beat the Cabot Junior Centennial Bank Red team 17-7 in six innings of play Thursday at the Cabot baseball complex in the first American Legion game of the year for either team.
The game looked as if it could go in either direction as the two teams were knotted up at 7-7 after three innings of play, but once Adam Hicks took the mound for Cabot White in the top of fourth, Cabot Red (0-1) failed to put a single base runner on the bags, and Cabot White (1-0) took advantage from there.
“We finally started hitting the ball, putting it in play and making things happen,” said Cabot White assistant coach Justin Moore. “Any time you put the ball in play and make the defense work, good things will happen. We kind of got off to a slow start. We threw a lot of balls and walked a lot of guys.
“They didn’t really kill us hitting the ball, but when we finally started throwing strikes the kids kind of settled in a little bit. Adam Hicks came in and shut it down and that’s what we needed. The first two, three innings we gave up runs. Then we finally started getting zeros and building some momentum, and fed off of that.”
Hicks earned the win on the hill after relieving Jonathan Latture, who gave up just three hits in his three innings of work, but Latture walked six batters in that time, which helped Cabot Red score its seven runs. Hicks struck out four batters through three innings, and didn’t give up a single walk or hit.
Cabot White took the lead for good in the bottom of the fourth with a sacrifice fly to right field by Gavin Tillery. Hicks scored on the play after walking to start the inning.
Cabot White added five more runs in the fifth inning to gain a comfortable 13-7 advantage, and put the game away in the sixth with four runs.
Hicks drove in the first two runs of the inning with a one-out single to the left-field gap to put Cabot White up 15-7. A single to left-centerfield the next at bat by Latture, the team’s three-hole hitter, sent leadoff hitter Dylan Bowers across home plate to make it a nine-run game.
Shortly after, Dalten Hurst, who led all batters with three hits, drove in the game-ending run with a single to right field that allowed Hicks to score on the play. After Hicks crossed home plate, the game was called because of the 10-run after five innings sportsmanship rule.
“We are young,” said Cabot Red coach David Smith. “With them being young, a lot of them haven’t played a whole lot, and so you could tell with just some of the little things with the game of baseball they didn’t know. It’s going to come a little slower to them, but hopefully they can pick it up quick.
“The good thing is they came out and they fought. They came out here against an older veteran group and hung with them for three or four innings. They did a great job hitting it off of Latture, and when they brought in Hicks, Hicks shut it down. I was really impressed with them and they showed a lot of heart, but we’ve got a long ways to go.”
Cabot White outhit Cabot Red 12-3. After Hurst, Hicks and Latture were the only other players with multiple hits as they had two each.
Bowers, Tillery, Lee Sullivan, Tyler Tucker and Trent Frizzell had a hit apiece for Cabot White. Braden Jarnigan had two of Cabot Red’s hits. Wes Brown had the only other hit for Cabot Red.
SPORTS STORY >> Devils showcase depth
By RAY BENTON
Leader sports editor
The Jacksonville football team only got nine practices in during spring drills, which allows for 10 in a three-week period. But head coach Rick Russell says it was still a very productive spring that culminated in a Red-White game on Wednesday.
“We accomplished a lot, got a few questions answered with our depth chart,” said Russell. “We made a lot of progress with our spread offense and really came a long way in getting our defensive package for the spread put in.”
The scrimmage game revealed just enough highlights from each unit to make Russell happy about the team’s progress. Teams were divided evenly instead of by starters versus backups. The new spread offense had long drives and a few big plays, but the defenses got their share of stops as well.
One of plays that stands out most to Russell was a 50-yard touchdown catch by wide receiver Terrell Moore. It was just a 5-yard underneath pass, but what impressed Russell most was the downfield blocking.
“The receivers are doing such a great job of blocking downfield,” Russell said. “On that play we not only got blocking from them, but we had Brandon Tooms, an offensive linemen, 30 yards downfield blocking. Terrell did a good job of reading his blocks, making the right cuts and he had to beat a man one-on-one for those last two yards. He just lunged the ball in. It was great effort by everyone involved.”
The starting rotation on the offensive line was set with college prospects Cory Harrison and Tooms at each tackle position. Jordan Belew is the starting center and one of the players that has made the most progress since last season.
“Jordan has just blossomed this offseason,” Russell said. “He’s gotten so much stronger and he plays so hard. He really gets after it.”
Sophomores Keith Purvall and Jalen Tatum will fill out the rest of the line. There’s also good depth.
“It’s lateral depth,” Russell said. “The backups are all going to be playing defense, but we feel like we have enough to make up two good offensive lines.”
Russell expected to be strong at the skill positions since offseason began, and he’s even more convinced it will be a strength now.
“We have the deepest group of backs and receivers as we’ve had since I’ve been here,” Russell said. “And it’s quality depth. We have so many players that I feel totally comfortable and confident putting the ball in their hands.”
The one Russell bragged about after Wednesday’s scrimmage was senior Carlin Heard.
“There’s another one like Belew that works so hard and gotten so much stronger,” Russell said. “He’s put on about 10 pounds, which for someone his size, is like 30 pounds for someone else. He’s increased his lifts tremendously. On the field he’s got great instincts. He really knows how to read his blocks and make the right decision. And on defense he’s so special because he’s great at talking. We call it ‘recognizing out loud’. When he’s in there at outside linebacker, he does a great job of recognizing the offense and communicating that.”
Senior Reggie Barnes continues to hold the top spot on the depth chart at quarterback, but Russell also feels good about the depth at that position. Sophomore Brandon Hickingbotham has been impressive since he joined the team at the end of baseball season. Russell said juniors Caleb Price and Kerry Knight have improved tremendously in the offseason and spring.
“Across the board we’re going to have a little more depth than we’ve had in several years,” Russell said. “We’re still not where you want to be. We can’t afford to lose anybody. But we’re better off than we have been.”
There is still one position that Russell doesn’t have a good idea of who will start.
“We’re still looking for that solid strong safety,” Russell said. “I’ve got a couple people in mind, but I’d like for someone to step up and show they want and deserve that position. I want them to decide who that starter is instead of the coaches.”
Leader sports editor
The Jacksonville football team only got nine practices in during spring drills, which allows for 10 in a three-week period. But head coach Rick Russell says it was still a very productive spring that culminated in a Red-White game on Wednesday.
“We accomplished a lot, got a few questions answered with our depth chart,” said Russell. “We made a lot of progress with our spread offense and really came a long way in getting our defensive package for the spread put in.”
The scrimmage game revealed just enough highlights from each unit to make Russell happy about the team’s progress. Teams were divided evenly instead of by starters versus backups. The new spread offense had long drives and a few big plays, but the defenses got their share of stops as well.
One of plays that stands out most to Russell was a 50-yard touchdown catch by wide receiver Terrell Moore. It was just a 5-yard underneath pass, but what impressed Russell most was the downfield blocking.
“The receivers are doing such a great job of blocking downfield,” Russell said. “On that play we not only got blocking from them, but we had Brandon Tooms, an offensive linemen, 30 yards downfield blocking. Terrell did a good job of reading his blocks, making the right cuts and he had to beat a man one-on-one for those last two yards. He just lunged the ball in. It was great effort by everyone involved.”
The starting rotation on the offensive line was set with college prospects Cory Harrison and Tooms at each tackle position. Jordan Belew is the starting center and one of the players that has made the most progress since last season.
“Jordan has just blossomed this offseason,” Russell said. “He’s gotten so much stronger and he plays so hard. He really gets after it.”
Sophomores Keith Purvall and Jalen Tatum will fill out the rest of the line. There’s also good depth.
“It’s lateral depth,” Russell said. “The backups are all going to be playing defense, but we feel like we have enough to make up two good offensive lines.”
Russell expected to be strong at the skill positions since offseason began, and he’s even more convinced it will be a strength now.
“We have the deepest group of backs and receivers as we’ve had since I’ve been here,” Russell said. “And it’s quality depth. We have so many players that I feel totally comfortable and confident putting the ball in their hands.”
The one Russell bragged about after Wednesday’s scrimmage was senior Carlin Heard.
“There’s another one like Belew that works so hard and gotten so much stronger,” Russell said. “He’s put on about 10 pounds, which for someone his size, is like 30 pounds for someone else. He’s increased his lifts tremendously. On the field he’s got great instincts. He really knows how to read his blocks and make the right decision. And on defense he’s so special because he’s great at talking. We call it ‘recognizing out loud’. When he’s in there at outside linebacker, he does a great job of recognizing the offense and communicating that.”
Senior Reggie Barnes continues to hold the top spot on the depth chart at quarterback, but Russell also feels good about the depth at that position. Sophomore Brandon Hickingbotham has been impressive since he joined the team at the end of baseball season. Russell said juniors Caleb Price and Kerry Knight have improved tremendously in the offseason and spring.
“Across the board we’re going to have a little more depth than we’ve had in several years,” Russell said. “We’re still not where you want to be. We can’t afford to lose anybody. But we’re better off than we have been.”
There is still one position that Russell doesn’t have a good idea of who will start.
“We’re still looking for that solid strong safety,” Russell said. “I’ve got a couple people in mind, but I’d like for someone to step up and show they want and deserve that position. I want them to decide who that starter is instead of the coaches.”
EDITORIAL >> Sane voices in academe
If reason prevails anywhere, you would expect it to be at a university, where it is supposed to be enshrined, administered and taught. So when one Arkansas university after another says “absolutely not” to gun-toting professors and staffs, you can only be reassured.
Thursday, the University of Arkansas Board of Trustees, a most conservative bunch, exempted all the university’s 11 campuses from the legislature’s new campus gun law. Arkansas State University’s board did the same for its four campuses. The Arkansas Tech University board also voted to keep its campus gun-free, except for campus police. Other schools had acted much earlier.
Act 116 of 2013, which takes effect in August, allows instructors and staffs to carry weapons on the campus so that they can defend themselves and shoot it out with any miscreants—students, visitors or other professors—who try to make trouble. But the sponsors of the bill agreed to give schools the chance to opt out of the campus armaments if any of them had strong objections. It turns out that all of them do, which should not be a surprise.
Act 116 was one of a flood of bills eliminating or loosening the restrictions on making, selling, buying or carrying guns in public or private sanctuaries that sailed through the General Assembly, where nearly every lawmaker was terrified of casting a vote that someone could say was against guns.
The national revulsion against the latest slaughter of children by a heavily armed and suicidal maniac, this one in Connecticut, seemed to be moving toward some common-sense restraints on the circulation of military weaponry, so the National Rifle Association and the munitions makers fought back by pushing bills in state legislatures that do the opposite — encourage the purchase of more weapons or remove restrictions on their handling in public.
The theory behind the campus gun law and bills that open other sanctuaries—churches, public schools, parks, public buildings and the public streets—to open or concealed carry is that the more guns that are in the hands of good people the safer everyone will be. It is illogical nonsense. The greater the prevalence of guns the greater is the likelihood that they will be used, by impulse, by accident or by design. The evidence is in every morning’s paper.
When Dr. Amy Bishop, who learned that she was being denied tenure, pulled out her 9-millimeter pistol and murdered three professors and gravely injured three others at a biology departmental staff meeting at the University of Alabama in 2010, gun adherents argued that if the other professors had all been carrying guns, too, they could have blown Dr. Bishop away when it became apparent that she was losing control of herself. In the Wild Wild West, wasn’t the safest place to be the streets of Tombstone, where everyone had a pistol under his belt? Sure, lots of people died, but quite a few of them deserved it.
The votes by the university trustees were unanimous, as were the recommendations from chancellors, faculty senates and student associations. David Pryor, the former governor and senator and now a member of the University of Arkansas Board of Trustees, was heartened.
He said the message from students, faculty, administrators and trustees was “very clear” and he hoped every institution would elect not to be armed for battle.
Might he have a word with his son, the young Senator Pryor, who voted last month not to strengthen background checks on gun buyers?
But that’s another story.
Thursday, the University of Arkansas Board of Trustees, a most conservative bunch, exempted all the university’s 11 campuses from the legislature’s new campus gun law. Arkansas State University’s board did the same for its four campuses. The Arkansas Tech University board also voted to keep its campus gun-free, except for campus police. Other schools had acted much earlier.
Act 116 of 2013, which takes effect in August, allows instructors and staffs to carry weapons on the campus so that they can defend themselves and shoot it out with any miscreants—students, visitors or other professors—who try to make trouble. But the sponsors of the bill agreed to give schools the chance to opt out of the campus armaments if any of them had strong objections. It turns out that all of them do, which should not be a surprise.
Act 116 was one of a flood of bills eliminating or loosening the restrictions on making, selling, buying or carrying guns in public or private sanctuaries that sailed through the General Assembly, where nearly every lawmaker was terrified of casting a vote that someone could say was against guns.
The national revulsion against the latest slaughter of children by a heavily armed and suicidal maniac, this one in Connecticut, seemed to be moving toward some common-sense restraints on the circulation of military weaponry, so the National Rifle Association and the munitions makers fought back by pushing bills in state legislatures that do the opposite — encourage the purchase of more weapons or remove restrictions on their handling in public.
The theory behind the campus gun law and bills that open other sanctuaries—churches, public schools, parks, public buildings and the public streets—to open or concealed carry is that the more guns that are in the hands of good people the safer everyone will be. It is illogical nonsense. The greater the prevalence of guns the greater is the likelihood that they will be used, by impulse, by accident or by design. The evidence is in every morning’s paper.
When Dr. Amy Bishop, who learned that she was being denied tenure, pulled out her 9-millimeter pistol and murdered three professors and gravely injured three others at a biology departmental staff meeting at the University of Alabama in 2010, gun adherents argued that if the other professors had all been carrying guns, too, they could have blown Dr. Bishop away when it became apparent that she was losing control of herself. In the Wild Wild West, wasn’t the safest place to be the streets of Tombstone, where everyone had a pistol under his belt? Sure, lots of people died, but quite a few of them deserved it.
The votes by the university trustees were unanimous, as were the recommendations from chancellors, faculty senates and student associations. David Pryor, the former governor and senator and now a member of the University of Arkansas Board of Trustees, was heartened.
He said the message from students, faculty, administrators and trustees was “very clear” and he hoped every institution would elect not to be armed for battle.
Might he have a word with his son, the young Senator Pryor, who voted last month not to strengthen background checks on gun buyers?
But that’s another story.
TOP STORY >> DAR holds first awards ceremony
Maj. Jacob Gray Chapter National Society Daughters of the American Revolution recently held its first awards and honors reception at the Jacksonville Museum of Military History.
Sixteen community members were recognized for their work and service to the community, state and nation.
Ty Schultz, a Cabot High School senior, was given the Maj. Jacob Gray Chapter Scholarship worth $750 scholarship.
It is awarded annually to a graduating senior from Cabot, Jacksonville or North Pulaski High School. Recipients must major in historic preservation, history, secondary or elementary education or a medical field. Mary Lee Schultz of Cabot made the presentation.
Michael York, also a Cabot High School senior, and Samiera Washington, a Jacksonville High School senior, were named DAR Good Citizens by their schools. York was the winner of the local chapter’s contest that was also entered in the statewide contest. They received certificates, pins and checks.
Beebe High School history teacher Lindsey Sanders was recognized as the 2013 outstanding teacher of American history contest by chapter historian Lynda Etheridge of North Little Rock.
John Wintz, a Beebe Junior High seventh grader, was the chapter’s American history essay contest winner.
Students were asked to write about “Forgotten Patriots Who Supported the American Struggle for Independence.” His essay was also entered in a statewide contest. American history committee chairman Jayne Spears of Beebe made the presentation.
The chapter also recognized The Leader newspaper and its staff, Jeffrey Smith, Sarah Campbell and Jonathan Feldman, for helping to promote DAR. Publicity chairman Junelle Mongno of Jacksonville presented them with framed certificates of appreciation.
Eight women were recognized for their contributions to American history. American History chairman Jayne Spears of Beebe honored former state Rep. Pat Bond of Jacksonville, a longtime education advocate; the late Leona Anderson Troxell Dodd, who was active in the community and politics; Kaki Hockersmith of Little Rock, an entrepreneur; Charlotte Huntley of Jacksonville, NSDAR 65-year member and entrepreneur; Joanne Kimsey of Cabot, NSDAR 54-year member and civic leader; the late Mary Burt Nash, who was a Pulaski County Juvenile Court judge; the late Jessie Speight Smith, a veteran and educator, and Laverne Robinson Thompson of Cabot, a veteran and business.
Sixteen community members were recognized for their work and service to the community, state and nation.
Ty Schultz, a Cabot High School senior, was given the Maj. Jacob Gray Chapter Scholarship worth $750 scholarship.
It is awarded annually to a graduating senior from Cabot, Jacksonville or North Pulaski High School. Recipients must major in historic preservation, history, secondary or elementary education or a medical field. Mary Lee Schultz of Cabot made the presentation.
Michael York, also a Cabot High School senior, and Samiera Washington, a Jacksonville High School senior, were named DAR Good Citizens by their schools. York was the winner of the local chapter’s contest that was also entered in the statewide contest. They received certificates, pins and checks.
Beebe High School history teacher Lindsey Sanders was recognized as the 2013 outstanding teacher of American history contest by chapter historian Lynda Etheridge of North Little Rock.
John Wintz, a Beebe Junior High seventh grader, was the chapter’s American history essay contest winner.
Students were asked to write about “Forgotten Patriots Who Supported the American Struggle for Independence.” His essay was also entered in a statewide contest. American history committee chairman Jayne Spears of Beebe made the presentation.
The chapter also recognized The Leader newspaper and its staff, Jeffrey Smith, Sarah Campbell and Jonathan Feldman, for helping to promote DAR. Publicity chairman Junelle Mongno of Jacksonville presented them with framed certificates of appreciation.
Eight women were recognized for their contributions to American history. American History chairman Jayne Spears of Beebe honored former state Rep. Pat Bond of Jacksonville, a longtime education advocate; the late Leona Anderson Troxell Dodd, who was active in the community and politics; Kaki Hockersmith of Little Rock, an entrepreneur; Charlotte Huntley of Jacksonville, NSDAR 65-year member and entrepreneur; Joanne Kimsey of Cabot, NSDAR 54-year member and civic leader; the late Mary Burt Nash, who was a Pulaski County Juvenile Court judge; the late Jessie Speight Smith, a veteran and educator, and Laverne Robinson Thompson of Cabot, a veteran and business.
TOP STORY >> How to grow up to be a reporter
By SARAH CAMPBELL
Leader staff writer
It was a great idea to bring visual aids for my recent presentations during career day at Murrell Taylor Elementary School in Jacksonville.
But giving them to a gaggle of third-graders before I spoke about what I do was not so brilliant. It took at least 10 minutes to put disheveled newspapers back together for the next class.
My competition for future recruits to the journalism field included military folks, a firefighter, a juvenile detention center director and more.
Being a reporter isn’t glamorous to most grown-ups and I was afraid the same would be true for children.
I hope my chosen profession holds a little magic now for the aspiring writers among the kindergartners, second-, third- and fifth-graders I talked to.
One fifth-grade girl asked when I knew I wanted to be a writer. My answer was that I remember thinking about it when I was her age.
Before that I wanted to be a doctor. Then I learned science and math weren’t for me.
The girl nodded when I asked if writing is what she wanted to do when she grew up. That just made my day.
I don’t know how many times the question “Is it fun?” came up.
I said I enjoy being a reporter because I get to talk to people all the time, learn new things and do something different every day.
Some of the most surprising questions were more technical than I was prepared for and another wasn’t specific to my job.
A third-grader asked what would happen if I didn’t do what my boss wanted me to do.
I told her anyone who disobeys their boss could be disciplined in a number of ways, with getting fired being the most severe.
If you think about that, it’s almost as if we adults are still in school and the boss is our teacher.
Another third-grader wanted to know how we put photos and stories in the paper.
I explained that we use a computer program called InDesign and it does just what the name implies. The program allows us to design the photos and stories on a page that we then send to the production staff and pressmen.
Another question was about my education. I earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism from Arkansas State University in Jonesboro, where my professors taught me how to write in inverted pyramid style with the most important facts at the top of an article, how to interview people, how to take photos and more.
My Nikon 5100 SLR camera was another nice visual aide but — as a teacher pointed out — I couldn’t pass around such an expensive piece of equipment like I did with the newspapers.
My goal for the day was to simplify what I do for a living and keep the kids interested.
I was shocked to discover that I, a not-so-good public speaker, seemed to have accomplished those goals.
The students asked a lot of questions and were better behaved than I expected.
I hope Murrell Taylor hosts this kind of event for them again and other schools should follow its lead.
Leader staff writer
It was a great idea to bring visual aids for my recent presentations during career day at Murrell Taylor Elementary School in Jacksonville.
But giving them to a gaggle of third-graders before I spoke about what I do was not so brilliant. It took at least 10 minutes to put disheveled newspapers back together for the next class.
My competition for future recruits to the journalism field included military folks, a firefighter, a juvenile detention center director and more.
Being a reporter isn’t glamorous to most grown-ups and I was afraid the same would be true for children.
I hope my chosen profession holds a little magic now for the aspiring writers among the kindergartners, second-, third- and fifth-graders I talked to.
One fifth-grade girl asked when I knew I wanted to be a writer. My answer was that I remember thinking about it when I was her age.
Before that I wanted to be a doctor. Then I learned science and math weren’t for me.
The girl nodded when I asked if writing is what she wanted to do when she grew up. That just made my day.
I don’t know how many times the question “Is it fun?” came up.
I said I enjoy being a reporter because I get to talk to people all the time, learn new things and do something different every day.
Some of the most surprising questions were more technical than I was prepared for and another wasn’t specific to my job.
A third-grader asked what would happen if I didn’t do what my boss wanted me to do.
I told her anyone who disobeys their boss could be disciplined in a number of ways, with getting fired being the most severe.
If you think about that, it’s almost as if we adults are still in school and the boss is our teacher.
Another third-grader wanted to know how we put photos and stories in the paper.
I explained that we use a computer program called InDesign and it does just what the name implies. The program allows us to design the photos and stories on a page that we then send to the production staff and pressmen.
Another question was about my education. I earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism from Arkansas State University in Jonesboro, where my professors taught me how to write in inverted pyramid style with the most important facts at the top of an article, how to interview people, how to take photos and more.
My Nikon 5100 SLR camera was another nice visual aide but — as a teacher pointed out — I couldn’t pass around such an expensive piece of equipment like I did with the newspapers.
My goal for the day was to simplify what I do for a living and keep the kids interested.
I was shocked to discover that I, a not-so-good public speaker, seemed to have accomplished those goals.
The students asked a lot of questions and were better behaved than I expected.
I hope Murrell Taylor hosts this kind of event for them again and other schools should follow its lead.
TOP STORY >> Bidding a farewell to high school life
By SARAH CAMPBELL
Leader staff writer
One area high school said goodbye to its seniors last night while two others will wish theirs luck today as they, young men and women, go on to enter the workforce or further their educations.
Jacksonville High School’s graduation was held Friday night on the football field, where 169 students were handed their diplomas.
Valedictorian Adam Hargis and salutatorian Hannah Shellito graced the stage to speak of high school experiences and where the class of 2013 should go from here.
In the front row were the other honor graduates, Tonancy Ramirez-Zamudio, Lori Shore, Chase Smiley, James Taylor and Samiera Washington.
North Pulaski High School’s commencement is set for 12:30 p.m. today at the Jack Stephens Center on the University of Arkansas at Little Rock campus.
The class of 2013 is 185 seniors strong.
Maitland Hurley is the valedictorian and Laura Spell is the salutatorian.
The other honor graduates are Caroline Bettencourt, Christopher Laxton, Kaley Nicholas, Bradley Degler, Fallon Howley, Shayla Evans, Kiana Benton, Austin Rainey, Jessica Hall, Kathryn Walter, Phelan Thomen, Sharon Wright, Darby Evans and Tiffany Waters.
Sylvan Hills High School’s 162 seniors will also receive their diplomas at the Jack Stephens Center. Their graduation is set for 5:30 p.m. today.
Hayden Huston, with a GPA of 4.164, was named valedictorian.
He is the son of Tom and Rhonda Huston.
Huston plans to attend the University of Arkansas Fayetteville to study pre-medicine chemistry.
He has been active in National Honor Society, Beta Club and Mu Alpha Theta in addition to being a member of the baseball team.
Lauren Dedmon, with a GPA of 4.095, was named salutatorian.
She is the daughter of Charles and Icephine Dedmon.
Dedmon also plans to attend U of A at Fayetteville. She wants to study broadcast journalism.
The salutatorian has received the Razorback Bridge Scholarship, the Alicia Nicole Rix Memorial Scholarship and the Arkansas Academic Challenge Scholarship.
Her extracurricular activities include National Honor Society, Mu Alpha Theta, Beta Club, choir, cheer and senior executive committee. She also served as the editor of the yearbook.
The other honor graduates are Kelsey Caton, Brooke Murphy, Victoria LaFave, Chloe Voss, Naomi Gregory, Jeana Canady, John Miller, Madeline White and Andrea Elias.
Leader staff writer
One area high school said goodbye to its seniors last night while two others will wish theirs luck today as they, young men and women, go on to enter the workforce or further their educations.
Jacksonville High School’s graduation was held Friday night on the football field, where 169 students were handed their diplomas.
Valedictorian Adam Hargis and salutatorian Hannah Shellito graced the stage to speak of high school experiences and where the class of 2013 should go from here.
In the front row were the other honor graduates, Tonancy Ramirez-Zamudio, Lori Shore, Chase Smiley, James Taylor and Samiera Washington.
North Pulaski High School’s commencement is set for 12:30 p.m. today at the Jack Stephens Center on the University of Arkansas at Little Rock campus.
The class of 2013 is 185 seniors strong.
Maitland Hurley is the valedictorian and Laura Spell is the salutatorian.
The other honor graduates are Caroline Bettencourt, Christopher Laxton, Kaley Nicholas, Bradley Degler, Fallon Howley, Shayla Evans, Kiana Benton, Austin Rainey, Jessica Hall, Kathryn Walter, Phelan Thomen, Sharon Wright, Darby Evans and Tiffany Waters.
Sylvan Hills High School’s 162 seniors will also receive their diplomas at the Jack Stephens Center. Their graduation is set for 5:30 p.m. today.
Hayden Huston, with a GPA of 4.164, was named valedictorian.
He is the son of Tom and Rhonda Huston.
Huston plans to attend the University of Arkansas Fayetteville to study pre-medicine chemistry.
He has been active in National Honor Society, Beta Club and Mu Alpha Theta in addition to being a member of the baseball team.
Lauren Dedmon, with a GPA of 4.095, was named salutatorian.
She is the daughter of Charles and Icephine Dedmon.
Dedmon also plans to attend U of A at Fayetteville. She wants to study broadcast journalism.
The salutatorian has received the Razorback Bridge Scholarship, the Alicia Nicole Rix Memorial Scholarship and the Arkansas Academic Challenge Scholarship.
Her extracurricular activities include National Honor Society, Mu Alpha Theta, Beta Club, choir, cheer and senior executive committee. She also served as the editor of the yearbook.
The other honor graduates are Kelsey Caton, Brooke Murphy, Victoria LaFave, Chloe Voss, Naomi Gregory, Jeana Canady, John Miller, Madeline White and Andrea Elias.
Tuesday, May 21, 2013
EDITORIAL >> Shoffner steps down
This is not a good time to be a Democrat in Arkansas. The party, which is facing extinction as the state moves further to the right, has almost no chance of winning statewide offices next year. The weekend arrest of state Treasurer Martha Shoffner, a Democrat, on bribery charges will only worsen the party’s troubles. Her resignation Tuesday afternoon will hardly limit the damage as Republicans are certain to use her mug in political commercials next year to highlight alleged corruption in the Democratic Party.
Shoffner is facing up to 20 years in prison after she was caught taking bribes from a securities dealer who was doing business with her office. Calls for her resignation came within hours of her arrest, and not only from Republicans, such as Sen. Eddie Joe Williams (R-Cabot) and others, but also from top Democrats, including Gov. Mike Beebe and party chairman and Jacksonville native Will Bond.
Bond, who has struggled to revive the party since the assassination of chairman Bill Gwatney, also of Jacksonville, despairs over the party’s chances in the upcoming elections and Monday called for Shoffner’s resignation.
“We have reviewed the criminal complaint just released regarding the alleged acts of state Treasurer Martha Shoffner, and we are shocked and disturbed by the allegations,” Bond said. “While Treasurer Shoffner has the right to be presumed innocent, Arkansas taxpayers have the right to have confidence that their money is being invested and managed properly. In order to restore public trust and to allow the treasurer’s office to operate its duties, we ask treasurer Shoffner to resign immediately.”
The Arkansas Times, which broke the story more than a year ago, has identified the bond dealer as Steele Stephens of St. Bernard Financial in Russellville. Suspicions arose when this small securities dealer managed to get most of the treasurer’s bond business. A legislative audit committee and the FBI also became curious. Before long, Stephens agreed to cooperate with the FBI and was wired when he delivered $6,000 in a pie filled with $100 bills to Shoffner’s home in Newport on Saturday.
The scandal could be the final blow to the state Democratic Party, which next year will probably lose the few constitutional offices it has managed to hold on to during a rising Republican tide. Shoffner could cost the Democrats the governorship and the Democratic Senate seat held by Mark Pryor.
Shofner has hired Chuck Banks, a first-class criminal lawyer, who kept Lu Hardin out of prison after he was caught stealing from the University of Central Arkansas. He claimed he stole from the university to cover gambling debts. Shoffner, who is 68, will probably blame her erratic behavior on advanced age and maybe even early dementia.
Whatever the outcome of this shocking case, it does not bode well for the Democrats, who are an endangered species. Back in the days when the Democrats ruled one-party Arkansas, public officials probably acted no differently from Shoffner. A new era is on the horizon. Too bad the state treasurer couldn’t see the change coming.
Shoffner is facing up to 20 years in prison after she was caught taking bribes from a securities dealer who was doing business with her office. Calls for her resignation came within hours of her arrest, and not only from Republicans, such as Sen. Eddie Joe Williams (R-Cabot) and others, but also from top Democrats, including Gov. Mike Beebe and party chairman and Jacksonville native Will Bond.
Bond, who has struggled to revive the party since the assassination of chairman Bill Gwatney, also of Jacksonville, despairs over the party’s chances in the upcoming elections and Monday called for Shoffner’s resignation.
“We have reviewed the criminal complaint just released regarding the alleged acts of state Treasurer Martha Shoffner, and we are shocked and disturbed by the allegations,” Bond said. “While Treasurer Shoffner has the right to be presumed innocent, Arkansas taxpayers have the right to have confidence that their money is being invested and managed properly. In order to restore public trust and to allow the treasurer’s office to operate its duties, we ask treasurer Shoffner to resign immediately.”
The Arkansas Times, which broke the story more than a year ago, has identified the bond dealer as Steele Stephens of St. Bernard Financial in Russellville. Suspicions arose when this small securities dealer managed to get most of the treasurer’s bond business. A legislative audit committee and the FBI also became curious. Before long, Stephens agreed to cooperate with the FBI and was wired when he delivered $6,000 in a pie filled with $100 bills to Shoffner’s home in Newport on Saturday.
The scandal could be the final blow to the state Democratic Party, which next year will probably lose the few constitutional offices it has managed to hold on to during a rising Republican tide. Shoffner could cost the Democrats the governorship and the Democratic Senate seat held by Mark Pryor.
Shofner has hired Chuck Banks, a first-class criminal lawyer, who kept Lu Hardin out of prison after he was caught stealing from the University of Central Arkansas. He claimed he stole from the university to cover gambling debts. Shoffner, who is 68, will probably blame her erratic behavior on advanced age and maybe even early dementia.
Whatever the outcome of this shocking case, it does not bode well for the Democrats, who are an endangered species. Back in the days when the Democrats ruled one-party Arkansas, public officials probably acted no differently from Shoffner. A new era is on the horizon. Too bad the state treasurer couldn’t see the change coming.
TOP STORY >> Old gas station makes state list
By SARAH CAMPBELL
Leader staff writer
The Roundtop filling station in Sherwood has been named one of the top 10 most endangered historic places in the state by the Historic Preservation Alliance of Arkansas.
The public is invited to join Mayor Virginia Hillman and Darrell Brown, chairman of the Sherwood History and Heritage Committee, for the official announcement at 10 a.m. Thursday at the William Woodruff House, 1017 E. 8th St. in Little Rock.
The committee was expecting to know on May 3 whether Sherwood had won an $80,000 Department of Arkansas Heritage grant to restore the landmark.
Brown said the announcement of the grant recipient has been moved to June 11.
Making the list could open doors to more funding sources, he added.
It could cost $150,000 to bring the 1936 station at Trammel and Roundtop roads back to its former glory, Brown said previously.
If the city is awarded the grant, the structure will be used as a police substation because the Department of Arkansas Heritage requires any building the grant is used for to have a designated purpose.
Donations for the restoration project are being accepted. They are tax deductible.
Send donations to “Save the Roundtop Campaign” c/o Sherwood City Clerk’s Office, P.O. Box 6256, Sherwood, Ark. 72124. Write “Roundtop” in the memo line of any checks.
For more information, contact Brown at 501-425-4037 or by e-mail at DWBrown@CityofSherwood.net.
W.D. “Happy” Williford operated the station for 36 years, from 1936 until 1972.
Real estate tycoon Justin Matthews built the Roundtop for the Pierce Oil Company after the federal government broke up the Standard Oil Company in 1911.
The landmark later became a Phillips 66, a Sinclair gas station and a DX station. It had three pumps.
Williford bought the Round-top in 1957 and sold it in 1999 to George Brown. Darrell Brown and George Brown are not related.
When George Brown passed away, his heirs gave the building to Sherwood.
Roundtop Road was once Hwy. 67, the main thoroughfare from Bald Knob and Searcy to Little Rock and North Little Rock. People from St. Louis also drove it.
The station was the only place that had public bathrooms between Searcy and Little Rock. The station has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places s
Leader staff writer
The Roundtop filling station in Sherwood has been named one of the top 10 most endangered historic places in the state by the Historic Preservation Alliance of Arkansas.
The public is invited to join Mayor Virginia Hillman and Darrell Brown, chairman of the Sherwood History and Heritage Committee, for the official announcement at 10 a.m. Thursday at the William Woodruff House, 1017 E. 8th St. in Little Rock.
The committee was expecting to know on May 3 whether Sherwood had won an $80,000 Department of Arkansas Heritage grant to restore the landmark.
Brown said the announcement of the grant recipient has been moved to June 11.
Making the list could open doors to more funding sources, he added.
It could cost $150,000 to bring the 1936 station at Trammel and Roundtop roads back to its former glory, Brown said previously.
If the city is awarded the grant, the structure will be used as a police substation because the Department of Arkansas Heritage requires any building the grant is used for to have a designated purpose.
Donations for the restoration project are being accepted. They are tax deductible.
Send donations to “Save the Roundtop Campaign” c/o Sherwood City Clerk’s Office, P.O. Box 6256, Sherwood, Ark. 72124. Write “Roundtop” in the memo line of any checks.
For more information, contact Brown at 501-425-4037 or by e-mail at DWBrown@CityofSherwood.net.
W.D. “Happy” Williford operated the station for 36 years, from 1936 until 1972.
Real estate tycoon Justin Matthews built the Roundtop for the Pierce Oil Company after the federal government broke up the Standard Oil Company in 1911.
The landmark later became a Phillips 66, a Sinclair gas station and a DX station. It had three pumps.
Williford bought the Round-top in 1957 and sold it in 1999 to George Brown. Darrell Brown and George Brown are not related.
When George Brown passed away, his heirs gave the building to Sherwood.
Roundtop Road was once Hwy. 67, the main thoroughfare from Bald Knob and Searcy to Little Rock and North Little Rock. People from St. Louis also drove it.
The station was the only place that had public bathrooms between Searcy and Little Rock. The station has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places s
TOP STORY >> Airman investigates paranormal
By SENIOR AIRMAN RUSTY FRANK
19th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
The sun sets and a full moon rises on an eerie spring night, and all you can hear is the hiss of the wind blowing on the leaves and the muffled sounds of passing cars echoing off the grave stones at Camp Nelson Confederate Cemetery in Cabot.
For Staff Sgt. Justin Rangel of the 345th Recruiting Squadron at Little Rock Air Force Base, this is a normal environment when he’s off-duty.
Rangel’s hobby takes him into the darkest and scariest places for some people, because he is a paranormal investigator.
“Paranormal investigating is the approach of being able to validate a paranormal claim through scientific research or investigation,” he said.
Rangel is the co-lead investigator on the team and a technical specialist with a paranormal team based in Dallas-Fort Worth. When Rangel first started out, people in the paranormal community dubbed him the “paranormal airman.”
Rangel said his spooky ghost story infatuation began as a youth. While staying over at a friend’s house, a shadowy figure appeared over him. He said couldn’t breathe, because of the feeling of extreme pressure on his chest. In the midst of the encounter, he remembered his grandma’s advice that whenever he feels scared he should call upon Jesus. Then the haunting figure disappeared.
That ghostly encounter triggered his curiosity into the paranormal, and inspired his quest to figure out what it was he experienced that night.
“The whole paranormal thing has always been an interest of mine. I’ve been doing research on the paranormal and looking into different stories about the afterlife outside of (traditional) religious beliefs since 1999,” Rangel noted.
Even though Rangel was doing research in 1999, he really didn’t start actively investigating until about nine years ago.
“I actually started investigating back in 2004; it was pretty much right after my last deployment, and right before my first recruiting job,” Rangel explained.
“We got a team together and asked permission to go into places (to investigate). We started establishing ourselves in the local community in Louisiana. We actually started investigating before the whole ghost hunter thing went mainstream.”
When Rangel goes out on an investigation he uses different equipment and technologies to measure energy. He commonly uses standard electromagnetic field readers and other pieces of measuring equipment to get a base reading on the location his team is investigating.
Thanks to social media, Rangel and Fort Worth Paranormal have people from across the country seeking their unique skills.
“People usually find us on our Facebook fan page or our website,” Rangel said.
When his team receives a request to investigate a location, they thoroughly interview the client. After the interview, they decide how many team members they need for the investigation. The team will then split the responsibilities of the investigation. Some will research the history of the location, while the others will do a site visit. After everything is complete, they unmask the results of their findings to the client.
Throughout his career as a paranormal scrutinizer, Rangel has had a lot of chilling experiences — both good and bad.
One experience that Rangel vividly recalls was when his team was investigating the haunted Hotel Marshall in Marshall, Texas, where a tragic event happened on an evening in August 2012. During their investigation inside the hotel. Rangel recalled he and his partner were asking questions and shooting video when suddenly his partner started complaining of a feeling much more intense than the “heebie jeebies.” It was during this time that his friend started to complain about a burning sensation on his back. Rangel lifted up the shirt and saw deep scratches that appeared and welted up right before his eyes.
Rangel and his ghost hunter team offer open minded analysis of supernatural encounters for clients regardless of religious affiliations or locations.
“We do this as a service to the community, for those folks who are too afraid to talk about certain things and speak out about their experiences,” Rangel said. “We are here to help.”
Rangel said he uses integrity, an Air Force core value, and applies it to his paranormal investigation.
“As far as experiences in the Air Force, first and foremost the integrity approach, because you don’t want to go out there and approach an investigation with a bunch of falsities,” Rangel said.
19th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
The sun sets and a full moon rises on an eerie spring night, and all you can hear is the hiss of the wind blowing on the leaves and the muffled sounds of passing cars echoing off the grave stones at Camp Nelson Confederate Cemetery in Cabot.
For Staff Sgt. Justin Rangel of the 345th Recruiting Squadron at Little Rock Air Force Base, this is a normal environment when he’s off-duty.
Rangel’s hobby takes him into the darkest and scariest places for some people, because he is a paranormal investigator.
“Paranormal investigating is the approach of being able to validate a paranormal claim through scientific research or investigation,” he said.
Rangel is the co-lead investigator on the team and a technical specialist with a paranormal team based in Dallas-Fort Worth. When Rangel first started out, people in the paranormal community dubbed him the “paranormal airman.”
Rangel said his spooky ghost story infatuation began as a youth. While staying over at a friend’s house, a shadowy figure appeared over him. He said couldn’t breathe, because of the feeling of extreme pressure on his chest. In the midst of the encounter, he remembered his grandma’s advice that whenever he feels scared he should call upon Jesus. Then the haunting figure disappeared.
That ghostly encounter triggered his curiosity into the paranormal, and inspired his quest to figure out what it was he experienced that night.
“The whole paranormal thing has always been an interest of mine. I’ve been doing research on the paranormal and looking into different stories about the afterlife outside of (traditional) religious beliefs since 1999,” Rangel noted.
Even though Rangel was doing research in 1999, he really didn’t start actively investigating until about nine years ago.
“I actually started investigating back in 2004; it was pretty much right after my last deployment, and right before my first recruiting job,” Rangel explained.
“We got a team together and asked permission to go into places (to investigate). We started establishing ourselves in the local community in Louisiana. We actually started investigating before the whole ghost hunter thing went mainstream.”
When Rangel goes out on an investigation he uses different equipment and technologies to measure energy. He commonly uses standard electromagnetic field readers and other pieces of measuring equipment to get a base reading on the location his team is investigating.
Thanks to social media, Rangel and Fort Worth Paranormal have people from across the country seeking their unique skills.
“People usually find us on our Facebook fan page or our website,” Rangel said.
When his team receives a request to investigate a location, they thoroughly interview the client. After the interview, they decide how many team members they need for the investigation. The team will then split the responsibilities of the investigation. Some will research the history of the location, while the others will do a site visit. After everything is complete, they unmask the results of their findings to the client.
Throughout his career as a paranormal scrutinizer, Rangel has had a lot of chilling experiences — both good and bad.
One experience that Rangel vividly recalls was when his team was investigating the haunted Hotel Marshall in Marshall, Texas, where a tragic event happened on an evening in August 2012. During their investigation inside the hotel. Rangel recalled he and his partner were asking questions and shooting video when suddenly his partner started complaining of a feeling much more intense than the “heebie jeebies.” It was during this time that his friend started to complain about a burning sensation on his back. Rangel lifted up the shirt and saw deep scratches that appeared and welted up right before his eyes.
Rangel and his ghost hunter team offer open minded analysis of supernatural encounters for clients regardless of religious affiliations or locations.
“We do this as a service to the community, for those folks who are too afraid to talk about certain things and speak out about their experiences,” Rangel said. “We are here to help.”
Rangel said he uses integrity, an Air Force core value, and applies it to his paranormal investigation.
“As far as experiences in the Air Force, first and foremost the integrity approach, because you don’t want to go out there and approach an investigation with a bunch of falsities,” Rangel said.
TOP STORY >> Sherwood, NLR to work together
By SARAH CAMPBELL
Leader staff writer
North Little Rock Mayor Joe Smith says the creation of a North Little Rock electric commission with Sherwood representation on it could be several years away.
“We’re certainly looking into the possibility,” he noted. But the utility will be busy for the next three years negotiating contracts to purchase power.
There are several different types of commissions, Smith said. They include those that only make decisions about employees and those that run day-to-day operations in addition to making recommendations about rates.
“We’re looking into some kind of hybrid type,” the mayor said.
Sherwood residents by more than a 2-1 margin voted on May 14 to uphold an ordinance that renewed the city’s contract with the NLR Electric Department through 2035.
Smith said, “We were pleased that Sherwood residents thought we had done a good job over the last 50, 60 years. There really is a kinship between NLR and Sherwood and we really are sister cities.”
The utility services 7,500 customers in Sherwood.
This vote means that those 7,500 will keep NLR Electric as their provider.
Sherwood residents who have Entergy or First Electric Cooperative will not change to NLR Electric because the city’s contracts with those utilities are not up for renewal yet.
The NLR utility spent almost $50,000 on direct mail, advertising and consulting, and the tele-town hall it hosted during the campaign.
Smith approved the expenditure.
He said, “I went to way too many meetings and talked with too many people who didn’t know what the election was about. I think it was money well spent. We certainly didn’t want to lose Sherwood as a customer.”
The opposition, a grassroots group called Citizens of Sherwood Together (COST), received a $100 donation from resident Robert Jackson and $720 worth of advertising from First Ridge Associates to use for the campaign, according to a report the Arkansas Ethics Commission requires be submitted seven days before an election.
Another grassroots group, Facts About Customers’ Electric Services (FACES), supported staying with NLR Electric.
According to its report to the commission, FACES received $2,380 from residents, Sherwood Alderman Charles Harmon, NLR Electric interim general manager Jason Carter and NLR Electric employee Jill Ponder.
Harmon contributed $50. Carter and Ponder donated $200 — $100 each.
Several North Little Rock city council members, like the mayor, voiced support for NLR Electric’s $50,000 expenditure and were pleased with the outcome of the election.
Alderman Debi Ross said, “It’s a win-win situation for both cities.”
She lived in Sherwood several years ago and had NLR Electric as her provider then too.
Ross said, “I know it’s equal service.”
She continued, “(Now) we’ll know how much power to purchase. We could have lost a lot more money if we had over purchased. I’m very comfortable with the $50,000 (NLR Electric) spent on (the election campaign).”
Alderman Steve Baxter said, “I was happy to see the citizens had faith in their city council. It just validates that the people who put them there think they’re doing a good job.”
He added, “I wish we wouldn’t have had to spend any on it. In order to continue our partnership with Sherwood, we had to do that.”
Alderman Beth White didn’t want to comment on the $50,000, but she said, “I think the people of Sherwood expressed what they wanted.”
Alderman Charlie Hight said, “I thought (the vote) was great. I think it confirmed the fact that the Sherwood city council had made the right decision. I think (the $50,000) was needed in order to get the message out to voters that NLR Electric wants their business.”
A new law passed on March 11 makes it illegal to use public funds to support or oppose a ballot measure. The law has not gone into effect yet because it did not have an emergency clause.
Smith said, “We had to communicate with our customers, and the other Sherwood voters, about the value of continuing the relationship between North Little Rock and Sherwood. The cost of this communication was not paid from tax revenues. It was paid from electric department revenues that would be directly affected by the outcome of the election. I understand that the legislature has recently changed...I will certainly direct our city leaders to adhere to these new laws. Nevertheless, I’m glad that we had the opportunity to (in a timely manner)communicate with (voters).”
Leader staff writer
North Little Rock Mayor Joe Smith says the creation of a North Little Rock electric commission with Sherwood representation on it could be several years away.
“We’re certainly looking into the possibility,” he noted. But the utility will be busy for the next three years negotiating contracts to purchase power.
There are several different types of commissions, Smith said. They include those that only make decisions about employees and those that run day-to-day operations in addition to making recommendations about rates.
“We’re looking into some kind of hybrid type,” the mayor said.
Sherwood residents by more than a 2-1 margin voted on May 14 to uphold an ordinance that renewed the city’s contract with the NLR Electric Department through 2035.
Smith said, “We were pleased that Sherwood residents thought we had done a good job over the last 50, 60 years. There really is a kinship between NLR and Sherwood and we really are sister cities.”
The utility services 7,500 customers in Sherwood.
This vote means that those 7,500 will keep NLR Electric as their provider.
Sherwood residents who have Entergy or First Electric Cooperative will not change to NLR Electric because the city’s contracts with those utilities are not up for renewal yet.
The NLR utility spent almost $50,000 on direct mail, advertising and consulting, and the tele-town hall it hosted during the campaign.
Smith approved the expenditure.
He said, “I went to way too many meetings and talked with too many people who didn’t know what the election was about. I think it was money well spent. We certainly didn’t want to lose Sherwood as a customer.”
The opposition, a grassroots group called Citizens of Sherwood Together (COST), received a $100 donation from resident Robert Jackson and $720 worth of advertising from First Ridge Associates to use for the campaign, according to a report the Arkansas Ethics Commission requires be submitted seven days before an election.
Another grassroots group, Facts About Customers’ Electric Services (FACES), supported staying with NLR Electric.
According to its report to the commission, FACES received $2,380 from residents, Sherwood Alderman Charles Harmon, NLR Electric interim general manager Jason Carter and NLR Electric employee Jill Ponder.
Harmon contributed $50. Carter and Ponder donated $200 — $100 each.
Several North Little Rock city council members, like the mayor, voiced support for NLR Electric’s $50,000 expenditure and were pleased with the outcome of the election.
Alderman Debi Ross said, “It’s a win-win situation for both cities.”
She lived in Sherwood several years ago and had NLR Electric as her provider then too.
Ross said, “I know it’s equal service.”
She continued, “(Now) we’ll know how much power to purchase. We could have lost a lot more money if we had over purchased. I’m very comfortable with the $50,000 (NLR Electric) spent on (the election campaign).”
Alderman Steve Baxter said, “I was happy to see the citizens had faith in their city council. It just validates that the people who put them there think they’re doing a good job.”
He added, “I wish we wouldn’t have had to spend any on it. In order to continue our partnership with Sherwood, we had to do that.”
Alderman Beth White didn’t want to comment on the $50,000, but she said, “I think the people of Sherwood expressed what they wanted.”
Alderman Charlie Hight said, “I thought (the vote) was great. I think it confirmed the fact that the Sherwood city council had made the right decision. I think (the $50,000) was needed in order to get the message out to voters that NLR Electric wants their business.”
A new law passed on March 11 makes it illegal to use public funds to support or oppose a ballot measure. The law has not gone into effect yet because it did not have an emergency clause.
Smith said, “We had to communicate with our customers, and the other Sherwood voters, about the value of continuing the relationship between North Little Rock and Sherwood. The cost of this communication was not paid from tax revenues. It was paid from electric department revenues that would be directly affected by the outcome of the election. I understand that the legislature has recently changed...I will certainly direct our city leaders to adhere to these new laws. Nevertheless, I’m glad that we had the opportunity to (in a timely manner)communicate with (voters).”
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