By RAY BENTON
Leader sports editor
Cabot runners took the top two spots and six of the top 10 in the high school girls division of the Cabot Invitational 4K cross country race Tuesday at Central Elementary in Cabot. The boys division was dominated by Searcy, which had the top three runners in the four-team event.
“We just had a small event this year and didn’t really keep team scores, but I thought our girls ran really well,” Cabot cross country coach Leon White said. “The Searcy boys were also very impressive. They’re going to have a strong team in 6A this year.”
Cabot junior Micah Huckabee blistered the field with a time of 17:00.43. Only one other runner was within 90 seconds of her, and that was sophomore teammate Samantha Nickell, who finished with a time of 18:29. Nickell’s own time was more than a minute faster than third place Taylor McGraw of Beebe, who recorded a 19:33 time.
Two Hot Springs Lakeside runners were fourth and fifth. Cabot’s Kaitlin Mayhair, Rachel Murtishaw and Ashley Odom were sixth, seventh and eighth. Beebe junior Trystan Taylor was ninth and Cabot senior Seaton Howard rounded out the top 10.
Ethan Clark won the boys’ event with a time of 15:10.91. His fellow junior Lions Thomas Castaneda and Tucker Windley were second and third.
Cabot junior Nick Davis was fourth, just two seconds behind Windley with a time of 15:39.72. Cabot sophomore Adam Stivers was fifth and Lakeside’s Austin Guthrie finished sixth. Four Panthers rounded out the top 10, with sophomore Caleb Schulte, senior Logan Boyer, sophomore Chris Owens and junior Riley Hillegas all finishing between 16:26 and 16:40.
“We’ve had some attrition on our boys team,” White said. “We’ve had a couple of really talented runners either get injured or just decided to focus on other sports. But we have some good ones left and we got one back that had left. So we still have a chance to be pretty good.”
Eighth-graders dominated the girls’ junior-high race, which was only a three-kilometer race. Cabot North’s Tristyn Edgar won with a time of 12:09.64. She just beat teammate Bailey Lebow by less than five seconds. Lakeside’s Emily Milbourn was third and Cabot South’s Melanie Abbott took fourth place. Lakeside seventh grader Lindsey Davis was fifth. Cabot North freshman Courtney Crossland finished sixth, Beebe seventh-grader Marianna Firchey, Cabot South eighth-grader Casey Gore, Bri Martindill and Cabot South eighth-grader Taylor Peche rounded out the top 10.
Cabot teams dominated the boys’ junior high race, with North taking five of the top seven spots and South taking the other two. North eighth-grader Conley Hillegas won the event with a time of 11:03.74. His freshman teammate Jordan Woodson wasn’t far behind with an 11:07.13. Cabot South eighth-grader Gardner Howze, North eighth-graders Andre Jones, Stuart Nickell and Blake Scott, and south freshman Avery Bell round out the top seven, all with times under 11:43.
Beebe’s Gus McCoy, Cabot North’s Cody Burns and Lakeside’s Gideon Drake round out the top 10 of the 38-person field.
Monday, September 23, 2013
SPORTS STORY >> Panther interior wins the trenches
By RAY BENTON
Leader sports editor
Conway coach Clint Ashcraft said earlier in the week that his team’s game at Cabot would be won in the trenches, and he was right. The Panthers’ offensive line controlled the line of scrimmage and quarterback Kason Kimbrell was nearly flawless running the option, leading Cabot to a 23-9 win over the Wampus Cats Friday at Panther Stadium.
It was Cabot’s first big test after two wins over winless teams. Conway entered the game with dominant victories over Jonesboro and Bryant, but couldn’t get into rhythm on offense and could not stop the Cabot dead T.
Cabot coach Mike Malham said earlier in the week that if his squad could compete with Conway, it could compete with anyone. He liked what he saw Friday.
“I’m pleased right now,” said Malham. “I’m sure we’ll go watch film and find a thousand mistakes. But I’m going to enjoy this one for a few minutes anyway.”
Cabot, 3-0, won despite committing four turnovers, but trailed late in the fourth quarter. Conway led 9-7 when Cabot took possession on its own 35-yard line with 7:35 left in the fourth quarter. The Panthers’ last two drives of the first half and first two drives of the second half ended in turnovers, but they held onto the ball on this one.
The result was an 11-play, 57-yard march that culminated in a 2-yard touchdown run by backup fullback Jack Whisker with 2:22 remaining in the game. Chris Henry added the two-point conversion to make it 15-7.
Conway had to pass and Cabot knew it. The Panthers got heavy pressure on Conway quarterback Breylin Smith. Defensive ends Brian Marshall and Brandon Allinder converged on Smith at the same time, bringing him down hard for a 13-yard loss on first down. Colby Ferguson knocked down the second-down pass while Jordan Burke disrupted throws on third and fourth down to give Cabot possession with 1:35 remaining in the game at the Conway 24.
The Wampus Cat defensive line was whipped by that point. Halfback Preston Jones bullied up the middle for 11 yards on first down. Whisker got the remaining 13 on the next play. He also added the two points to set the final margin with 1:19 left in the game.
Conway committed its first turnover on its last play when Burke picked off a deep pass at the 4-yard line and returned it 33 yards. Another 15 was tacked on to the end of the return after Burke was slung out of bounds by his facemask.
“It was a very physical game by both teams,” said Ashcraft. “I thought we were very physical the first two games. But Cabot was probably a little more physical than us tonight. They wore us down a little bit. They did a good job of moving the line of scrimmage and we couldn’t stop them in the fourth quarter.”
Conway, 2-1, had trouble stopping Cabot from the start. The Panthers had only seven drives. Three ended in touchdowns while the other four were turnovers.
The game’s opening drive was a thing of beauty to option offense lovers. The Panthers drove 80 yards in 16 plays for the score, chewing up seven minutes and 39 seconds of the clock. Cabot converted five third downs on the drive and scored on first and goal from the 8-yard line on an option keep around the right end by quarterback Kason Kimbrell. Christian Underwood’s extra point made it 7-0 with 4:21 left in the first quarter.
Conway answered Cabot’s initial touchdown drive with one of its own, going 60 yards in 10 plays, converting one huge fourth down in the red zone to keep the drive going.
On fourth and 3 from the Cabot 17, Smith hit receiver D.J. Johnson for a 14-yard gain. A late hit out of bounds tacked on another yard and a half, making it first and goal from the one-and-a-half yard line. Smith kept over right guard on the next play for the score with 16 seconds remaining in the second quarter.
The extra point snap was mishandled, leaving Cabot with a one-point lead.
The Panthers marched from their own 27 to the Conway 20 before Kimbrell fumbled it away after gaining 11 yards on a keeper left.
The Panther defense gave up one first down, but found an answer for tailback Karlil Johnson they didn’t have on the first drive. After gaining 38 yards on six carries on the Wampus Cats’ first drive, Johnson gained just 8 yards on four carries on the second one.
Facing third and 7, Cabot defensive lineman Keith Pledger burst through the line of scrimmage without his helmet, and made a shoestring tackle to sack Smith for a 13-yard loss and force a punt.
Cabot took over on its own 40 and drove to the Conway 19 in six plays before Dylan Thompson fumbled it away. But again the Cabot defense came up with a big stop, halting the Wampus Cats at the 3-yard line as time expired in the first half.
The Wampus Cats got it back to start the second half and marched 56 yards in 12 plays before junior kicker Matt Cummins booted a 40-yard field goal through the uprights to give Conway the lead with 6:38 left in the third quarter.
Cabot’s next two drives ended in the botched punt snap and an interception, but the defense forced a three-and-out and stopped Conway on downs on the possessions after the turnovers.
Cabot finished with 287 total yards to just 220 for Conway. Whisker carried 25 times for 98 yards while Kimbrell carried 14 times for 96. The Panthers rushed for 276 yards.
Karlil Johnson carried 18 times for 67 yards to lead Conway.
The Panthers open conference play next week on the road at No. 1 ranked North Little Rock. The Charging Wildcats beat Pine Bluff 35-14 on Friday.
Leader sports editor
Conway coach Clint Ashcraft said earlier in the week that his team’s game at Cabot would be won in the trenches, and he was right. The Panthers’ offensive line controlled the line of scrimmage and quarterback Kason Kimbrell was nearly flawless running the option, leading Cabot to a 23-9 win over the Wampus Cats Friday at Panther Stadium.
It was Cabot’s first big test after two wins over winless teams. Conway entered the game with dominant victories over Jonesboro and Bryant, but couldn’t get into rhythm on offense and could not stop the Cabot dead T.
Cabot coach Mike Malham said earlier in the week that if his squad could compete with Conway, it could compete with anyone. He liked what he saw Friday.
“I’m pleased right now,” said Malham. “I’m sure we’ll go watch film and find a thousand mistakes. But I’m going to enjoy this one for a few minutes anyway.”
Cabot, 3-0, won despite committing four turnovers, but trailed late in the fourth quarter. Conway led 9-7 when Cabot took possession on its own 35-yard line with 7:35 left in the fourth quarter. The Panthers’ last two drives of the first half and first two drives of the second half ended in turnovers, but they held onto the ball on this one.
The result was an 11-play, 57-yard march that culminated in a 2-yard touchdown run by backup fullback Jack Whisker with 2:22 remaining in the game. Chris Henry added the two-point conversion to make it 15-7.
Conway had to pass and Cabot knew it. The Panthers got heavy pressure on Conway quarterback Breylin Smith. Defensive ends Brian Marshall and Brandon Allinder converged on Smith at the same time, bringing him down hard for a 13-yard loss on first down. Colby Ferguson knocked down the second-down pass while Jordan Burke disrupted throws on third and fourth down to give Cabot possession with 1:35 remaining in the game at the Conway 24.
The Wampus Cat defensive line was whipped by that point. Halfback Preston Jones bullied up the middle for 11 yards on first down. Whisker got the remaining 13 on the next play. He also added the two points to set the final margin with 1:19 left in the game.
Conway committed its first turnover on its last play when Burke picked off a deep pass at the 4-yard line and returned it 33 yards. Another 15 was tacked on to the end of the return after Burke was slung out of bounds by his facemask.
“It was a very physical game by both teams,” said Ashcraft. “I thought we were very physical the first two games. But Cabot was probably a little more physical than us tonight. They wore us down a little bit. They did a good job of moving the line of scrimmage and we couldn’t stop them in the fourth quarter.”
Conway, 2-1, had trouble stopping Cabot from the start. The Panthers had only seven drives. Three ended in touchdowns while the other four were turnovers.
The game’s opening drive was a thing of beauty to option offense lovers. The Panthers drove 80 yards in 16 plays for the score, chewing up seven minutes and 39 seconds of the clock. Cabot converted five third downs on the drive and scored on first and goal from the 8-yard line on an option keep around the right end by quarterback Kason Kimbrell. Christian Underwood’s extra point made it 7-0 with 4:21 left in the first quarter.
Conway answered Cabot’s initial touchdown drive with one of its own, going 60 yards in 10 plays, converting one huge fourth down in the red zone to keep the drive going.
On fourth and 3 from the Cabot 17, Smith hit receiver D.J. Johnson for a 14-yard gain. A late hit out of bounds tacked on another yard and a half, making it first and goal from the one-and-a-half yard line. Smith kept over right guard on the next play for the score with 16 seconds remaining in the second quarter.
The extra point snap was mishandled, leaving Cabot with a one-point lead.
The Panthers marched from their own 27 to the Conway 20 before Kimbrell fumbled it away after gaining 11 yards on a keeper left.
The Panther defense gave up one first down, but found an answer for tailback Karlil Johnson they didn’t have on the first drive. After gaining 38 yards on six carries on the Wampus Cats’ first drive, Johnson gained just 8 yards on four carries on the second one.
Facing third and 7, Cabot defensive lineman Keith Pledger burst through the line of scrimmage without his helmet, and made a shoestring tackle to sack Smith for a 13-yard loss and force a punt.
Cabot took over on its own 40 and drove to the Conway 19 in six plays before Dylan Thompson fumbled it away. But again the Cabot defense came up with a big stop, halting the Wampus Cats at the 3-yard line as time expired in the first half.
The Wampus Cats got it back to start the second half and marched 56 yards in 12 plays before junior kicker Matt Cummins booted a 40-yard field goal through the uprights to give Conway the lead with 6:38 left in the third quarter.
Cabot’s next two drives ended in the botched punt snap and an interception, but the defense forced a three-and-out and stopped Conway on downs on the possessions after the turnovers.
Cabot finished with 287 total yards to just 220 for Conway. Whisker carried 25 times for 98 yards while Kimbrell carried 14 times for 96. The Panthers rushed for 276 yards.
Karlil Johnson carried 18 times for 67 yards to lead Conway.
The Panthers open conference play next week on the road at No. 1 ranked North Little Rock. The Charging Wildcats beat Pine Bluff 35-14 on Friday.
SPORTS STORY >> Carlisle rolls up yardage, beats 'Noles
By GRAHAM POWELL
Leader sportswriter
Despite the wet conditions, class 2A’s No. 2 ranked Carlisle Bison ran all over class 3A Osceola en route to a dominant 36-12 nonconference win Friday at Fred C. Hardke Field.
The Bison (3-0) dominated the line of scrimmage through all four quarters, racking up 459 yards of total offense – all of which came on the ground. The Seminoles (1-2) managed just 164 yards of offense, 56 of which came through the air.
Even though the Bison offense was able to move the chains consistently, there were too many fumbles for head coach Brandon Barabree’s taste.
“Offensively, we did some great things,” said Barbaree, “execution-wise though, we put the ball on the ground. Even in the wet conditions, that’s what we try to stay away from. As far as the conditions, it is what it is. We can’t control it, so we’ve got to be better offensively and finish drives.”
Barbaree was pleased, however, with the play of his defense. The Bison-D had two big-time stops inside its own 10-yard line, the first of which came at the very beginning of the game.
Osceola’s Quintavious Hendrix took the opening kickoff all the way down to the Carlisle 7-yard line to set up first and goal for the Seminoles. The next two plays were run plays by speedy senior Ashton Nalls, who totaled just four yards on the two plays.
The next play was a pass, but quarterback Harold Weeden was dropped for a 10-yard loss and an incomplete pass the next play turned the ball over on downs.
The second defensive stand came late in the fourth quarter after the Seminoles moved the ball inside the Carlisle 5-yard line to set up first and goal. Weeden and Nalls split four-straight run plays to try and punch it in, but the Bison defensive line wouldn’t budge and forced another key turnover on downs.
“We finally stepped up defensively,” Barbaree said. “They take the opening kickoff down inside the 10. Our guys blew them back and we stopped them on downs – same thing with the second half. They (Osceola) could’ve had a momentum-changing drive, but we stopped them.
“So I was really proud of our guys up front, defensively. Keyshaun Allen, Dylan Brazeal, Tristan Kirkman, Colton Isbell. They played lights out tonight and I’m really proud of those guys and the rest of our defense.”
The Bison offense followed their game-opening defensive stand with a four-play drive that was capped off by a 45-yard touchdown run by senior running back DeRon Ricks with 8:14 to play in the first quarter.
Fellow senior standout Bo Weddle punched in the two-point conversion to give Carlisle an early 8-0 lead.
Neither team scored again until the 11:15 mark of the second quarter, when Nalls took a halfback draw 36 yards to the house to cut the deficit to two. The two-point try was no good, and on the ensuing kickoff, Weddle received the kick at the Carlisle 22 and dashed 78 yards for another Bison touchdown.
Senior Justice Bryant took the handoff in for the two-point conversion, which put Carlisle up 16-6. The Bison increased their lead two-series later on another 40-plus yard touchdown run by Ricks – this one from 43 yards.
The PAT was no good, but Carlisle led 22-6 with just under four minutes to play in the opening half. It took Osceola’s offense just two plays, however, to score after Ricks’ second touchdown of the night.
Nalls broke for a 49-yard touchdown run after Weeden started the drive with an incomplete pass. The PAT was no good, and at the break, Carlisle led 22-12. The second half couldn’t have gotten off to a worse start for the Seminoles.
The opening kickoff, which appeared to be a surprise onside kick attempt, went just two yards, and the Bison offense took over at the Osceola 43. On the fifth play of the drive, Ricks scored his third rushing touchdown of the night on a 26-yard run with 9:30 to go in the third quarter, which put Carlisle up 28-12.
The Bison defense held strong for the remainder of the game, and the offense found the end zone one last time with 5:44 to play on a 20-yard burst up the middle by Weddle. Quarterback Austin Reed attempted his first and only pass of the game on the two-point try, and completed it to Ricks to set the final score.
Ricks led the Bison ground game with 206 yards and three touchdowns on 15 carries. Weddle also had triple-digit yards as she finished with 21 carries for 144 yards and one touchdown. Junior fullback Jacob Gordon came in late and added five carries for 82 yards.
Carlisle will open its 2A-6 Conference schedule on the road next week at Palestine-Wheatley. Kickoff is at 7 p.m.
Leader sportswriter
Despite the wet conditions, class 2A’s No. 2 ranked Carlisle Bison ran all over class 3A Osceola en route to a dominant 36-12 nonconference win Friday at Fred C. Hardke Field.
The Bison (3-0) dominated the line of scrimmage through all four quarters, racking up 459 yards of total offense – all of which came on the ground. The Seminoles (1-2) managed just 164 yards of offense, 56 of which came through the air.
Even though the Bison offense was able to move the chains consistently, there were too many fumbles for head coach Brandon Barabree’s taste.
“Offensively, we did some great things,” said Barbaree, “execution-wise though, we put the ball on the ground. Even in the wet conditions, that’s what we try to stay away from. As far as the conditions, it is what it is. We can’t control it, so we’ve got to be better offensively and finish drives.”
Barbaree was pleased, however, with the play of his defense. The Bison-D had two big-time stops inside its own 10-yard line, the first of which came at the very beginning of the game.
Osceola’s Quintavious Hendrix took the opening kickoff all the way down to the Carlisle 7-yard line to set up first and goal for the Seminoles. The next two plays were run plays by speedy senior Ashton Nalls, who totaled just four yards on the two plays.
The next play was a pass, but quarterback Harold Weeden was dropped for a 10-yard loss and an incomplete pass the next play turned the ball over on downs.
The second defensive stand came late in the fourth quarter after the Seminoles moved the ball inside the Carlisle 5-yard line to set up first and goal. Weeden and Nalls split four-straight run plays to try and punch it in, but the Bison defensive line wouldn’t budge and forced another key turnover on downs.
“We finally stepped up defensively,” Barbaree said. “They take the opening kickoff down inside the 10. Our guys blew them back and we stopped them on downs – same thing with the second half. They (Osceola) could’ve had a momentum-changing drive, but we stopped them.
“So I was really proud of our guys up front, defensively. Keyshaun Allen, Dylan Brazeal, Tristan Kirkman, Colton Isbell. They played lights out tonight and I’m really proud of those guys and the rest of our defense.”
The Bison offense followed their game-opening defensive stand with a four-play drive that was capped off by a 45-yard touchdown run by senior running back DeRon Ricks with 8:14 to play in the first quarter.
Fellow senior standout Bo Weddle punched in the two-point conversion to give Carlisle an early 8-0 lead.
Neither team scored again until the 11:15 mark of the second quarter, when Nalls took a halfback draw 36 yards to the house to cut the deficit to two. The two-point try was no good, and on the ensuing kickoff, Weddle received the kick at the Carlisle 22 and dashed 78 yards for another Bison touchdown.
Senior Justice Bryant took the handoff in for the two-point conversion, which put Carlisle up 16-6. The Bison increased their lead two-series later on another 40-plus yard touchdown run by Ricks – this one from 43 yards.
The PAT was no good, but Carlisle led 22-6 with just under four minutes to play in the opening half. It took Osceola’s offense just two plays, however, to score after Ricks’ second touchdown of the night.
Nalls broke for a 49-yard touchdown run after Weeden started the drive with an incomplete pass. The PAT was no good, and at the break, Carlisle led 22-12. The second half couldn’t have gotten off to a worse start for the Seminoles.
The opening kickoff, which appeared to be a surprise onside kick attempt, went just two yards, and the Bison offense took over at the Osceola 43. On the fifth play of the drive, Ricks scored his third rushing touchdown of the night on a 26-yard run with 9:30 to go in the third quarter, which put Carlisle up 28-12.
The Bison defense held strong for the remainder of the game, and the offense found the end zone one last time with 5:44 to play on a 20-yard burst up the middle by Weddle. Quarterback Austin Reed attempted his first and only pass of the game on the two-point try, and completed it to Ricks to set the final score.
Ricks led the Bison ground game with 206 yards and three touchdowns on 15 carries. Weddle also had triple-digit yards as she finished with 21 carries for 144 yards and one touchdown. Junior fullback Jacob Gordon came in late and added five carries for 82 yards.
Carlisle will open its 2A-6 Conference schedule on the road next week at Palestine-Wheatley. Kickoff is at 7 p.m.
Tuesday, September 17, 2013
EDITORIAL >> Stand by our hospital
It’s quite likely that many of us who live here have never been a patient at North Metro Medical Center, and unless things begin to change, and change rather quickly, many more will never be cared for in what was once a star in Jacksonville’s firmament.
We cannot fault the present owners, Allegiance Health Management, for the sins of the past. The finger should also be pointed at Jacksonville, owner of the hospital before Allegiance, a Shreveport, La., outfit with 42 facilities took over in 2009.
North Metro, being in a low-income community, was and remains at risk for nonpayment on a large scale. We cannot lay all the blame at Allegiance’s feet. North Metro had already lost status in the eyes of the community and with it much respect by the time Allegiance arrived with promises to save the day.
Health-insurance industry and government-reimbursement programs specify how much will be paid for diagnostic services and procedures. Those payments now arrive later, not sooner, and hospital emergency rooms have become veritable sitting ducks for those with- out insurance.
The new insurance regulations about to come into play should be good news for a facility like North Metro, which could at last collect for much of the care it now delivers and is never properly reimbursed for. We don’t know how much North Metro has out in collections, but we imagine it is more than substantial.
Jacksonville’s city fathers saw this coming a long time ago when, after closing the 2004 fiscal year with a healthy balance of $652,000, they were suddenly faced with a $98,000 loss the following year. In 2005-06, losses came to $804,000 and plummeted to an astounding $3 million loss for 2007-08. The 2007-08 fiscal year closed with a negative income of $2.38 million, a slight improvement, but not much of a selling point. Who was watching the store?
Mayor Gary Fletcher recently remarked that the military sees health care as critical when bases come under BRAC review for closure. Officials continually point out that Little Rock Air Force Base needs a nearby hospital since the base hospital was closed. Nearby St. Vincent Medical Center North and Baptist Medical Center-Springhill stand ready to fill the gap, but in an emergency, proximity to medical care and emergency services is all important.
The hospital must be preserved as the important part of this community’s persona that it is. Loss of the hospital would be a sign of serious decline on top of struggling schools and businesses closing.
Allegiance says it is committed to the community and to North Metro and sees the potential for a successful facility, pointing out the many improvements it has already made here. Many of those improvements, such as the new outpatient surgery unit, the hospital’s relationship with UAMS and innovative wound care, were pointed out in earlier stories in The Leader.
North Metro is the first line of defense for emergencies arriving from points north and east since there is no hospital in Lonoke County and none south of Searcy in White County.
There is also some talk, possibly only a pipe dream, of a collaborative effort between Cabot and Jacksonville to locate the hospital nearer to the Lonoke County line. A brand-spanking new hospital! What a nice idea.
Ambulance transports from serious vehicle accidents, serious cardiovascular events or gunshot or other wounds often end up at North Metro first for emergency stabilization before transport to the trauma center at UAMS or another facility.
Allegiance has beefed up many of its services from emergency to rehabilitation to psychiatric and wound care, and much more is planned.
Allegiance perhaps saw itself as coming to the rescue. Is it still possible? Community support is essential but Allegiance must keep up appearances — shortages of essential items, broken equipment and unpaid bills bode ill for Jacksonville and the larger community.
Allegiance emphasizes its committment to Jacksonville, but it must step up to the plate and perhaps dip further into its pockets to deliver care in the kind of physical environment that patients deserve. First impressions are important and word spreads when patients, staff and visitors notice problems.
The hospital’s interim chief executive officer Cindy Stafford began her career as a registered respiratory therapist and later moved into administration. Perhaps there’s no one who knows the inner workings of a hospital better than those who have delivered care themselves. They know the inside story, and we think Ms. Stafford does, too. Throw her your support.
And that goes for you, too, Allegiance.
We cannot fault the present owners, Allegiance Health Management, for the sins of the past. The finger should also be pointed at Jacksonville, owner of the hospital before Allegiance, a Shreveport, La., outfit with 42 facilities took over in 2009.
North Metro, being in a low-income community, was and remains at risk for nonpayment on a large scale. We cannot lay all the blame at Allegiance’s feet. North Metro had already lost status in the eyes of the community and with it much respect by the time Allegiance arrived with promises to save the day.
Health-insurance industry and government-reimbursement programs specify how much will be paid for diagnostic services and procedures. Those payments now arrive later, not sooner, and hospital emergency rooms have become veritable sitting ducks for those with- out insurance.
The new insurance regulations about to come into play should be good news for a facility like North Metro, which could at last collect for much of the care it now delivers and is never properly reimbursed for. We don’t know how much North Metro has out in collections, but we imagine it is more than substantial.
Jacksonville’s city fathers saw this coming a long time ago when, after closing the 2004 fiscal year with a healthy balance of $652,000, they were suddenly faced with a $98,000 loss the following year. In 2005-06, losses came to $804,000 and plummeted to an astounding $3 million loss for 2007-08. The 2007-08 fiscal year closed with a negative income of $2.38 million, a slight improvement, but not much of a selling point. Who was watching the store?
Mayor Gary Fletcher recently remarked that the military sees health care as critical when bases come under BRAC review for closure. Officials continually point out that Little Rock Air Force Base needs a nearby hospital since the base hospital was closed. Nearby St. Vincent Medical Center North and Baptist Medical Center-Springhill stand ready to fill the gap, but in an emergency, proximity to medical care and emergency services is all important.
The hospital must be preserved as the important part of this community’s persona that it is. Loss of the hospital would be a sign of serious decline on top of struggling schools and businesses closing.
Allegiance says it is committed to the community and to North Metro and sees the potential for a successful facility, pointing out the many improvements it has already made here. Many of those improvements, such as the new outpatient surgery unit, the hospital’s relationship with UAMS and innovative wound care, were pointed out in earlier stories in The Leader.
North Metro is the first line of defense for emergencies arriving from points north and east since there is no hospital in Lonoke County and none south of Searcy in White County.
There is also some talk, possibly only a pipe dream, of a collaborative effort between Cabot and Jacksonville to locate the hospital nearer to the Lonoke County line. A brand-spanking new hospital! What a nice idea.
Ambulance transports from serious vehicle accidents, serious cardiovascular events or gunshot or other wounds often end up at North Metro first for emergency stabilization before transport to the trauma center at UAMS or another facility.
Allegiance has beefed up many of its services from emergency to rehabilitation to psychiatric and wound care, and much more is planned.
Allegiance perhaps saw itself as coming to the rescue. Is it still possible? Community support is essential but Allegiance must keep up appearances — shortages of essential items, broken equipment and unpaid bills bode ill for Jacksonville and the larger community.
Allegiance emphasizes its committment to Jacksonville, but it must step up to the plate and perhaps dip further into its pockets to deliver care in the kind of physical environment that patients deserve. First impressions are important and word spreads when patients, staff and visitors notice problems.
The hospital’s interim chief executive officer Cindy Stafford began her career as a registered respiratory therapist and later moved into administration. Perhaps there’s no one who knows the inner workings of a hospital better than those who have delivered care themselves. They know the inside story, and we think Ms. Stafford does, too. Throw her your support.
And that goes for you, too, Allegiance.
TOP STORY >> Sergeant ready for worst
By SARAH CAMPBELL
Leader staff writer
Just days before the 12th anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and Pentagon, Master Sgt. William Catton of Lonoke led a mass-casualty exercise at Bagram Air Field in Afghanistan.
“When we plan exercises, stuff that could happen, the anniversary stuff may happen on, that’s all part of the planning process,” Catton said.
On Sept. 11, 2001, the sergeant was in the service but on leave in Illinois.
“My first thought was we’re going to war,” he said.
Catton added that 80 or 90 servicemen on the base in Afghanistan attended a ceremony last week to remember the heroes who rose up on that dark day.
Brig. Gen. Patrick C. Malackowski, commander of 455th Air Expeditionary Wing, presided over the event.
Catton, as the 455th Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron installation emergency manager, coordinated the Sept. 7 exercise in Afghanistan less than a week before the anniversary. The installation and Craig Joint Theater Hospital coordinated the exercise.
Catton explained that it was designed to simulate any emergency — from a terrorist attack to a devastating multiple-vehicle collision — that would leave several victims in its wake.
Airmen, firefighters, local hospital personnel, an ambulance team, security forces and others were given 30 faux victims to take care of.
Catton said, “They had to triage the victims, decide whether they went to the local hospital or clinic. The worst wounded go first, the least wounded go last.”
The exercise prepared the base for a real-world event, honing and sharpening the individual skills of each entity, he continued.
The purpose of the four-hour simulation was to evaluate patient care, evaluate the processing of patients and evaluate the validation of support and command control entities.
“It tested all those agencies to make sure we could do the mission if something were to happen,” Catton said.
The participants spent two months prepping for the exercise, Catton added. The sergeant’s job was to make sure they were where they were supposed to be.
“(The exercise) went very well. We did all the objectives we had,” he said. “You always learn lessons when you do any kind of exercise. We always learn how to better our communication processes.”
Catton noted that communication could be more streamlined in the future.
According to a news release, “Regular (mass-casualty) exercises at Bagram train service members and keep them prepared to handle unexpected incidents and other potential disasters, and furthermore enables them to take those skills to their home units.”
The sergeant is an 18-year military veteran and served 10 of those years in the Air Force.
He has been deployed for two months from the 189th Airlift Wing of the Arkansas Air National Guard at Little Rock Air Force Base in Jacksonville, but could return home in January.
About deployment, Catton said, “It’s very busy. This place never shuts down. It makes the time go by real fast. Never a dull moment.”
He continued, “The most challenging (part) is being away from family.”
Catton has been married for 14 years. The couple has two children, a 12-year-old and a 13-year-old.
He said, “I’d love to say that I miss them, I love them and I’ll see them soon.”
Catton added that they are doing “pretty good” at handling the deployment.
“Unfortunately my wife is an old hat at this,” he explained.
The sergeant first enlisted when he was 17.
“It’s pretty much all I’ve ever known. I’m a career service man. I’m in until they kick me out,” Catton said. “I love what I do. It boils down to I love serving my country and helping people.”
Leader staff writer
Just days before the 12th anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and Pentagon, Master Sgt. William Catton of Lonoke led a mass-casualty exercise at Bagram Air Field in Afghanistan.
“When we plan exercises, stuff that could happen, the anniversary stuff may happen on, that’s all part of the planning process,” Catton said.
On Sept. 11, 2001, the sergeant was in the service but on leave in Illinois.
“My first thought was we’re going to war,” he said.
Catton added that 80 or 90 servicemen on the base in Afghanistan attended a ceremony last week to remember the heroes who rose up on that dark day.
Brig. Gen. Patrick C. Malackowski, commander of 455th Air Expeditionary Wing, presided over the event.
Catton, as the 455th Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron installation emergency manager, coordinated the Sept. 7 exercise in Afghanistan less than a week before the anniversary. The installation and Craig Joint Theater Hospital coordinated the exercise.
Catton explained that it was designed to simulate any emergency — from a terrorist attack to a devastating multiple-vehicle collision — that would leave several victims in its wake.
Airmen, firefighters, local hospital personnel, an ambulance team, security forces and others were given 30 faux victims to take care of.
Catton said, “They had to triage the victims, decide whether they went to the local hospital or clinic. The worst wounded go first, the least wounded go last.”
The exercise prepared the base for a real-world event, honing and sharpening the individual skills of each entity, he continued.
The purpose of the four-hour simulation was to evaluate patient care, evaluate the processing of patients and evaluate the validation of support and command control entities.
“It tested all those agencies to make sure we could do the mission if something were to happen,” Catton said.
The participants spent two months prepping for the exercise, Catton added. The sergeant’s job was to make sure they were where they were supposed to be.
“(The exercise) went very well. We did all the objectives we had,” he said. “You always learn lessons when you do any kind of exercise. We always learn how to better our communication processes.”
Catton noted that communication could be more streamlined in the future.
According to a news release, “Regular (mass-casualty) exercises at Bagram train service members and keep them prepared to handle unexpected incidents and other potential disasters, and furthermore enables them to take those skills to their home units.”
The sergeant is an 18-year military veteran and served 10 of those years in the Air Force.
He has been deployed for two months from the 189th Airlift Wing of the Arkansas Air National Guard at Little Rock Air Force Base in Jacksonville, but could return home in January.
About deployment, Catton said, “It’s very busy. This place never shuts down. It makes the time go by real fast. Never a dull moment.”
He continued, “The most challenging (part) is being away from family.”
Catton has been married for 14 years. The couple has two children, a 12-year-old and a 13-year-old.
He said, “I’d love to say that I miss them, I love them and I’ll see them soon.”
Catton added that they are doing “pretty good” at handling the deployment.
“Unfortunately my wife is an old hat at this,” he explained.
The sergeant first enlisted when he was 17.
“It’s pretty much all I’ve ever known. I’m a career service man. I’m in until they kick me out,” Catton said. “I love what I do. It boils down to I love serving my country and helping people.”
TOP STORY >> Fleecing by FEMA a scandal
By GARRICK FELDMAN
Leader editor
Tommy Bond, the veteran Jacksonville engineer, solves people’s zoning problems, disputes with government officials and even disagreements between neighbors.
His sharp, analytical mind and easy-going manner help smooth over what at first appear to be insurmountable problems, especially when he’s dealing with bureaucrats and their ridiculous demands on hardworking individuals.
Someone called him a few months ago after FEMA, using incorrect maps, decided the flood plain has moved closer to Graham Road along the railroad tracks, forcing property owners to buy flood insurance for thousands of dollars a year.
That didn’t make much sense to Bond, who has been an engineer for almost 50 years. He was certain FEMA was wrong about the floodplain, having figured out a long time ago FEMA folks can’t produce accurate maps, costing property owners $100 million a year.
Every month, a half dozen or more homeowners ask him to survey their property and prove FEMA wrong. Bond has saved a lot of money for scores of people who would otherwise have bought flood insurance if FEMA had its way.
One business owner was charged $2,300 for flood insurance he didn’t need. After six months, Bond set FEMA straight and the premiums were canceled.
“Our job is to present facts to FEMA,” Bond explained. “We’re more often successful than not.”
When people and institutions are pressured into buying millions of dollars worth of unnecessary flood insurance, it reduces the risk to FEMA by making property owners pay for flooding outside their areas. Even if a home is just outside a flood zone, FEMA will say it’s inside so it can generate more insurance premiums.
“They’ll say you need flood insurance or you have to prove it otherwise,” Bond said.
It can take months to convince federal officials they’re wrong. Most folks just pay the higher insurance premium even if they’re nowhere near the floodplain. But you can beat FEMA if you have the facts on your side.
Michael Teague, an aide to Sen. Mark Pryor, calls FEMA’s maps “arbitrary and capricious.”
FEMA, which went broke after Hurricane Katrina, had proposed a law that would have put three-fourths of the country in the floodplain, Teague said. “The senator led the charge to change the law,” he noted.
Even so, FEMA has been eager to sell insurance to millions of people who don’t need it, requiring coverage for areas in a 500-year or even 1,000-year floodplain, Teague said.
“There were areas that have never been flooded. Pryor killed the plan,” he explained.
But problems still persist as FEMA insists on putting homes in flood zones even if they’re not even close. Teague says homeowners should call Pryor’s office if they can’t get FEMA out of their lives.
It would be a good idea also to call Tommy Bond.
Back in July, the muckraking website ProPublica published an exposé headlined, “Using outdated data, FEMA is wrongly placing homeowners in flood zones.”
FEMA, which has had its budget cut, tried transferring its old maps into digital formats, which often don’t line up correctly, moving homes from safe areas into floodplains. After new maps were issued recently, one couple north of Austin, Texas, learned their home was moved to a flood zone, although they live on a hill and “there’s no way it’s going to flood,” the county’s director of environmental services told ProPublica.
The couple received help from half a dozen engineers, shelled out $1,000 of their own money and spent “ungodly number of hours” to prove FEMA’s maps were wrong. FEMA relented a year later, but how many people will challenge a federal bureaucracy and its menacing ways?
FEMA won’t reimburse you for surveying costs. One person told ProPublica, “It falls to the homeowner to hire a professional engineer and pay (hundreds, even thousands of dollars) “to disprove what I would call their shoddy work,” she said. “I don’t think that’s fair.”
According to ProPublica, “Congress, with the support of the White House, has actually cut map funding by more than half since 2010, from $221 million down to $100 million this year.”
People will more often buy the insurance even if there’s a long drought just to get FEMA and the banks off their backs. Banks are also easily intimidated when the feds insist borrowers must buy flood insurance.
Mistakes are inevitable, but unless homeowners are willing to challenge FEMA, which takes months to review complaints, they’ll get stuck with huge premiums for decades.
If someone from FEMA shows up at your door and says you need flood insurance, hold onto your wallet and call your senators and local surveyor.They could save you a bundle.
Leader editor
Tommy Bond, the veteran Jacksonville engineer, solves people’s zoning problems, disputes with government officials and even disagreements between neighbors.
His sharp, analytical mind and easy-going manner help smooth over what at first appear to be insurmountable problems, especially when he’s dealing with bureaucrats and their ridiculous demands on hardworking individuals.
Someone called him a few months ago after FEMA, using incorrect maps, decided the flood plain has moved closer to Graham Road along the railroad tracks, forcing property owners to buy flood insurance for thousands of dollars a year.
That didn’t make much sense to Bond, who has been an engineer for almost 50 years. He was certain FEMA was wrong about the floodplain, having figured out a long time ago FEMA folks can’t produce accurate maps, costing property owners $100 million a year.
Every month, a half dozen or more homeowners ask him to survey their property and prove FEMA wrong. Bond has saved a lot of money for scores of people who would otherwise have bought flood insurance if FEMA had its way.
One business owner was charged $2,300 for flood insurance he didn’t need. After six months, Bond set FEMA straight and the premiums were canceled.
“Our job is to present facts to FEMA,” Bond explained. “We’re more often successful than not.”
When people and institutions are pressured into buying millions of dollars worth of unnecessary flood insurance, it reduces the risk to FEMA by making property owners pay for flooding outside their areas. Even if a home is just outside a flood zone, FEMA will say it’s inside so it can generate more insurance premiums.
“They’ll say you need flood insurance or you have to prove it otherwise,” Bond said.
It can take months to convince federal officials they’re wrong. Most folks just pay the higher insurance premium even if they’re nowhere near the floodplain. But you can beat FEMA if you have the facts on your side.
Michael Teague, an aide to Sen. Mark Pryor, calls FEMA’s maps “arbitrary and capricious.”
FEMA, which went broke after Hurricane Katrina, had proposed a law that would have put three-fourths of the country in the floodplain, Teague said. “The senator led the charge to change the law,” he noted.
Even so, FEMA has been eager to sell insurance to millions of people who don’t need it, requiring coverage for areas in a 500-year or even 1,000-year floodplain, Teague said.
“There were areas that have never been flooded. Pryor killed the plan,” he explained.
But problems still persist as FEMA insists on putting homes in flood zones even if they’re not even close. Teague says homeowners should call Pryor’s office if they can’t get FEMA out of their lives.
It would be a good idea also to call Tommy Bond.
Back in July, the muckraking website ProPublica published an exposé headlined, “Using outdated data, FEMA is wrongly placing homeowners in flood zones.”
FEMA, which has had its budget cut, tried transferring its old maps into digital formats, which often don’t line up correctly, moving homes from safe areas into floodplains. After new maps were issued recently, one couple north of Austin, Texas, learned their home was moved to a flood zone, although they live on a hill and “there’s no way it’s going to flood,” the county’s director of environmental services told ProPublica.
The couple received help from half a dozen engineers, shelled out $1,000 of their own money and spent “ungodly number of hours” to prove FEMA’s maps were wrong. FEMA relented a year later, but how many people will challenge a federal bureaucracy and its menacing ways?
FEMA won’t reimburse you for surveying costs. One person told ProPublica, “It falls to the homeowner to hire a professional engineer and pay (hundreds, even thousands of dollars) “to disprove what I would call their shoddy work,” she said. “I don’t think that’s fair.”
According to ProPublica, “Congress, with the support of the White House, has actually cut map funding by more than half since 2010, from $221 million down to $100 million this year.”
People will more often buy the insurance even if there’s a long drought just to get FEMA and the banks off their backs. Banks are also easily intimidated when the feds insist borrowers must buy flood insurance.
Mistakes are inevitable, but unless homeowners are willing to challenge FEMA, which takes months to review complaints, they’ll get stuck with huge premiums for decades.
If someone from FEMA shows up at your door and says you need flood insurance, hold onto your wallet and call your senators and local surveyor.They could save you a bundle.
TOP STORY >> LRAFB always ready
By JOHN HOFHEIMER
Leader senior staff writer
Security measures at Little Rock Air Force Base’s main gate seemed unchanged a day after civilian contractor and former Navy reservist Aaron Alexis, 34, shot 12 people dead and wounded another three before being shot dead on Monday by local law-enforcement officers at the Washington Navy Yard.
No changes seemed evident as civilians entered the base here Tuesday. That appeared to be the case at bases and installations around the country, but the Defense Department is expected to announce Wednesday a review of security measures at all U.S. millitary bases around the world.
“We really can’t discuss any security postures,” said Arlo Taylor, a Little Rock Air Force Base public affairs spokesman. He said only that the base’s security force specialists were manning the gate, which is standard.
Tuesday morning, just a week after the anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks that killed about 3,000 people at New York’s Twin Towers Trade Center, Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel laid a wreath at the Navy Memorial’s “Lone Sailor” statue in memory of the 12 victims.
NO CHANGES ORDERED
The Defense Department, which sets baseline security levels for all military installations in the U.S., ordered no known security changes other than those in the Washington area in the hours following the shootings while officials sorted out the details and implications of the attack.
Both law-enforcement and defense officials say they believe this was the work of a lone gunman.
It would be extraordinarily difficult to prevent any attack from occurring, particularly by a “lone wolf,” according to Joseph Trevithick of GlobalSecurity.org.
“Unfortunately, terrorism and similar acts of violence are bound only by the creativity of those responsible,” Trevithick wrote in an article published Tuesday on CNN.com. “The burden is always on those tasked with protecting us to prepare for such events.”
NO GUARANTEES
Trevithick said that even if employees would submit to airport-style security checks, were willing to have their vehicles searched or dismantled, there were no guarantees.
Chris Grollnek, founder of the Texas-based Counter-measure Consulting Group, said some installations have made more progress on security than others. Trying to prevent incidents before they take place can be tricky because it’s usually impossible to identify suspects in advance.
“They’re black, they’re white, they’re men, they’re women —no one knows what the profile is,” he said.
Grollnek consults and provides training in active-shooter scenarios and risk assessment.
Leader senior staff writer
Security measures at Little Rock Air Force Base’s main gate seemed unchanged a day after civilian contractor and former Navy reservist Aaron Alexis, 34, shot 12 people dead and wounded another three before being shot dead on Monday by local law-enforcement officers at the Washington Navy Yard.
No changes seemed evident as civilians entered the base here Tuesday. That appeared to be the case at bases and installations around the country, but the Defense Department is expected to announce Wednesday a review of security measures at all U.S. millitary bases around the world.
“We really can’t discuss any security postures,” said Arlo Taylor, a Little Rock Air Force Base public affairs spokesman. He said only that the base’s security force specialists were manning the gate, which is standard.
Tuesday morning, just a week after the anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks that killed about 3,000 people at New York’s Twin Towers Trade Center, Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel laid a wreath at the Navy Memorial’s “Lone Sailor” statue in memory of the 12 victims.
NO CHANGES ORDERED
The Defense Department, which sets baseline security levels for all military installations in the U.S., ordered no known security changes other than those in the Washington area in the hours following the shootings while officials sorted out the details and implications of the attack.
Both law-enforcement and defense officials say they believe this was the work of a lone gunman.
It would be extraordinarily difficult to prevent any attack from occurring, particularly by a “lone wolf,” according to Joseph Trevithick of GlobalSecurity.org.
“Unfortunately, terrorism and similar acts of violence are bound only by the creativity of those responsible,” Trevithick wrote in an article published Tuesday on CNN.com. “The burden is always on those tasked with protecting us to prepare for such events.”
NO GUARANTEES
Trevithick said that even if employees would submit to airport-style security checks, were willing to have their vehicles searched or dismantled, there were no guarantees.
Chris Grollnek, founder of the Texas-based Counter-measure Consulting Group, said some installations have made more progress on security than others. Trying to prevent incidents before they take place can be tricky because it’s usually impossible to identify suspects in advance.
“They’re black, they’re white, they’re men, they’re women —no one knows what the profile is,” he said.
Grollnek consults and provides training in active-shooter scenarios and risk assessment.
TOP STORY >> Lonoke County Fair opens today
By EILEEN FELDMAN
Leader managing editor
Enthusiasm runs high in Lonoke County, where the 73rd annual county fair gets underway in earnest today as the carnival opens at the fairgrounds in Lonoke.
Fair Queen Erica Brewer and Junior Queen Emily Brewer, two sisters, were selected Saturday along with their bevy of royalty.
The carnival gets into full swing at noon today and continues until 11 p.m. each night through Saturday. Armbands offer unlimited rides, except for bumper cars.
“On behalf of our board of directors and our volunteers, I welcome you to your 73rd Lonoke County Fair. With a lot of hard work, cooperative and continuing effort, this fair will be the best in a long history of great fairs,” said James Smith, Lonoke County Fair and Livestock Association Board president, in a message in the fair’s tabloid. “Come enjoy the tradition, competition, good eats and the fun at your 2013 Lonoke County Fair.”
He pointed out that the county’s young people spend months preparing for the event and learning that hard work makes the best better.
The big crowd-drawing events — bull riding, rodeo, the queen’s grand entry and bullnanza are Friday and Saturday nights.
Bullnanza from Rockin’ P Rodeo and the National Federation of Professional Bull Riders of America adds $2,000 to the pot each night.
The Rodeo Queen Horsemanship Competition will be held at 6 p.m. tonight in the arena, and the Queen will make her grand entry at 7:30 p.m. Friday and again at 7 p.m. Saturday.
The fair parade will be held at 5 p.m. Thursday, followed by redneck games at 7:30 p.m.
Other popular and favorite events are the beef cattle show at 8 a.m. Friday and a livestock awards presentation at 3 p.m. Saturday.
The horse and mule pull, a perennial favorite, takes place at 11 a.m Saturday, in between the children’s small animal pet show and the cross cut saw contest. The youth talent show will follow.
The full schedule and detailed map of the fairgrounds can be found in the Lonoke County Fair tabloid in the Sept. 11 issue of The Leader and The Leader Extra. You can also check out the fair’s website at www.lonokecountyfair.com.
On Thursday, admission is free for seniors over 62.
Gate admission is $2 for adults, $1 for children 6 or over and free for those who are younger.
Fairgrounds are located at 1006 W. Third in Lonoke at Hwy. 89.
Other notable events are happening in the Educational Building today under the supervision of the Lonoke County Extension Homemakers Club. Event judging today in that building opens with cut flowers and herbs. Other categories include floriculture, horticulture and field crop judging.
Dairy-goat judging begins at 8 a.m., followed by the breeding-goat show, junior market lambs and breeding. Lambs, heifers and steers for market will be weighed this afternoon followed by junior and pee wee livestock including beef, cattle, dairy cattle, horses, mules, sheep, swine and goats. Bringing up the rear are market swine and commercial gilts.
A few rules include no dogs except during the pet show from 10 a.m. to noon. Dogs are not allowed in the livestock barn at any time. Alcoholic beverages are not allowed and will not be tolerated. There is no smoking allowed in barns or buildings.
Leader managing editor
Enthusiasm runs high in Lonoke County, where the 73rd annual county fair gets underway in earnest today as the carnival opens at the fairgrounds in Lonoke.
Fair Queen Erica Brewer and Junior Queen Emily Brewer, two sisters, were selected Saturday along with their bevy of royalty.
The carnival gets into full swing at noon today and continues until 11 p.m. each night through Saturday. Armbands offer unlimited rides, except for bumper cars.
“On behalf of our board of directors and our volunteers, I welcome you to your 73rd Lonoke County Fair. With a lot of hard work, cooperative and continuing effort, this fair will be the best in a long history of great fairs,” said James Smith, Lonoke County Fair and Livestock Association Board president, in a message in the fair’s tabloid. “Come enjoy the tradition, competition, good eats and the fun at your 2013 Lonoke County Fair.”
He pointed out that the county’s young people spend months preparing for the event and learning that hard work makes the best better.
The big crowd-drawing events — bull riding, rodeo, the queen’s grand entry and bullnanza are Friday and Saturday nights.
Bullnanza from Rockin’ P Rodeo and the National Federation of Professional Bull Riders of America adds $2,000 to the pot each night.
The Rodeo Queen Horsemanship Competition will be held at 6 p.m. tonight in the arena, and the Queen will make her grand entry at 7:30 p.m. Friday and again at 7 p.m. Saturday.
The fair parade will be held at 5 p.m. Thursday, followed by redneck games at 7:30 p.m.
Other popular and favorite events are the beef cattle show at 8 a.m. Friday and a livestock awards presentation at 3 p.m. Saturday.
The horse and mule pull, a perennial favorite, takes place at 11 a.m Saturday, in between the children’s small animal pet show and the cross cut saw contest. The youth talent show will follow.
The full schedule and detailed map of the fairgrounds can be found in the Lonoke County Fair tabloid in the Sept. 11 issue of The Leader and The Leader Extra. You can also check out the fair’s website at www.lonokecountyfair.com.
On Thursday, admission is free for seniors over 62.
Gate admission is $2 for adults, $1 for children 6 or over and free for those who are younger.
Fairgrounds are located at 1006 W. Third in Lonoke at Hwy. 89.
Other notable events are happening in the Educational Building today under the supervision of the Lonoke County Extension Homemakers Club. Event judging today in that building opens with cut flowers and herbs. Other categories include floriculture, horticulture and field crop judging.
Dairy-goat judging begins at 8 a.m., followed by the breeding-goat show, junior market lambs and breeding. Lambs, heifers and steers for market will be weighed this afternoon followed by junior and pee wee livestock including beef, cattle, dairy cattle, horses, mules, sheep, swine and goats. Bringing up the rear are market swine and commercial gilts.
A few rules include no dogs except during the pet show from 10 a.m. to noon. Dogs are not allowed in the livestock barn at any time. Alcoholic beverages are not allowed and will not be tolerated. There is no smoking allowed in barns or buildings.
SPORTS STORY >> Competition level rising for Carlisle
By GRAHAM POWELL
Leader sportswriter
The Bison play their final nonconference game of the regular season this week at home against class 3A Osceola (1-1), and even though the game itself has no playoff or conference implications, Carlisle coach Brandon Barbaree believes it’s a great opportunity for his team to face stellar competition before 2A-6 Conference play begins next week.
Carlisle (2-0), the No. 2 team in class 2A, dominated most of the way in its week one win over McCrory, but in week two’s win at Mountain Pine, the host Red Devils, who have only 17 players on their roster, did almost nothing to challenge the Bison.
This week however, Barbaree knows his team will get that challenge from a traditionally-tough and athletic Seminoles team.
“We just want to see growth,” said Barbaree as to what he’d like to see from his team Friday. “Yea, we want to stay healthy, but we need competitive football games and this is definitely one of them. To play at Mountain Pine and get a ‘W’ is fine, but we need somebody that’s going to push us, and I think this might be that game that we get four quarters, and our kids need that kind of competitive game.”
Carlisle’s trio of senior standout running backs that include Bo Weddle, DeRon Ricks and Justice Bryant, combined for just six carries in the team’s 46-7 win over Mountain Pine, but each scored a touchdown and the three combined for 196 rushing yards on those six carries.
Barbaree says that Osceola has switched from its traditional Wishbone offense to more of a Pistol/Spread formation, but added that the Seminoles are capable of executing run plays from their old offense. Barbaree also said his defense can expect a more balanced attack.
According to Barbaree, the Seminoles’ offense is balanced 60/40 as far as run/pass ratio, and even though the Bison won’t have to deal with former Osceola running back and current Arkansas Razorback freshman Korliss Marshall this season, he said there are still plenty of playmakers that his defense will have to try and contain.
One of those playmakers is junior running back Tevin James, whose older brothers Harold and Chris each received Division I football scholarships after graduating from Osceola in the early 2000s.
“Tevin fits that same mold,” Barbaree said. “The guy can fly. He’s scored on a kickoff and interception return. He’s got a long receiving touchdown and he’s broke for long rushing touchdowns.”
The other playmaker Barbaree described as a threat is Ashton Mills.
“He had 200 yards against Blytheville,” Barbaree said of Mills, “which Blytheville can run too. So their level of competition has been high and they have the athletes that have the chance to score quickly from anywhere.”
Defensively, the Seminoles line up primarily in a 50 formation, which in many ways resembles a 3-4. Carlisle got to rest a lot of its starters against Mountain Pine last week, so the Bison starters should be healthy and ready to go come Friday.
Carlisle could be considered the favorite for this game, even though Barbaree himself admitted Osceola is the bigger, more athletic team. However, Barbaree and his team welcome the challenge.
“It’s going to test us in a bunch of ways,” Barbaree said. “This is a team that’s more athletic than us. McCrory wasn’t more athletic than us but they were athletic. Mountain Pine wasn’t, but this team is more athletic, and it’s really going to test us in a bunch of spots.”
Kickoff at Fred C. Hardke Field is set for 7 p.m.
Leader sportswriter
The Bison play their final nonconference game of the regular season this week at home against class 3A Osceola (1-1), and even though the game itself has no playoff or conference implications, Carlisle coach Brandon Barbaree believes it’s a great opportunity for his team to face stellar competition before 2A-6 Conference play begins next week.
Carlisle (2-0), the No. 2 team in class 2A, dominated most of the way in its week one win over McCrory, but in week two’s win at Mountain Pine, the host Red Devils, who have only 17 players on their roster, did almost nothing to challenge the Bison.
This week however, Barbaree knows his team will get that challenge from a traditionally-tough and athletic Seminoles team.
“We just want to see growth,” said Barbaree as to what he’d like to see from his team Friday. “Yea, we want to stay healthy, but we need competitive football games and this is definitely one of them. To play at Mountain Pine and get a ‘W’ is fine, but we need somebody that’s going to push us, and I think this might be that game that we get four quarters, and our kids need that kind of competitive game.”
Carlisle’s trio of senior standout running backs that include Bo Weddle, DeRon Ricks and Justice Bryant, combined for just six carries in the team’s 46-7 win over Mountain Pine, but each scored a touchdown and the three combined for 196 rushing yards on those six carries.
Barbaree says that Osceola has switched from its traditional Wishbone offense to more of a Pistol/Spread formation, but added that the Seminoles are capable of executing run plays from their old offense. Barbaree also said his defense can expect a more balanced attack.
According to Barbaree, the Seminoles’ offense is balanced 60/40 as far as run/pass ratio, and even though the Bison won’t have to deal with former Osceola running back and current Arkansas Razorback freshman Korliss Marshall this season, he said there are still plenty of playmakers that his defense will have to try and contain.
One of those playmakers is junior running back Tevin James, whose older brothers Harold and Chris each received Division I football scholarships after graduating from Osceola in the early 2000s.
“Tevin fits that same mold,” Barbaree said. “The guy can fly. He’s scored on a kickoff and interception return. He’s got a long receiving touchdown and he’s broke for long rushing touchdowns.”
The other playmaker Barbaree described as a threat is Ashton Mills.
“He had 200 yards against Blytheville,” Barbaree said of Mills, “which Blytheville can run too. So their level of competition has been high and they have the athletes that have the chance to score quickly from anywhere.”
Defensively, the Seminoles line up primarily in a 50 formation, which in many ways resembles a 3-4. Carlisle got to rest a lot of its starters against Mountain Pine last week, so the Bison starters should be healthy and ready to go come Friday.
Carlisle could be considered the favorite for this game, even though Barbaree himself admitted Osceola is the bigger, more athletic team. However, Barbaree and his team welcome the challenge.
“It’s going to test us in a bunch of ways,” Barbaree said. “This is a team that’s more athletic than us. McCrory wasn’t more athletic than us but they were athletic. Mountain Pine wasn’t, but this team is more athletic, and it’s really going to test us in a bunch of spots.”
Kickoff at Fred C. Hardke Field is set for 7 p.m.
SPORTS STORY >> Red Devils working on right technique
By RAY BENTON
Leader sports editor
The Jacksonville football team enters week three of the 2013 season without a win and searching for consistency as it prepares for a high-scoring Maumelle squad that enters this Friday’s game at Jan Crow Stadium 2-0.
After being shutout by Cabot in week one, the Red Devils looked like a completely different team in its first two drives last Friday against Benton. After scoring two touchdowns in a matter of minutes, Jacksonville then failed to get a first down in its next four drives. Suddenly, midway through the second quarter, the Devils looked brilliant again, marching 80 yards in eight plays for another score and a 21-7 lead. But from that point, things went poorly again for the offense, while the defense was suddenly on its heels the rest of the game as well.
Benton didn’t do anything fancy. Its best play was the read option handoff to the fullback up the middle.
Jacksonville coach Rick Russell believes technique and effort were the two main problems.
“We have to correct the technique problems we’re having at every position,” Russell said. “That will make us a better football team. We haven’t had a complete game at any position. We need to get better aiming points on our blocks. We need to take the correct approach angle when tackling. The secondary needs to work on how to approach the football in coverage. Every little intricate thing we’re needing to make improvements on.”
Russell also believes the effort will improve when his team can learn to put bad plays behind it.
“We also have to work on our mental toughness,” Russell said. “Sometimes things are going to go well for the other team. We have to understand how to move to the next play and say, ‘right now this next play is the only play of the game and I have to do the best I can on this play. We have to regroup mentally and create that swing that gets things back to going well for us.”
The Hornets may be the fastest team Jacksonville has faced so far. Coach Mike Buchan runs the spread, but keeps it on the ground more often than in the air. Maumelle lines multiple players up at quarterback and has a bevy of dangerous running backs and receivers.
Kendall Donnerson, who is 6-foot-3, 210 pounds and runs a 4.4 second 40-yard dash, is the top receiver, but is a bigger threat at defensive end.
“Maumelle is a dangerous football team,” Russell said. “They run that spread option and every option they have is a threat to make a big play. On defense they have an end that’s as fast as any in the state. They’ve got a lot of weapons.”
Russell wasn’t all negative about his team either. He bragged on special teams, as well as the play of Brandon Toombs.
“Special teams converted every extra point and put a couple of kickoffs into the end zone, so that’s a bright spot for us,” Russell said. “And Brandon Toombs is playing on both sides of the football for us and giving us everything he’s got. We’re very proud of Brandon.
“We’re going to be OK. We haven’t played a complete football game yet. We’re going to make a few changes, tweak a few things here and there, get the right people in the right positions on the football field. Once we do that and get our technique corrected, we’re going to be a good football team.”
Leader sports editor
The Jacksonville football team enters week three of the 2013 season without a win and searching for consistency as it prepares for a high-scoring Maumelle squad that enters this Friday’s game at Jan Crow Stadium 2-0.
After being shutout by Cabot in week one, the Red Devils looked like a completely different team in its first two drives last Friday against Benton. After scoring two touchdowns in a matter of minutes, Jacksonville then failed to get a first down in its next four drives. Suddenly, midway through the second quarter, the Devils looked brilliant again, marching 80 yards in eight plays for another score and a 21-7 lead. But from that point, things went poorly again for the offense, while the defense was suddenly on its heels the rest of the game as well.
Benton didn’t do anything fancy. Its best play was the read option handoff to the fullback up the middle.
Jacksonville coach Rick Russell believes technique and effort were the two main problems.
“We have to correct the technique problems we’re having at every position,” Russell said. “That will make us a better football team. We haven’t had a complete game at any position. We need to get better aiming points on our blocks. We need to take the correct approach angle when tackling. The secondary needs to work on how to approach the football in coverage. Every little intricate thing we’re needing to make improvements on.”
Russell also believes the effort will improve when his team can learn to put bad plays behind it.
“We also have to work on our mental toughness,” Russell said. “Sometimes things are going to go well for the other team. We have to understand how to move to the next play and say, ‘right now this next play is the only play of the game and I have to do the best I can on this play. We have to regroup mentally and create that swing that gets things back to going well for us.”
The Hornets may be the fastest team Jacksonville has faced so far. Coach Mike Buchan runs the spread, but keeps it on the ground more often than in the air. Maumelle lines multiple players up at quarterback and has a bevy of dangerous running backs and receivers.
Kendall Donnerson, who is 6-foot-3, 210 pounds and runs a 4.4 second 40-yard dash, is the top receiver, but is a bigger threat at defensive end.
“Maumelle is a dangerous football team,” Russell said. “They run that spread option and every option they have is a threat to make a big play. On defense they have an end that’s as fast as any in the state. They’ve got a lot of weapons.”
Russell wasn’t all negative about his team either. He bragged on special teams, as well as the play of Brandon Toombs.
“Special teams converted every extra point and put a couple of kickoffs into the end zone, so that’s a bright spot for us,” Russell said. “And Brandon Toombs is playing on both sides of the football for us and giving us everything he’s got. We’re very proud of Brandon.
“We’re going to be OK. We haven’t played a complete football game yet. We’re going to make a few changes, tweak a few things here and there, get the right people in the right positions on the football field. Once we do that and get our technique corrected, we’re going to be a good football team.”
SPORTS STORY >> Bears, ’Hounds highlight speed
By JASON KING
Leader sportswriter
It is a third-week nonconference game, but the fact that Sylvan Hills and Newport each enter Friday night’s showdown at Greyhound Stadium with the momentum of two wins gives the game a playoff feel. Both teams feature great speed and plenty of playmakers on offense, which also sets up the possibility of a thrilling shootout.
The game is scheduled for a 7 p.m. kickoff time, and the conclusion will hand one of these talented teams its first loss of the season.
The Bears (2-0) survived a late-game comeback from Hot Springs Lakeside last week in a 45-41 victory after downing Vilonia 31-16 in the season opener. The Greyhounds (2-0) have been even more convincing with a 28-7 win over Nettleton in week one and a 42-7 spanking of Bald Knob last week.
The game will undoubtedly serve as a great conference primer for both teams, as Sylvan Hills prepares to head into its 5A Central Conference schedule next week, while the Grey-hounds prime for the equally competitive 4A–2 Conference.
The Greyhounds have numerous weapons, but none more threatening than sophomore running back Carl Turner. Turner was a varsity starter last season as a freshman, and got the state’s attention with over 1,700 rushing yards and 13 touchdowns.
“They’ve got a good running back that ran for over 1,500 yards last year,” Sylvan Hills coach Jim Withrow said. “And they have a really tall receiver who is really good. Defensively, they blitz a lot from different spots, with a lot of man coverage. This will be a good trip for us. It’s a long ride to face a good team, and we think there will be a good crowd there, so it will be a good experience.”
Newport is also effective in the passing game with junior quarterback Gunnar Bullard, who threw for over 1,300 yards with 21 touchdowns and three interceptions as a sophomore. Bullard is also somewhat of a dual threat with over 400 rushing yards last season. Senior receivers Greg Smith and 6-foot-4 Ashante Shell provide Bullard with capable targets on the field.
The Bears have also shown great balance to start the 2013 season, and the passing game continues to improve on a daily basis. Junior quarterback Trajan Doss is a true dual threat, and sophomore Elijah Sowards (6-0, 211) is emerging as the team’s leading receiver with seven receptions, including one for a touchdown, last week against Lakeside. Junior DeAngelo Bell has also proved to be a reliable option for Doss in the passing game. Sylvan Hills finished with 454 yards of offense in the victory over HSL.
“Tra’s done a good job, and the guys up front have done a good job giving him protection,” Withrow said. “Sowards, Bell, all those guys stay late and put in extra work at practice.”
Junior Marlon Clemmons has developed into an ironman for the Bears. Clemmons had five pass break ups on the defensive side last week, and was equally impressive on the offensive side with over 100 rushing yards and 100 receiving yards.
The Rams scored twice late last week in the fourth quarter against Sylvan Hills, making a game that at one point looked out of reach into a nail-biter at the end.
“It was a long game,” Withrow said. “They did a good job of working the clock and using the run game. The defense made a lot of plays, there were just so many plays in that game. They’re a good Spread team.
“There are things we could do different, and will. We can work those things out.”
Leader sportswriter
It is a third-week nonconference game, but the fact that Sylvan Hills and Newport each enter Friday night’s showdown at Greyhound Stadium with the momentum of two wins gives the game a playoff feel. Both teams feature great speed and plenty of playmakers on offense, which also sets up the possibility of a thrilling shootout.
The game is scheduled for a 7 p.m. kickoff time, and the conclusion will hand one of these talented teams its first loss of the season.
The Bears (2-0) survived a late-game comeback from Hot Springs Lakeside last week in a 45-41 victory after downing Vilonia 31-16 in the season opener. The Greyhounds (2-0) have been even more convincing with a 28-7 win over Nettleton in week one and a 42-7 spanking of Bald Knob last week.
The game will undoubtedly serve as a great conference primer for both teams, as Sylvan Hills prepares to head into its 5A Central Conference schedule next week, while the Grey-hounds prime for the equally competitive 4A–2 Conference.
The Greyhounds have numerous weapons, but none more threatening than sophomore running back Carl Turner. Turner was a varsity starter last season as a freshman, and got the state’s attention with over 1,700 rushing yards and 13 touchdowns.
“They’ve got a good running back that ran for over 1,500 yards last year,” Sylvan Hills coach Jim Withrow said. “And they have a really tall receiver who is really good. Defensively, they blitz a lot from different spots, with a lot of man coverage. This will be a good trip for us. It’s a long ride to face a good team, and we think there will be a good crowd there, so it will be a good experience.”
Newport is also effective in the passing game with junior quarterback Gunnar Bullard, who threw for over 1,300 yards with 21 touchdowns and three interceptions as a sophomore. Bullard is also somewhat of a dual threat with over 400 rushing yards last season. Senior receivers Greg Smith and 6-foot-4 Ashante Shell provide Bullard with capable targets on the field.
The Bears have also shown great balance to start the 2013 season, and the passing game continues to improve on a daily basis. Junior quarterback Trajan Doss is a true dual threat, and sophomore Elijah Sowards (6-0, 211) is emerging as the team’s leading receiver with seven receptions, including one for a touchdown, last week against Lakeside. Junior DeAngelo Bell has also proved to be a reliable option for Doss in the passing game. Sylvan Hills finished with 454 yards of offense in the victory over HSL.
“Tra’s done a good job, and the guys up front have done a good job giving him protection,” Withrow said. “Sowards, Bell, all those guys stay late and put in extra work at practice.”
Junior Marlon Clemmons has developed into an ironman for the Bears. Clemmons had five pass break ups on the defensive side last week, and was equally impressive on the offensive side with over 100 rushing yards and 100 receiving yards.
The Rams scored twice late last week in the fourth quarter against Sylvan Hills, making a game that at one point looked out of reach into a nail-biter at the end.
“It was a long game,” Withrow said. “They did a good job of working the clock and using the run game. The defense made a lot of plays, there were just so many plays in that game. They’re a good Spread team.
“There are things we could do different, and will. We can work those things out.”
SPORTS STORY >> ’Rabbits look to build on last game
By GRAHAM POWELL
Leader sportswriter
Lonoke picked up its first win of the year in surprisingly dominant fashion last week at James B. Abraham Stadium after running all over longtime rival Beebe. This week the Jackrabbits will be looking to make it two in a row as they host another home game Friday against class 5A Little Rock McClellan in the final nonconference game of the regular season.
The Jackrabbits (1-1) racked up a ton of yards on the ground in their 41-14 win over the Badgers, and since McClellan (0-2) lacks both size and experience on the offensive and defensive lines, perhaps an even better performance can be expected this week.
“Yea, just looking at them on film, our offensive and defensive lines should have an advantage,” said Lonoke coach Doug Bost. “They play some guys both ways and they’re not real big, but their skill guys are I think the heart and soul of their team.”
McClellan’s offensive line is the most noteworthy weakness on that side of the ball that Lonoke’s defense expects to exploit. The Lions have no returning starters up front, and none of their current starters can bench press 200 pounds. As far as the skill positions go, like Bost said, they’re the ones that can make things happen.
McClellan has a couple of players that will either line up at quarterback, receiver or running back in the team’s misdirection-based Single Wing formation; an offense Bost says is rarely seen these days. Senior Sydney Tillman and junior Aaron Smith are the two main Lions players that will line up at different spots on the field.
Most of the Lions’ starting skill players run at least a 4.6/40, the fastest of which is elusive junior Ezekiel Baldwin (5-foot-5, 160), who runs a 4.4/40. Bost added that his defensive players will have to stay disciplined against this type of offense. On the flip side, Bost added that his offense can expect to see blitzing from the Lions’ 3-4 defense every time the ball is snapped.
“You’ve really got to read your keys this week and not chase somebody that doesn’t have the ball,” Bost said. “So we’ve got to be disciplined this week, and on defense, they run a 3-4, and they are blitzing somebody every single play. They are coming at you.”
Blitzing someone every play may be the best strategy for McClellan to stop Lonoke’s run game. Last week against Beebe, the Jackrabbits totaled 523 yards of offense, and senior quarterback Kody Smith and sophomore running back Josh Coleman combined for 361 rushing yards and six touchdowns alone.
Coleman’s emergence out of the backfield could give Lonoke a big offensive boost for the remainder of the season, and Bost was especially pleased with his performance last week.
“He had 16 carries for 161 yards and four touchdowns,” Bost said of Coleman. “He had a real good game. He was hitting the hole hard and he did a great job for us Friday night. I feel like we did a real good job of running the ball.”
The Jackrabbits should be in good shape for Friday’s game as Bost says his team suffered zero setbacks as far as injuries in last week’s game, and considering McClellan hasn’t won a nonconference game since 2009, Lonoke could be in good position to end nonconference play this season with a 2-1 record. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.
Leader sportswriter
Lonoke picked up its first win of the year in surprisingly dominant fashion last week at James B. Abraham Stadium after running all over longtime rival Beebe. This week the Jackrabbits will be looking to make it two in a row as they host another home game Friday against class 5A Little Rock McClellan in the final nonconference game of the regular season.
The Jackrabbits (1-1) racked up a ton of yards on the ground in their 41-14 win over the Badgers, and since McClellan (0-2) lacks both size and experience on the offensive and defensive lines, perhaps an even better performance can be expected this week.
“Yea, just looking at them on film, our offensive and defensive lines should have an advantage,” said Lonoke coach Doug Bost. “They play some guys both ways and they’re not real big, but their skill guys are I think the heart and soul of their team.”
McClellan’s offensive line is the most noteworthy weakness on that side of the ball that Lonoke’s defense expects to exploit. The Lions have no returning starters up front, and none of their current starters can bench press 200 pounds. As far as the skill positions go, like Bost said, they’re the ones that can make things happen.
McClellan has a couple of players that will either line up at quarterback, receiver or running back in the team’s misdirection-based Single Wing formation; an offense Bost says is rarely seen these days. Senior Sydney Tillman and junior Aaron Smith are the two main Lions players that will line up at different spots on the field.
Most of the Lions’ starting skill players run at least a 4.6/40, the fastest of which is elusive junior Ezekiel Baldwin (5-foot-5, 160), who runs a 4.4/40. Bost added that his defensive players will have to stay disciplined against this type of offense. On the flip side, Bost added that his offense can expect to see blitzing from the Lions’ 3-4 defense every time the ball is snapped.
“You’ve really got to read your keys this week and not chase somebody that doesn’t have the ball,” Bost said. “So we’ve got to be disciplined this week, and on defense, they run a 3-4, and they are blitzing somebody every single play. They are coming at you.”
Blitzing someone every play may be the best strategy for McClellan to stop Lonoke’s run game. Last week against Beebe, the Jackrabbits totaled 523 yards of offense, and senior quarterback Kody Smith and sophomore running back Josh Coleman combined for 361 rushing yards and six touchdowns alone.
Coleman’s emergence out of the backfield could give Lonoke a big offensive boost for the remainder of the season, and Bost was especially pleased with his performance last week.
“He had 16 carries for 161 yards and four touchdowns,” Bost said of Coleman. “He had a real good game. He was hitting the hole hard and he did a great job for us Friday night. I feel like we did a real good job of running the ball.”
The Jackrabbits should be in good shape for Friday’s game as Bost says his team suffered zero setbacks as far as injuries in last week’s game, and considering McClellan hasn’t won a nonconference game since 2009, Lonoke could be in good position to end nonconference play this season with a 2-1 record. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.
SPORTS STORY >> Conway bringing respect
By RAY BENTON
Leader sports editor
The Cabot Panthers host the Conway Wampus Cats in a big rivalry showdown Friday night at Panther Stadium. The two teams enter the game with unblemished records after two weeks of play, though Conway has an advantage in strength of schedule.
Already a rivalry that both teams circle on the calendar, this year’s game could be a matchup of the best units each has fielded in the last few years. Conway coach Clint Ashcraft was hesitant to say this was his best team in a while, but was quick to make that assessment of Cabot.
“Without a doubt this is the best Cabot team we’ve seen since at least 2009,” said Ashcraft. The 2009 Panthers gave up a long touchdown pass in the waning seconds of the game that cost them a trip to the state championship. The head Wampus Cat believes this year’s Cabot team could be better than that one.
“The first thing that jumps out at you is their size,” Ashcraft said. “They’re bigger than they have been. What you notice later on is the speed they have on both sides of the ball. Their secondary is the fastest I’ve ever seen at Cabot. On offense, they’re breaking big runs and separating. This is easily the best one since ’09.”
Cabot coach Mike Malham wasn’t as hesitant to heap praise on Conway.
“They’re good,” said Malham. “Their offensive line is big and their skill players are fast. They’ve put away two pretty good opponents and nobody has slowed them down yet. We’ll find out this week if we’re any good or not, and if we can compete with the top level teams. If we can compete with Conway we can compete with anybody.”
The Wampus Cats beat Bryant 24-7 in week one, and handled Jonesboro 33-14 last week in Craighead County, though the head Cat wasn’t entirely pleased with week two’s performance.
“I didn’t think we played well at all in the second half at Jonesboro,” Ashcraft said. “Overall though, I’m pretty pleased with how we’re playing. We’ve got our toughest test so far in front of us though, so we have to keep getting better.”
In Conway, Cabot faces its third spread offense of the season, while Conway has to change gears in preparation for the Panthers’ dead-T formation.
“I think that’s one of the reasons he sticks with that offense,” Ashcraft said. “It’s an advantage nowadays. You get one week to prepare for it and you can’t really prepare for it the way they do it. You pretty much just have to play a series or two against it to really understand what you’re dealing with. They might score early, but I don’t think you can panic. You just got to relax because this is a game where you’re going to have to keep fighting and keep grinding away at it.”
Conway features a slew of talented and capable playmakers. They run, throw and catch behind an offensive line that averages 270 pounds and has performed very well so far this year.
“I’ve been really proud so far of our offensive line,” Ashcraft said. “They’ve given us plenty of time. The tight ends are playing well. I’m also pleased with how our secondary has defended against the two spread teams we’ve played so far. But this is a different approach this week.”
Leader sports editor
The Cabot Panthers host the Conway Wampus Cats in a big rivalry showdown Friday night at Panther Stadium. The two teams enter the game with unblemished records after two weeks of play, though Conway has an advantage in strength of schedule.
Already a rivalry that both teams circle on the calendar, this year’s game could be a matchup of the best units each has fielded in the last few years. Conway coach Clint Ashcraft was hesitant to say this was his best team in a while, but was quick to make that assessment of Cabot.
“Without a doubt this is the best Cabot team we’ve seen since at least 2009,” said Ashcraft. The 2009 Panthers gave up a long touchdown pass in the waning seconds of the game that cost them a trip to the state championship. The head Wampus Cat believes this year’s Cabot team could be better than that one.
“The first thing that jumps out at you is their size,” Ashcraft said. “They’re bigger than they have been. What you notice later on is the speed they have on both sides of the ball. Their secondary is the fastest I’ve ever seen at Cabot. On offense, they’re breaking big runs and separating. This is easily the best one since ’09.”
Cabot coach Mike Malham wasn’t as hesitant to heap praise on Conway.
“They’re good,” said Malham. “Their offensive line is big and their skill players are fast. They’ve put away two pretty good opponents and nobody has slowed them down yet. We’ll find out this week if we’re any good or not, and if we can compete with the top level teams. If we can compete with Conway we can compete with anybody.”
The Wampus Cats beat Bryant 24-7 in week one, and handled Jonesboro 33-14 last week in Craighead County, though the head Cat wasn’t entirely pleased with week two’s performance.
“I didn’t think we played well at all in the second half at Jonesboro,” Ashcraft said. “Overall though, I’m pretty pleased with how we’re playing. We’ve got our toughest test so far in front of us though, so we have to keep getting better.”
In Conway, Cabot faces its third spread offense of the season, while Conway has to change gears in preparation for the Panthers’ dead-T formation.
“I think that’s one of the reasons he sticks with that offense,” Ashcraft said. “It’s an advantage nowadays. You get one week to prepare for it and you can’t really prepare for it the way they do it. You pretty much just have to play a series or two against it to really understand what you’re dealing with. They might score early, but I don’t think you can panic. You just got to relax because this is a game where you’re going to have to keep fighting and keep grinding away at it.”
Conway features a slew of talented and capable playmakers. They run, throw and catch behind an offensive line that averages 270 pounds and has performed very well so far this year.
“I’ve been really proud so far of our offensive line,” Ashcraft said. “They’ve given us plenty of time. The tight ends are playing well. I’m also pleased with how our secondary has defended against the two spread teams we’ve played so far. But this is a different approach this week.”
Saturday, September 14, 2013
SPORTS STORY >> Jacksonville sputters again in loss
By RAY BENTON
Leader sports editor
Jacksonville showed flashes of the offense it expected all summer to have, but more often looked like the same offense that stagnated last week against Cabot. The end result was a 31-21 home-opening loss to Benton on Friday, resulting in an 0-2 start to the season.
“We had some technique problems and to be honest with you, we had some effort problems,” Jacksonville coach Rick Russell said. “Everybody on the field has to play hard every play, the whole play. We weren’t lined up in the right position at times on defense, and that’s my fault. We have to get lined up right, we have to play better technique on offense and defense, and we have to do it quickly. We have one more game to get things worked out before it starts to count.”
The Red Devils took a 21-7 lead with three minutes left in the second quarter, but gave up an 80-yard drive in 1:08, a drive that turned out to be a foreshadowing of the second half. John Davis caught a 14-yard touchdown pass on third and 1 to make it 21-14 heading into intermission.
Benton got the ball to start the second half and drove 72 yards to the 7-yard line, but Jacksonville’s defense bowed up and held the Panthers out of the end zone, getting the ball back on downs.
After gaining just 3 yards, Red Devil receiver Robert Harris was stripped of the ball by Benton’s Gunnar Paul at the Red Devil 11-yard line.
But again, Jacksonville’s defense held. On fourth and 5, Brandon Toombs tipped a Terek Beaugard pass at the line of scrimmage, and Titus O’Neal picked it out of the air at the 8-yard line.
Jacksonville netted -2 yards when two incompletions followed a 2-yard gain and a false-start penalty.
The Red Devils punted and Benton started at the Jacksonville 43. Fullback Drew Dyer bullied his way up the middle for 26 yards on the first play. Quarterback Cason Maertens then hit Sam Baker for 6 yards on first down to the 11. Two incompletions followed, but a little trickery converted the fourth down. Benton lined both quarterbacks up in the backfield, snapped to Maertens, who hit Beaugard on the wheel route for an 11-yard touchdown pass. The extra point missed, leaving Jacksonville clinging to a 21-20 lead.
The Red Devils again went three and out, picking up 6 yards on first down, but nothing more.
Benton took over on its own 37 with 1:46 left in the third quarter, and made that distance up in just a minute and 11 seconds. Most of it came on the first play when Beaugard found Davis streaking down the left sideline for a 49-yard completion. Two plays later, he hit Nix for his second touchdown of the game. Beaugard also kept for the two-point conversion and a 28-21 Benton lead.
From that point, neither team could get much offense going. Benton got a 34-yard burst up the middle by tailback Shaun Carey for 34 yards to the Jacksonville 10. Three plays later, the Panthers hit a 26-yard field goal with 4:26 remaining in the game to set the final margin.
The first half was a series of momentum shifts as both teams struck quickly, then went into long slumps of inability to move the ball.
Jacksonville got the ball first and easily drove 57 yards for its first touchdown of the season with 8:50 left in the first quarter.
Damon Thomas rumbled 16 yards on the first play from scrimmage, and got just one more offensive touch the rest of the game. A holding penalty put Jacksonville in a hole of second and 21, but Lamont Gause went 18 yards up the middle on the next play and Carlin Herd got 4 yards on the next play to convert the first down. Jacksonville faced third and 7 two plays later, but Barnes found Avery Wells for a 13-yard completion to the 3-yard line. Gause punched it in from there for the score and John Herrman added the extra point for a 7-0 lead.
It took Benton no time to answer. Quarterback Terek Beaugard hit Colton Nix about 20 yards downfield on first down from the 22. Jacksonville cornerback Josh Alcorn made the initial hit, but Nix broke the tackle and outran Alcorn to the end zone to quickly tie the score with 8:29 left.
The Red Devils’ second drive was just as impressive as the first. They marched 60 yards in six plays, getting half of it on a screen pass to Gause on the first play. The tailback also got the last catch, a 9-yard swing pass to the right side for the score with 6:57 left in the first quarter.
From that point, Jacksonville’s next four drives gained -4 yards. Benton got just 13 on its next three drives before gaining 44 on the first drive of the second quarter. But that drive ended with Thomas intercepting a Beaugard pass on the 5-yard line and returning 56 yards to the Benton 39. Defensive end Toombs applied the pressure that forced the errant pass, but Jacksonville lost 5 yards on the ensuing possession.
The Devil defense got the ball back, and the offense got back into form, driving 85 yards in 9 plays for the score and a 21-7 lead with three minutes left in the half.
Benton rolled up 516 total yards while Jacksonville totaled 352. The big disparity was in the second half. Benton had 259 yards at halftime while Jacksonville had 232.
Beaugard completed just 37 percent of his passes, hitting 13 of 35 attempts, but for 247 yards and three touchdowns. He also ran eight times for 48 yards. Carey finished with 17 carries for 129 yards to lead all rushers.
Barnes completed 23 of 42 attempts for 242, but was 15 of 20 for 179 in the first half.
Harris caught seven passes for 115 yards to lead Jacksonville.
The Red Devils will host Maumelle next week. The Hornets beat North Pulaski 42-0 on Friday.
Leader sports editor
Jacksonville showed flashes of the offense it expected all summer to have, but more often looked like the same offense that stagnated last week against Cabot. The end result was a 31-21 home-opening loss to Benton on Friday, resulting in an 0-2 start to the season.
“We had some technique problems and to be honest with you, we had some effort problems,” Jacksonville coach Rick Russell said. “Everybody on the field has to play hard every play, the whole play. We weren’t lined up in the right position at times on defense, and that’s my fault. We have to get lined up right, we have to play better technique on offense and defense, and we have to do it quickly. We have one more game to get things worked out before it starts to count.”
The Red Devils took a 21-7 lead with three minutes left in the second quarter, but gave up an 80-yard drive in 1:08, a drive that turned out to be a foreshadowing of the second half. John Davis caught a 14-yard touchdown pass on third and 1 to make it 21-14 heading into intermission.
Benton got the ball to start the second half and drove 72 yards to the 7-yard line, but Jacksonville’s defense bowed up and held the Panthers out of the end zone, getting the ball back on downs.
After gaining just 3 yards, Red Devil receiver Robert Harris was stripped of the ball by Benton’s Gunnar Paul at the Red Devil 11-yard line.
But again, Jacksonville’s defense held. On fourth and 5, Brandon Toombs tipped a Terek Beaugard pass at the line of scrimmage, and Titus O’Neal picked it out of the air at the 8-yard line.
Jacksonville netted -2 yards when two incompletions followed a 2-yard gain and a false-start penalty.
The Red Devils punted and Benton started at the Jacksonville 43. Fullback Drew Dyer bullied his way up the middle for 26 yards on the first play. Quarterback Cason Maertens then hit Sam Baker for 6 yards on first down to the 11. Two incompletions followed, but a little trickery converted the fourth down. Benton lined both quarterbacks up in the backfield, snapped to Maertens, who hit Beaugard on the wheel route for an 11-yard touchdown pass. The extra point missed, leaving Jacksonville clinging to a 21-20 lead.
The Red Devils again went three and out, picking up 6 yards on first down, but nothing more.
Benton took over on its own 37 with 1:46 left in the third quarter, and made that distance up in just a minute and 11 seconds. Most of it came on the first play when Beaugard found Davis streaking down the left sideline for a 49-yard completion. Two plays later, he hit Nix for his second touchdown of the game. Beaugard also kept for the two-point conversion and a 28-21 Benton lead.
From that point, neither team could get much offense going. Benton got a 34-yard burst up the middle by tailback Shaun Carey for 34 yards to the Jacksonville 10. Three plays later, the Panthers hit a 26-yard field goal with 4:26 remaining in the game to set the final margin.
The first half was a series of momentum shifts as both teams struck quickly, then went into long slumps of inability to move the ball.
Jacksonville got the ball first and easily drove 57 yards for its first touchdown of the season with 8:50 left in the first quarter.
Damon Thomas rumbled 16 yards on the first play from scrimmage, and got just one more offensive touch the rest of the game. A holding penalty put Jacksonville in a hole of second and 21, but Lamont Gause went 18 yards up the middle on the next play and Carlin Herd got 4 yards on the next play to convert the first down. Jacksonville faced third and 7 two plays later, but Barnes found Avery Wells for a 13-yard completion to the 3-yard line. Gause punched it in from there for the score and John Herrman added the extra point for a 7-0 lead.
It took Benton no time to answer. Quarterback Terek Beaugard hit Colton Nix about 20 yards downfield on first down from the 22. Jacksonville cornerback Josh Alcorn made the initial hit, but Nix broke the tackle and outran Alcorn to the end zone to quickly tie the score with 8:29 left.
The Red Devils’ second drive was just as impressive as the first. They marched 60 yards in six plays, getting half of it on a screen pass to Gause on the first play. The tailback also got the last catch, a 9-yard swing pass to the right side for the score with 6:57 left in the first quarter.
From that point, Jacksonville’s next four drives gained -4 yards. Benton got just 13 on its next three drives before gaining 44 on the first drive of the second quarter. But that drive ended with Thomas intercepting a Beaugard pass on the 5-yard line and returning 56 yards to the Benton 39. Defensive end Toombs applied the pressure that forced the errant pass, but Jacksonville lost 5 yards on the ensuing possession.
The Devil defense got the ball back, and the offense got back into form, driving 85 yards in 9 plays for the score and a 21-7 lead with three minutes left in the half.
Benton rolled up 516 total yards while Jacksonville totaled 352. The big disparity was in the second half. Benton had 259 yards at halftime while Jacksonville had 232.
Beaugard completed just 37 percent of his passes, hitting 13 of 35 attempts, but for 247 yards and three touchdowns. He also ran eight times for 48 yards. Carey finished with 17 carries for 129 yards to lead all rushers.
Barnes completed 23 of 42 attempts for 242, but was 15 of 20 for 179 in the first half.
Harris caught seven passes for 115 yards to lead Jacksonville.
The Red Devils will host Maumelle next week. The Hornets beat North Pulaski 42-0 on Friday.
SPORTS STORY >> Bears hold off Rams’ comeback
By ANN THARP
Special to The Leader
After a season-opening win over Vilonia last week, the Sylvan Hills Bears hosted the Hot Springs Lakeside Rams Friday at Bill Blackwood Field. After a fairly even first half, the Bears led at one point by 18 in the second half. The Rams came back to score late and close the margin to 45-41 in favor of the Bears.
“I’m impressed that we hung with it,” said Sylvan Hills head coach Jim Withrow. “We keep on making enough plays to get us by and had the stretch where we scored a few more than them. All the way around, I’m happy to be 2-0. Clemmons had an outstanding game. He’s as good of a football player as there is. I’m glad he’s on our team.”
Marlon Clemmons had 129 rushing yards and 102 receiving yards for a total of 231 yards and two touchdowns. Quarterback Tra Doss had two rushing touchdowns and passed for three more. The Bears had a total of 454 yards of offense.
After receiving the opening on-side kickoff, the Bears started with excellent field position. However, there was a fumble on the first play from scrimmage, turning the ball over to the Rams. Lakeside struck quickly, with Beau Uzick carrying the ball to the Bear 4-yard line. A Bear penalty moved the ball to the 2-yard line where Blakely Lawless took the ball in for the touchdown. The extra point made the score 7-0 Rams with 11:41 left in the first quarter.
The Bears came right back with a scoring drive of their own. Starting on its own 33-yard line, Clemmons picked up a first down and Doss carried the ball to the Ram 45- yard line.
Doss hit Nathan Thomas for a first down at the 40-yard line. After carries by Tyler Davis and Marcus Long, Clemmons picked up another first down.
Doss moved the chains to the 12-yard line and then to the 2-yard line for a first and goal. Doss completed the drive by carrying it in from there. Philip Wood added the extra point for the 7-7 tie score.
Unable to move the ball on their next drive, Lakeside punted the ball out of bounds on its own 40-yard line, giving the Bears outstanding field position yet again.
Sylvan Hills could not take advantage and turned the ball over on downs.
From their own 30-yard line, Lakeside quarterback Garrett Carson handed the ball to Clint Smedley, who passed the ball down the field only to have it picked off by the Bears.
Sylvan Hills was forced to punt and the Rams took over on their own 20. Smedley broke free all the way to the Bear 1-yard line and Lawless scored from there. With the extra point, the score was 14-7 Rams.
After starting from their own 26-yard line, Doss connected with Clemmons on third down for a 69-yard Bears’ touchdown. Wood’s PAT tied the score at 14-14.
After neither team was able to move the ball, the Bears took over on their own 35-yard line. Doss hit Elijah Sowards for a reception to the Lakeside 38-yard line, then carried it himself to the 27. On fourth and 11, Doss hit Clemmons for a first down to the 11-yard line. Doss connected again with Sowards for an 8-yard touchdown pass to finish the drive. Wood added the extra point for a 21-14 Bear advantage with just 1:40 left in the first half.
The Rams came right back with a Carson to Braxton Jester touchdown pass with 1:04 to play in the half. The half ended in a 21-21 tie.
Lakeside started the second half on its own 12-yard line following a holding penalty. On third and five, the Rams fumbled and Quincy Flowers recovered for the Bears on the 18-yard line.
A screen pass to Davis on the next play resulted in a Sylvan Hills touchdown and a 28-21 Bear lead.
On their next drive, Lakeside completed a pass to midfield only to fumble the ball away again.
On the first play of the ensuing drive, Clemmons broke free for a long touchdown run. The extra point made it 35-21.
Lakeside moved the ball down the field with short passes on its next drive. Lawless completed the drive, running the ball in for his third touchdown. The extra point was blocked by Kylan Wade, leaving the score 35-27.
On the Bears’ next possession, Doss completed a pass to Thomas to the Lakeside 35. Clemmons and Flowers ran the ball to the 1-yard line, where Doss took it in from there. The extra point was good for a 42-27 Sylvan Hills advantage.
The Bears lead grew to 45-27 on their next possession when Wood added a 30-yard field goal.
The Rams answered back with Lawless scoring his fourth touchdown of the night. The two-point conversion was no good, leaving the score 45-33.
The Rams had turned the ball over on downs to Sylvan Hills on their own 46-yard line, but forced and recovered a fumble on the Bear 35. That led to a 2-yard touchdown by Carson. The two-point conversion was good to make the score 45-41 with 1:44 to go in the game.
The Bears were able to get one first down and run out the clock to preserve the victory.
Sylvan Hills travels to Newport next Friday. The Greyhounds beat Bald Knob 42-7 last night to remain undefeated.
Special to The Leader
After a season-opening win over Vilonia last week, the Sylvan Hills Bears hosted the Hot Springs Lakeside Rams Friday at Bill Blackwood Field. After a fairly even first half, the Bears led at one point by 18 in the second half. The Rams came back to score late and close the margin to 45-41 in favor of the Bears.
“I’m impressed that we hung with it,” said Sylvan Hills head coach Jim Withrow. “We keep on making enough plays to get us by and had the stretch where we scored a few more than them. All the way around, I’m happy to be 2-0. Clemmons had an outstanding game. He’s as good of a football player as there is. I’m glad he’s on our team.”
Marlon Clemmons had 129 rushing yards and 102 receiving yards for a total of 231 yards and two touchdowns. Quarterback Tra Doss had two rushing touchdowns and passed for three more. The Bears had a total of 454 yards of offense.
After receiving the opening on-side kickoff, the Bears started with excellent field position. However, there was a fumble on the first play from scrimmage, turning the ball over to the Rams. Lakeside struck quickly, with Beau Uzick carrying the ball to the Bear 4-yard line. A Bear penalty moved the ball to the 2-yard line where Blakely Lawless took the ball in for the touchdown. The extra point made the score 7-0 Rams with 11:41 left in the first quarter.
The Bears came right back with a scoring drive of their own. Starting on its own 33-yard line, Clemmons picked up a first down and Doss carried the ball to the Ram 45- yard line.
Doss hit Nathan Thomas for a first down at the 40-yard line. After carries by Tyler Davis and Marcus Long, Clemmons picked up another first down.
Doss moved the chains to the 12-yard line and then to the 2-yard line for a first and goal. Doss completed the drive by carrying it in from there. Philip Wood added the extra point for the 7-7 tie score.
Unable to move the ball on their next drive, Lakeside punted the ball out of bounds on its own 40-yard line, giving the Bears outstanding field position yet again.
Sylvan Hills could not take advantage and turned the ball over on downs.
From their own 30-yard line, Lakeside quarterback Garrett Carson handed the ball to Clint Smedley, who passed the ball down the field only to have it picked off by the Bears.
Sylvan Hills was forced to punt and the Rams took over on their own 20. Smedley broke free all the way to the Bear 1-yard line and Lawless scored from there. With the extra point, the score was 14-7 Rams.
After starting from their own 26-yard line, Doss connected with Clemmons on third down for a 69-yard Bears’ touchdown. Wood’s PAT tied the score at 14-14.
After neither team was able to move the ball, the Bears took over on their own 35-yard line. Doss hit Elijah Sowards for a reception to the Lakeside 38-yard line, then carried it himself to the 27. On fourth and 11, Doss hit Clemmons for a first down to the 11-yard line. Doss connected again with Sowards for an 8-yard touchdown pass to finish the drive. Wood added the extra point for a 21-14 Bear advantage with just 1:40 left in the first half.
The Rams came right back with a Carson to Braxton Jester touchdown pass with 1:04 to play in the half. The half ended in a 21-21 tie.
Lakeside started the second half on its own 12-yard line following a holding penalty. On third and five, the Rams fumbled and Quincy Flowers recovered for the Bears on the 18-yard line.
A screen pass to Davis on the next play resulted in a Sylvan Hills touchdown and a 28-21 Bear lead.
On their next drive, Lakeside completed a pass to midfield only to fumble the ball away again.
On the first play of the ensuing drive, Clemmons broke free for a long touchdown run. The extra point made it 35-21.
Lakeside moved the ball down the field with short passes on its next drive. Lawless completed the drive, running the ball in for his third touchdown. The extra point was blocked by Kylan Wade, leaving the score 35-27.
On the Bears’ next possession, Doss completed a pass to Thomas to the Lakeside 35. Clemmons and Flowers ran the ball to the 1-yard line, where Doss took it in from there. The extra point was good for a 42-27 Sylvan Hills advantage.
The Bears lead grew to 45-27 on their next possession when Wood added a 30-yard field goal.
The Rams answered back with Lawless scoring his fourth touchdown of the night. The two-point conversion was no good, leaving the score 45-33.
The Rams had turned the ball over on downs to Sylvan Hills on their own 46-yard line, but forced and recovered a fumble on the Bear 35. That led to a 2-yard touchdown by Carson. The two-point conversion was good to make the score 45-41 with 1:44 to go in the game.
The Bears were able to get one first down and run out the clock to preserve the victory.
Sylvan Hills travels to Newport next Friday. The Greyhounds beat Bald Knob 42-7 last night to remain undefeated.
SPORTS STORY >> NP ladies take three close ones
By RAY BENTON
Leader sports editor
Three hotly-contested games all ended the same way, with North Pulaski narrowly pulling out victories to sweep crosstown rival Jacksonville 3-0, though the match was more competitive than the score indicates.
The hosting Lady Falcons, playing without their starting setter, won by scores of 25-23, 25-21 and 25-22. The service game proved to be the difference for the home team, which served up 18 aces out of its 38 points on serve.
“That’s one thing we’ve been good at this year,” North Pulaski coach Ben Belton said. “We’ve served the ball pretty well. Our problem is losing focus for long stretches. We did it tonight, but we managed to pull it together each time before it was too late.”
The Lady Falcons needed a win after a disappointing showing at the Spikefest tournament in Little Rock on Saturday. North Pulaski went 0-4 without winning a set. Losses to two 7A schools and defending 6A champion Greenwood didn’t bother Belton much. He was actually pleased with how competitive his team was against those powerhouse schools. But game four’s 25-3 loss to class 4A Marianna is what had Belton worried about the rest of the season.
“That was a low point,” Belton said. “We just didn’t play. It was like nobody wanted to even be there. I didn’t know what to do or expect the rest of the year after that. So coming out here and playing pretty well, for the most part anyway, was good to see. This is conference and this is what really counts.”
The win lifts North Pulaski to 2-1 in conference play and 2-9 overall. Jacksonville sinks to 0-5.
In game one, North Pulaski broke serve to start, and senior Casey Mullen reeled off four-straight points on serve, including two aces, for a 5-0 lead. That evaporated quickly. Jacksonville broke serve to make it 5-1, and Lady Devil Chanell Roy doubled Mullen’s effort. Roy served up eight-straight points, including two aces, for a 9-5 lead for the visiting team. Breezy Russell served the Lady Falcons back into a tie and things went back and forth from there up to 20.
North Pulaski finally began setting up its offense, and the result was three kills for Kiarra Evans in the Lady Falcons’ final five points. Roy’s turn to serve came back around and she scored twice to tie the game at 23. On the next point, Evans got a kill for a 24-23 NP lead, then took serve and drilled an ace to finish it.
Neither team managed much offense until late in game two. Jacksonville’s Shakyla Hill executed four kills as the Lady Red Devils began executing its passing, but the rhythm was interrupted when setter Bailea Mitchell left the game holding her side with Jacksonville trailing 23-19.
North Pulaski sophomore Raigen Thomas had three kills in the last 10 points, including the game winner. Belton calls Thomas the most athletic player on the team, who needs to be stronger mentally.
“She’s too worried about messing up,” Belton said. “When she makes a mistake she don’t want it anymore. She’s a tremendous athlete, but she’s going to have to learn to let things go and just keep playing hard.”
North Pulaski threatened to pull away early in game three, taking a 12-7 lead. But Roy took serve again and made it a one-point match before NP finally broke serve.
Megan Lewis then took serve for North Pulaski and put them up by six at 17-11. The two teams traded service breaks to 21-15, when Jacksonville’s Alexia Tolbert took the floor for the first time in the match. She made an immediate impact with an ace that went untouched. She added two more points to make it 21-19 before NP broke. Jacksonville broke right back with a kill by Hill, and Mitchell re-entered to serve the game to a tie at 22. But NP answered with the final three points. Russell broke Mitchell’s serve with a nifty play, finding a hole in Jacksonville’s defense just over the net on the far right side. She then took serve and scored the final two points to seal the match.
Jacksonville will host McClellan on Tuesday and travel to Helena-West Helena Central on Thursday. North Pulaski is at Mills on Tuesday and hosts Little Rock Christian Academy on Thursday.
Leader sports editor
Three hotly-contested games all ended the same way, with North Pulaski narrowly pulling out victories to sweep crosstown rival Jacksonville 3-0, though the match was more competitive than the score indicates.
The hosting Lady Falcons, playing without their starting setter, won by scores of 25-23, 25-21 and 25-22. The service game proved to be the difference for the home team, which served up 18 aces out of its 38 points on serve.
“That’s one thing we’ve been good at this year,” North Pulaski coach Ben Belton said. “We’ve served the ball pretty well. Our problem is losing focus for long stretches. We did it tonight, but we managed to pull it together each time before it was too late.”
The Lady Falcons needed a win after a disappointing showing at the Spikefest tournament in Little Rock on Saturday. North Pulaski went 0-4 without winning a set. Losses to two 7A schools and defending 6A champion Greenwood didn’t bother Belton much. He was actually pleased with how competitive his team was against those powerhouse schools. But game four’s 25-3 loss to class 4A Marianna is what had Belton worried about the rest of the season.
“That was a low point,” Belton said. “We just didn’t play. It was like nobody wanted to even be there. I didn’t know what to do or expect the rest of the year after that. So coming out here and playing pretty well, for the most part anyway, was good to see. This is conference and this is what really counts.”
The win lifts North Pulaski to 2-1 in conference play and 2-9 overall. Jacksonville sinks to 0-5.
In game one, North Pulaski broke serve to start, and senior Casey Mullen reeled off four-straight points on serve, including two aces, for a 5-0 lead. That evaporated quickly. Jacksonville broke serve to make it 5-1, and Lady Devil Chanell Roy doubled Mullen’s effort. Roy served up eight-straight points, including two aces, for a 9-5 lead for the visiting team. Breezy Russell served the Lady Falcons back into a tie and things went back and forth from there up to 20.
North Pulaski finally began setting up its offense, and the result was three kills for Kiarra Evans in the Lady Falcons’ final five points. Roy’s turn to serve came back around and she scored twice to tie the game at 23. On the next point, Evans got a kill for a 24-23 NP lead, then took serve and drilled an ace to finish it.
Neither team managed much offense until late in game two. Jacksonville’s Shakyla Hill executed four kills as the Lady Red Devils began executing its passing, but the rhythm was interrupted when setter Bailea Mitchell left the game holding her side with Jacksonville trailing 23-19.
North Pulaski sophomore Raigen Thomas had three kills in the last 10 points, including the game winner. Belton calls Thomas the most athletic player on the team, who needs to be stronger mentally.
“She’s too worried about messing up,” Belton said. “When she makes a mistake she don’t want it anymore. She’s a tremendous athlete, but she’s going to have to learn to let things go and just keep playing hard.”
North Pulaski threatened to pull away early in game three, taking a 12-7 lead. But Roy took serve again and made it a one-point match before NP finally broke serve.
Megan Lewis then took serve for North Pulaski and put them up by six at 17-11. The two teams traded service breaks to 21-15, when Jacksonville’s Alexia Tolbert took the floor for the first time in the match. She made an immediate impact with an ace that went untouched. She added two more points to make it 21-19 before NP broke. Jacksonville broke right back with a kill by Hill, and Mitchell re-entered to serve the game to a tie at 22. But NP answered with the final three points. Russell broke Mitchell’s serve with a nifty play, finding a hole in Jacksonville’s defense just over the net on the far right side. She then took serve and scored the final two points to seal the match.
Jacksonville will host McClellan on Tuesday and travel to Helena-West Helena Central on Thursday. North Pulaski is at Mills on Tuesday and hosts Little Rock Christian Academy on Thursday.
SPORTS STORY >> Cabot blasts through Rockets
By GRAHAM POWELL
Leader sportswriter
Cabot wore down Little Rock Catholic with its traditional power run game, but the Panthers made some plays through the air as well as they beat the Rockets 40-20 in nonconference action Friday at War Memorial Stadium.
The Panthers’ offense amassed 448 total yards in Friday’s win, bettering the Rockets’ 298. Cabot used a plethora of backs to rush for 371 yards in the game, but the 77 yards and two touchdowns through the air brought more balance to the offense than it has had in some time.
“It’s not really a new passing game,” said Cabot coach Mike Malham. “We ran this several years ago, but we haven’t done it in a while just because we didn’t have that kind of (athletic) kid. It’s simpler. It makes defenses balance up more and it stretches them more because there’s one more gap they’ve got to control.
“I just feel like we’re real thin on the offensive line as far as having enough linemen and we have the skill people, so you use what you got to your advantage. I feel like right now, going open does a lot more damage than going two tight like we’ve done the last several years.”
The kid Malham referred to is none other than junior Jake Ferguson, who is the only Cabot player that consistently plays both offense and defense. Ferguson had another big game against the Rockets as he caught four passes for 59 yards and two touchdowns, and intercepted a pass on defense early in the second half.
“Last year he had a great year in the secondary,” Malham said of Ferguson. “So we decided to go split this year like we used to do because he’s a difference maker. He can run and catch and can catch in a crowd. That’s why we put him out there to try and get some of those (defensive) guys out of the box.
“He caught several over the middle tonight and if they’re going to single cover him then we’ve got to get it to him. We feel like it’s going to take more than one to cover him. He makes a real difference.”
After forcing a three and out on the Rockets’ first possession, Cabot’s offense also went three and out, but an illegal participation penalty against Catholic’s defense gave Cabot a first down.
The Panthers made the Rockets pay for the infraction with a five-play drive that resulted in a 12-yard touchdown run by Preston Jones with 7:35 to play in the first quarter.
The extra point was good, but Cabot’s offense stalled for a couple of series and Catholic tied the score at 7-7 after a 31-yard touchdown run by D.J. Brown and a successful PAT with 2:22 to go in the first.
Cabot retook the lead with 7:46 to play in the second quarter on a 6-yard touchdown run by senior fullback Zach Launius that put the Panthers up 13-7. Cabot’s defense held Catholic scoreless for the remainder of the half, and its offense struck twice more before the break.
After forcing a Catholic turnover, the Panthers scored on the first play of the ensuing drive, thanks to a 55-yard scamper by Launius that pushed the Panther lead to 19-7. Cabot extended its lead to 26-7 with 43 seconds to play in the half after quarterback Kason Kimbrell connected with Ferguson on a 14-yard strike at the back of the end zone, and sophomore kicker Caleb Schulte put the extra point through the uprights.
Kimbrell hit Ferguson again for another score with 7:30 to play in the third quarter, this one from 17-yards out. The PAT was good to push the margin to 33-7. It took Cabot just a little more than two minutes to find the end zone for the final time. With 5:14 to play in the third, Kimbrell scored on a 33-yard option keeper, which capped a three-play drive. Schulte’s extra point made it 40-7 Cabot.
Catholic’s offense found the end zone for the first time in the second half on a 27-yard pass from Andre Sale to Brown with 35 seconds to play in the third quarter that cut the deficit to 40-14 after the successful PAT. With much of Cabot’s second unit in the game, Catholic (0-2) set the final score on a 9-yard run by senior running back Joe Mariani and a successful PAT with 3:28 to play.
Kimbrell’s 77 yards through the air came after completing 6 of 11 passes for two touchdowns and one interception. Launius led the Panthers’ ground game as he totaled 162 rush yards and two touchdowns on 19 carries.
Kimbrell added 59 rush yards and one score on the ground. Chris Henry finished with nine carries for 79 rush yards, and Jones had all six of his carries for 39 yards and one touchdown in the first half.
Cabot (2-0) will face a much tougher challenge next week as it hosts Conway in the final nonconference game of the season. Kickoff is at 7 p.m.
Leader sportswriter
Cabot wore down Little Rock Catholic with its traditional power run game, but the Panthers made some plays through the air as well as they beat the Rockets 40-20 in nonconference action Friday at War Memorial Stadium.
The Panthers’ offense amassed 448 total yards in Friday’s win, bettering the Rockets’ 298. Cabot used a plethora of backs to rush for 371 yards in the game, but the 77 yards and two touchdowns through the air brought more balance to the offense than it has had in some time.
“It’s not really a new passing game,” said Cabot coach Mike Malham. “We ran this several years ago, but we haven’t done it in a while just because we didn’t have that kind of (athletic) kid. It’s simpler. It makes defenses balance up more and it stretches them more because there’s one more gap they’ve got to control.
“I just feel like we’re real thin on the offensive line as far as having enough linemen and we have the skill people, so you use what you got to your advantage. I feel like right now, going open does a lot more damage than going two tight like we’ve done the last several years.”
The kid Malham referred to is none other than junior Jake Ferguson, who is the only Cabot player that consistently plays both offense and defense. Ferguson had another big game against the Rockets as he caught four passes for 59 yards and two touchdowns, and intercepted a pass on defense early in the second half.
“Last year he had a great year in the secondary,” Malham said of Ferguson. “So we decided to go split this year like we used to do because he’s a difference maker. He can run and catch and can catch in a crowd. That’s why we put him out there to try and get some of those (defensive) guys out of the box.
“He caught several over the middle tonight and if they’re going to single cover him then we’ve got to get it to him. We feel like it’s going to take more than one to cover him. He makes a real difference.”
After forcing a three and out on the Rockets’ first possession, Cabot’s offense also went three and out, but an illegal participation penalty against Catholic’s defense gave Cabot a first down.
The Panthers made the Rockets pay for the infraction with a five-play drive that resulted in a 12-yard touchdown run by Preston Jones with 7:35 to play in the first quarter.
The extra point was good, but Cabot’s offense stalled for a couple of series and Catholic tied the score at 7-7 after a 31-yard touchdown run by D.J. Brown and a successful PAT with 2:22 to go in the first.
Cabot retook the lead with 7:46 to play in the second quarter on a 6-yard touchdown run by senior fullback Zach Launius that put the Panthers up 13-7. Cabot’s defense held Catholic scoreless for the remainder of the half, and its offense struck twice more before the break.
After forcing a Catholic turnover, the Panthers scored on the first play of the ensuing drive, thanks to a 55-yard scamper by Launius that pushed the Panther lead to 19-7. Cabot extended its lead to 26-7 with 43 seconds to play in the half after quarterback Kason Kimbrell connected with Ferguson on a 14-yard strike at the back of the end zone, and sophomore kicker Caleb Schulte put the extra point through the uprights.
Kimbrell hit Ferguson again for another score with 7:30 to play in the third quarter, this one from 17-yards out. The PAT was good to push the margin to 33-7. It took Cabot just a little more than two minutes to find the end zone for the final time. With 5:14 to play in the third, Kimbrell scored on a 33-yard option keeper, which capped a three-play drive. Schulte’s extra point made it 40-7 Cabot.
Catholic’s offense found the end zone for the first time in the second half on a 27-yard pass from Andre Sale to Brown with 35 seconds to play in the third quarter that cut the deficit to 40-14 after the successful PAT. With much of Cabot’s second unit in the game, Catholic (0-2) set the final score on a 9-yard run by senior running back Joe Mariani and a successful PAT with 3:28 to play.
Kimbrell’s 77 yards through the air came after completing 6 of 11 passes for two touchdowns and one interception. Launius led the Panthers’ ground game as he totaled 162 rush yards and two touchdowns on 19 carries.
Kimbrell added 59 rush yards and one score on the ground. Chris Henry finished with nine carries for 79 rush yards, and Jones had all six of his carries for 39 yards and one touchdown in the first half.
Cabot (2-0) will face a much tougher challenge next week as it hosts Conway in the final nonconference game of the season. Kickoff is at 7 p.m.
SPORTS STORY >> Jackrabbits bully past rival Beebe
By JASON KING
Leader sportswriter
It wasn’t the typical result during the annual Beebe-versus-Lonoke showdown as the Jackrabbits dominated every facet of the game in a 41-14 blowout at James B. Abraham Stadium on Friday.
The Jackrabbits (1-1) moved the ball at will on offense, and took advantage of Beebe turnovers to control the contest from the outset. Lonoke’s defense showed its muscle by holding dynamic Badger sophomore fullback Trip Smith to 70 yards on 18 carries, and junior defensive back Trey Bevis squashed any hopes of a Beebe comeback in the second half with two interceptions deep in Lonoke territory.
“We knew they were going to be physical; we preached that all week,” Lonoke coach Doug Bost said. “We hit and we hit and we hit all week, and the kids came out and they executed it. I told them that’s a team right there that scored 38 points last week, and we held them to 14, and one of those was on a drive that started at the 10-yard line. I’m real proud of our defense – real proud.”
The Badgers (0-2) appeared to establish a nice offensive rhythm early, taking their first drive nearly 70 yards while eating more than seven minutes off the clock until a fumble at the Lonoke 3-yard line gave Bevis his first of three takeaways, and set the Jackrabbits up for their second scoring drive.
There were just three sets of hands moving the ball for the Jackrabbits until subs played out the final two minutes. Sophomore tailback Josh Coleman torched Beebe’s defense with 19 carries for 163 yards and five touchdowns.
Senior quarterback Kody Smith put his hard-nosed running style on display with 15 carries for 191 yards and a touchdown, while recent Arkansas State verbal commit Blake Mack carried five times for 44 yards, and had six receptions for 74 yards.
Mack had a couple of big plays late in the second half that were called back on penalties after the game was well within Lonoke’s hands.
In all, Lonoke’s offense totaled 523 yards.
“He ran real well,” Bost said of Coleman. “For a 10th grader, I mean, we had some plays that were working. He ran really hard for us tonight.”
Beebe’s turnover woes continued into the second week as the Badgers gave the ball up six times, including first half fumbles recovered by Jackrabbit defenders Cedric Cooney and Jacob Vandiver. Sophomore Lance Dugger came up with the biggest special-teams play of the night when he recovered a fumbled kickoff return by Beebe at the Badger 16-yard line with 11:07 remaining.
The Badgers went to the air more in the second half in an attempt to come back from a 27-7 halftime deficit, but Bevis sniffed out two long passes from Beebe quarterback Aaron Nunez and pulled both of them down for interceptions, including his second pick that ricocheted off the hands of intended receiver Connor Patrom.
“We told him to stay back at 12 yards,” Bost said. “Don’t come up in case they break through all that mess right there, and he did a good job staying back and got a big interception there.”
Smith called his own number repeatedly for Lonoke with almost complete success, with the shortest gain of his 15 totes at two yards, and just four carries of less than five yards. Smith broke a number of tackles the hard way by simply lowering his head and running through the defender.
“We have five or six run plays that are run reads,” Bost said. “He has worked on that from day one, and he makes us dangerous when he can read when to keep it and when to give it. You don’t see quarterbacks with that kind of mentality, looking to run over a safety back there, and he does. That gets him into the game.”
Mack did not convert a score for Lonoke, though he did combine his running and catching abilities for 118 all-purpose yards with two Division I college scouts looking on.
“He committed to Arkansas State on Monday,” Bost said. “So they came down, and Louisiana Tech, he called me and said he understood he committed, but I’m still going to keep recruiting him. I think he had three touchdowns brought back on penalties tonight. If we had a negative, it was too many penalties. We’ve got to clean that up.”
Beebe finished with 243 total yards, including Nunez’s 14 carries for 75 yards, along with his 39 passing yards.
Beebe will host Vilonia next week, while Lonoke hosts Little Rock McClellan. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m.
Leader sportswriter
It wasn’t the typical result during the annual Beebe-versus-Lonoke showdown as the Jackrabbits dominated every facet of the game in a 41-14 blowout at James B. Abraham Stadium on Friday.
The Jackrabbits (1-1) moved the ball at will on offense, and took advantage of Beebe turnovers to control the contest from the outset. Lonoke’s defense showed its muscle by holding dynamic Badger sophomore fullback Trip Smith to 70 yards on 18 carries, and junior defensive back Trey Bevis squashed any hopes of a Beebe comeback in the second half with two interceptions deep in Lonoke territory.
“We knew they were going to be physical; we preached that all week,” Lonoke coach Doug Bost said. “We hit and we hit and we hit all week, and the kids came out and they executed it. I told them that’s a team right there that scored 38 points last week, and we held them to 14, and one of those was on a drive that started at the 10-yard line. I’m real proud of our defense – real proud.”
The Badgers (0-2) appeared to establish a nice offensive rhythm early, taking their first drive nearly 70 yards while eating more than seven minutes off the clock until a fumble at the Lonoke 3-yard line gave Bevis his first of three takeaways, and set the Jackrabbits up for their second scoring drive.
There were just three sets of hands moving the ball for the Jackrabbits until subs played out the final two minutes. Sophomore tailback Josh Coleman torched Beebe’s defense with 19 carries for 163 yards and five touchdowns.
Senior quarterback Kody Smith put his hard-nosed running style on display with 15 carries for 191 yards and a touchdown, while recent Arkansas State verbal commit Blake Mack carried five times for 44 yards, and had six receptions for 74 yards.
Mack had a couple of big plays late in the second half that were called back on penalties after the game was well within Lonoke’s hands.
In all, Lonoke’s offense totaled 523 yards.
“He ran real well,” Bost said of Coleman. “For a 10th grader, I mean, we had some plays that were working. He ran really hard for us tonight.”
Beebe’s turnover woes continued into the second week as the Badgers gave the ball up six times, including first half fumbles recovered by Jackrabbit defenders Cedric Cooney and Jacob Vandiver. Sophomore Lance Dugger came up with the biggest special-teams play of the night when he recovered a fumbled kickoff return by Beebe at the Badger 16-yard line with 11:07 remaining.
The Badgers went to the air more in the second half in an attempt to come back from a 27-7 halftime deficit, but Bevis sniffed out two long passes from Beebe quarterback Aaron Nunez and pulled both of them down for interceptions, including his second pick that ricocheted off the hands of intended receiver Connor Patrom.
“We told him to stay back at 12 yards,” Bost said. “Don’t come up in case they break through all that mess right there, and he did a good job staying back and got a big interception there.”
Smith called his own number repeatedly for Lonoke with almost complete success, with the shortest gain of his 15 totes at two yards, and just four carries of less than five yards. Smith broke a number of tackles the hard way by simply lowering his head and running through the defender.
“We have five or six run plays that are run reads,” Bost said. “He has worked on that from day one, and he makes us dangerous when he can read when to keep it and when to give it. You don’t see quarterbacks with that kind of mentality, looking to run over a safety back there, and he does. That gets him into the game.”
Mack did not convert a score for Lonoke, though he did combine his running and catching abilities for 118 all-purpose yards with two Division I college scouts looking on.
“He committed to Arkansas State on Monday,” Bost said. “So they came down, and Louisiana Tech, he called me and said he understood he committed, but I’m still going to keep recruiting him. I think he had three touchdowns brought back on penalties tonight. If we had a negative, it was too many penalties. We’ve got to clean that up.”
Beebe finished with 243 total yards, including Nunez’s 14 carries for 75 yards, along with his 39 passing yards.
Beebe will host Vilonia next week, while Lonoke hosts Little Rock McClellan. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m.
Friday, September 13, 2013
EDITORIAL >> Deep frying is spiritual
When I was in my teens, I learned to cook the way my mother did. I could make biscuits, fry chicken and pound out round steak to make it tender long before I was 16.
I know you must overfill a pot with raw greens if you intend to feed more than one or two because hot water quickly reduces them to a fraction of their original bulk. And I know that if you put a ham hock into a pot of pinto beans, it will be tender by the time the beans are cooked.
Over time, I learned to make dishes that didn’t necessarily originate in the South, an ability that comes in handy when the Pennsylvania relatives visit.
One group arrived on a recent Sunday afternoon. My place was their vacation spot on the way to take the 20-year-old daughter to a Bible college in Tulsa, Okla.
Breakfast wasn’t a problem because everyone likes hot, buttered biscuits. But dinner was a different matter. They didn’t like beans, I was told, so I assumed the other, standard southern fare like cornbread and fried okra would also be passed over.
So I made meatloaf, Swiss steak and spaghetti. I aim to please.
Then it came to me that I was doing them a disservice by not showing them how southerners eat when we’re getting back to our roots. And out came the deep fryer that I keep hidden out of sight most of the time but still on a roll-out shelf for easy access when I really need it.
I don’t fry very often. Chicken is usually baked or boiled for dumplings. Pork is usually a roast and potatoes are oven fried with just a little oil to help them brown, mashed or made into soup.
But I learned in conversation with the Pennsylvania relatives that not only had they never eaten fried green tomatoes, they hadn’t even seen the movie by the same name.
Isn’t experiencing other cultures the reason you travel? Surely it’s not simply to get from Point A to Point B. Who doesn’t have saltwater taffy when they go to the gulf or eat a sandwich on a hard roll when they go north?
So I fried chicken-breast strips, green tomatoes and okra, all of it soaked in buttermilk and rolled in seasoned flour. It came out of the hot oil the same medium brown and almost all of it was eaten.
Emily, the Bible student, told me later that she had prayed about dinner earlier in the day. “Please God,” she said, “Let there be something fried.”
Southerners are known for their hospitality. One author, traveling in the South more than 150 years ago, noted that the hotels were bad because they weren’t really needed. Southerners were more than willing to take in strangers for the night and offer them their best food, too.
I could have thrown a couple of chickens in the oven and maybe added some brown rice and a green salad. That would certainly have been the safer choice, not to mention healthier and more colorful.
Instead, I pulled out the deep fryer and stayed true to my heritage, a decision that turned out to be the answer to a very nice young woman’s humble prayer.
God works in mysterious ways, truly.
— Joan McCoy
I know you must overfill a pot with raw greens if you intend to feed more than one or two because hot water quickly reduces them to a fraction of their original bulk. And I know that if you put a ham hock into a pot of pinto beans, it will be tender by the time the beans are cooked.
Over time, I learned to make dishes that didn’t necessarily originate in the South, an ability that comes in handy when the Pennsylvania relatives visit.
One group arrived on a recent Sunday afternoon. My place was their vacation spot on the way to take the 20-year-old daughter to a Bible college in Tulsa, Okla.
Breakfast wasn’t a problem because everyone likes hot, buttered biscuits. But dinner was a different matter. They didn’t like beans, I was told, so I assumed the other, standard southern fare like cornbread and fried okra would also be passed over.
So I made meatloaf, Swiss steak and spaghetti. I aim to please.
Then it came to me that I was doing them a disservice by not showing them how southerners eat when we’re getting back to our roots. And out came the deep fryer that I keep hidden out of sight most of the time but still on a roll-out shelf for easy access when I really need it.
I don’t fry very often. Chicken is usually baked or boiled for dumplings. Pork is usually a roast and potatoes are oven fried with just a little oil to help them brown, mashed or made into soup.
But I learned in conversation with the Pennsylvania relatives that not only had they never eaten fried green tomatoes, they hadn’t even seen the movie by the same name.
Isn’t experiencing other cultures the reason you travel? Surely it’s not simply to get from Point A to Point B. Who doesn’t have saltwater taffy when they go to the gulf or eat a sandwich on a hard roll when they go north?
So I fried chicken-breast strips, green tomatoes and okra, all of it soaked in buttermilk and rolled in seasoned flour. It came out of the hot oil the same medium brown and almost all of it was eaten.
Emily, the Bible student, told me later that she had prayed about dinner earlier in the day. “Please God,” she said, “Let there be something fried.”
Southerners are known for their hospitality. One author, traveling in the South more than 150 years ago, noted that the hotels were bad because they weren’t really needed. Southerners were more than willing to take in strangers for the night and offer them their best food, too.
I could have thrown a couple of chickens in the oven and maybe added some brown rice and a green salad. That would certainly have been the safer choice, not to mention healthier and more colorful.
Instead, I pulled out the deep fryer and stayed true to my heritage, a decision that turned out to be the answer to a very nice young woman’s humble prayer.
God works in mysterious ways, truly.
— Joan McCoy
TOP STORY >> Cabot woman faces charges
By JOAN McCOY
Leader staff writer
The Cabot woman who shot her longtime boyfriend on the evening of June 2 was arrested Tuesday on multiple charges, including first-degree domestic battery, which could get her five to 20 years in prison.
The delay in arresting Halelle Hooten, 32, who admitted on the evening of June 2 to shooting Frederick Lamont Ford three times, was partly because he was in a coma for a time and unable to tell his side of the story, Lonoke County Prosecutor Chuck Graham said.
Ford, 40, of North Little Rock was shot in his right shoulder, right buttock and right kidney area. A complete recovery is unlikely, sources said.
Hooten told police she shot him in self-defense.
The affidavit for Hooten’s arrest says Ford was the father of three of Hooten’s four children. He came by from time to time to take a shower and spend the night, she said.
Hooten told police on June 2 that she had invited Ford to their daughter’s third birthday party. She expected him between 5 and 6 p.m., but he arrived between 9:30 and 10 p.m.
Ford beat on the door, but she wouldn’t let him in. He called her cell phone, and she didn’t answer.
After 15 or 20 minutes, Hooten opened the door to her apartment at 898 Myrtle St. to see if he was still outside. Ford pushed his way inside, she said. Hooten told police that Ford had unscrewed the porch light so she couldn’t see outside.
She said she was frightened of Ford because he threatened to kill her and her children. Hooten said she knew he had a gun hidden somewhere in her apartment. No gun was found except the .38-caliber Rossi revolver Hooten used to shoot Ford.
She told police they argued and he was swinging his arms about, knocking things over in the apartment. Ford started to charge her, Hooten said, but he stopped and started to reach for something in a drawer. She pulled out the gun she had put in her robe pocket and shot, but thought she missed and shot two more times until he fell to the floor. Then Hooten called her father in Ward. He came to her apartment and called the police.
She may also be charged with four counts of endangering the welfare of a minor, possession of illegal drugs and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Leader staff writer
The Cabot woman who shot her longtime boyfriend on the evening of June 2 was arrested Tuesday on multiple charges, including first-degree domestic battery, which could get her five to 20 years in prison.
The delay in arresting Halelle Hooten, 32, who admitted on the evening of June 2 to shooting Frederick Lamont Ford three times, was partly because he was in a coma for a time and unable to tell his side of the story, Lonoke County Prosecutor Chuck Graham said.
Ford, 40, of North Little Rock was shot in his right shoulder, right buttock and right kidney area. A complete recovery is unlikely, sources said.
Hooten told police she shot him in self-defense.
The affidavit for Hooten’s arrest says Ford was the father of three of Hooten’s four children. He came by from time to time to take a shower and spend the night, she said.
Hooten told police on June 2 that she had invited Ford to their daughter’s third birthday party. She expected him between 5 and 6 p.m., but he arrived between 9:30 and 10 p.m.
Ford beat on the door, but she wouldn’t let him in. He called her cell phone, and she didn’t answer.
After 15 or 20 minutes, Hooten opened the door to her apartment at 898 Myrtle St. to see if he was still outside. Ford pushed his way inside, she said. Hooten told police that Ford had unscrewed the porch light so she couldn’t see outside.
She said she was frightened of Ford because he threatened to kill her and her children. Hooten said she knew he had a gun hidden somewhere in her apartment. No gun was found except the .38-caliber Rossi revolver Hooten used to shoot Ford.
She told police they argued and he was swinging his arms about, knocking things over in the apartment. Ford started to charge her, Hooten said, but he stopped and started to reach for something in a drawer. She pulled out the gun she had put in her robe pocket and shot, but thought she missed and shot two more times until he fell to the floor. Then Hooten called her father in Ward. He came to her apartment and called the police.
She may also be charged with four counts of endangering the welfare of a minor, possession of illegal drugs and possession of drug paraphernalia.
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