By RAY BENTON
Leader sports editor
John Shannon’s Beebe Badgers and Rick Jones’ Greenwood Bulldogs run two completely different offenses. The Badgers run a tight, low, compact dead- T formation, while Jones’ two-time defending state champion Bulldogs spread it out and throw the ball about 90 percent of the time.
That made it interesting when both coaches described their team’s experience against the other’s system. Neither team has played against anyone that runs quite what the other runs, but when describing the closest thing they’ve seen, both said precisely, “The closest we’ve seen is Vilonia.”
Huh?
It is actually true. Vilonia started the season running the spread offense, but went back to the double wing that it had run the previous few years at about the mid-point of the season.
The Eagles spread it out against Beebe, and ran the wing against Greenwood.
The initial confusion aside, neither team has really faced a good comparison to what Beebe will be facing this Friday night near the Oklahoma border.
“Vilonia ran out of it a lot more than Greenwood does,” Shannon said. “Greenwood goes downfield with it quite a bit. They throw it probably 85 to 90 percent of the time.”
Jones remarked, “They run that double wing and try to confuse you. Beebe just lines up and runs right at you. It’s a very manly style of football. You’d better be ready for a fight.”
Another ironic similarity between the two coaches’ keys is that both harped on maintaining assignments.
“You have to be physical and try to match how physical they are,” Jones said. “You also have to be where you’re supposed to be. You can’t get out of position or get blown off the ball.”
Being blown off the ball is one of Jones’ biggest concerns. He has his scout team simulating Beebe’s offense, but knows it won’t match Beebe’s style.
“That’s the thing that’s so unique about what they do,” Jones said. “Pad level is so important, and it’s a chore trying to make our guys understand just how low they’ll be coming off that ball. It’s very difficult. They present a ton of trouble for you.”
While Jones is impressed with Beebe’s line, he’s also impressed with the running backs.
“The whole offense executes so well. When I watch tapes, they blow you off the ball, but the backs run so hard. They hit the hole hard, and they don’t need a whole lot of hole to get good yardage on you. They always seem to fall forward, and a 5-10 guy falling forward is two more yards. They’re well coached and we’re expecting a battle.”
Beebe looks at Greenwood’s team and doesn’t see any major mismatches. The Badgers size up fairly evenly with the favored Bulldogs, much more evenly than they did against at least one of the team’s that beat them.
“I don’t see any big mismatches anywhere,” Shannon said. “They’re not as big as Blytheville, but I don’t know if anybody out there is. If there is a team out there bigger than them, I don’t want to see ‘em. Greenwood has good size, and good speed, but I don’t think we’re overmatched anywhere. I think it’s going to come down to which team executes the best.”
Execution is something the Badgers didn’t do well at times in last week’s 23-20 loss to Batesville, a game that came down to a field goal with nine seconds left that lifted the Pioneers to victory.
Beebe lost two fumbles in that game that led directly to Batesville points. That, according to Shannon, must be eliminated for his team to win Friday.
“We’ve got to hang onto the ball,” Shannon said. “We shot ourselves in the foot a couple of times. We’ve got to quit beating ourselves.
Shannon is under no illusion that his team will completely shut down the high-powered Greenwood offense. He does think his team can minimize Greenwood’s chances to score.
If we hang onto the ball, keep their offense off the field and score every time we’ve got, we’ve got a good chance,” Shannon said. “I don’t know if you can stop that offense, but you can slow them down. It’s sort of a situation where our best defense could be our offense.”
Greenwood has enjoyed a pair of easy first-round playoff games the last two seasons. Jones isn’t expecting that this week.
“This is a two versus a three, so I don’t think there’s much difference,” Jones said. “The last two years we were a one against a four. I know in our league there wasn’t much difference between one and five. I know they took Batesville to the wire and we had all we wanted of them last year. This is going to be a tough game.”
Jones thinks his team could make it easier if it finally hits its stride, but he isn’t sure when that will take place.
“I just get a sense that we haven’t hit but on about six cylinders this year instead of eight,” Jones said. “Now is the time to change that. You have to go into these playoff games with an urgency and a sense of finality. Hopefully we can do that and starting playing well.”
Wednesday, November 07, 2007
SPORTS >>Another season of hoops underway
By RAY BENTON
Leader sports editor
The annual Jacksonville preseason basketball jamboree turned out to be a good one for the host team. It involved several teams from the local area and Mountain Home. North Pulaski also took part in the event, along with McClellan, Central and LR Parkview.
While the Red Devils impressed their head coach, the Falcons did not, at least offensively.
North Pulaski started Saturday’s event against Mountain Home. Each team played one half of basketball against two other teams. Final scores were kept, but winning and losing weren’t what coaches were concerned with.
NP lost its halves, falling 25-23 to the Bombers, then losing 21-20 to Little Rock Central.
The Falcon defense gave both teams fits, but the offense wasn’t what head Falcon Raymond Cooper was wanting to see.
“I liked the two teams we played because we got to see two totally different styles,” Cooper said. “And we didn’t handle either one of them that well.”
The big and physical Bombers overpowered the small Falcons early, while Central’s pressure caused some problems for the NP offense.
“I told the guys how physical they (the Bombers) were going to be, but they didn’t realize it until they got out there,” Cooper said. “They were setting screens and being real physical and weren’t getting through them. We were just running into them and stopping. I think we got a little overwhelmed with that early. I liked that we came back late. That was something for us to build off of.”
North Pulaski fell behind 13-4 in the first quarter. They made a furious charge in the second quarter, but lackluster free-throw shooting ultimately cost them a win. NP took a brief two-point lead, but when the Bombers fouled, the Falcons couldn’t make them pay.
NP hit just four of 12 foul shots against Mountain Home, and three of nine against Central.
Against the Tigers, NP again found itself in an early hole, though not as big as against Mountain Home. The Tigers jumped ahead 11-5 before NP again charged late only to come up short.
“We did not execute our press break one time,” Cooper said. “Our press offense looked more like a fire drill than an offense. I was pretty disappointed in that. I did like our defensive pressure. We were out of position a few times, but the defensive effort was good.”
The lack of offensive execution showed in the scores.
“Forty-three points is not enough for what we do,” Cooper said. “If we’re held to 43 points, that’s not going to win us many games. We need to be up in the 60s.”
Jacksonville almost got into the 60s in its first half against McClellan, scoring 54 points, but only winning by four.
The Red Devils lost 36-24 to Parkview to close the night, but head coach Vic Joyner was pleased with his team’s overall effort.
“The first five I put out there did better than I expected on offense,” Joyner said. “Considering I’ve shortened practices and they haven’t had as much time to prepare, I was pleased with how they played.”
Jacksonville cruised to a big lead over the Lions before letting up and allowing a late comeback. Against Parkview, Jacksonville led by six until midway through the second half. That’s when the Patriots charged and took over the game.
“We didn’t sub a lot so we basically ran out of gas,” Joyner said. “We competed well. We got a little lackadaisical on defense at times, and I think a couple of the younger ones got a little nervous, but we competed and we executed the offense better than I expected.”
The highlight of the night came on a baseline drive and dunk by Red Devil point guard Terrell Eskridge. Eskridge took his man off the dribble, drove baseline and slammed it home against Parkview’s center.
“That shocked me to death,” Joyner said. “It shocked everybody in there. I’ve been watching that kid try to dunk every day in practice for two years, and he’s never done it. It really shocked that big man he dunked on.”
Along with the starting five of Terrell Eskridge, Cortrell Eskridge, Antonion Roy, Quentin Miles and DeShone McClure, Joyner said junior guard Allen Kirby did a good job off the bench.
“The starting five and Allen Kirby played pretty well,” Joyner said. “We’ve got some other guys on the bench that aren’t ready yet. Hopefully some of them will have a chance to step up and show us they can get in there.”
Leader sports editor
The annual Jacksonville preseason basketball jamboree turned out to be a good one for the host team. It involved several teams from the local area and Mountain Home. North Pulaski also took part in the event, along with McClellan, Central and LR Parkview.
While the Red Devils impressed their head coach, the Falcons did not, at least offensively.
North Pulaski started Saturday’s event against Mountain Home. Each team played one half of basketball against two other teams. Final scores were kept, but winning and losing weren’t what coaches were concerned with.
NP lost its halves, falling 25-23 to the Bombers, then losing 21-20 to Little Rock Central.
The Falcon defense gave both teams fits, but the offense wasn’t what head Falcon Raymond Cooper was wanting to see.
“I liked the two teams we played because we got to see two totally different styles,” Cooper said. “And we didn’t handle either one of them that well.”
The big and physical Bombers overpowered the small Falcons early, while Central’s pressure caused some problems for the NP offense.
“I told the guys how physical they (the Bombers) were going to be, but they didn’t realize it until they got out there,” Cooper said. “They were setting screens and being real physical and weren’t getting through them. We were just running into them and stopping. I think we got a little overwhelmed with that early. I liked that we came back late. That was something for us to build off of.”
North Pulaski fell behind 13-4 in the first quarter. They made a furious charge in the second quarter, but lackluster free-throw shooting ultimately cost them a win. NP took a brief two-point lead, but when the Bombers fouled, the Falcons couldn’t make them pay.
NP hit just four of 12 foul shots against Mountain Home, and three of nine against Central.
Against the Tigers, NP again found itself in an early hole, though not as big as against Mountain Home. The Tigers jumped ahead 11-5 before NP again charged late only to come up short.
“We did not execute our press break one time,” Cooper said. “Our press offense looked more like a fire drill than an offense. I was pretty disappointed in that. I did like our defensive pressure. We were out of position a few times, but the defensive effort was good.”
The lack of offensive execution showed in the scores.
“Forty-three points is not enough for what we do,” Cooper said. “If we’re held to 43 points, that’s not going to win us many games. We need to be up in the 60s.”
Jacksonville almost got into the 60s in its first half against McClellan, scoring 54 points, but only winning by four.
The Red Devils lost 36-24 to Parkview to close the night, but head coach Vic Joyner was pleased with his team’s overall effort.
“The first five I put out there did better than I expected on offense,” Joyner said. “Considering I’ve shortened practices and they haven’t had as much time to prepare, I was pleased with how they played.”
Jacksonville cruised to a big lead over the Lions before letting up and allowing a late comeback. Against Parkview, Jacksonville led by six until midway through the second half. That’s when the Patriots charged and took over the game.
“We didn’t sub a lot so we basically ran out of gas,” Joyner said. “We competed well. We got a little lackadaisical on defense at times, and I think a couple of the younger ones got a little nervous, but we competed and we executed the offense better than I expected.”
The highlight of the night came on a baseline drive and dunk by Red Devil point guard Terrell Eskridge. Eskridge took his man off the dribble, drove baseline and slammed it home against Parkview’s center.
“That shocked me to death,” Joyner said. “It shocked everybody in there. I’ve been watching that kid try to dunk every day in practice for two years, and he’s never done it. It really shocked that big man he dunked on.”
Along with the starting five of Terrell Eskridge, Cortrell Eskridge, Antonion Roy, Quentin Miles and DeShone McClure, Joyner said junior guard Allen Kirby did a good job off the bench.
“The starting five and Allen Kirby played pretty well,” Joyner said. “We’ve got some other guys on the bench that aren’t ready yet. Hopefully some of them will have a chance to step up and show us they can get in there.”
SPORTS >>Har-Ber expects challenges
By RAY BENTON
Leader sports editor
The Cabot Panthers will make their first appearance in the state football playoffs in three seasons when they travel to Springdale to take on Har-Ber High School, the West co-champion and No. 1 seed. Har-Ber, named for local philanthropists Harvey and Bernice Jones, tied with Bentonville for the league title, but won the top seed by virtue of beating the Tigers head-to-head.
There is little about the Cabot Panthers that the Wildcats are familiar with, but the game against Bentonville might have been their most significant tell-tale.
Har-Ber beat Bentonville, the West’s most prolific running team, 24-21, but still gave up a lot of yards on the ground. That fact, and the fact that Cabot’s running style is not very similar to Bentonville’s, concerns head Wildcat Chris Wood.
“It’s a big challenge for us to prepare for that offense,” Wood said. “It’s difficult to simulate. As hard as we try and as hard as the scout team tries to simulate it, you can’t really do it like Cabot is going to do it. Most teams we play are in a two-point on the line. They’re lining up foot-to-foot, coming off low; it’s just almost impossible to simulate.”
Conversely, Cabot has seen some spread this season, but likely not as efficiently as Har-Ber runs it.
Wood quarterbacked the spread for one of Gus Malzahn’s state championship teams at Shiloh Christian, and no one has really stopped the Wildcat offense this season. Their two losses were their season opener against Lawton, Okla., and week seven 16-12 loss to Fort Smith Northside. Northside did the best defensive job of the Wildcats, and did it mostly with defensive speed.
Cabot doesn’t have the same kind of speed, so head Panther Mike Malham and defensive coordinator Randall Black have the task of finding other ways to stop the Wildcats.
Mimicking its own efforts in the second and third quarters against Russellville would help the Panthers. Mimicking their effort in the middle quarters would spell a long night.
Cabot gave up just seven of Russellville’s 42 points on the second and third quarters, and 35 in the first and fourth combined.
“I thought the defense played well in spots,” Cabot coach Mike Malham said of the Russellville game. “Really after the first quarter they came back when turnovers came into play. That’s what we’re really going to have to be careful about. We can’t afford to turn the ball over.”
The offense has never looked better than it did last week. Cabot gained 525 yards, mostly on the ground. A number not even Malham ever expected.
“That kind of shocked me,” Malham said. “If we can move the ball and not put it on the ground, we’ve got a chance. The second half against Bryant is really the only time I remember us not moving it at all. The rest of the time, we either turned it over, or fumbled it and lost yardage, or got a penalty. We were always doing something to stop ourselves. That one half, though, we didn’t move it. Hopefully we’ll be able to move it and keep it away from them.”
The injury report from Cabot is getting a little better. Tight end Blake Carter was expected to miss last week’s game, but was able to suit up and caught a 24-yard touchdown pass.
Ethan Coffee came back at linebacker. Sophomore Alex Bray played well in his place. He was hurt and missed the second half last week, but is expected to play this week. His replacement in the second half last week, sophomore Jared Maxwell, played well also.
Sophomore defensive back Joe Bryant could play this week. That would be a big help, but as of Monday, Malham wasn’t counting on it.
“It’s getting a little better,” Malham said. “If Bryant comes back we’ll be able to get Neumann off safety and back at linebacker. Right now though we’re going to have to move forward like he’s not going to be there.”
One of the biggest concers for Malham is Har-Ber’s experience. It’s a senior-dominated team that has been playing together since the school’s inception three seasons ago. This is their first year to make the playoffs, but teams full of seniors are always dangerous.
“They’ve played together for three years now,” Malham said. “They work pretty well together. Any time you’re the number one team in the west, you’re supposed to be the best there is. You come out of there No. 1, you’ve got to be pretty good.”
While Malham lauded Har-Ber’s strengths, Wood reciprocated the praise. The head Wildcat wouldn’t even acknowledge that his team is the favorite.
“It’s a one-and-four matchup but it’s one of those deals where I don’t think we’re the favorite in this kind of situation,” Wood said. “We won a conference championship, but that’s out the door now. Cabot’s a tradition-rich program. We’re trying to create tradition but I think from that standpoint, I’d have to give the advantage to Cabot.”
Leader sports editor
The Cabot Panthers will make their first appearance in the state football playoffs in three seasons when they travel to Springdale to take on Har-Ber High School, the West co-champion and No. 1 seed. Har-Ber, named for local philanthropists Harvey and Bernice Jones, tied with Bentonville for the league title, but won the top seed by virtue of beating the Tigers head-to-head.
There is little about the Cabot Panthers that the Wildcats are familiar with, but the game against Bentonville might have been their most significant tell-tale.
Har-Ber beat Bentonville, the West’s most prolific running team, 24-21, but still gave up a lot of yards on the ground. That fact, and the fact that Cabot’s running style is not very similar to Bentonville’s, concerns head Wildcat Chris Wood.
“It’s a big challenge for us to prepare for that offense,” Wood said. “It’s difficult to simulate. As hard as we try and as hard as the scout team tries to simulate it, you can’t really do it like Cabot is going to do it. Most teams we play are in a two-point on the line. They’re lining up foot-to-foot, coming off low; it’s just almost impossible to simulate.”
Conversely, Cabot has seen some spread this season, but likely not as efficiently as Har-Ber runs it.
Wood quarterbacked the spread for one of Gus Malzahn’s state championship teams at Shiloh Christian, and no one has really stopped the Wildcat offense this season. Their two losses were their season opener against Lawton, Okla., and week seven 16-12 loss to Fort Smith Northside. Northside did the best defensive job of the Wildcats, and did it mostly with defensive speed.
Cabot doesn’t have the same kind of speed, so head Panther Mike Malham and defensive coordinator Randall Black have the task of finding other ways to stop the Wildcats.
Mimicking its own efforts in the second and third quarters against Russellville would help the Panthers. Mimicking their effort in the middle quarters would spell a long night.
Cabot gave up just seven of Russellville’s 42 points on the second and third quarters, and 35 in the first and fourth combined.
“I thought the defense played well in spots,” Cabot coach Mike Malham said of the Russellville game. “Really after the first quarter they came back when turnovers came into play. That’s what we’re really going to have to be careful about. We can’t afford to turn the ball over.”
The offense has never looked better than it did last week. Cabot gained 525 yards, mostly on the ground. A number not even Malham ever expected.
“That kind of shocked me,” Malham said. “If we can move the ball and not put it on the ground, we’ve got a chance. The second half against Bryant is really the only time I remember us not moving it at all. The rest of the time, we either turned it over, or fumbled it and lost yardage, or got a penalty. We were always doing something to stop ourselves. That one half, though, we didn’t move it. Hopefully we’ll be able to move it and keep it away from them.”
The injury report from Cabot is getting a little better. Tight end Blake Carter was expected to miss last week’s game, but was able to suit up and caught a 24-yard touchdown pass.
Ethan Coffee came back at linebacker. Sophomore Alex Bray played well in his place. He was hurt and missed the second half last week, but is expected to play this week. His replacement in the second half last week, sophomore Jared Maxwell, played well also.
Sophomore defensive back Joe Bryant could play this week. That would be a big help, but as of Monday, Malham wasn’t counting on it.
“It’s getting a little better,” Malham said. “If Bryant comes back we’ll be able to get Neumann off safety and back at linebacker. Right now though we’re going to have to move forward like he’s not going to be there.”
One of the biggest concers for Malham is Har-Ber’s experience. It’s a senior-dominated team that has been playing together since the school’s inception three seasons ago. This is their first year to make the playoffs, but teams full of seniors are always dangerous.
“They’ve played together for three years now,” Malham said. “They work pretty well together. Any time you’re the number one team in the west, you’re supposed to be the best there is. You come out of there No. 1, you’ve got to be pretty good.”
While Malham lauded Har-Ber’s strengths, Wood reciprocated the praise. The head Wildcat wouldn’t even acknowledge that his team is the favorite.
“It’s a one-and-four matchup but it’s one of those deals where I don’t think we’re the favorite in this kind of situation,” Wood said. “We won a conference championship, but that’s out the door now. Cabot’s a tradition-rich program. We’re trying to create tradition but I think from that standpoint, I’d have to give the advantage to Cabot.”
EDITORIALS>>Letters: Help our schools
To the editor:
I just read the Nov. 3 letter to the editor from a concerned parent regarding the situation in Jacksonville’s schools. The letter made some references to the Jacksonville World Class Education Organization and the recent report on the student enrollment numbers in the PCSSD. I encourage that parent to contact the Jacksonville WCEO to better understand its purpose.
The Jacksonville WCEO is an organization of concerned citizens and parents committed to a quality world-class educational environment for all of Jacksonville’s students.
The Jacksonville WCEO has been meeting and working for students in Jacksonville long before this report came out. That re-port was not a product of the Jacksonville WCEO; it was from the Arkansas Department of Education. Of the decline in enrollment in PCSSD, 190 students out of 361 left out of Jacksonville. That is 53 percent of the total district-wide loss. That is the most revealing number from the report. What the PCSSD is going to do about it should be the concern from the citizens of Jacksonville. It does not matter what color they are, we are losing students.
All Jacksonville schools are in trouble. Our building facilities are old and the majority of them need to be replaced completely. While Jacksonville is in the PCSSD we have no choice but to work with the district. Is it a realistic goal that PCSSD is going to replace all the schools in Jacksonville immediately? No. The Jacksonville WCEO decided that a focused effort on one project was the best way to get anything accomplished. We felt as a group that the middle schools were the best place to start. Both the boys and girls campuses need replacement. There are other school facilities in Jacksonville in worse shape, but they do not affect as many families in Jacksonville as the middle schools do.
When approached about the concept of gender specific schools, Jacksonville was promised a new multi-million dollar media center/cafeteria building that would have plans for expansion for classrooms for both the boys and girls to be built between the schools with readily available grant money. Architectural renderings were passed out, promises were made, and hopes were renewed.
The PCSSD failed to deliver once again. We have great administrators and teachers in those schools. They are doing a great job with what they have, but they deserve better. Jacksonville deserves better.
Daniel Gray
Jacksonville World Class Education Organization
I just read the Nov. 3 letter to the editor from a concerned parent regarding the situation in Jacksonville’s schools. The letter made some references to the Jacksonville World Class Education Organization and the recent report on the student enrollment numbers in the PCSSD. I encourage that parent to contact the Jacksonville WCEO to better understand its purpose.
The Jacksonville WCEO is an organization of concerned citizens and parents committed to a quality world-class educational environment for all of Jacksonville’s students.
The Jacksonville WCEO has been meeting and working for students in Jacksonville long before this report came out. That re-port was not a product of the Jacksonville WCEO; it was from the Arkansas Department of Education. Of the decline in enrollment in PCSSD, 190 students out of 361 left out of Jacksonville. That is 53 percent of the total district-wide loss. That is the most revealing number from the report. What the PCSSD is going to do about it should be the concern from the citizens of Jacksonville. It does not matter what color they are, we are losing students.
All Jacksonville schools are in trouble. Our building facilities are old and the majority of them need to be replaced completely. While Jacksonville is in the PCSSD we have no choice but to work with the district. Is it a realistic goal that PCSSD is going to replace all the schools in Jacksonville immediately? No. The Jacksonville WCEO decided that a focused effort on one project was the best way to get anything accomplished. We felt as a group that the middle schools were the best place to start. Both the boys and girls campuses need replacement. There are other school facilities in Jacksonville in worse shape, but they do not affect as many families in Jacksonville as the middle schools do.
When approached about the concept of gender specific schools, Jacksonville was promised a new multi-million dollar media center/cafeteria building that would have plans for expansion for classrooms for both the boys and girls to be built between the schools with readily available grant money. Architectural renderings were passed out, promises were made, and hopes were renewed.
The PCSSD failed to deliver once again. We have great administrators and teachers in those schools. They are doing a great job with what they have, but they deserve better. Jacksonville deserves better.
Daniel Gray
Jacksonville World Class Education Organization
EDITORIALS>>A profile in courage
The brave on the battlefield will find their heroism acknowledged by medals and commendations, but unusual courage in politics may have to wait on the accumulation of time and wisdom for its recognition. That was the case for Ray S. Smith Jr., who died last weekend at the age of 83.
Smith served for a generation in the state House of Representatives from Hot Springs. He was a tireless champion of good government, education and progressive taxation and, for most of his career, a remarkably effective one. When Gov. Winthrop Rockefeller’s mammoth program of income, sales and excise taxes collapsed in 1969, Smith, who knew the House’s possibilities better than anyone, cobbled together a modest program to save state services and maneuvered it through the legislature.
But Ray Smith’s public character was tested and formed a decade earlier in the most dangerous time in which someone could serve in public life in the 20th century. It was during the integration crisis at Little Rock in 1958 and Gov. Orval E. Faubus, who had achieved demigod status, had summoned the legislature to a special session to give him dictatorial powers over the public schools of Arkansas. He wanted authority to block the desegregation of schools wherever he wanted: to close schools that the courts ordered desegregated and move tax funds to private all-white schools. (He would use the power almost instantly to close all the high schools in Little Rock, but the courts blocked him from funding a white private school with tax dollars.) With rebel yells ringing across the House chamber, the legislature passed the program easily. The key bill passed the House and Senate by a combined vote of 127 to 1.
Young Ray Smith was the one.
On other bills to enforce segregation and punish teachers and anyone on a public payroll who might have different ideas, two or three others occasionally joined Smith. His votes at the time were not viewed as heroic but obstinate. The abiding fear was that voters would turn on any dissenter. But Smith, a World War II veteran, knew something about danger. He had been in Hot Springs when the returning veterans, led by Sid McMath, threw out the corrupt political machine. Hot Springs voters never punished Smith. He went on to serve 28 years.
His bravery and independence would not go unpunished at the Capitol. In 1965 nearly all the members of the House had signed pledges making him the speaker for the 1965-66 General Assembly, a ritual that goes on every two years. But Faubus would not have the man who had bearded him with his votes presiding over the House while he was governor. On the first day of the session, a score of House members stared solemnly at their desks as they pushed the button to renege on their word and elect the man that Faubus had put up at the last minute. Some went to Smith and asked his forgiveness. Smith would be elected speaker unanimously six years later when Dale Bumpers became governor.
Thus was Ray Smith not left a prophet without honor in his own tribe. He retired with the high estimation of his colleagues. But there was never a public acknowledgement that at the most pivotal moment of the century for the state, one man and one only of those charged with the duty did the right thing.
Smith served for a generation in the state House of Representatives from Hot Springs. He was a tireless champion of good government, education and progressive taxation and, for most of his career, a remarkably effective one. When Gov. Winthrop Rockefeller’s mammoth program of income, sales and excise taxes collapsed in 1969, Smith, who knew the House’s possibilities better than anyone, cobbled together a modest program to save state services and maneuvered it through the legislature.
But Ray Smith’s public character was tested and formed a decade earlier in the most dangerous time in which someone could serve in public life in the 20th century. It was during the integration crisis at Little Rock in 1958 and Gov. Orval E. Faubus, who had achieved demigod status, had summoned the legislature to a special session to give him dictatorial powers over the public schools of Arkansas. He wanted authority to block the desegregation of schools wherever he wanted: to close schools that the courts ordered desegregated and move tax funds to private all-white schools. (He would use the power almost instantly to close all the high schools in Little Rock, but the courts blocked him from funding a white private school with tax dollars.) With rebel yells ringing across the House chamber, the legislature passed the program easily. The key bill passed the House and Senate by a combined vote of 127 to 1.
Young Ray Smith was the one.
On other bills to enforce segregation and punish teachers and anyone on a public payroll who might have different ideas, two or three others occasionally joined Smith. His votes at the time were not viewed as heroic but obstinate. The abiding fear was that voters would turn on any dissenter. But Smith, a World War II veteran, knew something about danger. He had been in Hot Springs when the returning veterans, led by Sid McMath, threw out the corrupt political machine. Hot Springs voters never punished Smith. He went on to serve 28 years.
His bravery and independence would not go unpunished at the Capitol. In 1965 nearly all the members of the House had signed pledges making him the speaker for the 1965-66 General Assembly, a ritual that goes on every two years. But Faubus would not have the man who had bearded him with his votes presiding over the House while he was governor. On the first day of the session, a score of House members stared solemnly at their desks as they pushed the button to renege on their word and elect the man that Faubus had put up at the last minute. Some went to Smith and asked his forgiveness. Smith would be elected speaker unanimously six years later when Dale Bumpers became governor.
Thus was Ray Smith not left a prophet without honor in his own tribe. He retired with the high estimation of his colleagues. But there was never a public acknowledgement that at the most pivotal moment of the century for the state, one man and one only of those charged with the duty did the right thing.
EDITORIALS>>Nelson’s severance tax
The last time we heard from Sheffield Nelson he was helping the Bush-Cheney re-election effort in Arkansas and working closely with his best political friend, Mike Huckabee, who put him on the state Game and Fish Commission. Nelson was the Republican candidate for governor twice, in 1990 and 1994, and the Republican national committeeman from Arkansas, and he fed the campaign to undermine President Clinton.
But it was an earlier version of the longtime politico who surfaced last week. Nelson announced that he was heading an effort to put an initiated act on the 2008 ballot to impose a 7 percent severance tax on natural gas to provide college scholarships and otherwise raise the quality of higher education in Arkansas.
Some will remember Nelson from the 1970s and 1980s when at age 30 he was one of the youngest CEOs of a major corporation in America, Arkansas Louisiana Gas Co. He broke ranks with the rest of the energy industry and called for the state to impose a real severance tax on natural gas. Arkansas is the only gas-producing state that does not tax gas at the wellhead. Well, it does levy a microscopic tax that is no more than a nuisance for the exploration companies.
Nelson said it was a shame that the state put heavy taxes on families but did not ask profitable exploration companies to pay the public for taking a vanishing resource that could never be recaptured. Gov. Bill Clinton proposed a modest tax to support education in 1983 and Nelson testified for it in the legislature, but it failed.
Gov. Beebe says he will ask the legislature in 2009 to pass a tax that he hopes the big energy companies will agree on. If they don’t, he will support an initiated act to do it in November 2010. Nelson said it was pointless to wait. Waiting will cost college students $100 million or more. He is drafting an act that would levy a tax at about the average collected in the nearby gas-producing states, which is 7 percent. Texas has the highest tax, 7.5 percent. Nelson will organize a petition drive to put the measure on the November 2008 ballot.
The point that Nelson made to lawmakers in 1983 to brace their political will is even truer today. Most of the gas produced in Arkansas, particularly in the Fayetteville shale play, is piped out of the state and if end users — say, factories in the Ohio River Valley — wind up paying the tax, the burden will not be Arkansans’. Our kids, for once, would reap the benefits. We hope Nelson’s drive will prove more fruitful than all his elective pursuits. His purpose is nobler, so perhaps better results can be expected.
Ernie Dumas writes editorials for The Leader.
But it was an earlier version of the longtime politico who surfaced last week. Nelson announced that he was heading an effort to put an initiated act on the 2008 ballot to impose a 7 percent severance tax on natural gas to provide college scholarships and otherwise raise the quality of higher education in Arkansas.
Some will remember Nelson from the 1970s and 1980s when at age 30 he was one of the youngest CEOs of a major corporation in America, Arkansas Louisiana Gas Co. He broke ranks with the rest of the energy industry and called for the state to impose a real severance tax on natural gas. Arkansas is the only gas-producing state that does not tax gas at the wellhead. Well, it does levy a microscopic tax that is no more than a nuisance for the exploration companies.
Nelson said it was a shame that the state put heavy taxes on families but did not ask profitable exploration companies to pay the public for taking a vanishing resource that could never be recaptured. Gov. Bill Clinton proposed a modest tax to support education in 1983 and Nelson testified for it in the legislature, but it failed.
Gov. Beebe says he will ask the legislature in 2009 to pass a tax that he hopes the big energy companies will agree on. If they don’t, he will support an initiated act to do it in November 2010. Nelson said it was pointless to wait. Waiting will cost college students $100 million or more. He is drafting an act that would levy a tax at about the average collected in the nearby gas-producing states, which is 7 percent. Texas has the highest tax, 7.5 percent. Nelson will organize a petition drive to put the measure on the November 2008 ballot.
The point that Nelson made to lawmakers in 1983 to brace their political will is even truer today. Most of the gas produced in Arkansas, particularly in the Fayetteville shale play, is piped out of the state and if end users — say, factories in the Ohio River Valley — wind up paying the tax, the burden will not be Arkansans’. Our kids, for once, would reap the benefits. We hope Nelson’s drive will prove more fruitful than all his elective pursuits. His purpose is nobler, so perhaps better results can be expected.
Ernie Dumas writes editorials for The Leader.
OBITUARIES >> 11-07-07
Lorrain Deal
Lorrain Leah Groce Deal, 99, of Beebe, died Nov. 6.
She was born Nov. 1, 1908, at Carlisle to Homer and Nettie Oldenhouse Groce.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Gus Deal; her parents, brothers and sisters.
She is survived by several nieces and nephews.
Family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 7 at Westbrook Funeral Home in Beebe.
Graveside services will be at 2 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 8 at Roselawn Memorial Park in Little Rock.
Bessie Mathews
Bessie Mae Brown Mathews, 88, departed this earthly life peacefully Nov. 1 at the home of her twin sister, Tressie Fay Barker.
She was born Sept. 17, 1919 to Jessie and Ivy Brown in Cabot.
She spent many memorable years with her siblings, growing up on the family farm.
Even though she had health problems to overcome, she never let that stop her from accomplishing her goals and having a great sense of humor.
She was valedictorian of Midway High School’s graduating class of 1937.
She attended Beebe Junior College for two years, and began her teaching career at Midway High School.
When the Second World War was declared, she chose to join the Women’s Army Corp.
After training in the United States she was sent to the China-Burma-India Theater and served in India until the end of the war.
When she returned to Arkansas, she completed her education at Arkansas State Teachers College, becoming the only family member to graduate from college.
Her first job was in the Gravette Arkansas School District.
After leaving there, she taught in the Cabot, Pulaski County and North Little Rock School Districts.
“Miss Brown”, as she was known to her many students, taught for over 20 years.
When she finally met the love of her life, George Mathews, she then retired to help her husband with his business.
She also loved gardening.
She was preceded in death by her husband, George Mathews and siblings, Lee, Len, Alice, Jessie “Bill,” Ed “Shorty,” Flora and Marion Brown.
She is survived by Tressie Barker, Bert Brown and Mary Lyons.
She leaves behind many family members and caregivers who loved her dearly.
The family would like to thank Hospice of the Valley and Homecare in Phoenix, Ariz. Everyone did an excellent job in taking care of our “Bessie Girl.”
They will all miss her “spunky spirit.”
There will be a viewing from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, Nov. 9 at Moore’s Cabot Funeral Home.
Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 10 at the funeral home.
William Taylor
William Grant Taylor, Jr., 49, passed away Nov. 3.
He was a member of Russell Chapel Nazarene Church.
He was preceded in death by a son, James Owen Taylor and two brothers, Anthony Taylor and James David Taylor.
Survivors include his wife, Teresa Humphrey Taylor; four children, Niki Taylor, William Taylor III and Angie Stanley, all of Cabot and Billy Wayne Taylor of Calif.; his mother, Nancy Romine of Jacksonville; father and step-mother, William “Dub” Taylor, Sr. and wife Patsy of Cabot; two sisters, Nancy Rena Hightower and Amanda Midkiff, both of Cabot; two step-brothers, William Lloyd Taylor and Glen Dwayne Taylor, both of Cabot, and six grandchildren.
Services will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 7 at Russell Chapel Nazarene Church in Cabot with burial in Pleasant Hill Cemetery.
Funeral arrangements are by Boyd Funeral Home of Lonoke.
Ruthel Kyle
Ruthel Kyle, 90, of Cabot, died Oct. 30 at Des Arc Nursing and Rehab.
She was born Sept. 4, 1917, at Dermott (Chicot County), to Albert Clinton and Maude Collins Abernathy.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Wes H. Kyle, Sr. and three brothers, Harley, Everett and Clyde Abernathy.
She is survived by one son, Wes Kyle, Jr. and wife Helen of Cabot; one granddaughter, one grandson, two step-grandchildren, four great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild and several nieces and nephews.
A memorial service was held at McRae United Methodist Church Friday, Nov. 2 at 6 p.m.
Marceil Anderson
Marceil Anderson, 92, longtime resident of Little Rock, passed away in Searcy Nov. 2.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Paul R. Anderson; parents, Wesley Johnson and Bertha Dickson Johnson Collie; and longtime best friend, Cecil Suitt.
She is survived by a daughter, Marylin Dandridge of Searcy and son, Gary Anderson and wife Pam of Little Rock; five grandchildren, Angela Elder of Searcy, Beverly Beck of East End, Shanna O’Neal and husband Keith of Cabot, Tracy Fisher and husband Tommy of Redfield and Brian Anderson; seven great-grandchildren, Charlie and Jason Beck, Nicole and Blake Elder, Meagan O’Neal, Brayden and Shelby Fisher and Julia Anderson and a host of other friends and relatives.
Funeral services to celebrate her life were Nov. 5 at Grace Fellowship in Cabot.
Burial was in Sumner Cemetery in Cabot. Funeral services were by Moore’s Cabot Funeral Home.
Lorrain Leah Groce Deal, 99, of Beebe, died Nov. 6.
She was born Nov. 1, 1908, at Carlisle to Homer and Nettie Oldenhouse Groce.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Gus Deal; her parents, brothers and sisters.
She is survived by several nieces and nephews.
Family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 7 at Westbrook Funeral Home in Beebe.
Graveside services will be at 2 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 8 at Roselawn Memorial Park in Little Rock.
Bessie Mathews
Bessie Mae Brown Mathews, 88, departed this earthly life peacefully Nov. 1 at the home of her twin sister, Tressie Fay Barker.
She was born Sept. 17, 1919 to Jessie and Ivy Brown in Cabot.
She spent many memorable years with her siblings, growing up on the family farm.
Even though she had health problems to overcome, she never let that stop her from accomplishing her goals and having a great sense of humor.
She was valedictorian of Midway High School’s graduating class of 1937.
She attended Beebe Junior College for two years, and began her teaching career at Midway High School.
When the Second World War was declared, she chose to join the Women’s Army Corp.
After training in the United States she was sent to the China-Burma-India Theater and served in India until the end of the war.
When she returned to Arkansas, she completed her education at Arkansas State Teachers College, becoming the only family member to graduate from college.
Her first job was in the Gravette Arkansas School District.
After leaving there, she taught in the Cabot, Pulaski County and North Little Rock School Districts.
“Miss Brown”, as she was known to her many students, taught for over 20 years.
When she finally met the love of her life, George Mathews, she then retired to help her husband with his business.
She also loved gardening.
She was preceded in death by her husband, George Mathews and siblings, Lee, Len, Alice, Jessie “Bill,” Ed “Shorty,” Flora and Marion Brown.
She is survived by Tressie Barker, Bert Brown and Mary Lyons.
She leaves behind many family members and caregivers who loved her dearly.
The family would like to thank Hospice of the Valley and Homecare in Phoenix, Ariz. Everyone did an excellent job in taking care of our “Bessie Girl.”
They will all miss her “spunky spirit.”
There will be a viewing from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, Nov. 9 at Moore’s Cabot Funeral Home.
Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 10 at the funeral home.
William Taylor
William Grant Taylor, Jr., 49, passed away Nov. 3.
He was a member of Russell Chapel Nazarene Church.
He was preceded in death by a son, James Owen Taylor and two brothers, Anthony Taylor and James David Taylor.
Survivors include his wife, Teresa Humphrey Taylor; four children, Niki Taylor, William Taylor III and Angie Stanley, all of Cabot and Billy Wayne Taylor of Calif.; his mother, Nancy Romine of Jacksonville; father and step-mother, William “Dub” Taylor, Sr. and wife Patsy of Cabot; two sisters, Nancy Rena Hightower and Amanda Midkiff, both of Cabot; two step-brothers, William Lloyd Taylor and Glen Dwayne Taylor, both of Cabot, and six grandchildren.
Services will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 7 at Russell Chapel Nazarene Church in Cabot with burial in Pleasant Hill Cemetery.
Funeral arrangements are by Boyd Funeral Home of Lonoke.
Ruthel Kyle
Ruthel Kyle, 90, of Cabot, died Oct. 30 at Des Arc Nursing and Rehab.
She was born Sept. 4, 1917, at Dermott (Chicot County), to Albert Clinton and Maude Collins Abernathy.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Wes H. Kyle, Sr. and three brothers, Harley, Everett and Clyde Abernathy.
She is survived by one son, Wes Kyle, Jr. and wife Helen of Cabot; one granddaughter, one grandson, two step-grandchildren, four great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild and several nieces and nephews.
A memorial service was held at McRae United Methodist Church Friday, Nov. 2 at 6 p.m.
Marceil Anderson
Marceil Anderson, 92, longtime resident of Little Rock, passed away in Searcy Nov. 2.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Paul R. Anderson; parents, Wesley Johnson and Bertha Dickson Johnson Collie; and longtime best friend, Cecil Suitt.
She is survived by a daughter, Marylin Dandridge of Searcy and son, Gary Anderson and wife Pam of Little Rock; five grandchildren, Angela Elder of Searcy, Beverly Beck of East End, Shanna O’Neal and husband Keith of Cabot, Tracy Fisher and husband Tommy of Redfield and Brian Anderson; seven great-grandchildren, Charlie and Jason Beck, Nicole and Blake Elder, Meagan O’Neal, Brayden and Shelby Fisher and Julia Anderson and a host of other friends and relatives.
Funeral services to celebrate her life were Nov. 5 at Grace Fellowship in Cabot.
Burial was in Sumner Cemetery in Cabot. Funeral services were by Moore’s Cabot Funeral Home.
TOP STORY >>Veteran has to travel out of state for treatment
By ALIYA FELDMAN
Leader staff writer
After traveling from his home in Jacksonville to the VA Hospital in Jackson, Miss., for 40 radiation treatments that began three years ago, Gary Gilmore isn’t cancer free and is still unable to work. He says the Veterans Administration cut his disability benefits even though he planned on depending on its care when he was diagnosed with prostate cancer, a result of being exposed to Agent Orange when he served in Vietnam in 1972.
“I love the United States, but I cannot stand the government,” the 66-year-old former soldier said.
“It’s unreal how they treat the veterans. If we have Agent Orange, we should be paid 100 percent,” said Gilmore, who also served for 12 years in the Army after Vietnam.
The VA ranks disabilities by percentage. Gilmore has what the VA considers a 20-percent disability because his cancer is considered to be in remission. He received disability benefits in full, or 100 percent, upon diagnosis. Gilmore said that even though he underwent his last radiation treatment two years ago, tests show his cancer increasing.
Dr. Margie Scott, chief of staff of Central Arkansas Veterans Healthcare System, said radiation therapy is not available in Little Rock. Scott said if the central Arkansas VA does not provide a service, treatment is always sought in the VA system first if the patient is willing and able to travel for care. If the patient is unable to travel, Scott said therapy could be done in a local private hospital. “We always check for VA resources first,” Scott said, adding that the VA wants to keep costs low. “We want to take care of as many patients as possible,” she said.
Scott said Arkansas VA hospitals take patients from Oklahoma, Mississippi, Louisiana and Missouri who need surgery and mental-health care, particularly post-traumatic stress disorder.
Officials in Washington say they are trying to do more to help the 268,000 veterans who live in Arkansas. One office with 124 employees handles disability compensation and pension benefits, survivors’ benefits, vocational rehabilitation and counseling. The Little Rock office authorizes more than $45 million each month in pension and compensation payments.
Sen. Blanche Lincoln, D-Ark., helped pass legislation increasing the VA budget by $70 million so that more claims processors can be hired.
Lincoln said disabilities claims grew 39 percent from 2000 to 2006, creating a backlog of 400,000 claims. The average time to process a claim is nearly six months. Lincoln also wants to end the Pentagon’s practice of subtracting veterans’ disability payments from their entire pension amount.
She has proposed an amendment to a century-old law that would give veterans who cannot work at all due to a service-connected disability their full pensions and disability pay.
In 2004, Congress agreed to a 10-year phase-in of concurrent receipt to all veterans who are 50 to 100 percent disabled. She said she wants immediate compensation given to veterans.
When Vietnam veteran Jerry Bowan sees $440 less each month in his veterans’ benefit check, he said it means the Pentagon has more money to spend on the war in Iraq. He served in Vietnam twice and was in the Army for 26 years. Because he had skin cancer, not a combat-duty related injury, he does not qualify for concurrent receipt, so the Pentagon deducts his disability compensation from his veterans’ pension.
“For the vast majority of us, disability did not occur in combat duty,” he said. He cannot prove that filling sand bags in the blazing Vietnamese sun caused his skin cancer because he also chopped cotton near Newport as a teenager. Still, the VA ruled that his disability was caused during combat.
“The VA will always rule on the side of a veteran,” he said. “I think the VA is very considerate to say we will always rule in favor of a veteran.
“But if a veteran has a service-connected disability, the Pentagon won’t let you have that retirement money,” he said. “When they take my money they have more money to spend in Iraq,” he said.
Rep. Marion Berry, who sits on the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Military Construction and Veterans Affairs, recently urged President Bush to fix problems facing the VA.
“As task forces and commissions from various agencies devote considerable resources to finding better ways to help the men and women who have served, time passes and veterans continue to go without care,” Berry wrote in a recent letter to the president.
Leader staff writer
After traveling from his home in Jacksonville to the VA Hospital in Jackson, Miss., for 40 radiation treatments that began three years ago, Gary Gilmore isn’t cancer free and is still unable to work. He says the Veterans Administration cut his disability benefits even though he planned on depending on its care when he was diagnosed with prostate cancer, a result of being exposed to Agent Orange when he served in Vietnam in 1972.
“I love the United States, but I cannot stand the government,” the 66-year-old former soldier said.
“It’s unreal how they treat the veterans. If we have Agent Orange, we should be paid 100 percent,” said Gilmore, who also served for 12 years in the Army after Vietnam.
The VA ranks disabilities by percentage. Gilmore has what the VA considers a 20-percent disability because his cancer is considered to be in remission. He received disability benefits in full, or 100 percent, upon diagnosis. Gilmore said that even though he underwent his last radiation treatment two years ago, tests show his cancer increasing.
Dr. Margie Scott, chief of staff of Central Arkansas Veterans Healthcare System, said radiation therapy is not available in Little Rock. Scott said if the central Arkansas VA does not provide a service, treatment is always sought in the VA system first if the patient is willing and able to travel for care. If the patient is unable to travel, Scott said therapy could be done in a local private hospital. “We always check for VA resources first,” Scott said, adding that the VA wants to keep costs low. “We want to take care of as many patients as possible,” she said.
Scott said Arkansas VA hospitals take patients from Oklahoma, Mississippi, Louisiana and Missouri who need surgery and mental-health care, particularly post-traumatic stress disorder.
Officials in Washington say they are trying to do more to help the 268,000 veterans who live in Arkansas. One office with 124 employees handles disability compensation and pension benefits, survivors’ benefits, vocational rehabilitation and counseling. The Little Rock office authorizes more than $45 million each month in pension and compensation payments.
Sen. Blanche Lincoln, D-Ark., helped pass legislation increasing the VA budget by $70 million so that more claims processors can be hired.
Lincoln said disabilities claims grew 39 percent from 2000 to 2006, creating a backlog of 400,000 claims. The average time to process a claim is nearly six months. Lincoln also wants to end the Pentagon’s practice of subtracting veterans’ disability payments from their entire pension amount.
She has proposed an amendment to a century-old law that would give veterans who cannot work at all due to a service-connected disability their full pensions and disability pay.
In 2004, Congress agreed to a 10-year phase-in of concurrent receipt to all veterans who are 50 to 100 percent disabled. She said she wants immediate compensation given to veterans.
When Vietnam veteran Jerry Bowan sees $440 less each month in his veterans’ benefit check, he said it means the Pentagon has more money to spend on the war in Iraq. He served in Vietnam twice and was in the Army for 26 years. Because he had skin cancer, not a combat-duty related injury, he does not qualify for concurrent receipt, so the Pentagon deducts his disability compensation from his veterans’ pension.
“For the vast majority of us, disability did not occur in combat duty,” he said. He cannot prove that filling sand bags in the blazing Vietnamese sun caused his skin cancer because he also chopped cotton near Newport as a teenager. Still, the VA ruled that his disability was caused during combat.
“The VA will always rule on the side of a veteran,” he said. “I think the VA is very considerate to say we will always rule in favor of a veteran.
“But if a veteran has a service-connected disability, the Pentagon won’t let you have that retirement money,” he said. “When they take my money they have more money to spend in Iraq,” he said.
Rep. Marion Berry, who sits on the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Military Construction and Veterans Affairs, recently urged President Bush to fix problems facing the VA.
“As task forces and commissions from various agencies devote considerable resources to finding better ways to help the men and women who have served, time passes and veterans continue to go without care,” Berry wrote in a recent letter to the president.
TOP STORY >>Judge calling it quits
By JOAN MCCOY
Leader staff writer
Lonoke County Circuit Judge Lance L. Hanshaw announced Monday that he will not be a candidate for re-election in 2008, saying he wants to give prospective candidates time to consider running for his position.
Hanshaw, who has served as the Division One circuit judge in the 23rd Judicial District since 1991, said he will complete the present term that ends Dec. 31, 2008. At 69 with almost 30 years on the bench, he says it is time he stepped down.
“I could probably run one more term, but I would be 76 years old when it ended,” he said.
Although candidates for circuit judge may begin raising money for their campaigns in two weeks for the May 2008 election, so far, only one has officially announced.
Sandy Huckabee, Han-shaw’s son-in-law, has announced for the Division Three seat now held by Barbara Elmore, who was appointed by the governor in July when the Division Three seat was created. Elmore cannot run for another term in that position. Division Two Judge Phillip Whiteaker is running for re-election.
Although Elmore has not formally announced, she said Tuesday that she will run for Hanshaw’s position. “I’ve heard that Chuck Graham (a deputy prosecutor for more than five years) is running but he doesn’t know for what. A judge has to be decisive,” she said. “I’m running for Division One.”
“It’s not that I can’t decide; it’s just a little early in the process,” Graham said. “It’s either (Division) One or (Division) Three. I’m certainly running.”
Graham spoke to The Leader while he was on vacation. He said he would make his announcement when he returns in about two weeks. Whiteaker, who has been unopposed since he won over Cabot District Judge Joe O’Bryan 11 years ago, said Tuesday that he intends to run again and that he will make his formal announcement in about a week and a half. He said he hopes he will be unopposed for this election.
Lonoke County Prosecutor Lona McCastlain also has been listed among the likely candidates for circuit judge, but she has not announced.
The judicial elections are non-partisan. Candidates get on the ballot either by a petition of 3 percent of the voters in the last governor’s race or by paying a filing fee of $5,248.
Candidates may begin collecting signatures for petitions on Dec. 2. The petitions must be submitted to the secretary of state between noon Jan. 17 and noon Jan 31. Filing fees are due between noon March 3 and noon March 10.
“I want to thank the great citizens of Lonoke County for having the confidence in me to elect me to this office and then support me in such a way that I have not had opponents during my time on the bench,” Hanshaw said in the press release announcing his decision. “It has been an honor and privilege to serve the people of this county. It has been my goal to be fair, impartial and unbiased, and I believe I have accomplished that goal. Thank you, Lonoke County.”
Admitted to the bar in 1962, Hanshaw clerked for Supreme Court Chief Justice Carlton Harris prior to joining the Air Force as an attorney in the Judge Advocate General’s office. He also served in the Arkansas attorney general’s office before entering private law practice in Little Rock in 1968.
Elected Lonoke County Circuit Judge in 1990, Hanshaw had previously served as district judge (formerly called municipal judge) in Cabot, Austin, Ward and Lonoke for a total of 12 years and had been engaged in the private practice of law in Cabot since 1977.
While on the bench, he was named Outstanding Arkansas Trial Judge of the Year.
Hanshaw said he has had high-profile cases like that of infamous child rapist Jack Walls, the murder of high school student Rodney Spence of Cabot and a ritualistic murder in a cemetery. But it has been the cases involving children that he has found heartbreaking, he said. He plans to travel with his wife Leann when his term ends and spend time with his six grandchildren, three of whom live in Texas. But he is not leaving the bench altogether. Retirement brings an opportunity to serve as special judge in other judicial districts and Hanshaw says he intends to be on the list when one is needed.
Leader staff writer
Lonoke County Circuit Judge Lance L. Hanshaw announced Monday that he will not be a candidate for re-election in 2008, saying he wants to give prospective candidates time to consider running for his position.
Hanshaw, who has served as the Division One circuit judge in the 23rd Judicial District since 1991, said he will complete the present term that ends Dec. 31, 2008. At 69 with almost 30 years on the bench, he says it is time he stepped down.
“I could probably run one more term, but I would be 76 years old when it ended,” he said.
Although candidates for circuit judge may begin raising money for their campaigns in two weeks for the May 2008 election, so far, only one has officially announced.
Sandy Huckabee, Han-shaw’s son-in-law, has announced for the Division Three seat now held by Barbara Elmore, who was appointed by the governor in July when the Division Three seat was created. Elmore cannot run for another term in that position. Division Two Judge Phillip Whiteaker is running for re-election.
Although Elmore has not formally announced, she said Tuesday that she will run for Hanshaw’s position. “I’ve heard that Chuck Graham (a deputy prosecutor for more than five years) is running but he doesn’t know for what. A judge has to be decisive,” she said. “I’m running for Division One.”
“It’s not that I can’t decide; it’s just a little early in the process,” Graham said. “It’s either (Division) One or (Division) Three. I’m certainly running.”
Graham spoke to The Leader while he was on vacation. He said he would make his announcement when he returns in about two weeks. Whiteaker, who has been unopposed since he won over Cabot District Judge Joe O’Bryan 11 years ago, said Tuesday that he intends to run again and that he will make his formal announcement in about a week and a half. He said he hopes he will be unopposed for this election.
Lonoke County Prosecutor Lona McCastlain also has been listed among the likely candidates for circuit judge, but she has not announced.
The judicial elections are non-partisan. Candidates get on the ballot either by a petition of 3 percent of the voters in the last governor’s race or by paying a filing fee of $5,248.
Candidates may begin collecting signatures for petitions on Dec. 2. The petitions must be submitted to the secretary of state between noon Jan. 17 and noon Jan 31. Filing fees are due between noon March 3 and noon March 10.
“I want to thank the great citizens of Lonoke County for having the confidence in me to elect me to this office and then support me in such a way that I have not had opponents during my time on the bench,” Hanshaw said in the press release announcing his decision. “It has been an honor and privilege to serve the people of this county. It has been my goal to be fair, impartial and unbiased, and I believe I have accomplished that goal. Thank you, Lonoke County.”
Admitted to the bar in 1962, Hanshaw clerked for Supreme Court Chief Justice Carlton Harris prior to joining the Air Force as an attorney in the Judge Advocate General’s office. He also served in the Arkansas attorney general’s office before entering private law practice in Little Rock in 1968.
Elected Lonoke County Circuit Judge in 1990, Hanshaw had previously served as district judge (formerly called municipal judge) in Cabot, Austin, Ward and Lonoke for a total of 12 years and had been engaged in the private practice of law in Cabot since 1977.
While on the bench, he was named Outstanding Arkansas Trial Judge of the Year.
Hanshaw said he has had high-profile cases like that of infamous child rapist Jack Walls, the murder of high school student Rodney Spence of Cabot and a ritualistic murder in a cemetery. But it has been the cases involving children that he has found heartbreaking, he said. He plans to travel with his wife Leann when his term ends and spend time with his six grandchildren, three of whom live in Texas. But he is not leaving the bench altogether. Retirement brings an opportunity to serve as special judge in other judicial districts and Hanshaw says he intends to be on the list when one is needed.
TOP STORY >>Warning: identities get taken
By RICK KRON
Leader staff writer
Identity theft is the fastest-growing crime in America, and Jacksonville has seen its share of it, according to Police Chief Robert Baker.
Baker updated aldermen on the crime statistics at their council meeting Thursday night.
The chief said in the past five years, across the country, identity theft has cost businesses $48 billion and consumers $5 billion.
“There were 10 million victims last year alone,” Baker said.
He added that so far this year in Jacksonville, there have been 63 reports of theft or fraudulent use of credit cards, 142 cases of counterfeit currency, checks or money orders, 14 fraudulent Internet transactions and seven thefts by deception or use of closed accounts.
The department has cleared more than 50 percent of those cases and about 10 percent remain open. The chief said that half of identity thefts are victims of credit card fraud.
“In about 26 percent of the cases, the victim knew who misused their personal information,” Baker said.
He added that 9 percent of the time the thief was a family member or relative, while 6 percent of the time it was someone who worked with the victim.
The chief said many times the thieves get someone’s personal information from stealing files at work, school or a bank, stealing a wallet or purse, stealing mail or sending an email requesting personal information.
Thieves will also Dumpster dive, shoulder surf, bribe employees for information, go phishing on the Internet, hack into computer files or run credit card scams, according to the chief.
Once thieves get personal information they can use the victim’s credit cards, get more credit cards, forge checks, obtain bank accounts and even get personal, student, car or mortgage loans—all in the victim’s name.
This can ruin the victim’s credit and even cause a victim to be arrested on bad check or fraud charges.
“And often it takes months or years for the victim to discover the fraudulent bills and debt,” the chief said.
So how can people protect themselves from identity theft?
The chief offered the following tips:
Secure personal information in the home from others.
Limit the amount of personal information on checks.
Photocopy documents normally carried in wallets and purses.
Do not give out personal information over the phone, Internet or through the mail.
Keep computer virus protection updated.
Never use a Social Security number as a password.
Avoid contests requiring personal information.
Baker said that victims of actual identity theft or even attempted theft need to contact the police and file a report. Victims need a copy of the report to show to financial institutions and credit companies.
“Notify each creditor where the identity thief committed fraud by phone to get stops put on the accounts and then follow up in writing,” the chief said.
Leader staff writer
Identity theft is the fastest-growing crime in America, and Jacksonville has seen its share of it, according to Police Chief Robert Baker.
Baker updated aldermen on the crime statistics at their council meeting Thursday night.
The chief said in the past five years, across the country, identity theft has cost businesses $48 billion and consumers $5 billion.
“There were 10 million victims last year alone,” Baker said.
He added that so far this year in Jacksonville, there have been 63 reports of theft or fraudulent use of credit cards, 142 cases of counterfeit currency, checks or money orders, 14 fraudulent Internet transactions and seven thefts by deception or use of closed accounts.
The department has cleared more than 50 percent of those cases and about 10 percent remain open. The chief said that half of identity thefts are victims of credit card fraud.
“In about 26 percent of the cases, the victim knew who misused their personal information,” Baker said.
He added that 9 percent of the time the thief was a family member or relative, while 6 percent of the time it was someone who worked with the victim.
The chief said many times the thieves get someone’s personal information from stealing files at work, school or a bank, stealing a wallet or purse, stealing mail or sending an email requesting personal information.
Thieves will also Dumpster dive, shoulder surf, bribe employees for information, go phishing on the Internet, hack into computer files or run credit card scams, according to the chief.
Once thieves get personal information they can use the victim’s credit cards, get more credit cards, forge checks, obtain bank accounts and even get personal, student, car or mortgage loans—all in the victim’s name.
This can ruin the victim’s credit and even cause a victim to be arrested on bad check or fraud charges.
“And often it takes months or years for the victim to discover the fraudulent bills and debt,” the chief said.
So how can people protect themselves from identity theft?
The chief offered the following tips:
Secure personal information in the home from others.
Limit the amount of personal information on checks.
Photocopy documents normally carried in wallets and purses.
Do not give out personal information over the phone, Internet or through the mail.
Keep computer virus protection updated.
Never use a Social Security number as a password.
Avoid contests requiring personal information.
Baker said that victims of actual identity theft or even attempted theft need to contact the police and file a report. Victims need a copy of the report to show to financial institutions and credit companies.
“Notify each creditor where the identity thief committed fraud by phone to get stops put on the accounts and then follow up in writing,” the chief said.
TOP STORY >>Backers cry out for new schools
By JOHN HOFHEIMER & GARRICK FELDMAN
Leader staff writers
As Jacksonville schools continue to lose students, many of them to Cabot and other nearby districts, community leaders said Tuesday that losses can only be stopped if new schools are built.
Danny Gilliland, a Pulaski County Special School Board member who represents parts of Jacksonville, told members of the Jacksonville Chamber of Commerce that they must get behind their schools, otherwise there’s no guarantee they will survive.
“I’m amazed by the number of Jacksonville (area) leaders who don’t have their kids in the system,” Gililland said.
Gililland told the meeting at the community center that he had trouble finding employees for his Popeye’s restaurants who could read, count change and speak good English.
He said that people in the community and in the business community needed to support and fight to keep the district, “otherwise you’re asking for the community to die.”
“Common sense does not prevail on a regular basis on that school board,” he said when asked if the board would put the Jacksonville Middle School buildings on the 10-year facilities master plan.
A new group called Jacksonville World Class Education Organization is pushing to replace the city’s aging schools, some of them 50 years or older. The Jacksonville Education Foundation is also working to improve the schools.
“The Jacksonville Education Foundation hopes to hire a part-time director by the end of the year to focus efforts on improving education in Jacksonville-area schools,” former state Rep. Pat Bond said Monday.
“What we need is someone to keep us all going in the same direction,” said Bond, president of the Jacksonville Chamber of Commerce.
That person will gather and disseminate information, stay in touch with the school board, administration and other players involved in public education in Jacksonville.
Echoing Gilliland’s warnings, Bond decried an education system that made it difficult for her husband, Tommy, to hire qualified engineers.
Also addressing the chamber’s annual education luncheon was Bill Vasquez, Jacksonville’s newest representative on the Pulaski County Special School District Board, who, along with Gilliland, pledged his support for adding Jacksonville’s middle schools to the district’s 10-year facilities master plan.
The school board members said they thought the idea had broad board support and could be approved at the January meeting.
Jacksonville activists, who have been foiled for more than 20 years in their efforts to carve a stand-alone school district from the far-flung PCSSD, have broadened their approach to improve area schools and facilities here without waiting for a separate district.
The district filed in federal district court Oct. 29 for unitary status, which could clear the way for a Jacksonville district.
Bond said she was frustrated by people asking why the chamber was involved in school issues, and some of the activists said they were disappointed by the response.
“It’s only the number-one economic issue that drives any community. Everyone who makes a dollar in this community has an interest,” she said.
“The city stands ready to help with financing,” said Jacksonville Mayor Tommy Swaim, provided that the district would commit those funds to the Jacksonville area.
He said passing a bond issue supported by a dedicated sales tax could raise funds.
Swaim said earlier efforts to fund a computer lab in local schools was rebuffed by the district, which said it couldn’t guarantee that the computers would stay in Jacksonville.
Jacksonville has a good history of passing taxes if the residents understand how their community would benefit, most recently the tax to pay for the new public library.
Vasquez said public education in Pulaski County is a half-billion-dollar-a-year industry, perhaps three-quarters of a billion dollars if you include private schools.
Changes are coming, he said.
“Ninety percent of the classrooms in this county my grandmother would be comfortable in. My son, with a $600 (iPhone) has more technology in his back pocket than some schools.”
With public and private schools, distance learning and home schooling, education is changing from a monopoly to a competitive model, he said.
“The challenge is how to become dynamic in a competitive market place to meet the needs of your children,” he said.
The World Class Organization of Jacksonville, the newly formed group dedicated to improving Jacksonville area schools regardless of the district they are in, showed the video it made of the poor conditions of facilities in the area.
“The realization is that the middle school facility is really in trouble,” according to Pat O’Brien, the Pulaski County circuit/county clerk and himself a former PCSSD board member.
It was formed because “we wanted to fight for our community,” he said.
Said O’Brien, “There’s hope. We’re not giving up.”
The wrapup speaker was state Rep. Will Bond, who not only took over his mother’s place in the state Legislature five years ago, but also her devotion to education issues.
Bond said that even if on the district’s 10-year facilities master plan, the state would only pay 13 percent of the cost of building new middle schools, but that without inclusion on the list, the project could receive no state funding.
But the slide in enrollment will make it even more difficult to replace old schools — many of them are less than half full — although he said Arnold Drive Elementary School on the base could be combined with nearby Tolleson Elementary, with a new school built on the periphery of the base.
The district is losing its middle class, Bond said, pointing out that 70 percent of the middle school students receive reduced or free lunches.
Leader staff writers
As Jacksonville schools continue to lose students, many of them to Cabot and other nearby districts, community leaders said Tuesday that losses can only be stopped if new schools are built.
Danny Gilliland, a Pulaski County Special School Board member who represents parts of Jacksonville, told members of the Jacksonville Chamber of Commerce that they must get behind their schools, otherwise there’s no guarantee they will survive.
“I’m amazed by the number of Jacksonville (area) leaders who don’t have their kids in the system,” Gililland said.
Gililland told the meeting at the community center that he had trouble finding employees for his Popeye’s restaurants who could read, count change and speak good English.
He said that people in the community and in the business community needed to support and fight to keep the district, “otherwise you’re asking for the community to die.”
“Common sense does not prevail on a regular basis on that school board,” he said when asked if the board would put the Jacksonville Middle School buildings on the 10-year facilities master plan.
A new group called Jacksonville World Class Education Organization is pushing to replace the city’s aging schools, some of them 50 years or older. The Jacksonville Education Foundation is also working to improve the schools.
“The Jacksonville Education Foundation hopes to hire a part-time director by the end of the year to focus efforts on improving education in Jacksonville-area schools,” former state Rep. Pat Bond said Monday.
“What we need is someone to keep us all going in the same direction,” said Bond, president of the Jacksonville Chamber of Commerce.
That person will gather and disseminate information, stay in touch with the school board, administration and other players involved in public education in Jacksonville.
Echoing Gilliland’s warnings, Bond decried an education system that made it difficult for her husband, Tommy, to hire qualified engineers.
Also addressing the chamber’s annual education luncheon was Bill Vasquez, Jacksonville’s newest representative on the Pulaski County Special School District Board, who, along with Gilliland, pledged his support for adding Jacksonville’s middle schools to the district’s 10-year facilities master plan.
The school board members said they thought the idea had broad board support and could be approved at the January meeting.
Jacksonville activists, who have been foiled for more than 20 years in their efforts to carve a stand-alone school district from the far-flung PCSSD, have broadened their approach to improve area schools and facilities here without waiting for a separate district.
The district filed in federal district court Oct. 29 for unitary status, which could clear the way for a Jacksonville district.
Bond said she was frustrated by people asking why the chamber was involved in school issues, and some of the activists said they were disappointed by the response.
“It’s only the number-one economic issue that drives any community. Everyone who makes a dollar in this community has an interest,” she said.
“The city stands ready to help with financing,” said Jacksonville Mayor Tommy Swaim, provided that the district would commit those funds to the Jacksonville area.
He said passing a bond issue supported by a dedicated sales tax could raise funds.
Swaim said earlier efforts to fund a computer lab in local schools was rebuffed by the district, which said it couldn’t guarantee that the computers would stay in Jacksonville.
Jacksonville has a good history of passing taxes if the residents understand how their community would benefit, most recently the tax to pay for the new public library.
Vasquez said public education in Pulaski County is a half-billion-dollar-a-year industry, perhaps three-quarters of a billion dollars if you include private schools.
Changes are coming, he said.
“Ninety percent of the classrooms in this county my grandmother would be comfortable in. My son, with a $600 (iPhone) has more technology in his back pocket than some schools.”
With public and private schools, distance learning and home schooling, education is changing from a monopoly to a competitive model, he said.
“The challenge is how to become dynamic in a competitive market place to meet the needs of your children,” he said.
The World Class Organization of Jacksonville, the newly formed group dedicated to improving Jacksonville area schools regardless of the district they are in, showed the video it made of the poor conditions of facilities in the area.
“The realization is that the middle school facility is really in trouble,” according to Pat O’Brien, the Pulaski County circuit/county clerk and himself a former PCSSD board member.
It was formed because “we wanted to fight for our community,” he said.
Said O’Brien, “There’s hope. We’re not giving up.”
The wrapup speaker was state Rep. Will Bond, who not only took over his mother’s place in the state Legislature five years ago, but also her devotion to education issues.
Bond said that even if on the district’s 10-year facilities master plan, the state would only pay 13 percent of the cost of building new middle schools, but that without inclusion on the list, the project could receive no state funding.
But the slide in enrollment will make it even more difficult to replace old schools — many of them are less than half full — although he said Arnold Drive Elementary School on the base could be combined with nearby Tolleson Elementary, with a new school built on the periphery of the base.
The district is losing its middle class, Bond said, pointing out that 70 percent of the middle school students receive reduced or free lunches.
TOP STORY >>Taking over ANG command
By HEATHER HARTSELL
Leader staff writer
Col. James R. Summers of Sherwood assumed command of the Arkansas Air National Guard’s 189th Airlift Wing from Col. Travis D. Balch of Vilonia during a change of command Saturday at Little Rock Air Force Base, home to the ANG’s 189th.
Balch will be filling the Arkansas Air National Guard’s chief of staff position at the state’s Joint Force Headquarters.
Summers, a command pilot with more than 9,100 hours in various military aircraft, had been serving as the wing’s vice-commander since last August.
Thanking Maj. Gen. William Wofford, adjutant general of the Arkansas National Guard, and Brig. Gen. Riley Porter, assistant adjutant general of Arkansas ANG at LRAFB, for their vote of confidence that will allow him to serve as the wing commander, Summers also credited Balch for leaving behind a strong unit.
“I know that due to Col. Balch’s strong leadership, the wing has a solid foundation on which to continue its tradition of success and to build a winning team for the 2008 ORI (Operational Readiness Inspection),” Summers said. He also addressed the 850 airmen, those in attendance and the 88 currently deployed, that make up the 189th AW.
“The fact that you have chosen to wear the uniform and do the job you do indicates that you are a true patriot,” Summers said. “But the ultimate measure of our success as a unit will be judged by our ability to safely and effectively execute our mission in support of national and state objectives. I look forward to working with you as we meet future challenges.
“I consider it a great honor and privilege to be allowed to continue to serve with the most highly skilled, highly trained and highly motivated group of individuals in the Air National Guard,” Summers added.
He joined the Arkansas ANG’s 154th Training Squadron in 1991 as an instructor pilot.
In 1999, he became the 189th Maintenance Squadron commander, and in 2002 he was named the 189th Operations Group commander.
While serving as vice commander, he was second in command of the wing and assisted Balch in the tactical employment, administration and training of all units within the 189th AW.
Leader staff writer
Col. James R. Summers of Sherwood assumed command of the Arkansas Air National Guard’s 189th Airlift Wing from Col. Travis D. Balch of Vilonia during a change of command Saturday at Little Rock Air Force Base, home to the ANG’s 189th.
Balch will be filling the Arkansas Air National Guard’s chief of staff position at the state’s Joint Force Headquarters.
Summers, a command pilot with more than 9,100 hours in various military aircraft, had been serving as the wing’s vice-commander since last August.
Thanking Maj. Gen. William Wofford, adjutant general of the Arkansas National Guard, and Brig. Gen. Riley Porter, assistant adjutant general of Arkansas ANG at LRAFB, for their vote of confidence that will allow him to serve as the wing commander, Summers also credited Balch for leaving behind a strong unit.
“I know that due to Col. Balch’s strong leadership, the wing has a solid foundation on which to continue its tradition of success and to build a winning team for the 2008 ORI (Operational Readiness Inspection),” Summers said. He also addressed the 850 airmen, those in attendance and the 88 currently deployed, that make up the 189th AW.
“The fact that you have chosen to wear the uniform and do the job you do indicates that you are a true patriot,” Summers said. “But the ultimate measure of our success as a unit will be judged by our ability to safely and effectively execute our mission in support of national and state objectives. I look forward to working with you as we meet future challenges.
“I consider it a great honor and privilege to be allowed to continue to serve with the most highly skilled, highly trained and highly motivated group of individuals in the Air National Guard,” Summers added.
He joined the Arkansas ANG’s 154th Training Squadron in 1991 as an instructor pilot.
In 1999, he became the 189th Maintenance Squadron commander, and in 2002 he was named the 189th Operations Group commander.
While serving as vice commander, he was second in command of the wing and assisted Balch in the tactical employment, administration and training of all units within the 189th AW.
TOP STORY >>Growth in Cabot costing one city
By JOHN HOFHEIMER
Leader senior staff writer
There are 67 fewer white students attending Jacksonville middle schools this year than last, and 33 more white students attending the Cabot middle schools.
Recent growth in Cabot has outpaced growth in Jacksonville, and there are those who say that Jacksonville’s loss is Cabot’s gain.
Although the state Education Department has not yet released enough data to support the conclusion that students fleeing Jacksonville middle schools landed in the nearly all-white Cabot middle schools, the numbers don’t refute the long-held theory that area parents are locating in the Cabot district or moving their children to qualify for Cabot schools, schools elsewhere, private schools or in some cases are home schooling their children.
There is plenty of anecdotal evidence of such an enrollment shift.
“The vast majority of new enrollment comes from people moving into this area, and they research where they want to live,” said Jim Dalton, assistant superintendent of Cabot schools.
“Most are being transferred into the (Little Rock Air Force) base or the metropolitan area and they research the schools,” Dalton said. “One of our middle schools is recognized as one of the top 14 schools in the state.”
That school was recognized Friday by the state Education Department as a higher performing school based on state ACTAAP exams.
“It’s not as much flight as selection of location when they come,” Dalton said. State school assignment guidelines make it difficult or impossible for white students to transfer from Jacksonville schools, perceived by many as dangerous, decrepit and educationally inadequate — unless parents submit a home address in the Cabot district.
Cabot Middle School South increased its enrollment of white students this year by 61—a 10 percent increase from last year’s 625.
The number of black students in the district remained the same at 14. Cabot Middle School North did not fare as well, losing 28 white students—a 4 percent decrease. The number of black middle school students dropped from eight to five.
At Jacksonville’s Boys Middle School, enrollment among white male students for the 2007-2008 school year declined by 50 — a 26 percent decline compared to last year.
At the Jacksonville Girls Middle School, enrollment dropped by 8 percent, 35 students fewer this school year than last.
That school lost 11 black students and 17 white students.
“This puts an exclamation mark on the need for new facilities,” said Bond. Some long-time advocates for Jacksonville areas schools say the sorry condition of Jacksonville facilities — the middle schools in particular — are driving a migration out of the district and they are lobbying the board again for a new middle school to be included on the 10-year master facilities plan.
The group wants to raise or find money for new Jacksonville Middle School facilities.
State Rep. Will Bond, a Jacksonville school activist, says the district needs to break ground for a new facility in the next six to eight months.
Leader senior staff writer
There are 67 fewer white students attending Jacksonville middle schools this year than last, and 33 more white students attending the Cabot middle schools.
Recent growth in Cabot has outpaced growth in Jacksonville, and there are those who say that Jacksonville’s loss is Cabot’s gain.
Although the state Education Department has not yet released enough data to support the conclusion that students fleeing Jacksonville middle schools landed in the nearly all-white Cabot middle schools, the numbers don’t refute the long-held theory that area parents are locating in the Cabot district or moving their children to qualify for Cabot schools, schools elsewhere, private schools or in some cases are home schooling their children.
There is plenty of anecdotal evidence of such an enrollment shift.
“The vast majority of new enrollment comes from people moving into this area, and they research where they want to live,” said Jim Dalton, assistant superintendent of Cabot schools.
“Most are being transferred into the (Little Rock Air Force) base or the metropolitan area and they research the schools,” Dalton said. “One of our middle schools is recognized as one of the top 14 schools in the state.”
That school was recognized Friday by the state Education Department as a higher performing school based on state ACTAAP exams.
“It’s not as much flight as selection of location when they come,” Dalton said. State school assignment guidelines make it difficult or impossible for white students to transfer from Jacksonville schools, perceived by many as dangerous, decrepit and educationally inadequate — unless parents submit a home address in the Cabot district.
Cabot Middle School South increased its enrollment of white students this year by 61—a 10 percent increase from last year’s 625.
The number of black students in the district remained the same at 14. Cabot Middle School North did not fare as well, losing 28 white students—a 4 percent decrease. The number of black middle school students dropped from eight to five.
At Jacksonville’s Boys Middle School, enrollment among white male students for the 2007-2008 school year declined by 50 — a 26 percent decline compared to last year.
At the Jacksonville Girls Middle School, enrollment dropped by 8 percent, 35 students fewer this school year than last.
That school lost 11 black students and 17 white students.
“This puts an exclamation mark on the need for new facilities,” said Bond. Some long-time advocates for Jacksonville areas schools say the sorry condition of Jacksonville facilities — the middle schools in particular — are driving a migration out of the district and they are lobbying the board again for a new middle school to be included on the 10-year master facilities plan.
The group wants to raise or find money for new Jacksonville Middle School facilities.
State Rep. Will Bond, a Jacksonville school activist, says the district needs to break ground for a new facility in the next six to eight months.
Saturday, November 03, 2007
SPORTS >>Lonoke hounded, pounded
By JASON KING
Leader sportswriter
NEWPORT — Halloween has come and gone, but the orange and black attack was still in full force Friday night at Greyhound Field, as Newport kept its unbeaten record intact with a dominant 48-6 win over Lonoke to claim outright possession of the 4A-2 Conference championship. The theme of the game was a simple one; the Lonoke defense giving chase to Newport running backs Nico Cox and Chris Crite. Cox blistered the Jackrabbits with 16 carries for 165 yards and four rushing touchdowns, along with one reception for 24 yards and another touchdown.
Crite actually generated more yardage than Cox in the game with 20 carries for 183 yards and a touchdown, but it was the senior Cox that made the most of the big plays for the Greyhounds.
The Greyhounds took little time getting on the scoreboard with a three-play, 60-yard drive during the first possession of the game. Cox found plenty of room down the right side on the first Newport drive, taking the first play from scrimmage 29 yards into Lonoke territory.
Cox found the end zone for the first time two plays later with a 19-yard touchdown run on a pitch from quarterback Edward Pruitt with 11:15 left in the first quarter.
The Jackrabbits would not come up completely empty handed in the first quarter. Lonoke quarterback Jacob Taylor found Daniel Smith for an 80-yard touchdown pass down the right side. Smith caught the lob in coverage by Donell Swanson, and zig-zagged across the right side to avoid the tackle to go in untouched for the score.
Smith also lined up to kick the extra point, but the Jackrabbits tried the fumble-rooskie for two points. Smith picked up the ball and found a hole, but the Greyhound defense stopped him just short of the line. That would keep the score at 7-6, but only for a short period of time.
Cox’s next score came with 55 seconds left in the opening quarter when Pruitt found him on an in route to the end zone. Cox beat the coverage to the throw, and only had to step over the goal line after the reception for the second Newport touchdown of the night. An offsides penalty moved the ball close to the 1-yard line for the extra-point try, and Newport took advantage by running in the two-point conversion with a keeper by Pruitt to make it 15-6 Newport.
What few Lonoke pass plays survived the Greyhounds’ monstrous blitz could not get past the equally impressive secondary for Newport.
Taylor spent most of his time in the early going suffering the abuse of Newport linebackers Clyde Dean and Donell Swanson. The pair sliced through the Lonoke offensive line on a number of pass plays to deny Taylor of a good look downfield.
The Jackrabbits did manage to catch a break in the opening moments of the second quarter. Newport drove down to Lonoke’s 23-yard line with the threat of a third score, but Pruitt fumbled on a keep, and Alvin Farmer was there to cover for the Jackrabbits, giving them the ball at their own 13-yard line.
Lonoke was forced to punt after an incomplete pass to Smith on third and two, and Cox put the Greyhounds up by three scores moments later with another touchdown run to the left side, this time from 24 yards out for the score with 7:34 left in the first half.
Cox put one more touchdown on the board for the Greyhounds before the intermission with a six-yard run at the 2:25 mark of the second quarter to give Newport a 28-6 lead at the half.
Lonoke got the ball to start the second half, and got one first down before three straight incompletions stalled the drive at the Jackrabbit 20-yard line. The ensuing punt gave Newport good field position at the Lonoke 43-yard line, setting up yet another TD scramble by Cox. This one would come from 30 yards out, and a three-yard touchdown run by Crite later in the period with 2:55 left in the third would activate the mercy rule against the Jackrabbits for the first time all season.
For whatever reason, the Greyhounds decided to add insult to injury in the fourth quarter with a 34-yard touchdown pass to Dean that was set up by an interception by Swanson.
Newport finished with 460 yards of total offense, compared to 196 yards for Lonoke. Smith led the Jackrabbits with three receptions for 102 yards and a touchdown. Newport finished the regular season with a perfect record of 10-0 overall and 7-0 in the 4A-2 Conference. Lonoke’s record fell to 7-3 overall and 6-1 in conference.
Leader sportswriter
NEWPORT — Halloween has come and gone, but the orange and black attack was still in full force Friday night at Greyhound Field, as Newport kept its unbeaten record intact with a dominant 48-6 win over Lonoke to claim outright possession of the 4A-2 Conference championship. The theme of the game was a simple one; the Lonoke defense giving chase to Newport running backs Nico Cox and Chris Crite. Cox blistered the Jackrabbits with 16 carries for 165 yards and four rushing touchdowns, along with one reception for 24 yards and another touchdown.
Crite actually generated more yardage than Cox in the game with 20 carries for 183 yards and a touchdown, but it was the senior Cox that made the most of the big plays for the Greyhounds.
The Greyhounds took little time getting on the scoreboard with a three-play, 60-yard drive during the first possession of the game. Cox found plenty of room down the right side on the first Newport drive, taking the first play from scrimmage 29 yards into Lonoke territory.
Cox found the end zone for the first time two plays later with a 19-yard touchdown run on a pitch from quarterback Edward Pruitt with 11:15 left in the first quarter.
The Jackrabbits would not come up completely empty handed in the first quarter. Lonoke quarterback Jacob Taylor found Daniel Smith for an 80-yard touchdown pass down the right side. Smith caught the lob in coverage by Donell Swanson, and zig-zagged across the right side to avoid the tackle to go in untouched for the score.
Smith also lined up to kick the extra point, but the Jackrabbits tried the fumble-rooskie for two points. Smith picked up the ball and found a hole, but the Greyhound defense stopped him just short of the line. That would keep the score at 7-6, but only for a short period of time.
Cox’s next score came with 55 seconds left in the opening quarter when Pruitt found him on an in route to the end zone. Cox beat the coverage to the throw, and only had to step over the goal line after the reception for the second Newport touchdown of the night. An offsides penalty moved the ball close to the 1-yard line for the extra-point try, and Newport took advantage by running in the two-point conversion with a keeper by Pruitt to make it 15-6 Newport.
What few Lonoke pass plays survived the Greyhounds’ monstrous blitz could not get past the equally impressive secondary for Newport.
Taylor spent most of his time in the early going suffering the abuse of Newport linebackers Clyde Dean and Donell Swanson. The pair sliced through the Lonoke offensive line on a number of pass plays to deny Taylor of a good look downfield.
The Jackrabbits did manage to catch a break in the opening moments of the second quarter. Newport drove down to Lonoke’s 23-yard line with the threat of a third score, but Pruitt fumbled on a keep, and Alvin Farmer was there to cover for the Jackrabbits, giving them the ball at their own 13-yard line.
Lonoke was forced to punt after an incomplete pass to Smith on third and two, and Cox put the Greyhounds up by three scores moments later with another touchdown run to the left side, this time from 24 yards out for the score with 7:34 left in the first half.
Cox put one more touchdown on the board for the Greyhounds before the intermission with a six-yard run at the 2:25 mark of the second quarter to give Newport a 28-6 lead at the half.
Lonoke got the ball to start the second half, and got one first down before three straight incompletions stalled the drive at the Jackrabbit 20-yard line. The ensuing punt gave Newport good field position at the Lonoke 43-yard line, setting up yet another TD scramble by Cox. This one would come from 30 yards out, and a three-yard touchdown run by Crite later in the period with 2:55 left in the third would activate the mercy rule against the Jackrabbits for the first time all season.
For whatever reason, the Greyhounds decided to add insult to injury in the fourth quarter with a 34-yard touchdown pass to Dean that was set up by an interception by Swanson.
Newport finished with 460 yards of total offense, compared to 196 yards for Lonoke. Smith led the Jackrabbits with three receptions for 102 yards and a touchdown. Newport finished the regular season with a perfect record of 10-0 overall and 7-0 in the 4A-2 Conference. Lonoke’s record fell to 7-3 overall and 6-1 in conference.
SPORTS >>Red Devils fall to Patriots
IN SHORT: Jacksonville lost the game and its hopes for a playoff berth Friday in a 20-18 decision.
By RAY BENTON
Leader sports editor
The Jacksonville Red Devils closed the regular season much the same way they’ve played most of it. The offense moved the ball well but failed to capitalize. The defense played tough and held as long as it could.
In the end, Marion escaped Jacksonville Friday night with a 20-18 victory, and with it a spot in the playoffs. The loss finalizes Jacksonville’s season at 3-7 overall and without a win in four home games.
Trailing 20-10 and starting on their own 20 with four minutes left in the game, the Red Devils executed their offense more beautifully than they have all season. Jacksonville needed just seven plays and a minute and eight seconds to cover the distance. Quarterback Thomas Blade was five of six for 74 yards and ran the final six for the score with 2:52 left in the game.
Blade then found Demetrius Harris in the back of the end zone for the two-point conversion to make it a two-point game.
The Red Devils failed to cover an on-side kick, and Marion took over on its own 43. Two runs left third and six, but the Patriots converted the first down when quarterback Brandon Hampton kept on an option left for seven yards.
Jacksonville still had two timeouts left, and had one more opportunity to stop Marion’s offense. After fullback Justin Blackwood got just one yard, Jacksonville used one of those timeouts. On second and nine, tailback Deoppolis Smith picked up eight yards and the Red Devils used their final timeout. On third down, fullback Bubba Cooper bulled his way forward for three yards and what was left was victory formation for two snaps to secure the Marion victory.
Jacksonville got on the board first on its second drive. The Red Devil defense stopped Marion’s first two drives, once when Marion missed a 45-yard field goal attempt, and once when Jacksonville stuffed the run on a fourth-and-four conversion attempt.
After the fourth-down stop, Blade hit Harris for 17 yards to move the ball to the Jacksonville 38. On the next play, tailback Patrick Geans got loose for a 43-yard gain to the Marion 19. Two plays later Jacksonville faced third and 11, but converted when Blade hit Cameron Hood on a screen pass for 19 yards to the 1-yard line. On the next play, Hood went under center and kept for the score. The extra point put Jacksonville up 7-0 with 1:42 remaining in the first quarter.
Marion came right back with an 11-play, 74-yard drive to tie the game. The big play of the drive came on first and 21 after a holding penalty. That’s when Hampton, who stepped in at quarterback when starter Jonathan Miliken went down on the first drive, broke loose for a 36-yard gain to the Red Devil 29.
Brayden Murray then sacked Hampton for a three yard loss. Marion got 11 of it back in the next two plays, but still faced fourth and two. On fourth down, Blackwood got seven yards to the Jacksonville 14. Hampton was sacked again for minus four yards, but two Smith runs got the first down at the 2, and Blackwood did the rest on first and goal. The extra point tied the game with 8:48 left in the half.
Jacksonville put together another good drive, going 64 yards in 12 plays. Facing fourth and goal at the 1-yard line, Jacksonville opted for a field goal, which was hit by Price Eubanks to put the Red Devils in front 10-7 with 3:29 left in the half.
Marion got a good return to the 43, and needed just four plays to score and take a lead into the break.
The big play came on third and five when Hampton found Cooper for a 45-yard pass and catch to the 7-yard line. Blackwood got the rest on the next play. Jacksonville jumped off sides and Marion decided to go for two from the 1, but failed to get in, leaving it 13-10 with 1:34 left.
Jacksonville picked up 17 yards on three running plays, but let the clock run out with two timeouts on the board.
The Jacksonville defense was strong in the second half, but had two big mistakes that proved costly. On Marion’s second drive of the half, the Red Devils were called for pass interference on third and 11 to keep Marion’s only scoring drive of the half alive. Marion faced another third and long just two plays later, but junior Azell Marshall broke three tackles and raced 29 yards for the score to put Marion up by 10 with 4:03 left in the third.
Jacksonville put together another long drive from its own 20 to the Marion 28, but it came up empty when Marquis Simpkins dropped a pass on third and 10, and Appleby was tackled after picking up just four yards on fourth and 15.
Jacksonville got it right back when junior Terrell Brown picked off a Hampton pass for the only turnover of the night.
Jacksonville got one first down to the Marion 37, but went backwards from there, completing two passes for negative yardage and throwing an incompletion.
Marion started picking up big yardage on its next drive, but the Red Devil defense put the clamps on and forced another long field goal attempt. This time it was from 33 yards out, and again it was no good. That gave Jacksonville the ball to start its final scoring drive.
Jacksonville finished with 323 total yards to 318 for Marion.
Smith led the Patriots in rushing with 56 yards on 17 carries. Geans led all rushers with 120 yards on 22 carries. Blade completed 16 of 30 pass attempts for 170 yards.
By RAY BENTON
Leader sports editor
The Jacksonville Red Devils closed the regular season much the same way they’ve played most of it. The offense moved the ball well but failed to capitalize. The defense played tough and held as long as it could.
In the end, Marion escaped Jacksonville Friday night with a 20-18 victory, and with it a spot in the playoffs. The loss finalizes Jacksonville’s season at 3-7 overall and without a win in four home games.
Trailing 20-10 and starting on their own 20 with four minutes left in the game, the Red Devils executed their offense more beautifully than they have all season. Jacksonville needed just seven plays and a minute and eight seconds to cover the distance. Quarterback Thomas Blade was five of six for 74 yards and ran the final six for the score with 2:52 left in the game.
Blade then found Demetrius Harris in the back of the end zone for the two-point conversion to make it a two-point game.
The Red Devils failed to cover an on-side kick, and Marion took over on its own 43. Two runs left third and six, but the Patriots converted the first down when quarterback Brandon Hampton kept on an option left for seven yards.
Jacksonville still had two timeouts left, and had one more opportunity to stop Marion’s offense. After fullback Justin Blackwood got just one yard, Jacksonville used one of those timeouts. On second and nine, tailback Deoppolis Smith picked up eight yards and the Red Devils used their final timeout. On third down, fullback Bubba Cooper bulled his way forward for three yards and what was left was victory formation for two snaps to secure the Marion victory.
Jacksonville got on the board first on its second drive. The Red Devil defense stopped Marion’s first two drives, once when Marion missed a 45-yard field goal attempt, and once when Jacksonville stuffed the run on a fourth-and-four conversion attempt.
After the fourth-down stop, Blade hit Harris for 17 yards to move the ball to the Jacksonville 38. On the next play, tailback Patrick Geans got loose for a 43-yard gain to the Marion 19. Two plays later Jacksonville faced third and 11, but converted when Blade hit Cameron Hood on a screen pass for 19 yards to the 1-yard line. On the next play, Hood went under center and kept for the score. The extra point put Jacksonville up 7-0 with 1:42 remaining in the first quarter.
Marion came right back with an 11-play, 74-yard drive to tie the game. The big play of the drive came on first and 21 after a holding penalty. That’s when Hampton, who stepped in at quarterback when starter Jonathan Miliken went down on the first drive, broke loose for a 36-yard gain to the Red Devil 29.
Brayden Murray then sacked Hampton for a three yard loss. Marion got 11 of it back in the next two plays, but still faced fourth and two. On fourth down, Blackwood got seven yards to the Jacksonville 14. Hampton was sacked again for minus four yards, but two Smith runs got the first down at the 2, and Blackwood did the rest on first and goal. The extra point tied the game with 8:48 left in the half.
Jacksonville put together another good drive, going 64 yards in 12 plays. Facing fourth and goal at the 1-yard line, Jacksonville opted for a field goal, which was hit by Price Eubanks to put the Red Devils in front 10-7 with 3:29 left in the half.
Marion got a good return to the 43, and needed just four plays to score and take a lead into the break.
The big play came on third and five when Hampton found Cooper for a 45-yard pass and catch to the 7-yard line. Blackwood got the rest on the next play. Jacksonville jumped off sides and Marion decided to go for two from the 1, but failed to get in, leaving it 13-10 with 1:34 left.
Jacksonville picked up 17 yards on three running plays, but let the clock run out with two timeouts on the board.
The Jacksonville defense was strong in the second half, but had two big mistakes that proved costly. On Marion’s second drive of the half, the Red Devils were called for pass interference on third and 11 to keep Marion’s only scoring drive of the half alive. Marion faced another third and long just two plays later, but junior Azell Marshall broke three tackles and raced 29 yards for the score to put Marion up by 10 with 4:03 left in the third.
Jacksonville put together another long drive from its own 20 to the Marion 28, but it came up empty when Marquis Simpkins dropped a pass on third and 10, and Appleby was tackled after picking up just four yards on fourth and 15.
Jacksonville got it right back when junior Terrell Brown picked off a Hampton pass for the only turnover of the night.
Jacksonville got one first down to the Marion 37, but went backwards from there, completing two passes for negative yardage and throwing an incompletion.
Marion started picking up big yardage on its next drive, but the Red Devil defense put the clamps on and forced another long field goal attempt. This time it was from 33 yards out, and again it was no good. That gave Jacksonville the ball to start its final scoring drive.
Jacksonville finished with 323 total yards to 318 for Marion.
Smith led the Patriots in rushing with 56 yards on 17 carries. Geans led all rushers with 120 yards on 22 carries. Blade completed 16 of 30 pass attempts for 170 yards.
SPORTS >>Season's last play clinches playoffs
IN SHORT: Cabot scored as time expired to qualify for the postseason Thursday night in a wild 55-42 win over Russellville.
By RAY BENTON
Leader sports editor
Every single play matters. Let no one say differently lest he be reminded of what took place on Thursday, Nov. 1, 2007 at Russellville High School. That was the setting for perhaps the most exciting, bizarre and miraculous playoff qualification in football history.
That was the time and place at which the Panthers, who needed to win by at least 12 points to have a chance at a spot in the playoffs, beat the Cyclones 55-42, and didn’t lead by the necessary 12 points until the very last play of the game.
In a game that saw more second half twists and turns than Watkins-Glen, Cabot had four seconds and one snap to go five yards. The win was well in hand. The Panthers led 48-42 with the ball on RHS’s 5 with four seconds to go. But a six-point win would have been like a knife to the gut, especially after leading 42-21 with seven minutes left to play. Cabot had to win by 12, so they called a special play—96G. Special in that it’s the fullback up the middle, which Cabot runs about 30 times a game. It got just enough, as the line judge raised his hands skyward, awarding sophomore fullback Michael James a touchdown just as the horn sounded to signal the end of the game.
Senior halfback Jordan Car-lisle, who had a monster game of his own, saw the hole from the start, and carried out his fake to the outside with fists pumping into the air celebrating what he was certain would be a score.
“I saw it right off,” Carlisle said. “They had been stacking up trying to stop the fullback, but they didn’t that time. I saw that and I saw the hole open up and I knew he was going to score.”
It wasn’t quite as easy as all that. James did get hit before reaching the goal line, but as was the case for much of the night, his strength and the strength of the offensive line got him the yardage he needed after contact.
Wes Lamb’s extra point with no time left set the final margin. A few minutes later, news reached the field that Bryant had beaten Little Rock Central, and Cabot coach Mike Malham told his players they wouldn’t be turning in gear on Monday, and the celebration began.
The almost-miraculous ending had the head Panther asking the question after the game.
“Have you ever seen anything like that?” Malham said. “What did the final score end up being? I don’t think we’ve scored 55 points, maybe ever.”
It could have been even more, but seven fumbles, including three that were lost, thwarted a few drives. Russellville never came close to stopping Cabot’s offense, but the Cyclones had some offensive magic of their own.
Cabot’s defense played well through the third quarter, but the offense gave the high-powered Russellville team the ball too many times.
After the first turnover of the second half, Cabot’s defense held. After the second, on the very next drive, Russellville went 74 yards in two plays with the help of one Cabot penalty to make it 42-28 with 7:07 left in the game.
The Cyclones then covered an on-side kick and scored just three plays later to make it 42-35 with 6:32 left.
RHS kicked it away this time, and Cabot’s offense answered. The Panthers took three minutes and 11 seconds to go 70 yards, with Carlisle breaking loose for the final 44 and the touchdown. The extra point was no good, leaving the Panthers with a 13-point cushion.
Russellville, which for the entire game needed nothing more than for it to be third and long, answered right back, scoring with 1:40 remaining to make it a six-point game.
Cabot was now feeling the heat, needing not just to win, but win by 12 or more. An on-side kick was coming, so covering it would leave a short field.
Not only did Jake Davis cover, he caught it on the fly as the RHS hands team ran right by him. Davis, a defensive lineman and reserve fullback, ran it all the way to the 24 before being dragged down by the kicker with 1:37 left in the game.
Three plays gave Cabot first and goal at the 10, but from there things went from great hope to deep despair.
A bad pitch on first down made it second and goal from the 17.
Carlisle caught a throw-back pass for a 12-yard gain on second down, but was stopped after just one yard on third down. On fourth and goal from the 4, another pitch was fumbled and Russellville covered on the 5-yard line with 43 seconds left in the game. The Cyclones got it out to the 30 when Davis got a sack for a 9-yard loss. Russellville got 11 yards on second down to set up third and eight.
Up to that point, the Cyclones had converted several third downs in the second half, but not this time.
Senior defensive back Jordan Sperry spotted a trend in the Russellville package, saw the play develop and stepped in front of an out pass and raced down to the 5-yard line before being tackled by Humphrey with four seconds remaining.
“They were running the curl and the out every time on my side,” Sperry said. “I figured they would do it again. They threw the out and I just stepped up and made a play when my team needed. It’s all a team effort though. We did this together.”
The end of the first half was about as exciting as the end of a half can be, and turned out to be just a teaser for the end of the game.
Russellville scored first and third to take a 14-7 lead when Cabot took over the game and scored 14 straight. The Panthers took a 21-14 lead with just 2:07 remaining in the half, but that was plenty of time for Russellville to get back on track.
The Cyclones capped their last drive of the half with a 15-yard pass from Humphrey to Owens. The extra point tied the game at 21 apiece with 20 seconds to go.
Cabot returned the kickoff to the 25, and Malham dusted off an old playbook, took out an old play, modified it to fit new rules, and Cabot’s Spencer Neumann scored on the new fumble-rooskie end around, the modern version of the old fumble rooskie guard around, to send Cabot into the break with a 28-21 advantage.
“The guard is illegal now,” Malham said. “It has to be an eligible ball carrier to pick it up. We put Neumann out there at tight end and he ran it in for us.”
Cabot took the ball to start the second half and scored again. On third and one, Cabot faked the handoff and Wilson found tight end Blake Carter behind the Russellville defense for a 24-yard scoring strike. After a Russellville three and out, Cabot went up 42-21 when it drove 62 yards in just six plays with James finishing it off from one yard out.
The two teams combined for over 1,000 yards of offense. Russellville finished with 464 while Cabot totaled 564.
Humphrey completed 29 of 43 passes for 315 yards with five touchdowns and one interception. He also ran 12 times for 96 yards, but was sacked four times for negative 31 yards. His 65 rushing yards was still tops on the team. Owens caught 14 of those passes for 199 yards.
Cabot got 527 of its yards on the ground, led by James, who ran 28 times for 218 yards and four touchdowns.
Carlisle carried 18 times for 166 yards and two scores. Neumann was third with 75 yards on one carry and a score. Wesley Sowell carried seven times for 32 yards, and Wilson was three of four passing for 37 yards and a touchdown.
The win lifted the Panthers to 7-3 overall and earned them a first-round playoff game against Har-Ber High School next Friday in Springdale.
By RAY BENTON
Leader sports editor
Every single play matters. Let no one say differently lest he be reminded of what took place on Thursday, Nov. 1, 2007 at Russellville High School. That was the setting for perhaps the most exciting, bizarre and miraculous playoff qualification in football history.
That was the time and place at which the Panthers, who needed to win by at least 12 points to have a chance at a spot in the playoffs, beat the Cyclones 55-42, and didn’t lead by the necessary 12 points until the very last play of the game.
In a game that saw more second half twists and turns than Watkins-Glen, Cabot had four seconds and one snap to go five yards. The win was well in hand. The Panthers led 48-42 with the ball on RHS’s 5 with four seconds to go. But a six-point win would have been like a knife to the gut, especially after leading 42-21 with seven minutes left to play. Cabot had to win by 12, so they called a special play—96G. Special in that it’s the fullback up the middle, which Cabot runs about 30 times a game. It got just enough, as the line judge raised his hands skyward, awarding sophomore fullback Michael James a touchdown just as the horn sounded to signal the end of the game.
Senior halfback Jordan Car-lisle, who had a monster game of his own, saw the hole from the start, and carried out his fake to the outside with fists pumping into the air celebrating what he was certain would be a score.
“I saw it right off,” Carlisle said. “They had been stacking up trying to stop the fullback, but they didn’t that time. I saw that and I saw the hole open up and I knew he was going to score.”
It wasn’t quite as easy as all that. James did get hit before reaching the goal line, but as was the case for much of the night, his strength and the strength of the offensive line got him the yardage he needed after contact.
Wes Lamb’s extra point with no time left set the final margin. A few minutes later, news reached the field that Bryant had beaten Little Rock Central, and Cabot coach Mike Malham told his players they wouldn’t be turning in gear on Monday, and the celebration began.
The almost-miraculous ending had the head Panther asking the question after the game.
“Have you ever seen anything like that?” Malham said. “What did the final score end up being? I don’t think we’ve scored 55 points, maybe ever.”
It could have been even more, but seven fumbles, including three that were lost, thwarted a few drives. Russellville never came close to stopping Cabot’s offense, but the Cyclones had some offensive magic of their own.
Cabot’s defense played well through the third quarter, but the offense gave the high-powered Russellville team the ball too many times.
After the first turnover of the second half, Cabot’s defense held. After the second, on the very next drive, Russellville went 74 yards in two plays with the help of one Cabot penalty to make it 42-28 with 7:07 left in the game.
The Cyclones then covered an on-side kick and scored just three plays later to make it 42-35 with 6:32 left.
RHS kicked it away this time, and Cabot’s offense answered. The Panthers took three minutes and 11 seconds to go 70 yards, with Carlisle breaking loose for the final 44 and the touchdown. The extra point was no good, leaving the Panthers with a 13-point cushion.
Russellville, which for the entire game needed nothing more than for it to be third and long, answered right back, scoring with 1:40 remaining to make it a six-point game.
Cabot was now feeling the heat, needing not just to win, but win by 12 or more. An on-side kick was coming, so covering it would leave a short field.
Not only did Jake Davis cover, he caught it on the fly as the RHS hands team ran right by him. Davis, a defensive lineman and reserve fullback, ran it all the way to the 24 before being dragged down by the kicker with 1:37 left in the game.
Three plays gave Cabot first and goal at the 10, but from there things went from great hope to deep despair.
A bad pitch on first down made it second and goal from the 17.
Carlisle caught a throw-back pass for a 12-yard gain on second down, but was stopped after just one yard on third down. On fourth and goal from the 4, another pitch was fumbled and Russellville covered on the 5-yard line with 43 seconds left in the game. The Cyclones got it out to the 30 when Davis got a sack for a 9-yard loss. Russellville got 11 yards on second down to set up third and eight.
Up to that point, the Cyclones had converted several third downs in the second half, but not this time.
Senior defensive back Jordan Sperry spotted a trend in the Russellville package, saw the play develop and stepped in front of an out pass and raced down to the 5-yard line before being tackled by Humphrey with four seconds remaining.
“They were running the curl and the out every time on my side,” Sperry said. “I figured they would do it again. They threw the out and I just stepped up and made a play when my team needed. It’s all a team effort though. We did this together.”
The end of the first half was about as exciting as the end of a half can be, and turned out to be just a teaser for the end of the game.
Russellville scored first and third to take a 14-7 lead when Cabot took over the game and scored 14 straight. The Panthers took a 21-14 lead with just 2:07 remaining in the half, but that was plenty of time for Russellville to get back on track.
The Cyclones capped their last drive of the half with a 15-yard pass from Humphrey to Owens. The extra point tied the game at 21 apiece with 20 seconds to go.
Cabot returned the kickoff to the 25, and Malham dusted off an old playbook, took out an old play, modified it to fit new rules, and Cabot’s Spencer Neumann scored on the new fumble-rooskie end around, the modern version of the old fumble rooskie guard around, to send Cabot into the break with a 28-21 advantage.
“The guard is illegal now,” Malham said. “It has to be an eligible ball carrier to pick it up. We put Neumann out there at tight end and he ran it in for us.”
Cabot took the ball to start the second half and scored again. On third and one, Cabot faked the handoff and Wilson found tight end Blake Carter behind the Russellville defense for a 24-yard scoring strike. After a Russellville three and out, Cabot went up 42-21 when it drove 62 yards in just six plays with James finishing it off from one yard out.
The two teams combined for over 1,000 yards of offense. Russellville finished with 464 while Cabot totaled 564.
Humphrey completed 29 of 43 passes for 315 yards with five touchdowns and one interception. He also ran 12 times for 96 yards, but was sacked four times for negative 31 yards. His 65 rushing yards was still tops on the team. Owens caught 14 of those passes for 199 yards.
Cabot got 527 of its yards on the ground, led by James, who ran 28 times for 218 yards and four touchdowns.
Carlisle carried 18 times for 166 yards and two scores. Neumann was third with 75 yards on one carry and a score. Wesley Sowell carried seven times for 32 yards, and Wilson was three of four passing for 37 yards and a touchdown.
The win lifted the Panthers to 7-3 overall and earned them a first-round playoff game against Har-Ber High School next Friday in Springdale.
SPORTS >>Big runs, pick six lead to Bear win
IN SHORT: Sylvan Hills got several big plays and an interception return for a score to clobber Jonesboro 35-7 and end the season with six straight wins.
By RAY BENTON
Leader sports editor
It mattered little how well Sylvan Hills played, or even whether or not it won, but the Bears won their regular-season finale easily, beating Jonesboro 35-7 and enacting the mercy rule about halfway through the third quarter.
Sylvan Hills dominated the Hurricane in every facet of the game. Two turnovers kept the score from being worse, but it was still an easy night for the Bears, who will begin preparation this week for El Dorado, which visits Blackwood Field in Sherwood for the first round of the class 6A playoffs.
Bears quarterback Hunter Miller had a hand in all five touchdowns. He threw for three scores, ran one in and returned an interception for another.
Sylvan Hills put together a nice drive on its first possession. The Bears drove steadily to the Jonesboro 1-yard line, but coughed it up and lost the ball going into the end zone.
The first quarter ended with no score, but Sylvan Hills changed that quickly.
After another defensive stop, the Bear offense went backwards nine yards on the first two plays. On third and 19, Miller hooked up with Jacob Clark for a 42-yard scoring pass and Stephan Kettle hit the extra point to make it 7-0 with 9:50 left in the half.
Jonesboro fumbled on its next possession and Sylvan Hills covered near midfield. Miller then ran 50 yards to the 1-yard line, and snuck in on first goal to put the Bears up by two scores with seven minutes left in the half.
A blitz of interceptions ensued over the next three drives.
Jonesboro put together a nice drive, but it ended when Julien Broner stepped in front of a Carter Callahan pass at the Bear 2-yard line and returned the pick 73 yards to the Jonesboro 25. On the very next play, Sylvan Hills gave it right back when Miller was picked off.
Two plays later, Miller atoned for his mistake, intercepting a Callahan pass and returning it 39 yards for the score. Kettle’s extra point made it 21-0 with 50 seconds left in the half.
The Bears took the momentum into the break and carried it onto the field in the third quarter. Sylvan Hills got the ball to start the second half, and went 58 yards in four plays. Miller had runs of 16 and 30 on the drive, and he scored from five yards out to make it 28-0 with 9:50 left in the third quarter.
Bear defender Casey Cerrato then got Sylvan Hills’ third pick of the game deep in Jonesboro territory. A few plays later, Miller scampered 23 yards for the score. Kettle’s fifth extra point made it a 35-point game and enacted the mercy rule with 5:30 left in the third.
Jonesboro finally got on the board with four minutes left in the game when Montello Thomas ran nine yards for the score.
The win was the sixth straight for Sylvan Hills and lifted the Bears to 6-4 overall and 6-1 in league play. They will take their No. 2 seed from the 6A-East into next week’s playoff game against the Wildcats, the third seed from the 6A-South Conference.
By RAY BENTON
Leader sports editor
It mattered little how well Sylvan Hills played, or even whether or not it won, but the Bears won their regular-season finale easily, beating Jonesboro 35-7 and enacting the mercy rule about halfway through the third quarter.
Sylvan Hills dominated the Hurricane in every facet of the game. Two turnovers kept the score from being worse, but it was still an easy night for the Bears, who will begin preparation this week for El Dorado, which visits Blackwood Field in Sherwood for the first round of the class 6A playoffs.
Bears quarterback Hunter Miller had a hand in all five touchdowns. He threw for three scores, ran one in and returned an interception for another.
Sylvan Hills put together a nice drive on its first possession. The Bears drove steadily to the Jonesboro 1-yard line, but coughed it up and lost the ball going into the end zone.
The first quarter ended with no score, but Sylvan Hills changed that quickly.
After another defensive stop, the Bear offense went backwards nine yards on the first two plays. On third and 19, Miller hooked up with Jacob Clark for a 42-yard scoring pass and Stephan Kettle hit the extra point to make it 7-0 with 9:50 left in the half.
Jonesboro fumbled on its next possession and Sylvan Hills covered near midfield. Miller then ran 50 yards to the 1-yard line, and snuck in on first goal to put the Bears up by two scores with seven minutes left in the half.
A blitz of interceptions ensued over the next three drives.
Jonesboro put together a nice drive, but it ended when Julien Broner stepped in front of a Carter Callahan pass at the Bear 2-yard line and returned the pick 73 yards to the Jonesboro 25. On the very next play, Sylvan Hills gave it right back when Miller was picked off.
Two plays later, Miller atoned for his mistake, intercepting a Callahan pass and returning it 39 yards for the score. Kettle’s extra point made it 21-0 with 50 seconds left in the half.
The Bears took the momentum into the break and carried it onto the field in the third quarter. Sylvan Hills got the ball to start the second half, and went 58 yards in four plays. Miller had runs of 16 and 30 on the drive, and he scored from five yards out to make it 28-0 with 9:50 left in the third quarter.
Bear defender Casey Cerrato then got Sylvan Hills’ third pick of the game deep in Jonesboro territory. A few plays later, Miller scampered 23 yards for the score. Kettle’s fifth extra point made it a 35-point game and enacted the mercy rule with 5:30 left in the third.
Jonesboro finally got on the board with four minutes left in the game when Montello Thomas ran nine yards for the score.
The win was the sixth straight for Sylvan Hills and lifted the Bears to 6-4 overall and 6-1 in league play. They will take their No. 2 seed from the 6A-East into next week’s playoff game against the Wildcats, the third seed from the 6A-South Conference.
SPORTS >>Badger rally turns to heartbreak
IN SHORT: Beebe came back from 14 points down in the fourth quarter, but lost on a late kick.
By RICK BUTLER
Leader football writer
The Beebe Badgers almost did it again.
With a number two seed in the Class 5A state playoffs on the line, the Badgers watched as Batesville’s Nick Reynolds booted a 25-yard field goal with five seconds left, lifting the Pioneers past Beebe, 23-20, Friday night here at Bro Erwin Stadium.
Reynolds’ kick sends the Badgers on the road to begin the playoffs as Beebe, now a number three seed, will travel to meet Greenwood, the number two seed from the 5A-West.
Batesville, whose only conference loss came to league champ Blytheville (22-21), will host Siloam Springs in a first-round matchup next Friday.
Just as they did several times early in the season, the Badgers fought back from a deficit to turn what could have been a blowout into a thriller.
Trailing 14-0 at the half, Beebe battled back to tie the game at 20, setting up Reynolds’ game-winner.
“Great teams make great plays when they have to,” Beebe coach John Shannon said afterward. “Batesville is a great team. They proved that tonight when they made the great plays to get the field goal at the end.”
Trailing 20-6 late in the third quarter, Beebe set out on a journey that would take more than nine minutes off the clock before cutting into the Pioneers’ lead. A rare Batesville mistake – a fumble by tailback Tim Hughes – was recovered by defensive end Ethan Quick, setting the Badgers up at their own 49. A 13-yard pass from quarterback Charlie Spakes to a sliding Brandon Pursell and, three plays later, a three-yard James Anderson run, kept Beebe in business in Batesville territory.
The Badgers converted three consecutive third-down situations and used nearly an entire quarter before Sammy Williams bulled his way over from a yard out. Roger Glaude’s PAT cut the lead to 20-13 with 6:29 left in the game.
“That was a big drive for us right then … and that’s usually how our drives are,” Shannon said. “We needed to speed it up a little, but we did a good job moving the ball and avoiding mistakes on that drive.”
The momentum stayed on Beebe’s side when senior defensive back Josh Turner stepped in front of a Nick Palese pass and returned it 27 yards for a touchdown with 5:31 left. Holder Ryan Williams got a high snap down on the PAT and Glaude tied the game at 20 with 5:31 to play.
The Badgers, though, wouldn’t see the ball again, save for a desperation kickoff return.
The Pioneers, who relied primarily on the hard-running Hughes in the first half, turned to the right arm of Palese, a senior, on the game’s final drive.
Starting at the Batesville 35, Palese hit Brandon Owens for 13 yards on third-and-8 from the 37, then moments later connected with Reynolds for four yards on fourth-and-three from the Badgers’ 43-yard line.
With 1:20 left, Palese hit Owens again, this time for seven yards on third-and-seven from the Beebe 36. Another pass from Palese to Owens, this time for 9 yards, and a two-yard run by Hughes with 10 seconds left, set up Reynolds’ game-winning field goal.
Shannon and the Badgers attempted to ice the senior kicker by using both of their remaining timeouts but to no avail. With five ticks left, Reynolds calmly knocked it through to send the Badgers to Greenwood.
“Beebe has a great group of kids and they played hard,” Batesville coach Dave King said. “I’m proud of our kids and the way they fought back, too, though. They really bounced back when we had to have it.”
After a scoreless first quarter, the Pioneers made Beebe pay for a mistake early in the second quarter.
A botched handoff attempt gave Batesville the ball at the Beebe 19 and Palese connected with Ethan McBride for a TD strike on the first play for a 7-0 lead.
The Badgers attempted to respond, using a 27-yard pass from Spakes to Turner to drive to the Batesville 30. On second-and-13, though, Spakes’ pass was picked off by the Pioneers’ Darius Davis. Batesville used nine plays to set up Hughes’ three-yard TD run that pushed the lead to 14-0 with 53 seconds left until the half.
With hopes of hosting a first-round playoff game fading, though, the Badgers fought back to open the second half. On Beebe’s second play, James Anderson burst through a hole on the right side of the line and sprinted 63 yards to cut the lead to 14-6.
The glory was short-lived though, as Hughes ran four times in a five-play drive that covered 69 yards. Hughes’ 17-yard scoring run pushed the lead back to 14 points at 20-6 with 9:13 left in the third quarter.
Hughes had 116 yards in the first half and finished with 187 on 29 carries. Palese completed 13-of-18 passes for 111 yards.
Williams got most of the calls for the Badgers’ offense. The junior carried 26 times for 105 hard-fought yards. Anderson finished with 71 yards on seven carries. Spakes was 3-of-6 passing for 58 yards.
Shannon, a former assistant at Class 7A Cabot High School, will be taking his first crack at the 5A playoffs.
“I haven’t been in 5A before this year, so I haven’t seen Greenwood,” Shannon said. “All I know about them is the reputation. We’ve played well on the road all season, though.”
By RICK BUTLER
Leader football writer
The Beebe Badgers almost did it again.
With a number two seed in the Class 5A state playoffs on the line, the Badgers watched as Batesville’s Nick Reynolds booted a 25-yard field goal with five seconds left, lifting the Pioneers past Beebe, 23-20, Friday night here at Bro Erwin Stadium.
Reynolds’ kick sends the Badgers on the road to begin the playoffs as Beebe, now a number three seed, will travel to meet Greenwood, the number two seed from the 5A-West.
Batesville, whose only conference loss came to league champ Blytheville (22-21), will host Siloam Springs in a first-round matchup next Friday.
Just as they did several times early in the season, the Badgers fought back from a deficit to turn what could have been a blowout into a thriller.
Trailing 14-0 at the half, Beebe battled back to tie the game at 20, setting up Reynolds’ game-winner.
“Great teams make great plays when they have to,” Beebe coach John Shannon said afterward. “Batesville is a great team. They proved that tonight when they made the great plays to get the field goal at the end.”
Trailing 20-6 late in the third quarter, Beebe set out on a journey that would take more than nine minutes off the clock before cutting into the Pioneers’ lead. A rare Batesville mistake – a fumble by tailback Tim Hughes – was recovered by defensive end Ethan Quick, setting the Badgers up at their own 49. A 13-yard pass from quarterback Charlie Spakes to a sliding Brandon Pursell and, three plays later, a three-yard James Anderson run, kept Beebe in business in Batesville territory.
The Badgers converted three consecutive third-down situations and used nearly an entire quarter before Sammy Williams bulled his way over from a yard out. Roger Glaude’s PAT cut the lead to 20-13 with 6:29 left in the game.
“That was a big drive for us right then … and that’s usually how our drives are,” Shannon said. “We needed to speed it up a little, but we did a good job moving the ball and avoiding mistakes on that drive.”
The momentum stayed on Beebe’s side when senior defensive back Josh Turner stepped in front of a Nick Palese pass and returned it 27 yards for a touchdown with 5:31 left. Holder Ryan Williams got a high snap down on the PAT and Glaude tied the game at 20 with 5:31 to play.
The Badgers, though, wouldn’t see the ball again, save for a desperation kickoff return.
The Pioneers, who relied primarily on the hard-running Hughes in the first half, turned to the right arm of Palese, a senior, on the game’s final drive.
Starting at the Batesville 35, Palese hit Brandon Owens for 13 yards on third-and-8 from the 37, then moments later connected with Reynolds for four yards on fourth-and-three from the Badgers’ 43-yard line.
With 1:20 left, Palese hit Owens again, this time for seven yards on third-and-seven from the Beebe 36. Another pass from Palese to Owens, this time for 9 yards, and a two-yard run by Hughes with 10 seconds left, set up Reynolds’ game-winning field goal.
Shannon and the Badgers attempted to ice the senior kicker by using both of their remaining timeouts but to no avail. With five ticks left, Reynolds calmly knocked it through to send the Badgers to Greenwood.
“Beebe has a great group of kids and they played hard,” Batesville coach Dave King said. “I’m proud of our kids and the way they fought back, too, though. They really bounced back when we had to have it.”
After a scoreless first quarter, the Pioneers made Beebe pay for a mistake early in the second quarter.
A botched handoff attempt gave Batesville the ball at the Beebe 19 and Palese connected with Ethan McBride for a TD strike on the first play for a 7-0 lead.
The Badgers attempted to respond, using a 27-yard pass from Spakes to Turner to drive to the Batesville 30. On second-and-13, though, Spakes’ pass was picked off by the Pioneers’ Darius Davis. Batesville used nine plays to set up Hughes’ three-yard TD run that pushed the lead to 14-0 with 53 seconds left until the half.
With hopes of hosting a first-round playoff game fading, though, the Badgers fought back to open the second half. On Beebe’s second play, James Anderson burst through a hole on the right side of the line and sprinted 63 yards to cut the lead to 14-6.
The glory was short-lived though, as Hughes ran four times in a five-play drive that covered 69 yards. Hughes’ 17-yard scoring run pushed the lead back to 14 points at 20-6 with 9:13 left in the third quarter.
Hughes had 116 yards in the first half and finished with 187 on 29 carries. Palese completed 13-of-18 passes for 111 yards.
Williams got most of the calls for the Badgers’ offense. The junior carried 26 times for 105 hard-fought yards. Anderson finished with 71 yards on seven carries. Spakes was 3-of-6 passing for 58 yards.
Shannon, a former assistant at Class 7A Cabot High School, will be taking his first crack at the 5A playoffs.
“I haven’t been in 5A before this year, so I haven’t seen Greenwood,” Shannon said. “All I know about them is the reputation. We’ve played well on the road all season, though.”
TOP STORY >>Free flu shots being offered in cities next week
IN SHORT: Both Jacksonville and Cabot hold clinics, while Cabot will also have an emergency excercise.
By ALIYA FELDMAN
Leader staff writer
Jacksonville and Cabot will host free flu shot clinics next week, and Cabot will take the opportunity to rehearse dispensing medication to a high number of people in case of an emergency.
Cabot Mayor Eddie Joe Williams asked the state to consider having the clinic in Cabot because he said there is a need to practice mass-medication dispensing in a crisis.
“We are fortunate to be able to implement a system and see what we need to do that day in case of an emergency and see where the plan might need to mature,” Williams said.
He will be volunteering at the clinic on Friday and will be getting his own flu shot then.
If a disaster happened, the Health Department, county governments and emergency management would mobilize and activate their emergency response plans. The mass flu shot clinic will allow them to monitor the effectiveness of these plans. The Health Department has 2,000 vaccines prepared to dispense in Cabot.
The Arkansas Department of Health is holding clinics across the state in 81 county offices. It wants Arkansans to get vaccines now before flu season arrives.
Flu vaccinations are given in one shot that can take up to two weeks to take effect.
Cabot’s flu clinic will be at the Veterans Park Community Center at 508 N. Lincoln St. from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Friday.
The Jacksonville Health Unit will hold a flu clinic from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Thursday at its office at 3000 N. First Street.
“It is our first year doing the free clinic,” said Patricia Henderson, an administrator at the health unit. “Anyone can come.”
She said Air Force base personnel have volunteered to direct traffic because a large number of people are expected to receive flu shots.
Counties will offer flu shots for $20 at later dates. Health units accept Medicaid, Medicare and private insurance.
The flu is a virus that cannot be treated with antibiotics.
It is spread through coughing, sneezing or touching the nose or mouth after touching a hard surface with the virus on it. The best protection from the flu is the vaccination.
“The flu shot contains a small amount of dead virus that is just enough to get your body’s immune system ready to fight off the real flu when it comes around this winter,” according to Dr. James Phillips, chief at the infectious disease branch chief at ADH.
“If you’re young and healthy, the flu vaccine may be 70 to 90 percent effective in preventing illness,” Phillips said.
For older adults who are at high risk, a flu shot can reduce hospitalizations by 70 percent and deaths by 85 percent.
Vaccinations are recommended for children 6 months to 5 years old, everyone over 50, nursing home residents, pregnant women, anyone with a compromised immune system (including people with HIV or diabetes), children who are receiving long-term aspirin therapy, people with chronic pulmonary problems such as asthma, renal, hepatic or hematological disorders, patients with compromised respiratory function (such as cognitive dysfunction, spinal cord injuries, seizure disorders or other neuromuscular disorders).
Employees of assisted-living facilities, caregivers to the elderly and children or other family members who live with people with compromised immune systems should also receive flu vaccinations.
By ALIYA FELDMAN
Leader staff writer
Jacksonville and Cabot will host free flu shot clinics next week, and Cabot will take the opportunity to rehearse dispensing medication to a high number of people in case of an emergency.
Cabot Mayor Eddie Joe Williams asked the state to consider having the clinic in Cabot because he said there is a need to practice mass-medication dispensing in a crisis.
“We are fortunate to be able to implement a system and see what we need to do that day in case of an emergency and see where the plan might need to mature,” Williams said.
He will be volunteering at the clinic on Friday and will be getting his own flu shot then.
If a disaster happened, the Health Department, county governments and emergency management would mobilize and activate their emergency response plans. The mass flu shot clinic will allow them to monitor the effectiveness of these plans. The Health Department has 2,000 vaccines prepared to dispense in Cabot.
The Arkansas Department of Health is holding clinics across the state in 81 county offices. It wants Arkansans to get vaccines now before flu season arrives.
Flu vaccinations are given in one shot that can take up to two weeks to take effect.
Cabot’s flu clinic will be at the Veterans Park Community Center at 508 N. Lincoln St. from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Friday.
The Jacksonville Health Unit will hold a flu clinic from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Thursday at its office at 3000 N. First Street.
“It is our first year doing the free clinic,” said Patricia Henderson, an administrator at the health unit. “Anyone can come.”
She said Air Force base personnel have volunteered to direct traffic because a large number of people are expected to receive flu shots.
Counties will offer flu shots for $20 at later dates. Health units accept Medicaid, Medicare and private insurance.
The flu is a virus that cannot be treated with antibiotics.
It is spread through coughing, sneezing or touching the nose or mouth after touching a hard surface with the virus on it. The best protection from the flu is the vaccination.
“The flu shot contains a small amount of dead virus that is just enough to get your body’s immune system ready to fight off the real flu when it comes around this winter,” according to Dr. James Phillips, chief at the infectious disease branch chief at ADH.
“If you’re young and healthy, the flu vaccine may be 70 to 90 percent effective in preventing illness,” Phillips said.
For older adults who are at high risk, a flu shot can reduce hospitalizations by 70 percent and deaths by 85 percent.
Vaccinations are recommended for children 6 months to 5 years old, everyone over 50, nursing home residents, pregnant women, anyone with a compromised immune system (including people with HIV or diabetes), children who are receiving long-term aspirin therapy, people with chronic pulmonary problems such as asthma, renal, hepatic or hematological disorders, patients with compromised respiratory function (such as cognitive dysfunction, spinal cord injuries, seizure disorders or other neuromuscular disorders).
Employees of assisted-living facilities, caregivers to the elderly and children or other family members who live with people with compromised immune systems should also receive flu vaccinations.
TOP STORY >>Businesses booming in Cabot area
IN SHORT: Lonoke County issues more commerical-use licenses as its population grows.
By HEATHER HARTSELL
Leader staff writer
It’s not just Cabot’s population that’s growing these days.
During October, Cabot issued a total of 16 business licenses, five for brick-and-mortar businesses and 11 for in-home offices or changes in ownership.
The city also issued six commercial building permits in October.
From May to September, 85 business licenses were issued, 38 of which were for actual businesses and not in-home offices or short-term contractors.
The business boom isn’t limited to Cabot however, as Austin and Ward have also seen new businesses come their way.
The newest business to open its doors in Cabot is First Community Bank, 3084 Bill Foster Memorial Hwy. They’ll hold their grand opening today with a ribbon cutting ceremony at 10:30 a.m. with festivities to follow.
Cabot also has an additional six businesses under construction, said Karen Knebel of Cabot Public Works.
That includes a Metropolitan National Bank location that will call the new strip mall area along Hwys. 5 and 89 home. There is also a gas station and a men’s clothing warehouse coming to that location.
Further out Hwy. 5 across from Greystone, a new business strip has been built. It is already home to a Larry’s Pizza carryout or delivery-only location and a coffee shop.
Community Bank recently announced plans for a new location in that same area, too.
“We realized our Hwy. 5 customers needed a more convenient location and feel this new branch will allow our customers, as well as others with financial needs, a much easier banking option closer to home,” said Tracy French, president and chief executive officer of Community Bank.
Scheduled for completion next March, the new branch will feature expanded drive-through lanes to accommodate larger vehicles, a double-sided electronic marquee sign and custom exterior stonework.
Public Works also reports a handful of new businesses hope to eventually call Cabot home, including Starbucks and possibly Chick-fil-A and CiCi’s Pizza.
Up the road in Austin and Ward, businesses are moving in, too.
In Austin, First Arkansas Bank and Trust is expanding its services with a new branch location at the four-way intersection of Hwys. 367 and 305, across from Chamberlain’s store.
According to Larry Wilson, president and CEO of First Arkansas Bank and Trust, it will take five months to build the branch.
A ground-breaking ceremony will take place at 10 a.m. Monday; the anticipated opening date will be in April or May.
“It will be a nice addition to downtown Austin,” Wilson said.
“We had looked at the growth in the area — the number of new homes and the amount of lots still available, along with the area’s traffic patterns — and it appears that intersection will be quite active and a good location for us for years to come,” he said.
Austin is hoping to see more of a business boom with the completion of the overpass connecting Hwy. 367 to Hwy. 38 and eventually connecting with Hwy. 5.
Two daycares, Lenny Penny’s and Little Hunny’s, as well as House of Bargains and Faught Flooring and Design, Inc. are also open for business in Austin.
In Ward, a Subway restaurant has opened in the Hwy. 367 shopping center across from Dollar General.
There is also a pawn shop in the same location and a pizzeria that is currently moving in, too.
And if you’ve missed mom’s home cooking, head less than a mile up the road where Mom’s Family Restaurant has opened its doors, serving up home-style meals just like mom made when you were a kid.
And according to Mayor Art Brooke, two Mexican restaurants are looking at Ward for a new location, each contingent on the other’s decision (if one says no, the other will come).
Near Dude’s Place on Hwy. 38, an Italian restaurant has also made plans to open in the restaurant area connected to Dude’s, Brooke said.
By HEATHER HARTSELL
Leader staff writer
It’s not just Cabot’s population that’s growing these days.
During October, Cabot issued a total of 16 business licenses, five for brick-and-mortar businesses and 11 for in-home offices or changes in ownership.
The city also issued six commercial building permits in October.
From May to September, 85 business licenses were issued, 38 of which were for actual businesses and not in-home offices or short-term contractors.
The business boom isn’t limited to Cabot however, as Austin and Ward have also seen new businesses come their way.
The newest business to open its doors in Cabot is First Community Bank, 3084 Bill Foster Memorial Hwy. They’ll hold their grand opening today with a ribbon cutting ceremony at 10:30 a.m. with festivities to follow.
Cabot also has an additional six businesses under construction, said Karen Knebel of Cabot Public Works.
That includes a Metropolitan National Bank location that will call the new strip mall area along Hwys. 5 and 89 home. There is also a gas station and a men’s clothing warehouse coming to that location.
Further out Hwy. 5 across from Greystone, a new business strip has been built. It is already home to a Larry’s Pizza carryout or delivery-only location and a coffee shop.
Community Bank recently announced plans for a new location in that same area, too.
“We realized our Hwy. 5 customers needed a more convenient location and feel this new branch will allow our customers, as well as others with financial needs, a much easier banking option closer to home,” said Tracy French, president and chief executive officer of Community Bank.
Scheduled for completion next March, the new branch will feature expanded drive-through lanes to accommodate larger vehicles, a double-sided electronic marquee sign and custom exterior stonework.
Public Works also reports a handful of new businesses hope to eventually call Cabot home, including Starbucks and possibly Chick-fil-A and CiCi’s Pizza.
Up the road in Austin and Ward, businesses are moving in, too.
In Austin, First Arkansas Bank and Trust is expanding its services with a new branch location at the four-way intersection of Hwys. 367 and 305, across from Chamberlain’s store.
According to Larry Wilson, president and CEO of First Arkansas Bank and Trust, it will take five months to build the branch.
A ground-breaking ceremony will take place at 10 a.m. Monday; the anticipated opening date will be in April or May.
“It will be a nice addition to downtown Austin,” Wilson said.
“We had looked at the growth in the area — the number of new homes and the amount of lots still available, along with the area’s traffic patterns — and it appears that intersection will be quite active and a good location for us for years to come,” he said.
Austin is hoping to see more of a business boom with the completion of the overpass connecting Hwy. 367 to Hwy. 38 and eventually connecting with Hwy. 5.
Two daycares, Lenny Penny’s and Little Hunny’s, as well as House of Bargains and Faught Flooring and Design, Inc. are also open for business in Austin.
In Ward, a Subway restaurant has opened in the Hwy. 367 shopping center across from Dollar General.
There is also a pawn shop in the same location and a pizzeria that is currently moving in, too.
And if you’ve missed mom’s home cooking, head less than a mile up the road where Mom’s Family Restaurant has opened its doors, serving up home-style meals just like mom made when you were a kid.
And according to Mayor Art Brooke, two Mexican restaurants are looking at Ward for a new location, each contingent on the other’s decision (if one says no, the other will come).
Near Dude’s Place on Hwy. 38, an Italian restaurant has also made plans to open in the restaurant area connected to Dude’s, Brooke said.
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