Friday, June 13, 2008

TOP STORY > >Commission opposes more development

By JOAN McCOY
Leader staff writer

The Hwy. 5 area around Greystone in Cabot is generally considered the city’s growth area for both residential and commercial development. The only problem is: the 10-inch force sewer main that serves the area is too small, so the water and wastewater commission opposes any more development.

“This commission has drawn the line on Greystone. It’s already at capacity,” Bill Cypert, secretary of the Cabot Water and Wastewater Commis-sion told landowners Randall and Tori Uhiren, who hope to sell property on Hwy. 5 for an assisted-living development.

Cypert, who usually speaks for the commission, said during the regular commission meeting Thursday night that the commission is pro-development, but available sewer capacity belongs to the developers of Greystone, who paid for it.

And the commission is committed to preserving it for their use.

The commission also opposes the private sewer-treatment plant the assisted-living developers have proposed, because they say there is no guarantee it will be maintained to an acceptable standard.

Cypert told the Uhirens that a 30-inch gravity main is planned for the area but not for at least three to five years. With an anticipated price tag of $30 million or so, the project cannot be funded without the sewer rate increase the commission has talked about for two years.

Josh Minton, the engineer on the planned project, countered that the state regulates private treatment plants as closely as public ones, so the facility would be maintained.

He also suggested that the developers would be willing to sign an agreement to close the plant as soon as city sewer became available.

At that, the proposal became more palatable to the commission.

“I think we might be able to look at it and see how it will fit into our plans,” Cypert said.

The proposed development of five, 10,000-square-foot buildings would house 90 residents.

Cypert and Gary Walker, commission vice-chairman, said there were other options, like buying capacity from those who hold claim to it.

“There are options to be looked at here,” Walker said, but he warned that the commission would have to be involved in any deal made between developers.

Although the proposed 30-inch sewer main is part of the commission master plan for the area, the commission also has considered building a second sewer-treatment plant for the area, but that would be just as costly.

Although water rates in Cabot are adequate for maintenance and operation as well as growth, sewer rates are so low that Cypert has described the financial situation of that utility as “hand to mouth.”

Without a rate increase, no major sewer construction is likely.

Randall Uhiren told the commissioners that although they consider Hwy. 5 a no-growth area, the city council doesn’t share that opinion as evidenced by the fact that property there is being annexed into the city.

If the city hadn’t annexed their property, the commission would have had no authority over it and the developers they hope to sell to would have been able to build the sewer treatment plant they need.

“We got annexed into the city and now we’re just sitting there,” he said.

TOP STORY > >Fight over extending Sherwood street

By RICK KRON
Leader staff writer

It sounds simple—complete one street and in exchange don’t require the completion of another street.

But that request from Sherwood Mayor Virginia Hillman has turned out to be very muddied and complicated, legally, historically and politically.

Cypress Properties, one of Sherwood’s largest landowners and the developer of Stonehill Subdivision, came to the mayor earlier this year with a proposal that it would spend about $400,000 of its own money to complete the portion of Maryland Avenue that runs through its property, and then with a small portion the city planned to complete, Maryland Avenue would become a complete east-west thoroughfare connecting Brockington Road and Hwy. 107.

In exchange, the developer wanted assurance from the city that he would not have to build and open up the remainder of Hemphill Road. Hemphill runs north-south, from Kiehl Avenue, but then coming to a dead end. The city’s master street plan shows the road eventually extending to Maryland Avenue.

To guarantee that Cypress Properties would not have to build the rest of Hemphill Road, Andy Collins, chairman of the board for the company, asked that the remainder of the planned road be removed from the city’s master street plan.

Cypress has made the request, according to Collins, on behalf of Stonehill residents and those on Hemphill who feel it is best not to make the road a through street.

Scotty Thurman, director of real estate for Cypress, said, “Once Maryland is complete, the rush hour congestion will be immediately and substantially alleviated.

There would be no purpose whatsoever to extend Hemphill because it would become a commuter speedway through a secluded and peaceful neighborhood.”

Thurman added, “We respect the master street plan but it can and should be modified to fit changing realities.”

But in May, the city council didn’t see eye-to-eye with the mayor or the developer and suggested that the developer open Maryland Avenue on his own with the only guarantee that the council would listen to his request to remove Hemphill from the master street plan after Maryland was completed and the city studied the traffic flow.

“It is in the best interest of the city to open Maryland,” the mayor explained.

“We aren’t doing the developer any favors as we can’t make him open up any street that he’s not developing. At this point we have nothing,” Hillman said.

Scotty Thurman, the former Razorback representing Cypress Properties, said the issue has become misconstrued as an ultimatum.

“We are just trying to work with the city to benefit the residents of Sherwood. It’s not about what Scotty thinks, or Andy (Collins) thinks or what the mayor thinks, it’s what the people think,” Thurman said.

He added that at the council and commission meetings all the residents have spoken for the idea. “The council should listen to the people speaking out,” he said.

Alderman Becki Vassar, the senior member of the council, said, “There’s not an alderman or city leader that doesn’t want Maryland Avenue opened, but this is not the way to do it.”

The master street plan is not something the council just got together and decided on one day, explained Vassar.

She said it was a joint effort by the city, Metroplan and the Municipal League. “

The master street plan is a well-studied document. It took a long time to prepare and looks 20 to 30 years down the road,” she said.

“It’s not something to be taken lightly,” she said.“Even the state highway department showed respect for it.”

The highway department’s first planned route for the North Belt segment going through Sherwood butted heads with the city’s master street plan and rather than the city changing its street plan, the state has had to spend years revising their I-440 route.

“If the state moves the North Belt in respect of our master street plan, I think a developer should too,” Vassar said.

Collins responded, “I have a great deal of respect for Vassar’s years of public service. However, I was close enough to the North Belt issue to know with certainty that there were many other motives besides the respect for the city’s street plan for diverting the loop away from the heart of Sherwood.”

Collins continued, “The master street plan is a document which must and will change as Sherwood’s borders, population and other characteristics change,” he said, adding that 700 acres of Cypress acreage near the air base was recently annexed into the city and will have to be added to the master street plan.

According to city ordinances, a developer doesn’t have to build a subdivision street until that section is developed, and in the case of Stonehill, Cypress Properties hasn’t started developing the sections containing Maryland or Hemphill, so hasn’t had to build either road.

“I don’t want to make any developer mad, but maybe we’ve been too nice, letting them build out of sequence,” Vassar said.

If Cypress Properties had built the Stonehill phases in order, Vassar, believes both roads would have already been built.

She added that developers know what they are required to do when they come before the city’s planning commission.

“The developer knew years ago when the subdivision was approved that he was required to build the roads,” Vassar explained, and has the minutes from the meetings where representatives for Cypress Properties agreed to build both roads.

“I’m not trying to be hard- hearted,” Vassar said. “But I have a hard time taking a street off the master plan and saying that it will never have to be built. It’s on that map for a reason.

“I have a problem with the developer wanting to change the rules after the T’s have been crossed and I’s dotted,” she said.
Vassar continued, “I have a problem with this developer not wanting to follow the rules and follow through with the commitment he made.”

The developer, based on city ordinances, doesn’t have to build either road yet and in fact can sit on the property indefinitely.

“I don’t think that would be fair to the residents of Sherwood,” Vassar said.

Collins responded by saying that Cypress has always followed what Sherwood wanted. “I respectfully disagree with Vassar’s mischaracterization of the facts.

“I’m a retired tax attorney and not the all-knowing developer Vassar paints Cypress to be. We rely on our engineers who design the subdivision and work with the city. The final say is Sherwood’s, not ours. We do what we are told. We developed all phases of Stonehill pursuant to Sherwood’s guidance and directives and to say otherwise is inaccurate,” Collins said.

TOP STORY > >Fight over extending Sherwood street

By RICK KRON
Leader staff writer

It sounds simple—complete one street and in exchange don’t require the completion of another street.

But that request from Sherwood Mayor Virginia Hillman has turned out to be very muddied and complicated, legally, historically and politically.

Cypress Properties, one of Sherwood’s largest landowners and the developer of Stonehill Subdivision, came to the mayor earlier this year with a proposal that it would spend about $400,000 of its own money to complete the portion of Maryland Avenue that runs through its property, and then with a small portion the city planned to complete, Maryland Avenue would become a complete east-west thoroughfare connecting Brockington Road and Hwy. 107.

In exchange, the developer wanted assurance from the city that he would not have to build and open up the remainder of Hemphill Road. Hemphill runs north-south, from Kiehl Avenue, but then coming to a dead end. The city’s master street plan shows the road eventually extending to Maryland Avenue.

To guarantee that Cypress Properties would not have to build the rest of Hemphill Road, Andy Collins, chairman of the board for the company, asked that the remainder of the planned road be removed from the city’s master street plan.

Cypress has made the request, according to Collins, on behalf of Stonehill residents and those on Hemphill who feel it is best not to make the road a through street.

Scotty Thurman, director of real estate for Cypress, said, “Once Maryland is complete, the rush hour congestion will be immediately and substantially alleviated.

There would be no purpose whatsoever to extend Hemphill because it would become a commuter speedway through a secluded and peaceful neighborhood.”

Thurman added, “We respect the master street plan but it can and should be modified to fit changing realities.”

But in May, the city council didn’t see eye-to-eye with the mayor or the developer and suggested that the developer open Maryland Avenue on his own with the only guarantee that the council would listen to his request to remove Hemphill from the master street plan after Maryland was completed and the city studied the traffic flow.

“It is in the best interest of the city to open Maryland,” the mayor explained.

“We aren’t doing the developer any favors as we can’t make him open up any street that he’s not developing. At this point we have nothing,” Hillman said.

Scotty Thurman, the former Razorback representing Cypress Properties, said the issue has become misconstrued as an ultimatum.

“We are just trying to work with the city to benefit the residents of Sherwood. It’s not about what Scotty thinks, or Andy (Collins) thinks or what the mayor thinks, it’s what the people think,” Thurman said.

He added that at the council and commission meetings all the residents have spoken for the idea. “The council should listen to the people speaking out,” he said.

Alderman Becki Vassar, the senior member of the council, said, “There’s not an alderman or city leader that doesn’t want Maryland Avenue opened, but this is not the way to do it.”

The master street plan is not something the council just got together and decided on one day, explained Vassar.

She said it was a joint effort by the city, Metroplan and the Municipal League. “

The master street plan is a well-studied document. It took a long time to prepare and looks 20 to 30 years down the road,” she said.

“It’s not something to be taken lightly,” she said.“Even the state highway department showed respect for it.”

The highway department’s first planned route for the North Belt segment going through Sherwood butted heads with the city’s master street plan and rather than the city changing its street plan, the state has had to spend years revising their I-440 route.

“If the state moves the North Belt in respect of our master street plan, I think a developer should too,” Vassar said.

Collins responded, “I have a great deal of respect for Vassar’s years of public service. However, I was close enough to the North Belt issue to know with certainty that there were many other motives besides the respect for the city’s street plan for diverting the loop away from the heart of Sherwood.”

Collins continued, “The master street plan is a document which must and will change as Sherwood’s borders, population and other characteristics change,” he said, adding that 700 acres of Cypress acreage near the air base was recently annexed into the city and will have to be added to the master street plan.

According to city ordinances, a developer doesn’t have to build a subdivision street until that section is developed, and in the case of Stonehill, Cypress Properties hasn’t started developing the sections containing Maryland or Hemphill, so hasn’t had to build either road.

“I don’t want to make any developer mad, but maybe we’ve been too nice, letting them build out of sequence,” Vassar said.

If Cypress Properties had built the Stonehill phases in order, Vassar, believes both roads would have already been built.

She added that developers know what they are required to do when they come before the city’s planning commission.

“The developer knew years ago when the subdivision was approved that he was required to build the roads,” Vassar explained, and has the minutes from the meetings where representatives for Cypress Properties agreed to build both roads.

“I’m not trying to be hard- hearted,” Vassar said. “But I have a hard time taking a street off the master plan and saying that it will never have to be built. It’s on that map for a reason.

“I have a problem with the developer wanting to change the rules after the T’s have been crossed and I’s dotted,” she said.
Vassar continued, “I have a problem with this developer not wanting to follow the rules and follow through with the commitment he made.”

The developer, based on city ordinances, doesn’t have to build either road yet and in fact can sit on the property indefinitely.

“I don’t think that would be fair to the residents of Sherwood,” Vassar said.

Collins responded by saying that Cypress has always followed what Sherwood wanted. “I respectfully disagree with Vassar’s mischaracterization of the facts.

“I’m a retired tax attorney and not the all-knowing developer Vassar paints Cypress to be. We rely on our engineers who design the subdivision and work with the city. The final say is Sherwood’s, not ours. We do what we are told. We developed all phases of Stonehill pursuant to Sherwood’s guidance and directives and to say otherwise is inaccurate,” Collins said.

TOP STORY > >PCSSD offers online classes this summer

By JOHN HOFHEIMER
Leader staff writer

For the first time this year, most Pulaski County Special School District high school summer school students can make up classes in their pajamas and without leaving home.

That’s because summer school this year—and likely for the foreseeable future—is an online activity, according to Carletta Wilson, a PCCSD spokesperson.

To accommodate students who don’t have Internet access at home, the district has computers available on both sides of the Arkansas River—at Fuller Middle School annex and at Sylvan Hills High School. Each school has a certified teacher to help students get on-line or help with content, Wilson said. Those centers are open from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., Monday through Thursday.

She said Internet summer school addressed several problems.

“We’ve had cyber school during the school year,” Wilson said. “We had a hard time finding teachers to teach summer school and it reduces the fuel costs of transporting many of the 200 students to summer school.”

South of the river, only a handful of students go to Fuller to use the computers for summer school, while at Sylvan Hills, the number is about 20.

About five years ago, the district stopped teaching summer school classes for students trying to get ahead, concentrating instead on those trying to recover credits.

The summer school students use the same books they would use in a classroom and have lessons to complete online, she said. For testing, they must come to take tests and they must complete 60 hours online. All English classes in grades nine-12 and all math classes except calculus are offered, plus science classes, Amercian and world histories and government.

Students also can use computers at libraries, and can even travel or go on vacation as long as they have regular Internet access and complete their assignments, she said.

While the district doesn’t have any information on the success of Internet summer school from other sites, Wilson said the district’s cyber school during the school year had proven successful. Students attending cyber school might have been prohibited from attending school, or in some cases at their parent’s request.

“We haven’t seen any negatives on it,” she added.

“This is what we do (for summer school) until further notice,” she said. “This may be the new face of school in years to come.”

But that would be a long way down the road.

TOP STORY > >Beebe schools told fuel will keep rising

By JEFFREY SMITH
Leader staff writer

The ripple-effect of rising oil prices continues to spread as Hal Crisco, assistant superintendent for maintenance and transportation at Beebe Public School, told the school board during Monday’s meeting to budget more money for fuel costs for next school year.

“This budget year, from the first tanker we bought to the last one we got in May, the cost has gone up $1.70 a gallon.”

“When a 7,500-gallon tanker load of diesel fuel was delivered (to the transportation department), the price averaged to $3.94 a gallon on May 14. Today, it would be over $4,” Crisco said.

“Only thing we can do is be conservative, but there is only so much we can do as a school district,” Crisco later told The Leader.

He said the district is “looking at greatly increasing the (fuel) budget — we’ll have to, it’s a necessity.

Activities are an integral part of the school day and school functions.

“The biggest thing is the amount of money budgeted for fuel cost. I’ll have to look at doubling the budget at a minimum and hope fuel prices go down, but I don’t see that happening.”

The district has 33 bus routes, and on May 14, the district spent an average of $1,000 a day on transportation.

Although the district has had a surplus of funds, to save fuel costs, Crisco and the transportation department will realign routes, consolidate stops and inform bus drivers about fuel conservation methods.

Board members inquired about converting buses to natural gas, but dismissed that option as unavailable when they learned that the cost of a conversion is the same as purchasing a new bus.

In other business, the school board approved a $64,000 bid to renovate Badger Academy, the Alternative Learning Environment building. Dr. Belinda Shook, school superintendent, said the construction costs will be paid with charter school grant money. The renovations were approved, because the district is meeting Americans with Disabilities Act guidelines.

Tommy Reshel, a parent, addressed the school board about baseball and softball student athletes. Reshel suggested the baseball and softball programs should be included in the school’s seventh-period athletics program. Reshel reasoned it would be easier on the athletes academically, since they would not miss classes. They also would get home earlier after practice to complete homework.

“Baseball players should have the same opportunities as basketball and football athletes. It would be better academically and physically,” Reshel said.

Resignations to the school board were accepted from De-wayne Wammack, 11-12 assistant principal; Randy Kiihnl, PreK-2 assistant principal; Walter King, coach and teacher; Brian Jones, coach and teacher; Jenni Knox, math teacher; Tina Tollison, special-education paraprofessional; Paulette Cummins, cafeteria, Tim Wisinger, maintenance. Resigning from coaching only is Tim Dailey, pee wee basketball; Terry Flenor, softball; Michael Garrett, junior high football. The board approved a one-year leave of absence from Melissa Brown.

The school board approved the hiring of Cathy Boyette, primary cafeteria; Stesha Hill, central cafeteria; Rosa Engler, central cafeteria; Jackie Moore, junior high cafeteria; Lucille Jordan, cafeteria; Mary Faulhaber, cafeteria; Loretta Spears, custodian; Amy Elliott, family and consumer science teacher; David Payne, assistant junior high football coach and teacher, Jeremiah
Quattlebaum, assistant senior high basketball coach and history teacher; Tate Rector, assistant junior high football coach and science or social studies teacher; Richard Clevenger, head junior high football coach and history teacher; Stephanie Watkins, first grade teacher; Dana Johnston, kindergarten teacher. For summer school board members agreed hiring Eli Lowery, math teacher for 14 days and Diana Roventini, English teacher for 16.5 days.

TOP STORY > >Beebe schools told fuel will keep rising

By JEFFREY SMITH
Leader staff writer

The ripple-effect of rising oil prices continues to spread as Hal Crisco, assistant superintendent for maintenance and transportation at Beebe Public School, told the school board during Monday’s meeting to budget more money for fuel costs for next school year.

“This budget year, from the first tanker we bought to the last one we got in May, the cost has gone up $1.70 a gallon.”

“When a 7,500-gallon tanker load of diesel fuel was delivered (to the transportation department), the price averaged to $3.94 a gallon on May 14. Today, it would be over $4,” Crisco said.

“Only thing we can do is be conservative, but there is only so much we can do as a school district,” Crisco later told The Leader.

He said the district is “looking at greatly increasing the (fuel) budget — we’ll have to, it’s a necessity.

Activities are an integral part of the school day and school functions.

“The biggest thing is the amount of money budgeted for fuel cost. I’ll have to look at doubling the budget at a minimum and hope fuel prices go down, but I don’t see that happening.”

The district has 33 bus routes, and on May 14, the district spent an average of $1,000 a day on transportation.

Although the district has had a surplus of funds, to save fuel costs, Crisco and the transportation department will realign routes, consolidate stops and inform bus drivers about fuel conservation methods.

Board members inquired about converting buses to natural gas, but dismissed that option as unavailable when they learned that the cost of a conversion is the same as purchasing a new bus.

In other business, the school board approved a $64,000 bid to renovate Badger Academy, the Alternative Learning Environment building. Dr. Belinda Shook, school superintendent, said the construction costs will be paid with charter school grant money. The renovations were approved, because the district is meeting Americans with Disabilities Act guidelines.

Tommy Reshel, a parent, addressed the school board about baseball and softball student athletes. Reshel suggested the baseball and softball programs should be included in the school’s seventh-period athletics program. Reshel reasoned it would be easier on the athletes academically, since they would not miss classes. They also would get home earlier after practice to complete homework.

“Baseball players should have the same opportunities as basketball and football athletes. It would be better academically and physically,” Reshel said.

Resignations to the school board were accepted from De-wayne Wammack, 11-12 assistant principal; Randy Kiihnl, PreK-2 assistant principal; Walter King, coach and teacher; Brian Jones, coach and teacher; Jenni Knox, math teacher; Tina Tollison, special-education paraprofessional; Paulette Cummins, cafeteria, Tim Wisinger, maintenance. Resigning from coaching only is Tim Dailey, pee wee basketball; Terry Flenor, softball; Michael Garrett, junior high football. The board approved a one-year leave of absence from Melissa Brown.

The school board approved the hiring of Cathy Boyette, primary cafeteria; Stesha Hill, central cafeteria; Rosa Engler, central cafeteria; Jackie Moore, junior high cafeteria; Lucille Jordan, cafeteria; Mary Faulhaber, cafeteria; Loretta Spears, custodian; Amy Elliott, family and consumer science teacher; David Payne, assistant junior high football coach and teacher, Jeremiah
Quattlebaum, assistant senior high basketball coach and history teacher; Tate Rector, assistant junior high football coach and science or social studies teacher; Richard Clevenger, head junior high football coach and history teacher; Stephanie Watkins, first grade teacher; Dana Johnston, kindergarten teacher. For summer school board members agreed hiring Eli Lowery, math teacher for 14 days and Diana Roventini, English teacher for 16.5 days.

TOP STORY >>Districts look to alternative fuels

By JOHN HOFHEIMER
Leader staff writer

Biodiesel bus fuel is a fair-weather fix, at least in these latitudes, according to Brad Montgomery, director of transportation for the Pulaski County Special School District.

That’s because in a federally funded pilot project, 20 percent biodiesel fuel increased miles per gallon by about 8 percent over regular diesel, but in cold weather it sometimes gelled and clogged or ruined injectors and other expensive parts.

Cutting the organic portion of the fuel from 20 percent to 5 percent cut the miles per gallon savings to about 2 percent.

“The hidden benefit is that we have witnessed an increase of about eight/10ths of a mile per gallon increase in efficiency,” according to Montgomery, which can be significant when 345 buses log about 4.6 million miles a year.

While no failures were reported in the 35 buses in the pilot project, once all 345 buses used biodiesel, six buses reported failures of injector pumps and other pricey engine components, he said.

While the failure rate diminishes when the district uses 5 percent biodiesel instead of 20 percent, so did the savings from greater fuel efficiency.

Biofuel also slowed the pumps at the bus barns. Buses that generally filled in about five minutes using diesel took 35 minutes or longer with biofuel, leaving lines of angry drivers.

The federal government paid Pulaski County to run the pilot project for two school years, which included buses running to Oak Grove and Jacksonville high schools.

With dramatic increases recently in the costs both diesel and biodiesel fuels, Montgomery said the relative cost of each fuel plus the weather would determine whether or when the district uses the biofuel.

“It helps the environment, helps reduce reliance on foreign oil and helps the farmer,” he said. During one year, it kept nearly four tons of smog out of the air in central Arkansas. The biodiesel component of the fuel the district used was derived from soybeans and grains he said, although it is possible to use animal fat and rendered oil.

“All of our buses are diesel, and when it makes sense, we use the biodiesel,” he said. “We don’t have to convert anything.”
Montgomery said the district’s fuel budget is a moving target.

“Last year, we budgeted $1.2 million. This year it’s near $2 million,” he said.

While the cost of diesel at the pump for the family car is about $4.73 a gallon, the school district gets a break, which cuts its cost to about $4.14 a gallon. The district budgeted about $1.2 million for fuel this past school year and expects to spend $2 million or more next year.

If fuel costs stay high or increase, districts will consider measures such as a four-day school week, cutting back field trips and sending fewer buses on athletic trips, perhaps reducing the size of the traveling squads.

The increasing cost of diesel has had a significant impact on the Cabot School District, according to Superintendent Tony Thurman.

“We were paying $2.59 per gallon at the beginning of the year and are now paying over $4 per gallon.We spent $303,000 last year and have been budgeting $418,000 this year,” he said.

“We increased the fuel budget over 20 percent from last year but will be significantly over budget even with the increase.”

Thurman said that without a dramatic decrease in fuel costs, the district would be forced to consider options next fall.

“We must make sure that every bus route is efficient in terms of student load and mileage. The district will also review all activity trips and make sure that we are not sending any more buses on these trips than absolutely necessary. We have sports teams that may have to double-up and ride the same bus instead of taking separate buses.

“We understand the importance of allowing students learning opportunities outside the regular classroom,” Thurman said, “but we may have to limit the number of trips that are being allowed for each school.”

“This budget year, from the first tanker we bought to the last one we got in May, the cost has gone up $1.70 a gallon,” said Hal Crisco, Beebe’s assistant superintendent for maintenance and transportation.

“If I had to order more now, it would be higher yet. The only thing we can do is be conservative, but there is only so much we can do as a school district. Activities are an integral part of the school day and school functions.

“I’ll have to look at doubling the budget at a minimum and hope fuel prices go down,” said Crisco, “but I don’t see that happening.”

“We’re fixing to change superintendents, and haven’t decided anything yet,” said Bill Trickey, Lonoke School District transportation director. The only thing he was prepared to commit to before consulting with incoming Superintendent John Tackett was to eliminate bus idling, but other things will be kicked around.

“I’ve been doing this for 17 or 18 years,” Trickey said. But in the past couple of years he’s seen fuel prices go from “two-something to four-something” a gallon.

“We spent $83,000 so far this year and don’t even have in bills from May and June.”

He said the district would consider tightening up its school bus routes, but that the higher fuel costs might turn people driving to school from as far away as Furlow and nearly Jacksonville into bus riders, increasing demand for bus transportation.

TOP STORY >>Districts look to alternative fuels

By JOHN HOFHEIMER
Leader staff writer

Biodiesel bus fuel is a fair-weather fix, at least in these latitudes, according to Brad Montgomery, director of transportation for the Pulaski County Special School District.

That’s because in a federally funded pilot project, 20 percent biodiesel fuel increased miles per gallon by about 8 percent over regular diesel, but in cold weather it sometimes gelled and clogged or ruined injectors and other expensive parts.

Cutting the organic portion of the fuel from 20 percent to 5 percent cut the miles per gallon savings to about 2 percent.

“The hidden benefit is that we have witnessed an increase of about eight/10ths of a mile per gallon increase in efficiency,” according to Montgomery, which can be significant when 345 buses log about 4.6 million miles a year.

While no failures were reported in the 35 buses in the pilot project, once all 345 buses used biodiesel, six buses reported failures of injector pumps and other pricey engine components, he said.

While the failure rate diminishes when the district uses 5 percent biodiesel instead of 20 percent, so did the savings from greater fuel efficiency.

Biofuel also slowed the pumps at the bus barns. Buses that generally filled in about five minutes using diesel took 35 minutes or longer with biofuel, leaving lines of angry drivers.

The federal government paid Pulaski County to run the pilot project for two school years, which included buses running to Oak Grove and Jacksonville high schools.

With dramatic increases recently in the costs both diesel and biodiesel fuels, Montgomery said the relative cost of each fuel plus the weather would determine whether or when the district uses the biofuel.

“It helps the environment, helps reduce reliance on foreign oil and helps the farmer,” he said. During one year, it kept nearly four tons of smog out of the air in central Arkansas. The biodiesel component of the fuel the district used was derived from soybeans and grains he said, although it is possible to use animal fat and rendered oil.

“All of our buses are diesel, and when it makes sense, we use the biodiesel,” he said. “We don’t have to convert anything.”
Montgomery said the district’s fuel budget is a moving target.

“Last year, we budgeted $1.2 million. This year it’s near $2 million,” he said.

While the cost of diesel at the pump for the family car is about $4.73 a gallon, the school district gets a break, which cuts its cost to about $4.14 a gallon. The district budgeted about $1.2 million for fuel this past school year and expects to spend $2 million or more next year.

If fuel costs stay high or increase, districts will consider measures such as a four-day school week, cutting back field trips and sending fewer buses on athletic trips, perhaps reducing the size of the traveling squads.

The increasing cost of diesel has had a significant impact on the Cabot School District, according to Superintendent Tony Thurman.

“We were paying $2.59 per gallon at the beginning of the year and are now paying over $4 per gallon.We spent $303,000 last year and have been budgeting $418,000 this year,” he said.

“We increased the fuel budget over 20 percent from last year but will be significantly over budget even with the increase.”

Thurman said that without a dramatic decrease in fuel costs, the district would be forced to consider options next fall.

“We must make sure that every bus route is efficient in terms of student load and mileage. The district will also review all activity trips and make sure that we are not sending any more buses on these trips than absolutely necessary. We have sports teams that may have to double-up and ride the same bus instead of taking separate buses.

“We understand the importance of allowing students learning opportunities outside the regular classroom,” Thurman said, “but we may have to limit the number of trips that are being allowed for each school.”

“This budget year, from the first tanker we bought to the last one we got in May, the cost has gone up $1.70 a gallon,” said Hal Crisco, Beebe’s assistant superintendent for maintenance and transportation.

“If I had to order more now, it would be higher yet. The only thing we can do is be conservative, but there is only so much we can do as a school district. Activities are an integral part of the school day and school functions.

“I’ll have to look at doubling the budget at a minimum and hope fuel prices go down,” said Crisco, “but I don’t see that happening.”

“We’re fixing to change superintendents, and haven’t decided anything yet,” said Bill Trickey, Lonoke School District transportation director. The only thing he was prepared to commit to before consulting with incoming Superintendent John Tackett was to eliminate bus idling, but other things will be kicked around.

“I’ve been doing this for 17 or 18 years,” Trickey said. But in the past couple of years he’s seen fuel prices go from “two-something to four-something” a gallon.

“We spent $83,000 so far this year and don’t even have in bills from May and June.”

He said the district would consider tightening up its school bus routes, but that the higher fuel costs might turn people driving to school from as far away as Furlow and nearly Jacksonville into bus riders, increasing demand for bus transportation.

TOP STORY >>Motorists try to cope with rising prices

By RICK KRON
Leader staff writer

Depending on the gas station one is driving by in the local area, the price for regular unleaded runs just a penny shy of $4 at some stations, while others charge 15 cents short of that mark despite recent price jumps.

At week’s end, the national average of a gallon of unleaded stood at $4.06 per gallon, with California topping out at $4.54.

In Arkansas, the state average Thursday was $3.91 with northwest Arkansas coming in the cheapest at $3.86 and central Arkansas the highest at $3.92, perhaps toward $5.

The fast-rising cost of gasoline is affecting everyone from families to pizza places to lawn companies to taxis.

“We’ve just lost four drivers because they are not making enough money in tips to cover their gas,” said Curtis Gorecke, manager of Papa John’s Pizza in Jacksonville. He said the company pays drivers a per diem to help cover gas. “Every time gas jumps we increase it, “Gorecke said. “Right now it’s 6.4 percent of the commission.”

Gorecke also said more and more residents are calling for delivery. “They don’t want to use up their gas picking up pizza, plus it seems they also have less for tip money because of the gas prices,” he said.

Keefe Lawn Care is also feeling the pinch. Eileen Keefe said the company operates two trucks, but each truck is hauling a trailer loaded with equipment that uses gasoline. “Things are very tight now,” she said. Keefe said in April, the company spent $900 for gasoline. “It’s several hundred dollars more now,” she said, adding that it has doubled from last year. “It’s tough on a small business.

“What makes it tough for the lawn service is that it has contracts with its customers. “We can’t pass on any of the cost until contract renewal time, and even then we don’t want to jump up too high,” she said.

Jacksonville taxi companies are also feeling the pinch as their local rates are restricted by city ordinance.

“I’m standing still until I get calls now,” said Myron Roberts with Discount Taxi. Roberts used to think nothing about driving around town between fares. “It was good advertisement, but I can’t afford it now,” he said. Roberts added that his fuel cost has jumped $20 to $30 a day, working out to a monthly increase of more than $800.

A driver for A Cab Company said the gas prices were definitely hurting the small business. “We will probably have to go to the city council and ask them to allow an increase in local fares,” she said.

The driver said just a few weeks ago it was costing $40 to fill up her cab and now it’s $67, “and I fill it up daily,” she added.

Chris Crain, with Crain Automotive Group, says they are starting to see some small shifts in vehicle buying, but thinks a lot of people are in a “sit and wait mode.”

“Gas prices always seem to spike during the spring months and then settle back down. I think a lot of people are waiting and looking for that downward tick,” Crain said.

But some people are trading in their large SUV’s for smaller vehicles, Crain said.

“Some are keeping their SUV’s,” said Crain, “and buying a smaller second vehicle to use for commuting,” he said.

Crain said a surprising trend is that people are buying pre-owned SUV’s. “The values on those vehicles are down right now, and sometimes you can save enough to offset the rising cost of gasoline.”

Clay Knupp, who works at The Leader in Jacksonville, drives 100 miles a day to work from Des Arc.

He said, “When I bought my truck in 2000, and it cost $25 to fill it up. Now it costs me $100. It’s a lot. It’ll keep getting worse.

“A big part of my paycheck goes for gas just to pay for commuting,” Knupp said. Because he lives in Des Arc, he must drive 30 miles to shop in big stores in Searcy or Cabot.

He spends about $150 a week on fuel. “It sucks,” he said.

EDITORIAL >>They’re still stealing votes

The state Senate’s 19-12 vote to allow Sen. Jack Crumbly to keep his seat while authorities investigate the election procedures in St. Francis County leaves us a little unsatisfied. Would it not have served justice and the unfortunate voters of that corruptible district better to declare the office vacant and require a special election to fill it?

The people, after all, should be the objective and not which of the two men, Crumbly or former state Rep. Arnall Willis, is most deserving.

The people chose one or the other to represent them in the Senate for four years in the Democratic primary in 2006, and owing to substantial fraud in the election mechanics it now seems impossible to determine what their choice was. A full trial that tried to ascertain the validity of disputed ballots and for whom they were cast might have settled that issue, but the courts punted to the Senate, which for the first time in the modern era took up the matter of whether one of its members was validly elected to office.

Sen. Bobby Glover, D-Carlisle, voted to oust Crumbly because he believes the election was stolen. The Senate did not have the means to decide that with absolute certainty, although the State Agencies and Governmental Affairs of the Senate, which did a lengthy inquiry into the election, concluded that there was fraud on a large scale and that it may have influenced the outcome.

Sen. Steve Faris, chairman of the committee, said the election was “the saddest and most disgusting chapter in the history of the Senate.” That would indeed be very disgusting.

The evidence was clear that the St. Francis County Election Commission was campaigning very hard for the local boy, Jack Crumbly, who seems to be a decent fellow. Most of the senators seem to have concluded that whatever wrongs were committed, Crumbly himself was not responsible.

They seemed to conclude that Crumbly was an innocent but deserving beneficiary of skullduggery, and that might or might not have been enough to elect him in a close race. Crumbly, who recused himself from voting on his own status, acknowledged that good election procedures were flouted, but he believed motives were pure.

Willis was first declared the winner by 28 votes in the spring of 2006, but a recount gave it to Crumbly by 68 votes. A second recount confirmed Crumbly as the winner, although questions were raised about the handling of a number of ballots.

Election fraud has been a part of the Arkansas culture since 1837 and it continues, although in increasingly rare instances, because we rarely get to the root of it and no one is ever punished.

The attitude is that good men get caught up in the democratic fever of political advocacy and get carried away. You don’t want to send good men to jail for excessive ardor for their friends or sully their reputations in the community by charging them with crimes. So the message always is that a little vote theft is tolerable, but you have to be careful.

To its credit, the Senate wanted to get to the bottom of it.

The State Agencies Committee referred the matter to federal and state authorities. The local prosecutor in the east Arkansas district did not want to investigate his county’s election, so a special prosecutor from outside the district has been appointed.

Faris said he had met with the United States attorney for the eastern district of Arkansas and supplied him with the evidence that the committee had amassed.

Do not expect too much of the investigation. At some point, election officials may be rebuked for their carelessness, but the wrongs of another election will not be rectified.

Some hereabouts remember a similar election dispute nearly 50 years ago when election officials in Lonoke and Prairie counties went about stealing votes in about equal proportions trying to put a local boy in the state Senate. Lonoke County wanted its favorite son in the position and Prairie County wanted its own.

The counties had an old gentleman’s agreement that Lonoke County would get the senator for four years and then Prairie County for four years. But the Prairie County man, Sen. Jerry Screeton of Hazen, did not want to surrender it when it became Lonoke County’s turn. Prairie County had the better vote bandits and kept the seat.

EDITORIAL >>They’re still stealing votes

The state Senate’s 19-12 vote to allow Sen. Jack Crumbly to keep his seat while authorities investigate the election procedures in St. Francis County leaves us a little unsatisfied. Would it not have served justice and the unfortunate voters of that corruptible district better to declare the office vacant and require a special election to fill it?

The people, after all, should be the objective and not which of the two men, Crumbly or former state Rep. Arnall Willis, is most deserving.

The people chose one or the other to represent them in the Senate for four years in the Democratic primary in 2006, and owing to substantial fraud in the election mechanics it now seems impossible to determine what their choice was. A full trial that tried to ascertain the validity of disputed ballots and for whom they were cast might have settled that issue, but the courts punted to the Senate, which for the first time in the modern era took up the matter of whether one of its members was validly elected to office.

Sen. Bobby Glover, D-Carlisle, voted to oust Crumbly because he believes the election was stolen. The Senate did not have the means to decide that with absolute certainty, although the State Agencies and Governmental Affairs of the Senate, which did a lengthy inquiry into the election, concluded that there was fraud on a large scale and that it may have influenced the outcome.

Sen. Steve Faris, chairman of the committee, said the election was “the saddest and most disgusting chapter in the history of the Senate.” That would indeed be very disgusting.

The evidence was clear that the St. Francis County Election Commission was campaigning very hard for the local boy, Jack Crumbly, who seems to be a decent fellow. Most of the senators seem to have concluded that whatever wrongs were committed, Crumbly himself was not responsible.

They seemed to conclude that Crumbly was an innocent but deserving beneficiary of skullduggery, and that might or might not have been enough to elect him in a close race. Crumbly, who recused himself from voting on his own status, acknowledged that good election procedures were flouted, but he believed motives were pure.

Willis was first declared the winner by 28 votes in the spring of 2006, but a recount gave it to Crumbly by 68 votes. A second recount confirmed Crumbly as the winner, although questions were raised about the handling of a number of ballots.

Election fraud has been a part of the Arkansas culture since 1837 and it continues, although in increasingly rare instances, because we rarely get to the root of it and no one is ever punished.

The attitude is that good men get caught up in the democratic fever of political advocacy and get carried away. You don’t want to send good men to jail for excessive ardor for their friends or sully their reputations in the community by charging them with crimes. So the message always is that a little vote theft is tolerable, but you have to be careful.

To its credit, the Senate wanted to get to the bottom of it.

The State Agencies Committee referred the matter to federal and state authorities. The local prosecutor in the east Arkansas district did not want to investigate his county’s election, so a special prosecutor from outside the district has been appointed.

Faris said he had met with the United States attorney for the eastern district of Arkansas and supplied him with the evidence that the committee had amassed.

Do not expect too much of the investigation. At some point, election officials may be rebuked for their carelessness, but the wrongs of another election will not be rectified.

Some hereabouts remember a similar election dispute nearly 50 years ago when election officials in Lonoke and Prairie counties went about stealing votes in about equal proportions trying to put a local boy in the state Senate. Lonoke County wanted its favorite son in the position and Prairie County wanted its own.

The counties had an old gentleman’s agreement that Lonoke County would get the senator for four years and then Prairie County for four years. But the Prairie County man, Sen. Jerry Screeton of Hazen, did not want to surrender it when it became Lonoke County’s turn. Prairie County had the better vote bandits and kept the seat.

SPORTS>> Gwatney juniors rally to beat Greenbrier

By JASON KING
Leader sportswriter

Terrell Brown saved the best for last on Thursday night.

The Gwatney Chevrolet shortstop belted a game-winning grand slam in the bottom of the sixth inning as the Chevy boys beat Greenbrier 11-6 at Dupree Park.

Brown’s smack over the left-center wall allowed the junior Chevy boys to erase a 6-5 deficit to Greenbrier, which did all of its offensive damage in the first two frames.

Greenbrier took a 6-3 lead through two, and the game from there was a stalemate until the bottom of the fifth, when Gwatney made up two runs to pull within one.

Starting Greenbrier pitcher Chase Lear walked Kenny Cummins to start the bottom of the sixth, and an error on a grounder by Jared Toney brought on a pitching change.

Reliever Austin Anderson walked Jordan Gardner to load the bases. He did get a strikeout, but that brought Brown to the plate.

Brown’s shot cleared the wall by a few feet as Cummins, Toney and Gardner all rounded the bases in front of him. It was a dramatic play, but far from the end of Jacksonville’s assault in the sixth.

Matt McAnally then walked, and another infield error by Greenbrier allowed Patrick Castleberry to reach as McAnallycame around to make it 10-6.

Tommy Sanders kept the party going with a single, and Cummins brought in Castleberry with a base hit for the final score of the night.

The game was finally called for the hour-and-50 minute time limit.

McAnally took the win for Gwatney, going the six-inning distance. He struggled through his first two innings, as he gave up six runs on seven hits. But he was solid from the third inning on, recording four strikeouts while allowing only two hits.

Greenbrier struck first with a pair of runs in the top of the first inning, but Gwatney responded. Brown doubled and scored on a single by McAnally, who was driven in by Castleberry. Castleberry’s single set up the final run of the frame, with a double by Sanders plating him for a 3-2 advantage after one.

The Panthers did their biggest damage in the second inning. They came away with four runs and four hits off McAnally, while taking advantage of one of three Gwatney errors on the night.

Sanders was 3 of 4 with a RBI. Brown was 2 of 3 with a home run and 4 RBI. McAnally was 2 of 3 with 2 RBI. For Greenbrier, Anderson was 2 of 4 with a RBI.

SPORTS>> Gwatney juniors rally to beat Greenbrier

By JASON KING
Leader sportswriter

Terrell Brown saved the best for last on Thursday night.

The Gwatney Chevrolet shortstop belted a game-winning grand slam in the bottom of the sixth inning as the Chevy boys beat Greenbrier 11-6 at Dupree Park.

Brown’s smack over the left-center wall allowed the junior Chevy boys to erase a 6-5 deficit to Greenbrier, which did all of its offensive damage in the first two frames.

Greenbrier took a 6-3 lead through two, and the game from there was a stalemate until the bottom of the fifth, when Gwatney made up two runs to pull within one.

Starting Greenbrier pitcher Chase Lear walked Kenny Cummins to start the bottom of the sixth, and an error on a grounder by Jared Toney brought on a pitching change.

Reliever Austin Anderson walked Jordan Gardner to load the bases. He did get a strikeout, but that brought Brown to the plate.

Brown’s shot cleared the wall by a few feet as Cummins, Toney and Gardner all rounded the bases in front of him. It was a dramatic play, but far from the end of Jacksonville’s assault in the sixth.

Matt McAnally then walked, and another infield error by Greenbrier allowed Patrick Castleberry to reach as McAnallycame around to make it 10-6.

Tommy Sanders kept the party going with a single, and Cummins brought in Castleberry with a base hit for the final score of the night.

The game was finally called for the hour-and-50 minute time limit.

McAnally took the win for Gwatney, going the six-inning distance. He struggled through his first two innings, as he gave up six runs on seven hits. But he was solid from the third inning on, recording four strikeouts while allowing only two hits.

Greenbrier struck first with a pair of runs in the top of the first inning, but Gwatney responded. Brown doubled and scored on a single by McAnally, who was driven in by Castleberry. Castleberry’s single set up the final run of the frame, with a double by Sanders plating him for a 3-2 advantage after one.

The Panthers did their biggest damage in the second inning. They came away with four runs and four hits off McAnally, while taking advantage of one of three Gwatney errors on the night.

Sanders was 3 of 4 with a RBI. Brown was 2 of 3 with a home run and 4 RBI. McAnally was 2 of 3 with 2 RBI. For Greenbrier, Anderson was 2 of 4 with a RBI.

SPORTS>> North Little Rock pounds Cabot

By KELLY FENTON
Leader sports editor

The Cabot Community Bank junior American Legion team might have thought they were getting out of the heat when their game with North Little Rock ended on Thursday night.

Actually, it was about to get hotter.

“Sometimes you can’t control whether you win or lose, but you can control how hard you play,” said Cabot junior Legion head coach Andy Runyan shortly after his team lost 6-3 to the Colts at Burns Park to fall to 11-3-1 on the season. “From the time we showed up to the fourth inning, we didn’t play very hard. We turned it on late, but it was too late, too little.”

Cabot starter Cole Nicholson was fairly solid through three innings, and entered the fourth in a 2-2 tie. But he began to wear down, and the Colts reached him for two singles and a triple to open up a 4-2 lead.

“It was a combination of things with Cole,” Runyan said. “Their hitters did an outstanding job of fighting him off with two strikes. Thatforced him into a high pitch count. He was at 60 pitches in the third inning.

“The other thing was, he didn’t get ahead in the count. When he’s effective, he’s been getting his curve ball over early and establishing his fast ball. (The Colts) have a good lineup, and they were able to lay back and wait for their pitch.”

After Cody Grace’s triple put North Little Rock on top, Brandon Surdam came on in relief. He issued a couple of walks to load the bases, then gave up a 2-run double to David Hahn, and North Little Rock opened up a 6-2 lead.

Cabot got singles by Matt Evans and pinch hitter Matthew Turner, along with a walk to Powell Bryant, to load the bases with one out in the final inning. One out later, Ty Steele laced a run-scoring single to left and represented the tying run. But Colt relief pitcher Will Harris recorded his third strikeout of the inning — the Colts’ eighth of the game — to end it.

Over the final two innings, Cabot left five runners stranded. They put two on with one out in the fourth after Tyler Carter led off with a lined double to left-center and C.J. Jacoby walked. Both were left stranded.

“Our two-strike hitting was atrocious tonight,” Runyan said. “Their guys were doing a good job of getting their breaking pitch over in the zone. And we were doing a poor job of hitting it where the ball wants to go.

“They were acting like they were wanting to hit me (in the third base coach’s box) instead of taking it to the opposite field. And that showed in the totals tonight.”

Cabot jumped to a 1-0 lead after one inning on an Evans’ double, Powell Bryant’s infield hit and a throwing error.

Two singles and a double in the bottom of the inning put North Little Rock on top 2-1, but Cabot used a two-out rally in the third to tie it. Joe Bryant and Nicholson walked, and Powell Bryant delivered with a two-out, two-strike single to tie the game at 2.

Nicholson pitched out of a jam in the third after and error and a single put runners at first and second with just one out. But Nicholson got a pop up that turned into a force out at second and got out of trouble with his second strikeout of the game.

Cabot picked up seven hits, two each by Powell Bryant and Evans.

“(Evans) has been our catalyst up there,” Runyan said. “He’s been setting the table for us. He was on a couple of times today, but we couldn’t do much with him. We didn’t get a lot of production out of the bottom half of the order.”

NLR SENIORS 11, CABOT SENIORS 0

Matt Evans appeared to have good stuff through the first 1 1/3 innings on Thursday night, but a potent North Little Rock lineup got to him in the second inning.

After making a couple of Colt hitters look bad on swinging strikeouts in pitching around an error in the first, Evans never made it out of the second inning, and the Colts were on their way to a run-ruled win.

Meanwhile, Cabot could manage little against Colt ace Hunter Benton, who is easing his way back into the rotation after injuring his arm during the high school campaign. Benton allowed just two hits and struck out six over four innings. Cabot managed just three hits — singles by Matthew Turner, Shayne Burgan and pinch hitter Andrew Reynolds.

Josh Brown came on in relief of Evans in the second and allowed five hits and two earned runs over 2 1/3 innings.

Cabot didn’t help itself defensively, committing four errors, which led to four unearned runs.

Cabot’s best threat came in the second when Jeremy Wilson walked and Turner singled. But Cabot got only two more base runners the rest of the way.

The Colts banged out 10 hits, including a home run and two RBI singles by nine-hole hitter Kell Crain. The bottom third of the North Little Rock lineup went 4 of 7 with six RBI and five runs scored.

SPORTS>> North Little Rock pounds Cabot

By KELLY FENTON
Leader sports editor

The Cabot Community Bank junior American Legion team might have thought they were getting out of the heat when their game with North Little Rock ended on Thursday night.

Actually, it was about to get hotter.

“Sometimes you can’t control whether you win or lose, but you can control how hard you play,” said Cabot junior Legion head coach Andy Runyan shortly after his team lost 6-3 to the Colts at Burns Park to fall to 11-3-1 on the season. “From the time we showed up to the fourth inning, we didn’t play very hard. We turned it on late, but it was too late, too little.”

Cabot starter Cole Nicholson was fairly solid through three innings, and entered the fourth in a 2-2 tie. But he began to wear down, and the Colts reached him for two singles and a triple to open up a 4-2 lead.

“It was a combination of things with Cole,” Runyan said. “Their hitters did an outstanding job of fighting him off with two strikes. Thatforced him into a high pitch count. He was at 60 pitches in the third inning.

“The other thing was, he didn’t get ahead in the count. When he’s effective, he’s been getting his curve ball over early and establishing his fast ball. (The Colts) have a good lineup, and they were able to lay back and wait for their pitch.”

After Cody Grace’s triple put North Little Rock on top, Brandon Surdam came on in relief. He issued a couple of walks to load the bases, then gave up a 2-run double to David Hahn, and North Little Rock opened up a 6-2 lead.

Cabot got singles by Matt Evans and pinch hitter Matthew Turner, along with a walk to Powell Bryant, to load the bases with one out in the final inning. One out later, Ty Steele laced a run-scoring single to left and represented the tying run. But Colt relief pitcher Will Harris recorded his third strikeout of the inning — the Colts’ eighth of the game — to end it.

Over the final two innings, Cabot left five runners stranded. They put two on with one out in the fourth after Tyler Carter led off with a lined double to left-center and C.J. Jacoby walked. Both were left stranded.

“Our two-strike hitting was atrocious tonight,” Runyan said. “Their guys were doing a good job of getting their breaking pitch over in the zone. And we were doing a poor job of hitting it where the ball wants to go.

“They were acting like they were wanting to hit me (in the third base coach’s box) instead of taking it to the opposite field. And that showed in the totals tonight.”

Cabot jumped to a 1-0 lead after one inning on an Evans’ double, Powell Bryant’s infield hit and a throwing error.

Two singles and a double in the bottom of the inning put North Little Rock on top 2-1, but Cabot used a two-out rally in the third to tie it. Joe Bryant and Nicholson walked, and Powell Bryant delivered with a two-out, two-strike single to tie the game at 2.

Nicholson pitched out of a jam in the third after and error and a single put runners at first and second with just one out. But Nicholson got a pop up that turned into a force out at second and got out of trouble with his second strikeout of the game.

Cabot picked up seven hits, two each by Powell Bryant and Evans.

“(Evans) has been our catalyst up there,” Runyan said. “He’s been setting the table for us. He was on a couple of times today, but we couldn’t do much with him. We didn’t get a lot of production out of the bottom half of the order.”

NLR SENIORS 11, CABOT SENIORS 0

Matt Evans appeared to have good stuff through the first 1 1/3 innings on Thursday night, but a potent North Little Rock lineup got to him in the second inning.

After making a couple of Colt hitters look bad on swinging strikeouts in pitching around an error in the first, Evans never made it out of the second inning, and the Colts were on their way to a run-ruled win.

Meanwhile, Cabot could manage little against Colt ace Hunter Benton, who is easing his way back into the rotation after injuring his arm during the high school campaign. Benton allowed just two hits and struck out six over four innings. Cabot managed just three hits — singles by Matthew Turner, Shayne Burgan and pinch hitter Andrew Reynolds.

Josh Brown came on in relief of Evans in the second and allowed five hits and two earned runs over 2 1/3 innings.

Cabot didn’t help itself defensively, committing four errors, which led to four unearned runs.

Cabot’s best threat came in the second when Jeremy Wilson walked and Turner singled. But Cabot got only two more base runners the rest of the way.

The Colts banged out 10 hits, including a home run and two RBI singles by nine-hole hitter Kell Crain. The bottom third of the North Little Rock lineup went 4 of 7 with six RBI and five runs scored.

SPORTS>> Bears reach semifinals

By KELLY FENTON
Leader sports editor

For Jim Withrow, the first 7-on-7 of the summer was an opportunity to see, as he put it, “who would play when he got tired and who would perform when their backs were against the wall.”

His Sylvan Hills Bears were fresh — or, probably, not so fresh — off a football camp at Ouachita Baptist on Wednesday, and endured the stifling heat that baked the field at the Hoffman-Henry 7 on 7 Summer Showdown on Thursday at Pulaski Robinson High School.

When the footballs stopped flying, the Bears ‘A’ team had won three and lost three and made it to the semifinals.

“I thought both days we did a pretty good job,” Withrow said. “By no means are we ready to go tackle the world, but I saw a lot of positive stuff. I also saw stuff we need to improve.”

That included, he said, shoring up the secondary and finding another linebacker.

The North Pulaski Falcons also opened up the 7 on 7 season by going 1-2-1 while playing without standout Jerald Blair. The Falcons’ win came over the Sylvan Hills ‘A’ team (the Bears split up into two squads for Thursday’s tournament). Sylvan Hills avenged that loss in the elimination round with a 31-16 win.

Things couldn’t have started worse for the Falcons, who gave up 40-yard touchdowns on each of the first two Hot Springs’ Lakeside offensive plays to open the tournament. In 7 on 7 football, each team takes the ball at the 40-yard line. Lakeside eventually won the tournament.

“We had a lot of young kids playing out of position,” said North Pulaski coach Tony Bohannon. “We were supposed to be in man and the kid played it like it was zone, and let the receiver go. We had a couple of miscues.”

North Pulaski finally got settled defensively when Orlando Hicks broke up a pass at the goal line on the Rams’ third possession.

The favorite target of Falcon quarterback A.J. Allen on Thursday was Daniel Thurman, who caught all three touchdown passes in NP’s 21-10 win over Sylvan Hills. Thurman hauled in a fingertip catch for North Pulaski’s only score against the Rams.

“Daniel is a good receiver and a gutsy kid,” Bohannon said. “It was tough on A.J. He’s been throwing a baseball (for Gwatney American Legion) and now he has to step in and throw the football. I was really pleased overall with the way the kids performed.”

With backup Sylvan Hills quarterback Michael Maddox injured, Casey Cerrato stood in for the ‘B’ team, which was made up of younger, mostly junior varsity players. Though Cerrato struggled with his throwing and his decisions early, Withrow said he came around later in the day.

“We needed three yards for a first down against Lakeside and he threw deep,” Withrow said. “He turned to me and said, ‘I know.’ He understood. It’s a process and that’s why we’re out there, to get better.”

What most impressed Withrow about Cerrato was how tough he was on a scorching day.

“He’s one of those guys you have to have to win games,” Withrow said. “He’s a great team player. He played quarterback, receiver, safety and corner. (It was like he) ran to Perryville and back (Thursday).

“That’s just Casey. He’s a hard nosed guy and he understands the game.”

But it is Jordan Spears who is tabbed as the No. 1 quarterback this fall, and Withrow was high on him as well. Withrow said Spears’ arm looked great on Thursday, and marveled at his understanding of the game.

Spears hit Ahmad Scott for a 12-yard touchdown in Sylvan Hills’ opening round game against the Sylvan Hills ‘B’ team.

He added another scoring pass to Taylor Pennington, who made a leaping, fingertip grab in the back of the end zone, and capped off the 21-0 win with a strike to Lawrence Hodges, who caught the ball off a tip while falling down in the end zone.

“Ahmad was in a camp with (former Arkansas Razorbacks) J.J. Meadors and Anthony Lucas in the spring, and it shows,” Withrow said. “He ran better routes. And he did better in the secondary, too.”

Pennington, who is filling in for injured tight end Devin Shaw, showed good hands on Thursday, Withrow said, but needs to add consistency. And Juliean Broner caught a lot of passes and intercepted a couple of others, Withrow noted.

“Barry Bir is another guy that hardly ever got off the field (Thursday),” Withrow said. “He’s had a great offseason and is a leader-type guy.”

Bohannon said that would be the final 7 on 7 competition for his team this season, as his Falcons will primarily be a running team this fall. But the experience was good for his club and allowed him to make some early assessments, he said.

“I wasn’t so happy with our defensive coverage,” he said. “We need to be able to make better adjustments. But, again, a lot of that was just inexperience. We would have been a lot better with Jerald there.”

More importantly, Bohannon said, the event allowed his kids to compete.

“We wanted to win, but we wanted to get some work in,” he said. “That’s four games under their belt that a lot of other kids don’t have.”

Wednesday, June 11, 2008

TOP STORY >>District head sees progress

By HEARTHER HARTSELL
Leader staff writer

It’s been a whirlwind first year for the superintendent of Cabot Public Schools, but Dr. Tony Thurman says he’s looking forward to representing the district for a long time as he and his team work to make one of the state’s best school districts even better.

“I take tremendous pride in representing our district as superintendent,” he told The Leader this week. “Cabot is a great place to live and raise a family. We have one of the most outstanding school districts in Arkansas, but there are always areas in which to improve.”

The challenge before him is to build on the great things Cabot schools already have in place, something he promised to do when he got the job.

Thurman was one of 22 people, including five from within the Cabot district, who applied for the position as chief of Cabot schools when then Superintendent Dr. Frank Holman announced he was resigning in March 2007.

Thurman switched roles from high school principal to superintendent of a district with an over 9,000 strong student population at the end of the 2006-07 school year after Holman returned to the Lincoln Consolidated School District near Fayetteville where he had worked for 16 years.

When the school board an-nounced he had been chosen, Thurman, 39, said he would do everything in his power “to continue Cabot’s tradition (of excellence) and make us only bigger and better.”

To his credit, he’s got a pretty good record so far as a first-time superintendent — not only did Cabot schools receive district accreditation during its AdvancEd visit in March, but voters also passed a 3.9 mills increase too.

“Obviously, the success of the millage campaign is the most important accomplishment of the year. I’m so thankful to our patrons for being supportive and I assure everyone that we will be good stewards of public funds,” Thurman said.

He’s proud that the district was able to earn full district accreditation too — “this was huge for our district,” Thurman said.

He told The Leader he must now bring about effective change in the areas needing improvement and must implement a long-term systemic structure that ensures success for students and a positive working environment for staff.

He admits being superintendent is more challenging than he thought it would be, but he wouldn’t change a thing.

“The job never ends and the stress involved can be totally consuming if allowed to be,” he said. “I would still apply for the position even knowing the amount of work involved. I really enjoy my job.”

Although he said he was happy being the high school principal, he applied for the superintendent position as a way to stay in a district he loves and work with all the students in the district. He doesn’t regret making the move to the central administration office, but it gives him less time for day-to-day interaction.

“I wouldn’t say that I regret moving from building level administrator to district level, but I do miss the students, faculty and parents,” Thurman said. “I made the decision to apply for the position with the full understanding that things would really change. I have really missed the day-to-day involvement with the students, parents and faculty members and it has been a difficult transition at times.”

“My favorite part of the day as principal was the morning, lunch and afternoon duty blocks when I could visit with the kids. I still visit schools as much as possible, but it is in a very different role,” he added.

The transition also brought adjustments for his family – wife Tara Leigh, a Cabot elementary school teacher, and two children, Ryane Elizabeth and Rhett Jackson, both in elementary school.

“The adjustment has been a challenge for my wife and children. I’m considerably more busy now than I was as high school principal,” Thurman said, “but I’m very fortunate that my family likes to be involved in school activities. We attend sporting events, plays, banquets, musicals and award ceremonies together as much as possible.”

TOP STORY >>District head sees progress

By HEARTHER HARTSELL
Leader staff writer

It’s been a whirlwind first year for the superintendent of Cabot Public Schools, but Dr. Tony Thurman says he’s looking forward to representing the district for a long time as he and his team work to make one of the state’s best school districts even better.

“I take tremendous pride in representing our district as superintendent,” he told The Leader this week. “Cabot is a great place to live and raise a family. We have one of the most outstanding school districts in Arkansas, but there are always areas in which to improve.”

The challenge before him is to build on the great things Cabot schools already have in place, something he promised to do when he got the job.

Thurman was one of 22 people, including five from within the Cabot district, who applied for the position as chief of Cabot schools when then Superintendent Dr. Frank Holman announced he was resigning in March 2007.

Thurman switched roles from high school principal to superintendent of a district with an over 9,000 strong student population at the end of the 2006-07 school year after Holman returned to the Lincoln Consolidated School District near Fayetteville where he had worked for 16 years.

When the school board an-nounced he had been chosen, Thurman, 39, said he would do everything in his power “to continue Cabot’s tradition (of excellence) and make us only bigger and better.”

To his credit, he’s got a pretty good record so far as a first-time superintendent — not only did Cabot schools receive district accreditation during its AdvancEd visit in March, but voters also passed a 3.9 mills increase too.

“Obviously, the success of the millage campaign is the most important accomplishment of the year. I’m so thankful to our patrons for being supportive and I assure everyone that we will be good stewards of public funds,” Thurman said.

He’s proud that the district was able to earn full district accreditation too — “this was huge for our district,” Thurman said.

He told The Leader he must now bring about effective change in the areas needing improvement and must implement a long-term systemic structure that ensures success for students and a positive working environment for staff.

He admits being superintendent is more challenging than he thought it would be, but he wouldn’t change a thing.

“The job never ends and the stress involved can be totally consuming if allowed to be,” he said. “I would still apply for the position even knowing the amount of work involved. I really enjoy my job.”

Although he said he was happy being the high school principal, he applied for the superintendent position as a way to stay in a district he loves and work with all the students in the district. He doesn’t regret making the move to the central administration office, but it gives him less time for day-to-day interaction.

“I wouldn’t say that I regret moving from building level administrator to district level, but I do miss the students, faculty and parents,” Thurman said. “I made the decision to apply for the position with the full understanding that things would really change. I have really missed the day-to-day involvement with the students, parents and faculty members and it has been a difficult transition at times.”

“My favorite part of the day as principal was the morning, lunch and afternoon duty blocks when I could visit with the kids. I still visit schools as much as possible, but it is in a very different role,” he added.

The transition also brought adjustments for his family – wife Tara Leigh, a Cabot elementary school teacher, and two children, Ryane Elizabeth and Rhett Jackson, both in elementary school.

“The adjustment has been a challenge for my wife and children. I’m considerably more busy now than I was as high school principal,” Thurman said, “but I’m very fortunate that my family likes to be involved in school activities. We attend sporting events, plays, banquets, musicals and award ceremonies together as much as possible.”

TOP STORY >>District head sees progress

By HEARTHER HARTSELL
Leader staff writer

It’s been a whirlwind first year for the superintendent of Cabot Public Schools, but Dr. Tony Thurman says he’s looking forward to representing the district for a long time as he and his team work to make one of the state’s best school districts even better.

“I take tremendous pride in representing our district as superintendent,” he told The Leader this week. “Cabot is a great place to live and raise a family. We have one of the most outstanding school districts in Arkansas, but there are always areas in which to improve.”

The challenge before him is to build on the great things Cabot schools already have in place, something he promised to do when he got the job.

Thurman was one of 22 people, including five from within the Cabot district, who applied for the position as chief of Cabot schools when then Superintendent Dr. Frank Holman announced he was resigning in March 2007.

Thurman switched roles from high school principal to superintendent of a district with an over 9,000 strong student population at the end of the 2006-07 school year after Holman returned to the Lincoln Consolidated School District near Fayetteville where he had worked for 16 years.

When the school board an-nounced he had been chosen, Thurman, 39, said he would do everything in his power “to continue Cabot’s tradition (of excellence) and make us only bigger and better.”

To his credit, he’s got a pretty good record so far as a first-time superintendent — not only did Cabot schools receive district accreditation during its AdvancEd visit in March, but voters also passed a 3.9 mills increase too.

“Obviously, the success of the millage campaign is the most important accomplishment of the year. I’m so thankful to our patrons for being supportive and I assure everyone that we will be good stewards of public funds,” Thurman said.

He’s proud that the district was able to earn full district accreditation too — “this was huge for our district,” Thurman said.

He told The Leader he must now bring about effective change in the areas needing improvement and must implement a long-term systemic structure that ensures success for students and a positive working environment for staff.

He admits being superintendent is more challenging than he thought it would be, but he wouldn’t change a thing.

“The job never ends and the stress involved can be totally consuming if allowed to be,” he said. “I would still apply for the position even knowing the amount of work involved. I really enjoy my job.”

Although he said he was happy being the high school principal, he applied for the superintendent position as a way to stay in a district he loves and work with all the students in the district. He doesn’t regret making the move to the central administration office, but it gives him less time for day-to-day interaction.

“I wouldn’t say that I regret moving from building level administrator to district level, but I do miss the students, faculty and parents,” Thurman said. “I made the decision to apply for the position with the full understanding that things would really change. I have really missed the day-to-day involvement with the students, parents and faculty members and it has been a difficult transition at times.”

“My favorite part of the day as principal was the morning, lunch and afternoon duty blocks when I could visit with the kids. I still visit schools as much as possible, but it is in a very different role,” he added.

The transition also brought adjustments for his family – wife Tara Leigh, a Cabot elementary school teacher, and two children, Ryane Elizabeth and Rhett Jackson, both in elementary school.

“The adjustment has been a challenge for my wife and children. I’m considerably more busy now than I was as high school principal,” Thurman said, “but I’m very fortunate that my family likes to be involved in school activities. We attend sporting events, plays, banquets, musicals and award ceremonies together as much as possible.”

TOP STORY >>Water department head is retiring after 23 years

By RICK KRON
Leader staff writer

After 23 years with the Jacksonville Water Department and 19 years as its chief, Ken Anderson will hand over the reins to Mike Simpson later this month.

Simpson, a 30-year veteran of the department, is currently the operations and maintenance director.

For Anderson it will complete a journey that started basically at the bottom of the ladder and through hard work took him to the top.

After four years in the Air Force and earning a degree in banking and finance at the University of Arkansas, Ander-son took a job in 1985 with the water department as an administrative assistant doing mostly office work. “Back then, we had one big computer for billing and all the other office work was done manually,” Anderson said.

“Now all accounting functions are computerized using much smaller computers too,” he added.

In 1988, he moved up to office manager and then 11 months later was selected to head the department. Anderson, who came to Jacksonville in the mid 50’s with the opening of Little Rock Air Force Base, has spent most of his time in Jacksonville, except when he was in the service and college.

Anderson and his wife plan to stay in the area and spend time with their two grandchildren. “I’ll become a committed babysitter,” he chuckled. Anderson will also be spending time working on his 1972 Datsun 240Z.

“I’ve been renovating it ever since I got it six years ago, doing a bit at a time,” he said. He said he bought it from a friend in Benton who had in in storage after blowing the engine in 1985. “I’ve enjoyed working on cars ever since high school,” he said.

Anderson and his wife plan to do some traveling too.

“But with the price of gas, we’ll still do some but not as much as originally planned,” he said. In his 23 years with the department, he has seen the city’s water use and capacity grow immensely.

When Anderson started the department, it had 23 employees and 7,787 customers. Now it has 33 employees and 9,652 customers. Back in 1989, the department was producing 1.4 billion gallons of water a year. It’s now doing 300 million gallons more at 1.7 billion gallons of water a year. The city has also moved from getting most of its water from wells to using wells and water supplied by Central Arkansas Water, which gets its water from Lake Maumelle.

What Anderson is probably most proud of is all the improvements the department made to get the city’s fire-insurance rating lowered from a four to a three in 1997. In looking back, Anderson said the department added a million gallon storage tank to the city system in 1990. That tank is located in Paradise Park. In 1992 a 12-inch water main was installed from the city’s east water treatment plant on Military Road to west Mai and Shady Lane.

“That created a major loop for that side of town and greatly improved water pressure for those residents,” Anderson said.

Keeping up with technology, Anderson said the department switched out the city water meters in 2007 replacing them with state- of -the-art meters that can be read by a mobile computer as an employee drives the route. “This saves us time and money which results in a savings for the customers,” he said.

TOP STORY >>New chief finds lot of heart in officers

By RICK KRON
Leader staff writer

Jacksonville Police Chief Gary Sipes has been on the job for about two months now and is very impressed with the department.

Sipes, who was the Benton police chief before taking over in April, said, “The best thing that I have found about the department is the number of dedicated officers and staff who want to work here and serve the city.

“These guys have the opportunity to go to larger departments in central Arkansas and make more money, but they chose to stay here,” he continued.

That means a lot to the chief who’s three sons all attended Jacksonville High School and live close by. He cites an incident just last week where officers “helped” evict a resident because that resident was a nuisance to that particular neighborhood.

The chief said the location was the site of an arrest and had people loitering in the area night and day.

“Our officers contacted the landlord and made them aware of the activities and the landlord’s responsibilities in cases like this,” the chief explained. “This is something we’ll continue to do.”

Sipes is also proud that the department will be sponsoring its first Citizens Police Academy in September.

“We are looking to have 25 to 30 residents in the class. They will meet one night a week for eight weeks and get a good inside look at the department,” he said.

The chief went on to explain, “You know sometimes you see an officer do something that doesn’t make a bit of sense to the normal citizen but we do things for a reason. I want to educate our citizens as best as we can so they have a positive image about their department.”

Even though the chief is proud of the “heart” the department has, he said it is lacking in equipment.

Thursday night he asked the city council to approve the purchase of Taser weapons, which shoot out an electrical charge to stun suspects.

“This will be the first time that we’ll have these electronic control units,” Sipes explained. “And it will help bring our officer injuries down because the officers will not likely have to put hands on a combative individual.”

The chief also said he is pushing training. “Our officers will receive and attend every training opportunity that presents itself.

The Criminal Justice Institute offers us excellent opportunities at no cost and I’ll take advantage of it,” he said.

Even though Sipes has been on the job just a few months he already has to deal with the budget concerns because of the rising cost of fuel.

“Right now he haven’t made any major changes, except to be aware of the cost and trying to drive smart,” the chief said.

With it being summer time, the department does have some patrol officers on bicycles and that helps keep fuel usage down.

Sipes, who has been married for 32 years and has three grown sons, started his police career when he was 18 as a cadet with the North Little Rock Police Department.

He became a North Little Rock police officer when he turned 21 and worked every division in the department before he retired in April 1999 and became the director for the city’s code enforcement department.

In 2004, he was selected to head up the Benton Police Department.

Just before that, he was a finalist for the open police chief job in Jacksonville left vacant by the departure of Wayne Ruthven.

Capt. Robert Baker was selected as chief and ran the force until his retirement in March.

Two of Sipes’ sons have followed him into law enforcement as one is a North Little Rock police office and the other is a Pulaski County deputy.

TOP STORY >>Governor waits to hear killer’s plea

By JOAN MCCOY
Leader staff writer

Gov. Mike Beebe has not granted clemency to a Furlow man who killed his family 11 years ago, but neither has he denied it.

The clemency petition from Heath Stocks, who killed his mother, father and younger sister was not among the 31 requests the governor denied Friday and it was not included in the 42 petitions the governor took no action on, which means those petitions may be refiled again immediately.

Stacy Stark, who is deputy spokesperson for the governor, said this week that the governor received Stocks’ petition Jan. 23 and by state law he has 240 days, until Sept. 19, to respond. Whether any significance should be attached to the governor not acting yet on Stocks’ petition, Stark said she could not say.

Stocks, 31, is asking for his life sentence to be commuted to a sentence of years so that he may someday be eligible for parole. He is incarcerated at the Tucker Maximum Security Unit near Pine Bluff.

The parole board said Stocks’ petition was without merit when it was sent it to the governor. Rhonda Sharp, a spokesperson for the parole board, said the board has no authority to deny clemency, only to make recommendations to the governor, who has sole authority in that area.

Stocks’ appeal is his second since he pleaded guilty to the January 1997 murders of Joe, Barbara and Heather Stocks and was sentenced without a trial to life without the possibility of parole. But he testified later during the victim impact hearing for convicted rapist Charles A. “Jack” Walls III of Lonoke that he was under the influence of Walls and killed his parents because Walls told him to.

Stocks told Judge Lance Hanshaw that he loved Walls like a father and that he killed his family to protect Walls who had sexually abused him since he was 10 years old. Just before he killed his family, his mother came home unexpectedly and found Walls in his bed. Stocks said he told his mother about their relationship and then told Walls what he had done.

Walls had always told his “boys” that if they had a problem, they should kill it, he said.

“Jack told me to take care of the problem,” Stocks told the judge.

Walls, a Boy Scout leader who pleaded guilty to raping five boys under 14 years of age and no contest to raping Stocks, was sentenced to life plus 90 years. Walls is held at the East Arkansas Regional Unit at Brickeys in Lee County.

Whether Stocks’ claim that Walls told him to kill his family is true has not been proven, because the sheriff’s department did not investigate it. Stocks testified during the victim-impact hearing that his public defender told him to keep his relationship with Walls “under his hat.” His maternal grandmother testified that she had learned about Stocks’ relationship with Walls and assumed it would come out during the trial. But there was no trial.

The investigation into Walls’ crimes, headed by special prosecutor Betty Dickey, revealed that he likely had more than 60 victims. The courtroom was full of them during the victim-impact hearing, though most did not testify. Those who did testify told how Walls would take them camping, get them drunk, give them pornography and molest them.

His victims talked about his arsenal of weapons, the training he gave them as hit men and about his plan to kill a Carlisle man and his son who tried to tell the world about his perversions. They said they knew those weapons could easily be turned on them.

Six months after the death of Joe, Barbara and Heather Stocks, Wade Knox, Walls’ nephew and next door neighbor, held a gun to his head and forced him tell his parents how he had abused him since he was 10 years old.

Knox, who suffered from mental illness reportedly linked to the abuse, later killed himself. The Wade Knox Advocacy Center in Lonoke, where suspected victims of child abuse are interviewed, is named in his honor.

Beebe is considering pardoning eight convicted felons, which means their criminal records will be wiped clean.

The eight applicants intended for pardons have completed all jail time, fulfilled all parole and probationary requirements and paid all fines related to their sentences.

There is a 30-day waiting period for public feedback on the pardons before final action is taken.

Included in the list are Chris Hunt of Cabot, who was convicted in 1983 and 1990 on charges of burglary, theft by deception and possession of a controlled substance.

TOP STORY >>Sales tax approved in Austin

By JOHN HOFHEIMER
Leader senior staff writer

“We can progress,” said Austin Mayor Bernie Chamberlain on Tuesday night after residents approved a penny sales tax, 40-25.

“We’ll have a little more money to do stuff. Everybody wants stuff done, but we (didn’t) have the money,” she said.

Austin residents imposed a penny sales tax on building materials and appliances purchased elsewhere but delivered to the fast-growing town. The tax also will apply to Austin’s few commercial ventures, including Chamberlain’s grocery station and the local flooring shop, Chamberlain said.

“The turnout was very low,” Chamberlain said. She said her daughter, training in immigration enforcement in Texas, just received her absentee ballot on Election Day, meaning her vote wouldn’t count.

Chamberlain said city water bills sent recently to customers urged residents “Vote yes June 10,” and she said there was talk that the results might be challenged as a result of that.

In Lonoke’s only other election Tuesday, a runoff for JP District 10, voters picked Bill Ryker over Ronnie Evans by a vote of 161 to 119.

Evans and Ryker were the two top vote getters in the May 20 Democratic primary, which also included Wes Clement.

Ryker, a Lonoke florist, is active in the community and serves as the city’s liaison to the state Highway Department on the planned new I-40/Hwy. 89 interchange on the west side of town.

TOP STORY >>Parents: Give us our own schools

By JOHN HOFHEIMER
Leader senior staff writer

Jacksonville will have its own school district within two years, Rep. Will Bond predicted Sunday at the first general membership meeting of the Jacksonville World Class Education Organization.

“We are closer than we’ve ever been to having our own district,” the Jacksonville Democrat said.

Bond, Jacksonville’s term-limited state representative, has successfully introduced legislation encouraging the North Little Rock and Pulaski County Special School districts to apply for unitary school status. Unitary status—that’s desegregation certification— would open the door for Jacksonville to have its own district. The third district involved in the desegregation agreement — Little Rock — already has been declared unitary by U.S. District Judge Bill Wilson, but the Joshua Intervenors have challenged that designation in the appeals court.

About 35 people attended the general membership meeting, according to Daniel Gray, vice president of the Jacksonville World Class Education Organization. “We didn’t see as many new faces as we hoped,” he said.

He said he hoped the new members would get involved on the committees. Gray said the next general membership meeting would probably be in August or September.

“The purpose of the meeting was to make clear to everyone that we want to hear from them,” said Bond. “There has been some criticism that we need to be more open,” he said, referring to the group of former classmates who are driving the organization. “We want to hear from the community, teachers, administrators, parents, to know what we can do.

“There are some great success stories at those middle schools,” he said. “We need to inform elementary school parents of those opportunities and see what opportunities they want to exist at the middle school level. Many area students are leaving the local public school system rather than attend the Jacksonville middle schools.

Bond said boys middle school principal Mike Nellums wants to increase the size of the new mentoring program and girls middle school principal Kim Forrest wants a tutoring program at her school.

By the time all three districts are declared unitary and dismissed from the existing school desegregation agreement, the state will have spent more than $1 billion on the effort, Bond said. That’s $1 billion over what they would have received otherwise.
Bond, who is president of the world-class education organization, said once the 8th Circuit Court of Appeals upholds Little
Rock’s unitary status, the most difficult of the legal impediments to a Jacksonville district will be swept away.

Meanwhile, the Jacksonville Education Foundation—as distinguished from the world-class organization—has hired an expert to crunch the numbers, which foundation members believe will prove that both the PCSSD and the Jacksonville area would benefit financially from a stand-alone Jacksonville district. Don Stewart will analyze the numbers to show what the revenues and expenses of PCSSD and a Jacksonville district would look like separately.

“We hope to have those numbers by the end of July,” Bond said. “We’re interested in presenting that to the board. We think we can show them it’s in everyone’s best interest. Our focus is getting the board on our side, which I think is a real possibility.”

Stewart is former chief financial officer for PCSSD and was a top “numbers guy” at the state Department of Education.

“It’s time for the desegregation case to be brought to a close,” Bond said. “Little Rock is unitary. We should have an appellate decision by September.

“One reason PCSSD should get rid of us is that they will be on the facilities distress list otherwise,” Bond said. “They can’t ignore our needs. We would have a greater opportunity to fix our facilities if we were on our own.

“There are some great success stories at those middle schools,” he continued. “We need to inform elementary school parents of those opportunities and see what opportunities they want to exist at the middle school level.”